The air inside the dungeon was thick — not just with the smell of dirt and blood, but tension.

The group stood together in a circular chamber, the cave walls glowing faintly with veins of blue ore.

They had been inside for barely ten minutes, and already half the recruits were shaking.

Hex took the lead without hesitation, lightning flickering faintly around his fingertips. “Alright,” he said, his tone steady, almost bored. “Don’t panic. I’ve raided a place like this before. These goblins are weak — F-rank trash. If we stick to formation, we’ll clear this in time.”

Jennifer folded her arms, raising an eyebrow. “You say that like we even have weapons.”

“Then take theirs,” Hex replied coolly. “Dungeon logic — kill, loot, repeat.”

Before anyone could argue, he moved like a flash of blue light. Two goblins dropped before they even screamed. Hex flicked blood off his blade and smirked. “See? Simple.”

Kazeem whistled softly. “Man… you make it look easy.”

“Because it is,” Hex said, eyes sharp. “Now focus. I’m not getting stuck in this academy as an E-rank.”

Jennifer frowned. “Confidence doesn’t mean you’re invincible.”

Hex turned to her, tossed a short sword he’d taken from a fallen goblin. “Big mouth suits big range. Use it.”

Jennifer caught it with a glare. “You’re insufferable.”

Omega, watching from behind, couldn’t help but chuckle quietly. “Guess you already made a fan.”

“Trust me,” Hex grinned, “she’s not my type. Reminds me of my ex — loud and dangerous.”

Kazeem burst out laughing. “You’re gonna die before the boss even sees you.”

Their light banter kept them going as they advanced. The deeper they went, the louder the goblin chatter grew — shrill and overlapping, echoing through the tunnels. Then came the ambush.

Six of them this time.

Two lunged at Kazeem, swinging crude axes. He blocked one, barely dodged the other. Another went straight for Jennifer — who reacted on instinct, slashing low and kicking the goblin away before it reached her.

Omega ducked under a swinging blade, heart pounding. He wasn’t fast enough. His knees scraped against the rocky ground as the goblin raised its weapon for a killing blow—

A crack of energy flashed through the air.

The goblin convulsed, then dropped lifeless at Omega’s feet, smoke curling from its chest. He looked up.

Hex stood behind him, lightning still dancing across his hand.

“That… that was amazing,” Omega breathed. “You can already use your ability?”

“Of course I can,” Hex replied with a grin. “I told you — this dungeon’s easy.”

Easy for him maybe, Omega thought. His own hands were trembling. No power, no weapon, no defense — just instinct and luck.

The team regrouped. When the last goblin fell, the cave began to change.

The walls shifted color — from cool blue to an ominous red. The air grew hotter. Ahead, the tunnel opened into a cavern the size of a small stadium.

And there it was.

The boss.

A hulking goblin twice the size of a man, its eyes glowing with cruel intelligence. In one hand, it gripped a sword larger than Kazeem’s torso. In the other, a jagged, metallic shield.

Kazeem grinned, lifting his axe. “Finally! Something worth hitting!”

He charged before Hex could stop him. His weapon clashed against the shield with a thunderous clang — sparks flying — but the boss didn’t even flinch. Instead, it slammed its shield forward, the sheer force sending Kazeem crashing into the wall.

“Damn it!” he groaned, clutching his shoulder.

Jennifer drew her bow, firing in quick succession. Each arrow bounced harmlessly off the boss’s armor.

“Useless!” she hissed. “It’s like iron!”

“Cover Kazeem!” Hex shouted. “I’ll handle it up close!”

Lightning flared around him as he dashed forward, blade slicing across the boss’s flank — a clean strike that should’ve cut deep.

It barely left a mark.

The goblin’s sword came crashing down, forcing Hex to leap back. The ground where he had stood cracked open, sending dust into the air.

Omega watched, frozen.

They were powerful — all of them — and still, they were struggling.

He clenched his fists.

I can’t just stand here.

But what could he even do? He didn’t have an ability. Not yet.

Hex dodged another swing, barely escaping the blade’s arc. “Anytime you wanna join in, now would be great!” he shouted, voice strained.

“I— I can’t—” Omega stammered, but stopped himself.

Jennifer was shouting from behind. “You’ll die if you keep showing off!”

“I’m fine!” Hex yelled, blocking with his sword — the clash lighting up the cave with a shower of sparks.

The boss snarled, then raised its massive shield high. Its red eyes locked onto Hex. It lunged.

Omega’s voice broke through the chaos.

“Hex! Move!”

The impact hit like an explosion. The sound reverberated through the cavern. Dust and debris filled the air.

When it cleared — Hex was down. The boss loomed over him, sword raised for the final strike.

Omega’s body moved before his mind could. His chest burned — hot, then cold — like something deep inside was clawing its way out.

He sprinted forward, grabbing a broken weapon from the ground. His vision blurred, the world slowing around him. The goblin’s sword came down, and for an instant, time froze.

His eyes turned faintly blue.

The air trembled. A pulse of energy rippled outward. The broken sword in his hand vibrated — black lines crawling along its surface.

He didn’t understand it — couldn’t — but something within him had awakened.

With a shout that wasn’t entirely his own, Omega swung. The blade struck the goblin’s sword mid-swing — and shattered — but the impact deflected the monster’s attack just enough to miss Hex by inches.

The goblin staggered back, confused.

Hex looked up, wide-eyed. “What— what was that…?”

Omega stood still, breathing hard. His hand was shaking, his eyes flickering faintly between black and blue. Then the energy faded as suddenly as it appeared.

He dropped the hilt, his legs almost giving out.

The goblin roared in rage, regaining balance. Jennifer pulled Hex back as the beast charged again.

“Omega, run!” she screamed.

But Omega didn’t move.

He couldn’t.

His entire body felt like it was burning from the inside out.

The strange power — whatever it was — had vanished. But in its wake, it left behind something else. A pulse. A whisper. A name that echoed faintly in his mind.

Shadow.

The moment passed.

The goblin boss slammed its shield again, shaking the entire cavern. The team scattered — separated by the chaos, dust, and falling debris.

Omega tried to reach Hex, but the ground cracked between them, opening into a narrow ravine.

Jennifer’s voice echoed through the haze. “Retreat! We’ll regroup!”

Kazeem groaned from the far side, clutching his axe. “Not leaving without that core!”

Hex gritted his teeth, frustration flashing in his eyes. “We don’t have a choice!”