The water boiled.
Waves roared beneath Josuke Hachimizu's feet as he sprinted across the liquid surface, his silhouette barely visible through the mist. Every stride was a precise dance, every breath a countdown.
Ahead of him, the Náurea, the Hydroshade of Echoes, awaited like an animal god. Its sapphire eyes glowed with cruelty. Then, as if bound by a silent pact between predators, both lunged into battle.
—CLAAANG!
Blade against claws. Darkness against water.
Josuke swung the Dark Blade, slashing with shadow-infused mana. The edge sliced through the air with deadly precision, but the Náurea reacted with unnatural speed, using its tongue as a cutting whip to intercept each blow.
Suddenly, the system appeared before him, displaying red warning lines:
[System Information]
Náurea: AA+ rank amphibious creature. Traps victims in saliva-secreted bubbles, inducing dreams of deep desire. High mobility on water. Immune to fire. Uses high-pressure water jets capable of slicing steel like paper.
Josuke gritted his teeth.
—Impressive… you're telling me this thing is basically a living razor?
The monster lunged at him. Its claws came down in a deadly arc, but Josuke reacted just in time. His left arm was coated in red, gleaming scales.
[Skill activated: Hardening – Crimson Serpent]
The impact rang out like a metal drum, making his body tremble, but he held strong.
—Not so fast!
He countered with a support technique:
[Skill activated: Sound Shot – Demon Wolves]
From his throat, a shockwave burst with a dry, violent hum. The sound was dagger-sharp, invisible but deafening. The Náurea staggered, shaking its head.
Taking advantage of the moment, the Crimson Mask appeared, latching onto Josuke's jaw with a crimson flash.
[Crimson Mask attached to host.]
Josuke looked down, panting.
—I need more... I need something ranged. Melee attacks aren't enough.
He opened his system and navigated to the Skill Tree. Digital branches opened before him like a forest of possibilities.
—Think, Josuke, think!
[Skill Tree]
Hardening – (Crimson Serpent)
Acid Shot – (Crimson Serpent)
Blood Absorption – (Hound Bat)
Electricity – (Demonic Eel)
Fire Creation – (Magma Slime)
Water Creation – (Water Slime)
Sound Shot – (Demon Wolves)
Wood Creation – (Arboloids)
Wind Burst – (Trigloid Bird)
Diamond Shield – (Diamond Bats)
—I look like a video game character with all these options —he muttered with irony, then smiled—. Would be great to get this Náurea's skills too.
But the monster wouldn't give him a break.
—FSSH!
A stream of water cut through the air. Josuke dodged by mere inches, launching himself with the help of his Magma Slime, which released flames under his feet, propelling him like a fiery gust.
—Not letting me rest, huh?
The enemy submerged again, leaving only its fins slicing through the surface at incredible speed.
Josuke thought fast. He combined wood creation with wind burst. A sharp stake formed in his hands. With a shout, he hurled it as a projectile over the water.
—CRAAASH!
A clean cut. The Náurea's side was slashed, and a spiral of blue blood surged to the surface.
—I got it!
But then, the system flickered before him…
[Notification: Summoning Skill unlocked.]
Josuke narrowed his eyes, confused.
—Unlocked...? But it was blocked just hours ago… What changed?
[Information: You may now access your summon list. Each summon consumes blood points.]
Josuke opened the section. A display of known monsters appeared before him, like cards in a war deck. At the top:
[Current Blood Points: +45,731,890,670]
—FORTY-FIVE BILLION?! —Josuke shouted, stunned.
He checked the list:
[Monster Summon List]
[Water Slime]: +900
[Magma Slime]: +900
[Demon Wolves]: +1,000
[Hound Bat]: +6,000
[Demonic Eel]: +4,000
[Trigloid Bird]: +2,000
[Arboloids]: +4,000
[Underground Ants]: +900
[Diamond Bat]: +1,000
[Spider Queen]: +8,000
[Crimson Serpent]: +10,000
[King of Darkness]: +199,000
Josuke gulped at the last option.
—199 thousand for the King… Yeah, no thanks. Not yet...
He navigated quickly.
—Let's see… you'll do.
[Summon: Trigloid Bird – 2,000 blood points spent]
A reddish aura burst from his chest. A crimson bird, with an abstract body and wings like crystallized flame, emerged with a screech. Josuke watched it, fascinated.
