PERFECT REINCARNATION : Being Invincible in Another World-Chapter 77: First Hunt of Gloomfang Hollow

The first creature burst forward from the tunnel with a sharp screech. Rowan barely had time to react. The oversized rat lunged from the shadows with unnatural speed, its claws scraping across the stone floor as it launched itself straight toward him.

Rowan’s instincts took over. His sword came up just in time. His steel touched fur and bone with a dull impact as the blade struck the creature mid-leap. The monster fell sideways, rolling across the ground before scrambling upright again.

Rowan took one step backward, afraid by the force of the collision. The creature’s eyes locked onto him again. Behind it, dozens more shapes poured out from the darkness. "Rats!" Rowan shouted.

"Dungeon rats," Aurelion corrected mockingly. The prince stepped forward with smooth, effortless motion, his sword sliding free of its sheath like a sliver of moonlight in the dim cavern glow.

The swarm surged closer. Jagged teeth snapped. Claws scraped against stone. Rowan felt his pulse quicken as he tightened his grip on his weapon. There were too many. "...That’s more than a few," he muttered. Aurelion’s voice remained composed. "...Calm yourself."

Another rat lunged. Rowan swung again. This time his blade struck cleanly, slicing across the creature’s side and sending it crashing into the cavern wall. The creature twitched once before falling still. Rowan . "...I got one."

Sally clapped. "...Impressive." Rowan turned toward her. "...Why are you clapping?!" Behind them the swarm continued pouring into the chamber, drawn by the lingering mana disturbance from the broken crystal vein.

Aurelion stepped forward and slashed once. His sword flashed. Two creatures fell instantly. His movements were precise, controlled, almost effortless. But he didn’t advance further. Instead, he stepped back again. "...Rowan." He called.

Rowan looked over. "....You are the one who will handle most of them." Aurelion said. Rowan’s eyes widened. "...Most of them?!" Aurelion replied. "Yes." Another rat lunged toward Rowan. He swung again, cutting the creature down with a hurried strike. The monster collapsed at his feet.

Aurelion’s tone remained calm. "....this is your first dungeon." He gestured toward the approaching swarm. "...And you need to learn." The next three rats rushed forward together. Rowan gritted his teeth. He moved, His sword swung again.

The first rat leaped high, attempting to bite his arm. Rowan twisted sideways and slashed upward. The creature fell. The second slammed into his leg. Rowan stumbled. "Ah—!" Before it could bite him, a flash of steel appeared.

Aurelion’s blade pierced through the creature’s skull with a clean strike. The rat collapsed instantly. "...Thanks." Rowan said. Aurelion pulled his sword. "...Do not let them surround you." Another group of rats rushed forward.

Rowan steadied his breathing. The backpack on his shoulders shifted slightly with each movement, making his balance feel awkward. "...This thing is heavy," he muttered. Sally tilted her head. "...Why are you still wearing it?" Rowan froze. "...Right."

He quickly shrugged the pack off and dropped it beside the cavern wall. Instantly his movements felt lighter. Another rat lunged. Rowan stepped forward this time instead of retreating. His sword cut downward. The blade struck the creature across its spine. The rat collapsed with a squeal.

Rowan exhaled."...Okay." The next two came from opposite sides. Rowan remembered Aurelion’s earlier words. Do not let them surround you. He moved instead of backing away, he stepped toward the narrower section of the chamber where the tunnel curved inward. Now the rats could only approach from one direction.

"Good," Aurelion murmured quietly. Rowan didn’t hear him. The swarm slowed slightly now. The rats seemed to realize their prey was not as easy as expected. Several of them began circling instead of attacking directly. Rowan wiped sweat from his forehead.

Aurelion said. "...Dungeon creatures are not mindless." Sally crouched beside the broken mana crystals, picking up another fragment. "...Still tasty though." Rowan glanced back. "...Stop eating those!" Sally ignored him.

The rats suddenly surged again. This time five rushed forward at once. Rowan braced himself. His sword moved faster now. The first rat lunged low. Rowan stepped sideways and stabbed downward. The blade pierced through the creature’s shoulder. He kicked the body aside.

