Developing - Part 1

The silence stretched on, thick and unmoving.

Dylan and Venn were completely frozen, their minds stuck in an endless loop of disbelief.

Garek, though usually composed, couldn’t hide his shock. His expression shifted slightly, betraying the effort it took to process everything.

Even UltSans, who seemed unbothered by most things, fidgeted slightly, shifting his weight uncomfortably under the crushing weight of everyone’s stunned silence.

Only Mira remained unshaken.

She waited patiently, her sharp gaze flicking between them, as if waiting for someone else to speak first.

But no one did.

Finally, she broke the silence herself.

"I’m not surprised, if I’m honest… My expectations for you were already quite high, and you didn’t disappoint. You are exactly as the Kings and the Elite Guards have described."

She tilted her head slightly.

"If it’s possible, could you tell us more?"

UltSans raised an eyebrow. "They talked about me? Guess I should be flattered. What do you want to know?"

Mira didn’t hesitate.

"Can you tell us more about yourself? About what really happened to the adventurers? And the past… in a broader sense?"

UltSans exhaled through his nose, scratching the back of his head.

"That’s… a lot to unpack. If you want to really understand what I’d be telling you, it’s not something I can sum up in a few minutes."

Mira’s expression didn’t change. "I believe we have enough time at our disposal. Don’t we, Garek?"

Garek hesitated.

He wasn’t sure if this was the best time for a long discussion, but… was there ever going to be a better time?

After a brief pause, he nodded.

"I think we do. Though… I can’t imagine this would take hours and hours…"

UltSans gave him a side glance, his expression unreadable.

"Actually… It might take a few hours. Maybe the rest of the day. Possibly even a few days, depending on how deep we go into it."

Garek blinked. "...Days?"

Venn let out a nervous chuckle. "Uh… that’s a *lot* of history, huh?"

Mira, still unwavering, pressed on.

"How much do you actually know, Sans?"

UltSans shrugged. "Depends on what part of history you mean."

Mira narrowed her eyes slightly. "Are there any stories before the Demon King’s ascension?"

UltSans nodded immediately.

"Oh yeah. A lot, actually."

He leaned back slightly, crossing his arms.

"Before the war against the Demon King, the world was already chaotic. We had the War of Clans, where different factions constantly fought over territory. There were also the Great Alliances, battling for dominance. Then, of course, there were the constant competitive fights—people trying to climb the ranks, pushing themselves to higher and higher levels. It was a time where everything revolved around power, influence, and survival."

Mira’s gaze flickered with interest.

"That is an immense amount of history you’re carrying with you. Have you considered writing a book? Documenting each of these stories?"

UltSans let out a small chuckle.

"No. I never had the time to think about that. And even if I did, I don’t have the time to write. My focus is on my routine—on improving myself."

He rolled his shoulders. "I’m still pretty low-leveled, after all."

Garek stiffened slightly, his brow furrowing.

"Wait. Low-leveled? But you’re Level 1,112."

UltSans nodded. "Yeah, I am. But compared to others…? I play things passively. My style is different. I collect, craft, and prepare instead of grinding for levels. I focus on playing it safe rather than taking risks."

His eyes darkened slightly.

"If the adventurers from the past were still alive, the average level wouldn’t be anywhere *near* mine. Most of them would be somewhere between Level 1,000 and 1,500. And the more competitive ones? The real monsters?"

He exhaled slowly.

"They’d be between Level 2,000 and 4,000."

At that moment—Dylan and Venn’s minds broke.

They weren’t just speechless anymore.

They were beyond existence.

Their souls had left their bodies.

Garek was visibly struggling to keep up, trying to process the sheer magnitude of what he was hearing.

Meanwhile, Mira’s smirk widened slightly.

She wasn’t just impressed—she was intrigued.

If Sans had been more proactive in leveling…

If he had focused on grinding instead of preparation…

She began calculating, estimating—

How strong would he be now?

How far would he have surpassed everyone else?

What kind of true power was hidden beneath his passive nature?

Dylan’s mind snapped back into focus.

Enough shock. Enough awe.

Jake was still down there.

His eyes sharpened, and without hesitation, he shook his head and shouted.

"Sans! Forget everything else—you need to help my friend!"

The urgency in his voice shattered the atmosphere.

Everyone whipped their heads toward him, startled by his sudden outburst.

UltSans, who had been deep in thought, blinked. "Yeah? What’s the problem?"

Dylan took a deep breath, forcing his tired body to sit up slightly.

"We were sent to a mine. We searched for ores—for a long time, I don’t even know how long. But as we went deeper, the ground suddenly cracked."

His fists clenched.

"We stopped, trying to figure out where the sound was coming from. But it wasn’t around us—it was under my friend’s feet. And then—"

He swallowed hard.

