Chapter 5: Hunter and Prey
The roar rattled the walls, deep and primal, like a beast awakened after centuries of slumber. Wolfgang stood frozen at the foot of the staircase, his fingers coiled tightly around Shadowfang. Dust fell in thin streams from the ceiling, the sound of stone cracking under something enormous vibrating through the floor beneath him.
The crimson eyes loomed in the blackness ahead, staring down at him with unblinking malice.
[Warning: Dungeon Boss Detected]
[Enemy Identified: Crimson Tyrant - Level 15]
Danger: Lethal
Level 15. Wolfgang's mind raced. This is leagues above anything I've faced so far.
From the shadows, the beast emerged.
The Crimson Tyrant was a monster of nightmare—an armored giant, its form hunched and grotesque, its shoulders brushing the walls as it stomped into view. Jagged crimson crystals jutted from its back and forearms, pulsing with energy. Its face, twisted and skeletal, burned with the same light as the Executioners' eyes, but brighter.
The massive creature let out another roar, its sound shaking Wolfgang to his core. The sheer pressure in the air made his chest tighten.
Wolfgang's lips curled into a humorless smile. "The dungeon really wants me dead, huh?"
He scanned the chamber. The arena-like room was wider than the last—tall pillars rising to a vaulted ceiling where shadows swirled like smoke. There were crumbling platforms around the edges, cracks in the ground, and pieces of stone hanging precariously above.
"I can use this."
The Tyrant slammed one of its crystal-covered fists into the ground, shattering stone in a wave of force. Wolfgang leapt back, the shockwave nearly throwing him off his feet. Before he could react, the monster lunged. For something so massive, it moved fast.
Wolfgang dove to the side as the Tyrant's fist smashed down, carving a crater into the ground. The debris exploded outward like shrapnel, slicing across Wolfgang's arm.
[Health: 60/150]
Blood dripped from his sleeve, but Wolfgang didn't falter. He activated Shadow Step, his body blurring into the darkness as he reappeared on one of the platforms above. He crouched low, eyes scanning the Tyrant's form.
Where's the weak point?
The crystals… they pulsed in rhythm with its movements. Wolfgang narrowed his gaze. The crystals powered it—a heartbeat of energy.
"Alright, you oversized corpse," Wolfgang muttered, his grin sharp. "Let's tear you apart."
The Hunter's Strategy
The Tyrant let out another roar, its massive fists tearing pillars apart as it hunted Wolfgang. Wolfgang moved constantly—a blur of speed and shadow. Each time the monster's fists came crashing down, Wolfgang danced out of reach, forcing it to waste energy and momentum.
At the same time, he tested its defenses. From a ledge, Wolfgang hurled a broken shard of stone toward one of the glowing crystals. It struck true—sparks flared as the crystal shuddered, the Tyrant groaning in pain.
There.
Wolfgang activated Soul Rend, shadows wreathing his dagger as he leapt toward the beast's back. He landed with precision, his boots skidding over the jagged crystals as he drove Shadowfang into the largest shard.
The dagger bit deep.
The Tyrant roared, its body convulsing violently. Wolfgang held on, teeth gritted as shadows swirled around him. He activated Executioner's Strike, pouring every bit of strength he had into the dagger.
"Break!"
The crystal exploded. A shockwave burst outward, sending Wolfgang flying through the air. He crashed into a stone wall, pain erupting through his back as the air left his lungs.
[Health: 35/150]
Wolfgang coughed, blood staining his lips as he forced himself to stand. The Tyrant staggered, its movements sluggish now. One crystal was shattered—but there were more.
I can do this.
He darted forward again, weaving between the Tyrant's increasingly wild attacks. Its fists smashed down, slower this time, shattering the ground in desperate attempts to crush him.
Wolfgang used the rubble to his advantage, sprinting up crumbling platforms and leaping off edges to close the distance. The Tyrant swiveled to follow, its roar splitting the air.
Shadow Step.
Wolfgang vanished just as the monster lunged. He reappeared on the Tyrant's shoulder, Shadowfang raised high.
"Soul Rend!"
The blade struck another crystal. Energy poured from the Tyrant's body into Wolfgang, the power of the dungeon boss tearing through him like a storm.
[Soul Rend Successful: Strength +5, Agility +3]
The Tyrant convulsed, its massive body shaking violently as the crystal shattered. Wolfgang leapt away just before the monster collapsed to one knee, cracks spreading across its form. The crystals on its back flickered erratically, their glow fading.
But it wasn't over.
The Tyrant's remaining energy gathered into its mouth, a crimson glow building like molten fire. Its chest expanded, shadows swirling as it prepared a final, devastating attack.
Wolfgang's heart pounded. One more chance.
He sprinted forward, ignoring the burning pain in his legs and chest. The monster opened its mouth, the light so bright it nearly blinded him.
Wolfgang roared, leaping straight for it.
"Shadow Flare!"
Dark energy erupted from him, slamming into the Tyrant's face just as it unleashed its attack. The two forces collided in an explosion of crimson and black light.
The entire chamber shook. The shockwave tore through stone and pillars, shattering everything in its wake. Wolfgang was thrown backward, his vision white as he hit the ground hard.
For a moment, there was nothing. No sound. No movement. Just silence.
Then the system's voice rang in his head.
[Dungeon Boss Defeated: Crimson Tyrant]
[Quest Complete: Descent of Trials.]
[Level Up: Level 5]
Wolfgang blinked up at the cracked ceiling, his entire body aching. Slowly, he pushed himself up onto his elbows, his breaths ragged.
The Tyrant's massive form lay still, its crystals shattered, its glow extinguished. The air was thick with dust, and the remains of the chamber lay in ruin.
He looked at his trembling hands, feeling the raw power he had absorbed. His status window flickered before him.
[Status Update]
Level: 5
Strength: 20
Agility: 18
New Ability Acquired: Crimson Wave
• Release a shockwave of crimson energy in a straight line, dealing massive damage to all enemies in its path.
Wolfgang laughed—a sharp, breathless sound as he ran a hand through his blood-streaked hair.
"Stronger. Faster. Better." He pushed himself to his feet, his smile cold and triumphant. "And I've only just begun."
At the far end of the shattered chamber, another doorway revealed itself—tall and ornate, carved with runes that glowed faintly.
Wolfgang's eyes narrowed, his grin fading. The system chimed softly.
[New Quest: Ascend to the Surface]
Objective: Return alive.]
The sound of stone grinding against stone echoed behind him. Wolfgang turned sharply, his eyes widening.
From the rubble of the Tyrant's corpse, something moved. A shadow—shapeless, writhing—rose from the shattered crystals, its presence oppressive and suffocating.
And then it spoke.
"You are not finished yet."
End of Chapter 5