The morning sun had barely risen when the gates of Briar's Hollow opened.
Cool air drifted through the town streets, carrying the smell of fresh bread, damp soil, and the faint metallic scent of weapons being sharpened nearby.
Adventurers gathered in front of the gates in small groups, preparing to leave.
Backpacks.
Swords.
Staffs.
Armor clinking softly as people shifted their weight.
The northern expedition was about to begin.
And like most adventurer gatherings, the atmosphere was a mix of excitement and nervous tension.
Some people were smiling.
Some were stretching.
Some were quietly wondering if they were about to die.
Standing near the gate with his hands behind his head and a relaxed grin on his face, Ryuji Kuroda looked like he was heading out for a casual afternoon walk instead of a potentially dangerous dungeon expedition.
"Man," he said, yawning. "Morning air hits different in fantasy worlds."
Beside him, Lumi floated upside-down in the air with her arms crossed.
"You realize we're heading toward a multi-dungeon outbreak."
"Yep."
"You're smiling."
"Yep."
"You're insane."
"Probably."
Lumi rolled her eyes.
"You're treating this like a field trip."
Ryuji shrugged.
"Monsters, loot, leveling."
"Sounds like a good day."
She groaned.
"I regret reincarnating you."
"Too late now."
He glanced around the gathering crowd.
Dozens of adventurers stood nearby.
Some were veterans in heavy armor.
Others were young rookies trying to look confident.
Several were forming small parties.
And near the center of the group stood three people who would soon become Ryuji's temporary teammates.
The first was a man Ryuji already recognized.
Broad shoulders.
Short brown hair.
A massive sword resting across his back.
Darek.
The warrior from the guild hall.
Darek spotted him immediately and waved.
"Hey! Fist guy!"
Ryuji waved back.
"Morning, big sword guy."
Darek laughed as Ryuji approached.
"Didn't think you'd actually sign up for this."
Ryuji shrugged.
"Sounded fun."
"Multiple dungeons?"
"Even more fun."
Darek grinned.
"I like your attitude."
Standing next to Darek was a woman in shining steel armor.
Her long silver hair was tied back in a tight ponytail.
A polished longsword hung at her hip.
And her posture screamed disciplined knight.
Her sharp blue eyes scanned the crowd carefully.
When she noticed Ryuji approaching, her gaze immediately narrowed.
Darek gestured toward her.
"Ryuji, meet Kaelina."
"The most serious knight I've ever met."
Kaelina didn't smile.
She simply gave a short nod.
"I am Sir Kaelina Valtheris."
Ryuji blinked.
"…That's a long name."
She stared at him.
"It is my family name."
"Right."
He scratched his chin.
"Can I call you Kay?"
"No."
"Alright then."
Darek coughed to hide a laugh.
Standing beside them was a third figure.
A young girl in deep blue mage robes.
She couldn't have been older than sixteen.
Short brown hair framed her round face, and a wooden staff nearly as tall as she was leaned against her shoulder.
She looked nervous but determined.
Darek gestured toward her.
"And this is Elric."
The girl adjusted her glasses.
"E-Elrica."
Darek scratched his head.
"…Right."
She sighed.
"I'm an apprentice mage."
Ryuji smiled.
"Nice."
Elrica blinked at him.
"You're… not carrying a weapon."
He raised his fists.
"I am the weapon."
The young mage stared.
"…Oh."
Kaelina crossed her arms.
"So you're the F-rank adventurer."
Ryuji nodded.
"That's me."
She studied him carefully.
"You're underqualified for this expedition."
Darek groaned.
"Come on, Kay."
"I'm serious."
She pointed at Ryuji.
"He doesn't even wear armor."
Ryuji shrugged.
"Armor slows me down."
Kaelina looked unimpressed.
"You're reckless."
"Probably."
Darek laughed.
"I like this guy."
Lumi floated nearby, watching the interaction with amusement.
"Ooooh," she whispered to Ryuji. "Knight girl already hates you."
"She'll warm up."
"Doubtful."
Ryuji glanced at Kaelina again.
"Relax."
"I've survived worse."
"You fought a goblin nest alone."
"Yep."
"That was foolish."
"Worked though."
She sighed.
"I will not be responsible for rescuing you."
Ryuji grinned.
"Deal."
---
A loud horn sounded from the gate tower.
The royal messenger stepped forward.
"Expedition teams will depart now."
"Follow the northern road."
"Report any dungeon activity immediately."
The gates slowly creaked open.
And the adventurers began moving.
