CHAPTER 74: VR DUNGEON (1)

Chapter 73: VR Dungeon (1)

The line toward the VR cabins moved slowly, but the tension in the air was anything but.

Every step felt like entering an arena before the bell students exchanging smirks, whispers, or outright glares. For most of Class A, this wasn’t just a test. It was a battlefield of pride.

---

Team 1.

Leon walked with the posture of a knight carved in stone, each step measured, his hand brushing the hilt of his sword as though ready to draw at any second. Selena matched his pace, quiet and poised, violet eyes sweeping the hall like a hawk.

Behind them, Zack stifled a yawn, though the restless bounce in his leg betrayed his anticipation. Rita scowled at anyone who so much as looked her way, while Noora folded her arms, sharp eyes narrowing at... me.

Her glare lingered. Blaming me for stealing her spotlight, huh? I thought, suppressing a smirk.

---

Team 2.

Eric strutted with his usual cocky swagger, flashing a grin at passing cadets like this was his stage. Beside him, Petric walked with an aristocrat’s arrogance, chin tilted high, every glance dripping disdain.

Ren trailed behind, echoing Eric’s smirk like a shadow desperate to be noticed. George, shifting uncomfortably, clearly didn’t share the same bravado. And Maro—the highest ranked in their group—remained silent, fingers tapping against his sword hilt with an expression that said don’t waste my time.

I caught Eric’s eye for a split second. His grin widened. "Hope your team doesn’t trip over itself, commoner."

I didn’t bother replying. The system had already warned me—Eric’s arrogance would only get worse until the right moment crushed it.

---

Team 3.

Aiden was practically vibrating with energy, cracking his knuckles every few seconds. "Man, I can’t wait. Hope it’s not just slimes."

Chris sighed beside him, hands in his pockets, calm but sharp-eyed. Elara followed at a measured pace, her gaze calculating every movement in the hall like she was already mapping weaknesses.

Seon scribbled something into his notebook while walking, mumbling under his breath. Ranmon stayed silent, stoic as ever, though the tension in his shoulders betrayed his anticipation.

That team was volatile. Strong individuals, yes—but no synergy.

---

Team 4. My team.

Maria Frostheart radiated cold authority. The faint mist curling around her hand told me she was already circulating mana, preparing herself mentally.

Aurelia walked like a noble at a ballroom, her grace disarming even as her eyes gleamed with razor intent. She caught my gaze and gave the faintest smile—polite, yet warning.

Sakura’s expression remained unreadable. She moved with elegance, posture perfectly balanced, her long sleeves swaying faintly with each step.

Sam walked behind us, a silent wall of discipline. His eyes flicked between each of us, measuring, weighing, but never lingering long.

And then there was me. The supposed "wild card."

A stacked team, yes—but also a fragile one. One wrong step and we’d fracture.

---

As we neared the VR cabins, Evelyn’s voice rang out again.

"Remember, cadets. This is not only a test of power, but of leadership, coordination, and efficiency." Her eyes scanned the room, sharp as blades. "Those who rely only on themselves will fail. Those who can unite will succeed."

A lesson. A warning. And a challenge.

---

I glanced at my teammates.

Maria wasn’t going to follow orders. She’d lead if she could, and ice anyone who got in her way.

Aurelia? She’d play along but only as long as it suited her.

Sakura? A mystery. Hard to predict.

Sam? Steady, reliable. The kind who could hold the line.

If I push too hard, they’ll resist. If I stay silent, they’ll fracture. The key... is balance. Let them think they’re leading, while steering the ship quietly from behind.

---

From across the hall, Eric barked a laugh. "Hey, Michael! Don’t let your team drag you down, yeah? Wouldn’t want the mighty ’Rank 1’ to lose face."

Petric smirked. "As if he earned that rank fairly."

"Shut it, Petric," Maro muttered, not even glancing at them. "Save your barking for the dungeon."

The brief silence that followed was thick. Eric’s grin faltered for half a heartbeat, then snapped back into place.

Interesting. Even in that den of arrogance, cracks were already showing.

---

Finally, Evelyn gestured to the nearest row of VR cabins. "Teams, prepare."

The pods hissed open, runes glowing brighter, the interiors lined with sleek cushioning and mana conduits.

One by one, cadets climbed inside, their Academic Watches syncing with the pods in flashes of blue light. The AI’s voice—smooth, genderless—echoed across the hall.

[ Welcome, cadets. I am S.O.R.A., your Virtual Dungeon Operator. Please secure yourselves. Synchronization will begin shortly. ]

The first wave of pods sealed shut, glowing faintly as students’ consciousnesses were drawn into the VR world.

My turn approached.

