A sharp, startled cry echoed through the underground passage beneath Purple Thorn Castle. The sound bounced between the narrow stone walls, rolling forward like a wave that just refused to die out.“I really can’t get in,” Kaelen muttered, his face tightening with frustration.He didn’t stay frozen in place. Instead, he took another step forward, as if he hoped the outcome would magically change.The purple vortex shimmered right ahead of him. A few minutes ago, he had already walked through it—he’d simply taken one step too far and ended up on the other side. When he turned back, the portal loomed right in front of him again, swirling like some mysterious bowl of mist.A cold, blue prompt popped up in his vision:You have already entered this instance once. You cannot enter again.This time, at least, the system bothered to give a reason. Kaelen blew out a long breath and looked back at the others.“It’s a one-time instance,” he said. “Makes sense why the rewards were so damn generou

The sky churned with darkness, thick black clouds pressing down like some invisible hand. The air felt heavy, almost suffocating, as if the storm had already begun, even before a single drop of rain fell. Kaelen could feel the weight of it crawling along his spine, cold and restless.Their torches had suggested clear skies beyond the underground passage. Yet stepping outside mocked that hope. Thick clouds hung low, a silent herald of the tempest about to descend.The small house they emerged into seemed like a maze, walls stretching and twisting in every direction. Including the exit from the underground, three other doors led outward. From inside, the world beyond had looked vast, even inviting. But stepping through shattered that illusion. The space was narrow, constricting. The walls pressed close, and the alley beyond promised nothing but confinement.It twisted ahead, vanishing into shadows. No one knew where it led or what it connected to.Five meters wide, barely enough to call

Faust had always been a city of extremes—where journeys began, and where many came to their grim end. And on this particular day, within one of its grand stone halls, an icy tension pressed down on the War Sword Adventurer Guild like a hand closing around a throat.For days now, the guild—second only to the mighty Gemini Adventurer Guild—had wandered in a fog of unease. Rumors whispered through corridors. Arguments flared and died. No one said it aloud, but everyone felt it: something was about to break.At the center of the hall stood Rachel, a 19th-level adventurer whose expression rarely shifted from its usual hard, granite-like stillness. Today was no exception. “Everyone here knows what happened to our previous guild master,” he announced, his voice carrying effortlessly across the chamber. “He overestimated himself. Took his team into the Bloodstained Corridor… and even dragged several of our elites along. Because of that reckless judgment, not one of them survived.”Not a singl

At first, Kaelen honestly thought his eyes were playing tricks on him.But no—the tower was actually moving.The whole structure twisted and groaned, like stone protesting after centuries of silence. Then it revived. Just like that. One moment a dead tower, the next a living nightmare dragging itself back into the world. Kaelen, who’d barely managed to sit down for a breath, snapped his head up in disbelief.And the thing’s new appearance?Hideous. Disturbing. Wrong on every level.“It’s now!” he barked, jumping to his feet. He didn’t even hesitate—just sprinted straight for the creature. “Everyone, stay sharp!” he shouted behind him.When the monster was still a tower, they could damage it, sure, but only as a structure. Kaelen couldn't use Charge on it at all. But now? Now it had flesh. Limbs. Whatever counted as a body.Now Charge would actually connect.“Captain! Careful!” Jeka called out.Kaelen narrowed his gaze. Everything they’d been working toward hinged on this one moment. I

Silver weapon—no, a real silver weapon! Blinding beams of silver shot straight into the sky, cutting through the gloom like a flare. Everyone could see it clearly now—this was no ordinary drop.Kaelen, Shia, and the rest couldn’t hide their excitement. Not a single one of the five managed to keep a calm face. Sure, the weapon’s attack power was impressive—but the real kicker? It reduced the experience needed to level up. For adventurers, that was basically priceless.The moment the silver weapon appeared, Shia and the others swarmed around. Jeka, bouncing like she had ants in her pants, practically shouted herself hoarse. “A silver weapon! Captain, your luck is insane! You actually got a silver weapon!”Without even catching her breath, she examined it and broadcast every single property to the team:Ice Flag (Banner)Origin: Purple Thorn CastleRarity: Silver ItemMaterial: Silkworm ClothWeight: 10.2 kgEquip Requirement: NoneEquip Slot: WeaponEffect: Ice TrapCreates a 10-meter r