Surviving the Dungeon with an EX-Rank Trait

Ding!
My head became clear.

In a split second, it felt like I had been split into two — a man in despair, having lost his masculinity, and a sage, shedding all excess baggage, coexisting within me.

“Ah, ahhh.”

“Not a person…”

Seeing the women collapsing in disbelief made me rise to my feet.

Gug!

Well, I half stood up.

Thud.

My legs gave way, refusing to cooperate, and I couldn’t get up.

‘Move! Come on, move! After all I’ve done to pass this trial, it’s ridiculous to fail just because my legs won’t budge!’

The numbness throughout my body was stronger than during Ivelyn’s hellish training of 50 laps, and the pain surging from my lower body was driving me to madness.

Pfft!

I kept slapping my thighs and calves before finally managing to stand up.

“Woah. Huff.”

I looked a sight to behold.
In a completely naked state, blood dripped from where my you-know-what had been.

No matter how hard I tried to conceal it, tears and cold sweat continued to flow, making me feel more miserable.

Grrr.
Crack.

The intensity of my gritting teeth might have caused an audible crackle in my gums and jaw, but I didn’t care.
I kept moving, focusing on nothing but advancing, bleeding from my groin.

Step.
One step.
Step.
Two steps.

Leaving behind traces of blood and tears, I approached the white portal that was unmistakably the exit.

The remaining distance could be covered in about ten seconds, even at a slow pace.

But then, a problem occurred.

“There’s no pole the size of my arm? Then I can just shove my real arm in there!”

“I, I can hit it just with my handsome face!”

“Get lost! Once you taste how sweet my honey is, you’ll be begging for more!”

Some lunatics who’d been sitting with lost expressions suddenly sprang up as if they’d had a collective awakening and charged at me.

‘No, oh come on. What the hell do they want from me now?’

I wondered if this whole ordeal was truly a trial.
If I got caught here, my entire body would be used as a plaything by those girls, drenched in all sorts of bodily fluids.

Huff. Hup.

Narrowing the distance between me and the portal, I started working my brain at full capacity.

Running. Impossible.
Using magic to dash out was also impossible.
…Wait.
There’s one way to make both possible.

But that method was more absurd and bizarre than chopping off my manhood, and I hesitated to proceed.

‘Think! There has to be a better way. Please!’

“If you get caught, I won’t let you go easy!!”

“Just because I’m being nice doesn’t mean you can treat me lightly?! I’ll make sure to engrave in your heads that even if you feel empty down there, you can go wild with pleasure!”

Seriously, how far will they take this? At this point, wouldn’t it make sense to give up?
But I had no choice. Ultimately, there was no other option.

Crack!

I thrust my hand into my chest.

“Hey, are you insane?! What’s wrong with your head?!”

Heyaaa!!!

Something was clearly off.
Bam!
Scream!

Ignoring their shouts, I grabbed my heart, prepared to burst it.
If I do this… I’ll be freed from pain due to my innate ability, and immediately I can use my magic to dash.

Given the situation, it’s clear there won’t be a rewind this time.
This means I have to escape within five seconds to avoid ending up caught or dead.

My hands trembled.
Can I burst my magic in that short time?
…I can. If it’s me!

Boom!!!

“Grah— Phew.”

[The trait ‘Death Resistance’ is activated.]
[You have five seconds of grace.]

Even though there was no information about the Death Resistance, I learned through dozens of resets that the moment the trait activates, all pain and status effects disappear and you gain a five-second grace period before dying.

Five seconds.
I focused magic into my feet as much as possible.
Three seconds.
Bam!!!

My body shot towards the portal like a cannonball.
One second.
“Come back!!!”
‘Good luck, you stupid illusions.’

I touched the edge of the portal.
[You have passed the final trial.]

In the end, not only did I lose my lower half, but I also had to die twice to bring everything to a close.

*

Thud!
‘Why can’t they just drop me on the ground? Something good never happens.’

I sat up, holding my sore backside.
[Chaos can’t speak, but says it saw everything rolling around and commends your effort.]

“Aren!!! Are you okay? You’re alright, right?”

“On the outside, I look fine. But why am I silent?”

“Yeriell, stop shouting and focus on healing first.”

“Ah, yes! With light…”

Everyone’s concern for me was heartwarming, but unfortunately, nothing they said resonated at the moment.

I turned my back to check my groin.
‘It’s there. It’s there!’
Not only was it there, but it also stood up well, and I felt no phantom pains or mental trauma from touching it.

