We took a short breather in a crystal alcove that hummed faintly with mana. The glow painted everyone in cold blue light, making even Kazuo's permanent scowl look like something carved out of ice.
I slumped against the wall, wiped the ichor off my sword and brought up my status window.
Name: Rian Wale
Level: 13
Class: Transcendent
Passive Skills:
- Transcendent (300%+ Exp Boost)
- Blood Scent (Detect injured enemies within 20m)
- Rapid Healing (Regenerate non-lethal injuries over time)
Active Skills:
- Spatial Rift Step
- Venom Slash
Not bad for a guy who used to clean up other people's messes.
"You've been quiet" Reina said, kneeling nearby to rewrap the grip on her daggers. Her tone wasn't sharp, more curious.
"Just reflecting" I said. "You know, on how the guy who started this dungeon as bait is now keeping your rear line alive."
Her lips twitched. "You're not wrong."
Kazuo, sharpening his greatsword, grunted. "Don't let it get to your head. The boss won't care about your sarcasm."
"Oh, I'm counting on it" I said. "Nothing rattles a giant monster like quality banter."
The ground gave a subtle tremor. Then another.
Reina tensed. "That's not the boss, is it?"
Kazuo shook his head. "Mini-horde. The dungeon's softening us up before the real fight."
They came pouring in from the shadows, kobold vipers mixed with something worse. Spine-backed Gnashers, squat, muscled things with too many teeth and jagged bone ridges along their backs.
Blood Scent flared in my head like a radar sweep, at least half of them were already carrying old wounds. I moved for the limping ones first.
Rift Step, vanish, reappear behind a Gnasher, Venom Slash cutting deep into its hamstring. It roared, staggered, and I finished it before it could turn.
Something hit me from the side, a viper tail, snapping like a whip. Pain flared hot in my ribs.
This time, I didn't panic.
Rapid Healing kicked in almost instantly, the sharp burn dulling, the ache fading even as I stayed in motion.
I grinned. "Oh, I like this."
The fight turned messy fast. Kazuo was a wall of steel, hacking through anything in front of him. Reina danced in and out, blades flashing. I bounced between targets, Rift Stepping to cut down anything that tried to flank.
Still, a Gnasher managed to rake its claws across my shoulder. Another tail strike caught my leg. Both wounds throbbed for seconds before fading into faint itches. It was intoxicating, the freedom to take risks knowing I wouldn't bleed out.
Fifteen minutes later, the last Gnasher hit the ground. We stood in the flickering torchlight, catching our breath.
Kazuo glanced at me. "You fought differently."
I sheathed my sword. "Let's just say I've discovered I'm hard to keep down."
Reina shook her head. "Just don't get cocky."
I smirked. "Reina, I passed cocky ten minutes ago."
Kazuo's lips almost twitched. "Good. You'll need it for what's next."
We moved deeper into the dark.