The second rat jumped high. Rowan swung upward. The strike caught the creature mid-air and sent it crashing against the wall. The third nearly reached his leg. Before Rowan could react, Sally flicked her finger. A tiny burst of force slammed into the rat. The creature flew backward into the tunnel wall with a loud crack.

Rowan stared. "...What was that?" Sally boasted. "This Honorable one is helping." Aurelion glanced at her. "...Do not interfere too much." Sally sighed. "Fine."

The remaining rats hesitated. Rowan raised his sword again. "...Come on then." For a moment, nothing happened. Then the swarm retreated. The remaining creatures vanished back into the darkness of the tunnels.

Silence returned to the chamber. Rowan stood there breathing heavily. His arms trembled slightly from the exertion. The cavern floor around him was littered with the bodies of dungeon rats. After several seconds he lowered his sword. "...They ran." Aurelion nodded. "Most dungeon creatures value survival."

Rowan wiped his blade on a nearby rock before sheathing it. "...That was intense." Sally stood up and stretched. "...That was boring." Rowan stared at her. "...Boring?!"

Instead he turned toward Aurelion. "...Are they all like that?" Aurelion walked toward one of the fallen creatures and examined it briefly. "No, These are low-tier dungeon monsters." He nudged the body with his boot. "...Likely spawned by the dungeon core or drawn here by the crystal vein." Rowan glanced toward the tunnel. "...There could be more."

"There will be." Aurelion stood up again. "This is only the outer layer of the dungeon." Rowan picked up his backpack again and worn it over his shoulders. "...Great." They began walking deeper into the cavern.

The tunnel gradually narrowed again, twisting through jagged rock formations that cast strange shadows along the walls. The moss light grew dimmer. The temperature dropped slightly. The deeper they walked, the more Rowan felt the pressure of mana surrounding them..

Sally walked ahead again, her steps light and unbothered. "...How deep is this place?" Rowan asked. "Unknown," Aurelion replied. "D-Rank dungeons can range from a few chambers to several underground layers." Rowan sighed. "...That’s reassuring." They continued walking.

After several minutes, the tunnel opened into another cavern. This one was larger. The ceiling rose high overhead, disappearing into darkness. The cavern floor was uneven, scattered with broken rock and shallow pools of water that reflected the dim moss light.

Rowan stepped carefully across the slippery stone."...This place feels bigger." Rowan glanced around added."...Too quiet." Almost immediately, a deep growl echoed from somewhere within the chamber. The growl came again. This time closer.

From the shadows at the far end of the cavern, several shapes emerged. They were larger than the rats. Four wolf-like creatures stepped into the faint green light. Their fur was dark gray, almost black, and their eyes glowed with faint crimson light. Jagged teeth protruded from their mouths as they bared their fangs.

Rowan swallowed. "...Those aren’t rats." Aurelion replied calmly. "They are Gloomfang Wolves." The creatures spread out slowly. Their movements were deliberate, coordinated and predatory. Rowan tightened his grip on his sword. "...They’re surrounding us."

"Just what I wanted." Sally leaned slightly to the side to observe them. "...Finally something interesting." The wolves began circling. Their claws scraped softly against the stone floor. Rowan’s heartbeat quickened again. These creatures looked far more dangerous than the rats.

One wolf stepped forward. It lowered its head and growled. Rowan raised his sword."...Alright." Aurelion stepped aside again. "...Your lesson continues." Rowan sighed. "...Of course it does."

The wolf lunged. Rowan reacted instantly. His sword swung across the creature’s path. Steel clashed against bone as the blade cut across the wolf’s shoulder. The creature yelped and staggered sideways. But it did not fall. Instead it growled louder.

Another wolf attacked from the side. Rowan twisted just in time to block the strike. The impact sent vibrations through his arms. These monsters were stronger. Much stronger than the rats. Rowan gritted his teeth. The wolves circled again.

Rowan adjusted his stance. "Come on." The next attack came from two directions. Rowan moved quickly. His sword flashed once. Then again.

The cavern echoed with the sound of steel and snarling beasts. And the hunt within Gloomfang Hollow had truly begun.

[To be Continued]