Chapter 20 – The Players and Dungeon

The EvoCore Registration Center stood tall like a jagged monument to the future. Once a game company's testing facility, now it buzzed with the footsteps of people lining up to become players—not of a game, but of the real world.

Raven adjusted the black mask over his face as he stepped inside, keeping his eyes low. The system inside him hummed faintly—ready, but sealed. His fake ID read:

> Name: Rael

Age: 21

Classification: Civilian Applicant

Behind the tinted glasses, his eyes scanned the screens on the registration walls. Footage played on loop—players entering Dungeons, monsters in the real world, governments working with EvoCore.

> "A new age of humanity has begun," the voiceover said.

"And the strongest shall build the world."

Raven approached the booth. The attendant didn't glance up.

> "DNA scan, neural index, palm input. No weapons."

Raven followed each instruction. His Nihilos system stayed quiet—hidden.

> [Identity Masking Active: 9:52:33 Remaining]

A green light blinked.

> "Rael. Civilian verified. You've been assigned to the F-Rank gate orientation. Good luck out there."

Raven nodded and stepped away. The interior lights flickered. Somewhere behind the scenes, scanners tried—and failed—to find any deeper data on him.

He passed a giant holographic board listing current S-Rank Players:

1. Daichi Saito – Codename: WARDEN

2. Keira Valen

3. Xeno Kai

4. Mira Hoshino

5. Gideon Falk

…

6. Robert K. Jhonson

> Only 20 people on Earth had cleared 200 A+ rank dungeons.

Only 20 had become S-Rank.

Each of them was practically a weapon of mass destruction. The economy, politics—even governments were beginning to bend toward these "Players."

Raven walked past, unimpressed.

> "Let them build their pyramid," he muttered.

"I'm just here for my own reasons."

At the training zone, a VR-tuned speaker announced:

> "New recruits, prepare for your first entry. Your assigned gate opens in 10 minutes. You'll be monitored for aptitude."

Raven was escorted to a metallic platform. Around him, other F-ranks were nervous, adjusting low-level gear, holding beginner-grade weapons. He wore none.

> "Where's your weapon?" a girl asked.

He shrugged. "Don't need one."

She scoffed and looked away. "Suit yourself."

The Gate pulsed open. Glitch-blue light shone. A Dungeon—one of many "leaks" from EvoCore's original system—waiting to be cleared.

Raven stepped through the light without hesitation.

He cracked his knuckles.

> "Let's see if I remember how to do this."

The gate shimmered as Raven stepped inside, reality distorting for a brief second. His boots hit old stone as the entrance sealed behind him with a mechanical hiss.

The environment was stable—cool air, mossy corridors, torchlight flickering softly on damp stone walls. A breeze carried the scent of decay and metal.

> [DUNGEON: F-RANK – CODE: FORGOTTEN CHAMBER]

[TYPE: Instanced Ruin]

[OBJECTIVE: Team Assessment – Clear All Enemies]

[ENEMIES: Goblinoid Horde (Est. 200 Units)]

[DURATION: 45:00 Min | DANGER LEVEL: LOW–MODERATE]

Nine other players loaded in beside Raven. They were recruits—fresh from evaluation, some still adjusting their armor, others visibly sweating despite the cool air.

> "This is just a routine test," the instructor's voice echoed through a hovering support drone. "Your coordination and efficiency will determine your evaluation. Survive. Contribute. Keep formation."

> [Rank Evaluation: Active]

[Tracking: Auto-Assist Mode Enabled]

The party's formation snapped into place—two tanks, three close-ranged attackers, two mages, one healer, and one archer. Raven stood off to the side. Unaffiliated. Quiet.

> "Rael, right?" one of the tanks asked. "No guild?"

> "Guess he's a solo," the archer muttered. "No armor. No sword. He's not gonna last."

The moment they stepped forward, the goblins began to swarm.

Waves of them.

Dozens at first. Some wore crude armor, others wielded rusted blades or poisoned darts. They were fast, aggressive, coordinated.

> [LVL 4 – Goblin Scout]

[LVL 5 – Goblin Bladekin]

[LVL 6 – Goblin Howler]

The group fought well—shields raised, fireballs launched, arrows flying.

But the numbers grew. 50... 70... 120…

They began to get overwhelmed.

Until Raven moved.

He didn't shout. Didn't activate flashy skills.

With a low breath, he dashed between two enemies, striking them down with a simple motion. His movements were deliberate—measured. He barely seemed to be trying.

> [Enemy Defeated]

[+0 EXP – Class Mode: Suppressed]

The system tracked it.

But the players didn't see how he did it.

In the span of two minutes, he eliminated over two dozen goblins solo—quietly, behind the others, ensuring the formation didn't break. His presence, while unannounced, kept the team from collapsing.

Eventually, the final goblin—a snarling level 6 elite—was pinned and finished by the group's mage.

> [Dungeon Clear – 00:39:42]

[Total Enemies Eliminated: 200/200]

[Team Status: Moderate Injuries – 0 Fatalities]

The exit opened with a hum.

Back at the EvoCore facility, the recruits filed out, tired but smiling.

> "Good run."

"We didn't lose anyone."

"That was smoother than expected."

The instructor stood at a console, reviewing live stats.

> "Average evaluation: B to B+. Excellent control."

One report blinked brighter than the others.

> [Subject: Rael]

[Kills: 41]

[Injury Taken: 0]

[Skill Usage: Undisclosed]

[Mana Consumption: Unrecorded]

[Evaluation: C-RANK – TEMPORARY HOLD FOR BACKGROUND CONFIRMATION]

The instructor frowned.

> "Strange…"

Behind him, Dario walked by, arms folded.

> "Let it pass. The quiet ones… they usually don't stay quiet for long."

Raven, now out of the gate room, stood quietly at the facility terminal.

He glanced at his wristband—an EvoCore-issued tracker for players.

> [Current Rank: C]

[Clearance Level: 1]

[Next Assessment in 6 Days]

He sighed, slipping the band back under his coat sleeve.

His system pinged silently in the background.

> [NIHILOS CLASS – SUPPRESSED MODE: 92.3%]

[Skill: Identity Mask – Duration Remaining: 7:02:19]

[Cooldown After Use: 3 Hours]

That night, he sat by the window in his apartment, watching the lights of the city blur outside. Ava walked in with warm tea and looked at him.

> "How was the test?" she asked.

He smiled faintly.

> "I passed."

She paused. "...Did you hold back again?"

He looked away.

> "They're not ready for what I really am."