The creature steps into the light, its eyes glowing a sickly green. Its skin is mottled with patches of decay, and its movements are jerky, like it's fighting against its own body. It snarls, revealing rows of jagged teeth, and I feel my heart rate spike.
Level 8 Sewer Dweller
HP: 350/350
Weakness: Fire, Poison
Strength: 40
Agility: 18
I take a deep breath and activate the Observe skill again, looking for any other weaknesses or advantages.
The creature's HP is high, but its agility seems low compared to its strength. The glowing artifact nearby catches my attention, and I wonder if it's part of the dungeon's challenge. There's no time to waste thinking about it now—I need to deal with this thing before it turns me into rat food.
I grip my makeshift weapon, a crowbar I found earlier, and get into a stance. I can feel my muscles tensing, the adrenaline flooding my system, sharpening my senses. The Strength boost from my last few level-ups should give me the edge I need, but I can't let my guard down.
The creature lunges, claws slashing through the air, and I barely manage to sidestep in time. Its claws scrape the stone floor with a screech that makes my skin crawl. I counter with a swift swing of the crowbar, aiming for its side.
+18 Damage
The blow lands, but it's not enough. The creature howls in fury and swipes again, catching my shoulder. I stagger back, pain shooting through me.
-25 HP
Current HP: 175/200
The pain is sharp, but it's nothing I can't handle. I focus on my training, returning to my **Endurance** stat. I can take a hit if necessary, but I need to be smarter about this fight.
I notice a small pool of water in the corner of the room. It's shallow, but if I can lead the creature into it, I might use its sluggishness to my advantage.
"Come on," I mutter under my breath, "just a little closer…"
The creature charges again, and I sidestep, leading it toward the pool. As it follows, I dodge to the side, causing it to stumble into the water. The moment its claws touch the liquid, the creature lets out a screech of frustration, its movements slowing as the water seems to sap its energy.
Weakness Activated: Water Slows Movement
It's now or never. I rush forward, using my enhanced strength to slam the crowbar down onto the creature's skull. The impact reverberates through my body as the creature stumbles backward, stunned.
Critical Hit!
+55 Damage
Sewer Dweller has been defeated!
The creature lets out a final growl before collapsing into the water, its form dissolving into a pile of black goo. I stand over it, panting, my body sore from the fight.
**You have defeated Level 8 Sewer Dweller!
+200 Experience Points
+1 Strength
+1 Agility
+1 Luck
You have levelled up!
New Level: 7
Updated Stats:
- Strength: 39 (+1)
-Agility: 28 (+1)
- Intelligence: 15
- Endurance: 18
- Luck: 11 (+1)
I feel the familiar rush of levelling up, but there's no time to celebrate. I quickly turn to the glowing artifact in the center of the room. It's embedded in a stone pedestal, pulsing faintly with light.
I approach cautiously, unsure of what it might be, but I can't ignore the urge to check it out. As I touch it, the light intensifies, and I hear a faint voice in my head.
"You have unlocked the Key to the Sewer's Heart."
"A powerful relic that enhances your connection to dungeons."
"Increased stats when inside a dungeon."
That's it. This artifact is my reward. I feel a surge of energy as the Key to the Sewer's Heart integrates into my system.
You have obtained the key to the Sewer's Heart
Increases Dungeon Experience Gains by 20%
Increases Strength and Agility by 5% while inside dungeons.
My stats update immediately, and I can feel the difference in my body. The energy coursing through me feels stronger, and more focused.
With the battle over and the dungeon cleared, I take a moment to catch my breath. I'm getting stronger, and with each challenge, I'm learning more about what I'm capable of.
I take the key and head back towards the sewer grate, knowing that I've just uncovered the first of many challenges that await me. As I emerge into the daylight, I can't help but feel the weight of the world growing heavier with every step.
As I continue to process my first real challenge, a golden chest suddenly appears before me, glowing faintly in the dimly lit chamber. The creature, now circling me with its clawed hands, seems momentarily distracted by the shimmering light emanating from the chest. I quickly glance at the chest, my heart racing.
The creature lets out a low growl, its eyes never leaving me, but the chest is too tempting. With a swift movement, I step toward it, ignoring the creature for just a moment. The Gamer System's menu pops up:
[Golden Chest]
Contents:
- Basic Mana Manipulation Skill
- Mana Awakening Pill
-Enhanced Baseball Bat
The description makes my pulse quicken. I'm not sure how useful a baseball bat will be against the creature, but the idea of manipulating mana sounds incredible. My mind races, eager to see what this "Mana Awakening Pill" does.
I pick up the chest, feeling its weight, and open it. A faint, almost magical glow spills out from inside. I reach in and pull out the items one by one.
The first item I pull out is a small, glittering vial labelled *Mana Awakening Pill*. It's a shimmering purple liquid that seems to pulse gently in my hand. The second is a solid, metal baseball bat, sleek and seemingly forged for something much more than just a sports game. It looks like it could pack a punch.
Finally, a soft, blue light fills the air around me as the *Basic Mana Manipulation Skill appears on my screen:
Basic Mana Manipulation
Skill Level: 1
Allows you to sense and manipulate small amounts of mana, shaping it into simple constructs or using it to enhance physical abilities.
