CHAPTER 29: CHAPTER NO.29 DUNGEON (FINAL)

[Location: Dungeon, Basement No.5]

[Level up!]

[Level up!]

There seemed to be a thing called ’respawn’ within the instant dungeon. While I was sweeping away every single monster found on the second floor, all the monsters on the first floor respawned. While I went back upstairs to deal with them, the monsters on the second floor respawned. So on and so forth.

[Level up!]

[Level up!]

I hopped between the first and second floor and killed monsters until my level no longer rose up.

’Who knows when I’ll run into another opportunity like this one?’

Along the way, I got so used to this place that I was able to predict from where and how the moers would try to attack me without the help of the Observation Grid.

"A monkey, falling from the ceiling..."

I lightly evaded the claws of the monkey-type monster falling from the ceiling and stabbed it in the chest with my Muramasa. And then...

Kkiiieech!!

"One cat each from left and right."

...And then, I orderly sliced the necks of the black panther-like creatures jumping at me from my sides.

Kyahk!

Kyahk!!

[You’ve killed a Long-Armed Ape]

[You’ve killed a Shadow Panther.]

[You’ve killed a Shadow Panther.]

And with these three, I had arrived at the end of the second floor.

I had cleared out the second floor once more. However, my level hasn’t been moving from 15 for a long time now. It seemed that reaching that high was the limit for the first two floors.

"Status Window."

• Name: Dominic Nocturne von Morningstar

• Race: Demon (Suppressed) / ???

• Level: 7— 15

• Job: None

• Rank: H

• Title: [Dances With Wolves, The Forsaken Lucifer(Locked)], [He Who Shouldn’t Be Awake(Locked),]

• HP: 960/960— 1040/1040

• MP: 0/660— 0/740

[Attributes]

• Strength: 165— 173

• Agility: 111— 119

• Stamina: 96— 104

• Intelligence: 66— 74

• Sense: 86— 94

—Available Stats Points: 0)

With me being level 15, my Stats had risen up by quite a lot. My Stamina crossed the 100 mark and was now almost at 105. I finally got to feel the difference between the Stamina and Strength Stat when the former hit the value of 100.

The Stamina did not increase my physical strength directly, but the impact was immediately noticeable in how my body handled the constant strain of battle. My muscles no longer felt like they were screaming for rest after a few swings of Muramasa. Every strike now carried a weight behind it that felt as though the air itself was resisting me, yet I moved through it effortlessly.

The sharp pull of exhaustion that had followed me across the first two floors was gone. My lungs could suck in the thick, rancid dungeon air with ease, and even the acid tang of sweat no longer distracted me. Every movement felt efficient, calibrated, precise—as if my body had learned how to preserve energy while unleashing power simultaneously.

Strength, on the other hand, had a more visceral impact. Each swing of Muramasa now felt like a natural extension of my arm, the weapon an organ rather than a tool. When I struck, the feedback from the blade—its hum, its almost sentient thirst for blood—synchronised with the raw force of my muscles. Bones cracked, creatures were cleaved in half, and yet I felt nothing but exhilaration, a perfect synergy between my body and the cursed steel. The difference between pre-level and post-level was like night and day. Strength gave me power; Stamina gave me endurance.

Agility allowed my body to dance between threats with a fluid grace I had only begun to notice, my reflexes sharpening to the point where even monsters that fell from above or launched from behind were mere annoyances. I no longer needed to rely solely on the Observation Grid—I could feel threats in my peripheral vision, anticipate them before their intent even fully formed, the whispers of danger echoing across my nerves.

Intelligence and Sense added layers to my capability that weren’t immediately tangible but were equally profound. Intelligence wasn’t just a measure of magic potential or MP capacity—it was a lens through which my instincts now filtered reality. I could sense patterns in enemy behaviour, anticipate ambushes, and even extrapolate the best tactical options in a matter of heartbeats.

