Alaric stood in the fading light of the Steel Wolf Dungeon, the Steel Broodblade clutched tightly in his hand. His breath came in heavy pants, but his eyes sparkled with awe as he examined the weapon. The sword pulsed faintly, the intricate veins of silver and dark green glowing intermittently like a heartbeat. It was unlike anything he had ever wielded in his past life or his current one.
“This is it,” he murmured, running a hand along the blade’s edge. It was cool to the touch, but the faint hum of its power sent shivers up his arm. “A weapon worthy of the battles to come.”
The transformation and upgrade had far exceeded his expectations. Yet, as much as he admired his creation, Alaric couldn’t ignore the uneasy memories that surfaced.
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Alaric recalled the criticisms of his past life. Using monster essences directly on himself had always been controversial, even when done in desperate times. Infusing monstrous attributes into his body had temporarily turned him into something… unnatural. Those who had fought alongside him in his previous life had often looked at him with a mix of fear and disdain after witnessing the changes.
“I can’t let that happen again,” Alaric thought grimly. He gripped the hilt of the Steel Broodblade tighter. The infusion of monster essences into his blade was one thing—it was a tool, a weapon. But using the full force of monster attributes on himself? That was a risk he couldn’t take.
“The essence can enhance me,” he reminded himself, “but only in moderation. Strength, endurance, agility… those are all I need. Nothing more.”
He let out a breath, turning his gaze to the cavern around him. The fight with Steel Fang had been a grueling test, but it had pushed him to his limits and beyond. He felt the familiar stir of growth within him, a sense of progress he hadn’t experienced in so long.
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As he made his way back to the dungeon entrance, the notifications he had been ignoring during the fight finally demanded his attention.
[Skill Upgrade!]
Essence Extraction (D Rank)
* Attribute Added: 10% chance of obtaining a skill from extracted essence (up from 1%).
* Proficiency Bonus: Increased extraction speed and precision.
Essence Infusion (D Rank)
* Temporary Effect Duration: Increased significantly.
* Proficiency Bonus: Boosted infusion effectiveness; 20% of the original entity's attributes now retained upon infusion.
Alaric paused in his steps, rereading the messages several times to ensure he wasn’t imagining things.
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“This… this changes everything,” he whispered.
His extraction skill had always felt like a gamble, with the slim 1% chance of obtaining a skill making it almost laughable. But 10%? That was a real chance. It could mean learning combat skills, magical abilities, or even unique passive talents from the monsters he faced.
As for Essence Infusion, the increased duration was already a boon. But the additional 20% attribute retention? That was incredible. If he infused himself with an essence from a strong monster, he could temporarily gain a significant portion of its power.
“For the first time, I feel like I’m not just surviving,” Alaric thought, a small smile forming. “I’m evolving.”
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When Alaric finally stepped out of the dungeon, the evening sun was low on the horizon, casting long shadows over the fields. His bag was heavy with the loot from Steel Fang, including the wolf’s massive steel claws, sharp fangs, and metallic fur patches. These were valuable materials, far too rare to waste.
His father, Darion, was waiting for him by the forge when Alaric returned home. The older man’s face lit up with a mix of surprise and pride when he saw the haul.
“By Ion’s grace, what have you brought home, son?” Darion exclaimed, wiping his soot-covered hands on a rag as Alaric placed the items on the workbench.
“These are from the Steel Wolf Dungeon,” Alaric explained. “The boss, Steel Fang, dropped them.”
Darion picked up one of the claws, inspecting it closely. “This... this is incredible craftsmanship, and it came from a beast? The durability alone rivals mithril. These will make excellent weapons or armor.”
“I thought you could use them,” Alaric said, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Darion placed a hand on his son’s shoulder, his expression softening. “Thank you, Alaric. These materials are expensive to buy from merchants. You’ve saved me a small fortune. I’ll make something truly remarkable out of these.”
Alaric nodded, feeling a surge of satisfaction. He rarely saw his father so openly appreciative.
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Later that evening, Alaric sat in his room, the Steel Broodblade resting against the wall nearby. His thoughts drifted back to the notifications he’d received earlier, and his gaze shifted to the small notebook on his desk.
Flipping it open, he began sketching out a plan for his next steps.
“I’m almost at D Rank,” he thought, jotting down notes. “If I can secure more powerful essences, I’ll be able to push myself further. But I can’t do this alone.”
He tapped the pen against his notebook, considering the challenges ahead. The demon lord was still a distant threat, but the pieces were already falling into place. The mutated monsters, the increasing dungeon activity—it all pointed to the early signs of the catastrophe he had witnessed in his past life.
“If I’m going to stand a chance,” he thought, “I’ll need allies. People I can trust to fight by my side. People who can make a difference.”
His mind wandered back to his previous life, to those he had fought alongside. He recalled their faces, their strengths, their weaknesses. Many of them were long dead, lost in the devastating war. But there was one person—
Alaric stopped himself, closing the notebook with a decisive snap.
“It’s too early for that,” he muttered, though the thought lingered.
The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: he was no longer the powerless boy from his past life. This time, he would forge his path with steel and determination, no matter the cost.