[Boss: Orc Commander – Level 20]
"That's the third time he's tried to split you in half!" Veldora shouted from across the chamber, his shield locked against two orc warriors who pressed him with synchronized strikes. Sweat ran down his face, but his stance remained solid. "Maybe stop dancing so close!"
"Noted!" Ciel called back, his mana-forged blade singing as it deflected another overhead chop. The impact sent vibrations up his arms that made his teeth ache—the Commander hit like a siege weapon given flesh.
The Orc Den's boss chamber was a crude throne room carved from rock and reinforced with iron. Torches guttered along the walls, casting dancing shadows that made it hard to track the Commander's movements. Two elite warriors still stood between them and victory, their weapons dripping with poison that had already forced Ciel to burn through two healing potions.
"Chaos Bolt!" Sora's voice cut through the clash of steel. Purple-black energy spiraled across the chamber, slamming into one of the warriors harassing Veldora. The orc staggered, its armor smoking, giving the knight the opening he needed.
Veldora's sword found the gap between breastplate and pauldron. The warrior went down with a gurgling cry, dissolving into motes of light.
"One left on me!" Veldora reported, immediately repositioning to keep the remaining warrior's attention. "Focus on the big one!"
The Commander roared—a sound that made the very stones tremble—and charged directly at Sora. His massive bulk moved with terrifying speed for something so large, the war axe held in a two-handed grip that promised to cleave her in half.
Shift. Ciel blinked into the Commander's path, his blade already moving to intercept. Steel met steel in a shower of sparks, but the force behind the orc's blow was monstrous. Ciel felt his feet slide backward across the stone floor despite his braced stance.
"Getting tired of being the doormat," he muttered through gritted teeth, pouring more mana into his blade. The weapon blazed with azure light as he pushed back, muscles screaming with the effort.
The Commander's eyes—intelligent despite their bestial cast—narrowed with what might have been respect. Then it headbutted Ciel with bone-crushing force.
Pain exploded through his skull, and his vision went white. Only instinct saved him from the follow-up strike—Shift carried him ten meters away, where he stumbled and nearly fell. Blood ran warm down his face from where the Commander's forehead had split his skin.
"Ciel!" Sora's staff was already glowing with gathered power. "Get clear!"
He didn't need to be told twice. Shift carried him to the chamber's edge as Sora unleashed the spell she'd been building. "Chaos Bolt!"
This wasn't the quick, efficient projectiles she'd been throwing at the warriors. This was the full manifestation of her power—a spiraling lance of chaotic energy that tore reality itself in its passage. The air shrieked as it crossed the chamber, and even the Commander's battle-hardened instincts screamed warning.
The orc raised its axe in a futile attempt at defense. The Chaos Bolt struck like divine judgment, exploding in a maelstrom of unstable energy that filled half the chamber with purple-black fire. When the light faded, the Commander stood in a crater, its armor shattered and its axe broken at the haft.
But it still lived. And now it was angry.
"Veldora!" Ciel called out, already moving. His companion had just finished the last warrior, and his timing was perfect.
"On it!" The knight charged forward, shield leading. The Commander, wounded and off-balance, tried to bring up its broken weapon in defense.
Veldora's shield bash caught it square in the chest with the full weight of his charge behind it. Enhanced strength met weakened defense, and this time physics won. The Commander crashed backward into its crude throne, the stone chair shattering under the impact.
Ciel was already there. Shift had carried him to the perfect angle, and his blade—still blazing with concentrated mana—drove through the gap where the Commander's shattered armor exposed its neck. The steel punched through hide and muscle, finding the spine beneath.
The massive orc convulsed once, its yellow eyes meeting Ciel's with something that might have been acknowledgment. Then the light faded, and its form began to dissolve.
[Dungeon Boss Defeated – Orc Commander.]
[Dungeon Cleared – Orc Den (Hard Mode).]
[Clear Time: 1 hour 52 minutes 09 seconds.]
[Previous Record: 2 hours 10 minutes 42 seconds.]
[Clear Rank: C → B (Record Bonus).]
[Base Reward: 20 Light Green Mana Stones.]
[Additional Reward: Orc Commander's Axe – Item Level 20/B.]
[Effect – +12 Strength, +5 Endurance.]
