Asher felt the familiar pull of the dungeon—and paused.
He didn't rush in.
He rolled his shoulders once. Took a breath. Let it out slowly.
"…Alright," he said. "Let's see if yesterday's beating actually taught me anything."
The world twisted.
Stone formed beneath his feet.
The chamber was familiar the moment it settled—smooth floor, circular markings, too much empty space. The kind of room that existed purely to remind him how small he was.
"Yep," Asher muttered. "Still hate this place."
The air shifted.
The Elite stepped into the light.
Same size. Same layered hide. Same calm, patient posture that said it didn't need to hurry.
Asher felt his pulse spike.
Then… settle.
That was new.
Last time, his body had been screaming move.
This time, it waited.
"…Okay," Asher said quietly. "That's already better."
The Elite attacked.
Fast.
Asher moved.
Not with Burst Step.
Not in panic.
He stepped aside.
The blow missed by inches, cracking stone behind him.
Asher blinked.
"…Oh," he said. "So that's what it was supposed to feel like."
The Elite turned, adjusting instantly.
Asher Burst Stepped.
Clean.
No lag. No stumble. Just a sharp shift of space that put him at the creature's side instead of in front of its fist.
"…Nice," Asher muttered, almost surprised.
He punched.
The hit landed solidly, not harder than before—but better placed. The Elite staggered half a step.
Asher grinned.
"That never happened last time."
The Elite countered.
Asher saw it coming.
Not because it was slower.
Because he was faster.
He ducked, felt the wind of the strike pass overhead, then drove his shoulder into the creature's midsection and followed with a punch that cracked stone.
The Elite slid back.
Asher breathed steadily.
No tunnel vision.
No panic.
No heavy limbs.
"…Wow," he said. "Sleep is broken."
The Elite roared and charged again.
Asher Burst Stepped past it, spun, and struck its knee joint where the armor overlapped.
The creature stumbled.
Asher didn't celebrate.
He pressed the advantage.
Punch.
Step.
Punch again.
Each hit fed strength. Each exchange sharpened his timing—but this time, it didn't spiral.
The Elite swung wildly.
Asher leaned back just enough for the blow to miss, then drove his fist into the crack he remembered from last time.
Stone shattered.
The Elite collapsed to one knee.
Asher didn't hesitate.
One final punch crushed its chest.
The creature fell.
Silence returned.
Asher stood there, breathing hard—but steady.
He looked down at his hands.
"…That," he said slowly, "was completely different."
A system screen appeared.
[Personal Dungeon – Cleared]
Performance: Excellent
Comparison: Previous attempt exceeded by 47%
Rewards:
• Angelic Coin x28
Asher laughed.
"Forty-seven percent," he repeated. "That's rude. Accurate. But rude."
No skill fragment appeared this time.
Asher waited.
Then nodded.
"…Fair."
He wasn't disappointed.
He was satisfied.
The dungeon shimmered faintly, reset notice hovering.
Asher looked around the chamber one last time.
"Thanks for the lesson," he said. "I won't need it again."
The dungeon, wisely, did not argue.
As the world twisted and released him back into his apartment, Asher sat on the edge of his bed and exhaled.
Same dungeon.
Same enemy.
Different outcome.
"…Okay," he said, smiling to himself.
"Now I'm ready for something new."
And somewhere beyond the familiar stone—
Something listened.