E-Rank Dungeon,

The dungeon air was damp, heavy with moss and stone dust. Flickering crystals embedded in the walls pulsed faintly, casting bluish light over Class Caelis as they regrouped near the cavern entrance.

Voices overlapped until one question finally broke through the noise.

"Who's going to be the leader?"

Almost every gaze shifted to the same two people—Ron Volkov and Lia Isolde.

Lia's silver eyes turned to Ron, her brow arched.

"What do you think?"

Ron paused, Zane's warning still echoing in his head—something about this test won't go normally… watch for anomalies. If he needed to move separately, it would be best not to tie himself down as a leader.

He gave a small shrug.

"You can take the role. As for the other… Maera Stormheart's from a high-ranked noble house. She'd be a good choice too."

"...Me?" Maera blinked, hand tightening around her staff. She had thought about stepping forward earlier but held back, assuming Lia or Ron would take the mantle. The unexpected nomination made her surprised.

Ron nodded with calm certainty.

"You'll do fine."

After a moment of hesitation, Maera straightened, her noble composure slipping into place.

"Alright. I accept. I'll share the role with you, Lia."

Lia glanced at Ron again, suspicion flickering.

"Why didn't you take it?" she asked in a whisper as the others began to murmur their approval.

Ron's reply was quiet but firm.

"Professor Zane."

That name alone was enough for her to drop further questions. She simply nodded, though her mind kept circling.

"Explain it to me later."

And so the leaders of Class Caelis were decided—Lia Isolde and Maera Stormheart.

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The students of Class Caelis gathered in a half-circle, the bluish glow of dungeon crystals outlining their focused faces.

Maera stepped forward, her noble tone clear and firm.

"Listen, all of you. This is a dungeon. That means no carelessness, no reckless showing off. First comes safety—we cannot underestimate where we are."

Her words carried enough weight to silence even the restless ones.

"We'll move in formation. Main attackers at the front, ranged and support in the middle, and backup fighters at the rear. When we stop to rest, we'll split into small squads with the same balance—frontline, support, and rear. That way, no one will be left defenseless."

Several students nodded in approval, their earlier nerves shifting into determination.

Then Lia stepped in, raising the ration pouch she'd been given.

"These are our supplies. Judging by the amount, the academy expects us to be in here for more than a day. That means the dungeon is large. We'll need information—about the monsters, the terrain, and anything useful."

Her sharp eyes scanned the group.

"That's why we're forming a scout unit. Two scouts will focus on dungeon layout—mapping paths, finding monsters, water sources, and even tracking signs of other classes. And the second role…"

She paused.

"We need someone who understands dungeon flora and fauna—plants, fungi, even monster meat. Someone who can tell what's safe to eat."

A hesitant hand rose—a boy with round glasses, his posture nervous but determined.

"I… I know about that. My family trades in herbs and alchemical ingredients. I can identify most plants and mushrooms. Some meats too."

Lia's expression softened slightly.

"Good. Then you'll be our food scout. You'll work with two others to gather what's safe, or at the very least identify it for us. If you can't carry it back, report to us immediately."

The boy adjusted his glasses and nodded firmly.

"Understood."

The room buzzed with renewed energy. Class Caelis wasn't just wandering blindly—they had structure, strategy, and clear leadership.

Maera's voice cut back in, firmer now, and the class fell silent to listen.

"Exactly as Lia said," she continued. "We don't have enough information about this place, so reckless behavior will get us killed. Conserve your strength. Don't waste high-level spells on weak enemies." She looked each of them in the eyes as she spoke, making sure her meaning landed. "If there are traps, we'll use them against the monsters. If there's a choke point, we'll make it a killing ground. Smart fighting beats flashy fighting."

Her tone grew colder, resolute. "We have to kill monsters to survive and to prove we can handle this. So any commoner students who haven't killed before—prepare your minds. Panic is a death sentence down here. If you feel fear creeping in, use the calming and focusing technique Professor Zane taught you."

At that, a few students exchanged nervous looks. A murmur ran through the group as they nodded, remembering Zane's lessons: the Tranquil Veil for the mages, Iron Pulse for the warriors. Quietly, one of them added, "If you panic, don't freeze—call out. Your teammates will cover you."

Maera's expression softened just enough to show the leadership beneath the sternness. "We move as one. Learn your role, trust your partner, and don't be afraid to ask for help. We will not have anyone making rash decisions for glory."

