Light swallowed them whole.
Ray flinched, eyes shut. When he opened them again, the world had changed.
Gone were the black walls and lava cracks.
Now, he stood in a misty forest glowing faint green.
Trees stretched high, their roots twisted like serpents. Leaves shimmered faintly as if made of glass.
Soft blue lights floated in the air like fireflies.
Ray blinked. "…This is a forest? Underground?"
A faint wind stirred.
The air smelled fresh, cool, almost alive.
Shade stepped forward, fur bristling.
> "Floor… different. Not stone. Living."
Grin sniffed a tree trunk.
> "Tree smell… weird. Not tree?"
Ray knelt, touching the grass. It pulsed faintly, as if a heart beat beneath. "Feels like the dungeon's alive…"
> [Abyss Floor 2: The Verdant Veins]
[Biome: Spirit Grove]
[Special Rule: Life Essence Active – Mana regenerates faster.]
Ray's eyes widened. "Mana regen? That means…"
He raised his hand, focusing.
A faint flicker of blue light gathered around his palm.
He grinned. "I can finally test magic."
He opened his status.
> [Magic: 3]
[Skill Slot: Empty]
[Suggestion: Learn Basic Spell? Y/N]
"Uh, yes!"
> [You have learned 'Mana Bolt (Lv.1)']
A small orb of blue light formed in his hand.
Ray stared. "My first spell."
Grin clapped.
> "Master magic! Boom?"
Ray smirked. "Boom."
He aimed at a tree and fired.
Fwoosh!
The bolt shot forward — and fizzled on impact.
Ray blinked. "...Okay, not much boom."
Shade huffed.
> "Small boom."
Ray shrugged. "It's something."
He looked around. "Alright, team. Floor 2 means new beasts, maybe a new ally. Let's find one."
Grin hopped excitedly.
> "Grin want flying friend!"
Ray chuckled. "Flying? That'd be nice. We don't have eyes in the sky."
Shade's ears twitched.
> "Hear wings. East."
Ray smiled. "You're serious?"
> "Small. Fast. But strong scent."
"Then let's check it out."
---
They moved through the glowing forest, careful but quick.
Strange creatures peeked from bushes—tiny rabbit-like things with crystal antlers, floating jellyfish-like orbs drifting between trees—but none attacked.
Ray noticed something. "They're not hostile."
Shade sniffed the air.
> "Life energy strong. Peaceful floor."
"Maybe it's a rest zone," Ray said. "Or a test."
Then, a sharp cry echoed above.
"Kiiiiii!"
They looked up.
A blur of silver swooped through the trees. Feathers like polished metal. Wings glinting in the light.
It was small—no bigger than a hawk—but its aura pulsed strong.
> [Abyss Silverwing – Lv.5]
Grin pointed. "Bird! Shiny!"
Shade growled low.
> "Fast prey."
Ray held up a hand. "No fighting. Let's try taming."
He raised his palm. "System—Tame!"
Blue runes spun in the air, forming a glowing circle around the bird.
The Silverwing screeched, flapping hard, breaking the ring.
Ray flinched. "What—? It resisted?"
> [High Will Detected. Success chance low.]
He gritted his teeth. "Then we'll earn it."
He stepped forward. "I'm not your enemy! I'm trying to survive, just like you!"
The bird hovered, wary.
Ray lowered his weapon. "If you don't trust words… then see my heart."
He closed his eyes. His hand glowed faintly—Beast Resonance activating.
The Silverwing tilted its head, eyes softening slightly.
Shade watched quietly.
> "Master… calm. Beast hear heart."
Grin nodded. "Master friend beast."
The bird chirped softly. Then, slowly, it descended.
It landed before Ray, head tilted, eyes shining silver.
Ray smiled gently. "You'll fly high with us. I promise."
He reached out again.
> [Beast Taming… 63%... 92%... Success!]
> [New Tamed Beast: Silverwing – Lv.5 (♀)]
[Bond Level: 1]
[Skill: Aerial Scout, Wind Gust]
[Name Beast?]
Ray grinned. "Welcome to the team. Name's… Skye."
The bird chirped, fluffing her feathers proudly.
> "Skye. Fly for Master."
Ray froze. "Wait—did she just… talk?"
Grin's jaw dropped. "Bird talk better than Grin!"
Shade's tail swished.
> "New one… smart."
Ray laughed. "Looks like we got our air support."
He checked his bond list.
> [Team: Shade (Lv.4), Grin (Lv.3), Skye (Lv.5)]
[Bond Sync Bonus: +2 Agility]
He felt his body lighten slightly.
"Speed boost. Nice."
He turned. "Alright, team. Let's explore. Stay close, Skye—"
The bird suddenly shrieked.
> "Danger below!"
The ground trembled.
Roots burst from the earth, wrapping around Ray's legs.
"Wha—?!"
> [Enemy Detected: Entvine Guardian – Lv.6]
A massive tree-like creature rose, eyes glowing green, roots thrashing.
Shade slashed. Sparks flew. "Hard bark!"
Grin swung his dagger, chopping vines. "Bad tree grab!"
Ray struggled, summoning his Mana Bolt. "Let's see if this works better!"
He aimed at the core in its chest and fired.
Fwoosh! Boom!
The bolt struck true, exploding light.
The monster shrieked, vines retracting.
"Skye, Wind Gust!"
The bird beat her wings—
A sharp gale sliced across, cutting branches clean.
Ray shouted, "Now! All in!"
Shade lunged, fangs glowing dark.
Grin stabbed deep into the roots.
Ray swung his shard, hitting the glowing core again.
The Ent cracked, groaning.
> [HP 10%]
"Finish it!"
Shade pounced, crushing the core with glowing claws.
The tree shattered into glowing dust.
> [Victory]
[Abyss Core (F+) Acquired]
[EXP +60]
[Skye Level Up → 6]
[Bond +1 All]
Ray fell back, panting. "Phew… this floor's not just pretty."
Shade padded over.
> "Master strong. We grow again."
Skye landed on his shoulder, voice clear.
> "Master, thank you. Skye fly safe with you."
Ray blinked. "You talk… really well."
She chirped softly.
> "Trust… makes wings strong."
Grin crossed his arms, pouting.
> "Grin talk more too! Soon!"
Ray laughed, rubbing his hair. "I know you will."
He stood, looking deeper into the glowing forest.
"If Floor 2 is this alive… what's waiting on Floor 3?"
He tightened his grip on the shard.
"Let's find out."
---
🌸 Bonus Bit: Campfire Bonding
Later that "night," Ray sat beside a small glowing crystal, using it as a campfire.
Shade lay nearby, tail curled. Grin roasted a weird glowing fruit on a stick. Skye perched above, humming softly.
Ray sighed. "Feels almost peaceful."
Grin nodded, biting his fruit.
> "Tasty! Master want?"
Ray smiled. "Sure."
He took a bite—
—and instantly gagged. "Ugh—what is that?!"
Grin tilted his head innocently.
> "Fruit good for belly. Make warm!"
Ray coughed. "Tastes like dirt and lightning!"
Skye laughed softly.
> "Master funny face."
Shade snorted.
> "Master weak tongue."
Ray groaned, glaring. "I'm surrounded by comedians."
But then he smiled, warmth in his chest. "Yeah… guess it's not so bad."
Skye fluffed her wings.
> "Family warm."
Ray froze. Then smiled softly. "Yeah… family."
The four of them sat together in the glow—
not heroes, not monsters.
Just survivors, bound by trust.
To be continued...