Ethan looked up toward the sky. By now, it was bright as day. For some reason, the place felt warmer today.
This was his seventh day in the dungeon. If he'd known it would take this long, he would have prepared more carefully.
All that remained was to find the final boss, slay it, and get back home. He needed to hurry — military school admission was coming up fast.
He had just exited the Ruins of the Fallen and was now heading toward the Forbidden Forest.
The moment he stepped in, he could feel the mana in the air — rich, dense, almost tangible.
When a person first awakens, they gain the ability to use and manipulate mana to enhance their attacks — not just their aspect. But the amount they can control depends on their body's condition. The stronger and more refined your body, the more formidable your attributes and aspect become.
Ethan was lucky. With the system, he could monitor and enhance his stats with ease. Control over mana also determined one's combat level — and his was growing.
The forest's mana was replenishing him faster than before. Unlike the ruins, the Forbidden Forest had a calm, almost serene atmosphere. If not for his instincts, one wouldn't think dangerous beasts lived here at all.
Ethan summoned the Obsidian Knight. It appeared just as before, only with minor cracks in its armor.
[Obsidian Knight: Level 1 — Exp: 0/10000]
[Attributes: Strength 50, Agility 50, Stamina 50, Speed 50]
[Skill: Unwavering Will — Increases all attributes by +5]
[Technique: Mountain Broadsword]
"This nightmare is still formidable," Ethan thought. "Perfect for practicing my sword and palm techniques."
He drew his Starless Sword and lunged at the knight. The two clashed instantly, their blows shaking the forest floor. This time, they were evenly matched. After an hour of sparring, Ethan suddenly unleashed the First Dragon Subduing Palm.
BANG!
The force pushed the knight back, but it steadied itself almost instantly.
"Christ… only level one and it can still go toe-to-toe with me. Damn," Ethan muttered, half annoyed, half impressed.
At least it meant there was still room for growth. Who knew? Maybe one day the knight could challenge a Transcendent.
"From now on, I'll call you Black Knight," Ethan said.
[You have successfully renamed the Obsidian Knight to Black Knight]
[You have received 100 Astrum Coins]
"Astrum Coins, huh? Still don't know what they're for… guess I'll find out later."
Ethan continued deeper into the forest but didn't encounter a single beast. Eventually, he set up camp and roasted some Void-Eyed Hound meat over a crackling fire. Even after eating, no stat points were gained.
Night settled in, the firelight flickering softly. Little squeaks came from the woods, but nothing threatened him. Ethan continued practicing Star Sword Technique Level 2, though he still lacked a proper space-time skill to fully master it.
Then — the system chimed.
[New Quest Received]
[Escape the Mid-Mutant Level Wailing Worm Horde]
[Failure to escape means death]
[Reward: Mana Potion ×5, Health Potion ×5, 500 Astrum Coins]
"Eh?" Ethan frowned. Suddenly, the ground beneath him erupted.
BANG!
A massive black figure burst upward, striking his left leg. Pain flared instantly.
"What the fuck!" Ethan cursed, leaping back.
From the hole emerged a massive worm-like creature, blind but with a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth.
If not for his reflexes, he would've been swallowed whole.
Ethan sprang up into the trees, scanning the area — and froze.
Hundreds of the worms were swarming his campsite.
"Fuck… I'm screwed." His leg throbbed with pain. He should've worn his armor.
He quickly pressed on the wound to slow the bleeding. His HP dropped by 5.
"These things are dangerous," he muttered. Of course, he should've expected that — every part of this dungeon was lethal.
He activated Lightning Armor and drew his Star Sword. The nearest worm began climbing the tree toward him.
With a sharp movement, Ethan unleashed the Star Sword Technique.
BANG!
The worm's head exploded like a melon. His sword's destructive potential was terrifying — in the future, it could split mountains.
"Pathetic," Ethan said, leaping to the ground.
He summoned the Ork Chief and Black Knight, and together they tore through the worms.
[You have killed Mid-Mutant Level Wailing Worm — Exp +5]
[You have killed Mid-Mutant Level Wailing Worm — Exp +5]
[You have killed Mid-Mutant Level Wailing Worm — Exp +5]
...
But the horde kept coming endlessly. Ethan was drenched in black blood. The Black Knight and Ork Chief held their positions, but the worms were relentless.
Flying up into the trees, Ethan scanned again — and his stomach dropped.
The number of worms had multiplied fivefold.
"Whaaaat?!" he shouted. He began leaping from tree to tree, recalling his summons to avoid them.
Below, the ground writhed with their bodies. Some had already begun climbing after him.
"Damn it, where are they coming from?"
SCREEEEEECH!
One lunged at him from behind. He barely avoided it, using Space Teleportation five times in quick succession before finally shaking them off.
SHRRRRIIIEEEEEK!
A deafening scream rang out behind him and the system chimed again.
[Warning: Low-Stage Sacred Soul Beast ,Wailing Worm incoming]
[Slay it to gain 30 Exp]
"You've got to be kidding me…" Ethan growled. "No thanks — I'm passing on that fight!"