"The skill to cure all kinds of illnesses, diseases, curses—even physical defects and more," Van stated, his voice steady yet filled with a weight that seemed to hang in the air.
Instantly, Zald and Alfia fell into stunned silence, their minds racing to process the gravity of his statement. It took them several heartbeats before disbelief settled in, their eyes widening in astonishment. Alfia, who usually kept her eyes closed, felt a rush of emotions swirl within her.
"Van...? Did I hear that right? Are you saying you possess such a 'skill'...?" Zald's voice was barely a whisper, filled with a mix of hope and incredulity. He steadied himself with deep breaths, clenching his trembling fists, while Alfia's heart raced. She had long since accepted her fate, resigned to the idea of using her dwindling time to shape the future for her nephews and the generations to come. The notion that Van could cure her disease sent her thoughts spiraling into chaos.
Before she could fully grasp the implications, Alfia enveloped Van in a tight embrace, burying her face in his hair. "Thank you... Van," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.
---
*Sigh.*
Zald let out a heavy sigh, excitement flickering across his face after hearing Van's explanation about his skill. "That skill of yours... It's not something mortals should possess. Even its very name speaks of divinity."
*Sigh.*
Another sigh escaped him, one that seemed to echo the thoughts of chaos that danced at the edges of his mind. What kind of turmoil would arise in the mortal realm if word of Van's skill spread? He quickly dismissed the thought, shaking his head to refocus on the present. "Anyway, we'll discuss this further later. For now, let's proceed with the spar." His gaze sharpened as he regarded Van. "That skill is area of effect too, correct? This room is far too small."
"Agreed." Van nodded, gently tapping Alfia's pale hand a few times, feeling her reluctant grip around him. "You need to let me go."
Alfia huffed softly, clearly annoyed yet understanding. Though she cherished the moment, her earlier eagerness for a spar pushed them onward. With a reluctant sigh, she released him.
Zald opened the door, leading the way outside, with Alfia's hand still firmly in Van's. He didn't mind—he was accustomed to being doted upon by many girls and rather enjoyed it, as long as it didn't veer into uncomfortable territory.
---
15th Floor of the Dungeon...
Echoes of shouts and clashing metal reverberated through the 15th floor of the Dungeon, where one party of adventurers faced a dire challenge.
*UUUOOOOHHHHHHH!*
"Fuck!!!"
A Minotaur charged, its roar booming through the chamber, targeting a level 1 tank who, despite being in his thirties, found himself paralyzed by fear. Beside him, an injured level 2 swordsman, a female Elf mage, and a healer struggled to maintain composure. Except for the Elf mage, the rest are humans.
They were unprepared for the floor's dangers, their leader's recent level-up igniting a reckless confidence that led them to venture deeper into perilous territory. Ignoring their previous cautious approach, they had pushed themselves three floors beyond their limits, and now they were paying the price.
At the beginning, they managed to defeat the first Minotaur they encountered—but at the cause of their leader being injured and their mage and healer having spent their Mind with only a little bit left, low tier potions are all they have, but even that is not enough as the Dungeon sent another Minotaur, leaving them with no time to rest.
The tank was the only one capable of blocking the Minotaur's assault, hoping to buy time for the others to quench their panic and recover with potions. But he was only level 1, and the Minotaur was a formidable level 2 monster.
Predictably, disaster struck.
*BAM!*
"GHK...?!"
He was flung against the wall, the impact shaking the very ground beneath them.
"BOOM!"
"Arnold/Dirty Human/Arnold-san?!"
His companions shouted in unison, their faces painted with despair as they watched their leader struggle to rise. The healer rushed to his side, desperate to aid him despite having a low Mind left, and even knowing their stock of potions was limited and of poor quality. The Minotaur, relentless, fixed its gaze on the remaining trio, crouching low as it prepared to finish them off in a single brutal assault.
*UUOOOOOHHHHH!!!*
Time seemed to stretch as the beast charged, shadows of dread crawling over them. Then, in a blur of black, a figure streaked past, followed by a thunderous explosion as a powerful force collided with the wall, sending debris flying in all directions.
Followed by the black blur is a silver blur, and after a few seconds the next one came by.
A child, no older than ten, halted before them for a few seconds, then swiftly dropping eight vials of potions to the ground before dashing off.
Stunned, the three adventurers could only stare, their minds struggling to comprehend the scene. As the dust settled, the wall bore the imprint of the Minotaur, now incapacitated, a magic stone embedded within the rubble.
