The Bristlefang Den was carved into the side of a jagged hill, its entrance like the open mouth of some long-dead beast. The wind howled through the narrow gorge leading up to it, carrying the scent of blood, fur, and damp stone.
Most Hunters would hesitate.
Most would come in teams.
Most would prepare carefully.
Zairon?
He marched up the path humming the boss battle theme from a game that didn't exist in this world.
"Ohh~ Bristlefangs and blood, EXP for me~ You're about to witness a murder spree~"
He kicked open the dungeon gate, arms spread wide.
[Dungeon Entered: Bristlefang Den]
Recommended Rank: E
Warning: Presence of D-Rank monsters detected
EXP Modifier: x1.2 (Solo Bonus)
Zairon's eyes sparkled. "Bless this twisted world."
The den's tunnels were wide, claw-scored, and reeked of wet dog. He walked confidently, dragging a beast-bone blade he'd picked up from a corpse outside.
He didn't have to wait long.
The growls echoed first—then the wolves came.
Six of them, sleek and wiry, with matted fur and quill-like spines bristling from their backs. Their eyes glowed green in the dark.
"E-Ranks," Zairon assessed.
They lunged in a pack—coordinated, efficient.
He ducked the first swipe, slid under the second, and headbutted the third in the jaw with a grin.
"Welcome to my highlight reel."
The bone blade sang as it cleaved through a neck.
[You have slain: Bristlefang (E-Rank)]
+300 EXP
Another slashed at his side. He let it graze him—on purpose.
He grabbed it by the snout and bit its ear.
It yelped.
"What, never been hunted before?" he growled, twisting the blade into its side.
[+300 EXP]
[+300 EXP]
Within minutes, the entire pack lay still, their blood steaming against the dungeon stone.
Zairon wiped his blade and looked at his wounds.
He was bleeding. Not badly. But enough to sting.
He smirked.
"Perfect."
He flexed his fingers.
"Now… send me something bigger."
As if the dungeon heard his challenge, a deep snarl rolled through the tunnel.
From the shadows, a massive shape emerged. Nearly the size of a bear, with obsidian-black fur and red-tipped fangs.
[Bristlefury Alpha – D-Rank]
It glared at him with eyes that promised death.
Zairon cracked his neck. "Oh yes. A proper mini-boss."
The Alpha lunged.
Zairon dodged by a hair's breadth and slammed his blade upward, but the monster deflected with a shoulder slam that sent him skidding back.
The beast pounced again—this time, Zairon met it head-on.
He grabbed the thing's jaws and held it open.
"WHAT'S UP, DOG?" he yelled, eyes glowing.
With a roar, he drove his blade into the roof of its mouth—again and again, until the snarling turned to choking, then silence.
[You have slain: Bristlefury Alpha (D-Rank)]
+1,000 EXP
He collapsed beside the beast, panting, grinning.
"Leveling up… is the greatest drug in existence."
[Current EXP: 6,310 / 10,000]
He stood, cracked his back, and yelled into the dark.
"BRING ME MORE!"
A chorus of howls answered him from deeper within.
He smiled wider.
"Now that's what I'm talking about."