—Beautiful… Let's fly.
He climbed on it, and the bird ascended in spirals, dodging new water jets fired by the Náurea.
—Your turn, fish bastard!
From the rocky ceiling, Josuke began forming new wooden stakes, sharp as spears. Then he remembered something crucial.
—It's water… that makes it weak to…
He smiled like a child.
—Electricity! Just like in Pokémon! Water's weak against Electric. Like Pikachu!
With a youthful laugh, Josuke infused the attack with the Electricity – Demonic Eel skill and dove toward the Náurea.
—KRAAAAAAAK!
The lightning surged across the water. The Náurea's body convulsed violently. Its guttural screams echoed from below, trembling in agony.
It surfaced completely, body crackling, roaring. In desperation, it launched a silver bubble at Josuke.
—What is that? —Josuke said with curiosity and confusion.
—BOOOOM!
The bubble exploded in a brutal shockwave, like an aquatic grenade. Josuke was thrown violently. His bird vanished in a crimson cloud.
—AAAGH!!! —Josuke screamed, falling like a black arrow into the abyss.
The impact was brutal.
The dungeon fell silent.
All that remained was the distant echo of his body sinking… and the wounded Náurea circling the spot where he had disappeared.
The silence beneath the water was deceptive.
Through the liquid haze, Josuke Hachimizu descended slowly, his body still vibrating from the earlier explosion. As he opened his eyes, the blue gloom revealed itself: columns of bubbles rose like trapped spirits, and at the center of the abyss, the bodies of his companions floated.
Homen, Ashley, Siria, Otto.
All suspended in dreams inside translucent spheres that pulsed gently with a dreamlike light. The tension in Josuke's muscles eased slightly. They weren't dead… not yet.
—Thank goodness...
But the relief was short-lived.
—FOOOOM!
From the darkness, a shadow surged like an aquatic lightning bolt. The Náurea came for him, its eyes like icy blades, gleaming with hunger and fury.
Josuke reacted quickly, activating the system mentally.
[Summon: Demonic Eel – 4,000 blood points consumed]
A crimson aura sparked from his chest, forming a long, abstract creature, translucent like the midnight ocean itself. The Demonic Eel, with glowing scales and bright eyes, wrapped itself around Josuke and launched him to the side just in time to evade the monster's charge.
—Thanks, girl!
With a whip of its spiritual tail, the eel grabbed Josuke and pulled him at high speed, slithering through the water toward his unconscious companions.
—BLOOF!
An explosive bubble burst right behind them. The Náurea kept attacking. Dozens of spheres detonated like projectiles, stirring the entire liquid bed. But the eel spun its body, releasing Josuke into an ascending current, then fired a lightning burst that struck the Náurea, forcing it to retreat with a distorted underwater roar.
Josuke, meanwhile, reached the bubbles containing his teammates. Gently, he grabbed them one by one: first Siria, then Homen, Ashley, and Otto. Their bodies slept peacefully, unaware of the danger around them.
He surfaced again, gasping, floating among foam and flickering lights. Nearby, Lance's bubble remained intact.
—They're alive… they're safe...
He exhaled, heart still pounding.
Carefully, he gathered them all in one corner of the surface, protecting them with a wooden dome formed using a quick system skill.
[Wood Creation – Arboloids]
Then, he reopened the summon list, exploring his options.
—I only have the Demonic Eel for aquatic support… the others are land-based, underground, or aerial
He frowned in frustration.
—This limits my arsenal...
He stopped at one creature in particular. The Crimson Serpent.
—I'm not wasting the King of Darkness on this. I'll save him for something more important… but you'll be useful.
[Summon: Crimson Serpent – 10,000 blood points consumed]
The water trembled.
A red glow emerged from the depths, as if the ocean itself was bleeding. The Crimson Serpent rose, gigantic, spiritual, and majestic. Its body was a river of shining liquid scales. As it slithered, the sea seemed to part in its path.
—SPLAAASH!
The beast emerged beneath Josuke, lifting him proudly atop its serpent crown. From its snout, it fired a stream of burning acid that struck the Náurea's side.
—SSSSKRRRRCH!
A muffled howl tore through the waters as the Náurea twisted in place. Part of its flesh steamed, its shiny skin starting to bubble.
—That's it!