"Let's leave immediately." The leader's voice was a monotone whisper, a decision forged in desperation.
"...yes/agreed," the others echoed, moving in a daze as they drunk the portions and collected the magic stones and Arnold as they left behind.
---
Currently, we're light jogging as we headed to the 37th Floor Boss Room, with Zald and Alfia on the lead as this is my first time in the Dungeon.
We didn't use our full speed as there's a risk of accidently killing adventurers we passes by, and there's also no need for it as we can reach the 37th floor within just half an hour as Zald and Alfia knows a few shortcuts to reach there faster.
As of right now, I've leveled up 2 times in the Falna and 3 times in the System, making me level 3 in both Falna and in the System, as I started as Level 0 in the latter one and gained an increased in two ranks in all stats due to the Adam's skill and from the training.
Meaning, I have to readjust the Level Suppression on the recently upgraded Training Device wrapping my wrist and decrease my total power level by 8-9 times, but even with that, I'm still as strong as a Level 9-10 with S ranks in their base stats.
Though, fighting with a two Level 7 as strong as an S-ranked Level 8-9 make's this more than enough for a level up, as defeating them while being level 3 in Falna's will be a great feat that can give overwhelming amount of Excelias for a consecutive level ups.
Thoughts of about them flickered through his mind. They weren't in their prime, but they were still formidable, experienced fighters. He had to remain cautious, recognizing the balance of skill and power between them.
His wrist was adorned with a sleek, high-tech watch-like device, displaying smooth neo-blue numbers across the screen. He tapped a few settings, lowering his overall power level, grateful for the advanced technology that allowed him to train safely.
The Training Device was not merely a tool but a lifeline, a means to hone his skills amidst the Dungeon's dangers. Despite its risk-laden reputation, it had become a pivotal component of his training regimen, aiding not only him but the entire Artemis Familia in their rapid advancement over the past four years.
---
Four Years Ago...
Three weeks had passed since Van received his Falna. Now, he stood before a choice: to spend his hard-earned money on the Weekly Gacha or save for the Monthly and Yearly versions.
Gacha had proven addictive, especially after winning two unexpected prizes. Resolute, he told himself this would be the last time—only one last chance to snag something exceptional.
*Ding!*
[CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE RECEIVED A D-RANK PACKAGE!]
[WOULD YOU LIKE TO OPEN IT NOW?]
[YES/NO]
His heart raced with anticipation. After receiving useful items in F and E ranks, he could hardly contain his excitement at the prospect of a D-rank reward.
"Yes!" he shouted internally.
With a click, the image of a blue package shimmered on the screen before erupting in a dazzling display of light and confetti.
[CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE GAINED THE NEOSTRAIN MK-I!]
[NEOSTRAIN MK-I]
[Description:
A cutting-edge training device, that looks sleek, wide, high-tech smart watch-looking with a polished black finish. It features a smooth, customizable touch screen displaying neo-blue numbers and indicators that adjust according to training mode and intensity level.
Engineered to enhance body, mind, and spirit, this device employs advanced internal stimuli, pushing users to their limits across physical, mental, and magical domains. Despite its formidable capabilities, this Rank D device is devoid of safety measures, posing significant risks to its user. Ideal for adventurers seeking to transcend their limits, the NeoStrain MK-I offers progressive, multi-dimensional training for those prepared to face its intense challenges.]
[Type: Advanced Training Device]
[Rank: D]
[Training Modes:
1. **Internal Shock Therapy:**
Delivers controlled electric pulses within the body, stimulating muscles and nerves to improve endurance, pain tolerance, and build **Electrical Resistance** over repeated sessions. Effect strength increases with each level.
2. **Core Fire Burn:**
Simulates intense heat within the user's core, training resistance to high temperatures and improving physical and mental stamina. This feature gradually builds **Heat Resistance** over time.
3. **Cold Shroud:**
Activates a freezing effect, specifically cooling muscles and joints. This condition trains resilience to extreme cold and builds **Cold Resistance**, while enhancing mental clarity under duress.
4. **Weighted Endurance Simulation:**
Increases the user's gravitational pull or adds weighted pressure to muscle groups, enhancing physical strength, endurance, or durability.
5. **Mana Circulation Strain:**
Forces users to circulate their Mind energy in a focused, continuous loop, enhancing magic control and reinforcing mind-muscle connections. This effect exhausts Mind, gradually boosting **Magic stats** and mana regeneration rate over time.
