The ruins of the previous dungeon were slowly fading away, as if swept away by a fading mist. Now, before Ha Neul and Nero, a vibrating portal opened, blackened with purple highlights, radiating a dull menace.
"The next challenge awaits us beyond this door," Ha Neul declared, his gaze fixed on the portal's shifting surface.
Nero nodded, a glint of excitement mixed with caution in his eyes. He snapped his fingers, and his cards slid between his palms, each emitting a faint, colorful glow.
Nero mentally scanned the current state of his cards, arranged according to their power and rarity:
Whisper Card (Sapphire, Rank 6): A rare card that allows the player to manipulate their opponent's auditory perceptions, creating illusions and disorientation.
Ego Seal (Platinum, Rank 3): A powerful mental barrier that protects his mind from psychic attacks and erases attempts at influence.
Shadow Blade (Ruby, Rank 7): A sharp offensive card capable of severing enemy energy ties.
Fragment of Lince (Emerald, Rank 8): A mysterious and unstable artifact recovered from the previous dungeon.
Nero's cards evolved with him, improving and gaining power through his experiences, victories, and defeats.
The Dungeon: Trial of the Alpha Eraser
The portal creaked, allowing them to enter a world with blurred outlines. A gigantic chamber opened before them, shrouded in heavy darkness, where light seemed to flee.
At its center stood the Alpha Eraser, an imposing creature made of shifting shadows and fragments of shattered memories. Its eyes, two black wells, seemed to suck in all forms of memory and power.
"It erases... it destroys everything it touches," Nero whispered.
Ha Neul, focused, called upon his unique gift: the direct absorption of raw Flux. His hand lit up with an intense blue light as he drew on the surrounding energy, merging his essence with that of the world.
"If it tries to erase my skills, I must remain one with the Flux," he whispered.
The Alpha Eraser attacked without warning, projecting a wave of dark energy that sought to erase the memories and abilities of both players.
Nero reacted quickly: he deployed the Whisper Card (Sapphire rank), which enveloped the creature in a fog of auditory illusions, temporarily disorienting it.
Ha Neul absorbed the wave of dark energy, transforming it into a new force that strengthened his body and mind. The pain was excruciating, but he controlled every influx of energy, merging and stabilizing the raw Flux.
Nero protected their minds with the Ego Seal (Platinum rank), a powerful mental shield that prevented the Eraser from erasing their memories or abilities.
The battle was long and demanding. The Eraser used all his power to weaken them, but their coordination and mastery of their abilities ultimately triumphed.
When the Alpha Eraser collapsed, a solemn silence filled the room. Ha Neul's interface vibrated gently, announcing the results:
[Rank 9 Dungeon Successfully Cleared]
Participants: Ha Neul / Nero
Time: 22 minutes
Survival Rate: 100%
Temporal Collapse: 1.5%
→ Reward Obtained: Aether Eye Fragment [Sealed Artifact – Partial]
→ +1 Authorization Towards Official Hunter Status
→ Dungeons Remaining Before Certification: 2
Ha Neul clutched the artifact fragment in his hand, feeling a mysterious energy condense within it. Nero, at his side, watched the scene with a mixture of satisfaction and apprehension.
"Two dungeons remaining," Ha Neul declared.
"And then?" Nero asked.
"Then I can officially become a Hunter... but then the real battle will begin." »
Player Status – End of Chapter 4
Ha Neul
Class: Fusioner
Rank: 8
Level: 81
Comprehension: 50
Specialty: Raw Flux Cellular Absorption
Dungeons Remaining Before Certification: 2
Reward: Aether Eye Fragment
Nero
Class: Fortune Teller
Rank: 8
Level: 89
Comprehension: 54
Abilities: Map of Whispering (Sapphire), Ego Seal (Platinum), Shadow Blade (Ruby)
Reward: Partial Sealing of Ancient Map