NOVEL WEB Chapter 11: Trial of the Eclipse
I leaned back against the taxi seat, the hum of the engine lulling me into a daze. The cityscape blurred past, neon lights flickering like distant stars, but my mind was still trapped in the dungeon.
The thrill of battle, the weight of my sword, the adrenaline of standing on the edge of death—it all felt more real than the world outside.
Before I knew it, the taxi slowed to a stop. I glanced out the window.
A familiar, worn-down apartment complex stood before me—cracked concrete walls, rusting railings, and balconies overflowing with mismatched furniture and laundry lines.
The kind of place where the elevator barely worked, and the walls were thin enough to hear your neighbor's late-night arguments.
I stepped out, stretching my sore limbs.
Right… I forgot I live in this dump.
I let out a short chuckle, shaking my head.
Well, it's cheap, has a roof, and no one asks questions. Can't complain.
But one day, I'll have my own house. A place I can truly call mine.
With that thought lingering in my mind, I pushed forward, climbing the worn-out stairs of the apartment. Each step creaked under my weight, a familiar sound in this old building.
Room 102. My little sanctuary.
I reached into my pocket, fingers brushing against the cool metal of my key. With a quiet click, the door unlocked.
The moment I stepped inside, a soft lavender scent wrapped around me, filling the air with a soothing calm. My eyes swept over the space—clean, organized, everything in its place. A stark contrast to the chaotic mess I once called home in my past life.
I closed the door behind me, exhaling slowly.
Despite the apartment's plain exterior, the inside felt strangely warm, comforting—even homey. A stark contrast to the cold, chaotic life I once knew.
That comforting atmosphere only made the exhaustion hit harder. My body felt heavy, my eyelids drooping.
Without a second thought, I trudged toward the bed and collapsed onto the mattress.
Soft.
The tension in my muscles eased as I sank into the sheets.
"Sleep is essential for a healthy body," I reminded myself.
And so, without another thought, I let the darkness take me.
.
.
.
TRRRIINNG! TRRRIINNG! TRRRIINNG!
A shrill, unforgiving sound shattered my peaceful slumber.
I groaned, barely cracking open an eye. Morning already?
With half-hearted effort, I fumbled around, blindly searching for the alarm clock. My fingers finally found the button, and with a dull click, the noise ceased.
Perfect. Now, back to sleep—
[System]: TRRRIINNG! TRRRIINNG! TRRRIINNG!
My eye twitched.
I buried my face deeper into the pillow, pretending I didn't hear it.
[System]: TRRRIINNG! TRRRIINNG! TRRRIINNG!
"Goddamn it!" I shot up, raking a hand through my hair. Okay, okay, I'm awake!
Satisfied, the system went silent.
I swear, this thing was more persistent than death itself.
I got out bed, took a shower, and eat my usual breakfast
Just some Sunny side fried egg, still delicious
Let's check my status
System open status window
│ STATUS WINDOW │
[Name:Lukas Villamor]
[Race: Human]
[Class: Swordsman]
[STRENGTH:F]
[MANA: F-]
[AGILITY: F]
[ENDURANCE: F+]
[CHARM: D+]
[SHOP POINTS: 630]
[SKILL INFO:]
[Basic Swordsmanship (Uncommon)]
[The foundation for wielding a blade with control and precision. It covers grip, stance, footwork, and fundamental attacks and defenses. Though lacking finesse, it provides a solid base for combat and progression to advanced techniques.]
[Effects: 10% penetration to sword-based attacks]
[???Unknown Skill] - Locked
[TRAITS:]
[Will to Live (Rare)]
[Fear does not paralyze you—it fuels you. When death comes knocking, your body becomes a blur, defying fate itself.]
[Effects: flight mode:15% boost to agility
Fight mode: 10% boost to strength and endurance]
[Lightning Reflexes (Rare)]
[Allows near-instant reaction to sudden threats.]
[Usable turns: 4 moves]
[Note:After battle, relentless fatigue and searing muscle cramps will ravage your body, leaving you drained and aching with every movement.]
[In cooldown: 2 hours and 30 minutes]
[(New!) Wolf Hunter (Rare)]
[Survive and emerge victorious against a relentless wolf pack attack.]
[Predator's Edge – Increases Agility, Strength, and Endurance by 15% when facing wolf-type beasts.]
[Overview: Managed to survive a low-rank dungeon—barely. If luck had a physical form, it would've been dragging him out by the collar. These traits practically carried his ass.]
I swear, if someone actually wrote that overview, it's definitely my system…
Shaking my head, I focus on the real takeaway—my stats have improved, especially strength and endurance. Not bad.
And a new trait… This should make dealing with wolves a lot easier next time.
Oh, right—the locked skill. That was part of the starter package rewards. Almost forgot about it.
I turn to my ever-reliable system. "Yo, system, what's up with that locked skill?"
[System]: As much as I'd love to help, Host, I have no information on this one. (╥﹏╥)
I pause. The system doesn't know? That means someone must've put it there specifically for me.
But why?
No point in overthinking it now. Maybe the answer will come later.
I guess it's time for the trait book.
I reach into my inventory, pulling out the dusty tome.
An item like this—something that grants a random trait—is overpowered. But the catch? The trait you get is completely unpredictable. A normal person would hesitate, worrying they might end up with something useless.
But me?
I'm a gambler.
By the grace of the gacha gods, bless this poor soul with your divine luck.
I flip the book open.
A golden light bursts forth, blindingly radiant.
Ding! You've obtained…
[Inheritor of the Eclipse] (Mythical)
M-Mythical!?
My hands tremble as I process what just happened. I was hoping for a Legendary trait at best, but a Mythical? This changes everything!
But wait… This wasn't in the game. Did I miss something?
[Preparing the host for the trial.]
[Transporting the host in 5… 4…]
Wait. Wait, WAIT!
Panic surges through me.
"System! Help me out here!"
[System]: Sorry, Host. This is beyond my capabilities. (╥﹏╥)
[3…]
Oh, hell no.
[…2…]
It is what it is. There's nothing I can do now.
I take a deep breath, steadying myself. Fine. Let's get this over with.
[…1]
A crushing weight presses down on me. My vision darkens.
My consciousness fades into the void.
Author here sorry for the late upload some business I need to tend to. But worry not I will make up for the lost time.
Author here and peace out