Ch-2: Roots of Renewal

Light returned to Ethan's vision, but he didn't have to squint to adapt to it. For some reason, he could see the vibrant colors in his surroundings, which was different from the black and white vision he had in the sewers.

It seemed that he had changed location after the guide said [Initiate Dungeon Delve].

Instead of the damp sewer where he had woken up, he seemed to be standing in the middle of a forest.

His new surroundings were filled with lush grass and towering trees.

A cool breeze hit his naked skeletal body, and Ethan shivered. 'I can still feel things as normal, for some reason. Except for smell and probably taste too,' he thought, his mind racing to process the sudden change.

He looked around, taking in the details. The tall trees swayed gently with the wind, their leaves rustling softly. The green grass felt springy under his bony feet. The air was alive with the sounds of birds chirping and insects buzzing, creating a symphony of life that suggested he was in some kind of jungle. Maybe this dungeon was related to hunting animals. Who knew? But he felt a growing sense of anticipation.

Wait! Ethan stopped himself, feeling a growing sense of anticipation inside him. This realization hit him like a bolt of lightning—the emotion dampener was gone. Maybe it was something for first-timers so they wouldn't freak out. He wouldn't have freaked out in the first place, but still, it felt good being able to feel his emotions completely.

He took a deep breath, or at least the skeletal equivalent, and allowed himself to revel in the moment. "This is incredible," he said aloud, his voice filled with awe. "I can feel the breeze, hear the sounds of nature... It's all so real."

Ethan's eyes roamed over his new environment, marveling at the vivid colors and the intricate details of the flora around him. The leaves were a rich green, the bark of the trees rough and textured. He noticed small flowers peeking out from the grass, their bright petals adding splashes of color to the verdant landscape.

The anticipation grew within him, a thrilling sense of adventure bubbling up. 'So, this is the dungeon, huh?' he mused. 'Feels more like a paradise than a dungeon. But I guess that's just the start.'

As he explored further, Ethan's mind wandered back to what the guide had said before disappearing and called out [STATUS] in his mind.

Instantly, a virtual screen materialized before him, hovering in the air like a holographic game console. His eyes widened in astonishment as he took in the sight. The screen displayed several tabs:

[Status]

[Skills]

[Inventory]

[Mission]

[Gacha]

[Settings]

Ethan reached out tentatively, his fingers brushing against the glowing interface. It felt cool to the touch, almost ethereal. He selected the [Status] tab, and his personal statistics appeared in detail, just as the robot had shown him earlier, along with some new details.

[STATUS]

Name: ETHAN BLACKETT

Level: 1 (EXP: 0/100)

Health (/R per hour): 120/120 (12)

Mana (/R per hour): 110/110 (11)

STAMINA (/R per min): N/A (N/A)

STR: 10

AGI: 08

END: 12

INT: 11

WIS: 16

DEX: 06

CHA: 01

LUC: 10

He spoke to himself, his voice barely a whisper, "So this is real... I really am in another world, with stats and everything." He chuckled, his ghastly voice causing birds to fly away. "Okay, Ethan, you can do this. Just think of it like a game. A very real, life-or-death game. It should be fun!"

Determined to understand his new reality, he selected the [Skills] tab. The screen changed again, this time showing a list of abilities, most of which were grayed out, indicating they were locked. However, a few were accessible along with something extra:

[Passive Skills]

{Minor Night Vision}: Lets you see in the dark. Passive available to creatures of the Dark.

[Active Skills]

{Bone Shield}: Level 1

Cost: 10 mana

Duration: 1 hour

Cooldown: 5 min

Summon a temporary shield made of bones to block attacks. It can absorb 50 points of damage before it disintegrates.

{Skeletal Repair}: Level 1

Cost: 10 mana

Duration: Instant

Cooldown: None

Use mana to repair minor damage to your bones. Exchanges 10 mana for 10 health.

[Species Traits]

Doesn't Breathe; Unlimited Stamina; Doesn't Eat or Drink; Doesn't Sleep; High Pain Threshold; Immunity to Disease; Immunity to Mind Control; Immunity to Poison; Indomitable.

[Perks]

1. Evolutionary: Special beings with the power to create custom evolutionary path, not available for normal monsters.

2. Calm Mind: Able to make calm and calculative decisions in almost any circumstance.

…

Ethan read the descriptions with interest. 'So the monochrome vision was a result of the passive skill of my species. That's quite good.'

