Jimmy stared at the three class options, a mix of skepticism and reluctant interest flickering across his face. Each description felt like it was designed to poke fun at him, yet he could sense the System’s intent behind each choice. His future in this world was on the line.
He started with Stormblade Initiate. Sword skills plus lightning—a flashy, crowd-pleasing option. He could almost picture himself striding into a fight, shouting, “Witness my power!” and immediately regretting it. Subtlety wasn’t his strength, but he wasn’t eager to look like a human firework either.
Next, he looked over Phantom Strider. Agility, stealth, silence… sure, it had appeal. But sneaking around didn’t exactly fit his style. What was he supposed to do, hide behind enemies and hope they missed him? He wasn’t about to become some shadowy assassin tiptoeing through fights.
Finally, he studied Blade Disciple. No flair, no magic—just basic attacks and raw power. The description was blunt, but he liked that. A “solid swing and a lot of stubbornness” could practically be his life motto. It felt simple, solid. And that katana he’d picked up was still a challenge to wield. A good reminder that strength was something he’d have to earn.
With a faint smirk, he tapped Blade Disciple. “Guess I’ll stick to the basics,” he muttered.
System Notification: “Blade Disciple selected. You have joined the lineage of warriors who wield strength in simplicity. Unbreakable will and raw power lie ahead.”
The words felt final, like a door closing, and Jimmy felt a strange sense of satisfaction bloom in his chest. This was his path now, as simple and unpolished as it was. And that was enough.
In a flash, his surroundings changed. Jimmy stood in a vast, empty landscape, surrounded by warriors of all shapes and sizes. They wielded their weapons with a fierce determination, no magic, no tricks—just sheer strength. Each one faced the world with the kind of raw power that felt almost holy.
One by one, they turned toward him. An older warrior with deep scars gave him a slow nod, while a tall woman with steel-like eyes held his gaze for a moment, her sword resting easily at her side. Each warrior seemed to see him, acknowledge him as one of their own.
Then, just as quickly, the vision faded. Jimmy found himself back in the dungeon, tasting iron on his tongue, a faint echo of those warriors’ spirits lingering in his bones.
As his vision cleared, a new notification pulsed in his view.
System Notification: New Passive Skill Unlocked: Empowered Aura
Empowered Aura:
A passive force that enhances each strike with raw power. Your resolve amplifies every blow, making even a simple hit formidable.
Jimmy’s eyebrows lifted, a faint smirk crossing his face. “So now my hits pack a punch just for existing? About time.”
He glanced down at the treasure chest beside him, where a dark, gleaming vial lay nestled in worn cloth.
He frowned, eyeing the vial with a mix of reluctance and curiosity. “Guess I’m signing up for the world’s worst fitness program.”
Bracing himself, Jimmy uncorked the vial and downed its contents in one gulp. The liquid was cool on his tongue, but the second it hit his stomach, it felt like he’d swallowed a live coal. Heat burst outward, searing through his core, igniting every inch of his insides like they were being tempered in a forge. He doubled over, clutching his gut as waves of heat and cold surged through his veins in a relentless cycle.
System Notification: Body Tempering Technique I Initiated.
“W-what the…” he managed to choke out, his voice strangled as the heat hit a new high, making him feel like he was burning from the inside. He dropped to his knees, beads of sweat pouring down his face as the inferno rampaged through his body, lapping up every ounce of his strength. Muscles he hadn’t known he had clenched and convulsed, protesting this sudden, brutal awakening.
“Who… needs… tempering?” he gasped, clenching his fists as the heat suddenly flipped to bone-numbing cold, making his body spasm with shivers. The frigid chill bit through his limbs, each breath coming out in ragged, visible gasps. Every inch of his body felt like it was caught in an endless, punishing storm—first fire, then ice, then fire again.
The pain sharpened, drilling into his bones, making his very core feel like it was cracking under pressure. He gritted his teeth, muscles spasming, breaths ragged. Sweat and shivers fought for dominance as he twisted on the floor, his whole body rebelling against him.
“Ah—this is… pure hell,” he spat, digging his fingers into the ground as if that could anchor him. But the heat only intensified, like a forge demanding that he either withstand the flames or break under them. His heart pounded furiously, muscles screaming as they pushed beyond limits he hadn’t even known he had.
