Online Game: I Can Summon Demon Dogs

Cade stood at the entrance of the dungeon, staring into the pitch-black tunnel ahead. Whispers seemed to float through the air, eerie and distant. A shiver ran down his spine as the system chimed in.

[System Update: Dungeon Details]

Dungeon Name: Dungeon of Whispering runes.

Class: A-Rank.

Mission Objective: Clear the dungeon and defeat the boss.

Rewards: Attribute boosts, artifacts, and Hunter Rank progression.

Cade sighed, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, sure. What's next? A 'Welcome to Certain Death' banner? A goddamn A rank dungeon! I'm an E-ranker ffs" He adjusted the dagger on his hip and took a step forward.

"Alright, Cade Nightshade," he muttered to himself, trying to hype himself up. "You're a genius. You've got this. A dungeon full of monsters? Easy." He paused. "Why does that sound like the start of a horror movie?"

As he moved deeper into the dungeon, the air grew colder, and the whispers grew louder, like voices arguing in a language he couldn't understand. Cade tried to act unfazed, puffing out his chest as he whispered to himself, "Dungeon master material right here. They'll write songs about me one day—"

Click!

"Oh, come on!"

A volley of poison darts shot out of the walls. Cade yelped and dove forward, landing face-first in the dirt. A dart grazed his shoulder, leaving a faint burning sensation. He scrambled to his feet, patting himself down.

"Poison darts? Really? Is this dungeon run by a cartoon villain?" He winced, muttering, "At least let me die with some dignity!"

The system chimed.

[System Suggestion: Summon Fang to assist with navigation.]

Cade groaned, looking at the Demonhold Key. "Right. Because letting a little demon puppy sniff around traps is the solution to all my problems." He hesitated, feeling the strain from earlier summons still weighing on him. "Fine, but you better not make me regret this."

He gripped the key and called out, "Summon Fang!"

A glowing circle appeared at his feet, and with a small pop, Fang emerged, wagging his tail. The little demon dog barked excitedly and started sniffing around the room.

Cade sighed, ruffling Fang's ears. "Alright, buddy. Let's do this. But don't get any ideas about hogging all the glory."

Fang let out a soft growl and darted forward, his nose to the ground. Cade followed close behind, careful to avoid any obvious pressure plates or tripwires.

"Man's best friend, huh?" Cade muttered as they worked together to bypass traps. "You better be worth the energy drain, little guy."

__

After some careful navigation, Cade and Fang entered a dimly lit chamber. Three large spider-like creatures skittered toward them, their legs clicking ominously against the stone floor.

The system chimed again.

[Enemy Details]

Name: Dark Crawlers

Race: Arachnid Beasts

Attributes:

• Strength: 15

• Agility: 20

• Defense: 10

Skills: Web Bind, Venom Strike

Cade tightened his grip on his dagger, his heart racing. "Oh, great. Giant spiders. Because normal spiders weren't terrifying enough."

Fang growled, his small frame tense as he prepared to fight.

"Alright, Fang," Cade said, steeling himself. "You go left. I'll… uh, try not to die."

The first Shadow Crawler lunged at Cade, its venomous fangs aimed straight for his chest. Cade barely dodged, slashing at its legs with his dagger. The creature hissed, recoiling.

Another spider targeted Fang, who darted around with surprising speed, sinking his sharp teeth into its side.

The third spider managed to land a hit, slamming Cade into the wall. His HP bar flashed in warning.

[HP: 78/100]

Cade groaned, clutching his side. "This is bad!"

He glanced at Fang, who was struggling to fend off two of the spiders at once. Cade gritted his teeth.

"Alright, new plan. Teamwork."

He whistled to Fang, who leaped back to his side. Together, they focused on the injured spider first. Cade lunged, his dagger slicing through its weak spot, finishing it off.

The second spider lunged at Fang, but Cade distracted it by throwing a nearby rock. Fang used the opening to clamp his jaws around its neck, tearing it apart.

