Yun Jin and Merlin made their way through the northern part of Terrilstead, following the signs that pointed toward their destination. As they walked, the bustling sounds of the town faded behind them, replaced by the rustling leaves and distant calls of birds from the nearby forest.

After a short while, they reached the edge of town, where the dense jungle loomed ahead. Just beyond the treeline, Yun Jin’s sharp eyes caught sight of a strange sight—a swirling blue vortex hovering in the air, shimmering like liquid light.

The energy emanating from the vortex sent a tingle through Yun Jin’s senses, a strange mix of familiarity and unease. It’s just like that time I was pulled into this world, he thought, his grip tightening slightly on his sword.

“It’s awfully close to the town, isn’t it?” Yun Jin said aloud, glancing back at Merlin.

Merlin nodded, adjusting the strap of his staff. “It can happen sometimes. Dungeon rifts don’t have set spawn points—they can appear almost anywhere. That’s why towns like this install protective magic diagrams to prevent them from spawning inside the walls.”

“Diagrams? I didn't see anything.” Yun Jin asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Like the ones I use,” Merlin explained. “But much bigger. They’re might be powered by mana channels running under the town.” He paused, his voice lowering slightly. “Still, the diagrams aren’t perfect. Some towns have been overrun because the defenses failed.”

Yun Jin hummed thoughtfully, his gaze returning to the vortex. “Well, let’s not give it a chance to cause trouble.” He glanced at Merlin. “You ready?”

Merlin nodded and began chanting softly, his staff glowing faintly with emerald light. With a sweep of his hand, he cast a shimmering barrier over himself and Yun Jin. “Magic Armor,” he said. “It’ll absorb some damage before breaking.”

He continued, drawing intricate diagrams in the air with his staff. The glowing lines of mana hovered for a moment before converging on Yun Jin, wrapping around him in a soft light. Yun Jin felt an immediate difference—his body felt lighter, as if a heavy weight had been lifted.

Merlin smiled, though his forehead glistened with sweat. “That one increases agility. Casting normal spells takes too much mana, so I like to prepare diagrams ahead of time. Mostly buffs and summons.”

As he spoke, he waved his staff again, conjuring a small emerald bird made entirely of wind energy. The bird fluttered around them, its translucent wings glimmering in the sunlight. “This one’s a scout. It can warn us if anything’s waiting inside.”

Yun Jin nodded approvingly. “Not bad. You’ve got a lot of tricks up your sleeve.”

Merlin flushed slightly at the compliment, adjusting his grip on his staff. “Thanks. But we should stay focused.”

Yun Jin drew his sword, the blade catching the light as it left its sheath.

He stepped toward the vortex, the swirling energy casting faint blue shadows across his face. He glanced back at Merlin one last time.

“Stay close,” he said. Then, without hesitation, he stepped into the gate.

--

The moment Yun Jin and Merlin stepped through the rift, the world around them shifted. The bright sky and the sounds of Terrilstead faded into an eerie, unnatural stillness.

A vast magical forest stretched before them, bathed in a gloomy, green-tinted light. The air felt damp, and the scent of moss, soil, and something faintly floral lingered. The trees here were ancient, their gnarled roots twisting unnaturally, some even hovering slightly above the ground as if resisting gravity. Glowing mushrooms pulsed faintly along the trunks, casting a dim bioluminescent glow.

Merlin, stepping forward, took a deep breath and raised his staff. He closed his eyes, channeling mana through his fingertips. A thin wisp of emerald energy flickered before him before forming into a small wind bird, a spectral emerald falcon with faintly glowing eyes. With a soft trill, it took off into the air, flitting between the trees like a whispering breeze.

“I’m sending it to scout ahead,” Merlin explained, his voice focused.

Yun Jin nodded, watching as the wind construct zipped through the misty forest.

--

Merlin’s brows furrowed as he processed the information his wind bird had relayed.

His grip on his staff tightened slightly. “We’ve got seven enemies,” he said, his voice steady but carrying a hint of unease. “Two Brambleguards—living walls of thorned vines, level five. Three Pixie Tricksters, level seven—they like to mess with your head. One Treant, level ten—a walking tree, tough as stone. And…” His voice hesitated ever so slightly, “…one Dryad. Level fifteen.”

Yun Jin raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like a big jump from goblins.”

Merlin nodded, licking his lips. “D-rank dungeons can vary a lot depending on the creatures inside. Goblins? Dangerous in numbers, but predictable. But fae?” He exhaled sharply. “They don’t play fair. And the Dryad—she’s the worst one here.”

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Yun Jin tilted his head. “You sure know a lot.”

Merlin blinked, then gave a nervous chuckle. He looked away, rubbing the back of his neck. “I just know about fae. Their body parts and materials are excellent ingredients for magic.” He fidgeted slightly. “But… I don’t actually know much about monsters.”

Yun Jin smirked. “So, which are they? Monsters or not?”

Merlin pursed his lips. His hands clenched around his staff before he finally spoke. “Fae aren’t like monsters. They’re creatures of nature and magic. They don’t live in dungeons naturally—they’re born from nature’s mana. Some are playful. Some are cruel. Some just don’t care about humans at all. But the important thing?” He hesitated before meeting Yun Jin’s gaze. “They follow their own rules. And that makes them unpredictable.”

