The dungeon roared.
Dust fell from the ceiling like ash as the ancient door behind Aiden groaned open inch by inch. A wave of freezing air blasted out—so cold his breath crystallized instantly.
Aiden's heartbeat thudded once.
Twice.
Every instinct screamed at him:
""Run.""
But he didn't.
He turned his head, forcing himself to face whatever was crawling out of the darkness.
At first, only a massive claw emerged—black, bony, with glowing red veins. Then another claw dug into the stone floor, cracking it like fragile glass.
The creature outside the door—
Was enormous.
Far too large to belong in an E-rank dungeon.
Aiden's throat tightened.
"This… this is impossible."
The pale humanoid behind him chuckled softly.
"Impossible? No. Mistakes are rarely impossible. Merely… rare."
Aiden snapped back.
"Shut up."
The pale creature tilted its head.
"You should not exist with that system. And this dungeon… was not meant to react to you."
Aiden swallowed hard as the massive beast squeezed further into the chamber. Its body was a mix of fur and exposed bone, like a wolf forced into a grotesque new shape. Four glowing red eyes blinked independently, focusing directly on him.
""[Warning: Catastrophic Threat Detected]
Rank: S? (Unclear)
Status: Emerging]""
Aiden froze.
"An S-rank… inside an E-rank dungeon?"
The pale figure nodded slowly.
"You understand now. Your presence contaminates the dungeon. Warps its boundaries. That door was dormant—for decades."
Its smile widened.
"Until you touched it."
Aiden gritted his teeth.
"What does this have to do with my system?"
The creature blinked.
"Everything."
Before Aiden could respond—
The colossal beast let out a guttural roar.
It shook the entire dungeon.
Stone cracked.
Stalactites fell.
The floor split beneath Aiden's feet.
He barely jumped aside as the wolf's claw slammed the ground where he had stood, carving a massive crater.
Aiden skid-rolled, pushing to his feet.
The pressure.
The killing intent.
He couldn't breathe.
Its aura alone felt like drowning under an ocean.
""If I take even one hit… I'm dead.""
The pale humanoid spoke again, voice cold and almost disappointed.
"Run, Aiden Blackwood. Run if you wish to live. You are not ready."
Aiden's teeth clenched.
"No."
Power surged in his chest.
Not from strength.
Not from skill.
But from sheer defiance.
"I didn't survive the island to die here."
The wolf lunged at him.
Aiden dodged—barely—feeling the wind of its claws slice across his cheek. Blood dripped down, hot and sharp.
The System pinged.
""[Hate Detected Nearby]
Source: Unknown Entity
+11 Points]""
Aiden blinked.
""The pale humanoid HATED him.""
And that hatred—
Was making him stronger.
He smirked despite the danger.
"Thanks for the boost."
The pale creature frowned in confusion for the first time.
Aiden felt strength rush into his limbs.
""[+2 STR]
[+1 AGI]
[+1 VIT]""
Small boosts—but boosts he desperately needed.
The wolf struck again.
Aiden ducked, sprinting toward a broken stalagmite. He grabbed a jagged stone chunk and hurled it with all the force he had.
It hit the wolf's snout.
Barely a scratch.
The beast roared and swiped in a wide arc. Aiden leapt back—too slow. The claws grazed his side, ripping fabric and skin.
Blood sprayed.
Pain exploded across his ribs.
He gasped—but didn't fall.
""[Auto-Pain Resistance: Adaptation Triggered]
Slight damage reduction applied]""
Aiden wiped blood from his lip.
"This thing… is beyond anything I've fought."
The wolf crouched, preparing for a killing leap.
Aiden's vision sharpened.
Heart pounding.
Hands trembling.
He wasn't strong enough.
Not yet.
Not alone.
But then—
His system pinged again.
Not from hatred.
Not from killing intent.
Something else.
""[New Condition Detected]
Dungeon Door Residual Energy Responding to Host]""
The symbols on the ancient door behind him glowed brighter.
Aiden felt a pull on his chest—
The same pull he'd felt before the door opened.
His All-Seeing Eye activated on its own.
The world shifted into blue and gold lines.
""He saw something.""
A second door.
Hidden behind the chamber walls.
A smaller door.
Not glowing.
Not locked.
Not watched.
But pulsing.
Pulsing with power.
""A secret exit.""
Aiden's breath caught.
"I can't kill this thing… but I can survive."
He turned and sprinted.
The wolf roared, chasing him, claws tearing the ground apart behind him.
The pale humanoid watched silently.
Aiden reached the wall, pressed his hand to the glowing crack—
And a small doorway unfolded like peeling shadows.
The wolf lunged—
Aiden dove through the opening—
And the door slammed shut behind him.
The chamber fell silent.
He lay on the ground, gasping, heart racing.
Darkness surrounded him.
A small notification flickered.
""[Hidden Pathway Entered]
Area Rank: Unknown
System Reaction: Unstable]""
Aiden looked up—eyes narrowing.
"…Unstable?"
But then—
Torches lit themselves along the passage.
And a voice echoed through the darkness.
Not the wolf.
Not the pale humanoid.
Something older.
Heavier.
Vibrating through the dungeon walls.
""Come to me, System-Breaker.""
Aiden froze.
His blood went cold.
The voice continued—
""The others cannot know you are awake. Hurry… before they seal this dungeon forever.""
A chill crawled down his spine.
Someone… something… was waiting deeper inside.
Someone who knew about his system.
Someone who feared others finding him.
Aiden clenched his fists.
"…Where the hell am I..?"
Chapter 07: Ends
""To Be Continued…""