"Am I going nuts?" Adam asked aloud.
She sounds adorable, but what if it's another plot? Whatever, I can rewind time, so if it's a trap, I reset.
"Okay, I believe you. I don't really know you, so what's with that bunny deal?" Adam asked.
You don't sound sad.
Yeah, you don't really sound sad about it.
"What happens if I hop?" Adam asked.
Her tone brightened as she said it.
Then her voice turned cold.
"That's your business. I don't want to do anyone's bidding. I still feel a hole in my heart," Adam said.
"But I want to go to the Moon Dungeon and become stronger here. Otherwise, it's a matter of time before they find out about my bloodline. How did you even figure it out?"
"I was looking at the Moon."
Adam jumped in place.
Chang'e looked disappointed but didn't comment; she just pouted and gave Adam a lift to her Moon Dungeon.
[You have received a new title: Chang'e's Bunny (Divine)]
[You can enter the Moon Dungeon as long as Chang'e approves your entry.]
An invisible force yanked Adam straight to the Moon.
He didn't get to step onto the surface like the famous astronauts; he dropped straight into a silver corridor.
A straight silver corridor stretched ahead.
Mirrored panels washed the air in cold light, and low gravity made each step feel weightless.
[You have entered the First Floor of the Moon Dungeon.]
A second later, a bead of silver light coalesced before Adam and popped into a chibi-sized maiden.
Her hair was ink-black and glossy, swept up by delicate jewelry hairpins shaped like moons and cranes.
Fine chains and turquoise tassels draped across them, and loose bangs softened her round, mischievous face.
She wore layered robes in pale moon-blue and white, light as mist, their sheer sleeves trailing ribbon streamers. A dark satin sash hugged her tiny waist, fastened with a silver-and-onyx brooch that resembled a crescent flower.
When she twirled, the hems caught the light like frost, and tiny bells at her earrings chimed.
"It's me! Hi, hi! Chang'e is here to cheer you on as you become a Godslayer!" She spun midair, then flew over and perched on his shoulder.
"Godslayer? Not a god?" Adam asked.
"You only have the bloodline of Chronos. The chances of becoming a god and taking a god's name are low. But I'll cheer you on, my bunny!""
"Thanks…" Adam began.
A low growl rolled through the corridor and clipped his words.
Silver dust rippled across the mirrored floor as a shape uncoiled ahead.
[Corrupted Jade Hopper (Lv. 1)]
The creature stood on springy hind legs. Dull metal plates patched its fur, and a cracked jade shard glowed in its chest.
Adam raised his fists. With no stance or guard beyond instinct, he swung and missed as the hopper blurred past and cuffed his ribs.
Slow. Read it.
The ears stiffened. A triple hop came: long, short, long.
Adam slid on the second hop and rode the wall in low gravity, pushed off, and dropped beside the shard. He drove a short right, then a left. Knuckles cracked against crystal.
The hopper burrowed, a ring of dust blossoming. Adam sprang back as the pop-up swipe missed by inches, then stepped in and hammered two more punches.
Spiderweb cracks raced through the jade, and the body shuddered and fell into silver motes.
[Defeated: Corrupted Jade Hopper (Lv. 1)]
[EXP Gained]
[Level Up! → Lv. 2]
[Item Dropped: Moon Dew Vial (Potion)]
[Effect: Restores 30 Mana over 10s and cleanses 1 minor Burn.]
[Rarity: Common]
[Skill Unlocked: Chronos' Accel (Active) (Rank I)]
Accelerate yourself by 30% for 4s.
Cost: 20 Mana.
Cooldown: 18s.
Speed. Exactly what I need.
A soft patter echoed ahead as three shapes hopped into view, shards glinting.
[Corrupted Jade Hopper (Lv. 1) ×3]
[Skill Activated: Chronos' Accel (Rank I)]
Time loosened. Sound stretched thin, and silver dust hung midair like slow snow. All three were suddenly close, close enough to touch.
Adam stepped, one, two. His right hand sank into the first shard; his left followed, a clean cross that spidered the crystal.
It popped into motes.
He pivoted.
Low gravity carried him into the second.
Two short straights drummed its chest. Crack, crack. The jade caved.
The third lunged, ears up, arc wide. Adam brushed past the swipe and hammered a tight one-two on the glow.
The shard burst.
[Defeated: Corrupted Jade Hopper (Lv. 1)]
[Defeated: Corrupted Jade Hopper (Lv. 1)]
[Defeated: Corrupted Jade Hopper (Lv. 1)]
[EXP Gained]
[Level Up! → Lv. 3]
[Loot Acquired]
[Moon Thread ×4]
[Jade Shard Fragment ×2]
[Status: Adam]
Level: 3
HP: 160/160 Mana: 520/520
STR: 5 AGI: 5 FOC: 5 VIT: 5 WIL: 5
Unspent Stat Points: 6
Temporal Attunement (TA): 0
[Tip]
Allocate points to shape your style. AGI improves Speed Index and dodge windows. FOC boosts Chronos effects.
✦ ✧ ✦
The corridor quieted.
Mirrored panels hummed, and a seam opened ahead.
Cold light spilled from a vaulted door.
A statue strode through.
Silver plates slid into place over a lean frame, and the visor lit.
[Argent Sentry (Mini-Boss)]
Adam lifted his fists.
The visor brightened.
A hair-thin beam traced across the floor and climbed toward his chest.