When they came out on the other side, the world around them had changed again.
The air was heavier, thick with unfamiliar mana.
A swirling distortion in the air floated a short distance ahead, rippling like liquid glass.
It pulsed with faint red light, bending space around it.
"That’s the dungeon entrance," Vale said.
Isaac nodded slowly.
The mana it released was nothing like the dungeons he had read about.
It felt alive, whispering from beyond.
A large camp stood a bit to the left of the dungeon’s entrance.
The place looked temporary, built for speed rather than comfort.
Dozens of awakeners moved around the tents and barricades, checking equipment and mana guns, sharpening blades.
When Isaac started walking toward them, a few of them noticed and straightened.
Within moments, word spread across the camp.
Awakeners began stepping out of their tents, stopping what they were doing.
Some saluted, others bowed.
"Lord Isaac."
"Welcome, my lord."
Their tones carried a mix of respect and unease.
Isaac nodded to each greeting, not letting it slow his pace.
He could see it in their eyes, their faint tension, and their careful posture.
Some of it was respect, but most was hesitation, and fear.
Not of him personally, but of what he represented: power and change.
That was fine. Fear was natural.
Over time, they’d accept him once they saw what kind of leader he intended to be.
"Everyone, gather around," Isaac said once he reached the open clearing near the center of camp.
The awakeners moved quickly.
In a few minutes, more than eighty of them stood in loose formation before him.
They were armed and alert, veterans and fresh recruits alike.
Among them, Isaac sensed the presence of seven Champion Rankers.
They were guarding the camp since they couldn’t enter the dungeon due to its restriction barrier.
He let his gaze sweep across them before speaking. "I called you here because I’ll be entering the dungeon. I intend to create the first full strategy for it.
"I’ll handle the fighting, but I need someone who’s good at reading monster behavior and finding their weaknesses."
Isaac was confident in his strength, but he needed to find weakness of the monsters, so that these awakeners could defeat them without him.
While he trusted himself to be able to learn the monster’s attack patterns and weakness, he wasn’t arrogant.
Thus, he decided to bring a few veterans with him to map dungeon, and learn monster patterns.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Nervous glances passed between people.
Even if this was classified as a tutorial dungeon, the "Hell-Mode" part was what terrified them.
Dungeons like these didn’t just test strength, they crushed people through unpredictability and attrition.
A man stepped forward after a moment’s silence.
His armor was scuffed, and a scar ran across his jawline.
He bowed slightly. "My lord, permission to speak."
"Go ahead," Isaac said.
"My name’s Warn," the man said, voice firm. "I participated in the N’theris Serpent Hunt. I saw it die by your hand, so I don’t doubt your strength. None of us do.
"But dungeons aren’t just about power. They’re about reading patterns, reacting instantly, and adapting faster than the monsters.
"Even the best fighters fall when they misread a trap.
"I apologize if this sounds rude, but... you shouldn’t enter yourself. It’s not worth the risk."
His words carried only concern.
Isaac nodded, then smiled faintly. "Warn, I appreciate the honesty. And I understand what you’re saying.
"But I’ve cleared Hell-Difficulty Trials for my Class Quests. I’ve dealt with worse than a tutorial dungeon."
He paused, then looked at the group as a whole.
He had fought a former God quite literally. He doubted a tutorial dungeon could be harder than that.
"Still, you’re right about one thing. Dungeon experience is irreplaceable. That’s why I asked for awakened individuals to accompany me.
"I’ll handle the heavy lifting, but I’ll need eyes sharp enough to pick up patterns I miss."
The tension in the crowd didn’t fade entirely, but the uncertainty started to soften.
"I’m not entering this dungeon first because of greed," Isaac continued. "And I’m not doing it to prove anything.
"I’m doing it because every one of you will have to fight here eventually.
"Mapping the dungeon means fewer of you die when the time comes.
"I’d rather take that risk myself than send unprepared people in blind."
He chuckled and added, "Of course, this privilege only exists until I buff you all and make you a lot stronger. After that, I won’t be coming to protect you like this."
Silence fell after that.
Then, slowly, one of the awakeners put their fist on their chest with force. It was a salute.
Another followed.
Within moments, the camp erupted with shouts.
"Thank you, Lord Isaac!"
"Thank you for your generosity!"
Isaac didn’t bask in it.
He simply nodded once and waited for the noise to settle.
"Good," he said. "Now, who among you fits what I asked for? I need someone who can read monster movements and identify weaknesses."
Warn straightened again. "I’ll volunteer. Warn Sharphen, Level 35, Scout Class."
A woman with short brown hair stepped up next.
Her armor was practical, marked by faint shield sigils.
