Ryusei walked through the quiet streets. With her red hood pulled over her head and grey sweatpants, she blended into the background like any other person out for an early jog.
She had left a note on the fridge for her sister—just in case.
Her backpack was securely strapped to her back, packed with essentials, and her C-Rank Katana was kept inside of her inventory.
She had already completed her daily quest, but she decided to hold off on picking a reward until she saw how things played out inside the dungeon.
Arriving at the station, she stood at the top of the staircase leading down towards the subway.
"This should be a good spot."
Taking a deep breath, Ryusei reached into her inventory and pulled out the E-Rank Dungeon Key—a small, green-glowing key that pulsed faintly in her hand.
The moment she activated it, the key disintegrated into light, and a blue swirling portal materialized before her.
"Once I go in, there's no turning back until I clear it..."
She steeled herself and walked down the stairs as the portal closed behind her.
"Looks like there's no turning back."
She found herself inside an abandoned underground tunnel. The air was stale, and the walls were cracked, covered in faded graffiti.
The dim flickering lights barely illuminated the tracks, casting eerie shadows along the tunnel's length.
Ryusei exhaled, summoning her C-Rank Katana into her grasp.
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[Name: Steel Crescent]
[Type: One-Handed Katana]
[Rank: C]
[Durability: 120/120]
[Attack Power: +35]
[Critical Rate: +10%]
[Weight: Light]
[Special Effects:]
[Sharp Edge: Increased cutting power against unarmored targets (+15% damage).]
[Steel Reinforcement: More resistant to wear and tear, reducing durability loss by 30%.]
[Flowing Strike: Attacks have a slight increase in speed (+5% attack speed).]
Description:
A well-forged katana made of high-quality steel. While not enchanted, its craftsmanship allows for fast, precise cuts and durability in prolonged battles. Suitable for beginners looking for a reliable weapon.
———————————————————
"This place gives me the creeps…" she muttered.
Then—
A low growl echoed from the darkness ahead.
"The fuck?" Two red eyes flickered in the distance.
A massive shape burst from the shadows, baring gleaming steel-like fangs—
———————————————————
[Appraisal]
———————————————————
———————————————————
[Steel-Fanged Lycan ]
[Level: 3]
[HP: 350/350]
[Skills: Bite (Steel-Fangs)]
———————————————————
It stood nearly two meters tall, covered in thick, dark red fur. Its claws glowed faintly, and its razor-sharp steel-coated fangs gleamed under the dim light.
"Shit—!"
Before she could process it, the lycan lunged.
She barely dodged in time, rolling to the side as razor-sharp claws slashed through the air where her head had been.
Dust kicked up as the Lycan skidded to a stop, muscles tensed to pounce again.
Ryusei's grip on her katana tightened pink and black energy coved the blade.
As the Lycan charged again, she ducked low, shifting her stance—
The moment it leapt, she slid under it—
And with one precise slash, she sliced through its exposed underbelly.
SHINK!
The Lycan landed hard—staggered—then collapsed.
———————————————————
[You have defeated Steel-Fanged Lycan. +100 EXP]
[Curse Energy Manipulation has leveled up to Lv.2]
———————————————————
Ryusei exhaled, wiping sweat from her forehead.
But before she could even catch her breath—
More growls echoed from the darkness.
She turned her head.
One, two, three, five more pairs of glowing red eyes emerged from the shadows.
Ryusei exhaled, wiping sweat from her forehead.
But before she could even catch her breath,
more growls echoed from the darkness.
She turned her head.
One, two, three, five more pairs of glowing red eyes emerged from the shadows.
———————————————————
[Quest: Culling the Pack]
[Objective: Defeat the 5 Steel-Fanged Lycans.]
[Rewards: +250 EXP, +1 Loot Box, +5 Stat Points, 5 Gacha Tickets]
[Failure Penalty: Possible Death.]
———————————————————
The first Lycan lunged from the left, claws slashing toward her torso.
She barely managed to sidestep, but the second one was already coming from behind.
Clang!
She spun and blocked with her katana, but the sheer strength of the impact sent her skidding backward.
The third Lycan aimed low, swiping at her legs—
"Tch—" She jumped, flipping mid-air before bringing her katana downward, slicing through the Lycan's eye.
The fourth and fifth Lycans attacked together, one aiming for her shoulder, the other for her side.
She blocked one, but the second landed a hit.
Ryusei gritted her teeth as pain shot through her ribs.
"Shit, they're fast."
Blood dripped down her side, but she forced herself to move, ducking and weaving between their attacks.
She needed to be smarter.
Focusing her Curse Energy Manipulation, she poured it into her katana.
The blade gleamed with dark energy.
Ryusei exhaled.
Then she moved.
With a burst of speed, she closed the distance to the injured Lycan, slicing through its throat in one swift motion.
———————————————————
[Steel-Fanged Lycan Defeated! +100 EXP]
———————————————————
The remaining four Lycans hesitated—but she didn't let them recover.
She sidestepped the next attack and drove her katana straight into another Lycan's neck.
———————————————————
[Steel-Fanged Lycan Defeated! +100 EXP]
———————————————————
"Three."
