The Inferno Within

Seokhyun's heart pounded as the first wave of Demon Wolves swarmed from the shadows. Their eyes burned with an unnatural crimson glow, their bodies sleek and muscular, built for speed and carnage. The cavernous floor trembled under the weight of their claws scraping against stone.

Aine stood at his side, clutching her staff, eyes wide but resolute. She was ready. He could feel it.

Seokhyun's breath steadied as the system flashed in his vision.

[MONSTER COUNT: 0/50]

With a sharp motion, he raised his fist and launched it forward, the force of his strike sending the first Demon Wolf crashing into the stone wall. The wolf howled in agony, but it wasn't enough to slow the others. Two more leaped toward him from opposite directions.

He dodged to the side, kicking one out of the air before driving his fist into the other's ribcage. The impact cracked bones, and the wolf crumpled, but only for a moment. The second wave was already coming.

Seokhyun was faster now—his reflexes were sharper, his senses heightened by his newfound mana. With each strike, his body seemed to resonate with power, his punches and kicks landing with bone-shattering precision.

[MONSTER COUNT: 3/50]

He didn't have time to watch the number tick up as more wolves closed in, their claws slashing the air, trying to reach his vulnerable points. His foot collided with one of them, sending it skidding back, and he spun into a kick that sent another wolf spiraling into the ground.

[MONSTER COUNT: 5/50]

But these were no ordinary creatures. The wolves were relentless, their eyes burning with a primal hunger, and they fought in perfect synchrony. Every time Seokhyun knocked one down, two more seemed to take its place. They were closing in, their numbers only growing, and he could feel the pressure mounting.

The cavern air was thick with the stench of blood and sweat, the roar of battle filling the space. He was starting to tire. His energy was being drained with each brutal blow, and his wounds from earlier—scratches, bruises—were beginning to ache more than he had anticipated. But there was no turning back now.

Another wolf lunged, its teeth snapping for his throat. Seokhyun managed to sidestep, just barely, but the wolf's claws raked across his side, tearing through his armor and leaving a bleeding gash.

[MONSTER COUNT: 8/50]

He gritted his teeth, pain flashing through him, but he couldn't afford to slow down. He pushed the pain aside and launched himself into the fray once more. This time, he punched through the chest of the next wolf, feeling its ribcage crack under his fist. The creature collapsed with a sickening thud.

But the waves didn't stop. More wolves poured out of the darkness, their eyes filled with that unholy hunger. Each time he thought he had cleared the area, another wave appeared. Their speed was increasing, their coordination more deadly.

[MONSTER COUNT: 15/50]

Seokhyun's body was beginning to feel heavy, but his mind stayed sharp. His system continued to beep as he knocked down the next beast, but the numbers were climbing far too slowly.

And then it happened.

He swung a punch, but the largest of the wolves—a hulking, towering beast—dodged it with unnerving precision. Its body rippled with sinewy muscle, and its glowing red eyes locked onto Seokhyun, its fangs bared in a feral snarl. This wasn't just another wolf. This one was different.

The Elite Demon Wolf was here.

With a speed that took Seokhyun off guard, the creature lunged, claws extended to shred through his defenses. He barely managed to step aside, but the beast's tail caught him across the ribs, knocking him off balance and sending him crashing to the ground.

Pain exploded in his side, but he didn't have time to think about it. The wolf was already on him, jaws snapping, claws digging toward his throat. He rolled to the side just in time, his hands scrambling for leverage as he narrowly dodged the wolf's fatal strike.

[MONSTER COUNT: 20/50]

His body was growing heavier, his attacks slower as the fatigue began to set in. His fists landed, but the beast hardly seemed phased. Seokhyun's breath grew ragged. He couldn't keep this up forever. The Elite Demon Wolf was too powerful, and his own stamina was running low.

His system beeped urgently as the fight stretched on.

[MONSTER COUNT: 30/50]

"Aine!" Seokhyun shouted, his voice raw.

Aine stood frozen, her staff gripped tightly in her hands. She had been watching from the sidelines, her gaze flickering between him and the monstrous wolf. She didn't move. She was too afraid, too uncertain.

Seokhyun's eyes narrowed. He couldn't do this alone. Not this time.

He dodged another strike from the Elite Demon Wolf, but his strength was fading. The creature's claws raked across his chest, leaving deep gashes. Blood seeped through his armor, the pain flaring with each breath he took.

His mind swam, and his vision blurred. He couldn't keep his guard up much longer.

Then, something snapped.

Aine stepped forward. Her hands trembled, but her eyes were no longer filled with fear. They were burning with something else. Something ancient, something powerful.

"I will never, never, EVER let my friends die EVER AGAINNNN!" she shouted, her voice a battle cry that resonated through the very walls of the dungeon.

A surge of divine energy erupted from her body, the light blinding, hot, and intense. Her staff glowed with celestial power, runes lighting up in radiant bursts of magic. The energy surged outward in a torrent of white-hot flames, crashing into the Elite Demon Wolf.

The creature howled in agony as the blast sent it hurtling back into the cavern wall, where it crumpled, unable to move.

Seokhyun stared in shock, his breath shallow as he watched Aine's power unfold. The glowing light faded, and the cavern seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy.

Aine stood there, trembling, but with an unshakable resolve in her eyes. The magic swirled around her, powerful and divine.

Seokhyun's system chimed loudly, the words flashing before his eyes.

[Aine – Celestial Bloodline Unlocked]

[Trait: Celestial Awakening – Grants the ability to tap into divine magic and ascend to the next level of power.]

[Tier: S]

His heart skipped a beat. He wasn't sure what he was seeing, but it was real. Aine had awakened her Celestial Bloodline, and with it came a power that he couldn't fully comprehend.

The last of the Demon Wolves had fled, retreating into the shadows from where they came. The battle was over. For now.

Seokhyun staggered to his feet, clutching his side, still trying to process everything that had just happened.

"Aine..." he began, but his voice trailed off. She had saved them. She had awakened.

Her power, her strength—it was undeniable. And now, standing beside him, he knew they weren't just students anymore.

They were warriors.