Chapter 16 – Challenger

Far above, in the twisting corridors of the dungeon, I froze mid-step. The faint vibrations beneath my paws had grown stronger, sharper. The whispers I'd been hearing since entering the labyrinth shifted, growing louder and more distinct. 

Ahead of me, the staircase spiraled downward, its steps glowing faintly with an ominous blue light.

Something was moving below.

"Well," I muttered, forcing a smirk despite the chill running down my spine. "Looks like I'm not alone down here."

Taking a deep breath, I descended further into the labyrinth.

The corridor opened into a vast chamber, its air heavy with the lingering scent of magic. Scorch marks marred the stone floor, and faint traces of mana flickered in the dim light, as though the battle here had barely ended.

I froze, my ears twitching. The whispers I'd heard throughout the dungeon had grown louder, sharper, but now there was something else—voices.

Harsh, rhythmic sounds bounced off the stone walls. The tones were unfamiliar, layered with guttural growls and abrupt, clipped consonants. It wasn't just noise—this was speech.

I crouched low, peering through the shadows. Three figures stood in the center of the chamber. One of them—a broad-shouldered man with a glowing shield—was scanning the room, his stance tense. Beside him, a woman with bloodied arms crouched, her twin daggers glinting faintly in the light. The last one—a robed figure leaning heavily on a staff—was muttering something under his breath, his face pale.

The words spilled from their mouths in bursts, quick and sharp. I couldn't grasp their meaning, but their tone carried urgency and tension.

"They're regrouping," the shielded one might have said. At least, that's what I imagined. The sounds carried weight, his voice low and commanding.

The robed one barked a response, his staff glowing faintly. His words were smoother but no less foreign, each syllable sharp enough to cut. The woman with the daggers hissed something guttural, and her gestures—pointing toward the shadows—were all I needed to understand. They'd seen me.

Humans…

I hesitated. It had been so long since I'd seen others like this, but there was no comfort in the sight. They looked dangerous, their weapons and magic humming with barely restrained power.

Before I could retreat, the woman's head snapped up.

"Movement," she said sharply, her voice cutting through the silence. Her daggers were in her hands instantly, her posture low and ready.

The man turned, his shield rising as his eyes locked onto me.

"What the—?"

The robed one stepped forward, his staff glowing faintly.

"It's infused with mana. A dungeon creature."

Dungeon creature? I bristled at the term, but before I could react, the man bellowed:

"Take it down!"

The woman darted toward me, her daggers flashing in the dim light. I leapt back with [Bounce], twisting midair to land behind the heavily armored man as he advanced. My legs burned from the strain, but I kept moving. Every muscle in my body screamed for rest, but I ignored it, locking my eyes on the glowing staff the robed one held.

"Stay in position!" the man barked, his shield raised high.

"Cut it off from retreat!"

The mage stepped forward, his staff thrumming with magic. His voice was calm, deliberate.

"By the frozen winds of Aelria, halt its advance! [Icy Grasp]!"

Jagged frost erupted from the ground, curling toward me like grasping hands. I darted to the side, my legs trembling as I twisted between the icy tendrils. My chest burned with every movement, but I forced myself forward.

The armored man moved fast—faster than I expected. His shield swung in a brutal arc, catching me mid-leap.

[HP: 25 → 18]

Pain shot through my ribs as I hit the ground hard, my breath leaving me in a sharp gasp. For a moment, the world blurred. My chest heaved as I tried to suck in air, the ache spreading like fire through my sides.

The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, its rhythm steady. I could feel it—the warmth it gave, the way it pushed back against the burning pain. My vision cleared, but my limbs still felt heavy, slower than they had just moments ago.

I shook myself and scrambled to my feet.

"Get it together," I growled under my breath.

The mage's chant rose again, his voice gaining urgency.

"By the binding chains of Aelria, hold and break! [Mana Shackles]!"

The ground beneath me glowed faintly as the chains erupted, snaking toward my hind legs. I jumped, trying to twist free, but the effort was too much. My legs faltered midair, and the chains caught me, dragging me down.

