Chapter 9
1169 Words
[Tutorial Completed]
[Progress = 100%]
[Congratulations User! On completing the Tutorial]
[Objective Updated: Clear the Dungeon (The home of the Nine Tails)]
The pitch black emptiness of the abyss flashed white for a heartbeat before returning to darkness. An electromagnetic pulse ripped through the void, making Marcus's ears ring as he stood amid the ashes of his enemies.
The barren ground beneath him shifted and expanded. Trees erupted from the rocky surface, bursting upward until Marcus found himself standing in the middle of a dense forest. Ancient trunks stretched toward an unseen sky, their canopies blocking whatever light source illuminated this strange realm.
Marcus stood motionless on the respawn circle, surveying his new environment. The sudden transformation didn't surprise him anymore—nothing could after what he'd experienced. He'd heard the system announce new objectives, which meant this forest was simply the next trial.
He settled cross-legged on the circle, centering himself.
"Status."
The familiar window materialized before him. Marcus scrolled to his durability section, remembering the system had mentioned something about it during the battle. When he selected the option, his eyebrows shot up.
[Durability: 100 ceptillion(+1000 Ceptillion) LIMIT BREAK AVAILABLE]
"Limit break?" Marcus muttered, remembering a concept from his favorite Demi comics. In volume seventy-three, the protagonist had reached his absolute limit during a critical battle, then shattered that ceiling to access power capable of annihilating galaxies.
He tapped the "Limit break available" option.
[Break Past Limit? Y/N]
Marcus hesitated, considering potential consequences. His finger hovered over the choice. What harm could it do? It was just durability, after all. He selected Y.
[Limit Breaking in 3..2..1]
"Arghhhh!" Pain lanced through his skull like a superheated needle. His vision swam as pressure built behind his eyes.
The agony subsided after several seconds, leaving Marcus sprawled on his back, clutching his head.
[Success]
"THAT HURT!" he groaned, rubbing his temples. After a minute of recovery, he climbed to his feet.
"Status."
The window reappeared. Marcus scrolled frantically to the durability section. Instead of showing his level, it now displayed a familiar symbol.
[Durability: ∞, (Infinity break, Nihility in 10000)]
"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!" Marcus's jaw dropped as he stared at the infinity symbol.
"That means I'm invincible now, right?"
[For the time being, yes] the system replied.
Marcus blinked, staring blankly ahead.
"What do you mean, system?"
[The User cannot be harmed by anyone beside the user itself...]
"Then that does mean I am invinci—"
[But... The user can be hurt badly or even killed in action if the Attacker has an Attack range of Infinity break or Nihility break]
"Oh..." Marcus grabbed his chin, processing this information.
"Tell me, system... which is the highest stat range?"
[There are 3 types of Stat Ranges:
1. Limit break
2. Infinity Break
3. Nihility Break]
"Hm, continue."
[The user is currently at Limit break, and has developed your physique to a level which cannot be harmed by Enemies below or at the same range level of the user]
"How much can I increase my stat range in this Tutorial Dungeon?"
[The user can increase his range till half of the Infinity break range]
"Only that much?"
[Yes, and for the time being the User has overcome 99% of the previous trial users]
"What? There were more people before me?"
[Yes, about 349, and the current user is the 350th]
Marcus's trust in the Flame Emperor began to crumble. "That old geezer. He's gonna get it once I return."
He tapped a nearby tree with his finger. The shockwave obliterated a dozen more, sending splinters flying in all directions. Within seconds, the trees respawned as if nothing had happened.
"I defeated 99% of the previous users already? Who's that 1%?"
[Yes, you did. 99% of the previous users were unsuccessful in clearing the first Tutorial objective. As for the 1%—it was a genius from another world... That's all the User can know; the rest of the information is restricted]
"Whoa, you mean humans aren't alone in this world?"
[Exactly]
"Interesting." Marcus rubbed his chin, grinning. "Elves and Dryads, kekekekekkekeke."
He began to drool. "KEKEKKEKEKKE."
[Please stop being a p*****t]
The system's voice echoed in his mind.
"Shut up, I'm not being a pervert."
More drool. "Kekekekekek."
*Zzap*
"Aargh, what's that?!"
[The system can take measures to control its host and ensure they behave properly]
"That was completely unnecessary..."
"Kekeke..."
*Zzzap*
"Sorry... Aargh, I get it! Tell me about the objective! About the objective!"
[Objective: Clear the Dungeon (The Home of the Nine tails)]
[Progress: 0%]
When he heard the name, his heart grew heavy. A sense of familiarity washed over him.
"The Home of the Nine tails... I've heard that somewhere."
Trying to recall the details, Marcus stepped out of the respawn circle.
A blur of motion—too fast for even his enhanced senses to track—flashed across his vision.
[You Died]
Marcus materialized in the circle again, blinking in confusion.
"What was that?"
He stepped out of the circle more cautiously.
*Whoosh*
[You Died]
He respawned again.
"What the f**k?"
This time he stormed out of the circle.
[You Died]
"HUHHHHHHHHH?"
He barged out waving his fists wildly.
[You Died]
Respawn.
[You Died]
Respawn.
[You Died]
The cycle continued endlessly until Marcus lost his composure. He nearly destroyed the circle in frustration.
[You Died]
[You Died]
[You Died]
[You Died]
[You Died]
[You Died]
[You Died]
Eventually, Marcus gave up, lying flat on his back inside the circle.
"FUCK."
He forced himself to breathe deeply. "Think, Marcus, this isn't you... Maybe this is what they want, what the dungeon wants. Be cool. Think straight."
He closed his eyes, rubbing his temples. His memory drifted to his academy days.
'Dungeon history class.' The recollection was blurry, but he could make out the teacher's words:
'Today we'll study about the SC ranked Dungeon: The Home of the Nine Tails.'
His eyes snapped open, and he gasped.
"No, not that one!" He bolted upright, scanning his surroundings with new awareness.
Dense forest stretched in every direction. Dry leaves carpeted the ground, rustling with each breath of wind. The air carried a strange scent—musty and ancient, with an undertone of something burning.
"This... this is the freaking Home of the Nine Tailed Demon Foxes!"
As the realization settled in, Marcus felt the weight of his situation. An SC-ranked dungeon—the most dangerous classification possible. Even legendary Revokers approached such places with extreme caution, and always in groups.
Yet here he stood, alone but for the system in his head and whatever creatures lurked beyond the trees.
Something moved in the shadows—a flash of red-orange fur, gone before he could focus on it. Marcus tensed, remembering everything he'd learned about this particular dungeon.
The Nine Tailed Demon Foxes weren't just powerful; they were intelligent. They studied their prey before attacking. And based on his cycle of instant deaths, they'd already taken his measure.
The question now was: how could he fight what he couldn't even see coming?
- Writer
