Kael and Orion returned to town around noon. When they arrived at the guild building, there was a bustle inside; everyone was in a rush, making preparations.
Ronan looked up when he saw them. "So you're back. Get ready, we're going to the dungeon," he said firmly.
Kael and Orion quickly gathered their gear. Ronan had chosen a group of seven others from the guild besides Kael and Orion. The ten of them set out toward the dungeon.
On the way, Orion frowned and asked, "Isn't this dungeon closer to the other town? Won't it be a problem if we go?"
Loosening his horse's reins, Ronan replied, "There aren't enough hunters in Reversed Sword Town right now. They're calling for help from the cities, but it'll take time for them to arrive. If they don't go, we have to. Otherwise, the dungeon gate will open, and the danger inside will leak out."
Orion nodded silently. The journey continued in quiet, and before long, they reached the dark, cold entrance of the dungeon. Ronan called one of them forward and warned him as he stationed him at the dungeon door:
"Remember, don't let anyone in here. If none of us come back or you don't hear from us, report to the federation immediately."
The hunter gave a serious nod. Then Ronan turned and signaled with his hand. "Let's go in."
The remaining nine stepped into the dark dungeon, each fixing their eyes on the shadows without knowing what awaited them.
As the group advanced into the depths, the darkness grew thicker with every step, and the cold dampness from the stone walls filled the air. Kael and Orion carefully followed the others ahead. Ronan took the lead, scanning the surroundings at every step for potential threats.
"Be careful," Ronan said when he briefly halted the group. "There have been many traps deeper in the dungeon. We have to stay sharp."
Kael gripped his sword without breaking the silence around him. Everything seemed normal in this dungeon, yet he couldn't shake his suspicion. He felt something was waiting. Orion noticed Kael's unease but found nothing to say. Everyone continued forward with caution.
As the dungeon corridors narrowed and more obstacles appeared, Kael heard a sound. He quickly turned his head toward it and spotted a crack in the wall ahead. Within minutes, creatures began emerging from behind the crack—darkened, grotesquely deformed, moving in strange ways.
"Looks like we won't stay as quiet as we planned," Ronan said, drawing his sword and stepping forward. "Get ready!"
Kael gripped his sword tightly, targeting the creatures ahead. Orion raised his shield and approached a nearby monster. These slow-moving creatures had been lurking in the dungeon for a long time, but Kael and the other hunters were experienced and knew exactly what to do.
Ronan struck swiftly at the monsters before him, while Kael landed a heavy blow on one, knocking it to the ground. Orion bashed one away with his shield, then drove a huge strike into another's gut. The other hunters joined in with similar speed, each bringing down a monster in a well-coordinated attack.
Within minutes, the dungeon was cleared thanks to the hunters' effective moves. Kael watched as the battle ended swiftly around him. Slowly sheathing his sword, he glanced at the others.
"There might be more," Kael said, scanning the surroundings carefully. "But for now, that's it."
Ronan nodded at Kael. "Yes, it's clear. Let's pull back."
The group moved cautiously as they exited the dungeon depths. The cold, silent air left by the monsters seemed to thicken with each step toward the exit. Finally, they reached the entrance.
Stepping outside, Ronan took a deep breath. "We've cleared the dungeon, but we must always stay alert. This kind of thing could happen again."
Kael nodded. "Yes, but this time, we succeeded. Now we should head back to town."
The group set out toward the nearby town. Compared to the dark corners of the dungeon, the silence between them now felt calm. As Kael gradually accepted the peace within, the group realized their mission was over when they arrived back in town.
"Well done," Ronan said, looking over the group. "Everyone needs to rest. We'll have a new mission tomorrow, but for now, get some sleep."
Kael and Orion entered the town with the others. They had completed their task and cleared the dungeon. Now, they needed rest and to prepare for the next mission.
Night fell, cloaking the town's streets in silence. While Orion had already fallen asleep in the guild dormitory, Kael, accustomed to solitude, went to the training grounds. Moonlight lightly touched the field, and the wind rustled the leaves.
Kael sat cross-legged on the ground. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, focusing on centering and balancing the mana within him. The divine power's discord within his body still lingered, but Kael had no intention of giving up. He had to make peace with this power.
As minutes passed, Kael's breath steadied, and his mind cleared. He tried to soften the sharp flow of divine mana, working to harmonize it with his essence. For nearly an hour, he sat in silence, striving to balance his body and spirit.
Then he opened his eyes, stood, drew his sword, and began training. His movements were slow at first, then became sharper and faster. His muscles worked, and the connection between his mind and sword strengthened. Dozens of cuts, swings, turns… then push-ups, sit-ups, and endurance drills.
An hour later, when he finished his training, the sweat trickling down his forehead spoke of his determination. Taking a deep breath, he quietly gathered his things and walked toward his home in town.
