Rio swallowed hard and looked at the massive Storm Wolf. He tightened his grip on his axe and raised a giant shield in front of him, leaving a small gap to keep watch on the still-sleeping wolf, who hadn't stirred even after Rio entered.
"Is it really asleep… or just pretending?"
Rio wondered internally, not making any rash moves. He stayed cautious, sweat pouring from his forehead like an open faucet due to the intense tension.
When he realized the Storm Wolf hadn't woken and didn't even take him seriously, anger burned in his chest… that cruel feeling of being ignored—something he was far too familiar with.
Rio's eyes glowed a dark crimson, a mix of rage and hatred. He bit his lip so hard that blood trickled down, exhaling hot breath like a beast's growl.
"It's as if my pride was buried here… in this silence…"
He surged with power, then dashed at lightning speed toward the sleeping wolf, raising his axe high with an iron grip.
At that moment, the Storm Wolf slowly opened one golden eye and finally woke up. But by then, the axe was already descending with deadly force—aimed at the tail.
Everyone knew—the tail was one of its weakest points. If damaged, the wolf's strength would surely diminish.
But would the Storm Wolf allow that?
In a flash, it whipped its massive tail like a hurricane, activating the skill "Storm Tail."
The attack was as violent as a whirlwind, sending Rio flying through the air like a rag doll. But he steadied himself at the last second, driving his shield into the ground to reduce the force of the impact.
The grounded shield left a long gouge in the earth, marking its drag path. Dust exploded behind him in a circular arc.
Rio panted heavily, his chest rising and falling rapidly, his hand trembling on the axe handle.
"He's strong… and he's not even fully awake…"
As he tried to catch his breath, the Storm Wolf stood up completely and gave him a look filled with fury and disdain.
In its eyes, a message was clear:
"How dare you, insect, wake me?"
Despite the pain eating at his body, Rio chuckled faintly and said with a mocking tone as he drew his axe:
"Heh… Are you mad that I woke you? Fine… I'll make sure you sleep forever!"
The Storm Wolf's body trembled with rage, and it let out a terrifying roar, unleashing its skill "Battle Howl."
The sound was so fearsome that the air itself shook. Rio felt frozen in place by sheer terror. He wanted to move… to scream… to do something—but his body wouldn't respond.
Suddenly, the Storm Wolf appeared in front of him like a bolt of lightning and swung its thunder-covered claw toward him with terrifying speed.
"Damn it—!"
Rio was hurled back, slamming into the wall with brutal force.
"Ugh!!"
He coughed blood and collapsed to the ground, his body shattered and his breath ragged.
The Storm Wolf approached him with slow, heavy steps. Each one echoed like a death knell.
Rio tried to rise, pressing against the ground with all he had, but the pain was unbearable.
"Damn it… this pain… it's hell…"
His entire body trembled, every bone screaming. He tried to stand and fell again, as the wolf growled mockingly—its voice like dry laughter.
"Still resisting? How pathetic…"
That's what its eyes said.
He tried again, but his body refused. Life was slipping away, and his consciousness began to fade.
Memories flashed before his eyes like ghosts of the past:
"Oh, he's the biggest failure I've ever seen!"
"Ha! Who said he'd be a star?"
"You're not my son."
"You're an embarrassment to me. How can you be my brother?"
"Marry you? Ha! Did a donkey kick your head?"
Laughter. Mockery. Disdainful looks. All cut his heart like blades.
"Is this how I die? Alone, judged by all, killed by a beast… after I thought my life would change?"
But amidst the darkness, a blurry image of a woman appeared…
"Rio… I know you'll become strong."
Her face was unclear, but her voice was etched deep in his soul.
"Mom…"
Though he no longer remembered her face, that voice brought him back to life.
Then came another memory… a muscular man wearing a short skirt and a lion's head helmet.
"Stand up! Fight! FIGHT!!"
He was battling a giant beast—its features unclear—but Rio knew who it was… Hercules.
Something ignited in his veins. Hercules' words were like a spark in the depths of darkness.
He stood slowly, his body trembling, but he stood. His eyes burned like live embers, and an aura of power surged around him.
A mighty roar echoed behind him…
A massive lion, ghostly and transparent, appeared, roaring like an angry king. The wind howled around him.
The Storm Wolf was stunned but still didn't take him seriously…
Rio planted his feet, then charged at the wolf, raising his heavy shield to block the expected blow.
Seeing Rio daring to attack again, the wolf grew enraged and lunged, mouth open, revealing fangs sharp enough to shred steel.
Rio shoved his shield forward to block, then swung his axe with force, aiming for the wolf's right flank.
The wolf mocked the predictable move, but then the unexpected happened—Rio adjusted his angle mid-swing, targeting the wolf's right leg instead… where an old injury still lingered.
The wolf tried to retreat, but Rio shoved his shield again, disrupting its movement and landing a blow on the injured leg. It wasn't fatal, but the pain was intense.
