Chapter 31: Legends and Change

Niko turned towards Ivanic, curiosity burning in his mind. “That old monster—what’s his skill?”

Ivanic shrugged nonchalantly. “Who knows? All I do know is that he took over the entire mountain by himself. In fact, that mountain wasn’t just any ordinary mountain—it was a dungeon. And he conquered it all alone.”

Niko’s eyes widened at the thought. A dungeon all by himself? That kind of power was mind-boggling. His question lingered in the air as the group absorbed the weight of Ivanic’s words. How strong did someone have to be to do something like that?

Zheng, equally intrigued, furrowed his brow and asked, “Wait, so what exactly counts as a cheat skill? And does that mean all dungeons can be owned after they’re conquered?”

Ivanic leaned back against the wall, thinking. “Not all dungeons can be claimed. Only a small percentage of them become property after completion. No one really knows why—some say it’s about how the dungeon was cleared, others think it’s tied to the dungeon’s original purpose. As for cheat skills…” He paused, his expression turning more serious. “A cheat skill is something that lets you fight like you’re in another league altogether. If you can take on a dungeon solo or defeat multiple opponents of the same level, that’s when people start calling it a cheat skill. These skills… they’re not just powerful, they’re terrifying.”

The room fell silent for a moment as Ivanic’s words sank in. The concept of cheat skills was unnerving. It was as if the world they were in had purposely scattered these unfair advantages across the land, waiting for someone to claim them. But Ivanic wasn’t done.

“There are theories, you know,” he continued, his voice lowering slightly. “Some people believe these cheat skills were created by the gods who made this world. Others say they’re remnants—inheritances from those who lived here before us.”

“Inheritance?” Candreva tilted his head, clearly confused.

“Yeah, that’s what they call it. There are whispers that the cheat skills might have belonged to ancient figures, people who fell before the monsters took over. Nobody knows for sure, though. Could be nothing more than rumors,” Ivanic added with a shrug.

Niko’s heart raced as he considered the possibilities. Was the Spirit King a real person? The book he had found in the preparation world—Spirit King's Inheritance—hinted that there was more to his skill than met the eye. Could his own skill be one of these inheritances? The thought sent a thrill down his spine. If the Spirit King had truly existed, what did that mean for this world? And where had those ancient figures gone?

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Time flew by, and before Niko knew it, he had been in this strange world for over a week. The days blurred together in a frenzy of grinding and combat, as though their very lives depended on it. And in truth, they did.

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In a world where leveling up was the only way to survive, boredom was the last thing on Niko’s mind. Unlike the endless grind of a game that people eventually abandoned out of frustration, this world offered a constant thrill, a dangerous edge that kept the adrenaline pumping. The risk of death was ever-present, and that made every victory, every kill, feel real.

Niko had become more accustomed to this life, though some of the brutality still struck a chord with him. He had watched himself adapt—his acceptance of the ruthlessness here had grown. Was this who he was becoming?

The boars had been their primary targets for leveling up, and after days of non-stop hunting, Niko had finally reached level 3, alongside the rest of the group. Ivanic, who had been ahead of them, leveled up to 4, though the experience from the boars wasn’t doing much for him anymore. Niko’s caution toward his companions never faded, though. His experiences on Earth, the books he had read, and everything he had witnessed in this new world had taught him that humans were greedy creatures. He needed to stay vigilant.

Their loot had been modest, with the boars mostly dropping shards. Nothing extraordinary, but enough to keep them going. Niko had spent his attribute points on intelligence, focusing on controlling more spirits and honing his abilities. He wanted to become the Spirit King, the figure from the inheritance he had read about. The very idea of building a spirit army excited him.

The mantis spirit had grown stronger, getting closer to taking on its true form, while the other two spirits—the Steampunk Bee and the Roughback Boar King—were formidable for his current level. Everywhere they went, Niko kept his spirits hidden, knowing that surprise was his best weapon.

Standing in the same forest they had hunted boars in for days, the group found themselves facing yet another slain beast. Niko, looking down at the dead boar, spoke to his companions.

“This is the seventh boar today. And I’m sure other groups are noticing the same thing. Does anyone else think something strange is going on?”

Zheng, kneeling by the boar, nodded in agreement. “The number of monsters is increasing at an alarming rate. And they’re more aggressive than before. If this keeps up, we might have a real problem.”

Ivanic, ever cautious, added, “This world is full of mysteries. It’s hard to say what’s causing this, but we should stay alert. Things could get worse.”

Zheng rose, looking at the boar with a thoughtful expression. “We should take this one back. We’ve gathered enough resources to exchange for some contribution points. We need better equipment if we want to stand a chance out here.”

Everyone agreed. They had been fighting in their dirty, torn Earth clothes for far too long. If they wanted to survive, they needed armor—real armor, something that could actually protect them. Even though Ivanic had warned them about the Protectors, they had no choice but to trade with them for the gear they needed.

As they prepared to head back, Niko’s mind raced with thoughts of what was to come. His spirits had grown stronger, and so had he. But how much longer could they rely on these boars for experience? They would soon need to venture beyond the forest, to seek out new challenges, stronger enemies.

And, as always, there was that lingering question: Was his skill a cheat skill? If it was, how far could it take him?

Niko glanced at the others, watching them talk and plan. For now, they were a team. But in a world like this, alliances could shift, and trust could be broken. He needed to be ready for anything. Especially when power was involved.

“We’re heading into dangerous times,” Ivanic said as they started walking. “Let’s just hope we’re prepared for it.”

Niko nodded, feeling the weight of Ivanic’s words settle in his chest. This world was changing—and so was he.