Chapter 62: The Locked Gate
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The eerie silence of the ruins weighed heavily on Dabi as he descended deeper into the castle's underground levels. His footsteps echoed off the ancient stone walls, the air around him thick with the musty scent of forgotten times. After his grueling battle with the shadow monsters, his body still felt sore, but the urge to uncover more secrets of this place drove him forward.
As he moved through the dimly lit corridors, his sharp gaze caught something unusual. At the far end of the hall stood a massive, weathered door made of dark stone, its surface etched with glowing, intricate runes. Dabi's instincts told him this was no ordinary door.
He approached cautiously, and as he did, a familiar chime echoed in his mind—the unmistakable sound of his system.
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System Notification:
New Mission Unlocked: Open the Locked Gate.
Objective: Unlock the sealed door deep within the ruins.
Reward: EXP for Level 60 and a new skill: Universal Contract (Allows signing contracts with any race).
Bonus Reward: 10 stat points and 15,000 gold coins.
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Dabi's eyes widened slightly as he read through the mission details. The rewards were immense, but the mention of a skill allowing contracts with any race piqued his interest. It was a rare skill, one that could potentially give him immense leverage in the future.
"Looks like this is important," he muttered to himself.
He ran his hand over the door, feeling the hum of magical energy that sealed it shut. The runes were written in an ancient script, one Dabi couldn't read, but his Insight skill kicked in, giving him a vague understanding of its purpose. This door had been sealed for centuries, locked away by the Dimension Caretakers before their fall. Whatever lay beyond was powerful, and only someone with the right key or ability could open it.
Dabi stepped back, assessing his options. He didn't have a key, but he had learned by now that there were always ways around such obstacles.
"Let's try this..."
He activated his Sovereign of Space abilities, focusing on the dimensional energy surrounding the door. With a few hand movements, he attempted to manipulate the space around the door's seal, but the magic on it was too powerful. Frustrated but determined, Dabi decided to dig deeper into his abilities.
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Phantom Steps allowed him to sense hidden dimensions, but this seal was bound to the door itself. Dabi closed his eyes, channeling his remaining mana into the very air around him. He focused on the runes and started visualizing how the dimensions were interwoven in this place. Slowly, he began using his Dimensional Rift skill to pry open the gaps in the magic.
"Come on... Just a bit more..."
The magic resisted at first, but Dabi pushed harder, sweat dripping down his brow as his mana reserves drained. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he felt the door's resistance break. The runes flickered and then shattered like glass, the seal on the door collapsing in on itself.
The massive door creaked as it swung open, revealing a darkened chamber beyond.
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System Notification:
Mission Complete: Locked Gate Unsealed.
EXP Gained: Level Up! Current Level: 60.
New Skill Acquired: Universal Contract (Allows signing contracts with any race, binding them to mutual agreements).
Bonus Reward: 10 stat points, 15,000 gold coins.
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The surge of power from leveling up washed over Dabi, reinvigorating his tired body. He felt the familiar rush as his stats increased, and his mana refilled to its maximum capacity. Without hesitation, Dabi allocated his new 10 stat points, placing them all into Agility.
Dabi's Updated Stats (Level 60):
Strength: 87
Agility: 94 (+10 from the ring)
Endurance: 83
Intelligence: 68
Mana: 600
Memory: 54
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Satisfied with his progress, Dabi took a moment to examine his newly acquired skill.
"Universal Contract, huh?" he muttered to himself. The potential of such a skill was incredible. It would allow him to form alliances or make deals with different races in this world, binding them to their promises. It could be a powerful tool if used wisely, especially in the dangerous world he now lived in.
He turned his attention back to the chamber beyond the door. Though it was shrouded in darkness, Dabi could sense the lingering energy of the Dimension Caretakers. They had left something here, something that had been sealed away for a reason.
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The Chamber
Dabi entered cautiously, his sword at the ready. The chamber was vast, with towering pillars that reached up into the shadows. In the center of the room, he saw a pedestal with an ancient artifact resting on it—a faint glow surrounding it.
He approached slowly, wary of any traps or hidden dangers. As he reached the pedestal, he saw what the glowing object was—an ornate key, made from what looked like obsidian and etched with more of those ancient runes.
"Is this what they were protecting?"
Dabi reached out and took the key, feeling a surge of energy pulse through him. It wasn't just a key—it was a dimensional tool, one that would likely unlock even more secrets in the future.
With the key in hand, Dabi's eyes flicked to the rest of the room. There was nothing else of note, but he had a feeling this was just the beginning of what the Dimension Caretakers had hidden.
As he turned to leave, his system chimed once more.
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System Notification:
You have received 15,000 gold coins.
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Dabi smirked to himself as he added the large sum of gold to his storage. This expedition was already proving to be more rewarding than he had expected, and with his newfound strength, he felt ready for whatever lay ahead.
"Let's see where
this key leads next," he said quietly as he exited the chamber, his mind already planning his next move.
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