The air was different now.
After defeating the Dreadmaw, I could still feel my blood pumping from the battle, but as I moved deeper into the dungeon, something heavier settled in my chest. The silence pressed in like a weight, broken only by the distant sound of water dripping somewhere in the darkness. My boots echoed faintly on the stone floor, each step pulling me closer to whatever waited ahead.
The walls seemed to tremble every so often, subtle vibrations that crawled through the ground into my legs. I gripped my sword tighter. Whatever was causing that… it wasn't going to be small.
So this is it. The third beast.
The corridor widened abruptly into a cavern so massive it felt like stepping into another world. Jagged stalagmites rose like the teeth of some slumbering titan. The floor was uneven, scattered with boulders and fractured stone. The air was colder here, unnaturally so, as if something was sucking the warmth straight from the marrow of my bones.
And then I heard it.
A low, rasping growl, the kind that vibrated more in your chest than in your ears.
The creature emerged from the shadows at the far end of the cavern.
At first, I thought it was just another hulking beast, but when it stepped fully into the faint light of glowing fungi along the walls, I realized how wrong I was.
The thing stood nearly twice my height, its body sheathed in obsidian-black chitin that glistened like polished stone. Jagged spikes jutted from its shoulders and spine, scraping against the cavern walls when it moved. Six limbs supported its bulk, claws long and sharp enough to carve through solid rock. Its head was the worst part—mandibles twitching, dripping with some acid-like fluid, and four crimson eyes arranged across its skull, all of them staring straight at me.
Rockfang.
Every instinct I had screamed at me to run.
Instead, I raised my blade. "Of course. Bigger, uglier, and nastier than the last one. Figures."
The rockfang answered with a roar that shook the cavern like thunder, then it charged.
I barely had time to react. It moved faster than I expected for its size, claws gouging deep furrows in the stone floor. I triggered Dash, propelling myself sideways just as it slammed into the ground where I had stood. The impact sent a shockwave through the cavern, hurling me off my feet. I hit the ground hard, rolling across the dirt before scrambling up.
"Fast and strong. Great combination."
I darted in and slashed at its side. Sparks burst from my blade's contact with its carapace, but the strike barely left a mark. The beast swung its forelimb at me, claws whistling through the air.
I raised Dimensional Veil in desperation. Space shimmered faintly around me, reality twisting. The claws met the barrier—and were pushed back, scraping uselessly against the distortion. The Veil held, but I could feel the mana drain tearing into my reserves.
"Yeah, that's not gonna last forever…" I hissed, cutting off the skill before it drained me dry.
The beast lunged again, mandibles snapping. I rolled beneath its strike, slashing at one of its limbs. This time I angled my blade at the joint between plates. A shallow cut. Not enough.
Its tail lashed out, too fast to dodge completely. Pain exploded in my ribs as I was flung into a stalagmite. The stone cracked from the impact, and I dropped to one knee, coughing, vision swimming.
Damn it. One good hit and I'm already half-broken.
I forced myself up, clutching my side. "Still… not done yet."
The Reaver loomed over me, crimson eyes glowing brighter. Acid hissed from its mandibles, sizzling against the cavern floor where droplets fell.
I shifted to the side, forcing my breathing steady. I couldn't out-muscle this thing. Its armor was too tough, its attacks too wide. I needed an opening, a weakness.
The answer came as the beast smashed through a stalagmite in its frenzy. The broken shards exposed the thinner gaps between its armored limbs.
There.
I baited it, retreating toward another cluster of stone pillars. The best barreled after me, crushing them with every strike. Each impact sent vibrations up its own body, forcing its movements to lag by just a fraction. Enough for me.
I sprinted in, channeling mana into Arc Discharge. Lightning crackled across my blade, humming violently. With a precise strike, I slashed into the exposed joint of its front leg. The blade bit deeper this time, cutting through chitin and flesh.
The beastr shrieked, a sound that rattled my skull. Its massive body stumbled, one limb crippled.
"Got you," I muttered through gritted teeth, though triumph was short-lived.
The monster went wild, thrashing with its tail and spitting gouts of acid across the cavern. One splash landed dangerously close, steam rising as it ate into the stone. The acrid stench burned my nostrils.
My mana reserves were dipping dangerously low, every use of my skills pulling me closer to empty. My muscles screamed with fatigue, ribs aching from earlier.
I almost faltered when the thought crossed my mind: *I'm still too weak.*
But then I clenched my teeth. Weak or not, I wasn't going to die here.
I dashed forward again, weaving between sprays of acid, each drop hissing as it devoured the ground. Rockfang's movements grew more erratic as it fought to keep balance, but its fury made it even more dangerous.
When it reared back, preparing for one massive slam, I summoned Dimensional Veil again. The world distorted, the claws screeched against warped space, but they didn't reach me. My vision blurred from the mana strain, but I didn't drop the skill until the last moment.
I had one chance left.
I poured every ounce of lightning mana I had into my sword, overcharging Arc Discharge until my weapon screamed with power. Sparks danced along the cavern walls, the energy threatening to tear the blade apart.
The monster lunged.
I leapt, propelling myself upward with Dash, aiming straight for the cluster of its four glowing eyes.
My sword plunged into its skull. Lightning detonated on impact, surging through its body. The carapace split, cracks glowing white-hot as the electricity fried it from within.
The best convulsed violently, shrieking as its limbs flailed in all directions. I clung to the hilt, gritting my teeth as the current surged, burning my arms and searing my nerves.
And then… silence.
Rockfang crashed to the ground, its bulk shaking the cavern floor. Its red eyes dimmed one by one until only darkness remained.
I staggered back, chest heaving, sword still sparking faintly. My whole body shook, equal parts exhaustion and disbelief. I had won. Somehow.
Then the system chimed.
```
[Quest Complete]
[Objective: Defeat All Three Dungeon Beasts]
[Reward: +3 points to all stats]
```
I collapsed onto a nearby rock, opening my status window with trembling fingers.
----------------------------------------------
Name: Arthur Dravenlock
Class: Magic Swordsman
Talent: Limitless
Attributes: Space, Lightning
.......
Strength: 26 → 29
Speed: 25 → 28
Endurance: 26 → 29
Dexterity: 24 → 27
Perception: 24 → 27
Mana: 40 → 43
........
Skills:
Passive: Perfect Poker
Active: Dash, Arc Discharge, Dimensional Veil
........
Arts:
Basic Sword Style (Common)
Basic Non-Armed Combat (Common)
----------------------------------------------
The numbers had risen, but staring at them only reminded me of how close I'd come to death. Stronger, yes… but still far from enough.
I checked my hunter's watch. The digital display blinked: 00:10:00 remaining.
Ten minutes left.
I sheathed my sword, wincing as I stood. My body screamed at me to collapse and rest, but I couldn't leave just yet. There was still one more thing I needed to do in here.
I exhaled slowly, my eyes narrowing. "Alright. One last thing to do here."
The cavern echoed with silence, the dead beast looming behind me.
And with that thought, I walked deeper into the dungeon, every step carrying me closer to whatever awaited.