《This is not the Life That I Imagined》 Chapter 1-Unfamiliar place. John¡¯s fingers brushed against the cool, unfamiliar surface of the bed as he shifted, gradually awakening to the unsettling reality of a strange room. He felt a headache and his vision was blurred, but one thing was clear¡ªthis wasn¡¯t his room. The space was compact with plain walls devoid of any decoration or windows. The room was sparsely furnished: a bed, a closet, and a single locked door. Nothing else. John¡¯s eyes swept across the room, searching for something¡ªanything¡ªthat might explain his situation. ¡°Where am I?¡± John muttered, rubbing his aching forehead as if trying to massage clarity into it. The last thing he remembered was¡­ What was it? He frowned trying to grasp his foggy memory but it was like smoke, it can¡¯t be grasped. He staggered to the door, yanking on the handle. ¡°Hey, why isn¡¯t this opening?¡± he shouted, banging on the door with all his strength. ¡°Is anyone out there? Can someone hear me? Why am I here?¡± The only response was the echo of his own voice, bouncing off the walls, amplifying the emptiness. He slammed the door repeatedly, each bang growing more frantic. "Heeey! IS ANYONE OUTSIDE?" BANG! BANG! BANG! John''s attempts to open the stubborn door echoed in the confined space, punctuating the stillness with the rhythm of his frustration. He shouted and slammed the door again and again, but there was nothing......Not a single sound from the other side of the door. John¡¯s heart raced, the stillness of the room pressing in on him. The silence that followed his desperate pleas added weight to the realization that he was truly alone, trapped in this foreign place and without answers. Finally giving up, he slumped onto the bed, burying his head in his hands as inner turmoil played across his face. His thoughts raced, attempting to piece together the fragments of his memory. How did he end up here? And why? Kidnapping seemed the only logical explanation, but why him? He was nobody special¡ªjust a 27-year-old guy of average features, standing at 180 cm with a weight of 95 kg¡ªwho had coasted through life without making much of an impact. He managed to get a good enough grade in high school to enter a decent university. It wasn¡¯t among the best in the world, maybe not even in the top hundred, but it was still respectable. And it did not cost him much to study mechatronics engineering. The college usually takes five years. The first year of engineering studies are dedicated to basic courses that all students must take, followed by four years of courses in the department of the student¡¯s choice. He¡¯d taken seven and a half years to finish a five-year mechatronics degree, He was more interested in games, anime and novels than studying. He was not lacking in intelligence or facing any obstacle that delayed him, he just thought that after high school, he could relax and not push himself to study any further. And so, he rarely studied. Even the military had passed on him. Fortunately¡ªor unfortunately, depending on how one saw it¡ªhe received an exemption after the medical check due to his bad eyesight. Back to the present, when John woke up, he found his glasses beside him on the bed, but nothing else. Not his phone nor his wallet, not even his keys. ¡®None of this makes sense.¡¯ John took a deep breath. ¡®Calm down, John. You need to calm down¡­ First, I need to call for help, but I don¡¯t know how without my phone, though. Second, why would anyone want to kidnap me? Me and my family are not poor by any means¡ªthank God. But we are not wealthy, not even close. So, kidnaping me for money can''t be possible. What else? I¡¯m not a genius to be kidnapped to do some forbidden research. Seriously, if I don''t have to get a job because my dad will not give me allowance for the rest of my life, no one will remember that I exist. I seriously can''t think of any reasonable explanation for why I''m here. And my memory before waking up is blurry¡¯ He looked around the room again, searching for anything he might have missed. His gaze fell on the closet. It was the only place left to check. With a mix of hope and desperation, he approached it, pulling open the door. Inside, nestled in the shadows, was a tablet. ¡°What the¡ª?¡± John picked up the tablet, his pulse quickening as he unlocked it. A message was displayed on the screen:The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. (Subject of study, code name: Ordinary-Sleuth. Name: John Howard. Age: 27. Stats: Strength: 9 (Normal Human Strength Ranges Between 7-10). Agility: 6 (Normal Human Agility Ranges Between 6-9). Flexibility: 5 (Normal Human Flexibility Ranges Between 4-9). Vitality: 10 (Normal Human Vitality Ranges Between 5-9). Intelligence: 9 (Normal Human Intelligence Ranges Between 5-10). Subject Talents: 1- INSANITY CHECK (Passive) Triggered when the subject faces unfavorable circumstances. Effect: Boost all attributes by 5 for 40 minutes. Side effect: All stats drop by 3 for 60 minutes afterward. Extreme exhaustion. 2- Double Focus: Effect: Allows the subject to concentrate on a single target, enhancing vision and hand-eye coordination. Warning: You have been chosen for a test. It will reveal if you have what it takes to be part of our organization. Brace yourself for the trial.) ¡°What in the world?!¡± John¡¯s eyes widened as he read the information.¡± Subject of study!! ¡­ Am I now a subject of study?! Are you serious?!¡± He stared at the screen in disbelief, his voice rising with each sentence. ¡± What the hell?! And what''s with the status?! Do I have this kind of talent?! Why haven''t I known anything about it until now?! Test! ¨CWhat test?! why would I want to join your organization? ARE YOU PEOPLE CRAZY?¡± What John read left him confused, infuriated and in skepticism of what was going on. He took a deep breath to calm down, he knew he lacked a lot of information so he chose to leave what he read aside for now as getting out of here is his first priority He attempted to switch the screen or perform any other action, but the screen stubbornly stayed on the message. Click. Click. Click. ¡°Is this thing faulty, or is this how it was made? What kind of piece of garbage is this?¡± John cursed in frustration. His futile attempt to use the tablet echoed through the quiet expanse. He gave up when the tablet screen didn¡¯t change after all his effort. John was about to toss the tablet aside when it vibrated and the screen displayed the following: (Now that you are awake, proceed to the next step.) Beeb! A soft beep echoed in the room as a hidden drawer slid open from the closet. Inside was a short sword and an empty backpack. "A Sword! Really!! Is this some sort of sick game?!¡± John¡¯s voice trembled with a mix of anger and fear. This was getting more bizarre by the minute. Reluctantly, he took the sword. The cool touch of its hilt sent shivers down his spine, and the weight of it was a reminder of the seriousness of his situation. His mind raced with questions, his heart pounded with anxiety, and he struggled to make sense of the bizarre scenario unfolding around him. Ring The tablet vibrated, revealing a new message on the screen: (The test will start after opening the door. Open the door? YES/NO.) ¡®Is this even a choice?¡¯ What choice does he really have? how can he survive if he stays? He has no food or anything else. ¡®Well, I have to open the door anyway.¡¯ John pressed (Yes). (the door will be open in 3¡ª2¡ª1) A tick sound echoed in the room as the door clicked open. John took a deep breath, gripped the sword tighter, and stepped out cautiously. The corridor beyond the door was dimly lit and eerily silent. Dust particles danced in the air, catching the feeble light. At the end of the corridor, a gate loomed, old and rusted. John, filled with dread, approached it cautiously, the metallic creak of the gate as he pushed it open intensified his heart rate. The moment John steps outside, a cacophony of unfamiliar sounds and the unexpected sight of a jungle greeted him. Dense, dark, and foreboding, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and vegetation. He squinted against the darkness, trying to discern the boundaries of the mysterious jungle that now loomed before him. John was trying to make sense of this new environment, when the tablet vibrated. He retrieved the tablet from the backpack, it cast a glow on John''s face as he read the notification. (Mission 1: Find level 1 monster. Time limit: not limited.) John''s breath hitched, his eyes widening with a mix of disbelief and horror. ¡°What in the world?! A monster! Are you serious?!¡± His heart pounded as he tried to process the absurdity of the situation. "Is this something of a video game now?! I didn''t kill a chicken in my life and you want me to find the so-called monster!! Really!! Wouldn''t it be easier to kill me straight away?!¡± In a surge of panic, John raised his trembling hand, a defiant middle finger directed at an unseen force orchestrating this nightmare. ¡°Screw you, guys, wherever you are¡±. john took a deep, shaky breath, his attempt to steady himself futile in the face of an unimaginable threat. ¡°Let¡¯s look at the bright side. Which I don''t see anywhere¡ªbut let''s pretend that there are a brighter side to whatever this is... I don''t have to do the mission... Right! Right? I don''t have to... it has no time limit anyway. I mean¡ªI hope I will not have to face, kill or even see the so-called monster... Maybe they misspelled it or something¡­ Maybe all I have to do is find a small bird or rabbit... OH GOD I''m freaking out and rumblings none stop talking to myself¡­ Did I go crazy?!" (If you don¡¯t enter the jungle in the next 15 minutes, the consequences will be dire. Time remaining: 14 minutes, 15 seconds) ¡°I want to see how dire,¡± John said as he crossed his hands and sat in the ground. Minutes ticked by while John scoffed at the tablet warning. a jolt of electricity shot through him, sending him sprawling to the ground, convulsing in pain. (Penalty for not following orders: electric shock for 3 minutes.) ¡°Wh-what the hell?! Agh¡ªah!¡± John screamed while convulsing on the floor. The three minutes felt like hours for John. When the shock finally stopped, he lay on the ground, shaking and gasping for breath. The tablet came to life once more: (Mission 1: Find level 1 monster. Time limit: not limited. If you do not enter the jungle within the next 15 minutes, the consequences will be dire. Penalty for not following orders: electric shock for 4 minutes.) Upon receiving the mission, John''s initial defiance gave way to a sober realization. The gravity of his predicament set in, and a reluctant acceptance settled on his features. The tablet''s glow reflected in his eyes as he contemplated the unknown dangers lurking in the jungle. Chapter 2- Into the Unknown. John struggled to regain his composure as the wind rustled the leaves ahead, sending an eerie shiver down his spine. The sound, usually soothing, now heightened his unease. The unknown loomed before him, and his mysterious arrival in this strange place only intensified his unsettled feelings. ¡°I hope all of this is a bad joke. I''ve lived for 27 years and never heard of any freaking monster. ¡°John muttered, taking cautious steps toward the jungle. ¡°Who¡¯s the twisted sicko who dragged me here? There are no monsters in this world, John. Well, if I face a lion or a bear, I¡¯m dead. But hey, it¡¯s no monster. That¡¯s the bright side, right?" His movements were slow, eyes constantly scanning the dense jungle. His footsteps echoed in the oppressive darkness, breaking the silence between each subtle rustle of leaves. John, walking aimlessly, not knowing which way leads out of this place. He is guided more by the primal need to escape than any sense of direction. Intensely scanning his surroundings, wary of any sudden movements in the trees, the tablet suddenly vibrated, startling John into a clumsy dance that nearly sent his sword flying. ¡°damn it, what else?¡° He fumbled for it, and he sees the following: (Your talent ¡°Double Focus¡± is active. Warning: there is an anomaly! It¡¯s not working as recorded in the system.) ¡°Great,¡± John whispered, his voice barely audible. ¡°I have a talent I didn¡¯t know about, and it¡¯s already malfunctioning.¡± Suddenly, a guttural, raspy groan and the crackling of twigs sliced through the air, freezing him in place. The sound of hunger, pain, and decay entwined, a cacophony that chilled John''s veins. With each passing moment, the dreadful sounds grew more intense, and the eerie chorus was amplified by the rustling leaves. ¡®What in God¡¯s name is that sound? Is the monster re¡ªreal?!¡¯ He broke out in a cold sweat as he stood still. He dared not breathe, fearing that even the softest exhale might draw the attention of whatever grotesque entity lurked in the shadows. His heart raced as he waited, every second felt like an eternity. The rustling leaves now carry an ominous undertone, blending with the guttural groans that resonate through the darkness. John''s senses heightened as he struggled to decipher the origin of the unsettling sounds. His grip tightened on the sword, every muscle tense as he attempted to blend into the shadows. The tablet, dormant for a moment, suddenly flickers back to life. The screen¡¯s glow reflects on his face, displaying the same message about his talent. He barely registered it, his attention locked on the dreadful sounds closing in. Narrowing his eyes and biting his lips at the words on the screen, hoping the tablet light won¡¯t attract the creature. His heart races, each beat echoing in his ears as the sound of twigs snaping become closer. "Is this... the monster?" John whispers to himself, fear coating his voice. Suddenly, a hideous figure emerged from the shadows. Its form, barely discernible in the dim light, moved with an unnatural gait. The monster inched closer, revealing gnarled limbs and a face twisted in agony. Reality crashed around him as the monster came into full view, its horrifying features etched in itself into John¡¯s mind. A primal fear seized John, and without a second thought, he turned and bolted, his footsteps echoing through the jungle, each one a desperate plea for escape. And as John sprinted through the tangled underbrush, the creature''s unearthly howls echoed behind him, creating a chilling counterpoint to the relentless drumming of his heart. His breaths came in ragged gasps, each step pushing him further into the depths of the unknown. The tablet continued its flickering and vibrating that only fueled John''s anxiety. The monstrous silhouette pursued him, its presence manifested in the fleeting shadows and the consent horrifying growls. In his desperate flight, John stumbled over roots and vines, his mind a whirlwind of fear and confusion. The monster''s groans grow distant, but the primal fear lingers, making John wish for wings to flee faster out of here. He ran without keeping track of the distance or time, relentless until he gasped for breath, unable to continue. Finally, when he could run no more, he collapsed against a tree. ¡°What the hell was that?¡± he panted, his hands trembling uncontrollably. His breath comes in ragged bursts as he struggles to articulate. ¡°Wh¡ªWhat did I just see?¡± He can¡¯t calm himself after seeing that thing. The tablet vibrates again, scaring John into throwing it away. ¡°Mother of peaches ¡­ scared the hell out of me. ¡° His eyes scan the message on the screen as he lifts the tablet from the damp and leafy jungle ground. (Your talent ¡°INSANITY CHECK¡± is active. Warning: there is an anomaly! It¡¯s not working as recorded in the system.) ¡°I swear, this thing is more trouble than it¡¯s worth,¡± he muttered, stuffing the tablet back into his backpack. But the device vibrated again before he could put it away.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. (The system detected that you encountered a level 1 monster: Wild-Fury. Wild-Fury: type: normal level: 1 status: unknown (the status will be revealed by killing 5 or observing 10 of the same monster for an extended period of time) skills: unknown updating the mission) John stared at the new mission displayed on the screen. (Previous mission: Find a level 1 monster. Time limit: No limit. ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Current mission: kill a level 1 monster. Time limit: 4 hours. Penalty for failing the mission: Electric shock for 15 minutes. Warning: This could cause permanent paralysis. Reward for mission completion: 10 points for killing your first monster ¡°Points can be used to buy from the organization¡±). He was stunned, for the first time since he awoke, he didn¡¯t know how to react. Should he laugh at the absurdity of these people thinking he would go back to the monster? Should he rage at the twisted sicko who issues this mission? Should he despair at his cluelessness and hopelessness? Or should he fear the unknown, the wild-fury, the penalty, or the fact that someone, who he had no clue about, knew and monitored him? A whirlwind of emotions hit him¡ªnone could help him out of this twisted test. John stared at the words on the screen with a face full of reluctance and despair. He couldn¡¯t understand why any normal human being would try to get close to that creepy monster and kill it with a sword! John gritting his teeth in anger while his gaze fixed on the tablet, as if addressing an unseen presence behind the screen ¡°I can understand if you give me a gun or something, but sword! really!!! A sword against that freak of nature?! what could you gain from this, huh?! WHAT COULD YOU GAIN, YOU PIECE OF¨C¨C?!" He snapped for a second and let out a roar at the end. The next moment, his pupils dilated, his eyes widened, and his breath caught in his throat. As John''s heart pounded in his ears, the realization struck like a lightning bolt ¨C two shadows, two twisted forms, dancing in the periphery. Without wasting another second, John sprinted with everything he had in the opposite direction. Much to his horror, he realized that there were several ferocious Wild-Furys in the jungle. He ran and ran until he couldn¡¯t hear the monsters anymore. Now resting his back against a tree trying to catch his breath. ¡®S#*t, I shouldn¡¯t have made a loud voice. this is not going well. how will I survive this place? ¡® the tablet vibrated again it the same message as the previous one. (Your talent ¡°INSANITY CHECK¡± is active. Warning: there is an anomaly! It¡¯s not working as recorded in the system.) He wanted to scream, to rage against the insanity of it all, but he knew better. The jungle wasn¡¯t safe. The damp ground, with his sweat and the wind made him shiver from the cold. After catching his breath, he starts walking again but this time more carefully than any time in his life. Overwhelmed by a sense of coldness, abandonment, fear, and frustration, he appeared as fragile as a leaf, ready to be swept away by the slightest breeze. Each step he takes requires the full force of his willpower and resolve to survive, rather than surrender to despair. The tablet vibrated, reminding him of the time ticking away. (Time remaining: 3 hours 30 minutes.) As John traversed the dark jungle, each step weighed heavy with fear and uncertainty. The tablet''s persistent vibrations served as a cruel reminder of the impending mission ¨C ''Kill a level 1 monster.'' A task that seemed insurmountable given the horrible encounter he''d just escaped. Hours passed in a blur of anxious footsteps and rustling leaves. (Time remaining: 3 hours). The countdown on the tablet mercilessly ticking away, echoing the drumming of John''s heart. (Time remaining: 2 hours). (Time remaining: 1 hour 30 minutes). (Time remaining: 1 hour 12 minutes). His exhaustion was palpable; every breath felt like a struggle against the oppressive darkness. (Time remaining: 60 minutes). In the final hour, desperation clawed at him. Thoughts raced through his mind like shadows dancing on the jungle floor. ''Should I confront it? What if I fail? Can I really face that monstrous thing?'' Doubt consumed him, each doubt breeding another. (Time remaining: 40 minutes). As the countdown neared its end, a sinister groan echoed through the trees, jolting him from his tormenting thoughts. Panic set in. The monster was near, and he was nowhere near ready. He stumbled, legs heavy with fatigue, anxiety clenched his chest. The groans of the unseen monster penetrated the dense foliage. Panic surged, urging him to flee, yet his legs, heavy with exhaustion, threatened to betray him. From the shadows, the monster Wild-Fury emerged, a grotesque entity that defied the natural order. Its twisted form moved with an unnatural gait, each step sending shivers up John''s back. The creature stood at a height that surpassed any human John saw, its limbs gnarled and contorted in a distorted dance of pain. The skin, if one could call it that, clung tightly to its skeletal frame, revealing a sickly pallor. The creature''s body seemed to writhe with unseen agony, every movement accompanied by an unsettling symphony of cracking joints and muted groans. The creature''s movements were disturbing, as if pain and malevolence forged a horrendous ballet. John''s senses were assaulted by the stench of decay and putrefaction, a foul odor that permeated the air. In the dim light of the tablet''s glow, the details of the Wild-Fury became clearer, each feature etched in horrifying detail. The monster¡¯s guttural groans, now closer than ever, creating an aura of dread that lingered in the air. The creature''s eyes gleamed with malevolent intent, its twisted smile widening as it reveled in the terror it instilled. The countdown clock flashed its relentless numbers, ticking away the seconds to confrontation. (Time remaining: 39 minutes 47 seconds) The fight was inevitable. His trembling hand tightened around the sword, every nerve in his body screamed at him to run. The creature claws draw near¡ªalmost reaching his head¡ªwith a surge of instinct, john activated his two dormant skills, in a heartbeat, the world around him sharpened. John¡¯s senses heightened¡ªexhaustion momentarily forgotten. The sword in his hand felt like an extension of himself. The fear that had gripped him transformed into a cold focused. All sounds vanished, every tree disappeared, leaving only this abomination in his sight. The monster¡¯s movements were jerky, unnatural. Its decayed limbs moved with an eerie coordination as it swing its hands at John. The details of the Wild-Fury, from the angle of its claws to the contorted movement of its head, became crystal clear in John''s heightened senses. John jumped out of Wild-Fury''s reach, threw the tablet away, and used both hands to hold the sword tightly as he fended off the creature bouncing at him with its sharp claws. The attack jolted John making him talking a step backward to steady himself. His hand numbed under the assault. The clash of steel against decaying flesh created a macabre melody that resonated through the night. Guttural groans from the Wild-Fury intertwined with John''s grunts of effort, forming an otherworldly chorus. John''s movements, guided by a mix of fear and newfound determination, were a chaotic yet calculated effort to evade the monster''s relentless advances. He sidestepped the monster''s lunges, and blocked what he can¡¯t evade. Wild-fury terrifying assault continued, with every passing second its onslaught becoming more relentless. John struggled to maintain his defense, the weight of each blow taking a toll on him. Sweat trickled down his forehead as he sought an opening, a chance to counterattack. The countdown clock neared its end, a constant reminder of the impending mission failure. Whether it was an unexpected surge of strength or sheer willpower, he continued to face the monstrous adversary with unwavering resolve. Chapter 3- Points of Survival. Moonlight filtered through the dense canopy, creating a play of shadows that seemed to dance with the eerie sounds of the night. The air hung heavy with tension as the clash continued under the moonlit canvas. In the midst of the struggle, John''s senses remained on high alert, his every instinct attuned to the primal rhythm of the battle. His body moved with a ferocity that defied his exhaustion, every tendon and muscle working in harmony, and his sword became an extension of his will. The confrontation was brutal, a relentless onslaught of attacks and counterattacks. John parried a vicious strike, his sword clashing against the creature¡¯s claw with a metallic echo that resonated through the silent jungle. He clumsily evaded a swift jab, thrusting his sword forward in a vain attempt to wound the monster, only to clash with its twisted limb in a fierce and powerful blow. The Wild-Fury, relentless in its pursuit, showed no signs of slowing. The monster¡¯s claws slashed through the air, missing John by a hair¡¯s breadth. He stumbled back, narrowly avoiding certain death. The creature''s cold breath grazed his skin, and the stench of decay filled his nostrils. the creature attacked fiercely, moving with a savage will that chilled him to the bone. John found himself caught in the relentless assault of the rampaging Wild-Fury. As the countdown clock reached its final minutes, the battle intensified. Each strike became a desperate bid for survival. He knows that being paralyzed in this forest is as good as a death sentence. Should he curse his own cowardice for prolonging the inevitable? Perhaps¡ªAfter all, it was this very nature that caused him to spend 7 years studying what he could have finished in 5 years¡­ but that¡¯s a lesson for his future self to learn. John''s mind, once clouded by fear, now operated with a heightened clarity. Every move, every swing of the sword, was a calculated effort to overcome the monstrous adversary. Dodging and parrying, John fought to survive the onslaught, every move a desperate bid to turn the tide in his favor. The tablet, forgotten in the chaos, still vibrated intermittently, a haunting reminder of the organization''s unseen eyes monitoring the unfolding drama. John, however, was consumed by the immediate threat. The fight had become a singular focus, a struggle to outwit not just the monster but the impending penalty lurking in the shadows. Yet, in the heart of the chaos, a glimmer of zeal sparked within John. His exhaustion was a distant thought as adrenaline fueled his every movement. His first fight, a clumsy dance of evasion, had kept him on the defensive. However, the chaos birthed an opening, propelling John into action. with a sudden burst, John advanced, his sword arcing in a deadly swing. The creature, caught off guard, stumbled backward, its grotesque features twisted in surprise. Seizing the opportunity, John attacked, his sword slashing through the air in a ruthless barrage. The creature roared, its gut-wrenching shriek echoing through the jungle, But John was relentless, his attacks growing fiercer with each passing second. ¡°DIE ALREADY, YOU UGLY THING¡± John shouted amidst his slashes. He could feel his resolve strengthening, a burning resilience to survive this life-or-death struggle. The jungle became a battleground, where each clash of steel against decay added to the symphony of their struggle. The countdown clock, a relentless companion, added urgency to every swing of the sword. In a moment of haste, John''s foot caught on a gnarled root, sending him stumbling to the side. The creature seized the opportunity, lunging forward with an outstretched arm, aiming to rip him apart. Time seemed to slow as John, fueled by sheer instinct, executed a move he never knew he was capable of. With a swift twist of his body, John evaded the Wild-Fury''s grasp, his sword arcing in a deadly parry. The clash of steel against decay reached its zenith, and with a final, powerful swing, he struck the creature. His sword sliced through its decaying flesh, sending its head flying¡ªa final, defiant note in the symphony of the night. The countdown clock struck zero. John, chest heaving, stood over the fallen creature. The battle, a vicious struggle against the unknown, had reached its conclusion. A long-awaited yet short-lived silence was interrupted by the tablet vibrating with a new message. (Mission Completed: Kill a level 1 monster Time Limit: 4 hours. Reward: 10 points) John, still processing the surreal events, His heart raced with triumph, yet a knot of uncertainty and nausea twisted in his stomach. With trembling legs, He sat on the ground to catch his breath, feeling shocked. At least he now knows that his talents are real. This is as real as it can get. He still needs time to get used to this game-like world. ¡®If another Wild-Fury comes while I¡¯m asleep, I will die¡­ Tiredness aside, the side effect of my talent is about to kick in¡¯ john thoughts as he resisted the fatigue. Each small step felt like massive burden, as he moved to retrieve the tablet from the cold ground. He noticed several notifications, the last one signaling mission completion, accompanied by three others. The first two notifications were repeated message: (Detected that John talent Insanity Check have more applications than what was known, record the changes¡ª)Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. (Detected that John talent Double Focus have more applications than what was known, record the changes¡ª) The last one was: ________________________________________ (Subject of study, code name: Ordinary-Sleuth. Name: John Howard. Age: 27. Stats: Strength: 9 (Normal Human Strength Ranges Between 7-10). Agility: 6 (Normal Human Agility Ranges Between 6-9). Flexibility: 5 (Normal Human Flexibility Ranges Between 4-9). Vitality: 10 (Normal Human Vitality Ranges Between 5-9). Intelligence: 9 (Normal Human Intelligence Ranges Between 5-10). Subject Talents: 1- INSANITY CHECK (Passive) Triggered when the subject faces unfavorable circumstances. Effect: Boost all attributes by 5 for 40 minutes. Side effect: All stats drop by 3 for 60 minutes afterward. Extreme exhaustion. 2- Double Focus: Effect: Allows the subject to concentrate on a single target, enhancing vision and hand-eye coordination. UPDATING TALENTS INFORMATION¡ª John Talents: 1-INSANITY CHECK : Triggered when the subject faces unfavorable circumstance. Effect 1: boosting chosen attribute to 5 points without any side effects. User can change which attribute to boost freely. Effect 2: boost all attributes by 5 for 40 min. Upon expiry, all stats drop by 3 and extreme exhaustion for 60 min. 2- Double Focus: Triggered By concentrating the user¡¯s attention and focus. Effect 1: Increase focus -- heightened senses ¨C increase reaction Speed. Can be used anytime Effect 2: Heightens the user¡¯s senses significantly. Allowing him to ignore his surroundings and focus solely on the object of interest. Significantly increase eye-hand response speed. Significantly increase reaction Speed. Increase control over body muscles. Note: ¡°Effect 2¡± can only be used with insanity check fully activated.) The cold damp ground was John¡¯s bed as he lay exhausted gazing at the sky. He saw the light of dawn soothing the world with warmth. The scene around him transformed into a hazy blur, reminiscent of memories long buried. As a child, when the world became too loud and demanding, he found solace in the embrace of the sea. The ritual was simple ¨C laying on his back, eyes closed, and allowing the water to cradle him. John''s love for the water wasn''t just about the strokes and laps¡ªit was a sanctuary, a refuge he discovered early on. With each immersive dip, the world outside ceased to exist. The water covered his ears, creating a cocoon of silence that drowned out the cacophony of life. In those moments, irritation melted away, worries evaporated, and the echoes of bullying and parental nagging faded into the background. The water became a haven, and John reveled in the serenity it offered. The gentle ebb and flow of the waves or the subtle ripple of the pool water lulled him into a state of tranquility. He felt weightless, suspended between the liquid realm below and the open sky above. The play of sunlight on the water''s surface painted a mesmerizing canvas, and for those stolen moments, John found respite from the complexities of his reality. His parents, initially puzzled by his affinity for water, eventually accepted it as a peculiar but harmless quirk. Little did they know that, for John, those moments of aquatic reprieve were essential for maintaining his mental balance. As he grew older, the habit persisted¡ªeven during his mechatronics engineering studies the sea remained his retreat. John felt a sudden jerk in his body, as if he had fallen from a great height. ¡°Damn, that was not a dream¡± John said as he opened his eyes and realized he was still in the jungle, the sun light filtering through the dense foliage. His mind was a tempest of emotions, battling the surreal memories of both the recent fight with the Wild-Fury and the echoes of his past. A rustle in the underbrush snapped him back to the present. His senses, heightened by his skill (Double focus), detected movement nearby. With his sore body protesting every move, John stood up. He carefully stowed the tablet in his backpack, hoisted it onto his back, and tightened the straps. The sword, now a trusted ally, found its place in his grip. The approaching sound intensified. John¡¯s muscles aching from the relentless battle, moved away from the noise¡ªstepped into the unknown¡ªaway from the fallen Wild-Fury. Every step felt like a test of endurance. John could sense he couldn''t afford another fight anytime soon, not until he had a chance to rest and replenish his strength. His stomach grumbled in protest, a stark reminder of the physical toll the battles had taken on him. As he ventured deeper into the jungle, uncertainty loomed. The mysteries of the environment around him, coupled with the enigmatic organization monitoring his every move, fueled the lingering uncertainty. John pondered the implications of the notifications he received, the newfound skills, and the points awarded for completing the mission. The jungle, with its twisted vines and hidden perils, seemed to mirror the complexity of John''s situation. The canopy above him shifted, revealing glimpses of the sky. The dense vegetation thinned, and John emerged into a small clearing bathed in dappled sunlight. It was a brief respite from the oppressive jungle, a moment to collect his thoughts. With the backpack slung over one shoulder and the sword at his side, John decided to find a safe spot to rest and assess his situation. As John moved through the clearing, the tablet vibrated. john retrieve it form his backpack a saw a new message in the display screen: (Detected that john close to safe house. Navigate the way¡ª) ¡°Are you kidding me? Now a save point?! I need a place to rest, but this is getting ridiculous.¡± John muttered, grappling with the bizarre events that started since his waking up in this abnormal place. He moved to a rock that the tablet navigated toward, the tablet vibrated once again. (Place the tablet on the rock to open the safe house) john did exactly that, and the rock moved revealing a stair leading underground. He hesitated for a moment but still went down the stairs. the rock went back to its place as it never moved and at the end of the stairs there was door. The tablet come to life once more: (opening the door) Beeb. The door opened and what welcomed John is a small room. The small room that served as the safe house was minimalistic. Yet¡ªwithin its simplicity¡ªit offered a welcome refuge. John cautiously stepped inside, his eyes scanning the surroundings, taking in the simplicity of the space ¨C a bed, a basic bathroom, and an intriguing device that seemed to beckon exploration. A plain white walls filled his view¡ªwith no windows¡ªand ceiling Light. The door behind him closed with a soft thud, shutting out the sounds of the jungle. It was a strange sensation, going from the vibrant chaos of the wild to this controlled environment. John took a moment to let the contrast sink in, his breath steadying as a sense of security settled over him. The tablet, still in his hand, vibrated once more, displaying a new message that hinted at a new layer of this mysterious game-like reality. (You can now use your points to buy from the organization. Items will be delivered by the small portal device in the safe house.) John''s eyebrows furrowed as the surreal nature of his situation became increasingly apparent. He decided to start by investigating the unusual device in the room. As he approached it, the tablet in his hand provided additional information: (A small Portal Device) (Use your points to purchase items from the organization''s catalog. Items will be delivered to the safe house through the portal.) As he pondered, the tablet buzzed again: (You have 12 hours in the safe house. If you don¡¯t exit within the time limit, the consequences will be dire.) A shiver ran down John''s spine. The safety offered by the room came with its own set of rules and dangers. He needed to make the most of his time wisely. Chapter 4- Daily Needs, Daily Challenges. The tablet vibrated once again, but this time, instead of a notification, a new icon appeared¡ªa basket labeled (Shop.) Curiosity piqued, John tapped on the icon, revealing a limited set of options: (SHOP: -- DAILY NEEDS. -- Weapon. -- ARMOR. -- TECHNIQUES AND SKILLS.) The shop interface looks clear and to the point, The other options were grayed out, leaving only daily needs accessible. John tapped it, revealing another list: (SHOP: -- FOOD. -- DAILY WEAR. -- ESSENTIAL.) "Ohhhh, thank God. Food is what I need right now" His stomach grumbled in agreement. He quickly selected the "Food" option. The list displayed various items, from eggs and chicken to exotic meats and vegetables. However, considering his circumstances and lack of culinary skills, he focused on two specific choices: (SHOP: -- Nutritious meal¡ª3 POINTS. -- Luxury meal¡ª10 POINTS.) ¡®Well, I¡¯ve got 10 points. I can either buy a lot of food and cook it myself or get this nutritious meal¡­ I¡¯m bone-tired, and cooking is out of the question. Besides, I need to save some points for other essentials,¡¯ John thought as he selected the nutritious meal. The portal device flickered with a spectral glow, a silent prelude to the imminent delivery. An almost imperceptible shift in the room''s aura accompanied the soft hum that emanated from the device before it plunged back into silence. In less than 10 seconds a meal was in front of him. John, couldn''t help but marvel at the weird nature of this experience. "Did I travel to the future or something, what the hack was that?" Amazement painted John¡¯s face. However, lingering in the back of his mind was a growing sense of unease. If this organization could use some sort of teleportation, what else can they do? A chill ran down his spine at the thought. After a deep breath, he picked up the meal, sat on the ground, and began eating. The simple but satisfying meal¡ªbasmati rice, grilled chicken, salad, apple juice, and rice pudding¡ªtemporarily pushed aside his concerns. ¡°Using a portal to deliver a meal? Seriously? What a luxury,¡± John grumbled before diving back into the food. After eating, he tended to his needs, took a quick shower, and settled into bed. As sleep took hold, a peculiar memory surfaced in his dream¡­ It was after John''s arduous shift at the factory. He stepped out breathing the cool breeze at dusk. Two police officers clad in somber uniforms approached him. "John Howard?" one of them asked. "Could we have a moment of your time? John blinked, surprised. "Sure, is there anything I can do for you, officers?" The officer introduced himself. "I¡¯m Officer Mike, and this is Officer Randall. Do you know this man?" Mike handed John a photo. John, taken aback, responded, "Yes, he is Luke Houle, a colleague of mine, I saw him this morning" "Are you sure?!" Officer Mike exclaimed, clearly surprised. "His family reported him missing. You¡¯re certain he was at work today?" "Positive," John replied. "He¡¯s just inside. "Would you mind taking us to him?" Randall asked. John then guided them to the worker¡¯s rest area. Upon spotting the police, Luke bolted, moving faster than anyone John had ever seen. The two officers were bewildered of Luke action" Hey! Stop!" their voices echoing through expanse as they sprinted after him. Minutes dragged by before Officer Mike returned, panting and red-faced. "Did¡ªdid Luke leave any of his belongings?" he asked one of the workers.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. "Yes, his car keys." a worker responded. Mike nodded, catching his breath. "I¡¯ll take these to the station," he said, leaving John baffled and full of questions. "Why did he run? Where¡¯s Luke now?" John asked, but Mike¡¯s reply was brief. "No idea. We¡¯re investigating. His family will be informed if there¡¯s any news." With that, the officers left. A week later, John called Luke¡¯s family. They told him the police had reported that Luke, suffering from depression, had left home and taken his own life in a motel. Something about it felt off, but John had no choice but to move on. But the oddness didn¡¯t end there. After the incident, all the workers, including John, were subjected to full body scans, blood tests and psychological evaluations. Strange questions were asked, probing into areas that seemed unrelated to Luke and his death. Everyone was eventually released without further explanation. John brushed the incident aside after a while, but now, In the eerie calm of the safe house, the memory felt more peculiar than ever. Within a room adorned with monitors, a man named Quinn, one of the mentors in the bureau of metaphysical investigation, attentively observed John''s sleeping form. He sipped his tea while looking at the readings, evaluating not just John''s physical state but delving into the intricate details of his mental and emotional well-being. The door to the monitoring room creaked open, and a man in formal attire¡ªDirector Noah¡ª entered with a purposeful stride. "How is your evaluation of him until now, Quinn?" he inquired, his gaze fixed on the screens. Quinn, standing up with the grace of someone accustomed to authority, placed his tea on the table. "Director Noah, if you want my honest assessment, John is crude, cowardly, and uninteresting." The director raised an eyebrow demanded clarification. "Crude and cowardly, I understand. But what do you mean by uninteresting?" Leaning against the desk, Quinn spoke his tone carrying a blend of indifference and pragmatism. "His skills are intriguing, but if given a choice, nobody would opt for his particular set. There are individuals with far more potent abilities ¨C control over elements, superhuman strength, incredible speed, and heightened intellect. His skills, while unique, are not as useful. And if he can level up, there are others who can do better than him. So, he is an uninteresting individual." Director Noah nodded, considering Quinn¡¯s words. "Let the future unfold as it may. For now, address the issue of his cowardice. Issue a new mission once he leaves the safe house. Push him to his limits. We¡¯ll extract whatever value we can. He might not be the first or the last with an unremarkable skill set, but the Bureau needs new blood." Acknowledging the directive, Quinn replied, "Yes, sir." As Director Noah exited the room, Quinn returned to his seat amidst the monitors enjoying his tea. "Well, well, well¡­ I wonder how many Wild-Furys can you take on in a day," Quinn amused himself. In the safe house, where silence reigned, John awoke from his restless sleep. Stretching and yawning, he pondered the strange events that had unfolded¡ª from his kidnapping and his fight against the wild-fury to the unsettling memory of Luke''s disappearance. The safe house, though providing a sense of security, couldn''t shield him from the enigma of the organization and its inexplicable abilities. He turned on the tablet and a timer appeared: (Time remaining in safe house: 1 hours 9 minutes). "Oh Lord, did I sleep for 10 hours?!" ?!" John¡¯s chest tightened as he realized he¡¯d be back in the jungle in just one hour. "Calm down, John¡­ You can get through anything if you put your mind to it. don''t panic, yet¡ªyou can panic once you are outside." John was encouraging himself while tending to his needs. With less than an hour left before venturing back into the jungle, John¡¯s mind raced. ¡®Will I have to fight that thing again? How long will I have to stay in this jungle?¡¯ The weight of the impending challenges distressed him. ''OK, it''s time for buying something. Now I have 7 points left. Let''s see what I can buy.'' John thought as he jumped on the bed and leaned his back against the bed frame while holding the tablet. He quickly browsed back to "daily needs" option. This time, he clicked on (Essential) and found: (SHOP: -- First Aid Kit¡ª3 points: A compact medical kit containing essential supplies for treating injuries and ailments. -- Energy Bars¨C2 points: Convenient and nutritious, these energy bars would help sustain strength. -- Multi-Tool¡ª4 points: A versatile tool that combines various functions like cutting, opening bottles, and more. -- Glowstick Pack¡ª1 point: A pack of glowsticks providing a temporary light source in the dark. -- Compact Sleeping Bag ¨C5 points: A lightweight and easy-to-carry sleeping bag for a more comfortable rest during outdoor stays. -- Fire Starter Kit¡ª2 points: Essential for igniting a fire in challenging conditions. More options¡ª) "Let''s see," John mused, "I definitely need a first aid kit. Safety first." He tapped on the (first Aid Kit¡ª3 points.) option, leaving him with 4 points. "I''ll need some sustenance, so energy bars make sense," he said to himself, adding the (Energy Bars¡ª2 points.) to his cart. Now down to 2 points. "Glowing pack? Nah, I don''t want to be a moving target". He scrolled further and found a sword hanger for one point. ¡°Finally, I don¡¯t have to hold the sword all the time.¡± Pleased with his purchase, he went to the food option and spent his last point on a bottle of water. After confirming his purchase, the small portal device hummed to live, 15 second later the room returned to silence with new items appearing in front of the device. John got up and took a moment to inspect each one. Then he placed everything in his backpack and fastened the sword hanger to his waist. Time ticked quickly as the tablet vibrated again, showing a new message: (WARNING: less than a minute remaining. WARNING: less than a minute remaining. You must exit the safe house within the remaining time or face the consequences.) John¡¯s hand closed around the hilt of his sword. He slid it into the hanger¡¯s embrace, hoisted the backpack onto his back, and moved toward the door. The tablet buzzed as the door opened, leading to stairs. The rock above moved, revealing the clearing outside. Once he felt the damp ground again, another notification appeared: (New mission being issued¡­) (Mission 2: Kill 2 Wild-Furys. Time limit: 3 hours. Penalty for failing: electric shock for 10 minutes. Repeating the mission. Reward: 2 points for every Wild-Fury killed.) The words (Kill 2 Wild-Furys) flashed on the tablet, and John''s heart skipped a beat. ''Two? In three hours? The hell¡­'' Chapter 5- Talent Control. (John Stats: Strength: 9 ¡­. Agility: 6 ¡­. Flexibility: 5 ¡­. Vitality: 10.¡­ Intelligence: 9) John Talents: 1-INSANITY CHECK: Triggered when the subject faces unfavorable circumstance. Effect 1: boosting chosen attribute to 5 points without any side effects. User can change which attribute to boost freely. Effect 2: boost all attributes by 5 for 40 min. Upon expiry, all stats drop by 3 and extreme exhaustion for 60 min. 2- Double Focus: Triggered By concentrating the user¡¯s attention and focus. Effect 1: Increase focus -- heightened senses ¨C increase reaction Speed. Can be used anytime Effect 2: Heightens the user¡¯s senses significantly. Allowing him to ignore his surroundings and focus solely on the object of interest. Significantly increase eye-hand response speed. Significantly increase reaction Speed. Increase control over body muscles. Note: ¡°Effect 2¡± can only be used with insanity check fully activated.) (New mission being issued ¡­.) (Mission 2: Kill 2 Wild-Furys. Time limit: 3 hours. Penalty for failing: electric shock for 10 min. Repeating the mission. reward: 2 points for every Wild-Fury killed.) The words ¡®Kill 2 Wild-Furys¡¯ flashed on the tablet, and John''s heart skipped a beat. ''Two? In three hours? The hell!!¡¯ The weight of the mission pressed on him, a heavy burden that settled into his bones. Still, he clenched his jaw, his eyes sparked with burning determination ¡ª the unwavering resolve to emerge from this jungle alive. Shafts of fading sunlight painted the foliage in hues of gold and green, casting long shadows that danced with the gentle rustle of leaves. The jungle buzzed with the symphony of cicadas, their incessant chirping filling the air. As the last rays of light illuminated the path ahead, John stowed the tablet in his backpack. He straightened his back, and activated effect 1 of both talents, Insanity Check, and Double Focus. John thought while changing his attributes, ''This is the first time using my skill voluntarily. I will need to swiftly make changes in the fights, so let¡¯s start with something simple.'' He started with adding in strength first (strength 9 -->12). ¡®WOAH, I feel sudden surge in power. It feels like I can move mountain, which of course not true. But woah, it feels weird and refreshing¡¯ John giggled in excitement as he explored his talent with curiosity. ¡®let¡¯s try agility¡¯ (agility 6 --> 10, strength 12 --> 9). His body felt lighter, faster. Testing it out, he darted forward¡ªand promptly crashed into a tree. ¡°Ouch, what did I think?!, of course agility made me more agile¡± John murmured as he moved away from the tree. ¡®Let¡¯s try flexibility¡¯ he added points to flexibility as he was moving. (flexibility 5 --> 10, agility 10 -->6). ¡®I am very flexible!! Maybe!! I don¡¯t know¡­ how do I even measure that? Should I do yoga poses?! Nah, never mind, I will find out later¡¯ John was Speechless. ¡®let¡¯s try vitality¡¯ John thought as he shifted his attributes again, (vitality 10 --> 13, flexibility 10 --> 5). ¡®I feel super healthy... Nah, I am lying. I don¡¯t feel anything. Another one to leave for later¡¯ unbothered John continued. ¡®What about intelligence, will I be super genius??¡¯ He shifted his attributes in anticipation (intelligence 9 --> 14, vitality 13--> 10). ¡®My thought process is a little bit faster and ¡­ THAT¡¯S IT?!¡¯ John sighed in dejection. ¡®Maybe it has some use later, never mind.¡¯ He tried to cheer himself up. ¡®Okey, the time taken to change between each attribute differ, and every one point of increase take more time, it¡¯s minutiae amount but still time, In battle it might be fatal. Maybe with using it more this delay will disappear but for now I have to bear it in mind¡¯ contemplate on the little test he did with his talent. ¡®Now what I will need in the coming battle is agility and strength. I will try to change between them as I walk¡¯ John decided as he shifted his attribute rabidly as he walked to get use to the sudden changes. Sometime he fell, other time he jumped, rolled, launching himself forward or backward, other time he stumbles on roots and small rocks. He continued testing his talent until he felt satisfied. ¡®Woah, this is fun...'' His excitement bubbled beneath the surface. ''Focus, John, focus... I have to fight soon.'' He inhaled deeply to regulate his emotions, the air tasting of damp leaves, a moment of calm before the storm. He added 3 points to his agility as he moved alert to the surrounding searching for Wild-Fury (agility 6--> 9). The cold wind began to blow, rustling the leaves and creating a haunting melody that sent shivers through John''s unsettled nerves. John traveled across the damp and leafy terrain for a while. Suddenly he heard the familiar yet bone chilling sound of a Wild-Fury. ¡®I don¡¯t want to do this¡­ I really don¡¯t.'' He thought in apprehension as he advanced towards the source. Every step was cautious, the unease written on his face deepening with each movement, a silent testament to his internal struggle. As he edged closer, he saw the silhouette of the horrific monster ahead, moving with an unnatural gait, growling intermittently, adding a chilling undertone to the surroundings. ¡®I will do it¡­ I can kill it¡¯ John self-assured himself as he increased his agility to the maximum that his talent allowed, embracing the nimbleness that came with it. {agility 9 --> 11.}. ¡®All I have to do is using speed for a momentum then the moment I reach the monster change to strength and bam, kill it with one blow¡­ easy enough. Let¡¯s do it ¡®John strategized in his mind. In a swift dash, he ruthlessly Swung his sword at the Wild-Fury. The monster reacted instinctively, blocking the slash with its hand as it roared in pain. A long cut appeared on the monster unsightly limps, but it was not fatal as he hoped it would be.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. The monster other hand aimed to struck John, but he blocked it with trembling hands. A thud echoed in the surrounding as john Stumble backwards awkwardly. ¡®Shoot! The concept felt simpler when I imagined it ¡­ I underestimated the difficulties of shifting my attributes swiftly mid-action ¡®John thought in dismay and fright as he shifted his distributed attributes. With Abrupt heaviness but soaring strength, he blocked the creature¡¯s attacks. (strength 9-->14, agility 11 --> 6). The monster, in its frenzy, unleashed a barrage of attacks, each one more explosive than the last. Parrying and clumsily retreating, John gritted his teeth in frustration at the missed opportunity. Knowing that he can¡¯t afford using the second effect of his talents in this situation. He defended with everything he has, looking for an opening. With the creature big structure, every claw swing was devastating. Forcefully deflecting or blocking the attacks, John kept retreating and circle Wild-Fury. when opportunity presented itself, He hacked and stabbed it number of times as counterattack. However, the monster unaffected by these minor Injuries as it only fueled its fury. The raging Wild-Fury intensified its onslaught, and John did everything he could to cope with the changes. Each swing of it reverberated through his arms, a reminder of the raw power of the confrontation. The sunset vailed the jungle with its darkness, as the leaves¡¯ shadows and the blowing wind became the witness of brutal struggle. The background noise become fainter with the passing seconds as the clangs of the fight scared the insects away. Only the rhythm of the battle and groaning of effort intensified. ¡®Mother of peaches¡­ I need to change to agility again to evade¡¯ John thought as he deflected an attack, pushing the monster backward for a moment. Shifted 3 points agility in hast with the sudden nimbleness he jumped backward. (strength 14 --> 9, agility 6 --> 9). The monster lunged on him again with its claws. As he sidestepped the razor-sharp claw, the air whistled past, and he could almost feel the lethal intent in the monster''s movements. The jungle fought against John as much as the monster did. The ground riddled with roots threatened to betray him with every movement, and the dense foliage became an unpredictable ally or enemy. A low-hanging branch disrupted his line of sight, a momentary blindness that forced him to rely on instincts to survive. The monster lunged Forword aiming for John heart, with a savage swing. In a tense moment, John barely evaded its claws grazed him, but it was with consequences as it left a long bloody wound on his stomach area. ¡°Aghaaaaaa!¡± John screamed, cliched teeth from pain. the Wild-Fury lunged again, John ducked under its arm, rolling to the side. In one swift motion, he shifted his stats, pouring everything into strength. (strength 9 -->14, agility 9 --> 6). Power surged through his veins as he rose to his feet, his sword already arcing toward the creature. The blade met flesh with a sickening crunch, cleaving into the Wild-Fury¡¯s side. The monster howled in pain, its movements growing more erratic. John didn¡¯t hesitate. He yanked the sword free and struck again, this time aiming for its neck. ¡°Die your hideous monster! ¡°With a final, violent swing, John severed the Wild-Fury¡¯s head. The creature¡¯s body crumpled to the ground, twitching once before falling still. With a shaky hand and trembling legs, the sword escaped his grip¡ªdropping to the ground. Groaning in pain, John collapsed on the ground with a thud, his exhaustion evident in every labored breath. With the monster dead, John''s focus shifted from the adrenaline-fueled battle to the harsh reality of his wounded body. ¡°Ouch, ouch, aghaaaa! That hurt,¡± he groaned, wincing, as he fumbled to open the backpack and retrieve the first aid kit. He took antiseptic ointment and bandages from it. And applied the antiseptic ointment carefully on the bleeding wound while grimacing. His jaw clenched against the pain while bandaging his waist. ¡°That was dangerous, almost got me killed¡­. Aghhh! It hurt so much.