Transcending Paragon (New)

His eyes snapped open, revealing his dark ebony gaze, sharp and focused. He immediately sat up, scanning his surroundings with practiced efficiency. No sign of Hajime. A flicker of concern passed through him, but he pushed it aside. 

"System, how long have I been unconscious?" 

[ You have been unconscious for approximately one hour. ] 

Caelum exhaled, unsurprised. His recovery rate was beyond normal. Glancing down, he inspected his armor—dented, scratched, but still holding up. It had done its job. His body was naturally resilient, capable of withstanding most blades, but extra protection never hurt. 

Brushing off the dust, he rose to his feet and surveyed the cavernous abyss. The flickering light from luminescent crystals cast eerie shadows across the jagged rock formations. With no clear path, he picked a direction and started moving—but he didn't get far. 

A deep, guttural growl echoed through the cavern. Monsters. 

Caelum let out a slow breath, then grinned. It had been a while since he could truly cut loose. 

"Let's dance." 

With a swift motion, he unsheathed his broadsword and summoned Miséricorde, the long dagger appearing in his off-hand. A blade in each grip—one for power, the other for precision. His Moonlight Greatsword was tucked away in his inventory. He can't use it in tight spaces where he currently is.

The first creature lunged, fangs bared, but Caelum sidestepped with a duelist's grace, his broadsword redirecting the beast's momentum with a quick parry. Using the force of its charge against it, he pivoted on his heel and drove Miséricorde into the base of its skull, severing its spine. 

Another monster pounced from behind, but Caelum reacted instantly. A tight step forward, a slight twist of his shoulders, and his broadsword came up in a hanging guard position (Ochs stance), effortlessly deflecting the attack. He retaliated with a swift downward slash, splitting its head in half. 

The third beast, larger than the rest, circled him warily, muscles tense. It lunged low, aiming for his legs. 

He didn't retreat. 

Instead, he met its charge head-on, shifting into a half-swording technique—his left hand gripping the blade of his broadsword near the tip, using it like a spear. A precise thrust punctured the monster's throat before it could even snap its jaws. 

More came. 

He flowed between Italian longsword techniques and Japanese dual-wielding footwork, his movements efficient, fluid, and lethal. A sweeping moulinet (windmill cut) from his broadsword sent one beast tumbling, while a quick riposte with Miséricorde dispatched another. 

One final monster remained. It snarled, hesitating, sensing its own doom. 

Caelum simply smirked. 

With a burst of explosive footwork, he closed the distance in a blink, his broadsword cleaving through the air in a controlled arc. The beast flinched, but before it could react, Miséricorde buried itself deep into its heart. 

A single flick of his wrist, and blood sprayed onto the cavern floor. 

As the last body crumpled, Caelum exhaled, rolling his shoulders. The thrill of battle still tingled in his veins. 

"Not bad… but I was expecting more." 

With a final glance at the fallen monsters, he flicked his sword, removed the blood then wiped it using his elbow before sheathed his weapons and pressed onward into the unknown abyss. 

Caelum dragged the monster's corpse to a relatively safe alcove, away from potential threats. The dim glow of luminescent crystals barely illuminated the space, casting eerie shadows over the jagged rock formations. A temporary shelter. It would do. 

Kneeling beside the carcass, he opened his pouch and retrieved a utility knife—one of the few things he had prepared in advance. With practiced efficiency, he sliced through the tough hide, peeling it back to expose the dark, fibrous muscle beneath. 

His hands worked methodically, cutting away strips of flesh and tossing aside the inedible parts. The acrid stench of blood and raw meat filled his nostrils, making him grimace slightly. 

"This is going to be disgusting." 

He knew it wasn't just about survival—it was also an experiment. If things followed the story, consuming monster meat could trigger a mutation. His body, already beyond human, might evolve even further. 

Steeling himself, he lifted a chunk of raw meat to his mouth and bit down. 

The moment his teeth sank into the tough flesh, an overwhelming bitterness coated his tongue, followed by a metallic tang from the blood. His stomach churned in protest, but he forced himself to chew and swallow. 

Then, it began. 

A sudden heat ignited within his core, spreading rapidly through his veins. His muscles tightened, pulsing with newfound energy, and his senses sharpened—he could hear the faintest dripping of water, feel the vibrations of the cavern, smell the distinct scent of minerals in the air. 

[ Notice: You have become a Human-Monster Hybrid. ] 

Caelum exhaled slowly, taking a moment to check himself. His hands remained the same, his skin unaltered—no monstrous transformations, no drastic changes in appearance. Yet, he could feel it—his strength, speed, and perception had surged beyond his previous limits. 

