Moyo blinked, his consciousness returning as he lay flat on the ground. The soft glow of the dungeon sun filtered through his hazy vision, and he inhaled deeply, feeling his chest expand painlessly. A shock ran through him—there was no pain, no wounds, no trace of the life-or-death struggle he had just survived. His hands roamed over his chest in disbelief, finding himself whole, his body intact.
A deep, familiar voice broke through his thoughts.
“That tends to happen when you’ve done something monumentous,” Ajax said, his tone laced with amusement.
Moyo turned his head sharply to the side, his eyes locking onto Ajax’s form. The man sat casually, arms crossed, a wry smile tugging at his lips as if he had been watching Moyo for hours.
The overwhelming flood of messages on his Hud began again, a torrent of rewards and notifications that made his head ache. Grimacing, Moyo willed the screen to disappear, rubbing his temples as he reclined against a large piece of rock behind him.
“Did I do it?” he croaked, his voice dry and rough, the memories of the fight with Kyrgos rushing back in vivid detail.
Ajax chuckled softly; the sound irritatingly nonchalant. “You tell me,” He replied, jerking his chin in the direction behind Moyo.
Confused, Moyo turned to look, his eyes widening in shock. The mountain—the entire mountain—was gone. Where once stood the towering, oppressive lair of the Wyrm Kyrgos was now nothing but devastation, the earth flattened into rubble and ash.
“Usually,” Ajax began, walking up beside Moyo, “once the Prime is killed, its domain collapses, and the core gets handed over to whoever delivered the final blow. You, in this instance.” He gestured with a smirk, watching as Moyo took in the enormity of what he’d done.
“I… did it,” Moyo breathed, almost disbelieving his own words.
“And blew past three ranks of advancement like it was nothing,” Ajax added with a hint of admiration, though it was tempered by his usual sarcasm. “The rewards waiting for you when you leave this dungeon... well, let’s just say I envy you, kid.”
Moyo turned toward him sharply, but Ajax raised a hand to silence him before he could speak.
“Before you start pelting me with questions, know this: we’re on borrowed time. This dungeon’s collapse is imminent, and trust me, you don’t want to be here when that happens.”
Moyo nodded in understanding. “So… what now?”
Ajax smirked and tossed something small at him. Moyo caught it instinctively, staring in surprise at the object in his hand—a sleek, onyx-black ring that seemed to hum faintly with latent power.
“Think of it as my parting gift to you,” Ajax said casually.
Moyo’s brow furrowed. “A voidkeep ring?”
“You’re going to need it for the mountain of rewards the system’s going to throw at you once you exit,” Ajax explained before his face turned serious, his eyes locking with Moyo’s. “Now listen carefully, because what I’m about to tell you could save your life.”
Moyo stood straighter, suddenly alert.
“Once you’re out, don’t show off. I mean it—don’t. My guess is you’re far stronger than anything your little Tier-1 world has to offer. The strongest ascenders out there might just now be hitting the peak of fledgling rank. Do you understand what that means?”
Moyo nodded slowly, the weight of Ajax’s words sinking in.
“The Warden,” Ajax continued, “the one responsible for overseeing your system, will notice you. He’ll be watching this dungeon, and the moment you step out, there’s a good chance he’ll challenge you on suspicion that you had help from a greater power. That power being me.”
Moyo’s jaw tightened. “What do I do?”
Ajax leaned closer, his tone grave. “Deny it. Deny everything. Say you spent months grinding through this dungeon. Stick to that story no matter what. If you admit I helped you, even by accident, you’re getting shipped off to one of the warfronts against the Abyssal Hordes.”
Moyo blinked, the name sending chills down his spine. “Abyssal Hordes?”
“Don’t ask,” Ajax replied sharply, waving a dismissive hand. “Irrelevant to you right now. Just remember—months. Time in dungeons passes slower than the outside world. By my estimates, we’ve spent maybe three days here, but at least a month has passed outside.”
“A month?” Moyo repeated, stunned.
“Yes. That’s by design. The system floods new worlds with dungeons to push people into them and force them to grow stronger. Meanwhile, it’s reshaping the planet itself. When you come out, the world will be different—chaotic, dangerous, and full of people who won’t know what hit them.”
Ajax paused, letting that sink in. “Your job is to ensure the people of your world survive what’s coming.”
Moyo swallowed hard, nodding resolutely. “What do I need to do?”
Ajax stepped closer; his expression serious. “Three things. First, gather those who are willing to grow stronger and help them. Not everyone will appreciate you—some will want to kill you to take what you have—but ignore them. They’ll be insignificant compared to you.”
“Second,” Ajax continued, “the Warden will likely accelerate the growth of your world to deal with your presence. That means throwing stronger dungeons and harder challenges at everyone. It’ll be brutal. Be ready for it, and don’t let your efforts be in vain.”
“And third?” Moyo asked.
“Reach the peak of Advocate. No further. Your world doesn’t have the capacity to create monsters that can help you level past that rank, so you’ll be stuck for a while. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’ll give you time to consolidate your power.”
Moyo frowned. “But how do I get stronger without enemies to fight?”