Josuke launched himself from the serpent's body, summoning his Dark Blade, and charged directly at the monster.
Both combatants collided like submerged titans. Claws against steel. Water against darkness.
The Náurea retaliated viciously. Razor-sharp streams fired from its mouth, forcing Josuke to shield himself with his armored arm.
[Skill: Hardening – Crimson Serpent]
The scaly metal withstood the blast. Then he countered.
[Acid Shot – Crimson Serpent]
[Wind Burst – Trigloid Bird]
[Electricity – Demonic Eel]
Josuke became a storm of acquired powers. He slashed, dodged, launched spiraling lightning, combining attacks in an impossible dance. At times, he looked like a demigod of war in an endless ocean.
The Serpent and the Eel fought alongside him. Every time the Náurea tried to dive, one of the two intercepted it.
But the monster was cunning.
Suddenly, it launched five explosive bubbles in a circle. Josuke barely had time to shield himself. One of them detonated near the Eel, dispersing it into energy. The Serpent was pushed back.
Josuke was left floating, gasping.
—No... not yet!
The Náurea slithered in fast circles around him, generating an ascending whirlpool. Josuke was dragged into it. Everything spun.
[System: Environment pressure unstable. Blood accelerating.]
Josuke clenched his teeth.
—I won't let a monster beat me here!
From his arm, he used a combination of hardened wood, wind, and acid to form an improvised spear. His energy was at its limit, but he wouldn't give up.
He aimed toward the heart of the whirlpool and hurled the weapon.
—ZAAAAAAAS!
The spear cut through the vortex, slicing the water like a liquid lightning bolt. It struck the Náurea's chest, which howled with a sound so deep the surrounding bubbles vibrated.
Blue blood gushed like ink.
The monster was weakened. Josuke boosted himself with a burst of fire from his feet to get closer.
—THIS ENDS HERE!
He slashed his dark sword straight at the monster's neck. But just as he was about to land the final blow… the Náurea's body vanished into a swirl of dark water, slipping toward the depths like a cowardly shadow.
[Warning: The monster has escaped. Mission incomplete. You may retry in another dungeon instance.]
Josuke fell to his knees on the liquid surface, panting.
The Crimson Serpent slowly faded into crimson particles. Silence returned.
—Coward...
Josuke muttered, soaked, eyes burning.
—Next time… you won't escape.
He looked toward where he had left his companions. The bubbles were still there, glowing with an eerie calm.
Josuke dragged himself to them, taking them one by one.
—What matters… is that they're safe.
The liquid surface trembled softly, reflecting the sleeping faces of those Josuke had managed to save.
Ashley, Siria, Otto, Homen… Lance.
All still submerged in dreams, floating inside magical bubbles that slowly lost their glow, a sign that the Náurea's effect was beginning to fade.
Josuke Hachimizu knelt before them, soaked, calm, and with his sword still in hand, as he stared at his open palm.
—I still can't believe what I'm capable of...
His voice was low and filled with awe.
And he was still only level 9.
There was no arrogant pride in his eyes, but a mix of respect for the system and a hint of fear. Summoning blood souls, forming spiritual beasts from other creatures, combining them, and fighting in a dungeon where low levels weren't even meant to enter.
—The Náurea escaped, yeah...
He exhaled deeply, letting the water drip down his face.
—But I'm glad I got to test that ability... It's a damn gem. One I won't waste.
Then a new notification softly flashed in front of him.
[Blood System – Notification]
Blood Points Spent: -22,000
Josuke simply smiled with exhaustion.
—Finally spending my blood on something actually worth it...
He sheathed his sword, and for a moment his eyes drifted into emptiness.
—If I could've captured the Náurea as a summonable skill... that would've been a jewel in my list
He reflected.
—A monster like that could've served in a thousand battles, but oh well...
He shrugged.
—All in due time.
He placed a hand on his chin.
—This makes one thing clear: I can't use the summoning skill recklessly. Only when it's truly necessary... in extreme situations. If I start wasting points like an idiot, I'll run out of them when I really need them.
Josuke glanced at the others.
—And now… how am I supposed to explain that they were almost eaten by a demon fish while floating in dream bubbles?
He let out a sarcastic laugh that faded into the mist, but in his mind, the tone shifted. A worry slowly sparked inside him.
