A sharp, stabbing pain shot through Kael's skull the moment he advanced to Level 2. His vision blurred, his body stiffened, and a wave of nausea crashed over him. The dungeon's damp, stale air felt heavier, pressing down on him like a suffocating weight.
But then—something changed.
The pain dulled, his thoughts cleared, and an unfamiliar flood of memories poured into his mind. He staggered, pressing a hand to his temple as images, emotions, and experiences that were not his own surface.
Images of a grand estate, gilded halls, and noble crest bearing a silver wolf against a crimson field.
Kael staggered, pressing a hand to his temple. The memories weren't just images—they carried emotions, instincts, knowledge. He was seeing life through another's eyes, but the familiarity of it dug into his bones as if the body itself and his soul were seamlessly one.
And then, realization struck.
"This isn't my time." the revelation shocked him.
Kael's breath slowed. He wasn't in the timeline before his death; he was 25,000 years beyond his own time, reincarnated into the body of a noble descendant of House Veyne who shared the same name as him. The noble house was a once-powerful family now serving under the Aurelian Empire.
He let out a slow exhale.
He had wanted vengeance, to gut the traitors who betrayed him, to burn down the guild that had abandoned him. But they were probably long dead and turned to dust.
The regret came in sharp and bitter, but he crushed it before it could take root. Though he didn't have enough evidence to conclude his theory, there was a high chance that this was a new world.
His lips curled into a cold smirk. "Fine. If the past is gone, I'll carve a path into this new world. Let's see what this world has to offer." This identity… it was his now.
Kael turned his focus back to his situation. First things first, he needed to leave this dungeon.
The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and decay. The dungeon walls pulsed faintly, as though the very structure was alive, feeding off the deaths that had occurred within.
"Now… how do I navigate this system?" he muttered.
At once, the system responded. A cold, lifeless voice echoed in his mind and a translucent Status Window flickered into view. The letters glowed faintly in the dim dungeon light.
———
[SYSTEM MENU DISPLAYED]
[Status Window]
Name: Kael Veyne
Level: 2
Race: Human (Modified – Eldritch Hybrid)
Bloodline: Eldritch Devourer (Stage 1 – Unchained)
Rank: Initiate Devourer
Affiliate: House of Veyne
Experience Points: 10/300 EXP
Blood Points: 2 BP
[Attributes]
>>> Strength: 14
>>> Dexterity: 15
>>> Constitution: 13
>>> Mental Cognition: 12
>>> Primal Energy: 200
>>> Devourer Corruption: 0.5% (Increases with overconsumption—mutation risk at 10%+)
[Abilities]
>>> Devour Essence (Active) – Absorb 70% primal energy of a slain enemy over ten levels above. (Increases by 2% per 50 levels.)
>>> Assimilate Traits (Passive) – 10% chance to steal abilities from devoured foes. (Increases by 10% per 100 levels.)
>>> Eldritch Metamorphosis (Locked) – Bloodline evolution at higher stages.
[Skills]
>>> Night Predator (Trait) – Enhanced stealth, vision, and reaction speed in darkness.
>>> Adaptive Regeneration (Trait) – Minor wounds heal quickly. Large wounds require BP.
[System Navigator]
1️⃣ [Status] – Displays current level, attributes, and abilities.
2️⃣ [Abilities] – Lists and upgrades bloodline skills.
3️⃣ [Inventory] – Stores non-living items and essence fragments. Unlocks upon reaching Lvl 10.
4️⃣ [Bloodline Progression] – Unlocks new evolutions upon meeting conditions.
5️⃣ [Quests] – System-generated tasks with rewards.
6️⃣ [System Logs] – Records past notifications and kills.
———
Kael scrolled through the menu with his mind, testing its responsiveness. The interface shifted instantly, obeying his thoughts as if it were an extension of his own will.
His eyes flicked to his Blood Points—two acquired after killing a Level 5 beast. If they could enhance his abilities, he needed to understand how.
"Use 1 Blood Point on Strength."
The system processed his command instantly.
[Strength Increased: 14 → 15]
A rush of raw power pulsed through his muscles. It wasn't just a number going up, he felt it. The fibers of his body tightened, and his grip instinctively adjusted as if his hands had learned how to wield greater force.
A slow grin spread across his lips.
His eyes flicked to the Quests tab. It was currently empty, but that wouldn't last. If the system wanted him to grow, it would start pushing him soon.
For now, he had one goal—clear and leave this F-Rank dungeon.
Dungeons were ranked from the highest to the lowest level: SSS, SS, S, A, B, C, D, E, F.
According to the memories he received, this F-Rank dungeon is made up of small labyrinths with Lvl 1 to 18 monsters like Goblins, Scaled Spiders, Wolves, Kobolds, and the like.
He turned toward the dark corridors ahead. He had tested his power. Now it was time to use it.
***
The dungeon stretched before Kael, it was dark and silent. Every breath he took carried the scent of damp stone and something faintly rotten—the lingering presence of death. His grip tightened as he crouched low, scanning the dim corridor ahead.
The first level of this tower was home to weaker monsters like wolves and scaled spiders. These were creatures that an ordinary Halfstep Evolved warrior could face but Kael had no illusions. This wasn't a game, and he didn't have his previous life's strength; one silly mistake could kill him.
He moved forward, silent as a shadow.
A faint clicking sound echoed from above. Kael halted, shifting his stance as his heightened senses picked up a skittering movement in the dark.
His Night Predator trait made the shadows familiar, revealing the faint outline of a spider clinging to the ceiling. It was larger than a hunting dog, with jagged legs and a dull, scaled body.
It hadn't noticed him yet.
Kael reached for his stone shard, gripping it tight. A direct attack was too risky as he didn't know if its hide could withstand his strikes. He needed to cripple it first.
A plan formed in seconds...
He exhaled slowly and took one deliberate step forward.
The spider reacted immediately, sensing the vibration. It dropped from the ceiling with its legs splayed out, and the mandibles snapping toward him.
Kael twisted to the side, letting its body crash against the stone floor. Before it could recover, he lunged forward, stabbing his stone shard at the joint where its leg met its body.
A sickening crunch sounded.
The spider screeched in pain, flailing as greenish-black blood spilled out. Its injured leg buckled, throwing it off balance.
Kael moved to finish it without hesitation. He grabbed another leg, twisting sharply until it snapped, then drove the stone deep into its skull.
The creature twitched once, then went still.