A pale white stone wall, formed from Dark Matter, enclosed the hot spring area atop Ultima-Volcan Mountain.
Steam rose slowly, dancing in the darkening night air, creating a calm, warm atmosphere that sharply contrasted with the brutal three-hour battle just past.
Behind the veil of vapor, Gabriel could be seen soaking at the edge of the pool. The hot water enveloped his body, soothing every muscle that felt as if it had just been struck by a giant hammer.
He leaned slightly against the stone edge, breathing slowly. His black bangs were wet and clung to his face, and for the first time in hours, his expression was truly… human.
The thin mist obscured part of his view, the mingling scent of minerals and natural heat gradually calming his body and mind.
Gabriel took a deep breath, letting the warmth seep into his bones.
"…This," he muttered softly, "…is far better than being beaten to death by that lioness."
The soft gurgle of the water served as background, mingling with Mereoleona's satisfied sighs as she sipped alcohol from the other side of the dividing wall.
The warm aroma of the liquor even faintly wafted through the rising steam.
It seemed Mereoleona hadn't missed the chance to soak herself after their three-hour-long battle.
"Oi, kid!" Mereoleona called from behind the wall, her voice as loud as ever. "Wanna drink? Hot springs and alcohol are the perfect pair!"
Gabriel let his shoulders drop slightly, as if too lazy to react.
"No," he replied curtly. "The mortal body of Ash is restoring its Mana flow. Alcohol would only—"
"Tch. Pathetic," Mereoleona interrupted, cutting him off. "What kind of kid refuses free drinks?"
Gabriel let out a thin sigh. He closed one eye, letting his consciousness sink halfway, feeling the Mana flow through his body.
Within his Mana network, the Compression Energy Units he had used began to refill, moving like pale lights returning to their central points.
"Hm… ten units recovered quickly," Gabriel murmured calmly. "Using the breath of the gods to unlock each Mana gate… absolute efficiency."
From behind the wall, Mereoleona let out a short laugh.
"What are you babbling about? I already told you—just drink! Don't act like some old man rambling about Mana!"
Gabriel didn't respond. He merely lowered his head slightly, letting the warmth of the water seep deeper.
For a moment, silence once again settled over the hot spring, broken only by the gentle sips of alcohol and the soft ripple of the water.
***
Fifteen days had passed since Gabriel settled on Ultime-Vulcan Mountain with Mereoleona.
During that time, his life had revolved around a simple routine: eating, drinking, sleeping, bathing, and fighting as if the world would collapse tomorrow.
For Gabriel, it was undeniably annoying. Ash was an observer, not an adrenaline junkie like Mereoleona. Yet, in reality, he was still forced to keep up with the rhythm of the lioness.
At least, none of it was wasted. Gabriel was beginning to get accustomed to his Five-Leaf Grimoire, honing his spellcasting both for long-range engagements and close-quarters duels.
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Special Abilities:
> All-Seeing Eyes of the Gods (Kamigami no Gigan)
Passive Abilities:
> Puppeteer (Lvl 1)
> Slayer (Lvl 1)
> Compression Energy (Lvl 1)
Active Ability:
> Dark Matter Magic (Lvl 1)
> Mana Skin (Lvl.1)
Description: By forming a layer of Mana over the entire body, this basic technique protects the user from extreme environmental effects and enhances overall physical capabilities.
Mana Efficiency: +25%
Mana Control: +25%
{Notes: This skill can be leveled up}
> Mana Zone (Lvl.1)
Description: Mana Zone is a high-level skill that allows a Mage to manipulate the Mana in the surrounding area, greatly enhancing spell efficiency and control.
Mana Efficiency: +25%
Mana Control: +25%
Zone Radius: 25 meters
{Notes: This skill can be leveled up.}
___________________
Now, the teenager stood underground at the entrance to the hot spring cave.
Mana Skin cloaked his body, shielding him from the wild Mana swirling through the mountain air.
His clothing had changed completely—the previous outfit had been destroyed during the fierce fight against Mereoleona.
Now, Gabriel wore a black hakama-style top with silver accents, paired with matching trousers.
A white trench cloak draped over his shoulders, fluttering lightly, dancing with the gusts of the mountain's hot wind.
As for why Gabriel now stood before the underground cave while Mereoleona was nowhere to be seen—the answer was simple.
Mereoleona had returned to the capital to attend to some personal matters.
