Chapter 109: Jurassic Dungeon 2

This was a world that evoked an age millions of years in the past, when immense reptiles and other prehistoric creatures dominated their respective environments. There was no sign of an established human civilization within this particular landscape, only the untamed vegetation, the ancient stone formations, and the predators that had adapted to survive among them. The Fossil Reach seemed designed to reproduce the brutality of such an age, forcing anything that entered it to contend with creatures whose instincts had been shaped by the relentless struggle for survival. For an ordinary person who stumbled into this place without preparation, becoming prey would be a terrifyingly realistic possibility.

The moment the six Velociraptors identified Mark as their target, their behavior changed. Their heads lifted, their bodies lowered, and their tails stiffened as they prepared to spring. A series of sharp screeches burst from their throats before they charged across the muddy ground, each attempting to reach the unfamiliar prey before the others. Their claws dug into the soil, sending droplets of mud flying behind them as they accelerated. To them, Mark was nothing more than a meal of warm, vulnerable flesh, an unexpected opportunity that had appeared within their hunting territory.

For Mark, however, the situation carried an entirely different meaning. These creatures were dangerous opponents, but they were also opportunities to test his growing strength. If he could overcome them without relying on his summons to do the fighting for him, he would gain a better understanding of his own capabilities. More importantly, he could measure how much his recent growth had improved his ability to respond under pressure. The entire dungeon might have been a threat to an ordinary adventurer, but he was determined not to waste the opportunity it had presented him. If anything, he intended to turn its dangers into stepping stones toward greater power, unlike his previous encounters, when circumstances had often prevented him from fully exploiting his opportunities.

The first raptor closed the distance with a sudden leap, its jaws spreading wide as it lunged toward Mark’s upper body. Its teeth snapped together with a sharp, violent clack that cut through the air beside his face. Mark tilted his body to the left at the last possible moment, feeling the rush of displaced air as the predator’s jaws closed on empty space. Before he could fully regain his balance, a second raptor attacked from the opposite side, darting forward with its head lowered and its claws extended. Mark shifted his weight to the right, narrowly avoiding another snapping bite that passed close enough for him to glimpse the individual teeth lining its mouth.

A third raptor immediately followed, attempting to exploit the opening created by the first two attacks. Mark leaned backward, allowing the creature’s forward momentum to carry its head past him. The sudden movement strained his balance, but his training helped him recover before the next attack arrived. As the raptor passed within reach, he drove a front kick into the side of its neck, striking with enough force to send its head swinging sharply away. The creature stumbled sideways with a startled screech, its claws scraping against the rocks as it struggled to regain its footing. Mark used the brief opening to retreat several steps, creating enough distance to avoid being surrounded immediately.

The injured raptor shook its head violently, its eyes narrowing as it attempted to reorient itself. The other five did not hesitate. They rushed forward in a coordinated flurry of snapping jaws and slashing claws, forcing Mark to keep moving before any one of them could pin him down. He pivoted away from the first attacker, ducked beneath another’s snapping jaws, and sidestepped a third that attempted to intercept his escape route. Their movements were fast enough that he could not afford to remain stationary for more than a fraction of a second. Each time he evaded one attack, another threatened to occupy the space he had just vacated.

A sudden movement from behind warned him of another danger. One of the raptors swung its long tail across the space where he had been standing, the scaly appendage cutting through the air with enough force to make a sharp whipping sound. Mark twisted away, but the sweep still caught him off balance. The displaced air and the close passage of the tail disrupted his footing, sending him stumbling sideways as though an invisible force had shoved him. He nearly lost his balance entirely, his boots scraping against the loose stones while his arms instinctively spread to regain control of his body.

He recovered just in time to avoid being trapped between the approaching predators. Using the momentum of his backward movement, Mark launched himself into a backflip, his body rotating through the air as the raptors rushed beneath him. For an instant, the muddy terrain and the surrounding rock formations tilted across his vision. He landed on a higher ridge with his knees bent, absorbing the impact before straightening into a guarded stance. The elevation gave him a momentary advantage, allowing him to observe the predators without immediately exposing himself to attacks from every direction.

