Alaric pushed open the massive steel gate with effort, the groaning creak of its hinges echoing ominously. The room beyond was massive, with jagged stone pillars and a ceiling so high it disappeared into darkness. A metallic shimmer covered the walls, reflecting the dim, flickering light of glowing crystals embedded in the rock.

At the center of the cavern stood the boss of the Steel Wolf Dungeon: Steel Fang, an enormous wolf twice the size of its minions. Its fur glinted like forged metal, each strand sharp enough to cut, and its golden eyes locked onto Alaric with a predatory glare.

A deep growl rumbled from its chest as Steel Fang stepped forward, the ground trembling under its weight. The beast exuded a crushing aura of dominance, and Alaric felt his confidence waver for a moment.

“This is no ordinary monster,” he muttered, gripping his sword tighter.

Steel Fang lunged with terrifying speed, faster than any of its smaller kin. Alaric barely managed to dodge as the wolf’s steel claws tore through the stone where he’d just stood, sending shards flying. He counterattacked, his sword arcing toward the wolf’s flank, but it deflected the blade with its metallic fur, sparks flying on impact.

"Armor that thick... This won't be easy," Alaric thought, gritting his teeth.

Steel Fang roared, opening its massive jaws to unleash a shockwave of sound. Alaric was thrown back, his ears ringing and his body slamming against a pillar. The wolf charged, aiming to pin him, but Alaric rolled out of the way at the last moment.

“Time to use my skills,” he thought.

Alaric activated Essence Infusion, channeling the attributes he’d extracted from the Steel Wolves earlier into his body. His agility surged slightly, and his strength improved enough to make a noticeable difference.

Steel Fang snarled and charged again. This time, Alaric sidestepped more fluidly, slashing at the wolf’s hind legs. The strike bit deeper than before, but still, it wasn’t enough to slow the beast.

The wolf retaliated, spinning with surprising agility and slamming its tail into Alaric’s side. The blow sent him skidding across the cavern floor, gasping for air as pain flared through his ribs.

“Damn it… That thing’s like a fortress,” Alaric hissed, pushing himself up.

Alaric knew he couldn’t win in a head-on confrontation. He focused on the wolf’s movements, searching for any opening. His eyes caught the faint flicker of light beneath its chest fur—a softer spot, where its core might be hidden.

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Steel Fang lunged again, and Alaric ducked under its massive body, slashing upward toward the exposed chest. His sword struck true, drawing a line of blood and eliciting a furious howl from the boss.

“That’s it,” Alaric thought. “I just need to keep hitting that spot.”

Steel Fang’s attacks became more erratic as it bled, its rage driving it into a frenzy. It slammed into pillars, shaking the cavern and causing chunks of rock to rain down. Alaric used the falling debris to his advantage, darting between the wolf’s blind spots and landing more hits on its chest.

With each strike, his confidence grew. His swordsmanship, bolstered by Sword Mastery, allowed him to land cleaner, more precise blows. But the wolf wasn’t done yet.

It reared up on its hind legs, releasing a deafening howl that reverberated through the room. The metallic fur along its back bristled, and spikes shot outward like a deadly rain.

Alaric raised his sword, using the Broodmother’s regenerative coating to block the spikes. Several still found their mark, grazing his arms and legs. Blood trickled down, but he held his ground.

“This is my chance,” Alaric thought.

As Steel Fang charged one last time, Alaric poured every ounce of strength he could muster into his body. He sidestepped the beast’s charge and leapt onto its back, holding on tightly as it thrashed violently.

Using his enhanced agility, he climbed toward its neck, his sword poised for the killing blow. The wolf bucked and twisted, slamming into walls and pillars in an attempt to dislodge him.

With a roar of effort, Alaric plunged his sword deep into the soft spot beneath the wolf’s chest. Steel Fang howled in agony, its massive body collapsing to the ground as its life force drained away.

Panting heavily, Alaric knelt beside the wolf’s massive corpse. He activated Essence Extraction, and a glowing orb of shimmering steel and feral energy emerged from the wolf’s body.

The essence was unlike anything he’d seen before:

* Steel Core Essence: A unique attribute of Steel Fang, granting unparalleled durability and minor strength enhancement.

Alaric hesitated. “This essence… If I use it on my sword…”

He held the essence above the Sword of the Broodmother, activating Essence Infusion to channel its power into the weapon. The blade glowed with an intense silver light, its surface rippling as it absorbed the essence.

“Now, for the final touch.”

Alaric activated Permanency, focusing on making the infusion permanent. The blade shimmered and shifted, its shape mutating into something entirely new.

The newly transformed sword was a masterpiece:

* The blade was sleek and silver, with veins of dark green from the Broodmother’s essence.

* The hilt was reinforced with steel plating, and the guard resembled wolf fangs.

* A faint glow pulsed along the blade’s edge, exuding an aura of feral strength and resilience.

Steel Broodblade:

* Rank: D+

* Damage: High piercing and slashing power.

* Durability: Regenerative coating, near indestructible.

* Special Effects: Increased resistance to physical damage, minor strength enhancement, and enhanced agility during combat.

Alaric marveled at the weapon in his hands.