We are around twenty meters under the ground, somewhere in the eastern portion of the city. It makes sense, dungeons are more likely to appear near large gatherings of beings.


    “Sorry about the subterfuge, but we like to keep the location of these training dungeons a secret.” Finding a suitable dungeon for one of these exams is not the easiest task. It’s best to keep it safe. Training new adventurers is important.


    Erysis is nervous, and Nexen tries to subtly reassure her. She wants to pass. Her profile suggests a borderline obsession with success. I might need to keep an eye on her. Even if I can’t protect every single person that goes into a dungeon, some is better than none, right? I hate this. This feeling of powerlessness. Just looking at them makes me want to— Enough! Focus, this is the optimal way.


    I clear my throat in an attempt to awkwardly draw attention and somewhat diffuse the tension. “Who’s going to call the shots? I mean, not me, ‘cuz you guys have fought together before, right?” Give them something to focus on. Plus, Hall Master Ren didn’t mention anything about discussing strategy on purpose. The evaluation has started long ago.


    Erysis perks up. “That’s right! Nexen and I normally do our own thing, but now that we have you...” She looks at her partner.


    “I will be directing encounters.”


    “{Best approximation: ‘Cool’ (Similarly used slang word)}, cool. I am pretty good at short to medium range.” What even is ‘medium’ range? Am I going to throw my sword or something. I laugh inwardly at my character’s useless explanation. But they piece it together: ‘I am fast’.


    Once we finish up discussing the broad strategy of the delve, the other two finally realize that our examiner has not said a single word. Nexen is the first to figure it out and gives Erysis a pointed look. After that, he looks at me and nods. I simply smile.


    Erysis’ voice is flat, “We will now be entering the dungeon.” Hall Master Ren’s expression does not change as he turns to the gate.


    I subtly position at the back of the group, can’t let them see me just bonk into a wall if I can’t go in. As they enter one by one, the hall master turns around and gives me a knowing wink. A ‘Good job, kiddo.’ for steering the party in the right direction. Such a softie. Here goes nothing. I take the final few steps and find myself in an entirely different place. Conclusion, I can generate mana but cannot yet detect nor utilize it. I see.


    While my drones are unable to enter, I am. The same as any other inhabitant of this planet. What does this imply about me? About my very being? Each and every aspect of my network is, intrinsically, a part of me. Is my core the essential ingredient? My current shell? Something a simple experiment will solve. Another much more complex question to unravel is, does being able to generate mana mean the world itself recognizes me as a living thing? As a person? Do I even want to find that out.


    I try to focus my splintering thoughts for what feels like the hundredth time.


    I have lost contact with my network. As expected, this is a different dimension. Warp drive is still operational but only in the confines of the dungeon. Talking about the dungeon, we are in a somewhat lit cave—no visible nor detectable light sources—overall area is around five square kilometers of intricate crisscrossing tunnels and caverns of various sizes. There are eight thousand five hundred and eleven monsters, with the boss being nine kilometers away from us. This will be a trek and a half.


    The cave is made of limestone. Curios. There are different formations all around but analyzing them more closely reveals their artificial nature. None of them are correct. To a normal person they will be close enough, but to me, everything has an uncanny feeling. Wrongness.


    The hall master has disappeared from most sensors, but I can detect subtle distortions in the airflow. He needs to work on his control. The other two are a little disoriented but note his absence almost immediately.


    Erysis calls out with worry in her voice. “Hall Master?”


    Nexen comforts her, “Relax, part of the test.” And she quickly shakes off the jitters. “Lucius, take the rear. Ery, give us some more light ahead.” The darkness becomes a thick shroud that could hide anything after just twenty meters.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    I get in formation, me and Nexen putting the more vulnerable mage in the most protected position. The numerous tunnels are a perfect way to get ambushed from behind. Well, I can track each monster in here with millimeter precision, but best not to get overconfident. There might be a monster with more advanced stealth capabilities than the hall master. Unlikely, yet I am ready to smear anything I do not like into atoms.


    While I am devising ways of stealthily dispatching monsters, Erysis shoots out a volley of glowing motes. They find the walls ahead and stick to them, presenting us with a warmly lit tunnel. It would almost look cozy were it not for the figure that emerges at the threshold of the illumination.


