The next few days in the academy passed in a blur for Jin. Each moment was filled with lessons, drills, and quiet observation. Though officially registered as a student, Jin remained a mystery to most, blending in while absorbing everything like a shadow.
He spoke little, always at the back during lectures and training sessions, yet every instructor who passed by him seemed to hesitate before continuing, as if sensing something strange. Whispers grew about him: his calm demeanor, his uncanny ability to master techniques instantly, and the strange aura that surrounded him like a ghost clinging to the edges of their vision.
Jin paid them no mind. He had a larger goal. Understanding this world's current state, the academies, the power structures—and most of all, the three disciples who once called him Master. They were no longer just disciples; they were now pillars of the world.
Each had helped found the Elysian Academy after the emergence of the first great dungeon two decades ago. They had faced calamities together, forged alliances with the most powerful noble families, and shaped the new generation of hunters, warriors, and mages. Their influence stretched beyond borders.
But Jin remained in the shadows. For now.
---
That evening, after classes, Jin went to the courtyard to train. Under the pale moonlight, the leaves shimmered in silver. His blade danced through the air like a ghost through mist—smooth, soundless, deadly.
He didn't expect company.
"Jin."
He turned. Theo Ward, the son of Lucas, stood a few paces away. Tall, with intense eyes and a confident air. He had the same spirit Jin remembered from Lucas.
"You're not supposed to train after curfew," Theo said, stepping into the moonlight.
Jin didn't answer, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"I watched you today," Theo continued. "Your footwork during combat theory—no one else saw it, but I did. That wasn't something you learn here. It was ancient. Refined. Like someone who's fought through wars."
Jin exhaled and sat down on a nearby bench. "You've got good eyes."
Theo hesitated, then sat beside him. "Why are you really here?"
Jin gave no reply.
Theo glanced up at the sky. "When I was young, my father used to tell me stories. Of a man who trained him. Someone who shaped who he is today. He never gave a name. Said he vanished. Said if he ever returned, the world would change again."
Jin's gaze remained on the stars. "Sounds like a tale to scare children."
"Maybe." Theo smirked. "But if he were still alive… I wonder what he'd think of the world now."
Jin didn't respond, but something in his chest stirred.
---
The next day brought a sudden announcement. A new dungeon had opened—unusual in size and proximity. It appeared just ten kilometers from Elysian Academy.
Principal Vael declared it would be used as a testing ground for promising first-years. A joint initiative between the academy and the Allied Guilds.
The academy courtyard buzzed with excitement. Students scrambled to form teams. The test was simple: enter, survive, retrieve a dungeon core fragment, and return. Fail to return within two days, and rescue teams would be dispatched.
Among the chaos, Jin moved silently.
He hadn't planned to participate, but something about the dungeon felt... wrong. A pressure in the air. A whisper in the shadows. It reminded him of the abyssal gates he had once sealed with Aira, Lucas, and Ryo.
He was about to leave the crowd when someone called out.
"Hey! You there—Jin, right?"
He turned. It was Astrid Nox, daughter of Aira. Her sharp silver hair shimmered in the sun, and her eyes gleamed with quiet intelligence. Behind her stood Theo, and beside him was Rylen, Ryo's son, wielding a double-bladed halberd.
"We need a fourth," Astrid said. "You're not in a team, and I've seen you fight."
Jin narrowed his eyes. "You're picking randomly?"
"We're picking someone who knows how to survive," Theo added. "We're not idiots. We know this dungeon is weird."
"I'm not joining for friendship."
"Neither are we," Astrid replied.
Jin considered for a moment, then nodded. "Fine."
---
The following morning, the dungeon gate shimmered like rippling water. The students lined up, and instructors checked gear and magical signatures. Jin's group stood quietly, their tension concealed beneath calm masks.
Then they stepped in.
The world twisted.
Colors warped. The air went cold.
They landed inside a dark cavern, stone walls wet with moss, the scent of sulfur strong. The walls pulsed with mana. Something was wrong.
Jin's senses screamed.
"Prepare," he said instantly. "Don't wander. This place isn't stable."
The others tensed. Rylen's halberd whirled into position.
As they moved deeper, they encountered the first monsters—gnarled, twisted creatures that looked like malformed wolves. Their movements were erratic, limbs too long, eyes glowing red.
Rylen charged in, his halberd slicing one creature in half. Theo fired off a fireball that scorched two more.
Jin moved like a phantom. His blade flicked once—three monsters fell. Astrid watched with wide eyes.
"You're… not normal," she muttered.
"I've seen worse," Jin whispered.
But something felt off. The monsters were too aggressive for a first-level gate.
Then the ground shook.
A low, bone-deep growl echoed.
From the far end of the corridor emerged a creature the size of a carriage. A scaled chimera, fused from different beasts—lion, snake, and bear—all wrapped in corruption. Its core pulsed visibly in its chest.
"A mutated boss?" Theo gasped.
"It shouldn't be here," Astrid said. "Not in a beginner dungeon."
Jin narrowed his eyes. "This gate... it's been tampered with."
"Then what do we do?" Rylen asked.
Jin stepped forward.
"I'll handle it. You flank and distract."
They nodded.
The chimera roared and charged. Jin surged forward.
His movements became a blur. Blade met claw. Fang scraped metal. Sparks flew. Every slash was calculated, every dodge a whisper past death.
Theo circled to the left, launching lightning bolts.
Rylen swung from behind, scoring a deep gash.
Astrid created a barrier to block a breath attack.
Jin leapt high and drove his blade into the beast's heart.
It screamed—then collapsed.
Silence.
Then the dungeon trembled again. A new corridor opened.
"What now?" Astrid asked.
Jin walked toward it, eyes cold. "We're not done."
---
Back in the real world, Principal Vael stood before a crystal monitor.
A projection of the students in the dungeon flickered.
An older man stood beside him. One of the Great Pillars.
"Sir," Vael said. "You were right. He's here."
The man nodded slowly.
"So the lost one has returned."
[End of Chapter 7]