The air was thick with anticipation as I made my way toward the Dungeon entrance. I could feel the familiar rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins, reminding me that every step I took led me closer to the unknown.
Today, however, I wasn't just excited about facing whatever creatures lurked below; I was eager to test my newfound ability, [Minor Space Manipulation].
As I approached the towering stone structure, I couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and trepidation. The Dungeon's mouth yawned open like a dark abyss, its depths promising both peril and opportunity.
I stepped into the cool shadows of the Dungeon, the ambient light from the entrance fading quickly as I descended. The familiar sounds of distant growls and the rustling of creatures echoed around me. I had faced my share of small challenges, and today, I would face them anew, with the power to bend space itself at my fingertips.
Once inside, I activated my status screen to check my current stats and abilities.
[Name: Zephyr Kane]
[Race: Celestial Human]
[Level: 17]
[Class: Unassigned]
[HP: 1390 | MP: 1390]
[Constitution: 72]
[stats points: 9]
[Abilities: Minor Space Manipulation]
[Passive abilities: Enhanced Senses, Minor Regeneration, Increased Affinity for All Magic Types]
I focused my thoughts on [Minor Space Manipulation]. I had read the description countless times, but understanding it and actually wielding it were two different things.
The description had been vague, but from what I could gather, it allowed me to manipulate space on a small scale-pushing, pulling, compressing, or even bending it. The potential was immense, but so was the challenge of mastering it.
"Alright, let's see what you can do," I whispered to myself, finding a small, smooth stone on the ground. I knelt down, focusing intently on the stone, visualizing the space around it.
Theld out my hand, palm facing outward, and concentrated. At first, nothing happened. I frowned, my brow furrowing as I tried to tap into the ability. After a while, It got frustrating, like trying to grasp smoke with my bare hands.
I had no frame of reference for this kind of power, no experience with manipulating space in either of my lives. My celestial heritage might have given me an edge in terms of raw talent, but talent alone wasn't enough. I needed practice.
"Pull," I commanded mentally, envisioning a wave of energy emanating from me toward the stone.
At first, nothing happened. I frowned, frustration creeping in. "Come on, Zephyr. You can do this."
Hours passed, the monotony of my efforts broken only by the occasional monster that wandered too close. I dispatched them quickly, my sword moving almost on instinct as I returned to my practice. Slowly, ever so slowly, I began to make progress.
The pebble twitched, then shifted, then finally-finally-it moved. It wasn't much, just a small jerk toward me, but it was enough to send a jolt of excitement through me.
I took a deep breath, clearing my mind as I attempted to focus again. I concentrated on the stone once more. I visualized the space around it bending, the distance between me and the stone compressing as I mentally willed it to move.
This time, I felt a slight tug, a faint vibration in the air. The stone quivered before rolling a few inches away from me.
"Yes!" I exclaimed, pumping my fist in triumph. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.
Excited by this initial success, I stood up, eager to practice further. I scanned the area for a slightly larger object. Spotting a fallen branch nearby, I decided to give it a go. I approached and placed my hands on either side of it, focusing my energy.
"Pull," I commanded, visualizing the branch moving toward me.
This time, the effort felt different. I strained against an invisible force, but the branch remained stubbornly still. I gritted my teeth, determination flooding my mind. "You can do this!"
I poured more energy into the command, and finally, the branch jerked slightly before inching toward me. It wasn't much, but it was progress. I felt a rush of exhilaration; I was learning to harness this ability, however slowly.
"Alright, let's try combining it with my fighting style," I said, feeling emboldened.
I ventured deeper into the Dungeon, my senses heightened and my excitement palpable. The first few floors were relatively tame, populated mostly by goblins and lesser creatures that posed little threat to me. I sped through them, my agility and newfound abilities allowing me to navigate the floors with ease.
As I approached floor 15, I could feel the atmosphere shift. The air was heavier, the walls of the Dungeon seemed to pulse with a faint, ominous energy, and the monsters were more aggressive.
