The dungeon air was heavy and stale, carrying the faint smell of stone dust and something metallic, like rust left too long in the rain. The deeper I went, the more the silence pressed down. No wind, no insects, no drip of water—just me, my breathing, and the echo of my boots against uneven stone.
I tightened my grip on my sword. The blade felt heavier than usual, not because of its weight, but because of the weight of expectation. My first fight in the Nexus Academy dungeon had been against the Gloomfang Ravager, a beast that nearly tore me apart with its shadow-cloaked fangs. I had survived—but barely. Now, the dungeon was promising me another opponent, and something told me this one wasn't going to be easier.
The corridor split ahead, two narrow paths veering off into darkness. I hesitated, scanning the left passage. The air there felt heavier, a faint trace of something foul drifting outward. My instincts prickled, and I followed them.
The walls closed in as I advanced, their rough surfaces scraping against my shoulders. The space felt suffocating. Then I heard it.
Breathing.
Not human. Too deep, too harsh—like a bellows grinding against stone. I slowed, lowered my stance, and edged forward.
At first, I mistook the thing ahead for part of the dungeon wall, a jagged mound of rock slumped against the corner. But then it moved, unfolding from its crouch, and two crimson eyes lit the dark like embers stoked into flame.
My gut twisted.
The creature rose fully, and the dungeon revealed its next trial. Its body was massive, plated in overlapping scales that looked more like jagged armor than flesh. Its maw yawned wide, packed with uneven serrated teeth, and when it exhaled, the air stank of copper and rot.
Dreadmaw. That was the monster's name.
It bellowed, a sound so loud it rattled the stones and sent fine dust cascading from the ceiling. My chest tightened, my heart kicking into a sprint.
Then it charged.
The ground shook beneath its bulk. I barely had time to throw myself aside, activating **Dash** in a blur of speed. Its jaws snapped shut where I'd been a heartbeat earlier, the sound echoing like boulders smashing together.
I pivoted and swung, steel biting across its flank. The blow sparked off its scales, leaving only a shallow scratch. No real damage.
The Dreadmaw whirled faster than I thought something that size could move. Its tail scythed through the air like a battering ram. I ducked, the gust of displaced air strong enough to sting my eyes.
*I can't trade blows. Its armor's too thick. I need to find a weakness.*
The beast lunged again, its cavernous jaws stretching wide. I didn't retreat this time. Mana surged outward, the air shimmering around me like warped glass as I willed Dimensional Veil into existence.
The Dreadmaw's fangs snapped shut against the barrier, but instead of crushing me, the distortion bent reality itself. Its bite twisted away, every motion harmlessly redirected. Its massive skull rammed forward, momentum carrying it straight past me.
The wall exploded under the impact. Stone cracked and crumbled, dust choking the air.
I dropped the Veil with a grimace. Mana burned away faster than I liked.
Can't hold that long. Need to use it sparingly.
The Dreadmaw shook its head, disoriented but far from beaten. It turned back to me, eyes blazing.
I lifted my free hand, gathering mana. Sparks crackled between my fingers, then raced up my arm in a rising hum. Arc Discharge swelled in my palm, the pressure begging for release.
The beast lunged again. I thrust my hand forward. A surge of lightning burst out, a crackling wave that smashed into its open maw. Blue arcs danced across its armored body, slipping between the cracks of its scales. The smell of scorched flesh filled the corridor.
The Dreadmaw roared in pain, staggering back, smoke curling from its jaws. My chest heaved, my pulse racing.
Not finished. Not nearly enough.
It straightened, shaking off the attack, its movements sharper now, fueled by rage. The scales along its neck were blackened, thinner where the lightning had burned. A weakness. Small, but it was there.
It thundered toward me again, each step like a hammer to the ground. I sidestepped with Dash, pivoting low and driving my blade into the charred patch. This time, the steel bit deeper, carving through softened armor into flesh.
The Dreadmaw shrieked, blood spraying dark and hot across my arm. It whipped its head around, trying to tear me apart.
I barely had time to raise Dimensional Veil again. Its jaws crashed down, reality bending so the fangs scraped wide of me. The mana drain hit like a fist to the gut, but I held just long enough to stay alive.
This is burning through everything I've got. I need to finish it—now.
I shoved forward, twisting my blade deeper into the wound, then channeled lightning down the steel.
The effect was immediate. Arc Discharge exploded through the gash, coursing inside the creature. Lightning ripped across its body from within, every movement convulsing violently. Its roar became a distorted scream, echoing through the dungeon like thunder.
The stench of burning blood and charred meat filled my nose, turning my stomach. I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to hold steady as the current tore through it.
Finally, with a shuddering bellow, the Dreadmaw collapsed. Its bulk crashed into the stone floor with a force that shook the corridor. Dust blasted up around me, stinging my eyes, choking my throat.
Then silence.
I stood frozen, sword trembling in my grip, chest heaving. My mana reserves felt dangerously low, every muscle screaming from strain.
The corpse twitched once, then stilled. Smoke rose faintly from its maw.
Only then did I let out the breath I'd been holding.
"That… was close." My voice was low, more relief than bravado.
Ding
The familiar system chime rang in my ears, a glowing panel sliding into view.
\[Quest Updated]
\[Objective: Defeat Three Dungeon Beasts]
\[Progress: 2/3]
\[Reward: +3 points to all stats upon completion]
[Time remaining: 25 minutes]
I exhaled slowly, letting the glow fade. Two beast down. One more to go.
I wiped the blood and sweat from my face, glancing once at the Dreadmaw's still form. That thing could have killed me a dozen times if I'd faltered for even a second.
My legs felt heavy, but I forced myself forward into the dark corridor beyond. The fight had drained me, but quitting wasn't an option. I had survived the Dreadmaw. That was enough—for now.