Julius felt ripples of invisible fluid on his skin as he stepped through the gate. For a split second he could see nothing, feel nothing before he emerged on the other side.

The feeling could only be described as moving through water, losing one’s senses and then getting it all back.

The interior of the Dungeon was a different world entirely. There was no sky as the roof was adorned in black stone and rocks. The ground was solid with traces of black sand and the air was stuffy.

Lumi was by his side. The Lycan’s nose twitched as she moved her head about.

"Getting anything?" Julius asked.

"A mix of different things but I smell mostly wolves and something else." Lumi replied.

"Something else?" Julius asked.

A couple of sniffs made her turn to him. "You."

"Me?" Julius resisted the urge to sniff himself. This smelling thing was becoming too on the nose.

"Yes. You smell distinct," the lycan said without any flair.

Julius raised an eyebrow. "Distinct?"

"Yes," she answered and did not elaborate beyond that.

Julius looked at the Lycan for a moment before she asked. "Are we going now?"

"Not yet. Feel free to do something to keep you busy. I have to think" Julius replied.

The Lycan nodded and dropped down to the black floor to do some push-ups. Julius let his eyes wander for a moment.

The lycan had muscles but she had curves to go with them too.

[It is good to know that even with your life on the line. You can still ogle.]

’She’s beautiful and my life isn’t on the line. Yet.’

[So you intend to fulfill the breeding quest?]

’Breeding Quest? Don’t you mean breeding peace?’

[That’s what I said.]

’Huh uh. Now then.’

The reason Julius had stepped into the breach without worry was to see what the trial mode was about.

If this trial mode turns out to be disappointing, I’m out of here.

The skills in the crafter tier would decide if he was going to face the dungeon boss.

[Breach spawn]

’Whatever’

He didn’t consider Daren and his party members as friends. Not yet anyway but they had been kind to him if anything.

Pulling this off meant having allies.

’Activate Trial mode and show me the abilities and skills in the Crafter tier’ 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

[System Patch: Trial Mode]

[Patching Tier Upgrade...25%...67%...80%...100%]

[Tier Unlocked - Crafter. Temporary]

[Ability Unlocked: Coordinate]

[Coordinate : Deploys a designated zone from the origin point. Allows certain skills to be used from a distance and is the basis for crafter tier skills.]

[Zone range is limited.]

’Origin point?’

[The Host Position(0,0,0).]

[Crafter Skills Unlocked.]

[You have a limited selection of skills in trial mode. Crafter skills can only be used by deploying the Coordinate Ability.]

Julius looked through the skill list. Most of them were locked. The three unlocked ones interested him.

[Switch - [><].]

[Heavy - vv.]

[Divide - /]

He read the details under them. A smile formed on his face.

’What are those symbols?’

[Runes. They are useful at higher tiers. Reach Forger tier to learn more about them. Gestures and hand signs are needed to use skills in Crafter tier.]

What are the conditions and limits for using Trial mode?

[First : Host must be within a breach. Limit: Three times usage and can only be activated once per tier.]

’Any drawbacks?’

[Extreme pain and fatigue minutes after use. Trying to force trial mode beyond time limits can shorten Host lifespan.]

’That sucks but no pain no gain. Anything else?’

[Skills at Crafter tier are activated by gestures. Gestures and hand signs you set now will be saved after trial mode is over.]

’Can I test these skills before activating trial mode?’

[Yes.]

"Are you alright boss?" Lumi asked. Apparently she had finished her workout and was watching her employer smile while staring at nothing.

Julius turned to her. "Yes, I’m alright." There was a pause as he considered something.

If the system is giving me these abilities then the dungeon boss must be quite difficult. I need to understand how these skills work.

He turned to the Lycan. "Lumi. There is something I want you to help me test."

—

Outside the gate

On branches of one of the trees which grew high enough to see the Free cites. Zara was giving a report on the situation to an Imp who took notes.

The Imp wore a black suit with a tie and pristine shoes and listened as the demoness narrated the events.

When she was done. The Imp spoke.

"So the human went into the gate with the silverblood lycan." The Imp said.

"Yes," Zara replied.

"I see. This is a new development. A white gate. I will relay this to the house."

"Anything else, miss?" The Imp asked.

"Nothing else, Myxjystyx." She said, a moment passed and then she asked.

"Do you think they’ll survive?"

The Imp thought about the question for a second before replying. "Unlikely. Even with the Lycan’s bloodline powers. If the boss is indeed Fenrir the first then they are as good as dead. But..."

"But what? Out with it Myxjystyx." Zara demanded.

The Imp watched her through his glasses. "But do you want him to survive miss? I was under the impression you hated humans more than most. Especially..." The Imp gestured to the ring on her finger.

There was a slight hesitation before she answered. "I serve the interests of the house. I do not care what happens to him."

The Imp assessed her some more for a trace of emotion but the demoness was serious. "Very well miss, but I would have you know that if he survives, he would be a valued tool for the house. You would no longer be just an observer."

Zara clenched her fists by her side but offered a nod. "Has there been any progress towards finding a way to undo the enchantment on the ring?"