“Ahh…”
I let out a sigh of relief. Now, I could finally open my eyes and take in the approaching teammates.

“Haha. Sorry for ignoring you all when you worried. I had to check on a pressing issue due to what I went through inside. But I’m okay now.”

With the most urgent problem out of the way, I finally realized everything else.
‘Now that’s done, it’s time to reap the rewards for all the suffering I endured!’

While the atmosphere was bustling and lively with chatter,

“It is truly astonishing… to think there is a human with such strong will. Simply harboring malice isn’t enough to classify you as someone notable. I, Adelaiya, the Transcendent of Radiance, acknowledge you.”

The transcendent, Adelaiya, let her ethereal voice ring out.

Before I even had time to respond, her following words came through.
“Now, nothing will stand in your way. Please, come inside.”

Boom.
Crack.

The barrier blocking the path toward the white temple or sanctuary, whichever it was, disappeared in an instant with the Transcendent’s declaration.

“Guys, let’s put off the reunion for now and go in. We need to claim our rewards.”

“Okay!”

“I’d rather not talk about hardships… Hmhm.”

“Agreed. Let’s continue this as we walk.”

With the bright-eyed Yeriell, the noticeably lighter Veronica, and even Lumia, who was sneakily adjusting her lips,

[Chaos expresses excitement.]

All this while, oblivious to the situation around, El had drifted into a deep sleep.
Leading them all, I headed toward the pure white building where the Transcendent awaited.

*

Through the grand and intricately crafted structures, the lavish stained glass placed everywhere caught the eye.

In the center of the sanctuary, which was more splendid than the cathedral in Area 3, the beautifully adorned Adelaiya awaited us.

“Welcome, adventurers who have passed the trial of the stars.”

Is this her domain?
Unlike when I heard it from outside, her voice, more welcoming than sweet, wrapped around me, making the distance feel smaller.

Her eyes sparkled with a different light than the gemstone-like eyes of Lumia.
At a glance, her platinum hair and shining eyes shimmered in various colors depending on the angle, emanating an enchanting aura.

Certainly, just her appearance suggested that she wasn’t human.

“Hehe, I might be a bit pretty, right? Just don’t stare at me too much. It makes me slightly embarrassed.”

This transcendent seemed very gentle and soft.
Overall, she gave off a harmless vibe.
‘But don’t let your guard down, or you might regret it. Stay cautious.’
She stood, smoothing her dress with her hands, smiling.

“I am Adelaiya, the Transcendent of Radiance. A remnant of a forgotten past once revered as the god of radiance among many races.”

I see. No wonder she has such an imposing presence. She’s not just any transcendent but a forgotten deity.
As I accepted this and prepared to converse, the somewhat hesitant Veronica asked her a question.

“It might be a rude question and perhaps disrespectful to Yeriell, but… what about the widely known god of light?”

“Ver, Veronica?”

We must be here for rewards, so I presumed she would have asked out of curiosity without fearing for her safety.
In truth, I was a bit curious as well.
Adelaiya smiled wryly and replied,

“I’m of a different caliber. Compared to the god of light, who is considered a representative of the benevolent gods, alongside the clergy and believers spread across the continent, how could you compare me, the one long forgotten?”

“I see. My apologies.”

“No, it’s alright. Now, shall we skip the mundane introductions and proceed to the rewards you have so eagerly awaited?”

She raised her index finger and pointed at Yeriell.
“First, the Greed Challenger Yeriell.”

“Eh? Me first instead of Aren?”

Adelaiya folded her finger, casting a spell as a startled Yeriell stepped back.

“Ah!”

A sphere of light formed before Yeriell and gradually shrank in size.
The reward she received was none other than a unique equipment resembling a pocket watch.

Having passed the trial and received unique gear, could I too receive something?
Filled with excitement, I watched Yeriell cautiously clutch the item.

────
[Timekeeper Pocket Watch] [Unique]
Yeriell, who savored unforgettable memories, realized everything in her blissful past was an illusion and made a bold decision.
Upon choosing herself over a past filled with false happiness, she succeeded in becoming worthy of this pocket watch after passing the trial of greed.

Although it resembles a pocket watch, it is always stopped.
─If it suffers damage or destruction, it will be restored instantly.
─When held, luck increases by one stage.
─Very rarely, when it ticks, it can suddenly run.
In this case, infusing Divine Power will summon another self from a different timeline.
At this moment, the user becomes incorporeal and shares the physical lead with the temporarily summoned counterpart.
────

Something… hmm. Something too unique just came up.
I could see Yeriell eagerly awaiting my explanation, her eyes sparkling.
But then,

“Next, we have the Rage Challenger Veronica.”

