82/82 —> 62/82

Twenty MP spent in less than three minutes of combat. Not sustainable. If every fight cost this much, I'd be drained before reaching the core chamber.

Need to be more efficient. Fewer edits. Better positioning.

I checked myself for injuries. Bruise on my shoulder where the second skeleton's spear had hit armor. Some scrapes on my arms. Nothing serious.

The skeletons yielded nothing useful, just rusted weapons and armor too damaged to salvage.

I continued forward, lantern raised.

The corridor narrowed ahead, the walls closing in until I could touch both sides if I extended my arms. The ceiling lowered as well, forcing me to duck slightly.

Then, my lantern light caught something across the floor.

A thin line, barely visible, stretched between the walls at ankle height.

I stopped immediately, crouching to examine it.

Wire?

It was thin but strong, I activated Debug Vision.

[Object Analysis]

object_id: "trap_tripwire_L02"

type: "mechanism_trugger"

condition: 78/100

connected_device: "dart_trap_wall_mechanism_left"function: "activate_projectile_trap_on_tension"

I traced the wire to the left wall, where it connected to a small hole, one of dozens peppering both walls at various heights.

Pressure trigger. Step on the wire, darts fire from the walls.

I could try to step over it carefully, but in this narrow space with a pack on my back and limited visibility, one mistake would trigger the trap.

Better to disarm it.

I focused on the wire itself.

[EDIT: Wire - Brittleness +90%]

The wire shimmered faintly. I drew my dagger and carefully pressed the blade against the wire.

Snap!

The wire broke cleanly, both ends recoiling into the walls.

No darts fired. The trap was disarmed.

I stepped past carefully, continuing deeper.

The narrow passage opened into a larger room, maybe thirty meters across, circular, with a high vaulted ceiling lost in darkness above my lantern's reach.

Rows of stone sarcophagi lined the walls, twelve in total, each one carved with elaborate but weathered designs. Most depicted warriors in battle, ancient heroes whose names had been worn away by time.

The center of the room held a circular pit, roughly three meters across. I approached carefully, holding my lantern over the edge.

But what I saw was just darkness. The light didn't reach the bottom.

I picked up a small stone and dropped it.

At first there was silence

Then, after several seconds a distant splash.

Water at the bottom. But it's deep.

Straightening up, I began forward and saw three exits led from this chamber.

Left, right, and straight ahead.

I activated Debug Vision, scanning each exit.

In left exit, mana signatures were faint.

Right had none.

Straight one has strong...

And the strongest signature meant the core chamber or a major guardian. Probably both.

But no signature could mean a trap, something designed to lure people down the "safe" path.

No choice. Wrong path wastes time. And I only have six hours.

I started toward the straight exit.

Then again, I heard the same sound of stone grinding on stone.

I spun, raising my sword.

Now, two of the sarcophagi burst open, their heavy lids crashing to the floor with thunderous impacts.

And from within, two figures emerged.

Not skeletons this time.

[Entity Analysis]

entity_id: "ghoul_standard_03"

type: "undead"

hp: 120/120

threat_level: "moderate"

attributes: { weakness: "decapitation_or_vital_destruction" special_01: "paralyzing_claws" special_02: "regeneration"}

Fuck.

The ghouls moved fast, far faster than the skeletons. They were hunched, twisted figures with gray-green skin stretched tight over prominent bones. Their hands ended in long, curved claws that scraped against stone as they moved.

The first ghoul lunged, covering the distance between us in two bounding leaps. Its claws extended, aimed at my chest.

I brought my sword up to block.

The impact drove me backward, my boots sliding on stone. They're strong.

The second ghoul flanked left, trying to get behind me. I pivoted, keeping both in view, backing toward the pit to limit their angles of attack.

Can't let them touch me. Paralyzing effect means one hit and I'm done.

The first ghoul attacked again, a wide slash with both claws. I ducked under it, feeling the claws pass centimeters above my head.

I struck back, a quick thrust aimed at its torso.

My blade bit into flesh, but the ghoul barely reacted. It grabbed at my sword with one claw, trying to wrench it from my grip.

No you won't.

I yanked the blade free, stumbling backward.

The second ghoul lunged from my left. I twisted away, but not fast enough.

Its claws caught my shoulder, tearing through the leather armor.

Pain flared. My left arm went numb immediately, fingers losing grip on the sword.

Paralysis. Shit—!

I switched the sword to my right hand only, backing up faster now. The pit was directly behind me, maybe three steps away.

Use the environment.

I focused on the stone floor beneath the first ghoul.

The ghoul's next step forward turned into a slide. It tried to stop, claws scraping stone, but momentum carried it toward the pit edge.

I kicked out with my boot, connecting with its chest.

The ghoul toppled backward, arms flailing, and disappeared over the edge with a shriek that faded into the darkness below.

Splash!

Second ghoul was more cautious now, circling me slowly, those milky eyes tracking my every movement.

I couldn't afford a defensive fight. The regeneration meant I needed to end this fast. And my left arm was still useless, feeling slowly returning in pins and needles.

So, I charged the ghoul directly.

It reared back, surprised by the sudden attack, claws coming up to defend.

I activated Debug Vision mid-charge, focusing on its neck.

[EDIT: Neck Structure Durability -70%]

My sword came around in a horizontal slash, all my strength behind it.

The blade cut through weakened flesh and bone like paper.

The ghoul's head separated from its body, rolling across the floor with a wet thud.

The body collapsed, twitching, then went still.

I stood there gasping.

[Level Up!]

Then from somewhere below, in the pit scraping sound echoed.

The first ghoul was climbing back up.

I didn't wait to see if it would make it.

I ran for the straight exit, lantern swinging wildly, darkness swallowing me.

The corridor beyond the second chamber sloped downward, the angle steep enough that I had to slow my pace to avoid stumbling. The stone walls pressed closer here, narrow enough that my shoulders nearly brushed both sides.

And the light itself seemed weaker here, the flame flickering as if struggling against something invisible.

Keep moving.

I continued downward, the slope growing steeper.

Then I heard it.

From ahead, deeper in the darkness beyond my lantern's reach.

Rattling. The sound of bones shifting against stone.

Moaning. Multiple voices, low and inhuman.

I tightened my grip on my sword, the leather wrapped hilt slick with sweat despite the cold.

"The hell! I am not even halfway through the dungeon yet."

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