Chapter 10: The Dungeon of Shadows
"Not again," Cruz whispered to himself, pushing his limits. The shadows of the cave loomed ominously behind him as he sprinted, determined to find his way to safety. The only thought in his mind was escape—away from the clutches of the Mindweaver and its spawn. Each step echoed with the promise of freedom as he raced toward the light that marked the entrance, his heart set on survival.
The walls of the cave seemed to close in around him, the narrow passageways feeling more like a trap with each frantic step. As he ducked and dodged, the anguished shrieks and angry hisses of the spiders followed him like a shadow, their relentless pursuit driving him deeper into the heart of the cave. He could almost feel the hot breath of the Mindweaver behind him, a chilling reminder of the deadly creature that prowled the darkness.
Cruz sprinted through the labyrinthine tunnels, his pulse pounding in rhythm with his footfalls. Every instinct screamed at him to keep moving, to escape the predatory spiders that chased him with insatiable hunger. With each turn, he felt the cavern shift around him, as if the cave itself were alive, twisting and contorting to keep him trapped.
Then, as he rounded another sharp corner, he skidded to a halt, nearly losing his footing on the rough ground. Jagged rocks jutted out before him, sharp and imposing, like a twisted barricade. A deep sense of dread settled in his gut, but he had no time to dwell on it. Behind him, the cacophony of shrieks grew louder, and he knew he had to keep moving.
Just as he was about to press forward, something caught his eye—a shimmering passageway off to the side. A radiant light pulsed from the opening, its energy reminiscent of the portals he had seen before. Hope surged within him; perhaps this was a way out, a salvation from the onslaught of spiders. But as he approached, confusion gripped him.
The energy emanating from the passage felt different. It was both alluring and terrifying, pulling at him like a siren's call. Without thinking, he bumped into the barrier of light, and a prompt materialized before his eyes:
[Enter the Dungeon of Shadows? Yes/No]
Cruz stared at the prompt, his heart racing. The choice was his—stay and face the Mindweaver or step into the unknown. It felt like a gamble, but he could hear the spiders drawing closer, their cries echoing ominously in the confined space.
"Damn it!" he cursed under his breath, weighing his options. He had faced danger before, but this felt different. Whatever lay within that dungeon could be just as deadly as the Mindweaver. But the thought of being caught by the spiders left him paralyzed with fear.
With no time to waste, he made a split-second decision. "Yes!" he shouted, slamming his palm against the prompt.
The world around him shimmered, and in an instant, he was pulled through the passageway. He felt a jolt of energy surge through him, like plunging into icy water before being enveloped in warmth. When the sensation subsided, he found himself standing in a dimly lit chamber, the air thick with an otherworldly presence.
The Dungeon of Shadows loomed around him, its walls a swirling darkness. Faint whispers flitted through the air, almost indistinguishable, creating an unsettling ambiance. Shadows danced across the stone floor, and Cruz instinctively reached for his dagger, gripping it tightly. He was in a new territory, and he had to be ready for whatever lurked in the dark.
As he looked around, he noticed the chamber was filled with ancient murals carved into the walls, depicting scenes of battles long forgotten. Warriors clashed with monstrous beings, and strange symbols adorned the edges, pulsating with energy. A chill crept down his spine; this was no ordinary dungeon. It felt alive, breathing, and he could sense the presence of powerful forces at play.
Suddenly, a low growl resonated from the shadows, drawing his attention. Cruz turned slowly, dagger raised, as he focused on the emerging form. From the darkness, a creature slinked forward, its body sleek and serpentine. It had glowing eyes that pierced through the dim light, a predator sizing up its prey.
[Shadow Serpent – lvl ??]
You have encountered [Shadow Serpent].
Cruz's heart raced as the creature coiled and uncoiled, preparing to strike. He could feel the weight of fear pressing down on him again, but he forced himself to stand firm. He was in a new realm, and he had to adapt.
The serpent lunged, its fangs bared, but Cruz was quick on his feet. He sidestepped just in time, using Earth Sense to anticipate the creature's movements. As he spun around, he slashed at the serpent with his dagger, catching it along the side. The blade connected, and the creature recoiled, hissing in pain.
It was then that he realized the serpent's body was made up of shadows, its form flickering like a flame. He had to be cautious; physical attacks might not be effective for long. The shadows it wielded could absorb damage, rendering him vulnerable if he wasn't careful.
Cruz took a deep breath, focusing on his options. He activated Identify once more.