[Experience shared within party.]
[Level Up! – Veldora Greyson – Level 16.]
The familiar warmth of advancement washed over Veldora, and he let out a long breath as he planted his shield in the ground. "Finally. It keeps getting harder to level up the higher we go." He rolled his shoulders, working out the stiffness from the prolonged battle. "That Commander hit like a battering ram."
Sora lowered her staff, the chaotic energy finally dissipating around her. She glared at the notification displaying the Commander's axe. "Great. Another weapon none of us can use. That makes it, what—six in a row?"
"Seven," Ciel corrected, wiping blood from his face as he checked the loot log. His head still throbbed where the Commander had headbutted him, but the wound was already closing thanks to his enhanced endurance. "Unless you count your staff from the Harpy king."
Sora crossed her arms, her expression darkening. "The only useful drop we've gotten in three dungeon runs there. Meanwhile, Veldora gets a perfect shield, and the rest of us get to carry fancy paperweights."
"Hey, the Shield of Valor is legitimately useful," Veldora protested, though his grin suggested he knew exactly how lucky he'd been. "Not my fault the system likes me."
"You're hoarding all the luck drops," Sora shot back, but there was no real heat in her voice. "At this rate, you'll be fully equipped while Ciel and I are still using starter gear."
Ciel chuckled softly, shaking his head as he absorbed the Commander's corpse. The biomass would be useful for the realm, and the less evidence they left of their capabilities, the better. "Let's just hope our luck evens out before the Academy exams. I'd rather not face entrance trials with mismatched equipment."
The exit portal shimmered into existence at the chamber's center, its familiar light promising return to the mundane world. Together, they stepped through.
The Dungeon Hall greeted them with its usual organized chaos—the hum of dozens of conversations, the pulse of active portals, and the constant flow of adventurers preparing for or returning from their own trials. But today something was different. The energy in the hall felt electric, charged with the kind of excitement that came from significant news.
Clusters of awakeners crowded the main floor, their voices carrying clearly in the cavernous space.
"Did you hear? Leon Avalon hit level twenty this morning!"
"Already? Wasn't he just sixteen last week?"
"Yeah, he got his Second Awakening Quest right after hitting twenty. If he completes it within two weeks, he'll be the first Second Awakener of the year—and the fastest progression in recorded history!"
"Fastest globally... that's insane. We're talking about breaking records that have stood for decades."
"Not really a surprise though, is it? He's Vice Guild Master Avalon's son—personal tutors, best equipment money can buy, probably has access to restricted dungeons most of us will never see. The guy's got everything lined up perfectly."
"Must be nice being born into the right family."
Ciel slowed as they passed through the crowd, catching fragments of conversation that painted a picture of someone who had every advantage the world could offer. Leon Avalon—a name he'd heard before in passing, always spoken with a mixture of admiration and resentment.
Sora glanced over her shoulder at him, one eyebrow raised. "Guess the city's got its new headline. Wonder how long it'll take before they start comparing everyone to him."
Veldora scoffed under his breath, his voice carrying an edge of frustration. "Some people just complain all day instead of working hard themselves. 'Oh, he has advantages, it's not fair'—as if any of us chose our starting positions. You make do with what you have and get stronger."
Ciel didn't respond immediately. His eyes drifted upward toward the massive Dawn Guild emblem hanging from the central atrium, sunlight streaming through crystalline windows to make the golden threadwork gleam. The city seemed to pulse around that symbol—ambition, envy, admiration, all tangled together in a knot no one could quite unravel.
"Let them have their spotlight," he said quietly, his voice carrying a certainty that made his friends turn to look at him. "We'll earn ours through our own efforts. Leon Avalon can be the fastest—we'll just have to be the strongest."
The confidence in those words settled over them like a mantle, and Veldora's grin returned. "Now that's the attitude. So, what's next? Another dungeon tomorrow?"
Ciel shook his head. "No. Go home, get some rest. We'll meet again in an hour at my place."
Sora raised an eyebrow, curiosity sparking in her expression. "For what? Please don't tell me you're planning training. My everything hurts."
"The Infinite Mana Commerce Hall," Ciel explained. "Their monthly auction for first and second awakeners starts this evening. We've got seven pieces of equipment we can't use gathering dust. Might as well see what the market thinks they're worth."
