The city slept under a thin veil of mist, but Kael was wide awake.
He had spent the last two days testing the Dragon Core in secret. Every flicker of intent, every object he manipulated, every probability shift sharpened his senses. The system hummed constantly in the back of his mind, quiet but insistent.
It's not about strength, he reminded himself. It's about survival… and control.
---
The guild notice board flickered with a new quest:
"S-Rank Dungeon – Expedition Team Needed"
Kael stared. The dungeon was notorious. Reports claimed E-rank hunters didn't survive past the first chamber. Even mid-tier B and C ranks had barely escaped with their lives.
The reward was massive, but more importantly… it was perfect.
Time to test myself.
---
He arrived at the dungeon entrance by dawn. Mist curled around jagged stone, and a faint golden glow pulsed from the cracks in the walls. Kael flexed his fingers, the Dragon Core humming with quiet anticipation.
[Dragon System – Status Check]
Observation Lv.2
Calm Influence Lv.2
Minor Manipulation Lv.2
Adaptive Influence Lv.1
I've leveled up since the last dungeon, he noted. I'll have to push it further here.
---
Inside, the first chamber was deceptively calm. The air was thick, charged, and every shadow seemed to twitch unnaturally. Kael stepped carefully, scanning the floor and walls with Observation.
Suddenly, a hiss split the silence. Three S-rank beasts dropped from above—creatures taller than men, their eyes glowing red, limbs jointed like insect exoskeletons. Their movements were coordinated, precise, and intelligent.
Not mindless monsters, Kael realized. They're thinking… reacting.
The system pulsed in his chest. His mind went into analysis mode, calculating probabilities.
[Dragon Core – Adaptive Influence Engaged]
He didn't charge. He didn't panic. He moved subtly, positioning himself behind jagged rocks, letting his Minor Manipulation shift debris to trip one of the monsters.
One creature stumbled. Kael's heart raced.
Good… small steps.
---
The fight escalated quickly. The first beast lunged with blinding speed. Kael dodged instinctively, feeling the swing before it came. Calm Influence rippled subtly through the chamber, slightly delaying the other two.
He struck with precision, not force. A shifted rock tripped the first creature's leg. Another misstep sent it slamming into its companion. Chaos spread—but only enough to give him an advantage.
This was not brute force. This was strategy, anticipation, and control.
---
Minutes blurred. The creatures adapted. Each attack became faster, smarter, their intent shifting as they read his movements. Kael's pulse quickened, chest burning as the Dragon Core responded. Sparks of golden energy flickered along his arms as Adaptive Influence adjusted automatically, manipulating the environment subtly in real time.
[Adaptive Influence Lv.2 Unlocked]
His body moved on instinct. Observation predicted the creature's micro-movements. Minor Manipulation redirected attacks. Calm Influence delayed aggression fractionally. Every fraction of a second counted.
---
The largest beast raised its claw for a finishing strike. Kael barely dodged, rolling to the side. His hand shot out, brushing a jagged rock into the monster's path. It tripped.
Golden light flared as he activated Adaptive Influence fully, manipulating the battlefield in one instant. The creatures staggered in confusion. Kael struck the first one's head with a debris-shielded punch, sending it crashing to the ground.
He exhaled. His chest burned. Sweat dripped from his forehead. His arms shook.
I survived…
But the system whispered another warning:
[Unknown S-Rank Core Detected: Extreme Threat]
Kael froze. Ahead, deeper in the dungeon, a shadow shifted. A massive shape loomed. Scales glimmered faintly gold and red. Its eyes glowed as if aware of him—not just seeing him, but studying him.
This isn't just another monster… Kael thought. This is a test.
He straightened, his hands sparking with golden energy. Every skill he had was ready: Observation, Minor Manipulation, Calm Influence, Adaptive Influence. He had survived small S-rank monsters before—but this… this was different.
The core entity moved. Slowly, deliberately. It raised its massive claw, and the chamber seemed to shrink under its gaze.
Kael's pulse raced, the Dragon Core's heat surging. He smiled faintly, adrenaline sharpening every sense.
Let's see if I'm ready…
He stepped forward.