Chapter 3 – A Desperate Struggle to Survive
Sam was running toward the S-class dungeon. Several guards stood watch, their expressions tense. An S-class dungeon wasn't something ordinary players dared to enter. Most hunters preferred C- or D-class dungeons, where survival was possible even for the average man.
Because of that, no one was paying much attention to the gaping, ominous gate before Sam. Even the guards had grown complacent, chatting idly among themselves.
Seizing the moment, Sam sprinted.
"Oi! That kid's running toward the dungeon!" one guard shouted.
They rushed to block him, but Sam shoved their arms aside and dashed straight inside.
The men froze, panic flashing in their eyes.
"He actually went in…" one stammered. "What do we do now? We can't even enter that place!"
Another cursed under his breath. "The S-rank squad's scheduled to clear it in four days. The authorities told us not to let anyone inside, or we'd be fired!"
Fear twisted their faces. If word got out, they'd be finished.
"…Then we say nothing," one suggested. "No one has to know."
The others nodded grimly. "Agreed."
And so, no one except those guards knew Sam had entered the dungeon.
---
Inside the Dungeon
Sam kept running, his breath ragged. The darkness pressed down on him as a growl echoed nearby. A wolf-shaped monster lunged from the shadows.
Grrrrrrr!
Sam's breath hitched. He gritted his teeth and drew his dagger, slashing desperately. But the moment his blade struck the creature, the dagger snapped in half.
CRACK!
The weapon snapped in half against the beast's hide.
The wolf's crimson eyes glowed with hunger.
> [Monster Status Window]
Bloodthirst Wolf – B-rank monster
Attack: 190 | HP: 5000 | Agility: 200
Level: 50
These wolves hunt in packs, tearing prey apart with ease.
Sam's eyes widened. "A… a B-rank wolf monster?!"
---
> [Sam's Status Window]
Name: Sam Zidgerart
Rank: G
Level: 1
Profession: Unknown
Attack: 6
Defense: 12
Agility: 20
HP: 90
Intelligence: 25
---
Sam stared in horror at the broken blade in his hand.
"W-what the—?! My weapon…" His face turned pale, unable to process what had just happened.
The wolf's claws lashed out.
"AHHHHHHHH!" Pain tore through him as blood sprayed.
[HP: 70 / 90]
He stumbled back, then started to run but suddenly Another swipe came, faster than he could follow. He barely dodged, then ran toward the darkness.
But he froze. More wolves emerged, surrounding him in a tightening circle.
One after another, they lunged. Sam twisted, ducked, ran—yet one pounced, tackling him to the ground.
"Ughhh!"
Then Sam coughed blood but upon smelling this much blood the wolf's started glowing.
The pack closed in, eyes glowing with a sinister red light.
> [Warning]
The Bloodthirst Wolves are enraged.
Monsters in this state evolve.
---
> [Evolution Complete]
Bloodthirst Wolf → Demon Wolf
Rank: A-tier monster
Level: 85
HP: 10,000
Attack: 1500
Agility: 820
---
Sam's face went pale.Sam's breath shook. "No… no way… they evolved..?!"
The wolves bared their fangs, their aura crushing him. Demon Wolves never stopped chasing their chosen prey until it was dead.
Desperate, Sam fumbled in his pouch, pulled out coins, and hurled them. The gold scattered across the stone floor, catching the beasts' attention for a heartbeat.
"Now!" Sam shoved past one and bolted.
But the pack only grew more furious, their glowing bodies crackling with power.
He tried to flee, but the wolves were faster than lightning, blocking every path. His legs trembled. His heart thundered.
Terror whispered: This is the end.
Yet something inside him resisted. His gaze fell on a chipped, rusted sword half-buried in the dirt. With trembling hands, he seized it and raised it high.
"If I die… I'll die fighting!"
With a roar, Sam charged.
The Demon Wolf didn't even flinch. With one casual swipe, its massive claw smashed into him.
CRASH!
Sam's body flew, slamming into the dungeon wall. Bones cracked. Blood splattered across stone.
> [HP: 5 / 90]
Sam collapsed, coughing violently, tears blurring his vision.
"I… don't want… to die… hic… no… no… no…"
The Demon Wolf's suffocating aura pressed down, swallowing him in shadow.
> [HP: 4 / 90]
[HP: 3 / 90]
[HP: 2 / 90]
[HP: 1 / 90]
Sam sobbed, struggling to move. His vision darkened. He screamed in a faint voice
"NOOOOO!!!"
Then suddenly, a notification echoed in Sam's head.
> [System Notification]
Requirement: Successful
Host awakening requirement has been met.
Now… the host will fully awaken.
A sharp ding rang through his mind.
At that instant, a blinding red light erupted, flooding the dungeon. The Demon Wolves howled and squeezed their eyes shut, unable to face the overwhelming radiance.
The ground trembled. The suffocating air thickened with something new—something terrifying.
And then… Sam slowly rose to his feet.
His body, broken and bleeding only moments ago, now stood tall. His aura shifted, swelling with an oppressive, frightening pressure that forced even the Demon Wolves to hesitate.
Sam's eyes glowed with a sinister crimson hue as he glared at the pack.
His lips curled into a cold, merciless expression.
The boy who had been prey only moments ago now radiated the presence of a predator.
---