Sense sharpened all five faculties, but in battle, it felt like an extra dimension had been added. I could smell fear in a wolf, hear the faintest vibration of claws scraping over stone, even sense the subtle pulse of the dungeon itself, as if it were a living organism aware of my presence.

"Besides all that..."

I shifted my gaze away.

Standing at the base of the second-floor staircase, Muramasa humming like a beast finally sated, I surveyed the dungeon. The respawns were infinite, but I’d reached a plateau. Level 15. Attributes rising, power peaking for now. The Observation Grid confirmed that no ordinary beasts were left on these floors.

"What should I do now..?"

I was looking at the stairs leading down to the third floor.

There was a reason why I continued to hunt on the first two floors even though there was a way to go even lower.

"It’s giving me the creeps."

With my Sense Stat and Observation Grid so much higher, I could sense the aura of something ominous lurking down her far better than before. Without a doubt, something really strong was hiding somewhere down below.

I didn’t have to see it to know.

I recalled the message I saw back by the entrance of this instant dungeon.

– Escape: Only through defeating the boss first or find the return crystal.

The existence of the ’Boss’.

I had been roaming the first two floors in order to raise my levels until I couldn’t anymore, all for the purpose of fighting this ’Boss’.

I had prepared myself as much as I could, but when the time to actually go down there came, I was getting all sweaty and nervous.

I lightly slapped both my cheeks.

’I mean, I’ve entered a dungeon, so I can’t just leave without taking a look at what this boss looks like, now can I?’

A certain amount of tension was a must in order to maintain the peak condition. And this amount was just about right for me.

I gripped the blade tightly with both of my hands and slowly descended the stairs. Could I have been mistaken when the steps felt unusually longer than before?

I swallowed dried saliva down.

The lighting was worse than on the first two floors, but there was no problem with seeing where I was going.

’Is it because of my Senses Stat?’

I couldn’t help but feel that my eyesight had improved greatly.

I cautiously climbed lower until eventually spotting the network of tunnels used by some huge creature.

Why a huge creature and not some normal-sized monsters?

Because the aura here wasn’t fractured or dispersed like the smaller ones. It was concentrated, deliberate, and intelligent. Predatory. And enormous. Every step I took caused the dungeon floor beneath to shiver slightly, almost as if it recognised me as a threat.

The tunnel that should’ve been used by the smaller monsters—creatures like wolves or panthers—was far too wide. And that was not all, because it was filled with jet-black liquid too.

’What is this?’

Rather than a tunnel, it was... more like a lake or a river now.

Just as I took one more step forward to take a closer look...

My iris flashed red as Observation Grid activated on its own.

A long log-like object shot out from the surface of the black ’water’.

Swish!!

’It’s fast!’

The massive worm-like creature reared from the jet-black liquid, its segmented body rippling like a river of shadows. Each scale glimmered faintly under the dim crimson light of the dungeon, reflecting a sickly metallic sheen that made my stomach twist. Its maw gaped wide enough to swallow a man—or several—whole, revealing rows of jagged, glinting teeth and a throat that seemed endless. Tendrils of dark mucus dripped from its jaws, sizzling as they hit the dungeon floor with a faint hiss.

The thing that arrived in front of my face in the blink of an eye worm-like creature, was about the size of a house.

My Observation Grid screamed warnings. The hostile intent was off the charts—Peak E rank? No, it had to be higher. Every inch of this monstrosity exuded lethal precision. The way it moved—coiling, striking, and withdrawing with the fluidity of a river—made it clear that brute force alone wouldn’t suffice. Its intent was focused, calculating. Unlike the mindless beasts I’d slaughtered before, this one watched me, gauging my reactions, testing my reflexes, learning my limits.

I tightened my grip on Muramasa, the hum of the blade syncing instinctively with the predator’s movements. My Armament Core flared, black veins spreading across my arms, muscles coiling like living steel. The creature hissed, sensing my SPIRAL energy, and its body quivered with anticipation, as if it too enjoyed the promise of battle.

