The moment Felis stepped onto the 19th floor, the dungeon transformed.
The cold stone tunnels of the 18th floor were gone, the air was thick with the scent of aged timber and damp moss. Felis navigated the winding passages of the 19th floor, his feline instincts heightened in this unfamiliar terrain. The wooden corridors twisted and turned, each path indistinguishable from the last, illuminated solely by the soft blue glow of luminescent moss clinging to the wooden surfaces.
'This place feels alive,' Felis mused, his ears twitching at the faint creaks and groans of the labyrinth. 'As if the tree itself is watching.'
His golden eyes scanned the surroundings, alert for any movement. The Large Tree Labyrinth was notorious for its insect-type monsters, and Felis had no intention of being caught off guard.
A deep, humid scent filled the air—moist bark, fresh leaves, and the faint musk of monsters. The ground was uneven, roots twisting like natural traps across the soft moss. Somewhere in the distance, the faint chittering of unseen creatures echoed through the dense undergrowth.
Felis exhaled slowly, his feline ears twitching as he took in every sound, every shift in the foliage.
'This place is perfect for ambushes… I need to stay sharp.'
His golden eyes flickered, adjusting to the dim glow of the labyrinth. He hadn't come here to fight blindly—he was here to scout, to study the terrain, the monsters, and how best to use them to his advantage.
The 19th floor wasn't just a deeper part of the dungeon. It was a battlefield of a different kind.
A sudden rustle—then a blur of white fur.
Felis didn't need to see it to know what it was. An Almiraj. The rabbit-like monster darted from the undergrowth, its single sharp horn gleaming as it shot toward him like a living spear.
Felis sidestepped effortlessly, his foot twisting lightly against the moss to absorb momentum. The Almiraj shot past, its attack missing by mere inches—and that was all he needed.
With a sharp flick of his wrist, his blade slashed outward, severing its neck in a single clean stroke.
A shrill cry—then black ash scattered into the air, leaving behind a faintly glowing magic stone.
Before it could even hit the ground, his tail flicked out, catching the stone mid-air before tucking it into his belt pouch.
'One down. Let's see what else this floor has to offer.'
He barely took five steps before a deep, guttural growl rumbled through the underbrush.
Felis froze. His ears flicked toward the sound—low, heavy, coming from the right. The scent that followed was thick with blood and musk.
A Lygerfang.
The tiger-like monster stepped into view, its golden fur bristling, muscles coiled like steel cords beneath its sleek form. Its crimson eyes locked onto him, fangs bared in a silent threat.
A slow smirk tugged at Felis's lips.
'Fast. Strong. But predictable.'
The Lygerfang didn't lunge right away. It stalked—circling, testing. It had the instinct of a true predator. Unfortunately for it, so did he.
The moment it pounced, Felis moved.
Not back—but forward.
He dropped low, his body twisting beneath the swipe of its massive claws, feeling the sharp wind of its attack rush past his head. His hand shot out, fingers gripping the thick fur at its throat—using its own momentum to swing himself onto its back in a single fluid motion.
The Lygerfang snarled, bucking wildly. Felis's legs tightened, his balance unshaken. Before it could throw him off, his blade plunged deep into the base of its skull.
The monster let out one final, strangled growl—then collapsed, its massive body dissolving into black ash beneath him.
Felis landed lightly on his feet, rolling his shoulders. Another magic stone clinked into his pouch, this time without him even needing to look.
'This floor is a gold mine. Maybe I should take my time before heading deeper.'
Before moving forward, Felis took a moment to study his surroundings.
The 19th floor's layout was chaotic—the trees weren't evenly spaced, and some areas were more open than others. There were elevated roots, fallen logs, and dense foliage perfect for hiding. The paths weren't straight, winding in unpredictable patterns that could easily lead someone in circles.
It wasn't hard to see why this floor was dangerous. The terrain itself was a trap.
Felis tested his footwork, stepping lightly over uneven ground, weaving between thick roots without breaking stride. His movements were fluid, barely disturbing the moss beneath his boots. This floor rewarded agility over brute force.
