According to the [Heaven System]-related lore, other worlds were proven to exist, and dimensional rifts were also proven to be gates to these distant worlds.
Because of this, humanity's viewpoint was completely reshaped, heralding a new era of academics at the expense of abandoning the old.
Naturally, it's just human nature to adapt to every situation… No matter how bizarre they could get.
With this in mind, the ultimate question about what was on the other end of a rift was – 'Is this world still alive?'
Or was this merely the remnants of the destroyed world conjured by the mysterious Heaven System?
Or perhaps a fake world created for the sake of the Awakeners' growth?
However, in around the decade since the arrival of the Era of Heaven, there was no such thing as a revitalized world on the other side of any dungeon—only rampaging monstrosities aiming to seek the ruination of the living.
Even though nothing seemed different… that whatever manifested in front of Lucian's Gehenna's Bosom would aim for the same ruination, he couldn't be certain if the inhabitants on the other side were of the same kind… mere mindless monsters.
Or something completely different and ominous.
It was also the first time, since there was no such record of it yet in humanity's Heaven Era history, that a dungeon break—or the phenomenon where the monsters within the dungeon would break out and invade whatever was on the other side, which in this case his and the souls' home—would occur within a just few minutes from the moment of its manifestation.
I really am crazy… There's no way this is the right choice… But it's not like I have better options either.
Standing some distance away in front of the golden-black-hued pulsating rift, as if both divine and corruption were mixed, unlike water and oil, Lucian involuntarily gulped.
Even though his [Cold-blooded] trait regularly activated itself to regulate his mental state, it seemed tension and fear just pulled themselves together to tightly embrace him.
Lucian's solution—entering the dungeon for a preemptive strike!
It was the only thing that he could think of for the sake of the souls; he wanted whatever was behind this dungeon gate to not see one or two souls inhabiting this mountain range.
It was utterly reckless.
It was outright foolish… just like how the [Stigma: Damnation] described one of the two things that could possibly 'kill' him.
Aside from that, there was still something Lucian had to check.
Let's see what this is about…
Among the various and generous rewards, which he barely had time to inspect because of the sudden circumstances, one thing particularly caught Lucian's attention.
[ Death Wheel ]
Description: [ Because of the abolishment of the Daily Quest, among other rewards, you have been granted the wheel of death now attached to your existence. It is a sovereign artifact meticulously crafted by the sole Remnant of Damnation that will greatly aid you, the Eternal Necromancer, in strengthening your lone sanctuary. ]
[ You can spin the Death Wheel once every thirty (30) days. ]
[ In some instances, Spin Instance will be granted to you as a reward upon the completion of abrupt quests. ]
[ Would you like to spin the Death Wheel? ]
As the clock was ticking towards dungeon break, with the unique system bestowed on him offering what seemed to be his need as of this moment, Lucian responded in his mind.
Yes… Let's see it!
[ Ding! ]
[ Choose the Reward Category. ]
Even though the sudden prompt was unexpected, Lucian had no time to ponder as he quickly scanned what was presented in front of him.
[ Death Wheel Reward Category ]
[1] Gehenna's Bosom
[2] Gehenna's Bosom's Inhabitants
[3] Awakener's Status
[4] Divine Artifact
[5] Eternal-Class Necromancer (Locked)
[6] Sovereign Artifact (Locked)
[7] ??? (Locked)
Before Lucian could even query about their somewhat vagueness, the [ Cosmic Fall System ] already provided him the answers.
[1] Gehenna's Bosom
Description: [ The rewards upon spinning the Death Wheel will always be about the general foundation of the to-be holy sanctuary. ]
[2] Gehenna's Bosom Inhabitants
Description: [ The rewards upon spinning the Death Wheel will always be about the benefit of its inhabiting souls. ]
...
Excluding those [Locked] categories for some reason, after reading everything, Lucian finally chose what seemed necessary to face what was in front of him... and to protect what was behind him.
[ Ding! ]
[ You have chosen Gehenna's Bosom as the Death Wheel Reward Category! ]
[ Spinning the Death Wheel... ]
At that moment, a crack of void materialized in front of him, overlapping with the massive dungeon gate.
What followed was the quick manifestation of a hovering dark green wheel emanating the aura of death, and on this ominous artifact that seemed something astral in nature, various symbols Lucian couldn't comprehend were engraved.
Atop it, a skull-shaped misty green arrowhead was attached, determining the direction that would be considered as the final reward upon spinning.
In the next moment, the Death Wheel began spinning at a normal pace, quite similar to gambling-related wheels.
Click, clack.
[ Spinning the Death Wheel... ]
I don't know what these symbols mean, but please, be something helpful in our current predicament!
Lucian took a deep breath.
After a few seconds...
Just as the wheel of death gradually slowed down...
[ Ding! ]
The reward was then finalized.
Seeing what he received... Or won, Lucian couldn't help but blink twice in confusion.
As well as exhilaration!
Holy shit!
***
[ Time until dungeon break: 2 minutes, x seconds. ]
After trusting the matter to Kim Sana and receiving something that at least provided him a sense of security for the souls, Lucian was about to step into the dimensional rift...
"...Are you looking for ways to die?"
A familiar dull voice echoed beside him.
Instinctively looking at the source of the voice, Lucian raised his brow, seeing the woman that looked like in her early twenties, whose eyes were dark purple, with pink pupils emanating coldness—all of which were characteristics that made her look an absolute beauty compared to other women in the same age bracket.
"What the... How are you here?"
It was the Witch of Dream's obsessive self—or the inhumane part of her.
"Does it matter? But are you really trying to die? This isn't your normal dungeon."
"...No, I'm not. But really, how the hell are you here? Did you follow me, by any chance?"
Lucian's mind raced, unable to sense her arrival.
"...If you die on me, then you'll die a liar. I can't befriend a dead person, can I? Moreover... This!"
The avatar of the Witch of Dreams suddenly pulled something out of nowhere, a white paper of sorts, and flashed it in front of Lucian's face.
"H-huh...? H-hey!"
"...I admitted both of us to the Divine Sky Academy. That way, you can teach me how to interact with others, making them friends—it's the first step to learning how to be human, right?"
What the hell is wrong with this girl?! I mean, I know she's not normal, but...!
Because of the abrupt situation, Lucian briefly forgot...
[ Ding! ]
[ Time until dungeon break: 3 seconds... ]