¡± John mumbled in trembling voice, a testament to the vexation and bitterness bubbling within him. As he took the tablet from the backpack to check the remaining time for the mission, a notification flashed: (You got 2 points for killing a Wild-Fury. Current mission: kill 2 Wild-furys. Time Remaining: 2 hours). ¡°I searched and killed one in an hour, most of the time wasted on the searching part. But not bad me, I Knew from the very beginning I can do it¡­ I may be lying, but who is here to correct me?¡± John muttered to himself in an encouraging tone. ¡°Now theoretically speaking, if strength increase strength, and agility increase agility, duh! Vitality is supposed to increase my vigor and the body healing capabilities. so, let¡¯s try it out¡± John did exactly what he murmured. (strength 14 -->9, vitality 10 --> 15). John felt like he is in a video game, similar to the other games he played. Stats screen, a talent, a sword, and fighting monsters. Everything felt so real and hallucinatory at the same time. The reality he knew was stripped away from him. He has no idea who is testing him, and why. Is it some evil organization making schemes behind the scenes? Does he have these talents from the beginning, or did they inject something into him to test the effect of the drug? As John''s mind pondered various questions, a sudden tingling sensation from his wounds jolted him, disrupting his thoughts ¡°Ouch, NO, NO, No¡­ This itch agha! ¡°John groaned as he twitched in agony. ¡®Is this like the novels, you will feel like ants crawling all over you when your wounds heal faster? ¡­. Oh Lord, I didn¡¯t anticipate this¡­ Aghaaa! Can I have the healing fast part without the itching? ¡®John twitched in agitation as the relentless itch tormented him. it took a few minutes until John got used to it. ¡®I need to keep moving and start searching for another Wild-fury to finish the mission¡­ I don¡¯t want to get electric shock for no reason¡¯ John thought as he stood up from the ground and organized his belonging. The tablet blinked with the remaining time, urging him to press on. (Time remaining: 1 hour 43 minutes) He hanged the sword to his waist,¡± Another monster and we are done, easy ¡­ right?!! I already killed two. Sure, I can kill three¡± John mumbled in encouraging tone. ¡®I better leave the vitality stats up as I walk to make my fatigue go away, and my wound heal faster.¡¯ John''s mind pondered over the last fight as he moved carefully through the vegetation. ¡®My first attack in my mind and in theory was awesome ¡­ But not much so in reality. To change from extreme agility stats to extreme strength took nearly a second and half. It was dangerous, life-threatening mistake. With sufficient training, I could execute it in the blink of an eye, but in my current state, it feels out of reach.¡¯ John continued his reflection while staying alert, looking for any sign of another Wild-Fury. ¡®So, what other moves could I do to end the fight fast? I want a one-hit kill. I absolutely don''t want to wrestle with any monster. Should I sneak up on the monster''s back? Can I do it without being discovered? Let¡¯s try it. I wouldn¡¯t lose a thing. If I get discovered, it will be just another fight, right?¡¯ Vibrations occurred at ten-minute intervals on the tablet, urging him to move quickly. As John ventured deeper, the air thickened with tension. He could sense the presence of another Wild-Fury, its distant growls reached him through the forest. With every passing moment, the anticipation of the approaching challenge intensified. John crouched behind the thick foliage, peering through the leaves to catch a glimpse of the monster. The Wild-Fury''s hulking silhouette moved in and out of the fading light. "I have to time this perfectly," John whispered to himself. ''Wait for the right moment, when it''s distracted, then strike.'' The minutes ticking away. John steadied his breath, feeling a surge of excitement and fear intertwine. ''This is it.'' As the Wild-Fury turned away, distracted by a distant noise, John seized the opportunity. With the agility stats already heightened (agility 6-->11, vitality 15-->10), he moved like a shadow, carefully navigating the terrain to approach the monster''s rear. ''Easy, easy,'' he urged himself, inching closer with each passing second. The adrenaline coursed through his veins, and the anticipation of the impending strike hung in the air. As he closed the distance, John raised his sword, ready to strike. But just as he prepared to deliver the blow, a twig snapped beneath his foot. The sharp crack echoed through the jungle like a gunshot. The Wild-Fury whirled around, its eyes locking onto John. Time seemed to freeze for an instant. then chaos ensued. The Wild-Fury, now fully aware of John''s presence, lunged forward with startling speed. John reacted quickly evading the initial onslaught. The battle had begun, but the element of surprise was lost, and John found himself in a dance of agility and strength, desperately trying to outmaneuver the enraged beast. Chapter 6 – Dance with Wild-Fury. The sneak attack had failed spectacularly, leaving John to dodge desperately as the monster¡¯s claws swiped through the air where he had just been. ¡®Of course, a twig snapped! Why wouldn¡¯t I break a twig while ambushing the monster?! I¡¯m such an idiot.¡¯ His veins were palpable with indignation and panic as he rolled and leaped, narrowly evading the monster''s relentless offensives. The initial failure stung, but he quickly adapted. gradually decreasing his agility and increasing his strength. (Agility: 11 ¡ú 6, Strength: 9 ¡ú 14), the tide of the battle slowly began to turn. With each powerful blow, John¡¯s rhythm began to overpower the Wild-Fury¡¯s relentless assault. As the moon ascended in the night sky, its glow casting long shadows across the battlefield, John¡¯s ferocious counterattack surged. ¡°I AM STRONGER THAN YOU, UGLY BEAST.¡± John bellowed, each strike growing more powerful as he channeled his anger and frustration though them. Tremors shook John with each clash of his sword, but his frenzy only intensified. ¡°Die! Die! DIE!¡± he roared, his blade cleaving through the monster¡¯s flesh with brutal force. With a formidable blow he severed its arm. He then pushed his sword through its chest before kick it in its knee making it stumble. Taking the sword out of its body, ¡® aghaa¡¯ John winced as he cleaved the head ending the fight. Panting heavily, with bleeding fingers and numb hands, John dropped to the ground drained of strength. ¡°Agh, I really overdid it,¡± he grimaced, his hands trembling uncontrollably from the feedback of his attacks. Quickly, he adjusted his attributes to boost his vitality (Strength: 14 ¡ú 9, Vitality: 10 ¡ú 15), hoping to recover some strength. The tablet buzzed violently in his backpack. ¡°Just give me a minute... I can¡¯t even control my hands,¡± John mumbled through clenched teeth. After resting for few minutes on the leafy ground, he opened his backpack. Taking out the first aid kit, he applied antibiotics and bandaged his hands, wincing with every movement. Once finished, he pulled out the tablet with shaking fingers. (You got 2 points for killing Wild-Fury. Mission completed successfully. A new mission will be issued in 30 min¡­.) John¡¯s fingers twitched, the knuckles white as he clenched his fists despite the injury. ¡°Another mission?¡± His voice cracked with frustration. ¡°What do you mean by a new mission? Are you kidding me? I just finished one!¡± "At least give me an hour to rest," he muttered, the words escaping through gritted teeth. John stood up, packed his belongings, and moved away from the battlefield. He rested his back against a tree, pulling out an energy bar from his backpack. "It tastes awful... but I need to replenish my strength." As he ate, the moonlight began to fade. John looked up and saw the sky darkening with clouds. "Oh no, don¡¯t rain. Please don¡¯t rain," he pleaded. His prayers went unanswered as a thunderclap roared through the jungle, and the rain began to pour. The tablet buzzed again with a new notification. (New mission: Kill 4 Wild-Furys. Time limit: 4 hours. Reward: 2 points for each Wild-Fury killed. Penalty for failure: 10 minutes of electric shock. Repeating the mission.) John¡¯s face reddened, veins dancing across his face. ¡°Come on, For God¡¯s sake¡­ I have to kill another 4 and in four hours!! Seriously?!¡± He took a deep breath to calm himself, finishing the energy bar in haste, and drunk form the bottle of water in his backpack. He started his search for the monsters once more. The ground changed from damp to muddy in a few minutes. John''s clothes clung to his body, drenched and heavy, as he navigated the transformed landscape with caution. Amidst the relentless The rain intensified, blurring the boundary between sky and jungle, and the temperature dropped as if nature itself conspired against him. Thick clouds obscured the moon, plunging the jungle into a stifling darkness. The raindrops, now more like a torrent, made it nearly impossible to see or hear anything clearly.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! John, relying on the limited clarity provided by his enhanced focus, pushed forward. Soon, the distant growls of Wild-Fury reached his ears, his menacing calls harmonizing with the rhythmic pounding of the rain. He adjusted his attributes, boosting his strength (Strength: 9 ¡ú 14, Vitality: 15 ¡ú 10) as he prepared for the fight. ¡°I can¡¯t see clearly in this rain, and I can¡¯t move fast or I might slip. So brute force it is.¡± John muttered. His boots squelched in the muddy ground as he advanced cautiously, inching closer to the source of the growls. A Wild-Fury''s silhouette emerged from the rain-soaked foliage. Its eyes glowed with feral intensity as it locked onto John. The monster lunged at him, and with his sword raised and muscles taut, John prepared for the clash. He blocked the first frenzied swipe, parried the next, and sidestepped the third. Just as the struggle began, an unexpected growl erupted from close quarters, sending a chill down John''s spine. John¡ªeyes widened, pupil distilled¡ªstumbled in his movement trying to retreat. ¡°NO. NO. NO. Why would there be more than one?!¡± A sense of doom enveloped John suddenly¡ªwith a racing heart¡ªhe ducked as a claw was just a centimeters away from plucking his head. ¡®What in God name?¡¯ John kicked the ground pushing himself to the side evading the follow up assault. ¡®The hack! Three monsters. Where did they come from?¡¯ Just as John started to get use to killing monsters, fate played a cruel joke on him. With a panicking settling in his heart, John was forced to dodge every single attack having no time to even think about counterattacking. He blocked an attack from the first monster then barely side stepping to dodge the third monster¡¯s calw. A tearing sound echoed as blood smeared John back. ¡± AGHAAA!¡± One of the Wild-Furys struck from behind, its claws raking across John¡¯s back. Pain exploded through him as he stumbled forward, nearly dropping his sword. Gritting his teeth¡ªJohn fought on, but his situation got from bad to worse. The second Wild-Fury pounced on him, while the first Wild-Fury attacked with its claws. The third was in his way preventing him from dodging. ¡°No¡­ not like this,¡± John gasped, his breath ragged. He could feel the cold fingers of death closing around him. As the next exchange might decide his life or death, John was pushed to activate his talents second effect. (strength 14 --> 14, agility 6--> 11, flexibility 5 -->10, vitality 10 -->15, intelligence 9 -->14). The sound of rain vanished, the surroundings faded out of vision and the jungle¡¯s dark veil seemed to lift. but his perception of the monsters became detailed, so detailed like he could almost predict their next move by the slightest twitch of their muscles. He used his sword to redirect the claws¡¯ attack steering the pouncing monster into its path. Utilizing the force of the clash, John propelled himself backward, narrowly evading the assault. Without any pause, he advanced and attacked the now entangled monsters. Coming from the left with a powerful cleave, he left a cut on the back of the second Wild-Fury. The monster turned in fury, but John had already circled around them and delivered another merciless blow, while evading the third monster attack with a spin. Taking a deep breath, John ducked the third monster¡¯s claw, he stood with a swing that cut into the monster''s stomach, and with a roll backward he evaded the first Wild-Fury assault. As soon as he stood up he dashed forward, attacking the first monster, leaving an injury on its left shoulder. Then he left a cut on second monster''s legs while dodging the third creature, and with a powerful slash he left a wound on the second Wild-Fury''s arms. Without the slightest hesitation he continued attacking, the potency of his relentless assaults didn¡¯t diminish in the slightest. It only increased with time. He parried one attack, slashed at another beast¡¯s flank, and ducked under a third¡¯s swipe. Each motion was fluid, each strike deadly. The battle raged on, with John¡¯s attacks growing fiercer and more desperate. He used every second, every pounce, and every attack from the three monsters to his advantage. After uphill struggle¡ªjust before the time limit of his talent ended¡ª he dealt a killing blow to the first Wild-Fury, then the second, and at last, the third. The monsters fell one by one, their bodies collapsing into the mud. With chest heaving¡ªgasping for air¡ª John stood under the rain looking at the monsters that were now down. ¡°Th-that was close.¡± John said in a quivering voice filled with fear. As the adrenaline began to wear off. His body, bruised and bloodied, bore the brunt of the fight¡¯s toll. Then the side effects of his talent set in as he collapsed, every tissue of his body convulsing with exhaustion. (Strength 14 -->6. Agility 11--> 3. Flexibility 10 -->2. Vitality 15 -->7. Intelligence 14-->6). Gasping in every breath, his body felt stiff, and the nature didn¡¯t have mercy as the cold from the rain assaulted him. Shivering violently amidst the jungle, in the dark and the muddy ground fill with puddles of water. John felt utterly alone and vulnerable as the world has abandoned him. His eyes filled with tears as he whispered, ¡°Mom¡­ Dad¡­ sorry.¡± Blood and rain soaked his clothes, and the light backpack on his back felt like a heavy burden pressing him into the mud. His vision blurred, and moments later, he passed out, the world around him fading into darkness. Chapter 7 – Folded Challenges. Quinn reclined in his chair, eyes fixed on the array of monitors that adorned the room. the gentle hum of machinery filled the air, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of controlled chaos. Suddenly, a jarring red flash erupted on one of the screens, accompanied by blaring warnings. (WARNING!! WARNING!! Subject of study: John Howard. code name: Ordinary-Sleuth, is in danger.) Quinn sat straight as his fingers danced over the keyboard, swiftly bringing up vital statistics. (His heart rate is plummeting. Body temperature, far from ideal. Wounds vulnerable to infection. Passed out from the side effects of his talent.) ¡°Huh, let¡¯s shock him awake. He still needs to kill another monster before proceeding to the next stage. Can''t let you die easily, buddy,¡± Quinn mumbled as he pressed a key. The screen kept flashing red for a while, then it returned back to normal. (Subject of study: John Howard. Vital signs stabilized. Withdrawing the warning alert.) Gasping and twitching, John slowly pried open his eyes. He felt the chill wetness through his whole body and the pervasive weakness that gripped him. Attempting to rise, his hand met the slippery ground, impeding any progress. A bright flash of lightning illuminated the dark sky, followed by the distant roar of thunder, while John was consumed by the relentless struggle to stand. After what seems forever, John finally on his feet¡ªdrenched and caked in mud¡ªmoved forward with careful steps, taking one step at a time. The sound of his boots splashing through puddles was muffled by the rain, thunder, and lightning. Gasping for air, he steadied himself against a tree. ¡°I... will... ne-never... fight... without assessing... the rest... of the surroundings first,¡± John stutter in fear and concern. After ten minutes of adjusting himself to his diminished stats, he walked back to retrieve his only ally¡ªthe sword¡ªfrom where it lay on the ground. Using his sword as crutch, John slowly walked away from the fight''s location seeking a place to rest until the side effects ceased. He discovered a big rock under a colossal tree with a big leaves. ¡®It is dryer than anywhere else, I rest here for now.¡¯ John closed his eyes as soon as he took refuge under the tree, hoping for respite from all he had been through. The scene of the fight still playing in his head forcing him to reflect on his recklessness and haste. ¡®I almost died there,¡¯ he winced as the wind howled, whipping cold rain against his face, but the memory of his close call hit harder. ¡®My vision was obscured by the rain, but I fought the monster as soon as I saw it. I needed to survey the surroundings, assess whether it was a lone threat or not. This time, I got lucky. I''m not sure about the next¡­ so let''s ensure there''s no next time. ¡® John continued his contemplation, ¡®the mission went over my head. Due to the time limit, I felt the need to finish as quickly as possible, and my killing of three Wild-Furys made me let my guard down in this unfamiliar environment. I¡¯m still new to the whole fighting monsters thing. I never trained in any martial arts, boxing or anything of that kind. The way I use the sword is like a butcher¡ªNo, it¡¯s even worse. The only thing that let me survive is my double focus talent, as it helps me control my body easier and see the attacks more clearly.¡¯ The minutes passed as John continued his reflection. At last, the side effect ended returning his stats to normal. (Strength 6 -->9. Agility 3--> 6. Flexibility 2 -->5. Vitality 7 -->10. Intelligence 6-->9). Feeling his strength back, John sigh in relief. ¡°Finally, it felt horrible feeling so vulnerable. I need to use effect one of insanity check and add the attributes to vitality to stop any infection to my wounds until the next fight. I can¡¯t apply any antibiotics in this rain.¡±The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. (vitality 10 --> 15). He opened the backpack to retrieve the tablet, wanting to know how much time is left for the mission. several notifications greeted him as soon as he turned on the tablet. (You got 6 points for killing three Wild-Furys.) (A high-energy shock was sent to your heart to reset it to normal rhythm. one point is used as compensation.) (Time remaining: 1 hours 59 minutes). ¡°Nothing is free, hah?... let¡¯s continue the mission¡± muttered to himself as he put the tablet back, and hoisted the backpack to his back as he stood up. Sheathing his sword, he started moving under the downpour. With the activation of his talent¡ªDouble Focus Effect 1¡ªhe began the hunt. Minutes ticked away before he heard the growl of the Wild-Fury.¡± Every single time I hear that sound, it gives me the creeps.¡± John mumbled while advancing to the direction of the sound. As the silhouette of the monster came onto John vision, he quickly hid behind a tree as he whispered ¡°I will not make the same mistake twice. Let¡¯s check the surrounding first.¡± He made a full cycle around Wild-Fury as he hid in the bushes and behind the trees, after a few minutes of surveying the place, he made sure this is only one monster in the vicinity. He moved cautiously as he shifted his attributes to strength. (strength 9 -->14, vitality 15 --> 10). Silently, his movements masked by the heavy rain, he silently positioned himself behind the creature. With a swift, decisive movement, he lifted his sword and, channeling all his strength, unleashing a fierce, ruthless swing, beheading the monster in one clean strike. It didn¡¯t even have the chance to turn around or fight back, it died instantly. John stood there motionless, staring at the carcass on the ground. It took him a while to realize that the monster was truly dead. Bursting out laughing, John couldn¡¯t conceal his joyfulness. ¡°HAHAHAHAHAHAHA¡­¡­. I can¡¯t believe it!! I sneaked up on the monster and it worked!! Hahaahhahahahahahaha¡±. His body bent from laughing as his suppressed emotions of fear, apprehension, and unease finally found an outlet. After a whole minute of continuous laughter, he finally took hold of himself by taking a deep breath. ¡°It worked!! It really worked!! I¡¯m finally done with this mission. ¡°John murmured in elation. He shifted his attribute to vitality as he moved in the muddy ground away from the monster. Retrieving the tablet from the backpack, John sigh of relief at the message. (You got 2 Points for killing Wild-Fury. Mission is complete. Navigating to a nearby safehouse ¡­) ¡°Finally.¡± John used his talent double focus to its limits, to avoid any monster in the journey. Eventually the tablet navigated him to a big looking tree. The tablet vibrated as he reached it. (Place the tablet against the tree). ¡°Open sesame.¡± John chuckled, waiting for the tablet do its magic. The middle of the tree parted, revealing a staircase downward. ¡°Can¡¯t you make it an elevator? Why is always stairs?¡± As he went down, he noticed that the water from the rain didn¡¯t get near the stairs, as some kind of invisible barrier at work. ¡°How does this work?!¡± mumbled in puzzlement as he reached the door at the end of the staircase. The tablet vibrated again, (Opening the door¡­) Beeb! the door opened with a tick, revealing to John a room identical to the last safe house with bed , basic bathroom and a portal device. (You have 12 hours in the safe house ¡­) ¡°Yeah. Yeah. I know or the consequences will be watermelon, whatever.¡± John scoffed in annoyance. John opened the shop icon on the tablet, navigating to the "Daily Wear" section. There were many options but he selected these (Shop: you have 12 points -- Jacket: 2 points. -- Boots: 2 points. -- pant: 2 points. durable yet flexible, providing the mobility needed for swift movements during combat. -- moisture-wicking, quick-dry shirt: 2 points.) After selection, he went to essential and bought antibiotics pills with one point, then he confirmed the purchase. As the portal hummed to life in order to deliver the items, He went to the bathroom, took a quick shower, and washed his wounds carefully. When he went out of the shower the items were already there. John applied antibiotics ointment, took antibiotics pill and bandaged every wound he had. Changing into the fresh attire, John felt an immediate sense of relief. ¡°Now this is better. I will leave my talent insanity check on vitality when I¡¯m sleeping so my wounds heal faster to be ready for anything when I wake up¡± John decided as he settled in bed. Quinn sipped his coffee when a knock sounded at the door. It creaked open slightly. ¡°Mentor Quinn, I¡¯m here. What do you need me to do?¡± ¡°Ah, Simon, perfect timing,¡± Quinn replied with a smile. ¡°Come take a look at these new recruits. Which division do you think suits them best?¡± Simon studied the screens for a moment before asking, ¡°The fire-controlling guy¡ªwhat¡¯s his name again?¡± ¡°That¡¯s Toby Lyons. Code name: Fervent-Enkindler,¡± Quinn answered. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to be rude, sir, but your naming sense is...¡± Simon trailed off, hesitant. Quinn turned to him, still smiling but with a sharp look in his eyes. ¡°Feel free to be rude. I¡¯m free to respond to it.¡± Simon swallowed hard, then nodded. ¡°Your naming is¡­ fantastic as always, sir. Back to the recruits. Fervent-Enkindler is definitely combat material. As for Maxwell Ballard¡ªhe can harden any part of his body¡ªhe could go into combat or the investigation unit. What¡¯s his code name by the way?¡± Quinn grinned. ¡°Solid-Warden.¡± Simon took a deep breath before continuing. ¡°Right¡­ doesn¡¯t matter. The last one must be John Howard. Code name: Ordinary-Sleuth. His talent is unique; he¡¯d be a valuable asset to any unit. Since he has an engineering background, the technology unit might be a good fit for him.¡± Quinn leaned back in his chair. ¡°He can fit anywhere, sure. But I¡¯m putting him in the investigation unit. With his talent for double focus and the right training, he¡¯ll make a fine sleuth.¡± Simon nodded. ¡°Whatever you say, sir. So, why am I here again?¡± Quinn chuckled. ¡°To watch a show, of course. I like to drink tea while I watch. Want a cup?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯d love one,¡± Simon replied, eager. ¡°Great,¡± Quinn said with a smirk. ¡°Then go make us two cups, and bring me one.¡± Simon blinked, momentarily stunned, before nodding. ¡°Right... I''ll get on that.¡± Chapter 8- Stats and Surprises. John woke up from a rejuvenating sleep, stretching and yawning. He rose from the bed, took care of his needs, and stood before the sink after splashing his face with water. ''GOD, I wished all of that had been a dream. But it looks like it wasn''t.'' He sigh, then return to the bed to retrieve the tablet. "Oh, I just remembered. It told me I can check the monster stats after killing five of them. There wasn''t any notification, even though I''ve killed more than five," John muttered while unlocking the tablet. (Time remaining in the safe house 2 hours 30 minutes) ¡°I slept for 9 and a half hours, hah! I thought I would sleep more, given I fought 6 monsters yesterday.¡± He started to check his injures, ¡°Oh right, I didn¡¯t feel any pain when I walked just now! Did I heal already?!¡± ¡°Nice¡± John exclaimed in elation, ¡°all the superficial wounds and bruises healed. My back wounds almost healed. I love having superpower, if only I don¡¯t have to fight anything.¡± With nothing better to do, he turn on the tablet, "The shop, status screen, mo¡ªwait a second, that wasn¡¯t here before. Monster data. Let¡¯s see." He pressed on the icon, and the next screen showed: (Monster data: You get data on the monsters you observed or killed. Note: The required number of kills or observations varies depending on the monster species. -- Wild-Fury.) ¡°So that¡¯s why there is no notification, it updated into this registry. Let¡¯s see Wild-Fury stats. I won¡¯t lose anything¡± John murmured. (Wild-Fury: type: normal level: 1 status: Strength: 10 Agility: 7.5 Vitality: basic intelligence: instinctive skills: None) ¡°WAIT A SECOND!! WAIT A FREAKING SECOND!!¡± John¡¯s voice echoed in the empty room. ¡°My stats are better, way better with my talent than this ugly thing. But I am still struggling so much?! It does not make sense.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s calm down and think,¡± John took a deep breath. ¡°First, my stats or attributes or whatever¡ªthey are my physical qualities. It''s like a person could have a lot of muscles but doesn''t know how to use them properly. It¡¯s similar to how every human has more muscles in their legs than other parts of their body, but not all people can kick powerfully or fight using their legs without losing balance.¡± He scratched his head, thinking,¡± If I think about it that way¡ªthen yes, it makes sense that I¡¯m struggling.¡± John muttered in contemplation,¡± With the frequent shifting of my attributes¡ª and I just discovered that I have these talents¡ªit''s understandable that I¡¯m clumsy and finding it super hard when fighting those monsters. I¡¯m not utilizing my body and my talents fully.¡± He shrugged his shoulders, smirking. ¡°It¡¯s been less than two days since I discovered I have a superpower-like talent. So, I should be excused¡ªI think.¡± His stomach growled, ending his pondering time. ''I have 3 points left. Should I buy the ''Nutritious meal'' with it, or buy an energy bar with 2 points and leave one for later? Mmm... Nah, I might die tomorrow for all I care. Let''s buy the Nutritious meal,'' John decided. After finishing the delicious meal, he checked the remaining time and asked himself, ''What can I do now?'' (time remaining is 1 hour 40 minutes). ''Theoretically, I can increase my basic stats by training, but I don¡¯t want to train physically now. I need my stamina and strength ready. So, do I need to solve algebra problems to increase my Intelligence stat?'' John pondered in amusement. As John¡¯s thoughts began to wander aimlessly to pass the time, a sudden notification flashed on the screen, abruptly cutting short his contemplations. (A new mission is being issued ¡­.) His heart skipped a beat as soon he saw these words, exclaiming ¡°WAIT! WAIT! WAIT!! Time is not up yet, why? ¡° The screen flickered, and the portal device whirred to life. The air in the room grew stifling and tense. Without warning, a bound, unconscious man was hurled from the portal onto the floor. Text appeared on the tablet. (Mission: Kill the human. Reward: Escape from the jungle. Penalty: Five minutes of electric shock. The mission will repeat until completed.) John''s eyes widened reflecting both bewilderment and fright. ''What?!! Who is he?!! And why?¡¯Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. (Time limit: 1 minute.) "YOU MANIACS!" John roared, his voice hoarse with rage. "You don¡¯t expect me to kill a stranger without any reason.¡± The room suddenly pulsed with red light. A cold, mechanical voice echoed through the room: (50 seconds remaining.) John shouted, "Count all you want. I¡¯m not moving." The timer continued ticking, the second passed, but John appeared nonchalant about it. (3 seconds remaining) (2 seconds remaining) (1 second remaining) (Enforcing the penalty) ''AGHAAAA!'' a scream escaped John as the electric shock passed through him. Twitching and convulsing on the bed, every second felt like an hour. His screams reverberated throughout the room. He dropped to the ground while rolling and screaming his lungs out. The five minutes of torture finally ended. Gasping for breath, he cursed, ¡°You inhuman bastards.¡± The robotic sound echoed again. (Mission: Kill the human. Reward: Escape from the jungle. Penalty: Six minutes of electric shock. The mission will repeat until completed.) ¡°I WILL NOT DO IT, YOU BASTARDS!¡± John roared with defiance. The countdown started anew. (58 seconds remaining) John stumbled as he tried to rise, moving toward the sword as time slipped away. Holding the sword, John approached the door, declaring, ¡°I will hack this door open and get out. I am not killing anyone.¡± He raised his sword as he shifted his attribute to strength (vitality 15 -->10, strength 9 -->14). ¡°HAA¡± With a forceful cry, he unleashed a powerful hack, but all he got was knockback from the force, leaving no trace of damage. (32 seconds remaining) ¡®What is this door made of?¡¯ He stood up once more, hacking the door again, only to be knocked back again. He repeated the same action again and again, his sweat and clenched jaw portrayed his determination. (2 seconds remaining) (1 seconds remaining) (Enforcing the penalty) ¡°Aghaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa¡± He shifted his attributes to vitality, hoping it could alleviate some of the pain. (strength 14 --> 9, vitality 10 --> 15) Minutes passed as he spasmed on the cold ground screaming. After what felt like an eternity, the shock halted, but John''s twitching did not. ¡°I kill you, bastards¡± John whispered, his voice trembling as he struggled to regain his strength. The robotic nightmare was heard once again. (Mission: Kill the human. Reward: Escape from the jungle. Penalty: Seven minutes of electric shock. The mission will repeat until completed.) ¡°I will not kill an innocent soul, you demons¡± John cursed as he tumbled to stand up. (50 seconds remaining) He held the sword tightly as he started to slash the door open again. Hacking the door, dropping down, standing up, and hacking again. This cycle was repeated until the shock struck again. (Enforcing the penalty) He endured the excruciating pain again and again. (Mission: Kill the human. Reward: Escape from the jungle. Penalty: Eight minutes of electric shock. The mission will repeat until completed.) ¡­ (Enforcing the penalty) (Mission: Kill the human. Reward: Escape from the jungle. Penalty: Nine minutes of electric shock. The mission will repeat until completed.) ¡­ (Enforcing the penalty) ¡®I will not let them control who I am. I will not kill an innocent person, even if I die today.¡¯ That was the only thought that lingered in John¡¯s mind as he endured the pain, alone and hopeless. An unrecognizable cold voice echoed in the room¡ªdifferent from the robotic sound¡ª asking: ¡°why are you refusing to get out? You already killed monsters, what the difference will it make if you had one more kill to get out?¡± John''s rage boiled over. "Are you the sicko behind this? You bastard! If you want him dead so badly, do it yourself!" The voice calmly answered ¡°What if I told you he killed a whole family of four?¡± Skepticism filled John''s voice, ¡°And why would I believe anything you say? Maybe he got dragged here like I did, screw you.¡± The voice remained cold. "Then enjoy the shock." Once more, the robotic sound issued the mission again. (Mission: Kill the human. Reward: Escape from the jungle. Penalty: Ten minutes of electric shock. The mission will repeat until completed.) John couldn¡¯t even muster the strength to stand as he lay there, waiting for the shock. ¡®Every millimeter of my body is in pain. Will this be my end?¡¯ (Enforcing the penalty) ¡°Agaaaaaaaa¡± (Mission: Kill the human. Reward: Escape from the jungle. Penalty: Eleven minutes of electric shock. The mission will repeat until completed.) Quivering and convulsing from the excruciating experience, John thought ¡®Mom, Dad, your son''s life is coming to an end. Thank you for everything you did for me. ¡® (Enforcing the penalty) ¡°Aghaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa¡± inhuman scream escaped john throat with every tissue of his body screaming in agony. The indifferent voice, like a demon from hell, spoke again. ¡°This is the last and final warning, do the mission or die¡± The voice disappeared as quickly as it came, but it left lingering doom behind. (Mission: Kill the human. Reward: Escape from the jungle. Penalty: DEATH. Time limit: Five minutes.) As John lay there, waiting for his doom, his mind, in a desperate attempt to find solace, wandered back to a memory etched deep within him. Time seemed to slow as John''s eyes blurred, a memory from his childhood surfaced. It might not sound like much to some, but for John, it was a lifelong lesson. In middle school, a boy with autism had transferred to John¡¯s school. John didn¡¯t know what autism was back then, but he knew the kid was different. The kid was smart, his head was filled with knowledge even teachers didn¡¯t some of the staff he knew. That was very impressive for John, who considered himself smart as well. However, the kid seemed awkward and different in anything else that have no connection to knowledge which made him an easy target for bullies. At first, John kept his distance. He didn¡¯t join in their bullying, but he also didn¡¯t step in to stop it. But one day during lunch, a group of boys started shoving the kid around. John was among the spectators, just as usual. He stood there, not saying anything. Until the group started saying they saw the kid undressed in the toilet while laughing and jeering at him. That was when something snapped inside John. He rushed forward, planting himself between the kid and the group. They stopped. Shocked, confused, but clearly not deterred. "What do you think you¡¯re doing, John?" one of the bullies sneered. John¡¯s fists clenched tight. ¡°Leave him alone!¡± he shouted, his voice shaking with rage. The bully laughed, stepping closer. ¡°What? You gonna hit me?¡± He was confident John wouldn¡¯t. And he was right. No matter how angry John got, he never hit anyone. But that day, he throwed his caution to wind and hit the bully in the face. In the ensuing fight, John endured several blows and insults. Despite his injuries, he felt a strange sense of relief. When John got home, he told his father what happened, expecting his father to scold him. He looked John in the eyes and said, ¡°Son, you have to do what is right, always. even if everyone around you is doing the opposite. Don¡¯t follow the crowd. be the person who does the right thing, whether others are doing it or not. No matter what happens, never do evil just because others are doing it. You are responsible for your actions; engrain this value in your heart.¡± John''s father stretched his hand and gently ruffled John''s hair as he continued with eyes full of love, ¡°If you become a friend with this kid, it will be even better. So, stop fearing those fools and always do what is right.¡± The memory ended with the last line engraved in John¡¯s brain. (10 seconds remaining). Chapter 9- Metaphysical Showdown. (Time remaining 3 seconds) (Time remaining 2 seconds) As John lay there, waiting for his impending doom, the countdown echoed in his mind like a drumbeat. Each passing second felt like an eternity, and his heartbeat synced with the ticking. (Time remaining 1 seconds) Suddenly, everything around him warped, and a surge of power coursed through his body. The distortion began as a subtle ripple, distorting the edges of his vision. His surroundings bent and twisted, creating a surreal, disorienting experience. John blinked, looking around in confusion. His mind struggled to piece together the sudden shift in his reality. The pain in his body was gone, as if it had never existed, and the tied man had disappeared, replaced by a stranger in a formal shirt, jeans, and shoes. The man grinned. "How was that? My talent is amazing, right? Name¡¯s Simon. I create lifelike illusions. Congrats¡ªyou passed the test." He stared at the man, chest heaving, before the truth began to settle in. He wasn¡¯t in danger anymore. It was all fake. His confusion quickly turned to rage. "You¡¯re the sick freak who brought me here?" John¡¯s voice cracked as the words tore from his throat. He sprang to his feet, charging at Simon, fist raised. But Simon stood still, amused. "Nope, wasn¡¯t me. This was the Bureau of Metaphysical Investigation¡¯s doing. I¡¯m just here for the final test." As John''s fist connected with thin air, he stumbled, almost falling to the ground. John realized he had been interacting with an illusion. Every detail¡ªhair, clothes, even the smug grin¡ªwas flawlessly crafted. ¡± So, all this is freaking game to you?¡± John yelled, his teeth clenched. ¡°I nearly died out there. Or was that another illusion too? What the hell is this Bureau you are talking about?¡± The realization that he was manipulated intensifies his emotional turmoil. The feeling of being look upon as a test subject intensified his rage and uncertainty. Simon reappeared on the other side of the room, still grinning. "The monsters were real, I assure you. I only handle this last part of the test. And to clarify, Mentor Quinn changed the test plan. It was originally supposed to be different, longer, more drawn out. The bureau of Metaphysical investigation finds people like us, blessed with power to defend the country from the monsters, just like the one you fought." John¡¯s eyes narrowed¡ªstaring intensely¡ªunsure if he was looking at illusion or the real person. ¡°And for what reason do you expect me to believe you? For all I know, this is some twisted experiment. Did you give me my powers by injecting me with something?¡± Simon ignored John''s accusation and waved dismissively. "Mentor Quinn, you wanna take it from here? I¡¯ve done my part." Quinn¡¯s voice echoed in the room, ¡°You did a great job, Simon. It was truly entertaining to watch. I activated the teleportation device; you can come back now. OH, and don¡¯t forget to bring John with you.¡± John snaped in a fit of rage, ¡°Entertaining? Is this some kind of sick game to you? My injuries and fighting on the line were to entertain your freaking bureau?¡± Quinn chuckled while reclining in his chair. ¡°No, the bureau meant to test you. I was the one entertained. Your fighting was¡­ sorry and pathetic, but also a bit fun. I enjoyed watching it over tea. It was a sight to behold.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. John face flushed red from anger, almost exploding. ¡°You think me almost dying was funny?¡± Quinn, ignoring his outburst, commanded, "Simon, stop wasting time and bring him here. Or do you want to spend the night there?" Simon¡¯s grin vanished, his tone turning serious. "Right away, sir." With that, Simon appeared in front of John. "You¡¯ve got two choices," Simon said, locking eyes with John. "Walk with me through the portal, or I will bring you out myself." John¡¯s face was grim as he took stance for a fight, ¡°I¡¯d like to see you try.¡± Simon rolled his eyes. "You¡¯re not the only one with attributes, buddy. Every gifted person has them. I¡¯m not just illusions." Before John could react, Simon moved faster than he could track, grabbing his shoulder and yanking him toward the portal. Going through the portal for John felt like everything came to halt for a split second, as if someone pressed the pause button then changed scenery then it resumed again. The weightless felt while going through the portal was strange but it passed in a blink. Simon dropped him onto the floor. "See? That wasn¡¯t so hard." Waving his hands, Simon walked off. " See you later, buddy." John stayed frozen, astonished and frightened, trying to process what had just happened. When he finally stood up, he found himself in a brightly lit hall, the cold white and gold decor stark against the silence. To his left was a seating area; in front of him, a door. To the right, empty space. Just as he moved toward the door, a middle-aged man with black hair and casual clothes materialized in front of him, the air glitching for a moment before resetting. John recoiled in shock. ¡°What in God¡¯s green earth?! You got illusion powers too? Who are you, and where am I?" Quinn replied with a straight face. ¡°"I¡¯m Quinn Hampton, your mentor. And no, my talent is teleportation. That¡¯s all you need to know for now.¡± Quinn moved to the sitting area as he took a seat and pointed out to the seat beside him, ¡°Have a seat and ask your questions. I will answer them for you.¡± John clenched his teeth, rage simmering beneath the surface. ¡°You¡¯re that a@#hole voice. Why am I here? Why was I put through that nightmare? Why have I never heard of your organization?" Quinn¡¯s long hair fluttered for a second while his aura shifted the air as if the reality itself is going to break, ¡°Watch your mouth, boy. This is the last time I¡¯ll tolerate your rudeness. Disrespect me again, and I¡¯ll throw you back into the testing area for a week. I¡¯ll let it pass this time because I understand your anger, but from here on out, be careful of your words.¡± The power radiating from him was palpable, pressing against John¡¯s skin, tightening around his throat like an invisible hand. Every instinct screamed at him to run, to not confront this man. John swallowed hard¡ª face paled¡ª while taking step back. ¡®What the hell was that?¡¯ He forced the rage down, but it simmered just beneath the surface. He clenched his fists until his knuckles whitened, holding onto the last shred of his pride. ¡®I need answers, not another fight.¡¯ After a deep breath, John cautiously took a seat, though a little far from Quinn. "Fine. I¡¯ll keep it civil. Now, can you tell me what¡¯s going on?" Quinn nodded approvingly. "Good. Let¡¯s start with the basics. Your talent isn¡¯t from any drug. It¡¯s something you were born with, like all the others. Talents usually manifest between the ages of 15 and 20. The bureau has devices to detect anomalies, which is how we find both monsters and gifted individuals like you." John frowned. "Then why wasn¡¯t I tested until now?" "Your talent¡¯s unique. It¡¯s harder to detect. And while talents can manifest early, they¡¯re often used subconsciously in high-pressure situations. Our detection devices aren¡¯t perfect, so we outfitted police officers with enhancers in their radios. Still, you weren¡¯t spotted until later when a blood sample was taken." John¡¯s mind flashed back to his coworker. "So... my colleague Luke? The one who supposedly killed himself. Was he a gifted person? Did he die in one of your tests?" Quinn shook his head. "No, Luke wasn¡¯t gifted. He was controlled by a parasitic monster. The police report wasn¡¯t entirely wrong, but the truth was worse. We detected the monster too late¡ªit had already partially taken over Luke¡¯s mind." John¡¯s blood ran cold as Quinn continued. "The monster was absorbing his memories. That¡¯s why Luke was behaving so strangely, going to work but avoiding his family. We intervened before the parasite fully took over.¡± John took a moment to process this horrifying information. "So... the police know about these monsters?" "Not exactly," Quinn replied. "Only the police chiefs are in the loop. Regular officers don¡¯t know anything." John¡¯s frustration bubbled up again. "If your bureau is so legitimate, why kidnap me and throw me into that nightmare of a test? Why not just invite me, explain everything, and train me properly?" Chapter 10 -The Three Departments. Quinn replied, ¡°First, we need to understand your ability better. We have someone in the unit who can deduce a person''s ability from a blood sample, though it''s not always 100% accurate. Second, to help you understand the world you''re about to enter. Explaining too much won''t do it justice; it''s better for you to experience it firsthand. Third, we need to gauge your character¡ªsee how you handle extreme situations.¡± John, confused, asked, ¡°What do you mean by ''the world I¡¯m about to enter¡¯? I don¡¯t want to fight monsters as a job. I only fight monsters in games, not real life. Look, all I want is to figure out what¡¯s going on here and then go home.¡± Quinn chuckled. ¡°You can refuse, of course, but we¡¯d just have to implant a tracker in you and monitor your every move. You¡¯ll also need permission to use your ability, or you''ll be detained. No big deal. Oh, and imagine what happened to your coworker happening to one of your relatives. Well, never mind¡ªwhat are the chances of that, right?¡± John''s eyes widened. ¡°A tracker? And I need permission to use my ability?! What the¡ª?¡± He paused, suddenly anxious. ¡°And why mention my family? Nothing''s happened to them, has it?¡± Quinn grinned. ¡°Of course, nothing''s happened... yet. But if you join the bureau, we¡¯ll install detectors near your family¡¯s home and car to pick up any anomalies they might come across. This way, we can respond quickly to any threats. Otherwise, why waste resources on non-members? They might never run into anything, or maybe the police will handle it without them even knowing. So really, nothing to worry about. Just sign the papers, and you can head home.¡± He stood as though the conversation was over. John tapped his leg anxiously, raising his voice. ¡°For God¡¯s sake, I¡¯m not falling for this. I know you¡¯re trying to play the ¡®your family¡¯s in danger¡¯ card to pressure me into joining ¡ªbut why is it working? I want to curse so badly right now.¡± He clenched his fists for a moment, then sighed, lowering his head as Quinn reached the door. ¡°Okay... I get it. I can¡¯t walk away from this. Can you come back and answer my other questions?¡± Quinn paused, then appeared back in his seat with a smile. ¡°Now that we''re on the same page, go ahead.¡± John took a deep breath.¡± You said you''re my mentor, Am I only one under you or are there others? If there are others, where are they?¡± Quinn shrugged. ¡°They¡¯re still going through their tests. I tweaked yours a bit to finish early.¡± John¡¯s eye twitched. ¡°What¡¯s their test? And why did you change mine?¡± Quinn explained, ¡°In their test, someone with a doppelganger talent creates a double for each test taker. This double will be their companion for a day or two before they face a powerful monster, with the double sacrificing itself for them.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The test taker doesn¡¯t know they¡¯re interacting with a copy. The goal is to observe their reactions over those two days and during the final fight to evaluate their morals and choices under extreme conditions. The other two candidates are 17 and 18 years old. Their test remains unchanged since they¡¯re still in school, which making them simple to some extent. But you¡¯re 27, which is veteran age if you¡¯d been recruited at 18 like them. With your 7 years of education and work experience, it¡¯s harder to gauge whether you¡¯re genuine or just acting, especially knowing someone¡¯s watching you via the tablet. So, the simplest way to assess your true character is to have you face death.¡± John leaned back in his chair, contemplating. ¡°So, either I¡¯m tortured in an illusion to test my worth or I¡¯m tortured by guilt and heartbreak because someone dies for me... It¡¯s still torture.¡± Quinn remained silent, waiting. It didn¡¯t take long for John to speak again. ¡°Okay, I work in a factory. What will my role be here? Is it all just fighting?¡± Quinn explained calmly, ¡°We have three departments. The first is the Fighting Department, which, as the name may imply, is all about combat. You see, there are things we call dungeons. Every dungeon has monsters. We need to clear the dungeons to make them disappear. That¡¯s the fighter''s job¡ªto clear these dungeons that pop up randomly. The second is the Investigation Department, the most versatile of the three. Their main tasks are to search for dungeons, prioritize those about to break out, track escaped monsters, find mutated animals affected by dungeon proximity, and act as backup for fighters when needed. The third is the Technology and Planning Department. They focus on enhancing gifted individuals, developing gadgets, and managing the other departments¡¯ tasks. Usually, which department you join depends on your talent, but given your unique talent, you can choose any.¡± John¡¯s eyes lit up as he sat up straight. ¡°I want to join the Technology Department. With my engineering background, that should be a bonus, right?¡± Quinn grinned. ¡°Actually, no. I¡¯m assigning you to the Investigation Department.¡± John stared in shock. ¡°WHAT?! WHY? You said my unique talent would let me choose, and I want the Technology Department. Why are you denying me?¡± Quinn looked at John with a smile. ¡°Because of your talent, of course. Your double-focus talent will be invaluable for the investigation unit. The code name I gave you reflects that.¡± John, nearly fainting from frustration, said, ¡°You created my code name?! ¡®Ordinary-Sleuth¡¯? That¡¯s what you came up with? And I should be able to choose my department. I could go to someone else and pick what I want. Why should I leave it to you?¡± Quinn grinned. ¡°¡®Ordinary-Sleuth¡¯ suits you well. You¡¯re ordinary in many ways, but you¡¯ll make a good detective. And go ahead, see if anyone dares to change my choice for you.¡± John stared intensely at Quinn, who met his gaze with a calm expression. After a minute, John gave in, his shoulders slumping in defeat. He began to think if there were any questions he¡¯d missed. After a moment, John asked, ¡°So, I know the basics now. What¡¯s next?¡± Quinn said, ¡°I will train you with the other two newbies, but we won¡¯t start training until three days later. For now, take your tablet; it will be your ID. Go home, resign from your job, and come back here in three days at 9 AM.¡± John, puzzled, asked, ¡°The tablet? It¡¯s still at that safe house. How am I supposed to get home without my phone, wallet, or keys?¡± Quinn chuckled. ¡°You forgot how you got here, didn¡¯t you? Remember that foggy memory while you shift your attributes to intelligence. There¡¯s a skill called Mental-Block that obscures part of your memory. It¡¯s used on regular people, but if your intelligence stats are above 12, you will be able to recall it. But you didn¡¯t think of your lost memory when you were testing your talent, did you?¡± John scratched his head in embarrassing,¡± Well¡­ Yeah, you are right. I didn¡¯t think of my foggy memory when I was testing my talent. I will try now.¡± Chapter 11- The Foggy Memory. Quinn watched with interest John who closed his eyes and concentrated on shifting his attributes. In the first two minutes, John didn¡¯t feel any change, but gradually, the memory surfaced vividly. The hall melted away, replaced by the comforting familiarity of his apartment. It was Friday evening, and the mundane routine of life unfolded. John finally had time to relax after a long work week¡ªsetting in his comfy chair¡ªhe powered up is computer. Just as he was deciding which game to play the doorbell rang unexpectedly¡ªechoing through the apartment. Opening the door, John was greeted by the grim faces of two police officers. With an air of authority, they presented an official document, demanding John¡¯s immediate compliance. Confused and uneasy, John quickly changed into a T-shirt, comfortable pants, and boots. As the officers led him out of the apartment, the scene shifted once again, this time to a building labeled Special Investigation Bureau. After they escorted him to the entrance, the officers left, and someone else led him inside. He was searched, and his wallet, keys, and phone were confiscated. John was then guided into a hall, where he was greeted by Quinn and another figure. Before John could question what was happening, a wave of dizziness struck him. The last thing he remembered was the flash of blinding light from the teleportation device, and then... the test site. John blinked his eyes open, finding himself back in the brightly lit hall, its white and gold d¨¦cor gleaming. Turning to Quinn, he asked, "So, my belongings are here. What about the tablet? You said it will be my Id here, how do I get back?¡± Quinn chuckled, waving his hand. Like a magic trick, John''s backpack and the sword from the test appeared on the floor. ¡°I brought them for you while you were engrossed in the memory. The tablet¡¯s inside the backpack. I¡¯ll have someone show you to your personal storage, where you can leave the sword.¡± John eyes twitched, trying hard to hide his surprise at Quinn¡¯s abilities. ¡°So, I can leave now?¡± Quinn nodded. ¡°Yes, but remember to come back in three days.¡± As he spoke, the hall door swung open, revealing a man in his mid-twenties. The man immediately addressed Quinn. ¡°Mentor Quinn, I¡¯m here. What do you need me to do?¡± Quinn gestured toward John. ¡°This is John, a new recruit. Henry, please take him to his personal storage and help activate his tablet.¡± John stood, extending his hand for a handshake. Henry barely glanced at him before turning and heading toward the door. ¡°Come with me.¡± John frowned at the rude behavior but followed, carrying the backpack and sword. ¡®Are all the people here weirdos? First Simon, then Quinn and now this piece of watermelon. Great. Working with these people¡¯s going to be so much fun.¡¯ As they exited the hall, John took in the corridor¡¯s design. The walls had a muted, matte gold finish that contrasted sharply with the pure white background, while vibrant red doors lined either side. Signs bearing the emblem of the Bureau of Metaphysical Investigation (BMI) on each door. Henry walked ahead silently as John followed, eyes scanning every detail. After a while, they reached an elevator. Stepping inside, they ascended to the next floor and soon approached a gray door. Henry flashed his watch at the door, which opened with a quiet hiss. Inside, there was a desk with a peculiar black and silver square device on top. ¡°Put your tablet here,¡± Henry said, pointing to the top of the device. ¡°And place your hand here,¡± he added, indicating a side panel. John, puzzled, pulled the tablet from his backpack. ¡°What¡¯s the point of all this?¡± he asked as he placed it on the device. Impatiently, Henry explained, ¡°You need to activate the tablet so it¡¯s linked to you. It¡¯s your ID now. Stop asking questions and just do it.¡± Frowning, John muttered, ¡°Okay, fine, whatever.¡± Azure and deep purple lights pulsed from the device as John felt a slight prick on his finger. After a moment, the lights faded. John looked at Henry, confused. ¡°Now what?¡± Henry replied, ¡°Take your tablet,¡± and turned to leave. John picked up the tablet, which vibrated in his hand. A new notification appeared on the screen: (The tablet is now linked to John¡­ You can now change its form to:This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
  • Tablet¡ª already in use.
  • Phone.
  • Watch.