[HP: 18 → 15]

The cold metal cut into my fur, pinning me in place. I thrashed, panic clawing at the edges of my mind as my breathing grew ragged. My vision darkened briefly, and my chest tightened like a vice.

This wasn't just pain—it was exhaustion. Every ounce of strength I'd gained through evolution felt like it was slipping through my claws. The orb's rhythm grew louder, steadier, forcing my focus back.

No. Not now.

I locked my glowing red eyes on the woman as she lunged toward me. [Hypnotic Gaze] flared to life, freezing her mid-strike. She trembled, her daggers inches from my throat, her eyes wide with confusion.

But I didn't strike. I kicked at the chains, my claws scraping against the ground as the metal cracked and splintered.

When I broke free, I bolted, my breath coming in ragged gasps. My legs felt like lead, each movement slower than the last.

The armored man was relentless. He swung his shield again, and this time, I couldn't dodge fast enough.

The blow caught me squarely in the side, sending me sprawling across the stone floor.

[HP: 15 → 8]

The pain was sharp and immediate, but it wasn't the worst part. My legs trembled as I tried to stand, every muscle screaming in protest. My head spun, and my chest heaved as the orb's pulse grew louder.

It wasn't comforting this time—it was suffocating. My vision swam, the edges tinged with red as my stamina dwindled. My claws scraped uselessly against the stone as I staggered back onto my feet.

The man advanced, his shield glowing with defensive magic. Behind him, the mage began chanting again, his staff trembling with raw power.

I crouched low, forcing myself to breathe despite the stabbing pain in my ribs.

Focus. Think. Survive.

The woman circled me cautiously, her daggers glinting faintly in the dim light. I watched her closely, my legs trembling as I shifted my weight. Every movement sent sharp jolts of pain through my body, but I couldn't stop.

Her gaze met mine, and for a moment, something flickered in her expression—confusion? Hesitation?

I couldn't risk it. With a surge of strength, I leapt into the shadows, narrowly avoiding her strike.

I stumbled back, my legs trembling beneath me. The pain in my side pulsed with every heartbeat,

With nowhere to run, the shield bash from the man came crashing down again.

[HP: 8 → 2]

the lingering shock of the shield's last blow leaving my vision hazy.

The armored man loomed closer; his shield raised again. His face was set with grim determination as he advanced.

"Keep it cornered!" he barked.

The woman moved to flank me, her daggers dripping with that eerie green glow. Poison, I realized dimly. A single cut from those blades, and it'd all be over.

I couldn't keep this up. My legs refused to obey me, and every breath sent sharp stabs of pain through my chest.

The orb in my chest pulsed wildly, as if it were fighting alongside me, trying to keep me upright. But even its warmth felt distant now, like a flame guttering in the wind.

I wasn't going to make it.

The mage's voice rose, his chant echoing through the chamber.

"By the searing light of Solis, pierce the unyielding dark! [Lance of Radiance]!"

A spear of golden light shot toward me, searing through the air with a deafening crack. I threw myself to the side, the heat grazing my fur as it passed.

"Stay down, damn it!"

the man shouted, closing the distance in two long strides. His shield glowed with a faint aura as he raised it high.

I braced myself, my vision narrowing to the arc of his swing.

This was it.

The shield came down like a hammer, its glow filling my vision. Time seemed to slow as my instincts screamed at me to move, but my legs wouldn't respond.

The orb's pulse faltered.

No.

My chest burned—not just with pain, but with something deeper. A spark. A defiance I hadn't felt since the day I realized I could fight back.

I wasn't just prey anymore.

With a surge of strength, I didn't know I had; I forced my body to move. My hind legs coiled, my claws scraping against the stone as I kicked upward with everything I had.

I parried the shield with my [Kick].

The blow connected with the edge of the shield, sending a shockwave up my legs that left them numb. The force of the impact staggered the man, his footing slipping as the shield was knocked to the side.

His eyes widened in surprise.

"What the—?"

I didn't stop. I pushed off the ground with trembling legs, my chest heaving as I scrambled back into a defensive crouch. My vision swam, but I could feel it—something had changed.