"So, no drastic mutations… but my body definitely changed internally." 

He clenched his fist, feeling the raw power humming beneath his skin. The abyss had begun to change him. And he welcomed it.

Eventually, Caelum hunted more monsters feasting in their flesh and acquiring their skills in the process. He incorporates the change by utilizing his Body Refining technique that boosts his strength even further. 

========

Deep within the abyss of the Great Orcus Labyrinth, past a pair of colossal stone doors, guarded by two towering Cyclops, lay a strange cube—an unnatural construct of peculiar stone, pulsing faintly with sealed magic. Entombed within was a girl, her body imprisoned with only her head exposed to the cold, suffocating darkness. 

She was a princess of the vampire clans, an Atavist—a rare being blessed with an innate connection to magic, needing no chant or magic circle to cast spells. Unlike ordinary mages, she wielded power effortlessly, a trait marking her as a descendant of the gods. 

Yet, it was this very gift that condemned her. 

Her uncle, fearful of her immortality—a regeneration so potent that even decapitation would not end her—saw her as a threat to his ambitions. Since she could not be killed, she was sealed away. 

She had long since lost track of time. 

Years? Decades? Centuries? 

All she knew was darkness. 

Then— 

BOOM! 

A deafening explosion shook the cavern. 

CRASH! 

The massive stone doors that had imprisoned her for what felt like an eternity were suddenly blown apart, shards of rock raining across the chamber. 

Blinding light flooded in, forcing her unused eyes to shut tight in pain. When she finally managed to squint them open, a silhouette stood at the entrance, framed against the dim glow of the labyrinth's crystals. 

A man, tall and muscular, clad in a tattered cloak and worn-down armor, his ebony gaze scanning the chamber. 

She stared at him, dumbfounded, her mind struggling to process what was happening. But then— hope surged within her. This was her chance. 

Her hoarse voice—rough from years of disuse—barely escaped her lips. 

"Please... help me..." 

The man stepped forward, his boots crunching over the rubble of destruction. His expression remained unreadable as he studied her, his voice calm yet laced with skepticism. 

"And why would I do that? How do I know you're not some kind of criminal, sealed down here for a reason?" 

Her heart pounded in panic. Would he leave her? Would she be left in this eternal abyss once more? Desperation fueled her response. 

"I'm the princess of the vampire clans! My uncle—he betrayed me! He wanted my power but couldn't kill me, so he had me sealed down here!" 

She pleaded silently, praying he would believe her. 

The man approached, stopping just before the cube. His dark eyes examined the structure trapping her before he spoke. 

"I can break this... but it'll hurt." 

She froze. 

Her body could regenerate, but after centuries without blood, she was too weak to heal immediately. Asking him for blood was out of the question—what if it scared him away? 

Yet, as if reading her thoughts, the man sighed. 

"You need blood, don't you?" 

She turned her head away, embarrassed. 

Then, without hesitation, he thrust his arm forward, directly into her vision. 

She looked up, confused. 

"Go ahead. I'm not the one biting here." 

Her eyes widened. He was... offering himself? 

She hesitated for just a moment before instinct took over. Her fangs sank into his flesh, and warm, rich blood flooded her mouth. 

It was unlike anything she had ever tasted. Sweet. Potent. Overwhelming. 

With just a few gulps, strength surged through her weakened limbs, her senses sharpening, her very being awakened from its long slumber. 

She pulled back, eyes filled with newfound vitality. What was he? His blood felt different—like a miracle elixir, more potent than anything she had ever imagined. 

Then— 

CRACK! 

A fist slammed into the cube, sending a resonating shudder through its surface. She could tell—he was holding back, careful not to injure her. 

Another blow— 

CRACK! 

She knew his strength. The Cyclops corpses lying in mangled heaps near the door were proof enough. He could shatter the cube instantly, yet he was breaking it gradually—for her sake. 

Then— 

BOOM! 

The prison shattered apart, dumping her frail body onto the cold stone floor. 

For the first time in forever, she was free. 

She didn't move at first. She simply stared at her hands, her fingers trembling. Real. Tangible. Unbound. 

Footsteps approached. She looked up, her vision blurry with forming tears. 

A choked breath, then— 

"...Thank you..." 

He smiled, patted her head and then unclipped his cloak before handing it to her.

"Here. I'm sure you don't want to remain naked."He smiled, reaching out to gently pat her head before unclipping his tattered cloak and handing it to her. 

"Here. I'm sure you don't want to stay naked." 

At his words, she instinctively glanced down—and froze. 

