Far away, in a palace where silence reigned, stood a man whose beauty was both fragile and untouchable. His long, ink-black hair cascaded down his back, framing a face carved from elegance—his slender form pale, like jade polished to perfection.
His green eyes held no warmth, no flicker of life, yet they gleamed with quiet intelligence.
He stood before a koi pond, carefully scattering food over the shimmering water.
Then—without warning—he raised his head.
His gaze shifted toward the entrance of the city, his senses pulling at something unseen.
He remained still, observing.
But he did not speak.
Elsewhere, in a distant courtyard bathed in golden light, a young boy moved like a master—each motion fluid, each strike precise.
His short, fluffy blonde hair caught the evening glow, his golden eyes swirling with intensity, like the very sun.
Yet his face—his movements—were devoid of emotion.
The same emptiness that dwelled in the jade-like man reflected within him.
He sensed something.
He paused.
His fingers flexed around the hilt of his sword.
But, like the man before him, he said nothing.
The streets of Albagard bustled with life.
Gabriel led Night through the crowded pathways, watching as finely dressed men and women strolled under parasols while carriages glided across the stone roads.
This city was leagues ahead of the rest.
While Gabriel observed his surroundings, Kaida focused on devouring lamb skewers, chewing lazily as he took in the sights. Lowell, in awe, admired the towering buildings with a bun stuffed in his mouth.
After days of travel at full speed, Gabriel booked an inn for the night.
A young attendant took Night to be properly cared for, and the three stepped inside to rest.
Once refreshed, Kaida stretched and asked to explore the city.
Gabriel, knowing Kaida wouldn't get caught, granted him permission.
Lowell, curious, decided to go as well.
As soon as the two left, Gabriel collapsed, his body hitting the floor as a sharp pain tore through his right eye.
He clutched it, his breathing ragged.
The pale color had deepened, streaks of red marking his skin—his eye bled.
Gabriel gritted his teeth and stumbled into the bathroom, gripping the sink as he cleaned the blood from his face.
This had been happening since the dream.
Every time the visions came, the pain followed—a relentless force he couldn't escape.
Then—
Alaric appeared.
He observed Gabriel quietly before speaking.
"You're seeing things you aren't meant to see yet."
Gabriel turned his gaze toward him, his expression unreadable.
"What do you mean?"
Alaric exhaled. "You're seeing the possible future."
Gabriel stiffened, the weight of the revelation sinking in.
He hadn't realized it.
He hadn't known.
Alaric's voice remained calm, yet firm.
"The universe hasn't left you yet," he murmured. "But pain is the price you pay."
Gabriel inhaled sharply, pressing his fingers against his throbbing eye.
"The visions will come—even when you don't want them," Alaric warned. "Until you learn to control them."
Gabriel closed his eyes.
The exhaustion in his bones was unbearable.
His breathing evened out as he drifted into sleep—just as Kaida and Lowell returned.
The next morning, Gabriel, Lowell, and Kaida made their way toward the guild bureau headquarters.
Though distractions had slowed them along the way, they finally arrived at the grand building—a towering structure that stood as the heart of dungeon management in the empire.
As they stepped inside, whispers and murmurs filled the hall.
Gabriel's ethereal beauty caught the attention of many. Some stared in admiration, while others frowned in confusion—three young men walking into a place meant for seasoned adventurers.
Ignoring the gazes, Gabriel led the group straight to the front desk, where a young woman sat, her posture relaxed with boredom.
"We're here to buy the rights for a dungeon," Gabriel stated.
The woman barely glanced up, expecting yet another routine transaction—until her gaze landed on Gabriel.
Her dull expression faltered, taken aback by the pale silver of his eyes.
Composing herself quickly, she asked, "Are you under a guild?"
Gabriel shook his head. "No."
She nodded but frowned slightly, as if second-guessing what she heard.
"You're not in any guild?" she repeated, seeking confirmation.
Gabriel remained firm. "No."
The woman hesitated before asking, "Were you at least signed under a guild before?"
Gabriel answered, "Yes."
Satisfied, the young woman directed Gabriel to a room beyond the desk.
"Go through there," she instructed. "You'll choose the guild most suitable for you."
Following her direction, Gabriel entered the room and was met with rows of scrolls lining the shelves.
Each scroll held information about available dungeons, ranging from C-rank to S-rank, just as Faron had described.
After scanning his options, Gabriel selected a C-rank dungeon, priced at 6,700 talons.
That amount nearly drained him entirely.
He could only hope it was worth the investment.
Taking the scroll, he handed it to an assistant, who swiftly processed the payment and finalized the transaction.
Once the paperwork was complete, Gabriel returned to the front desk, where the woman awaited his decision.
She glanced at the signed documents before asking, "What would you like to be registered as?"
Gabriel hadn't put much thought into it.
His eyes scanned the room briefly before settling on the silver chain around his neck.
"Mercenary 101."
The woman raised an eyebrow at the unconventional name but nodded and signed it into the records.
"The transaction is complete," she said. "May fortune bless you."
Without wasting time, Gabriel and his companions headed directly to the dungeon's location.
They stood before its entrance, ready to step into the unknown.
And so, the gamble began.
Gabriel stepped into the dungeon, the air heavy with dry heat. Just as the scroll had described, the landscape stretched endlessly—a vast desert marked by hills, ruins, and remnants of forgotten battles.
The monsters that lurked here ranged from 8 sigil to 7 sigil, scattered across the dunes.
Without hesitation, Gabriel glanced at Lowell and Kaida.
"There's no supervision here," he remarked. "Do what you want."
The moment the words left his lips, Kaida and Lowell sprinted forward toward the dungeon's center.
Kaida, shedding his human form, expanded into his true shape—a black-scaled dragon, his massive wings slicing through the air.
Together, they tore through the monsters, cutting down anything that dared attack.
Gabriel, for the most part, did nothing.
He simply watched as the mission before him unfolded rapidly.
Gabriel exhaled, his gaze shifting toward Kaida and Lowell, who had just finished off a giant scorpion, its enormous body collapsing into the sand as it corroded because of Kaida's acid.
Time had passed swiftly—nine hours since entering.
The boss was defeated.
Now, all that remained was collecting loot before the dungeon closed.
When their bags were full, they exited, placing the collected gems into the special inventory box provided by the bureau.
Returning to the guild, they handed the box to the young receptionist.
She barely paid them any attention—until she checked the clock on the wall.
Her eyes widened.
"Sixteen hours?" she murmured.
Her hands hesitated as she signed the paper, officially marking the dungeon as cleared.
Never had a tier 7 dungeon been cleared so fast—except once.
Prince Kieran's elite squad had managed it in nineteen hours.
And yet—here stood three unknown mercenaries, who had just broken that record.
Word spread swiftly, first among the guild staff, then into the city.
By evening, whispers filled the streets.
A tier 7 dungeon had been cleared in only sixteen hours.
An unheard-of feat.