Dera stood alone in the cavern, his body bathed in the dim red glow of the flaming candy-stick torches lining the jagged walls. His crimson Aura crackled around him like a living flame, casting fierce shadows across his determined face.
From the darkness, countless pairs of menacing, red-glowing eyes stared back, unblinking, predatory, and hungry for blood.
GRRR
Low, guttural growls echoed through the venom-infested cave, surrounding him like an invisible vice.
'Fine... bring it on.'
VHOOM!
A Steel-Fanged Venom Wolf shot out from the shadows like a bolt of death, its claws gleaming like forged steel, its iron-like fangs bared.
SWISH!
With fluid precision, Dera sidestepped the lethal lunge. As the beast sailed past, he twisted sharply and unleashed a devastating punch, his Aura-coated fist connecting with the creature's skull.
CRACK!
The wolf's head shattered like brittle stone, spraying dark ichor across the cavern floor. Its lifeless body hit the ground with a sickening THUD
CLING!
[You have killed a Higher Finnless Venom. 5 points awarded.]
Dera exhaled sharply, his eyes darting back to the sea of glowing red orbs still lurking in the darkness. The death of their comrade didn't intimidate them—in fact, it only seemed to ignite their bloodlust further. They began to advance in a slow, calculated prowl, surrounding him like a deadly noose tightening inch by inch.
But Dera's expression remained cold, resolute.
Outnumbered they may be, but to them, Dera was just another prey. What they didn't realize was that while they were planning to hunt, Dera had already claimed the role of the predator.
VHOOM!
SNARL!
Suddenly, three wolves pounced from different directions, aiming for his throat, his chest, and his legs—leaving no room for escape.
Dera's eyes blazed as his combat instincts flared. In a split second, he lunged backward, narrowly dodging their razor-sharp claws. Pivoting on one heel, he drove a fierce spinning kick into the ribs of the nearest wolf.
KRACK!
The creature let out a high-pitched yelp as its body slammed into the cavern wall with bone-crushing force.
CLING!
[You have killed a Finnless Venom. 3 points awarded.]
Before he could catch his breath, two more wolves emerged from opposite sides, their jaws snapping with murderous intent.
VHOOM!
Dera ducked beneath their synchronized attack, feeling the rush of air as their claws barely missed his head. He countered with a brutal uppercut, his Aura-infused fist smashing into the first wolf's jaw.
BOOM!
Its skull exploded like shattered glass, its body collapsing mid-lunge. The second wolf leaped again, but Dera twisted mid-air and brought down a devastating axe-kick directly onto its back.
CRUNCH!
The beast let out a final, gurgling growl before falling still.
CLING!
[You have killed a Higher Finnless Venom. 5 points awarded.]
[You have killed a Finnless Venom. 3 points awarded.]
Time blurred into an endless cycle of combat. The relentless onslaught of snarling wolves seemed never-ending. Blood and ichor splattered the cavern floor as the echoing CRACKS, THUDS, and SNAPS of shattered bones and system notifications filled the suffocating darkness.
Several Hours Later…
"Huff... Huff..."
Dera panted heavily, his chest rising and falling like a storm-tossed sea. His crimson Aura flickered weakly, drained from the prolonged, brutal battle. Blood stained his clothes, though none of it was his own.
"Finally... it's over," he gasped, wiping sweat from his brow. "For a moment... I thought they would never stop coming." His voice trembled slightly, exhaustion threatening to drag him down. "I was running low on Aura too... another minute, and..."
CLING!
[You have achieved a Title: Slaughterer of Wolves]
When fighting wolf-like venoms, all stats will increase by +10.
Dera's eyes widened in surprise. "A title? Not bad... This might be useful when I face the venom boss." He clenched his fist, feeling a renewed surge of strength coursing through his veins.
CLING!
[You have unlocked a skill: Venomic Recovery (Rank: D)]
Recovers all injuries sustained by the user. Can only be used once every 24 hours.
"Yes!" he exclaimed, relief flooding through him. "Finally... a skill!" His smile faded slightly. "Too bad I can only use it once a day... but still, this changes everything."
He slowly straightened, his fingers flexing in renewed determination. The venom boss awaited somewhere deeper in the cave... and he wasn't planning on going down without a fight.
