THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

David's heart pounded in his chest as the monster's crimson eyes locked onto his, paralyzing him. It wasn't just fear—it was as though the monster's gaze reached into his very soul, shackling his body. He tried to move, but his limbs refused to obey. His mind screamed, demanding he act, yet nothing happened.

Why can't I move?

David wondered, panic swelling inside him.

In a flash of motion too fast for his eyes to follow, the monster lunged. Its vine-like, skeletal hands lashed out, punching David squarely in the gut. The impact sent him rocketing backward, his body flying through the air like a ragdoll. He was bracing for a bone-shattering crash when Luna appeared, dashing at breakneck speed to intercept his fall, cushioning him from the worst of it.

David spat out a mouthful of blood, pain radiating through his entire body. "This is bad..." he muttered to himself, struggling to stand. His body screamed in protest, and his senses were on edge. He didn't need to test his strength against the creature to know it was beyond him. The raw power that had just sent him flying with a single punch was evidence enough. And worse, this monster wasn't just stronger—it was something else entirely, something he hadn't encountered before.

He cursed the system. Of all the quests he'd been given, why this one? "A

hard

quest, my ass," he growled, clutching his abdomen. The monster shrieked again, its glowing crimson eyes sweeping across the battlefield. Everyone still alive in the camp fell to their knees, writhing in terror. Screams filled the air as the demon's influence sank into their minds. Fear was suffocating them, making them easy prey.

David felt the pressure in his own mind, the edges of his sanity fraying, but he clenched his teeth, refusing to succumb. With effort, he activated his skill, [Celestial Wheel]. A notification blinked in his mind:

Senses heightened. Fear-based debuff nullified by 50%.

It wasn't much, but it was enough.

" Explore uncharted tales at m-vlem|p-yr

Good enough

," David muttered, wiping blood from his mouth as he pushed himself to his feet.

Luna knelt beside him, eyes wide with concern. "David, you can't fight that thing. You're too weak. I should fight it!"

David shook his head, adrenaline fueling his determination. "That's why I need you to get the others out of here. Use your skill to teleport them. I'll distract it."

Luna hesitated, her brow furrowing in disbelief. "Distract it? You won't last two seconds against that monster!"

"That's why you need to hurry," David shot back, already gripping his daggers tightly. He could feel the weight of what he was asking her to do, but there was no time for hesitation. Without another word, he activated [Wolf's Grace], his body disappearing into the shadows as he launched himself at the demon.

The monster, preoccupied with terrorizing the camp, barely had time to react before David closed the distance. He moved with speed and precision, striking at the monster's exposed joints, seeking to weaken it. The battle was ferocious. The monster retaliated with vicious swipes of its clawed hands, the air howling with each strike. David barely dodged, rolling beneath its towering form and slicing at its tendrils, trying to sever the grasping limbs.

Meanwhile, Luna gathered herself, her eyes glowing as she activated her teleportation skill. A massive magic circle formed beneath her, spreading across the ground for hundreds of meters. The ground shimmered as a wave of mana enveloped the area, preparing to transport the remaining candidates to safety.

Sensing the massive flux of mana behind it, the monster shrieked in rage. It pounded the earth with both hands, causing an explosion of debris that caught David off guard, launching him high into the air. Luna's spell activated at the same moment, whisking most of the candidates away—but not all. A few had been left behind, most notably Ashley and an unconscious commoner girl clutching a great sword.

David's eyes widened as he hurtled through the air, debris and stone raining around him. "

Damn it,

" he cursed. Luna's spell had been interrupted; not everyone had been taken. He had to act quickly before the monster finished them off.

As he plummeted toward the ground, David unsummoned his daggers, his mind racing.

I can't beat this thing in a straight fight,

he thought.

But I can hide.

With a surge of focus, he willed his shadow to extend and wrap around his arm. He slammed his hand down as soon as he hit the ground, creating a thick cloud of dust and shadowy smoke.

The demon screeched, its tendrils flailing as it tried to clear the cloud. Its glowing red eyes flickered in frustration, but when the dust finally settled, it found that David, Ashley, and the commoner girl had disappeared. The demon roared in fury, shaking the trees and cracking the ground beneath it as it stomped and searched for its lost prey.

