The Demon of Desire: the rise of the slum rat

The dungeon's jungle terrain gradually shifted as the group pressed deeper, the dense greenery giving way to jagged cliffs and mist-shrouded chasms. The air grew thinner but charged with a palpable energy, invigorating and oppressive all at once.

Mikhael walked at the front of the group, his crimson eyes scanning the rocky terrain. The artifact pulsed steadily against his chest, its whispers muted but ever-present. His focus, however, wasn't on the artifact—it was on his companions.

Something about them had changed.

Subtle Changes

Koneko was ahead of Kael, her golden eyes sharp as they scanned the cliffs. She moved with a newfound grace, her steps almost weightless. Her claws flexed instinctively, and Mikhael noticed that they glimmered faintly, as if charged with residual magic.

Kael, meanwhile, seemed more confident in their movements. They adjusted the glowing runes on their gauntlets with ease, the orbs of magic in their palms brighter and more potent than before.

Mikhael smirked faintly, his system interface confirming what he already suspected.

[System Notification: Party Member Status Updated]

Koneko Toujou: Level 12 → Level 16

Kael: Level 14 → Level 18

"They don't even realize it," Mikhael thought to himself. "The dungeon's energy is pushing them forward, whether they know it or not."

A Growing Awareness

The group stopped at a ledge overlooking a mist-filled canyon. Koneko stretched her arms over her head, her tail swishing lazily behind her.

"Is it just me, or does this place feel... different?" she asked, tilting her head.

Kael snorted. "Everything about this place is different. Care to be more specific?"

"I don't know," Koneko said, frowning. "I feel... stronger. Like I could take on a dozen of those Velocis without breaking a sweat."

Kael glanced at her, their sharp features thoughtful. "Now that you mention it, I've been feeling something similar. My magic's flowing more easily, and the runes are responding faster."

Mikhael leaned against a boulder, his smirk widening. "You're leveling up."

Koneko blinked. "What?"

Kael raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

"It's this place," Mikhael said, gesturing to the dungeon around them. "The energy here isn't just hostile. It's changing you, pushing you to grow. You've been fighting and surviving—it makes sense that you'd get stronger."

Koneko tilted her head, her ears twitching. "You're saying... we're leveling up? Like in a game?"

"Something like that," Mikhael replied cryptically.

Kael crossed their arms. "And you knew this the whole time?"

"Figured it out recently," Mikhael said, shrugging. "You're welcome."

A Test of Strength

Their conversation was interrupted by a low rumble that shook the ground beneath their feet. From the mist-filled canyon below, a massive, snake-like creature emerged, its scales glistening with a metallic sheen.

The creature's eyes glowed with a deep, unnatural blue, and its jaws parted to reveal rows of needle-like teeth.

"Great," Kael muttered, summoning a glowing orb to their hand. "Another one."

Koneko flexed her claws, her golden eyes narrowing. "This one's mine."

"Don't get cocky," Mikhael warned, drawing his blade.

The serpent lunged, its massive body whipping through the air with terrifying speed. Koneko darted forward, her movements faster than Mikhael had seen before. She leaped onto the serpent's back, her claws raking across its metallic scales.

The creature thrashed violently, but Koneko held on, her strikes precise and relentless.

Kael hurled an orb at the serpent's head, the explosion sending shards of its scales flying. "I thought you said don't get cocky," they quipped.

Mikhael activated Shadow Step, reappearing beside the creature and slashing at its exposed underbelly. The artifact blade cut through its defenses with ease, releasing a burst of dark energy.

A Surprising Display

As the battle continued, Mikhael noticed something remarkable. Koneko's strikes were leaving faint trails of golden light, each blow seeming to disrupt the serpent's regeneration.

Kael's magic, too, had grown stronger—their orbs detonated with greater force, and the runes etched into their gauntlets flared with every cast.

"They're adapting," Mikhael thought. "The dungeon's energy is speeding up their growth."

With a coordinated effort, the group overwhelmed the serpent. Koneko delivered the final blow, her claws piercing its skull as the creature let out a deafening roar.

The serpent collapsed, its massive body disintegrating into motes of light that filled the clearing.

System Notification: Shared Progress

Mikhael's interface flared with new notifications:

[System Notification: Shared Party Experience Distributed]

Koneko Toujou: Level 16 → Level 18

Kael: Level 18 → Level 20

[System Notification: Level Progress]

Mikhael: Level 28 → Level 29

Realization and Reflection

Koneko dropped to the ground, panting slightly but grinning. "I told you I could take it."

Kael inspected their gauntlets, their expression a mix of curiosity and satisfaction. "My magic feels... different. Stronger."

Mikhael sheathed his blade, his smirk faint but approving. "That's the dungeon. It's not just a test—it's a forge. And you're both getting sharper."

Koneko glanced at him, her golden eyes thoughtful. "What about you? How much stronger are you getting?"

Mikhael's smirk widened. "Enough to keep up."

Kael snorted. "That's not reassuring."

Foreshadowing the Dungeon Boss

As they prepared to move on, the ground beneath them rumbled again. This time, the tremor was deeper, more ominous.

"That's coming from ahead," Mikhael said, his expression darkening.

Kael nodded. "We must be getting close to the boss."

Koneko flexed her claws, her grin returning. "Good. Let's finish this."

The chapter ends with the group pressing forward, the promise of greater challenges—and greater rewards—waiting in the depths of the dungeon.