The entrance to Duskwither Hollow stood half-swallowed by gnarled roots and jagged stone. Compared to Glowrock, this dungeon felt older—less alive, more haunted. A faint breeze leaked from its depths, whispering like wind through cracked teeth.
Lilith adjusted her gear, her new twin daggers strapped to each hip. Mana map tucked safely in her pouch. Her boots crunched against dried moss as she turned to the waiting figure.
Ren stood with arms crossed and a pale face.
"You've got five hours," he said. "If you're not back by then—"
"You'll barge in, rescue me heroically, and I'll owe you again. I know."
He stared flatly. "I'll drag your unconscious body out if I have to."
Lilith grinned, gave him a dramatic salute, and turned toward the dark.
"I'll be back before lunch. Watch my shine."
And with that, she stepped inside.
---
Zone 1: The Whispering Passage
The change was immediate.
The air thickened, colder and damp. The walls narrowed into natural corridors, choked by thin hanging roots. Stone twisted in unnatural curves, making it hard to gauge turns. The whispers weren't imagined—they were real. Muffled voices, as though long dead adventurers still wandered here, repeating warnings in a tongue she didn't know.
She shivered. Gripped her daggers tighter.
"Okay, Lilith. No panic. Just oversized bugs and rats."
She kept her senses sharp, eyes scanning the corners.
This zone is notorious for misleading adventurers. It has maze-like corridors with lots of doors. Not all lead to the main hall.
Lilith carefully opened a door, it was an empty room. She silently closed the door and opened another. It was a path leading further.
She began walking through the corridor. Sound of rats are coming. She looked around and found some arrow fallen on the ground. Her instincts said there was a trap nearby.
She slowly walked through the way. As she put her foot to the floor, it lowered a little. Her instincts said a trap was triggered. Soon a bunch of arrow shot from the other side of the hallway but her speed and reaction was fast enough to dodge the attack.
Whew! That startled me. The arrows look weak though. It can do some damage at most.
She began walking again and checked the mana map. The paths she walked through is drawn on the map and she can see her position too. But is doesn't show what is ahead.
It might not tell me how to reach to next zone but it will tell me how to return home and that's most important. I don't wanna get lost and live with monsters.
The first threat came quick.
From a side passage, three Plague Rats crawled out—each the size of a cat, eyes glowing yellow, fur patchy, tails long and slick like wet ropes. They hissed and sniffed, baring sharp yellow teeth.
Lilith crouched. Her agility kicked in, legs springing forward.
One slash—clean across the snout. It reeled.
Second—missed. She dodged under a bite, twisted, and drove her dagger into its side.
The third pounced. She let it bite her armored glove, then slammed it into the wall.
[XP Gained: 15]
She exhaled, flicking blood off her blade. "Not bad. Smelly, but doable."
Then the floor rumbled.
A low scratching. A high skittering.
...Oh no.
The hallway exploded in movement. A swarm of Plague Rats burst from the shadows, and from above—
Dozens of Dungeon Mites dropped like hail.
Tiny, red-eyed, spider-like pests the size of her palm.
One landed on her shoulder.
Another clung to her boot.
And one—
One fell straight into her cleavage.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH—!!"
She thrashed, screaming, jumping in place as the swarm lunged. Mites skittered across her arms, hair, legs.
Lilith swung wildly, cutting down three rats—but there were ten more. The mites clung, biting through cloth.
"Nope nope NOPE—this is NOT happening!"
She dove back, backpedaling into a tighter corridor. Heart hammering, breath short.
-----
Outside the dungeon—Dungeon Entrance
Ren was standing and so was the guard. Then the heard the scream coming inside from the dungeon.
"Guess she met her first challange." Ren muttered.
The guard nodded and added, "All newbie face this. But overcoming these fear helps them grow." he took a breath and also added "Why does a woman have to be an adventurer? They can live a luxurious life, yet some of them chose to be adventurers. If I were a woman, I'd enjoy life like paradise."
Ren smiled and replied, "Yeah, why not. Easy or not, they sure got it full of fun. At least for her."
-----
Back in the dungeon
Lilith activated Arousal Field Lv.3.
A wave pulsed out of her—charm, heat, pheromonal energy thick in the air. Monsters stalled mid-attack. Rats stumbled in their charge. Mites twitched and paused, sluggish and disoriented.
