Hidden Dungeon
Four hours passed quietly.
The sun outside the hospital window had already begun to set, bathing the room in a warm orange glow.
Elena, exhausted from the emotional roller coaster of the day, had eventually fallen asleep on the small couch beside Yevhen's bed.
A thin blanket covered her shoulders.
She slept peacefully.
Yevhen smiled.
"...You deserve the rest."
He carefully reached for the VR headset, making sure not to wake her.
At that exact moment—
His phone vibrated.
Divine Nexus
Server Maintenance Complete.
Welcome back, Adventurer.
"It starts now."
He gently put on the headset.
Darkness embraced his vision.
---
Synchronizing...
Host Confirmed.
Codex Bearer Verified.
Welcome back, Aster.
---
The darkness faded.
Mistvale appeared once more.
But...
Something immediately felt different.
The colors.
They were richer.
The sky looked impossibly blue.
The breeze carried the scent of flowers.
Even distant birds sounded more lifelike.
"It became..."
"...clearer."
The entire world seemed to have gained another layer of realism.
Buildings had changed as well.
Many storefronts had been renovated.
Signboards now hung outside newly opened businesses.
Weapon Merchant
Armor Smith
Potion Shop
General Store
Auction Hall
NPCs filled streets that had once been empty.
Merchants called out to passing adventurers.
Children ran between houses.
Blacksmiths hammered glowing steel.
The village no longer felt like a tutorial area.
It felt alive.
A notification appeared.
---
Version 1.1 Updated Successfully
New Features:
* Currency System
* Merchant Trading
* Expanded NPC Population
* Auction Hall
* Dynamic World Events
---
Aster merely glanced at it.
"...Later."
The economy could wait.
Money could wait.
His current priority remained the same.
Grow stronger.
Without wasting another second, he left Mistvale through the northern gate.
His destination...
Stonefang Ravine.
---
With Endless Growth, leveling became astonishingly fast.
His experience gain had doubled.
Combined with the +50% Challenge Bonus for defeating monsters above his own level...
Every battle rewarded him generously.
Stonefang Wolves.
Razor Boars.
Ironhide Lizards.
One after another...
They fell beneath his sword.
Twin Flash Step had become second nature.
Every encounter ended before the monsters could fully react.
Hours passed inside Divine Nexus.
His level steadily climbed.
---
Level Up!
Level 6.
---
Another hour.
---
Level Up!
Level 7.
---
The challenge bonus remained active.
Aster deliberately hunted monsters one level above himself.
The battles became more dangerous...
But the rewards far outweighed the risks.
---
Level Up!
Level 8.
---
As soon as he reaches Level 8, a system announcement appeared before his eyes.
---
You have entered the Global Rankings.
Join the Leaderboard?
YES | NO
---
"So you can hide your identity."
Aster realized that the current Top 1 in the Global Rankings might not necessarily be the Top 1.
He click NO and didn't bother with it.
---
As time passes, his movements became smoother.
His breathing more refined.
Iron Body Foundation continued strengthening his body.
Twin Flash Step grew increasingly efficient.
Every fight became another lesson.
Eventually...
A familiar golden light surrounded him once more.
---
Level Up!
Level 9 Achieved
---
Another notification followed.
---
Current Experience
Level 9 [10%]
---
Aster exhaled slowly.
"That was..."
"...much faster than before."
Endless Growth truly lived up to its name.
Even the world's top players would struggle to match such leveling speed.
He looked around.
The ravine had become quiet.
Only the distant cries of monsters echoed among the cliffs.
Aster walked beneath a towering rock formation before sitting against its base.
He opened his inventory.
Removing a leather water flask, he took several long drinks.
"...Finally."
"A break."
The cold water refreshed him.
For a brief moment...
Everything felt peaceful.
Then—
The ground beneath him vibrated.
"...?"
Aster immediately stood.
Ancient symbols began glowing beneath his feet.
Golden runes.
The same kind he had seen upon the Primal Codex.
"What is this—"
Before he could react—
The runes expanded outward, forming a massive magic circle.
A blinding pillar of light erupted toward the heavens.
His vision turned white.
The world disappeared.
---
When his sight returned...
Stonefang Ravine was gone.
Instead...
He stood inside an enormous underground cavern.
The air was cold.
Moist.
Thick strands of spider silk covered the walls.
Countless cocoons hung from the ceiling.
Some...
Still moved.
A chilling system notification appeared.
---
Hidden Dungeon Discovered
Ancient Spider Nest
Status:
First Discoverer
---
Dungeon Rules
* Outside Communication Disabled.
* Party Invitations Disabled.
* Teleportation Disabled.
* Escape Impossible
Exit Conditions:
• Defeat the Dungeon Boss.
OR
• Host reaches 10% Health.
Failure to satisfy either condition will result in continued confinement.
---
Aster slowly swallowed.
"...A hidden dungeon..."
His heart raced.
"So that's why those runes appeared."
He quietly drew his sword.
The silence lasted only seconds.
Something hissed nearby.
Then—
A giant spider descended from the ceiling.
Its eight crimson eyes locked onto him.
---
Venom Weaver
Level 10
---
The battle began instantly.
Twin Flash Step!
Slash!
Slash!
The spider shrieked.
Green venom splashed across the stone floor.
The liquid hissed violently as it corroded the rock itself.
"...Poison."
Aster immediately retreated.
The dungeon was far more dangerous than Stonefang Ravine.
Every encounter demanded complete concentration.
One spider became two.
Two became five.
Every corridor hid another ambush.
Venom coated the walls.
Sticky webs slowed movement.
More than once...
Aster nearly stepped into carefully concealed traps.
Hours passed.
Countless spiders fell.
His sword became stained with green ichor.
His armor bore several tears from poisonous fangs.
Thankfully...
Iron Body Foundation kept his body stable.
Twin Flash Step repeatedly saved him from fatal attacks.
By the time he reached the dungeon's deepest chamber...
His experience had climbed once again.
---
Level 9
Experience: 60%
---
A pair of enormous black doors stood before him.
Unlike the rest of the dungeon...
These doors were carved from ancient crimson stone.
Spider motifs stretched across their surface.
From behind them...
A slow, heavy breathing echoed.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
Aster tightened his grip on his sword.
"...The boss."
He pushed.
The massive doors groaned open.
The chamber beyond was colossal.
Broken pillars lined the walls.
Thick webs formed a ceiling high above.
At the center...
Something stirred.
Eight enormous crimson legs slowly unfolded.
Then another.
And another.
Finally...
The creature raised its massive body.
Its eyes burned like pools of blood.
Its name appeared in scarlet letters.
Scarlet.
The color reserved for monsters far beyond the player's current strength.
---
Arachnid Queen
Dungeon Boss
Level 12
---
Three levels higher than Aster.
The monster's terrifying aura filled the entire chamber.
Its mandibles slowly parted.
A deafening screech echoed through the dungeon.
Aster instinctively lowered his stance.
His heart pounded violently.
This...
Would be the most dangerous battle of his life.