Chapter 2 - (the 0 floor) –

After training with my spear for a while I started heading towards the door, it was my first real fight so I was somewhat scared but I tried my best to keep my composer, from what Black told me that was a fight which I couldn't lose because losing here only means death, so I couldn't afford to lose my concentration.

The door had a small dragon mark, as I couldn't find anyway to open the door I touched that mark, then suddenly, the eyes of the dragon shined with red light and the stone door started to open.

[You have entered the 0 floor, starting to prepare a suitable trial] (System)

As if Black could tell I didn't understand what that meant he started explaining.

[This is considered a special dungeon so the 0 floor here is different than other dungeons, it is a tough exam for a first fight but the rewards that you will receive here will be useful for clearing the higher floors](Black)

After Black explained the system message, I stared to check this place, it looked similar to the rest room but black fog was filling this floor.

Suddenly, the black fog was sucked into the center of the room, then a figure started to appear from the fog, my eyes widened in surprise, that figure looked just like me the only comparison was that he was black was red eyes, you can say that he was just like a shadow of me.

"You are the weakling that is going to fight me?"(???)

"Who are you supposed to be?"(Light)

"I am your opponent, you can call me Dark"

So I have to beat my shadow to go on, this looks like a tough trial, I started the fight by swinging my spear at him but what happened made me more surprised, he used a movement technique that I was familiar with, this was my favourite technique that I learned in the past, it was called 'shadow steps'.

"Are you surprised that I am using the technique that you stopped using?"(Dark)

The shadow said that while laughing, yes that was right, after this technique was hard to use, even I who was a martial genius couldn't use it this well, he was using it on par with my trainer who had practiced this technique for ten years, I gave up on learning it on the past because it was hard to train, so to see my shadow using it easily as I f he was just walking made me frustrated.

I tried attacking him several times but he still avoided it easily.

Then a black spear started forming in his hand as he walked towards me.

Then, he started attacking; I was alarmed as he suddenly appeared in front of me and started swinging his spear at me, fortunately his spearmanship was on par was me, so I could defeat him with some effort or so I thought.

I soon found that I was mistaking, our strength was on par with each other put his speed was boosted by the movement technique, soon I was pushed back, I was getting wounded by the second and then he punched my abdomen while laughing.

"Hora, why are you such a weakling, it's your fault that they died, your lack of strength was the reason"

I got angry and tried to land an attack but he punched me again, without noticing I became like a bunching bag for the shadow, I started feeling that my vision was becoming hazy and it looked like I was about to faint soon.

'Am I going to die just like this, at the start of the road to my revenge even after all of my words about taking revenge by my own hands?' I started thinking as I felt that death was near

'NO, NOT YET, I CAN'T DIE YET, TILL I RETURN WHAT THAT BASTARD DID TO MY FAMILY, EVEN IF MY OPPONENT WAS A TITAN I WON'T GIVE UP'

[You have learned the innate skill 'Undying will' lv 1]

[Undying will (Innate) lv 1

Skill description: after the health goes under 15% all of you stats will gain a 10% Boost, you will recover you health faster and you receive a pain resistance effect for The duration of the skill

Skill Duration: can be used only for 30 minutes once per day

Note: this is an innate skill that the user awakened in the state of danger because of His unshakable will]

After receiving this skill I felt a sudden surge of power in my body, by the time I looked at the shadow he was about to pierce my heart with his spear, then, I avoided it, I started attacking him and the tables were turned around I began pushing him bak instead.

"Why? I was about to kill you and take over your body, why are you responding now"(Dark)

I had a time limit to kill him before returning to my exhausted state so I couldn't afford to spend my time chatting with him, although I was overpowering him but that was it, I couldn't find openings to land a killing blow.

I was getting more frustrated by the second but then I realized something, this shadow had the same weak points as me.

The battle changer after that and it became one sided, I started injuring him more heavily while defending, the battle lasted for about half an hour, at last my spear penetrated his heart.

"No, I wasn't supposed to die here; you are the one who was supposed to DIE"

The shadow said as he laughed manically and vomited a mouthful of blood.

"Sorry, but I still have to take my revenge, so I can't afford to die here"(Light)

[You have leveled up]

[You received 5 stats point for leveling up]

[You received 1 skill point for clearing the floor]

[You have received the title 'one who overcomes him self']

['one who overcomes him self' (Title)

Title effect: all stats+1]

As the duration of the innate skill just ended I started feeling exhausted but not to the point of not moving, so after resting for five minutes I went to see what the shadow dropped.

There was a an ancient looking book and beside it was a small ball that looked like a pearl, I checked the book first.

[Core absorption manual (special)

Item description: this is a special manual used for body tempering; with this you can Learn how to absorb the cores of monsters to temper the body.

WARNING: you can't use this manual with having the qualification or your body Will be destroyed]

"Hey, Black do you know what this is?"

[Actually this item is quite useless to most people but to you it can be considered a fortune] (Black)

"Why is that?"

[You need to have a special constitution to use this manual something like you 'perfect martial body' and you also need to withstand incredible pain so with the innate skill you have will be perfect for helping you]

As I thought that this manual looked like it was made just for me, I laughed then I started to check the strange pearl.

[That is a core; it is a bit different than a monster's core so you can try absorbing it using the manual and the pain won't be as horrible]

Then I put the core in my mouth without hesitation and I followed the manual's directions to lead the power of the core through my whole body to temper it, suddenly, I felt intense pain in my whole body, I grit my teeth trying to withstand it. Fortunately that torture ended in a minute, I didn't want to think how much the pain would be if it was a monster's core

[You have learned the ability 'Core absorption']

[Core absorption (special ability)

Ability description: using the core absorption manual as a guide you can absorb some Of the core's power and you can inherit the skills of the original core's owner if your Body was compatible with these skills]

[You learned the skill 'shadow steps' lv 3]

[You have gained strength+1, constitution+1 and agility+2]

After absorbing the core, I started allocating the stat points, I put 2 at strength and put 1 at constitution, agility and endurance, I didn't put any at mana or magic because I currently didn't have any use for them, then, I put the skill point at my innate skill because it was a life saving skill.

['Undying will' has become lv 2]

[Undying will (Innate) lv 2

Skill description: after the health goes under 15% all of you stats will gain a 15% Boost, you will recover you health faster and you receive a pain resistance effect for The duration of the skill

Skill Duration: can be used only for 30 minutes twice per day]

Being able to use it twice per day made me feel more comfortable, I decided to sleep and rest so I could head to the next floor by tomorrow.

I checked my stats before resting.

[Name: Light thunderflame]

Race: human

Level: 1

Health 150/150

Mana 60/60

Strength 19

Constitution 14

Agility 21

Magic 6

Endurance 15

Charm 17

[Skills]: 'spear mastery (beginner)' lv 10, Undying will (Innate) lv 2, Core absorption (special ability)

[Titles]: 'one who overcomes him self'

[Unallocated stat points: 0]

[Unallocated skill points: 0]