Free Web NovelChapter 11: Starving Beast
And this time, he didn’t know if he could survive it again. I fought all that time without stopping, without sleep, food, or water... and I have to continue this more?
Nova was filled with hopelessness and despair. There was no way anyone could survive in this cursed quest without eating, drinking, or even sleeping . And even if he somehow managed to endure it, how would he take care of Rieka? She had already pushed herself beyond her limits.
This was supposed to be a simple C-rank mission, yet because of his damned system quest, they were trapped in a nightmare far beyond their level. Worse than that, he had dragged an innocent person into his mess.
Fuck... fuck...
This quest truly felt as if it had been created only to kill whoever entered this place. All struggle seemed meaningless. With every passing hour and every passing day, stronger beasts continued to appear. And once that remaining hour ended, creatures far stronger than anything they had faced before would emerge in endless numbers.
For the first time since entering the dungeon, Nova felt true dread and despair. Even Rieka, who still didn’t know the full truth, could feel how hopeless the situation had become.
His chest rose and fell heavily as panic twisted his insides. Whatever sanity he still possessed was beginning to crumble under the pressure. Hunger gnawed at his thoughts, thirst burned his throat like acid, and the lack of sleep hollowed out every last trace of reason he had left.
He had nothing remaining.
No strength. No strategy. No luck.
Only death awaited them.
But then his eyes shifted toward the drop left behind by the large wolfang he had killed earlier. Among the sea of corpses and blood, a large sturdy longsword lay on the ground, and beside it rested a glowing blue crystal.
He stood up and walked toward the drop lying among the endless sea of corpses. Blood and torn flesh covered the dungeon floor, the air itself thick with the smell of death. Reaching the items, Nova crouched down and picked up the longsword.
[All Appraisal Eyes Activated.]
[Steelfang]
Rank: B
Type: Longsword
[A finely crafted blade known for its durability and vicious cutting power. Its edge resembles the fang of a beast, capable of tearing through armor with brutal precision.]
Nova stared at the sword for a moment. It looked far more durable than any weapon he had seen so far, its dark metallic blade giving off a sharp and heavy aura. Even without using it, he could tell this weapon was on a completely different level compared to the broken swords he had used before.
Then his gaze shifted toward the glowing blue crystal lying beside it. Just as he was about to pick it up, Rieka tapped his shoulder from behind and asked softly, "What did you get, Nova?"
Nova picked up the crystal, and another notification appeared.
[Recall Crystal]
[An emergency short-distance teleportation crystal mostly used inside dungeons to save one’s life during critical situations. One-time use only.]
As Nova read the description, his eyes widened in shock. A surge of happiness rushed through his exhausted body, something he hadn’t felt since entering this cursed dungeon.
Finally... They could leave , they didn’t have to die here. He tightly gripped the crystal in his hand, relief flooding his heart.
"System... this is it, right?"
[Sorry to disappoint you, Host. This crystal can only be used by one person.]
[Additionally, if the host leaves the dungeon before completing the quest, the penalty is death.]
"Fuck...!" ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
Nova clenched his fists tightly.
"Why? Why did you give me a quest like this, System?"
[It is not under my control. The quest was triggered by the situation itself. The system’s purpose is to help the host grow stronger as quickly as possible, therefore it will not waste opportunities capable of forging the host.]
"Haa..." Nova lowered his head slightly, a bitter expression appearing on his face as he accepted reality.
At the very least...he no longer needed to worry about Rieka. He slowly stood up, holding the longsword in one hand and the crystal in the other before turning toward her with a small smile.
"It’s a Recall Crystal," he said. "Our way out of here."
"What... really?" Rieka looked at him in disbelief.
By now, even she understood something was wrong with this dungeon. Her instincts continuously warned her that this place was abnormal, that they were trapped in something far beyond a normal mission.
So hearing that they finally had a chance to escape alive—she could barely believe it.
"Yes," Nova nodded calmly. "Once it’s crushed, we’ll be teleported outside." As he spoke, he placed the crystal into her hands.
A faint guilt stirred inside him for lying to her, but he understood her personality well enough by now. She would never agree to leave him behind willingly.
And even if she did he didn’t want to risk it.
"You mean... if I crush it, we’ll both get out of this hellhole?" she asked while tilting her beautiful face slightly, her fluffy ears twitching faintly.
"Yes," Nova replied with another nod.
"Here... hold my hand. I’m going to crush it," Rieka said softly.
