I couldn’t shake the feeling that my speculation was correct. If I really had the role of reaching the end of the dungeon, then it wasn’t just my life on the line. Earth itself was at stake, and whatever I could accomplish here would determine the fate of both.

  That meant one thing: time was my enemy.

  If the dream was prophetic, and the monsters were set to invade Earth in winter, then I had less than half a year to make it to the end. Less than half a year to achieve what had taken me a decade back when I played the game.

  But this wasn’t just a game. There were no resets, no retries, no second chances. And worst of all, I wasn’t just playing anymore—I was living it.

  I sat back, my hands gripping my knees. How am I supposed to do this?

  Reaching the end of the dungeon had been one of the hardest things I’d ever done, even with pure luck and stubborn determination on my side. Every floor was designed to break you. Every boss was a trial in itself. It was grueling and exhausting. And that was with the luxury of time.

  It had already been over a month since I’d arrived here. That left me with barely five months to reach the end, assuming it started at the beginning of winter and not midway or at the end. Five months to level up, upgrade my skills and equipment conquer the dungeon, and prepare myself for evident challenge beyond the 100th floor.

  It seemed impossible.

  Back when I played, I’d taken my time, learning every mechanic, every enemy, every trap. I’d died more times than I could count, experimenting and failing until I finally scraped my way to the end. That was with years of dedication—and even then, I barely made it.

  But this wasn’t a leisurely run. This was a speedrun.

  I was forcefully placed into a speedrunner's role trying to finish the equivalent of a Souls-like game, notorious for its difficulty, as quickly as possible. Every second mattered, every step needed to be deliberate. There was no room for error.

  And that terrified me.

  But the alternative—wasn’t an option.

  I didn’t plan to die here. I didn’t plan to fail.

  If this was a speedrun, I had no choice but to adapt. I had to push myself to be faster, more efficient in my approach, and unrelenting.

  With my mind buzzing with thoughts, sleep became impossible.

  Dungeon End was built on randomness. Every floor I entered was procedurally generated, its environment, inhabitants, and challenges completely unpredictable. I couldn’t rely on farming a specific monster for its ability or grinding a known floor for resources. This game approached things through strategic adaptability.

  But there was one thing I could do. One thing that could speed up my progress.

  I needed to build my slime army.

  Right now, I didn’t have enough of them. They were my greatest asset. But having only a handful wasn’t enough. My progress would be much faster if I had dozens, hundreds, maybe even more.

  Strength in numbers.

  With a massive slime army, I could clear floors faster, gain experience more efficiently, and overwhelm enemies with sheer force. I could reduce the time it took to reach the top. It was my best shot at beating the dungeon before the clock ran out.

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  I have to make it happen, I thought, clenching my fists. No matter what it takes, I’ll build my army.

  Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t even realize how much time had passed. The sound of rustling moss broke through my focus, and I looked up to see Kael stirring from his spot near the stream.

  “Already awake, Kael?” I said, offering him a faint smirk. “For someone so alert, you slept like a baby.”

  Kael blinked, his sharp eyes still clouded with sleep. “Yeah, I’m up. You didn’t sleep much, did you?”

  I shrugged, leaning back against a rock. “Had too much on my mind.”

  Kael gave me a knowing look, his eyes softening slightly as he glanced toward Tasha’s still unconscious form. “You’re not the only one…” he said quietly, trailing off before shaking his head. “Never mind.”

  Without another word, he began waking the others.

  The group stirred slowly, each of them moving toward the stream to clean up.

  Once they’d regrouped, I was the first to break the silence. “How come Tasha is still unconscious?”

  My question seemed to hit them hard. The lighthearted atmosphere from earlier vanished, replaced by a heavy gloom that hung over the group. Kael was the first to answer.

  “We don’t know,” he admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. “Other than being unconscious, she seems healthy. No visible wounds, no signs of internal damage. She’s breathing steadily, her pulse is strong… but she won’t wake up.”

  Fennel, leaning against a tree, crossed his arms and let out a long sigh. “That’s why we’ve decided to leave the dungeon early,” he said, his tone unusually serious. “As much as I’ve enjoyed the time we’ve spent with you, Leon—and I really mean that—we can’t risk anything happening to Tasha. We need to get her looked at by a proper healer. It’s the safest choice right now.”

  I nodded slowly, though with much hesitation. I had grown attached to them more quickly than I had expected. Their dynamic, their camaraderie, it was something I hadn’t realized I longed for. A part of me had hoped to spend more time with them, maybe even stick together for a while.

  But deep down, I knew this was for the best. Staying with them would only slow me down. We couldn’t share experience points, and it was something I could no longer afford to lose.

  “I understand,” I said finally, though the words felt heavy in my throat. “Tasha’s safety comes first.”

  Grizmar stepped forward, his towering frame imposing as always. He placed a hand on my shoulder. “Thank you,” he said simply. But this time, his voice carried sincerity—none of his usual gruffness or reservation.

  “I feel bad just leaving you like this without properly rewarding you,” he continued. “Unfortunately, we don’t have anything with us to give you right now. But…” He paused, meeting my gaze with a steady intensity. “We owe you a favor. Leon, if you ever need our help for anything, we’ll drop whatever we’re doing and come to you. Just put a request in at the Adventurer Hall. The moment we see your name, we’ll be there. A favor for a favor.”

  The weight of his words hung in the air, and for a moment, I didn’t know what to say.

  I glanced at the group. They weren’t at their peak yet. They were still fledgling adventurers, far from the kind of powerhouses that turned heads in Arn. But their composition, their synergy and their undeniable potential. They had everything it took to become a strong party. No, not just strong. One of the best.

  It was only a matter of time before their names resonated across Arn.

  And having them owe me a favor? That might be the best reward I could have asked for.

  I let the thought settle, a small grin tugging at the corners of my lips. Who knows? Maybe I’d call on them when it really mattered—when I was ready to push through the final floors of the dungeon. By then, they might be at the point where they could go through with it, standing shoulder to shoulder as we faced whatever awaited at the end.

  I met Grizmar’s gaze. “I’ll hold you to that,” I said, my voice calm. “When the time comes, I’ll send word.”

  He nodded, a faint but satisfied smile crossing his face. “Good. We’ll be ready."

  Fennel clapped his hands together, breaking the moment with his usual energy. “Alright, now that we’ve settled that, time to head out! Don’t miss us too much, slime boy!”

  Kael rolled his eyes but gave me a small nod of respect. “Stay safe, Leon. And don’t stop moving forward. You’ve got the potential. Use it.”

  I watched them leave, their figures disappearing into the distance, Tasha cradled carefully in Grizmar large back.

  As the clearing fell silent again, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. Gratitude for their promise, and a bittersweet ache at parting ways.

  But as I turned back toward the path ahead, a renewed sense of determination filled me.

  When the time came, I at least knew exactly who to call.

  “Now!” I said, glancing down at the slimes that wobbled eagerly by my side.“How about we call forth more of your brothers and sisters?”

  They jiggled in response, excited to have more of them to play with.

  It was time. Time to grow my army.