Cleared to Proceed
Kaiden glanced out the window and saw the cityscape slowly fade behind them, replaced by the untamed wilderness. After thirty minutes, the convoy pulled off the road and onto a dirt path leading to a clearing. There, standing tall amid the open landscape, was the dungeon gate.
A perimeter had already been established around it, manned by men dressed in black combat suits. These were employees of the Awakened Association, the governing body responsible for regulating dungeon activity and ensuring that no unauthorized personnel entered restricted zones. They carried high-grade equipment on them to suppress both dungeon threats or rogue awakened if necessary.
One of the guards stepped forward as the minivans came to a stop. He scanned the group without uttering a single word before turning toward Tessa. She knew the procedures, so she walked up to him and handed over the papers that were required for her group to gain entry.