For three heartbeats, nothing came through them.
Max stood beside Anna in the empty dance hall while white light filled every portal arch around the Sanctuary. He had expected an attack, an announcement, or some impossible creature stepping into the room.
Instead, the interface already open in front of him changed.
[First Champion Challenge]
[Objective: Prevent the capture of your dungeon core for seven days.]
[Participation in the opposing force will remain open for the duration of the challenge.]
[Dungeon Defense State Active.]
[Normal combat-floor instancing has been suspended. Registered attackers will enter one complete defensive territory through the outer boundary of Level One. The Sanctuary and all civilian arrival routes are excluded.]
[At midnight, defeated registered attackers and defeated dungeon entities will be restored.]
