Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Werewolf Dungeon Boss (2)

Kael forced himself back onto his feet.

Everything hurt.

His ribs burned every time he inhaled, blood dripped steadily from the cuts across his chest, and his muscles felt like they had been torn apart from overuse. The last exchange with the werewolf boss had nearly shattered his body completely.

Still—

He remained standing.

Kael wiped blood from the corner of his mouth and stared toward the giant werewolf across the cavern.

The monster looked worse now.

Both of its forearms had been severed cleanly at the elbow.

Black blood poured endlessly from the wounds while the creature staggered backward near the Dungeon Core. Its crimson eyes were filled with rage, pain, and desperation.

Kael exhaled slowly.

"That strike really did some damage," he muttered.

Removing the training weights had changed everything.

For the first time since entering the dungeon, he could move at full speed without restraint. Even then, using the First Form at maximum output had almost sent him crashing directly into the cavern wall.

His control still wasn’t perfect.

But the results—

The results were overwhelming.

Kael slowly raised his blade again.

The werewolf growled violently.

Even injured, the pressure rolling off the creature remained dangerous. Most first years would have died instantly just standing near it.

Kael frowned slightly.

"If I was a normal student," he thought, "I would’ve collapsed already."

But he wasn’t normal anymore.

Not after Velcrest City.

Not after the demon seed awakened.

Kael tightened his grip around his sword.

His body still ached horribly, but underneath the pain, he could feel it again.

{Infinite Adaptation}.

The skill was slowly adjusting his body to the stress.

Tiny improvements spread through his muscles every second. His breathing stabilized slightly. His mana circulation became smoother despite his exhaustion.

The more he survived—

The stronger he became.

It was terrifying.

And useful.

The werewolf suddenly lunged forward again.

Even missing both arms, the monster remained fast enough to blur through the cavern.

Kael lowered himself into stance immediately.

The silver mana around his blade sharpened.

"First Form," he whispered.

The werewolf roared.

"Star Blade Style: Guiding Light."

Kael vanished like a straight line of moonlight.

The world blurred around him.

The werewolf reacted instantly this time, twisting sideways in a desperate attempt to dodge—

Too late.

A silver arc flashed through the cavern.

Blood exploded outward.

The monster’s remaining arm separated from its body completely.

The werewolf screamed in agony.

Kael reappeared several meters behind it before forcing himself to stop. His boots scraped violently across the stone floor as he stabilized his balance before crashing into the cavern wall.

His breathing became rough immediately.

Using the First Form at that level consumed enormous amounts of mana.

Still—

It worked.

Kael turned slowly.

The werewolf staggered near the Dungeon Core, its body trembling violently now. Panic had replaced the arrogance in its eyes.

It knew it was losing.

Kael stared quietly at the monster.

Then suddenly—

The werewolf charged again.

Not at him.

Past him.

Toward the deeper tunnels connected to the cavern.

Kael’s eyes narrowed instantly.

And then he understood.

"You bastard," he muttered through clenched teeth.

The smaller wolves.

The dungeon boss had not called them earlier because they were dead.

It had called them because they were gathering.

Reinforcements.

The distant sounds of growling echoed through the tunnels immediately afterward.

Dozens.

Kael clicked his tongue.

Perfect timing.

The wounded werewolf boss stumbled forward while the approaching pack rapidly closed the distance.

Kael inhaled sharply.

No choice.

Mana surged beneath his feet.

"Shadow Step."

Darkness twisted around his body.

Kael vanished.

The wounded werewolf sensed danger immediately and twisted its body instinctively—

But its injuries slowed it too much.

Kael emerged directly behind the creature.

His blade pierced forward.

Straight through the monster’s heart.

THUK.

The werewolf froze.

For a moment, the entire cavern became silent.

Then black blood poured from its mouth as the enormous body collapsed onto the stone floor with a thunderous impact.

The Dungeon Boss was dead.

Kael exhaled slowly.

"Finally."

