Night had already begun to fall over Drakenridge when Eren Thorne stepped out of the Adventurer Guild and onto the quiet stone streets of the city. The evening air was cool, carrying the distant sounds of taverns and merchants closing their shops for the night. Behind him the guild was still buzzing with excitement after the ogre tusk incident. Adventurers were arguing, speculating, and laughing about the unbelievable claim that the weakest adventurer in the guild had somehow killed an ogre alone.
Eren didn't bother listening to any of it.
His mind was already focused on the next challenge.
The dungeon near the eastern cliffs.
As he walked toward the city gate, Cassian Voss followed behind him with his usual calm stride. The swordsman watched Eren quietly for a moment before finally speaking.
"You're really going to the dungeon tonight?" Cassian asked.
Eren didn't slow down. "Why wait until morning?"
Cassian raised an eyebrow. "Because most people like to sleep before walking into a place full of monsters."
Eren chuckled softly. "Sleep is overrated."
Cassian studied him carefully.
"You're strange," he said after a moment.
Eren shrugged. "That's what dying a hundred times does to you."
Cassian stopped walking.
"…I'm going to pretend that was a joke."
Eren grinned and continued toward the gate.
A few minutes later they reached the eastern road leading out of Drakenridge. The moon had risen above the mountains, casting pale silver light across the rocky landscape. The road gradually climbed higher as it approached the cliffs where the dungeon entrance waited.
The dungeon itself was nothing more than a dark cave carved into the side of a massive rock formation. From a distance it looked ordinary, but every adventurer in Drakenridge knew the truth.
Inside that cave was a labyrinth of tunnels filled with traps and monsters.
A place designed to test adventurers.
When Eren and Cassian reached the entrance, two guild guards stood nearby watching the path. One of them recognized Eren immediately.
"You're the guy with the ogre tusk," the guard said.
Eren nodded.
"Guild master said you're attempting the dungeon test."
"That's right."
The guard glanced at the dark cave entrance and shook his head.
"Most people bring a party."
Eren smiled slightly.
"I'll manage."
Cassian leaned against a nearby rock and crossed his arms.
"I'll wait here," he said.
Eren looked at him.
"You're not coming in?"
Cassian shook his head.
"This is your test, not mine."
Eren nodded.
"Fair enough."
He turned toward the dungeon entrance.
The cave swallowed the moonlight almost immediately, leaving only darkness beyond the first few meters. Cold air drifted out of the cave like the breath of some sleeping beast.
Eren stepped inside.
The moment he crossed the threshold, the outside world disappeared behind him.
The dungeon smelled damp and ancient. Water dripped slowly from the ceiling, echoing through the tunnels in a steady rhythm. The walls were rough stone covered with moss and strange glowing fungus that provided faint patches of green light.
Eren walked slowly forward.
"This place feels welcoming," he muttered.
He hadn't gone more than twenty steps when he heard movement ahead.
A low growl echoed through the tunnel.
Two glowing eyes appeared in the darkness.
Then another pair.
And another.
Eren sighed.
"Of course."
Three creatures stepped out from the shadows.
They looked like wolves, but their bodies were larger and covered in dark scales instead of fur. Their teeth were long and curved, dripping with saliva.
Dungeon beasts.
The first wolf lunged toward him.
Eren swung his sword quickly, but the creature was faster than he expected. Its claws slashed across his arm, drawing blood instantly.
"Damn it," he hissed.
The other two wolves circled around him.
Eren tried to reposition himself, but the narrow tunnel made movement difficult.
One wolf jumped onto his back.
Its teeth sank into his shoulder.
Pain exploded through his body.
Eren stumbled forward, trying to throw the creature off, but another wolf lunged and bit into his leg.
He collapsed.
The wolves tore into him mercilessly.
The last thing he saw was their glowing eyes staring down at him before everything went black.
Eren opened his eyes.
He was standing at the dungeon entrance again.
The moonlight shone down on the rocky cliffs, and Cassian was leaning against the same stone nearby.
Cassian glanced at him.
"Back already?" he asked.
Eren rubbed the back of his neck.
"Yeah."
Cassian frowned slightly.
"You didn't even go inside."
Eren forced a casual smile.
"Changed my mind."
Cassian shrugged.
"Well if you plan to go in, do it soon."
Eren nodded and turned toward the dungeon again.
Inside his mind, he was already analyzing the fight.
"Three wolves," he whispered.
"They attack from both sides."
He stepped into the cave again.
The same damp air greeted him.
The same tunnel stretched ahead.
The same growl echoed from the darkness.
This time when the wolves appeared, Eren moved differently.
He stepped backward immediately, forcing the wolves into a narrow line instead of letting them surround him.
The first wolf lunged.
Eren swung downward, slicing its shoulder.
The creature shrieked but didn't fall.
The second wolf leaped over its companion and slammed into Eren's chest.
They crashed to the ground.
Eren tried to stab it, but the third wolf bit into his arm before he could react.
Moments later he was dead again.
The next attempt lasted longer.
He killed one wolf.
Then two.
But the third still killed him.
The next attempt lasted even longer.
He killed all three wolves.
But deeper inside the dungeon, a hidden spike trap pierced through his chest.
Then another attempt.
And another.
And another.
Each death taught him something new.
Where the traps were hidden.
Where the monsters waited.
How the tunnels connected.
The dungeon slowly revealed its secrets with every failure.
Hours passed.
From the outside world's perspective, only a few minutes had gone by.
But inside the repeating loop of death and return, Eren had already fought through the dungeon dozens of times.
By the fiftieth attempt, he moved through the tunnels with calm precision.
He dodged traps before they triggered.
He killed monsters before they could attack.
His sword moved faster with every battle.
Finally he reached the deepest chamber of the dungeon.
A large circular room carved from stone.
At the center stood a creature twice the size of the wolves.
A massive Alpha Beast.
The monster roared when it saw him.
Eren cracked his neck.
"Well," he said calmly.
"Here we go again."
The beast charged.
Its claws slashed toward his chest.
Eren dodged sideways and slashed across its flank.
The creature roared in pain.
The battle lasted several minutes.
The beast was strong and fast, but Eren had something it didn't.
Experience.
After dozens of attempts, he knew every movement it would make.
Finally he saw the opening he had been waiting for.
As the beast lunged forward, Eren stepped aside and drove his sword straight through its throat.
The monster collapsed with a final growl.
Silence filled the dungeon chamber.
Eren stood there breathing heavily as the beast's body slowly stopped moving.
Then glowing symbols appeared in the air again.
Dungeon Cleared
Reward: Strength +2
Reward: Agility +1
Reward: Endurance +1
Eren smiled.
"Nice."
He turned and walked back toward the dungeon exit.
When he stepped out into the moonlight again, Cassian looked up from his resting spot.
"You were gone longer this time," the swordsman said.
Eren stretched his shoulders.
"Yeah."
Cassian studied him for a moment.
"Well?"
Eren smiled.
"The dungeon is cleared."
Cassian blinked.
"…already?"
Eren nodded.
Cassian slowly began to laugh.
"I knew you were strange," he said.
Eren looked back toward the dark cave entrance.
Strange didn't even begin to describe it.
Because the truth was simple.
As long as he kept dying…
He would keep winning.
And sooner or later—
The entire world would realize that the weakest adventurer in Drakenridge had become something far more dangerous.