Chapter 19

Chapter 19: The First War (4) >

Fortunately, the secret of the second-floor storage room had now been fully uncovered.

[For battling valiantly against ‘Kyle Ragnar’s’ first sword strike, the evaluation of Tutorial Quest #11 has been upgraded.]

[Evaluation: S]

[As an additional reward, you have gained access to the system.]

[You have achieved an S-rank for the first time.]

[As a rank reward, you have obtained the ‘Blue Key.’]

Theo realized something the moment he activated the second ability he had gained after .

At last, he would finally be able to use the items he had received as rewards so far.

+

[Inventory List]

– Beginner’s Ring ×1

– Beginner’s Necklace ×1

– Beginner’s Earring ×1

.

.

– Blue Key ×1

+

A new window, structured like a checkerboard with numerous slots, appeared in front of him. When he placed his hand over a slot, a description of the item would be displayed.

+

[Beginner’s Ring]

· Type: Accessory

· Effect: Increases magic efficiency by 5%

· Requirement: Level 5

+

“Increasing magic efficiency? By 5%, no less?”

He had been so shocked when he first saw that.

If it was true, then it was like receiving an expensive artifact for free.

Artifacts related to magic, in particular, were notoriously pricey.

Fortunately, retrieving the items from the slots wasn’t difficult. All he had to do was tap lightly on them with his index finger.

[Would you like to equip the Beginner’s Ring?]

The ring was simple, without any patterns, and looked as if it were made of plain copper.

There didn’t seem to be any kind of special mechanism engraved on it, which made him feel suspicious.

However, the moment he slid it onto the ring finger of his left hand, he felt a significant change in the flow of magic coursing through his veins.

[The Beginner’s Ring has been equipped.]

[Magic efficiency has increased by 5%.]

Thump... Thump...

The circulation of magic became far smoother than before.

It was as if the Dragon’s Heart had grown stronger.

“It’s real!”

Theo’s eyes widened, and he attempted to take out all the other rewards as well.

But—

[You do not meet the equipment requirements.]

[You do not meet the equipment requirements.]

Unlike the Beginner’s Ring, there were issues with all the other items.

[Requirement: Level 10]

Currently, Theo was at level 8.

He didn’t meet the conditions.

“How can I raise my remaining levels? Can I gain more experience through sparring?”

Feeling anxious, he pondered how he could solve this issue.

It was then that he found something else in the inventory list, different from the Beginner Series.

+

[Blue Key]

· Type: Miscellaneous

· Effect: Unlocks a dungeon

· Condition for use: Discover the corresponding dungeon gate

+

“A blue gate? Could it be referring to the door in the storage room?”

Just at that moment.

[A quest has arrived.]

+

[Tutorial Quest #12]

Follow the blue light, discover the dungeon, and clear it.

· Difficulty: C

· Reward: Material items

· On failure: ■■

+

It was late at night, and Julius, Evelyn, and Wellington had finally left, saying they would return the next day.

At last, Theo stood before the storage room.

* * *

The storage room still glowed with a faint blue light.

A light visible only to Theo.

The color matched exactly with the [Blue Key] he now held in his hand.

“This has to be the place.”

Theo pushed the key into the lock on the door.

Click

With the sound of the lock disengaging, the door opened on its own.

So, there was no set formula, no stance, no special technique.

It was all just guesswork.

– When the head of the House was given the title of ‘Dark Dragon,’ I made the same request, just like you. I wanted to learn it. In fact, the only reason I joined Ragnar in the first place was because of the Dragon Flash. But then the head of the House said to me...

This light cannot be learned.

It must be realized.

– I didn’t know what that meant back then. But as I kept reflecting on it again and again, and clumsily tried to imitate it, I realized it. To show that light, you must be looking at something far higher.

Theo recalled the strike from that time.

– If you want to obtain it as well, Theo, you’ll have to look much higher than you are now. But remember just one thing.

Beautiful, resplendent.

Yet, still shining.

A trail of pure white.

– That path... it will be a very lonely and arduous one.

That radiance—the sword Julius had named Dragon Flash—was not something one could learn immediately.

“The higher the peak you aim for, the more difficult the climb will be.”

However.

‘If I just keep trying... won’t I reach it someday, somehow?’

One strike.

If the passion poured into a single sword is what’s important, then first, I’ll need to acquire a sword that can kill in a single blow.

With that, Theo decided to change his strategy.

Bang!

The shield, unable to withstand the wolf’s crushing bite any longer, shattered, and Theo’s left arm was naturally bitten.

As flesh was forcibly ripped away, the bones were on the verge of snapping.

Theo fiercely swung his sword towards the wolf’s right eye.

Imbuing it with the desire to emulate the radiance.

Squeezing every last bit of strength from the Dragon’s Heart.

Thud, thud, thud, thud...!

The sound of his pounding heart reverberated in his ears from the tension.

His vision narrowed sharply, allowing him to focus solely on the targeted area—the wolf’s eye.

At the same time, he thought.

‘The basic techniques I learned from Evelyn... among the components of her secret swordsmanship, those most specialized in speed...’

The wolf hurriedly retreated to evade him.

But Theo’s sword moved far faster than the wolf.

In this moment.

Theo’s mind was ablaze, hotter than ever before.

The forms of the sword techniques he had learned repeatedly disassembled and reformed.

‘I will strike.’

Swish—!

It was the fastest attack he had ever unleashed.

Thud!

Unlike its tough hide, the wolf’s eyeball wasn’t hard, so the sword pierced deeply through its eyelid.

‘Too shallow.’

He had intended to stab straight into its brain, but the wolf’s quick reaction prevented the strike from reaching that deep.

Howl!

The wolf raised its head in agony.

Seizing the opportunity, Theo released his sword and clung to the wolf’s nape, locking it in a chokehold.

He believed in his own strength, which hadn’t given in to the wolf’s power.

Yelp! Yelp!

The wolf shook its head wildly, trying desperately to shake Theo off.

But Theo hung on, dangling without letting go.

If he let go, he would die.

With that thought, he endured until the very end.

Eventually, the wolf gradually lost its strength and collapsed in a heap.

“Haa... Haa...!”

Theo finally let go after confirming the wolf was completely dead.

His mouth tasted bitter, his body covered in dust, and his left arm, possibly broken, was completely powerless.

[You have hunted a Dire Wolf.]

[You have gained 12 experience points.]

[Double experience reward applied. You have gained an additional 12 experience points.]

[Your level has increased.]

[Remaining number of monsters on the first floor: 171]

“D-damn it...! It really was a monster...! And I have to hunt... over a hundred more of these...?”

Theo swallowed back the nausea rising in his throat.

He didn’t even have the energy to be angry right now.

Instead, he needed to focus on leveling up.

[Strength: 58]

He invested all his additional stat points into [Strength], and fortunately, his muscles hardened slightly, giving him just enough strength to feel a bit of power return to his left arm.

‘It won’t help to invest in other stats right now. It’s better to focus everything on one for the time being.’

The one thing he could rely on was that when his [Strength] surpassed 50, he had felt a significant change in his abilities.

So what would happen when it surpassed 100?

Would he go beyond the realm of the extraordinary and reach the territory of the “exceptional”?

Physically, he was already exhausted.

‘Still, let’s push a little further.’

With the thought of somehow getting through, he rose to his feet again.

Dragon Flash.

To somehow obtain a clue about it.

And.

‘According to the message, this is the only time the double experience event will happen... I can’t stop now.’

Dragging his battered body, Theo moved deeper into the cave once more.