Some time later, we were walking through the forest—Oliver, Ethan, Alice, and me. We didn’t have a destination in mind, nor a clear objective; we were simply moving together, keeping our eyes on the path between the trees. Our priority, after all, was to check out what Alice had found earlier, and only then decide how to reorganize our plans.

According to her own words, it seemed to be a dungeon. She hadn’t gotten too close, nor had she tried to investigate it on her own, afraid she might trigger some mechanism or set off something dangerous while alone.

Either way, it didn’t take long before we arrived in front of a colossal tree. At first glance, it didn’t look that different from the others, but a closer look made the contrast impossible to ignore: its trunk was immensely thicker, and its canopy seemed to swallow the sky, casting a nearly suffocating shadow across the ground.

At the center of its massive base, a large gate stood out, partially covered by damp moss and vines clinging to the rusted metal, as if the forest itself were trying to hide its existence.

Right next to the gate rose a small stone altar, weathered with age. Floating above it was an orb that slowly rotated, radiating a soft glow that illuminated the area. Staring at that sight, Alice, Ethan, Oliver, and I exchanged silent looks, each of us trying to find some explanation for what we were seeing.

Earlier, Alice had mentioned she hadn’t gotten this close, and that maybe she’d been mistaken in her assumption. But now, standing before the gate with the strange orb hovering above the altar, there was no room for doubt—what we had found was, without a doubt, a dungeon.

For context, dungeons seemed to be relatively rare, at least as far as our observations went. Up until now, aside from the one we’d discovered in the sewers, this was only the second we had managed to find.

It’s important to point out that, despite the danger they represent, dungeons also carry a tempting promise: they’re a rich source of experience and rewards. Proof of that lies in the loot I obtained after clearing the last dungeon—treasures that continue to give me significant advantages even now.

While we stood in silence, carefully watching our surroundings, it was Ethan who finally broke the quiet. His voice came out low, almost hesitant, revealing the unease he felt in that place: “This one looks pretty different from the last dungeon we found” he muttered, his eyes scanning the gate as if searching for something familiar.

We didn’t argue with Ethan’s words—because he wasn’t wrong. The gate we had found in the sewers had a rough, stone-like texture. The one before us now, however, was entirely different: it was made of wood, its grain deeply etched, carrying the faint scent of dampness, as though it had been left untouched in some forgotten place for a very long time.

The only explanation that came to mind was that maybe the gate adapted itself to the environment where it appeared, shaping itself to fit the location. Of course, it was just a guess, with no real evidence to back it up. In the end, none of us had explored enough dungeons to draw any solid conclusions.

As I stared at the gate, lost in thought, I felt Oliver’s firm hand on my shoulder. Turning toward him, I saw the determination in his eyes, as if he had already made a decision before speaking. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and declared with conviction: “Either way, let’s check out this dungeon. It’d be a waste to just ignore it. It’s obvious we can gain a lot inside... especially when it comes to items”

Hearing Oliver’s words, Alice, Ethan, and I exchanged a quick glance, silently confirming that we all shared the same thought, before looking back at him and nodding almost in unison.

In the end, Oliver was right. Even though we could buy items from the shop, it didn’t help much since most of them—especially weapons and accessories—were absurdly overpriced.

Honestly, some of the prices were so ridiculous that just looking at them gave me a headache. Among them, there was one item in particular that seemed outright impossible to buy with the little time left in the tutorial, no matter how much you hunted or pushed yourself. Its existence felt more like a cruel taunt than a real opportunity.

Even if I wiped out every single human in the tutorial, it still wouldn’t be enough to cover even 5% of the cost. With that in mind, we gathered and seriously discussed our options.

In the end, there was no doubt: dungeons were the most viable choice. They didn’t just offer the chance to obtain valuable items, but also allowed us to gather resources without running the risk of depleting our PTS.

Once we reached that conclusion, our attention shifted to the orb, hovering a few steps away, glowing with a serene light that pulsed like a living heartbeat. Without delay, we moved closer, each step heavy with silent anticipation.

When we finally stood before the orb, Oliver glanced at us, searching our faces for confirmation that we were ready. One by one, we nodded—some firmly, others with almost imperceptible hesitation.

Satisfied, Oliver took a deep breath and reached out, touching the orb’s ethereal surface. Instantly, a wave of light rippled through the air, and a vast translucent screen unfolded before us, as if reality itself had been pulled apart.

[Dungeon Detected]

Dungeon Name: Sap Sanctuary

Recommended Level: 20

Dungeon Duration: 30 minutes

Objective: Survive

[Rewards:]

1 – 10,000 EXP

2 – Chest: (Uncommon)

3 – 5,000 PT

[Entry Mode: Duo] ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel-fire.net

[Required Classes: Assassin / Arcane Sorcerer]

[Exit Mode: Automatic closure upon completion or failure]

We stared at the glowing text within the orb for several seconds, until I noticed both Ethan and Oliver’s eyes settling on me and Alice. At that exact moment, she and my two bodies—both the male and the female—looked at each other, as if searching for answers.