Dozens of boots crunched along the dirt road as the expedition left Briar's Hollow behind.
Ryuji stretched his arms as they walked.
"Alright."
"Adventure time."
Kaelina glanced sideways at him.
"You're enjoying this too much."
"Absolutely."
---
The northern road wound through grassy fields and rolling hills.
Morning sunlight spilled across the countryside.
Birds chirped.
Wind rustled the tall grass.
For the first hour, the journey was peaceful.
Adventurers chatted.
Some told stories.
Others discussed dungeon strategies.
Darek walked beside Ryuji.
"So… rumor says you punched a goblin champion to death."
"Yep."
"Bare hands?"
"Yep."
"…That's insane."
"Probably."
Darek laughed.
"You're my kind of crazy."
Elrica walked quietly behind them.
Every now and then she peeked at Ryuji curiously.
Finally she asked,
"Do you really fight monsters without weapons?"
"Yep."
"Doesn't that hurt?"
"Sometimes."
Kaelina muttered,
"That is exactly why weapons exist."
Ryuji shrugged.
"Punching is faster."
She shook her head.
"You're ridiculous."
Lumi floated lazily above them.
"This group dynamic is already entertaining."
---
Two hours into the journey, the road entered a dense forest.
The trees grew taller.
The air cooler.
Sunlight filtered through thick branches overhead.
The adventurers slowed slightly.
Kaelina placed a hand on her sword.
"Stay alert."
Darek nodded.
"Yeah."
"This area's known for wolves."
Ryuji cracked his neck.
"Cool."
A rustling sound echoed through the trees.
Then another.
Darek frowned.
"…That's not normal wolf movement."
Elrica whispered,
"I sense something strange."
Lumi floated beside Ryuji.
"Oh look."
"Trouble."
---
The first creature emerged from the bushes.
A wolf.
But not normal.
Its fur was dark purple.
Black veins crawled across its skin.
Its eyes glowed faintly red.
Elrica gasped.
"That's corrupted!"
Kaelina drew her sword instantly.
"Defensive positions!"
More wolves appeared.
Six.
Eight.
Then ten.
They surrounded the group slowly.
Ryuji cracked his knuckles.
"Oh good."
"Warm-up fight."
Kaelina shot him a look.
"This is not a game."
The wolves lunged.
The fight exploded instantly.
Kaelina moved first.
Her sword flashed through the air.
Two wolves fell immediately.
Darek roared and swung his massive blade.
Another wolf collapsed.
Elrica raised her staff.
"Fire bolt!"
A small burst of flame shot forward, hitting a wolf in the chest.
But the corrupted wolves kept coming.
Faster.
More aggressive.
One wolf leaped toward Ryuji.
He stepped forward instead of back.
And punched.
BOOM.
Shockwave Punch activated.
The wolf flew backward through the air like it had been launched from a cannon.
It slammed into a tree twenty feet away.
Silence fell for half a second.
Darek blinked.
"…What the hell."
Kaelina stared.
"You just punched it."
"Yep."
"Through the air."
"Yep."
Another wolf lunged.
Ryuji punched again.
BOOM.
Another shockwave blasted the creature across the clearing.
Elrica's mouth fell open.
"…That's not physically possible."
Ryuji grinned.
"Works though."
The remaining wolves hesitated.
Darek laughed loudly.
"HAHA!"
"I like this guy!"
Kaelina muttered,
"…Ridiculous."
Within moments the wolves were defeated.
The clearing fell silent again.
Ryuji stretched.
"Good warm-up."
Darek stared at him.
"You're insane."
"Thanks."
Kaelina sheathed her sword slowly.
"…Perhaps you are not entirely useless."
Ryuji smiled.
"High praise."
Lumi giggled.
"Oh she definitely doesn't hate you anymore."
---
The group continued north.
But now the mood had changed.
Everyone looked at Ryuji differently.
Respect.
Curiosity.
Slight fear.
Darek shook his head.
"You're way stronger than an F-rank."
"Probably."
Elrica walked beside him.
"Where did you learn that punching technique?"
"Long story."
Kaelina glanced at him again.
"You will explain later."
"Maybe."
---
Hours later, the forest thinned.
The group reached a rocky hill overlooking the northern wilderness.
And that's when they saw it.
The first dungeon.
Black fog poured from the mouth of a massive cave in the distance.
Purple lightning flickered across the sky above it.
Corrupted monsters crawled around the entrance.
The air itself looked wrong.
Darek's voice dropped.
"…That's bad."
Kaelina nodded.
"Very bad."
Ryuji grinned.