As Mark set foot on the tenth floor, a shiver ran down his spine. Before him stretched an immense battlefield of floating arenas, surrounded by towering black structures carved with geometric precision. The air vibrated with martial tension, and humanoid creatures, taller and more massive than humans, watched in silence. He could feel their gazes weighing on him, evaluating his strength, endurance, and worth.
A voice resonated in his mind.
Welcome to the Tenth Floor of the Dungeon Multiple Universes.
Main Trial: The Arena of Champions.
Rules: Each contender must win a consecutive series of duels to prove their strength. Only those who triumph may proceed to the next floor.
Victory Conditions: Win ten consecutive duels. The stronger the opponent, the greater the reward.
Mark immediately understood: this was not just a sequence of fights against monsters. It was a ritual. A test imposed by this unknown civilization. He was an intruder, and if he wanted to advance, he had to prove himself worthy.
The first battle started brutally. A massive warrior, with bulging muscles and dark blue skin, charged forward brandishing a heavy spear. Mark barely dodged, the tip whistling past his face by mere inches. The fight was sharp, methodical. His opponent delivered precise attacks, each aimed at destabilizing and eliminating him quickly. Mark had to use all his agility to evade the attacks and, in a fleeting opening, he pivoted and struck a crushing blow to the warrior's temple. His opponent collapsed, unconscious.
One fight down. Nine more to go.
The following duels became progressively more challenging. Each warrior had a unique fighting technique and strategy, testing Mark on all fronts. Some wielded colossal axes capable of shattering stone, while others relied on poisoned daggers and lightning-fast movements. Mark fought with intelligence and ferocity, exploiting the slightest weakness, his body absorbing every pain as fuel for his unyielding will.
As he advanced, his adversaries became increasingly formidable. Each possessed refined combat mastery, techniques completely unknown to him. Some moved with such fluidity that they seemed to glide across the battlefield, while others emitted shockwaves with every strike. Mark endured, retaliated, and adapted his style according to each new opponent. He felt like he was burning from the inside out, every muscle stretched to its limit.
Between two battles, Mark glanced at the dark sky looming over the arena. Why were these humanoids testing him? He activated the system mentally.
— "Xi, are these opponents AIs or real beings?"
— "Analysis in progress… Response: limited information. It is likely these combatants were created to test DMU participants, but their origin remains unknown."
Mark grimaced. Always so cryptic. He refocused on the fight.
By the seventh duel, the true challenge began.
A colossus clad in obsidian armor stepped forward. His sword vibrated with an unknown energy, and with each strike, the ground trembled under the impact. Mark immediately realized that blocking would be suicide. He had to adjust his strategy, dodging narrowly, using his agility to target the armor's joints. After an exhausting battle, where every second mattered, Mark found a weakness and landed a decisive blow, causing his opponent to collapse in a deafening crash.
Nine battles down. One last duel remained.
As he caught his breath, a massive door creaked open. A suffocating silence settled.
A humanoid, taller than the others, dressed in a simple tunic, wielding a curved blade. No armor, no shield. Just absolute confidence in his skill.
A Master Swordsman.
Mark felt an overwhelming pressure. Before the fight began, the warrior locked eyes with him and muttered a few words in an unknown language. A message? A warning?
He had no time to reflect. The Master Swordsman struck.
The duel lasted what felt like an eternity. Every move was a lesson. Mark bled from multiple wounds, each motion becoming harder. Then, in a flash of steel, his body was cleaved in two.
It was over.
But as his existence neared its end, his tattoos ignited. His body reformed before his eyes, burning with primal energy. He had never felt such power.
With a roar of rage and pain, he rose again.
The duel resumed, but this time, he fought not to survive but to dominate. And in one final exchange, he found an opening and struck. His opponent fell.
He had won.
A deep vibration coursed through the air, followed by an announcement from the system.
"Trial completed. Access to the eleventh floor unlocked."
"Congratulations! You have unlocked the European City, a sanctuary for European players."
The ground beneath him trembled, and the arena vanished, replaced by an immense fortified city. Towering structures, bustling markets, vast training grounds. A safe zone.
