Into the Dungeon

Mark haltingly caught his breath, his heart pounding like a war drum in his chest. The tutorial message flickered before his eyes, glowing with an eerie light.

[[Tutorial Start.]]

[[Objective: Survive for 5 minutes.]]

Five minutes? Mark thought, his throat tightening. It sounded short, but the tension in the air told him it would feel like an eternity.

The ground trembled slightly beneath his feet. From the shadows surrounding the vast arena, shapes began to form—low, growling figures with gleaming red eyes.

Rats. But these weren't the tiny rodents Mark was used to seeing scurry through city streets. These were monstrous, each the size of a large dog, their fur mangy and slick with grime. Their long, yellowed teeth protruded from snarling jaws.

Mark stumbled back instinctively, his mind screaming at him to run, but there was nowhere to go. The arena was a circular void, the ground a smooth obsidian-like surface, and the perimeter was cloaked in an impenetrable darkness.

"No… no no no! This is insane!" Mark muttered, eyes wide with panic.

[Citizen Mark, combat initiation is mandatory. Escape is not an option.]

The system's cold, detached voice only heightened his dread.

Time Remaining: 04:55

The first rat lunged.

Mark barely dodged, falling clumsily to the ground. The rat's claws scraped against the obsidian floor, leaving faint marks. He scrambled to his feet, adrenaline flooding his system.

The gloves! He remembered the beginner's gloves he had equipped earlier. They weren't much, but they were all he had.

"Quick Punch!" he shouted instinctively, throwing his fist toward the next charging rat.

The system responded instantly.

[[Skill Activated: Quick Punch.]]

His fist blurred, striking the rat squarely in the snout. The creature squealed, tumbling backward. Mark stared at his hand, astonished by the power of the blow.

"It… it works?!"

But there was no time to celebrate. Two more rats were already circling him, their eyes gleaming with predatory hunger.

Time Remaining: 04:20

Mark gritted his teeth. If he was going to survive, he had to fight. No more running.

He charged the nearest rat, ducking under its swipe and delivering a flurry of quick punches. The gloves enhanced his speed, making his movements almost instinctive.

The rat collapsed, twitching, before disintegrating into light particles.

[[+1 XP]]

XP? Experience points? Like in a game?

Mark didn't have time to process the information. Another rat sprang at him, and he barely managed to sidestep, stumbling as his foot caught on the slick ground.

Pain flared in his shoulder as the rat's claws grazed him, tearing through his shirt and drawing blood.

"Argh! Dammit!" Mark hissed, clutching his arm. It hurts… it really hurts! This wasn't like a game. This was real. Too real.

Time Remaining: 03:40

The system voice chimed again.

[[Health: 85%]]

Mark clenched his fists. I can't give up. If I fall here… I die.

Summoning every ounce of courage, he lunged forward. His punches flew faster than ever, enhanced by desperation and fury. Each successful hit made the rats recoil, their bodies flickering before they vanished into particles.

One rat. Two. Three.

His breathing grew ragged, sweat pouring down his face, but he didn't stop. He couldn't stop.

Time Remaining: 02:10

The arena floor was now littered with fading traces of defeated enemies. Mark's arms ached, and his legs trembled, but he remained standing.

[Citizen Mark, stamina depleting. Recommend defensive tactics.]

"Defensive tactics?!" Mark barked bitterly. "I don't have a damn shield, Xi!"

[[System Guide: "Xi" acknowledged.]]

Wait, it accepted the name? Mark filed that realization away for later. Right now, survival was all that mattered.

Two final rats prowled the edge of the arena, watching him. They were larger than the others, their fur darker, their muscles rippling beneath the filth clinging to their bodies.

"Mini-bosses? Seriously?!" Mark groaned.

The first rat pounced, faster than the others had been. Mark dodged left, barely avoiding its snapping jaws. He retaliated with a Quick Punch to its side, sending it skidding across the floor.

The second rat didn't wait. It charged, jaws wide.

Mark had no time to dodge.

Instinct took over. He raised his left arm, sacrificing it to block the bite. Teeth sank into flesh, and Mark screamed in agony.

[[Health: 60%]]

But he didn't let it end there. With his free hand, he pummeled the rat's skull, punch after punch, until its grip loosened and it collapsed, dissolving into light.

Breathing heavily, Mark turned to face the last rat. It growled, hesitating for the first time.

It knows I can fight.

Mark took a shaky step forward, blood dripping from his arm. He raised his fists, determination burning in his eyes.

"Come on, then. Let's finish this."

The rat charged.

Mark didn't move until the last moment. He sidestepped, pivoting on his heel, and drove his fist into the creature's exposed side with everything he had.

CRACK!

The rat howled and stumbled, giving Mark the opening he needed. He followed up with a Quick Punch to the head, and the beast exploded into particles.

Time Remaining: 00:10

Mark stood alone, gasping for air, his body battered and bruised but victorious. The timer ticked down, each second feeling like an hour.

00:00

[[Tutorial Completed.]]

[[Rewards:]]

+3 Strength

+2 Agility

+10 XP

100 Credits

[[Level Up!]]

Mark collapsed to his knees, laughter bubbling up despite the pain.

"I… I did it. I actually survived."

The system voice returned, calm and emotionless.

[Congratulations, Citizen Mark. You have proven your capability. The path ahead remains dangerous. Prepare for the first floor.]

Mark exhaled slowly, wiping sweat from his brow.

First floor? This was just the tutorial?

He glanced at his status screen, watching his stats increase, his level rising to 2. But alongside the satisfaction of survival came a chilling realization.

If the tutorial was this hard… what the hell awaits me next?