The expanse of the dungeon stretched endlessly before Moyo—a vast network of dense forests and glistening streams that wove together as far as the eye could see. Each tree and shadow seemed alive, brimming with potential threats, their menace hidden just beneath the surface. The fresh air was a welcome reprieve from the blood-soaked staleness of the cave, though Moyo didn't allow himself the luxury of lowering his guard.
Gripping Ida tightly, he took a moment to test its balance, practicing a few swings. The blade cut cleanly through the air, its faint hum of intent bolstering his confidence. Apart from Blade Surge and Crushing Blade, he had little else in terms of offensive skills. While his passive abilities like Blood Absorption and Physical Regeneration offered invaluable support, they wouldn't save him in a pitched battle against the dungeon's more powerful denizens.
He pressed forward cautiously, the weight of the forest pressing down on him. Every snap of a branch or rustle of leaves set his nerves on edge.
The noise came suddenly—a sharp rustle from deeper within the woods. Moyo froze, Ida glinting in the sunlight as his grip tightened.
From the shadows emerged a massive, glistening shape. Its shimmering scales caught the light as serpent-yellow eyes locked onto him. The creature slithered forward, its full height rising above him like a coiled nightmare.
[Flame Serpent, Level 30.]
Moyo cursed his luck. The serpent seemed equally stunned, pausing as if confused by this lone figure standing brazenly at the edge of the forest. It was a hesitation Moyo took advantage of, launching forward with Crushing Blade.
The serpent's reflexes saved it. Twisting out of the way, it dodged the strike with unnatural speed, inhaling deeply as its chest expanded.
Moyo recognized the telltale sign and flipped out of the way just as a column of fire erupted from the serpent's maw, scorching the ground where he'd stood. His newfound Dexterity made the maneuver effortless, carrying him far beyond the flames.
Without hesitation, he activated Blade Surge, swinging Ida in a wide arc. Intent flared around him, coalescing into a storm of energy that crashed against the serpent's hardened scales. Some strikes bounced harmlessly off, but others tore into the vulnerable flesh beneath.
The serpent shrieked, more enraged than injured, and lunged at him. Its jaws gaped wide, intent on crushing him and his blade in one decisive snap.
Moyo triggered Crushing Blade again, his core flaring with effort. Ida sliced cleanly through the serpent's head, severing it in two before the creature even realized its end had come. The body collapsed with a heavy thud, motionless as his HUD lit up.
[1 Flame Serpent killed. +100 credits. 1 Refined Aether Shard obtained.]
Moyo frowned. No level-up. Perhaps the creature had been too weak for the system to reward him further?
Shrugging off the thought, he wiped Ida clean on the serpent's cooling scales. A new idea struck him—a strange thought, but one worth testing. Placing a hand on the creature's body, he muttered, "Loot."
Nothing.
He felt foolish until red, vein-like lines appeared on his arm, connecting him to the serpent. His HUD blinked again.
[Blood Absorption has stolen the remnants of the Flame Serpent's being.]
[You have acquired the title: Emberkin. Resistance to flame +10%.]
The rustling came again, louder this time. A new figure emerged from the forest—sleek, deadly, and alien in appearance. Its black, metallic carapace shimmered like polished steel, each of its bladed legs slicing into the earth as it moved.
[Razorback Spider, Level 35.]
The creature lunged with a flurry of slashing strikes, its bladed limbs a blur. Moyo parried each one, the motions instinctive, though the force behind them sent shudders up his arms. The strikes, while terrifying, were nothing compared to Ajax's relentless attacks.
As the spider reared back, its maw opened wide, spitting a glob of green liquid. Moyo dodged reflexively, the acid sizzling on the ground where he'd stood moments before.
"Acid too? Great," Moyo muttered, retreating as the creature closed in again.
Its limbs clashed against his blade with a deafening ring, each blow testing his endurance. Triggering Crushing Blade, he slammed his attack into one of its limbs, watching as the metal-like armor dented slightly. Another limb lashed out, grazing his shoulder.
Pain flared briefly, though the wound barely broke his skin. He noticed the venom sizzling on his flesh, his HUD reacting instantly.
[Toxin Resistance has assimilated Razorback Venom. Level 30!]
Biting back the pain, Moyo realized his core was dangerously low. A sense of foreboding settled over him, and he knew the creature wasn't close to being defeated. Its chitinous armor was nearly impenetrable, and his strongest skills were proving insufficient.
He needed a plan.
Dodging another strike, he slid beneath the spider, driving his fist into its softer underbelly. The impact reverberated through his arm, leaving him wincing in pain, but the spider recoiled, shrieking in protest.
With no other options, Moyo made a desperate choice. Gathering the last of his intent, he forced both Blade Surge and Crushing Blade into Ida simultaneously. The blade flared with unstable energy, the system resisting his reckless fusion of skills.
A crushing pressure bore down on him, his HUD blinking warnings as if the system itself disapproved of his actions. But Moyo refused to yield. His arms trembled, his vision blurred, and his core screamed in protest, yet he poured every ounce of his will into forcing the techniques together.
