[Star Rippling Dungeon]
A grand na given to an elusive dungeon, steeped in the history of the world's most renowned martial artists.
This dungeon is more than just a re challenge; it is a symbol of celestial power, its very essence tied to the heavens.
The dungeon has played a significant role in shaping the legends of old, with its secrets and treasures inspiring generations.
Even one of the blade techniques of the Gyeoul clan was nad after the celestial body associated with this dungeon, a testant to its significance in the martial lore of this world. For Kagami Kento, this dungeon represented more than just an opportunity to grow stronger. It was a chance to elevate his family's status, to finally establish the Kento clan as one of the prestigious Heavenly Clans of the Eastern Empire.
Though the Kento clan was known for their formidable teor Fist technique, they paled in comparison to the might of other clans, whose legacies were etched in history.
The Star Rippling Dungeon held within it a martial manual, a treasure that could unlock untold power.
Kagami knew that acquiring this manual would not only bolster his own abilities but also secure the future of his clan.
The honor, prestige, and power that would co from mastering the secrets within the dungeon would elevate the Kento clan to heights his father could only dream of.
With the martial manual in hand, Kagami envisioned himself mastering techniques that would make him unstoppable, a force to be reckoned with in the martial world.
The dungeon was a gateway, a bridge between the Kento clan's current state and the greatness they aspired to achieve.
...
Since my mana wasn't celestial or divine by nature, entering the dungeon would be like walking into a death trap-poisonous and lethal.
Whatever challenges or creatures awaited within, Kagami would have to handle them on his
own.
But I wasn't too worried; after all, this was Kagami we were talking about. He'd likely breeze through the traps and monsters laid within the dungeon.
The dungeon only manifests for a brief mont at the first minute after the sun sets, so we'd need to be extrely attentive once it appeared.
Unlike in the ga, where the dungeon gets marked on your mini-map, here, we'd have to sense it using our own mana-a skill I hadn't quite mastered yet.
So far, not much had happened during our climb, aside from a few monsters drawn by the clanking of Kagami's backpack or perhaps by the scent of our presence.
But the real threat lay ahead-the Tiger God of Lightning, Sumaru.
He wasn't just a god but also the guardian and peacekeeper of the Star-Rippling Dungeon. Sumaru would likely notice imdiately that I lacked starlight mana.
The absence of it in might make him see as an intruder, sothing to be eradicated rather than tolerated.
Rumble!
Rumble!
Thunder echoed above the clouds as the skies darkened ominously.
The distant flashes of lightning illuminated the bleak landscape, casting fleeting shadows across the mountainside.
I glanced up at the gathering storm and sighed inwardly.
'Looks like he noticed us...'
Sumaru, the territorial tiger of these mountains, was a force you really just can't escape from huh.
'I'd hoped he might overlook our presence, but clearly, that was just wishful thinking.'
"Looks like a storm's brewing. We should hurry up," Kagami suggested, his eyes fixed on the rapidly darkening sky.
He wasn't wrong to be concerned.
We were near the peak of the mountain, and with winter's harsh grip, a snowstorm was a very real threat.
The last thing we needed was to get caught in one while trying to navigate the treacherous terrain.
Kagami wasted no ti.
He coated his entire body with mana, the aura around him flickering as he prepared to ascend faster.
His determination was clear, but I knew the dangers of overexerting too early.
"We're about a hundred ters away from the location," I warned, my voice steady despite the growing tension. "Make sure to preserve your mana."
He gave a brief nod, acknowledging the advice.
Even though his appearance was bulky and imposing, Kagami's control over mana was
precise, almost elegant.
With a sharp burst of energy, he shot through the air, his form becoming a blur as he raced toward the mountain's summit.
I watched him for a mont before focusing on the path ahead.
The wind began to pick up, carrying with it the biting cold of the impending storm. Sumaru's presence was undeniable now
...
As they ascended to the top of the mountains, the once darkened skies gradually cleared, bringing a cool, refreshing breeze that contrasted sharply with the oppressive atmosphere Kagami had felt earlier.
The intense flare of mana that had been thick in the air dissipated almost suddenly, leaving Kagami puzzled.
He glanced at his current partner for this investigation, sensing that Riley was just as aware of the shift as he was.
At first, Kagami had been skeptical of Riley's words and the information he provided.
They hadn't been particularly close during the first sester, only recently starting to talk and forming a tentative friendship.
Kagami had always been cautious, assessing Riley as a kind, strong, and honorable man, but there was sothing about him that scread mystery and deceit.
Riley's composed deanor and the way he held himself made it hard for Kagami to fully trust him. Everything about Riley seed too well-calculated, too perfectly concealed. When Riley had first ntioned the Star Rippling Dungeon, Kagami's suspicions had flared
up.
The dungeon was a well-known legend, and Riley's knowledge of its exact location seed almost too convenient.
But now, as they neared the location Riley had disclosed, Kagami found himself letting go of
those suspicions.
The closer they got, the more he realized that Riley's information had been accurate, and that the aura of mystery surrounding him might not be deceitful but simply a reflection of how much Riley had experienced and seen.
