The illusion faded, the dim blue glow of the dungeon crystals returned, washing the tunnels in cold light.Maira stood silent for a long moment. Shock lingered in her golden eyes, mixed with bitterness and anger after everything she had witnessed.
"That was horrible…" she muttered quietly. "How could they do something like that?"
Arcanis floated beside her, his pages shifting softly.
"That," he said calmly, "was the price I paid for becoming powerful."
The grimoire drifted slightly ahead before continuing.
"But you and I are not so different, Maira."
She looked at him.
"We were both betrayed by people we trusted, we were both abandoned and left to die." His voice grew colder. "But this time…we won't make the same mistakes."
Maira slowly clenched her fists.
"Yeah…"
Wind stirred faintly around her fingers.
"You're right."
Her eyes darkened with fury.
"I'll become stronger." she said darkly.
"And when I do I'll destroy everyone who threw me into this pit of hell."
A faint glow spread from Arcanis.
"And I," he said softly, "will guide you through every step of it."
Then his tone suddenly shifted.
"Speaking of which…before we continue, don't you think it's time you acquired a proper weapon?"
Maira blinked.
"A weapon?"
"Indeed."
The grimoire spun proudly.
"You obtained one after defeating the Stonefang Lizard."
A glowing screen suddenly appeared in front of her like a floating game interface. Maira stared in surprise.
"…What is this?"
"A mana projection interface," Arcanis replied smugly. "I invented it centuries ago."
"Of course you did…"
The screen displayed her current status along with an item description.
Stonefang Daggers
Forged from the fangs of a Stonefang Lizard.
Infused with a unique enchantment:
'Momentum Channeling'
Each strike increases kinetic force while reinforcing the wielder's body to withstand the pressure.
Class: Extra Level
Maira's eyes widened.
"Extra Level?"
Arcanis immediately sounded excited.
"Ohho, now we're getting into the fun part."
He cleared his throat dramatically.
"The power system I created has several classifications."
The screen shifted again.
Enchantment Classes
Common
Ordinary weapons or abilities with no magical enhancement.
Enhanced
Equipment infused with mana.
Advanced
Weapons carrying special magical effects.
Extra Level
Rare creations possessing unique properties beyond normal magical limitations.
Divine
Power directly tied to gods or universal concepts.
Origin
The absolute highest class.
Power capable of rewriting reality itself.
Maira stared blankly.
"…That sounds absurd."
Arcanis laughed.
"You haven't heard the skill classifications yet."
"Oh no…"
The screen shifted once more.
Skill Categories
Basic Skills
Common abilities possessed by most individuals. Formally known as core gifts
Usually the foundation for growth.
Unique Skills
Abilities exclusive to specific individuals.
Skills that almost never appear twice.
Grand Skills
Evolved forms of Unique or Basic Skills capable of devastating nations or altering reality itself.
Extra Skills
Absurdly rare abilities capable of manipulating space, time, causality, and existence without evolution.
Absolute Skills
The pinnacle of all abilities.
Skills that defy the laws of the world completely. Example: An Absolute Defense skill could not be pierced by any force of nature.
Maira rubbed her forehead slowly.
"…Why does all of this sound so complicated?"
Arcanis gave a proud chuckle.
"I spent over a millennium developing the system."
"I had time."
"…Clearly."
The screen shifted again.
Power Rank Classification
D Rank
C Rank
B Rank
A Rank
S Rank
Disaster Class
Beings capable of destroying kingdoms or civilizations.
Extinction Class
Existences capable of eradicating entire worlds.
Maira stared at the screen in stunned silence.
Then she slowly looked at the daggers in her hands. The blades were rough yet beautiful, carrying faint traces of silver mana through the edges.
"So these daggers…"
Arcanis immediately interrupted proudly.
"Carry an Extra-Level enchantment."
"With every strike, they build momentum while strengthening your body to prevent it from tearing itself apart."
His tone became smug.
"In simpler terms…"
"The more aggressively you fight…"
"…the deadlier you become."
Maira looked impressed.
"That's actually amazing."
"I know." He sounded unbearably pleased with himself. "Want to test them on whatever monster is waiting on the next floor?"
Maira tilted her head.
"Next floor?"
Arcanis paused dramatically.
"Ah yes I should probably explain what makes this dungeon a complete nightmare."
Maira sighed.
"That would be helpful."
Arcanis floated upward slightly.
"Firstly…" he took a breath.
"The floors are randomized."
"You started in a special containment floor designed specifically to imprison me."
"When someone is thrown into this dungeon, they can land anywhere."
"The second floor."
"The fiftieth floor."
"The hundredth floor."
"Anywhere."
Maira's eyes widened slightly.
"That's insane."
"Oh, it gets worse."
He continued calmly.
"No matter where you begin you still have to clear every floor to escape. So even if someone starts on Floor Two…they cannot simply walk to Floor One and leave."
The realization slowly hit her.
"This place was designed to trap people forever…"
"Exactly."
Arcanis then continued.
"Secondly…"
"The reason it's called the World-Class Dungeon."
He gestured around them.
"Each floor is essentially its own world."
"Forests."
"Oceans."
