In just two hours, the new dungeon would open.
While the other female players buzzed excitedly about the upcoming challenge, Elvynna remained seated on her bed, her breath steady as she sorted through the torrent of simulated memories flooding her mind.
The echoes of a cosmic supreme being—memories spanning millennia—were vast, almost suffocating. Had they been unleashed on her all at once, her soul might have shattered under the pressure. Thankfully, the system had distilled them, leaving only the crucial pieces sharp and vivid, while the rest lingered like a hazy mist.
Yet, some things couldn’t be softened. The obsessions of her past life were firmly etched in her heart. Her greatest yearning now was to reunite with Eirik and erase the regrets that had haunted her previous existence.
"Darling," she whispered, her fingers tightening into fists, "I won’t let anyone take you from me—not in this dungeon, not ever."
Her resolve hardened, an unyielding flame in her chest.
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"This is the potion: Wings of the Zephyr (Gold)—faint taste, almost like water..."
In the shadowed halls of Ravenshadow Manor, Eirik downed the system-rewarded potion without hesitation.
As a gold-tier elixir, its flavor was unremarkable. Before he could linger on its blandness, the liquid transformed, bursting into a surge of magical energy that spiraled into his core.
"They claim this potion accelerates magical comprehension... let’s see if it lives up to the hype."
Without delay, he opened the Void Reaver tome—another prize from the simulation—and began to cast.
Boom!
A torrent of elemental power erupted from within, tearing into the void. The spell didn’t merely lash out—it infused his body, strengthening him in ways that left his muscles thrumming with energy. After an hour of relentless practice, he leveled up to Stalwart Lv8.
Sweat clung to his brow, but he didn’t stop. Spell after spell filled the chamber, void energy weaving through the air like a symphony of destruction.
Another hour passed.
Clang!
A deafening roar echoed in his mind as though a floodgate had burst wide open.
Boom!
Elemental energy surged wildly through him, crackling at his fingertips before coalescing into orbs of fire, wind, water, and lightning. The power leapt between his hands like a living entity, an extraordinary sensation that set his nerves alight.
He clenched his fist, a smile tugging at his lips. With a mere thought, he could now shape the elements at will. This was no small feat—it marked his ascension to the Practitioner tier, a rank many magic scholars spent years striving for.
In just an hour and a half, he had vaulted from Stalwart Lv7 to Practitioner Lv1. The speed was unreal—like being shot from a cannon. And this was only the beginning.
"The Wings of the Zephyr potion… its power is far from spent. At this rate, the Savant tier isn’t far off!"
Though the Savant rank was modest in the Central Lands, in the Dawnstar Dynasty, it carried considerable weight.
Just as Eirik familiarized himself with his newfound abilities, a crisp system notification chimed in his ear.
【New Dungeon: Magic City is now open. Are you ready to proceed?】
A thrill of excitement coursed through him. An urban dungeon? That was a refreshing change. He often found himself reminiscing about the towering cities of his past life. Maybe this dungeon would scratch that itch for modernity.
【This dungeon is survival-type. While survival is your primary goal, the quality of survival will influence your score. Rewards will be determined accordingly.】
So it wasn’t just about staying alive—it was about thriving. Intriguing. Eirik suspected this dungeon held more danger than the premise suggested. Perhaps an apocalyptic scenario? A city consumed by magic?
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“Hah! It’s finally here!”
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“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard Aeroflare Airlines Flight S52. Our destination is New York...”
Violanda blinked as a cheerful voice filled her ears.
She opened her eyes to find herself seated in a strange, narrow chamber surrounded by people clad in unfamiliar garments. Her own outfit mirrored theirs—tailored yet alien.
“This must be some sort of magical contraption... an airplane?”
Her thoughts were soon interrupted as a flood of information seeped into her consciousness, a basic primer on her current surroundings. Though useful, one detail stole her focus.
The man seated beside her, dressed in a sharp black suit, was none other than Eirik.
A grin spread across her lips. He looked dashing, even in this odd attire.
Suppressing a chuckle, she leaned back in her seat, triumphant.
This time, I’ll win you over, Eirik.
The game was afoot, and she had no intention of losing—not to Elvynna, not to anyone.
"To think the Master Alchemist is sitting next to me..."
Eirik’s gaze flickered toward the alchemist seated nearby, her appearance a far cry from her usual divine elegance. Gone were the sacred white robes, replaced by the attire of a striking blonde student. Even so, her beauty was undiminished—radiant and commanding, leagues above any mere mortal. She wasn’t just beautiful; she was mesmerizing, the kind of woman who made the world stop and stare.