'If I use this right, I won't just be surviving here—I'll be hunting.'
Then, just as he prepared to move deeper—
A distant shout.
A crash of branches.
And the thunderous sound of a monster stampede.
Felis turned his head, his ears catching the frantic footsteps long before he saw the figures.
Two adventurers—bloodied, breathless, running for their lives.
Behind them, the underbrush exploded.
A wave of monsters surged forward, eyes gleaming, claws tearing through foliage as they charged in a frenzy. Almiraj, Lygerfangs, Sword Stags—too many to count, all pouring toward him like a living tide.
The adventurers barely spared him a glance as they rushed past him, abandoning the fight altogether.
Felis clicked his tongue.
'So I'm the lucky bastard they left behind, huh?'
His grip tightened around his sword.
The monsters didn't hesitate. They only saw prey—and Felis was standing right in their path.
A deep breath.
A slow exhale.
Then—he moved.
A wave of monsters surged toward Felis, their eyes gleaming hungrily in the dim light of the Large Tree Labyrinth. The adventurers who had led them here were long gone—nothing more than the echoes of their panicked footsteps in the distance.
Felis exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders as he assessed the incoming threat. Almiraj, Lygerfangs, Sword Stags… fast, aggressive, and working together in their frenzied pursuit of prey.
'So they weren't just running. They were luring this whole mess toward someone else. How thoughtful.'
He didn't have time to curse them. The first Almiraj lunged, its horn gleaming as it shot forward like an arrow.
Felis didn't dodge.
His blade flicked outward in a perfect arc—the rabbit-like monster's head separated from its body before it even reached him. Its body collapsed into black ash, leaving behind only a single magic stone.
Another Almiraj came from his blind spot. His tail flicked—brushing the air just enough to sense the displacement. He pivoted on his heel, twisting his body mid-motion to let the attack pass while his foot lashed out, kicking the creature square in the jaw.
A sharp crack—the monster's neck snapped, its body vanishing in a swirl of dark embers.
But the small fry weren't the real problem.
The Sword Stags were already upon him.
Blade Against Horns
The first Sword Stag lowered its head, its razor-sharp antlers gleaming as it charged. Unlike normal stags, these weren't for decoration—they were weapons, capable of cutting through armor like a pair of oversized swords.
Felis sidestepped, using the uneven terrain to his advantage. He kicked off a thick root, launching himself above the charging beast, twisting in mid-air to land on its back.
Before the monster could react, his sword plunged down, slicing cleanly through the back of its neck.
Black ash scattered.
The moment his feet hit the ground, another Sword Stag lunged—this time from the side. Its massive antlers slashed toward him like twin blades, aiming to gore him where he stood.
Felis's ears twitched—his instincts screamed.
Instead of retreating, he dropped his weight low, bending his knees in an instant. The antlers whistled past, cutting through the empty space where his torso had been a split-second before.
Before the stag could recover, his free hand snapped out, grabbing onto one of the monster's horns. Using the creature's own momentum, he twisted his body—flipping onto its back in a single fluid motion.
His blade flashed.
A deep slash cut across the creature's spine, severing its life before it could even react.
Felis leapt off as black ash billowed behind him, landing lightly on his feet.
His tail flicked—catching the magic stone mid-air before tucking it away.
'These things aren't hard to kill if I use their own strength against them.'
But the Lygerfangs weren't going to give him that chance.
The Predators Close In
A deep, guttural snarl echoed through the trees.
The Lygerfangs weren't mindless beasts like the Almiraj. They were pack hunters—intelligent, patient, and ruthless. The moment they saw the Sword Stags fall, they didn't charge recklessly.
They circled.
Their sleek, muscular bodies moved through the underbrush, slipping in and out of view like living shadows. Their eyes gleamed red, waiting for the perfect moment to strike together.
Felis's golden eyes narrowed.
'Smart bastards. But I'm not the prey here.'
His fingers tightened around his sword. If they wanted to act like predators—then he'd just have to remind them who was at the top of the food chain.
A flicker of movement—the first Lygerfang leapt.
