The following morning, I arrived at the designated meeting point, a small corner a bit far from the association, with trees and rocks.

I tightened the strap of my pack, adjusting the weight of my new dagger at my side.

Today would be my first real raid, my first true test as a Hunter.

But before that, I had to meet my team.

I wasn’t great with people, and the thought of working with strangers didn’t sit well with me.

But I had no choice, rules where rules.

“You’re early.”

The voice came from a tall, broad-shouldered man leaning against a nearby tree.

He had short, dark hair and wore light armor that seemed custom-fitted to his muscular frame.

A massive claymore rested against the tree beside him.

“Allen, right?” he asked, pushing off the tree and walking toward me.

“Yeah,” I replied, keeping my tone neutral.

“Jace told me about you. I’m Tobias, the team leader.” He extended a hand.

I hesitated for a moment before shaking it.

His grip was firm, his palm calloused from years of wielding that enormous blade.

“Lightning element, huh?” Tobias said, sizing me up. “We’ll see how that plays out in the dungeon.”

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Before I could respond, another voice called out.

“Is this the newbie?”

A young woman strode into the yard, her long red hair tied back in a ponytail.

She wore a sleek set of leather armor, a bow slung across her shoulder and a quiver of arrows at her hip.

“Don’t scare him off, Lily,” Tobias said with a smirk.

“I’m just curious,” she replied, eyeing me like I was some kind of experiment. “I’m Lily, by the way. Resident sharpshooter.”

“Allen,” I said simply.

She grinned.

“Not much of a talker, huh? That’s fine. As long as you can keep up.”

The next to arrive was a wiry man with sharp features and a mischievous glint in his eyes.

He carried a pair of daggers, their hilts gleaming under the morning sun.

“Name’s Marcus,” he said, flashing a quick smile. “I’m the team’s scout and trap expert. Stick with me, and you might survive.”

I nodded, unsure how to respond to his playful yet slightly unsettling tone.

The last member of the group arrived moments later.

A petite girl with short, silver hair and a staff that seemed almost too big for her frame.

“Evelyn,” she said softly, barely meeting my gaze. “I’m the healer.”

Why the heck are they introducing their selves to me.

“Glad you made it,” Tobias said, clapping his hands together. “Now that we’re all here, let’s go over the plan.”

He pulled out a small map of the dungeon we’d be raiding, a low-level dungeon known for its goblin infestations.

“Our target is here,” Tobias said, pointing to a chamber marked on the map. “A goblin den. Shouldn’t be anything we can’t handle, but stay sharp. Goblins are cunning little bastards.”

He glanced at me.

“Allen, you’ll be in the middle. Stay close to Evelyn and Marcus. Lily and I will handle the front line.”

I nodded, absorbing his instructions.

“Any questions?” Tobias asked, his gaze sweeping over the group.

Marcus raised a hand, grinning.

“Yeah. Can we place bets on how long the newbie lasts?”

“Knock it off,” Tobias said, though his tone held a hint of amusement.

Lily chuckled, and even Evelyn smiled faintly.

I didn’t rise to the bait.

Words didn’t matter.

Actions did.

“Let’s move out,” Tobias said, rolling up the map.

As we made our way to the dungeon entrance, the weight of the moment settled on me.

This wasn’t a simulation or a training exercise.

It was real.

I glanced at my teammates, each of them seasoned in their own way.

I was the odd one out, the rookie with no experience.

But I wasn’t here to prove anything to them.

I was here to survive, and to grow stronger.