As he opened the door, he called out by habit: "Mom, Dad, I'm home."
No answer came—he knew none would. But saying those words warmed his heart a little. He went to the kitchen, pulled out some leftovers, and quietly ate his meal. Then he washed the dishes, put them away, and went to his room.
Lying on his bed, he stared at the ceiling. His mind was still occupied with the writings he had seen in the temple, with the pressure he had felt—but he had no strength left to think about them. Fatigue weighed him down. His eyelids slowly closed, and Kael drifted into quiet sleep.
The new day would bring new questions and new battles. But for now… there was only peaceful sleep.
As the morning sun streamed through Kael's window, it gently lit the room's walls. Along with the chirping of birds, the familiar morning sounds of the town slowly stirred to life. Kael opened his eyes and gazed at the ceiling for a while. The fatigue from yesterday's training still lingered in his body, but his mind was clear. Today, he was stronger than yesterday—he could feel it.
He got up, dressed, washed his face, and had a quick breakfast. Then he headed straight for the guild.
A few hunters were preparing for their morning tasks outside the guild building. Inside, Ronan and Orion were already present. Orion was sitting in a corner, adjusting his belt, while Ronan marked something on a map.
Ronan looked up as Kael entered. "Good morning. You're up early," he said. Kael shrugged slightly. "Habit. Anything today?"
Orion approached, yawning as he spoke: "Looks like we're heading out on morning patrol. Ronan said we'll check around town to see if anything has changed since the temple."
Ronan confirmed: "Some patrols found strange animal tracks on the west side last night. That normally wouldn't happen. We're not sure if it's from the dungeon or something else. A three-person group should be enough."
Kael nodded. "Alright. When do we leave?" Ronan folded the map. "In fifteen minutes."
Kael turned to Orion. "Ready?" Orion sighed. "Hard to keep up with your pace, but I'll try."
The two quickly gathered their gear. They donned light armor, checked their weapons, and headed outside. A young hunter from the guild, named Teren, would join them—the third member, a rookie but a brave one.
The trio left through the town's west gate and headed into the forest depths. The air was cool and breezy. The birds were quieter than usual. As they moved among the trees, Kael led the way. Orion kept his eyes on the surroundings, while Teren, both excited and nervous, followed.
Along the way, Kael was lost in thought. The writings in the temple, the mana pressure, the entity in the dungeon… He suspected they were all connected. What they would find today might offer a clue.
Before long, they found a strange mark deep in the forest. It didn't look like footprints… the ground was charred, the surrounding plants wilted.
Orion knelt, feeling the soil with his hand. "This isn't normal," he said. Kael narrowed his eyes. "No," he whispered. "Not normal at all."
Kael studied the marks for a few more seconds, then stood. The burned, irregular tracks continued deeper into the darker part of the forest. He took a deep breath. His unease was growing, but he couldn't turn back without seeing where the tracks led. Still, it was risky with a rookie along.
He glanced at Teren from the corner of his eye. The young hunter looked around curiously, occasionally gripping the hilt of his sword. He had courage, but no experience.
Kael stepped closer to Orion and spoke in a low voice: "I want to follow these tracks… but I'm not comfortable with Teren here. We can't risk his life."
Orion nodded, locking eyes with Kael seriously. "We'll do whatever you say."
Kael paused briefly, then turned his gaze to Teren. "Orion," he said, his voice firm yet gentle. "If anything happens… protect Teren. I'll protect you both."
Orion chuckled briefly. "We're building a protection chain, huh. Alright. I've got my eyes on you two."
Teren listened to their exchange with a puzzled look but didn't say anything. Kael had already moved ahead, following the direction of the tracks. Orion and Teren followed.
The tracks led into a denser, shadowy part of the forest. The tree branches above intertwined like a roof, barely letting sunlight through. Steps were quiet, breaths careful. Birdsong was still absent; it was as if even the forest was holding its breath.
Soon, Kael stopped. Before them lay a small burned area, still faintly smoking—it was small, but it couldn't have formed naturally in such a short time. In the middle stood a cracked stone. On its surface were symbols resembling those Kael had seen in the temple… but now much more faded and scattered.
Kael knelt, examining the symbols closely. "Those writings again…" he whispered. "But this time… they're scattered. Broken."
Orion approached, eyes narrowed. "Something seems to have blasted this stone apart. Could it be a mana explosion?"
Kael shook his head. "I don't know. But this place… it's not natural. Something happened here."
Teren quietly surveyed the area, but his tension was visible in his eyes. Kael watched him briefly, then stood.
"Let's not linger here," he said. "These marks feel like some kind of warning. Let's head back to town—we need to report this to Ronan."
Orion nodded. Teren seemed relieved. The three retraced their steps. But Kael now had more questions in his mind… and it was clear this matter was far from over.
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