Kai stared at his phone, swiping absentmindedly through the latest batch of social media updates. Around him, the college cafeteria buzzed with the familiar noise of chatter, laughter, and the occasional clink of trays. Finals were looming, but all he could think about was how to pass the time until his next class. He glanced up at the grey sky through the cafeteria windows. "You see that storm coming in?" Ryan asked, shoving a tray of food onto the table and sitting across from him. His usual grin plastered on his face despite the ominous weather. Kai nodded. "Yeah, looks pretty bad. Maybe it'll knock out power and cancel the rest of the week, huh?" Ryan chuckled, but his eyes were on the sky. "That would be sick. Could use a break from all this studying." Outside, the wind picked up, making the leaves on the trees outside dance wildly. The dark clouds rolled in faster than either of them had expected, and before long, the cafeteria lights flickered. "Whoa," Ryan said, half laughing. "Think we spoke too soon." Kai felt a strange, sinking sensation in his stomach as if something was about to go wrong. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled. Before he could say anything, there was a deafening crack of thunder, followed by a blinding flash of lightning. The entire room gasped as the light engulfed everything. He blinked. The cafeteria was gone. Instead of the familiar tables, students, and food stands, he stood on solid, rough stone. His heart pounded in his chest as he spun around, disoriented. The air smelled different here—damp, ancient, and cold. "What the hell just happened?" he muttered to himself. You have entered a portal. The text appeared in front of him, floating like a hologram. Kai instinctively reached out to swipe it away, but his hand went through the words. They flickered and disappeared on their own. “Welcome, Master,” a voice echoed from the darkness behind him. Kai froze, whipping around to face the source. A glowing figure materialized before him, hovering just above the ground—a humanoid shape cloaked in shadows, with piercing blue eyes that seemed to stare right into his soul. “I am Nex, your Dungeon Guide. You have been chosen to become the new master of this dungeon realm,” the figure announced in a voice that was eerily calm. Kai's mouth went dry. “Wait, dungeon? What are you talking about? Where am I?” “This is not your world anymore,” Nex said simply, “You were brought here by the storm. The gods have selected you to be the guardian of this dungeon. Whether you accept it or not, you are now the Dungeon Master. Your choices will determine the fate of this realm—and of yourself.”

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