[Party of 2 detected]
[Enter Floor 1 of Akarsha Dungeon?]
[Yes/No]
Shouren mentally checked ‘yes’ and happily followed behind Rubin.
He was back in the dungeon.
[Floor 1 Clear Conditions: Kill 3 Tier 0 entities]
[Current Kills: 0/3]
Another system notification popped up in the corner of his vision. The boy brushed it away.
The familiar night sky and the calm breeze grazing p...
2025-05-05 16:29:23 +0000 UTC View Post“Be careful, little potato.”
Rhea pulled her grandson close to her, embracing his small frame tightly.
It was late evening and Shouren had come to tell her than he needed to go into the dungeon. She tried to prod him further, but her grandson stopped her with a firm shake of his head. The boy was serious.
Rhea wanted to know what had happened at the market, but she trusted Shouren. Every child after obtaining their class card had to be treated as an adult.
I...
2025-05-04 13:02:18 +0000 UTC View Post“Huh? I’m a Cardsmith. I won’t be much help in a fight.”
Shouren was taken aback at the older teen’s request.
No way am I entering the dungeon with pumpkin-head over there. I won’t be able to use any of my corrupted abilities, and I don’t want to get involved any more with Isola’s group until I know more about who they actually are.
Shouren’s thoughts rumbled inside his mind.
“Of course I know that, you idiot. I need you for...
2025-05-02 21:15:45 +0000 UTC View Post“Are you serious, kid?”
Isola’s brown eyes drove into Shouren with a startling intensity.
A Cardsmith with a recipe and a Cardsmith without a recipe were two drastically different levels of existence.
“Forge one in front of us.”
Thalin joined Isola next to her small frame. The large man’s body moved silently within the shadows.
Shouren took a quick peek at his status, and he needed 1 more lumen to forge the card. It should repleni...
2025-05-01 13:17:08 +0000 UTC View Post“Hey, Isola, the dumb frog is awake.”
A familiar annoying voice was the first thing Shouren heard as his eyes fluttered back into consciousness.
“I can see that as well, Ruby. Now, get off him before the poor lad dies of suffocation.”
Isola’s cheerful voice greeted Shouren as the boy groaned with discomfort.
Is that why my chest felt heavy? That pumpkin-head was sitting on me?
Shouren cursed inside his mind. He soon sensed the pre...
2025-04-30 00:04:54 +0000 UTC View PostA sweet and pleasant voice whispered the threat into Shouren’s left ear.
The warm voice contrasted with the grisly threat just made. Goosebumps tingled over Shouren’s skin, and the boy’s heart hammered inside his chest. Shouren didn’t even see who it was, but that person was already behind him.
“I only have one kidney, half a lung, and there’s a hole in my heart. My organs won’t sell for much.”
Shouren calmed his thumping heart, and answered without th...
2025-04-29 12:33:55 +0000 UTC View PostShouren had been in the process of coming up with a new plan since his conversation with his Rhea last night. They desperately needed chronas. His grandmother had paid the rent for this week, but the boy was clear that she didn’t have any more shards left for the following week.
He only had a week to gather the required chronas for both the rent and the bills.
I have enough cards in my vault to pay the rent for the next few months, but then I would be back to square ...
2025-04-28 23:49:39 +0000 UTC View PostRhea sighed and continued.
“One of the greatest mysterious of our world is tied to the ‘Chamber of Ascendance’. It’s an astral space that you’ll be able to enter each time you get close to evolution. For most people, they can only enter the Chamber after they reach at least 80% synchronization.”
Astral space? Is that another dimension or part of the soul?
Shouren sat still and listened attentively. He knew his grandmother had attempted to evolve t...
2025-04-26 12:30:39 +0000 UTC View PostThe radiant glow gradually receded, revealing the dazed look on Shouren’s youthful face.
“Well, what is the recipe?”
Rhea lovingly poked the boy on his forehead, bringing him out of his reverie. The old lady tried to hide her excitement, but even she was bursting with curiosity at what the card recipe was.
Shouren stared ahead with a blank expression on his face. At the same time, a torrent of images were rushed into his mind, the memories of how to forge...
2025-04-25 20:49:08 +0000 UTC View PostPlease let her be alright.
Shouren dashed through the familiar streets, his heart pounding through this chest. It was still relatively bright outside, so he had to skirt past the wandering people in the small town, but no one paid him any heed.
After a few minutes, the young boy gradually slowed down, recognizing the distinct shape of his grandmother’s derelict shack.
His home.
Shouren stopped outside the edge of the shack. He was feeling nervous for...
