Kagan awoke to the first light of dawn, his makeshift rooftop bed surprisingly comfortable. Stretching, he stood up and was immediately hit by the less pleasant realization of his situation. "Ugh, I smell like a gym locker room," he grumbled, wrinkling his nose.

After pulling his hair back into its usual messy bun, he decided to forgo his usual morning routine. With a thought, he activated "Shadow Step," and in a blur, he was back on the ground. The streets of the Town of Beginnings were quiet in the early hours, the stalls and shops just starting to stir to life.

Curious about any overnight developments, Kagan opened the community tab on his system interface. It buzzed with activity, climbers sharing discoveries and tips. One topic, in particular, caught his eye: portals.

Scattered across the first floor were mysterious portals, each a gateway to a small realm filled with monsters. These mini-dungeons offered not just the thrill of combat but also the promise of loot and, most importantly, monster cores. These cores, it seemed, were a hot commodity, bought eagerly by various vendors and craftsmen in the town.

"Huh, monster hunting and treasure looting. Sounds like my kind of gig," Kagan mused, his interest piqued by the potential for profit and leveling up. The thought of exploring these portals, of testing his skills against new adversaries, was enticing. Plus, the chance to fill his pockets and perhaps splurge on some essentials – like a much-needed shower – was too good to pass up.

As he scrolled through the feed, gathering information on the portals' locations and the types of monsters they housed, a notification popped up. It was a message from Aleksander, the hero from the previous day's battle.

"Are you free to talk?" the message read.

Kagan raised an eyebrow. "The hero needs to chat? Intriguing." But with the prospect of adventure and earnings just a portal away, he decided to put it off. "I'll answer that later. Time to make some money," he muttered.

He closed the interface, his mind already strategizing his first foray into the portals. With the streets coming to life around him, Kagan set off in search of the nearest portal, ready to dive into the fray. The idea of collecting cores and selling them for a tidy profit was appealing, and it beat the uncertainty of whatever conversation Aleksander had in mind.

With the sun climbing higher in the sky, Kagan approached the location of the first portal, ready to test his mettle against whatever lay beyond. The promise of adventure and profit was a heady mix, and as he stepped towards the swirling gateway, he couldn't help but grin.

"Let's see what you've got, Tower," he said, and with that, he stepped into the portal, disappearing in a flash of light.

Kagan emerged into the cave-like interior of the dungeon, a stark contrast to the sunny streets he'd left behind. The air was cool and damp, the only light emanating from luminescent moss clinging to the walls. His eyes quickly adjusted, focusing on the creatures that prowled the shadows - wolves, but unlike any he had seen before. Their legs were a lustrous metal, and above their heads floated name tags: "Steel-Legged Beasts."

"No time like the present," Kagan muttered, readying himself.

He launched into action, using 'Shadow Step' to dart among the wolves, his movements a blur. The skill gave him an edge, allowing him to maneuver with a speed that left the beasts snapping at air. He interspersed his physical attacks with bursts of 'Magic Missile,' the energy bolts slamming into the metallic limbs of the wolves, sending them reeling.

With each defeated foe, a small orb of light emerged, coalescing into a solid form - monster cores. Kagan scooped them up as he moved, his pockets soon bulging with the spoils. The cores were warm to the touch, pulsating with a contained energy.

As he fought, his system interface pinged continuously. "Level Up" flashed across the screen, a gratifying sight that spurred him on. He could feel himself getting stronger, faster, more adept with each skirmish.

In the midst of battle, a particularly large wolf leapt at him, its jaws wide. Kagan dodged, counterattacking with a well-placed punch that sent the creature tumbling. As it vanished, it left behind a unique item: "Wraps of Steel." Kagan examined the item, a piece of cloth that shimmered with a metallic sheen. He wrapped it around his arm, feeling it adjust and tighten into a protective layer - a makeshift shield that didn't sacrifice mobility.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

"Neat," he said, admiring the sleek design. "Fashion meets function."

He continued deeper into the dungeon, dispatching Steel-Legged Beasts with a combination of magic and melee.

Finally, he arrived at a large door, ornate and imposing, the unmistakable entrance to the boss room. Taking a deep breath, Kagan steadied himself. His heart pounded with anticipation; whatever lay beyond that door was the ultimate challenge of this portal.

He pushed the door open, the creak of its hinges echoing through the cavernous space. The room beyond was dimly lit, the air heavy with the promise of a looming confrontation.

Kagan stepped inside, the Wraps of Steel snug around his arm, his magic at the ready. The door shut behind him with a resounding thud, sealing him in with whatever awaited his challenge.

