The hissing got louder.
Then, all at once, the shadows broke apart, eight creatures surged forward, their eyes like molten coins in the torchlight.
Scaled skin.
Elongated jaws.
Too many teeth.
"Kobold Vipers" Kazuo said calmly. "Kill them fast or they'll swarm."
The red-haired axe woman, Reina, apparently, charged first, blades flashing as she cut down the lead creature in a spray of greenish ichor.
Two of the vipers broke off toward me.
I stepped forward, Rift Step flaring, the world blurred and I reappeared behind the first one, sword already in motion. Steel rang against bone, severing its spine in one clean stroke.
The second hissed and lunged. I sidestepped, letting it snap at empty air, then slammed my boot into its ribs. It hit the wall with a wet crack.
"Wow" I muttered. "You guys aren't even trying."
It came at me again. This time I used Venom Slash, the blade glowed with sickly green mana and when I cut across its throat, the wound bubbled and blackened instantly.
Two down.
To my left, Kazuo was a whirlwind, his greatsword cleaving through three at once, the sheer force of his strikes shaking the cavern.
"You keeping up back there, rookie?" he called.
I skewered another viper mid-leap. "Try to make it a challenge next time!"
A laugh, quick, almost surprised, came from one of the other hunters.
The last of the first wave went down under Reina's axes. She flicked blood off her weapons and gave me a side-eye.
"Bot bad for baggage."
"Thanks" I said. "You swing those things pretty well for someone compensating."
Her scowl could've peeled paint. Worth it.
That's when the familiar blue shimmer appeared in my vision.
SkillAvailable: Serpent Fang Lunge - Dash forward in a straight line, piercing a target with venom-infused force. Cooldown: 12 seconds.
ActiveSkillSlotsFull - You must replace an existing active skill to acquire this one.
I tilted my head. Nice burst option, but short range and too linear. Compared to Rift Step's mobility and Venom Slash's versatility? Meh.
I flicked the prompt away. Not today, snake-breath.
Kazuo raised a hand, signaling us to hold.
The tunnel ahead was darker, quieter, but the air felt heavier, like the dungeon itself was breathing down our necks.
"That was just the first room" he said. "Stay sharp. This place isn't done with us yet."
I smirked, wiping my blade clean. "Good. I was just getting warmed up."