The air inside the dungeon was thick and cold, carrying the faint smell of earth and decay. The massive stone doors closed behind them with a deafening thud.
Kael stopped, turning to the group. "This… is it. Inside, you'll fight for the first time. This is your real test. Your first battle in an E-rank dungeon. Are you ready?"
Riven's fists clenched, eyes shining. "Ready!"
Lyra nodded, arrow already nocked. Taren Vale and Calen Vire gripped their weapons, anticipation and nerves mixing in their expressions.
Kael's gaze swept over them. "Good. Then let's move. Quietly, carefully… and observe everything."
As they stepped deeper into the dungeon, Kael leaned toward Riven. "As soon as we enter, I want you to count the monsters. How many there are, what types, and any unusual behavior."
Riven blinked. "Got it."
In Kael's mind, calculations ran silently. Once I know the monsters' numbers and types, I can create quests for all of them. Every fight, every task, can push our growth faster. Our goal isn't just survival—we'll reach D-rank, earn enough resources, and eventually create a guild of our own.
Kael's lips curved faintly. That's the future. For now… focus on the fight, slowly earn money, upgrade our equipment, increase our team, and dominate the ranks. Step by step.
The dungeon corridors stretched before them, dark and twisting. Shadows shifted in the corners, and distant roars echoed faintly through the stone halls.
"Stay sharp," Kael murmured. "Every step counts. Watch, learn, and survive. The first fight is just the beginning."
The F-ranks moved forward together, weapons ready, hearts pounding. Each one could feel the weight of the moment—the first real test, the first battle that would define their rise.
And Kael, silent as ever, already had the next steps planned. Every monster, every dungeon, every challenge would become a stepping stone for the future he envisioned.
The dungeon swallowed them, and with it, the first sparks of their path to power, wealth, and dominance.