The moment Kael stepped through the shimmering gate, the world around him shifted.
Stone walls melted into a dense forest, its towering trees glowing faintly under an eternal twilight sky. Strange flowers pulsed with light, and a chilling mist coiled along the ground. The air was heavy, almost suffocating, filled with the scent of wet soil and iron.
Kael looked down at his hands—still scarred, still trembling. Yet deep inside, he could feel something new: an invisible current of energy surging through his veins, waiting to be unleashed.
The system's voice echoed again:
[Infinite Dungeon – Floor 1: Forest of Fangs]
Objective: Survive until dawn.
Warning: All creatures within are hostile.]
Kael's pulse quickened.
Survive until dawn…? He glanced upward. The twilight sky had no sun, no moon—only swirling clouds of purple and gray. How long was a "night" here?
The silence was broken by a growl.
From the mist emerged a wolf. Its body was twisted, fur patchy, bones jutting unnaturally. Its eyes glowed red, and drool dripped from its jagged fangs.
Kael froze. His whole life he had been powerless—unable to fight back against demons, against fate. But now…
The wolf lunged.
Kael dove aside, barely escaping its snapping jaws. He stumbled, nearly falling, but forced himself up. His chest burned, his legs shook. He had no weapon. No training. Just desperation.
The wolf circled, growling, eyes locked on him.
Kael clenched his fists. If I die here… I die as a slave. If I fight… maybe I can live.
The wolf leapt again.
This time, Kael didn't dodge. He raised his arm. The beast's teeth sank into his forearm, pain lancing through him like fire. He screamed but forced his free hand to grab a jagged rock from the ground. With a roar, he smashed it into the wolf's skull.
Once. Twice. Again.
The wolf howled, its grip loosening. Kael ripped his arm free, blood dripping down his skin, and slammed the rock into its head one last time. The beast collapsed, twitching, then went still.
For a long moment, Kael just stood there, gasping, trembling, the rock slipping from his bloody fingers.
Then—
[You have defeated a Forest Fang Wolf.]
[Exp gained: 50 → Multiplied by 5 (Cursed System).]
[Level Up! You are now Level 2.]
Kael's breath caught. His wounds tingled, closing slightly as warmth spread through his body. Strength surged into his limbs, and for the first time in his life… he felt powerful.
He laughed—hoarse, broken, but real.
"This… this is it. This is what they stole from us."
---
But the laughter died quickly.
The mist stirred. From the shadows, three more wolves emerged, eyes glowing in the dark. Then five. Then more.
Kael's heart pounded. Dozens of eyes flickered in the mist, surrounding him.
The system's cold voice echoed:
[Cursed System Notice: Warning. The curse draws attention. Enemies are more aggressive toward you.]
Kael's smile vanished.
So this was the curse—the price of his strength. His presence attracted danger. The dungeon itself wanted him dead.
The first pack of wolves charged.
Kael grabbed the bloodied rock again, his body screaming in pain, but his spirit burning.
"Come then!" he shouted, voice echoing through the twisted forest. "If the world curses me, I'll curse it back a thousand times over!"
The wolves descended.
Blood splattered across the glowing grass as Kael fought like a cornered beast, each kill feeding his strength, each wound healed by the strange power inside him.
By the time dawn's first light—strange and pale—pierced through the mist, the forest floor was littered with broken wolf corpses.
Kael collapsed to his knees, drenched in blood, his body trembling from exhaustion.
The system chimed:
[Objective Complete. Floor 1 Cleared.]
[Level Up! You are now Level 5.]
[Bonus Reward: Skill Unlocked – Blood Instinct.]
A rush of knowledge filled his mind. His senses sharpened. He could feel the faintest rustle of the leaves, the heartbeat of hidden creatures in the distance.
Kael exhaled slowly, staring at his bloodied hands.
"I… survived."
Then he looked at the endless staircase spiraling downward in the distance—the entrance to Floor 2.
His lips curved into a grim smile.
"If this dungeon wants me dead… it will have to try harder."
And with that, Kael rose, limping but unbroken, and took his first step deeper into the Infinite Dungeon.
---
To be continue...