Resurgence: eternal evolution

The Shadow Dusk guild ventured cautiously through the F-rank dungeon. Its twisting corridors and damp, moss-covered walls held little challenge for the seasoned hunters. The faint glow of bioluminescent fungi provided just enough light to illuminate their path, but it also served as a constant reminder of how little they had accomplished.

Kael silently dispatched a kobold, its weak cry fading into the shadows. Behind you, Leah groaned, her frustration boiling over, keal was able to react in time and rivan killed the kobold ''thanks'' keal said- ''we are a team keal and i am the guild leader your safety is my responsibility.''

"These monsters are barely worth the effort," leah muttered, wiping a faint sheen of sweat from her brow. "If this keeps up, we'll leave here with nothing."

Dain, her spear-wielding companion, nodded grimly. "At this rate, we won't even cover our operating costs."

Kael tightened his grip on his sword. Unlike the others, he didn't care about profit margins or balancing the books. All he cared about was the little bit of money he could send home to his family.

"Kael," Riven said, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "You've done enough for today. Maybe it's time you consider—"

"I'm fine," Kael interrupted, his tone sharper than intended. "I just need the money. That's all."

Riven sighed and dropped the subject.

---

The group pressed deeper into the dungeon, the air growing colder and heavier. Then, a faint glow appeared ahead, illuminating the path like a beacon.

"What's that?" Leah whispered, her voice tinged with curiosity.

They approached cautiously, weapons drawn. The light came from a crack in the stone wall, pulsating with an eerie rhythm.

"Wait," Dain said, stepping closer. He pressed his hand against the wall, and a surge of energy rippled through the room. The crack widened, the wall crumbling away to reveal a swirling portal.

A hushed silence fell over the group as they stared into the unknown.

"A portal," Leah said, awe and fear mingling in her voice.

"It's a sub-portal," Riven confirmed, his brows furrowed. "I've seen one before, but never in an F-rank dungeon."

"What's it doing here?" asked a younger hunter, her voice trembling.

"That's the real question," Riven muttered.

The group began to murmur, their voices overlapping in uncertainty.

"Should we go in?"

"It's too dangerous. We don't know where it leads."

"But think about what could be on the other side! This could be our chance to hit the jackpot."

Kael remained silent, his gaze fixed on the portal. He didn't know why, but something about it called to him, a whisper he couldn't quite hear.

Riven raised his hand, silencing the group. "Alright, listen up. We're not making this decision lightly. This is a serious risk, and I'm not dragging anyone into it against their will. We vote. Majority rules."

The hunters exchanged glances. Some nodded, while others hesitated.

Leah stepped forward, her arms crossed. "We've barely gotten anything out of this dungeon. I say we take the risk. If we don't, this whole trip is a waste."

A tall, scarred man named Garrick shook his head. "Or we step into a death trap. You know the guild's rules—don't venture into unknown portals unless absolutely necessary."

"Necessary?" Leah snapped. "We've got families to feed. How's a handful of kobold cores going to help anyone?"

Dain stepped in, his spear resting on his shoulder. "She's got a point. We can't leave empty-handed. If there's even a chance that something valuable is in there, we should take it."

"What if we all die?" a younger hunter said nervously, shifting from foot to foot.

"We won't know unless we try," Leah shot back.

Riven held up a hand. "Enough. Everyone, cast your vote. In or out?"

The group fell silent, the tension palpable. One by one, they began to speak.

"In."

"In."

"Out."

"Out."

The votes came in a slow trickle, the group of over thirty hunters dividing almost evenly. Kael, who had been silent until now, felt their eyes turn to him.

"What about you, Kael?" Leah asked, her tone softer than before.

He hesitated. The thought of what could be on the other side—treasures that could finally free him from this life of hunting—was tempting. But the unknown terrified him.

"I'm in," he said finally, his voice steady.

The final tally was clear. The majority had voted to enter the portal.

Riven sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Alright. We go in. But stay alert. The second something feels off, we're out of there. Got it?"

The group murmured their agreement, though the unease was evident in their expressions.

The portal swallowed them in an instant, and they emerged in a vast cavern illuminated by an otherworldly glow. The walls were studded with mana stones, their radiant energy filling the air with a hum that seemed to vibrate through their very bones.

"oh my god…" Leah whispered, her eyes wide as she ran her fingers over a mana stone.

"These are… C-rank, maybe higher," Dain said, his voice filled with awe.

Kael stared at the treasure surrounding them, his mind racing. If we make it out of here… maybe I won't have to hunt anymore.…

Before he could finish the thought, the dongeon shook violently. The portal behind them glowed brighter, and two massive creatures emerged.

They were dragons, their metallic scales gleaming like polished silver. Their crimson eyes burned with an intense, predatory light with a reddish wings.

The Valstrax.

The hunters froze. The dragons didn't attack immediately; they simply stood there, their gaze sweeping over the intruders.

"W-what are those things?" someone whispered, their voice barely audible.

"I don't know," Riven said, his voice trembling. "But they're not supposed to be here."

Garrick stepped forward, gripping his blade tightly. "We can't just stand here. If we don't act, we're dead anyway!"

"Garrick, wait!" Riven shouted, but it was too late.

Garrick charged, his weapon glowing with mana. He leapt into the air, aiming for the nearest dragon's head.

The Valstrax tilted its head slightly, almost curiously. Then, with a sudden burst of energy, it unleashed a draconic blast. Garrick was gone, reduced to ash in an instant.

For a moment, there was silence. Then, chaos erupted.

"Run!" someone screamed.

"No, fight!" yelled another.

Mages unleashed light magic, but the Valstrax's scales deflected the attacks effortlessly.

"We can't hurt it!" Leah cried, her voice breaking.

The dragons moved with terrifying grace, cutting through the hunters like a storm.

Kael stood frozen, his sword slipping from his grasp. His mind was a whirlwind of terror and despair.

By the time the chaos subsided, the thirty-strong group was reduced to five trembling survivors.

Kael's knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground.

''We're going to die here'', he thought, his pale eyes fixed on the monsters before him.