Kade's gaze lingered on the swirling mass of energy where the dungeon portal had formed. Everything in him screamed to enter—to test the unknown and seize whatever power lay within.
But he resisted.
He had no idea where he was, or even what this place had become. Why had the world collapsed into a nightmare? And more importantly—what were these Aether Crystals?
One problem at a time.
First, he needed to understand his surroundings.
Second, secure a food source.
Third, figure out what these crystals were and what they could do.
Before he could move, his instincts flared.
Something was coming.
Kade ducked behind the corner of a ruined building, fingers tightening around the hilts of his blades. His breath slowed as he peered out, senses sharpened.
A group of creatures emerged from the shadows, slinking toward the Abomination's corpse.
At first glance, they looked like wild dogs. But the longer he watched, the more wrong they appeared—grey, mottled skin, oozing black pus, ribs jutting out, and mouths that split open vertically, stretching far beyond anything natural.
They surrounded the Abomination's remains and began to feed, tearing into it with horrific jaws.
The sound of wet flesh ripping echoed through the broken street.
Kade grimaced.
He had never seen anything so grotesque. It took everything in him not to vomit what little he'd eaten.
But his mind remained focused.
They were pack hunters, attention fully on their meal.
Perfect opportunity.
Kade summoned the leather armor from his Arcane Vault. It materialized in front of him, and as he strapped it on, a voice echoed in his mind:
[+20 Endurance]
[20% Damage Resistance]
Good. That would help.
His Eclipse Twin Blades flickered into his hands—silent, deadly.
Kade launched forward, his body now faster, stronger.
The first mutated dog didn't even react. His blade slashed clean through its neck, severing the head with a wet snap.
He winced slightly—the feeling of slicing through a living creature still new to him.
Another turned just in time to see his second blade pierce its back, burying deep into twisted muscle and bone.
The remaining four snapped their grotesque jaws toward him, snarling gutturally. Their glowing red eyes locked onto his form.
And then—they lunged.
Kade moved without hesitation.
He ducked under the first attacker, twisting as he drove his right blade upward, slicing into the creature's belly.
Before it could even react, he twisted the blade and ripped it out sideways, sending blackened intestines spilling onto the pavement.
Another lunged from the right, claws aimed at his throat.
"Too slow—f*ck!"
He sidestepped. A claw grazed his shoulder, leaving faint red lines. Gritting his teeth, he spun his left blade into a reverse grip and rammed it into the dog's skull mid-air. Its body convulsed violently as he tore the blade free, blood spraying across his armor.
The last two paused.
Even their primitive minds recognized something was wrong.
This prey was not like the others.
Kade exhaled slowly.
He'd already read their movements. The next exchange would be their last.
He surged forward.
One tried to retreat, but Kade was faster. He closed the gap in an instant, swinging both swords in an X-shaped arc.
Steel tore through flesh.
The creature dropped, bisected from shoulder to hip.
The final monster turned to flee.
He couldn't let it.
It might return with more.
Kade flipped his blade and hurled it.
One of the Eclipse Twin Blades spun through the air, striking true—embedding into the fleeing creature's spine.
It shrieked once before crumpling to the ground in a twitching heap.
Silence fell.
Kade retrieved his blade, shaking the black blood from its edge. His chest rose and fell—not from exhaustion, but from something deeper.
A golden notification shimmered before him.
[You have received: Aether Crystal (Common) ×12]
[You have leveled up.]
[+1 to every stay] x2
(+5 Unused Stat Points) ×2 → 10 Unused Stat Points
A rush of energy flooded his body.
Muscles tightened. Reflexes sharpened. His breathing steadied.
He had grown stronger.
Kade glanced around at the battlefield. The abominations' corpses were already fading into black mist.
He focused on the golden interface before him and distributed his points evenly.
[STATUS]
Strength: 21
Agility: 22
Endurance: 18
Aether Energy: 13
Luck: 17
Free Stat Points: 10 → 0
A subtle warmth spread through him as the stats took effect. His body felt more responsive, grounded. Even the strange etheric energy—Aether Energy—pulsed more vividly within him.
[INVENTORY]
Aether Crystals (Common) ×12
Aether Crystals (Uncommon) ×3
Fifteen in total.
A resource. A currency. A power source.
He didn't know yet. But he would.
The scent of blood still hung thick in the air.
More monsters would come.
Kade didn't wait. He crouched low and moved through the fallen debris, weaving his way through the ruined city.
The skyline was broken—skyscrapers reduced to hollow frames, cars overturned, and the distant growls of unseen threats echoing like thunder.
Then he spotted it.
A food store—miraculously intact.
Cautious, Kade crept closer. No broken glass. No drag marks. No blood.
Too quiet.
Hand on his blade, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Canned goods. Bottled water. Sealed snacks.
Jackpot.
He swept what he could into his Arcane Vault—energy bars, jerky, dry fruit, bottles of water.
Anything perishable was left behind. Who knew how long it would last in the Vault?
He paused, cracked open a water bottle, and took a sip. Then bit into a protein bar.
Bland.
But effective.
As he chewed, his gaze flicked to the store's front window.
The street was still empty.
For now.
But something told him that wouldn't last.
Kade tossed the wrapper, tightened his grip on his swords, and stepped toward the exit.
He had weapons.
He had food.
Now, he needed a plan.
Preferably a shelter—high ground, somewhere he could see danger coming and rest, even for a little while.
Because something told him this was just the beginning.
---