CHAPTER 33: DUNGEON SURVIVAL (3)

Next day in the dungeon.

It was afternoon.

On the other side of where Amon’s group was—

Growl!

ROARRR!

Blood splattered on the ground. In front of a horde of monsters stood Marcus, holding a red spear in one hand.

There were around twenty of them. Huge, chimpanzee-like beasts with large fang-like teeth, black hair covering their bodies, and vicious eyes.

The group was currently near another side of the dense forest.

Marcus’s teammates stood behind him. The cat beastman student in their group was seriously injured, and the healer was desperately trying to treat him.

"He’s too injured... My healing magic won’t be enough!" The dark-haired boy panicked as he tried to heal the beastman.

The biggest problem was clear—the injured student should have been automatically transported back to the academy hall once critically injured. But the wristband didn’t work at all.

Marcus, focused on fighting the horde, clicked his tongue. He pulled out a high-grade potion from his space ring and tossed it to the dark-haired healer.

"Darvin, use it on him. Then get ready to fight!" Marcus said with urgency.

Two of the monsters lunged at Marcus while he was still speaking. A silver arrow whistled through the air, piercing the forehead of one. The arrow was shooted by Elf boy from behind.At the same time, Marcus thrust his spear with precise movement, killing the other.

The rest of the chimpanzee monsters leaped from tree to tree, surrounding them.

"Marcus, Ronald—you two go and fight. I’ll support from the back!" the elf boy shouted. Meanwhile, Ronald, the fifth member of their group, stepped forward with his sword to fight beside Marcus.

Marcus nodded and dashed forward with Ronald at his side.

Something’s wrong. The wristband isn’t even counting points after killing these monsters, Marcus thought as he cut down another beast, his breath heavy with exertion.

Ronald fought alongside him, sword slashing through fur and flesh. The elf continued shooting arrows from behind, covering them.

’We’ll need to kill the boss monster if we want to escape this dungeon. If the wristbands won’t teleport us, that’s our only option,’ Marcus concluded grimly.

"After this, we’ll look for other students!" Marcus shouted to his teammates while fighting.

Everyone heard him and nodded. They also understood—finding more allies was the safest option with something unknown happening.

---

In the middle of the dense forest.

Inside an ancient-looking ruin.

Seraphina and her group were walking together.

"I guess we’re close to the dungeon boss’s lair~" Eliana’s voice was cheerful.

After all, reaching the final boss’s lair on the second day was a great achievement.

"Yeah, with this we’ll be first!" their teammate Sam said excitedly.

But Seraphina remained quiet, lost in thought.

"What are you thinking about so seriously?" Eliana asked curiously.

Seraphina turned to her, then looked at the others before speaking. "Did you notice? Since the second day began... we haven’t been getting any points for killing monsters at all."

Eliana stopped walking. "Now that you mention it... it does feel strange. I thought maybe it was just some technical issue. But it’s been too long."Her voice no longer cheerful but serious.

The atmosphere grew tense.

Sam asked nervously, "If our points aren’t being counted... we can still teleport out if we’re critically injured, right?"

Eliana replied matter-of-factly, "Maybe. Or maybe not. If the system isn’t working, then we might not be able to leave at all. Which means the only way out is to defeat the dungeon boss."

"Then let’s just do it," Seraphina said calmly. "We’re close to the boss’s lair anyway."

Everyone nodded and continued walking through the ruins, avoiding traps and glyphs scattered across the corridors.

None of them knew what awaited them on the road ahead.

---

Meanwhile, outside the dungeon.

Inside the academy’s great Gateway hall where the observation systems and dungeon portal were located, the atmosphere was tense and heavy.

Anxiety weighed down on everyone like an invisible hand pressing on their shoulders.

Professors and instructors were restless. They couldn’t establish any connection with the dungeon.

The wristbands weren’t responding, and the monitoring system showed nothing. It was as if the dungeon had been completely cut off.

It felt like someone had hacked into the system, taking control in a way that should have been impossible.

The sound of footsteps echoed as Deputy Headmaster Arthur Thorne entered the hall. His black hair was streaked with white, his piercing silver eyes radiating experience and authority.

"What’s the status?" His voice was clear and commanding.

One of the professors, seated at the observation screens, hurried forward and bowed respectfully, though his face was tense.

"Sir Arthur, we haven’t been able to get any connection from the students’ wristbands. We can’t locate them, nor can we determine how many are still..."

He hesitated before continuing, "...alive. The pagers weren’t allowed inside the dungeon, and we can’t enter it either. It’s as if someone has seized complete control of the dungeon itself. Which should be impossible."

Arthur said nothing. He walked straight toward the dungeon portal, placing his hand against it.

A powerful repulsion force struck back, rejecting him.

He tried forcing his way in. After all, he was a Sixth Stage powerhouse—a Mystic Sovereign. But even he could not break through.

"Someone has used a high-tier artifact... or sorcery unknown to us, to take control of the dungeon," Arthur said calmly, though a trace of unease lingered in his tone.

"All we can do now is wait for the students to defeat the dungeon boss... or for the Headmistress to return. I’ve already informed her, but she’s away on important matters." He sighed heavily.

Though Arthur was strong, the gap between the Sixth and Seventh Stage was immense.

Isabel Dawnheart could literally bend space itself. Her presence was needed now more than ever.

All they could do was hope the students defeated the dungeon boss quickly.

---

Meanwhile, on Amon’s side.

"Fuck! Why am I here? Dammit!" Amon cursed in irritation under his breath.

Arnold, crouched beside him behind a massive black boulder, also grumbled. "That’s what I’ve been saying! Why are you with me? It should’ve been Aisha! Fuck!"

A sudden eerie laugh echoed across the area.

"Heheheheheh! Everything is going according to plan!"The man was standing there with a black colored cube in his hand.Ancient and complex runes were inscribe on it.

Both Amon and Arnold froze. In the distance, a man in a black robe stood, laughing maniacally.

’Fuck, I’m scared,’Amon cursed internally, doing his best to stay hidden.

He pressed himself tighter against the rock, desperately hoping that lunatic wouldn’t notice him.