Lucian's entire body felt like it had been pounded into the ground.
Every breath sent a dull ache rippling through his ribs, and his muscles screamed with fatigue.
His hands trembled, still numb from gripping his sword too tightly.
He swallowed thickly, feeling the lingering terror still clinging to his mind.
That thing was fast.
Too fast.
If he had hesitated for even a second—
I'd be dead.
The thought sent a shiver through him.
He glanced down at himself.
His old clothes were torn and soaked in sweat, his arms lined with small cuts.
His shoulder, where the Abyssal Lurker had barely grazed him, throbbed with a deep, bone-deep soreness.
Even if he had won… he wasn't unscathed.
Lucian let out a dry, breathless laugh, then immediately winced.
His body was still wrecked, every muscle screaming in protest.
And yet… his mind couldn't process the pain anymore.
Because right in front of him—
Something was wrong.
The body was gone.
His breath hitched. Did it regenerate?! Was it coming back?!
No. Not possible. Instead, something else took its place.
A pile of items, shimmering faintly in the dungeon's dim light.
[Ding!] Unique Skill – [Item Manifestation] has processed the slain enemy.
Lucian's eyes snapped downward.
He blinked. Once. Twice.
"...Loot?"
For a long moment, he just stared.
He had expected a body. Blood. Maybe some monster materials.
But this?
This looked like something straight out of an RPG drop system.
"Alright... let's see what I got."
Lucian crouched down, carefully sifting through the loot.
At a glance, there were five major things that stood out:
A sleek, jet-black sword
A dark, folded outfit
Three small vials filled with a glowing liquid
A strange, pulsating core
A metallic ingot infused with abyssal energy
Lucian picked up the sword first.
Lucian gave the blade an experimental swing.
The weight felt nonexistent, yet the momentum carried perfectly.
It was fast—too fast.
He adjusted his grip. One proper slash.
With a sharp whoosh, he brought the blade downward—and nearly lost control.
The sword moved far too smoothly, slicing through the air like a phantom edge.
The balance was immaculate, yet so dangerously light that if he wasn't careful, he'd overextend and leave himself wide open.
Lucian exhaled, eyes narrowing.
"Gotta get used to this."
Setting the sword aside, he turned his attention to the outfit.
The fabric almost felt alive.
As he ran his fingers over it, he swore it shifted slightly, like it was reacting to his touch.
He frowned. This wasn't just normal enchanted gear—it adapted.
The moment he draped the coat over his shoulders—
[Ding!]
[Adaptive Fit]
Activated – Adjusting to User's Size.
The outfit tightened perfectly to his frame.
Lucian's eyes widened. The material settled snugly but comfortably, almost like a second skin. He flexed his arms—there was no restriction, no weight dragging him down.
He took a step—silence.
Another step.
Not even a whisper of movement.
Lucian let out a breath.
"This is ridiculous."
He felt… lighter. Faster. Like his body had become a ghost.
A low chuckle came from behind him.
Ignis was watching.
"Comfortable?" the dragon rumbled, amusement clear in his voice.
Lucian smirked, stretching his arms.
"Feels like I'm wearing air."
Ignis huffed. "Good. Then you might survive your next fight."
Lucian's smirk faltered.
Setting that aside, he picked up one of the three small vials.
Inside, a bright blue liquid swirled, glowing faintly.
He gave it a gentle shake, watching as the light pulsed slightly.
"Some kind of potion?"
The next item—the pulsating core— caught his attention immediately.
It looked like a miniature abyssal heart, still beating faintly with dark energy.
Lucian felt a strange pull from it, like the essence of the Lurker was still lingering inside.
And finally, the shadow-steel ingot sat at the bottom of the pile, its surface flickering with dark energy like it was alive.
A forging material?
Lucian let out a slow breath.
These weren't just random monster parts.
These were usable, high-quality materials.
"Alright... let's see the details."
Lucian activated his skill, focusing on each item in turn.
[Ding!]
Appraisal (EX) Activated.
One by one, blue screens flickered into existence.
[Abyssal Fang Blade]
(Rank A) – A Predator's Edge
A sleek, jet-black sword forged from the Abyssal Lurker's fangs. Light yet absurdly sharp.
[Item Info:]
Name: Abyssal Fang Blade
Rank: A
Type: One-Handed Sword
[Attributes:]
Durability: Extremely High
Weight: Light
Edge Sharpness: Absurdly Sharp (Capable of Cutting Through Most Materials)
Mana Conductivity: High (Amplifies Dark and Stealth-Based Magic)
[Effects & Abilities:]
[Void Fang Edge] – Cuts through magical barriers and resistances with reduced effort.
[Shadow Rend] – Inflicts wounds that delay healing, especially against living targets.
[Abyssal Echo] – Absorbs traces of abyssal energy from slain foes, slightly increasing cutting power for a limited time.
[Weightless Flow] – Moves with near-effortless speed, enhancing reaction time and attack speed.
[Stealth Kill] – When striking from concealment, the blade's damage and penetration increase significantly.
[Lurker's Voidweave Attire]
(Rank A) – The Hunter's Armor
A full-body urban-styled outfit woven from the Abyssal Lurker's dark pelts. Self-repairing and self-cleaning.
[Item Info:]
Name: Lurker's Voidweave Attire
Rank: A
Type: Full-Body Combat Outfit
[Attributes:]
Durability: High (Self-Repairing)
Weight: Near Weightless
Defense: Moderate (Prioritizes Evasion Over Raw Protection)
Mana Conductivity: Excellent (Enhances Stealth-Based Skills)
[Effects & Abilities:]
[Abyssal Weave] – Distorts light and sound, making the wearer harder to detect.
[Shadow Meld] – When stationary in low-light environments, the outfit blends seamlessly into darkness.
[Silent Step] – Dampens movement noise.
[Adaptive Fit] – Conforms perfectly to the wearer's body.
[Self-Repairing] – Regenerates minor tears and cuts by absorbing ambient mana.
[Self-Cleaning] – Repels dirt, odors, and blood.
[Other Acquired Items:]
[Greater Stamina Potions] X 3 (Rank B) – Restores stamina rapidly.
[Abyssal Core] (Rank A) – A pulsing monster core, radiating dark energy. Used in high-level crafting and enchantments.
[Shadow-Steel Ingot] X 2 (Rank A) – A rare forging material infused with the Abyss.
Lucian stared at the screens, processing all the information.
"These aren't just drops… these are insane."
The sword alone was far beyond what he expected.
The outfit was something straight out of an assassin's dream.
And the materials? Valuable beyond measure.
A low chuckle rumbled behind him.
Lucian turned, still reeling, to see Ignis watching with mild amusement.
"A rare ability indeed… most must make their weapons."
"You simply take them."
Lucian grinned slightly, tightening his grip on the sword.
"Well… I'm not complaining."
For the first time, Lucian felt it.
A real step forward.
A real taste of strength.
And this was only the beginning.