The World's First Dungeon Vs Zane

Bell's face twisted between fury and fear. "You're not going in there alone, Zane. Don't you dare."

Zane turned to her, calm but firm, his voice carrying quiet authority.
"We don't have a choice, Bell. The system goes live at midday. If we don't finish the calibration, everyone starts at Level 1—blind and helpless. You know what that means."

"I also know what it means if you die in there!" she shot back, her voice cracking. "We lose you. I lose—" She caught herself, biting down on the rest of the sentence, eyes glistening.

Kai stepped forward, hands raised like he was calming wild animals.
"Hey, hey—guys—fighting each other isn't helping. There's gotta be another way. Maybe if we wait, the system resets faster, or—"

Lily cut him off, shaking her head. "The system said twenty-four hours, Kai. It doesn't bend rules." She turned toward Zane, her voice quieter but steadier. "If you go in alone, we can't follow. We can't help you if something goes wrong."

Zane met her gaze. "Then I guess I'll just have to make sure nothing does."

Bell let out a harsh laugh. "You make it sound so easy." She gestured at the bound officers. "You think they'll just sit here while you vanish into a dungeon? What if there's more of them on the way? You're gonna leave us to deal with that too?"

Tarni shifted his stance, arms crossed but his tone measured.
"She's not wrong, mate. If reinforcements show up, we're in deep. But you're the only one who can open that thing now."

Lewis, who had been quiet until now, looked between them, his mind struggling to piece it all together.
"Are you people insane? You're talking about dungeons and systems like it's a bloody game! Whatever this is, you're all under arrest!"

Bell wheeled on him. "You shut your mouth before I give you a matching hole for your friend over there."

Lewis froze, and even Zane winced slightly at her tone.

"Enough!" Zane barked, his voice ringing across the clearing. "Bell, that's not you talking—it's fear. I get it. But if we freeze now, everything we've done—all the people counting on us—means nothing."

He turned toward the white hemisphere on the side of the black cube.
"I have to finish this."

Bell took a shaky step toward him, tears spilling down her cheeks.
"Zane, please—don't you dare walk away from me again."

It was at that moment that the System interrupted.

LOL, plans of systems and men.
Lily is correct. I can't change the dungeon timer ☹
I can spend core energy to change the dungeon difficulty—
so it is no longer certain death for Zane.

Everyone froze mid-breath.

Kai blinked first. "What do you mean, no longer certain death for Zane?"

There was no reply.

Tarni frowned, folding his arms. "Hey, System… what's spending core energy going to do to you?"

I will lose 63% of my personality matrix.

The words hung in the air like a death sentence.

Tarni's expression darkened. "Personality matrix—that's what makes you you, isn't it? So you mean… you'll die?"

Yes… No.

"Why?" Tarni asked softly. It was all any of them could say.

My plan. My changes. My responsibility.
You can still make this work.

"Make what work?" Tarni pressed, but no answer came.
The silence that followed stretched longer and longer until it felt heavy enough to crush the air from their lungs.

After what felt like forever—but was probably only twenty or thirty seconds—Tarni gave up waiting. He walked over to the pile where the raid team's weapons and gear were stacked, picking up and inspecting the top-most automatic rifle.

"Hey, mate," he called, turning toward the tunnel. "If you're going to be alone in there, maybe grab some of this hardware—help even the odds a bit."

A huge grin spread across Zane's face as his mind raced. Automatic weapons? The idea alone made him giddy. With those, even the worst monsters wouldn't stand a chance. He took a step toward the pile, already imagining the firepower.

Then, without warning, a message blinked across everyone's HUDs, freezing them mid-thought.

System Notification
Sorry, mate.
Smokeless powder-powered weapons will not function within dungeon environments—
or on Earth after full initialisation.

Also, only initialised personnel may enter dungeons

The words hung in the air like a death sentence.

No one spoke. The horror of the message slowly sank in as the team realised what it meant. The world's armies, the police, every nation's firepower—all useless.

Their imagined safety net, the thing they thought would protect humanity from the chaos to come, had just vanished.

