Chapter 3: Aftermath
Sue stood amidst the smoldering remains of the battlefield, her breath coming in shallow, uneven gasps. Ash drifted through the air, swirling like ghostly remnants of the battle, before settling over the fractured stone floor. Her HUD blinked, cold and impersonal, delivering the only assurance she had:
[Threat Eliminated: Corrupted Abomination Neutralized]
The System's alert flashed again in the corner of her vision, sharp and unrelenting. Alive, it seemed to say. Barely. Relief flickered through her mind, but it was quickly overtaken by a hollow sense of disbelief. She had survived—but at what cost? The weight of what she had endured settled over her like a suffocating fog, her breath catching as the realization struck. She wasn’t sure whether to feel grateful or haunted. Every muscle in Sue's body screamed for rest. Her legs quivered as she leaned heavily against the jagged wall, her breath ragged, as if the air itself had turned to smoke. The crimson mist that had blanketed the chamber dissipated slowly, leaving behind an oppressive silence. The chamber, once pulsing with the Abomination's malevolence, now felt hollow and lifeless, save for the faint hum of her HUD.
The notification lingered in her view, a cold reminder of what she had endured to survive. Sue’s mind raced, flashes of her fallen comrades darting through her thoughts—Drex’s shield splintering, Lyra’s unfinished spell fading into nothingness. The weight of the cost pressed heavily on her chest, threatening to overwhelm her.
A memory surfaced, unbidden but vivid. She and Drex laughing over a campfire after a successful raid, the camaraderie that made these battles bearable. They deserved better than this, she thought, her chest tightening further. But there was no time to grieve. Not here, not now. Survival demanded every ounce of focus she had left.
The chamber was eerily silent, the faint drip of water echoing through the vast emptiness. The air hung heavy with the tang of ozone, mingling with the faint, acrid stench of decay—a lingering reminder of the horrors that had unfolded.
Sue took a deep, shuddering breath, her lungs protesting with every inhale. She couldn’t believe she was still standing. Against all odds, she had faced death head-on and emerged battered, bruised, but alive.
Bracing herself against the jagged wall, she pushed away, her muscles screaming in protest. Her HUD flickered faintly, casting a soft glow across the dimly lit chamber as she surveyed the aftermath. The throne lay in ruins, its once-mesmerizing iridescent material reduced to piles of glittering dust and debris. Around it, faintly glowing mushrooms flickered, their dim light casting haunting shadows that danced at the edges of the room.
Her gaze fell on the scattered bodies of her fallen party members, stark against the stone floor. Drex’s shield lay shattered beside him, his lifeless form slumped over as though still trying to protect his comrades. Lyra, the mage, lay curled in on herself, her hands still faintly glowing with the remnants of an unfinished spell. Others, too, were there—each one a grim testament to the cost of this victory.
Sue’s chest tightened as guilt and sorrow washed over her, but another emotion quickly surged to the surface—anger. Not at herself, but at Mark and the others who had abandoned them. They were stronger than us, she thought bitterly, her hands balling into fists. They were the ones who should have stayed and fought.
Her gaze lingered on Drex’s broken shield, and the memory of his defiant last stand twisted the knife deeper. Lyra’s unfinished spell, her desperate attempt to protect the group, was still etched in Sue’s mind. They left us to die, she thought, the bitterness swelling. The System’s silence only compounded her fury, its lack of acknowledgment for those who had fallen stoking her resentment further.
Sue forced herself to look away, swallowing hard against the lump in her throat. Survival demanded focus, and for now, anger would have to suffice as fuel. I won’t forget this, she promised silently. Not them. Not what they did.
Sue’s stomach twisted as she forced herself to look away. The weight of their death pressed heavily on her chest, but there was no time to mourn. Not yet.
Normally, after defeating a boss, the System's alert would blaze triumphantly, rewarding Sue with a cascade of coins or perhaps a rare item. A portal would shimmer into existence, humming with energy, a beacon leading her back to the familiar safety of the streets and the gate. But now, there was nothing. The chamber remained unnervingly still, the silence oppressive and unbroken except for the faint, rhythmic drip of water echoing from unseen depths.
