The Underground Guild didn’t look anything like I expected.

  There were no skull banners marking the entrance. No weird cult chanting in dark corners.Nothing that looked weirdly evilish.

  Instead, it just looked…normal.

  Crowded tunnels opened into massive underground chambers, lit by hanging lanterns and glowing crystals embedded into the walls. People were moving everywhere. Arguing, laughing, trading, sharpening weapons. Some did look human while others clearly weren’t.

  And yet somehow, it mirrored the surface guild almost perfectly.

  I stood there, amazed at the sight.

  “Welcome,” one of the figures said, turning toward me. “The Underground Guild.”

  I glanced around again. No one stared at me. No gasps nor sudden tension. Monsters and humans stood shoulder to shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world.

  “So,” I muttered, “either this is a hidden civilization… or I hit my head really hard on the way down.”

  Rok didn’t answer. He was scanning the chamber, eyes wide, like he was searching for something important.

  “Are you okay, Rok?”

  “Yes,” he said slowly. “I’m just—“

  He froze.

  Completely still.

  Like he finally found what he’s looking for.

  I followed his gaze.

  A massive sign, glowing and impossible to miss.

  FOOD COURT.

  For a single, beautiful moment, the world went quiet.

  Before I could react, Rok just vanished.

  One second beside me.

  The next, gone.

  I watched him sprint straight into the crowd, already shoving food into his face with reckless enthusiasm.

  “…Okay,” I muttered. “ Rok really likes food. Good to know.”

  One of the figures beside me chuckled softly.

  “He looked hungry.”

  “Judging by his size,” I said, “I figured he should be.”

  They gestured for me to follow. “Let him eat. He’ll need it.”

  “Oh?” I glanced at them. “Why’s that?”

  “Every new member has to prove themselves,” they said calmly. “We’ve had people abuse our resources before. Take more than they give. ”

  They stopped and turned to face me.

  “Unlike the surface guilds, we can’t afford losses.”

  Another figure added, “That’s why every new member that wants to stay completes beginner missions.”

  “That’s why our policy is strict. Fail too many times, and you’re out.”

  “How many?” I asked.

  “Three,” the first replied. “Three attempts, three strikes and you're out.”

  They gestured toward the surrounding stalls. “There are other ways to stay. Open a business here, and you’re protected. Contribution matters a lot in this world.

  “That’s actually…” I paused. “ Kind of fair.”

  They nodded.

  Then one of them stopped. “Issac. Varga. You two can go. I’ll show him around.”

  The other two nodded and left.

  The third figure gestured to me to follow him.

  I followed him deeper into the guild, past notice boards and mission counters, until we stopped at a desk where a pink-haired girl was currently yelling at someone.

  “I said you can’t file a monster report after you ate the evidence!”

  “…is now a bad time?” I whispered.

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  “No,” the figure said. “That’s just Sylvia.”

  “Hey, Sylvia," he called.

  She turned mid-sigh, then stopped when she saw me. Her expression softened, not exaggerated. Just curious.

  “This is a new arrival,” the figure said, resting a hand briefly on my shoulder. “Dropped in through one of our traps by accident.”

  I blinked. “Ay whatcha mean by trap—?”

  “That stupid trap,” Sylvia muttered, grabbing a glowing crystal ball. “That’s the fifth time this month.”

  “Sixth,” the figure corrected her.

  She sighed. “Figures. Put your hand on the crystal.”

  As I put my hand on it as it glowed beneath my palm.

  “Name?” She asked.

  “Elias Kane.”

  “Party members?

  “…Two. Or three, if you count a frog.”

  She stared at me for a second. Then kept typing.

  “Party name?”

  My mind emptied.

  Not blank, just gone.

  “N-name?” I stuttered. “Like… a name-name?”

  She nodded at me.

  I didn’t know if it was those eyes of hers or it’s the fact I have to think this outta top of my head, but panic crept in.

  I felt it, all the eyes on me as I scrambled through every idea I’d ever heard. Cool names. Strong names. Dramatic names.

  Ideas flashed and died instantly.

  My mouth moved before my brain caught up.