Felis didn't wait.
He dashed forward, meeting its pounce head-on.
The moment it extended its claws, he twisted his sword—not for a direct slash, but to redirect the force. His blade angled upward, catching the monster's claw mid-swipe, deflecting its attack just enough to send it off-balance.
The monster hit the ground hard—but Felis was already moving. His heel came down in a brutal axe kick—crushing the creature's throat before it could even recover.
Black ash erupted.
But the next Lygerfang was already diving at him from the side.
Felis turned sharply, using his footwork mastery to navigate the uneven terrain. His boots barely touched the ground before he pushed off a fallen log, twisting mid-air to land behind the lunging beast.
Before it could react, he drove his blade through its ribcage, twisting the hilt before ripping it free.
Another shower of black ash.
A third Lygerfang leapt from the trees above.
Felis's tail lashed out, brushing against a low-hanging branch. The split-second warning was all he needed. He bent his knees—then launched himself backward, just as the monster's claws tore through the space he had occupied.
He landed gracefully, exhaling slowly as the final Lygerfang faced him alone.
The beast hesitated.
It had seen him cut down its pack in an instant.
Felis tilted his head. The predator was afraid.
'Smart choice.'
He took a step forward.
The Lygerfang bolted into the underbrush, disappearing into the dense foliage.
Felis let it go.
No need to waste energy chasing down a beast that already knew it had lost.
With the battle over, he exhaled deeply, shaking the tension from his limbs. His Numen Aquae had already kicked in, easing the fatigue in his muscles, restoring his stamina bit by bit.
His tail flicked, sweeping up the last magic stone from the air and tucking it into his pouch.
'Not bad for a warm-up.'
But this was just the beginning.
He had only scratched the surface of the 19th floor.
Felis moved through the thick underbrush, ears twitching at the layered sounds of the Great Tree Labyrinth. The air smelled of damp moss, old wood, and the faint scent of monsters lurking nearby. The sheer scale of the 19th floor was unlike anything in the upper levels—massive, intertwining tree roots formed natural bridges and tunnels, while thick vines dangled like silent sentinels. There was an eerie calm here, a deceptive stillness that only made it easier for predators to hide.
'This place is a damn jungle,' he thought, eyes scanning the uneven ground. Some spots were covered in thick foliage, others had loose soil that could turn into a trap if he wasn't careful. The natural maze of trees and pathways made it easy to get ambushed—or do the ambushing.
His tail flicked behind him as he crouched low, ears pinpointing a rustling sound from the left. His footwork adjusted instinctively, shifting his weight without disturbing the leaves beneath him. A moment later, a Mad Beetle burst out from behind a twisted root, its tough, dark-red exoskeleton glistening in the dim light.
Without hesitation, Felis moved. He sidestepped the creature's charge with minimal effort, the beetle's mandibles snapping shut where his leg had been a second ago. His sword flashed, striking the base of its horn-like head. The cut wasn't deep enough to kill, but it sent the monster stumbling forward.
A low sigh escaped his lips. 'Tough bastard, huh? Well, let's see how well you handle this.'
Pivoting on his heel, he sprang forward. His blade arced downward, targeting the vulnerable joint between its head and thorax. The Mad Beetle let out a guttural screech as the sword sank in, severing muscle and chitin. It twitched violently before collapsing, its body already crumbling into black ash.
A small, smooth magic stone clattered onto the forest floor. Without missing a beat, his tail curled around it, lifting it up to his hand. Felis smirked. 'No reason to waste free money.'
Satisfied, he pressed forward.
As he walked, his sharp eyes caught movement in the distance—three adventurers, all looking worse for wear. Their armor was dented, one of them was limping, and their ragged breathing suggested they had just survived a close call. Felis stopped, watching them from a concealed position behind a large tree root.
"Damn it, that was too close! If we run into another group of those things, we're screwed," one of them, a human swordsman, panted.
A female mage, clutching a staff with shaking hands, shot him a glare. "We wouldn't be in this mess if you didn't panic and break formation!"
