Two keys, one way

The E-rank dungeon was exactly what we needed.

Simple, quick, and without any abomination trying to turn us into midnight snacks.

No external interference, no stitched-together nightmares, no tentacles dropping from the ceiling.

Just goblins, mana stones, and a lazy boss who seemed more interested in napping than killing us.

Easy. Efficient.

Exactly how it should be.

I even tried to take advantage of the lighter mood to ask something that had been stuck in my head since the last dungeon.

"Luxxion… what exactly are these 'external forces'?"

[Request execution error. Incomplete data. Caution recommended.]

In other words, the same answer as always: evasive or migraine-inducing.

I gave up.

As soon as we left the dungeon, Jin-Woo and I split the backpack full of mana stones.

He was quiet as usual, but his eyes no longer carried the same heavy emotion from before.

"Here," I handed him half the load. "Not gonna be accused of E-rank labor exploitation."

"Thanks," he accepted with a faint smile. "It's rare for someone to split it like this."

"I'm a conscious explorer. I'm also E-rank. Gotta look out for each other."

He mumbled something under his breath, and we walked side by side, each carrying half the weight.

When we got close to the checkpoint next to the car we used, I let the group go ahead and stepped aside a bit.

I wanted to talk to Luxxion without curious ears nearby.

"Clearing the E-rank dungeon also completed the mission objective, right?"

[Correct.]

[Objective successfully completed. Final stage unlocked.]

A window popped up in front of my eyes.

[Reward unlocked: Key of Redemption]

The key appeared at the center of the screen, floating like a legendary item.

Translucent, made of something resembling metal.

A soft golden glow pulsed at its core.

"Alright. Now I have two. First, the 'Key of Atonement'. Now this... Key of Redemption."

[Keys for accessing the Instant Dungeon.]

"So, the final part of the mission."

[Yes.]

[Upon completing the Instant Dungeon, you will receive the final reward and authorization for world transition.]

I frowned.

"Authorization for transition… man, you talk like some interdimensional government employee."

[You talk like someone pretending not to be excited.]

This AI knew me well.

"You've got a damn point," I admitted. "Anyway, what's the difference between the two keys?"

Their names hinted at different concepts.

Would it be too much to say they were opposites?

[The Key of Atonement represents judgment — recognition of your errors, limits, and failures. The Key of Redemption represents choice — the decision to move forward, despite everything.]

"Great. Philosophical concepts with a side of tragedy. Should've guessed."

[The Instant Dungeon will be formed by the fusion of both concepts. You must bring them to the indicated location.]

The concept of instant dungeons had shown up in Solo Leveling.

But it was never really explained how it actually worked.

I got even more curious.

"And this path... is it like a normal portal?"

[Not even close.]

[The Instant Dungeon is not a traditional portal. It is anchored between realities. Closer to a dimensional fold than a physical space.]

"So... like the demon world Jin-Woo entered that one time?"

[Similar concept. But on a smaller scale. And much more… personal.]

I stayed silent for a few seconds.

"You really know how to make things weird, huh."

[And you really know how to avoid showing concern.]

"Touché again."

[Anyway, the access coordinates have been sent.]

A small marker blinked in the corner of my interface, showing the address.

It was far, but nothing impossible.

And most importantly: I still had time.

More than necessary, actually.

Too much time.

I frowned again.

"Luxxion, why did they give me so much time if I completed the objectives so quickly?"

At first, it seemed like too little.

But that wasn't the case.

[No answer. Information not registered.]

"Of course not. You must be Google's neglected cousin."

It was suspicious.

But before I could think more about it, I heard footsteps approaching.

Jisoo was in front, followed by Hana, Doyun, and Jin-Woo — who gave me a brief nod.

"Hey!" Jisoo called. "Let's move. We already finished the check at the control station."

"Right, I'm coming."

We regrouped and got in the car.

Behind us, the portal slowly faded, like it was being swallowed by the sky itself.

I leaned my head against the window, half-exhausted.

Next destination: the so-called Instant Dungeon.

______________

Two days had passed since the rank E dungeon.

"Rest", technically. In practice? Not even close.

The daily mission didn't let that happen.

My mana training continued, even if my ability to shape aura was still more spark than fire.

And of course, planning for the Instant Dungeon took up the rest of my time.

Luxxion, as always, remained mysterious.

Not a single word about what awaited me inside.

Zero spoilers. Zero hints. Not even a "good luck."

Standard behavior by now.

At least he confirmed one important thing: food could be stored in the inventory without spoiling too quickly.

It's not refrigerated, but time inside it is… strange. Slower.

Like reality works differently within those invisible four walls.

[The temporality of the inventory is dissociated from the main chronological line. It is technically a zone of static compression.]

"So basically… my chicken and rice lunch won't become a biological weapon in two days?"

[Correct.]

"Perfect. Half the battle won already."

I packed the basics.

Water, food, first aid, a change of clothes.

I didn't know how long I'd be inside the dungeon.

Maybe a few hours.

Or minutes.

Or… days?

"I'm here."

The location Luxxion indicated was even emptier than the last dungeon's.

A narrow alley, lost between two old buildings that looked like they'd been forgotten by time — and by Seoul's city hall.

The concrete walls were stained by decades of rain and mold.

One of those alleys even delivery guys avoided at night.

Electric wires hung from the poles like half-cut spiderwebs. One of them, crooked, with its lamp out, completed the low-budget horror movie vibe.

The wind whistled between the tall buildings, lifting plastic bags like makeshift ghosts.

And from time to time, the muffled sound of a car driving could be heard.

"Perfect place to summon a cosmic entity or open a gate to hell."

I opened the inventory.

The two keys materialized in my hands with a soft glow.

The "Key of Atonement" pulsed with a dark red, dense glow.

Almost like coagulated blood in sunset light.

The "Key of Redemption", on the other hand, glowed gently, golden, like a candle on the verge of dying but refusing to go out.

Two ideas. Two extremes.

But created for the same end.

Fate is poetic as hell sometimes.

[Insert both into the anchoring point.]

"In the air?"

[Yes.]

I sighed, feeling like a lunatic.

I raised my hands.

The two keys clinked softly as they were inserted into nothing.

And the nothing… responded.

The space twisted. Folded.

It was like the air itself was writhing in pain.

And then, with a sharp snap… a door appeared.

A wooden door.

Tall, worn, standing like a forgotten monument. With carvings resembling chains and thorns, and a black iron doorknob that looked cold just by staring at it.

"Narnia… nightmare edition. Fantastic."

I stepped forward.

My hand touched the knob. I opened it.

Light.

A hall.

It looked infinite, but clearly bounded.

As if the limits weren't there yet but would show up later.

Two banners floated high, hanging from white columns stretching up to the unreachable ceiling.

One red, one gold.

But there was only one path.

Stairs. Leading upward. Tall and seemingly endless.

[This space is yours.]

"That explains nothing and doesn't make me feel better."

[Good. It wasn't supposed to.]

I approached the stairs.

The sound of my own footsteps was the only thing I could hear.

That strange sensation coursing through me made it feel like I was walking through something sacred and wrong at the same time.

And then, as soon as I reached the top of the stairs—

[The first stage of the Instant Dungeon will begin.]

[First stage: trauma.]

[Recreating user memories…]

My heart beat faster.

Something told me I wasn't ready for this.

[The system wishes the user good luck.]

But that never stopped me before.