Chapter 81: Double Dungeon Incident

Far away from Eden, beneath the surface of the earth, there was another place.

A place that wasn’t supposed to exist.

The corridor was dim.

Emergency lights flickered along the walls.

Glass containers had been shattered.

Tables were overturned.

Several pieces of strange equipment had been destroyed.

The air smelled faintly of chemicals.

At the entrance stood a man with short purple hair.

His poisonous green eyes swept across the ruined laboratory.

Null.

Vice-Guildmaster of Crimson-Crow.

He crossed his arms.

A satisfied smile rested on his face.

"How does it feel?"

A figure sat on an examination table.

His back was turned toward Null.

Long black hair fell down his back.

Something black flowed around his body.

It wasn’t Essence.

Null knew that much.

Dark Matter.

It moved like a living extension of the man’s body, wrapping around his arms and shoulders before disappearing beneath his skin.

The man flexed his fingers.

Dark Matter followed.

His eyes widened.

"Incredible."

Null smiled.

"I told you."

The man stared at his own hand.

"I’ve never felt anything like this."

"Of course."

Null stepped forward.

The man thought for a moment.

Then asked.

"What was it again?"

Null’s smile widened.

"Dark Matter."

The man repeated it quietly.

"Dark Matter..."

"You’re the only successful vessel we’ve had."

The man’s didn’t change.

"The only one?"

Null nodded.

"We’ve tried."

His smile disappeared slightly.

"Many times."

The ruined laboratory around them made the meaning obvious.

"Most couldn’t handle it."

The man looked at the black energy surrounding his body.

"But I can."

"You can."

Null approached.

"And just as I’ve promised, this power can finally bridge the gap."

The man’s eyes narrowed.

"Between A-Rank..."

Null finished the sentence.

"And S-Rank."

The man slowly clenched his fist.

Dark Matter compressed around it.

The pressure in the room increased.

Null smiled.

"How does it feel to finally stand at the threshold?"

The man didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he repeated the name.

"Dark Matter."

Then he looked toward Null.

His eyes were filled with hunger.

"I want more."

Null raised an eyebrow.

"More?"

The man turned his head over his shoulder.

"I need more of it."

Null’s smile returned.

"You ought to be patient, Mendax."

The laboratory fell silent.

---

The Association’s Stadium was packed the following morning.

The second round of the Association’s tryouts had finally arrived.

Hundreds of Awakeneds stood inside the massive arena.

But unlike the first round, there were no cameras.

No giant screens broadcasting the fights to Guild representatives.

No crowds watching from outside.

This round was private.

Only the participants, Association staff, and designated personnel were present.

Eden stood among the other participants.

He looked around.

’Round Two.’

He knew exactly what was supposed to happen.

Neville stepped forward.

The S-Rank leader of Silver Wing raised his hand.

The stadium slowly became quiet.

"Congratulations."

His voice carried effortlessly.

"You’ve made it through the first round."

Several Awakeneds smiled.

Others looked nervous.

Neville continued.

"This round will be different."

Behind him, a massive blue distortion appeared.

A circular portal formed in the center of the stadium.

Unlike natural Gates, this one was perfectly stable.

Artificially created by Human technology.

A Warp Gate.

"This is a human-made Warp Gate."

Neville gestured toward it.

"It will connect to a controlled D-Rank Gate."

Several participants whispered among themselves.

"Each team will consist of five Awakeneds."

Neville continued.

"You will be randomly assigned."

A screen appeared behind him.

"Each group will also be accompanied by a B-Rank Association member."

Eden’s expression remained calm.

The B-Rank member’s role was simple.

Observe.

Record.

Intervene if things became dangerous.

Weapons and potions were permitted this time.

Unlike Round One.

"This round is designed to test cooperation."

Neville’s eyes swept across the participants.

"You are Awakeneds."

His voice became serious.

"That means someday, you will enter Gates with other people."

"You will have teammates."

"People you will depend on."

"People who will depend on you."

The stadium became quiet.

"This isn’t about who can defeat the strongest opponent alone."

Neville smiled faintly.

"It’s about whether you can survive together."

Eden’s expression didn’t change.

But internally, he was already thinking about something else.

The B-Rank Association member assigned to one of the groups.

The person who possessed the A-Rank ring "Lord’s Mercy".

The person Eden knew would die today.

In his previous life, the first Warp Gate group had entered a D-Rank Gate.

It should have been routine.

Except it wasn’t.

The Gate contained a hidden second portal.

A double dungeon.

The B-Rank guide had led the team through it.

And everyone inside had died.

Including the guide himself, making acquiring Lord’s Mercy practically impossible.

Eden’s eyes narrowed.

’I could warn them.’

But what would he say?

"Don’t enter the first Gate because I know there’s another dungeon inside."

Why?

How?

He would immediately attract suspicion.

Even if the Association listened, there was no guarantee they’d believe him.

And if they asked how he knew...

Eden didn’t have an answer.

He couldn’t risk exposing himself.

So he decided on the simplest solution.

’Simply Don’t be first.’

If he wasn’t in the first group, he could observe what happened.

If the Gate turned out to be normal, there was no problem.

And if something happened, then it wouldn’t matter anyways, because he would be safe.

Eden relaxed.

’I’ll be fine.’

Neville raised a tablet.

"Now..."

The screen behind him changed.

Names began appearing.

Group after group.

Participants watched anxiously.

Some were praying to be placed with their friends.

Others hoped for powerful teammates.

Eden simply stood there.

His arms crossed.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

’I’m definitely not going first.’

’I mean, what are the chances?’

The names continued.

"Group One."

A list appeared.

Eden didn’t pay much attention at first.

The display continued to list names he didn’t recognize.

Then Neville looked down at his tablet.

"And the fifth and last member of Team One."

Eden’s smile disappeared.

"Eden."

His eyes slowly widened.

"...What?"

Neville continued as though nothing unusual had happened.

"As the name already suggests, Team One will be the first team to enter the Warp Gate."

Eden stared at the blue portal.

His confident expression had completely frozen.

’You have got to be fucking kidding me.’

Part of him seriously considering ditching the tryouts.

’This shit has to be rigged.’