THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

David's feet barely touched the ground as he sliced through the first wave of Mycelial Monsters with fluid grace. His daggers gleamed under the soft light of the crescent moon, arcing in deadly precision. The grotesque fungal creatures fell one by one, their twisted bodies disintegrating into the ground from which they sprang. Yet, as the final creature crumbled into dust, David felt a nagging emptiness.

He pressed on, his movements swift and calculated, but no notifications from the system filled his mind. No satisfying chime signalled earned points, no flashing interface to confirm his progress. Nothing. David frowned, his eyes narrowing as he glanced back at the now-lifeless monsters strewn across the forest floor.

Why aren't these kills being counted?

His brow furrowed, frustration creeping in.

Of course.

The realization hit him with a sting of irritation. These creatures weren't recognized by the system. They were mere imitations—dungeon-generated obstacles with no life to register. They weren't part of the real challenge, just distractions meant to wear him down.

"Damn," he muttered, the thought of wasted effort gnawing at his patience.

If these monsters don't count, then I'm just burning energy.

Shaking off the frustration, he steeled his mind. The dungeon wasn't going to let him walk through easily, but that didn't matter. The real fight lay ahead, and he wasn't going to let anything slow him down.

Luna's shadowy trail flickered ahead of him, dancing along the forest floor like a wisp leading him through the thick foliage. Her speed was unmatched, and even with his enhanced abilities, keeping pace with her was a challenge. But David was determined. He pushed harder, his legs a blur of motion as he darted between trees and vaulted over fallen logs.

The eerie sound of the distant waterfall grew louder with each step. It was a rhythmic thrum that resonated through the forest, an unearthly hum that seemed to beckon him closer. The air became heavier, thick with moisture and the metallic tang of blood. His senses sharpened as he broke through the final line of trees, revealing the source of the sound.

David skidded to a stop, his breath catching in his throat. Before him was a breathtaking yet haunting sight. A massive waterfall cascaded down the face of a cliff, the water running red like liquid rubies. Crimson droplets splattered against the rocks below, pooling into a lake that shimmered under the faint moonlight. Thick, gnarled roots snaked out from the cliffside, curling like the limbs of ancient beasts frozen in time.

David's eyes widened as he took in the scene. The twisted beauty of the place was enough to steal his breath, but that wasn't what had him on edge.

At the base of the waterfall, standing like twisted sentinels, were three towering figures—unlike anything he'd encountered before. These weren't the Mycelial Monsters he had cut down earlier. These were different. Stronger. More intelligent.

The creatures stood tall, their bodies a grotesque blend of humanoid and fungal elements. Their heads were crowned with massive mushroom caps that glowed faintly in the dark, casting eerie shadows over their forms. Their limbs were long and sinewy, covered in layers of tattered mushroom flesh that swayed with every subtle movement. And each one of them gripped a scythe—massive, jagged weapons that gleamed menacingly in the moonlight.

David's heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline surging through his veins.

These are the real deal

, he thought, his pulse quickening.

Rare monsters. Worth a ton of points.

He couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. "Luna, stay back!" he called out, his voice cutting through the noise of the waterfall. "The test needs to register my signature on the kills."

Luna, who had been waiting just ahead, glanced back at him. Her eyes sparkled with a mischievous light, but she obeyed, stepping into the shadows. She knew the importance of this—these creatures were worth too much to risk for her amusement.

But Luna wasn't done. Without a word, she merged seamlessly with the shadows, her form dissolving into the dark. David blinked, surprised as her presence wrapped around him like a second skin. Her shadow melded with his, enhancing his power, making his muscles hum with newfound energy.

[Temporary skill acquired:

SHADOW WRATH.

]

David gasped as the system notification rang in his mind, the rush of power almost overwhelming. His senses expanded, his vision sharpened, and his reflexes quickened to inhuman levels. "Thanks, Luna," he murmured, his voice laced with gratitude. His fingers tingled with the added strength, his body buzzing with an untapped force he hadn't felt before.

The three monsters, sensing his surge in power, screeched in unison. Their scythes glinted under the red light of the moon as they spread out, positioning themselves for a coordinated strike.

David's eyes flared with the ethereal glow of

[Celestial Wheel],

the swirling hues of blue and gold reigniting within his gaze. The first monster lunged, its scythe cutting through the air with deadly intent.

David's lips curled into a smirk. "Too slow."

In a blur of movement, he sidestepped the attack, his body bending impossibly as the blade whizzed past him. His daggers flashed in the air, cutting through the creature's side in one fluid motion. The fungal monster let out an ear-splitting screech as spores erupted from the wound, but David was already out of reach before they could touch him.

The second monster attacked immediately after, its scythe slicing downward in an attempt to cleave him in half. David met the attack head-on, crossing his daggers to catch the blade mid-swing. The force of the impact reverberated through his arms, but the shadows from Luna cushioned the blow, absorbing much of the shock.

With a swift kick, he pushed the creature back, sending it stumbling. He wasted no time, his body spinning with lethal precision as his daggers found their mark. The second monster crumpled to the ground, its lifeless form disintegrating into a pile of spores and fungus.

David didn't stop. The third and final monster lunged at him, its scythe poised to strike. But David was ready.

Using

[Celestial Wheel]

, time slowed to a crawl. The world around him seemed to pulse in sync with his heartbeat as he dodged the attack with ease, his body moving faster than the creature could react.

He leaped into the air, his daggers flashing like twin stars as he descended onto the third monster. His blades sunk deep into the creature's cap, the force of the strike sending shockwaves through its fungal body. The monster screeched in pain, staggering backward as it tried to recover.

But David wasn't done. With a powerful twist, he tore his daggers free, flipping backward in mid-air as the monster's scythe swung at him in desperation. The blade missed him by mere inches, cutting through the empty air where he had been moments before.

David landed behind the creature, his feet hitting the ground in a crouch. He straightened, his eyes gleaming with victory. "You're done."

In one swift motion, he drove both daggers into the creature's back. The fungal monster let out a final, gurgling wail before collapsing to the ground, its body disintegrating into nothingness.

As David stood over the dissolving remains of the last fungal monster, he noticed numbers appear in the air, glowing with a soft yellow hue.

6000 Points.

The digits hovered before his eyes, their light flickering like the last rays of a setting sun. He blinked, realizing that this was no system notification—this was something different. The yellow glow wasn't just a reward for his kills. It dawned on him that this was how the mages were notifying the candidates of their point totals, a way to keep track not only for themselves but for each contestant.

"Neat," David muttered with a half-smile, appreciating the elegance of the test. It wasn't just a game—it was the mages' way of keeping score, ensuring transparency for everyone in the trial. His gaze lingered on the glowing numbers for a moment longer before they faded into the dark, leaving him with the satisfying knowledge that his efforts had not gone unnoticed.

David exhaled, the thrill of battle still coursing through his veins. His body hummed with the power of [Shadow Wrath], and he felt stronger than ever. Glancing at the crimson waterfall, he allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction. He'd fought well, and the points he'd earned would undoubtedly push him closer to passing the trial but they weren't enough.

"Luna," he called softly, his voice steady as he started moving again. "Let's finish this."

Her shadows flickered in response, and together, they moved forward into the dark unknown, ready for whatever came next. The dungeon boss was still out there, waiting. But David was ready.

More than ready.

****

A/N: For those curious, Luna isn't permitted to enter the dungeon directly. However, since she resides within David's shadow and the artificial dungeon isn't of a high grade, her presence goes undetected. Despite this, David must personally land the finishing blows and create his own techniques in order to earn points.