Elise and I sighed. We knew what that meant.Without argument, we took off, sprinting around the courtyard. The first few ps weren't bad. The morning breeze helped keep us cool, but soon, our legs burned, our breaths turned ragged, and the world blurred from sheer exhaustion.Through it all, Sui continued his strange ritual—a dance, a series of flowing movements that seemed both chaotic and precise. His hands swayed like leaves in the wind, his feet barely touching the ground as he shifted back and forth. This time, however, something was different.A faint energy surrounded him.It wasn't elemental—it wasn't fire, wind, water, or anything I could recognize. It was pure, raw power, an unseen force wrapping around him like a second skin.I wanted to ask. I wanted to stop and study him, but my body had other pns.I colpsed first, again.The dirt felt cool against my burning skin. My chest heaved, gasping for air, my arms too weak to even prop myself up. Elise wasn't far behind—she dropped with a grunt, arms spyed out beside her.Sui didn't stop.Not until he noticed us lying there like corpses."Drink the water inside the hut," he said simply, still moving through his motions.Neither of us could reply, only nodding weakly before dragging ourselves to the hut where we knew water waited. The cold liquid burned going down but revived us enough to stay conscious.Just as I thought he'd let us rest longer, his voice rang out again."Do a hundred each of Push-ups, sit-ups, curl-ups. Begin."I groaned but obeyed. Elise muttered something under her breath, probably cursing him, but she complied too.And so the torture continued.Meanwhile, Sui danced on, the energy around him flickering like something alive.And I couldn't help but wonder—what exactly was this man hiding?My muscles ache from exhaustion, my breath still unsteady from the brutal training, but there was no point in compining. Sui wasn't the type to offer sympathy.

  He made us stop, and tell us to drink the water inside the hut again, after resting for a couple of minutes, he simply stretched, arms raised above his head, before zily waving us off."Go on now. The dungeon is waiting for you two."I felt Elise tense beside me, probably just as reluctant to move as I was, but we both knew better than to argue.Sui then added, "Oh, and grab some booze again from that potion maker."I shot him a gre. "We're not your errand boys."Sui just grinned, closing his eyes again like he was about to take another nap. "You know this is not free right, atleast I need some gas to lead your training"I sighed. There was no winning against him.Elise and I dragged our battered bodies out of the training courtyard, making our way through the forge. Orm was still working, hammering away at some weapon that almost looked like an axe, but he gave us a small nod as we passed.We nodded back, a silent goodbye, and stepped out into the streets.The sun had risen higher by now, casting long shadows across the bustling city streets. Vendors called out their wares, the scent of fresh bread and roasted meat filling the air. People moved about, tending to their business, yet as soon as we stepped into the city center, all eyes turned toward us.Whispers began."They're going in again?""No armor… just those old weapons?""Are they suicidal or just stupid?"I ignored them, keeping my expression bnk, but I could feel the weight of their gazes. It wasn't just curiosity—it was disbelief. People didn't dive into dungeons looking like us.Elise, walking beside me, scowled at the murmurs but didn't say anything either.She was used to being watched, but this was different. This was judgment.My eyes instinctively flicked to the usual spot where I'd seen her before—that girl who always seemed to be watching me.But this time… she wasn't there.Either she had already gone into the dungeon… or she wasn't diving today.I wasn't sure why, but I felt an odd sense of disappointment.Still, it didn't matter.With a final gnce at the city behind us, Elise and I stepped into the dungeon entrance once more, ready to face whatever hell awaited inside.

  As soon as we crossed the threshold, the air changed.

  The moment the dungeon walls swallowed us, the chaotic sounds of the city faded into eerie silence. A familiar damp, earthy scent clung to the air, mingling with the metallic tang of old blood.

  The wide cavern stretched before us, its high ceilings disappearing into the darkness, jagged rock formations casting deep, ominous shadows.

  I exhaled slowly, rolling my sore shoulders. Every muscle in my body screamed in protest. The morning training had already drained us, and now we were about to fight for our lives again.

  Elise, standing beside me, adjusted her grip on her crude, battle-worn mace. Her breathing was steady, but I could see the tension in her stance. She was just as exhausted as I was.

  Still, neither of us hesitated.

  The dungeon wasn't going to wait for us to be ready.

  And then—movement.

  The shadows stirred.

  A low snarl echoed off the stone walls.

  Goblins.

  Emerging from the darkness, their green skin glistened under the faint blue glow of the dungeon crystals. There were six of them—filthy, hunched creatures, their yellowed teeth bared in wicked grins. Their crude weapons—**rusted daggers, chipped swords, and makeshift clubs—**gleamed with dried blood.

  But among them stood something worse.

  An elite goblin, its small body covered in mismatched iron armor, gripping a jagged bde far sharper than anything we had. Its beady red eyes locked onto us, and it let out a guttural hiss.

  Elise let out a breath. "Just our luck."

  I smirked despite the pain. "At least they're not twenty this time."

  She didn't ugh. Neither did the goblins.

  They charged.

  Elise moved first.

  With a grunt of effort, she stepped forward, lifting her heavy mace despite her fatigue. A goblin swung at her—a dagger aimed for her ribs. But she turned just in time, the bde gncing off her forearm as she retaliated, smming the goblin's head with a sickening crack.

  It crumpled instantly.

  But the others didn't stop.

  A goblin lunged at me, its rusted sword sshing toward my throat.

  I ducked, barely avoiding the bde, but my body screamed in protest. Too slow. Too stiff.

  The goblin shrieked and attacked again.

  I had no choice.