Chapter 16 ; Serpent of Steel
896 Words
The deeper Ethan went into the dungeon...
The heavier the atmosphere became.
The walls were no longer covered with simple stone.
Ancient markings covered every surface, glowing faintly with a strange energy.
The air itself felt different.
It was as if the dungeon was warning him.
Danger.
Ethan continued forward anyway.
His small dagger remained tightly held in his hand.
The dungeon had already tested him.
The goblins.
The Iron Wolves.
Each battle had pushed him closer to his limits.
But each battle had also changed him.
He was stronger than when he entered.
Faster.
More confident.
However...
The system had not allowed him to become arrogant.
Every victory came with a reminder.
There was always something stronger ahead.
---
After walking for several minutes, Ethan reached the deepest part of the dungeon.
A massive underground chamber opened before him.
The ceiling disappeared into darkness.
A giant empty space.
In the center was a huge pile of bones.
Monster bones.
Hunter equipment.
Remains of those who had entered before.
Ethan's expression became serious.
"This place..."
His instincts screamed at him.
Something was here.
Something powerful.
Then...
The ground shook.
BOOM.
A deep sound echoed through the chamber.
The pile of bones moved.
At first, Ethan thought it was an earthquake.
Then he saw it.
A massive body slowly rising from beneath the darkness.
A serpent.
But not an ordinary serpent.
Its body was enormous.
Its scales were metallic.
Each one looked like it had been forged from steel.
The creature's eyes opened.
Cold.
Ancient.
Filled with killing intent.
Ethan froze.
The pressure alone made his body tense.
The system immediately reacted.
---
[Boss Monster Detected.]
[Scanning...]
[Scan Complete.]
Name: Steel Scale Serpent
Rank: D+
Threat Level: EXTREME
Warning: RED
Recommendation: Avoid direct combat.
---
Ethan stared at the message.
A red warning.
The system had never shown him one before.
Even the Iron Wolves had not received this level of danger.
The serpent raised its head.
Its body stretched across the entire chamber.
It was massive.
A single movement from it could crush him.
Ethan gripped his dagger.
"Of course..."
He gave a small bitter laugh.
"My first dungeon couldn't just end normally."
The serpent attacked.
---
The monster moved faster than something of its size should have been capable of.
Its enormous body shot forward.
Ethan jumped away.
The ground where he stood shattered.
Stone fragments flew everywhere.
Ethan landed and immediately rolled.
The serpent attacked again.
And again.
It wasn't fighting randomly.
It was hunting.
Every attack forced Ethan closer to his limit.
His dagger barely scratched the steel-like scales.
His attacks were useless.
"This defense..."
Ethan looked at the monster.
"How am I supposed to damage it?"
The serpent opened its mouth.
A wave of pressure came toward him.
Ethan moved just in time.
The attack missed.
But the force pushed him backward.
His body crashed into the wall.
Pain spread through him.
The system appeared.
[Warning.]
[Host condition decreasing.]
Ethan slowly stood.
His body wanted to stop.
But his mind refused.
He had survived the shrine.
He had survived enemies far beyond his understanding.
He could not lose here.
---
Ethan stopped trying to overpower the monster.
Instead...
He watched.
The serpent's movements.
Its attacks.
Its habits.
The scales were almost impossible to break.
But there were moments when it moved.
Moments when certain areas became exposed.
A weakness.
A tiny opening.
That was all Ethan needed.
The serpent charged again.
Ethan waited.
Closer.
Closer.
Now.
He moved.
Using every bit of speed he had, Ethan rushed forward.
The dagger struck.
A small opening between the scales.
The serpent roared.
The entire chamber shook.
Ethan did not stop.
He continued attacking.
Every strike.
Every movement.
Everything he had learned.
Finally...
The monster collapsed.
The giant body fell to the ground.
The dungeon became silent.
---
[Boss Monster Defeated.]
[Steel Scale Serpent eliminated.]
[Experience gained.]
[Level increased.]
[Level: 7]
Ethan stood there, exhausted.
He looked at the fallen boss.
He had done it.
Against all odds...
He defeated it.
Then another notification appeared.
[Special Reward Detected.]
[Boss Essence Available.]
The serpent's body began disappearing into particles of light.
From the remains...
Something appeared.
A weapon.
A dagger.
But unlike his old one...
This dagger looked completely different.
Its blade was dark and sharp.
Strange symbols covered its surface.
---
[Reward Obtained.]
Item: Serpent Fang Dagger
Rank: D
Description: A weapon created from the fang of the Steel Scale Serpent.]
---
Ethan picked it up.
The moment his hand touched it...
The system changed.
A new screen appeared.
[System Panel Unlocked.]
Ethan stared.
Finally.
A complete view of his abilities.
---
Hunter: Ethan Ardent
Level: 7
Rank: E
Ability: Energy Reinforcement
Strength: 18
Agility: 16
Stamina: 20
Intelligence: 14
Durability: 19
System Points: 450
---
Ethan looked at the numbers.
Before awakening the system...
He had never been able to measure his growth.
Now he could see every improvement.
Every step.
Every change.
A smile appeared.
"Finally..."
"I can see how far I've come."
But the system wasn't finished.
A final message appeared.
[Evolution has begun.]
[Future growth limit increased.
Ethan looked deeper into the dungeon.
The boss had been defeated.
The first dungeon was nearly complete.
But he knew one thing.
This was only the beginning.
The weakest hunter had taken his first step.
And now...
The world would eventually witness his evolution.
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