The thought of being trapped inside this dungeon without any equipment was horrifying. But even so, Keiz knew the only way to survive was to find a way out.
From what he had read in books, dungeons always had a teleporter circle somewhere. That circle was the only hope to escape. If the books were right, then he just had to find it.
The odds weren't great. But that didn't matter. It was his only option.
Keiz clenched his fists, forcing himself to stand. He was only wearing his pants, stripped of everything else, but he couldn't just sit there in despair. If he gave up now, then it was already over.
Step by step, he moved into the unexplored area of the dungeon. Every single movement mattered. He looked around carefully each time before he advanced. A single mistake could cost him his life.
Avoiding monsters was his priority. Without weapons or armor, fighting wasn't even possible.
And so, whenever he heard the sound of claws scraping or felt the tremble of heavy footsteps, he immediately turned away, choosing a different path.
Before long, Keiz realized he was lost. The paths twisted endlessly, and he couldn't retrace his steps no matter how hard he tried. His starting point was gone, swallowed by the dungeon.
But going back was impossible anyway. The only way forward was deeper. If the books were right, then somewhere down here was a teleporter circle. That was the only hope he could cling to.
…
Time passed. But how long had it been? Hours? A day? There was no sun, no way to tell.
All he knew was the rumbling in his stomach.
"Ugh…" Keiz placed his hand on his stomach, rubbing it gently. It growled again, empty and unforgiving.
He tried to endure it. Tried to ignore the hunger. But the longer he wandered, the weaker his body became. His throat was dry, his lips cracked, and his body ached from fatigue.
He stumbled more than he walked now. His knees and hands scraped against the hard stone, leaving his skin raw and stinging.
"…This can't go on."
The thought of food crossed his mind. Monsters. He had read somewhere that some adventurers tried to eat monster meat when desperate. But without a weapon… there was no way.
"Damn it…" Keiz muttered as he leaned against a wall. His chest rose and fell heavily, sweat dripping from his forehead.
Creak—
Suddenly, the wall behind him shifted.
"W-What?"
Keiz fell flat on his back as the stone wall slowly creaked open, revealing a hidden passage.
He froze, heart racing. Not from excitement—but fear. Loud noises in a dungeon often meant trouble. If monsters heard that, they could be on him any second.
Quickly, he scrambled to his feet and scanned the surroundings. His ears strained, but no footsteps, no growls, nothing.
"…Safe?"
Letting out a shaky breath, he turned back to the newly revealed passage. It was dark, but faint traces of light glimmered from deeper within.
Keiz stared at it for a moment. This could be dangerous. But staying here wasn't an option either.
With no hesitation, he stepped into the hidden path.
…
The air inside felt different. Cooler. Almost refreshing compared to the suffocating corridors behind him.
For the first time since being betrayed, Keiz didn't feel like the dungeon wanted to devour him. The silence here was not menacing. It was… calming.
As he walked further, a strange feeling rose within him. Something ancient lingered in this place. Something sacred, as though he had stepped into an untouched part of the dungeon that no adventurer had ever seen before.
His footsteps echoed lightly, but the further he went, the more he felt a faint pull—as if something was waiting for him at the end.
"…This place… what is it?" Keiz whispered. His voice was shaky, but there was also a hint of curiosity.
It wasn't an exit. But it felt like it could lead to something. Something important.
For the first time since the betrayal, a flicker of purpose sparked inside him.
…
The passage wasn't endless. Eventually, it opened into a small chamber.
The room was dim, only lit by strange glowing moss on the walls. The air was heavier here, filled with an aura that pressed against his chest.
And in the center of the room…
"…A chest?"
Keiz's eyes widened.
It wasn't an ordinary chest. The wood was pitch black, darker than any shadow. Its metal bindings looked corroded, but the strange glow of the moss made the chest stand out like it was alive.
A dark chest.
Keiz stepped closer, his body trembling. Every story he had ever read, every warning from instructors, flashed through his mind.
Dark chests were dangerous. Some said they contained cursed items. Others said they were traps that devoured adventurers whole. And in rare cases… they were living monsters themselves, mimics.
His throat felt dry. His legs stiffened. But his eyes couldn't look away.
The chest sat silently, waiting.
"…Why here?" Keiz muttered. "Why me?"
Despite his fear, his heart pounded with something else. Curiosity. An instinct that whispered to him—this chest was important. That it was no ordinary trap.
His breath quickened.
Should he open it? Should he run?
The hunger gnawed at him. The despair of betrayal weighed on him. And yet, this chest felt like it could change everything.
Keiz took a step forward. Then another.
The chamber was quiet. Almost too quiet.
And there, standing before the dark chest, Keiz felt his destiny waiting to be revealed.
…
The lid of the chest creaked slightly.
His eyes widened.
The chest wasn't waiting for him to open it.
It was opening by itself.