Thors’ gaze darted around the entirety of his new environment once again, his chest tightening.
He then turned to the system. "What the hell do you mean by dungeon?"
[Level 1 Dungeon: Clear the jungle to grow infinitely stronger.]
Thors paused for a second, staring at the notification as countless theories flooded his mind.
Just like the Charisma stat increased his physical attributes as he became more popular...
Did that also mean...
The system had forced him into this dungeon to grow his Superhuman Ability?
Thors swallowed at the thought, his instincts screaming at him to escape this place. But he held himself firm.
[Would you like to proceed into the dungeon?]
"Is clearing the dungeon the only way for me to get out of here?"
No reply came to his question. Apparently, the system had nothing else to say, as the same notification from earlier continued shimmering proudly in the air.
In the end, Thors rubbed the back of his head and sighed. "I really have no choice... The system is hellbent on making me stronger..."
A smile slowly peeled across his expression.
This was also his goal—growing stronger—and the system might have just served it to him on a platter of gold.
"System, let’s get started."
As soon as Thors gave the command, his entire being faded from that exact spot before reappearing somewhere else, still within the labyrinth of tunnels.
He immediately scanned the entire place.
It was no different from the tunnel he had originally been in... Except that behind him was now a strange door blocking the exit—or, more appropriately put, blocking him from escaping whatever lay ahead of him.
Thors stared forward and swallowed hard, his gaze scanning the dimly lit tunnel.
Then he moved.
He took subtle steps forward, approaching the darkness with utter curiosity and alertness.
For the first few minutes of walking endlessly through the tunnel, he saw nothing.
No signs of life.
Nothing at all.
Still cautious, he kept moving, slowly and silently...
And finally, he heard it.
A strange, loud crunching sound echoed from deep within the cave.
Thors stopped.
His eyes narrowed.
He closed in further, his fists clenching as he heard it again.
Crunch.
This time, however, the sound was accompanied by something else.
An ancient dialect.
The words were impossible for Thors to understand, yet the strange, guttural voice sent a shiver down his spine.
At this, Thors’ fist rose into a guard as he finally reached a bend in the tunnel where the ruckus seemed to be coming from.
Thanks to the torches hanging from the walls, he could now see shadows dancing across the stone.
Something was moving on the other side.
Something large.
The silhouette was twisted and monstrous, its movements accompanied by the occasional crunch of bones being crushed between powerful jaws.
Still, that was not enough information to identify whatever awaited him.
The only way was to take a rather dangerous peek at whatever monsters lay ahead.
So, slowly but carefully, Thors pressed himself closely against the rough tunnel wall.
He held his breath.
Then, silently, he leaned out to peek around the corner—
[Quest: You have encountered Grey Wolves. Kill them all.]
As soon as Thors peeked over, his eyes widened.
He stared directly at the mighty figure of a Grey Wolf.
The monstrosity was almost as large as he was, its body possessing a massive, muscular appearance that made it seem less like an ordinary beast and more like something forged for slaughter.
Two demonic red eyes burned within its shadowy face.
Its thick grey fur seemed to swallow the dim torchlight around it, while a malevolent aura oozed from its body, making the very air around the creature feel heavier.
But more importantly...
Thors’ eyes met its own.
His gaze locked with the bloodthirsty eyes of the monstrous Grey Wolf.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Thors’ heart stung with fear.
"Shit!"
He gritted his teeth.
The mighty Grey Wolf raced forward first.
Its massive body tore through the air at an astonishing speed, moving almost fast enough for Thors to fail to react in time.
But luckily, thanks to the boost he had received from his Charisma, his body reacted before his mind could fully process the danger.
Thors jumped backward.
The Grey Wolf’s massive claws tore through the space where his body had been a moment earlier before slamming into the tunnel wall.
BOOM!
Stone shattered.
Chunks of rock exploded outward as the claws dug into the wall with terrifying ease.
Thors grunted as soon as he found his footing.
But the beast was already moving again.
Its head snapped toward him, its eyes burning with murderous intent as it charged once again.
Its fangs flashed toward his face.
Thors stretched out both hands.
A burst of white lightning erupted from his palms at full force, tearing through the dim tunnel and colliding directly with the Grey Wolf’s face.
The attack scarred the face of the Grey Wolf deeply.
Lightning ripped through flesh and fur, destroying one of its eyes and leaving half of its face a bloody mess.
Yet even after that...
The demonic monster did not stop charging.
"What the hell..."
It finally reached Thors.
The monster’s jaws sank down onto his stretched-out hand, its teeth biting through flesh with a sickening crunch.
"ARGGHH!"
Thors eyes grew wide in shock and his heart dropped at the realization.
He had lost an arm.