CLING!
[Levels before Evolution: Lv. 99/100]
Dera blinked at the glowing notification hovering before him.
"Huh... just one more level before I evolve into a One-Finned?" he muttered, tilting his head in mild confusion. His breath hitched for a moment, excitement stirring within—but that thought was swiftly cut off by—
GRRRRRROOOAAAARRR!!
A thunderous, primal roar echoed through the entire venom cave, shaking its very foundations. The sound reverberated through Dera's chest, sending a cold, creeping dread slithering down his spine. The air itself seemed to vibrate with malice.
Dera's fists clenched instinctively, crimson Aura crackling around him like raging embers. Whatever made that monstrous sound was no ordinary wolf—it was something far deadlier. Still, he steeled his resolve and pressed forward toward the source of the intimidating roar.
Deeper in the Venom Cave…
As Dera entered a vast, dimly lit chamber, his sharp eyes locked onto an ominous sight. There, perched on a jagged throne of carved stone, sat a hulking wolf-like figure. Strange, glowing runes pulsed faintly along the throne's surface, emanating a sinister, ancient power.
The creature slowly rose, its monstrous form towering over Dera. Its muscular body was covered in thick, shadowy fur that draped across its shoulders like a menacing, fur-lined cape. Jagged scars slashed across its chest, each telling a tale of countless, brutal battles.
But the most terrifying feature was the sharp, curved Finn protruding from the center of its forehead, radiating a dark, pulsating aura.
CLING!
[Venom Rank: One-Finned. Name: Jakuza Lycan]
"So... you've finally arrived," the Lycan growled, its deep, menacing voice reverberating throughout the cavern. Its piercing red eyes glinted with cruel amusement.
"I was beginning to grow... bored."
'it.... it can talk!' Dera thought, surprised.
The creature's lips twisted into a grotesque grin, baring jagged, metallic fangs.
"It's been, far too long since I've tasted human flesh."
Its tongue snaked out, licking its lips with slow, predatory delight.
"I wonder... what you'll taste like."
TAP... TAP... TAP...
The cavern floor cracked beneath the heavy steps of the towering beast as it began stalking toward Dera with predatory intent.
Dera narrowed his eyes, his fists tightening.
"Let's skip the chit-chat, shall we?" he interrupted coldly, his voice sharp and unwavering.
The Lycan's twisted grin froze, its bloodthirsty amusement replaced by something far more dangerous—cold, calculating focus.
Its gaze swept over Dera, examining him from head to toe with deadly precision.
"Hmm... You're not trembling... not cowering like the others..." it mused darkly.
"Your resilience... is commendable."
A sudden, sadistic smirk etched itself across the Lycan's monstrous face. It effortlessly swung the iron bat bristling with wicked spikes, its entire body erupting with a seething, black-and-red aura that crackled like cursed lightning.
WHOOSH!
"I'll make you understand... the smell... of FEAR!"
The cavern plunged into an eerie silence, broken only by the faint hum of burning auras colliding. The Lycan's lips twitched, twisting into a feral sneer.
Suddenly...
VHOOM!
Dera's eyes widened in horror.
In the span of a single blink, the Lycan had disappeared.
'What—?!'
Before he could react, his instincts screamed at him, and his gaze snapped upward—
WHOOSH!
The monstrous iron bat bristling with jagged spikes was mere inches from his face, descending with the force of a falling meteor.
'It's FAST!'
BOOM!
Dera crossed his arms just in time, coating them in a protective layer of crackling red Aura. The bat struck with earth-shattering force, sending shockwaves rippling through the cave.
The sheer impact launched Dera backward like a ragdoll. His body hurtled through the air and crashed violently against the cavern wall with a sickening CRASH!
Rocks and debris crumbled around him as he slumped to the ground, his ears ringing from the deafening impact. His arms throbbed in searing agony, bruised and bloodied despite the protective Aura.
"Keo-keoks!"
Dera spat a mouthful of blood, gasping for air as pain tore through his battered body.
'If I hadn't shielded my hands with Aura… I'd have lost them to this monster…' he thought grimly, his trembling fists still stinging from the brutal impact.
But the Lycan wasn't going to wait.
VHOOM!
In the blink of an eye, the beast vanished, its speed tearing through the air like a sonic boom.
