---
Rin took a deep breath, feeling the residual heat of the Dragon Pan in his palm. The weapon was more than just a tool—it was a symbol of his recent growth. Yet, despite his triumphs, one thing weighed heavily on his mind: the Devourer skill. It pulsed faintly beneath his skin, a power still unfamiliar and raw.
"Devourer... it lets me absorb anything dead within 300 meters, even mana-based objects," Rin whispered to himself, flexing his fingers as subtle black-green tendrils flickered under his skin like restless shadows. "But it's only at level one. I can feel there's so much more locked inside it."
He tightened his grip on the Dragon Pan, the fiery dragons carved into its surface shimmering with a quiet ferocity. Each step forward was a step deeper into the unknown. The dim corridor ahead was filled with the unmistakable sounds of movement—growls, the scraping of claws, the heavy thuds of monstrous footsteps.
Rin's heart quickened. This was no longer a simple dungeon raid—it was a battlefield.
In the murky glow, massive B-rank monsters emerged. Their eyes were burning coals of hatred, their bodies covered in armored scales that glistened like obsidian. One beast, larger than the rest, snapped its jaws with a deadly precision, saliva dripping like acid.
"This place... these creatures. They're no joke," Rin thought, swallowing his fear. He recalled the rankings of dungeons—from E-rank beginners like himself to the terrifying Double S-level deathtraps. Sealers who dared enter these domains were often hailed as heroes... or mourned as casualties.
But Rin was no hero yet. He was still an E-rank, still a rookie in a world that devoured the weak.
The first monster lunged, claws slashing through the stale air. Rin swung the Dragon Pan in a wide, sweeping arc. Flames roared to life, licking the creature's scaled hide and burning deep into its flesh. It let out a bone-chilling screech before collapsing into a heap of smoking ash.
But Rin didn't pause. The moment the beast fell, he extended his hands. Dark tendrils erupted from his skin, snaking toward the remains as his Devourer skill sucked up every trace—bone, muscle, mana essence—like a ravenous shadow.
His body tingled with power. His wounds ached less. Strength surged anew.
Another monster charged, larger and faster. Rin ducked under a sweeping claw and jabbed the fiery pan forward. The dragons carved into the weapon seemed to roar, breathing a torrent of flame that engulfed the beast. It thrashed wildly, then stillness.
One by one, Rin battled through the wave, growing stronger with every kill. His confidence swelled, but his mind stayed alert. He knew this was only the prelude.
Finally, the corridor opened to a vast chamber where the boss's lair awaited—a colossal stone gate adorned with glowing runes that pulsed with dark energy. The air was heavy, thick with the scent of ancient magic and stale death.
Rin's breath hitched.
But then his eyes caught something that stopped his heart cold.
A figure stood casually beside the boss gate. Human. Alone. Calmly smiling.
His breath caught. The smile was chilling—too confident, too knowing.
"Who... is that?" Rin whispered, disbelief clawing at his throat.
The stranger's eyes gleamed under the dim light, radiating an unsettling calm. His gaze locked onto Rin, almost as if he had been expecting him.
Rin's mind raced. Was this a Sealer? A rival? Or worse, a dungeon inhabitant masquerading as human?
The heavy silence pressed down on him like a shroud. The pulse of the runes on the gate quickened, as if sensing the brewing storm.
Behind him, Rin could still hear faint growls—the restless hunger of monsters lurking just out of sight.
He tightened his grip on the Dragon Pan, feeling its comforting weight and the subtle heat of the fire dragons.
"This dungeon just got a whole lot more dangerous," Rin thought, swallowing the rising dread.
His body tensed, ready for whatever was coming.
The boss was near. And so was this mysterious stranger.
Rin squared his shoulders.
"No matter what happens... I'm not going down without a fight."
---