"Beatrice Davies, Level 32, Bulwark Class. I specialize in defensive formations and monster-type analysis."
More awakeners followed after her, stepping forward one by one to introduce themselves.
Each had their own class, specialties, and experiences, though most of them looked uncertain about what Isaac was planning.
Isaac listened for a while before raising his hand.
The murmurs quieted immediately.
"I only need three. Who are the best three among you?"
The awakeners exchanged looks.
No one wanted to step on anyone else’s toes, not in front of their new Lord.
A few looked like they wanted to argue their worth but hesitated, unsure if it would come off as arrogance.
Isaac noticed their discomfort and added, "You don’t need to compete for this. Everyone here today will receive enough EXP potions to reach the maximum level for their rank. You’ll all be needed later."
The tension that had started to build melted away instantly.
People glanced around, whispering to each other in disbelief.
One by one, they began stepping back, their expressions shifting from pride to relief.
In the end, only Warn and Beatrice remained standing.
Isaac looked at them.
"I need three awakeners. Is there no third one among you?"
At those words, everyone turned almost in unison toward a woman standing near the back of the group.
She was trying very hard to pretend she hadn’t noticed the sudden attention.
Her blonde hair was tied in a side ponytail, and she had a pair of round, blue eyes that darted away the moment Isaac’s gaze found her.
She was small compared to the others, but her gear was well-maintained. It was clean, orderly, and clearly expensive.
Warn sighed softly.
"That’s Isla Taylor," he said, nodding toward her. "Former vice leader of the former top guild, Radiant Dawn. She’s one of the best when it comes to dungeon mapping, analyzing monster behavior, and spotting weaknesses. Honestly, she’s a genius. It’s just that..."
"She’s a coward," Beatrice said bluntly, finishing his words for him.
Warn shot her a look, but she didn’t back down.
Isaac’s eyes stayed on Isla.
"If she was the vice leader of a top guild," he said, turning back to Warn, "shouldn’t she be Champion rank? She wouldn’t be allowed to enter the dungeon if that’s the case."
Warn shook his head. "She’s Level 39, still Master rank. Like I said, she’s a genius when it comes to understanding dungeons. That ability of hers let her climb ranks faster than most."
Beatrice crossed her arms. "I used to be in Radiant Dawn too, my lord. So I’ll be honest with you. Isla only works when she’s pressured. Otherwise, she finds excuses to avoid everything. If you want her to be useful, you’ll have to force her to act."
Isaac nodded thoughtfully.
He didn’t seem offended by Beatrice’s straightforward tone.
Then he started walking toward the back of the group.
The crowd parted automatically, revealing Isla.
She kept her head low, clearly hoping that if she looked harmless enough, he might decide she wasn’t worth taking.
"Isla Taylor," Isaac called out.
Her shoulders tensed.
He stopped a few steps away from her.
With no other choice, she looked up.
Their eyes met for the first time, and for a split second, her mind went completely blank.
"Ah—"
The sound slipped out before she could stop it.
Her heart jumped, and she blinked rapidly, her thoughts spinning.
’He’s so... dreamy.’
’Is he really our Lord?’
’He looks way better in person.’
’Maybe he used to be a model or something.’
’Does he have a girlfriend?’
Her cheeks flushed red before she even realized it.
She tried to compose herself, but Isaac’s expression was calm, which somehow made it worse.
"—Isla, can you hear me?"
"...!" She blinked, realizing she had zoned out completely. "Y-Yes! I can hear you, Lord. Sorry, I spaced out for a second."
"It’s fine," Isaac said mildly. Then he added, "I want you to come with me into the dungeon. I won’t force you, but if you agree, you’ll receive proper compensation—"
"Okay."
Isaac blinked. "Huh?"
"I’ll follow you, Lord!" Isla said quickly, straightening up like a soldier about to salute.
Warn’s brows shot up.
Beatrice’s mouth opened slightly in disbelief.
Isaac raised an eyebrow. "Even without hearing the additional compensation?"
"I don’t need additional compensation," Isla said, shaking her head a little too fast. "It wouldn’t be fair to the others. It’s just..."
She hesitated for a moment, her voice dropping.
"You’ll protect me if anything goes wrong, right? Lord?"
The area went completely silent for a beat.
Several awakeners exchanged glances, some confused, some just staring blankly.
That was the same Isla Taylor who used to refuse dungeon runs for fear of being ambushed. The same woman who once hid behind an entire squad during an open-world raid.
Warn’s jaw tightened.
"She agreed... that easily?" he muttered under his breath.
Beatrice just sighed. "Unbelievable."
A few others started whispering.
Some were smiling; others looked like they were trying not to laugh.
The air around them shifted from tension to something closer to mild amusement.