Land Of The Beginning

Bam!

Whoom!

The air trembled as golden flames erupted around Luceon's fists, their heat distorting the space around him. The sheer force of his punch sent monster limbs scattering like shrapnel, crashing into the ground with a sickening thud. The once-imposing creatures, all muscle and fury, now lay in pieces, their charred remains smoldering against the stone floor.

Luceon stood in the middle of the destruction, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead, but his expression betrayed none of the fatigue his body might feel. Instead, a grin slowly spread across his face—wide and unyielding, his eyes gleaming with a mix of exhilaration and pride.

Hah, the old me would've been running for his life by now, he thought, his fingers flexing as the golden flames flickered and coiled around his hands like living creatures. But this... this is different. This is power.

The ground beneath him bore the marks of his dominance, scorched black and cracked from the heat of his flames. Smoke hung in the air, thick and acrid, stinging his nostrils. But he didn't care. Every part of him felt alive, humming with an energy he had never experienced before.

Then came the system's familiar chime, cutting through the silence.

[New skill concept obtained: Eon Enhancement, Voute.]

Luceon blinked, his grin widening further. "Oh? So, I can gain new skills just by experimenting?" His voice carried a hint of amazement, and he couldn't suppress a short laugh. "That's insane. This system just keeps surprising me."

He barely had a moment to relish the discovery when a guttural roar echoed through the dungeon.

GAAAAAGHHH!

A monstrous form barreled toward him, its claws gleaming under the dim light. The creature's eyes burned with rage, its massive frame moving with unnatural speed. The air around it seemed to ripple, the sheer force of its presence creating a vacuum that pulled debris in its wake.

The monster's claws lashed out in a deadly arc, aiming to cleave Luceon's head clean off.

Dash!

Luceon sidestepped to the left, the motion fluid and precise. The monster's claws sliced through empty air, the missed strike sending a gust of wind that ruffled his hair.

"You'll have to try harder than that," Luceon muttered, his voice calm but edged with a confidence that bordered on cocky.

Coiling his left arm, he let the golden flames concentrate around his fist, the energy condensing into a brilliant, searing sphere. The heat was almost unbearable, even for him, but he welcomed it—a testament to the overwhelming power he now wielded.

Bang!

His punch connected with the monster's chest, the impact resounding like a thunderclap. The creature didn't just stumble back—it exploded. Its torso disintegrated into a fine mist of ash and gore, the shockwave tearing through the creatures behind it.

Luceon watched as the wave of destruction rippled outward, the golden flames consuming everything in their path. The remaining monsters screeched in agony, their bodies reduced to charred husks before they even hit the ground.

When the dust finally settled, Luceon lowered his arm, surveying the aftermath. The once-teeming horde was now nothing more than a field of scorched remains, the air thick with the smell of burnt flesh and ozone.

Fwshh…

Steam rose from the ground, the residual heat of his attack lingering in the air.

Luceon exhaled slowly, his breath fogging in the cool dungeon air. "Is that all you've got?" he asked, his voice dripping with mockery.

But the dungeon wasn't finished.

The system chimed again, drawing his attention.

[Quest: Clear Dungeon of Sloth, Completed.]

[Rewards:

New Skill: Krashmiln.]

"Krashmiln?" he repeated, his brow furrowing. The name of the skill sounded... ominous. Powerful, but ominous.

Curiosity piqued, he extended his right hand, focusing on the new skill. He closed his eyes, imagining the energy pooling in his palm, waiting for the power to manifest.

[Requirements not met.]

The words flashed across his vision, stark and unyielding.

Luceon groaned, his shoulders sagging. "Seriously?" he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "What's the point of giving me a skill if I can't even use it?"

The disappointment was short-lived.

The ground beneath him trembled, the vibrations subtle at first but quickly growing in intensity. Loose stones rattled against the dungeon floor, and cracks began to spiderweb across the walls.

"What now?" Luceon muttered, his eyes scanning the space for the source of the disturbance.

Then he saw it.

A vortex of darkness swirled in the center of the room, its edges shimmering with an otherworldly light. The air around it grew cold, the temperature plummeting to an icy chill that bit at his skin.

From the vortex emerged a new wave of monsters, their forms more grotesque and menacing than the last. Their eyes glowed with an unnatural light, their claws dripping with an eerie, black ichor.

Luceon's grin returned, sharper this time, almost predatory.

"Now this..." he said, cracking his knuckles as the golden flames reignited around his hands. "This is going to be fun."

The first monster charged, its roar shaking the walls. It was larger than the others, its muscular frame rippling with power. But Luceon didn't flinch.

Instead, he moved forward, meeting the creature head-on.

Whoosh!

The monster's claws came down in a devastating slash, aiming to split him in two. But Luceon ducked under the strike, his movements smooth and calculated.

"Too slow," he taunted, driving his fist into the monster's abdomen.

Boom!

The creature didn't stand a chance. The golden flames engulfed its body, incinerating it from the inside out.

Another monster lunged from his left, its jaws snapping inches from his shoulder.

Spin!

Luceon twisted, delivering a flaming roundhouse kick that sent the creature flying into the wall. The impact cracked the stone, the monster's body crumpling like a ragdoll.

One by one, the creatures fell, their numbers dwindling with each passing moment.

Despite their ferocity, it was clear: this wasn't a battle. It was a massacre.

