Riku staggered deeper into the ever-darkening dungeon. After destroying the giant golem, the exit should have opened but no sign of relief came. Worse still, he now understood that this world had no intention of letting him leave so easily.
Ahead lay winding, pitch-black corridors, with only the sound of dripping water echoing like a sinister rhythm. The air grew heavier, more threatening, and Riku felt a strange, unseen pressure urging him forward.
"No choice but to keep moving," he muttered in his mind.
But then something shifted. He halted mid-step, sensing a sudden drop in temperature. A foul stench crept into the air.
Something… was approaching.
From behind a looming shadow, he spotted a crouching figure in the corner of the corridor.
It was a girl, her body covered in sleek black fur. She sat tensely, looking exhausted. Her large, bright-blue eyes shimmered with fear like those of a child trapped in a hostile, alien world.
The girl looked up and noticed Riku. Her eyes widened for a brief second, then she rose to her feet with startling swiftness despite her obvious weakness.
"Who are you?!" Riku called out, trying to keep his voice steady.
The girl didn't answer. Instead, she hurled a small, glimmering orb into the air. It burst with a sharp crack, releasing a wave of poisonous green smoke that rolled across the narrow hallway.
A poison trap.
Riku, having kept an eye on her movements from the start, sprang to the side and held his breath.
"Nggh!" A sting flared in his throat, but he forced himself to endure it.
"Run!" the girl shouted hoarsely, her expression tense. "Quick! Don't stop! This whole place is… dangerous!"
Riku stared at her for a heartbeat, confused. But there was no time to think the poisonous mist was spreading fast. From behind them came a thunderous rumble, the sound of something massive closing in.
"What… who are you really?" Riku demanded, his voice hard.
But the girl was already pulling back her arm, readying another strike. This time, she slung a bow over her shoulder, drew an arrow, and loosed it straight at him.
Of course, Riku darted aside, the arrow whipping past with lethal speed.
"Don't ask, just move!" she barked, urgency in her tone. "We're the only ones left in here!"
Riku now knew she wasn't just another adventurer.
Her form was unlike any human covered in black fur, with a long, restless tail flicking behind her as if awaiting her command.
He didn't understand the full picture yet, but one thing was clear: if he wanted to survive, he had to follow her.
They ran together through the narrow corridors, each step deliberate and tense. Water dripped from the ceiling, echoing in the cramped space, a grim soundtrack to their escape.
Suddenly
From the wall beside them, a massive, clawed hand shot out. A giant spider monster tore its way through the stone, its red eyes glowing with ravenous hunger as it lunged toward them.
"Run!!" the girl screamed, shoving Riku aside as she leapt.
They both hit the ground hard, but she sprang up instantly, drew her bow again, and fired an arrow straight into one of the spider's eyes.
The monster swayed, but it didn't falter in fact, it leapt effortlessly to avoid the attack.
"He's… too strong!" Riku realized this creature was far more dangerous than he'd thought.
The spider lunged again with terrifying speed. But Riku's battle-honed instincts kicked in, his mind calculating the enemy's movements with precision.
He flipped open his black notebook, jotting down its speed and attack rhythm, but his usual Observe skill failed to provide clear guidance.
Then—something new appeared.
Skill Unlocked: Rewrite Protocol.
Riku's pulse quickened. He could merge this with his existing skills. Flipping through the mental interface of his system, he located the Energy Core Overload he'd claimed from the golem earlier.
His eyes sharpened. He predicted the spider's next move a pouncing strike.
With Rewrite Protocol active, Riku triggered Energy Core Overload.
Extending his palm, he unleashed energy into the air around them, warping space in a way the monster couldn't comprehend.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion tore through the corridor, shattering the tense silence. The spider, mid-leap, was caught in the blast and obliterated in an instant.
When the dust settled, Riku stood, panting, cold sweat running down his face. But his eyes gleamed with hard-won triumph.
"…You actually did it," the girl breathed weakly, her eyes still wide. "But… I can't believe it."
Riku frowned. "Then why… did you attack me earlier?"
She hesitated, glancing away. Her delicate face was a mix of guilt and wariness.
"I… had to survive," she murmured. "I'm… not fully human. I'm… half-monster. If they find out, they'll hunt me."
Riku nodded slowly. He understood now. She was different, yes but in this dungeon, both of them were trapped, fighting for their lives.
"What's your name?" he asked, his tone softening.
She hesitated, then answered quietly, "…Kaela. I'm Kaela."
And for the first time, Riku felt a flicker of reassurance. In this lethal world, maybe they could help each other.
Their journey was far from over. More dangers lay ahead. But one thing was certain
In this world of monsters and immutable fate, Riku would rewrite destiny itself… alongside Kaela.