The horned rabbit's blue eyes stayed fixed on mine for a brief moment, the subtle tension between us punctuated by the rhythmic trickle of the blackened stream.
She paused at the edge, waiting. Was she sizing me up again? I stepped forward first, claws scraping against the moss—because if anyone was ready, it was me.
The moss beneath my paws was damp, clinging to my fur as I moved closer to her. The faint groove she had uncovered stretched deeper toward the far end of the chamber, where shadows pooled like ink. The air here felt heavier still, pressing against my fur and lungs with an almost tangible weight.
My [Blood Sight] flared again, illuminating the faint threads of life force writhing in the darkness beyond. Whatever lay ahead wasn't stationary. They were moving—hunting.
The faint hum of the dungeon seemed to grow louder, a dissonant melody that sent shivers through my body. The glow from the moss and fungi shifted slightly, dimming and brightening like a heartbeat.
And then the sound came.
A low growl, guttural and wet, resonated from the shadows. It was joined by others, a chorus of primal snarls that echoed through the chamber. The life forces I'd seen through [Blood Sight] moved closer, their erratic patterns becoming sharper, more coordinated.
The pack had arrived.
They moved deliberately, circling. Predators.
The horned rabbit crouched low, her horn angled forward like a spear. Her muscles tensed, coiled like a spring ready to snap. She didn't look at me this time—didn't even glance in my direction. Her focus was entirely on the shadows.
The first creature emerged slowly, its form almost melting out of the darkness. Its matted fur clung tightly to its skeletal frame, and faint wisps of moss draped over its hunched shoulders. Its glowing yellow eyes burned like coals, locking onto us with unsettling intensity.
Six more followed, each one just as gaunt and menacing, their claws scraping softly against the stone as they prowled closer.
I crouched instinctively, my claws digging into the ground as I prepared to leap. The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, its rhythm steadying my breathing.
The lead beast growled low in its throat, its spines bristling as it lowered itself into a crouch. Its pack circled around us, their movements slow and deliberate.
"Great," I muttered under my breath.
"More company."
The lead beast lunged first, a blur of dark fur and flashing claws. I threw myself to the side with [Bounce], narrowly avoiding its attack. My hind legs coiled as I twisted midair, slamming into its ribs with a sharp [Kick].
The impact sent it skidding across the floor, its claws scraping deep gouges into the stone.
[You have defeated a Feral Stalker. Obtained 10 EXP.]
I landed awkwardly, my legs trembling as I struggled to regain balance. Pain lanced through my side as another beast's claws raked across my flank, tearing through fur and skin.
[HP: 35 → 28.]
The horned rabbit moved in a blur, darting toward the beast that had struck me. Her horn flashed, slicing a shallow line across its shoulder. The creature hissed, its body twisting as it lashed out at her. She leapt back effortlessly, her movements sharp and precise.
I activated [Blood Sight] again, my vision flaring red as I scanned the pack. Their life force burned erratically, pulsing with wild energy. The leader's glow was stronger, more concentrated—its weak point flickering faintly at the base of its neck.
Before I could act, another beast lunged. I twisted away, my claws scraping against the slick stone as I narrowly avoided its snapping jaws. My legs burned as I pivoted, my hind legs lashing out in a desperate [Kick].
The beast yelped, its body crumpling as it hit the ground.
[You have defeated Feral Stalker. Obtained 8 EXP.]
One of the Stalkers lunged, its moss-covered body blurring as it closed the distance. I reacted on instinct, activating [Bounce] to leap high above its snapping jaws. The air rushed past my ears as I twisted midair, landing behind it. My hind legs lashed out with a precise [Kick], striking the beast's ribs with a sharp crack.
It yelped, stumbling to the side as its glowing life force dimmed faintly.
I didn't have time to savor the progress. Another beast was already closing in, its jagged spines bristling as it lunged for my exposed side.
Before I could react, the horned rabbit intercepted. She moved like a shadow, her compact frame darting in low before her horn angled upward in a brutal jab. The tip pierced the Stalker's throat, a spray of dark blood staining the moss-covered ground.