Mark was familiar with the principles of leverage and body control, having practiced them as a child, even though he had never devoted himself to them as seriously as he had to kickboxing. The skills were far from perfect, but they were useful enough to keep him from being overwhelmed during the opening exchange. He could feel the strain in his legs and the quickening rhythm of his heartbeat, yet his movements had been sufficient to prevent the predators from landing a decisive blow. He would need to remain careful, though. These creatures were not training partners, and a single mistake could turn an otherwise manageable encounter into a fatal one.

His breathing was heavy as he wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. Beneath the faint glow of the moss, he watched the six raptors regroup below the ridge. Their claws scratched against the rocks as they repositioned themselves, and their restless heads continued to track his movements. The first creature he had kicked was still recovering, but it had not retreated. Its posture remained aggressive, and its jaws opened in a harsh screech that seemed to signal its renewed determination to attack. Mark understood that the brief respite would not last long.

He straightened his back and activated Echo, drawing upon the trait associated with Cassandra. At the same time, he activated Symbiosis, channeling the additional strength provided by both of his summons into his body. The effects spread through him with a powerful surge of mana, sharpening his awareness and reinforcing his physical capabilities. His limbs felt lighter, his movements more responsive, and the tension in his muscles seemed to settle into a more controlled state. The energy coursing through him was substantial enough to make his entire presence feel different, as though he had crossed into a more powerful state without completely abandoning his own physical limits.

Even so, Mark remained conscious of the mana cost involved. The energy required to maintain these abilities could gradually drain his reserves, and recklessly relying on them for every movement would leave him vulnerable if the encounter dragged on longer than expected. That was precisely why he had refrained from calling upon his summons directly. He wanted to train himself against opponents who could punish his mistakes, rather than allowing his summoned companions to handle the danger on his behalf. If he was going to become stronger, he needed to understand the extent of his own capabilities and learn how to manage his resources efficiently.

For the moment, he intended to fight on his own. He would rather test himself against the six predators without additional assistance, relying on his physical training, his activated traits, and whatever tactical advantage the terrain could offer. There was a difference between possessing powerful abilities and knowing how to use them effectively, and this encounter presented an opportunity to improve that understanding. He could not afford to become dependent on his summons every time he faced a difficult opponent.

As the mana settled into his body, beautiful bracers materialized around his forearms, their surfaces gleaming faintly beneath the dungeon’s dim illumination. Additional protective accessories associated with his Amazon equipment appeared around other vital parts of his body, reinforcing his defenses without completely restricting his movements. Their appearance brought a familiar sense of reassurance, especially as he flexed his fingers and tested the movement of his wrists. He could feel the equipment settling into place, ready to protect him as he moved into the next exchange.

A confident smile gradually appeared on his lips as he looked down at the six gathered Velociraptors. They had spread themselves across the base of the ridge, their bodies tense and their eyes fixed on him. None appeared willing to abandon the hunt, and their persistent aggression suggested that they would continue attacking until either Mark or one of them could no longer fight. The sight only strengthened his resolve. If these creatures believed that he would remain an easy meal, they were about to discover how badly they had underestimated him.

Mark bent his knees and launched himself from the elevated ridge, descending toward the waiting predators with his body angled forward. The wind rushed against his face as the ground rose to meet him, and his protective bracers caught the faint green light filtering through the vegetation. Below, the raptors reacted almost simultaneously, lifting their heads and shifting their stances to meet his descent. Their claws dug into the mud, and their jaws opened in anticipation of the approaching impact.

However, Mark had no intention of wasting time. He had a school day ahead of him, including a class test he needed to attend, and arriving late could earn him another punishment. The thought was almost absurd under the circumstances, considering that he was currently preparing to fight six prehistoric predators inside a dangerous dungeon, yet it remained an important concern. He could not afford to lose track of time while exploring the Fossil Reach, especially when he had no way of knowing whether time flowed differently inside the dungeon than it did in the human world.

With that consideration in mind, he focused on the immediate battle. The six Velociraptors were waiting below, the unfamiliar ravine stretched around him, and the question of how he had arrived here remained unanswered. For now, survival and efficiency had to come first. If he wanted to explore this dungeon, uncover its secrets, and return to school before the test, he would need to defeat his opponents without allowing the encounter to consume more time or mana than necessary.