Aryan stared at his hands. The blood, the dirt, the shattered bones—everything was gone. His skin felt tougher, as if a layer of invisible armor now coated his body.
He looked down at the Level 15 Shadow Wolf. The beast was trembling, whimpering like a kicked puppy. Its deadly fangs, which could easily tear through steel armor, lay shattered in pieces on the stone floor.
"You broke your own teeth trying to bite an F-Rank Porter," Aryan chuckled, a dark, cold sound echoing in the empty dungeon.
He didn't have a weapon. Kael and the rest of his so-called 'team' had made sure of that. But he didn't need one right now. Aryan stepped forward, grabbed a large, jagged rock from the ground, and without a second of hesitation, smashed it down on the wolf's head.
[Ding! Host has killed a Level 15 Shadow Wolf.]
[+150 EXP gained!]
[Level Up! Host has reached Level 2.]
[Level Up! Host has reached Level 3.]
Aryan felt a surge of raw power flowing through his veins. His muscles tightened, and his vision became incredibly sharp in the dark cave.
Suddenly, a glowing white orb floated out of the wolf's dead body. Aryan reached out and touched it.
[Ding! Loot detected.]
[Item Acquired: Shadow Fang Dagger (E-Rank Weapon).]
[Item Acquired: Shadow Wolf Meat x2 (Restores Stamina).]
A sleek, pitch-black dagger materialized in Aryan's hand. It was perfectly balanced and razor-sharp. For the first time in his life, Aryan wasn't just a porter carrying bags; he was a hunter holding a blade.
Just as he was admiring his new weapon, the blue holographic screen flickered violently, turning a deep, blood-red color.
[WARNING! The Dungeon Boss, the Level 25 Bloodfang Alpha, has smelled the death of its kin.]
[System Quest Issued: The Hunter Becomes The Hunted.]
[Objective: Survive the Alpha's attack or Kill the Dungeon Boss.]
[Failure Penalty: Death.]
[Reward for Success: 1x Platinum Treasure Chest, 1x Hidden Skill.]
A deafening roar shook the very foundation of the cave. Rocks fell from the ceiling, and the temperature dropped instantly. From the deep shadows, two massive, glowing red eyes locked onto Aryan.
The real nightmare hadn't left with his team. It had just arrived.
Aryan gripped his new Shadow Fang Dagger, his passive Invincibility skill humming beneath his skin.
"Let them come," Aryan whispered, his eyes blazing with a newfound hunger for power. "I've got a lot of leveling up to do."