Ajax smirked faintly. “Trust me, the system won’t let you waste away in a low-tier world. Something will happen—it always does. Just be ready for it.”
The ground beneath them began to rumble violently, signaling the dungeon’s impending collapse. Ajax stood, stretching nonchalantly as a brilliant column of white light appeared in the distance.
“That’s your way home,” Ajax said, gesturing to the light.
“And you?” Moyo asked, concern flickering in his eyes.
Ajax pulled out a black crystal, shattering it in his hand as a swirling black portal opened up beside him. “I’ve got my own exit. Before I go…” He reached into his coat and handed Moyo a glowing white crystal.
“What’s this?” Moyo asked, turning it over in his hand.
“A skill crystal,” Ajax replied. “Should come in handy. Think of it as one last parting gift.”
Moyo bowed deeply, his voice steady despite the emotions threatening to break through. “Thank you… Master.”
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
Ajax’s expression softened, and he patted Moyo’s shoulder with an approving nod. “Define your blade and your path, kid. I’ll be watching.”
With that, Ajax stepped through the portal, the black void swallowing him before vanishing entirely.
Moyo stood there for a moment, staring at the empty space Ajax had left behind. Then, with determination in his eyes, he gripped his blade and turned toward the glowing column of light.
And with that, he sprinted toward the light—toward freedom.
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Warden Sentinel Zaren jolted upright as the notification blinked across his vision, the unmistakable tremors of a collapsing dungeon reaching even his high vantage point. His expression hardened as he read the message—confirmation that the tier 2 dungeon had been completed. A wave of unease washed over him as he conjured the unsent message in front of him, the text shimmering with faint light. His finger hovered above the seal command, hesitation stalling his decision.
Shokan won’t like this.
The High Arbiter’s words echoed in his mind—stern, absolute, and foreboding. Zaren was many things: a soldier, a warden, a sentinel of his star system. But above all, he prided himself on doing the right thing, even when it was inconvenient or dangerous. This situation, however, had spiraled into something far more troubling than he’d anticipated.
Word had already reached him through hushed channels. The sentinel warden from the neighboring system had relayed the exact same advice, word for word. If two sentinels across two systems were equally troubled by events, it meant only one thing: something was deeply wrong.
Zaren’s gaze flicked back to the now-empty dungeon report, the cracks in its stability heralding its imminent collapse. One tier 2 dungeon had been a statistical anomaly—a puzzle that demanded answers. But the sudden emergence of a second tier 2 dungeon? That defied everything the system normally allowed for a mundane world such as this.
He clenched his fists at the thought. Worse still, he had no idea what lay inside the second dungeon. A dark fog of uncertainty clouded its readings—something that should not have been possible. Zaren scowled, frustrated at his own impotence.
By law—ironclad law—he couldn’t enter a dungeon once it was occupied. Even as a warden sentinel, the system’s rules were absolute, and any violation would carry catastrophic repercussions. His only option had been to wait it out. Watch. Observe. And now that the first dungeon was completed, he would be ready.
He rose to his full height, reaching for the weapon that hung suspended in the air beside him. It hummed with restrained power—a sanctioned Arcane-Grade Blade, a weapon issued only to wardens of his rank. Forged in the heart of dying stars, it was overkill for what he assumed was an ascender fresh out of a dungeon. He almost pitied the poor soul who might accidentally brush against its edge. The sheer energy it radiated could disintegrate a fledgling ascender with just a touch.
Still, appearances mattered. Zaren wasn’t here to coddle anyone. He was here to determine the truth.
He stepped forward, the air warping slightly around him as he opened a pathway—an invisible tear in space tethered between the dungeon’s collapsing core and the planet below. It was efficient, seamless.
As the golden column of light erupted from the earth, signaling the completion of the dungeon, Zaren stepped through the pathway. The world blurred for a split second before snapping into focus as he emerged high above the planet’s surface. Hovering in the sky, he narrowed his gaze at the lone figure stepping out of the light.
His first observation? This wasn’t just any ascender.
The figure moved with a confidence that sent alarms through Zaren’s mind. His form was lean but powerful, the outlines of his muscles defined even through the simple robes he wore. In one hand, the figure gripped a blade that hummed faintly, the weapon exuding intent—a manifestation of power that should have been far beyond what any ascender from a Tier 1 world could wield.
Zaren floated closer, masking his aura as he observed silently from above. His gaze sharpened as he analyzed the system’s notifications, which now resounded across the entire planet.
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[Planetary Broadcast: The first Tier 2 dungeon has been cleared!]
[Ascender: Moyosore]
[Rank Achieved: Advocate]
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Zaren’s eyes widened slightly. Advocate?
He didn’t allow his shock to show, but internally, his thoughts raced. A Tier 1 world producing an ascender who had reached Advocate rank in mere days was unheard of. It wasn’t just unusual—it was unnatural.
“The system doesn’t make mistakes,” he murmured under his breath, his voice cold. “So what in the void happened inside that dungeon?”
