The Nether Dungeon.

Located in the outer ring of the Forbidden Forest, it was a massive dungeon where just the first floor alone was dedicated entirely to mining. It was so resource-rich and colossal that sixty percent of the world’s current luxury resources—like gold, silver, and mana crystals — were extracted straight from there.

Though, to even enter it, one had to cross the ’Wall of Play’, a barrier so incredibly tough that not only ordinary people, but even most advanced magic users couldn’t scratch it. The deeper you went into the dungeon, the more massive the monsters got and the more bizarre the environments became. There were even legends that if you managed to bypass certain hidden traps at the lowest depths, you could find a map leading straight to the Abyss of Koknei.

Sera had grown up hearing these wild legends. So, knowing their second practical exam was taking place in the actual Nether Dungeon had her practically vibrating with excitement.

Seeing her bouncing on her heels, Elira let out a cold sigh.

"Sera... close your rabbit mouth. If you end up choking on your own saliva from panting so much, tomorrow’s exam is getting canceled for you."

"Hey! Who are you calling a rabbit mouth?!" She barked back.

Everyone chuckled at their usual bickering. With the lingering awkwardness finally out of the air, the mood lightened up considerably. They decided to just sit back and relax for the night before tomorrow’s actual chaos began. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

After all that, Aria was looking much better now. Even though she couldn’t participate in the exam tomorrow, she was genuinely happy for everyone else. She still felt a slight pang of guilt for being careless and getting hit by that random curse, yet she had firmly decided not to dwell on it anymore.

Before they leave, Kaelen nervously hands over his Mythical-class Barrier Box, lending it to Lucian.

In exchange, Lucian tossed the Silvercrest trio three ’Air Pen’.

Catching the thin looking high-tech item, the three of them stood there utterly mesmerized, staring at it like it was some alien artifact for a good minute.

Letting them admire the gadget, Lucian sat down and, one by one, explained how it was going to be a great help, his eyes sharpening as he also explained their exact strategy and game plan for tomorrow’s expedition.

As soon as Lucian activated the Barrier Box, a strong, invisible dome sprang up over the area, forming a curved domain around them. Now, no outside monsters would be able to spot her, and even if they did, they wouldn’t be able to cross it.

With that, everyone started heading back through Kaelen’s portal.

Cassian threw some tantrum, refusing to leave Aria’s side, however, Showing absolute no mercy, Elira and Sera simply grabbed him by the back of his collar and dragged him out.

Lucian stayed behind, sitting quietly on the edge of the bed. Seeing him not moving, Lyria looked back curiously.

"Aren’t you coming? You know it’ll take you a long time to get back without Kaelen’s portal..."

Lucian smiled and waved his hand back.

"Do not worry about me; I have my own methods for leaving."

She turned and stepped through the rift with a smile.

Well... what a puzzling man he is.

Later that night.

Lucian was lying on the bed right next to Aria. Both of them quietly watched the night stars through the open sky feeling the cold, soothing breeze from the lake’s shimmering water.

With a little stretch oh his, Lucian opened a small rift, pulled out a warm blanket, and draped it over both of them.

Seeing this, Aria blushed. Still, she slowly scooted closer to him. Keeping her eyes fixed on the stars, she murmured softly,

Lucian...

Yawwwnn... hmm.

"Are you... comfortable? Sharing this cramped bed with me?"

Lucian turned his head slightly, catching the faint glow of the mana motes drifting around them.

"Comfortable? That’s an odd thing to ask.

Think about it, Aria.

He said while shutting his eyes, deliberately putting on a shamelessly some — wise-geezer expression.

"If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be here. Besides, how could I leave you alone in a place like this? Even if you’ve practically hogged most of the blanket and left me to freeze, I still couldn’t just abandon you in the dark."

Hearing his teasing tone, Aria let out a soft, amused chuckle. She gently rested her hand flat against his chest, a genuinely happy smile gracing her lips as she closed her eyes to sleep.

Silence settled over the scenery cove, and Lucian finally let his guard down.

A few seconds passed, and then her eyelashes suddenly fluttered open... and her bright emerald eyes had turned dark emerald.

The meaning was simple... Iris was out.

Before Lucian could even process it, Iris immediately straddled him, pinning both his wrists down as she leaned her head forward.

"H-hey, wait wait wait wait..."

"Hehehe..."

Uhh darling... In a flash, her entire demeanor darkened as an overwhelming possessiveness bled into her tone while a Predatory grin slowly stretched across her face.

Why should I? You’ve already spent so much time with Aria, now you’re going to spend time with me too, right?"

A nervous gulp slid down Lucian’s throat. And the very next second...

Iris didn’t hold back. Like a starving lioness finally catching her prey, she closed the distance entirely as her tongue dragging a slow, wet path across his cheek.

Her golden hair cascaded down, forming a curtain around his face that trapped him completely in her shadow.

"Ahahaahh... you smell so sweet, my honey..."

Oh man, since when did my sweat start smelling no, tasting sweet?

Her grip on his wrists only tightened. Refusing to let him go, her tongue slowly trailed down from his cheek, making its way to the crook of his neck... and then even lower.

Pant... pant... pant... "Just a little more... just a little more and then I promise I’ll let you go. Don’t resist, okay? Please, please... my love"

Getting out of this situation without hurting Iris’s feelings had become practically impossible for Lucian. If he wanted, he could use ’Zero Domain’, though, at what cost? He had already used it today, burning forty percent of his mana. If another forty percent was cut from his remaining mana, he wouldn’t have any backup for emergencies during tomorrow’s expedition.

Still, he had to break her grip somehow. In the end, he yelled at the System inwardly:

System! I don’t care what it takes, use whatever skill you have and get me the hell out of this mess!

[...You ungrateful bastard. Have you already forgotten ’Voice of Authority’?]

Suddenly, his eyes shot wide open. In his panic, he had completely forgotten about his dark skill!

[Voice of Authority Activated.]

"IRIS, ARIA... GO TO SLEEP!"

Instantly, the full weight of a suddenly sleepy Iris dropped flat onto Lucian as she fell onto his chest. He lay there, staring at the open sky, panting heavily for breath.

Huff... huff... he let out a long, exhausted sigh, gently pulling the blanket over her bare shoulders.

"Goddamn it... I’d rather fight ten of those parasites than deal with this again."