Alonso is now on the second floor of the dungeon, the layout almost identical to the first. As he strides forward, his foot suddenly triggers a hidden trap. Before he can react, a giant boulder crashes down from the ceiling, hurtling toward him with alarming speed.
However, Alonso remains calm, his sharp reflexes kicking in. With one hand raised effortlessly, he catches the massive boulder just inches from his head. The weight of the boulder, meant to crush him, is perfectly balanced in the palm of his hand, as though it were a mere pebble. For a moment, he stands still, his arm raised high, displaying his immense physical power. His eyes scan ahead, and he notices several metal spiders crawling toward him from the darkened corners.
With a swift motion, Alonso hurls the boulder forward. The stone projectile spins through the air, colliding with the group of spiders and smashing into them with devastating force. The impact is immediate—metallic limbs and shattered spider parts scatter across the floor as the boulder rolls over them, obliterating their mechanical forms in one fell swoop.
Alonso sweeps past each floor with the same incredible speed, moving like a blur as he easily overcomes the enemies presented to him. By the time he reaches the tenth floor, he muses to himself, "This dungeon lacks any true challenge... I've barely had to rely on magic—my strength alone suffices."
Throughout the earlier floors, Alonso faced a series of monotonous foes: metallic spiders skittering across the ground, their gleaming exoskeletons reflecting the dim light of the dungeon; giant rats, their eyes glowing menacingly, darting out from the shadows with sharp fangs bared; and android-like creatures, their sleek forms armed with plasma guns that buzzed ominously as they aimed at him.
On the ninth floor, he confronted a colossal robotic worm, its metallic body glistening with oil and grime, burrowing through the ground with alarming speed. As it emerged, its mechanical jaws gaped wide, ready to swallow him whole. But Alonso stood firm, a calm smile on his lips.
With a swift movement, he delivered a powerful punch to the worm's head, his fist connecting with a resounding crack. The impact sent the creature hurtling through the ceiling, where it erupted in a shower of sparks and metal shards, leaving behind only a smoking crater.
Now on the tenth floor, Alonso stood before the colossal boss—a mechanical bear towering at a staggering fifteen feet. Its menacing presence was accentuated by two imposing rocket launchers mounted on its back and eyes glinting ominously behind oversized LED sunglasses. Sparks flickered from its joints, revealing the intricate circuitry whirring beneath its metallic skin, and the low growl emanating from its throat reverberated like thunder in the chamber.
Yet, Alonso remained unfazed. He took a step forward, his expression calm and collected. With a bored sigh, he raised his hand, summoning a Grand Fireball. The air crackled around him as the fiery orb coalesced, swelling with intense energy that illuminated the room with a fierce glow. Flames licked at the air, dancing wildly as if eager to escape their master.
With a flick of his wrist, Alonso unleashed the fireball. It shot forth like a comet, trailing sparks and embers as it hurtled toward the mechanical bear.
The impact was cataclysmic. The fireball collided with the bear, erupting in a blinding explosion that filled the chamber with an inferno of flames and smoke. The force of the blast sent shockwaves rippling through the air, shaking the very foundations of the dungeon. When the smoke began to dissipate, the once-mighty mechanical bear had been utterly annihilated, reduced to a mere scattering of bolts and twisted metal—a testament to Alonso's sheer power and dominance.
"Pathetic," he muttered, shaking his head in disappointment. He had hoped for a challenge worthy of his skills but was met once again with insignificance. The remnants of the mechanical beast lay scattered, a mockery of the grandeur it once held.
As the echoes of the explosion faded into silence, Alonso scanned the room, anticipating the customary reward for his victory—a treasure chest or an illuminated door leading to the treasury. However, the chamber remained still and silent, the path forward obscured from view, as if the dungeon itself had lost interest in him.
Unfazed, Alonso's expression shifted from boredom to intrigue. He stepped further into the room, analyzing the walls for hidden mechanisms or clues.
That's when he notices a small panel embedded in the wall, a bear-shaped logo engraved on its surface. Upon closer inspection, Alonso recognizes the panel—it's a scanner, the same kind used in his old world for security systems like fingerprint or retinal scans.
Understanding what needs to be done, Alonso looks down at the debris of the mechanical bear. Among the scattered parts, he picks up one of its metallic eyes. Holding it up to the scanner, he watches as a blue beam of light shoots out and begins to analyze the eyeball.
With a satisfying click, a hidden wall in the room starts to lift, revealing a staircase that leads to the 11th floor.