Nova silently followed her words and held her hand. Deep down, he already knew what would happen. The crystal only worked for the person who crushed it, and it could teleport only one individual.
The moment the crystal shattered, a bright blue light enveloped Rieka’s entire body.
Then—she vanished.
Nova stared at the empty space where she had been standing just moments ago. A small sense of relief filled his heart knowing she had escaped this nightmare safely.
But at the same time a quiet sadness crept into him. At least while she was here, he hadn’t been completely alone in this endless despair. No matter how dangerous the situation had become, there had still been someone beside him.
And now it was only him again. Outside the dungeon, Rieka suddenly appeared in a burst of blue light. But the moment her vision cleared and she realized she was alone , dread filled her heart.
Her legs trembled violently. She collapsed onto the ground as tears began falling from her eyes uncontrollably. Only one thought echoed in her mind.
’he lied to me... that idiot.’
Back inside the dungeon, Nova stood there alone in complete silence. After a few moments, he exhaled deeply and began moving again. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
He walked toward the entrance leading to the second floor before sitting down in front of the gate. Then he started dragging the old corpses together, piling them up into crude defensive bunkers that could help him survive the next battle.
And there alone in the blood-soaked dungeon he silently waited for the next wave to begin. He had nothing left not strength, not strategy, not luck.
Only death awaited him.
After one hour passed, the gate slowly opened.
[Quest: Survive the Second Floor.]
Nova’s limbs trembled violently. The skills he had clung to like lifelines no longer felt reliable. His body and mind had both reached their limits, barely reacting anymore.
There truly seemed to be no hope of survival. Then they appeared.
Two towering beasts slowly walked out from the darkness, their massive bodies covered in thick silver-white fur layered with countless scars. They resembled the lesser wolfangs from before, but these creatures were far larger, stronger, and far more terrifying. Their enormous fangs glistened under the dim dungeon light while murderous intent poured from their bodies like a storm.
[Hunter Wolfang]
[Rank: C]
[Level: 19]
[A powerful evolved variant of the lesser wolfang. Possesses immense physical strength, high agility, and deadly pack-hunting instincts capable of overwhelming prey through brutality.]
"GRRRRRRRRRRRRR—!"
The beasts roared loudly, the sound shaking the dungeon walls. But as they approached, as their bloodlust filled the air around him something inside Nova finally snapped.
Not from weakness.
Not from fear.
But from rage.
The despair and terror twisting inside him transformed into something primal. Something savage. His fear reshaped itself into pure hatred, burning wildly inside his chest.
His bloodshot eyes locked onto the nearest beast. Without hesitation, Nova’s hand shot toward the hilt of the longsword beside him. The metal emitted a faint glow as he gripped it tightly, its weight heavy in his exhausted hands.
But none of that mattered anymore.
Nothing mattered.
Nova lunged forward.
The ground exploded beneath his feet as lightning surged through his body, increasing his speed with Lightning Steps. His body became a blur as he rushed toward the beast with both hands gripping the sword tightly.
Then he swung, the blade whistled through the air and crashed into the creature’s skull with a sickening slash.
But it didn’t die.
The Hunter Wolfang staggered backward, dazed as thick blood poured from the deep wound splitting its forehead. It roared furiously and slammed its claws against the sword the moment Nova tried to strike again.
The monstrous force ripped the weapon from his hands. Its claws tore into Nova’s arms as it dragged him forward, preparing to rip him apart.
And Nova bit , he bit down hard.
Like a starving beast, he opened his mouth wide and sank his teeth deep into the wolfang’s flesh with all the strength he had left. There was no reason left in his eyes anymore. No hesitation, no humanity.
Only madness.
SPLUTTER.
Flesh tore apart.
Hot blood poured into his mouth.
The giant beast shrieked in confusion and pain as Nova ripped out a large chunk of its flesh and held it tightly between his teeth, not because of hunger but because his mind had already broken.
The massive wolfang stumbled backward, roaring wildly in agony as it released him.
There was no thought left inside Nova anymore.
Only instinct. At this moment—he looked like anything but human.
Nova bit down even harder, tearing apart the hard raw flesh of the wolfang before forcing it into his mouth. Thick blood spilled across his lips and down his chin as he swallowed the beast’s meat without hesitation.
He didn’t care if it poisoned him.
He didn’t care if it killed him.
At this point he would welcome it.
The unbearable hunger and thirst had already driven him past reason. His body screamed for nourishment, his instincts forcing him to consume something anything that could keep him moving for even a little longer.
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[A/N]
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