The very second the party entered the dungeon, the oppressive silence was shattered, replaced only by the soft hum of bioluminescent moss growing in thin threads along the rough walls. The air was thick with dampness, the floor uneven and slick with moisture. The flickering, faintly blue light cast macabre shadows that danced unnaturally, as if alive. The scent of mildew and something darker—something primal—hung heavy in the air, making every breath feel like a struggle.
A low, guttural growl reverberated through the cavern, sending ripples through the stagnant air. From the darkness itself, a massive, red wolf materialized, its form coalescing like smoke given shape. Its sharpened, metallic claws gleamed with an unholy light, and its pitch-black eyes locked onto the party with a primal, insatiable hunger. The wolf's breath came in ragged, steaming bursts, and its muscles rippled beneath its crimson fur, each movement exuding raw power.
Cha-Jong's voice cut through the tension like a blade, sharp and commanding."Formation ready! Garret, you're up!"
The team moved with practiced precision, their training evident in their seamless coordination. Garret, his massive frame wielding an axe that seemed almost too large for any normal man, stepped forward to intercept the charging wolf. His muscles tensed, bracing for impact, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the beast's movements.
Garret grinned, his voice a low rumble that carried both confidence and challenge.
"Come on, mutt. Let's see what you've got."
The wolf lunged with terrifying speed, its claws aimed for Garret's throat. But Garret was ready. With a heavy, calculated swing of his axe, he forced the beast to leap back, its claws scraping against the stone floor with a sound that sent shivers down their spines. The wolf snarled, its eyes glowing with a malevolent light as it circled, waiting for an opening.
Behind Garret, Mira seized the moment. Her fingers wove through the air with practiced ease, summoning a flight of flaming arrows that crackled with destructive energy. Her voice was sharp, commanding, and laced with a hint of disdain. "Stay right there, you oversized cat!"
The arrows shot through the air, their fiery trails illuminating the cavern as they buried themselves in the wolf's flanks. The creature let out a hoarse, agonized howl before collapsing, its body smoldering and still.
Lyra smirked, twirling her staff idly as she observed the aftermath."Well, well. Quick work."
Cha-Jong nodded in approval, though his eyes quickly shifted to Akira, who had remained motionless throughout the encounter."Not a bad start. What do you think, E.B.?"
Akira said nothing, his eyes narrowing as he watched the team. His thoughts, however, were anything but silent."Is this the strength of a C-rank STAR warrior and a near B-rank STAR mage? Impressive… but it doesn't even come close to the aura that monster—the homeless man—emitted. These wolves are nothing but insects compared to him. What level has he reached? SS-rank? National level?"
His face hardened, and his eyes darted into the darkness beyond their pool of light."It's not over."
A new chorus of growls and the sound of padding feet reached their ears, growing louder with each passing second. Two more wolves materialized from the shadows, their obsidian eyes reflecting the faint blue light like mirrors. Then another. And another. In an instant, five red wolves surrounded them, each one larger and more menacing than the last. Their growls were deep and resonant, vibrating through the stone floor and into the party's very bones. The wolves moved with a predatory grace, their muscles coiled like springs ready to unleash devastating force.
Cha-Jong's voice was serious, his tone commanding but laced with an edge of urgency."What a pain in the neck. Stay close, everybody. They can't split us up that way."
The wolves growled low, their claws scraping against the stone floor with a sound that set teeth on edge. The largest of the pack, a beast with scars crisscrossing its fur and eyes that burned with intelligence, let out a bone-chilling howl. The sound echoed through the cavern, and the air seemed to thicken, pressing down on the party like a physical weight.
Mira's eyes widened as she felt her magic falter, the flames at her fingertips sputtering."What the hell? My magic—!"
Cha-Jong gritted his teeth, his voice strained."It's their Howl of Disruption! It weakens our abilities and messes with our senses. Stay focused!"
The wolves didn't wait. They lunged as one, their movements synchronized with deadly precision. Garret swung his axe, but his strikes felt slower, heavier, as if the air itself resisted him. One wolf darted past his guard, its claws slicing through his armor and drawing blood. Garret grunted, his expression darkening as he realized the severity of the situation.
Lyra's staff glowed faintly as she chanted a spell, but the light flickered uncertainly."This isn't good. We need to—"
Before she could finish, Akira burst forward, leaving the rest behind. His movements were fluid, unaffected by the wolves' disruptive howl. His mind was razor-sharp, his focus unshaken."I didn't come here to joke around with some party. They were just a stepping stone to enter the dungeon. I came to become stronger. To level up."
He sprinted toward the wolves, his voice a low whisper.
"System Scan."
Before him, a translucent window materialized, displaying the details of the nearest wolf:
Ding!
[Status Window]
[Name: Tundra Wolf]
[Rank: D+]
[Abilities: Metal Claw, Pack Instincts, Howl of Disruption]
[Notes: Agile, resilient, and very adept at ambushes. Their claws contain toxic energy, which can infect and slow prey on contact. Approach with extreme caution.]
Akira's eyes flickered as he processed the information.
