The energy blast wasn’t the only thing I had gained from the flashes.

There was more—a deeper understanding of matter manipulation, something far beyond what

I had previously been capable of.

It was as though those visions had unlocked a door within me, and behind it lay infinite possibilities.

I didn’t know how well I could fight.

After all, the golems always handled that part for me.

Still, the itch to test my newfound abilities was irresistible.

I needed to know what I was truly capable of.

My gaze landed on a nearby branch, its surface rough and uneven.

I picked it up, feeling its lightness in my hand.

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and focused.

The familiar green energy coursed through me, surging toward the branch.

As the energy flowed, something incredible happened.

The branch’s structure, its properties, and its very essence unfolded in my mind like a book I had read a thousand times.

I could feel its imperfections, its strengths, its weaknesses.

And then, as if guided by instinct, I willed it to change.

The transformation was instantaneous.

The branch’s coarse wood turned sleek and cold, its fibers melding into solid iron.

I held an iron rod where the branch had once been, the weight of it grounding me in the moment.

I smiled faintly, but there was no time to marvel at the change.

My mind was already racing with ideas.

I crouched, placing my hand on the ground.

Energy pulsed from my palm into the earth.

In mere moments, the ground trembled, and a massive rock pillar erupted in front of me.

Its surface was jagged, raw, and imposing.

I gripped the iron rod tightly, the metal cool against my skin.

With a swift motion, I hurled it at the pillar.

Thud!

The rod struck with incredible force, shattering the pillar into a cascade of debris.

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For a moment, the air was thick with the sound of crumbling stone.

Shards of rock tumbled downward, threatening to scatter across the ground.

But I wasn’t finished.

Channeling my energy again, I reached out to the falling fragments.

The green energy enveloped them, and the chaotic pieces of stone began to shift.

Their surfaces smoothed, their density changed, and within seconds, they transformed into shimmering glass.

Crash!

The glass hit the ground, fracturing into dozens of jagged pieces.

The sound of it breaking echoed through the chamber, sharp and clear.

I stood there, breathing heavily, watching the glittering shards spread across the ground like a broken mirror.

It felt as though only a minute had passed, but to me, it had been so much longer.

My heart pounded in my chest, the thrill of creation and destruction leaving me breathless.

And then it hit me—a wave of dizziness so sudden and intense that I nearly staggered.

My vision blurred for a moment, and I placed a hand on a nearby rock to steady myself.

“Haa…” I exhaled, my breath shaky.

The realization dawned on me: this ability was powerful, but it came at a cost.

The mental strain was immense, leaving my mind feeling like it had been wrung dry.

Still, despite the exhaustion, a small smile tugged at my lips.

The potential was there—raw, untamed, and brimming with promise.

With more practice, I knew I could refine these techniques, push them to their limits, and become even stronger.

As the dizziness faded, I straightened up, my resolve hardening.

"This is just the beginning," I muttered to myself, my voice steady despite the fatigue.

One day, I wouldn’t just defend this dungeon—I would become its ultimate weapon.

Days passed, and my practice continued.

I felt myself growing sharper, stronger, more attuned to the power that coursed through me.

My creations became more intricate, my control more precise.

Yet, the flashes and dreams continued to haunt me, fueling a strange, growing determination.

And then, one day, Samuel returned.

This time, he wasn’t alone.

Three others accompanied him, their expressions a mix of wariness and resolve.

I observed them from atop my throne, my piercing gaze fixed on their every move.

The grand chamber of the dungeon echoed faintly with the sound of their footsteps as they approached.

"So, you’ve come," I said, my voice calm but carrying an undeniable weight.

One of the men stepped forward, his demeanor confident but measured.

His dark eyes met mine without flinching.

"Yes. I heard you wanted to meet me," he said.

"Are you their Guildmaster?" I asked, leaning forward slightly, my tone cold and inquisitive.

"Yes. My name is Kevin. And you?" he replied, his voice steady.

I allowed a small pause to hang in the air before responding.

"Cyrus. You can call me that," I said, sitting back, my tone indifferent yet commanding.

Kevin nodded, his lips curving into a faint, calculated smile.

"I’ve seen your forces, Cyrus. You’re strong—there’s no doubt about that. But strength alone won’t be enough to face guilds like Lionheart or Black Serpent. That’s why we’re here. We’d like to offer you a deal. Let us help you."

I tilted my head slightly, my expression unreadable.

"Why not just admit that you need my help?" I said, my words sharp and cutting.

Kevin’s confident facade faltered, but only slightly.

"What do you mean?" he asked, his tone cautious.

I smirked, rising slowly from my throne.

My towering form cast a shadow over the group.

"I know enough about the Demonic Guild to understand your situation. Hunters who’ve abandoned humanity to align with monsters, chasing power and profit. But alliances like yours don’t go unnoticed. Let me guess—you're being hunted by the other guilds, and now you’ve come to me as a last resort."

Kevin stiffened, and a tense silence filled the chamber.

One of his companions, a younger man with fiery eyes, stepped forward, his face contorted in anger.

"You’re too arrogant for a monster!" he spat.

I didn’t flinch.

Instead, I let my energy flare, green light rippling through the room.

The forest seemed to hum with power as my creations—golems and chimera ants—emerged from the shadows, their glowing eyes fixed on the intruders.

"Don’t forget," I said, my voice cold and low, "you’re in my dungeon right now."

The man recoiled slightly, his bravado faltering as the monstrous forms closed in.

"You—!" he began, but Kevin silenced him with a raised hand.

"Stop!" Kevin barked, his voice firm.

He turned back to me, his expression hard but composed.

"Fine. You’re right. We need your help."

A satisfied smile tugged at my lips as I dismissed my creations with a wave.

"Now that’s better," I said. "Honesty suits you. So, tell me—what’s your plan?"

Kevin took a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly.

"The reason you can’t leave the Dungeon is because, according to the system, you’re registered as a monster. But we have an item—a rare artifact—that can temporarily grant you player status. With it, you’ll be able to leave."

"Is that so?" I said, narrowing my eyes.

"Yes," Kevin affirmed. "In exchange, we need your strength. Help us in our fight, and the item is yours."

I stared at him for a long moment, my mind turning over his words.

His plan was bold, perhaps even reckless, but there was a calculated desperation in his tone that intrigued me.

"Very well," I said finally. "We have a deal."

To seal the agreement, Kevin produced a mana pledge—a shimmering contract of glowing energy.

"I'll will give you the item which will free you."

Kevin said before the paper.

"I'll will also help the Demonic Guild in their battle."

I also said.

We exchanged the required signatures, binding our deal with the force of magic.

The air crackled briefly before settling into an uneasy calm.

With the pledge complete, Kevin and his group prepared to leave.

As they turned to go, Kevin glanced back at me, his expression unreadable.

"We’ll send someone with the artifact in a few days," he said. "Don’t forget your end of the bargain."

"I won’t," I replied, my tone steady.

I watched as they departed, their figures disappearing into the labyrinth of my dungeon.

Once they were gone, the chamber fell silent, save for the faint hum of the dungeon’s core.

Krothe fluttered to my side, his sharp eyes glinting with suspicion. "Kaw! Do you really trust them?"

I didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, I stared at the mana pledge, its faint glow illuminating my clawed hand.

"We’ll see," I said softly. "For now, let’s prepare for whatever comes next."