Chapter 1: Into the Abyss

[March 22, 2100]

"Unreal," someone exclaimed, their voice reverberating through the cavernous dungeon. Sue glanced over to Mark, the group’s temporary leader, his flashlight cutting sharp beams through the gloom. His bright blue eyes burned with excitement, a predatory gleam that seemed to thrive in the chaos of their world. For someone born into privilege, Mark’s uncanny adaptability to the Hunter’s life created a sharp, unnerving contrast with his refined origins.

"This is a Hunter’s dream!"

The group advanced cautiously into the gloom, their weapons gleaming faintly under the sickly glow of phosphorescent fungi clinging to the walls. Shadows writhed around them, distorted by the uneven light. Sue trailed at the rear, the weight of her mace a comforting but grim reminder of her precarious reality. She wasn’t here to dream—she was here to survive.

Every step forward felt like an act of defiance against the oppressive air pressing down on her. She scanned the darkness relentlessly, her breath steady but shallow. This dungeon wasn’t like the others; it seemed to hum with a sinister energy, as though it could sense their intrusion. For Sue, the knot of fear coiled tightly in her stomach wasn’t unfamiliar, but the way it pulsed—alive and vengeful—was unnerving.

"Alright, team," Mark said, his voice a low rumble that carried through the dungeon’s eerie silence. "Stick to the plan. No heroics, no screw-ups. Slow and steady wins the day."

The group hailed from the Iron Fangs, a mid-tier Hunter guild known for steady, reliable work rather than prestige. Their emblem, a stylized iron wolf’s head, was etched onto their gear—a symbol of the guild’s no-nonsense approach to survival in a brutal world. Sue, however, wasn’t one of them. She was a freelancer, hired because no respectable guild would look twice at an F-rank like her. Mark’s privileged background might have made him the most out-of-place among them, but his commanding presence and knack for survival earned him their reluctant obedience. For Sue, it was never about guild loyalty or pride—it was about surviving one more day. She didn’t care about the guild’s reputation or its politics—she cared about making it out alive.

Mark’s gaze lingered on Sue, the flicker of doubt in his sharp eyes unmistakable before he turned away. She didn’t need to read his mind to know what he thought: An F-rank like her doesn’t belong here. The weight of the unspoken judgment pressed on her, but Sue didn’t flinch. Her mind churned with a mix of frustration and determination. She had fought tooth and nail to get here, enduring countless failures, and yet they still underestimated her.

Tightening her grip on the worn handle of her mace, she focused on the cold steel as if drawing strength from it. You think I don’t belong? Watch me prove you wrong. Approval didn’t matter. Survival did. And if surviving meant defying every doubter, so be it.

The guild could scoff all it wanted, but Sue had clawed her way here, through failures, bruises, and a system designed to crush people like her. She didn’t need respect—she needed a way out.

The group ventured further into the dungeon. Their footsteps were swallowed by an oppressive hush, as if even the faintest sound was unwelcome here. The air turned icy, a damp weight clinging to their skin. A sharp tang of decay clawed at their senses.

Sue’s breath fogged in the dim light, a prickle of unease crawling up her spine. The dungeon wasn’t just a place; it felt aware. Shadows shifted unnaturally, alive with an ancient malice that pulsed like a heartbeat.

Mark raised his fist sharply, halting the group in their tracks. His eyes locked onto a set of heavy iron doors ahead, their surfaces etched with intricate, coiling runes that seemed to ripple faintly in the torchlight. The carvings exuded an unnatural glow, a warning as old as the dungeon itself. "This is it," he said, voice low but steady. "The source of the anomaly. Weapons up."

The team fanned out into a tight semicircle, their weapons casting faint reflections in the flickering torchlight. Sue inhaled sharply, her heart hammering in her chest. The heavy weight of her mace rested steady in her hands, a cold reassurance in the suffocating tension. She tightened her grip, her focus narrowing to the iron doors before them.

Mark gave a curt nod to the burly man on his left. With a grunt, the man stepped forward and shoved against the ancient metal. The doors groaned in protest, the sound reverberating like a warning through the air. Slowly, they creaked open to reveal a cavernous chamber, its walls bathed in the sickly luminescence of glowing, alien fungi that pulsed faintly like they were alive.

[System Notification: You have entered uncharted territory. Records unavailable. Exercise extreme caution.]

A sharp, crystalline notification shimmered across their HUDs, the System’s grim warning resonating like a whispered threat in their minds. The group exchanged wary glances, tension crackling between them as they stepped into the chamber. Their boots sank into the yielding, moss-covered floor, each step accompanied by a faint squelch that only deepened the oppressive silence.

Sue’s breath caught as the chamber revealed itself in all its haunting majesty. Massive statues lined the walls, their stone forms twisted into grotesque hybrids of human and beast. Their glowing, malevolent eyes flickered in sync with the luminescent fungi, casting eerie shadows that danced like specters. The statues loomed over the group, each one a testament to ancient, dark craftsmanship.

