Chapter 15: Ch.14: A Midnight Descent
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- Rajvanshi Estate, Calcutta -
- March 7, 1936 – Midnight -
The night had settled over the Rajvanshi Estate, bringing with it a silence that felt both comforting and restless. The grand halls, which had been filled with laughter and conversation just hours ago, were now empty. The last of the guests had left, and only the faint creaking of wooden floors and the occasional rustle of the wind could be heard.
Aryan sat on the edge of his bed, his mind far from rest. The soft glow of a lantern cast flickering shadows on the walls, but his thoughts were elsewhere. His father's words, his mother's concern, Ravi's cautious warnings—they all echoed in his mind. He understood their fears. The struggle wasn't just about ideals; it was about survival.
But Aryan wasn't just another revolutionary. He had power—far beyond what anyone could comprehend. He could become a symbol, a force that would shake the very foundation of British rule. A superhero for the people.
Yet, that wasn't enough. He had no doubt that as a hidden protector, his presence alone would spark hope, fuel resistance, and strike fear into the oppressors. But influence in the shadows had its limits. If he truly wanted to accelerate India's path to independence, he had to lead from the front—not just as a vigilante, but as a political figure. The people needed a leader they could see, someone who could rally them in the open while his masked identity inspired them from the dark.
He needed both roles.
His fingers tightened around the edge of the mattress. And for that, I need Shakti and Karna.
They had always been with him, his closest friends, his unwavering support. If they were to stand beside him in this fight, they needed strength. But unlike him, they hadn't shown any signs of supernatural abilities. Not yet.
If they didn't have powers, then he would give them some.
The System had ways—potions, enhancements, methods beyond what this world had ever seen. But all of it required something he was running low on: Meta Points.
His gaze flicked to the System's interface, floating in his vision.
| Current MP: 162 |
Enough for the next tier dungeon portal. Barely.
It wasn't even a choice. He needed more power, more resources, and the only effective way to get them as of now was through the System's dungeons.
His decision was made.
Midnight arrived, cloaking the estate in deeper silence. Aryan stood, rolling his shoulders as his body hummed with anticipation. He reached out to the System, his voice firm but quiet.
"System, create the next tier dungeon portal."
A pulse of energy rippled through the room. The air in front of him shimmered, bending like a heatwave before tearing open into a swirling vortex of deep blue light.
He took a slow breath.
Without hesitation, Aryan stepped forward and disappeared into the unknown.
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- Dungeon world -
The portal's glow faded behind Aryan as he stepped into the new world. The air here was crisp, carrying the scent of fresh earth and vegetation. Beneath his feet, the grass was soft, lush, and stretched endlessly toward the horizon. A dense forest stood in the distance, its towering trees casting long shadows, while to the opposite side, the faint glimmer of a sea shimmered under the distant sun. Beyond the forest, he could see the outline of mountains, their jagged peaks piercing the sky.
It was a breathtaking sight. But he wasn't here to admire the view.
A soft chime rang in his ears.
| Ding |
Then, the System's voice followed.
| Warning: This dungeon is significantly more dangerous than the previous one. Unlike the goblin-infested forest, where threats were limited to Tier 1 and 2 creatures, this region contains beings ranging from Tier 2 to Tier 5—and possibly even a Tier 6 entity. Caution is advised. |
Aryan's expression hardened. This was no mere hunting ground. It was a battlefield.
Yet, despite the warning, excitement coursed through him. This was what he needed. If he wanted to gather more MP and advance further in power, he had to face stronger opponents. If there truly was a Tier 6 monster lurking somewhere in this region, it meant the potential for an incredible reward—if he survived.
He clenched his fists, his senses sharpening. Let's see what this place has in store.
With a steady pace, he moved across the plains toward the forest. The wind carried the rustling of grass, but soon, he felt something else—a disturbance.
A rapid movement.
Something was approaching. Fast.
Before he could react, a blur shot out from the grass, lunging straight at him. A sharp impact struck his side, but instead of staggering, he absorbed the kinetic force, his body nullifying the attack instantly. He turned sharply, his eyes locking onto the creature.
It was a rabbit.
But nothing like the ones he had seen before.
The beast stood on its hind legs, nearly reaching his waist. A single, curved horn protruded from its forehead, glistening like polished bone. Its fur was rough, its eyes a bloodthirsty red, and when it bared its jagged teeth, Aryan knew immediately—it was a predator.
A carnivorous rabbit.
The creature snarled and lunged again. This time, Aryan was ready. He sidestepped and drove his knife—a sturdy blade recovered from the goblin village—straight into its throat. A sharp squeal rang out as the beast collapsed, twitching before going still.
