Chapter 13: The First Trial
Kaelen found himself standing in a place unlike anything he had ever seen. He wasn't inside a subway station, but in what seemed like a massive cave of shiny black stone, interspersed with glowing crystals hanging from the ceiling like cosmic chandeliers. The floor was covered with a thin layer of purple mist, and a strange scent, like metal and rust, filled the air.
Another message appeared before him from the System:
[New Quest: Clear the Dungeon]
[Objective: Eliminate all First Wave monsters in the dungeon.]
[Reward: Essence Crystals, Rare Resources, chance to obtain an Artifact.]
Kaelen didn't have time to ponder the significance of his newly acquired skill. All around him, a large number of creatures began to emerge from the shadows, their red eyes glowing in the darkness. He was now facing a real challenge.
The creatures started to move, not as a random horde, but with a strange intelligence. They were circling him, trying to pin him down. Kaelen quickly activated his "Analysis" skill in his mind, focusing his concentration on the nearest creature.
[First Wave creature detected. Type: Plague. Level: 5. Status: Hungry.]
The System's message stopped there. The skill didn't reveal any weaknesses or additional information, exactly as he had expected. But this didn't deter Kaelen. Instead of relying on easy information, he relied on the instincts he had honed from fighting in the underworld.
The creatures moved, but Kaelen was faster. His movements were fluid and efficient, as if he were dancing in a battlefield he knew well. He used a knife in his right hand and another knife in his left, fighting like an "untraceable shadow."
He didn't fight randomly; he struck at the weakest points he could reach: the neck, the limbs, or the head. But the challenge wasn't in the fight itself. These creatures were incredibly fast and small, making them difficult to hit. They swarmed around him, and their small size made them hard to track in the dark. When one of them managed to scratch his hand, he felt a burning pain, as if a simple scratch had become a deep wound. This was something new for him. The creatures' attacks carried a strange energy that did more harm than a normal wound.
With every creature he took down, its body disintegrated into luminous crystals, which were absorbed into his body, giving him a cool sensation that eased the pain. This was a source of power, but it came with increasing exhaustion.
Finally, after a few minutes of fierce fighting, Kaelen stood alone in the center of the cave, breathing heavily. He didn't emerge from the battle unscathed; his body was covered in dust and scratches, and pain surged through him. But he was alive, and stronger than before, and he now understood that the rules of combat in this world were completely different.
[First Wave creatures (Type: Plague) eliminated.]
[Quest Progress: 50%.]
[Potential Reward: Essence Crystals, chance to obtain an Artifact.]
Kaelen stood in silence, breathing hard, the sound of his breaths echoing in the crystal cave. He felt pain coursing through his body, but another feeling of satisfaction was growing within him. He had survived.
He took out the small Essence Crystals he had collected from the fight. They were warm and pulsed with a faint energy in his hand. When he decided to absorb them, he felt a surge of energy pass through his body, easing his pain and giving his muscles instant relief. It wasn't just healing; it was giving him a sense of rejuvenation and power, as if his body had become more resilient.
After catching his breath, Kaelen began to examine the area. He used his "Analysis" skill on the remains of one of the creatures:
[Remains of a First Wave creature detected. Type: Plague. Level: 5. Status: Dead.]
[Essence: Essence Crystal x1]
The analysis revealed nothing new, but it confirmed that these creatures were just the beginning. As he moved forward with greater caution, he noticed that the passage became narrower and darker, and the glowing crystals on the walls became fewer.
In the distance, he heard a new sound. It wasn't the sound of fast mice, but a heavy, terrifying sound, like the sound of footsteps on stone. The sound echoed regularly, and it was slowly approaching him, as if it were confident in its strength.
A new message appeared in his mind:
[First Wave creature detected. Type: Combat. Level: 7.]
Kaelen realized that the challenge was now bigger. This was the beginning of the dungeon's second phase, and the next enemy was completely different from what he had faced before.