The faint clinking of armored boots faded behind him as Dominic stepped out into the pale daylight. The cold air hit his face, and he took a deep breath, finally free from the dungeon's suffocating air.
His eyes swept over the scene.
The ground outside the mine was littered with collapsed bodies. Dozens of low-ranked knights lay unconscious, their armor scattered with dents from hitting the hard earth. The few still conscious gasped for breath as if someone had driven an invisible mountain onto their chests.
Dominic raised an eyebrow and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Woah. Didn't know the pressure would be that intense."
He stepped over one knight, the poor man still shivering. "Well, I got no time to waste… Seventeen more to go."
He stopped, exhaled, and called out,
"Status window."
➤ [ STATUS WINDOW: DOMINIC MENDEZ ]
Name: Dominic Mendez Level: 121
Age: 18 Race: Human (Modified)
Title: Outcast God Synchronization: 15.0%
Health (HP): 15,000 Mana (MP): 6,000
Qi: 30 Years Cultivation Divine Power: 9,000
Faith Resonance: 15
Attributes:
• Strength: 704 • Agility: 789 • Defense: 701
• Intellect: 745 • Willpower: 702 • Charisma: 800
• Luck: 75
Skills:
• All Resistance (Lv. 20)
• Chain Combat Mastery (Passive)
• Elemental Mastery – Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Lightning
• Intimidation (Passive)
• All-Seeing Eye
• Domain Control
• Heavenly Rend – A divine strike capable of splitting physical and spiritual constructs. Overwhelms defenses by channeling condensed divine energy into a single devastating blow.
• Stasis Chain – Temporal binding chains that freeze the target's movements for a short duration, regardless of physical strength.
• Sixth Sense – Passive perception skill. Detects killing intent, hidden enemies, and fluctuations in the environment before they manifest.
• Health Regeneration (+200/sec passive) – Constant passive recovery of vitality. Enhanced endurance in prolonged combat.
Traits:
• Divine Spark
• Lone Origin
• Adaptation Engine
• Domain Lord
• ??? (Locked)
• ??? (Locked)
Inventory:
• Guardian's Blade (Mythic – Sealed)
• Sharp Twinfang Daggers (Rare)
• Cloak of Blue Veil (Mystic)
• Abyssal Core Fragment (Material – Mythic Tier)
• System Tablet
• Gold: 254,245
• Health Potion Flask ×11
Dominic smirked at the glowing panel in front of him. "Not bad. Definitely not bad."
He tapped on Heavenly Rend's description again. Just imagining the move in use made his fingers twitch.
"Yeah… This one's going to cause trouble."
His gaze drifted back toward the mine entrance. The memory of the fight replayed in his head—the Abyssal Knight's overwhelming strength, the unshakable armor, and the way it fought until the last second without hesitation.
"That was one of the toughest monsters I've fought," Dominic muttered. "Even the Behemoth and the Elarian Guardian weren't this bad. And the System said defeating it would awaken its main boss."
He shook his head. "Who knows which dungeon that's in. Gives me chills just thinking about it."
He stared at the sky for a long moment, a faint ache of nostalgia flashing in his eyes.
"Sorry, Mom. Sorry, Dad. Rushing things here might cost me my head. I need to take it slow… but I'll be back soon."
He straightened up.
"Yo, System."
[Yes?]
"Which other S-Ranks are in the empire?"
[You have cleared all S-Rank dungeons within the empire. The remaining S-Rank locations are as follows: Elven Forest, Beastkin Kingdom, and Eastern Continent sectors.]
Dominic frowned. "Huh? So these dots here are just normal low-rank dungeons?"
[Correct.]
"Damn… okay. Take me home."
The door of the self driving Carriage swung open, and Dominic stepped inside. Within seconds, the carriage went off into a streak of light.
Meanwhile – The Royal Palace
The great hall's double doors slammed open. The surviving knights stumbled in, armor still dented, faces pale. The captain knelt, lowering his head before the throne.
"We… we messed with the wrong person," he whispered.
The king, Eldric Varen, sat upon the high throne of blackstone, his golden crown heavy on his brow. His eyes narrowed.
"Explain."
The captain gulped. "We confronted Dominic Mendez at the 4th Mine. By your order, we demanded the dungeon core and his compliance. He… refused."
"And?" Eldric's tone dropped colder.
The captain hesitated. "He unleashed an aura unlike anything I have felt in my life. My men collapsed instantly. Those who remained standing were forced to their knees, unable to breathe. Then… he let us live. But he left a message."
The king's jaw tensed. "What message?"
"To tell you…" the captain swallowed hard, "…that he doesn't push away grudges, and repays them fortyfold. That if you want to see him, you should come to 'Dominic's Empire' yourself."
The court erupted in murmurs. Eldric's face darkened, veins rising in his temples.
"How dare he try to claim what lies within my kingdom! And who gave him the forest!?"
He slammed a fist onto the throne's armrest.
"Annabel and Jake are not yet back from their raids?"
"No, my king," the captain replied. "They are still in their respective dungeons."
"Winskey!" Eldric's voice thundered through the hall.
"Yes, my king!" the head knight stepped forward.
"I want that boy brought here to the palace. I don't care if you have to cut off his limbs—bring him to me!"
"Yes, my king!" Winskey answered without hesitation.
Eldric turned to his advisor. "Bring me the High Priest and the master of the Magic Tower. They have… explaining to do."
"Yes, my king."
For a moment, the king's expression shifted. He stared at the floor, almost uncertain. "But… even I felt no energy from him. Am I getting weaker… or is he simply beyond my measure?"
"My king," the advisor interrupted, "shall I inquire about Prince Lucien's return?"
Eldric's gaze hardened. "Where is he?"
"Still at the Academy, my king."
"And Veyra?"
"Likewise, my king."
Eldric exhaled sharply. "What of Sir Dorian and the other summoned heroes?"
"They are still on their A-Rank raids in the Eastern Capital."
"Then send word. The moment my children return, they are to report to me." He leaned back into the throne, fingers tightening around the armrest. "If Dominic Mendez believes he can stand apart from the kingdom… he will soon learn the weight of its crown."
"Yes, my king," the advisor said with a bow.
Far away, unseen, the black carriage carrying Dominic cut through the horizon, leaving only faint ripples in the air.