Breathing heavily, Lakshya approached the fallen creature, his body still tingling with the aftereffects of the fight.

"What the…? This thing smells terrible."

He instinctively pinched the air where his nose should be, shaking his head in disgust.

"I don't even have a nose, but this is bad. Like, really bad. This thing's been rotting or something."

He sighed deeply, muttering under his breath, "I don't want to do this, but… well, here goes nothing."

Lakshya activated Absorb, watching as the spider's body began to glow faintly before disintegrating into dark energy.

---

New Skills Acquired

Poison Resistance: Neutralizes poison and venom effects.

Web Manipulation: Create strong, sticky webs to immobilize enemies.

Venom: Generate venom to paralyze or weaken targets.

Stealth: Move silently and climb walls or ceilings.

Enhanced Vision: Detect movements through vibrations; night vision activated.

Spider Summoning: Summon smaller spiders to assist in battle.

Regeneration: Recover from damage quickly, including lost limbs.

Cloak of Shadow: Become temporarily invisible by hiding in shadows.

---

He stared at the list of skills in disbelief.

"What the…?! I didn't think I'd get this many skills!"

Rubbing his head, he laughed nervously, unsure of how to process the sudden influx of power.

"Well, I'll figure this out later. For now, let's move on."

---

The Mysterious Gate

Ahead of him stood the massive door, towering and unyielding.

"Alright, big guy. What's behind you? A boss-level creature? Treasure? A trap? Let's find out."

Lakshya pushed against the door, trying different angles, even charging at it with force, but the door remained unyielding.

"C'mon! Open up already, or I'll break you down myself!"

After a while, he noticed something small near the bottom—a keyhole.

"Oh, great. A key. Of course."

He crouched down, peering through the keyhole using his new Enhanced Vision. On the other side, he saw an empty room lit by flickering candles. In the center of the room stood a rectangular box—a coffin.

"A coffin? Really? What is this, a horror movie?"

He paused for a moment, tapping the door lightly.

"Wait… If there's space at the bottom, why didn't I just crawl under it to begin with?"

He stared at the gap beneath the door, then facepalmed.

"Well, guess I'm going in."

He slid under the door, muttering to himself, "If this thing locks me inside, I'm definitely suing whoever designed this dungeon."

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The moment he passed through, the universe around him flickered—a vast, starry expanse stretching into infinity. Within this void, a silhouette of a girl began to materialize, her form obscured by shadows. Her voice echoed across the endless space.

"So someone has appeared after all…"

Before Lakshya could process what was happening, the scene abruptly shifted back to the room. He was back in the dim candlelight, cloaked in shadows. Moving silently, his feet made barely a sound as he approached the coffin-like structure. Every step felt heavier, as if the room itself were hiding a secret.

"What is this circle?" he muttered, inspecting the intricate markings etched into the coffin. It looked ancient, as if it were not meant to be disturbed.

A voice in his mind, his own, spoke again. "Should I try touching it?"

His inner voice answered with doubt, "But what if… what if it's some kind of trap? What if it's a mummy, or worse…"

He steeled himself, pushing away his fear. "Alright, I'm doing it." He placed his hand firmly on the circle. The moment he made contact, a surge of energy rippled through the room. The circle activated, and Lakshya's vision blurred, his mind swimming with disorienting images.

"Wh-what's going on?!" Panic bubbled up in his chest.

Purple light bathed the room, pulsing with energy as his body seemed to disintegrate into the darkness. "I've already faced death before… I can't… I can't die again!" His words echoed in his mind, growing weaker as the light consumed him.

The room fell silent, save for the faint echo of his thoughts. Slowly, his vision began to return—fractured at first, then gradually clearer. His body felt heavier, more grounded, as though he were waking from a deep slumber.

"Wh… what is this place?" Lakshya asked aloud, confusion flooding his senses.

His hands—his legs—he could feel them. They were real, they were his.

Standing up, his gaze fell on the polished floor, where his reflection stared back at him. The sight was a shock. A 13-year-old body, yet radiating an undeniable power. His long white hair cascaded down his back, shimmering like snow under the moonlight. His face, perfectly symmetrical and striking, bore a sharpness that seemed to hold untold wisdom and strength. His piercing azure eyes flicked around the unfamiliar surroundings with cautious curiosity.

"How did I get here?" he muttered, still trying to process the disorienting changes.

"Where am I?" He stood there, feeling like a stranger in his own body. Was this… a curse? Had someone possessed him?

But then, a bitter laugh escaped him. "Well, if it is a curse… I suppose it's better than nothing."

---

A voice suddenly echoed in his mind, startling him.

"Telepathy confirmed. Use: Ability to communicate through distance."

Lakshya blinked. "What… what is this?"

From the void, a faint yet clear voice filled his mind. "I am communicating through telepathy. You can hear me, can't you?"

"Who are you?" Lakshya thought, a sense of suspicion creeping into his mind.

"I don't have a name," the voice replied cryptically. "I was not given one after I arrived here. I suppose you could call me… whatever you want."

Lakshya felt a flicker of connection. "That's… weird."

"Do you have a name?" she asked, her tone almost curious.

Lakshya frowned. "I don't have one either, I think."

"Then why don't we name each other?" the voice suggested, with a hint of amusement.

Lakshya considered the idea for a moment. "Alright, sure. How about… Alya?"

"Alya…" The name resonated in the air. "I like it."

"And you?" Alya continued, "What's your name?"

After a brief pause, Lakshya smiled. "How about Lakshya? And we'll both share the last name Kurogami. Sounds fitting."

"Alya Kurogami," she repeated thoughtfully, as though testing the name. "Lakshya Kurogami… Yes. It sounds good."

Suddenly, Lakshya felt a tingling sensation in his hand. Looking down, he saw a ring materializing on his left hand, glowing faintly with a symbol. A voice boomed in his mind:

Evolution of Demilord confirmed.

"Wait, what does that mean?" Lakshya whispered, his voice barely audible. Before he could question it further, Alya's voice interrupted.

"Hey, Lakshya, follow my instructions. You need to complete a ritual," she urged.

Lakshya's eyes narrowed. "What ritual?"

He glanced at the three candles burning before him, their flames flickering gently. He stepped toward them, feeling the weight of the moment. Without hesitation, he cut his finger and allowed a drop of blood to fall into each flame. He waited, but nothing seemed to happen.

"Why isn't anything happening?" Lakshya muttered, frustration creeping in.

Alya's voice, calm and patient, responded. "Wait, Lakshya. A lion doesn't rush for its prey instantly."

"But what if I don't want to wait?" Lakshya snapped back, his impatience beginning to show.

"Do you want to die?" Alya asked coldly.

"Hey, you said something," Lakshya responded suddenly, his head tilting. "Didn't you?"

"I hear you," Alya replied with a soft chuckle. "But you're dreaming, Lakshya. Just follow through."

Before he could protest further, a low rumble vibrated through the room. The coffin-like object slowly began to slide open, revealing a hidden stairway descending into an unknown, dark abyss.

Alya's voice urged him again. "Go. Gather the books from the shelves."

"Why?" Lakshya asked, confused.

"Do it. Trust me."

Reluctantly, Lakshya complied. The shelves on either side of him were filled with ancient tomes and scrolls. The books felt strange, as if they carried knowledge beyond anything he could comprehend. Once they were gathered, Lakshya turned to Alya's presence in his mind.

"Now what?"

"Send them to the other dimension. Use your skill."

Before Lakshya could respond, a massive shadow rushed at him from the dark stairway, speeding toward him with terrifying speed.

"What the hell is that?!" Lakshya demanded, eyes wide with alarm.