My shift at the Hostess of Fertility had ended in the soft glow of candlelight and the scent of roasted garlic and ale lingering in the air. The last tables were wiped clean, chairs turned upside down, and customers gone. I was drying my hands with a towel when Ryu approached me.
"How are you feeling?" she asked. I paused for a moment, leaning back against the counter, the fatigue of the day crawling across my shoulders. "Honestly? Tired. Sore. But… satisfied. I'm learning a lot. Fighting stronger monsters, earning my place."
She gave a soft nod, those cool teal eyes watching me carefully. "It's good that your not coming back home all beat up in Ottar's arms at least." I then gestured toward the backroom, where a pair of wooden swords leaned against the wall.
"What do you say to a quick sparring session?" Her lips quirked into the faintest smile. "I thought you'd never ask."
We stepped into the clearing behind the tavern, the night air crisp against our skin. The cobblestones beneath our feet were cool, and the moonlight shimmered across the rooftops. We took up our wooden weapons, faced each other, and bowed.
Then steel met steel, or in this case, oak clashed with oak.
For the next hour, we danced. I pushed hard, mixing speed with technique, trying to incorporate everything I'd learned from Ottar's brutal sparring with my Haki and dungeon runs . Ryu was still faster than I could match, but I was catching small glimpses quicker now, sensing her rhythm, anticipating her motion.
I was struck several times. Once in the ribs. Twice in the legs. I blocked more than I used to, and even earned a grunt of approval when I managed to force her onto the defensive with a whirlwind strike.
When it ended, I was on my knees, panting. "You're improving," Ryu said, extending a hand. "If you keep progressing at this rate maybe in a few years, you might rival Ais Wallenstein herself."
I took her hand and stood, flushed and humbled. " I plan on becoming stronger then her and even Ottar." Ryuu smiled saying. "I believe you can if you really want it."
The next morning, I woke early with the sun still yawning over the edge of Orario's rooftops. After a wash and light breakfast, I helped Mia with the morning prep in the kitchen, slicing bread, prepping broth, and setting out fresh ingredients for the midday rush. I managed to help her and May get ready super early.
While I was making diced vegetables Mia, spoke to me. "Off to fight monsters again, Cain?" she asked over her shoulder. "Of course. I've got new gear to test out." She tossed me a fresh apple. "Try not to come back with more roughed up than you left."
I made my way through the cobbled streets of the city, the bustle of morning adventurers buzzing all around. I reached Hephaestus Manor just in time to see Chloe stepping out, her white-blonde hair tied up in a messy bun, with a towel around her neck. She looked like she probably just got out the shower.
She gave a satisfied grin when she saw me. "Perfect timing, Cain. Your gear's done." She motioned to a wrapped bundle she carried in her arms, then unrolled it across a stone bench just inside the courtyard.
The first thing that caught my eye were the twin blades—slightly curved, short like machetes. Their blackened steel shimmered with a faint amethyst hue in the morning light, and each blade featured a small indent near the hilt, ideal for catch-and-lock maneuvers. The grips were wrapped in black leather, bound with thin silver wire. (Image here)
"They feel... right," I said quietly as I picked them up. I did a few test swings, the weight balancing perfectly in my hands.
Then she unveiled the armor.
Since I was still smaller than most adventurers, she'd kept the design compact but functional. Brown leather base, reinforced with black metal plating along the chest, shoulders, forearms, and shins. A subtle green line traced through each piece, barely visible but stylish. The boots were solid black and reached up to my calves, steel-toed and reinforced for kicks or protection.
"Try it all on," Chloe said, stepping back and crossing her arms.
I nodded and quickly changed behind a small screen nearby. The armor fit perfectly—no gaps, no uncomfortable seams. Movement was fluid, protection secure. When I held the blades again, I felt complete.
"I didn't even need to adjust the straps," Chloe said proudly. "You're going to grow into it, but it'll hold you for at least a year. Maybe longer."
"I love it," I said. "Everything feels like it was made for me." "It was," she said, brushing her hands off. "Now… how about we test it all properly?"