A faint glow surrounded me, emanating from the orb in my chest. The warmth surged, filling me with a strength I didn't understand.

A notification blinked into my vision, its text clear and sharp despite the haze clouding my thoughts:

[Unique Skill Unlocked: Challenger]

Description: The will to face overwhelming odds and rise above. Grants increased strength, agility, and stamina when facing enemies stronger than you. When HP is below 20%, activates a temporary boost to combat abilities and fortitude.

The pain in my legs dulled, replaced by a strange clarity. My movements felt sharper, my body lighter. I could breathe again.

The man recovered quickly, his shield rising once more as he stepped forward. But this time, I wasn't just dodging.

The shield came closer, its arc slower now. I could see the strain in the man's stance, the faint tremor in his wrist as he swung. My muscles coiled, my hind legs lashing out with all the force I could muster.

I parried it again with [Kick]

The impact reverberated through my body, but the shield twisted off-course, scraping against the stone.

[HP: 2 → 1 (Recoil Damage)].

I staggered back, my chest heaving, the orb's pulse thunderous in my ears. The world around me blurred, and then sharpened again as I activated [Blood Sight].

Pain erupted behind my eyes, white-hot and searing. My vision turned crimson, the entire chamber bathed in a web of pulsing life. The armored man's body shimmered faintly, glowing veins tracing his movements.

And there it was.

A faint flicker of light at the base of his shield arm, where the straps dug into his wrist. A weak point.

My breath came ragged, every step sending jolts of pain through my legs. The orb in my chest pulsed erratically, as though fighting against me, urging me to stop.

But I couldn't stop.

The woman suddenly crept behind me brandishing her twin daggers, ready to strike.

I hop to the side and use [Hypnotic Gaze] on the woman, making her pause for a bit and used [Bounce] toward her head and used [Kick].

The woman crashed down the floor but was able to get back up fast.

Seeing that the man with a shield was running toward me. I leapt toward him, my movements faster than I'd thought possible. His shield swung toward me, but I twisted midair, using [Bounce] to land behind him. My hind legs struck out with [Kick], slamming into his unguarded side.

[Critical Hit! HP Reduced.]

The man staggered, his shield dropping slightly as he turned toward me.

"Damn it, Malric—help me!" he shouted.

But I didn't give them a chance. I moved again, darting toward the mage. His staff glowed as he raised it, but I locked onto him with [Hypnotic Gaze]. His body stiffened, his chant faltering as his eyes widened.

The woman lunged toward me from the side, her daggers glinting, but I twisted away, my claws scraping against the stone as I landed just out of reach.

This wasn't just survival anymore.

This was a fight.

The adventurers regrouped quickly; their stances defensive as they realized they couldn't pin me down. The glow around me dimmed slightly, the boost from [Challenger] fading as my HP stabilized at its critical threshold.

The man scowled; his shield raised as he took a cautious step back, muttering something and the woman responding to him. I don't know what they were saying but I still need to brace myself.

Her gaze met mine, and for a moment, I saw something other than fear in her expression. Recognition? Respect?

But I didn't wait to find out. With a final leap, I darted into the shadows, my breathing ragged as the labyrinth swallowed me once more.

The orb's pulse steadied, its warmth comforting but faint. I could feel the strain in my legs, the dull ache in my chest.

But I was still alive. And now, I wasn't just surviving—I, was fighting.

The world spun as I collapsed onto the cold stone floor, my breath hitching with every ragged gasp. My legs trembled under me, barely keeping me upright. The orb's pulse in my chest was faint now, its warmth like dying embers.

Behind me, the adventurers closed in, their voices echoing through the cavern.

"It's on its last legs," the woman growled.

"Then finish it!" the man barked.

I forced myself to stand, my claws scraping against the stone. My [Danger Sense] hummed faintly—too faint to be useful now. I was out of options.

And then, I heard it.

A sharp crack echoed through the chamber, followed by the distinct sound of claws scratching against stone. Something darted out from the shadows, stopping just a few feet in front of me.

A rabbit.

But not like me.

