One week later —
The ground trembled as if something humongous crashed against it. The large crimson body of the Boulder Crab fell forward amongst the many others that surrounded the vicinity.
In a matter of only minutes, from the entrance to the Boulder Crabs den was littered and blocked with colossal bodies.
And amongst the fallen crustaceans that formed a morbid graveyard, a half naked young man, with messy brown hair that reached his neck stood like a Grimm guardian.
In his hand was a large morbid bone spear that was a pale creamish in color. An illusionary ghostly hue surrounded the haunting spear as it seemed to slowly dissperse and dissolve.
The young man was covered in blood that wasn't his, and smeared with dirt. His back stood straight as he sat up on a fallen Boulder Crab, silently overlooking the entire area.
An eerie silence now filled the place since the last crash. After a short while, the young man's lips parted as he spoke, his voice was deep and low.
"Status."
His head buzzed for a quick second as an illusionary blue screen appeared before his eyes...
[What are you doing?]
Victor scrolled through the long line of texts that hovered on the interface before him, and his bright gold eyes glistened as his lips curled from the edges in satisfaction
"Hehe..." He chuckled.
[Are you okay?]
It had been one week since his second confrontation with the Silver Sentinel, and as always, Victor had taken full advantage of the resources the Dungeon provided for him to progress in strength and various other aspects.
[Hey...you had mostly lazed around as usual...]
He had mostly been working on improving and creating his Art, and has brought his skills to a level much higher than he was before in only one week.
[Stop that... It's sad...]
Victor dismissed the system screen and looked ahead, his gold eyes pierced the darkness as the silence returned to reign once again.
Then he said once more.
"It's almost time—"
[Why do you keep talking about yourself like that? Is it a human thing, or have I really underestimated the extent of loneliness? Regardless, this is deeply intriguing. Troubling, but intriguing nonetheless.]
Victor went qui— cough!
"Shut up! Try surviving in desolate dungeon for about a month all by yourself with nothing but a nagging voice in your head." I snorted and retorted.
Lately, Meta has been rudely relentless in accusing me of finally running mad, but I beg to differ. I was as sane a the first day I came into the world!
[No sane person hears a voice in their head.]
"No you're just being unfair..."
[I'm just a voice in your head ]
"..."
... I see what she did there.
I dismissed Meta's obvious dry dissing and sighed deeply.
I had already spent my fourth week in the dungeon. That corresponded to about four days outside, it was about time i faced the Silver Sentinel a final time.
The red Dungeon system screen hovered next to me.
____
...
[Remaining Lives Left: 1]
...
____
Technically, this was the last 'free' chance the dungeon was offering me. If I died again, I'd still have one more final chance, but at the cost of my real life.
If I died after that, then I'm afraid that was it.
But I wouldn't risk it. I intend to clear this dungeon during this turn and return back home before things escalate.
"To be honest, if it were up to me, I'd rather stay down here for a couple of weeks longer."
Maybe till I breakthrough to Eta rank? I sighed, just thinking about how harder it'll be for me when I return back outside. It would take far more energy fore to level up and rank up than before, but down here, I can exercise the full advantage of my [Blessing of Aether] attribute and the dungeon resources.
[It's not like the [Blessing of Aether] attribute is a curse that will weigh down your progress when you return. It's the direct opposite actually.]
I knew whet Meta was talking about.
The Attribute has greatly increased my affinity for Aether, and all related aspects, including passively absorbing essence. My body has already been bathed in the rich essence that fills the dungeon, that If I suddenly return to the outside world, it'll all seem much inferior.
The energy wouldn't suffice, my body and core had become more robust in the four weeks I've spent down here.
For example, while it will take about three to four days for another Awakened to level up once or twice. Let's say from level 3 to level four.
It would take me a few more days longer, but at the same time, my Level 3 would be directly equivalent to their level four or slightly higher.
That was the [Blessing of Aether], and the 'advantage' i received from the resources of the dungeon.
'In the end I still have to work two times harder...' I wanted to groan.
Well at least there's good news, I guess.
I finally officially created my Art.
...
__________________
___________________
[Name: Victor Bright
Level: 27
Rank: Mortal
Race: Human
Hp: ???
________
________
Strength:- ???
Speed:- ???
Agility:- ???
Constitution:- ???
Luck:- ???