The beast collapsed with a gurgling snarl, its life force fading into nothing.
The remaining Stalkers hesitated, their glowing eyes flickering as they recalibrated their strategy. I could see the tension in their wiry frames, the way their claws dug into the stone in anticipation.
Time to disrupt their rhythm.
I locked eyes with the largest of the pack, the alpha. Its crimson gaze burned brighter as I activated [Hypnotic Gaze], pouring my focus into the skill. Pain lanced through my temples, the strain of holding such a powerful target evident immediately.
The alpha froze mid-step, its spines trembling as the glow in its eyes dimmed slightly. The other Stalkers faltered, their movements growing erratic as their leader's control wavered.
The horned rabbit didn't waste the opening. She darted in again, her horn flashing as she targeted one of the disoriented Stalkers. The beast snarled, its claws raking uselessly at the ground as her strike found its mark, severing its spine.
The alpha broke free of my gaze with a furious roar, shaking its massive head as the crimson light flared brighter. I staggered back, my chest heaving from the exertion.
The horned rabbit glanced at me briefly, her blue eyes sharp but not unkind. Without a word, she shifted her stance, positioning herself between me and the advancing alpha.
She was buying me time.
I straightened, forcing myself to focus. My [Blood Sight] flared again, illuminating the alpha's tangled web of life force. Its weak point flickered faintly—at the base of its neck, just below the jagged spines.
The horned rabbit engaged the alpha directly, her movements precise as she weaved around its slashing claws. I circled wide, keeping low as I waited for an opening.
When the alpha lunged at her, its massive jaws snapping shut just inches from her, I saw my chance.
I leapt forward with [Bounce], my hind legs coiling for a devastating [Kick]. The strike connected with the alpha's weak point, a sharp crack echoing through the chamber as it stumbled forward.
The horned rabbit seized the opportunity, her horn flashing in a deadly arc. She struck the alpha's exposed throat, her momentum carrying her forward as the beast collapsed beneath her.
The remaining two beasts circled cautiously now, their glowing eyes flickering with a mixture of rage and hesitation.
The larger one growled low in its throat, its claws scraping the stone as it prepared to charge. I locked eyes with it, activating [Hypnotic Gaze]. Pain flared behind my eyes, sharp and immediate, as I focused all my will on freezing the beast in place.
Its body stiffened mid-lunge, its movements faltering as the glow in its eyes dimmed. My muscles trembled from the effort, but I held firm, buying precious seconds.
"Now!" I barked, my voice hoarse.
The horned rabbit reacted instantly. She darted forward, her horn angled upward as she drove it into the beast's exposed throat. Blood sprayed in a sharp arc, splattering across the mossy floor as the creature let out a guttural snarl.
I released the skill, staggering as the strain faded. My legs trembled, but I forced myself forward, leaping onto the beast's back. My claws raked across its neck, and I followed with another [Kick], the impact sharp and decisive.
[You have defeated Feral Stalker. Obtained 15 EXP.]
The last beast growled, its spines bristling as it backed away from the carnage. It wasn't retreating—it was calculating.
The horned rabbit didn't wait. She charged, her movements precise as she aimed for its flank. The beast twisted at the last moment, swiping at her with claws that barely missed her hind legs.
I leaped in to intercept the beast, [Blood Sight] flaring as I locked onto its weak point. My hind legs lashed out, striking the base of its spine with a powerful [Kick]. The beast howled, its body crumpling to the ground.
The horned rabbit delivered the final blow, her horn piercing its skull with a sharp, wet crack.
[You have defeated Feral Stalker Alpha. Obtained 20 EXP.]
The chamber fell silent, save for the faint dripping of blood onto the stone. The moss beneath the creatures' bodies pulsed faintly, its glow dimming as the blood seeped into the ground.
[Level Up! Level 5 → Level 6. EXP to next level: 80.]
A rush of warmth flooded my chest as the notification appeared, my body feeling lighter and stronger. The faint pulse of the orb steadied, its rhythm syncing with the beat of my heart.
