The moment I stepped into the dungeon, I felt like I'd crossed into another dimension. Gone was the endless void, replaced by a cavernous stone maze illuminated by a pale, bluish glow that seemed to seep from the walls. A faint hum resonated through the air, like the world itself was alive, breathing, and waiting for me to make the wrong move.
"So, this is a dungeon, huh?" I muttered, squinting at the dim, uneven pathways. My voice echoed slightly, as if the labyrinth were mocking my presence.
Before I got too ahead of myself, let me back up and set the scene properly. You see, this world—unlike my own—is chaos incarnate. Where I come from, there's at least a pretense of peace: people shuffle to work, complain about deadlines, and juggle an endless barrage of responsibilities. It's exhausting, sure, but it's normal.
Here? There's no such thing as peace. It's still hectic, sure, but instead of boring nine-to-five jobs and endless coffee queues, people spend their time dodging life-threatening dangers or rushing to complete dungeon raids. And let me tell you, that's where things get weird.
Gates vs. Dungeons: A Crash Course
This world runs on something called gates and dungeons, and they are literally everywhere. I'm not exaggerating. Step out of your house, and there's a decent chance you'll find a glowing portal leading to another world.
Let's break it down.
0 Gates are the entry points. These glowing, ominous portals are how you access dungeons. They vary in color and size, each one corresponding to a different danger level. Blue gates, like the one I stepped through, are supposedly the easiest. Ha! Don't let that fool you—they might have weaker monsters, but their mazes are designed to twist your brain into pretzels.
0 Dungeons, on the other hand, are the meat of the chaos. Each dungeon is unique: a separate, self-contained world full of puzzles, traps, resources, and monsters. They follow specific rules—rules I designed myself when I wrote this stupid story.
And now I was stuck inside it.
Why Do I Know All This?
If you're wondering why I'm dumping all this world-building on you like a stressed-out high school teacher, it's simple. I am freaking stuck inside this world, and I need to clear this stupid dungeon if I want to live.
Let me explain.
Right now, I have two major problems:
1. The System Timer Will Kill Me. That annoying red screen I saw earlier? Yeah, it wasn't bluffing. If I just stand here twiddling my thumbs, my so-called "character" will drop dead in a few hours.
2. If I Don't Clear This Dungeon, I'll Be Trapped Here Forever. And by "forever," I mean dying slowly of starvation, boredom, or—most likely—being eaten by a monster.
As if to illustrate my grim fate, a cartoonish projection popped up above my head. One version of me was gnawed to bits by some unseen creature; another collapsed dramatically from hunger, complete with spinning eyes; and a third version sat in the corner, rocking back and forth as her sanity dissolved into gibberish.
"NOPE! Not happening!" I screamed, swatting at the air like a maniac. The holograms disappeared, but the existential dread lingered.
Dungeon Rules 101
Right. Focus, Rin. If I wanted to survive, I had to remember how this world worked.
Dungeons and gates follow rules. Not random chaos—rules. And guess who wrote them? That's right, yours truly. These rules existed to make the story more engaging for my readers, adding mystery and stakes to an otherwise predictable fantasy setting.
Here's the gist:
1. Gates Are Permanent, But Dungeons Are Not. The gates stay open, but the dungeon interiors vanish after a set time limit. If you don't get out before the timer runs out, well… sucks to be you.
2. Each Dungeon Is Unique. The monsters, resources, and quests are tailored to the environment of the dungeon. This one, for example, is a low-level maze with minimal combat but brain-twisting puzzles.
3. Shortcuts Exist (If You're Smart Enough to Find Them). As the author, I designed every dungeon to have hidden paths, secret mechanisms, or clever tricks to skip to the end.
And lucky for me, I remembered the exact shortcut to this one.
Why Am I Here?
Oh, right. The cherry on top of this disaster cake: the character I'm stuck inside isn't even the protagonist. Nope! The body I'm currently piloting belongs to Aria Felstone, the protagonist's childhood friend—a side character who dies tragically at the beginning of the story.
What's her deal? Aria is a noble-hearted girl who throws herself into a deadly dungeon raid to save some kids from an orphanage. Predictably, she gets trapped, and her death sets the stage for the protagonist's journey.
Well, great. Now I get to relive that tragedy firsthand. Except this time, I wasn't planning to die, noble sacrifice or not.
Finding the Shortcut
"Okay, Rin," I muttered to myself, taking a deep breath. "You wrote this dungeon. You know the trick. Think."
I scanned the walls, my eyes searching for a specific tile. This maze had dozens of branching paths, all designed to confuse intruders, but there was one secret mechanism that would let me skip the nonsense and jump straight to the last room.
"Aha!" My fingers brushed against a faint engraving in the stone—a square tile that seemed slightly recessed. I pressed it, and a faint click echoed through the corridor.