Another pounced—she dropped low, sweeping her leg under it, knocking it off balance before stabbing her katana into its heart.
———————————————————
[Steel-Fanged Lycan Defeated! +100 EXP]
———————————————————
The last two charged at once.
She barely blocked the first, but the second managed to claw her across the arm.
Blood splattered onto the cold ground.
But Ryusei ignored the pain.
She gripped her katana with both hands and slashed—
A clean, diagonal cut through both Lycans at once.
Their bodies collapsed.
———————————————————
[Steel-Fanged Lycan Defeated! +200 EXP]
———————————————————
———————————————————
[Quest Complete!]
[You have defeated 5x Steel-Fanged Lycans.]
[You have leveled up! (Lv.10)]
[+500 EXP]
[5x Gacha Tickets received.]
[E-Rank Equipment Loot Box received.]
———————————————————
Ryusei leaned against the tunnel wall, panting. Her left arm ached, blood staining her sleeve, but she was alive.
She took a moment to wrap her wound with the bandages she packed.
"I should heal this before I reach the boss..."
But as she moved deeper into the tunnel, another notification popped up.
———————————————————
[New Quest: Wolf Hunt]
[Objective: Defeat the Mini Boss – Red Alpha Steel-Fanged Lycan]
[Rewards:]
[+1,000 EXP]
[Half Silverine Race (Ragna Crimson)]
[D-Rank Skill]
———————————————————
Ryusei's eyes widened.
"A race from my starter packages...? This is huge."
It meant gaining a powerful ability—one that could change everything.
She gripped her katana and stepped forward.
Ryusei stood before the Red Alpha Steel-Fanged Lycan at the heart of the dungeon.
It was bigger, stronger, and its blood-red fur bristled with energy. Its eyes, glowing amber, locked onto her with a predator's intensity.
A system notification flickered in the corner of her vision.
———————————————————
[Mini Boss – Red Alpha Steel-Fanged Lycan]
[Level: 18]
[Threat Rank: D+]
[Abilities:]
[Steel Fang Rend: Increased bite force capable of crushing metal.]
[Pack Leader's Fury: Temporarily boosts speed and strength when wounded.]
———————————————————
"This thing is stronger than me..."
The Alpha lunged first—faster than she expected.
Ryusei barely dodged, rolling to the side as its massive claws scraped the concrete floor, leaving deep gashes.
She countered with a quick slash—her blade cut into its flank, but the Alpha barely flinched.
It retaliated, swiping at her with terrifying force.
She raised her katana to block—
CRACK!
The impact sent her skidding back, her arms screaming in pain.
"It's like blocking a sledgehammer!"
The Alpha roared, charging again.
The fight dragged on.
Ryusei landed multiple hits, her sword slicing through muscle and fur, but the Alpha's Pack Leader's Fury made it stronger with each wound.
Her body ached, her breath was ragged, and then—
SNAP!
Her katana shattered.
The broken blade clattered to the ground.
Ryusei's eyes widened as the Alpha's fangs closed in.
She couldn't dodge in time.
"Damn… that almost killed me."
Her red hoodie was already in tatters, the fabric burnt and shredded. She threw it off, revealing her bloodied shirt and bruised arms.
The Red Alpha Lycan's eyes glowed brighter as it launched another attack, claws swinging toward her chest. Ryusei braced herself and tanked the hit.
Ryusei threw the broken katana in her left hand, using her brute strength to slam the jagged edge deep into the Lycan's eye, blinding it momentarily.
Before it could retaliate, she focused her curse energy, her hands crackling with power as she surged forward. She slammed the Lycan down with a vicious cursed energy-infused fist, using every ounce of power to send the beast crashing into the ground with a massive shockwave.
The Red Alpha Lycan howled in agony as Ryusei's final strike broke its bones, leaving it motionless on the floor, defeated.
———————————————————[Quest Complete: Wolf Hunt]
[Objective: Defeat the Mini Boss – Red Alpha Steel-Fanged Lycan]
[Rewards:]
[+1,000 EXP]
[RagnaCrimson Package: Half Silverine Race Unlocked]
[D-Rank Skill: Divergent fist]
———————————————————
Ryusei stood over the Lycan's defeated body, her breath ragged and uneven. Her body was battered, bruised, and covered in blood, but the adrenaline was still pumping through her veins.
Level 15.
The system notification flashed before her:
———————————————————
[You have reached level 15!]
———————————————————
———————————————————
[New Skill: Half Silverine Race
RagnaCrimson Skill Unlocked:]
[Half Silverine Race: Lv.1]
[Passive: You gain the traits of the Silverine race, a unique demi-human bloodline.]
[Enhanced Strength: +10% to physical power.]
[Silverine Bloodline: Your body regenerates faster than average, and your physical senses are heightened.]
———————————————————
"Half Silverine race?" Ryusei wondered, the system flashing a stream of information.
Ryusei took a deep breath, looking around the dungeon room. She was exhausted, but her victory felt like a significant step forward.
She could hear the faint hum of her system rewards, but for now, she knew there was one thing she needed to do before she left: return home.
Defeat the final boss.