"The Silent Ascension"

The soft glow of the golden crystal pulsed faintly at my waist as I let out a long, steadying breath. The system was unbelievable, something I couldn't have dreamed of in my wildest imaginings. Stat points, skills, passive growth—it felt like the answers to all the struggles I'd faced my entire life. And yet, it also felt overwhelming, like I'd just stumbled into something far bigger than I could comprehend.

I couldn't stop staring at the system's interface, the glowing text and menus hovering in front of me. The possibilities seemed endless, each tab offering more questions and opportunities than I could process. My mind buzzed with the implications, with the sheer potential of it all.

I focused on the [Idle Progression] tab again, staring at the words: Passive Stat Growth. It sounded too good to be true. Could I really get stronger by doing nothing? Would the system grow even while I slept?

The hum from the crystal seemed to intensify slightly, almost like it was urging me to trust it. I shook my head, trying to pull my thoughts back to the present.

"Focus, Kai," I muttered under my breath. "You're still in a Dungeon. This isn't the time to—"

A sharp noise behind me shattered my concentration.

---

The growl was low and guttural, sending a chill down my spine. My heart leapt into my throat as I spun around, fumbling for my knife.

In my distraction, I hadn't noticed the creature creeping into the chamber. It was smaller than the Scavenger Beast I'd fought earlier, but it moved with a predatory grace that made my skin crawl. Its body was lean and sinewy, covered in dark, matted fur, and its glowing yellow eyes locked onto mine with an unnerving intensity.

My knife felt pitiful in my hand as I raised it defensively. The creature crouched low, its growl deepening, and I knew it was about to pounce.

I cursed under my breath, berating myself for letting my guard down. I'd been so focused on the system, so caught up in its potential, that I'd completely forgotten where I was.

---

The creature lunged, its claws swiping through the air as it aimed for my chest. I barely managed to sidestep in time, the movement clumsy and uncoordinated. My earlier injuries screamed in protest, but adrenaline pushed me forward.

I swung my knife, the blade grazing the creature's side. It let out a sharp yelp, but the wound didn't seem to slow it down. It rounded on me, its yellow eyes narrowing as it stalked closer.

"Come on," I muttered, tightening my grip on the knife. My hand was slick with sweat, and my breathing was ragged. The creature lunged again, and I dove to the side, barely avoiding its claws.

I stumbled, nearly losing my footing, and the creature seized the opportunity. It charged, knocking me to the ground. The impact drove the air from my lungs, and my knife clattered to the floor.

Panic surged as the creature loomed over me, its claws raised for a killing blow. I scrambled for the knife, but it was just out of reach. My eyes darted to the golden crystal at my waist, and an idea flashed through my mind.

---

I reached for the crystal, clutching it tightly as the creature's claws came down. My free hand shot up instinctively, and in my desperation, I focused all my energy on the crystal's hum.

First Aid! Focus Strike! Anything!

A burst of golden light erupted from the crystal, catching the creature mid-attack. It let out a startled yelp, its claws missing me by inches as it stumbled backward.

The moment of reprieve was all I needed. I grabbed my knife and rolled to my feet, adrenaline overriding the pain in my body. The creature shook its head, dazed by the light, but it didn't take long to recover.

It growled low, its muscles coiling for another attack, and I knew I couldn't afford to hesitate any longer.

I steadied my grip on the knife, my thoughts racing. I needed to end this quickly before it could wear me down completely.

---

The creature lunged again, and this time, I didn't retreat. I sidestepped its attack and drove my knife forward, the blade sinking into its side. The creature let out a sharp cry, thrashing wildly as I twisted the blade.

It stumbled, its movements growing weaker, but it wasn't finished yet. I yanked the knife free and stepped back, watching as it struggled to stay upright.

The golden crystal pulsed at my waist, and the hum grew louder, resonating through my chest. A notification appeared in the air in front of me, faint but clear:

[Focus Strike Activated]

I didn't question it. As the creature staggered toward me, I lunged forward, the knife in my hand glowing faintly with golden light. I struck hard and fast, the blade driving deep into the creature's chest.

The glow intensified as the creature let out one final, choked cry. Then, just like the Scavenger Beast, its body dissolved into blue sparks, leaving behind nothing but silence.

---

I collapsed to my knees, gasping for air as the adrenaline drained from my body. My knife fell from my hand, clattering to the stone floor, and I stared at the faint blue sparks as they faded into the shadows.

A small object appeared where the creature had fallen—another crystal, this one smaller and duller than the golden one at my waist. I picked it up with trembling fingers, turning it over in my hand.

It didn't glow, but the faint hum within it told me it was connected to the system. A notification appeared in the air:

---

[Lesser Energy Crystal Acquired]

Function: Recharge System Energy.

---

I frowned, tucking the crystal into my pouch as I tried to make sense of everything that had just happened. The system had saved me—that much was clear. But it had also nearly gotten me killed.

I let out a shaky breath, glancing at the golden crystal at my waist. Its light was dimmer now, as if the burst of energy had drained it slightly.

"Lesson learned," I muttered, leaning back against the wall. "Don't get distracted."