The outskirts of Redwood Town, before the entrance to the Level 2 Dungeon, The Whispering Crypt.
The air hung thick and heavy, carrying the scent of damp earth and decay.
Before them loomed the gateway to the Whispering Crypt, a towering, twisted oak so old its bark looked like cracked stone, as if time itself had tried to turn it to ruin and failed.
Its trunk had split wide, forming a gaping maw that breathed out a cold, foul mist, as if the tree itself were exhaling death.
Violet fog curled from the opening, and faint, eerie whispers rode the wind, each one a chilling promise of doom for any who stepped inside.
Dozens of players crowded the clearing, a frantic mix of ambition and desperation, like a battlefield disguised as a marketplace.
Parties shouted for healers, lone wolves hawked their wares, and the nervous chatter of first-time dungeon-delvers filled the air.
"Whoa, Jason… look at all these people!" Jay Antonio's eyes were wide with tension, a sharp break from his usual easygoing calm.
He gripped his dark robes, gripping his new Bronze-grade staff like it was the only thing keeping him alive.
"It's like a rock concert, but with more swords and pointy hats."
Jason Henry simply scanned the crowd, his expression unreadable.
His gaze was sharp, analytical, missing nothing.
"More like a waiting room for the graveyard," he replied dryly.
"Most of them are just here to donate their gear to the monsters."
Just then, a hulking warrior in battered, mismatched armor waved them over, his presence cutting through the chaos like a blade.
He had a rugged, honest face, though it was currently etched with anxiety.
"Jason? Jay? It's me, Solitary Gale!"
He led them to his party, a trio of players who looked far from pleased.
The first, a towering Berserker with a blazing red mohawk and an axe nearly his size, crossed his arms and sneered, daring someone to challenge him.
The second was a Shieldbearer, broad and unyielding, his face set in stone, cold, calm, and unreadable.
The third, a young Cleric, wrung her hands nervously, eyes flicking to the dungeon entrance like she was bracing for something to lunge out of the dark.
"Guys, this is Jason, the expert I told you about," Solitary Gale said, trying to sound cheerful.
The Berserker, whose nameplate read 'Rageclaw,' took a step forward, his eyes locking onto Jason.
"This is your expert?
He's Level 3!
And you promised him all the Swordsman and Cursemancer gear, plus the boss materials?
Are you insane, Gale?
We're carrying a newbie and paying him for the privilege!"
"Now, Rageclaw, be reasonable…" Solitary Gale began, but the Berserker cut him off.
"Reasonable?
We wiped twice on Normal Mode already!
We need a real powerhouse, not some kid who probably just got out of the starting zone!"
Jason met Rageclaw's furious gaze without flinching.
A small, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips.
"You wiped twice on Normal?" he said, his voice calm, but laced with quiet disdain.
His eyes flicked to the dents in Rageclaw's greaves and the scuffed plating on the Shieldbearer's armor, reading the story they told without a word.
Let me guess.
The Night Rabbits were fine, but that hidden Night Ranger ambushed you and tore your healer to shreds before you even knew what was happening.
The Cleric, Timid Light, gasped.
The Shieldbearer, Stoneguard, grunted in affirmation.
Rageclaw's face went from red to purple.
"How… how did you know that?" Solitary Gale stammered, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"Lucky guess," Jason said, though his tone suggested otherwise.
He turned back to Rageclaw.
"Look, you can stand here and complain, or you can follow my lead and actually clear this dungeon."
" Your gear is decent, but your strategy is garbage."
" You need me more than I need you."
"The deal stands."
Before Rageclaw could explode, a wave of murmurs swept through the crowd.
A five-man party approached, their movements sharp and in sync, too smooth, too disciplined to be just another group of hopefuls.
At their lead was a woman of breathtaking beauty, a Berserker in exquisite silver and blue armor.
Her name was Serene Snowfall.
At her side, was a fiery-haired Mage in crimson robes, her expression a mixture of arrogance and impatience.
Jay nudged Jason, his voice a reverent whisper.
"Dude… that's Serene Snowfall."
The Vice-Leader of Ouroboros!
My idol!
She's even more amazing in person!
The Mage, Scarlet Ember, noticed their group and let out a disdainful scoff.
"Well, look what we have here," she said loud enough for everyone to hear.
Another group of hopefuls led by a low-level charity case.
Trying for Normal Mode, boys?
Try not to cry when you get sent back to town with empty pockets.
The Ouroboros party chuckled.
Solitary Gale and his team flushed, shame burning across their faces.
Jason, however, just chuckled softly.
He met Scarlet Ember's condescending smug smile with a calm, pitying stare, as if she wasn't worth the fight.
We're not interested in Normal Mode.
The real treasures are in Hell Mode.
But I suppose a guild that plays it safe wouldn't know anything about that.
Scarlet Ember's jaw dropped.
Serene Snowfall, silent until now, suddenly turned, her icy blue eyes locking onto Jason like a blade drawn in silence.
A flicker of surprise and intrigue crossed her perfect features.
No one in their right mind attempted Hell Mode at this stage of the game.
"What did you say?" Scarlet Ember hissed, her hands beginning to crackle with arcane energy.
"You heard me," Jason said, turning his back on them.
"Come on, team. We're wasting time."
He walked straight into the dungeon's gaping maw, never glancing back to see if anyone dared follow.
Stunned by Jason's boldness but swept up in his confidence, Solitary Gale snapped to action and quickly rallied his team.
"You heard him! Let's go!"
Rageclaw, still fuming but now deeply unsettled by Jason's accurate prediction and his fearless confrontation with Ouroboros, reluctantly followed.
As they reached the entrance, Jason paused at the difficulty selection interface.
Without a moment's hesitation, his finger tapped the crimson, glowing skull icon.
[Difficulty Selected: Hell Mode]
Death Penalty Increased by 100%.
All monster attributes increased by 200%.
Special boss mechanics will be triggered.
A surge of raw and pure terror crashed over Solitary Gale's party, freezing them in place.
"Hell… Hell Mode?!" Timid Light squeaked, her face ashen.
"Are you trying to get us all killed?!" Rageclaw roared, half in anger, half in genuine fear.
Jason simply smiled.
"I told you. We're not here for scraps."
He stepped into the darkness, and the world behind them vanished.
The Whispering Crypt had claimed them.
From the clearing, Serene Snowfall watched the spot where they disappeared, a thoughtful frown on her face.
"Scarlet," she said softly.
"Keep an eye on that Swordsman. There's more to him than meets the eye."