Chapter 18: Awakening Powers

The healing ward smelled of herbs and ancient magic. Lance opened his eyes to find himself in a private chamber, sunlight streaming through stained glass windows that cast purple and gold patterns across stone walls. His shadow rat rested on his chest, its third eye half-closed but alert.

"THREE DAYS," it informed him through their link. "THE VENOM WAS... PERSISTENT."

Lance tried to sit up, and his system immediately pinged with updates:

[Status Update]

Level: 12 (↑2 levels from dungeon clear)

Current HP: 95% (Recovering)

Poison Resistance has reached Level 7

- Toxin immunity increased to 45%

- Recovery rate from poisons enhanced

- Can now identify poison types on contact

[Attribute Increases]

Vitality [25]

Strength [22]

Dexterity [30]

Agility [22]

Magic [17]

Intelligence [18]

Stamina [24]

Luck [19]

"Welcome back to the land of the living." Guild Master Draeven's voice came from the doorway. He entered carrying a wooden box, the B-rank core visible inside. "I believe this belongs to you."

Lance sat up fully, noting how his body felt different—stronger, more attuned to the shadows around him. "Tell me about it. Monster cores... they're more than just trophies, aren't they?"

Draeven's expression turned serious. "Much more. B-rank cores and above contain crystallized essence of powerful beings. They can be used to enhance equipment, create powerful potions, and even fuel ritual magic." He placed the box on Lance's bed. "This one... from a Toxic Knight Spider... it could sell for enough to buy a small estate."

"Tell me about it," Lance said, studying the core's dark crystalline surface. "Monster cores... they're more than just trophies, aren't they?"

Draeven pulled up a chair. "Much more. B-rank cores and above contain crystallized essence of powerful beings. They can be used to enhance equipment, create powerful potions, and even fuel ritual magic." He placed the box on Lance's bed. "This one... from a Toxic Knight Spider... it could sell for enough to buy a small estate."

The core pulsed with residual power, and Lance's enhanced senses detected traces of the same venom that had nearly killed him.

"High-ranking cores are rare," Draeven continued. "Most B-rank beasts don't drop them. They only form when the monster's power is perfectly crystallized at the moment of death. The fact that you got one..." He studied Lance carefully. "Your team says the Shadow Rat King killed it."

"It did."

"And yet the core formed. Despite your summon making the kill." Draeven leaned forward. "That shouldn't be possible. Unless..."

"Unless the summon's power was actually mine," Lance finished.

The Guild Master's eyes narrowed. "What exactly are you, Jest?"

Before Lance could answer, a new presence entered the room. Power resonated through the chamber as Kali Sylphyra stepped in, carrying an ancient scroll case.

"What he is," Kali's voice carried ancient authority, "is exactly what we've been waiting for."

She approached Lance's bed, her purple hair seeming to float on unseen currents. The scroll case she carried hummed with old magic.

"Leave us, Victor," she said to Draeven. It wasn't a request.

The Guild Master hesitated, then nodded sharply. "We'll discuss your rank assessment later." He closed the door behind him.

Kali waited until his footsteps faded, then opened the scroll case. The parchment she withdrew was clearly ancient, its edges marked with symbols that made Lance's eyes hurt.

"Five thousand years ago," she began, "my ancestor made a pact with the first Dungeon King. The Sylphyra bloodline would serve as healers and advisors to the Seraphis line in exchange for protection from those who would abuse our powers."

She unrolled the scroll. Lance's Ring of Summoning pulsed as he recognized the signature at the bottom - three intertwined dragons, identical to his family crest.

"We've served every incarnation since," Kali continued. "Including your brother."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Lance's attention snapped to her. "Adrian?"

"He came to me three years ago, half-dead from the curse. I healed him, but..." She paused. "The curse always wins in the end. It's designed to."

"The curse always wins," Kali said softly, tracing the ancient contract's seal. "It was designed that way. Each time your brother remembered who he was, each time he grew too powerful, the curse would activate. The memories would flood back, and with them..."

"Death would follow," Lance finished.

Kali nodded. "I've watched it happen seven times in my lifetime alone. Different bodies, different names, but always your brother's soul. Always reaching for power, always remembering too late."

