A crack appeared in the air.
It wasn't loud. It wasn't explosive. But it was unnatural.
Space itself seemed to split open just a few meters away from Ethan's home, forming a dark, swirling entrance that pulsed like a living thing.
Krishara froze.
Nethan instinctively moved closer to her, gripping her tightly.
"What… is that?" she whispered.
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
He was already observing.
Analyzing. Then the system spoke.
An F-grade dungeon had been generated. Entry was permitted. Risk level: low. Survival was not guaranteed.
Ethan's eyes remained steady. Low.
That meant nothing to those who understood what was coming.
He turned, picked up a large kitchen knife, and walked toward the dungeon.
Krishara looked at him, fear clear in her eyes. "Ethan… don't."
He turned slightly."Wait here," he said calmly.
Before she could respond, he walked toward the dungeon.
And entered.
The moment he stepped inside, the environment changed.
The outside world vanished.
In its place stood a dense, dimly lit forest. The air was heavy, the silence unnatural.
Ethan didn't move far.He waited.
A low growl echoed from the shadows.
Then they appeared.
Feral creatures, their bodies thin but twisted, with darkened skin and glowing eyes.
Wolves.Starved.Aggressive.
Moving in packs. Ethan tightened his grip on the knife.
"…Good."
The first one lunged.
He stepped to the side.
Fast.Faster than before.
Time felt clearer now. His perception is sharper. The movement of the beast felt slow, predictable.
He dodged cleanly and drove the knife into its neck.
Warm blood splashed. The body dropped instantly.
Another came. Then another.
Ethan moved without panic. Without wasted motion.
Every step calculated.
Every strike is precise.
His mind processed everything their speed, their patterns, their weaknesses.
He adapted.Quickly.Too quickly.
Minutes passed.
Bodies piled. The pack thinned.
Then vanished. Silence returned.
A faint sensation passed through his body.
Growth. Level Up. Again.
And again.
His talent was already showing its effect. The reduced experience requirement accelerated everything. Each fight pushed him forward faster than it should have.
By the time the area fell completely silent, Ethan stood still, breathing calmly.
Level ten.
He didn't smile. He didn't celebrate. Instead, he turned back.
The dungeon wasn't finished.
But this wasn't about clearing it alone.
Not yet.
He turned and left the dungeon.
Krishara rushed forward. "Ethan!"
"I'm fine," he said calmly.
Nethan looked up at him, eyes wide. "Appachchi… was it dangerous?"
Ethan looked at both of them.
"Yes."
He didn't lie."But we can handle it."
He gave them a brief explanation simple, clear, and controlled.
After that, Ethan didn't waste time.
He focused inward. Ten levels.
That meant additional stat points.
He allocated them immediately.
Five into strength.Five into agility.
The change was immediate.
His body felt lighter. Faster. Stronger.
His movements more efficient.
And as his talent activated, his intelligence rose further.
Sharpening everything. Ethan exhaled slowly.
Good.Very good.
He looked at his family.
"We go together."
They entered again.
The forest welcomed them the same way.
But Ethan was different now.
Stronger.Faster.After another round of fighting like the previous one, his level went up again. Now it's Level thirteen. Krishara level 4 and Nethan level 3.
Krishara stood behind him, steady despite the tension.
Nethan stayed close, serious, and focused.
Before moving, Ethan spoke.
"Nethan."
The boy looked up instantly.
"Protect Amma. Don't let anything reach her."
Nethan nodded firmly. Ethan turned to Krishara.
"If he gets hurt, heal him immediately."
"I will," she said.
Ethan faced forward.
"Leave the rest to me."
The deeper they went, the heavier the pressure became.
Then it appeared.
The boss.
A massive wolf stepped out from the shadows.
Three times larger. Its body hardened. Its eyes are burning with violence.
The ground trembled under its weight.
Ethan stepped forward alone.
The beast lunged.
Fast. Ethan moved.
Space itself seemed to shift as he avoided the attack by the smallest margin.
His perception sharpened further.
Everything became clearer.
Slower.Controlled.
He countered. His blade struck but barely pierced.
Too tough. Ethan adjusted instantly.
He circled.Watched.Analyzed.The wolf attacked again.
Faster.Stronger.Ethan didn't retreat.
He stepped forward.
At the exact moment he saw it.
The opening.
A brief alignment of movement.
A flaw.
"…Now."
He moved. Perfect timing.
His body slipped past the attack as if guided by something beyond instinct.
His blade drove into its eye.
The wolf roared violently.
Ethan didn't stop.He struck again.
And again.
Until it fell. Silence returned.
A deeper understanding settled within him.
Not just growth.But clarity.
A faint realization of how his space-time ability influenced his perception and movement.
A small step.But important.
Behind him
Krishara and Nethan were safe.Exactly as planned.
The system responded.
Levels rose.
Krishara reached level eight.
Nethan reached level seven.
Ethan Level sixteen.Rewards appeared.
A skill book.
A space-type attack.
Void Pierce.
A technique that compressed space into a single point before releasing it as a piercing strike.
Beside it, a silver shield.
Lightweight.Durable.
It reduced incoming damage and redirected impact force slightly away from the user.
Ethan collected both.
Moments later
They stepped outside. The dungeon entrance flickered.
Then collapsed. Gone.
That was their first experience.
Their first battle.
Their first victory.
The next day, the world felt… different.
But not broken. People moved again.
Shops opened. Life continued.
But now there was awareness.
News spread rapidly.
Dungeons. Abilities. Levels. Survival. Death.
The world had changed. And everyone knew it.
Ethan stood quietly, looking outside.
Watching.Thinking.
Because this was only the beginning.
End of Chapter 4