He exhaled. Not bad, but nothing special.
His thoughts were quickly interrupted. More movement.
From all directions.
Within moments, more creatures emerged. Slimes oozed from the grass, their translucent bodies shifting as they sensed him. Giant grasshoppers, nearly as large as wolves, leaped toward him with unsettling speed. More of the horned rabbits followed, their aggression unwavering.
Aryan moved without hesitation. He cut through them effortlessly, dodging attacks while striking with precision. The slimes dissolved under his blows, the grasshoppers fell with crushed skulls, and the rabbits barely posed a challenge.
Yet, something felt off.
Despite the sheer number of enemies, he wasn't gaining much MP. A quick glance at his status confirmed his suspicion.
| MP Gained: +2 |
| MP Gained: +3 |
| MP Gained: +1|
His frown deepened. These creatures, despite their appearance, were weak. Likely Tier 2 at best. Barely worth his time.
He wiped his blade clean, his decision made.
The real hunt begins in the forest.
Without wasting another second, Aryan pressed forward toward the massive wall of trees ahead. If there was anything truly worth fighting in this dungeon, it was waiting for him there.
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The moment Aryan stepped into the forest, he knew he was being watched.
The dense canopy above blocked most of the sunlight, casting the area in an eerie twilight. Even though it was still daytime in this world, the thick foliage made it feel like dusk. Shadows stretched unnaturally between the trees, and the rustling of leaves carried a tension that set his instincts on edge.
Something was here.
Many things, actually.
His eyes flicked around, but visibility was low. Relying solely on sight would be dangerous.
Without hesitation, he formed four shadow clones, each one flickering into existence with a brief shimmer of darkness. The clones positioned themselves in a defensive formation, watching every angle as they advanced deeper into the woods.
Then, it happened.
A blur of motion—too fast to track with the naked eye—shot down from the trees.
A clone on the right reacted instantly, raising its arms to block as a creature lunged at it. Sharp claws flashed, meeting the clone's defense with incredible force. The impact sent a shockwave through the air.
Aryan and the other clones turned to get a better look.
The creature was monstrous—its build similar to an orangutan but more feral, more nightmarish. Its dark, matted fur was tough, its muscles corded with raw strength. Its eyes glowed red with hunger, and when it bared its jagged teeth, Aryan could tell—this thing was a predator.
Then, the real danger revealed itself.
More of them.
The trees shook as more beasts leaped from the branches, each landing with barely a sound. Within seconds, Aryan and his clones were surrounded.
He tightened his grip on his knife, already knowing it wouldn't be enough. These creatures weren't like the goblins or the horned rabbits. Even before engaging, he could tell—each one of them was at least Tier 3.
As strong as the Goblin King.
But this wasn't a single foe. It was a pack.
The first one struck.
Aryan barely sidestepped as a clawed hand slashed toward his chest. Another lunged from behind, forcing him to absorb the impact and redirect the energy into a blast of force that sent the beast tumbling back.
His clones fought just as fiercely. One managed to hold its ground, using shadow-enhanced strikes to keep a creature at bay. The other wasn't as lucky—it was torn apart in an instant, vanishing in a swirl of darkness.
Aryan clenched his jaw. They hit harder than I thought.
But he wasn't defenseless.
With a flick of his fingers, shadows erupted around him. The illusions he cast made multiple versions of himself appear, confusing the creatures for a split second. That was all the time he needed.
He moved fast, slashing at the closest beast. The knife barely pierced its hide. Too tough.
Fine. If the knife wasn't enough, he'd use everything else.
A surge of power rushed through his body as he enhanced his strikes. His physical strength skyrocketed, and his speed doubled. This time, when he struck, the force of the impact shattered bone.
One beast collapsed, but the others didn't retreat. They roared, pressing the attack even harder.
Aryan dodged, countered, absorbed hits, and redirected the energy back at them. A shadowy tendril lashed out from his hand, wrapping around a creature's neck before he crushed it with brute force.
But it wasn't easy.
By the time he managed to take down his opponent, two more of his clones had vanished, leaving only one left.
Still, he wasn't about to lose.
With precise coordination, he and his last clone struck in unison, overwhelming the remaining monsters. One by one, they fell, until finally, the forest fell silent again.
Aryan exhaled, rolling his shoulders. That was intense.
And if these creatures were only Tier 3, that meant stronger things were still waiting deeper inside.
He cracked his knuckles, a grin forming. Good.
He wasn't done yet.
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