—I need to decide what to do with this. If I tell them what I did, if they find out about my abilities... I could be recognized by the guild. Maybe they'd consider me one of the strongest in the kingdom... or worse, I might attract attention I don't need.
He thought about his true goal.
Returning to his world.
—I can't draw too much attention. If I become a legend… I'll lose my freedom.
—Better to hide it all. Even if they call me useless for being level 9... I'd rather walk in silence.
His eyes drifted across Homen's sleeping body, and he noticed a small glowing object hanging from his belt. Josuke squinted.
A key.
But not just any key.
The dimensional key.
Josuke slowly extended his hand, glancing at the others. All still asleep.
—Not the best idea, but... it could work for me.
With a smooth motion, he took the key and slipped it into his belt. A sly smile appeared on his face.
—Sorry, Homen. Consider this payment for saving your life.
Later… on the surface
Sunlight pierced through the clouds and kissed the face of Ashley the Elf. She sat up with her soaked hair clinging to her skin, blinking in confusion.
—Where are we...? And why am I completely wet and soaked?
Josuke stood and raised his hand casually.
—Ah, about that… Lance saved us.
They all turned at once.
—What!?
Ashley, Otto, Siria, and Homen shouted in unison.
—Yeah, yeah
Josuke continued theatrically.
—We ended up trapped in some magic bubbles. A level 79 monster… almost took us out. But Lance woke up and rescued us.
All eyes turned to the blond, who was still scratching his head in confusion, dripping like a fish freshly pulled from the river.
—I did!? Seriously…?
He blinked.
Josuke quickly winked at him, signaling.
—Don't you remember?
—Of course, of course I do!
Lance's tone shifted immediately, puffing his chest.
—It was tough, but I faced that thing alone. And tore it apart.
—You're amazing, Lance!
Siria said, eyes sparkling.
—How did you defeat something level 79?
—Ha, ha… natural talent
Lance replied with a smug smile.
Josuke watched silently, holding back laughter.
—I love smug liars like Lance
He thought, shaking his head softly.
After a short conversation, Lance handed Josuke a heavy pouch.
—I know you went through a lot, so here's your pay. Three thousand silver coins. No need to thank me for saving you
He added with a superior tone.
Josuke took it without expression.
—Thanks a lot… I hope I never work with you again
Said Josuke Hachimizu with a fake smile and narrowed eyes.
—Ha! Always so funny, Josuke
Lance replied cheerfully.
The group said their goodbyes and walked away, laughing together. Josuke watched them leave, emotionless.
At sunset, Josuke walked alone, the sky painted in soft oranges and clouds like scattered ash.
—Now that I think about it… maybe it's a good idea to explore more of this world. Not just survive, but understand it… find the deepest secrets of this system.
He pulled the stolen key from his pocket and spun it between his fingers. Its surface was golden and gleamed with arcane reflections.
—I know it was wrong, but… it's for a good cause.
With a calm smile, he raised it and turned the invisible lock in the air. A red rift appeared before him.
[Blood System: Transporting…]
[Location: Second Dungeon Layer – Level 1]
And Josuke vanished into the mist, just as the sun finally disappeared.
Meanwhile, in a frozen kingdom, far beyond the reach of the dungeon world.
The bare and firm body of Mark stood atop a gigantic dead ice bear. His blue hair fluttered in the storm winds. In his hands, a fang of pure crystal.
—Level 70 of the First Layer...
He murmured.
—Not too bad.
The corpse of the Alpha Snow Bear lay defeated. SS+ rank. Level 100. The feat was impossible for most.
Mark looked up at the overcast sky, fury in his sapphire eyes.
—I'll do whatever it takes… to break the curse on my stepsister Liliana… Even if it means unleashing my true identity.
Meanwhile, in a nearby tavern…
Lance and the others celebrated, eating and drinking loudly. But Homen, sitting apart, nervously checked himself.
—Where is it…? I don't see it...
He muttered.
—What's wrong, Homen?
Otto asked, noticing his unease.
—I don't see my dimensional key! It's gone!
And deep within a new dungeon, surrounded by dark hallways and echoes of unknown enemies, Josuke Hachimizu advanced, the stolen key in his pocket and curiosity burning in his eyes.
—This world… is vaster than I imagined.
And this was only the second layer.
[Location: Level 1 – Second Layer]