Tutorial Room

Chapter 32 : Tutorial Room

It had been fifteen days since their arrival, and Raven was finally ready to challenge the tutorial room. One of the members of the Shadow Clan Guild guided him to the place where the tutorial room was located.

They arrived at a massive gate, its towering structure sealed shut, radiating an imposing presence. The man accompanying Raven gestured toward the gate.

"You see the person sitting outside the gate? You have to go and tell him you want to challenge the tutorial room. He'll teleport you inside directly, and the challenge will begin."

Raven listened intently as the man continued explaining.

"Once you clear the room, you'll be rewarded with a unique stone containing a special power. To claim it, you need to drop your blood onto the stone, and it'll absorb the power, making it yours. The type of stone you receive depends on your performance and your luck inside."

"And the King and Queens who built this place? They're watching you. So, give them a show. And one more thing," the man's tone grew serious. "If you die inside, you die for real. So, be prepared."

Raven's gaze remained steady. His determination was unwavering. He nodded at the man and approached the figure sitting beside the large gate.

It was an old man, leaning lazily against the stone wall, eyes half-closed as if lost in a trance. Raven spoke clearly, his voice echoing in the silence.

"I want to challenge the tutorial room."

The old man's eyes opened slowly, sharp and calculating. "What's your name?"

"Raven Cross," he replied without hesitation.

The old man's wrinkled hand moved slightly, and before Raven could process what was happening, everything around him twisted and blurred.

The next moment, he found himself in utter darkness. A cold, damp air clung to his skin, and the faint scent of moss filled his senses. It was a cave, the kind where light didn't dare to intrude. But darkness was something Raven had always been comfortable with. Shadows were his domain.

As he cautiously moved forward, his steps were silent against the stone floor. The passage stretched ahead, leading somewhere unknown. Yet, his instincts urged him forward.

Moments later, he sensed movement. His eyes narrowed as he spotted a group of goblins ahead—tiny, active, green creatures with sharp, beady eyes. They didn't look strong, but their numbers were enough to devour someone alive if given the chance.

But fear didn't reach Raven. His fingers wrapped around the hilts of his daggers, their cold steel reassuring against his skin. Moving with practiced silence, he slipped behind one of the creatures and slit its throat in a single fluid motion.

The goblin collapsed soundlessly, but the others noticed the sudden disappearance of their companion. Their heads snapped toward him, and with shrill screeches, they lunged at him all at once.

Raven's movements were precise and lethal. His body flowed like water, evading every claw and tooth. In one smooth motion, his daggers sliced through the air, their sharp edges finding the necks of each goblin.

One by one, they fell, their blood staining the cave floor.

Strangely, Raven felt nothing. No guilt, no hesitation. Even though it was his first time killing something—or someone. All he felt was a calm detachment, his focus razor-sharp.

The darkness of the cave embraced him as he continued forward.

---

As Raven continued his journey through the dark cave, more goblins attacked him. Their shrill cries echoed against the walls as they lunged at him from every direction. But Raven's senses were sharp, his eyes easily reading their clumsy attacks.

With swift and precise movements, he cut them down one by one. His body flowed effortlessly as his daggers danced through the air, striking with deadly accuracy. As he continued fighting, his movements grew even more precise, his control over his blades smoother.

He felt surprisingly comfortable using his daggers, his confidence growing with every kill. And thanks to his healing ability, he didn't feel the slightest hint of exhaustion.

The path eventually led him to a larger chamber. The air was thick and heavy, and standing at the center was a creature far different from the goblins he had faced before.

It was a towering orc, its shoulders broad and muscular, every part of its body packed with monstrous strength. Its skin was a sickly shade of green, and when it turned to face Raven, its eyes burned with a savage hunger, as if it were gazing at prey.

Raven wasted no time. His body blurred as he activated Shadow Step, a movement so fast it allowed him to reach his target without it even noticing.

He slashed his daggers across the orc's stomach, but the blade only scraped against its thick, muscle-covered body, leaving only a shallow cut. Raven narrowed his eyes, immediately following with a slash to the orc's neck. The cut drew blood, but it was not deep enough to cause real damage.

Realizing the orc's durability, Raven swiftly took a step back, keeping his distance as the beast roared and swung its massive arm at him. Raven dodged effortlessly, his body moving like a shadow.

He quickly analyzed the situation. The orc was immensely powerful, but its speed was nothing compared to his own. The creature's attacks were slow and predictable.

A confident grin spread across Raven's face as he continued his assault. He would strike and then retreat, repeating the process over and over. His blades tore into the orc's flesh, leaving wounds that bled profusely.

