The Dwarf's Warning

Sam was forced awake by the commotion outside. The city had yet to settle, still healing from the wounds of the last monster assault. But Sam's mind was elsewhere. Although the past few days had been anything but normal, something had shifted inside him. Anna's words from the day before still echoed in his head — a flicker of purpose kindled by fury, by helplessness, by a desire to never be powerless again.

He left his room with a look of newfound resolve. The first step on his path was clear: Nova Sacrum Academy. The entrance test loomed ahead, a hurdle that would shape the course of his life.

As Sam walked through the recovering city, he spotted Ken helping with reconstruction — lifting rubble, guiding civilians, coordinating like a natural leader. Among the workers stood a small but commanding figure: Edward. Clad in reinforced armor and speaking in clipped, irritated tones, Edward radiated the same gruff hostility Sam remembered from the day before.

Sam hesitated, but Ken noticed him and waved him over enthusiastically. Sam gave an awkward smile and approached. The moment Edward's sharp eyes fell on him, his expression twisted in a frown.

"You," he barked. "What's your name?"

Sam blinked, taken aback. "Sam."

Edward stepped closer, sniffing the air with exaggerated distaste.

"Hmph. I smell something foul on you. Something I haven't smelled in a long time." He spat to the side. "Riorian stench."

"Riorian?" Ken said, his smile fading.

Sam stared at Edward, confused and on edge. "I… I don't know what that means."

"Figures," Edward muttered. He turned, grumbling to himself. "Come to my workshop before you leave, boy. We've got unfinished business."

Without another word, he stomped away, leaving behind an awkward silence.

Ken glanced at Sam, eyebrows raised. "What the hell was that about?"

Sam could only shake his head.

"You're leaving?" A voice came from Ken's group.

Sam nodded. Though they hadn't known each other long, a bond had formed in the aftermath of their shared battle. There was disappointment in Ken's expression, but he swallowed it quickly.

"Well," one of Ken's friends said, offering a fist bump, "next time we meet, it'll be on the battlefield."

Sam smiled warmly. For the first time in his life, he felt what it was like to be surrounded by comrades.

"Your role's not over yet, Ken," A voice came from above them.

It was Anna. She descended down like a goddess stepping on the ground embracing it.

Ken blinked. "What do you mean?"

"Sam is taking the Nova Sacrum entrance test. I need you to help him prepare — fully. The test is in a month."

"HUHHHH?" everyone exclaimed in unison, staring at Sam in disbelief.

Sam simply shrugged with a sheepish grin.

Three Weeks Later—

Each day had been a whirlwind. Sam had been trained by Ken and his entire squad.

Alya, a D-class magician, taught him the basics of aether manipulation. This was Sam's weakest area — but he persisted.

Reo, a D-class tank, drilled him in body fortification and channeling aether into his limbs. Sam found strength in his physicality.

Lova, a monster analyst, tutored him on species, tactics, and rare herbs.

Leila, a savvy merchant and informant, gave him crucial knowledge about the world: the Seven Towers, the Awakened Association, and the complex academy system.

Back to the Present—

Ken was leading Sam to his final lesson — practical combat. Their destination: a dungeon.

Dungeons, as Sam had learned, appeared all over the world after the Flash. If left uncleared, they caused "dungeon breaks" — allowing monsters to flood out and destroy nearby settlements.

They stopped before a swirling blue portal. It pulsed with eerie energy.

"Are you ready?" Ken asked.

Sam swallowed his nerves and nodded. They stepped into the unknown.

The dungeon was a silent, pitch-black cavern. Sam instinctively reached for a flashlight, but Ken stopped him.

"Channel aether into your eyes."

Sam focused. Light bloomed in his vision, and the darkness receded. Ken waved him forward.

But something felt wrong. Ken — usually talkative — was tense and silent.

Then, Sam's foot hit a stone. The echo was thunderous.

"Be ready!" Ken shouted. "They're here!"

Green-skinned, sharp-eared goblins emerged from the shadows — small, fast, and armed.

Ken rushed in like a whirlwind. Sam stood his ground, aether flowing through him. Two goblins split from the group and lunged at him.

One fell instantly — Sam's punch to its chest crushed it. The second goblin raised its blade, but Ken's sword skewered it from behind, pinning it to the wall.

Sam panted, chest heaving, but his eyes gleamed. This was what strength felt like.

"Did anyone teach you where a goblin's weak spot is?" Ken asked.

"No… I just saw it."

"Saw it?" Ken raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Their chests… they were glowing," Sam said, uncertain.

Ken's expression darkened slightly. He muttered something under his breath but said no more.

Then they arrived at the final chamber — the boss room. The door was massive, etched with runes usually seen only in higher-level dungeons.

"That's weird…" Ken frowned. "This was marked as an F-class dungeon."

The moment they stepped in, the door slammed shut. The air turned cold. They couldn't channel aether. The room was silent… until:

Click.

One torch flickered on. Then another. One by one, lights illuminated the chamber — revealing a towering throne.

Ken staggered back, pale as ash.

"No… why is it here?"

He fell to one knee. Sam rushed to his side, alarmed. Then, Sam looked up — toward the throne — and locked eyes with a presence that made his blood freeze.