Krent and Kylon moved toward the left tunnel. As they progressed, the echo of their footsteps gradually faded, then vanished into the silence.
Master flicked his finger, conjuring a small yellowish-orange orb of flame. It floated near the ceiling, casting a warm glow that lit the path ahead far more clearly than lamps ever could. We turned to the right tunnel and began moving forward—slowly and precisely. The path was straight and clear, as far as we could see. Not a single beast stirred in sight.
Then, softly, Aur's voice broke the silence. "Ah, can I speak now?"
Master nodded without turning. The flame orb hovered ahead of us, drifting forward steadily as we walked.
Aur flew to my head and whispered, "Why did you choose this one? Why send them toward the left tunnel?"
Master looked toward me and smirked. "Because this one is more dangerous than the left. They wouldn't have survived here."
I glanced at him, but he kept his eyes ahead as he continued. "Before we split up, I scanned both tunnels. The left one has some powerful beasts, yes, but the terrain is stable; it's a level path without descent."
We came to a stop. Master rested his hand on his chin thoughtfully. "But this tunnel…" he muttered. "This tunnel holds a presence. A supreme being of this world. And not just any—a dragon."
His voice dropped lower. "One of the most powerful dragons. The kind closest to Deity. I sensed the presence of a Sohastra."
Master lowered himself to the stone floor with a quiet grunt, the orb of flame adjusting its position above him. Its warm light flickered across the ancient tunnel walls, casting long shadows that danced like silent ghosts. He gestured for me to sit as well.
"Listen," he said calmly, his tone more serious than usual. "Rest for a bit. Eat some of the dried meat and refill your energy. We don't know if what lies ahead will be hostile or not."
I dropped to the ground beside him, leaning back slightly against the rough tunnel wall. My gaze lingered on him for a moment before I spoke, lips curling into a smirk. "Old man, why should I be afraid when a godkiller is sitting right in front of me?"
Master let out a slow sigh, brushing dust off his sleeve with a half-hearted motion. "I've told you before… I don't know much about this realm." His voice was quiet, thoughtful. "And you shouldn't put too much faith."
He turned his head slightly, looking at me from the corner of his eye. "Before fighting an enemy, you should first understand who or what they are. Power alone means nothing if you're blind to what you're facing."
I looked away, not replying immediately. His words weren't wrong. I knew that. But still…
Without another word, we both reached into the storage marks on our arms. A soft shimmer of light, and strips of dried meat appeared in our hands. The silence returned—deep and pressing—as we began chewing on the tough rations. Each bite felt heavy, not just from the dryness, but from the weight of what might lie ahead.
...
...
After the short break, we resumed our march deeper into the dungeon. The downward slope began to level out, turning into a more stable, straight path. The silence returned—thick and unsettling.
Then, we saw some adventurers.
A man lay ahead, slumped against the tunnel wall. His black hair clung to his blood-soaked face, and his sturdy frame was barely holding together. A half-broken sword rested beside him. His armor had been shattered into pieces, revealing cuts and bruises all over his body.
Beside him was a woman with deep green hair and matching eyebrows. Her skin was a rich chocolate hue, but it was marred with blood and cuts. Her clothes were torn around her arms, which were wrapped in hastily tied cloth and soaked with crimson. Despite their condition, both were still breathing—barely.
Master hurried forward, kneeling beside the man. He gently lifted him and propped him against the wall, then did the same for the woman, placing her beside him.
The man stirred, his eyes fluttering open. "Who… who are you two?" he croaked, voice raspy. "Did the guild send you?"
Master spoke in a calm, low voice. "Yes. We're here to rescue."
The man's eyes widened in panic. "Run! There's a beast here… I don't know if it's even a beast. It's like a nightmare. I swear it's an SS-rank."
Master remained composed. "Don't worry. We'll handle it. But tell me what happened here?"
The man nodded weakly, glancing toward the unconscious woman beside him. "We… We were a party of seven. S-rank adventure party."
He coughed, and Master quickly handed him a waterskin and a strip of dried meat. The man devoured them like a starved animal before continuing.
"We were doing fine at first. Cleared out several beasts. But then… the path split—left and right. We decided to split into two groups. Three of us took the right path... that was my group."
He took a deep breath, shaking slightly.
"At first, it was just high-rank beasts. C to A rank. It was manageable. But then... the path suddenly turned empty. Nothing. Not a single beast we saw on the way to here. Not even sound."
He looked down, fists trembling. "That's when it came. Out of nowhere. An SS-rank beast. I don't even know what it was—something out of a nightmare. It attacked us instantly. One of my companions was... eaten. Just like that."
His voice cracked as he spoke the last words. "I used an emergency artifact to send a signal to the guild. After that, we ran. Tried to escape, but it hunted us. I don't know how we're still alive... I passed out soon after dragging her here."
Master handed him more water and dried meat. "When she wakes up, give her this to eat and drink."
The man nodded silently, his eyes filled with exhausted gratitude.
Master rose to his feet and turned toward the depths of the tunnel.
"We're heading deeper," he said. "Just stay here, rest and help her recover. We'll return."
Without another word, he resumed his steady pace forward.
I followed, silent, with Aur curled up atop my head—her ears twitching, alert.