The entrance looked like the throat of a god, jagged stone jaws opening into darkness, with a low hum that made your skin crawl.

  

  [Dungeon: Forgotten Burrow – Level Range: 5–15]

  [Type: Dynamic Scaling | Party Size: 1–3]

  [Status: Unexplored by You]

  [Warning: Entering this dungeon will lock you in for 30 minutes or until the Boss is defeated]

  Noct eyed the system prompt. “You sure this isn’t suicide?”

  Seraphis flicked her ponytail back. “With your mood? Maybe. But with my heals? Nah.”

  “Bold for someone wearing light armor.”

  She grinned. “Cute that you think I even need armor.”

  He didn’t reply, just gripped his weapon tighter, this time an Uncommon Iron Fang, bought with most of his remaining credits after selling off scrap. Simple blade, solid stats.

  

  [Iron Fang – Uncommon]

  +4 ATK | +3 AGI | Minor Bleed Chance

  “Alright,” he exhaled. “Let’s make some regrets.”

  The world blinked.

  The moment they stepped inside, a system chime echoed.

  

  [Dungeon Entered: Forgotten Burrow]

  [Adaptive Scaling Enabled. Difficulty Adjusted Based on Party Stats]

  [Objective: Defeat the Burrow Warden]

  The walls were tight, carved unnaturally. Crystals pulsed faint blue along the path, and the air was thick with mist. Strange clicking echoed from deep within, like bone on bone.

  “Creepy,” Seraphis whispered.

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  “Yeah,” Noct replied, eyes scanning. “I love it.”

  Five steps in, the first enemies appeared. Burrow Stalkers, creatures like hairless panthers crossed with centipedes, eyes glowing orange. One dropped from the ceiling.

  

  [Burrow Stalker – Lv. 8]

  It lunged, fast.

  Noct moved faster.

  He ducked low, slashing up in a clean arc. Blood burst from its side, but it wasn’t dead.

  

  [You have inflicted Minor Bleed]

  Two more came out of the fog.

  Seraphis raised both hands, a shimmer forming around Noct.

  

  [Skill Activated: Blessing Veil]

  +15% Damage Resistance for 10 sec

  With the buffer, Noct tanked the next hit, then spun, driving his blade into one of their throats. Seraphis followed with a pulsing orb of energy that rewound the creature's wounds back into a fatal state.

  

  [Technique: Rewind Pulse – Rare]

  Reverts last 5 seconds of HP on a single target.

  

  [Burrow Stalker defeated | EXP gained: +122 | Credits: +34 (Auto-collected)]

  Noct stood up, panting slightly.

  “You’re way too calm about murder,” he muttered.

  “You’re way too edgy for a guy with zero titles.”

  Fair.

  They pushed deeper.

  Fifteen minutes in, they found a chest in a dead-end. Noct paused. “Could be trapped.”

  Seraphis scanned it. “Let me. I’ve got a Key of Sight consumable lets me see trap aura.”

  She activated it. A faint red glow pulsed around the chest.

  

  [Trap Detected: Explosive Pulse – Triggered on opening]

  She disarmed it. Inside:

  

  [Reward: Technique Scroll – Shadow Step (Uncommon)]

  Noct stared at it.

  

  [Would you like to learn: Shadow Step? Y/N]

  “Teleportation-type?” he asked.

  Seraphis nodded. “Short-range dash. High AGI scaling.”

  He pressed Yes.

  

  [Technique Learned: Shadow Step]

  A surge of info downloaded into his head. Muscles twitched. He felt faster already.

  Then the dungeon trembled.

  

  [Boss Approaching]

  “Uh, boss is approaching us?” Seraphis blinked.

  Noct readied his blade. “Guess we saved them the trip.”

  The fog parted like a curtain.

  A massive, twisted creature stomped forward. Eight legs. Mask-like face. Glowing green chains wrapped around its body, pulsing with corrupted code.

  

  [Burrow Warden – Lv. 15 – Corrupted Variant]

  Warning: Boss has adapted to player techniques.

  Noct tensed. “It’s learning from us?”

  “Apparently,” Seraphis whispered. “Let’s teach it pain.”

  End of Chapter 4...