Zaraf and his party stepped into the dungeon, moving deeper into the dark tunnels.

  Monsters appeared from the shadows.

  Before they could get close—

  Whoosh!

  Several powerful arrows flew through the air.

  The archer had already moved.

  Her arrows pierced through multiple monsters, dropping half of them instantly.

  The remaining monsters rushed forward, but the tanker stepped ahead, raising his shield.

  Clang!

  The monsters crashed against him but could not pass.

  Zaraf stepped forward calmly.

  Wind gathered around his sword.

  With a single motion—

  Slash.

  Wind blades flew outward.

  The monsters' limbs and necks were sliced apart instantly.

  Bodies collapsed across the ground.

  Silence returned to the dungeon.

  Their party worked smoothly together.

  They continued moving deeper.

  Deep inside the dungeon.

  "...How long has it been since we fell underground?"

  A weak voice echoed.

  "No one is coming..."

  The healer looked exhausted, sweat running down her face.

  "I… I can't heal his leg any longer!"

  Nearby, a man was trapped under rubble, barely breathing.

  The main attacker clenched his fists.

  "You have to hold on just a little longer."

  His voice was tense.

  "I know Master Ben will come… so just keep healing his leg under the rubble. Don't let him die on us."

  The healer snapped back in frustration.

  "I am not Makima! I can't heal someone forever!"

  The main attacker froze for a moment.

  Then he sighed.

  "...I know."

  He looked at her.

  "But she is different… and you are different."

  His voice became firm again.

  "So just save him until Master Ben comes."

  Back in the dungeon corridors.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Zaraf walked beside Makima.

  "How much longer do we have?" he asked.

  Makima replied calmly.

  "A little more. Then we can go deeper."

  Zaraf looked at her.

  "...So you have come here before?"

  Makima nodded slowly.

  "As you suspected… yes."

  Her eyes turned distant.

  "But that was a long time ago… then I—"

  "Hey!"

  The archer suddenly interrupted.

  "We need to move quickly!"

  Zaraf frowned.

  "We are moving quickly."

  "It doesn't look that way!"

  The tanker groaned loudly.

  "Ahh… don't start again."

  He shook his head.

  "Because of you two, we can never do proper dungeon raids."

  The archer scoffed.

  "It's because they don't know how to work!"

  Makima stayed silent.

  Zaraf took a deep breath.

  His hand slowly moved to the sword at his waist.

  And suddenly—

  He remembered something from the day before.

  Flashback

  Ben stood in front of Zaraf.

  "Looks like the time has come to choose your fighting style."

  Zaraf tilted his head.

  "Style of fighting?"

  Ben nodded.

  "It means deciding how you want to fight."

  He crossed his arms.

  "It will also help your element grow stronger."

  "Do you want to use a weapon… or fight differently?"

  Zaraf looked curious.

  "So what do you use?"

  Ben smiled slightly.

  "...My fists."

  "I don't need a weapon."

  Zaraf nodded slowly.

  "That's good… but I think it will be easier for me to use a weapon."

  Ben pointed toward a rack of weapons.

  "Then choose one."

  "And prepare to battle me."

  Zaraf looked across the weapons.

  Spears.

  Daggers.

  Axes.

  But suddenly—

  One weapon caught his eye.

  A sword.

  Makima noticed his gaze.

  "So this is what you are going to use?"

  Zaraf nodded.

  "Yes."

  "My weapon will be a sword."

  Present

  Monsters suddenly rushed toward them from the darkness.

  The archer and tanker were still arguing and didn't notice.

  Zaraf took a deep breath.

  His hand moved to his sword.

  Wind began gathering around the blade.

  He slowly pulled it out.

  The sword became wrapped in wind, making the edge sharper and deadlier.

  Then—

  Slash.

  A wave of wind shot forward.

  Monsters in the distance were cut down instantly.

  The archer and tanker froze.

  The tanker blinked.

  "So… who were you saying doesn't know how to work?"

  The archer clicked her tongue.

  "Tch."

  The group continued deeper.

  But something felt wrong.

  There were no footprints.

  No signs of the missing party.

  Zaraf frowned.

  "What happened to them?"

  "This is where they went missing, right?"

  Makima nodded.

  "Yes."

  "The Vice Guild Master told us this was the location."

  The archer looked irritated.

  "Tch! What now?"

  Zaraf opened his mouth.

  "We should look aro—"

  Suddenly—

  ROOOAAAARRRR!!

  A terrifying roar echoed through the dungeon.

  It was not a normal monster.

  It sounded like a boss.

  Zaraf narrowed his eyes.

  "Where did that sound come from?"

  The Missing Party

  The healer trembled.

  "What… was that sound?"

  The main attacker gripped his sword tightly.

  His face turned serious.

  Suddenly—

  Boom.

  A huge monster stepped forward from the darkness.

  It had massive arms and a long, thick tail.

  The ground shook under its weight.

  The situation was hopeless.

  One member was trapped under rubble.

  The healer was exhausted.

  Only two people remained to fight.

  The main attacker.

  And the magic user.

  The main attacker raised his sword.

  "We need to stop it from getting close to the healer and the injured tanker!"

  The magic user nodded quickly.

  "I will cast a spell to slow the monster!"

  "You need to kill it during that time!"

  The main attacker charged forward.

  The magic user began chanting.

  Her spell finished.

  A large fireball shot toward the monster.

  BOOM.

  But when the flames cleared—

  There was no damage.

  The monster's skin was too strong.

  The main attacker was already close.

  He jumped high into the air and swung his sword.

  CLANG.

  The attack didn't even leave a scratch.

  His eyes widened in shock.

  The monster raised its claws.

  It swung downward.

  The magic user reacted instantly.

  "Shield!"

  A barrier formed around the main attacker.

  CRASH.

  The shield shattered.

  The attack still cut through him.

  Blood spilled.

  The monster slowly turned its head.

  It looked toward the tanker trapped under the rubble.

  And the healer trying to save him.

  Her hands began to tremble.

  She stopped healing.

  Tears filled her eyes.

  They were going to die.

  But suddenly—

  The main attacker stepped in front of her.

  He raised his sword.

  His voice was steady.

  "It's my duty to lead you."

  He looked at the monster.

  "If we are going to die…"

  "Then let me be the first."

  Blood covered his vision.

  The world turned red.

  His sight slowly faded.

  He prepared for his final attack.

  Then—

  A voice echoed from above.

  BOOOOM!!

  The dungeon ceiling exploded.

  Stone and rubble fell everywhere.

  Through the dust—

  A figure stood.

  Wind covered his body.

  A sword rested in his hand.

  The main attacker's eyes widened.

  Hope returned to them.

  He looked at the figure.

  And whispered weakly—

  "Master… Ben?"

  But the one standing there—

  Was Zaraf.