They had descended and were immediately met with a vast field of grass. In this dungeon that seemed infinite, three moons with rings around them loomed above, casting an ethereal glow.
Though it was only an E+ rank dungeon, the same rank as Lowell, they still had to be careful.
"Lowell" That had been the last thing he had heard before being separated from his master.
That's how he ended up here alone, attacked by wolves. After running and battling the wolves for what felt like hours, Lowell came to a startling realization.
This dungeon was an anomaly. Anomaly dungeons were the rarest, more rare than S-rank dungeons.
Such dungeons were essentially two dungeons in one. Normally, a dungeon would have one entrance and exit, but these had two entrances and two exits.
The real danger was that these dungeons didn't adhere to rank. They contained monsters of all types, from E- rank to S+ rank.
As rare as they were, anomaly dungeons were incredibly dangerous. Because these were two dungeons in one, one had to find the center where the cores of the two dungeons were forcibly fused together and destroy it.
Anyone who had entered these dungeons—no one knew what had happened to them.
This conclusion sent shivers down Lowell's spine. He had to find his master and ensure his safety at all costs.
'Slash' His naginata made impact with one of the wolves' teeth. Lowell then leapt as far away as possible.
Steeling himself, Lowell pressed on, his senses on high alert. He entered a vast chamber where shadows danced ominously.
From the darkness, three giant wolves emerged, their eyes glowing with malevolent intent. These were no ordinary wolves; their size and ferocity spoke of their formidable nature.
One of the wolves, larger and more menacing than the others, locked its fiery gaze on Lowell.
It bared its teeth, a guttural growl rumbling from deep within its chest. The creature's fur bristled, and its muscles tensed as it prepared to attack.
With a feral snarl, the wolf lunged at Lowell, its jaws snapping with savage force. Lowell barely had time to react, raising his naginata just in time to deflect the attack.
The impact sent a shockwave up his arm, but he held his ground, eyes locked on the enraged beast.
In a swift motion, Lowell activated his eye ability, freezing time within a 25-meter radius. The world around him came to an abrupt halt, the wolves suspended in mid-air, their snarls frozen in time. Lowell took a deep breath, his mind racing as he analyzed the situation.
With calculated precision, he moved through the suspended battlefield, positioning himself for a decisive strike.
As he released his hold on time, the world resumed its chaotic motion, but Lowell was ready.
His naginata cut through the air with deadly accuracy, striking the first wolf with a powerful blow. The beast let out a final, anguished howl before collapsing to the ground.
The remaining two wolves, driven by a primal rage, attacked with relentless ferocity. Lowell dodged and parried, his reflexes honed to a fine edge.
One of the wolves managed to grab his leg, making Lowell lose his balance.
The wolf's canine teeth impaled Lowell's leg. But Lowell, as if not feeling the pain, stabbed the wolf in the eye.
With each swing of his naginata, he fought with the strength and determination his master had instilled in him.
The battle was intense, but Lowell's skill and resolve saw him through. As the last wolf fell, silence returned to the caverns, broken only by his labored breaths.
Lowell looked around, adrenaline still coursing through his veins. He knew he had to find his master and continue their journey.
With renewed resolve, Lowell pressed on, ready to face whatever dangers lay ahead.
As soon as he stepped into the dungeon, Gabriel, with his keen senses leagues above that of the normal human, felt the strange fluctuation of mana coming from afar.
Then he saw it, and he knew it saw them. "Lowell," he was about to tell Lowell to leave when he fell into what seemed like a portal.
As he was falling for what seemed like an eternity, he tried to move, but a strong force prevented him.
Gabriel fell into what seemed to be an abyss. He plunged into a body of water, a stinging sensation enveloping his body.
Gabriel tried to move, but the icy water made his body go numb.
"Gasp!" Gabriel had managed to stabilize himself and stay afloat. The dark water enveloped him, the cold biting into his skin.
His vision blurred as he struggled to make sense of his surroundings. As Gabriel fought to regain his bearings, a serpentine shape slithered through the water, coiling around his legs with lightning speed.
He tried to kick free, but the creature's grip was unyielding, dragging him deeper into the abyss.
The pressure of the water increased as Gabriel was pulled further down. His lungs burned for air, and he knew he had to act quickly. Focusing his mind, he summoned a burst of magical energy, but the creature's hold only tightened.
Through the murky water, Gabriel caught a glimpse of the creature's massive form. It was no mere snake—it was a dragon, its body stretching into the unfathomable depths below.
The dragon's eyes glowed with an eerie, abyssal light, and its jaws opened wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth.
Desperation fueled Gabriel's resolve. He channeled his magic into a concentrated blast of energy, aiming for the dragon's head.
The dragon recoiled, momentarily stunned by the attack, but its grip on Gabriel remained unbroken.
With a final, desperate effort, Gabriel combined his remaining strength with his magic. The water around them erupted in a blinding explosion of light and energy.
The dragon's grip loosened, and Gabriel seized the opportunity to break free.
As the light faded, Gabriel found himself floating on the surface of the water, gasping for breath.
The dragon was gone, but Gabriel's body was battered and bruised from the encounter. With the last of his strength, he swam towards the distant shore, determined to survive.