The spider lunged, venom dripping from its fangs. Moyo dodged, his body screaming in pain as he screamed in rage, bending the system to his will.
Something snapped.
The pressure lifted, and Ida ignited with a new, faint purple glow. With a roar, Moyo swung the blade with all his might.
The energy erupted in a devastating arc, cutting cleanly through the Razorback Spider. The creature froze mid-stride before collapsing in two halves, its body twitching as Moyo fell to his knees, gasping for air.
[Congratulations! You have successfully fused Blade Surge (U) and Crushing Blade (U) into Titan's Edge (R).]
Moyo stared at the faintly glowing blade in his hand, a shaky grin spreading across his face.
"Worth it," he muttered before collapsing onto the forest floor, utterly spent.
Trying to control his breathing while keeping Ida within arm's length, Moyo felt the strain on his body mount. His HUD flared to life once more.
[Level 31! 5 points +1!]
[Titan's Edge: You have stood your ground against the laws of the system. Few Initiates have done so and survived. You have begun the process of walking a 'Path' few have heard of, fewer have traversed, and none have seen to its end. For now, enjoy your victory—for the edge of a titan never ceases to accumulate bodies.]
Moyo blinked at the message, a chill running down his spine. Had he somehow offended the system itself? Was there even a way to apologize? He frowned at the thought, pushing it aside.
"No," he muttered under his breath, gripping his blade tighter. "I'm not the one who should apologize. This system—this Archailect—took everything from me. For all I know, I'm the last of my family alive."
The message faded, replaced by another.
[Titan's Edge (R): This rare skill carries the deadliness of a swordsman's intent and the crushing blow of a mountain. It is yours to cleave apart your enemies with.]
"A titan," he thought, the word resonating deep within his core. He felt a stirring inside him, something vast and unknowable, as if his core itself acknowledged the weight of the name.
Moving to the Razorback Spider's corpse, he placed a hand on it, waiting for Blood Absorption to activate. He waited... but nothing happened. Frowning, and still unsure of how some aspects of the system worked, he let it go and turned his attention back to the forest.
The thought of running into another swarm of creatures gnawed at him. Dropping into a crouch, he leapt, propelling himself into the air. His hand caught a thick branch, and with a practiced movement, he vaulted onto it, finding his balance with ease.
Perched above the ground, he opened his HUD to allocate his newly earned points. His Dexterity was lagging compared to his other attributes, and Ajax's words about speed echoed in his mind.
"Strength means nothing if they can reach you before you can reach them."
He placed all six points into Dexterity, feeling his body immediately grow lighter and more responsive.
Name: Moyosore
Path: None
Race: Human
Rank: Initiate
Core: Intent [Dim]
Level: 31
Weapon: Blade (Imbued) Ida
Skills:
Blood Absorption [?]Endure Agony [U] 25Physical Regeneration [U] 25Toxin Resistance [C] 30Titan's Edge [R] 1
Attributes:STR: 38DEX: 31END: 38VIT: 35
Titles:Dungeon Pioneer [+1 point to every level gained within dungeons.]Emberkin [Resistance to flame +10%.]
Items:Ethereal Credits: 100,600
Shards:Refined: 1
Satisfied with his progress, he allowed a small grin to spread across his face. Two titles, a refined aether shard, and Level 31. Things were looking up. Sure, he was trapped in a dungeon filled with bloodthirsty creatures, but he chose to see them as "leveling aids." The thought brought a dry chuckle to his lips.
Pulling out the refined shard, Moyo crushed it in his hand. Blue energy coursed through him, filling his core with intent. The rush left him invigorated, his Dim Core humming with power.
"I'll need to test this new skill," he muttered. Titan's Edge intrigued him—not just for its power but for the strange resonance it left in his core. If the system had marked him out for this path, he'd make sure it regretted doing so.
His chance came soon enough.
Bounding from branch to branch, his movements grew more fluid with each leap. His body obeyed his every thought as if it had been designed for this terrain. Below, a group of Razorbacks scuttled through the underbrush, their clicking mandibles filling the air. Among them was a hulking figure, larger than the rest.
[Warrior Razorback Spider, Level 50.]
Moyo felt his stomach tighten. The smaller spiders, each in the Level 30 range, had been tough enough. This one radiated danger, its two raised pincers gleaming like obsidian scythes.
He crouched, gripping Ida tightly as he weighed his options.
He could attempt to take down the Warrior Razorback with Titan's Edge and hope the rest scattered. Or, more realistically, he could kill the warrior and end up swarmed by its kin.
It wasn't an encouraging choice.
Still, killing a Level 50 aberrant could catapult him to the early 40s—assuming the system felt generous, which he doubted.
The Razorbacks below clicked their mandibles in a strange rhythm, almost like a conversation. Their metallic voices grated on his nerves.
Finally, Moyo made his decision.
Standing silently on the branch, he gripped Ida with both hands, its blade angled downward. Taking a deep breath, he whispered a prayer—a reflex from a life that seemed impossibly distant now—and leapt.
