Using my ability, I began butchering the Cavetroll's massive corpse.
There was only one thing on my mind.
The Purple Rune.
I silently prayed it had one.
Not every monster possessed a rune.
I also couldn't help but regret exploding its head.
What if I shattered the rune too?
Ignoring the unbearable stench, I searched through the giant's body.
Minutes passed.
Then...
"There you are."
I still couldn't see it clearly, but I noticed a faint purple glow buried deep inside its chest, close to its heart.
Excitement filled me.
Using both my dagger and my Storage Rune, I tore through the flesh.
Finally...
I found it.
It was beautiful.
A smooth purple rune stone rested in my hands, glowing with an elegant light.
Without hesitation, I absorbed it.
The moment I touched it...
The rune dissolved into dust.
A brilliant purple light enveloped my body.
The transformation lasted several minutes.
When everything finally settled, I looked inside my mental space.
Purple.
Everything had turned purple.
Both my Storage Space...
And my Force Space...
Had grown tremendously.
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A smile spread across my face.
"I did it."
Before leaving, I searched the Cavetroll's nest.
Unfortunately...
There was nothing of value.
No treasure.
No hidden books.
Nothing.
Satisfied, I returned to my shelter.
Tonight...
I celebrated my victory.
The Cavetroll was dead.
My next objective...
Find a way out.
Since my Storage Space had become much larger, I filled it with as much Miracle Water as possible.
I also stored the Mana Crystal.
Then I considered my options.
There were only two paths left.
Climb back up the ravine...
Or descend deeper into the darkness below.
Climbing was the safer choice.
If I made a mistake while descending...
Getting back up would be nearly impossible.
But...
I hadn't fallen into this place by accident.
I had entered through a portal.
According to the stories Father used to tell me...
The only way to leave a dungeon...
Was to clear it.
That meant going deeper.
"Then it's decided."
"I'm going down."
I stood at the edge of the dark cliff.
Jumping blindly would be suicide.
Instead, I slowly carved footholds into the cliff face.
Using my Storage Rune, I removed sections of rock and discarded them into the abyss.
Hours passed.
I continued descending.
Then—
Crack!
The rock beneath my feet gave way.
"AHHHHH!"
I fell.
"Damn it!"
There was nothing left to grab.
The walls had become too smooth to carve into.
As I plummeted through the darkness, I only had one choice.
The third form.
Purple mana wrapped around my body.
I waited for the inevitable impact.
BOOM!
The ground exploded beneath my feet.
Dust filled the air.
When it settled...
I was still standing.
"...Amazing."
The impact had been almost completely absorbed.
I smiled.
My Purple-ranked rune was far stronger than before.
I summoned my Flame Staff.
A stream of fire illuminated the narrow passage ahead.
There was nothing here.
Only a long tunnel leading deeper underground.
With nowhere else to go...
I walked.
Every step carried me farther into the unknown.
Eventually...
I saw light.
At the end of the tunnel stood a perfectly circular platform.
Eight stone pillars surrounded it, each carved with ancient runes.
"So..."
"A teleportation platform."
Relief washed over me.
I slowly approached.
Just before stepping onto it, I turned around one last time.
"I actually survived."
"No more Ravihen meat."
"I wonder what real food tastes like now."
I smiled and lifted my foot.
Then...
"Grrrrrr..."
A low growl echoed behind me.
I turned.
A small creature stood several meters away.
It looked almost like a cat.
Soft white-and-orange fur covered its body.
Its long black tail ended in a razor-sharp blade.
Despite its size...
Its presence was far more terrifying than the Cavetroll's.
We stared at each other.
Then...
It vanished.
My eyes widened.
The next thing I knew—
Something hit the ground.
I looked down.
Severed hand lay at my feet.
They were...
Mine.
The creature now stood silently behind me.