The city seemed almost peaceful that morning, but Kael knew better. The Golden Pulse in his chest throbbed stronger than ever, a heartbeat that mirrored the growing tension within him. The system had awakened something new—Adaptive Influence Lv.1—and it demanded testing.
He stepped into the forest outskirts, far from the guild hall, toward the rumored location of a recently discovered dungeon cluster. The ground trembled faintly beneath him, a subtle warning. Multiple S-rank presences had been reported—something hunters rarely encountered alone.
I'll survive this… but only if I push everything I've learned.
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The dungeon entrance was enormous, jagged stone archways twisting like claws toward the sky. Faint golden light pulsed along cracks in the stone, and Kael felt the Dragon Core surge in response, almost as if it recognized the danger ahead.
He flexed his fingers, feeling sparks of golden energy trail along his veins. Observation, Calm Influence, Minor Manipulation, Focus, Adaptive Influence—they all hummed in tandem.
[Dragon Core Status: Dragon Sense Lv.6 | Dragon Core Focus Lv.2 | Adaptive Influence Lv.1 | Minor Manipulation Lv.3 | Calm Influence Lv.5]
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Inside, the dungeon stretched infinitely, corridors twisting unpredictably. Kael's pulse synced with the system, heightening his senses. Faint vibrations, whispers of movement, even subtle temperature shifts—all guided him.
Then came the first wave: three mid-sized S-rank entities, each stronger and smarter than the last. They moved with intelligence, testing him, flanking, probing, coordinating. Kael crouched instinctively, sending a subtle pulse of Calm Influence. One staggered slightly, another hesitated, but their coordination remained intact.
He exhaled. This wasn't just survival anymore—it was mastery of subtle influence under extreme pressure.
---
The next wave came faster. Larger S-rank creatures emerged from the shadows, moving with precision. Their golden veins glimmered, eyes calculating, every movement deliberate. Kael's pulse surged. This was the first time he faced multiple intelligent S-rank entities simultaneously.
Adaptive Influence responded automatically, amplifying his Calm Influence and Minor Manipulation. Kael extended his hand subtly; rubble shifted, attacks were redirected, and the mid-sized monsters stumbled into each other's path. Sparks of golden energy danced along his fingertips, the Dragon Core actively assisting in his calculations.
[Adaptive Influence Lv.2 Unlocked]
Kael's senses sharpened further. He could feel the creatures' weight, every step, every subtle shift of energy around them. Observation became almost premonition; his movements were precise, fluid, reactive. He was dancing with danger.
---
A massive roar echoed through the dungeon—a S-rank core entity appeared, larger than any he had faced before. Its scales glittered gold and crimson, eyes gleaming with a deadly intelligence. It struck with overwhelming force, clawing through the chamber. Kael narrowly dodged, rocks flying, air splitting around the massive strike.
This isn't just a fight… it's a test of survival, skill, and strategy.
Kael flexed his fingers, sending ripples of Adaptive Influence toward the monsters. One staggered mid-lunge, another misjudged its strike, and even the core entity hesitated slightly, caught off-guard by subtle manipulations. Kael's chest burned, pulse syncing with the Dragon Core, guiding him through the chaos.
---
Hours—or maybe minutes—passed in a blur. Kael moved with precision, weaving Observation, Calm Influence, Minor Manipulation, and Adaptive Influence seamlessly. Every creature reacted almost predictably under the system's subtle guidance. He could feel growth with each heartbeat.
But then, deep in the heart of the dungeon, he sensed something else—a presence far older, far more powerful than any S-rank entity. The golden pulse in his chest surged violently, warning him of the ancient force dwelling deeper within the dungeon.
This… is beyond anything I've faced.
---
Kael paused, chest heaving, hands tingling with energy. He had survived multiple S-rank encounters, pushed the Dragon Core to its limits, and unlocked Adaptive Influence Lv.2. But this new presence… it radiated a power that dwarfed all he had felt before.
For the first time, he understood that the Dragon Core wasn't just a tool—it was a guide, a teacher, a key to survival in a world that would soon challenge him beyond imagination.
Kael's pulse slowed, golden warmth steady. He flexed his fingers, preparing to descend deeper into the dungeon, where the world-altering forces waited. The Dragon Core hummed in response, ready to amplify his abilities as the trials ahead grew deadlier.
The world doesn't know me yet… but it will.
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