CHAPTER 39: PERCHEL ZONE

"Hm... that’s a strange expression. Should I really be doing this?" Kael Vi-rel muttered under his breath, his fingers glowing faintly as streams of energy rippled across his hands. He was guiding Clara Winslet through her awakening process, carefully shaping the unstable flow so it didn’t overwhelm her. A low hum filled the air, almost like the whisper of something ancient stirring within her soul. The chamber itself seemed to vibrate, dust trembling loose from the stone ceiling as though the dungeon was holding its breath.

"I... I feel strange," Selene Whitmore whispered, clutching at her chest. Her breathing hitched as magical energy pulsed around her body, wrapping her in a faint halo of silver light. The sensation was overwhelming like an unseen tide had risen and swallowed her whole. She could feel her veins burning, her heartbeat echoing in her ears. For the first time, she felt her potential open up, raw and terrifying, yet exhilarating, like a locked door inside her had finally been forced open.

Clara Winslet gasped suddenly, eyes widening as the same transformation took hold. Her fingers trembled, sparks dancing across her skin. "I can’t believe this... I actually have this kind of power!" Her palms shimmered with golden light, threads of warmth weaving outward and dancing across the chamber. Even the walls seemed to respond, glowing faintly as though the dungeon itself acknowledged her awakening, as though the stones themselves remembered this kind of power.

The glow reflected in her eyes, and for a heartbeat, Clara Winslet looked less like a nervous cadet and more like a chosen hero from an ancient tale. Selene Whitmore, too, stood straighter, her silver aura shifting like the surface of a moonlit lake. Both radiated a presence that made Kael Vi-rel feel the gap between them. Yet despite the twinge of envy curling in his chest, pride warmed him.

Kael Vi-rel stepped back, watching the two girls with a mix of awe, pride, and caution. "Well, I’m glad you both feel satisfied," he said, though his own heart hammered with excitement. It wasn’t just their awakening it was the beginning of something much bigger. He could sense it, like a storm building on the horizon, ready to reshape everything they thought they knew.

"Alright then," he continued, straightening his back. His voice grew firmer, filled with resolve. "Let’s head into the hidden dungeon."

The portal before them pulsed like a living thing. Its glow shimmered and danced, casting strange patterns across their faces. Warmth radiated from its surface, but it was a deceptive warmth one that carried both promise and danger. The surface rippled faintly, like a pool disturbed by invisible fingers. Without hesitation, Kael Vi-rel stepped forward first, setting an example. Clara Winslet and Selene Whitmore followed close behind, their auras brushing faintly against him.

As they crossed into the light, Kael Vi-rel felt a surge of anticipation flood his veins. This wasn’t just a dungeon. It was a test, a crucible, and a chance to claim something greater than themselves. Every step forward carried weight, bringing them closer to untold secrets and untapped power alongside dangers lurking in the shadows.

The outside world faded. The cool night air dissolved into silence, replaced by the dense hum of raw magic pressing in from all sides. Their footsteps echoed softly against unseen stone, swallowed quickly by the vast emptiness around them. Selene Whitmore’s aura flickered faintly with each step, a fragile flame against the void, while Clara Winslet’s still-glowing hands lit the path like small torches of hope.

The dungeon itself was alive. They could all feel it. Watching. Waiting. Judging their every move. The very air seemed thicker, harder to breathe, as if the dungeon demanded payment in courage before allowing intruders further inside.

Kael Vi-rel glanced at the two beside him. Despite the tension, a faint smile tugged at his lips. This is only the beginning, he thought. The hidden dungeon will test us, push us, and reveal what we’re truly capable of. His fists clenched, determination hardening in his chest. For once, he wasn’t going to run or hide.

The portal’s light finally receded, and the adventure truly began. Each heartbeat seemed to echo in rhythm with the dungeon’s pulse, weaving their courage together into something unshakable.

---

Inside the Dungeon

"Kael... it’s pitch black," Selene Whitmore’s voice trembled slightly, her words bouncing against the walls of the void. She clutched her dagger tighter, the silver glow around her dimming as fear pressed in.

