Jade pounded the dusty trail, his feet pounding out a rhythmic beat as he sprinted through the winding paths of the sprawling waste junkyard. Sweat dripped from his brow, and his breath came in ragged gasps, but he didn't slow down. He had a daily quest to complete, and he was determined to finish it before the sun dipped below the horizon.
Jade's legs pumped harder, his muscles burning with fatigue. He'd been training for 2 years, but he knew that consistency was key to unlocking his full potential. With a final burst of speed, he crossed the finish point just before the threshold to the inner part of the city.
Jade slowed to a stop, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. He smiled, feeling a sense of satisfaction wash over him. Another day, another step closer to his goals.
As he stood there, he gazed out at the endless expanse of junk and debris, the setting sun casting a golden glow over the wasteland. Seven years ! , he had been in this world for seven entire years !. And he had become powerful , far more powerful than his previous 45 year old mortal self could ever imagine. Jade stood under the Celestial Vault reminiscing how far he had come.
Suddenly, he noticed a group of enormous rats scurrying through the shadows, their beady eyes fixed on him.
Jade's eyes narrowed as he watched the giant rats scurrying through the shadows. He cracked his knuckles, a mocking glint in his eye. "Y'all still haven't given up on your revenge huh ?."He scoffed.
The giant rats had held a grudge against Jade ever since he'd started hunting them for experience points two years ago. Jade's relentless slaughter had disrupted their ecosystem, and they'd grown to fear and despise him. Every time Jade ventured into their territory, they'd see him as a threat, and their instincts would drive them to attack.
With a swift motion, Jade raised his hand, and a blast of icy air shot out, freezing the nearest rat in its tracks. The others hesitated, momentarily stunned, before charging towards Jade with vicious squeaks.
Jade smiled grimly, his hands weaving intricate patterns as he summoned a flurry of ice shards. The rats closed in, their razor-sharp teeth bared, but Jade was ready. He unleashed a devastating combination of Cryokinesis and ice and snow Manipulation, the ice shards slicing through the air and impaling the rats.
The battle was intense but short-lived. When the dust settled, Jade stood looking at the scene around impassively, the giant rats lying motionless at his feet. He felt a slight sense of satisfaction at the slight increase in experience points.
"Experience gained: 200 EXP."
"Not bad for a little warm-up." He muttered while walking back the way he came .
While he walked Jade called up his status window
STATUS:
- Name: Jade
- Level: 40
- EXP: 350/2000
- STR: 50
- AGI: 50
- INT: 136
- STA: 70
- HP: 4000
- MP: 4000
- STAT POINTS: 1
- SKILL POINTS: 0
Talents
- Divine Soul Dual Pupils (awakening 97%) [EX]
- Ice and Snow Manipulation [SS]
Bloodlines
- Yin Phoenix Bloodline [Unique]
- Void Belgusari [God Tier]
Skills
- Glossomancy [C]
- Cryokinesis
- Basic Weapon Mastery
- Intermediate Healing
- Belgusari's Hunger (awakening)
- Advanced Ice Manipulation
- Teleportation [S]
- Frozen Aura
( I have decided to stop ranking his bloodline related skills, it's very confusing. But they're very powerful since they're from extremely powerful bloodlines ).
Artifacts
- None
Quests
1. Reach LV 50
- Rewards: Seed of Darkness
- Status: Incomplete
2. Awaken Dormant Talent
- Rewards: Talent unique skill
- Status: Ongoing
3. Defeat a D ranked monster
- Rewards: ???
- Status: Incomplete
Looking at his status window, Jade was proud of how far he had come. He had gained new skills from completing quests over the years and some additional stats.
And he had noticed his dormant talent had begun Awakening since he pushed his intelligence stat past the 100 mark , so he had been investing any extra stat point he gained into his intelligent stat.
He looked at the 97% near his talent and rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
And although he had never had an opportunity to test how strong his physical stats were now , but he was certain he was extremely strong now.
Thinking of the omegas Niamh had described to him, Jade couldn't help but wonder,- was he still considered a weak omega ?. Thinking of how omegas were said to be attuned for child birth, Jade couldn't help but curse that damned shameless goddess again.
Why in the world would you make a grown ass man's soul reincarnate as an omega?.
What kind of f*cked up game was she playing ?, was she so bored ?. ' I would have had no problem being a beta', ' why the f*ck an omega?', he would often find himself muttering.
Everytime Jade imagined himself pregnant or submitting to someone , a chill would run down his spine and he would curse that shameless goddess all over again. So he had decided to become stronger. So strong that even the so called Alphas would have no choice but to submit to him.
