Lilithra focused intently on the ceiling above her bed, having barely slept because of her nerves. As much as she wanted to appear and feel confident, the weight of the whole ordeal caused her to doubt herself. What if she wasn’t ready? What if she had underestimated the responsibility of leading a whole Guild? Though it was going to be just three people for the foreseeable future—a thought that eased her up a bit.

Still, she couldn’t help but waver. Rolling on her bed from side to side, she scooped up a few plushies in her arms, including the one she had acquired in Starugnia. As she hugged them, she felt a soothing comfort wash over her, and sighed heavily.

“Everything’s going to be fine!” Lilithra reassured herself, carefully placing the stuffed animals to the side as she sat up on the bed. “They believe in me—in me of all people.” She said with a gentle smile, a slight blush spreading across her cheeks.

“I have to believe in myself, too.” After all, if such amazing people like Selorien, Ascalon, and even Raphael, had faith in her, how could she waver? The thought fueled her determination, as she clenched her fists. “Let’s do it!” She hyped herself up, raising her arms high.

Afterward, she checked the current time on her phone, and nodded decisively as she prepared herself for the incoming test.

----------------------------------------

The group met up in their usual spot outside The Chalice, and set out with unwavering confidence. The night before, they had received a message from headquarters, informing them of the meeting time, and also the dungeon’s location.

On the way, they conversed about what kind of approach they could take, planning some strategies and motivating each other. Selorien seemed especially cheerful, so Ascalon suspected that his visit to the blacksmith had gone well. As if reading his mind, the elf gave him a thumbs up. Ascalon smiled in relief, though Lilithra eyed them both suspiciously.

After a short train ride, they navigated their way to the dungeon’s location. Contrary to the Howling Chasm, with its portal located inside a makeshift tent, this one was underground—fittingly located within a closed train station, which gave the entire place a thematic feel.

It also reminded them of their time in Starugnia, as the desert dungeon was also hidden beneath the city. Fortunately, the ‘Derelict Station’ seemed to be beyond a ‘normal’ portal, so they didn’t have to worry about any network issues this time—or so they hoped, at least.

Unsurprisingly, Kain and his team were already waiting for them. Aside from the Canidae, there were around eight people in total, scattered around the unkempt station’s lobby. The moment Ascalon’s group stepped inside, the atmosphere grew tense as Kain’s party shifted their entire attention toward them.

They eyed them with inquisitive, intense stares, causing Lilithra to gulp loudly. Selorien patted her back as if to reassure her, while Ascalon examined the strangers. Aside from Kain, he could only recognize one more—Urvan, the man-bear Ascalon had met back at the colosseum. His presence there made him feel uneasy, as he remembered they had a bit of a verbal clash at the time.

As Urvan sneered, his sharp teeth glistened under the dim lights of the room. At the same time, a voice cut through the silence.

“You arrived on time—good.” Kain exclaimed as he approached them. Lilithra nodded nervously, while Ascalon bowed slightly. Selorien simply yawned as he stretched his arms above his head, which earned him a raised eyebrow from the Canidae.

“I see you’re motivated… anyway.” Kain sighed, unamused by Selorien’s carefreeness. It was then that the elf noticed Urvan’s stare and frowned as he spoke up.

“Didn’t know Guild leaders took part in this.” Selorien remarked, eyeing Kain suspiciously. The Canidae sighed before responding.

“I had a slight issue with one of the examiners—he’s actually out on a mission.” He explained, clearly dejected. “I had little time, so I asked previous examiners for help—Urvan being one of them, fortunately accepted.” Kain concluded, glazing at the huge bear in the room.

“Isn’t that… a bit unfair?” Lilithra asked sheepishly, shrinking slightly as she appraised not only the rival Guild leader, but also the difference in numbers. Ascalon wondered about that too. Wouldn’t a Guild leader be a handicap in their favor? They were supposedly testing a new Guild, not seasoned veterans, and there were only three of them in comparison to their eight.

As if expecting these words, Kain replied almost instantly. “Don’t worry; we agreed that he’ll hold back for your sake, so there shouldn’t be any issues.” Kain reassured them, while Urvan sneered in the distance. Somehow, Ascalon had an odd feeling about the matter.

“Also, only four of them will go in—the rest will remain with me in case anything happens and we need to intervene.” Kain added, as a few of the examiners waved at them.

Selorien didn’t seem entirely convinced either, but Lilithra, on the other hand, sighed in relief. “Okay!” She replied, causing her friends to ease up a bit. Kain nodded in acknowledgment, perhaps thankful for her understanding.

“Ehem. I know you received the quest, but let me explain some things just in case.” Kain began, clearing his throat. “First of all, this is just a test—no killing.” He declared, his gaze turning serious.