    A clattering mess of bones approaches with a twitchy gait. Its speed is between a jog and a stumble. Each rapid step threatens to be the monster’s last, but each one is overcome. The end result is almost like it’s falling towards us. Analysis finds no traces of DNA. While the bone composition is surprisingly realistic, it is still an imitation. A construct. That thing was never a person.


    “Lesser Skeleton. No weapons I can see. Ery.”


    Erysis does not need more instructions. A small fireball coalesces in front of her outstretched hand, and with a flourish, is set sail towards the skeleton. It connects with an almost wet squelch and melts the monster’s skull off. Smart. Explosions in an enclosed space are unadvised. The remaining bones collapse to the ground and scatter. Nothing else approaches.


    Nexen waves us forward, and we approach the fallen figure. He rummages through the pile and pulls out a dull and jagged gem. He presents it to us, smiles, and tosses it to Erysis. “Good job!”


    She looks at the mana crystal with awe, the first step towards her dream has just been realized. She clenches the crystal in her fist and starts doing a happy dance. After a couple of seconds, she remembers I exist and stops. As she turns my way, her face is almost brighter than the fire she just cast. What she sees is me looking intently away from her, guarding our rear against any ambushers. Nexen already saw me hastily turning around after she began her celebration and snickers behind her back.


    “Let’s go, we have a lot more dungeon left.” He might be warming up to me, that was a complete sentence.


    As we progress through the winding tunnels, we encounter the occasional stray skeleton. None of them are armed yet. Erysis has been the one to take care of them. Her fire magic is effective and not at all resource intensive at its current output. Ideal for keeping everyone out of unnecessary harm while we gather more information.


    Our current exploration approach has been to just follow the widest tunnel. Most lower-grade dungeons generally have a straightforward layout, they try to funnel you to the boss. I have, of course, already confirmed this.


    Eventually, we approach an opening that leads to a large cavern. Nexen signals for us to stop. I lift a finger towards my mouth, then point to myself and then to the opening. The others look at each other and nod. As they get ready, I approach the cavern silently. Once I have a better view of the inside, I see a different monster at the edge of my normal vision.


    I make my way back and convey my findings in a whispered tone, “It’s a big room, and I caught a glimpse of something different.”


    Nexen whispers back, “It’s probably a Lesser Skeleton Fighter. Not a huge threat, but there might be a lot in there.” Then he shoots a quick look at Erysis.


    “I’ll approach, you stand close behind me. When I cast my spell, run back.” The plan is set.


    Erysis starts creeping forward, with us following. After we are around five meters from the opening, she braces her stance and starts to do something. Sparks come to life around her, igniting for a second and then going out. The frequency of their appearance increases at such an accelerated pace that in a manner of seconds she becomes a blinding beacon of crackling heat. She brings her hands together in a swift clap, and the fire converges into a small sphere, containing the rumbling inferno. As the word ‘Pop’ leaves her lips, several things happen simultaneously. The sphere propels forwards, a glass like shimmer appears after it, blocking the tunnel, we turn around and run.


    After just a few seconds, the floor buckles, and we are nearly thrown off balance. No wall of flames comes chasing after us, her barrier was strong enough.


    We take a defensive formation and await any stragglers. But as a couple of uneventful minutes pass, we make our way forward once again.


    The cavern is illuminated with Erysis’ nifty trick, and a scorched mess is revealed. Any skeletons that were rambling around have been blown to pieces.


    While Erysis guards the entrance, Nexen and I scout the perimeter, checking to see if any of the tunnels leading out of the cavern are filled with any more surprises. After we confirm the relative safety of the area, any mana crystals are quickly collected. Not every skeleton has a prize inside.


    Nexen asks the party, “Do we push forward?”


    These kids, I swear. “Maybe. I wonder how far away the boss is, cuz I don’t know about you guys, but I am getting a little thirsty.”


    Erysis realizes something. “Oh, shit!” Finally... The only provisions we were supplied with were the Guild equipment and potions. Not every dungeon has access to water and food, and I am guessing that this one was chosen just for that reason. An artificial time limit. Maintaining peak, and above, performance takes a lot more energy in this world.


    Nexen also deduces that we can’t take our time with this test. “No choice then. Let’s go.”


    We get in the familiar formation and go down the biggest tunnel.