The surrounding humanoids briefly knelt, as if acknowledging his achievement. Then, without a word, they vanished into the shadows.
A moment later, a brilliant light enveloped him, and he felt an irresistible force pulling him elsewhere. When he opened his eyes, he stood in the heart of a vast city. Humans swarmed everywhere, some dressed in medieval attire, others clad in heavy armor. Merchants shouted their prices, adventurers discussed their progress.
Mark scanned the scene, grasping the magnitude of what he had accomplished. He had just opened a new chapter of DMU Europe.
He clenched his fists. This was only the beginning.
[[Location: European City, Safe Zone]] [[Elapsed Time Since Arrival: 00:02]]
Mark observed the central square with a mix of fascination and caution. The architecture was a curious blend of medieval and fantasy styles. Towering stone buildings, adorned with mystical carvings, overlooked the cobbled streets. Merchants were stationed at long rows of stalls, shouting their prices, attracting adventurers who had just arrived. The air was thick with unfamiliar scents, a blend of unknown spices, heated metal, and tanned leather.
All around him, players appeared in bursts of bluish light. Some were clad in combat gear, covered in blood and sweat, while others seemed more relaxed, relieved to have reached a resting zone. Conversations buzzed around him as players exchanged their experiences from previous floors.
Mark moved slowly, absorbing all the information around him. He activated Xi mentally.
— "Xi, what are the features of this city?"
— "The European City is a Safe Zone accessible to all players from DMU Europe. It contains several key areas:
The Market: Buying and selling equipment, rare items, and materials. The Adventurers' Guild: Quest assignments and side missions. The Training Arena: Combat simulations and player duels. Residential Quarters: Resting areas for players. The DMU Archives: Information on the Dungeon universe and its mysteries.**
Mark mentally noted each location. The market would be his first destination. His equipment had held up so far, but with the increasing difficulty of the battles, it was time to upgrade his arsenal.
He wandered through the lively streets until he reached a vast square lined with wooden stalls. Weapons gleamed under the ambient light, armor reflected the glow, and objects embedded with gemstones emitted a mysterious aura. He browsed the offerings, testing the weight of the weapons, analyzing the displayed statistics.
An elderly vendor with piercing eyes caught his attention.
— "You're one of the first to pass the tenth floor, aren't you?" he said, eyeing Mark. "I can see that your body has changed. You shouldn't just upgrade your equipment but also understand the energy within you."
Mark raised an eyebrow.
— "You seem to know a lot."
The old man handed him a small, luminous blue crystal.
— "This is not a weapon, but a catalyst. Absorb it, and you will understand."
Intrigued, Mark took it and felt an energy course through his arm. His tattoos briefly glowed. His body reacted instinctively, absorbing the power contained within the crystal. He felt a surge of strength, as if an invisible barrier had just been broken. He clenched his fists, feeling his muscles tighten, his breath deepen.
The merchant nodded in satisfaction.
— "Your progress is just beginning."
Mark left the market with newfound determination. His body was evolving, but he still had much to learn.
As he found an isolated spot in the residential quarters, an idea crossed his mind. What if his strength didn't come solely from combat?
He sat in a lotus position, closed his eyes, and focused on his body. Soon, an intense heat spread through his veins. He felt his blood boiling, each drop turning into raw energy, seeking purification. The pain was excruciating, as if his body was being shattered and reforged at the same time. He gritted his teeth, feeling his muscles tear and rebuild within moments. But he endured.
His breathing became deeper, his mind clearer. His body, however, was reinforcing itself at an astonishing rate. System notifications appeared.
"Your Titan Shatterer Bloodline is improving."
"Strength +50, Constitution +65, Recovery +40"
He opened his eyes, trembling but exhilarated by his newfound power. He had just discovered his cultivation method.
As he slowly stood up, he felt every fiber of his body vibrating with raw energy, ready to be unleashed in the next battle. His tattoos glowed more intensely than before, sinking deeper into his flesh as if fully merging with him.
He gazed up at the twilight sky of the European City. Soon, he would have to move on. But before that, he intended to make full use of everything this Safe Zone had to offer.