Chapter-4

The forest stretched endlessly before them, its towering trees swaying gently in an unseen breeze. As Alejandro and his team pushed forward, the deeper they went, the more unfamiliar things became.

Strange plants lined the forest floor—glowing blue vines twisted around tree trunks, and some of the flowers emitted a faint, pulsating light. Even the air felt heavier, filled with a slightly sweet, metallic scent.

"Never seen plants like these before," Marco muttered, running a gloved hand over a leaf that shimmered like crystal.

Sofia crouched down, touching the ground. "Neither have I. The mana density in this area is… odd. It's an E-rank dungeon, but the atmosphere feels denser than normal."

Alejandro listened but said nothing. Of course, it felt different. He created this place.

But before he could respond, a low growl echoed from the trees.

More monsters.

The fight was straightforward but constant.

The Feral Hounds attacked in packs, their movements erratic but predictable.

The Goblins—small, green-skinned creatures with crude weapons—tried using numbers to overwhelm them, but they were weak and poorly coordinated.

Then came the low-level undead—skeletal warriors barely holding their rusted weapons together, falling apart after a few well-placed hits.

For Alejandro, these battles were more of an observation exercise than a challenge. He had fought these creatures before in other dungeons, but now they were his creations. He was curious to see how they behaved, how the dungeon spawned them.

His team handled them well.

Marco's swordsmanship was efficient and powerful, every swing precise and controlled. His reinforcement magic gave him speed and durability, making him a natural frontline fighter.

Emilia moved like a shadow, disappearing and reappearing with deadly precision. She danced through the battlefield, cutting down enemies before they even had a chance to react.

Sofia, despite being a support mage, held her ground. Her barriers absorbed strikes, her healing magic kept the team at full strength, and her occasional firebolts and wind spells helped finish off enemies when needed.

Alejandro himself barely had to go all out. He switched between shadow magic for stealth, ice and fire spells for control, and reinforcement magic when he needed to engage in close combat. It was too easy.

After the last goblin fell, Emilia stretched her arms.

"That was fun."

"For you, maybe," Marco sighed, wiping his blade clean. "It's a bit too easy. I expected more of a challenge."

"It's an E-rank dungeon," Sofia reminded him, adjusting her glasses. "We outclass everything in here."

Alejandro took a deep breath, casually scanning his companions. This was a good team. A strong team. And that made him curious. How far could they go?

Hunter ranks weren't fixed. A person who awakened as an E-rank could slowly climb up to D or even C-rank over the years. Through constant training and dungeon experience, a hunter's body adapted, their mana pool expanded, and their combat ability improved.

But there were limits. No amount of effort would make an E-rank an S-rank. The difference in talent was simply too great.

E-rank hunters could grow to C-rank with years of effort.

D-rank hunters could reach B-rank with enough dedication.

C-rank hunters had the potential to go up to A-rank, though only a few did.

B-rank hunters had the best chance of advancing—but very few ever became A-rank or higher.

Only those with extraordinary talent ever became S-rank hunters.

Alejandro glanced at Marco. The swordsman had a solid foundation, strong technique, and a steady fighting style. He wasn't reckless, and his reinforcement magic gave him an edge.

He could reach High B-rank, possibly even A-rank if he kept improving.

Sofia was more reserved, but her skill as a support mage was excellent. Her mana control was precise, and her combat spells were efficient.

She could reach High B-rank, maybe A-rank if she specialized further.

Then there was Emilia.

Alejandro smirked, watching as she flipped her dagger in her hand, still full of energy after the fight. She was fast—far faster than most C-ranks he had seen. Her instincts were razor-sharp, and she didn't hesitate when attacking.

She could reach Low A-rank, possibly even mid-A-rank if she trained properly.

"What?" Emilia raised an eyebrow, noticing his stare.

"Just thinking," Alejandro said.

"Thinking about what?" she pressed.

"How far you three can go."

Marco crossed his arms. "And? What's your guess?"

Alejandro smirked. "I'd say you'll go far. Probably high B-rank, maybe A-rank if you push yourself."

Marco considered that for a moment, then nodded. "Fair."

"And me?" Emilia grinned.

"Low A-rank, possibly more," Alejandro admitted.

That made her eyes light up. "Oh, I like the sound of that."

Sofia adjusted her glasses, her expression thoughtful. "And me?"

"Same as Marco," Alejandro said. "High B-rank potential. You've got excellent mana control."

Sofia smiled slightly. "Interesting assessment."

"And you?" Emilia turned the question on him.

Alejandro smirked but didn't answer.

He already knew his limit.

There wasn't one, not with the system.

As they continued deeper into the dungeon, Alejandro's excitement grew. The fights had been too easy. But this was only the beginning. He had created this world and soon, he would push it to its very limits to discover all it's mysteries.