The dungeon began to collapse. Not violently, but inevitably. The dark cavern cracked as faint light seeped through the fractures in space, the entire dimension losing its stability now that its ruler had fallen. The heavy presence that once dominated the area was gone, leaving behind only silence and scattered remnants of battle.
Lee Hyun stood at the center. Breathing steady. Body restored.
"…Status."
The system responded instantly, as if it had been waiting.
Name: Lee Hyun
Talent: SSS Rank – Heavenly Demon's Blessings
Technique: S Rank – Dragon Blade Dance (Growth Type)
Level: 10
Strength: 88
Physique: 90
Agility: 83
Stamina: 89
Vitality: 95
Mana Qi (Mana+Spirit): 92
Intelligence: 97
Luck: 55
Free Attribute Points: 15
[Abyssal Heavenly Sovereign Bloodline]
[Demon's Sword – Bound Artifact]
A faint silence followed as his gaze scanned each number carefully.
"…Level 10…"
But, his eyes narrowed slightly.
"…This isn't level 10 strength."
He clenched his fist lightly. The response was immediate. Power. Dense. Refined.
"…This is closer to level 15."
A realization settled in. His stats, most of them nearing or even touching the 100 threshold, placed him far beyond what a normal level 10 should possess.
"…So this is what stacking advantages looks like…"
SSS Rank talent. Growth-type technique. Bound artifact. And now, a forbidden bloodline. All of it, stacked. Multiplied. Refined.
"…This is broken."
A faint smile appeared. Not from arrogance. But from understanding. Because now, he knew exactly where he stood. And how far he could go.
The system flickered again.
[Dungeon Clear Rewards Granted]
A faint glow appeared around him as items materialized within his inventory. Equipment. Dropped directly from the boss. He accessed it immediately.
A set of dark-toned armor pieces appeared within his system space, each carrying traces of the same energy as the boss itself.
[Dreadhorn Guard Set – D Rank]
Armor forged from the hide of the Dreadhorn Abyssal Behemoth.
Effects:
— High Physical Resistance
— Minor Regeneration Enhancement
— Impact Absorption
"…Not bad."
For a first dungeon clear, this was more than decent. He stored it. Then, his focus shifted.
"…Rewards."
The quest. The system. The real gains. First, the lottery. He activated it without delay. The familiar unseen rotation began again, faster this time, sharper, as if influenced by his increased luck.
Then, it stopped.
[Reward Obtained: Dragon Blade Dance – Second Pattern Unlocked]
For a brief moment, he didn't move. Then,
"…Second pattern…"
A faint excitement rose within him. The information flooded his mind instantly. Unlike the first pattern, which focused on flow and control, The second, was different. It was aggressive. Explosive. A continuation. Not just movement, but domination.
"…So this is how it evolves…"
His grip tightened slightly.
"…Good."
Very good. Then, the second reward.
[Random Skill Pack Opened]
A pause. Then, a new notification appeared.
[Skill Acquired: Player Insight]
[Rank: A]
He blinked once.
"…A Rank?"
At first glance, it didn't seem extraordinary. But the moment he focused, he description unfolded.
[Player Insight]
A perception-based skill that allows the user to analyze targets in real time. Displays information including level, attributes, talents, techniques, and combat potential. Accuracy increases with user growth.
A faint silence followed. Then, his eyes sharpened instantly.
"…This…"
This wasn't just useful. This was, broken. Because this, was information. And in battle, information decided everything.
"…I can see their abilities…"
"…Their strengths…"
"…Their weaknesses…"
A slow breath escaped him.
"…This can save my life."
Not just in fights. But in decisions. In planning. In survival. Even if it was only A Rank, its value far exceeded most S Rank skills.
"…This is huge."
A faint smile appeared again. But this time, it carried something sharper. Confidence. Because now, he didn't just have power. He had awareness.
The dungeon around him began to collapse further, the exit forming behind him as light tore through the dark space. Lee Hyun turned slightly, his gaze calm.
"…That was worth it."
From nothing to this. In a single dungeon. His eyes lifted. Focused. Sharp.
"…And this is just the beginning."
He stepped toward the exit. Leaving behind the broken dungeon. But carrying with him, power. Growth. And something far more dangerous, understanding.
---
To be continued..