Zane squared his shoulders and let his voice carry across the clearing, calm and steady on purpose. "All right. That just made it even more important that I go in. If the world's armies can't use their toys, then people are going to need every advantage we can get. I can get them. I'll push as far as I can."

The words landed like a stone. For a heartbeat no one moved; even the bound officers watched him with a mix of confusion and something like respect. Bell's jaw worked—anger, fear, everything tangled together—but she didn't argue. She wasn't going to talk him out of it.

Zane hesitated just a fraction. The look he gave Bell said everything he couldn't. Then he started walking.

Behind him, Lily's voice trembled with both resolve and dread.
"If he goes through… the world changes for good."

And as Zane reached out to place his hand on the glowing white stone, every tied-up soldier, every friend behind him, and every heartbeat in the clearing seemed to hold its breath.

Dungeon Found
NAME: Dungeon at the End of the Beginning
Level: Unknown
Type: Final Calibration
Highest Level Completed: 5
Party Members: 1 of 1

Do you, Zane Rider, Level 10, Class: Vanguard, wish to enter the Dungeon at your highest level reached (6)?
Yes / No

(Now each stage will count; go as far as you can.)

After showing them the message at the bottom, Zane selected Yes.

With a deep, grinding rumble, the front face of the cube began to slide down into the earth. Behind it, a wide tunnel sloped into darkness, its edges lit only by faint, shifting blue light.

Before Zane could step forward, Bell threw her arms around him from behind. Then Lily joined, then Kai, then Tarni—each one clinging to him as if sheer will could anchor him to this world. Tarni was the last, his big hands thumping Zane's back in a wordless promise.

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

Tears streaked down Bell's cheeks as she whispered, so quietly yet with a weight that filled the clearing, "Come back to us."

It wasn't a question—it was an order, a plea, and a prayer all at once.

Zane nodded, the muscles in his jaw tight. The hug hurt, even through his 31 Constitution. It hurt because he didn't want to let go.

After what felt like seconds—or maybe hours—they finally stepped back. Bell's hand lingered a moment longer before it fell away.

None of them spoke again. Even the tied-up officers, bruised and confused, didn't dare interrupt.

And then Zane turned and walked into the tunnel.
Alone.

The darkness swallowed him whole.

Zane had to use every one of the 26 points he'd put into Strength just to move his feet forward as he walked into the tunnel.

Darkness fell instantly—complete, smothering, and absolute. There was no light. Not a glimmer. Not even the faint glow of his UI. No stars. No walls. Not even the sensation of ground beneath his boots. Just pure, disorienting void.

By now, Zane was used to this part. He waited, silent and still, for the message he knew was coming.

Dungeon at the End of the Beginning, Last Floor

Modified

BIOM: Open Planes Mountainous Region (summer)

Dungeon Monsters: level 3-?

Time Limit for floor: Until Midday Aus EST

Option to leave without completion: OFF ON

Completion Criteria: Kill all Dungeon Monsters. Complete each wave

Reward for successful completion: Everyone on Earth who is not already inducted will start at Level 5 and will have 15 skill points automatically distributed

Each wave completed will grant one level to everyone on Earth, gaining 3 points per level

Also, shop access is granted between waves

Zane scanned the message carefully, picking out what the System had changed.
The mountainous region was a blessing—solid cliffs meant fewer flanking angles. And, apparently, he only needed to clear one wave to make a difference.

Before he could think further, the weightless void blinked away.

In the space of a heartbeat, he was standing ankle-deep in soft green grass. The air was cool and still. Sunlight filtered through a high canopy of pines, casting dappled shadows across a forest floor carpeted in fallen needles. The scent of damp earth and sweet, unfamiliar flowers filled his lungs.

To his left, a sheer cliff rose skyward, jagged and weathered.

"Nice," he muttered. "We can keep our backs to the cliff—now we just have to find the best spot before everything goes crazy."

He stopped mid-sentence. Right. There wasn't a we anymore.

"Well… shit."

