He and Graq stood in front of the portal into the dungeon. They watched as the dark miasma that made the doorway shifted silently. It glowed a dark purple in the darkness of the night, barely enough to cast a shadow. They both felt their skin crawl at its existence. Something about it felt anthema to life itself. Why or how, neither could figure out. All they knew was that they had to delve into its bowels in hopes of getting stronger, and in Graq’s case, to destroy it.

  Jin-woo was ready this time. Pack on his bag bulged with food, waterskins, sets of clothes, the healing potions, and more to keep him occupied. On its side were a long spear and three short spears strapped to it. Extras to the one he carried in his hand now. Its cold, slick metal was covered by a tightly wrapped rag with sharp indents keeping in place. He didn’t need another battle without being able to hold it properly.

  The choice between grabbing a sword or continuing to use these metal rods was an easy one. He favored the distance they created. Exponentially greater due to his own size. And even if something made it past his ‘QuickStrike’ ability and his spear, he could still use the shorter ones. They had been sharpened to halfway down their length, faux swords.

  “So,” Graq shifted next to him from foot to foot. “Are we going in?”

  Jin-woo looked down at the ratkin. They’d been standing here for many minutes already waiting for him to get enough courage to step through the portal. He had been patient. Maybe too patient. The thought of just picking him up and walking in had crossed his mind but he thought better of it. Again, his enhanced mind made decisions like this easier.

  “I’m waiting on you, Graq.”

  Graq laughed, he played with one of his ears.

  “Well?” Jin-woo pressed. “Didn’t you yearn for flame soaked revenge. ‘Never dining on its cold meat, but rather burning it to a crisp to taste its horrible flavor!’ Or was that someone else?” He mocked. Graq had been quite eloquent during the build up.

  Graq started taking large breaths. To calm his shaking legs. It took him a few more moments to collect himself.

  “Saying it and doing it are completely different!” Graq stepped closer to the dungeon. Wide eyes reflecting the dark purple hue. “I was hoping we’d practice on something easier. A squirrel, perhaps? Maybe even a robin! Not the second level of the dungeon! There must be gradual change.”

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  Jin-woo winced. Graq seemed like he was imagining the hundred and one ways he was going to be eaten alive in there. Maybe it was too early? Then again, what choice did they have. All the squirrels and robins were in the forest. The same forest the tiger lived in. The house sized tiger, that was as quiet as a feather.

  “We don’t have much of a choice,” he said. Though he didn’t need to voice his opinion.

  They both looked back in unison. The tiger’s gigantic frame was not visible in the darkness of night. The forest canopy was too thick for the majority of light to penetrate to the ground. But they could see its eyes reflecting what little moon rays there were. It watched with vast interest, mostly to sate its hunger. But interest, nonetheless. Jin-woo could imagine it licking its paw trying to show that it wasn’t paying attention.

  Jin-woo suspected it was letting them barely see it on purpose. Playing mental games with them. It was always just out of sight.

  “You’ve got enough practice with your new ability. Trust in yourself some.”

  Graq idlily played with a makeshift sheath they made for his scalpel dagger. It was made of mostly brown, thick cloth Graq had sown together. It was widened near the bottom so the sharp weapon would not cut through. They had lost quite a few good pieces of clothing to being cut into smithereens. The little thing was no joke. If Jin-woo could figure out how to store them as throwing daggers without destroying his pack or his body, they would be his main weapon.

  Plus, its unexpected suitability with channeling mana through it. Jin-woo planned to use it once he found an offensive ability with some range to it. Graq, on the other hand, used it like a small rapier in tandem with his new fire ability. It was amazing to witness firsthand.

  “Are you comfortable with yours?” Graq asked.

  Jin-woo shook his head. “Nope. I can’t lie, though. I was hoping for more.” He shrugged.

  “I was hoping for less.”

  Jin-woo laughed.

  Graq’s new fire ability was explosive to say the least. It didn’t have large range, but it was effectively a self-contained explosion that somehow did not affect him with recoil, heat, or any damage. He basically had a shotgun in his arm. An efficient version, considering the work Jin-woo put into it.

  He couldn’t help but be proud at what he accomplished in maximizing it. There had been a lot of sweat and tears in that one specifically. To see it cause massive damage to the hospital walls with a single attack was sweet nectar into his veins.

  “No more wasting time,” Jin-woo said. A proclamation. He stepped past Graq and touched the portal door. Graq sighed but followed anyway.

  [DUNGEON ENTRANCE OPTIONS:]

  1 – Enter Level 2 - Rat King's Paradise ((F-) Ranked Dungeon)

  2 – Enter Level 1 – Error… Currently Unavailable

  [PLEASE SELECT AN OPTION]

  The notification was not what he expected. There was supposed to be a dragged into the bowels of darkness theme, and yet it was the exact opposite. What happened to the asking of consent the previous time around? Why did it drag him into the darkness kicking and screaming?

