[Aiden's POV]
The stench of decay intensified as I landed inside the dungeon. My eyes darted around, only to see walls and a floor with cracked tiles. It seems the first floor was related to the burial hall.
The next moment, the blue screen of Aetheris Record manifested with details of dungeon.
=====[DUNGEON]=====
Name: GRAVES OF THE THIRTY STEPS
Rank: BEGINNER-TIER
Type: UNDEAD
Clear Condition: REACH THE FINAL FLOOR
Floor – 1 [FIRST STEP]
Clear Condition: KILL 50% OF TOTAL MONSTERS TO BE TRANSPORTED TO NEXT FLOOR
Total Monsters: 2675
Kill Count: 0
=====
Seeing the information, I immediately understood the warning of Ryuk. The hall was filled with shallow graves with grave markers protruding from the ground. The dim torchlight was reducing the visibility, but my eyes were a nice counter to it. They enhanced my vision all around, giving a clear image even in low light.
Soon, I heard multiple footsteps from around mixed with the clanking of metals. I had worn the knuckle guard I got as a reward; my fists were raised in a defensive form, ready to face whatever comes.
A bone monster came into view; it was a humanoid skeleton with stones and cracked metal embedded in its body. Their number was in the hundreds.
"I guess I have to move around a lot." I commented.
My insight eye activated as I noticed the monsters incoming.
[Name: Bonebound Drudger]
[Rank: Awakened]
[Threat: Minimal but can be dangerous in numbers]
[Emotional state: KILL]
The details were something I already anticipated. The next moment, a drudger reached close to me. It raised its skeletal hands to hold on to me.
I swiftly dodged it's attempt and delivered a punch straight at its head. It crumbled as soon as the punch landed.
"Just like the description, minimal threat but dangerous if they ganged up."
Then for the next few minutes, I dodged and punched only. My kill count was getting high along with the Origin points.
But one thing I didn't understand was that every monster was trying to hold me down. But I dodged and smashed all that tried.
[Kill Count: 100]
Amid the monsters running towards me, I noticed one with a broken sword. As it reached me, it swung its sword at me. The description of the monster still hadn't changed, so its movement was still sluggish to me.
I stepped sideways and swung my elbow at its head; it crumpled like the rest. Following the same process, I figured out their pattern.
Among the numbers, some would carry swords, stones, shields, or anything they could get their hands on and try to attack from a blind spot.
But they were easy prey, so I easily dealt with them. It was time-consuming, but my new body was very efficient. Every move I made, every muscle I used, was like the epitome of perfection. There was no energy waste.
It was really bizarre; my technique sometimes faltered, feeling such precision. "I would have to get a better technique than my current one, I think. If I want to use this sculpted body correctly."
Within 2 hours, while I was running around and delivering head blows, the blue screen popped up again.
[Your kill count has crossed the 50% mark. Would you like to move to the second floor?]
[Y/N]
This was interesting; it gives me options. However, I didn't want to miss the chance to farm such easy Origin points. So I continued to see how long I could stay.
When my kill count crossed about 70%, I was suddenly teleported to the 2nd floor amid my finishing blow. I momentarily felt disoriented, it was a very disturbing experience. I made a mental note to never cross the 70% mark.
I took a deep breath; I wasn't tired yet. The screen flickered with information.
=====[DUNGEON]=====
Floor 2 [SECOND STEP]
Clear Condition: KILL 50% OF TOTAL MONSTERS TO BE TRANSPORTED TO NEXT FLOOR
Total Monsters: 2380
Kill Count: 0
==
The information was pretty much the same; only the number of monsters had decreased a little. That was hurtful to Origin points, but according to the information, the number decreases while their strength increases.
After a brief moment, I noticed the fog around the floor catching up to my knee. The visibility was also reduced; my eyes could help me see the clearer picture in my field of vision, but the field was obscured in whitish fog.
However, the next moment, like an instinct, I activated the sigils around my eyes. The sigils glowed slightly, but the change was immediate.
My vision tripled and got much clearer. I could now even notice small shifts in the environment.
With the help of my enhanced vision, I caught the glimpse of many half-opened, half-broken caskets lying around.
There were semi-ethereal beings gathering and advancing towards me as they floated in the air.
The insight eye activated immediately, providing details.
[Name: Mist-Hollow Wailer]
[Rank: Awakened]
[Threat: Minimal, but they attack without sound.]
[Emotional state: KILL]
Upon reading, I noticed it was quite strong. If not for my vision, I would only have seen them when they gathered around me. Suddenly, I felt a creeping sensation like something was trying to attack my mind.
The golden-rimmed screen confirmed my suspicion.
[Status effect: Fear – Failed]
[A Primarch doesn't feel fear]
When the system mentioned fear, I immediately remembered the horrible memories of my childhood. My fear of the night was well known in the family. So my big brother often used to scare me at night doing his antics.
And now, even on the 2nd floor, I only remembered when it was mentioned. It really did change me on every level. The ethereal monster entered my normal vision range.
An anger bubbled up inside me facing those horrible memories. I coated my fist with my Nullification ability and charged ahead. I was not in deranged mode, but I actively charged and punched them.
Everywhere my punch passed, the monsters disappeared into thin air. I guess their main attack was affecting the attackers with fear, but that was ineffective, so they just became sitting ducks.
When my kill count reached a few hundred, my anger subsided, and I exhaled to take a breather. The monsters on this floor were running around, probably trying to find out why I have not yet cowered.
This anger was a new sensation to me, and not only anger—I could feel all my emotions heightened.
[This is the result of transforming into a Primarch.]
The system, quietly explained.
I cleared my head of all other thoughts. I was currently in a battle situation. These monsters were not threatening enough to harm me, but somewhere else it could have landed me in trouble.
After this small introspection, I focused myself and made up my mind to clear the dungeon first, then think about my emotions. Next, I began the marked eradication of all the monsters.
It took a little over two hours, but I finally reached the 70% mark. The monsters, instead of attacking me, were scattered around; I had to hunt them down.
The notification to transfer myself was still there. I clicked on 'Yes,' transferring myself to the third floor to continue the grind.