Zane exhaled sharply and started moving again, following the cliff face until he found a massive boulder nestled against its base—perfect. Between the cliff and the stone, he had roughly a forty-five-degree corner of solid cover.

He ran a gloved hand along the rock, then checked his surroundings one last time. The world was quiet—for now.

Too quiet.

Zane crouched behind the boulder, scanning the treeline. His heart was steady, but his hands itched for action. The silence stretched—heavy, unnatural. Not even the wind dared move through the pines.

Then, right on cue, the System's message cut through his mind.

Wave 1 Incoming
Enemy Type: Beast — Class: Lesser Dire Wolf (Elite Variant)
Estimated Count: 5
Difficulty Modifier: Reduced (Core Expenditure Confirmed)
Prepare for engagement.

Zane drew his machette, the faint shimmer of the Vanguard's Guard enchantment running along its edge. He planted his shield in front of him, angled to deflect and absorb.

"Dire wolves," he muttered, half to himself. "Could've been worse. Could've been spiders."

A low growl rolled across the clearing. Then another. And another. Shapes began to move between the trees—large, lean, and silent except for the crunch of pine needles under their paws.

The first one broke from cover, silver-grey fur rippling with muscle. It was the size of a small horse, eyes burning with yellow hunger.

"Alright, puppy," Zane said under his breath, shifting into a defensive stance. "Let's dance."

The first wolf lunged. Zane met it head-on, shield braced. The impact rattled his arm but didn't budge him. The creature snarled, snapping its jaws inches from his face.

"Bad dog!"

He slammed his shield upward, catching the wolf under the chin, then brought his machete down in a brutal arc. Steel met flesh—blood sprayed across the grass.

The second and third wolves came at him from the sides, perfectly coordinated. Zane twisted, triggering Defensive Stance. His shield flared with blue light as one wolf's bite skidded off it, sending shockwaves through its skull. He kicked the stunned beast away and drove his machete into the other's flank.

Two down.

He could feel the adrenaline mixing with the System's faint hum in his blood. His HUD flickered as the next wave of growls echoed closer.

"Three left," he said through gritted teeth. "Let's make this count."

The remaining wolves circled, testing his guard. He stepped backward, pressing his shoulder against the cliff. Now they could only come from the front. Exactly where he wanted them.

When they finally charged, Zane didn't meet them halfway. He waited—timing their movements, reading their momentum. Then he moved like lightning.

One step. One swing. One shield bash.

The world blurred into motion and instinct.

By the time the last wolf hit the dirt, his breathing was ragged, his armour torn in places, but his stance hadn't faltered once.

Then came the chime.

Wave 1 Complete
Bonus: 500 XP (Applied Globally)
Everyone on Earth +1 Level upon induction
Shop Access Unlocked
Next Wave Begins in: 45:00 Minutes

Zane slumped against the boulder, wiping blood from his face with the back of his gloved hand.

"Well… one wave down. four to go."

He gave a small, tired grin, finding the shop interface and pulling up the window as he kept one eye on his map.

"Alright, System," he said quietly. "Let's see what kind of miracle I can afford."

System Shop
[Adventuring Gear]
Abacus — 2 gp
Barrel — 2 gp
Blanket — 3 sp
Bottle, glass — 1 gp
Bucket — 5 cp
Candle — 1 cp

