My Cheat Skill Lets Me Copy Powers....But only if i kill-Chapter 32: The Dungeon Exploration

Chapter 31 – The Dungeon exploration

The ravine stretched like a scar along the outskirts of Valkris, jagged rocks framing a gaping maw in the cliffside — the newly revealed dungeon entrance. Renji stood before it, arms crossed, the wind tugging at his cloak, carrying with it the metallic scent of mana and decay.

A soft pulse of energy radiated from the stone archway, sending a prickle along his skin. The dungeon hummed, alive and waiting.

Bootsteps echoed behind him, light yet deliberate. He didn't need to turn.

"You're doing it again," Elara's voice broke the silence, tinged with exasperation.

Lena appeared beside her, arms folded. "Running off solo. You really don't learn."

Renji spared them a glance. "It's dangerous."

"Exactly why we're coming," Elara countered. "You'll need backup."

He hesitated for a breath, then nodded. Truthfully, he didn't want to be alone — not in there.

Together, they stepped into the dungeon.

Blue flames flickered to life along the carved stone corridor, lighting the path in cold, ghostly hues. The air shifted — thick, oppressive, as if mana itself weighed down on them.

Elara's hand brushed the wall, feeling the etched runes, dulled by time. "This place is old. Feels like it's... watching us."

Renji kept his blade close. "It is."

They descended into darkness, only the pulse of the dungeon's heartbeat guiding them.

The corridor opened into a vaulted chamber, cracked pillars rising into shadows above. Three beasts stalked forward from the gloom — twisted, feral, wolf-like creatures with jet-black fur, red eyes, and bone spines jutting from their backs.

Lena drew her sword, tension flaring. "Shadowfangs. Nasty."

Renji's eyes locked on the largest. "I'm taking that one."

He moved like a shadow, closing distance in a blink. The Shadowfang lunged, claws swiping. Renji twisted, Quickdraw activating, blade flashing silver, slicing deep into the beast's flank. Blood sprayed — the beast howled, lashing out again, catching his shoulder.

Pain flared, but he pushed forward. Another cut — this time across the leg — the Shadowfang stumbled, breathing ragged.

Now.

[Beast Tamer Activated]

Target: Shadowfang (Lv. 6)

Status: Weakened — HP Below 20%

Mana Cost: 220 MP

Taming Initiated...

Renji reached out, mana crackling along his arm. A pulse of blue light engulfed the beast, its body shuddering violently, then falling still.

It rose — slowly, deliberately — and stepped toward Renji, head bowed.

Elara stared in disbelief. "You really tamed it..."

Renji wiped blood from his arm, his breathing heavy. "Barely. Mana's almost gone."

Lena eyed the other two beasts. "You good?"

"No." He nodded toward them. "Take them."

Elara darted forward, daggers glinting. Lena followed, blade singing. The battle was swift — precision strikes ending it.

[System Notification]

2 Shadowfangs killed.

Souls Extracted: 2

Stored for future use.

The path narrowed, walls pressing closer as they moved deeper. The torchlight began to fade, replaced by a faint silver glow radiating from the stone walls themselves. Runes shimmered, delicate yet sharp, forming intricate patterns that pulsed in time with the dungeon's ever-present hum.

Lena slowed, eyes scanning the carvings. "These runes... they're not just decoration."

Elara ran her fingers along one of the glowing lines. "They're ancient. I've never seen symbols like this before."

Renji stopped in his tracks, eyes widening. His fingers reached out, tracing a spiraling rune that mirrored the design etched into his rings. A chill ran down his spine.

"This one..." He held up his hand, revealing the same symbol glowing faintly beneath his skin. "It's the same."

Elara and Lena exchanged glances, then looked at the walls again. The symbols weren't random. They were centered around one motif, repeating — a crest-like design, sharp-edged and ominous.

Elara knelt near a cracked statue, half-buried in debris. Though worn with time, its arms were raised in reverence, and its face was turned toward the wall, toward a large, glowing insignia carved above.

Lena stepped closer, squinting at the symbol. "Is that...

Renji's throat tightened. It was identical — the Soul Reaper emblem. Sharp crescents forming an eye-like design, surrounded by rings of arcane text.

He reached out, hand hovering just above the carving.

"This dungeon wasn't just built," he murmured. "It was... meant for someone like me."

The air shifted — heavier, charged with meaning. The dungeon wasn't just reacting to his presence.

It was waiting.