Sue frowned, her brow knitting as unease settled in her chest. Her HUD flickered faintly, its display showing the same cold reality: HP at 30%, MP drained to 0%, and a 'Critical' status flashing insistently. The numbers offered no comfort, only a stark reminder of how close she was to the edge. She winced as she shifted her weight, a sharp pain radiating from her ribs—a clear sign that something was fractured, maybe worse.
Her gaze darted around the chamber, searching for the portal that should have been there, glowing and ready. But no notification of a reward appeared. No congratulatory message. No escape. Just an unrelenting silence that pressed against her like a physical weight.
"System?" Sue called out, her voice cutting through the oppressive silence. It echoed faintly, but there was no response. The System, usually precise and reliable, was eerily silent.
Her frown deepened, unease pooling in her stomach. She tried again, her voice firmer this time, tinged with frustration and exhaustion. "System! Respond! What’s going on?"
Still nothing. The lack of response was more unsettling than any monster she had faced. It wasn’t just unusual—it was wrong.
"System, respond. I've defeated the boss. Where's my reward?"
Still nothing. The silence was oppressive, the absence of the System's usual chatter sending an icy chill down her spine. Sue checked her HUD again, her eyes scanning the familiar interface for any explanation or clue. But the display remained unchanged: stark notifications, a blinking 'Critical' status, and the glaring absence of any reward or portal.
Sue’s unease deepened, transforming into a cold, gnawing fear. She had battled monsters, endured countless dungeons, and stared death in the face, but this... this was something entirely different. The System was her guide, her anchor to the world beyond these walls. Without it, she felt stranded—adrift in a void of uncertainty.
"System," she called again, her voice sharper, desperation creeping in. "I’ve defeated the boss. Where’s my reward? Where’s the portal?"
Her words echoed into the emptiness, swallowed by the chamber’s stillness. No flashing alerts. No comforting response. The eerie silence filled the space where the System’s voice should have been.
Taking a shuddering breath, Sue forced herself to focus. Waiting here won’t change anything. She needed to move. To act. The longer she lingered, the greater the chance that something worse might emerge.
Her gaze swept the chamber, taking in the flickering shadows cast by the faintly glowing mushrooms. The ruins of the throne glinted faintly amidst the debris, and her fallen comrades’ forms were still and silent. Sue’s chest tightened, but she pushed the emotions down. Survival first.
She tightened her grip on her mace, scanning the chamber for anything that might aid her escape. Broken weapons, discarded supplies, or even remnants of the throne’s iridescent material—anything she could scavenge to increase her odds of making it out alive.
In the dim glow of the chamber, Sue’s eyes caught something nestled among the shattered debris of the throne. A small, glowing orb rested amid the ruins, its crimson light pulsing faintly, reminiscent of the energy that had torn apart the Corrupted Abomination. Its surface was flawless, smooth, and seemed untouched by the battle’s destruction. Her heart skipped as she stepped closer, drawn by its eerie allure.
She paused, her grip on the mace tightening instinctively. Her mind raced with conflicting thoughts. The orb radiated danger, but it also exuded power—raw and untamed. What if it’s a trap? she wondered. But she knew she couldn’t afford to ignore something that might be her only way out of the dungeon. Survival demanded risks.
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Sue crouched cautiously, scanning the area for any lingering threats. The silence of the chamber was unnerving, amplifying the sound of her own shallow breaths. Her thoughts warred within her. This orb could be the key to escape—or my undoing. Every instinct screamed at her to walk away, to leave it untouched, but the prospect of staying in the dungeon, vulnerable and trapped, was even more terrifying. What choice do I have? she thought bitterly. Survival demanded risks, even those she couldn’t fully understand. Her fingers hovered just above the orb, trembling slightly. She hesitated, a cold knot of fear twisting in her gut. Once I touch it, there’s no going back.
With a deep breath, she forced herself to act. Her fingers brushed against the orb’s cool, unblemished surface, sending a ripple of warmth coursing through her hand, up her arm, and into her chest. The orb pulsed in rhythm with her heartbeat, the sensation strange yet oddly calming, as though it recognized her.
