《Echoes of Cataclysm》 Chapter 1 – The First Tremors The world had changed. No one knew exactly **how** or **why,** but Earth was no longer the same planet it had been just a few months ago. The sky stretched **higher,** the horizon seemed **farther,** and the **oceans swallowed entire coastlines overnight.** Mountains that once stood as solitary sentinels had been **dwarfed** by new peaks that defied logic. The **moon loomed closer,** and tides had gone wild. Governments and scientists scrambled to make sense of it all. There were **theories¡ªmany theories.** But no **answers.** The only undeniable truth was that Earth had somehow **expanded fivefold.** And yet, despite this **insane** increase in size, **gravity had not changed.** The air still felt the same. People''s bodies remained the same. **Physics should have broken down completely¡ªyet life went on.** And then, the **whispers began.** They started faintly, like echoes at the edge of hearing. Then, one day, the **world itself spoke.** --- **{Initialization Complete. Akashic Record Linked to Planetary Consciousness.}** **{Calculating Life Experience¡­ Assigning Classes and Talents¡­}** --- The messages appeared in everyone¡¯s minds **simultaneously.** It wasn¡¯t a hallucination. It wasn¡¯t a dream. The world had become¡­ **something else.** And amidst this grand mystery, utterly unaware of his impending misfortune, was **Kiran.** A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. --- **"I hate alarms."** Kiran groaned as his phone blared in his ears, vibrating aggressively against the rickety wooden nightstand of his cramped hostel room. Slapping at the screen with barely functional motor skills, he finally silenced it and stared blearily at the ceiling. (What time is it¡­?) His eyes flicked to the clock. **6:00 AM.** For a long moment, he simply lay there, resisting the temptation to sink back into unconsciousness. Then, **it hit him.** (Today¡­ I¡¯m going home.) Suddenly, he was awake. It had been **six months** since he¡¯d last visited home. Not because he hadn¡¯t wanted to¡ªbut because **everything had gone to hell.** First, university life had swallowed him whole. Then, the world had¡­ well, **changed.** Kiran had seen the signs like everyone else. The land had stretched. The sky had shifted. Tides had become unpredictable. **Birds had started acting weird.** And then, of course, there was **the voice.** That damn **Akashic Record.** --- At first, Kiran had thought he was **losing his mind.** The first message had come without warning: **{Calculating Life Experience¡­}** That was it. No explanation, no instructions. Just a cryptic statement that felt less like an external voice and more like a **truth etched into reality itself.** At first, he had ignored it. But then¡­ It had **stayed.** Every so often, in the quiet moments between thoughts, he would **feel** the Akashic Record¡¯s presence, watching, analyzing. Not just him. **Everyone.** People had reported hearing the same thing. But no one knew what it **meant.** Some believed it was the voice of God. Some thought it was a **new stage of human evolution.** Others feared it was the prelude to **something far worse.** Kiran? He didn¡¯t care what it was. He just wanted to **go home.** --- Kiran rolled out of bed and started going through his **checklist.** - **Spare clothes?** Packed. - **Food rations?** Enough to last three days. - **First-aid kit?** Fully stocked. - **A multipurpose survival knife hidden in his luggage?** Obviously. - **Pocket flashlight, extra batteries, rope, and duct tape?** Check, check, and check. Some might say he was **paranoid.** He preferred to call it **being prepared.** Because if there was one thing Kiran had learned in life, it was this: **If something can go wrong, it absolutely will.** --- From the moment he was born, Kiran had been followed by **disaster.** Not just bad luck in the normal sense¡ªnot just missed buses or lost wallets. **No.** His bad luck was **on another level.** - His first **bike ride** ended with an actual **eagle attack.** - His first **train ride** derailed because of a **freak mechanical failure.** - His first **plane trip**? Emergency landing due to **engine failure.** - He once tried **hiking**¡ªa **freak landslide almost buried him alive.** And that was just **the beginning.** At some point, Kiran had **stopped being surprised.** Instead, he had learned to **adapt.** He had learned to **prepare for the worst.** He wasn¡¯t some weakling who just accepted fate. If bad luck was going to chase him forever¡ªthen he would fight back with **over-preparedness.** That¡¯s why today, as he prepared to leave for home, he made sure his bags were **packed for the apocalypse.** Because deep down, he **knew.** Chapter 2 – The Journey Into Chaos The explosion shook the city. Windows rattled, alarms blared, and distant screams echoed through the streets. Kiran stood frozen in his hostel doorway, staring out at the chaos unfolding below. (Okay. Breathe. This might not be because of me.) A second explosion went off, this time closer. (¡­Nope. It¡¯s definitely because of me.) He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to stay calm even as his brain went into full-blown panic mode. [What the hell is a ¡°Cataclysm Magnet¡±?!] {Talent Explanation: Cataclysm Magnet ¨C The user passively attracts large-scale disasters. The severity of disasters increases in proportion to the user¡¯s growth.