CHAPTER 41: INFERNAL HOUNDS

[Enemy Detected: Infernal Hounds x3]

[Rank: Wretch/Vile]

[Level: 25-28]

[HP: 800-1,200]

[Abilities: Pack tactics, Fire resistance, Bite attacks cause burning damage.]

[Warning: These creatures are significantly more dangerous in groups]

The hounds noticed Jack immediately, their molten eyes fixing on him with predatory focus. Unlike the wraiths, which had attacked with mindless hunger, these creatures showed intelligence. They began to spread out, trying to flank him while staying close enough to support each other.

Jack realized this was going to be much more challenging than fighting incorporeal wraiths.

’System, any suggestions for fighting multiple physical enemies without weapons?’

[Thunder Stomp has high single-target damage. Lightning Steps provides mobility. Recommendation: Use the environment to your advantage and avoid being surrounded.]

The largest hound, clearly the pack leader, let out a bone-chilling howl that echoed through the chamber. The sound seemed to invigorate its packmates, whose eyes burned brighter as they prepared to charge.

Jack didn’t wait for them to coordinate their attack. The hounds reacted instantly, splitting up to come at him from multiple angles.

’Thunder Stomp!’

Jack raised his foot and brought it down with enough force, the pillar he was hiding behind collapsed. Thunder cracked through the air as a bolt of electricity erupted from the ground beneath the nearest hound, catching it mid-leap.

[-588 HP]

The hound snarled and staggered from the lightning strike, badly wounded but still very much alive and extremely angry.

[Infernal Hound: 212/800 HP remaining]

The other two hounds snarled in rage. Instead of charging blindly, they began to circle Jack more carefully, forcing him to keep moving to avoid being trapped.

Jack found himself in a deadly dance, using Lightning Steps to stay mobile while the hounds tried to corner him. Every few seconds, he’d stop long enough to hit one with a Thundershock, slowly wearing down their HP while they snapped at air where he’d been moments before.

It took one Thundershock to finally drop the first wounded hound, and by then the other two had learned to work together even more effectively.

But the hounds were learning his patterns. After several teleportations, they began anticipating his movements, positioning themselves to cut off his escape routes. When Jack materialized behind what he thought was safe cover, he found himself face-to-face with snapping jaws and claws that could rend steel.

The hound’s bite caught his left arm, its teeth sinking deep into his muscle. Pain exploded through Jack’s body as the creature’s saliva burned like acid where it touched his wounds.

[Burning bite inflicted]

[-85 HP]

[Burning effect: 5 damage per second for 30 seconds]

’Shit!’ Jack grabbed the hound’s muzzle with his free hand and channeled electricity directly into its brain. ’Thundershock at point-blank range!’

The hound convulsed as lightning fried its head, but its jaws remained locked on Jack’s arm. It took two more Thundershocks to destroy the hounds jaw and release its grip.

[Infernal Hounds slain]

[Reward: 450 EXP]

[Reward: 275 Death Tokens]

The last hound, seeing its packmates dead, let out a mournful howl before charging at Jack with suicidal fury. Jack barely managed to sidestep its initial rush, feeling claws rip across his ribs as the creature’s momentum carried it past him.

’This is exactly why I need a weapon,’ Jack thought grimly as he spun to face the hound’s next attack. Without a spear to keep distance, he was forced into close-quarters combat with a creature designed to tear apart anything within reach of its claws and teeth.

The hound came at him again, this time feinting left before lunging right. Jack tried to anticipate the move, but the creature was faster than its size suggested. Claws grazed across his chest, parting the simple white robe and drawing blood from the skin beneath.

[-72 HP.]

But the attack also brought the hound close enough for Jack to grab its head with both hands. Lightning crackled between his fingers as he channeled every ounce of power he could muster.

’Thunder Clap!’

CLAP!!!

CLAP!!!’

The explosion of sound and lightning was deafening in the enclosed space. The hound’s head snapped back as electricity coursed through its skull.

[-588 Damage.]

[Infernal Hound slain]

[Reward: 300 EXP]

[Reward: 200 Death Tokens]

Jack staggered backward, breathing heavily as adrenaline coursed through his system. His left arm throbbed where the hound had bitten him, and he could feel blood trickling down his chest from the claw marks. But he was alive, and the path to the anchor point was clear.

[Current status: HP 493/630, Mana 212/300]

[Burning effect expired]

’System, can you analyze that anchor point? I need to know how to destroy it.’

[Scanning necrotic fountain...]

[Analysis: Anchor point is sustained by corrupted divine magic. Physical attacks will be ineffective.]

Jack approached the grotesque fountain cautiously, noting how the liquid seemed to reach toward him as he got closer. The runes covering its surface pulsed faster, as if sensing his intent.

’Thunder Stomp should do the trick.’

Jack positioned himself directly in front of the anchor point and raised his foot. Lightning crackled around his leg as he channeled power into the attack, then brought his foot down with tremendous force.

Thunder boomed through the chamber as electricity erupted from the ground, striking the fountain like a divine judgment. The corrupted magic fought back, darkness writhing and twisting as it tried to maintain coherence.

The fountain cracked, then shattered, its pieces dissolving into shadow that quickly evaporated. The flow of liquid darkness stopped immediately, and Jack could feel the necrotic energy that had been emanating from this location fade to nothing.

[Anchor Point destroyed]

[Wraith spawning ceased in this sector]

[Reward: 500 EXP bonus acquired]

’One down.’ Jack checked his mana and was not that worried. He had already maxed his Mana Regeneration skill. So as long as he wasn’t in a prolonged battle. It would come back.

But before he could plan his next move, a sound echoed through the chamber that made his blood freeze. It was the clank of metal on stone, rhythmic and purposeful. Footsteps. Heavy footsteps that spoke of size, weight, and deliberate movement.

From somewhere deeper in the prison came a voice that resonated with authority and malice. When it spoke, Jack could hear the weight of centuries in every word.

"Well, well. It seems we have a visitor. How... refreshing. It’s been so long since someone new came to play in my domain."

The voice was followed by a sound that raised every hair on Jack’s body. The deep, rumbling growl of something massive and very, very hungry. But this wasn’t just one growl. It was two.

[WARNING: Field Boss entities detected]

[The Jailer and his companion approach]

Jack’s enhanced hearing could track the approaching footsteps as they moved through the prison complex with methodical precision. Whoever was coming knew these halls intimately and was in no hurry to reach him. They were confident, patient, and clearly looking forward to the encounter.

’System, how far away are they?’

[Estimating approach vector and speed... Approximately 3-4 minutes until direct contact]

[Additional sensor data: The entities are moving through areas with high concentrations of remaining anchor points]

[Warning: If current trajectory continues, you will be forced to engage both field bosses while wraith spawning is still active in multiple sectors]

Jack’s mind raced while looking at the map. The purple dots were heading towards him. He had maybe three minutes to decide: try to destroy more anchor points and risk being caught by the field bosses in a vulnerable position, or find a defensible location and prepare for what would undoubtedly be the hardest fight of his life.

CLANK!

RATTLE!

SCRRRCH!

The sound of approaching footsteps grew closer, accompanied now by the scrape of claws on stone and what sounded like chains dragging across the floor. Whatever was coming for him, it was big, it was confident, and it had been waiting in this prison for a very long time.

Jack gripped his hands shut as he thought about the death tokens he had obtained so far. A thousand death tokens was a decent start, but nowhere near what he’d need to make meaningful purchases from the mysterious shop.