The confusion was written across our faces, and mine was no less than theirs. This dungeon seemed oddly specific, as if it had been tailored with some hidden intent. Of course, I didn’t have the experience to claim that with certainty, but the feeling was impossible to ignore. Were all dungeons designed this way?

In the end, we stepped back a few paces from the dungeon’s entrance and lingered there, staring at its dark opening as if it were staring back at us. A heavy silence settled among us, thick enough to make the air feel colder. It was in that moment of uncertainty that Alice, her voice low and hesitant, broke the quiet: “So... what do we do?”

But no one answered her question. Or rather, none of us knew what to say. Personally, I didn’t mind entering the dungeon; the idea itself didn’t scare me.

The problem was the memory of the last time I went into one—and back then, the required level was much lower. Even so, I had barely made it out in one piece. Now, facing a level 20 dungeon, it was impossible to predict what awaited inside. Of course, no one there had the slightest clue about my silent thoughts.

After a few moments of silence, Oliver finally spoke. His voice was steady but carried an undeniable weight: “I think we should clear it”

Hearing that, all of us instinctively turned to him. Realizing he had our full attention, he kept his firm posture and continued slowly: “I think this is a good chance for Alice to get stronger. Plus” he paused briefly, making sure his words sank in: “even if we decide not to go in, someone else eventually will”

Oliver’s expression stayed serious as he spoke, but despite the firmness of his tone, the unease on his face was clear. Deep down, no one understood better than him the importance of seizing every opportunity to grow stronger. Still, that didn’t mean he was comfortable pushing us straight into danger.

As we weighed the decision in silence, I raised my hand. The simple gesture was enough to draw the group’s attention back to me.

“I agree with Oliver” I said firmly, my voice breaking the heavy atmosphere: “Personally, I think we should go in”

I pointed toward the dungeon gate, adorned with ancient symbols that seemed to pulse faintly under the dim light, as if waiting for our choice.

“Besides” I added, keeping my eyes on the massive gate: “the dungeon doesn’t seem to specify that both required classes have to enter together. Maybe... I could go in alone”

The moment I let those words slip and looked back at the others, I realized they were all staring at me with worried expressions. Their eyes, fixed on me, felt heavy on my shoulders. Honestly, I was confused... had my words really sounded that strange? To me, it had just been an observation based on our first dungeon, nothing more.

Still, the way they looked at me gave off the feeling that I had crossed some invisible line. In the end, unable to withstand the suffocating silence, I averted my eyes and kept quiet, unsure of how to respond to those stares.

It was Oliver who finally broke the silence. Until then, he had stayed quiet, but now he let out a heavy sigh, full of resignation, as if he had already expected this exact outcome. His voice came low, but firm, echoing between us: “For some reason, I figured you’d say something like that”

Honestly, I had no idea why it felt like I’d made some kind of mistake. In the end, all I could do was stay silent and listen to Oliver’s words.

“Look, the sewer situation was different. Let’s avoid acting alone. This time, it’ll be better if you and Alice go in together” He gave her a quick glance before continuing: “Alice will be a big help, since her skills basically control the battlefield”

After that, Oliver went quiet for a few seconds. His gaze grew distant, as if weighing something important. The silence carried a strange weight, almost suffocating. Then, after a soft sigh, he spoke again with more resolve: “Besides, this dungeon’s recommended level is twenty. You admitted yourself the last one you entered was dangerous. Considering this one requires an even higher level, the risk will probably be far worse. Going in alone would be nothing short of suicide”

I listened to his words quietly, letting them sink in before exhaling heavily. Honestly, I couldn’t deny his point. He was right: having Alice in the field would boost our chances of success and safety. Still, that certainty didn’t erase the discomfort pressing on my chest like a constant weight.

“You sure about this?” I asked, lifting my eyes to Oliver, searching his for any sign of hesitation: “You really understand how dangerous this is going to be, right?”

Oliver seemed to understand, but he didn’t show much concern. In fact, the firm light in his eyes told me this meant far more to him than to me. And reflecting that seriousness, his next words carried unshakable conviction: “I can’t protect Alice forever. My way of protecting her is by making her stronger. I won’t always be where she is, and I won’t always be able to help her if I’m fighting for my own life. At the very least, I want Alice to be capable of handling herself when the time comes... to have enough strength, at least, to run if she has to. That’s why I want her to grow stronger”

As Oliver spoke, there wasn’t the faintest trace of doubt in his eyes; his expression was firm, nearly unshakable. Beside him, Alice wore the same determination, her gaze steady and lips pressed tight as if holding onto her own conviction. In the end, it was clear: both of them had already made their choice, and nothing that happened from now on would be enough to make them back down.