The third, a dwarf with an axe, growled. "Less arguing, more moving. We need to find a safe spot before we—"
A deep, guttural growl interrupted him. The trio froze.
Felis's ears perked up. Something was coming.
And from the way their faces drained of color, it wasn't friendly.
Felis remained still, pressing his back against the rough bark of a massive tree root. His breathing was steady, controlled, as his golden eyes flicked between the adventurers and the unseen threat in the distance.
The tremors in the air, the rustling of disturbed leaves, and the faint but distinct scent of blood and wet fur told him all he needed to know. Multiple monsters—fast, predatory, and likely tracking the wounded adventurers.
'So, they're being hunted.'
His feline ears twitched, filtering out the adventurers' panicked breaths in favor of the approaching footfalls. The rhythm was erratic—some heavier, others lighter. More than one monster, at least three, possibly more.
A low growl rumbled from behind a thicket of vines, followed by a pair of glowing red eyes piercing through the dimly lit labyrinth. Then another. And another.
Lygerfangs.
Felis's tail flicked once as he confirmed their presence, it's not a hard opponent for him so he come out of his hiding place and face the pack of monster head on.
Felis exhaled slowly, steadying himself as the pack of Lygerfangs prowled around him, their glowing red eyes gleaming hungrily in the dim light of the 19th floor. His feline ears flicked, catching the rustle of their movements as they circled, muscles tense beneath their striped pelts. His tail swayed lazily behind him—not from unease, but from calculation.
'Four of them. One in front, two flanking, and…' His golden eyes tracked a subtle shift in the underbrush. 'There.'
A fifth was trying to sneak up from behind.
The scent of damp earth and crushed foliage filled the air, mingling with the beasts' musky stench. His grip on his sword adjusted slightly—just enough to account for the weight, the balance. Not too tight. Not too loose. His breathing was steady, heartbeat unhurried, even as his muscles coiled in anticipation.
The first Lygerfang lunged.
Felis sidestepped effortlessly, the wind of its leap brushing against his skin as he twisted his body. His sword flashed, cutting clean through its exposed flank. The beast let out a strangled snarl, its momentum sending it skidding across the mossy ground before it flickered into black ash.
The second and third pounced almost simultaneously. He moved before they even reached him. A slight crouch, the faintest push against the soft ground—then he was gone from their line of attack, weaving between gnarled roots with fluid precision.
A startled yelp. One had landed awkwardly, caught on uneven terrain.
'Too slow.'
Felis pivoted sharply, his blade carving a silver arc through the air. A Lygerfang's head separated from its shoulders, its body twitching before dissolving into nothingness. He felt the faint tremor in his arm from the impact, the slight resistance of flesh and bone giving way beneath his strike.
The fourth snarled, lunging with fangs bared—only for Felis to step in, foot planting against a sturdy root as he twisted. His tail flicked out, knocking loose a fallen branch that smacked the creature in the eye. A split-second distraction. Just enough.
His dagger was in his free hand before the beast could recover. A clean thrust into its throat, warm blood slicking his fingers for barely a moment before the creature vanished into ash.
Only one left.
The last Lygerfang hesitated, hackles raised, lips curled back in a defiant snarl.
Felis tilted his head, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the low light. Not with magic, but with something deeper—something predatory. He took a slow step forward. Just one.
The Lygerfang bolted.
He let out a quiet chuckle. 'Smart one.'
The forest was silent again, save for the distant murmurs of water trickling through the labyrinth's unseen veins. Felis flexed his fingers, shaking off the lingering sensation of battle. His tail curled slightly, picking up a few of the fallen magic stones with an almost lazy flick before depositing them into his pouch.
"Oi, did you see that…?"
A shaky voice broke the silence.
Felis turned his head slightly, golden eyes meeting the wide, stunned stares of the adventurers watching from a safe distance behind the trees.
One of them—a man with a trembling grip on his sword—gulped. "H-He made that look easy…"
Felis rolled his shoulders. "Because it was."
Not bothering to stick around for their gawking, he stepped deeper into the labyrinth, vanishing into the thick foliage.
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