Chapter 9: The Journey Begins

The monstrous Rocky Spider lay motionless, its massive corpse sprawled across the cavern floor. The once terrifying creature, with its steel-like webbing and glowing red eyes, was now just another defeated beast.

Raiken stood over it, his black and gold armor glistening in the dim cave light. His chest rose and fell rapidly, exhaustion creeping in after the intense battle.

Then—

🔔 SYSTEM NOTIFICATION:

+1 Armor has been added to the inventory.

Raiken's tired expression immediately shifted to excitement.

"Oh? Let's see what I got!"

Stretching out his hand—

"Activate!"

A golden light erupted, swirling around his forearms.

In an instant, black and gold mechanical gauntlets materialized over his hands, seamlessly merging with his existing armor. They were sleek, heavy, and covered in intricate engravings that pulsed with mysterious energy. The moment he clenched his fists—

A deep hum vibrated through the air.

Raiken flexed his fingers, feeling the power coursing through him.

"Wow… amazing." His voice was a whisper, awestruck by the upgrade.

"System, what is this?"

🔵 SYSTEM UPDATE:

[Skill Acquired: Void Ripper – Crush, Rip, and Shatter. The strength of a Titan in your hands.]

Raiken smirked.

His golden eyes gleamed as he turned to a massive boulder nearby.

"Alright, let's test it out."

He clenched his fists—

FWOOOOOSH!

Golden-black streaks of energy BURST forth, crackling through the air like lightning.

Then—

BOOOOOOOM!

The boulder exploded into countless shards, each piece sliced with deadly precision. The cavern trembled from the sheer force, and a gust of wind whooshed outward, sending dust and debris flying.

Raiken grinned.

"This... is going to be fun."

A New Path Forward

Raiken leaned against the cave wall, exhaling slowly.

"I've been stuck in these caves for weeks..."

The System had been feeding him knowledge, explaining the laws of this world—

Magic, mana, dragons, magical beasts, heroes, kingdoms…

Raiken's smirk widened. "Now this is getting exciting."

A dark chuckle escaped his lips.

Then, a thought struck him.

"System— is there a nearby village? Somewhere with people?"

The System's voice responded instantly.

"With all the battles and experience you've gained, I've unlocked more scanning abilities. Let me check."

A golden pulse erupted outward.

SCAN—ACTIVATED!

A wave of golden energy swept through the cave, expanding far beyond Raiken's sight. The sheer force of the scan made the ground tremble slightly.

Moments later—

"A town has been located. Estimated travel time: One week."

Raiken blinked. "A WEEK!?"

The System let out a teasing beep. "Got a problem?"

Raiken rolled his shoulders. "Tch… as long as it's fun."

With renewed energy, he grabbed his bag, slinging it onto his back. His black and gold armor pulsed faintly, as if sensing his determination.

Taking one last look at the cave—

He grinned.

"Let's go."

With a powerful jump, he launched forward.

The Harsh Road Ahead

Days passed.

Raiken's once eager steps had slowed. His breathing had grown heavier, his body aching from the relentless journey.

The cave's cool darkness had been replaced by the merciless sun beating down on him. The terrain had shifted to a vast, dry wasteland.

His black and gold armor absorbed the heat, making him feel like he was roasting alive.

"Damn… this heat is hell."

His throat felt like sandpaper. His vision blurred slightly as his legs trembled from exhaustion.

His water carrier swung at his waist. Desperately, he grabbed it and chugged the last drops.

It barely helped.

"System…" he groaned. "How much longer?"

The System remained silent for a moment before responding.

"Keep going. Just a few more days."

Raiken gritted his teeth. "Shut up."

His body screamed for rest, but he pushed forward.

Nightfall

As the sun disappeared beyond the horizon, the wasteland transformed.

The scorching heat faded—replaced by a bone-chilling cold.

The wind howled, carrying the distant roars of unseen creatures lurking in the darkness.

Raiken exhaled, his breath visible in the frigid air.

"It's night already…?"

The System chimed in.

"Let's rest here."

Raiken let out a tired sigh. "Yeah… good idea."

His eyes scanned the area, spotting a rocky formation nearby.

Perfect.

With sluggish movements, he dragged himself to the spot, collapsed against the cool stone, and let out a deep breath.

The night sky stretched above him, stars twinkling like tiny fragments of mana.

His eyes grew heavy.

The journey had just begun—

But for now, he needed rest.

And with that, he closed his eyes.