Kal's lungs burned as he sprinted through the tunnel, the Alpha's roar still echoing behind him. The potions slapped against his thighs with every stride, the glass vials clicking together dangerously in his pockets.
"Left! Take the left fork!" Regis shouted.
Kal veered left without thinking. Behind him, the Alpha's claws scraped against concrete, its massive body too large to take corners gracefully. The smaller rats had no such problem—they flowed around their leader like water, gaining ground.
"You're weighted down!" Regis said, keeping pace beside his head. "The potions—put them in your inventory!"
"My what?" Kal gasped between breaths.
"Your *inventory*! The dimensional storage space! Every system has one!" Regis's voice pitched higher. "Oh, for the love of—you've been carrying everything manually this entire time?"
Even through his panic, Kal felt a surge of indignation. "You didn't tell me I had an inventory!"
"I assumed you *knew*! It's basic system functionality! I went along with you buying equipment and stuffing it in your pockets like some kind of *peasant* because I thought you had a preference for physical access!"
"Why would I prefer—" A rat lunged from the side. Kal swung his spear wildly, connected, kept running. "How do I access it?!"
"Think 'inventory' while focusing on the items! It's *intuitive*!"
Kal wanted to strangle his narcissistic admin. Instead, he focused on the potions bouncing in his pockets and thought desperately: *Inventory!*
A translucent screen materialized in the corner of his vision.
```
═══════════════════════════════════
INVENTORY (DIMENSIONAL STORAGE)
CAPACITY: 20 SLOTS
EQUIPPED:
- Worn Leather Armor
- Leather Bracers
- Iron-Tipped Spear (Damaged)
STORAGE: [EMPTY]
═══════════════════════════════════
```
The potions were still in his pockets—apparently being "equipped" didn't count as "stored." Kal grabbed them while running, focusing on each vial and mentally pushing them into the inventory interface.
One by one, they vanished from his hands.
```
STORAGE:
- Basic Healing Potion x1
- Stamina Restoration Potion x1
- Emergency Escape Smoke x1
- Mana Restoration Potion x1
═══════════════════════════════════
```
Immediately, his running became easier. The weight was gone—not just reduced, but completely absent. The vials existed in some dimensional space that didn't affect his physical burden at all.
"Oh, this is *so much better*," Kal breathed.
"Yes, well, I'm so glad you've discovered technology that's been standard for *fifty years*," Regis said acidly. "Perhaps next you'll learn about the minimap function. Or the quest marker system. Or any of the other *basic features* I assumed you understood!"
"You're my system admin! You're supposed to explain things!"
"I'm not a tutorial program! I'm a sophisticated intelligence designed to guide you to greatness, not hold your hand through fundamental—DUCK!"
Kal dropped into a slide. The Alpha's claw swept through the space where his head had been, missing by inches. He scrambled back to his feet and kept running, his now lighter body responding faster.
The tunnel opened into a larger chamber—some kind of maintenance hub. Old machinery lined the walls, rusted and covered in moss. Multiple exits led in different directions, but only one had markings:
*TUNNEL 3 - SAFE ROOM - 100M*
One hundred meters. That was nothing. Kal had run farther in gym class.
Of course, gym class didn't include a bear-sized rat and its murder swarm.
"Straight ahead!" Regis commanded. "The Safe Room has a barrier the monsters can't cross. You just have to reach it!"
Kal sprinted for the marked tunnel. His stamina bar flashed red in his vision—22/80. He was running on fumes.
The smaller rats were faster than the Alpha, three of them pulling ahead of the pack. They'd catch him before he reached the Safe Room.
"Spear!" Regis shouted. "Turn and engage! You can't outrun them!"
Every instinct screamed to keep running. But Regis was right—they'd catch him anyway, probably when he was even more exhausted.
Kal spun, planting his feet, and thrust the spear at the lead rat. The creature tried to dodge but its momentum worked against it. The spear punched through its chest. It died squealing.
[DUNGEON RAT DEFEATED - 15 EXP]
The second rat learned from its packmate's mistake, sliding to a stop just out of range. The third circled right, trying to flank.
"Backstep to the wall!" Regis directed. "Don't let them surround you!"
Kal backed up until his shoulders hit concrete. The two rats advanced more cautiously now, having seen him kill their companion.
Behind them, the Alpha and the rest of the swarm were twenty meters away and closing.
"I don't have time for this," Kal muttered.
"Then be faster," Regis replied unhelpfully.
The left rat lunged. Kal sidestepped and brought the spear down in an overhead strike. The damaged shaft creaked but held. The rat's skull caved in.
