I slumped against the lair wall while Reaver corpses steamed in the dark.

  Blood soaked the cracked stone, my last wall spike still jutting out from the fight.

  My chest heaved hard, sweat dripping down my face, burning my eyes raw.

  Vital Reserve crept back up, regen grinding at six hundred eight a second.

  Screen glowed thirty-four thousand six hundred twenty out of fifty-nine thousand one hundred, ticking slow.

  Aura hummed at level twenty-two, heat pulsing five meters out, begging to burn something alive.

  The system’s last jab rang in my skull, calling my spike a twig like a smug prick.

  Four hundred eighty points burned for that, stung like a punch, but I was still here.

  The Drake’s lair stank of charred flesh and rot, fungal glow smearing the walls green.

  Stone dust hung thick in the air, settling on my boots, my breath rasping loud.

  I flexed my fingers stiff, felt the floor shiver under me, Terraforming buzzing deep.

  Ain’t no quitter in me, just too damn stubborn to die in this pit.

  Level ninety-three locked in after smashing those Reavers, knuckles still aching.

  My screen flickered every blink, numbers staring me down like a dare.

  Could’ve cheesed that fight smarter, saved some juice, but it’s done now.

  The cavern growled low, a rumble rolling through the walls, dust sifting down.

  Something scraped out there, claws on stone, my neck hairs prickling stiff.

  “More of you bastards?” I muttered, voice rough as gravel. “Let’s spike this shit again.”

  I crouched slow, pressed my palm to the rock, felt it hum back eager.

  Will sank in deep, picturing another spike, tall and jagged along the tunnel edge.

  Stone surged up fast, edges glinting sharp in the fungal light, cutting the air.

  It stabbed out, hard and nasty, ready to gut anything dumb enough to charge.

  My chest burned quick, a hot jolt ripping through, Vital Reserve bleeding off.

  Screen flashed teal, that snarky jerk piping up like he owned my ass.

  I snorted hard, wiped sweat off my face with a bloody sleeve.

  Four hundred eighty points gone again, regen hauling it back, but that sting bit deeper.

  “Keep talking, you glitchy prick,” I growled, glaring at the new spike.

  It stood there, cold and solid, staking my claim in this damn lair.

  Blood pooled under the Reavers, thick and black, stinking up the whole place.

  I grinned, teeth bared wide, tasting grit and blood on my tongue.

  Aura chewed those bastards slow while I smashed ‘em, but this spike cut cleaner.

  My screen ticked back to thirty-four thousand six hundred twenty in a snap.

  That burn lingered though, clawing at my ribs like a dull blade.

  Too late to play soft now, my juice’s holding up so far.

  I stood up slow, cracked my neck loud, felt the stone hum under my boots.

  The lair stretched out wide, walls scarred from the fight, air heavy with death.

  A deeper rumble hit, something pissed and close, shaking the floor hard.

  “Alright, you ugly son of a bitch,” I said, fists clenching tight. “Come get some.”

  I wasn’t waiting here like a damn fool for it to jump me first.

  Not after clawing through those Reavers, not after bleeding for this hole.

  My hands burned hot, Terraforming itching to break more stone apart.

  Time to shove this dungeon’s face in the dirt, see how it likes choking.

  I stepped forward, boots crunching on loose rock, eyes locked on the tunnel.

  The growl sharpened loud, claws scraping closer, my blood pumping fast.

  Whatever’s coming, it’s big, and I’ll bury it in spikes ‘til it quits.

  My screen stayed quiet, but I checked it, numbers steady for now.

  Could’ve saved more juice back there, kept my tank fuller for this crap.

  Doesn’t matter, I’m still kicking, still breathing in this stinkhole.

  The wall loomed, fungal light flickering off the spike’s edge bright.

  I spat on the ground, tasted blood and dust, felt alive in the mess.

  This place wants a fight, it’s getting one, and I ain’t backing down.

  I rolled my shoulders slow, shook out my arms, felt every ache scream.

  My body groaned loud, but my screen swore I was whole, lying bastard.

  I’d fought too hard, took too many hits, to let this lair win now.

  The spike stood tall, my mark, a promise of more hell coming fast.

  I muttered low, “Let’s see what you got, you prick, I’m ready.”

  My pulse thumped steady, Terraforming simmering, coiling tight to strike.

  The air thickened fast, tension building, the growl closing in loud.