} [You¡¯ve got to be kidding me.] His fingers twitched against the strap of his backpack. (So that¡¯s why my life has been one long, unending nightmare. It was a damn **Talent?**) He barely had time to process that revelation before a new message appeared. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. {Title Assigned: Harbinger of Misfortune} (That sounds **worse!**) Kiran¡¯s eye twitched. This was fine. He could handle this. He had **lived through this curse his entire life.** This wasn¡¯t new. What was new, however, was the **Akashic Record actively acknowledging his suffering.** And worse¡­ increasing it. Another explosion rocked the street. Black smoke billowed into the air as flames licked the side of a nearby building. People were already running, some yelling into their phones, others blindly fleeing without understanding what had happened. Kiran took a single step forward. The ground caved beneath him. ¡°¡ª!¡± His reflexes kicked in, and he threw himself backward just in time to avoid falling into a gaping sinkhole that had swallowed half the road. [What kind of city-destroying disaster is this?!] {Minor Urban Cataclysm. Low-Casualty Probability. Estimated Duration: 2 Hours.} [Minor?!] Kiran stared at the message, aghast. Then, somewhere in the distance, a **bridge collapsed.** (¡­I need to leave. Right now.) He was already moving, weaving through panicked civilians as the city fell apart around him. His brain went into **crisis mode**, calculating escape routes, potential dangers, and supplies he might need. He had one goal. **Get out of the city before his luck made things worse.** But fate had other plans. {Title Assigned: The Unkillable} [What does that even mean¡ª] Something **huge** slammed into the street ahead, sending debris flying. Kiran instinctively ducked, raising his arms to shield his face as concrete chunks rained around him. When the dust settled, he saw **what had fallen.** A **bus.** From a **skyscraper.** (¡­Excuse me?) It took his brain a full three seconds to process what he was looking at. The bus had crashed nose-first into the street like some kind of **modern art installation.** The windows were **empty.** No passengers. No driver. Just an entire city bus¡­ **that had fallen from the sky.** {Calamity Luck in Effect. Anomalous Events Will Continue.} [Oh, for the love of¡ª] Kiran turned and **ran.** A normal person would have stopped to ask **why a bus fell from a building.** A normal person might have tried to investigate. But Kiran was not normal. Kiran had learned a very important lesson in life: **Do not question disasters. Just get away from them.** His feet pounded against the pavement as he made a beeline for the outskirts of the city. Every instinct screamed at him that staying here was a **death sentence.** And, as if to prove him right, another message appeared. {Cataclysm Progression: Stage 2 Initiated.} The ground rumbled. Kiran didn¡¯t look back. Chapter 3 – The City Falls Kiran sprinted through the crumbling streets, weaving through panicked crowds and falling debris. His lungs burned, his legs ached, but he didn¡¯t dare slow down. Not with **the city actively collapsing behind him.** (Just a normal morning. Just another day in the life of Kiran, walking disaster magnet.) Another building groaned ominously, its foundation cracking as it tilted unnaturally. People screamed and scattered as a **fifty-story tower began to fall.** Kiran¡¯s breath hitched. (Okay, yeah. That¡¯s new.) The skyscraper wasn¡¯t just **collapsing.** It was **shrinking.** No, not shrinking¡ª**compacting.** The entire structure was condensing into itself, like an invisible hand was squeezing it into a smaller and smaller form. The air trembled with an unnatural hum, and within seconds, the once-massive building had been reduced to a **perfectly smooth, metallic sphere.** The sphere hovered in place for a brief moment¡ª Then **shot into the sky** like a bullet, vanishing beyond the clouds. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Kiran stopped running. His brain refused to process what had just happened. Then¡ª {Anomalous Spatial Event Detected. Cataclysm Progression: Stage 3 Initiated.} He did the only logical thing. ¡°¡­Nope.¡± And kept running. Behind him, the city **continued to warp.** --- The **Akashic Record** had thrown the world into chaos. People had barely begun to understand the new reality before **disasters started happening.** Some places experienced extreme weather shifts, with deserts turning into frozen wastelands overnight. Some had forests growing so rapidly that entire highways were swallowed within hours. But cities? Cities were where the **worst things happened.** Places densely populated with humans¡ªwhere evolution, adaptation, and latent abilities **all clashed together.** Kiran had watched the news. He had seen videos of **impossible** disasters happening worldwide. But this¡­ this was the first time he was in the middle of one. And he **hated** that it felt normal. --- The city trembled again. This time, the **sky changed.** It rippled like water, colors shifting erratically as the air turned heavy. The sensation made Kiran¡¯s skin crawl, like reality itself was struggling to hold together. {Dimensional Instability Detected. Anomalous Phenomena Expected.} [What does that even mean?!] Then, as if in response¡ª The **moon vanished.** One second, it was there¡ªfull and looming closer than usual. The next, it was **gone.