Karna Reborn

Karna stood in front of the mysterious gate, the air around him thick with an unsettling energy. His senses were on high alert, and he could feel the Sun mark on his hand pulsing with heat. The sensation had been increasing in intensity each time he approached a new gate, and now it was undeniable—he was being drawn to them.

He stared at the gate, the swirling vortex of energy before him. "Quick question," Karna muttered, glancing at the glowing Sun mark on his arm, "Are you the reason I can sense gates? This has happened twice already."

The familiar voice responded through his mind, its tone calm but with a strange sense of urgency.

[Yes, I am the reason why. Even though until yesterday, I was still asleep.]

Karna frowned, deep in thought. "Asleep, huh? So this power just... woke up?" He paused, looking at the swirling energy before him. "And now I'm drawn to gates I never even knew existed?"

[Correct. The more gates you sense and conquer, the stronger you will become. I will guide you through this process, but beware, not all gates lead to simple challenges.]

Karna gritted his teeth. This power was still a mystery, but he couldn't deny the pull it had on him. The gates were becoming more frequent, and with each one, his strength grew—yet something told him that the deeper he ventured, the more dangerous it would become.

He stepped forward, his boots making a soft thud against the earth as he approached the gate. His mind raced with the possibilities of what lay on the other side. Was it another monster, or something even more sinister? The Sun mark seemed to glow brighter with each step he took, guiding him forward.

"You ready?" Karna spoke aloud, half to himself, half to the mark.

The mark's energy thrummed in response, and the gate's edges began to shimmer. The air felt heavier, thicker, as if something was about to tear through the fabric of space itself. He had a choice now: turn back or confront whatever awaited him.

He tightened his grip on his spear, the familiar weight of the weapon comforting him. "Let's see what's on the other side."

As Karna stepped into the portal, the world around him shifted in an instant. The once peaceful surroundings of the forest disappeared, replaced by a desolate, crumbled landscape. In the distance, he could see towering stone structures half-sunken into the ground, the remnants of a once-great civilization. The sky was an eerie shade of red, casting a strange glow over everything.

[This is a dungeon linked to ancient ruins. It has a unique characteristic: time here flows differently. Be cautious, Karna.]

Karna's heart raced, but he steadied himself. He could sense the energy of the place, thick and oppressive. There was something here—something ancient and powerful. As he moved forward, the ground beneath his feet cracked, and from the shadows emerged figures, their glowing eyes fixed on him.

[Prepare yourself. These are not ordinary monsters.]

With a steady hand, Karna gripped his spear, ready for whatever came next. He felt the Sun mark on his arm grow hotter, urging him forward. This wasn't just a test of strength; it was a test of resolve. Would he be able to overcome the trials ahead and unlock the secrets of the gates?

Karna jumped out of the way as he saw Monster type's, there body was made out of stones, with cracks in them, with some having plants out, Karna then hold his spear as the sun mark desiper for a bit, as then moved in high-speed and kicked one away, as he moved from a fist of another one, as then then blocked the seconds one attack, he then slammed the Third one into the first making the floor break, Karna then coverd his hand with fire and slammed into the body of the second one sending it flying.

Karna then jumeor away, as he made a fire spell. "Fire Ball".

As then multiple fire projectiles went rn attack rrh rock moster making then winch in pain, he then rushed into one of the monstee he then cuts in half, then coverd his spear in fire as he made swing as the other two monster up in flames.

Karna then put his hand down, as then Multiple gray magical symbols were shown on the two remaining stone monster, as he uses Gravity Magic. "Fall down!".

The remaining stone monsters struggled against the force of the gravity magic. Karna's eyes narrowed as the symbols pulsed with energy, and the monsters were forced to the ground, their massive stone forms cracking under the immense pressure. The creatures let out deep, rumbling roars as they tried to resist the gravitational pull, but the sheer weight of the magic was too much.

Karna's lips curled into a small grin, his hands glowing with golden light. "You won't be able to escape this," he muttered under his breath. The gravity intensified, the stone creatures groaning as their bodies cracked and shattered from the strain.

With a single motion, Karna released the spell, and the two stone monsters collapsed into a pile of broken rocks, their bodies unable to withstand the force. The ground trembled beneath them as the remnants of the monsters scattered in all directions.

He panted slightly, but his focus was sharp. "That wasn't so bad."

As the dust settled, Karna scanned the area, making sure there were no other surprises lurking nearby. He felt a slight tingling sensation on his right arm—the Sun mark glowed faintly once again, reminding him of the power at his disposal.

[Good work, Karna. But there is no time to rest.]