¡°What?! I can change its form?¡± John exclaimed, selecting the watch option. He watched as azure light engulfed the tablet, transforming it into a watch within seconds. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s pretty handy.¡± John fastening the watch around his wrist with a beaming smile. Before he could explore further, Henry¡¯s voice cut through his excitement. ¡°Stop standing around and follow me.¡± Suppressing his curiosity, John followed. ¡®I will explore it later. I need to get my wallet, keys, and phone, and then go home. Hold your emotions, John¡ªeveryone here¡¯s a freak with superpowers. Don¡¯t let something trivial affect you.¡¯ The two descended to the first floor, where Henry led him to a door marked Personal Storage. ¡°Use your ID to open the door,¡± Henry instructed, turning to leave. ¡°Hey, wait a second,¡± John called after him. ¡°How do I get out of here? This place is a maze!¡± Henry, already walking away, replied, ¡°Take the elevator to the ground floor and head straight. You¡¯ll see a blue door.¡± John sighed and scanned his watch near the door, which opened with a click. Inside was a room with rows of doors. As the door behind him closed, his watch vibrated with another message: (Personal storage detected. Navigate to your storage room? Yes/No) ¡°Well, that¡¯s convenient,¡± John muttered, clicking ¡°Yes.¡± He soon arrived at a door with his name on it. he swiped the watch to open it. what greeted him was a small room with empty shelves, except for one that held his belongings. ¡°Yes!¡± John finally retrieved his items, couldn''t contain his relief. he feeling of his wallet, keys, and phone brought a sense of normalcy back. The sword, his only ally in the test, found its place on an empty shelf. With satisfied grin, John exits the personal storage. Following Henry¡¯s instructions, John found the blue door, scanned his watch to unlock it, and stepped outside. ¡°Finally, I can go home.¡± John murmured while shielding his eyes from the sun. Checking his phone to order a taxi, he muttered, ¡°Sunday, 10:40 AM? It felt like ages in that jungle¡­¡± The taxi ride back was a welcome reprieve, and the moment he stepped into his apartment felt like heaven. ¡°All what happened felt like a dream, but I¡¯m sure it is not.¡± John muttered as he sank into the comfort of his apartment''s couch. John pulled out the newly transformed watch-tablet. He played with its transformation function for a few minutes until he felt satisfied. Settling on the tablet form to explore further. New icons appeared on the screen: (-Status. -Monsters Data. -Current Task. -Form Change. -Colleagues List. -Shop.) ¡°I know my status. Let¡¯s check Monster Data,¡± John murmured as he clicked on it. (Monsters data: You gain data on monsters you observe, kill, or receive from others. You need to observe or kill a minimum number of each species to unlock their full stats. -Wild-Fury.) ¡°Ah, so I can get info from others. Let¡¯s check the current task,¡± John said, clicking on the next icon. (Current task: Report to the BMI on Wednesday at 9:00 AM.) ¡°Got it. Now, the colleagues list.¡± (Collogues list: -MENTOR Quinn.) ¡°I need to add people. Makes sense. I don¡¯t want random people having my contact info,¡± John tossed the tablet aside, feeling his curiosity satisfied. ¡°I should start writing my resignation letter, and ¡­ that¡¯s it I guess.¡± John stood up and went to his room. He powered up the computer and reclined in his chair, staring at the blank document on the screen. Drafting the resignation letter felt more final than he¡¯d expected, but there was no turning back. Typing out the words was easy, but the weight behind them wasn¡¯t. ¡°Well, this is it. Goodbye to normal work,¡± he muttered, clicking ¡®send¡¯ before he could second-guess himself. His phone buzzed on the table, and for a moment, John hesitated. He hadn¡¯t called his parents in a few weeks. After everything he¡¯d been through, maybe it was time to check in. He dialed his mom first, knowing she''d be the one to pick up. "Hi, Mom. Yeah, I¡¯m good... no, nothing too exciting. Just, you know, work." After a brief chat with her, where he gave vague updates and reassured her everything was fine, John dialed his dad. Their conversation was even shorter, mostly centered around football and the upcoming games, but it brought a sense of comfort. With that taken care of, John decided it was time for something lighter. He turned his attention to his computer. His go-to game was already loaded on the screen, and for the next few hours, he lost himself in the familiar sounds and strategies. It felt good to escape into something predictable for a while. Later, hunger pulled him from his screen, and he wandered into the kitchen, rummaging through the fridge. After a quick debate with himself, he settled on cooking a simple pasta dish. As he stirred the sauce, he found his thoughts drifting back to the Bureau¡ªwhat lay ahead, what his role would be. After eating, he decided to clear his head and headed to the park. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the trees, and for a moment, he let himself enjoy the serenity of the scene. John sat on a bench, watching life unfold around him¡ªkids laughing on the playground, couples walking hand in hand. Everything seemed so peaceful, so normal. It was hard to believe that just a few days ago, he¡¯d been fighting for his life in a jungle filled with monsters. ¡°I wonder how many of these people would believe me if I told them about dungeons and monster tests.¡± Shaking his head, John tossed these thoughts out of his mind and enjoyed the breeze. But that moment passed, and with the energy still buzzing in him, John headed to the nearby club for a swim. Swimming had always been his go-to for clearing his mind. The steady rhythm of his strokes, the way the water resisted and then gave way. Lap after lap, he felt the tension in his shoulders ease, his thoughts drifting to nothing in particular. The cool water helped him shake off the last of the tension, and as he floated¡ªstaring up at the stars¡ªhe felt the weight of his new life settle more firmly on his shoulders. By the time he left the club and made his way back home, John felt a sense of acceptance to what he had been through and to his new life. ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.. Wednesday 7:50 AM John, dressed in a sport attire, slung his backpack over his shoulder. ¡°I guess this is my new life now¡ªa member of the Bureau of Metaphysical Investigation, Ordinary-Sleuth.¡± With both excitement and apprehension swirling within him, John drove toward the Bureau, ready for whatever was coming next. Chapter 12 - The Novices Starting Journey 1. In his journey to the BMI, John pondered, ''Crap, I forgot to ask why "Special Investigation Bureau" is written on the BMI from the outside. I''ll inquire when I get the chance.'' Arriving at the BMI at 8:41, John approached from the front gate. A swift swipe of his watch/ID and the metallic gate opened. After parking his car, he headed to the side door, the same one he exited from before. Entering the building, confusion clouded John''s mind. "So, I''m here now. Where in God''s name should I go?" He opened the watch screen, navigated to the colleague list, and selected Mentor Quinn. (Calling Mentor Quinn¡­) A holographic image of Quinn, sipping coffee, appeared on the watch. "John, what''s up?" "Sir, I''m in the BMI building right now. Where should I go?" Quinn responded, "Your task got updated. Click on it, and it will navigate you to the training place. Anything else?" Relieved, John replied, "Thank you, Sir. That''s it." "Ok," Quinn said, hanging up. Opening ''tasks'' (Task: go to the gym. Click to navigate), John moved as instructed, finding himself in front of a door marked ''Small GYM.'' Entering, he encountered a vast space filled with various exercise equipment, some familiar, others mysterious. A nearly transparent glass wall led to a vast field. The gym, for now, was empty. John noted with amusement how the gym¡¯s design looked like it belonged in a futuristic movie. John found a spot, sat down, and checked the time on his phone (08:50 AM). The door swung open, revealing a teenager with a backpack almost identical to John''s. "Woah, this is not a small gym." John rose, extending a hand. "Hello, I''m John Howard. Nice to meet you." "I thought I was the first here. I''m Toby Lyons." Toby shook John''s hand with enthusiasm that was impossible to miss. After initial greetings, John asked, "How do you feel about the monsters, talents, and all that? For me, it''s surreal." Toby, brimming with excitement, replied, "It''s freaking awesome, dude. I never thought I''d be a hero with superpowers. The first time I used my power, I thought I''d live in the dark to serve the light. But now, with others like me, going in teams to kill monsters... it''s so exciting just thinking about it." Internally face-palming, John nodded along, thinking, ''What an enthusiastic kid. I''m here dreading the next monster, and he wants to fight more. Good Lord, I''m not optimistic about where this is going.'' As they conversed, the door opened again, revealing a youth with a frowning face. Toby enthusiastically introduced himself, but the youth, Maxwell Ballard, merely stated his name and took a seat. Trying to break the awkwardness, John chuckled, "What''s your code name, by the way? Mine is Ordinary-Sleuth." Toby proudly displayed a flame on his palm. "Fervent-Enkindler." Maxwell, in a soft tone, said, "Solid-Warden," before checking his phone (8:59 AM). A cough diverted their attention to Quinn, who appeared with a stern face. "Welcome to your new life. Stand before me straight." The atmosphere shifted as the three aligned, waiting for Quinn to continue. "You only fought a level 1 monster. Your basic stats¡ªSTR, AGL, INT, VIT, and FLX¡ªare your foundation. With them, your talent becomes better. In the next period, I''ll be responsible for your training. You won''t leave this building until your next task. Understand?" "Yes, Sir," they shouted. Quinn nodded. "State your basic stats. Toby, you start." Toby: "STR: 9, AGL: 9, FLX: 7, VIT: 7, INT: 11" John: "STR: 9, AGL: 6, FLX: 5, VIT: 10, INT: 9" Maxwell: "STR: 12, AGL: 8, FLX: 6, VIT: 9, INT: 8" Quinn clarified, ¡°To avoid any confusion in the future you need to know, intelligence (INT) attribute does not make you smarter. It develops your brain to use your talent better, and it differs from talent to another.¡± Quinn paused as he looked at their faces, one of excitement, another with apprehension, and the last with nonchalance. He continued, ¡°Now, your talent awakened; the time you gain stats will be fast, but only by pushing yourself without using your talent. The training starts now. Grab a 20 KG weight-bearing shirt and run in the field for two hours."Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Toby rushed to the weights, John took his time, and Maxwell went with wide strides. After putting on the weights, they started jogging. Quinn''s stern voice echoed, "I told you to run for 2 hours, not jog. Run with everything you''ve got." Quinn''s aura unleashed, almost scaring them to death. ¡®Oh Lord, is he still a human?¡¯ John thought as he sprinted. Every slowdown earned a swift kick from Quinn, forcing them to run faster. Once, John shifted his attributes to AGL to maintain his speed without getting tired. He got beaten up for 5 minutes straight before being forced to continue running without cheating again. After two hours, Quinn clapped. "Take a five-minute break. The next exercise is weightlifting. Lift 40 KG for the next two hours." Collapsed on the ground, John eyed the weights with despair. ''No, I''ll die from this inhuman torture.'' Five minutes ended faster than they thought, and they started their next two hours of tortures. Quinn''s devilish voice returned, "Now, a five-minute break, and you''ll start FLX training for another two hours." With heavy breathing, they commenced stretching exercises with bizarre poses. After time was up, Quinn clapped as food materialized before them and said, ¡°Good, stop for now and eat your food.¡± Relieved, they devoured their food like hungry hippos. Just as they thought they were done, Quinn spoke again, "Thirty-minute break, then repeat." After another 6 hours of intense exercise, they could barely muster the strength to walk. Supporting themselves on the walls, they were guided to their room by their watch/ID. The room resembled the safe house but with a massage device replacing the portal. After a shower, John slept on the massage machine, despite its discomfort, succumbing to extreme exhaustion. The next day, the relentless training continued, repeating day after day. Two weeks later, after breakfast at the gym, Toby exclaimed, "Guys, did you check your stats? Mine has gone up." John, examining his loose clothes, replied, "Yes, it increased, and I lost weight." Maxwell nodded in agreement. Quinn, holding a cup of tea, appeared. "Good morning." Subconsciously standing straight, they awaited Quinn''s next command. With a chuckle, he said, "I like your excitement. State your stats." John, eyes filled with dread of the upcoming training, began, "STR: 9.5, AGL: 8, FLX: 7, VIT: 11, INT: 9." With a glowing face full of expectation, Toby said, ¡°STR: 9.5, AGL: 9.5, FLX: 8, VIT: 8, INT: 11.¡± Maxwell, emotionless, "STR: 12, AGL: 8.5, FLX: 7.5, VIT: 9.5, INT: 8." Quinn, smiling, "Good. I added another component to your workout. First, you''ll do what you used to but with additional weight. And you''ll start your new training after that." John exchanged a look with Toby, his expression wary, already dreading what Quinn had planned. Toby, on the other hand, looked like a kid about to unwrap his birthday presents. "Exhausted from their first six hours of ''normal'' training, they welcomed the brief lunch break. However, as soon as they finished eating, Quinn beckoned them to follow him. He led them to the far end of the gym, stopping before a heavy, reinforced door. ¡°This,¡± he said, tapping on a panel, ¡°is a specialized room for training your talents. Forget everything you think you know about a gym. In here, you¡¯ll push your abilities to their limits. It¡¯s adaptive, and each of you will face challenges designed specifically for your powers.¡± Toby¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Whoa, so it¡¯s like we¡¯re leveling up in a video game?¡± John sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°Great¡­ just what I needed. More ¡®fun.¡¯¡± Maxwell, ever-stoic, merely shrugged. ¡°As long as it¡¯s useful.¡± Quinn chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it is useful. Every day after basic training, you will continue to train here.¡± They stepped inside the room, which at first glance appeared plain. Just an empty, white space. But as Quinn inputted their stats into a nearby console, the room began to transform. Suddenly, John found himself standing in a maze-like environment. Dim lighting, shadows shifting, and the occasional sound of footsteps echoing in the distance. A voice overhead chimed, ¡°You have five minutes to deduce the location of the suspect and escape the maze. Use your perception.¡± John muttered under his breath, ¡°Great, timed puzzles. What¡¯s next, a riddle?¡± Despite his sarcasm, he knew that sharpening his senses was crucial for surviving future missions. As he navigated the maze, John had to focus on the tiniest details¡ªthe scuff marks on the floor, the faintest sounds of movement, even the slight temperature changes. He knew that sharpening his senses was crucial for returning safely from future missions. The challenge was designed to test his wit, observation skills, and reaction speed, which was both a relief¡ªsince it played to his strengths¡ªand a different kind of exhaustion. Meanwhile, Toby stood in what looked like an abandoned city complex. Crumbling buildings surrounded him, and targets popped up at random intervals. A robotic voice instructed,¡± Use your fire to destroy the targets as you navigate through the place.¡± Toby laughed, sending a jet of fire into the air. ''It''s been a while since I used my talent!'' He began blasting targets with enthusiasm, but soon realized that uncontrolled flames could backfire. He had to focus, aiming precisely and adjusting the intensity of his fire. ''Alright, time to get serious,'' he thought, concentrating harder." Maxwell found himself in a vast space filled with towering obstacles. Without warning, simulated attacks began¡ªfalling debris, projectiles, heavy objects crashing from above. Instead of dodging, Maxwell''s instinct was to stand firm. He hardened his body, raised his hands and blocked everything in his path. ''Maintain focus. Stay unshaken,'' Maxwell told himself. The relentless barrage tested his endurance, but his expression remained impassive. After their sessions, the three regrouped outside the training room, each looking drained yet invigorated. Toby grinned widely. ¡°That was wild! I nearly roasted myself a couple of times.¡± John smirked. ¡°I got lost in a maze chasing invisible suspects. Not exactly my idea of a good time.¡± Maxwell cracked his knuckles. ¡°It was... adequate.¡± John raised an eyebrow. ¡°Just adequate? You had debris raining down on you!¡± Toby chuckled. ¡°You know, we''re quite the trio¡ªa detective, a Firestarter, and a human shield.¡± John couldn''t help but laugh. ¡°Sounds like the start of a bad joke.¡± ¡°Or a great team,¡± Toby said optimistically. The corner of Maxwell''s mouth twitched slightly, almost forming a smile. ¡°We''ll see.¡± As they headed back to their quarters, a comfortable silence settled among them. Despite the day''s grueling training, there was a shared sense of accomplishment. John glanced at his companions. ¡®Maybe this won''t be so bad after all¡¯ Chapter 13- The Novices Starting Journey 2. Two months had passed since their intense training began. The once daunting workout had become a familiar, part of John, Toby, and Maxwell''s daily lives. The trio had seen remarkable changes in themselves. Physically, their bodies had transformed¡ªmuscles more defined, stamina greatly increased. Talent wise¡ªToby''s once erratic flames danced with greater control, John''s talent ¡®Insanity-Check¡¯ shifting of his attributes became smoother and Maxwell could now harden parts of his body rather than just his entire body. Each morning began with the clanging of weights, the rhythmic thuds of feet against the field, and the relentless coaching of Mentor Quinn. The simulation room had become their new testing ground, where their talents were tested and refined under controlled conditions. Despite the grueling routine, a camaraderie had formed among them. Shared exhaustion, shared goals ¡ª the three novices found solace in their shared journey. Even Maxwell, initially distant, had warmed to the subtle bonds woven through sweat and effort. As they entered the gym to start the day as usual, Mentor Quinn materialized. ¡°Good morning,¡± he greeted with a smile. ¡°Starting from today, your routine will change. Your first task will be issued in an hour. Go get your weapons from your personal storage and meet me at the gate." They took a moment before replying, ¡°Yes, sir.¡± As soon as Quinn vanished, John exclaimed in dread, ¡°I knew it was coming. But still, I don¡¯t want to fight monsters.¡± Toby, almost dancing in excitement, punched the air and shouted, ¡°Yes, finally! I¡¯ve been waiting for this.¡± Maxwell, maintaining his stoic expression, strode toward the door, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Toby jogged after him with a beaming grin. And with dejected face John followed. After retrieving their basic weapons¡ªswords¡ªfrom storage, they walked to the gate. First time getting out of the building for nearly two and half month, they felt the refreshing breeze. With their weapon scabbard to their waist and backpack hoisted on their back, they reached the gate. A jeep stopped on front of them as Mentor Quinn voice sounded¡± get in¡± Complied, they got in the car. Quinn voice was unusually stern. ¡°There are essential items that you will need in your first task in the back. Remember what they are because next time you will get it in your own.¡± ¡°Yes, sir¡± ¡°Good. be careful as this is no test, you might really die if you are careless. ¡°Quinn¡¯s tone was heavy. Their faces turn serious and John heart sank. Quinn continued, ¡°Open the task page, it has been updated.¡± Complied, the screen showed the following: (Current task: Clear Level 1 dungeon normal dungeon) John took a deep breath, his eyes sharpened and asked, ¡°Is there any information about the monsters inside?¡± They looked at Quinn, waiting his reply. ¡°No, it has been discovered recently but we are sure it is level 1 normal level dungeon. So, don¡¯t panic and don¡¯t make stupid decision, and you will be okay.¡± Maxwell asked ¡°Mentor, how do we clear the dungeon?¡± ¡°Kill every single monster inside, and in a day or two it will vanish¡± Quinn answered.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Toby wondered, ¡®So, how big is the dungeon exactly?¡¯ Their stats after the training: John Howard: (STR:12 AGL:10. FLX:9.5 VIT:12. INT:11.) ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­. Toby Lyons: (STR: 11. AGL: 11. FLX: 10. VIT: 10. INT:13) ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ Maxwell Ballard: (STR: 13.5 AGL: 10 FLX: 10 VIT: 11. INT: 10) The car drove to a desolate road, and after hours of driving, they arrived at the foot of a mountain. Disembarking, Quinn opened the trunk of the car. They each took a First-Aid kit, four energy bars, two bottles of water, a sleeping bag, glowing sticks, water filter and extra clothes. Placing everything in their backpack, John asked while looking around ¡°where is the dungeon?¡± Quinn pointed to a nearby rock. Baffled, John asked, ¡°It¡¯s just a rock, isn¡¯t it?¡± Quinn replied in stern voice ¡°Use your talent and look carefully.¡± To avoid angering Quinn, John quickly used his talent, ¡®Double Focus Effect One,¡¯ shifting his attributes to INT (11 ¡ú 16)." Suddenly, the world become much more detailed in his eyes, then he noticed a weird shift in the air around the rock. ¡°Ah, I see now.¡± John squinting his eyes at the rock. ¡°Hey, what do you see? Huh, why can¡¯t I see the difference?¡± Toby Looking between the rock and John as he asked. Quinn hit him lightly on the head. ¡°Close your eyes and focus on sensing the air¡ªyou will feel the difference after a while.¡± Toby and Maxwell closed their eyes while concentrating. After a while, Toby exclaimed. ¡°Wow, I feel it. I feel like the air flow vanishing in the rock direction.¡± Maxwell took a while longer before opening his eyes with surprise as he felt it as well. ¡°The air flow shifts because it is a portal to the dungeon. Now go¡ªI won¡¯t be waiting. Finish the task and call me, someone will fetch you up.¡± Quin said as he rode the car and drove into the distance. John looked at Toby and Maxwell, ¡°It is our first time fighting together, and we have no idea what¡¯s beyond this. So, I want to be clear¡ªdon¡¯t jump into fighting without surveying the environment.¡± Toby with a roll of his eyes,¡± Yes, yes grandpa. Can we go now?¡± Maxwell just nodded, and he made his way forward. Maxwell in front, the other on his both sides, a step behind entering the portal. they felt as if they passing through a barrier. They felt weightless for a moment before dizziness struck as the environment shifted around them. They heard a growl around them. John was the first to feel the dizziness subsided. Looking around, he realizes a group of rats-like creature, each as big as a horse, surrounded them. The environment looked like a shallow, muddy swamp, with twisted trees and large rocks sporadically blocking the view. Murky water glistened between patches of swampy land. John, now alert, shifted his attribute to strength, unsheathed his sword, while shouting, ¡°Wake up, guys. We have company.¡± (INT 16-->11, STR 12--> 17) The first monster lunged forward with its sharp fangs, aiming to rip John apart. ¡°Die¡± with a swift slash, he cut the monster head and kicked its body away from him. The other monsters seeing their kind die, growls as they lunged at them. Toby and Maxwell just woke up from their dizziness saw the jaws and ugly monsters in their face, activate their talent without a second thought. Toby throws a ball of fire at the creature¨Cigniting it¡ªwhile dodging another monster. Maxwell not bothering with dodging, harden his whole body. His fist crushed a monster skull and sent flying, while another monster¡¯s teeth broke from biting Maxwell other arm. John, not lagging behind, killed another monster with swing of his sword. Shifting to AGL, he dashed out of the encirclement. Swiftly and decisively, he cleaves the monsters left and right. Shifting his attributes rapidly between AGL and STR. Toby dodged another monster lunge as he concentrated his fire and launch it in the monster¡¯s face¨Ccharring it. Maxwell gave the monster headbutt¡ªmaking it dizzy, and with a powerful blow the pummeled the creature. The fight ended in a few minutes. when the last monster dropped to the ground, their watch vibrated simultaneously. John, his sword still dripping with the blood of the fallen monsters, surveyed the swampy battleground. The putrid scent of the murky water filled his nostrils, and the squelching of their boots against the muddy ground echoed through the landscape. With a frown in his face, John muttered, ¡°What a disgusting place.¡± Toby cracked his knuckles, breaking the silence. ¡°WOW, Nice fight guys.¡± His excitement was palpable, a stark contrast to the grim atmosphere of the swamp. Maxwell remarked while deactivating the hardening of his body. ¡°If all the creatures as weak as this, we¡¯ll finish the task fast.¡± Seething his sword, John pressed the watch to see the notification. (Monster data updated: Name: Gigantic-Rat Type: Normal. Level:1. Stats: STR:9, AGL:8, VIT: basic. Behavior: instinctive. skills: None). ¡°Huh, it is weaker than Wild-Fury. Is it only type here?¡± John mumbled his thoughts. Toby, scanning the monster data on his own watch, couldn''t hide his expectation. ¡°It will be too easy if that¡¯s all, let¡¯s go.¡± Maxwell remained silent, but a subtle nod suggested his agreement. Noticing that they didn¡¯t spend much stamina, the trio venture deeper into the dungeon. Chapter 14- The Novices Starting Journey 3. Walking through the muddy ground, John cautiously surveyed the surroundings. His enhanced senses allowed him to detect the faintest rustle of leaves and distant growls of nearby creatures. Toby couldn''t contain his eagerness. ¡°John, you haven¡¯t spotted anything yet? My hands are itching for another fight.¡± Meanwhile, Maxwell, more reserved, quietly scanned the area for any signs of movement. ¡°No, not yet. We won¡¯t leave without facing every monster here anyway, so don¡¯t be impatient,¡± John responded with a shrug, his ears twitching as he focused on a distant rustle. ¡°But it¡¯s been more than ten minutes since the fight,¡± Toby grumbled, disappointment clear in his voice. Maxwell rolled his eyes at the battle-maniac¡¯s impatience. John suddenly waved his hand, signaling them to stop. ¡°I hear a noise coming from that direction. Follow me.¡± Toby¡¯s eyes lit up as he eagerly followed, ¡°Finally.¡± His footsteps echoing in the eerie silence. Without uttering a word, Maxwell kept up with their pace. Attempting to move quietly, John quickly realized the futility of his efforts due to Toby¡¯s noisy footsteps. ¡°Can you be quieter, man? If the monsters are stronger than us, we¡¯ll need to retreat before they notice us,¡± John¡¯s caution was a stark contrast to Toby¡¯s carelessness. Toby, moving without a care, questioned John, ¡°Why are you so timid? All we have to do is kill them all.¡± ''Then go ahead, kill them all. I don¡¯t want to be here in the first place,¡¯ John retorted while spreading his arms wide in an inviting gesture. After rounding a large rock, they were confronted by a dreadful sight¡ªa massive group of Gigantic-Rats. John and Maxwell unsheathed their swords, preparing for battle, while Toby concentrated his fire in a small fireball, ready to unleash it upon the creatures. An explosion erupted as the fireball found its target, engulfing two monsters in flames. the other Gigantic-Rats growled in frenzy, dashing toward the group. ¡°Come on, you ugly beasts,¡± Toby, hands ablaze, charged at them. His fiery fist slammed into the first one, burning its face. With a sweeping motion, he sent flames to his right, scaring the other monsters away. John and Maxwell, not willing to be left behind, joined the fray. John thrust his sword into the throat of a leaping monster, ending its life. With a swift spin, he yanked his sword free and slashed another. He sidestepped a ferocious claw swipe, striking the beast¡¯s head in the process, finishing it off. Maxwell, having no fear of injuries, hardened his body and tore through any Gigantic-Rat in his path, turning the muddy ground into a butcher shop, with limbs and body parts scattered everywhere. As the melee grew more intense, John caught a glimpse of a monster smaller than the rest. With his cautious personality, he parried the monsters¡¯ advances while retreating. The smaller monster suddenly opened its maw, spewing a green smoke toward the party¡¯s direction. "GET BACK!! GET BACK NOW!" John''s voice echoed through the surroundings. John bolted from the fight after his warning, but his companions didn¡¯t react in time and were caught by the green smoke. Toby was the first to get hit by the smoke. He started coughing, his face turning sickly purple. His coughing disrupted his movement, causing him to take hits to his chest and back. Maxwell¡¯s retreat was a bit too late, and he too began coughing violently. However, he fared better, with the monsters¡¯ attacks barely affecting his hardened body. The monster stopped its skill, but Toby and Maxwell¡¯s coughing persisted. After the green smoke dissipated, John sprang back into the fray¡ªnot to fight, but to rescue his friends. Slashing through any monster in his way, John reached Toby first. He grabbed him by the collar and dashed over to Maxwell, pushing his agility to its limits.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Grabbing Maxwell by the arm, John weaved through the monsters, dodging their attacks as he sprinted into the distance. The creatures pursued them relentlessly, but with John''s stats on full agility, he quickly lost them while running between the rocks and trees. ¡°P- (cough)... put me (cough)... down,¡± Each cough disturbed the flow of words out of Toby¡¯s mouth. He and Maxwell¡¯s faces were turning dark purple as the minutes past. When John¡¯s senses didn¡¯t pick any trace of the monsters, he placed his friends down on a dry patch of ground, breathing heavily from the exertion. ¡°You guys okay?¡± John asked as he swiftly opened his backpack, taking the First-Aid Kit out. "What was that smoke? Poison? Do we have anything for that?" John¡¯s hands trembled as he listened to his companions gasping for air. "What was that smoke? Poison? Do we have anything for that?" John¡¯s hands trembled as he listened to his two companions gasping for air. Frantically searching the First-Aid kit, he found a bottle labeled ''General Poison Antidote.'' "When this is over, I¡¯m giving you a hug, mentor Quinn.¡± He muttered, hurrying to make them swallow a pill each. The minutes passed with John staring at them in anxiety, his hands pale from clenching it for so long. ¡°Come on, for God¡¯s sake, work.¡± After five minutes of waiting¡ªfinally, the color returned to their faces, and their breathing steadied. ¡°Th-thanks, John,¡± Maxwell murmured, still exhaling and inhaling slowly. ¡°Wh-what the hell was that smoke? Where did it come from? Damn it! Agghhh.¡± Toby cursed, wincing as he opened his backpack to tend to his injuries. John let out a deep sigh of relief. ¡°it was from a rat monster that was smaller than the rest of its group. I tried to warn you guys, but..." Toby cut him off, ¡°Warn us? I thought you were just being your usual cautious self.¡± Maxwell, usually quiet, added, ¡°We should have listened. That was way too close.¡± John nodded, "We can''t afford to underestimate anything in this dungeon. We need to be more careful. Does anyone still feel the effects of the poison?¡± Toby, rubbing his chest, shook his head. ¡°I think I¡¯m okay now. Thanks for what you did, John.¡± Maxwell, examining himself, grunted in agreement. ¡°What should we do about that monster? Any ideas?¡± John placing everything back in his backpack as he asked. ¡°If you can spot it, Toby should be able to burn from afar,¡± Maxwell suggested. "Yeah, your senses are better than ours, John. And I¡¯m the only one here with a ranged attack. I should be able to take out these beasts before they use their skills.¡± Toby¡¯s eyes lit up, revealing his thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s either that, or one of us needs to go in the middle of the monsters in order to take care of them fast¡­ Let¡¯s go with your plan,¡± John thinking it over for a moment before agreeing. After few more minutes of rest, the trio stood up, ready to take on the Gigantic-Rats once more. John led the way, retracing their steps to where the last battle took place. John gestured. ¡°Toby and I will climb this rock. I¡¯ll point out their positions, and Maxwell and I will engage once you throw your fire at them.¡± Peeking over the rock after climbing, John spotted only two small Gigantic-Rats. ¡°You see, there¡­ and there.¡± Squinting his eyes, Toby looked over. ¡°Mmm¡­ I see them now.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go down with Maxwell. We¡¯ll move in when you give the signal,¡± John whispered, as he quietly joined Maxwell. ¡°let¡¯s go¡±. Unsheathing their swords, they saw Toby standing on the rock and throwing a ball of fire. ¡°Now!¡± With a shout, John charged toward the rest of the monsters from their last encounter. Another fireball blazed through the air, followed by an explosion and a howl of pain. Unfazed, Maxwell¡ªwith his fully hardened body¡ªunleashed mayhem amidst the monsters. He sheathed his sword and fought with his bare hands. Every punch, kick, elbow smash, or knee strike drew blood. Like a perpetual machine, his limbs were always in attacking motion. The number of hits he took made no difference in his dealing with the monsters. John¡¯s violent attacks diminished the monsters¡¯ numbers. He swung his sword with relentless fury, each strike cutting through flesh and bone. Blood sprayed with every slash, painting the ground red. Every once in a while, an explosion echoed in the surroundings as Toby¡¯s fireballs found their marks, sending shockwaves through the battlefield. John dodged a claw swipe and countered with a powerful kick, sending a monster sprawling. Jumping on another creature¡¯s head¡ªcrushing it¡ªhe drove his sword into the neck of nearby Gigantic-Rat, impaling it to the ground. John took a deep breath before killing the beast as he yanked the sword out. After half an hour of intense fighting, there were no monsters left alive. Toby jumped down from the rock, looking smug. ¡°See? It¡¯s still too easy. All we needed to do is take out the smaller ones first.¡± John shot him a sarcastic glance,¡± Yep, it was super easy. You almost died, nothing much.¡± Embarrassed, Toby scratched the back of his head. ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t know they had skills. Caught me off guard.¡± Maxwell cut their bickering short, saying, ¡°I don¡¯t plan on spending the night in this dungeon. So, let¡¯s hasten in finishing the task.¡± Both Toby and John nodded in agreement, then they started moving again. As usual, John was responsible for searching the whereabouts of the monsters with his enhanced senses. After a while, they spotted another group of monsters resting up ahead. But these weren''t the usual Gigantic-Rats they''d faced before. This time, there were more of the smaller type¡ªpoisonous one. A bunch with red fur stood nearby, their eyes gleaming with a strange intensity. And looming over all of them was an Oversized Gigantic-Rat, its sheer size dwarfing the others. John''s face paled at the sight. "Another unknown type¡­ this isn''t good." ¡°Any idea what they can do?¡± Toby clenched his fist, asking. John tightened his grip on his sword. "Not a clue. Mentor Quinn didn''t provide much information. We''re in uncharted territory here." Chapter 15- Fire And Fury. A tense silence filled the air as the trio exchanged wary glances. John steeled himself, took a deep breath, and made a decision. ¡°I am the fastest here and have better senses, so I will go harass and eliminate what I can. Toby, your responsibility is taking out the poisonous rats first.¡± Maxwell placed a firm hand on John''s shoulder, his eyes reflecting concern. ¡°Be careful.¡± Toby nodded confidently. ¡°I got your back.¡± John¡¯s gaze sharpened as he unsheathed his sword, charging forward while calculating every step. monsters, stirred by the sound, rose from their rest, growling at the intruder. John stopped at a safe distance and shouted, "Come at me, you hideous creatures!" The effect was almost immediate¡ª a red rat, reeking of foul stench, its filthy fur matted and eyes blazing with ferocity, charged at him. John skipped across the muddy ground, deftly evading the monster¡¯s initial attacks. The beast, relentless in its pursuit, leaped with its mouth wide open, aiming to shred its prey. Seizing the opportunity as the monster soared through the air, John thrust his sword into its gaping maw. The red Gigantic-Rat had no time to react, and the blade impaled it, ending its life. Just as John about to sigh in relief, a deafening howl made his hair stand on end. Glancing at the rest of monsters, he noticed the veins on the red monsters bulging and their speed reached a horrifying level. Panic set in as John¡¯s eyes widened and the color drained from his face. ¡°TOBY, HELP!¡± The remaining red monsters were already closing in, the oversize Gigantic-Rat eyed his every move, while two of the poison rats bared their horrifying maws, preparing to unleash their skills. With a swift leap backward, John narrowly avoided a lunging attack from one of the monsters, the creature''s foul breath hot on his heels. From the corner of his eye, he saw a green smoke approaching, even as he used his sword to fend off another monster. Desperation clawed at him as he stumbled to evade another foe. ¡°Guys, help! I¡¯m about to die here!¡± Every ounce of John''s effort was dedicated to survival. Suddenly, the oversized rat appeared beside him, its claw struck John, sending him flying, only halting when he collided with a tree. Standing up midst the pain, wiping the blood on the corner of his mouth, John held the sword tightly, ¡°you mother¡ª!! I skin your ugly faces!¡± The hit from the oversized rat had, ironically, flung him out of the poison skill¡¯s range¡ªa blessing, as it might have been fatal otherwise. Gritting his teeth, John swung his sword at the coming threat. With a formidable slash, he severed one of the red rats¡¯ limbs. Dodging an incoming claw, John shifted his attribute to strength and delivered a powerful blow, cutting off another limb of the red Gigantic-Rat. Shifting back to agility, he moved with swiftly, leaving shallow imprints behind. Assailed by the loathsome scent of the monsters, he zigzagged to evade their relentless attacks, all the while keeping vigilant gaze on the looming oversized rat. ¡°Hold on, John! We¡¯re coming to help!¡± Seeing John under siege from all directions, Maxwell and Toby rushed to the rescue. Finally, an expulsion ensured marking their arrival. Toby concentrated on eliminating the poisonous rats and aiding John, while Maxwell took up the task of protecting Toby. Toby hurled a fireball at the poisonous rats. ¡°Die, you beasts!¡± One rat ignited with a sizzling sound and a painful shriek. The second fireball exploded near another rat, which howled as it turned toward its attacker, scorched by the heat wave. John fought for his life, dodging and attacking at every opportunity. As his friends arrived, he shifted his attribute to INT¡ª perceiving the monsters¡¯ movements as if in slow motion.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. His eyes darted around, imprinting every monster¡¯s movement in his brain. he quickly switched back to agility and dashed across the muddy ground, sending splashes everywhere. Reaching a poisonous rat in seconds, he shifted to STR and delivered a powerful cleave, severing its head. Without pausing to glance at the corpse, he shifted back to agility once more and sprinted across the battlefield. A fireball landed three meters away, distracting the oversized monster and clearing John¡¯s path. Seizing the opportunity, John moved past it, shouting amid the chaos, ¡°Focus on the poisonous rats! Don¡¯t let them use their skills!¡± Maxwell, bashing aside a monster and stepping back from the impact, called out gruffly, ¡°Toby, you heard him. I¡¯ll defend you; focus on killing!¡± Recognizing the challenge of defeating the red rampaging monsters, Maxwell focused on defense, leaving the offensive to Toby. ¡°You got it.¡± Toby unleashed fire from his hands, concentrating it for five seconds before launching a fireball from his right hand at a poison rat, simultaneously sending a wave of fire from his left hand toward a nearby enemy. Battle cries and explosions filled the air as the trio gave it their all to reduce the monsters¡¯ numbers. The oversized rat cast its gaze on Maxwell. Howling, it charged and crashed into him, sending him skidding and rolling through the muddy ground. ¡®Aggaaa!¡¯ With widened eyes and constricted pupils Toby moved backward, sending a stream of fire at the monster. ¡°Sht! Sht! John, we need your help with this thing! MAXWELL, ARE YOU OKAY?¡± Disheveled and covered in mud, Maxwell stood up with fury in his eyes, blood visible at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Damn it!¡± He sprinted and rammed into the oversized rat pursuing Toby with his hardened shoulder. The monster staggered back, while Maxwell took five steps to regain his footing. Thanks, buddy.¡¯ Toby, with a cold sweat on his back, positioned himself behind Maxwell. Together, they defended against the oversized rat¡¯s onslaught. ¡°Die!¡± With a brutal swing, John finally eliminated the remaining monsters. He then turned his attention to the oversized Gigantic-Rat. A murderous growl rumbled from the beast as it saw its kin lying dead and was pushed back again by Maxwell. Its body shifted from deep brown to red, its claws growing sharper and deadlier. ¡°Toby, concentrate your fire to the limit and take it down with one blow. Maxwell and I will keep it occupied until you¡¯re ready.¡± John took a deep breath before sprinting again into action. A metallic clang and the scent of blood filled the air as Maxwell¡¯s hardened body absorbed the blows. Usually stoic, Maxwell couldn¡¯t hide his frustration at being wounded despite his talent. John, circling the monster, shared the burden by leaving a series of deep, visible cuts on the creature''s resilient skin and soiled fur. ¡°Are you done yet? We almost at our limit, Toby!¡± John shouted as he and Maxwell struggled to cope with the rat¡¯s tremendous strength. ¡°Almost, just one more second.¡± Toby, drenched in sweat, brought his trembling hands together, forming a terrifying fireball that radiated intense heat. ¡°INCOMING!¡± With all his strength, Toby hurled the massive fireball at the monster. Sensing the heat, John and Maxwell leaped out of the way, goosebumps all over their body. The monster, sensing the impending threat, swung its claws at the fireball in a vain attempt to deflect it. BOOOOOOOOOOOM! The explosion erupted with a blast of searing hot air. Flames spread across the blast zone, carrying with them an agonized cry that echoed through the battlefield. After what felt like an eternity, the cries fell silent. "That was a good one, Toby!" John grinning, gave him a thumbs-up. "Nice work," Maxwell added, his gaze fixed on the still-smoldering flames. Exhaling deeply, Toby wiped the sweat on his forehead, his eyes shining like torches. ¡°I think it is dead.¡± Exhaling, Toby wiped the sweat on his forehead, his eyes shining like torches. ¡°I think it is dead.¡± The flames died down, revealing the scorched corpse lying in a crater. The trio exhaled in unison, dropping to the ground as a shared sigh of relief echoed the end of the brutal battle. ¡°Mother of ¨C! That was a struggle.¡± John spit blood to the side as he shifted his attribute to VIT. Unhardened his body, Maxwell, in rare moment out of his silence, grimaced while rummaging through his backpack for a bandage. "I didn¡¯t think anything could hurt me while I was using my talent. Damn that rat!" ¡°I almost got burned by my own fire,¡± Toby admitted, his hands shaking as the adrenaline drained from his system. the strain of pushing his abilities to the limit evident in the slight tremors. His breaths came in ragged gasps, a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. ¡­¡­¡­¡­.. Once they regained some stamina, John spoke up, ¡°Let¡¯s rest somewhere else, away from all these corpses.¡± Nodding, the group stood up and moved away from the fight scene. As they ventured deeper, the stench of monster blood and charred corpses gradually faded. They eventually found a cavern nestled within a massive rock formation and settled on the dry, solid ground to rest. ¡°We should eat and recover our strength,¡± John said with a sigh. ¡°We¡¯ve got more monsters to kill.¡± His voice was heavy with fatigue. Maxwell quietly reached into his bag, pulling out an energy bar and a bottle of water. His stoic expression revealed little, but the toll of the battle was evident in his weary movements. ¡°That was dangerous, but also exciting! We worked well together, and our training paid off,¡± Toby said with a grin that nearly gave John a heart attack. ¡°No! Nope!¡± John retorted amid the rhythmic sounds of his chewing. ¡°It was just dangerous. I almost died¡ªthere¡¯s no excitement in that.¡± Chapter 16 The Danger Ahead. John, after taking a gulp of water, addressed the group. ¡°We''ve faced four types of monsters so far,¡± he began, his ears twitching at any sound outside the cavern. ¡°The normal Gigantic-Rats are the easiest to deal with. However, the poisonous rats are a real danger. They are weak physically, but their skills are lethal. Always prioritize them in a fight, or we won¡¯t last long.¡± Toby nodded, his gaze fixed on John, waiting for him to continue. Maxwell, wiping off the grime from his hands, listened intently. ¡°Then there are the red rats,¡± John continued, his brow furrowed. ¡°Their base stats may be low, but from what I saw, their skills increase their stats and it can turn the tide. We need to avoid taking on too many at once." He took another gulp of water before continuing. ¡°And finally, the oversized Gigantic-Rat¡ªit¡¯s a powerhouse. Its skill sharpens its claws to lethal levels. We need to isolate it or handle it like we did in the last fight." Silence settled over the trio as John''s words lingered. The uncertainty of what lay ahead weighed on them. ¡°I¡¯ve lost track of how many monsters we¡¯ve fought, and who knows what else is there,¡± John admitted, his tone reflective. "Any thoughts, guys?" Toby scratched his head, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "Not much on the monsters, but hear me out. We''re the perfect team. We can conquer this dungeon, move on to the next, and keep going. We could be the best team out there¡ª" John cut him off, "No daydreaming, Toby. We''re fighting for our lives here. Let''s focus on the task at hand." But Toby, undeterred, eyes blazing with passion, pressed on. ¡°Just think about it. You¡¯re the scout, initiator, harasser, and hunter. I¡¯m the mage and damage dealer. Maxwell¡¯s our tank and bruiser. All we need is someone with healing and support talents, and we''d be unstoppable." ¡°Enough with the RPG fantasies,¡± John said, rolling his eyes at Toby¡¯s absurd imagination. Toby persisted, "But seriously, think about it. With every fight, our teamwork improves, and our stats will grow. We take on more challenges, grow stronger, and repeat. It''s doable, right?" John sighed, cutting through Toby¡¯s idealism. ¡°Okay, I get it. But let¡¯s focus on what¡¯s right in front of us, no overthinking, alright?¡± Seeing him nodding, John stated, ¡°Two hours of rest, then we can get going.¡± ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­. In a well-lit room, a desk with a computer on top was accompanied by three chairs and a couch. The walls were painted in simple colors, complemented by basic decorations. Director Noah was frowning, tapping his finger on the desk, visibly stressed as Quinn entered his office. Lifting his head, a sigh escaped his lips as his eyes lingered on Quinn. Seeing him in this state, Quinn couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Quinn, there are signs of a Level 6 dungeon emerging near the borders of Pravine.¡± The gravity of the news made Quinn take a seat, his brow furrowed as he listened intently. ¡°As you know, our country, Naville, and Pravine are allied nations. A dungeon of this level could have devastating consequences on both us and them if an outbreak occurs.¡± After a moment¡¯s hesitation, resolve shone in Noah¡¯s eyes as he commanded, ¡°I need you to form a team and be ready for deployment at any time. It will be a joint team of experts from our country''s bureau and theirs.¡± Quinn took a long deep breath before saying, ¡°I need some time before deciding who to pick. How is the situation now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not good. The energy is spreading from the dungeon, covering an area that spans hundreds of thousands of meters around it. We¡¯re not just dealing with the dungeon here. The energy field is warping everything in the area¡ªanimals, plant life, maybe even the terrain itself.¡± Quinn¡¯s eyes narrowed, his face hardened, and he began tapping on the chair¡¯s armrest in a rhythmic pattern. ¡°How did you handle it?¡± Noah let out a sigh. ¡°What else could I do? I sent all the foundation realm agents who were available there immediately. The energy levels around that dungeon might spike again, and then the mutant animals will undergo a huge transformation, which will become a massive threat to normal members. Only expert realm agents will be able to handle it. We can only eliminate as much as we can before that happens.¡± Quinn stopped his tapping and turned his head to the director. ¡°You know that¡¯s not enough. How¡¯s Pravine¡¯s bureau doing?¡± Noah steepled his fingers together. ¡°They want an all-out effort, and they¡¯re asking their allies for help. For us, we¡¯ll have to assist¡ªthe dungeon is too close to ignore.¡± Quinn leaned back, frowning. ¡°A huge operation like this is impossible to hide.¡± Noah elaborated, ¡°Our cover story is in place. This will be a joint military exercise¡ªan environmental hazard clean-up. We¡¯re still trying to determine the full scope of the energy¡¯s reach before the military and the police lock down any entry or exit from the area. If even one mutated animal slips out of our containment and someone catches it on camera, the fallout will be catastrophic.¡±Stolen novel; please report. Quinn mused, ¡°That¡¯s good, but the real issue is manpower. Our agents are spread thin. We¡¯ll need to rotate teams frequently¡ªmutant animals alone will exhaust the lower-ranked members quickly." Noah¡¯s face tightened as he stated, ¡°That¡¯s why I need you to pick your team carefully, Quinn. Once the dungeon fully emerges, I want you to clear it as fast as possible. You¡¯re the point man, and I¡¯m leaving you in charge of the whole operation.¡± Quinn remained silent for a few seconds before replying, ¡°I¡¯ll continue training the newbies until the dungeon surfaces. When it does, I¡¯ll take on the mission. Just make sure nothing goes wrong in the outside world while I¡¯m clearing the dungeon.¡± After a chuckle, Noah said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that.¡± Quinn stood up, making his way to the door. ¡°I¡¯ll show you the list of people I¡¯ve chosen after I¡¯m done reviewing my choices.¡± Noah waved his hand. ¡°Go, and don¡¯t take too long.¡± After Quinn closed the door, Noah¡¯s voice dropped to a near-whisper, ¡°I hope you can come back safely.¡± ¡°Time is up, let¡¯s go,¡± John stood up, reminding the group. Awake from his drowsy state, Toby jumped up, excited for the next fight. ¡°I feel I can take another five of these oversized rats. Let¡¯s clear this dungeon fast.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Maxwell cracked his knuckles and moved to follow John out of the cave. After returning to the swampy landscape, John led the team deeper into the dungeon. After a long-time walking, John finally heard movement. Gesturing with his hand, they moved closer to the sound. Crouching behind dense vegetation, John peeked out to identify the next threat. ¡°Let me see! 15 red rats, 8 poisonous ones, two oversized rats, and 30 normal Gigantic-Rats or more. How on God¡¯s green earth are we going to fight all that?!¡± John clenched his fist, almost exclaiming as he counted the monsters. ¡°What¡¯s that behind the monsters?¡± Toby whispered, pointing at a huge gate visible in the distance. Maxwell deduced, ¡°I think that¡¯s the end of the dungeon. Taking care of these monsters and whatever¡¯s behind the gate will clear it.¡± Nodding in affirmation, John frowned as he said, ¡°Yes, that makes sense, but how are we going to kill all of these monsters?¡± The oppressive atmosphere hung thick as the trio racked their brains, trying to figure out how to eliminate the monsters without dying. After a while of waiting in silent, John looked at his two companion and understood that they couldn¡¯t come up with a plan, he suggested, ¡°Each of us should take a general antidote pill and leave another under our tongue. We have to focus on the poisonous rats first, but in the worst case, we won¡¯t be affected by their poison if we don¡¯t take care of them in time.¡± The party opened their Aid-Kits and took two pills each. Toby asked, ¡°Then what?¡± John¡¯s palm rested on Toby¡¯s shoulder as he outlined the plan. ¡°I will go in, wreak havoc amidst them. Your job is to distract the monsters. I don¡¯t need you to kill them. It takes you too long, channeling to concentrate your fire for kills. Just make sure the monsters don¡¯t surround me¡ªI¡¯ll do the killing. I¡¯m counting on your backup, Toby.¡± After receiving a nod from Toby, John turned to Maxwell. ¡°Maxwell, you know what to do, right?¡± After being assured, John whispered, ¡°On my signal, send a big fireball into their midst as I dash forward.¡± Tension filled the air as Toby began concentrating his fire. Seconds passed, when John saw Toby reaching his limit he shouted while dashing forward, ¡°THROW IT NOW!¡± The monsters, alarmed by the fire and John¡¯s shout, growled. Their growls echoed through the vicinity, sending goosebumps across John¡¯s body. (AGL 10 --> 15) The fireball reached the monsters, who scrambled to evade the danger. The explosion sent a heat wave through the area, killing three normal Gigantic-Rats and injuring two more. ¡°Aghaaa!¡± John reached the Gigantic-Rats and delivered a powerful cleave, severing one in half. (STR 12 --> 17, AGL 15 --> 10.) Wasting no time, John lunged at another rat and took it down in a flash. Shifting effortlessly between agility and strength, John unleashed the full force of his talent, tearing through the swarm with lethal momentum. Maxwell and Toby soon caught up. Toby unleashed a barrage of fireballs over the area, while Maxwell shoved or killed any rat that got too close. From a nearby hill, a fresh wave of Gigantic-Rats surged toward the battle. As John weaved through the fray, he caught sight of them, and a flicker of panic shot through him. ¡°Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God¡± John exclaimed, panic rising in his voice. ¡°TOBY, WE NEED TO SPEED THING UP. This IS NOT LOOKING GOOD¡± "Calm down!" Toby shouted back, his hands still conjuring flames. "I''m doing what I can!" John''s worry turned to frustration as he dodged another rat¡¯s lunge. ¡°I CAN¡¯T CALM DOWN IF I¡¯M GONNING TO DIE. YOU¡¯R TAKING TOO LONG!¡± ¡°Hey, I¡¯m doing my best!¡± Toby snapped, his voice rising. ¡°This isn¡¯t just about you, John! We¡¯re all in this together!¡± John¡¯s temper flared. "If we don''t kill them faster, we¡¯ll die together!" The tension between them grew as John''s focus shifted solely to surviving oversized Gigantic-Rats¡¯ assault. Toby¡¯s frustration grew, but John roared as he pushed his agility to the limit. A surge of power flooded his veins, allowing him to narrowly dodge a swipe from a rat¡¯s claw. "Stop being reckless!" Toby yelled, hurling a fireball that singed the fur of an oncoming rat. ¡°Reckless my bottom. Do I look like I want this?¡± John scream of frustration reverberate as he ducked, narrowly avoiding an attack that ripped through his shirt. ¡°Mother of ¨C Toby, where¡¯s your freaking fire? I need some help here!" John barely evaded another oversized rat, a claw grazing his hair as it lashed out at him. "Can you stop whining? I''m fighting too!" Toby barked as the new wave of Gigantic-Rats descended. Some charged at him and Maxwell, while the rest swarmed around John. A cloud of green poison smoke burst from one of the rats. John stopped momently to swallow the Anti-Poison pill that was under his tongue. A gush of blood comes from John¡¯s shoulder as a claw scratched him right after this momentary pause. Without any more fire coming from behind, John was pushed into a corner, surrounded from every direction. With eyes burned red with rage, and an unsettling killing intent, John¡¯s shout rang across the battlefield. ¡°I was wrong to depend on anyone but myself! I¡¯ll remember this, Toby!" For the first time in weeks, John was forced to activate the second effect of his talent. (STR:12 -->17 AGL:15 -->15 FLX:9.5--> 14.5 VIT:12 -->17 INT:11 --> 16) Power, agility, clarity, and an unprecedented sense of control surged through John''s veins and muscles. With INSANITY CHECK active, the second effect of Double Focus kicked in as well. The movements of the monsters slowed to a turtle¡¯s pace in John¡¯s eyes. Lines of their attack trajectories flashed in his mind, only to vanish a second later. But as John on a timer and in perilous situation he didn¡¯t capture this effect. Chapter 17- Painted with Blood With killing intent blazing in his eyes and raw power surging through his veins, John stomped the ground, launching himself forward like a coiled spring with unstoppable force. He cleaved through the Gigantic-Rats, skillfully avoiding the Oversized ones and cutting down the rest. From John¡¯s perspective, none of these creatures posed a threat to him in his current state. With his attributes pushed to their limits, cutting through these beasts was as easy as slicing vegetables. Maxwell crushed a monster¡¯s skull with a single punch before looking toward John in worry ¡ªwhat he saw next made his eyes widen in shock. A trail of blood followed John¡¯s every step. The monster numbers dwindled at a frightening rate as John¡¯s muscles moved with absolute force and precision. Despite his formidable strength, the sheer volume of enemies made each victory feel temporary, as new monsters took the fallen place. Weaving through the horde, he cut them down, driven by a bloodlust fiercer than he had ever known. If his parents could see him now, they wouldn¡¯t recognize their gentle, easygoing son. Maxwell, distracted by John¡¯s ruthless display, failed to notice a monster sinking its teeth into his calf, and two others lunged at Toby. Blood splattered as Toby¡¯s back was slashed, and he shouted angrily, "What the heck are you doing?! You¡¯re supposed to protect me!" The cry snapped Maxwell back to reality. He resumed smashing the monsters, pushing others aside with an irritated frown as he shielded Toby. The relentless assault left Maxwell struggling to maintain his footing, his kicks and blows growing increasingly desperate. John¡¯s attacks seemed to intensify as if he had heard Toby¡¯s voice. His killing intent spiked, and the battlefield became a bloodbath. The battle¡¯s intensity seemed to amplify with each passing second, as if the dungeon itself was fighting back. When Toby and Maxwell finally finished their foes, Toby turned to the other side of the battlefield and nearly had a heart attack. Blood and body parts painted the ground a gruesome picture of a massacre. John stood in the middle, drenched in blood, surrounded by more than twice the number of enemies they had faced. He looked like a demon incarnate, dismembering the last of the beasts. The Oversized Gigantic-Rats, with their sheer muscle mass, explosive power, and high vitality, would take John longer to handle. After taking out the rest of the Gigantic-Rats to ensure no interruptions, John shifted his focus to the two remaining Oversized beasts. Maxwell, spotting an opening, charged and rammed into one, throwing it off balance. ¡°HAAAH!¡± John seized the moment, delivering a powerful upward slash that severed the beast¡¯s head. Without pausing, he spun, thrusting his blade into the neck of the last remaining rat. With a final twist, he decapitated it. The sight of the final rat¡¯s head rolling across the battlefield seemed to momentarily freeze time, as if even the dungeon itself was pausing to catch its breath. The battlefield was now a hellscape of destruction, with the air thick with the stench of death and the ground slick with blood. Toby stood frozen, stunned by the ferocity of John¡¯s actions. As John exhaled sharply and ran toward him, panic flooded Toby¡¯s face. ¡°W-What are you doing?!¡± he yelled, igniting his hands, desperately throwing fireballs at John. It was futile. John dodged the flames with ease and, with a swift spin, landed a powerful kick to Toby¡¯s head, sending him flying. Toby¡¯s vision blurred as he fell, his body aching and disoriented. As consciousness slipped from him, he heard John¡¯s enraged roar. ¡°If you weren¡¯t going to follow the plan, you shouldn¡¯t have accepted it! All I wanted was for you to distract the monsters! You agreed! But you took your sweet time killing them while I was getting attacked from all sides. You almost got me killed, you idiot!¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. As Toby¡¯s eyes went dark, John slumped to the ground, gasping for breath as the side effects kicked in. (STR: 17 --> 9, AGL: 15 --> 7, FLX: 14.5 --> 6.5, VIT: 17 --> 9, INT: 16 --> 8). Maxwell, dazed by the chaos, stumbled as he rushed over to Toby, fearing John¡¯s blow might have been fatal. He sighed in relief when he found Toby still breathing. Taking a closer look at Toby¡¯s injuries, Maxwell reluctantly opened Toby¡¯s bag, disinfecting his wounds, applying bandages, and forcing some healing pills down his throat to speed up recovery. Hearing John¡¯s labored breathing, Maxwell asked, ¡°Are you alright?¡± John gave a strained smile. ¡°Y-Yeah¡­ just give me¡­ a minute.¡± Once John assured him he¡¯d be fine, Maxwell¡¯s curiosity got the better of him. ¡°Earlier ¡­ what was that? You suddenly had all that strength. I¡¯ve never seen you use anything like that in training.¡± John, still catching his breath, responded with a weary grin. ¡°My talent¡­ has two effects. You already know the first one. The second¡­ is like a last resort, a trump card. It¡¯s a do-or-die kind of thing. It boosts my power temporarily, but if I don¡¯t finish the fight before the time¡¯s up, I become much weaker for a while. It¡¯s still based on my regular stats.