  I planted my feet firm, squared up my stance, waited for the next round.

  My hands twitched eager, Aura buzzing, Terraforming itching to unleash.

  I’d been through worse, taken uglier hits, and I’m still standing here.

  The lair’s walls pressed in, light dimming, rumble shaking my damn teeth.

  I cracked my knuckles, loud pops cutting through, my grin stretching wide.

  Whatever’s out there, it’s picking the wrong guy to mess with today.

  The stone pulsed under me, alive, begging me to shape it more.

  I’d give it blood and stone, break this place ‘til it begs me to stop.

  My breath steadied slow, eyes narrowed, ready for the fight ahead.

  The system could shove its snark, I’d outlast it all, every damn bit.

  I stood firm while the lair’s growl tore through the stale air.

  My fists clenched tight, knuckles throbbing from the Reaver brawl.

  That new spike gleamed in the fungal light, my second mark on this hellhole.

  Vital Reserve sat at thirty-four thousand six hundred twenty, regen chugging at six hundred eight a second.

  Aura buzzed at level twenty-two, heat licking five meters out, ready to grind anything slow.

  The air thickened fast, dust swirling as the rumble sharpened into a snarl.

  Claws scraped stone in the dark, loud and close, my pulse kicking up hard.

  “Not waiting for you pricks,” I growled, voice low and pissed. “Let’s trap this shit now.”

  I crouched low, pressed my palm to the floor, felt the rock hum back alive.

  Will sank in quick, picturing a low ridge, jagged and tight, across the tunnel mouth.

  Stone buckled up fast, a nasty lip rising to snag anything charging through.

  It hardened in a snap, edges sharp enough to slice flesh clean off bone.

  My chest twinged, a dull ache spreading as Vital Reserve took a hit.

  Screen flashed teal, that snarky bastard jumping in like he owned me.

  I spat on the ground, wiped my mouth with a sleeve crusty with blood.

  One hundred fifty points burned off, lighter than the spike but prickling my ribs.

  Could’ve gone smaller, saved some juice, but I ain’t here to play soft.

  Regen hauled it back in a heartbeat, thirty-four thousand six hundred twenty again.

  The ridge sat low and mean, waiting for some dumb bastard to test it.

  I stood up slow, rolled my shoulders, felt every ache from the last fight.

  My body groaned, but my screen swore I was whole, lying prick.

  I’d smashed those Reavers with Aura chewing their guts, but traps were smarter.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  The lair’s walls loomed, fungal glow dimming as the growl turned shrill.

  Stone dust rained down thicker, coating my boots, my blood pumping hot.

  Trouble didn’t wait long, never does in this damn stinkhole.

  Three shapes lumbered out of the shadows, stone grinding under heavy steps.

  Rubble Crawlers, level one fifty, ugly sons of bitches with claws like busted rocks.

  Six thousand health each, my screen tagged ‘em quick, numbers flashing bright.

  “Come get it,” I muttered, standing tall, fists itching to swing.

  I flared Aura, heat pulsing out strong, grinding their rocky hides slow.

  First one hit the ridge, stumbled hard, claws scraping loud as it snarled.

  My grin twitched up, teeth bared, watching it flop like a drunk.

  Second one leaped the trap, fast as hell, lunging at me with a roar.

  I ducked low, rolled under its swing, felt the air whip past my head.

  Third one circled wide, smarter, eyeing the ridge like it figured me out.

  Blood pumped hot in my veins, my breath ragged but steady.

  Aura’s burn ticked their health down, slow as hell, but it was working.

  Could blast ‘em with stone now, end it quick, but that’s more juice gone.

  I held back tight, let Aura chew, saving Terraforming for bigger bastards.

  First Crawler recovered, charged again, slower, claws dragging heavy.

  I sidestepped easy, kicked its leg where Aura softened the rock.

  Stone cracked loud, it staggered, health dropping faster under the burn.

  Second one swiped, caught my arm, pain flashing hot and sharp.

  “Son of a bitch,” I hissed, blood trickling down my sleeve, sticky.

  Vital Reserve held firm, Aura kept grinding, my screen staying quiet.

  Third one pounced, I flared Aura harder, heat scorching its face black.

  It reeled back, blinded, and I slammed my fist into its jaw hard.

  Bone snapped, stone chipped off, health plummeting as Aura ate deep.