The wolf howled in agony, glaring at Rio with burning hatred.
But Rio didn't stop. He kept charging, building momentum.
Before the wolf could launch a counterattack, Rio had already swung his axe toward its face. The wolf moved its head just in time—but lost one of its eyes.
The Storm Wolf roared in fury and activated "Fangs of the Storm." Rio raised his shield to block, but was forced back, his hand erupting with blood and his mouth bleeding heavily.
"Arghhh!!"
He screamed in pain. His hand barely held the shield.
"Damn it… this pain is unbearable…"
But he didn't drop the shield. He knew losing it meant losing his chance at survival.
Seeing Rio still standing, the wolf, now furious, leapt into the air, ready to tear his head off.
But as it neared, it saw a smile on Rio's face…
In the next instant, it realized it had been tricked. It tried to dodge—but too late.
Rio had channeled all his strength into the axe. Its blade shimmered like a blue star in the sky.
He swung the axe down hard—right at the wolf's right leg.
The sound of flesh tearing echoed…
The scent of blood filled the air, and the Storm Wolf howled in agony as it lost its leg.
It writhed in pain, but the hatred in its eyes only burned brighter—like flames.
Ryo smirked coldly, wiping the blood off his cheek with trembling fingertips.
"Does it hurt? Good… a wound for a wound, as they say: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."
He stared at the wolf, eyes glowing with fury, biting down on his lip before speaking in a voice as cold as frost.
"I started this, sure… but it doesn't matter. In the end, you're going to die."
He pointed his axe at the beast, and an angry howl echoed through the area, its sound reverberating among the trees and rocks.
The storm raged around them, carrying the scent of iron and blood, but the wolf was crippled.
It had lost one of its legs and could no longer run or fight.
Ryo launched forward again, his steps muffled on the blood-soaked ground.
He didn't let his guard down—his eyes darted around quickly, axe raised.
What if the wolf had one last trick?
He had to end this swiftly… with overwhelming force.
The wolf roared, trying to activate the skill "Storm Tail,"
But Ryo, watching sharply like a hawk, recognized the attack's predictable path.
He leapt aside with lightning speed and struck precisely at the creature's neck.
The sound of flesh tearing filled the air, followed by a long, agonized howl—one filled with rage and despair.
But against an SSS-level force, even though Ryo had not yet matured into one of the Lords, his strike was fatal.
The wolf's head flew into the air, and hot blood gushed from its neck like a fountain, staining the ground with a brilliant crimson.
Ryo stepped back, blood dripping from his hair and his heavy axe.
[Level Up]
[Level Up]
[Level Up]
[Level Up]
[You gained +4 Strength Points, +4 Mana Points]
Ryo collapsed to the ground, his chest rising and falling rapidly, gasping for breath with his face tilted toward the gray, clouded sky.
Sweat mixed with blood on his pale skin, and his breaths came in ragged bursts between a tired laugh.
"That was almost the end for me... but, hahaha, I survived!"
He chuckled lightly and continued as he stood up, struggling.
"Yeah... in the end, it's really hard to kill me."
Thanks to the level-up, his wounds healed at an astonishing rate.
He stood, flexing his tired muscles with his left hand, while gripping the axe in his right.
His gaze shifted toward a ruined corner of a wall—and there, thanks to the "True Eye," a hidden spot was revealed.
Amid the rubble and dust, a small bronze chest stood out.
He knelt before it, inhaling the scent of old metal mixed with earth and dampness, then opened it slowly, holding his breath.
Inside, he found a skill book and a strange-looking ring.
Ryo activated his "True Eye " to inspect the mysterious items.
[Name: Insight]
[Type: Skill]
[Rank: S]
[Properties: Allows extremely detailed observation of all elements. Reveals opponent weaknesses. Grants high vision range and night vision.]
[Do you want to learn this skill? Yes/No]
Ryo's eyes widened in shock, stunned by the rank and unique properties of the skill.
Without hesitation, he pressed "Yes."
Suddenly, he felt a light itch in his eyes. Then, his vision expanded, and the world seemed to slow down before him.
Ryo laughed joyfully, then turned his gaze to the ring.
[Name: Ring of Deception]
[Type: Gear]
[Rank: Legendary]
[Properties: Allows you to hide your level and aura below zero. You can customize it as you wish. Also enables shapeshifting for one hour.]
Ryo's breath grew heavy as he stared at the ring in disbelief.
"A Legendary-ranked ring… only SS-level awakeners have something like this!"
Now, Ryo possessed an S-rank skill and Legendary equipment.
Unbelievable!
Suddenly, he recalled Eva words—that his interference would change destiny.
He muttered with a cold smile and a mocking gleam in his eyes:
"I wonder who lost this opportunity... I can't wait to see their face when they find out."
What Ryo didn't know… was that he had just saved the world from a villain that was meant to be born inside that dungeon and claim the hidden rewards.
But Ryo would never know.
And neither would the world.
_____
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