Extract from the -{ Tome of Light }- the divine scripture of the Church of Light.

"When the threads of fate converge in divine tapestry, recognize the prophecy that anoints me as the ultimate arbiter of cosmic order. Through my omnipotent will, I shall forge a new era where I alone hold sway over the realms of existence." (The Prophecy of the One - 5:5)

……………………………………………………..

The system prompt materialized before Asher's eyes, confirming what Winston had already told him:

[ Defeat the dungeon guardian to reach the exit gate of the dungeon. ]

A flicker of determination crossed Asher's face. The reassurance that he was on the right path steeled his resolve.

Drawing upon the year of hard-earned experience, Asher moved through the forest with the grace of a shadow. His footsteps were nearly silent, each placement carefully chosen to avoid snapping twigs or rustling leaves. The gentle gurgle of the stream guided him, a lifeline in the alien landscape.

As he followed the water's course, the vegetation grew denser. Luminescent fungi clung to gnarled tree trunks, casting an eerie blue glow that danced across Asher's face. The air grew thick with the scent of damp earth and decay, a reminder of the cycle of life and death that played out every forest.

Finally, the stream widened, spilling into a vast lake that shimmered like black glass in the heart of the forest. Asher's senses prickled. The water's surface was deceptively still, but he could feel the presence of countless creatures lurking in its depths. Alien eyes watched him from below, sending shivers down his spine.

But it was the small, hunched figure at the far shore that truly captured Asher's attention. A goblin, its skin a mottled green-gray that blended seamlessly with the shadows, crouched at the water's edge. The creature's ragged breaths were audible even from this distance, its thirst evident in the desperate way it lapped at the lake's surface.

Asher's hand instinctively moved to the hilt of his weapon, but he restrained himself. Rash actions would only lead to disaster in this unknown terrain. Instead, he began a painstakingly slow circuit of the lake, every muscle tense as he kept his eyes locked on the goblin.

The creature's appearance was even more grotesque up close. Its face was a mass of wrinkles and warts, with yellowed teeth protruding from its underbite. The rags it wore as clothes barely covered its emaciated frame, and the crude stone knife it clutched seemed to be its only possession.

As the goblin finished quenching its thirst, Asher activated his skill, curious to learn more about this denizen of the night forest.

[Night Forest Goblin: (unawakened) These goblins make their homes in the dark depths of the earth, carving out vast networks of tunnels and caverns beneath the surface. They are skilled hunters of the dark, thriving in the underground ecosystem.

Current condition: hungry]

The name "night forest" suddenly took on a new, more ominous meaning. This was no ordinary woodland – it was a realm of perpetual darkness, home to creatures that had never known the sun's warmth.

Asher shadowed the goblin as it retreated into the dense undergrowth. The luminescent plants that had lit his way thus far grew scarcer, plunging him into an ever-deepening gloom. The darkness pressed in around him, a tangible force that seemed to sap the very air from his lungs.

His heart raced as he realized the peril of his situation. In this inky blackness, the goblins would have every advantage. The thought of being ambushed from the shadows, sent a cold sweat trickling down his back. With great reluctance, Asher retreated to an area with better visibility, his mind racing to formulate a new plan.

"Maybe Inky might have a way to scout the darkness," he mused, his voice barely above a whisper. The quiet horror, usually nestled beneath his cloak alongside Jormu, might prove invaluable in these lightless depths.

"Hey Inky," Asher called softly, careful not to alert any nearby creatures. Silence greeted him. "Inky?"

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A tendril of worry wormed its way into Asher's gut. He reached for Jormu, but the dragon remained equally unresponsive. With trembling hands, he extracted both creatures from his cloak, his breath catching in his throat as he examined their miniature forms.

Relief washed over him as he noted their steady breathing, but it was short-lived. No matter how he prodded or called to them, Inky and Jormu remained in a deep slumber. Asher's mind raced, searching for any sign of an enemy attack, any explanation for their sudden comatose state.

Perching high in the branches of a gnarled oak for safety, Asher cradled his sleeping companions in his lap. The rough bark dug into his back, a constant reminder of his precarious position. With no other recourse, he turned to the system, hoping against hope for some clue to their condition.

Asher checked his own status, the familiar blue interface materializing before his eyes:

[ Name: Asher Whitlock ]

[ Race: Human ] [ Tier 1 ]

[ Bloodline: Veiled Shade (common) ]

[ Stats:

Vitality- 78 (+5) = 83

Endurance- 75 (+5) = 80

Strength- 73 (+5) =78

Agility- 71 (+5)= 76

Dexterity- 65 (+4) = 69

Mind- 67 (+4) = 71

Intelligence- 64 (+3) = 67

[ Skills: Beginner Sword Mastery L.v 2, Beginner Knife Mastery L.v 4, Beginner Close-Combat Mastery L.v 4, Bloodlust L.v 4, Eyes of Odin (Sealed) ]

[ Bloodline Skills: The Heart of Chronos (Sealed)

[ Blood Beast contract: (sealed)

Soul Soverign Dragon ‘Jormungandr’.

