The swirling portal hovered low against the cracked pavement—a small gate, barely larger than a manhole, but it pulsed with raw energy. The air around it was thick with tension, like a rubber band stretched to the point of snapping. Every inch of space around it buzzed with mana, vibrating in his bones, tugging at his instincts to fight or flee. Min-Jae stood alone, staring into the churning gate. His HUD lit up faintly in the corner of his vision: Level: 1 Class: Sword Master Health: 100/100 Mana: 20/20 Abilities: Sword Slash (Level 1) The single ability he possessed was a simple yet potent one—Sword Slash. It infused his weapon with mana to create a burst of cutting force capable of slicing through flesh and bone with frightening ease.
But with his low mana pool, each use had to count. He could manage perhaps four or five slashes before running dry. No shield. No escape tool. Just a sword, some instinct, and his will to survive. He took one last breath and stepped into the portal. The world shifted around him in an instant. The sensation was like being pulled through a tight tube of static and nausea. When his feet touched solid ground again, he was in a new space—dim, damp, and foreboding. The floor beneath him was jagged stone slick with a mossy film, making every step a hazard. Flickering torches lined the narrow corridor, casting long, grotesque shadows on the walls. The air smelled of iron and rot. Far off in the distance, a low growl echoed, followed by skittering movement. Then they appeared.A pack of creatures burst forth from the shadows. They were low to the ground, the size of large dogs, but grotesque—hairless, with gray, leathery skin stretched over sharp bones. Their eyes glowed red, and their jagged teeth jutted out like needles. They moved like liquid hunger. Min-Jae raised his sword. The first beast lunged. He activated Sword Slash, pouring mana into the blade. It shimmered for a split second with blue light as he swung with both hands. The arc of the blade met the creature mid-leap, slicing cleanly through its neck. The beast's momentum carried it forward, but its head hit the ground a split-second before the body. The others didn't flinch. They came in a wave. Min-Jae twisted to the side as a claw swiped past his face. Another beast lunged at his legs. He kicked it back, barely keeping balance. Another rushed from the side. No time to think—just move. He ducked low, slashed upward in a diagonal arc. Sword Slash again. Mana dipped. The blade bit deep into the beast's shoulder, nearly severing a limb. It howled and flailed backward. Then one caught him. A claw raked across his left arm. Pain erupted. He cried out, staggering. His blood ran warm down his sleeve. Two more closed in. He activated Sword Slash once more, sweeping the sword in a wide arc. The blue light flashed and struck both creatures, carving across their chests.They hit the ground twitching. His breath came in sharp gasps. Only three enemies left. He had maybe two Slashes worth of mana remaining. No potions. No support. Just resolve. He backed into the wall, forcing the beasts to come at him one at a time. The first lunged. Min-Jae feinted left, stepped right, and brought his blade down in a precise cut. No mana used. A clean kill. Another came from the side—too fast to Slash. He parried with the flat of his blade, sparks flying. The beast snarled and pressed against him, saliva dripping from its fangs. He drove a knee into its ribs and hacked downward. Not enough power. It shrieked but didn't fall. Mana surged into his sword. Final Sword Slash. He pivoted and swung in a flat horizontal arc, cutting the beast in half. The last one hesitated. Mistake. Min-Jae pounced with a raw, normal strike. The steel met flesh. The final creature slumped, twitching. Silence. His HUD blinked: Experience +30 A small reward. Too small. His body ached. His breathing was ragged. The wound on his arm throbbed, blood still seeping. But there was no time to rest. Not in here. He advanced. The next corridor was lined with narrow tiles and faint, regular notches in the wall. Min-Jae stopped. Something felt wrong. A faint metallic click. He rolled to the side just as spikes burst from both walls, colliding with lethal force in the center where he'd stood. The ground cracked."Traps." He moved forward slowly, eyes darting over the environment. Subtle pressure plates. Hidden holes. Strings tied to the edges of flagstones. He tossed a stone ahead. A dozen arrows whistled out of the walls, embedding into the floor with a mechanical hum. Step by step, he advanced through the hall. Ducking, sidestepping, pausing to analyze. One trap triggered near his shoulder; he bent back just in time. Another fired darts from above; he blocked with his sword. It took twenty minutes to cross that hallway. But he did it. The third chamber opened wider. The ceiling arched high, darkness pooling in the rafters. Strange symbols glowed on the walls. And waiting in the center were three goblins—taller than the average, green-skinned, with primitive armor and jagged blades. They turned, snarling. One beat its shield, issuing a challenge. Min-Jae raised his sword again, sweat dripping down his back. He darted forward, using footwork to stay on the move. One goblin swung wildly; he ducked, slashed its calf, then rolled away. The other goblin came in tighter, shield raised. He stabbed forward but was blocked. The goblin countered, forcing him to retreat. The third goblin tried to flank. He pivoted and aimed a non-mana strike at the flanker—hit its side, but shallow. Not enough. His mana recovered slightly—barely 4 points. Just enough. He activated Sword Slash and lunged forward in a blur. The mana-infused blade screamed through the air, cutting through shield and goblin both. The creature's body split, crumpling with a metallic clatter. The other two hesitated. He used that moment. He dropped low, kicked one goblin's knee, and stabbed upward into its chest. The final one tried to retreat. He didn't let it. He leapt, slamming it to the ground, and drove his blade down. It twitched. Then stopped. Experience +60 His wounds were many. Scratches, bruises, exhaustion. But his eyes never lost focus. Then the final door loomed. Massive. Ornate.He stepped through. The chamber beyond was colossal. At its center stood the dungeon's boss—a brute of a creature, nearly ten feet tall, with gray-green skin, thick muscles, and a club the size of a tree trunk. A crude crown of bone sat atop its head. It let out a guttural roar that echoed through the chamber. Min-Jae's blade felt like a toothpick in comparison. The brute charged, club raised. Min-Jae dove to the side, the weapon slamming the ground and sending cracks spidering outward. Dust filled the air. He circled, looking for an opening. He slashed low—shallow cut. The beast barely noticed. It turned and backhanded him across the chamber. He hit the wall, pain screaming through his ribs. Health: 58/100 He staggered upright, forcing himself to stay conscious. The boss was slow—but each strike was deadly. He baited a swing, dodged under it, then slashed the beast's ankle. Deeper this time. The boss growled. It stomped, and the ground shook. Min-Jae lost balance. The club came down. He rolled aside at the last second. His mana ticked up—just enough. He activated Sword Slash, dashed forward, and struck at the same injured ankle. The blade glowed and carved deep. The beast stumbled, roaring in pain. It swung blindly. One blow grazed Min-Jae's shoulder. Pain exploded. Blood sprayed. Health: 21/100 This was it. He gritted his teeth, surged forward, climbed onto the beast's thigh, and used one last Sword Slash—aiming for the neck. The blade carved deep. The boss howled, staggering. Another cut—this one manual. He hacked again and again, desperate.
With a final, guttural scream, the beast fell forward and didn't rise. Min-Jae collapsed beside it, chest heaving. His HUD blinked: Dungeon Cleared! Experience +150 Still far from Level 2. But he had survived. He had grown. And he knew this was only the beginning.