Pulkit stood at the entrance of the E-rank dungeon, his eyes locked on the dark, gaping maw that seemed to lead into the abyss.
The faint rustle of wind echoed from within, sending chills down his spine. His fingers twitched nervously on the hilt of his newly purchased sword. His mind raced as he tried to recall everything he had read in the novels back on Earth.
If this really is a dungeon, then it's bound to have a lot of monsters, and at the end, there will be a boss guarding the core, he thought, his brow furrowed in concentration. To clear this, I'll have to eliminate every monster and defeat the boss. But first...
Pulkit's memory flickered back to the moment after the building collapsed, when a notification about a class function had appeared. Excitement and anticipation surged through him as he quickly opened his status panel. The system interface materialized before his eyes, glowing faintly in the dim light.
[Congratulations! You have unlocked the Class function.]
Pulkit's heart raced as he navigated to the newly unlocked section. A notification popped up almost instantly:
[Due to the S-rank difficulty of your trials, you are eligible to choose classes of at least B-rank.]
His eyes widened. S-rank difficulty? he thought. No wonder I've been through hell and back. Taking a deep breath, he focused on the list of classes that appeared:
Summoner [S-rank]
Swordsman [A-rank]
Warrior [B-rank]
Martial Artist [B-rank]
Wizard [B-rank]
Swordmage [A-rank]
Pulkit's gaze lingered on the first option. The Summoner class was undeniably appealing. An S-rank class... that's the best one here, he thought. But as he reflected on his battles alongside Saber and Bloody, a wave of doubt crept in. I'm the weakest in our group. Saber and Bloody have carried me through most of the fights. If I rely solely on summoning, I'll never get stronger myself.
He sighed, pushing aside the temptation. His eyes moved to the Swordmage class. The name alone sparked his curiosity. I'm already using a sword, and with this class, I'll be able to use magic as well. It's versatile, and it complements my skills. Determined, he selected Swordmage as his class.
A notification appeared:
[Congratulations! You have successfully chosen the Swordmage class.]
[You have acquired the skill : Swordsmanship (F-rank)][Skill description: Helps you learn sword-related techniques easily and increases the attack power of your sword.]
[Skill proficiency: 0.00%]
[You have acquired the skill : Mana Circuit (F-rank).]
[Skill description: Allows you to channel mana through your body and materialize it into magic.]
[Skill proficiency: 0.00%]
Pulkit smiled, feeling a spark of hope. These must be the skills derived from the Swordmage class. Nice! he thought.
However, his smile faded as he recalled the earlier battle. I leveled up after burying those centipedes under the rubble, but Saber and Bloody didn't gain any levels. Why? He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
It must be because I recalled them into the summoning space before the monsters died. They didn't get credit for the kills.
Pulkit's shoulders slumped with guilt. "Sorry, Saber. Sorry, Bloody," he murmured. "From now on, I'll make sure you both get your fair share."
Determined to move forward, Pulkit turned his attention to his weapon. His trusty sword was lost, embedded in the bird's leg during the earlier fight. He opened the system shop, and a notification greeted him:
[Congratulations! The Novice Shop has been upgraded to the Intermediate Shop due to reaching Level 10.]
Pulkit's lips curled into a grin. "Finally, some good stuff!" he muttered. He eagerly browsed the skill section first, scanning through the available options. His gaze stopped on a skill that caught his eye:
[Magic Sword (E-rank)]
[Skill description: Channels mana through your body into your sword, increasing its durability, sharpness, and attack power.]
Pulkit's eyes lit up. This skill is perfect! I can practice Swordsmanship and Mana Circuit at the same time. Without hesitation, he purchased the skill.
Next, he searched for a weapon and found an E-rank sword priced at 50 Achievement Points. The blade shimmered faintly, its sharp edge reflecting the dim light. Satisfied with his purchases, Pulkit stepped aside to test his new skill.
Holding the sword tightly, he activated Magic Sword.
A warm energy coursed through his body, flowing down his arm and into the blade. The sword glowed faintly as mana infused it, its aura becoming sharper and more menacing. Pulkit swung the weapon at a nearby stone, putting all his strength into the strike. The blade sliced through the rock effortlessly.
"Wonderful!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing in the desolate area. "This is the best skill I've gotten since Summoner of the Dead."
With his newfound confidence, Pulkit prepared to raid the dungeon. He summoned Saber and Bloody, who appeared at his side, ready as ever. Together, they stepped into the darkness of the dungeon.
The air grew colder as they descended. The walls were damp, and the faint sound of skittering echoed in the distance. Pulkit's grip on his sword tightened as he tried to steady his breathing. The dim glow of his sword illuminated their path, casting eerie shadows on the walls.
"This place feels... alive," Pulkit muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Saber growled softly, his sharp eyes scanning the darkness. Bloody's tusks glinted as he took a defensive stance. Pulkit felt a pang of guilt again, remembering how much he relied on them. I have to do better this time, he resolved.
Suddenly, the sound of movement grew louder. Pulkit raised his sword, his heart pounding in his chest. From the shadows emerged the first wave of monsters—giant centipedes, their mandibles clicking ominously.
Pulkit activated Appraisal:
[Name: Man-Eating Centipede]
[Level: 6]
[Rank: E]
[Skill: Poison Bite (E-rank) – Inflicts poison upon biting the target.]
He gritted his teeth. This is just the beginning. Let's see how well my new skills work. Channeling mana into his sword, Pulkit charged forward. The glowing blade cut through the centipedes with ease, their bodies writhing before collapsing. Saber and Bloody joined the fray, their coordinated attacks leaving no room for escape.
As the battle raged on, Pulkit felt a surge of adrenaline. His movements became more fluid, his strikes more precise. The combination of Swordsmanship and Magic Sword allowed him to adapt quickly, exploiting the weaknesses of his enemies.
When the last centipede fell, Pulkit paused to catch his breath. His clothes were torn, and his arms ached, but a sense of accomplishment filled him. Then, a notification appeared:
[Swordsmanship's skill proficiency increased to 18.3%.]
[Mana Circuit's skill proficiency increased to 11.7%.]
Pulkit smiled faintly, reassured by his progress. He turned to Saber and Bloody, who stood victorious but wary.
"This is just the start," Pulkit said, his voice firm. "We'll clear this dungeon together."
With renewed determination, Pulkit led his companions deeper into the dungeon, unaware of the challenges that awaited them in the shadows.