As Joe stepped into the cave, an overwhelming red light engulfed him, forcing him to squint and shield his eyes with his right hand. He tried peering through the gaps between his fingers, but the brilliance was blinding. The cave seemed to swallow everything in its glow—Shelly, Franklin, Bella, the cave walls—all vanished in the radiance.

[You Have Entered The Main Dungeon: The 'Scorching Cave']

[Transportation To The First Zone Will Begin Shortly]

“Transpo—”

Before Joe could finish, the ground beneath him vanished. His stomach lurched as he plummeted, the sensation akin to falling hundreds of meters from the sky. A scream tore from his throat, raw and desperate, before everything went dark with a bone-jarring impact.

After what felt like centuries, Joe began to stir. His eyes fluttered open, and a high-pitched ringing dominated his ears as he struggled to sit upright.

"Good, you're awake. Look alive, Joe!"

Joe squinted, his vision still hazy. Standing beside him was Shelly, gripping her staff tightly. Her gaze was locked forward, unflinching, her eyes sharp with focus. Her voice felt distant, muffled by the ringing in Joe’s ears, but he managed to make out her words. Groaning, he forced himself to his feet, clutching his pounding head.

"What... happened?" he asked, his voice weak.

"Look straight ahead."

Joe turned his head to see what she meant. His blood ran cold. Advancing toward them were creatures wreathed in flames, their forms unsettlingly human-like.

"What the hell are those?" he asked, his voice trembling as he instinctively stepped back.

"They're the monsters of this Dungeon's First Zone. We have to eliminate them," Shelly said, her usual gentle tone replaced with an urgent edge.

[You Have Entered The Scorching Cave's First Zone The 'Infernal Nest']

[Main Dungeon Sub-Quest]

• Objective: Slay All Infernal Humans

• Reward: 15,000 Rank Points

• Progress: 20/50 Infernal Humans Slain

Joe stared in disbelief. Infernal Humans? His thoughts spun. So, these things aren’t just monsters—they’re humans? Before he could delve further into the idea, Shelly’s voice jolted him back to reality.

"Joe, watch out!" she shouted.

Snapping his head forward, Joe saw an Infernal Human right in front of him, its flaming sword raised high, ready to strike. Up close, it was clear: these creatures weren’t beasts. The Infernal’s charred flesh oozed like molten wax, revealing patches of bone beneath. It was unmistakably human—grotesque, but human.

"Help... me..." the creature rasped, its voice like the final, desperate breaths of a dying old man.

Joe’s mind fractured, memories flooding back. He found himself on Earth, reliving the day it was erased. Amidst the chaos of that day, he saw the old man again—the one who laid on the ground, skin blackened and burned, clinging to his ankle with a fragile, bloodied hand.

"Please... help me..."

The memory gripped him like a vice, and he froze, paralyzed as the Infernal’s flaming blade began its deadly descent.

At the last second, Shelly darted in front of him, raising her staff and summoning a shimmering green barrier. The sword struck the shield with a deafening clang, sending the Infernal staggering back. [Green Veil] Shelly glanced over her shoulder, her voice firm and unyielding.

"What are you doing? Snap out of it, or you’ll get yourself killed!"

Her words hit Joe like a slap, breaking through his stupor.

"So...rry," Joe stammered, barely managing to form the words as his senses finally returned.

The Infernal Human charged again, its flaming sword raised high, determined to breakthrough Shelly’s barrier. She snapped her head toward the creature, her grip on her staff tightening as she prepared to reinforce the barrier.

But she didn’t need to.

Before the creature could strike, its entire body erupted into flames. Blue fire consumed the red blaze already engulfing it, reducing the Infernal Human to ashes in mere moments. [Fireblast]

[29 Infernal Humans Remaining]

Bella strode forward with purposeful confidence, her movements sharp and deliberate. She stopped in front of Shelly, her fiery glare fixed squarely on Joe.

"I knew this would happen! This is why I didn’t want you coming, commoner. You’re nothing but a burden!" she snapped, her words biting and laced with disdain.

Turning her attention to the next wave of advancing Infernal Humans, she added coldly, "I told you, didn’t I? I won’t hesitate to burn you to a crisp if you get in my way. Remember that."

The flames around Bella’s hands flared brighter, casting an eerie glow as she charged into the fray.