A sudden chime echoed in his mind, louder than before, sharper.

[System Notification]

Dungeon Core Status: Active

Marked Soul Detected – Renji Hurozawa

Core Progress: 12%

Boss Reaction: Stirring

Soul Reaper Signature Confirmed

Warning: Dungeon Events Linked to User

Renji staggered back a step, pulse racing.

"The dungeon knows me."

Elara rose, worry flickering in her eyes. "Why would it recognize you? What does it mean?"

Lena stepped beside him, eyes narrowing at the glowing walls. "Is this some kind of test?"

Renji didn't answer immediately. His gaze remained fixed on the Soul Reaper crest, its glow pulsing faster now, as if in response to his breath.

Not a test.

A calling.

The tunnel curved sharply, and light spilled from a chamber beyond. The rhythmic clank of metal and voices echoed ahead, bouncing off the dungeon walls. As Renji stepped into the open space, he saw them — a group of four adventurers, gathered near a crumbled statue, torches burning in sconces they had hammered into the stone.

At their center stood a man leaning casually on a gilded spear, its head polished to a shine. His armor was impossibly clean, not a scratch or dent in sight. Blond hair slicked back, he turned slowly, a grin already on his face.

"Well, well," he drawled, voice rich with smug satisfaction. "Look who wandered in."

Renji's eyes narrowed, his hand unconsciously resting on the hilt of his blade.

Elara sighed beside him. "You've got to be kidding me."

Lena raised an eyebrow. "Friend of yours?"

"Not exactly," Renji muttered.

The man stepped forward, gesturing lazily with his spear. "Name's Varek. Maybe you've heard of me — C-rank, top of my class, Valkris Elite." He gave a mock bow, flashing teeth. "And you're Renji, right? The mysterious solo adventurer with a taste for rescuing princesses."

His eyes drifted to Elara and Lena. "And apparently, for collecting women."

Lena's grip on her sword tightened. "Say that again."

Elara's tone was ice. "You've got a death wish."

Varek raised his hands in mock surrender, laughing. "Easy now. No offense meant. Just admiring the scenery."

Behind him, his party stood watching — a female archer, twirling an arrow between her fingers, a tall man with a battleaxe, and a smaller rogue, half-hidden in his hood, eyeing Renji's tamed beast warily.

Renji glanced at the Shadowfang at his side. "You here to fight or just talk?"

Varek's grin didn't fade. "Neither. We're here to clear the dungeon. First. I'd hate to see someone like you... get in over your head."

He turned, motioning for his team to move on. "Try not to trip the traps."

As they walked away, Lena muttered under her breath, "Ass."

Elara frowned. "You think they're trouble?"

"They're amateurs with polished gear," Renji replied, eyes narrowing. "The dungeon's going to eat them alive."

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He glanced at the runes ahead — something shimmered faintly, pulsing beneath the surface.

"Let's move."

The corridor narrowed, walls pressing in with a sense of unnatural urgency. The air felt different — charged, almost humming beneath their feet.

Renji slowed, eyes flicking across the walls. "Something's wrong."

Lena drew her sword, every step deliberate. "Feels like... pressure."

Elara knelt, fingertips brushing the floor. Her eyes widened. "Runes—freshly carved."

A faint glow erupted beneath their boots — pale blue lines tracing intricate patterns, lighting up the stone like veins of light.

"Elara! Lena—move!" Renji shouted, reaching for them.

Too late.

A pulse of energy burst upward, and stone walls surged from the ground, slamming into place with deafening force. Dust exploded into the air as the corridor fractured, sealing Renji off from the others. He staggered back, eyes wide, the sound of Elara's shout muffled behind solid rock.

"Renji!"

He slammed his fist against the wall. "Elara! Lena!"

No response — the walls were thick, enchanted.

Suddenly, a low rumble echoed, and the floor beneath him shifted, the runes changing.

[System Alert]

Trial Initiated: Solo Combat Challenge

Dungeon Progression Locked

Mini-Boss Approaching... Prepare for combat.

A massive gate slid open ahead, stone grinding against stone. From the shadows, thunderous steps approached.

Renji drew his blade, jaw tightening.

Out of the darkness emerged a Stone Golem, at least ten feet tall, its body etched with glowing runes, fists like boulders, each step shaking the ground.

It raised one arm, and the air shuddered with the weight of ancient magic.

Renji exhaled slowly, adjusting his stance. "Alright, then."

