Episode 2: The Aftermath

Sōga’s eyes snapped open.

The world around him was still. Darkness pressed in from all sides, broken only by the faint blue glow of his HUD interface. His breath came in ragged gasps, heart pounding in his chest. The weight of his body felt distant, like he was floating.

[Level Up]

[New Skill Acquired: “Abyssal Perception”]

The translucent text flickered before his eyes, cold and mechanical. Sōga blinked, trying to process what had just happened. One moment, he was about to be torn apart by the Dungeon Boss. The next… something had awakened inside him. Power. Unfathomable power.

He sat up slowly, his body protesting every movement. The cavern around him was eerily silent. The Boss's corpse had dissolved into ash, leaving behind only a faint, dark mist curling along the floor. His hands trembled as he stared at them, the memory of dark energy coursing through his veins still fresh.

“What… was that?” he whispered.

A sharp pain shot through his head. He clutched his temple, gritting his teeth. Faint whispers echoed in his mind, voices speaking in a language he didn’t understand. And then — silence.

“Sōga!”

He turned at the sound of his name. A figure sprinted toward him, armor clattering with each step. It was a fellow recruit, Tanaka Ryo, his face pale and drenched with sweat.

“You’re alive!” Ryo gasped, dropping to his knees beside Sōga. “I thought… we all thought you were dead.”

Sōga blinked. “What happened?”

Ryo shook his head, eyes wide with disbelief. “You don’t remember? That thing — the Dungeon Boss — it came right at you. We saw this… this black light explode from you. Then you vanished. When the light cleared, the Boss was gone. Just… ash.”

Sōga frowned. He remembered the light. The voice. The surge of power. But the details were hazy, like a dream slipping through his fingers.

“Where’s everyone else?” Sōga asked, trying to stand. Ryo helped him up, and they began walking through the dungeon's dark corridors.

“They retreated,” Ryo said. “Renji ordered a full withdrawal after the Boss fell. He told me to find you… if you were still alive.”

Sōga clenched his fists. “I need to talk to him.”

They moved quickly, the dungeon unnaturally quiet. Sōga’s eyes adjusted to the darkness with ease, the shadows parting before him. Every sound, every shift in the air felt amplified. He could sense the faintest traces of aura lingering in the walls, as if the dungeon itself was alive.

[Abyssal Perception: Active]

His HUD flickered again, and suddenly, his vision shifted. The darkness peeled away, revealing glowing threads of aura weaving through the dungeon like veins. Sōga stared, mesmerized. Was this another skill?

“Hey… you okay?” Ryo asked, snapping him back to reality.

“Yeah. Let’s keep moving.”

They pressed on, eventually reaching a large stone chamber near the dungeon’s entrance. Torches lined the walls, casting flickering shadows across the floor. The surviving Hunters were gathered there, some tending to wounds, others sitting in silence. Renji stood at the center, his massive frame looming over the others.

Renji’s gaze snapped to Sōga the moment he entered. His eyes narrowed. “You.”

The room fell silent. Every Hunter turned to stare. Sōga shifted uneasily under their gaze.

“What… the hell… are you?” Renji demanded.

Sōga blinked. “What do you mean?”

Renji took a step forward, his aura flaring crimson. The heat pressed against Sōga’s skin. “I’ve been raiding dungeons for over a decade. I’ve seen things that would make grown men weep. But I’ve never seen anyone do what you did back there.”

Sōga clenched his fists. “I don’t know what happened. One second, I was about to die. The next… I felt something awaken.”

Renji stared at him for a long moment. Then, he chuckled darkly. “Heh. A Second Awakening, huh?”

Murmurs spread through the group. Second Awakenings were rare — so rare that most Hunters went their entire lives without ever witnessing one. Those who experienced them became legends. Or nightmares.

Renji’s eyes darkened. “Power like that… it doesn’t come without a price.”

Sōga said nothing. He could still feel the darkness coiling inside him, waiting to be unleashed. Was it a gift… or a curse?

Renji sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Alright, kid. You live, you fight. But don’t get cocky.” He turned to the others. “We’re heading back. This dungeon is clear.”

As the group moved toward the exit, Sōga lingered for a moment, staring into the shadows.

[Quest Complete: “Survive the First Raid”]

[Reward: ???]

The interface flickered once more, then faded. Sōga exhaled slowly. Whatever had happened tonight… it was only the beginning.

He tightened his grip on his sword and stepped into the light.

End of Episode 2

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