I had to turn my attention back to the nonstop distribution of rewards.
Clank.
Veronica hurried to pick up the blue shield that had fallen on the ground and glanced back at me.

‘I’m sure lasers are firing from her eyes. She doesn’t need to ask; she knows I’ll explain it anyway.’
────
[Barrier of Calm and Rage] [Unique]
Despite being gripped by the intense fire of overwhelming rage, she brandished her sword against the enemy who stole away her precious bonds.
Having calmly faced and ultimately defeated a stronger foe, she learned how to utilize her rage as an even more powerful weapon.
─Wielding this decreases luck by two stages, but increases durability and health by two stages.
─If broken, it can be restored using magic.
─When entering combat, grants the user ‘Clarity of Mind.’
─When struck by attacks, gains rage and can use it to restore vitality by consuming a portion of it.
─If rage exceeds a certain threshold, the previously granted ‘Clarity of Mind’ changes to ‘Fury,’ enhancing hostility in all motions.
────

This was indeed a shield meant for a tank.
Honestly, luck is a rather abstract stat compared to the others, so losing two stages to drop to D-rank doesn’t seem significant to me.
‘But increasing defense by two stages, huh?’
A self-restoring shield with healing capabilities. And if it continuously absorbs hits, it gains additional aggro. Its usefulness was clear.
I explained the info to both Yeriell and Veronica without skipping any details.

“Eh. So it’s like another me borrowing her body? What’s a timeline? I don’t like it. I’d rather just be me!”
Yeriell clutched her head in confusion.

“Um. I’ll just turn around for a moment. Please don’t peep.”
Veronica, realizing how great her reward was, hugged the shield and turned around, clearing her throat repeatedly.
Now it was Lumia’s turn to receive her reward, and then it would be mine, right?

“Aren. Please close your eyes and extend your hands forward. It would be better for the others to cover their eyes or turn their heads for a moment.”

‘Why am I skipping Lumia and going straight to me?’
Following her instructions, I closed my eyes and extended my hands.
One minute passed, then ten.
While my arms weren’t numb, I felt claustrophobic in my still position, unsure how long I’d need to remain this way.

Swish!
At that moment, something felt like it resonated.
It was a warm and soothing energy, like the sun wrapping around me and then vanishing.

Thud.
‘What is this? A sword?’
Though I couldn’t see with my eyes shut, the shape I felt was strangely familiar, like a single sword.

“It’s done, so you may open your eyes now. I hope it’s a reward that meets your satisfaction.”

Flash.
As soon as I opened my eyes, I couldn’t help but gasp at the sight of the sword resting in my hands.
This is… ho.

────
[Blade of Radiance Solas] [Unique]
Not only did he intrude upon his comrades’ trials to lead them down the correct path, but when faced with the final trial, he cut off his own member to avoid succumbing to lust. In the end, he burst his heart, using even death itself. The Transcendent Adelaiya was moved and forged this sword, harnessing the powers of radiance.
─Equipping it increases all stats by one stage.
─The sword is imbued with ‘Indomitable,’ meaning it cannot be damaged under any circumstances.
─Once a week, you can inject magic into it to heal allies and blind enemies with ‘Radiance.’
─In battles against dark-type enemies, the sword glows, adding powerful light element damage to attacks.
─When fighting light-type enemies, received and dealt damage slightly decreases.
────

I was taken aback, my jaw dropping in awe.
While Barak was akin to a crude and heavy iron sword, this one was the complete opposite, a splendid, elegantly crafted sword that shone like fresh snow.
A sword designed specifically for battling the great darkness.

Whoosh!
At least to me, the weight distribution felt absolutely perfect, and swinging it lightly didn’t cause any snags.

“From your expression, I can see you’re pleased. Your efforts are commendable, making me want to exert myself a little after a long while.”

“I like it, of course. Huh, I’m so happy I could just fly away, but I’m barely holding it in.”

“Oh, seeing you rejoice brings me joy as well.”

So the three of us received unique items, but… I puzzled over why they weren’t calling out the names any further.
‘If we’re talking about trials, Lumia should’ve been the first to pass, right? Why is her reward still missing out of the four of us?’
Adelaiya sported a mysterious smile.

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