Aura:- 25/25(+2)
Charm:- ???
______
______
>>>>>
[ACTIVE SKILLS]
{Appraisal}
Level 1
Rank-: Rare
...
{???}
Level???
Rank-:???
...
>>>>>
[PASSIVE]
{Danger Sense}
[Description: Sense any incoming danger ahead of time.]
Level: 1
Rank: Common
____
____
{Blessing of Aether}
_____
_____
[Armament] (incomplete)
-Proficiency level: Beginner-
_____
_____
Too little information is known
____
___]
__________________
__________________
...
As soon as I designed my Art, I suddenly got a system notification that went on to congratulate my achievement, deeming it a commendable feat or something
...
[Congratulations! You have successfully created an Art. You have achieved a commendable feat!]
...
Something like that.
And after that, it became quite obvious I was successful. Although Armament as an art is still incomplete. I've only been able to somehow officially make it recognized as an Art, rather than just a technique.
Hehe. It had to be realized, that not just anyone could create an all new art from scratch. Many tried and failed.
An art was a concept, not many could just grasp it and succeed during their lifetime. And those who did, spent years and decades of their life.
Meanwhile, I had about six years for planning, and a couple of days for establishing.
'Indeed a commendable feat. ' I boasted internally for Meta.
I was only this successful because of the Blessing of Aether attribute that passively raised my innate knowledge and affinity for all Aether related aspects. Yet in the end, I had only just established my Art, I was still a long way
I was also able to successfully use my art on my weapons.
After that, i spent the last two days hunting the Monster Dens. Just yesterday, I cleared out one third of the Bone Spike den, and took down the strongest one i could find.
And today, I made a round through the Boulder Crabs' den.
I sat on top a fallen Boulder Crab and peered silently into the darkness that spread before me. Surrounding me from each sides were a number of large corpses, the size of actual boulders.
After a couple of seconds more, I heard a rumble.
My head jerked up slightly and my lips curled to a smile.
"Oh, looks like it's finally here." I had been waiting long enough already.
The walls of the the tunnel shook and vibrated as rocking tremors ran through the ground. In the suffusing darkness that spread throughout the cave, a colossal mass suddenly ploughed through on eight legs as a massive Boulder Crab appeared from the depths.
This one was two times larger than the rest, and resembled a moving mountain. It was covered in bright red carapace and wielded two mighty pincers that could sever their thickest trees in a single snap.
I'm comparison, I was like a splinter.
My eyes brightened at the gigantic mass moving at a stunning speed towards me. The red eyes of the Boss Boulder Crab (I assumed it was the boss) flashed as it's collosal pincers snapped through the air, producing a thunderous sound.
"Oohh, Meta, look at that thing move! It's freakishly huge!" I exclaimed with genuine excitement.
[Cold feet?] Meta quiped in response and I grinned.
I slowly rose to my feet, still on top the large fallen body of one of the many Boulder Crabs that laid dead. In my right hand was a tall and long bony white spear, that was crudely carved. But this only made the bone spear even more imposing and haunting.
The large incoming Boulder Crab scurried on its massive feet, sending tremors through the ground, maneuvering it's way passed the garden of corpses. Each time its pincers snapped, the air exploded in a thunderous clap.
I felt a rush of anticipation and my excitement grew, the grip i had on the bone spear tightened.
"Hmph. When have I ever backed down from a fight?" I snorted and raised the spear in a position.
[...]
The Boulder Crab, noticing my actions, gave up on charging around its fallen kins and bulldozed right through them at me with a feral furry burning in its thin red eyes.
Ah, I remember the first time I killed a Boulder Crab, I thought fleetingly, feeling a strange wave of nostalgia despite the situation.
Though I say 'kill', it was just barely. Back then I had to burrow through the eyes of the Colossus and penetrate its brain from inside.
Ah, how nostalgic~
A thick viscous layer of Aura surged through my right arm and encased the raised bone spear. The haunting spear became more imposing with a ghostly luster, as it erupted like a beacon in the darkness.
With a loud bang, I threw the spear forward.
-BANG!
The projectile pierced though the ar like a terrifying javelin bathed in a ghostly purple hue. It streamed across the distance as the air exploded, and tore a devastating hole through the approaching Monster from the front of its head.
-Boom!
In one hit, the Boulder Crab was dead.
[3/6]