“YES...!” Tetsu pushes every bit of air from his lungs into the word, yelling them out.

The landing got a bit bumpy, but who the fuck would complain with three loot boxes?

“Suck on that Saint.” Tetsu hopped around.

He threw each treasure chest into a pit and hopes into the last one.

“Loot time.” He shrieks like a little girl.

Tetsu opens his first loot box, which was made of old wood, obviously saving the best for last.

The treasure chest resembles those old crates one can find at their grandparents’ house. Although this was much more worn out and pretty much unbreakable.

The only wound from round three was Tetsu hitting this loot box with all his might. Which resulted in a broken wrist, lost blood, an absurd amount of pain, and a treasure chest standing tall.

It didn’t even allow Tetsu’s blood to latch onto it.

Tetsu doubted whether the Artificer class would allow him to bind artifacts from a dungeon, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t be using the box itself.

Carrying around three huge treasure chests might be weird, but better weird than dead is Tetsu’s motto.

Sadly, opening the box made the box disappear. They did leave a pair of awesome-looking boots, though.

Boots that he cannot use.

[Ding! Blah, blah, blah, you can’t use them. What did you think, genius? This ain’t balance or some nonsense. This is your luck biting you in your ass. These boots were meant to help you sneak better and run faster, but don’t worry, I won’t give you the exact stats because I realize it would hurt your feelings. But +2 in flash, +1 in flex, boosting your stealth by one rarity, and a self-repair enchantment is a massive boost you missed. Thank yourself that you don’t perceive how stats work.]

Tetsu face palms himself. “I need to change my interface someday.”

Next, he hops out of one pit and falls into another with his boots. He can’t bind them, but he can still use them like any normal boots.

Pathetic, normal, Earth boots.

The second loot box comprised a sturdier wood and the third loot box had a little silver tint.

The idea of carrying invincible shields was tempting, but the idea of an opponent opening the box and using the loot against him was terrifying. Also, his curiosity wanted to peek and find out the what-ifs.

With a pair of soft cotton pants that went under his rock-solid pants, a shirt to cover his premature Abbs, and two, oh so, heavenly boots, Tetsu reviews his real rewards.

[Ding! congratulations on completing your first dungeon you have earned a Dungeonier Title: Xanvic Five.]

[Ding! The system has recognized your unique approach to tackling a problem. Title earned: My Way: While the world is set in stone, you refuse to change your values, for it’s what makes you unique. No matter the cost, you have stuck to your values and principles. ‘My Way’ sets you apart from the others stuck in the cycle of life, in the cycle of deceit. For you can choose to step out of the system, explore, and make your own path. As you don’t back down in the name of risks or certain death. It takes more than courage, willpower, and strength to travel on one’s unique path. May you find all that you desire and more.]

[Ding! Title: ‘My way’ has added a Four percent bonus to all your stats.]

[Ding! Title earned: Valedictorian: Being the first individual to have created a unique skill, technique, and path, you have been deemed worthy of your universe valedictorian title. May your unique way open even more paths for you and your entire universe.]

[Ding! Title: ‘Valedictorian’ has added a one percent bonus to all your stats.]

“Aw... it’s nice to be recognized. Thank you... system?”

Tetsu puzzled over a name to call the screen, but based on all the notifications, perhaps it is called a system.

“The system.” Tetsu names it.

THE; as the one and only system.

With a side note to himself that ‘THE’ system is above and beyond all the other bonds and gods. Better not ‘Kile’ with it, as in mess with it.

None of his increments were added to his stats. Tetsu presumed it had to do with his low level or his shell being too weak.

“Gotta train.” He hops up and down with excitement.

Tetsu had never been valley anything. He couldn’t even pronounce the word valedictorian. As a tag-along for Kile, Tetsu always got into exceptional schools. In extension, he had to compete and keep up with a lot of geniuses. Kile outsmarted all of them, him being Kile, but what about poor Tetsu?

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This title brought a lot to the table. More stats, a better future, and many other things Tetsu couldn’t even imagine. Yet only one thing occupies Tetsu’s mind right now.

“How do I rub this title on Kile’s face?”

Until Tetsu understood only he was capable of seeing his screen. He caught RJ staring at the sky, which must’ve been its screen. He also tried showing his screen to the rhino, and all he got in return was a weird look.

“Maybe I can command my system to become visible to others?” Tetsu forms an experiment, heading back to the mind tree.

Tetsu commands his screen to become visible. If it worked, he had so many things to show RJ.

A new outfit and some awesome titles.

“Yeah, you wobbly piece of jelly. I am the vale… dic... wait! That doesn’t sound right.”

Well... one more exercise before reaching RJ.

Learn to pronounce your own damn title.

The other life technique Grandma always insisted on was to watch one’s back.

Make enemies, friends, or in-between’s. No matter what. One should always have an eye on their backs.

Yet another simple rule Tetsu forgot to follow. A simple, crucial rule that he will come to regret.

Lost in practice, Tetsu doesn’t notice a pair of eyes latching onto him, or, more accurately, his pants.

Tetsu bounces with joy. “RJ will be so shocked to see me in this amazing outfit.” He irons the shirt with his hands, realizing. ‘She won’t try to eat them, would she?’

To ground Tetsu back to reality, Saint reminds him of the tasks Tetsu kept delegating.

“Aw!” Tetsu complains. “That’s right. Red flag number three.” He mumbles to himself. “Cool down.”

Based on the number of Ru’nic formations used, the power of his opponent, the level difference between them, the rune, and the power used in said formation, the cooldown time increases.

