Path of the Unmentioned: The Missing Piece

The moment the black gate swallowed Kyle and the others. The entire chamber broke into chaos.

Screams echoed off the walls.

Students stumbled backward. Instructors shouted over one another, trying to regain control.

Officials from the Dungeon Association ran across the floor, shouting orders, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

Seraphina pushed herself up from the ground. Her hand smoking from the blast that had thrown her back.

The skin on her palm was cracked and burned black. But she didn't even glance at it.

Her eyes were fixed on the swirling black void where the gate had just been.

"They're gone," she said quietly. Her voice empty.

Aurelia appeared beside her in an instant, gripping her shoulder tightly. "Seraphina—!"

But Seraphina didn't look at her. She kept staring at the space where the gate had closed.

Aurelia's grip tightened. Then she turned. Her eyes sharp and furious.

"Brynn!"

Professor Brynn Foxglove had been standing completely still, as if in shock.

But when he heard his name. His head snapped up.

The exhaustion usually hanging over him had vanished. His eyes were wide, fully awake now.

"Cancel the exam," he said, his voice cutting through the noise. "Evacuate all students. Now."

The other instructors didn't hesitate. They immediately began shouting directions.

Pushing the stunned students back toward the teleportation platforms.

"Everyone, move! Return to the academy immediately!"

"Stay calm and follow evacuation protocols!"

The students, still shaken and confused. Did as they were told. Some glanced back nervously, whispering.

—"Did you see that?"

—"What even was that gate?"

—"They just vanished…"

But Seraphina wasn't paying attention to them.

She strode toward the nearest Dungeon Association official.

A man in his fifties. With a neat beard and a silver badge on his coat. He looked just as shocked as everyone else.

"You," she said. Her voice low and dangerous. "Explain."

The man swallowed nervously and held up his hands. "I—I don't know! That gate wasn't active... It shouldn't have been functioning at all!"

Aurelia stepped forward, her tone sharp. "Then who was the man that brought them here?"

The official shook his head quickly. "We are not sure. He wasn't one of our people."

Seraphina narrowed her eyes. "You are saying a stranger walked into a secure facility and no one noticed?"

The man went pale. "That… that's not supposed to be possible. Our security is locked down. Only authorized personnel have access—"

Aurelia grabbed him by the collar, yanking him close.

Her voice dropped to a cold whisper.

"Five of our students just got dragged into something they weren't supposed to be in. You are going to tell me exactly what that gate was, or I swear—"

"Aurelia," Seraphina said sharply, placing a hand on her arm. Her voice was calm. But her hand was trembling.

The official's voice trembled as he spoke. "W-We are checking it now! Our mages are already scanning the gate. Please—just give us a moment!"

Aurelia shoved him back. The man staggered but stayed on his feet. Adjusting his coat with shaking hands.

A group of mages was already gathered around the black gate.

Their hands glowing with magic as they ran diagnostic spells.

The gate wasn't stable. Its dark surface rippled like liquid shadow. And the energy coming from it made the floor hum beneath their feet.

Seraphina watched them work, her jaw tight. Her thoughts were spinning.

Whoever that man was… he had known exactly what he was doing.

Minutes passed, slow and heavy. Then finally. The lead mage.

A tall man with tired eyes and a deep frown etched into his face. Turned toward them.

"It's a Black Gate," he said grimly.

Aurelia narrowed her eyes. "And what does that mean?"

The mage let out a slow breath. "Black Gates aren't normal dungeons. They don't just spawn monsters. They create… situations. Tests. Scenarios. Sometimes even fake people—NPCs."

Seraphina's stomach turned. "NPCs?"

"Dungeon-created people. Some are illusions. Some might be trapped souls. The difference doesn't matter. The students won't be able to tell. The dungeon controls everything."

Aurelia clenched her fists. "So how do we bring them back?"

The man hesitated.

Then shook his head. "We can't."

Seraphina froze.

"What do you mean. You can't?" Aurelia's voice dropped into a deadly calm.

"The gate only had enough mana to pull in five people. It's sealed now. And…" He looked down.

"It rejects anyone stronger than Silver Grade 2. That's why your spell didn't work. It repelled you."

Seraphina glanced at her burned hand. That made sense. But it wasn't the part that worried her the most.

Even if she had gotten through. What would she have found inside?

The mage continued, voice low.

"Even if we could send someone else in… there's no way to pull them back out. Black Gates don't have set exits. The only way out is to finish whatever scenario the dungeon gives them."

Aurelia's voice was barely a whisper. "So we just wait?"

He nodded grimly. "Yes."

Seraphina closed her eyes, just for a moment.

Kyle. Eleanora. Cedric. Serena. Cassian.

They were strong. Smart. But this wasn't a training dungeon.

Black Gates were rare for a reason.

They were dangerous.

And if someone had gone to this much trouble to lure them in… then this wasn't a mistake.

This was planned.

A trap.

The last of the students were gone now. The teleportation platforms stood empty.

The large chamber, once filled with noise and energy, had gone quiet.

Only a few instructors and Dungeon Association staff remained. Standing around the black gate in heavy silence.

Aurelia hadn't moved. She was still staring at the swirling black void, as if sheer will could bring the students back.

Seraphina stood beside her. Her wounded hand clenched at her side.

"We'll find a way," she said quietly.

Aurelia didn't respond.

Because deep down, they both knew—

There was no way.

Not unless the students survived whatever nightmare was waiting for them inside.

And with a Black Gate…?

Survival was never promised.

———

Author's Note:

Sorry for the slow updates, everyone!

College decided to hit me with the 'plot twist: adulting is hard' arc. 😭

But now that I've clawed my way out of the assignment abyss (for now). Expect more chapters soon!

...Or at least that's the plan. Assuming my coffee supply holds out and I don't get ambushed by the sudden urge to nap mid-sentence.

Thanks for sticking with this eternally tired (but very grateful) author! Your support keeps me going... And mildly caffeinated. 💙"

(Now back to writing... or possibly napping. We'll see.) 😂📖

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