"Volcanic wastelands."
"Storm dimensions."
"Frozen kingdoms."
"Endless ruins."
"Every floor follows different laws, ecosystems, and dangers."
Maira exhaled slowly.
"…This dungeon is insane."
Arcanis laughed lightly.
"If you had friends like Valthorax, Morvakar, and Zerathul…"
"…you'd be less surprised."
Maira frowned immediately.
"Who exactly are those?"
"Ah." Arcanis suddenly sounded awkward.
"Valthorax, Lord of Endless Labyrinths and Forgotten Depths, very creative fellow, Morvakar, God of Decay, Traps, and Cursed Halls an absolute menace and Zerathul…"
His voice lowered slightly. "Ancient Watcher of Sealed Dungeons a brilliant strategist."
The humor slowly faded from his voice.
"He played the biggest role in sealing me away."
Maira's expression softened slightly.
"That must've hurt."
Arcanis was silent for a moment.
"…More than I expected."
Then he shook the mood away.
"ANYWAY."
"Thirdly and lastly…the monsters in this dungeon are horrifying."
Maira immediately tensed.
"The Stonefang Lizard you defeated? that thing was already around A Rank."
Maira froze.
"…WHAT?"
"And it wasn't even considered a boss monster."
She stared at him in disbelief. Arcanis continued casually.
"You'll eventually face S Rank, SS Rank, SS+, Disaster-Class dungeon rulers and if your luck becomes truly catastrophic…"
"…Extinction-Class entities."
Maira slowly paled.
"…Those exist here?"
Arcanis gave a cheerful response.
"Probably near the ninety-ninth and hundredth floors, pray to not to meet them too early."
Maira sighed deeply.
"The irony is unbelievable, a god is telling me to pray, to whom I wonder maybe Valthorax, Morvakar and Zerathul perhaps?"
Arcanis instantly replied:
"NOT TO THEM."
Maira smirked slightly.
"What? Should I pray to Valthorax?"
"Absolutely not, I want him erased from existence."
She suddenly burst into laughter, real laughter.
Bright.
Unexpected.
Arcanis paused.
"…Hey."
"You walked into that one," she said while trying to stop laughing.
The grimoire floated quietly beside her, then he spoke softly.
"…That's the first time I've seen you laugh since arriving here."
Maira froze.
"What?"
"You're beautiful when you smile."
Silence.
Maira immediately turned away.
"Now is not the time for flattery, Arcanis."
Her cheeks turned slightly red, the grimoire gave a low chuckle.
"Take it however you wish." He looked at her closely. "But you are blushing."
"I am not." She denied.
"You absolutely are."
"No I'm not."
Arcanis laughed softly then his voice became gentler.
"You know as we move forward we should make the most of whatever time we have."
The atmosphere became quieter.
"I can't promise we'll survive this place but I will do everything in my power to get us out alive."
He paused.
"So keep smiling like that even if vengeance still burns inside us."
Maira slowly looked back at him, then for the first time since entering the dungeon she smiled without forcing it.
"…You're right." She spun one of the Stonefang Daggers in her hand. "Let's get moving, partner."
Arcanis floated beside her proudly.
"Now that sounds more like the Maira I want to see."
The wind around her feet stirred lightly, the two of them stepped deeper into the darkness together. Toward the next floor toward stronger enemies toward revenge. The faint blue glow of the dungeon crystals reflected beautifully off the newly formed daggers in Maira's hands. They were elegant,
deadly.
Curved blades forged from the sharpened fangs of the Stonefang Lizard itself. Dark gray metal with faint silver streaks running through the surface like living veins. The moment Maira wrapped her fingers around them…
She felt it.
A pull.
A strange urge for motion, as if the daggers themselves hungered to move. Arcanis immediately noticed.
"Careful," he warned. "The momentum enchantment responds directly to intent."
Maira narrowed her eyes before giving one dagger a small experimental swing.
FWOOOSH.
The blade suddenly accelerated halfway through the motion. Her eyes widened instantly.
"WHOA!"
The dagger nearly flew straight out of her hand. She stumbled backward awkwardly, barely keeping her balance for a moment there was silence. Then Arcanis exploded into laughter.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!, Magnificent technique, Master!"
"Shut up!"
Maira glared furiously at the floating grimoire.
"You could've warned me earlier!"
"I literally said 'careful.'"
"That was NOT enough information!"
Arcanis continued laughing while floating in circles.
"You nearly disarmed yourself before fighting a single enemy! Literally!"
Maira clicked her tongue irritably before looking back at the blades. Despite the danger…
They felt good.
Natural.
Fast like extensions of her arms.
"Again," Arcanis said.
This time Maira took a steady breath. She focused a slower swing.
Controlled.
FWISH.
The dagger accelerated again. But instead of resisting the sudden burst of force…
She adjusted to it, the momentum carried her body slightly forward. At the same moment, wind gathered instinctively around her feet.
Feather Step activated naturally.
FWOOOSH.
Her body glided several meters ahead with smooth speed.
Maira blinked.
"…That felt surprisingly smooth."
"Dang it I was expecting another flop" Arcanis whispered.
"What was that?" Asked Maira in suspicion.
