NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: The Awakening Dungeon
Date: 11/03/2020
Time: 1:05 PM
The atmosphere outside the Awakening Dungeon was thick with tension. Hundreds of students stood in uneasy silence, their faces shifting between anticipation and anxiety. The massive obsidian-black gates loomed before them, towering over two hundred meters high, pulsing faintly with a deep blue glow. The air around it felt heavier, charged with mana, as if the very essence of the dungeon was responding to the presence of those about to enter.
Some students huddled together in small groups, whispering in nervous excitement. Others stood rigid, their eyes locked on the entrance, fists clenched in quiet determination. Even Soymojit, usually composed, shifted his weight uneasily.
"This place doesn't feel real," he muttered under his breath, his gaze flickering across the glowing symbols carved into the dungeon's surface.
Ankush remained silent, taking in the details around him. The mana saturation here was noticeably higher than anywhere else in the city. Every breath felt slightly denser, as though the air itself carried energy. The structure of the dungeon was unlike anything he had seen before—its surface was completely smooth, yet the glowing runes constantly shifted, rearranging themselves in patterns too complex for the eye to follow. It was a construct far beyond human engineering, something that could not be built but only formed through the power of the world's system itself.
A large floating screen stood beside the entrance, displaying the names of previous challengers and their highest wave completions. At the very top, shining brighter than all the rest, was a single name:
Rahul Aggarwal – Wave 300
Ankush glanced at the murmuring students around him.
"I heard Rahul Aggarwal had over three thousand attribute points before even entering the dungeon," someone whispered, their voice filled with envy.
Another scoffed. "Tch. These rich guys just buy their way to the top. He probably ate dozens of A+ attribute fruits. What chance do normal people have against that?"
A third student muttered, "Most people don't even survive past wave ten. Clearing wave fifty is already considered top-tier."
Ankush didn't care about the rankings. He wasn't here to compete with others. His focus was on understanding—on figuring out how this dungeon worked and how he could use its rules to his advantage.
Before he could dwell further on his thoughts, a deep mechanical voice echoed from the gates, cutting through the murmurs.
"Entry commencing. Step forward."
One by one, the students advanced, stepping through the shimmering entrance. As Ankush and Soymojit exchanged a brief nod, they followed the crowd into the Awakening Dungeon.
---
1:07 PM – Inside the Awakening Dungeon
The transition was instant. One moment, he was outside with the others. The next, he was standing in a vast, empty expanse.
The dungeon was colossal. The arena stretched out endlessly in all directions, an infinite field of smooth black stone etched with glowing golden runes. The sky—or whatever served as its replacement—was a swirling mass of light, shifting between deep blues and warm golds. The very air thrummed with power, as though the dungeon itself was alive, waiting for the challenge to begin.
Despite the boundless space, there was no sense of distance. No walls, no boundaries. Just an endless void of mana-infused terrain.
There was no concept of time here. Whether someone spent a second or a year inside, exactly three hours would pass in the real world.
A floating interface appeared before Ankush, glowing letters forming in the air.
[Welcome to the Awakening Process.]
The letters rearranged themselves into new words.
[Time inside this dungeon is independent of reality. Regardless of how long you stay, exactly three hours will pass in the outside world.]
[Unlike conventional awakenings from fictional novels, you will not be assigned a profession randomly.]
[You may freely choose or create your own profession.]
[All chosen professions will begin at F- level.]
Ankush's eyes flickered with interest. This was different from what he had expected.
A new prompt appeared.
[Before selecting your profession, your talent has been activated.]
[Your previously acquired attribute points are now available for distribution.]
So this was the true advantage of stockpiling attribute fruits and exam points. Stats were locked until this moment, meaning that those with more resources could strengthen themselves before the actual trial began.
Ankush exhaled slowly. The system wasn't just about talent or luck. It was about preparation. The strong would only get stronger, while the weak would remain stagnant.
Another line of glowing text appeared.
[Monster Waves will begin immediately after your profession is selected.]
[Every cleared wave grants one special point.]
[Professions and talents can be upgraded using attribute points, but each tier upgrade costs double the previous amount.]
[F- to F requires one point, F to F+ requires two points, F+ to E- requires four points, and so on.]
This was why the elites dominated. The higher the stats, the more waves one could clear. The more waves cleared, the stronger they became. It was an exponential cycle, where the privileged kept growing while the average could only fight to survive.
Ankush's eyes sharpened. He wasn't here to play fair. He was here to break the system.
A new interface appeared, listing the default profession choices.
[Warrior] – Specializes in close combat and physical strength.
[Mage] – Specializes in elemental magic and spellcasting.
[Rogue] – Specializes in speed and stealth.
[Healer] – Specializes in recovery magic and support skills.
[Engineer] – Specializes in technology and invention.
[Farmer]- Specializes in Food and Plant production.
.
.
.
Ankush scanned the list before his gaze settled on the final option.
[Or, create a new profession.]
His fingers hovered over the selection panel. If there was an option to customize, there was no reason to settle for a predefined role.
A text box appeared.
[Enter Profession Name:]
A smirk formed on his lips as he typed.
[Magic Engineer]
The system paused. Then—
[Custom profession confirmed: Magic Engineer (F-)]
A rush of energy flooded through his body. His entire status window shifted, new information appearing before his eyes.
---
[Status Window]
[Name: Ankush Halder]
[Age: 18]
[Profession: Magic Engineer (F-)]
[Talent: Universe+ (Locked)]
[Free Attribute Points: 10,485,750 (Available)]
[Strength: 10]
[Mana: 10]
[Mental: 10]
[Physique: 10]
---
A new prompt appeared.
[Magic Engineer Evolution Path:]
F- → Magic Tinkerer (F)
F → Mana Craftsman (F+)
F+ → Arcane Mechanic (E-)
E- → Mystic Artisan (E)
E → Etherium Smith (E+)
E+ → Arcane Inventor (D-)
D- → High Mage Engineer (D)
Ankush's mind raced. This was his path now. He had chosen something that no one had ever attempted before.
A final message flashed before him.
[Before the trial begins, you will now undergo the Talent Lottery.]
[Your current talent tier: Universe+]
The glowing letters rearranged themselves one last time.
[Spinning Talent Lottery…]
Ankush took a deep breath.
Everything was about to begin.