His second-in-command, a female Hunter clad in dark tactical gear, frowned. "So we're just going to stand around while whoever's inside is fighting for their lives?"
Leon clenched his fists, jaw tightening as he cast one last glance at the swirling abyss before him. The mutated gate pulsed ominously, the chaotic energy within mocking him with its eerie silence.
"Tch." He clicked his tongue, turning away sharply.
His team exchanged brief glances but followed without question. As he strode past Hale, he muttered, "Call me the moment you find a way in. If there's even a sliver of a chance, I'll tear that thing open myself."
Hale nodded, his expression unreadable. "Understood."
Leon didn't respond. He just walked, each step heavier than the last. His mind churned with frustration.
His teammate, a sharp-eyed woman named Elise, broke the silence as they moved further away. "Leon… did you know him?"
Leon exhaled through his nose. "...Yeah."
"Ryzen Kael," she continued. "The name sounded familiar, so I checked our internal records. He had no class, no abilities. Just a normal civilian. Why would a porter be in a place like that?"
Leon's steps slowed for a brief moment before he continued walking. "...He wasn't always just a porter."
Elise raised an eyebrow. "Then what was he?"
Leon's gaze remained forward, unreadable.
"My best friend," he finally said. "Before the incident ten years ago."
Elise frowned slightly at Leon's words but remained silent, sensing the weight behind them. The rest of the team listened quietly, their footsteps the only sound as they moved through the dimly lit streets away from the gate.
After a few moments, it was Cain, the team's swordsman, who finally broke the silence. "So what happened?"
Leon exhaled slowly, his gaze still fixed ahead. "After the incident ten years ago… everything changed."
A memory surfaced—one he had buried deep.
Blood. Screams. The overwhelming feeling of helplessness.
"When I awakened, the Hunter Association immediately took me in," Leon continued, his voice steady but distant. "Training, missions, rankings… my life moved forward, whether I wanted it to or not. But for Ryzen… things were different."
"You lost contact?" Elise asked.
Leon's expression darkened. "More like our connection was severed. I don't know if he ever got the chance to awaken… but from what the records show, he didn't." His fists clenched. "He was just… left behind."
A sharp silence settled between them.
Cain rubbed the back of his neck. "Damn. That's rough."
Elise's brows furrowed. "And now, after all this time… he's inside a mutated gate."
Leon said nothing.
Cain let out a sharp exhale and clapped Leon on the back. "Hey, don't go all brooding on us now. If the guy's really your best friend, then you should know better than anyone—he's not gonna die that easily."
Leon didn't respond, but Cain wasn't done.
"He made it this far, right? Even if he was just a porter, he still walked into that gate. That takes guts." Cain smirked. "I bet he's in there right now, fighting like hell to survive."
Elise crossed her arms. "Cain's right. Worrying won't do anything. If you want to see him again, then have some damn faith."
Leon let their words sink in. They weren't wrong. Ryzen wasn't the type to go down without a fight. He had survived the same incident that had changed Leon's life forever. Even if he had been left behind in the world of Hunters, he hadn't broken.
His hands relaxed, his mind clearing. He let out a breath and nodded. "Yeah… You're right." His eyes hardened with determination. "When he gets out—alive—I'll be the first to contact him."
Cain grinned. "That's the spirit."
Elise smirked. "Just don't get all sentimental and cry when you see him."
Leon scoffed. "Please. If anything, he'll probably just call me an idiot for worrying."
The tension eased, and the team continued walking. Hale watched them go, his own expression is unreadable.
Ryzen, whatever's happening in there… survive.
Because when you come back, we have unfinished business.
***
The four of us moved quickly, searching for any place that could serve as a temporary shelter. The dungeon was shifting—its walls seemed darker, the air heavier with mana, and an eerie stillness settled over everything.
Eventually, we found a small cavern nestled between jagged rock formations. It was deep enough to provide cover and had only one entrance, making it defensible.
Vance exhaled sharply as he sat down against the wall. "Alright. Let's take a breather. We need to figure out our next move."
Dane rubbed his shoulder, wincing slightly from the earlier impact. "Tch. Damn gate… never seen anything like this before."
Roth crouched near the entrance, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. "We should assume the dungeon is different now. More dangerous. The sooner we get a grasp on what we're dealing with, the better."
Vance nodded. "Agreed. First thing's first—we need intel." He turned to Roth. "Think you can scout the area?"
Roth smirked. "I was about to suggest it." He adjusted the daggers on his belt. "I'll keep a low profile. If there are monsters lurking nearby, I'll find out before they find us."
Vance then looked at me. "Kid, you alright?"
I had been silent, processing everything. The quest. The mutated dungeon. The fact that we were cut off from the outside world with no idea if help was even coming.
But despite all that—despite the fear—I could feel something else. Excitement.
Phantom Step had already started integrating into my body. My movements felt sharper, smoother. And now, I was trapped in a life-or-death situation where I could push myself even further.
I clenched my fists and forced a grin. "Yeah… I'm good."
Vance eyed me for a moment but nodded. "Good. We're gonna need everyone at their best."
He turned his focus back to the group. "Alright, here's the plan. Roth, you scout ahead. Dane and I will secure the area. Ryzen, you stay back and recover your stamina—you'll need it."
I nodded. "Got it."
With the plan set, Roth disappeared into the shadows, moving silently.