  First one lunged again, I dodged late, took a graze to the ribs.

  Pain stabbed hot, my growl turning raw, but I wasn’t dropping.

  Aura’s hum grew heavy, weighing on my gut like a damn brick.

  Too much juice on this crap, I thought, breathing hard, sweat stinging.

  My screen flickered, numbers steady, but my body felt every hit.

  I’d fought too hard to let these pricks win, too much blood spilled.

  The ridge held its ground, scuffed but solid, doing its job.

  I cracked my knuckles, loud pops cutting the snarls, my grin widening.

  Second Crawler swung again, slower, Aura grinding its strength down.

  I ducked under, drove my elbow into its side, felt rock give way.

  It staggered, roared, health ticking lower, my breath steadying slow.

  Third one circled still, wary, claws scraping as it watched me.

  My hands burned, Terraforming itching, but I kept it leashed tight.

  Could end this now, spike ‘em dead, but I’d bleed more juice.

  Aura’s burn was enough, slow and cheap, wearing ‘em thin.

  The lair’s growl sharpened, dust falling thicker, my boots trembling.

  More’s coming, I thought, wiping blood off my arm, tasting grit.

  I wasn’t here to dance with these bastards, just to outlast ‘em.

  My screen stayed dark, but I checked it, numbers holding firm.

  Thirty-four thousand six hundred twenty, regen chugging, Aura steady.

  First Crawler limped closer, health low, Aura’s heat cracking its shell.

  I stepped back, let it stumble, watched the ridge trip it again.

  My ribs ached, arm throbbed, but I stood tall, ready for more.

  This dungeon wants to play, I’ll play dirty, break it piece by piece.

  The air grew heavier, fungal light dimming, tension coiling tight.

  I’d taken worse hits, bled more, and I’m still standing here.

  My pulse thumped steady, eyes narrowed, waiting for the next wave.

  These Crawlers were just the start, small fry in this hell.

  I spat again, blood and dust mixing, my grin turning cold.

  The system could shove its lip, I’d bury this place yet.

  |

  I stood over the Crawler corpses while their busted hulks twitched in the dust.

  Blood dripped from my arm, ribs howling from that last damn swipe.

  Aura buzzed at level twenty-two, heat simmering five meters out, still chewing slow.

  My screen stayed dark, Vital Reserve crawling back to thirty-four thousand six hundred twenty.

  Regen churned at six hundred eight a second, patching me up bit by bit.

  The ridge trap sat scuffed and ugly, stone chipped where those bastards tripped.

  Could’ve spiked ‘em dead, saved the bruises, but Aura worked cheap and quiet.

  The cavern growled again, louder now, dust raining from the ceiling thick and gray.

  My boots trembled under me, a sharp screech echoing down the tunnel ahead.

  “More of you ugly sons of bitches?” I snarled, wiping blood off my knuckles slow.

  I wasn’t waiting around to find out, not with this place waking up pissed.

  I dropped low, slammed both hands on the stone, felt it hum back eager.

  Will poured in deep, picturing a barricade, ten feet wide, thick and solid across the tunnel.

  Rock rumbled up fast, stacking tight, a wall of jagged edges sealing it shut.

  It locked in hard, my chest burning fierce as Vital Reserve bled off quick.

  Screen flashed teal, flat and cold, then flickered wild, that snarky glitch barging in.

  I grunted loud, stood up slow, my breath ragged and hot in my throat.

  Five hundred points gone, heavier than the ridge, stinging deep in my damn gut.

  “Fight your own damn self,” I muttered, glaring at the screen’s split jab.

  Regen kicked in steady, hauling it back, but that burn clung on longer.

  The barricade towered high, rough and mean, daring anything to bust through it.

  Could’ve gone lighter, saved some juice, but I ain’t here to half-ass this crap.

  The growl turned shrill, stone cracking loud behind the wall, fast and angry.

  Shadows flickered sharp in the fungal light, my skin prickling, my fists clenching.

  Four Shardlings burst out, level one fifty-five, claws glinting like shattered glass.

  Seven thousand health each, my screen tagged ‘em quick, numbers cold as ice.

  “Son of a bitch,” I hissed, blood pumping hard, my stance squaring up.

  Aura flared hard, heat scorching out wide, grinding their edges slow and steady.

  First one slammed the barricade, stone dust flying thick as it clawed wild.

  Wall held tough, but cracks spidered out fast, my jaw tightening harder.

