[Lucas P.O.V.]
I woke up the next morning with a yawn, the soft light of the sun filtering through the thin curtains in my cramped apartment. The familiar creak of the floorboards greeted me as I stood and stretched, shaking off the grogginess that clung to me like a second skin. My stomach growled, reminding me I hadn't had much to eat the day before.
Reaching for the last pack of instant noodles in my cabinet, I boiled water and ate quickly, the bland taste doing little to excite me. My mind, however, was already buzzing with anticipation. Today was the day I would test my ability—the one thing that might give me an edge in this world.
Once I finished eating, I set about preparing. My adventure bag—a cheap, patched-up backpack—was packed with essentials: water, bandages, and the only weapons I could afford—a kitchen knife and a hammer. Neither was ideal, but for an F-Rank dungeon, they should suffice. Hopefully.
I couldn't afford to waste any more time. Standing in the center of my living room, I activated my innate ability, and a system panel appeared before me, its soft glow casting an otherworldly light across the room.
---
[Dungeon Creation]
[Please explain what kind of dungeon you would like to create...]
[Keep in mind that depending on how you want the dungeon to function, difficulty may increase in response.]
The words intrigued me. The phrasing suggested nearly limitless customization, the only caveat being that difficulty would scale with the rewards. The possibilities were staggering.
"Let's try something," I muttered to myself. I focused on the idea of a dungeon where I could fight a single monster, one that granted infinite regeneration.
Almost immediately, a gray portal formed in front of me and began to pulse ominously. Its color shifted from gray to black, dark lightning crackling along its edges. The air around me grew heavy, an oppressive weight pressing down on my chest.
The portal radiated pure malice. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen, a swirling vortex of death and despair that felt alive, almost aware of my presence.
[System Warning: ???????? Rank Dungeon is nearby; the system advises leaving the area until it is strong enough.]
"What the hell...?" I whispered, my heart pounding as I stared at the ominous gateway.
When I asked the system what the question marks meant, its response only fueled my curiosity.
[The question marks mean this dungeon is far beyond the highest rank you currently know of and have experienced personally. It also means you lack the strength to know of its rank in the first place.]
The idea that my ability could create something this terrifying filled me with both excitement and dread. I reached out a trembling hand, but the pressure radiating from the portal formed an invisible barrier, stopping me a meter away.
"Hehe... Looks like I've got my work cut out for me," I chuckled nervously. "Someday, I'll be strong enough to conquer even this... but not today."
Canceling the dungeon, I decided to start smaller. "Create a dungeon of F Rank—at most F+ Rank—that guarantees me a passive regeneration skill upon completion."
This time, a gray portal formed without issue, its edges glowing faintly. I exhaled a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. F+ Rank was manageable, though it wouldn't be a cakewalk.
"Here goes nothing," I muttered, gripping my knife and hammer tightly as I stepped through the portal.
---
The transition was smooth, and when my vision cleared, I found myself in a damp, moss-covered cave. Thick vines hung from the ceiling like nature's curtains, and pools of stagnant water reflected the faint bioluminescent glow of fungi clinging to the walls. Bones of various creatures, including humanoids, were scattered across the ground, some arranged in disturbingly deliberate patterns.
I tightened my grip on my weapons and pressed forward. The air was thick and humid, each step squelching against the wet ground. The path ahead was straightforward, leading me deeper into the dungeon.
In the distance, the flickering light of a campfire caught my eye. As I approached, I spotted three small figures huddled around it. They were humanoid but distinctly inhuman.
The creatures had smooth green skin, long dark green hair, and pointed ears. Their glowing purple eyes sparkled as they chatted animatedly, their voices high-pitched and guttural. They were beautiful in an eerie, unsettling way. But what truly caught my attention was what they were eating—a human corpse.
I felt a bit of revulsion as I watched one of the creatures carve a piece of flesh and offer it to another, who accepted it with a smile.
"What the hell are those things?" I whispered, my voice barely audible over the crackling fire.
Shaking off my hesitation, I formulated a plan. Stealth was my best option since I was outnumbered. Picking up a sizable rock, I hurled it against the far wall. The noise startled the creatures, and one of them stood, clutching a spear as it cautiously approached the source of the sound.
With their backs turned, I seized the opportunity. Creeping up behind the nearest one, I plunged my knife into its throat. The creature let out a gurgled gasp, its blood spraying across my hand.
Before its companions could react, I swung my hammer, the blunt force shattering the skull of the second one. Its lifeless body crumpled to the ground.
The last creature turned, its face contorted with rage and grief. Letting out a guttural scream, it charged at me with tears streaming down its face.
There was no room for pity. Using the body of its fallen comrade as a shield, I blocked its spear thrust and countered with a slash across its stomach. Its insides spilled out as it staggered backward, clutching its wound.
"It's nothing personal," I said, wiping the blood from my face. "You were just in my way."
The creature's amber eyes widened with fear, its knife trembling in its hand. Before it could recover, I dashed forward and stabbed it through the heart. Its body went limp, collapsing into the dirt.
Breathing heavily, I wiped my knife clean and began searching the corpses. Among the gore, I found an F+ Rank core. I absorbed it immediately, a warm surge of energy coursing through my body.
---
[Name: Lucas Howell]
[Age: 18 (36)]
[Affinity: N/A]
[Title(s): Jackal]
[Innate Ability: Dungeon Maker]
[STATS]
[STR - 35 (+5)]
[DEX - 35 (+5)]
[END - 35 (+5)]
[INT - 35 (+5)]
[WIS - 35 (+5)]
[SPELLS: N/A]
"Stronger already," I muttered, flexing my fingers.
The next few encounters were similar. The green creatures were crafty, using teamwork and the terrain to their advantage. Despite their clever tactics, I managed to prevail, collecting several more cores along the way. My stats climbed steadily, giving me a noticeable edge.
Finally, I reached the dungeon's boss chamber. The cavern opened into a vast, circular space illuminated by glowing crystals embedded in the walls. At its center stood a single creature, taller and more imposing than the others.
His amber eyes burned with intelligence, and his gray hair framed a face lined with age and wisdom. Draped in a cloak of bones, he radiated authority.
"You've got some nerve," he said, his voice deep and gravelly. "Slaughtering my people, invading my domain... Do you think yourself special?"
I met his gaze, unflinching. "Not special. Just trying to survive."
The elder Smilvani studied me for a moment before chuckling. "Well, at least you're honest. Tell me, human—do you know what we are?"
"Not really," I admitted, tightening my grip on my weapons.
"We are the Smilvani, hunters of men. And you..." His voice trailed off, his expression hardening. "You are a threat to my people."
He drew a sword from his waist, its blade jagged and dark as obsidian.
"My name is Garruk, Elder of the Smilvani, and swordsman."
"And I'm Lucas," I replied, stepping into a combat stance. "Just a Jackal."