Instead of answering him with words, Veronika simply pulled out her phone.
***
Her fingers moved quickly.
***
Tap. Swipe. Unlock.
***
A holographic document expanded across the screen, its surface glowing faintly blue under the dim light. She tilted it toward Arceus, letting him see clearly.
***
A digital lease.
***
Stamped.
***
Sealed.
***
Marked with the insignia of Zero Guild.
***
Before he could even ask, she spoke, her tone calm, almost casual.
***
"Nothing to worry about," she said. "Zero Guild owns the hunting rights to this dungeon."
***
A pause.
***
"It's our call who enters… and who doesn't."
***
Arceus studied the document for a second longer, then exhaled.
***
"…Alright then."
***
No more questions.
***
They stepped forward.
***
Into the portal.
***
The moment his foot crossed the threshold—
***
Reality twisted.
***
The world folded inward like a sheet being crushed in an invisible fist. Space warped. Sound stretched. The air itself seemed to ripple as if resisting his presence.
***
For a brief moment—
***
There was nothing.
***
Then—
***
Everything snapped back.
***
Arceus staggered slightly as his vision cleared.
***
He stood at the mouth of a cavern.
***
Black.
***
Scorched.
***
Molten veins of lava ran along the walls like glowing arteries, pulsing faintly, casting an eerie orange-red light that danced across jagged rock surfaces. The heat pressed against his skin, thick and suffocating, carrying the metallic scent of burnt stone.
***
Ding!
[You entered a dimensional dungeon.]
[Grade 3 is detected]
***
"Grade 3…?" Arceus muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing slightly.
***
And then—
***
The ground moved.
***
No—
***
It cracked.
***
From the molten crevices, bones began to rise.
***
One.
***
Then another.
***
Then dozens.
***
Skeletal figures clawed their way out of the ground, their forms eerily humanoid, their hollow sockets glowing faintly as if something unseen flickered within. Rusted blades rested in their hands, identical in shape, like remnants of a long-forgotten army.
***
Arceus's body tensed.
***
"They look… human," he murmured.
***
Beside him—
***
Alaric didn't move.
***
Didn't even flinch.
***
He simply folded his arms.
***
"If you want to draw out Nemesis' power," he said calmly, "you fight."
***
A pause.
***
"We won't interfere."
***
Another.
***
"But we'll make sure you don't die."
***
Arceus turned sharply.
***
"Wait—what?"
***
Too late.
***
A glowing purple crystal flew toward him.
***
Instinct took over.
***
He caught it.
***
Ding!
[Mana Crystal detected.]
Absorb Mana?
[Yes] / [No]
***
"Yes."
***
The response came instantly.
***
The crystal dimmed.
***
Then—
***
Energy surged.
***
It rushed into his body like a flood breaking through a dam, filling every inch of him with something unfamiliar, something alive, something heavy.
***
The crystal in his hand turned white.
***
Dead.
***
Ding!
[582 Mana Points worth reserves added to host]
[You have 60 minutes before the expiration]
***
Behind him, Alaric's voice came again.
***
"Good."
***
A faint nod.
***
"For a plainfolk… your compatibility is high."
***
A pause.
***
"But then again…"
***
"…you are an innate soul."
***
The skeletons moved.
***
No hesitation.
***
They charged.
***
Blades raised.
***
Arceus clenched his teeth.
***
He focused.
***
Tried to channel the mana.
***
Pull it.
Shape it.
Use it—
***
Nothing.
***
Ding!
[The host's body is not suitable for manipulating mana. Please pick a weapon.]
***
"…Eh?"
***
The confusion hit him at the worst moment.
***
A blade came swinging.
***
Fast.
***
Arceus barely reacted.
***
His body moved on instinct, twisting sideways as the rusted sword sliced past his chest, missing by less than an inch. He stumbled, lost his balance, and fell backward, hitting the ground hard as his breath left him in a sharp gasp.
***
His heart slammed against his ribs.
