A Cold-Blooded POV

Unlike us surface dwellers, monsters of the lands below are no strangers to evolution. Some have adapted to their environment, developing superior strength and cunning strategies in order to survive - often at the expense of the adventurers who traverse their domains.

It's almost as if they know that equality is impossible, so they make up for it with sheer ferocity! Despite this, researchers who have been brave enough to venture into these dungeons and labyrinths have managed to uncover a few secrets about the monsters and their evolutionary pathways.

Although this knowledge is far from perfect, it still provides valuable insight that can be utilized in future explorations.

The study of monster biology has always been an important part of dungeon exploration. While many species of monsters share similar traits, there are some key differences between them that can help identify their origins.

For example, most creatures native to the lower stratum's, deeper within the dungeons and labyrinths - tend to be more intelligent and cunning, preferring to observe first before attacking during unknown circumstances. Some have even gained the level of human intelligence, however, that's a topic for another day.

In contrast, these monster's surface-dwelling relatives are less intelligent but more passive-aggressive. Monsters higher up in the dungeons and labyrinths often fight to the death, sacrificing their lives for a small portions of food, or fleeing from any threats they deem to dangerous - dying from hunger instead.

Excerpt from the prologue of 'Basic Dungeon Monster Biology'. Written by Monster Biologist Kerk Jenkins.

***

Ethoss could feel his blood boiling. His claws tingled and itched with an unrestrained urge to rip open their flesh and carve them from the inside-out.

His muscles spasmed, anticipating his next move - all throughout his body, a primal sensation surged. It mixed with the pain his body was enduring, overflowing it, and replacing the pain with adrenaline.

Ethoss was no stranger to blood, however, the thick smell of iron was so intoxicating at this very moment for him - like nothing he had ever encountered before. As if someone doused all of the creatures in blood soaked meat mixed with dulcet grease, Ethoss craved—no, he fiend for more.

The thrill he had gained during this fight enticed a feeling of exhilaration for a even more deadly fight.

Ethoss flickered his tongue, and similar to a burst of different flavors - there were so many different smells coming off of each individual creature that he couldn't even begin to identify them individually, but they all smelled addicting together. It made his taste buds twitch uncontrollably.

Ethoss' eyes darted between the two remaining monsters crazily. The smaller hyena cried while repeatedly attempting to stand.

However, it's back leg was broken - snapped from Ethoss's heavy weight being dropped onto it unsuspectedly. It's charred-black fur was even more rough and tattered than before.

Large patches of fur had been burned off entirely, leaving random areas of its body with its pink meaty skin showing - which was also covered in third degree burns. The monster let out another pathetic cry as it tried desperately to get up on all four legs again.

Not far from the smaller hyena, the leader of this group had also finally gotten onto its feet. It stood clumsily - its legs wobbling in a blundering manner. It's breaths were also forced and harsh, evident that it was having a hard time inhaling and exhaling.

Blood gushed from its side, where Ethoss had clawed away a large chunk of flesh, revealing portions of its rib bones. The cool breeze that caressed its body, touched on those protruding bones, causing the pain to become heightened and never-ending due to its inevitable movements.

Additionally, it was getting weaker and weaker from the lethal venom that Ethoss had injected into its neck when he bit it. Black veins bulged and pumped as its body's blood cells were literally being eaten and destroyed.

The sight of these monsters standing back onto their feet filled Ethoss with such excitement that his muscles flexed. His body had been visibly shaking for a while now, whether that was from the waves of pain, or his vigorous excitement, he couldn't tell.

Blood also fell from Ethoss. In fact, Ethoss was extremely bloodied at the moment. It slowly flowed down his scaly body, running down his legs, and landing on his claws - then sliding onto the ground.

However, a lot of this blood wasn't Ethoss's blood - it belonged to the hyenas.

'Good! Good! Good!' Ethoss thought. 'That's right, get up! Get up and fight!'

Those were the last thoughts Ethoss had before he launched from his spot with a strong breeze following behind him.