¡± ¡°Huh, that¡¯s pretty unique,¡± Maxwell muttered. ¡°But it¡¯s not as broken as I thought. I imagined your talent was like elemental control.¡± Satisfied, Maxwell let the matter drop. After such a brutal battle, they both needed some rest. Elemental control talents were different. Those with the ability to manipulate elements like fire or water were considered similar to mages. With enough understanding and practice, they could wield their element for an endless variety of uses. A water controller, for example, could shape water into a blade, use it for drinking, cleaning wounds, or even irrigating farmland by summoning rain at will. ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ After taking a short break, John bandaged his wounds and stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s find another place to rest,¡± he said. Maxwell nodded and, carrying Toby on his shoulder, they moved out of the gory battlefield. John found a murky water pond. He took a water purifier from his pack, filled his bottle, washed his bloody clothes, and changed into a clean set. Maxwell followed suit. They then made their way back to the rock formation where they had previously stayed, set up their camping equipment, and prepared to rest after the exhausting day. Maxwell placed Toby¡¯s camping gear and made him comfortable. As they drank water and ate their energy bars, Maxwell asked John, ¡°What¡¯s the plan now?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± John replied. ¡°I mean between you and Toby. I know what he did was unacceptable, but we got through it. That kick was too brutal. How are we going to finish this dungeon if he¡¯s still out?¡± Maxwell¡¯s concern was evident. John met his gaze firmly. ¡°No, that kick was the least he deserved. I clearly asked for your opinion before we did anything and we made a plan. You know me, I don¡¯t like taking risks but from the start of the dungeon until now, I¡¯ve taken every possible risk to finish quickly and lighten your burden. From a team perspective, we could do better this way. I could, and you know it, play it safe, but that would only make us take too long to finish the dungeon. We¡¯d always be in danger and moving constantly. There are too many disadvantages to dragging it out. I¡¯m not even sure if the dungeon will spawn more monsters after a while. So, I took calculated risks on the promise that you¡¯d have my back as I have yours. And what did Toby do? In the first real dangerous fight, he did as he pleased and discarded the plan. Do you still think he doesn¡¯t deserve that kick?¡± After a moment, Maxwell nodded reluctantly. ¡°Well, you¡¯re right. He does deserve it. But what if he takes too long to wake up? How are we supposed to finish the dungeon?¡± John shrugged. ¡°Look, we¡¯re in the lowest dungeon possible. It¡¯s not that vast. We¡¯ve pretty much cleared every beast here. Only that gate remains. We can clear it, and I can use my skill one more time. After we clear the dungeon, we¡¯ll still have time to get him and leave. Yes, the last gate probably has a boss or something, but it won¡¯t be overwhelming.¡± Maxwell looked worried. ¡°But we almost died twice since we arrived here.¡± ¡°Yes, I know. I¡¯m not taking my life lightly. The first time was due to poison. We were too confident after our training and the first batch of monsters we killed boosted our ego. We took things too lightly. The second time was for two reasons: We were outnumbered and made an easy mistake by not scouting the enemy, and Toby disregarded the plan. If he hadn¡¯t, we would have killed all the monsters before that wave even came. They were only normal Gigantic-Rats. As long as we were cautious, we could have handled them much easier without injuries. So, if there are too many monsters, I won¡¯t charge in like before. I¡¯ll pick them off one by one. If it¡¯s a boss, I¡¯ll use my talent to defeat it. If it¡¯s a boss and rats, I¡¯ll pick off the rats as long as I can and then use my talent to finish the boss.¡± Maxwell looked relieved after John explained his strategy. Soon after, he went to sleep. John¡¯s talent¡¯s side effects had worn off, so he switched to Intelligence before he slept to stay alert for any movement while he was asleep. (INT 11 --> 16) Chapter 18 Broken Bonds. Toby¡¯s sweat soaked through his clothes as he dreamed of a devil attacking him, his efforts to fight back was futile. He jolted awake, taking a moment to recall what had happened before jumping up in anger. ¡°JOHN, ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR DAMN MIND?¡± Toby shouted, his voice echoing off the cave walls. John and Maxwell, just waking up and washing their faces, turned to confront the enraged Toby. John straightened his back, looking at Toby coldly as he emerged from his tent. ¡°Am I the one who¡¯s out of their mind? You nearly got us killed yesterday.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a freaking idiot who just complains and whines!¡± Toby snapped, igniting his hands in flames. ¡°Try throwing that and see if you can leave this dungeon alive,¡± John shot back, his eyes locked onto Toby''s with a serious expression, killing intent almost palpable. ¡°Calm down, both of you. We¡¯re here for a mission. Let¡¯s get it done first, and then you can throw punches after we¡¯re back,¡± Maxwell intervened, stepping between them to prevent things from escalating. Toby¡¯s face flushed with anger, his flames flickering as he shouted, ¡°You have no right to kick me! Who do think you are? Did you really think you are some kind of leader? Stop daydreaming, you are as clueless as we are.¡± John¡¯s expression hardened, his voice cold and steady. ¡°I never claimed to be the leader. I asked for your input before we even started. If you had doubts, you should have voiced them then. Instead, you agreed to the plan and then bailed on it when things got tough. Stop acting like a brat and take responsibility for your own actions. At least then I¡¯d have some respect for you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need your freaking respect!¡± Toby retorted, his voice dripping with venom. ¡°You think we¡¯re just here to cheer you on while you play the big hero?¡± John sneered, taking a step forward. ¡°Maybe you should take a look in the mirror.¡± ¡°Oh, right. You¡¯re the expert with the sword. You think you¡¯re so perfect with your talent? You couldn¡¯t even draw the rats¡¯ attention properly!¡± Toby snorted, his sarcastic laugh echoed. ¡°Are you blind? I killed twice as much as you did despite the risk I was in¡± John shot back, the tension crackling between them. With a mocking expression, Toby retorted, ¡°Maybe if you weren¡¯t so busy playing the hero, you¡¯d realize how much of a risk you were taking!¡± ¡°Do you think I want to take the risk? I was making them target me so you could use your ability without harassment from the monsters. Your job was distracting, mine was killing. That all you had to do. And what did you do instead? You used the most ineffective way to fight. ¡° Maxwell, trying to intervene, said, ¡°Guys, this isn¡¯t helping. We need to focus on¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up, Maxwell!¡± Toby shouted, his flames flickering dangerously as he turned his attention back to John. ¡°My talent is fire. I burn staff and that what I did. But you¡¯re just a scared kid hiding behind his sword.¡± John narrowed his eyes dangerously. ¡°At least I follow through with what I say, Unlike you. Throwing fire around like a toddler! I actually considered the team, not acting like we¡¯re in a damn playground!¡± ¡°I did the best I can, but what about you? Hiding your ability from us, we could have done better if I know you had that much power.¡± Topy snapped back at him. John¡¯s face twisted with frustration. ¡°Oh, so now you¡¯re blaming me for your mistakes? You seriously can¡¯t see how your recklessness affected me?¡± Maxwell interrupted, ¡°You both need to stop! This isn¡¯t helping anyone. We¡¯ve all made mistakes, but fighting about it isn¡¯t going to change anything. We need to focus on getting out of this dungeon, not tearing each other apart!¡± ¡°You think you can just swoop in and play peacemaker? Stay out of this!¡± Toby spat, flames flaring as he glared at Maxwell. The argument heated further, both men shouting over each other, their voices echoing off the cave walls. Maxwell, feeling helpless, stepped back. Finally, John¡¯s voice cut through, quieter but intense. ¡°You know what, Toby? Do whatever you please. After this dungeon, I don¡¯t want to be on the same team as you again.¡± He turned to Maxwell. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the gate, finish this, and get out of here.¡± John huffed as he gathered his belongings. ¡°Fine. But don¡¯t think I¡¯m going to forget what you did,¡± Toby shot back, his voice sharp. Maxwell shot a glance at Toby. ¡°We¡¯ll handle it later. Right now, let¡¯s focus on finishing this dungeon without any more mistakes.¡± After a quick meal and some water, they collected their gear and began the walk towards the gate. The foul stench from the previous night¡¯s battle lingered in the air, pushing them to quicken their pace. The area surrounding the gate was vast and barren. John averted his gaze from the gate, eyeing Toby with a severe expression. ¡°Don¡¯t do anything stupid when we go in.¡± Toby snorted dismissively. ¡°Stop complaining and whining all the time.¡± ¡°We are at the last hurdle. can we get it over with first?¡± Maxwell groaned, rolling his eyes. John placed his hands at the door, pushing it. But the door remained stubbornly closed. His veins became visible as he pushed harder, adjusting his attributes to boost his strength. (STR 12 --> 17, INT 16 --> 11) The door creaked open slowly, and they let go of their relaxing expressions. BAM! As soon as the door swung open, Maxwell took the lead, his body acting as a shield while John and Toby followed closely behind.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. They weren¡¯t expecting what they saw: rows upon rows of pulsating, grotesque eggs filling the hall, each one illuminated by an eerie red light emanating from a glowing crystal at the far end of the chamber. ¡°What is this?¡± Toby''s fingers brushed against an egg, causing it to tremble violently. The trio watched in alarm as cracks spider-webbed across its surface, and a monstrous head slowly emerged, dripping with viscous fluid. Not leaving a chance for the Gigantic-Rat to be born, John ran forward and beheaded it. ¡°So, all of these are monsters.¡± John scrutinized the hall as blood dripped from his blade. ¡°Let¡¯s finish them before they become a danger.¡± With a scornful grin, Toby¡¯s hand ignited. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to tell me what to do.¡± They cut, smashed, or scorched one egg after another, killing whatever was inside. By the time they finished, half an hour had passed. A putrid smell filled the hall. Maxwell moved to the crystal. ¡°I think by breaking or taking out this crystal, we¡¯ll be done here and can go back.¡± ¡°Yeah, I think so too. Just smash it.¡± John nodded in agreement. With his hardened hand, Maxwell punched the crystal. Once, twice, thrice, he continued smashing it and with every hit a slight tremor could be felt from the dungeon¡¯s ground. Finaly, the crystal cracked. The crack started as a ¡®X¡¯ shape, then it spread, forming a spider web pattern. The hall quaked violently as soon as the crystal shattered, sending chunks of rock raining down from the ceiling. ¡°Let¡¯s move!¡± Maxwell shouted, his voice barely audible over the deafening rumble. They sprinted towards the exit, hearts pounding as they raced back the way they entered the dungeon. With John in the lead this time, he ran, balancing himself while the ground shook. Finally, they reached the portal out of the dungeon. John looked behind him. After finding they kept up with his pace, he jumped into the portal. ¡°I will go first.¡± A feeling of disorientation hit him. Shaking his head, John breathed a sigh of relief as the dizziness subsided. He looked around and found his team, recognizing they were at the same place they entered from. After taking a small break to calm their nerves, John opened his watch and called his mentor. ¡°Report your stats.¡± Quinn¡¯s easygoing voice helped him relax a bit from two days of killing. ¡°We killed every monster we found in the dungeon and destroyed a weird crystal. Then the dungeon started shaking nonstop. We ran to the exit and we¡¯re just out. Did destroying the crystal mean we cleared the dungeon?¡± ¡°Good job. Yes, you cleared the dungeon. But it¡¯s not always a crystal. Sometimes it¡¯s a monster, and other times you have to destroy multiple places in the dungeon to clear it. You¡¯ll know better in the future. For now, stand by as someone will take you back.¡± ¡°Yes, mentor.¡± The call ended with a sigh of relief from John and the rest. Minutes ticked by as Maxwell relaxed on a rock, feeling exhausted from the whole ordeal. A sound of a car getting close made them look over. A jeep stopped in front of them. As the driver¡¯s window slid down, a girl with pretty features came into view. ¡°John, Maxwell, and Toby, I presume? I¡¯m Evelyn from the Technology and Planning Department. I came to take you back.¡± ¡°Hello there.¡± John exchanged greetings as he moved to the trunk to put the sword and the backpack. Toby and Maxwell did the same. The car began to move as soon as the trio got in. The silent trip took two hours until they reached the Bureau of Metaphysical Investigation building. ¡°I want to repair my sword. Where can I do that, Evelyn?¡± John asked as soon as the car parked. ¡°Leave it to me. I will inform you as soon as it¡¯s repaired. Anything else?¡± ¡°No, thanks for your help.¡± After adding her to his comm (watch), she said, ¡°I will take the three of you to Mentor Quinn¡¯s office.¡± After leading them to Quinn¡¯s office, she left. The trio knocked before entering. What was before them was a spacious and well-designed office but without extravagance. Reclining in his comfy chair, drinking his tea, Quinn gestured for them to sit down. ¡°You finished your first mission. What is your impression, feeling, and opinion about the dungeon, yourself, and your team?¡± As they settled into their seats in Quinn¡¯s office, an air of tension was visible, particularly between John and Toby. Quinn studied them, his gaze assessing. ¡°Speak freely. Maxwell, you go first.¡± Maxwell leaned forward. After narrating what happened in the dungeon, he took a moment to gather his thoughts. ¡°It was intense. The dungeon was¡­ chaotic, and we had to adapt quickly. I learned that there are monsters that could crack my hardened body.¡± Quinn nodded, encouraging him to continue. ¡°What else?¡± ¡°I felt like we were constantly on edge. We made mistakes that could have killed us, but I think we managed to pull through as a team. The monsters could have talents too, which shocked me. I learned a lot about how things could go wrong quickly.¡± ¡°That is good insight. And you, John, what is your insight?¡± Quinn changed his posture as his gaze shifted between John and Toby with interest. John straightened his back, feeling the weight of Quinn¡¯s gaze. ¡°It was frustrating. We went in with no intel about what to do or what kind of monsters we would be fighting. We didn¡¯t even know what kind of environment we had to deal with.¡± ¡°Mhm. Continue.¡± Quinn was listening attentively. ¡°But the most frustrating part was that Toby was treating the dungeon like playtime, flaunting his talent by disregarding the plan we agreed upon before the fight. It put me in a dangerous situation. If I didn¡¯t have my talent¡¯s second effect, which he was not aware of, I could have died. And if I had, they would have soon followed because I was occupying most of the monsters¡¯ attention.¡± If looks could kill, the anger in John¡¯s eyes could have killed Toby a thousand times over. Toby clenched his fists at his sides, his face flushing with anger. ¡°You think you¡¯re so perfect, the center of everything? Your plan sucked, and you were reckless. It¡¯s not my fault. You didn¡¯t trust me at all, and you didn¡¯t even tell us your full talent.¡± John snorted in return. ¡°Be a man and take responsibility for your own actions. The more you talk, the more I despise your pathetic excuses.¡± Quinn raised a hand to intervene. ¡°This isn¡¯t the time for blame. You both faced a real challenge, and it¡¯s crucial to learn from it. What about you, Toby?¡± Toby¡¯s expression softened slightly, but he kept his gaze locked on John. ¡°I felt trapped. It was like I was being forced into a role I didn¡¯t want. I just wanted to protect myself and the team, but it felt like John didn¡¯t care about anyone but himself.¡± John¡¯s brow furrowed in disbelief. ¡°You think I was only thinking about myself? I was trying to keep us alive!¡± Quinn intervened before the argument could escalate further. ¡°Enough. This mission was your first taste of reality, and it won¡¯t be the last. It¡¯s essential to communicate better and respect each of your team¡¯s strengths and weaknesses.¡± Quinn leaned back in his chair, observing them closely. ¡°It¡¯s crucial to reflect on how you handle these conflicts. Each of you will be assigned to different departments, focusing on your talents and skills. It¡¯s time for you to begin your specialized training. This is just the beginning of your journey.¡± After a while, Quinn stood, indicating that their time was up. ¡°Take the rest of the day off and tomorrow. Come to the training ground after your days off. Dismissed.¡± John couldn¡¯t shake the frustration brewing inside him. He understood the importance of teamwork, but he felt that Toby¡¯s reckless behavior jeopardized everything. He wanted to get his point across, but each time he opened his mouth, it felt like he¡¯d only make things worse. As they exited Quinn¡¯s office and walked down the corridor, each lost in their own thoughts. John glanced at Toby, who refused to meet his eyes, and knew it was better that he would be assigned to a different team after the next training. John took a shower, changed his clothes, and took his car back to his apartment after not staying there the whole training period. Upon entering his apartment, John was greeted by a thick layer of dust covering every surface. ¡°I just want to sleep. I will clean when I wake up,¡± John sighed as he went to his bedroom, changed the bed sheet, and threw himself on the bed, sleeping. Chapter 19-Changed Perspective. Toby lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling as the events of their mission replayed in his mind. The mission played on an endless loop, each mistake, each decision gnawing at him like a slow burn. He couldn¡¯t shake the images¡ªthe blood, John¡¯s voice, the look in his eyes. It was all so vivid, as if every moment had carved itself into his memory. It hadn¡¯t always been like this. Just a few months ago, he was still normal¡ªor at least, as close to normal as someone with fire in their veins could be. He had started having unexplained fevers, leaving him sweating. After they subsided, he began experiencing a strange sensation whenever he looked at any flames. While he was changing his clothes, his hands turned red, and fire started burning his shirt. "Oh my god. Stop! Stop burning. What is happening?! This is my favorite shirt, stop!" He started panicking, his thoughts in disarray. "Stop! Stop! Stop!" Finally, the fire in his hands ceased. He ran and threw what was left of his shirt into the trash can. "TOBY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING UP THERE? WHAT ARE YOU BURNING?" his mom shouted from downstairs. "NO-NOTHING, MOM." "Come down here for breakfast. You need to go to school." "Coming, coming," he sighed in relief. After a moment, the realization hit him: he had superpowers. Toby jumped up and down in excitement. "Oh my god. I can control fire! I can control fire. WHAAH!" He took a moment to rein in his excitement. Days went by as he seized every opportunity he could, without alarming his parents or classmates, to bring his talent under control. However, after he learned to control how to use his fire, he got confused about what to do with his talent. There were no bad guys to beat or monsters to defend the city against¡ªat least, that''s what he thought. Then came the yearly check-up at school. He was afraid being discovered would bring catastrophe to him or his family, or that he would become a lab rat. His thoughts were in shambles. After a while, someone came to his parents, telling them about a unique boarding school for young talents. After that, he started his tests. His memory was blocked, and he was always in fear of the unknown but also excited and looking forward to the future as he fought the monsters. The test concluded with him meeting another one like him, but who sacrificed his life so Toby could finish off the monsters that had cornered them. He remembered his sigh of relief, knowing that no one had really been sacrificed and it had all been a test to join the organization. It was a thrilling experience, knowing he wasn''t the only one with superpowers. Even more so when he knew he would fight with others to defend their country and other human beings. It was like a dream come true. After that, he met the mostly aloof Maxwell and the mature and steady John. Or so he thought at the beginning. During the training, he realized that Maxwell wasn''t aloof; he just didn''t feel like talking unless necessary because it bothered him to argue with people. And John just wanted to relax and wasn''t a single bit excited about the future. Toby didn¡¯t get his perspective, ¡®isn¡¯t it fascinating to be able to use our power to defeat monsters? Why is he so¡­ unexcited?!¡¯ Deep down, Toby started to see John¡¯s talent as lesser because it didn¡¯t bring anything new to the table, and with John¡¯s attitude, Toby thought he would leave him far behind after a while. He still thought John was a good guy with a weird talent but not bad to work with. However, his talent and attitude would limit his future, unlike himself where his talent had unlimited potential and his own resolve to fight and protect the country. After pushing himself to the limit again and again, his confidence soared. When their cool mentor issued their first mission, finally seeing some action after the long training, Toby''s imagination filled with thoughts of being the ace of the team and burning every monster in their way to cinder. But reality hit him hard when he almost died and was rescued by John from the poison rat. He calmed his expectations and got his revenge on the damn rat. After that, they fought an enormous rat with frightening pure muscle mass, but his fire was the decisive factor in winning the fight as he regained his confidence. One more time, it was displayed that his fire was the ultimate attacking factor. But John suggested that he should restrain his firepower and just cover him. Seeing Maxwell agree to this stupid plan, he gave up and agreed anyway. After the fight started, he saw John fighting the monsters and running all over the place, so he started helping by increasing his fire to kill more monsters so John wouldn¡¯t be strained. Suddenly, John¡¯s scream resounded on the battlefield, telling him to distract more monsters. He screamed back that he was trying his best and increased his fire a bit more as it started to strain him, trying to do more damage without taking more time. Abruptly, a bunch of rats started running in his direction, too many to ignore. So, he couldn¡¯t afford to get distracted. He thought John would be okay for a few minutes as he would help him after finishing the monsters before him and Maxwell first. "TOBY, I WILL REMEMBER THIS!" He heard John scream again, which he completely ignored as he focused on what was around him first.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Minutes passed. Finally, he looked at John¡¯s location after finishing the monsters around him. To his horror, he saw John all bloody, and more monster parts lay around him than the number of monsters he and Maxwell had killed together. And John was still battling two Oversized-Gigantic-rats by himself and looked like he was winning. Maxwell went to help, and swiftly John brought the two beasts down. Toby¡¯s heart pounded as John stormed toward him, his eyes blazing with a fury that Toby had never seen before. ¡°Wh-What are you doing?¡± Toby flustered, his voice cracking as the distance between them closed too fast. John¡¯s face was twisted with anger, and Toby¡¯s mind scrambled for an answer, any reason that could explain this. In a panic, he summoned the fire to his hands, launching two fireballs. But they were dodged easily, and before Toby could throw a third attack, a kick connected with his jaw. Pain exploded across his face, and the world went dark. The events that had unfolded left him with a mixture of pride and frustration. His fire had been a powerful asset, but John''s unexpected reaction had thrown him off balance. "Damn it, John," Toby muttered under his breath. Toby couldn''t shake the image of John, bloodied and furious. The memory of the kick still made his jaw ache, but it was the look in John''s eyes that haunted him the most. Anger, betrayal, and something else¡ªdisappointment? Toby sat up slowly. He blinked a few times, trying to piece together what had happened. Replaying the events in his mind, he remembered how Maxwell reported the incident to Quinn. "As John was fighting, a lot of Gigantic-Rats came from behind a small hill we didn¡¯t account for. Part of them ran in John''s direction, and part rushed to me and Toby¡¯s position. We sta¡ª" Toby sat straight with a pounding headache. ¡®I remember more rats came to our direction. How di¡ªHow didn¡¯t I realize that more went to John?! He was in a bad position to begin with, so we could kill all the monsters first and leave the big guys for last. If more monsters came his way, then¡­ then.¡¯ Toby''s face paled as he realized how the fight could have gone if John hadn¡¯t had his weird second ability. ''Why didn''t I see it?'' Toby thought. ''Why didn''t I realize how dangerous it was for John?'' He got out of bed, took a shower before putting on his training clothes, and went to the training ground. The cold morning air filled Toby¡¯s lungs as he sprinted across the field, pushing himself harder with every step. His legs burned, but he welcomed the pain. It was easier to focus on the pain in his muscles than on the memory of John¡¯s bloody face. Breathless, he collapsed against a wall, his heart pounding in his chest. ¡°Why didn¡¯t I see it sooner?¡± He moved onto his ability training, flames flickering on his hands. He wasn¡¯t going to stop. Not until he could control every inch of his power. Over and over, he let the fire roar to life, pushing it, forcing it to bend to his will. Sweat dripped down his face as exhaustion clawed at him, but he refused to quit. He used his talent in every way he could. He used it again and again until he dropped to the ground from exhaustion. Toby took a deep breath, his thoughts still racing. He knew he needed to face John, but the thought of it filled him with dread. The tension between them had reached a boiling point, and Toby wasn''t sure how to bridge the gap that had formed. His pride wouldn¡¯t let him, especially after taking that kick from him. After taking a short rest, he continued training until he couldn¡¯t stand properly. He ordered some food and rested for a while. Toby used his talent in every way he could. He practiced again and again until he dropped to the ground from exhaustion. Taking a deep breath, his thoughts still racing, he knew he needed to face John, but the thought filled him with dread. The tension between them had reached a boiling point, and Toby wasn¡¯t sure how to bridge the gap that had formed. His pride wouldn¡¯t let him be, especially after taking that kick from John. After a short rest, Toby resumed his training until he could barely stand. He ordered some food and rested for a while. ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­. John awoke to the soft light filtering through his apartment''s curtains, feeling refreshed. His muscles were relaxed after days of intense activity. With a yawn, he got out of bed and surveyed his dust-covered apartment, realizing he needed to clean up. But first, he craved some fresh air and breakfast. After buying a bunch of buns, John decided to take a walk in the nearby park. John wandered through the park, the gentle rustling of leaves and distant chatter of people grounding him in the present. It was a world apart from the chaos of their mission. As he sat on a bench, the warmth of the sun on his face and the simple pleasure of a fresh bun reminded him of how small the world could feel outside of battle. He glanced around at the people walking their dogs, parents pushing strollers, and for a moment, he wondered how long he could stay in this peace. He hadn¡¯t felt this calm in days. It was a quiet that his mind, and his body, desperately needed. Opening his regular phone, he noticed a few missed calls from his mother and father. ¡°Huh, it¡¯s been more than a week since I called them,¡± he muttered to himself. He finished his breakfast, returned to his apartment, and spent an hour cleaning. After a quick shower, John decided to call his mother. ¡°John, did you forget about your mother after leaving home?¡± his mother answered teasingly. ¡°No, Mom. How could I forget you? You¡¯re the most precious mother in the world to me,¡± John responded with a grin. ¡°Do you mean you have another mother?¡± ¡°MOM, you know what I mean. Stop it!¡± ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯m just kidding. How are you doing lately? How¡¯s your job?¡± she asked. ¡°It¡¯s all been good so far.¡± ¡°Do you have enough money? Are you eating well? You look thin. Are you still on that diet you told me about? Is your health good?¡± ¡°I have enough money. I¡¯m not starving myself if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking. And yes, my health is pretty good. I¡¯ve been going to the gym; I¡¯m just trying to stay fit.¡± ¡°Is it because of a girl? If you like someone, just say so, and we can ask her family for marriage.¡± ¡°No, Mom. I don¡¯t like any girl, and I don¡¯t want to marry anytime soon.¡± ¡°Are you shy? Tell your mother. I promise I won¡¯t tell anyone until you say so.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not shy, I just don¡¯t have marriage in my mind yet. When I do, if I have someone in mind, I¡¯ll ask her. If I don¡¯t, I¡¯ll ask you to recommend someone. But for now, marriage isn¡¯t on my mind.¡± ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t pressure you. But when you¡¯re ready, tell me, alright?¡± ¡°Okay, Mom. Where¡¯s Dad?¡± ¡°Something came up, and he had to go to work. He said it wouldn¡¯t take long.¡± ¡°Okay, send him my greetings. I¡¯ll be busy for the next few weeks, so I might not call often.¡± ¡°Alright, take care of yourself.¡± ¡°Will do. Talk to you later.¡± After hanging up the phone, John pulled out his watch to check for messages. A notification popped up: his sword had been repaired by Evelyn. He sent a message back, confirming that he would pick it up tomorrow. ¡®It¡¯s been a long time since I rested. Let¡¯s play a few games, especially since the next period will be filled with more training,¡¯ John thought. He turned on his PC and spent the rest of the day indulging in some well-deserved relaxation, losing himself in the immersive worlds of his favorite games. The break allowed him to clear his mind, temporarily pushing away the tensions and conflicts that had built up during their mission. Meanwhile, Toby¡¯s training continued relentlessly. He pushed his limits, driven by a mixture of guilt, determination, and the desire to prove himself. His muscles burned, and his mind screamed for rest, but he refused to stop. As he collapsed onto the training ground, sweat dripping from his brow, he made a silent vow to himself: he would become stronger, smarter, and more reliable. Chapter 20 -Under New Guidance. The next morning, John reached the training ground invigorated after a day of relaxation and a good night''s sleep. He waited for a while before Maxwell and Toby arrived. "Hello, John," Maxwell greeted. "Good morning. How was your rest?" "Good," Maxwell replied, then fell silent, returning to his usual mode of minimal conversation. John turned his eyes to Toby, who avoided interaction and sat a little farther away. Minutes passed quietly as they waited. The door to the training ground swung open, and Quinn entered, accompanied by two strangers. "I see you''re all here on time. Good. Let me introduce these two to you," Quinn said, gesturing to his left. "This is Markus, an expert in fire element control." Just by looking at Markus, John had the illusion of seeing a raging fire for a split second before it vanished. Markus had a look of maturity and appeared to be in his late 30s. He wore black lace-up formal shoes, navy blue formal pants, and a dotted short-sleeve white shirt. John observed Markus carefully, wondering how a fire control expert would approach training. Even though he wasn¡¯t in the best relationship with Toby at the moment but he knew his talent is capable of much more. ¡®Toby will become much more powerful after learning under such expert¡­ I just hope he learns how to work better with the team.¡¯ "And to my right is Professor Ada, a specialist in dungeon investigations and animal mutations," Quinn continued. Professor Ada gave a gentle smile. She wore a modest long-sleeve dress that conveyed a sense of class without highlighting any of her body features. She seemed to be in her late 30s or early 40s, as far as John could guess. "Toby, you will learn from Markus for your upcoming training, preparing you to join the fighting department," Quinn continued. "As for you, John, you will learn from Professor Ada. Maxwell, have you decided which department you want to join?" "Not yet, sir." "Then I recommend the fighting department for you as well. Your talent doesn¡¯t have any advantage in investigations, but for now, you can learn from both." After a short pause, he added, "You need to continue training the basics even after joining the specialized training, but I won''t come to supervise you anymore." Without another word, Quinn vanished, leaving them with their new instructors. Markus chuckled, turning to Toby. ¡°Toby, go to the field and use every technique you can. Use all your power, I want to see where you stand.¡± "Yes, sir," Toby replied, heading toward the field. Markus then turned to face Maxwell. ¡°Your hardening is partial element control. Your talent makes it easy to use stone elements all over your body, but at the same time, it makes it a thousand times harder to control the element to do anything else.¡± Maxwell has a look of confusion on his face. Markus continued, "I read your report. You¡¯ve learned to partially harden parts of your body instead of your talent default¡ª the whole body at once. It may not seem useful now, but it will be key in your next phase of training. Your goal is to extend that hardening into external shapes, like weapons. We will get into details later." Maxwell¡¯s eyes brightened as he listened attentively. When he first trained and could control his talent to harden only a part of his body, he thought it would be very useful. But as the fighting started, he never found a use for it. He was worried inside that would be all he could do with his talent. As he saw John''s versatile talent change and Toby manipulate his fire as he pleases, Maxwell felt a little envy inside and was determinant to find a way to enhance himself.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Now, for the first time, he saw a way forward, a hope for the future, a path to better himself. "What should I do now, sir?" Maxwell asked eagerly. "Start by hardening your fist and attack the training dummy. Keep going until you can¡¯t stand anymore." Despite the harsh-sounding instructions, Maxwell was not a bit intimidated. He joined Toby on the field, ready to train. ¡°Come with me, John,¡± Professor Ada beckoned, her voice a gentle command. John followed, curious about what his training would entail. ¡°I¡¯ve read about your talents. They are very intriguing,¡± she inquired, her eyes scanning him for answers. ¡°Does your double-focus talent help you study faster?¡± John responded, ¡°I haven¡¯t really tried it since discovering it. I¡¯ve been training for combat all this time, so I haven¡¯t had a chance to see its effects in other areas.¡± Professor Ada nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Well, you¡¯ll have plenty of opportunities to explore that now. Our work in dungeon investigations involves a lot of study and analysis. It¡¯s crucial to understand the environment, the creatures, and any potential mutations.¡± They walked until they reached a new area, unfamiliar to John, where Professor Ada¡¯s office was located. After entering, John saw a desk, a peculiar-looking bookshelf, and another door labeled "Lab." Professor Ada gestured for John to take a seat as she went to the bookshelf, grabbed a thin book, scanned it with her comm (watch), then handed it to John. "Pass your watch over it, and you¡¯ll be able to read it from there. Your task today is to read this." ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± John looked bewildered. The book was too thin to take an entire day to read. The professor chuckled, reading his thoughts. ¡°This is just a carrier, like a USB drive. But I like the look of books, so I designed them to appear as such. Without my permission, you won¡¯t have access to its contents.¡± John did as he was told, feeling slightly embarrassed. On his watch, a new category labeled "Books" appeared, containing only one book: (Books: - Unveiling the Supernatural: Fundamentals of Unexplored Reality.) John forgot his embarrassment as he was intrigued with the book title. ¡®This looks interesting.¡¯ ¡°You¡¯ll begin your study here,¡± Professor Ada continued. ¡°Later, you¡¯ll learn other stuff from me, including how to use some new tools. You¡¯ll also need to train with weapons other than your sword.¡± "Yes, ma''am." Professor Ada then went into the lap, leaving him alone in the office to study. John was pleased with the arrangement. Although he wasn¡¯t fond of studying in college, he appreciated gaining knowledge. What he hated were the tests he needed to take to pass the different subjects. Plus, he disliked fighting even more. Casting his distracting thoughts aside, he opened the first page of the book. ¡®The origin of this book cannot be determined, as it has been in existence for many years and has passed through numerous hands before the establishment of the Bureau of Metaphysical Investigation. Over time, it has been refined, with some parts removed and others added. This is the current version, agreed upon by many scholars.¡¯ ¡°Well, that¡¯s interesting!¡± John mumbled, captivated by the new knowledge. As each of the trio began their new training, Quinn went to the Director''s office to address a different kind of urgency. He stepped into the office, where the atmosphere was charged with concern. Sitting behind the desk, Noah seemed exhausted. ¡°Any news about the Level 6 dungeon?¡± Quinn asked as he sat down. Noah sighed, rubbing his temples. "No, it''s still forming. But that¡¯s already causing a headache. We¡¯ve had to deploy extra manpower just to seal off the area, and agents from both our country and Pravine are dealing with any sort of mutations caused by the rising energy levels." ¡°I already have a few people on mind for clearing the dungeon,¡± Quinn said, sending a name list to the director. Director Noah''s eyes narrowed, his voice rising, "Are you serious, Quinn? This is nearly our entire core personnel! If something happens while you¡¯re in the dungeon, we¡¯ll have no one to respond." Quinn looked the director straight in the eyes and replied, ¡°The last Level 6 dungeon appeared a hundred years ago. Many people were sacrificed at that time to quell the incident. You know better than I do how it was back then. Level 6 dungeons are on a completely different scale compared to Level 5. It¡¯s not just one level difference¡ªit¡¯s practically another world.¡± Director Noah looked as if he had aged ten years in an instant, sighing. ¡°I know¡­ you don¡¯t have to remind me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why we need the most powerful people possible. Coordinate with Pravine¡¯s Bureau of Metaphysics Investigation to not take it lightly and provide their best. And we need time to train together before the big fight to minimize any accidents from happening." After taking a deep breath, the director let out an audible sigh. "You are right, we can¡¯t take it as it''s just a more powerful level 5 dungeon. I¡¯ll do as you say. I¡¯ll inform you when all of them agree, which may take a couple of days.¡± Quinn stood up, ready to leave. "One more thing, I don¡¯t know how long it will take us to clear the dungeon¡ªmaybe months or more. So, don¡¯t forget to toughen up the treatment for all below master realm. We need more masters for any emergency.¡± Director Noah laughed softly. ¡°You¡¯re becoming more brazen by the day. Why don¡¯t you just take my director¡¯s seat?¡± Quinn rolled his eyes, chuckling. "What is the use of this thing? I better spend my time on more interesting matters." Speechless, Noah gestured for him to go.¡± Go, do your own thing. I will notify you if there is any news." Quinn went out with a smirk, muttering under his breath,¡± That old man doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s good for him.¡± Chapter 21- The Path of Control. A loud thud echoed in the training field as Maxwell''s fist hit the training dummy. For more than two hours, he repeated the same action tirelessly. His face dripped with sweat, and his shirt was soaked, but his determination to improve never wavered. Markus was paying close attention to him and Toby as they trained. He moved to Maxwell and instructed,¡± Now that you warmed up, do as I say.¡± Maxwell stopped and waited for the instruction. ¡°Feel your hardened fist carefully. Imagine that your hardened stone extends a little bit and forms another layer that is separated from your skin.¡± Maxwell closed his eyes and followed his mentor''s guidance. He relaxed his muscles, took a deep breath, and started feeling how his hardening applied to his fist. ¡°Imagine the extra layer in the shape of a bump¡ªnothing complicated or crazy yet. You are still new to this form of training. Take it step by step.¡± The firm voice of Mentor Markus made Maxwell subconsciously trust it and follow his guidance. Because of the full two-hour training earlier with only his hardened fist, he could perceive the slight difference between the passive hardening and how his thoughts could change the flow of hardening in small ways. ¡°Continue hitting the dummy. Success might not come on your first or even hundredth try. Just keep imagining what I told you for a second or two, then hit the dummy. Repeat until you can¡¯t anymore.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Knowing it would not be easy, Maxwell followed Markus''s instructions to the letter. Shifting his focus, Markus moved to Toby, his firm voice replaced with a stern one. ¡°Can you tell me what you¡¯re doing, Toby?¡± Toby, absorbed in his training, was startled by the voice. He answered with a shaky breath, ¡°I¡¯m training.¡± ¡°You call this training? All I see is you using a brick to write. You just compile all the fire energy with no rhyme or reason into a piece of trash and throw it away.¡± Toby doubted his ears, as Markus was basically saying his training was useless. Disbelief was written all over his face as he couldn¡¯t fathom how his fireball was bad. ¡°You don¡¯t believe me? Can you hold your fireball in your hand for a minute without it exploding?¡± Markus smirked, crossing his arms as he waited for an answer. ¡°I-I¡­ no, I can¡¯t.¡± Flustered, Toby stammered. It had never crossed his mind to hold the fireball in his hand for an extended period of time. ¡°It¡¯s not just about holding the fireball. You can do many other wonders with your fire control talent.¡± With a smug expression, Markus formed a fireball, identical in size to Toby¡¯s. Then the fireball split into four smaller ones, which started rotating around Markus''s body. He sent a fireball to the dummy target, but instead of exploding, it burnt through it and cycled back to orbit around Markus''s body. Not stopping there, the four fireballs merged together into one big fireball. The fireball expanded rapidly, becoming as large as a person''s body. Toby took several steps back, sweating bullets from the heat alone, but his eyes shone like stars as he couldn¡¯t wait for Markus''s guidance. Markus waved his hand, and the fireball extinguished as if it had never been there. Seeing Toby¡¯s shining eyes, Markus couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Your talent is called fire control because it¡¯s all about control. You¡¯re not just a fireball thrower. Understand that your talent is more than just an attack with strong firepower.¡± Toby nodded eagerly, waiting for what was next. He didn¡¯t wait long as Markus continued, ¡°I won¡¯t get technical, but if you look at normal fire, you¡¯ll see it go all over the place or change direction with the wind. However, if you look at your stove at home, you¡¯ll find it always goes in the same pattern, no matter how many times you turn it off and on. Why is that?¡± Toby thought for a second before answering, ¡°Because the stove is made of pipes that direct the gas in a predetermined direction before we light it up.¡± ¡°Exactly. Imagine the fire element in the air and your body as the gas, and your control of it is the pipe that restricts its wild nature. Obviously, what you learn won¡¯t be exactly the same as the example, but it¡¯s there to make it easier for you to understand.¡±Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°Understood, Sir.¡± ¡°Now, I want you to attack with your fire as if it¡¯s a flamethrower without condensing it at all. Do that for the rest of today.¡± Toby nodded and began doing as he was told. He and Maxwell immersed themselves in their own training, both desperate to make themselves stronger. John, on the other hand, was still engrossed in the book he was reading. (After one''s attributes reach certain values, growth will stagnate. There will be a certain feeling of a barrier standing between that person and any future progress. Only by breaking that barrier will the growth stagnation vanish, allowing one to progress and improve their attributes once more. Through detailed analysis, the concept of realms of power came to be, and they are as follows: *If all attributes are between 10-20, it is called the Beginning Stage. *If a single attribute or all are between 20-40, it is called the Foundation Stage. *If a single attribute or all are between 40-80, it is called the Expert Stage. *If a single attribute or all are between 80-160, it is called the Master Stage. *If a single attribute or all are between 160-320, it is called the Grandmaster Stage. *Above these attributes are the Guardians.) John¡¯s eyes widened as he realized how far he still had to go. ¡°All this training, and I don¡¯t have a single attribute that¡¯s naturally at 15.¡± The sound of his ankle tapping the chair was audible in the quiet room as his thoughts spiraled into chaos. ¡®All I wanted was a relaxing life. I didn¡¯t aim to become rich or famous. Just the necessities and a little bit of fun. I would be satisfied. But knowing that there are superpowers and crazy monsters out there, how can I completely relax? If I don¡¯t do my best, I will have no power to help my father, mother, or anyone if a disaster strikes.¡¯ John sighed heavily, casting his doubts aside as he continued reading the book. (Dungeons comes in three tiers: Normal, Uncommon, and Elite. Dungeons also have different levels, from one to five. the lower the dungeon level, the more numerous they are. Also, for some unknown reason, some roles don¡¯t apply inside the dungeons. For example, pistols don¡¯t work inside the dungeon that well. Unless some rare materials are used but the disadvantaged outweigh the advantaged, and too much malfunctions to be a useful tool. the dungeons ¡­.) ¡®I remember Mentor Quinn told us that the dungeon with the rats was Normal level 1 dungeon, I didn¡¯t even think to ask about dungeon levels back then. I was apprehensive about the coming challenge to let my thoughts wonder about anything else.¡¯ With every word he read, john felt a sense of urgency building inside of him, but he couldn¡¯t control his curious mind to dive deeper into the book. John didn¡¯t know was it because of his talent, his interest, or both that he forgot about the time and he read until he finished the book in one sitting. Professor Ada just got out of the lap to check on John but found him staring at the ceiling in daze. With displeased voice, she asked,¡± John, why aren¡¯t you reading?¡± Coming back to his senses, John answered back, ¡°I finished the book.¡± Taken aback, she asked for confirmation,¡± did you?¡± John nodded. ¡°What should I do now?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t prepare anything other than this book today. You are free to do what you want,¡± Professor Ada dismissed him, returning to her lab. John exited the office, thought for a moment before heading toward the training ground. ¡¯How many years do I need before reaching expert stage?¡¯ He wondered, feeling pressured from what he learned. Shaking his head, John reminded himself, ¡®Stop aiming too high from the start. Just focus on the immediate tasks at hand.¡¯ After suppressing his anxiety, he found it easier to think clearly. ¡®Now the basic thing is to work on increasing my attributes. That will involve pushing my body to its limit, but I need more. My talent is different. I lack fire or hardening to improve. Still, increasing my attributes is essential. And I don¡¯t know if reaching the Foundation stage will bring any change to my talents.¡¯ Professor Ada told him to understand different weapons and how to use them effectively. He didn¡¯t like the sword that much; it was just the first weapon he used and was convenient. ¡®Now that I think about it, I could learn archery first, having one melee weapon and one ranged weapon as core, and dabble in others to understand their use.¡¯ Entering the training ground, he saw Maxwell hardening his hands, punching the dummy, then pause for two seconds, punching it again, then repeat. He could feel the heat coming from Toby training area as he stretched his arms forward, releasing as much fire as he could without pausing. Turning his sight aside, John put on the weight-bearing clothes and started his training with running, heavy lifting, and stretching. Then he moved to endurance, force outburst and reaction training. By the time he finished the basics, it was already late evening. He was the only one left on the training ground. Going to the weapon training field, he grabbed a training bow and arrows. The smooth wood of the bow pressed against his palm, its weight a reminder of its purpose. It is another tool for killing, it is not a toy to play with. Placing the arrows within reach, John nocked an arrow, feeling the force of the bowstring before aiming. Releasing the arrow, it flew through the air and missed the 10-meter target. John wasn¡¯t disappointed; he expected that. He knew it would take time to get it right. Minutes passed by as one arrow after another was fired until finally, an arrow hit the target. firing more arrows to ensure it wasn¡¯t luck, John let out a satisfied smile. ¡®And a new skill added to my list of skills. If it can be added in my stats, I think it will be Archery: Beginner,¡¯ amusing thought came to his mind while dragging his tired body out of training ground. He went to his room, took a shower before falling into deep sleep with a smile on his face. Even though this is not the life he hoped to live. John determined to improve every day until he reached his limits. So, he won¡¯t feel any guilt and blame himself if something happened out of his control. Chapter 22- Six in One. Early the next morning, John went to Professor Ada''s office. She asked him to follow her to the lab, which was separated into different sections. ¡°Today, I will show you some of the mutated animals and some gadgets that will help you track these animals,¡± Professor Ada said, waving for John to follow her. They entered one of the doors, revealing a room filled with instruments that John had no clue about. In the center of the room was a large autopsy table with the carcass of a huge Koala-looking animal. A Koala is typically herbivorous, but the carcass on the table looked like a demonic version of one. Just looking at its blood-red eyes made John pause for a second. ¡°This Koala mutated near a dungeon. Since it mutated, it has become extremely aggressive, killing anything in its way and even eating the meat of its prey,¡± Professor Ada explained. ¡°So, it changed from herbivorous to carnivorous? How does that work exactly?¡± John was confused about the change. ¡°Its DNA changed when it was contaminated by dungeon energy. It''s not just a change in diet; it¡¯s like it lost its mind. It attacks for the sake of attacking, nothing else.¡± John paid close attention, circling the table to spot other differences besides the Koala¡¯s larger body. He noted its razor-sharp claws and the twisted look on its face. ¡°When it was alive, its claws could extend to double their normal size, becoming harder and more lethal.¡± Professor Ada paused, her expression stern. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate any mutated animals just because they aren¡¯t dungeon monsters. They can be even more dangerous. When you investigate any dungeon or suspicious sign, you must be aware that you will likely encounter these mutated animals. Their mutations come in all shapes and forms. The higher the dungeon level, the weirder and stronger the mutations. While not as dense as dungeon monsters, these animals must be eliminated before clearing any dungeon to avoid being attacked when you¡¯re tired and bloody from dungeon clearing.¡± John nodded in understanding. ¡°Is there any use for these mutated animals?¡± ¡°Yes. Their fur, claws, and other parts are used to create gadgets after processing. These items become what we call enchanted items or gadgets. They resonate with people of talent,¡± Professor Ada explained. John pondered for a moment before asking, ¡°When we went to a dungeon earlier, we didn¡¯t harvest any items. Why is that?¡± ¡°Dungeon monsters'' bodies decay faster than normal and become very unstable. Not all dungeons have useful items, especially level one normal dungeons,¡± Professor Ada said patiently. He handed him a dagger and continued, ¡°Your first task is to skin the mutated animal for its fur and other useful parts. There are over five other carcasses in the storage behind you. I will show you how to do it first.¡± She caught him staring, his face a mix of curiosity and disbelief. She chuckled, ¡°Don¡¯t give me that look. My dress is enhanced to prevent dust and filth from getting on it.¡± John¡¯s eyes widened in wonder. ¡°Wait, what?! I thought enhanced items were like necklaces or other weird items, not clothes and stuff.¡± Ignoring him, she put on gloves, her hands glowing with a subtle blue light that traveled to the knife she held. The glow was so faint that John almost missed it. She began to skin the mutated Koala, making a smooth incision from its belly to its head and then opening the pelt flat. ¡°When you¡¯re skinning, make sure not to cut any fat or meat with the skin,¡± she instructed while working. After skinning, she started dissecting the animal. ¡°We don¡¯t eat mutated animal meat, but it¡¯s still useful for many experiments. Whether it¡¯s useful or not, you should bring back the whole carcass if you can. Secure it in a safe place and ask the technology and planning department to come and take it.¡± John asked in wonder, ¡°Then what¡¯s the use of me learning this?¡± ¡°Think about it. Will you have the time or energy in a dungeon to take the whole carcass? As I said, not all dungeons have useful materials, but when they do, they¡¯re very precious for our research and item making. Clearing a dungeon is a long process, so it¡¯s not convenient or possible to drag everything out, especially after clearing the dungeon. The team will be on a timer to get out before the dimension becomes unstable,¡± Professor Ada explained. John didn¡¯t ask why they couldn¡¯t just kill all the monsters and wait for them to respawn because he had read about it in the book. (When all the monsters in a dungeon die or more than half die, the dimension of the dungeon becomes unstable. If the dungeon¡¯s creatures die but no one clears the dungeon, one of two things will happen: either the dungeon will collapse and cease to exist, or it will create monsters at an alarming rate with a 100% chance of a monster breakout.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. If half the monsters die, the same scenario happens but it¡¯s over a longer period of time. Each dungeon¡¯s time may differ, so it¡¯s advisable to clear the dungeon in one go. If a dungeon is left alone for too long, the monster numbers will become overwhelming, and a breakout will happen 100%.) After Professor Ada finished, she moved away and gave John space to try his hand at the second carcass. Even though it was his first time skinning an animal, his double-focus talent worked wonders for his attention to detail during the professor¡¯s demonstration. His hands were steady because of his talent, and while he made small mistakes, overall, it was better than the professor expected. On the third carcass, he didn¡¯t make a single mistake, and he finished the rest in record time, looking like he had done this kind of job for years. ¡°You finished faster than I expected. Yesterday and today, you completed your tasks more quickly than anticipated. It seems your talent helps you learn things faster,¡± Professor Ada said, studying John from head to toe, trying to gauge his hidden talent. Scratching his head, John stood there awkwardly, feeling uncomfortable under her scrutinizing gaze. He changed the subject, ¡°Professor, you said you would introduce a gadget to me and let me learn how to use it, so...¡± ¡°Ah, yes. Come with me. It¡¯s not in this room.¡± She exited the room and went in another one as John followed. The new room had six shelves, one after another, on the left side of the room. On the right side is another bunch of instruments that John still has no clue about. Each shelf holds a number of items; some look like weapons, some look like accessories, and the others don¡¯t look like they belong to the same category. Professor Ada went to one of the shelves and got back holding a box. As she went to the other size of the room. ¡°This item was designed especially for you; I just got it today from the technology and planning department.¡± John was confused. ¡°Especially for me! Why?¡± She answered while clicking on some kind of instrument, "The normal gadget to track mutant animals and dungeon energy was a hand-held scanner or upgraded version of the watch that will have this function. As your sensory type talent is rare, these gadgets help non-sensory talent in doing their job.¡± John replied almost immediately, "But mine is different.¡± ¡°Yes. Your talent is different. We asked Maxwell and Toby how you were using your talent in the dungeon. And although your sensory is not X-ray vision, heat detection, or something of that sort. It is still pretty good at discovering clues, and with experience, your use of it will become more refined. I have high hopes for you.¡± Still confused, John asked, "But what will the gadget do for me than?¡± She opened the box and took what looked like contact lenses and a small electronic chip. She puts them in the device, then she lifted her head to look in his direction while answering. ¡°It will enhance what you already have. It''s supposed to work with your talent double focus. Anytime you notice something strange, it will start analyzing it for you. It has added functions such as Night Vision, Augmented reality displays (AR), Data Harvesting, Chemical Analysis Sensors, Holographic Projection, Energy Sensor.¡± John was overwhelmed. ¡°Could you wait a second? What does all of that mean? And will my mind be able to handle all that?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why they sent it to me, not to you directly.¡± A beep was heard from the device. The Professor clicked on something, and a reclining chair like those of the dentist¡¯s slid out of the device. She continued,¡±I checked them, and it works fine. Now just take a seat at that chair and put the lenses, and this chip just place on the top of your watch, and I will calibrate it so it won¡¯t give you more info than you need or handle.¡± She sent him a message on his watch, ¡°I sent you what each function does roughly.¡± John opened the message, and the more he read, the more incredible he felt. (Night vision: the ability to see in low-light conditions. Augmented reality displays (AR): Smart contact lenses could overlay information directly onto the wearer¡¯s view. An investigator might see real-time data, maps, or even receive urgent messages without anyone else noticing. Data Harvesting: smart contact lenses could harvest power from nearby radio sources or even a user¡¯s cell phone. This energy could be used to beam information directly to the lens, providing real-time updates or mission-critical data. Chemical Analysis Sensors: Smart lenses equipped with miniature chemical sensors could detect toxins, drugs, or other substances. Investigators could discreetly analyze liquids or powders during their work, helping them uncover hidden clues. Holographic Projection: project holographic images directly onto the wearer¡¯s retina. Investigators could visualize crime scenes, reconstruct events, or even display virtual evidence overlays. Energy sensor: it detects the difference and the changes in the energy in the surrounding environment, if energy exceeds a certain limit, the user will be notified.) ¡°WOW! I¡¯m impressed. But how do these functions have anything to do with my talent?¡± John still felt puzzled. ¡°Do what I told you first.¡± She crossed her arms and looked intensely at him. She didn¡¯t avert her gaze until John placed the chip on his watch as it lit up and started downloading some program. Then he put the lenses on before sitting in the chair. ¡°The human mind usually makes us ignore a lot of details in our daily lives, even though now your attributes are above a normal human limit. Your mind still makes you ignore too much information. Unless you train for a very long time to make yourself pay attention to these details, your talent will never be fully utilized. You may not realize it yet, but some energy is in every person with a talent. But everybody uses this energy differently. some body uses this energy, like your friend Toby, to control fire. Others do other things. We call this talent because he can¡¯t and would never be able to make his energy work as it works in your body. It just can¡¯t be done. Otherwise, we would have made tens of thousands of fire control users and made them demolition every dungeon.