Unraveled Intentions

Akira's breaths were ragged, his blood-soaked face twisted in frustration.

"The Merger… what does it mean?"

His thoughts raced.

"Damn it! How could he die without finishing his sentence?"

His entire body ached, screaming in agony.

The System had yet to calculate his experience, leaving him stranded in his weakened state.

Then—

DING.

[System Notification]

[The user's endurance and stamina have hit the bottom limit.]

[Cursed Infernal Weep will be deactivated.]

Akira gritted his teeth, his jaw clenching tight.

"So even this has limits…"

If his stamina and endurance ran dry, the ability shut down automatically.

The crimson glow of his wrist tattoo dimmed, reverting to its original form.

And then—the weight hit him.

Like an iron shackle dragging him down, exhaustion crashed into his body. His vision blurred. His knees buckled slightly.

Then—rage.

A primal, furious scream tore from his throat, shaking the dungeon's walls.

"DAMN ITTTTT!!"

His voice echoed, bouncing off the cavernous stone, drowning in the suffocating darkness.

Before him, the lifeless body of the Troll King lay still, its massive form sprawled across the blood-soaked ground.

Victory.

Yet, no satisfaction.

Akira clenched his fists, his dark eyes flickering with a faint, eerie white glow.

"I need to search the dungeon."

"Now. If he's still here…"

Then—

DING!

[System Notification]

[Experience Calculation Complete.]

Another window materialized before him.

[Congratulations, you have leveled up.]

[Congratulations, you have leveled up.]

[Congratulations, you have leveled up.]

[+15 Stat Points awarded.]

[Perfected Symmetry in effect. Allocating stat points equally across all attributes.]

[Due to the user's level and stat increase, Energy Infusion will now be permanently available for use.]

[Since the user's level has increased, the user's body will recover to peak condition.]

PAF. PUM.

A surge of energy exploded through him.

His weary, battered body snapped back to best shape—his wounds vanishing in an instant.

The blood that had stained his skin disappeared, as if the battle had never happened.

Only his tattered black clothing remained, a silent testament to the brutal fight.

Akira rolled his shoulders, feeling the raw power coursing through him.

His fingers flexed. No longer trembling. No longer weak.

"Ahh…"

A slow smirk curled on his lips.

"Much better."

His once white eyes now dark as they returned to the orginal color flickered toward the still-open system window.

"Let's see my current level."

[System Notification]

Displaying current stats…

Status Window:

[Name: Akira Shoto]

[Level: 58]

[Attributes: White Lightning]

[Strength: 84]

[Stamina: 84]

[Agility: 84]

[Endurance: 84]

[Intelligence: 84]

[More details...]

Akira's gaze sharpened as he read the numbers.

A slow grin formed.

"Not bad… I've made some real progress."

His restored body radiated a quiet intensity.

He flexed his fingers, a faint current of energy crackling between them.

"Since I have Energy Infusion permanently now and somehow i learned how to use it," - He thought,

"I can take on even stronger monsters without worrying that much."

His dark eyes flickered with cold determination.

"But I wasted too much time fighting that damn Troll King. If that demonic human is still here, I need to find him before—"

PAF!

A sharp sound echoed behind him.

Akira's instincts flared.

His body reacted instantly. He spun around, his dark eyes gleaming with white energy, his foot shifting into a combat stance.

"Who's there?!"

His voice cut through the dungeon's eerie silence like a blade.

Then—from the shadows—

A figure emerged.

But it wasn't who Akira had expected.

It was her.

The violet-eyed Guildmaster, Sylara.

Her piercing amethyst gaze illuminated the dim cavern as she stepped forward, her long silver hair swaying slightly with each movement.

She radiated authority.

A presence so overwhelming it wrapped around her like a second skin.

Her armor, adorned with silver etchings, barely had a scratch—proof that she had walked through this perilous dungeon without so much as breaking a sweat.

She stopped, her arms crossed.

"It's me."

Her tone was calm. Commanding.

Akira's expression hardened.

"Guildmaster Sylara?"

His mind raced.

"Why is she here? How did she even know about this dungeon?"

Then, realization struck.

"Wait… This dungeon was under the guild's jurisdiction. And if that demonic human was here… of course, the Guildmaster herself would move in."

Sylara's violet gaze swept across the battlefield.

The massive corpse of the Troll King.

The blood-stained dungeon walls.

And Akira—standing alone, his torn black clothes clinging to him, still exuding an overwhelming killing intent.

She exhaled, slowly.

Then—her gaze locked onto him.

"What happened here?"

Her voice was calm. But it carried weight.

A demand for the truth.

"And why are you here alone, Akira? Explain."

Shit.

Akira kept his face neutral. But his mind scrambled.

What can I say to her? That I was chasing someone to get revenge on my family? That I had my own reasons?

No—start simple first.

He took a steady breath.

"I came here because I thought I could gain more experience," -

He said smoothly, keeping his voice even.

"If I fought stronger monsters, I'd grow even faster."

Sylara studied him.

For a long, silent moment.

Then—she tilted her head slightly.

"Is that so?"

Her voice was calm. But something in her tone felt… off.

She took a step closer.

"If you wanted a challenge, you could have asked Cha-Jong to join the raid."

Her violet eyes pierced into his.

"Why did you come alone, rushing in like this?"

Damn it.

Akira clenched his jaw.

She wasn't going to let this go.

He exhaled.

"I thought since i could reach the dungeon faster with my abilities ,I'd get here first and maybe even save someone before it was too late."

A slow smirk tugged at Sylara's lips.

"Oh? How thoughtful of you…"

Her tone dripped with amusement.

Akira's eyes narrowed.

Then—

Sylara's smirk vanished.

Her next words sent a chill through the air.

"If you're so thoughtful, Akira… why did Cha-Jong call all of us to stop you from entering this dungeon at all costs?"

Akira froze.

His breath hitched.

"...What?"

His heart pounded.

Cha-Jong had called everyone?

To stop him?

The air between them grew heavier.

Sylara's violet gaze locked onto his. Unblinking. Unwavering.

"Well?"

She took another step forward.

"I'd like to hear your answer."

Akira exhaled slowly.

His fingers curled into fists.

Damn it…

This just got complicated.