Maria stepped inside without a word, her pod sealing with a hiss of frost. Aurelia followed, a faint smile still curving her lips. Sakura paused for a moment, casting me a lingering glance before stepping in. Sam entered last, silent.

I placed my hand on the cold obsidian of my pod. For a moment, I caught Leon’s eyes across the hall.

No words exchanged. Just a promise. A rivalry, sharpened by fate.

I stepped in. The pod sealed around me, darkness closing in. The hum of mana circuits grew louder.

[ Synchronization initializing. Welcome, Michael Willson. Strength profile locked. Dungeon simulation commencing. ]

The darkness deepened, then shattered into blinding light.

The hunt begins.

The world snapped into focus.

Stone. Damp, glistening stone stretched in all directions, walls veined with faint blue crystals that pulsed like living hearts. A ceiling of jagged rock loomed high above, dripping with moisture. The air was thick, heavy with the metallic tang of mana, so real it made my skin prickle.

A voice echoed through the cavern.

[ Welcome, cadets. You have entered the D-Rank Dungeon Simulation: Howling Caverns. ]

[ Objective: Hunt monsters, locate and destroy the Dungeon Core. ]

[ Time Limit: None. ]

[ Ranking Metric: Completion time. ]

The faint glow of a runic countdown clock appeared above our heads.

"Two hours," Sam muttered, already scanning the surroundings. His hand rested casually on his sword hilt, but his eyes betrayed sharp calculation.

Maria turned slowly, her icy aura flaring faintly. Frost crawled across the ground in a lazy spread. "Pathetic. At this level, we should be finished in under forty minutes."

Aurelia smiled politely. "Confident, aren’t we? Though, I do agree. A D-Rank core is hardly worth fussing over."

Sakura said nothing, her violet gaze wandering the ceiling, the shadows, the corners others might overlook. Observant. Quiet. Dangerous.

And me? I stood still, letting them speak, letting them set their tones. First step—observe. Gauge their egos before directing them.

---

A guttural snarl broke the silence.

From the darkness ahead, a pair of red eyes flared open. Then another. And another.

The first wave arrived.

D-Rank Howler Wolves.

Their fur bristled with spines of hardened mana, fangs dripping with black saliva that sizzled when it hit the stone floor. They stalked closer, bodies low, muscles rippling under their skin.

[ Enemy group detected. Simulation adjusted. Engaging combat sequence. ]

Five wolves padded into the faint crystal glow, their growls merging into one chilling sound.

---

Maria was the first to move.

"Freeze."

She lifted her staff, ice blooming in an instant. Dozens of crystalline shards formed midair, raining down in a deadly storm. The first wolf was pierced before it even lunged, body exploding into glittering fragments as the simulation marked its death.

"Pathetic," Maria muttered, lips curling.

---

"Don’t waste mana on grunts."

Sam stepped forward, shield raised. A wolf lunged, but his movement was fluid, economical. The shield slammed into its side, bones cracking as the beast skidded across the stone. His sword followed in a clean arc, severing its throat.

"Efficient," Sakura whispered, barely audible.

---

Aurelia joined next, her rapier flashing like firelight. "Flame Lunge."

Her thrust pierced the third wolf’s eye, flames detonating as it collapsed, convulsing. She pulled her blade free with elegance, flicking phantom blood from the tip.

---

That left two.

They lunged at me together.

Perfect.

Mana surged through my veins, and my sword hummed with frost.

"Frozen Edge."

The blade slashed outward, releasing a crescent of ice. The first wolf froze midair, body shattering as it hit the ground. The second swerved—good reflex. But too late.

I whispered. "Shadow Swap."

In a blink, my body and the wolf’s position reversed. Its momentum carried it forward—right into Sam’s waiting blade.

A clean kill.

---

Silence fell. The corpses melted into motes of light, fading into the air.

Maria’s eyes flicked toward me, narrowed slightly. Not hostile, not yet. Just... assessing.

Aurelia’s smile curved faintly higher. "Interesting trick."

Sam simply nodded. "Good timing."

Sakura... just watched.

---

[ Enemy wave cleared. ]

[ Proceed deeper into the dungeon. ]

The path forward pulsed faintly with blue crystals, leading deeper into darkness.

Maria stepped forward instantly, not even glancing back. "We don’t have time to waste. Keep up, or stay out of the way."

Aurelia’s chuckle followed her. "So eager to lead."

Sam’s voice was steady, calm. "Doesn’t matter who leads, as long as we don’t slow down."

I let a small smile tug at my lips. Good. Let them clash. While they argue over leadership, I’ll be the one quietly steering the course.

The wolves were nothing. Just the opening act. The real test lay deeper—where egos would clash, and teamwork would either forge or shatter.

And I already knew which way I’d push it.

Control the battlefield. Control the team. Control the outcome.

"Let’s move."