Kael stepped over the fallen serpents, exhaling slowly. The primal energy from their bodies coursed through his veins, reinforcing his strength.
The taste of power was intoxicating, but he pushed aside the feeling. The second floor wasn't completely clear yet.
The forest ahead was silent, save for the sound of rustling leaves. Kael gripped his bone dagger tighter. There were still more beasts left before the exit to the third floor.
He moved carefully with light steps, using the trees for cover. He stayed calm and didn't rush. The beasts on this floor were smarter, and if he charged in recklessly, he'd be overwhelmed.
~Growl~
A low growl reached his ears.
Kael stilled, his mental cognition subconsciously activated, pushing his perception to its peak. His eyes flicked upward just in time to see the beast leap from the shadows...
A Lvl 7 Shadow Fang.
It was a black-furred feline with a sleek outer layer, built for ambush attacks. Its glowing yellow eyes locked onto him as it twisted mid-air. The claws extended, aiming for his throat.
Kael reacted instantly, dropping low. The beast sailed over him, landing in a crouch with its muscles coiled.
He barely had time to process before two more Shadow Fangs emerged from the undergrowth.
Three Lvl 7 Shadow Fangs against one Lvl 3 human...
Kael's grip on his bone dagger tightened.
The first Shadow Fang lunged again—Kael sidestepped, bringing his dagger up. A precise cut slash across its ribs and the beast snarled, staggering back, but the other two were already in motion.
Kael pivoted, narrowly dodging the second one's swipe. The third circled behind him, cutting off his escape.
"They're well coordinated." Kael inhaled slowly, calming his thoughts. He had to break their rhythm.
Instead of retreating, he charged forward, closing the gap with the injured Shadow Fang.
The beast hesitated—just for a second. But that was enough time for Kael to strike.
His dagger plunged deep into its throat, twisting. Blood gushed like a fountain, and the Shadow Fang collapsed with a choking gurgle.
"One down, two to go."
The remaining two attacked together.
Kael rolled to the side, evading the first strike, but the second raked its claws across his arm. Pain flared, but he pushed through it.
Blood dripped from the open wound, but his Adaptive Regeneration kicked in instantly, already working to heal the wound.
The wounded Shadow Fang growled, circling him carefully now. The last one darted forward, using the brief distraction to attack.
Kael anticipated it, though; his Predator's Instincts whispered the movement before it even happened.
He twisted, slamming his dagger upward into its gut, tearing through fur and flesh.
It yowled, thrashing, but Kael yanked his blade free, stepping back as the beast crumpled.
The last one hesitated after seeing its comrades go down, but Kael didn't.
He lunged forward, feinting left, then cutting right. The dagger sliced through its throat.
———
[System Alert]
[You have acquired primal energy of Lvl 7 Shadow Fang]
[Essence Absorbed: +125 EXP]
[Blood Points: +2]
[Experience Points: 575/700 EXP]
[Level-up Progress: 82.2%]
———
[System Alert]
[You have acquired primal energy of Lvl 7 Shadow Fang]
[Essence Absorbed: +125 EXP]
[Blood Points: +2]
[Experience Points: 700/700 EXP]
[Level-up Progress: 99% → Ready for Breakthrough]
———
[Level-up Requirements Met]
[Level: 3 → 4]
[Blood Points: 13 BP → 19 BP]
———
[System Alert]
[You have acquired primal energy of Lvl 7 Shadow Fang]
[Essence Absorbed: +125 EXP]
[Blood Points: +2]
[Experience Points: 125/1300 EXP]
[Level-up Progress: 9.62%]
———
Kael wiped his blade clean, breathing evenly. He had leveled up again, but more than that—he could feel the battle sharpening him.
He moved cautiously. The deeper he went, the heavier the air became. The trees thinned, revealing a massive stone gateway covered in ancient runes.
Suddenly, a cold breeze swept through his back, chilling his spine. Every hair on his body stood on end, his instincts screaming danger.
Then, the source of the feeling emerged.
A hulking beast stepped forward, standing nearly twice his height.
[Lvl 8 Abyss-Touched Dire Bear]
Its dark fur shimmered with runes glowing along its body. Its eyes burned red, looking primal and starved.
Kael didn't move, no—he couldn't move. The feeling the bear gave him was unlike anything he'd felt since waking up in this dungeon. The bear watched him, sniffing the air. It wasn't just a brute, its eye gleamed with intelligence.
~ROAR!~
The sound rattled the cavern, sending a pulse of force through the air. Kael's muscles tensed, but he held his ground.
"This is it... My first real fight," he muttered. Instead of feeling fearful, his lips curled up in a wild smirk.
The bear charged, faster than something its size should be able to.
Kael dodged left, barely avoiding the swipe that shattered the ground where he had stood. Its blow was too strong to block.
His mind raced, searching for a way out.
He darted in, slashing at its hind leg. His dagger bit into its flesh, only just, but the beast barely reacted.
Then—it moved.
A massive paw swung out. Kael tried to jump back, but it clipped his ribs, sending him flying.
BOOM!
He hit the ground hard, his insides feeling the impact, and blood trickled out of his mouth. He tried rolling to absorb the impact. Pain flared, but he pushed through it.
The bear was already charging again, giving him no time to breathe.
~ROAR!~
The Abyss-Touched Dire Bear roared, the cavern trembling under its weight. Its glowing crimson eyes locked onto Kael, reading him like prey. He could see it—the way the beast's muscles tensed, calculating its next move.
Then it charged.
Kael barely had time to react before the ground beneath him cracked, massive claws tearing through the empty air where he had just stood. He twisted, rolling to the side, but the sheer force of the attack sent a shockwave through his body, numbing his arms.
'Too strong. If that had landed, I'd be dead.' His grip tightened on the bone dagger, heart pounding. He needed more speed and power.
"Allocate 8 BP to strength, 2 BP to Dexterity, and 3 BP to Constitution."
The system acknowledged his command instantly.
———
[Strength: 15 → 23]
[Dexterity: 18 → 20]
[Constitution: 13 → 16]
———
A surge of primal energy flooded his veins, his body adapting at a terrifying pace. His muscles hardened, his movements felt lighter, and the dull ache in his ribs faded.
The bear charged again.
Kael moved faster than before, sidestepping just as a massive paw swung down, pulverizing the cavern floor. Dust and debris shot into the air, but Kael was already counterattacking—
His dagger slashed across the bear's flank.
The blade sank in deep, but the bear's hide was tough, far denser than anything he had fought before. It roared in pain, its body twisting unnaturally fast.
Kael's instincts screamed danger.
He threw himself backward just as the bear's claws whipped through the air, missing his throat by inches.
'Too close.' His mind worked fast. Direct attacks wouldn't work. He had to cripple it.
Kael's eyes locked onto its legs.
The bear's movements were powerful but predictable due to its size—if he could sever its tendons to cut off its movements, he could control the fight.
The beast charged once more, but this time, Kael didn't retreat.
He rushed forward, meeting the attack head-on. The bear lifted its paw, expecting him to dodge—but Kael slid low, the bone dagger flashing.
He drew a precise slash across its rear tendon.
The result was instant. The bear stumbled, its massive body collapsing slightly under its own weight.
Kael didn't hesitate. He leaped onto its back, driving his dagger into the base of its skull.
~ROOAAAAARRRR!~
The bear thrashed violently, trying to throw him off. Its roar shook the entire cavern, but Kael held on, twisting the blade deeper.
With a final gurgling snarl, the beast collapsed.