She studied Lance through those ancient eyes. "But you... you're different. The curse didn't touch you for five thousand years. You simply vanished. And now you return, carrying power that shouldn't exist in this age."

The shadow rat's third eye fixed on Kali as she spoke. "SHE SPEAKS TRUTH, MASTER. HER BLOODLINE'S POWER... IT RESONATES WITH YOURS."

Lance looked at the contract again. "This pact... what exactly does it entail?"

"Total loyalty," Kali said simply. "My power is yours to command. In return, the Seraphis line protects my bloodline's secrets." Her lips curved slightly. "Though I suspect there's more to it. The contract seems to... enhance both bloodlines when we work together."

She reached out, her fingers nearly touching his Ring of Summoning. Power crackled between them.

"The ring recognizes you," Lance observed, watching purple energy arc between them.

"As my power recognizes yours." Kali pulled back slightly. "When you were unconscious, I tried to heal you. But your body... it didn't just accept my magic, it amplified it. The venom was purged in ways I've never seen before."

She gestured to the air between them, where traces of their resonating power still shimmered. "This is old magic. The kind that existed before the gods started making rules."

"Like the Shadow Rat King," Lance said.

"Exactly." Kali's eyes gleamed. "Your summon isn't bound by normal limitations because it's not a normal summon. It's a fragment of the deep places themselves, answering to their true master."

Lance absorbed this, connecting pieces. "And Adrian? You said you helped him..."

"Three years ago, he stumbled into my healing ward, half-dead from a dungeon collapse. I recognized his soul immediately - the curse leaves a distinct mark." Her expression darkened. "I healed him, taught him what I could about controlling his power. But the curse... it was already taking hold."

"What happened?"

"The same thing that always happens. The memories returned too quickly. The power grew too fast. He..." She paused. "He asked me to give you a message, when you finally appeared."

Lance sat straighter. "What message?"

"'The deep places remember,'" Kali quoted. "'But memory is a blade that cuts both ways.'" She studied Lance carefully. "He knew you'd return eventually. They all did."

"They?"

"The previous incarnations. Each time your brother was reborn, each time he remembered, he would speak of you. The first Dungeon King, lost to time itself." Her power flickered. "But you're not lost anymore, are you?"

Lance felt the Ring of Summoning pulse. "No. I'm not."

"Then my bloodline's oath holds true." Kali stood, power radiating from her in waves. "I, Kali Sylphyra, last of the ancient healers, pledge my power to the Dungeon King reborn. My magic is yours to command, my knowledge yours to use, my loyalty absolute until death releases me."

As she spoke the words, both the ring and the contract flared with power. Lance felt something lock into place - not a constraint, but a connection, deep and permanent.

[Status Update]

Ancient Contract Activated

- Healing magic enhanced

- Power resonance established

- Sylphyra bloodline bound

Note: Further abilities may unlock as bond strengthens

"Rest now," Kali said, moving toward the door. "The guild will want to discuss your rank soon, and there are... complications we need to address." She paused. "The curse that hunts your brother? It will come for you too, now that you've revealed yourself. We need to be ready."

As she left, Lance's shadow rat chittered softly. "SHE IS POWERFUL, MASTER. AND DANGEROUS."

"I know," Lance replied quietly. "But we need her. Whatever's coming... whatever took my memories for five thousand years... we're going to need every advantage we can get."

The Ring of Summoning pulsed in agreement, and somewhere in the depths of his transformed dungeon, the Shadow Rat King stirred restlessly.

The game had changed. The pieces were moving.

And the curse that had claimed his brother so many times was about to face something it had never encountered before:

A Dungeon King who remembered how to rule.

Lance lay back, processing everything he'd learned. The connection to Kali's bloodline, the curse that hunted his brother, the weight of five thousand years of lost memories... but something else nagged at him.

"I'm too weak," he muttered.

His shadow rat's third eye opened fully. "MASTER?"

"Look at the facts," Lance said, opening his status window again. "A B-rank spider nearly killed me. My skills are basic. My stats, even after leveling, are nothing special." He flexed his hand, watching shadows play across his fingers. "And somewhere out there is a curse powerful enough to kill my brother's incarnations for five millennia."