Mana Awakening Pill
Consumable Item
Restores 50 MP and enhances the user's ability to sense and control mana for a short period of time.
I can hardly believe my eyes. These could change everything. I quickly assess the situation around me— the creature is closing in. It's now or never.
The baseball bat feels heavy but solid in my hands. As I grip it tightly, I can already feel a surge of power coursing through me. The base of the bat hums with a faint energy that suggests it's more than just an ordinary weapon.
The creature's eyes narrow, and it lunges at me. I dodge to the side, using the agility I've been training to avoid its deadly claws. As I recover, I quickly consider my options. Using the bat is one thing, but I want to try something new. I pop the *Mana Awakening Pill* into my mouth, feeling its energy begin to stir within me.
Almost immediately, I feel a rush of power floods my senses. A faint glow of blue appears around my hands, and I can feel the air itself shift, responding to my will. It's a small amount of mana, but it's enough to give me a sense of control.
I focus, willing the mana to move and form a shield in front of me. The air crackles as a thin, translucent barrier of blue energy materializes, just in time to block the creature's strike.
The creature hisses in frustration as it bounces off the shield, giving me a precious moment to strike. I raise the enhanced bat, now shimmering with a faint light from the mana I've infused into it, and swing it hard at the creature's head.
It makes contact with a sickening *thud*, and the creature staggers back, clearly dazed.
The Basic Mana Manipulation skill has already started to manifest itself in small ways. I can feel the mana swirling around me, and the more I manipulate it, the easier it becomes to wield. The baseball bat is stronger now, glowing with enhanced power from both the bat itself and my new mana abilities.
The creature lets out an agonized screech, its movements sluggish from the blow. I can't waste this opportunity. I press forward, charging at the creature with the bat raised, ready to finish this fight.
As I stand there, the creature slowly crumples to the ground, and the strange golden chest before me glows faintly in the dim light. I can feel a new wave of energy pulsating through my body, like a force awakening deep within me, and a quiet but unmistakable sense of growth settles in.
Level 8.
It's the first time I've hit a significant milestone since all of this started. The weight of the battle, the adrenaline still coursing through my veins, seems to fade away just as the chest before me clicks open. Inside, I find two items that immediately catch my eye.
The first is a small, glowing pill — *Mana Awakening Pill*. I recognize it immediately from the description I've seen in other worlds: it's a key item for increasing mana reserves and improving one's ability to harness and control magical power. The second is a weapon — *Enhanced Baseball Bat*.
The bat has an aura of power around it, and as I take it into my hands, it feels heavier than before but more balanced. It's a solid, well-made weapon, clearly designed for someone who needs a reliable tool to channel both strength and precision.
But then, something else happens. As I hold the bat, my vision blurs slightly, and suddenly, my body feels light, like it's floating in the air, disconnected from the ground. The bat almost seems to become an extension of me, a part of my very being. That's when I hear it — the subtle hum of power resonating from the bat, paired with a sudden burst of knowledge.
*Jujutsu Combat Skill* unlocked.
The skill, which had been swirling at the edges of my consciousness, now clicks into place. It's not just a simple combat style. It's a full system of movement, tactics, and fluidity, designed to let me use my opponent's force against them. No more swinging blindly, no more relying only on strength. With Jujutsu, I become the strike, the throw, the lock, the counter.
[Jujutsu Combat Skill]
Skill Level: 8
Jujutsu is a martial art that uses an opponent's own momentum and force against them. At Level 8, you gain heightened reflexes, increased agility, and an enhanced ability to anticipate attacks. Your throws, counters, and grapples become deadly as you exploit openings with ease.
The words flash across my vision like a notification, but I barely need to read them to understand the depth of this ability. My body tingles, instinctively preparing to react before my mind even processes the next move. I flex my fingers around the bat's grip, feeling the change. I feel… different.
I look down at my hands, still holding the bat, but now there's an undeniable presence in my movements. It's as if my body knows what to do, even before I consciously think about it. I could feel the pull of the enemy's weight as if I could easily twist and throw them with the bat, or even without it.
I glance over at the creature that I just defeated. Its body still twitches in the final throes of death. A moment ago, I was reacting out of raw instinct, using the bat to smash and pound, but now... I could do more.
I close my eyes for a moment, remembering the technique. My breath slows, and in the back of my mind, I replay the battle — the way I'd used brute strength to take down the creature, the way my body had been desperate and aggressive. But now... now, the fight is more than just strength.
I grip the bat tighter, stepping forward, feeling the tension in my legs. My movements become more deliberate, each one fluid, each one calculated. I take a step toward an imaginary opponent, testing my newfound abilities. A simple dodge, followed by a smooth pivot — the bat swinging as an extension of my body.
I realize that this new skill, this refined awareness of movement, has already changed me.
With Level 8 in Jujutsu, I'm not just an adventurer anymore. I'm something more— a fighter with discipline, precision, and control. With every level, I'm becoming a true master of combat, and the world around me feels like it's opening up, revealing the hidden patterns and movements of everything I've faced so far.
And with that, the chest before me, now fully emptied, has given me more than just powerful items. It's given me a path forward— a way to fight not just harder, but smarter.