Immediately, the ground beneath my feet trembled. The nearby wall slid open, revealing a glowing circle etched into the floor—a teleportation sigil.
"Bingo!" I grinned, stepping into the circle. The sigil flared to life, and in the blink of an eye, I was whisked away to the dungeon's final chamber.
The Last Room
The room I landed in was massive, with high ceilings and walls that gleamed like polished obsidian. At the far end, a large pedestal stood in the center of the room, glowing faintly with an otherworldly light. This was it—the dungeon's core.
If I destroyed that pedestal, the dungeon would collapse, and I'd be able to escape.
But of course, it wouldn't be that easy.
As I took a cautious step forward, the air grew heavy, and a low growl rumbled from the shadows.
"Right," I muttered, gripping the hilt of my sword. "Time for the boss fight."
The shadows coalesced into a hulking creature with glowing red eyes and jagged claws. It wasn't the biggest monster I'd ever seen, but it was enough to send a chill down my spine.
I tightened my grip on my weapon, my heart pounding as the creature charged.
"Here goes nothing," I whispered, ready to face whatever this world threw at me.
A Dance with the Wolf
The moment I stepped into the final chamber, the air shifted. It wasn't just the imposing obsidian walls or the ominous glow of the pedestal ahead—it was the presence lurking in the shadows. My instincts screamed at me to run, but before I could make a move, a familiar, dreaded ding echoed in my mind.
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SYSTEM ALERT
Welcome to your first combat tutorial! As this is your introductory fight, the Rewrite System will offer you a helping hand. Please wait while options are generated.
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"Oh, how generous of you," I muttered, crossing my arms as I stared at the glowing red screen hovering before me. "I thought your goal was to kill me, but I guess you have a heart after all. Or maybe a circuit board with a soft spot. Either way, compensation is only fair—you're the one who dragged me here." I smirked. "So, yes. I'll gladly take my reward. Now, show me some overpowered skill to obliterate this dungeon and make my escape."
The system whirred, the screen flickering slightly as it began processing my request.
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SYSTEM OPTIONS GENERATED
1. Basic Combat Technique
o Learn a foundational sword or martial arts technique.
o Requires close-range combat.
2. Basic Offensive Spell
o Inflicts 10 HP damage. Single-use per day.
3. Loading…
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I tilted my head, eyeing the options. "Hmm. Option one is decent, but close combat? Nope. That's asking for a heart attack. I'll pass on dying before I even get a swing in." My finger hovered over the second choice. "Option two feels safer—a ranged attack is always better—but 10 damage? What am I supposed to do with that, tickle the boss to death? And the cooldown is ridiculous. I don't see an upgrade button either, so it's a hard no for me."
The third option continued to load, the dots on the screen blinking in rhythm. I leaned forward, curious. "Now this… this looks promising. Or potentially catastrophic. Either way, I'm intrigued. Let's roll the dice."
With a grin, I tapped the third option.
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SYSTEM ALERT
You have selected: Beast Tamer.
o Details: Allows the user to tame any beast, monster, or animal by forcing submission.
o Success Condition: Reduce the target's HP to the taming threshold.
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"Beast Tamer?" My eyebrows shot up. "Oh, this could be fun." I straightened, determination flooding through me. "Alright, fluffy shadow beast. Let's see what you've got."
Back to the Present: Battle Commences
The growling grew louder as the creature stepped into the light, and my jaw nearly hit the floor. It wasn't some terrifying, bloodthirsty monster like I'd envisioned. Instead, it was… a wolf.
A cute one.
Its black fur shimmered under the eerie glow of the room, and its glowing red eyes, while menacing, gave it a strange charm. It wasn't massive, either—just slightly larger than a normal wolf, with sleek limbs and a surprisingly graceful stride.
I couldn't help myself. "Aww, you're adorable," I cooed. "Too bad you're about to murder me."
The wolf's lips curled, exposing sharp teeth, and it lunged.
"Right! Focus!" I yelped, ducking as it swiped at me. My sword felt heavy in my hands as I raised it, clumsy and unsure. "Okay, Rin, deep breaths. Just hit it. Don't die. Easy, right?"
Easier said than done.
The wolf moved with the speed of a shadow, darting in and out of my reach. My first few swings missed entirely, leaving me flailing like an idiot. It wasn't long before the wolf's paw connected with my side, sending me sprawling to the ground.
"Ow, ow, ow," I groaned, clutching my ribs as my HP bar flashed red in the corner of my vision. "Okay, that stung. New plan: don't get hit again."
Pushing myself up, I tightened my grip on the sword and tried to focus. This wasn't just a fight—it was a test. I needed to whittle the wolf's HP down to the taming threshold, but I also needed to survive long enough to do it.
The wolf lunged again, but this time, I sidestepped and swung my blade in a wide arc. The edge grazed its flank, drawing a thin line of blood.
"Yes! Take that, fluffball!" I cheered, a bit too enthusiastically.