Yun Jin watched him carefully, noticing how Merlin's fingers twitched slightly, betraying his nerves. The boy was usually confident when talking about magic, but here? There was uncertainty in his voice.

“So, you’re worried?” Yun Jin asked, his tone lighter than before.

Merlin huffed and crossed his arms, looking away. “Of course not!” His voice cracked slightly. “I mean, okay, maybe a little! It’s just—Dryads are no joke! Even experienced mages have trouble with them, and we only have me.” He glanced at Yun Jin’s sword. “And your sword, I guess.”

Yun Jin chuckled, rolling his shoulders. “Hah. That makes this interesting, doesn’t it?”

Merlin sighed, adjusting his grip on his staff. “I swear, you’re the only person who gets excited about fighting something this dangerous…”

Yun Jin only smirked in response.

--

But as he observed their surroundings, he noted something peculiar—

The path ahead was unnaturally narrow.

A perfectly winding, thin trail cut through the magical forest, with thick trees looming on both sides, forming a natural corridor. It was too clean. Too convenient.

Yun Jin frowned slightly, clicking his tongue. “This setup… feels like a trap.”

Merlin blinked in confusion. “Huh?”

“Look at it,” Yun Jin gestured toward the suspiciously clear-cut path ahead. “It’s guiding us. There’s only one way forward. But in a place like this, don’t you think that’s… too obvious?”

Merlin hesitated, glancing around. “I mean… I heard most dungeons have paths like these, don’t they?”

Yun Jin shook his head. “In the real world, forests aren’t this neatly arranged."

Before Merlin could protest further, Yun Jin ignored the path entirely. Instead, he veered off-course, stepping directly into the dense, mystical forest, where the air felt heavier with magic.

“Wait—what are you doing?!” Merlin hissed, scrambling to follow him.

Yun Jin drew his sword, effortlessly slicing through the thick foliage, creating his own path. The blade’s edge glowed faintly with a trace of qi, allowing it to pass through the tough, magical vines as though they were paper.

Merlin grumbled, stumbling after him. “You’re seriously going to just… cut your way through?”

“Of course,” Yun Jin said simply, stepping over a tangle of roots. “If I’m going to fight, I want to know where this place ends.”

Merlin looked skeptical but didn’t dare separate from Yun Jin—if he got attacked alone, he’d be an easy target. He hurried to keep up, keeping his staff at the ready.

The deeper they walked, the more unnatural the air became. There were no monsters in this area, only absolute silence.

Then—

Yun Jin stopped.

They had reached the very edge of the dungeon.

Before them lay the void.

A vast, infinite darkness stretched beyond the boundary of the dungeon—a sheer, impossible emptiness that swallowed all light.

Yun Jin felt a strange, hollow sensation in his chest. His breathing hitched for a moment, his body instinctively rejecting the sight before him. Just staring at it made his stomach churn, like he was peering into something beyond reality itself.

“Ugh…” Yun Jin exhaled sharply, steadying himself.

Merlin, who had caught up, gasped. “W-what is this place…?”

They could see the dungeon’s end—an invisible, translucent barrier that separated the world of the dungeon from the absolute nothingness beyond.

Yun Jin reached out a hand, pressing against the barrier. It was solid, yet completely smooth. A faint shimmer rippled where his fingers touched it, but it did not give way.

Merlin gulped. “Is… is this what happens when dungeons form? Do they just… carve out space like this?”

Yun Jin didn’t answer. He simply stared at the void, his mind struggling to comprehend what lay beyond it.

He had never seen anything like this before.

There was no sky. No ground. No depth. No color. Just an abyss of nothingness.

The sensation of looking at something that shouldn’t exist made his head feel light, almost nauseating.

And then—instinctively—he took a step back.

Merlin noticed. “You okay?”

Yun Jin shook his head, his usual smirk replaced by unease. “Let’s not stay here too long.”

But before leaving, he glanced at the translucent barrier one more time.

A thought crossed his mind.

“…I wonder.”

He stepped forward again, this time drawing his sword.

Merlin paled. “H-Hey, Yun Jin, what are you—”

Yun Jin ignored him.

[Aura Blade]

Instead, he exhaled slowly, focusing his absolute intent. His sword pulsed with light, and in that instant—

Light Blade Sovereign Style: Thirteenth Form – Vector to Heaven.

A single, motionless slash.

A cut that required neither movement nor wasted energy. The embodiment of pure mastery.

The sword flashed—an imperceptible strike that no eyes could follow.

And yet—

Nothing happened.

The barrier remained. Untouched.

Yun Jin narrowed his eyes. “Not even a scratch…”

Even his strongest technique had done nothing to it.

A trace of frustration flickered across his face, but he sighed and sheathed his blade. Then, without another word, he marked the spot in his mind before turning back to Merlin.

“Let’s go.”

Merlin, still standing stiffly, exhaled a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “…Yeah. Let’s go.”

As they walked away, Yun Jin’s thoughts lingered on the barrier and the abyss beyond.

Just what the hell is this place…?