This dungeon is a place full of challenges and rewards. Only the worthy can exit it victoriously.
Claim your prize from the Tenedariam forefathers if you dare. You’ll find what you most need at the end of the dungeon.
The healing from experience time does not work inside the dungeon. You may die. Enter at your own risk.
Level recommended: 4
Rewards: EXP and an Uncommon Treasure Chest
Cole and Sun Tie locked eyes momentarily, each silently measuring the other's willingness. Sun Tie had barely known Cole for a day, but he could already tell that the older man was typically cautious, not the type to leap into what was essentially shouting 'adventure!' at them.
‘Earn the reward you most need.’ Conquering this dungeon meant he would get his core back. There was nothing Sun Tie needed more than the ability to cultivate. Maybe I am getting my revenge against Sun Li…
The dungeon's recommended level, one above their own, needed to be more daunting to sway Sun Tie's resolve.
He was busy prepping arguments to convince or ditch Cole when the old man suddenly spoke up.
"Look, kid, I don't know about you, but I'm stepping into that dungeon." His eyes were steely, filled with a new-found determination. He readjusted his hat and whipped out his shotgun from his inventory. He was bracing himself for whatever was coming. "You coming along or what?"
“Absolutely,” Sun Tie responded, dusting his robe, adjusting his sandals, and putting his hair behind his head. “Let’s see what’s inside. When we get back, we’ll decide what to do next.”
Cole nodded back at him, and they entered the place.
----------------------------------------
Cole nearly took a tumble on that first step. He didn't see the stairs coming. A chuckle slipped from Sun Tie's mouth, earning him a glare from the old man.
Torches lit their way down, casting eerie shadows over intricate wall carvings that were too enigmatic for Sun Tie to decipher.
After about five minutes, they found themselves in a circular room with two doors: one straight ahead and the other to the side. The central door was more imposing, boasting a hollow circle like it was missing some key element.
Sun Tie imposed himself on the big door, but it didn’t move an inch.
“It’s locked.” He announced, turning back to Cole.
“This one is not.” Cole said, close to the smaller door next to him.
"Hold up. Look at this," Sun Tie pointed skyward. In the distance, they could see a figure with purple features drawn on the wall. The creature was handing over a yellow cube to two disembodied white hands.
A simple but beautiful painting.
"Something from your world?" Cole asked.
"Nah," Sun Tie shook his head, finally breaking his gaze from the mural. "Let's get moving."
Sun Tie could not stop himself from being curious about what they contemplated. Logic pointed to it being something from the other world integrated with theirs, Umbraheim, but something told him this was different, that he witnessed something important.
The carvings on the walls became more evident. Other creatures like the one depicted on the roof. Monstrous purple beings, all muscle and single-eyed, immersed in hunting, fishing, and combat scenes. As they reached the end of the corridor, yet another wooden door greeted them.
[First Dungeon Challenge]
You have received
[2x inferior health potions]
[2x inferior mana potions]
Use only within the dungeon's confines.
The first thing Sun Tie did was examine the potions he had earned. According to their descriptions, each could restore 50 mana or health points. After inspecting them, Sun Tie returned the potions to his inventory.
Now that he had acquired his rune ability, Sun Tie was still contemplating whether upgrading his dexterity was the best course. His fists were already quite mighty with or without a [Echo Strike], so he opted to boost his Strength instead.
He wasn't entirely sure what [Echo Strike] meant, but it significantly amplified the impact of his blows. More Strength would translate into heavier punches.
A shiver ran down his spine, and a pleasant sensation filled his body. Everything had felt the same the last time he had upgraded his status. Odd…
Upon opening his skills menu, he noticed that [Stealth], [Tracking], and [Combat Strength] were available to him. However, what caught his interest were two new skills that now appeared above [Combat Dexterity].
[Swift Strike]: Increases dexterity by 25% until you make your first strike on combat.
[Mobility Boost]: Increases overall movement speed by 12% for 10 seconds after taking a hit.
Both skills seemed helpful, but Sun Tie was more inclined toward the first. The second skill required him to take hits to activate, which didn't align with his fighting style of dodging enemy attacks and delivering powerful strikes at opportune moments.
