The underground chamber trembled slightly.
Dust fell from the ceiling as the massive Dungeon Ogre slowly rose to its full height.
The creature was enormous—over three meters tall.
Its thick gray skin looked like solid stone, and its arms were as thick as tree trunks.
In one hand, it held a giant iron club covered in spikes.
The ogre's red eyes locked onto Lucien.
Then it roared.
The sound echoed across the entire chamber.
Lucien stood calmly in front of the monster.
Behind him, his two teammates had already retreated to the corridor entrance.
"O-oh gods…" one of them whispered.
"That thing isn't supposed to be on Level One!"
Normally, Dungeon Ogres only appeared on deeper levels.
Seeing one here meant something was wrong.
But Lucien didn't look worried.
Instead—
He looked interested.
"So the dungeon is evolving faster than expected."
The ogre suddenly charged.
Each step shook the ground.
Lucien remained still until the last moment.
Then—
He activated his skill.
"Shadow Domain."
Darkness exploded outward from his body.
The chamber instantly became covered in a dim shadow field.
Inside the domain, Lucien's senses sharpened.
Every movement of the ogre became clearer.
The monster swung its giant club downward.
BOOM!
The ground shattered.
But Lucien had already moved.
Using Shadow Step, he vanished from sight.
The ogre looked around in confusion.
Then—
SHH!
Lucien reappeared behind it.
His blade slashed across the monster's back.
The cut was shallow.
But it proved something important.
"Even ogre skin can be pierced."
The monster roared in anger.
It spun around wildly and swung its club again.
Lucien dodged smoothly.
His body moved like flowing smoke within the shadow domain.
To the ogre, he seemed impossible to track.
Lucien attacked again.
This time he aimed for the monster's leg.
SHHK.
Blood splattered onto the stone floor.
The ogre staggered slightly.
Lucien stepped back calmly.
"Too slow."
The ogre roared again.
Its eyes burned with rage.
It lifted its club and slammed it into the ground.
CRASH!
Shockwaves spread across the chamber.
Lucien slid backward to avoid the impact.
The shadow domain faded as its time limit ended.
The ogre charged again immediately.
Lucien raised his sword.
But before the monster could attack—
Another voice echoed through the chamber.
"Lucien!"
Lucien glanced toward the entrance.
Adrian Solhart had arrived.
Behind him were Elena and Seraphina.
Seraphina looked at the ogre and whistled softly.
"Well…"
"That's definitely not normal."
Adrian stepped forward.
"We'll help."
Lucien smirked slightly.
"You're welcome to try."
The ogre roared again and swung its club toward the group.
Adrian dashed forward instantly.
CLANG!
His sword blocked the club's downward strike.
The impact pushed him back several meters.
But he held his ground.
"Elena!"
Elena raised her hands.
Blue light gathered around her fingers.
"Frozen Spear!"
Three large ice spears shot toward the ogre.
CRACK.
Two spears shattered against its skin.
But the third struck its shoulder, leaving a deep wound.
The monster howled in pain.
Seraphina moved next.
She dashed around the ogre with incredible speed.
Her twin daggers flashed like lightning.
SHH! SHH!
Several shallow cuts appeared across the creature's arms.
The battle instantly became chaotic.
Lucien watched carefully.
Even though the three of them were talented—
The ogre was still extremely dangerous.
Adrian slashed at its leg again.
But the monster kicked him away.
Seraphina barely dodged a massive swing.
Elena's spells slowed the creature but didn't stop it.
Lucien sighed softly.
"If this continues…"
"…someone will get seriously injured."
He stepped forward again.
Shadow energy gathered around his hand.
This time—
He activated something new.
"Shadow Domain."
Darkness spread across the chamber again.
But this time it felt heavier.
Stronger.
Lucien's silver eyes glowed faintly within the shadows.
His voice echoed quietly.
"Now…"
"Let's end this."
The ogre charged toward him.
But inside the shadow field—
Lucien moved like a phantom.
He vanished.
Then reappeared directly above the monster.
Adrian's eyes widened.
"When did he—"
Lucien raised his sword.
Shadow energy wrapped around the blade.
Then he struck.
SHH!
The blade sliced through the ogre's neck.
For a moment—
Everything became silent.
Then—
THUD.
The massive creature collapsed onto the ground.
Dead.
The shadow domain slowly faded.
Adrian stared at Lucien.
"…That attack."
Seraphina looked even more impressed.
"Well."
"That was terrifying."
Elena examined the ogre's body.
"One strike…"
Lucien wiped the blood from his blade.
"Team effort."
Adrian shook his head slightly.
"That wasn't teamwork."
Lucien smiled faintly.
But before anyone could continue the conversation—
The dungeon suddenly shook violently.
RUMBLE.
The walls cracked.
The glowing crystals flickered.
Everyone froze.
Seraphina looked around.
"That doesn't feel normal."
The ground trembled again.
Then the system interface appeared in front of Lucien.
Warning
Dungeon Instability Detected
Unknown energy source awakening.
Threat Level: High
Lucien's expression finally became serious.
"So it's starting…"
Adrian noticed his reaction.
"What's going on?"
Lucien looked toward the deeper tunnel at the back of the chamber.
Dark mist slowly flowed out from the passage.
Something inside the dungeon was awakening.
And it was far stronger than the ogre.
Lucien spoke quietly.
"The dungeon isn't behaving normally."
Seraphina grinned.
"Good."
"That makes things more interesting."
But Adrian's instincts told him something else.
Something dangerous.
Something ancient.
The rumbling grew louder.
Then—
A terrifying roar echoed from the darkness.
Even stronger than the ogre.
Lucien's silver eyes narrowed.
"Well…"
"…that's unexpected."
Because according to the original story—
This event wasn't supposed to happen yet.
The dungeon had changed.
And when a dungeon changed—
Anything could emerge from its depths.