The Regressed Heir of Ravencrest

The deafening rumble of falling stone and crashing timber faded into absolute silence.

Ethan stood over the colossal carcass of the Forest Troll, his boots planted firmly in the blood-slick moss. His chest heaved in long, heavy cycles, every breath dragging against his fractured ribs like hot iron. The Blood Essence raged on, pumping fresh vitality into his marrow, knitting torn muscle tissue, and forcing his shattered frame to remain standing through pure physical resilience.

With a quiet, metallic click, Ethan sheathed the Eternal Sovereign Blade.

A soft, rustling sound drew his eyes toward the shattered cliff wall. Rune was slowly dragging himself out of the rubble, limping heavily on his bruised hind leg. The young wolf’s silver coat was matted with dust and dried gore, but his glowing blue eyes were fixed entirely on Ethan.

Without saying anything, Ethan slowly crouched despite the pain.

He rested a hand atop Rune’s head.

"...You did well." Ethan said, his voice a low, gravelly rasp choked with the taste of copper. "Rest now."

Rune closed his bright blue eyes for a brief moment, letting out a soft groan before gently rubbing his head against Ethan’s palm.

Ethan lowered himself completely, sitting down on the cold stone beside his companion. For several minutes, neither moved. They simply sat together in the quiet heart of the gorge, letting their exhausted bodies soak in the silence.

Only after the last traces of battle finally faded from his mind did the familiar golden glow return.

[Special Mission: Monster Extermination (Continuous) ]

Wild Beasts Eliminated : 400 × 40= 16,000 War Merit

Elite Beasts Eliminated : 800 × 100 = 80,000 War Merit

[Dire Beast Eliminated — Dire Thornhide Bear]

120 Slain × 450 = 54,000 War Merit

[Dire Beast Eliminated — Dire Canopy Stalker]

95 Slain × 450 = 42,750 War Merit

[Dire Beast Eliminated — Dire Thornhide Boar]

85 Slain × 450 = 38,250 War Merit

[Apex Beast Eliminated — Forest Troll (Dungeon Dominant)]

1 Slain × 5,000 War Merit = +5,000

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Total War Merit Accumulated: 236,000

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Emergency Mission

Status: Completed

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Objectives

✓ Eliminate the Dungeon Dominant

✓ Stabilize the Dungeon

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Reward

War Merit +10,000

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Ethan dismissed the screens with a single thought. Standing up, he spent the next few hours methodically harvesting the beast cores and rare hide materials from the Dire Beasts, and the slaughtered elites choking the pass.

Finally Ethan took out the core from the Forest Troll which glowed crimson radiating with vitality and overwhelming energy.

Rune’s bright blue eyes remained fixed on the crimson Beast Core. His ears stood upright, and for the first time since Ethan had met him, the cub’s usually calm gaze carried unmistakable anticipation.

Ethan hadn’t fed any Beast Cores to the cub until now coz he had never showed any reaction from Elite and Dire Beast’s Core’s, as if they weren’t even worth it’s attention...whereas other Beast’s will fight to death for those.

Ethan slowly brought the Core to Rune.

"Eat it..." Rune gently caught the core before swallowing it in only a few bites, as though unable to resist the instinct calling him toward it.

The injuries surrounding Rune body slowly began to heal...and his strength will reach a new peak once the Core is fully digested.

They left the bloody battlefield behind, heading toward the central basin of the dungeon where the density of the mana was at its peak.

The Crystal Valley was unnaturally silent. The oppressive aura of the dominant Forest Troll had vanished, leaving an eerie, stillness hanging over the valley.

Along the ridge lines and thickets, a few surviving low-tier beasts poked their heads through the foliage. Driven by curiosity and the lingering scent of blood, they prepared to stalk the intruders. But the moment Ethan’s cold, blue gaze swept across the tree line, the creatures froze.

Even without active aura, the killing intent lingering around Ethan felt like an invisible tide—the terrifying weight of the being who had just slaughtered their apex tyrant—struck them like a physical blow.

In instinctual horror, every monster scrambled backward into the shadows, fleeing long before Ethan or Rune made a move. Neither Ethan nor Rune gave them a second glance, continuing their steady trek toward the valley floor.

The law of the wilderness had always been simple.

The strong survived.

The stronger were feared.

The entrance to the subterranean cavern opened up into a vast, crystal-encrusted chamber.

High above, glowing blue stalactites shed an ethereal light over a tranquil underground lake. Floating at the center, resting atop a natural pillar of crystalline stone, was the Dungeon Core.

The death of the Dominant had completed the final stage of stabilization. Now the core pulsed with a smooth, gentle rhythm. The ambient mana in the air flowed calmly rather than wildly.

As the stabilization process reached its peak, a soft hum echoed through the cavern. A stable, shimmering archway of pale blue light manifested along the stone wall.

The return portal.

Unlike the violent mana fluctuations from before, the Dungeon Core now radiated quiet stability.

Ethan scanned the surrounding basin, spotting several rare, century-old medicinal herbs and high-density mana crystals blooming near the core’s energy pool. He harvested only what he needed for immediate body-tempering elixirs, leaving the rest intact. The dungeon would continue producing them in the future. There was no reason to strip it bare.