2025-04-24 16:06:58 +0000 UTC View Post“Go cook yourself over there, kid. Stop blocking the way!”
A large, stout middle-aged man shoved Shouren aside as he made his way to the dungeon’s portal. His armor rattled with every step he took.
“Kid looks like he took a tour in the oven for his first run.”
The large man’s party member chortled, noticing the burns on Shouren’s leg and shoulder. The rest of the man’s party trailed behind him and disappeared once he touched the portal, leaving Shouren...
2025-04-23 16:02:54 +0000 UTC View PostWhat is going on? That is the first flying monster I’ve seen on this floor, and what is with its absurd power?
Shouren’s brain rattled at the vibrations rocking on the ground. The lightning beast honed its gaze at the human boy and sent shockwaves in the air with its crackling golden wings. It was about to let loose another barrage of lightning.
Shouren was still unable to leave the dungeon.
Stupid dungeon! I knew it wouldn’t have such an eas...
2025-04-22 15:36:39 +0000 UTC View PostIt’s my first attribute upgrade.
Shouren checked the message again. His Intelligence was the first of his attributes to reach E rank.
The boy tapped his head. He didn’t necessarily feel smarter or wise. Although, he did sense that the speed of his thoughts had gone faster.
Does the world seem clearer?
Shouren muttered, experiencing an imperceptible fog clearing from his sight. Or was it just in his head?
<... 2025-04-21 10:05:15 +0000 UTC View PostIt tickles.
Shouren thought as he felt an invisible click inside his heart once the [Rare] spell card settled. He wondered what his grandma would have to say if she knew her grandson had a priceless [Rare] card equipped. The Dimensional Vault card alone was worth more than their house and all their belongings.
“Open.”
The boy whispered eagerly, activating the spell card for the first time.
A beam of white light flashed in his mind’s eye, an...
2025-04-19 17:43:11 +0000 UTC View PostShouren raised his brows in pleasant surprise at the new notification.
He was going to get increased rewards by going over the required kills for the floor? Did that mean more rewards in quantity or higher quality? Sadly, no more information could be gleaned from the system’s words.
“Donkey’s balls, this rat nearly turned my forearms into noodles.”
The young boy choked out a few mouthfuls of salty water that managed to enter his throat during the struggle, and...
2025-04-19 17:37:10 +0000 UTC View PostShouren was dumbstruck at the card hovering in front of him.
Carved with intricate patterns swirling over the surface, the blue glowing card emanated an ethereal feel to it. This was the first time the boy was seeing a [Rare] card in person. In his small village, a card like this would be exclusive to the members of the governor’s house. Not even the local merchants would have [Rare] card in stock.
It was simply too valuable.
So valuable that Shouren didn’t even know h...
2025-04-19 17:30:38 +0000 UTC View Post“Tch, I need to hurry.”
Shouren was currently sprinting through the forest. Fortunately, the alpha was bleeding severely, allowing the boy to track its trail leading back to the bear.
Lumen is really amazing.
He was constantly channeling 2 units of the lumen within his body. As long as he didn’t use it for explosive movement, Shouren could keep the lumen running inside. It didn’t make him faster when he used it like this, but it did drain less stamina and a...
2025-04-19 17:27:23 +0000 UTC View Post“Hi there, friend. You’re looking a bit rough there.”
Shouren chuckled nervously. He was half-crouched in case he need to leap away. Yet, he remained in position, waiting. It was because the alpha dog/wolf monster was etched in countless wounds and gashes.
The alpha snarled in response, unknown if it actually understood Shouren’s words or not. It slowly tread around the boy, waiting to pounce. It was strangely wary of the human boy. The human didn’t give off any dangerou...
2025-04-19 16:31:41 +0000 UTC View PostThe sound of the rain drowned all the noise in the still forest.
In that clamor, the body of a young boy lay spread out in the open as the raindrops drenched his naked figure. Yet, the boy remained asleep, unaware or uncaring of the violent shower.
Just as it seemed as if the boy would continue to sleep, his eyelids tittered imperceptibly.
“Kuh…”
Shouren suddenly woke up, coughing frantically. The series of coughs quickly alternated to an intense bout of retchin...
2025-04-19 11:51:27 +0000 UTC View PostShouren stayed like that for a while. Nothing on the outside had changed, but the boy could feel something inside had undergone a metamorphosis. He’d shed a burden he didn’t know he’d been carrying.
“Awooo!”
Out of nowhere, a howl pierced the silent night, breaking Shouren out of his reverie. Soon, other howls joined the first one in bestial harmony.
Shouren wiped away the blood from his face and stood up with the black fox’s leg.
“Time to leave.”
