The path to Purity
The streets of Seoul were alive with the hum of neon lights and the chatter of late-night crowds. Min-jun moved through the throngs of people, his hood pulled low and his hands tucked into his pockets. The city's chaos was a welcome distraction from the fire simmering beneath his skin.
"[Corruption Level: 70%]"
"[Warning: Stabilization Required Within 48 Hours]"
The stabilizer Seung-ho had used was wearing off, its effects fading faster than expected. Min-jun could feel the corruption creeping back, a restless energy that threatened to consume him. He needed a permanent solution—and fast.
---
Min-jun's first stop was a small, dimly lit bookstore tucked away in a quiet alley. The proprietor, an elderly man with thick glasses and a perpetual frown, glanced up as the bell above the door jingled.
"Looking for something specific?" the man asked, his voice raspy.
"Books on Aurora cores," Min-jun said, keeping his tone casual.
The man raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He gestured toward a dusty shelf in the corner.
Min-jun scanned the titles, his system highlighting a few promising options:
"[Item Identified: "The Aurora Phenomenon: A Comprehensive Study"]"
"[Item Identified: "Core Dynamics: Theory and Application"]"
"[Item Identified: "Mutation and Stabilization: A Practitioner's Guide"]"
He grabbed the books and paid in cash, avoiding the proprietor's curious gaze.
---
Back in his apartment, Min-jun spread the books across his rickety table. The system's interface flickered as it analyzed the texts, cross-referencing information and highlighting key passages.
"[Data Analysis (Lv. 1) Activated]"
"[Progress: 25%... 50%... 75%...]"
The books revealed a wealth of information about Aurora cores and their effects on the human body. One passage in particular caught his attention:
' "The Aurora's energy is inherently unstable, but certain natural elements can act as conduits for its purification. These elements, when combined with a stabilized core, can create a permanent solution to mutation and corruption." '
Min-jun's system pinged:
"[New Objective: Locate Purification Elements]"
"[Recommended Locations: Unregistered Gates, Aurora Hotspots]"
He leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. Unregistered gates were dangerous, but they were also the most likely places to find what he needed.
---
The gate was hidden in the basement of an abandoned factory on the outskirts of Seoul. Its jagged edges pulsed faintly with violet light, and the air around it crackled with energy.
"[Gate Identified: Unregistered (D-Rank)]"
"[Threat Level: Moderate]"
Min-jun adjusted his pack, which was filled with supplies he'd scavenged from the black market: a reinforced flashlight, a set of lockpicks, and a small vial of suppressant he'd bought from a shady dealer.
He stepped through the gate, the world twisting around him.
---
The dungeon was a labyrinth of crumbling stone and glowing fungi. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and the walls pulsed faintly with Aurora energy.
"[Environmental Analysis (Lv. 2) Activated]"
"[Weak Points Detected: East Tunnel (Structural Damage), Central Chamber (High Energy Concentration)]"
Min-jun moved cautiously, his system guiding him through the maze. He encountered a few low-level creatures—rat-like monsters with crystalline fur—but dispatched them quickly with his improvised weapons.
"[Combat Victory: +10% Proficiency to Improvised Combat]"
The central chamber was a large, circular room filled with glowing crystals. In the center of the room was a pedestal, atop which rested a small, pulsating core.
"[Item Identified: Purification Core (D-Rank)]"
"[Function: Stabilizes Aurora Energy, Reduces Corruption]"
Min-jun approached cautiously, his system scanning for traps.
"[Trap Detection (Lv. 1) Activated]"
"[No Threats Detected]"
He grabbed the core, its energy surging through him. The system flickered:
"[Corruption Level: Reduced to 65%]"
"[New Skill: Core Manipulation (Lv. 1) Acquired]"
(Its not that the mc is too lucky but based on the rank of the dungeon and the mc's strength it is reasonable it's just that i didn't add the useless fight scenes)
---
Min-jun emerged from the gate, the purification core safely tucked into his pack. The journey had been risky, but the results were worth it.
Back in his apartment, he placed the core on the table, his system analyzing its properties.
"[Purification Core Analysis Complete]"
"[Recommended Usage: Combine with Stabilizer for Maximum Effect]"
He pulled out the stabilizer Seung-ho had given him, its surface cracked and leaking faint violet mist. The system's interface flickered as it guided him through the process of combining the two devices.
"[Crafting (Lv. 1) Activated]"
"[Progress: 25%... 50%... 75%...]"
The process was delicate, requiring precise adjustments and careful handling of the Aurora energy. Min-jun's hands moved with a steady confidence, the system's prompts guiding him every step of the way.
Finally, the devices fused, their energy merging into a single, stable core.
"[Item Created: Stabilized Purification Core]"
"[Function: Permanently Reduces Corruption, Enhances Fire Affinity]"
Min-jun activated the core, its energy coursing through his body. The fire in his veins subsided, the corruption receding to a dull ache.
"[Corruption Level: Reduced to 50%]"
"[Fire Affinity Enhanced]"
---
With the immediate threat of corruption under control, Min-jun turned his attention to the future. The system's interface flickered with new objectives:
"[New Quest: Master Core Manipulation]"
"[Reward: Enhanced Abilities, Reduced Corruption]"
"[Failure Penalty: Mutation]"
(The penalties are the natural outcomes if the mc does not perform a certain a action and the mc knows the consequences of what will happen if he doesn't do an action without depending on the system)
He glanced at the map on his wall, its surface marked with the locations of unregistered gates and Aurora hotspots. The path ahead was dangerous, but it was his only option.
Min-jun grabbed his pack and headed for the door. The city's chaos was behind him now. Ahead lay the unknown—and the promise of true freedom.
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