No one had seen him move. Not a single sound, not a single ripple in the air. One moment, he was standing at the edge of the battlefield, finishing his meal. The next—he was perched atop the viper’s massive head, hands in his pockets, looking down at the apex predator as if it were nothing more than an inconvenience.
Unlike them, the Abyssal Fang Viper felt it.
A sensation it had never known before—true fear.
A primal instinct buried deep in its very being screamed at it to flee, to retreat, to submit.
[Title: Reaper of Serpents]
[Effect: +30% damage to all serpent-type creatures. Serpent-type creatures under Level 20 have a chance to experience Fear upon encountering you.]
Jin sighed, shaking his head.
"Didn't even want to fight. Should’ve just stayed hidden."
The Abyssal Fang Viper reacted instinctively, its entire body coiling as it attempted to shake him off. Its massive form twisted, its tail whipping through the air with enough force to uproot trees and send waves crashing through the swamp.
But Jin was already gone.
"Everyone, attack now!" Reinhardt commanded.
The Iron Fang Guild wasted no time. Taking full advantage of the Abyssal Fang Viper’s moment of terror and distraction, they unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks. Swords slashed, arrows pierced through scales, and spells erupted with explosive force. The once-dominant predator, feared within the dungeon, was now overwhelmed.
The viper retaliated desperately, thrashing its massive tail and hissing as it spewed venom, but the momentary lapse in its control had sealed its fate. It couldn't fully recover. The Iron Fang Guild pressed on, capitalizing on every opening, their coordinated strikes ensuring that the creature had no chance to regain the upper hand.
And then—finally—the Abyssal Fang Viper collapsed, its body coiling weakly before falling still.
The moment it died, a surge of energy washed over them.
[You have gained experience.]
Almost all of them were now on the cusp of reaching Level 9.
The tension in the air dissipated, replaced by the victorious cheers and relieved sighs of the guild members.
"You just stood on its head and scared it enough to give us the opening we needed," Reinhardt said, turning toward Jin with a look of pure admiration. "Not to sound like a fan or anything, but you really are something else."
"Huh? Oh, I just switched one of my titles to Reaper of Serpents, and it took effect. That’s all," Jin said nonchalantly, stretching his arms like he had just woken up from a nap. "I didn’t really do much."
"You must have a lot of titles to casually say 'one of my titles'…" a guild member muttered, still in disbelief.
Jin shrugged. "I’ve collected a few. Just been fighting, doing dungeons, clearing quests—titles tend to pop up when you do enough of that. I just switch them around depending on the situation. I’m really not as impressive as everyone makes me out to be."
"If you say so," Reinhardt smirked, shaking his head. "But still, whether you think so or not, it was impressive in our eyes. Thanks for the help."
Jin simply waved off the praise, turning his gaze toward the deeper part of the dungeon.
"Alright, you guys done celebrating? The boss room’s probably up ahead."
After defeating the Abyssal Fang Viper, the group gathered their rewards. Jin took the Viper’s Insight Band, reinforcing his mind against mental interference. Reinhardt claimed the Abyssal Scale Mantle, favoring its agility boost and stealth properties. The team’s Aether specialists debated refining the Abyssal Core Shard for future upgrades, while the poison specialist eagerly took the Abyssal Venom Flask for experimentation. The archers and scouts vied for the Serpent’s Reflex Ring, while the melee fighters divided the Abyssal Coiled Gauntlets and Abyssal Viper’s Fang for enhanced combat potential. Satisfied with their gains, they prepared to move forward, their strength bolstered for whatever lay ahead.
The group advanced cautiously, their eyes scanning the murky waters. They had fought their way through the dungeon, slaying countless serpents, but this—this was different.
The Serpent’s Hollow loomed before them, an eerie, half-submerged battlefield. The ground beneath them was treacherous, shifting between solid land and sinking marsh. Waist-deep waters pooled in different areas, hiding dangers beneath the surface. Mist curled around ancient, decayed ruins, reducing visibility to only a few meters ahead.
It was the perfect hunting ground for a predator.
Silence.
A ripple.
Then—HIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
A monstrous serpent erupted from the swamp, its abyssal-green scales gleaming with a sickly sheen. Its eyes glowed like pale silver orbs, locking onto them with an eerie, calculating gaze. Water cascaded off its massive coils as it towered over them, its jagged spines bristling with energy.
[Blackwater Titan Anaconda]
Level: 12+
Force Alignment: Abyssal Venom
It didn't hesitate.
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The beast lunged with terrifying speed, its fanged maw stretching open, large enough to swallow a person whole.
CRASH!
Reinhardt was already moving. He met the beast head-on, slamming his greatsword into its hide, redirecting its attack just enough to stop it from claiming a life. The impact sent a shockwave through the swamp, muddy water spraying in all directions.
The battle had begun.
The Iron Fang guild immediately fell into formation, their teamwork seamless.
Ranged fighters took positions on whatever solid ground they could find, arrows and spells flying toward the beast. The Aether-bound archers guided their arrows through the mist, striking at its exposed underbelly. Force-aligned spellcasters channeled their abilities, launching concussive blasts and elemental strikes.
The frontline warriors circled around it, hacking at its sides, trying to limit its movements.
But the Titan Anaconda was unlike anything they'd faced before.
It didn't just attack.
It hunted.
It moved through the battlefield like a shadow, its massive bulk barely making a sound as it slid through the swamp.
SPLASH!
A member suddenly vanished beneath the water.
"Shit! It’s dragging him under!" someone shouted.
Jin’s eyes snapped toward the spot, and in an instant—he moved.
BOOM.
A single strike sent a ripple through the swamp. Jin’s foot connected with the water’s surface—but the impact traveled downward.
A pulse of Force cracked through the swampy depths.
The water exploded.
