Chapter 8: Eruption Amidst Suppression

Long, long ago, there was a great hole in the world.

It was a vast hole that could give birth to countless monsters, a veritable den of demons.

The countless monsters of different shapes and forms that emerged from the great hole once wreaked havoc on the surface, their tracks sweeping through forests, mountains, even valleys, seas, and skies, covering every corner of the world.

The human race suffered greatly, being trampled upon, and in the end, to reclaim their dignity, peace, and avenge their fallen comrades, they crossed racial barriers, united, and launched a counterattack against the monsters.

After countless years of struggle, under the leadership and active participation of those later called "heroes," the human race drove the monsters back into the great hole, and built a fortress above it.

This fortress is the Labyrinth City of Orario.

That great hole is the Dungeon.

The Dungeon is a labyrinth.

It contains another world different from the surface.

In this world, there are countless floors.

No one knows exactly how many floors there are.

People only know that the environment and terrain of each floor of the Dungeon are different, and the types of monsters are complex and varied. The deeper the floor, the more complex the environment and terrain, and the more terrifying and powerful the monsters become.

In other words, those who lack strength cannot go far even if they enter the Dungeon.

Even the first floor, closest to the surface and considered the safest with the weakest monsters, poses a life-threatening danger to an ordinary person who enters it.

Even those who have received blessings and have abilities need a certain amount of courage and like-minded teammates to explore the Dungeon.

Therefore, during the day, the square in front of the Babel Tower gathers many adventurers who have received blessings, come from various clans, and are registered with the "Guild" that manages the Labyrinth City, with the main task of exploring the Dungeon.

They form teams and enter the Dungeon together, seeking to gain great wealth, fame, and prestige in this "unknown" domain.

As for the night, it is usually not the time for adventurers to enter the Dungeon.

However, on this pitch-black night, a person entered the Babel Tower, passed through the ornate door in the first-floor hall, and followed the stairs along the edge of a huge opening, entering the first floor of the Dungeon.

The person who rashly entered the Dungeon at night was not even equipped with proper armor or gear, wearing only a set of casual clothes with zero protective ability, and holding a short sword.

"———"

An endless silence enveloped the area.

Lig raised his eyes and looked ahead, immediately seeing the roads that extended in all directions, resembling underground tunnels.

The walls and ceiling were uniformly light blue.

Forks, crossroads, and gentle downhill paths formed neat roads at regular intervals.

There was no sign of anyone else around.

At this moment, Lig literally stepped into a den of demons, a subterranean labyrinth.

"It feels a bit like when I accidentally entered a bear's den during a survival exercise in the forest."

Lig was abnormally calm, walking casually through the tunnel, his footsteps clearly audible in the silent environment.

"Ho"

"Ho"

Perhaps attracted by Lig's unmasked footsteps, faint growls emerged from the darkness, barely audible.

Lig's gaze flickered, but he did not stop. His eyes remained fixed on the tunnel's end.

There, at a fork, pairs of crimson eyes glowed in the darkness.

Monsters, lying in wait in the darkness, silently appeared.

Lig only saw the monsters clearly after he got closer.

They were the dog-headed monsters of the Dungeon, known as "Dogmen."

"Ho"

With a breathless, chaotic panting, one Dogman seemed impatient and stepped out of the darkness.

Its lean, ugly, and aggressive figure was a shock to Lig, who had never seen such a "monster" before.

However, Lig did not stop.

"Ga!"

The Dogman, seeing what seemed like an easy prey, let out a sharp howl and pounced at Lig.

The ferocious monster grew larger in Lig's eyes, its figure drawing closer.

"Hu"

Lig exhaled a deep breath, trying to suppress his rapidly beating heart.

This feeling—

"Long time no see."

Lig's lips curled into a rare, natural smile.

Despite facing danger, Lig felt no fear, but rather an inexplicable excitement.

Recalling the first time he left home and ventured out to seek thrills, Lig felt the same way—no anxiety, only excitement.

Perhaps it was due to being numb for too long.

