Chapter 76: Checking The System

Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Checking The System

Another week passed. No attack. No strange disturbance. No Caelan. The elves resumed their daily lives, and the settlement slowly resumed to normal. Guards still patrolled the area, but the tension of the last few weeks had dissipated. For Arin, however, the situation had only gotten worse. Outside one of the buildings belonging to the settlement, he stood motionless and stared into the distance. His arms were crossed over his chest. "He’s definitely doing something." Arene’s voice echoed in his head. "You’ve said that three times today." "It’s true." "And everyday for the past week." Arin frowned. "That’s because Caelan hasn’t done anything for the past week." There was a pause before Arene suddenly laughed. "You’re becoming paranoid." "Can you blame me?" "No."

Arin turned his gaze back towards the forest. That was surprising. Arene continued. "Caelan appeared after defeating ten former Dungeon Masters. He admitted to manipulating Neva. He told you that he wanted you to be the eleventh Dungeon Master in his collection. After that, he disappeared without attacking you." "Exactly." "What that means is that your concern is due to not knowing what he intends." "Exactly. And because you can’t see him." "Exactly." Arene chuckled. "You really like that word, don’t you?"

Arin sighed. "I hate this. I’ve fought monsters. I’ve fought dungeon masters. I’ve almost died against Zerf and Neva. I’ve been manipulated, thrown around, my System locked and my dungeon master rage triggered. But Caelan is something else. I can fight against a monster or dungeon master as long as I know their intentions. Caelan just... walked away. It was deliberate. It felt like he’d already achieved something I don’t know about." Arin rubbed his eyes. "What if he’s watching us right now?" "He possibly could be." Arin slowly lowered his arms. "That was supposed to make me feel better." "I was being honest." "That didn’t help." "I know that." Arin stared into the distance for a few seconds before sighing. "I think I need to stop thinking about him for a while." "That would be best." "Yep."

Arin glanced at his right hand. The dungeon master’s mark was still there. Thick black lines ran up the back of his hand, barely visible through his skin. After everything that had happened, Arin barely had the time to check his System properly. There had always seemed to be something more important to him. The ten authorities. Neva. Caelan. The ancient records. The missing scouts. Training. Recovering. Questions. So many questions. He stood up straight. "Actually..." Arene paused. "Why haven’t I checked my Status?" There was a pause. "That’s actually a very good question."

"Right?" "Yes." Arin grinned. "Finally something we both agree on." He found a secluded spot behind one of the buildings and sat down. He took a deep breath before saying: "Status." A familiar blue window popped up in front of him - only visible to him. Arin stared at the information in front of him. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke. "Status." His status had changed. Not completely, but enough.

[System Status]

Name: Arin Rahman

Race: Human

Class: Dungeon Master

Dungeon Master Authority: Level 1 Dungeon Core: Level 1

Dungeon Territory: Limited .

Skills: Dungeon Perception - Allows the Dungeon Master to perceive the structure and layout of a dungeon area.

Dungeon Sense - Allows the Dungeon Master to sense the state of a dungeon and understand what belongs to it, including structures, creatures and changes to its territory.

Dungeon Authority Reinforcement - Strengthens the Dungeon Master’s body and abilities through Dungeon Authority. Authority Detection - Allows the Dungeon Master to detect and analyze traces of Authority.

Dungeon Manipulation - Allows limited manipulation of structures and environmental elements of a dungeon. Authority Channeling - Allows Dungeon authority to be channeled through the Dungeon Master’s body or abilities. Dungeon Barrier Formation - Allows the Dungeon Master to create defensive barriers using Dungeon Authority.

Dungeon Territory Reading - Allows the Dungeon Master to read information about an established Dungeon Territory.

Dungeon Core Synchronization - Allows the Dungeon Master to synchronize with a Dungeon Core and increase interaction with its functions.

Dungeon Master Rage - A dangerous transformation brought on by the awakening of the Dungeon Master’s deepest Authority. Greatly enhances combat ability and suppresses pain and fear. High physical cost.

Dungeon Sovereign - Unique Ability. Allows the Dungeon Master to understand and assimilate Authority pattern and techniques experienced in battle. Effectiveness depends on understanding, Dungeon Authority, experience and physical condition.

Dungeon Sovereign State: Incomplete.]

