The morning air buzzed with nervous energy.
Students gathered in the academy courtyard, each team standing in formation as instructors checked weapons, armor, and supplies.
Team Echo stood off to the side:
Liam—steady and silent, adjusting his shield.
Mira—hugging her small mage staff like a lifeline.
Jonah—bouncing on his feet, excitement barely contained.
Kyren—twirling his spear, pretending not to be tense.
Charles—sweating bullets.
Midnight sat on his shoulder until the last second, headbutting him once before disappearing into spiritual space.
Rift pulsed on Charles's wrist, calm as ever.
[Host anxiety level: 89%]
[Reminder: Dungeon instructors are present. Mortality rate: Low.]
"Thank you," Charles muttered. "I am SO comforted."
Kyren side-eyed him.
"You talking to yourself again?"
"No—yes—I mean—battle meditation!"
"…You're weird."
Charles wanted to die.
---
The Rift Gate
The portal loomed ahead—a swirling tear of blue-black energy humming with eerie resonance.
Ronan stood beside it like a strict guardian dragon.
"Teams Alpha through Echo—prepare to enter!"
A collective gasp rolled through the students.
Mira squeezed her staff.
"Oh gosh… oh gosh… we're doing it…"
Liam placed a steady hand on her shoulder.
"We'll be fine."
Jonah grinned.
"First monsters, here we come!"
Kyren stepped forward first, spear ready.
"We stick together. Don't wander."
Everyone nodded.
Charles gulped.
He could feel it.
A faint, cold pulse in the distance…
The Rift Beast's mark throbbing faintly, reacting to his presence.
Rift chimed:
[Concealment holding]
[Recommend: Avoid boss area if possible]
"No kidding…"
---
Entering the Rift
"TEAM ECHO!" Ronan barked. "Step through!"
One by one, they walked into the shimmering gate.
Charles stepped last.
Cold air washed over him.
The world twisted—colors bending—gravity flickering.
Then—
He was inside.
---
The Forest of Murk
The sky was dim, violet like twilight.
Trees twisted unnaturally, leaves shimmering with faint mana.
Fog rolled over moss-covered ground.
Jonah immediately whispered, "Whoa…"
Mira clung to Liam.
"This place is creepy…"
Kyren scanned the surroundings.
"Stay alert. Monsters will come fast."
Charles felt the divine armor flicker faintly under his clothes, adjusting to the rift's mana pressure.
Rift pulsed:
[Alert: Three Shadow Goblins approaching from the left]
Charles tensed.
"Um… guys? Something's coming."
Kyren nodded.
"Scout?"
Jonah crouched.
"I hear it too—movement!"
A moment later—
GRRAAAA—!!
Three small goblin-like creatures burst out of the bushes.
Shadow Goblins.
F-rank.
Fast.
Ugly.
Kyren charged forward.
"Liam—front with me!"
The two clashed head-on.
Jonah flanked from the side, daggers flashing.
Mira fired a shaky mana bolt, hitting a goblin in the shoulder.
Charles stayed back, hands trembling.
But his team—
They fought well.
Better than he expected.
Still—
"Ah—Liam, behind you!"
A goblin raised its claws—
Charles instinctively lifted his hand.
"Holy Fortitude!"
A ripple of golden light spread over the entire team.
Liam's posture shifted—
Mira gasped—
Kyren blinked in shock—
The buff was small.
Very, very small.
A "normal" bishop-level boost.
But even at minimum power, Charles's divine-enhanced version was stronger than expected.
Liam's shield felt lighter.
Kyren's spear thrust faster.
Jonah's footwork sharpened.
Mira's mana pool expanded.
Kyren frowned mid-swing.
"…What the—?"
Jonah yelled, "Why do I feel so FAST all of a sudden!?"
Mira blinked at her hands.
"My magic feels… easier?"
Liam blocked a goblin effortlessly.
"This buff is stronger than standard training level…"
Charles panicked.
"Oh—uh—side effect! My Bishop class… fluctuates! Because I'm, uh, new! Haha!"
Kyren narrowed his eyes like a hawk studying prey.
"Fluctuates?"
"Y-yes! Totally normal! Very unstable! Very weak!"
Jonah nodded slowly.
"…This is unstable?"
Charles internally screamed.
---
The First Heal
Kyren lunged forward—
One of the goblins managed to slash his arm.
"Gh—!"
Charles reacted instantly.
"Light Mend!"
A gentle glow enveloped Kyren's wound—
closing faster than a beginner Bishop should be able to manage.
Kyren looked down at his arm.
Then at Charles.
Then back at his arm.
"…That was too fast."
Charles laughed nervously.
"Haha! Just beginner luck! Happens all the time!"
Mira tilted her head.
"I've trained with Bishop students before… I've never seen one heal this cleanly."
Jonah whispered, "He's hiding something."
Liam didn't say anything.
But his gaze lingered on Charles a second too long.
Charles felt sweat drip down his neck.
Rift chimed privately:
[Host performance too high. Recommend restraining output by 30%]
"I DID restrain it!" Charles whispered.
[Host lied]
"Oh shut up—!"
---
Cleanup
Team Echo defeated the goblins quickly thanks to the buff.
Kyren planted his spear in the dirt.
"These monsters shouldn't have felt this easy."
Jonah nodded.
"Yeah… I felt like I was moving smoother than usual."
Mira: "And my mana didn't drain at all…"
They all looked at Charles.
Charles froze like a deer in headlights.
"A-ah… haha… beginner Bishop boost! Don't worry! It'll wear off! I'm super normal!"
Kyren's eyes narrowed even more.
"…You're not normal."
Liam finally spoke.
"Whatever it is… talk to us before the boss room."
Charles swallowed.
Hard.
"Y-yes. Of course. Totally."
---
Rift Beast's Presence
Suddenly—
A cold pulse vibrated through Charles's chest.
Rift flared in warning.
[Danger]
[Rift Beast has noticed a faint echo of Host's presence]
[Concealment weakening]
Charles's blood turned to ice.
Not now.
Not with his team watching him.
Not when they already suspected something.
He forced his face calm.
"We… should keep moving."
Liam nodded.
"Stay close. No one breaks formation."
Kyren kept glancing at Charles's hands.
Jonah kept glancing at Charles's glowing wrist.
Mira kept glancing at Charles's golden aura.
Charles kept silently screaming inside.
Team Echo stepped deeper into the forest.
And the Rift Beast…
watched.
---