The entrance to the dungeon loomed like a wound in the earth, jagged rock curling upward as if the world itself had tried to claw shut the rift and failed. A wet, howling wind whistled out of the darkness, carrying with it the stench of fur, damp stone, and blood.
Kael adjusted the straps of his satchel and glanced sideways at Eren."You sure you want to come along ?" He asked.
Eren tightened his grip on his staff, its surface smooth and worn, the faint light crystal embedded in its top glowing dimly. His face was pale, but his jaw set hard. "If I'm gonna heal you in bigger fights, I need to level up too. No other way."
Kael gave a faint smirk. The kid was tougher than he looked. "Good. Stay behind me and don't stop chanting if I go down. Understood?"
"Got it."
The moment they stepped into the cavern, the system pulsed alive inside Kael's mind.
[ Dungeon: Howling Caverns ][ Rank: F+ ][ Boss Entity Detected ][ Recommended Survivors: 3–5 ]
"Three to five," Kael muttered under his breath. "Guess we're overachievers."
The air grew colder the deeper they went. The glow from Kael's palm—his Fire Spark—flickered against the walls, throwing jagged shadows. The first sound that reached them was the scratching of claws. Then the eyes appeared.
Dozens of them, reflecting his flame like shards of broken glass.
The system flashed.
[ Hostile Detected: Howler Wolves ][ Ability: Sonic Screech (Disorients targets, reduces perception) ][ Danger Level: Moderate ]
Kael cursed softly. "Wolves with voices. Stay sharp, Eren."
The first wolf lunged. Kael snapped his hand forward, Fire Spark flaring, and the beast's fur ignited in a thin blaze. It howled, a screech that shook the cavern walls. Kael stumbled as his ears rang, vision blurring.
"Kael!" Eren shouted.
Kael grit his teeth, steadying himself. His other hand reached, smoke already curling between his fingers. With a twist, he blurred into Ash Phase, his body scattering like embers before reforming behind the wolf. His dagger stabbed into the beast's spine—once, twice, until it stilled.
[ Beast Core Acquired ×1 ]
More wolves circled, snarling, their jaws dripping.
Eren raised his staff. A soft green glow spread from its tip, coating Kael like a second skin.
[ Eren's Skill Activated: Minor Rejuvenation ][ Effect: Heals light injuries over time. Boosts stamina recovery. ]
Kael felt his heartbeat steady. "Good. Keep it up."
The next wave came fast. Three wolves at once. Kael spun his palm, fire bursting outward in a reckless sweep. One wolf caught flame and tumbled, but the other two rammed into him, claws raking across his shoulder. He hissed in pain, blood splattering.
The system chimed in his mind:
[ Warning: Damage Sustained ][ Suggestion: Combine Smoke Veil + Fire Spark for Temporary Offensive Fusion ]
Kael didn't hesitate. He drew smoke from his lungs like exhaling ash, then flicked his fingers. Fire Spark caught the smoke—suddenly igniting it into a burning shroud. He hurled it forward.
The cavern erupted in a wall of fire-drenched smoke. Wolves screamed as the blaze clung to their fur like liquid napalm, their bodies thrashing in chaos.
Kael stood panting, his blade glowing faintly red from the heat. "That'll do."
The air shifted. The wolves withdrew, their snarls echoing deeper into the cavern. Then came the sound Kael had been waiting for: a heavy, dragging step. The boss had woken.
[ Boss Detected: Alpha Howler Wolf ][ Ability: Sonic Roar (Wide Area Stun), Pack Summon ][ Rank: F+ ]
The wolf emerged from the shadows, massive, its body streaked with scars, fur white like snow, and eyes glowing molten yellow. Its maw opened—and the roar that came wasn't just sound. It was a weapon.
The cavern shook. Kael dropped to one knee, blood rushing from his ears. His head spun, stomach lurching.
"Kael!" Eren cried, his hands flaring green again. The glow wrapped Kael's body, numbing the worst of the pain, but the wolf was already charging.
Kael forced himself upright. His dagger would be too slow. He needed power. Something desperate.
"Codex," he growled, "options."
[ Suggestion: Ash Phase + Fire Spark → Flame Phantom Strike ][ Success Rate: 62% ][ Risk: Temporary Exhaustion. ]
"Sixty-two's better than zero." Kael's voice cracked.
He blurred into smoke just as the wolf lunged, phasing through its snapping jaws. Mid-phase, he sparked fire within himself, shaping it into form. His body reformed behind the beast, but not alone.
A phantom of flame, a mirror silhouette of himself, burst forward and stabbed at the wolf's flank. The smell of burning flesh filled the cavern. The wolf shrieked, staggering.
Kael leapt onto its back, driving his blade down again and again, even as claws raked his side. He shouted through the pain, rage and memory of his family's screams fueling every strike.
Finally, with a guttural roar of his own, Kael plunged his blade into the wolf's skull. The beast convulsed once, twice, and then stilled.
[ Boss Defeated ][ Beast Core (E Rank) Acquired ][ Skill: Sonic waves: Can allow one to blast destructive sound waves from one's mouth but since you're an anomaly you get more versatility to use it from any part of your body, Note that level of damage increases with user's level]
[Options:
1) Acquire skill
2) Convert to system stats
Kael collapsed onto his knees, chest heaving. The core pulsed faintly in his hand, warm and alive smirking even "Acquire" he said as he felt a warm feeling in him .
{SKILL ACQUIRED}
Eren ran up, casting another wave of green healing light over his wounds. "You're insane," he whispered.
Kael chuckled weakly, shaking his head. "No… just hungry."
The system chimed again, smug as ever.
[ Congratulations. You survived. Again. ]
That was just the first dungeon, Kael knew he had to keep going if he wanted to level up so "Let's rest up a bit, we'll need that energy as much as possible" Kael said.