Strength. That's what I need to make anything of myself in this world. Unlike on Earth, where the strength of a single individual is nothing, in this new world the strength of one man can crush armies, eradicate empires, and even cause disasters.

I will have my revenge.

But first, I need power. if I try to take my revenge as I am now, I would likely be swatted away like a gnat.

I pull up the class skill I had just obtained.

[Class Skill Gained: Series Creation

Description: By practicing and refining physical motions, you gain the ability to transform perfected physical movements into instant-use skills, when a certain number of similar theme skills add up, a {Series} is formed, further improving the ability of the created skills and categorizing them into a group]

"Hmm"

I'll try to figure this out later, for now I have to find somewhere else to settle, now that the assassin monster knows where I live, it's best to get my things and move further down the cavern.

I attempt to stealthily sneak back into my alcove and recover my meager items, after doing so I head back to the first room and restock my canteen with Health Potion.

"Now it's time for me to head down."

Moving further down the cavern isn't just for safety reasons, if I really wanted to be safe I could just stay in this safe zone room. But I have to head down eventually to find the exit and I also need more powerful items to survive these ridiculously overpowered monsters.

I finish packing my bag and start walking down.

"Let's see..."

I attempt to make a list of the most important things to do.

1. Find better equipment somewhere, hopefully investigating ruins will lead to some results.

2. Try to figure out the class skill I gained and use it to try to kill some of the monsters.

3. Figure out whatever that 'Sinner of Wrath' profession did to me, and whether or not it can make me stronger.

4. Find the exit.

I'm probably forgetting something, but for now this is what I have. Not really all that much, to be honest.

---

After walking down for some time, what I think should probably have been around 2-3 miles, I spot a set of stone building ruins that look significantly more intact than the rubble I'd seen earlier on and I decide to head inside.

"Heuk"

I let out some coughs, it seems nobody has been housecleaning in a while.

I've already made up my mind to explore any intact ruins I come across, so I quickly head inside.

Looking around, it's pretty much what you would expect from some random ruins found in a dungeon. Completely empty and covered in heavy sheets of dust, looks like not even the monsters like to head in here.

I turn back to the entrance to leave but my eyes catch on one of the torches on the wall just beside the door, specifically what's on it.

"Dried blood."

Why would there be blood on a torch fastened to the wall? Pulling out my extensive fantasy world book-knowledge, I exclaim.

"Secret entrance!"

Someone at some point in time had probably tried to open it up whilst also having blood on their hands, lucky for me I suppose.

I walk over to the torch and pull it down.

It doesn't budge.

"Damn! Was I wrong?"

Just in case I pull down harder.

"Wrrrrrinnnng"

Pulling down harder seems to have worked, the gears behind this mechanism must have rusted over time and made it much harder to pull down than it originally would have been.

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The torch falls by about 70 degrees and sounds out a metallic "Clink"

Suddenly from the previously empty wall behind me emits a grinding sound.

I turn around.

"I knew it."

I walk towards the door and look through it. It's a dark stairway leading down.

"I feel like I'm in a horror movie" I mutter.

From the blackened torches on the wall of the stairway I assume it was meant to be lit, but time ravages all.

I let out a defeated groan and start walking down despite the horror-esque vibes.

But suddenly I smack my head.

"I can just use flame magic!"

I quickly chant the words for a flame.

The chant finishes and a flame bursts forth from my palm... And fades away in less than a second.

"What?"

I suddenly receive a system notification, open it.

[Alert: Mana Pool has been destroyed, any and all use of spells will result in nothing happening.]

...

"What!?"

I think back to when I got my abdomen impaled and groan, It definitely had something to do with that, I even got a scar although the watch's ability said it would return me to pristine condition.

I curse any and every god I can remember.

