After Melvin’s attack completely obliterated the Orc General and shattered the land beneath them, silence descended upon the battlefield.
Alex, who had been thrown far away by the explosion, slowly pushed himself up from the ground. His vision was blurred, his ears ringing. When his sight finally focused, what greeted him was chaos.
The ground was torn apart. Cracks stretched endlessly, and fragments of rock were scattered everywhere.
“Floryn…” Alex muttered.
He staggered forward, his body swaying as he searched desperately.
He found her.
Floryn was lying on the ground, her leg bleeding heavily. Her face was pale, her breathing shallow. Pain contorted her expression as she struggled to stay conscious.
Alex’s heart clenched.
He quickly moved past her, his gaze darting around.
Nearby, Luna lay unconscious, her chest rising faintly. Not far from her, Elysa was collapsed against a broken rock, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth—her injuries severe.
“Damn it…” Alex whispered.
He immediately took out potions and rushed to them one by one.
He gave Luna and Elysa recovery potions, then poured healing potions onto Floryn’s wounds. The effects were visible on Luna and Elysa—their breathing stabilized slightly, their color improving.
But Floryn—
The potion barely worked.
Her bleeding slowed, but her condition remained critical.
Alex’s hands trembled.
The woman he loved was lying in front of him, barely holding on.
For the first time, panic overwhelmed him.
Elysa forced herself up despite the pain. She clenched her teeth and began searching the surroundings.
“Rey… Melvin… Emily…” she called weakly.
No response.
She moved closer to the shattered ground, then suddenly stopped.
Something was lying there.
A crystal.
When she picked it up, her heart sank.
It was a communication crystal.
Rey’s communication crystal.
Elysa rushed back to Alex and handed it to him.
“Alex… Rey and the others are gone,” she said, her voice shaking. “I found Rey’s communication crystal.”
Alex’s breathing grew heavier.
Stress, fear, and guilt crashed into him all at once.
He clenched his fists, then forced himself to focus.
“Help me wake Luna,” he said hoarsely.
Together, they managed to rouse Luna after some time. Luna opened her eyes weakly, her face drained of color.
“Alex…” she whispered.
“Luna,” Alex said urgently, “I know you’re not in good condition, but can you help Floryn? She’s critical.”
Luna turned her head and saw Floryn’s state.
Without hesitation, she reached into her bag and took out her last Grand Potion—the one Rey had given her before they entered Floor 6.
“This was supposed to be for emergencies,” Luna said softly.
She used her healing magic in combination with the Grand Potion.
Light enveloped Floryn.
Slowly, color returned to her face. Her bleeding stopped, and her breathing stabilized.
Floryn was saved—but her stamina and MP were almost completely depleted.
“She needs rest,” Luna said quietly.
Alex nodded.
“We’ll move toward the exit of Floor 6.”
They carefully supported one another as they moved. Eventually, they found an empty cave and decided to rest there temporarily.
Alex sat down heavily and took out Rey’s communication crystal.
He tried to activate it.
No response.
Then—
The crystal suddenly glowed.
A voice echoed from it, distorted, as if it were a recording.
“Alex! I fell together with Melvin and Emily into the collapsed ground! You and the others must leave the dungeon immediately! I—”
The voice cut off.
The crystal dimmed.
Alex slammed his fist into the ground.
“Damn it!”
Elysa and Luna couldn’t hold back anymore.
They cried.
Floryn slowly approached Alex despite her weakened state and wrapped her arms around him.
“Alex,” she said softly, “don’t worry. You know Rey is strong. We must listen to him and leave the dungeon immediately.”
Alex closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“…You’re right.”
He ordered everyone to rest and recover what little strength they could. Once preparations were complete, they would exit the dungeon.
“Floryn,” Alex said, “can you intercept Rey’s crystal? I want him to know we’re safe.”
Floryn nodded.
Using her technical skill, she modified and intercepted the crystal’s signal.
Alex spoke into it.
“Rey, we’re all safe. We’re leaving the dungeon now. I hope that once you receive this message, you’ll return to Clan Origin immediately.”
The message was sent.
Deep within the pitch-black abyss—
Rey clutched Emily and Melvin tightly as they fell.
At the last moment, Rey activated the Webfang Core.
He hurled his dagger into the cliff wall and activated Web Bind.
