The plan was to take out the beta wolf, heal, level up, and then try to take out the Alpha, but when had things ever gone to plan? Both wolves leaped for Nathan, meeting his charge head-on.

The Alpha was going straight for his torso while the Beta was attacking from the right side. Nathan had no idea what this tactic would be referred to in military terms, but there was a word for it in literature.

Screwed.

Nathan was most definitely screwed by all accounts. Any one of these wolves could kill him one-on-one, and they'd decided to attack him simultaneously, his already terrible odds seemingly getting lower with every millisecond that stretched between the three as they charged.

1 percent chance, 99 percent faith.

As best as he could time it with his blood rebellion boost aiding him, Nathan threw himself to the side of the Alpha at the last moment. His body very narrowly escaped being mauled.

Bingo!

He tucked into a roll as he stretched a hand, grabbing his swords with a hand as he sought to get back on his feet. The sword hadn't balanced the scales by any means, but Nathan hoped he'd tipped the scales a little in his favor.

There was a little part of him that had hoped that both wolves would've collided with themselves at his last-minute maneuver, but it didn't happen. Nathan watched that dream of his turn to smoke before his very eyes. The Beta fixed its angle mid-stride to avoid barreling into its Alpha.

It wasn't all bad news though, as his gamble had paid off, and he'd gotten his sword back. The gap he'd managed to exploit had only been due to the weird attack angles the wolves had chosen. He would've thought that the pincer maneuver would've been the best way.

Instead of finding a way to kill them, I'm here finding a way for them to kill me.

Nathan shook his head. The wolves had already turned around and were now facing him. He, on the other hand, was on his feet with his sword pointing between both wolves. The reach of the sword was certainly better than just using his fists.

With his health rapidly dropping without even exchanging blows due to his old wounds, Nathan didn't have time to spare. He charged again. The Alpha stayed behind while the beta rushed forward. The change in attack pattern relieved Nathan; one-on-one was way better than two-on-one right about now.

Nathan swung as soon as the wolf got within range. The beta nimbly went under the strike as it charged for its crunch. Fangs closed around his shin, the fangs went deep into Nathan's shin. He could feel teeth touching the bone.

"Rarggggh!"

Nathan let out a scream of pure pain. He stabbed downwards, his sword aiming for the wolf's neck. The blade didn't sink more than an inch deep. No matter how much strength Nathan put into the stab, it didn't go deeper. He pulled the sword out and started swinging it like a bat, anything to ease the pain. The shin felt like it was about to snap.

Rats.

The beta pulled back with its fangs still lodged in his leg, the action throwing Nathan on the floor as he followed the motion, trying to avoid the thing snapping his shin. The wolf pulled its fangs out of Nathan's shin and stood at his feet before looking back at the Alpha, probably for approval to go for the kill.

His gaze shifted to the Alpha who'd chosen to stay away from the fight after the first dodge had gotten Nathan his sword. No doubt the weapon back in his hands had affected the variables in the Alpha's mind. The Alpha let out a clipped growl, its gaze meeting Nathan's. Its eyes were cold and calculating, lifeless if you asked him.

Lifeless like I'll be if I don't figure out something.

The Beta took a couple steps back, which made Nathan let out a sigh of relief. That was until it ran towards him, the same malice from earlier returning to its eyes. The beta leaped up, its jaws spreading wide as it sought to rip his neck out with its fangs. Nathan felt transfixed for a moment before he had to force himself to move, executing a last-grasp attempt at saving himself.

"Oompff," Nathan breathed as the air was knocked out of his lungs.

The beta's body had landed on his chest while he was still on the floor. The weight pushed him deeper into the ground as his sword held the beta's head in the air, the wolf unmoving. Nathan had thrust his sword at the last moment at the beta's open jaw, the sword going through the tender flesh till it hit something that Nathan assumed was probably its skull.

The kill solidified Nathan's belief that all the constitution in the world wouldn't save anyone or anything from being killed if he went for the right part.

Not a moment too soon, a wave of euphoria passed through him. Nathan pushed it down as he kept his eyes on the Alpha. He threw the body of the beta off of him and his sword as it was starting to get heavier with Blood Rebellion deactivated.

He scrambled to his feet. It might've been the loss of the boosts that he enjoyed from blood rebellion, but Nathan thought he could see shadows actively coalescing around the Alpha as though they were alive.

I'm trippin'.

Nathan shook his head. He needed to use this time to upgrade his strength stat; he had a feeling he was going to need the increase.

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Status

Name: Nathan Orion

Moniker: N/A

Level: 11

Archetype: Blood Berserker

Class: Blood Pawn

Imprints: Balls of steel, SkullCrusher, Demon Slayer

Strength: 15

Dexterity: 10

Vitality: 11

Constitution: 10

Perception: 10

Dao: N/A

Faction: N/A

Ra'hal coins: 21,900

Free points: 2

Strength was the stat Nathan needed to throw his free points into. It was just a question of how many points. Nathan took a look at the Alpha, which seemed to be gradually getting covered in shadows.

ALL, I have to throw it all in.

Two points to strength.

Strength: 17

##

Free points: 0

Nathan closed the stat screen immediately. New strength seemed to flood him, but he only paid attention to the threat in front of him. Or at least the threat that was supposed to be in front of him—where the Alpha was, there was only darkness, pure and impenetrable.

