[10 days till the dungeon outbreak]

[Third person POV-general]

The smell of the ocean water was thick in the air as the large boat, filled with a group of people, cut through the ocean waves.

The boat was carrying Ben and his crew of twenty workers and thirty adventurers toward the desolate silhouette of an abandoned island on the horizon.

The creaking of the ship, the murmur of conversations, and the distant calls of seagulls were the only sounds that broke the rhythm of the ocean.

The adventurers, armed with swords and staves, chatted within themselves, their excitement palpable on their faces.

"How the hell does this dungeon never get discovered all this time",

Ben, a seasoned explorer and navigator within the dungeons, said out loud as a map clutched in his hands, observing it carefully. His crew members gathered around him on the deck.

They, equipped with tools and magic lanterns, exchanged glances as they listened to the words of their leader.

"Does it matter?", One of the adventurers scoffed at his question as he heard him: "We are getting a new place to explore and new riches to bring back home. Isn't it good that it didn't get discovered till now".

"Yeah," another adventure chimed in as he said.

"You do your job of illuminating the dungeon, and we do our job of protecting you guys. Stop thinking about the mystery of this place."

Ben didn't reply and just silently turned his gaze on the approaching island. What they said was right; their job was to place magic lamps and lanterns so there could be light in the dungeon, and he also didn't want to mess with those who were supposed to protect them, as he knew how petty a person can be.

As the island loomed closer, a sense of unease settled over the group like a heavy fog.

The atmosphere shifted from anticipation to a subtle discomfort, as if the island itself exhaled a breath of eerie feeling.

"Alright, everyone," Ben called out, his voice carrying over the sounds of the ship. "We're approaching the island. Prepare yourselves. Remember, we're here to make this place accessible for future adventurers."

The boat gradually slowed its pace, and Ben signaled for the crew to lower the arch. Workers rushed to secure the boat, tying ropes and ensuring a stable position along the rocky shore.

As soon as the arch touched the ground, the adventurers, led by a powerful figure named Elara, descended first, their boots crunching on the coarse sand.

Ben followed closely, guiding the group towards a concealed entrance—the portal to the unknown hidden dungeon that lay beneath the surface.

With their preparation done, they dove down into the open ocean as they moved lower, and there they found the place they were looking for.

With a collective breath, the adventurers and workers dove into the portal, passing through a mesmerizing vortex that transported them to a dark, subterranean place. The air shifted, and the temperature dropped as they emerged inside the dungeon.

Immediately, workers set to work, placing lanterns and magical lights to illuminate the cavernous space. The bridge echoed with the sounds of hammers and chisels, carving out a navigable path for future explorers.

The adventurers were not standing still as they started hunting the electric eels that were jumping out of the black water beneath the bridge.

Despite their focus on the task at hand, an undeniable sense of discomfort lingered among the group. The silence of the underground space seemed to amplify the eerie ambiance.

Ben surveyed the surroundings, his eyes narrowing as he observed the diligent workers and adventurers at work. He couldn't shake the feeling that the dungeon held secrets untold that could possibly be dangerous to the lives of his crew.

Elara approached Ben, her brow furrowed. "This place gives me the creeps, Ben. Something feels off."

Ben nodded in agreement. "Stay alert all the time. This place doesn't feel right; it feels like someone is constantly watching us. Let's get the job done and get away from here."

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[First-person POV: Eden]

The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the training grounds as I faced off against Elysia, both gripping a wooden spear in our hands.

Every evening, she would challenge me to a sparring match, and let me tell you, she doesn't hold back. She gives it her all, and I can sense her improvement with each clash of our spears.

"Come on, Neil! You can do it! Beat her up; knock a tooth or two if possible!"

Cheering from the sidelines was a pink-haired girl, Nadya. Despite her social anxiety due to childhood trauma and her ability to read emotions, she never failed to support me. She'd always be present in our spar matches, watching me give Elysia a good thrashing.

Her comments diverted Elysia's attention, allowing me to ingest a medication from the system store, temporarily reverting all of my stats to origin level 1.

My spear skills are crude because I only use them for killing, unlike Elysia, who has a bloodline that makes her the best fighter with spears, and I still need to improve my basics. And where could I find a better whetstone than the main heroine?

'She really hates her sister, doesn't she?' I pondered briefly before refocusing on the match. Elysia lunged forward, her spear aimed directly at my chest.

Swiftly, I sidestepped, feeling the movement of the wind as her weapon sliced through the air. In response, I parried her attack, our spears colliding with a resounding clash. The impact reverberated through my arms, but I held my ground.

We moved around each other, trading blows and dodging strikes. Elysia's movements were accurate and precise, with each step calculated and without any extra movement. I had to rely on my instincts and quick reflexes that I have developed after months of fighting monsters and Sylvia to keep up.

I swung my spear low at her legs, but she, with precise control over her body, stepped on the tip of the spear, bringing it to a halt.

She then perched her spear forward, aiming for my chest, which I sidestepped and caught between my ribs and the hand that was holding the spear.

Elysia, freeing one of her hands, threw a punch, and I countered by doing the same, our fists meeting in mid-air. The struggle was more intimate. Now, despite her petite body, she walks on the knight path; her muscles contain enough strength to overpower me.

I jerked my spear off, freeing it from her grasp, and she did the same. We both moved backward, creating some distance. Moving closer again, I executed a sweeping kick, aiming to knock Elysia off balance. She gracefully evaded, retaliating with a spin that brought her spear crashing down towards me. I rolled away just in time, feeling the rush of air as the weapon missed its mark.

As we circled each other once again, Elysia's eyes flickered with determination. She lunged forward, and I responded with a series of rapid strikes. Our spears moved and intervened in the middle, but slowly, she was on defense and I was on offense.

But then she made the mistake of bringing her foot forward, and I didn't miss the opportunity.

With a low kick on her leg, I made her lose balance as she fell on her back.

"You lost",

I placed the tip of the spear on her throat, looking into her eyes while taking deep breaths.

"Why can't I beat you", she mumbled, placing her hand over her eyes as she laid down on her back.

"Because you are weak", I replied as I sat down beside her. She then started stiffening, trying her best not to cry, but I don't regret what I said.

At most in a month, the dungeon outbreak will happen, and there she will be facing her first life-and-death battle, and she needs to prepare for that.

My priority will be the safety of Nadya, not hers.

Nadya will be in more danger, and I don't want to lose her after all the effort I spent gaining her trust.

We will be facing three enemies in the outbreak: the sea monster Karakin, the dark church, and the Noble faction.

But can't I just run away with them? No, this event is important for Elysia; she will awaken her bloodline here, and then there is Nadya. I have plans for her.

There are only two ways to awaken Nadya's bloodline: by giving her unconditional love and affection or by mind-breaking pleasure and lust.

One could imagine what would have happened in the game for her to become an antagonist. She was broken to the core by the dark church living behind a brainwashed, crazy girl who didn't hesitate to kill her own mother just to see despair in Elysia's eyes.

Yeah, their mother is alive. Anyway, I will be using the former to awaken her bloodline, and I will be using the outbreak as a catalyst for that. It will take time, but I would rather wait than have a crazy girl who will try to kill every girl I talk to.

I have enough yandere on my to-do list; I don't want one more.

I shifted my gaze to Nadya, who was smiling happily while looking at Elysia's teary face.

'she won't turn into a yandere, right?'.