Amina arrived at the meeting point an hour before midnight. The abandoned warehouse on the city’s outskirts loomed before her, its windows shattered, its walls covered in graffiti. The place reeked of damp concrete and rust, a far cry from the neon-lit streets of the city proper. Yet, this was where opportunities came for those not blessed by the system.

  Kojo was already there, leaning against a rusted-out cargo truck. His dark skin contrasted against the dim orange glow of his cigarette as he exhaled a plume of smoke. “Didn’t think you’d show,” he said, flicking the cigarette away.

  Amina shrugged. “You said dungeon run. I’m here.”

  Kojo smirked. “You sure? This ain’t a sparring match. This is the real deal. No system, no backup. Just you, me, and whoever else is desperate enough to risk their lives for a payout.”

  She met his gaze evenly. “I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t sure.”

  Kojo studied her for a moment before nodding. “Alright. Let’s go.”

  They slipped through a side door into the warehouse’s dark interior. A handful of figures were gathered inside, checking gear and murmuring among themselves. Most looked like her—people without the glow of divine favor, their only weapons experience and desperation.

  A burly man with a shaved head and a jagged scar across his cheek stepped forward. “Kojo. You bring fresh blood?”

  “Amina,” Kojo introduced her. “She’s solid.”

  Scarface grunted. “Hope so. Ain’t no room for dead weight.”

  Amina kept her expression neutral. She knew what these runs were like—if you couldn’t pull your weight, you were left behind. Or worse.

  Scarface turned to the rest of the group. “We move out in five. This dungeon’s fresh—low-tier, but unregistered. Means no guild interference, but also no safety net. We get in, grab what we can, and get out before the Delvers Association catches wind.”

  Amina clenched her fists. This was it. Her first real dungeon.

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  The entrance to the dungeon was a jagged tear in the ground, pulsing with a sickly green glow. The air around it was heavy, charged with an unnatural energy that sent a shiver down Amina’s spine.

  One by one, the group descended, stepping into the abyss.

  Amina’s vision swam as she passed through the portal, a wave of nausea rolling over her. Then, suddenly, she was standing in a cavernous space, the air thick with humidity. Bioluminescent fungi clung to the walls, casting an eerie blue glow.

  “Stay sharp,” Scarface muttered. “No telling what’s in here.”

  The group moved forward cautiously. Amina’s heart pounded; every muscle coiled tight. She had trained for this—her body was strong, her reflexes sharp. But would it be enough?

  The first attack came without warning.

  A shadow lunged from the darkness—a monstrous, wolf-like creature with too many eyes and jagged, unnatural limbs. It moved fast, too fast. The first man in its path didn’t even have time to scream before it tore into him, blood spraying across the cavern floor.

  Chaos erupted.

  Amina dodged as another creature lunged at her, its claws slicing through the air where she had stood a second before. She rolled, springing to her feet, her fists clenched. She had no weapons, no enhancements—just her training.

  And she refused to die here.

  She moved on instinct, weaving between attacks, her strikes landing with brutal efficiency. A precise blow to a joint, a quick pivot to avoid a snap of jagged teeth. Around her, others fought desperately, but without system enhancements, they were at a disadvantage.

  Kojo shouted, “We need to move! Now!”

  The group broke into a sprint, pushing deeper into the dungeon. The creatures pursued, their shrieks echoing through the tunnels. The dungeon twisted and turned, leading them into an open chamber.

  A dead end.

  Amina’s breath came fast as she turned, fists raised. They would have to make their stand here.

  But then, the ground trembled.

  A pulse of energy surged through the chamber, and suddenly, Amina felt something snap inside her mind. The world went dark.

  When she came to, everything had changed.

  A floating screen hovered before her eyes, glowing with a soft golden light.

  SYSTEM INITIATING…

  Her breath caught.

  Connection Established: Bemba

  A rush of information flooded her mind. Strength. Dexterity. Skills. A path she had never been offered before.

  She had a system.

  She was no longer unchosen.

  And the creatures were still coming.

  Amina surged to her feet, her body thrumming with newfound power. The real fight was about to begin.