I smiled. "Dungeon run?" She tapped the spear strapped to her back—newly reforged and tipped with blackened steel. "Let's see what those blades can do. I'll take the lead until the fourth floor. Then we switch."
"You got it."
We made our way through the city streets, passing the city gates, and descending toward the Tower of Babel—the gateway into the Dungeon.
As we stepped onto the first floor, Chloe raised her spear and gave me a smirk over her shoulder. "Try to keep up, partner."
The Dungeon floors echoed beneath our feet as Chloe took the lead, her spear slashing through enemies with swift, powerful thrusts. Goblins, Kobolds, even a couple Dungeon Lizards were no match for her—monsters fell over and over again, each strike precise and brutal. Yet, curiously, not a single monster drop hit the ground—only crystals, dull and unremarkable, faded quickly into our bags.
Chloe smirked. "You're making me look bad. I'm clearing waves, and all I get are these sad little crystals."
I chuckled, wiping a bit of dust from my shoulder. "What can I say? I guess I'm just luckier than you."
She rolled her eyes with a half-smile as we reached the third floor, where Dungeon Lizards prowled the walls and ceiling. While she skewered one through the head, I asked casually, "So what's your main weapon of choice?"
"Two-handed swords," she said without hesitation, spinning and bisecting two more lizards in a clean motion. "The Zweihander is my favorite. Big, heavy, brutal. Elegant in its own way."
"That… tracks," I replied, watching her move with surprising grace despite her preference for something so unwieldy.
By the fourth floor, we switched. My turn to lead. I drew my new twin blades, the blackened steel glinting with a soft amethyst hue. They sliced through Goblins and Lizards like paper. The balance was perfect, the grip solid, and the motion effortless.
"These feel great," I said as I skewered a goblin with a spinning slash. "Do they have a name?"
Chloe nodded. "Let's call them... Shadow Fangs." I grinned. "Perfect. The armor feels like it's barely there, too."
"Good," she said, moving beside me as we approached the stairs to the sixth floor. "Means it's working."
We encountered Frog Shooters almost immediately—grotesque, one-eyed amphibians that lashed out with their tongues in triplets. I cut them down swiftly, fluidly. When a slightly larger War Shadow emerged from the dark mist, Chloe motioned me forward.
"Here's a challenge." I breathed deep, activating Mind's Eye. Thin red lines shimmered across its arms and torso—finer and fewer than the ones I'd seen on earlier Shadows. I understood. This one was stronger.
My eyes flicked between its limbs. I moved.
The battle lasted three minutes—dancing through darkness, metal against claw. I dodged, rolled, parried, and struck the lines of weakness with cold precision. One final slash to its core, and it collapsed, vanishing in a shimmer of dark mist.
A small bead of sweat rolled down my temple.
"How was it?" Chloe asked. "Better than last time," I said between breaths. "Two smaller ones were worse than one strong one."
"Let's keep going." On the seventh floor, we encountered Killer Ants. Red, big and brutal. They came in waves, and for ten straight minutes we carved through them in tandem—blades and spear in perfect harmony. The floor shimmered with monster crystals and rare drops.
"Ant Eyes," Chloe said, crouching. "These are rare. 7,000 valis for a decent pair. 10,000 if they're from a variant."
I nodded, collecting the monster fluids while she carefully stored the eyes. "Hope we struck gold." Another few waves. More War Shadows. Chloe took them solo—dispatching them in less than thirty seconds—then moved to help me with the final cluster of ants. We pushed hard, clearing the floor in record time.
By the eighth floor, fatigue started to creep in. "Purple Moths," Chloe warned. "Watch the powder they're poisonous."
I grinned. "Don't worry. I'm poison-resistant."
Before she could respond, I rushed forward and sliced the wings off three at once, leaving their twitching bodies behind. Monster crystals and moth wings rained down. Chloe watched with a raised eyebrow.
"Is there anything you can't do?" she said, half-joking. "Tons," I said with a smirk. "But we'll save that list for later."
We stopped there for the day and climbed out. At the Guild, we turned in our haul for a total of 50,000 valis, split evenly. I took out 10,000 and handed it to Rose, who blinked at me in surprise.