Lia stepped closer, raising her voice so everyone could hear. "Right. Scouts will report back every hour. Ration your food. Keep your formation tight and your eyes open. If anything odd appears, report it immediately. We're not here to race; we're here to survive and learn."

A student hesitated for a moment, then raised his hand. "Um… isn't this just an E-rank dungeon? Do we really need to plan this extensively?"

Lia's eyes narrowed slightly. "That's a foolish way to think. Dungeons aren't predictable. Just because it's labeled E-rank doesn't mean it's safe."

Maera's voice cut in, sharper this time. "'Just an E-rank,' you say? Don't be naive. I've been in dungeons when I was younger, and I've seen them change in an instant—what started as a G-rank dungeon became D-rank while I was inside. And I was nothing more than a G-rank, one-star warrior at the time. Do you really think that's something to underestimate?"

The student's face flushed crimson as the reality of the dungeon's unpredictability sank in. He muttered a quiet, "I… I understand," and looked down, embarrassed.

Maera's gaze softened just slightly. "Precaution is always better than regret."

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Maera raised her hand. "Let's select the scouts first. That guy"—she pointed at the boy with glasses who had raised his hand earlier—"you're already in. Your knowledge of flora and fauna will be invaluable."

The boy sighed quietly, nodding in acknowledgment.

Maera then turned to Lia. "Any suggestion for the second scout?"

Lia's pink eyes scanned the entire class carefully. After a moment, they flickered toward someone. "Drevin Solveil," she said, pointing at the boy with midnight-blue hair and sharp black eyes. "I fought him in the entrance exam. He's extremely agile and skilled in combat."

Drevin blinked in surprise. "Me…?" he thought, wondering why he had been chosen.

Maera smiled slightly. "It's settled—you'll be the first scout."

She then continued, "As for the second scout, I suggest Col Alven." She pointed at a boy with copper-colored hair and copper-yellow eyes. "He's fast, has decent combat strength, and will be an asset while scouting."

Col Alven bowed deeply, his expression serious. "I understand. I shall fulfill my role to the best of my abilities."

Lia stepped forward, turning to the boy with glasses. "And what's your name?" she asked.

The boy looked a little nervous and stammered, "F-Felrin Corvinus."

Lia's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of recognition crossing her face. Felrin Corvinus… isn't that the name of the top scorer of the written test? she thought. Shaking off her surprise, she said, "Anyway, Felrin, Col, and Drevin—now you three get going. Complete the task you've been assigned."

The three scouts bowed slightly in respect. "Understood," they said in unison.

Without waiting another moment, they sprinted into the depths of the dungeon, moving swiftly and silently into the shadows.

--

Meanwhile, in Class Solis, things were far less organized. The students stood in a loose cluster, their voices rising in argument over who should take charge.

"I say I should be leader," one boy declared, puffing his chest out. "I've trained under my family's knight captain. None of you can match that."

Another scoffed. "Leader? You? You couldn't even handle the entrance exam without crying for help."

The argument grew louder, until Celeste's voice cut through, calm yet firm. "Enough. Arin should be the leader. He's the only one capable of taking responsibility for all of us."

The bickering students quieted for a moment, exchanging skeptical looks. Then one of them sneered, "You keep saying that, but where is this Arin you talk about so much?"

Celeste blinked, startled. She turned her head, scanning the group. He was just beside me a moment ago…

"Arin…?" she murmured under her breath, her sapphire-blue eyes flickering with unease.

But Arin was nowhere to be seen.

---

Meanwhile, outside the dungeon, Zane leaned back casually, hands tucked into his overcoat pockets, his deep purple eyes glowing faintly as his lenses streamed the real-time feeds from inside.

He watched his Class Caelis gathered in formation, listening intently to Lia and Maera's lengthy instructions.

"So boring…" Zane muttered under his breath, lips curving in faint amusement. "They should move already."

His gaze flicked to another window feed—Class Solis. What he saw there was chaos. Students bickering, voices clashing, pride against pride.

But one thing stood out.

Zane's smirk sharpened as his lenses adjusted, confirming the absence. Arin isn't there.

"Finally," Zane murmured, resting his chin on one hand. "He's moving…"

The faintest glint passed through his eyes—not of surprise, but of expectation.

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