part1 · 004-ep4

Episode 4: The World's First Gift

Ren walked through the darkness. One step. Then another. His phone's flashlight was all he had to rely on.

"...How far does this thing go?"

The cave was eerily quiet. The drip of falling water. His own footsteps. And his own breathing. Nothing else.

Ren looked back over and over. Of course, there was no exit.

"..."

He checked his phone. No signal. It was past six in the evening. Battery: eighty percent.

It's still fine. He tried to tell himself that. But the anxiety wouldn't go away.

"...I'm hungry."

He hadn't put anything in his mouth since breakfast. There'd be dinner waiting when he got home. That was what he'd thought. And that "home" was far away now.

Ren kept walking. After a while, he came to a somewhat more open space.

"...It's huge."

The ceiling was high, like the inside of some enormous room. And at its center floated a strange light.

"...What is this?"

A white light. He couldn't even touch it.

The instant Ren drew close, a voice rang out inside his head.

《—World's first dungeon intruder confirmed.》

"...Huh?"

Ren looked around. No one was there.

《World's first dungeon intruder.》

《Bestowing gift.》

"...Who's there?"

No answer. Only the voice went on.

《Unique skill—》

《Infinite Growth》

The white light was drawn into Ren's body.

"Whoa...!"

Ren squeezed his eyes shut without thinking. His body grew hot. But that, too, was over in seconds.

"...What was that?"

Ren looked down at himself. Nothing had changed. Not his arms. Not his legs. Not the size of his body.

Nothing had changed.

"Infinite... Growth?"

The meaning rose naturally to mind.

《Infinite Growth》

《No limit exists on growth.》

"...No limit?"

Ren tilted his head. That was it.

It wasn't that he was any stronger now. Look at his arms — a fifteen-year-old boy's arms. His physical abilities were ordinary. It wasn't like he could use some special power, either.

"...I don't really get it."

Ren murmured to himself. And then a thought struck him.

"With this... maybe I can get out of here?"

Of course, there was no answer. Ren started walking.

　　　　　◇

Deeper still. The scenery of the cave changed little by little.

Where there had been ordinary rock walls, plants he had never seen were growing. Faintly glowing water. Strange patterns surfacing on the walls.

"...Is this really a cave?"

Ren stopped. He didn't know. He didn't understand anything.

But he understood one thing.

Something he knew nothing about was in here.

Ren advanced slowly, careful not to make a sound.

That very instant.

—Rustle.

"...!"

Something moved. Ren's body froze.

Ahead. Behind a boulder. Something's there.

"..."

Ren held his breath.

And.

Slowly, two eyes gleamed in the darkness. A low growl.

"...Huh?"

The next instant, a huge shadow burst out.

"Waah!"

Ren leapt backward on reflex. He tumbled to the ground. Something swept past right in front of him.

Wham!

The rock wall shattered.

"...!"

The words died in Ren's throat.

What stood there was—

a giant wolf.

Nothing like an ordinary wolf. Nearly two meters long. Razor fangs. Glowing yellow eyes. Drool hanging from its jaws.

Ren's instincts were screaming.

—Run.

"...Like I could."

His legs were shaking. Infinite Growth. The words flickered through his mind.

But.

Right now, Ren had no power at all. He hadn't gotten any stronger. He couldn't use magic. He had no weapon. Just an ordinary fifteen-year-old boy.

The wolf growled. Ren took one step back. The wolf took one step forward.

"...Stay back."

The wolf lowered its stance.

"Stay back...!"

Ren ran.

And—

the giant wolf came after him.