At the far end, an enormous throne dominated the chamber, cradling a figure far more horrifying than the rest. Its body was a perverse mockery of humanity, sinewy muscles stretched taut over obsidian-like skin that gleamed in the faint light. Its eyes, twin orbs of molten fire, radiated an oppressive heat, and its mouth curled into a predatory grin filled with jagged, bone-white teeth. This was no mere statue; this was the dungeon’s guardian, an apex predator carved from nightmares.

Sue’s breath hitched, her pulse racing as she stared at the creature. This wasn’t just another monster—it was a nightmare given form. A chill rolled down her spine, and the oppressive power radiating from its massive frame made the air feel heavier with each passing second. Her knuckles whitened as she gripped her mace tighter, grounding herself in its cold, reassuring weight.

"Mark, this isn’t a D-rank—" Sue began, her voice trembling slightly, but the words died in her throat as the creature unleashed a thunderous roar. The sound was primal, shaking the walls and sending a wave of raw terror through the chamber.

The boss monster stirred, then rose with terrifying purpose, its massive frame dominating the chamber. The ground beneath them trembled as though recoiling from its presence, and the air crackled with raw, volatile energy that prickled against their skin like static before a storm.

A sharp notification seared across their HUDs: [Boss Monster Identified: Corrupted Abomination (Rank: Unknown)].

The warning pulsed ominously, and unease rippled through the group like a shockwave. An unknown rank? That was unheard of. Sue’s heart thudded painfully in her chest as panic etched itself into the faces of the others.

[Corrupted Abomination Vitality: 100% | Threat Level: Critical | Elemental Affinity: Unknown]

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[Team Integrity: 100% | Morale: Shaken | Escape Potential: Minimal]

The readouts hovered like an unspoken doom over their HUDs. Sue’s gaze darted to the others.

[Corrupted Abomination Vitality: 100% | Threat Level: Critical | Elemental Affinity: Unknown | Attack Pattern: Aggressive | Range: Close to Mid]

[Team Status: Integrity: 100% | Morale: Shaken | Roles: Tank-Active, DPS-Staggered, Support-Ready]

“Tank, draw aggro!” Mark shouted, stepping back as the team scrambled into their assigned roles.

The burly man, Drex, raised his shield, planting his feet firmly as the monster let out another guttural roar. The energy rippling from the beast made even his broad frame seem small.

“I’ve got it!” Drex bellowed as the Abomination's molten gaze locked onto him. The ground cracked beneath his boots as he held firm. “Focus on damage! Range, get moving!”

Another notification pulsed across Sue's vision:

[Abomination Threat Level: Stabilized | Target: Drex]

The casters fanned out, their hands glowing with energy as they began to cast. "On it!" one shouted, hurling a flaming projectile that burst against the Abomination’s side.

Sue darted to the flank, gripping her mace as the DPS group closed in. The weight of the weapon was both reassuring and overwhelming. Support. You’re just here to patch damage, she reminded herself. But her fingers itched, ready to swing.

“Left tentacle incoming!” one of the ranged scouts shouted as another blast echoed through the chamber.

The HP indicators blinked ominously in the corner of Sue’s vision, each flicker a grim reminder of their precarious situation. She swallowed hard, her throat dry as sand, while her gaze darted to the status overlay. Their tank, Drex, was already staggering under the pressure, his shield buckling with every strike from the abomination.

"We’re not equipped for this!" Sue hissed, panic lacing her words.

"Fall back!" Mark barked, his tone sharp and commanding, but Sue caught the crack of fear behind it. He scanned the group, his wide eyes locking on the DPS mage who fumbled with their casting focus. "Keep moving! Tanks, hold aggro; ranged, give us cover fire!"

But it was too late. The Corrupted Abomination lunged forward with a terrifying speed that defied its massive frame, its tentacles whipping through the air like striking vipers. One of its flailing appendages locked onto Tom, their lanky scout who had ventured too close.

"Tom! Get back!" Mark shouted, but the warning came too late. The tentacle coiled around Tom’s torso, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. His scream tore through the chamber, raw and panicked, as the monstrous grip tightened. The sickening crunch of bones echoed, and Sue flinched despite herself.

[Team Alert: Member Down - Tom (Status: Deceased)]

Blood seeped down the length of the tentacle, dripping onto the floor in heavy splatters. Tom's screams ended abruptly, his body limp as the beast discarded him like broken prey. The silence that followed was deafening. The sight froze the group for a moment before Mark’s voice cut through the horror.

"Focus! Hold the line! DPS, target the tentacles! Healers, prep recovery spells!"

Sue’s stomach churned as the chaos of the fight surged around her, but she forced herself to focus. Freezing up wasn’t an option—not when every second counted. A tentacle whipped toward her, the air buzzing as it narrowly missed her head. She dropped low, feeling the heat of its passage ruffle her hair.

"Sue, flank it!" Mark’s voice cut through the din, sharp and commanding.

She didn’t hesitate. Darting to the side, she swung her mace with all her strength, the heavy weapon connecting with a satisfying crunch against the writhing appendage. The tentacle recoiled with a shudder, ichor spilling from the deep gash she left behind. Her HUD updated immediately:

[Damage Dealt: 450 | Weak Point: Identified]

The Corrupted Abomination roared, a guttural sound that reverberated through the chamber and sent cracks splintering across the stone walls. Its glowing eyes flared brighter, its rage palpable as it swung wildly at the nearest target.