Alonso's lips curled into a knowing smirk as understanding dawned upon him. "Ah, it is clear now," he mused internally. "The adventurers before me, with their minds steeped in magic, would scarcely comprehend the marvels of technology such as this. To them, the workings of a scanner would be as foreign as the stars in a distant sky. No wonder they failed in their quest."
Alonso strides confidently into the wide, empty room, where the air feels heavy with an almost sacred silence. At the center of the chamber sits a figure—her presence radiates an alluring aura."
before Alonso is a vision of celestial grace—a goddess whose very essence embodies balance and harmony. Her beauty is mesmerizing, not only in her physical appearance but in the subtle, humble way it manifests. There is a quiet charm about her that draws you in, an otherworldly warmth that wraps around the soul.
Her face is the epitome of serenity, framed by long, silken hair that cascades down like moonlight, shimmering with an ethereal glow. Each strand catches the light differently, creating a soft halo around her. Her eyes, a deep, vibrant shade of aquamarine, reflect millennia of knowledge and understanding, filled with both compassion and discernment. When she gazes at Alonso, it feels as though the weight of the cosmos is at her command—justice and mercy effortlessly balanced in her regard.
The goddess is adorned in flowing robes of white and silver, designed with elegant simplicity that reflects her humility. The fabric ripples like water, catching the light in ways that make it appear almost alive, draping gracefully over her figure. Around her waist, a delicate golden sash is tied, symbolizing balance and harmony, with scales intricately embroidered into the fabric—representing the very essence of Libra.
The robes themselves appear weightless, glowing faintly with the same soft radiance that emanates from her skin. At her chest, a pendant shaped like scales hangs—a symbol of justice, poised in perfect symmetry, shimmering with a golden light.
Her arms are bare, revealing her strong yet delicate frame, each movement she makes is purposeful and fluid, as though the very air bends to her will. On her wrists, golden bracelets adorn her, finely crafted with intricate patterns resembling constellations, linking her to the heavens.
In her hand, she holds a sleek, tablet-like device—modern in its design, yet seamlessly blending with her divine aura. As her gaze meets Alonso's, a bemused smile graces her lips. It is clear she has been observing him, her expression filled with curiosity and amusement at his approach."
"Ah, at last, the 'greatest scientist of all time' deigns to grace us with his presence," she intones, her voice melodious yet laced with playful mockery. A soft, ethereal laugh escapes her lips, reverberating like the gentle chime of distant bells. "I crafted this dungeon to be so simple that even a mere D-rank adventurer could have triumphed. Pray tell, what delayed you so?"
Alonso's steps falter for the first time since entering the dungeon, his heart racing and thoughts swirling like a tempest. He's never encountered a being like this; instinctively, he knows she is no ordinary woman. The air crackles with an aura so profound and divine that it leaves him breathless, a sensation unlike anything he has ever felt.
Thoughts flash through his mind like bolts of lightning: Could this be the goddess Cheng spoke of in his dreams—the one who guided him to this very dungeon? The realization crashes over him like a tidal wave, sending a shiver coursing down his spine. For a man who has prided himself on rationality, standing before a divine entity is both awe-inspiring and deeply unsettling. He struggles to articulate his thoughts, his usually sharp intellect momentarily dulled by the overwhelming presence before him.
Before he can gather his wits, she interrupts, her voice imbued with amusement and an echoing grandeur. "I am Libra, also known as Euphemia, the Goddess of Balance," she proclaims, her words resonating in the very air around them, a powerful cadence that commands attention. "I am one of the five supreme deities, the keeper of equilibrium in this chaotic world."
Alonso feels the weight of her presence bear down upon him, his mind racing to catch up with the reality of the moment. The sheer magnitude of her essence makes it difficult to think clearly; he feels small and insignificant yet strangely honored to be in her presence. The balance of the universe, he realizes, is embodied in her, and he is standing on the precipice of something monumental.
"I am Libra, one of the five supreme deities who govern this realm," she declares, her voice resonating with celestial authority. "I am the very force that summoned you into this dimension. Consider yourself fortunate to stand in my presence."
Libra chuckles, the sound echoing with a motherly warmth, her eyes gleaming with an ethereal brilliance. "I sense your mind is aflame with questions, as it often is with mortals. Yet time is fleeting. You, a learned scholar, should grasp the magnitude of my existence. My power is such that I could unmake this world if I so desired, simply by manifesting fully here. But fret not," she adds, her tone gentle but firm. "This is but a projection of my true self. This dimension can barely sustain my essence, allowing me to appear here only within the confines of this dungeon—and even that has its limits."
