The murmur of the underground river filled the cave with its liquid calm. Josuke Hachimizu sat on a smooth rock, his gaze lost in the current as he slid through the holographic menus in front of his eyes. One tab in particular kept him thoughtful: the skill tree. His fingers stopped on one of the reddest branches of the blood system, where a notification made him frown.
[Skill Tree: Summoning Skill Acquired (Status: Locked)]
—Locked? —he murmured, bringing his fingers to his chin with a serious expression—. Why does it show as locked if I already obtained it? It doesn't even say what level I need to use it…
He scrolled down to read the skill details. The crimson letters of the system flickered in front of him as if responding to his frustration.
[Summoning Skill – Acquired]
[Description: "Once the blood of an opponent is absorbed, their soul will be registered in the summoning system. The host will be able to summon said being in spiritual form, employing their abilities, strength, and essence. This skill only activates if the absorption occurs through the Crimson Oni bond. A bond of blood, death, and dominion."]
Josuke raised his eyebrows, impressed.
—A very useful skill… I'll admit it. I can't even imagine how cool I'll look leading an army of bloody souls. —He smiled cynically—. Absolute cinema for me.
Then he looked at his hands and murmured thoughtfully:
—So… if I've already absorbed the blood of many monsters in the Seventh Underworld… can I summon them too? Even the Dark King himself?
The idea made him shiver, not from fear, but ambition. He placed his hands behind his neck and lay back on the rock, staring at the ceiling of the cave.
—To think the Dark King had such power… he was the first truly powerful monster I faced. I'm starting to understand why the system respected him so much. If I can gather more powerful souls… if I can absorb their blood… —he closed his eyes tightly— …maybe I can gather enough power to destroy the God of Souls. And his damn messenger.
Josuke stood up and walked toward a large pile of corpses he had left behind after a frenzied training session. Deformed creatures, with strange skins, twisted limbs, even a couple of bipedal beasts made of rock and ice. An improvised graveyard, the proof of his effort, his hunger for experience… and yet.
—Why…? —he murmured, looking at his adventurer card.
[Level: 9 – Rank F-]
—Why the hell am I still not leveling up?!
He dropped heavily onto a rock by the river's edge. His eyes were fixed on his distorted reflection in the water. He remembered the laughter, the mockery, the condescending looks at the guild. He felt the system was punishing him, as if his progress wasn't measured in numbers, but in something darker, more demanding.
—Maybe the system wants me to kill something even more terrible, or maybe… a person —he whispered with a vacant look.
Behind him, the piled monster bodies rose like a grotesque mountain. At that moment, without his knowledge, two adventurers entered the cave.
At first they spoke cheerfully, happy to find a place to collect resources. But when one of them tripped over a monster corpse and looked up, he froze. The other adventurer also raised his gaze and went silent.
—What… what the hell happened here?
Meanwhile, far from the cave, Josuke walked through the streets of Valoria, the kingdom where he had first arrived in this new world. The stone and wood houses were tinted with the warm colors of the morning sun. The scent of freshly baked bread and spices floated in the air. Josuke felt… different. People no longer looked at him with fear. They no longer stepped back or pointed. He was one among many.
—Looks like the magic relic works after all… —he said, looking at the serpentine tattoo wrapping around his left wrist. The Converser Serpent, or as the system called it, Ouroboros.
He walked through a market until stopping in front of a fruit stall. A semi-human woman, with furry ears and a fluffy dog-like tail, greeted him warmly.
—Good afternoon, can I help you?
—A bag of 10 apples, please —said Josuke Hachimizu, pointing at the apples on the stall.
—Here you go —said the woman, handing him the bag in exchange for five copper coins.
Josuke thanked her and continued walking while eating an apple. His toned muscles, relaxed posture, and well-defined abs caught people's attention, but he only spoke quietly to himself.
—I wonder what the king of this realm is like… or the princess. What kind of authority rules here? —he bit another chunk—. Wouldn't be bad to explore more of this world… Before thinking about going back to mine. Maybe I can become someone important here… not just another transported human.
And just then, as he turned a corner, he bumped straight into someone. The apples flew into the air and rolled on the ground.
—Sorry! —said the familiar voice of the young man.
Josuke bent down to pick up the apples at the same time as the other. When their eyes met, the boy's sapphire eyes widened.