** The world fell into a deep, unnatural darkness as the absence of lunar light left only flickering city fires to illuminate the streets. Kiran didn¡¯t stop running. He didn¡¯t stop to question it. Because the moment the moon disappeared, the **stars started moving.** Like something **alive.** Like something was **watching.** --- Kiran reached the edge of the city, gasping for breath. The roads ahead were fractured, entire highways swallowed into the earth. There was no clear path forward¡ªjust devastation and chaos. And then¡ª He felt **something shift.** Not around him. **Inside him.** {Life Experience Updated. Recalculating Class and Talent.} Kiran¡¯s pulse spiked. Not again. {Title Upgraded: Harbinger of Misfortune ¡ú Catalyst of Chaos.} {Talent Mutation Detected. Cataclysm Magnet ¡ú Chaos Conductor.} [That doesn¡¯t sound better at all!] Then¡ª The sky **split open.** And the **stars began to fall.* Chapter 4 – When the Sky Falls The first star crashed into the city center. It wasn¡¯t a burning ball of gas or a meteor. It was **something else.** Something **alive.** A sphere of writhing black mass, pulsing with an eerie glow, hit the ground with a soundless impact. The moment it touched the earth, **reality warped.** Buildings near the impact site **shifted and changed**, twisting into bizarre, impossible shapes. The people closest to it¡­ **vanished.** Kiran didn¡¯t wait to see what would happen next. He turned and ran. --- The **Akashic Record** was breaking reality apart. Since the arrival of **Mana**, the world had been mutating. Evolution was happening at an impossible rate. Some people became stronger, faster, or smarter overnight. Some **changed in ways no one could understand.** Stolen story; please report. But the worst part? The **world itself** was evolving. New landscapes were appearing out of nowhere. Cities were being swallowed by **forests, deserts, or frozen wastelands.** And then there were the **dungeons.** Places that **should not exist**¡ªmassive, labyrinthine structures filled with **monsters, traps, and impossible creatures.** No one knew **why** they appeared. No one knew **what** was inside them. Because no one had ever returned from the ones that had already emerged. And now¡­ Kiran was about to see one **form in real time.** --- {Dimensional Instability Surging. Dungeon Manifestation Imminent.} A deep, vibrating hum filled the air. The ground beneath Kiran¡¯s feet **shuddered.** And then¡ª **The world¡­ cracked.** Right in front of him, **space itself fractured.** A jagged, gaping wound in reality tore open, stretching **hundreds of meters wide.** It was a **dungeon entrance.** A **massive, spiraling abyss**, pulsating with an unnatural energy. The people who had survived the city¡¯s collapse stood frozen, staring at it in horror. No one spoke. No one **dared** to move. Because something was coming out. --- Kiran¡¯s heart pounded as he slowly backed away. {Dungeon Type: Unknown. Rank: Unstable. Threat Level: Catastrophic.} Catastrophic. Of course it was. (Why wouldn¡¯t it be?) Something **moved** inside the abyss. A **shadow.** No, a **presence.** Something that didn¡¯t belong to this world. Kiran felt a sharp, sudden **pain in his head.** For a split second, he saw **something staring back at him.** Something ancient. Something that **knew his name.** And then¡ª **It reached out.** The dungeon entrance **exploded outward**, and a massive **tidal wave of darkness** surged forth, swallowing the streets. Kiran barely had time to react. Then¡ª Everything went black. Chapter 5 – Into the Abyss Silence. Not the comforting kind. Not the kind that comes with peace or stillness. This was the kind of silence that felt **wrong**¡ªheavy, suffocating, like the world had stopped breathing. Then, pain. Kiran¡¯s head **ached**. His body felt like it had been crushed, stretched, and put back together all at once. He gasped, struggling for breath, but the air was thick, almost **liquid**, as if he were drowning without water. (Where¡­ am I?) {Environmental Shift Detected. Location: Unknown Dungeon.} His eyes snapped open. The city was **gone.** No streets, no buildings, no people. Just an **endless cavern**, stretching beyond sight, its walls made of something **not quite stone, not quite metal**. Everything was bathed in a dim, eerie glow, the light coming from veins of pulsating **blue energy** embedded in the ground. Kiran sat up slowly, his pulse hammering. (Okay. Okay. Deep breath. Think.) He had been standing at the edge of the dungeon when it **exploded outward.** The darkness had swallowed everything. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. And now¡­ He was **inside.** Alone. --- {Dungeon Type: Unstable. Reality Distortion Active.} {Survival Rate: 3%.} Kiran froze. (¡­Excuse me?) He **stared** at the message, his panic threatening to boil over. [You¡¯re telling me I have a THREE PERCENT CHANCE OF SURVIVING?] {Affirmative.} (You could¡¯ve at least lied to me!) Kiran exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. This was **bad.** No, beyond bad. This was **worst-case scenario territory.** He was alone in an unknown dungeon, with **no supplies, no escape route, and no idea what was lurking in the dark.** And worse¡ª **His bad luck was still active.** {Title Effect: Catalyst of Chaos. Dungeon Instability Increasing.} ¡°¡­Of course it is.¡± --- The cavern **shifted.** It wasn¡¯t an earthquake. It wasn¡¯t the ground shaking. It was something **else.** Something **watching.** Kiran¡¯s entire body tensed. He slowly turned his head. And saw **it.