"Without the system or my domain sense, I’d have walked in here thinking it was a marvel," Caleb muttered, his gaze sweeping over the open cavern and tunnels where moss and other growths thrived.
He was almost there—just a few more turns, and he’d reach the vortex leading to the next floor.
But the path ahead looked like nature had taken over entirely.
Unfortunately, Caleb wasn’t deceived. He knew most of the lush green growths in front of him were actually Lichen Stalkers.
Floating spores emitted a faint yellow glow, blending seamlessly with the vibrant greenery and creating a stunning view.
"There’s no point in trying to kill these things. Getting through is all that matters," he muttered, readying himself.
’I’m fast, but these creatures could probably release more spores. Worse, they might have so way to alert the others deeper inside,’ he thought, his expression grim.
The possibility was concerning. If the Lichen Stalkers could communicate, his presence might already be known before he reached the next area.
’More speed...’ Caleb took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a split second to centre himself. ’Even if what I know is purely fictional, mana isn’t limited to casting skills and spells.
’Mana should be able to enhance my cells, strengthen their bonds, and empower biomolecules,’ Caleb thought, focusing his will.
He guided his mana to circulate through his body, letting it infuse into his cells. He didn’t just channel it to his legs; he knew effective running required the coordination of his entire body.
’It’s working,’ Caleb noticed with a faint smile as his body felt charged, brimming with newfound energy. ’This should boost my strength as well.’
The mana coursing through him radiated as a faint bluish aura, distorting the air around his body.
[24.23%... 24.12%... 23.98%...]
His mana reserves were depleting rapidly, but he didn’t care—he had more than enough cores to replenish his energy.
’System, record the maximum speed I reach during this run,’ Caleb instructed. The system acknowledged his command.
Suddenly, Caleb’s eyes snapped open, and he launched himself forward, the force of his movent shattering the ground beneath him.
The world beca a blur as he tore through the cavern at such speeds that the creatures had no chance to react. By the ti they noticed his presence, he was already gone.
Spores burst into the air monts after he passed, filling the space behind him, but it was too late to slow him down.
In re seconds, Caleb reached the chamber where the vortex awaited.
Unfortunately, he had been moving far too fast.
’Oh, shit!’ Caleb cursed as his excited grin disappeared.
BOOM!
He slamd into the chamber wall with a force that shook the entire space.
"Ugh..." he groaned, struggling to pull himself free from the body mold his crash had created. If not for the energy coursing through him, the pain would have been unbearable.
"Yeah, I’m definitely going to need more practice," he muttered, wincing as he dusted himself off.
A notification from the system pinged, drawing his attention. "So, no sympathy? Straight to business, huh?" Caleb sighed.
[Speed: 623 km/h]
It was an impressive number, but he was too sore to celebrate. With a thought, he dispelled the circulating mana and let his body relax. Sinking to the ground, he exhaled deeply.
"I think I’ll rest here before moving on," he muttered, closing his eyes. "No one told to push this hard. A few hours of rest won’t hurt."
Still, Caleb made sure to scan the chamber before letting his guard down. From what he’d observed so far, chambers housing the gateways seed to be monster-free, almost like designated safe zones.
’If one theory proved useful, there must be more,’ he thought. ’There’s so much to learn about mana and how it interacts with living organisms.’
A small grin tugged at his lips. ’This is going to be one hell of an adventure.’
The dangers of this world didn’t bother him. After all, no world was truly free of risk, and this one was far more exciting than the last.
"G, can you wake up if there’s any danger?"
[Part of basic functions.]
"Good," Caleb murmured with a faint smile as he allowed himself to drift into sleep.
..........
Caleb groaned softly as his eyes fluttered open. His gaze swept over his surroundings, and the mories ca flooding back.
"Dungeon," he mouthed, pushing himself upright. The aches he’d felt earlier were gone, thanks to his regenerative healing.
"Four hours of sleep, and I’m good as new," he said, flexing his muscles and marvelling at the strength coursing through him. "This system is incredible."
Wasting no ti, he retrieved the mana cores from his storage and began absorbing them. If mana could boost his speed and strength, it was better stored within him than sitting unused.
A few minutes later, fully charged and ready, Caleb approached the gateway. His expression grew serious as he stared at the swirling vortex ahead.
’Who would’ve thought this life would make feel more complete than I ever did on Earth?’ he reflected. Despite his passion for science, nothing had ever left him feeling this fulfilled.
With one last deep breath, Caleb stepped into the gateway without looking back.
The brief disorienting sensation passed quickly, and when he opened his eyes, he was greeted by a familiar sight.
"Repeating floors?" he muttered, a hint of annoyance in his tone.
A quick scan with his domain sense and system confird it—the floor’s layout and monsters were nearly identical to the one he’d just cleared. The only difference was the arrangent of tunnels leading to his next destination.
"At least the monsters will be stronger," he reasoned, cracking his knuckles. "Good thing I absorbed all those cores."
With a clear understanding of how to handle these creatures, Caleb surged forward with explosive speed.
He moved through the tunnels like a predator, striking down monsters with precision and lethality before they even registered his presence.
As he fought, he used the opportunity to refine his techniques—honing the perfect balance of power, timing, and speed.
Every strike was calculated, every movent deliberate. He paced himself, ensuring he didn’t waste energy by overexerting.
It was a simple rhythm: fight, rinse, and repeat.
Reviews
All reviews (0)