The stone gate of the Accramtic Dungeon stood tall and silent, its ancient surface carved with runes long forgotten.
Red Itu swallowed as he stepped inside.
Cold air rushed past him, heavy with the stench of blood and decay.
Behind him walked the A-Rank party—Gai, Anoz, K, and their leader, Somi.
Red carried their bags, monster cores clinking softly inside. His sword rested at his waist, fingers brushing the hilt unconsciously.
"Let's head straight to the fortieth floor," Somi said calmly.
Red's eyes widened.
"F-fortieth…?" he hesitated.
Gai laughed loudly. "Relax, kid. You'll be fine if you stay behind."
Anoz smirked. "Just do what you're told."
K didn't say anything. His eyes were sharp, calculating—watching Red more than the dungeon itself.
Somi raised her hand.
"Move out."
---
The dungeon swallowed them whole.
Floor after floor, monsters appeared.
Skeletons rose from shattered bones, swords clattering in empty hands.
Gai crushed them effortlessly.
"Too slow," he mocked.
Wolves lunged from shadows, teeth snapping.
Anoz split them apart with brutal efficiency.
Ghouls crawled across the ceiling, screeching.
K erased them instantly with strange sphere-shaped magic—silent, precise.
Red followed behind, heart pounding, forced to butcher the remains.
He hacked apart corpses, pulled glowing cores from rotting flesh, his hands trembling.
*This isn't iron-rank work…*
Hyenas attacked in packs, laughter-like shrieks echoing through tunnels.
Red barely avoided being torn apart.
Then—
A roar shook the dungeon.
Two massive heads emerged from the darkness.
A **two-headed lion**.
Its bodies moved as one, eyes glowing with murderous intent.
Even the A-Rank party stiffened.
"Troublesome," Somi muttered.
The battle lasted long.
Too long.
Fifty movements.
Dodging. Blocking. Counterattacking.
Red was slammed into walls repeatedly while trying to stay out of the way.
Gai lost blood.
Anoz screamed as claws tore his shoulder.
Then—
K raised his hand.
Three glowing spheres formed.
"Third Art," he whispered. "Sphere."
The spheres flew.
They pierced both heads simultaneously.
In a blinding flash, the monster vanished—its body vaporized completely.
Silence followed.
Red stared, shaking.
*This… is A-Rank.*
K wiped blood from his mouth.
"…We move."
---
By the time they reached the fortieth floor, Red's body was aching beyond limit.
The boss room door creaked open.
A massive chamber revealed itself.
Then—
A presence.
Heavy. Crushing.
Red's instincts screamed.
From the darkness stepped a colossal wolf, fur like iron, eyes glowing ancient red.
The **Great Wolf King**.
The dungeon itself seemed to bow.
"…Shit," Gai whispered.
The wolf attacked.
Instantly.
Chaos erupted.
Anoz was crushed under a paw.
Gai was thrown across the room.
Somi slashed repeatedly, but the wolf barely flinched.
K unleashed magic after magic.
The wolf roared.
One swipe—
K was torn in half.
Blood sprayed the stone.
"K!" Red screamed.
Somi's face twisted—but only briefly.
She turned.
Her eyes locked onto Red.
"Change of plan," she said coldly.
Before Red could react, Gai shoved him forward.
"Buy us time," Anoz growled.
Red's world froze.
"W-what…?"
Somi met his eyes.
"You're useful enough."
They ran.
They left him.
The gate slammed shut.
Red stood alone.
The Wolf King's gaze fixed on him.
"So… this is how it ends," Red whispered.
The battle was hell.
Red slashed desperately.
Claws tore through his armor.
Bones cracked.
Blood pooled beneath him.
Cuttey tried to protect him—was flung aside, whimpering.
Red screamed.
He triggered a hidden dungeon trap by pure luck.
A massive strike slammed the wolf.
But it wasn't enough.
Red collapsed.
His sword slipped from his hand.
The Wolf King loomed above him.
Breathing heavy.
Red's vision blurred.
*Grandma…*
---
Outside the dungeon—
Somi and the survivors staggered toward the guild, wounded and bloodied.
Somi spoke first.
"Red Itu betrayed us."
Liliya froze.
"He's a vampire," Somi continued calmly. "He summoned the Wolf King. K died because of him."
Silence.
The guild master's face darkened.
"This is serious."
Liliya bowed.
"I'll inform the Church."
The Church responded instantly.
Royal Knights of the Italian Kingdom followed.
Twenty knights marched.
Steel. Holy light.
"A perfect chance," the Church whispered.
"To purge a vampire."
---
Back in the dungeon—
Red lay on the cold stone.
His sword lay inches away.
The Wolf King raised its paw.
Outside—
Boots echoed toward Red's home.
Steel against stone.
The hunt had begun.