The Dungeon Trial
In an entirely different place, a portal surged open, and a lone figure descended into a realm that felt like an entirely separate dimension.
Still reeling from the aftereffects of the portal, Zayriel scanned his surroundings, every muscle on alert. The air was thick and suffocating, pressing against him like a living weight. The sky above shimmered in alien shades—colors he couldn't name—and the ground seemed to pulse faintly beneath his feet. Heat radiated from the environment, not enough to burn him, but enough to make every breath heavy, each step an effort.
So this is the dungeon they spoke of—the place for our trial.
It was his first time stepping into a dungeon. Before the system appeared, he had barely scraped together enough for food, let alone magical items, artifacts, or even basic guides to dungeons and mysterious places. Learning a skill in a sect or school was out of reach, and no one would recruit or invest in him. He had no talent, no extraordinary power to prove himself.
He was a blank slate.
But as he looked around, the dungeon itself seemed alive. Faint glowing cracks ran across the jagged rocks, and a low rumble echoed from the distance. Shadows twisted unnaturally at the corners of his vision, and the faint metallic scent of blood hung in the air. Every instinct screamed that this place would test him to the brink of death.
As Zayriel's mind struggled to digest the alien landscape of the dungeon, a sudden notification shimmered into existence before his eyes, written in runes of faint, shifting light.
[Akashic Record Update Detected]
Host has been occupied within the academy. Pending updates are now ready for review.
Would you like to access?
"…Alright. Open it."
The message unfolded like a scroll of living light, each line etching itself into his vision.
[System Report: Portal Synchronization Complete]
Academy Portal: Structure analyzed. Despite being man-made, it can now be generated by Host at will. Controlled access to and from the academy is available, provided sufficient energy and alignment are met.
Dungeon Portals: Natural formations are complex, but analysis successful. Host may now create entry points into dungeons of equal or lower grade. Completion of a dungeon grants permission to open another of its grade, or descend into a lower-grade one.
⚠ Limitation: Host cannot generate portals above current grade. Akashic Record requires further evolution to bypass higher-tier restrictions.
[Note:] Dungeons of this kind are effectively infinite in the verse. Unlimited opportunities for exploration, combat, and growth are available.
Zayriel's pulse quickened. Infinite dungeons? Portals at will? That alone could change everything.
But before the thought could settle, another message erupted, sharper, heavier.
[Combat Log Analysis: Academy Duel]
Observed: Berserker student.
Observed: Senior student.
Status: Battle fully recorded.
Techniques Captured:
• Berserker's Skill [Berserker Style: First Form]
• Senior's Technique [Aura Manifestation]
⚠ Restriction: Host lacks compatible bloodline and energy signature. Direct usage impossible.
Solution: Akashic Record has initiated Skill Re-Coding.
Result: Techniques adapted for Host's body.
Energy Source: Life Force will be consumed in exchange for replication.
Safety Risk: Overuse may result in exhaustion, permanent damage, or death.
A surge of cold fire licked at Zayriel's veins as glyphs shimmered faintly across his arms, disappearing just as quickly. The knowledge wasn't fully his yet—but it lingered, waiting, heavy with promise and danger.
"Host, are you ready to absorb the knowledge?"
Zayriel looked around for any incoming threat. This was a dungeon—monsters could appear at any moment. He would have preferred to absorb the knowledge somewhere safe, but the brutal truth was that if any beast appeared now, even the weakest kind could easily kill him with his current strength. None of his heaven-defying abilities boosted his strength in the short term; they were all designed for long-term benefit. Even the shedding of his old body was preparation for the future, not the present. Right now, in the presence of any beast, he was as vulnerable as a normal human.
He also had no trust in the academy. If their reputation was truly as terrifying as people claimed, then this dungeon could very well be a death sentence. Since stepping inside, he had felt it in his gut—if he didn't bite down on the nail with his teeth, he would not survive this place.
He gritted his teeth, scanning the area. Luckily, he spotted a rock formation a few meters ahead. After making sure no beasts were nearby, he crouched behind it.
"System, how many seconds will it take to absorb this information?"
'It depends on the type of information, but it should not take more than 20 seconds.'
He gritted his teeth. Twenty seconds of complete vulnerability. If any beast appeared during that time, he was finished. But he had no choice.
"System, I am ready."
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Transfer of Recorded Data Commencing…
Akashic Record unlocked: Portal Creation (Academy/Dungeon) | Berserker Style: First Form – Raging Beast | Aura Manifestation
The words appeared, then reality fell away.
Zayriel's body stiffened, rooted to the ground as his consciousness was pulled into a blazing torrent of information.
⚡ First Wave – The Portal
He saw endless diagrams, runes carved into circles, matrices of glowing energy linking between worlds. Layers upon layers of complex magical technology scrolled before his mind's eye.
His head pounded. His vision blurred.
"This… this is too much—!"
It was like being forced to learn how to build an aircraft before even discovering fire. Countless formulas, energy circuits, and runic inscriptions tangled together, threatening to crush his sanity.
[System Notice]
Host lacks basic knowledge of magical formations and technology. Host is advised to purchase knowledge from the system at a reasonable price, or study it through other means and practice.
But this time, it wasn't just raw data flooding his mind.
Zayriel's eyes widened as the world around him blurred again. Suddenly, he was no longer standing in the dungeon.
A figure stood before him.
It was him.
No—it looked like him. Same face, same eyes, same overwhelming presence. But this version was different. Its expression was deadly serious, lips pressed tight in concentration, as if it had been born only for battle.
Without a word, the avatar moved.
Its body erupted in motion, veins glowing faintly as raw energy—life force—ignited like wildfire. It wasn't speaking, it wasn't explaining—just moving. Every strike was primal yet precise, a shadow replay of the Berserker's style. But it wasn't the berserker boy anymore. It was him.
