Aria didn’t even look at Nyx as she followed up on the pink-haired beauty’s statent, "Compared to these two guilds... Nova Circuit might as well rena themselves Nova Circus."
No one disagreed.
...
The team moved to the underground combat room, the one next to the room that was used for the bath stream.
Here, Kaiden ran combat simulations, training transitions between his Sin Stances.
Aria practiced mid-range burst attacks while staying mobile in her new armor. Nyx refined her techniques of space manipulation.
Luna’s drills focused on swift movent, her [Lightning Step] sending her blurring between floating platforms. Even Bastet showed rare discipline, practicing close-quarter takedowns using dummy mannequins among many other things.
And for sparring?
Riven and Rae.
The Artificer Twins crafted golems with undead traits: slow regeneration, mana-sapping claws, even mindless berserker patterns.
"These are level 20 dummies," Riven explained, snapping her fingers as one rose from a magic circle. "Designed to pressure test your stamina and coordination."
Rae tossed a wrench into her palm. "And they explode if you take too long~!"
"They what-"
*BOOM!*
The explosion scorched a crater into the far wall. Rae cackled.
"Ti waits for no one~" she winked.
"..."
Throughout their preparations, there was one thing they hadn’t done: use their newly gained abilities.
For now, they didn’t want the governnt to learn they had them. In the best case scenario they would never learn the news, but that was just a wishful dream. Thus, the second best option was to make the reveal in the dungeon or once they were done clearing it.
The upgrades would be a lot easier to explain by referring to the dungeon than if it randomly happened while they were busy streaming lighthearted content.
It was good to appear mysterious for their content, it increased their appeal. But appearing mysterious before the governnt was a different beast. What Kaiden and co were doing was a careful balancing act.
Don’t reveal too much, as the existence of the system and its many nuances would get them strapped to a surgeon’s table whether Vespera liked it or not, but reveal just enough not to be too alien in the eyes of the governnt, as that, too, would lead them to the surgeon’s room.
Explain enough so their capabilities are vaguely understood, (or so the governnt thinks) but keep enough for the real truth to not get out.
...
Night fell on the eve of the departure.
Their Chronos funds were drained as they spent a great deal of money on not only gear but potions as well.
Their new equipnt shone with ominous light. Their training was logged and reviewed.
They were ready.
No caras.
No audience.
Just awakened combatants about to step into a crypt...
Next stop: The Hollow of Endless Hunger.
...
The air was crisp as Kaiden and his team arrived at the dungeon gate in the early morning. The sun wasn’t even up. There were no fans, no stream alerts, and no sponsorship banners. This wasn’t content. This was work.
Two other groups were already present.
The first was Nova Circuit.
Tessa stood at the front with a clipboard under one arm. Behind her were the four wonderful beings who’d undertake the dungeon today.
The second was Runewoven.
Talia, their thick-muscled leader, stood confidently near a strange man: Diaz.
He didn’t appear as so slimy survivor rat like one might expect. No, he was tall, maybe even taller than Kaiden himself, with loose silver hair tied at the nape, a cloak draped across his back, and two curved daggers resting at his hips. The rogue looked elegant, polished, and extrely lethal.
Still, Bastet narrowed her eyes. "I don’t like him," she whispered into Kaiden’s ear. "His eyes are too cold."
Kaiden agreed.
There was nothing manic in Diaz’s gaze. No anger. No hate. Just cold calculation, as if he was already playing every scenario five moves ahead.
Dozens of other awakened lingered around the periter. They were mbers of Runewoven who had no part in this operation besides securing the periter and the like. So of them even ca in their free ti to wish the ten of them good luck. After all, their beloved guild’s future was tied to this clear.
A few guards from the Awakened Association stood nearby as well, their black uniforms and steel gauntlets a reminder that even now, with no audience, the rules of the system still hovered over all.
Kaiden stepped forward with Luna, Aria, Nyx, and Bastet at his flanks. The Nova Circuit mbers followed shortly after. Introductions were quick.
Vaelira’s voice was the first to slice through the formalities. The arrogant woman with a flair for internal conflict didn’t pull any punches. "So you’re the infamous survivor. I just can’t help but wonder: did you run out early or were you the heroic last man standing?"
Diaz’s expression didn’t change one bit as he ignored her question. "Since I’m not only the strongest person present but also the only one who’s stepped foot inside the dungeon, I’d suggest you all listen when I speak."
Vaelira wasn’t taken aback one bit. "Let’s not forget who here is A-tier, shall we?"
Diaz looked amused. "Tiers don’t an much in the real world, girl. Especially when the awakener is so misguidedly arrogant."
Kaiden stepped in before the atmosphere worsened.
"Valhalla’s Sinners are here as professional rcenaries. We’ll do our job, get paid, and leave. That’s it. I’d appreciate it if Runewoven and Nova Circuit could maintain at least as much professionalism as a newly ford rcenary group conducts themselves with."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Even Vaelira stopped. She didn’t reply.
Diaz tilted his head toward Kaiden, studying him now. He was not dismissing him as a low-tier clown of an awakened or a porn-peddler. The rogue’s gaze was sharp. asured, yes. But not hostile.
"Let’s not waste daylight then."
Without another word, the group moved.
Ten Awakened stepped toward the swirling, vertical veil of mana that marked the dungeon portal.
The Hollow of Endless Hunger, as the dungeon would later be nad.
Kaiden said nothing more. His hand rested on the hilt of Twilight Ripper, and his eyes scanned his team one last ti.
They nodded.
Together, they stepped forward.
And vanished from the face of Planet Earth.
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