The Depths That Remember
The Frostmaw Coilwyrm’s remains had almost completely dissolved from the moment it was slain.
Several pieces of its blue-black armor remained scattered across the stone floor, catching the faint light of the crystals embedded in the walls. The fragments had resisted the dissolution that consumed the rest of the creature, and their surfaces retained a faint, icy shimmer.
Arieus crouched beside the largest piece.
“Oh, nice. Monster drops, this is what it’s all about.”
A grin spread across his face.
He had played enough RPGs and MMORPGs on Earth to recognize the familiar pattern. Defeat a monster, collect its materials, identify the useful components, and turn them into equipment, crafting ingredients, or profit\. The rules of this world were different in important ways, but the underlying logic felt familiar.
“If this fight was any indication that I’m truly in another world,” He grabs his injured shoulder “This pain sure does feel real.”
He picked up the largest armor fragment and examined its layered surface. The plates overlapped in a way that redirected incoming force, while their cold-resistant properties were apparent from the chill radiating against his fingertips.
A translucent notification appeared.
*Ping*
〔Received Items: Frostmaw Armor Shard ×3, Frostmaw Fang ×2〕
Arieus’s eyes brightened with excitement.
“Three armor shards and two fangs. Not bad. If I can find a crafter or black smith with a high crafting skill ability that would be great.”
He opened the item descriptions.
【Frostmaw Armor Shard】
Grade: Uncommon
Properties: High physical durability; cold resistance.
Potential Uses: Armor reinforcement, shield plating, defensive equipment.
【Frostmaw Fang】
Grade: Common
Properties: Naturally hardened tooth with a serrated cutting edge.
Potential Uses: Weapon components, crafting, alchemy.
“Armor reinforcement, huh? These could make decent gauntlets or reinforce the vulnerable parts of a lightweight chest piece.” Arieus turned one shard over in his hand. “The trick would be keeping the protection without sacrificing mobility.”
He had already begun imagining several designs when another notification appeared.
*Ping*
〔Received Items: Frostmaw’s Fortune — Grade: Mythic ×1, Eternal Springheart Elixir — Grade: Mythic ×1〕
Arieus stopped moving.
He looked at the notification.
Then he read it again.
“…Mythic? Oh… My GOSH!! This is so unreal. If this is what this dungeon has to offer then I can’t wait to explore the rest of this place ”
He opened the item descriptions.
【Frostmaw’s Fortune】
Grade: Mythic — Unique Drop
Type: Permanent Attribute Enhancement
Description: A rare crystallized remnant of the Frostmaw Coilwyrm’s fate-altering core. Upon consumption, this item permanently raises the user’s Luck attribute to Infinite.
Effect:
〔LUK: Current Value → ∞〕
Restrictions: Cannot be consumed by the same individual more than once.
Arieus stared at the description.
His mouth slowly opened.
“No way. This must be either an S-Ranked dungeon for sure. I mean it’s gotta be for the monsters to drop items like this.”
He had encountered rare drops, legendary equipment, and absurdly powerful items in countless games. He knew precisely how extremely rare a permanent attribute enhancement was, especially one that didn’t merely increase a number by a few points.
It replaced the number with infinity.
“An infinite Luck attribute? That’s not just a rare drop. That’s the kind of item people build entire endgame farming strategies around.”
He glanced toward the Frostmaw’s dissolving remains.
Then back at the item.
His excitement grew as he read the entire entry again, checking for hidden restrictions or a temporary duration.
There was none.
Frostmaw’s Fortune was a permanent attribute enhancement.
The second item was equally extraordinary.
【Eternal Springheart Elixir】
Grade: Mythic — Unique Drop
Type: Complete Restoration and Permanent Capacity Enhancement
Description: A concentrated essence formed within the Frostmaw Coilwyrm’s deepest energy core\. Upon consumption, the elixir restores the user’s physical condition and internal energy reserves to their natural maximum.
Effects:
〔Health: Fully Restored〕
〔Stamina: Fully Restored〕
〔Physical Injuries: Fully Healed〕
〔Chirikal Energy: Fully Restored〕
〔Maximum Base Chirikal Energy: 880 → 1,200〕
Restrictions: Single-use item. The increase to maximum base Chirikal Energy is permanent.
Arieus went completely silent.
Then he laughed.
Not a nervous laugh. Not a polite chuckle.
A genuine, incredulous laugh.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
He looked at the Mythic-grade items displayed before him, his vivid purple eyes practically sparkling.