—Josuke Hachimizu!
—Mark Vilanger?
—What a coincidence!
Josuke smiled, but shook his head.
—Don't call me sir. I won't tell you again.
Mark laughed lightly.
—Sorry, old habit. I live here, in Valoria. With my adoptive parents.
—I see, I didn't know —said Josuke Hachimizu in front of him.
—And you… did you manage to register with the guild?
Josuke scratched his head.
—Well, I did… let's just say I prefer to keep that anonymous —he said with an awkward smile.
At that moment, a notification flashed before his eyes.
[Information: Energy linked to the Resurrection Gem detected.]
Josuke narrowed his eyes, intrigued.
—Hey, do you still have the gem with you?
Mark looked at him surprised.
—Yeah… of course I do. How do you know?
Josuke shrugged.
—I just do.
An awkward silence fell between them. Then Mark smiled, quickened his pace, and said goodbye:
—It was nice seeing you, Josuke. I have to go. See you later!
—Alright —said Josuke, watching the young man walk away.
As he watched his figure disappear, something didn't sit right. Josuke narrowed his eyes.
—He's acting really strange. What is he hiding?
A few minutes later, Josuke stopped in front of the Adventurer's Guild. The same place where he had been humiliated. The same hall where they laughed at his level. His gaze was serious, eyes narrowed, jaw clenched.
—Time to face this damn place again… —he whispered.
He stepped in. The laughter stopped. The adventurers stared at him, some surprised, others mocking, and some… barely holding in laughter. He simply lifted his head, walked down the hallway with firm steps, and headed toward the mission board, determined.
Because even if they all saw him as weak, he knew the truth.
He had an army of souls waiting.
Josuke Hachimizu stood before the guild's mission board, eyes fixed on the worn parchment posters. But no matter how hard he tried to focus, the voices around him pierced his thoughts like needles in raw flesh.
—Look at him… that level 9 adventurer.
—I heard he doesn't even fight. Just carries stuff like a cheap assistant.
—Level 9… and on top of that, rank F negative. I couldn't live like that.
—He should change professions… who even starts this late?
Josuke clenched his teeth. His back was tense, hands tightly balled into fists. He forced himself not to turn around, to pretend he didn't hear… but inside, the venom was spreading.
—Shut the hell up… —he muttered under his breath.
And then, like lightning splitting the sky, an old memory surged in his mind. Not this guild, nor this city, nor this world. It was his home. His teenage years. His father, standing in front of him wrapped in shadows, his words cutting like soulless blades:
—I regret having a useless son like you, Josuke. You don't deserve the Hachimizu name. You're a pure disgrace.
His eyes clouded for a moment, but not from tears. It was rage. A cold, silent hatred building in his chest.
A hand touched his shoulder, pulling him abruptly back to the present.
—Hey! —said a bright, arrogant voice, surrounded by an aura as polished as his smile—. Are you the level 9 adventurer everyone's talking about?
Josuke turned his head, still frowning. In front of him stood a young man with perfectly styled blond hair, bright sky-blue eyes, and an elegant sword at his waist. He wore expensive clothes that reeked of cologne and overconfidence.
—Yeah. And who are you?
—My name's Lance. Lance Valtinmore, from House Valtinmore, one of Valoria's great houses. —He extended a hand with condescension—. And I'm here to request your services… to help carry our things.
Josuke didn't even take the hand. He looked at him with disdain, as if seeing through his vanity.
—Again with the carrying… —he sighed—. I'm not a damn porter…
—Come on, relax —said Lance, turning to his group—. Let me introduce you to my companions.
First was Homen, a mage in a green robe with a crystal staff who looked more distracted than wise. Then Ashley, a cold beauty of an elf with a sharp gaze, class: archer. Siria, the group's healer, dressed in white with a soft voice. And finally Otto, the beast tamer, with a small electric fox on his shoulders.
Josuke observed them without moving a muscle.
—And why are you introducing them to me if I haven't agreed to anything?
Lance smiled, keeping his smug tone.
—Come on, friend. We know you're scared of dungeons being a level 9. But don't worry, I'll protect you.
—We'll protect him —interrupted Otto, a bit annoyed.
Ashley, with an acidic smile, shot Josuke a superior look:
—You should be grateful, weakling. We're even paying you.
