"What are you trying to tell me system...?"
[Master, Miss Lillian Montclair's crimson fist broke through the Incubus Order before the time limit elapsed.]
His eyes darted to the door, his mouth hanging open as if he'd seen a ghost. He was shaken to his core.
"Are you trying to tell me, that beast... Broke through the Incubus Order, which has the ability to freeze time under my command?"
[Yes, it seems her power level is far beyond that of the level the Incubus Order is at presently.]
"Damn." Reality struck him like a thunderclap. Even with the legacy of the Incubus bloodline pulsing through his veins, he couldn't escape the truth, he was still limited.
At most, he was a C-rank Spirit Caster—and that was with the bloodline enhancing his spiritual prowess. Without it, he'd be little more less than average.
"System."
[Yes master?]
"If I decided to try the Caster's entrance exams, what will be my chances of passing?"
[According to the analytics, the average participants in the entrance exams is at least C-rank. In fact, only B-rank and higher Spirit Casters had ever been recorded passing it. At your current level, the conclusion is unavoidable—you'd fail.]
After witnessing Lillian's power firsthand, Mason's entire perception of strength was shattered.
She wasn't a Supernatural, no bloodline—yet she performed feats that rivaled, even surpassed, those of seasoned Spirit Casters. In that moment, Mason realized indeed true power wasn't confined to bloodlines.
"Is there any way for me to quickly level up in two days?"
[Yes, but does your question implies that you are going to participate in the exams?]
"Not entirely, but it's as you said, to fully awaken my bloodline and gain mastery over my abilities, I need to get stronger."
[Alright, you have some reward items from completing your first task, would you like to open them?]
"Open." With a simple command, the system logged his response and seamlessly unlocked the reward item. A soft chime echoed as the interface shifted, revealing the rewards.
[Ding! You have received a key!]
[Ding! You have received 500 demon reya!]
An oddly shaped key shimmered into existence, suspended in the air for a brief moment before gravity acted on it. It dropped into Mason's outstretched hand with a metallic clink.
"What? A key?"
[You have received a key that opens up an instantaneous dungeon]
"An instant dungeon?"
[That's right, but do know that this quest will have no impact on your bloodline awakening, it only increases your spirit powers and strength.]
"I see, that'll do for now."
[Are you going to use the key now?]
"Well, I've got nothing better to do, and I'm curious."
He extended the key outward, mimicking the motion of sliding it into an invisible keyhole. With a deliberate twist to the left, the key dissolved into shimmering particles, vanishing from his hands.
In its place, a large spiraling circle of magic erupted into existence—an ethereal gate, pulsating with energy and beckoning him forward.
His eyes sparked with a fierce determination as he stepped forward, each movement deliberate and steady.
SWOOSH!
As he passed through the gate, a violent gust of wind surged around him, whipping through his hair and tugging at his clothes.
The pressure was intense, almost suffocating, as if the very fabric of reality was reshaping around his presence.
[You have entered the instant dungeon]
"W..hoa."
As he stepped through the translucent blue gate, the world shifted around him, and he found himself standing at the edge of a vast underground cavern.
Jagged rock formations loomed in the distance, and a dim, otherworldly light pulsed from the walls, casting eerie shadows across the uneven terrain below.
"Hmph?"
A low, rumbling hum echoed through the air, followed by a sharp crackle that sent a shiver down his spine.
Spinning around, he whipped his gaze back toward the gate—only to find it completely sealed off with dense, invisible force blocking his way.
BANG!
He pounded against the surface of the gate, his fists striking the invisible barrier with growing desperation.
Every hit reverberated through his body, but the force remained unyielding. No matter how hard he tried, the gatesimply wouldn't budge.
"So I really can't leave till I clear the dungeon?"
He cast a final glance at the dark, cavernous bunker below, a knot tightening in his chest. With a heavy gulp, he squeezed his eyes shut.
"I guess there's no turning back now." He said, turning away from the gate as he descended the stone stairs that led deeper into the cave.
'I have no assistance, no weapon, all I have is my underdeveloped ability and... Wait a minute.' He thought.
"Inventory."
With a word, he summoned the translucent blue screen of the system, revealing the empty inventory of system.
"Store."
[Store]
[Heaven's Will: Holy Excalibur: A sword once held by the great archangel Michael, it is the living manifestation of heavenly power itself. It is said to have contained the power of the One Above All and was used to defeat the forces of the underworld and sealed the fallen in a faraway place. Cost - 100,000,000,000 demon reya.]
[Grim Reaper's Scythe: A sword drowned by the dark magic of the Shadow Necromancer, Van Don. It is said to have been used in the holy war to shroud the continents in darkness, it was the only weapon that could combat the Excalibur. Cost - 300,000,000,000 demon reya]
The system's store appeared, showcasing a list of weapons, each priced accordingly, ranked from the highest value to the lowest.
It didn't take long for Mason to scroll to the bottom of the list. With only 500 demon reya at his disposal, everything above was far beyond his current—or future—capabilities.
After a moment of consideration, he settled for a simple sword—nothing more than a basic blade with no special features or abilities.
Armed with weaponry, he continued down the stairs, each step echoing through the stillness of the cave.
"Let's do this."