Sun Li had known this and had won because of it. Partially… he cheated in the end.
[Swift Strike] would increase his speed before his initial attack, allowing him to assess the situation better and target his enemy effectively.
He selected the skill, and a message appeared before him.
Do you want to accept the [Swordsman] class?
[Y/N?]
You have 2 class points available.
No, I don’t want it. Gods punish me if I become that.
Then, Sun Tie looked at Cole. The man was stoic, arms crossed, leaning against the wall. It was true that he didn’t want the class, but there certainly wasn’t a reason for him not to know more about classes.
“This Archer class of yours…” Sun Tie started, getting close.
“What about it?” Cole asked, lifting his head.
“What skills do you have?” Sun Tie asked, “Just to know…”
“You still don’t have a class, do you?” Cole inquired and walked towards the door.
“Of course I have no class. I told you, I’m no swordsman.” Sun Tie replied, joining the man close to the door. He turned to face Sun Tie.
“Look, I don’t know what your problem truly is. But you should take it, kid. I have [Regenerate Arrows] and [Charged Shot]. The first one already saved me multiple times. The second one I’ll test on whatever creature we see ahead.”
“Whatever, old man. Do your arrow thing. I’ll do mine.” Sun Tie said, pushing Cole aside while the other man shook his head.
“I’m not that old, you know? I’m only 56.” Cole said behind him.
“Yes, but you appear to be way older. My servant looked younger than you, and he was 90.” Sun Tie chuckled but worried internally.
Are you okay, Zhao Jun? Old bastard, you’re probably safer near Sun Xian and the sect. Perhaps this hell is something that only happens when your core gets shattered. I just need to get it fixed, then. Easy. Wait for your Young Master to return, and we shall rise like the Phoenix again.
Without another word, they entered the first challenge of the dungeon.
----------------------------------------
A beautiful grass plain extended itself through the distance. Acacia trees appeared here and there on the horizon. The golden grass heard the whispering of the wind. The blue sky meeting the golden floor was a beautiful sight. The light was probably from noon.
The door behind them closed, and Sun Tie instinctively knew it was sealed without needing to test it.
The grass reached up to their waists as distant sounds of feasting beasts filled the air. Flocks of birds crisscrossed the sky, flying from one horizon to the other.
“This is the end of the world as we knew it,” Cole said, his vision darting in all directions—the door standing in the middle of the plain, held by nothing but what seemed like magic.
“Yes…” Sun Tie could not hide his awe. He had entered a magical portal, like children’s tales. “A completely new place inside a dungeon in the forest… Incredible.” The power of this unknown god impressed Sun Tie more by the second.
“Look.” Cole pointed his finger in front of them.
A figure was moving in the distance, maybe 100 yards ahead. After a couple of seconds, it was evident. Something, or better, three things, rushed in their direction below the tall grass.
An arrow soared through the air, aimed at the rustling grass. However, it seemed to miss its mark as the creatures rapidly advanced. What the hell is that? Sun Tie thought.
Waiting for an opportunity, Sun Tie stood with two hands up, one foot slightly in front of the other. It was not a traditional fighting posture, but he had always favored unorthodox ones.
“You’ll need to help me hit it,” Cole said, taking steps behind. “Keep it away from me and give me a window. I’ll make the shot count.” His vision was darting, searching for movement in the grass, but nothing happened.
The creatures swiftly burst out of the grass—Three large monkeys with grey fur and sharp fangs armed with daggers. Murder glinted in their red eyes as their daggers shimmered in the sunlight.
Cole was fast enough to dodge the assault, clearly having invested some points in dexterity. Sun Tie charged toward them, fists clenched, consumed by battlelust.
Face me, little bastards. Sun Tie had fought dozens, maybe hundreds of these animals back in Eternal Wind. It was never pleasing.
Although they were too quick for him to track, their attempts to attack Cole slowed them down. Cole stashed his bow away and drew his shotgun, a weapon Sun Tie knew to be better suited for close combat. He fired, and one of the creatures dropped motionless into the grass. The other two stopped, too, below the grass. Their breath was the only indicative of their position.