Alonso steadies himself, the weight of her words settling over him like a heavy cloak. In the midst of this cosmic revelation, he finds a flicker of his usual confidence returning. She truly does speak at length, doesn't she?
Libra's smile broadens, and her voice takes on a teasing lilt. "You do realize I can read your thoughts, don't you? Are you truly lamenting my discourse? I am merely providing you with the answers you seek, for I know what you wish to inquire about. However, your unspoken disrespect has compelled me to limit our conversation to three questions only."
With an elegant wave of her hand, she shifts her focus back to the matter at hand. "Now, let us proceed. You shall have your answers, but remember—there are limits to your curiosity."
As she swipes a finger across a luminous device at her side, the room transforms before Alonso's eyes. The once-gray walls dissolve into an infinite expanse of radiant white light, engulfing him in a divine ambiance that both dazzles and humbles him. The world around them seems to bow to her presence, and Alonso can't help but feel the overwhelming weight of her authority, tempered by an underlying gentleness that commands reverence.
Before Alonso's eyes, a stunning holographic projection materializes, revealing the once-great nation of Vardosia in all its former glory. Towering cities, adorned with gleaming spires and intricate designs, rise majestically against the horizon. But as the scene unfolds, the grandeur of Vardosia gives way to a haunting tableau of destruction.
The hologram flickers, showcasing sweeping views of colossal structures, their walls crumbling and facades shattered, remnants of an advanced civilization that had harnessed technology far beyond the ordinary. Magnificent airships once floated gracefully above, now lying in twisted heaps, their metallic bodies tarnished and broken. Streets that once thrived with life now lay barren, filled with the echoes of a bustling society reduced to silence.
Alonso watches in awe, his heart racing with an insatiable curiosity. The holographic scene of Vardosia's ruins captivates him, drawing him deeper into the narrative of a civilization lost to time.
Libra continues, her voice smooth yet resonant, echoing like a melody of the cosmos. "This is the nation known as Vardosia, a place whose advancements surpassed even those of your Earth. Their knowledge was a beacon of enlightenment, illuminating the path to progress. Yet, amidst their brilliance, a civil war erupted, consuming them and leaving behind only echoes of their former glory—ruins and forgotten wisdom."
Alonso listens intently, the initial shock of the devastation giving way to profound admiration. Libra's words weave a tapestry of history, each thread imbued with the weight of existence itself. Her presence commands respect, an embodiment of authority tempered with a gentle grace.
"They were obliterated," she continues, her eyes momentarily flashing with a tempest of emotion. "Balance was forsaken. They grew intoxicated with power, indulging in their technological marvels until chaos reigned. Now, magic runs rampant in this realm—an oppressive force for the weak, wielded as a weapon by the powerful."
With a sudden surge of confidence, Alonso steps forward, his intrigue overriding any lingering trepidation. "And you summoned me here to rectify that?" he asks, his voice steady yet laced with anticipation.
Libra offers a serene, knowing smile, her gaze unwavering. "Balance must be restored, dear Alonso. Magic needs a counterbalance—a force to challenge its overwhelming might. That force is science, and you are the one destined to revive it. You, with your extensive knowledge, will be the architect of Vardosia's rebirth."
Alonso absorbs her words, the cogs of his mind turning rapidly as he contemplates the gravity of her assertion. The cynical edges of his nature begin to soften, replaced by a burgeoning sense of purpose. "What do you mean by balance?" he asks, the question emerging from his curiosity.
Libra's eyes twinkle with mischief, and her smile widens, conveying both amusement and wisdom. "Ah, second question spent," she replies playfully. The teasing tone masks a deeper lesson—a reminder that she operates on a celestial plane, one that even his sharp intellect struggles to comprehend.
Alonso frowns, feeling momentarily outmaneuvered, but Libra remains unfazed. "The equilibrium of this world has tilted excessively towards magic, stifling innovation and thought. True progress has stagnated. You, Alonso, must restore that balance by reintroducing science—an ancient craft this world has long forsaken."
As Libra speaks, the holographic images shift dramatically, revealing expansive libraries brimming with ancient tomes, technological marvels illuminating the screen, and visions of a world strikingly similar to his own—a world teeming with potential. The air around them crackles with energy, and as Libra rises from her chair, her form is bathed in a luminous glow, radiating an ethereal light that amplifies her divine presence.
"Your role is paramount, Alonso," she proclaims, her voice resonating like a sacred hymn. "You are not merely a participant in this world's intricate tapestry; you are its architect, its reset."
The weight of her words presses down on him, heavy yet invigorating. Alonso's heart races as he grapples with the enormity of the responsibility that has been thrust upon him.