The dawn of the dungeon break was both eerily quiet and tense. The townspeople had no idea what was about to happen, but Hyun Joon felt it in his bones. The vibrations in the air, the faint flicker of the sky at dusk—it was all too familiar. The first dungeon break in this timeline was a small one, but it would still leave scars if left unchecked. Hyun Joon had lived through it once, and he wasn't about to let history repeat itself.
He stood on the outskirts of town, his sword strapped to his back and a makeshift pack slung over his shoulder. His newly acquired skills danced at the edge of his mind, ready to be called upon. He felt the surge of Wild Charge humming in his legs, the precision of Lupine Reflexes heightening his awareness, and the fortitude of Kobold's Resilience steadying his nerves. But he would need more.
This time, he wasn't going in blind. He was going to conquer this dungeon and come out stronger.
The dungeon entrance materialized as a swirling black vortex at the base of a hill. It pulsed with ominous energy, and faint whispers seemed to emanate from its depths. Hyun Joon tightened his grip on his sword hilt. This was his first dungeon in this timeline, and he had no intention of becoming its victim.
"Alright," he muttered, his voice steadying. "Let's see what you've got."
As he stepped through the portal, the world around him shifted. The cold air of the forest gave way to a suffocating heat. The dungeon's interior was a sprawling labyrinth of molten rock and jagged obsidian, illuminated by rivers of glowing lava. The oppressive atmosphere was stifling, but Hyun Joon's determination burned brighter.
The system interface flickered to life before him.
[Dungeon Information]
Name: Emberfang Cavern
Difficulty: Low-Intermediate
Boss: Flame Warden Rakhor
Hyun Joon's lips tightened into a thin line. "Rakhor..." he whispered. In his past life, this dungeon had taken the lives of dozens of inexperienced hunters before it was finally cleared. The Flame Warden was no pushover, even for those well-equipped.
"But I'm not the same person anymore," he said, his voice resolute.
The first wave of monsters came quickly. Emberfang Hounds emerged from the shadows, their molten bodies radiating intense heat. Hyun Joon activated Wild Charge, closing the gap between himself and the nearest hound in an instant. His sword flashed as he struck, the blade slicing through its fiery hide. The creature let out a guttural snarl before collapsing into ash.
[Combat Proficiency Increased: +2%] [Skill Available: Emberfang Bite.]
Hyun Joon's heart raced as he dodged another hound's attack, its molten fangs snapping inches from his shoulder. He countered with a calculated strike, his movements bolstered by Lupine Reflexes. The system chimed again, offering him the opportunity to copy the hound's skill.
"Emberfang Bite..." he murmured. Accepting the skill, he felt a surge of heat course through his body. The knowledge of how to channel that heat into a devastating bite became instinctual, almost second nature.
The last hound fell, and Hyun Joon took a moment to catch his breath. The system interface updated.
[Current Skill Slots: 4/5] [Available Skills: Wild Charge, Lupine Reflexes, Kobold's Resilience, Emberfang Bite.]
"I'll need to be careful," he thought. "I've only got one slot left."
He pressed deeper into the dungeon, the air growing hotter and the ground more treacherous. Lava pools bubbled and hissed, and the sound of distant growls echoed through the cavern. Hyun Joon's senses were on high alert, every muscle in his body coiled like a spring.
As he rounded a corner, he came face-to-face with a pack of Lava Sprites. The tiny creatures hovered above the ground, their fiery forms flickering like embers. They were weak individually but dangerous in numbers. Hyun Joon didn't hesitate.
Activating Wild Charge, he lunged at the nearest sprite, his sword cleaving through its form. The creature burst into a shower of sparks, but the others swarmed him, their high-pitched screeches ringing in his ears. He gritted his teeth, using Kobold's Resilience to weather the heat as their fiery attacks rained down on him.
[Skill Mastery Threshold Reached: Kobold's Resilience Enhanced.] [Skill Enhancement Unlocked: Stonehide Fortitude.]
A grin spread across Hyun Joon's face as his skin took on a faint, stony texture. The sprites' attacks grew less effective, their flames barely leaving marks. He dispatched them one by one, their numbers dwindling until the cavern was silent once more.
"I'm starting to get the hang of this," he said, rolling his shoulders. The system's continuous feedback was invaluable. Every encounter, every skill, every victory made him stronger.
Hours passed as Hyun Joon fought his way through the dungeon. Each battle honed his skills and pushed him closer to his limits. The Emberfang Cavern was a crucible, and he was forging himself anew within its fiery depths. But as he approached the final chamber, a sense of unease settled over him.
The entrance to the boss's lair was a massive, rune-inscribed door. Heat radiated from it in waves, and the faint sound of something massive breathing could be heard from the other side. Hyun Joon tightened his grip on his sword. This was it.
[Boss Chamber Detected: Entry Will Lock Upon Passage.]
Taking a deep breath, Hyun Joon stepped through the door. The chamber beyond was vast, its walls lined with rivers of molten lava. At its center stood Rakhor, the Flame Warden. The boss was a towering figure, its body wreathed in fire and its eyes glowing like molten coals. In its hands, it held a massive, flame-etched halberd.
Rakhor let out a deafening roar, the ground shaking beneath Hyun Joon's feet. The system chimed.
[Boss Identified: Flame Warden Rakhor.]
Level: 15
Skills: Flame Arc, Infernal Surge, Magma Shield
Hyun Joon didn't wait for the boss to make the first move. Activating Wild Charge, he closed the distance between them in an instant, his sword slashing at Rakhor's side. The blade met resistance, the magma-like armor deflecting some of the force. Rakhor swung its halberd in retaliation, and Hyun Joon barely managed to dodge, the heat singing his hair.
The battle was intense, each clash testing Hyun Joon's limits. Rakhor's Flame Arc sent waves of fire cascading across the chamber, forcing Hyun Joon to rely on Lupine Reflexes to evade. When the boss activated its Magma Shield, Hyun Joon's attacks barely left a scratch. But he didn't falter. He studied Rakhor's movements, waiting for an opening.
Finally, the opportunity came. As Rakhor prepared to unleash another Flame Arc, Hyun Joon activated Emberfang Bite. His body surged with heat as he lunged, his fangs sinking into the boss's exposed shoulder. Rakhor let out a furious roar, staggering back as flames erupted from the wound.
The system chimed again.
[Skill Copied: Infernal Surge.]
Hyun Joon felt the power of Rakhor's skill flooding his veins. Infernal Surge amplified his speed and strength, turning him into a blur of motion. He pressed the attack, his sword carving into the boss with relentless precision. Rakhor's movements grew sluggish as its health dwindled, and with one final strike, Hyun Joon drove his blade into its chest.
The boss let out a final, earth-shaking roar before collapsing, its body disintegrating into ash. The chamber fell silent, save for the sound of Hyun Joon's heavy breathing. The system's notification appeared before him.
[Boss Defeated: Flame Warden Rakhor.] [Rewards Granted: Infernal Core, Skill Slot Expansion, Level Up.]
Hyun Joon sank to his knees, exhaustion washing over him. But he couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. He had done it. He had conquered the dungeon and emerged stronger than ever.
As the dungeon began to crumble, signaling its collapse, Hyun Joon stood and made his way to the exit. The Absolute skill pulsed within him, a reminder of his potential.
"This is only the beginning," he said, his voice filled with determination. "I'll keep getting stronger. No matter what it takes."
With that, he stepped back into the forest, ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.