Solo Panicking

Oh To Be A Porter... NOT

~♡♡☼♡♡~

Walking through the gigantic gate was a familiar sensation by now—the flickering ripples of mana brushing against your skin as you crossed the threshold. Yet, as you stepped into the dungeon, the faint electric buzz in the air felt different, sharper, and unsettling. A peculiar weight pressed against your senses, making the atmosphere feel heavier than it should.

It reminded you of the red gate that now seemed to have happened oh so long ago, but this felt... off. There was a distinct wrongness here, like the dungeon itself was holding its breath, waiting, worse than the red gate. You glanced over at Jinwoo, meeting his eyes for a brief moment. He frowned, clearly feeling it too, before both of you caught up with the group.

The terrain was typical for a dungeon of this rank—a vast cavern with glowing crystals scattered across the walls, casting an eerie light that pulsed faintly. The crystals provided just enough illumination to navigate, though the jagged shadows they threw against the walls gave the space an ominous quality.

Ki-Hoon, the raid leader, called for a quick head count, his voice steady but tinged with the same unease you felt. Once satisfied, he motioned for the group to proceed deeper into the cavern.

As you walked, you noticed Jinwoo's frown deepening. A young woman with striking purple hair sidled up to him, mistaking his expression for worry about his role as a porter.

"Don't stress too much," she said cheerfully, her voice a touch too loud in the silence. "It's tough at first, but you'll get used to it"

Jinwoo nodded absentmindedly, barely paying her any attention. His focus remained fixed on the path ahead, his body tense.

The atmosphere grew heavier with each step, the tension palpable. The glowing crystals became fewer and farther between, their light dimming until the cavern was cloaked in shadows. Ahead, the passage widened into what looked like another chamber, the entrance yawning like a beast's maw.

Then it hit a sudden wave of bloodlust that made your stomach lurch. The air grew colder, your instincts screaming at you to brace yourself.

"Positions!" Ki-Hoon barked, but the group was already moving. The hunters fell into formation without hesitation, their weapons drawn and at the ready.

The source of the bloodlust soon revealed itself: a pair of snarling creatures slinked into view, their red eyes glowing menacingly.

"Dungeon Jackals!" one of the hunters shouted, his voice cracking with alarm.

The jackals barked and snapped, their muscular bodies rippling as they darted toward the group. One of them leaped for a mage, its claws outstretched, but the tank intercepted it with a brutal swing of his axe. The beast yelped as the blade cleaved through its neck, its lifeless body crumpling to the ground.

A second jackal lunged, but the tank's shield slammed into it with bone-crushing force, taking it down before it could get close to the mages. The victory was short-lived. As the first two bodies hit the ground, dozens more jackals poured into the chamber, their guttural growls echoing like a sinister chorus. The hunters sprang into action. Swords clashed, arrows flew, and spells lit up the cavern in bursts of fire and ice.

"Get down!" shouted a mage in a red cloak. Her eyes glowed an intense crimson as she summoned two massive fireballs, their heat washing over the group. With a flick of her wrist, she launched the spells. The fireballs split midair, each fragment seeking out a target with unerring precision.

The resulting explosion sent waves of heat rippling through the cavern, the flames consuming the jackals in an instant. Their shrieks echoed briefly before fading into silence.