At noon, the sun blazed overhead as Kael walked along the roadside. "Everything feels… good today," he muttered to himself, calm and collected.
Suddenly, his smartphone rang.
"Hellooo, it's me, Kaito. Kael!" the voice called.
Kael raised an eyebrow. "What is it?" he asked, his tone casual.
Kaito chuckled. "There's a small party at the guild today, for invited members only. You're on the list. I'll text you the restaurant address." Before Kael could respond, Kaito ended the call.
Kael stared down at his screen. "Everything… is unexpected," he said with a heavy sigh.
A system notification appeared before his eyes.
[Mission Triggered]
Mission: Clear Dungeon
Rewards: Eclipse Arsenal
Kael rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Eclipse Arsenal… what is that?" he murmured, puzzled.
Suddenly, the world shifted around him, and he found himself standing in the center of a massive dungeon.
"Let's begin the game, then," he said confidently. A blue flame sword appeared in his hand.
A pack of massive, feral wolves emerged, their eyes glowing with hunger and malice.
"These guys are really hungry," Kael observed calmly—and then dashed forward. Lightning danced around him as his blade sliced through the first wave. In an instant, their heads tumbled to the ground.
"That was… quite easy," he muttered, wiping wolf blood from his cheek.
"Let's see what's next," he added, stepping deeper into the darkness.
Meanwhile, Yumiko sat elegantly behind her desk.
"What about today's party?" she asked, glancing at her secretary.
The secretary smiled faintly, tapping her tablet. "I've cleared your schedule for tomorrow. You have a free day ahead."
Yumiko crossed her arms beneath her chest, leaning back and staring at the ceiling. "We need to keep tabs on Sajutoro's guild. They can't be allowed to gather information about us… or Kael."
Her secretary nodded calmly. "There's nothing to worry about, Ma'am. None of their guild members are near us, so information gathering isn't a threat—yet."
Yumiko frowned, flipping through a file. "True… but after what happened in that dungeon, they might try anyway."
Back in the dungeon, Kael surveyed the pile of slain monsters, wiping the blood from his shirt. "This is going to be a pain to clean," he muttered.
Xion approached, kneeling respectfully. "I've slain all the monsters, My Lord," he declared.
Kael nodded, looking down at him. "You are… very powerful," he said, patting Xion on the shoulder.
Across the room, Talus was hammering a monster corpse with unrestrained energy. "Crush… CRUSH!" he bellowed, each strike echoing through the dungeon.
Aurelia's patience snapped. She crossed her arms under her chest, glaring at him. "Stop it, animal."
Kael chuckled dramatically. "He's already dead, Talus."
Talus froze mid-swing, glancing at Kael. "Did I complete my work perfectly, My Lord?" he asked, voice respectful.
Kael studied the mangled corpses before giving a small, hesitant smile. "Yes… perfectly."
Talus let out a triumphant roar, kneeling in devotion. "As you command, My Lord!"
Aurelia pouted, stepping forward to grasp Kael's hand. "Don't let him impress you, My Lord. Only I have that privilege," she said sweetly, resting her head against his shoulder.
Xion's eyes narrowed. "Someone's coming," he whispered, gripping his sword.
Kael met his gaze. A massive shadow loomed in the darkness. "Could be the dungeon master," he said, walking forward confidently.
Aurelia drew her sword midair. "On your command, My Lord," she said, positioning herself behind him. Xion flanked Kael, ready for the strike.
The dungeon trembled as an eight-foot-tall monstrosity appeared, its steps shaking the ground.
"We have to kill it," Kael said coolly, slicing off the monster's legs effortlessly.
"That looked easy," he added, wiping blood from his blade.
The creature regenerated instantly and slammed its fist into the floor. Talus roared, striking the monster's arm until it burst. "Crush… CRUSH!"
Aurelia stepped forward, slicing the monster's limb into pieces. "It's big, but… manageable," she said confidently.
Xion dashed behind it, slicing the body cleanly in half. "That's great," Kael nodded.
Then, with a swift teleport, Kael decapitated the monster, its head rolling across the dungeon floor.
"We did it," Aurelia whispered sweetly, smiling.
Before they could celebrate, another monster ambushed Talus, punching him hard enough to slam him against the wall.
Kael's calm faltered. "Talus! Are you okay?"
Talus groaned but rose. "It's strong… but it still needs crushing," he growled, fists clenched.
Xion stepped forward, his sword pointing at the incoming threat. "He will pay," he said, his voice cold and precise.
Kael teleported, striking the monster's head. Aurelia unleashed a torrent of blue flames, engulfing it completely. Six more monsters appeared.
