Just as Cole turned toward the last teammate, ready to call them out, a loud voice cut through the air.
"It's time!! Head into the dungeon!!" a man in a military uniform shouted, his command echoing across the site. The surrounding chatter died instantly, replaced by a tense silence.
Every hunter's attention shifted toward the dungeon entrance. The moment they had been waiting for had finally arrived.
Cole flinched slightly at the sudden interruption, then quickly regained himself. Without wasting another second, he turned and began walking toward the massive entrance.
He raised a hand, signaling for his teammates to follow. "Come on! The dungeon isn't gonna close itself!!" he called out, his voice filled with energy. One by one, the others started moving.
The group rushed forward, boots crunching against loose gravel and debris. Despite starting later than the others, Zachary walked at his own pace—calm, unhurried. Yet somehow, step by step, he overtook them. By the time they reached the entrance, he was already there.
Standing beside Cole.
The dungeon loomed before them, vast and ominous.
A powerful wind surged outward from the entrance, brushing violently against their clothes and hair. But it wasn't ordinary wind.
There was a strange weight to it, something that made the air feel thicker, heavier. It pressed against their bodies in a way that felt unnatural.
"Mana… it takes the form of strong winds," Cole said, his voice steady.
He didn't turn his head.
Yet somehow, he spoke as if he already knew Zachary was standing beside him.
"Woah… cool," Zachary said with a small chuckle, clearly intrigued.
Suddenly—
"EEKK!" Cole yelped, jumping slightly in place as he finally turned his head.
"Damn! You scared me there… Zachary," he added, letting out an embarrassed laugh as he scratched the back of his head.
Zachary blinked, confused for a moment. "What do you mean? I thought you already noticed me?" he said, tilting his head slightly.
Then, a quiet giggle escaped him, soft and almost playful.
For a brief moment, the tension around the dungeon eased.
But only for a second.
Cole stepped forward without hesitation and reached out toward the dungeon entrance. As his hand passed through the swirling blue frame, the energy rippled and bent around his arm like liquid reacting to touch.
For a brief second, it looked as if the portal resisted him—then it gave way. Without looking back, he pushed through completely. His figure vanished, swallowed by the shifting light.
Zachary followed right after.
The moment he stepped through, a surge of mana rushed over his entire body.
It felt like walking straight into a storm, the energy pressing against his skin and clothes. His unzipped jacket fluttered wildly, pulled by currents that didn't belong to any natural wind.
For a split second, his vision blurred—then everything snapped back into focus.
He stood inside what looked like the interior of an abandoned castle.
Cracked stone walls stretched endlessly, dim and lifeless, as if the place had been forgotten for centuries. The air was cold and heavy, carrying a faint scent of decay.
Shadows clung to every corner, swallowing whatever light tried to exist. The silence felt unnatural, like something was waiting just out of sight.