The System must’ve known he’d barely exercised a day in his life, yet here it was, demanding he endure the physical equivalent of running a marathon in a volcano—only to plunge into a frozen lake at the finish line.
“Come on, Jimmy,” he muttered through gritted teeth, his whole body trembling with the effort. “Just… just survive this… and you’re set.”
Time blurred into an endless, fiery haze, his entire body searing, freezing, and then searing again. Each muscle seemed to strain against an invisible weight, stretching and compressing as he struggled to stay upright. The burning, the cold, the pain—he endured it all, every fiber of him screaming but somehow, miraculously, refusing to break.
Then, just when he thought he couldn’t take another second, the heat softened. The cold dulled. His limbs were left pulsing with a steady, throbbing warmth that felt strangely… solid. Like he’d been forged and reforged, beaten down to his very core and reforged again.
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Closing his eyes, he tried to block out the memory of the pain, focusing instead on the steadiness that was gradually filling his limbs. The quiet, the coolness of the stone, the feel of the weight in his muscles—it all started to anchor him, pulling him into a slow, calm rhythm.
He didn’t know how long he sat there, breathing through the last aches. Eventually, his heartbeat slowed, each breath coming easier. He could feel the subtle changes in his body, the new density and strength humming under his skin. The transformation had been brutal, but now that it was over, he couldn’t deny that he felt… different. Better.
After a few minutes, he opened his eyes and pushed himself to his feet. His muscles were sore, but they felt solid, like he’d been rebuilt from the inside out. His gaze drifted to the katana lying nearby, the one that had felt like a burden the last time he’d tried to lift it.
“Alright, round two,” he muttered, stepping over to the blade. He crouched down, wrapping his fingers around the hilt, feeling the cold, rough texture under his hand.
This time, when he lifted, the blade came up smoothly, the weight no longer overwhelming. He gave it an experimental swing, the blade cutting through the air with a faint hum. It felt good—almost natural, as if it belonged in his hands.
Encouraged, Jimmy adjusted his stance and tried a basic overhead slash. The movement was clumsy, his form rough, but he could feel a rhythm beginning to form. He swung again, focusing on the fluidity of the motion, then again, trying to add a bit more force, getting a feel for the weight of the blade.
He shifted into a few more moves, mimicking sword techniques he’d seen in movies or online. A horizontal slice, a parry, a quick thrust. Each move felt a bit easier, his body adjusting to the katana’s weight. He wasn’t exactly a swordsman, but for a few minutes, he lost himself in the practice, each swing and step building his confidence. After a few more swings, he lowered the katana, catching his breath as he steadied his stance.
Jimmy found the door to the next floor nestled in a shadowed corner, its dark surface etched with strange markings that pulsed faintly under his hand. Bracing himself, he pushed it open, revealing a narrow staircase winding down into a dimly lit chamber below. A chill settled over him as he descended, carrying a foreboding scent of blood and ice.
At the bottom, the chamber stretched out before him—vast, dark, and cloaked in an eerie mist. The silence hung heavy, broken only by his footsteps echoing across the stone. Ahead, through the shadows, two piercing blue eyes fixed on him, glowing with an unnatural hunger.
The massive beast stepped forward, its fur matted with frost and its shoulders broad enough to fill the narrow space. Each step it took sent vibrations through the floor, and its low growl rumbled like distant thunder. A title floated over its head, and Jimmy felt his pulse quicken as he read it:
Frostfang Alpha - Level 10
The creature’s cold, predatory gaze narrowed, sizing Jimmy up, but he felt no hesitation. The memories of those silent warriors who’d acknowledged him—the brutal tempering he’d endured—settled into his bones, fusing into a fierce resolve. This fight was his, and nothing could pull him back.
Jimmy’s hand tightened on the katana’s hilt, feeling its weight as an extension of himself. His breathing slowed, his focus sharpening until all he saw was the Frostfang Alpha before him, every muscle in his body bracing for the kill. A stray draft swept through the chamber, catching his long curls, making them sway and brush against his face like a fighter’s flag unfurling before battle. His narrowed eyes held a spark, an intense, predatory gleam that matched the beast’s own.