Her fur was a dark, mottled gray, blending seamlessly into the rocky environment. A single horn jutted from her forehead, rough and sharp, about the length of my foreleg. She was smaller than me, but there was a quiet strength in the way she stood, her body angled protectively between me and the adventurers.

Her blue eyes glimmered in the dim light, scanning the adventurers with an alertness I could only envy.

"What the—another one?" the woman hissed, raising her daggers defensively.

The horned rabbit didn't flinch. She lowered her head slightly, the tip of her horn gleaming as she tensed her legs.

And then she moved.

The horned rabbit launched herself at the armored man, her movements impossibly quick. Her horn struck the edge of his shield with a sharp crack, forcing him back a step.

"She's fast!" the mage shouted, his staff glowing faintly.

The horned rabbit twisted midair, using her muscular hind legs to propel herself onto a nearby ledge. From there, she launched again, this time aiming for the mage. Her horn sliced through the air, narrowly missing his arm as he stumbled back.

"Keep her in sight!" the man barked, swinging his shield toward her.

She landed lightly, her body low to the ground, her ears twitching as she calculated her next move. The armored man lunged, but she darted to the side, her compact frame allowing her to slip through his reach.

Her horn jabbed toward his leg, forcing him to stumble again.

I watched, stunned, as she danced around their attacks. Where I was clumsy and desperate, she was precise. Every movement had purpose—each leap calculated; each strike aimed for maximum impact.

The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, its rhythm syncing with the rapid beat of my heart.

Why was she helping me?

"Malric, she's targeting you!" the mage called out, his voice laced with frustration.

The horned rabbit didn't give him time to react. She leapt toward him, her horn aimed for his staff. It struck true, sending the staff clattering to the ground. The mage cursed, retreating as she landed gracefully, her blue eyes scanning for her next target.

The fight unfolded in brutal chaos, and as the horned rabbit intervened, the adventurers' tactics faltered.

"She's fast!" the mage hissed, scrambling to retrieve his fallen staff. "What is that thing?"

"Not a regular dungeon creature," the woman growled, dodging the horned rabbit's precise lunges. Her eyes darted between the rabbit and me, her expression clouded with frustration. "A Lesser Horned Rabbit? But they don't—no, this is different."

The man with the shield, Kelsor, gritted his teeth, his gaze narrowing as he held his defensive stance. "We're not equipped for this. Whatever they are, they're not standard fare. Fall back!"

"Fall back?!" the rogue snapped, her voice sharp with disbelief. "We had it cornered!"

"And now we don't!" Kelsor shot back, his voice cutting through the tension. "Report this to the guild. If these creatures are outside protocol, it's above our clearance."

The mage muttered under his breath, casting one last wary glance at the horned rabbit as it crouched protectively in front of me. "Something's destabilizing this place… this is wrong."

The group exchanged grim looks before retreating into the shadows, their footsteps echoing faintly in the chamber.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.

The horned rabbit turned toward me, her body still as her blue eyes locked onto mine. There was no hostility in her gaze—only curiosity.

I opened my mouth to speak, but the words caught in my throat. What was I supposed to say?

She tilted her head slightly, her ears twitching. Then, with a quiet sniff, she turned and hopped toward a narrow passage on the far side of the chamber.

"Wait," I called out, my legs trembling as I struggled to follow her.

She paused, glancing back at me. Her gaze was calm, almost expectant.

The orb in my chest pulsed faintly, urging me forward. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to move despite the pain.

She didn't wait for me, hopping further into the darkness. I followed, each step heavier than the last.

After the adventurers retreated, their voices echoed faintly down the corridor. Even as they vanished into the distance, the strange, alien sounds lingered in my mind.

"What was that?" I muttered, my chest heaving. My own voice sounded small, almost alien to me after the cacophony of their speech.

The horned rabbit tilted her head at the sound of my voice. For a moment, I wondered—had she understood them? Did she know their language, or was it just as meaningless to her as it was to me?

She turned and began sniffing the air, her movements deliberate and unhurried. I watched her for a moment, the alien words of the adventurers still buzzing faintly in my ears.

"They don't belong here," I murmured to myself.

But then again, neither did I.