The squad picked up the pace as they moved through the group of wolves quickly.

There was no struggle or panic.

Just execution.

Even with the cub in his arm, Arthur moved like nothing was weighing him down.

That part didn’t go unnoticed.

Nox glanced at him once. "...You’re ridiculous."

Arthur smirked. "You just noticed?"

It didn’t take long.

What used to feel like a threat... now felt like cleanup.

But it felt strange at first.

Killing creatures that looked just like the one in his arm.

Arthur brushed it off after a while, and he didn’t hesitate.

Because these wolves he came across now were already changing.

The tainted mana was still there.. twisting them.

And that was enough reason.

They cleared through the last stretch, and before long the dungeon gate appeared ahead.

Torren let out a breath. "Finally."

They slowed slightly as they approached.

No one rushed out.

Not after what they had just gone through.

One by one, they stepped through confidently like one that had conquered the dungeon. And they did

Ryn first.

Then Torren.

Then Nox.

Selene and Althea following behind Nox.

Arthur stayed a second longer.

Just a moment as he looked back once at the dungeon behind them.

"...Unpredictable." That was the only word that fit.

Soon, he stepped out.

The air outside felt... different.

Lighter.

And then, he heard voices.

A group stood not too far from the entrance.

Waiting.

Arthur’s eyes narrowed slightly before recognition hit.

"...Oh."

Ryn saw them too as his steps slowed.

A familiar group.

The silver squad of the Sixth division. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

The same team from before.

He muttered, "Didn’t expect to see them here."

As they got closer, the other group noticed them too.

One of them stepped forward.

The captain.

His eyes landed on Arthur first.

"...You again."

Arthur grinned. "Missed me?"

A few of them laughed.

The tension wasn’t there. Not like when they initially met.

This time, there was respect.

Clear and open.

"You look like you found a new team," one of them said.

Arthur shrugged. "Yes, i did."

Ryn cut in calmly. "We were assigned."

The captain nodded. "We know."

He folded his arms. "We were sent to finish the cleanup once you were done."

That lined up.

Arthur nodded slightly. "Then you’re late."

Torren snorted.

The captain didn’t react much, just looked past them slightly.

"...Report."

Ryn stepped forward.

Straight to the point.

"Mutation source removed. Boss eliminated."

No fluff. No exaggeration.

Just facts.

"The dungeon is stable for now," she added, "but the wolves are still active."

"Still tainted," Torren added.

"They’re tricky," Selene said. "Don’t let your guard down."

The captain listened without interrupting.

Then nodded. "Understood."

His gaze shifted back to Arthur.

More specifically... To the cub.

There was a pause.

A quiet one.

Arthur noticed.

"...Loot."

He said it casually.

Like it didn’t matter.

The captain held his gaze for a second longer.

Like he knew there was more to it.

But he didn’t ask.

"...I see."

That was enough.

Ryn spoke again. "We’ll be heading back. Report needs to be filed."

The captain nodded. "You can go on."

Then after a pause...

"...Good work."

Simple. But meant.

Arthur gave a small wave as they passed.

"Try not to mess it up."

Torren laughed.

The others shook their heads.

As they walked away, the weight of the dungeon slowly faded behind them.

Ryn exhaled lightly. "We report straight to the commander."

No one argued.

Their first mission... Done.

It was clean, and not supposed to feel simple as it did.

But it was done.

And they made their way back to the stronghold.

The walk back was short.

But it didn’t feel like it.

Not because it dragged, but because no one wanted it to end too quickly.

They had done it. Their first mission as a squad.

No deaths. No failures. Just... success.

Torren stretched as they walked, letting out a long breath. "Feels different coming back like this."

Nox smiled. "You mean alive?"

"Exactly that."

Arthur walked a little behind them, the cub resting over his shoulder now. It had settled there quietly, its small body rising and falling with each breath. It still hadn’t opened up to them, but it wasn’t resisting either.

That was enough for now.

Ryn led the group, his pace steady but lighter than usual. He didn’t say much, but it showed in the way he moved. The tension he carried had eased.

"We did good," he said at some point.

Simple.

But it carried weight.

Selene nodded. "Better than expected."

Arthur added, "You expected us to fail?"

Selene glanced back. "Not fail... just not this smooth."

Arthur smirked. "You should raise your standards."

Althea laughed. "Listen to him."

Arthur shrugged. "What? I’m serious."

They kept talking like that, nothing heavy, nothing forced. Just a group that had gone through something together and came out fine.

Even the cub shifted once, adjusting itself more comfortably against Arthur.

By the time the stronghold came into view, the mood hadn’t dropped.

If anything, it rose a little more.

The gates opened without delay as they approached. Guards gave them a look, then a nod. Some of them noticed the cub, but no one stopped them.

Ryn didn’t slow down. "We’re not going to the mission hall."

Torren raised a brow. "Straight to her?"

"Yes."

No one argued.

It made sense.

They moved through the stronghold and headed straight for the private training hall. It had slowly become their place without them saying it out loud.

The moment they stepped in, the door hadn’t even fully closed before..

"You’re back."

Commander Lyra stood ahead of them.

Like she had been waiting.

No surprise there.

Ryn stepped forward first. "Commander."

The rest followed.

"Commander," they greeted almost at the same time.

Lyra waved it off lightly. "Drop that for now."

Her tone wasn’t as sharp as usual.

It was... lighter.

Her eyes moved across them quickly, checking.

One by one.

No injuries worth noting.

No missing faces.

That alone said enough.

"...Good," she said under her breath.