Haruto woke up the next morning feeling a mix of excitement and confusion. The events of the previous day replayed in his mind like a vivid dream, but he knew it had been real. The strange world, the dungeon, and the system that had given him powers—it was all too real to be a figment of his imagination.
As he lay in bed, Haruto opened his Status Window again, the transparent blue screen hovering in front of his eyes. He carefully reviewed the information displayed:
Name: Haruto Tanaka
Level: 1
Health: 100/100
Mana: 50/50
Skills:
Blazing Strike (Basic)
Items: None
Achievements: None
The simplicity of the Status Window was almost comforting, like a video game HUD he was used to seeing. But this was no game—this was his reality now.
"I can't just ignore this," Haruto thought to himself. "I have to figure out what this world is and why I'm here."
Determined to learn more, Haruto decided to skip school for the day. After quickly getting dressed, he grabbed his backpack and filled it with some essentials: a bottle of water, some snacks, and a flashlight. He didn't know what else to bring, but he figured those would come in handy if he was going to explore more dungeons.
Haruto left a note for his parents, saying he was going out for the day, and then headed back to the park. The ancient tree where everything had started looked as ordinary as ever, its gnarled branches swaying gently in the breeze. But Haruto knew better now—this tree was a gateway to something much bigger.
As he approached the tree, the same strange energy he had felt yesterday began to tingle in the air. He reached out and placed his hand on the rough bark, half-expecting something to happen immediately. For a moment, nothing did, and Haruto began to wonder if he had imagined it all.
But then, the ground trembled slightly beneath his feet, and a familiar vortex of light appeared before him. Without hesitation, Haruto stepped into the light, bracing himself for the now-familiar sensation of being transported.
When the light faded, Haruto found himself in another cavern. This one was different from the first—larger, with higher ceilings and more intricate stone carvings on the walls. The air was cool and damp, and the distant sound of dripping water echoed through the chamber.
"Alright, here we go," Haruto muttered to himself, trying to psych himself up. He pulled up his Map Window, a new feature he hadn't noticed before, which displayed a rough layout of the cavern with his current location marked by a glowing dot.
Map Window:
Current Location: Dungeon of Beginnings
Exploration Progress: 0%
The map showed several branching paths leading away from the main chamber. Haruto decided to start with the one to his left, which seemed to be the widest. He moved cautiously, keeping an eye out for any signs of danger.
As he walked, he couldn't help but think about the Gacha System that had given him his first skill. The canister had appeared out of nowhere, filled with potential rewards. He wondered if there were more canisters hidden throughout the dungeon.
After a few minutes of walking, Haruto noticed something glowing faintly in the darkness ahead. He approached it carefully, and as he got closer, he realized it was another canister, similar to the one he had found yesterday.
His heart raced with anticipation as he picked it up. The System Notification appeared as soon as his fingers touched the canister:
System Notification:
You have found a Gacha Canister!
Would you like to open it?
Haruto didn't hesitate. "Yes," he said aloud.
The canister glowed brightly, and the familiar holographic display appeared, showing a new list of items and skills. Haruto scanned the list, looking for something that would help him in the dungeon.
He chose a skill that caught his eye and watched as it materialized before him.
System Notification:
Congratulations! You have received the skill: "Healing Aura"
Skill Description: A passive ability that slowly restores health over time. Effective during rest periods.
Skill Level: Basic
"Nice, this will definitely come in handy," Haruto thought, feeling a bit more confident now. He quickly checked his Status Window to see the new skill added to his list:
Skills:
Blazing Strike (Basic)
Healing Aura (Basic)
With the new skill in his arsenal, Haruto continued exploring the dungeon. The path he had chosen led him through several chambers, each one slightly different from the last. Some were empty, while others contained simple traps or puzzles that Haruto had to solve to progress.
He encountered his first real challenge in a large, open chamber filled with strange, glowing crystals. As he entered the room, a System Notification appeared:
System Notification:
You have entered a Combat Zone!
Enemies will appear in this area.
Before Haruto could react, several creatures emerged from the shadows. They were small, goblin-like beings with sharp claws and teeth, their eyes glowing red in the dim light.
Haruto's heart pounded in his chest as the creatures advanced on him. He quickly activated his Blazing Strike skill, and a wave of fire erupted from his hands, scorching the nearest goblin and sending it flying backward.
The other goblins hesitated for a moment, but then they charged at him, their claws slashing through the air. Haruto dodged and weaved, using his newfound agility to avoid their attacks. He managed to take down another goblin with a well-placed Blazing Strike, but the remaining two were relentless.
One of the goblins slashed at Haruto's arm, drawing blood. He winced in pain but kept his focus, knowing he couldn't afford to let his guard down. As he fought, his Healing Aura skill began to take effect, the wound on his arm slowly closing as his health regenerated.
With renewed determination, Haruto unleashed another Blazing Strike, this time targeting both goblins at once. The flames engulfed them, and they collapsed in a smoldering heap.
