First Steps

[Black Mamba Felled: Exp Gain]

[Info Acquired]

Name: Black Mamba

Type: Cryptid

Str: 3

Dex:4

Con:2

Wis:4

Cha:1

Skill: Polymorph[E], Instincts [F]

Eyes swaying from left to right, Altair didn't relax as the alarms within his mind didn't cease. He could feel the numbing of his wound where the beast's claws nicked him, but he refused to check his injuries.

It wasn't the time.

Big Sis Luna isn't here… Did she get teleported elsewhere?' He gulped, an unsettling pressure gathering within his chest. He watched as two more Black Mambas stepped out of the woods around him, bearing their fangs. "I can't run. They're faster than me.'

"I need to survive' He swore as the Circle of Gluttony within his heart whirled at greater speeds.

[Circle of Gluttony [F] Proficiency Increase by 7%]

A comforting heat gathered within his chest as an enamoring hunger began to build within the depths of his being. He grinned and lunged toward the two Black Mambas, baring their fangs at him.

[Grave of Night: Shadow Sword]

Mirroring the movement of the Black Mambas, Endymion twisted like a snake, gaining the flexibility of the serpent as it pierced through the eye of the charging snake. The prince quickly lept into the air dodging the second Mambas as he whirled his blade through the serpent's eye through his brain, painting his sword arm the color of blood.

[Black Mamba Felled: Exp Gain]

He landed, his cold, lifeless eyes narrowed on the second serpent, taking wolf form. Altair smiled. " You caught me off guard last time. But I'm ready." He said, pointing Endymian towards the beast, "You serpents lack skill."

And through, 'They're flexible in their snake form, but when they take the form of a wolf, they have speed. I need to be careful. If they time the morph right, they'll get me.'

[Circle of Gluttony [F] Proficiency Increase by 2%]

Nodes of Mana swelled around his being as the Circle, the size of a seed, grew in size, devouring the Mana from all around.

Altair settled in a defensive stance, sensing the tension gathering in the hind legs of the Black Mamba that lunged towards him. He grinned just as it arrived, clawing towards his head.

"Got you." He shouted, fainting defense. He leaned forward into the incoming claw, tasting death brush past his forehead, and he dipped beneath the Black Mamba in one fell swoop. Sweat ebbing down his handsome face, his sword pierced up as he ran the beast through, showering his body in a guiser of blood and guts.

A harsh howl of mournful roar thundered through the area. The Black Mambas kneed over, his hammering chest fading as its whimpers soft.

"Die!"

Piercing his blade through the beast's skull, howling as he twisted Endyiman through its brain, ensuring it was dead.

[Black Mamba Felled: Exp Gain]

"It's over…." He muttered, touching his searing chest. He winced. " Damn. That hurts. Thankfully the claws weren't poisonous."

[Circle of Gluttony would like to Devour the Three Souls of the Black Mamba]

"Eh?" Altair eyes widened. "It can devour… Soul?" He frowned, smiled, then frowned again, a pang of regret he didn't get to ask his mother about the odd 'Tarnishing' that occurred.

"Well. It's a part of me, right? I'm sure it can't be bad." The boy thought. " Go ahead."

Noticing the small silvery flames rising from out of the corpse. A curious gleam twinkled through Altair's dark amethyst eyes. he stared as the three Soul Flames shrieked into his chest, vanishing without a trace.

[Soul Absorption: 30 Day]

"Interesting." He muttered. And questioned. " But why did it activate after the battle and not in the middle? And this Mana" Peering down at the violet Nodes surrounding him, he frowned. "It's so thick it's congealed into the Material Plane. And while it doesn't have a physical effect as of yet, it's surprising to see such a density within the dungeon."

Countless theories flooded the young prince's mind as he looked down at the corpses before deciding to leave.

"I need to find water. Mother always said if I'm ever stranded, I should find drinking water first or devour the blood of monsters. I just hope that I can find a water source before it comes to that."

He looked towards the skies, feeling the glare of the twin's sun against his cheeks, and headed in the opposite direction. Hoping his limited scope of knowledge regarding dungeons would help him survive.

The Aros family had diligently researched dungeons and the many worlds they led to. Some found that despite the limited scope of each dungeon's objective, there was an entire world to explore, resources not found anywhere within their world, much less the neighboring sectors. Leading to the formation of many laws restricting adventures from killing a dungeon boss, which would cause the dungeon world to collapse.

And considering the amount of Mana each dungeon provided to Earth through the various Gates, the collapse of a single dungeon meant the training speed of humanity's structure would fall behind.

Hours slowly went by as Altair aimlessly wandered the forest, the ache over his chest now nothing more than a scab. When suddenly he stopped peering towards the setting suns, a frown upon his face.

"The sun is going to set in a few hours. Has it really been that long?" He shook his head and peered at his stats.

Name: Altair

Age: 9

Circle One: 9% Complete

Cultivation Method: Circle of Gluttony [F]

Class: Young Prince Lv 1 [First Awakening]

Strength: 2

Dexterity:2

Constitution:2

Wisdom: 5

Charisma: 5

Mana: 1

"The Master of Swords said it usually takes two months to create the first cultivation circle. I wonder if I'll take that long?" He pondered, touching his small chin, his childlike expression torn with worry after a few hours of walking. "Well, looks like I can't find water. Guess I'll have to drink the blood of the monster. Yuk… But I'm also without food." He glanced down at Endymion, a faint grin on his face. " Just me and you now, I guess. Let's get along, kay?"

The Young Prince closed his eyes, drawing in a deep breath as he released a cry at the top of his lungs. A hope that a monster would hear his cry. But the moment his voice thundered, the Mana surrounding him amplified this cry.

A thunderous wail graced the woods as a chill whipped through Altair, and a sinking feeling of unease wormed through every fiber of his being.

"Oops…" His words thundered off.

Altair snapped his hands over his mouth. Invisible tears shrieking over his cheeks. 'Curse this Mana! I've zero control!' he moaned inwardly when the hissing of serpents caught his ear.

From a distance away, Luna giggled, hovering in the skies. " What a silly child. Don't worry, Altair, when your Big Sis is done. You'll be a true monster. A monster who'd be ready to face the Trials of the Moon." She lifted a finger that bled a dangerous amount of Mana, her icy gaze swirling with profundity and darkness. " But to do so… Big sis will make you suffer a bit. But don't worry. I won't break you too much."