"Keep hitting it! Focus fire on the weak point!" Mark yelled, his voice ragged but unyielding.

"Keep hitting it!" Mark yelled, his face streaked with sweat and blood. "We need to wear it down!"

Sue gritted her teeth, her arms screaming in protest as she swung her mace in desperate arcs, every strike met with the sickening resistance of monstrous flesh. "We can’t keep this up forever!" someone shouted from the back, their voice strained with panic. "Healer, I need a recovery spell—now!" Drex bellowed, his shield barely holding against another crushing blow.

"Just a second!" the healer’s voice came, trembling but determined. Sue’s eyes flicked toward the mage, who hurled another fireball that exploded against the Abomination’s side, briefly halting its advance. The cacophony of commands and desperate reactions made the air buzz with tension, every word emphasizing how close they were to losing control of the fight. Around her, the cacophony of battle surged: the clash of metal against hide, the sharp cries of pain, and the wet, visceral sounds of tentacles tearing through defenses. Despite their efforts, it was clear—this fight was slipping beyond their control.

Her HUD pulsed with grim updates:

[Corrupted Abomination Vitality: 85% | Damage Threshold Unbroken | Enraged State: Imminent]

[Party Integrity: 65% | Tank Resilience: Critical | Healer Mana: Depleting]

"We’re losing ground!" one of the DPS shouted, their voice cracking under the strain. A sharp crack echoed as Drex’s shield splintered under another brutal hit, the tank staggering back with a guttural growl of pain.

"Pull back! Fall into formation!" Mark roared, his tone cutting through the chaos like a whip. "Drex, hold aggro for just a few more seconds! Everyone else, move!"

The System’s latest alert flashed before Sue’s eyes:

[Strategic Evaluation: Victory Probability: <15%. Retreat Strongly Advised.]

She swallowed hard, her heart pounding against her ribs. This wasn’t a battle they could win.

"Fall back!" Mark ordered, his voice raw from shouting. "This isn’t just a standard dungeon—it’s a double! Get to the exit, now!"

Sue’s heart sank. A double dungeon? The term was whispered in hushed tones among Hunters, a nightmare scenario reserved for the unlucky or the unprepared. They were rumored to link directly to higher-ranked dungeons, their difficulty escalating exponentially. Encounters with them were rare, their existence almost mythic, but one thing was certain: they were a death sentence for most.

Her HUD flickered with an ominous update:

[Double Dungeon Detected | Threat Level: Apex | Survival Probability: 12%]

"Form up! Defensive retreat!" Mark yelled, snapping the group out of their collective shock. "Drex, keep aggro! Ranged, suppress its movement! Healers, triage priority!"

As the group fell back, chaos erupted with each lashing tentacle of the Corrupted Abomination. Sue’s heart raced as she caught the cracks forming in their fragile retreat. Her instincts screamed to follow them—to survive—but something in her refused to look away from the monster tearing into their formation.

“Sue, cover us!” Mark shouted, his voice desperate, not commanding.

Her knuckles whitened around her mace as she scanned the group. Drex’s shield was shattered, the healers’ magic faltering, and the DPS barely managing to keep their footing. Without someone to hold the line, none of them would make it out alive.

She hesitated, then cursed under her breath. “Figures,” she muttered. No one else was stepping up. If she didn’t, it would be over for all of them.

Sue hesitated, her brother's face flashing in her mind. He was the reason she had survived this long—the reason she had taken every miserable job and fought through every near-death experience. She couldn’t leave him alone in this world. Memories surfaced unbidden: her brother’s laugh as they shared a stolen meal, his determined expression when he swore they’d make it out of this life together. "Don’t leave me, Sue," he had said, his voice raw with hope and fear.

But as she glanced at the group, stumbling and faltering under the relentless assault, the reality of the situation pressed down on her. Drex was barely holding the line, Mark was barking orders to a team on the verge of collapse, and the exit felt impossibly far away. If she didn’t act, they were all dead.

Her hands tightened around the mace, her knuckles pale. “You’ll owe me for this,” she muttered, her voice low and bitter. She wasn’t staying behind because she wanted to. She was staying because no one else could do it.

Sue pivoted sharply, planting herself between the beast and her retreating comrades. She tightened her grip on her mace, her pulse pounding in her ears. She wasn’t doing this for glory or even their approval. If she was going to risk it all, it was going to be on her terms.

Her HUD flickered ominously:

[Party Formation Adjusted: Rear Guard - Sue]

[Abomination Threat Redirected: Target - Sue]

[Damage Resistance: +15% (Rear Guard Bonus Active)]

“Go!” she yelled over her shoulder, her voice cutting through the chaos. “I’ll hold it off! Don’t make me regret this!”

Her heart pounded against her ribs as the beast’s molten eyes locked onto her. She gritted her teeth, swinging her mace with all her strength. The weapon connected with a wet crunch, forcing the creature to recoil slightly.

“This is for my brother,” she whispered, planting her feet firmly. She wasn’t going down easily—not when there was so much left to fight for.