Darkness swallowed him whole.
The moment the dungeon gates closed behind him, all sound from the outside world vanished. The air inside the Ashen Core Ruins was thick and heavy, filled with heat and the faint smell of burning stone. The ground beneath his feet glowed faintly red, as if lava flowed just beneath the surface.
He remained still, letting his senses stretch outward.
Every sound echoed too clearly. Every movement felt watched.
[Dungeon Status: Active]
[Floor: 1]
[Environmental Effect: Heat Pressure]
"So it starts immediately," he muttered.
The walls around him were carved from black stone, cracked and worn by time. Ancient runes pulsed faintly, reacting to his presence. With every step forward, the dungeon seemed to awaken further, as if testing him.
Then the floor trembled.
From the shadows ahead, shapes began to move.
Creatures crawled out from cracks in the ground—beasts made of molten rock and ash, their bodies glowing from within. Their eyes burned like embers as they turned toward him.
[Enemy Detected: Ash Beasts x12]
[Level: 24–25]
He exhaled slowly.
"Not strong," he said calmly. "But enough to warm up."
The Ash Beasts lunged.
He moved first.
The ground shattered as he stepped forward, fist crashing into the nearest creature. The beast exploded into fragments of stone and fire. He twisted, tail snapping through the air, sweeping three more aside in a single strike.
Flames surged along his arms as he activated Flame Manipulation, shaping the fire instead of releasing it wildly. Controlled bursts incinerated enemies without wasting energy.
[XP Gained: +480]
More beasts rushed him, claws scraping against stone, heat washing over his body. Their attacks landed—but barely slowed him. His scales shimmered faintly beneath his skin, absorbing the impact.
He crushed them one by one.
Efficient. Clean.
Within seconds, the corridor fell silent again.
[Enemies Eliminated]
[HP: 136/140]
"Too easy," he said.
As if responding to his words, the dungeon shifted.
The floor cracked open ahead, revealing a wide chamber. Lava flowed through deep channels, lighting the room in violent red. Stone pillars rose from the molten ground, some broken, others standing tall like ancient sentinels.
And at the center of it all—
Something big moved.
A massive creature rose from the lava, its body towering over the chamber. Its form was draconic but twisted, scales blackened and cracked, magma leaking from between them. Horns curved back from its skull, and its eyes burned with ancient hatred.
[Elite Enemy Detected]
[Ashen Drake]
[Level: 26]
Now this was worth his time.
A low rumble escaped his chest—not fear, but excitement.
"So even the first floor has something like you," he said.
The Ashen Drake roared, shaking the chamber. Lava splashed violently as it charged, jaws opening wide.
The Hybrid didn't retreat.
He stepped forward instead.
Wings burst from his back as he shifted partially, using them to propel himself upward. The drake snapped at empty air as he soared above it, flames gathering along his arm.
"Dragon Surge."
[Skill Activated: Dragon Surge]
[All Attributes Increased]
He came down like a meteor.
His fist slammed into the drake's skull, driving it into the ground. The impact cracked stone and sent shockwaves across the chamber. Lava surged violently.
The drake screamed and retaliated, tail whipping around and slamming into his side. He was sent flying, crashing into a pillar hard enough to shatter it.
[HP Reduced: -18]
He rolled to his feet immediately, eyes sharp.
"Good," he said quietly.
The drake lunged again, breathing molten fire. He raised his arm, fire spiraling tightly around it, and punched straight through the attack. The flames parted, unable to overpower his control.
He closed the distance in an instant.
Tail strikes shattered scales. Claws tore through magma-hardened flesh. Each exchange shook the chamber, lava spilling and stone collapsing.
The Ashen Drake fought fiercely, but it was clear—it was facing something beyond its level.
With a final roar, he gathered fire into his chest.
"Burn."
A concentrated blast erupted point-blank, engulfing the drake entirely. The creature screamed once before collapsing, its body cracking apart and dissolving into molten fragments.
Silence returned.
[Elite Enemy Defeated]
[XP Gained: +2,100]
[Level Up!]
[Current Level: 25]
He stood alone in the ruined chamber, breathing steadily.
The heat no longer bothered him.
Instead, he felt it.
Growth.
This dungeon… he thought, eyes glowing faintly. It's exactly what I needed.
The runes on the walls flared brighter, reacting to his level increase. A passage opened on the far side of the chamber, leading deeper underground.
[Next Floor Unlocked]
[Warning: Difficulty Increased]
He glanced at the path ahead, then at the drake's remains fading into ash.
"This is only the beginning," he said.
With calm steps and burning eyes, he walked forward, deeper into the Ashen Core Ruins—ready for whatever the dungeon had left to throw at him.