** At first, it didn¡¯t look like a creature. It looked like a **tear in space itself**¡ªa rippling distortion in the air, shifting and unraveling like something **half-there, half-not.** But then it **moved.** A massive **limb**¡ªif it could even be called that¡ªextended from the distortion. It was long, thin, and **wrong**, bending in ways that defied logic. And then¡ª It **twitched toward him.** Kiran didn¡¯t wait. He ran. --- (Okay. Okay. Let¡¯s break this down.) (One: I¡¯m in a dungeon that shouldn¡¯t exist.) (Two: There¡¯s a **thing** in here that doesn¡¯t follow the laws of reality.) (Three: I am very, very screwed.) His mind raced as he sprinted through the cavern, dodging jagged rock formations and glowing energy veins. He had **no map, no weapons, no food.** All he had was his **mind.** And **his bad luck.** (Wait.) His eyes widened. (Hold on. If my bad luck causes disasters¡­ maybe I can use it.) It was a **horrible idea.** A reckless, absurd, **completely insane idea.** But it was better than **no** idea. {Title Effect Activated: Catalyst of Chaos. Dungeon Instability Surging.} The ground beneath him **cracked.** The air vibrated with an unnatural hum. The cavern walls **began to collapse.** And behind him¡ª The **creature shrieked.** The sound was **wrong.** It wasn¡¯t something meant to be heard¡ªit was something that **shouldn¡¯t exist** in the first place. But it was **afraid.** Kiran **smiled.** (Not so fun when reality breaks against you, huh?) Then¡ª The dungeon **collapsed.** And everything **turned white.** Chapter 6 – The Fractured Path **Pain.** A deep, gnawing ache spread through Kiran¡¯s body as he slowly regained consciousness. His limbs felt like lead, his head throbbed, and his mouth was dry. He wasn¡¯t dead. Probably. He cracked open his eyes¡ª And nearly had a **heart attack.** --- He wasn¡¯t on solid ground. He was **falling.** The world around him was a chaotic mess of **floating ruins, shattered sky, and rivers of light twisting through the air like veins of a broken god.** The land itself was fractured, **torn into jagged, drifting islands**, suspended in nothingness. {System Integration Complete.} {Class System Unlocked.} {Subclass System Unlocked.} {Talent System Updated.} {Leveling System Activated.} {Calculating Class¡­} {Class Assigned: Cataclysm Survivor.} {Subclass Pending.} {Talent Updated: Chaos Conductor ¡ú Weaver of Ruin.} {Skills Unlocked.} {Level: 1} **A flood of information crashed into his mind.** Kiran¡¯s brain **screamed** in protest as knowledge he didn¡¯t have before was suddenly burned into his consciousness. His new **class**, his **talent**, the **rules of leveling**¡ªit was all there, laid bare like an open book. And then¡ª This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. {WARNING: HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT DETECTED.} "Oh, come on¡ª" **Something grabbed him.** --- A **clawed appendage** shot from the void, wrapping around Kiran¡¯s ankle. It was **cold**, like touching raw metal, yet it pulsed with unnatural **heat**. Kiran twisted midair, instinct kicking in. (Think, think, THINK!) His new **class**. His **skills**. He had to use them¡ª {Skill Unlocked: Adaptive Reflexes.} His body **moved on its own.** Twisting, he yanked himself free and slammed his boot against the creature¡¯s limb. A split-second later, his **bad luck activated.** The creature **twitched violently**, as if struck by an invisible force¡ª And then a chunk of **debris** from above came crashing down, **smashing it to pieces.** Kiran barely had time to register what just happened before¡ª {Level Up!} {Level: 2 ¡ú 3} He **slammed** into something solid. --- Kiran groaned, rolling onto his back. He had landed on one of the **floating islands**, barely managing to avoid plummeting into whatever void lay below. (Okay. Not dead. That¡¯s a win.) He took a slow breath, trying to process everything. - He had a **class** now. - He had **skills.** - And¡­ he had **leveled up?** He focused, and a translucent screen materialized before him. --- **[STATUS]** **Name:** Kiran **Level:** 3 **Class:** Cataclysm Survivor **Subclass:** Pending **Talent:** Weaver of Ruin **Titles:** Catalyst of Chaos **Skills:** - Adaptive Reflexes (Lv 1) - ??? (Sealed) - ??? (Sealed) --- (So leveling up increases my stats automatically¡­ but my subclass and some skills are locked?) He frowned. And then¡ª {Class Advancement at Level 50. Conditions Required: Unknown.} {Talent Evolution at Level 50. Conditions Required: Unknown.} Kiran exhaled. He was **far** from evolving anything right now. He needed to figure out **where** he was first. But the universe had other plans. The ground beneath him **shuddered.** --- A deep **rumbling** echoed through the broken sky. The fractured world around him **shifted**. Chunks of floating stone **drifted apart, then snapped back together** unnaturally, like reality was trying to stitch itself back into place. Kiran¡¯s stomach dropped. (Not good.) And then¡ª A **gate** opened in the sky. A massive, spiraling vortex, glowing with ominous blue light. And from within, **something stepped out.** --- It was **tall**¡ªfar taller than any human. A **twisted amalgamation of limbs and bone**, its body flickering in and out of focus, as if reality itself was rejecting its presence. It had no face, just a hollow void where one should be. It **stared at him** without eyes. And then¡ª {Entity Detected: Devourer Wraith.} {Rank: ???