The Frostfang Alpha let out a thunderous snarl, crouching low as it prepared to strike. Jimmy matched its intensity, bringing his katana back, his entire body coiled like a spring. He felt Empowered Aura pulse through his muscles, his newly tempered strength pooling in his core, waiting to be unleashed. The air around him grew charged, electric, as the energy from his blade and the sheer force of his will fused into a single, deadly purpose.
In that moment, everything else faded—the chamber, the mist, even his own heartbeat. The world narrowed to the icy blue eyes of the beast and the arc he would carve through them.
The creature lunged, its jaws wide, claws arched to tear into him. Jimmy moved in a blur. He sidestepped with a swift, practiced grace, his eyes tracking every motion of the beast’s massive body. Then, in one fluid motion, he swung the katana forward, his entire being focused into that single, unrelenting strike.
The blade cut through the air with a hum of pure power, a dark wave of energy trailing its path like the afterglow of a comet. Time seemed to slow as the edge of his blade met the Frostfang’s neck, the explosive force of slash erupting outward. The strike tore through fur, flesh, and bone with a fierce finality, as if the world itself split along the katana’s path.
The Frostfang Alpha staggered, its eyes wide with shock, a final, strangled growl rumbling deep in its throat. It wavered, its mighty form buckling, and then collapsed with a heavy thud, its icy gaze flickering out as life drained from it.
Jimmy straightened, his breathing measured, watching as the creature’s body stilled. The echo of his strike reverberated in the chamber, the katana still humming faintly in his hand. His long curls settled against his shoulders, and he exhaled, a triumphant gleam in his eyes as the System’s notification flared to life.
System Notification: New Skill Unlocked—Vehemence
Vehemence: Channel all your strength into one epic swing, unleashing a wave of force so powerful it’ll leave your enemies—and maybe yourself—seeing stars. Think Karthus R: devastating, but you’re dead weight after.
Cooldown: High
A smirk played on his lips as he read the notification. “Vehemence,” he murmured. “Yeah, that’ll do.”
But the System wasn’t finished with him yet.
System Notification: Congratulations. You have completed your first dungeon and were the first on Earth to clear it. Greater rewards are awarded for exceptional performance.
Due to your unprecedented achievement of defeating the boss in a single blow, additional rewards have been issued.
Bonus Experience Awarded: 2 Levels
Another notification appeared, delivering the final touch to his victory:
New Title Acquired: “Pioneer of the Blade”
Pioneer of the Blade: You were the first to clear a dungeon on Earth, forging a path where no one had dared to tread. This title grants a permanent 15% increase to Dexterity, enhancing your agility and precision.
“Nice one ,” he said, glancing down at the fallen beast.
Just when he thought it was over, another notification flashed before his eyes, pulsing with a calm, quiet light.
System Notification: Dungeon Boss Defeated: Frostfang Alpha. Congratulations, you have cleared the The Hollow Den. As a reward, 150 Essence has been awarded.
Jimmy blinked at the word Essence, something he hadn’t see before. For now, he decided to ignore it.
Treasure chest materialized beside the lifeless form of the Frostfang Alpha, its intricate carvings glinting faintly in the dim light. Crossing the chamber, he opened the chest to reveal his spoils: a dark vial, a worn leather manual, and a pulsing glyph stone.
Without a second thought, he grabbed the Vial of Vitality, downing its contents. Warmth spread through his chest, fortifying his endurance, making his body feel even more rooted and solid. He slipped the Manual of Blade Disciples into his Bag of Holding; he’d save it for later.
Jimmy picked up the Glyph Stone, feeling its faint pulse in his hand, almost like it was alive. He stared at it, unsure what to do next, but a strange intuition urged him forward—a quiet nudge, as if the System itself were guiding him. Acting on instinct, he tightened his grip and crushed it in his palm. Energy exploded through him, a rush sparking along every nerve as he leveled up once more.
Jimmy’s Status
Name: Jimmy Holloway
Level: 8
Title: Pioneer of the Blade
Class: Blade Disciple
Core Stats
* Strength: 21
* Dexterity: 25
* Intelligence: 9
* Vitality: 26
Jimmy took one last look at the chamber. Time to get out of here.