Land Of The Beginning

Bzzzt!

A sharp, electric hum ripped through the air as the dust finally settled. Luceon stood at the heart of the crater, his body tense and his breath shallow. His gaze swept across the surroundings—a sprawling grassy field stretched out endlessly before him, dotted with crumbling stone structures. The sky above was a deep, serene blue, unnervingly similar to the one on the first floor of Ylza.

"This…" Luceon muttered, his voice low, almost as if he were afraid to disturb the stillness. "This doesn't look like a dungeon at all."

His thoughts churned in a storm of confusion. Dungeons are supposed to be dark, ominous… not this. The soft rustling of grass beneath his boots didn't help ease the tension twisting in his gut. He clenched his fists, trying to ground himself.

Ding!

A soft chime echoed in his mind, clear and crisp like a bell tolling in an empty cathedral.

[Dungeon of Sloth, Intermediate Level]

"Whoa!" Luceon jolted, his voice rising in surprise. His heart skipped a beat as glowing text materialized in front of him, floating in midair. It was so bright it seemed to burn itself into his vision.

"This is…" he whispered, his fingers reaching out instinctively. "This is the power he gave me?"

The words shimmered, ethereal and otherworldly. His hand hovered inches away, hesitant, before he finally pressed his palm against the glowing screen.

Buzz!

The text shifted abruptly, morphing and rearranging itself like it was alive.

[Level is automatically set to X-X-X-X]

[Showing skills instead…]

Luceon's breath caught. His pulse thundered in his ears as he read the words.

"Wait, what?" His voice cracked, the disbelief painted clearly on his face. "I'm that powerful now?"

His eyes darted to the next section as more text began to form, line by line. Each word hit him like a hammer.

[Passive Skills:]

Heed My Command

Any lower life forms will obey every command you give without resistance.

Grace's Speed

All your attacks will exceed the speed of light.

Reversion

Deflect any incoming attack back to the attacker with amplified force. This ability can be disabled manually.

[Active Skills:]

Wind (Skillset)

Use the skillset of 'Wind'.

Water (Skillset)

Use the skillset of 'Water'.

Fire (Skillset)

Use the skillset of 'Fire'.

Magma (skillset)

Use the skillset of 'Magma'.

Ice (skillset)

Light (skillset)

Use the skillset of 'Light'.

Use the skillset of 'Ice'.

Eon

Destroy the soul of your target completely. This ability can be used on multiple targets simultaneously.

Earth (Skillset)

Use the skillset of 'Earth'.

[Warning:]

Mana-based abilities are unavailable to you.

You will instead use Ion Energy, a force that maximizes the effects of all your skills. You also possess a unique form of magic exclusive to you.

Luceon stared at the glowing text, his mind spinning. His mouth fell open slightly, words failing him.

"This is crazy…" he muttered. His hands trembled as he scrolled through the skill descriptions again, trying to process what he was reading. "Completely destroy the soul? Create anything? What the hell—"

His voice broke off as a grin began to creep onto his face. The weight of what he'd just been given started to sink in, and with it came a bubbling sense of exhilaration.

This is real. This is actually real.

Suddenly, he jumped up, his fists pumping the air. "This is insane!" he yelled, his voice echoing across the field. "I'm actually this strong now!"

He laughed—a bright, unrestrained sound that was equal parts disbelief and joy.

What am I even supposed to do with power like this? The thought sent a chill racing down his spine, but it was quickly drowned out by the thrill coursing through him. He felt alive, more alive than he had in years.

But then his excitement was cut short.

Ding!

Another notification appeared, the text more ominous this time.

[Quest: Clear the Dungeon of Sloth.]

[Warning: Failure will result in permanent erasure from existence.]

Luceon froze, his blood running cold. "Wait… What?"

His eyes widened as he reread the words, hoping he'd misunderstood. But the text didn't change. The cold, unfeeling letters remained the same, staring back at him like a death sentence.

Erasure? he thought, his throat tightening. That's… that's worse than death.

The reality of his situation hit him like a punch to the gut. This wasn't just a game. It wasn't some trial he could fail and walk away from. If he didn't succeed, he wouldn't even have the luxury of existing anymore.

His legs felt weak, but he forced himself to stay upright. "Alright…" he muttered, his voice shaky but determined. "Alright. I can do this."

He took a deep breath, trying to steady the whirlwind of emotions inside him.

You're not the old Arpheus anymore, he reminded himself. You're Luceon Astrivanteos. The Forsaken Deity. You've got this.

He looked around, scanning the grassy field for any sign of where to start. The stone structures scattered across the landscape loomed like ancient relics, their surfaces weathered and cracked.

"First things first," he said aloud, trying to calm the pounding in his chest. "Figure out what this place is."

He started walking, his steps cautious but purposeful. The grass brushed against his boots, and the soft breeze carried a faint, unfamiliar scent. It was strangely tranquil, considering the life-or-death stakes.

As he approached one of the stone structures, he noticed strange carvings etched into its surface. They were symbols he didn't recognize, but something about them felt… alive.

"What is this?" he muttered, running his fingers over the grooves. The moment he touched it, the air around him shifted.

Crack!

The ground beneath his feet split open, and a dark, swirling vortex erupted from the fissure.

"What the—!" Luceon jumped back, his heart slamming against his ribcage. The vortex expanded rapidly, and from its depths emerged a figure—a towering, grotesque beast with jagged claws and glowing red eyes.

As the creature lunged at him, its claws gleaming like polished steel under a harsh light, a fleeting thought sparked in Luceon's mind: No. I will not run. Not anymore.

He straightened, his jaw tightening. His voice cut through the tense air like a blade.