} {Threat Level: Lethal.} Kiran''s blood ran cold. The **thing** let out a guttural sound¡ªlike a dozen voices whispering at once¡ª And lunged. --- (You¡¯ve gotta be kidding me¡ª) Kiran **moved.** His **Adaptive Reflexes** kicked in, his body reacting before his brain could process. He barely dodged as the wraith¡¯s claw **tore through the air**, leaving behind a **distortion** that **bent** space itself. That would have killed him. Immediately. Sweat dripped down his temple. (I CAN¡¯T FIGHT THIS.) He needed an **out.** Something. **Anything.** Then¡ª {Title Effect Activated: Catalyst of Chaos.} Kiran¡¯s stomach **dropped.** Something **cracked.** --- **The sky fell.** Chunks of floating debris **collapsed downward**, smashing into the wraith. The entity let out a **horrible, distorted screech**, its body twisting as it was crushed under tons of broken stone. Kiran didn¡¯t wait. He **ran.** (Just keep moving. Just keep moving¡ª) His legs burned, his breath came in sharp gasps, but he didn¡¯t stop. And then¡ª He saw it. At the very edge of the floating island, embedded in the ground¡ª A **rift.** It pulsed with unstable energy, shifting between **light and shadow.** A way **out.** Kiran didn¡¯t hesitate. He **jumped.** And then¡ª Everything **vanished.** --- Somewhere, beyond the fractured world, the **Akashic Record stirred.** The changes had only just begun. And Kiran was at the center of it all Chapter 7 – The Shattered Threshold **Silence.** It wasn''t the absence of sound¡ªit was something deeper. A suffocating stillness, like the world itself was holding its breath. Kiran **floated** in a void of shifting colors. Blues, purples, and blacks swirled like liquid, forming and dissolving into impossible shapes. His body was weightless, drifting without direction. (Am I dead this time?) {Negative.} The **Akashic Record**''s cold, mechanical voice cut through the void. {Entity has entered an unstable rift. Calculating outcome¡­} (Outcome? What do you mean outcome¡ª?) Suddenly, the **world twisted.** --- A **pull.** A force so strong that Kiran felt his very existence being stretched thin. He was **falling**, but it wasn''t a normal fall¡ªit was like he was slipping **between** places. The colors around him **fractured**, breaking into fragments of light. {Warning: Dimensional instability detected.} {Searching for nearest stable exit¡­} And then¡ª **Impact.** --- Kiran **slammed** into the ground. Pain shot through his body, knocking the air from his lungs. He lay there, gasping, staring up at a **sky that wasn¡¯t broken anymore.** Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. (I''m¡­ back?) The air was **thick** with humidity. The scent of damp earth filled his nostrils. He could hear the distant call of **birds**¡ªactual birds. Not void creatures. Slowly, painfully, he pushed himself up. He was in a **forest.** Tall trees stretched into the sky, their leaves glowing faintly as if infused with **mana**. The ground beneath him was covered in dense, overgrown foliage. And then¡ª {Level Up!} {Level: 3 ¡ú 4} {New Title Unlocked: Rift Survivor.} (¡­I leveled up just for **escaping?**) Kiran exhaled, rubbing his face. "Okay. I''m alive. That''s¡­ something." Now he just had to figure out **where the hell he was.** --- He checked his **status screen.** --- **[STATUS]** **Name:** Kiran **Level:** 4 **Class:** Cataclysm Survivor **Subclass:** Pending **Talent:** Weaver of Ruin **Titles:** Catalyst of Chaos, Rift Survivor **Skills:** - Adaptive Reflexes (Lv 1) - ??? (Sealed) - ??? (Sealed) --- (Still no subclass. And those sealed skills are starting to piss me off.) But the biggest problem? {Class Advancement at Level 50. Conditions Required: Unknown.} {Talent Evolution at Level 50. Conditions Required: Unknown.} He needed **specific conditions** to evolve his abilities, but he had **no idea what they were.** He sighed. "Great. Guess I''ll just¡ª" **A branch snapped.** Kiran **froze.** Something was **watching him.** --- A low growl rumbled from the shadows. A **creature** stepped into view, its eyes glowing like embers in the dim light. It was **massive**, almost the size of a bear, with thick, jagged fur and elongated limbs ending in **razor-sharp claws.** But the worst part? Its **teeth** were lined with unnatural, shimmering **crystals**¡ªpulsing with raw **mana.** {Entity Detected: Mana-Touched Direwolf.} {Level: 12} {Threat Level: High.} Kiran''s stomach **dropped.** (Why is everything always **so much stronger than me?!**) The wolf **lunged.** --- Kiran **rolled** to the side, barely dodging the beast¡¯s claws. The ground where he had been standing **exploded**, torn apart by the sheer force of the attack. His heart pounded. (I can¡¯t outrun this thing. I have to¡ª) His **bad luck** activated. The wolf, mid-charge, **stumbled**¡ªits foot catching on an exposed tree root. Its massive form **crashed** forward, slamming headfirst into a fallen log. For a moment, it didn¡¯t move. Kiran stared. (¡­Did that just happen?) Then¡ª The **tree above the wolf snapped.** A massive branch, already weakened by decay, **collapsed**¡ªright onto the stunned beast¡¯s head. **CRACK.** The wolf **twitched once.** Then it went still. {Level Up!} {Level: 4 ¡ú 5} Kiran blinked. Then he started laughing. "Are you **kidding** me?!" --- He wiped at his eyes, still chuckling. "Alright. I need to use this luck properly before it **kills** me instead." First step¡ª**survival.