I Swear I'm Not a Demon Masquerading as a Human

In the bustling heart of Ikerite University stood a colossal structure that rose proudly above its surroundings. It served as the campus's central hub, surrounded by the spaces of the four colleges.

While the school boasted a diverse array of architectural styles, ranging from the classical to avant-garde, they all paled slightly in comparison to this massive central edifice. This was not only due to its sheer scale, but also because its very nature stood in stark contrast to everything around it.

Unlike the surrounding Ikerite Gothic or Renaissance-style buildings that exuded a sense of history, this structure resembled a military fortress. Its walls were a deep, iron-hard blue, encased in layers of potent magical barriers. A soft golden glow enveloped the building, manifesting as visible shields of magical energy.

For the students, merely sensing its presence from afar evoked an invisible, oppressive weight. Entry was restricted to those with authorized credentials, requiring passage through the sole main entrance and multiple security checkpoints.

Members of the Royal Knights were clad in magnificent armor as they patrolled the perimeter of this barrier. These were no ordinary campus guards, but instead elite warriors dispatched by the Kingdom of Hutton. Anyone who had the guts to attempt a forced entry would surely never return.

All of the security in place was because the building housed a Void Gate, a portal leading to the Shadow Realm. To prevent cultists or criminals from entering the Shadow Realm, every permanent Void Gate on the Southern Continent was subject to the strictest security and control measures. These standards were enforced jointly by the Shadow Realm Management Association and the Southern Continent United Council.

The Kingdom of Hutton hosted five large-scale Void Gates, and one of them was located right here within Ikerite University. In fact, the school was originally and deliberately established around this very gate, evolving into a vital research hub that concentrated immense combat power around it.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, the campus was bathed in a molten-gold hue, creating a sight that was both tranquil and dreamlike. Lance and Hyperion passed through the building's security checkpoints, and their elongated shadows stretched out straight across the wide walkway.

Finally, they stepped into the building's interior. In the vast open space before them stood a single, colossal Void Gate. Its appearance was eerie and mysterious, yet as beautiful as a masterpiece made by the Creator. The frame was composed of a meteorite-like material with a mirror-smooth surface, while the edges shimmered with a glow resembling liquid starlight, shifting constantly between shades of purplish-black and silvery-white.

A faint purple radiance reminiscent of the deepest light in the night sky flowed across the entire structure. It flickered and pulsed enigmatically, as if countless stars were gently swirling within a vortex.

"What should we name our team?" Hyperion asked Lance as she glanced at the final security checkpoint and its service counter, then at the cavernous hall.

All they needed to do now was finalize their challenger license registrations and have the staff verify their equipped Shadow Realm Recording Program cards before proceeding to the Void Gate ahead for a matchmaking challenge. If they intended to undertake a team challenge using a Team Card, they also needed to register a team name. The Team Card was the nickname of a utility Spell Card, and its formal name was the Shadow Realm Synergy Program.

Lance gave it some thought and decided the name didn't really matter. He was fine picking just at random. He decided to base it on the characteristics of their duo, so he replied, "Let's go with the Model Citizens Team."

Hyperion opened her mouth as if she was about to object, but ultimately just nodded, repressing the urge to make a snarky comment. Might as well just let him have his fun...

With that settled, the two of them handed their finalized paperwork and their respective Team Cards over to the counter, waiting for the staff to process everything.

The staff member was dressed in a military officer's uniform, and he registered them using a magical device. Noticing that their challenge count stood at zero, he took a moment to explain a few basics.

"Once you step through the Void Gate, the system will automatically match you with a suitable existing Shadow Realm dungeon. This process is beyond our control. Once the matching begins, you shouldn't exit the gate casually, or you risk getting separated. You do understand that, right?"

Both of them nodded and said in unison, "Understood."

The staff member continued to explain common scenarios while operating the magical device's crystal display. "Challengers from other access points across the globe are being matched simultaneously, so those with lower ranks generally won't have to wait long."

Even though Lance and Hyperion were already familiar with this information, they listened attentively. In general, lower ranked challengers found it easier to secure a match. This wasn’t surprising, as low-level Shadow Realm dungeons appeared frequently and were plentiful.

Conversely, high-level dungeons appeared less often. Even if challengers were willing to take them on, there may not always be a suitable world available for them.

As soon as the association detected one at Level 7 or higher—a "Calamity-level" dungeon—it triggered a warning from the Southern Continent United Council to various nations. Multiple countries would then consult each other and dispatch the most capable and suitable challengers and teams.

The higher the level of the Shadow Realm dungeon, the more severe the resulting disaster upon failure. If the disturbance on reality caused by a failed Level 2 or 3 dungeon was merely a minor nuisance, then the failure of a Level 7 or higher dungeon heralded a genuine, large-scale calamity.

Consequently, nations and factions alike treated high-level dungeons with extreme caution. This was precisely why challengers who tackled high-level dungeons commanded such high status. They wielded significant influence not only in their home kingdoms, but also within the Southern Continent United Council.

There were two methods for getting a specific team of challengers into the same dungeon. One applied to top tier challengers; because there were so few of them and even fewer dungeons suited to their Rank, they were almost invariably matched together if they entered the system at the same time. Alternatively, a reliable method was to carry a Team Card.

[Shadow Realm Synergy Program]

Category: Spell Card

Grade: White (Common)

Attribute: Link

Tier: 1

Matches the holder into the same Shadow Realm dungeon as companions carrying a Synergy Program card with the same ID number.

Team Card No. 891852279

Lance and Hyperion had purchased this Team Card at the service counter near the entrance. These cards were jointly issued by the Southern Continent Shadow Realm Management Association and the Card Maker’s Association, and they were utility spell cards created by replicating the natural party-forming function found in cards that originated within the Shadow Realm.

Generally, the larger the party, the harder it was to match into a Shadow Realm dungeon and the longer the wait time. Furthermore, the challenge itself became somewhat more difficult compared to tackling it solo. However, the downsides were minimal when the party consisted of only two people.

"Alright, when you come back out, just let me scan your Shadow Realm Recording Program again, and you can reclaim your challenger license and leave."

The staff member returned their utility spell cards, and the gate in front of them slid open. He waved his hand, signaling that they could proceed inside. Lance and Hyperion accepted their cards, thanked him, and walked toward the Void Gate. They walked the few hundred paces in silence until they stood before the portal.

Lance turned his head and smiled at Hyperion. "Ready?"

Hyperion nodded in agreement. "Of course."

Unlike the gates created by the Artificial Shadow Realm Activation Terminal, a true Void Gate was a bottomless black hole. Merely approaching it allowed the person to sense an invisible pull, as if it were trying to drag the visitor's soul into that endless, unknown realm.

Lance, however, showed no hesitation. He stepped straight forward, passing through the threshold as if walking through the surface of water. In an instant, sound, sight, consciousness, and even time itself vanished.

All that remained to be felt was the breath of the cosmos, the endless stars, and the bottomless void. It was as if two worlds were intertwining, taking shape in mutual reliance. After everything was turned upside down and reversed, the person entering the gate finally arrived at a brand new world.

[A tale where shadow and reality intertwine. Today, it unravels once more.]

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