Arcanis' pages fluttered proudly.
"You're synchronizing with the weapon already."
"Yeah" she said slowly and sarcastically.
But a faint smile tugged at her lips.
Then—
The dungeon trembled violently.
RUMBLE.
The ground beneath them shook hard enough to crack the stone floor. Maira instantly tightened her grip on the daggers.
"…Yeah, I definitely felt that."
A deep mechanical sound echoed throughout the chamber.
GRRRRNNNNK.
The wall ahead began shifting. Stone folded inward like enormous gears grinding against each other. Dust poured from the ceiling.
Then suddenly—
A gigantic doorway opened before them.
Cold wind rushed outward from the darkness beyond. Maira stared cautiously.
"…That definitely looks dangerous."
"Indeed," Arcanis replied calmly.
"Which means we are absolutely heading the correct direction."
She sighed deeply.
"You really enjoy saying terrifying things casually."
"Two thousand years trapped in a dungeon changes a man."
"Book."
"…Fair correction."
Maira cautiously stepped through the massive doorway. The instant she crossed the threshold—
The world changed, her eyes widened.
"…What?"
The stone dungeon vanished completely.
Before her stretched an enormous forest beneath a dark emerald sky. Gigantic trees towered like mountains. Massive roots curled across the landscape like serpents. The air was humid and heavy with life.
Strange glowing insects drifted through the forest like floating lanterns. Rivers flowed beneath colossal branches thicker than castle walls. Distant cries echoed through the wilderness. Maira stood frozen.
"This…"
Her voice lowered in disbelief.
"…this is a dungeon floor?"
Arcanis floated beside her calmly.
"Welcome to Floor seventeen."
"The Verdant Wilds."
Maira slowly turned toward him.
"It's an entire world…"
"As I told you," Arcanis replied smugly.
"World-Class Dungeons are not mere caves, they are fragmented realities."
A distant roar suddenly echoed across the forest. The massive trees shook violently.
Maira instantly gripped her daggers tighter.
"…Please tell me that isn't coming toward us."
Silence.
"…Arcanis."
"There is a moderate probability that it is."
"What does moderate mean?!"
"RUN."
BOOM.
The forest exploded behind them. Maira spun around just in time to see enormous trees collapse outward. Something massive burst through the vegetation.
A wolf. Or rather…
Something resembling one, It was enormous. far too enormous. Its fur resembled tangled vines and moss woven together into living armor. Glowing green patterns pulsed beneath its skin like flowing energy. Its yellow eyes burned with predatory hunger. A glowing screen instantly appeared beside Arcanis.
Monster Identified
Forest Fang Wolf
Rank: A
Maira's expression collapsed immediately.
"WHY IS EVERYTHING IN THIS DUNGEON A-RANK?!"
The wolf roared and lunged. Maira reacted instantly.
"FEATHER STEP!"
Wind burst beneath her feet as she darted sideways. The wolf smashed into the ground where she had stood moments earlier.
BOOM.
Roots and dirt exploded everywhere.
"Master!" Arcanis shouted.
"The forest itself is empowering it!"
"OF COURSE IT IS!"
The wolf moved again.
Fast.
Far faster than something that large should've been capable of moving. Its claws slashed toward her.
CLANG.
Maira barely blocked with one dagger.
The momentum enchantment activated instantly. The force launched her backward like a cannonball. She crashed violently through several bushes before rolling across the ground.
"Ow…"
But then—
She blinked.
"…Wait."
Her arms weren't broken. The enchantment had reinforced her body exactly like Arcanis explained. The wolf charged again.
This time…
Maira smiled slightly.
"Okay…"
Wind gathered around her feet.
"…let's try this properly."
The wolf lunged forward.
But instead of retreating—
Maira dashed toward it. Arcanis paused.
"Oh?"
At the last second she spun. The momentum enchantment activated violently. Combined with Feather Step—
The strike became a blur.
SLASH.
The wolf staggered past her. A deep wound split across its side, the creature roared in pain. Maira stared briefly at her dagger in shock.
"…That actually worked."
Arcanis laughed proudly.
"Of course it did!"
"You're finally fighting instead of merely surviving!"
The Forest Fang Wolf turned toward her again furiously. Its glowing patterns brightened.
Suddenly—
Vines erupted violently from the ground. Maira jumped backward immediately.
"What NOW?!"
"Forest Magic," Arcanis answered calmly.
"The creature can manipulate surrounding vegetation."
"YOU COULD SOUND SLIGHTLY MORE CONCERNED!"
The vines shot toward her like spears. Maira sliced one apart instinctively. The momentum enchantment activated again.
But this time—
The force transferred into her second dagger.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…Wait."
Another vine shot toward her.
SLASH.
The second dagger accelerated even faster.
The force stacked again, Arcanis suddenly went quiet.
"…Master."
"What?"
"I believe you may have accidentally discovered a combat application beyond the weapon's original design."
A dangerous smile slowly spread across Maira's face the wolf roared once more,
wind swirled around her body. The daggers spun lightly between her fingers. And for the first time since entering the dungeon…
Maira looked excited.
"Good."
She lowered her stance.
"Then let's experiment."