"Well, this can’t be any good," Aurelian muttered, watching the swirling portal suddenly shift from green to a shimmering orange.
What the fuck did this mean? A good thing? A bad thing? Why the fuck didn’t the previous host know this shit? Aurelian grimaced, realizing just how useless the memories he had inherited were becoming with each passing day.
Just as he spiraled deeper into thought, a shriek in the distance snapped his focus back.
"Oh no, we’re all going to die!!!" A girl not far off, sporting short black hair and basic warrior’s armor, screamed as if her life depended on it.
"We are?" Aurelian murmured, growing more confused. The rising murmurs in the distance fed his curiosity.
"The dungeon’s energy level is spiking...it’s about to evolve to E-rank!"
"It’s already entered lockdown. We can’t exit now!"
"Argh, why the fuck did I have to visit this dungeon today of all days?"
"It’s fate, dude. Nothing you can do but embrace it."
"Fuck you and your stupid fate. I’ll be damned if I go down without swinging."
"Have it your way then, it’s not going to change anything. Death is inevitable."
"Everybody calm down! Don’t panic. We can wade through this disaster as long as we stick together and endure until the dungeon finishes evolving. We just have to conserve our energy and wait out the final wave when the dungeon breaks!"
"The fuck you mean ’wait it out’? Did fear fry your head? The beasts will all evolve to E-rank, and we’ll be dead by the time the dungeon breaks!"
"You’re right, our best shot is to eliminate as many beasts as we can, so the final wave will be a bit more bearable."
"Fucking retard! They’ll just respawn. Unless we kill the dungeon boss, we don’t stand a chance!"
***
"Hmm. Evolving dungeon, potentially multiple E-rank beasts, stronger beasts," Aurelian hummed, catching bits of conversation before a mad grin plastered across his face. A single question hovered at the back of his mind.
These evolving beasts ought to grant far more dungeon points, right?
Grinning, he grasped the full scope of the situation before rocketing forward, heading straight into the depths of the dungeon.
He wasn’t one to shy away from a challenge.
***
"Wait, did that guy just sprint into the depths of the dungeon?" a youth suddenly blurted, eyeing Aurelian’s retreating figure and drawing the attention of the others.
"No way he’s that eager to die."
"Wait, isn’t that the guy Sara just tried to get to join our group?"
"See that, Sara?" Marcus muttered with a smirk. "Some people just have huge egos. Nothing special about him."
"Huh?" Sara gasped, disappointment flickering across her face. She shook her head helplessly. "Guess I was wrong."
Still, her eyes narrowed in thought. Something felt wrong. She just couldn’t put her finger on it.
***
"Interesting structure," Aurelian murmured as he streaked deeper into the dungeon. Its layout resembled the Goblin Demon Dungeon, walls on both sides paving a torchlit corridor.
The only difference was the slimy liquid coating the ground, making the terrain slick and treacherous.
That only made him more curious about the monsters. He didn’t have to wait long. His first targets appeared, causing him to scrunch his face in wonder.
"Interesting composition," he muttered, eyeing two-meter gelatinous creatures. Their colorless, jelly-like physiques shimmered, almost mesmerizing.
But a deeper glance with his appraisal skill shattered that illusion.
[Embryo Acidic Slime – Level 5]
[Rank: Common]
[Current State: Perfectly Healthy, Evolving]
[Weakness: Fire element and mage spells]
"Well, I guess it’s time for you to die," he murmured as deadly, illusory spectral blades hovered before him.
With a single command, they shot forward, streaking through the air toward the ten slimes.
Let’s see just what makes you tough, Aurelian thought.
But the words froze in his throat as the slimes, sensing the incoming threat, glowed blue. With surprising speed, they blinked out of sight, shifting five meters in an instant.
"Hmm. Faster than expected," he murmured. "Not bad... but still not enough."
He flicked his fingers, redirecting the trajectory of the blades blades before they pierced the slimes’ gelatinous bodies, ending their miserable lives instantly. Their souls flickered free, absorbed into the blades.
***
<Ding! The host has slain a Level 5 Embryo Acidic Slime! 500 dungeon points awarded!>
<Ding! The host has slain a Level 5 Embryo Acidic Slime! 500 dungeon points awarded!>
<Ding! The host has slain a Level 5 Embryo Acidic Slime! 500 dungeon points awarded!>
<Ding! The host has slain a Level 5 Embryo Acidic Slime! 500 dungeon points awarded!>
<Ding! The host has slain a Level 5 Embryo Acidic Slime! 500 dungeon points awarded!>
<Ding! The host has slain a Level 5 Embryo Acidic Slime! 500 dungeon points awarded!>
<Ding! The host has slain a Level 5 Embryo Acidic Slime! 500 dungeon points awarded!>
<Ding! The host has slain a Level 5 Embryo Acidic Slime! 500 dungeon points awarded!>
<Ding! The host has slain a Level 5 Embryo Acidic Slime! 500 dungeon points awarded!>
<Ding! The host has slain a Level 5 Embryo Acidic Slime! 500 dungeon points awarded!>
[Level 22: 5000 / 30,000]
Multiple notifications flared across his vision. Aurelian smirked as a battle plan began to form.
The slimes had speed, resilience to physical attacks, and corrosive acid, but that was about it.
"Well, I suppose you’ve met your nemesis," Aurelian mused, issuing a mental command.
Merge! The spectral blades buzzed, resonating with his will as they overlapped, their aura intensifying with each passing second.
Before long, his desire took form. The blades had merged, but instead of one abominable blade, two appeared. One in each hand.
They buzzed with bloodlust. Then with a devilish smile, he shouted, "Activate C-rank: Iron Skin!"
A metallic sheen encapsulated his body, covering him in protective armor.
"Perfect. Let the chaos... begin."
He growled, both blades humming with corrosive energy. The ground beneath him cracked as his figure blurred forward, soul-detection sphere flaring.
He was damned right going to enjoy this.