"There's more," Kael muttered.
Xion's eyes blazed red. He tore through them, ripping a monster's head off and smashing it with brutal force. "You can't stop me," he said to another who lunged at him. With a sharp tug, he crushed its face beneath his boot.
Kael struck one down by cutting its neck, but a punch sent him flying into the wall. "My Lord!!" his companions shouted in unison.
Xion's voice changed, low and dangerous. "You're finished." He teleported in front of the monster, crushing its face with a single punch.
Aurelia summoned an army of swords, raining them down on the creature. "You will pay!" she shouted, her voice filled with fury. Her smile was cold, almost inhuman, as blood spattered across her face.
Talus glowed red with rage, hammering the monster repeatedly. "CRUSH!!" he screamed, each blow echoing like a war drum.
Kael approached, weakly smiling. "I… used the invisible shield I obtained from the last dungeon," he said, surveying the carnage.
Xion looked at him in disbelief as his sword slipped from his hands. "My Lord… you're alive?"
Kael's expression remained flat. "Why? Did something happen? I merely fainted from overusing mana," he replied, deadpan.
Aurelia teleported to him, wrapping him in a tight embrace. "You're alive, My Lord," she whispered sweetly.
Talus continued hammering the monster corpse. "CRUSH!!"
Kael groaned. "Someone… stop him," he muttered.
Xion glanced at him. "He won't stop until the dungeon disappears automatically—when he crushes the monster's neck into two pieces," he explained, resigned.
After several hours, Kael arrived at the restaurant, his dark blue suit perfectly pressed, the fabric catching the dim glow of the streetlights.
"That… might be the place," he murmured to himself, scanning the entrance before stepping inside. The scent of grilled seafood and delicate spices filled the air, mingling with the low hum of conversation.
From across the room, Kaito spotted him immediately. Waving confidently from a corner table, he called out, "Kael! Over here!"
Kael's gaze met Kaito's, and he made his way across the polished wooden floor, the sound of his shoes echoing softly. Sliding into the seat across from him, he nodded.
"Finally, you're here," Yumiko said, her eyes sharp and unyielding, locking onto Kael with a seriousness that made the air around her feel heavier.
Kael raised an eyebrow, a hint of doubt flickering across his features. "What happened?" he asked, voice calm but curious.
Yumiko leaned slightly forward, her hands clasped together atop the table. "We need to keep a close eye on Sajutoro's guild. After seeing you handle that dungeon… I have no doubt he'll attempt something. That was a B-rank dungeon, and you completed it alone—saving those minors in the process," she said sharply, each word deliberate, laced with caution.
Kael allowed a small, calm smile to tug at his lips. "Then we'll keep watch on them," he said confidently, his tone steady, unshaken by her intensity.
Kaito, oblivious to the tension in the air, picked up a piece of sushi and chewed thoughtfully. "Mmm… this is really good," he said happily, a contented grin spreading across his face.
Rieko, ever composed, slid a glass of deep red wine toward Kael. "Why don't you try it?" she asked, her voice smooth and serene.
Kael looked down at the glass, then back at her, a small smile of polite refusal forming. "I don't drink," he said, confident, the subtle finality of his words leaving no room for argument.
The four of them sat in quiet tension for a moment, the low chatter of the restaurant a stark contrast to the silent storm of strategies and unspoken concerns circling their table. Outside, the world continued unaware of the looming conflicts—and the calculated eyes of those watching Kael from the shadows.
Elsewhere, Sajutoro sat behind the large mahogany desk of his office, the city lights casting a faint glow through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The room was immaculate, every file and device perfectly organized, reflecting the meticulous nature of its occupant.
"We need to keep an eye on them," Sajutoro said, his voice calm but carrying an unmistakable edge of authority.
His secretary, standing attentively nearby, nodded with a composed smile. "Absolutely, Sir. We need to monitor the Slayer Guild closely. And we also need to be prepared for the upcoming Hunter Corporation meeting—it will be happening soon," she said energetically, her words precise and confident.
Sajutoro inclined his head slightly, a subtle acknowledgment. "You're always thinking ahead," he remarked, his tone measured and calm, betraying no hint of worry.
The secretary's smile softened. "It's my responsibility to stay vigilant—for you, and for the guild, Sir," she said softly, her gaze steady, reflecting both loyalty and quiet determination.
Sajutoro leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled, eyes narrowing ever so slightly as he contemplated the coming moves. Every shadow could hide a threat, every alliance a potential betrayal. In the game of guilds and hunters, one misstep could cost everything.