System Fall

Standing there among the dead Rail Roaches I took a deep breath and allowed myself to finally relax after the battle
"Something's off about you," Alvin accused, his eyes narrowing. "No one should be as unfazed as you are, unless they're unhinged.”

I merely shrugged. I could see how my calm demeanor in the face of System Fall chaos might make me seem suspicious. Although I understood Alvin's skepticism, I wasn't inclined to explain myself.

"Did I coerce any of you into following me?" I retorted, "I don’t recall promising a peaceful journey with a cozy finish. I never told you we would sit around a fire drinking hot chocolate and eating smores did I? I told you if you followed me you might die. You’ve seen people on the outside already die. This isn’t the world you were used to. Adapt or you’re going to get killed."

Nobody said anything after. Their silence spoke volumes; they probably weren't accustomed to hearing me talk so plainly.

"See?" Alvin finally broke the silence, "That’s exactly what I’m talking about. You're way too composed.  Adapt or you’re going to get killed? Who even talks like that? You’re tied to the system, aren't you? That’s how you knew about the secret tunnel, and why you seemed unafraid with only a baseball bat for protection when others went for swords, and I bet that’s why you didn’t take [Poison Resistance]. You know something."

He wasn’t entirely wrong, and his partially correct assumption took me aback. There were indeed those favored by the System—beta testers who'd vanished months before System Fall. Taken to some other world. The System's favor didn’t translate to an easy ride, though. They gained a bit of knowledge and experience, but the reality was much more complex than Alvin could comprehend.

"I assure you, I'm not associated with the System," I replied. "As for skills like [Poison Resistance], why would I waste a skill slot on that when I could potentially find antidotes?"

Alvin opened his menu. "What do you mean, waste? There's no limit to the number of skills we can acquire."

"Wait," I interrupted, "Are you so sure about that?"

Their stunned silence confirmed my suspicion. “And to answer your question, I don’t know what lies ahead either,” I said, skewing the truth slightly.

"Huh, what do you mean about unlimited slots? What are you getting at Nick?” May murmured, kicking around chitin debris. A severed Rail Roach antenna skittered away with a dry rustle.

"That's where the catch is." I responded.

"What do you mean?" Willow asked, her face creased with confusion.

"You see," I began, squatting down to pick up a shard of Rail Roach carapace, turning it over in my hand, "having unlimited skill slots isn't exactly a boon. It's more of a... cap. "

"A cap?" Alvin echoed, skepticism lacing his voice.

I nodded, tossing the carapace shard away. "Imagine this - every skill you learn, every ability you acquire, they all consume a portion of your potential growth. The System balances everything. The more skills you stuff into those 'unlimited slots,' the less powerful they can ultimately become. It’s like an internet connection where every time you add something else to pull from it, the connection isn’t as fast."

"So, you're saying," May began, frowning, "the more skills we learn, the weaker they'll be?"

"Close enough. The weaker they’ll ultimately be," I confirmed. "You may have a hundred different skills, but they'll all plateau at a lower rank. So, instead of being a jack of all trades and master of none, isn't it better to be highly proficient in a few?"

I could see the gears turning in their minds as they processed the information. "That's why you were so picky with the skills," Willow murmured, realization dawning in her eyes. "You're not interested in being 'average' at everything."

"No," I replied firmly, meeting her gaze, "I intend to break through every limit.”

Alvin glared at me. “So, you definitely know something then. Otherwise, how did you learn all of this?”

I turned to Alvin, his accusation hanging in the air.

“Knowledge isn’t only about secrets and hidden truths, Alvin,” I said calmly, meeting his stare. “It’s also about perception, observation, and inference. I've been analyzing our situation just like you have, piecing together what I know from the bits of information we stumble upon and that the System gives us."

"Every fight, every step forward, every interaction here provides something to learn from. And no, I don't have some insider knowledge or secret source. I've just been paying attention to the patterns and learning from them, just like you could."

There was a pause as I let my words sink in, then, with a hard edge to my voice, I added, "Besides, you think I've some kind of insider track, and your answer is to antagonize me and undermine what I say? Are you stupid? Should I just leave you behind now?"

"I'm not a genius, but I have enough sense to understand that this world is changing. Survival now demands adaptation, and sooner rather than later," I stated, my voice echoing in the hollow cavern. "None of us are trailblazers uncovering the new laws of the universe, but we know enough. We have enough sense to distinguish between wise and foolish actions."

Whether they believed me or not, it didn't matter. We had to keep moving. Grasping my sword tighter, I steeled myself for the final challenge and set the pace as we walked along the tracks.

It didn’t take long for another Rail Roach to lung out from a hiding place within a fissure in the ground. It came straight for me, and I met its charge head-on and drove my sword straight through one of its eyes. I pushed my sword all the through and pinned it to the ground.

Its body writhed, attempting as it could to lash out in its final moments, but I avoided the attacks, stamping down on its head with bone-crushing force. Dust came from the impact site, and I followed up again for good measure, completely shattering its head and sending the roach's eyes popping out.