“An item that permanently raises Luck to infinity, and another that completely restores my body while increasing my maximum C.E.?” He shook his head, grinning. “What kind of ridiculous dungeon am I exploring?”
His shoulder throbbed, and every breath reminded him of the punishment he had taken during the Frostmaw Coilwyrm battle. But the pain wasn’t enough to distract him from the rewards.
He knew what rare drops meant\. Back on Earth, he had spent countless hours playing MMORPGs, chasing rare equipment, experimenting with builds, and imagining what he would do if he ever obtained an absurdly powerful endgame item.
And unlike a game on Earth, these rewards weren’t merely numbers on a screen.
They were real.
He could feel the faint energy radiating from the two items.
Arieus selected Frostmaw’s Fortune first.
The pale crystal materialized in his palm. Its surface shimmered with a delicate golden light, almost as though it were reflecting a star that didn’t exist in the cavern.
“Permanent Infinite Luck, huh?”
His grin widened.
“Yeah. I’m definitely not leaving you in my inventor.”
He tossed the crystal into his mouth and swallowed\.
It dissolved almost instantly, melting into a cool sensation that spread down his throat. A moment later, warmth blossomed in his chest and flowed through his body. The feeling was subtle at first, then expanded outward, as though the world around him had become a little more responsive to his presence.
*Ping*
〔Frostmaw’s Fortune consumed〕
〔Permanent Attribute Enhancement Confirmed〕
〔LUK: ∞〕
〔Luck Attribute Permanently Increased to Infinite〕
Arieus opened his Status HUD.
There it was.
**LUK: ∞**
He stared at it for a few seconds before letting out another laugh.
“This actually works out perfectly in my favor.” he thinks to himself. “ what are the chances that I would’ve found something like this on my first day here? Be be that as it may, with my luck that being infinite this shit up my chances of drop rates and have a massive effect during my battles.”
With the level of excitement in his voice, he knew that having the luck stat meant that every area of a game was affected by that. Whether it was interactions with NPC’s, or the probability of something happening, something good that is, all revolved around a players Luck stat.
The possibilities were incredible.
Better opportunities. Unexpected openings. Fortunate discoveries. Perhaps even the occasional drop that should have been nearly impossible to obtain.
He couldn’t wait to find out how the attribute would affect his adventures.
“Now that’s a passive ability worth having.”
Without hesitation, he selected the second item.
The Eternal Springheart Elixir appeared in his hand inside a small glass vial. Its emerald liquid shimmered with tiny points of light, and its fragrance reminded him of rain falling over a forest after a long drought.
Arieus pulled the stopper.
“Full restoration, injury recovery, and a permanent increase to my energy capacity. Talk about getting your money’s worth.”
He tipped the vial back and drank the elixir.
The liquid was cool and sweet.
Then the restoration began.
The ache in his shoulder vanished first\. The pain around his ribs faded immediately afterward, followed by the stiffness in his legs. The bruising and tissue damage disappeared as his body returned to its natural, unharmed condition.
His breathing deepened.
The fatigue that had settled into his muscles lifted.
It felt as though he had been given a full night’s rest, except the restoration reached far beyond ordinary recovery. Every part of his body felt renewed, from the muscles in his arms to the soles of his feet.
Then his Chirikal Energy surged.
His depleted reserves began replenishing, and the familiar current of power flowed through him once more. Yet it didn’t stop when it reached its former maximum.
The energy continued to rise.
Arieus felt something change within him, as though the channels through which his C.E. circulated had expanded to accommodate a greater volume\. His reserves grew beyond their previous limit, settling into a new, more powerful equilibrium.
*PING*
〔Eternal Springheart Elixir consumed.〕
〔Complete Restoration Initiated.〕
〔Health: 79% → 100%〕
〔Stamina: 1,281 / 1,500 → 1,500 / 1,500〕
〔Physical Injuries: Healed.〕
〔Chirikal Energy: 40 / 880 → 880 / 880〕
〔Maximum Base C.E.: 880 → 1,200〕
〔Permanent Capacity Enhancement Confirmed.〕
Arieus lowered the empty vial.
For a moment, he simply stood there, taking in the sensation of his restored body.
Then he rolled his shoulders.
No pain.
He stretched his arms, bent his knees, and took several deep breaths.
Nothing hurt.
