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 appeared to be a massive cavern of gleaming black stone, interspersed with glowing crystals dangling 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: Dungeon Clearance][Objective: Eliminate all First Wave monsters in the dungeon.][Reward: Essence Crystals, Rare Resources, chance to obtain an Artifact.]
Kaelen had no 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 began to move, not as a random horde, but with strange intelligence. They were encircling him, trying to pin him down. Kaelen quickly activated his "Analysis" skill in his mind, focusing on the nearest creature.
[First Wave Creature Detected. Type: Plague. Level: 5. Status: Hungry.]
The System message stopped there. The skill did not reveal any weaknesses or additional information, exactly as he expected. But this did not deter Kaelen. Instead of relying on easy information, he relied on the instincts honed from his previous experiences facing challenges.
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 in his left, fighting like an "untraceable shadow."
He didn't fight randomly; he struck at the weakest points he could reach: the neck, limbs, or head. But the challenge wasn't in the fighting itself. These creatures were incredibly fast and small, making them difficult to hit. They were surrounding him, and their small size made them hard to track in the darkness. 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 caused more damage than a normal wound.
With each creature he eliminated, its body disintegrated into glowing crystals, which were absorbed into his body, giving him a cool sensation that alleviated the pain. This was a source of strength, but it came with increasing exhaustion.
Finally, after a few minutes of fierce fighting, Kaelen stood alone in the center of the cavern, 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, stronger than before, and he now realized 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 heavily, the sound of his breaths echoing in the crystalline cavern. He felt pain surge through him, but another feeling of satisfaction grew 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, alleviating his pain and giving his muscles immediate relief. It wasn't just healing; it gave him a sense of rejuvenation and strength, as if his body had become more resilient.
After regaining his breath, Kaelen began to examine the area. He used his "Analysis" skill on the remains of one of the creatures:
[Remains of 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 advanced more cautiously, he noticed that the corridor 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 scurrying rats, but a heavy, terrifying sound, like footsteps on stone. The sound echoed regularly, and it was slowly approaching him, as if confident in its power.
A new message appeared in his mind:
[First Wave Creature Detected. Type: Combat. Level: 7.]
Kaelen realized that the challenge was now greater. This was the beginning of the second phase of the dungeon, and the next enemy was completely different from what he had faced before.