The monsters here were faster, stronger, and more numerous. I found myself surrounded by a pack of Hellhounds, their fiery breath scorching the air as they lunged at me.
I dodged the first attack, my sword slicing through the neck of the closest hound. The second came at me from the side, its jaws snapping shut just inches from my arm. I twisted out of the way, my free hand instinctively reaching out as I focused on the space around the hound. This time, l didn't just pull-l pushed.
The hound's body jerked to the side as if struck by an invisible force, its momentum carrying it into the wall. I didn't waste the opportunity, my blade cutting through its chest before it could recover.
The third hound came at me from behind, but I was ready. I spun around, my hand already moving as I compressed the space between us. The hound's body crumpled, its movements slowed as it struggled against the invisible force. A single thrust of my sword ended the fight.
I stood there for a moment, breathing heavily as I surveyed the aftermath. My heart was pounding, not just from the exertion but from the thrill of what I had just accomplished. It wasn't perfect-my control over the ability was still shaky at best-but it was working. I was making progress.
I pressed onward, navigating through the increasingly treacherous terrain. The creatures on these levels were stronger, but my newfound confidence fueled my determination. As I faced more goblins and other low-level monsters, I began to experiment with combining my swordplay and space manipulation.
I felt that it was more difficult to pull than to push.
"Level 17, here I come!" I shouted.
By the time I reached the 17th floor, I was exhausted but exhilarated. My body ached from the constant fighting, and my mind was frayed from the effort of using my ability.
But I had done it. I had managed to integrate [Minor Space Manipulation] into my combat style, even if only in small, incremental ways. It wasn't much, but it was enough to give me an edge.
The floor was becoming a playground for my abilities, and I was starting to feel the thrill of the hunt. The push-and-pull mechanics were slowly becoming second nature, and I reveled in the newfound control I had over my surroundings.
Yet, as I descended deeper into the Dungeon, the atmosphere shifted once again. The air felt heavy, charged with a sense of danger. I could sense something watching me—something powerful and malevolent.
I was about to call it a day, to head back to the surface and rest, when I felt it—a faint presence in the distance. At first, I thought it was just another monster, but something about it felt... off.
I turned, my senses on high alert as I scanned the area. There, in the shadows of the corridor, I saw them-a group of adventurers, approximately 5 of them. Their weapons drawn and their eyes fixed on me.
I didn't recognize them, but the way they were looking at me sent a chill down my spine. They weren't here to fight monsters.
They were here for me.
I tightened my grip on my sword, my mind racing as I tried to figure out my next move.
But before I could act, one of them stepped forward, a smirk playing on his lips as he raised his hand.
These adventurers looked quite skilled, their movements fluid and upright.
"Well, well," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Looks like we've got ourselves a lone wolf. You got some nice clothes and that sword looks like it can fetch a good price, don't yet?"
The others laughed, their weapons glinting in the dim light of the Dungeon. I didn't respond, my focus entirely on the threat before me. But as I prepared for the fight, one thought kept echoing in my mind:
These guys don't seem like they can be reasoned with.
"Come on! take them off will you!" one of the adventurers raised their voice.
"Don't want them bloodied now would we!"
As I weighed my options, a sudden thought struck me. If they are in groups, that means they might be in a familia together. That makes things a little more complicated seeing that I might be going to offend their patron god.
But my life is more important to think about what some god might do. I'll deal with that when the time comes.
"Alright, let's do this," I whispered, adrenaline surging through me.
I took an offensive sword stand and focused my energy into my muscles, visualizing a powerful surge within my veins. My heart pounded as this is my first fight against rational humanoid creatures.
"Hm!"
They looked stunned at my actions. The leader probably thought I was gonna comply with their demands if they had the advantage in numbers. But I was not gonna give up my pride and go naked.
I'll use them to test my strength. This time however, there are no rules like in a ring, so I'm going for the finisher.
[Stat points available: 9>0]
Chapter 8 end