The dungeon was quiet now.
Kael sat against the shattered wall of the second chamber, chest heaving. The monster lay motionless on the ground, its glowing eyes dim. The smell of scorched stone and blood mixed with the faint metallic tang of his sweat. For the first time, Kael had survived a fight that should have killed him.
And something inside him had changed.
The golden warmth of the Dragon Core pulsed steadily in his chest, almost like it was alive. A soft hum filled his mind.
[Dragon System – Active]
[New Skills Detected: Observation Lv.2 | Calm Influence Lv.2 | Minor Manipulation Lv.1]
[Rank: Undefined]
Kael blinked, staring at the words floating in front of him. He didn't understand everything yet, but he knew this: he could survive in ways he never could before. And he wouldn't waste it.
---
He stood carefully, checking the chamber for more threats. The system whispered quietly in his mind, showing him the faint traces of the monster's movement pattern, its muscle tension, even the probability of attacks if it had survived.
This… is impossible to ignore.
He didn't need to fight monsters. Not yet. He needed to learn. To understand the system that had chosen him.
---
Exiting the dungeon wasn't simple. The other party members—those who had survived—were unconscious or barely standing. Kael dragged them one by one toward the exit, silently cursing his own strength. He had learned something vital: surviving wasn't enough. Helping others survive meant he could push the limits of his system.
Outside, the sunlight was blinding. The city of Ardent sprawled below the mountain, noisy, bustling, oblivious to the dangers hiding in dungeons. Hunters walked freely, ranks proudly displayed, confidence radiating from their every step. Kael felt the weight of being invisible among them.
They don't know how fragile their lives are.
---
The guild hall was alive with chatter. Hunters of all ranks celebrated kills, bragged about dungeon loot, and scrolled through notifications from the guild system. Kael's heart sank as he realized just how small he was in comparison.
"E-rank Kael? You made it out alive?" A young clerk eyed him suspiciously. "Barely, huh?"
Kael said nothing, only placing the unconscious survivors on a stretcher. He had no desire to explain anything—not yet.
He slipped into a corner and crouched, letting the Dragon Core pulse through him. The system gave him a small thrill: he could feel probability, detect intent, and subtly influence events. For the first time, he realized that this wasn't just a survival tool—it was a way to reshape reality, quietly, unnoticed.
---
Days passed. Kael practiced in secret. He moved objects with Minor Manipulation, learning to balance the system's energy output with his own stamina. Observation revealed tiny details: the twitch of a muscle, the faint change in air pressure before a movement, the subtlest signs of intent.
He even began experimenting with Calm Influence. At first, it was minimal—a bird landing closer to him than it should, a trader pausing mid-step. But each small success built confidence. Each small control made him stronger.
This is the real power. Not strength. Not fame. Control.
---
But the world outside was waiting, unaware.
The city's guilds monitored dungeon activity, noting strange energy spikes. Other hunters whispered of monsters showing unusual intelligence. Rumors of an unknown force growing quietly began circulating. Kael's presence was small—barely a blip—but the system hummed insistently, almost like it was aware that bigger challenges were coming.
And they would find him eventually.
---
Later, Kael returned to the mountain where he had first awakened the system. Alone this time. The cave stretched silently before him. Shadows flickered on the walls. The remnants of the fallen monsters shimmered faintly in the system's energy map.
He crouched and focused.
[Dragon Core – Analysis Mode Activated]
Patterns appeared. Probability shifts, intent vectors, environmental weaknesses. Kael's heart raced. He could survive dungeons. He could manipulate monsters. He could become more than just a weak E-rank hunter.
A faint vibration pulsed from deeper within the cave. Something stronger. Something ancient.
Kael's pulse quickened. His instincts screamed at him to leave—but the system whispered: stay.
For the first time, Kael understood the dungeon wasn't just a trial—it was a teacher. And he was ready to learn.
Tomorrow, he thought, I go deeper.
Because Kael wasn't weak anymore.
He was the hunter who survived when death came first.
And the world was about to notice.