Ding!
A strange electronic sound resonated as a glowing blue window appeared before Kenny. The window was transparent yet radiant, as if made of pure energy. The words written on it were clear:
[Welcome to the System.]
Kenny froze in place, his eyes widening with shock. He whispered to himself in a trembling voice:
"What is this? Am I... dreaming?"
Another message appeared:
[If you want to join the game, press "Yes."]
A countdown timer began ticking rapidly:
Time remaining: 30 seconds.
Kenny looked around and noticed that everything around him was frozen. The wind had stopped, and even the sound of the dungeon had vanished. Only Kenny and the strange window were moving.
Kenny muttered, puzzled:
"Join the game? What is this? Is it part of my eye's ability? I don't understand anything, but... I don't have any other choice."
He pressed the button labeled "Yes."
[You are now part of the game.]
A new, more complex window appeared, filled with data and information:
[System Description:]
"This is a system responsible for your personal development. Through it, you can enhance your physical, mental, and magical abilities, as well as improve your combat skills and weapon usage. Every mission you complete and every monster you defeat grants you points that you can distribute to improve your stats."
Then another message popped up:
[First Training: Kill 0/2 Soldiers of Rank C.]
Kenny froze in place and stared at the window in shock:
"Kill a soldier? A Rank C soldier? Impossible... I could barely push one before. The difference between us is as vast as the sky and the earth!"
A voice from the system echoed:
[As a first reward, you have been promoted to Rank C.]
Kenny's eyes widened with disbelief.
"Rank C? But... how?"
He remembered that a Balancer's strength is determined solely by their eye classification, which is always final. He had been classified as Rank E—the lowest possible rank. No Balancer could ever evolve.
"This must be a mistake... Something's definitely wrong here."
Time resumed. Everything started moving again, and the sounds returned to fill the space. But Kenny felt different. He looked at his hands and noticed that the dagger he was holding was glowing red. The glow wasn't normal; it pulsed as if it were alive.
Before he could think further, he heard heavy footsteps behind him. He quickly turned to find a Rank C soldier standing before him, holding a massive spear. The soldier looked humanoid but was larger in size, with a dark, armored body and glowing, cold eyes.
The soldier let out a deep growl and charged at him with incredible speed. He raised his spear and slammed it into the ground with tremendous force, creating a deep fissure that nearly crushed Kenny.
Kenny barely dodged the attack, leaping to his right. He noticed that he was now faster than before. His body felt lighter, his movements more fluid.
"What is this? Have I... evolved? Yes! I've really evolved!"
Standing firmly on his feet, Kenny smiled confidently and taunted:
"Shall we begin now, you bastard?"
He shouted loudly:
"Come at me now, you coward!"
The soldier charged at him again, but this time, Kenny was ready. Using his newfound speed, he easily evaded the attack and dashed toward the soldier with incredible agility.
In a split second, Kenny leaped at the perfect angle, spinning his body mid-air. He gripped his small dagger tightly and aimed it at the soldier's neck. With one precise strike, the dagger pierced the soldier's weak point, causing his body to dissipate instantly into smoke.
[System Message: You have killed Soldier 1/2.]
Kenny felt a strange exhilaration. His heart was pounding, but he wasn't scared.
"This is incredible... Am I really... able to fight now?"
Kenny turned to see the second soldier, who looked identical to the first.
Kenny smirked:
"As for you, I'll toy with you a little."
Kenny dashed forward, sliding across the ground and slashing the soldier's leg with his dagger.
He successfully severed the soldier's leg.
Kenny yelled, grinning:
"What do you think now, you loser?"
Leaping into the air, Kenny rotated his body. He saw the soldier below him writhing in pain. Kenny descended, plunging his dagger straight into the soldier's head.
The second soldier was dead.
Kenny stood in the middle of the vast dungeon arena.
The walls were black, saturated with ominous energy, and the floor was cracked, exuding the stench of death.
Before him, armored monsters appeared.
There were ten of them, each radiating dark auras with blazing eyes.
Kenny smirked:
"Come at me! I'll destroy you all!"
Kenny charged toward the first monster with blinding speed.
He slipped under its armored legs, using his speed to slash the straps of its lower armor.
The monster roared in pain, but Kenny didn't stop.
He leaped high and drove his dagger straight into the monster's head.
The armor shattered, and the monster fell dead.
Another monster lunged at him, using its steel claws.
Kenny sidestepped the attack, then used the momentum to deliver a direct punch to the monster's chest.
His fist pierced through the armored chest, leaving the monster to collapse.
Kenny: "Two down... Who's next?"
The remaining monsters grouped together, trying to surround him.
Kenny grinned:
"Teamwork? Nice!"
He darted between them with swift, precise movements.
A slash of the dagger here, a kick there.
He moved like an untouchable wind.
One by one, the monsters fell.
A monster tried to grab him from behind, but Kenny rolled on the ground, using his legs to deliver an upward kick that shattered the monster's jaw.
Another tried to flee, but Kenny grabbed its tail.
With a powerful pull, he yanked the monster back and drove his dagger into its neck.
Blood splattered as the monster vanished into black smoke.
When the battle ended, a system notification appeared.
[Congratulations! You have completed the mission.]
[You earned 20 additional points.]
Kenny opened his stats window.
[Current Stats:]
Physical Ability: 10
Magical Ability: 20
Mental Strength: 43
Physical Strength: 27
Weapon Strength: 19
Speed: 36
Kenny: "I'll allocate all the points to Magical Ability."
His magical aura intensified, and he felt a fiery energy coursing through him.
Kenny shouted with exhilaration:
"Yes, this is it! My power... it's rising!"
Kenny: "Now it's time for the final dungeon."
He sprinted toward the boss gate.
The final dungeon was dark, filled with icy air.
The walls were adorned with strange masks that seemed to watch him.
At the center of the room stood the boss, Morujola.
A young man with long white hair and a white scarf.
His face was pale, his eyes filled with arrogance.
Morujola: "You've finally arrived. Welcome, young one."
Kenny smirked confidently:
"Welcome? Do you think we're going to be friends?"
Morujola: "You're arrogant. Killing soldiers doesn't mean you're ready to face me."
Kenny: "Then let me prove otherwise!"
Kenny charged at him like lightning.
But Morujola swung his scythe, creating a massive whirlwind that halted Kenny's attack.
Kenny: "Whirlwinds? This is getting fun."
Morujola: "Come on, show me your true power!