Dante lay drenched on the hotel bed, his body soaked in sweat. His face contorted with intense pain and agony, leaving the bed wet. To stifle his pained cries, he clamped down on the sheathed katana in his mouth, which caused a trickle of blood to flow from the corner of his lips.
As Elrid's psychotic and maniacal laughter reverberated throughout the hotel room, only Dante was able to perceive his presence and engage with him, leaving everyone else oblivious to the situation.
Observing the anguish etched on the face of the brat who had disrupted his plans, it was only natural for Elrid to derive some amusement from the situation. Despite holding onto a glimmer of hope for the youngster, he still couldn't resist mocking him.
The bewildering encounter with the little wolf appeared to have receded to the back of his mind, as Dante had more pressing concerns and experiences to focus on.
After the pain subsided to a manageable level, he made his way to the shower to freshen up. Following that, he donned a set of dark-themed attire that he had bought earlier while shopping for his hunting gear at the mall.
As he immersed himself in the water, he felt its seemingly restorative properties work their magic, greatly reducing his pain and refocusing his mind.
Upon emerging from the shower, one could discern a subtle difference in him from before he entered the Abyss Dimension and after he returned, as if the experience had left an indelible mark on his being.
As the reader puts these thoughts aside, we return to our beloved protagonist.
After changing the sweat-soaked bed cover, he settled down on his bed and proceeded to call up the system.
However, before the system interface could appear, a series of alerts rang out, displaying the rewards he had earned from his first arduous battle in the Abyss Dimension.
[Ding! The host has defeated seven Flame Wolves at level 12 in The Flaming God Valley, earning 840 experience points.]
[Ding! The host has defeated a level 16 Gamma Flame Wolf in The Flaming God Valley, earning 2500 experience points.]
[ Ding! The host has received the Grade D skill'' Fire Control'']
[Ding! The host has bonded with the Obsidian Infernal Grey Wolf]
[The host has received the Unique Skill, '' Immersive Editor'' after being contracted to the Obsidian Infernal Grey Wolf]
[The host's X- grade fire mana signature has been upgraded to ''Unclasssed'' after merging with the pet's ''Obsidian Core.'']
---------------
Name: Dante Miller
Signature Points: 340/4200
Level: 12
Title: Nightshade: Marked By The Dark Flames
Class: Sword Mage
HP(Hit Points): 200/200
Abyssal Energy: 100
ATK(Attack): 100
DEFENSE(DEF): 80
AGILITY(AGI): 80
STAMINA(STA): 100
Mana: 380
Gear Equipped: The Void Edge(Unclasssed)
Skills: (Skill Points: 20)
Fire Manipulation Skill( X-Grade)
Immersive Editor( Unique Skill)
Pets: Obsidian Infernal Grey Wolf(Unnamed)
#Special Skillsets#
(Cursed Brands)
● Oppressive Control
● Infinite Range Awareness
● Altered Psyche( Transferred)
#Abyssal Skillsets#
◇ Curse Of Goddess Theia(Abyss Forsaken Art)
__________________
Dante's mouth hung open as he gazed at his status panel in disbelief. The surge of experience points he had just received had significantly boosted his strength, and he could sense the raw power coursing through his veins.
In addition to the substantial increase in strength, Dante had also acquired a set of skills that, when combined, would provide him with maximum benefits.
However, the most absurd aspect of this situation was that he had somehow formed a bond with a beast - the mysterious little wolf that he had encountered before losing consciousness.
Despite taking a refreshing cold bath, Dante found that the weight of his thoughts continued to weigh heavily on his tired body. Before he could delve any further into his ruminations, his eyes drifted shut, and he drifted off into the realm of dreams.
********
The following morning, Dante awoke to the fiery sun's rays filtering through the mana emerald-lined blinds and hitting his face.
He rose from his bed and attended to his daily routine, getting dressed and styling his hair into its usual two-strand style, with two strands framing his face. After giving his blade a quick polish, he fastened it to his side and exited his hotel room.
After a brief greeting, Dante handed his mana rune inscribed keycard to the hotel receptionist and swiftly departed the hotel.
As Dante exited the hotel, the young female receptionist gazed after him in a daze before shaking her head and returning to her work.
Unbeknownst to him, Dante had undergone further maturation overnight. His silver hair now shone with an even greater luster, and he had grown several inches taller.
His facial features had also shed their youthful appearance, giving him a more mature outlook. His usual null aura seemed to emanate more strongly, causing the world around him to lose some of its luster and glow.