[DUNGEON RAT DEFEATED - 15 EXP]
The third rat, seeing its companions die, hesitated. That moment of uncertainty was fatal. Kal thrust forward, catching it in the throat. It thrashed briefly, then went still.
[DUNGEON RAT DEFEATED - 15 EXP]
[LEVEL UP! E-RANK → E-RANK (Level 2)]
[HP Restored to 100/110]
[STAMINA Restored to 90/90]
The level-up energy flooded through him like liquid lightning. Exhaustion vanished. His aching muscles felt fresh. Even the bruises from earlier faded.
"That's more like it!" Regis crowed. "Now *run* before—"
The Alpha slammed into Kal like a freight train.
He flew backward, his spear clattering from his grip. He hit the ground hard enough to crack concrete, his newly restored HP dropping to 73/110 in an instant. The Alpha loomed over him, mouth opening to reveal teeth like daggers.
Kal rolled desperately. The Alpha's bite took a chunk out of the floor where his head had been. He scrambled for his spear, fingers closing around the shaft just as the Alpha lunged again.
No time to think. Kal raised the spear defensively.
The Alpha's weight drove down. The spear shaft snapped with a sound like breaking bone. But the broken end, now jagged and sharp, punched up through the Alpha's soft underbelly.
The monster shrieked—a sound that made Kal's ears ring. It thrashed, trying to pull away, driving the broken spear deeper.
"The healing potion!" Regis shouted. "Your ribs!"
Kal's torso was on fire. The Alpha's initial impact had cracked something. He mentally grabbed for the healing potion in his inventory.
It materialized in his hand.
He bit off the cork and downed it in one gulp. Bitter, medicinal, with an aftertaste like copper. But warmth spread through his chest, and the grinding pain in his ribs eased to a dull ache.
[HP: 73/110 → 98/110]
The Alpha was still thrashing, still impaled on the broken spear. The swarm of smaller rats had stopped at the edge of the chamber, uncertain without their leader's direction.
"Finish it!" Regis commanded. "While it's vulnerable!"
Kal had no weapon. The spear was lodged in the Alpha's gut, the shaft broken. But his enhanced strength—those bonus points from his system upgrade—that was still there.
He grabbed the protruding piece of the broken shaft with both hands and *twisted*.
The Alpha's shriek became a gurgle. Blood—black and thick—poured from the wound. The creature's legs buckled.
Kal twisted harder, putting his full body weight into it. The spear shaft rotated inside the Alpha's body, tearing through organs.
The creature collapsed.
[DUNGEON RAT ALPHA DEFEATED - 180 EXP]
[LEVEL UP! E-RANK (Level 2) → E-RANK (Level 3)]
[LEVEL UP! E-RANK (Level 3) → E-RANK (Level 4)]
[HP Restored to 130/130]
[STAMINA Restored to 100/100]
Two level-ups at once. Power flooded through Kal's body, more intense than before. His muscles felt denser. His reflexes sharper. Even his vision cleared, the green dungeon glow becoming less oppressive.
The swarm of smaller rats, seeing their Alpha dead, scattered. They fled into the darkness, their collective squealing fading into silence.
Kal stood over the Alpha's corpse, breathing hard despite his restored stamina. His broken spear was still lodged in the creature's body, useless now.
"Well," Regis said, floating down to survey the carnage. "That was significantly more violent than I anticipated. Impressive, really. The way you just *twisted* until—"
"I'm weaponless," Kal interrupted, pulling the broken spear shaft free. The bottom half was still sharp, but only about two feet long. Better than nothing, but barely.
"Minor setback. The Safe Room is just ahead. Once we're there, we can reassess." Regis's crown glinted as he turned toward the marked tunnel. "Besides, you killed the mini-boss. The path should be mostly clear now."
Kal checked his status.
```
═══════════════════════════════════
KHALIL MORRISON
RANK: E (LEVEL 4)
EXP: 48/400
HP: 130/130
STAMINA: 100/100
STRENGTH: 17 (+5)
AGILITY: 14 (+4)
ENDURANCE: 19 (+8)
MONSTERS ELIMINATED: 8/?
TIME REMAINING: 07:52:14
═══════════════════════════════════
```
Eight monsters down. Unknown number remaining. He'd survived the Alpha, but at the cost of his primary weapon.
And he still hadn't reached the Safe Room.
"Come on," Kal said, gripping his broken spear shaft. "Let's finish this before something worse shows up."
