The dungeon entrance loomed like a jagged wound in the earth. Arkenfall's morning had already forgotten Farhan, labeling him a disposable F-rank. That was perfect.
Inside, darkness pressed. The faint hum of lightning brushed against his fingers. Shadows stretched in recognition of him—silent, obedient, but restrained.
---
### **SYSTEM WINDOW**
> **Name:** Farhan
> **Tier:** 2 — Martial Apprentice
> **Talent:** ⚡ Lightning (F-Rank)
> **Hidden Authorities:** 🌑 Shadow (Active) | 🌀 Space (Locked) | 🌱 Life (Locked)
> **Stats:**
>
> * Strength: **36**
> * Agility: **44**
> * Endurance: **40**
> * Perception: **38**
> * Will: **42**
> **Power Points (PP):** **0**
> **Tier Progress:** + (Next Breakthrough: 2,500 PP — Locked)
---
The first chamber was quiet—too quiet.
A goblin hunter emerged, calculating, cautious, aware. Its claws struck, teeth snapping. Farhan sidestepped with precision, letting the shadows guide his movement. Lightning leapt. Bone shattered.
> **Enemy Killed: Goblin Hunter (F+)**
> **Power Points Acquired: +15 PP**
The pulsing "+" icons appeared.
**He paused.** Not enough for Tier. Not even close.
This was perfect. Focus. Build. Grow.
He allocated carefully:
* Agility +1 → 45
* Endurance +1 → 41
Every choice mattered. Every stat counted toward **survival in higher-tier fights**.
---
Another wave of scouts came, small and fast. Numbers overpowered, coordination tight.
Farhan moved deliberately. Every kill yielded PP, but he didn't rush. **This was training as much as combat.**
> **Enemy Killed: Goblin Scouts x7 (F-)**
> **Power Points Acquired: +84 PP**
He paused again. Allocation:
* Strength +1 → 37
* Will +1 → 43
* Perception +1 → 39
Slow, deliberate, precise. No shortcuts. No tier jumping.
---
Hours passed—or maybe minutes. Time felt irrelevant. Farhan reached the dungeon's heart.
The Goblin Chieftain, armored in bone, glared with red eyes. A mini-boss.
> **Enemy Approaching: Goblin Chieftain (F Boss)**
The fight was brutal. Claws tore stone. Lightning burned the air. Shadows bent subtly to his will. Every movement calculated, every strike measured.
> **Enemy Killed: Goblin Chieftain (F Boss)**
> **Power Points Acquired: +120 PP**
Again, the pulsing "+" icons appeared.
He paused. He touched each one deliberately, **allocating points to stats** instead of rushing Tier:
* Strength +1 → 38
* Agility +1 → 46
* Endurance +1 → 42
* Will +1 → 44
* Perception +1 → 40
Slow. Careful. Strategic. He wasn't Tier-jumping yet. That wall of 2,500 PP remained **out of reach**, a looming goal.
---
### **SYSTEM WINDOW**
> **Tier:** 2 — Martial Apprentice
> **Stats (Post-Allocation):**
>
> * Strength: **38**
> * Agility: **46**
> * Endurance: **42**
> * Perception: **40**
> * Will: **44**
> **Power Points (PP):** **0**
> **Next Tier Breakthrough:** 2,500 PP — Locked
---
Farhan stood alone in the dungeon's heart. Silence. Darkness. Residual mana lingering like a warning.
The world above knew nothing.
Space and Life slept, watching silently.
The grind was beginning. And this time, he would **stay under the wall**, building strength, perfecting control, and letting **stats compound naturally**. Tier would come eventually—but only when he was ready.
No shortcuts. No rush. Only growth.