Chapter 10 — Devouring a Core
The Stone Warden roared again, the sound shaking the cavern walls. Fragments of stone fell from the broken ceiling as the massive guardian took another step forward. Its cracked arm slowly reformed as layers of rock shifted across its body. Jae-Min stared. "…It's healing?"
The katana in Aken's hand spoke calmly outside his mind. "Yes, the guardian absorbs the dungeon's mana to repair itself."
The Stone Warden charged, each step cracked the ground beneath its weight. Aken moved fast, his body slid sideways just before the creature's massive fist slammed into the floor.
BOOM.
The impact shattered stone across the chamber, dust spiralled into the air. Jae-Min dashed forward from the opposite side. "Hey rock monster!"
His sword struck the creature's knee joint.
CLANG.
Sparks flew, the guardian turned instantly. Then Aken moved again, the black katana Miokuo—cut through the air with a low whisper. The blade struck the fractured arm from earlier.
CRACK.
The damaged stone shattered completely this time, a massive chunk of the guardian's arm collapsed onto the ground. The Stone Warden roared in fury, its remaining arm swung violently toward Aken. He ducked under the attack and slid forward across the stone floor, the katana stabbed toward the glowing point in the creature's chest but the guardian twisted at the last second. The blade scraped across stone instead, the creature then grabbed Aken with its remaining arm. Jae-Min shouted. "AKEN!"
The guardian lifted him off the ground, stone fingers tightened like crushing metal. Cracks spread along the cavern walls as the monster prepared to slam him into the ground but Miokuo spoke calmly. "Master."
"Yes?"
"…Please cut its arm."
Aken moved instantly, his katana flashed upward. The blade sliced directly through the joint.
CRACK.
The arm separated completely, Aken dropped lightly to the ground as the massive limb crashed beside him. Jae-Min burst out laughing.
"YOU JUST DISARMED A GOLEM!"
The Stone Warden staggered, both arms now obliterated but the creature was far from finished. The cracks across its chest widened, the glowing core inside pulsed brighter. Miokuo spoke again.
"The core is destabilizing, meaning it will attempt a final attack."
The Stone Warden opened its chest, stone plates shifted apart. The glowing core inside began gathering energy. Jae-Min's eyes widened.
"…That's bad."
Aken ran forward, his grip tightened around the katana. At that exact moment—
The system window appeared.
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[Emergency Quest Generated]
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Objective: Eliminate the Dungeon Guardian
Secondary Objective: Absorb the cursed energy from its core
Reward:
+100 Possibility Points
+5 Stat Points
Bonus Reward: Hidden Condition
Time Limit: Until the guardian collapses
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Aken smiled with excitement, he instantly moved. The guardian fired first, a beam of concentrated mana exploded from the core. The attack tore across the chamber like a cannon blast. Aken jumped, the beam carved a massive trench through the stone floor, heat filled the cavern. The monster roared again as its core continued to charge. Jae-Min ran along the creature's side. "I'll try to distract it!"
Aken sprinted forward, the katana vibrated in his hand. "Master." Miokuo's voice sounded much sharper than before. "The core is unstable right now, if you strike it…the guardian will collapse instantly."
Aken nodded, the Stone Warden fired another blast, this one missed by inches. Aken slid beneath the creature's massive body, the glowing core was directly above him now. He jumped, his body twisted midair, the katana thrust forward. Miokuo sliced directly into the glowing core.
CRACK.
The chamber fell silent for a single second. Then the guardian exploded, stone fragments scattered across the floor as the massive body collapsed, dust immediately filled the area. By the time the air cleared—the Stone Warden was gone. Only a glowing crystal remained in the center of the rubble. Jae-Min dropped to the ground breathing heavily. "…Please tell me it's over?."
The system appeared.
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[Dungeon Guardian Defeated]
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Aken walked slowly towards the crystal, it pulsed with strange dark energy. Miokuo spoke. "That is its core, the cursed energy inside belongs to you master."
Jae-Min looked confused. "…Wait, why does he get the cursed energy? I put in as much effort as him!"
Aken picked up the core, It felt warm to the touch but at the same time heavy. The system window appeared again.
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[Quest Objective Complete]
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Absorb the cursed energy from the guardian core
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Aken looked at the crystal, then crushed it in his hand.
CRACK.
Dark energy exploded outward, flowing into the air but instead of dispersing…
The energy flowed directly into Aken's body. Jae-Min stared. "…Okay I'll have to admit, that's pretty cool."
The cursed energy surged through Aken's veins like fire, but for some reason it didn't hurt. It felt powerful and yet alive. The system updated instantly.
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[Cursed Energy Increased
+4
Current Total: 68]
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The energy settled slowly inside him. Miokuo sounded pleased. "Excellent, your cursed energy has grown stronger."
The system displayed another message.
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[Quest Complete]
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Rewards Issued:
+100 Possibility Points
+5 Stat Points
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Jae-Min suddenly shouted. "WAIT!"
A golden light surrounded him. His system notifications began appearing rapidly. "YES! YES! I LEVELED!" He started laughing like a madman. "TWICE!"
His system window floated in front of him.
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Level Up!
Level 28 → Level 29
Stat Points Available
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Jae-Min immediately began tapping the air. "Strength, mana, more strength!"
He looked extremely proud, Aken simply watched quietly. Then his own system appeared again.
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Bonus Reward Unlocked
Storage Space Expanded
Slots: 5 → 7
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Aken blinked slightly, two extra slots. That alone was extremely valuable but the system wasn't finished, another message appeared.
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Hidden Condition Completed
Skill Tree Unlocked
New Skill Acquired
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Miokuo hummed softly. "Oh?"
The system window expanded again.
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[Curse Technique Acquired]
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Name: Curse Slash
Type: Active
Description:
The user channels their total cursed energy into a single strike through their blade, greatly amplifying destructive power.
Effect:
Consumes all current cursed energy for one attack. After use, cursed energy will regenerate through Curse Regeneration.
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Aken looked at the description carefully. Jae-Min noticed. "…You got something."
Aken nodded. "Yeah, a new technique."
Jae-Min groaned. "Of course you did."
Miokuo spoke calmly. "Its a powerful technique but dangerous if used carelessly."
"Thanks for the warning" Aken said through telepathy.
He then sheathed the katana, the cavern had grown quiet again. Then the dungeon began to tremble. Jae-Min froze. "…That's not good."
The system appeared one final time.
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[Dungeon Cleared]
[Exit Gate Opening]
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A blue portal formed at the far end of the chamber, the dungeon was collapsing. Jae-Min stood up immediately. "Oh well, Time to go!"
They ran toward the exit portal. Just before stepping through—Aken glanced down at the katana in his hand, Miokuo's crimson veins pulsed softly. The blade spoke through telepathy. "Master, you are growing stronger."
Aken stepped into the portal, light swallowed them both and somewhere deep within the Korean Player Union…
A monitoring screen suddenly flashed red, an operator frowned. "…That's strange."
Another technician leaned over to ask. "What is?"
The first man pointed at the readings. "The District 4 dungeon that had appeared. The energy spike during the collapse…"
He zoomed in on the data flashing on the monitor. "…doesn't match any known mana signature."
The second technician stared. "…Then what kind of energy was it?"
Far away…
Walking out from the gate with Jae-Min…
Aken unknowingly carried the answer. Cursed energy, and the beginning of something the world had never seen.
END OF CHAPTER 10