Chapter Seven: Blood and Awakening
The deeper they pushed into the dungeon, the more hostile the environment became. The narrow tunnels gave way to a massive cavern, its ceiling lost in darkness, jagged rocks hanging like teeth above them.
The ground was uneven, soaked with a mixture of slime and old blood, making every step slightly unstable. A low, constant growl echoed through the chamber, vibrating faintly through the walls.
Kael's instincts sharpened.
"Spread out a little," Cherry said, her flames burning brighter now, casting flickering shadows across the cavern walls.
"We're not dealing with weaklings anymore."
Jones rolled his shoulders, a confident grin returning to his face. "Good. Let's see something worth my time."
The growling intensified and more dense movements arose from within the darkness. From the darkness, multiple figures burst forward at once.
They were larger than the previous beast they had faced and looked tougher than them too. Their bodies were lean but powerful, muscles rippling beneath coarse fur mixed with hardened slime. Their claws scraped against the stone as they charged, their glowing eyes locked onto the group with predatory focus.
"Dog Wolves!" Cherry shouted.
There wasn't just a few. There were dozens. The first wave lunged.
Jones reacted instantly. He slammed both hands to the ground, and the earth responded violently. Jagged pillars of stone erupted upward, slamming into two Dog Wolves mid-air.
But the others maneuvered around the spikes, their agility far greater than the Slime Monkeys.
One leapt straight for him. Jones raised a thick wall of earth just in time, the wolf crashing into it with enough force to crack the structure.
Another came from the side, claws slicing through the air. He barely dodged, retaliating with a heavy swing that sent a chunk of stone smashing into its skull.
Cherry moved in circles of flames . She spun forward, flames bursting outward in a wide arc, forcing several Dog Wolves back. One tried to circle behind her, but she snapped her fingers and a concentrated blast of fire shot backward, engulfing it mid-leap.
Still, they kept coming. Kael stepped in.
"Go," he whispered.
The Soldier Ant surged forward, colliding head-on with a Dog Wolf. The impact echoed, both creatures sliding back slightly as claws met hardened shell. The wolf snapped its jaws repeatedly, trying to break through, but the ant held its ground.
Kael dashed in from the side.
His agility carried him low and fast. He slipped beneath the creature's swipe and struck upward, driving his short knife into its exposed underside. The Dog Wolf let out a sharp cry.
[+10 EXP]
Kael didn't stop. Another lunged at him, faster than the last. He barely dodged, rolling across the slick ground as its claws grazed his shoulder.
Before it could strike again, the Soldier Ant rammed into it from the side, knocking it off balance.
Kael capitalized instantly. He drove forward and finished it.
[+10 EXP]
His breathing quickened not from fear, but from something else, excitement. This wasn't like before. He wasn't just surviving. He was fighting.
Behind him, Cherry unleashed a massive wave of flames, forcing a group of wolves together before detonating the fire in a burst that sent bodies flying.
Jones followed up by collapsing the ground beneath another cluster, crushing them under layers of stone. But even they were starting to feel it.
"There's too many!" Cherry called out.
"Then kill faster!" Jones shot back, though even he was breathing heavier now.
Kael clenched his jaw. He glanced at the fallen bodies scattered around him. The system flickered.
[Weave Corpses Available: 2 Slots Remaining]
He moved subtly, stepping back into the shadows of the battle.
"Weave Corpses."
Dark energy spread from his hand, connecting to two fallen Dog Wolves. Their bodies trembled violently before rising again, their glowing eyes now dim and controlled.
[Weaved Unit: Dog Wolf]
[Rank: C]
[Status: Active]
[Weaved Unit: Dog Wolf]
[Rank: C]
[Status: Active]
Kael's pulse spiked. Three units now. That would be easier now.
"Attack," he whispered.
The two newly risen wolves joined the fight instantly, turning on their former pack. The sudden shift caused chaos among the remaining enemies, buying Kael precious openings.
He moved with them. The Soldier Ant charged ahead, tanking blows while the two Dog Wolves flanked targets. Kael followed, striking where they created openings, each movement becoming sharper, more precise.
[+10 EXP]
[+10 EXP]
[+10 EXP]
The battle dragged on. Claws clashed against stone. Fire roared. Earth shattered. Bodies fell.
And slowly the number of enemies decreased. Until finally the last Dog Wolf collapsed.
Heavy breathing filled the cavern. The ground was soaked with blood, the aftermath of the battle stretching in every direction.
Cherry wiped sweat from her forehead. "That was… intense."
Jones exhaled sharply, his confidence slightly shaken. "Tch… finally."
Kael stood still, his chest rising and falling, but his eyes were focused.
Watching because something felt… wrong.
Then...
A low, thunderous growl shook the cavern.
The ground trembled. From the darkness, something massive stepped forward.
It was a Dog Wolf but far beyond the others. Its body was larger, denser, its presence alone pressing down on them like a physical force. Its glowing eyes burned with intelligence… and hunger.
Jones's voice dropped.
"…a B-rank?"
Even he didn't sound confident anymore. The creature took a slow step forward. Then another.
Each step echoed like a warning. Cherry raised her flames again, but this time… there was hesitation. She was already weak from the numerous number of Dog Wolves she had taken down.
The B-rank Dog Wolf crouched, then vanished. It moved faster than anything they had seen. In an instant, it closed the distance, its claws tearing through the space where Jones had been standing just moments before.
Jones barely reacted in time, throwing up a thick wall of earth. It shattered instantly but that lessened the effect of the attack. He was sent flying, crashing hard against the cavern wall.
"Jones!" Cherry shouted.
The creature turned again. Targeting her this time. Kael's heart pounded. It was too fast.
They couldn't keep up. They couldn't help each other at this rate.
Then something moved. A blur movement. So fast it seemed to be off in the same battlefield.
For a fraction of a second, everything seemed to slow. A single line cut through the air.
Clean.
Precise.
Unseen.
The B-rank Dog Wolf froze mid-motion.
Its body stood still, then its head slid off. The massive body collapsed with a heavy thud.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Slowly… their gazes turned. The quiet boy stood there, in the same spot as before.
No change in expression. No sign of effort. As if nothing had happened.
Cherry's flames flickered uncertainly. Jones stared, completely speechless.Kael's eyes widened slightly.
And the boy just said nothing remaining quiet.