The glow of the magical lantern was a fragile bastion against the encroaching darkness, illuminating a ring of glowing red eyes that pressed in on Elias.
His heart hammered against his ribs, a frantic drum against the primal fear that threatened to paralyze him. This wasn't kendo practice; this was a fight for his life against creatures that wanted to rip him apart.
He gripped the jagged rock tighter, his knuckles white. The Dungeon Crawlers, grotesque mutated rats, were larger than any rat he'd ever seen, their teeth long and yellowed, their fur matted with grime. The bite on his ankle throbbed, a constant reminder of their immediate threat.
A low growl ripped from the pack, and they lunged.
Elias instinctively swung the rock, a desperate, clumsy arc. It connected with a sickening crunch against the skull of the lead Dungeon Crawler. The creature squealed, a high-pitched, agonizing sound, and crumpled to the ground, twitching once before falling still.
[Notification]
Dungeon Crawler (Mutated Rat) defeated!
Experience Gained: 5 XP
[Notification]
Skill Activation: Survival (Basic) - Level Up!
Description: Your basic survival instincts are sharpening. You are better at reacting to immediate threats.
Survival (Basic): Level 2
[Notification]
Skill Activation: Observation (Basic) - Level Up!
Description: Your ability to quickly assess your surroundings and identify details is improving.
Observation (Basic): Level 2
More rats surged forward, a tide of fur and teeth. Elias kicked out, his foot connecting with another. He swung the rock again, then again, aiming for their heads, for the soft, fleshy parts he could only guess at in the dim light. His movements were raw, unrefined, fueled by pure adrenaline.
He stumbled, regained his footing, his breath ragged. A sharp claw raked his forearm, another bite tore at his calf.
[Notification]
Health: 65/100 (Minor Bleeding - Dungeon Crawler Scratches)
Health: 60/100 (Minor Bleeding - Dungeon Crawler Bite)
He roared, a primal sound torn from his throat, not of courage, but of sheer terror and desperation. He remembered his kendo sensei's voice, "Move with intent, Elias! Focus!" He narrowed his eyes, trying to anticipate their movements, to find patterns in their snarling assaults. His Perception passive, previously overwhelmed, now tried to make sense of the chaos, subtly highlighting the most immediate threats.
He began to move, not elegantly, but efficiently. A short jab with the rock, a quick pivot, a stomping kick. The squeals of dying rats punctuated the humid air. The scent of blood, both his own and theirs, filled his nostrils. He felt a strange, cold calm settling over him amidst the frenzy, a primal focus on survival.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last of the glowing red eyes vanished into the shadows. Only the stillness, broken by the incessant drip of water and his own heavy breathing, remained. He slumped against a damp wall, the crude rock still clutched in his hand, his body trembling uncontrollably.
[Notification]
Dungeon Crawlers (Mutated Rats) defeated!
Experience Gained: 15 XP (Total 20 XP)
[Notification]
Health: 55/100
Stamina: 40/100
[Notification]
New Item Acquired: Dungeon Crawler Fang (Common) x 3
New Item Acquired: Dungeon Crawler Pelt (Common) x 2
He looked at the small pile of grotesque corpses, their eyes now dull. He had done it. He had killed. The thought sent a fresh wave of nausea through him, but it was quickly overshadowed by a grim satisfaction. He had survived.
His wounds stung, but his Anomalous Resilience seemed to dull the sharpest edges of the pain. He knelt, fumbling in the dim light for the fangs and pelts. They were small, rough, and probably useless, but they were a tangible sign of his victory, of his burgeoning ability to adapt.
He dragged himself further into the tunnel, the lantern's glow extending just beyond his feet. The passage narrowed, the ceiling lowering, forcing him to hunch.
The air grew heavier, the silence more profound. His instincts screamed at him to go back, to find the light, but there was no going back. Only forward, or deeper into the abyss.
As he walked, a faint shimmer caught his eye at the very edge of his lantern light. He crept closer, his heart thumping. It was a faint, almost invisible, flow of energy, leading downwards. Below it, rough-hewn steps descended into an even deeper darkness.
[Notification]
Path to Dungeon of Death - Level 2 discovered!
Elias stared at the dark opening. Level 2. What horrors awaited him there? He was bruised, bleeding, exhausted, and utterly alone. Yet, a spark of defiance, fueled by the memory of Seraphina's cold smile and the roaring mob, flickered within him. He was Elias, the condemned. And the condemned did not die quietly. Not yet.
He took a deep breath, clutching his lantern. The path ahead was terrifying, but the path behind him was oblivion. With a grim resolve, he took the first step down into the deeper abyss. The stench grew stronger, hinting at something far more ancient and monstrous than rats.