The heck?

Alpha of the Shadow wolves has cast Cloak of darkness(I).

Cloak of darkness: this is an area-of-effect spell. All entities within 30 meters of the spell will suffer a five percent debuff on their perception. Those with a higher perception than the Alpha will be unaffected.

Duration: 5 minutes.

Timer: 4:59

And this is supposed to be an F-ranked dungeon?

Nathan dismissed the notification with a thought, his focus redirected towards finding the elusive Alpha. Nathan couldn't see his feet right now; the entire place seemed to have become blanketed in darkness.

Something that he was sure suited the Alpha just fine. Nathan clutched his sword tightly as he took a step and almost tripped before catching himself. The beta's body had been in front of him. How was he supposed to fight in these kinds of conditions? The Alpha could be anywhere close to him, and he wouldn't even be able to tell.

Nathan walked the opposite way from the beta's corpse, his blade swinging side to side in the darkness. His wide arcs predictably not catching anything, but Nathan wasn't deterred. He made sure to kick at the air before stepping to avoid another repeat of the beta's corpse.

Maybe it still thinks I'm injured.

That was a possibility. Maybe the Alpha wanted to wait for him to fall over and die, but what if it didn't? Then again, there was its skill. Nathan didn't think it would've used its skill if it thought he was going to die on his own.

Nope, it's biding its time.

The wolf was certainly less reactive than the rest of its pack. It was calculating, probably waiting for Nathan to step into some kind of an ambush or for him to trip and fall, just so it could pounce on him while he was defenseless.

Come out and play, you sneaky bas—

Something barreled into Nathan, hard and fast, tossing him to the side with so much force that he heard a rib or two crack. His body flung like a rag doll, but he still made sure to hold onto his sword as he was thrown off his feet. It wouldn't do to lose his sword in this unnatural darkness. He'd be left having to fight the Alpha with his fists—a death sentence. At least with his sword, he could hope to replicate the same attack he'd used to end the beta.

"—ard," Nathan uttered the last part of his thought.

Warning: health below 75%

The sword left flesh wounds as it made contact with his skin. He'd happily take the surface wounds if it meant he'd get to keep hold of his sword right about now.

He scrambled to his feet as soon as he could, sword pointed in the direction he'd been tossed from. He ignored the blooming pain coming from his side, courtesy of his broken ribs. He waited for the follow-up, but the Alpha didn't seem to be in a rush.

Blasted tactician.

The wolf was doing as it wished, the darkness was its strength and apparently a weakness for Nathan. He just needed to be alert and ready to return attacks at a moment's notice. He wasn't sure the Alpha was going to let him outlive the five minutes. Speaking of which.

Timer: 3:42

Nathan winced at the remaining time. Still enough left for the Alpha to maul him to death. He didn't even have the luxury of turtling up for the time remaining. The Alpha would definitely rip into his defenses as if they weren't there. He couldn't sit back and defend; no, he needed to attack. But how could he attack what he couldn't see?

Alternative.

He might not be able to use his eyes, but there was something else that might help him—the wind. It was something he used when he'd had his normal job as a sign flipper. Using the flow of the wind to execute cheap tricks that earned him applause once in a while.

Let's put it to the test.

Nathan stretched his free hand into the darkness, feeling as the wind caressed his fingers, silent but still present in the darkness. He could feel how calm it was, the wind gently going around his outstretched hand, till it wasn't. Something was coming. He could feel it in the way the wind seemed to rush in his direction. Nathan tried to turn and slash in the direction the wind hinted at, but he was too slow.

Crack!

Nathan was flung again, using more willpower than strength to hold onto the sword as he sailed through the air. His ribs on his other side probably cracked because of the force of the Alpha's attack.

Fiery pain went through Nathan's body even as he struggled to keep breathing, his entire body feeling the effects of having broken ribs on all sides.

Warning: health below 50%

He got up to his feet, defiance shining in his eyes in the face of overwhelming darkness. Every breath sent waves of pain rippling through his body, but he wouldn't bow down, not now when he finally had a glimmer of hope.

Nathan repeated the motion, the same as last time. His sword hand was ready to move at a moment's notice. The wind soothed his nerves as it went around his finger, caressing it.

There!

Nathan dropped to a crouch and pointed the sword at what he hoped would be eye level at the last moment as he met the Alpha's attack.

Squelch.

The wet sound of an eyeball popping was all Nathan needed to know that his attack had been successful. His sword went through the eye and into the brain, stopping at the back of the skull, unable to break through. The act killed the Alpha instantly.

A series of notifications assaulted him, and Nathan unwrapped his fingers from the sword and fell on his back, euphoria overtaking him as his body healed up. One by one, Nathan went through the notifications as the oppressive darkness began to dissipate.

Cloak of darkness(I) dispelled

Clearance requirement met: Dungeon unlocked.

New Imprint gained: Bronze Dungeoneer - third to enter and survive a dungeon in your world.

+ 5% boost to all stats when in a dungeon.

Nathan smiled at the new Imprint. At least he'd gone out of here with an advantage until the next notification hit and his eyes widened.

Dungeon cleared: Dungeon rewards available.

A loud thud echoed around the cavern, and Nathan raised his head from the floor to see a box within a few feet of where he lay—a wooden box.