Her HUD flickered briefly before the System’s voice broke the oppressive silence, its tone sharp and mechanical, shattering the stillness like a blade:
[Warning: Unidentified energy detected. Caution advised.]
Sue flinched at the sudden alert. The orb hummed softly beneath her touch, its glow intensifying as if reacting to her presence. Her heart pounded faster, both from the energy coursing through her and the unease the System’s words brought. This wasn’t something ordinary—it was something far more dangerous, or powerful.
Sue's heart pounded in her chest as she hovered between fear and resolve. Should she let go or press on? She didn’t have the luxury of caution—not when survival demanded everything she could muster. Taking a deep breath, she closed her fingers tightly around the orb.
The crimson light flared, enveloping her in a pulsating glow that seemed to thrum with life. Warmth spread through her body, seeping into her veins like liquid fire. The sensation was both exhilarating and terrifying, unlike anything she had ever known.
[Unidentified energy detected.]
The System’s warning blinked across her HUD again, its urgency unmistakable. Sue gritted her teeth, her grip on the orb tightening. I don’t have a choice, she thought. If this is the only way out, I’m taking it.
She squeezed harder, the energy surging through her like a tidal wave. Her muscles felt lighter, stronger, and her HUD flickered wildly with new alerts:
[ERROR!]
[ERROR!]
[ERROR!]
The System’s normally calm interface glitched, the text flashing erratically. Sue’s chest tightened as a wave of unease rolled over her. She had never seen the System malfunction like this—its precision was the one constant in this chaotic world.
Her pulse raced as she watched the warnings scroll across her vision, each one sharper and more insistent than the last. Whatever she had just tapped into, it wasn’t ordinary—it was dangerous.
The orb in Sue's hands grew hotter by the second, its crimson light intensifying into a brilliant, almost blinding glow. She could feel the energy inside it, raw and untamed, pressing against the edges of her consciousness like a storm waiting to break.
[Warning: Energy overload imminent. Abort sequence initiated.]
The System’s alert flared across her HUD, its words sharp and unyielding. A cold jolt of fear gripped her chest. Abort sequence? The phrase echoed in her mind. What does that mean?
Before Sue could react, the orb shattered in her hands, its crimson light erupting into a blinding explosion. The force hurled her backward, the impact jarring, but the energy didn’t dissipate. Instead, it surged into her, wrapping her in a maelstrom of fire and electricity. She screamed, her voice raw, an unholy mix of agony and exhilaration.
[Abort sequence failed.]
[Energy overload imminent.]
[Initiating emergency protocol 'Total Corruption'.]
The System’s alerts blinked across her HUD, their usual calm precision distorted into frantic urgency. The words blurred, fading as the unrelenting energy consumed her focus. Sue collapsed to her knees, her body convulsing, each muscle twitching violently. The overwhelming force coursed through her, wild and invasive, reshaping her from the inside out.
Fear clawed at her thoughts, but it was drowned out by a surge of primal exhilaration. Her skin burned, her bones ached, and her very essence seemed to twist. Am I dying? Or becoming something else? she wondered fleetingly, unable to grasp an answer. The orb’s remnants dissolved into her, merging with every fiber of her being, as if rewriting the blueprint of her existence.
Her HUD flickered again, the text sharp and stark:
[Total Corruption initiated.]
[HP: 100%]
[MP: 100%]
[Status: Stable]
The System’s final alert rang through her mind, eerily calm amidst the chaos within her. Sue slumped forward, her breath ragged, her body feeling alien yet whole. For a moment, she simply stared at her trembling hands, unsure if she had been destroyed—or reborn.
Her bones ached, stretching and compressing, while her skin burned as though pierced by countless needles. The orb’s remnants dissolved into her, merging with her very essence. The pain was overwhelming, but beneath it all was a terrifying exhilaration, as if the power were rewriting her from the inside out.
[Total Corruption initiated.]
[HP: 100%]
[MP: 100%]
[Status: Stable]
The final alert flashed stark and clear, the System’s tone eerily calm amidst the chaos within her. Sue slumped forward, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her body felt restored, her strength renewed. But as she stared at her trembling hands, she couldn’t help but ask herself: At what cost?
