Connor Hayes
The forest felt quieter than usual as I moved through the underbrush, my bow slung across my back and my steps light on the soft earth. The birdsong that typically filled the canopy was absent, replaced by an eerie stillness that made the hairs on the back of my neck prickle.
Something was out here.
I crouched low, scanning the treeline for movement. The forest had been good to me so far, providing food, shelter, and more than enough challenges to keep me busy. But this silence? It was unnatural.
Pushing forward, I brushed aside a low-hanging branch, revealing a clearing I’d never seen before. At the center stood a jagged stone structure, its surface covered in moss and vines. The entrance, a dark maw framed by crumbling pillars, seemed to breathe unease into the air around it.
A faint glow flickered above the archway, and as I approached, glowing text materialized in my HUD.
Dungeon Discovered: Hollowfang Burrow
Recommended Level: 10
I stopped, my hand resting on the hilt of my hunting knife.
“Level 10,” I muttered, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. “Looks like I’m right on time.”
The entrance loomed before me, dark and foreboding, but I didn’t hesitate. Opening my System Menu, I did a quick check of my stats and gear.
Connor Hayes
Level: 10
Health: 420/420
Mana: 80/80
Stamina: 1,200/1,200
I scrolled through my inventory, noting the essentials: arrows, basic healing potions, and a few rations. My bow was in good shape, and the hunting dagger strapped to my belt had seen enough action to prove itself reliable.
“Looks like I’m ready,” I muttered, gripping the bow tightly.
With a deep breath, I stepped into the dungeon.
The air grew colder the moment I crossed the threshold. The walls of the tunnel were rough-hewn stone, slick with moisture and lined with patches of faintly glowing moss. A faint drip of water echoed in the distance, and the smell of damp earth mixed with something sour lingered in the air.
The HUD blinked, a new notification appearing in the corner of my vision.
Dungeon Objective: Clear All Floors
Completion Rewards: Randomized loot, bonus experience.
“Clear all floors,” I said, my voice low. “Sure. Easy.”
The first chamber was eerily empty, save for the scattered remains of long-forgotten battles. Rusted weapons and shattered bones littered the ground, and a single torch flickered weakly on the far wall.
I moved cautiously, my bow at the ready. The silence pressed down on me, every step echoing louder than it should have.
The first enemy appeared as I rounded a corner: a gaunt, wolf-like creature with glowing red eyes and jagged teeth. Its fur was patchy and matted with filth, and its claws scraped against the stone as it crouched low, snarling.
Hollowfang Stalker - Level 8
“Level 8,” I muttered, drawing an arrow. “You’ll do.”
I loosed the arrow, the string snapping against my fingers as the shaft flew true. It struck the creature in the shoulder, eliciting a sharp yelp as it staggered back.
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-35 HP.
The Stalker didn’t hesitate, leaping toward me with surprising speed. I rolled to the side, my stamina bar barely ticking down, and drew another arrow. As the creature turned, I fired, the arrow burying itself in its neck.
-50 HP. Fatal wound inflicted.
The Stalker crumpled, dissolving into black mist that drifted into the air.
I exhaled, my grip on the bow steady as I notched another arrow.
The next few chambers were similar, each one presenting a handful of Stalkers. They were fast and vicious, but my stamina outlasted theirs every time. Rolling, dodging, firing—I moved like I was back in the woods, hunting for game.
My HUD flashed with notifications of stamina usage, but the bar barely dipped below half even after several encounters.
“Endurance training’s paying off,” I muttered, smirking as I wiped sweat from my brow.
Then I entered the larger chamber.
The space opened up suddenly, the ceiling arched high above and the walls lined with torches that burned with a faint, greenish light.
Claws scraped against stone as shadows moved in the corners of the room. A pack of Hollowfangs emerged from the darkness, their glowing eyes fixed on me.
Six of them, snarling and snapping, their bodies low to the ground as they spread out to surround me.
“Alright,” I said, raising my bow. “Let’s dance.”
The Hollowfang pack snarled as they closed in, their glowing eyes locked onto me like I was already dead meat. My grip tightened on the bow as I notched an arrow, pulling the string back until it creaked.
The first Stalker lunged. I released the arrow, and it struck true, burying itself in the creature’s chest. It stumbled, yelping as its body dissolved into black mist.
-50 HP. Fatal wound inflicted.
But there wasn’t time to celebrate. Another Stalker darted in from the side, its claws slashing toward my leg. I leapt back, feeling the sting of its strike as it grazed my thigh.
HP: 380/420
“Damn it,” I muttered, rolling to the side as another Stalker lunged.
I activated an ability without hesitation, the words forming in my mind like second nature.
Ability Activated: Quickstep
Your movement speed increases by 50% for 5 seconds. Stamina drain reduced during this time.
The world seemed to slow as I moved, each step faster and lighter than before. The nearest Stalker snapped at the air where I’d been an instant earlier, its claws swiping harmlessly as I dodged to the side.
I fired another arrow mid-step, the shot punching through a second Stalker’s skull.
-55 HP. Fatal wound inflicted.
Another Stalker closed in, its claws aiming for my torso. I dropped into a crouch, flipping the bow over my shoulder and drawing my hunting knife in one fluid motion.
“Your turn,” I muttered, lunging forward.
Ability Activated: Precision Strike
Your next melee attack deals 75% increased damage.
The knife glowed faintly as it plunged into the Stalker’s chest, cutting through its hide like butter. The creature let out a shriek before collapsing, its body evaporating into mist.
-85 HP. Fatal wound inflicted.
I pivoted, my senses heightened as the remaining three Stalkers circled me. One feinted to the left while another darted to the right, their coordination unnervingly sharp.
A claw raked across my arm, pain blooming as blood spattered onto the stone floor.
HP: 340/420
I gritted my teeth, raising my bow again.
Two arrows loosed in quick succession, the first striking a Stalker in the shoulder while the second took it down with a shot to the neck.
-50 HP. Fatal wound inflicted.
The last two lunged simultaneously, one aiming high and the other low.
Ability Activated: Snare Trap
Deploys a tripwire that roots enemies for 3 seconds.
The trap sprung at my feet as the first Stalker crossed its threshold. The creature yelped as glowing tendrils of energy wrapped around its legs, holding it in place.
I turned, plunging my knife into the second Stalker as it closed in, the blade sinking deep into its ribs.
-70 HP. Fatal wound inflicted.
The trapped Stalker snarled, thrashing against the binding tendrils. Before it could break free, I notched an arrow and fired, the shot striking it square in the head.
-60 HP. Fatal wound inflicted.
The chamber fell silent, save for the sound of my ragged breathing. My HUD pulsed faintly, the health bar reminding me of every hit I’d taken.
HP: 340/420
I slung my bow over my shoulder, reaching into my inventory with a thought. A faint shimmer appeared in my hand as I pulled out a small glass vial filled with bright red liquid.
Healing Potion: Restores 100 HP.
The cork popped easily, and I downed the potion in one go. It tasted bitter, like overripe fruit, but the warmth that spread through my body was immediate. The aches and cuts faded, and my HUD updated with a soft chime.
HP: 420/420
I exhaled, wiping the sweat from my brow. “Okay,” I muttered, surveying the now-empty chamber. “That wasn’t so bad.”
The faint flicker of light in the next hallway told me the dungeon wasn’t done with me yet.
“Alright, Hollowfang Burrow,” I said, gripping my bow again. “Let’s see what else you’ve got.”