Floor ??? - Labyrinth Of The Deathly Embrace
The cavern stretched endlessly before Adonis and Dennis, its jagged walls illuminated by clusters of glowing rocks that cast an eerie, pale light across the expanse. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and something faintly metallic, a reminder of the dangers lurking in the shadows. Every step they make echoed against the uneven floor as they sprinted through the tunnels of the cave, their breaths ragged but steady. Behind them, the sounds of pursuit had faded, but the tension in the air remained palpable.
Suddenly, a group of bandits erupted from a hidden crevice, their blades glinting in the dim glow. Without hesitation, Adonis and Dennis moved in sync, their movements a blur of practiced precision. Adonis marveled at his companion's prowess—Dennis fought with the ferocity and skill of a seasoned warrior. A swift elbow to a bandit's jaw, a precise kick to another's chest, and the attackers crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
As they pressed forward, another wave of enemies appeared—this time, a mix of bandits and rogue adventurers, their eyes gleaming with greed and malice. The fight was harder now, the opponents more coordinated, but Adonis and Dennis prevailed, their teamwork seamless despite the odds. Adonis's mind, however, was elsewhere. He noticed a pattern: the attackers seemed to focus their aggression on Dennis, their strikes calculated, as if they were targeting him specifically.
This isn't random, Adonis thought, his mind racing. The robbery attempt earlier, the three men and the woman who'd cornered Dennis with such precision—it wasn't just greed. They wanted something from him. Something specific.
Before he could dwell on it, the ground trembled. A low, guttural growl echoed through the cavern, and Adonis's blood ran cold. From the darkness emerged a beast unlike any he'd seen—a wolf, but monstrous, its hulking form three times the size of any natural predator. Blue crystals jutted from its right shoulder down to its upper arm, pulsing with an otherworldly light. Its hide looked impenetrable, tough as iron, and its three glowing red eyes locked onto them with predatory malice.
Adonis's "Appraisal Eyes" activated instinctively, his vision overlaying with data:
Name: Azure Howler
Level: 40
Stats:
Strength: 80
Agility: 60
Endurance: 70
Intelligence: 32
Luck: 10
Durability: 75
Stamina: 82
Skills: Bite (D), Earth Manipulation (C), Tough Skin (C)
Weakness: Nape (softest part of the body)
Adonis's heart sank. The Azure Howler's stats dwarfed his own. He was Level 25, with Strength at 45 and Agility at 32—respectable, but not enough to face this beast alone. If we work together, maybe we can take it, he thought, glancing at Dennis. Or we run. He opened his mouth to suggest a plan, but before he could speak, Dennis charged.
The change in Dennis was instantaneous, like a switch had flipped. His demeanor changed. His eyes burned with focus, his movement a blur of precision and power. With a single leap, he closed the distance to the Azure Howler, his sword flashing in the cavern's glow. One clean strike—and the beast's head hit the ground, severed at the nape. Blood sprayed, painting the rocks, but Dennis landed lightly, flicking his blade to clear it of gore. Not a drop remained on the steel.
Adonis stood frozen, his mind struggling to process what he'd just witnessed. He… he one-shotted it? Driven by curiosity, Adonis turned his Appraisal Eyes on Dennis and what he saw made his jaw drop.
Name: Dennis Duncan
Occupation: Knight
Class: Blue
Level: 50
Stats:
Strength: 120
Agility: 100
Endurance: 110
Intelligence: 70
Luck: 90
Durability: 130
Stamina: 145
Tower Points: 200,000
Adonis's mouth hung open. Dennis's stats were monstrous, far beyond anything he'd expected. Level 50? Strength 120? And what was "Class: Blue"? More pressing, though, was the staggering number of Tower Points—200,000. Adonis had never seen anyone with that many before. Who is this guy?
They must pay him well, Adonis thought, a flicker of envy sparking in his chest. Wherever he's working, I want in. But the thought quickly soured. Knights were bound by rigid codes of chivalry, their rules often clashing with the free-spirited nature of adventurers. Adonis had heard the stories: knights looking down on adventurers as mercenaries who'd kill for coin, while adventurers scorned knights as sanctimonious hypocrites. Not all knights are good, and not all adventurers are bad,
Everyone has a choice.... To be good or bad.
A snap of fingers jolted him from his thoughts. Dennis stood in front of him, frowning. "Adonis, what's with you? You've been standing there like a statue."
"Huh?" Adonis blinked, shaking his head. "Sorry, I—"
"No time for that," Dennis cut in, his voice urgent. "There could be more of those things. Let's move."
Adonis nodded, falling into step behind Dennis as they navigated the tunnels. But a prickling sensation crawled up his spine, the unmistakable feeling of being watched. He glanced over his shoulder, seeing nothing but shadows. Still, the unease lingered.
Far from the chaos of the battle, a lone figure observing the events unfold. The man was a knight, his bald head marked by a jagged scar running vertically over his right eye. His armor, similar to Dennis's but adorned with red accents and a breastplate bearing the emblem of a snarling beast, gleamed faintly in the dim light. His expression was calm, but a flicker of frustration danced in his eyes as he activated his interface. A man's face appeared on the screen, his expression unreadable. The knight spoke, his voice low and laced with irritation. "The plan failed. The knight was too strong for the young master's pet. The bandits and adventurers were useless—couldn't do their job. And there's another pest." His eyes narrowed. "I believe he's the reason it failed."
The man on the screen replied curtly, "Return at once. Young master's orders."
"Yes," the knight said, his tone flat. The interface vanished, and in an instant, so did he, leaving only the echo of his presence in the silent cavern.