The Lower City of Astraea felt like a different world entirely. The polished marble streets and floating lanterns of the upper districts were long gone. Here, the air was thick with humidity and the smell of rust, rot, and volatile mana leaks. Old warding runes flickered uselessly on the walls, half-eroded from neglect. Pipes hissed, steam vented, and somewhere in the distance, someone screamed. No one paid attention.
Ethan pulled his cloak tighter and approached the rusted iron gate leading down into the sewer access. A bored-looking official sat on a wooden stool, flipping through a lurid magazine titled Mage Mishaps: Annual Explosion Edition.
The man glanced up. "Let me guess—F-Rank mania beast mission? Delivery job? Cauldron cleanup?"
Ethan shook his head. "Emergency anomaly mission."
The official froze.Slowly… slowly …he lowered his magazine.
"Son. Are you suicidal?"
"I'm an optimist."
"Same thing." The man sighed, rummaging through a box. "Here. Sign the liability waiver."
Ethan looked at the parchment. It was a short form:In case of spontaneous death, implosion, mana corruption, dismemberment, or transmogrification, the city is not responsible.
He signed. The man stamped it, muttering, "Hope you come back with all your limbs, kid."
The gate screeched open.
A wave of rotten mana rolled up from the darkness below. The lamps near the entrance flickered violently.
Ethan descended the spiral stairs.
1. The Underground
The sewer tunnels were wider than he expected, almost large enough for carts to pass through. Water dripped from ceiling pipes; pale fungal growths pulsed faintly along the walls. Every sound seemed amplified.
As he walked deeper, the Simulator's presence stirred.
[Environment Detected: Corrupted Mana Field]Flame affinity strengthened. Forbidden Technique resonance increasing.Recommended Action: Engage opponents for rapid growth.
Ethan exhaled slowly. "You really don't care if I die, do you?"
Incorrect. Your survival is optimal for future simulations.
"…Comforting."
The corridor ahead twisted sharply, leading to a chamber where the sewer water had pooled into a dark, swirling basin.
That was when he heard it.
A low growl.Wet. Gurgling. Inhuman.
Ethan raised his hand, mana cycling through his palm. A faint spark formed.
"Here we go."
A shape rose from the water—first a snout, then glowing red eyes, then a massive, thrashing body composed of flesh, sludge, and mana residue. A mutated sewer beast, warped by the anomaly.
A Corrupted Mana Croc.
Its jaws opened, dripping foul ooze.
Ethan whispered, "Great. A walking disease puddle."
2. First Clash
The beast lunged.
Ethan dove to the side; its teeth snapped shut inches from his arm. The force cracked the stone beneath it.
He extended his right hand.
"Flare Burst!"
A sphere of fire shot forward, slamming into the croc's side. Steam hissed violently—it recoiled but didn't fall.
The croc whipped its tail.
Ethan raised his arm. "Ashfield Barrier!"
A gray shield manifested—thin, weak, only half-formed. The tail smashed into it, shattering the barrier and throwing him back into a wall.
Pain bloomed across his ribs.
The Simulator chimed:
[Warning: Opponent strength exceeds current realm.]Adaptive battle growth activated.
"Well, no kidding!"
The croc surged forward again, mouth gaping.
Ethan rolled, narrowly avoiding being bitten in half. He scrambled to his feet and fired another Flare Burst—this one directly into the creature's maw.
The explosion sent it stumbling back.But still not dead.
"Seriously?! How much health do you have?!"
The croc roared, charging blindly.
3. Forbidden Technique Awakening
Ethan felt his pulse pounding, mana swirling uncontrollably. His breathing quickened, heat rising in his core.
The Forbidden Technique inside him—sealed, unknown—responded to the pressure like a beast waking from slumber.
[Forbidden Technique Resonance: 23%]Threshold reached. Pathway opening.New effect unlocked: Ember Surge (Prototype).
Ethan gasped as raw fire flooded his limbs.
"What—?!"
His vision sharpened.His veins glowed faint orange.His fists felt like they were burning from the inside.
The croc lunged again.
This time, Ethan didn't dodge.
He stepped forward.
His punch connected with the croc's snout—exploding into a burst of flames.The creature reeled, screaming.
Ethan didn't stop.
"Ember Surge—Ignition!"
His body moved faster, mana burning brighter. He launched a series of flaming strikes—each hit melting scales and charring corrupted flesh. The croc thrashed violently, but Ethan pressed forward, heat radiating off him like a small sun.
Finally, he gathered the last of his mana into a single sphere.
"Flare Burst—Overload!"
He shoved the burning orb into the croc's open jaws.
BOOM.
The explosion shattered nearby pipes and shook the entire tunnel. Water poured from cracks; steam filled the chamber in a blinding cloud.
When the mist cleared, the croc's massive corpse slumped into the water—smoldering, burnt through.
Ethan collapsed to one knee, chest burning, vision spinning.
But he was alive.
Barely.
4. The Anomaly Core
The water near the beast's corpse swirled unnaturally, pulling mana inward. A glowing crystal floated above the pool—twisted, pulsating with chaotic energy.
[Anomaly Core Detected]Absorb?[Yes] [No]
Ethan hesitated.
"…This is how people in stories explode, isn't it?"
Absorption probability of survival: 61%.Estimated benefits: substantial.
"You couldn't have led with 'substantial benefits'?"
He reached out.
Mana surged up his arm—the crystal dissolved into pure energy, flooding into his core.
His body shook violently. Sparks of flame burst from his skin. His vision went white.
Then…
Silence.
A warm, calm energy settled into him, fusing into his flame affinity.
The Simulator announced:
[Anomaly Absorption Successful]Flame Affinity → High-Grade Flame AffinityNew Passive: Corruption Resistance (Minor)Mana Capacity: +32%Technique Enhancement: Ember Surge (Stable Version Unlocked)
Ethan opened his eyes slowly.
"…Holy crap."
He felt stronger. Clearer. More alive.
A smile tugged at his lips.His first real battle… and he had won.
He staggered toward the exit, exhaustion pulling at him.
But there was something else in the dark.
Something watching him.
He froze.
A soft ripple of mana—cold, unfamiliar.
Then a whisper:
"Interesting specimen…"
Ethan spun around.
Nothing.
Just darkness.
The voice faded, but dread stuck to his spine like ice.
He exhaled shakily.
"Great. That's definitely not ominous at all."
He forced himself onward, climbing back toward the surface.
5. Back To the Light
When Ethan emerged from the sewer gate, the official nearly dropped his magazine.
"You're alive?!"
"Barely," Ethan mumbled.
The man handed him a pouch. "Twenty silver and a rare material. Paperwork will catch up later. Go rest before you pass out."
Ethan nodded and took a shaky step. He could already feel the Simulator preparing a report.
Tomorrow, Astraea would learn his name.
But for tonight—
He needed sleep.