Upon seeing Ethoss burst from his position, the two hyenas hearts dropped. They weren't in a condition to fight at this point - anymore and they would surely die!

The leader just couldn't understand it; how was this monster still so energized?!

They had all attacked it, each one of them doing substantial damage on their own. It made no sense, why was this monster so strong?

It was already injured before they engaged it, it was missing limbs! Yet, even then they were savagely killed off one after the other.

A gust of wind assaulted the leader hyena's face. The hyena quickly condensed its attack.

A jet-black misty energy condensed in its mouth, and even though it hurt like hell already, it flexed its muscles, preparing to counter whatever this accursed reptile had planned.

Ethoss lacerated through the air violently, knocking the hyena over onto the ground once more with overwhelming strength. The hyena attempted to use its dark malicious black energy to bite him again, however, that wasn't going to work a second time.

Ethoss lifted his left forefront claw and stabbed it into the face of the hyena - one of his claws piercing into its eye.

"He He He!" The smaller hyena cackled, as it rushed to attack Ethoss from behind while he was busy with its leader.

'Announcing your attack again? Foolish.' Ethoss thought.

And about 1 millisecond in a half later, Ethoss turned his head around to face the hyena - simultaneously holding down the leader.

Ethoss esophagus condensed flames, and smoke crept from the openings of his fangs. Not only that, right above Ethoss's head, large ice shards materialized and crystallized into existence. They grew elongated while simultaneously twirling magically above Ethoss head.

Not even 2 seconds later - right before the hyena successfully landed on Ethoss, flames blasted from Ethoss's maw. These flames were intense, and the power behind the breath attack itself had massive force behind it.

This caused the hyena's current kinetic energy to become overwhelmed and get taken over - sending the hyena even further than it charged from. Still, this was not all, while mid-air, having the scorching flames engulf it - five densely sharp and elongated shards shot out like bullets toward its body.

[Mana Shaping has reached level 2]

[Mana Recycle has reached level 3]

*Spewk!*

*Spewk!*

*Spewk!*

[You have defeated level 3 Iuvenis Dira Hyeana]

[You have gained XP]

The sound of thickly dense icicles being stabbed into the body was heard, and not too long later, the flames dispersed into nothingness.

Hearing the confirmation from the voice in his mind that the hyena had died, Ethoss quickly forgot about that pest of a monster and turned back around toward the leader - that was underneath him struggling for its life to escape Ethoss's grasp.

Ethoss claw was still stabbed in the face of the hyena. With this claws, Ethoss pulled, tearing the skin and flesh from its face. Meaty flesh cling to Ethoss' claws like wet grass.

"Heurgh!!!" The hyena cried out.

A painful venom was also being inflicted into the hyena's face through this action - since Ethoss' claws also had mutated to inflict poison as well, though this venom wasn't nearly as strong as his skill, Lethal Venomous Bite, coupled with his razor sharp teeth that also mutated to inject venom as well.

Continuing to hold down the monster, Ethoss hissed - the savage glint in his eye never fading at all during this fight.

With his remaining free claws, Ethoss began repeatedly clawing at the monster's stomach. Over and over and over, consecutive slashes were made against the furry stomach of the hyena.

Ethoss's claws were mutated and grew in a way where it had piercing pointers, however, where his claws shined most were with slashing.

This was because of the edges, just like a knife - the edges of his claws had a cutting surface that extended from the point to the heel, making his claws perfect for slashing and tearing.

Pernicious Claw Swipe!

Pernicious Claw Swipe!

Pernicious Claw Swipe!

Pernicious Claw…

Ethoss's scaled lips lifted, revealing glistening sharp teeth that curved into a demonic smile. Ethoss nightly blue eyes appeared to glow as he quite literally dug into the stomach of the hyena.

[You have defeated level 6 Nigreos Dens Dira Hyeana]

[You have gained XP]

[You have achieved level 9, One skill point awarded]