The streets of Banaras buzzed with their usual chaos—vendors shouting, people pushing through narrow lanes, the constant hum of city life. But today, something felt off. I could sense it, the same strange energy that had been following me since I unlocked the system. My hand instinctively brushed against the hidden dagger under my jacket, a nervous habit I'd picked up ever since it appeared.
I should've known something bad was coming.
A thunderous boom echoed down the street, followed by a scream that cut through the noise like a knife. My chest tightened as memories of the past slammed into me—the last time I'd heard those sounds. The dungeon break that had taken my parents.
But this time, it wasn't just a memory.
A portal shining and bursting with energy, had opened in the middle of the street. The dark rift swirled like a vortex, and monsters began pouring out, distod creatures with twisted limbs and glowing red eyes.
My throat tightened. Another dungeon break. But this time... this time I could fight.
People ran in every direction, screaming, panicking. I stood frozen for a moment, the weight of the past pressing down on me. I knew what was coming—the destruction, the chaos, the death. But then the system pinged in my mind, snapping me back to reality
[URGENT QUEST: SURVIVE THE DUNGEON BREAK
Objective 1: Defeat the dungeon creatures.
Objective 2: Protect civilians.
Bonus Objective: Ensure no civilian death.
Reward: 500 XP, Solar Points (200 SP), Bonus Stat Points.
[ACCEPT QUEST? Y/N]
The memories tried to pull me under, but I wasn't that scared, helpless kid anymore. I had power now. The Sunsteel Dagger was in my hand before I could think, its comforting warmth settling into my grip.
I clicked "Y" without hesitation.
"Alright, let's do this," I muttered.
A massive creature lunged at a group of people trying to flee—a hulking beast with razor-sharp claws and skin like stone. My legs moved before my brain caught up. I sprinted toward it, heart pounding in my chest.
"You're not taking anyone else from me!"
I leaped in front of the monster as it slashed at the nearest civilian. With a quick twist, I blocked its strike with my dagger. The force of the impact jarred my arm, but I held my ground. I slashed across its arm, leaving a glowing streak as the blade cut through its hide. The beast roared in pain, but it wasn't dead yet.
Ding!
[WARNING: SKILL LOCKED. INSUFFICIENT SOLAR POINTS FOR SOLAR STRIKE.]
"Come on!" I growled under my breath. I needed that power, now more than ever. I swung the dagger again, trying to fend off the creature, but I could feel my body tiring. If only I could use Solar Strike...
Suddenly, another notification appeared.
---
[SYSTEM UPDATE: BONUS SOLAR POINTS AWARDED DUE TO URGENT QUEST CONDITIONS]
+100 Solar Points.
It wasn't much, but it was enough.
---
[SOLAR STRIKE UNLOCKED: TEMPORARY ACCESS]
Cost: 100 SP
Description: Channel the power of the sun into a devastating attack. Limited use due to insufficient points.
---
I felt the familiar warmth surge through me. My grip on the dagger tightened as the blade began to glow, brighter and brighter, until it was almost too blinding to look at.
"Let's see how you like this."
With all the force I could muster, I swung the dagger down, channeling everything I had into the strike. A beam of golden light exploded from the blade, hitting the creature right in the chest. It didn't even have time to scream before it disintegrated into ash.
I stumbled back, panting. The glow faded from the dagger, leaving only the quiet hum of the city behind. The crowd had scattered, but a few people stared at me in shock. The creature was gone, but more were still crawling out of the portal.
---
[SOLAR POINTS DEPLETED. SOLAR STRIKE LOCKED.]
"Great," I muttered, wiping sweat from my brow. "Back to basics."
Before I could catch my breath, another creature charged at me, snarling and snapping its jaws. I ducked under its swipe and drove the dagger into its side, but the blade didn't glow this time. No fancy powers, just me and my dagger. It took a few more strikes, but eventually, the creature collapsed in a heap.
"Two down, a dozen to go," I panted.
As I backed away, a loud voice rang out. "Hey! Get down!"
Instinctively, I dropped to the ground just as a bolt of energy shot past me, slamming into a monster I hadn't even noticed creeping up behind me. I looked up to see a figure approaching—a hunter. He wore a sleek black jacket, his eyes glowing faintly with power. The man strolled toward me, looking impressed.
"Not bad, kid," he said, pulling me to my feet. "But what are you doing fighting monsters alone?"
I shrugged, catching my breath. "Didn't exactly have a choice."
The hunter raised an eyebrow. "Still, that was some impressive power. Most civilians would've run the second they saw one of these things. You ever think about taking the Hunter Exam?"
I froze. Hunter Exam? The thought had crossed my mind before, but it felt... distant. Impossible. The system was mine alone, and no one else could know I had it. But maybe... maybe becoming a hunter was the key to getting stronger, to understanding this power.
"Maybe," I said, keeping my voice casual. "But... I'm not exactly hunter material."
He smirked. "You're stronger than you think. With power like yours, you'll get noticed real quick. Take the exam—you've got potential."
Before I could reply, the system pinged again.
---
[QUEST COMPLETE: SURVIVE THE DUNGEON BREAK]
Objective 1: Complete.
Objective 2: Complete.
Bonus Objective: Complete. (7 civilian injury reported, 0 civilian death reported)
Reward: 500 XP, 200 Solar Points, Bonus Stat Points.
LEVEL UP!
Current Level: 2
Bonus Stat Points Available: +5
---
I could feel the power coursing through me, stronger than before. The hunter was already walking away, but his words echoed in my mind. "Take the exam."
Maybe... he was right. If I wanted to survive in this world, I couldn't just rely on luck and a hidden system forever. I needed to get stronger.
As I watched the hunter disappear into the crowd, I tightened my grip on the dagger.
"Alright. Hunter Exam, here I come."