  “Young boys,” I blurted.

  Silence.

  A pure, absolute crushing silence.

  “…The name of our party is Young boys,” I added quickly.

  Slyvia stared at the screen. Then at me.

  Then typed.

  A screen appeared along with other parties in the rankings.

  Rank. 465: The Falcons

  Rank. 466: The Titans

  Rank. 467: Young Boys

  “Tell your other members they are needed to finalize the registration—”

  “Wait” I said as Slyvia looked at me.

  “That’s changeable, right?”

  Sylviya shook her head. “Unfortunately no, it’s finalized.”

  My soul suddenly left my body.

  “I’ll get your friends,” the hooded figure interrupted, already turning away. "continue as you were.”

  I stood there, staring straight ahead, screaming internally at every life decision that led me to this moment.

  Sylvia cleared her throat. “So,” she said politely, “let’s continue.”

  “…Okay,” I muttered, suddenly very interested in the floor.

  “We’ll start you off with easy choices.” She said as she turned the screen to face me. “Here are some of the options you have.”

  I stared intently at the options I had.

  1. Lost courier: last seen at wild bongs forest; likely injured or hiding ( minimal threat).

  2. Missing supply crate: no details (classified)

  3. Monster sighting: harmless, need confirmation of its location (unknown threat)

  I immediately crossed out option two in my head.

  None of these inspired confidence I was looking for.

  “The monster,” I said. “ Any more information?”

  Sylvia shrugged. “Probably nothing. But it could also be something.”

  “…Okay… maybe not that.”

  That left one choice.

  I glanced back at the first and only option. Lost courier. Minimal threat.

  That one at least sounded easy. Just find the courier and bring him back.

  “I’ll take the courier,” I said.

  Sylvia nodded and tapped the screen. “Wise choice.”

  Great.

  Then at the perfect time Rok was already coming back with the clothed figure.

  “Hey bro,” he said proudly, mouth already full. “I memorized the way back.”

  “…of course you did.”

  “I also got you some food.” he handed out a handful of half-eaten bones.

  “Thanks…” I said. Grabbing the food.

  “You're welcome.” He said proudly. “Did you register?”

  I nodded. “You just need to finalize your info.”

  Rok nodded before going towards Slyvia.

  Before I could say more, the hooded figure stopped me and removed his hood.

  A young man. Blue eyes. And a calm expression.

  “Before you join us, Elias,” he said, “you need to understand the rules.”

  I nodded.

  He raised one finger.

  “One: take responsibility. Every death, every mistake that happens because of you—belongs to you.”

  A second finger followed.

  “Two: never endanger the underground.”

  His voice lowered as the third finger rose.

  “And three: never expect to be saved.”

  He leaned closer

  “Whether facing certain death or not, don't expect anyone to save you if you fall behind.” He firmly. “Some people appear saints but won’t hesitate to throw you under the bus if things go wrong.”

  He dropped his hand on my shoulder leaning in closer, whispering.

  “Break any of those rules,” he said calmly, “and you won’t get a second chance.”

  His hand slipped off my shoulder as he straightened himself.

  No threats. No raised voice, just a calm voice.

  I nodded slowly. “Got it.”

  He studied me for a moment longer, blue eyes unreadable, as if weighing something he wasn’t going to share. Then he stepped back, turning towards the ranking board.

  “Most people think the third rule is cruel,” he said over his shoulder. “If it was, it wouldn't be added in.

  He paused.

  “It’s honest.”

  The words stuck.

  I glanced instinctively toward the register table, where Rok was still talking with Sylvia, babbling whatever he had on his mind. Completely at ease.

  He looked…solid. Reliable. Trustworthy.

  And yet—

  Some people appear as saints…

  I clenched my fingers slightly.

  It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Rok.

  I did.

  But trust? I was learning that it doesn't mean safety.

  Not here. Not in this world or my world.

  “Come on,” the man said, snapping me out of it. “Let’s go check on your buddy.”

  I followed, but the warmth from earlier, the one I’d felt while fighting was…just gone.

  In its place sat something colder.

  A thought I didn’t want, but couldn’t get rid of.

