Dante's eyes widened in surprise as the creature emerged before him. It was a fiery wolf, small in size, yet emanating immense power that he could feel.
The wolf's eyes glowed like the sun, and its grey fur was adorned with dark flame markings that spread linearly, creating an illusion of black bolt signs on the soft grey fur.
Despite its cute eyes, Dante knew better than to judge this creature by its cover. The wolf sat atop a five-meter wolf that appeared to be the leader of the pack behind him, and the little wolf's awesomeness seemed to dwarf even the leader's power scale.
Without hesitation, the little fiery creature launched itself at Dante with its jaws wide open, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. With lightning-fast reflexes, Dante managed to dodge the attack by swiftly jumping to the side.
As the creature lunged past him, Dante saw an opportunity to strike. He attempted to strike the creature with his katana, but to his surprise, the blade just phased through the creature's afterimages.
Although Dante knew that he was outmatched, he refused to give up.
''Be careful what you wish'' A rare, wry smile appeared on Dante's face as he thought back to what he had wished for when he was discharged from the hospital.
Longing for an escapade that could elevate him from his dull arena routine, he had hoped for something thrilling that would expedite his growth.
However, after his fleeting encounter with the formidable creature, he realized that he should have been more cautious with his aspirations.
This wasn't just any ordinary Rank E dungeon brawl, it was much more perilous, and it appeared to have some connection to the small fiery wolf.
Without warning, the wolf charged toward Dante, engulfed in dark flames that seemed to obscure its every movement.
There was no sound of its feet striking the ground, and the flames were so intense that they seemed to burn away any perception of the wolf's surroundings within its range.
Indeed, the fight was heavily one-sided, with the wolf's tiny paws delivering blows that Dante had never experienced before.
However, it seemed that the wolf was deliberately giving Dante the chance to block its attacks, allowing him to match the beast as its dark flame paws landed squarely on the blade of his katana.
Despite his efforts, Dante was still pushed back with each successive attack, until he finally found himself at the entrance of the dungeon.
As Dante caught sight of the dungeon entrance, the little wolf suddenly ceased its attack, disappearing from the dungeon just as quickly as it had appeared. Its voice echoed in Dante's mind as it spoke its final words.
''Goodbye, Master. We shall meet again. And do not forget the special gift I have left for you,'' the wolf's voice was surprisingly cute, but the malicious intent behind its words was unmistakable.
With those parting words, the little fiery wolf vanished, leaving Dante alone at the entrance of the dungeon, wondering what gift the creature had left for him and what new dangers lay ahead in the depths of the dungeon.
Without hesitation, he charged toward the pack of wolves, fully aware that he needed to swiftly clear the dungeon regardless of the consequences. Turning back was not an option, but he also knew he had to exercise extreme caution as his life was at risk unlike in the Abyss Dimension.
[Ignition: Flame Steel]
His muscles tightened as he gripped his katana, which blazed with dark flames that burned brighter than its orange-hued counterpart. The intense heat radiating from the flames caused the air around the sword to shimmer with heat waves.
The smoke trail emanating from him exuded an aura capable of engulfing the world in embers and triggering catastrophic explosions.
Upon witnessing the power boost that came with forming a contract with the hateful little wolf, Dante's thoughts shifted, contemplating sparing him this time. It seemed that he had received a significant increase in power even without leveling up.
A slight grin formed on Dante's typically stoic face as the first shadow wolf pounced at him, only to meet the cold metal of his blazing katana.
Watching the fiery sparks engulf everything in their brilliance, including the black gooey blood of the wolf, filled him with an even greater sense of elation. The flames seemed to endure longer than typical flames, burning brightly with sustained intensity.
However, he hastily wiped the smile from his face as he checked the amount of mana it required to sustain the constant ignition of the blade.
He realized that he had to swiftly bring things to a close since the pack of wolves was not the only hindrance in the dungeon.
The alpha of the pack alone would pose a significant challenge, and he was certain that the ''gift'' from the little wolf wouldn't be anything pleasant.
With his current level of sword mastery and magic, entering the stance of Fiery Eclipse was the only move available to Dante that would fully complement his fire element.
Dante flexed his leg muscles to their limit and activated his enhanced twelve-meter range perception as he clutched his katana, bursting forward towards the nearest cluster of wolves, consisting of about five wolves.
Taking on his usual stance, but with a much darker tone and illusionary effect, Dante summoned an image of a dragon in descent, wreathed in dark flames that basked in the moonlight.
The dragon landed heavily in the radius around the five wolves, and before they could even react, the intense heat from the attack left them with searing wounds as the pitch-black flames tore through their shadow elemental walls.
The shockwave from the attack traveled through the dungeon floor, reverberating through the corridors.
[Ding! The host has defeated five level 18 Twilight Wolves, earning 16000 experience points.]
[Level up]
[Level up]
[Level up]
As Dante observed that some of his wolf adversaries had fallen to his attacks, the rest of the pack hastily converged toward him. Some of them camouflaged themselves within the shadows, while others darted towards him with incredible speed, leaving behind a trail of darkness.
Among them, the alpha wolf exhibited the patience and precision of an assassin, waiting for an opportunity to strike and decapitate Dante.
Given his past encounters, Dante was aware of this lurking danger, and the sight of the approaching wolf pack made him cautious. He refrained from making any sudden moves or checking his status, knowing that even a minor misstep could result in dire consequences.