The rat chittered thoughtfully. "THE DEEP PLACES HOLD POWER."

"Exactly." Lance sat up straighter. "I need to explore more dungeons. Not just for rank or glory, but for survival. Skills, cores, materials..." He thought of the Nightfall Steel waiting to be forged. "Everything I can get."

"THE SHADOW WARREN GROWS STRONGER," his rat informed him. "BUT OTHER DUNGEONS CALL."

Lance nodded, mentally mapping what he needed:

- Combat skills from monster kills

- Materials for Roland's weapons

- Cores for power enhancement

- Knowledge of the deep places

"Show me what's nearby," he commanded.

His shadow rat's third eye projected information into his mind:

[Nearby Dungeons Detected]

1. The Whispering Warren (Conquered) - F → D Rank

2. The Howling Depths - C Rank

- Contains Nightfall Steel deposits

- Ancient guardian present

3. Serpent's Coil - D Rank

- Multiple poison-type monsters

- Skill evolution potential

4. Crystal Caverns - C Rank

- Rare materials

- Heavy magical presence

"Starting with lower ranks would be smart," Lance mused. "Build up skills, work my way up to the harder dungeons. The Serpent's Coil could help evolve my poison resistance further..."

As Lance studied the dungeon information, his system provided more details:

[Dungeon Analysis]

Serpent's Coil:

- Multiple D-rank snake variants

- Poison skills available

- Underground layout similar to Shadow Warren

- Potential for shadow manipulation

"Perfect for practice," Lance muttered. "But I need more than just combat skills."

He opened another status window:

[Current Limitations]

- Combat skills below C-rank standard

- Limited dungeon control experience

- Basic shadow manipulation only

- No defensive abilities

- Curse vulnerability unknown

The Shadow Rat King's voice echoed in his mind: "THE DEEP PLACES REMEMBER YOUR POWER, MASTER. BUT YOUR BODY MUST CATCH UP."

"I'll need allies too," Lance realized. "Jest, the masked adventurer, needs to build a reputation. Connections. Resources." He thought of Vale, the merchant who owed him a favor. "And I need to understand this era's politics."

His rat chittered in agreement. "INFORMATION IS POWER, MASTER. THE SWARM GATHERS IT EVEN NOW."

The shadow rat's information network had already spread through Graybourne. Through its eyes, Lance saw the city's layers:

- Merchant guilds controlling trade

- Noble houses vying for power

- Adventurer factions competing for territory

- Underground organizations watching from the shadows

"I need to be careful," Lance said. "Build power without drawing too much attention. The curse took Adrian when he grew too strong, too fast."

He began listing priorities in his mind:

Immediate Goals:

1. Register as Silver rank minimum

2. Complete Roland's weapon commission

3. Scout Serpent's Coil

4. Establish Jest's reputation

Long-term Plans:

1. Master dungeon control

2. Understand the curse's mechanics

3. Find traces of Adrian's past lives

4. Build a power base through the Shadow Warren

"The Warren itself needs development too," he mused. "It's not just a base - it's a training ground."

As Lance sorted through his priorities, a system notification appeared:

[Dungeon Access Requirements]

Rank Restrictions:

- D-Rank Dungeons: Bronze rank required

- C-Rank Dungeons: Silver rank required

- B-Rank Dungeons: Gold rank minimum

Note: Unauthorized entry results in guild penalties

"Right," Lance muttered. "Politics first. Power later."

His shadow rat shifted on his chest. "THE GUILD MASTER APPROACHES AGAIN. HE BRINGS NEWS OF YOUR RANK."

Lance smiled behind his mask. The Serpent's Coil would have to wait, but not for long. First, he needed to convince Draeven to grant him an appropriate rank without revealing too much power. A delicate balance - appear strong enough to earn Silver rank, but not so strong as to draw unwanted attention.

The Shadow Rat King's voice rumbled through their link: "CAREFUL, MASTER. THE CURSE WATCHES THROUGH MANY EYES."

As footsteps approached his room, Lance composed himself. Jest, the mysterious masked adventurer, needed to play his role perfectly. The future of the Seraphis line - and his brother's salvation - depended on it.

The door handle turned.

Time to begin.