"Wait, what? We’re going to the dungeon right now? But aren’t we supposed to stay for ten days to acclimate with our talents? Barely a day has even passed!" A skinny young man draped in a black robe with the Graeogor family crest engraved on it spoke out.
"Ha! Plans change! As a matter of fact, I’ve been waiting for this day all my life!" another girl with colored hair squeaked.
"What do you mean? Aren’t you that girl who awakened that trash Astral Hair talent? You know class doesn’t matter with that stupid talent of yours, right?"
"No, but... but..."
"Dumbass! I bet you’ll die in there!"
"Wait, which dungeon was it again?"
"It’s the F-rank Goblin Demon Dungeon."
"Argh, fuck! I ain’t going there. I think I’m content with staying a farmer for the rest of my life. Bye..."
"Sorry, buddy, it’s a bit too late for that. Everybody’s going. Patriarch’s orders."
"Argh! I hate that stupid bastard!"
"Careful before he hears you."
---
Voices clashed and overlapped in the center of the Graeogor compound. Aurelian slipped through the crowd, soaking in every word. His obsidian eyes narrowed, then glinted with something close to satisfaction
The dungeon hunt had been brought forward. To his past self, this would have been no different than a death sentence. Casualties were real, with people above F-rank dungeons unable to enter and assist the younger generation, leaving them alone.
But now? He had an S-rank talent. It would take a while to fully acclimate with it, but it enhanced his chances by a lot.
Besides, it wouldn’t be much of a transmigration if he didn’t get to fight monsters, now would it?
Just as he was about to spiral deeper into his thoughts, his eyes fell on a middle-aged lady. Raven-black hair trailed down her back, paired with clear black eyes, as she stepped onto the podium.
He remembered her as an elder of some sort, probably at D-rank.
The noise that drowned the place dimmed before silence took over.
Satisfied by the results, she scanned the awakened before parting her lips.
"I know most of you are scared. Don’t be. Fear won’t help you slay monsters—instead, it will be your downfall. Shifting the dungeon hunt changes nothing. You would still be the same person after ten days. So if you fall in there, know it is because of your own weakness. And the Graeogor family does not tolerate weakness!"
Her voice boomed, spreading in waves across the awakened.
"Now step forward into this teleportation circle." She paused, and with a click of a runic device in her palm, a slew of runes lit up in an entrancing display of power. A swirling portal came into view.
"You will be teleported to the entrance of the Goblin Demon Dungeon," she continued. "There, you will be required to slay your first monsters and survive for 24 hours. After that, the wristbands on your hands will anchor you back to our plane."
With a snap of her fingers, multiple wristbands appeared out of thin air, latching themselves onto the awakened, including Aurelian.
"Hmm, a space storage ring?" he mused, eyeing the one on her fingers.
"The wristbands are also enchanted to protect you against one fatal attack. After that, you’re all on your own."
Her last words brought a sigh of relief—these wristbands were now no different than a second life. Most people’s fears eased up, but the words that came after erased that comfort almost instantly.
"If I were you, I wouldn’t place much hope in them. If you encounter a foe strong enough to trigger the enchantment, I doubt you’ll survive anyway. The monsters in there can be... relentless."
Aurelian smirked as he heard her words. If he didn’t know better, he would have thought she was here to kill their hopes. But he understood her intention—a warning not to tempt fate.
Still, there were bound to be a few who didn’t understand.
"Mummy! I want my mummy!" a pretty girl at the back with silky black hair shrieked.
Another followed. "I don’t wanna go inside! I don’t even wanna be a warrior!"
Others joined in, but the raven-haired elder ignored them, her smirk only brightening, as if she enjoyed it.
"Go forth then, and come back as warriors and hunters of the Graeogor family!"
With that, she snapped her fingers. The swirling portal shimmered with black light, then spun faster, pulling everyone inside.
---
Space converged. Before they could even regain their bearings, their surroundings shifted from the lush greenery of the Graeogor family compound to a hellish landscape.
It stretched endlessly, with only a green portal swirling slowly in the distance.
"Goblin Demon Dungeon, huh?" Aurelian breathed as he scanned everything.
Shattered rocks and stones littered the surroundings, giving the illusion of desolate wastelands.
He could see the rest of the awakened forming groups. He didn’t know if they’d be separated upon entering, but he was inclined to go solo.
Still, he did get a few offers.
"Aurelian! How about you join our group? We’ll make sure to protect you!" A group of girls stepped forward, led by one with brightly colored hair.
"Argh, aren’t you the girl who awakened an F-rank talent?" His lips twitched as the words slipped out.
How was she going to protect him?
Her face reddened before she cleared her throat, eyes lowering to the ground.
"Well, uh... we thought all of us with lowly talents should pair up, since nobody else wants us."
Scanning them, he noticed they were all girls. Their eyes sparkled with hope as they cast their gazes on him.
Still, he had already decided. He wanted to keep his S-rank talent a secret, at least for now. Going with others would only hold him back.
Staring into her eyes, he asked, "What’s your name?"
The girl blinked, startled by the question, cheeks tinged red. "Amber. My name is Amber."
She breathed softly.
"Well, Amber, I don’t think it’s a good idea to pair up with me. My talent’s no good. I’ll only slow you down," he muttered, spouting bullshit before turning away.
The rest of the girls gasped, some even nodding in agreement with his excuse.
He sensed Amber wanted to say more, so he hurried away. With one final glance back, he stepped into the swirling green portal, the first of all the awakened.
As he did, a grin cracked across his lips.
"Well, this ought to be interesting."