When I opened my eyes, everything was dark.
The only source of light came from glowing stones embedded in the ceiling, bathing the cavern in a pale, ghostly glow.
A short distance away stood a circular stone platform surrounded by eight weathered pillars.
It looked like the ruins of an ancient structure.
Time had worn away its carvings, and cracks spread across every surface.
There was nothing else.
"Hahaha..."
A wounded man suddenly laughed.
"I thought we'd die as monster food... Turns out we're just going to starve instead."
His laughter echoed through the empty chamber before fading into silence.
No one argued.
Everyone slowly gathered together.
Perhaps this was our last day alive.
The wounded man raised one hand.
A faint white light spread across the floor beneath him.
A small wooden crate appeared.
"My name is Brock," he said with a weak smile. "I managed to steal this while they were transporting us."
"We're all going to die anyway."
"So let's at least eat one last meal."
He opened the crate.
Inside were several pieces of bread.
One by one, he handed everyone a piece.
Some quietly thanked him.
Others broke down in tears as they ate.
When Brock reached me, I accepted the bread.
Instead of eating it, I broke it in half and slipped one piece into my pocket.
I still clutched the knife I had stolen from the guard, hiding it beneath my torn clothes.
After we finished eating, there was nothing left to do.
The older prisoners began sharing stories from their lives.
Most had spent decades in the mines.
Wake up.
Swing the pickaxe.
Carry the ore.
Sleep.
Then repeat the same life until death.
There were no grand adventures.
No dreams.
Only endless labor.
As we wandered around the chamber, Brock spoke again.
"I once heard that when someone dies inside a dungeon, the dungeon absorbs their body."
"It leaves behind only their belongings."
I frowned.
"If that's true..."
"Then where is everything?"
"There aren't any clothes."
"No bones."
"Nothing."
Everyone fell silent.
We exchanged uneasy glances.
We were all thinking the same thing.
Then—
A blinding white light erupted from the circular platform.
Ancient symbols lit up beneath our feet.
The pillars began glowing one after another.
"What—"
Before anyone could react, the world disappeared.
...
When I opened my eyes again, I was standing alone.
A narrow stone tunnel stretched before me.
Behind me was a solid wall.
There was no way back.
"So it was a portal..."
Brock's voice echoed somewhere nearby.
"We're really inside the dungeon now."
Panic spread through the tunnels.
Some cried.
Some screamed for their families.
Others collapsed onto their knees, unable to accept reality.
Then...
"Grrkk... Grrkk... Grrrkk..."
A strange clicking echoed through the darkness.
Something crawled toward us.
A creature resembling a giant rat emerged from the shadows.
It had six legs.
Milky white eyes that couldn't see.
Long claws scraped against the stone floor.
Its front teeth were as long as daggers.
Behind it came another.
Then another.
"Mine Moles..."
someone whispered.
These were the monsters whose rune crystals miners harvested.
They weren't the harmless burrowing creatures I had imagined.
Each one was the size of a large dog.
Thin.
Fast.
Hungry.
Five of them charged at us.
No one moved.
Fear rooted us to the spot.
The Mine Moles opened their mouths.
"Screeeeech!"
White mana gathered between their jaws.
The next instant, dozens of sharp stones shot toward us.
Brock stepped in front of me.
The rocks slammed into his body.
Against armor, they would have been little more than pebbles.
Against an injured, unprotected man...
They tore into flesh.
"Run, brat!" Brock shouted.
Before I could answer, one of the Mine Moles leaped onto him.
Its jaws clamped around his neck.
Blood sprayed across the stone floor.
There were five monsters.
Seven of us.
One man with an injured leg fell before he could even run.
The Mine Moles swarmed him.
"I'm... sorry..."
Those were the only words I managed to say.
Then I ran.
I ran deeper into the dungeon.
Left.
Right.
Straight ahead.
I didn't know where I was going.
I only knew I had to survive.
The tunnels split again and again.
I chose paths without thinking.
Anything to escape.
"Grrkk... Grrkk..."
The sound followed me.
I was out of breath.
The burning pain on my back had long been forgotten.
I looked behind me.
Ten...
Twenty...
Too many to count.
An entire horde of Mine Moles was chasing me.
"I'm going to die..."
My legs grew heavier.
Every breath burned my lungs.
I couldn't run much farther.
"Screeeeech!"
A deafening cry echoed behind me.
Mana gathered.
Another volley of stone bullets shot toward me.
Then I saw it.
A narrow opening in the cave wall.
Without thinking, I dove inside.
"AAAAAHHH!"
The ground vanished beneath my feet.
I slid down a steep tunnel of loose rock.
Faster.
Faster.
I had no idea how far I was falling.
I shut my eyes and gritted my teeth.
The world spun.
Pain exploded through my body.
Then...
Everything went black.