The dungeon screamed.
Walls cracked.
The air twisted.
The Hollow Warden roared as the fractured core in its chest burned brighter.
| "THIS WOUND… MUST NOT CLOSE."
It charged.
The ground shattered under its steps.
Arakio moved.
Not fast—
empty.
The world felt distant,
as if he were watching it from the bottom of a well.
_______________________________________________
◼ HUNGER STATUS ◼
Level: 15%
State: Unstable
Warning: Identity erosion in progress.
_______________________________________________
The Warden's fist came down like a meteor.
Arakio raised his arm.
| CRACK.
Bone broke.
Pain didn't scream—
it vanished.
Consumed.
_______________________________________________
◼ PASSIVE EVOLUTION ◼
Devour Pain → Devour Existence (Lv. 1)
Physical and emotional damage partially converts into strength.
_______________________________________________
Arakio's eyes widened.
"So this is the cost…"
He stepped forward instead of back.
Grabbed the Warden's arm.
The dungeon trembled.
_______________________________________________
"YOU FEED…"
"ON WHAT SHOULD END."
_______________________________________________
I feed on what was taken from me,"
Arakio replied.
Hunger surged.
_______________________________________________
◼ SKILL UNLOCKED ◼
Active Skill: Hollow Grasp (Lv. 1)
Directly drains corrupted core energy
_______________________________________________
Arakio's hand sank into the Warden's chest.
Into the cracked core.
The pain was unbearable.
Not his—
the dungeon's.
_______________________________________________
The Hollow Warden howled.
Its body began to collapse inward.
_______________________________________________
◼ SYSTEM WARNING ◼
Core consumption detected.
Permanent alteration likely.
_______________________________________________
"Do it,"
Arakio whispered.
"I'll carry it."
_______________________________________________
The core shattered.
Dark light exploded.
The dungeon went silent.
_______________________________________________
The Warden fell.
Its massive body dissolved into ash.
_______________________________________________
◼ BOSS DEFEATED ◼
The Hollow Warden
Status: Eliminated
_______________________________________________
Arakio collapsed to the floor.
Breathing.
Shaking.
Alive.
_______________________________________________
◼ SYSTEM UPDATE ◼
Strength: +5
Endurance: +7
Hunger Control: +2%
New Trait Acquired:
| Wound Bearer
You carry a fragment of a dungeon within you.
Side Effect:
You will always feel hunger near broken places.
_______________________________________________
"…So I didn't close the wound,"
Arakio murmured.
"I became part of it."
_______________________________________________
Light flooded the dungeon.
The gate opened.
Outside—
the academy trembled.
Far above,
the principal opened his eyes.
"…So he chose to pay the price."
_______________________________________________
Arakio was carried out unconscious.
But even in sleep—
his chest ached.
Not with pain.
With hunger.
_______________________________________________
Chapter 6 Ends
_______________________________________________