¡± The chair slid to a square box full of sensors and other things John couldn¡¯t recognize. The professor continued, "So, this energy is the drive to use your talent double focus. What the lenses do basically is latch in this energy when your talent gets activated and read all the details that could be read, whether you yourself put your attention on those details or not. And after processing, they will show it to you in a different format for easy reading. So, if another person puts these lenses on, it will not work. That¡¯s basically it.¡± John''s eyes lit up in understanding, and curiosity filled his heart about how to use the new gadget. "So, how do I activate the lenses?" Professor Ada smiled, sensing his eagerness. "Wait until the program downloads to your watch. From then on, with one click, you can turn it on or off. Or you can let it be on standby, automatically activating with your talent." John nodded, excitement bubbling within him. The possibilities seemed endless, and he couldn''t wait to see the world through his new lenses. Chapter 23- Tech Vision. After a few seconds, the lenses program was downloaded. ¡°Activate the program, John. I¡¯ll check for any issues,¡± Professor Ada¡¯s voice echoed in the room. The program¡¯s icon, shaped like a pupil, appeared on his watch, labeled Smart Lenses. With his eyes shining brightly from excitement, John quickly tapped the icon. Three options appeared on the small screen: (Smart Lenses: * Turn on/off. * Start Recording. * Recording files.) He selected Turn on. John felt a sudden wave of dizziness. He steadied himself, blinking as lines of code briefly flashed across his vision. The data quickly settled, and his vision returned to normal, except for a few extra lines that materialized in front of him. ¡°How do you feel, John?¡± Professor Ada asked, her eyes focused on the data, trying to detect any issues. ¡°I felt dizzy for a bit after I turned it on, but now I¡¯m good. It just feels weird seeing words floating in front of me,¡± John answered, looking left and right in the tight space, trying to see if anything had changed. ¡°That¡¯s normal. Can you tell me what words you see?¡± ¡°It says ¡®Lenses functions,¡¯ but how do I click on it?¡± John¡¯s puzzlement was evident as he tried nodding his head up and down, but nothing happened. ¡°Concentrate on the word until you see a change, then blink your eyes twice quickly,¡± Professor Ada instructed with a grin, amused by John¡¯s attempts to interact with the display. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s how you do it,¡± John murmured. After hearing Professor Ada¡¯s instructions, he focused intently on the word ¡®Lenses functions.¡¯ The word flickered for a moment, then vanished, replaced by new instructions. ¡°The word changed. Now it says, ¡®Every function of the lenses will be presented with a small icon. Start demonstration.¡¯¡± ¡°Go ahead and start the demonstration. Let me know if you feel anything is wrong. Don¡¯t neglect any issue, no matter how small.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± John replied. He focused on the new prompt and, following the same process, blinked twice to initiate the demonstration. Several icons filled his field of vision with small descriptions beside them, and a sentence was written. ¡°It is written that the Smart Lenses come with six functions. Every one will have its own label to differentiate between them.¡± John titled his head slightly as he read out loud. ¡±Also, it says here that other than the first time, I need to blink my eyes four times quickly to summon functions if I want next time to avoid disturbing my vision.¡± Night-Vision: represented by a greenish goggle. Augmented-Reality displays (AR): represented with a transparent sphere with many dots on it, making a spider web shape. Data Harvesting: represented with a processor with many tiny lines of light moving in the processor direction. Chemical Analysis Sensors: represented with a beaker in it three different colors of some kind of liquid. Holographic Projection: represented with a cycle that emits light in the shape of John body. Energy sensor: represented with a cylinder held by a rod. On the other end of the rod is think metal in the shape of a cycle used as support. From the cylinder, there are wave shapes moving in the cylinder direction. As he reviewed each icon, a small note caught his eye at the bottom of the display. ¡°Oh, there is notice here saying I can make my own shortcut to summon a certain function quickly instead of going to the menu. Oh, that¡¯s handy.¡± ¡°You need to test every function here now before going for further testing just to make sure there is no fault in the gadget.¡± ¡°Okay, Professor. What should I start with?¡± John asked, waiting for further instruction. ¡°Start with night vision and keep it that way for five minutes." As soon as the professor gave the instruction, the tiny room in the machine where John was setting dimed quickly before being enveloped in deep darkness. John focused his eyes on the Night-Vision option before blinking twice. The words flickered before disappearing as the dark room was suddenly bathed in a greenish hue as the night vision kicked in while a faint grid overlay appeared. ¡°Wow, everything looks green now!¡± John moved his head and body around, trying to adapt to his new vision.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°I will start simulating an environment. There will be moving animals in it. I will send you a small laser pointer. When you spot these animals, point at them with the laser.¡± Tick Tick! John heard two ticking sounds before a mechanical hand holding the laser delivered it to him. Then it retracted to where it was. The darkness dissolved, replaced by a simulated forest, the green hue of the night vision making the leaves and branches stand out with eerie clarity. The grid lines danced across his vision, distorting his depth perception and making it hard for John to focus on searching. Every time he changes his line of sight, he gets drawn to the lines and squares of the grid. ¡°Ugh! This piece of watermelon!! How am I supposed to focus with these grid lines in my face?¡± John clinched his fist and gritted his teeth from getting distracted too many times. ¡°Calm down, John. You need time to get used to it. After a while, you will appreciate the grid''s existence.¡± Professor Ada spoke in a calm voice, trying to help John focus on adapting to the new lenses instead of getting angry. John deactivated his talent, double focus, then grid vanished and the room returned to darkness. ¡¯ I need to change my thinking. Instead of looking at the squires of the grid as distractions, I should look at what they contain. That way it might enhance my vision¡¯ He took a couple of deep breaths to calm himself down before activating his talent once more as the grid and the greenish color environment retuned. ¡°Start the test again, mentor. I will try to adjust one more time.¡± ¡°You have sixty seconds to identify and mark all 12 targets this time,¡± Professor Ada instructed. ¡°Let¡¯s see how quickly you can adapt.¡± In the first ten seconds, he still got distracted, but as he tried to overlook the lines, ¡°Yes. Yes, I got one.¡± Elation could be heard from John''s voice as he started getting used to the grids. 15 seconds passed as he spotted the second and third animals. In the 29th second, he spotted the fourth. then the fifth at 33 seconds. Then the sixth at 36. His speed increased with every passing second. The grid overlay seemed to sharpen the contours of every object. The sensation was strange, like his eyes were seeing in a new dimension. Beeep! The environment paused as the sound of the professor reached John. "Good job. You marked all the 12 targets in 59 seconds. What do you feel or think now?¡± John stroked his chin while trying to put his thoughts into words. ¡°Well, it was a distraction at first, even though I get used to it quickly to pass the test. It still feels pretty weird to look at objects through a grid.¡± ¡°Any negatives beside that?¡± ¡°No, nothing else.¡± ¡°Mhm, but we still need to do a few more tests for the Night-Vision function.¡± Professor Ada continued testing John for a whole ten minutes before stopping after noticing no issues. A mechanical hand hovered over John as it placed a ring-shaped device on the top of his head. ¡°This will allow you to move in the simulation by just mimicking the movement. Now change the function. Choose Augmented reality displays (AR).¡± John blinked four times, then all the other options appeared before his eyes. Concentrating on AR, the options flickered before his sight returned to normal, then a whole bunch of data appeared all over his vision. The room light returned to normal as the data was still appearing in every direction of John''s vision. ¡°This is so annoying! Too much pops up! almost like unskippable ads.¡± Professor chuckled when she heard John mumbling, "Here, here, John. Calm down. This will probably become your default mode in missions. So, this is the one that you need to get used to being active all the time.¡± The professor changed the environment to a bustling city street. The simulated world around John was alive with movement¡ªpeople walking, cars driving by, and digital signs flashing advertisements. Buildings stretched into the sky, and the sounds of the city echoed around him, immersing him in the scene. John blinked, overwhelmed by the sudden flood of information. Tiny pop-ups appeared over people¡¯s heads, displaying their names, affiliations, and even health conditions. Buildings were overlaid with data about their construction, age, and structural integrity. Arrows and markers highlighted possible paths he could take, and a small window at the corner of his vision provided a map of the area. ¡°Focus on filtering out unnecessary data, John,¡± Professor Ada instructed. ¡°You can customize the interface to prioritize the most relevant information. Just blink as you concentrate on a specific part three times to turn on or off.¡± John nodded, trying to push away the clutter. He concentrated on the markers indicating potential threats or important locations, blinking thrice to hide everything else. The display adjusted accordingly, reducing the overwhelming amount of data to only the essentials: highlighted paths, key buildings, and any immediate threats. ¡°Much better,¡± John murmured, feeling more in control. ¡°But it¡¯s still a lot to take in.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it. Try moving around and interacting with the environment,¡± Professor Ada suggested. John began to walk down the simulated street, glancing around as he moved. A flashing red icon suddenly appeared in his vision, indicating an approaching danger. He turned to see a car speeding toward a pedestrian. Without thinking, John activated the AR¡¯s predictive analysis feature, which calculated the car¡¯s trajectory and suggested a path for the pedestrian to avoid the collision. ¡°Watch out!¡± John shouted, even though it was just a simulation. The pedestrian quickly changed direction, avoiding the car just in time. A sense of relief washed over John as the AR system registered the successful outcome. ¡°Good job. You are natural in this.¡± Professor Ada praised. ¡°Now, try using the AR to gather information on potential threats in the environment.¡± John nodded and activated the threat detection mode. His vision was immediately filled with red markers, highlighting potential dangers in the area. He saw a suspicious figure loitering near an alleyway, a broken fire escape that could collapse, and an overloaded electrical transformer sparking dangerously. ¡°Now, imagine you¡¯re on a mission, and you need to assess these threats quickly. Prioritize them based on their potential impact,¡± Professor Ada instructed. John evaluated each threat, focusing on the one that seemed most urgent¡ªthe sparking transformer. He directed the AR to provide more detailed information, learning that the transformer was at risk of exploding. A plan formed in his mind as the AR displayed the safest evacuation route for anyone nearby. ¡°Got it,¡± John said, satisfied with his assessment. ¡°But I can see how this would take some time getting used to.¡± ¡°It will, but with practice, it¡¯ll become second nature,¡± Professor Ada assured him. ¡°This is just the beginning. As you continue your training, you¡¯ll learn how to use the AR displays to your advantage in a variety of scenarios.¡± The environment began to fade, signaling the end of the simulation. John blinked thrice, deactivating the AR display and returning to the small, quiet room. Chapter 24- Tech Vision 2. After a few seconds of checking for any abnormality in John''s reading, Professor Ada''s voice crackled through the intercom. ¡°Great job, John. You¡¯ve done well with the Night Vision and AR displays. Now it¡¯s time to move on to the next set of functions. Ready?¡± John took a deep breath, feeling a mix of anticipation and fatigue. ¡°Ready, Professor. What¡¯s next?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s start with the Data Harvesting function,¡± Professor Ada instructed. ¡°This one will be crucial when you need to gather information from various sources quickly. You¡¯ll be tested on your ability to extract and process data under pressure. Pay attention to detail.¡± John focused on the Data Harvesting icon, blinking twice to activate it. Immediately, his vision filled with streams of raw data flowing from various sources around the room¡ªcomputer terminals, electronic devices, even the air vents seemed to emit streams of information. ¡°Ugh, that is just too much!¡± John massages his forehead with his thumb as he was trying to adjust to the sudden influx of data. ¡°I know it is overwhelming trying to manage and understand all these functions, so take your time. When you are ready, tell me to start the simulation.¡± Professor Ada¡¯s understanding gained John''s appreciation. John took a moment to steady his breathing, his eyes scanning the overwhelming streams of data that flooded his vision. He could see text strings, fragments of conversations, and digital pings from various devices in the room. It was a chaotic mess, a torrent of information that made his head spin. But he knew this was just the beginning. ¡°Alright, Professor,¡± John finally said, dropping his hand from his forehead. ¡°I think I¡¯m ready.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Professor Ada replied, her tone steady and encouraging. ¡°The simulation is going to place you in an environment where a threat is suspected, but nothing has been confirmed. Your task is to sift through the digital noise¡ªtexts, calls, camera feeds¡ªand pinpoint anything unusual that might help us locate the danger. Remember, you''re looking for anything out of the ordinary.¡± John nodded, feeling a surge of determination. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± ¡°That''s all I ask,¡± Ada said with a slight smile. ¡°The environment you¡¯re about to enter is a busy urban area, filled with people going about their daily lives. However, somewhere within that chaos lies a potential threat. Your job is to use the Data Harvesting function to filter through the data and identify the source of danger. The simulation will begin in three... two... one.¡± The room around John shifted and faded into the background as a new scene materialized before his eyes. He found himself standing on a bustling city street, surrounded by towering buildings and a steady flow of pedestrians. Cars honked in the distance, and snippets of conversations floated past him. But more pressing than the physical scene was the digital overlay now dominating his vision. Streams of data poured in from every direction¡ªtext messages popping up on his left, call logs appearing to his right, and camera feeds superimposed on the buildings in front of him. ¡°She married last week, didn¡¯t you know?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s meet at 9, bro.¡± ¡°How is your day, honey?¡± ¡°How could this happen to me?¡± ¡°Where were you yesterday? You cheater¡±,¡° did you hear? ****¡± It was a dizzying array of information, but John focused, remembering Ada''s words. ¡°Let¡¯s start by filtering out the noise,¡± he muttered to himself. With a blink, he began to adjust the Data-Harvesting function, setting parameters to highlight anything that stood out from the usual flow of city life. Immediately, the chaotic streams of data started to thin, reducing to more manageable patterns. A message caught his attention: ¡°Did you hear? The building that had an accident last week, someone vanished again in it.¡± ¡°Maybe he just moved out because of that accident. Stop scaring yourself.¡± He tried to get any data on what the accident was and who vanished as he moved to the message location. He got more information as he got closer: someone killed his wife and child in anger because they asked for money for the home, while he spent most of his money on alcohol. He has a drinking problem. He got arrested by the police. As for the one who ¡®vanished,¡¯ he just went on a business trip.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°Shoot! This is not what I¡¯m looking for.¡± John clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Let''s see if I can find something more relevant." He adjusted the parameters of the Data-Harvesting function, refining his search criteria. This time, he focused on filtering out any mentions of disappearances, strange animal sightings, or unusual patterns in the local wildlife. The chaotic data flow thinned even further, leaving only a handful of messages and reports that might lead to something useful. A headline from a local news feed caught his eye: ¡°Another Pet Goes Missing Near the Old Factory¡ªThird Case This Month.¡± John¡¯s pulse quickened as he tapped into the feed, pulling up more details. ¡°Authorities are baffled by a series of mysterious pet disappearances in the vicinity of the abandoned factory on the edge of town. Despite extensive searches, no trace of the animals has been found, leading to fears that something sinister may be at play.¡± John frowned as he scanned the report. ¡°Missing pets near an old factory... That¡¯s suspicious, but it could just be a stray predator. Still, it¡¯s worth looking into.¡± He marked the location on his map and began searching for any additional information connected to the area. As he delved deeper, he found several references to unusual behavior among the local wildlife. One message from a local resident stood out: ¡°Saw something strange near the factory last night. I thought it was a dog at first, but it moved weird, almost like it was sick or injured. It just disappeared into the shadows.¡± John¡¯s brow furrowed as he processed the information. ¡°This could be it... Could be a mutated animal causing these disappearances.¡± He decided to follow up on this lead, his virtual map now guiding him toward the factory. As he approached the area in the simulation, the data streams shifted once more, bringing up nearby camera feeds. John cycled through them quickly, looking for anything that might confirm his suspicions. One of the cameras, positioned near the entrance to the factory, showed something moving in the shadows. It was low to the ground, hunched over, and its movements were jerky, unnatural. John zoomed in, trying to get a clearer view, but the figure disappeared just as he did. ¡°Damn it, missed it,¡± he muttered, but he didn¡¯t give up. He drew possible routes that could be taken. After that, he searched for the route that needed to travel to kill the pets. John narrowed his search to a small area within the shadow scope of movement. ¡°There,¡± John said aloud, marking the location on his map. ¡°Excellent,¡± Professor Ada responded. ¡°In less than ten minutes, you identify a suspicious area. That it for data harvesting for now.¡± She stopped the simulation as John returned to the small room. The stream of data vanished as he closed the data harvesting function. After completing the Data Harvesting exercise, John¡¯s confidence grew. However, Professor Ada quickly moved on to the next challenge. ¡°Now, John, let¡¯s test the Chemical Analysis Sensors,¡± she said. ¡°This function will help you identify and analyze chemical compounds in your environment. It¡¯s particularly useful when dealing with unknown substances, whether they¡¯re toxic, organic, or anything in between.¡± John nodded, ready to take on the next task. ¡°What¡¯s the scenario this time?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be placed in a wilderness environment, where we suspect a mutated animal has been active. Your objective is to track the creature by analyzing traces it¡¯s left behind¡ªsuch as saliva, blood, or other materials. This will give you a practical sense of how the sensors can detect and interpret chemical signatures.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± John replied, mentally preparing himself for the challenge. ¡°The simulation will begin in three... two... one.¡± Once again, the room around John dissolved, and he found himself standing in the middle of a dense forest. Tall trees surrounded him, their leaves rustling in the wind, and the faint sound of running water echoed in the distance. John immediately activated the Chemical Analysis Sensors, watching as his HUD displayed various indicators and options. His vision adjusted to show a range of chemical signatures in the environment, marked by different colors and icons. First things first,¡± he muttered to himself, ¡°let¡¯s see if I can find any tracks.¡± He began to move cautiously through the forest, scanning the ground for any signs of the mutated animal. It wasn¡¯t long before he noticed something¡ªa small patch of grass stained with a dark, oily substance. Kneeling down, John focused the sensors on the substance, and within seconds, the analysis results began to appear on his display. The substance was identified as blood, but it was unlike anything he¡¯d seen before. The chemical composition was abnormal, with traces of toxins and mutated proteins. ¡°Looks like I¡¯m on the right track,¡± John murmured, feeling a mixture of excitement and apprehension. As he continued deeper into the forest, he encountered more signs of the creature¡¯s presence¡ªa half-eaten animal carcass, contaminated water in a nearby stream, and even claw marks etched into the bark of a tree. Each time, John used the Chemical Analysis Sensors to gather data, piecing together the nature of the mutated animal. At one point, he discovered a pool of saliva near the carcass. The sensors quickly identified it as containing high levels of toxins, suggesting that the creature¡¯s bite was potentially lethal. ¡°Not something I want to get too close to,¡± John noted, feeling the weight of the situation even though it was just a simulation. Finally, the sensors detected a faint chemical trail leading toward a rocky outcrop. John followed the trail carefully, aware that he was nearing the creature¡¯s likely hideout. The closer he got, the more pronounced the chemical readings became¡ªindicating that the mutant was not far. Before he could advance further, the simulation paused, and the forest faded away, returning him to the small room. ¡°Excellent work, John,¡± Professor Ada¡¯s voice came through. ¡°You successfully identified and tracked the mutated animal using the Chemical Analysis Sensors. Your attention to detail and careful approach were spot-on.¡± John took a deep breath, allowing himself a moment of relief. ¡°Thanks, Professor. That was intense, but I feel like I¡¯m getting the hang of it.¡± ¡°Good to hear,¡± Ada replied with a smile in her voice. ¡°We¡¯re making great progress. Now, let¡¯s move on to the next exercise.¡± Chapter 25 The Final Simulation. ¡°The next one is a bit different from the rest. You may need to use your other tools while activating the Holographic-Projection to reconstruct events or visualize the scenes.¡± Professor Ada voice reached John, who had a look of confusion on his face. ¡°And how do I activate more than one tool at once?¡± ¡°Good question; it is a weird approach, but they decided to program it that way. After opening the Holographic Projection, blink four times quickly to access the functions menu. Then, focus on the tool you want to use, and blink four times instead of two. This will allow you to activate two functions at once." ¡°That¡¯s a lot of blinking!¡± John slapped his forehead in dismay from all these blinking actions. ¡°You can make shortcuts later by adding a gesture. For now, be ready for the simulation.¡± John nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m ready. What¡¯s the scenario?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be placed at a scene involving two deceased mutant animals. Your goal is to reconstruct the events leading to their deaths using the Holographic-Projection. Remember, every detail matters.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± John took a deep breath, preparing himself for the task ahead. ¡°The simulation will begin in three... two... one.¡± As the room dissolved around him, John found himself standing in a dimly lit clearing in a forest, where the bodies of two mutant animals lay motionless on the ground. Their once-vibrant colors were dulled, and the area was eerily silent. Concentrating on the Holographic-Projection then blinking twice, instantly, images began to overlay in his vision. Before it broke, then a message was displayed: (Gather data for reconstruction). It flickered twice before disappearing. ¡°Okay. Now which tool should I pick?¡± John muttered as he surveyed the surroundings. The scene is unsettling with signs of a struggle¡ªclaw marks on trees, disturbed earth, and traces of blood. John starts by using the Chemical-Analysis Sensors to identify the blood. As he began using another tool with the Holographic-Projection it changed and became a small icon at the left side of John''s vision. John walked close to the blood and concentrated. The faint overlay highlighted the blood and began to analyze it. ¡°What is this? ... Three different kinds of blood! Two belong to the dead beasts and... a human?!¡± He identified different kinds of fluid at the scene. Then, he changed Chemical Analysis for AR to collecting data about the disturbed earth and the claw marks. After it was done, he switched AR for data harvesting to see if he could get any new data. There was a missing notice in the news, nothing more. After double checking for any clues that he might have missed, John shifted his eyes and focused on the left side and the Holographic interference shown again. (Begin Reconstruction¡­) Suddenly, John''s field of vision filled with many lines as they began to arrange themselves in a specific pattern. Then a scene started playing as if what happened was happening one more time.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. It showed one of the mutant animals was gnawing on a human arm. Then the other best came and wanted to steal the meat, so the fight erupted. The second creature lunged, fangs bared, and the two engaged in a vicious battle over the grisly prize. The violence was swift and brutal, ending with both mutants lying in pools of each other¡¯s blood. The forest faded away as the room returned to its normal state. John exhaled a breath he didn¡¯t realize he was holding. ¡°Well done once more, John.¡± Professor Ada said, with her smile of approval. ¡°But we are not done yet. The last one is pretty easy to use. The simulation will start in three... two... one.¡± "Let''s finish what we started.¡± John changed the function to Energy-Sensors as the surroundings changed to a desolate land. The Energy sensor overlay was pretty basic. On the side of his vision, it stated the energy it was detecting. As he continued, the energy sensor had a sudden alert about a sudden spike in the surrounding energy. A small arrow appeared in John¡¯s vision as it pointed to the source of the energy. Moving in the arrow direction, he encountered a dungeon entrance. The environment faded away, signaling the end of the simulation. John blinked three times, deactivating the Energy sensor. Then he deactivated his talent and turned off the Smart Lenses from his watch. ¡°How do you feel now?¡± Professor Ada asked, her voice filled with curiosity. ¡°Like I¡¯ve just been through a mental workout,¡± John admitted, rubbing his temples. A mechanical arm took the device that could make him mimic movement to move in the simulation, then the chair adjusted before taking John out. Standing up, he stretched while asking, "I got a pretty good idea of how the Smart-Lenses work. what now?¡± ¡°Did you start weapon training?¡± Professor inquired. ¡°Yeah, just started.¡± ¡°Which weapon did you choose?¡± ¡°I chose a bow considering I have a melee weapon already.¡± ¡°good choice. In the next two days, you can come here for one hour in the morning for studying. Continue your basic training and archery. The simulating room in the training ground is better than here. Continue to train using the Smart lenses in there. You will have a solo mission next week.¡± ¡°Solo mission! Isn¡¯t it too soon!?¡± John became nervous all of a sudden when he heard of a solo mission. ¡°As long as you train seriously, you will be fine. We are short of manpower these days and need everyone to do their best. Now go and train.¡± Professor Shooed John out of her office as soon as she finished talking. John walked to the training ground while feeling a mix of pressure, apprehension, and determination to improve. A weak passed in blink as John dove into his training. He was improving every day. And he learned from Professor Ada how to make shortcuts for his Smart lenses. When he put his right hand in front of his eyes and mimicked binoculars, then blinks twice fast, it would activate the Night-Vision function. If he wanted to start AR function, he would make a triangle with his hands, then blink twice quickly. If he wanted to start Chemical-Analysis, he would make a ¡°C¡± letter with his index and thumb fingers before blinking twice quickly. He didn¡¯t assign any more shortcuts. John''s archery training went more than well, as he could hit stationary targets from 100 meters and moving targets from 50 meters. His attributes changed from: (STR:12. AGL:10. FLX:9.5. VIT:12. INT:11.) To (STR:13. AGL:11. FLX:10.5. VIT:12.5. INT:12.) He talked to Evelyn, asking her to make a bow and arrows for him. And he discovered that he got points after finishing the last mission, and these points, beside the salary, are used as internal currency in the Bureau of Metaphysics investigation and can be used to purchase items. Evelyn was pretty efficient, as the bow and a back quiver were delivered to him the second day. So, he had a time to get used to it. Today would be the day when his solo mission would be issued. ¡°Good afternoon, professor.¡± John greeted Professor Ada from his watch while sitting on his bed. ¡°Good afternoon, John. I hope you had enough rest in the morning, as you will receive a mission notification soon. Do you feel ready?¡± Professor Ada asked with care in her voice. ¡°I¡¯m a little nervous, but I think I¡¯m ready.¡± John replied with confidence. ¡°Good. After finishing the task, notify me.¡± The call ended, and then John began filling his backpack and putting on his gear. Ding! Ding! He looked at the mission notification on his watch with a solemn face. (Mission description: Suspicious activity was spotted near Inron City Forest. Five disappearance cases in the past week around the area. Mission objective:
  1. Scout the place and find what happened.
  2. If a threat was discovered, determine its strength and eliminate it if possible.
  3. If anyone was still alive, rescue them and bring them back to BMI.)
Chapter 26- New Mission. Leaving Isonsa City behind, John drove the standard car of the BMI. It was late afternoon, and the sun began its descent over the horizon. The cool air started to blow in the streets, giving people a sense of peace. For John, however, it was another story. He only had one mission prior to this one. The first mission was a team mission in a dungeon. Which meant he had only dealt with monsters from start to finish. But now he needed to investigate in the real world and alone. ¡®I have trained hard, very hard. From the moment I wake up to late into the night¡­ I can handle it.¡¯ The mountains, hills, trees, and green landscapes went past his car¡¯s windows as he drove. ¡®Five people''s disappearances are not a good sign. Is it dungeon out break?... No, it couldn¡¯t be. It would not have been just five. Even the cars and the city itself would be endangered. They wouldn¡¯t have sent me alone. They would have sent at least a foundation stage to handle it... So, it might be a gang or something... it could also be an animal attack or... mutant animal.¡¯ Inron City is one of the big cities of Naville. Usually, it would have many agents of BMI stationed there. But their neighbor country, Pravine, showed signs of level 6 dungeon. Many agents moved from their posts as reinforcement. Most of the foundation stage and above agents were sent there. Leaving only the essential force to maintain stability. Those blew foundation stage got assigned more missions than before. If not for being new, John wouldn¡¯t have the luxury to train for a week before getting another mission. The BMI wanted to maintain stability, not send the newbies to their deaths. ¡®The police won¡¯t search too far out of the city, so it was left for the investigation department. My priority is understanding what the cause of the disappearance is. After that, it will depend on the investigation result.¡¯ John tightened his grip on the steering wheel as he drove through the winding roads leading to the outskirts of Inron City. The fading sunlight cast long shadows, making the looming forest ahead feel ominous. Finaly, after four hours of driving he reached the last victim knowing location. Parking the car at the side of the road. He disembarked, hung his sword and a pouch to his waist, and the bow and quiver to his back. John found it inconvenient to have a backpack while having a bow, unless he wanted to hold the bow in his hands all the time. So he bought a pouch to hold the essentials. As the mission was not in the dungeon, he could go back to the car to get more supplies when he needed. The bow John was using was composite bow. There are different types of bows, but the enormous elastic properties of the composite bow give an arrow immense force, delivering a tremendous punch up to 360 meters. And its absolute range was roughly double this. Turning on his Smart-Lenses, activating both AR and Chemical-Analysis sensor. Two small icons materialized in the top right corner and top left corner, respectively. Changing the parameters of the AR function, a transparent small map appeared on his down-left corner only by focusing on it would it enlarge. John¡¯s facial expression turned serious as he started moving around the road first to see if there was any sign of struggle. ¡®Clues! Clues! What would the clue be? I trained in a simulation, but it was predetermined stuff. In the real world, clues could be erased, so I need to hurry up.¡¯ After a few minutes of searching, he found a clue on the leafy ground beside the road. He knelt on the ground to take a closer look. ¡®Looks like... animal footmark... a monkey perhaps?¡¯ Following the footprint, he found a trace of someone. ¡®A shoe footprint... it looks like... he was being dragged.¡¯ Continue following the traces. He paused for a moment. ¡¯Is this¨Ca dry blood? ... The victim could be either injured or perhaps¡ªdead.¡¯ John mood turned heavy as he continued following the clues. Suddenly, all the traces on the ground vanished. ¡®Wait what!... did I miss something?¡¯ John¡¯s eyes narrowed, back tracking to the last clue. But even after going in different directions, the result was the same. All the traces left on the ground were gone. ¡®How did they vanish?'' John thought while pacing back and forth between the clues. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. ¡¯Ugh! I got it... Carrying more than 60 kg up the trees, that is a strong monkey... No doubt, this is not a normal animal.¡¯ He began anxiously inspecting each tree in the vicinity, looking for anything¡ªsomething that could lead him to the victim¡¯s whereabouts. Out of nowhere, a message popped up in his vision. (Urgent Mission Update: A sixth victim was confirmed missing. Details: The victim is male. He regularly visited the woods every week for hiking. Usually, he would be back in two, or two and a half hours. It has been two hours since his phone had a signal, and five hours total from the time he left the city.) ¡°Oh God! I should hurry,¡± John heart raced and felt a knot in his stomach. ¡®The fifth victim could be dead already after a whole day, but the sixth might still be breathing.¡¯ His eyes darted from tree to tree, scanning every single detail¡ªsearching for any clue. His eyes brightened when he found a torn fabric on a branch overhead. He analyzed it and moved in the direction it led to. The last rays of sun disappeared one by one as the sun sat, casting along shadows that made every branch and bush seem alive. John activated the Night-Vision on his Smart-Lenses as the forest darkened and the last light was gone. John moved along the traces he found, eyes darting across the vibrant trees, the damp ground full of leaves, and the twigs. Although he moved slowly, he didn¡¯t leave any clues unnoticed.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. A faint rustle shifted John''s focus to the top of the trees. There among the branches, a shadow stood. With a practiced motion, he slid the bow off his shoulder, gripping it firmly in his hand. Nocking an arrow, just as he aimed, the shadow disappeared¡ªswallowed by the thick canopy of leaves, leaving John on high alert. A notification flashed across his smart lenses¡ªanimal excrement detected. John cautiously stepped closer, engaging the Chemical-Analysis sensor. Seconds passed before the results returned: abnormal chemical compounds, nothing that matched normal wildlife. His suspicion was confirmed¡ªthe culprit was a mutant animal. Still on high alert, John moved deeper. A frown spread on his face while moving closer to where the shadow was standing. ¡®This is not just the excrement of a single mutated animal¡ªit''s a group.¡¯ As John was detecting what happened¡ªa rustle from above¡ªbefore the shadow lunged. Relying solely on his reflexes. In one smooth motion, he pulled the bowstring to its full draw and released. The arrow sliced through the air, piercing the throat of the shadow before it even hit the ground. Not leaving anything for chances, the second arrow was shot¨Cimplanted into its chest. Nocking another arrow, John moved closer to the fallen beast. Its details became clearer as it lay still on the ground. A hairless, twisted version of a monkey¡ªits blood-red eyes still gleaming with malice. Long fangs extended from its mouth. Its muscular frame bulged abnormally beneath bare skin. Its claws, more like sharp daggers, glinted dangerously, while its oversized hands were unnatural. The proportions were all wrong; it was distorted in every way. John let out a sigh after confirming its death. Moving silently, he crept to beasts¡¯ lair. He hid behind a tree as he saw six mutant monkeys jumping around. The ground around them was filled with blood and a human¡¯s body parts. Suppressing his nausea and repulsion, John nocked an arrow. Pulling the bow to its limit, he aimed while taking a deep breath. He then let go, and without waiting for the result, he nocked the second arrow. Swiftly shooting it, he nocked the third arrow. A sickening thud confirmed the hit as a beast dropped dead. Growls and screams escaped their throats while their red, eerie eyes locked into John. The third arrow hissed through the air, hitting one in the shoulder. Without a pause, he nocked and shot another arrow. This time it hit that monkey chest. The monkeys went crazy seeing another companion of theirs dead. They all darted at him. With them swinging from branch to branch. Even though the trees became obstacles in John''s line of sight, he continued his shooting. Two more arrows found their target, killing another beast. John skipped backwards across the ground while shooting; firing arrow after arrow, two more monkeys fell as arrows got impaled in their bodies. Suddenly, he paused in his movement as he realized he used all the arrows that he brought. Hanging the bow on his back, he unsheathed the sword. (INT:17 --> 12, AGL: 11--> 16) John was waiting for the last monkey when suddenly another monkey came from his left. The monkey jumped high with a growl, its hand enlarged to a ridiculous degree, up to a person¡¯s height. John propelled himself out of the hand¡¯s way as it descended. Rumble echoed in the surroundings, and dust and mud were thrown in every direction. John¡¯s eyes narrowed, and his heartbeat accelerated from the sheer power displayed. He jumped forward, his sword arcing with a devastating force as he shifted his attributes to strength. (STR:13 ¡ú 18, AGL: 16¡ú11.) The monkey hand just returned to normal, and it was about to search for its prey that had escaped. A line of blood appeared across its neck, and after a few seconds, its head slided down, and the blood gushed from its body dyeing to place red. After killing the unexpected monkey, John moved to the last. It enlarged its hand, trying to squeeze John. He dodged by rolling under the enlarged hand, standing up with his blade swinging upward, cutting the enlarged hand. He then slashed with his sword again, creating a long cut across the monkey''s chest. Ducking the monkey other hand, he kicked it, making it stumble. Driving his sword in its chest, the beast looked at John in resentment. John, however, didn¡¯t care and yanked the sword out and delivered the final blow, cutting its head off. Taking a long, deep breath, John moved and inspected the other fallen monkeys. He hacked any that were still breathing, making sure every single one was dead. . He then walked to their lair, holding his mouth. John almost puked from what he saw. Mutilated corpses, human arms, legs, and internal organs were scattered on the ground. Just as he was about to leave, he heard a groan of pain. Moving closer to the source, he found a human was buried under the leaves and some dirt. Moving the dirt and the leaves away, he found a seriously injured living human. ¡°Someone alive!¡± John hands trampled for a second before steading again. ¡°Hold on! You must hold on!¡± As fast as he could be, John disinfected the wounds, applied antibiotic spray, and then bandaged him. ¡°I¨CI will send you to the hospital... Just hold on for a few minutes. Don¡¯t die on me.¡± (STR: 18--> 13, AGL: 11--> 16) With the man slung over his shoulder, John began the sprint back, every step feeling heavier as the minutes ticked by. His feet barely touched the ground as he raced through the forest. Trees and bushes blurred out vision as he ran with all his might. John could feel the life slipping away from the man, each labored breath weaker than the last. ¡°Hey! Hey! We almost there hang on, man!¡± He muttered, his voice quivered. John could feel the man''s heartbeat slowing, slowly¡ªbit by bit¡ªon its way to its final stop. ¡°Come on! Dude, don¡¯t die on me. I just rescued you. DO NOT you Freeaking die!¡± John shouted as if his voice would scare away death. But it did not change the inevitable. The man''s heart stopped to standstill, his breathing ceased, and the body went limp. John''s heart turned cold as he continued his sprint in silence. As soon as John stopped beside the car after going out of the forest, he lowered the man gently to the ground and began CPR. ¡°Please, God!¡± With every chest compression, John hope slipped away. ¡°Why can¡¯t you hold a little more? I came as fast as I could. Why did you still die after I rescued you from the beasts?¡± A wave of helplessness washed over him. John¡¯s hands pressed against the man¡¯s chest, desperate. Ten minutes passed in a blur of compressions and breaths. Each one more hopeless than the last. ¡°Come on, just breathe!¡± The seconds stretched into eternity, but there was nothing¡ªno pulse, no breath. Finally, he stopped, his trembling fingers hovering in the air. With a heavy sigh, he leaned back against the car, eyes looking at the sky above. The sky was adorned with beautiful stars and a moon, with a swift breeze coming every now rustling the leaves. However, this mesmerizing scene didn¡¯t bring John any joy. He just sat there, beside the man¡¯s lifeless form, feeling tightens in his chest. John had begun to know the real world with its dungeons, monsters, and people with abnormal powers in the last 3 months. In these three months he trained, killed monsters, learned some of the secrets that¡¯s hidden from normal folks, created a bond, and broke another. But only now, as he stared at the lifeless body, did he genuinely understand¡ªhis job wasn¡¯t just about combat. It was about protecting people, ensuring they could enjoy peaceful lives without ever knowing how many monsters lurked behind the scenes. He was one of those people a few months prior. Hearing about it was a thing, and witnessing a poor soul die before his eyes because of mutant animals was something entirely different. No matter how much he heard or knew that they were protecting the nation, it never really sank in. But now, just catching a glimpse of what was really happening struck him hard. Especially since that person had been alive just minutes ago. John didn¡¯t find him dead; he was still alive when John took him out of the beast¡¯s resting place. He died while John was carrying him. ¡°¡°It is not my fault that he died. And I don¡¯t even know him. Then why¨C¡± It hit him hard, harder than he expected. After taking a couple of minutes to collect himself, John let out a deep sigh. He then called the professor. Chapter 27-Silence under the Moonlight ¡°Professor, I found all the victims. Unfortunately, all except for one had complete bodies. The culprits were a group of mutant animals,¡± John reported, his voice even. ¡°Mhm. Got it. How is your gadget? Did you notice any problems?¡± She nodded. ¡°No, it works as expected.¡± ¡°Good. What do you think is causing these mutated animals?¡± ¡°I think there¡¯s a dungeon nearby that¡¯s the source of the changes.¡± ¡°Looks like you didn¡¯t forget what you learned. Go and search for it, and report back with your findings.¡± ¡°What should I do with the dead body?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll forward you to someone in the planning department. He will take over from here and be your assistant for this mission. My part is done now; you can call or come to me if you have any questions. But anything related to your tasks or mission will be handled by the planning department from now on.¡± John frowned briefly before relaxing. ¡°Understood. See you later, Professor.¡± ¡°Be careful and good luck.¡± The screen dimmed momentarily before ¡®Forwarding¡¯ appeared. A few seconds later, a familiar face appeared on the screen. ¡°This is Henry. I received your mission details and last report. Can you tell me how many mutated animals were there, John?¡± John¡¯s eyes narrowed at the sight of the familiar ¡®piece of watermelon,¡¯ Henry. His unpleasant behavior after the test still lingered in John¡¯s mind. ¡®Even though he was a jerk, I can¡¯t delay the mission because of that.¡¯ John took a deep breath before answering. ¡°Eight mutants.¡± ¡°Hmm. Assuming there¡¯s a dungeon nearby¡­ eight is too few. You need to locate the dungeon and determine its level before anything else.¡± ¡°How do I handle the dead body?¡± Henry¡¯s fingers danced over the screen for a few moments before replying, ¡°I¡¯ve reported it to the police. They¡¯ll come and take it shortly. After that, I need you to make a full-body scan of the mutants with your smart lenses.¡± ¡°Will do.¡± John accepted the assignment. ¡°Good. How have the mutants changed? Is it just their physical appearance and aggression, or do they have any new powers?¡± ¡°No, noth¡ª Sorry, I misspoke. One of the mutants had an enlarged hand with immense strength.¡± As John recalled the mutants, he couldn¡¯t help but think of the scattered bloody remains, which distracted him. John had grown accustomed to seeing blood from a young age when he visited the butcher shop with his father. Although he felt a bit nauseous when he killed his first monster, he quickly got used to it. However, seeing another human dead body was something completely different.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Henry, unaware of John''s distraction, acknowledged his statement. ¡°Mhm. I¡¯ve noted your observations and updated your mission. My name is now in your colleagues'' list. Report after finding the dungeon. Record and scan any new mutant animals or any strange findings.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± John ended the call, leaning against the car and gazing at the half-moon in the night sky, waiting for the police¡¯s arrival. John¡¯s mind wandered. ¡®Why am I training hard and taking on risky missions? I could have accepted Quinn¡¯s offer to return to a normal life. What¡¯s my goal in achieving greater strength? Is it just to protect myself and those around me?¡¯ A cool breeze brushed his face as he continued to contemplate. ¡®I don¡¯t want to be a hero, and honestly, I don¡¯t care. However, if someone is in distress in front of me and I can help, I will, instead of turning a blind eye and moving on. So, what am I struggling with here?¡¯ Since learning about talents, John had been following orders instead of pursuing his own desires, much like what he did in high school¡ªstudying, aiming for a good college, trying to talk to girls. But in college, he lost motivation. Though there was nothing wrong with his actions, he wasn¡¯t doing them for himself but to impress others. It took years for him to graduate and discover what he wanted. It wasn¡¯t grand ambition but rather enjoying the little things in life and striving to improve, even if it was just by swearing a little less each day. From then on, his life improved as he started enjoying life as it is¡ªhe got a job, an apartment, bought games that he always wanted, and went for a swim whenever he wanted. Then, talents, dungeons and all that shenanigan appeared, making him feel lost again. He reverted to going with the flow¡ªtraining when told and doing what was asked. Again, nothing wrong with these actions themselves, but deep within he wanted to distance himself from it all. So, what was his goal? A distant sound snapped John out of his thoughts, alerting him. He placed his hand on his sword, focusing on the noise. After a few seconds, he turned his gaze to the road. A police car and ambulance were approaching. Shaking his head from any distracting thoughts, John waited for their arrival. A moment later, the police car¡¯s lights flashed as it parked behind his car. The two officers stepped out, scanning the area with their eyes and placing their hands on their holstered guns. ¡°Are you John Howard from the Special Investigation Bureau?¡± one officer asked, eyeing John. (The Special Investigation Bureau is the name by which the Bureau of Metaphysics Investigation is known to the outside world.) ¡°Yes,¡± John replied simply. ¡°Can we see your ID, please?¡± After John showed his ID, which he got before the mission,the officers relaxed and turned their attention to the body on the ground. ¡°Can you tell us what happened here?¡± the officer continued, while the other signaled the ambulance staff to proceed. ¡°Didn¡¯t you receive a report already?¡± John leaned against his car, watching the staff load the deceased into the ambulance. The officer looked at John for a few seconds before responding, ¡°Sorry, sir. We¡¯ll be finished shortly.¡± Within minutes, they had loaded the body into the ambulance and drove away. John shook his head, filled his quiver with arrows, drank some water, and ate a sandwich he¡¯d brought. He wiped his hands and readied himself to enter the woods again. Activating the Energy Sensor mode on his smart lenses, John began walking back into the forest. The leaves rustled, the breeze was soft, and the forest was bathed in the moonlight. It would have been a peaceful scene if not for the lurking dangers. John jogged, adjusting his path based on the sensor readings. Before heading deep into the forest, he returned to where the fighting took place. Vigilant as he moved, he found everything the same when he left. ¡°Should I scan all of the monkeys, or just one is enough?¡± John began to scan the first mutant, then he moved to the second and the third. Comparing the readings, he found they were all the same. So, he didn¡¯t bother anymore and sent the data to Henry. John breathed in slowly as he started recording the fight scene and what was left from the other victims. Finished this task, he now moved cautiously through the forest, continuing heading based on the sensor readings. Chapter 28 Predator in the Shadows The shadows of leaves danced under the moonlight, and the breeze created a haunting melody as John moved vigilantly. A heavy weight of worry pressed on his chest, and every rustle of leaves kept John on his toes. The closer he got to the dungeon, the more his thoughts were clouded with uncertainty. Suddenly pausing, John¡¯s ears twitched as he looked to his right. ¡®I just heard something.¡¯ Step by step, he got closer to the source of the sound. John¡¯s eyes widened, his skin prickling with unease. Before him was a group of ants, each the size of a fist. They scurried in unnatural ways. Their mandibles were clicking regularly, making unsettling noises. Their back gave a metallic gleam in the soft moonlight, while their sinister eyes glowed with malicious red light. Their antennae twitched in uncanny coordination. Their hissing noise while moving made his skin crawl. ¡®Did the whole colony¡ªmutate... or just this group?!¡¯ Taking quiet steps back, John backtracked his footsteps with sweat on his back. ¡®What should I do now? Should I call for backup?¡¯ His heart raced as he pondered his next move. He racked his brain to think of an idea; looking all around, suddenly his eyes lit up. ¡®I can climb a tree and look from above to see how many of them.¡¯ John began to climb a nearby tall tree, looking from above, his sight extended to the horizon. Changing his Smart-Lenses to Night-Vision, the whole world turned into shades of green, and the trees turned to white color. Shifting his attributes to flexibility, John¡¯s idea was to move from tree to tree to survey the mutated ants. (AGL:16¡ú 11, FLX:10.5 ¡ú15.5.) ¡®I didn¡¯t try this before, but it shouldn¡¯t be difficult¡­ I think!¡¯ John took a deep breath before exhaling softly. He waited for the breeze to come; once he felt it, he jumped to the adjacent tree. ¡°Uh oh!¡± The thick branch he jumped to started to tremble violently, causing John to sway. His arms flailing wildly as he fought to maintain his balance on the violently shaking branch. ¡±Oh no!¡± His heart pounded against his chest as the shaking almost made him lose footing. ¡®Oh yes! ¡¯ Just as he stabilized himself, he heard the sound of the branch creaking under his weight. ¡® Oh God, no!¡¯ He pushed off with all his strength, diving forward. The broken branch crashed to the forest floor below as he barely got the time to hug the tree trunk. ¡® Phew, that was close.¡¯ The scent of damp wood and leaves filled his nostrils as he looked down. He saw one of the ants leave its group and go toward the fallen branch. ¡®Sh¨C !¡¯ John moved his body around until he found a stable footing. He traced the ant movement with his eyes, seeing it coming closer and closer. He grabbed the bow, nocked an arrow, and waited.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Aiming, John took a deep breath and held it. Just as he was about to release the string, the ant stopped, and its antennae moved in an erratic pattern before going in a different direction. John still focused on it and saw it piercing with one of its legs, a leafy ground. Then, a squealing sound eachod in the surroundings. A small rabbit was trying to run, but it was held strongly by the ant as it excreted some liquid, which made the rabbit twitching but immobile. The ant began to eat the rabbit, and more ants came to its way wanting to share the meal. John swallowed in nervousness, seeing this scene. But not forgetting his intention, he began counting the ants. ¡® one, two, three... seven, eight...¡¯ After counting, he exhaled in relief. The mutated ants were only 23¡ªnot a whole colony as he feared at first. After the ants ate all the small rabbits in the nest. They moved around, not in any purposeful way. ¡®They are small, and there are not many of them. I will shoot them from above; it¡¯s safer and better.¡¯ John strategies in his mind while drawing the bow to its limits, making it a crescent shape. Readying his mind, he took a deep breath, and his eyes sharpened. Concentrating on the ants below, the first arrow was shot with a whoosh. Before the ants discovered one of them died, another ant was impaled to the ground with its sister. A wave of arrows, as deadly rain from the sky, each pierced an ant, implanting them to the earth. They frantically scurried, desperate to escape, but John¡¯s merciless arrows haunted them one by one. As he released another volley, the ants¡¯ desperate attempts to escape only made them easier targets. After only one minute, all the mutated ants were pierced by an arrow. Climbing down the tree with a sense of accomplishment, John found the ants still squirming even after the arrows went through. them, making his hair stand out from the creepy scene. After cutting them again one by one with his sword, they finally lay still. ¡®Phew, I thought it would be harder.¡¯ John''s sigh of relief was audible as he collected his arrows from the dead bodies. After scanning the mutant ants and sending their data to Henry, he resumed his journey, searching for the dungeon. Moving deeper, John shifted his attributes to agility. (FlX: 15.5¡ú10.5, AGL 11¡ú 16) Suddenly, all John senses screamed at him to duck. Without taking a second to think, he threw himself into the ground, rolling. Before he registered, a flying shadow hit the ground where he had just been. Getting up, John saw a huge, demonic version of what was once an owl flying out of sight. The mutant owl¡¯s flight was absolutely silent, contrary to its huge body. Its feathers, a mix of gray and black, made it more impossible to spot it in the dark night. Even normal owls had large, forward-facing eyes with intense gazes. But the owl John faced now had eyes that could only be described as bloodlusting red. Its beak appeared normal at first, but when it opened, it split into four parts, each lined with fangs. Its talons, once merely sharp, now gleamed with a dangerous, lethal edge. Its coos now sound more like ghost cries. John¡¯s face turned grave, spinning in cycles, trying to locate this abomination of a bird. He unsheathed his sword, his hand turning white from his firm grip. His senses gave him another severe warning. Heading the warning, John rolled one more time in the ground. The owl flew away again after its second failed attempt, casting a shadow on the ground as it disappeared between the trees and its leaves. John¡¯s forehead filled with sweat traced along his face, dripping to the ground. Every cell of his body was in a tense state, telling him to never lower his guard. His eyes darted, looking all around him, desperate to spot this predator. ¡® What the¡ª! How do I fight what I can''t see?¡® Chapter 29 The Menace of the Night The night air was cool, but it didn¡¯t soothe John¡¯s stressed nerve. On the contrary, his every muscle and sinew was taut. His head was turning left and right continuously. And his eyes darted around. In this very alert state, John was anticipating an attack that could come at any moment. His breath was not steady, but he tried to calm his racing heart. It was John¡¯s first fight against a flying monster, and it was not looking good. Especially with the owl''s silent flight and its creepy blood-red eyes that spoke volumes about how it won''t leave John alone. His grip on the sword tightened, hands slick with sweat. His head snapped left. Then right. A rustling in the distance. A shadow above the treetops, then it vanished again. ¡®Is it circling me? Watching?¡¯ His thoughts were in disarray: ¡®What can you do, John?! Think! Think fast!¡¯ Suddenly, a flicker of movement caught the corner of his eye. His already tense body was ready to turn around, but he forced himself to hold still. ¡®Let it come to you. Let it think you¡¯re an easy target.¡¯ His heart pounded in his chest as he tried to keep his breathing steady. He knew making himself a bait was risky, but that was all he could think of at the moment. He recognized his limitation; he didn¡¯t have any advantage against the silent owl. His bow might be useful only if he could see the animal clearly and take it down when it was unguarded. That is impossible now, however. He was the one who got off guard; the tree was now his worst enemy, and the owl didn¡¯t fly in the open sky but between the trees. The shadow moved again¡ªSilent. Lethal. And then¡ªit was on him. John, with all his strength, spun on his heels, unleashing his sword in a wild, desperate arc. ¡°DIEEEE!¡± Steel met flesh with a chilling hiss as the blade slashed through the owl¡¯s wing. It fluttered on the ground, screeching¡ªan eerie, bone-chilling sound that echoed through the trees. But the owl wasn¡¯t done. It lashed out, talons slashing toward John¡¯s chest. He barely dodged, feeling the wind of its claws brush past him. ¡®That¡¯s too close¡¯ The owl staggered, trying to take flight, but John didn¡¯t give it a chance. He lunged forward, slashing again, his sword connecting with bone and muscle, damaging its wing again. Another ghostly screech filled the air, its talon swiping weakly in defense. Its flapping didn¡¯t cease, but its ruined wing kept it grounded. It attempted to attack with its freakish beak, but John dodged again. It stood no chance against John on the solid ground. John kept attacking and dodging, hacking and chopping, carving the owl¡¯s body with wounds.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Minutes later, the forest fell silent once more. John stood over the fallen enemy, its body finally still. He was panting, but he forced himself to take deep inhales and exhales to steady his breathing. His arm felt heavy from effort, but his mental condition was in a worst, strained state. He knew he couldn¡¯t let his guard down, as he still had a mission to complete. The feeling of being always on edge, and at any point in time a threat might jump on him from any direction, was not pleasant. He moved away from the smell of blood as he leaned his back against a tree, resting for a couple of minutes. ¡®Oh my God, the mission is far from over.¡¯ John rubbed his temples. Then he thought back to dead bodies and shocked his head. ¡®But I have to continue. I need to get it over with.