The deeper they went into Nightshade Caverns, the worse it became. The tunnel walls pressed in around them, the air thick with the scent of damp stone and something else—something rotten. Ethan could feel it in the air. Something was waiting ahead. Watching. And for the first time since stepping into the dungeon, he felt a terrible certainty. I might not make it out of here alive. The Team Moves Forward “Stay sharp,” Gareth muttered. He took the lead, spear raised, eyes scanning the dark passage ahead. Kara followed just behind him, fingers tight around the grip of her sword. Leah was near the back, her staff glowing faintly with protective magic. And Ethan? He was in the very rear. Alone. Not because of strategy. Because that’s where they wanted him. Not part of the formation. Not worth protecting. He was just baggage. And after freezing in the last fight, Ethan couldn’t blame them. He hadn’t earned their trust, not yet.

  A low growl echoed from up ahead. Ethan tensed. It was different from before. Lower. Hungrier. Then— The attack came. Three Nightfangs lunged from the darkness, their sleek black forms almost invisible in the dim light. Gareth was faster. His spear pierced the first one’s skull mid-air, slamming it into the cave floor. Kara dodged left, her sword flashing in a clean arc. Blood splattered the stone. The third monster twisted—but it wasn’t going for Gareth or Kara. It was going for Ethan. The Moment That Changed Everything It was fast. Too fast. It lunged at him, its fangs gleaming in the flickering torchlight. Ethan’s body locked up. His breath hitched—just like last time. His legs refused to move. His mind screamed at him to dodge— But he couldn’t. The monster was on him. He barely had time to raise his arms before it slammed into him, claws raking across his chest. Pain exploded through his body as he was sent crashing backward. His back hit the cavern wall hard, knocking the air from his lungs. His vision blurred. The Nightfang pinned him, its claws digging into his arms— And then— The jaws snapped forward. Right for his throat. Ethan had just enough time to realize— This is it. He was about to die.

  No. No, no, NO! Ethan’s hands scrambled against the stone, desperate for anything—anything— And then— His fingers closed around a loose rock. He didn’t think. Didn’t hesitate. With every ounce of desperation in his body, he swung it upward. The sharp edge of the rock smashed into the Nightfang’s skull. The beast jerked, letting out a pained snarl. Ethan didn’t stop. He swung again. And again. Something inside him snapped. A flood of pure survival instinct drowned out the pain, the fear. He didn’t think. He just kept hitting it. Blood splattered across his hands. The Nightfang twitched. Then— It collapsed. Dead. Silence. Then Judgement. Ethan panted, staring at the unmoving corpse. His arms shook. His fingers dripped with blood. And when he looked up— The team was watching. Kara’s expression was a mix of shock and annoyance. Leah’s eyes were wide. Gareth, as always, was unreadable. Ethan struggled to his feet, his legs weak beneath him. And then Kara spoke. “You hesitated.” Ethan’s jaw tightened. She stepped forward, her sword still in hand. “You almost got yourself killed. Again.” “I—” “You think we have time to babysit you?” Her voice was sharp, cutting through the cavern air like a blade. “You think you get two chances out here?” Ethan swallowed back the anger rising in his chest. “I killed it.” “Barely.” Kara shook her head, disgust flickering across her face. “Pathetic.” Ethan clenched his fists. He wanted to argue. Wanted to tell her that he was trying. But what was the point? She was right. He had hesitated. And in a dungeon, hesitation was death.

  Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

  Then— A ding echoed in his mind. Ethan stiffened. It was the first time he had ever heard it. [SYSTEM NOTIFICATION] You have slain a Nightfang. Calculating EXP… LEVEL UP! +5 Stat Points Awarded! Ethan’s breath caught. His first level up. His first real step toward power. He had felt nothing change—no sudden strength, no rush of energy. But something inside him had shifted. And when he opened his status screen, it was there. His first real progress. It wasn’t much. But it was something. And that meant he wasn’t helpless anymore. Moving Forward Ethan wiped the blood from his hands. His chest still ached from the attack, his body still felt weak. But inside, a new feeling stirred. Determination. No more freezing up. No more hesitation. He wasn’t going to stay at the bottom forever. He was going to climb. He was going to get stronger. And one day— He was going to find Emma. No matter what it took.