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  On the same tier.

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  Important Update - The stories below have been tentatively scheduled for a mid April release! To everyone that has supported me here, patreon (free members are awesome too!), discord, and other authors! Thank you for everything!

  April 13th - Reincarnated as a Villainous Count

  April 14th - Murdering Demonic Cultivators with my Soulmate

  April 15th - Ancient Being - Predeccesor of the Primordial Era

  (All three stories below are available for free beta reading pre RR launch on patreon.)

  Story 1 - Reincarnated as a Villainous Count

  Heroes fail and the Ice Age Apocalypse is nigh. The world turned to a villain in its darkest moments. Said Villain couldn't give a fuck.

  Alex finished a 12 hour construction shift. He made it home. Jumped onto the couch, filthy, muddy and grimy. And then fell asleep in that spot, much to his wife's great displeasure. He would take a shower tomorrow morning anyway.

  What was she so worked about...?

  Except he woke up in the body of a two bit villain in the most brutal Open World MMORPG game imaginable. Success wasn't counted by how quickly you finished the game. No, it was recorded by how many days you made it through an Ice Age Apocalypse within a swords and magic medieval world. Facing political unrest, scheming nobles, massive armies of undead, liches, undead dragons, and more terrifying monstrosities.

  Worse yet, Alex had no players and player guilds to rely on.

  Now he was forced to prepare to fight against a dozen insurmountable odds at the same time. Scheme against his brothers. Fight opposing criminal organizations for hegemony. Figure out how to make Mechas. Dungeon dive horrific areas for resources he needed urgently.

  And to top it all off... he was on a timer falling towards his execution date! His brothers really didn't like him, being all holy and stuff.

  Follow Luther Morgan Bellham as he figures out how to fight giant undead dragons with his own giant Mechas. Recruits villains and evil dudes and dudettes! And Blackmailing the good guys into saving the world!

  Story 2 - Love Life - Develop Disciples - Murder Hobo Demonic Cultivators

  Guiyang was murdered by his wife.

  John Stone's woke up a few hours later in a new world occupying Guiyang's body. Rich, strong, and with the best wife possible. Gorgeous, loves to cook, and willing to kick cultivator butts for him. He couldn't ask for a better spouse!

  Everything was going perfect until the fire kingdom...err...

  ...until he noticed nearly everyone had heart demons, and half his servants were part of a demonic cult! In a bid to escape with his wife they must hunt demonic cultivators, console and prevent his nuke-leveled father from committing explosive suicide, and deal with a douche-bag of a brother.

  Did he mention the system was broken?

  [Time Limit : 27 days!]

  [Mission: Find a disciple!]

  [Failure: Death by Qi Explosion!]

  John Stone's, now Yang Guiyang, must develop disciples to take care of him and his wife. Unlock his external Qi usage. Throw around a massive berserk greatsword around. Maybe launch a golden lightning bolt or two. And finally fight the Heavenly Demon!

  Fight the Heavenly Demon?! He had no shot to beat the old coot, did he? Dark Lords aren't beaten by the power of friendship after all.

  Follow Yang Guiyang as he kicks ass and develops super nukes of his own! Builds his own base and decapitates demonic cultivators! All with the help of his–not crazy–wife!

  And lastly - I will be posting the first 30k words as I work through a rewrite of Ancient Being Predecessor of the Primordial Era on free tier!

  Being mistaken for an Ancient Predecessor usually resulted in heavenly benefits. Not for James Anderson.

  After being thrown into an isolated training realm, he was quick to figure out that there was no tutorial. No guidance. No ancient being to fully unlock his system. For eons he remained stuck by himself. Only system notifications and rewards appearing out of thin air kept him from going insane.

  But even that eventually stopped working.

  Standing at the precipice of the Isolated Realm. He closed his eyes and jumped.

  A tear in reality opened under his feet, unbeknownst to him. Dumping him into a cultivation world gone awry. Demons and evil cultivators now dominate the world. Righteous sects and clans hole up in caves and array defended mountain peaks.

  Why they hide? Well, let's just say James had something to do with it.

  Follow James Anderson, or is it Yin Hu, as he is dragged into petty squabbles and the lives of the last remaining Hu Family members; Hu Shui and Hu Jun.

  Will he achieve his ultimate dream? Would there finally be his dream lady to pamper him after eons of struggling? Or maybe he should begin a harem chasing adventure?

  Follow James (Yin Hu) as he navigates the world with the belief he isn't that strong.

  If you've gotten this far, thank you lol

  Help me write full time! Or buy me some coffee!

  And I got a Join me there! Updates on current in progress works. Rewrites of other stories. And you can bother me with questions!