Sun Tie rushed in the direction the beasts had dropped, speed flowing in his veins. [Swift Strike] and [Combat dexterity] worked wonders for his agility. Sun Tie had to come close enough to hit the creatures with his fists and hope for Cole to hit the mark. Could he manipulate the mana from the monster?
His thoughts were cut short as one of the creatures lunged again, this time aiming for Sun Tie. Shifting his weight from one foot to the other, he twisted his body to gain momentum. His next strike would hit hard.
The creature was launched by the punch, flying directly toward Cole. The move was too unpredictable for the man to evade.
The monster’s dagger descended, aiming at Cole’s neck. The old man shifted enough for the beast to miss his artery, but the blade stuck in his shoulder. A grunt of pain erupted from Cole’s throat. The beast kicked him to the side and fixed its attention on Sun Tie again, who was already getting close.
“You wretched monster!” Sun Tie shouted beside himself. But before he could come close to Cole, the other beast tried to kill him.
The dagger swung toward Sun Tie, aiming at his thighs. This demon was trying to hit his artery. The Young Master slid on the dusty pavement and dodged the slash as if it were limbo.
Then, Sun Tie twisted his upper body back up, thanks to his inhuman flexibility, delivering a devastating uppercut to the monster’s chin. The strike lifted the creature off the ground before it stumbled back down.
Not an [Echo Strike], but I’ll keep trying.
Sun Tie noticed the monkey was slow when running through the grass this time. He had [Swift Strike] too…
He looked at Cole and saw the man dropping his boots on the monkey on the ground while trying to remove the dagger from his shoulder.
“Old man, don’t miss the opportunity because of a damn cataract!” Sun Tie shouted.
The ape lunged with its dagger at Sun Tie, who sidestepped the thrust and landed a punch to the creature's ribs, followed by another.
Come on… work, skill… work
The creature retreated some steps before charging again.
Sun Tie stood his ground, waiting. Just as he'd predicted, the creature leaped again. Sun Tie could see mana emanating from the monster, like how he observed Qi entering or leaving his body. This jump must be some sort of skill.
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When the dagger came midair, Sun Tie turned swiftly and connected his fist with the jumping creature before him. Sun Tie felt his knuckles on fire, a blue mist forming alongside his fist. It's mana. [Echo Strike] had worked, and the young master could see the mana.
Somehow, he felt the pull of mana from the skill and a sensation of emptiness there. On pure instinct, he tried injecting more Mana into his attack.
Sun Tie felt the monster's bones disintegrate on his knuckles, blood bursting from the resulting cut. The beast reeled, dazed.
Before the creature could regain its senses, a sharp, whizzing sound erupted from Cole's bow. The arrow flew through the air at incredible speed, tearing the atmosphere as it went, and lodged itself in the creature's face.
A look of utter disbelief spread across the monster's features before it crumpled to the ground.
[You have gained a rune level!]
[Dull Mana Rune] - level 3 - Common
Passive ability: Sword or Unarmed hits have a 3% of becoming an [Echo Strike].
[You have gained a level]
You have received 1 basic skill point, 1 class skill point, and 1 stat point.
[You have slain Grey Monkey - lvl 4]
[You have slain Grey Monkey - lvl 4]
[You have slain Grey Monkey - lvl 4]
Description: “Monkeys are common in all Eternal Wind Continent. Grey ones are known for their love of human weapons.
- Mission Updates -
Kill 15 enemies (6/15). Reward: EXP and Uncommon Treasure Chest.
Kill 5 Eternal Wind different hostile life-forms (1/5): Reward: EXP and an Uncommon Treasure Chest.
The creatures disintegrated into ashes, flying across the orange grass plain. It would have been a beautiful sight had their weapons not vanished.
Sun Tie rushed in Cole’s direction. The old man was drinking an HP potion.
“Are you okay?” Sun Tie asked.
“I lost, like, 80% of HP. This potion got me back to 70%. They hit hard, kid. Don’t know if I can take two or three with only my remaining potion.” The man said, getting up with some difficulty.
"We still have 3 potions," Sun Tie said, moving the door. “I hate these little devils.”
"These were big monkeys, indeed…” Cole muttered something else, but Sun Tie didn’t listen. Big? These are the small ones… I bet this fool is making this up as he goes along.