"Progress is being made but you know how it is. We can only torture a human soul for so long. It is best not to get your hopes up, miss."

"But I was promised I would be free." Zara protested.

"You were told you would be free. The house does what it wishes. You of all people should know this," the Imp replied.

"And what about my father? Does he talk about me?"

There was a silence from the Imp. That was enough to answer her question.

"Thank you Myxjystyx."

"You’re welcome, Miss. Now I must be on my way and report matters to the house."

The Imp disappeared.

Zara turned her attention back to the gate. If the human died she would be free of this assignment but there would be zero to no chance for freedom. But if he lived.

The demoness did not want to entertain the thought. Humans were the reason she hadn’t gone home in centuries. The same reason she was an outcast among her kind.

She recalled how the human had been able to call her from the shadows. The ring had reacted to his voice but as for how he knew where she was. It was a mystery itself.

Maybe, just maybe, she thought. The ring went cold to the touch.

—

Back inside the gate.

Julius and Lumi walked deep into the cave. Julius had asked her to allow him to test some of his abilities on her. She had laughed when she heard it. "A veshari with powers?"

She wasn’t laughing now.

"Something on your mind?" Julius asked. The lycan had been silent since he showed some of the system abilities to her.

He had been reluctant to show her but he needed to test the crafter skills with her if he could use them to face the boss.

[Breach Spawn]

He also confirmed from the system that while there was no penalty. Allowing the breach spawn to roam free could potentially allow the boss to break free from the dungeon eventually.

"No. It’s just...I have never seen a veshari with powers," She answered, taking a moment before adding. "And something about the boss bothers me."

You and me both. "Which is?"

Lumi met his gaze. "The elf from earlier, Xavier said the boss called itself Fenrir."

"What about it?"

Lumi stared at him as if he had just committed a sin. "According to the stories the elders tell us. Fenrir was the first Lycan born in this world. This is common knowledge among the various races."

I thought Lycan was the name of the race. Most of Julius’s mythology knowledge was from scraps of information he had heard from Vincent.

"I don’t know much of history. Could you enlighten me a bit?" Julius asked.

The question seemed to have sparked a fire within Lumi as her next set of words carried enthusiasm.

"It was believed Fenrir was the first hunter and possessed the power to spit out wolves. Those wolves were the first generations of lycans," Lumi answered.

Julius gave Lumi a once over. "If the early generations were actual wolves then why do you look like a mix of human and wolf?"

"I don’t know. Some stories say the first generations of wolves could become human every full moon; others say Fenrir laid with the first mortals and gave birth to the Lycans we see today; another says he spilled his seed on the ground that formed the first half lycans. The stories are vague." Lumi explained

"But you believe in them?" Julius asked.

"It is the culture of my people," Lumi said.

Julius let it all sink in. This was a lot of information to process. He was about to say something else when Lumi spoke.

"I smell blood. Lots of it."

After a moment Julius could smell it too. A metallic smell was heavy in the air. The roof of the cave grew higher and after several steps he saw it.

A large hole and within it, a mist that covered everything beyond the entrance.

They approached cautiously and hid by the side of the entrance. Julius peeked and used the Eye briefly.

Despite the room being shrouded in mist. Julius could still see inside. As the blue overlay appeared. It revealed several green outlined humanoid shapes.

Most of them were on the ground, two were on their knees. He couldn’t tell which shape was which and he couldn’t see everything.

At the far end of the room. There was a mass of red outline sitting. It had the shape of a wolf and held another outline of green in its hand.

[Evolved Breach Spawn Identified]

’So that’s the breach spawn. Isn’t it the nemesis boss?’

[Nemesis bosses are breach spawns that haven’t evolved yet.]

’Evolved?’

[By consuming the tether. A breach spawn evolves and acquires enough power to cross into the world but at the expense of dying fast.]

[You have a new Quest available]

[Quest: Destroy the breach spawn]

’And if I don’t? You mentioned there were no penalties for skipping quests’

[Yes but you do want to go back home right?]

Julius looked at the screen and willed it to disappear. Well played. He steadied himself but before he could do anything else. Lumi’s hand held him back.

"There’s something you should know about me." She said,

"What is it?" Julius asked as he turned to look at her.

"It’s my bloodline ability." Lumi said.

Julius raised an eyebrow and sat down for a moment.

Lumi explained the details of her ability. The hunt. It was a skill unique to some lycans with strong bloodlines. It made them faster and stronger with increased senses for some minutes. She did not mention the drawbacks of the ability.

"If we combine this and the earlier powers you showed me. We may have a chance." She finished

Julius let the explanation sink in. This new information could change their approach entirely.

I could always escape if things get rough. He recalled the switch skill when he tested it on Lumi.

"All right, that could work," Julius said. "Lead the way but first..."

One more look. Julius activated the eye and to his surprise. The red outline at the far end of the room had shifted.

It was standing near the entrance. Close to him. The mist did little to hide its bestial form that was larger than an elephant as it stood before Julius.

A growl escaped from its jaws coated with blood. Its red eyes were on Julius.

"Hello. Human."