As Jeremy stood before the imposing entrance of the Dark Horses Guild, he pulled his pullover hood down, shrouding his face in shadows before stepping inside. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation, and a low murmur of voices greeted him as he crossed the threshold.“Welcome, Jeremy! We were almost about to send the participants,” Jessica said, her voice bright yet tinged with urgency. Despite her warm welcome, Jeremy remained silent, maintaining his poker face, a mask of indifference that concealed the myriad of thoughts swirling within him. In a bid to keep his defenses intact and to center himself, he decided to check his system. The familiar holographic interface materialized before his eyes:---**[User rank: B-]**- **Strength (STR)** - 30 (+15)- **Agility (AGI)** - 45 (+35)- **Vitality (VIT)** - 28 (+20)- **Intelligence (INT)** - 10 (+9)- **Charisma (CHA)** - Nil- **Luck (LUK)** - 30 (+22)- **Stamina (STA)** - 25 (+16)- **Experience Points (EXP)** - 580,000/1,000,000
Days earlier, after reporting the contract situation to the guild master, he had requested Jeremy’s details, including his school and mission history. After careful analysis, the guild master had deemed it necessary for Jeremy to take on another dangerous mission, but this time with more scrutiny. The issue surrounding Blackthorn loomed over them, and they could only wait and watch for the right moment to act.Jessica cleared her throat, drawing everyone’s attention back to her. "We are going to raid a B-rank dungeon; however, it’s filled with C-ranked beasts according to reports. I’m going to send the seven of you, which includes you, Jeremy," she announced, her gaze steady.His eyes met Jessica’s, and a brief tension enveloped the atmosphere between them. She seemed to be assessing him, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was hiding something."Wait! Jeremy? The last mission nearly killed him and even got Stella killed. Now you want him in a B-rank dungeon?" Warhuz interjec
The descent into the b- ranked dungeon felt like stepping into the heart of darkness itself. The air grew colder and denser as the entrance closed behind them, the last vestiges of daylight swallowed by the overwhelming gloom. As they ventured further in, the dungeon revealed itself in a disorienting labyrinth of shadowed corridors and cavernous chambers. The walls, composed of a dark, crystalline rock, absorbed every bit of light, leaving them bathed in an unsettling, dim glow that seemed to flicker with the pulse of an unseen heart.Every footfall echoed off the jagged walls, the haunting sounds warping and shifting as if mocking their efforts to navigate this subterranean maze.The ground beneath was treacherous, uneven and covered in a slick, bioluminescent moss that glowed faintly, its light swallowed by the oppressive darkness. Every step was fraught with danger; geysers of toxic steam erupted unpredictably, and the occasional tremor from the unstable platforms sent a shiver o
Linda felt her heart race, the adrenaline coursing through her veins as she drew upon her magical energy, anxiety mingling with determination.Jeremy, caught up in the chaos, glanced at Linda, their eyes locking for a brief moment."Ready?" he mouthed, and she nodded, steeling herself for whatever horrors lay ahead.As the echo of the cry faded, a low growl reverberated from the depths of the dungeon, accompanied by the sound of claws scraping against stone.Suddenly, out of the shadows emerged a pack of C+ rank drakehounds, their eyes glowing with a predatory hunger.The Drakehound is a formidable beast resembling a blend of a large, predatory canine and a mythical dragon. It stands on four muscular legs, each ending in powerful, clawed paws capable of rending through flesh and bone. Its body is covered in dark, scaled fur that shimmers with an iridescent sheen. The Drakehound's long, sinuous tail is tipped with a barbed, spiked end, and its head features a pair of piercing, reptil
As the next group charged in, teeth bared and claws extended, Samantha met them head-on. She spun, using the momentum to slice through a drakehound on her right, then pivoted sharply to her left, where another beast lunged. With a quick sidestep, she dodged its attack, countering with a brutal swing that severed its leg at the joint. The drakehound yelped, collapsing to the ground, and she followed through with a swift kick, sending it crashing into its companions.Bodies began to pile up around her, the once-fearsome pack reduced to chaos. Blood dripped from her axe like a warrior's trophy, each drop a testament to her prowess in battle. The remaining drakehounds, now wary and hesitant, exchanged nervous glances, realizing they were up against a force of nature.Samantha could feel the thrill of battle coursing through her, a wild exhilaration that ignited her spirit. She was more than just an exorcist; she was a predator in her element, and the dungeon was her hunting ground.Sama
“One, two, three! That’s the spirit!” The figure dressed in a white overall burst into the scene, a pendant dangling from his neck and an unsettling ear-to-ear grin plastered across his pale face. “Who is this guy?” Jeremy thought, instinctively tightening his grip around the hilt of his sword, a cold shiver running down his spine.“Oh?! What are these hunters doing here?” The creature’s grin widened impossibly, and he began pulling at his wild hair as if in some manic frenzy.“We just bumped into a creep,” Warhuz muttered, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up as he eyed the eccentric figure warily.“Who?! Who?! Who?! Who?! Who?! Who?!!! Are you all?!!!” the being ululated, veins pulsing grotesquely through his pale neck, a bizarre mix of excitement and madness lighting up his features.“We are the inevitable…” Jotaro responded calmly, his voice steady despite the absurdity surrounding them. “Prepare yourself; they are coming.”“They are?” Linda mused, a flicker of fear cros
“Weak, you say?” Jeremy mumbled, using his arms to push himself up from the mossy ground, resembling a grueling set of push-ups. Each movement sent fresh waves of pain through his battered body, but he was determined to stand tall against the odds.Just as he gained a semblance of strength, another massive stomp followed, crashing down and sending him back into the ground with a bone-jarring impact. A huge crater formed beneath him, the force of the blow reverberating through the dungeon. His vision went white momentarily as the pain shot through him, and he felt the crushing force of the impact against his facial bones. For a fleeting moment, he feared he might not recover. But slowly, he felt the familiar warmth of healing magic beginning to mend his injuries, a comforting reminder of his resilience.“Weak…” the feminine voice repeated, her disdain echoing through the chamber like a taunt.“Jeremy!” Linda shouted, her voice slicing through the haze of his thoughts. She swung her
Jotaro, ever the stalwart warrior, sprang into action, dashing toward the manic being that had first appeared. He was the most likely to be the strongest out of the four of them, and he intended to put that strength to the test.As Jotaro closed the distance, the creature cackled with glee. “Oh, a bold one! A brave little mouse coming to play with the cat! Let’s dance, shall we?”Without hesitation, the being unleashed a powerful beam from its mouth, a searing blast of energy that shot toward Jotaro. In a fluid motion, Jotaro dodged to the side, countering with a condensed blast of energy that resembled a disc, aimed directly at the creature’s head.The impact sent the creature reeling back, but it quickly regained its composure, laughing maniacally. “Oh, that tickled! Is that the best you can do? I expected more from a hunter! Or perhaps you just want to hold my hand! Ha!”Jotaro remained stoic, his focus unwavering as he rushed in closer. “Enough of your games.”The two locked in