Asher should have taken a break.
He knew that.
He was bleeding, bruised, and one bad hit away from learning what death actually felt like. A rational person would have gone home, slept, maybe iced their shoulder like a normal human being.
Asher stared at the floating screen instead.
[Personal Dungeon Reset Available]
"…Okay," he said. "But hear me out."
There was no response.
Which Asher took as consent.
The world twisted.
Again.
Stone rushed up to greet him for the second time that night.
He landed on his feet this time.
Barely.
"…Progress," Asher muttered, swaying. "Huge progress."
The same cavern spread out before him—blue crystals, cracked stone, lingering bloodstains that he tried very hard not to think about.
Then the dungeon changed.
The air shifted.
The ground trembled.
"…Why is it doing that?"
Three wolves emerged again.
Then three more.
Asher stared.
"…That feels personal."
[Personal Dungeon – Difficulty Adjustment]
Enemy Count Increased
Reason: Previous performance exceeded expectations
"Oh come on," Asher said. "You can't punish success."
[Correction]
This is encouragement.
"That's the worst encouragement I've ever received."
The wolves didn't wait.
They rushed him together.
Asher yelped and sprinted sideways, barely dodging snapping jaws. Claws raked his back, pain flaring—
[Damage Conversion – Active]
Temporary Strength Increased.
"STOP MAKING THIS FEEL EFFECTIVE," he shouted, swinging blindly.
One wolf went flying.
Another clipped his leg, sending him sprawling.
Asher rolled, scrambled to his feet, and immediately got headbutted by a wolf he hadn't noticed.
He hit the ground again.
"…Okay," he groaned. "So strategy would be good."
[Adaptive Combat Sense – Learning]
Pattern Recognition: 41%
"Oh," Asher said, dodging a bite by inches. "Ohhh. You telegraph."
He ducked under a lunge, grabbed a wolf mid-air, and slammed it into the cavern wall hard enough to leave a crack.
It didn't get back up.
Two wolves leapt at once.
Asher crossed his arms instinctively, bracing for impact—
—and didn't fall.
[Endless Stamina – Sustained]
"…I'm still standing?"
He laughed.
That was a mistake.
The remaining wolves piled on.
Claws, teeth, pain.
Strength surged.
Asher roared and shoved them off, swinging wildly but purposefully now. Each hit landed harder. Each dodge cleaner.
One wolf fell.
Then another.
The last tried to flee.
Asher chased it down and punched it into the floor.
Silence returned.
Asher collapsed backward, staring at the ceiling.
"…I hate cardio," he panted.
A screen appeared.
[Personal Dungeon – Cleared]
Performance: Significantly Above Expected Parameters
Rewards:
• Angelic Coin x15
• Skill Fragment Acquired
Asher pushed himself upright immediately.
"WAIT. HOLD ON. SHOW ME THAT."
The screen expanded.
[Skill Fragment – Detected]
Name: Minor Claw Proficiency
Type: Passive
Description: Improves damage and control when using hands as weapons.
Compatibility: High
Asher stared at his hands.
"…Are you telling me I learned how to punch from wolves."
[Affirmation]
"…I'm never telling anyone this."
Another prompt appeared.
[Assimilation Available]
Cost: None
Risk: Low
Asher didn't hesitate.
[Assimilating Skill Fragment…]
A warm sensation spread through his arms—not painful this time. His hands felt… heavier. More deliberate.
He flexed his fingers.
"…That's unsettling."
[Skill Assimilation – Complete]
Minor Claw Proficiency – Acquired
Asher stood, rolled his shoulders, and grinned.
"I punched six wolves," he said. "Got paid. Learned wolf kung fu."
He looked at the dungeon reset notice.
Then at his coin count.
[Angelic Coins: 25]
Asher nodded slowly.
"…I can work with this."
The dungeon shimmered, waiting.
Asher cracked his knuckles.
"Round three," he said. "But maybe fewer wolves?"
The dungeon did not respond.
Which worried him.