The horned rabbit stood over the largest beast, her blue eyes scanning the chamber for any lingering threats. Blood dripped from her horn, pooling at her feet.
She turned to me, her gaze calm but piercing. There was no acknowledgment in her expression, no sign of approval or judgment. Just focus.
I straightened, shaking the blood from my claws.
"Not bad," I muttered, brushing past her toward the center of the chamber.
"For you."
Her ears twitched, but she didn't respond. Instead, she began sniffing at the far wall, her movements slow and deliberate.
I followed, my gaze lingering on the creatures' lifeless forms. Their blood soaked into the moss, disappearing as though the dungeon itself was feeding on it.
The horned rabbit stood still for a moment after the fight, her chest rising and falling with quiet breaths. Then, a faint shimmer spread across her fur, subtle but unmistakable. Even her horn caught the light differently now, like it had been honed sharper by the battle
"What was that?" I muttered, my ears twitching.
She glanced at me, her blue eyes calm but sharper than before—more focused. Her horn caught the light differently now, its surface gleaming as though freshly polished. Even her stance felt changed, more confident and balanced.
Did she… just level up? My claws scraped lightly against the stone as I mulled over the idea. Creatures in the forest had never displayed such clear growth—at least not to my untrained eyes. But this wasn't the forest, and she wasn't like the others.
The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, as if agreeing with my unspoken thoughts. The horned rabbit tilted her head, her gaze lingering on me for a moment longer before she turned, leading us further into the dungeon.
The air grew heavier as we moved forward, the faint hum of the dungeon's life pulsing steadily beneath my feet. Whatever lay ahead, it wasn't going to be any easier.
And I was fine with that.
The jagged path sloped downward, and the faint hum of the dungeon grew softer, almost as if the air itself was holding its breath. The walls were alive with faint bioluminescent fungi, their hues shifting from soft greens to deep purples, casting flickering shadows that danced with each step. Water trickled faintly somewhere ahead, the sound soothing yet strangely unsettling in the otherwise silent expanse.
I limped forward, the orb in my chest thrumming faintly in time with my steps. The ache in my legs hadn't left, though the horned rabbit ahead of me moved with the same effortless precision as ever. Her silhouette was barely visible in the shifting light, her horn catching occasional glimmers that made it seem like a beacon cutting through the dim.
She stopped suddenly, one paw raised mid-step. Her ears swiveled toward the sound of trickling water, then toward the faint rustle of something in the distance—something small, skittering out of sight.
"Another fight already?" I muttered, my claws curling instinctively.
She didn't move, her sharp blue eyes scanning the shadows ahead. Then she glanced back at me, her gaze pointed but calm. No tension in her stance. No urgency in her movements. This wasn't danger—at least, not yet.
I exhaled, easing the tension in my shoulders.
"Fine. Lead on, oh fearless guide."
The passage opened into a vast chamber that stole what little breath I had left. The ceiling stretched so high it disappeared into darkness, yet glowing vines trailed down like curtains, their luminescence casting a gentle light over everything below. Massive fungal growths jutted from the ground; their caps large enough to shield us from sight if we crouched beneath them. Spore clouds shimmered faintly in the air, drifting lazily like golden dust motes.
At the center of the chamber, a shallow underground lake rippled softly, its surface a mirror that reflected the fungi and vines above. The water glowed faintly, not unlike the orb in my chest, its light pulsing in rhythm with the gentle currents.
For the first time since entering this dungeon, I felt a pang of awe. The dungeon wasn't just some malevolent force—it was alive, and it was beautiful.
The horned rabbit moved ahead; her paws silent on the moss-covered ground. She stopped near the lake's edge, her nose twitching as she sniffed the air. I followed, my claws scraping faintly against the stone.
The closer I got, the stronger the air smelled—earthy and damp, with a faint metallic tang lingering just beneath. My ears flicked as I caught the sound of something faintly creaking—perhaps the vines swaying overhead, or something watching from the shadows.
