-The Dungeon Break(4.3)-

-The Contract-

“Core! What is that thing doing here?” Kenshin asked the person who could answer his doubt.

During the last time, they had talked, Core was sure that nobody could enter this place without his consent. But this time the rouge core was already here, guarding the gate like a gatekeeper.

“The situation worsened faster than I had predicted. This rogue core was using an artifact to hasten the process.” Core was very frustrated at this too. It's like losing his body to another’s control, it was a very unsettling feeling.

“…! What should we do now? That thing is too powerful for the current me to handle. We must think of something”

“Do you know why it was so powerful?” suddenly Core asked out of blue.

“Why?”

“It was because it had synchronized with the dungeon. I had said it earlier, aside from trapping the monsters in here, the dungeon also absorbs their soul after their death to get stronger. By doing so, the dungeon acts as a reservoir of magic and power. By synchronizing with it, we get access to this reserved powers. In short, what’s out there wasn’t a single entity, but a physical representation of the whole dungeon. Going against that alone was like challenging the whole dungeon alone…”

“You saying…I had just fought a dungeon alone?” Even Kenshin was surprised at his own feat.

“Yeah! I am surprised too…you even managed to deal some damage to it” now Core was way more interested in Kenshin than before. To fight on equal footing against a partial-synchronized core, even for a short amount of time; it can be seen how high was his battle potential. Now he was even more relieved to form a contract with him.

The stronger Kenshin becomes, the faster he would recover his powers.

“Core, the situation outside…it’s deteriorating as we speak. Let's finish with the contract first. After that, we think about this monster” Kenshin said.

“Are you sure? Because there will be no going back after this.” Core asked once again.

“Yeah. I have decided” Kenshin solemnly nodded.

“In that case, let’s start. Put forth your right hand forward like this” Core guided Kenshin as he prepared for the ritual.

As Kenshin stood there with his hand stretching forward, Core started drawing a rune circle around Kenshin. Fifteen minutes later he had finished preparing and stood in front of Kenshin and mimicked Kenshin’s posture, with his right hand touching Kenshin’s right hand.

“@#!#4^%$%$$#@@%$##%^%%^$#...” Core started chanting something in another language that Kenshin had never heard before. Below their feet, the rune circle started glowing red color. A few seconds later, a tiny silver ribbon like apparition came out of Kenshin’s heart and entered the rune circle.

Suddenly Kenshin felt like his vision and sensory limits expanding. He felt like his strength increased by a huge amount and that’s not all, he could now kind of ‘feel’ what’s happening inside this dungeon. He could feel monsters spawning at an incomprehensible rate. He could feel a group of humans trapped on the second floor, trying to find a way out and fighting desperately. He could also feel Roxe anxiously attacking the red curtain protecting the tree hollow. It was a surreal feeling for Kenshin.

His horizons broadened.

[Warning* Suspicious activity discovered in Soul. Something foreign trying to make some change to it. Do you wish to continue?]

[Yes/No]

“The system can also detect this?” Kenshin was a little relieved knowing this. It means he wouldn’t be duped or attacked by anyone who tries to invade his soul. Kenshin pressed yes.

A few seconds later another notification appeared.

[Ding* You have formed a contract with a Class B Dungeon Core]

[Receive fixed 5000 EXP every day(Depends on the Dungeon Level)]

[500% increase in all stats when inside this dungeon]

[150% permanent increase in all stats]

[Learned Skill Create Dungeon Lv0]

[Learned Skill Respawn Lv0]

[Ding* you have gained title Ekla’s Guardian]

[Ekla’s Guardian]

[50% increase in stats while clearing monsters in another dungeon]

[50% more EXP gain from every monster kill]

While Kenshin was basking in the otherworldly feeling, a series of notification popped in front of him notifying his current status. A few seconds later, he opened his eyes and looked at Core, who was glowing like a torch.

“This feeling…!? What is this?” Kenshin asked unable to understand anything.

“Now you have formed a contact with me. From now on, you will be the guardian that guards this core. At the same time, you will have some sway on this dungeon. You can monitor the whole dungeon from anywhere. Not only that, now you share your life with the dungeon, as such, all your basic stats must have gained a huge boost. You were no longer a weak human” as Core announced this, his body glowed even more brightly.

“Now we just have to kill that rogue core, and I will regain complete control over this dungeon”

Hearing core, Kenshin hastily opened his interface.

[Muto Kenshin][ 83% Human][17% ???]

[Class: Magic Knight(a fixed increase of 2 points in INT, STR, and DEF)][Guardian]

[Level 16][20700 Exps for next level up]

[HP 5980/1080(+4900)] [MP 1240/210(+1030)]

[Titles: Bane of Spectres(Active)(Status: 2% of base ATK/10 Minutes)][Ekla’s Guardian(inactive)]

[ATK: 113(+565); DEF: 90(+60)(+400)(+450); AGI: 110(+4)(-5)(+550); PHY: 98(+10)(+490); INT: 103(+2)(+515); WIS: 33(+165); WIL: 30(+150); LUK: 35(+175)]

[Unassigned Attribute points: 15] [Unassigned Skill points: 16]

[Lives: 2]

[Skills]

[1. Replication Lv 5][1975 Exp to next level up]

[2. Passive Regeneration (Passive/Always active) Lv 7][49 Exp to next level up]

[3. Tireless Body (Passive/Always active) Lv 3][3780 EXP to next level up]

[4. Flaming Slash Lv 5][5900 EXP to next level up]

[5. Explosion Ring Lv 0][1945 EXP to next level up]

[6. Death Stare Lv 0][456 EXP to next level up]

[7. Mirror Reflection (Passive/Always active) Lv 2][147 EXP to next level up]

[8. Summon Minions Lv 2][10 EXP to next level up]

[9. Death Slash Lv 1][1652 EXP to next level up][Equipment effect]

[10. Opposites Lv 0][10000 EXP to next level up]

[11. Sword Mastery Lv 2][1789 EXP to next level up]

[12. Unarmed Combat Expertise Lv2][3000 EXP to next level up]

[13. Highspeed Movements Lv1][2000 EXP to next level up]

[14. Create Dungeon Lv0][5000 EXP to next level up]

[15. Respawn Lv0][1000 EXP to net level up]

[16. Scythe Mastery Lv3][2564 EXP to next level up]

[Equipment]

[Worn out Gloves DUR: 15/20][+4 AGI]

[Cape of Intelligence DUR 09/34][+2 INT]

[Skeleton Knight’s Sword DUR 70/100][+60 ATK][unequiped]

[Specter Guardian’s Scythe DUR 187/200][+150 ATK]

[Skeleton Knight’s Chest Plate DUR 62/100][+60 DEF; +10 PHY]

[Zombie Guardian’s Shield DUR 145/200][+400 DEF]

The upgrades he received left Kenshin tongue-tied for quite a while.