Josuke lowered his gaze, sighed deeply, and murmured to himself:
—I'm doing this for the money. And to level up, nothing more…
—Alright —he said, raising his head—. I'll be your porter for today.
Lance clapped once.
—A wise choice, brother!
—Don't call me brother, my name's Josuke.
...
They descended the dungeon's stone stairs, each step echoing with moisture and darkness.
—By the way, Josuke —said Lance as they walked—, we're going through 7 levels of this dungeon's first layer.
—Seven levels? You're not going to the second layer?
Ashley turned sharply, scandalized.
—Are you insane? The second layer's for adventurers level 200 or higher. Only rank AAA++ and above go there.
—We're only level 40 —added Siria—. Rank D++.
Josuke frowned.
—But… aren't dungeons like inverted towers? The deeper you go, the stronger the monsters and levels.
—Yeah, you're right —answered Homen while adjusting his staff—. But here's the thing: layers and levels are different. Each dungeon has 1000 levels per layer, and every level is like an independent realm. But when you cross into another layer, you start again at level 1… like a whole new world.
—And each layer is its own dimension —added Siria sweetly—. All of them are infinite. Each dimension is a mystery with its own unique levels.
Josuke stayed silent. In his mind, the blood system vibrated with peculiar excitement.
—So… if there are different powerful monsters across layers and levels… —he thought—, that means I can kill them all to level up. I just need time… and enough monsters.
Level 6. As they descended, Josuke carried backpacks, chests, and bags. His muscles tense, gaze dim. Meanwhile, the others fought diamond bats and underground ants the size of people. No one said a word to him.
On Level 7, everything changed.
The air was more humid, with a light vapor of damp earth. A forest opened before them, with a vast blue sky above and glowing trees. But within seconds, they moved.
The trees creaked… and began to walk.
Josuke's blood system lit up.
[Location: Level 7 – Layer 1 – Monster Level: 30–40]
[Info: Monster Detected – Arboloids]
[Level: 42 – Rank: D+]
—Relax, friend —said Lance with a confident smile—. We'll protect you. Just watch our stuff.
Josuke stayed behind, watching the group with disdain and boredom.
The battle began. Lance moved with his gleaming sword, slashing through animated trunks. Siria channeled healing energy, restoring allies. Homen opened a crystal vial releasing fire bees that burned several arboloids.
Otto shouted a command to his electric fox, sending bolts through the trunks, scorching leaves and roots. Ashley fired magical arrows that pierced the arboloids with deadly precision.
Josuke did nothing. He just watched, eyes narrowed at the flashes of light, the explosions of fire and electricity, the magical waves. His system vibrated.
—They're a decent team… that's something.
When it ended, the arboloid corpses were charred, split, and dismembered. The wood creaked in death. The air smelled of burnt sap.
—Collect the cores! —Lance ordered.
And just then, Josuke's blood system gave a notification:
[Skills Acquired: Photosynthesis / Plant Manipulation / Wood Generation]
Josuke smiled.
—Photosynthesis… that'll come in handy.
But his attention was interrupted by an argument.
—Lance! Are you serious! —Ashley shouted—. We're not going any deeper. It's too dangerous!
—Relax, we'll just transport to one more random level in this dungeon. It'll be quick.
—Come on, Ashley! Just this one —said Homen.
Ashley huffed, crossing her arms.
—Fine, but make it fast…
Everyone gathered, including Josuke. Homen raised his staff, and a magical key formed in the air, slowly spinning. Josuke watched with curiosity but said nothing.
—Go ahead —said Homen.
And as the key turned in the air, they all vanished as if absorbed by a frameless door.
The world flipped in the blink of an eye.
As if reality itself had burst in a splash of liquid light, the group was transported into the air. Josuke barely had time to take a breath when he felt his body falling, weightless, directionless, like a leaf dragged by an impossible wind.
Above him, the "sky" was a dome of gray stone covered in stone pines hanging like giant stalactites. Below, the water sparkled as if a thousand crystal lanterns danced at the bottom. When he hit, the surface broke like a sacred membrane and swallowed him in a gasp of silence.
SPLAAASH!
Josuke sank deep. In the aquatic vastness, the sounds were foreign, muffled, distant. The liquid was warm, glowing, too clear. From below, it felt like an endless abyss stared back at him.
