The tunnel didn’t change much as Jack moved deeper, but the feeling did.
It wasn’t darker or more threatening in any obvious way. The walls were still uneven, damp in places, and the faint metallic scent hadn’t gone anywhere. But the space felt tighter. Not physically—mentally. Like there was less room for mistakes.
He kept moving at a steady pace, not rushing, not slowing. The earlier fights had been manageable, but they had already shown the pattern. Stronger enemies. Better coordination. Less room to recover.
Which meant one thing.
He needed to stop treating this like guesswork.
Another faint pull brushed against his awareness. Blood Sense. Subtle, but clear now that he was paying attention.
Three ahead.
Closer than before.
Jack exhaled once and rolled his shoulders slightly, loosening tension before stepping forward into the next chamber.
This one was wider, the ground uneven with shallow dips and ridges that broke up footing. Two creatures were immediately visible, similar to the last—Burrow Hounds—but slightly larger. A third moved along the far edge, circling rather than charging.
Smarter.
Jack stepped in without hesitation.
The nearest one reacted instantly, lunging straight at him.
He met it head-on.
Sanguine Surge activated on instinct this time, the shift immediate. His body responded faster, stronger, more precise. The blade drove into the creature’s shoulder instead of glancing off, the added force pushing through resistance that had slowed him before.
It dropped, but not cleanly.
Still moving.
He finished it with a second strike and shifted immediately as the second came in from the side.
Timing tighter now.
Less margin.
He blocked the initial impact with his forearm, armor absorbing the worst of it, then drove the blade upward under its jaw. The creature recoiled violently, giving him just enough space to reposition.
The third didn’t wait.
It came in low, faster than the others.
Jack twisted, barely avoiding the full hit, and felt claws scrape across his leg instead. Not deep, but enough to register.
He stepped back once.
Reset.
Then moved forward again.
No hesitation.
The fight ended quickly after that, but not cleanly. Each strike required adjustment. Each movement carried more risk than the last.
When the final creature dropped, Jack didn’t move immediately.
He let the silence settle.
Then the notifications came.
[You have defeated: Burrow Hound (Lv.2)]
[Experience Gained]
[You have defeated: Burrow Hound (Lv.2)]
[Experience Gained]
[You have defeated: Burrow Hound (Lv.3)]
[Experience Gained]
[Level Up]
Jack let out a short breath.
“Good.”
He pulled up his status.
The interface appeared instantly.
Level: 2.
Attributes had increased slightly across the board, not dramatically, but enough to feel. His body already reflected it—movement smoother, recovery faster.
He dismissed it after a quick scan.
Then paused.
“…Right.”
He looked at one of the bodies.
He hadn’t checked it.
Not properly.
Jack exhaled once, then focused.
“Identify.”
The response came immediately.
[Burrow Hound — Lv.3]
Type: Pack Predator
Traits: Reinforced hide, coordinated aggression
Weakness: Neck joints, underside
Jack stared at the screen for a second.
Then shook his head slightly.
“…Yeah. That would’ve been useful earlier.”
He let out a quiet breath that almost resembled a laugh.
“Stupid.”
Not frustration.
Just acknowledgment.
He dismissed the screen and looked ahead again.
The dungeon wasn’t changing visually, but the pressure was still building. Blood Sense picked up more signals deeper in. Not clustered like before. Spread out.
More territory.
Which meant—
Something stronger.
Jack adjusted his grip on the blade and started forward again.
The next corridor narrowed before opening into a longer stretch, the ground sloping slightly downward. The air felt thicker here, not enough to slow breathing, but enough to notice.
Movement ahead.
One.
Then another.
Then something else behind them.
Jack slowed.
The first creature came into view.
Different.
Larger frame. Heavier limbs. Slower movement, but more deliberate. Its posture was lower, weight distributed in a way that suggested it didn’t rely on speed alone.
Jack didn’t move immediately.
He focused.
“Identify.”
[Burrow Stalker — Lv.4]
Type: Ambush Predator
Traits: High durability, short burst speed
Weakness: Rear joints, throat
Jack nodded once.
Better.
Now he knew what he was dealing with.
The Stalker moved first.
Faster than expected for its size, covering distance quickly with a low, driving charge.
Jack activated Sanguine Surge and stepped in to meet it.
The impact was heavier this time. The blade struck, but didn’t cut as deeply. The creature’s hide was thicker, its structure more solid. It pushed through the first hit and slammed into him.
Jack braced, sliding back half a step as he redirected the force instead of taking it directly.
Stronger.
He adjusted immediately.
The next strike wasn’t aimed at center mass.
He angled lower.
Rear joint.
The blade bit deeper this time, the creature’s movement faltering as one leg gave slightly under the damage.
That was enough.
Jack pressed the advantage, staying close, not giving it space to recover its momentum. The fight turned into controlled pressure—short movements, precise strikes, forcing it down piece by piece instead of trying to overpower it.
It took longer.
More effort.
More attention.
But eventually, the Stalker collapsed.
Jack stepped back, breathing heavier this time.
Not out of control.
But noticeable.
A message appeared.
[You have defeated: Burrow Stalker (Lv.4)]
[Experience Gained]
[Level Up]
Level 3.
Jack rolled his shoulders slightly, feeling the improvement settle in again. The growth wasn’t dramatic, but it was consistent.
That mattered more.
He glanced down at the creature one last time, then forward.
The dungeon extended further.
More signals.
Stronger ones.
He adjusted his grip on the blade again.
“Alright.”
Not excitement.
Not dread.
Just acceptance.
Then he kept moving.