[System Notification]
Daily Task: Eliminate a threat inside the Estrin Dungeon.
Rantaro clenched his fist, his breath calm yet focused.
"There it is... Estrin Dungeon."
He stood at the shadowed entrance, a dark fog spilling out like silent screams.
[System: Location identified. Goal: Eliminate S-Rank Monster inside Estrin Dungeon.]
As soon as Rantaro stepped inside—
The dungeon behind him vanished.
The gates melted into darkness like ink in water.
"Haha... I guess it's going to be fun again," he whispered, pulling out his blade from storage.
But within seconds, a blur zipped past his face—
A monster charged at him at lightning speed.
He barely dodged. Its claws grazed his cheek, tearing his skin open.
"Agh!"
The creature resembled a twisted panther, covered in molten-black scales and glowing red eyes. Its aura was dark energy infused—like the dungeon itself was feeding it.
Rantaro rolled sideways, swung his sword, and slashed its hind legs. The beast screeched but wasn't done. It lunged again.
He thrust forward, aiming for the heart.
Stab!
The monster cried out—collapsing as dark blood spilled.
But Rantaro staggered.
His arm was cut deeply, blood pouring. He dropped to his knees, panting.
"I barely… killed one of them," he said, shocked by how much strength it took.
He tried to stand—but collapsed, his vision fading.
His entire body trembled, drained and bloodied.
Then, suddenly, the air went cold. The shadows twisted.
A dark entity appeared.
The ground beneath it cracked from its presence.
An enormous figure cloaked in living smoke—eyes glowing crimson.
[Level Up x20]
"Why did Lord send me to capture you? You're too weak," it said, voice echoing like whispers in a tomb. "Anyway… let me torture you a bit first."
Rantaro couldn't even move.
He tried to lift his sword—his arm wouldn't respond.
He couldn't breathe under the monster's aura.
He was completely paralyzed by pressure.
"I… can't even stand…"
His heart raced.
System, please… help me…
Then—
Rantaro roared, activating everything at once.
Dark Berserk. Demon Transformation. Pure Dark Energy.
His eyes went pitch-black. Horns sprouted from his forehead. His muscles surged with power.
He finally stood up, body trembling, blood dripping from his mouth.
The monster grinned. Then in one blink—it punched him.
CRACK!
His transformation shattered instantly.
Rantaro flew back, smashing into a wall. His mouth spilled blood. His ribs were likely broken.
"I can kill you now," the entity said, walking closer. "But… I'll do something better."
It raised its hand.
"I'll kill your sister in front of you."
It summoned shadow creatures.
"Go. Find her."
---
Scene Shift: Juijui & Xiyau (Rantaro's Sister)
At school, Xiyau was chatting with friends—when suddenly the wall exploded.
Monsters entered the classroom.
"Wh-what?!"
Juijui stepped between them and the students. Her eyes narrowed.
"How... how are dungeon monsters outside?!"
One of them spoke in a growling voice:
"I am here to take Xiyau. As my Lord commands."
"What… it can talk?!"
---
Scene Shift: Rantaro
Rantaro screamed.
"NO! Leave her alone! Take me—DO WHATEVER YOU WANT—JUST LEAVE HER!"
The dark entity laughed.
"Oh no, no… I want to taste your fear as I eat her in front of you."
Suddenly, everything went black.
Rantaro found himself in a familiar space—the one where he nearly died last time.
"Hey, boy..."
A voice echoed inside him.
"I'll take control now. That creature… it carries the aura of my enemy. I must kill it."
His eyes turned white.
His body moved on its own.
---
Back in the Dungeon
The monster trembled.
"What… what is this aura? No… NOOOO!"
It pulled out a teleportation stone—trying to flee.
But before it could activate—
Slaaaash!
It was cut clean in half.
Its blade shattered. Its soul vanished.
---
Rantaro Regains Consciousness
He dropped to one knee, coughing.
"What… what was that…"
[System Notification]
Level Up x25!
Item Received: Teleportation Stone (it is the teleportion stone to dark doman of dark antithe irash)
Daily Quest Completed!
Reward: Demon Horde Sword
He raised his hand, absorbing the dark energy from every corpse in the dungeon.
[System: Congratulations, Host. You are now an Elite-Rank Dark Ruler.]
---
Scene Shift: Xiyau's Classroom
The pressure in the room was overwhelming. The students collapsed, unable to breathe.
The creature approached Xiyau, grabbed her by the neck—
SHINK!
Its arm flew into the air—cut clean off.
Blood sprayed.
"Wha—WHO?!"
From the shadow at the doorway, a figure stepped in.