In the silence of the dungeon, filled only with the stench of blood and the presence of death, he gathered the monster cores one by one. His hands were swift, his eyes focused. He didn't want to miss a single one—not even from the smallest creature.
"That should be enough," he muttered, staring at the handful of monster cores. Each one pulsed faintly, like hearts still beating.
Without hesitation, he opened his palm.
SHRRRKKK
The skin on his arm moved again. That feral mouth emerged, its tongue lolling out, fangs twitching with anticipation. One by one, he fed the monster cores into it.
KRAKH!
CHUUKK!
GRROKK!
The sounds of chewing and swallowing echoed, reverberating directly into his skull.
Then suddenly—
"—AGHHH!!"
A searing pain exploded in his head. He dropped to his knees, clutching the cold stone floor. His eyes went wide, veins bulging in his neck. It felt like nails being driven into his brain. Images, sounds, and foreign sensations invaded him without permission.
"Calm down," the voice of the parasite—or whatever the creature was now—spoke, still calm. "That's just the side effect of skill implantation. Information is being embedded directly into your neural center. I forgot to warn you..."
He grimaced. But even through the pain, he gave a crooked smile. "...Heh… I've felt this before. When I absorbed… the stealth skill…"
Moments later, the pain subsided. He collapsed to the ground, panting—yet smiling.
Suddenly, knowledge surfaced in his mind. Like memories that weren't his own.
Skill acquired: [Bone Strength]
Bones are abnormally reinforced.
Effect: Increases physical durability, can withstand high pressure, ideal for close combat.
Skill acquired: [Intimidation]
Applies psychological pressure on weaker targets.
Effect: Induces fear, reduces target's movement speed and reaction time.
He grinned. "Not bad skills…"
"You could say that," the voice replied, sounding pleased. "It's been ages since I've fed this much. I feel… full. Comfortable."
He stood slowly, testing his body and feeling his bones much stronger than before. "Then… I'll feed you more later."
"Heh… That's a tempting promise. I'm starting to like you."
Suddenly, the voice asked:
"By the way… what's your name? It'd be easier for me to call you something."
He turned his head, even though he knew no one was behind him. "Me? My name is… Darwin."
"Darwin, huh… Alright. Now it's your turn."
Darwin raised an eyebrow. "My turn for what?"
"Give me a name. I don't want to carry my old one anymore. My past… doesn't matter now. I want to let it go."
Darwin paused, slightly confused. "...Do you even have a gender?"
"No. I'm neutral. I'm an existence. A weapon. Nothing more."
Darwin nodded in understanding. He thought for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"Then… I'll call you Zero. Because you've been with me… since the starting point."
There was a long pause. Then the voice chuckled softly.
"Zero, huh… Simple name. Your naming sense is terrible, Darwin. But… I suppose it fits. I'll take it."
Darwin chuckled lightly, then continued down the dungeon path.
Darwin's footsteps echoed through the dark corridor of the dungeon that seemed to stretch endlessly. The faint glow from the magic stones embedded in the walls provided just enough light to see a few meters ahead. The damp stench of blood still hung thick in the air. But Darwin showed not even a hint of fear.
Inside his mind, Zero's voice began to speak—calm and deep, like an ancient whisper rising from the depths of time.
"Darwin… You said you're not from this world. I suspected as much."
Darwin gave a slight smirk. "Heh… I figured you'd figure it out sooner or later."
"Your aura and way of thinking are far too different. And no normal creature would consider eating raw monster meat just to survive. That's… extreme, even for demons."
Darwin glanced at his hand. "I didn't have a choice back then…"
Zero paused for a moment, then continued in a calmer tone.
"This world is divided into three major continents… or at least it used to be. I haven't seen the surface in thousands of years. But the general layout is likely the same."
"The first continent is home to the human races and their great kingdoms. The second is where demons and beastkin dwell. The third belongs to elves, dwarves, and the ancient races."
Darwin listened intently, soaking in every word like a dry sponge.
"There used to be interaction between them… wars, alliances, betrayals, and sometimes fleeting peace. But time has changed many things. I… don't know if those races still live in harmony or if they've returned to fighting one another."
Darwin muttered, "So this world isn't just about swords and magic… it's full of politics and history too…"
Zero chuckled softly. "That's a fitting description."
"And as for dungeons… the one we're in now is a closed-type dungeon. That means it has only one entrance and a limited area. But out there, there are also things called Tower Labyrinths. They're on a much larger scale."
"Dungeons like this usually have one or several floors, sometimes containing artifacts, skill stones, or rare items. But due to their size, they're often already explored by others… so the rewards are gone, or the traps are already known."
Darwin replied, "So… the Towers are more rewarding?"
"In theory, yes. Tower Labyrinths have floors that increase in difficulty the higher you go, but they also offer exponentially greater rewards. Many adventurers from different races gather there… forming alliances, competing, even killing each other."
"However… only those who are strong and well-organized can explore them. And very few have ever reached beyond the tenth floor."
Darwin nodded thoughtfully. The picture was becoming clearer, though he knew this was just the surface of a vast world.
"Zero… Has there ever been someone like me before? I mean… someone who suddenly 'arrived' in this world?"
Zero went silent for a long moment. Then he replied slowly.
"If you mean… someone who came from another world… I've never encountered one. But that doesn't mean it's impossible."
"Perhaps… if someone were to appear suddenly in a dungeon like this, unprepared… they'd die within a day. Unless… they were crazy enough to eat monster meat just to survive."
Darwin snorted. "I'm not crazy. That was just… desperation."
"Desperation of the most brutal kind," Zero said flatly.
They kept walking. Then Zero spoke again.
"Darwin, one more thing. In dungeons like this, there are usually hidden treasure chests. Not just one. But their locations and numbers are random."
"Unfortunately, most adventurers miss them because they don't know where to look. But I…"
Zero sounded livelier.
"I've wandered this place… for far too long. Searching for a way out, hunting weak creatures—anything… so I know the location of a few chests that no ordinary person could ever find."
Darwin's eyes lit up with excitement. "You're serious?"
"Of course. One of them… is not far from here. Down a left branch in the corridor, then into a small underground room. It used to be blocked by rubble, but I think you're strong enough to clear it."
Darwin clenched his fist, his excitement flaring.
"In that case, show me the way, Zero!"
"With pleasure."