¡¯ After resting, John scanned the owl''s body and sent the data to Henry. Then he continued his journey following the Energy-Sensor. His alertness decreased slightly from the tense state against the owl, but it was still present. He kept his vigilance as he moved. The scent of plants and wood filled his nose, moving over fallen branches, and some starched from the ground roots. If not for all the deadly beasts he had to face on his way, John would have felt like he was on a hiking trip. From the corner of his eyes, the energy numbers were continuously ascending with each step he took. Indicating his closeness to the dungeon. John stopped his movement all of a sudden. He heard a nearby growl. His eyes narrowed, and he trod silently to the source of the sound. Getting closer, the scent of plants changed to a mixed smell of blood and rot. John frowned and rose his guard even more. He moved behind a tree and peeked over. He saw a bear. Or what should have been once a bear. It lay sprawled on the forest floor, its massive body rising and falling with each deep, steady breath. Its fur was a thick, shaggy coat filled with blood. The difference between it and a normal bear in its current state couldn¡¯t be distinguished easily just from the outer appearance. What gave it away was how all around it were different kinds of animals¡¯ bones and the red ground from dried blood. Beside it was a carcass of half-eaten bear cubs. Its fur was darker than normal, and its fang jetted from its mouth. Its claws gave a light gleam. Suddenly its nose twitched, and it opened its eyes wide and looked in John''s direction, growling. John looked at the bear¡¯s eyes, which were darker than the night itself. And it gave him a very dangerous feeling. Taking the bow from his back, John held it firmly as he nocked an arrow. Suddenly, the bear charged at John with its bone-chilling roar. The visual of a bear charging at you could only be described as horrifying, and it could make anyone''s legs go numb from fear. But thanks to John''s training and continuous fighting with bizarre beasts, he didn¡¯t falter, and his hands were steady as he shot the arrow. But the expected arrow piercing the bear didn¡¯t happen. A clinging sound was heard instead. The bear charge didn¡¯t slow down at all. John dodged to the side at the last moment while his second arrow hit the bear. It still didn¡¯t do any damage, as the bear at some point created a bone-like substance all around its body. ¡°What the¡ª! Armored Bear! Are you kidding me?!¡± John¡¯s pupil constricted, eyes wide open, as he realized why the arrow had done nothing to the bear. Chapter 30-Through the Eyes of the Beast John shot arrow after arrow while dodging the bear¡¯s deadly strikes continuously. His sharp eyes were solemn and his mind filled with frustration. The beast moved unusually fast despite its massive body. Every one of its attacks was threatening to sherd John to pieces; its black eyes glinted with brutality. Ten minutes of fighting, and after using all his arrows, John realized something¡ªonly by drawing his bow to its absolute limit could the arrow penetrate through the bone-like armor. But even then, they barely made it past the skin. With an irritated curse, John slung the bow to his back and unsheathed his sword. The bear¡¯s growling never stopped as it echoed through the night, and it seems it still had a lot of stamina left. The fighting became a jumping concert for John, and he felt like a clown leaping and dodging around to avoid turning into a bear¡¯s feces. ¡°What the ¨C! What kind of bear are you?¡± John¡¯s frustration and anger were rising with each passing minute, nearly to a boiling point. Every arrow, every strike¡ªwas useless, as if throwing a pebble at an armored tank. Undoubtedly, it achieved nothing. ¡®Calm down, John. Think. Anger won¡¯t solve the problem.¡¯ His brain was running at its last gear, looking for a solution. John¡¯s eyes darted, inspecting the beast¡¯s body, searching desperately for a weakness. ¡®Its eyes have no protection, do they?¡¯ His eyes lit up for a second, continuing his thoughts while bending his body backward, narrowly avoiding the beast''s massive claws. If he could thrust his sword into the bear¡¯s brain in one clean strike... But it was a huge risk. If the attack fails to kill it, the bear would have him before he could withdraw. John shifted his attributes to strength and tested slashing at it first. (STR: 13--> 18, AGL: 16--> 11.) The force of his next strike cracked through the armor. a deep gash forming across the bear''s side. It would have been worth celebrating if not for the sword nearly snapping in the process. ¡°SH¡ª!¡± A chilly Whimper followed by a furious roar made John''s hair stand on end. The bear went berserk after getting injured, forcing John to leap out of the way. He shifted his attributes back to agility in order to dodge the frenzying beast¡¯s onslaught. (AGL: 11--> 16, STR: 18--> 13.) John now has no doubt¡ªonly by thrusting his sword through its eyes to the bear brain could he end this. Otherwise, his sword would break before doing any substantial damage.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°F¡ª! I will take you down, you abomination!¡± John growled, his frustration reaching a breaking point. John began to feel that from his start of learning of his talent, he took one risk after another as if throwing his life away. But the problem was that he couldn¡¯t end the fights without taking risks. Or he would get drained of his stamina, and the risk could be even greater by then. From his perspective, he was never cowardly. Maybe in part of his life he ran away from some responsibility many years ago, but he learned his lesson. In the test site, when he delayed his first fight, he thought it was a very normal thing. You couldn¡¯t expect someone to be forced into an unknown place and encounter a lion; after running away from it, the person would fight the lion if he was issued a mission from an unknown source. John was in that position at that time, or even worse. John dislikes fighting, but he knew it¡¯s a necessary evil. So, once he started fighting, he would throw every distracting thought out of the window and do whatever it was necessary to end the fight swiftly and cleanly. Now, he was presented with two choices. Take a risk, but the fight would end quickly and neatly. The second choice was to drag it out and try different types of attacks, and in this case, there was no guarantee that dragging would achieve his purpose. There was no doubt about which choice John would choose. ¡®Take your time... No need for any haste.¡¯ John reminded himself, waiting for the right opportunity. The dance of evasion lasted for a long time, but John remained patient. John¡¯s eyes narrowed suddenly and his pulse quickened as the bear stood on its hind legs, roaring and growling out of rage in the night sky. ¡®That¡¯s it!¡¯ Just as the bear let himself fall forward, John turned his stats to strength. His legs and arms exploded with force. He lunged forward precisely at the position where the bear would fall. (STR: 13--> 18, AGL: 16--> 11.) John, in a powerful thrust, pointed his sword at the bear¡¯s eyes. ¡°DIEEE!¡± With all his muscles and joints in one swift and fluid motion, the sword pierced the eye of the bear. Then it went through the eyes and continued its path and reached its brain, but it didn¡¯t stop. It continued and went through the brain and exited from the other side in a sickening crunch. Only the halt was left out of the beast''s skull. The whole world seemed to stop for a moment... then it continued with the beast losing all of its strength, falling to the ground with a thud. The bone-like armor disappeared the moment life left its body. John, while panting and taking slow, heavy breaths, yanked the sword out. ¡°Finally!¡± John sheathed the sword and walked to a tree and slumped under it, catching his breath. ¡°What level is that dungeon? How can the mutants around it be more powerful than what I fought in the last dungeon?¡± He adjusted his sitting posture as his murmur continued, ¡°I knew now why the professor warned to not underestimate the mutant animals.¡± Once his breathing steadied, John rose and scanned the bear¡¯s carcass before continuing toward the dungeon. Zzz! Zzz! Zzz! His watch vibrated like crazy as the numbers of the energy sensor spiked. John didn¡¯t need to focus too hard to spot the dungeon entrance. Unlike the last Level 1 normal dungeon portal, which was barely noticeable. This portal, however, was more outlined. It was as if someone had sewn the air itself with a mix of black and gray thread, creating a dark, circular rift that suspended a few centimeters above the ground. Chapter 31- Updating Mission. The portal suspended quietly above the ground, giving a surreal feeling. As the smart lenses were gathering data about the dungeon, John called Henry. Beeb! ¡°How is your situation, John? ¡°Henry answered while his eyes drifting to the screens around him. ¡°I''m standing a few meters away from the dungeon entrance. I will send you the data of the dungeon once the smart lenses finish collecting it.¡± John replied while his eyes scanned the trees around; his senses heightened. The forest seemed unnaturally quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves. The portal hummed every now and then, making the surroundings feel both alive and deathly still. John was alert with a buzz as the data was transferred to his Watch. ¡°I''m sending you the data.¡± John cracked his neck as he asked, ¡°So, what now?¡± ¡°Wait a minute, John. ¡° Henry started processing the data. It took a few minutes before his face turned grim. ¡°It is level one elite dungeon.¡± His hand danced on the monitors, becoming blurry. He continued after a few moments, ¡°It is the weakest elite type though.¡± Henry¡¯s frown deepened as the numbers ran across his screen. ¡®Elite. Even the weakest of its kind could push seasoned teams to their limits.¡¯ He took a deep breath before exhaling, ¡°John. I will send a team to clear the dungeon and trucks to bring back the mutant animals¡¯ bodies. Do you have any injuries or are feeling exhausted? ¡° ¡°No, I''m not injured. I spent some stamina but I still have plenty left. ¡° John responded while placing one hand on the sword. ¡°Good to hear. Before the team reach you, I expect all the mutants in the dungeon surroundings would be eliminated. ¡° ¡°No problem. The mutants around here won¡¯t be an issue." The call ended with John letting out a sigh. Henry, on the other hand, edited John''s mission before updating it. Then he created another mission for clearing elite dungeon before dragging a list icon on the mentor in front of him as he mumbled, "Who is available for the mission?¡± Scrolling through the list, his eyes stopped on several names. ¡°Hmmm! Zak Cote, talent earth manipulation could be a shield and a spear for any team. He has cleared several uncommon dungeons with others before and was a team member in one of an elite dungeon task. with his steady, calculating demeanor, had been a reliable presence in every mission. Good you are the first. ¡°This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it He adjusted his posture as he skipped several names after finding them either on mission or injured. ¡°Joe Bowers can transform into three different beasts: lion, eagle, and rhino. His transformation strengthens with every stat increase. He is confident and versatile enough. He went through many normal and uncommon dungeons. You are the second.¡± Scrolling down, he stopped on two names: ¡°Toby, fire control talent... he can deal high damage to even those higher than him in attributes but he only experienced one dungeon. ¡° Hesitation was writing on all over Henry¡¯s face as he looked at the second name, ¡°Maxwell, harden body. He can tank more damage, and his hits are powerful, but he is in the same situation as Toby... Let''s see if there are others. ¡° Henry searched more for any other available member, but he found none. And any above basic levels can''t be sent as they need their energy for any level 2 dungeons or above. And they are already small in numbers. Shaking his head, Henry took a deep breath before sending the mission. He stood up, muttering, ¡°I¡¯ll see for myself how much they¡¯ve progressed. If they are still lacking, I will wait for another day and see if any more members are available. ¡° He walked from the planning department to the assembly station. He arrived and waited for a few minutes before Zak and Joe entered. ¡°Hello Henry. Didn¡¯t you just send a mission? Why are you here personally?¡± Zak was dressed in a casual T-shirt and pants, topped with a knee-length coat, while holding a dark brown staff with three small gems embedded in the top part. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Zak and Joe. Nothing, just want to send you in a small simulation to see if all the team members are compatible with each other.¡± Henry smiled as answered, hiding his true thoughts from them. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, as long as I¡¯m here, nothing will go wrong.¡± Joe''s confident grin was not very reassuring to Henry. Joe, with his huge build, was wearing a sleeveless T-shirt and sport pants. His clothes were tailored for him to change as he transformed to not ending up naked when he turned back into a human. A black mixed with gray color gauntlet covered his fingers and wrist. ¡°I will judge that by myself. If the team is not strong enough, I will postpone the mission to another day when more agents will be available.¡± Henry didn¡¯t wait long before Toby and Maxwell arrived. Toby¡¯s eyes were shining, eager for some action. There was a new confidence in his posture, his fingers twitched at his side, a small flicker of flame dancing across his knuckles before vanishing, controlled and precise. Maxwell, on the other hand, stepped forward with the same calm presence, but something about him had changed too. His body seemed even more solid and his stance unshakable. His movements were more deliberate, as though each step carried the weight of his hardened form. He scanned the room, sizing up the people present with his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re all here. Follow me.¡± Henry started walking as he led them to a nearby simulation room. ¡°Zak has more experience. If you have no objective, he will be your leader from now on. Go in and train for an hour. I want to see your chemistry.¡± His voice and face turned stern as he warned.¡± The mission is an elite level one dungeon. I don¡¯t want any mistakes to happen. If you feel you are not capable of bringing your full strength or are not comfortable with anything, voice them out after this simulation. Because there will be no turning back after confirming the mission.¡± Chapter 32- Opinions and Concerns. Chapter 32- Opinions and Concerns. Before the simulation started, Zak turned his body and addressed the group, ¡°Give me a brief about yourself, your ability, and your past experience.¡± He knocked his staff on the ground before continuing, "II will start. I am Zak Cote. I can manipulate the earth and create shields, spears, spikes, traps, and all sorts of stuff. I cleared more than 10 normal dungeons solo. I also cleared many uncommon grades with a team and one elite.¡± Joe crossed his arms as he spoke, ¡°Nice. I am Joe Bowers. My talent is transforming into different kinds of animals. I can only transform into a lion, eagle, and rhino. I cleared 5 normal dungeons solo and many uncommon with a team. No elites yet, though.¡± ¡°Toby Lyons. I can control fire and create fireballs, fire bombs, and spread high-temperature flames around.¡± Toby scratched his head in embarrassing. ¡°I only cleared one normal dungeon with a team.¡± Zak and Joe frowned as soon as they heard that. Maxwell introduced himself as if he didn¡¯t feel their change. ¡°Maxwell Ballard. Hardening. Cleared only one normal dungeon.¡± Joe narrowed his eyes, sizing the two novices up and down before exchanging glances with Zak. Who stared at them for a whole 15 seconds before mumbling, ¡°Now I know why Henry is here.¡± Toby stood awkwardly under their gazes, while Maxwell¡¯s calm demeanor remained unshaken. ¡°So, you fought and know the basics.¡± Zak said as he shook his head. ¡±We will see how this goes. Start the simulation.¡± The white room faded, and it was replaced with a desert with monsters roaming from afar. Zak hit the ground with his staff, then the land around them solidified. He hit it again and made a weird gesture with his other hands, then in a blink, pieces of earth floated around the group before shifting and sticking to everyone, making a stone defense around their body without hindering their movements or the use of their ability. Before Zak gave a commend, Joe transformed into an eagle and soared high as he observed the monster movements and the terrain. Maxwell activated his hardening and looked at the surroundings. Toby ignited his hand while checking the earth armor around him with curiosity. Henry clicked on the panel outside, observing them. ¡®I hope it work. Waiting for another day won¡¯t guarantee more people would be free.¡¯ This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡­. An hour ended quickly as the team got out. Henry had a half-smile that quickly faded. ¡°Not bad. It is not the strongest team out there, but you should be able to handle the mission as long as you are careful. Do you accept the mission?¡± Before anyone answered, Zak met Henry''s eyes as he responded, ¡°I can see that the newbies are not weak, but this is an elite dungeon, Henry.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want to go?¡± Henry stared at him, questioning. ¡°No, this is not what I meant,¡± Zak shook his head and continued.¡± If it¡¯s an uncommon dungeon, we can breeze through it with our current team. But I don¡¯t have enough experience clearing Elite Dungeon. The last time I was in a team of six, but it was still a struggle. You should know that.¡± The others exchanged uneasy glances as they listened attentively to the conversation. ¡°Your last mission is different from the current mission. The last mission, the elite dungeon, was at the upper limit of level 1 dungeon. According to the data, this one is a step up from uncommon. It should be far from the limit. Your team before was all experienced members, and some of them were on the verge of advancing to the foundation realm.¡± Henry¡¯s expression softened. ¡°I understand your concern. You can definitely clear the dungeon with your current team, but it would be tough. If you want to wait, I will see if I can add another member tomorrow.¡± Joe interrupted the conversation, ¡°Tell us the status of the dungeon first. Is it stable? And Can you guarantee a new member tomorrow? ¡° ¡°From the data, the dungeon had been around for at least a month now. And no, I can¡¯t guarantee anything.¡± Henry answered patiently ¡°Maybe there would be¡ªmaybe you would need to wait for more time, between two to four days. John is dealing with the mutant animals around the dungeon now. After finishing, he needs sufficient rest before fighting again. You could wait for him.¡± ¡°John¡¯s already on a mission!¡± Toby exclaimed. The others glanced at him, and he awkwardly gestured for them to continue. Zak asked, "Every day with the dungeon unattended, it would spawn more monsters. If it reached two months, it would breakout as it is level one dungeon. As this concerns all of our lives. I will leave it to voting. I say waiting for John... who is he, by the way?¡± ¡°John¡¯s from the same batch as Toby and Maxwell,¡± Henry explained. ¡°He can change his body¡¯s attributes and has a sensory ability.¡± Joe shook his head. ¡°I would say let¡¯s go now. Every hour we wait, more monsters will be born. In a day or two, it won¡¯t matter if we have four or five members.¡± Toby clenched his fists. "I say we should go. We have an overwhelming offense and a pretty solid defense. As Joe said, with more monsters spawning, waiting will just make things harder.¡± Henry turned to Maxwell. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Mhmm. If we want to be on the safe side, waiting would be better. But if another dungeon got discovered or an unexpected situation happened, we wouldn¡¯t have any new members, and the dungeon would be harder by that time.¡± After pausing for a moment, Maxwell voiced his opinion, ¡°I say we go.¡± Henry turned back to Zak. ¡°They are all willing to go. I don¡¯t want to pressure you, but you¡¯re the leader for this mission. If you don¡¯t want to go, we¡¯ll postpone the mission.¡± Zak messaged his temples for a while before letting out a sigh. ¡°Let¡¯s get ready. Your concerns are valid. 10 minutes and we will move.¡± Chapter 33- A Quiet End Chapter 33- A Quiet End. The time passed, and two hours after midnight, the moon was the only source of light in the jungle. On the ground beside a dead mutant hyena, John was kneeling on the ground panting. After taking a deep breath and exhaling, John yanked the half-sword out of the hyena''s body. His body ached from head to toe; the strain of fighting through the night was evident in every movement. Blood, sweat, and dirt clung to his body as he stood over the beast. The once-sharp blade was now filled with cracks and scratches. Small wounds could be seen all over his body. All the arrows he had broken and splintered, and the bow was damaged. With a grunt, John stood up after checking the creature''s lifeless form for any signs of movement. ¡°The last one¡­ I hope.¡± John muttered; his tone was flat with a clear sign of fatigue. There was not a single sound in the forest now except some rustling of leaves. The usual sounds of birds and animals were now completely absent. His senses were heightened, even in his exhausted state. He scanned the area, making sure there were no other threats lurking in the shadows. John wiped the sweat from his forehead, glancing at the broken sword hanging loosely in his hand. It was pretty much useless now; the edge dulled and filled with dents from the constant battles. He had pushed himself and his equipment to their limits. ¡®But I¡¯m not done yet.¡¯ He couldn¡¯t afford to rest, not until he was certain there were no more mutant threats around the dungeon. He took a deep breath before surveyed the forest. He couldn¡¯t sense any other mutants nearby but he still kept his vigilant. Slowly, he made his way through the forest¡ªsearching for any sign of movement. Any hint of anything slipped past him. His legs felt heavy and his arms even more so, but he forced himself to continue. He couldn¡¯t let any mutant remain; it wouldn¡¯t be safe for normal animals, people, or even the members of BMI who would come to clear the dungeon. After what felt like eternity of surveying the forest, John finally allowed himself to relax. ¡®It is over. The surroundings are safe now.¡¯ As he made his way back to the road where he¡¯d parked his car, the distant sound of engines caught his attention. Trucks and cars were approaching. He sank in the car chair, drinking water and eating an energy bar, while tracing the cars with his eyes.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. In a few seconds, the cars parked at the side of road. John had already eaten the energy bar by the time. The support staff disembark from the trucks and one of them came ot John, asking, ¡±John, right? Sorry for bothering you while you rest but we need to retrieve the mutant animals bodies and we need you to guide us to there.¡± After giving a heavy sigh, John get out of the car while feeling his body screaming to rest. ¡°Come with me.¡± Before going far, from a car like his four people came out and headed his way. They were Zak, Joe, Maxwell, and Toby. ¡°Wait a minute, John!¡± John stopped on his track and looked back at Toby, who called him. John frowned as they came close, sizing the group. Zak extended his hand for a handshake as he asked, "You are John? You were the one who discovered the dungeon?¡± John shook his hand, replying, ¡°Yes and yes. Who are you?¡± Zak and Joe introduced themselves before asking, ¡°Can you lead us to Dungeon Portal?" John, we need to clear the dungeon as soon as we can.¡± ¡°Only you four will clear the dungeon?¡± John eyes norrowed, looking at them as if they were bunch of idiots. ¡°Yes, we are sufficient to clear it.¡± Joe interrupted, raising an eyebrow, feeling John belittling them. John¡¯s face turn solemn. ¡°Are you sure you will attempt to clear the dungeon with only four? This is an elite dungeon, you know that, right?¡± Zak shook his head. ¡± We know. We already made a decision. Just lead the way.¡± After an intense stare at each of them, John let out a sigh. ¡°Follow me. I will lead the staff first to collect the mutant bodies, and when we are close, I will lead you to the dungeon.¡± One by one, each body was put in a black bag as staff placed the coordinates on the map and gestured for John to continue. John led them to different locations, and each time the staff member alerted the other staff to the body coordinates before continuing in their journey. Toby and Maxwell were looking at different mutant animals in shock and curiosity, as it was first time seeing mutant animals. Joe and Zak, however, saw mutants many times and didn¡¯t care. What they cared about was the dungeon itself. Finally, after an hour of walking, John deviated a little to lead them to the dungeon portal before continuing to guide the support staff to the other carcasses. Seeing them standing before the dungeon talking, his eyes lingered on Toby and Maxwell for several seconds before walking away with the support staff. After another hour, he showed all the places of the fights he took and the mutants bodies. Returned back to the car, John slumped on the car back seat as he closed his eyes. After a minute, he was already falling asleep from exhaustion. John didn¡¯t know how many hours passed before the support staff knocked on the glass of the car. ¡°Sir, we finished loading all the mutant animal bodies. Shielding his eyes from the sun with his hands as he opened them, John yawned and scratched. ¡±Mhm. Wait, I will drive the car behind you on the way back.¡± He splashed some water on his face from the water bottle he had before hopping in the driver seat and driving behind the trucks. John''s mind wondered, feeling uneasy for Maxwell and the group as he drove. ¡°I hope they would be okay. If the mutants are this strong, I¡¯m afraid the dungeon¡¯s monsters would only be stronger. ¡° Chapter 34- Washing Off the Fatigue. Chapter 34- Washing Off the Fatigue. Stretching, John woke up in the afternoon in his room at BMI. He turned on the light beside the bed as he shielded his eyes away from it. He blinked a few times, his eyes adjusting to the bright light. Memories of the mission spin in his mind, each battle against the mutant beasts flashing like slideshows. After driving back from the mission in the early hours of the morning, he had gone straight to bed without even showering, the grime and fatigue still clinging to him like a second skin. Taking a deep breath and exhaling, John regulated his mental status as he enjoyed the peace that came with his solitude. He swung his legs over the side of the bed; the cold floor drove the remining sleep away. He rubbed his eyes as he stood with a grunt and walked slowly toward the bathroom. The steam from the shower would be a welcome reprieve, washing away the remnants of the night and leaving him refreshed for whatever awaited him. After all, he knew that the respite wouldn¡¯t last long. He had a sense that new missions and challenges were just waiting around the corner. In the bathroom, he turned on the shower; the hot water fell on top of his head, then the rest of his body. He stood there, eyes closed, letting the water run, enveloping him in its warm embrace. With a heavy sigh, he began to wash away the grime, wishing to wash away not just the dirt but the memories of blood and violence. His thought drafting back to Toby, Maxwell, Joe, and Zak¡ªhoping they were faring well in the elite dungeon. Once he finished, John stepped out, wrapping a towel around his waist and glancing at his reflection. His body already healed from the scratches and bruises as he shifted to his vitality attribute while he was in the car driving back to the BMI. Though his body had healed, the mental toll still lingered. After a quick change into a fresh uniform, he headed to the main area of BMI, seeking a breakfast and a cup of coffee. As he walked down the corridor, he noted the busy atmosphere¡ªagents preparing for missions, strategizing, and checking equipment. He could hear the distant sounds of activity. The faint murmur of voices¡ªit was a familiar symphony of the BMI''s relentless hustle. ¡°Hey, John!¡± a voice called out, pulling him from his thoughts. It was Evelyn, one of the support staff from the technology and planning department. She approached him with a concerned expression. ¡°You okay? You seem lost in your thought.¡± ¡°Nothing. Just got back from a mission this morning.¡± John replied with a smile. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°You requested a new sword or something better after your sword broke. Did you forget?¡± ¡°Did I?¡± John frowned, momentarily taken aback. The memory of his sword snapping mid-battle flashed in his mind. He could still feel the shock of it, the way the blade had cracked as the mutant hyena bit into it. It was already in bad shape after continuous fighting throughout the night, but it still broke under the mutant teeth. He couldn¡¯t deny that he panicked at that time, and he was forced to continue the rest of the fight with a broken sword.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡±Oh, yeah. I sent the request when I was in the car. I didn¡¯t know you were the one handling it though.¡± ¡°Well yes, I¡¯m handling it, but your new sword would need some time to make as only normal swords are available in stock.¡± She walked alongside him as he went to get his meal. ¡±For the meantime, you have to do with a normal sword until the better one is made.¡± ¡°Mhm. Okay, I¡¯m used to the normal sword anyway.¡± He brought his meal and coffee to a table as Evelyn sat opposed to him with her own coffee. ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯ve always wanted to ask,¡± John said, taking a thoughtful bite of his sandwich. After swallowing, he continued, ¡°We have all this technology, but we¡¯re still using swords and bows. I know technology won¡¯t work well in the dungeon, but I¡¯m in the investigation department; I deal with things outside. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to give us guns and stuff?¡± Evelyn took a sip of her coffee before answering, ¡°There are many reasons, but I¡¯ll just give a few. First, low-caliber guns barely do anything to mutant animals, and high-caliber ones are expensive and loud. We¡¯re fighting all over the country. Imagine the public hearing gunfire every day¡ªit wouldn¡¯t exactly put them at ease, would it?¡± She blew on the coffee before taking another sip. ¡°Plus,¡± she continued, ¡°we¡¯re all people with talents and stronger physical bodies than normal humans. So, we can¡¯t limit ourselves to any kind of weapon. You use a sword because it fits with your ability, but others use different tools¡ªevery individual uses what works best for them.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± John replied amid bites. ¡°Makes sense.¡± Finishing his meal, he sipped his coffee as he had a casual chat with Evelyn. Evelyn finished her coffee and stood up. ¡°See you later, John.¡± ¡°Later.¡± John¡¯s mind wandered after Evelyn left. ¡®I¡¯ll take the rest of the day off. I won¡¯t train today; maybe a little jog would do.¡¯ Standing up, he went for the training ground and stretch a little before the Jog. ¡®Why do I feel uneasy about the elite dungeon? I¡¯m sure Maxwell and Toby progressed a lot as I did, or even more so. And from what Evelyn told me, Zak and Joe are experienced members. Still¡ª Never mind; worrying won¡¯t change a thing.¡¯ And so John started his jog. He found peace in the rhythm of his steps, each stride easing the tension from his mind. He went outside of the BMI building and got into his car as the setting sun cast a golden glow over the city. The park near his apartment, with its quiet, winding paths, felt like a small refuge. He found a bench by the lake and sat there for a while, watching the sun disappear beyond the horizon. The water rippled gently, reflecting the fading light, and for a moment, everything felt peaceful. By the time he returned to his apartment, the calm of the evening still clung to him. He made a simple dinner, savoring the quiet as he played a few rounds of games, letting his mind unwind before finally crawling into bed, completely at ease, the weight of the mission slowly fading into the background. ¡­¡­.. In the middle of the night, with no moonlight and only the stars twinkling above, a piercing alarm went off in John¡¯s room. Beeb! Beeb! Beeb! John jolted awake, eyes darting around as he fumbled for the source of the sound. He rubbed his face and grabbed his BMI watch, grumbling under his breath. ¡°Stop ringing! What the hack!¡± He turned it on and stared at the message. (Warning! Warning! Warning! Emergency mission being issued: A dungeon on the verge of outbreak was discovered. Go to BMI and await further instructions! This is not a drill! Repeat, this is not a drill! Failing to show up would subject you to penalties and questioning.) ¡°WTF! A dungeon outbreak!¡± His drowsiness vanished in an instant as he shot up from his bed. Reading the message several times to make sure he wasn¡¯t imagining things. ¡°Oh my God! I need to hurry.¡± John raced to the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face, trying to wake up faster as his mind raced. Without wasting another second, he hurried to put on his clothes, then sprinted to the car as he raced off to the bureau. Chapter 35- Elite Dungeon: The Fight Begins. Chapter 35- Elite Dungeon: The Fight Begins. ¡°Don''t go out of range, Maxwell!¡± Zak roared. His expression was heavy as he made several blocks of earth with spikes all over, controlling the number of beasts that they were facing at a time. Maxwell, Joe, and Toby were all tangled with their own fight. Zak was commending while creating armor, traps, and all sorts of attacks to make the fight controllable. After John led them to the dungeon entrance, Zak took the command; his eyes were stern as he looked at each one of them dead in the eyes for a few seconds as he said, ¡°Do your utmost in every fight. There is no way to clear the dungeon but to fight with every millimeter of our strength.¡± His voice, filled with firmness, continued, ¡°If the fight could be won in ten minutes, we better finish it by the 8th minute.¡± Zak slammed his staff on the ground as he created armor over everyone, then he created a flying shield that cycled around him. ¡°Are you ready?¡± His voice was deafening and echoed through the night. ¡°Ready, captain!¡± they answered in the same loud voice, their blood boiling waiting for the fight. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± He gestured with his hand as he sprinted through the portal. The others didn¡¯t hesitate to follow him. What greeted them was a prairie with mountains on both sides and hills that blocked the view, and many rocks spread unevenly all around. The moment Zak entered without even thinking, he swept his staff, creating a dome on the teleportation point. The moment the other entered, they heard a bang. The dome vibrated a little as heat could be felt from the other side. Bloodthirsty, hideous, huge-looking dogs were scattered around in the vicinity. Their saliva was dropping to the ground drop by drop. Their eyes were black with crimson-red pupils, giving a very menacing vibe. Fangs were extended from their mouths as they growled. Their bodies were foul-smelling. The beasts¡¯ sharp claws were terrifying. What looked like dogs from hell were in different colors. A red-colored dog had opened his mouth and condensed a fireball before it was hurled to Zak¡¯s dome. BOOM! The fireball smashed the dome, crumbling it. Many beasts¡¯ attention was drawn to the sound as they began to run in the party direction. ¡°Control this beast, Toby.¡± Zak was commending as he gestured with his staff, creating earth walls in different directions to slow the beasts. ¡°On it!¡± Toby ignited his hands as he ran in the monster direction. Joe turned into the eagle soaring into the sky, surveying the beasts. ¡°Maxwell, you are free to fight how you want, but don¡¯t go beyond that last wall.¡± Zak said as he gestured with his hands, creating spears that hovered in the sky overhead.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Got it.¡± Maxwell acknowledged the commend as he hardened his body, running to the beasts. Other than red dogs, there were dark brown ones with a much more robust physique and more numerous. All darting with wicked savage intent that could be seen in their eyes. ¡°GO!¡± Zak hurled the spears at the beasts. Joe¡¯s eyes were darting around the monsters. Suddenly he dove, and within a second his claws were in a monstrous dog¡¯s head. BAM! Blood splattered; the beast¡¯s head was deformed from the impact, dead. He soared to the sky once again, looking for another opportunity. His gantlet transformed with him enveloping his claws, glinting dangerously. Toby threw his own fireball at the incoming fireball from the red dog, nullifying it. ¡°You want to play with fire before me? ¡°With a grin, Toby abruptly jumped, his feet burst in flame, giving him a boost in midair. With spin, he descended down, his palm filled with condensed fire as he slammed it on the dog''s body. BOOOM! Whining escaped the beast''s throat as half of its body was scorched from the flame. Toby adjusted himself midair as he landed on his feet. Then he lunged again at the beast. Toby got two new pieces of equipment: a gauntlet that could withstand his fire, and if he hit any beast with it, it would amplify his flame temperature. The second was a military-looking boot that was immune to his flame. So, he could now channel his flame through either his hands or feet without getting his clothes on fire. In the meantime, the earth spears controlled by Zak implied a monster in its four legs before the last one piercing throw its brain. Maxwell slammed onto another red dog, throwing it out of balance. He kicked its front leg, making it slip, and hit the ground with its head. Maxwell took the chance to throw a barrage of punches in its face, making the beast dizzy. ¡°Die!¡± He stopped for a second as he raised his fist before making a spik at the end of his hand, then he slammed in its head, smashing its skull and penetrating to the brain, ending the beast. The fight was in full swing, with Zak keeping an eye on every one of them while dealing with the monsters. From Toby''s wild fight and Maxwell''s ferocious combat style to Joe''s calculated and merciless clashes, nothing escaped his keen observation. Even though they just entered the dungeon, the monsters¡¯ numbers seem to increase instead of decreasing after all that struggle. ¡°Toby, stop being flashy! We need efficiency. We had more monsters than we can handle already.¡± Zak¡¯s control over the earth was superior, creating earth wall after earth wall, hindering the monsters from overwhelming them. With every wall crumbling, another erected in its place. Zak made some of the ground around the walls hollow; when the beasts stepped on them, the earth surface would break, making them fall on a ground full of deadly spikes. All of a sudden, a deep, resonating howl echoed across the prairie. The dogs halted their attacks, their heads turning in unison toward the hills in the distance. Emerging from the shadows was a colossal figure¡ªfar larger than the other beasts. Its fur gleamed with a metallic sheen, as cold and unforgiving as a winter¡¯s night. Eyes like shards of ice that could freeze a soul in fright, and frost clung to its breath, chilling the air around it. It snarled, and the ground beneath its feet froze as it walked step by step toward the group. Around it, many hounds had the same appearance but were smaller in size. They growled as their eyes locked onto the group like predators ready to pounce. Joe and Zak¡¯s hearts skipped a beat seeing this scene. "Maxwell, come closer. Now!" Zak shouted, his voice sharp. Maxwell didn¡¯t need a second warning. He sprinted toward Zak, his gaze flicking to the hulking creature that had just appeared. ¡°What the hell is that?¡± Joe asked, his voice barely audible as he circled in the sky back to the group. Zak''s gaze remained fixed on the enormous creature. Its cold, dead eyes glowed with malice, and frost clung to its breath like a death sentence. Then the beast howled¡ªa sound so chilling it seemed to freeze the very air around them. The smaller hounds charged. Chapter 36 Challenges on the Battlefield. A chilling wind swept through the prairie as the frost-covered beast stalked forward, its piercing gaze fixed on them. Time seemed to slow as Zak¡¯s heart raced, his mind working furiously to calculate their next move. The smaller hounds were already closing in, their snarls growing louder with every step. ¡°Everyone, regroup now!¡± Zak shouted, slamming his staff into the ground, sending a wave of earth spikes toward the approaching hounds. But even as his spikes and walls rose, the creatures ripped through them with a ferocity he hadn¡¯t anticipated. Maxwell retreated as he fought, coming closer to Zak. ¡°Who is going to fight the big guy?¡± Joe finished the monster he was dealing with, landed, and reverted to his original form. His eyes darting between the advancing enemies and the giant beast. ¡°That thing... it is not going to be easy taking it down.¡± Zak¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡±Toby, Maxwell¡ªcontrol the smaller ones. Joe, help them in eliminating the beasts. I''ll handle the big one for now. Once their number decreased, come and help me.¡± The group sprang into action, each to his own battle. Toby left hand extended as he spread his fire as a flamethrower, controlling three of the brown hounds. His right hand condensed a fireball, then he hurled it toward them. Just as the beasts jumped out of the way, Toby chuckled. ¡°Got you!¡± The fireball split into three smaller ones, darting toward each hound, exploding in their faces. From the corner of his eye, he caught more hounds heading his way, including red, brown, and the new addition, silver. Joe was constant in his approach. Surveying the battlefield, spot an opening, dive with extreme speed and ferocity, take down the monster, and fly up again. His approach was less flashy than Toby¡¯s but no less deadly. His kills were swift and calculated. Maxwell¡¯s fight was brutal, less flashy, but just as effective. Spikes erupted from different parts of his body, maximizing the damage with every punch or kick. A brown hound lunged at him, and with a brutal swipe, Maxwell pinned it with his spiked hands and gave it a knee kick in the face as the spike penetrated from the jaw to its brain. Just as he let go of the dead monster, a red hound opened its mouth, throwing a fireball at him. He crossed his hands in defense as it exploded, making him stagger as he took a few steps back.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Like Toby, Maxwell also got an item upgrade. It is wearable shoulder pads. Its function is simple; when Maxwell focused and created a spike through the should pads, it would separate the spike from his body, making it throwable. But he would need to use the spike in less than a minute or it would dissolve into elements once again. Now, Maxwell reached for his shoulder, holding the spike firmly in his hand before throwing it. It hit the red hound''s back leg, slowing its kiting as it tried to fire another fireball at him. Maxwell rolled, evading it, rising up again to deal with the beast. Abruptly, a sizzle noise echoed as a mist spread from behind Maxwell, enveloping him. Apparently, a sliver hound saw the fireball coming in its direction; it opened its mouth and threw an ice attack of its own. When it collided with the fireball, it exploded alongside the fireball and covered the area with mist. ¡°What the hell!¡± Maxwell flustered for a second before continuing his sprint as he went out of the fog. Zak''s attention was captured the second the mist formed; his expression became heavy. ¡°This is getting bad. The least we need is something to obscure our vision.¡± He looked at another side of the battlefield, noticing Toby struggle as mist also erupted from his direction. Joe landed beside Zak reverting back to his human form. ¡°Zak, this is getting dangerous. From the way the mist forms, in less than five minutes, all this place would become a land of fog. I can¡¯t fight from the sky anymore.¡± ¡°I noticed. What is your idea?¡± Zak was talking to Joe while accumulating power while the huge silver hound, with its slow stroll, neared Zak¡¯s attack range. ¡°I have no ideas.¡± Joe shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m just informing you, as it would be harder for me to provide swift support when I¡¯m on land.¡± As soon as he finished his piece, he transformed into a lion and sprung back into action. The moment the huge hound stepped into Zak¡¯s attack range, a rock as big as a car hurled in its direction. Even with its weight, it was fast. The beast let go of its leisurely attitude and darted to the side, trying to avoid the boulder. Booooom! In the last second, the hound created an ice wall; the collision speared ice shards and rock¡¯s shrapnel in every direction. ¡°Shi¡ª! It is ice control is strong.¡± Zak created three more boulders, placing them beside him. He created ten huge spears, each one having a diameter of 50 cm, letting them hover in the sky. ¡°GO!¡± Zak swept his staff, hurling the spears, one at a time, at the beast. The silver hound snurled, darting to the left and to the right, dodging the spears. Suddenly, a wall eructed from the ground in its dodging direction. Halting its attempt as a spear closed in. Awooooooo! It howled as an ice wall after an ice wall was conjured in front of it. One by one they crumbled, but it slowed the spear down to a halt at the last wall. Before the beast could get away, a rock following the spear crashed in the last wall, destroying it and hitting the beast, throwing it off and making it slide across the ground. Zak, not giving the beast a respite, another boulder was throwing in the beast''s direction with the spears alongside it. Zak slammed the ground with his staff, creating many small spears and sending them behind the huge spears. Chapter 37-The Resonating Howl. The silver hound snarled as Zak launched another boulder, followed by a barrage of spears, each one slicing through the air with deadly force. Just as the boulder neared its target, the hound conjured a towering ice shield, with multiple crystalline walls erupting from the ground behind it with sharp cracks. BOOM! The boulder smashed into the shield, shards of ice flying in every direction, but the walls held. Within a heartbeat, the beast opened its maw, a low growl vibrating in its throat before it spat an ice blast directly toward the incoming spears. The icy projectile clashed with the first spear, freezing it mid-air before it shattered into glittering fragments. Zak¡¯s heart raced, surprised. He had never imagined such precise ice manipulation could come from a beast. The second spear slowed as the hound¡¯s blast spread, frost creeping along its surface before it, too, broke apart. Zak gritted his teeth, feeling the pressure mount as the beast howled. AWOOOOO! The ground trembled under the sheer force of the sound, and suddenly, the prairie began to shift. Ice spread outward from the beast, coating the battlefield and freezing the once solid earth. ¡°What the¡ª!¡± Zak''s eye¡¯s widened in alarm as the temperature plummeted. With the ice spreading rapidly, he felt an immediate resistance¡ªhis connection to the earth weakening slightly. ¡°Damn it...¡± Zak grimaced, gripping his staff tighter. The earth around the icy areas refused to respond the way it should. His rocks moved sluggishly, like trying to drag boulders through mud. ¡°This... this isn¡¯t good.¡± The fight became perilous. But he pushed forward, refusing to let the beast overwhelm him. The fighting between Zak and the silver monster was escalating with the passing minutes. Meanwhile, Toby wiped the sweat from his brow, flames flickering around his hands. His attention was on the beasts around him. He¡¯d taken down several already, but the clash of fire and ice between him and the silver hounds produced more mist. A group of hounds circled him; their glowing eyes shone through the fog, predatory and cold. He flexed his fingers, feeling the fire surge within him. ¡°Alright... let¡¯s see how you handle this.¡± With a swift motion, he shot a stream of fire toward the nearest hound, the flames bright against the icy landscape. But just as the flames were about to connect, several silver hounds spat ice blasts at the fire. the collision producing more swirling mist that clouded Toby¡¯s vision. ¡°God damn it!¡± Toby growled in frustration, realizing that the ice gave these creatures an advantage. The thickening mist was making it hard to track the silver hounds and frost was making things complicated One of the beasts lunged at him from the side, and Toby barely had time to react. He spun, flames roaring from his hands, catching the hound in mid-air. It yelped in pain, rolling across the frozen ground, but another one was already closing in.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ¡°Get out of my way!¡± Toby cloaking his fist with a layer of condensed fire. His fiery fist collided with the hound''s jaw, and in an instant, the fire exploded, frying the beast''s head upon contact and blasting it off. Suddenly, from different directions, three beasts lunged at him at the same time. Toby launched himself into the air with a burst of flames from his legs, narrowly avoiding the beasts'' deadly pounce. His left palm and feet erupted with fire, smoothly rotating his body midair. He then tossed a fireball with his right hand; it ignited the air, sending a heat wave into the surroundings. The aggression of the hounds increased, charging and pouncing at him at every turn. And he, by a hair¡¯s breadth, avoiding them every time, hardly had the time to counterattack. Toby¡¯s breath came out in short, white puffs as the temperature dropped sharply. Every step he took felt like crunching over thin ice. The flames flickered dangerously, not burning as hot as they should. ¡®Damn this ice.¡¯ He thought, realizing the cold was sapping his power. The mist made it even worse¡ªhe could barely see the hounds, let alone aim properly. The relentless cold spread from every battleground interconnected with each other, creating a world of snow. He braced himself for another attack when suddenly¡ªcrack¡ªa shadow burst through the mist. With a powerful swipe, a lion snapped the hound''s neck. That shadow was Joe in lion form; he came to help Toby. ¡°You don¡¯t have to fight from a range, Toby!¡± When Joe spoke in his lion form, his voice was deeper and rougher than usual, with a hint of a growl. It had a strange, resonant quality, making his words sound powerful and slightly unsettling. But beneath the growl, there was a hint of urgency. ¡°Stop tossing fire around, now!¡± The usual clarity of his speech was replaced by a guttural rumble, making his commands sound both majestic and menacing. ¡°The mist is spreading too much. Fight at close quarter.¡± Toby blinked, the heat in his hands wavering. ¡®Close-quarter?¡¯ He hesitated, glancing at the growing mist around them. Normally, he preferred to stay at a distance, using his flames to overwhelm. But Joe¡¯s lion form moved fluidly between the hounds, swiping and dodging like it was second nature. Toby clenched his fists, nodding slightly. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see how they like this up close.¡± On the other side of the battle, Maxwell was like a tank, taking whatever came in his way without shying away. He used every part of his body in a smooth, flowing barrage of punches and kicks in a violent, brutal melee. The armor that Zak placed on him had long been destroyed, and Maxwell was relying solely on his hardening talent to defend. His chest heaved as the intense struggle continued; he was only concerned about slipping on the ice or getting a direct hit from the ice blast, as it would make his body stiff. And its accumulation might lead to dangerous consequences. Even though there were not only silver hounds, the others were not as threating. ¡°What the hell!¡± He rolled on the ground, avoiding a fireball from a red hound. ¡°We just entered the dungeon, and it¡¯s this dangerous already?!¡± His heartbeat was audible, his eyes darting all around, looking at the beasts that circled him from every direction. The frown didn¡¯t leave his face from the start of the fight. ¡°I with John was here. He could have helped a lot.¡± His jaw tightened as the thought crossed his mind. But John wasn¡¯t here. It was just him, Toby, Zak, and Joe against this onslaught. Clicking his tongue, Maxwell roared, ¡°Came at me, beasts!¡± As if they understood, they leaped at him from every angle. Their clear objective in ripping the human in front of them to shards was obvious in their vicious eyes. Across the battle field, each of the party members was fighting to survive and eliminating the monsters that were having no mercy or giving them no respite. But they were not wavering against the overwhelming odds, their determination and courage leading them to fight more ruthlessly. Chapter 38-The Final Roar. A sharp claw swipe cracked a hound''s neck, followed by a paw on its head as a finishing crushing force. That was Joe in his lion form. Each attack of his was devastating, as his damage and power are way higher than normal lions. He quickly turned, swiping another beast with a powerful paw, sending it tumbling across the icy ground. Turning again, he rammed into the nearest hound, crushing it into the frozen earth. Toby fought beside him, flames coating his fists as he lashed out at the silver hounds, but there was something different about his movements¡ªhis usual rhythm disrupted by the close-quarters combat. Joe growled as he snapped his jaws around the neck of another hound. ¡°Focus, Toby. I know you are not used to this but we can¡¯t afford more mist. ¡° Toby¡¯s breath came in quick bursts, each exhaling a puff of mist in the freezing air. His flames flickered weakly, hindered by the biting cold. but his fists blazed as he swung them at the hounds trying to surround him. ¡°I know, I know,¡± he grunted, smashing another hound in the side. ¡°But this is not my usual fighting style. I feel restrained.¡± Joe snarled, pushing another beast back with a swipe of his paw. ¡°Adapt then! There is no fighting style that is completely fixed. This is better for us as a team and you too. You barely were able to see the beast ten minutes ago. Look now; it is much clearer.¡± Toby nodded, gritting his teeth. His usual style was a balanced dance between long-range fire blasts and melee strikes when enemies got too close, but with Joe¡¯s guidance, he forced himself to stay locked in melee. His flames swirled tighter around his fists, controlled and condensed as he ducked under a lunging hound, driving a fiery fist into its belly, sending it crashing down with a yelp. ¡°Good,¡± Joe rumbled, biting into another hound¡¯s leg and tossing it aside. ¡°You are getting the hang of it. Don¡¯t give them room to attack from different directions. Always be aware of the surroundings and move around. Create your own fighting condition; don¡¯t let the enemy fight on their own condition.¡± Toby spun, dodging an ice blast from a distant hound, then immediately closed the distance with a burst of flames at his feet. His fist connected with its head, a burst of fire frying the beast in an instant. The number of enemies was slowly thinning, the advantage turning in their favor. Joe¡¯s assistance had made the difference, and Toby was finding his footing. ¡°We¡¯re almost there,¡± Toby said, catching his breath as another hound tried to leap at him. This time, he grabbed it by the throat, fire erupting from his grip, incinerating it. Joe slashed another hound, his eyes scanning the battlefield. ¡°You can handle the rest. I¡¯m going to help Zak.¡±Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Toby, wiping the sweat from his brow, nodded. ¡°Go. I¡¯ve got this.¡± Joe¡¯s sharp eyes scanned the battlefield, his gaze locking onto the distant figures of Zak and Maxwell. Zak was surrounded by a thin layer of ice, his movements slower, while Maxwell was fending off several hounds, his hardened fists smashing into their fur-covered forms. Joe flexed his claws, muscles rippling beneath his fur. ¡°Time to help the others,¡± Joe growled, turning toward the chaotic fight. Without another word, he leapt forward, bounding across the frozen battlefield toward the struggling duo. Mid-running, he transformed into a rhino; it was a swift and smooth transformation. One second, he was a lion; the next, he became a rhino. It was a magical scene; unfortunately, no one had the time nor the energy to appreciate his spectacular shift between animals. ¡°Zak, hold on!¡± Joe¡¯s charging speed was increasing with every stomp; the shear force of it was astonishing. The huge silver hound caught a glance of Joe¡¯s charge and jumped away in an attempt to evade it. ¡°No!¡± Zak conjured three earth walls, blocking the beast''s path. ¡±I won¡¯t let you escape!¡± BOOOM! The head first, Joe smashed into the hound side, its body bending in an unnatural way as the momentum continued. Joe¡¯s rhino form rammed the monster into Zak¡¯s wall, and within less than a second it crumbled. The impact didn¡¯t end there as he continued dragging the beast body forward. Zak, taking the chance, created a number of spears, sending them after the hound. Not stopping there, he created a wall with a main spike in its center waiting for Joe to crash the beast into it. Joe didn¡¯t disappoint as the charge implanted the beast in the spike, making a blood gush out from the open wound. ¡°Good job, Joe!¡± Zak¡¯s eyes lit up at finally injuring the beast. ¡±Help me finish it.¡± He shouted; his tone carried a hint of excitement. Joe swiftly changed back to Lion as he backed off, noticing the silver hound''s eye glinting dangerously. Its muscles twitched, despite the spear embedded deep in its side. ¡°Careful,¡± Joe growled, his voice echoing. ¡°It''s not done yet.¡± AHOOOOOO! Suddenly, the beast let out a piercing howl, louder and more furious than before. Its entire body trembled with the last remnants of its strength, blood pouring from its wounds in heavy gushes, yet its eyes gleamed with a wild, unnatural fury. Its remaining strength surged in one final, desperate attempt. Snapping the spear embedded in its side, the beast roared and lunged¡ªstraight at Zak with a burst of unnatural speed. Zak''s eyes widened. "Damn it!" He conjured another wall, but the hound slammed through it with brute force, sending shards of earth flying like shrapnel. In the blink of an eye, the beast closed the distance, its jaws wide. ¡°Oh no!¡± Zak raised his arms to brace for impact. With a deafening crash, it struck Zak, sending him skidding across the frozen ground, blood staining his mouth as the shields protecting him shattered one after another. His body screamed in pain, but Zak gritted his teeth, forcing himself to rise. ¡°Fu¡ª hell! Joe, pin it down for me!¡± Without hesitation, Joe snarled ferociously and leapt onto the beast, his claws sinking deep into its flesh. The hound thrashed in a wild frenzy, muscles twitching uncontrollably, but it was losing too much blood. Joe growled, jaws clamping onto the creature¡¯s neck, holding the thrashing creature in place. ¡°Now, Zak! Finish it!¡± Zak, recovering from the hit, gathering every bit of energy he had left, slammed his hands down. A massive spike of earth shot up from beneath the hound, impaling it through the chest. The beast let out a final, gurgling growl before it went limp, its eyes dimming as its life finally came to an end. Chapter 39- A New Situation: Countdown to Chaos. Zak, breathing heavily, leaned on his staff as the earth spike that impaled the hound slowly crumbled into dust. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his legs wobbled beneath him as he tried to steady himself. ¡°I¡ªI need a moment,¡± he panted, wiping the sweat from his face. Joe, still in his lion form, gave a quick nod, his fur matted with blood. "Rest. I¡¯ll take care of the rest." Without waiting for a reply, Joe sprinted away from Zak, his powerful legs propelling him across the battlefield. His gaze locked onto Maxwell, who was fending off the remaining hounds with sheer brute force. Maxwell¡¯s fists were like iron hammers, crashing into the beasts with bone-crunching power, but the numbers were still overwhelming. His movement slowed a little compared to before, exhaustion written on his face. Joe lunged forward, swiftly transforming mid-action into his rhino form. He charged straight into the nearest hound, sending it flying through the air. ¡°About time you showed up!¡± Maxwell yelled while puncturing a beast close through its eye by the spike at the end of his fist before mashing its brain. ¡°Could say the same,¡± Joe snorted, lowering his horned head and charging into the next beast. The hound barely had time to react before Joe¡¯s massive body slammed into it, its bones snapping under the force. Maxwell raised his hand, blocking a claw swipe, making his hardened hand tremble a little. retaliated with a crushing blow to its skull, splattering the ground with blood. ¡°There are too many of these damn things.¡± Joe, still in rhino form, charged through two more hounds, leaving only a few stragglers circling them. His eyes narrowed. ¡°Let¡¯s finish this.¡± The two of them moved as one, Joe¡¯s sheer strength and momentum cutting through the remaining beasts while Maxwell picked off any that he could reach. The battlefield was littered with the bodies of the different hounds, their numbers finally thinning to the last. One last hound growled in defiance, its eyes glowing with fury. It lunged toward Maxwell, ice forming at its feet as it charged. Maxwell braced himself, his fists hardening to their limit. But Joe was faster. With a roar, he transformed back into his lion form and pounced on the hound mid-leap, pinning it to the icy ground. The beast writhed beneath him, snapping its jaws desperately, but Joe¡¯s teeth sank deep into its throat, and with a final whine, the last of the hounds went limp. Maxwell exhaled slowly, surveying the battlefield dyed with blood and corpses. ¡°Finally.¡± He wiped a hand across his forehead, flicking away the sweat and blood. Joe released the hound¡¯s body and sat back on his haunches, panting heavily. His fur was stained with blood, his muscles trembling from the strain. ¡°We did it,¡± he said, his voice low and hoarse. Maxwell grinned, offering Joe a hand. ¡°Thanks for the help.¡± Joe gave a low growl but accepted the hand, shifting back to his human self. ¡°We need to check on Zak and Toby.¡± Maxwell nodded, casting a glance toward where Zak had collapsed. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s make sure they are alright.¡± The team regrouped and began to take a rest after this brutal fight. Meanwhile, in the present, John just reached the BMI after the emergency mission notice. In the bustling central hall, the clamor of voices and rushed footsteps echoing around him. Just a minute after he stepped into it, his watch vibrated at the same time as Henry''s voice was heard through the speakers in the hall.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°To all the agents present, we need you all to gear up and be ready to move in five minutes. A dungeon just got discovered around a town to the far east of the country. This dungeon is a level one uncommon dungeon, but it is on the verge of an outbreak. By the time you reach there, you will have less than an hour to fortify the place before the outbreak. Now Go!