The missing member was launched upward, gasping for air, freed from the serpent’s coil. Jin caught him mid-air, tossing him to safety before his feet barely touched the ground.
Reinhardt took the momentary distraction to call out orders. "Keep up the pressure! Don’t let it control the battlefield!"
The serpent was cunning. It stopped mindlessly attacking and instead began coiling around the ruins, using them as cover. The mist became its ally, concealing its movements. Each time the group thought they had it pinned, it would strike from a different angle—lashing out with its venomous fangs, attempting to pull them into the abyss below.
Aether-infused venom dripped from its mouth, sizzling as it hit the swamp water.
It was toying with them.
Reinhardt clenched his jaw. They were running out of time.
"Jin." He didn't have to say more.
Jin sighed "Alright, alright."
Then, with a flick of his hand, a system prompt flashed in his vision.
[Title Changed: Reaper of Serpents → Title Hunter]
[Title Hunter Effect: Enhances the effects of an equipped title by 50%, with further increases based on Aether expenditure.]
[Second Title Slot Activated: Reaper of Serpents Equipped]
A subtle shift occurred in the air. The very moment he equipped Title Hunter, a surge of unseen force amplified the power of his newly slotted title. The Reaper of Serpents title, already potent in its effects against snake-type creatures, now radiated a far more oppressive presence.
Jin’s form blurred—then vanished.
The Blackwater Titan Anaconda suddenly whipped around—as if sensing something.
Too late.
Jin was already there.
A shockwave burst from where he stood as he drove his foot into the creature’s side, sending it crashing into a ruin with an earth-shaking impact. The force of the blow created a crater in the waterlogged ground. The enhanced power from his Title Hunter buffed Reaper of Serpents effect severely weakened the creature, making every strike he landed inflict greater damage and resistance reduction against it.
The guild didn’t waste the opening.
"NOW!" Reinhardt roared.
The spellcasters unleashed a barrage of Force-based attacks. The archers let loose enhanced projectiles. The warriors rushed in, striking at the weakened, exposed flesh.
The Titan Anaconda shrieked. It had been a predator—now, it was prey.
Jin didn’t stop. The more Aether he poured into his Title Hunter effect, the stronger Reaper of Serpents became. His movements were sharper, faster, more devastating. His blows struck with an executioner’s finality, each one cutting away at the serpent’s ability to retaliate.
For the first time—the monster was afraid.
And then, as it writhed in pain, Reinhardt stepped forward. His greatsword pulsed with energy, infused with his own Force Alignment.
He leapt, blade raised.
And with a final, devastating swing—
He brought the monster down.
[System Notice: Blackwater Titan Anaconda Defeated!]
The swamp fell into silence. The mist slowly began to clear.
Their first Grade E dungeon boss had fallen.
Breathing hard, Reinhardt turned to Jin, who was stretching as if this had been nothing but a warm-up.
Jin gave him a lazy grin. “I’d say that went pretty well.”
Then—the system spoke.
[System Notice: Grade E Dungeon Completion Achieved.]
[Evaluating Performance…]
[Individual Performance Grading Initiated.]
[Assessing: Combat Contribution, Damage Dealt, Damage Received, Tactics, and Adaptability.]
[Participant: Reinhardt]
[Combat Contribution: A]
[Damage Dealt: B+]
[Damage Received: A-]
[Tactics & Adaptability: A]
[Overall Grade: A]
[Participant: Jin Saito]
[Combat Contribution: S+]
[Damage Dealt: ???]
[Damage Received: C]
[Tactics & Adaptability: S]
[Overall Grade: S]
[Participant: Iron Fang Member 1]
[Combat Contribution: B-]
[Damage Dealt: C+]
[Damage Received: B]
[Tactics & Adaptability: B]
[Overall Grade: B-]
[Participant: Iron Fang Member 2]
[Combat Contribution: B]
[Damage Dealt: B]
[Damage Received: C+]
[Tactics & Adaptability: B+]
[Overall Grade: B]
[Grading Complete.]
[Reward Calculation Based on Individual Performance…]
[Base Rewards for Dungeon Completion:]
- [Aether Crystals (Low-Grade) x10]
- [Dungeon Completion Title: Trial Delver]
[Bonus Rewards Based on Grade:]
Grade B-: +1 Low-Grade Aether Potion, +1 Serpent Fang Dagger (Common)
Grade B: +1 Force-Infused Gauntlet (Random)
Grade A: +1 Abyssal Venom-Coated Blade OR Scale Reinforced Armor Piece (Choose One)
Grade S: +1 Rare Relic: [Serpent’s Core] – A crystallized essence of the Titan Anaconda’s Abyssal Venom, can be crafted into a powerful elixir, weapon enhancement, or Aether-infused artifact.
[Unique Skill Awakening Chance Based on Grade…]
[Calculating…]
…
…
[Skill Awakening Successful!]
[Reinhardt has unlocked the Skill: Stalwart Fang – Greatly enhances defense and endurance when facing larger enemies, reducing incoming damage from creatures of greater mass.]
[Jin Saito has unlocked the Skill: Abyssal Serpent’s Gaze – A hypnotic ocular ability inherited from the Titan Anaconda. When activated, it exerts mental pressure on targets within sight, inducing paralysis or hesitation in weaker foes. Stronger opponents may experience disrupted concentration and momentary lapses in awareness. The effect strengthens based on Jin’s Will and Aether infusion.]
[System Notice: Dungeon Completed.]
[Teleporting Participants to Expanse…]
A golden light enveloped them, and the next thing they knew—
They were back outside.
The Iron Fang members collapsed to the ground, exhausted, but victorious.
Jin dusted himself off, still barely looking tired.
Reinhardt let out a long breath, standing tall.
“That,” he said, grinning despite his exhaustion, “was a damn good fight.”