Clang!

BOOOM!!

CRASH!!!

My body slammed against the dungeon wall with a resounding crash, concrete cracking beneath the force. Pain radiated through my ribs, but my SPIRAL energy flared, dampening the worst of the shock. Instinctively, I rolled, letting my agility carry me out of the worm’s immediate strike zone.

Its maw snapped shut where I had been standing just a heartbeat before, jaws clanging with a metallic echo that made the entire tunnel vibrate. Jet-black saliva sprayed in all directions, sizzling as it struck the damp stone floor.

"...alright," I muttered, wiping a smear of muck from my cheek. "You’re big, ugly, and you definitely like hurting things. Perfect."

[The ruler of the swamp, Poison-Fanged Vermis]

I could clearly see the orange borderline red-coloured name of the monster atop its head.

It was a creature incomparably faster and hardier than those with their names written in white.

Swish!!!

Red flashed past my iris as Observation Grid and Senses screamed warnings. Every muscle in my body tensed, and my legs responded before I even consciously registered the movement. The jet-black maw of the Poison-Fanged Vermis slammed down where I had just been standing, crushing the dungeon floor with a force that rattled my bones. Dust and shards of stone scattered like a miniature explosion.

BOOOM!!!

I rolled sideways, landing on all fours, the Muramasa humming violently in my grip. Its Malice effect flared, sensing the immense kill potential within this creature. The Armament Core coiled around me like living steel, making every movement sharper, faster, and deadlier.

I pushed my SPIRAL energy further, letting it seep into every fibre of the Muramasa. The blade didn’t just hum anymore—it roared. Dark veins of power crawled along the crimson edge, almost writhing, syncing with the intent of my muscles. The Malice effect surged, thirsting for this apex predator’s life.

The Poison-Fanged Vermis lashed out again, coiling its massive, segmented body around the tunnel like a living serpent. Its eyes—tiny, glinting pools of malevolent intelligence—locked on me. Every strike, every swing of its colossal maw, carried an intelligence that no pack of beasts had possessed. This wasn’t a random predator. This was a hunter, calibrated, relentless.

I inhaled sharply, letting my senses take over.

Strength. Agility. Stamina. Intelligence. Sense.

All five attributes fired together, pushing my body beyond instinct.

◉ [Armament Core: Max Output]◉ [Observation Grid: Level 7 – Overload Mode]

I didn’t even have to think. I could feel the trajectory of the Vermis’s next strike—an arc of death aimed for my head—and I rolled beneath it, feet slamming into the slick stone. Muramasa’s edge cut through the viscous black saliva that had sprayed across the floor, slicing a shallow groove into the dungeon stone.

"Too slow, huh?" I muttered, letting the venomous mist from its fangs spray past me. My SPIRAL flowed outward in a fine, black aura, wrapping around the blade, enhancing my reflexes, my reaction speed.

The Vermis recoiled slightly, shaking its massive body in what could have been either anger or confusion. It struck again, this time sweeping the floor with the tail-end of its body, aiming to crush me like a bug.

I pivoted mid-roll, letting my Agility and Reflex synergy carry me over the strike. The tail slammed into the wall with a shockwave, cracking stone and sending shards flying. My senses caught every vibration, every micro-adjustment in its body as it prepared to strike again.

The Observation Grid flared, outlining weak points I could exploit. Despite being a Peak E-rank creature bordering D—or so I assumed by feeling the sheer hostile intent—its size worked against it. Huge, fast, and intelligent, yes, but unwieldy in confined spaces. I grinned.

"Okay, house rules."

I coiled my legs, lunging forward in a blur of black-and-red SPIRAL energy. Muramasa’s edge slashed through the first segment of its armour-like scales, leaving a streak of faint crimson where the SPIRAL burned along with the Malice. The Vermis hissed, recoiling as though it had never been touched before. Its segmented body whipped at me with a whip-like velocity. I rolled beneath it again, feeling the whoosh of air push past my ears, and I launched another counterstrike.