Karna blinked, his head snapping towards the sound of the voice in his mind. "No time to rest?" He asked, his tone curious but alert.

[The dungeon is not finished. Something... more dangerous is coming.]

Karna's grip tightened around his spear. He could sense it now. A faint tremor in the air. The very ground beneath his feet seemed to hum with the approach of something powerful.

He looked toward the horizon, where the broken ruins seemed to stretch endlessly. Something, or someone, was watching him. His senses heightened as he prepared for what was to come next.

Karna adjusted his stance, his eyes glowing with determination. "I've faced worse. Let's see what this dungeon has to offer."

With that, he moved forward, his footsteps silent on the cracked earth, prepared to face whatever new danger awaited him.

Karna's voice echoed softly in the vast, eerie silence of the dungeon. The air was thick with an unsettling stillness, and the crumbled remains of the stone monsters lay scattered around him like forgotten debris. The shadows seemed to stretch unnaturally, hiding secrets beyond sight. Karna's instincts told him that this was no ordinary dungeon—it was something far older, far more dangerous.

"If this dungeon had to be classified by the Guild, it would be an Ancient Class Dungeon," he muttered, as his gaze swept the surroundings. Ancient Class dungeons were known to contain the most terrifying, unpredictable threats. They weren't just filled with monsters—they were often home to remnants of long-forgotten civilizations or relics of catastrophic battles. Dangerous, unstable, and sometimes even cursed, these dungeons held dangers that could overwhelm even seasoned hunters.

Karna flexed his fingers around the hilt of his spear, the Sun mark on his arm pulsing gently, as if responding to his thoughts. "Ancient Class…" He repeated, pondering what that could mean for him. "If this place really is as ancient as it feels, the creatures inside might not be the only thing to worry about."

Suddenly, the ground beneath him trembled, a low rumbling shaking the air. Karna's head snapped up, his senses on high alert. "Here it comes," he muttered.

From the shadows emerged a massive, towering figure, its silhouette slowly taking shape. The creature was unlike anything Karna had encountered before. Its body was covered in glowing runes, ancient and pulsing with power. Its eyes glowed a fierce, unnatural red, and the air around it crackled with raw energy. The creature's massive form was adorned with fragments of what seemed to be ancient armor, but it was much larger than anything Karna had faced before.

[This… is the dungeon's Boss,] the voice in Karna's head spoke once again. [An ancient being sealed here to protect whatever lies within.]

Karna narrowed his eyes, sizing up the creature. His heart raced as the sheer power emanating from it was undeniable. The guardian's aura was overwhelming—it was as if the very dungeon itself had come alive, manifesting its defense.

"Let's see if you're as strong as you look," Karna said, raising his spear. He could feel the heat of the Sun mark radiating through his arm, and with it, a surge of power. The air around him seemed to heat up, and he knew this fight was about to push him to his limits.

Without warning, the guardian lunged forward, its massive hand swinging down with terrifying force. Karna didn't hesitate. He dashed to the side, narrowly dodging the blow as the ground where he had been standing shattered into dust. He took a deep breath, his instincts kicking in. The battle had begun.

Karna barely had a moment to steady himself before the guardian charged again. This time, it raised both of its massive hands, runes glowing ominously, and slammed them down with enough force to crack the entire dungeon floor. The shockwave sent Karna skidding backward, his boots grinding against the uneven stone.

"This thing isn't just strong—it's like a walking disaster," Karna muttered, gripping his spear tightly. He could feel the heat from the Sun Mark pulsing again, responding to the overwhelming danger in front of him.

The guardian roared, its voice deep and guttural, as blue fire erupted from its runes, surrounding its body like an ethereal shield. It lifted one hand, and dozens of flaming spears materialized in the air, all aimed directly at Karna.

[Warning: Incoming high-level magical attack.]

Karna gritted his teeth as the spears shot toward him like missiles. With a burst of speed, he dodged left, narrowly avoiding the first wave, then leaped into the air, twisting mid-flight as more spears whizzed past. One grazed his shoulder, sending a sharp burn through his skin, but he ignored it. He landed on the dungeon wall, using his momentum to kick off and launch himself toward the guardian.

"Sun Strike!" Karna roared, his spear glowing bright with solar energy. He spun midair, bringing his weapon down onto the guardian's shoulder with full force.

BOOM!

The impact sent golden energy cascading outward, cracks forming on the guardian's armor. But instead of recoiling, the creature grabbed Karna mid-air with its massive hand.

"Shit—!"

The guardian slammed Karna into the ground with enough force to create a crater. The air left his lungs as pain shot through his back, but before he could react, the guardian lifted him again and hurled him across the dungeon like a ragdoll.