The web anchored firmly.
Their fall stopped.
They landed safely on a narrow ledge.
Rey exhaled sharply.
“That was close…”
He immediately gave potions to Melvin and Emily.
After confirming their conditions had stabilized, Rey sat down heavily, his mind replaying everything that had happened.
His eyes drifted to the mysterious crystal.
The moment Melvin had unleashed his skill—
The crystal had shone.
“…That crystal reacted the instant Melvin released his power,” Rey murmured.
He frowned deeply.
“The power inside this crystal… it felt like it resonated with Melvin.”
Rey scratched his head in frustration.
“I don’t understand what’s going on.”
Then he remembered something else.
The aura he had felt before—when Emily was rescued inside the crystal long ago.
“That aura… and the power inside this mysterious crystal feel almost the same.”
Rey’s heart skipped a beat.
“…Is this crystal Melvin’s?”
He clenched his fist.
“When they wake up, I’ll ask him directly.”
Not long after, Melvin and Emily slowly regained consciousness.
Melvin trembled, his eyes filled with fear—clearly still shaken by the Orc’s attack.
Rey spoke calmly.
“Everything’s okay now. We’re safe.”
Melvin swallowed.
“What… what happened?”
“We fell into a chasm after you released your attack,” Rey explained. “But we’re alive.”
Emily immediately hugged Melvin.
“It’s okay,” she said gently.
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Melvin’s trembling slowly eased.
Rey stood up.
“You two rest for a while. I’ll find a way out of here.”
He activated Invisible Sight, scanning the surroundings.
No monsters.
Not within a radius of 1000 meters.
Rey returned and sat down in front of them.
He looked at Melvin, who still seemed uneasy.
“Melvin,” Rey said firmly but gently, “I’m here with you. Don’t worry.”
Then he added, “I have something I want to ask you.”
Rey took out fried chicken and water—items he had bought from Will’s stall—and handed them to Melvin and Emily.
“Eat first.”
They did.
As Melvin ate, his tension slowly faded. He even smiled faintly while looking at Emily and Rey.
Rey waited until Melvin had calmed down.
Then he asked casually, “Melvin… did you enter my room last night?”
Melvin nearly choked.
“W-What?!”
His face turned red.
“No… I didn’t enter your room.”
Rey nodded, then asked again.
“Do you recognize this crystal?”
He took out the mysterious crystal and showed it to Melvin.
Melvin stared at it.
“…No. I’ve never seen it before.”
Emily leaned closer.
Her eyes widened.
“Eh… isn’t that a Power Stone?”
Rey and Melvin froze.
“A Power Stone?” Rey asked.
Emily nodded.
“Yes. That’s a Power Stone,” she said confidently.
“It can store a portion of someone’s power to be used as a weapon in desperate situations.”
Silence fell.
Rey stared at the crystal in his hand.
The mystery had just deepened.
Rey held the Power Stone carefully in his hand, examining the crimson glow that pulsed faintly from within. He turned toward Emily and Melvin, his eyes narrowing with curiosity.
“What… what is its use? Is that all it does?” he asked.
Emily tilted her head slightly, a small light of knowledge in her eyes.
“The crystal… it’s actually divided into two,” she explained. “One stores someone’s energy or lethal attacks—that’s the Power Stone. The other stores fragments of someone’s memories. That one is called a Memory Stone.”
Rey’s eyes widened.
“Wait… Power Stone and Memory Stone… they’ve really existed all this time?”
Emily nodded gravely.
“Both were made by someone very powerful. But I don’t remember them at all—the person, I mean.”
Rey fell silent. His mind raced. Then, almost instinctively, he asked them both:
“Do you think… someone unknown gave this Power Stone to me?”
Both Emily and Melvin went quiet. Rey’s observation made sense—someone had placed it there deliberately, almost as if to protect him.
“I noticed… the Power Stone resonated with Melvin when he unleashed his power. Melvin, do you remember anything?” Rey asked, his voice calm but piercing.
Melvin hesitated for a moment before answering, his gaze distant.
“I… I don’t remember, Rey. At that moment, I was too scared. I released all the power I had… but…”
“But what?” Rey pressed.
Melvin swallowed hard, then admitted, “I could feel… a power entering my body, giving me a sudden surge of strength. After that… I don’t remember anything. I can’t recall even releasing that attack.”
