The Awakener Association's headquarters, usually lively with the energy of its members, was now stifled with tension. The usual cacophony of voices and laughter had given way to hushed tones and hurried footsteps, as if the building itself was holding its breath. James, leading Team 0 through the corridors towards their training room, couldn't help but notice the change. The air felt heavier, charged with an anxiety that mirrored his own.

James's keen senses picked up on the signs of stress among the workers as they walked. Faces that would usually greet them with smiles now flashed them brief, distracted nods. Conversations ceased as they passed, only to resume in whispers once they were deemed out of earshot. It was clear to James that the entire organization was on edge, though the reasons were as yet only speculative.

Upon entering their private area, Team 0 began considering their options to decide on the next mission.

As Daniel laid out the mission options on the table, ranging from standard dungeon clearings to more complex reconnaissance operations - a new entry in the fold, now that they had proved themselves capable of surviving almost overwhelming odds - James remained acutely aware of the tension that permeated the building. It buzzed at the edges of his senses, distracting him even further than he already was.

I already didn’t sleep well because I monitored that guy all night. This is the worst.

He knew this was not the place for open discussions about personal matters, especially ones as delicate as surveillance suspicions. Instead, he opted for subtlety, using discreet gestures and his telekinesis to communicate his concerns to his teammates.

A slight tap of his finger against the table, followed by a subtle brush of his psychic energy on their arms, signaled his unease, a message his teammates understood all too well. They had become adept at reading each other's silent cues, a necessity in their line of work. Lauren caught his eye, slightly nodding to acknowledge the warning, while Daniel's hand briefly touched his chin, signaling caution. Maria narrowed her eyes momentarily in understanding.

James couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched as the discussion progressed, even within the supposed safety of their training room's walls. His mind wandered to the events of the day before, the spy masquerading as an electrician, and what it signified about their current standing within the organization. Were they still considered assets and merely being monitored for their closeness with Miss Walker, or had they become liabilities?

There is something big going on. Something we are not privy to since Miss Walker is not here to explain things. The ongoing deployments across Asia and security measures around strategic locations must be stretching the organization thin. The mission against the KLF was a success, as the terrorists are all but gone, but it is clear that the repercussions are still being felt. New cells always pop up, and while we have overwhelming strength on our side, it's still difficult to always be there when it’s needed. It's like a game of whack-a-mole.

“We should give reconnaissance a try one day, but for now, we can keep going with what we know we are good at,” Ezekiel said, responding to Daniel's offer to try the new type of mission available to them.

"It sounds boring." Lauren huffed. "I'd prefer fighting something rather than just standing around with equipment until the real cavalry arrives."

"Alright then." James sighed, picking up his tablet and shelving his suspicions for the moment. "There are a few options left, but we can choose between this Ant dungeon in Long Island with the Rising Phoenix Guild or a Deep Sea dungeon by ourselves. We should pick up an underwater mission sooner or later anyway to see how effective we can be."

Maria crossed her arms, face set mulishly. "Heeeell no. No underwater stuff. I don't want to do it."

They all chuckled at that. Despite the fire mage's power being more than enough to cast her magic underwater by now, the redhead still had a severe aversion to water-logged places.

"Alright, alright. It's just the only one we could have done by ourselves. But I guess killing some bugs is ok. We've gotten pretty good at it anyway." James smirked.

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The afternoon sun hung low over Long Island, casting shadows across the commercial area's desolate landscape. Team 0's arrival at the parking lot behind the Best Buy was met with an unsettling silence. The absence of the usual signs of life around such a locale spoke volumes about the danger the populace felt. What was once a well-frequented area, with a Walmart and several other big shops, was completely deserted.

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James surveyed the area with a practiced eye, the unease in his gut growing with every passing moment. The team from Raising Phoenix, which was supposed to meet them here, was conspicuously absent. There were no messages, no signs of a recent struggle, nothing to indicate what might have become of them. This lack of communication was not a good way to start the dive, and he couldn't help but worry about how much they would have to wait.

The Raising Phoenix Guild was known for its professionalism and because it was one of the earliest guilds. Although it might not have reached the heights of others, it was consistent and solid.

"We should take some mana readings before we decide whether to stay and wait or ditch them." James suggested, trying to mask his concern. The team agreed and set about the task with a sense of urgency, focusing on gathering as much data as possible from the environment and the dungeon entrance.

If they are not here by the time we are done, we might have to call this off. I have complete confidence in our abilities, but most dungeons really do need two different teams working together. Being swarmed by E-rank monsters is not a good feeling, no matter how many EXP they might give.

