The meeting began as Nagasawa entered the room where the students were gathering. There were around one hundred and twenty first-year students, divided into four classes. However, Nagasawa couldn't help but think that this was a mistake. Gathering so many students for dungeon exploration was like pointing a knife at their throats.
Many students didn't have the mental state to enter dungeons, especially non-combatants, who would have to be relocated in a way that didn't pose life risks.
"Come on, kids, we have a lot to do," said a teacher Dante didn't know, as everyone gathered into groups that the teachers designated based on their ranks.
"We've already divided you into specific groups. I want you to understand that we've combined not only your ranks but also your specialties. This applies only to students below rank 10," Nagasawa said, looking at the "elite" students in the first year.
"The dungeon has ten floors. We don't know who created it, but we've already explored up to the ninth. However, there are multiple entrances like an anthill. I want the rank ten students to descend through the already explored path and reach the last floor, while the others will take the secondary paths and map the area," she proclaimed as she sighed lightly.
"I know it's asking a lot, but be careful, okay? I don't know what the director is thinking, but I need you not to disappoint his choice, or things will get bad for everyone... that old man is kind of crazy." She sighed again and clapped her hands.
"Let's go!" She ordered, and the teacher opened a portal.
"I think she's as frustrated as we are," Dante commented, seeing Sara's expression, which didn't look well at all when she saw Elizabeth in her group.
"My God, she must be punishing me for going Berserk with my virtue," Sara murmured, letting only Dante hear her complaints.
"Relax, nothing will happen," he said, stroking her sky-blue hair.
"Enough talk!" Nagasawa interrupted. "Move, together with your teams. Remember to protect yourselves with mana all the time, don't let your guard down."
The students separated slightly into their groups, as did the two teachers. While Professor Mogh descended with the students who would explore, Nagasawa was with Dante's group, which was going to enter the dungeon's last floor.
"It's cold," Clovis said as he looked ahead, the air growing increasingly chilly.
"It's the effect of these crystals," Ethan, who accompanied the group, said. Everyone looked up and saw crystals slightly hidden, resembling small shards of ice against the cavern's black color.
"It really does look like an anthill," Alexander commented as he looked around the holes.
"Protect yourselves with mana," Seraphina warned, and they began to imbue mana into their bodies to ward off the cold.
'Even without mana, I'm not feeling cold,' Dante thought as he observed the ice formations over the cave.
'Are you cold?' He asked Sara, and she shook her head, saying 'The blessing strengthens my resistance.' 'I see, that's why I don't feel cold either.' She nodded in agreement.
They entered a chamber filled with ice crystals, a mythical and eerie appearance at the same time. Sara couldn't help but comment. "It's beautiful."
"And dangerous," Nagasawa said as she threw a small stone at the cave's ceiling, causing several sharp ice spikes to fall.
"It looks like we'll have to be extra careful," she commented as she moved forward.
"Scary," Alexander said. "She's scary," Elowyn commented.
"This dungeon has no name, but the monsters found here are usually ants, spiders, and wolves, but so far we haven't seen anything," Nagasawa murmured as she crouched down and saw a cut spider web.
"Someone has been here. Stay alert and don't let your guard down under any circumstances, something is wrong," Nagasawa said, as she looked at the paw prints deeply embedded, small holes in the ground that clearly indicated a trail.
They continued descending, but no monsters were sighted. On the contrary, it was as if they had never existed. Magical communication was also no longer functioning.
"I can't make contact with Professor Mogh," Nagasawa said. She could retreat, but she knew she had come too far and going back would be a waste of time. She was aware that they could defend themselves if something happened, but she didn't want to abandon her protective side.
"Do you want to go back?" She asked, but no one wanted to retreat. "Why go back? We can just crush anything that happens," Alexander commented with a smirk.
"Stop acting like you're all that, princess," Clovis said to Alexander, who became slightly enraged and moved toward him. "What did you say, jerk?" He asked as he grabbed Clovis by the collar of his shirt, almost lifting him up.
Before he could do anything, a hand came to his shoulder. "Are you looking to continue our fight?" Dante said with a smile that made Alexander tremble slightly.
"You son of a..." Alexander tried to say something, but another hand stopped him. "Forget it," Forki said, and Alexander felt a bitter taste as he backed off.
'Since when are you two close?' Dante questioned as he watched their reactions. 'Screw it.' Dante's hand began to heat up, and his fire started to emerge slightly, but it stopped abruptly when he felt something.
"Stop." The voice echoed throughout the area. "I won't ask you to be accountable for your pointless fight. However, if you continue this behavior..."
"I will kill both of you," she said, directing her aura towards Dante and Alexander.
'I can't move,' Dante muttered as he tried to move his hands. 'Is this... a snake?' 'I've seen it before, but... it's different, Professor Nagasawa's aura.'
"Dante, step back," she said and looked at Alexander. "I won't be held responsible for what will happen to you when we leave this place." She said, locking eyes with him. "We are on an important mission, I can't let you two run wild. Sort it out outside."
Both began to suffocate as if a lethal poison had entered their lungs. They immediately fell and started convulsing.
"Anyone else want to fight?" She asked.