[Critical Hit!]

The display blinked in my vision. I couldn’t see the damage numbers—but the feedback was instantaneous. The Vermis shrieked, a piercing, wet sound that echoed off the stone tunnels. Its movement faltered for the first time.

"You felt that?" I said, voice low and calm. "That’s me saying hello."

It lashed out, trying to coil around me, jaws snapping. I stepped up into the roll, pushing Muramasa straight through its head with a spin. Black ichor sprayed, sizzling as it hit the floor. I could feel the lifesteal working almost too well; even though the Vermis was massive, the energy converted into my body felt like an injection of pure vitality.

[HP Restored +125]

"Yeah... that’s what I’m talking about."

Its segmented body recoiled violently, swinging a massive tail to crush me. I dove forward, feeling the Armament Core tighten like a cage around my muscles. Every movement was precise, every dodge perfect.

And then I used what I haven’t used through this instant dungeon entirely—

Snap!

Whooosh!!!

Like a tidal wave, the Conqueror’s Will surged through me, a violent pulse of raw authority radiating from my core. My body trembled—not from fear, but from the sheer intensity of the spiritual force that now demanded obedience. The dungeon itself seemed to shiver, the walls vibrating in resonance with the invisible pressure I projected. A black-and-red aura flared outward, dense and oppressive, wrapping around me as if reality itself recognized my command.

The Poison-Fanged Vermis froze mid-lunge. Its segmented body stiffened, tendrils quivering in hesitation, and even the slick, black liquid around it rippled uneasily. It had fought predators before, evaded hunters, and devoured countless intruders, but this—this was something entirely alien. Its instincts screamed that it was not dealing with another mortal or ordinary monster, and that hesitation was all the opening I needed.

I felt Muramasa pulse violently in my hands, the hum now harmonizing with my Conqueror’s Will. The Malice effect flared, bloodlust merging seamlessly with my authority, amplifying every strike I would make. Each beat of my heart was no longer just my own—it was the rhythm of domination. Every fibre of my being screamed for destruction, and yet, it was controlled, focused, precise.

I launched myself forward, SPIRAL energy coiling around my limbs like living steel. My Observation Grid screamed warnings and opportunities in equal measure, highlighting not just weak points but the subtle rhythm of the Vermis’s attacks. It was massive, yes, but predictable when viewed through the lens of heightened senses and pure force of will. I could feel the vibration of its muscles under the black ichor, the faint pulse in its segmented body, even the minute shifts in its momentum as it weighed my threat against its instinctual response.

Clang!

My blade met scale in a resonating shockwave. Muramasa’s edge sliced through the first thick segment of armor, sparks of SPIRAL energy dancing across the wound like molten fire. The Vermis shrieked—a wet, metallic sound that echoed through the tunnels, rattling stones and dust alike. It whipped its body, trying to coil around me, and I rolled forward, each movement a fluid combination of speed, agility, and lethal intent.

I struck again, this time spinning to bring the tip of Muramasa down along the side of its jaw. The impact sent a ripple through the creature’s body, and I could feel the feedback from the lifesteal coursing into me. Each pulse of dark energy, each violent thrum of Malice, filled me with a vigor I had never felt before. My HP surged, my muscles tightened, my senses sharpened. I was no longer merely reacting—I was anticipating, calculating, dominating.

The Vermis lashed its tail like a whip, the force enough to crush bones, yet I leapt over it, Armament Core contracting and releasing in perfect rhythm with my movements. My legs struck the wall for extra push, and I launched off the stone with a momentum that would have flattened a lesser opponent. Muramasa sliced through another segment of its armored body, and the creature recoiled, black ichor spraying over the floor, sizzling as it met the dungeon stone.