Lilith's eyes narrowed. Her fingers sparked.
"Burn."
She launched a Fire Spark spell dead center into the cluster.
BOOM—!
The explosion rocked the tunnel. A wave of smoke and cooked fur washed over her. Screeches echoed. She didn't stop—daggers flashing, she darted through the confusion, slashing, twisting, stabbing.
One rat lunged—she flipped over it, drove a blade through its back.
Two mites jumped—she swept her blade horizontally, scattering them like sparks.
When the dust cleared, her breathing was ragged. Her clothes were torn. A patch of her coat was smoking. But she was standing.
[XP Gained: 50]
[You have leveled up. Lv.4→Lv.5]
SP +10
[System Tip: Try not to scream louder than your enemies next time.]
Lilith wiped soot off her cheek. "I screamed appropriately. That was horrifying."
But I levelled up so soon. All thanks Ren's help last night HEHEHE.
Now I have 20 unused SP. Better to save them untill I meet a tough opponent and use them as needed.
Lilith was going forward while a thought came in her mind. Something is missing. Like I haven't done something I should have.
Lilith looked around and saw the dead bodies of the rats and remembered, She has to skin them. A weird disgusted chill ran down her body.
Not using my precious enchanted daggers on the smelly creatures.
She took out a knife from the bag carrying on her hips and started skinning them. It takes some time and also works as a resting point.
After skinning the rats and taking the pelts, she went ahead. It's time she met a mini boss.
She came in front of a little luxurious door but it was all old and spoiled.
It probably the mini boss or some people say Zone Boss.
She entered the room but there was nothing in front. She looked around and saw a giant mouse, to the size of a dog is hiding in the corner. It's fur was peach black and was shinning.
So thats the mini boss. It's so shiny! I bet it's fur will sell for a high price. It might be a little tough.
She approaced the mouse but it ran away in a high speed. She would have struggled to match it a few days ago. But now the mouse feels slower than her.
Looks like it will avoid me unless I attack it first. So, let's be it.
"Ice Bullet"
Lilith launched an ice bullet at the mouse but it managed to dodge. Though it did not hit but the attack did it's work.
The peach black mouse ran towards with a strong momentum. One hit can send her flying. Only if it could land a hit.
She waited till the last momment for the mouse to hit her and then suddenly made a small jump. The mouse with high momentum was unable to react at time. Lilith's hand shot, her dagger tearing through it's flesh.
The mouse crashed to a wall and Lilith landed softly on the ground.
Oh shit! I've damaged it's skin. The price will get lower at this rate. Fire is not good either. Guess it's time to check my brute strength.
Lilith put back the daggers in their cover and clenched her fists. Ready to go boxer mode.
The peach black mouse feeling danger of life, became more fierce. It's teeth and knuckles grew bigger and it definitely looked ugly.
It charged towards Lilith in a speed higher than ever. It didn't follow straight line, like past. It changed it's direction multiple times before it jumped at her. But what it didn't know that Lilith was much faster than it.
Arousal Field Lv.3 activated
Suddenly the mouse felt off-guard, a sweet smell came to it's nose.
BAAAM!
As soon as the mouse lowered it's guard Lilith delivered a strong punch to it's abdomen, sending it flying and crushing to a wall.
She didn't give it a chance to recover. She immediately reached the mouse and delivered three more strong punch but it was not the end.
She grabbed it's tail, pulled it up and slammed it in the floor. Blood stained the floor. She slammed it again. Again and Again until it's body fell cold and entire room stained in blood.
Damn, I'm freackin strong. I beat the giant mouse like a ragdoll.
She then took out the knife again and started skinning the bloody mouse. She looked happy skinning it this time.
I'm gonna earn a lot of money after the raid today.
Guess it's time for the next zone then.
Continued...
[ I'm sharing a good news with you all today.
I've got my very first patreon member "Jose Jimenez".
Though I didn't directly invited anyone to my patreon yet coz I planned to do so a few days later. But this fan looked for my patreon and joined me. A big clap for him. Though nobody will clap, I'll do it myself👏👏👏.
Any readers who want to support me and read chapters early can check out my patreon and join. I currently have one advanced chapter in patreon but there will be more in a week.
Join me: Patreon(.)com/MR_Stranger
Discord: discord(.)gg/WDPMCvpdYq ]