[Shadow Serpent – lvl 9]
Vitality: 4/5
Strength: 3/5
Agility: 5/5
Endurance: 3/5
Mana Capacity: 4/5
Shadow Affinity: 5/5
The information flashed before him, but it was just as ambiguous as before. Cruz felt a growing frustration. The creature was an unknown entity, and he had no way of gauging its power.since last time he couldn't stay complacent just because he felt more powerful.
unlike last time He needed a plan.
Just then, the serpent lunged again, this time with a flick of its tail. Cruz barely dodged, feeling the wind rush past him as the tail smashed against the ground, sending a shower of rocks into the air. With adrenaline fueling him, he pivoted, aiming for the creature's head.
He knew he had to land a critical hit to weaken it. As he closed the distance, he remembered the energy he had felt earlier from the portal, a surge of ancient power. Maybe he could tap into the Descent of Primus and channel that energy against the serpent.
Drawing upon his bloodline, Cruz focused, willing the energy to flow through him. As he swung his dagger, a faint glow enveloped the blade, and he felt a surge of power. The dagger connected with the serpent's neck, and the energy exploded outward in a shockwave of light and shadows.
The serpent writhed in agony, the glow dissipating the dark energy that had composed its form. Cruz took advantage of its momentary weakness, following up with another strike. The creature shrieked, its voice echoing throughout the chamber, reverberating against the walls.
As it began to falter, Cruz could see its health depleting. "This is it!" he thought, charging forward with renewed vigor.
The serpent coiled again, attempting to strike back, but Cruz was ready. He sidestepped its lunge, dodging just in time to avoid its fangs. With one final, determined thrust, he plunged his dagger deep into the heart of the creature.
The serpent let out a final cry, its body disintegrating into a cloud of shadowy mist that swirled around him before vanishing completely. A sense of victory washed over Cruz, mingled with a profound exhaustion. He had survived the encounter, but he could feel the fatigue setting in.
In the aftermath of the battle, a notification flashed before him:
[You have defeated Shadow Serpent – EXP gained: 150]
[You have leveled up! levelup system unlocked.]
"Finally!" he laughed gleefully. "It's finally here! I can finally level up!" He couldn't contain the joy bubbling within him, but then a thought struck him—did he need to enter dungeons to level up? The uncertainty lingered, but for now, he reveled in the good news.
With anticipation coursing through him, Cruz opened his stat screen. He was stunned by what he saw:
Character Profile: Cruz Hernandez
Race: Human
Level: 5
Abilities:
[Descent of Primus]
Rank: F evolving..... (error??//𐌗𐌘𐌗𐌡𐌕 𐌢 𐌡𐌠𐌢𐌔)
Skill Type: Causality Manipulation
Effect: User can accelerate or decelerate the flow of time around a target for a short duration.
Description: ?????
IdentifyRank: F (32/100)
Skill Type: Knowledge/Observation
Effect: User can discern basic information about an object, creature, or entity, including its name, type, level, and basic attributes. This skill helps the user assess potential threats and strategize accordingly.
[Weak Quakehorn Titan Bloodline]
Rank: ???
Description: Ability absorbed from the Stonehide Rhino's blood.
[Earth Sense]
Rank: F (14/100)
Skill Type: Environmental Awareness
Effect: User can sense vibrations and disturbances in the earth, allowing detection of nearby terrain features, hidden pathways, and the presence of creatures within a limited radius. This skill provides awareness of environmental shifts and helps locate hidden dangers or resources underground.
Health and Resources:
Health Points (HP): 32/40
Mana Points (MP): 30/30
Stamina: 21/35
Stats:
Strength: 5
Agility: 6
Endurance: 5
Toughness: 6
Wisdom: 2
Intelligence: 4
Willpower: 7
Vitality: 7
Current Experience (XP): 300/900 (Level 5)
Experience Needed for Next Level: 600
Available Stat Points: 25
He could finally see it—the level tag! And the stat points! Overwhelmed with emotion, he almost cried out in joy. This was the moment he had been waiting for, a chance to reshape his future and strengthen himself against the challenges ahead.
With newfound determination, Cruz sat down on the cold stone floor of the chamber, his mind racing with possibilities. What should he enhance first?
He took a deep breath, grounding himself in the moment. Whatever lay ahead, he was ready to face it, armed with new knowledge, a stronger will, and a desire to uncover the secrets of the Dungeon of Shadows.