Veldora's grin widened into something predatory. "An auction? Finally, something that doesn't involve getting hit in the face. I'm starting to forget what it's like to do something that doesn't end with me covered in blood."
"Don't jinx it," Sora warned, but she was smiling too. "Knowing our luck, someone will start a brawl and we'll end up fighting in the auction hall."
They split up at the Hall's entrance, the evening sun slanting across cobblestones that were still warm from the day's heat. Ciel walked home through streets that felt different after each dungeon run—like the noise dimmed around him while the world kept spinning at its usual frantic pace.
When he reached the Nova household, the door swung open before he could touch the handle.
Eren tackled him with the enthusiasm only a twelve-year-old could muster. "You're late! You said you'd be back by afternoon!"
Ciel caught his little brother with practiced ease, hoisting him up despite the lingering ache in his muscles. "I'm right on time according to my schedule. Not my fault you've been counting the minutes."
"You promised you'd spar with me after your dungeon run!" Eren squirmed free and landed in a fighting stance that was surprisingly good for someone his age. "I've been practicing the forms Dad taught me. This time I'm definitely going to land a hit!"
"Then I guess I'd better keep my promise," Ciel said, unable to keep the warmth from his voice. These moments with his brother were becoming increasingly precious as his own responsibilities grew heavier.
Their wooden practice blades clashed across the yard, the sound carrying through the early evening air. Eren was genuinely improving—his footwork steadier, his strikes more confident, his defensive positioning showing real understanding of the principles their father had taught. But experience was its own advantage, and Ciel still outmaneuvered him with ease, ending the bout with a gentle tap to his shoulder.
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
"No fair," Eren huffed, lowering his practice sword with obvious disappointment. "You're getting even better. How am I supposed to catch up if you keep improving too?"
"By getting better faster," Ciel said, ruffling his brother's hair with genuine affection. "You're doing well, Eren. Your stance is solid now, and that combination you tried near the end—that was clever. A few more years and you might actually make me work for it."
The pride that lit up his brother's face made the exhaustion from the dungeon feel worthwhile.
Lunch was warm and simple—his mother's cooking filling the house with comfortable aromas, his father's quiet smile conveying approval without words, Eren's endless chatter about his latest artistic projects and training progress. For a while, Ciel let the world outside blur away, content to simply exist in this pocket of normalcy.
Later, when the house grew quiet with afternoon rest, he slipped into his realm.
The familiar transition washed over him like stepping through a curtain of warm water. The realm greeted him with its steady pulse of power, transformed from the empty grasslands he'd first created into something approaching a true sanctuary.
Ten Mana Wells now dotted the landscape in carefully calculated positions, their azure glow casting gentle ripples across grass that seemed almost supernaturally green. Streams of liquid light connected the wells like luminous veins, creating a network that fed the realm's heart—the World Tree, now standing over two meters tall and radiating an aura of profound vitality.
Ciel stood for a moment, letting his gaze drift over what he had built through weeks of careful resource management and strategic planning. The realm had grown in ways that went beyond mere size—the air itself felt denser, richer with mana, and there was a quality to the light that suggested something fundamental had shifted in how this pocket dimension related to reality.
Two days ago, one of his core skills had evolved, fundamentally changing the nature of this space.
He called up the relevant window.
[Unique Skill: Time Flow (Beginner Lv. 3)]
– Controls time flow inside the Realm.
– Current Ratio: 1 hour outside = 4 hours inside.
– Cost: 1 WP per hour beyond 1:1.
The evolution had been hard-won—countless hours of practice, burning through mana stones to maintain the effect while pushing the skill to its absolute limits. But the result was undeniable. Four hours of training for every one hour that passed in the real world. It was an advantage that compounded with every day, widening the gap between what he could achieve and what should be possible for someone at his level.
"One step at a time," he murmured, though the words felt inadequate for the magnitude of what he was building.
His Status Window appeared at a thought.
