Chapter 134: Chapter 134
Zen was currently seen in the middle of a forest, his hands tucked in his pockets. His heart couldn’t stop racing at the thought of what he was about to do and what it had in store for him. The quiet rustle of leaves and the faint chirping of birds did little to calm his nerves. The air felt heavy, almost charged with tension.
Holding out his hand in front of him, the air crackled and a key appeared in his grip. Taking in deep breaths, he turned his face to the side.
’The description again?’
{Taking the key to a secluded, forestry area, Host can use the key to open up a portal which would take him to a dungeon. Read full story at novèlfire.net
When in the dungeon, host is expected to clear it of any beast including the boss. When done, rewards will be granted by the system and host can safely leave the dungeon.}
"This system is crazy mehn. It’s honestly starting to resemble an anime I watched one time. I wonder when systems began giving out keys to dungeons." He muttered but quickly steeled himself.
’Knowing the system, the game, and the game lord, these trio would try their possible best to eliminate me. Since this key came from the system itself, I need to be extra cautious. Hence my earlier preparations.’ He thought as he held out his other hand and his sword immediately appeared in it, the blade gleaming faintly under the sunlight.
"Let’s be ready for anything." He muttered, holding the key forward, but nothing happened. "Huh? How does the dungeon even open up?"
Right on cue, sparks began to flicker in the air starting from his hand that held the key. The sparks traveled around the key before shooting into the space in front of him, forming a small floating keyhole. It hovered there, glowing faintly, waiting.
Zen sighed, steeling himself as he inserted the key into the hole and twisted it. The sparks intensified until gusts of wind blew up, causing his hair to ruffle wildly.
Slowly, the sparks died down, and then in the blink of an eye, a punch seemed to tear through reality, followed by a large ripple in the air as a swirling portal opened before him.
With a deep breath, Zen clutched his sword tighter and stepped forward. "Let’s see what this world has for me," he mumbled before walking fully in.
"Huh?" He muttered again as his eyes adjusted to the scene ahead. It was a forest—eerily identical to the one he had just left. The same towering trees, the same faint mist, the same stillness.
Turning around, he could still see the portal swirling in place. Curious, he walked toward it and tried to jump out, but the portal repelled him, bouncing him back hard enough to make him skid several inches backward.
"What is this?" He frowned deeply.
{Host can’t leave the dungeon unless all beasts along with the boss—if there is any are defeated. Only then can he leave.}
"Oh." Zen exhaled and turned back to face the eerie forest stretching before him.
’I wonder what kind of beasts I’ll encounter here,’ he thought as his eyes scanned the dark treeline.
With a shrug, he began walking. The forest was silent except for the crunch of his boots on the dry leaves. Minutes passed until he finally stumbled upon a large clearing. That was when the air shifted—and loud growls echoed through the silence.
Zen calmly stepped into the clearing, which was about twenty meters wide and long, surrounded by thick trees that formed a perfect circular wall. It almost looked like a massive natural arena.
And there, about ten meters away, he saw his foes. Dread washed over him instantly.
The creatures prowled the edge of the clearing, their movements low and predatory. They moved on all fours, their bodies lean yet built with wiry muscles that rippled beneath coarse, midnight-black fur. Their eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, like burning coals waiting to strike.
Jagged streaks of faint blue light pulsed along their hides, like veins of lightning trapped beneath their skin.
Their eyes glowed with a hungry, unnatural azure, and with every exhale, sparks danced across their jagged fangs. Their claws weren’t just sharp; they hummed faintly, leaving gouges in the stone as if charged with raw electricity.
The air shifted when they moved, static prickling across Zen’s skin, making every hair on his body stand on end. Their growls sounded like thunder rumbling in the distance, low and menacing, and when they lunged, it was with terrifying speed, their jaws snapping shut with the crack of a lightning strike.
’Wait a moment! Why does it seem like these beasts have Veils?! No, don’t tell me...’ Zen thought, his eyes widening in disbelief as he quickly pulled up his system interface, activating his Inspect skill.
{Inspect skill activated}
{Name: Stormfang Direwolves}
{Health: Full and Stable}
’Wait! C ranks? How on freaking earth can C rank beasts have Veils? What the fuck is going on, system?!’ Zen roared internally, his mind spinning at the realization of his impending doom.
His grip tightened around his sword, sweat beading on his forehead as the weight of the situation began to settle in.
{You expected that this would be easy? Tch! You want more rewards to grow stronger? Clear the fucking dungeon and stop whining like a pussy.}
"Damn you, motherf**ker!" Zen shouted out loud, his voice echoing across the clearing as the growls of over sixty beasts filled the air, each one vibrating with electric rage.
"Wait a second," he muttered, his voice shaky as his brain worked through the possibilities. "If these ones are C rank beasts and this dungeon acts like a normal one should, does that mean I would have to face a B rank boss?"
The words barely left his mouth when a roar so loud it made his eardrums ache ripped through the air. From deep within the forest, the ground began to tremble, each heavy footstep pounding closer and closer. Leaves and dirt scattered as the monstrous presence approached.
After a few seconds, Zen’s heart rate spiked, and the color drained from his face as his eyes met the horror that emerged from the shadows.
The boss towered over its kin, easily twice their size. Its fur bristled like storm clouds in motion, every strand crackling with wild lightning that danced violently across its body. Unlike the minions, its eyes burned white-hot, twin beacons of unrestrained storm energy. Its fangs were longer, sharper—like jagged spears of light forged from thunder itself.
A massive scar cut across its muzzle, glowing faintly as if the wound had been branded there by lightning. Two horn-like protrusions jutted from its head, sparking uncontrollably with unstable arcs of energy.
When it roared, it wasn’t just sound—it was a force. The forest itself seemed to shudder as thunder boomed throughout the dungeon, shaking the very ground beneath Zen’s feet.
With every step, the beast left behind scorched pawprints, and the earth hissed as small bolts of electricity crawled outward, burning tiny paths across the dirt.
"Yeah. I’m dead," Zen gulped loudly, his eyes glued to the glowing blue system screen that displayed the boss’s details.
{Inspect skill activated}
{Name: Alpha Stormfang Direwolf}
{Health: Full and Stable}