Chapter 5 – The Wolf of Black Fangs
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The taste of kobold blood still lingered in his mouth, bitter and metallic. The corpses lay in broken heaps behind him, gnawed nearly to the bone.
But hunger gnawed at him again.
Not for food—at least, not only for food. For more power.
The dungeon whispered to him. The darkness carried scents of prey and predators alike. His forked tongue flicked eagerly, drawing invisible maps in his mind. The deeper he went, the richer the smells became—thicker, hotter, sharper.
There was something stronger waiting ahead. Something that made his body tense and his instincts scream.
And yet, his blood raced.
Stronger prey. Stronger rewards. If I can kill it… I'll rise again.
The tunnels narrowed into jagged stone passages, glowing faintly with scattered mushrooms. Pools of dark water glistened between the rocks. The lizard padded silently, his claws digging grooves into the damp stone as he moved.
Then he smelled it.
A predator's musk. Hot iron. Wet fur. Blood.
He froze. His tail stiffened, muscles locking tight.
From the shadows, eyes gleamed—yellow, sharp, predatory.
The beast stepped forward.
A Black Fang Wolf.
Its fur was as dark as the cavern's shadows, sleek but bristling with menace. Its fangs glowed faintly pale, coated in a strange substance that reeked of venom. Scars cut across its muzzle. Its shoulders were twice his height, its bulk towering over him like a wall of muscle and rage.
The wolf growled low, lips curling back to reveal its glowing fangs.
The sound reverberated in his chest.
This… this isn't just prey. This is a ruler. A mini-boss. If I lose, I'm food. If I win… I'll claim its throne.
The lizard hissed, jaws dripping venom. His tail lashed. His claws dug deeper into stone.
The wolf lunged.
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Its speed was blinding.
In a single heartbeat, it closed the distance, jaws snapping toward his neck. The lizard barely twisted aside, the fangs grazing his scales. Pain seared instantly—his skin blackened where they touched.
Poison… like mine. But stronger.
The wolf whirled, claws raking stone. Sparks flew. The lizard spat a stream of acid.
The wolf twisted mid-air, fluid and deadly, dodging as the acid splashed harmlessly onto the ground.
The beast landed silently, muscles coiled, eyes locked.
They circled each other in the mushroom glow—two predators, venom against venom.
The lizard struck first, darting low. His claws slashed at the wolf's legs. The wolf leapt back, but his fangs snapped forward, grazing the lizard's shoulder. Agony flared as venom spread through his flesh.
The lizard staggered, hissing.
But then—
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[Poison Resistance (Lv.3) reduces venom damage.]
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The words rang clear. His body resisted the toxin, dulling its sting.
He laughed—rasping, harsh.
Good. This body is built for this. Your poison is mine to endure.
The wolf snarled, leaping again. This time the lizard didn't dodge. He met it head-on.
Fangs clashed against scales. Claws scraped flesh. Acid hissed as it splashed across the wolf's shoulder, burning fur and flesh. The beast howled, shaking violently, but didn't retreat.
The two monsters locked in a frenzy of violence—rolling, clawing, biting. Blood splattered across stone. Their roars echoed through the cavern.
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At last, the wolf staggered back, its shoulder smoking, fur matted with acid-burned flesh. Its breathing was ragged, but its eyes still glowed with primal rage.
The lizard crouched low, his own body battered, blood dripping from gashes along his sides. His venom dripped thicker than ever, pooling at his jaws.
One last strike.
The wolf lunged, fangs wide.
The lizard darted sideways, tail whipping hard. His tail slammed into the wolf's injured shoulder, forcing it off balance.
In that instant, the lizard struck.
His jaws clamped onto the wolf's throat.
Venom gushed from his fangs, flooding its veins. The wolf thrashed wildly, claws tearing chunks from his scales, but he didn't let go.
He bit deeper, harder, his venom pulsing like fire.
The wolf's movements grew erratic. Its eyes dimmed. Foam spilled from its jaws.
With one last twitch, it collapsed, its body thudding heavily against stone.
The lizard released his grip, blood dripping from his fangs. He stood over the fallen wolf, chest heaving, body trembling with exhaustion and triumph.
Then the dungeon spoke.
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[You have slain: Black Fang Wolf (Dungeon Mini-Boss).]
[Large Exp gained.]
[Skill leveled up: Acid Spit (Lv.3)]
[Skill leveled up: Venom Fang (Lv.3)]
[Title acquired: Slayer of Beasts.]
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The lizard's body shook, not from weakness, but from exhilaration.
Another title. Another step. From prey to predator. From predator to ruler.
He bent down, tearing into the wolf's corpse, devouring flesh, fur, and bone. The taste was wild, powerful, intoxicating. His veins burned with its venom, but his body absorbed it greedily.
When he finished, only scraps remained. His belly was full, his body heavy, his mind aflame.
He curled against the cavern wall, tail coiled protectively around him. His eyes glowed faintly in the mushroom light as sleep claimed him.
But before darkness took him fully, one final thought lingered.
This dungeon… will remember me. Today, I killed a beast. Tomorrow, I'll kill a king. And someday…
His jaws curled in a venomous grin.
Someday, I'll kill gods.