Chapter 7:
Inside the echoing corridor of the ruins, the blinding light began to dim. The walls, once glowing with ancient runes, faded back into stone. At the heart of it all stood Ethan,quiet, bare-footed, eyes gleaming holding the glowing orb in his hand.
"Heh… So even my Qi has its limits, huh?" he muttered, turning the orb in his palm. "There are layers of knowledge out there I can't just peek into…"
"ETHAN!!" a voice bellowed from across the spiked trap-filled chamber.
Ethan turned sharply then blinked. "Oh right… the wolves."
Concentrating for just a second, Ethan activated his Qi field. Golden energy wrapped around his body like silk, and then he floated. His feet hovered above the jagged spikes as he gently soared toward the platform where his pack stood waiting.
"Sup," he said nonchalantly as he deactivated levitation and landed softly beside them.
"You idiot!" the first-born barked. "That could've been a trap! The orb—everything—it could've killed you!"
"Yeah," Ethan shrugged, already walking forward, "but it didn't. So… let's keep going."
His eyes narrowed as he stepped ahead, the grin on his face widening.
"There are beings out there far stronger than me. But they'll help me level up fast. And I swear, I'll find them all."
20 Minutes Later
They reached the second-to-last floor, and immediately tension slammed into the room like a wave. The scent of blood and decay thickened the air. Ethan narrowed his eyes as creatures came into view.
At the center of the room stood:
Twenty humanoid monsters: Each wielding a short blade. Their yellow, cracked skin glowed faintly. Eyes pitch black, like voids, yet burning with hate. These weren't ordinary goblins—they were Prime Goblins, twisted warriors evolved by the forest's corruption.
Ten shifting blobs of shadow: They wobbled silently, absorbing light around them. They were known as Void Drains,rare black slimes immune to both physical and magical attacks. Level 500. Deadly. And worse: they could merge into a colossal form, increasing their resistance and rage.
And finally… towering behind them, a giant red beast. Its skin looked burnt, its veins bulging like cords over brick-like muscles. It stood upright like a man, gripping an axe the size of a wagon. Its tusks curled upward from its jaw. This was the Bloodrage Gorrum—a dungeon-tier beast that could enter a berserk state, doubling its strength each minute.
Ethan activated his Qi.
♧ Name: Prime Goblins — Level 260 — Power-enhanced through dark mana. Known for team-based strategy and magic blade enhancements.
♧ Name: Void Drains — Level 500 — Immune to all forms of normal damage. Can merge. Highly unstable.
♧ Name: Bloodrage Gorrum — Level ??? — Gains strength the longer it fights. Berserk state makes it uncontrollable.
Ethan blinked. "Everything in here is busted…"
His eye twitched. "How are slimes immune to everything?!"
He bit his thumbnail nervously, scanning the monsters. The goblins eyed him like hyenas circling prey.
"Are you alright, Ethan?" the seventh-born wolf asked through their mental link.
"Yeah… totally…" Ethan turned around slowly. His face was drenched in sweat. His pupils shrunk like a rabbit sensing a predator. "Why wouldn't I be?"
All the wolves stepped back in horror. Ethan looked like he was about to throw up.
"These things are supposed to be second-floor mobs?! Why give enemies this OP?! I'm level 1 (grand level by the way) ONE goblin could body(exaggerating) me if they used team tactics!!"
He pointed at the Gorrum. "And that thing? You guys handle that. Good luck."
He gave a thumbs up.
"…We're doomed," the third-born muttered.
"Alright!" Ethan called out mentally. "Everyone...attack!"
In an instant, the wolves darted forward, ignoring the goblins and slimes. Their target: the massive red Gorrum.
Ethan was left to face twenty Prime Goblins on his own.
The First Goblin charged recklessly, blade raised high.
SLASH.
Its head flew off cleanly.
Ethan stood where it once did, his golden energy swirling around him. His hand stretched straight like a blade, blood dripping from his fingers. His red eyes burned with a chilling focus.
The goblins froze in fear.
"You want blood?" he whispered. "Fine. Let's bathe in it."
They activated their enhancements, charging with howls of fury but Ethan vanished.
He appeared mid-air, arms spread, mouth glowing like a sunburst.
"Qi Cannon: Ray Form."
A beam of pure golden energy erupted from his mouth like a lance, tearing through the mob.
Nine goblins were instantly incinerated,nothing left but charred ash. The others scattered but Ethan's Intimidate activated. Even without eye contact, his presence froze their nerves like ice.
He walked among them.
Calm. Controlled. Terrifying.
Swoosh. Swoosh. Swoosh.
With every swing of his hand, a goblin's throat opened, blood raining down like crimson mist. One by one, they fell silent and broken.
Now only the Void Drains remained.
They had merged into one massive slime, pulsing with black energy.
Ethan exhaled. "This'll be tricky…"
He punched the ground.
"Everyone, get down!!" the first-born howled.
BOOM.
Ethan's punch hit the mega-slime, unleashing a quake. A golden shockwave blasted across the floor, ripping open the door to the final boss chamber. The walls cracked. The ceiling groaned.
The giant slime split back into ten smaller ones.
"Freeze," Ethan commanded.
His Intimidate worked just long enough.
He turned to the Gorrum. "Yo! You done yet?!"
"Ohhh boy, you're next!" the first-born wolf barked.
The eight wolves overwhelmed the beast with speed and coordination. One latched onto its throat. Another snapped its weapon arm. Together, they brought the giant to its knees.
Bloodrage Gorrum fell.
Ethan raised his hand. A golden aura swallowed the battlefield, pulling in the corpses, sealing them into his system.
"Good job," he said through the link. "Now…"
He turned toward the final door, his wolves lining up beside him.
"…Let's finish this dungeon."
And with that, they stepped toward the final trial.
To Be Continued...