Rey fell silent, lost in thought, pieces of the puzzle spinning wildly in his mind.
Emily stepped closer, wrapping her arms around him. Her voice was soft, yet firm.
“Rey… don’t worry. Every answer will come in time. It’s just… a matter of waiting.”
She turned her gaze toward Melvin, eyes curious.
“Melvin… why weren’t you close to Rey as well? Lately… you three—Luna, Elysa, and you—seem distant from him.”
Rey’s brow furrowed. Emily had noticed. He hadn’t expected her to.
Melvin’s face turned crimson, and he mumbled nervously, “Eh… it’s nothing… I was just… thinking about something.”
Inside, his heart pounded furiously, betraying his embarrassment.
Rey studied him for a moment, then spoke gently, “I’m sorry. I haven’t had much time with all of you lately.”
Melvin shook his head and stood tall.
“It’s fine, Rey. The three of us understand your efforts to rebuild Clan Origin.”
Rey inhaled deeply, standing as well. Thoughts raced in his mind.
“I won’t let what happened before… happen again in front of my eyes. I need to protect everyone.”
He pointed ahead.
“I’ve detected a possible exit up ahead. Let’s move.”
Together, the three of them began their journey through the broken terrain. The path was eerily quiet—no hostile monsters were detected.
Ahead of them loomed a ruined structure. A tower, nearly ten meters tall, jagged and shattered at the top, as if torn apart by some massive force.
Rey studied it carefully, frowning.
“Could it be… that Level 147 Orc General destroyed this place?” he wondered aloud.
But a closer look revealed something strange. Moss, vines, and small trees had overtaken the stone walls. This ruin wasn’t new—it had been standing here for hundreds of years.
As they explored cautiously, hoping to find something valuable, Emily’s eyes suddenly lit up.
“Hey, Rey! I found a Memory Stone!”
Rey and Melvin rushed over. The stone shimmered crimson in Emily’s hand.
Rey turned toward the system.
“System, detect the object,” he commanded.
The system loaded, its mechanical hum filling the quiet tower.
“System cannot detect any threats. However, host is advised to exercise caution when using it,” the system warned.
Rey frowned.
“How do I activate this Memory Stone?” he asked aloud.
The system replied:
“Host must infuse a small amount of mana to activate the Memory Stone.”
Rey handed the stone to Melvin.
“Use a little mana,” he instructed.
Melvin hesitated, then carefully infused a small pulse of energy into the stone.
A voice whispered through the crystal—faint, broken, and distorted, as if echoing from another time.
“I… Arcanist… love my husband… must release all… save… transfer memories… Saint…”
All three of them froze.
Rey slumped to the ground, stunned.
“Arcanist? Saint? Who… who are they?”
Melvin’s brow furrowed.
“Could… could they have been previous players?” he asked.
Rey’s eyes widened as the realization dawned on him.
“Yes… what you said could be true, Melvin. They might have been previous players trapped in this dungeon.”
He paused, his voice trembling slightly.
“Were they… facing powerful monsters as well?”
A faint aura began to radiate from the ruined tower. Its energy felt ancient, distant, yet oppressive.
Rey motioned for Melvin and Emily to stay close.
“Follow me. Stay alert,” he instructed.
They carefully entered the crumbling tower. Bones—human bones—were scattered across the floor. The air was cold, heavy with the scent of decay.
Rey activated Invisible Sight, scanning the area for threats. Nothing moved. No immediate danger.
Melvin’s voice broke the tense silence.
“Rey… over here! I found something… like a treasure chest!”
Rey rushed to his side. The chest was old, covered in dust, but its aura pulsed faintly.
“This must contain something important,” Rey murmured.
He carefully opened it. Inside was a dagger, gleaming with an almost ethereal light. Its surface shimmered in shades of silver and crimson—eerily similar to Rey’s own dagger.
A chime echoed in his mind.
Ding Dong!
Host has obtained a Fragment of the ‘Infinity Dagger’. There are 5 fragments in total. Host has now collected 2 of 5.
Rey held the dagger carefully, feeling its subtle energy resonate with his own weapon.
“This… this is one of the fragments,” he murmured, eyes wide with awe.
Emily and Melvin stared in disbelief, the weight of the discovery sinking in.