Chest — 3 gp
Clothes, Common — 5 sp
Clothes, Fine — 11 gp
Flask or Tankard — 2 cp
Ink (1-ounce bottle) — 7 gp
Ink Pen (Fountain) — 2 gp
Journal, Soft Bound (25 Sheets) — 5 gp
Jug or Pitcher — 2 cp
Ladder (10-foot) — 1 sp
Lantern, Hooded — 3 gp
Lamp — 3 sp
Lock — 7 gp
Mess Kit — 2 sp
Mirror, Steel — 3 gp
Paper (one sheet) — 1 sp
Parchment (one sheet) — 7 cp
Pick, Miner's — 2 gp
Pot, Iron — 1 gp
Pouch — 3 sp
Rope, Hempen (50 feet) — 7 sp
Rope, Silk (50 feet) — 7 gp
Sack — 1 cp
Scale, Merchant's — 3 gp
Shovel — 1 gp
Signet Ring — 3 gp
Soap — 1 cp
Vial — 7 sp
[Tools]
Carpenter's Tools — 6 gp
Cook's Utensils — 7 sp
Smith's Tools — 15 gp
Weaver's Tools — 7 sp
[Armour]
Light: Studded Leather — 33 gp
Medium: Chain Shirt — 38 gp
Heavy: Chain Mail — 56 gp
Shield: Round Shield — 3 gp | Tower Shield — 7 gp
[Weapons]
Simple: Dagger — 1 gp | Spear — 7 sp
Martial: Longsword — 11 gp | Greatsword — 50 gp | Warhammer — 11 gp
Miscellaneous: Grappling Hook — 2 gp | Crowbar — 1 gp | Hunting Trap — 3 gp

The list kept going—rows and rows of neat little items scrolling like a catalog from a world that no longer existed. It was absurd. Here he was, standing in a digital forest, heartbeat syncing with the faint pulse of a dying AI, and the best he could buy right now was a bucket.

He let out a short, humourless laugh. "Yeah. Perfect. I'll just smack the monsters with that, shall I?"

The joke fell flat against the silence.

He scrolled through the menus again, eyes scanning the dizzying rows of gear and prices.
God, Kai would've eaten this interface alive. The kid could break a spreadsheet faster than anyone Zane knew. Now Zane was on his own, trying to make sense of all this nonsense.

He checked his map—no red dots, no movement. Good. For now.

"Alright," he muttered, "how much money do I even have?"

No answer.

He frowned and repeated the question in a few different ways, growing more irritated until, finally, a faint bit of text shimmered to life under his minimap.

26 cp

Zane squinted at it. Concentrating on the number made it expand and convert automatically.

0 Gold, 0 Silver, 26 Copper.

"Twenty-six copper pieces…" He let out a low whistle. "That's the haul from the kobolds. Barely enough for a soap bar and some pity rope."

Still, he flicked through the interface again, focusing on an entry that had caught his interest.

Studded Leather
Cost: 33 Gold
+18 Armour Defence when equipped
100% Durability
Three Colours Available: Black, Green, Brown
(Colour Brown comes at a discount of 3 Gold)

Zane actually laughed out loud this time. "Brown's cheaper, huh? Figures. Nobody wants to die wearing the colour of mud." Then he waited for Tarn to say something like "yeah, that's why most people in the D&D games and movies are wearing brown." But of course, there were no snarky words, as Tarn was not there, as he was alone here.

He shook his head and continued tweaking the menu, testing filters, categories—until the whole shop vanished with a blink.

"Wait—what—no, no, no!"

He flailed through the air, trying random gestures until, mercifully, the interface blinked back into existence.

Zane exhaled, slumping against the rock. "Bloody hell, System, don't do that to me."

The shop flickered once, as if embarrassed, and stabilised.

"Yeah, that's what I thought," he muttered with a faint grin.

After several more minutes of fiddling, he found what he was really looking for—consumables. The prices nearly made his heart sink through the ground.

Basic HP Potion — 50 Silver
MP Restoration Tonic — 45 Silver
Antidote (Generic) — 37 Silver

"Fifty silver?!" Zane groaned. "That's… what, five hundred copper? I'd have to murder an entire kobold village for that!"

He rubbed at his temple, thinking. He couldn't afford a thing. He couldn't even sell anything yet—he hadn't worked out how the Bag of Holding's item interface connected to the Shop. There were a dozen icons, none of them intuitive. One of them might've been "sell"… or "delete." He wasn't willing to risk finding out which.

So he took a deep breath, shut the interface, and muttered toward the sky—or whatever counted as one in this strange, false world.

"Alright, System. I'll take the hint. No shortcuts, no freebies. Guess I'll just have to earn it the hard way."

The forest answered only with silence, but somehow, deep in the still air, he thought he could almost feel approval.