The deeper Jaeho ventured into the dungeon, the more the atmosphere seemed to shift around him. The walls, once rough and jagged, were now smooth and slick, like they were made of polished obsidian. The air grew colder, the only sound being the echo of his footsteps and the distant dripping of water. Every instinct screamed at him to turn back, but his curiosity and determination kept him moving forward.
His Cursed Beast walked silently beside him, its form blending into the shadows with every step. The connection between them was strong, and Jaeho could feel its heightened senses scanning the environment for danger. They had to be careful. If the creatures in this dungeon were as dangerous as Kyra's contact had described, they couldn't afford to be caught off guard.
The deeper they went, the more the dungeon seemed to shift. The walls began to pulse with faint, eerie light, and the air smelled faintly of decay and something metallic, like the tang of blood. Jaeho's mind raced, trying to make sense of the changes. Was this the result of the dungeon's evolution, or was something else at play?
Suddenly, a low growl echoed from the depths of the dungeon, and Jaeho froze. The growl was guttural, deep, and primal—a warning. His Cursed Beast immediately tensed, its eyes glowing brighter in the darkness.
Jaeho raised a hand, signaling for silence. He strained his ears, listening for any further sounds. Another growl. Closer this time.
"Stay alert," Jaeho whispered to the Cursed Beast, though he knew it was already prepared. It was a creature of darkness, and the dungeon's oppressive atmosphere suited it perfectly. The tension was thick as the two moved cautiously forward, deeper into the heart of the dungeon.
Suddenly, the floor beneath them shifted, and a massive creature burst from the shadows, its glowing red eyes fixed on Jaeho. It was unlike anything he had seen before—its body was large and covered in jagged, metallic spikes that glinted in the dim light. It resembled a hybrid of a beast and a machine, its limbs unnaturally long and ending in sharp claws that scraped against the stone floor. The air around it crackled with a strange energy, and Jaeho immediately knew that this wasn't a normal creature.
The beast snarled, its mouth full of razor-sharp teeth that gleamed in the darkness. It was fast, faster than anything Jaeho had fought before. Before he could even react, it lunged at him, its claws swiping through the air.
Instinctively, Jaeho raised his arm, summoning the Cursed Beast to his side. The creature reacted instantly, its form shifting as it lunged at the attacking beast, their bodies colliding in a thunderous crash. The force of the impact shook the ground beneath them, and Jaeho's heart pounded in his chest. He couldn't let the Cursed Beast take all the damage—he had to help.
He stepped forward, focusing on the beast's movements, his eyes tracking its every move. The creature's claws slashed through the air, but Jaeho was faster. He darted to the side, avoiding the strikes with ease. He'd trained for moments like this, sharpening his reflexes and improving his speed through constant experimentation.
The Cursed Beast growled in frustration, its movements quick and calculated. It used its shadowy form to slip behind the creature, striking with lightning speed. The hybrid beast howled in pain as the Cursed Beast sank its claws into the creature's side, but the damage didn't seem to be enough. The metallic spikes on the creature's back flared with energy, and it whipped around, slamming its tail into the Cursed Beast.
The force sent the Cursed Beast sprawling across the floor, but it quickly recovered, growling in annoyance. Jaeho narrowed his eyes. The beast was tough—too tough for a simple fight. This wasn't a normal creature. It was something different.
"Alright, let's see how you handle this," Jaeho muttered under his breath, his mind whirring with possibilities.
He raised his hand, focusing on the flow of energy around him. His cheat ability was still a mystery to others, but he knew its potential. With every creature he killed, he could summon a baby variant to tame. It was a unique power that allowed him to expand his arsenal and grow stronger with each victory.
With a single thought, he activated the power, and a new creature appeared at his side—a baby variant of the hybrid beast. It was smaller, weaker, but the same in appearance. Its body was a fraction of the size of the full-grown beast, but it still possessed the same jagged spikes and claws, though not as deadly. It seemed confused at first, disoriented by its sudden appearance, but Jaeho wasted no time.
"Get in there," Jaeho commanded, pointing to the larger creature.
The baby beast hesitated for only a moment before darting forward, its claws swiping at the larger creature's legs. The larger beast roared in pain and swiped back with brutal force, but the baby beast was too fast, dodging and attacking with precise, calculated strikes. Jaeho watched the fight unfold, his eyes never leaving the battle.
It was a risky move, but Jaeho was betting on the baby beast's speed and agility. As the two creatures battled, Jaeho began to notice something strange. The larger beast was slowing down, its movements becoming sluggish. It was reacting to the baby variant's strikes in ways that didn't make sense—it was as if the larger beast was growing weaker the more it fought.
Jaeho's heart raced as the realization hit him. The larger beast wasn't just losing because of the baby variant's attacks. It was evolving too—adapting in real-time. The system wasn't just changing the beasts. It was evolving the very nature of the dungeon.
With a surge of adrenaline, Jaeho rushed forward, summoning more of his strength. He wasn't going to let the larger beast take the advantage. He needed to finish this, now.
"Cursed Beast! Now!" Jaeho commanded.
The Cursed Beast, still recovering from its previous strike, sprang back into action, its form shifting into a more powerful state. With a flick of its tail, it slammed into the larger beast, sending it reeling.
Together, Jaeho and his beasts cornered the hybrid creature. With one final coordinated attack, they took it down, its metallic form crumbling to the ground in a heap.
Jaeho stood over it, panting. His heart raced in exhilaration and exhaustion. This dungeon was unlike anything he had faced before. These creatures were evolving faster than he could keep up with, and he knew the dangers of underestimating them. But at the same time, he felt something else—something exciting.
The system was changing, but that didn't mean he couldn't keep up. It just meant he needed to evolve with it.
"Let's see what's next," Jaeho murmured, his eyes scanning the dark depths of the dungeon. Whatever was waiting for him, he was ready.