Below, Moyosore took a shaky step out of the light, his blade gleaming faintly as he stared at the unfamiliar landscape around him. The faint glow of light still pulsed beneath his skin, vestiges of the breakthrough he had just achieved.
Zaren folded his arms, eyes narrowing as he assessed the young man. The system hadn’t lied—this ascender radiated power far beyond anything a nascent Tier 1 world should produce. Whatever had happened in that dungeon had propelled this boy into a realm of strength that even veteran ascenders would struggle to match.
But Zaren also saw the signs—rawness in his movements, the lingering weight of exhaustion in his stance. He was strong, yes, but his growth had been abrupt, unrefined. Dangerous.
“This… is going to be a problem,” Zaren muttered to himself.
He debated descending immediately to confront the ascender but decided against it—for now. There were too many unknowns, and Zaren wasn’t about to risk a confrontation without first gathering more information. If this Moyosore truly had outside help, as Zaren suspected, then whoever had meddled would need to answer for it.
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Moyo stumbled as he stepped out of the dungeon’s collapsing entrance, the blinding light of the outside world momentarily disorienting him. His body, strained from days of battle, sagged slightly under the weight of his own power. His Hud lit up like a starburst, a relentless torrent of messages flooding his vision, each more unbelievable than the last.
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[Congratulations! You are the first to clear a Tier 2 dungeon in your system!]
[Congratulations! You are the first to advance to Initiate Rank in your system!]
[You have been gifted 100 lesser aether shards!]
[Congratulations! You are the first to advance to Acolyte Rank in your system!]
[You have been gifted 100 refined aether shards!]
[Congratulations! You are the first to advance to Advocate Rank in your system!]
[You have been gifted 100 greater aether shards!]
[Congratulations! You are the first to kill a Tier 2 Prime Aberrant in your system!]
[Hidden System Reward Unlocked: Multiple Pioneer! All rewards will be doubled!]
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The messages continued to cascade before him, so rapid and overwhelming that his mind barely had the chance to process them.
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[You have surpassed attribute points of 100 in all attributes.]
[Blood Absorption has absorbed vitality, strength, dexterity, and endurance of a Level 150 Venom Wyrm. +50 to each attribute.]
[You have obtained Tier 2 Dungeon Core!]
[For accomplishments, you have been awarded 600 points! (Doubled)]
[You have been awarded 5 Aurums! (Doubled)]
[Aurum has been converted to 500,000 credits!]
[Due to absorption of the essence of a lesser Dracon, your body has evolved into Lesser Draconic Body!]
[Core has advanced to Radiant Grade! You can now absorb a second form of aether.]
[Skill: Blood Absorption has been graded as Legendary!]
[Endure Agony: Level 70]
[Blade Storm: Level 30]
[Titan’s Edge: Level 40]
[Titan’s Vitality: Level 20]
[You have surpassed 200 points in all attributes.]
[You have been gifted 200,000 credits!]
[Wyrm Scales +20]
[Choose second aether type:]
• Mana
• Aura
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Moyo exhaled shakily, hands trembling as the last message finally appeared, giving him a choice. His chest rose and fell deeply, his body buzzing with raw energy that radiated from every muscle and vein. He could feel the transformation coursing through him—lines of radiant energy cracking along his skin like molten gold before settling back into an unnerving calm.
His body pulsed. It cracked. It expanded—like a balloon stretched to its limit before settling into a perfect, hardened form. Moyo clenched his fists, testing the strength in his limbs, feeling his power deepen and solidify into something almost otherworldly. A lesser Draconic Body. What did that even mean?
The silence of the world outside the dungeon was deafening compared to the chaos within, but Moyo didn’t let his guard down. Ajax’s warnings rang in his mind: the Warden will be watching. He glanced around; eyes sharp as he scanned the terrain for any sign of the “watcher” Ajax had warned him about. Nothing yet, but the hairs on his neck stood on edge.
Moyo glanced back at the last message, staring at the choice before him: Mana or Aura. He hesitated, his mind racing.
Mana. The foundational aether of magic casters, versatile and fluid. A source of endless potential for manipulation, spells, and ranged devastation.
Aura. Raw, untamed energy for physical and spiritual reinforcement, commonly wielded by warriors and masters of combat. Strengthening the body, enhancing every strike, turning its wielder into an unbreakable force.
For a moment, the thought of Mana pulled at him—a new frontier, a chance to branch out and dominate every aspect of power. But his instincts screamed otherwise.
A sword forged in fire doesn’t hesitate.
“Aura,” Moyo whispered, voice firm.
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[You have chosen Aura as your second aether type!]
[Aura mastery has been unlocked. You can now fuse Aura with Intent, evolving your combat potential further.]
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The Hud vanished, and Moyo’s chest swelled as his body pulsed again, but this time it was different. The radiant light within him mixed with something heavier—denser—as though gravity itself was pressing inward and fortifying him from the inside out. His muscles felt sharper, his focus clearer, and Ida, his ever-loyal blade, hummed faintly in response to his evolution.
He stood motionless, testing the flow of his aura as it surged through him like a rushing river. His surroundings seemed to slow; his senses amplified to a maddening degree. The world had never been this clear before.