Rey’s mind raced, piecing together the events of the day, the strange resonance of the Power Stone with Melvin, and now the Memory Stone and Infinity Dagger fragments.
A chill ran down his spine.
Previous players… trapped… Arcanist… Saint… memories stored in crystals… power beyond comprehension…
He closed his eyes and exhaled slowly, trying to steady his racing heart.
“We need to be careful,” Rey said finally, his voice firm. “These stones… these fragments… they’re not just relics. Someone, or something, wants them protected—or controlled.”
Melvin swallowed, his fingers tightening around his staff.
“Rey… what do we do now?”
Rey opened his eyes, the crimson dagger catching the faint light of the ruined tower.
“First… we keep moving. We find a way out. And then… we learn everything about these stones.”
Emily looked at the Memory Stone in her hands, then back at Rey.
“Every answer… eventually, it will be revealed,” she whispered, echoing her earlier words.
Rey nodded.
“Yes… but we cannot wait. Not here. Not like this. We must survive, and then… we find the truth.”
The three of them began moving again, deeper into the tower. Their footsteps were careful but determined, echoing through the centuries-old ruins.
Rey glanced at the dagger and the stones one last time.
“The Infinity Dagger… the Power Stone… the Memory Stone… every fragment has a story. And I intend to uncover them all.”
Rey stared at the newly obtained dagger, his heartbeat quickening.
“Infinity Dagger? You mean… the dagger I’ve been using all this time is just a fragment?” he asked, incredulous.
The system’s voice echoed softly in his mind.
“That is correct, host. You must find three more fragments to unlock the Infinity Dagger’s maximum ability.”
Rey carefully brought the new fragment close to his own dagger. The moment they neared each other, a radiant light exploded from them. His dagger absorbed the fragment’s energy and a new ability emerged: Damage Counter.
In his mind, Rey thought, So now I have a natural counter-weapon against physical-damage monsters, which previously only absorbed magical attacks.
A small smile formed on his lips as he continued thinking, Once I gather the remaining fragments… I can’t even imagine the true power this dagger will hold.
Next to the treasure chest, a note etched into the stone with a sharp tool caught his attention. The words read simply: “Floor 5.”
Rey’s eyes widened in shock.
“Floor 5? What does this mean… are we on Floor 5?”
Emily, still examining the walls of the ruined tower, pulled out another crystal she had just found embedded in a cracked wall. She handed it to Rey.
He infused a small amount of mana into it, and a voice exploded from the crystal:
“THE CALAMITY! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING—DESTROYING EVERYTHING!”
Rey, Melvin, and Emily all jumped back, startled.
Emily’s head throbbed painfully, her emotions spiraling out of control.
“THE CALAMITY!!! YOU…” she cried, before collapsing unconscious.
Rey’s eyes widened as he caught her in his arms.
“Melvin! Help me get her out of here!”
Before stepping out of the tower, Rey felt an immensely powerful aura emanating from outside. It was fierce, menacing, and brimming with lethal intent.
Melvin froze, fear written across his face.
A voice thundered through the air:
“I KNOW YOU’RE THERE! COME OUT NOW!”
Rey’s chest tightened with anxiety. Emily unconscious in his arms, an unknown power threatening them… and suddenly, a massive figure appeared in front of them. How could this monster have gone undetected just moments ago?
He placed Emily down gently and turned to Melvin.
“Guard her, Melvin. Just for a moment.”
Rey stepped out of the tower, his aura flaring with power. He saw it—the familiar figure of the Orc General, level 147, the same one he had seen when entering Floor 6.
“Hey, you bastard! I’m here!” Rey shouted, his voice booming with defiance.
In an instant, the Orc General was beside him, swinging its massive axe. Rey raised his dagger, blocking the attack. The new ability activated.
Damage Counter reflected the force, and with a swift strike, one of the Orc’s fingers was severed.
The Orc stared at him, a twisted grin forming.
“Interesting!” it growled.
The Orc then summoned its troops with a thunderous roar.
“EVERYONE! INTRUDERS HAVE ENTERED THIS FORBIDDEN ZONE! I WILL ELIMINATE THEM MYSELF! WATCH AND WITNESS MY TRUE POWER!”
Rey’s mind raced. Forbidden zone… what does that mean?