Yup, more math that Tetsu planned on ignoring. The Artificer class would provide him with an estimate, and he planned on working around said gut feeling.

Math: 0. Tetsu: 4. For all the times he ignored math.

By far the biggest problem with rune force or fighting with runes is the cooldown time. Say you were lucky in approaching and etching a couple of runes over your opponent.

“Ah! Talking about getting close.” Tetsu pulls his hair in frustration. “Someone needs to make floating runes and teach them to me.”

Getting the runes etched over the opponent is the easy part when compared to cooldown timers. Because with a skill like Tetsu’s and a title or practice, you can get close and draw a rune or two.

The troublesome part is to choose which rune to draw.

Opponents vary from their chosen bonds to class, to skill, and many other variants Tetsu didn’t even perceive. Now, not only does he have to predict their entire stats by a look, but he also has to choose five Ru’nic formations to win the confrontation.

Let us say by some miracle, he does win. With Tetsu’s rule or by a sudden epiphany, you want to let your enemy live or just let them go. It can be political, personal, a threat, or by chance… Guess what? Until the cool-down time is lifted, no other rune can be placed over him now.

Now you better hope your opponent has the same darn epiphany you did.

This is one reason Tetsu concentrated on harmless and escaping statics. If things go south and they always do, Tetsu can run, dodge, or hope that they don’t have orbs to refill their mana pool.

Tetsu spots RJ at a distance and he has an epiphany.

What if you can’t even touch your opponent?

Invisible shields or opponents that can detach part of their bodies? Will his rune work over the detached part of the body or the main body?

Rune force can be at the center of his fighting style, but gaining skills, other magic systems, and gifts sounded wise.

Tetsu’s gaze fall upon the staff, the artifact he made. “Oh, yeah! I’m an Artificer too. Maybe I can make a deal to survive for some labor.”

Yeah, Tetsu meant what he said. The plan of making a super artifact crossed his mind, but what if someone steals it or finds a way to bind it to them?

Tetsu didn’t trust his luck one bit. In fact, he can bet on his opponents whooping his ass with his own artifact and later claiming it as a price.

Talking about whooping some ass.

“Hey!” Tetsu yells at RJ. “Stop eating my fucking meat... I swear to god I will kill you.”

RJ looks up with a face full of meat, berries, and herbs. She didn’t require table manners, and Tetsu didn’t understand why she molded a mouth when she didn’t even know how to use one.

She always dips her entire face into the food, his food.

“I’ve mulled on killing you, you gluttonous piece of crap. I’ll break you into so many tiny pieces that you’ll be reincarnated as a worm, you slime.

RJ’s eyes widen, then dart toward Tetsu.

“Oh-no!” He gulps.

RJ tucks her limbs inside her body and rolls down, using her invisible shield like an exterior wheel.

There was some skill behind the roll as she rolled down faster than Tetsu could react.

‘My artifacts.’ Tetsu screamed within, crossing his hands over his chest. ‘I should’ve drawn runes all over this place.’ He cursed himself. ‘Wait! That speed how? Ah... who cares, I’ll be a paste soon. Paste? Oh, my god!" His mind connects imaginary dots. ‘It doesn’t want to eat my artifacts... It wanted to eat him.’ He curses himself more for not noticing sooner. ‘Next life... In the next life. I shall have my revenge.’ Tetsu closes his eyes.

‘Splat!’ Smooth jelly covers Tetsu’s skin.

The jelly felt like a warm bath in a cool winter breeze, a mother’s hug, or the sweet sensation of revealing yourself.

The warmth of blood as it seeps out to claim... ‘Oh my god. I am dead or going to die. Same thing.’ Tetsu tries to fight the invisible, comfortable monster but his body still wouldn’t respond to his claims as it enjoys the embrace of warmth on this cold, cold day.

CLICK... &... BOOM!

A massive explosion enveloped Tetsu. Even being submerged inside a gelatinous body, his body rung like a bell, claiming his eardrums and every other sense.

Glimpses of his surroundings, arms, and clothes smeared with jelly entered Tetsu’s vision.

It was like an immersed movie experience where the scenes felt real but made no sense as they contradicted reality.

Visions of a jelly rhino running towards him. Standing in front of him, blocking his view. Tiny fireflies dancing in the wind and…

BOOM! Those fireflies explode.

A screeching sound inside his head forced Tetsu to shut his eyes.

‘Rhino? Jelly? RJ?’

It, rhino, RJ, stood between him and a Dandelion.

Another explosion paired with a flash intensified the searing pain, pushing him to concede.

‘RJ liked dandelions? No... she was fighting one. Oh, yes... that’s a Dandralith. The one that almost...’

Tetsu forces his body to react, see more, and recover faster.

Help... he can help her this time around.

BOOM! One more explosion bathes Tetsu in a wave of heat.

‘How many explosions did he sleep through? Not the time.’ Tetsu told himself.

But how did a Dandralith find them? How did it avoid all the traps and...

A part of the puzzle clicks. This was his fault. He was careless and let his guard down. He neglected the first and foremost technique. All over some stupid artifacts he could never use.

Grandma was so particular about this rule that she repeated it many times over. He should have held this technique closer to his heart. Practiced it day and night. For it came from a woman who never gives a vague hint during a crisis.

“A power everyone can create, but no one can control?” Questions Razz, in her mocking voice, taunting Kile. While for Tetsu, it sounded like her puzzler voice, poking his curious mind.

“It changes, molds, and grows, holding a unique form in a unique body. Before you notice, it can devour you whole, making you question every step, every decision you’ve ever made. For a wisp of its power can eat you from within and spit out greatness or loneliness. That’s for the world to decide.”

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