6. **Vital Essence Drain:**
Reduces internal energy reserves to train recovery speed. This state mimics energy depletion in a controlled environment, training the user to perform well under low energy and boosting **Stamina**.
7. **Focus and Cognitive Strain:**
Stimulates a continuous feedback loop that challenges focus, training mental resilience and building **Mental Resistance** to distraction and illusion effects.
8. **Spiritual Flux:**
Simulates an internal vibration to stimulate the spirit, enhancing meditation and spiritual resilience. This feature boosts the connection with one's own mana source, training the spirit and aiding in resisting **spiritual fatigue**.]
[Training Levels: 1-10
Each level corresponds to adventurer ranks, where Level 1 training equates to conditions for Level 1 adventurers, and so on, with Level 10 offering near-overwhelming challenges.]
[Additional Training Effects:
- Allows users to build resistances in various areas such as *Thermal Resistance*, *Electric Shock Resistance*, *Pain Resistance*, and more through continued exposure to diverse training effects.
- *Mind Conditioning*: Fortifies mental resilience, enhancing magical resistance and durability.]
[ Limitations:
- Functions only for those with active Mind or Mana reserves.
- No safety protocols exist within the device, posing an immediate danger at high training levels. ]
[Risk Warnings:
- *Death Risk*: This device can push users into life-threatening conditions at advanced levels if used without extreme caution.
- *Adjust Levels Carefully*: Beginners should increase training intensity gradually; high levels can easily result in irreparable physical and mental damage. ]
[WARNING: The NeoStrain MK-I has a risk of injury due to lack of safety measures. Users are advised to exercise extreme caution when training with the device.]
---
What...? This is only D-rank? Oh...? I see, the limitation is the user's mana, this is practically useless towards those who have nothing in MAG stats, at the same time this thing can also increase the MAG stats of those who have it due to the continuous use of Mind.
Fortunately, there's a thousand of this thing, so the majority of my Familia can use this, though, if only I can have a skill to upgrade this and remove the limitation or create something like a Mana Battery then the other's who have Zero Magic stats can also use this.
"Electrify...? internal burning and freezing, and many more to gain and strengthen resistances towards it...? Even an increase weight...? Is this really for training and not a torture device?"
Van couldn't help but become skeptical as he muttered those words along with a a bead of sweats forming at his face making him gulp as he continued to read all of it.
---Half an Hour Later---
"Van...? Are you sure this is a training device and not a torture device."
Artemis asked Van with a troubled face while holding the training device.
"...yes? I think...? No, I'm sure of it. Probably?"
Currently, they are inside the main tent, Van along with a burn marks on his body could be seen in seiza while Naomi is at his side healing him. Due to his foolishness of trying all the training methods all at once and forgetting to adjust it's level properly, his body got almost destroyed and turned into a frozen charred mince meat, it is only thanks to his abnormal regeneration and quick thinking that he didn't die, but some injuries inside his body are still getting healed and Naomi is healing the one's left on the outside.
After that, he got scolded again.
"Anyway, this thing is very useful for us and I have a thousand of it." Van said with a smile while.
"No way I'm using that thing." Naomi immediately refused while removing Van's clothes to check the burn marks.
"Well, it's not like he's wrong, as this thing is indeed useful for us." While Artemis agreed that the device is indeed useful, even still, she couldn't help but have a skeptical look, but considering the bleak future, she can only agree.
Seeing her still in doubt even if she agreed, Van quickly put a warm smile.
"Artemis-sama, if your worried about something, then don't be, as this thing also boost the natural regeneration by 10 times and there won't even be a scars! This is perfect for everyone women who cares about their skin! It's simply amazing!
And not only was it amazing, this is also the perfect tool for us right now, considering we don't even have time to go to the dungeon, this is simply heaven's sent! And at a perfect timing at that! Clearly, we can't just let this chance pass by! So, Artemis-sama! Please, help me convince all of them!"
Artemis couldn't help but be taken aback due to the way he's speaking—like an opportunistic businessman preaching his best product.
Though, it's not like she can refuse either way or rather she won't even refuse even if he tried to convince her as she is already planning to use it to her girls.
So her next word is as expected...
"Okay." Artemis said with a determined voice, ignoring Naomi who have a blank look at her face as she looks at her—a clear hint of disagreement can be felt radiating from her.
---
A/N: I may or may not have made an errors due to me being too sleepy right now, so please do comment if you found some.