  Second one leaped over, quick as hell, aiming straight for my damn throat.

  I ducked low, rolled back fast, its claws grazing my shoulder bloody.

  Blood splashed hot on the stone.

  I snarled loud.

  Third and fourth flanked wide, smarter than the rest, splitting around the wall.

  Aura chewed at ‘em, health ticking down slow, but not fast enough yet.

  My hands burned fierce, Terraforming begging to spike ‘em dead right now.

  “Screw this noise,” I growled, lunging up, fists swinging ready.

  I swung hard, cracked the leaper’s face, stone splintering loud in the air.

  It reeled back, Aura burning deeper, health dropping quicker under the heat.

  First one kept hammering the barricade, cracks widening, stone groaning deep.

  Could blast it now, end this fast, but my juice’s thin as hell already.

  Fourth one pounced, I dodged late, took a slash to the leg, sharp.

  Pain stabbed hot through me, my growl ripping out raw and pissed.

  Aura’s hum weighed heavier, my gut twisting tight, my breath hitching.

  Too many, too damn fast, I thought, staggering back, boots slipping.

  My screen stayed quiet, but I checked it hard, numbers steady still.

  Thirty-four thousand six hundred twenty, regen chugging, Aura holding on.

  I’d fought too hard to let these bastards win, spilled too much blood.

  The barricade creaked loud, dust pouring down, my blood boiling hotter.

  I cracked my knuckles, loud pops cutting through, my grin turning cold.

  Second Shardling swung slow, Aura grinding its claws down to nubs.

  I ducked under easy, slammed my elbow into its side, felt rock give.

  It staggered, screeched high, health ticking lower, my breath steadying.

  Third one circled, wary now, claws scraping loud as it watched me.

  My hands itched bad, Terraforming coiling, but I kept it leashed tight.

  Could end this quick, spike ‘em all, but I’d bleed more juice dry.

  Aura’s burn was slow, cheap, wearing ‘em thin bit by damn bit.

  The lair’s growl deepened, dust falling thicker, my boots shaking hard.

  More’s coming, I thought, wiping blood off my leg, tasting iron sharp.

  I wasn’t here to play nice with these pricks, just to outlast ‘em.

  My screen flickered faint, numbers steady, but my body ached deep.

  First Shardling clawed the wall again, cracks splitting wider, groaning.

  I stepped back slow, let it waste itself, Aura chewing steady on.

  My ribs throbbed, leg stung bad, but I stood tall, unbowed still.

  This dungeon wants a fight, I’ll break it piece by damn piece.

  The air grew heavier, fungal light fading, tension coiling tight.

  I’d taken worse hits, bled more red, and I’m still kicking here.

  My pulse thumped firm, eyes narrowed, waiting for the next wave.

  These Shardlings were just noise, a warm-up for the real hell.

  I spat again, blood and dust mixing, my grin sharpening cold.

  The system’s split voice rattled me, cold then snarky, fighting itself.

  Let it bicker all it wants, I’d outlast it, bury this place.

  My breath steadied, sweat dripping, my stance firm as stone.

  The wall groaned louder, cracks spreading, Shardlings clawing wild.

  I rolled my shoulders, shook out my arms, felt every ache scream.

  My screen lied I was whole, but my body told the truth.

  I’d fought too long, bled too much, to let this lair win.

  The barricade stood, my mark, a wall against this hellhole.

  I muttered low, “Come on, you bastards, I’m still here.”

  My pulse thumped steady, Terraforming simmering, ready to strike.

  The growl rolled closer, claws echoing, my blood pumping fast.

  I’d give this place teeth, break it ‘til it chokes on me.

  I squared up while the barricade groaned under the Shardlings’ claws.

  Blood trickled from my leg, ribs throbbing like hell from their swipes.

  Aura buzzed at level twenty-two, heat pulsing five meters out, grinding ‘em slow.

  My screen stayed dark, Vital Reserve holding at thirty-four thousand six hundred twenty.

  Regen churned at six hundred eight a second, patching me up steady.

  The wall cracked louder, stone dust pouring down, my boots shaking hard.

  Could’ve spiked these bastards dead, saved the pain, but Aura’s burn was cheaper.

  The lair’s growl deepened, a rumble rolling through, claws scraping closer.

  My pulse thumped fast, my breath rasping in the thick, rotten air.