His body felt refreshed, and the energy circulating within him was stronger than before. The increase of 320 points to his maximum C.E. might not have changed his level, but it gave him considerably more energy to work with during future encounters.
His grin returned.
“One thousand two hundred C.E.”
He opened his Status HUD to admire the results.
【STATUS】
Name: Arieus Minazuki
Race: Human
Level: 26
EXP: 213 / 775
Health: 100%
Chirikal Energy: 1,200 / 1,200
【BASIC ATTRIBUTES】
〔STR〕 950 〔SPD〕 979 〔DEF〕 740
〔INT〕 1000 〔VIT〕 900 〔DEX〕 851
〔STA〕 1,500 〔LUK〕 ♾️
【AVAILABLE POINTS】
Attribute Points: 5
Skill Points: 1
【SKILLS】
Unique Skill: 《Shadow God》《Demon Wind Scythe》《Detect》《Wind Manipulation》
Unique Skill: 《Cocoon》《Shadow Movement》
《Shadow Manipulation》
Arieus closed the display and flexed his fingers.
“An infinite Luck attribute and a bigger C.E. pool. Man, I really need to see what else this dungeon has to offer.”
His expression shifted into a more thoughtful smile.
He was still the same person he had been before consuming the items. His level hadn’t suddenly skyrocketed, and his physical abilities hadn’t become limitless. He would still need to think carefully, manage his resources, and adapt to whatever opponents he encountered.
But he had gained two extraordinary advantages, and he intended to make full use of them.
He glanced toward the passage leading deeper into Reapers Domain.
The prospect of discovering what waited beyond it filled him with the kind of excitement he had once felt before starting a difficult raid or challenging a boss far above his level.
Only this time, there was no screen separating him from the danger.
Arieus laughed under his breath.
“Alright, Reapers Domain. Show me what you’ve got.”
Genryu approached, glancing from Arieus’s empty hand to the noticeably improved condition of his companion.
“Your injuries have healed.”
“Completely.” Arieus rotated his shoulder to demonstrate. “And my maximum C.E. just increased from 880 to 1,200.”
Genryu studied him for a moment.
“That is an extraordinary improvement.”
The deeper Arieus and his companions descended, the more the atmosphere changed.
The walls of Reapers Domain grew darker, their surfaces threaded with glowing mineral veins that pulsed like the beating hearts of some enormous creature. Heat drifted through the corridors, carrying the metallic scent of ancient stone and something faintly charred.
“Something big is ahead,” Genryu observed, tightening his grip on his weapon.
Shoen crouched beside a deep crack in the floor. Frost crept from his fingertips, spreading across the stone before stopping abruptly.
“There’s heat beneath us. A lot of it.”
Donevan sniffed the air.
“Is it edible?”
Priscilla stared at him. “If you try eating a dungeon boss, I’m leaving you here.”
“Cruelty! Absolute cruelty!”
Arieus paid them little attention. His gaze had settled on a gigantic doorway at the end of the passage. Three circular mechanisms were embedded in its surface, each surrounded by worn runes.
As he approached, the mechanisms rotated.
KRRRRRRRROOOOM!
The doors parted.
Beyond them lay a colossal chamber resembling an underground foundry. Rivers of molten rock flowed through trenches in the floor, illuminating towering pillars and heaps of shattered stone.
At the center stood a hulking figure.
Its body was assembled from layers of dark mineral plates. Jagged horns rose from its shoulders, while a furnace-like core burned behind its rib cage. Every movement sent fragments of stone tumbling from its armor.
PING!
〔Floor Guardian Detected〕
Name: Gravelhide Cataclysm Golem
Level: 38
HP: 100%
Threat Classification: High
The golem lifted its head. Molten-orange eyes fixed upon the intruders.
Then the chamber shook.
BOOOOOOM!
Its fist crashed into the ground, launching a shock wave through the room. The party scattered as stone erupted beneath their feet.
Arieus slipped between two rising slabs and studied the guardian’s movements.
《Chirikal Descry》
〔C.E.: −0.70% = 1,192 / 1,200〕
Information unfolded in his perception. The golem’s exterior possessed extraordinary physical resistance, but overlapping mineral plates around its torso constrained its movements. Whenever its core brightened, those plates separated momentarily to release excess heat.
A weakness.
Genryu advanced as the golem drew back its enormous fist. He met the blow with his weapon, and the collision rang through the chamber.
CLAAANG!
The impact drove him several meters backward, his boots carving twin furrows into the stone.
