The forest near the collapsed reservoir was unnaturally quiet.
No bird calls. No skittering insects. Just the soft rustle of poisoned leaves and the distant groan of bending trees. Auther moved silently beneath the canopy, his breathing slow and controlled through Pulse Weave.
The dungeon gate was stabilizing—he could feel it in the air. The mana density had grown thicker by the hour, like walking through fog made of energy. It clung to his skin, soaked into his bones.
He had less than 28 hours before it opened.
That gave him time for one thing: hunting.
He needed skill points — and fast.
His blade, sharpened and lined with mana thread, rested in his hand like an extension of his arm. His eyes swept through the shifting shadows as he moved with trained precision, guided by instinct honed from months of survival.
The deeper he went into the zone, the more corrupted the flora became.
Moss glowed red.
Trees pulsed with green veins.
The air shimmered with distortion — and then he heard it.
Crunch.
Something heavy stepped on brittle bone.
Auther dropped low, sliding into the underbrush.
A few seconds later, it emerged.
A hulking canine-like creature with scales instead of fur and horns protruding from its spine. It stood at least 7 feet tall, with jagged claws that clicked as it walked.
Its eyes glowed faintly yellow.
It sniffed the air, then growled.
---
[Target Identified: Dire Bonehound – Rank E6]
---
Auther's heartbeat surged.
> "Perfect."
This was what he needed. A creature above his level.
Risky? Yes.
But the reward…?
He narrowed his eyes.
A kill like this would grant more SP than usual.
He activated Reflex Sync and Fighting Mastery, then drew in mana through Pulse Weave. The blue shimmer ran beneath his skin, enhancing his nerves and balance.
The Bonehound's ears perked.
Too late.
Auther moved.
Voidstep Slash triggered mid-air, launching him in an arc toward the creature's side. His blade hummed as it sliced deep into the beast's flank, cutting into the hardened scales.
The Bonehound howled and twisted with unnatural speed, swinging a claw.
Auther ducked, barely missing decapitation.
The monster retaliated, biting down hard — fangs clamping around his left forearm.
Pain exploded through his nerves.
He gritted his teeth, activated Mana Edge, and stabbed his blade directly into the creature's eye.
Crunch.
It screeched and flung him back.
Auther hit a tree, rolled, and stumbled to his feet, his arm torn and bleeding badly.
"Damn," he muttered. "Too reckless."
He activated Healing Surge, his F-rank regeneration skill, and hissed as warmth surged into his muscles.
The bleeding slowed. Bone knit.
The creature didn't wait.
It charged again — this time glowing.
Mana poured from its body.
A technique?
No — an innate racial skill.
Its fangs pulsed green, and a corrosive mist leaked from its jaws.
Auther knew that if he was bitten again, he wouldn't get up this time.
He activated Pulse Weave, Reflex Sync, and Fighting Mastery simultaneously — chaining all three in one fluid motion as the creature lunged.
He slid under it, spun, and stabbed upward through its jaw.
The creature screamed.
Auther twisted the blade, then used Flame Spike at point-blank range.
A burst of fire ignited the Bonehound's brain.
It collapsed mid-step, skidding across the forest floor in a smoking heap.
Auther fell to one knee, panting.
His vision blurred from blood loss and adrenaline.
But the system's chime came, clear and sharp.
---
[Enemy Defeated – Dire Bonehound (E6)]
[Skill Points Gained: +10 (Base: 5 + Bonus for higher-tier kill)]
[Total SP: 16]
---
He smiled through the pain.
"That's more like it."
He dragged the corpse into a makeshift pit and removed the mana core — glowing with dark green light. Strong. Rich. He stored it carefully.
His injuries were healing, albeit slowly.
His regeneration had improved with E1, but it still couldn't handle trauma like this rapidly.
He needed a better healing skill.
One designed for prolonged survival and battlefield recovery.
He opened Skill Creation.
---
> Name: Vital Rebalance
Description: "Redirects ambient mana and internal reserves to accelerate cell regeneration, stabilize vital signs, and repair minor internal damage over time. Passive healing effect enhanced in resting state."
Rank: F8
Cost: 15 SP
---
He considered it.
Would drain nearly all his remaining points.
But with a dungeon coming?
It was worth it.
He confirmed.
---
[Skill Created: Vital Rebalance (F8)]
[Remaining SP: 1]
---
Immediately, a wave of warmth flushed through his chest. His vision sharpened. The burning ache in his torn arm dulled to a throb.
> "Finally. Something sustainable."
He rested for an hour beneath a gnarled tree, letting Vital Rebalance do its work.
By the time he rose, his body felt new.
Not perfect — but far better than expected.
He climbed a ridge and looked toward the dungeon's direction.
The mana pulsing from the collapsed reservoir was more intense now.
It felt… aware.
Alive.
A dungeon core was forming.
He opened Skill Creation again — not to make something now, but to prepare.
His next goal would be a true offensive skill. One that didn't just rely on enhancement or direct slashes.
Something scalable.
He typed:
---
> Name: Lanceray
Description: "Condenses mana into a long-range spear of concentrated kinetic force, capable of piercing reinforced hide and armor. Slight AOE impact. Damage scales with user's control and energy density."
Rank: E2
Projected Cost: 62 SP
---
Too high for now.
But doable within 2–3 good hunts.
The real issue?
He was approaching a threshold.
Once he reached E3, his prey would become harder to find, and his survival more reliant on planning than instinct.
That meant dungeons. Gates. Exploration.
And eventually… people.
Other Awakeners.
Maybe allies.
Maybe enemies.
For now, he preferred the silence of the wilds.
He descended the ridge, slipping back into the shadows.
---
Back at his shelter near the reservoir, the air was thick with pressure.
The gate shimmered faintly, no longer subtle — a half-formed tear in space, pulsing in rhythm with something beneath.
He had less than a day.
But he had what he needed now.
A healing skill.
Combat readiness.
An E5 core synced with Pulse Weave.
And most of all — a clear goal:
> Get stronger.
Build higher-rank skills.
And never rely on anyone again.
Auther settled in for the night, sharpening his blade by firelight, as the first faint growls echoed from the depths of the forming dungeon.