Making his way to the exclusive teleportation circle for hunters, he proceeded toward the dungeon he had planned to explore.
Equipped with his sword and other essential hunter items stored safely in his Abyss Dimension inventory, he stepped into the circle. After presenting his identification to the operator of the circle, he was granted free access to it.
With a sharp ''Shing!'' sound, he arrived in the vicinity of the dungeon approximately 25 minutes later. He made his way towards the registration booth, where he signed in and provided details about his purpose for being there as a hunter ready to undertake the dungeon run.
This registration process was a necessary procedure to ensure accountability and assist the Hunter Association in tracking the number of individuals in an area infested by the dungeon.
He proceeded to the dungeon after completing all the necessary procedures. He arrived at a small town nestled within a much larger city, which had a similar layout and conditions as the slums he was accustomed to.
However, the distinctive feature of this town was the swirling portals that could be discovered if one decided to explore it.
The appearance of Gates was often unpredictable, as was demonstrated by the sudden appearance of a Rank C Gate in this town back in the past.
The residents were left vulnerable as the beasts that emerged from the gate wreaked havoc, causing destruction and death.
Fortunately, a Rank B Hunter happened to be in the area and was able to close the gate before stabilizing it into multiple dungeons, as the gate had spanned multiple swirling portals similar to numerous dungeon portals.
After a Gate break, it was not uncommon to see individuals without an arm, leg, or eye, as well as those dressed in tattered clothing. The Central State government offered shelter to those who had been affected by the creatures that came through the Gates.
However, due to the growing number of people, only those who were able-bodied were permitted to seek refuge. This was because they could be utilized as cannon fodder to protect other towns in case of another Gate break.
The world's cruelty was not lost on Dante, and he realized that he had little control over it. All he could do was pursue his aspirations.
He had long abandoned the weight of how messed up the world was, dating back to the time when everyone had abandoned him to fend for himself.
He had resorted to stealing and had been beaten by greedy adult merchants who wouldn't even sell him bread that was covered in mold.
He gazed upon the scene with an indifferent expression, as he made his way through the ruined settlement and approached the swirling portal before him. Normally, one would feel a sense of sympathy upon witnessing such devastation, but he remained unaffected.
As he retrieved the Hunter Association Holophone, an alert immediately flashed on the screen. It was a Code Red Alert indicating that he had stumbled upon a Rank E dungeon.
Code Red Alert: Rank F Hunter''..... '' has discovered a Rank E dungeon. Please insert your name here. The alert signaled to Dante that he needed to fill the blank space in the message with his Hunter name.
[The Holophone registration for the Rank F Hunter ''Obsidian Edge'' has been completed. ''Obsidian Edge'' has discovered a Rank E dungeon. In case the challenge becomes insurmountable, please do not hesitate to ask for help and stay safe.]
After completing his Holophone registration, Dante heard the mature mascot's projected image announce that his name was now fully registered in the Hunter Association's system. With the last step complete, Dante ventured into the dungeon.
As Dante approached the entrance of the dungeon, he couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. The air around it seemed to darken and chill as if a shadow had descended upon the area.
[Welcome to The Rank E dungeon ''The Twilight Crypt'', a dungeon known for its treacherous paths, perilous traps, and dark secrets. Be cautious as you venture deeper into the dungeon, for danger lurks around every corner and the shadows hold many unknown terrors. Good luck on your journey!]
Although he couldn't fathom how the system had even the slightest bit of information about the dungeon, Dante decided to let go of the thought.
He realized that questioning Elrid about it would be futile, as he had a hunch that Elrid wouldn't be forthcoming with any answers. And so, he entered the dungeon, leaving his curiosity behind.
Upon entering the dungeon, Dante's orange flames failed to provide sufficient illumination, as they had inexplicably turned pitch black. The shadows of the smooth cave walls merged with the darkness projected by his flames, making it difficult for him to see.
The first chamber he entered was small and had rough stone walls with a low ceiling. The ground was scattered with bones and debris, and the air was thick with the smell of decay.
As he proceeded, the air grew colder and damper, and the shadows grew deeper. In the distance, he could hear the faint sounds of dripping water and the occasional skittering of small creatures.
In the distance, he heard howls that seemed to have control over the darkness. The stones with shadows dancing over them trembled as a tremendous number of beasts rushed toward Dante.
Dante muttered to himself, ''You've got to be kidding me,'' as his eyes locked onto the familiar fur that he knew he wouldn't forget anytime soon.