The morning light spilled through the towering windows of the Elysian Academy, casting golden streaks across the marble floors. Students bustled through the halls, their chatter mingling with the sound of boots and magical equipment clinking as they moved toward their classes. Jin, meanwhile, was quiet as ever, blending into the crowd despite the stir he had caused since the entrance exam.
He hadn't told anyone who he truly was. The name Jin meant nothing to them, and he intended to keep it that way—for now. His real identity, his past, and the years he had spent away in a world of endless war and forgotten gods were all buried beneath the calm expression he wore.
Today, however, something was different.
The academy buzzed with rumors of a dungeon appearing beneath the southern wing—a natural Gate, one that hadn't been artificially summoned or planted. These events were rare, often dangerous, and unpredictable. Dungeons had become more common in the world over the past few decades, appearing randomly and spawning otherworldly creatures, artifacts, and monsters. And every so often, one of these dungeons produced a Boss-class entity, capable of razing cities if left unchecked.
Jin listened carefully as students speculated.
"Did you hear? They say it's a living dungeon." "One of the teachers went in to scout and never came back." "Someone saw a creature made entirely of shadows inside."
By midday, a public announcement confirmed it. The Headmaster, Vael, stood at the center of the grand auditorium and declared:
"A newly formed Gate has emerged beneath the southern tower. All first-year students will be split into groups and sent for a supervised dungeon exploration. This will be your first official field experience."
There was a murmur of excitement, anxiety, and thrill. For most students, this was the moment they had trained for.
Jin's team was assigned quickly: Theo Ward, son of Lucas. Arin Valen, a flame-wielding prodigy from the Valen family. Sera Nightglen, a silent strategist from the minor noble houses. And finally, an orphan named Kye, whose ability to detect magical energies was unmatched among the students.
As they entered the preparation hall, Theo threw Jin a glance. "This should be fun," he said with a smirk.
Jin didn't respond. His eyes were already on the Gate ahead.
---
The entrance to the dungeon was a spiraling descent of black stone, humming with eerie energy. As their group stepped in, the air changed—colder, heavier, saturated with mana. The walls pulsed with life, as if the dungeon itself breathed.
Their instructor, a sharp-eyed woman named Professor Kaelen, led the way, her spear crackling with enchantments.
"Stay alert. Living dungeons are adaptive. The longer we stay, the more it will change to fit our weaknesses."
The team moved cautiously, Kye at the front detecting mana shifts. "There's something ahead. Low-level creatures... four, maybe five."
The group rounded the corner, weapons at the ready.
A cluster of chittering, spider-like beasts lunged from the ceiling. Their eyes glowed green, and venom dripped from their fangs. Sera reacted first, launching a web of shadow to bind them. Theo followed with a devastating blow that shattered one beast's legs.
But one creature broke free, darting for Kye—until Jin moved.
His blade flashed. One clean slice. The creature fell in two.
Theo stared. "That was..."
"Fast," Arin muttered.
Jin remained silent, sliding his sword back into its sheath.
---
Deeper into the dungeon, the air thickened with bloodlust. The walls began to pulse red, and illusions flickered at the edges of their vision—memories, fears, fragments of their minds.
Kye collapsed. "I-It's... inside my head!"
Jin stepped forward, placing a hand on Kye's shoulder. "This dungeon is feeding on our fears. Focus on your breathing. Anchor your mind."