The shadows stirred, and from the darkness emerged the boss of the dungeon. Kagan squared his shoulders, a wry smile playing on his lips.

"Showtime," he whispered, and with that, the battle for the dungeon's heart began.

It was a lycanthrope, a creature of legend, but this one wielded a sword with a skill that belied its bestial nature. Its name floated above its head in the dim light: "Grimfang the Swordbearer."

Kagan sized up Grimfang, taking in the creature’s hulking form and the way it brandished its sword – not just a weapon but an extension of its savage prowess. The lycanthrope’s eyes, a piercing yellow, locked onto Kagan with a predatory focus.

The battle commenced with Grimfang lunging forward, its sword cutting through the air with deadly precision. Kagan dodged, using "Shadow Step" to maneuver around the beast, getting in close to land powerful hits. Each punch and kick he delivered was a test of his strength against the lycanthrope's formidable resilience.

Kagan was learning to fight smarter, his movements a dance of dodges and strikes, but Grimfang was relentless. The beast’s swordplay was not just wild swings but calculated strokes meant to corner and overpower its prey.

A heavy punch from Grimfang sent Kagan flying across the room, slamming him against the wall. The impact rattled his bones, pain shooting through his body. As he slid to the ground, his usual quips and laughter were absent. He was beyond pissed – he was in a state of cold, focused fury.

Grimfang advanced, sword raised for a finishing blow. In that moment, Kagan tapped into something primal within himself. Channeling his mana, he powered up two 'Magic Missiles', the energy crackling between his fingers. With a defiant yell, he launched them straight at Grimfang's eyes.

The lycanthrope howled as the missiles struck, blinded momentarily by the burst of light. Seizing the opportunity, Kagan sprang forward. In a flurry of motion, he knocked the sword from Grimfang’s grip and caught it mid-air.

Holding the sword, a weapon unfamiliar yet oddly fitting in his grasp, Kagan swung with all his might. The blade, fueled by his rage and desperation, cleaved through Grimfang in a clean, brutal arc.

The lycanthrope’s two halves fell to the ground, and the room fell silent, save for Kagan's heavy breathing. He stood there, sword in hand, his heart pounding in his ears.

Then, the system interface pinged. A new skill appeared: "Dual Casting." Kagan looked at the notification, his mind still reeling from the battle. This skill, a testament to his growing prowess, was the result of pushing his limits, of adapting and overcoming in the heat of combat.

Exhausted but victorious, Kagan dropped the sword. It vanished into motes of light as it hit the ground, leaving no trace of the epic battle that had just taken place.

In the aftermath of the intense battle, Kagan's gaze fell upon the monster core left by Grimfang. It was larger than the others, pulsating with a deeper, more vibrant energy. "Boss bonus, huh?" he mused, picking it up. "Seems like the big bads come with bigger and badder loot."

His attention then shifted to a treasure chest tucked away in the back of the room. Approaching it cautiously, he gave it a firm kick. "Fool me once, Dark Souls," he muttered, half expecting the chest to sprout teeth and lunge at him. When it remained inert, he let out a relieved chuckle and flipped the lid open.

Inside, nestled among a bed of velvet, was a simple-looking stone. It was unassuming, yet it radiated a sense of latent power. Curious, Kagan picked it up, feeling a subtle hum of energy coursing through it.

As he held the stone, a sudden realization struck him. "Wait a second... I have an inventory!" He smacked his forehead, his expression a mix of annoyance and amusement. "Here I am, juggling monster cores like some circus act, and I could've just stashed them away!"

Kagan opened his system interface and accessed the inventory feature. A virtual space appeared, showing neat rows ready to be filled. With a mixture of relief and self-deprecating laughter, he began transferring the items from his bulging pockets into the inventory.

"Let's see, one boss core, a couple dozen regular cores, and... oh, what's this? Lint. Lovely." He flicked the lint away, shaking his head. "And here I thought I was playing Tower Climber, not Pocket Hoarder Simulator."

As he sorted through his haul, placing the boss core and the mysterious stone carefully in the inventory, he couldn't help but chuckle at himself. "Next thing you know, I'll find out I've been carrying around a microwave or something equally ridiculous."

With his items safely stored away and his pockets significantly lighter, Kagan felt a sense of satisfaction. The inventory system, a basic feature he'd overlooked, was a game-changer. No more would he be the walking, jingling one-man band of the Tower.

"Alright, inventory sorted, boss defeated, and dignity somewhat intact," he said, giving the empty room a final once-over. "Time to head back and see what these goodies can fetch me."