Kaiden stepped forward.

Immediately, the Dungeon-Born straightened as one, spines aligned, shoulders squared. Every eye locked onto him with razor focus.

Their discipline impressed him, especially considering how recent all the changes have been. They were showing great promise, making him want to invest in their growth very seriously.

He took in a slow breath.

Then he spoke.

"First," Kaiden began, voice steady and resonant, "you accepted me as your leader."

A ripple of pride moved through the warriors.

"Then, when given the choice, you chose to become warriors."

Chests rose. Backs straightened further.

Kaiden continued.

"To grow stronger, you need experience. You need real battles. You need to bleed, sweat, and struggle."

He paused for just a moment before declaring, "But as you are right now, staying in my dungeon won't give you that chance."

Several fists clenched.

"If invaders ever push through the defenses and reach your location… it wouldn't be a good learning experience. It would be a massacre."

A quiet, angry tremor rolled through the ranks. They did not like what they were hearing, but could not deny the truth of his words.

The natives had first-hand experience being ferried over the long path of traps, carried by winged monstrosities.

Thus, they knew he was right.

Kaiden's gaze moved to Taigi.

She raised her head proudly.

"Led by Taigi," Kaiden said, "you practiced inside the dungeon. Formations. Coordination. Basic tactics."

He swept his eyes across them. "But formations built on theory alone, practiced only against thin air, are not to be relied upon. Without real combat, strategy is hollow."

They nodded, every last one of them.

There were limits to what training dummies and mock ambushes could do. They had to see if those ambushes actually resulted in victories, or if things had to be changed to be more effective.

Kaiden stretched his arms open, gesturing to the vast expanse of the new dungeon around them.

"So I brought you here."

A fresh dungeon.

A sealed ecosystem.

A perfect testing ground.

"It's low tier and low level. Perfect for beginners. But don't underestimate it."

His voice dipped with warning.

"For your current selves, this dungeon is dangerous. One could argue I'm being cruel for starting you here."

Kaiden paused, then grinned.

A wicked, confident grin.

"Would you prefer I find you an easier dungeon?"

The Dungeon-Born reacted instantly.

"No!"

Voices thundered together, unified.

Kaiden's grin sharpened.

"Good. Then make me proud."

The cheers that erupted shook dust from the ceiling.

War cries.

Roars.

Fists hitting shields.

They were ready.

Taigi moved the moment the cheers quieted, and Kaiden nodded at her.

"Combatants, front and center! Form up in three staggered lines as we practiced!"

The 46 other Dungeon-Born who had chosen the path of warriors jumped into motion. Shields lifted, spears snapped to position.

Yet beneath that discipline…

There was tension.

Kaiden felt it.

The girls felt it.

And Taigi especially felt it.

Several warriors exchanged brief, subtle glances. Not disrespectful, per se, just uncertain.

A few tightened their jaws. Others shifted their weight, wrestling with something internally.

And it wasn't hard to guess why.

Taigi had been a decorative doll under Varek.

Her job was to look pretty, basically.

She wore scraps instead of real clothing and existed as a symbol of the tyrant's vanity.

And now she was their captain?

A woman who never even hunted for food before, let alone fought?

Kaiden naming her their leader had looked like the most random, whimsical decision possible.

He wasn't blind to that.

He heard the unspoken thoughts in the air:

Why her?

She's young.

She has no experience.

This makes no sense.

But none of them said a word.

They did not dare question Kaiden. At least, not for now.

Taigi felt all of it and refused to falter.

She planted her feet, shoulders back, chin lifted.

Her commands were crisp, steady, and clear.

"Check spacing! Hold formation! Shield line, straighten that gap! You, adjust your spear height!"

She didn't shout to intimidate or to overcompensate. She didn't pretend to be something she wasn't, hoping to be miraculously accepted if she was eager or loud enough.

Thus, she simply worked. This was her solution: 'I'll do my best, so I have no regrets whatever the future holds.'

Every gesture radiated the same message.

I will earn this position.

I will earn your trust.

You will not behave properly because Kaiden placed me here, but because I deserve to stand here.

Kaiden watched her with quiet satisfaction. Frankly, he named Taigi their leader because she earned his trust, and he felt that this woman had the potential to become a good leader. But he wasn't going to act tyrannically. If she lost the trust of her people, he would not oppose changing leaders. He just decided to give Taigi a chance, wondering what the woman would do if she were given one.

Now, it was all up to her.

Just then, a shuffle drew his attention to the side.

Tessa and Thalia stood just behind him, both with eyes that studied the scene with immense curiosity.

Kaiden gave them a meaningful look.

Tessa smirked as if she'd been waiting for it.

Thalia only nodded with resignation.

They understood; he didn't want spectators.

He didn't need guild leaders hovering while his people took their first steps toward strength.

"Well then," Tessa said lightly, "looks like this is where we bow out. Enjoy our dungeon, Kaiden."

Thalia just kept on grumbling, "Our dungeon, huh…? You shameless creature. Let's go."

The two women turned and began walking toward the entrance of the dungeon.

Kaiden faced forward again.

Taigi stood before her warriors, posture perfect, eyes sharp.

The 47 Dungeon-Born stood ready to face their first trial.

The first sign of danger was the distant thudding.

These could not be labeled as mere footsteps - impacts would be the more fitting description.

Heavy. Rhythmic. And getting closer by the second.

Then the monsters emerged from between the stone trunks of the dungeon's trees. These were massive, hunched primates with jutting bone plates on their shoulders and forearms. Their fur was scraggly and black, while their eyes burned with feral hostility.

Seven of them.

Only seven.

But each one looked strong enough to pulp a human skull in a single flick of its finger.

Taigi's breath hitched for a heartbeat.

Then she swung her arm down.

"Spear line, brace! Archers, take aim!"

The Dungeon-Born reacted instantly.

Shields slammed into the ground. Spears angled forward. The archers, who numbered fifteen due to many hunters feeling an affinity for the bow, choosing it as their preferred tool of war, lifted their weapons and drew.

The monsters let out guttural bellows.

"Release!" Taigi barked.

The volley shot out clean.

Arrows sank into the beasts' chests and shoulders… only for several to bounce off entirely with nothing but a shallow scratch. Even the arrows that landed barely punched an inch into muscle.

The apes barely slowed.

Taigi gritted her teeth. "Damn it, their hides are too thick! Aim for the vitals only! Eyes, throat, joints!"

But the warning came too late.

The monsters crashed into the shield line like a meteor strike.

The first impact sent five men flying with their shields flipping end over end.

Another beast swiped sideways, smashing directly into a shield-bearer's guard and hurling him several meters before he skidded across the dirt, coughing blood.

But the line didn't break.

Not fully.

The front held, shaking and buckling mightily, but holding on.

"We must use our numerical advantage!" Taigi shouted, voice cutting through the chaos. "Front line hold, flankers move! Archers, keep the barrage up!"

The warriors obeyed.

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