** He checked the wolf¡¯s body. Those mana-infused **crystals** in its teeth looked valuable. He had no idea what they were, but if he was going to be stuck in this world with **monsters and dungeons**, he needed to learn how to **use** what he found. Using a sharp stone, he pried a crystal free. The moment he touched it¡ª {New Material Acquired: Mana Core (Lesser).} {New Skill Unlocked: Basic Extraction (Lv 1).} Kiran¡¯s eyes widened. "So I can actually **harvest** these things?" That meant¡­ if he found the **right materials**, he could potentially trigger **skill advancements** or even his **class evolution.** (Alright. New plan.) 1. **Gather materials.** 2. **Test crafting and extraction.** 3. **Figure out what conditions unlock my subclass and evolutions.** 4. **Try not to die in the process.** As he stood, a new notification popped up. {Special Condition Discovered: Gather 5 Mana Cores for Talent Evolution (1/5).} Kiran grinned. "Looks like I¡¯m making progress." For the first time since the world went to hell, he actually felt like he was in **control.** And knowing his **luck**, that probably meant something was about to go **horribly wrong.** Chapter 8 – The Chain of Catastrophe The forest stretched in every direction, its mana-rich flora humming with a subtle, otherworldly glow. Kiran adjusted his grip on the crude stone blade he''d fashioned, glancing at the **wolf corpse** beside him. The shimmering **Mana Core** he had pried from its teeth pulsed faintly in his palm. (So materials can trigger **special conditions**¡­ That means the Akashic Record isn¡¯t just passively tracking me¡ªit actively pushes me toward evolution.) {Special Condition Discovered: Gather 5 Mana Cores for Talent Evolution (1/5).} (If five of these can evolve my **talent**, then¡­ what about my class?) He focused on his **status screen**, searching for a clue. --- **[STATUS]** **Name:** Kiran **Level:** 5 **Class:** Cataclysm Survivor **Subclass:** Pending **Talent:** Weaver of Ruin **Titles:** Catalyst of Chaos, Rift Survivor **Skills:** - Adaptive Reflexes (Lv 1) - Basic Extraction (Lv 1) - ??? (Sealed) - ??? (Sealed) --- (Class advancement is at **Level 50**. The conditions are still **unknown**¡­ but maybe they also involve gathering something?) Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. A rustling in the underbrush snapped him back to reality. He froze. Low growls echoed from the shadows. (Oh, you¡¯ve got to be kidding me¡ª) **Two more** direwolves emerged, their glowing eyes locked onto their fallen kin. Their crystalline teeth shimmered in the dim light, their bodies rippling with raw mana. {Entities Detected: Mana-Touched Direwolves (x2).} {Level: 10, 11.} {Threat Level: High.} (¡­I just had to take the Mana Core, didn¡¯t I?) One of the wolves let out a deep, reverberating **howl**¡ª And the entire **forest** answered. A dozen other howls rose in response, echoing from **all around him.** Kiran¡¯s stomach **dropped.** (Oh. I am **so** screwed.) --- The wolves charged. Kiran **bolted**, leaping over the fallen log and darting deeper into the dense undergrowth. The ground blurred beneath him as he pushed his legs to their limit, dodging between thick trees and leaping over exposed roots. Behind him, the **thunder** of paws **shook the earth.** {Danger Level Rising: Surrounding Area Increasingly Hostile.} {Adaptive Reflexes (Lv 1) ¡ú Lv 2!} Kiran¡¯s movements became sharper, his instincts keener. He twisted mid-sprint, barely avoiding the snapping jaws of a wolf lunging from the side. But he wasn¡¯t fast enough. A **third** wolf came from the right, slamming into him with its massive bulk. Pain **exploded** across his ribs as he was sent tumbling through the dirt. He hit the ground hard, rolling to a stop against a jagged rock. (Shit, shit, shit¡ª) The lead wolf pounced. In that split second, Kiran¡¯s **bad luck** activated. A sharp **crack** split the air¡ª And the **ground beneath them collapsed.** --- Kiran barely had time to process what was happening before he was **falling.** A hidden **sinkhole** swallowed him and the wolf whole, the loose earth crumbling in a landslide of dirt and roots. The wolf **snarled**, twisting mid-air to try and claw at him¡ª But the collapse was **too fast.** They hit **something solid**. --- Kiran groaned. His vision was **spinning**. His entire body ached. He was lying on **stone**, deep within some kind of underground **chamber**. Dust filled the air, illuminated by an eerie blue glow. The wolf lay **motionless** nearby, its neck twisted at an unnatural angle. It was dead. {Level Up!} {Level: 5 ¡ú 6} (¡­That actually worked?) Kiran exhaled, pushing himself up on shaking arms. And then¡ªhe saw it. In front of him, embedded in the chamber wall, was an **intricately carved doorway.** Ancient symbols glowed faintly, their energy pulsing in rhythmic patterns. A **dungeon entrance.** {Hidden Dungeon Discovered: Ruins of the Forgotten Depths.} {Recommended Level: 15+.} (Oh, fantastic. Of course I fall into a **dungeon.**) And just as he was debating whether he should attempt to **leave**¡ª The **ground trembled.** Something **moved** within the dungeon. Kiran clenched his jaw. (¡­Welp. Time to add ¡®accidentally finding a death trap¡¯ to my list of talents.) And with that, he stepped inside. Chapter 9 – Into the Depths The air inside the dungeon was thick with an eerie silence, broken only by Kiran¡¯s cautious footsteps. The ancient stone walls pulsed with faint blue lines of **mana**, casting flickering shadows across the passage. Dust hung in the air, disturbed for the first time in what could have been centuries. (So. **I fell into a hidden dungeon.