The moment Ethan stepped through the dungeon gate, the world shifted.
A wave of humidity struck him first, clinging to his skin like a damp cloth. The stench followed—mildew, rot, and the acrid tang of something long dead. The Rotwood Den lived up to its name. The air was thick, nearly stagnant, as if even the breeze had been afraid to enter. Twisted roots bulged from the moss-covered ground, and patches of glowing fungi lit the otherwise shadowy cavern in an eerie blue hue. Water dripped from the stone ceiling at irregular intervals, echoing softly across the hollow chamber.
Ethan took a steadying breath and activated his system interface.
[SYSTEM PAGE - ETHAN VALE]
Class: Mage
Talent: Mana Overflow
Class Rank: F
HP: 210 / 210
STA: 110 / 110
Stamina Regen: 110 Stamina / Hour
Mana: 236 / 940
Mana Regen: 940 Mana / Hour
STR: 11
VIT: 21 (+10)
AGI: 11
STA: 11
Mana: 94
Spell Power: 91
Spells: 1 / 6
Spell Memory:
F-Rank - Fireball
Mastery: 42.68% → 44.16%
Mana Cost: 10 Mana
Cooldown: 2 seconds
Range: 20 Meters
Base Damage: (50 → 70) → 134 (+64 from spellpower)
He closed the screen with a blink. There was no time to overthink.
A few meters in, the entrance behind him shimmered and faded, sealing the portal. A small chime rang in his mind.
[You have entered: Rotwood Den - F Rank Dungeon]
Ethan rested a hand on his chestplate, grounding himself. It was one thing to train in a controlled environment, and another to be alone in an actual dungeon with real monsters. But the spell-casting muscle memory kicked in. He wasn't here to sightsee.
He crept forward, careful not to trip on twisted roots or disturb the clusters of glowing mushrooms. Minutes passed before he heard it: a faint skittering echoing through the tunnel ahead.
Ethan ducked behind a jagged rock outcrop and peered around the side.
Three large, mangy rats crept into view. Each was the size of a medium dog, fur patchy and slick with moisture. Their red eyes gleamed in the low light, and their yellowed teeth scraped against the ground as they sniffed.
A faint glow lit up the monsters as his system interface tagged them:
[Feral Rat - F Rank]
HP: 100 / 100
He exhaled slowly, bracing himself. Despite their hideous appearance, they were just monsters. It was his first real kill.
With a smooth motion, Ethan stepped into the open and raised his hand. The warmth of mana pulsed through his veins.
"Fireball."
A sphere of flame burst into existence, flaring in the dim air. It shot forward, hitting the first rat square in the chest.
-134
The rat disintegrated instantly into glowing blue particles, leaving behind a faint shimmer. A dull clink followed as a small crystal dropped to the dirt floor.
The other two hissed and lunged toward him, but Ethan was already charging another spell. His fingers tingled from the residual heat.
"Fireball."
Another rat went up in flames.
-134
He pivoted slightly and released the third fireball just as the final rat leapt toward him. The impact threw the beast back midair.
-134
Three monsters, three hits.
Ethan stood still for a moment, chest rising and falling. The adrenaline surge faded quickly, replaced by a wave of pride. He'd done it. Real monsters, real battle. And he was still standing.
He walked over and picked up the glowing mana crystals. The translucent blue gems pulsed faintly in his palm. Not heavy, but sturdy. The backpack's crystal-lined pouch made a faint hum as he dropped them in.
[Mana Crystals Acquired: 3x F-Rank]
He moved forward, deeper into the den. The dungeon was mostly linear, with occasional side paths that looped back into the main chamber. Over the next hour, Ethan cut down wave after wave of feral rats. Sometimes in pairs, sometimes alone. He rarely needed more than a single fireball, other than the few times he missed.
All of them had 100 HP, and with 134 base damage, his spell was a guaranteed one-shot. Since this was only an F-rank dungeon it doesn't have any Elite monsters, other than the be boss.
The mana drain was noticeable but manageable. With his absurd regeneration rate, his pool refilled rapidly. He kept a steady pace: spell, step forward, gather crystal, repeat.
His spell mastery rose steadily, and he got more confident.
But the ease lulled him.
It happened about halfway through the dungeon. A group of four rats emerged from a dark crevice, scurrying toward him from an angle he hadn't checked. One moved to his left, another directly forward. He reacted fast—too fast.
He stepped back, overconfident, and misjudged a root underfoot.
His boot snagged.
He fell backwards, and his fireball shot wide, crashing harmlessly into a wall.
The rats seized the moment.
One lunged.
Ethan twisted, his chestplate taking the hit, the blow sending a jolt through his ribs.
-21 HP
He cursed, rolled sideways, and blasted a fireball point-blank.
-134
The rat vanished in a burst of blue.
He sprang to his feet, helmet clattering slightly, and loosed another blast at the second closest.
-134
Another gone.
The third was already in the air. He raised his arm as it collided with him, its teeth gnashing against his helmet.
-16 HP
Ethan gritted his teeth, charged, and fired. Point-blank.
-134
The fourth fled, squealing. He didn't let it go.
-134
Silence returned.
Ethan panted hard, checking his system.
HP: 173 / 210
He wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Okay," he muttered, breathless. "That was scary. If I hadn't bought my equipment I would have lost over a third of my hp."
He gathered the crystals and took a short break, leaning against the cavern wall. The incident left him sharper, more alert.
The rest of the trek was smoother. He kept his distance, double-checked corners, and moved with practiced precision. Spell after spell, rat after rat, until finally— the tunnel widened.
Ahead loomed a thick, overgrown wooden gate, sealed with creeping vines and thick mushrooms growing along the base.
A notification chimed softly.
[Boss Room Discovered]
He then chose to take a break, and recover both his stamina and mana, since this had taken more of a toll on him than he thought it would.
After 30 minutes he cracked his neck, rotated his shoulders, and let a grin creep across his face.
"Time to see what you've got."