[Status Window – Ciel Nova]
Class: Unique – Realm Holder
Level: 10
Awakening State: 1st Awakening
World Power (WP): 640
Mana Stones: 14,130
Health Points (HP): 1,358 / 1,358
Mana Points (MP): 1,770 / 1,770
Stats:
Strength: 20
Agility: 20
Endurance: 20
Intelligence: 18
Wisdom: 35
Luck: 12
The numbers told a story of methodical progress. Level 10 represented a milestone—the point where most awakeners would begin seriously considering their path toward the Second Awakening. But for Ciel, it was just another marker on a journey that stretched far beyond conventional progression.
His Wisdom had broken into the mid-thirties, enhanced by careful stat allocation and the natural growth that came from constantly managing his realm's complex systems. The rest of his stats had grown more balanced, shaped by the demands of actual combat rather than theoretical optimization.
He closed the window, watching the mana wells flicker in synchronized rhythm like a constellation brought to earth. The realm thrummed with potential, waiting for the next phase of its evolution.
"Time to see what the world's offering tonight," he said to the empty air, turning toward the exit.
The three met again as dusk crept over Amber City, painting the sky in shades of amber and violet that gave the city its name. Mana lights were beginning to flicker to life across the urban landscape, creating a second constellation that mirrored the stars above.
Sora was already waiting when Ciel arrived at their meeting spot near the guild plaza, her staff leaning against her shoulder as she examined something in a small leather journal. She looked up at his approach and waved. "Took you long enough. I was starting to think you'd gotten lost in your realm again."
"Had to verify our resource production rates," Ciel replied, which was technically true even if it wasn't the complete explanation. "Everything's running efficiently."
Veldora arrived moments later, hefting a medium-sized crate that clinked with the unmistakable sound of metal equipment. "Got everything packed—all pieces of our useless loot collection, plus the appraisal notes from the Hall's evaluators. Let's hope someone with more money than sense decides our junk is worth buying."
"It's not junk," Sora corrected, falling into step beside them as they began walking toward their destination. "It's perfectly good equipment that just doesn't match our classes. There's a difference."
"Tell that to my inventory space," Veldora grumbled, but his tone was more amused than genuinely annoyed. "I swear that Commander's axe is judging me every time I open my storage. 'Why don't you use me?'—because I'm a sword and shield fighter, you oversized cleaver."
Their banter continued as they navigated through streets that grew progressively more affluent. The Infinite Mana Commerce Hall was located near the city's commercial heart, where the truly wealthy merchants and high-ranking guild members made their homes. The buildings here were taller, more ornate, constructed from materials that most citizens could only dream of affording.
The Hall itself loomed before them—a marble structure that seemed to glow with inner light, its walls etched with flowing blue sigils that pulsed in hypnotic patterns. Twin pillars flanked the main entrance, each carved to resemble stylized mana streams frozen in stone. Above the doors, the Infinite Mana guild's symbol—a droplet within a gear—was rendered in precious metals that caught the dying light.
Inside, the reception wing was a study in controlled opulence. The floors were polished stone that reflected like still water, and the walls were lined with crystal displays showcasing high-end merchandise. Dozens of awakeners filled the space—some examining items with the careful attention of serious buyers, others engaged in hushed negotiations with clerks who moved with practiced efficiency.
The air carried a faint scent of ink, parchment, and something harder to define—the subtle aroma of wealth and power concentrated in one place.
A clerk in a silver uniform spotted them approaching and moved to intercept, his professional smile never wavering. "Good evening. Are you here to register items for tonight's auction, or are you interested in purchasing?"
"Registering," Ciel replied, gesturing to Veldora's crate. "We have six pieces of equipment—all B or C rank, levels fifteen to twenty."
The clerk's expression shifted from polite interest to genuine attention. He guided them to a specialized counter where another clerk—this one wearing the additional insignia of an appraiser—waited with evaluation tools at the ready.
"Let's see what you have," the appraiser said, her tone all business as Veldora carefully unloaded their collection.
One by one, she examined each piece with tools that glowed with assessment magic, occasionally making notes in a ledger that updated itself with flowing script. The process took nearly fifteen minutes, but when she finally looked up, there was approval in her eyes.