¡± John frowned as he hurried to wear his gear; his thoughts were in turmoil. ¡®I just discovered a dungeon and another one was discovered the day after, and on its countdown to outbreak already?¡¯ After John reached the gathering place, he found there were only twelve agents, including him. ¡°May I have your attention, please?¡± Someone raised his voice, grabbing their attention. ¡°I¡¯m Liam, from the planning department. I will handle the logistics and the connection between our bureau, the police, and the army. The town near the dungeon is called Blackcrest. To be more specific, the dungeon is not just near; it is in the town itself. The portal appeared in the basement of one of the town residences.¡± John¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he asked, ¡°What do you mean? The dungeon will have an outbreak in the town itself? What about its people?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. John. The police and the army are already evacuating the town. It was an oversight on our part as the device that detected the anomaly and energy level malfunctioned, and it just got fixed. Now there is no more time to waste; let¡¯s go!¡± Liam got in the driver seat of what looked like a military transport truck, and they got in after him. Inside was filled with supplies and just enough space for each of them. John sat in silence during the ride, his mind racing as the truck rumbled over the uneven road. The atmosphere inside was thick with tension, every agent deep in their thoughts, preparing for what lay ahead. His fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword; it was a new normal sword until the custom one was ready. He wasn¡¯t sure if he was ready for another fight so soon, but there was no time for hesitation. The town of Blackcrest came into view, its streets eerily empty. Rows of houses stood in silence, the only movement coming from the scattered police and army forces directing the evacuation. Helicopters hovered overhead, adding to the already chaotic scene. As vehicles sped away from the town, filled with families, their faces paled with fear. As the truck pulled to a stop, Liam turned around. "Listen up! The police have done their job for now, but it¡¯s on us to make sure the dungeon monsters don¡¯t break out of town. We have less than an hour. Spread out and begin fortifying the area. Remember: If this dungeon breaks out, it¡¯s not just the town at risk. ¡ªit¡¯s the entire region.¡± The team quickly disembarked, moving with purpose. John''s team consists of three people; one could control energy to speed himself up, make shields, and use it as a weapon. The other was pure speed type talent; he could move fast and have bursts of speed when he needed to become faster. This team was the support team; their job was to reinforce others when needed as they could move quickly between each location. The other teams were teams of two in each direction (north, south, east, and west). Making a circle around the dungeon entrance. There were two earth-controlling agents; they were creating a ring-shaped wall around the place to contain the dungeon¡¯s monsters. John could hear the distant sounds of crying children and panicked voices, growing fainter as the last of the townspeople were ushered into evacuation buses. His squad moved quickly, setting traps along the walls that had been created. As he helped his team roll out more heavy barriers, his watch vibrated once again. A cold voice from the investigation department cut through the noise. "All agents, be advised. Energy spikes are increasing inside the dungeon portal. Estimated time until outbreak: twenty minutes." John exchanged glances with the others. Twenty minutes wasn¡¯t enough. "Liam," John called out, running over to him. "Is there any chance to delay this? ¡° Liam shook his head, his expression grim. "Nothing we can do. The dungeon is too volatile.¡± John cursed under his breath and returned to his squad. As they continued to work, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of unease. John caught sight of one last family being forcibly moved out of their home, a mother clutching her two children tightly as soldiers pushed them into an armored truck. The terror in their eyes was unmistakable. The sounds of evacuation grew silent as military vehicles were now moved a distance from the town. They were almost done with their section of the wall, and his squad leader signaled them to move to the east side, where the defenses were thinner. As they hurried through the town, John noticed cracks forming in the air¡ªdistortions caused by the sheer energy leaking from the dungeon. The portal was becoming more unstable with every passing second. Suddenly, an explosion of light flashed in the distance. John¡¯s heart raced as he turned toward the source, a building on the edge of town, where the dungeon portal was hidden. The ground trembled beneath him as a low rumble echoed through the air. Chapter 40- The Chaos had Begun. Liam''s voice shouted through their comms, sharp and urgent. "The portal is starting to destabilize. Hold the lines!" John''s pulse quickened as the alarms blared even louder, mixing with the frantic voices of his fellow agents. He could hear the faint hum of energy vibrating through the air, growing stronger by the second. Then he saw it¡ªa flicker in the distance, like a distortion in the air, a ripple of energy that seemed to pulse outward from the direction of the portal. The ground rumbled beneath their feet, sending cracks racing through the earth like jagged lightning. The house above the portal¡¯s location shuddered before collapsing inward, chunks of debris crashing into the street. John staggered, barely keeping his balance as the tremors intensified. A low hum filled the air, and a static charge prickled against his skin, making every hair on his arms stand on end. Then the portal gate itself became visible¡ªhuge and menacing. It expanded, the shimmering energy warping the space around it. Everything it touched crumbled to dust, like reality itself was being consumed. The ripple pulsed outward, violent and unforgiving, until the portal was a towering ten meters high. John tightened his grip on his bow, his knuckles turning white. His heart pounded in his chest, and for a moment, time seemed to slow. The first creature emerged¡ªa hulking, twisted monstrosity, its scales glinting in the eerie light of the portal. Its massive frame rippled with muscle, every step shaking the ground beneath it. The air seemed to thicken with its presence, a deep, guttural growl rumbling from its throat. Its eyes, glowing with malevolent energy, locked onto the agents on the top of the walls. John''s breath hitched. His mouth went dry, and he felt the cold sweat and tension creeping up his spine. He glanced at his team, their faces pale and grim, every one of them frozen for a heartbeat as they stared at the monstrous figure. The creature snarled, and behind it, more shadows stirred, taking shape as one creature after another emerged from the widening portal. "There''s too many," someone whispered, their voice trembling over the comms. Everyone¡¯s heart was in their throat, with grave faces, as the ground trembled underfoot with more beasts poured through¡ªsnakes too big to be normal, their maw dripping with venom, and winged creatures that screeched into the sky. Many different kinds of beasts in all shapes and forms could be seen; the roar of the monsters was deafening, and the pressure in the air was so thick that John could feel it vibrating in his bones. He gritted his teeth, adrenaline spiking through his veins. "Ready!" John barked, his voice barely audible over the chaos. He nocked the first arrow, his muscles taut as he watched the unending tide of creatures emerge. The chaos had begun. John had three types of arrows prepared by Liam for him and the others who use the bow¡ªstandard arrows, of which they had the most stock; explosive arrows; and armor-piercing arrows.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. He and his teammate Ethan, who could run fast, depend on extremal weapons to deal damage. They drew the strings to their limits, waiting for Lain''s commend. ¡°Fire!¡± All kinds of projectiles were throwing at the monsters from every direction¡ªboulders, spears, and arrows of all shapes and kinds. John released the explosive arrow, watching as it cut through the air before striking one of the monsters. BOOM! BAAM! The first wave of creatures was shredded, but no one celebrated. More monsters were still emerging, an endless flood from the portal "One more time! Ready!" Liam''s voice crackled with urgency through the comms as the monsters kept coming. Once again, every team readied themselves. And John nocked another explosive arrow. ¡°Fire!¡± Another wave was obliterated, but more monsters took their place. ¡°Again! Ready!¡± Laim clinched his fist as he gave the commend. His sweat was dripping from his forehead as he was calculating the best timing for the attack. ¡°Fire!¡± Boom! The earth shocked, and the ground leveled from the shock wave of the attacks. The monsters stopped coming for a few seconds. Just as the agents grew confident and joyful, another wave of monsters started to emerge, but this time things were different. As soon as they appeared, they threw different kinds of energy attacks at the agents, from fire and venom to ice and rocks. The monstrous projectiles rained down with terrifying speed¡ªflames roared across the ground, venom hissed as it ate through steel, and shards of ice and rock pummeled the defensive lines. "Shields up!" Liam shouted, his voice strained as agents raised barriers of energy, earth, and metal to block the incoming barrage. Sparks flew as fire clashed against barriers, ice shattered against solid defenses, and venom splattered across stone, sizzling violently. But the sheer force of the attack was overwhelming, and some defenses buckled under the pressure. John rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding a chunk of ice that would¡¯ve impaled him. He quickly nocked another explosive arrow and let it fly, watching it soar toward the group of creatures launching attacks. BOOM! A few beasts were thrown back, but many more surged forward. "They¡¯re getting closer!" someone yelled over the comms. The monsters charged the walls with a terrifying speed. Some leaped, claws outstretched, while others bashed into the stone, their immense strength shaking the foundation. John¡¯s heart raced as he watched one of the winged creatures swoop low, talons reaching for the top of the wall. "Take them down!" John shouted, switching to armor-piercing arrows. He fired rapidly, each arrow piercing the beasts¡¯ thick hides with precision. His teammates followed suit, sending blasts of energy and steel spears toward the monsters trying to climb. The first wave of creatures hit the wall¡ªmassive claws sank into the stone, wings beat furiously as they ascended. Some of the smaller monsters scaled the walls, their limbs scrabbling against the stone as they neared the top. One of them¡ªa snarling, multi-limbed beast¡ªreached the top, its sharp teeth bared as it lunged at an agent nearby. The agent barely had time to react before it was on him. John spun, releasing an arrow that struck the beast through the side. The agent staggered backward, just as another barrage of fire rained down from the monsters still pouring out of the portal. John gritted his teeth and switched to explosive arrows again. The wall trembled as more creatures battered it, and cracks began to spread along the stone. If they couldn¡¯t stop the assault soon, the entire defense would collapse. ¡°We need backup now!" someone called through the comm, his voice tense. Chapter 41- Desperate Struggles. John sprinted along the wall, releasing explosive arrows one after another at the base where the monsters gathered. He suddenly dove into a roll, narrowly avoiding an incoming ice blast. Glancing back, he saw a two-headed hydra¡ªone head spewing fire, the other ice. His eyes narrowed, focusing as he quickly switched to normal arrows. With swift precision, he loosed a barrage, each arrow slicing through the air and striking the hydra¡¯s heads in rapid succession. ¡°Help!¡± a desperate scream made John¡¯s heart race. Turning, he spotted an agent whose legs had been paralyzed by venom, his movements sluggish from the pain. "Hold on!" John shouted, just as he was about to shoot the monsters overwhelming the agent. From the corner of his eye, he saw the hydra hurling a fireball and an ice blast simultaneously in his direction. ¡°Oh sh¡ª!¡± John quickly shifted his attribute to agility, pushing his speed to the limit. He sprinted and leaped just before the projectiles collided. BOOM! The explosion sent a wave of mist and heat radiating through the surroundings. Feeling the scorching heat against his back, John grimaced and switched to armor-piercing arrows. Drawing the string tight, his bow forming a sharp crescent, he waited for the smoke to clear before releasing the arrow. It sliced through the air with a hiss, piercing the hydra¡¯s ice head before it could react. Another arrow followed, impaling the fire-breathing head. Though the hydra still wasn¡¯t dead, it was no longer a threat for now. Sliding his bow onto his back, John unsheathed his sword just as a gut-wrenching scream tore through the chaos. Without wasting a moment, John dashed toward the agent. The scene was grim¡ªthe agent was bleeding heavily, one of his arms missing, while his legs, stripped to the bone, left him unable to move. It was a miracle he was still standing, fighting for his life with his remaining arm. John stormed the monsters attacking the agent, each of his strikes fatal. Bodies dropped left and right until he reached the agent, yanking him out of harm¡¯s way. John sprinted back, leaping from the high wall to a nearby house, then jumping across rooftops before finally landing near the supply track on the ground. ¡°This is the supply track. I¡¯m sorry, but you¡¯ll have to treat yourself¡ªI need to get back," John said urgently. Gritting his teeth from the pain, the agent gave a weak nod. "I understand... thank you." John, with a heavy heart, replenished his arrows before racing back toward the battle. ¡°The walls are overturning with monsters. We need help!¡± Calls of help were transmitting through the comms. John looked and saw the place where he saved the agent, now brimming with monsters running along the walls and others who crossed the wall. He dashed and took out any monster that jumped down before scaling the wall once more and moving as he killed any beast in his way. John¡¯s boots struck the crumbling stone of the wall as he sprinted back toward the heart of the fight. The wall itself was trembling under the weight of the monsters, each creature that climbed over adding to the chaos. Explosions, cries, and growls melded into a storm of chaos, reverberating through the battlefield.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. The military was told to make a lockdown around the town after the police with the townspeople were gone. The soldiers found it strange. Them, the police and the town¡¯s people were told that a natural disaster was coming and that''s why they¡¯re evacuating. But now they were commanded to lockdown the area, which doesn¡¯t make sense to them. Some soldiers shifted uneasily, gripping their weapons a little tighter each time an explosion or inhuman howl echoed through the air. They exchanged nervous glances, as if looking for answers among each other. A few even glanced back at their commander, hoping for reassurance or explanation. ¡°This can¡¯t just be a natural disaster, can it?¡± One soldier muttered under his breath, eyes wide, as another tremor shook the ground. ¡°Quiet,¡± his companion replied, though his voice was shaky. ¡°Orders are orders.¡± But even as they stood their ground, the strange noises seemed to inch closer. The fear in their faces was undeniable¡ªa creeping dread that told them they were unprepared for whatever was unfolding beyond the barricade. With each explosion and every howl that soared to the sky, their hairs stood on end. They felt the wrongness of it all, but only the commander, with a grim expression, truly knew the extent of the threat as he stared toward the town. Throughout his years in the military, he had often seen orders come down to lock down areas without explanation. Despite not knowing why, he followed those orders without question. However, with each promotion, he was fed fragmented pieces of the truth until he became a Colonel, commanding a brigade of five thousand soldiers. He was then introduced to the true nature of this world, and while he was initially skeptical, over time and with more information, he came to realize that people who defied the norm existed and were the key to the nation¡¯s peace. As someone who entered the military to protect his country, he had the utmost respect for the BMI agents fighting out there. He¡¯d been briefed by BMI officials before coming to this town, a quick exchange that left him cold. He knew more than his soldiers¡ªenough to understand that this ¡°containment¡± wasn¡¯t something ordinary forces could handle. His jaw clenched, and he muttered a silent curse, doubting whether the few BMI agents could handle the crisis. If things went south, these men and women he led would face horrors far beyond their training. He could only pray that whatever was happening inside remained contained... Or that BMI had the strength to vanquish those nightmarish creatures before his troops glimpsed at the true terror hidden from view. John wiped a line of blood from his forehead, his vision blurred by sweat and grime. The chaotic sounds of battle were not getting any weaker, screams and cries of injured agents piercing the air. He saw an agent struggling to stand, his weapon falling from his hands as a monster lunged at him. John instinctively raised his bow, but his arm trembled¡ªhe was out of arrows. An explosion echoed through the air, and amid the smoke, John saw an agent lying on the ground, gripping a mangled leg. He took a step forward to help, but a monstrous, sharp-clawed creature leaped into his path, forcing him to focus on his own survival. John slashed at the creature with his sword, holding it at bay, but the continuous fighting made his body scream in protest with every move. ¡°Focus, John,¡± he told himself, though his mind was beginning to feel as battered as his body. He could sense his strength waning; every step felt heavier, and every breath labored. Another call came through the comms, desperate and panicked: ¡°We need backup! They¡¯re breaking through!¡± John scanned the chaos, seeing comrades he¡¯d fought beside now struggling to survive. Some battled on with broken limbs while others dragged themselves away from the encroaching monsters. His heart pounded with each breath, but he knew he had almost nothing left to give. All he could do was stand there helplessly, watching their despair, powerless to help. Through the haze, he heard Liam¡¯s voice crackling over the comms, more urgent than ever. ¡°BMI HQ, this is Captain Liam, requesting immediate reinforcements. Repeat, we¡¯re outnumbered and losing agents. We need reinforcements now!¡± The line was silent for a moment. Then, a cold voice finally came through. ¡°All available units are currently deployed on other missions. Reinforcements are unavailable at this time.¡± Chapter 42- Hold on. The line was silent for a moment. Then, a cold voice finally came through. ¡°All available units are currently deployed on other missions. Reinforcements are unavailable at this time.¡± Laim¡¯s raised voice was filled with anger and despair. "Then I request for a high-level agent, foundation stage, or anyone. We can¡¯t hold much longer.¡± The comms went silent. Liam¡¯s eyes darkened, his jaw clenching as he switched channels. His tone grew sharper, more urgent, as he reached out to military command. ¡°We need support around the portal perimeter. Immediate response requested!¡± A few seconds later, the comm crackled to life, and a gruff military officer¡¯s voice responded. ¡°Understood, Captain. We¡¯re authorizing a bombing run to slow the flow. Estimated time of arrival: two minutes.¡± ¡°Two minutes?¡± one of the younger agents muttered through the open comm, his nervous voice adding to the grim scene. ¡°Are we even gonna last that long?¡± ¡°We¡¯re holding the line until then, no matter what,¡± Liam replied, his voice firm. He hoped the resolve in his tone could mask the uncertainty brewing inside him. ¡°Stay focused, and push them back!¡± The agents surged forward, holding their ground as monstrous claws scraped against stone and weapons flashed in the dim light. Each strike sent jolts through their bodies, the tension in the air as thick as the acrid smoke swirling around them. John tightened his grip on his blade, his muscles straining as he parried a creature¡¯s sharp talons. Beside him, another agent unleashed a burst of flame, the firelight flickering against their grim faces as the monster reeled back, howling. ¡°Keep the pressure on them!¡± one of the senior agents shouted, his voice hoarse from exertion. ¡°We need to push them off the wall!¡± Every second felt like an hour. The sound of clashing steel and guttural roars filled the battlefield, drowning out even the comm chatter. Despite their efforts, the monsters clawed relentlessly at the wall, their sheer numbers threatening to overwhelm the agents¡¯ defenses. Liam¡¯s orders came sharp and precise through the comms, driving the team forward. The two-minute wait felt like an eternity. When it finally ended, Liam¡¯s shout cut through the chaos: ¡°Take cover!¡± His voice rang out as the agents fell back into defensive positions, some climbing onto nearby rubble, ducking behind remnants of barricades, or creating shields with their ability. Boooooooom! John barely had time to brace himself as the first wave of explosions rocked the ground, sending up a wall of dust and fire around the portal. The heat was searing, a wave of force pressing against his chest as debris rained down. A series of thunderous blasts erupted in rapid succession, shaking the earth. The nearby agents shielded their faces from the shrapnel and shock waves. The nearby agents shielded their faces from the shrapnel and shockwaves, their muffled cries blending into the cacophony of destruction.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. For a brief, hopeful second, it seemed to work. Any monster in the direct impact zone was dismembered. And the shook wave killed most of the rest. Those that lived their movements were sluggish from burned hot ground. The acrid stench of burning flesh mixed with the smoke, creating a suffocating atmosphere that clawed at John¡¯s throat. But then, through the thinning smoke, more shapes emerged¡ªthe beasts were still coming, their numbers seemingly endless, and now a new threat loomed above. From the smoke, a winged creature appeared, dark and serpentine, its leathery wings cutting through the sky. It let out a piercing shriek that turned the agents¡¯ faces ugly. Ignoring the agents on the wall, it flew directly toward the military position. Liam¡¯s hands shook as he shouted into his comm. ¡°A flying monster heading your way¡ªbe careful!¡± The commander¡¯s eyes scanned the sky. At first, it was a distant dot, but within seconds, the creature¡¯s monstrous form grew visible, its wings slicing through the air like blades. Its talons gleamed, promising devastation. His expression shifted from calm to horrified disbelief. ¡°What the hell is that?!¡± He barked, his voice tight with urgency. ¡°Soldiers, ready your fire!¡± The creature dived straight for the soldiers stationed on the perimeter. Their faces went pale as they watched it approach, hands trembling on their weapons. ¡°Someone take it down!¡± The commander¡¯s hoarse shout was nearly deafening. ¡°Opening fire!¡± a soldier yelled, his voice laced with panic as he unleashed a volley of bullets. The shots glanced off the creature¡¯s armored hide, barely leaving a mark. Sparks flew where bullets struck its scales, but the beast remained unscathed, its gaze locked on its prey. A soldier¡¯s body was ripped apart by the monster¡¯s claws, the sickening crunch of bone silencing those nearby. ¡°Don¡¯t stop your fire!¡± the commander bellowed. The words rang hollow as fear gripped the soldiers. None of them had faced monsters before. The commander had heard of them, but seeing one in action was entirely different¡ªa sight that rattled even his seasoned nerves. The soldiers¡¯ panic was evident in their shaking hands and pale faces. The commander himself barely contained his fear. As the monster wreaked havoc amidst the soldiers, the casualties and injuries increased. ¡°What the hell are you doing?" The commander''s shouting didn¡¯t cease as the soldiers acted like headless chickens running and screaming in every direction. ¡°Get into a freaking formation and take the monster down, you dimwits!¡± Finally, with coordinated fire and sheer determination, the creature thudded to the ground, lifeless. THUMP! The soldiers stood frozen, staring at the fallen beast. Though victorious, their trembling hands betrayed their shaken resolve. Blood pooled beneath the carcass, forming a grotesque scene at the village perimeter. ¡°What the hell is going on?¡± the commander yelled over the radio. ¡°Captain Liam, my soldiers aren¡¯t equipped to deal with that kind of threat. Can you ask for backup from your bureau?¡± The commander¡¯s voice was tinged with desperation, the enormity of the situation sinking in. Just one monster had done this much damage. He couldn¡¯t imagine the devastation if more came his way¡ªor worse, if they breached the perimeter and reached civilian areas. Liam gripped his radio tightly as he responded, ¡°I already asked for reinforcement. There¡¯s not enough personnel for deployment.¡± The commander¡¯s heart sank. He took a deep breath before issuing an order to the trembling assistant beside him. ¡°Make the soldiers check their weapons and ensure all artillery is ready for deployment at a moment¡¯s notice.¡± ¡°Y-Yes, sir,¡± the assistant stammered, scurrying off. Chapter 43- The Edge of Hope. John didn¡¯t know how many hours had passed since the breakout, but everyone alive was dead tired. After that flying monster attacked the military, other flying monsters also came out of the portal. Some went after the agents, while others targeted the military. Even though the soldiers were still afraid, they had adjusted enough to handle the monsters with fewer casualties than before. Every five minutes or so, a barrage of rockets launched at the portal''s location, but the ammunition was running low, and the portal showed no sign of stopping the flow of monsters. John stood at what was supposed to be the wall. The last blast had just ended, and he was waiting for more monsters to emerge from the portal, as had happened with every previous wave. To his surprise, thirty seconds passed without new monsters in sight. Suppressing his need to rest, he tapped his comm. ¡°Captain Liam,¡± John¡¯s voice, heavy with fatigue, broke the silence. ¡°Do you know who has the most serious injuries? I want to help while we have this pause. I don¡¯t know how long it¡¯ll last.¡± ¡°Yes! Yes, wait a second. I¡¯m gathering data right now.¡± Liam¡¯s voice snapped out of its grim focus. He was staring at the portal from a platform behind the wall, built to shield him from attacks. After tapping his watch, detailed data appeared on his comm, displaying the conditions of the agents. What he saw made his heart harden. Four agents were dead, and three were critically injured and would likely not survive the next wave unless moved to the supply truck. The rest of the agents were in bad shape, but they couldn¡¯t all leave their positions. No one could guarantee that the monsters wouldn¡¯t reach the supply truck next by how the wall barely could be called a wall anymore. Still, it was a chance they had to take. After a heavy sigh, Liam commanded, ¡°There are three critically injured. I¡¯ve sent you their locations; start with the west side.¡± John sprinted along the wall until he reached the first injured agent. The team¡¯s earth element user had encased him in a dome for protection during the fighting. Nobody spoke; with a wave of his staff, the earth user collapsed one side of the dome, revealing the injured agent. John¡¯s heart clenched as he saw the bloodied figure, every inch of his body riddled with gaping wounds. John has no idea how he was still alive until now, but John would do his best to make him continue living. Grabbing the agent, he dashed back to the supply truck. There, he lowered the agent gently to the ground, opened a foldable stretcher, and placed the agent on it. John gave him an emergency shot and a healing pill before restoking his arrows and replacing his sword with a new one. Just as he felt the silence on the battlefield would last for a while, a chilling growl sounded from the portal direction, followed by more blood-curdling growls. John rushed back to the wall just as hopeful news came through the comm. ¡°I just got a reply from HQ. A foundation rank agent is coming, but he will take an hour to reach here. We just need to hang on for another hour.¡± Liam¡¯s voice had a hint of hope after what looked like there was none. ¡°God damn it! Now they reply? After my friend is dead?¡± an agent cursed over the comm.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Coming to collect our corpses? How considerate of them!¡± another voice mocked bitterly. The news failed to lift morale. Reaching the wall, John instinctively nocked an explosive arrow and began firing toward the portal without pause. No need to think. No need to look. Just fire in the portal direction; it will hit something. After five minutes of relentless firing, another rocket barrage annihilated the approaching monsters. But this time was different. ¡°Captain Liam, I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t help anymore,¡± the military commander¡¯s words shattered the fragile morale. ¡°What?! Why?! You know what will happen if no support arrives. You and your soldiers will be the first to bear the next wave after we¡­¡± "We''re out of missiles," the commander cut him off, his tone weighted heavily. Liam¡¯s frustration boiled over. ¡°God damn it! God damn it! F**K!¡± His fists clenched so tightly that his nails drew blood from his palms. ¡°Let¡¯s do our best, guys. At least we die fighting,¡± someone said over the comm, a grim attempt at rallying the team. John wasn¡¯t sure who spoke, but he wasn¡¯t in the mood to care. His mind was consumed by a single thought: ¡®Should I get out of here?¡¯ He glanced at his stats and talents, weighing his options. His talent¡¯s second effect offered immense power but at a steep cost. It was a gamble with his life.
Talents:
1: INSANITY CHECK:
Effect 1 Boost one attribute by 5 points without side effects. Changeable freely.
Effect 2: Boost all attributes by 5 for 40 min. Upon expiry, all stats drop by 3 and extreme exhaustion for 60 min.
2: Double Focus
Effect 1: Increase focus, heightened senses and increase reaction speed. Usable anytime.
Effect 2: Heightens the user¡¯s senses significantly. Allowing him to ignore his surroundings and focus solely on the object of interest. Significantly increase eye-hand response speed. Significantly increase reaction speed. Increase control over body muscles. Note: ¡°Effect 2¡± Usable only with INSANITY CHECK fully active.
Stats:
strength: 13
Agility: 11
Flexibility: 10.5
Vitality: 12.5
intelligence 12
John knew very well that his talent''s second effect only allowed him forty minutes of stats boost. He had three options here. The choice weighed heavily on him. Fight to the end, flee now, or fight strategically and flee with ten minutes left to spare? He was not like before; even after the effect ended, he would still have more than normal human attributes. The problem lay in the extreme exhaustion part after it¡¯s end, where he can¡¯t lift even a finger for a few minutes before getting used to the attributes drop. If the effect ended while there were still monsters around, it¡¯s a death sentence to him. Before he could struggle much longer, a rumbling growl echoed from the portal¡­ Chapter 44-Breaking Point Before John could struggle with the choice much longer, a rumbling growl echoed from the portal. The sound was followed by a cacophony of guttural snarls and screeches as figures began to emerge from the glowing rift. At first, they seemed like shadows, small and indistinct, but as they stepped into the dim light of the battlefield, their forms became unmistakable. Goblins. The creatures were short, no taller than a child, but their twisted, wiry frames and grotesque features exuded malice. Their greenish-gray skin glistened under the portal''s eerie light, marred with scars and markings that looked like crude battle trophies. Each carried crude weapons¡ªrusted blades, spiked clubs, crude bows, and makeshift shields cobbled together from scraps of metal. Their glowing yellow eyes flickered with a predatory hunger as they scurried out in droves; it was like there was no end to them. But it wasn¡¯t the horde of goblins that made John¡¯s blood run cold. It was the figure that followed. Towering over the smaller goblins was a single, humanoid figure. At first glance, it could have been mistaken for a human, but the illusion shattered with every detail that came into focus. Its skin was a deep, sickly green, stretched taut over a muscular frame that radiated power. The creature¡¯s face was sharp and angular, with piercing crimson eyes that seemed to burn with intelligence and malice. Unlike its smaller kin, it wore armor¡ªit looks crude like the rest but with additional runes etched with glowing runes that pulsed faintly, giving a dreadful sight. In one hand, it carried a massive wooden halberd with the same kind of runes etched on it from the top to bottom¡ªradiating an unmistakable aura of lethality. With its free hand, the creature raised clawed fingers alongside loud screeches. The smaller goblins immediately froze, their chaotic movements halting as they turned toward the towering figure. A faint, glowing energy began to swirl around it. The air grew heavy, charged with an unnatural force that made John¡¯s heart pound in his chest. Without warning, the creature thrust its clawed hand forward, and a pulse of elemental energy erupted from its palm. A searing wave of flame shot toward the crumbling wall, obliterating what little remained of its structure. Booom! The impact sent debris flying in every direction, and a cloud of smoke and dust engulfed the battlefield. When the air cleared, the wall was no more¡ªonly a jagged ruin remained, marking the official breach. ¡°Oh Sh*t!¡± The smaller goblins let out a collective screech and surged forward, no longer restrained. They poured through the breach like a flood, their movements wild and destructive. They swarmed over anything in their path¡ªequipment, makeshift defenses, the empty houses¡ªtearing and smashing with reckless abandon. The battlefield descended into chaos, the organized defense lines crumbling under the sheer ferocity of the assault. Laim screamed with all his strength through the comm. ¡°The monsters breached the wall! Stop them!¡± No one has the time to stop anything; they barely hang on to their lives. Only the military commander heard it, and he couldn¡¯t do anything either. His heart fell, rapidly issuing one command after another to brace for what was coming.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. John stood frozen for a moment, his mind racing as he took in the scene. The wall was gone. The goblins were everywhere. It was hopeless. ¡°No,¡± John muttered under his breath, shaking his head. He couldn¡¯t afford to think like that. Not now. He gripped his bow tightly, forcing his legs to move as he sprinted toward a vantage point. From there, he could provide cover, pick off some of the goblins, and buy the others time. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was something. ¡°Fight for a while,¡± he told himself, his voice barely audible over the cacophony of battle. ¡°Just long enough to make a difference... and then retreat.¡± But John didn''t have time to rush to higher ground as another explosion erupted, blasting apart a nearby house. "What the he**?" John covered his eyes as he retreated, glancing at the goblins racing in his direction. His gaze shifted to their leader, and his expression hardened. The goblin leader moved slowly at first, then began accelerating bit by bit. Suddenly, it let out a loud cry and leapt into the air, its halberd extended as elemental energy swirled menacingly around it. As John followed the goblin leader¡¯s movements, he saw it targeting an energy-user agent who had created a glowing shield for protection. The moment the halberd struck the shield, a deafening explosion occurred, sending the agent flying and scattering dust and rubble in all directions. John jumped back and extended his hand to his quiver. "God damn it!" He realized there was only one arrow remaining. Nocking the last arrow¡ªan armor-piercing arrow¡ªhe drew the bow to its absolute limit, making a crescent shape. Taking a deep breath, John aimed at the leader''s head. His hand quivered as it was a crucial shot. ''Don''t second-guess yourself, John! I have decided to fight, then fight.'' John skipped across the ground as he moved back, waiting for a chance. From the rubble, the energy agent stood up, coughing. His body was in a miserable state, but at least he was not dead. The goblin leader sprinted while letting out a strange battle cry, aiming to finish off the energy-user agent. "Come on, motherflipper!" The agent cursed as he waved his hands, sending bolts of energy in the goblin leader''s direction. With erratic movements, it dodged every bolt, then channeled elemental energy around its weapon for a moment before hurling a ball of fire in the agent''s direction. The agent conjured energy to his feet, propelling himself to the side and barely dodging the fireball. He then created another energy shield just as the goblin leader reached him. The moment the halberd struck the shield, sparks flew everywhere, and the goblin took a step back, losing its balance. "Now!" John shouted as he let the arrow loose. The arrow cut through the air and, in a blink, pierced the neck of the goblin leader. But it didn¡¯t stop there¡ªit exited from the other side, leaving a gaping hole in its neck. "Good job!" The agent laughed as he looked at the goblin leader, which uttered a gurgling sound, unsteady on its feet. "Yes," John sighed, feeling a sense of accomplishment. Just as he drew his sword to kill the rest of the goblins, he got goosebumps all over his body. Looking over, he saw the goblin leader suddenly gathering elemental energy and hurling it in his direction. John shifted his attribute to agility to the limit and ran forward, uncaring of what he bumped into. Whether goblin or rock, he didn¡¯t have time to care.
Strength 18 -> 13.
Agility 11 -> 16.
Boooooom! With the explosion came rocks and rubble. One piece struck his left shoulder, embedding itself deep into the bone. "Aghaaaa!" Gritting his teeth against the pain, John stood up, his eyes bloodshot and blood pouring from his shoulder. ''I can''t move my left arm!'' John was alarmed as the only sensation from his left arm was pain¡ªexcruciating pain. He used his right hand to kill goblins around him while keeping an eye on their leader. To his horror, the neck wound was healing fast, visibly closing even to the naked eye. Chapter 45 - Run ¡°Aghaaaa!¡± The sharp, unrelenting pain of a shattered bone radiated through John¡¯s body, his mind overwhelmed with signals that screamed for him to stop. To flee. ¡®Run!¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re not made for this. Run! Get out while you still can!¡¯ ¡®You didn¡¯t choose this. You¡¯ve done all you can¡ªno one would blame you for leaving. Run before it¡¯s too late!¡¯ The battlefield roared around him. The goblin leader¡¯s guttural cry pierced the air like a death knell. Sweat and blood stung his eyes, blurring his vision, but he couldn¡¯t shake the voice in his head. ¡®Run, John. Use your talent and run!¡¯ He turned his head, looking around. All he saw was destruction, blood, and the desperate cries of those still alive. The number of monsters was overwhelming. The goblin leader was strong¡ªunbelievably strong. Strong to the point of despair. He had been thrown into a test, forced to fight desperately. Then he had been led to a dungeon, where he battled for his life. Later, he faced mutated animals, where a single lapse in focus could have killed him. And now, here he was again, fighting. Desperate. Outmatched. A losing battle he never chose. Again and again, he was pushed, shoved into danger, forced to fight. To end one beast after another. There was barely a moment to breathe. And now, this. ¡®Run, John!¡¯ But he was still here, wasn¡¯t he? ¡®Run, John! Just... run!¡¯ And yet, people like him were fighting here. Dying here. For what? What made them fight to the end? Why? ¡®Run, John! Don¡¯t look back!¡¯ But I can still fight. ¡®You¡¯re only one person. Don¡¯t think. Don¡¯t hesitate. JUST GET OUT OF HERE!¡¯ Looking back now, wasn¡¯t life easier without monsters, without talents? John¡¯s mind raced with conflicting thoughts. Then, his heart skipped a beat as he remembered¡ªthe bloody scene after he defeated the mutant monkeys. He saw the fear in the villagers, forced from their homes by soldiers and police, unaware of the true threat. He thought of his fellow agents, bloodied, injured, and killed, fighting to protect the innocent. He imagined what would happen to his family if another outbreak occurred near their home. Would he want other agents to flee? Or to fight to the end to ensure his family¡¯s safety? Of course, he blamed the BMI for sending only twelve agents to handle an outbreak. But now wasn¡¯t the time for blame. Now was the time to decide. To run or to fight? ¡°Help! John, help me take the goblin leader down. I can¡¯t battle him alone!¡± The energy-user agent was struggling under the constant onslaught of the goblin leader. His voice¡ªhis scream¡ªwas hoarse. His plea for help was the push that changed John¡¯s decision. ¡°SCREW IT ALL!¡± John let out a shout¡ªa cry of defiance. Even though logic screamed at him to flee, he couldn¡¯t just let someone die in front of him while he could still help.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. It wasn¡¯t in his nature. Even if it might be the worst decision... Even if it might lead to his death. He chose to fight. ¡°You piece of trash. See how I kill you!¡± Within a heartbeat, the second effect of his talent activated.
Strength 13 ¡ú 18 Agility 16 ¡ú 16 Flexibility 10.5 ¡ú 15.5 Vitality 12.5 ¡ú 17.5 Intelligence 12 ¡ú 17
A surge of strength and control overwhelmed every other sensation. The extra vitality lessened the pain. His leg stomped into the ground as he launched himself forward, drawing a deadly arc with his sword. Ding! A loud screeching sound echoed as a long wound slashed across the goblin leader¡¯s chest. The attack forced the goblin leader to take a step back, giving the energy-user agent a moment to breathe. ¡°HAAA!¡± John let out another cry as he redirected his sword, hacking at the monster once more. But the goblin leader used his halberd to block the strike. Ding! Ding! Ding! Hack, slash, sweep. Attack after attack. John poured all his frustration, all his anger, and all his pent-up emotion into the fight. But every strike was blocked. And worse, the goblin leader¡¯s armor repaired itself, the runes on it glowing brighter as it healed it. Suddenly, the goblin¡¯s other hand gathered elemental energy and hurled it at John. The distance was too close to dodge. The fireball magnified in his vision as his pupils were constricted to dots. ¡°Be careful!¡± The energy-user agent conjured a shield around John just in time. BOOM! John was sent flying, crashing into the ruins of a house before struggling to his feet. The shield had absorbed most of the impact, but not all of it. Spitting blood to the side, John stomped forward as he ran at the goblin leader again. Boom! Boom! Boom! Zigzagging and avoiding the incoming projectiles, John and the energy-user agent fought back and forth with the goblin leader. Instead of just front assault, John cycled the foe, trying to deal damage from the side or back. But it was of no use. Either the armor blocked most of the damage or the injuries healed at incredible speed. Time was ticking, and the energy agent was struggling to maintain this consumption of energy. ¡®The runes¡­ these freaking runes are the problem.¡¯ The goblin leader roared, its crimson eyes blazing as it swung its halberd in a wide arc. John ducked under the swing and surged forward, slashing at the creature¡¯s leg. His blade connected, slicing through flesh, but the wound began closing almost instantly. ¡°It¡¯s healing too fast!¡± John yelled. ¡°We need to hit it harder!¡± The agent responded with a blast of concentrated energy, striking the goblin leader square in the chest. The force of the impact staggered the creature, and for a brief moment, it faltered. John seized the opportunity, driving his blade into the gap between its armor plates. The goblin shrieked in pain, its movements becoming more erratic as it thrashed to dislodge him. But the moment of advantage was fleeting. The goblin leader¡¯s wounds began to heal even faster, the runes on its armor glowing brighter as if feeding its regeneration. ¡°John, behind you!¡± the agent shouted. John twisted just in time to see a smaller goblin lunging at him, its rusted blade aimed for his back. He sidestepped and slashed in one fluid motion, the creature collapsing in a heap. The brief distraction, however, cost him. The goblin leader¡¯s halberd came down in a crushing blow, creating a long wound across his back. ¡°Aghaaa!¡± Another pain. Another excruciating pain. The energy user placed another shield on John for the follow-up attacks. But suddenly the goblin ignored John and launched himself at the energy-user position. ¡°NOOOOOOO!¡± John rotated himself and dashed desperately after the goblin leader, but it was too late. The halberd tip pierced the agent¡¯s chest. Drip! Drip! Blood dropped to the ground as the goblin leader exerted more force. ¡°DIE!¡± John''s sword penetrated the goblin back. ¡°Go... TO¡­ Hell!¡± With the last of his power, the agent unleashed all the remaining energy at the goblin leader¡¯s face. With an unhuman growl, the goblin leader trashed about sending the agent flaying. John pulled the sword out of its chest and attacked again at its neck. The sword left a gush on the back of its neck. Just as John tried to push for another attack, the goblin rotated itself, and element energy on the tip of the halberd clashed with his sword, sending him skidding across the ground. ¡°Aghaa!¡± Beraly Standing up, John saw the goblin leader looking at him dead in the eyes as its armor¡¯s runes lit up, healing its injuries. ¡°I¡ªI can¡¯t let you heal.¡± John clenched his jaw as he was ready to round two of the attack. Alone this time. Chapter 46 - Fractured Resolve. With a push of his legs, John propelled himself forward, swinging his sword fiercely. The hissing sound of the wind accompanied the strike. Ding! The goblin leader raised its halberd to block, but in a fluid motion, John twisted the sword for another strike. It left a deep mark on the left side of the armor, but the runes flared again, repairing the damage to the armor while healing the goblin¡¯s wounds. He clashed with the goblin leader again and again, delivering devastating attacks. The creature twisted its body with an eerie posture, avoiding a strike and countering with a brutal kick. The impact sent John staggering backward, his grip on the hilt of his sword faltering. John stumbled, his feet faltering for a heartbeat, but he managed to steady himself. The goblin leader surged forward, its halberd a blur of deadly arcs. John barely managed to dodge, the wind from the swing stinging his cheek as the blade cleaved the air with intense force. His feet skidded against the dirt, every muscle in his body screaming in protest as he fought to regain balance. He retaliated with a desperate slash, his sword connecting with the goblin¡¯s chest. Sparks erupted on impact, but hope flickered and died as the runes on its armor flared once more. ¡°Damn it!¡± John¡¯s voice was hoarse, his frustration boiling over. His chest heaved as he took another swing, aiming for the exposed gaps between the armor plates. Swinging his sword in a wide arc, he struck the goblin leader¡¯s leg, carving a shallow gash that began healing almost instantly. The goblin leader roared, its crimson eyes locking onto him. It lunged again, the halberd coming down in a crushing vertical strike. John rolled to the side, the blade slamming into the ground where he had stood a moment before, sending shards of rock and dirt flying. Elemental energy started to gather around its left hand before it thrust forward, sending a firebomb in his direction. The world around John slowed down for a moment. A searing heat brushed past him as he leaped to the side, rolling over to evade the deadly bomb. An explosion erupted behind him, shaking the ground and filling the air with the smell of scorched earth. He lunged himself off the ground, only to see the tip of the halberd in his face. His pupils constricted, and fear and horror outlined his face as his boots pounded against the ground to distance himself. ¡°Aghaaa!¡± A part of John¡¯s rib cage was visible through a wound. He managed to evade the strike to his face, but the goblin leader swung the halberd downward in the last second, creating a deep gash on his chest. In his haste to dodge the ruthless strike, he didn¡¯t realize another sharp pain radiated from his side where a piece of shrapnel had lodged itself deep. The pain was a brutal, fiery dagger, stabbing with each labored breath. His mind screamed for him to keep moving, to push through the tormenting pain. Even with heightened vitality, his wounds were taking their toll. The fight continued with no pause, no respite for him to look around. John felt panic clawing at his composure. His chest heaved, his heart pounding loud enough to be heard up close. This was the second time he had felt this desperate. The first was when he didn¡¯t know he had these talents and faced the Wild-Fury. The situation now was even worse.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Minutes passed with relentless, merciless attacks slicing through the air from both sides. Not a single opportunity to deliver a lethal blow was missed. But John''s situation was worsening. The goblin leader healed, but John couldn¡¯t¡ªnot with the same speed as the runes granted the goblin. ¡®If only I had a better weapon, I could have dismembered this motherflipper!¡¯ John¡¯s vision blurred as sweat and blood dripped into his eyes. His Insanity-Check effect was nearing its limit. He could feel the fleeting power coursing through his veins, but it wasn¡¯t enough. Each passing second brought him closer to collapse. The goblin leader advanced again, its footsteps reverberating through the ground like a war drum. John could see the malice in its crimson eyes, the cruel intelligence that made it different from the mindless horde. The goblin swung its halberd in a horizontal sweep that John barely managed to duck under. The force of the swing sent a gust of wind past him, the pressure rattling his teeth. ¡°Five minutes,¡± John muttered to himself, his voice trembling. ¡°Five minutes before Insanity-Check ends.¡± His Insanity-Check effect two was about to expire, and with no arrows and a sword half brittle¡ªalmost broken¡ªhe still couldn''t find a way to defeat the monster in front of him. He sustained heavy injuries, his back and front filled with wounds of different sizes. His clothes were tattered and soaked in blood. He was barely hanging on to his life. His body screamed for relief, but the battle raged on, indifferent to his desperate condition. There was nothing but destruction around him¡ªno more walls, barely any houses still standing. Only the continuous rampaging of the small, mindless goblins filled the background. The distant, sharp cracks of gunfire grew sporadic, and the once-thunderous barrage of tank cannons had faded into ominous silence. John had no idea how many agents or soldiers were still alive, and he was not in a condition to care. His left arm, already severely damaged, was now a mess of mangled flesh. The situation was teetering on the brink of hopelessness, and the relentless blood loss was sapping his strength. He knew once Insanity-Check effect two stopped working, he would probably die here. The only positive thing he could think of was that there were no more monsters emerging from the dungeon gate¡ªfor now. It didn''t matter, however, as there were enough goblins to kill him a hundred times over. He had less than five minutes before the effect ended. He had to find a way to escape and fast. But he was entangled in a fight with the goblin leader, and the worst decision to make was to turn his back on it. If John had a better sword, he might have been able to slice the monster up until its healing became useless and end this fight. Alas, he only had a normal sword, on the brink of breaking, that was barely doing any damage. Even when it struck the armor and managed to slice through, the force was lost, preventing any significant damage. He should¡¯ve taken the energy guy and run instead of fighting. The energy shields could¡¯ve protected them from behind. But there was no "what if" anymore. The fight dragged on against John¡¯s will. Leaning backward to dodge another swipe, he counterattacked with a spinning kick. His foot connected but failed to stagger the goblin leader. Gritting his teeth, he followed with a desperate swing, only for the blade to clang uselessly against the impenetrable armor. The goblin leader rotated its hand with an eerie calmness, conjuring a glowing ball of elemental energy and hurling it toward John''s face. John instinctively leaned back, narrowly avoiding the searing projectile. As he straightened himself, the goblin''s halberd sliced through the air with brutal speed. Gasping, John jumped backward, the wind from the swing grazing his skin like a warning. The explosion from the energy ball¡¯s impact sent a barrage of sharp stones flying, several lodging painfully into his back. His body screamed in protest as he staggered to regain his footing. John drew a sharp breath, clenching his teeth as he fought to stay upright. From the edge of his vision, his smart lenses flickered with notifications¡ªsomething about a loss of connection and a foundation agent accelerating toward them. But he had no time to process it. Every ounce of focus was on survival, scanning for any possible way out while dodging another relentless attack. Chapter 47 - The Last Moments. In a dimly lit hut that looked like it could collapse at any moment, a man reclined in a worn chair, hands behind his head, his eyes closed. He seemed relaxed, a stark contrast to the turmoil outside. Abruptly, his comm device issued a shrill alert, shattering the fragile quiet. His eyes snapped open, narrowing as his face darkened upon reading the incoming message. Without hesitation, he sprang from the chair, grabbing his gear and sprinting to his car. The urgency in the message left no room for delay. The engine roared to life, and he tore down the road, heading toward Blackcrest. The initial tension coiled tight within him, but as he raced against time, irritation began to bubble beneath the surface. Why was I called so late? Could this mess have been avoided? He thought bitterly, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. Barely twenty minutes into the drive, another message appeared on his screen. His jaw clenched, and his pulse quickened as he read the update. It left no doubt about the gravity of the situation: (Emergency Mission: Twelve agents were dispatched to contain a level one dungeon outbreak, but it was more overwhelming than anticipated. Reinforcements are needed immediately.) (Update: The appointed leader, Liam, lost contact. Unknown number of casualties. The last transmission read: "The defense broke; the military is out of rockets. We¡¯re on the brink of being wiped out.") He slammed his fist against the dashboard, frustration mingling with urgency. "Damn it," he hissed under his breath. Flicking a switch on the dashboard, he activated a special feature in his customized car. It came with a steep price¡ªoverloading the engine meant the vehicle might be unsalvageable after this mission¡ªbut time was not a luxury he could afford. A surge of power coursed through the car as the modified engine roared, propelling him forward at breakneck speed. Every second felt like a lifetime as the man¡¯s mind raced alongside the car. Thoughts of the fallen agents, the looming threat, and the failure to respond sooner gnawed at him. This better not be too late, he thought grimly, his irritation giving way to a steely resolve. The faint glow of desperate soldiers fighting and the ruins of a town appeared on the horizon, and he pressed the accelerator harder. ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.. Meanwhile, the last minute of John''s talent, Insanity-Check effect two, started to tick down. Every breath felt like hard labor. His body, riddled with holes and injuries, strained against the weight of survival. Every part of him struggled not to give up, even in the final moments, as he desperately searched for a way out. A small goblin leapt at him from behind as the goblin leader swung its halberd in a lethal arc. "Get the heck away from me!" John shouted, leaping away from the strike. Twisting with a burst of defiance, he delivered a flying kick to the small goblin, sending it hurtling toward the goblin leader. The halberd came crashing down, obliterating the smaller goblin with ruthless precision. The goblin leader whirled its halberd in a deadly arc. As John jumped back to evade, the weapon struck him, sending him flying, crashing into a ruined house. His strength waned, his perception dulled, and all sounds around him became muffled. Then, like a train at full speed, the suppressed pain erupted through his body with its full force. His talent¡ªInsanity-Check effect two¡ªhad ended, taking with it his enhanced attributes and leaving him vulnerable.
Strength: 18 ¨C> 10 Agility: 16 ¨C> 8 Flexibility: 15.5 ¨C> 7.5 Vitality: 17.5 ¨C> 9.5 Intelligence: 17 ¨C> 9
"Aghaaa!" Pain! Excruciating pain! All he could feel was pain, and he couldn''t even writhe despite the unbearable agony! He couldn¡¯t even lift a finger. His wounds, now raw and unchecked, sent relentless signals of pain to his brain, overwhelming him. He fought to stay conscious, to move, to survive, but his battered body refused to obey. Barely able to move his eyes, he saw the goblin leader gesture to halt the smaller goblins. Slowly, it began to approach him, each step deliberate, each step closer to the end.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Every thudding step felt like a countdown to his demise. His mind raced, desperate for a plan¡ªany plan¡ªbut even the basic action of moving a finger was beyond him. The grim reality clawed at his thoughts. ¡®Move! Move, goddamn it!... Please move!¡¯ Despair¡­Utter despair clawed at John''s heart. His life hung by a thread, and the goblin leader was moments from severing it. Suddenly, a deafening roar swept across the battlefield, followed by an intense gust of wind that flattened the grass and sent smaller goblins tumbling like ragdolls. The foundation agent had arrived. With a flick of his hand, the air shimmered, condensing into razor-thin blades that hurtled through the horde. Goblins disintegrated where they stood, sliced apart before they could react. The goblin leader turned, its crimson eyes narrowing as it braced itself. The goblin leader lunged forward, halberd raised high. The agent didn¡¯t flinch. He extended his hand, and a concentrated blast of compressed air struck the goblin leader square in the chest, shattering its armor and sending it crashing into the rubble. The agent waved his hands left and right, sending a sharp wind dismembering and decapitating any goblin in its way. The agent showed no mercy. He raised both arms, summoning a whirlwind that swept across the battlefield, lifting the remaining goblins into the air and tearing them apart in a storm of devastation. The goblin leader struggled to rise, its broken armor sparking feebly. With a final gesture, the agent unleashed a sharp gust of wind that pierced the creature¡¯s chest and came out from its back with its heart minced together with the rest of its chest. It didn¡¯t even have the time to let out one last roar before collapsing, lifeless. From where John lay, barely conscious, he watched the scene unfold with awe and bitterness. His heart twisted as he saw the being he had struggled against for what felt like hours crumble in mere seconds. He watched the agent dismantle the goblin leader and its horde with a chilling ease. Bitterness gnawed at the edges of his thoughts, a stark contrast to the relief he should have felt. ''Hours of struggling, of barely clinging to life, and he... he just walks in and ends it.'' His chest tightened, a mix of frustration and relief bubbling within him. ¡®So this is the difference between us,¡¯ he thought. But then the exhaustion returned, washing over his emotions like a cold tide. His bitterness faded into a quiet acceptance. He couldn''t muster the strength to feel anything more than gratitude for simply being alive. The agent walked through the ruined town. It couldn¡¯t be called town anymore; just the word ¡®ruin¡¯ was enough to describe it. The corpses of goblins and other monsters strewn across the ground, the remains of walls and vehicles scorched by the earlier bombardment. Smoke curled into the sky, and the stench of blood and burnt flesh was unbearable. It took about five to ten minutes for the agent to purge the place from the monsters. The agent could¡¯ve taken less time, but he wanted to make sure that no fish had slipped through the net. The agent strode to John, who lay barely conscious amidst the wreckage. With swift movements, he administered an emergency shot to stabilize him. "Stay with me," he said firmly, before moving away. John felt a kind of warm current moving through his body after the shot, making the paint a little bearable. He stared at the sky for a few seconds before the agent¡¯s voice reached him again. "This is Agent Zephyrin. The area is secure. There are only three agents alive, critically injured. And hundreds of casualties on the military side. Send emergency vehicles, ambulances, and a healer unit immediately. I¡¯m entering the dungeon gate.¡± Zephyrin turned back to the battered battlefield, sparing a glance at the destruction around him. Then he took a fast stride to the dungeon gate, disappearing inside it. Ten minutes later, he emerged from the dungeon gate, his combat suit bloodied but his expression calm. Behind him, the gate shimmered briefly before destabilizing, then vanishing entirely. Zephyrin leaned against the rock, scanning the smoldering battlefield one last time before closing his eyes. His steady breaths were a stark contrast to the chaos just moments before. As calm settled over the area, John felt the faint stirrings of his talent reawakening, signaling the first step toward recovery.