The final spider hesitated, its glowing eyes watching them warily. Cade took the chance to rush forward, plunging his dagger into its head with all his strength. The creature let out a shriek before collapsing.

Panting, Cade dropped to his knees. "We did it… we actually did it!" He looked at Fang, who wagged his tail proudly. "Good boy."

[System Notification: Victory Achieved!]

Rewards:

• +10 Hunter Points

• Minor Health Potion

• New Skill Unlocked: Swordsmanship (D-Rank)

Cade blinked as the system updated.

[Reward Update]

Name: Cade Nightshade

Class: Dark Summoner

Level: 1

HP: 100/100

Hunter Rank: E (Novice)

Hunter Rank Progress: 20%

Summons: 1 (Demon Dog: Fang)

Artifacts: Demonhold Key

Skills:

1. Dark Summoner (SSS-Rank)

2. Swordsmanship (D-Rank)

3. Demon Dogs (SSS-Ranked Summons)

Cade stared at the new skill and grinned. "Swordsmanship, huh? Guess the system's finally recognizing my talents."

He popped open the health potion and took a sip looking at his hunter rank. "At this rate, I'll be D-Rank in a hundred years."

Fang barked, nudging Cade forward. Cade sighed, ruffling the demon dog's ears. "Alright, alright. Let's keep moving. But you better stick close this time, alright?"

Cade stretched his aching shoulders, ready to leave the chamber. As he turned, the system chimed in.

[System Notification: Passive Skill Available for Transfer]

Would you like to steal Night Vision from defeated Shadow Crawlers?

(Yes | No)

Cade froze, squinting at the glowing text in front of him. "Wait… what?" he muttered, scratching his head. "Since when can I steal skills? You didn't mention this before!"

The system remained silent.

Cade tilted his head, narrowing his eyes. "Hello? System? Care to explain why you're hiding skills from me?"

For a moment, the air seemed to shift, and Cade could've sworn he heard… giggling? He blinked rapidly, shaking his head.

"Am I losing it? Is this dungeon getting to me, or are you actually laughing at me?" He glared at the interface like it owed him money. "Fine, don't answer. See if I care."

With a deep sigh, Cade hovered his finger over the glowing "Yes" button and tapped it. "Might as well take whatever I can get."

The moment he clicked, a wave of warmth spread through his body, and his vision shifted. The dim, shadowy dungeon suddenly lit up, not with actual light but with sharp, vivid clarity. Every crack in the stone walls, every drop of moisture on the ground—it all became crystal clear.

"No way…" Cade whispered, turning to look around. "This is insane. I can see everything!" He crouched, inspecting the faint webbing that lined the chamber. "I don't even need a torch anymore!"

Fang barked, wagging his tail.

Cade grinned. "Yeah, buddy. Guess this skill is a win. You better not get jealous, though. Your nose is still better."

They moved on, Cade marveling at how much easier it was to navigate now. No more fumbling in the dark, no more guessing what might be hiding in the shadows.

But as they pressed deeper into the dungeon, the atmosphere grew heavier. The whispers that had been faint earlier were louder now, like voices arguing just out of earshot. Cade's stomach tightened.

"Alright, this is getting creepy," he muttered, gripping his dagger tightly. "And I don't mean the fun kind of creepy. I mean the 'someone's watching me from the dark' kind."

Fang growled softly, his ears perked. Cade froze, scanning the area with his newly enhanced sight. But there was nothing—just endless shadows and jagged rocks.

"Relax, Cade," he muttered to himself, forcing a shaky laugh. "You've got night vision now. If there's something out there, you'll see it before it—"

A faint movement in the corner of his eye made him stop mid-sentence. He turned, his heart pounding, but there was nothing there. Just shadows dancing on the walls.

He swallowed hard, forcing himself to keep moving. Fang stayed close, his tail stiff and his growl low.

The whispers grew louder.

And Cade couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them.