The wolf snarled, more annoyed than injured, and I felt a pang of guilt. "Wait, why am I apologizing? You're trying to kill me!"
Inner Chaos and Outer Strikes
The fight continued, a chaotic dance of dodges, swings, and yelps (mostly mine). My inner thoughts were a mess:
Oh my gosh, this is so scary!Wait, look at how its fur glistens. So shiny. I want to pet it.Why did I pick close combat? Oh, right, because I'm an idiot.
After a few more exchanges, my HP bar was hovering dangerously low, but so was the wolf's. It stumbled slightly, its growls turning into shallow pants.
"This is it," I murmured, gripping my sword with trembling hands. My taming ability activated, a faint glow surrounding the blade. I needed one final strike to push it into submission range.
The Taming Moment
With a deep breath, I lunged forward, slashing the blade across the wolf's side. The creature howled, collapsing to the ground. My heart raced as the glow from the sword spread, forming a soft, golden tether between us.
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SYSTEM ALERT
Beast Tamer Activated.
Target: Shadow Wolf
Status: Taming in progress…
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The wolf's body shimmered, and its red eyes softened into a calm amber. It let out a low whine, rolling onto its side in a gesture of surrender.
I blinked, stunned. "Wait… that's it? Did I… tame it?"
The golden tether faded, and the wolf slowly stood, shaking itself off. Its posture had changed—it no longer looked like a predator, but more like a confused puppy.
A smile spread across my face as I reached out cautiously. "Hey there, buddy. Guess you're mine now."
The wolf sniffed my hand, then gave it a tentative lick.
I gasped. "You're so cute!"
The system chimed again, interrupting my moment of joy.
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SYSTEM ALERT
Congratulations! You have tamed your first beast. New companion acquired: Shadow Wolf.
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"Well," I said, grinning down at my new fluffy friend, "this dungeon just got a lot more bearable."
Naming
The wolf sat quietly in front of me, its sleek black fur shimmering under the dim light of the boss chamber. Its amber eyes watched me intently, no longer filled with hostility but with a curious, almost trusting gaze. My heart swelled with an unfamiliar warmth.
"Alright," I said, crouching down so I was at eye level with it. "You're officially mine now, huh? I guess that means I need to give you a name."
The wolf tilted its head, a low rumble coming from its throat. Not quite a growl—more like a questioning hum.
I tapped my chin, deep in thought. "Let's see. You're dark, sleek, and pretty majestic. Should I go for something cool and intimidating? Shadowfang? Midnight Slayer? No, no… too dramatic."
The wolf blinked slowly, as if unimpressed by my suggestions.
I sighed. "Fine. Maybe something softer… like Midnight?" I paused, studying the wolf's expression. Its tail flicked, neither a yes nor a no.
"Okay, not Midnight. How about… Onyx?"
The wolf tilted its head again but gave a small huff of approval.
"Onyx it is, then!" I grinned, reaching out to ruffle the fur on its head. "Welcome to the team, Onyx."
The Seal Appears
As soon as I uttered the name, the air around us changed. A faint golden light began to glow, encircling both me and the wolf.
"Uh… is this normal?" I asked aloud, pulling my hand back. The system didn't bother answering, but the glow intensified, forming intricate patterns that danced in the air like threads of light.
The wolf stood still, calm and unbothered, as if it knew exactly what was happening. I, on the other hand, was on the verge of panic. "Okay, system, if this is some kind of post-battle punishment, now's the time to stop!"
Suddenly, the light converged, focusing on my right hand and Onyx's paw. My palm burned, and I yelped, clutching it instinctively. When I dared to look, a mark was searing itself onto my skin—an elegant seal resembling a crescent moon entwined with flowing vines.
On Onyx's paw, a matching mark appeared, smaller but just as intricate, glowing softly before settling into a silvery hue.
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SYSTEM ALERT
Contract Complete.
Beast Tamer Bond Established.
Mark of the Tamer activated.
Beast Companion: Onyx
Abilities unlocked: Enhanced Senses, Shadow Step
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I stared at my palm in awe. "Whoa… this is… kinda pretty." The seal shimmered faintly before fading into a subtle, silvery imprint. I flexed my hand, half-expecting it to hurt, but there was no pain—just a lingering warmth.
Onyx, now adorned with its own seal, padded over and nuzzled my hand.
"Guess this makes it official," I said, smiling. "We're partners now, huh?"
The wolf let out a soft bark, its tail wagging slightly.
"Don't worry, Onyx," I added, scratching behind its ears. "I'll take care of you. Well, as long as you keep the scary monsters off me. Deal?"
Onyx huffed in agreement, and for the first time since I'd been thrown into this insane world, I felt a flicker of hope.
"Alright, buddy," I said, standing and stretching. "Let's get out of this dungeon before something else decides to kill us. I have a feeling we're just getting started."