The loud hum of the mana-measuring machine had barely died down when Selene's voice cut through the speakers in the testing room. "You've had your fun, Teo. Next is the dungeon simulation."

Teo put his hands lazily back into his pockets, rolling his eyes with a smirk. "It better not disappoint, captain."

Selene sighed, ignoring his provocation. "Proceed to the next stage. The simulated dungeon has been set to be S-rank." Hearing that, Teo couldn't help but grin.

The door at the far end of the testing room slid open, revealing a dark corridor. Flickering lights danced along the edges of the walls.

In the observation room, Valena leaned forward, her chin resting on her hand. "S-rank? Shouldn't it be A-rank for the S-rank test? you only need to clear an A-rank dungeon solo no?"

Selene, without turning around, just bluntly answered. "Well, he got on my nerves, and I supervise this assessment, so I might have made some minor adjustments."

The three squad members just looked at her dumbfounded, and then they remembered Selene was always like this. People that annoy her or get on her bad side always suffer the consequences.

"Oh, and I also added some hazards, a time limit, and a hidden boss." She added without batting an eye.

"Hahaha, perfect! now this is getting interesting!" Ashura exclaimed his grin widening. "Let's see what type of familiars he has awakened and if he awakened some special abilities."

Valena and Corvus exchanged uneasy glances before their gazes returned to Selene's back. A chill seemed to run down their spines as they remembered just how ruthless their captain could be when crossed. It wasn't fear exactly, more like a sharp reminder of why no one dared to test her patience unnecessarily. Well, no one except Teo, of course.

"Yes, I am also curious how many familiars he awakened and how strong they are," Selene said, her tone calm but carrying a subtle edge of anticipation. Picking up the microphone, she spoke over the speakers, "Teo, are you ready?"

Teo stretched dramatically, cracking his neck before replying with a smirk, "Ready? Always, ma'am. After all, your 'special touches' are the highlight of my day." Without waiting for a response, he dashed into the simulated dungeon, leaving Selene glaring at the empty space he had occupied.

Selene set the microphone down with a sigh, muttering, "He’s insufferable."

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Valena stifled a laugh, while Ashura shook his head. "Classic Teo," he remarked, a faint smile appearing on his face.

"He’s lucky this is an official test," Selene said sharply, her tone half-serious. "Otherwise, I’d make sure he’d learn some manners the hard way." Despite her words, there was a flicker of amusement in her eyes. "Let’s see how long that cocky attitude lasts."

"Now that he’s in the dungeon, interference is no longer an option," Selene continued, her voice regaining its edge of authority. "Valena, be ready in case anything goes wrong. Corvus, Ashura, you’re on monitoring duty; don’t miss a single detail."

"Yes, Captain," they echoed in unison, their earlier lightheartedness replaced by sharp focus as they took their positions.

Selene's voice lingered in the air, sharp and commanding, but her team had already moved with precision. Beyond the observation room, the simulated environment of the dungeon activated with a low hum, pixels merging seamlessly into a majestic volcanic landscape.

Teo's eyes narrowed slightly as the world around him solidified. The acrid smell of sulfur filled his nostrils, mingling with the fiery wind that burned his skin. Shadows of massive monsters loomed in the distance, their roars barely audible over the rumble of the volcano dominating the horizon, a colossal peak that stretched thousands of meters into the sky, its molten veins glowing ominously. This wasn’t just a typical S-rank dungeon.

For a moment, his surprise was visible, but it quickly morphed into excitement. His lips curled into a smirk as he muttered to himself, "Maybe I pushed Selene a bit too far this time. Oh well, not like I can undo it now. Might as well enjoy this to the fullest."

Reaching into the subspace, he pulled out Sorazaki Keñ. Teo rested the sword on his shoulder and started forward, his strides casual despite the infernal heat radiating from the ground.

"Master," Sorazaki’s voice resonated in his mind, "why am I the only one you’ve summoned?"

Teo shrugged, his tone blunt and unapologetic. "Because I want to have some fun first. Wiping everything out too quickly would ruin it."

The sword seemed to sigh in response, but Teo ignored it, whistling idly as he strolled through the volcanic wasteland. For anyone else, the environment would have been overwhelming, waves of fiery wind, the constant tremors, and the oppressive heat, but for Teo, it was barely an inconvenience. As a vampire, his magic power and regenerative abilities made him indifferent to the heat, and in truth, he relished it. The faint sting of the scorching air on his skin only made him feel more alive.

Still, as minutes stretched into what felt like hours, even he began to grow bored. "This place is all bark and no bite," he muttered, kicking a stray piece of molten rock. His thoughts wandered to the monitoring room. He could almost see Selene’s stern face, her eyes fixed on the screen, waiting for the smallest mistake. He chuckled under his breath. Bet she’s dying for me to mess up just once so she can lecture me about being cautious.

The ground shook violently, snapping him back to reality. Ahead, a massive figure emerged from the molten terrain, a towering golem wreathed in flames, its molten core pulsing like a heartbeat. It turned to face him, molten eyes locking onto him with murderous intent.

Teo’s smirk widened into a grin as he gripped Sorazaki Keñ with his right hand. The air around him grew charged with anticipation, his earlier boredom forgotten in an instant.

"Finally," he said, his voice dripping with exhilaration. "Showtime."