“I know some might think that’s a given, but we had issues in the past with people that got a little ‘too excited’…” The Canidae growled, as if remembering an unpleasant memory.

Lilithra nodded assertively, as she knew neither she nor her friends would do something like that for no reason. Seeing her reaction, Kain continued.

“You’ll enter at the same time as the examiners, but will only begin when everyone confirms they’re ready, okay?” Kain asked, and the rest nodded in acknowledgment.

“Also, you’ll have to wear this.” He rummaged through his chest pocket and produced three slim, black bracelets. The group received them with curiosity, while the Canidae continued his explanation.

“These will track your location, so we can assess your progress adequately.” Kain then paused, urging them with a gesture to put on the bracelets. After patiently waiting for them, he continued.

“If any issues arise or you need to evacuate, hold the bracelet tight and it will activate a call for help. In such a case, we’ll put a stop to the test, and depending on the situation, we’ll decide if you can continue it afterward, or if you’ve failed.” Kain explained with utmost seriousness, causing the rest to exchange glances.

“Any questions?” He asked, but Ascalon and his friends all shook their heads. “Good. Join us when you’re ready.” Kain then walked toward his team, and began talking to them.

Seeing him go, Lilithra took a deep, long breath, before slowly exhaling. Ascalon watched over her with a gentle smile, while Selorien gazed at the examiners intently.

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“I don’t like that guy… he keeps sneering at us.” Selorien remarked, prompting Ascalon to follow his gaze. Sure enough, there was Urvan, his jaw opened into a confident grin that revealed his sharp teeth.

“I have a bad feeling about him, too—we had a… slight disagreement in the colosseum.” Ascalon explained, causing Lilithra to perk up with evident uneasiness.

“Well, if he weren’t smiling like that he wouldn’t look so scary…” Lilithra chimed in. “I have a plushie that looks kinda like him.” She crossed her arms, nodding assuredly.

Both Ascalon and Selorien exchanged confused glances, before chuckling heartily at the comparison, causing Lilithra to puff her cheeks in a mix of indignation and amusement.

“Anyway! L-let’s go!” She stammered, but her conviction was palpable as she was the first to step forward. Ascalon and Selorien nodded, and followed after her with relieved smiles.

Seeing them approach, Kain spoke up. “Alright. In you go, everyone.” He declared, prompting the examiners to advance deeper into the station, with Urvan’s massive frame leading the way.

Lilithra and her companions hurried after them, and soon arrived at the boarding room, where the portal resided right on the railway, where the train would usually run through—no wonder the station had been closed, then.

As they stepped closer to the gateway, they could feel its mysterious, arcane force swirling around them. Ascalon wondered just who, or what, kept those portals powered—an enigma that he knew would remain unanswered.

With knowing glances, the examiners ventured forth, while Lilithra looked at her friends for confirmation. With resolute nods from both Selorien and Ascalon, they too crossed the threshold into the dungeon.

Once more, the sensation of the world spinning assailed them. Colors stretched and shifted around them, while their bodies flew through an impossible state of existence. Soon, they felt the ground beneath their feets, and the relocation concluded.

As they opened their eyes, they were greeted by a gloomy, yet eerily familiar view. They found themselves in the middle of the railway, a tunnel stretching far into the darkness. At their sides rested two massive walls, their paint completely faded, with many of their once shiny tiles now scattered in pieces on the floor.

The railway itself was in a state of complete obsolescence, its wooden boards entirely withered, and the steel tracks corroded and uneven—a testament to many, many years of neglect. The ground itself was littered with debris and broken glass, which made for an uneasy view.

As they inspected their surroundings, the lights flickering across the tunnel’s ceiling provided unreliable illumination at best. The silence around them was oppressive, broken only by Lilithra’s nervous fidgeting.

“This is creepy!” She declared with distress, her yellow eyes darting around. Unsurprisingly, she seemed to find the place to be quite unpleasant. Selorien let out a curious ‘hmm’ at her side, crouching to inspect the terrain.

“This is a first.” He said as he picked up a stone and threw it far into the darkness. The sound of it clashing against the ground echoed faintly in the distance. “I’ve never seen a dungeon so… modern?” The elf continued, raising an inquisitive eyebrow.

Ascalon was also surprised by their immediate surroundings. The dungeons he had visited were few—only two in fact—but they had been quite different from this place. The abandoned train station suggested it was located in a world similar to Lilithra’s, and it was somewhat concerning, somehow.

“Yeah… kinda cool, though?” Lilithra chimed in, blurting out an unexpected comment. “I mean… it just makes me think, about what kinda other dungeons are out there, you know?” She explained herself sheepishly, smiling softly.

