Chapter-3

Stepping into the swirling vortex of the dungeon gate was always a strange sensation. It was like walking through cold water, but without the wetness—just a brief moment of resistance before the world around Alejandro shifted.

The moment his feet touched solid ground again, he was inside his dungeon.

A vast, lush forest stretched before him, bathed in soft, golden light filtering through the towering trees. The air smelled fresh, tinged with the scent of damp earth and leaves. Small, glowing blue butterflies flitted between the underbrush, adding an otherworldly touch.

Despite knowing he had created this place, Alejandro couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.

"It looks... like any other dungeon."

It was almost disappointing. He had expected something to feel different, some sign that this was a man-made dungeon rather than a naturally occurring one. But no—this was just another low-rank dungeon, indistinguishable from any he had cleared before.

Around him, the twenty or so hunters who had entered were taking in the scenery as well. The more experienced ones immediately started forming groups, while the newer ones hesitated, scanning their surroundings nervously.

A quick glance at the hunters present told Alejandro one thing—he was one of the strongest here.

The only other B-rank among them was a tall, broad-shouldered man standing a few meters away, adjusting his gloves with a confident smirk. Alejandro recognized him immediately—Leonardo Moretti, a rising talent from the Iron Fangs, Italy's third-largest hunter guild.

Their eyes met for a brief second. Moretti gave a nod, acknowledging Alejandro as an equal.

Alejandro simply nodded back.

Even in low-rank dungeons like this, there was an unspoken rule—the strongest dictated the pace. If something unexpected happened, they would be the ones everyone looked to.

He exhaled and stretched his arms. He hadn't planned on leading anything, but now that he was here, he couldn't just stand around doing nothing.

Before he could decide his next move, he noticed three hunters approaching him.

A guy and two girls, all in their early twenties, dressed in practical combat gear but without any visible guild insignias—independent hunters, like him.

The guy was tall and lean, with sharp brown eyes and a short beard. His demeanor was calm, but there was an alertness to him, like he was constantly analyzing his surroundings.

One of the girls had short red hair and a confident grin, the kind that said she enjoyed the thrill of dungeons. She had a dagger strapped to her thigh and moved like someone used to quick, decisive action.

The last member of the trio was a bit more reserved—a dark-haired woman with glasses, her posture composed, but her grip tight on the staff she carried. Likely a magic user.

The guy spoke first, giving Alejandro a casual nod.

"You're the other B-rank, right? Alejandro Vargas?"

Alejandro raised an eyebrow. Word traveled fast.

"That's me," he confirmed.

The red-haired girl grinned. "Good. Then you won't slow us down."

The dark-haired girl shot her a look. "Be polite, Emilia."

The guy sighed and extended a hand. "I'm Marco. This is Emilia, and that's Sofia."

Alejandro shook his hand. "And you want me to join you?"

"We figured teaming up with another high-rank would be smart," Marco admitted. "Most of the hunters here are C or D-rank. If something unexpected happens, they'll rely on us anyway. Might as well make things easier on ourselves."

Alejandro considered it. They weren't wrong.

He could try going solo to explore his creation, but running into problems alone—especially under the association's watch—would be suspicious. Sticking with a group would make things smoother.

Besides, he was curious about them.

He nodded. "Alright. I'm in."

Emilia smirked. "Good choice."

With their team formed, Alejandro took another look around. Now, it was time to see what his dungeon truly had in store.

Chapter 3: Into the Unknown (Continued)

With their team formed, Alejandro adjusted his gloves and glanced at his new companions. If they were going to work together, it was best to know what each of them could do.

"So," he started as they began moving through the dungeon, stepping over thick tree roots and pushing past dense foliage. "What are your specialties?"

Marco, who was leading the way, spoke first.

"I'm a C-rank swordsman. Close combat specialist, but I also know some reinforcement magic. Nothing fancy—just speed and strength boosts."

Alejandro nodded. Reinforcement magic was common among melee fighters, making them faster and stronger than regular humans. It wasn't flashy, but it was effective.

