Chapter 22: The Tribute and the Time Cage
Lance stepped into the heart of Serpent's Coil, the air thick with the scent of damp stone and the faint musk of lingering venom. The cavern walls shimmered with eerie bioluminescent moss, casting ghostly green reflections across the underground lake that pooled near the dungeon's core. At the far end of the chamber stood the Draconic Statue—a towering, ancient effigy of a coiled serpent with glowing emerald eyes.
As he approached, a strange pulse of energy surged through his body, an unseen force responding to his presence. He raised his hand, palm flat against the statue's worn surface, and the sensation intensified. A sharp hum vibrated through the air, connecting his very essence to the four dungeons he had conquered.
[Dungeons Connected: 4]
[Establishing Core Link...]
The moment the notification appeared in his vision, the dungeon itself seemed to breathe. A pulse of dark energy rippled through the chamber, weaving through the network of tunnels and linking his domain together. Each of the four conquered dungeons became a part of his growing influence.
A deep chuckle echoed behind him.
"So, you finally did it," Moga's voice rumbled, stepping out from a swirling vortex of shadows. The God of Dungeons towered over Lance, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Took your time, but I knew you'd get here."
Lance turned, already knowing what was coming.
"Let me guess," he said, crossing his arms, "it's time for the tribute."
Moga smirked. "Damn right it is. Four dungeons conquered—means you owe me four tributes." His golden rings glinted under the eerie light as he extended his hand expectantly.
Lance exhaled through his nose. He had seen this coming, but it didn't make it any less painful. "How much do I owe?"
Moga's grin widened. "You'll be paying with Dungeon Points from now on, but since you haven't unlocked the system yet, I'll let this slide. Next dungeon, though? No more freebies."
Lance's vision flickered as his system updated.
[Skill Shop Available: Dungeon Points]
[Dungeon Points Generate Based on Dungeon Rarity]
F-Rank: 10 Points per Day
D-Rank: 25 Points per Day
C-Rank: 50 Points per Day
B-Rank: 250 Points per Day
A-Rank: 2,500 Points per Day
S-Rank: 10,000 Points per Day
SS-Rank: 50,000 Points per Day
SSS-Rank: 100,000 Points per Day
The moment Lance saw the breakdown, his mind raced with calculations. His current lineup of dungeons—two C-Rank (50 points/day each), one C+ Rank (50 points/day), and one D-Rank (25 points/day)—meant he'd be generating 175 Dungeon Points daily. A solid foundation.
[Skill Purchased: Dungeon Points (20 SP Spent)]
[Dungeon Points Now Active]
The moment he bought the skill, a new counter appeared in his interface. He could feel it—a strange reservoir of power tied to the very foundations of his dungeons.
Moga nodded approvingly. "Smart move. You're gonna need those points."
Lance flexed his fingers, feeling the newfound connection with his domains. "Alright. What's next?"
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Moga's smirk returned. "That depends. You've got 20 Skill Points left. Might want to take a look at the store before moving forward."
Lance opened the Skill Shop, scrolling past various options before landing on something that immediately caught his attention.
[Skill Purchased: Time Cage (20 SP Spent)]
[Skill Active: Time Cage - Grants a personal domain where time flows slower than the outside world. All conquered dungeons are linked within this space, allowing for endless training opportunities.]
The moment he confirmed the purchase, a massive shift in reality occurred. The air around him twisted and folded like shattered glass reforming in a new pattern. A sudden pull dragged him into the unknown, and before he could react—
He was somewhere else.
Lance opened his eyes to a vast, twilight expanse. The sky overhead swirled in shades of deep purple and silver, stars twinkling in mesmerizing constellations that seemed just out of reach. The ground beneath him was smooth, resembling a shimmering obsidian floor that stretched infinitely in all directions.
Standing before him were four figures—the Dungeon Bosses of the domains he had conquered.
The Rat King, hunched yet regal, his beady eyes gleaming with mischief.
The Viridian Monarch, its serpentine body coiled like a guardian deity, emerald scales reflecting the eerie light.
The Steel Revenant, standing tall and unyielding, its armored form radiating sheer dominance.
The Prismatic Overlord, an ethereal being composed of shifting crystal, its presence almost divine.
Each of them bowed their heads slightly, acknowledging Lance's arrival.
"You have entered The Time Cage," the Rat King rasped, stepping forward. "A realm where time bends to your will. Here, your training will be endless."
Lance's system flickered to life, revealing new notifications.
[Time Dilation Active: 1 Month in the Time Cage = 1 Week in the Outside World]
[Training Simulation Unlocked - Monsters from Conquered Dungeons Can Be Summoned for Combat]
Lance's breath caught in his throat. He turned to the Rat King. "You mean I can... fight endless waves of monsters?"