[Titan's Edge activated.]
The blade flared with purple intent, a swirling storm of power coalescing around it.
Moyo descended like a meteor, slamming Titan's Edge into the Warrior Razorback's skull. The reinforced chitin cracked and gave way under the force, the creature dying instantly.
The remaining Razorbacks scattered, their shrill, clicking screams filling the air like a wail of despair. Moyo pulled Ida free from the corpse, the ichor-streaked blade humming with energy.
His HUD lit up in rapid succession.
[You have killed Warrior Razorback Spider, Level 50, in one blow.]
[You have achieved a first title in your system!]
[Title: Slayer. +50% damage to dungeon creatures below Level 50.]
[Level 42! 55 points +11.]
[Titan's Edge level 10.]
[+10 Chitin Shells obtained.]
Grinning at the messages, Moyo turned his gaze to the scattering Razorbacks. "Yeah, you didn't see that coming, did you?" he mocked, his voice laced with both triumph and defiance.
The Razorbacks screeched in fury, regrouping before charging at him.
Moyo didn't wait. Leaping into the trees, he bounded from branch to branch as the Razorbacks followed below, their blades slicing through the underbrush in pursuit.
The hunt was on.
Ajax had to admit—he was having fun.
Not with the Prime Aberrant, of course. The towering Wyrm, a mass of shimmering scales and ancient malice, was currently curled into a trembling heap in the farthest corner of its lair. Its serpentine eyes darted toward Ajax every so often, only to quickly avert, as though acknowledging the sheer futility of its existence in his presence.
Ajax had tried to have a meaningful conversation with the creature, though he doubted it would have understood him. Tier 2 dungeon primes lacked the sentience and grandeur of those from higher-tier dungeons, and this one, in particular, was disappointingly dim-witted.
Still, it had amused him for a time.
Now, however, boredom had set in. And so, with nothing better to do, Ajax turned his attention to his erstwhile disciple.
What he witnessed left him both slack-jawed and brimming with pride.
The scene unfolded with an almost comical intensity. Moyo, his blade glowing faintly with the aftermath of a rare skill, was bounding from branch to branch like a determined—but clearly overwhelmed—acolyte of chaos. Below him, dozens of Razorbacks scuttled in hot pursuit, their bladed limbs carving paths through the underbrush as they screeched for reinforcements.
Ajax's grin widened as he realized the implications. The Razorbacks weren't just pursuing Moyo—they were calling for the rest of their hive.
"Oh, this is going to get messy," Ajax muttered, taking a lazy sip from his gourd.
The irony of the situation wasn't lost on him. He had wondered—briefly—how Moyo would fare against the Razorback Queen, a formidable Level 100 aberrant whose hive resided only a few leaps from the Prime Aberrant's mountain. Guarded by her Level 70+ hive warriors, the queen was a force of nature, her presence enough to dissuade most dungeon predators from encroaching on her territory.
And yet here was Moyo, blundering into this chain of events with an almost poetic inevitability. The lone Level 50 warrior Moyo had dispatched so abruptly? That had been the weakest of its kind, sent on foraging duties far from the hive's heart.
Ajax chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, kid, you've certainly got a talent for stirring up trouble."
Still, his amusement was tempered by a note of curiosity—no, alarm.
For a fleeting moment, so brief it could've been dismissed as a trick of the mind, Ajax had felt it: the system's gaze.
The Archailect, or at least some infinitesimal fragment of its unfathomable awareness, had shifted—if only for an instant—toward the child. Ajax had felt its presence like a ripple in the air, a tiny spark of cosmic acknowledgment in the vast machinery of the system.
Ajax had sat upright at that moment, his usual levity replaced by something sharper. That kind of attention wasn't common, even among seasoned ascenders. For an Initiate—a mere fledgling of the system—to draw that gaze?
"Impressive," Ajax murmured, though his tone carried a thread of unease. "And dangerous."
The implications were staggering. Countless millions of ascenders had accomplished remarkable feats over the eons, but for someone at Moyo's rank to have triggered such a response?
It was profound. It was troubling. It was intriguing.
Ajax's grin returned as he watched Moyo swing his blade, the flickering glow of Titan's Edge cleaving through the air with ferocity.
The boy had changed, that much was clear. Whatever had happened in that moment had left a mark—not just on the system, but on Moyo himself. Ajax guessed the child had reached the early 40s in level; his progress absurdly fast given the short time he'd been in the dungeon.
Sinking back into his seat, Ajax exhaled deeply, savoring the burn of his drink as it slid down his throat. His fingers tapped idly against his chest, his expression contemplative.
Such grand plans.
The child wouldn't like them, of course.
But Ajax wasn't in the business of asking for permission.
"Still," he murmured, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "He's going to make it interesting, isn't he?"
The Razorbacks' distant shrieks echoed faintly in the mountain's caverns. Ajax chuckled softly to himself, lifting the gourd in a mock toast.
"To you, kid," he said, raising it toward the chaos unfolding below. "Here's hoping you don't disappoint."