WHOOSH!
Dera's instincts kicked in, his body twisting at the last second as the spiked bat barely grazed past his head. He rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding a lethal blow—but before he could regain his footing...
BOOM!
The Lycan spun, its bat connecting with Dera's gut with a sickening crunch. Dera was sent flying once more, crashing to the ground with a violent crash.
'Uhh...' he groaned, pain surging through him. 'I- I'm really going to die at this rate' His body was battered, his Aura flickering weakly around him, but he refused to give up. His hands clenched into fists, his Aura flaring up again, surrounding him like a shield.
The Lycan paused, its eyes gleaming with a sadistic amusement. It didn't attack immediately, almost as if it were savoring the moment.
'Tsk... it's toying with me,' Dera realized, gritting his teeth as anger ignited in his chest.
"Are you done wasting my time?" the Lycan snarled coldly, tilting its head with casual indifference.
Dera's gaze burned with defiance.
"I'll... make you regret looking down on me," he growled through clenched teeth.
VHOOM!
They lunged simultaneously, closing the distance in a heartbeat.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Fist met bat in a fierce collision of raw power and savage intent. Sparks erupted with every clash as Dera's relentless punches met the Lycan's crushing strikes.
But no matter how hard he hit, the monster's wounds closed almost instantly, its skin regenerating with eerie precision.
CLING!
A system notification flashed faintly before Dera's strained gaze:
[Aura: 15/50]
'Damn it… I'm running low on Aura. I need to end this fast,' Dera thought, feeling the weight of exhaustion bearing down on him. He slid back, gathering what little energy he had left.
"Alright," the Lycan sneered, its grin widening. "I'm done playing with my meal."
BOOM!
The ground shattered beneath the Lycan's feet as it stomped forward, raising its monstrous, spike-laden bat high.
"Technique Development: Venomic Arts..."
Dark magic surged from beneath the beast, forming a massive, glowing red-and-black magic circle inscribed with sinister runes. It radiated an eerie hum, vibrating the very air like a death knell.
The Lycan's eyes gleamed with bloodlust.
"Severing Slash!"
It swung the bat in a horizontal arc. A thin, almost invisible arc of concentrated red Aura hurtled through the air with impossible speed—silent, deadly, and undetectable.
VLOOM!
It struck Dera square in the gut, lifting him off the ground as if he weighed nothing. His body flew backward, slamming into the Lycan's throne with a deafening BOOM.
He gasped for air, his vision blurring from the unbearable agony. Blood pooled beneath him, staining the broken stones. His hands trembled as he clutched his gut, struggling to keep his insides from spilling out.
'What the hell... was that...?' he thought, gasping.
'It was so... fast... I could barely... see it... If I hadn't anticipated that attack and poured all my remaining Aura into my stomach at the last second...'
His mind reeled... until something clicked.
Wait.
It wasn't just anticipation.
The memory of that attack played back in his mind—frame by frame. He hadn't just reacted by instinct... he'd seen it coming, moments before it hit.
'Is this... the Observation Aura... the old man talked about...?'
His thoughts shattered as the Lycan's guttural voice echoed through the cavern.
"You're still alive... after that?" the monster hissed in genuine surprise, its eyes narrowing as it watched Dera, broken and battered but very much alive, seated atop the wreckage of its throne.
"Impressive."
The beast strode forward, bat resting casually over its broad shoulder.
"But it doesn't matter anyway. You're still... just... weak."
Silence....
Dera's ragged breathing... stopped.
His trembling fingers clenched into bloody fists. His head hung low as shadows veiled his face.
One thing Dera hated above all... was being called—
WEAK.
VLOOM!
The air splintered with an ominous energy as something inside him... snapped.
Slowly... he raised his head.
His once-fiery red Aura dimmed—warping, corrupting.
Dark, violent power pulsed from within him, seeping into his very core. His eyes burned with cold, merciless determination.
WHOOSH!
The crimson glow was gone, consumed by a seething, malevolent purple aura—dark as midnight, twisted and hungry.
The cavern trembled under its suffocating pressure.
The Lycan's grin faltered.
For the first time... it felt unease.
Dera's voice dropped into something cold, empty, deadly.
"...What the hell... did you just call me?"