Elena woke up to silence.
Not the peaceful kind.
The dungeon was never truly quiet—there was always the distant drip of water, the low hum of mana, the skittering of things best left unseen.
But this silence felt… intentional.
She shifted slightly, then froze as pain flared in her shoulder. Less than before—but still there.
"…He really left."
Her eyes moved instinctively toward the corridor entrance.
Empty.
The skeleton was gone.
She exhaled slowly.
Part of her had expected this.
A monster saving her once didn't mean loyalty. Monsters didn't think like humans. They didn't plan. They didn't form partnerships.
That's what she had believed.
Yet…
Her gaze drifted to the faint traces of blue light still clinging to her wound.
"…System healing."
No human mage had ever done that for her without demanding payment.
She clenched her fist.
"Don't die out there, you idiot skeleton."
The skeleton moved through the dungeon with purpose.
Every step was calculated.
His awareness had expanded since the partnership formed—no, not because of Elena, but because the System had quietly recalibrated his parameters.
[PARTNERSHIP EFFECT ACTIVE]
Mental Load Distribution +3%
Threat Assessment Efficiency +5%
Small numbers.
But real.
Ahead, the dungeon widened into a natural cavern. Jagged stone pillars rose from the floor, coated in moss and faintly glowing fungi.
He stopped.
Listened.
Low growls echoed between the rocks.
Three heartbeats.
No—four.
Dungeon wolves.
Rank E.
Stronger than the hound from earlier.
Individually manageable.
Together—dangerous.
The system responded.
[ENEMY ANALYSIS]
Dungeon Wolf – Rank E
Threat Level: Moderate
Pack Bonus Active
His bones tightened.
Not fear.
Anticipation.
He stepped forward deliberately, letting his presence leak just enough to draw attention.
A growl snapped through the cavern.
Yellow eyes flared.
One wolf lunged first.
He met it head-on.
Bone blade clashed against fangs.
The impact rattled through his arm, but the reinforcement held.
He twisted, severing muscle.
The wolf crashed to the ground, howling.
The others attacked immediately.
From the side.
From behind.
Too fast.
Too coordinated.
A claw raked across his ribs.
Bone cracked.
[DAMAGE DETECTED]
Structural Integrity -7%
He ignored it.
Pain was data.
He pivoted, letting instinct guide him.
One wolf leapt—
He dropped low.
Its momentum carried it past him.
He rose and drove the sword upward through its jaw.
[KILL CONFIRMED]
Dungeon Wolf – Rank E
XP +15
The system surged.
Strength increased.
Minimally—but enough.
The remaining wolves hesitated.
That was their mistake.
He charged.
This time, he didn't wait.
The fight ended in less than a minute.
Blood soaked into stone.
Flesh cooled.
[KILL CONFIRMED x2]
XP +30
LEVEL UP]
Skeleton – Rank F → Rank E (Low)
The blue glow around him intensified.
Bone fractures sealed.
Density increased.
[ATTRIBUTE GROWTH]
Strength +2
Agility +1
Bone Density +5%
[NEW SKILL UNLOCKED]
Bone Reinforcement (Passive – Level 1)
Effect: Damage reduction increases with sustained combat
He stood still as the system settled.
Good.
But not enough.
Elena needed full recovery.
He examined the corpses.
[MATERIAL EXTRACTION AVAILABLE]
Wolf Fang
Hardened Hide
Core Fragment (Low-Grade)
He took them all.
Then turned back.
Elena heard fighting.
Distant—but unmistakable.
Clashes. Growls. The sound of something heavy collapsing.
Her fingers dug into the stone.
"…He's fighting Rank E monsters."
She knew the sounds.
She'd hunted them before.
With a full party.
"…Alone."
Minutes passed.
Every second stretched.
Then—
Footsteps.
Slow. Controlled.
The skeleton emerged from the shadows.
Bloodied.
Cracked.
Standing.
Her breath caught.
"…You're insane."
Blue text appeared.
Productive.
He knelt beside her.
Opened the system interface.
[CRAFTING OPTION AVAILABLE]
Target: Partner
Materials:
Hardened Hide
Core Fragment
Effect:
Temporary Armor Reinforcement
Accelerated Healing
He confirmed.
Energy flowed.
The hide dissolved into mana threads, wrapping around Elena's torso and shoulder like an invisible brace.
She gasped as strength flooded back into her arm.
Warmth.
Stability.
[HEALING STATUS UPDATED]
Injury: Minor
Combat Capability: Restored (Limited)
She flexed her fingers.
"…I can move."
She stared at him.
"…You hunted Rank E monsters… for me?"
For efficiency.
She snorted.
"…Liar."
Her gaze softened.
"…You know, if anyone saw this, they'd call it impossible."
Impossible is a resource.
She laughed—genuinely this time.
"…You really don't think like a monster."
He stood.
Looked toward the dungeon's deeper layers.
We can't stay here.
Her smile faded.
"…Because of them?"
She felt it now too.
The pressure.
Something watching.
Yes.
A new message flickered.
[DUNGEON ATTENTION INCREASED]
Anomaly Level: Rising
Elena stood with effort.
"…Then what's the plan, partner?"
He turned to her.
Blue eyes burning brighter than before.
We keep hunting.
We grow faster.
She tightened her grip on her dagger.
"…And when people find out what you are?"
He didn't hesitate.
Then they'll learn to negotiate.
A chill ran down her spine.
Not fear.
A strange, dangerous excitement.
"…I think," she said quietly, "I might be standing next to something terrifying."
The skeleton stepped forward.
The dungeon shuddered.
And somewhere far above—
Fate adjusted its calculations.