Airen looked at the two cubes resting inside the chest, their contrasting auras reflecting off his cold eyes. One shimmered softly with golden mist, while the other devoured light itself, cloaked in deep black.
He reached out, turning the golden one in his palm. "System," he asked calmly, "what exactly are these?"
[The transparent one, swirling with golden mist, is called Aurem Crystal Shard.]
Airen raised an eyebrow. "Aurem Crystal Shard, huh? Sounds grand."
[The name is fitting. The golden mist you see within it is pure life essence energy—a condensed form of power that strengthens living beings. In this world, it was often used to evolve weak creatures or enhance warriors.]
Airen's eyes glinted faintly. "Evolve…? So it can make beings stronger."
[Yes. But it works selectively.]
A thought crossed Airen's mind, his tone turning thoughtful. "Then what if I spread this energy across Earth?"
There was a pause before the system answered.
[If you released it there, both humans and animals would grow stronger—but not equally. Only humans with immense willpower and those who have pushed their bodies to their absolute limits would be capable of absorbing it. The rest would be unaffected.]
Airen crossed his arms. "And the animals?"
[The chances of animals evolving are much higher. Unlike humans, they act purely on instinct. That instinct allows them to merge with the energy faster—some could mutate, becoming faster, stronger… more dangerous.]
Airen hummed in thought, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "So spreading it would awaken strength… but also chaos."
[Exactly.]
Airen slipped the cube between his fingers, watching the golden mist swirl hypnotically. "Tch. Interesting."
He then picked up the black cube, its cold weight settling into his palm. The surface felt unnatural—like holding solidified void.
"What about this one?"
[That is the Obsidian Chronocube. Inside it exists a separate dimension—a contained space where time flows differently. The people of this world once used it for intense training. For example, one day outside could equal a full year inside.]
Airen's expression sharpened. "And this one?"
[Your cube operates on a ratio of two years inside for every one day outside.]
His eyes widened slightly. "So when I sleep for one hour in my world, two hours pass here… and in this cube, two years would pass for a single day?"
[Correct.]
Airen's lips curved into a grin. "Heh… what a fascinating relic." His voice carried quiet admiration, his reflection shimmering faintly in the cube's surface.
He looked at the golden cube again. "System, what if I use the Aurem Crystal Shard on myself?"
[It will not work. Your body's structure has already surpassed the base limits that this shard can influence. It's designed for ordinary life forms, not someone who's already broken through human thresholds.]
"Tsk," Airen clicked his tongue in disappointment. "Figures."
He spun the cube once more in his hand. "Then if I used this shard on Earth's people, they could get stronger, right? Meaning I wouldn't even need to create dungeons anymore?"
[No. The shard's energy would not make them that strong. It might help them evolve physically, maybe even awaken small fragments of power—but never to the level of dungeon-born strength. And remember, the moment you spread this energy… it doesn't just empower humans. Animals, too, would evolve—and far faster.]
Airen's eyes narrowed. "So humanity would face evolved beasts?"
[Yes. Those new creatures would likely turn violent—instinct would drive them to attack humans to claim more energy for themselves.]
Airen exhaled quietly, rolling both cubes in his hands before placing them back into his inventory. "Then it's not the right time," he muttered. "I'll think about this… when I return."
[Wise decision.]
He straightened up, glancing toward the stairs the signal that the path to the sixth floor was ready.
Airen's voice was calm, yet carried a quiet determination. "Power that can bend time… energy that can evolve worlds…" He smirked faintly. "Let's see just how I am gonna use both."
He began his descent, the echo of his boots fading into the silence. When he reached the sixth floor, a strange new landscape unfolded before him. A wide river stretched across the entire area, its surface shimmering with pale blue light. Wooden and stone houses stood half-submerged, built on stilts that pierced deep into the riverbed—some even floating freely on the water. The entire settlement seemed alive, yet… alien.
Then he saw them.
Hundreds of frog-like beings, each around human height, filled the area. Their bodies were humanoid in shape—upright posture, muscular torsos, and long limbs—but their heads, hands, and legs still bore the unmistakable features of frogs. Their green, slick skin gleamed under the dim light, and their wide, round eyes reflected the river's glow like orbs of glass. Some had faint tribal markings drawn across their arms and chests, while others carried belts made from vines or fish scales.
The moment Airen appeared, the entire riverside fell silent.
"That's a human!" one of the frog-men croaked, voice echoing like a gurgle.
"Where did he come from?" another hissed. "He just appeared out of nowhere!"
Airen stood still, facing hundreds of amphibious eyes locked on him. His presence alone seemed to unsettle them.
[There are a total of 348 evolved river frogs in this area.]
Many of them were mid-hunt—some clutching crude spears made of sharpened stone lashed to long sticks, others holding primitive bows strung with vine cords. In an instant, dozens raised their weapons, their sharp stone tips glinting under the light, all pointed toward Airen.
Meanwhile, several frogs dashed toward the massive structure at the river's center—its thick wooden pillars etched with glowing, frog-like runes that pulsed faintly with green light. Airen's gaze followed them for a moment, his expression unreadable.
"They must be calling their chief," he murmured, voice calm but edged with anticipation. His eyes flicked back to the horde surrounding him, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Good… let's see what kind of creatures rule this floor."
Before he could take another step, a sharp whip-like sound sliced through the air.
Snap!
A long, slick tongue shot toward him like a javelin, wrapping around his torso in an instant. The force yanked him forward, the amphibian attacker's webbed feet digging into the wet ground as it tried to pull Airen off balance.
But the frog's strength was nothing compared to his.
Airen's feet remained planted, unmoving. His expression didn't even flicker. Then, with a single flex of his arm, he pulled.
The frog was ripped off the ground, flying toward him helplessly before—
CRACK!
Airen's fist connected squarely with its face. The impact exploded outward with a shockwave that rippled across the water's surface. The frog's skull shattered under the force, its head bursting apart as its lifeless body crumpled at Airen's feet.
For a heartbeat, there was silence. Then—
Every frog around him tensed, their wide eyes trembling. Spears were raised. Arrows drawn. The air was thick with killing intent and fear.
Airen stood there, his fist still half-raised, calm and cold.
His smirk returned, sharper this time. "Now we're getting somewhere."