The Dungeon Trials were a test of teamwork—groups of three, each with a Tank, a Damage Dealer, and a Support.
The teams would face waves of simulated monsters, pushing their abilities to the limit.
A well-balanced team could breeze through the trials.
A poorly coordinated one? Disaster.
I was assigned to a group with two others—neither of whom I knew well.
First, there was Cassie—a quiet girl who barely spoke.
She was always in the background, blending in with the shadows, her eyes always on the floor.
She didn't make a sound when we were introduced, and when I tried to speak with her, she gave me nothing more than a soft nod.
Her class was Support, focused on giving buffs and enhancing the team's performance.
Then, there was Tyler—an arrogant, self-absorbed boy who had somehow managed to get himself into the Damage Dealer role.
He wielded a spear with precision, but his true skill seemed to be his ability to talk about how amazing he was.
"Did you see how easily I sliced through those test dummies?" he bragged as we stood in the briefing room.
"Once we're in the real Dungeon, I'll be taking out monsters left and right. You guys just stand back and watch me do my thing."
I rolled my eyes, but Tyler didn't notice.
His ego was far too inflated for anything to reach him.
When it came time to assign roles, the instructors looked around the room.
There was an obvious shortage of frontliners, so when they glanced at me, one of them said, "Kaelen! You'll be our Tank," nodding toward me.
"You've got the build for it. Keep them safe."
I heard my name, and for a moment, I paused.
"Yes, that's my name," I muttered under my breath.
"It's the only thing left of my parents."
I didn't say a word. I didn't have the luxury of speaking up.
What would be the point?
Tyler and Cassie were already eyeing me with skepticism.
Of course, the moment we began our first simulated dungeon trial, the mockery started.
"You? A tank?" Tyler laughed, shaking his head.
"With that expression? You look more like a walking trauma case."
Cassie stayed silent as usual, but I could feel her eyes on me, unsure—like she didn't want to speak up either.
They were right about one thing—I was big.
But I was also much stronger than they realized.
The dungeon trials began, and as expected, the first wave was easy.
The monsters came in slowly, and I stood at the front, taking every blow.
Tyler and Cassie followed behind, dispatching enemies with ease, their attacks swift and clean.
But something was wrong.
The buffs Cassie cast didn't reach me.
I didn't feel stronger or faster.
I checked my wristband.
Class: Berserker
Unique Skill: Pain Conversion—Converts received damage into raw power.
Bonus Trait: Solo Instinct—Increases all stats while unaided in combat.
Solo Instinct: Inactive.
I wasn't alone enough to matter.
I gritted my teeth and pressed on.