Arin slowly scrolled through the information. Then his eyes widened. "That’s a lot." Arene was delighted at the news. "You’ve acquired quite a few abilities." "I don’t think I ever had this many." "You don’t." Arin scrolled through the list again. "Dungeon Authority Reinforcement. Authority Detection. Dungeon Manipulation..." He stopped. "Dungeon sense is still there." "Yes. And dungeon sovereign." "Yes."

Arin stared at that one for a while. The memory of his battle against Zerf and Neva came flooding back to him. The sheer, unfathomable pressure. The impossible attacks. The slow understanding of Zerf’s domain. And then Neva. Arin’s expression darkened. "There’s no doubt that that ability stemmed from that fight." Arene replied. "It was compiled from the data gathered during your fight against Authorities. Your comprehension of their abilities was integral to its formation." "So it isn’t simply replicating." "No." Arin nodded. That was a big deal. He couldn’t just glance over someone and steal their best ability. Dungeon sovereign meant understanding what had happened to him, which also meant that he couldn’t use it as a crutch to get him out of any situation.

Arin scrolled down the list some more. He stopped on a particular ability. "Dungeon Core Synchronization." "That appeared as a result of the Dungeon Core." "Yes." Arin couldn’t forget the huge crystal that had been buried deep within the dungeon. The sensation he had felt when the dungeon core had recognized his mark. The temporary evolution of his dungeon sense as a result of that. "Is this ability permanent?" Arene paused. "The ability itself is permanent, however, your current synchronization level is limited." "So I can’t exactly use the dungeon core at will?"

"Correct." Arin nodded. That made sense to him. He continued scanning the status window before stopping on another ability. "Arene." "Yes?" "Is this all?" Arene did not respond immediately. Arin stared at the woman in confusion. "That was not an assuring pause." "It isn’t everything." "What else is there?" Some of the functions were locked.

[Dungeon Construction: Restricted]

[Monster Management: Restricted]

[Core Management: Restricted] [Teleportation: Locked]

[Creation: Locked]

Arin clicked his tongue in annoyance. "So after everything I’ve been through, I’m still somewhat locked out of half my System?" "You’re still learning how to use your Authority." "I know. And I’m still alive." "That’s a completely different matter." "It is highly related." Arin smirked. Arene had changed. Months ago, she would’ve just told him this information. She was arguing with him, teasing him. She even had opinions. It wasn’t as if the system was a person, but the dynamic of it was different.

Arin turned back to the screen. Then his expression grew serious again. "Caelan? What about Caelan?" Arene immediately responded, "I don’t have any new information on Caelan." Arin nodded. He expected as much. Arene could analyze his system and the authorities he had faced, but she wasn’t omnipotent. She was a System, not a map. She couldn’t simply tell him where Caelan was because he asked. That didn’t stop Arin from being annoyed. "I hate not knowing." "I know. You keep saying that." "Because you keep complaining." Arin laughed. "Fair." He closed the status window. For a moment, he just sat there. The fear had not gone away. Neither had the questions.

Caelan was still out there somewhere. The ancient records did not make any sense to him. The mystery surrounding the system remained an enigma. And his dungeon sovereign was still incomplete. But at least now, Arin had one less mystery that he was completely ignorant of. He had grown stronger. His abilities had evolved. His understanding of the dungeon master authority had deepened. And Arene was no longer a simple voice that appeared when the system wanted to convey information.

Arin stood up. "I need to get stronger." Arene’s voice softened. "Yes. Because eventually Caelan is going to make his move." "You’re probably right." Arin glanced up at the sky. The afternoon sun stretched across the settlement, casting everything in a golden glow. Everything looked so calm. Too calm. Arin narrowed his eyes. "And when he does..." Arin slowly closed his hand into a fist. "...I don’t want to be caught off guard again." Arene fell silent for a moment. Then she spoke. "Then don’t be."

Arin smiled. "That sounds like a plan." He turned from the forest and walked back towards the settlement. Neither of them noticed the lone figure standing far away beyond the trees. A young elf stood motionless in the distance. His long black hair blew gently in the wind. His dark eyes were fixed upon the settlement. Caelan. Beside him stood the masked elf, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Caelan said nothing. He only watched. After a few seconds, a faint smile played on his lips. "Not yet." The masked elf turned to him. "My lord?" Caelan continued to stare at the settlement. "He’s still growing." The smile vanished from his lips. "And I want to see what kind of dungeon master he’ll become." With that, both men vanished into the forest.