Lost in thoughts about the potential benefits of manipulating external mana, Sun Tie almost tripped over a chest that had materialized seemingly out of nowhere.
The box contained a circular object, probably the key.
A beautifully carved yellow cube adorned the object's center, resembling the paintings Sun Tie had seen on the ceiling. What is that? Sun Tie mused, wondering if it was some kind of core for these people on the carvings.
“I’m quite curious about that reward of yours, kid.” Sun Tie looked at the old man and saw a longing in his eyes. For the first time, the man seemed genuinely old.
“I’m personally not curious. I know exactly what we’re going to get.”
"And what would that be?" Cole raised an eyebrow.
"My core will either be fixed or replaced," Sun Tie said, letting the words slip from his lips.
"Oh, you never mentioned having something broken on you. May I see it?" Cole inquired as they walked toward the door.
"Absolutely not. The core isn't something you can simply look at. I won't explain it to you either. Perhaps, if you prove yourself, I'll consider taking you on as a disciple when I rejoin my sect. Only then might you be privy to such information," Sun Tie retorted, quickening his pace. He had no intention of sharing that he was not whole anymore with a commoner.
"Pff..." Cole scoffed, dripping with irony. "You're the one who's learning here, kid." Sun Tie sensed Cole had more to say, but the man held back.
"You're the one who needs to learn a thing or two about bodily arts," Sun Tie countered, casting a sidelong glance at Cole with a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "At first, I thought you were doing well, dodging those little devils. But then you got hit—like an amateur."
"You threw a monster at me!" Cole retorted, readjusting his white hat.
"You should have been able to dodge it! The gods have bestowed upon you the gift of speed in your old age. In the Eternal Wind, one has to earn it. Now, you just point that peculiar weapon of yours and shoot—BANG! And suddenly, you're faster. What a joke," Sun Tie declared, letting the last sentence hang in the air for a few seconds before Cole could respond.
"As far as I can recall, you're the one who got bitten by a jaguar, then a bat, then a wolf. I'm the one who actually landed the hits to save your life," Cole said. Anger built up in him but diminished at the end of his statement. “Whatever, kid… I’ll not argue with you. This damn place you came from— it’s messed up.”
"Or perhaps it's too intricate for simple minds. You could benefit from more study. I'll educate you once you become my disciple. I forgive you, Cole. Ignorance often leads people to say foolish things," Sun Tie retorted, placing a hand on the man's shoulder. He cast a sidelong glance at Cole as they entered the door, finding themselves back in the corridors leading to the circular room.
----------------------------------------
Sun Tie acquired the skill [Combat Strength] and invested an additional point in Strength, bringing his total to 10. His stats leaned toward a balanced distribution among Strength, dexterity, and intelligence.
He had no opportunity to use the latter, but he suspected it would become vital as he learned to manipulate external mana. One thing he was sure of was that his punch on the last monkey had consumed 50 points of his mana.
Normal [Echo Strike] cost him nothing, supporting his theory that infusing an [Echo Strike] with mana increased its damage at the expense of some mana—a fair trade, in my opinion.
The corridor on the way back was adorned with carvings that depicted various activities: the giant monsters were constructing large structures and utilizing unfamiliar machinery. Nearing the door, they observed one final carving: a large white circle above, with various big and small creatures gazing up at it.
"The system is communicating with them," Cole whispered.
“It appears so…” Sun Tie replied.
----------------------------------------
Back to the circular room, the giant door creaked open, its sound filling the room. Darkness awaited them on the other side.
"What do you think is over there?" Cole asked.
“Doesn’t matter. We’re going to smash it. How are you holding up? How many projectiles do you still have in the shooting thing?” Sun Tie replied.
"Down to one. Health's at about 70%, and mana's pretty much drained," Cole said, gulping a mana potion. Sun Tie could see the mana fueling up Cole's body. He was sure something would happen if he pushed or pulled his will against it, but he would not test it on an ally. “What about you?”
“I'm down on mana, but I’ll stick with it.” Sun Tie had other plans for it.
As their eyes adjusted to the light, they noticed another corridor. The moment Sun Tie's first step crossed the threshold, torches on the walls lit up automatically.
More carvings.
These were as intricate as the ones they'd seen before but entirely different in their scenes.