Perhaps it was due to being accustomed for too long.

Having lived a life that was too oppressive and restrictive, Lig, like a spring that has been compressed to its limit, would suddenly reverse and become intensely excited when faced with something highly stimulating.

With this inexplicable excitement, as the Dogman pounced at him, Lig's pace, which had never stopped, quickened.

From walking to sprinting.

From sprinting to dashing.

—Running.

Lig charged fearlessly towards the "unknown" existence he had never seen before.

"Ga!"

The Dogman immediately bared its sharp claws and lunged at Lig's head.

The next second, with a "clang," the Dogman's claws hit a gaudy short sword.

Lig, at the last moment before the Dogman's claws reached his head, boldly raised his short sword to block the attack.

"Thud!"

The next moment, a dull thud echoed.

Lig, who had blocked the Dogman's attack with his short sword, used his free hand to form a fist and punched the ferocious dog head.

"Ga!"

The Dogman let out a painful howl, its lean body unable to withstand the impact and was knocked to the ground.

"Ho!"

"Ga!"

Seeing their companion fail and be punched to the ground, the other Dogmen hiding in the darkness could no longer hold back and rushed out, charging at Lig.

Seeing this, Lig's heart beat faster, and his excitement only increased, making him feel full of energy and strength.

This was the effect of adrenaline being released.

The scene before him reminded Lig of a time when he was ambushed by a pack of wolves in the forest at night, just like now, being attacked by multiple ferocious wolves.

Recalling that time, Lig's body moved naturally.

Although he came from a world without any mystical or supernatural powers, Lig had a good physique from his experience with survival exercises and extreme sports.

The original host, though uneducated, was a farmer's child and had a good physique and stamina.

This allowed Lig to put the combat skills and self-defense knowledge he had learned for self-protection to good use.

Thus, facing the attack of several Dogmen, Lig chose the most appropriate action at that moment.

"Ga?"

The Dogman that had been knocked to the ground and was howling in pain found itself being lifted.

Lig grabbed the Dogman on the ground by its leg, swung it violently, and threw it at the group of Dogmen charging towards him.

"Thud!"

Another dull thud echoed as the two leading Dogmen were hit by their flying companion.

The group of Dogmen immediately fell into chaos.

The leading Dogmen were knocked to the ground one after another.

The Dogmen behind were tripped by those in front, losing their momentum.

At this moment, Lig moved again.

He charged towards the nearest Dogman, taking advantage of its confusion, and his short sword suddenly burst forth, piercing its head.

"Gaah!"

With a piercing scream, the Dogman, with blood splattering from its head, fell to the ground.

A drop of blood splattered on Lig's face, contrasting with his cold, gleaming eyes, making him look like a merciless demon.

"Ga!"

"Ho!"

The Dogmen seemed to be enraged, stepping on their fallen comrades and charging at Lig.

In response, Lig grabbed the dead Dogman, using its lean body like a flail, swinging it with a whistling sound, and knocking away the charging Dogmen.

The short sword in his hand was rarely used, only to block the Dogmen's claws and fangs when they got too close, and to deliver fatal blows when needed, piercing the vital points of his enemies.

This battle continued for an unknown duration.

"Thud!"

Soon, Lig thrust his short sword into the chest of the last Dogman, piercing its heart.

The last Dogman fell, marking the end of the battle.

The Dungeon returned to silence.

Lig stood among the bodies of the Dogmen, looking at the blood and remains scattered on the ground, and at his blood-soaked hands and short sword, the red blood on his cheek standing out starkly.

"Not enough"

Lig suddenly murmured.

"Not quite enough"

His heart, which was racing, could not calm down.

His blood, which was surging, could not stop.

The intense emotions in his chest made Lig feel as if he was releasing all the suppression and oppression of the past, speaking from the depths of his heart.

"It can be more intense"

Following the whispers of his heart, Lig, who was no longer the polite person he used to be, stepped forward like a berserker pursuing an unseen goal, heading deeper into the subterranean labyrinth.

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