  “You pricks ain’t breaking me,” I snarled, wiping blood off my arm.

  I wasn’t letting this wall fall, not after bleeding for every damn inch.

  I crouched quick, slammed my palm to the stone, felt it hum back alive.

  Will sank in deep, picturing spikes, sharp and tall, sprouting from the barricade.

  Rock surged up fast, jagged points stabbing out, reinforcing the wall.

  It hardened solid, my chest burning hot as Vital Reserve took a hit.

  Screen flashed teal, cold and flat, then flickered, that snarky glitch cutting in.

  I snorted hard, stood up slow, my breath ragged and pissed.

  Four hundred fifty points gone, lighter than the wall but stinging sharp.

  “Keep arguing, you glitchy assholes,” I growled, glaring at the screen’s bicker.

  Regen hauled it back steady, but that burn dug into my ribs deep.

  The barricade stood tougher now, spikes gleaming, a wall of teeth.

  Could’ve gone bigger, burned more, but I ain’t wasting juice yet.

  First Shardling clawed the spikes, screeched loud, health dropping fast.

  Aura’s burn chewed deeper, cracking its shell, my grin stretching cold.

  Second one leaped again, slower, claws nicked from the grind.

  I ducked under, slammed my fist into its gut, stone splintering.

  It staggered back, health tanking, Aura scorching its insides raw.

  Third one circled, wary, but tripped on a spike, stumbled hard.

  I kicked its head, felt it crunch, health plummeting under the burn.

  Fourth one lunged, I dodged quick, caught a graze on the arm.

  Blood splashed hot.

  I snarled.

  Aura’s hum weighed heavy, my gut twisting, my breath hitching.

  Too damn many, I thought, stepping back, boots slipping on dust.

  First one fell, Aura finishing it, shards clattering to the floor.

  Second followed, collapsing, my fists bloody, my grin wider.

  Third one tried, staggered, spikes impaling it as Aura burned.

  Fourth lunged weak, I sidestepped, drove my elbow into its neck.

  It dropped hard, health zeroed, the lair’s growl quieting slow.

  My screen flashed teal, cold then snarky, numbers rolling up.

  I grunted low, wiped blood off my face, my breath steadying.

  Level ninety-six hit, VR max jumping to sixty-one thousand five hundred.

  Regen chugged on, thirty-four thousand six hundred twenty ticking up.

  The glove materialized, rough stone, humming faint in my hand.

  “Not bad, you glitchy pricks,” I muttered, slipping it on tight.

  My hands moved faster now, Terraforming itching hotter, sharper.

  Could’ve ended ‘em quicker, spiked harder, but this worked fine.

  The barricade stood, cracked but solid, spikes dripping Shardling blood.

  The lair quieted, fungal glow dimming, dust settling slow.

  My ribs ached, leg stung, but I stood tall, grinning cold.

  I’d fought too hard, bled too much, to let this place win.

  The system’s split jab rattled me, cold then snarky, fighting itself.

  Let it bicker, I’d outlast it, break this dungeon piece by piece.

  My pulse thumped steady, eyes narrowed, waiting for more.

  The growl faded, claws silent, my blood still pumping fast.

  I cracked my knuckles, loud pops echoing, my grin sharpening.

  Shardlings down, level up, glove on—hell’s teeth were mine.

  My screen flickered, numbers steady, Aura humming low.

  Could’ve burned less juice, played it smarter, but I’m alive.

  The lair’s walls loomed, light fading, tension easing slow.

  I spat on the ground, blood and dust mixing, tasting iron.

  This place wants a fight, I’ll give it one ‘til it chokes.

  I rolled my shoulders, shook out my arms, felt every ache.

  My body groaned, but my screen swore I was whole.

  I’d taken worse, fought uglier, and I’m still standing.

  The barricade held, my mark, a wall of jagged teeth.

  I muttered low, “Next round, you bastards, I’m ready.”

  My hands twitched, Terraforming simmering, glove humming fast.

  The air thickened again, faint growl rising, my pulse steady.

  I’d bury this hellhole yet, outlast every damn thing.

  My breath steadied, sweat dripping, my stance firm as rock.

  The system’s cold voice lost, snarky glitch winning out.

  I grinned wider, glove tight, ready to break more.

  The lair waited, quiet now, but I knew it wasn’t done.

  My blood burned hot, my will harder, this fight mine.