Chapter 20: Fire and Ash
Bright sat there, staring at nothing, his body aching in ways he didn't even know were possible. His lungs burned, his ribs felt like they had been kicked in by a horse, and his arms were basically noodles at this point. But at least he was alive.
Which, honestly, was starting to feel like a miracle.
The silence in the cave was almost eerie. No more strange, hairy creatures charging at him. No growls. No stomping.
Just him, alone, in a place he never should have stepped into in the first place.
And then—because of course, life wasn't done messing with him—his vision flickered.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Bright squinted at the glowing text in front of him, the words appearing crisp and clear despite the dim lighting.
[You are the first person on Earth to complete a dungeon run.]
You have received the skill: [Fireball (Basic)] – Allows you to generate and launch a ball of fire. Power increases with proficiency.
You have received the title: [Lone Survivor] – Slightly increases stamina and ability efficiency when fighting alone.
You are the first on Earth to create a self-made skill. Skill creation proficiency has increased.
The tutorial period ends in three days.
A global dungeon break will occur in three days.
You are now eligible to exit the dungeon.
Bright read the last line again.
Then again.
Then he exhaled so hard it almost felt like his soul left his body.
"I can leave?"
He let his head fall back against the cold stone wall, closing his eyes for just a second.
A second turned into a minute.
A minute turned into twenty-three.
By the time he forced his eyes open again, his limbs were still sore, but at least he didn't feel like collapsing on the spot.
That small victory vanished when he glanced at the spot where the monster's corpse had been.
And saw nothing.
Bright frowned.
"…Did it just disappear?"
In its place, on the ground, lay a light purple crystal.
He reached out, picking it up, and the moment his fingers brushed against its surface—
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[You have received a Monster Essence. Do you want to absorb it?]
[YES] / [NO]
Bright stared at the prompt, feeling mildly suspicious.
Absorb it?
That sounded sketchy.
But so was everything else about this day.
Screw it.
He thought YES, and immediately, the crystal dissolved into shimmering purple particles, which seeped into his skin.
A warm pulse of energy surged through him.
[For being the first person on Earth to absorb a Monster Essence, you have received a unique ability.]
You have gained: [Elementalization (Partial)] – You can temporarily transform parts of your body into fire, making them intangible and immune to physical attacks.
Absorption effect enhanced ×5.
Bright's breath hitched.
Something shifted inside him.
His skin felt warmer, like a slow-burning ember had settled deep in his chest. His fingers tingled, not painfully, but like something new was waiting to be used.
Bright stared at his hands.
Then, on instinct, willed something to happen.
His right fingertips flickered.
A faint, glowing orange-red flame replaced the tips of his fingers.
It didn't burn.
It didn't hurt.
It just… was.
Then it flickered.
The flames vanished instantly.
Bright stared.
Then let out a shaky breath.
"…Alright. That's new."
He didn't get a chance to process it further.
Because as he started moving toward the portal, he spotted something glowing nearby.
A purple crystal lay ahead on the cave's floor, barely noticeable in the dim light.
Bright frowned.
"…Did I just walk past this earlier?"
He picked it up, absorbing it without hesitation.
After absorbing it, his body felt a little lighter. His stamina increased slightly, and the deep exhaustion faded bit by bit.
By the time he reached the portal, he wasn't fully recovered, but he wasn't on the verge of death anymore, either.
He had picked two more on the way.
It seems some of the monsters leave it behind after their death.
Bright let out a slow breath, staring at the swirling gateway.
"Bastard portal. Alright, make way for your maker, you mother-father."
And with that, he stepped through.
The moment he emerged—
Everything changed.
The air was cleaner.
Crisper.
The damp, stale cave air was gone.
Bright took a deep breath, actually savoring the feeling of fresh air filling his lungs.
Then he noticed the guns.
Four rifles were pointed at him.
Bright's brain shut down for a second.
Then it restarted violently.
Several other officers, positioned farther away, had begun rushing over after hearing the commotion.
The one closest to him, some guy with a stiff expression, barked out, "ON YOUR KNEES! HANDS UP!"
Bright sighed loudly.
"…Oh, come on."