The forest had barely quieted when Metatron felt the surge of energy ripple through him. His visor flickered, confirming the level-up:
[Level 10 Reached]
[Choose your first skill:]
Swift Strike – Increases attack speed and allows for rapid combos
Enhanced Reflex – Improves dodging and reaction time
Tactical Awareness – Highlights weak points on enemies and traps
Blade (metatron) chose tactical awareness and then he activated the new ability, letting it integrate seamlessly with his upgraded Snow Hunter Mk II headgear.
But just as he was about to continue grinding XP, a global server announcement flashed across his HUD in bright gold, visible to all players:
[Star Company Update Live!]
[New Content: Dungeons, Hidden Arenas, and Seasonal Events Now Available]
[All players will be temporarily logged out for maintenance – Estimated downtime: 5 hours]
The world blinked and faded. Metatron, along with every other player online, was forcefully logged out. Around the globe, players grumbled in frustration, some shouting in chat, others clenching fists. Screens went black, and Ascender Online fell silent.
Five hours later, the server roared back to life. Players flooded back in, buzzing about the update. Metatron logged in, scanning the map immediately. Frostvale, his current region, now had a new dungeon icon pulsing in icy blue—the solo Frostvale Dungeon, designed for single-player runs, offering the fastest route out of the region without a long trek.
Approaching the dungeon, he noticed a crowd of players gathering around. While the dungeon was solo-only, many were vying for the best entry points, scanning for rare spawns or possible interference. It reminded him of how Isaac had entered dungeons in White Online: careful, calculated, and silent.
Metatron adjusted his visor. Tactical Awareness highlighted the safest path to enter unnoticed, showing traps, environmental hazards, and the precise timing of patrol NPCs.
Players whispered among themselves, eyeing each other cautiously. Some were new, some veterans, but all were focused on claiming the dungeon first. Metatron didn't care about confrontation—he only needed to complete the dungeon efficiently.
He stepped forward, weaving through the throng, eyes fixed on the shimmering entrance. The solo Frostvale Dungeon awaited, icy and foreboding, promising both challenge and reward.
Metatron's pulse quickened. The true test was about to begin.