บท 7: End of Beginning Road?

Orion slumped down on the stairs between the fourth and fifth floors, his chest rising and falling as he took a moment to collect himself. His body ached from the endless running, his muscles sore, but he couldn't afford to stop for long. Just a minute..., he thought. One minute to consolidate his strength and regain enough stamina for the next floor.

The fifth floor was no joke. He knew it would be worse. He could feel it in the weight of the dungeon's air, the deeper silence punctuated by distant, guttural growls.

"Hit and herd," he whispered to himself, wiping the sweat from his brow. "No wasting time. Just keep moving."

His body still thrummed with adrenaline as he stood up and started down the stairs. As soon as his boots hit the stone of the fifth floor, the dungeon's ambiance shifted. The walls changed to a light green hue, their texture smoother yet more imposing. The corridors widened, allowing for more space but also offering more danger. There was a sudden, almost palpable pressure in the air, as if the dungeon itself was testing his resolve, challenging him with its vastness.

He barely had time to adjust before a pair of goblins charged at him from the left, snarling and flailing their claws. Orion didn't slow down. He dashed forward, slashing one goblin across the chest with a single swipe of his blade. It screeched and staggered but didn't fall. The second goblin was quicker, darting forward, but Orion was faster. He kicked the creature hard in the gut, sending it crashing into the wall as he sprinted past, not waiting to see if it would get back up.

Orion's plan was simple: cause enough chaos and keep running, not giving the dungeon time to corner him. As he dashed through narrow passages and cavernous halls, more monsters began to appear—kobolds, goblins, and the occasional dungeon lizard slithering across the ceiling.

He slashed at everything that crossed his path. One kobold lunged, and Orion sliced its leg, causing it to stumble, but he didn't stop to finish it off. Another goblin blocked his way; Orion struck it across the face and kept moving. The monsters behind him were piling up, their enraged howls echoing in the dungeon as they pursued him relentlessly.

He was leading them on purpose, dragging them all toward a specific corner of the floor. The monsters were fast, but Orion knew he had one trick no one would expect. He'd been watching the dungeon lizards—how they clung to the walls and ceilings, hiding in the shadows to ambush unsuspecting adventurers. If they could do it, so could he. He just needed to find the right spot.

As he dashed through another narrow hallway, Orion spotted a room up ahead with high, jagged walls but no dungeon lizards hanging from the ceiling. Perfect.

His heart pounded as he sprinted into the room. He glanced at the walls, estimating the climb. It wasn't going to be easy, especially with the monsters closing in behind him. But he had no choice, he already executed his plan, there's no turning back.

Orion sheathed his knife and leapt toward the wall, his fingers scrambling for a grip on the rough stone. His boots slid against the surface, sending the first jolt of real panic through him since he'd entered the dungeon, as he almost lost his balance.

"Come on!" he growled through clenched teeth, his arms straining as he tried to pull himself up. He was barely halfway when he heard the monsters approaching—claws scraping against the stone floor, their guttural growls growing louder.

His heart hammered in his chest. He tried again, this time digging his fingers deeper into the crevices of the wall, but his body trembled with fatigue.

A kobold's shadow rounded the corner, its steps louder. Orion's breath hitched. He had to get higher. Now.

With one last burst of energy, he forced himself up, reaching for the ceiling. His fingers brushed against the edge of a jagged stone, and he gripped it tightly, hoisting his body up with sheer determination. His muscles screamed in protest, but he managed to swing his legs up, pressing himself flat against the ceiling just as the first kobold entered the room.

His pulse thundered in his ears as he hung there, barely breathing but still trying to steady it, clinging to the ceiling like the dungeon lizards he had adapted from. The kobolds and goblins rushed into the room, growling and sniffing the air, but they didn't look up. They circled the space, searching for him, but Orion remained still, hidden in the shadows above.

His heart raced as the monsters grew frustrated, snarling at each other. He watched them below, waiting for his chance. Slowly, he shifted his position, careful not to make a sound, adjusting his posture to steady himself. His muscles ached from the effort, but he couldn't afford to slip. He was in their blind spot, just like the lizards had been in his.

They hadn't spotted him yet, but he knew it was only a matter of time. He needed to move fast.

His eyes locked onto the strongest monster—the dungeon lizard closest to the center of the room. Its powerful limbs flexed as it prowled around, its forked tongue flicking the air. He could sense the hierarchy here; the weaker kobolds and goblins were deferring to the lizards. Orion's plan solidified in his mind.

Target the strongest, take them down silently.

"Adapt or die," he whispered to himself with a small, triumphant grin.

In a smooth, calculated motion, Orion dropped down silently behind the first dungeon lizard. Before it could react, he plunged his knife deep into the back of its skull, using his full weight and strength to drive the blade home. He was fortunate to hit a vital spot, piercing through its tough scales. The beast gurgled, but he quickly pressed his hand over its snout, muffling any sound. It twitched violently but couldn't call out, its body collapsing in a silent heap. Orion then concealed himself behind the lizard's massive form, using it as cover while the other monsters continued their frantic search for him.

His breath was steady, his senses sharp. He shifted, peeking from behind the dying lizard's body. The other monsters hadn't noticed the kill yet. His next target was the second dungeon lizard. If he could eliminate it, the rest of the fight would be easier.

Staying low, Orion moved with the fluidity of a predator. He darted forward, closing the distance between himself and the second lizard just before the first one fully disintegrated into dust. This lizard was slightly smaller but no less dangerous. Positioning himself directly behind it, he struck, driving his blade into the creature's spine with a series of rapid thrusts, each piercing a particularly vulnerable scale. The dungeon lizard let out a low hiss, its body spasming as it tried to turn, but Orion twisted the knife, silencing it instantly.

With both lizards down, he had the advantage, but he couldn't stop now.

Orion shifted his attention to the kobolds. They were faster and more dangerous than the goblins, armed with sharp claws and a muscular frame. As the monsters moved around, oblivious to their fallen leaders, he crept up behind the closest kobold, timing his approach perfectly to strike just before the last lizard fully turned to dust. It turned its head just as Orion's blade sliced across its throat, its eyes wide with surprise before it crumbled into dust.

Before the other kobolds could notice, Orion slipped back into the shadows. His heart pounded in his chest, but his movements were calm and deliberate. One after another, he silently dispatched the kobolds, moving like a shadow through the room. He struck fast, taking them down before they could react.

Just as he was about to finish the fourth kobold, one of the goblins caught sight of him. Its shrill growl echoed through the room, and suddenly, every monster snapped their heads toward him.

"Holy..." Orion hissed under his breath.

The goblins and the kobolds charged at him, their beady eyes burning with rage. With no time to hide again, Orion stood his ground, his blade gleaming in the low light. His strategy had been perfect, but now he'd have to fight head-on.

As usual, his vision slowed, and suddenly two massive, one-eyed frogs leaped just a meter shy of the goblins and kobolds. Orion's jaw dropped in disbelief. Aren't they supposed to be below this floor? A storm surged through his mind as chaos erupted around him.