** The Akashic Record says it¡¯s Level **15+**, and I¡¯m Level **6**.) {Chance of Survival: 4%} Kiran¡¯s eyelid **twitched.** (That¡¯s lower than I expected.) The **ceiling rumbled**, and loose debris tumbled down, cutting off the collapsed sinkhole above. His **only** way out was forward. He took a deep breath. "Alright. Time to see what fresh **hell** I just walked into." --- The first chamber was lined with **statues**. They stood in perfect formation¡ª**humanoid**, with elongated limbs and empty, hollow eyes. Each one clutched a **stone spear**, their expressions frozen in eternal vigilance. (Okay. Statues. Not creepy at all.) Kiran **inched forward.** His instincts screamed at him. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Then¡ª **A notification appeared.** {Dungeon Trial Initiated: Guardian''s Awakening.} {Objective: Survive.} Kiran **swallowed.** (¡­That can¡¯t be good.) --- **Stone cracked.** One by one, the **statues turned their heads** toward him. Their hollow eyes flared with an unnatural **blue light**. Then, as one¡ª **They moved.** --- Kiran **dodged** just in time. A **spear** slammed into the ground where he had been standing, splitting the stone floor with a deafening **crack**. The nearest statue lunged, its movements unnatural, like a puppet with its strings pulled too tight. {Dungeon Entity: Awakened Guardian.} {Level: 12.} Kiran¡¯s stomach **dropped.** (I''m not strong enough for this!) The statues **closed in**, cutting off his escape. Then¡ªhis **bad luck activated.** A **rumbling** sound echoed through the chamber. The ceiling **split**¡ªand an **entire section collapsed.** Dust and debris rained down, crushing several statues beneath massive slabs of rock. The remaining ones froze for a split second, as if **recalculating.** Kiran stared. (¡­Did my luck just **save** me?) Then the ground **tilted.** The entire **floor** cracked apart, sending him tumbling into the darkness below. --- **Impact.** Pain **exploded** through Kiran¡¯s body as he crashed into something **hard**. He groaned, rolling onto his back. {Level Up!} {Level: 6 ¡ú 7} "Why do I keep leveling up from **falling**?!" The glow of the mana-infused walls flickered, revealing a **new chamber**. Unlike the one above, this one was **different.** Ancient carvings covered the walls, depicting **creatures and warriors**¡ªsome wielding weapons of light, others transforming into monstrous forms. A massive **stone tablet** stood in the center, radiating a faint golden glow. Kiran staggered to his feet, his pulse **quickening.** {Special Opportunity Detected: Class Advancement Clue.} His breath caught. (This might be it. This might tell me **how to evolve my class.**) He stepped forward¡ª And then the **tablet spoke.** {¡°O lost one who walks the path of chaos¡­ prove your worth.¡±} The air **shifted.** A **golden light** gathered in front of him, swirling like a storm. Then¡ªsomething **stepped out.** A figure clad in **tattered armor**, its eyes **burning** with blue fire. Kiran¡¯s heart **stopped.** {Trial of the Forgotten Knight Initiated.} {Enemy Detected: Guardian of the Lost.} {Level: 20.} (Oh. **Oh no.**) The knight **raised its sword.** Kiran barely had time to react before it **attacked.** Chapter 10 – The Trial Begins The **Guardian of the Lost** moved faster than Kiran thought possible. The **blade** came down in a silver arc, splitting the air with a sharp **whistle**. Kiran barely **rolled aside**, the impact **shattering** the stone floor where he had stood just a heartbeat ago. (That would¡¯ve killed me instantly.) The knight did not hesitate. It **pivoted**, bringing its sword in a wide horizontal sweep. Kiran ducked, feeling the rush of air as the blade **sliced past his head**. {Trial of the Forgotten Knight Initiated.} {Objective: Survive.} (You don¡¯t say!) He scrambled back, his mind racing. The knight was **Level 20**, far beyond his own **Level 7**. If it landed a single clean hit¡ªhe was **dead**. But then¡ª A notification flickered. {Analyzing Combatant¡­ Adjusting Difficulty¡­} {Adaptive Reflexes (Lv 2) ¡ú Lv 3!} Suddenly, Kiran could **see it.** Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. The knight''s movements were **calculated**, each attack precise, each step deliberate. But there were **gaps**¡ªtiny ones. Flaws in the patterns. The knight lifted its sword again, and this time¡ª Kiran **moved first.** --- **Impact.** He drove his crude blade forward, aiming for the knight¡¯s side. But the moment his weapon connected¡ª A **shockwave** threw him backward. {Warning: Direct Attacks Ineffective.} Kiran crashed against the stone wall, gasping. (It has some kind of defense mechanism¡ªlike a repulsion field!) The knight didn¡¯t give him time to recover. It **lunged**, its sword stabbing down. Kiran rolled¡ªjust in time for the blade to sink deep into the ground where his chest had been. The knight was momentarily **stuck**. (That¡¯s my chance!) Kiran sprinted, grabbing a **loose fragment** of stone from the ruined floor. He turned, **hurling** it at the knight¡¯s helmet with all his strength. The rock **collided**¡ªand for a split second, the blue flames in the knight¡¯s eyes **flickered.** {Enemy Weakness Discovered: Head Stability Compromised.} Kiran¡¯s mind **raced.** (So I need to hit its **head**?) The knight wrenched its sword free, turning toward him again. But now¡ª**Kiran had a plan.