His legs almost gave out immediately afterward.

The battle had pushed him far past his current limits.

Still—

There was no time to rest.

The incoming wolves were almost here.

Kael turned toward Charlotte.

The purple-haired girl was still staring at the dead boss in complete shock.

Probably because she had just watched a supposedly bottom-ranked student kill a monster capable of slaughtering most first years effortlessly.

"Charlotte," Kael called out.

She flinched.

"G-get over there?" she asked nervously.

Kael pointed toward the glowing mana core slowly emerging from the dead werewolf’s chest.

The crystal pulsed with dense mana.

A Dungeon Boss Core.

A priceless resource.

"I want you to absorb it before we leave," Kael said calmly.

Charlotte froze completely.

"W-What?"

Kael frowned slightly.

"The core."

"B-But..." Charlotte looked between Kael and the glowing crystal repeatedly. "I didn’t do anything. You fought the boss yourself."

Kael immediately glared at her.

Charlotte stiffened.

"Didn’t you say you wanted to grow stronger?" Kael asked coldly. "Or was that just something you said because you were scared?"

Charlotte bit her lip instantly.

Kael continued.

"If you hesitate every time an opportunity appears in front of you, you’ll stay weak forever."

The words struck harder than Charlotte expected.

Kael looked away afterward.

"So hurry up," he muttered. "Absorb the core before the wolves get here."

Charlotte stared at him for another second before slowly nodding.

Then she approached the boss corpse carefully.

The glowing mana core floated upward once she touched it.

Charlotte closed her eyes.

Mana surged around her immediately.

Kael turned away from her at once.

Right on time.

The first group of wolves burst from the tunnels.

At least fifteen.

Their eyes glowed red with fury after sensing the death of their alpha.

Kael sighed tiredly.

"Of course."

The wolves charged together.

Kael met them head-on.

His sword flashed repeatedly through the darkness while blood sprayed across the cavern floor. Without the boss directing them, the monsters fought more recklessly.

Still dangerous.

Still fast.

But manageable.

Kael ducked beneath one wolf before stabbing upward through its jaw. Another lunged from the side.

He kicked its skull aside before slashing through two more charging directly toward him.

Pain shot through his ribs every movement.

His arms felt heavier now.

His mana reserves were dangerously low.

But he kept fighting.

One wolf bit into his shoulder.

Kael stabbed it through the eye immediately.

Another clawed across his back.

Kael ignored it.

The battle devolved into pure brutality.

No elegance.

No perfect swordsmanship.

Just survival.

Eventually—

The last wolf collapsed.

Kael remained standing for several seconds afterward before finally lowering himself onto the cavern floor heavily.

His entire body screamed in pain.

Blood covered his clothes completely now.

He leaned back against a rock and stared at the cavern ceiling silently.

His breathing echoed softly throughout the chamber.

Nearby, Charlotte slowly opened her eyes.

Mana radiated around her body more steadily now.

The absorption had succeeded.

Her expression immediately changed once she saw Kael.

He looked terrible.

Cuts covered almost every visible part of his body.

His breathing was uneven.

Blood soaked through his academy uniform.

Charlotte hurried toward him anxiously.

"Should we leave now?" she asked quietly.

Kael immediately shook his head.

"No."

Charlotte blinked.

"But you’re injured."

"I know."

"Then why are we staying here?"

Kael closed his eyes briefly.

Because healing too quickly would waste growth.

That was the answer.

Every injury forced {Infinite Adaptation} to evolve his body further. The academy healers could restore his wounds instantly once they exited the dungeon, but doing that too early would interrupt the adaptation process completely.

Pain now meant strength later.

Kael hated how logical that sounded.

"We’ll wait a bit," he said quietly.

Charlotte sat beside him carefully.

For several moments, neither of them spoke.

The Dungeon Core chamber had finally become silent.

Monster corpses surrounded them.

Blood covered the floor.

And yet somehow—

For the first time since entering the dungeon—

Kael finally relaxed slightly.