I steadied my knees to stop them from shaking as another booming smash echoed through the stone chamber. Dust rained down from the ceiling as the wooden door threatening to burst off its iron hinges. What monstrous creature was trying to get in?
Gripping my fists, I focused on controlling my nervous breathing. As terrifying as this situation seemed, I needed to have faith in my newfound power. according to the glowing pop-up boxes still hovering at the edge of my vision, I had awakened an exceptionally rare ability called Spatial Domination.
Supposedly, I could now control dimensional energies to warp space and time - abilities exclusive to only a handful of SSS-Rank elite hunters. At least in theory...I hadn't actually tested them out yet.
But no time like the present!
As the chamber door splintered and cracked, I closed my eyes to concentrate. Focusing deep within, I could sense a wellspring of arcane energy swirling inside me - no doubt the source of my spatial powers. Wispy tendrils extended outwards, permeating the very fabric of reality around me.
It felt electrifying yet peaceful at the same time. Like slipping into a cool, velvety darkness among the stars. I reached out mentally, willing the spatial energies to bend to my command. To my delight, they responded eagerly like soldiers awaiting instruction from their general.
Pop! Pop! Two small, glowing portals opened up on either side of me just as I envisioned them. Grinning, I knew my SSS-Rank Domination was the real deal! I could manually tear open holes leading to pocket dimensions or distant locations on a whim.
No time to celebrate though - the chamber doors finally smashed open with a deafening crack at that moment. Shards of wood exploded inwards, followed swiftly by a hulking, eight-foot tall reptilian creature covered in thick green scales. Glowing red eyes scanned the room until they locked onto me. A crocodilian snout filled with razor sharp teeth opened wide to let out an earth-shaking bellow.
A color-coded danger rating sprang up next to the new arrival:
[Rampaging Dungeon Boss - Komododon]
[Threat: A-Rank]
[Abilities: Ironscale Defense, Sweeping Tail Assault]
Its gaze still boring into me with predatory hunger, the overgrown lizard creature - apparently called a Komododon - stomped closer shaking the stone floor with every step. Each meaty fist was tipped with 5-inch claws that could easily eviscerate me in seconds.
I slowly backed away, sweat forming on my brow. Maybe this SSS-Rank business had gotten to my head too quickly...an A-Rank monster was bad news even for veteran dungeoneers. What could a novice like me with untested powers do? My little portals flickered nervously, responding to my shaken confidence.
Closer and closer the towering Komododon pressed, lips curling back to reveal saliva-coated teeth. Once it pounced, that would be it...
Doubt still plagued me. What use were my supposedly mighty abilities if I froze up in the clutch? But just as a spark of despair entered my heart a vision suddenly flashed through my mind - so vivid it was like a lost memory.
...The image showed a fantastic landscape - a endless rows of colossal white pillars lined the horizon in every direction, so tall their peaks faded into the purple and gold nebula-clouded sky. Each cylindrinal column had intricate symbols etched into their smooth, marble-like surfaces glinting like silver veins.
Somehow I understood this was the Dimensional Nexus - the crossroads hub connecting all possible realities and timelines according to quantum cosmological theory. Who knew I paid such close attention during those advanced physics electives?
But most incredibly - at the center of this trippy plane hovering hundreds of feet overhead sat a gilded throne carved out of a single giant gemstone. And lounging on that dazzling seat of power was...me! With wicked sharp crimson armor and a hundred galaxy-shaped portals swirling around like an otherworldly cape.
My future self gazed down at me with a sly smile and knowing eyes before issuing two simple words through the strange psychic channel bridging space and time:
"Rule all."
The vision cut off there, returning me to the present where the slobbery jaws of the Komododon loomed. But suddenly, none of that mattered next to the destiny laid out before me. Why fear anything when all of existence was my plaything?
I leveled my palm at the lumbering beast as strands of glorious dimensional energy flowed into it from all sides. Power infused my body to the core.
"Spatial Lockdown!" I bellowed.
Blinding rays of crimson and violet exploded outward in concentric rings until they passed over the Komododon. Ripples in the visible light spectrum visibly distorted its form...before the A-Rank monster completely froze! Caught mid-roar with one foot raised comically in the air like someone hit a cosmic pause button.
Yes...this tremendous might was now mine to command! I clenched my outstretched hand into a triumphant fist. No more doubting myself - the tutorial was over. This dungeon would be the first stepping stone on my destined path to rule all dimensions!
Grinning eagerly, I strode towards the deeper vaults and dangers within Relnor Ruins. What more secrets would it hold? As the chosen master of space and time, no riches or fearsome beasts could be off limits to me now!