"Worse than a bear-sized rat? What could possibly—"
"Don't," Kal cut him off. "Don't finish that sentence. That's how you jinx things."
"I'm not superstitious."
"I am. Now be quiet."
Regis huffed but fell silent as they entered the tunnel marked for Tunnel 3. The passage was narrower here, forcing Kal to turn sideways in places. Water dripped from the ceiling, cold droplets that made him flinch.
The tunnel curved gradually downward. Kal counted his steps—fifty meters, seventy-five, ninety—
Light appeared ahead. Not the sickly green dungeon glow, but clean white light. Artificial. Safe.
Kal stumbled toward it, his exhaustion catching up despite the level-ups. The tunnel opened into a small chamber, maybe twenty feet across. And there, shimmering in the center, was a barrier of pure white light.
Beyond it: a Safe Room.
Clean floors. Actual furniture—a bench, a table. A medical kit mounted on the wall. And most importantly, the text floating above the barrier:
```
═══════════════════════════════════
SAFE ROOM - TUNNEL 3
Monsters cannot enter this space.
Rest. Recover. Prepare.
WARNING: Exiting the Safe Room will resume the dungeon challenge.
═══════════════════════════════════
```
Kal practically fell through the barrier. The moment he crossed it, warmth enveloped him. The oppressive cold of the dungeon faded. Even the smell improved—no more rot and decay, just clean air.
He collapsed on the bench, his broken spear clattering to the floor.
"We made it," he breathed.
"You made it," Regis corrected, settling on the table. "I simply provided commentary and occasional warnings. The killing was all you."
Kal closed his eyes, letting himself feel the victory. He'd survived. Killed a mini-boss. Reached the Safe Room.
The quest wasn't over—he'd have to leave eventually, face whatever else lurked in the dungeon. But for now, he was safe.
"You know," Regis said thoughtfully, "I've been thinking about your inventory situation."
"Please don't."
"No, listen. The fact that you didn't know about basic system functions is troubling. It suggests significant gaps in your fundamental knowledge." Regis floated in front of his face. "Which is, upon reflection, partially my fault. I should have verified your competency before assuming."
"Are you... apologizing?"
"I'm *acknowledging a tactical oversight*. Very different." But Regis's expression was unusually sincere. "Moving forward, I'll be more explicit in my explanations. You focus on not dying. I'll focus on making sure you know how not to die. Deal?"
"Deal."
Kal opened his eyes and looked around the Safe Room properly. The medical kit contained basic first aid supplies—bandages, antiseptic, nothing magical but potentially useful. The table had a map scratched into its surface, showing the dungeon layout.
He was in Tunnel 3, as expected. The Safe Room was roughly halfway through the dungeon. Ahead lay Tunnels 4, 5, and 6. Tunnel 5 was marked with a skull symbol—the warning from earlier.
"So we avoid Tunnel 5," Kal said, studying the map. "Take 4 or 6 to the exit."
"Tunnel 4 is shorter," Regis observed. "More direct route. Tunnel 6 curves around, longer but possibly safer."
"Define 'possibly.'"
"I can't. That's why it's 'possibly.'" Regis shrugged. "Though given your current weaponry situation, perhaps the longer, safer route is wiser."
Kal picked up his broken spear shaft. Two feet of wood with a jagged end. Better than his bare hands, but not by much.
He needed a weapon. A real one.
His eyes drifted back to the Alpha's direction, though the creature's corpse was beyond the Safe Room barrier. The collar of human bones it had worn—could any of those be useful? And its claws...
"You're thinking about loot," Regis said, reading his expression.
"The Alpha had to drop something, right? That's how dungeons work?"
"Typically, yes. Mini-bosses drop crafting materials, occasionally weapons or armor." Regis's eyes gleamed. "But you'd have to leave the Safe Room to collect it. And who knows what's been attracted to the corpse by now."
Kal weighed his options. Stay in the Safe Room with inadequate weapons, or risk scavenging from the Alpha's body.
The quest timer read 07:43:29.
Plenty of time. But time didn't matter if he couldn't fight effectively.
"I'm going back for the loot," Kal decided.
"Bold. Stupid, but bold." Regis grinned. "This is why I like you."
Kal stood, testing his restored body. Level 4 now. Stronger than when he'd entered. His HP was full, stamina maxed.
He could do this.
He had to do this.
Because an eight percent success rate didn't account for cowardice. It accounted for someone willing to push forward despite impossible odds.
And Khalil Morrison had already died once.
He wasn't afraid of doing what needed to be done.
"Alright," he said, gripping his broken spear. "Let's go get that loot."