  I’ve only known him for a few days… if things go wrong…

  I glanced at my hammer.

  Then, without meaning to, a distance between me and Rok was formed.

  And for the first time since we met… I wondered how fast I’d be left behind.

  Rok walked up beside me.

  “Alright, bro. Let’s go,” he said, excitement clear in his voice.

  I only nodded and we left soon after.

  He walked beside me, club resting over his shoulder.

  Rok stayed a few steps, broad back steady, unbothered, the kind of pace that didn’t slow down just because someone struggled to keep up.

  “Easy job,” he said casually. “ In and out. Maybe some food after.”

  I told myself it was nothing, this was how he always walked.

  Still, my grip on the hammer tightened.

  The tunnel narrowed as I followed the map Sylvia gave me, Lantern lights thinned, and the noise of the guild faded, voices, laughter, the clatter of weapons faded until only our footsteps and my thoughts remained.

  Don’t expect to be saved.

  The words crept back in. Unwelcomed.

  I lagged half a step back.

  Then another.

  Rok didn’t notice. Or maybe he did—chose not to care.

  “If something jumps us,” he added without looking back, “try not to scream first.

  he snapped his fingers and winked.

  My chest tightened.

  “Just a few more feet,” I said quietly, “ then a left turn. We should be heading outside.”

  Rok nodded.

  As we arrived through the tunnel’s exit the light bright blinded us for a split moment.

  We continued until we reached the courier’s last known location.

  “This is the route he was last seen on,” I said, stopping. “Stay alert.”

  Rok nodded, though I could tell his eyes were already scanning the forest.

  Broken crates littered the ground. Splintered wood half-buried in the dirt.

  “Looks like he made it this far,” I muttered.

  Rok crouched, examining the ground.

  “Footsteps,” Rok said. “Must be close.”

  He followed them, a few steps…then stopped.

  They ended.

  Not faded or scattered.

  Just gone.

  “Dead end,” I said.

  Rok frowned, scratching the back of his head, groaning. “That’s annoying.”

  He stepped past me, boots crunching softly against broken stuff, eyes scanning the trees like this was nothing more than a delayed delivery.

  “Courier probably hid,” he said. “Can’t blame him. Forests like this give me the creeps.”

  “Rok,” I said slowly, “footprints don’t just stop.”

  He paused.

  “…yeah,” he admitted. “They don’t. That means he moved on his own.”

  Or maybe…he didn’t.

  A twig snapped somewhere to our right.

  Rok turned instantly, club sliding off his shoulder.

  “There,” he said.

  He was right. A blur of movement caught my eye.

  “You there!” I called. “Come out, we were sent for you.”

  A man peeked out from behind a tree, visibly shaken.

  I stared intently, “descriptions match,” I whispered.

  “A-are you here for m-me?” He asked.

  We nodded.

  “D-did you defeat it?”

  “…Defeat what?”

  Realization struck him hard.

  His eyes widened.

  He took a step back.

  Then another.

  “N-no,” he whispered. “N-no, it was right around here.”

  Before I could respond, the air changed.

  Not colder. Not heavier. But just…wrong.

  A pressure built up, not on my body, but on my awareness. Like being watched by something

  “Impossible,” I thought. “There wasn’t supposed to be anything here.”

  The courier’s breathing turned shallow.

  Leaves shifted somewhere, like something was slowly creeping…closer.

  “Rok,” I whispered.

  He didn’t answer.

  Something moved.

  A bluer tore through the clearing, fast that my mind struggled to catch up before my instincts screamed at me to move.

  I stepped back.

  I looked everywhere as to where this creature was.

  But I failed to notice that my foot caught on a broken wood.

  I hit the ground as air was knocked from my lungs.

  And when I looked up—I saw it.

  The same creature that hunted us before. Stare deeply into my soul.

  The Shadow Stalker.

  It slammed down where I’d been standing moments ago, claws gouging deep into the ground, its body was lean, twisted and stretched unnaturally thin. Like something pulled it apart and put it back together wrong.

  Its eyes burned with hunger.

  But this time…

  It was looking straight at me.