The dungeon's air continued to be quite Damp. Every breath I took seemed to carry a faint trace of mana, pulsing like a heartbeat through the atmosphere. It seems dungeons usually contain even more ambient mana than outside this could be good or bad depending on the situation.
I had already encountered a few minor threats: the goblins I dispatched earlier were the least of the dungeon's challenges. I knew Tier 2 dungeons would throw more at me than basic grunts. The flora and fauna alone were signs of this. The shimmering trees, the glowing fungi, and even the occasional flicker of eyes from the shadows all hinted at a world both alien and dangerous.
I paused for a moment to collect myself.
"Let's see," I muttered, pulling out a small device from my pocket.
This was a mana scanner, a compact tool designed to detect mana fluctuations and identify threats. I activated it, and a translucent screen appeared before me. The display showed a map of the immediate area, with red dots marking nearby creatures.
"Five… no, six targets ahead," I noted.
They were clustered together, likely a patrol group or a pack. The creatures in Tier 2 dungeons often displayed a surprising level of intelligence, and this made them both fascinating and deadly.
---
I moved cautiously, keeping my steps light and my aura suppressed. The key to surviving in a dungeon wasn't just raw power—it was strategy and control. My previous life had taught me that brute force would only get you so far and as my buddy Duke used to say sometimes you gotta play smarter and make your opponent work harder.
As I approached the red dots, I spotted them. Six wolf-like creatures, their fur crackling with faint arcs of electricity. Thunderwolves. Their sleek frames and sharp, glowing eyes screamed agility and lethality.
"Interesting," I whispered to myself.
Thunderwolves weren't rare, but their appearance in a Tier 2 dungeon was unusual. These creatures usually belonged in higher-tier environments. It seems this dungeon might be nearing the threshold to be promoted to a Tier 3.
Regardless, I had to deal with them.
---
The wolves hadn't noticed me yet, giving me the advantage. I crouched low, channeling mana into my hands. A faint glow enveloped them as I prepared a spell.
"Mana Bind."
Thin, translucent threads of mana shot out from my hands, weaving a web around the area. The threads were nearly invisible, designed to trap and immobilize targets. It was quiet an ingenious tactic i created by mimicking spider traps but the best part its invisible and can't be felt with regular mana tracking techniques.
With the trap set, I stepped out into the clearing.
The alpha wolf noticed me first, its growl echoing through the forest. The other wolves quickly followed suit, their fur sparking as they prepared to attack.
"Come on, then," I said, smirking.
The alpha lunged, its claws crackling with electricity. But the moment it stepped into the web, the Mana Bind activated. The threads wrapped around its limbs, pinning it to the ground. The other wolves hesitated for a moment, confused by their leader's sudden immobilization.
I took advantage of their hesitation.
"Flame Lance."
A spear of flames erupted from my palm, streaking through the air and impaling one of the wolves. It let out a pained yelp before collapsing. The others snarled, their hesitation replaced with fury.
They charged at me, but the Mana Bind caught two more. I quickly dispatched them with precise strikes—one with a fireball, the other with a blade of condensed mana the last died with an Ice lance between its belly and was frozen to death.
The last two wolves circled me warily, clearly smarter than the rest. They flanked me, attempting to attack from both sides.
"Smart," I admitted. "But not smart enough."
I crouched low, channeling mana into my legs. When the wolves lunged, I leaped into the air, flipping over them.
"Arc Slash."
Swinging my mana-infused blade, I released a crescent-shaped wave of energy. It sliced through the wolves in a single, clean motion. Their heads and torso got dissected cleanly.
As their bodies disintegrated into motes of light, I landed gracefully, my mana blade dissipating.
---
The clearing was silent once more. I deactivated the Mana Bind, letting the alpha's lifeless body fall to the ground.
"That was… exhilarating," I admitted.
Dungeon combat was different from anything else. The stakes were higher, the enemies unpredictable, and the rewards satisfying. Speaking of rewards, I turned my attention to the loot.
Each defeated wolf had left behind small orbs of light. These were mana cores, crystallized concentrations of mana that could be used for various purposes—crafting, trading, or even consuming to boost one's own mana reserves but the advised route is to give it to a runesmith who can turn it into a workable mana power core. It can be used to power any type artifact and other devices as long the devices enery needs Don't surpass the mana cores own.
I collected the cores, storing them in the spatial Zone of my Own Void Account. I used a lot of credits to get one this large like its the size of multiple industrial factories.
With the area cleared, I checked my mana scanner again. No threats nearby.
"Time to move on," I said, heading deeper into the dungeon.
---
The first floor was vast, much larger than I had anticipated. It was a sprawling forest, with winding paths, hidden caves, and plenty of ambush points. The dungeon's layout seemed almost alive, shifting subtly as I navigated it.
After half an hour of exploration, I encountered a small stream. The water was crystal clear, with a faint glow that suggested it was imbued with mana.
"Perfect timing," I said, kneeling by the stream to refill my canteen.
I took a sip of the water, feeling a refreshing surge of energy flow through me. Mana-infused water was a rare luxury outside of dungeons, but here it was abundant.
As I rested, I reviewed my progress. The battles so far had been manageable, but I knew the deeper floors would be far more challenging.
"Focus, Arax," I muttered. "This is just the beginning." Can't let myself get too Arrogant.
---
Suddenly, the ground beneath me trembled. A low growl echoed through the forest, sending a shiver down my spine.
"Great," I muttered, standing up and readying myself.
From the shadows emerged a massive creature, easily three times my height. Its body was covered in dark, chitinous armor, and its eyes glowed with an eerie red light.
"A dungeon guardian," I realized.
These were rare, even in Tier 2 dungeons. Guardians were powerful monsters tasked with protecting specific areas or treasures.
The creature let out a deafening roar, shaking the trees around us. It charged at me, its massive claws tearing through the ground.
I leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding its attack.
"This is going to be fun," I thought, a grin spreading across my face.
---
The guardian was relentless, its attacks leaving little room for error. But I wasn't just playing defense.
I channeled mana into my hands, preparing a powerful spell.
"Infernal Spiral."
A vortex of flames erupted around the guardian, engulfing it in a fiery whirlwind. The creature roared in pain, but it didn't go down easily. It charged through the flames, its armor glowing red-hot.
"Damn, you're tough," I admitted.
Switching tactics, I activated a another ability.
"Lightning Step."
In an instant, I teleported behind the guardian, avoiding its charge. I followed up with a concentrated mana blade, aiming for a gap in its armor. The blade struck true, piercing the creature's core not yet done i delivered the killing blow by decapitating It's head.
The guardian let out one final roar before collapsing, its body disintegrating into light.
---
As the dust settled, I caught my breath. The battle had been intense, but it was worth it. The guardian's death left behind a large mana core and a shimmering chest.
"Jackpot," I said, opening the chest.
Inside were several rare items—a pair of enchanted bracers, a vial of healing potion, and a small crystal that pulsed with raw energy.
Satisfied with my haul, I stored the items in my ring and prepared to move on.
The first floor had tested my skills, but I knew the real challenges were yet to come.
"Bring it on," I said, stepping deeper into the dungeon.
--