The stairs wound downward, carved in fractured spirals. Behind Shang Di and Wei Lin, the entrance to the Vein Hollow sealed with a muted thud, locking them in.
The only light came from glyphs etched into the walls, pulsing faintly beneath the moss-laced stone. The silence felt suffocating, like it was listening.
Wei Lin sniffed once. "Smells like something's rotting."
"Something probably is," Shang Di muttered, eyes narrowing.
They stepped through the final arch—and the space opened.
A cavern, deep and round, formed like an ancient chamber hollowed by spiritual fire. At its center, crouched and breathing slow and wet, was a beast.
Not a normal one.
Its back was armored in cracked bone plates. Its spine jutted upward in uneven spikes. From its ribs, strands of Qi-bound flesh pulsed like exposed nerves. It had three eyes—two in its skull, and one lower in its chest, staring upward like an exposed core.
When it inhaled, the air shimmered. When it exhaled, the floor vibrated.
[System Notification]
Dungeon Combat Trial – Initiated
Foe: Howler Spinebeast
Classification: Corrupted Mutation
Realm: Qi Condensation (Peak)
Traits:
– Regenerative Marrow
– Paralyzing Sonic Howl
– Bone Spikes (Reactive Burst)
Objective: Defeat
Bonus: Non-Lethal Subdual (Optional – +60 SP)
Difficulty Rating: Severe
Adaptive Patterns Detected. Tactical flexibility required.
Note: Host instinct detected – technique synchronization attempt (Blocked)
Custom Technique Fusion system not yet stabilized.
Shang Di paused. "Tried something. Didn't work."
Wei Lin tensed beside him. "Like… what?"
"Doesn't matter. It's not ready."
The beast stirred.
Then it moved.
...
It lunged.
Not fast—but sudden. Bone claws scraped stone as it swung low, aiming to crush them in one motion.
Shang Di ducked back, rolled to the side, and threw a Qi-threaded talisman toward the flank. It struck—
—and fizzled uselessly against the thick marrow plating.
"I'll distract it!" Wei Lin shouted, darting to the right. His blade carved a shallow slash across one of the beast's hind limbs.
It screamed.
KRAAAAA—
A sonic wave exploded from its throat. Not sound—pressure.
Both men staggered.
Shang Di felt his Qi vibrate violently in his meridians.
[Status: Staggered – 2.7 seconds]
Spirit Field Instability Detected.
The beast didn't waste time. It pivoted toward Shang Di and lunged again.
"[Flying Darkness Sword]," he hissed.
Dark Qi spiraled around his arm, half-formed into a jagged blade. He swung it upward—not to strike, but to redirect.
The beast's paw skidded, striking only stone. One of its bone spikes shot out toward his face.
He dropped flat.
The spike embedded into the wall behind him with a boom.
"That's new," he muttered.
Wei Lin dashed behind the beast, slashing again — this time deeper. A gout of black blood spilled, sizzled, and hissed.
The creature screeched and spun — too fast.
It's tail smashed into Wei Lin's ribs. He flew into the wall with a thud.
"Still good!" he wheezed from the floor.
Shang Di exhaled.
"Alright. Let's try something else."
He stepped forward, closed his eyes.
Then—
[Silent Darkness Steps] – Activated
He vanished in a blink of motion, reappearing just beneath the creature's chin. His palm pulsed with dark Qi, but not a full technique.
Just compressed energy. Precise. Measured.
He aimed upward and struck the exposed chest eye.
THWMP—
The beast shrieked—its body jerked violently—then it collapsed onto its side, trembling.
Alive. But subdued.
For now.
...
[System Notification]
Trial Completed – Howler Spinebeast Subdued
SP Earned: +45
Bonus Objective: Partial Success (Vital Strike Avoided) – +15
Total: +60 SP
System Note:
Custom Technique Fusion attempt logged.
Pattern detected: Instinctive Sync – "Darkness Swallowing + Internal Pulse"
Sync Potential: High
Unlock Threshold: Pending
Estimated Unlock Progress: 74%
— Feature will become available upon further dungeon trial completion
— Host encouraged to continue adaptive experimentation
Shang Di backed away from the unconscious beast, shaking his fingers.
"Note to self," he muttered. "Next time, bring a spirit cannon."
Wei Lin limped up next to him, breathing heavily. "You're getting scary."
"No. I'm getting used to this."
They both looked at the fallen beast.
Its breathing had stabilized. Its bone spikes were slowly retracting.
But the room still pulsed.
Another glow formed—this time behind the beast, at the base of the wall. A cracked glyph circle slowly reformed, glowing with pulsing lines of black-and-white light.
[System Notification]
Shadow Node – Detected
Type: Dormant
Offer 50 SP to awaken?
Effect: Trait Imprint Opportunity
Shadow's Favor Progress: 3/7 (No advancement)
Note: Trait imprint will align to current affinity (Shadow or Illusion only)
Shang Di hesitated.
Then nodded.
[50 SP Deducted]
A glyph wheel formed in front of him, rotating slowly with flickers of ink-like light.
Choose one:
– Echo Bind: Delays spiritual triggers on proximity-based traps (Passive)
– Veilstep Instinct: Temporarily blur physical form during dashes (Active – 3s cooldown)
– Gloom Brand: Weakens Qi regeneration of enemies struck in darkness (Passive AoE)
Shang Di exhaled through his nose.
"…Echo Bind. Delays traps. I'll take it."
Trait Applied: Echo Bind
System Classification: Shadow-Technique Support
Type: Passive Disruption
Wei Lin raised a brow. "You're walking quieter than before. What are you doing? sudden stealth training?"
Shang Di gave a faint smirk. "Just improving the odds."
...
They stepped toward the corridor at the back of the room.
The Glyphs that were lined up along the doorway pulsed gently now— either welcoming, or warning.
Shang Di didn't care.
[System Status]
SP Remaining: 570
Dungeon Progress: 31%
Trait: Echo Bind (Active)
Custom Technique Fusion: In Progress – Locked
Unlock Threshold Estimated: 1 Trial Remaining
They crossed through the archway together, into deeper shadow.
...
To be continued…
...
Hey everyone, I hope you like the story so far. I just wanted to thank you guys for all the collections.