Her entire body was exposed, her pale skin illuminated by the dim glow of the labyrinth's crystals. A furious blush crept up her face as she hurriedly covered herself with her hands, her voice barely above a whisper. 

"...Pervert." 

It was baseless, considering he had done nothing wrong, but she refused to meet his gaze. 

He only laughed, shaking his head in amusement. 

"My name is Tenya Shindo. By the way, what's yours?" The girl was brought out of her thoughts at the simple question, a simple question she didn't have an answer for. She decided she didn't want to cling to her past, and said,

"You decide." Caelum shrugged at her words, and seemed to think for several moments before saying,

"How about Yue?" The girl was taken back by the name, and said with a questioning tone,

"Yue?" Caelum nodded and said,

"It means the moon, here in the dark labyrinth you kind of look similar to the moon." The girl, no, Yue smiled at his words, and said,

"Then from now on I'm Yue!" With a smile on her face, the first one since before she was sealed. Before she could react further, strong arms wrapped around her, lifting her with ease. 

"Wha—?!" 

The next thing she knew, she was pressed against his chest, his warmth contrasting sharply with the cold air of the labyrinth. She squirmed slightly—only to feel his firm grip supporting her lower body. 

Specifically, his hand was firmly cupping her rear. 

Her face burned crimson. 

"You—!" 

She was about to curse him when— 

BOOM! 

The ground trembled violently, stone debris raining from above. A monstrous roar echoed through the cavern, shaking the very air. 

Her eyes darted toward the remains of her prison. 

A massive creature loomed in the darkness—a colossal scorpion-like beast, its chitinous exoskeleton gleaming ominously. It had four massive pincers and two deadly tails, each dripping with a vile purple ooze. 

The man clicked his tongue, his expression sharp. 

"A failsafe in case you tried to escape. Hold on tight." 

Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him as instructed. At this point, she didn't even care where his hand was—survival came first. 

The monster suddenly lashed out, its twin tails spraying the purple liquid toward them. 

HISS—! 

The moment the substance touched the stone, the ground melted away, leaving behind a smoking crater. 

Her breath hitched. 

"Poison... no, acid." 

But the man didn't panic. 

With effortless speed, he twisted midair, dodging the deadly spray with an almost inhuman grace. 

She felt the wind rush past them, her heart pounding as she realized— 

He wasn't just fast. 

He was strong. 

And right now, he was her only chance at escaping.

"This is going to be tough. Hold on tight." 

The girl instinctively tightened her grip around his neck as he suddenly summoned a massive Greatsword, its blade shimmering with an eerie blue glow, pulsating with raw energy. 

With a single step, he launched forward, moving with blinding speed. 

The scorpion beast shrieked, its four massive pincers snapping as it lunged at them. Two of its pincers came crashing down, aiming to crush them instantly. 

BOOM! 

The cavern shook from the impact, sending cracks splintering across the stone floor—but he was already gone, having sidestepped at the last possible moment. 

SWISH! 

The monster's twin tails lashed out, coated in deadly acid, aiming to pierce through his defenses. He twisted midair, shifting his weight with calculated precision, dodging one tail while the second grazed his cloak, causing the fabric to sizzle from the corrosive substance. 

Without hesitation, he kicked off the cavern wall, using it as a springboard to propel himself upward—right above the beast's head. 

"Now, let's see how tough you really are!" 

He raised his glowing Greatsword, charging it with pure energy, and then swung down with all his might. 

SLASH—! 

A brilliant arc of blue light erupted as the blade cleaved through the monster's armored carapace, slicing deep into its flesh. The creature let out an ear-splitting roar, its entire body convulsing from the sheer force of the strike. 

But it wasn't dead yet. 

With a furious screech, the beast thrashed violently, its massive pincers slamming into the cavern walls, causing boulders to rain down. It reared back, its tails whipping wildly, forcing him to maneuver through the air with graceful precision. 

Dodge. Counter. Strike. 

He moved like a storm, weaving between the monster's relentless assaults, slashing at its weak points with lethal efficiency. 

Finally, he saw his chance— 

As the monster lunged forward in one final, desperate attempt to kill him, he sidestepped at the last moment and thrust his Greatsword deep into its skull. 

SCHLUNK! 

The beast's shriek was abruptly cut off. 

It twitches violently, its massive frame shaking, before finally collapsing onto the stone floor with a thunderous BOOM. 

The cavern fell silent. 

The girl, still clutching his shoulders, could only stare at the fallen beast, her heart pounding. She slowly turned her gaze to the man who had just effortlessly slain a monster that should have been unstoppable. 

And all he did was exhale, shaking the blood off his blade before smirking. 

"Well, that was fun."