Behind her, Franklin followed with measured intensity, his twin flaming swords gripped tightly as he moved with precision and purpose.

Joe stood still for another moment, steadying his breathing and gathering his thoughts. Slowly, he exhaled, regaining control over his composure.

"Sorry, Shelly. I’m fine now," he said, offering her a faint but reassuring smile.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Shelly glanced at him, her tense expression softening. "Good. You mustn’t space out like that—you’re the leader." She returned his smile briefly before turning her focus back to the battle ahead.

"Are those things human, Syr?"

[Well... Yes And No. They Are Adventurers Who Died Inside This Dungeon. Their Souls Seemed To Be Trapped Here, Forced To Be The Dungeon's Slaves Long After Their Deaths. They Are Technically Humans, But Calling Them That In Their Current State Wouldn't Be Accurate. They Are Just Burning And Mindless Pieces Of Flesh]

Joe frowned. "I wouldn’t call them mindless. One of them spoke to me. It called out for help. They must still have fragments of humanity left... they must be in so much pain, Syr. I want to help them, to release them from this torment the dungeon has forced upon them."

[The Only Way To Release Their Souls Is By Killing Them.]

Joe paused, then nodded grimly. "Of course, you’d say that. But... this time, I actually agree with you."

He reached for his blade, the metallic whisper of its unsheathing cutting through the chaos. His hand tightened around the hilt, mana surging through his body—radiating outward in its dark form.

"I didn’t help that old man back then. Maybe it was the chaos, maybe I was overwhelmed... or maybe I just didn’t care. But I won’t let that happen again. If I can help even one of these Infernal Humans, then at least I’ll have done something right."

[You Have Activated The Skill (Outsider’s Enhancement (Stage 2)]

"Stage 2?" Only now did Joe notice that his skill had changed.

[Yes, Your Skill Has Reached Its Second Stage. Let Me Provide You With The Updated Information Regarding Your Skill.]

[Skill: Outsider’s Enhancement. (Stage 2)]

• Description: As An Outsider Grows, So Does The Mana That Dwells Within Them. This Mana Can Be An Outsider’s Greatest Strength, But Also Their Greates Weakness.

• Effect: Your Use Of Mana Has Improved Allowing You To Enhance Your Physical Attributes Drastically, And Use More Versatile Skills When Controlling Your Mana And Enhancing Your Mana Tools.

• Range: 15 Meters

• Boosts: +300 Rank Points To Your Physical Attributes

• +400 Rank Points To Your Mana Attributes

• Note: Boosts Multiply, For Every 2000 Mana Pool Rank Points You Spend To Enhance The Skill.

• E.g Using 4000 Mana Pool Rank Points Will Result In Your Boosts Multiplying By 2, Using 6000 Will Result In The Boosts Multiplying By 3, Etc. Does Not Go Beyond A X5 Multiplier Due To The Strain It Brings To The Body.

• Mana Cost (MC): -2000 (May Increase To Accommodate The Multiplier Applied) Mana Pool Rank Points/5 Minutes.

Joe's skimmed through the wall of text infront of him. "Got It!"

[-2000 Rank Points To Your Mana Pool]

[+350 Rank Points To Your Physical Attributes: (Total: 410)]

[+400 Rank Points To Your Mana Attributes: (Total: 470)]

[Current Mana Pool:23,095]

[18 Infernal Humans Remaining]

Joe steadied himself, feeling the flow of mana coursing through him. It was heavier than before, yet undeniably more empowering. He tightened his grip on his blade, his resolve unshaken.

"Shelly, let me handle this."

Shelly hesitated for a moment, her eyes meeting Joe's. The mana radiating from him, coupled with the determination in his gaze, reassured her. She stepped aside, the barrier she had erected dissolving into the air.

With a single step, Joe propelled himself forward. His movement created a brief gust that swept past Bella and Franklin as they fought a couple of Infernals. Joe went past them without sparing them a glance.

A lone Infernal Human, emboldened by desperation, charged at Joe. Its flaming blade was gripped tightly with both hands, and unintelligible, pain-laden words spilled from its disfigured mouth. To Joe, the sounds weren’t merely ramblings—they were cries of agony.