What caught his attention even more were the subtle details: the thin black-framed glasses perched on her nose, the glint of white earbuds nestled in her ears, and the unfinished exam paper in her lap. Her draft was covered in neat, flowing handwriting, effortlessly blending grace and intellect.
She’s a scholar, too?
Even mid-flight, she was engrossed in study. At first, this studious image seemed out of character for Violanda. But on reflection, it made sense. She’d always been diligent—whether managing the sprawling operations of the Holy Light Church or crafting elaborate gifts to win his favor. He couldn’t forget the awe she’d inspired when she presented him with those legendary artifacts.
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The World Chat buzzed.
"Sisters, have you found Eirik? This place is so strange. Everything looks... wrong."
"This world has no magic. They call it technology. Fascinating, but eerie."
"I can't find him anywhere! How am I supposed to reunite with my darling Eirik in this sea of strangers?! Waaaah!"
Amid the chatter, Pixie’s frustration bled through.
"I’ve been hiking with these weirdly dressed locals. My legs hurt! When’s the last time a mage of my caliber had to walk?"
Elvynna’s voice chimed in next, calm but tinged with curiosity.
"I’m in a metal contraption they call an airplane. Strange... but fascinating."
Hearing this, Violanda's eyes narrowed. Her grip on reality slipped for a moment.
Elvynna’s on this plane too?!
"This woman is relentless," she muttered under her breath. She had no time to waste. Violanda glanced at Eirik. The system had mentioned some kind of communication tool called a cellphone. She just needed to ask for his number and secure her connection to him.
But before she could make her move, the plane shook violently.
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Clang!
A passenger’s water cup toppled and shattered. Gasps and screams rippled through the cabin.
"Dear passengers, please remain calm. We’ve encountered turbulence. Everything is under control—"
The flight attendant’s words were cut off by a collective gasp. A shadow loomed behind her. Violanda’s heart sank as her eyes locked on a writhing mass of vine-like tentacles, thick as tree trunks, lashing wildly.
Thwack!
One vine speared the attendant mid-sentence, lifting her from the ground. Blood sprayed, painting the nearby seats in crimson. The vines pulsed as they drank deeply, growing thicker with each heartbeat.
"A rampaging monster... at least Stalwart Lv3," Violanda muttered, recognizing the creature. But recognition offered no solace. She clenched her fists. In this world, stripped of magic and power, she was helpless.
Eirik’s jaw tightened as he scanned the cabin. Panic erupted around him, but he remained focused. Survival instincts kicked in. Where’s the safest escape route? But the plane itself might be a deathtrap—who knew if another monster lurked in the rear cabin?
Behind him, Violanda clung to his hand, her grip trembling but resolute. Gone was the commanding alchemist; here stood a fragile girl grasping for safety.
Eirik glanced down, briefly tempted to pull away. Carrying dead weight will only slow me down. But he hesitated. Violanda was no ordinary person; her knowledge and cunning might still prove useful.
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The plane screamed.
A deafening roar shook the vessel. A window shattered, unleashing a furious windstorm that ripped passengers from their seats. Eirik and Violanda barely managed to hold on as chaos erupted around them.
"Shit! We’re going down!"
The tentacled monstrosity lashed out again, tearing through the aircraft’s structure. With a thunderous crack, the plane split apart, sending fragments hurtling toward the earth below.
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"Did you see that?"
Far below, Pixie squinted at the sky. Flaming metal debris streaked through the air, crashing into the forested landscape. She rubbed her aching legs, muttering.
"Looks like a powerful battle just ended. Could Eirik have been caught in it?"
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Eirik awoke in a daze, the world swimming in and out of focus. His body ached, but the pain was dulled by a comforting sensation—soft hands cradling his head.
As his vision cleared, he was greeted by a face hovering inches above his own. Violanda’s cheeks were flushed, her lips trembling as she leaned in closer.
What the— Was she about to kiss him?
"Violanda!"
A sharp voice cut through the haze. Eirik’s eyes darted to the side. Elvynna stood nearby, her expression a mix of outrage and disbelief.
Violanda pulled back slightly, her smirk betraying no remorse.
"Relax. It’s mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. You wouldn’t want me to just let him die, would you?"
Her words were calm, but the spark in her eyes told a different story. She wasn’t about to let her rival get the upper hand.