A few days later, it was time for the graduation ceremony. Kaiden stood in the same large open field where he had first arrived at Camp Thorne. It felt like a lifetime ago when he had stood here, nervous and uncertain, as Colonel Thorne gave his initial address. The field was just as expansive now, but the crowd was far smaller.

Only those who had survived their dungeon runs were in attendance, and the difference was stark. Of course, not all absences meant fatalities—some had opted to drop back into the support platoon, not feeling ready to go forth. Even so, the field was alive with a sense of accomplishment and somber reflection.

Kaiden was relieved to know that Garin and Harlan were among the graduates. He was pleased to find that they had passed their dungeon with no casualties in their party. The four of them had caught up the previous day, and they had wasted no time swapping stories about their encounter. Just like everyone Kaiden and Davick had asked, Garin and Harlan hadn’t encountered a lich either.

After dungeon talks, Kaiden asked the two about the mysterious "Spell Scribe" class. To his disappointment, neither Garin nor Harlan had any solid answers. Unsurprisingly, though, Garin had some information which seemed more like speculation, but he surmised that it might have something to with what he called "old magic," from long-forgotten history. The very mention of it sent a ripple of unease through Kaiden, but it was Harlan's warning that stuck with him.

“You shouldn’t share this information too freely,” Harlan had said, his tone serious. “If it is connected to old magic, you could make yourself a target. Powerful people would want to use you. And being a Dungeoneer wouldn’t protect you—in fact, it might make it easier. All it would take is for them to snatch you up on the day of a dungeon dive, and everyone would just assume you died in the dungeon.”

Kaiden had shuddered at the thought, the weight of Harlan’s words sinking in. But deep down, he felt almost certain the class had something to do with Oros. Non-combat tomes revealed a class for which you’d met the requirements. The only thing that could’ve possibly done that was his Arcane Vision ability which let him see runes and magic and he’d been using it any chance he got. He wasn’t an idiot. The connection was too strong to ignore.

That inkling of realization had crossed his mind during their conversation. He chuckled bitterly to himself, thinking, Sorry, God. I think you wanted me to become a Spell Scribe, but I joined the Dungeoneers instead.

That didn’t mean Kaiden would stop searching for answers. If anything, the mystery only deepened his resolve to uncover everything he could. Again he found himself wishing for a library. Now, as far as obtaining the class, well, that was a daunting challenge in itself. A non-combat tome wasn’t just something you could easily get. If he found one in a dungeon, he’d be obligated to turn it in. Buying one outright? Forget about it.

He thought back to what he’d learned of this world’s currency system and remembered the weight of his meager coin purse. When he’d heard the price of a non-combat tome, he could only shake his head in disbelief. Spending gold coins was for the wealthy, and for a noob Dungeoneer like him, accumulating enough to buy a tome would take years—if not decades.

Kaiden’s mind wandered as he absently fingered the coin pouch at his side, the clink of its modest contents a constant reminder of how little he had. The economy here was structured around copper, silver, and gold coins, with copper and silver being the most common for everyday transactions. Ten copper made one silver, and a hundred silver equaled a single gold coin. That meant gold coins were practically a dream for most people. A middle-class household income was barely one or two gold a year, enough to cover necessities and scrape by with little to spare. Bread cost a few copper coins, a pint of ale about the same, and a night in a modest inn might run close to thirty coppers. Of course, those prices could easily drastically when looking at luxury items.

Divers, nobles, and merchants, of course, dealt more often in silver and gold, but for the average person, even holding a single gold coin was only a dream. Kaiden shook his head at the thought, glancing down at his coin pouch. What he had wouldn’t even come close to affording something like a non-combat tome, which cost upwards of ten gold—sometimes more. He sighed. Forget saving for one; even just eating well for the next few weeks would be a stretch.

As Kaiden stood among the other graduates, his thoughts returned to the here and now. Colonel Thorne’s commanding presence loomed in the distance, and the ceremony was about to begin.

One of the highest-ranking sergeants stepped forward, a man Kaiden had seen once before but only recently learned was a Sergeant Major. His voice boomed across the field. “Attention!”

Immediately, the assembled men and women snapped to attention, their bodies rigid and their gazes forward. The field fell silent as the crowd waited. Moments later, Colonel Thorne strode confidently to the front, the weight of his presence palpable. He exchanged salutes with the sergeant major, who then stepped aside.

“At ease,” the Colonel said, his voice deep and commanding.

The crowd relaxed slightly, their postures no longer stiff but still respectful.

“Congratulations,” he began, his tone formal yet genuine, “to all of you for completing your first dungeon.”

Everyone stood in attentive silence, the words hitting with a mixture of pride and solemnity.

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“Now, I’m sure you can all see how much of a challenge it was,” he continued, pausing as his sharp eyes scanned the group. “But the good news is, it’s all uphill from here. For most of you, this will be the hardest dungeon you’ll ever complete.”

A murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd, but the Colonel raised a hand to quiet them.

“And no,” he clarified, “it’s not because a Wood-grade dungeon is more challenging than Bronze, Silver, and so on. It’s because this is the least prepared you’ll ever be. Should ever be.”

He paused for effect, letting his words sink in.

“Be prepared to not be prepared,” he said, his tone firm and deliberate. “You understand what those words mean more now than ever.”

Kaiden felt the weight of the statement settle in his chest. The phrase felt almost contradictory, but after the chaos of the dungeon, it rang true.

“I know many of you faced losses in the dungeon,” the Colonel continued, his voice softening slightly. “My heart goes out to all of you. I’ve faced my fair share as well.”