Then he would marry a harem of female omegas and spend his life enjoying .He had asked Niamh and she had told him although she had never heard of it, it should be possible since they were opposite primary genders
Thinking while moving back towards their home , Jade decided to pick up the pace as it was almost dark and Niamh would be very angry if he got home later than promised. He didn't want to give her a reason to ground him as it had been very difficult to convince her to let him train outside .
As Jade jogged home from his daily run, the fading light of day casting long shadows across the desolate landscape, he suddenly felt a subtle hum in the air. His senses, honed by his overwhelming talents and bloodlines, tingled with awareness. Jade's eyes narrowed as he traced the source of the energy, his feet carrying him towards a peculiar blue shimmer that hadn't been there before.
As he drew closer, the shimmer coalesced into a swirling portal, its surface dancing with intricate patterns of light. Jade's curiosity was piqued, but the growing darkness and Niamh's likely worry about his tardiness stayed his hand. He decided to leave the mysterious portal for now, opting to consult with Niamh about it when he got home. With a last glance at the shimmering anomaly, Jade turned and resumed his jog, the portal disappearing from view as he vanished into the gathering night.
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Upon entering the shelter, Niamh looked up from her cooking, a hint of concern etched on her face. "You're late, Jade. I was starting to worry." Jade flashed a reassuring smile, shedding his jacket and washing his face before sitting down to eat. "Sorry, Niamh. I saw something strange on my way back, and I wanted to ask you about it."
Niamh's expression turned curious, her eyes sparkling with interest. "What did you see?" Jade took a deep breath, recounting his encounter with the blue shimmering portal.
Niamh's expression changed, her eyes narrowing as she listened intently. When Jade finished, she set down the cooking utensils and leaned forward, her voice low and serious.
"Jade, I think you stumbled upon a dungeon entrance. They are independent spaces filled with unknown dangers and potential rewards.". Niamh explained softly.
Then she proceeded to tell Jade how dungeons worked how how dangerous they were including their ranking and the monstrous monsters that exist within, as well as the potential riches that can be found within should one be brave enough to venture inside one.
She also took the opportunity to explain to him how human talents and bloodlines were ranked and how strong humans could grow , which got Jade wondering how powerful the scavengers he had killed 2 years ago were. They had been rather weak compared to the awakeners Niamh mentioned.
Niamh then explained how they were weak F rank awakeners. Stronger awakeners wouldn't waste their precious abilities scavenging for scraps nor rob others for scraps . Powerful awakeners were considered crème of the top and held positions in high places or had guilds or teams for dungeon raiding to earn money.
Jade's eyes widened, his mind racing with possibilities. If he been able to defeat F rank awakeners so easily 2 years ago when he was at level 2, How strong was he now in comparison to the awakener's ranking?.
He estimated he would be about C rank or higher now . But he couldn't be sure, so he would have to wait till he got the opportunity to meet someone stronger.
He then remembered the new quest that appeared on his quest list , telling him do defeat a D ranked monster. Could it be that the system knew the dungeon was gonna open ?. What really is the system?.
Looking at the thoughtful look on Jade's adorable face, Niamh thought he was thinking about exploring the dungeon to claim the said rewards.
And rightfully so, Jade was indeed thinking about how to explore the dungeon, He needed to get stronger and there was nowhere more fitting than that dungeon, and even better, there were treasures to be claimed !.
Niamh's eyes softened as she gazed at Jade's contemplative expression, her mind racing with the potential dangers that lay within. "Jade, sweetie, I don't think you should even think about going near that dungeon," she said firmly, her voice tinged with a mix of concern and maternal protectiveness.
Despite knowing Jade's remarkable abilities and potential, Niamh couldn't shake off the feeling that the dungeon was a threat too great for her little one to handle alone.
"Those places are notorious for their treacherous environments and fearsome creatures. I won't risk losing you, Jade." she added, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes pleading with Jade to understand her perspective.
Jade's eyes seemed to comply with Niamh's wishes, but his mind was already racing with plans to explore the dungeon. He knew Niamh's concerns came from a place of love and worry, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that the dungeon held secrets and opportunities he couldn't afford to miss.
Jade spent the rest of the night assuring Niamh that he wasn't going anywhere near the dungeon. But he kept apologising to her in his mind . Feeling sorry for lying to her ,but he would go anyway!.
As the night wore on, Jade pretended to focus on his dinner and evening routine, all the while mentally preparing himself for the challenges that lay ahead. He knew he'd have to be careful, not just to avoid Niamh's notice but also to survive the dangers that might lurk within the dungeon.
As bedtime approached, Jade bid Niamh goodnight, feigning exhaustion. Once in his makeshift bed, he lay awake, his thoughts consumed by the dungeon and its mysteries. He revised his plans again in his mind over again while waiting for Niamh to fall asleep so he'd sneak out under the cover of darkness.