DK awoke to the sound of faint birdsong and the warm glow of sunlight filtering through thin curtains. Blinking, he realized he was no longer in the cart. Instead, he found himself lying on a simple wooden bed in a modest, rustic bedroom. The air smelled faintly of woodsmoke and earth, a far cry from the oppressive stench of the Hollow Thicket.
He sat up, the light blanket sliding off to reveal his bare chest. His body ached, though it was a dull soreness rather than the sharp pain he remembered from the battle. As he swung his legs over the side of the bed, he noticed he was wearing only his shorts. Confused, DK stood and approached the window, the wooden floor creaking slightly under his feet.
Outside, he saw a small village bustling with quiet activity. People moved about carrying baskets, chatting in low voices, and tending to small stalls lining the dirt paths. The village had a rustic charm, its wooden structures weathered but sturdy. Beyond the rooftops, a forest loomed, though it lacked the sinister atmosphere of the Thicket.
"What happened?" DK muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. He turned to look around the room, spotting his belongings neatly stacked on a nearby table. His blade rested against the wall, with the black corrupted serrated edge now missing. Something about the weapon though now felt heavier, darker, as though it had been fundamentally altered.
His mind instinctively pulled up the system interface, the glowing text appearing in his vision.
DK's Updated Stats
Level: 5 (15% completion)
Nexus Core 1: Active (60% Stability)
Nexus Core 2: (??)
Corruption Integration: (Visible stat)
Attributes:
Strength: 22 (+5)
Dexterity: 21 (+3)
Health: 16 (+1)
Mana: 50 (+3)
Luck: 1 (+1)
Attack: 22 (+2)
Defense: 6 (+1)
Magic Attack: 2 (+1)
Magic Defense: 2 (+1)
Corruption: 1 (+1)
Skills
Swift Strike (Tier 2):
First Strike: 10 Mana
Additional Strikes: 5 Mana each
Efficiency Bonus: Reduced energy cost per strike as proficiency increases.
New Skill: Damage Absorption (Tier 1):
Converts 10% of damage received into mana.
Passive ability.
Improve the ability with level up and tier up
DK frowned at the new entries. The addition of "Corruption" as a stat and the drop in Nexus Core stability to 60% were deeply troubling. The power he had unleashed in the fight had clearly come at a cost. But he was elated to see an improvement in all the stats. "is this because of doing the quest all alone? This is a huge progress I think. I need to tet out my strenght. " DK thought.
He selected the "Damage Absorption" skill and activated the system's training interface. A simulation of an attack appeared before him, demonstrating how the skill worked. He watched closely, noting how incoming strikes created a faint energy field that absorbed the impact, converting it into a small amount of mana.
Before he could try practicing the skill mentally, the door to his room burst open. Startled, DK spun around, instinctively moving his hands to cover himself. Lucy strode in, her staff leaning casually against her shoulder.
"Do you ever knock?" DK asked, exasperation and embarrassment coloring his tone.
Lucy raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Relax. I'm the one who cleaned you up and got you into bed. I've already seen everything." She smirked, though her cheeks faintly reddened. She didn't mention that DK's body, though lean before, now seemed more defined and stronger, his chiseled physique an unexpected change that she tried to ignore.
DK groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Still, some privacy would be nice."
Lucy shrugged, setting her staff against the wall. "Fine, next time I'll knock. Happy? Now, how are you feeling?"
"A little tired, but I'm good," DK replied, shaking off the awkwardness. "Where are we?"
Lucy leaned against the doorframe, her expression more serious. "We're in Rockgrove. It's a small village on the way to Dragondale. I thought it was safer to stop here so you could recover. You were out cold for the entire ride."
DK nodded, his gaze thoughtful. "Thanks. I needed that."
"Good," Lucy said, though her eyes narrowed slightly. "While you were out, I wrote to the old man. He'll want an update on what happened, especially with your… transformation."
DK tensed slightly but said nothing. Instead, he grabbed a shirt from the table and pulled it on. "Let's get some food. I need to replenish my strength."
The two made their way to a small food joint near the village center. The air inside was warm and inviting, the aroma of freshly cooked food filling the space. DK was surprised at how familiar the atmosphere felt, the simple dishes reminding him of his past life.
As the server placed a steaming plate of stew before him, DK took a tentative bite. His eyes widened in surprise. The rich, hearty flavors were comforting, and he could feel a faint tingling sensation as he ate, a subtle warmth spreading through his body.
"This… is amazing," DK said, his exhaustion fading slightly with each bite. "It feels like the pain is melting away."
The server, a friendly older woman, chuckled at his reaction. "That's the local produce," she explained. "Most of our crops are grown near a mana ore deposit. The soil infuses everything with a bit of mana, so the food helps with regeneration and fatigue."
DK's eyes lit up at the mention of the mana ore deposit. He turned to Lucy, a question already forming on his lips. She immediately tensed, her expression shifting to one of caution.
"Don't even think about it," Lucy warned. "You're not going anywhere near that deposit."
"Why not?" DK asked, leaning forward slightly. "If it's a source of mana, it could be exactly what I need to stabilize my Nexus Core."
Lucy sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Because it's dangerous, that's why. Mana ore deposits attract all kinds of trouble—monsters, rogue adventurers, you name it. You're still recovering. You don't need to be throwing yourself into another fight."
DK leaned back, his expression thoughtful but determined. "Still, it's worth looking into. If it's that close, we'd be missing an opportunity if we didn't check it out."
Lucy groaned, clearly frustrated. "You're impossible, you know that? Can't you just take a break for once?"
DK grinned, finishing his meal. "Where's the fun in that?"