The dungeon trembled.
Not lightly… not briefly… but continuously, as if something deep within its core had awakened.
Arjun stood frozen for a moment, his chest rising and falling as he tried to steady his breathing. His eyes were locked onto the massive creature before him—the Black Fang Beast.
But it was changing.
Right in front of him.
Its body convulsed violently. Muscles expanded, pushing against its hardened skin until cracks began to form across its surface. A dark, smoke-like aura leaked out, wrapping around it like a living storm.
[Warning: Mutation in progress…]
"…This isn't normal," Arjun whispered under his breath.
The beast let out a roar—louder, deeper, filled with raw, uncontrollable rage.
The sound alone made the ground shake.
Dust rained down from the ceiling.
Arjun instinctively stepped back.
His instincts screamed at him to run.
To escape.
To survive.
But his feet didn't move.
"…No."
His fingers tightened around the dagger.
"I'm not running anymore."
The mutation completed.
The creature's form grew larger—its limbs thicker, its claws longer and sharper. Its once dark armor-like skin now looked jagged and uneven, glowing faintly with a sinister energy.
Even its eyes had changed.
They burned brighter.
More alive.
More dangerous.
[Black Fang Beast → Mutated Black Fang Beast][Threat Level: Very High]
Arjun swallowed.
"Very High…?"
Before he could process it—
The beast vanished.
Gone.
"Where—"
A sudden force slammed into his side.
Everything blurred.
His body lifted off the ground and crashed violently against the dungeon wall. The impact knocked the air out of his lungs.
"Ghh—!"
Pain exploded through his ribs.
For a second, he couldn't breathe.
Couldn't think.
[HP Reduced: 21/100]
"…too fast…"
His vision shook as he tried to focus.
The beast stood a few meters away now.
Watching him.
Waiting.
Like it already knew the outcome.
Arjun forced himself up.
His legs trembled.
His body screamed in pain.
But his mind—
Was clear.
"If I take one more direct hit… I'm done."
The beast moved again.
This time, Arjun saw it.
Barely.
A blur of motion.
Claws descending toward him.
He rolled to the side just in time.
The ground shattered where he had been.
Stone fragments flew into the air.
"Think… think…"
Fighting head-on wasn't working.
Running wouldn't work either.
So what was left?
His eyes shifted.
To the ground.
To the walls.
To the darkness.
Shadows.
They were everywhere.
"…that's my advantage."
A slow breath escaped his lips.
He steadied himself.
Then raised his head.
"Come."
The beast roared and charged again.
This time—
Arjun didn't panic.
He waited.
One second.
Two seconds.
At the last possible moment—
He stepped forward.
And disappeared.
[Shadow Step Activated]
The beast crashed through empty space.
Confusion flickered in its glowing eyes.
Arjun reappeared behind it.
Silent.
Hidden within its shadow.
"You rely on strength…"
His voice was low.
Cold.
"But I don't need to fight you head-on."
He struck.
A fast, precise slash across its back.
Dark blood spilled.
The beast roared and turned—
But Arjun was already gone.
Another step.
Another shadow.
Another attack.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Each strike was small.
But deliberate.
Calculated.
The beast lashed out wildly, its claws tearing through stone, its tail smashing the ground.
But it couldn't hit him.
Couldn't catch him.
Arjun moved like a ghost between shadows.
Untouchable.
Unseen.
[Agility Increased][Skill Proficiency Increased]
His movements became smoother.
Faster.
Almost instinctive.
"I can do this…"
His confidence grew with every second.
Every successful strike.
Every near miss.
"This is my fight."
But then—
The beast stopped.
Completely.
Its body went still.
Arjun paused.
"…what is it doing?"
For a brief moment—
Silence.
Then—
The beast slammed both claws into the ground.
A massive shockwave exploded outward.
Darkness scattered.
Shadows broke apart.
Arjun was thrown out of his hiding place.
"Ghh—!"
He hit the ground hard, sliding across the stone.
Pain surged again.
The beast turned instantly.
It had adapted.
Arjun slowly pushed himself up.
His breathing was heavy.
His body was reaching its limit.
But his eyes—
Still burned with determination.
"…then I'll finish it now."
Dark energy gathered around him.
Thicker.
Heavier.
More intense than before.
His shadow soldier emerged beside him.
Silent.
Ready.
Waiting for his command.
"Together."
The beast charged.
Arjun moved.
Straight toward it.
No hesitation.
No fear.
Everything slowed.
The sound faded.
The world narrowed to a single moment.
"One chance…"
The shadow soldier lunged from the side.
The beast reacted—
Just for a split second.
That was enough.
Arjun stepped into its shadow—
Reappeared above it—
And with everything he had—
Drove the dagger down into its neck.
🔥 END HOOK
The blade pierced deep.
Dark blood erupted.
The beast let out a roar that shook the entire dungeon—
But it didn't fall.
Its body trembled.
Its eyes flared brighter than ever.
[Critical State Activated]
Arjun's breath caught.
"…You're still alive?"
The monster's power surged again.
Stronger.
Wilder.
More dangerous than before.
And this time—
It was desperate to kill him.