The torches along the dungeon walls sputtered weakly as Ronny pressed deeper into the Eternal Abyss. His body ached from the fight with the Blood Knight, but each step forward carried a strange thrill—the afterglow of leveling up, the faint hum of raw power simmering in his veins.
The system message from earlier still echoed in his mind:
New Skill Unlocked: Chain Spark
Ronny flexed his fingers, tiny arcs of lightning leaping between them. Chain Spark, huh? A skill that could jump from one target to another. His grin widened. "Perfect. I'll need to test it out."
The dungeon seemed to hear his challenge.
A low growl reverberated from ahead, followed by the scraping of claws against stone. Ronny slowed, crouching low as three shapes emerged from the gloom.
Enemy: Abyss Hounds
Class: Beast
Level: 18, 19, 20
Lean, black-furred creatures with glowing blue eyes slinked from the shadows. Their maws dripped with acidic saliva that hissed when it touched the floor. They circled him like wolves scenting prey.
Ronny cracked his knuckles, lightning dancing across his arms. "Three of you, huh? Guess this is a good warm-up."
The first hound lunged, jaws snapping at his throat. Ronny sidestepped, sparks bursting beneath his boots, and drove his fist into its side. Electricity surged through the beast, throwing it to the ground twitching.
The other two attackers struck in unison, one from the left and the other from behind.
"Now… let's test this new toy."
Ronny extended his hand, electricity condensing into a crackling orb. He released it with a sharp thrust—lightning shot forward like a spear, striking the hound on his left.
Then it happened.
The lightning didn't stop. It jumped, chaining instantly to the hound behind him, wrapping its body in searing sparks. Both beasts howled, writhing as the current linked them together in arcs of blue fire.
Ronny's eyes lit up. "Oh, that's beautiful."
The first hound recovered and charged again, but this time Ronny was ready. He pivoted on his heel, planting his foot against its jaw with a lightning-fueled kick. The impact snapped its head sideways, sending it crashing into the dungeon wall with a sharp crack.
The chained beasts collapsed moments later, smoke rising from their bodies.
Ronny stood in the center of the carnage, electricity still buzzing faintly in the air.
Chain Spark isn't just offense—it's control. With this, I can handle groups instead of being overwhelmed.
But before he could breathe easy, more claws scraped in the distance.
From the shadows slithered a larger beast, its body gaunt and patchy, with skin stretched taut over visible ribs. Its head was wolf-like but elongated, and its jaw split unnaturally wide, lined with jagged teeth.
Enemy: Abyss Alpha Hound
Class: Beast Elite
Level: 24
Ronny cursed under his breath. "Of course. The pack leader."
The alpha's eyes glowed a sickly green, its breath steaming with foul energy. Unlike the smaller hounds, this one radiated an aura that made the air feel heavier, like gravity itself pressed down on Ronny's shoulders.
It charged without warning, speed blurring as it covered the distance in a heartbeat. Ronny barely rolled aside, its claws scraping sparks off the stone where his head had been a moment before.
Faster than the Blood Knight…!
Ronny blasted himself upward with a burst of lightning, perching on a jutting stone pillar. Sparks rippled down his arms as he assessed.
The alpha roared, its cry summoning three more smaller hounds from the darkness.
Ronny grinned despite himself. "Alright. Let's see how far this Chain Spark can go."
He leapt down into the fray, electricity flooding his body. The hounds surrounded him instantly, but this time he didn't dodge—he welcomed the attack.
"Chain Spark—Burst!"
A wave of lightning erupted from his core, striking the nearest beast. The current leapt, one to the next, and again, until all three were caught in a web of crackling energy. They yelped and convulsed, their movements paralyzed.
The alpha wasn't fazed. It barreled through the sparking web of its pack, claws glowing with sickly green energy, and slashed at Ronny.
The blow landed across his chest, tearing cloth and flesh alike. Ronny gasped, pain shooting through his ribs. His vision blurred, but adrenaline surged harder.
It's faster. Stronger. But I'm lightning. I'm speed.
Gritting his teeth, Ronny poured everything into his legs. Sparks exploded at his feet, and he vanished in a blur, reappearing at the alpha's side. He struck, lightning-infused fists slamming into its ribs in rapid succession.
One hit. Two. Three. Sparks seared its hide, and the smell of burnt flesh filled the chamber. The alpha roared and swung wildly, but Ronny dashed back, weaving through the air like a living thunderbolt.
Finally, he condensed every last spark into his palm, forming a spear of pure lightning.
"Fall!"
He thrust it forward, piercing straight into the alpha's chest. The beast convulsed violently as lightning spread through its body, chaining to the already weakened hounds.
All four collapsed in a heap, smoke rising from their bodies.
Ronny staggered back, chest heaving, his wounds screaming—but the grin on his face was unstoppable.
The system chimed.
---
[System Log]
Victory Achieved – Enemies Defeated: Abyss Hounds ×3 (Lv. 18–20), Abyss Alpha Hound (Lv. 24)
EXP Gained: 1,050
Level Up! → Ronny Von Coln is now Level 23
Skill Progression:
Chain Spark (Level 3 → Level 5)
Effect: Lightning now chains up to 4 enemies within range (12 meters).
New Effect: Chained enemies suffer paralysis for 2 seconds.
Loot Obtained:
[Alpha Fang] (Rare Material)
[Shadow Essence] (Rare Drop)
Condition Update:
HP: 29%
Status: Bleeding, Bruised Ribs, Fatigued
---
Ronny fell against the stone wall, clutching his chest. His breath came ragged, but his eyes burned with fierce determination.
"That's… two level-ups in one night," he muttered. "At this rate…" He looked deeper into the dungeon, where the shadows thickened like a living fog. "…I might actually reach the core."
But then, the thumping began.
Heavy, deliberate, echoing steps that made the walls tremble. Each thud sent shivers through the ground, as though something enormous was approaching. The air itself grew colder, sharper, harder to breathe.
Ronny pushed himself to his feet, bloodied but grinning.
"Guess… rest'll have to wait."
The Eternal Abyss was far from finished with him.