As the final bell rang, Antares and Kai grabbed their belongings and made their way out of class, their minds still reeling from the Awakening Trial. The weight of the System’s messages pressed heavily on them, urging them to understand their new roles in this chaotic world.

Antares (muttering): "This just keeps getting weirder…"

As Antares and Kai parted ways to head home, Antares noticed his system interface blinking. Curious, he opened it, revealing tabs labeled **[Skills], [Quests], and [Status Update].**

Antares (muttering): "Skills? Quests? What is this, some kind of game?"

Under the [Skills] tab, he saw:

- [Shadow Manipulation Level.1(Active): Absorb shadow creatures and create attacks using their shadows.]

[Phoenix Thirst Level.1 (Passive): Recover 5% health upon defeating enemies.]

- [Special Passive (Inactive): ????]

Antares: "Health recovery? Seems like a lifesteal ability from games! And what’s the special passive?"

Meanwhile, Kai was examining his own System. His abilities were:

[Void Leap (Active): Teleport to any marked point within a certain range.]

[Enhanced Strike (Passive): Increase damage from weapons and weapon mastery.]

[Special Passive (Active) : ???]

Kai (grinning): "Teleportation? Oh, that’s cool. And what’s this special passive?"

Both noticed a message in their [Quests] tab:

[Ongoing Quest: Learn to Use Your Powers Efficiently.]

____________________________________

The focus shifted to a montage-like narrative of how the world was responding to the sudden appearance of portals and dungeons.

News Anchor: "These portals are not bringing destruction into our world. Instead, they seem to lead to other dimensions—dungeons—full of hostile creatures and treasures."

Clips showed individuals entering the portals. Some returned with enhanced abilities and artifacts, while others were not as fortunate. Governments and private organizations were forming Guilds of individuals with special abilities to clear these dungeons. The Government had decided to call these ability-awakened people 'Hunters.'

Expert on TV: "The dungeon phenomenon is unlike anything we’ve seen. Hunters possess abilities that defy explanation. Clearing dungeons seems to stabilize the portals temporarily."

___________________________________

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Later that evening, Antares and Kai met Rei and Yuna at a nearby park to discuss the chaos unfolding around them.

Rei: "It’s everywhere. People are forming Guilds to explore these portals, but it’s dangerous. Not everyone comes back."

Yuna: "Some portals disappear once cleared, but others seem to reopen after a while. And the treasures people find… it’s like a gold rush."

Antares: "If clearing dungeons is the only way to deal with this, then we’ve got no choice but to figure out how we fit into this world."

Kai: "Our System feels like an advantage. According to you two,If others don’t have this System, then it might be something special."

Rei: "I can sense attacks before they happen, or what the opponent is thinking. Though, I don’t know how to use it properly."

Kai (with a smirk): "Sense attacks? Seems like you two will make a good duo since Antares mainly has attacking skills."

Yuna (teasing): "Yeah, seems like you two make a good duo."

Kai: "And what about you, Yuna? What abilities do you have?"

Yuna raised a hand, forming a glowing orb of light. "I can use light manipulation. Maybe I can make shields or use it to attack. I don’t have much power to use this ability extensively, though."

Kai: "Oh, that could be used for great offense and defense. By the way, I have teleportation-related abilities."

Yuna (teasing): "Teleportation? So you're running away while others fight?"

Kai: "Teleportation can also be used for offense, you idiot."

Yuna: "Huh, whatever..."

Antares and Kai (thinking aloud): "Seems like we have to train, but where can we train? Training here could damage the area."

___________________________________

As the group discussed their abilities and the global situation, Antares and Kai felt a sudden vibration in their Systems, as if the System had recognized their need for assistance.

Antares: "Kai, look!"

Their Systems activated, displaying a new notification:

[System Notification: Custom Dungeon Created for Advanced Training.]

Antares: "The System just created a custom dungeon for us. It’s designed for advanced training."

Kai: "Seems like our problem is solved!"

Rei: "Wait, I can’t see any dungeons here."

Yuna: "Yeah, I also can’t see any dungeons. Maybe because we don’t have the System."

Antares hesitated, glancing at Kai before addressing Rei and Yuna. "Oh, it seems like an issue..."

[System: Do You Want To Make Subordinates?]

Antares: "Hey Kai, look!"

Kai: "Subordinates? Does it mean Rei and Yuna?"

Antares: "Maybe it’s granting Rei and Yuna the ability to see and enter the custom dungeon as well."

Rei and Yuna looked confused.

Rei: "What do you mean? We don’t have a System."

[System: Grant Access Of The Dungeon To Your Partners?]

Antares and Kai: "Huh? Partners or whatever... Yes, grant access."

The System made adjustments. Now Rei and Yuna could also access the training dungeon.

[System Notice: Ability Granted - Dungeon Access: Custom Training Dungeon.]

Kai: "It’s like the System knows exactly what we need. Creepy but helpful."

____________________________________

The group stood before the dark, swirling portal. As they stepped into the void-like entrance, they found themselves transported into a different world.

The landscape was dark and shadowy, with jagged cliffs and swirling shadows. A dim, eerie light illuminated the surroundings, but it barely revealed the true scale of the dungeon. This environment was different from the chaotic world outside—it felt like a testing ground, a place where only the strongest could thrive.

Rei: "This place is… unsettling."

Yuna: "I’ve never seen anything like it. It feels like… like we’re in another world."

Antares (calmly): "This is our training ground. The System created it for us to improve."

Kai: "Stay sharp. The real challenge is about to begin."

Suddenly, the ground trembled as shadowy creatures emerged from the darkness, their glowing red eyes piercing through the shadows.

Antares: "Kai, you go for the back! Rei, Yuna, focus on helping us."

Kai vanished in an instant with his teleportation ability, appearing behind a creature and striking it with a weapon created by his power. Antares absorbed the shadows and unleashed a wave of shadow slashes.

Rei (eyes wide): "I can sense them before they attack."

Yuna: "I can use my light to cover you!"

Together, the group fought back the creatures, growing stronger as they advanced deeper into the dungeon. The environment shifted, but the shadowy atmosphere never lightened.

______________________________________

As they navigated through the dungeon’s depths, the creatures grew more difficult to defeat. The group’s coordination became flawless. Antares and Kai worked in tandem, with Rei and Yuna providing critical support.

After what seemed like hours, they reached the dungeon’s core, where a crystal pulsed with energy.

*System Notification:*

[Congratulations! You have cleared the Custom Dungeon.]

[Rewards: Mana Crystals, Skill Enhancements.]

Rei: "That was intense."

Yuna: "But we made it through."

Kai: "We’re stronger now. But this was just the beginning."

Antares (thinking): "The System isn’t just training us—it’s preparing us for something bigger."

As they exited the dungeon, the dark portal behind them closed, leaving the group standing in the now-silent park.

Antares (reflecting): "This is just the beginning. There’s more to this—more to the dungeons, the System, and our role in all of it."