"I've noticed something... Sometimes the system shows a monster's weaknesses, and other times it doesn't. Sometimes it gives too much information, other times barely any. Why is that? Is the data not being registered properly, or is it being hidden on purpose?"
His thoughts were cut short as the first wolf lunged at him, its Metal Claw gleaming with a sickly green hue. Akira sidestepped with precision, the beast passing centimeters from his body. Before it could recover, his fist lashed out, striking the wolf's jaw with a sickening crack. The wolf yelped and tumbled backward, but its eyes remained locked on him, filled with a feral intelligence that sent a chill down his spine.
The others closed in, but Akira showed no hesitation. In a blur of motion, he sprang upward, delivering a powerful kick that sent another wolf sprawling. The impact was brutal, the sound of cracking bone echoing through the cavern. But the wolves were relentless. The largest one, the pack leader, let out another howl, and the air seemed to ripple with its power. Akira felt a brief wave of dizziness, but he shook it off, his determination unshaken.
Behind him, Cha-Jong growled in frustration."This fool is going to get himself killed!"
Lyra frowned, her staff glowing faintly as she prepared to intervene."He's reckless, but… he's holding his own."
Mira scoffed, flames flickering weakly at her fingertips."I'm not cleaning up his mess."
Akira stood amidst the chaos, his breath steady, his focus unshaken. As the second wolf slid across the cavern floor from his kick, Garret, several feet back with his great axe resting on his shoulder, couldn't help but smile."You know, I didn't like that kid when I first saw him."
Cha-Jong shot him a questioning glance."What are you talking about? Do you think it's time to share feelings?"
Garret's smile widened."I thought he was just another arrogant brat who awakened young and let it go to his head. But look at him. Reckless—charging in alone, yet still holding his own."His eyes gleamed with humor and appreciation."I like that."
Cha-Jong scowled."He's going to tire himself out! We should interfere—"
Garret raised a hand, cutting him off."Wait. Just watch. Trust me, Chief. Let the kid show us what he's got. If he gets in danger, we're here, remember?"
Meanwhile, Akira's mind was racing. The third wolf leaped at him, and from his inventory, he summoned the Pantho Blade. The blade appeared in his hand, its runes flaring briefly as he released it with uncanny precision. It whirred through the air, plunging into the wolf's skull with a heavy thud.
Mira's eyes widened."Where the hell did that sword come from?"
Akira didn't respond. He burst forward, retrieving his blade with ease. Instead of attacking, he faked a throw, drawing the fourth wolf into an opening. The wolf instinctively dodged, but Akira was ready. A powerful bolt of White Lightning erupted from his hand, striking the wolf mid-dodge and sending it flying. The cavern echoed with the crackling energy.
Akira's voice was calm, almost detached."Four down."
Cha-Jong's eyes widened, his frustration replaced by reluctant admiration."Wow."
Lyra chuckled, spinning her staff idly."Careful, Chief—you might sound like a fanboy. But I'll admit…"She smirked, her head cocked to the side as she watched Akira."He really knows how to fight. And, khem... is handsome too."
Cha-Jong shot her a glare, while Garret laughed loudly."You wish! That kid's got more fire in his eyes than half the so-called stars I've seen."
As Akira prepared to charge at the final wolf, Mira stepped in, summoning a flurry of fire arrows. They streaked through the air, glowing brightly in the dim cavern, and pierced the wolf's body in rapid succession. The beast collapsed with a whimper before Akira could land his strike.
Mira smirked, her tone dripping with sarcasm."That's enough, show-off. Save your energy. It's still too early to be wasting yourself, kid."
Akira stopped mid-step, narrowing his eyes at her as he sheathed the Pantho Sword back into his inventory."I'm not even warmed up yet."
Mira raised an eyebrow, unimpressed."Sure you aren't."
[Status Window]
[Congratulations! You have leveled up.]
[+5 Stat Points awarded.]
[Perfected Symmetry in effect. Allocating stat points equally across all attributes: Strength, Agility, Stamina Endurance, and Intelligence increased by +1 each.]
[The user's level has increased, the body will be restored to peak condition.]
A warm, energizing flow coursed through Akira's body, his muscles strengthening and his fatigue dissipating. As he stood amidst the carnage, another notification appeared:
[New Trait Unlocked]
[Beast-Slayer]
[Increases damage against beast-type enemies by 15%.]
Akira dismissed the screen, a small smirk tugging at his lips."One step closer."
Garret stepped forward, clapping Akira on the back."Not bad, kid. Reckless as hell, but not bad."
Akira shrugged off the gesture, his expression impassive."I didn't come here to play it safe."
Cha-Jong sighed, stepping in to address the group."Alright, enough posturing. E.B., don't act by yourself anymore. You were lucky out there. If they'd activated their Howl of Disruption at full power again, things would've gotten messy. You got lucky to end it all before that. Anyway, we've got more to deal with deeper inside. Let's regroup and keep moving."
Mira glanced at Akira, her smirk softening slightly."Next time, don't hog all the fun, alright?"
Akira didn't respond, his eyes already scanning the deeper shadows of the dungeon."This is just the start. I'll take whatever this place has to offer… and more." - His mind raced, his determination unshaken.