Time was passing.Silence cut deeper than hunger ever could.Lucky kept pacing the same spot in the shelter while Ryuga leaned against the wall.
Day three.Their water was gone.Day four.Only one meal left.
Lucky stared at a dented can of food resting on a broken shelf.
"One meal... isn't much for the two of us."
Ryuga opened his eyes. His head was spinning from hunger.And in that moment, a pale light shimmered in front of his vision.
"...Huh?"
He reached toward it—The wave of light didn't vanish.At first, he thought it was a hallucination.But when he blinked...
He saw a screen.
[System Message][You haven't progressed to the next floor in a while. Would you like to go?]
Ryuga flinched.His heart pounded.
"Am I… going back there?"
But then—he exhaled.Maybe it was better than this.Maybe… there was hope.
A new line appeared.
[Add Party Member]
He tapped the screen.And a name appeared: "Lucky."
Ryuga's eyes widened.
"I can… take someone with me?That's… amazing."
He rushed to Lucky's side.She was lying down, eyes closed.
"Hey... Lucky. Wake up."
Suddenly, her instincts kicked in.Her hands reached for her arrows—But when she saw Ryuga, she relaxed.
"Oh, it's you… You scared me. Don't sneak up like that."
Ryuga lowered his head.
"Sorry.We only have one meal left. No water."
Lucky slowly sat up.Her shoulders slumped.
"Yeah… We'll have to go outside.Otherwise, we'll starve to death in here."
Ryuga looked like he wanted to say something.Lucky tilted her head.
"You have something to say?"
He avoided her eyes.Then, with effort, he spoke.
"I do… but please, don't look at me like I'm crazy."
Lucky raised an eyebrow.
"Why would I?"
Ryuga took a deep breath.He sat down. Lucky sat across from him.
"What I'm about to tell you might sound insane. But please… believe me."
Lucky nodded.Her eyes were serious.
"I don't know where to begin...""When we first met… I lied to you."
Lucky focused.
"The truth is… I'm not from here.I think I came from another world."
Lucky's eyes widened.
"What do you mean?!"
"I came from a place without monsters.And… I have a special power.Or maybe it's a curse."
She studied him.Then softly said:
"I think I understand.You're… extremely unlucky. Is that what it's about?"
Ryuga blinked—surprised.
"Right on the mark. Honestly, I'd be more shocked if you were wrong.Everything I do goes wrong."
Lucky raised an eyebrow.
"So… bad luck is your power?"
"No. But… it helps me get stronger.Every time something unlucky happens to me, the system gives me points.I can spend those on weapons or abilities."
He lowered his head.
"But I earn so few points.I guess even the system doesn't think what I go through is unlucky enough."
He paused. Then added:
"I have another ability.I've always been unlucky—But once… just once… it turned around.That was the moment I got the 'Reverse Fortune' skill."
Lucky leaned in.
"How does it work?"
"I don't fully know yet, but…When enough bad luck piles up, it triggers automatically.My misfortune transfers to the enemy.They trip. They get hurt. Sometimes they even die.That's how it's been so far.What comes next… I don't know."
Lucky was silent.Her face filled with hesitation.
"At first, I wouldn't have believed you.If you'd said all this when we first met…I might've called you insane.Maybe even killed you.Or thought you were lying."
Her gaze turned sharp.
"But now… after everything we've been through…I think you're telling the truth."
Silence fell.Lucky looked him in the eye.
"Why are you telling me this now?"
Ryuga lowered his head.His voice was quiet, but firm.
"When I first arrived here, I woke up in a dungeon.Everything was dark.Bodies everywhere.Monsters were eating them.But… those monsters were weaker than the ones here."
Lucky held her breath.
"Each floor makes the monsters stronger.I made it past the first two.I got 'Reverse Fortune' on the second."
Ryuga met her gaze.
"Maybe… if I go back, we can both grow stronger."
Suddenly, a new system screen appeared—this time glowing yellow.
[Next Floor Transfer Available]Limited Time. Countdown Begins: 00:04:17
"The system message popped up again.It's asking if I want to go…And now, I can bring others with me as 'party members.'"
Lucky didn't look away.
Ryuga took a breath.
"Will you come with me?"
Lucky hesitated for just a second.Then stood up slowly.
"Better than starving here.Let's go."
A new screen opened before Ryuga.
[Lucky has joined your party.]
He tapped the system.His fingers trembled.He hit the button.
[Next Floor Transfer: Initiated][Countdown Begins: 00:00:10][Prepare Yourself.]
A white light surrounded them.Lucky panicked.
"W-What's happening?! Ryuga?!"
[3… 2… 1…]
The light exploded—Everything turned white.For a brief moment, they felt… nothing.
And then… they opened their eyes.
Damp walls.Stone paths.Moss hanging overhead.A dim glow from unseen sources.The echo of dripping water.
Was this… a dungeon?Or a cave?
Maybe… something in between.