"Good," Raito said quietly, adjusting the mask in his hand.

The car drove for a while until they reached the outskirts of the subway district, where a massive black teleportation gate stood, pulsing like living shadow. Several hunters were already gathered outside: armored men and women with weapons drawn.

There were A Rank hunters guarding the main perimeter, and B Rank hunters forming a secondary defense ring around the gate.

"Hey! What are you two doing here? Please step back!" one of the A Rank hunters called out as they approached.

Kira's voice cut through the air. "Do you even know who you're talking to?"

The hunters looked closer, then their eyes widened. "Wait… F Fujisaka Kira? Ma'am, I didn't realize it was you!" one of them stammered.

Kira crossed her arms. "People have gone missing inside this dungeon. We're here to investigate and clear it."

"Alone? That's not possible," one of the A Rank hunters said. "We already have a team of high rank hunters preparing to go in. You won't be needed."

Before Kira could respond, the man beside her, masked, calm, silent, shifted his stance slightly. The hunter looked closer, unsure who he was.

Then someone ran up to him and whispered in his ear quietly, telling him everything: Jiro himself had authorized this mission. The two assigned to enter were Kira Fujisaka and a top ranked hunter personally sent by Jiro.

The A Rank hunter stiffened, then stepped aside immediately. "Understood. You may proceed."

Raito slid his hand into his pocket, saying nothing, as he and Kira walked forward. The crowd of hunters stepped back, watching in silence as the two of them approached the black gate.

The swirling portal pulsed once, its surface rippling like water.

Kira turned to Raito, nodding slightly.

Without a word, both of them stepped inside.

The moment they crossed through, the world twisted. Darkness gave way to stone. They found themselves standing in a vast underground cavern, the walls rough and glistening with veins of black crystal. The air was damp, heavy with mana.

They had entered the new dungeon, and this time, it was no ordinary one.

"Wow… this dungeon is actually pitch black," she murmured. "Ready to set?"

Without warning, she snapped her fingers. A faint burst of energy pulsed out, dust swirling into blue particles that floated upward, scattering light through the darkness. The glowing motes drifted across the cavern, slowly illuminating the rocky walls and rough terrain.

Raito blinked, surprised. "Since when are you capable of doing that? I thought you were only skilled with a sword."

Kira smirked. "Well, yeah, I am. But I also have a few tricks up my sleeve."

Raito's eyes narrowed slightly as he scanned the cave. "Hmm… this place. I'm not even hearing any sound. This dungeon is awfully quiet."

"You can feel it too, right?" Kira said softly. "There are monsters here."

"Yeah," Raito replied, his tone low. "You're right. It's quiet… too quiet."

"Let's move," Kira said.

Raito nodded and began to walk forward, his footsteps echoing lightly against the stone floor. Kira drew her sword, holding it firmly in her hand as she followed close behind.

A faint shimmer appeared in Raito's palm, and suddenly, a dagger materialized out of thin air.

Kira's eyes widened. "Wait… how did you do that? Did that dagger just appear in your hand?"

Raito gave a small, amused smile. "You know what an inventory box is, right? I'm sure you've heard of that skill, some people have it."

"Wait, are you saying you can use an Inventory Box?" Kira said, astonished. "Only mages are capable of that kind of skill. Mages are the only ones who can store and summon items like that."

"Well," Raito said casually, spinning the dagger once in his hand, "I'm not a mage. I'm just… capable of using it."

Kira stared at him, momentarily speechless, then let out a short laugh. "Just like I expected. You really are amazing."

The both of them kept walking, deeper into the dungeon. Then, something moved in the shadows ahead, its heavy breathing echoing faintly.

They sighted it.

A Goblin General, a B rank monster, towering with jagged muscles and a massive club clenched in its hand.

It roared, its voice shaking the air, and charged straight toward Raito.

Raito didn't flinch. He stood still, calm as the brink of ice.

The Goblin swung its club down,

But in that same instant, faster than even Kira's eyes could follow,

Its head hit the ground.

A clean, silent slice. The body collapsed a second later, twitching once before going still.

Kira blinked in disbelief. "Did… did you cut off its neck?"

Raito slid his dagger back into its sheath. "Well, yes, I did."

Kira frowned, still stunned. "You were actually really fast. For a high ranking hunter like me, I couldn't even follow your speed. It was like you never moved. All I saw was its head fall to the ground."

Raito shrugged lightly. "Let's keep moving," he said.

"Oh, you're just ignoring my question like it's nothing," Kira said, sighing. "But I shouldn't even be surprised, I know what you're capable of."

Raito didn't reply. He just kept walking forward.

Then, without warning, he raised his right hand.

From the ground, a dark ripple spread, and two hundred undead emerged, their decayed armor clanking, eyes glowing faintly blue.

"From the Hunter Domain," Raito said.

Each undead soldier bent its head toward him, then raised it in unison, gripping rotten swords.

"Go," Raito commanded. "Clear whatever's blocking the way."

They obeyed instantly, storming forward, cutting down goblins, dire wolves, and other dungeon beasts. The horde moved like a tide of death, and even when one was destroyed, another rose in its place.

Raito and Kira continued walking, the undead clearing the path ahead.

They soon reached a fork in the dungeon, a split in the tunnel, leading in two directions.

"Which path should we follow? Here, or here?" Kira asked.

Raito looked both ways, then closed his eyes briefly. "Some humans are still alive," he said. "But their energy… it's weak. Not steady. I can't tell how many there are in this place. But there's also a powerful monster—somewhere on the other side."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.