[You have administrator privileges. You may open the dungeon.]

The same message as the last time, at the same place. Deep in the Chompy cave.

This time, I have 6 other people here with me. Marlon, the leader, Mallory, the second-in-command, and the other four. Tim, Johnny, Nathan, and Lilith. Marlon, as I observed earlier, uses a mace and a shield. Mallory uses a greatsword. Tim, a short wooden staff. Johnny has a giant shield with no weapon aside from a dagger, that I assume he uses in emergencies. Lilith doesn’t have any weapon. How does she attack?

“Can you open it?” Marlon asks.

“It says that I can.”

“Do you know how?” Mallory inquires.

“I haven’t ever done it before, but maybe I just tell the System to?”

“Makes sense, I guess?” Tim adds.

“Open the dungeon.” I say.

[Command Received. Opening Dungeon: Chompy’s Retreat.]

I feel a sense of vertigo, and instantly, we are on the other side of the barrier. I can smell old blood, musty earth, and the stench of animals. I can hear the cries of Chompies far off in the cave.

“Alright. We’re all in. First thing is to check if we can leave.” Marlon states.

I turn around and walk away from the group. Once I’m in range of the barrier, another message comes up, different from last time.

[You have administrator privileges. You may exit the dungeon.]

I nod. “It says we can come out.”

“Good. Let’s start our investigation.” Mallory says.

We move in formation. People with shields in the front, melee weapons just behind them, with Tim and Lilith in the back. We have on head-mounted flashlights, lighting up the area, eliminating the need for me to use Mind Sense to find my way. The hard stone on the ground and walls are smooth. The place where the floor meets the wall is a sharp 90 degrees. The ceiling is uneven, looking more like a natural cave.

Large rooms with Chompies, small rooms with less Chompies, with passages big enough for even a Bitey to walk through connecting them all. It's like a maze in here. There are Chompies everywhere, except the passageways between the rooms. We take care of them as a group, with the shields blocking the monsters and those with melee weapons charging in to take care of them. I don’t gain enough experience to level up, because I’m leaving most of the fighting to my teammates, only attacking when it’s my turn. And I found out what Lilith and Tim attack with. Magic.

Fireballs, magic missiles, and a few defense magics between the two of them. They use them when an accident is about to occur, like when an enemy gets past the shielders and is on the blind side of someone with a melee weapon. This team is perfect by itself, covering every weakness, and making every strength stronger.

We continue on like this until a room, the size of which we haven’t seen before, enters the team’s vision. 50 meters wide, 70 meters tall, I think. None of the other chambers were even half as large. The walls are vertical, like everywhere else, but the ceiling is somewhat domed. It's still irregular, like a normal cave should be. A glowing red orb is located on the far side.

[You have entered the Source Room. The Guardian protects the Source. As an intruder, you will be the target of the Guardian.]

The red orb becomes misshapen, and after a few seconds, a form falls from it and onto the ground. The shape is first red, then it turns black, and then it becomes something I can recognize. A giant Chompy, bigger than the Bitey. Maybe it’s the version of Chompy after the Bitey.

‘Appraisal.’

[Command Received.]

[Activating Skill – Appraisal.]

Name: The Masticator

Race: Bitey

Gender: Male

Level: ??

Age: 61

“It’s level 53, with a focus on constitution, then strength! Remember, these things like to charge!” Marlon shouts.

I guess he has an appraisal skill that works regardless of the level difference.

“GREEEHHH!!!” A deeper, more primal roar than what the Bitey could make resonates from the Guardian.

[You have been afflicted by Terrifying Roar. You cannot move or activate skills for 10 seconds.]

A look of fright comes onto the faces of the group. Nobody can move. Nobody can dodge. We’re in a tight formation, since we just came out of the passage. The Guardian has no thought to let this chance pass by to kill us all.

It charges. 40 meters… 30… 15… 5. It’s right on top of us in less than three seconds. Its head is down, using only force to deal the attack, not its fang-like teeth. It first hits the shield-bearers, knocking them back without being slowed by their weight. It continues on to the second line. Mallory is the first to be hit. Her greatsword goes flying into the distance. Her body flies similarly to it, but in a slightly different direction.

Now me. As the side of its head hits my ribcage, I can feel my bones breaking. Intense force impacts my internal organs. My body feels jarred as I fly in the air.

[-467 HP]

How long has it been since I felt this much pain? The last time was when I woke up in the forest inside the wall. When I first lost my arm, and I was bleeding.

I don’t want to feel pain. I have to use the skill I used then.

‘Regeneration.’

