First time in a dungeon x first fight

Stepping into the dungeon, he felt an irresistible pull that he simply could not fight against.

For a moment, he couldn't feel his body. It was as though he were floating.

He also couldn't see anything or even sense Ember, who was right next to him—a clear sign that the dungeon's bizarre energy had completely shut off all his senses.

"An extraordinary experience..."

Before he could finish the thought, an overwhelming pressure bore down on him.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself standing inside an unfamiliar world.

The world was dark, with tall, shadowy trees standing far away. From deep inside the forest, he could hear the howling of beasts.

Around him were strange, glowing plants that gave off a faint light.

Alden knew this place was far more dangerous and mysterious than it appeared. He had to stay alert and move carefully here.

"Since it's your first time here, let your body adjust to the pressure."

As he struggled against the oppressive pressure and difficulty in breathing, Darian's voice came from the front.

They were all standing together on a hill.

This was one of the dungeon's mysteries: if a group entered at the same time, they would be sent to the same location.

He focused on Darian's advice, calming his mind and body. After two minutes, the pressure lifted, and Alden opened his eyes.

He took a deep breath, marveling at the strange, otherworldly environment around him.

"Are you ready to leave the safe zone?"

Darian asked, noticing that Alden's earlier discomfort had faded.

The hill they stood on was their safe zone. Once they stepped off, they would be exposed to the dangers of the dungeon.

"Yes, I'm ready," Alden replied, his hand instinctively gripping the sword on his back.

"This place is filled with dangerous beasts. They may not be very strong, but they are cunning. Stay alert," Darian warned.

Ember added her own advice, sharing her experiences. Zara and Storm waited at the edge of the hill, ready to move.

ROAARR!

ROAARR!

The moment they stepped off the hill, the roars of beasts echoed through the air, evoking an eerie atmosphere.

"Stay alert! Attack at the first sign of danger!" Darian shouted aloud.

Alden drew out the sword sheathed on his back, scanning the area.

Meanwhile, Ember quickly retrieved the white bow that had been hanging on her back all along and swiftly nocked an arrow into it.

Ember was a supportive class awakener, as she had the healing talent. The bow and arrows suited her well, making her a long-range attacker.

"Alden and Ember, you two will take the lead. We'll only step in if things get out of hand."

HOWL!

Before Darian could finish, a bone-chilling cry echoed nearby.

ROAARR!

The sound grew louder, and soon, a massive creature bigger than a human burst out from the trees.

It was a dark-skinned beast with glowing yellow eyes that burned like fire, and each heavy step made the ground tremble...

"A scor-eye demonic beast," Ember muttered, her eyes locked on the creature.

Alden focused on the fast-approaching monster.

Its dark hide rendered it almost invisible in the shadows, and its movements were exceedingly difficult to track.

WHOOSH!

Ember released her arrow; it flew straight toward the beast, yet the scor-eye wolf dodged with ease.

Darian, Zara, and Storm watched from a distance. They wouldn't interfere unless necessary.

Ember quickly moved to a new position further away, nocking another arrow.

Alden sprinted forward, his steps careful and calculated.

As he and the wolf were about to clash, he sidestepped and swung his sword at the creature's side.

Expecting to land a deadly strike...

But instead of landing a hit, Alden was sent flying; the wolf's tail had struck him with incredible force, sending him crashing into a tree as he groaned in pain.

The beast lunged at him again, but Alden rolled out of the way just in time and jumped to his feet.

THUD!

The creature's claws dug deep into the tree where Alden had been standing.

[5% damage dealt to your body]

"Sh*t, that was a hell of damage."

He took a deep breath, realizing just how strong it was; there wasn't a single scratch on its body from his sword attack.

"How tough!" he thought. "And it's only a weak beast."

Diving for his sword, he grabbed it and tightened his grip on it.

The scor-eye wolf began to circle him, its yellow eyes glowing with hunger, ready to shred its prey into bloody pieces.

Alden, meanwhile, silently planned his next move.

Ember fired another arrow; this time, it hit the wolf's side, but the beast barely flinched as the arrow failed to fully penetrate its skin.

Alden charged again, feinting to the left; the wolf fell for the trick and he swung his sword with all his might.

The blade struck the creature's back, leaving only a shallow cut.

The wolf roared in anger and struck at Alden.

He moved to the side, barely avoiding its sharp claws, while the ground trembled as the beast landed where he had been standing.

WHOOSH!

Another arrow whistled through the air, aimed squarely at the wolf's eye.

At the last second, the creature jerked its head, causing the arrow to strike its ear instead.

Alden saw his chance; while the wolf was distracted, he leaped onto its back.

He grabbed the two daggers at his side and drove them into the beast's neck.

He could feel the special energy of the daggers surging through his body as he gripped them.

The wolf howled in pain, thrashing wildly as it struggled to throw Alden off.

Just as Alden was about to deliver another blow, the beast slammed heavily onto the ground, forcing him to fall off.

Alden moved away quickly, barely dodging a claw that nearly sliced his neck.

"Damn!" he cursed, realizing that he had almost taken down the beast.

Alden and Ember kept fighting the scor-eye beast, but it was clear they were no match for it.

No matter how hard they tried, their attacks barely made an impact on the creature.

Ember's arrows couldn't pierce its thick skin, and Alden's sword strikes produced only minor cuts.

Their attacks were too slow and superficial to cause any real damage to the beast, proving that they needed more practice and a better understanding of how to wield their weapons effectively.

The wolf roared, its yellow eyes glowing even brighter as it grew angrier, and it lunged at Alden again, moving faster than he could react.

Before he could dodge, the beast's tail whipped around and slammed into him, sending him flying.

[20% damage dealt to your body]

THUD!

Alden hit the ground hard, the impact robbing him of his breath.

He coughed as blood spilled from his mouth; his body ached, yet he forced himself to rise, gripping his sword tightly.

The scor-eye beast gave him no time to recover, charging at him with its claws poised to tear him apart.

Alden attempted to move, but he was too slow; the beast swiped at him, sending him crashing back to the ground.

[Warning⚠️: Host is in critical condition]

This time, Alden couldn't get up; he lay there, struggling to breathe as the beast loomed over him, its jaws wide open and ready to finish him off.

[Character healing is taking effect]

Ember fired yet another arrow, but the wolf didn't even notice, being too focused on Alden.

Just as the beast was about to strike, a blur of movement shot past.

The scor-eye wolf suddenly retreated, letting out a pained howl as fast, sharp attacks rained down upon it, forcing it backward.