Rayden leaned against the cavern wall, trying to calm his breathing as the glow from the System screen pulsed softly in front of him.
"So let me get this straight," Rayden said, wiping dirt off his forehead, "the world is about to end, monsters are going to be popping up everywhere, and my job in this new world is… what? A dungeon crawler?"
The screen flickered for a moment before a new prompt appeared:
[Correction: Your Official Job: Businessman]
Rayden stared, blinking.
"Businessman? You're joking."
The System pulsed, text appearing with a little sparkle as if it was mocking him.
"Not joking. You are now officially a Dungeon Crawling Businessman. Your class is designed for maximum profit in the upcoming chaos."
Rayden ran a hand through his messy blue hair, the ridiculousness of it all hitting him again.
"So… what, am I supposed to sell herbs to monsters?"
The System ignored the sarcasm and continued:
"Your starter class skill is [Bargaining Aura]. This skill increases your ability to negotiate prices when selling items such as herbs, crystals, and monster materials. Sellers will be more inclined to pay higher rates, and you will instinctively know the best time and place to sell for maximum profit."
Rayden's eyes widened slightly.
"So… I can ask for more money when selling stuff?"
"Correct."
Rayden blinked a few times before letting out a breath.
"That… actually doesn't sound too bad."
"Additionally, I suggest you collect and sell as many resources as possible, especially herbs and crystals."
"Why?"
The System's glow brightened, as if emphasizing the next point:
"Because in a year, these resources will become common. Right now, rare herbs and dungeon crystals are priceless, but once humanity adapts, their value will drop drastically."
Rayden swallowed.
"So you're saying I need to hoard and sell early to cash out before the market crashes?"
"Correct. This is your advantage as the first awakener."
Rayden let out a laugh, the sound echoing awkwardly in the cave.
"Great. First I get kicked out of my apartment, then I get eaten by a werewolf, and now I'm apparently an early investor in dungeon herbs."
The System pulsed calmly:
"Adapt or die."
Rayden's laughter stopped.
"Yeah… you're right."
He pushed himself off the wall, picking up the crystal shard from the ground. The cavern around him was still and quiet, but somewhere deeper inside, he could hear the faint growls of the lycan echoing through the tunnels.
"So, how do I start?"
The System flickered, displaying:
[Quest Progress: Survive the First Dungeon]
Collect herbs and crystals.
Avoid the lycan.
Identify the safest escape routes.
Sell collected resources when you escape.
Reward: [Starter Business Expansion Pack] (Details locked)
Rayden looked at the glowing herbs around the cavern, their leaves shimmering softly under the light of the crystals.
"Alright then. Let's make some money."
He began moving carefully, crouching low to avoid making noise, collecting the herbs one by one and stuffing them into the cloth bag tied to his belt. Every time he pulled a plant free, the System would softly ding in confirmation, labeling it with names he didn't recognize:
[Moonflare Grass]
[Cobalt Vine]
[Bloodroot Herb]
[Ironleaf Moss]
"These better sell for a good price," he muttered under his breath.
As he moved, the System whispered softly in his mind, marking the locations of herbs and crystals, analyzing which ones were the rarest, and quietly reminding him to avoid the tunnels where the lycan's growls grew louder.
Every time the lycan's distant roar echoed, Rayden's heart raced, but the System's calm voice guided him away, helping him circle back to safe zones.
It was terrifying.
But it was also strangely… exciting.
"From a broke part-timer to a dungeon crawling businessman, huh?"
He paused, gripping the crystal shard, looking at his reflection in one of the glowing crystals.
His reflection looked tired, eyes shadowed from days without sleep, but there was something else there.
A spark.
"Alright, System. Let's see how far this business can go."
Rayden crouched low behind a cluster of glowing crystals, clutching the cloth bag stuffed with herbs and small crystal shards. The System's glow pulsed softly in front of him, casting eerie shadows in the cavern.
"A lycan is moving through the northern tunnel. I suggest staying still for now."
Rayden pressed his back against the cool stone, holding his breath as a deep, guttural growl echoed from the tunnel nearby. Heavy footsteps thudded against stone, the sound of claws scraping echoing like nails on glass.
His heart pounded in his chest.
Thump… thump… thump…
The lycan's silhouette passed by the crystals, its golden eyes scanning the darkness, sniffing the air. Rayden bit his lip, praying it wouldn't catch his scent.
The lycan paused, head turning slightly, sniffing again.
Rayden's grip on the crystal shard tightened until his knuckles turned white.
Then, with a low rumble, the lycan moved on, its heavy steps fading into the deeper tunnels.
Rayden exhaled shakily, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"I hate this. I really, really hate this."
"Surviving is part of the business, Rayden."
"Yeah, yeah…"
Once the area was clear, Rayden moved quickly, guided by the System's faint directional prompts toward the "resource hot spots." Along the walls of the cavern, he found clusters of herbs growing in the cracks, their leaves shimmering softly under the crystal light.
The System highlighted each with a soft ding:
[Twilight Bloom] – Rare
[Silverthorn Herb] – Rare
[Verdant Ashroot] – Uncommon
Rayden grinned, carefully plucking each one, his cloth bag getting heavier.
"These better sell for a fortune…"
As he moved further, the cavern opened up into a smaller chamber, the ceiling low and covered in hanging vines. In the center was a patch of dark soil, littered with glowing blue mushrooms and strange red flowers with gold-flecked petals.
"This is a rare herb cache. I recommend collecting everything here."
Rayden dropped to his knees, carefully plucking the mushrooms and flowers, the System labeling each one with a ding and listing their potential uses.
"Hah… At least it's not a lycan nest…"
ROOOOAAAAR!
Rayden froze, herbs still in hand, as the roar shook the chamber, dust falling from the ceiling.
"Correction: It's near a lycan nest."
"WHAT?!"
The ground shook as heavy footsteps echoed again, getting closer. Rayden stuffed the remaining herbs into his bag, slinging it over his shoulder.
"Escape route: Tunnel 3 to your right. Move now."
Rayden didn't need to be told twice.
He bolted, boots thudding against the dirt and stone, the glow of the crystals rushing past him as he sprinted through the tunnel. Behind him, another roar echoed, closer now, followed by the scraping of claws and the thump of heavy paws.
"I am not dying today! I've got herbs to sell!"
The tunnel twisted and turned, but the System projected a faint arrow in his vision, guiding him through forks and narrow passages. The roars grew fainter behind him, but Rayden didn't stop until he burst back into the main cavern where he first fell in.
He doubled over, panting, clutching his knees as sweat dripped from his chin.
"That… was way too close."
"Successful escape. Herb collection: 78 units. Crystal shards: 6 units."
Rayden let out a weak laugh.
"I'm going to be rich."
He looked up, the glow of the crystals lighting the cavern, and saw the rope he had tied earlier dangling into the pit from the surface, swaying gently.
"Finally… time to get out of here."
Rayden grabbed the rope, testing it before pulling himself up. His arms and shoulders ached, but the thought of fresh air—and selling his haul—pushed him onward.
As he neared the top, the System pulsed again:
"Rayden, I recommend you prepare. The first Dungeon Gates will appear on the surface tomorrow."
Rayden paused, looking back into the cavern, its eerie glow, the herbs, the crystals, and the faint echo of distant growls.
"So this will become normal, huh?"
"Yes. And you will thrive in it if you are prepared."
Rayden smirked, pulling himself up onto the ground above, dirt and moss sticking to his clothes.
"Then I'll be ready."
As he stood outside The Grey Estate, dawn breaking on the horizon, the System displayed a single message:
[Dungeon Crawling Businessman, Day One Complete.]
To be continued…