Chapter 6 : Clearing The First Floor
Rei took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest as he stood at the entrance of the dungeon's first floor. The safe zone's dim blue light surrounded him, offering a brief moment of respite before he ventured into the unknown. He quickly reviewed the mission details displayed in his system.
Mission: Clear the First FloorObjective: Eliminate 10 Shadow Rats and retrieve the Dungeon Core Fragment.Reward: 200 EXP and 50 Energy
His grip tightened around his weapon—a simple wooden staff given to him by Varen. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.
"Alright," Rei muttered to himself, adjusting his grip on the staff. "Ten Shadow Rats and a core fragment... Doesn't sound too bad."
Stepping out of the safe zone, he immediately felt the atmosphere shift. The air grew colder, and the comforting blue light was replaced by the oppressive darkness of the dungeon. His instincts screamed at him to be cautious, but he steeled himself and continued forward.
It wasn't long before Rei heard the faint sound of scratching—movement in the shadows. He spun around, his eyes locking onto a group of small, dark-furred creatures with glowing red eyes.
Shadow Rats. Level 5.
Rei's nerves tensed, but he forced himself to focus. "Alright, time to test what I've learned."
He crouched low, raising his hand. "Vine Grasp!"
Thin green vines shot up from the earth, lashing out toward the closest rat. It squeaked in surprise, attempting to leap away, but the vines wrapped around its body, binding it tightly.
"Now for the finish," Rei murmured, gathering his mana. "Iron Spike!"
The ground trembled beneath him as a jagged iron spike shot upward, impaling the rat. It let out a shrill cry before going limp, and a small notification flashed in Rei's vision.
Shadow Rat defeated! +20 EXP gained. +5 Energy obtained.
A rush of exhilaration filled Rei. His first real battle, and he had come out on top. But there was no time to celebrate. The remaining rats hissed and charged at him.
Rei's heart pounded in his chest as he dodged the first rat, rolling to the side. He quickly summoned his mana again, slamming his palm to the ground.
"Vine Grasp!"
Two more vines erupted, ensnaring another rat. With practiced precision, Rei followed up with another Iron Spike, dispatching it with ease.
Shadow Rat defeated! +20 EXP gained. +5 Energy obtained.
His breathing quickened as the realization hit him—the more he used his skills, the stronger his connection to them became. Mana flowed more smoothly through him, and the energy he gained from each kill built up. It wasn't just about leveling up anymore; he could feel his powers evolving.
He glanced at his status screen, noting the rising energy count. Varen had mentioned that energy could be used to enhance skills. Rei knew he had to use this to his advantage.
Determined, he pressed on, taking down the remaining Shadow Rats one by one. By the time the last rat fell, a notification pinged in his mind.
Skill Upgrade Available!
Vine Grasp (Common) → Vine Snare (Uncommon)
Iron Spike (Common) → Piercing Iron (Uncommon)
Required: 25 points each.
Rei grinned. Upgraded skills meant better damage, and better damage meant a smoother dungeon clear. He didn't hesitate.
[Skill Upgrade]
Vine Snare (Uncommon): Summons fast-growing vines from the ground that wrap around multiple targets, restraining their movement for 5 seconds.
Piercing Iron (Uncommon): Manipulates the earth to generate a sharp iron spike that erupts from beneath a target, adding 5% armor-piercing effect.
"Perfect," Rei murmured, feeling a surge of newfound power.
His mission was almost complete, but there was one last task—retrieving the Dungeon Core Fragment. The system indicated that it was located deeper within the floor. Following his map, he ventured forward, his footsteps quiet in the dim light.
In a small clearing, glowing mushrooms illuminated the rocky walls. There, curled up near a rock, was a small, injured creature. Its fur was pure white, and a crescent moon symbol shimmered faintly on its forehead.
Moon Bunny (Rare). Level 20.
Rei's breath hitched. A rare beast? And it was already at level 20? This was an incredible opportunity. If he could tame it, he would gain a powerful companion right from the start.
Without hesitation, Rei bit his finger, and blood began to drip from the wound. He pressed his thumb to the Moon Bunny's head, activating his unique blood pact ability.
Taming Attempt Initiated…
A soft chime sounded, signaling the success of his bond.
Taming Successful! Moon Bunny (Rare) has been added to your party.
Rei felt an immediate, almost magical connection to the creature. The Moon Bunny nuzzled his hand, its once-weary eyes now filled with trust and recognition. He checked its status, and the results left him speechless.
[Beast Status Panel]
Moon Bunny (Rare)Level: 20HP: 1,500 / 1,500MP: 800 / 800Strength: 45Agility: 120Endurance: 60Intelligence: 90Magic Power: 110
Skills:
Silver Crescent (Rare): Charges a beam of pure moonlight energy, dealing massive magic damage in a straight line. Scales with the Moon Bunny's MP and level. Cooldown: 15 seconds.
Moon Invulnerability (Rare): Temporarily grants invulnerability by harnessing moon power. Cooldown: 10 seconds.
Stunned by the Moon Bunny's power, Rei smiled. He had secured a powerful companion for his journey.
Suddenly, his eyes caught a faint glow near a pile of rocks. He walked over and uncovered a small crystalline shard pulsating with energy.
Dungeon Core Fragment acquired. Mission complete!
The moment he touched it, a bright light engulfed him. His system notified him of his rewards.
[STATUS]
Name: Rei
Class: Beast Tamer
Level: 5
HP: 250 / 250
MP: 150 / 150
Energy: 55
Strength: 45
Agility: 50
Endurance: 60
Intelligence: 75
Magic Power: 80
[Skills]
Vine Snare (Uncommon) – Summons fast-growing vines from the ground that wrap around multiple targets, restraining their movement for 5 seconds.
Piercing Iron (Uncommon) – Generates a sharp iron spike that erupts from the ground beneath a target, adding +5% armor-piercing damage.
His entire body felt lighter, stronger. His mana capacity had increased, and his skills had grown more refined. Looking down at the Moon Bunny, he felt a sense of pride—this wasn't just about survival anymore. He was growing, evolving, and carving his own path in this world.
A soft chime echoed in his mind.
"In order to advance to the next floor, you must defeat the Boss Floor Guardian. Head to the boss zone within 10 minutes, or you will receive a penalty of -1 level."