The second floor of the dungeon felt completely different.
The moment they stepped inside, the air turned heavier, colder, and far more dangerous than before. The walls were darker, the ground uneven, and the silence… felt unnatural.
Igna walked carefully beside the others, his new dagger hanging at his side. Every step he took felt more confident than before, but deep inside, a small uneasiness remained.
Something about this floor felt wrong.
They hadn't walked far when the first wave appeared.
A swarm of dungeon devil bats rushed toward them from above. These were far larger than the ones on the first floor—faster, sharper, and far more aggressive.
The moment they attacked, Igna reacted.
He moved forward, dodging the first strike, but one of the bats managed to bite into his shoulder before he could counter.
Pain shot through his body.
He clenched his teeth and struck back, cutting it down.
The others moved immediately.
Stela's lightning tore through the sky, wiping out dozens at once. May moved like a blur, cutting through the swarm, while Maxe supported them from behind, healing and boosting their strength.
Within moments, the area was cleared.
Maxe quickly handed Igna a potion.
Maxe: "Drink this."
Igna didn't argue. He drank it, feeling the pain fade almost instantly.
He exhaled slowly.
Igna: "…Thanks."
Maxe smiled softly.
They continued forward, facing more monsters along the way. Two Goblin Generals appeared, but this time, the fight was smoother. Igna moved better, faster, his attacks sharper than before. He was adapting.
Growing.
But even then—
That strange feeling didn't go away.
Then—
Maxe suddenly stopped.
Her expression changed.
Pale.
Shaken.
Maxe: "Wait…"
May turned immediately.
May: "What is it?"
Maxe's voice trembled slightly.
Maxe: "I feel… something wrong…"
The air grew heavier.
Even Igna could feel it now.
A pressure.
Like something massive was moving.
Then—
It happened.
A loud roar echoed through the entire floor.
The ground shook violently.
And from every direction—
Monsters appeared.
Hundreds.
No—
Thousands.
They weren't attacking.
They were running.
Rampaging.
Like something had driven them insane.
The entire dungeon turned into chaos.
May: "Run!"
There was no hesitation.
No plan.
Only survival.
They started running at full speed.
Maxe raised her hand, casting a spell that boosted their speed drastically.
The wind rushed past them as they moved through the tunnels, monsters crashing around them, destroying everything in their path.
Maxe: "Don't stop!"
May: "Something triggered this… this isn't normal!"
Igna looked back for a moment.
The sight froze him.
Monsters from deeper floors were mixed in.
Creatures that shouldn't even be here.
(What is happening…?)
They spotted a small opening ahead.
Without slowing down, they rushed inside.
May and Stela pushed a large rock to block the entrance.
For a moment—
Silence.
Heavy breathing filled the space.
Igna leaned against the wall.
His heart pounding.
Igna: "What… was that…?"
May clenched her fist.
May: "Someone messed with something they shouldn't."
Maxe looked around nervously.
Maxe: "We can't stay here…"
Then—
A crack.
The wall trembled.
Another hit—
Stronger.
The monsters had found them.
The wall shattered.
The fight began instantly.
May rushed forward, her blade cutting through the first wave. Stela followed, unleashing lightning to hold them back. Maxe supported from behind, her magic pushing them to their limits.
Igna fought as well.
But this—
This was different.
Too many.
Too fast.
Too overwhelming.
Maxe: "We have to reach the first floor!"
May: "Move!"
They broke through the crowd and started running again.
Stela stayed behind for a moment—
Holding the monsters back.
She raised her hand.
A massive surge of lightning exploded outward, forming a barrier that slowed the incoming wave.
Then she turned and ran.
But it wasn't enough.
The monsters kept coming.
Closer.
Closer.
Maxe suddenly stopped.
Her eyes widened in fear.
Maxe: "They're too close—"
Before she could finish—
A massive figure appeared behind her.
A Minotaur.
Its blade swung down.
Too fast.
Too sudden.
Slash
Everything slowed.
Igna's eyes widened.
Blood.
It splashed across his face.
Warm.
Heavy.
Maxe's body fell.
Silence filled his mind.
Igna: "Ma…xe…?"
His voice barely came out.
Before he could react—
Another shadow moved.
The Minotaur struck again
Slash
Stela.
Her body froze for a second.
Then—
She collapsed.
Igna's vision blurred.
His body trembled.
Memories flooded his mind.
Her laughter.
Her teasing.
Her voice—
"Little brother."
Everything broke.
May: "IGNAA!"
She grabbed him and pulled him away, forcing him to move.
Igna didn't resist.
He couldn't.
His mind had stopped working.
Just as the monsters were about to reach them—
A powerful force cut through the battlefield.
Blades flashed.
Magic exploded.
A group of adventurers appeared.
An SS-rank team.
They pushed back the monsters instantly.
Creating an opening.
May and Igna were pulled out.
Saved.
But Igna didn't react.
He didn't speak.
He didn't move.
His eyes stayed empty.
The last thing he remembered—
Was Stela's hand.
Patting his head.
Then—
Darkness.