The moment Ethan stepped through the gate, the atmosphere shifted. The air thickened, the canopy above dimmed until the clearing ahead felt almost like dusk. The moss beneath his boots was slick, and every breath he took felt heavier than the last.
[You have entered the Boss Room]
His steps slowed.
A low growl echoed from the treeline, vibrating through the clearing like a warning. Then, from the shadows, it emerged.
[Direfang Alpha - E Rank Boss]
HP: 10,000 / 10,000
The beast was massive—twice the size of the other wolves. Its coat shimmered with dark grey fur, thick as armor, and glowing red eyes locked onto him with predatory precision. Jagged scars ran along its side, a sign of countless battles.
Ethan's jaw tensed.
He activated his system page for a quick check.
[SYSTEM PAGE - ETHAN VALE]
Class: Mage
Talent: Mana Overflow
Class Rank: D
HP: 250 / 250
STA: 150 / 150
Stamina Regen: 150 Stamina / Hour
Mana: 1700 / 1700
Mana Regen: 1700 Mana / Hour
STR: 15
VIT: 25 (+10)
AGI: 28
STA: 15
Mana: 170
Spell Power: 155
Spells: 2 / 6
Spell Memory:
D-Rank - Surge step (Mastery 1.02%)
E-Rank - Fireball (Mastery 1.89%)
He clenched his fists. "Let's do this."
The Direfang Alpha didn't wait.
It charged, covering ten meters in a second.
Ethan activated Surge Step. His body blurred, and he sidestepped the beast at the last moment. Its claws tore a chunk of bark from a tree where he'd been standing.
"Fireball!"
-510
The orb slammed into the Alpha's side. It stumbled slightly, but it was barely a scratch.
"One hit... this is going to take a while. Damn."
The Alpha wheeled around and pounced again. Ethan jumped back, landing in a roll. He barely got back to his feet before another swipe came.
This time, he wasn't fast enough.
The claw raked across his chestplate.
-26 HP
He gasped, pain blooming across his ribs. He retaliated with another Fireball.
-510
The Alpha growled and began to circle him.
He was about to cast again when suddenly—
…
Training Hall — Morning Light Filtering Through Windows
Lena exhaled as her blade came to a stop. Sweat clung to her forehead. Her final slash cut clean through the dummy, splinters of wood falling to the floor.
She looked around.
Empty.
No sarcastic voice calling out from the wall. No slow clapping. No Ethan.
She walked to the bench and sat down, towel draped over her shoulders.
He hasn't shown up today either, will he only do dungeons from now on... Did he say he was doing something?
Lena frowned. It wasn't like she knew much about him, really. They trained a few times, sparred once, and exchanged stories between sword swings. But he never said anything specific.
He's probably out there again... fighting monsters like some hotshot. Tch. Figures.
She leaned forward, resting her arms on her knees.
Still... the hall feels kinda empty without him. He always made noise. Said dumb things. Wasn't boring.
She blinked, startled by her own thoughts.
"Ugh. Get a grip. It's just a training partner. Not like I care."
But she stayed seated longer than usual. Not training. Just thinking.
…
Back in Moonfang Thicket — Boss Room
The claw came fast.
Ethan's eyes widened.
He activated Surge Step.
The world snapped into hyper-focus. He zipped sideways, barely dodging the Alpha's snapping jaws.
His boots skidded. He spun midair, hand glowing.
"Fireball!"
-510
"Fireball!"
-510
The twin blasts rocked the clearing.
HP: 7,960 / 10,000
Ethan panted.
Okay, this is gonna take a while.
The Alpha howled.
A pulse of force burst from it, shaking the ground. Then it dashed in again—faster.
Too fast.
The impact launched Ethan backwards. He slammed into a tree.
-47 HP
Pain burst down his spine.
MOVE.
He rolled. Claws slashed the air beside him. He jumped to his feet and cast again.
"FIREBALL!"
-510
One of the Alpha's eyes scorched shut. It roared, pacing in a circle.
HP: 7,450 / 10,000
Still so much left. I can't afford mistakes.
He dug deep. His mana refilled faster than he could spend it. But his stamina? That was draining fast.
The Alpha lunged again. Ethan countered with a Surge Step — darting left, firing mid-motion.
-510
-510
-510
He kited it around the clearing, burning mana like a man possessed.
HP: 5,920 / 10,000
His thoughts blurred into instinct. Movement, cast, dodge. Over and over. Each second stretched.
The beast grew more aggressive. It tore up the ground trying to catch him.
-510
HP: 5,410 / 10,000
His heart thundered. His vision tunneled. But still, he cast.
The Alpha caught him mid-step.
Claws scraped across his leg.
-30 HP
He fell, rolled, casted a fireball at its open jaw.
-510
The flame exploded. The beast reeled.
HP: 4.900 / 10,000
Ethan staggered upright.
I can do this. I will do this.
Surge Step.
Movement became a blur. He zipped around the Alpha's flank.
-510
-510
HP: 3,880 / 10,000
The beast lunged again—another direct hit.
-31 HP
His breath caught. He could barely stand.
He forced himself up.
-510
HP: 3,370 / 10,000
The fight blurred into fury.
Claws and fire.
Pain and movement.
-510
HP: 2,860 / 10,000
-510
HP: 2,350 / 10,000
-510
HP: 1,840 / 10,000
He screamed.
-510
HP: 1,330 / 10,000
The Alpha slowed. Wounded. Limbs dragging.
Ethan didn't let up.
-510
HP: 820 / 10,000
-510
HP: 310 / 10,000
The beast charged one last time.
He stood still.
Cast ready.
"Fireball."
It leapt.
Time stopped.
-510
The Alpha burst into blue particles midair. Ethan was thrown back by the shockwave, hitting the ground hard.
He lay there, chest heaving.
[Direfang Alpha Defeated]
[Dungeon Cleared: Moonfang Thicket - E Rank]
HP: 116 / 250
STA: 36 / 150
Mana: 1436 / 1700
He laughed, breathless.
"That was too close."
A shimmering boss crystal dropped to the ground, along an equipment drop.
He picked it up with shaking hands.
My first E-rank dungeon.
He walked to the wall to sit up against it, limping.
His chest heaved as the exhaustion hit him all at once. He had won, but barely. As he slid down the stone and sat, something sour twisted in his gut.
I'm not experienced enough.
He clenched a fist. I shouldn't have skipped the other F-rank dungeons. I could've learned how to deal with more types of monsters. How to react in the moment.
His gaze drifted toward the shattered crystal remains of the Direfang Alpha. Just because I have one hard-hitting spell, I shouldn't think I'm the shit. That almost got me killed.
Ethan let out a shaky sigh.
I need more training. I need to go back and clear the other F-rank dungeons. Get proper experience before throwing myself at stronger challenges.
He looked down at his scorched clothes, and his chestplate dented from a claw strike.
And I need new gear. Something better suited for real fights. Maybe a shield spell too... and another offensive spell. I need options—not just one move repeated over and over.
As he reached the wall, he thought briefly of Lena.
Hope she's not too mad I ditched training with her.
He smiled, looking through the negative, though it quickly faded.
"I don't need to rush clearing these dungeons, I have all the time in the world. I have a family, I can't die because I am rushing this."
// Author's Corner
Chapter is a little late, I am sorry about it, got caught up in work and exams next week. There will probably only be a single chapter a day until my exam is over here on Wednesday.
On another note though, why is Ethan rushing these dungeons? He's new to this stuff, he should get experience first, what a noob lol. Please flame him xdd
Also I appreciate the Power Stones guys <33