HPDBC Chapter 64 - 64
Chapter 64 - 64
Chapter 64: Chapter 64
Chapter – The First Day in the Snowfield Dungeon
The cold was suffocating.
Alden stood at the entrance of the Snowfield Dungeon, his breath forming small puffs of mist in the frigid air. The towering walls of ice reflected the dull light from the frozen sky, creating an eerie glow that bathed the landscape in a pale blue hue.
Shiranui, his nine-tailed fox, stretched beside him, his tails swaying as he sniffed the cold air.
"So, a week in this frozen wasteland?" the fox mused, his golden eyes gleaming. "You really enjoy making things difficult for yourself, don't you?"
Alden chuckled, tightening his coat. "Difficulty makes you stronger. Besides, the mana cores here are purer—worth the effort."
"And you need them to fuel that ridiculous power of yours," Kurenai, his sword, added, her voice filled with sharp amusement. "At least this time, you're actually training instead of scheming."
Alden smirked but didn't deny it. He had planned this carefully. A week of uninterrupted dungeon hunting would give him not only mana cores but also a chance to hone his combat skills further.
Checking his storage ring, he confirmed his supplies—rations, potions, extra daggers, and a cloak designed to regulate body temperature. Everything was ready.
With a deep breath, he stepped forward.
The Snowfield Dungeon welcomed him with an icy embrace.
The dungeon was vast. Snow-covered plains stretched endlessly, interrupted by jagged ice formations and frozen forests. A chilling wind howled through the landscape, carrying an unnatural stillness.
Alden moved carefully, his Shadow Step Footwork allowing him to glide effortlessly across the snow without sinking too deep. His senses were heightened, his Mana Perception picking up faint disturbances in the air.
Then—movement.
A blur of white shot toward him from the snow. Alden barely had time to react before a pair of red eyes locked onto him, and a creature lunged from beneath the frost.
[Frostfang Wolf – Rank D-]
Alden twisted his body, dodging the snap of its powerful jaws. The wolf, its fur shimmering like crystal, landed lightly on the snow, its breath visible in the frozen air.
It growled, circling him.
Alden drew his katana, Kurenai, the crimson blade gleaming against the icy backdrop.
"Hmph. A wolf? How boring." Kurenai's voice was unimpressed.
The Frostfang Wolf didn't wait. It pounced again, claws outstretched, aiming for his throat.
Alden sidestepped, his sword flashing.
—Slash!
Blood sprayed onto the snow as Kurenai's edge cut through the wolf's leg. It yelped in pain, but before it could retreat, Alden activated Telekinesis.
The dagger on his belt shot out, controlled by his mana, and pierced the wolf's throat.
It collapsed instantly.
Alden exhaled, stepping forward to retrieve the mana core from its chest. The small, glowing blue crystal pulsed in his palm as he absorbed the cold energy radiating from it.
"First kill. That was clean," Shiranui noted, his tails flicking. "How does the mana feel?"
Alden rolled the mana core between his fingers, studying it. "Colder than usual. But the purity is high."
This dungeon was different from the forest. The mana was denser, making each core more valuable. If he kept this up, he'd have a decent stockpile within a few days.
---
Alden continued forward, encountering more monsters along the way.
Frostfang Wolves – Pack hunters that relied on speed and coordination.
Frozen Stalkers – Camouflaged creatures that lurked beneath the snow, waiting to ambush prey.
Glacial Serpents – Ice-covered snakes with venom that could freeze the bloodstream.
Each battle sharpened his weapon proficiency. His dagger art, assisted by Telekinesis, allowed him to control multiple weapons at once, striking from angles his enemies didn't expect.
His Phantom Edge Sword Style blended offense and defense, letting him counter the unpredictable attacks of the beasts.
And through it all, he collected mana cores, steadily increasing his stockpile.
---
As the first day drew to a close, Alden found shelter beneath a frozen overhang. He set up a concealment barrier, reducing his presence to avoid unwanted attention from dungeon predators.
Shiranui curled up beside him, his fur radiating warmth.
Kurenai remained at his side, her energy humming faintly.
The remaining golems didn't stop. If anything, they grew more aggressive, their cores flaring with intensity. One of them raised both hands and slammed the ground.
—Boom!
A shockwave of ice and snow erupted outward, forcing Alden to leap back.
Another golem ripped a chunk of ice from the ground and hurled it toward him. The massive projectile sped through the air, too large to dodge completely.
Alden activated Kamui.
Part of his body shifted, phasing out of reality.
The ice boulder passed through him harmlessly, crashing into the ruins behind.
Shiranui watched from a safe distance, his golden eyes narrowing. "Using Kamui so freely... you're getting reckless."
Alden smirked, landing gracefully on the snow. "I have mana cores to burn."
Two golems charged him at once.
Instead of retreating, Alden lunged forward, using Telekinesis to launch his daggers at their cores. One golem managed to block the attack, raising an icy arm to deflect the dagger. The other wasn't as lucky—a dagger embedded itself near its core, draining its energy.
Alden seized the opening.
—Phantom Edge Sword Style.
His katana flashed, striking multiple times in rapid succession. His movements were precise, each strike aimed at the golem's weak points. Cracks formed along its icy body before—
—Shatter!
The second golem collapsed, its core breaking apart in a burst of blue light.
Two left.
The last two golems roared, their cores pulsing dangerously. The mana in the air thickened—they were overloading.
Alden's gaze sharpened. If they self-destructed, this entire area would be buried in ice.
He had to finish them now.
"Time to test something new," he muttered.
Alden focused, his Telekinesis stretching out. He grabbed onto the daggers he had thrown earlier—not just moving them, but controlling them with precise intent.
His daggers rose from the snow, spinning wildly in the air.
With a flick of his wrist, they shot forward, slicing through the air like deadly projectiles.
One dagger buried itself deep into the third golem's core, while the other dagger sliced across the last one's leg, destabilizing it.
Alden followed up instantly.
Lunar Severance.
His katana glowed crimson, and with a single, devastating slash, he cleaved through the third golem's chest. The core ruptured, and it crumbled instantly.
One left.
The final golem, weakened but still dangerous, charged him in a last-ditch attack.
Alden didn't even hesitate.
He extended his hand—Mark of Connection activated.
The dagger embedded in the golem's leg flared, transferring mana directly into Kurenai.
With a final slash, Alden severed the golem's head, ending the battle.
As the last golem fell, silence returned to the ruins. The once-grand battlefield was now littered with shattered ice and broken stone.
Alden sighed, his breath visible in the cold air. He walked over and retrieved the mana cores, feeling their power pulsating in his hands.
Shiranui approached, his tails flicking. "You're reckless, but I can't deny your skill."
Kurenai hummed. "That last fight was impressive. You're getting better."
Alden chuckled, rolling his shoulders. "That's the point."
With the battle over, he turned his gaze toward the deeper parts of the dungeon.
There were stronger foes ahead.
And he was ready.