"Don’t worry," Kael Vi-rel said calmly, his tone steady, almost reassuring. He lifted his hand, summoning a glowing bead of light from his Codex. The orb floated upward, bathing the corridor in a pale, steady glow. Shadows slithered back reluctantly, unveiling jagged stone walls carved by time and claw. Old scratch marks ran across the surface, reminders that creatures had once fought for survival here.

"This place used to be a monster shelter," Kael Vi-rel explained, his voice low and steady. "Which means... it won’t stay quiet for long."

He turned to face his companions, meeting their gazes in turn. "Let’s stick to the plan. Selene Whitmore, you’ll stay in the back. Attack from the shadows where they can’t touch you. Clara Winslet, you’ll keep the enemies in check, hold the front with your skills."

Both nodded in unison. Clara Winslet’s jaw tightened, while Selene Whitmore drew in a deep breath, visibly steadying herself.

"Good," Kael Vi-rel said. His left hand flickered blue, summoning a hovering drone that whirred softly as it came to life. Its single lens blinked, fixing on him like an attentive eye. The tiny machine’s hum was oddly comforting, a reminder that even in the depths of the unknown, some part of civilization followed them.

"Now then... let’s film the raid."

A metallic voice hummed from the drone. What title should we use, Master Kael Vi-rel?

Kael Vi-rel tapped his chin thoughtfully, pretending to give it far more consideration than he truly did. "Hmm... how about Exploring the Hidden Dungeon? Simple. Direct. Honest."

The drone beeped in acknowledgment, and Selene Whitmore gave him a look halfway between disbelief and amusement. "Really? That’s the best you’ve got?"

He grinned. "Sometimes the simplest words reach the most people."

The dungeon stretched on in silence as they moved, their footsteps cautious but steady. The air smelled faintly of iron and damp stone, and the occasional drip of water echoed somewhere far ahead. After several minutes, Clara Winslet broke the quiet.

"Kael... is this really okay?" she asked, worry flickering across her features. Her voice wavered, betraying the anxiety she tried to hide. "I mean, this is a hidden dungeon. Can you even upload this footage online?"

Kael Vi-rel smirked, shrugging without hesitation. "I don’t care. We’ll still get the rewards. And besides..." his eyes narrowed, voice dropping lower, "no one would ever believe that three freshmen cadets cleared a hidden dungeon anyway."

Selene Whitmore gave a dry laugh, though her hand tightened on her staff. "That’s only if we clear it."

Her words hung in the air, heavier than the silence that followed.

A sudden ding echoed in the air, sharp and mechanical.

[You have entered the Hidden Dungeon: Perchel Zone (Grade D)]

Another ding.

[Warning: The power of the candidates detected exceeds the dungeon’s threshold.]

[Main character identities confirmed. Adjusting difficulty.]

A ripple of energy tore through the ground, shaking the walls around them. Dust rained down, the stone groaning as if the dungeon itself were waking from slumber.

[Dungeon has been increased from Grade D to Grade C.]

[Emergency Quest Activated.]

[Strange Luck activated. Rewards will scale with dungeon rank.]

The glowing text hung in the air for a moment before vanishing like mist.

Kael Vi-rel froze, his breath catching. "...It’s happening again," he muttered. His fists clenched tightly, nails digging into his palms until he felt the sting of broken skin. "The world really is cruel. Everything adjusts, everything changes, just to make sure it can’t be solved."

The drone recorded silently, capturing every word, every flicker of emotion.

He glanced at Clara Winslet and Selene Whitmore two girls who shone like main characters in their own right. Clara Whitmore’s golden aura was steady, resolute, while Selene Whitmore’s silver glow pulsed like a beacon in the dark. They belonged here. They were recognized. They were chosen.

And him? The system didn’t even acknowledge his existence.

"That’s why I brought you both here," Kael Vi-rel whispered, his voice bitter, sharp as broken glass. "Because the system doesn’t even recognize me. I’m just a useless extra."

His words were heavy, but his eyes burned with fire. If the world refused to acknowledge him, then he would carve out his own place with his own hands. No system, no dungeon, no destiny would define him.

In the depths of the Perchel Zone, surrounded by shifting shadows and the weight of destiny, Kael Vi-rel stepped forward. Whatever the dungeon threw at them, he would face it. Extra or not he had chosen this path.

And the hidden dungeon had just begun to respond.