Breathing heavily, Haruto surveyed the aftermath of the battle. The goblins had dropped a few items, including a small bag of coins and a potion labeled "Minor Health Potion." He picked them up and checked his Inventory Window:
Inventory Window:
Minor Health Potion (x1)
Coins: 50
The Minor Health Potion would be useful in future battles, and the coins... well, Haruto wasn't sure what to do with them yet, but he figured they might come in handy later.
As the adrenaline from the fight began to wear off, Haruto felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. He realized that he had been in the dungeon for several hours already, and the constant tension was starting to take its toll.
He found a relatively safe-looking corner of the chamber and sat down to rest. His Healing Aura skill continued to work, slowly restoring his health as he caught his breath.
"This is a lot tougher than I thought it would be," Haruto admitted to himself. "But I'm learning. I'm getting stronger."
As he rested, Haruto thought about the implications of his situation. He had been thrust into this world with no warning, no guidance, and no clear way back. But despite the danger and uncertainty, there was something thrilling about it—something that made him want to keep going, to see how far he could push himself.
After a short rest, Haruto felt ready to continue. He stood up, checked his Map Window to make sure he was heading in the right direction, and set off again.
The next chamber he entered was different from the others. It was larger and more elaborately decorated, with intricate carvings on the walls and a large, circular platform in the center. Haruto approached the platform cautiously, wondering what challenge awaited him this time.
As he stepped onto the platform, a System Notification appeared:
System Notification:
You have discovered a Dungeon Boss Chamber!
Prepare for battle.
Haruto's heart skipped a beat. A Dungeon Boss? He wasn't sure he was ready for something like that, but he had no choice—there was no turning back now.
The platform began to glow, and a massive creature materialized in front of him. It was a hulking beast, covered in thick, armored scales, with glowing eyes and a row of sharp, jagged teeth. The creature let out a deafening roar, shaking the walls of the chamber.
Haruto quickly checked his Status Window:
Health: 80/100
Mana: 30/50
He was still in decent shape, but he knew he would need to use his skills wisely if he wanted to survive this fight.
The Dungeon Boss charged at him with surprising speed, its massive claws tearing through the air. Haruto barely managed to dodge in time, the claws missing him by inches.
He retaliated with a Blazing Strike, aiming for the creature's exposed underbelly. The flames struck true, but the creature's thick armor absorbed most of the impact, leaving only a small scorch mark.
Haruto cursed under his breath. This was going to be a tough fight.
The creature roared again and lunged at him, its claws slashing wildly. Haruto dodged and weaved, trying to find an opening, but the creature's movements were unpredictable and ferocious.
He managed to land a few more hits with his Blazing Strike, but each time the creature's armor absorbed most of the damage. His mana was running low, and he knew he couldn't keep this up for much longer.
Desperation began to set in as the creature cornered him against the wall. Haruto's mind raced as he tried to think of a way out, but the creature was too strong, too fast.
Just as the creature was about to strike, Haruto remembered the Gacha System. He hadn't used it yet, but maybe it could give him something that would turn the tide of the battle.
With no other options, Haruto quickly opened the Gacha System and prayed for something good.
System Notification:
You have used 50 coins to open the Gacha Canister!
You have received the skill: "Mana Shield"
Skill Description: A protective barrier that absorbs incoming damage at the cost of mana. Effective against physical and magical attacks.
Skill Level: Basic
Haruto didn't waste any time. He activated the Mana Shield just as the creature's claws came down, and the barrier absorbed the blow, protecting him from harm.
The creature roared in frustration, and Haruto saw his chance. With the Mana Shield absorbing the damage, he unleashed a series of Blazing Strikes, targeting the same spot on the creature's underbelly.
The repeated strikes finally began to take their toll. The creature's armor started to crack, and Haruto pressed his advantage, pouring all his remaining mana into one final, powerful Blazing Strike.
The flames erupted from his hands, engulfing the creature in a blazing inferno. The creature let out a final, ear-piercing roar before collapsing to the ground, its body smoldering.
Haruto fell to his knees, exhausted but victorious. He had done it—he had defeated the Dungeon Boss.
A System Notification appeared, marking his achievement:
System Notification:
Congratulations! You have defeated the Dungeon Boss: Armored Beast.
You have leveled up!
You have received the item: "Boss's Core."
Item Description: A powerful core extracted from a Dungeon Boss. Can be used to enhance weapons or skills.
Haruto's Status Window updated to reflect his new level:
Level: 2
Health: 120/120
Mana: 60/60
Skills:
Blazing Strike (Basic)
Healing Aura (Basic)
Mana Shield (Basic)
Despite his exhaustion, Haruto couldn't help but smile. He had survived his first major challenge, and he was stronger for it. But more importantly, he was beginning to understand how this world worked, and he knew he had only scratched the surface.
As he collected the Boss's Core and prepared to leave the dungeon, Haruto couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement for what lay ahead. This was just the beginning of his journey, and he was determined to see it through to the end.
With renewed resolve, Haruto stepped off the platform and made his way back to the entrance of the dungeon. There was still so much to learn, so much to discover. But for now, he had taken his first steps into the unknown and he was ready for whatever came next.