His eyes, half-open underwater, barely caught a dance of strange lights, bubbles rising slowly... and nothing else.
There was no trace of the others.
He swam up. Emerged, gasping.
—Khah!... Where are they? —he said, spinning in circles. His voice drowned in the vastness.
Everything was an endless sea, a liquid vault suspended in a void with no shore or edge. No rock, no land. Not a single solid point to stand on.
—An aquatic dungeon? —he murmured, frowning.
He snapped his fingers. A red panel appeared in front of him, floating with a soft metallic sound.
[Location: Dungeon – Level 40 – First Layer]
—Level 40? —he whispered, astonished—. This is completely out of my depth!
He quickly activated one of his passive techniques from the Water Slime. A translucent gelatinous mass emerged under his feet and, thanks to its malleability, created a firm platform that held him above the surface. Josuke stood upright, breathing deeply, as his surroundings began to change.
A thick mist emerged from the distance, as if the whispers of the water were trying to swallow everything.
—This is wrong… Where are the others? Lance! Ashley! —he shouted, but the echo died, drowned in the fog.
A chill ran down his neck.
With a mental command, he pulled from his inventory the equipped sword:
[Weapons: Dark Blade equipped]
He gripped the handle tightly. His military training awoke whenever he sensed danger. He stepped back, but then… something moved.
A silhouette. A ripple.
From the depths, something glided through the water with deadly grace. A fin.
The system reacted before he did.
[Warning: Monster detected. Offensive and defensive action recommended.]
—A monster...? No way… Did it eat the others?
He shook his head.
—No… no blood, no fragments, they must be alive…
But then a larger, more intense notification appeared with crimson edges:
[Monster: Náurea, the Hydrshadow of Echoes]
[Level: 79 | Rank: AA+]
[Mission]: Kill (0/1) and consume its blood.
[Rewards]: rare and special.
[Penalty]: None.
[Optional Mission].
Josuke clenched his teeth.
—Not mandatory, huh? Well, for me it is. If that thing has the others, I have to kill it.
He stepped back on his floating slime platform, Dark Blade in a defensive position. The fog around him seemed to thicken more and more, as if the monster itself were feeding it.
Then, something touched his back.
He jumped and spun his sword by instinct… but stopped just in time.
It was a bubble. Transparent and glowing, perfect, and inside… Lance.
The arrogant swordsman floated as if asleep, with no signs of wounds, as if the bubble preserved him in a trance.
—At least I found one! —Josuke said in relief, observing Lance's state.
—He's alive… but this… this isn't ordinary magic.
He raised his sword and prepared to burst the bubble.
Then he felt it. A hiss in the air. Fshhh!
—Tch!
He moved quickly, kicking the bubble to push it away from danger as he jumped to the side. A high-pressure water jet sliced through the space where he had just been… and didn't stop. It hit and split a rock on the domed ceiling… CRACK… the stone broke and fell down.
BOOOOM!
The massive rock hit the surface and generated a colossal wave that swept the mist away in all directions. For an instant, everything became visible.
And there, from the open, churning waters… the creature emerged.
The Náurea.
A hybrid beast, with four limbs thin as aquatic whips, gleaming blue scales that dripped with moisture, and a massive fish-like tail that curled like a lash. It had two eyes sharp as sapphire blades… and from its back emerged jagged fins that vibrated like blades.
Josuke swallowed hard.
—So you're the Hydrshadow of Echoes…
And the system spoke, almost as if warning with a grave voice:
[Warning: The Náurea is absorbing the life energy from your group's dreams. If you don't act quickly, it will drain all their vitality and grow stronger. Imminent death of the group if the process is not interrupted.]
Josuke cursed under his breath.
—So while they sleep, this monster uses them as a power source. Damn it!
He looked at Lance, floating adrift in his liquid prison. And the others? Where were Ashley, Otto, Siria, Homen?
—This is going to be tough… if I try to protect them all while I fight, I'll become an easy target…
The Náurea let out a liquid screech, an aquatic vibration that rippled across the surface like an echo. Josuke felt it in his bones, a deep, ancient threat whispering telepathically: You are not worthy of the water you stand upon…
Josuke gripped his sword tighter. The Dark Blade pulsed with its power, as if it understood the weight of the situation.