The orc grew angrier, its swings becoming wilder, but Raven's calm and focused mind allowed him to evade each attack. Eventually, the creature's movements slowed, weakened by the loss of blood and exhaustion.

Seizing the opportunity, Raven lunged forward and drove his dagger deep into the orc's throat. The beast let out a final, gurgling breath before collapsing to the ground with a heavy thud.

Just as the creature died, a screen appeared before Raven's eyes.

TUTORIAL ROOM CLEARED.

NOW YOU ARE A RANKER.

CLAIM YOUR REWARD.

Without hesitation, Raven claimed his reward. A stone materialized before him, glowing faintly with a strange energy. Raven took out his dagger, cut his arm, and let a few drops of blood fall onto the stone.

His wound healed instantly as the stone absorbed the blood. Another screen appeared.

YOU CAN NOW CHECK YOUR STATS.

YOU GOT THE ABILITY: TIME'S EYE (S).

The screen vanished, leaving Raven standing alone in the silence of the cave. His eyes widened with curiosity. He didn't know what this new ability was or how to use it.

"Stats," he murmured, testing the command.

Immediately, a new screen appeared before him.

STATS

RAVEN CROSS

LEVEL - 30

STRENGTH - 20

SPEED - 50

ENDURANCE - 80

ABILITY - INSTANT HEAL (SSS), TIME'S EYE (S)

"So, my healing ability is called Instant Heal… And this new skill... I'll figure it out later," Raven said to himself.

He glanced around the cave, his task completed. Turning around, he retraced his steps until he reached the giant door. As he approached, the door swung open, and blinding light flooded his vision.

The sudden brightness gave his face a faint glow as he emerged from the darkness. The man from the Shadow Clan Guild was waiting for him outside.

"Congratulations. Now you can join our guild. By the way, what ability did you get?" the man asked curiously.

Raven's expression remained unreadable. "I'll decide with my friends. I'll probably join the guild after I return from home."

The man didn't press the matter. "Joining the guild will be good for you. It will provide you with information, resources, and support to make you stronger. It will also help you climb the floors now that you're a Ranker."

Raven nodded, acknowledging the words. "I'll think about it."

With that, Raven left, heading straight to his room. As he entered, Lyra, Seraphine, and Aurelia were waiting for him. The moment they saw him, smiles spread across their faces.

Lyra's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Did you clear it?"

Raven nodded. "Yes."

They all congratulated him, eager to hear about his experience. Raven recounted everything that had happened, explaining how he could now see his stats but choosing to keep his new ability a secret.

Seraphine's curiosity got the better of her. Activating her ability, she peered at Raven's stats.

STATS

RAVEN CROSS

LEVEL - 30

STRENGTH - 20

SPEED - 50

ENDURANCE - 80

ABILITY - ? , TIME'S EYE (S).

Seeing the question mark, Seraphine felt puzzled but decided not to ask him about it.

Lyra and Seraphine then made their own decisions. They would challenge the tutorial room after a few more days of preparation. Lyra turned to Aurelia and asked with a teasing grin, "Sister-in-law, when are you going to challenge it? You look strong enough."

Aurelia replied calmly, "I'll wait. But I'll challenge it soon."

"Now, we should rest. We have training tomorrow," Aurelia said, taking out some books and handing them to Raven. "These are some skills you can learn. They will help you."

Raven accepted the books with a nod. "Thank you, sister-in-law. I'll study them."

Curious, Raven asked, "Where's Grim? He hasn't been here since day two."

Aurelia's expression softened. "He's busy. He has some work to do, and I help him with it. Don't worry, he's always looking after all of you."

Raven's tone was dismissive. "Who wants him to look after us?"

Without waiting for a response, he turned away. "I'm going to sleep now. I'm tired."

He walked over to his bed and lay down, ending the conversation. Aurelia looked at him and smiled softly before turning to the others.

"I'll be leaving now. You all should rest," Aurelia said before leaving the room.

___

It's already been 22 days since they arrived. Raven had fully mastered all the techniques Aurelia had given him, and his strength and skills had increased significantly. He felt more confident than ever.

Lyra and Seraphine had also prepared themselves and decided to challenge the tutorial room tomorrow.

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit room, Aurelia was sitting on Grim's lap, her head resting against his chest as his strong arms held her securely. The faint glow of Grim's dark eyes in the darkness highlighted the intensity between them, his presence dominating the room. Aurelia's hips bore a faint redness, a subtle hint of their closeness and the time they had spent together.

The atmosphere was quiet and intimate, and despite the underlying intensity, there was a sense of calm between them.

Aurelia rested against him, feeling safe and comfortable, while Grim's hand lightly traced her back, his touch possessive and protective.

Their relationship had grown deeper over the past few weeks, a bond unspoken but undeniably strong.