The process was routine, something they had done countless times before, yet today, it felt different. As the readings began to come in, the team's collective concern deepened. The numbers were erratic, fluctuating wildly in a manner that defied the usual patterns they had come to expect from dungeon environments. The garbled data was alarming, hinting at anomalies within the dungeon that could not be easily explained or anticipated.

Considering Team 0’s luck so far, no one felt confident in challenging such a dungeon without extensive preparation.

Gathering again, they shared their findings, the confusion and worry evident in their expressions. "This isn't right." Maria said, her voice tense. "These readings... they're all over the place. It's like the dungeon's mana signature is actively being scrambled by something. Can you feel something weird?" She asked James, who shook his head.

"Nothing beyond what the readers are telling us. There are some tunnels beneath us, but we already knew that would be the case, this being an Ant dungeon."

Daniel furrowed his brow in concentration. "It could be a sign that it's about to rank up, which would be a disaster for us, or it could be that someone is doing something to scramble our readings."

James leaned back against a concrete wall, the afternoon light beginning to darken. "We've seen our share of weird dungeons." He mused. "But this... this feels different."

Maria nodded, her arms crossed as she stared at the garbled data on her mana reader's display. "Remember the spider dungeon? That was a nightmare. If it hadn't been for that weird guy showing up when he did, we would have been toast."

James shuddered at the memory. The Arachne would have killed them without them being able to do anything about it. They were only saved because that mysterious Awakener intervened. "Yeah, that was too close. And we still have no idea who the Sin of Pride is. I hit a wall whenever I try to dig deeper into the mystery. It's like the dude doesn't exist outside of vague rumors and what Miss Walker told us."

Daniel scoffed. "She wouldn't have been as circumspect in talking about him as she was if information about him could be found online, would she?"

James scratched his chin embarrassedly. "I know Antares is unreliable, but people often post things that get talked about in the mainstream outlets only weeks later. If anyone talked about him publicly, it would be there."

Lauren, who had been quietly listening, interrupted. "Do you think this could be a setup? Things have been weird for a while, and someone within the AA might want us out of the picture.” Her words hung in the air, heavy with implications.

James considered the possibility. The idea that they might be being manipulated into a dangerous situation by someone within the AA was troubling but not out of the realm of possibility. "It's a stretch, but I wouldn't put it past some factions to use us as pawns, considering how they are spying on us. The Raising Phoenix Team's absence is too conspicuous, though. I’d suspect them of being involved first.”

Daniel sighed, running a hand over his faithful shield. “So we still have no idea then. What's the plan? Do we wait for the Guild team, or do we call it off? These readings are getting more scrambled by the minute, and I'm not keen on walking into a potential death trap. They keep fluctuating between E and F-rank, but I'm worried they might spike to D-rank."

They fell silent, weighing their options. The risk of proceeding without a clear understanding of the dungeon's current state was high, but so was the potential reward. They were close to reaching level 200 and achieving the long-awaited D-rank themselves, and while one F-rank dungeon was probably not enough, it put them close to the Last Five.

I'm so glad we were circumspect about our actual level. We might have dropped in a few people's consideration since it looks like we slowed down our ascent, but it's always better to have a hidden trump card in these situations. If it's a trap from someone within the AA or a Guild, they are in for a surprise. Well, I still don't think we should walk into one just for shits and giggles. I might like fighting as much as anyone else, and I cannot deny I get a thrill out of defeating strong opponents, but I'm not stupid. That would be tempting fate, really.

At that exact moment, the ground suddenly began to tremble beneath their feet. James's eyes widened as he extended his senses further down, trying to pinpoint the source of the disturbance. His heart raced as he felt several large creatures moving towards them at an alarming speed. They were at the far edge of his range, but they were quickly closing the distance, scurrying through the tunnels so fast that he had to pay attention to track them.

"Ants incoming!" He shouted, jumping to his feet. "Get ready!"

Fuck, I should have known better than think that. If they are coming out of the nest, it means something big is happening inside.

The team scrambled into action, their earlier conversation forgotten as they prepared to face whatever emerged from the dungeon's depths. James could feel the creatures drawing closer, their intent malicious and focused.

Lauren readied her shadow blades, her expression grim. "Looks like they are coming to us, since we are not going to them."

Maria ignited her hands, the flames dancing eagerly around her fingers. "I'll prepare a warm welcome." She said, fire mana swirling around her as she prepared to unleash fiery hell on the creatures.

James took a deep breath, centering himself. The situation's uncertainty, the garbled mana readings, and now this imminent threat had thrown their plans into disarray. Yet, as he stood there with his team, ready to face whatever came their way, he felt nothing but calm.

The ground rumbled louder as chitinous skittering became audible even through the dirt. Then, with a tremendous boom, the cement beneath their feet exploded as the first monster emerged from the depths.