DUNGEON'S TRIAL**
**[CURRENT RANK: B+ (89%)]**
**[SHADOW CONVERSION CHARGES: 3/3]**
The neon-lit streets of Neo-Tokyo blurred as Seun stepped through the pulsing dungeon gate. The air shimmered, reality bending as the System's announcement boomed:
**[DUNGEON ACTIVATED: FROSTFANG CATACOMBS]**
- Recommended Rank: A-
- Primary Threat: Glacier Howler (A+ Beast)
- Loot Confirmed: Shadowforged Gauntlets (Strength +15)
- Conversion Attempts Remaining: 3
Seun's shadow soldiers materialized behind him in perfect formation.
**"Monarch."** Their voices echoed as one.
He didn't acknowledge them. His eyes locked onto the frozen cavern ahead—where the real test would begin.
---
### **THE HUNT**
The dungeon's rules were absolute:
1. **Three Conversion Attempts** per dungeon boss
2. **Failure meant disintegration + loot drop**
3. **No retries**—once cleared, the dungeon vanished
The Glacier Howler awaited in the central chamber, its frost-clad body radiating waves of cold that made the stone walls crack.
**"Positions."**
His soldiers moved instantly:
- **Ryoto** flanking left, shadow katana drawn
- **Lina** disappearing into the icy mist
- **Frostbite** circling behind, fangs bared
The beast roared, and the battle began.
---
### **CONVERSION ATTEMPT 1**
Seun lunged first, testing the Howler's reflexes. His dagger scraped against frozen hide—no penetration.
**[WEAK POINT NOT FOUND]**
The Howler retaliated with a claw swipe that would have decapitated a lesser hunter. Seun barely twisted away, feeling the wind of its passage.
**"Now!"**
Lina struck from behind, her neural disruptors overloading the beast's senses. Frostbite locked onto its hind legs with permafrost fangs.
**[CONVERSION INITIATED: 45% SUCCESS]**
The shadows crawled over the Howler's body—then shattered like glass as it broke free.
**"Tch."** Seun wiped blood from his lip. **"Again."**
---
### **LOOT DROP**
After the second failed attempt, the System announced:
**[CONVERSION FAILED]**
**[LOOT AWARDED: FROSTBITE CLAWS (AGILITY +12)]**
The claws materialized in Seun's hand, gleaming with frozen shadow energy. He equipped them without hesitation—every advantage mattered now.
One attempt left.
---
### **FINAL ATTEMPT**
The Howler was weakening, its movements sluggish from sustained combat. Seun saw his chance.
**"Ryoto—spinal strike!"**
His general moved like lightning, katana piercing the exact junction between the Howler's vertebrae. The beast staggered.
**[WEAK POINT BREACHED]**
Seun didn't hesitate. He plunged his shadow-wreathed hand into the Howler's chest.
**[MONARCH'S DECREE: SUBMIT]**
The dungeon trembled as the conversion took hold. The Howler's icy form darkened, its roars turning to whispers as the shadows claimed it.
Then—
**[CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL]**
**[NEW SHADOW GENERAL: WINTERSCORN]**
The beast knelt, its voice deeper than the abyss:
**"Monarch."**
---
### **DUNGEON'S REWARD**
As the catacombs dissolved, the final loot materialized:
**[SHADOWFORGED GAUNTLETS ACQUIRED]**
- Strength +15
- Special Effect: Permafrost Impact (Slows enemies on hit)
Seun flexed his fingers in the new armor, feeling the power thrum through him.
**[RANK PROGRESS: B+ (94%)]**
The System's next prompt made him smirk:
**[NEW DUNGEON DETECTED: NEON ABYSS]**
- Primary Threat: Circuit Devourer (A+ Mechanized Beast)
- Loot Confirmed: Neural Overdrive Core (Perception +20)
His soldiers stood ready, waiting for the command they knew would come.
**"Move out."**
They stepped through the new gate without question.
**"Monarch."**
---