You killed 6 goblins, 2 wolves, 1 boar, and a rat, you gained 455 Exp.

LVL 5. 505/1500

I collapsed under a dead oak. I had finally found it, the so-called treasure. My stomach growled, and my vision blurred. I didn’t know why I hadn’t eaten back in the village. Well, I knew why. I probably puked a weeks’ worth of food back there.

I closed my eyes. The sight of Zavier holding the homunculi sneaked into my mind and killed my appetite.

#

I slid down the hole under the dead oak.

Stones and rocks scraped my skin. Dirt fell on my face, air blew up my nose, and my stomach fluttered.

My ass landed on hard stones. I opened my eyes, pushed myself off the ground, stretched out my back, and wiped away the dirt. I had landed on old marble tiles now covered in dirt. In front of me stretched forth nothingness. It was a two people wide passage flanked by stone walls. I searched for anything of interest and in a corner, there was a small stand on which two swords slept. One short sword made of red metal, the other a blue rapier.

I looked around the stone stand, and on its side, words were engraved. My name is Feodor, a being with regrets. At least I got my wish. Unfortunately, yours may end here. This is your last chance; crawl back now or take a sword and proceed.

I didn’t have any skills to appraise weapons, so I grabbed the red one in hopes it related to fire magic.

Acquired B class sword of the fire lion.

The being Feodor offers you a mission.

Escape to the new continent.

Rank: B+

Rewards: Titles True King of Rosalia, and True King of Liliana

Accept/Refuse

I hadn’t reached adulthood, yet I’d already received my second mission. I would definitely bring Rose back to life.

Mission accepted.

The spider web covered corridor glowed. The dirt covering the marble tiles disappeared and the stone walls became wood. Windows overlooking a deep-blue ocean appeared, and gilded chandeliers decorated the walls. My old noble attire disappeared; my grease-filled hair became light and fluttered down my forehead. I pushed it back, but without grease it couldn’t hold and covered my eyes. The new clothes were tight but comfortable as the fabric stretched to match my movements. I looked out the window. The ocean didn’t move, and the clouds were frozen in the sky. Dozens of ships were docked at the shipyard. Frozen humans held crates destined for the sea.

It seemed like things wouldn’t move if I didn’t. I took the opportunity to open my status screen.

Status

Newborn Beast

Species: (X)ravn

Gods Favour: 5

LVL 5/15-(X)

Exp: 505/1500

Trait breakdown:

Magic:

* Mana: 120/120

* Flow: C/ S(X) à C+/S(X)

* Retention: D/ S(X)

* Expulsion: C/ S(X) à C+/S(X)

* Types: Shadow, Fire, X, X, X

Corporal:

* Strength: D/ B(X)

* Endurance: C/ B(X)

* Dexterity: B/ A(X)

* Poison resistance: D/B(X)

* Weapon of choice (heavy longsword) proficiency: C+/ B(X)

Skills:

* Mental Dam (proficiency 20%)

Titles:

* X (conditional)

* X (conditional)

#

Since I hadn’t had another episode in a while, I guessed that I’d be free from impromptu memory attacks. I also had two unused skill points. Spending them later would be the wiser choice…if not for the fact I was about to tackle a B+ ranked dungeon.

I tapped my new sword’s hilt. Perhaps a sword skill would serve me well. Better be safe than sorry.

“System, what skills do you suggest for me to improve my fighting potential the fastest?”

The following are three of my top recommendations:

Iron Body 2pts. (your body becomes stronger and more durable; a cheap blade will only scratch your skin)

Active Weapon Enchantment 2pts. (You can infuse your magic in your sword)

Eye of Insight 2pts (You better understand the movements of animals and beasts)

The Eye of Insight was more suitable for combat use. I relied on instincts and muscle memory; I wouldn’t know how to exploit additional information on my enemies. I suppose the system wasn’t all-knowing. The first skill, Iron Body, seemed good, but taking damage wasn’t my style. The second option mixed magic and close-ranged weapons.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Active weapon enchantment skill bought for 2 skill points, 0 skill points remaining.

With a new skill bought and my skill points exhausted, I took a step. The clouds drifted, birds flew by the window, humans walked, and waves rolled. I pointed my sword at a window and infused it with my mana. I thought of fire. The sword burst into flames.

The space in front of me warped and shifted as my flames grew hotter. I swung the sword towards the window, and a horizontal flame scythe launched out. It glowed brightly, but the wood didn’t catch fire, and the window didn’t break. After all, this was all of the dungeon’s construction.

I continued down the hallway. The thud of my shoes resounded through the hallway. For a minute I walked without encountering a door or a turn in the corridor. But a row of windows and chandeliers populated its right wall. Finally, after a minute-long walk, I reached a door made of ebony wood, and pushed it open. On the other side, a round table with seven seats stood. Six of the seven were occupied by giant men and women, nearly twice my height, dressed in tight shirts contouring their figures, save for their arms, encased in small white puffs of mesh-like fabric. It resembled what the king of Rosalia wore. I stood under the doorframe. No one had told me the details of how a dungeon worked, so this was all too intricate. Were these giant humans real or also the creation of the dungeon? Did I need to kill them or sit in the empty seat?

In unison, the humans turned and faced me. They did not speak nor move. I took a step forward and stopped. All they did was move their heads to look at me once again. Their eyes were flat, even stale. Hints of mould peaked through the black of their eyes, and dust spewed forth from their mouths. I pulled back the throne-like chair and sat down.

A large man spoke up, “Now that we’re all here it’s time to finalize the plans.”