A system message let me know it was dead.

Selene's words had echoed in my mind, 'Expect everything that can go wrong, to go wrong.' It had seemed ironic considering her overwhelming power. She had been a Paladin, one of the most formidable fighters I'd ever seen, yet she had been groomed to expect the worst.

And she was not just powerful; she had been a ruthlessly pragmatic survivor. No one who had survived this far had done so merely by being protected by others. You had to fight, to claw your way through every challenge the world threw at you. She had understood that. It had been her words that had braced me for the brutal realities of this new world. It was her words that had prepared me for the brutal realities of this new world.

Casting a glance at the trio, something like a bit of guilt stirred within me. Was I expecting too much from them? Compared to how I’d been during the first timeline, they weren’t doing that bad. Just the fact that they were still alive was something.

"Well, thanks for that," May stated, crinkling her nose at the sight of the smashed Rail Roach, its mouth leaking blood and other fluids that popped out from its head.

“Not a problem.” I acknowledged her with a nod, my thoughts wandering to our surroundings. The third level of the Hidden Dungeon was unique in its design, presenting opportunities to gather useful resources.

Leaving the Rail Roach behind, I moved forward, leading our group down the tracks. The third floor of the Hidden Dungeon was starkly different from the previous ones. It had a peculiar style that was reminiscent of the 18th or early 19th century subway

The architecture was aged, etched with history, and enveloped in a quiet that seemed to make to absorb every sound. The walls were made of chiseled stone, the tracks rusted over with time, yet somehow it all seemed almost larger than the first two floors. Even the air smelled different, heavy with a musty scent of dust and old paper.

Cobwebs adorned every nook and cranny. They were thick under the faint light from the chandeliers hanging precariously above us. The sight of the sprawling spider webs made me curse internally.

"Looks like we're not alone here," May murmured, her eyes skimming the room. “More bugs.”

"No kidding," Alvin grimaced. "Remember, we need to stick together."

I tightened my grip on the sword. "Right. Let's move cautiously and avoid stepping into spider webs.”

As we pushed forward, the silence was broken only by our footfalls and the distant sound of water dripping from the ceiling onto the rusted tracks. Suddenly, a rustle echoed through the cavernous space. From the corner of my eye, I spotted movement. Station Spiders.

My body moved on instinct as they scurried towards us. Swinging my sword, I slashed through one spider that had gotten too close. It let out a screech, twitching on the ground before becoming lifeless. Another spider lunged at me, but I pivoted, stabbing through it mid-air and slamming it into the ground. Before it could recover, Willow finished it off.

"I hate spiders," Willow muttered, her face pale.

"Just keep moving," I advised, shaking the spider guts off my blade. "And stay alert. We're not done here yet."

Venturing further into the third floor, we left the safety of the tracks, stepping onto a grimy tiled platform lined with old, rusted benches. The surrounding environment grew increasingly thick with webs. A few of the sputtering, flickering lights from the track carried over, casting long  shadows that seemed to move on the edges of our vision.

Old posters, bearing faded images and indecipherable words, were scattered across the decrepit station walls. Every so often, we'd spot a massive spider perched upon a poster, its multiple eyes glistening ominously in the half-light.

Cobweb-covered suitcases, remnants of journeys long past, were scattered haphazardly about the platform. The sight of them, untouched yet covered in centuries of dust and cobwebs seemed strangely out of place.

Alvin grumbled, cutting through the thick webbing blocking our way. "How many of these things are there?"

His question was answered by an unnervingly large Station Spider descending from the shadows above, landing squarely on his shoulder. With a scream, he swatted at the creature, his sword connecting with a solid thud.

The spider was knocked off, sliced clean in two mid-air. "Too many!" he retorted, visibly shuddering.

"Less complaining, more swinging," I retorted, my focus diverted by another spider. It was huge, nearly the size of a small dog, but after the Rail Roaches this hardly phased me. A swift slice, a forceful thrust, and the creature toppled over, emitting a strangled hiss before falling silent.

 We pressed on, pushing deeper into the abandoned station.

Just as the remnants of the last spider fell, another Station Spider dropped down from a strand of webbing. It was bigger than any of the others and its abdomen bore an unusual pattern, the characteristic grey chitin replaced with glistening, jewel-like stones embedded within. I sidestepped its initial lunge, and with a quick slice followed by a powerful thrust, I took the creature down.

As it lay motionless, I knelt, intrigued by the glistening stones adorning its underbelly. My sword sliced through the chitin with little resistance, revealing shimmering shards of deep blue rock within. They radiated a faint luminescence, casting an ethereal glow against my skin.

"Sapphire Tears," I murmured, holding one of the shards up to the flickering light. The others gathered around; their curiosity piqued.

"What?" Alvin asked, his eyes wide with interest.

