Team tunnel 2...
On the other hand, this team entered with unwavering confidence, their bravado echoing through the cavernous halls. But confidence alone was not enough. One by one, their arrogance crumbled, replaced by terror as the relentless onslaught of shadow wolves tore through their ranks.
Blades clashed, spells erupted, yet for every beast they felled, another emerged from the darkness. Their formation broke, their teamwork unraveled, and soon, survival became an individual struggle rather than a coordinated effort.
As despair took hold, those who could no longer fight—bodies battered, breath ragged—felt an unseen force wrap around them. In an instant, they vanished, teleported out of the battlefield. One by one, the wounded and the dying were spirited away, their broken forms appearing in the Safe Area, also known as the Preparation Stem.
None knew exactly how it worked, only that the instructors possessed a mysterious skill—one that plucked them from the jaws of death the moment their will to fight faltered. Some disappeared as they cradled shattered limbs; others collapsed mid-scream, only to awaken moments later in safety.
By the end, the battlefield was silent. The Tunnel 2 team had been wiped out, not by death, but by sheer, unrelenting defeat. They weren't ready either.They face the same unfortunate situation as Team 1.
But the fate of Tunnel 3 and Tunnel 4 teams was an entirely different story. Though hastily assembled, they moved with a precision that set them apart. Their formation was seamless—the vanguard cutting down foes with practiced ease, while the rearguard ensured no enemy crept too close.
Their prowess was no accident. These warriors carried the weight of past battles, their skills sharpened by hard-earned experience from conflicts beyond the dungeon. A month ago, they had stood on the frontlines of an invasion, facing horrors far greater than the creatures lurking here. That crucible of blood and steel had tempered them, forging a team that needed no time to adjust.
As the shadow wolves lunged, they fell just as swiftly. For Tunnel 3 and Tunnel 4 teams, this was not survival—it was routine.
As Tunnel 3 and Tunnel 4 teams advanced through the winding underground passageways, the flickering torchlight cast long shadows against the damp stone walls. Eventually, they crossed paths, an unspoken agreement forming between them—they would move forward together, if only to ease the burden of uncertainty.
Among Team 3 was Glenn Beak, a young man with an ever-present spark of curiosity. His gaze immediately locked onto a familiar face among the other team—an elf he had tried to recruit earlier. Without hesitation, he strode over.
"Yo!" he called out, his voice carrying a casual warmth.
The elf flinched slightly before composing herself. "Hi..." she replied, her silver eyes measuring him carefully.
"My name's Glenn Beak," he introduced himself properly this time. "And I wanted to apologize for what happened yesterday. I might have come off... a little too persistent."
She hesitated before responding, still somewhat wary, though his sincerity softened her caution. "It's nothing to worry about, really." Her voice was even, polite. "I'm Elaris Faeril. You may call me Elaris."
"Then you can call me Glenn," he grinned. "By the way, where's the guy who invited you? Did you accept his offer?"
"Yes, but before the test began, an instructor called him away." She frowned slightly. "I think they wanted him to sit this one out. He was already qualified."
Glenn blinked. "Seriously? He's that good?"
Elaris nodded, her expression thoughtful. "He's... quite mysterious."
"Is he some kind of hero?" Glenn asked, curiosity piqued." I wouldn't be surprised if he is."
The rest of the group remained busy—some tending to their equipment, others keeping a sharp eye on the tunnel's entrance, ensuring no lurking creatures crept up on them. The vanguard and rearguard stayed in formation, ever watchful.
Elaris hesitated before answering. "I think so. I mean, he has the badge saying he saved the kingdom a month ago—"
"What?!" Glenn nearly choked on his words, cutting her off. "That guy's the hero?! What's he doing in the academy?"
"I... don't know all the details." She exhaled softly. "But his strength and power are beyond our understanding. Simply put, he's in a completely different league. However, he told me once that strength alone isn't what made him great. He used to be weak like us, and knowledge is just as important as power."
Glenn barely registered her words, his mind racing. "I knew he was strong, but I didn't expect him to be a real hero..."
Before they could continue the conversation, their path widened, opening into a cavernous chamber. The tension in the air shifted immediately.
"Aren't they..." one of the vanguard muttered.
"It's Team 5," his partner confirmed grimly. "I can't believe they've made it this far already."
Below them, the battlefield sprawled out in chaos. A relentless swarm of shadow wolves lunged at a team locked in fierce combat. Among them, Eugene and his companions fought with practiced efficiency, but the sheer number of enemies suggested they had been at it for a while.
"We should help them—" Glenn started, but a firm hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Wait." The one who had halted him was Vaelin Stroud, a strong-built warrior with a calculating gaze. "Let's observe first."
Glenn frowned. "But they—"
"Never rush in blindly," Vaelin interrupted. "This is a chance to see how they fight and what we might be up against later."
The rest of their group didn't argue. There was a brutal logic to Vaelin's reasoning. Watching from above, they analyzed how Team 5 handled the relentless onslaught.
"They've been fighting nonstop," someone murmured. "How long have they held this position?"
"Who knows? But those wolves keep respawning..."
Below, Eugene and his team fought with precision, cutting down one beast only for another to take its place. Their movements were fluid but strained. The battle dragged on.
"I guess we should step in now," Vaelin decided, moving forward—only to be stopped in turn.
"Wait!" Ernst Brave, an orange-haired mage with a sharp intellect, raised a hand. "They're about to cast something. If you jump in now, you'll be caught up in it."
"Caught in what?" Glenn demanded, frustration lacing his voice. "They clearly need our help!"
Before anyone could answer, the cavern was suddenly engulfed in an inferno. Flames roared outward, licking at the tunnel's edge. Glenn instinctively shielded his face, but Ernst was already ahead of them, casting a shimmering barrier that deflected the fiery blast harmlessly away.
Gasps echoed through their group.
"What the—"
"That spell... it's a trump card."
The fire dissipated, revealing the battlefield once more. For a moment, all was silent.
"Looks like they handled it," Vaelin remarked, crossing his arms.
"No." Ernst's expression remained sharp. "Something's off."
As if to confirm his suspicions, the wolves regenerated. Their bodies reformed from the darkness, their eyes glowing with renewed hunger. The team below had barely lowered their guard before the beasts lunged again.
"Damn it," Glenn cursed, stepping forward. "Now we have to—"
Ernst didn't wait for him to finish. With a precise incantation, lightning surged from his hands, striking down the leaping wolves mid-air. Their charred remains dissipated before they could reach their exhausted prey.
"Now," Vaelin commanded. "We move."
With that, the two teams finally leaped into battle, their swords flashing, their spells igniting the dark. The endless war of the tunnels continued.