Ascalon and Selorien pondered over her words, finding them actually intriguing. The prospect of adventuring into different, fantastic places didn’t sound half-bad.

Just as they were about to continue exchanging thoughts, a voice suddenly caught them by surprise, emanating from their bracelets.

“Is everyone ready?” Kain stated, making himself be heard from within the small accessory. Ascalon blinked in surprise, while Lilithra and Selorien inspected their own trinkets.

“Uhm, yes?” Lilithra replied into the bracelet, wondering if that would work.

“Very well. I’ve received confirmation from the examiners’ team, too. The race will start in ten seconds.” Kain proclaimed, causing Lilithra to panic at his words.

“Ten seconds?!” She exclaimed as her eyes darted around in urgency.

Ascalon quickly placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed tightly, prompting her to look at him.

“Do not fear; we are here with you.” Ascalon declared with a reassuring voice, his gentle smile causing her to calm down. Selorien peeked from behind the knight’s shoulder, smiling mischievously and adding to her relief.

“That’s right…!” She muttered to herself, just as a whistling sound came from the bracelets.

“Begin!” The Canidae’s voice resounded through the tunnel, and the group sprang into action, with Lilithra leading the way—hesitation cast aside, her eyes burning with fiery resolve.

But even with their motivation, they had to be mindful of their step. The broken glass littered on the ground served as a warning, and the occasional hole in the ground threatened to trip them up. Still, their advance didn’t falter as they pressed on through seemingly unending tracks.

After a few minutes of continuous running, Lilithra spoke up. “Oof… it feels… eternal…” She stammered amidst catching her breath, her eyes focused on the path ahead.

Ascalon agreed with a nod, feeling they were indeed coursing through a tunnel of colossal length. It was then that Selorien raised his voice with a confident, cheerful tone.

“I can see a fork ahead~!” He said excitedly, happy to have noticed something before Ascalon, who was too focused on the tracks ahead of Lilithra to notice. The knight was worried she might step on something dangerous or fall, so he was taking extra care of looking over her.

“Nicely spotted, Selorien!” Ascalon replied, a bold smile spreading across his face. Selorien giggled in response, while Lilithra grinned with joy at their interaction. But then, it was Ascalon who noticed something else.

“There are creatures ahead.” He declared, narrowing his eye and causing his friends to shift into alertness. As they approached the fork, they spotted them: a group of… humans?

No, they weren’t entirely humans—not anymore, at least. The strange beings shuffled randomly, stumbling with unnatural, twitching steps. Tattered remnants of clothing clung to their rotten bodies, and their eyes, dull and lifeless, stared aimlessly into the dark.

Their decaying skin dangled loosely from their inhumane forms, revealing deep wounds, missing organs, and exposed bones. Their limbs were coated with dried blood, and their stench—a mix of metal and musty air—made Lilithra gag in disgust.

Ascalon immediately recognized the creatures, as he had seen similar ones back in Excadia. “Undeads…” He declared as he came to a stop, prompting his companions to join him.

The living dead—abominations brought forth by the darkest acts of heretic necromancy. Ascalon frowned, for he deeply hated this unholy act of desecration.

“Zombies, huh?” Selorien suddenly commented, with Lilithra nodding in understanding. Ascalon tilted his head in curiosity, as it seemed that his friends knew about the creatures—though by another name.

“This is gonna be a pain…” Selorien spoke up, grimacing. “I heard they’re hella resilient, and their hunger makes them frenzy relentlessly!” He said with a conflicted expression, his dual daggers slowly materializing on his hands.

Lilithra nodded as her battle banner appeared, her eyes locked onto the enemies. “And they’re disgusting and stinky, too!” She added, complaining more about their appearance rather than their danger. Ascalon chuckled at her words, while Selorien shook his head as he sighed.

Still, Ascalon wasn’t worried in the slightest, a daring smile forming on his face.

“We are truly fortunate!” He declared, earning confused glances from his friends. “Allow this humble knight to dispose of the unholy, my leader.” He asked Lilithra, his intense gaze causing her to flinch.

“Uhm, well, I’ll allow it?” She said sheepishly, her cheeks slightly reddened. Selorien sighed in relief, his grin turning mischievous. For a moment, he had forgotten that Ascalon was there with them. With the knight on their side, there were absolutely no threats in the way! Still, the elf was curious to see what Ascalon would show them this time.

With resolute, heavy steps, Ascalon advanced. The undead grew aware of his presence and started shuffling toward him, some of them beginning to screech as they rushed him.

But Ascalon met them head-on, unwavering.