Eventually I stop and continue climbing down the dark stairway, it's not that long so I reach the bottom shortly after and gaze into another new room. The space itself looks sort of like what you would expect from the living area of a wizard, parchment paper and ink wells scattered everywhere on the floor and on tables, there were also colorful vials postured along many of the tables. But most eye-catchingly in the center-back of the room there was a large semi-sphere composed of rings that looked to be made of brass, and in the center there was an artifact shedding a deep red hue across the room.

"Woah..."

Looks like my luck might be taking a turn for the better.

Ignoring everything else for now I walk up to the artifact and take a closer look. It looks to be a large vibrant crimson pearl with an endlessly dark center, I pick it up.

"Identify!"

['Vampiric' Soul-Binding Pearl

Description: ???]

"A prefix..."

Back when I was still studying at the kingdom, the white-cloaks explained something called 'prefixes' to us. Apparently certain extremely rare items found either dropping from extremely high level elemental-type monsters or found in Labyrinth treasure rooms could have a prefix. According to them these prefixes could either lightly or heavily affect what an item could do, but most of the time they at least stayed somewhat similar to what the original item was.

This 'Soul-Binding Pearl' happened to have the 'Vampiric' prefix, usually the changes a prefix made to an item would be explained in its description, but seeing as this one just had question marks I was unsure of what to make of it, not to mention I had no idea how to even use it.

"Mmmh" I give a dissatisfied grunt and place the pearl in my pack.

Oh well, there must still be some other relics laying around here.

Roving my eyes around the rest of the room my eyes lay on a polished iron disc laying on one of the tables, I walk over and pick it up as well.

"Identify!"

[Weapon Refining Disc

Description: Can be consumed to refine any low to medium level weapon back to pristine condition, also applies a few medium-level Runes.

Runes:

Rune of Unbreaking: Increase the durability of a weapon

Rune of Sharpness: Increase the sharpness of a bladed weapon

Rune of Air Splitting: Reduce the effect of air on a swung weapon]

"Sheesh" I say "This is actually really good!"

Seeing as I currently have no useful weapons, this will be a huge help if I combine it with my rusted sword.

I press the 'Use' button and select my rusted sword.

[Combine {Weapon Refining DIsc} and {Extremely Rusted Bastard Sword}?]

I select 'Yes'.

[New Weapon Created!]

[Rune-Inscribed Iron Bastard Sword

Description: A simple bastard sword made of folded iron, and inscribed with the following runes:

Rune of Unbreaking: Increase the durability of a weapon

Rune of Sharpness: Increase the sharpness of a bladed weapon

Rune of Air Splitting: Reduce the effect of air on a swung weapon

Effect of 'Sinner of Wrath' Profession:

Flames of Wrath: Cuts from this sword will ignite wounds with the flames of your rage.]

"With this, I can finally inflict damage!"

Previously I had either been running away or hiding from the monsters here, but now I can actually defend myself!

...If I don't instantly die from a hit.

"Hehe" I let out an awkward chuckle. Even with this amazing sword, I can't immediately make up the level difference between me and these monsters. Still though, when I eventually level up this will be a great help.

I am especially curious about the 'Flames of Wrath' effect, it seems this profession isn't for nothing. Thankfully the disc repaired the scabbard for the sword as well so I don't have to walk around worrying about stabbing myself.

Sheathing the sword again, I look around the room for more treasures.

I don't really expect anything else besides the two amazing items I have already got but it doesn't hurt to look.

Not spotting anything, I try to identify one of the colorful vials but nothing happens. Time must have taken away whatever effects this used to give.

Sighing, I walk back up the stairwell and head outside when something suddenly catches my eye.

I quickly jump behind the wall and sneak a look through the doorway. As expected, my luck can't last forever, it looks like a humanoid monster, again, but I decide to watch it for a while and ascertain whether or not I can kill it with my new sword.

The monster abruptly turns its head and the black hair-looking substance moves behind its head. I freeze, but then it turns back without looking at me.

I let out a breath and look again.

I frown "Wait... is that a human!?"