"Enable Reversion."

The words echoed with authority, a tone he didn't even realize he could command.

[Reversion enabled.]

Swsh!

The monster roared as it surged forward, its massive frame blurring from the sheer speed of its movement. Its claws slashed horizontally, aiming to cleave Luceon clean in half.

Clang!

The sound rang out like steel striking steel, sharp and deafening. Luceon didn't budge, not even an inch. The force of the attack would've sent an ordinary person flying, but to him, it felt like a mere breeze brushing past his skin.

"Woah." Luceon blinked, the sheer absurdity of the situation dawning on him. He didn't even expect that Reversion was a defensive skill, and yet the attack seemed to have no effect.

The creature, however, couldn't withstand it's own overwhelming power.

Boom!

A shockwave rippled through the air as the monster staggered backward, its grotesque torso marked with deep, jagged wounds—the unmistakable imprint of its own claws.

Thick, black blood oozed from the gashes, dripping onto the ground like molten tar. The monster let out a guttural growl, its clawed hands clutching its stomach as if trying to hold itself together.

Its glowing red eyes flickered, the once-brutal confidence in its gaze replaced by something far more primal: fear.

Luceon tilted his head, a grin slowly spreading across his face. There was something almost villainous about it—a sharp edge to his expression that hinted at the raw power coursing through his veins.

"Not so tough now, are you?" he muttered, his voice laced with dark amusement.

The creature snarled in response, its blood-slicked claws trembling as it prepared to lunge again.

But Luceon was already one step ahead.

"Let's see how effective this Eon thing is," he said, his grin widening.

He extended his left hand, his fingers curling slightly as if grasping an invisible flame.

Shwoom!

Golden fire erupted from his palm, its brilliance blinding and almost holy in its intensity. The flames roared to life, twisting and spiraling like a living entity, hungry and eager to consume.

The monster froze, its eyes widening in terror as the fire surged toward it. There was no time to react, no chance to escape.

Boom!

The golden flames engulfed the creature entirely, obliterating it in an instant. Its form disintegrated into nothingness, leaving behind only a faint shimmer of ash that was quickly carried away by the breeze.

Luceon lowered his hand, his eyes still fixed on the spot where the monster had stood. His heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline flooding his veins.

"Woah…" he whispered, his voice barely audible. His face was a mix of awe and disbelief. "That's way more than I expected."

The power was overwhelming, intoxicating even. It was like holding the sun in the palm of his hand—a force so absolute it didn't just destroy; it erased.

But before he could revel in the moment, the ground beneath his feet began to tremble.

Rumble…

The vibrations grew stronger, more violent, until the earth itself seemed to groan in protest.

"W-what the—" Luceon stumbled, his balance faltering as the ground shifted beneath him. He fell to one knee, his hands digging into the dirt for stability.

Shake.

It wasn't just the ground. The air itself seemed to ripple, an unnatural distortion that sent chills down his spine.

Then, without warning, the sky above him began to tear.

Rip!

Vortex-like portals appeared, their swirling darkness like voids carved out of reality itself. The edges crackled with energy, arcs of lightning dancing across the seams.

And from those voids emerged more monsters.

The first one dropped to the ground with a heavy thud, its claws carving deep furrows into the earth. Its glowing red eyes locked onto Luceon, a low growl rumbling in its throat.

Then another. And another.

Within moments, a horde of them had surrounded him, their grotesque forms bristling with malice. Each one was identical to the first—the same jagged claws, the same glowing eyes, the same twisted hunger.

Luceon pushed himself to his feet, brushing the dirt off his palms. He let out a slow breath, his heart still racing but his mind surprisingly clear.

"So that's how it's gonna be, huh?" he muttered, his voice steady despite the odds.

The monsters began to close in, their movements deliberate and coordinated. There was no hesitation, no doubt in their intent.

Luceon rolled his shoulders, the tension in his muscles giving way to a strange, almost reckless excitement.

"Now…" he said, his grin returning. "This is going to be fun."

He raised both hands this time, the air around him crackling with raw energy. His fingers twitched, and golden flames began to flicker to life once more, brighter and fiercer than before.

The monsters didn't wait. They charged as one, a wall of claws and fury hurtling toward him.

Boom!

The first wave of fire erupted from Luceon's hands, slamming into the horde with the force of a tidal wave. The golden flames consumed everything in their path, leaving no room for escape.

But the monsters didn't stop. For every one that fell, another seemed to take its place, emerging from the swirling portals above.

Clang!

One of them managed to close the distance, its claws striking against Luceon's shoulder. The force of the blow sent him skidding back, his boots digging into the dirt.

He winced, rolling his shoulder. "Alright," he muttered, his tone shifting to something colder. "You want to play rough? Fine."

He clenched his fists, the golden flames coiling around his arms like living serpents.

Swsh!

With a burst of speed, he darted forward, weaving between the monsters with precision and grace. Each movement was fluid, deliberate—a dance of destruction as he unleashed fire and energy in perfect harmony.

The battlefield became a blur of golden light and blackened corpses, the scent of burnt flesh thick in the air.

But no matter how many he took down, the portals kept churning out more.

Luceon's chest heaved, sweat dripping down his forehead. His grin had faded, replaced by a steely determination.

This isn't a fight. This is a test, he realized, his gaze flicking to the portals. And they're not going to stop until I pass.

He took a step back, his mind racing. He couldn't just keep fighting blindly. He needed a plan—a way to shut down the portals before they overwhelmed him.

As the monsters regrouped for another charge, Luceon raised his hand once more.

"Alright," he said, his voice low and resolute. "Let's turn this up a notch."