<... 2025-04-19 11:15:11 +0000 UTC View Post“It’s alright. Everything is alright.”
Shouren attempted to calm his pounding heartbeat as he heard the rustling grow louder. The boy tried to make his body as small as he could by hugging his arms and legs together. After making sure the bush enveloped his entire frame, Shouren covered his mouth and nose with his hands, preventing the sound of his breathing from leaking.
Then, he proceeded to stay still and take in controlled breaths of air. His heart thumped against his ch...
2025-04-19 11:12:04 +0000 UTC View PostA faint creaking sound dimly echoed in the late hours of the night.
Shouren mutely watched the creaking door swaying with the night’s breeze. The scenes of the day whirling through his mind. The boy could hear the deep snores of his grandmother beside him. Today had exhausted the poor elderly lady.
The boy heard a growl.
It was his empty stomach.
Both Rhea and Shouren hadn’t eaten the entire day, and despite the old woman’s insistence, Shouren vehemently refused ...
2025-04-19 11:09:56 +0000 UTC View Post“… get up, little potato…”
A gentle voice muffled inside Shouren’s ears, as he groggily lifted his eyelids to see better. Rhea smiled once she saw her grandson was awake and turned around to resume her earlier task.
Shouren groaned as he felt his face, and body sting from last night’s beating. There was a slight puffiness to the injuries but nothing that would leave a mark, save for his pride. Neither him nor Rhea mentioned any medicine or potion, as they both knew nei...
2025-04-19 11:07:35 +0000 UTC View PostA tiny critter’s feet scratched against the gravely pavement as it scuttered around searching for food. It briefly stood on its hind legs, the thin whiskers on its snout sniffing the air, as it detected a strong, sweet aroma.
Scrambling towards the fruity scent, the small street rat gradually arrived at its source. It was the crushed pulp of a juicy peach. Its beady eyes shined with joy as the rat leapt up at the mound where the fruit was stuck, swallowing large chunks of the peach w...
2025-04-19 11:06:17 +0000 UTC View PostThe sound of a child humming a tune echoed within a small peach orchard. It was almost evening. The soft reddish hues of the horizon made the peaches glimmer with a rosy shine. The scent of the ripe fruit permeated every inch of the small orchard.
“15…20…25… 30…32! I did it!”
A young child muttered to himself with triumph as he stood in the back of the line with the other fruit pickers. The boy appeared to be around 8 years old, but his true age was hard to gage after ...
2025-04-19 11:03:53 +0000 UTC View PostA brief flash of purple light flickered within the guildhall as an immaculately dressed man stepped through the fading light. A dark purple card floated above him momentarily while it absorbed the receding light and returned to the man’s belt.
Adorning a thin mustache, the stranger had neatly trimmed short blond hair, pale gray eyes and an elegantly chiseled jawline. It was hard to judge his age accurately, but to an onlooker’s eye, he appeared to be in his thirties. Dressed in tigh...
2025-04-19 10:57:58 +0000 UTC View PostHi everyone,
It’s been a while. I had to take an unexpected hiatus due to some unforeseen events. For the ones that don’t know, I have been living in the middle east for a long time and the events in the past few years have caused a massive disruption in my life.
Although it’s not my native country, it still became like a second home to me.
In the past year, I lost access to my laptop, including tens of chapters I wrote. Sadly, I wasn’t able to upload them to my driv...
2025-04-19 10:56:24 +0000 UTC View PostHi Everyone,
Apologies for being away. I was travelling and the internet had been pretty unstable for me sit down in one place and access my drive folders. After I returned, I had to prepare for the audiobooks as they were set to release this week.
After much delay, the first three Audiobooks are finally published and live on Audible!
The books...
2024-07-02 13:27:10 +0000 UTC View PostHi guys,
Apologies for the delay in chapters. All my time recently has been consumed with the audiobooks and the logistics surrounding their publishing. It's my first time doing this, so have had a lot to learn.
The current plan is to release the first 3 audiobooks of TDE by August 2024 and the remaining 2 by September 2024.
I just wanted to drop a post about the chapters and I'll to get to them this weekend. Until then, here's a bit of a teaser for you guys :)
...
2024-04-26 20:54:54 +0000 UTC View Post“I was controlling the Dao?”
Calron murmured to himself as he replayed the memory of touching the grass dao. It was like the dao acknowledged him and was bowing down of its own will. That was a trait belonging only to the Ancients. But why did Calron have that ability?
“Yes, little one. Although you’re not using the same ‘Authority’ like the rest of us in this rank, you’re enforcing the same result with your left eye.”
Nature flew out from behin...
2024-04-19 22:09:58 +0000 UTC View Post