'Bone Shield and Skeletal Repair... I guess these will come in handy. And if levels are denoted, then it means they can become stronger.'

'As for species traits…Unlimited Stamina feels like a cheat, but if other undeads have it too, then I guess it's balanced? Although...it feels like being a skeleton is better than being a human.'

'Evolutionary…I can understand the basics but, I will ask the guide about this.'

With the passives and traits he got from being a skeleton, he felt a small surge of confidence. Maybe being a skeleton wasn't so bad after all.

Next, he tapped on the [Inventory] tab. The screen shifted, displaying a 4x4 grid of empty slots, except for the first one which was filled

In the first slot, there was an icon of the rusty sword. Ethan clicked on that icon, and the sword vanished from the slot, appearing instantly in his hand.

"I guess this is where I keep my items. Makes sense," he muttered.

The weight of the sword felt surprisingly balanced, and Ethan's mind raced back to the countless hours he had spent watching fencers and HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) practitioners on YouTube.

Their fluid movements, precise strikes, and defensive parries had always fascinated him. Now, he was in a position to put that knowledge to the test.

Ethan took a deep breath and adopted a guard stance, mimicking the poised readiness he had seen in those videos.

He stepped forward, thrusting the sword out in a straight lunge, imagining an opponent before him. The blade sliced through the air with a satisfying whoosh.

"Okay, just like in the videos," he murmured to himself. "Stay balanced, keep your footwork steady."

He pivoted on his feet, executing a horizontal slash followed by a quick retreat. His movements were a little clumsy, but he continued for a few more seconds.

Ethan felt a thrill coursing through him as he continued to practice. He spun, bringing the sword around in a tight arc, the blade cutting through the air with precision.

Then, he stopped, catching his non-existent breath and examining his handiwork. "Looks like watching those videos for fun actually paid off," he mused aloud, a hint of pride in his voice. "Obviously, I'm not anywhere near their skill level, and my dexterity isn't exactly making me the smoothest fighter. But still, it's better than nothing."

He then moved on to the [Mission] tab. A new screen popped up, displaying his current objectives:

{Primary Mission}: Survive your first dungeon delve.

{Secondary Mission}: Find and defeat the dungeon boss.

{Optional Mission}: Discover the hidden treasure room.

{Time Limit: 7 days}

{Rewards}: 50 coins, Newbie Package, 1 Level UP, [Initiate Dungeon Delve] —[End Dungeon Delve] skills.

Ethan's heart pounded as he read through the missions. "Alright, survive the dungeon, find the boss, and maybe some treasure. Got it," he said, feeling a surge of excitement. "No pressure, right?"

Curiosity led him to tap on the [Gacha] tab next. The screen shimmered and revealed a colorful array of items, equipment and skills, all arranged in a spinning wheel.

Weapons glinted, armor pieces shone, and potions glowed, along with the names of some skills. At the bottom, a big button with a sparkling price tag of 50 coins seemed to dare him to take a chance. It was a classic gacha-style wheel.

Ethan's excitement quickly turned to frustration. "I don't have any currency yet," he muttered, frowning at the empty balance displayed at the top. "Looks like I'll have to earn it through the missions." The disappointment was clear in his voice, but he couldn't help but feel a little more determined.

Finally, he opened the [Settings] tab. The options were surprisingly detailed, allowing him to adjust various aspects of his interface and even toggle some gameplay elements. He left everything as it was for now, not wanting to mess with settings he didn't fully understand.

With a deep breath, Ethan closed the virtual screen, feeling a newfound sense of purpose. Now that he had some understanding of his capabilities and objectives, he needed to explore his surroundings and see what this dungeon entailed. He gripped his rusty sword tighter and took a step forward toward the jungle in front of him.

The cool breeze ruffled the leaves overhead, and the rustling sounds were almost soothing. Ethan scanned the area, noting the tall trees with their dense canopies and the vibrant green grass beneath his feet. The air was rich with the sounds of life: birds calling to one another, insects buzzing in the undergrowth, and the occasional rustle of unseen creatures.

He began to walk, each step deliberate and cautious. His skeletal feet made soft, crunching sounds on the forest floor. "This place is incredible," he murmured, his voice filled with awe. "It feels so alive, so different."

As he ventured deeper into the jungle, Ethan's mind buzzed with thoughts of his missions. "Survive the dungeon, find the boss, and discover the hidden treasure room," he repeated to himself. "Sounds simple enough in theory. Let's hope it's not too complicated in practice."

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