Mark felt his body being pulled by an invisible force as a brilliant light engulfed him completely. He was now used to the sensation of transitioning between floors, but that didn't stop him from feeling a slight dizziness every time he teleported.
[[Teleportation complete. Welcome to the sixth floor.]]
The ground beneath his feet was scorching hot.
He frowned and looked around.
A vast desert plain stretched endlessly in every direction, swept by scorching winds laden with reddish sand. The sky, a menacing blood-red, was streaked with black clouds crackling with silent lightning. A stifling heat filled the air, making each breath feel heavier.
[Status Updated]
[New rule for the sixth floor: Active dungeon. Presence of monsters, elites, and bosses.]
Mark immediately opened his interface and checked his status.
[[Mark's Status]]
[Physical]
Strength: 25Agility: 24 (+3 with Silent Boots)Constitution: 44Charisma: 2
[Mental]
Intelligence: 10Perception: 13Luck: 5Mental Endurance: 18
[Special Conditions]
Accelerated dehydrationIncreased energy consumptionThermal resistance being tested
Mark grimaced. Unlike the previous floors, which seemed like mere preparations to test his physical and mental limits, this one was a true dungeon. It was no longer just about surviving—he had to explore, fight creatures, and defeat increasingly powerful enemies.
He took a few steps in the scorching sand and immediately felt the heat radiate through his boots.
He knelt down, scooped up a handful of sand, and let it slip through his fingers. The texture was strange, almost metallic to the touch. He clenched his jaw. If he stayed still for too long, he would quickly exhaust himself.
[[Main mission: Survive and reach the boss chamber.]]
[[Secondary objective: Eliminate 20 dungeon creatures – Bonus experience and rewards.]]
A violent gust of wind ripped through the area, stirring up a sandstorm that reduced visibility. Mark narrowed his eyes and shielded his face.
— "A real dungeon… This changes everything."
A deep, resounding noise echoed nearby. An explosion of sand about twenty meters away caught his attention. Something had emerged from the ground.
Mark instinctively stepped back and assumed a combat stance. An insect-like creature, resembling a giant scorpion covered in a black carapace, emerged before his eyes. Its massive pincers clashed with a sinister clatter, while its tail, tipped with a gleaming stinger, lashed through the air.
[Monster Detected: Sand Scorpion – Class: Standard]
He quickly analyzed his opponent. Its shell looked solid, but the joints around its legs and abdomen were less protected.
The scorpion lunged forward, its tail hissing menacingly. Mark barely dodged it and countered with a right hook charged with energy.
His fists slammed into the creature's carapace with a loud crack. The monster staggered back from the impact, but it was resilient. He needed more than brute force to take it down.
The scorpion reared up and attacked again, its pincers snapping with surprising speed. Mark avoided the first just in time, but the second grazed him, tearing a piece of his tunic. He activated Titan's Frenzy.
His body heated up instantly, his muscles swelling with power. He absorbed a strike from the scorpion's leg and, in one swift motion, delivered a devastating blow right into its exposed abdomen.
A sickening crunch resounded.
The monster froze for a moment, wavered, then collapsed, motionless.
[[Monster defeated: Sand Scorpion]][[Secondary objective progress: 1/20]]
Mark straightened up, catching his breath. This wasn't over, not by a long shot.
A haunting noise rumbled around him. He looked up.
More movement caught his eye. On the horizon, several similar creatures began bursting from the sand, their outlines stretching as far as he could see.
But that wasn't all.
Farther away, a massive form appeared amid the raging sandstorm. Unlike the others, this monster was twice as large and bore crimson markings on its chitinous body.
[Monster Detected: Alpha Scorpion – Class: Elite]
Mark clenched his fists. The sixth floor would show no mercy.
Suddenly, the ground beneath his feet trembled slightly, a low rumbling coming from beneath the sand. It wasn't just the wind… Something enormous was moving underground. His instincts screamed for him to step back immediately.
A vortex of sand formed not far from him, devouring everything in its path. Mark leaped to the side just in time, narrowly avoiding the sudden collapse of a massive sinkhole. He watched in horror as a colossal, chitin-covered figure slowly emerged from the depths.
[New Threat Detected: Sand Wurm – Class: Mini-boss]
The monster was several meters tall, its body undulating in brutal waves. Its armored skull split into four jaws lined with razor-sharp teeth. It let out a deep, guttural roar that vibrated the air, sending shockwaves all around.