Several wolves advanced toward Dante, their menacing canines glinting with a dark, shadowy aura. Their fur seemed to blend seamlessly with the darkness of the dungeon, making them almost invisible.
Some of the wolves lunged at him with their paws coated in the same dark aura, making Dante's heart race with anticipation.
Although Dante possessed the strength to take on these wolves, he had to consider his mana and stamina levels, as he knew that he still had to face whatever dangers lay ahead in the dungeon.
As he fought, he couldn't help but wonder if this was the ''gift'' that the sneaky wolf had left for him. If not, then he was in for a lot more trouble, as this level of opposition was far beyond what he had anticipated for a Rank E dungeon.
Screech!
The clash of metal and claws echoed throughout the chamber as Dante fought off the attacking wolves. With a swift motion, he sent one wolf flying backward, its whimpering cries filling the room.
Without wasting any time, he seized another wolf by its hands and smashed it into the ground, unleashing his base physical strength and Oppressive Control ability to devastating effect.
With the pack thrown off balance by Dante's sudden movements, the scene quickly descended into a massacre. Dante let loose a barrage of dark flame arrows and sword slashes, laying waste to the level 18 wolves with his sheer brute force.
Despite their fierce attacks and shadowy auras, they were no match for Dante's skill and experience.
As he weaved through the shadow-breath attacks of the wolves, he approached one that appeared stronger than the others but still weaker than the alpha.
With his katana raised high above his head, he brought it down with full force, unleashing Fiery Eclipse upon his intended target. Despite his intense focus on the wolf, two more wolves emerged from his shadow and made a beeline for his neck.
''Hmph, I saw that coming,'' he thought, his smirk reflecting his successful anticipation. Without missing a beat, he released his grip on the katana and swiftly twisted around to face the two wolves attacking him from behind.
With his palms outstretched, he unleashed [Ignition: Fire Burst], a powerful burst of dark flames that blasted through the chests of the wolves, leaving gaping holes and causing them to burn relentlessly until they were nothing but ash.
The residual flames erupted from their backs, causing widespread destruction among the wolves who had attempted a similar tactic.
All of this happened in a matter of seconds, and Dante swiftly regained his initial stance while deftly catching his falling katana. Without hesitation, he plunged forward, delivering the first form of Magnus' technique directly to the head of the wolf.
The sound of Dante's katana cracking through the wolf's skull echoed through the air, followed by a piercing howl of pain. But before the wolf could even take another breath, the flames from Dante's attack consumed it entirely, leaving nothing behind but ash and charred bones.
The other wolves, sensing the power and skill of their opponent, hesitated for a moment before charging forward once again, determined to take down Dante no matter the cost. But little did they know, Dante was more than ready to face them head-on, with his fiery skills and deadly blade at the ready.
Dante took a moment to catch his breath, his chest heaving as he surveyed the area around him. Only then did he fully register the extent of the damage he had caused during his fight with the wolves.
Despite the destruction, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in the sick moves he had pulled off, both with his magic and his swordsmanship.
In particular, he was impressed with the move where he had let go of his blade to attack the wolves behind him, only to catch it again in mid-air and deliver a powerful blow without losing any of his momenta.
This move was a clear indication of how his precision and dexterity had evolved even further, and he couldn't help but give credit to his elusive premonition ability, which had allowed him to anticipate the wolves' attack and react with lightning-fast reflexes.
Dante's attention was drawn to the deep recesses of the darkness, where a pair of bright red eyes glowed ominously. He couldn't help but smirk as he realized that he wasn't the only one who had recognized the danger he posed.
''Well, well, well,'' he murmured to himself. ''It looks like we have an alpha in our midst.''
As he focused on the red-eyed creature, Dante could feel his adrenaline pumping and his senses sharpening, ready for whatever lay ahead. He knew that the alpha would be a formidable opponent, but he was confident in his abilities and ready to face the challenge head-on.
With a fierce determination in his eyes, Dante took a step forward, his katana at the ready. ''Let's dance,'' he said with a grin, as he prepared to face the alpha in a battle that would test his skills and his will to survive.
As soon as he attempted to move, the wolves behind him swiftly shifted to block his path. Some leaped over him, leaving ominous shadows in their wake, while others rushed past him, exuding an air of unease and anxiety.
Finally, the last group emerged from the darkness, led by the alpha. The palpable ferocity and bloodlust emanating from them would intimidate even the bravest warriors. With their jaws agape and growls echoing fiercely, they all converged upon him.
Dante, with a thin smile, addressed the loyal pack before him. ''Oh, A loyal pack. You all are fierce fighters, but whether I face more or less of you, the outcome remains the same. I will emerge victorious.''
Despite his indifferent facade, the sight of twenty-five wolves bearing down on him shattered his composure, and he revealed his pearly white teeth as the thrill of the imminent battle coursed through him.
With his two strands of silver hair across his face dramatically swaying in the stale wind of the dungeon, Dante dug his feet into the ground, leaving a crater, and charged headlong into the treacherous maws of the beasts.
His katana glinted in the darkness as it descended upon the unsuspecting enemies. The angel of death bore witness to the blood-curdling massacre that followed.
The only indications that a human was behind the brutal assault were the piercing red eyes, shining silver hair, and the sword that only a human could wield. Dante had truly transformed into a hunter.