Sector 13 was a pit. Not the metaphorical kind. An actual pit. Dug right into the broken concrete skin of the city. Once, it had been an industrial zone. Warehouses. Steel beams. Smoke and grease and hard hats. Now it was just cracked earth and temporary barricades.
At the center, the dungeon.
> [Dungeon Type: Crimson Verge - Temporary Gate]
[Estimated Level Range: E to D+]
[Status: Entry Permitted - No Current Bureau Supervision]
Perfect.
Yuuya didn't waste time. He adjusted the strap of his pack, double-checked the grip on his weapon—still a dented fire poker, but now with a few scorch marks that whispered of dead things—and stepped through.
No one stopped him.
---
The Crimson Verge felt like a wound. The air shimmered. Blood-colored mist hung heavy and thick, making it hard to breathe. Every step made a sound like walking through wet cloth.
> [True Learning Active - Difficulty Curve Adjusted to Personal Potential]
[New Zone: Blood-Stone Labyrinth]
[Enemies Detected: Spawn Count - 13]
[Recommended Action: Begin Elimination to Progress.]
Yuuya exhaled. "Guess we're doing this."
He stepped into the first chamber. The walls pulsed like muscle. Red veins ran through the stone.
The first enemy emerged without ceremony. A creature hunched over, its limbs too long, eyes blinking in unnatural rhythm.
> [Enemy Identified: Blood-Fused Ghoul]
[Level: 12]
[Aggression: HIGH]
Yuuya was Level 8.
He didn't wait.
He charged.
---
The fight wasn't clean.
His first swing missed. The poker clanged off the wall.
The ghoul slashed his arm. Blood ran.
He growled. Countered. Duck. Hit the knee.
> [True Learning +3%]
His second hit landed. Right in the shoulder socket. The ghoul screeched.
He pivoted. Slammed its face into the wall.
> [Critical Hit - Weak Point Discovered: Cranium Impact]
[EXP Gained: +97]
[Level Up: 9]
[Trait Improved: Combat Reflex II Unlocked]
Yuuya wiped blood from his chin.
"One down."
He moved on.
---
The second room had three enemies.
He used a dropped bone as a second weapon. Improvised dual wielding.
> [New Skill Created: Twin Improvisation Lv. 1]
[Skill Effect: Attack Speed +10% when wielding non-standard weapons.]
He laughed.
For the first time in days, he laughed.
The grind was real. And he loved it.
Room by room. Kill by kill.
Level 10. Then 11.
Then 12.
> [Dungeon Core Located - Central Chamber Unlocked]
---
The final room was circular.
A ritual space.
A pulsing red crystal floated above an altar.
And beneath it, a monster unlike the rest.
> [Dungeon Boss: Blood-Linked Guardian]
[Level: 15]
[Warning: Defensive Phase Initiated]
Yuuya crouched.
"Okay, big guy. Let's dance."
The boss charged. Massive fists. Fast.
He ducked. Rolled.
> [Reflex Copy Triggered - Dash Technique Acquired]
[True Learning: +6%]
He mimicked the boss's movement. Matched its speed. It roared. He roared back.
> [New Skill: Echo Counter Lv. 1]
[Effect: Return 50% of physical damage taken during a successful dodge + strike.]
He baited a punch. Slid under. Cracked the poker against its leg.
> [CRIT - Bone Fracture]
[Boss Stunned - 4 seconds]
Yuuya leapt.
One. Two. Three blows.
The boss grabbed him.
Threw him against a pillar.
> [-78 HP]
[HP Remaining: 22/100]
His breath rattled.
His legs trembled.
But he stood.
"Still F-rank, huh?"
He walked forward.
"Let's fix that."
He dashed. Punched. Slid. Smashed.
> [Final Hit Landed - Boss Core Fractured]
> [EXP +312]
[LEVEL UP: 13]
[LEVEL UP: 14]
> [New Trait Unlocked: Adaptive Grit - When under 30% HP, damage taken -10%, damage dealt +15%]
> [Dungeon Cleared: Crimson Verge Sealed]
[Loot Acquired: Core Fragment, Bloodsteel Shard x3, Lesser Health Rune]
He collapsed next to the altar, smiling through the blood.
Then he passed out.
---
When he woke up, it was already night outside.
The dungeon had closed behind him.
His pack was heavier with loot. His limbs ached.
But his level had gone up.
He was stronger.
> [Current Level: 14]
[Skill List: True Learning (Passive), Twin Improvisation Lv. 1, Echo Counter Lv. 1, Reflex Copy, Ash Pulse, Adaptive Grit]
And he wasn't even close to done.
Back at the Outcamp, he limped into his bunk. The ceiling leaked. The walls creaked.
But he smiled.
Because tomorrow, he'd dive again.
And someday...
They'd stop calling him F-rank.