Jaeho stood at the edge of another dungeon portal, his heart racing as he stared at the swirling abyss that lay beyond. He'd leveled up, his beasts had grown stronger, but the dungeon ahead wasn't like the Silverwood Ruins. Obsidian Depths was ranked in the mid-tier, and he'd heard rumors of its brutal challenges. Still, he knew he had to push forward if he wanted to survive in this world and level up.
"Ready, Eclipse?" Jaeho asked, glancing down at his shadowy partner.
The Shadowling nodded, her crimson eyes gleaming with an almost playful light.
"Scrap, you ready to bite some more?" Jaeho turned to the baby rat, which squeaked in response and skittered excitedly around his feet.
And then there was Luna. The newly tamed pup, small yet fierce, sat by Jaeho's side, her silvery fur shimmering under the dim light. The Lunar Howl skill she'd unlocked was a game-changer—boosting everyone's stats during battle. Jaeho could only imagine how useful it would be in more challenging dungeons.
"Let's go," Jaeho murmured, stepping through the portal.
The transition was always disorienting. One second, he was standing in the familiar surroundings of Seoul, and the next, he was plunged into the murky darkness of a new dungeon. This time, the air felt heavier, thicker with a palpable sense of danger. The walls were lined with jagged obsidian stone, and the faint echo of dripping water reverberated throughout the space.
Eclipse immediately darted ahead, her form a shadow blending into the darkness. Scrap followed closely behind, but Luna hesitated. Jaeho noticed the pup's uncertainty, her eyes scanning the surroundings.
"It's okay, Luna. You'll get used to it," Jaeho reassured her.
The sound of something skittering across the stone floor brought his attention back to the immediate threat. From the shadows, a swarm of Obsidian Spiders emerged—large, menacing creatures with glistening black exoskeletons that reflected the faint light.
Without warning, the spiders attacked in unison, their sharp legs clicking ominously as they charged.
"Luna, use Lunar Howl now!" Jaeho commanded.
Luna's mouth opened wide, letting out a piercing howl that reverberated through the dungeon. For a brief moment, the atmosphere around them seemed to shimmer, and a surge of power coursed through Jaeho's body. His muscles felt more defined, his mind sharper, and his speed increased. Eclipse and Scrap seemed to radiate a similar surge of power as they prepared for battle.
The spiders hesitated, momentarily stunned by the blast of energy. Jaeho didn't waste a second. "Eclipse, take the left flank. Scrap, go for the right. I'll handle the middle."
The battle was swift. Eclipse teleported in and out, landing devastating strikes while evading the spiders' venomous attacks. Scrap bit at the legs of the spiders, its venom starting to slow their movements. Jaeho, armed with his poison-coated pipe, swept through the middle, striking at the exposed underbellies of the spiders. The venom proved effective, and soon the first wave of enemies fell.
[Obsidian Spiders defeated.]
[You have leveled up.]
[Skill Points +1.]
"Nice work, everyone," Jaeho praised, wiping sweat from his brow. The first wave hadn't been too difficult, but the deeper they went, the more dangerous it would become.
He checked his Status Window.
[Status Window]
Level: 6
Skill Points Available: 4
Personal Stats:
Strength: 7Agility: 7Intelligence: 11Endurance: 7Charisma: 4
Shared Skills:
Shadow Step (Eclipse)Venomous Bite (Scrap)Lunar Howl (Luna)
"Let's keep moving," Jaeho said, closing the window.
The deeper they ventured, the more hostile the dungeon became. The walls became narrower, and the air grew colder. Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath them, and the ceiling cracked, dropping Obsidian Golems into their path. These massive creatures, made entirely of dark stone, were slow-moving but immensely powerful. Their glowing red eyes fixed on Jaeho and his team, and they began to stomp forward, shaking the ground with each step.
"Eclipse, keep moving! Scrap, poison them! Luna, boost us again!"
The golems were slow, but their sheer size and strength made them formidable. Eclipse zipped around them, her shadowy form blurring as she used Shadow Step to strike their joints. Scrap darted between their legs, injecting venom into the golems, but the poison seemed to have minimal effect on the massive creatures.
Jaeho gritted his teeth. This isn't going to work with brute force.
He quickly assessed the situation. The golems had a weak point—an exposed core within their chest, covered only by thin layers of stone. He just needed a way to reach it.
"Luna, use Lunar Howl again. Eclipse, I need you to distract them, get them to look away from us!"
Eclipse teleported behind the golems, slashing at their backs and sides. Luna's howl reverberated through the chamber again, boosting Jaeho's strength and agility.
Jaeho pulled out a vial of explosive powder he'd prepared earlier, made with a combination of materials from the previous dungeon. He hurled it at the golem on the left, and it exploded on impact, causing cracks to form across the creature's chest.
The golem roared in fury, its red eyes burning with rage. It swung its massive arms at Jaeho, but Eclipse intervened, landing a well-timed strike on the golem's face.
Jaeho charged forward, pipe raised. With a swift, focused strike, he plunged it into the golem's cracked chest. The explosion of venom and the impact of his strike caused the golem to crumble into pieces, its core shattering with a satisfying crack.
The second golem followed quickly, succumbing to the same tactic.
[Obsidian Golems defeated.]
[You have leveled up.]
[Skill Points +1.]
Jaeho leaned against the wall, panting. He'd done it—barely—but they'd made it through. The dungeon was becoming increasingly difficult, but he could feel the weight of his progress. He wasn't just a biochemist anymore—he was a tamer, a survivor.
The final stretch of the dungeon loomed ahead, and with each step, Jaeho felt the thrill of the unknown. The deeper the dungeon, the more dangerous it became, but with his beasts by his side, and the power of the System, he was ready for whatever came next.
"I'm not done yet," Jaeho whispered, adjusting his backpack. "Let's finish this."