"For your service." She took the bag and gave her usual flat nod, but I swore I saw a slight upturn of her lips.
Chloe and I parted ways, and I made my way back to the Hostess of Fertility. After a quick shower and change, I helped with the evening rush Mia on drinks, me and May on food. The smells of roasted meat, garlic, and butter filled the air.
As the night wore on, Ryu, Chloe, and Anya gathered outside.
"Customers getting handsy," Ryu said, tying her apron off. "Time to blow off some steam."
We sparred in the courtyard—me against all three. I barely held my ground, managing to keep pace just enough to earn their respect. Panting, sweaty, and a little bruised, I stood tall at the end. I didn't take it personally. Especially if it helped me grow stronger.
The next seven days passed in a blur: Dungeon hunts in the mornings, Hostess work by afternoon, training with Ryu at night. No sign of Ottar, oddly. Just a calm grinding week.
Until one morning… everything changed.
I came down for prep and stopped in my tracks as confetti popped and voices rang out:
"SURPRISE!"
I blinked. "...What?"
Mia laughed. "Surprise, Cain."
Nyx stepped forward, shadows curling in her wake. "Happy birthday, my child."
"Wait—what?"
"You don't know your real birthday, so I chose one. The 13th day of the 6th month. Today, you turn eleven."
My chest tightened from the warmth of hearing those words. May appeared holding a cake, and Anya danced around yelling, "Happy Birthday, Cain~!"
Then came Chloe, Ryu, and Syr, all offering cheerful congratulations—and gifts wrapped with care.
Syr stepped in from the front, holding a box and wearing a soft smile. "Happy birthday, Cain," she whispered, kissing my forehead.
Then Nyx stepped forward, her hand glowing with swirling shadow essence. She opened her palm, and a bracelet shimmered into existence. Silver. Two gems—amethyst and onyx—side by side, with ancient runes etched around them.
"This holds my blessing," Nyx said. "So long as you wear it, you will never be lost in the darkness. Not in the Dungeon or in life."
She leaned down and whispered the rest in my ear. "You can absorb monster crystals with this… grow stronger… even unlock new abilities before each update."
My eyes widened. This was amazing now I don't have to choose between the abilities I want now.
"Go now," Nyx said. "Open your gifts and prepare for your status update." I nodded and headed upstairs, catching Syr watching me. Her smile was warm, but there was a flicker of jealousy beneath it.
I entered my room, pulled off my shirt, and began opening the presents:
A pair of reinforced gloves.
A finely crafted adventurer's belt.
A black cloak, bigger then me but something I can grow into.
And the last gift... my hands froze.
A grimoire. I nearly dropped it. "No way," I muttered. These cost upwards of 100,000,000 valis. This had to be from Syr(Freya).
I sat on my bed. This is my chance to gain a spell I rather reinforce my other skills through training anyway especially Haki. The better I get with it the stronger I will be. I flipped the cover open, and as I began reading, the world began to fade.
My eyes grew heavy. Darkness crept in. When I blinked next… I stood alone in the Black Void once again. No wind, no air, just endless black like the breath between heartbeats.
Then... light.
Before me, a rainbow flame swirled with mesmerizing colors—crimson, emerald, violet, sapphire, gold—dancing without smoke or heat. Floating at its heart was a single apple, glowing with a warm, golden hue. It pulsed with life, radiant and surreal.
And then... eyes.
A pair of female, amethyst eyes appeared in the vast distance, framed by a faint silhouette too large, too ethereal to define. The presence was gentle, yet immense—like a goddess gazing through the tapestry of the world.
A voice echoed, soft but resonant.
"What do you seek?"
I paused and started to think. This was the grimoire at work. I recalled in the lore how opening one either reveals a spell you have an affinity for... or evolves something within you. I closed my eyes for a second and opened them again, looking into the rainbow flame and the watching eyes. My heart spoke louder than logic.
"I want a powerful flame that burns strong and bright as my will. One that burns my enemies and protects my friends."
There was a hum in the void, a ripple of satisfaction.
The voice replied: "Then take the Fruit of Knowledge."
I stepped forward, reaching toward the flame. I expected heat, pain… but the fire was warm and comforting.