"Time to go," Ethan said softly.

Rune bumped his snout against Ethan’s leg, his blue eyes bright with unyielding trust. Together, they stepped through the shimmering archway.

The sensation of spatial transit lasted only a heartbeat. When the world settled, the cold, crisp air of the Northern Frontier filled Ethan’s lungs. They emerged in the exact same cavern where they had first entered the breach hours prior.

Behind them, the pale blue portal remained active, pulsing steadily against the rock. The dimensional breach was no longer a volatile rift; it had officially converted into a stable, permanent resource dungeon—an invaluable asset that House Ravencrest could secure and harvest in the future.

Ethan and Rune exited the mouth of the cave, stepping out into the open mountain air.

Dawn was just beginning to break over the rugged northern peaks, streaking the eastern horizon with soft hues of rose and gold. Though nearly a full day had passed inside the temporal environment of the dungeon, only a few hours had elapsed in the outside world.

Ethan stretched his sore back, feeling the crisp morning wind clear the lingering scent of beast blood from his senses. Beside him, Rune walked upright, his limping gait growing smoother as his injuries continued to knit together.

Together, human and wolf began their steady descent down the winding mountain trail, heading toward the banks of the Maple River.

Near the riverbank, the rescued villagers were huddled together against the morning chill. Their faces were pale and etched with deep anxiety as they stared fixedly at the mountain path, fearing the worst.

"Look! He’s back!" a young villager suddenly gasped, pointing toward the treeline.

Relief washed over the crowd as Ethan emerged into the golden morning light with Rune at his side. But as they drew closer, that relief instantly turned to shock and deep concern.

Ethan’s tunic was torn to ribbons, caked in dust and dark, dried monster blood. Deep cuts were visible along his arms, and his chest bore the visible signs of heavy trauma. Rune’s silver coat was equally stained and matted.

"S-Sir!" the Village Elder stammered, rushing forward with trembling hands. "You... you’re severely injured!"

"It’s okay...everything is fine now." His calm voice instantly steadied the panicked villagers.

Seeing Ethan’s calm smile, the panic gripping the villagers slowly eased. Shoulders that had been tense all night finally relaxed, and more than one villager quietly wiped away tears they hadn’t realized were falling.

The rescued villagers had already sent word ahead. Around half an hour later, the Village Chiefs arrived with several more villagers from Maple River.

Grey was among them...he was searching the villagers when he found his father and sprang into his arms with tears running down his face.

Cries of relief echoed along the riverbank as families finally embraced, many collapsing to their knees after believing they would never see one another again.

Ethan quickly briefed them on everything that had happened, including the fate of Greenwich Village.

As the two Village Chiefs and the Elder began speaking anxiously about returning to Greenwich to retrieve the victims, Ethan held up a hand.

"Do not return to the ruins yet," Ethan instructed firmly. "The area must be properly swept, and evidence must be officially recovered before funeral rites can be held. For now accompany me to the Northwatch along with the elder and few villagers. The others may return home and recover. I’ll request the Northwatch Barracks to send healers for those who are severely injured."

After the reunion everyone came to Ethan.

"Thanks for saving my child." The mother of the child who was around Amelia age said with tears rolling down her face.

Grey came running to Ethan and almost tripped again when Ethan caught him which made him smile.

"Thanks for saving my father." He said in the same innocent tone.

One after another, the rescued villagers stepped forward.

Some bowed deeply.

Others clasped Ethan’s hands with trembling fingers.

A few could only whisper their gratitude through tears.

No amount of thanks could ever repay the life he had given back to them.

For a brief moment, the exhaustion on Ethan’s face gave way to a small, genuine smile.

With the Elder and Chiefs nodding in solemn agreement, the group gathered their meager belongings and set off toward the fortress city of Northwatch.

Ethan walked at the head of the group, Rune quietly brushed against Ethan’s leg before settling into step beside him, matching his pace without needing a command.

The return journey took considerably longer, as Ethan adjusted their pace to accommodate the exhausted villagers.

Two days later, the looming stone walls and high watchtowers of Northwatch emerged through the morning mist.

As the party approached the heavy gates, The guards stared at the blood-soaked child walking at the head of the group, his torn clothes and battered body telling a story no words could explain.

Ethan didn’t pause. Keeping his posture straight and his gaze sharp, he stepped past the stunned guards into the outer districts.

Everyone’s eyes were drawn to his blood-soaked clothes and the countless injuries covering his body as he walked through the streets with the rescued villagers.

Ethan quickly made his way to the Adventurer Guild. By the time he arrived the guild was overflowing with mercenaries and hunters near the Mission Board while the clerk was busy with approving missions.

The moment Ethan stepped through the guild doors, the atmosphere changed completely.

Conversations stopped.

A hunter lowered the mug halfway to his lips.

Even the receptionists paused their work.

Every gaze slowly turned toward the blood-covered child walking through the guild entrance.

Ethan didn’t pay them any attention and immediately went to the clerk.

"Take me to the Guild Master." He said in an authoritative tone.