The dungeon gate stood in the middle of a ruined valley.
Unlike the previous dungeon, its entrance was not surrounded by bones or corrupted vegetation. Instead, enormous black pillars rose from the ground, covered in ancient symbols that seemed to move whenever Lux looked directly at them.
A cold wind escaped from the entrance.
Lux tightened his grip around his Corrupt Skeleton Knight Sword.
"Another dungeon, huh?"
He glanced at the black ring on his finger.
Ever since he had destroyed the previous dungeon core, the ring had occasionally released faint pulses of dark energy. His body had become more sensitive to Aether, and he could now distinguish between ordinary magical energy and the corrupted variety.
But something about this dungeon felt different.
It wasn't simply radiating corruption.
It was calling to him.
Lux stepped forward.
The moment his foot crossed the entrance, the world behind him disappeared.
A mechanical notification flashed before his eyes.
[DUNGEON RANK: UNKNOWN]
[WARNING: THE DUNGEON'S CORE HAS BEEN SEALED.]
[SPECIAL CONDITION DETECTED.]
[THE DUNGEON HAS RECOGNIZED YOUR EXISTENCE.]
Lux froze.
"Recognized me? What does that even mean?"
Before he could investigate further, a tremendous roar shook the corridor.
Dozens of creatures emerged from the darkness. Their bodies resembled armored wolves, but their heads were covered in crystalline growths that pulsed with purple Aether.
Lux raised his sword.
"Fine. I'll ask questions after I survive."
The creatures charged.
Lux moved sideways, allowing the first beast to rush past him before striking its exposed flank. His sword sliced through its armor, but the creature barely slowed down.
Another beast attacked from behind.
Lux ducked.
Its claws scraped against the stone wall, sending sparks into the air.
He retaliated with Brutal Flow.
His movements were no longer as clumsy as they had been in the first dungeon. Every battle had taught him something. Every mistake had become experience.
One by one, the creatures fell.
[ENEMY DEFEATED.]
[STAT ABSORPTION ACTIVATED.]
[MINOR INCREASE: PHYSICAL ENDURANCE.]
[COMBAT PATTERN ANALYZED.]
[NEW TRAIT ACQUIRED: PREDATORY SENSE — INCOMPLETE.]
Lux exhaled.
"That ring really is useful."
Then the dungeon trembled.
A deep voice echoed from somewhere beneath the floor.
"Bearer..."
Lux immediately turned toward the sound.
"Who's there?"
No answer came.
Instead, a staircase opened in the far wall, revealing a chamber filled with ancient statues. Every statue wore a crown, and every face had been deliberately destroyed.
At the center stood an empty throne.
The instant Lux entered the chamber, the black ring burned again
[SOUL RESONANCE DETECTED.]
[SEAL 3: CRITICAL INSTABILITY.]
[WARNING: FORCING THE SEAL OPEN MAY DAMAGE THE HOST.]
Lux staggered.
A wave of power surged through him. For a brief moment, he saw flashes of unfamiliar landscapes, countless unfamiliar abilities, and a sky split by an enormous shadow.
Then everything vanished.
He dropped to one knee.
"Not again..."
A thin crack appeared across the third seal in his mindscape.
Something behind it stirred.
But the seal did not open.
Instead, the black ring released a pulse of energy, stabilizing the cracks at his skin.
[SEAL 3 TEMPORARILY STABILIZED.]
[NEW FUNCTION UNLOCKED: AETHER THREAD.]
[FUNCTION: DETECT AND TRACE NEARBY AETHER FLOWS.]
Lux slowly stood.
An invisible network of energy suddenly became visible to him. Threads ran through the walls, across the floor, and beneath the throne.
Every thread converged at one point.
The empty throne.
Lux approached it cautiously.
As his fingers touched the armrest, a final notification appeared.
[DUNGEON CONDITION FULFILLED: INHERITANCE BEARER DETECTED.]
[SECONDARY TRIAL INITIATED.]
The throne's shadow stretched across the chamber.
And something inside that shadow opened its eyes.
Lux raised his sword.
"...You've got to be kidding me."
The dungeon doors slammed shut.