The corridor opened into a wide chamber. Shadows danced across the walls, and the air was thick with the scent of damp stone and something… alive.
Riven's eyes scanned the room instantly. "There are six monsters," he whispered, voice tight with tension. "Three ghouls… two giant rats… and one armored crawling beast near the back."
Kael nodded slightly, absorbing the information. Perfect. I can create the quests now.
In Kael's mind, he silently activated the system:
[Quest — Riven Holt]Objective: Deal damage to all ghouls and survive the first waveEffect: Reflex and combat awareness enhancement
[Quest — Lyra Tane]Objective: Hit every moving target accurately from a distance and assist teammatesEffect: Marksmanship and focus enhancement
[Quest — Taren Vale]Objective: Tank damage from the armored crawling beast and protect teammatesEffect: Strength and defensive skill enhancement
[Quest — Calen Vire]Objective: Use speed and agility to flank and disrupt monstersEffect: Agility and precision enhancement
[Quest — Kael Draven]Objective: Coordinate team, deal damage strategically, and ensure all F-ranks surviveEffect: Leadership and combat skill enhancement
The F-ranks had no idea. To them, Kael had just given a simple task: "Fight and survive."
The monsters noticed them instantly. The ghouls hissed, claws scraping stone. Giant rats squeaked, teeth gnashing. The armored crawling beast moved slowly but heavily, blocking the far exit.
"Engage!" Kael commanded, stepping forward with knives in hand.
Riven darted to intercept a ghoul, dodging its claws and landing a sharp strike. Lyra loosed arrows in perfect rhythm. Taren Vale braced against the armored crawling beast. Calen Vire flitted around the edges, flanking and distracting.
Minutes passed. Each monster fell one by one. Then, a soft chime sounded only in Kael's mind:
[Quest Complete — First Wave]
Kael's eyes flicked up, lips twitching faintly. All four completed their objectives perfectly.
The F-ranks staggered back, panting, bruised—but none of them noticed the chime. All they felt was… power.
Riven grinned, fists trembling. "I… I feel… awesome! My reflexes… everything feels faster!"
Lyra nodded, breathless. "I can see their movements before they even attack… everything feels sharper!"
Taren Vale flexed his fingers. "My strikes feel stronger… my defense… better."
Calen Vire laughed quietly, exhilarated. "I moved faster than I thought I could… I can react instinctively!"
Kael's lips curved faintly. Exactly as planned. They're growing without knowing why. The system is silent… but their power is real.
They collected loot from the fallen monsters—coins, equipment, and materials. Step by step, the F-ranks were beginning their journey—not just toward D-rank, but toward the guild and power Kael envisioned.
The dungeon had opened its doors to them, and already, the world was beginning to change.