[Dungeon cleared.]
[Rewards:
750$
45 XP
Wraith Gown
Bonus XP Rewarded for side-mission "Saving a life"
+25 XP]
[Level Up 2 ⇒ 3]
[Level Up 3 ⇒ 4]
[Level Up 4 ⇒ 5]
The system messages stacked one after another, flashing relentlessly before my eyes.
I barely reacted.
My body felt heavy, like it was filled with lead. Every breath scraped my lungs, hot air burning on the way in and out. My arm throbbed dully, the open wound still bleeding freely, warm streaks running down my skin. The pain was there, constant—but distant, almost muted, like it belonged to someone else.
I didn't even glance at the bank notifications confirming my rewards.
Money felt unreal right now.
Instead, my gaze dropped to the small body lying on the cold dungeon floor.
The kitten.
It breathed slowly, shallowly. Its tiny chest rose and fell with effort, its body trembling from the cold that still clung to the dungeon walls. Seeing it like that made something twist painfully in my chest.
Without thinking, I took off my jacket and wrapped it around the kitten, hands moving on instinct. The fabric swallowed the small creature as I pulled it close, trying to trap whatever warmth I could give it.
"Everything will be okay, little one,"
I said softly, my voice betraying the fear I tried to suppress.
I carefully lifted it, cradling it against my chest, and turned toward the dungeon exit.
Before I could take my first step, the system flashed again.
[Dungeon cleared. Return home?]
I froze.
Was it really this convenient? I wondered.
Games usually had fast travel options—but this wasn't a game. Not really.
I hesitated for only a second.
"Yes," I said.
I didn't know what would happen.
As it turned out, it really was that convenient.
The world twisted.
For a brief moment, everything blurred—light folding in on itself, sound stretching thin—then snapped back into place.
In the blink of an eye, I was standing in my apartment.
Sweating. Bloody. Still holding the injured, barely breathing kitten in my arms.
The familiar smell of detergent and old coffee hit me, grounding me instantly. My legs wobbled, the delayed shock finally catching up, but I forced myself to move.
I laid the kitten down gently and quickly made an improvised bed using spare sheets, folding and layering them until it looked soft enough. I placed it down carefully, keeping my jacket wrapped around its small body, my hand resting on its side as I tried to warm it.
Its breathing was still weak, but steady.
I examined it more closely.
The left ear was injured—slightly chipped, dried blood crusted around the wound. My jaw clenched.
"Damn…"
I grabbed the disinfectant spray from the bathroom and returned, kneeling beside the makeshift bed. Carefully, gently, I sprayed the wound.
The kitten let out a soft meow—painful, weak, but alive. It barely moved, too exhausted to do more than twitch.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry," I whispered.
I treated my own arm next. The sting was immediate, sharp enough to make my teeth grit—but it was nothing I couldn't handle. I'd been burned, cut, and scraped more times than I could count at work.
Guess life kinda prepared me for taking hits.
Both emotionally and physically.
After a while, I filled a small squeezer bottle with water and let a few drops fall toward the kitten's mouth. Its tiny tongue flicked out, clumsily catching the droplets. After a few seconds, it made a faint, almost content sound.
For the first time since the dungeon, I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.
"I think all will be well for you, little one," I said quietly.
"Imma call you Cat."
I paused.
"Original, I know, but for now it suffices."
Cat reacted with complete indifference. Its little tail twitched lazily, swaying like it was mildly offended by the name.
I chuckled weakly.
As it slowly drifted off to sleep, I decided to leave it be. My body finally reminded me just how exhausted it was.
I collapsed onto the couch, staring at the ceiling.
"I should check the system," I muttered.
"Stats."
The interface appeared before my eyes.
STATUS
Name: Alex Ksenos
HP: 12 / 16
Mana: 10 / 10
Level: 5
Patron: HADES
Contracts completed: 2
Physical condition: Injured, Worn, Bleeding
Mental state: Unstable (improving)
Attributes
Strength: 11
Agility: 10
Endurance: 12 ⇒ 13
Perception: 17
Willpower: 13 ⇒ 14
Unassigned Skill Points: 9
Two things immediately caught my attention.
First—the HP and Mana.
"Useful…" I murmured.
Then I frowned.
"Mana?"
I blinked, staring at the word.
"Wait. Is there magic in this world?" I wondered, slightly amused.
The thought felt absurd. And yet… here it was, staring back at me.
The second thing was the change in Willpower and Endurance.
"…So stats can increase without skill points," I muttered. "Interesting."
That was important. Very important.
"I leveled up quite a lot," I said quietly. "Still not showing me my XP bar though."
Annoying.
I decided to leave my skill points untouched for now. Rushing into upgrades without understanding the system felt like a mistake waiting to happen.
My perception stat was still giving me trouble. It was incredibly useful—especially during fights—but the constant stream of extra information made my head ache, like my brain wasn't built to handle it yet.
Eventually, exhaustion won.
I lay back on the couch, eyes slowly drifting shut, thoughts lingering on the dungeon… the fight… and the soft, steady breathing of my new friend.
Cat.
________________________________________
SWOOSH!
Aria's kick slammed into the Minotaur's face.
The creature towered over her, easily more than nine feet tall, muscles bulging beneath coarse fur. It didn't matter.
It never did.
The Minotaur crashed to the ground, its massive body dissolving into particles of ash and mist before it even hit.
[Minotaur Defeated +125 XP]
The system flashed before Aria's eyes—but she was already moving.
Already advancing.
It wasn't the first time.
Not even the thousandth.
It had been over a year since her normal life came to an abrupt end. A year since the system chose her.
Sparks crackled around her as she faced the final Minotaur. The creature hesitated, fear obvious in its posture. Instead of charging, it turned and fled—dropping to all fours, hooves scraping desperately against the concrete floor.
Pathetic.
Energy gathered in the palm of her hand, lightning coiling and snapping as her platinum-blonde hair reflected the glow of her power.
"Astrape," she whispered.
A lightning spear formed instantly, crackling with destructive force.
The Minotaur was already far away—running, whimpering, fully aware of what was coming.
Aria threw the spear.
The impact was instantaneous.
BOOM.
The creature disintegrated mid-stride.
[Minotaur Defeated +125 XP]
The system flashed again.
Aria exhaled.
She wasn't exhausted.
She wasn't even tired.
She exited the warehouse near the river, her athletic form briefly illuminated by the early morning light. Her eyes narrowed slightly as they adjusted, but her expression remained calm.
[New contract available]
The system flashed again.
[Destroy Fury
Location: Unknown
Partner: Alex Ksenos
Rewards:
10,000$
2,000 XP
Aegis Shield]
[Contact information added]
Her phone buzzed.
"A partner this time?" Aria laughed.
She glanced at the name on the screen, a smirk forming on her lips.
"Hope he ain't a wuss."
Whistling softly, confident and relaxed, she walked along the river—already looking forward to what came next.