[Command Received. Activating Skill - Regeneration.]

[-4 MP]

[+80 HP]

I can see that I'm near the ground now.

A split second after, I hit the floor, and I start rolling.

[-31 HP]

‘Regeneration.’

[Command Received. Activating Skill - Regeneration.]

[-4 MP]

[+80 HP]

‘Again.’

[Command Received. Activating Skill - Regeneration.]

[-4 MP]

[+80 HP]

‘Regeneration.’

[Command Received. Activating Skill - Regeneration.]

[-4 MP]

[+80 HP]

‘More.’

[Command Received. Activating Skill - Regeneration.]

[-4 MP]

[+80 HP]

That’s as much as I can heal with my MP. I only have two points left. My HP is at 446. High, but not that high. I wouldn’t be able to take another blow like the one I just did.

I’m on my back. I turn onto my side using my good arm and legs, then face my decimated team. Nobody is moving. Nobody is breathing. Torn flesh, broken and exposed bones. That’s what I would look like if my constitution wasn’t freakishly high.

“Marlon… Mallory… All of you…” I tear up.

The Guardian looks at me from its spot behind my team near the entrance to the Source Room.

“GHRARHH!” Another noise from the strong monster.

As it notices me, I stand. I shake a little from the previous impact and my feelings, but I manage to stand up quickly.

It charges me again. But unlike last time, I can move. My dexterity is barely high enough to get myself out of the way. I move myself farther away from the beast as it continues on its trajectory, unable to quickly stop itself.

I pull out my weapon from its place on my back.

“Come at me!” I shout.

The Guardian doesn’t even roar this time as it moves into another charge. With the increased distance, I can more easily dodge. As I do, I try to slice into it, hoping for it to sustain more than a scratch. The only damage is to its hairs!

My weapon isn’t effective.

What can I even do against this thing?!

[Suggestion: Allocate your unassigned points.]

‘Okay, put all my Stat Points into strength.’

[Stat Allocation Confirmed.]

‘What skill can I-’

I have to dodge again. The Guardian won’t stop for anything.

[Swiftness has increased in level. Lv. 5 to Lv. 6]

‘What skill can I purchase that will help me here?!’

[Searching...]

[Suggestion: Purchase Skill – Mana Blade (4 Points).]

“Buy it-!” I have to dodge again. It’s getting harder and harder.

[Acquired Skill.]

The beast stops and turns around once more. This time is strangely different. It doesn’t immediately charge. Instead, it snorts angrily. Is it annoyed at my dodging?

“GHHRRREEEEEE!” It roars as it starts its charge this time. It’s faster and stronger.

This time is when I will end it. I’m stronger than before, and I have a skill that I can use two MP on. Actually, make that three. I just regenerated one point. I should use two points in one attack. If it fails, at least I won't be unconscious afterwards. I might have another chance after that.

As it nears, this time I wait to dodge until the last moment, allowing me to get as close as possible to its neck. When its mouth is within reach, I push against the ground away from it, preventing it from biting me. The movement also helps to place myself in the position where I need to be.

[Dexterity has increased by 1.]

[-2 MP]

I activate Mana Blade as I am in the perfect spot to remove its head from its body. I eek out as much force from my body and Matter Control as I can, and swing downwards in a perfect line.

The Mana Blade extends beyond the reach of the blade itself, gouging into the flesh of the Guardian, powered by my strength stat and Matter Control, which allows me to add even more force to my strike.

[Intelligence has increased by 1.]

[You understood control at a higher level, increasing your proficiency rate with Matter Control.]

[Matter Control has increased in proficiency. Novice to Adept.]

As blood spurts out of the neck of the Guardian, I find the ability to push the blade even further with Matter Control.

As my blade reaches the end of its arc, I find that the beast has been decapitated. The monster falls to the ground and glides along for several meters. Once the body reaches a full stop, the legs seize violently before ceasing all movement. The head rolls for a while longer, stopping at a distance just under ten meters. The eyes appear to be glazed over.

[Level has increased by 6.]

I kneel on the ground, weakened from the intense battle that had just occurred. I look down at the ground and breathe heavily for a long time, before looking up at my teammates. The same positions, the same fatal injuries. Nothing changed about them since last I looked.

I get up onto my feet. The red orb. Is that the source of the monsters? The reason for so much pain and death? It pulses in brightness rhythmically. I walk forward, coming ever closer. As I near it, I can feel something within me. A sense of hate. Anger, directed towards anything and everything. I sqeeze my blade.

I don’t want this thing to exist anymore. I don’t want it to have any more impact in this world.

