Min Jaeho couldn't stop staring at the tiny creature walking beside him. Eclipse's sleek black fur shimmered faintly under the city's dim streetlights, and its glowing red eyes darted around, alert to every sound and movement.
The events of the dungeon felt surreal. The System, the taming ability, the level-ups—it was all straight out of the fantasy novels he read during sleepless nights. Yet the notifications and Eclipse's presence were undeniable proof that this was his new reality.
Jaeho slid into the shadows as he reached his apartment building. He couldn't risk anyone seeing Eclipse. Tamers were celebrities, especially in a city like Seoul, and a unique beast like this would draw too much attention. He hurried up the stairs, keeping Eclipse tucked close.
Once inside his small, cluttered apartment, he locked the door and let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Eclipse hopped onto his couch, wagging its stubby tail.
"You're way too comfortable for someone who just came into existence," Jaeho muttered.
The creature tilted its head at him, as if understanding the jab, and barked softly.
Jaeho sat at his desk, staring at the faintly glowing System Interface hovering before him.
[Status Window]
Name: Min Jaeho
Level: 2
Skill Points Available: 1
Personal Stats:
Strength: 5Agility: 6Intelligence: 10Endurance: 5Charisma: 4
Shared Skills:
Shadow Step (Eclipse): Briefly teleport within a short range, leaving a shadow behind to confuse enemies.
He tapped the glowing Skill Point notification.
"I need to plan this carefully," he murmured. He still had no idea how dangerous the System's challenges could get, but after the Shadow Hound encounter, he knew he couldn't afford to be unprepared.
Strength would help in direct combat, but he wasn't a fighter. Agility sounded appealing—if anything, being faster might keep him alive longer. But his mind kept circling back to Intelligence.
"This is about survival, and intelligence is what kept me alive in that dungeon," he reasoned, tapping the stat.
[Intelligence increased to 11.]
The moment he confirmed the upgrade, a strange warmth spread through his body, like his thoughts had sharpened, each one coming faster and clearer.
The next morning, Jaeho woke to Eclipse pawing at his chest.
"Alright, alright, I'm up," he groaned, sitting up and ruffling the little creature's ears.
After a quick breakfast of instant ramen (he'd feed Eclipse later once he figured out what it could eat), Jaeho knew he couldn't avoid it any longer. He had to learn more about his new powers—and the only way to do that was to return to a dungeon.
Jaeho pulled out his laptop, scanning the local dungeon registry. He couldn't afford the entry fees for high-tier dungeons, and starting small was probably smarter anyway. After some searching, he found what he needed: Subway Depths, a low-level dungeon frequently cleared by beginners.
The entrance to the dungeon was tucked away in an abandoned subway station. Jaeho hesitated as he approached, feeling the weight of what he was about to do. This wasn't like last time. There wouldn't be anyone dragging him in, no one to blame but himself if things went wrong.
"You can do this," he whispered, glancing down at Eclipse, who barked in agreement.
As he stepped through the swirling portal, the familiar sensation of being pulled into another world hit him. When his vision cleared, he found himself in a dimly lit tunnel, the air damp and heavy with the scent of moss and rust.
The sound of chittering echoed from deeper within.
Jaeho crouched, his eyes scanning the area. "Stay close," he whispered to Eclipse.
The creature padded silently beside him as they moved forward.
The first enemy appeared—a group of Sewer Rats. They were small, about the size of a cat, but their sharp teeth and glowing green eyes screamed "venomous." Jaeho grabbed a loose pipe lying on the ground, gripping it tightly.
"Let's see what Shadow Step can do," he muttered.
With a mental command, he activated the skill. A rush of energy surged through him, and in an instant, he reappeared behind the nearest rat, leaving a faint shadow where he had stood. Startled, the rat spun around, but Jaeho's pipe came down hard on its skull, ending the fight quickly.
Eclipse leaped into action, its tiny form moving faster than seemed possible. It pounced on one rat, its jaws snapping shut with surprising strength, before darting to another. Within moments, the creatures lay defeated.
[You have leveled up.]
A familiar notification appeared, bringing a small smile to Jaeho's lips.
By the time he reached the dungeon's end, Jaeho had cleared several waves of creatures, each fight teaching him more about his abilities and Eclipse's potential.
The final room was larger than the others, its walls covered in faintly glowing moss. At its center stood the dungeon boss—a giant, mutated Sewer Rat with three tails and venom dripping from its fangs.
Jaeho tightened his grip on the pipe, his heart pounding. "This is it," he muttered.
The beast charged, its size making it surprisingly slow. Jaeho dodged to the side, activating Shadow Step to reposition himself. Eclipse darted around the creature, distracting it with quick nips at its legs.
"Now!" Jaeho shouted, swinging the pipe with all his strength. The weapon connected with the creature's side, eliciting a pained screech.
But the fight wasn't over. The boss lashed out with its tails, one of them catching Jaeho in the ribs and sending him sprawling. Pain flared, but he forced himself up, adrenaline keeping him moving.
"Eclipse!" he called.
The creature responded immediately, leaping onto the boss's back and sinking its teeth into its neck. The rat screeched again, thrashing wildly, but Jaeho seized the opportunity. He charged, swinging the pipe one final time at the creature's exposed head.
With a sickening crunch, the beast collapsed.
[Dungeon Boss defeated. New creature available for taming.]
Jaeho watched in awe as the boss dissolved, leaving behind a glowing orb. From it emerged a smaller version of the creature—a baby Sewer Rat with a single tail and a curious expression.
"Tamed," Jaeho said with a grin, naming it Scrap.
Back in his apartment, Jaeho sat on the floor, Eclipse and Scrap curled up beside him.
"This is only the beginning," he murmured, staring at the glowing interface.
He had leveled up twice, gained another skill point, and learned valuable lessons about his abilities. For the first time in years, he felt like he was in control of his life.
"Let's see how far we can take this," he said, a determined smile spreading across his face.