“It's stronger than it looks!” he grunted.
“That's usually what happens when something is built like a mountain!” Priscilla called, raising her staff.
《Activate》『White Nova』!
A concentrated burst of white magic exploded against the golem's shoulder.
BOOOOM!
The blast chipped away several armor plates, but the guardian barely staggered.
Shoen's ice surged across its right leg, freezing the joints together. At the same time, Donevan thrust both hands forward.
《Activate》『Water Manipulation』!
Water spiraled through the chamber, cooling the molten channels and filling the battlefield with a rolling cloud of steam.
The golem roared. Its core flared brighter.
Arieus was already moving.
《Shadow Movement》
〔C.E.: −1.00% = 1,180 / 1,200〕
His body slipped through the darkness beneath a shattered pillar and emerged beside the golem’s torso. The guardian tried to turn, but its frozen leg dragged against the floor.
Arieus drew his arm back.
《Demon Wind Scythe》
〔C.E.: −2.00% = 1,156 / 1,200〕
A crescent of compressed wind and shadow tore across the exposed gap.
SHRAAAAAK!
The blade struck the golem’s core housing. Black fractures spread across the mineral plating, and the guardian staggered.
〔Gravelhide Cataclysm Golem HP: 100% → 84%〕
The golem retaliated with a sweeping arm.
Arieus ducked beneath the blow, but the displaced air struck him like a hammer. He was flung sideways and crashed against a pillar.
〔Arieus HP: 100% → 91%〕
Pain flashed through his ribs.
He rose before the dust had settled, eyes fixed on the guardian.
Its attacks are powerful, but once it commits to a swing, it can’t change direction quickly.
The golem raised both arms. Molten stone erupted around it, forcing the party to retreat. Meanwhile, the damaged armor began knitting itself together.
“It’s repairing itself!” Shoen warned.
The guardian’s core pulsed again.
Arieus extended his hand.
《Shadow Manipulation》
〔C.E.: −1.50% = 1,138 / 1,200〕
The shadows beneath the golem stretched outward. Its enormous mass resisted the restraint, dragging the darkness along as it advanced.
Arieus narrowed his eyes.
“Tch, too broad.”
He concentrated his control around the joints instead of trying to restrain the entire creature. Darkness tightened around its knees and elbows.
The golem’s next step faltered.
Genryu surged forward, striking its armored forearm. Shoen reinforced the ice around its leg, while Priscilla unleashed lightning against the exposed torso. Donevan’s water crashed across the damaged plating, cooling the blazing core housing.
Their movements meshed without hesitation. Each exploited the opening left by another, forcing the guardian to defend multiple weaknesses at once.
Arieus felt the shadows answering his will more readily than before.
“This power… I can do more with it.”
He clenched his fist.
The darkness snapped.
For a fraction of a second, the golem froze.
Arieus sprang forward and drove a concentrated strike into the fractured core housing.
KRA-KOOOOOM!
The outer plates shattered. The guardian’s core became visible—a brilliant, unstable mass of molten energy.
Priscilla’s staff flashed.
《Activate》『Lightning Javelin x30』!!!!
Thirty spears of lightning streaked across the chamber. Genryu struck the exposed chest, and Shoen’s ice forced the remaining plates apart.
Arieus moved through the opening.
《Demon Wind Scythe》
〔C.E.: −2.50% = 1,108 / 1,200〕
His shadow-wreathed blade carved through the core.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
A pillar of orange light burst from the golem’s chest. Its enormous body shuddered, then collapsed into heaps of broken stone.
Silence returned to the chamber.
PING!
〔Gravelhide Cataclysm Golem defeated!〕
〔EXP acquired: Exceptional Bonus Applied〕
〔Gravelhide Cataclysm Golem HP: 4% → 0%〕
Arieus lowered his arm. His ribs still ached from the impact, and a thin line of blood ran from the corner of his mouth.
〔Arieus HP: 91%〕
Genryu glanced around the chamber.
“Everyone still standing?”
Shoen nodded. Priscilla lowered her staff, visibly relieved. Donevan, meanwhile, was already examining a pile of mineral fragments.
“Look at these! I bet I could make a very expensive soup pot!”
“Put it down,” Priscilla ordered.
“It’s not even warm anymore!”
A series of chimes interrupted them.
PING!