"Sapphire Tears," I repeated. "They're rare minerals. Legend has it they're the crystallized tears of a goddess, shed for the mortal world's sorrows. They're prized for their magical properties and are incredibly valuable. It's why the Station Spiders hoard them."

[System Fall Notification]

Title: Rare Crafting Material Discovered

Item Name: Sapphire Tears

Details:

Sapphire Tears are rare minerals found only in the depths of the Hidden Dungeons. These crystalline minerals radiate a faint luminescence, and their deep blue hue is reminiscent of a pools of mana.

 

These stones are unique and possess magical properties, which can enhance the attributes of various equipment when integrated in crafting processes across all levels.

 

May interrupted my inspection, rummaging through her backpack to bring out a set of knives and whetstones. "I have a trade for you," she offered, setting a stone and a small bottle of oil before me. "I'll sharpen one of these knives for you in exchange for whatever you discover in here."

Raising an eyebrow, I responded, "Not a bad deal. How do you plan to sharpen it?"

"That'll cost extra," May answered, a sly smile creeping onto her face. “But I was thinking I could try using one of those Goddess Tears.”

I nodded approvingly. "Swords require quite a bit of maintenance. You could make a fortune if you offer that service."

I weighed May's proposal carefully, my curiosity kindled. The resourcefulness and adaptability she was starting to show had my interest and for the first time I thought maybe she might be a companion going into the future.

 An agreement was struck, and with a renewed focus, I steeled myself for the deeper challenges the Hidden Subway Dungeon undoubtedly harbored.

As May took the gemstones from me, her eyes twinkled with a mix of fascination and resolve. She added them to the oil mixture she had been diligently agitating. It didn’t take long for the Sapphire Tears to dissolve completely, the liquid began transforming into a radiant, shimmering solution - Azure Gleam.

After what felt like an eternity of trekking through the desolate station, May's voice rang out, a triumphant note in the grim silence. "It's done!" she announced, holding out the Azure Gleam solution.

We kept moving, and May began to apply some of the solution followed by the rhythmic scrape of the stone against the metal, the gradual transformation of the blade into a gleaming weapon.

“We need to stop. I just need to finish up this last bit.” May said.

We found a resting spot among the web-draped benches and corroding suitcases, pausing to regain our stamina and gear up for what lay ahead. May methodically applied one more coating of the Azure Gleam solution onto several knives. The luminous substance bonded with the steel, giving rise to a mesmerizing swirl of blue patterns.

As she passed them to me, I could feel the mana within the blade.

[System Fall Notification]
Title: Item Upgraded
You’ve obtained a Azure Gleam Knife.

The Azure Gleam Knife is a unique weapon, fortified with Azure Gleam. It has a mana edge that primarily bypasses regular armor, carving through defenses with the power of the infused Azure Gleam.]

 

 

[System Fall Notification]

Title: Recipes Unlocked

Recipe Unlocked: Azure Gleam Knife
To craft an Azure Gleam Knife, you will need the following ingredients

Azure Gleam Solution

Any Knife (x1)

Whetstone (x1)

Recipe Unlocked: Azure Gleam Solution

To create the Azure Gleam Solution, you will need

 

Sapphire Tear (x1)

Oil  (1 Vial)

 

“Well done, May. We need to keep moving," I urged, tucking the newly sharpened Azure Gleam Knife into a sheath. "Who knows what other surprises this forsaken place has in store for us."

"I could use a few more of these knives. How many can you make?" I asked May, as we started to move, my eyes scanning for threats and Station Spiders.

May seemed taken aback by my request. "I didn't exactly take the entire stock of oil and knives from the store, but I can work on another one for you." She left the exact count unsaid, but it wasn't in my nature to get into it over the details.

Together, we navigated through the labyrinthine third floor of the dungeon. The darkness was disrupted only by the sporadic light of the crumbling fixtures and the eerie blue shimmer of our new weapons. The air grew thicker and mustier. Each breath heavier than the last.

I was reminder that even though my own endurance was beyond the norm, my party didn’t have the same kind of bonuses.

The echoing clank of their heavy footfalls hinted at their struggle to keep pace.

“I’ll look for a place to stop.” I told them as the three of them started to lag behind.

Navigating the gloomy maze of the third floor, we stumbled upon an inconspicuous door marked 'Employees Only'. The paint was peeling, and the brass doorknob tarnished, I was surprised it opened up at all.  Pushing it open revealed an old lounge, a dusty resting point preserved in the bowels of the Hidden Dungeon

The room was adorned with worn-out couches and a dusty coffee table, vintage posters peeling off the walls. Against one wall was a fridge, and in the corner, a small bathroom. Although shabby, it was a welcome sight.

[System Fall Notification]
Title: Entering Safe Zone – Employee Lounge
You have entered a Safe Zone. Monsters cannot enter Safe Zones. You may rest, consume food, and recuperate here without danger. Safe Zone effects will cease if any aggressive actions are taken within the area.