Muscles bulged as the avatar's fists tore through the air, each step shaking the ground, each strike carrying the weight of a raging beast. Its aura roared, burning with wild intensity. It wasn't rage uncontrolled—it was rage given form.
The vision seared itself into Zayriel's mind.
Every detail—every breath, every step, every strike—was etched into him. Not as spoken knowledge, but as instinct, carved into his very bones.
When the avatar finally roared, a guttural cry that seemed to come from the depths of existence itself, the scene shattered.
Zayriel staggered back into reality, drenched in sweat, chest heaving. His fists trembled—not from fear, but from the echo of power now pulsing through him.
Then another avatar appeared, this time using Aura Manifestation.
When it faded, Zayriel collapsed onto the floor, breathing heavily. Overwhelmed, but not broken.
After a long silence, he exhaled, muttering, "I see. I'll need to start studying magical formations and technology if I want to master portal creation. The dungeon portal is far more complicated than the academy's, but since I'm in the academy, I'll have access to their library. I'll also need to earn skill points to buy knowledge from the system. As for these skills…" He clenched his fists. "They're integrated, but using them is another story."
Before he could continue his thoughts, a cold, emotionless voice echoed from the sky.
Candidate. A screen will appear before you to select a weapon. If you wish for one, choose. If not, ignore.
As the voice faded, a glowing screen materialized before him.
But just as Zayriel reached toward it, the system's voice cut in.
'Host, you do not need to select a weapon. If you survive your first beast, the system will reward you with any weapon of your choice. Also… host, you have a mission. Do you want to open it?'
Without hesitation, Zayriel said, "Yes."
[SYSTEM MISSION]
Trial of Survival: The Dungeon Crucible
Objective: Survive the dungeon trial until extraction.
Defeat enemies, adapt to the environment, and overcome obstacles.
Conditions: Death = failure. Abandoning = impossible.
Reward: Calculated dynamically, based on:
Survival Time
Kill Count
Efficiency
Growth Factor
Impact Rating
Rewards include: stat increases, new techniques, skill upgrades, system credits, rare items, ??? (hidden rewards).
System Notice: This is not a simulated trial. Survival is absolute. The stronger the will, the greater the harvest.
Zayriel smirked, eyes gleaming. "Things are getting interesting."
He checked his status screen.
STATUS
Name: Zayriel
Race: Human
Level: 0
Strength: 1
Speed: 1
Endurance: 1
Agility: 1
Perception: 1
Intelligence: 20
Willpower: 1
Vitality: 5
Soul Force:5
Abilities
Devour: Consume and assimilate existence.
Synthesis: Fuse matter, energy, and concepts infinitely, and create new life.
Creation (Restricted): Life-draining at present.
Akashic: Records scenario, analyze, and adapt for the host.
Skills
Berserker Style: Raging Beast
Aura Manifestation
His eyes widened. "Wait—vitality can be increased?"
'Yes, host.'
"This… this changes everything." He grinned.
Until now, every skill he had depended on life force—something he had only in small amounts. He had worried endlessly about how to use them without risking death. But if vitality could increase… then his limits would break.
Life force energy was one of the most powerful in existence. Out of all beings in the cosmos, only 0.001% could control it willingly.
"And soul force?" he muttered. "I guess I'll find out later."
He stood, brushing dust from his clothes, and began moving carefully. The environment was strange—no sense of day or night, only constant, oppressive light.
After some time, he heard a sound.
Snoring.
Cautiously, he crept closer.
His eyes widened in horror.
There, sleeping before him, was a massive beast—its skin like black stone, three sharp horns jutting from its skull, teeth glinting even in slumber.
[System Scan]
Name: Rhenicorrous
Level: 5
Strength: 30
Speed: 18
Agility: 15
Endurance:35
Perception: 10
Intelligence: 5
Vitality: 12
Skill
Iron Hide (natural defense; reduces physical damage drastically)
Technique: Bloodlust Roar (instills fear and suppresses enemies within range)
Status: Sleeping
Advice: Run. If this beast awakens, the host won't even know how he died.
Zayriel cursed in his mind. Fuck. Damn it. Why this beast of all things?! Why not a level 1 creature?
His options were few. If he ran, his instincts screamed the beast would wake. If he stayed, he would eventually face it anyway. His only chance was one devastating strike.
"But what technique…? I haven't even mastered the ones I just learned…"
His jaw clenched. "No choice. Live or die. And I choose—NOT TO DIE!"
Primal power surged through him, life force igniting violently.
FIRST STAGE OF THE BERSERKER SERIES:.A SPIRIT BEAST RAGE!
The system blared warnings.
⚠ WARNING: Life force drained.
⚠ WARNING: Soul force drained.
⚠ SAFETY MODE ACTIVATED. Host will be forced into sleep—
Error. Error. Unable to put host to sleep.
Zayriel roared, eyes turning white with energy as the berserker power erupted. A colossal lion's phantom rose behind him, roaring in sync with his cry. His body was covered with a white silverfish aura leaking around The dungeon shook violently as cracks spidered through the ground.LET ME RAGE Ahhhhhhh the ground shook the wind cried along with the surrounding area was shaking everything was boiling No everything was draining the surrounding lost it luster
[System Notice:The Host broke his limit and awakened the technique – Spirit Flash]
But the cost was dire. His life force was drained to nothing. His soul force was empty. There was almost no chance of survival and if his one hit did not work on the beast he is finished.
Hahahaha Now Dieeee he rushed forward to the beast with the beast avatar covering him and his hands hand crackling with energy
And in that instant, the beast awoke.