The monster erupted from the water.
Kaien barely had time to react.
"Move!"
The instructors shouted at the same time.
Everyone scattered.
A massive claw crashed into the stone where Kaien had been standing.
BOOM!
The impact sent chunks of rock flying.
Kaien rolled across the ground and immediately got back onto his feet.
His ears rang.
"Okay..."
He looked up.
The monster was enormous.
Its body was covered in thick scales, with four powerful legs supporting its weight. Water poured from its back as it dragged itself out of the underground lake.
It wasn't intelligent.
It wasn't staring at Kaien.
It wasn't interested in him specifically.
It was simply angry.
And hungry.
Kaien raised his pistol.
"That's definitely not C-Rank."
The instructor shouted.
"Everyone retreat! Now!"
The students began running.
Ren stopped.
"But the others—"
"We can't fight that thing!"
Ren hesitated.
Kaien grabbed his shoulder.
"Ren."
Ren looked at him.
"We need to move."
"But—"
"The instructors are handling it."
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Another roar shook the chamber.
Ren clenched his teeth.
Then nodded.
"Right."
They ran.
The monster slammed its tail against the ground.
The shockwave knocked several students off their feet.
Kaien stumbled.
Mira fell beside him.
"Kaien!"
"I'm fine."
He grabbed her arm and pulled her up.
Then—
Crack.
Kaien looked down.
The stone beneath Mira's foot was breaking.
"Mira!"
The floor collapsed.
She dropped.
Kaien lunged forward.
His hand caught her wrist.
For a second, he hung over the edge with her.
Mira looked up.
"Kaien..."
"Don't move."
"I'm not planning to!"
The stone continued cracking.
Kaien's muscles strained.
Mana surged through his arms.
Blue energy crawled across his skin.
He pulled.
Mira climbed onto solid ground.
Kaien followed.
The two collapsed beside each other.
Mira caught her breath.
"Thanks."
Kaien nodded.
"Anytime."
Then—
BOOM!
The monster struck the cavern wall.
The entire dungeon shook.
Kaien looked toward the exit.
"We need to go."
The instructors were buying them time.
One launched a massive spear of fire.
Another created a barrier.
The monster smashed through both.
Kaien stared.
"They're struggling."
Reina looked toward the instructors.
"We have to keep moving."
Kaien nodded.
They ran.
One hallway.
Another.
Then another.
The dungeon seemed endless.
Kaien's system appeared.
[Special Milestone Quest: Active]
[Current Level: 24]
[Milestone Target: Level 25]
Kaien's eyes widened.
"One more."
He had been killing monsters for months.
Every point had been earned slowly.
Every level had taken longer than the last.
And now he was one level away from his first major milestone.
But there was no time to celebrate.
The dungeon was collapsing around them.
A massive explosion echoed behind them.
The students stopped.
Kaien turned.
The instructors had finally forced the monster back toward the lake.
But the cavern was collapsing.
"RUN!"
Everyone sprinted.
The walls cracked.
The ceiling began falling apart.
Kaien fired at a chunk of stone blocking their path.
BOOM!
The rock shattered.
"Go!"
Everyone passed.
Kaien followed.
The tunnel collapsed behind him.
They burst out of the dungeon entrance.
Students fell onto the grass outside.
Kaien dropped onto his back.
He stared at the sky.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then—
[Monster Defeated]
[+1 Weapon Point]
Kaien blinked.
The system appeared.
[Level Up]
[Level: 25]
He slowly sat up.
Then another notification appeared.
[Milestone Reached]
[Special Milestone Quest Available]
Kaien's expression changed.
"So this is it."
The system displayed the quest.
[Milestone Quest]
[Objective: ???]
Kaien stared.
"Seriously?"
The objective remained hidden.
Then the system added another line.
[Milestone quests are unique.]
[Completion requirements may be related to combat, personal growth, relationships, or circumstances.]
Kaien frowned.
"Relationships?"
A final line appeared.
[Quest will be revealed when the system determines the appropriate time.]
Kaien stared at it.
"...You're kidding."
No answer.
The window disappeared.
Kaien rubbed his face.
"So I grind my way to Level 25 and the system gives me a mystery quest?"
Mira walked over.
"You look annoyed."
"I am."
"Why?"
Kaien looked at her.
"System problems."
Mira stared.
"...What system?"
Kaien froze.
He quickly smiled.
"School system."
She narrowed her eyes.
"That doesn't make sense."
"Neither does school."
Mira stared at him.
Kaien stared back.
She eventually sighed.
"You're weird."
"Been told."
Kaien looked toward the dungeon.
Level 25.
His first milestone.
And somewhere ahead was a quest that could be anything.
Maybe a battle.
Maybe a challenge.
Maybe something completely ridiculous.
He really hoped it wasn't the last one.
Because knowing his luck...
The system probably had something stupid planned.