Leaving the frozen Komododon boss monster trapped in my Spatial Lockdown behind, I ventured deeper into the torch-lit stone corridors of Relnor Ruins. According to the still-glowing pop-up interface at the corner of my vision, I had only uncovered 2% of the dangers and secrets hidden in this dungeon so far.
My newfound dimension warping abilities made me eager to explore every nook and cranny. Who knew what amazing treasures or opportunities awaited me as I delved through the monster-filled vaults? Besides, that glimpse of my throne overlooking all reality had ignited fiery ambitions that wouldn't be quenched until I uncovered my true mythical destiny.
As I strode down the dusty halls carved with ancient glyphs and runes, the giddiness of new powerstill surged through me. I waved my hands experimentally, tearing open small shimmering portals left and right leading to other chambers or distant outer planes. So this was the mythical power of an SSS-Rank spatial dominator that bazillions of hunter aspirants dreamed about!
Grinning with delight, I decided to see how far I could extend my realm-walking reach. Focusing intensely, I generated a swirling vortex three times wider than my body, giving me a glimpse of a breathtaking alien world on the other side - five moons of different colored ice circled around a binary star system consisting of a red giant and white dwarf in a dazzling celestial display.
Mesmerized by this interdimensional peek behind the curtains, I temporarily forgot to watch my step. My left foot snagged on a loose stone tile, triggering a pressure plate trap! Mechanical gears ground noisily to life within the walls as a row of menacing metal spikes popped out right in my path!
"Whoa!" I yelped, instinctively waving my hand to conjure another portal. This one swallowed me up just as the spikes shot past with a sharp whizz, teleporting me safely twenty feet further down the corridor. My heart pounding, I breathed a sigh of relief at the close shave.
"Okay, no more careless sightseeing," I scolded myself. Hunter rule number one was keeping alert for traps and ambushes. Even with all the perks of Spatial Domination, letting my guard down could get me killed. Moving forward, I made sure to carefully scan the floor and touch nothing without inspection.
After a few more minutes walking deeper into the mysterious underground ruins, I came across an ornate archway with more glowing glyphs. Cautiously peering past it revealed an enormous hall filled with glittering objects - gold coins, jewel-encrusted weapons, armor pieces with precious gems, and crowns dripped with rubies and sapphires as far as the eye could see!
"Jackpot!" I whispered under my breath. This must be the Vault of Plenty that was marked on the tattered dungeon map I found earlier. All these riches could set me up for life once I got back above ground! Eagerly I moved to rush in and start looting.
But just as I stepped under the arch, shimmering lattices of blue energy suddenly flashed into existence on all sides, forming a large cube that completely enclosed around me.
"What the!?" I yelped, reflexively pushing at the transparent walls. They had a slight elastic give but otherwise seemed totally impenetrable. Panicking and short of breath, I checked my interface for answers.
[Ensnaring Ward - Rank B Intricate Trap]
[Touching lattice repeatedly reduces HP]
"Reduces my HP?" I muttered in dismay. So it would act like an electrical field, constantly zapping me for health damage. My elation of discovering mountains of treasure deflated quicker than a balloon.
Frantically I slammed my palms around testing for weak points, but the glowing prison stayed firmly in place. It seemed I had only two choices - try hacking my way out and take searing damage, or sit here and waste away as my life force drained. Neither appealed much.
I sank to my knees as despair set in. How could I fall for something so stupid only minutes after resolving to avoid traps? Some master dimensional lord I turned out to be! Bowing my head, the glittering Vault of Plenty now seemed to mock me from behind the impenetrable walls.
Maybe I didn't have what it took to conquer dungeons and rise to mythical heights of power after all...
Just then, another pulse of images flooded my mind unbidden - a new vision granted by my mysterious future self from that strange crossroads realm! I saw another grandeur version of me adorned in blazing crimson armor and a knight's cloak forged from the matter of black holes. My dimensional portals rotated slowly around like a royal retinue.
I sat upon an obsidian throne this time, expression cold and calculating. In one gauntleted hand I held a squirming creature by its throat - some infernal imp-like beast wreathed in flames. It pleaded for its life, but this conquering incarnation of myself simply smirked wider.
"Mercy is for the weak...might controls all!" my future self pronounced, tightening his grip. The fiery creature let out a strangled scream before blazing shards of light marked its banishment back to whatever hellish plane it came from.
The vision lifted as quickly as it came, but the message rang clearly in my mind. Having power meant seizing victory by any means...never accepting defeat. What use were these spatial gifts if I surrendered at the first hurdle? Determination blazed within me, turning the ensnaring trap from threat to opportunity!
Closing my eyes I sought out the dimensional energies once more. But this time, instead of forcing them outwards I pulled them inwards to wrap tightly around my body in an orb-like cocoon. Compressing space-time into a protective shell reinforced by ley lines and cosmic strings. It felt like slipping outside normal physics to become a walker between worlds unbound by mortal limits.
Then with a flash of blinding violet luminance I triggered my Metaphysical Shift ability - phasing right through the blinking trap walls like a specter! I solidified on the other side with an enormous grin. Another innovative application of mypowers. Perhaps Spatial Domination had even more versatile potential than I first believed!
Dusting off my hands I turned to take my first steps into the shimmering vault of riches. But not before conjuring a swirling portal back to the trapped cube. Reaching through I made a taunting gesture at where my past self still knelt in despair.
"Maybe next time leave the dungeon conquering to the pros!" I laughed. With clever flexible thinking like this, the coveted SSS rank was well deserved. Now - onwards to claim my treasure!