I spotted another monkey scout near the entrance of the cave. It ducks away when it sees me. What’s that all about? I check my Shirasaya to make sure it’s secure before moving. I walk in a random direction and carve into trees using the retractable switchblade to ensure I know the way back.
I find all kinds of animals and beasts roaming around the forest, including pesky bugs. I stopped after an hour to cook up a quail I spotted and killed. I feed a large portion of it to the entrapped rabbit in an attempt to make it more amiable towards me.
I move on and stumble across a portal.
----------------------------------------
White-room Dungeon - E Rank - Minimum Requirement: Level 50 - 3 Awakened recommended
The Dungeon Portal is a mystical archway adorned with glowing runes, serving as a doorway to hidden and hazardous dungeons teeming with danger and treasures. Infused with ancient magic, it can transport adventurers instantly to distant and mysterious realms.
----------------------------------------
Thalanda, I’m sorry, but I can’t wait. Not when there are levels to be taken. I enter the portal along with the Rabbit and Onyx.
I appear in a white room with nothing else. Well, this is different.
----------------------------------------
First Of Four Waves Incoming.
----------------------------------------
Three squirrels appear in the room.
----------------------------------------
Common Spitting Squirrels - Level 10 - F rank x4
----------------------------------------
Onyx leaps off my head and runs toward the four squirrels. I watch in shock as it gets its paws on one and rips the squirrel apart before any of the poor creatures notice what happened. He pulls out the essence stone and I watch him swallow it whole.
Onyx chases another of the squirrels and pounces on it. It rips out the squirrel’s neck and bashes in its head to find the essence stone. He swallows it as well and goes after the last two. My jaws drop to the floor as another one gets the same treatment. Do all animals eat essence stones? I thought anyone would die from eating them.
----------------------------------------
Onyx cub - Level 12 - F rank
----------------------------------------
Onyx walks back to me with the last squirrel dead in his mouth. After placing it in front of me, he climbs up my pants and goes to sit on my head again all the while licking the blood off his fur. I look down at the entrapped rabbit and the horror on its face is all too apparent.
I get a notification as the next wave comes. This time composed of three level 30 wolves who are about waist height. One of the wolves charges at me the second it appears and bites into my leg. It rips my pants but my skin holds strong. I ignore and pick up the rabbit, untying the fabric and trapping it.
The second it’s free, it leaps at the wolf whose jaw was around my leg. The other two wolves run to help their comrade but Onyx jumps off my head to confront them. I decapitate one quickly and step to watch the fight between Onyx and the wolf. I stand ready to jump in if it seems like he’ll get hurt.
The wolf ignores the tiny cub, swiping him away, in favour of helping his packmate who's fighting with the rabbit. Onyx doesn’t take that lightly and jumps onto the back of the wolf ripping open a hole and crawling into it. That cub is insane.
I watch as the wolf runs in a circle, trying to reach Onyx who’s doing god knows what inside the wolf’s body. The roughed-up rabbit finishes its fight and hops beside me to watch the kerfuffle.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Not long after I get a notification saying that the second wave has been cleared. Waving it away, I see Onyx crawl out of the wolf’s body and return to me soaked in blood. He tries to climb up to lay on my head but I take a step back causing him to tilt his head in confusion. I pick him and rabbit up, placing them in a corner of the room.
Two hyenas appear in the room. One larger than the other.
----------------------------------------
Hyena - level 50 - E rank x2
----------------------------------------
I brandish my sword and run toward them. I slash at one, grazing it. They move in opposite directions and I watch them circle me. My eyes flick toward Onyx and the rabbit, but the Hyenas don’t even spare a glance toward them.
I feel the comforting weight of my steel sword and pivot as the hyenas lunge forward, their teeth bared. My sword comes down on the one in front of me, causing a large tear on its body. The one behind me manages to bite down on my bicep. The wounded one yelps and moves backward while the larger one distracts me.
I readjust my stance and twirl my sword, feeling the blood drip from the bite wound on my bicep. I channel life steal and take the initiative. I run at the smaller, wounded hyena and tackle it to the floor. My sword plunges deep into it and my wounds heal as his life force enters me.
The larger beast howls in anguish and charges at me. I maneuver around it and plunge my sword into its neck as it passes by me, tearing the animal apart into two. I get a notification that the third wave is done and the fourth wave is starting.
A large bear appears in the middle of the room before I can get my bearings. It rams me in my stomach and I let out a groan. That hurt. I try to move but it comes at me again with a roar. I run away to make distance heading to the nearest wall.
----------------------------------------
Bear - Level 70 - E rank
----------------------------------------
I clutch my sword to try to calm my nerves as I run toward the wall. I jump off the wall with a backflip. I sheathe my sword as I fall into the first form of the Sword, [Honō no Kiri].
“Blazing Slash,” I whisper as I unsheathe my sword in a slashing motion.
My blade curves through the air, causing an Invisible Eruption to occur. I feel a deep hollowness overtake me and land on my knees, coughing blood.
My head blows up with dings as notifications assault me. I try to get up but my head starts to feel woozy and I end up losing consciousness.
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
I wake up to Onyx licking my face. I get up and rub my head trying to think about what happened. I guess the old bastard was right when he made me create and practice those damn forms until I nearly collapsed from exhaustion. Although he never told me it would be this effective.
I pull myself together, pushing through the mental exhaustion and get up to leave the dungeon before it closes. I look around to see a chest beside the exit portal. I ignore it for now and walk up to the bear which has no other other visible injury except a hole the size of Onyx in it.
I push my hand in to pull out an artifact orb, but no essence stone. I look around to find a blood-soaked Onyx terrorizing the rabbit and shake my head. I’m too tired for this Essence Orb stealer. I check the rest of the beasts I killed and find the Essence stone missing for all of them.
I stumble over to the chest to find a water-filtering canteen inside. Taking my loot, I pick up Onyx putting him on my head and grabbing the rabbit.
“You’re still alive, so I guess I should name you. Mhmm, you’re name is now Thistle,” I tiredly whisper.
I leave the dungeon carrying my loot and the two beasts. I somehow make it back to the cave without any trouble. I walk into the main chamber of the cave, dump everything that’s on me, and slip into bed, ignoring all the blood and pus staining it.
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
I awake after some time and stretch my stiff limbs. I rub my temple and groan. I feel like I’ve been hit by a Bus. I lay back down and expand my notifications.
----------------------------------------
...
You have unlocked the sword forms; Chains of the Eternal Edge.
Sword forms linking with Void Status,
You have killed Bear - Level 70 - E rank
You have levelled up x2
‘Onyx - Level 23 - F rank’ has contracted with your Phantom Heart.
You have unlocked the ability to see Onyx’s status.
----------------------------------------
Y’know, I wasn’t expecting to see that. I sit up and look around for Onyx. Not finding him, I frown and get up. Where did he go? I see Thistle sleeping at my feet, but Onyx is seemingly gone.