And Gabriel? He had decided to remain around the mountain. Not to rest, nor to seek tranquility.
But for one other reason: a side mission he had accidentally triggered a few days ago.
Back then, during his and Mereoleona's battle that cracked three cliff faces at once, a faint notification had briefly appeared in the corner of Gigan's vision, as if the world itself had given him an extra task.
Gabriel had ignored it at the time, focused entirely on the fight.
But now, right in front of the dungeon's entrance, the details of that mission resurfaced in his mind, as if insisting on being completed.
______________
Title: Dungeon Exploration
Rank: C
Details: Reach the Treasure Chamber of the dungeon near Ultime-Vulcan Mountain and claim the loot inside.
Reward: 5,000 System Points
______________
Gabriel exhaled lightly and dismissed the notification.
"So… this is the time," he muttered.
As the words left his lips, the pale-white Grimoire, now in Digital Equipment mode, emitted a faint glow.
Its pulse synced with Gabriel's heartbeat, as if preparing itself for battle.
But before he could step into the dungeon, the ground trembled slightly.
From the wild Mana currents of Ultime-Vulcan Mountain, lava flowing through the rock crevices gathered and solidified, forming a five-meter-tall fire golem.
"Roooar…!!"
The creature bellowed, then raised its blazing red fist and launched a massive punch straight at Gabriel.
Gabriel simply watched, unmoving. A faint smile tugged at his lips—because through Gigan's vision, the giant punch shattered into dozens of slow-motion frames, clear and almost harmless.
But before he could react, a solid, pale-white wind shot out from behind him.
Like an invisible arrow fired from a colossal spring, the projectile slammed into the golem's chest.
BOOM—!!
The lava golem split apart, exploding into shards of fire that immediately melted back into the ground, like a wax statue collapsing.
Gabriel glanced upward.
Several large Dark Matter beetles—automated creations he had formed during training—circled in the sky. Their wings flapped softly, emitting a faint hissing sound, like whispers of the wind.
This was the real reason Gabriel had been able to survive and hold his own against Mereoleona during fifteen days of brutal training:
Silent, precise long-range attacks that always moved according to real-time instructions from his absolute Gigan observation.
Additional resources working silently beyond the enemy's radar.
Gabriel drew a short breath. "Good… their coordination is getting sharper."
He turned his gaze back toward the dungeon entrance—this time, undistracted.
Wasting no more time, Gabriel stepped inside.
Although he hadn't yet touched all the Main Mission objectives, completing this side quest alone would grant him the System Points he needed.
The moment his feet crossed the threshold, the air thickened—hot mana swirled like underground hellish currents, yet it had no effect on him whatsoever.
Mana Skin and his combined control made the atmosphere feel like a cool breeze.
Along the cavern walls, glowing red crystal formations jutted outward.
The crystals pulsed slowly, like the breathing of condensed mana.
"Not bad," Gabriel muttered. "The mana here is dense… and the crystals are valuable. I'll collect them later."
He continued onward. Occasionally, the path would split, or the ground would tremble as if something crawled just beneath it.
More often than not, magical traps appeared—runes faintly etched into the floor or walls.
Whenever he spotted one, Gabriel would pause, crouch slightly, and examine the rune.
Sometimes he nodded subtly, sometimes he furrowed his brows. Afterward, he recorded his observations in a small notebook—not the Grimoire, just a research journal he crafted from Dark Matter.
"The structure is intriguing… could be useful for future spell combinations."
With light yet careful steps, Gabriel pressed deeper into the dungeon's dark, secret-laden depths.
***
Soon after, Gabriel arrived before the Treasury Room—a vast chamber with a door made of black stone, etched with dense red runes.
From the cavern ceiling, dozens of lava-stone golems hung suspended, bowed like massive cocoons in slumber.
They didn't move, yet their mere presence made the air feel heavy.
Gabriel looked up, surveying each golem in turn, then returned his gaze to the door.
"To open that door…" he muttered flatly, "do I need to destroy its guardians?"
He paused briefly, considering the mechanics—or perhaps just weighing the fastest approach. Then, a faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Interesting," Gabriel said, his voice echoing softly at the end of the corridor. "Then let this Pale Mist drown you into a labyrinth of emptiness…"
"Mana Zone."
"Ten Units: Output Release!"
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Author's note:
Come on guys, answer my comments and give me some power stones and a five-star review. Hehe~ 😉
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