***
Another skeleton lunged—
***
Before it could strike—
***
A flick.
***
A paw.
***
Whoosh—!
***
A gust of icy wind exploded forward, slicing through the skeleton like invisible blades.
***
It shattered.
***
Bones scattering across the ground.
***
Arceus blinked.
***
Veronika stood nearby, her arms steady as she held Betty.
***
"You alright?" she asked, her voice tight with concern.
***
"I… can't use mana," Arceus said, pushing himself up, frustration creeping into his voice.
***
Alaric's voice came again, steady, unbothered.
***
"You're still a plainfolk."
***
A pause.
***
"Having mana… and using mana… are two different things."
***
Arceus clenched his jaw.
***
He knew that.
***
Of course he knew that.
***
"Without a medium," Alaric continued, "you can't channel it."
***
"Then what do I do?" Arceus muttered under his breath.
***
"Connect with the spirit," Alaric replied. "This dungeon won't end quickly."
***
A pause.
***
"Take your time."
***
He gestured toward Veronika.
***
"She'll keep you alive."
***
Arceus glanced at her.
***
She nodded.
***
Firm.
***
Reliable.
***
He inhaled deeply.
***
Then exhaled.
***
"I need a weapon."
***
His eyes snapped open.
***
Scanning.
Searching.
***
Not for connection—
***
For survival.
***
There—
***
A sword.
***
Rusty.
***
Left behind.
***
"Perfect."
***
He lunged forward, dodging another skeleton's strike by inches, feeling the wind of the blade brush against his cheek as he reached down and grabbed the weapon.
***
The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt—
***
It hummed.
***
Vibrated.
***
Responded.
***
Ding!
[Weapon Found: Broadsword]
Rarity: Common
Effect:
1. Increase your attacks by 10%.
2. Piercing stat increases by 25% when used with mana.
***
No time.
***
No hesitation.
***
The next skeleton lunged.
***
Arceus stepped forward.
***
And swung.
***
The blade cut through.
***
Clean.
***
Effortless.
***
Mana surged along the edge, coating it in a faint glow as it sliced through bone like dry wood.
***
The skeleton collapsed.
***
Shattered.
***
Ding!
[You killed Skeleton Soldier. +1 coin]
[+1 Skeleton Soldier's spirit has been absorbed by Nemesis' will.]
***
Arceus froze for a fraction of a second.
***
"…Nemesis' will?"
***
Another chime followed instantly.
***
Ding!
[You triggered the hidden quest: Kill and Absorb 100,000 common-grade spirits. Reward: Guardian Spirit]
***
His grip tightened around the sword.
***
"…Guardian Spirit?"
***
The battlefield around him roared back to life—
***
But his mind—
***
Locked onto something else entirely.
"Hmm? Nemesis Will? Guardian Spirit?" Arceus blinked in surprise. His eyes couldn't help but gaze at the first notification. "A coin for every kill. Now, that's another way to earn money." He couldn't help but grin, feeling a surge of excitement. "Alright, let's kill more."
Just as he is prepared to fight the undead that slowly materialize, tightening his grip on the sword, Alaric Von Seraph said with a hint of disapproval on his face. "We are not here to slay monsters, Arceus. We are here to help you connect to the Spirit King."
"Uhh…" As Arceus blinked twice in awkwardness. With swift thinking, he replied. "I hear this word, more, something just whispered in his head. I'm getting this strong feeling that I should kill more monsters."
"A whisper?" Alaric Von Seraph furrowed his brows.
Veronika was taken aback but then said with glistening eyes. "That makes sense. Nemesis is an evil spirit king. It loves to eat other spirits. So, the thing absorbed into you was its condensed spirit. I thought it was some remnant mana or something."
Alaric Von Seraph observed Arceus.
In the meantime, the six skeleton soldiers that reached nearby were destroyed by Betty with a simple paw wave.
"Alright, let's continue." With a nod from Alaric Von Seraph, Arceus tightened his grip on the sword once again with resolution. "Good."
Ding!