Itekan ran through the forest with renewed vigor, delving deeper into the dungeon. He had already encountered several horned bunnies along the way. Individually, these creatures were no real threat — Grade F beasts at best — with spiritual energy (SE) that mimicked lightning. However, they became truly dangerous when they attacked in unison. A mere group of six could deploy a formation honed through generations of predation and pure survival instinct.
This formation, known as the Six Paths of Lightning, had been studied extensively by several hero academies. The consensus was alarming: its effective range spanned 20 to 50 meters in all directions, and its attack potency rivaled that of a Grade D beast. Just one coordinated strike could wipe out a squad of inattentive First Form heroes.
Luckily, Itekan only encountered them in clusters of three or four as he pressed onward toward the center of the forest dungeon.
According to the intel Headmaster Kime had provided, the dungeon they were navigating wasn't actually a standard Yellow Zone. Rather, it was composed of five distinct field dungeons layered together. The weakest among them was classified as Yellow, but the others ranged from Yellow all the way up to Red.
Dungeon zones were classified by levels of danger. The weakest were White Zones, followed by Yellow — these lower-tier zones were where most trainee heroes gained real-life combat experience. Then came Green Zones and Red Zones, considered mid-tier. Here, heroes of the First through Third Forms typically hunted. Above those, the high-level dungeons awaited: Purple Zones, Silver Zones, and finally, Black Zones. These were only tackled by Blue-Eye Form heroes or Denkei Form elites.
Denkei Form heroes rarely participated in regular dungeon expeditions. They only intervened when the stakes were high — or when a Black Zone surfaced.
Kime had informed Itekan that the other, higher-tier dungeons within this area had been sealed off to prevent overflows — incidents where demon beasts of higher ranks breached into lower-rated dungeons.
Itekan's goal was to reach the edge of the Yellow Zone and step into either a Red or Green Zone. Only there could he acquire the materials he needed.
He advanced through the first level with ease. Soon, a wide wall loomed ahead, separating the first level from the second. At its center stood a stone door.
Before entering, Itekan released a pulse of SE and inscribed a mark on the wall — a prearranged signal he and his companions had agreed upon to guide each other. Then he stepped through.
The second level of the dungeon was markedly different. Though still a forest, the trees here were grotesque, and the very air felt thick and putrid. Itekan glanced back at the doorway, his senses sharpening.
A sudden rustle snapped his attention forward. Without hesitation, he sidestepped as a whip lashed past him, slicing through the air.
More whips came, crackling violently.
Still unsure of his attacker, Itekan's instincts screamed — a chilling, suffocating sensation he hadn't felt since his harrowing encounter with the Ant Queen. His breath caught as his eyes swept the seemingly frozen trees around him. But he knew better.
"Chajama," Itekan muttered.
With a sharp burst, hundreds of fireballs materialized behind him. With a flick of his wrist, they surged toward the trees.
Upon impact, a grating, unnerving screech echoed across the forest. The trees abandoned their deception and writhed grotesquely. Itekan dropped to one knee as blood trickled from his ears. His bones felt as though they'd turned to jelly — he could barely remain upright.
Thankfully, his shadow spirit activated instinctively. His ruptured eardrums began to mend, and the oppressive aura bearing down on him dissipated.
Itekan rose unsteadily. He stretched his arms, summoning his twin shadow daggers, coating his ears with SE to block out the lingering screeches. Then he dashed toward one of the corrupted trees. As a branch lunged at him, he whispered:
"Shadow's Hand: Shadow Tentacles."
From his back, black tendrils erupted, parrying the branch. Although the tentacle was overpowered and knocked aside, it bought Itekan the moment he needed. He was within striking distance of the trunk.
"Calogaja!" he roared.
A hundred shadow daggers launched into the tree's core. In retaliation, the tree snapped two branches toward him. He managed to dodge one but was slammed by the other, sending him hurtling into a nearby river.
Until now, the other trees had remained eerily still, but the moment Itekan was knocked away, their branches whipped to life. He was struck repeatedly, battered from every angle. Raising his arms in defense proved futile — his bones shattered under the relentless blows.
He crashed to the ground, battered and bruised. For the first time, Itekan regretted pushing into this level.
His shadow spirit frantically worked to mend his fractures, but it wasn't fast enough. With so many enemies converging, he doubted it could keep pace.
Still, he forced himself to his feet. His hundred shadow daggers still lodged in the first tree shimmered in the distance. With a wave of his hand, he willed them to shred through the trunk.
A final, grotesque wail erupted. Even with his shadow spirit's aid and SE-coated ears, the sound sent tremors through his skull. Grimacing, he clutched one ear with one hand while stretching the other out, pressing his assault.
Then — crack!
A trunk from another tree smashed into his ribs, launching him even farther back.
At last, the first tree collapsed. From the deep wounds carved into its bark oozed a strange, white gelatinous substance. It spilled onto the dead grass, and wherever it touched, life instantly sprang back — the withered blades turned vibrant green.
Itekan's eyes narrowed. An idea sparked in his mind.
As two branches shot toward him from either side, he thrust both arms outward. Twin shadow tentacles emerged and blocked the assault. The force still caused his shoulder blades to groan and crack; blood dripped from his lips.
Wincing, he hurled a shadow tentacle toward the blue-white gelatinous substance. As it neared, the goo quivered and darted away.
Itekan's breath caught. His thoughts whirled.
"Is that... a Slime?" he gasped.
Spiritual Energy -- SE
Spritual Sea -- SS
Spiritual Signatures -- SST