But David was already gone, running through the forest with the two unconscious girls in tow. His body was covered in cuts and scrapes from the earlier fight, his breaths ragged. He knew he couldn't keep this up for long, but he had to get them to safety.

He glanced down at Ashley, her head lolling against his chest as he carried her over his shoulder, and then at the commoner girl, slumped in his other arm, her great sword dragging behind them.

"This just keeps getting better..." David muttered sarcastically, his eyes scanning the forest for a place to hide. His legs burned from exertion, and his mind was still foggy from the remnants of the monster's mind manipulation.

Behind him, the monster's enraged shrieks echoed through the woods, shaking the trees and sending flocks of bird monsters scattering into the sky. David knew it wouldn't be long before the creature found them again.

He cursed under his breath.

Of course, it had to be me,

he thought bitterly, his mind wandering to the system once again. Why did it always throw him into the worst possible situations? Why now, with an overpowered monster breathing down his neck?

As he dashed through the forest, desperately searching for a place to hide, he knew one thing for sure: this fight was far from over.

And his luck wasn't getting any better.

****

Outside the dungeon, the evening sky had begun to shift into hues of purple and orange, casting long shadows across the landscape. Mage Ray stood guard near the colossal tree that housed the dungeon's gate, its ancient bark gnarled and twisted as if shaped by the very hands of time itself. This massive, enchanted tree had stood for centuries, its roots deep in the soil of the De Gor estate, guarding the powerful, swirling portal nestled within its hollowed trunk.

Normally, the portal shimmered a serene blue, its glow a comforting reminder of the protective magic that kept the dungeon sealed and under control. Only those of De Gor blood had the right to pass through its swirling depths. Ray had been charged with watching over this ancient passage, ensuring that no one unauthorized ever breached its magic.

But tonight, something felt wrong.

Ray's eyes caught a faint flicker within the portal. At first, it was just a slight shift in color—a tremble in the familiar blue hue. He frowned, stepping closer to the enormous hollow. His hands brushed against the tree's rough bark as he peered deeper into the portal's core. His heart skipped a beat when the blue glow began to fade, replaced by a deep, menacing crimson. The swirling energy grew erratic, pulsing in chaotic rhythms, as if the portal itself were under attack.

"What in the world..." Ray muttered, taking a step back, his heart pounding in his chest.

The glow intensified, casting eerie red shadows across the ground. The once tranquil air around the gate was now thick with tension, crackling with an unfamiliar, dark energy. The change was unnatural—something had disturbed the balance of the dungeon, and Ray could feel it in his bones.

Panic seized him. *This isn't right... no one but a De Gor should be able to enter!*

His mind raced through possibilities, but nothing made sense. The portal's gate had sealed itself off—something, or someone, had forced its way into the dungeon, and the very magic of the tree reacted violently to this violation.

Ray's breath quickened as he grasped the full extent of what had happened. Someone who didn't bear the De Gor blood had entered, bypassing all the safeguards. Worse still, the gate was now closed—cutting off any hope of access.

Fear gripped him, but Ray forced himself to stay calm. He couldn't afford to lose his composure. The Earl had to be informed, and quickly. The other mages needed to know that the portal had been compromised. His fingers twitched, aching to cast a spell, but first, he had to think.

Stepping back from the gate, Ray took a deep breath, then extended his hands. His fingers danced in the air, drawing intricate sigils as he summoned his magic. With a low incantation, the air shimmered before him. "By the spirits of the wind, hear my call," he chanted, his voice trembling slightly as he infused the spell with urgency.

The shimmering light coalesced into the shape of a small bird, its form delicate yet ethereal. The spirit bird blinked once, awaiting his command.

Ray wasted no time. He whispered the message—detailing the change in the dungeon gate and the terrifying realization that someone had forced their way in. The bird chirped in response, its eyes glowing with understanding. It flapped its wings, glowing brighter for a moment before darting into the sky, heading toward the estate.

Ray watched the spirit bird disappear beyond the tree line, hoping that it would reach the Earl in time. But deep in his heart, he felt a gnawing sense of dread. If whoever had breached the portal was as dangerous as he feared, time might already be slipping away.

Gazing up at the crimson-tinged portal once more, Ray muttered under his breath, "I hope... I'm not too late."

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