** --- The next exchange was a **blur.** Kiran dodged left¡ªthen right, barely avoiding the knight¡¯s relentless strikes. Each time the blade **missed**, it gouged deep scars into the stone floor, sending dust and debris flying. He needed an **opening.** Then¡ªhis **bad luck activated.** A deep **rumble** shook the chamber. Loose stones from the ceiling **broke free**, cascading down in a sudden rockslide. The knight instinctively **raised its shield**¡ª And Kiran took the chance. He **sprinted** forward, leaping onto a **fallen pillar** for momentum. The knight turned back just in time for Kiran to drive his **fist**¡ªholding another stone shard¡ª**directly into its helmet.** **CRACK.** The flames in its eyes **flickered violently**. {Guardian Stability: 70% ¡ú 50%.} (That¡¯s it! If I do this a few more times¡ª) Then the knight **exploded with mana.** The force sent Kiran **flying.** He slammed into the far wall, vision **blurring**. When he looked up, his stomach **dropped.** The knight¡¯s **form shifted.** Its armor **repaired itself.** Its flames **burned brighter.** And then¡ªits **sword changed.** The simple blade elongated, glowing with ethereal **blue fire.** {Guardian of the Lost has entered **Phase 2.**} {New Ability Unlocked: Phantom Blade.} Kiran¡¯s heartbeat **spiked.** (Oh. That¡¯s **not** fair.) The knight **charged.** Chapter 11 – Desperate Gamble Kiran barely dodged as the **Phantom Blade** came **screaming** through the air. The spectral energy around it **distorted space**, leaving behind a trail of shimmering blue fire. The moment the blade hit the ground¡ª **BOOM.** A shockwave **ripped** through the chamber, sending cracks across the stone floor. Kiran was thrown backward, tumbling across the rubble-strewn ground. (That¡¯s NOT a normal sword anymore!) {Analysis: Guardian¡¯s Phantom Blade Ignores Physical Defenses.} (Meaning if it touches me, I die instantly. Great.) The **Guardian of the Lost** strode forward, its burning blue eyes locked onto him. Its steps were slow, methodical¡ªlike it knew he had **nowhere to run.** Kiran forced himself up, breathing hard. His entire body **ached**, his limbs heavy with exhaustion. But his mind was **racing.** --- (Alright, think.) The **Guardian** was stronger, faster, and now had a weapon that could **one-shot** him. His previous method of attacking its helmet wouldn¡¯t work anymore¡ªit had repaired itself. He needed a **new strategy.** This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. His gaze darted across the chamber. The **carvings on the walls**, the collapsed rubble, the glowing **mana lines** running through the stone¡ª Then his eyes landed on the **massive stone tablet** in the center. The one that had started this **trial.** (Wait.) A thought **hit him.** (What if¡­ the trial doesn¡¯t end when I kill it?) His heart pounded. (What if it ends¡­ when I complete the inscription on the **tablet**?) It was a gamble. A **ridiculous** gamble. But if his **bad luck** was going to keep throwing disasters at him¡ªhe might as well **use it.** --- The **knight moved.** Its burning blade carved an arc through the air, slicing toward Kiran¡¯s **neck.** Instead of dodging¡ª He ran **toward** the attack. At the last second, he **dropped to the ground**, sliding underneath the knight¡¯s swing. The blade missed him by mere inches, **scorching the air above his head.** The knight turned to **follow**¡ªbut Kiran was already moving. He **sprinted** toward the stone tablet, his legs burning with effort. The carvings glowed faintly as he approached, the inscriptions **shifting**, rearranging themselves into a **pattern** he couldn¡¯t understand. {Special Interaction Detected: Inscription of the Forgotten.} {Chance of Success: 12%} He slammed his hand onto the surface. The air **shuddered.** The entire chamber **groaned**¡ªas if something ancient had just been awakened. The Guardian **froze mid-step.** Its fiery eyes flickered¡ªhesitating for the **first time.** Kiran¡¯s heart pounded. (It¡¯s working!) Then¡ªhis **bad luck activated.** The **ceiling cracked.** A massive chunk of stone broke loose¡ªfalling **directly toward him.** (You¡¯ve GOT to be kidding me!) --- The **next moments were chaos.** Kiran barely leaped aside as the **boulder crashed** onto the stone tablet. A blinding **golden light** erupted from the impact, flooding the entire chamber. The inscriptions on the tablet **flared**, surging with pure mana. Then¡ª A **voice echoed.** {Trial Completed.} {Calculating Results¡­} Kiran gasped for breath, his entire body trembling. The light dimmed¡ªrevealing the **Guardian of the Lost.** It stood **motionless.** Then, slowly¡ªits burning eyes **dimmed.** The massive knight **lowered its sword.** Kiran watched, his chest rising and falling rapidly. (¡­Did I win?) Then, a **notification appeared.** {Class Advancement Achieved: Survivor ¡ú Adaptive Wanderer.} {Title Earned: Trial Survivor.} A surge of **energy** washed over him¡ªpure, raw **power** flooding into his body. His entire **being** changed. Kiran staggered, feeling something **deep** within him shift. His muscles tensed, his senses sharpened. {Level Up!} {Level 7 ¡ú Level 10.} He stared at the notifications, his breath still shaky. (That¡­ was the worst fight of my life.) Then the ground **shook** beneath him. A **new doorway** had appeared. Beyond it¡ª**a staircase leading deeper into the dungeon.** Kiran groaned. "Of course there¡¯s **more.**"