Kagami felt a sense of admiration begin to form alongside his lingering wariness.
Kagami still had his doubts, but as the summit ca into view and the air grew lighter, he couldn't deny that Riley had led them true.
The mana lingering in the air of the mountain was unmistakable—mana of the stars and the celestials above.
It resonated with a unique energy that Kagami could recognize, similar to his own but distinct, possessing a divine quality akin to those who wield light or celestial mana. This place was special, charged with a power that set it apart from any ordinary location.
Kagami couldn't help but notice that Riley was using him for sothing-there was no subtlety in Riley's actions, and Kagami could see it clearly.
After Kagami finished his initial preparations for the dungeon, Riley had simply told him to join and support whichever candidate he was asked to.
It was a straightforward request, almost too easy for the information and guidance Riley had
provided.
'Why help out like this?'
Kagami wondered, his thoughts circling around Riley's motives.
It wasn't as if Kagami was new to the intricacies of politics; he knew that in the larger sche
of things, using him wasn't particularly profitable.
Sure, it could gain a few votes for inclusivity, but was that really worth this level of
assistance?
He sighed, knowing that he probably wouldn't get a clear answer anyti soon.
Riley was always an enigma, his intentions layered and difficult to decipher.
But for now, Kagami pushed those thoughts aside.
The dungeon was waiting, and he needed to focus.
...
This is strange...
'Why isn't that gigantic tiger showing up?'
The mont we reached the top of the mountain, the threatening energy levels of the storm
above suddenly subsided, as if they had never been there at all.
The oppressive aura that had accompanied us all the way up vanished in an instant, leaving
behind an eerie calm.
'Did Sumaru decide we weren't worth it?'
If that's the case, then it's fine, but if sothing else is at play, we might find ourselves
caught up in another ridiculous situation.
"It's surprising to see flat lands up here, but it's convenient for our part," Kagami mused
aloud, his eyes scanning the surprisingly tranquil scenery. "I'll go ahead and set up camp," he added, already unloading his massive backpack.
I nodded in response, but unease lingered in the back of my mind.
Spreading my mana out in a pulsing wave, I probed the surrounding area, searching for
anything suspicious, any sign of a hidden threat.
But there was nothing... just silence and stillness.
'Did Sumaru really decide to ignore us?'
It didn't sit right with . Sumaru, the guardian beast of this mountain, wasn't known for
backing down easily.
If it had chosen not to confront us, there had to be a reason.
But what could it be?
.....
'He's dangerous...'
With gigantic blue vertical pupils pulsating with divine lightning, Sumaru assessed the scene
before him with an almost serene detachnt.
His eyes, imbued with the power to see through the essence of souls and mana, pierced
through the chaos.
They allowed him to discern not just the surface of things, but the very core of their existence.
The young blonde-haired man, standing there with an aura of impending doom, was marked by death in every conceivable way.
The weight of mortality seed to hang over him like an inescapable shadow.
To Sumaru, this was not particularly alarming on its own-after all, death was a common
thread woven into the lives of many.
What set this situation apart and marked the young man as truly dangerous were the forces lingering around him.
Two distinct and powerful presences were entwined with his being.
One was an ominous mark etched across his mana heart, a dark, scaly aura that squird and twisted within, its nature obscured and incomprehensible to Sumaru.
The other, more imdiate and intrusive, was a potent and familiar energy seeping into the
atmosphere around him.
This lingering presence was sothing Sumaru knew all too well. It sent shivers down his
spine and made the hairs on his body stand on end.
This was no ordinary energy. It radiated an ancient, primordial power that resonated with the
kind of force Sumaru had encountered only a few tis in his life-an energy that spoke of gods and legends, of beings far beyond the mortal realm.
Its very familiarity was unsettling.
A power far beyond his own, and a power reminiscent of the goddess who bestowed divinity
upon him... Sumaru's mind seethed with a mix of anger and intrigue as he observed the young man.
The palpable energy radiating from Riley was undeniable, an echo of the sa divine force
that once touched his own existence.
This young man, who seed so unassuming, had managed to capture the attention of that
wretched goddess, Erebil.
Sumaru's anger flared at the thought, but he forced himself to stay composed. If Erebil had
taken an interest in the young man, then it was essential to approach with caution.
Sumaru knew better than to act rashly.
The presence of an evil god showing affection for soone was a dangerous variable.
The young man's significance was not sothing to be underestimated or dealt with hastily.
With a sense of grim curiosity, Sumaru resolved to observe the situation carefully before making any move.
He took to the air, landing atop a jagged mountain peak in the valley below, where he could remain hidden and maintain a strategic vantage point.
'It's best to keep an eye on him for now' Sumaru mused to himself.
His gaze shifted to the other individual in the scene-an innocent soul, pure and rare among
their kind.
This purity was sothing Sumaru respected and valued deeply, but it was the blond-haired young man who truly piqued his interest.
He couldn't afford any distractions or interference from the other human.
The focus had to be on the blond haired young man.
A murderous gaze settled in Sumaru's eyes as he observed Riley from his concealed perch.
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