As the Infernal swung its weapon in a wild, horizontal arc, Joe ducked beneath the unstable strike. The flaming blade whooshed harmlessly over his head.

Seizing the opening, Joe lunged forward. Through its melted and charred visage, he caught a glimpse of the Infernal’s sorrowful eyes. With a single, precise slash, he severed its head. The creature crumpled to the ground as the fire consuming it flickered out and died.

[You Have Slain A (Rank 18) Infernal Human (+9,600 Rank Points)]

[Rank Up Progress: 17 [66,100/70,000 Rank Points Required]]

[17 Infernal Humans Remaining]

As Joe watched the flames vanish, a question weighed on his mind. "What do you think will happen to its soul? Do you think it’ll really go to the afterlife?"

[I Don’t Know. I Can Confirm That Its Soul Vanished With The Flames, But I Can’t Say Where It Went. At Least It’s Free From This Place.]

Joe turned his attention to a group of five Infernals advancing toward him. "Yeah... let’s do the same for the rest." With those words, he dashed forward, his mana pulsing brightly around him.

The five Infernals attacked with desperation, their movements erratic and fierce, but Joe’s movements were fluid and precise. He weaved effortlessly through their attacks, responding with swift slashes that decapitated each one.

[You Have Slain 5 (Rank 18) Infernal Humans (+48,000 Rank Points)]

[You Have Ranked Up!]

[Overall Rank: 18 [44,100/75,000 Rank Points Required]]

[12 Infernal Humans Remaining]

Without pausing, Joe grabbed the body of a fallen Infernal and hurled it with incredible force into another group of five approaching infernals. The impact tore through their bodies, killing them instantly.

[You Have Slain 5 (Rank 18) Infernal Humans (+48,000 Rank Points)]

[You Have Ranked Up!]

[New Overall Rank: 19 [17,100/80,000 Rank Points Required]]

[7 Infernal Humans Remaining]

[6 Infernal Humans Remaining]

[5 Infernal Humans Remaining]

Joe prepared to continue when two streaks of blue fire whooshed past him. The flames engulfed the remaining five Infernals, reducing them to nothing but ashes. [Blue Fireball]

Bella stepped up next to Joe, her expression smug. "I can’t let a mere commoner like you outdo me," she said with a triumphant smirk.

Joe sighed, sheathing his blade as the mana surrounding him dissipated. "It wasn’t a competition, princess," he replied flatly, turning to walk away.

Bella blinked, momentarily confused by his words. She quickly dismissed the thought, deciding he must simply be refusing to acknowledge her brilliance.

[50/50 Infernal Humans Have Been Slain]

[Main Dungeon Sub-Quest Complete!]

• Reward: 15,000 Rank Points

[New Overall Rank: 19 [32,100/80,000 Rank Points Required]]

[You Can Proceed To Face The First Zone's Boss.]

[Clean-Up For This Section Of The Dungeon Will Begin.]

[Time Allocated To Reach The 'Domain' Of The First Zone Boss: 5 Minutes]

"We should keep moving!" Franklin shouted, urgency clear in his tone.

He led the group from the open expanse of the Dungeon into a narrow passage. Steam hissed from cracks in the Scorching Cave's crimson walls, the temperature climbing higher with every step. The oppressive heat blurred their vision and made breathing increasingly difficult.

Bella followed swiftly behind Franklin. Shelly trailed after her, and Joe brought up the rear.

It only took them two minutes to reach it: a massive black door looming at the end of the narrow passage. Its surface was glossy yet foreboding, with a paper seal affixed to its center.

"I'll go in first," Franklin announced, stepping forward with a determined expression. "Princess, you follow after me."

"No, I'll go first," Bella countered, her tone firm. Before Franklin could object, she placed her hand on the seal at the center of the door. In an instant, her form vanished.

Joe blinked in surprise. What the?

Franklin, unfazed, followed her lead. He touched the seal, and his figure disappeared as well. "Let's go, Joe," Shelly said calmly, offering him a brief smile before touching the seal and vanishing in turn.

Joe stood before the massive door, the air thick with heat and tension. He exhaled deeply, steadying himself, and stepped forward. Reaching out, he pressed his palm against the seal.

[Your Transportation To The First Zone Boss’s 'Domain' Is Underway.]

Joe's body vanished, drawn into whatever awaited them beyond the door.