After defeating the orc, Elias had hoped for a card drop, but as the shimmering mist faded completely, there was nothing left but the eerie silence of the dungeon. No card, no rare items—just the memory of the brutal fight. He exhaled, half disappointed, half relieved. The truth was, he already knew that the chance of getting a card, even from a dungeon boss, was incredibly low—especially in a low-rank dungeon like this.
But if there was one thing Elias understood from his old life, it was the power of repetition. The Omni-Savant card was a gift unlike any other, and to fully take advantage of it, he needed to grind, to push his skills beyond the limits of ordinary growth. And so, instead of heading back to the village to rest, Elias stayed. The dungeon would reset after a short time, and he was determined to make the most of it.
Fast Forward: Six Dungeon Runs Later
Over the course of six more dungeon runs, Elias honed his abilities. Each battle was an opportunity to improve, the Omni-Savant card guiding him, accelerating his learning curve with every encounter. By the third run, the goblins on the first two floors posed no significant threat. He cleared them efficiently, his movements fluid and precise. Each strike was faster, each dodge smoother. The orc, once a fearsome challenge, became a calculated exercise in tactics.
Notification:
Swordsmanship Lv16 ➔ Lv19
Spearmanship Lv13 ➔ Lv15
Combat Reflexes Lv2 ➔ Lv4
Tactics Lv2 ➔ Lv3
Endurance Lv7 ➔ Lv9
Body Coordination Lv2 ➔ Lv4
Combat Awareness Lv1 ➔ Lv3
Stealth Lv1 ➔ Lv2
Skills Gained:
Dodging Lv1
Quick Strike Lv1
Elias' final run through the dungeon was his best yet. The goblins barely had time to react as his sword cut through them with swift precision. On the second floor, the three goblins tried to coordinate their attack, but his growing Combat Awareness skill allowed him to anticipate their movements. He used his spear to parry one goblin's strike while simultaneously dodging another's wild swing. With a well-placed thrust, he dispatched the first goblin, then swung the spear in a wide arc to knock the remaining two off balance before finishing them off.
When he reached the third floor again, the orc was waiting as always. This time, Elias moved with purpose. The massive axe swung toward him, but he was quicker, slipping under the blow with practiced ease. His Dodging skill had grown, making him more agile than before. The spear found its mark again and again, each thrust carefully aimed to weaken the orc's defenses. When he finally landed the finishing blow, it felt almost anticlimactic. The orc fell without ceremony, collapsing to the ground in a heap.
No card dropped this time either, but Elias didn't mind. His purpose had been to grow, and grow he did.
Name: Elias
Age: 14 years, 5 months
Traits: Strong Soul
Deck Type: Absolute
Core Card: Omni-Savant
Common Skills:
Swordsmanship Lv19
Spearmanship Lv15
Combat Reflexes Lv4
Combat Awareness Lv3
Endurance Lv9
Body Coordination Lv4
Uncommon Skills:
Tactics Lv3
Stealth Lv2
Dodging Lv1
Quick Strike Lv1
Rare Skills:
Mental Resilience Lv2
Elias stood over the vanquished orc once more, wiping the sweat from his brow. He hadn't gained a card, but the level of his skills had skyrocketed, and he could feel how much faster, sharper, and stronger he had become. His body responded to his commands with precision and grace that was almost unnatural.
The Omni-Savant card had done its work. Six dungeon runs, and he had come out stronger each time. The village was still small, with limited opportunities, but Elias was no longer limited by what he could learn. With a final glance at the orc's remains, he turned and made his way out of the dungeon.
Elias glanced up at the sky, noting that the sun still lingered, though it was well past noon. His stomach grumbled in protest, reminding him he hadn't eaten, and the pangs of hunger were getting stronger. He had no food left in his hut, so the next step was clear—head to the mission hall and collect his reward.
The 10 copper coins for clearing the goblin dungeon weren't much, but they were enough to keep him going for now. In comparison to some of the bigger tasks available, it was modest, yet reliable. Other adventurers or mercenaries with more experience and skill could venture deep into the forest, hunting rare beasts or gathering valuable herbs for alchemists. Though such tasks could take days and might yield nothing, one successful haul could pay more than several dungeon runs combined. Elias wasn't at that level—yet.
Arriving at the mission hall, Elias was greeted by Robard, the silver-ranked caretaker of the place. The process was straightforward. Elias placed his hand on the truth orb, confirming that he had indeed cleared the dungeon. The orb glowed faintly, and with that, Robard handed over the 10 copper coins with a small nod.
"Good work, kid," Robard said, though the man's voice was more gruff than congratulatory. Elias pocketed the coins and made his way out, nodding back with a simple thanks.
His next stop was the nearby bakery. The smell of fresh bread hit him the moment he entered, warm and inviting. He bought a couple of loaves for a few bronze coins, simple but enough to satisfy his hunger. As he made his way home, his mind wandered to the meals he used to eat back on Earth—more variety, more flavor. The old Elias had mostly subsisted on basic foods like bread and soup, stretching his limited resources as much as possible.
When he got back to his hut, Elias quickly made a simple soup, using the same recipe the old Elias had lived on for years. It was basic—just some vegetables and broth—but it was warm and filling. He ate in silence, the bread and soup doing enough to quiet his hunger but leaving him thinking about the need to improve his diet.
"I'll need more than this to get stronger," Elias muttered to himself, recalling the kinds of nutrient-dense meals he'd read about in novels, where heroes trained hard and ate well to fuel their growth. But for today, his body was sore from repeated dives into the dungeon, his muscles aching from the strain.
The thoughts of new skills and strategies could wait. He had a few ideas—skills from those same novels that he could try to mimic, maybe even gain with his Omni-Savant ability. But for now, what he needed most was rest. After tidying up, Elias lay down on the makeshift bed in his hut, the weight of the day's battles pulling him into sleep almost immediately.
The next morning, Elias woke up before the sun fully rose, his internal body clock still in perfect sync after years of self-discipline. The soreness from yesterday's dungeon runs had eased, though a dull ache still lingered in his muscles. He stretched his arms wide, shaking off the last remnants of sleep. Today was different—he had plans, and they required preparation.
He needed training equipment, but with his limited resources, buying anything from the village wasn't an option. Iron weights or tools were far too expensive for his current budget. Instead, he'd have to rely on the natural materials available to him—wood and stone.
The morning passed quickly as Elias scoured the forest for supplies. He found heavy rocks that could serve as makeshift weights and chopped down a few sturdy branches from the older trees, their wood solid and dense. After gathering enough materials, Elias sat in front of his hut, binding multiple rocks together with a thick rope, fastening them to either end of a sturdy wooden stick he had carved from a heavy tree. It was crude but effective. Hoisting the improvised barbell onto his shoulders, he could feel the weight pressing down, his body already adjusting to the challenge.
With the equipment ready, Elias set off into the forest to begin his workout. He started with runs, the weight on his shoulders slowing him down but forcing his body to work harder. His feet pounded the dirt path in a steady rhythm, his breath controlled but labored under the increased strain. As he ran, the Omni-Savant card nudged him, encouraging his movements to become smoother, more efficient, teaching his body to adapt even without conscious thought.
Each lap around the clearing became easier as his muscles burned with exertion. But Elias didn't stop. He kept pushing himself, ideas forming in his mind about more advanced training equipment. He wanted to build a system—something that would allow him to consistently improve. For now, though, this would do.
After running, Elias switched to strength training, using his makeshift weights for squats, presses, and lifts. The rocks were cumbersome, uneven, but the strain they put on his muscles was real. Each repetition brought him closer to his goal—building a stronger body, capable of handling whatever challenges this world threw at him.