My fingers wrapped around the apple—it shimmered gold, I raised it to my lips and bit into it. Sweetness and warmth filled me, and the void collapsed in a swirl of stars. My eyes opened slowly, back in my room. Nyx stood before me, smiling faintly.
"So… you received a grimoire. That's quite the gift," she said gently, but then her expression darkened slightly.
"Now… tell me, Cain." Her voice lowered. "Whose gift do you love more—mine, or Freya's?" I blinked, heart stuttering for a moment. She stared at me—not angry, but expectant.
I stepped closer and answered honestly, softly, "I love both of them." Then I kissed her cheek and added with a smile, "But how could I not treasure my goddess's gift? You gave me a birthday, and a blessing to help me grow. I'm truly blessed."
Her smile returned in full. "Oh, you're good," she whispered.
I chuckled. "I mean it."
"Then turn around," she said, voice hushed. Light engulfed the room. I felt warmth on my back as my Status updated. When it was done, she pulled me gently down onto her lap. I sat nestled between her legs, leaning against her chest. She held me like a mother and something more.
She handed me the paper:
Cain Dawnstar : Level 1
Strength: H (100) → G (210)
Endurance: I (98) → G (290)
Dexterity: H (110) → G (200)
Agility: I (90) → H (198)
Magic: I (5) → I (50)
Skills
Luck – (B)
Abnormal Resistance – (C)
Elder Blood – (I)
Haki – (I)
Mind's Eye – (H)
Radiant Fire – (A fire capable of healing allies and hurting enemies)
I stared at the last line. "Radiant Fire…" I whispered. "A flame of both protection and destruction," Nyx said. "A rare affinity. That spell is yours alone and very fitting." My mind raced with possibilities. Fire that heals and destorys my enemies this is incredible.
My stats I'd grown so much in a week and a half. Not just physically, but mentally, emotionally. I thought about Bell, about Ais... but shook my head. No more comparisons. "I'll keep getting stronger," I whispered.
Nyx's gaze sharpened slightly. I turned to look at her, asking, "Nyx… thank you. Truly. Is there anything else you can give me?"
She raised a brow. "Asking for a second gift already?" she teased. "What do you want, child?" I hesitated. Then asked, "Can you tell me what lies at the bottom of the Dungeon?" Her eyes narrowed, the warm glow gone. "No, honey," she said plainly. "Not yet. You're not strong enough to worry about that."
"I figured," I muttered. "But…" I looked at her, serious now. "Why do you love me so much?" She blushed slightly—a rare sight. "That one," she whispered, "you'll have to earn. How about this? When you're older… take me on a date. I'll tell you then."
My heart thudded oddly at the thought. I changed the subject. "Then… can you at least tell me where you go all the time?" Her smile turned stoic. "I don't like the daylight. I tolerate it for you… but I prefer the dark."
She looked away briefly. "I sleep in shadows. Then I walk this town… watching gods and adventurers playing their silly little game."
"Game?"
She nodded. "They're bored, Cain. So they play with mortal lives like a long-running strategy board. A gamble system with souls."
I exhaled slowly. "So… we're their entertainment." She gave a soft, melancholic nod. "Well," I said, standing and grabbing my shirt. "Don't worry, my goddess. I'll never bore you. I'll turn this world upside down."
Nyx smiled again. "Is that what you truly want?" "I want to be free," I said. "And to be free… I need to be the strongest. So that means leveling up. Gaining power. Slaying the One-Eyed Black Dragon. And conquering the Dungeon."
She kissed my forehead. "Then get to work and be safe." With that, she vanished into the shadows, leaving a lingering warmth behind.
I came downstairs still digesting the power now humming inside me. Mia handed me a plate and said with a chuckle, "Eat some cake, hero. And then take the rest of the day off."
I smiled, sitting beside the others as we shared slices of the strawberry cake. The sweetness settled in my mouth, this was actually good.
As I chewed, Ryu spoke to me. "My gift will be a little late," she said, her tone gentle. I looked up at her and smiled, "That's okay. I'm already happy with everything I've got."
She paused. Then gave me a rare, almost imperceptible smile.