Strength: 10 ¨C> 13 Agility: 8 ¨C> 11 Flexibility: :7.5 ¨C> 10.5 Vitality: 9.5 ¨C> 12.5 Intelligence: 9 ¨C> 12
John then shifted his attributed to vitality as he just stared at the sky the whole time; he did not think or try to think of anything. He just laid where he was.
Vitality: 12.5 ¨C> 17.5
A while later, BMI vehicles arrived in force, their sirens cutting through the grim silence. Personnel poured out of the trucks, their faces a mixture of shock and horror. Medics froze momentarily as they surveyed the carnage, their expressions tightening before they rushed into action. Engineers and planners fanned out, stepping over shattered weapons and charred bodies, while murmurs of disbelief passed between them as they assessed the destruction. Engineers, planners, and medics began assessing the damage, gathering the fallen, and tending to the survivors. ¡°Agent John, hang on! We will be taking you to the BMI special care section. You will be good as new in no time." One of the medics said to John before shouted some command as they put him into an ambulance. John finally let his guard down as he fainted due to his injuries. Unaware of what happened next. Chapter 48 - Breaking News. Emergency Broadcast Ladies and Gentlemen, we interrupt your regular programming with an urgent report. A critical incident has occurred at Blackcrest Town last night¡ªa sudden and catastrophic event unfolding unexpectedly. Our preliminary reports describe a forced evacuation of the entire town late in the night by military and police forces, with residents being herded out of their homes. The details are still emerging, and authorities are maintaining strict control over the scene. Wait a second... another report just came in. According to an evacuated citizen, they were warned that an earthquake and other natural disaster were going to strike the town. After evacuation, the military stayed behind. A loud, booming sound was heard kilometers away from the town. According to reports, the military did not evacuate in time, leading to hundreds of deaths and more injuries. The Bureau of Special Investigation has deployed numerous emergency supplies and personnel to aid the brave soldiers who stayed behind to ensure no civilians were left to face this disaster. Stay with us for real-time updates as the story progresses. This is Adhaam, reporting live from the First Channel on TV. ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ John blinked at the screen, his vision still slightly blurry from his prolonged rest. The crisp images of the recoded broadcast flickered across the room, the voice of the reporter echoing faintly in his mind. He shifted in the hospital bed, the sharp ache in his side reminding him that he was still injured¡ªno, he had survived, barely. The broadcast ended, the screen returning to a muted government advisory. John exhaled sharply, sinking back into the pillows. An earthquake? he thought, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. That¡¯s one way to cover up a dungeon outbreak. The door chimed, and a nurse entered with a warm but professional expression. "Agent John, good to see you awake," she said, glancing at his vitals on a nearby monitor. "How are you feeling?" ¡°Alive.¡± John muttered, his voice hoarse but laced with faint humor. "How long was I out?" ¡°Two days,¡± the nurse replied, jotting something on her tablet. "Your injuries were severe, but with our technology we managed to bring you back up until your natural healing took effect. You¡¯ll feel sore for a while, but you¡¯re stable.¡± John nodded slowly, his gaze drifting back to the screen. "The others?¡± Her expression softened. "Two other agents survived. They¡¯re stable and recovering in separate rooms. The rest..." She hesitated, the unspoken words heavy in the air. "I¡¯m sorry." ¡°What about Liam?¡± ¡°Agent Liam was one of the deceased." He swallowed hard, the weight of the losses pressing down on him. "And the town?"Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. The nurse¡¯s demeanor grew somber. "It¡¯s been declared a total loss. BMI engineers are on-site, ensuring no residual threats remain." How long do I need to stay here?¡± ¡°About two to three months, depending on your condition or if the BMI administers an advanced medicinal treatment to accelerate your healing.¡± The conversation left John silent, his mind turning over the events of the last mission. As the nurse exited the room, leaving him alone, his eyes fixed on the muted advisory. The truth was far uglier than the polished words of the broadcast. The booming sounds, the deaths, the destruction¡ªit was chaos disguised as a natural disaster. With his left hand barely functioning after the injury, John clenched his right into a fist. The weight of what he had survived¡ªand what he had gone through¡ªpressed down on him. The muted advisory on the screen blurred into the background as memories of the dungeon outbreak clawed their way to the surface. ''How many times am I supposed to barely survive?'' The thought echoed bitterly in his mind. Each mission seemed to bring him closer to the edge, and this time, if agent Zephyrin was one minute too late, he would''ve been goner. He clenched his fists harder as his frustration simmering beneath the surface. The door chimed again, pulling John from his thoughts. This time, it was Evelyn, clad in her BMI research uniform and carrying a sleek, metallic tablet and a polished black case in her hand. Her expression was neutral, but her eyes flicked over him briefly, as if gauging his state before speaking. ¡°Agent John,¡± she began, stepping closer to his bed. ¡°Good to see you awake.¡± "Yeah, it''s good." John replied dryly. Evelyn allowed herself a faint smile. "But I¡¯m not here to ask about your condition. I thought you might want to see this.¡± She placed the case down, clicked it open, and revealed a finely crafted sword. Its blade gleamed under the overhead light, the craftsmanship unmistakable. John glanced at it briefly before leaning back against the pillows. ¡°Thanks, but that¡¯s just another sword, isn¡¯t it?¡± Evelyn arched a brow. ¡°Not just another sword. It¡¯s reinforced with modern alloys and designed for durability. It¡¯s better than what you had before.¡± "Yeah, but still sucks." "But we already made this. It can''t be returned." Evelyn crossed her hand as she stared at him. "And I don''t FREAKING CARE!" John''s voice rose slightly as he talked. "¡°Better isn¡¯t good enough. One sword after another was destroyed while fighting. It doesn''t matter if it takes a more hit to turn into freaking shards.¡± John hadn¡¯t noticed it, but his eyes turned slightly red, and a heavy killing intent emanating from him made Evelyn¡¯s heart race and her hands sweat, as though a predator were staring her down. Even though she felt uneasy, Evelyn tapped her tablet, a series of schematics flashing across the screen. ¡°This is another sword made of different alloys and has a different style. It has many advantages¡­¡± ¡°Next!¡± John cut her off as he barely glanced at it before looking away. "You are still learning other weapon styles, right? Maybe a change from sword to spear or something would suit you better." She scrolled through before showing another schematic. "The spear has a better range, and this is made of a fine alloy that..." "God damn it!" John threw his head back a little while rolling his eyes. "It''s the same damn thing! just skip it." Evelyn studied him for a moment, then put the tablet aside. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s discuss what you want, then. What¡¯s on your mind?¡± ¡°Something that works with my talent,¡± John said, his frustration bubbling to the surface. ¡°Something that adapts. Everyone else gets to use weapons or gear that actually make their talents shine. Why don¡¯t I?¡± "You got your lenses..." "Are you freaking serious?!" His voice rose sharply. "Are you comparing a support item with a main weapon?" Evelyn''s voice shook a little as she yelled, "Why are you angry at me? I''m trying to help here." John immediately regretted it. ¡°Sorry. That wasn¡¯t fair to you. It¡¯s just¡­¡± He gestured vaguely, words failing him.¡± I''m a little stressed. I didn''t mean to..." She brought the case and her tablet and stormed out of the room. ¡°Damn!¡± John clenched his fist tightly for a second before taking a deep breath, then exhaled, then took another deep breath before exhaling again. He repeated the process as he started to calm himself. Chapter 49 - A Strength Worth the Cost. The rhythmic hum of the hospital¡¯s ventilation system filled the silence as John stared at the ceiling. The brief anger felt alien to him, now replaced by the heavy weight of guilt. He had snapped at Evelyn for no good reason. All she did was try to present options for him¡ªand yet, he had let his frustration boil over, using her as an outlet for his own inadequacies. The weight of the last mission¡ªthe losses, the injuries, the sheer helplessness¡ªpressed on his chest like a leaden weight. But none of it excused what he had done. It wasn¡¯t Evelyn¡¯s fault he couldn¡¯t do enough. It wasn¡¯t her fault that, in the critical moments, his abilities weren¡¯t enough to stop the goblin leader or its horde. It was his fault for not being better prepared. He clenched his jaw, replaying the moments in his head. When the wall collapsed and chaos broke loose, he had felt like a cornered animal. His shifting attributes had the potential for great strength, but without a weapon that could handle it, what good was it? His sword had broken repeatedly, forcing him to run back to the supply truck again and again during the dungeon break ordeal. Each return had been a reminder of how unprepared he was. Even in the final fight with the goblin leader, the looming threat of his sword breaking had made him hesitant. His strikes had lacked the force they needed because, deep down, he had been terrified of losing his weapon altogether. That hesitation had cost him¡ªit had cost everyone. He thought about the other agents. Though their interactions had been brief, he couldn¡¯t shake the memories of their faces, their determination¡­ and how, one by one, they had fallen. His heart sank as he remembered their dwindling numbers, the chaos of the fight, and the growing weight of his failure. The prolonged battle had frayed more than just his body¡ªit had left his mind in tatters. ''How do people stay sane fighting day in and day out like this?'' John wondered, the question swirling in his mind as he tried to think of how to apologize to Evelyn without sounding like he was making excuses. The sound of the door swinging open broke through John''s thoughts. He turned his head, half expecting the nurse to return, but instead, Evelyn stepped inside. Her expression was calm, though her posture betrayed a hint of tension. She held the same sleek tablet as before, but her movements were deliberate, as though she was holding back. ¡°Evelyn,¡± John began, his voice low. ¡°Look, I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have¡ª¡± She raised a hand to stop him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± she said, her tone calm and steady. ¡°I get it. You¡¯ve been through a lot. But let¡¯s focus on what we can do to make sure you don¡¯t feel that way again.¡± John nodded slowly, unsure of what to say. He gestured to the chair by his bedside. ¡°Have a seat.¡± Evelyn hesitated for a moment before pulling the chair closer and sitting down. She placed the tablet on the small table beside him and swiped through a series of schematics. ¡°While I was gone, I gave it some thought,¡± she began, adopting a more professional demeanor. ¡°Your talent is unique, John. It¡¯s not just about physical stats; it¡¯s about adaptability. So, your weapon needs to reflect that.¡± She tapped the screen, and a 3D model of a weapon materialized, rotating slowly to display every intricate detail. Its sleek, modular design was marked by glowing, segmented parts that seemed alive with energy.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Isn¡¯t it just another sword?¡± John asked, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Evelyn smirked faintly. ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong, John.¡± She tapped another button, and the model on the screen shifted, morphing seamlessly from a heavy broadsword into a compact short sword, then into a bow, a pair of dual blades, and various sleek and adaptable weapon forms. ¡°This is what I¡¯m proposing,¡± she said, her tone steady and professional. ¡°A weapon that can transform between modes: heavy for power, balanced for versatility, and agile for speed. Each configuration is tailored to optimize your current attribute distribution, making it not just a tool but an extension of your talent. Imagine switching between raw strength and nimble precision mid-fight without hesitation.¡± John leaned forward, studying the design. ¡°It looks... bizarre,¡± he said, his tone laced with skepticism. ¡°Is this even possible?¡± ¡°The core mechanism uses advanced rune technology,¡± Evelyn explained, swiping to another schematic that showed the internal structure of the weapon. ¡°It would be experimental, but it¡¯s designed to respond to shifts in your attributes. The runes essentially ¡®read¡¯ the distribution and adjust the weapon¡¯s configuration accordingly. Heavy mode for strength, agile mode for speed, and so on.¡± His eyes didn¡¯t move away from the tablet, and it brightened with each passing second. ¡°How is its durability and sharpness? How long does it take to change modes? How long can I use it for before needing a better weapon when my stats overall increase? How would it work? How long do I need to wait until I can get it? How much is it?¡± ¡°Woah! one question at a time.¡± Evelyn¡¯s lips curved into a smirk, seeing John hooked, firing one question after another. ¡°It hasn¡¯t been made yet; these questions need to wait. But theoretically, it should serve you effectively until you reach the foundation realm. At that level, the weapon¡¯s runes might not keep up with the demands of your stats, requiring an upgrade or augmentation.¡± ¡°And?¡± John reluctantly moved his eyes away from the tablet as he rose his head to look at Evelyn in the face. ¡°What is the catch?¡± ¡°The cost,¡± she admitted. ¡°Crafting this will require all the points you¡¯ve accumulated so far, including what you earned during the Blackcrest mission, which was a hefty sum by the way because of all the mischief and damage due to one mistake after another in dealing with the situation. Anyway, the weapon is expensive; it might still put you in a bit of debt.¡± ¡°How much was that sum from the Blackcrest?" John asked, obviously curious. ¡°Fifty thousand points.¡± Evelyn answered, waiting for the exclaim. But looking at the unimpressed face of John, she continued, ¡°You know that¡¯s a lot, right?¡± ¡°Is it?¡± John raised an eyebrow. ¡°This is not money. These are points, the only currency to buy anything from the BMI. There are a lot of things that you would never find in the outside world. Including a lot of technologies and trinkets that was made accidentally during experiments.¡± ¡°Now you putting it this way, it does sound like a lot.¡± John leaned back, his jaw tightening. ¡°So, I¡¯ll be in debt if I ask for this weapon to be made?¡± John¡¯s mind lingered on the thought, weighing his options. ¡°You¡¯ll need to take on additional missions aside from the obligatory ones after your recovery to pay it off,¡± Evelyn said, her tone cautious. ¡°But it¡¯s an investment in your survival. With this weapon, you won¡¯t just survive¡ªyou¡¯ll thrive.¡± He was silent for a long moment, his gaze fixed on the weapon¡¯s design. Memories of the dungeon outbreak flooded his mind: the goblin leader¡¯s impenetrable armor, the feeling of his weapon breaking mid-fight, the helplessness as his body gave out. ''If this is what it takes to never feel powerless again, so be it.'' ¡°Alright,¡± he said finally, meeting her gaze. ¡°Do it. Use the points. Make it happen.¡± Evelyn nodded, a hint of relief softening her features. ¡°I¡¯ll get started immediately. It won¡¯t be ready overnight, but when it is, you¡¯ll have exactly what you need.¡± As she stood to leave, John called after her. ¡°Evelyn.¡± She paused, turning back. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, his voice sincere. She gave him a small smile. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me yet. Wait until it¡¯s finished.¡± The door slid shut behind her, leaving John alone once more. He leaned back against the pillows, his eyes drifting to the ceiling. For the first time in a while, he felt excitement and anticipation to hold a weapon. ¡®A weapon that adapts to me,¡¯ he thought, the words repeating like a mantra in his mind. Chapter 50 - Healing and Uncertainty. The sterile hum of the hospital room wrapped around John as he sat on the edge of his bed, his hand subconsciously gripping the cool metal frame. His body ached¡ªa deep, bone-level exhaustion that even rest couldn¡¯t fully erase. He was still healing from the deep wounds all over his body. The good news was now his left hand started to respond to him rather than just pure pain. He stared at the muted television screen across the room, its scrolling updates a reminder of the devastation at Blackcrest. "Evacuation complete," one headline read. Another: "Military casualties remain classified." Just setting there with nothing to do but resting board him out of his mind. He couldn¡¯t let his family see him in this condition¡ªwith bandages all over his body, just a little more and he would look like a mummy. So he could only voice call or text. A knock at the door broke through his thoughts. John turned his head to see a nurse stepping inside, her expression carefully neutral but tinged with concern. "Agent John, I wanted to check in on your recovery. How are you feeling today?" "I¡¯m still alive," John replied, his voice hoarse but steady. After doing her usual checkup, she looked hesitant as she gazed at him. ¡°What is it?¡± John frowned, asking. "Will I die or something?¡± ¡°No¡­ No. It''s just news I know about what you asked. I mean about Zak and his team.¡± She took a deep breath before continuing. ¡°Zak¡¯s team returned from the dungeon late last night. They... they didn¡¯t come back unscathed.¡± John¡¯s heart skipped a beat and his chest tightened, clenching the edge of the bed tightly. ¡°How bad?¡± She exhaled softly. ¡°Zak and were in critical condition while Toby lost an arm on top of his serious injuries.¡± She stopped for a few seconds and then continued.¡± Joe¡­ Unfortunately, didn¡¯t make it.¡± For a moment, John couldn¡¯t speak. He led them to the dungeon entrance before leaving. He knew¡ªno, he felt only four was a suicide mission for an elite dungeon. He had hoped his feeling was wrong, but something happened in the end. The nurse left after delivering the news, leaving John to his thoughts. His fingers loosened their grip on the edge of the bed, but his mind refused to settle. He needed to see them. Toby, Maxwell... even Zak, if he could. He wanted to know what had happened in detail, to piece together the events that had left them in such a state. Pushing himself up, John winced as sharp pain flared in his side. His body protested every movement, but he ignored it. He had to keep moving. One step at a time. The hallway outside his room was quiet¡ªa stark contrast to the chaos he imagined the medical wing had seen during the aftermath of Blackcrest.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. He approached the reception at the end of the hallway. ¡°Miss, could you tell me where Toby Lyons and Maxwell Ballard¡¯s room is?¡± The nurse at the reception was taken aback, seeing him walking while so injured. "Please, sir, you need to rest more with your injuries." ¡°Don¡¯t mind me for now. Just tell me their room number." He took a deep breath before explaining. "They¡¯re my friends. I just want to know how they¡¯re doing.¡± ¡°Mhm¡­ Ok, let me check the log first.¡± The nurse hesitated for a second before answering. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you can¡¯t visit them. They¡¯re still in a coma and in intensive care, as their injuries were severe when they got here.¡± John let out a sigh. ¡°Thanks. Could you please send someone to inform me when they wake up?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± John walked back to his room, feeling butterflies in his stomach. Trying to distract himself, he switched between watching television and videos on his phone. The day passed in a flash, and he woke up in bed, still sore the next day. Reaching for his comm, John called Evelyn. Beep! Beep! Click! After two rings, Evelyn''s voice came through the speaker. ¡°What¡¯s up, John? Why did you call?¡± ¡°Good morning to you too.¡± John scratched his head. ¡°When will my weapon be ready?¡± ¡°Seriously, John!¡± Evelyn rolled her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s only been a couple of days. How long has it been since we last talked?¡± ¡°Two days,¡± John admitted, looking embarrassed. ¡°Exactly, two days. Just be patient. We''re still perfecting the details before starting production. It takes time.¡± ¡°Oh, okay¡­ I guess I''m just a little eager.¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± "No, not really¡ªoh yes. There is something.¡± John''s expression turned serious. ¡°Do you know what happened to Team Zak inside the elite dungeon?¡± ¡°Let me check¡­¡± She clicked a few times on her comm before replying, "No, nothing. The only record comes from the agent in the planning department who was waiting near the dungeon for their exit.¡± ¡°Can you tell me what he recorded?¡± John¡¯s heart tightened as he waited. ¡°Yes. Here what did he say... He was alerted to a fluctuation to the dungeon¡¯s gate before Zak stumbled out, his face pale and bloodied, carrying Joe¡¯s remains along with Toby and Maxwell on a platform of raised earth. His every step looked like it took all the strength he had left. As soon as he placed all of them on the ground, he also collapsed beside them.¡± John took a deep breath, steadying himself after hearing the news. ¡°I know Maxwell and Toby are your friends. Don¡¯t worry; they¡¯ll be okay,¡± Evelyn said, her voice soft as she noticed his momentary pause. John shook his head lightly. ¡°There¡¯s no need to apologize. Thank you for the information, Evelyn.¡± He paused briefly before adding, ¡°I¡¯ll let you get back to work. Bye.¡± ¡°Bye, John,¡± she replied, her voice carrying a faint note of understanding as the line disconnected. Looking at the black screen, John wasn¡¯t sure if the new information eased his mind or made his anxiety worse. Shaking off the uneasy thoughts, he opened the Xami app, scrolling to find the martial arts video he had stumbled upon yesterday. Before discovering his talent, John had occasionally watched these kinds of videos but dismissed them as unattainable¡ªan art for people unlike his chubby, untrained self of the past. But now, things felt different. As he watched the fluid, precise movements on screen, something clicked. The strikes, the techniques¡ªthey sparked an idea in him. Each video he played added new possibilities, painting a picture of how these techniques might complement his talent, adapting to the ever-changing situations he faced. Chapter 51 - Lying in Hospital bed. The white walls of the hospital seemed to press in on John as he leaned back against the bedframe. Days had passed since his conversation with Evelyn and the news about Zak¡¯s team, but the weight of it lingered like an unwelcome guest. The routine of waking, eating, and resting had begun to blur together, each moment dragging on as he waited for something to change. But there was some good news. First, he left his VIT attribute to its maximum, and his healing with the medication was going fine. Very fine, actually, that''s suspicious. Initially, he was expected to leave after a month and require another one or two months to fully recover, but recent checkups had drastically shortened that timeline. But his last checkup showed he would only need three weeks to leave and another 15¨C25 days to be fully healed. A week had already passed, leaving only two more weeks before he could finally leave this depressing place. He didn¡¯t know why his healing was progressing so quickly, but he wasn¡¯t about to question it. The second piece of good news was that his attributes started going up as his body healed. like it constructing itself to be stronger. To handle more challenges. One thing that has been lingered on his mind lately was the martial arts. John relied heavily on his talent, Double-Focus, for his reaction speed and coordinated body movements. He wasn¡¯t sure if traditional martial arts could be applied to his unique abilities¡ªor if they¡¯d even be useful in his case. But he wouldn¡¯t know until he tried. So, he took his time to note down any martial arts that interested him. He didn¡¯t know if BMI had an instructor or someone professional who could give him some pointers. ¡®There has to be someone who can teach me, right? I can¡¯t be the only one with a physical talent,¡¯ John pondered, shifting in bed to find a more comfortable position while holding his phone. ¡®But most people with pure physical talents are probably in the fighting department... Would I even be able to ask them for help?¡¯ A soft chime interrupted his thoughts. John glanced at his comm, the notification light blinking insistently. He tapped it, and a message from the nurse station appeared: (Agent Lyons and Agent Ballard are now awake and stable. Visiting hours begin at 10 a.m.) John¡¯s heart quickened. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, wincing as his sore muscles protested the movement. Despite the lingering pain, a sense of urgency pushed him forward. He needed to see them. To understand what had happened inside that dungeon. The medical wing was quiet as John approached the room indicated in the message. His footsteps echoed faintly, the antiseptic scent of the air sharp in his nostrils. Outside the room, he paused, his hand hovering over the door handle. He wasn¡¯t sure what to expect. Maxwell and Toby... What state were they in after such an ordeal? What scars¡ªphysical or otherwise¡ªhad the elite dungeon left on them?This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself and opened the door. Inside, two figures wrapped in heavy bandages sat propped up against their bed frames. Maxwell''s larger frame was unmistakable, though his usual stoic demeanor seemed replaced by something quieter, more subdued. Across the room, Toby lay still with his eyes closed, his right sleeve pinned where his arm used to be. John¡¯s heart ached at the sight, their injuries leaving him profoundly shaken. Maxwell noticed him first, his face breaking into a tired smile. ¡°John,¡± he said, his voice hoarse. ¡°Are you also hurt?¡± John forced a smile as he stepped inside. ¡°Yeah, the day after you went in, there was a dungeon outbreak. I was called in as one of the defenders.¡± he replied. His gaze flicked to Toby, who stirred at the sound of his voice. Slowly, Toby¡¯s eyes opened, their usual spark replaced by something darker. His eyes flickered briefly with a mix of emotions¡ªdiscomfort, anger, perhaps even guilt¡ªbefore he closed them again, shutting the world out without a word. ¡°An outbreak! What happened?¡± Maxwell groaned, pain evident as he turned his head toward John. ¡°There, there! Be careful.¡± John pulled up a chair beside Maxwell¡¯s bed. ¡°It was an emergency. I was called in the middle of the night, and with other elven agents, we want to stop any monster coming out from the dungeon.¡± ¡°Mhm¡­¡± Maxwell listened attentively, while Toby winced as tried not to look like he was listening. ¡°And it was... bad.¡± John paused for a moment before continuing."Like, really, really bad. The worst kind of bad... well, not the absolute worst, but it was on the top ten worst things that could''ve happened. ¡° ¡°Mhm¡­ and?¡± Maxwell''s eyes didn¡¯t leave John as he waited for him to explain. ¡°Due to equipment malfunctions and delays in repairs, the dungeon was discovered too late. The entire town was forced to evacuate, and then... John explained in great detail what had transpired. As John reached the final part, Toby''s heavy breathing filled the room As he reached the final part, the air grew heavy with Toby''s labored breathing as his emotions fluctuated. John pretended not to notice Toby''s fluctuating emotions and shifted the conversation to a more casual topic, finding it hard to bring up the question of what happened in the dungeon. Though it might not seem like it, John was ten years older than Toby and nine years older than Maxwell. He could internalize and stabilize his emotions quickly, given what he had been through. Not anything dramatic, but after his years of trying to understand what he wanted, he started to have a better grasp over his emotions and mental state. Of course not always, and he might let his emotions get the better of him sometimes, but he would always try to bring them under control and make sure what led his life was not a moment of emotion outburst. But he couldn¡¯t be sure Maxwell and Toby would handle the situation the same way. Losing a teammate and an arm couldn¡¯t have been anything but a deeply traumatic experience for them. So, John was afraid of asking about what had happened in the dungeon now, as they had just woken up not long ago and still had the dungeon experience fresh in their minds. By sharing his experience of the dungeon outbreak, John hoped to let them know they weren¡¯t alone in facing horrors. For now, he¡¯d wait. Let them recover; let the weight of the experience settle. But sooner or later, he would know what happened in that dungeon, and he¡¯d try to make sure they felt his support. Chapter 52 - Adjusted State. John stood in front of the bathroom mirror, his reflection catching his attention as he changed out of the hospital gown into his regular clothes. The faint scars lining his body would fade with time, but for now, they stood as reminders of battles fought and survived. He got his last check-up early in the morning today, and he was ready to get out. All of his surface wounds had healed, though a few deeper ones still demanded patience before fully mending. As he stepped outside, the fresh air hit his lungs sharply, a stark contrast to the sterile scent of antiseptic that had clung to him for weeks. He found himself amidst the extensive BMI grounds, surrounded by sleek, gleaming buildings bustling with activity. Shielding his eyes against the sun, he navigated his way to the parking lot. Just as he reached his car, ready to head back to his apartment, a soft chime interrupted his thoughts. His comm screen lit up with a notification: (Your custom weapon is ready for testing. Report to the lab at 14:00.) John exhaled, a flicker of anticipation cutting through the monotony of the past few days. Finally. He turned around and made his way back. And after a few minutes of walking, he reached the lab. Holographic displays flickered across the room, casting blue and white hues on the sleek metallic surfaces. Evelyn stood near a workbench, her tablet in hand and a focused expression on her face. She glanced up as John entered. ¡°You are a bit early,¡± she said, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. ¡°I can¡¯t wait.¡± John replied, his eyes drawn to the weapon resting on the workbench, its surface rippling with a liquid-metal sheen that seemed to swallow and refract the light around it. At rest, it resembled a prismatic core¡ªa sleek, ovular cylinder no longer than John¡¯s forearm, its surface etched with interlocking runes that pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat. The metal itself defied categorization: part steel, part obsidian, part something else, as if forged from a material that existed between solid and liquid. Evelyn gestured to it; her voice edged with pride. ¡°Go on, try using it while shifting your attributes to attune it to yourself.¡± John reached out, hesitating a breath before his fingers brushed the surface. The runes flared to life, siphoning streaks of cobalt light into the grooves, and the weapon shivered. It wasn¡¯t cold¡ªit hummed with a subdued warmth, like the throaty purr of a predator lying in wait. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ lighter than I expected,¡± he murmured, lifting it. The weight shifted as he moved, as though the core were adjusting to his grip in real time. ¡°That¡¯s the adaptive resonance,¡± Evelyn said. ¡°The runes aren¡¯t just for show.¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. As if in response, the cylinder fractured¡ªnot with a sound, but a vibration that thrummed in John¡¯s teeth. Segments slid apart, unfolding like a steel blossom, and the weapon reshaped itself into a double-edged broadsword. The blade¡¯s edge honed to a lethal whisper, while the hilt molded itself to his palm, leather-like grips emerging from smooth metal as though grown there. John exhaled. ¡°How does it¡ª?¡± ¡°Shift your stats. It¡¯ll respond.¡± He focused, channeling his attributes into agility. The blade became lighter all of a sudden, making his swing speed faster. Shifting to strength, the blade became heaving in his grasp, like it could destroy anything with its weight. ¡°The material¡¯s density and edge adjust to your stats. Strength? It¡¯ll hit like a meteor. Agility? It¡¯ll cut faster than thought. And the runes¡ª¡± Evelyn said, pointed to the symbols now glowing a hungry crimson. ¡°They¡¯re not just reactive. They learn. The more you use it, the tighter the sync.¡± ¡°Interesting!¡± John was beaming as he tried to swing it a couple of times. ¡°How do I make it change to another weapon though?¡± He turned his head to her, puzzled. ¡°Use your talent, Insanity-check, then move your hands to the core, and you would find the weapon choices appearing in your smart lenses. You can choose which weapon you want from there.¡± Following the instruction, the blade dissolved mid-air, collapsing into a storm of metallic shards that orbited his hand for a heartbeat before snapping into a new form: a bow gleaming with a honeycomb pattern that caught the light like fractured glass. The balance was flawless¡ªno drag, no resistance, as if the weapon was made to be a bow from the very beginning. John switched to strength and chose a different weapon. and the bow melted, surging upward into a spiked warhammer with a haft wrapped in what felt like dragonhide. The head thrummed with kinetic energy, the air around it warping faintly, as if the weapon were pulling gravity itself into its next strike. ¡°Oh my God! I like it." John¡¯s heart raced with excitement, a beaming smile spreading across his face. "No, let me take that back. I don¡¯t just like it¡ªI''m loving it.¡± He played with its transformative nature for a while before asking. ¡°What is its name?¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t give it a name yet. Your name it; it¡¯s yours anyway.¡± "Mhm, let me think.¡± John swung it a few more times while muttering. "The weapon resonates with my talent, shifting seamlessly between forms. Resonance and changing shapes... forms.¡± John stopped his movement for a moment as his eyes shone. "That''s it¡ªEchoform.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a bad name. Now go on, I¡¯m busy. Go try your Echoform somewhere else.¡± Evelyn handed him a sheath as she pushed him out of the lab. John''s excitement didn¡¯t diminish as he was just about to go to the simulation room when his comm chimed as a call from Professor Ada, halting his plan. ¡°Hello, professor.¡± John answered as he walked. Ada looked at him for a few seconds before replying. "You look like you are in a good spirit; what happened?¡± Scratching his head awkwardly, "Nothing; I just got a new weapon, so I¡¯m a bit excited to try it out. Why did you call professor?¡± ¡°I¡¯m happy to see you¡¯re still in good spirits after what happened.¡± Professor Ada smiled a bit before continuing. ¡°I see you¡¯re finally out of the hospital. Good to see you on your feet again. Your injuries are still healing, so no fighting for now, but you can officially enter the investigation department. Come to my office; I will lead you there.¡± John¡¯s excitement shifted a little after the call, replaced with curiosity about what awaited him in the investigation department. Chapter 53 - Entering the Department John followed Professor Ada through the sprawling BMI campus, their pace leisurely yet purposeful. The myriad of interconnected buildings loomed around them, each serving a specialized function within the organization''s operations. It was a long walk, but John didn¡¯t mind; the fresh air was invigorating after his time in recovery. As they passed the Fighting Department, John¡¯s attention was drawn to the constant hum of activity. Cars and tactical vehicles were drafted in and out, ferrying agents either heading to missions or returning from one. The sharp sound of orders being barked echoed faintly from the building¡¯s open garage. A nearby outdoor training ground caught his eye. Groups of agents rehabilitating from severe injuries moved through carefully monitored drills. Their faces were etched with determination, each movement deliberate despite the visible strain. The sight stirred something in John. Their relentless efforts were contagious, making his blood simmer with renewed resolve. ¡°They¡¯re pretty intense,¡± John remarked, his gaze sweeping the field. He found himself hoping to spot someone practicing martial arts techniques but was left disappointed. ¡°Everyone¡¯s had a hard time,¡± Professor Ada explained, her tone matter-of-fact. ¡°They know what¡¯s at stake. No one wants to slack off.¡± John nodded thoughtfully, understanding the weight of her words. He experienced it himself; you wouldn¡¯t slack off if your life was at stake. Soon, they passed the edge of the Fighting Department and approached the sleek, modern structure of the Investigation Department. Its fa?ade was composed of polished steel and tinted glass, exuding a sense of authority. Ada gestured toward the entrance. ¡°Here we are. Welcome to your new workplace. If you are not occupied with a field mission, you will spend your time here. There are training grounds here too, so you don¡¯t need to go all the way to the main building every time you want to train.¡± John nodded as they stepped inside. A spacious reception area greeted them, filled with comfy couches and vending machines on the far side of it. After passing a door, John saw rows of workstations stretched across an open space, each equipped with multiple screens displaying streams of data. Agents moved briskly between rooms on either side, their expressions focused. Professor Ada led John through a corridor flanked by glass-walled offices until they stopped at one with the name Commander Elias etched into the door. ¡°Professor Ada, you honor me with your visit,¡± said a slim agent with sharp eyes, rising from his desk with a polite smile. ¡°Commander Elias, this is John,¡± Ada introduced. ¡°He¡¯ll be under your supervision.¡± Elias extended a hand toward John. ¡°Welcome to the Investigation Department.¡± His grip was firm as he continued. ¡°John, good to see you in person. I just received your file; pretty impressive, I might say, for a newbie to go through all of that just after his training. I have great expectations for you.¡± ¡°I will be under your care.¡± John replied, meeting his gaze evenly. He didn¡¯t bother to address the ¡®expectation¡¯ thing. That¡¯s what every boss says before throwing you under the bus. Ada inclined her head. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you in Commander Elias¡¯ capable hands.¡± With that, she turned and strode away, her presence fading into the hum of the department. They navigated through the bustling workspace, where agents glanced up from their screens. A faint murmur reached John ears as he walked behind Elias. ¡°Is this a newbie? I wonder what his talent is.¡± ¡°I hope he doesn¡¯t bother me with questions though.¡± ¡°Shoo! Shut up. Commander Elias is coming.¡± Elias stopped near a cluster of desks. ¡°This is your station,¡± Elias said, pointing to a sleek workspace outfitted with multiple monitors and a holographic interface. ¡°You won¡¯t be getting any field missions until you are fully healed. While you¡¯re recovering, your job is to assist with an ongoing investigation of any anomalies around the country.¡± John nodded. Two agents approached, their expressions puzzled as Elias gestured for them to come. ¡°This is Agent Harper,¡± Elias introduced, gesturing to a woman with brown hair in a ponytail. ¡°And Agent Felix,¡± he added, indicating a lanky man with a cigarette smell assaulted John''s nostrils as he got closer. ¡°Welcome to the investigation department.¡± Harper said, ¡°Hope we get along with each other.¡± ¡°If you wouldn''t mind my presence, I''m happy to get along with everyone.¡± John replied with a smile. Felix gave a curt nod. ¡°Welcome. ¡° ¡°This is John, a new agent with talents suitable for both investigation and fighting.¡± After introducing John, Elias patted his shoulder. ¡°Take today to get familiar with the place and help Felix and Harper in their mission while you are it.¡± Elias said before going back to his office. After he left, Felix and Harper exchanged glances before going back to their respective desks, leaving John at loss.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Well, whatever.¡± He muttered as he stared walking around looking at rooms tag in their section. ¡°Data registry, archives, simulation room, training ground, data analysis, Library, The Observatory, meeting room, relaxing lounge, and tactical operations hub." John muttered as his gaze lingered on the names etched onto the room tags, curiosity tugging at him with each step. The sheer variety of facilities hinted at the depth and complexity of the Investigation Department¡¯s work. What exactly goes on in the Observatory? he wondered, making a mental note to find out later. Returning to the main workstation cluster, he saw Felix and Harper engrossed in their respective tasks, data streams flickering across their screens. John decided to dive in immediately. He approached Felix first, who sighed audibly before swiveling his chair around to face him. ¡°Need something, newbie?¡± Felix asked, the impatience clear in his tone. ¡°I want to know what exactly we''re working on,¡± John said, ignoring the condescending undertone. ¡°And what are these devices?¡± He gestured at the sleek panels and intricate instruments surrounding the workstation. Felix raised an eyebrow. ¡°You want a crash course? Fine. This one tracks spatial distortions; if any are found, it means its dungeon above level 1. Report to commander Elise immediately. He pointed at a cylindrical device emitting faint pulses of light. ¡°This one monitors energy fluctuations, and that one detects reading anomalies." John looked at all the data and graphs in continued motions that left him dizzy. ¡°How do you differentiate between a harmless fluctuation and a potential threat?¡± Harper, who had been listening with bemused expression, finally spoke up. ¡°It¡¯s mostly about experience. Patterns, deviations¡ªif you stare at the data long enough, you start to notice what doesn''t fit.¡± John nodded thoughtfully. ¡°So there''s no straightforward manual?¡± Felix smirked. ¡°If only it were that simple.¡± John¡¯s questions didn¡¯t stop there. ¡°How do you normally handle investigation field missions?" Harper leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. ¡°Normal investigators go in teams of three to five, relying on tech, gadgets, and their talents to gather intel and fend off threats." "How often does a dungeon outbreak happen?" "Rarely, but when it happens, no one wants to be there. better send a high realm agent to clear it." John frowned as he asked, "Well, yes, no one wants to be there, but it is not like we could say no." Felix clicked his tongue."Tch! That idiot Henry sent 12 agents to their deaths in the last outbreak. Our department director refused to..." Harper punched him in the shoulder. "Shut up! This is not something you could say casually." "What happened?" John''s eyes darkened as he continued to inquire. Harper¡¯s expression stiffened. ¡°Nothing. If you don''t have any questions about work, then you can go back to your work desk." Seeing them not willing to continue the topic, John took a deep breath and calmed down before asking all kinds of questions about the work, the different rooms, and the machines themselves. Felix muttered under his breath, ¡°You sure like asking questions.¡± ¡°I prefer understanding what I¡¯m working with,¡± John replied calmly. Harper''s lips curled into a faint smile. ¡°You¡¯re going to annoy the hell out of a lot of people here, you know that?¡± ¡°Good,¡± John said with a grin. ¡°Keeps things interesting.¡± Elias¡¯s voice cut through the ambient hum. ¡°All agents report to the Observatory. There¡¯s something I want you all to discuss.¡± Felix groaned as he stood up. Harper stretched and gestured for John to follow. As they entered the observatory, he was greeted with a sight of a hologram, or the country in the center, and different points of light in different colors spreading across it. After all the agents entered, Elias started talking. ¡°The number of dungeons are the same across the country, but we can¡¯t send a foundation realm to help when there were many dungeons at the beginning stage that couldn¡¯t be handled in time due to a shortage of people. Director Noah as issued a new order: ¡° He paused for a second, eyes scanning the agents before him. ¡°The investigation department will also start clearing the dungeon on their own, not just investigate the dungeon location and secure the surrounding area.¡± A clamor echoed in the observatory room as the agents began to discuss in loud voices. ¡°How can that be? We already have our hands full with our tasks.¡± ¡°Yes, also not all of us are equipped to fight like the fighting department. It''s hard already dealing with mutants.¡± ¡°Silence!¡± Elias¡¯s voice echoed in the room, quieting the racket. "There is no use in talking about it. Our director, Arthur, already agreed after discussion with the other directors. Now we will do in a way that suits us. Any one with a fighting talent and with attributes above 14 would need to clear normal dungeons solo, like what the fighting department does. Those with no fighting talents would go in groups of three. Uncommon dungeons would be people with attributes 16 or above who will be in a mix group of people with fighting talents and others. And Elite dungeons would need to be discussed before selecting agents suitable for it.¡± Elias waved his hands as he dismissed the agents. ¡°Felix, Harper, and John stay. The rest dismissed.¡± Elias folded his arms as the remaining agents settled near the holographic display. The map flickered, zooming in on a region riddled with red and yellow markers indicating dungeon activity. ¡°We¡¯ve categorized this month¡¯s dungeon events into three major concerns,¡± Elias began. ¡°First, reports indicate several low-level dungeons have released mutant creatures into nearby human territories. They need tracking and containment.¡± He gestured to a cluster of yellow points on the map. ¡°Second, anomaly readings were detected near Blackcrest¡ªyes, that Blackcrest. Some fallout from the recent dungeon outbreak hasn¡¯t been fully resolved.¡± John tensed visibly at the mention of Blackcrest. ¡°Lastly,¡± Elias continued, ¡°we need a full summary of this month¡¯s dungeon discoveries. Patterns, notable mutations, escape incidents, and strategic recommendations for containment or mitigation.¡± He fixed his gaze on Felix and Harper. ¡°You¡¯ll handle tracking and containment reports. Coordinate with the tactical team to cross-reference sighting data and containment efforts.¡± Felix sighed. ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Harper, focus on any strategic insights you can derive from the reports." ¡°Will do,¡± she said confidently. Elias turned to John. ¡°Since you¡¯re still on recovery duty, I want you to compile the full summary of dungeon activities this month. Include everything: the types of mutants that escaped, their behaviors, and any anomalies we haven¡¯t accounted for. It¡¯s grunt work, but it¡¯ll help you understand what we¡¯re dealing with.¡± John nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Elias glanced around the room. ¡°Any questions?¡± Felix muttered under his breath but said nothing aloud. Harper just gave a sharp nod. ¡°Then get to work,¡± Elias ordered, his tone firm but calm. As Felix and Harper headed back to their desks, John lingered for a moment near the holographic map. The sheer scale of the dungeon incidents surprised him. He traced his gaze over the various colored points, his mind already churning with questions. Chapter 54 - Entering the Department 2 The day passed with John grappling with a headache from the endless stream of data displayed in front of him. It wasn¡¯t just about the number of dungeons¡ªthough there were far more than he had anticipated. Coordinates marked the location of each portal, along with detailed logs of mutant sightings, containment efforts, and cleanup operations. Every bit of data was scrutinized for anything that might have slipped through the cracks and could impact civilian life. John¡¯s task was to double-check these reports, ensuring that nothing had been overlooked. Agents meticulously recorded the coordinates of every mutant they dealt with, tagging locations based on proximity to dungeon portals and the level and tier of the dungeons themselves. Even though John was only assigned to level one dungeons, their sheer number made the task daunting. The work was tedious, requiring him to cross-reference containment efforts with police reports and news bulletins. It was a meticulous process, and despite assurances that he was merely verifying completed work, it felt anything but simple. ¡°Hey, Harper,¡± John called, turning to the desk nearby. ¡°How do I determine if something¡¯s wrong here or not?¡± Harper sighed loudly, swiveling her chair toward him. ¡°I already told you!¡± she grunted in annoyance, rolling her chair closer to his station. ¡°Here... and here.¡± She pointed at various points on the map displayed on his screen. ¡°See these clusters?¡± ¡°Mhm, I see them,¡± John said, squinting. ¡°Now look at the whole area here,¡± she continued, tracing a region on the holographic map, ¡°and compare it with the data from agents on-site. We can determine that no creature escaped into human habitats. So this one¡¯s clear.¡± John scratched his head, frustration mounting. ¡°Okay, but I still don¡¯t get how that guarantees it¡¯s 100% safe. Couldn¡¯t a creature have already run out of the area before we discovered the dungeon? Like a flying bird or something?¡± Harper rolled her eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s assume that happened. Even a flying creature needs to land eventually. When it does, or if it causes any disturbance, we¡¯ll find out.¡± ¡°True,¡± John admitted, ¡°but by then, someone might have already died, or the ecosystem could be thrown off balance.¡± Harper¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°If we think the way you do, we¡¯ll never accomplish anything.¡± Felix, who had been listening from across the room, decided to join in. ¡°Newbie, stop with the naive questions,¡± he said bluntly. ¡°People die every day¡ªwhether from natural causes, car accidents, or who knows what else. We can¡¯t save every single one of them. Heck, we¡¯re barely keeping ourselves alive.¡± John frowned but didn¡¯t interrupt. Felix continued, ¡°What we can do is prevent a bigger disaster. If someone dies, they die. Our job is to track that creature and take it down before it kills more. We can¡¯t afford guilt trips over what we can¡¯t control.¡± Harper gave a curt nod, her expression softening slightly. ¡°He¡¯s not wrong. You¡¯ll get used to it.¡± John leaned back in his chair, processing their words. The stark practicality of their approach was jarring, but he understood its necessity. Still, that didn¡¯t mean he had to accept it without question.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. The work continued till late after 8 pm. After sending the report to Elias, John starched and stood up from his chair, moving to the department training ground. As he healed, his attributes had changed dramatically after his near-death experience:
Strength: 13 Agility: 11 Flexibility: 10.5 Vitality: 12.5 Intelligence: 12
But now there were:
Strength: 15.5 Agility: 14 Flexibility: 13 Vitality: 15 Intelligence: 13.5
The increase was substantial, accelerating his recovery noticeably when he used Insanity-Check to focus on vitality. However, one thing gnawed at his thoughts. When he used Insanity-Check to add five attributes to his vitality or strength, it stopped before reaching the foundation stage, which was 20 to become this:
Vitality: 15 19.9
¡°The more attributes I gain, the less effective Insanity-Check becomes¡ªuntil I reach the next stage,¡± John mused, his brow furrowing. He entered the training ground while pondering. The place was not as empty as the ''small gym¡¯ he used to train in the main building. On the opposite, if we ignored the enormous space it occupied, it would have been crowded. It seemed that everyone trains when they have no mission or in grace period between missions, which is not a lot of time. Finding a corner by himself, John unsheathed Echoform. As Echoform changing shapes was its nature, its sheath was of a small dagger, a lot more convenient to carry around than a sword or a bow. ¡°It is sad there were no magic arrows, so I won¡¯t have to carry quiver.¡± John muttered as he changed the Echoform to a bow. ¡°Oh, well. I can¡¯t get everything in one package. That''s already very good.¡± Nocking an arrow, John focused as he drew the Echoform bow to half its power, then he let go. Whoosh! The arrow cut through the air with unimaginable speed, then it hit the target in a bullseye but didn¡¯t stop; it pierced through it and went fully out and hit the wall behind it with a huge force, as the arrow broke to pieces on impact. ¡°Shoot!¡± John opened his eyes wide as amazement etched on his face. ¡°Nice, its far stronger than I imagined.¡± After continuing his bow practice for half an hour, getting a feel for the bow''s power and precision, John decided to switch it to sword form. As the metal liquid rearranged itself into a sword before solidifying again. ¡®I wonder If I could switch weapon mid-action?'' John thoughts drafted as he put his foot forward and swung his Echoform vertically from top to bottom in one fluid action. Then he rotated his body 180 degree and did same in smooth motion. He then took a step back as he swung his Echoform horizontally, rotating his waist and his shoulder with it, giving it the power needed. He swung it again but in the opposite direction, while keeping the power to the limit. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The power of his swings stirred the air as he continued with his training routine. This was particularly his training regime since he used the sword. Learning how to slash from different angles while keeping the power and his balance to the maximum. After another half-hour of focused swings and precise movements, John ceased his training, mindful not to push himself too hard while still recovering. After a quick shower, John returned to his apartment, only to be greeted by a thick layer of dust. ¡°God damn it! Every time I come back, I need to clean this place again,¡± he grumbled, complaining to the air. He made a quick sweep across the floor and changed the bedsheet before drifting off to sleep, thoughts lingering on the improvements he still needed to make. Chapter 55 - Back in the Field. The following days passed in a steady rhythm. John found himself settling into a routine within the Investigation Department. After finishing the monthly report, he began learning from Felix and Harper how to read real-time data sent by field agents and how they determined whether something was abnormal. Today, he visited BMI¡¯s inner hospital for a checkup to confirm his full recovery and ensure there were no lingering effects from his injuries. He entered the sterilized white reception area of the hospital and moved to the nurse at the reception. ¡°Hello. I am here for the checkup. Where should I go?¡± John said as he stood before the reception desk. ¡°What is your name, sir?¡± The nurse answered. ¡°John Howard.¡± ¡°Please wait a moment, Mr. John.¡± After inputting his name in the computer before her, she said. ¡°In a few minutes, a nurse will come to lead you to a doctor. You may have a seat at the resting area in the meantime." After a short wait, he was led to undergo various tests, including an X-ray scan, blood tests, and a urine sample, before being directed to the doctor''s office. Entering the small room, he was met by a doctor in his mid-thirties with short black hair. After reviewing the reports delivered by the nurse, the doctor spoke without looking up. ¡°Take his pulse.¡± After taking his pulse, the doctor stood up and walked to John. ¡°Lift your shirt, please,¡± the doctor instructed, placing the stethoscope on John¡¯s chest. ¡°Deep breath in¡­ and out.¡± The doctor asked all kinds of questions as he moved the stethoscope to the stomach area and back. After a while, he finished and sat at his desk again. ¡°Everything looks fine. You¡¯ve fully recovered, and in fact, your body seems stronger than before. There¡¯s nothing to worry about¡ªyou¡¯re good to go.¡± After thanking the doctor, John visited Toby and Maxwell before leaving the hospital with a sigh of relief. ''Now that I¡¯m fully healed, I would need to start taking a field mission again. With my current attributes, I could solo normal dungeon. Should I start doing that?¡¯ John pondered as he walked to the investigation department building. Just as he settled in his chair, a notification on his comm got his attention. (Agents in the Investigation Department are required to complete a minimum of four field missions per month. Exceptions apply in cases of emergency. Missions must be within an agent¡¯s capabilities¡ªneither too simple nor beyond their limits. Additional missions beyond the minimum grant bonus wages and points. Agents should avoid overburdening themselves at the cost of their primary duties.) ¡°Damn, they don¡¯t waste time. As soon as I healed, they didn¡¯t waste time asking me to do more missions.¡± John clicked his tongue as he muttered. Cracking his knuckles, he chuckled. ¡®Well, it is time to test Echoform in an actual fight.¡¯The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Opening the map, He zoomed in different places he marked earlier and needed to be investigated. He sent these locations to the planning department, asking to investigate one of the locations. Within ten minutes, his request was processed, and he was assigned a task near the highway. And so John took the necessary supplies before driving a BMI car to the location. ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.. John stepped out of the car onto the gravel shoulder of the highway. The distant hum of passing vehicles quickly faded as he faced the dense forest ahead. The air was thick with the scent of pine and earth, mixed with an unsettling silence that shouldn¡¯t be here in the middle of the day. Taking with him a backpack, quiver strapped to the side of his waist, and Echoform. Changing Echoform from a small knife to a bow was still a novelty to John, as in mere seconds it shifted its whole shape and weight to become a balanced composite bow with more power and range than a normal composite bow could ever be. He moved slowly to the general area needed to be investigated while activating energy detection plus AR (augmented reality displays). John shifted his attributes to agility as he stepped on the uneven forest ground.
Agility: 14 --> 19
According to the reports, unusual sounds of distressed animals had been heard, and there was a sudden mass movement of wildlife from the area for an unknown reason. In the last few days, the number of animals crossing the highway had spiked dramatically. Frightened animals and birds abandoning their habitat without an apparent cause was never a good sign. There had been no earthquake or forest fire to explain this kind of displacement. It was John''s job to investigate the cause. Was it mutation due to dungeon energy, or was something else? John glanced around, trying to discern a starting point for his investigation. The forest floor was a mosaic of fallen leaves and gnarled roots, each step releasing the scent of damp earth. He kept his senses on high alert, wary of any movement. As he ventured further, the forest seemed to come alive with whispers and rustling leaves. The Echoform runes pulsed in his hands as he kept his pace moderated¡ªneither hurrying nor slowing. He could hear the distant calls of animals in distress. John changed his course to the cries of animals. A sudden rustle in the underbrush made him pause; he nocked an arrow, ready for any unexpected situation. The bush parted as a rabbit darted out, bolting away the moment it spotted John. Clicking his tongue in annoyance, he lowered the bow as he continued in his way. John increased his speed as the load cries of animals were now silent. After a few minutes, his attention was captured by an unbelievable scene. ¡°What the hell!¡± John exclaimed as he drew the string. A swarm of beetles, each the size of an arm, was tearing into a deer carcass, their grotesque mandibles clicking in a sickening rhythm. Just a casual look sent a shiver down to his spine at the unsettling sight. Releasing the string, the arrow cut through the air, flying at unimaginable speed. In less than a second, the arrow pierced a beetle, pinning it to a nearby tree. A flurry of arrows followed, tearing through the beetles. John let out a breath as he let go of the last arrow. Changing his echoform to a short sword, he moved near the fallen mutants. Recording their data, he continued his search for other mutants. ¡®Mutants mean a dungeon. That settles it.¡¯ The following hours were spent on John tracking the mutants and taking care of them. After he finished, he reached the dungeon entrance and let the smart-lenses work their magic. A ten minutes later, John muttered, ¡°A normal dungeon, huh... I think I can take it solo. Let¡¯s do it.¡± John sent a message to Henry asking him about letting him clear the dungeon. After a few more board minutes of waiting, Henry sent the OK as his quest got updated. Taking a deep breath, John jumped into the portal.