Abbyssal devouver Kraken ‘Inkara’.

[ Quests: 3 active quests ]

[ Titles: Conqueror of the Mighty, Beast Slayer I, Contractor of lords, Bloodline Inheritor. ]

Asher's brow furrowed as he scrutinized the information. Despite his efforts, his progress seemed painfully slow. He was still trapped in the same realm, his skills stubbornly refusing to advance beyond their beginner levels. The memory palace technique had helped, certainly, but with such limited experience to draw upon, even that powerful tool could only do so much.

A grim smile tugged at his lips as he recalled Winston's warnings. The unawakened state of most dungeon denizens was a small mercy, but the dungeon guardians... those would be a challenge not to mentions any complications or mutants which might appear from time to time.

The sealed status of his bloodline contract stood out like a beacon, the only change that seemed to explain Inky and Jormu's current state. A humorless chuckle escaped Asher's lips as realization dawned. The system, in its infinite wisdom, had decided to handicap him further. This dungeon was to be conquered by his skills alone, without the aid of his powerful allies.

In a way, it made sense. Inky and Jormu, already awakened, could likely clear this entire dungeon single-handedly. But understanding the logic did little to ease the weight of responsibility that now pressed down on Asher's shoulders. Not only did he have to overcome the dungeon's challenges, but he had to do so while protecting his vulnerable companions.

Asher gently tucked the sleeping horrors into his robe, securing them against his chest. Their warmth was a constant reminder of what was at stake. The safest course of action was clear – complete the dungeon as quickly as possible, before any new complications arose.

But with two helpless charges to protect, Asher could no longer afford his usual reckless tactics. Every move had to be calculated, every risk carefully weighed. The unawakened state of most enemies provided some comfort, but Winston's warnings echoed in his mind. Prolonged autonomy could lead to mutations, to evolutions. There was no telling what monstrosities might have developed in the dungeon's darkest corners.

Another problem gnawed at him – the goblin base hidden in the forest's depths. Without any means of seeing through the oppressive darkness, Asher felt like a blind man stumbling through a minefield. He allowed himself a moment of wry amusement, imagining a supply crate filled with night vision goggles dropping from the sky. But such fanciful thoughts were a luxury he couldn't afford.

Taking stock of his meager resources, Asher felt a pang of regret for all the items locked away in Inky's subspace. His weapon and the music box were the only things he had on him at the moment.

Staring at the music box, an idea began to form in Asher's mind. It was risky, perhaps even foolhardy, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

"Guess I have no choice but to do this..." he murmured, his voice barely audible above the forest's ambient sounds.

……………………………….

The night forest held its breath, an eerie stillness descending upon the shadowy realm. But beneath that calm surface, unseen currents of danger swirled. Gruk, the goblin scout, lifted his elongated nose to the air, nostrils flaring as they caught an unfamiliar scent. The acrid tang of metal mingled with human sweat, underscored by something else – a scent that made every instinct scream danger.

"Intruder," Gruk hissed, his guttural voice carrying to his kin despite barely rising above a whisper. As one, the goblins melted into the shadows, their eyes gleaming with a predatory light. Generations of evolution had honed them into perfect ambush predators, masters of this sunless domain. No outsider could hope to—

A haunting melody shattered the silence, its otherworldly notes sending ripples of unease through the goblin ranks. The music was beautiful in its alienness, yet that very beauty carried an undercurrent of terror. It seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere, defying their keen senses as it echoed off trees and stones.

Snaggle, the youngest of the clan, couldn't suppress a nervous chitter. "What magic is this?" he asked, voice trembling with a mixture of fear and awe.

Gruk's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Quiet, fool!" he snarled, but his rebuke was cut short as a flash of crimson sliced through the night. Snaggle's eyes widened in shock, a gurgling sound escaping his throat as he crumpled to the forest floor. The intruder moved with inhuman grace, a wraith-like figure barely visible even to the goblins' night-adapted eyes.

"Surround him!" Gruk barked, but the words died in his throat as the melody shifted. What had been a haunting, ethereal tune transformed into a frenzied battle hymn. The human – for that's what it was – danced between the trees, his crimson blade singing a song of death with each swing.

……………………….

For Asher, the experience was nothing short of surreal. The moment he had activated Infinite's Echoes, the world around him had transformed. A ghostly, three-dimensional map of his surroundings blossomed in his mind, extending in a perfect 10-foot radius. Every tree, every rock, every goblin was clearly visible in this mental projection, their positions updating in real-time as they moved.

The weight of Jormu and Inky against his chest added an extra layer of tension to the battle. Their vulnerable forms were a constant reminder of what was at stake – he couldn't afford to let a single attack slip through his guard.

But it was the music that truly threw Asher off balance. As he ducked under a goblin's wild swing, narrowly avoiding disembowelment, the haunting melody suddenly transitioned into a peppy pop song.

"Oops, I did it again! I played with your heart, got lost in the game~" Britney Spears' voice crooned in his ears, the upbeat tune a jarring contrast to the life-and-death struggle unfolding around him.