He muttered under his breath, This… this must be a place the ‘master’ placed you to guard.
The Orc sneered, teeth glinting in the dim light.
“Master? Who is the master? I am the ruler here! No one can be master but me!”
Rey’s eyes widened in alarm. Before he could react, the Orc lunged at him with terrifying speed, kicking and swinging its axe. Rey blocked with his dagger, but the Orc’s foot slammed into his ribs, shattering a bone. He was hurled into the wall, gasping in pain.
This power… it surpasses the previous Orc General. Can I even win this? Rey thought frantically.
He swallowed hard, quickly drinking a potion, then moved with incredible speed. But the Orc anticipated his motion, laughing cruelly as it slammed him into the ground.
“Pathetic, human!” it mocked.
It slammed its axe into the earth, sending tremors through the tower. Rey held his ground, though the pain in his arm was unbearable. Both his Absolute Veil and Infinity Dagger abilities activated simultaneously.
He countered the strike, reflecting the damage directly back into the Orc’s arm. A sickening crack echoed as the arm was severed.
The Orc merely smiled.
“You have strong instincts, human. I like that. But strength alone will not kill me.”
With a terrifying motion, the Orc activated a forbidden skill.
It summoned an Orc Warlord, devouring its core and restoring its arm and power in an instant.
Rey’s mind raced. This is the same power the Orc Warlord had on Floor 7… I can’t give it time to recover again.
The Orc roared, activating Berserker Mode. Its aura intensified to blinding levels, eyes freezing Rey in place.
“TODAY… YOU WILL BE BURIED HERE, HUMAN!” the Orc bellowed.
A devastating strike followed, sending Rey off balance. The axe tore through his chest, slicing painfully across his ribcage. He gasped for air, feeling every muscle scream in agony.
The Orc approached slowly, predator-like, savoring its prey’s pain.
“HAHAHAHAHA! IT HAS BEEN SO LONG SINCE I KILLED A HUMAN! NOW… YOU WILL DIE!”
Rey’s hands shook, gripping the dagger tightly. Every ability, every skill, every fragment he had gathered surged within him—Absolute Veil, the Infinity Dagger’s new potential.
He gritted his teeth, focusing through the pain. Every strike he blocked and every counter he unleashed was precise. The battlefield trembled as the two titans clashed, light and shadow dancing across the shattered tower.
The Orc swung with brutal force, yet Rey’s dagger not only defended but reflected, cutting into the Orc’s body. The creature roared with pain and fury, yet its cold, confident grin never faltered.
I can’t… I can’t let it detect Emily and Melvin, Rey thought. I have to end this now.
Summoning every ounce of strength and strategy, Rey darted forward, combining all his skills in a deadly assault. The Infinity Dagger gleamed in the dim tower light, ready to unleash its full potential once all fragments were collected.
The battle raged on, the tower walls cracking and groaning under the weight of their power. Rey, bleeding and battered, refused to yield, every movement calculated, every strike with a purpose.
Melvin try to recovering Emily, watched in awe from behind, realizing the true extent of Rey’s abilities. Even in the face of an overwhelmingly powerful Orc, Rey remained the unyielding shield, the relentless counter, the one who could challenge fate itself.
The Orc General, enraged and wounded, gritted its teeth as Rey’s dagger cut deep, slicing through bone and sinew.
“YOY… YOU ARE… UNIQUE, HUMAN,” the Orc gasped, blood running freely. “BUT… THIS IS NOT ENOUGH TO STOP ME!”
Rey’s vision sharpened, instincts screaming at him. He knew he had to keep striking, keep countering, and above all, never give the Orc a moment to restore itself again.
Every second counted. Every strike could be the difference between life and death.
In that moment, Rey realized the Infinity Dagger was more than a weapon—it was a lifeline, a testament to his survival, and the key to facing the horrors lurking within the floors of this dungeon.
And with Emily and Melvin depending on him, Rey’s resolve hardened further. He would not fall here—not today.
With a deep, steadying breath, he prepared for the next strike, dagger gleaming, aura flaring, every fragment of power he had collected converging in this ultimate confrontation.
This battle would not only determine their survival—but also the fate of what lay hidden within the floors of the dungeon, the mysteries of the stones, and the legacy of the Infinity Dagger itself.