Each carving depicted images of war. The giant humanoids were shown alongside tiny beings fighting off strange reptilian creatures in various settings.
The humanoids were armed with every kind of weapon imaginable—swords, axes, spears, and wooden poles. After walking a couple of hundred steps, Sun Tie noticed a depiction of one of the big ones holding a rock that closely resembled his own [Dull Mana Rune].
The carvings depicted other beings holding increasingly more significant runes. At a distance, they saw a door with the final piece of art carved into it. It showed a giant purple being holding the cube above its head, with all the reptilian creatures lying dead on the ground. They contemplated the complete extermination of a species by the hand of another civilization.
Cole and Sun Tie exchanged glances.
“It’s their story,” Cole muttered as if reading Sun Tie’s thoughts. “Whatever this cube was, it seems powerful.”
“Maybe it’s our reward.” Sun Tie replied, putting two hands on the door.
“Hope not, kid. I don’t want it.” There was worry in Cole’s voice. Sun Tie didn’t want it either. There was a limit to a man's power, which was always the power of other men. Be highly more potent than anyone else, and the world is doomed.
They opened the door firmly—it was time to finish what they started.
A circular room awaited them, its grey walls lined with torches. In the center stood a silver throne, probably about 4 feet tall, and seated in it was the corpse of a giant.
The creature, almost 8 feet tall, seemed to have been dead for not so long. Its fallen hand clutched a yellow cube, the one from all the paintings, but it was now devoid of light. Does the cube still gather power? The creature’s head was tilted to the side, its large, single eye open, staring into the void of death.
It wore regal white robes, and for the first time, Sun Tie felt no thrill at the prospect of a fight—only a sense of sadness. Noble, Indeed. But dead and alone.
Near the deceased giant, a sound was emerging. Behind the throne, a slender, white, and glimmering body was taking shape, arising from something hidden behind the seat. Soon, the head of the creature appeared above the throne—a snake. It was not the largest Sun Tie had fought, but it was a big one—bigger and larger than Sun Tie and Cole combined. This time, the young master wouldn't have his fire fist to assist him.
"Our challenge," Cole grunted.
Sun Tie nodded, waiting for Cole to fire the opening salvo.
Arrows from Cole's bow flew through the air but stopped against the creature's scales, merely nudging it slightly in one direction. Gradually, the beast began advancing toward them.
Next, Cole released his [Charged Shot]. The potent arrow lodged in the beast’s bulked body but didn’t stop it. The scales were made of metal.
"Okay, let's see what I can do," Sun Tie said, charging toward the beast.
As Sun Tie closed the distance, the creature's sluggishness vanished. The massive jaw swung horizontally, aimed directly at Sun Tie's neck. Left with no other option, the young master executed a swift roll on the ground. He was back on his feet as quickly as possible, carefully gauging his enemy's movements.
The creature unleashed a powerful tail strike that could quickly crush a man's skull. Sun Tie sidestepped the attack, capitalizing on his agility. Wait for the right time to strike…
As Sun Tie continued to dodge, another [Charged Shot] from Cole struck the monster, landing squarely in its mouth. The impact disrupted the creature's balance, causing it to stumble backward.
A perfect opportunity.
As Sun Tie charged in, the creature's jaw swung horizontally again. The horizontal strike acts as a skill. Sun Tie ducked to evade the attack. However, the beast seemed to anticipate his move this time and lunged its weight into Sun Tie's chest. The impact sent him flying into the nearest wall just as the monster charged toward him with its fangs bared.
Cole's [Charged Shot] halted the creature in its tracks. A projectile penetrated its cheek and entered its mouth. Sun Tie had already regained his footing and landed a punch on the same vulnerable spot. This time, no [Echo Strike] was activated.
Sun Tie glanced at Cole and saw the man drinking a mana potion. He can’t do more than two charged shots before running out of mana. Sun Tie realized while dodging another downward attack.
The Snake unleashed its combat skill again, targeting Sun Tie's belly. Though the young master tried to dodge, his backward step only spared him from being eviscerated. His abdomen still suffered a slash.
“Careful, kid!” Cole shouted, shooting regular arrows at the monster, trying to hit the mouth but failing.