Karna hit the far wall hard, dust and debris falling around him. He coughed, feeling the impact in every bone of his body. This thing is insane… He had fought high-level monsters before, but this was on another level.

[Skill Activation Suggested: Surya's Wrath]

He didn't hesitate. "Activate Surya's Wrath!"

The Sun Mark on his arm flared, and a surge of golden energy rushed through his veins. His wounds healed rapidly, his strength increased, and his vision sharpened. His whole body felt like it was on fire, but in a good way—he was faster, stronger, and completely in tune with his magic.

Karna shot forward, now a golden blur. The guardian swung its fist again, but this time, Karna dodged with ease. He reappeared behind it, his spear igniting with white-hot flames.

"Eat this!"

He stabbed his weapon into the guardian's exposed back, twisting it as fire and light exploded outward. The creature let out a deafening roar, its runes flickering wildly.

But Karna wasn't done.

"Sun Archer Skill—Surya's Arrow!"

A massive golden bow formed in the air behind him, its string made of pure solar energy. With a flick of his hand, an arrow of condensed sunlight materialized, crackling with raw power.

"Burn."

He released the arrow, and it shot forward at blinding speed, piercing through the guardian's chest. The creature froze, its runes flickering erratically before a massive explosion of golden fire consumed it.

The force sent Karna flying backward, but he landed on his feet, watching as the guardian's form crumbled, turning into glowing golden embers.

Silence filled the dungeon. The only thing left of the guardian was a golden silhouette, much like the Spector Knight from before.

Then, without warning, the silhouette shot toward Karna.

[Echo Absorption in Progress…]

Karna clenched his fists as energy surged into his body. The familiar sensation of something foreign becoming his own washed over him. He could feel it—new power awakening inside him.

[New Skill Acquired: Titan's Resilience – Grants the user temporary invulnerability for 10 seconds, enhances physical strength, and reinforces the body against all damage.]

As the notification faded, Karna exhaled, flexing his fingers. "Another skill… and a damn good one."

He glanced at the now-empty dungeon, knowing this was just the beginning. If there were more dungeons like this, he was only going to get stronger.

Karna then saw it's loot, Crystal that cane be once again sold, he grabbed them and put in his pockets, he then saw the Dungeon gate opened as he left.

Karna stretched his arms as he stepped out of the dungeon, feeling the fresh air hit his face. The gate behind him flickered and then vanished into nothingness, leaving behind only the cracked and scorched ground where it once stood.

"All things considered, that wasn't so hard," Karna muttered, rolling his shoulders. His body still tingled from the aftereffects of absorbing the Echo. He could feel the new power coursing through his veins, the weight of Titan's Resilience settling into his very being.

He took out the crystals he had collected—each one shimmering with a faint magical glow. These would fetch a good price at the Hunter's Guild or with any magic merchant. With a satisfied nod, he tucked them away and started walking back toward the city.

As he moved, the Sun Mark on his arm pulsed slightly.

[You are growing stronger. Your connection to the Echo System is stabilizing.]

Karna raised an eyebrow. "Echo System, huh? So that's what you're calling yourself now."

[It is the most efficient term. You absorb the essence, the Echo, of defeated foes, gaining a fraction of their power.]

"That's what I figured." Karna glanced at his arm. "So, does that mean I'll eventually be able to use all the abilities of the bosses I defeat?"

[Affirmative. With enough synchronization, you may even replicate their full strength temporarily.]

Karna smirked. "Now that sounds interesting."

As he neared the city, the officers gave him a brief nod of recognition, having seen him leave for dungeons multiple times before. He casually walked past, heading toward the Hunter's Guild to report his findings.

Upon entering, the usual buzz of hunters, merchants, and guild staff filled the air. A few people glanced at him, some recognizing him as the newcomer who had been tackling dungeons with his team.

The guild receptionist, a sharp-eyed woman named Rina, looked up as he approached. "Back already?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, another dungeon cleared," Karna said, pulling out the crystals and placing them on the counter. "Ancient-class, by the way."

Rina blinked. "Ancient-class? And you handled it alone?"

Karna just shrugged. "It wasn't too bad."

Rina sighed. "You're either incredibly skilled or just insane. Either way, let me process this."

As she tallied up his earnings, Karna leaned against the counter, lost in thought. If his Echo absorption ability kept developing, then every dungeon he cleared would make him even stronger.

And with each new power he gained, he knew one thing for sure—he was only just getting started.

To be continued

Hope people like this Ch and give me power stones and enjoy