"—the ground collapsed. He fell into the hole. Into complete darkness. I couldn't do anything to stop it."

Silence.

Sans's expression darkened slightly.

"... I see."

Garek furrowed his brows, confusion flickering across his face. "Wait… a hole in the mine we sent you to? But how? How could the ground just collapse like that?"

UltSans exhaled slowly, his gaze distant.

"Your problem… plus a sudden ground collapse, deep inside a mine…"

His voice lowered, as if piecing together a puzzle.

"Your problem was caused by some form of demonic magic, inflicting a corrosive, lethal poison. Something new—something unnatural."

His eyes narrowed further.

"And now, a collapse inside a mine… something that shouldn’t happen. Not unless something is there—something hidden."

His fingers twitched slightly, his voice now more of a murmur to himself.

"That wasn’t a natural collapse. That was a trap. A geo-triggered mechanism—one you activated without realizing it."

He started pacing slightly, his thoughts spilling into spoken words.

"‘Airless’—a side effect of an unknown form of demon magic. Infused with existing magic, but corrupted by some corrosive effect… And then a hole deep inside a mine… A rockfall trap, designed to collapse when stepped upon… But for what purpose?"

He stopped.

Then, his gaze lifted.

And for the first time since they arrived—he looked genuinely serious.

Sans stopped pacing.

Then, he turned toward Dylan, his expression calm but firm.

"Alright. Can you show me where this mine is?"

Dylan hesitated for a second, but then nodded firmly.

Without wasting another moment, Sans motioned for him to stand. Dylan quickly pushed himself up, his body still aching from exhaustion but fueled by urgency.

As soon as Dylan took the lead, Sans followed immediately.

Behind them, Garek, Venn, and Mira moved in step, keeping close as the group left the house.

As they stepped outside, Sans turned briefly, locking the door behind him with a quick flick of his wrist. Then, without another word, they continued forward, moving through Silivia’s streets with purpose.

Garek walked just behind Dylan and Sans, while Venn and Mira followed slightly further back.

They ignored everything else—including the ongoing battle between Lucas and Silas.

Still, Garek, Venn, and Mira couldn’t help but steal a quick glance as they passed.

Despite Lucas having held the upper hand earlier, the fight had shifted.

Now—Silas was winning.

Lucas was struggling to keep him contained, forced onto the defensive by Silas’s sheer aggression.

But there was no time to focus on that now.

Jake was still missing.

After eleven minutes of fast-paced walking, they finally arrived at the mine entrance.

Dylan instinctively stepped forward, ready to lead them inside—

But Sans suddenly stopped at the cave's mouth, his gaze locked onto the darkness beyond.

His eyes narrowed.

Mira, noticing his reaction, stepped slightly closer.

"Is there anything you may be seeing… sir?"

The moment she called Sans ‘sir’, Garek and Venn stiffened in shock.

It was the first time they had ever heard her address someone with such respect.

UltSans remained silent for a moment before speaking, his voice measured and serious.

"...No. But... I can detect an extremely high risk of danger inside."

He frowned slightly.

"From what I can sense… this mine isn’t just a mine anymore. It has been… altered."

His expression darkened.

"A secret dungeon. No… not exactly. This isn’t just a hidden cave. This mine contains a secret dungeon within it."

Garek’s eyes widened slightly. "So… the mine itself isn’t a dungeon, but somewhere inside, there is one?"

Dylan’s stomach twisted.

"Wait—are you saying my friend fell into a secret dungeon?!"

UltSans’s gaze hardened.

"Stay here. I’ll check it myself."

Immediately, he stepped forward.

Dylan and Venn instinctively moved aside, shifting closer to Garek as Sans began to enter.

But then—Mira followed.

Just before stepping in, Sans stopped and turned to her.

"Stay here with them. It’s dangerous."

Mira, as composed as ever, met his gaze directly.

"Pardon me, sir. But I believe in the power of multiple perspectives. While I do not claim expertise in direct combat, my capabilities extend beyond mere fighting."

She took a small step forward.

"I am an elemental sorcerer—one with significant experience. I can provide support and utility where needed."

Garek and Venn stared at her, speechless.

It wasn’t just what she was saying—it was how she was saying it.

Her tone was formal, serious, and unwavering—far more direct than usual.

This wasn’t the typically quiet, analytical Mira they were used to.

Sans studied her for a moment, considering.

Then, after a brief pause, he nodded.

"Alright. I'll allow you to accompany me."

Mira gave a small bow of acknowledgment.

"Thank you, sir."

Then, without hesitation, Sans turned and entered the mine.

Mira followed closely behind, walking in her usual slow, deliberate manner.