Sue looked down at her hands, now radiating the same crimson glow that had annihilated the Corrupted Abomination. They trembled faintly, the energy within her still wild and untamed. She could feel it thrumming like a second heartbeat, a constant reminder of the transformation she had undergone.
[You will now undergo a reawaken period. During this time, your body will adapt to the new energy within you. Your stats will fluctuate as your body learns to control its newfound power.]
The System’s alert flared across her HUD, its words sending a chill down Sue’s spine. Reawaken period? Newfound power? The unfamiliar terms gnawed at her, a sharp edge of unease beneath the overwhelming exhaustion. What had she gotten herself into?
[Do you wish to proceed with the reawaken period?]
The next alert blinked insistently, the words stark and demanding. Sue hesitated, her heart hammering against her ribs. She had no idea what this “reawaken period” truly entailed, nor what dangers might accompany it. But she also knew she couldn’t remain in the dungeon’s suffocating stillness, waiting for answers that wouldn’t come. She had to act.
Her hands clenched into fists, the trembling subsiding as determination took hold. She inhaled deeply, grounding herself, then exhaled slowly.
"Yes," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil roiling inside her. "I want to proceed."
[Reawaken period initiated.]
[Stats fluctuating.]
[Please stand by.]
The System's alerts flashed, its words painting a grim picture. Sue took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever was to come. She had made her choice, and now she had to live with it.
The chamber seemed to shift around her, as her vision goes black. The last thing she saw was the glowing mushrooms, their dim light flickering like distant stars before everything went dark.
What Sue didn't know is that while she was unconscious, her body was undergoing a profound transformation. The energy that had once belonged to the Corrupted Abomination was now coursing through her veins, changing her on a cellular level.
Her skin, once smooth and brown, was now a shade darker, almost obsidian, reflecting the dim light like polished stone. Her eyes, once warm and expressive, were now a burning crimson, like two embers glowing in the darkness. Her hair, once long and curly, was now a cascade of liquid silver, falling down her back like a waterfall of moonlight.
But the most profound change was inside her. The energy of the Corrupted Abomination had awakened something within her, something primal and powerful. She could feel it, coiled like a snake in the pit of her stomach, a constant reminder of the power that now coursed through her veins.
The throne chamber also underwent a transformation, mirroring the profound changes within Sue. The shattered remnants of the Corrupted Abomination's throne began to reassemble, the strange, iridescent material flowing like liquid metal. It reshaped itself into a seat that was no longer grotesque but elegant, almost regal, its presence commanding yet inviting. The glowing mushrooms along the walls pulsed in sync with the faint crimson glow radiating from Sue, casting an ethereal light over the chamber that seemed to respond to her presence.
The statues lining the walls, once grotesque and monstrous, now melted away like wax under a flame. In their place were smooth, sleek surfaces that reflected the soft luminescence of the room. The air, once thick with the acrid tang of ozone and decay, shifted to something cleaner—a cool, sterile breeze that carried an almost reverent stillness, as if the chamber itself recognized Sue's transformation and its own rebirth.
But Sue and the chamber weren’t the only ones undergoing transformation. Far beyond the dungeon’s walls, the System unleashed a Global Update, its effects rippling across Earth.
[Global Update Initiated: Leveling Unlocked | Ranking Tier Rebalancing | Guild System Unlock | System Optimization.]
Hunters across the globe froze as the notifications lit up their HUDs, confusion and anticipation sparking through their ranks. In bustling cities and remote outposts alike, the System’s unprecedented announcement disrupted missions, battles, and daily routines. Leaders of powerful guilds scrambled to decipher the update’s implications, while novice Hunters gawked at the sudden possibilities now within their grasp.
On Earth, the skies shimmered faintly with a crimson hue, subtle but unsettling. Power grids flickered, and faint tremors rippled through the land, as if the planet itself was adjusting to the System’s sweeping changes. For the first time, the System acted without explanation, its motives concealed behind a veil of ambiguity.
And at the heart of it all, deep within the dungeon, Sue was the catalyst—her transformation setting into motion a chain of events that would reshape not just her world, but the world beyond.