His gaze lingered on some of the recruits before hardening again. “But this is what makes you better. Stronger. Smarter.” He straightened, his presence larger than life. “Today, you’re all officially Dungeoneers.”

The crowd absorbed his words, the reality of their accomplishment settling in. Then, the Colonel allowed a faint smile to curve his lips. “And today,” he added, his voice carrying a note of anticipation, “we have a very rare treat. Something most Dungeoneers never get to experience. But luckily, his schedule allowed it, and we are about to be blessed by his presence.”

A ripple of whispers spread through the new Dungeoneers. Kaiden’s mind raced. Who could he mean?

“Prepare yourselves,” he said, his voice carrying the weight of authority. “You’re about to meet one of the most extraordinary individuals in the world.”

The murmurs continued throughout the crowd, excitement and curiosity bubbling under the surface as the Colonel’s words sank in. Who could warrant such an introduction? For someone of the Colonel’s rank to not only defer but openly praise this person, they had to be a monumental figure. Kaiden’s thoughts shifted between legendary Dungeoneers and high-ranking officials. Was it a general? A famous adventurer? Maybe even a royal?

The Colonel raised a hand, silencing the whispers with the practiced ease of authority. “I understand your curiosity,” he said, his voice carrying over the field, firm yet amiable. “You’ll find out shortly. For now, I want to remind you of the responsibility you carry as Dungeoneers. You’ve earned the title, but it’s not just a badge. It’s a calling. What you’ve seen so far is only the beginning.” His gaze turned serious again, scanning the crowd as if ensuring his words struck deep. “From this day forward, you will continue to face danger and uncertainty. You will encounter things that test not only your strength but your courage, your intelligence, and your ability to adapt. Never forget: preparation, teamwork, and discipline will be your lifelines.”

Kaiden felt the weight of the Colonel’s words settle over him like a cloak.

Colonel Thorne glanced up at the sky, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Right on time, as usual,” he said, his voice carrying a tone of admiration. Turning back to the assembled crowd, he straightened to his full height, his presence commanding as ever.

“It is my great pleasure to welcome,” he began, his voice ringing with pride, “our fearless commander of the entire Dungeoneer Corps, the Winged Warlord, and the Obsidian Dragoon—General Eryndor Thorne!”

Suddenly, piercing roars echoed from the sky, shattering the calm and drawing every eye upward. A chill ran down Kaiden’s spine as he craned his neck to see the source of the sound. In the distance, a formation of six massive winged beasts was descending rapidly, their wings slicing through the air with a rhythmic thunder.

Gasps rippled through the crowd, a wave of awe and disbelief. Even some of the sergeants—seasoned veterans who had surely seen it all—wore dumbfounded expressions.

“Holy shit,” Kaiden whispered, his breath catching.

Atop each beast sat a figure, gripping reins and guiding the creatures with precision. The beasts were enormous, their sleek, scaled bodies glinting in the sunlight. Their roars reverberated through Kaiden’s chest like a drumbeat, and he couldn’t tear his eyes away.

Fucking dragons! Kaiden thought, his heart pounding.

The creatures weren’t just flying aimlessly; they were in perfect formation, their riders clearly skilled. As they grew closer, Kaiden realized their scales weren’t uniform—some were black as night, others a gleaming silver or deep crimson. Their wings were vast, stretched taut like banners of leather and power.

“No way,” someone whispered nearby, their voice trembling.

“Those aren’t dragons,” another voice muttered, though it lacked conviction.

The winged creatures descended with precision, their massive wings stirring up gusts of wind that whipped through the crowd. One by one, the beasts landed with thunderous thuds near the front of the crowd, close to where Colonel Thorne stood addressing them. The largest of the winged beasts touched down last, its sheer size dwarfing the others. Kaiden assumed this was the general.

Kaiden stared, his mind reeling. The general’s beast was enormous—easily the size of a school bus—while the others, though still impressive, were closer to the size of delivery vans. The comparison felt absurd, but it was the only way his stunned brain could process their scale.

The General dismounted with ease and Kaiden’s gaze was drawn to the figure clad in sleek, black armor, devoid of any military insignias or markings. It was a stark contrast to the more modest armor of his five companions, who wore leather and scale armor that looked practical but far less intimidating. Their beasts, smaller and less majestic, were probably lesser drakes—or perhaps wyverns?

Kaiden frowned, trying to recall what he’d heard about the distinctions. He remembered a conversation with Davick, Garin, and Harlan before they arrived at camp. They’d mentioned how General Thorne rode a drake, not a dragon, but seeing the creature now, it was hard not to mistake it for the real thing. If Kaiden hadn’t known otherwise, he would’ve sworn it was a full-fledged dragon.

Drake, wyvern, dragon—weren’t they all the same? he wondered. Or was it more like the difference between a crocodile and an alligator? He wasn’t sure, and it didn’t matter. Whatever the General’s mount was, it commanded awe.

As the General strode forward, his companions stayed back, lounging casually near their beasts. The beasts shifted slightly but remained obedient, their piercing eyes watching the crowd. Kaiden noticed how nonchalantly the riders seemed to act around the creatures.

Colonel Thorne stepped forward, his voice sharp. “Attention!”

The Dungeoneers snapped to attention immediately as the general approached, his presence heavy with authority. Kaiden’s heart raced as he stood straighter, his gaze locked on the towering figure before them.

The Colonel snapped a sharp salute to the armor-clad man before stepping aside to give him the floor.

Then the general spoke... and he was an asshole.