He lunged into the fray.

The Stone Golem's roar echoed, a guttural, grinding sound like boulders crashing in a canyon. Dust shook loose from the ceiling, raining down in light trickles as the massive creature stepped into the torchlight. Its entire body gleamed with runes, lines of pulsing orange-red mana running along its arms, torso, and legs.

Each step it took was a tremor, the ground beneath Renji's feet cracking slightly. He narrowed his eyes, adjusting his stance, blade low and steady.

[System Alert]

Target: Dungeon Mini-Boss – Stone Golem (Lv. 10)

Health: 2,500 HP

Strength: High

Weak Points: Protected

Strategy: Locate Rune Vulnerabilities

Renji's jaw clenched. "2,500... great."

The golem moved first — faster than expected. Its massive fist came down like a hammer, smashing the stone floor with earth-shaking force. Renji barely rolled aside, the shockwave still throwing him off balance. He landed hard, wincing.

No hesitation.

He activated Quickdraw, his blade flashing in a silver arc, slicing across the golem's leg. Sparks flew — barely a scratch.

"Figures."

[Bloodhound's Sense Activated]

Scanning for Weakness...

Weak Point Located – Left Shoulder Rune

His eyes locked on the glowing rune etched into the golem's shoulder, flickering erratically.

"That's the spot."

The golem swung again, a wide arc aiming to crush. Renji leapt back, feet sliding across loose rubble. He surged forward, Dual Strike igniting, blade slashing twice in rapid succession. The first blow chipped the rune, the second cracked it, mana leaking in faint arcs.

The golem let out a deafening roar, spinning wildly, backhanding him mid-air. The world spun — Renji hit the ground hard, sliding across the stone floor, his ribs screaming in pain.

His hand clenched the hilt of his sword. Blood dripped from a gash on his forehead.

"Not... done yet."

He rose shakily, body battered but eyes burning.

The golem charged, feet pounding like war drums. Renji waited — breath slow, focus absolute. The moment the fist came, he slid beneath it, vaulting up its arm with precision, feet finding cracks in the stone.

He reached the shoulder, blade raised high.

"This ends now!"

He drove his sword into the cracked rune — mana exploded, a shockwave of energy hurling him off the golem's back.

The golem froze, light flickering across its body — then shattered into fragments, stone raining down like hail.

Silence returned.

Renji lay panting on the floor, bloodied, beaten, but alive.

[System Notification]

Mini-Boss Defeated

Soul Extracted: Unique Core – Stone Golem

Mana Increase: +120

Skill Rank Up:

Quickdraw Lv. 5 → 6

Dual Strike Lv. 4 → 5

Soul Storage Updated

He pulled himself upright, blade resting across his knees.

"Trial passed."

His voice was quiet, but resolute.

The barriers groaned as they retracted, stone grinding against stone, releasing a surge of stale, mana-thick air into the corridor. Renji pushed forward, ribs aching with every breath, his clothes torn and blood-streaked. His tamed Shadowfang padded silently beside him, low to the ground, its ears twitching.

The corridor led into a wide chamber—and he saw them.

Elara and Lena stood near the center, weapons drawn, breathing hard. Dust and blood stained their gear, but they stood tall, alert. At their feet, Varek's party slumped, bruised and battered, their polished armor now dented and dirtied.

Varek leaned against a wall, clutching his arm, a scowl darkening his face.

Elara turned the moment Renji stepped in, her eyes scanning him quickly. "You're hurt."

Renji wiped blood from his temple, offering a faint smile. "Mini-boss."

Lena stepped closer, brow furrowed. "And you still walked out?"

He nodded, straightening despite the throb in his ribs. "Crushed it."

Varek's gaze flicked up, bitterness twisting his features. "Lucky bastard."

Renji walked past him without a word, pausing only for a breath.

"I don't believe in luck," he murmured, voice low, eyes sharp.

Elara gave Varek a cold glance. "Maybe you should try skill."

Lena smirked. "Or humility."

Varek looked away, shame hidden behind clenched teeth.

Renji's hand rested briefly on his Shadowfang's head. "Let's move. The dungeon's not done."

Elara and Lena fell into step beside him, worry still lingering in their eyes.

"You okay?" Lena asked, her voice softer now.

Renji didn't answer at first. His gaze remained forward, focused, determined.

"I have to be."

As they disappeared down the corridor, the faint pulse of the dungeon's core echoed in the distance — awaiting them.