The forest near Vaelgard was eerily quiet. A faint mist rolled through the damp soil as five adventurers made their way through the mouth of a stone cavern, their torches flickering weakly against the cold air.
"This dungeon was classified as low risk, right?" one of them said, adjusting the strap of his sword.
"Yeah," replied another, his laughter echoing faintly. "Probably just a few goblins or slimes. We clear it, collect the core stones, and head home."
The leadera man with a scar across his nose paused as the ground beneath them trembled softly. He frowned, glancing toward the tunnel walls. The smooth gray surface was beginning to… shift. Black veins pulsed faintly, spreading like cracks beneath the stone.
"Wait… what's that?"
The torchlight flickered, dimming for a moment. The next second, the mist thickened too thick. Something was moving inside it.
A chill ran through the group.
Then, without warning, a shadow moved.
It didn't step it flowed, stretching across the walls and floor, before forming into a humanoid shape with glowing violet eyes. The adventurers froze, staring at the creature that seemed to be made entirely of writhing darkness.
"What the hell...!"
Before he could finish, the shadow lunged. One of them was sliced in half before he could even scream. The others panicked, launching spells and slashing their weapons wildly, but every strike passed through smoke and silence. Their voices turned to cries of agony, echoing through the dark.
Moments later, the cavern was silent again. The torch fell to the floor, its flame sputtering weakly before dying out.
And deep within the dungeon, something pulsed again an unstable rhythm that resonated across the land.
A dungeon break had begun.
---
Ludin Household, Eldervale
"Darius, tell me you're not serious about this."
Selene's voice cut through the quiet dining room as she crossed her arms, eyes narrowing at her husband. The morning sunlight streamed through the window, but the air between them was heavy.
Across the table, Darius Ludin strapped his sword belt and adjusted his cloak. His usual grin was gone, replaced by a grim expression.
"I don't have much of a choice," he said. "The guild already sent the call. A dungeon near Vaelgard went unstable. If we don't seal it before it ruptures fully, the monsters will flood the region."
"And you're planning to lead the team?" Selene pressed, her tone sharp.
"I was the one stationed closest to Vaelgard when I was with the guild," Darius said. "I know that terrain better than anyone. Besides…" He looked toward the door where the emblem of the Crimson Moon hung. "The rest of the team already agreed."
From the hall, Lyra Vale appeared, adjusting the gauntlet on her arm. Her auburn hair was tied neatly back, and the faint glow of her mana-enhanced eyes showed she was already battle-ready.
"Everything's packed. Ronan and Darren are checking the gear. Scarlet's making sure the wagon's reinforced."
Selene sighed. "And what about a healer? You can't go into a dungeon break without one."
Darius turned toward her. "That's why I need you to come."
Her eyes widened slightly. "What?"
"I can't trust anyone else to patch us up if something goes wrong," Darius said, his voice softening. "But if you come… someone needs to look after Virel."
---
The Decision
"I'm right here," I said quietly from the stairs, my small hand gripping the railing.
They both turned toward me, startled.
"Virel...! Selene began, but I raised a hand.
"I can come," I said simply. "If Mom needs to heal and Dad has to lead, then you can't leave me alone in the house."
Lyra chuckled softly. "He's not wrong."
Selene's gaze hardened. "You're not going anywhere near that dungeon."
"But we'll be at the edge," Darius said. "He can stay with the carriage. It's safer than leaving him here alone."
"I can protect myself," I added.
Selene shot me a glare that nearly froze me in place. "You can barely form a mana core..."
"That doesn't mean I can't fight," I said under my breath.
The room went silent.
Darius rubbed his chin, hiding a faint smirk. "He's stubborn… just like his old man."
Lyra folded her arms. "He might learn something from watching us handle a real dungeon raid. Besides, he's got good instincts for a kid."
Selene's eyes darted between all of us, her jaw tightening. Finally, she sighed, her shoulders slumping.
"Fine," she said. "But the moment anything feels wrong, he stays behind the barrier. Understood?"
"Yes, Mom," I said, suppressing a small smile.
---
By noon, the house was a storm of movement. Weapons were checked, potions packed, and armor tightened. The air buzzed faintly with mana as the members of the Crimson Moon gathered in the courtyard.
Ronan slung his spear over his shoulder, looking down at me. "You ready, kid? It's your first trip outside the city walls, huh?"
I nodded. "I'll be fine."
Scarlet grinned, flipping one of her throwing knives between her fingers. "Try not to cry if you see blood, alright?"
"I've seen worse," I muttered.
She blinked, clearly not expecting that answer.
Darren chuckled from the back of the wagon. "He's definitely Darius's son."
I climbed into the carriage beside my mother. She adjusted her staff and looked out the window, her expression unreadable. Outside, my father gave a sharp whistle, signaling the start of the journey.
The carriage wheels began to roll. The sound of horses' hooves echoed across the cobblestone road, growing softer as we left the safety of Eldervale behind.
The landscape changed gradually lush forests giving way to rocky plains. The air grew colder. Even through the carriage walls, I could sense something faint, like a distant hum beneath the ground. It made the hairs on my neck stand on end.
We passed a small patrol post halfway through the route. The guards saluted Darius as he rode by.
"Sir Ludin! Reports say the rift is still unstable. The Adventurers' Guild has placed it under high risk."
"Understood," my father replied without slowing down.
I glanced out the window.
Far ahead, through the darkening sky, a pillar of faint black light rose into the clouds. It shimmered like fire and smoke fused together a wound in the air itself.
Even from this distance, it felt… alive.
"Is that the dungeon?" I whispered.
Selene followed my gaze and nodded slowly. "That's no ordinary rift. Something's wrong with it."
Darius's voice came from outside. "Brace yourselves. We'll reach Vaelgard by sundown."
As the carriage drew closer, the land itself began to feel different. The grass near the road had turned gray. The air was heavy, almost suffocating. Faint tremors rippled through the ground every few minutes.
When we finally stopped, the group disembarked and stood at the edge of a valley where the dungeon gate pulsed faintly a shimmering black portal that bled mist into the air.
The adventurers around it were whispering nervously. Some looked wounded. Others simply sat staring, their eyes wide with fear.
Lyra stepped forward. "It's worse than the reports said."
Ronan tightened his grip on his spear. "Feels like something's trying to crawl out already."
Selene held my hand, her touch warm but trembling. "Stay close, Virel. Do not move from the carriage."
I nodded, though my eyes were fixed on the swirling darkness ahead.