"Quality pieces, all of them. These will do well in tonight's second round." She began cataloging the items officially:
Registered Items:
- Kobold Greatbow – Rank B, Level 20 (+18 Agility)
- Ironbreaker Hammer – Rank B, Level 15 (+13 Strength, +3 Endurance)
- Orc Commander's Axe – Rank B, Level 20 (+12 Strength, +5 Endurance)
- Gauntlets of the Mountain – Rank C, Level 20 (+8 Strength, +5 Endurance)
- Twin Fang Daggers ×2 – Rank C, Level 15 (+10 Agility each, Set Bonus: +15% Critical Chance)
"These will be listed in the second round—higher-end equipment for established First Awakeners," the appraiser explained. "Base reserve prices have been calculated based on current market values. You'll receive ninety percent of the final sale price, with ten percent going to the Hall as commission."
She handed them three tokens marked with their registration numbers. "Keep these safe. Present them after the auction to claim your earnings."
With their business concluded, they joined the flow of participants moving toward the main auction hall. The passage opened into a vast amphitheater that could have accommodated hundreds of people with ease. Tiered seating rose in concentric circles around a central platform, and glowing banners displaying the Infinite Mana symbol hung from the vaulted ceiling.
The auctioneer's platform was a marvel of magical engineering—a circular disc of polished stone that floated three meters above the floor, rotating slowly to give everyone in the audience an equal view. Smaller displays floated around the main platform, ready to showcase items in detail.
They found seats in the middle tier, close enough to see clearly but not so prominent as to draw unwanted attention. The amphitheater was filling rapidly, and the ambient energy of so many awakeners in one place created a palpable buzz of anticipation.
Then the lights dimmed, and a figure appeared on the central platform as if materialized from light itself.
The auctioneer was a woman who commanded attention through sheer presence rather than ostentation. She wore robes of deep purple trimmed with silver, and her dark hair was pulled back to reveal features that suggested mixed heritage from across the continents. But it was her eyes that truly captured attention—they seemed to dance with an inner light, missing nothing as they swept across the assembled crowd.
When she spoke, her voice filled the amphitheater without seeming to shout, the acoustics and enhancement magic working in perfect harmony.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, esteemed awakeners and honored guests!" Her smile was warm but carried an edge of showmanship. "I am Miranda Cloudweaver, and I'll be your guide through tonight's auction—a collection of items that range from the practical to the extraordinary, from the affordable to the 'my guild master will kill me if they find out I spent this much.'"
Laughter rippled through the crowd, and Ciel found himself smiling despite his usual reserve. The woman had presence.
"Tonight we have sixty-seven lots total, divided into three rounds," Miranda continued, her hands gesturing gracefully as floating displays illuminated around her. "Round One features items suitable for newly awakened or developing fighters—everything from consumables to entry-level equipment. Round Two showcases established First Awakener gear with real bite to it. And Round Three..." She paused for dramatic effect. "Well, let's just say some of you might need to take out loans."
More laughter, and the atmosphere in the hall shifted from merely interested to genuinely engaged.
"Standard rules apply: bid clearly, pay promptly, and please keep physical altercations to the courtyard outside—our insurance premiums are already astronomical." Miranda's smile turned positively wicked. "Now, let's see who's ready to part with their hard-earned mana, shall we?"
The first item appeared on a floating display—a set of health potions in crystalline vials.
"Lot One! Superior Health Potion set, five vials total! These beauties will restore up to forty percent of your maximum HP, and unlike the cheap alternatives, they won't leave you feeling like you've been turned inside out! Starting bid: thirty mana!"
"Thirty-five!"
"Forty!"
"Fifty mana!"
Miranda's commentary flowed like water, each word perfectly timed to maintain momentum while providing just enough context to help bidders make informed decisions. She had an instinct for when to push and when to let the silence work for her, and her occasional witty observations kept the crowd engaged even during slower moments.
"Lot Two! Steelfang Blade, Rank C, Level 9! Perfect for that awkward stage where you're too strong for basic gear but too broke for the good stuff! Plus, it has an aesthetic all its own—if you like the 'I just crawled out of a dungeon' look!"
The blade sold for seventy mana after brief but enthusiastic bidding.
"Lot Three! Amulet of Lesser Vitality, Rank C! Grants +5 Endurance, because sometimes the difference between victory and a tragic funeral is a few extra hit points! Starting at forty mana!"
The crowd was warming to her style, and bidding became more animated. People called out their offers with increasing confidence, drawn into the performance as much as the actual items.
Then the fourth item appeared, and the atmosphere shifted.
