The group followed the coordinates provided by the dungeon system, moving steadily through the crowded district toward the assigned entrance.
Along the way, the male student finally broke the silence, clearly eager to establish some presence.
He walked slightly ahead, hands in his pockets, posture relaxed.
"You're actually pretty lucky today," he said with a grin, glancing back at Fang Yuqing. "Most teams wouldn't accept someone underleveled into a four-star dungeon."
There was a hint of pride in his tone.
"Name's Su Hang. That's Su Yun—my cousin. We're both from Zhongyang Contract Academy. Third years."
Fang Yuqing nodded politely.
"Fang Yuqing. First year. Magic Contract Academy."
Su Hang paused slightly, as if something clicked.
"…Fang Yuqing?" he murmured. "Feels familiar… like I've heard that name somewhere."
Before he could think further, Su Yun rolled her eyes beside him.
"Outdated pickup line," she said flatly. "Don't mind him."
Her gaze shifted subtly toward Yuan Wu.
There was something different about him.
Even with the mask, his white hair and detached presence carried a strange pull. Not flashy, not loud—but impossible to ignore.
A faint trace of envy flickered in her eyes.
"A human-type contract spirit…" she muttered. "That's rare."
Su Hang immediately protested.
"Hey, your contract spirit is A-rank and borderline SR-tier in combat strength. What's there to envy?"
Su Yun snorted.
"You wouldn't understand."
Strength wasn't everything.
Her contract spirit was powerful, yes—but impractical. Massive, overwhelming, impossible to exist beside her outside of battle.
It wasn't companionship.
It was a weapon.
Behind them, Yuan Wu walked lazily, hands behind his head.
"I'm Level 48," he said casually. "And you're still letting us join. Not worried about dead weight?"
Before the humans could respond, the lion spirit spoke.
Arms folded, voice deep and steady.
"No."
It tilted its head slightly, eyes narrowing.
"Because I am strong."
"And she is stronger."
There was no hesitation in its tone.
Only certainty.
Yuan Wu stared at it for a second.
Then—
he burst out laughing.
"A cowboy lion… seriously?"
The lion's aura flickered instantly.
"This is called aesthetic," it growled. "Respect it."
Yuan Wu barely held back another laugh.
"Looks like you walked out of a low-budget western."
The lion's composure cracked completely.
"You—!"
Fang Yuqing quickly tugged Yuan Wu's sleeve.
"Please. We need this team."
He exhaled, forcing his expression back into neutrality.
"…Fine."
But the damage had already been done.
They soon arrived at the dungeon gate.
A staff member stood guard at the entrance, scanning registrations one by one.
Su Yun stepped forward, presenting her device.
After a brief verification, the staff member nodded.
"You're cleared to enter."
Then came the standard warning.
"Each team may enter up to three times per day. Four-star dungeon: enemies above Level 60. Boss Level 80. Possible second-phase mutation. Low probability of red-tier anomaly."
His tone remained calm.
"If the situation becomes uncontrollable, use your teleport crystal immediately. Do not hesitate."
A short pause.
"We are not responsible for casualties."
Su Yun stepped through first.
The others followed.
The world shifted.
Light bent.
Sound faded.
And then—
they arrived.
A deep, ancient forest stretched endlessly in all directions.
Every tree pulsed faintly with blue luminescence, as if infused with some unknown energy. Strange runic symbols floated along the trunks, drifting like living script.
At the center of it all stood a towering blackened tree.
Massive.
Ancient.
Watching.
Its surface was wrapped in glowing inscriptions, radiating a quiet, oppressive divinity.
Below it lay a ruined stone altar, cracked with age yet still intact enough to suggest purpose.
Fang Yuqing stopped involuntarily.
"…So this is it," she whispered. "The Rune Tree."
Her voice carried genuine awe.
"This is where runes are born…"
Su Hang scratched his head.
"Yeah… you guys really are first-timers."
He let out a short laugh.
"First run and you pick four-star? That's bold."
Su Yun didn't respond.
She inhaled slowly.
Then—
summoned.
Space warped beside her.
A colossal figure emerged.
Metal groaned.
The ground shook.
A towering armored titan stepped forward, its body clad in heavy plating, twin weapons mounted across its frame—an axe and a cannon integrated into its structure.
Nearly five meters tall.
A presence that crushed the air itself.
A-Rank.
Level 78.
Armored Titan Beast.
Standing beside it, Su Yun looked almost fragile.
Fang Yuqing finally understood.
Some contracts weren't meant to be companions.
They were built for war.
She instinctively glanced at Yuan Wu.
And for once—
he didn't seem so difficult to deal with.
Yuan Wu noticed immediately.
"…You just compared me to that thing, didn't you?"
Fang Yuqing blinked.
"…How did you know?"
"…Forget it."
"Move," Su Yun said.
She stepped forward toward the altar.
The titan followed, each step sending dull tremors through the ground.
The rest of the group advanced behind her.
The moment they crossed into the altar's center—
the dungeon activated.
A barrier slammed into place.
A low hum filled the air.
And then—
three gates opened.
From the left gate, a skeletal warrior emerged, clad in darkened armor, dragging a long spear across the ground.
"This body decays… but this spear remains."
Level 70 – Corroded Spear Sentinel (Elite)
From the right, another stepped forward—shield raised, white armor cracked but unyielding.
"None shall pass beyond this wall."
Level 70 – Undying Shield Warden (Elite)
Then—
the center gate opened.
A crowned figure walked out slowly.
Cloaked in tattered robes, its skeletal form burned with blue flame. Its empty eye sockets glowed with a deep crimson light.
It raised its blade.
"Death does not end… it only waits."
Level 80 – King of the Nether (Boss)
The air grew heavy.
Even the forest seemed to fall silent.
Su Yun didn't hesitate.
With a single glance, her titan moved forward, shaking the battlefield with every step.
Compared to it—
the skeletal enemies looked insignificant.
Even Yuan Wu raised a brow.
"…That thing looks more like the boss."
The lion spirit stepped forward, shoulder brushing past him.
A grin spread across its muzzle.
"Stay back, human."
"We take the front."
It rolled its shoulders, cracking its joints.
"You just watch."
Yuan Wu paused.
Then slowly stepped backward.
"…Alright."
His tone was almost amused.
He cupped his hands around his mouth like a spectator.
"Go, cowboy lion! Show them your wild aesthetic!"
"And you—big guy—don't lose! Try not to sit on the boss too hard!"
Fang Yuqing covered her face.
This was happening.
Meanwhile—
Yuan Wu's expression shifted ever so slightly.
Lazy.
Relaxed.
Watching.
Not a hint of urgency.
Because to him—
this wasn't a battle.
It was a test.
A test of this dungeon.
A test of this team.
And most importantly—
a test of how far he could go…
without using that form again.