The dungeon was silent, save for the faint drip-drip of water echoing off the cold, jagged walls. Kael Ardent adjusted the strap of his worn leather armor, its once-vivid blue now faded to a dull, lifeless gray. The air hung heavy with the metallic tang of blood and the musty stench of damp stone—a combination that had become all too familiar over the years. He glanced at the small group of hunters gathered around him, their faces tense and weapons at the ready. They were a ragtag team, barely C-rank, but they were all he could afford to work with.
At the front stood Garrick, a hulking man with a jagged scar running down his left cheek. His massive warhammer rested on his shoulder, its surface marred by countless battles. Beside him was Lira, a lithe archer with sharp features and a perpetual scowl. Her fingers twitched on the string of her bow, her keen eyes scanning the shadows for movement. Bringing up the rear was Tomas, a healer whose nervous energy was palpable even in the oppressive silence of the dungeon. His hands clutched a glowing staff, its light flickering faintly in the dimness.
And then there was Kael. The weakest link. The one everyone expected to die first.
"Stay close," Garrick barked, his voice a low rumble that reverberated through the narrow corridor. "This is a D-rank dungeon, but that doesn't mean it's a walk in the park. One wrong move, and we're all monster food."
Kael nodded, his grip tightening on the hilt of his chipped short sword. He knew the drill. Stick to the back, stay out of the way, and pray he didn't get noticed. It was the same routine every time, and every time, he hated himself a little more.
The world had changed fifty years ago when the first Eclipse Gate appeared. No one knew where they came from or why, but the gates were portals to other dimensions—dimensions filled with monsters, treasures, and untold dangers. At first, humanity was defenseless, but soon, people began to manifest extraordinary abilities. These individuals became known as Hunters, and they were the only ones who could venture into the gates and survive.
Hunters were ranked based on their strength, from the godlike S-ranks to the barely competent E-ranks. Kael was an E-rank, the lowest of the low. His stats were abysmal, his skills nonexistent, and his combat experience limited to running away. He was a liability, a burden, and everyone knew it.
But Kael had no choice. Being a hunter was the only way to make a living in this world, and he had a younger sister to support. Mia, just sixteen, was all he had left after their parents died in a gate incident five years ago. She believed in him, even when no one else did. And that was enough to keep him going.
The team moved cautiously through the dungeon, their footsteps echoing in the narrow corridor. The walls were lined with strange carvings, ancient symbols that seemed to pulse with a faint, otherworldly light. Kael couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.
"This place gives me the creeps," Tomas muttered, his voice trembling. "Why did we take this job again?"
"Because we're broke," Lira snapped, not bothering to look back. "And because someone—" she shot a pointed glance at Kael, "—can't pull their weight in a higher-ranked dungeon."
Kael bit his tongue. He was used to the insults, the sidelong glances, the muttered curses. He'd heard it all before. But it still stung.
The team reached a large chamber, its ceiling lost in shadow. In the center of the room was a stone altar, its surface covered in strange runes. Garrick raised a hand, signaling the group to stop.
"This is it," he said. "The boss room. Stay sharp."
Kael's heart pounded in his chest. Boss rooms were the most dangerous part of any dungeon, and even a D-rank boss could wipe out a team like theirs if they weren't careful.
The moment they stepped into the room, the ground beneath them began to tremble. The runes on the altar glowed brighter, and a low, guttural roar filled the air. From the shadows emerged a massive creature, its body covered in thick, black scales and its eyes glowing with a malevolent red light.
"What the hell is that?" Tomas screamed, his voice cracking. "That's not a D-rank monster!"
Garrick cursed, hefting his warhammer. "It's a damn trap! This gate was misclassified!"
The monster lunged, its claws slashing through the air. Garrick barely managed to block the attack, the force of the blow sending him skidding backward. Lira loosed an arrow, but it bounced harmlessly off the creature's scales.
"Fall back!" Garrick shouted. "We need to retreat!"
But it was too late. The monster was too fast, too strong. It swiped at Lira, sending her crashing into the wall. Tomas tried to heal her, but the monster turned its attention to him, its jaws snapping shut inches from his face.
Kael froze. He wanted to help, to do something, but his body wouldn't move. Fear gripped him like a vice, paralyzing him. He was useless. Weak. A failure.
Just as the monster was about to deliver the killing blow, the ground beneath Kael began to glow. A strange, mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
System Initializing…
Welcome, User. You have been selected as a candidate for the Eclipse System.
Would you like to proceed? YES OR NO?
Kael blinked, his mind reeling. What was happening? Was this some kind of hallucination? But the voice was insistent, almost impatient.
Please respond: YES OR NO?
With no other options, Kael thought, Yes.
System Activated.
User: Kael Ardent
Rank: E
Level: 1
New Quest: Survive the Dungeon.
Suddenly, Kael's vision was filled with glowing text and numbers. He could see his stats, his health bar, even the monster's level and weaknesses. It was like he was inside a video game.
And for the first time in his life, Kael felt a spark of hope.
The monster turned its attention to Kael, its eyes narrowing. It charged, its claws raised, but Kael was ready. He dodged to the side, his movements faster and more precise than ever before. The system was guiding him, showing him where to move, when to strike.
He swung his sword, the blade glowing with a faint light. It struck the monster's side, cutting through its scales and drawing blood. The creature roared in pain, but Kael didn't stop. He attacked again and again, each strike more powerful than the last.
The other hunters watched in stunned silence as Kael, the weakest among them, fought with a skill and ferocity they had never seen before. By the time the monster fell, its body dissolving into black smoke, Kael was standing tall, his chest heaving but his eyes blazing with determination.
Quest Complete.
Level Up!
New Skills Unlocked.
Kael looked down at his hands, still trembling with adrenaline. This was just the beginning. He didn't know what the Eclipse System was or why it had chosen him, but one thing was clear: his life would never be the same.
The team regrouped, their injuries minor thanks to Kael's sudden intervention. Garrick clapped him on the shoulder, a rare smile on his face.
"Good job, kid. You saved our asses back there."
Lira nodded, her usual scowl replaced by a look of grudging respect. "Yeah, not bad for an E-rank."
Tomas, still shaken, managed a weak smile. "I thought we were done for. Thanks, Kael."
Kael nodded, his mind still reeling from what had just happened. He had always been the weakest, the one everyone looked down on. But now, with the Eclipse System, he had a chance to change that. A chance to become stronger, to protect the people he cared about.