Luceon's dominance was absolute, each strike a testament to his newfound power. The monsters, once terrifying and unstoppable, were now little more than obstacles—stepping stones on his path to greater strength.

When the final monster fell, its body collapsing in a heap of ash and smoke, Luceon stood tall, the golden flames fading from his hands.

The dungeon was silent once more, the air heavy with the weight of his victory.

But as he took a step forward, the ground beneath him began to crack.

He froze, his eyes narrowing.

What now?

The dungeon had one more surprise in store.

From the largest fissure, the figure emerged—a dark silhouette at first, its footsteps echoing ominously. As it stepped into the dim light, its features became clear. At first glance, it looked human—tall, broad-shouldered, with unruly, dark brown hair. But the longer Luceon stared, the more the illusion unraveled.

Its skin gleamed like polished obsidian, dark veins pulsating faintly beneath the surface, as if alive with some malevolent force. Its crimson eyes glowed, sharp and predatory, scanning Luceon with a chilling intensity. The corners of its mouth twisted upward, revealing jagged, razor-like teeth.

What the hell is that thing? Luceon's pulse quickened, but he kept his stance firm, refusing to show any sign of weakness. His golden flames flickered around his fists, the warmth of them steadying his nerves.

"A human?" Luceon muttered, the words slipping out involuntarily. He tilted his head, studying the creature as much as it studied him. Despite its humanoid shape, it radiated an energy unlike anything he'd faced before.

The creature's grin widened, its expression almost amused. "Another one?" it spoke, its voice low and gravelly, vibrating through the air like the growl of a predator. It crossed its arms, standing tall and unflinching. "You're the 405th human to enter here. Though no one has ever made it this far."

Luceon raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a grin of his own. "Huh. I guess that makes me special, doesn't it?"

The creature let out a guttural laugh, shaking its head. "Special? No, just persistent. But persistence won't save you." Its crimson gaze locked onto him, its presence pressing down like a suffocating weight. "Go all out on me, human," it growled. "I'll see if you're worth my time."

Luceon's grin widened, his confidence unwavering. "As you wish."

He didn't hesitate. "Voute."

Shhk!

Golden flames erupted from his arms, spiraling upward in a dazzling display of raw power. The heat warped the air, the grasslands bathed in a fiery glow. The ground beneath his feet cracked and hissed, molten rock pooling around him. The sheer intensity of the flames made the creature's eyes narrow slightly, its expression momentarily betraying surprise.

"Interesting," the creature muttered, its lips curling back into a smug smile.

Luceon didn't waste time waiting. He launched forward, his body a blur of motion.

Dash!

The air split with the force of his movement, his fist blazing as it cut through the space between them. The flames roared louder, a comet of destruction aimed directly at the creature's face.

BOOM!

The impact never came.

The creature's hand shot up, catching Luceon's flaming fist with ease. The force of the attack sent shockwaves through the cavern, cracks spidering across the ground, and stone structures. Yet, the creature didn't flinch.

Luceon's eyes widened as he pushed against the creature's grip, but it didn't budge. The smug grin returned to its face. "You've got some fire," it mocked, tightening its grip on Luceon's fist. The flames around his hand flickered under the pressure, dimming slightly. "But fire alone won't save you."

Before Luceon could pull away, the creature yanked him forward with a sickening strength.

Thud!

The creature drove its knee into Luceon's stomach, the force of the blow knocking the air from his lungs.

Gah!

Luceon gasped, staggering back, but the creature wasn't done. It grabbed him by the arm and hurled him across the room like a ragdoll.

Boom!

Luceon's body slammed into a nearby hill, the impact shaking loose chunks of rock that tumbled down around him. Pain shot through his body as he groaned, forcing himself to his feet. He wiped a smear of blood from the corner of his mouth, his golden flames reigniting as his resolve solidified.

The creature crossed its arms, watching him with an air of superiority. "Is that all you've got? Pathetic."

...

Luceon coughed, shaking off the daze. His lips curled into a defiant grin. "Come to think of it," he said, his voice steady, "I've only been using fire magic."

The creature stiffened, its arrogant expression faltering for the first time.

What is he talking about? He's bluffing, it thought, but doubt began to creep into its mind.

Luceon raised his arms, and the flames around his left hand roared brighter. But it didn't stop there. His right hand glowed a brilliant orange as molten magma began to form, dripping onto the ground with a hiss. The cavern filled with the smell of burning rock as the heat intensified.

Then, behind him, four orbs began to materialize.

The first shimmered like liquid silver, droplets of water pooling beneath it before evaporating into mist.

The second glowed with an almost holy light, pure and radiant, forcing the creature to shield its eyes.

The third pulsed with a biting cold, frost spreading outward from where it hovered.

The fourth spun like a miniature tornado, a swirling storm of wind and lightning crackling within its core.

Luceon stood in the center of it all, his figure illuminated by the combined brilliance of the elements. His expression was calm, but his eyes burned with determination. The ground beneath him trembled, unable to bear the weight of his power.

The creature staggered back, its confidence shattered. "No... that can't be." Its voice wavered, the arrogance replaced by fear.

Luceon took a step forward, his movements slow and deliberate. "You wanted me to go all out," he said, his voice low and steady. "So don't regret asking for it."

The creature stumbled, its mind racing. This is impossible. No human can wield all the elements. He's not just a human... He's...

The realization hit like a thunderclap.

He's a Chosen from God.