A low, guttural rumble emanated from its throat, almost a growl of frustration. It began circling me, calculating, striking, feinting—but each action now felt like a test rather than a threat. I could see patterns forming, opportunities emerging in the chaos. My Conqueror’s Will didn’t just intimidate—it imposed a rhythm upon the battle, forcing the Vermis to respond on my terms.

I let out a low, controlled breath, the pressure radiating from my body intensifying. The SPIRAL energy wrapped around my blade and arms, black veins spreading outward as if the dungeon itself was feeding my strength. Then, I struck. Muramasa cleaved a deep arc through its midsection, black ichor spurting like a fountain, sizzling against the dungeon floor. The Vermis recoiled violently, its massive body twisting in pain, yet it remained alive, hissing venomously at me.

[Critical Hit!]

The display flickered in my vision, confirming the blow had landed perfectly. I didn’t need numbers to know—the feedback was instantaneous, tangible in the surge of Malice and the lifeblood flowing into me. My HP surged again, every strike reinforcing my stamina, my strength, my dominance over the battlefield.

I advanced, moving like a predator myself now, not merely avoiding strikes but dictating the flow of combat. Muramasa’s edge hummed in harmony with my heartbeat, each movement sharpened by SPIRAL, each strike synchronized with the Conqueror’s Will radiating from me. The Vermis snapped, trying to bite, coil, strike—but each motion was anticipated, each attack countered, each opportunity exploited.

I twisted midair, bringing Muramasa down in a spinning arc that cut through one of its upper segments, and the beast shrieked, a sound that seemed to shake the tunnels themselves. Its speed faltered, coordination broken by the oppressive authority that radiated from me. I could feel its intent, its calculation, its raw predatory instinct being overridden by fear—or something like it.

"Now..." I whispered under my breath, coiling my body like a spring. "Now it’s over."

With a surge of Armament Core and the full force of Conqueror’s Will, I struck a decisive blow. Muramasa’s edge buried deep, SPIRAL energy searing along the wound, and the Vermis convulsed violently. Its body twisted, segmented flesh tearing, jet-black ichor spraying across the dungeon floor in a storm of shadows and blood. A final, desperate attempt to lash at me with its tail failed—I anticipated every move, pivoting flawlessly, delivering strike after strike until it collapsed, shuddering, unable to continue.

[You have killed the ruler of the swamp, Poison-Fanged Vermis.]

[Level up!]

[Level up!]

[Level up!]

As expected of a boss mob.

My level rose up by 3 after killing Vermis.

I tightly clenched my fist.

The level that had been stagnating at 15 had jumped up to 18.

In just a single day, I crazily raised my level from 1 to all the way up to 18.

However!

No one killed boss mobs for experience points like me.

Indeed, if it were a boss mob, then it’d be all about the loot drops!

When I started checking out the dead worm, two spots of light began gleaming from somewhere within its limp body.

’Two items, because it was a boss?’

My expression was one of elation. I reached out towards the spot of light.

Tti-ring!

[You have discovered item: Poison-Fanged Vermis Fang]

[Take it?]

[You have discovered item: Vermis Venom Sac]

[Take it?]

"Take them all."

As soon as I said those words—

[Item: Poison-Fanged Vermis Fang]

[Rarity: C]

[Type: Weapon Material / Crafting Component]

[Description: A fang from the ruler of the swamp. Emits faint venomous aura. Can be used to craft weapons or sold for high value.]

[Item: Vermis Venom Sac]

[Rarity: A]

[Type: Alchemy / Consumable Material]

[Description: A sac filled with concentrated venom from the Poison-Fanged Vermis. Extremely potent. Can be used for poisons, traps, or alchemical concoctions. Handle with care.]

I blinked, staring at the two glowing spots in my hand. Boss drops... C... A... This was the real deal.

***

Stone me, I can take it!

Leave a review, seriously, it helps.

Comments are almost nonexistent. Please have some compassion.