“I’m trying!” Sun Tie replied. “The scales are too damn thick!”
Pain filled his torso, and he clenched his fists. Once again, battlelust consumed him—time to land some punches.
Sun Tie saw another of Cole's arrows heading their way and seized the moment to charge the enemy. He delivered an uppercut to the creature's chin and two more blows to its body.
Cole aimed another shot at the monster's cheeks, causing it to flinch again.
As Sun Tie’s was close to hitting another punch, the monster's tail hit his belly, making him almost vomit.
For a few seconds, Sun Tie's mind went blank, and in that moment, the creature descended its tail again in his direction. He felt his jaw breaking. Glancing to the side, he saw Cole firing another [Charged Shot] and rushing toward the monster, pulling the shotgun from his belt.
The old man was fast.
The creature’s mouth came down. Sun Tie did his best to dodge, but all he could manage was to get his shoulder bitten instead of his face.
[You are now under the effect of Bleeding. You'll lose 1% of your HP per minute.]
As the message vanished, he saw Cole closing in on the monster, who unleashed its strike skill again. The fangs slashed across Cole's chest. Sun Tie saw blood seep through the old man's shirt as he swiftly got up and downed a mana potion.
It was time to test his theory. Sun Tie filled his mouth with liquid mana but held off swallowing until his fist made contact with what he suspected was the creature's weak spot—its right cheek.
As he gulped down the potion, he felt mana surging through his fist. [Echo Strike] activated immediately, its potency amplified by the influx of mana.
As the mana flowed through him and into another being, Sun Tie could visualize the pathways of mana within the creature. He was striking the right spot.
He struck the creature's mouth repeatedly. Each hit caused it to flinch. Anger surged within Sun Tie.
"Die! Die, you wretched monster!" he shouted, his almost broken jaw making the words painful, as he unleashed another [Echo Strike]. The creature toppled over, and Cole finished it with a shotgun blast. Slowly, the snake disintegrated into dust.
Congratulations! You've unlocked a hidden mastery.
You are now a [Mana Seer]
[You have gained a rune level!]
[Dull Mana Rune] - level 4 - Common
Passive ability: Sword or Unarmed hits have a 4% of becoming a [Echo Strike].
[You have gained a level]
You have received 2 basic skill points, 2 class skill points, and 2 stat points.
[You have slain Giant Blood Snake - lvl 6]
The Blood Snake is common in the Eternal Wind Continent. These creatures are known for their powerful strikes and deadly poison, capable of causing internal bleeding in their prey until death.
- Mission Updates -
Kill 15 enemies (7/15). Reward: EXP and Uncommon Treasure Chest.
Kill 5 Eternal Wind different hostile life-forms (2/5): Reward: EXP and an Uncommon Treasure Chest.
Sun Tie watched as the mana faded from the creature's body. He could now see mana everywhere—on the walls, the torches, the throne, and especially within Cole. To Sun Tie's new vision, Cole appeared like a skeleton made of mana, with a large yellow ball of energy at the center of his belly.
The young master knew, instinctively, that a punch aimed there would immediately trigger [Echo Strike]. As he pondered his supernatural vision, Sun Tie thought about how convenient it would be if he could turn off this new skill. And then his vision was normal again.
"Are you okay, kid? You don't look so good," the old man said.
"I got a stupid bleeding effect," Sun Tie replied, his voice faltering as he spoke. A sense of dizziness was creeping into his head, and he was gradually becoming aware of how painful it was to talk.
“Drink your potion now!” Cole commanded, and Sun Tie rushed to do it, not because he felt ordered to, but because Cole’s voice was full of worry. Sun Tie gulped down the potion and glanced at his HP. ~40%. I almost died and was not even noticing.
The wound in his shoulder didn’t close with the potion, but his mouth and belly were as good as new. They drank their remaining potions. They were, respectively, with ~80% and ~95% percent.
“I got the bleeding effect, too. Best to just open the chests and get out of here before we die,” Cole said.
Sun Tie nodded to the old man as they walked toward the throne. Two chests awaited them, with a symbol resembling Earth and the other representing Eternal Wind. The young master was about to open his chest when he saw Cole spitting blood on the ground.