The silence of the dungeon pressed in on me. My breathing echoed faintly against the jagged stone walls, the adrenaline of the fight with the third beast still coursing through my veins. My body ached, my muscles screamed, but there was something else gnawing at me.
I wasn't done here.
The system had already rewarded me for taking down the three dungeon beasts—Gloomfang, Dreadmaw, and the last stubborn brute—but that wasn't the only reason I'd stepped into this artificial labyrinth. From the very beginning, I'd come here for more than just swinging my sword at oversized nightmares.
I came here hunting for a Hidden Fragment.
In *The Strongest Hunter's Rise Online*, Hidden Fragments weren't just Easter eggs or shiny collectibles—they were game-breakers. Skills, items, abilities… things that turned average players into legends if they were lucky or smart enough to find them. In my case, I wasn't just lucky. I'd studied this stuff before I even logged into the game world. Hours of forums, fan theories, and obscure player journals had drilled it into my head.
And this dungeon? It held one of them.
I limped further down the cavern hall, the air damp and faintly metallic, like blood clinging to stone. My footsteps splashed in shallow pools of water that reflected faintly violet light from the glowing crystals embedded in the walls. The place was quiet now, eerily so after the chaos of combat.
The Hidden Fragment wasn't just lying in the open, of course. That would've been too easy. No, this was hidden behind a mechanism so obscure that anyone who didn't know what to look for would pass right by it.
But I knew.
I stopped at a stretch of wall where the crystals shone a little dimmer, almost smothered by the shadows. At first glance, it was just ordinary rock, nothing different from the rest of the dungeon. But when I brushed my hand against the surface, I felt it—a subtle vibration, like a hum buried deep in the stone.
"Still works," I muttered.
The trick was simple: three crystals on the wall were slightly misaligned. Most people would never notice. But if you pressed them in the right sequence—
*Click.*
The first crystal shifted slightly under my hand.
*Click.*
The second followed, releasing a faint tremor through the wall.
And the third—
*Click.*
The wall rumbled, splitting along hidden seams. Dust fell in thin streams as the rock folded inward, revealing a narrow passage carved into the earth. It wasn't grand or glowing with divine light, but to me, it was worth more than a dragon's hoard.
I smirked. "And they said hours of obsessive forum-reading was a waste of time."
The passage led into a small chamber, circular, with walls polished smooth like obsidian. At the center floated a single object: a small, glowing orb of violet energy, humming with restrained power. My breath caught the moment I saw it.
This was it.
A Hidden Fragment.
I stepped forward, each step echoing too loudly in the silent chamber. The orb pulsed once, twice, as if recognizing my presence. When I reached out, the energy flowed into me like water soaking into dry soil. My body stiffened, my mana veins flaring as the system's cold, neutral voice rang in my head.
---
[Hidden Treasure Discovered]
[Skill Obtained: Moon Slash]
[Description: Channel mana into your weapon to release a crescent-shaped slash of condensed mana energy. The arc extends outward, capable of cutting through multiple enemies or defenses in its path. Low mana cost per use, but strain builds with repeated casting.]
---
I sucked in a breath as the words scrolled across my vision.
Moon Slash.
I tightened my grip on my sword. Energy surged through my arm, not like lightning—wild and untamed—but steadier, flowing with a cosmic rhythm that felt alien yet familiar at the same time.
The system flickered again.
---
[Skill Resonance Detected]
[Moon Slash synchronizes with your body.]
[Compatibility: 97%]
[Moon Slash has been fully integrated into you.]
[Congratulations you have obtained the skill Moon Slash]
---
A grin tugged at my lips. This wasn't just some random skill. This skill resonated with me—literally.
"Status"
----------------------------------------------
Name: Arthur Dravenlock
Class: Magic Swordsman
Talent: Limitless
Attributes: Space, Lightning
....
Strength: 29
Speed: 28
Endurance: 29
Dexterity: 27
Perception: 27
Mana: 43
.....
Skills:
Passive: Perfect Poker
Active: Dash, Arc Discharge, Dimensional Veil
.....
Hidden Skills: Moon Slash
...
Arts:
Basic Sword Style (Common)
Basic Non-Armed Combat (Common)
----------------------------------------------
" Haha , I got it . I really got a hidden fragment."
"Alright then," I murmured, stepping back into position. "Let's see what you can do."
I raised my sword, letting mana flow into the blade. A faint violet glow shimmered along the edge, spreading outward until it formed a crescent arc of energy hanging just above the steel. With a sharp exhale, I swung.
The energy shot forward, leaving a wide arc of violet light in its wake. It carved across the chamber, slamming into the far wall with a flash of sparks and a deep gouge etched into the polished stone. The ground trembled faintly under my feet.
My jaw slackened. "...Oh. That's good."
The skill didn't tear through me with exhaustion, either. The mana cost was noticeable but not crippling. I could definitely use this in real fights—though I could already tell it wasn't something I could spam endlessly. The strain lingered faintly in my wrist and shoulder, a reminder that even low mana cost didn't mean free. But I don't need to worry about it too much because as I my body gets stronger I will able to spam more of these without feeling any strain on the body.
I looked at the scar my Moon Slash had left on the wall and chuckled under my breath. "That'll do."
For the first time since entering the dungeon, I allowed myself to relax. The beasts were slain, the quest complete, and now I had a new weapon at my disposal. This had been more than worth the bruises, cuts, and near-death experiences.
I turned back toward the passage and retraced my steps. The wall sealed behind me with a final thunk, erasing the chamber from sight. It was like it had never existed.
I made my way back toward the dungeon's exit.
When I stepped through the final archway, the dungeon's dim light gave way to the crisp brightness of the outside world. The sudden shift made me squint, but the fresh air was a blessing after hours in the stifling cavern.
I exhaled deeply. "Finally."
My stomach immediately reminded me of what I hadn't done all day—eat. The thought of heading straight to the cafeteria and demolishing a hot plate of food was tempting, painfully tempting.
But I shook my head. No. As much as my body begged for it, there was something I needed to take care of first. Food could wait.
So instead of turning toward the cafeteria, I pivoted and started walking toward the Academy's main gate. Beyond it lay the city streets, buzzing with merchants, stalls, and shops catering to Hunters of all ranks.
My stomach growled again, protesting my decision, but I pushed the hunger aside. "First things first," I muttered under my breath.