Emilia grinned, twirling the dagger at her side. "I'm a rogue. C-rank, but I'm fast enough to make up for it. Traps, ambushes, quick kills—if it bleeds, I can take it down."

That explained her confident attitude. Rogues were valuable in dungeon raids, but they had to be quick and precise. One mistake, and they were done.

Sofia adjusted her glasses and tapped her staff against the ground. "C-rank mage. My specialty is support magic—barriers, minor healing, and some elemental attacks. Not as destructive as a full combat mage, but I keep people alive."

Alejandro glanced at her staff. It had a faint blue glow, likely enchanted with mana-boosting properties. A good support mage could mean the difference between life and death in tougher dungeons.

"How long have you been hunters?" he asked as they moved deeper into the dungeon.

"Two years," Marco replied. "We started together."

"A year and a half for me," Emilia added.

"Same," Sofia nodded.

They had experience, but they weren't veterans yet.

As they navigated through the thick trees, Emilia turned the question back on him.

"And what about you, B-rank? What's your specialty?"

Alejandro smirked. "Unlike most hunters, I have two."

That made them pause.

"Two specializations?" Marco raised an eyebrow. "That's rare. Most people focus on one path. What are they?"

"Rogue and Mage," Alejandro said simply.

Emilia whistled. "A dual-type, huh? That's pretty damn rare. Not many people can handle both magic and physical combat."

"Yeah," Marco nodded. "It takes insane mana control to balance both. Most people specialize because spreading your skills too thin makes you weaker in both fields."

Alejandro chuckled. "That's true for most. But I make it work."

Just then, a rustling sound came from the bushes ahead.

The first monsters had arrived.

It was time to put their skills to the test.

Chapter 3: Into the Unknown (Continued)

The group halted as the rustling grew louder. Alejandro narrowed his eyes, focusing his senses. Whatever was hiding in the foliage was moving low to the ground, circling them like a predator sizing up its prey.

Marco slowly unsheathed his sword, its polished steel catching the dim light that filtered through the treetops.

"Looks like we've got company," he muttered.

With a sudden burst of movement, three creatures leaped from the underbrush.

They were Feral Hounds—low-level monsters, their bodies covered in jagged black fur, glowing red eyes locked onto the hunters. Their fangs dripped with a faint green liquid—poison.

"E-rank trash," Emilia scoffed, flipping her dagger into a reverse grip. "I was hoping for something more interesting."

"Don't get careless," Sofia warned, raising her staff. A soft blue light shimmered around her, preparing a protective barrier.

Marco didn't hesitate, stepping forward and dashing toward the first hound, his blade glowing faintly with reinforcement magic. With a single swing, he cleaved through its body, sending black blood splattering onto the ground.

Alejandro smirked. "Guess it's my turn."

He raised his hand, mana surging through his veins as he cast a spell.

"Ice Lance."

A sharp, spear-like chunk of ice formed in an instant and shot forward, piercing through the second hound's skull. The monster let out a strangled whimper before collapsing.

Emilia didn't even wait for the last hound to react—she vanished from sight, her rogue skills kicking in. A second later, she reappeared behind it, driving her dagger into its spine.

With a pained yelp, the creature collapsed.

The forest went silent again.

"Well, that was fast," Emilia said, flicking monster blood off her blade. "Gotta say, Ice magic? Didn't expect that."

Alejandro chuckled, lowering his hand. "I use a mix of elements. Fire, Ice, Shadow, Arcane… plus some enhancement magic when needed."

Marco raised an eyebrow. "So you've got a bit of everything."

"Something like that," Alejandro admitted.

Sofia looked impressed. "That level of versatility is rare. Most mages specialize in one or two elements. Using multiple efficiently takes insane mana control."

Alejandro smirked. "You could say I have a bit of an advantage."

Emilia grinned. "Alright, I officially want to see you go all out. What else can you do?"

"You'll find out soon enough," Alejandro said, stepping forward.

The group continued deeper into the dungeon, the dense forest stretching endlessly before them.

Alejandro felt a strange excitement building within him.

This was his dungeon.

And now, he would see just how far he could push his own creation.