〔Rare Drop Acquired: Cataclysm Core ×1〕
〔Epic Drop Acquired: Gravelhide Sovereign Plate ×3〕
〔Epic Drop Acquired: Crystalheart Conduit ×2〕
〔Rare Drop Acquired: Golem King’s Horn ×2〕
Arieus glanced at the rewards before turning toward the exit. They were valuable, but the deeper floors remained their priority.
Then another notification appeared.
PING!
〔Unique Skill Evolution Condition Fulfilled〕
〔《Shadow God》 has recognized the user’s developing mastery over shadow power and the limits of his current form.〕
〔Two Unique Skills have been unlocked.〕
Arieus paused.
Two?
He opened his private skill window.
〔Unique Skill Acquired: 《Shadow Ascendant》〕
Description: Allows the user to transform into an advanced shadow state, enveloping the body in dark armor-like energy, jagged crimson formations, and a powerful shadow aura. In this form, the user’s hair becomes engulfed in brilliant cyan-blue flames, while the eyes radiate a piercing crimson glow.
The transformation substantially enhances physical strength, speed, defense, vitality, dexterity, and Chirikal output. Shadow-based abilities become more potent while the form is active.
Duration and Mastery: The initial transformation lasts 60 seconds. Repeated activation, combat experience, and specialized training increase the skill’s level and duration. Greater mastery improves control and reduces energy strain. At its ultimate level, the user can sustain the form indefinitely without the original duration restriction.
Limitations: Activation consumes Chirikal Energy, and maintaining the form places additional strain on the user’s reserves. Excessive energy depletion, severe physical disruption, or loss of control may end the transformation prematurely.
〔Unique Skill Acquired: 《Lunar Eclipse: Eternal Night》〕
Description: Creates a supernatural domain that transforms the surrounding environment into an artificial midnight beneath an enormous, luminous full moon. The domain saturates the battlefield with shadow-infused Chirikal, empowering the user and allowing the creation of sophisticated illusions.
Lunar Empowerment: While within the domain, the user receives percentage-based enhancements to physical attributes, sensory perception, and shadow-based abilities. The full moon acts as a conduit for shadow power, improving its range and precision.
Illusion Manifestation: The domain can distort distance, direction, sound, and the apparent locations of people and objects. The user can conceal movements, create false silhouettes, produce convincing duplicates, and mislead enemies into attacking illusions.
Duration and Mastery: The initial domain lasts 180 seconds. Its range, duration, illusion complexity, and enhancement effects improve as the skill levels up.
Limitations: Establishing and maintaining the domain consumes Chirikal Energy. Strong perception abilities, sufficient resistance, or powerful counter-skills may expose or overcome its illusions. The illusions do not automatically inflict physical damage.
Arieus studied the descriptions in silence.
One skill transformed him into a living weapon. The other allowed him to change the battlefield itself.
“This is completely epic! I’ll definitely have to train using both of these so that I can increase my duration for both of these skills. I’ve got just the thing in mind too.”
He closed the window.
The moment Arieus stepped beyond the guardian’s chamber, a cascade of notifications flooded his private interface.
PING!
〔Exceptional EXP Bonus Applied〕
〔Accumulated EXP threshold exceeded.〕
〔Level progression initiated.〕
PING 【Leveled Up!】
PING 【Leveled Up!】
PING 【Leveled Up!】
The messages continued in rapid succession.
Experience from the guardian and his earlier encounters accumulated at an extraordinary rate. Infinite Luck had not weakened the golem or landed the finishing blow for him, but it had produced an exceptionally favorable EXP calculation.
By the time the notifications stopped, Arieus had reached Level 45.
He opened his status window privately.
【STATUS】
Name: Arieus Minazuki
Race: Human
Level: 45
Health: 100%
Chirikal Energy: 1,200 / 1,200
Stamina: 1,500 / 1,500
【BASIC ATTRIBUTES】
〔STR〕 950 〔SPD〕 979 〔DEF〕 740
〔INT〕 1,000 〔VIT〕 900 〔DEX〕 851
〔STA〕 1,500 〔LUK〕 ♾️
【AVAILABLE POINTS】
Attribute Points: 24
Skill Points: 20
He left every point untouched.
“Everyone still in one piece?” Genryu asked.
The status window vanished instantly.
“Yea, all good over here.” Arieus readily replied. he glanced once at the enormous chamber behind them before following the others.
They had conquered another guardian, but the dungeon’s atmosphere had changed. And the deeper they went, the more he felt that the real trial had not yet begun.
