Red stood alone in the shattered boss chamber, fragments of dissolved slime still slowly evaporating into mana particles. The oppressive pressure that once ruled the room had vanished, leaving behind only silence—and hunger.
"So this is the end of the first floor," Red said, his skeletal fingers tightening around his sword. "And the beginning of something worse."
Cuttey stood beside him, taller and more imposing than ever, black fur rippling faintly with mana. His crimson eyes scanned the shadows instinctively.
Red turned toward the exit.
"It's time to hunt humans," he said coldly. "But not like this."
His hollow gaze dropped to his exposed bones.
"Before that… I'll need a disguise."
He raised his hand.
"Lusifero."
The air tore open.
Darkness folded inward as the Demon King descended, his presence alone causing the dungeon walls to groan. Behind him, reality itself seemed to kneel.
"You called, my lord?" Lusifero said calmly.
Red faced him.
"I need a mask," Red said. "Something to walk among humans."
Lusifero smiled faintly—but shook his head.
"I can grant you one," he said. "However, I advise against it. In your current form, you are a skeleton. One holy purification spell, and you will be erased."
Red's eyes narrowed.
"So?"
"You should evolve first," Lusifero continued. "Become a Ghast. Only then will your body resist holy magic."
Red was silent for a moment.
"…Fine."
He turned away.
"I'll grind."
Lusifero bowed slightly.
"As you wish."
With that, the Demon King vanished, leaving only Red and Cuttey behind.
—
The dungeon echoed with death.
Red moved through the upper floors like a walking calamity.
A pack of cave wolves lunged from the shadows—Red stepped aside, decapitating two in a single swing. Cuttey tore through another, crushing its spine with his jaws.
A horned boar charged.
Red activated **Acid Bullet**.
The creature screamed as its body melted from within.
A pair of shadow bats descended from the ceiling—
Lightning flashed.
Their corpses hit the ground smoking.
Skeleton soldiers tried to surround him.
Red shattered them with raw force, crushing skulls beneath his boots.
A venom lizard leapt—
Sword through its throat.
Blood. Mana. Silence.
Again.
And again.
And again.
The dungeon floors became littered with broken corpses and shattered cores.
System notifications appeared repeatedly.
[Skill Acquired]
Danger Sense – Passive
[Skill Acquired]
Rapid Reaction – Passive
Red barely glanced at them.
He kept moving.
Hunting.
Grinding.
Hours passed.
By the time Red stopped, the system appeared again.
[Requirements for Evolution]
Mana: 5000 / 5000
Monster Cores: 10 / 10
Kill Count: 97 / 100
Red exhaled slowly.
"…Only three left."
The dungeon trembled.
A deep, heavy presence emerged from the shadows.
A massive wolf stepped forward—twice the size of ordinary dungeon beasts. Its fur was dark silver, its eyes glowing blue with intelligence and rage.
The Wolf Lord.
Red smiled.
"Now then," he said. "You'll do nicely."
The Wolf Lord howled.
The sound shook the dungeon walls.
Red raised his hand.
"Slime Authority."
The ground rippled as multiple slimes erupted from the floor, swarming the Wolf Lord from all directions. The beast roared, tearing through them violently.
"Acid Rain."
Corrosive droplets rained down, melting fur and flesh. The Wolf Lord staggered—but didn't fall.
It counterattacked.
Gravity magic erupted.
The dungeon floor twisted as invisible force tried to crush Red.
Red planted his feet.
"Not bad," he muttered.
Cuttey moved instantly.
The wolf leapt high, claws ripping across the Wolf Lord's face—directly into its eyes.
The beast screamed.
Red activated **Gravity Control**, disrupting the Wolf Lord's footing.
Then—
He drew his sword fully.
One step.
One slash.
The blade passed cleanly through the Wolf Lord's neck.
The massive body collapsed.
Silence followed.
The system appeared.
[Requirements for Evolution]
Mana: 5000 / 5000
Monster Cores: 10 / 10
Kill Count: 100 / 100
[Skills Acquired]
Wolf Claws
Danger Sense – Level 2
Instant Healing – Level 4
Physical Stamina Booster – Level 1
Red stood over the corpse.
"…Done."
The dungeon responded.
[System Notification]
All conditions have been met.
Evolution available: **Ghast**
Do you wish to evolve now?
YES / NO
Red didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
The screen shattered into crimson light.
—
Chapter End