"Not exactly cozy," I muttered, glancing around the chamber.
The horned rabbit didn't respond, of course. Instead, she crouched low near a patch of moss and began pawing at the ground. I watched as her claws unearthed something buried just beneath the surface—a rusted piece of metal, jagged and dull.
"What's that?" I asked, stepping closer. The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, as if sensing something. I ignored it.
The horned rabbit nudged the object toward me, her blue eyes flickering briefly with what might've been expectation. I crouched, wincing as my legs protested the movement, and picked up the object with hesitant claws.
It was the broken hilt of a sword, its once-pristine surface corroded beyond recognition. The blade was gone, leaving only jagged remnants. Yet there was something unsettling about it—about how it seemed to hum faintly in my grasp, as if it held the echoes of battles long since lost.
I set the hilt down carefully, my gaze drifting to the horned rabbit. She was already moving again, her body low to the ground as she sniffed at the base of a nearby fungal stalk. I followed her gaze and spotted faint markings carved into the cap's underside—lines and symbols, hastily etched and weathered by time.
"What's this now?" I muttered, squinting at the symbols. My [Blood Sight] flared instinctively, casting a faint crimson glow over the markings. They pulsed faintly, not with life, but with something else—something dormant, yet lingering.
A sword…come to think of it, swords actually look kinda cool. I mean fantasy, sword fight, dual-wielding that you see in anime, all of it looks kinda cool. Alas, I'm not fated to be a swordsman in this life, but look at me I got something better hehehehehehe.
A mind controlling rabbit, what's cooler than that huh?! Not exactly "mind controlling" but we'll get there you know!
The horned rabbit's ears flicked, her attention darting toward the far end of the chamber. I followed her gaze and froze.
A cluster of makeshift supplies lay half-buried in the moss—a torn satchel, a shattered lantern, and scraps of cloth that might once have been part of a cloak. Nearby, a small book lay open, its pages damp and curling at the edges.
I approached slowly, my claws hesitant on the uneven ground. The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, a soft thrum that seemed to sync with the chamber's quiet hum.
I crouched near the tattered book, my claws hesitant on the damp stone as I flipped its curling pages. The ink was faded, smudged into dark streaks across the parchment. Symbols sprawled across the page—sharp angles and flowing curves that meant nothing to me.
"What is this?" I muttered, though I didn't expect an answer. The lines seemed deliberate, purposeful, but their meaning was lost on me. Just more marks on a page.
I couldn't understand a single thing. What even is this? Is this English? Mandarin? Arabic? Latin? Not a single clue my dude. Not a single clue.
The horned rabbit nudged my side, her horn brushing lightly against my fur. She gestured toward the far end of the chamber, her body tense, ears flicking.
"Right, no time for this," I said, dropping the book. It wouldn't do me any good—not unless someone decided to carve out a Rosetta Stone in the middle of this dungeon.
The horned rabbit nudged my side again, her horn grazing my fur lightly. I looked at her, her blue eyes sharp and unyielding. She gestured with her head toward the path ahead—a narrow passageway half-concealed by a curtain of glowing vines.
"You're eager," I muttered, setting the book down. My legs ached, my chest still felt tight, but I forced myself upright.
The orb in my chest pulsed steadily, its warmth a quiet reassurance. Whatever lay ahead, we weren't done here—not yet.
As we stepped toward the passage, the chamber seemed to hold its breath. The air grew colder, the glowing fungi dimming slightly as though retreating from what lay beyond.
"Ready?" I asked, though I didn't expect an answer.
The horned rabbit glanced back at me briefly, her blue eyes unreadable. Then she turned and slipped through the vines, disappearing into the shadows beyond.
I followed, my claws scraping faintly against the stone as I crossed the threshold. The orb pulsed once, its rhythm quickening.
The passage ahead seemed darker, the air colder. Even the vines seemed hesitant to stretch into the shadows beyond. The orb pulsed once, sharp and insistent, as though warning me.
Whatever lay ahead was worse than anything behind us.