Rain had started again by the time Jace stepped back onto the streets. Chicago was a city that never really slept, and tonight it was awake in ways he hadn't seen before. Streetlights reflected off the puddles, making the asphalt seem alive, twitching with faint energy he could feel pulsing under the surface. The System hummed in his chest, a steady thrum, like a heartbeat that belonged to something bigger than him.
Avery walked beside him, umbrella in one hand, coffee in the other. "You've got the guild briefing," she said casually, as if talking about a menu instead of the difference between survival and death. "Now you see the bigger problem. Shadows are easy—they follow rules. Humans? Humans are chaotic."
Jace frowned. "You mean rival guilds?"
"Exactly." She tilted her head toward the docks, where the neon of a rival faction's sign flickered in the night: Iron Fang Mercenary Guild. The name wasn't subtle, and neither were the rumors. "They've been poking at Level 3 and 4 dungeons for weeks, sometimes 'accidentally' hitting areas Brew & Blade considers under our control. Not a smart move. If they see you, Harlow… you're the rookie everyone wants to test."
The Pack stirred faintly in Jace's chest, sensing something he hadn't even seen yet: the ripple of hostile aura. He kept his hood low and adjusted his pace.
"Why me?" he muttered. "Why not send a team of actual seasoned adventurers?"
Avery smirked. "Because you're a wildcard, Pack user. You're unpredictable. And right now, unpredictability is valuable. You survive, you gain experience. Fail… and the guild loses more than just a rookie."
She led him down an alley toward a collapsed warehouse, the scene of tonight's Level 4 dungeon spawn. The walls were cracked, glass glittering like frost. System sensors pulsed faintly as they approached:
Dungeon detected: Level 4 – Spawn unstable
Potential Hazard: Shadow anomaly + human interference
"Unstable?" Jace asked.
"Spawn collapsed last week because of interference," Avery said. "Two rival adventurers tried soloing it. Neither walked away. A pack of Hunter Shadows was the least of their problems. The dungeon itself… it adapts."
Jace blinked. "Adapts?"
"Dungeons aren't just static traps," she said, crouching to examine faint scorch marks. "Aura imbalances, failed hunts, human interaction—they all feed into the dungeon's intelligence. That's why it's Level 4 tonight instead of Level 3. The dungeon remembers."
Jace's fingers brushed his chest. The Pack hummed, anticipating the challenge. "So, it's like… fighting a living puzzle that learns?"
"Exactly. And this puzzle… wants to chew humans alive," Avery said, tone deadpan.
From the shadows of the alley, movement flickered—faster than any human. Two figures stepped into the weak glow of the streetlights. Iron Fang. Not subtle. Two adventurers in black leather and red insignias, weapons glinting. They didn't ask questions.
"You're Harlow?" the taller one asked, eyes scanning him like he was prey. "Level 2? You're in way over your head."
Jace's Pack reacted instantly, claws rippling beneath the surface of his hoodie. Hunger. Instinct. But he swallowed it. Control. He didn't attack.
"Depends on who's defining over your head," Avery said, stepping slightly forward. "We don't want a fight—yet."
The shorter Iron Fang adventurer laughed. "We never need a reason. The guild said anyone interfering in our zones gets taken out. You? Rookie or not? You're in our way."
Jace's vision sharpened, the System pulsing faintly:
Pack Sync Available – Level 2 Bond Active
Warning: Human threat detected – tactics unknown
Avery hissed under her breath. "Rookie, don't show teeth yet. Observe."
But observation didn't mean inaction. The taller rival lunged first, a flash of steel aimed at Avery. Jace moved instinctively, Pack instincts guiding him as he blocked the strike, aura flaring in response. Shadows flickered faintly at the edges of the alley, drawn by the concentrated human conflict.
The fight was short, brutal, and messy. Not a dungeon spawn. Not a mindless shadow. Real humans, with real intent to kill—or at least, assert dominance. Avery coordinated, calling out weaknesses, creating aura barriers. The rogue and tank from earlier arrived, flanking the Iron Fang pair. Jace felt the Pack pulse again, urging precision rather than recklessness.
When the two rivals finally withdrew, leaving faint scorch marks and a bruised sense of ego behind, Avery muttered, "Congratulations. You survived your first faction test."
Jace's chest throbbed, Pack resting but aware. "That was… different," he said.
Avery smirked, leading him back toward the main streets. "Shadows taught you control. Dungeons taught you strategy. Humans? Humans teach lessons you won't forget. And they're far worse than shadows when they decide to bite."
Jace swallowed. He was starting to understand. Chicago wasn't just a city of monsters. It was a battleground, a system, and he—wild instincts and all—was now a piece on the board.
And from the corner of his vision, he could feel it. The city was alive, watching, calculating. Not just the guilds, not just the System—it was something else. Waiting.