A deep system chime echoed through the dungeon.
Then a large notification appeared in front of both of them.
Dungeon Event Complete
Wave Defense: Phase 1 Cleared
The crystal in the center of the room pulsed with light.
The bald spear statues slowly returned to their still positions, like they had never moved at all.
Then a new message appeared.
Quest Point Acquired
A second later, a massive announcement echoed across the entire wasteland.
It wasn’t just for them.
It was for every hunter in the game.
Global Notification
Hunters have acquired 1 Quest Point.
Dungeon progression: 1 / ?
Luma blinked.
“…Wait.”
He looked at Seojun.
“Did we just progress the whole server?”
Seojun stared at the floating text.
“Looks like it.”
Viewer1: GLOBAL QUEST
Viewer2: JUNX AND LUMA FIRST POINT
Viewer3: WAIT OTHER TEAMS CAN SEE THIS
Another line of system text appeared.
Additional Quest Points are required to unlock Phase 2 of the dungeon.
More Labyrinth Events have appeared across the Wasteland.
Seojun slowly grinned.
“Oh.”
He cracked his knuckles again.
“So this place isn’t just the only one.”
Luma nodded as he looked toward the two vine-covered doors seeming like they connect to something else.”
“…It’s basically a dungeon network.”
Viewer4: MULTIPLE DUNGEONS
Viewer5: FARM QUEST POINTS
Viewer6: RACE AGAINST OTHER HUNTERS
Then another notification appeared.
Hunter Communication Restored
The moment the message appeared, their hunter chat instantly exploded with messages.
Seojun winced as the text flooded in.
Forgenova: Hold up… did anyone else just get that notification?
Gravebite: Someone’s speedrunning the dungeon system.
“So the dungeon’s basically locked until hunters collect more quest points.”
Luma nodded.
“Makes sense. We cleared the first phase. Now the rest of the hunters have to start triggering events too.”
Viewer1: SERVER PROGRESSION
Viewer2: GLOBAL DUNGEON SYSTEM
Viewer3: YOU GUYS STARTED THE QUESTLINE
Seojun looked at the vines sealing both exits.
“Yeah… looks like we’re done here for now.”
Their earlier fights finally finished updating.
Level Up!
Luma lv7 to lv10
Junx 7lv to lv10
Level Milestone Reached
First Evolution Branch Available
Seojun slowed to a stop.
Luma blinked.
“Wait. Already?”
Both of their menus opened automatically.
A new tab had appeared under their skill trees.
Evolution Path Selection – Stage 1
Seojun whistled softly.
“So this is what the five-stage evolution thing was talking about.”
Viewer1: FIRST BRANCH
Viewer2: BUILD TIME
Viewer3: META STARTS NOW
Luma rubbed his hands together.
“Alright, this is the fun part.”
Seojun opened his class window.
Class: Monster Tamer
Stage 1 Evolution Paths Available:
Alpha Bond
A deep bond forms between the tamer and their creature.
• A portion of the tamer’s stats are shared with the bonded creature
• A portion of the creature’s stats reinforce the tamer
• Both gain increased aggression in combat
• Only one bonded creature may exist at a time Seojun raised an eyebrow.
“…Wait.”
Luma blinked.
“Oh that’s actually cool.”
Seojun read it again.
“So if my monster is strong… I get stronger too.”
Viewer4: STAT LINK
Viewer5: SYMBIOSIS
Viewer6: THAT’S BROKEN
“And,” Seojun continued, “my stats boost the monster too.”
Luma rubbed his chin.
“So you and your pet basically become one combat unit.”
Seojun nodded.
“Yeah.”
He tapped the other option.
Pack Link
The tamer forms weaker connections with multiple creatures.
• Control several small creatures simultaneously
• Each creature has reduced individual strength
• Increased command range and coordination
Viewer7: ARMY BUILD
Viewer8: SWARM META
Luma crossed his arms.
“So it’s basically one super monster… or a bunch of weaker ones.”
Seojun looked back and forth between the options.
But then he got interrupted by Luma
“You completely ignored the drop.”
Seojun frowned.
“…What drop?”
Luma turned the screen toward him.
“The centipede.”
Seojun leaned closer.
“Oh.”
The item window hovered in front of them.
Item Acquired
Releases a stream of centipede venom from the staff.
The venom spreads across surfaces and slowly poisons enemies caught within it.
Seojun raised an eyebrow.
“…That’s it?”
Luma grinned.
“Wait, look at the demo.”
The preview activated.
Instead of a sharp blast, the staff released a thick stream of dark green venom that spilled onto the ground and spread slowly like syrup.
It wasn’t fast.
It wasn’t explosive.
It barely even looked like it could cut through anything.
Viewer1: THAT’S SLOW
Viewer2: POISON ZONE
Viewer3: AREA CONTROL
Seojun crossed his arms.
“That’s not exactly a high-pressure attack.”
Luma nodded.
“Yeah, it’s not meant to be.”
Viewer4: Trashcan item
Viewer5: unlucky haha
Seojun thinks
“Oh.”
Luma’s grin widened.
“Now imagine this.”
He lifted one hand slightly, mimicking a pull.
“With my gravity control…”
Then it began to move.
Instead of just pulling it upward, the poison curled inward, folding over itself as if an invisible hand was squeezing it.
The puddle twisted tighter and tighter until it formed a dense floating sphere of venom.
Viewer4: WAIT WHAT
Viewer5: VENOM BALL
Viewer6: THAT’S SICK
Luma grinned.
Then the sphere launched forward.
It shot across the preview arena and splattered violently against a wall, exploding into a wide toxic splash.
Seojun stared at the replay for a moment.
“…How the hell are you controlling that so precisely?”
Luma grinned and tapped his skill menu.
“Simple.”
He scrolled to one of his upgrades.
“I took the control enhancement earlier.”
The menu flashed briefly.
Gravity Monarch – Ability Upgrade: Gravitational Precision Increases fine control over gravity manipulation.
Seojun blinked.
“You upgraded control?”
“Yeah.”
Luma shrugged like it was obvious.
“If I’m going to move stuff with gravity, I might as well move it properly.”
He twirled the staff again.
“With higher control, I can compress things, shape them… even launch them.”
Viewer10: BRO IS PLAYING PHYSICS
Viewer11: CONTROL BUILD CONFIRMED
Seojun shook his head slowly.
“…So now you’re throwing gravity-poison bombs.”
Luma smirked.
“Exactly.”