The Prismatic Overlord's voice resonated through the space like a melodic chime. "Indeed. The creatures you have faced before will return—stronger, faster, more relentless. But in here, your skills will grow beyond mortal limits."
Lance clenched his fists. This was exactly what he needed.
"I want to begin immediately."
The Steel Revenant tilted its head slightly, raising an armored hand. A deep tremor rumbled through the ground as dozens of monsters manifested around Lance.
Poison Strikers. Venom Spiders. Acid Weavers. Wind Wraiths. Blade Phantoms. The very creatures he had conquered now stood against him once more, their eyes burning with unnatural fury.
Lance raised his scythe.
"Come at me."
The monsters rushed him all at once.
The battle began.
---
One Month Later, Lance steps out of the Time Cage. And sees a status Update.
[Status Update]
Level: 18 → 30
Title: Dungeon King
As he got the update, he scrolled through and looked at all his skills he acquired through farming and from purchasing skill upgrades.
Current Skills:
Basic Swordsmanship Level 10 - understanding of how to swing and parry with a sword
Archery Fundamentals Level 10 - understanding of a bow and how to fire it efficiently
Dual Blade Techniques Level 10 - understating of how to wield 2 weapons in combat.
Stealth Movement Level 10 - footsteps are silent if targets don't knownyour there.
Combat Awareness Level 10 - sixth sense can sense danger up to 5 meters.
Enchanted Night Vision Level 10 - can see in the dark for up to 40 meters.
Superior Agility has reached Level 10 -Movement Speed: +40%, Reaction Time: +35%, Balance: +45%
Enhanced smell Level 10 - can smell enemies up to 35 meters
Posion touch Level 10 - anything you touch will be poisoned. Posion will kill a fully grown man within 30 minutes. They will suffer other affects earlier.
Posion Resistance level 10 - posion resistance 50%
Toxic Enhancement Level 10 - can enhance your weapon with a toxic paralytic
Posion infusion Level 10 - can infuse an item with poision.
Miasma control level 10 - can control where miasma goes up to 10 meters.
Posuon control level 10 - can control the flow of posion up to 10 meters.
Steel Manipulation Level 10 - can manipulate basic steel to bend in unnatural ways.
Wind control level 10 - able to control wind currents up to 10 meters
Wind blade level 10 - can create a wind blade 3x the size of a grown man and hurl it at your eneimes.
Strength Fundamentals level 10 - increased strength by 20 %
Lance stood in the center of the Time Cage, surrounded by the dissolving corpses of his latest wave of opponents. A month of constant battle had changed him. His movements were sharper, his control absolute, his understanding of combat deepened beyond mere skill.
The Rat King approached first, his crown gleaming in the eternal twilight. "You've exceeded expectations, Master. Your progress is... remarkable."
"Indeed," the Void Serpent's voice rippled through the air as it coiled closer. "The way you've mastered poison control - combining it with your shadow manipulation. Such techniques haven't been seen since the old days."
The Steel Revenant's armor clinked softly as it moved. "Your weapon mastery has reached new heights. Though..." it paused, the shadows between its armor plates shifting, "you'll need every bit of it for what's coming."
"What do you mean?" Lance asked, though he could feel something stirring in his blood - a warning, perhaps.
The Prismatic Overlord's crystalline form shimmered. "Power always demands payment, Master. And you've gained much power here." Its faceted surface caught the starlight. "The old laws are stirring. Be ready."
Lance nodded, understanding their concern but confident in his growth. He'd mastered skills he barely understood before, pushed his abilities to their limits and beyond. Whatever price was coming, he would face it.
"It's time to return," he said, readying himself to leave the Time Cage. "We have work to do in the real world."
The four beasts bowed in unison, their forms beginning to fade as the Time Cage's magic unwound.
"Remember," the Rat King's voice echoed as reality bent around them, "true power isn't in the skills themselves, but in how you wield them."
Lance emerged from the Time Cage, his power thrumming through his veins...
Lance emerged from the Time Cage, his power thrumming through his veins. One month of endless battle had forged him into something new, something stronger. But as he stepped out of Serpent's Coil into the cool night air, pain suddenly lanced through his skull.
The headache hit like a hammer blow, dropping him to one knee. His heart seized, each beat sending waves of agony through his body. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead as tremors wracked his frame.
[Warning: Curse Detected]
[Analyzing...]
His vision blurred as he clutched his chest, breath coming in ragged gasps. Whatever this was, it wasn't natural. It felt like his very soul was being crushed.
The last thing he saw before darkness crept into the edges of his vision was his shadow rat's third eye, pulsing with concerned energy.