Mark swallowed hard and tightened his fists.
— "Well… this'll be interesting."
The dungeon had only just begun.
Mark backed away slowly, sizing up the threat before him. The Sand Wurm, a colossal monster, glided through the burning sands, its gaping maw lined with fangs capable of crushing a human in a single bite. Its movements sent whorls of dust swirling through the air, further diminishing visibility in the raging sandstorm. The stifling heat made breathing nearly impossible, and the ground shook slightly under the shockwave of its movements.
[New rule: Boss-type creatures cannot be avoided.]
Mark grinned, a thrill of excitement coursing through him. No escape? Perfect. This time, he intended to enjoy himself.
[[Mission Update: Eliminate the Sand Wurm Mini-Boss.]]
— "Finally, a real challenge…"
The Wurm suddenly dove back beneath the sand, leaving behind a yawning crater. Mark knew exactly what that meant. He sprang to the side just in time to dodge a sudden attack—the monster burst from the ground exactly where he had stood an instant earlier. The ground quaked under the impact, sending shards of rock and sand flying in every direction.
He laughed aloud at the sheer force of the blow.
— "Is that all? Show me what you've really got!"
[Analyzing...]
Mark activated his enhanced perception, scanning the monster's movements. He noticed that beneath its jaws, unprotected segments of flesh were briefly exposed with each attack. That was his target.
The creature dove beneath the sand again, preparing another strike.
Mark steeled himself, muscles tense. He knew his window of opportunity would be short.
As soon as the Wurm burst from the ground, Mark used all his speed to dodge before diving beneath it. With perfect timing, he activated Titan's Frenzy and followed up with a devastating sequence using Titan's Hammer, reinforcing his blows.
A shrill screech echoed through the air.
[[Critical damage inflicted.]]
Mark felt a surge of pure adrenaline. He continued delivering brutal strikes, each impact sending shudders through the monster's body. The Wurm tried retreating beneath the sand, but Mark was already on it, clinging to one of its exposed flesh segments. The creature thrashed wildly, whipping up a sandstorm that lashed Mark's face.
— "Come on, is that all you've got?!"
The monster tried shaking him off, rolling its massive body in a desperate attempt. Mark locked onto its vulnerable flesh and slammed his fist in with titanic force.
[[Sand Wurm's Health at 50%.]]
But the creature wasn't done yet. In a brutal motion, it twisted violently, flinging Mark to the ground with incredible force. Pain exploded in his back as he crashed onto the rocky terrain.
[Status Update: Multiple contusions – Remaining energy: 40%.]
He got to his feet, laughing.
— "Good… Finally, a fight that's worth something."
Mark clenched his fists and stood up, staggering slightly. The Wurm was preparing one final attack. Its body coiled in on itself, its jaws stretching wide. The pressure around him became unbearable. A powerful gust of sand and heat made it almost impossible to see.
This was the decisive moment.
He exhaled slowly, focusing all his energy.
When the monster struck, Mark charged straight into its path. He narrowly avoided its razor-sharp fangs and drove his fist directly into its exposed flesh, activating Titan's Hammer one last time for a final, devastating impact.
A shockwave erupted.
The Wurm convulsed, its flesh tearing under the blow's force. An inhuman shriek echoed as its massive body collapsed heavily into the sand. The earth beneath it cracked slightly upon impact, leaving a trail of smoke and blood rising into the sweltering air.
Mark wiped the sweat from his forehead, a wide grin on his lips.
— "That was… incredible."
[[Mini-boss eliminated: Sand Wurm]]
He took a deep breath, relishing the burn coursing through his muscles. His body ached, but that pain was proof he was alive, that he was growing stronger.
[[Reward Obtained: 5,000 Credits – +5 Constitution – Instant Recovery Elixir]]
Mark opened his inventory and saw a vial of silvery liquid blinking among the recovered items. Without hesitation, he grabbed it and downed it in one gulp. A rush of warmth and relief coursed through his body, instantly healing his minor wounds and restoring part of his energy.
He let out a satisfied sigh, his grin widening even more.
[[Floor Update: Passage to the next zone unlocked.]]
Before him, a massive stone archway had emerged from the sand, inscribed with glowing symbols. The entrance to the next area was open. Mark stood up slowly, cracking his knuckles.
— "This was just the beginning…" he muttered, stepping toward the arch, eager to discover what lay beyond.