A simple ring materialized on the central display, its silver band set with a small blue gem that pulsed with contained power. The floating screens showed its statistics in clear detail.
"Lot Four! Now this, my friends, is something special." Miranda's voice dropped slightly, drawing everyone in. "Ring of Wisdom, Level 10, Rank C. Grants +5 Wisdom to the wearer—a stat increase Perfect for mages, supports... anyone whose power flows through their mind rather than their muscles."
Whispers broke out immediately.
"Sixty mana starting bid!" Miranda announced. "And before anyone asks—yes, it's been verified by three separate appraisers. No curses, no hidden drawbacks, just pure statistical enhancement!"
"Sixty-five!"
"Seventy!"
The price climbed steadily, and Miranda provided running commentary that somehow enhanced rather than interrupted the flow.
"Eighty-five from the gentleman in the blue robes—wise investment, pun absolutely intended!"
"One hundred! The lady in red enters the fray! I admire the commitment!"
"One twenty! Oh, we're getting serious now, folks!"
The bidding continued to escalate, and Ciel watched with analytical interest as the price climbed past reasonable and kept going. This was more than just people buying useful equipment—this was competition, status, the desire to be the one who walked away with the prize.
"One hundred and eighty!" The call came from a young man near the front wearing expensive robes that practically screamed wealth.
"Two hundred!" A woman in the upper tiers countered immediately, her voice carrying steel.
The hall had gone quiet except for the bidding, everyone sensing that this had become something more than a simple transaction.
"Two hundred and twenty!"
"Two forty!"
"Two hundred and eighty mana!" The young man's voice carried a note of finality, as if daring anyone to top that price.
The silence stretched. Miranda's eyes swept the crowd, giving everyone time to decide if they were truly out of the running.
"Two hundred and eighty mana for the Ring of Wisdom! This is your last chance, ladies and gentlemen! Don't let this one slip away because you were too shy to raise your hand!"
More silence. Then Miranda's crystalline hammer—a prop that somehow made the whole proceeding feel more legitimate—struck the floating bell beside her platform.
"Going once... going twice... SOLD! To the determined gentleman in the front row, for two hundred and eighty mana!" The hammer struck again, and the sound echoed through the amphitheater. "Congratulations on your investment in intellectual supremacy!"
The crowd broke into applause—not for the buyer specifically, but for the spectacle of it all. Veldora leaned toward Sora, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Who drops nearly three hundred mana on a C-rank ring? That's insane!"
Sora shook her head, equally surprised but more analytical. "Someone who either desperately needs Wisdom for their build... or has so much money that two hundred and eighty mana is pocket change."
Ciel said nothing, though a small smile tugged at his lips. His eyes tracked the young man collecting his prize with obvious satisfaction, and something in his expression suggested this hadn't been the financial strain it might have been for others.
The auction continued through Round One with more items selling for reasonable if sometimes surprising prices—consumables, basic equipment, crafting materials. Miranda's commentary never flagged, each lot getting its moment in the spotlight regardless of actual value.
Finally, she raised both hands in a gesture that somehow commanded absolute attention.
"That concludes Round One, ladies and gentlemen! I hope your purses are feeling lighter and your inventories heavier!" Her smile was infectious. "We'll take a fifteen-minute intermission while we prepare Round Two—the serious equipment for serious awakeners. Those of you who registered items might want to check the preview boards to see your lots listed."
She gestured toward the walls, where crystalline displays had lit up showing the upcoming items in detail.
"Refreshments are available in the side chambers, and please feel free to network—some of the best deals in Amber City have been struck during auction intermissions!" Miranda's eyes twinkled. "Just remember: if you start a bidding war in the hallway, I expect you to finish it properly when we reconvene!"
The lights came up gradually, and the audience began to move. Some headed for the refreshment areas, others toward the preview displays, and still others seemed content to remain in their seats and discuss what they'd witnessed.
Ciel leaned back, his gaze fixed on the central platform where Miranda was consulting with assistants about the upcoming round. His registered items would be coming up soon, and he found himself curious about what the market would decide they were worth.
"Let's see if our 'useless loot' earns its keep," he said quietly, and his friends nodded in agreement.
The second round was about to begin, and with it, the real test of whether their dungeon spoils would prove valuable or merely decorative.