I take my blade and I pierce the layers of red. My blade sinks in. The consistency is strange. It’s like it’s there, but not there.

I pull my blade out, and with it comes a wave of pain and nausea. I can feel the same things as before, but their intensity cannot even be compared to what it was. These artificial feelings drown out all else.

My consciousness cannot endure the onslaught, and I fall unconcious.

…………………………………………………………………

[You have gained a Skill – Mental Influence Immunity (Passive) [Special].]

…………………………………………………………………

I open my eyes. A fog of crimson red is dissipating all across the cave’s interior. Extending into the passageway and beyond what I can see. I feel a calm wash over me, in contrast to what I felt before, as the fog completely dissappears.

I push myself up. I had collapsed face down onto the floor. One foot under me, then the other. I’m barely able to keep myself upright.

Looking at the spot where the Guardian had collapsed, I see in its place a giant mana core, just sitting there. I should take it... Maybe something good can come out of this terrible conclusion

I look over at my fallen comrades. I want to leave here as soon as possible, but I don’t want to leave them in this place.

I place them into my inventory, one by one. Once I have them all, I gather the weapons and shields they dropped when they were attacked. No reason to leave these behind. Besides, for now, they should stay with their owners.

Returning to the entrance of the Source Room, I gaze back inside. Blood. Lots of blood. Pools and streaks of it everywhere. The only sign that something happened in there. Something unspeakable. The complete wipeout of one of the strongest forces of the City of the North Wall.

I begin my retreat back to the surface to report my findings and take care of the remains of the fallen, passing the rooms that were cleared by the team who is no longer in this world.

…………………………………………………………………

The people who have gathered for the funeral are silent. Everybody trying to come to themselves in the face of reality. The deaths of the members of the strongest team in the city. This loss could not be understated. They were the backbone of all major operations when it came to monsters. The void their death created will not be easily filled.

They died in the first raid on a dungeon. The first closed dungeon. Ever since the first Source appeared, there have been more and more dungeons piling up across the world. More places for monsters to come out of. Everybody now knew what was inside the dungeon. In it was a breeding ground for monsters, and a Guardian, more powerful than any monster seen before, who protects the core of the Source. The tragedy that occurred in the first dungeon had shown everyone what the future held, assuming they ever wanted to close the dungeons. Some thought that perhaps it would be better to never enter a dungeon again. But even they knew that eventually, there would be so many dungeons that nobody would survive.

With the loss of these six, a new era was inevitable. A time completely unlike any that came before. A time when a way to shut down a Source permanently was discovered. A way to prevent more monsters from coming into the world. The way was a special young man. One who had lost his arm and memory.

…………………………………………………………………

[ALERT: Memory loss. Full Status cannot be displayed.]

Name:

Age: 18

Race: Human

Title: Old One

Title Effect: Grants Skill Set – Mind Over Matter

Level: 17

Experience: 14.22%

Condition: Damaged (Missing Arm [L]), Memory Loss (Severe).

Condition Effects: None

HP: 544/544

MP: 23/23

Strength: 41

Intelligence: 23

Wisdom: 28

Dexterity: 47 (+6% Move Speed)

Constitution: 68 (18+50)

Unassigned Stat Points: 30

Skills

Swiftness (Passive) [F] – Lv. 6

Increases movement speed.

Instant Movement (Passive) [S] - Lv. 1

Reduces effect of inertia on movement.

Sturdy (Passive) [E] – Lv. 5

Increases constitution.

Dismantling (Active) [E] – Lv. 1

Dismantles the target corpse.

Regeneration (Active) [D] – Lv. 4

Regenerate HP at the cost of MP.

Cartography (Active/Passive) [A]

Maps the area which can be sensed. Can apply the map to a medium at the cost of MP.

Appraisal (Active) [A] – Lv. 1

Appraises the target.

Mana Blade (Active) [A] – Lv. 1

Create a blade of mana. Increases damage and cutting ability.

Inventory [Special] – Lv. 2

Grants an extra-dimensional space for the storage of allowed items.

Mental Influence Immunity (Passive) [Special]

Grants complete immunity to mental influences from external sources.

Mind Over Matter [Special]

Matter Control (Active):

Control physical matter that you can sense with Mind Sense and physical matter you can see.

Skill Strength Level: 61.5 kg of force

Adept Proficiency (0.01%)

Mind Sense (Passive):

Allows you to sense your surroundings at all times. Focus on an area to sense in greater detail.

Skill Range: 0.56 meters

Novice Proficiency (86.32%)

Unassigned Skill Points: 6