Survival

The cavern reeked of blood and death.

My breath came in ragged, uneven gasps, my ribs aching with each inhale. My body was screaming, barely holding together after the brutal fight, but I remained standing—because I had to.

The corpses of Rogan and his traitorous Rifters littered the ground, their lifeless eyes frozen in terror, their blood soaking into the cracks of the stone floor. Near them lay the ruined remains of the Shadowfang Wyvern, its once-mighty form twisted and shattered, its obsidian scales cracked open like the shell of a broken beast.

I should have felt relief.

Instead, I felt watched.

The System was still active, scanning, analyzing something I couldn't see. A cold pulse from the Abyssal Core vibrated inside me, a silent warning, but I was too drained to care.

Then—

DING!

A notification flared in the corner of my vision.

[NEW SYSTEM UPDATE: AFFECTING REALITY STRUCTURE…]

What?

Before I could even process the words, the cavern rumbled violently.

The Gate was collapsing.

Shit.

A deafening roar ripped through the space as cracks raced across the walls, deep fissures glowing with unstable energy. The ground buckled beneath me, entire chunks of stone breaking apart, pulled into the void-like tear forming at the cavern's center.

The dungeon was falling apart.

I forced my body into motion, every movement a battle against the pain. My legs screamed in protest, but I didn't stop. Couldn't stop.

Move, or die.

Chunks of debris plummeted from the ceiling, smashing into the ground where I had been seconds before. The portal leading out of the Rift flickered, its edges unstable—if I didn't make it through before it collapsed, I'd be trapped here.

I sprinted forward, every heartbeat a countdown to destruction.

The portal was right there—just a few more steps.

Then—

The world exploded in light.

---

I stumbled forward, barely keeping my footing as I was spit out of the portal and back into the real world.

Cold air hit me like a slap, the sharp contrast from the stifling heat of the dungeon making my already exhausted body tremble. My knees almost gave out, but I gritted my teeth and forced myself upright.

The moment my vision adjusted, I knew I was in trouble.

A dozen figures stood waiting outside the portal, fully armed.

Guild enforcers.

My gut twisted.

The Crimson Rift Guild had sent an entire squad to monitor the raid. Their crimson armor gleamed under the Rift's glow, their weapons unsheathed and ready. The air tensed with restrained hostility, the kind that only came when someone was about to be declared an enemy.

Their leader stepped forward.

Commander Lysara.

Tall, regal, and absolutely deadly. Her long silver hair was pulled back into a precise braid, her dark eyes sharp as daggers as they locked onto me. Unlike the other enforcers, she wasn't wearing heavy armor—just a fitted combat uniform and a thin silver blade resting at her hip.

She didn't need anything more.

I had heard rumors about her—a Rank A enforcer, known for her skill in interrogation and execution. If she was here, things were worse than I thought.

Lysara's gaze flickered behind me—to the Rift.

It was already destabilizing, the swirling energy breaking apart as the portal began sealing itself. The others from the raid team—Rogan, the hunters—weren't coming out.

Because they were dead.

Her attention snapped back to me.

No Rogan. No team.

Just me.

"Where is the rest of the raid party?" Her voice was calm, too calm.

I swallowed the dryness in my throat. I had expected suspicion—but not this quickly.

I forced myself to stand, suppressing the pain screaming in my limbs.

"They're dead," I said, my voice rough, exhausted. "The boss killed them."

The words weren't a lie.

Not exactly.

Lysara's eyes narrowed. "The entire team?"

I nodded, keeping my face blank. "The Wyvern… it wasn't just a Rank B boss. It changed. Became something else. It slaughtered everyone."

There was a pause. A silence thick enough that I could hear my own unsteady breathing.

Lysara's expression didn't change, but I could feel the scrutiny behind her gaze.

"A D-Rank survived a Gate that wiped out a B-Rank raid team?" she asked, her tone unreadable. "And you expect me to believe that?"

I didn't hesitate.

"I ran," I said, my voice firm. "I was on crystal duty. I wasn't fighting. When the boss killed Rogan, I panicked. I ran. That's the only reason I'm standing here."

The enforcers exchanged glances, but Lysara's gaze didn't waver.

I could tell—she wasn't convinced.

[NEW SYSTEM QUEST: SURVIVE THE INVESTIGATION!]

- Objective: Convince or escape from the Guild without revealing the Abyssal Core.

- Reward: ???

- Failure: You will be classified as a Rogue Rifter.

A rogue.

That single word chilled me.

Being branded a Rogue Rifter wasn't just a death sentence—it was worse. The Guilds would hunt me. The city would shut its doors to me. I would lose everything.

I had no choice.

I had to sell the lie.

Lysara took a slow step toward me. I fought the instinct to flinch under her gaze.

"Tell me," she said, voice quiet, "if the boss was that powerful, how did you escape?"

I forced out a humorless chuckle, letting my body shake slightly, making it look like I was barely holding it together.

"I almost didn't," I rasped. "The thing was too busy eating the others. I—" I exhaled sharply, as if reliving the horror. "I saw my chance and ran. I didn't even look back. I just… ran."

A long silence followed.

Lysara studied me. Measured me.

Then, without a word, she lifted her hand.

One of the enforcers stepped forward and cast a Detection Spell.

A faint golden light washed over me. My pulse spiked, but I kept my face blank.

The spell faded.

"Nothing abnormal," the enforcer reported. "No external buffs. No traces of foreign mana signatures."

A slow exhale left my lips.

Lysara gave a small hum.

"Then you're either lucky," she said, "or you're lying."

I didn't respond.

She studied me a second longer before stepping back.

"Take him to headquarters," she finally ordered. "We'll confirm his story later."

The enforcers moved in.

I forced myself to stay calm.

I had convinced them for now.

But I wasn't safe yet.

Not even close.