-Tap-Tap-Tap...
The sound of my footsteps echoed down the damp, uneven tunnel, blending into the muted noise of the few other adventurers heading in and out of the Dungeon.
I kept my pace slow, trying to calm the chaotic rhythm of the heart pounding in my chest. It was an even mix of nervous adrenaline and fear.
Fear, because I now knew what it actually felt like to fight for my life.
The phantom pain of being beaten and ripped apart still twitched deep inside my nerves, acting as a very grounding reminder to never let my guard down again, especially without Nom-Nom or Peko around.
Cold sweat already soaked the back of my tunic while my eyes darted left and right, scanning the shadows for anything waiting to spring a trap.
I wasn't taking any chances today. I kept a two-second Precognition constantly running in the background, pairing it with a 5 MP Ice Reinforcement focused purely on boosting my cognition.