The previous interaction seemed to have never happened. His azure-blue shirt made of fine fabrics clung to his chest, back, and biceps. “We won’t be able to cross the seas if we argue any longer. Let’s divide the fleet. Rosalia will lead one half north and Liliana will head south—”

“No, enough with the jokes.” The woman with pitch-black hair and eyes slammed her fist into the table. She resembled the king and Julian with her thin nose and sharp eyes. “Henrik, I am the eldest. I do not know what that bitch promised you, but by the kingdom’s laws I am to inherit the throne.”

The man leaned back; he did not look phased. Rosalia turned to Liliana who began to speak, “There is no proof that you were born earlier,” her voice was mellow, fluttering through the room. Her silver hair flowed down her back. “And why should it matter; you are my twin? Regardless of the kingdom’s laws, I’d want you to have your own kingdom.”

Rosalia ground her teeth. “I’ve had enough, let us sett—” Alarms rang. “What is it now?” She jumped up, her large wooden chair fell back.

“I told you. We’ve been wasting our time,” said Henrick, arms folded. “The lich has arrived.”

“How…” she whispered. “I’m taking the southern walls.” She drew her blade, a thin blue rapier wrapped in a silver light. “Let’s go,” called out Rosalia.

Following her, was a bald woman with large purple eye bags and a hunched man with a small smile. He looked familiar. However, as she was about to exit the room, she turned and stared at me with eyes burning red. “Julian, have you injured your legs?”

I looked around in surprise.

“Is there something you wish to say?” asked Liliana with a tilted head, her thin lips curved upwards.

I shook my head. “I’m not feeling well.” Hoping, they’d buy it.

The man next to Rosalia visibly struggled to hold on to his emotions; a giggle escaped his lips. He soon broke out in a fit of laughter. He clutched his stomach and keeled over. “You, a sorcerer, sick. Then us high humans will be on our deathbed within the hour.”

I knew who he was. It wasn’t a face I wanted to see here. I closed my eyes and stopped Julian’s heart from wielding my sword too soon.

Loud steps came my way and forced my eyes open. Rosalia stood in front of me. She was four heads taller than me, they were all so tall. “Will even my son betray me?” Her hand caressed my neck. “Will my hands be tainted by my blood?”

A shiver ran down my neck, and my hair stood on end. “No. I was just thinking of how to do the most for you.”

“Good,” she whispered, and let her hand glide off my neck, her nails being the last to break contact.

She left. The world dimmed.

#

I stared over the rubble of a crumbled wall. “Everyone, get ready,” screamed Rosalia.

This must have been the doing of the dungeon again. I tried to peek above the debris, but I was too short. Behind me was a small regiment of men with swords, spears, and various weapons. They trembled.

Dull white skulls popped above the destroyed wall, and a vapid white light shone in their eyes. They stopped atop the highest point of the mount of rubble and screeched. It pierced my ears and shook my head. I pulled the red sword out its scabbard. A flame consumed my blade.

The skeletons tripped over themselves as they rushed down the mount of rubble. No one moved. I guess it was my time to act. I had heard that dungeons were vast lands where treasures were found. I also knew of specialized dungeons created for a single creature such as the ones hidden in volcanos or found in clouds. I suppose this dungeon was created for the royalty of Rosalia and Liliana.

I swung my sword horizontally, a crimson flame swooshed through the air, the skeletons on the front line combusted and turned to ash. The flame continued to consume the stones and bones, but soon enough my head burnt up due to mana exhaustion. The proficiency of the skill probably increased its efficiency and not its strength.

You killed 78 skeletons with the animal rank, you gained 3900 Exp.

LVL 8. 1205/1800

You gained three skill points.

I didn’t know one could gain so much experience. It felt great, but I had consumed all my mana and more skeletons rushed through the broken wall.

“Is that all? Are you sick or is this something else?” Rosalia looked down at me before raising her weaponless arm. The rubble expanded to create a cage in which the skeletons were imprisoned. They clamoured and hit the stone cage with their heads, arms, and rusted weapons, but they could only chip at their cell.

The bald woman approached the cage, reached out, clasped one of the skeleton’s hands, and channeled a blue light into the cell. It consumed each skeleton. The stone cell collapsed, and the skeletons turned around to fight their old comrades.

But just as the skeletons ran back, they were sent flying back. A large sword held high peaked above the rubble. Its wielder, a skeleton, stood its two hind legs, and its body was twice that of Rosalia. Its canines were as large as my forearm. It was a werewolf undead. To control a beast, the lich had to be at least a being.

The beast got in a prone position, lowering its centre of gravity, getting ready to charge. Its finger bones dug into the rubble. It sprang straight at me, weapon first. Our swords clashed and sent me flying back. The shields of the soldiers behind me stopped me. They didn’t move nor react. Only the werewolf and I did. The others were frozen. This dungeon didn’t create a new world. It only showed an old one. It was no doubt a small, specialized dungeon born from someone’s grudge.

The werewolf swung down its claws. I let Julian’s instincts take over and pivoted to the right. Bones tore through wind, and the shields behind me turned to stones on the ground. I closed my eyes and rolled away before the beast struck me with another vertical strike. Its speed was too much, its strength too great, its eyes too sharp. Once again, it lowered its centre of gravity and sprang towards me. I spread haze in a small area around me with the little mana I had recuperated, and moved to the right in hopes the wolf would miss. But its eyes shone red and pierced through any deceit. It rammed me into another wall. I fell on my ass. Above head, five claws swung down, piercing through my right shoulder. Blood painted the skeleton red.