Chapter 10 – Preparing for the Unknown
Auther stood at the edge of the growing mana distortion the next morning, arms crossed, his breath steady from Silent Star Breathing.
The sink had changed overnight.
What was once a faint shimmer of heat-like mana was now a swirling vortex — subtle, yes, but constant. You could see the air around it warping if you looked just right. The glyphs etched into the cracked earth had grown sharper, glowing a muted gold at the edges and humming ever so faintly.
Like something was waking up beneath the ruins.
A heartbeat, slow but steady.
He dropped a rock into the sinkhole.
Nothing. It vanished into the shadows with a faint ripple, as if slipping into a different layer of reality.
It wasn't a gate yet.
But it would be soon.
He had three to five days, if his instincts were right.
Auther turned and began walking back toward his shelter, already sorting through plans in his mind.
A mini-dungeon meant:
Limited space
High mana density
And one guaranteed boss
There'd be no help. No backup.
Just him.
Alone.
And if the boss was even half as strong as that mutant ape...
He needed a plan.
---
Back in the train car, Auther laid out what little he had:
A notebook, a used datapad, scraps of food, a few tools, and his own mind.
He tapped the pad awake and created a new page:
> [DUNGEON STRATEGY – SOLO RAID PLAN]
• Estimated Threat: F3–F5
• Terrain: Confined, unstable
• Primary Risks: Traps, boss ambush, unknown mana effects
• Goal: Clear within 10 minutes of entry to avoid instability
• Priority: High-damage burst + healing + defense + mana control
That last one made his brow furrow.
Mana control.
He hadn't explored that avenue yet. His current skills were raw — focused on surviving, striking, and reacting.
But in a dungeon?
Control could mean everything.
If the environment became unstable, or mana flared chaotically, a single misstep could cook him from the inside.
"I need a skill to contain or stabilize ambient mana."
Or at least to adapt to it.
He opened the Skill Creation window and stared for a long time.
Creating something too advanced would burn all his points. He needed to start small — something foundational. A skill he could evolve over time.
He began typing.
---
Attempt 1:
Name: Mana Barrier
Description: "Forms a reactive shield of condensed mana that neutralizes incoming magical or unstable energy. Can repel weak projectiles."
[Rank: E1 – Cost: 80 Points]
Too much.
---
Attempt 3:
Name: Mana Flow Regulation
Description: "Allows user to balance and align the ambient mana in their body with the surrounding area. Slightly improves mana recovery and resistance to external mana pressure."
[Rank: F5 – Cost: 24 Points]
Acceptable.
It didn't block attacks. It didn't heal. But it gave him mana harmony — crucial when walking into a gate thick with raw, unstable energy.
He clicked Confirm.
---
[Skill Created: Mana Flow Regulation (F5)]
[Remaining Skill Points: 44]
---
He closed his eyes and activated the skill.
The effect was subtle. At first, he felt nothing.
Then…
His skin prickled.
Like a new sense was unfolding. He could feel the temperature of the mana around him — where it flowed, where it was dense. And he could feel his own core adjusting to it.
The friction between his internal mana and the outside world smoothed out.
Not a power.
A synchronization.
"I'll be able to stay stable inside the gate," he whispered. "Even if things go wild."
He exhaled slowly, and for the first time, felt confident he could survive the first few minutes inside.
Still... he needed more.
Much more.
---
He returned to his notes.
If the dungeon spawned a beast-type boss, he'd need mobility and damage.
If it was elemental, he'd need resistances or ranged options.
If it was something worse — like a mutant with multiple affinities or corrupt mana — then the only option would be overwhelming offense.
Auther considered his options.
He couldn't build everything. Not yet.
But he could start stacking his core functions.
He opened the log of his current skills.
---
[Auther Finn – F2]
[Ability: Skill Creation (Unique)]
[Skill Points: 44]
[Skills:]
Silent Star Breathing (F5) – steady mana circulation + recovery
Mana Edge (F3) – offensive strike enhancer
Fighting Mastery (F3) – base close-combat proficiency
Reflex Boost (F4) – enhanced reaction time
Reinforced Frame (F4) – durability/passive defense
Enhanced Hearing (F4) – detection + early warning
Lesser Flesh Knitting (F4) – emergency healing
Mana Flow Regulation (F5) – internal mana stability
---
Seven skills already. All low-tier, but versatile.
And none of them were wasteful.
Now he needed one more before he began hunting again — a finisher.
Something that let him end a fight fast.
He started experimenting.
---
Attempt 1:
Name: Mana Lance
Description: "Condenses a spear of mana to fire at high velocity. Pierces defenses and explodes on impact."
[Rank: E2 – Cost: 98 Points]
Too strong.
---
Attempt 2:
Name: Mana Dart
Description: "Forms a small dart of mana to launch at moderate speed. Weak but precise. Usable with minimal mana."
[Rank: F3 – Cost: 18 Points]
Too weak.
---
Attempt 3:
Name: Piercing Mana Spike
Description: "Condenses a short spike of high-density mana to pierce armor at close range. Requires physical contact or short-range throw. High damage in one point."
[Rank: F5 – Cost: 22 Points]
Perfect.
He confirmed.
---
[Skill Created: Piercing Mana Spike (F5)]
[Remaining Skill Points: 22]
---
He tested it outside by gripping a chunk of broken rebar.
He activated the skill.
Mana coiled around his forearm, spiraling into a thin spike along the edge of the metal. It vibrated faintly — dense and deadly.
He slammed it into a boulder.
A clean hole, two inches deep.
He smiled.
This was his finisher.
If he could land this strike on the boss's core or weak point, the fight would be over.
---
Later that evening, he packed everything he'd need:
3 mana cores
2 red healing vials
1 emergency stim
Bandages
Rope
A small flint knife
His datapad and notes
He stared at the pack for a long time.
This was his first dungeon.
Even if no one else knew it was forming, he did.
If he survived this…
He would finally be more than a wandering scavenger.
He'd be a real Awakener.
Not because of some guild.
Not because of some faction.
But because he'd earned it alone — through blood, skill, and his mind.
---
Outside, the mana pulse flared again.
Stronger this time.
The glyphs in the sinkhole now formed a partial ring — seven out of ten sigils complete.
Time was running out.
He set his gear by his side, closed his eyes, and entered a long meditation.
---
The hunt would begin soon.
And he would be ready.