Gareth's expression hardened. "The dungeons are evolving. In the middle of a raid, I've seen their difficulty spike by levels far beyond what should be possible. Beasts that were manageable become monsters that can wipe out seasoned teams. Terrain reshapes itself into death traps. Even the energy within the dungeon feels… different. Darker."
The room was silent as everyone absorbed his words. Ethan, sitting near the middle of the table, found himself gripping the edge of his chair. He had been trying to piece together the mechanics of this world, but this new information felt like a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit.
"This isn't just a coincidence," Gareth said, his voice lowering, drawing everyone further into his words. "Something is happening in this world. Whether it's tied to the Great Labyrinth or something else entirely, I can't say yet. But one thing is certain—our survival depends on strength."
He leaned forward, his sharp gaze locking onto each of his children in turn. "You've all been raised to understand the importance of power in this world. Strength isn't just about pride or legacy—it's about survival. The beasts don't care about your name or your status. The dungeons don't care about your intentions. If you're weak, you die. It's that simple."
His words were brutal, but they carried the undeniable weight of truth. Ethan felt his chest tighten. The memories he had inherited from the original Ethan told him that this wasn't an exaggeration. This world thrived on danger, and only the strong could carve out a place within it.
"You've all seen what happens to those who can't keep up," Gareth continued, his voice taking on a harder edge. "You've all seen the aftermath of dungeon breaks, the destruction, the loss. This family stands where it does because we have the power to fight back. Never forget that."
---
Gareth leaned back in his chair, his hand resting on the table as he exhaled deeply. "The phenomenon I encountered may not be isolated. Reports are coming in from other regions of similar occurrences. Higher-level beasts appearing in low-level dungeons. Sentient creatures rallying their forces. Even whispers of the Great Labyrinth itself stirring."
Ethan's breath caught. The Great Labyrinth… Even from the fragmented memories of this body, he knew that the Great Labyrinth was a name spoken with both awe and fear. It was the source of all dungeons, a dimension so vast and mysterious that it was said no one had ever reached its true heart.
"I don't know what's causing this," Gareth admitted, his tone softer now, almost reflective. "But whatever it is, it's changing the rules of this world. And if the rules change, we must adapt."
---
Gareth stood, signaling the end of the discussion. The servants immediately moved to retrieve his greatsword and cape, their movements practiced and efficient.
"Train hard. Prepare for what's coming," he said, his voice carrying an unspoken command. His gaze lingered on each of them again, pausing briefly on Ethan. "And remember, the moment you stop growing stronger is the moment you start falling behind."
With that, he turned and left the room, his footsteps echoing faintly as he disappeared into the hallway.
For a moment, no one spoke. The air was thick with tension, the weight of Gareth's words pressing down on everyone. Kaelen was the first to break the silence, leaning back in his chair with a thoughtful expression.
"Well," he said dryly, "he's in a cheerful mood tonight."
Darius snorted, though there was little humor in the sound. "He's right, though. If the dungeons are changing, it'll affect everything. Trade routes, guild operations, even city defenses. We'll all have to be on high alert."
Mia, sitting beside Ethan, crossed her arms and leaned toward him slightly. "Looks like you've got more to think about, little brother. The Rite of Awakening is coming up, and now you've got even more reason to succeed."
┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
[Supreme Fate Breaker System]
•─────⋅☾ Host's Details ☽⋅─────•
[Name: Ethan Drakethorne]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 17]
[Title: None]
[Physique: Mortal]
[Affinity: None]
[Soul: 1]
[Fate-Breaker Points: 0] (Threshold: 100)
•─────⋅☾ Stats ☽⋅─────•
[Strength: 10]
[Stamina: 12]
[Agility: 11]
[Defense: 10]
[Intelligence: 15]
[Soul Defense: 0]
[Luck: 0]
•─────⋅☾ Hall of Skills ☽⋅─────•
[Hall of Skills: (0)]
•─────⋅☾ Missions ☽⋅─────•
None
•──────────────────•
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛
Ethan studied the panel, his eyes lingering on the numbers.
"Alright," he muttered. "Strength, stamina, agility, defense, intelligence. Pretty standard. Soul Defense and Luck are both at zero, though. I'm guessing those will be important later?"
[Correct. Soul Defense protects against spiritual attacks or influences, while Luck increases the likelihood of favorable outcomes. Both can be improved through specific methods or Fate-Breaker Points.]
"That makes sense," Ethan muttered. "And the Hall of Skills? It says zero."
[The Host currently possesses no active skills. Skills can be acquired through missions, training, or Fate-Breaker points]
Ethan reached out instinctively, his finger hovering over the glowing text. The system felt natural, as though it had always been a part of him.
He leaned back, taking it all in. This was no ordinary system. It was overpowered, yes, but it required strategy and effort to unlock its full potential.
---
As he stared at the glowing panel, a flicker of determination crossed his face. This was a second chance—not just at life but at reshaping his destiny. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he would face them head-on.
Ethan clenched his fists. "Let's do this."
This world promised Ethan something he had craved his entire previous life—excitement. The kind of thrill that made his heart race, the kind that made him feel alive.
Back on Earth, he had experienced fleeting moments of it, but nothing truly lasted. His days had fallen into a dull monotony, no matter how varied his life seemed. Treating his first patient had been exhilarating. The rush of saving someone, the gratitude in their eyes—it was intoxicating. But after thousands of patients, the thrill faded. It became routine, no different from any other mechanical task.
So he sought excitement elsewhere. He turned to the pleasures of life, indulging in flirtations, dating multiple women at once. For a time, the thrill returned. The chase, the charm, the laughter—it gave him the rush he was looking for. But even that, like everything else, grew stale. Claire was one of the many women he sought after...
Then Claire fell ill.
Claire wasn't unique among the women he flirted with, at least not at first. He didn't know if he truly loved her any more than the others. But when she became sick, something shifted.
It wasn't just the challenge of curing her—it was the desperation. She became his focus, a beacon of excitement in a life that had lost its spark.
He threw himself into her case, convinced that he could save her. He had saved so many others; why would she be different? At first, it fueled him. The idea of curing her filled him with a burning determination. He needed to succeed.
Not just for her sake but for his own. The thought of losing her—and the excitement she brought into his life—was unbearable.
But then reality hit. The prognosis was grim, her days numbered. For the first time, Ethan felt powerless. It wasn't just about her illness anymore; it was about his inability to overcome it.
Those became the darkest days of his life. The desperation, the sleepless nights, the crushing weight of failure—it consumed him.
Now, sitting in this strange new world, the memory of those days felt distant, like a shadow looming just beyond his reach. He exhaled, the sound filled with a mix of relief and lingering regret.
"Thank God it's all over," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "I really hope she's alright… wherever she is. Even if I feel little to nothing now, it'd be nice to visit that world again."
The thought of returning to Earth briefly flickered in his mind, a quiet longing buried beneath layers of apathy. He sighed, leaning back, lost in his own musings.
---
His eyes sharpened as an idea struck him. If this system really is as powerful as it claims… maybe there's a way.
"System," he said aloud, his voice steady but tinged with curiosity, "can you grant me the power to transcend dimensions? To warp through worlds?"
The system responded almost instantly.
[At a level, yes.]
Ethan's lips curled into a grin, sharp and determined. "Then I'll do it. I'll get stronger, fast. If there's even a chance, I'll take it."
The glint in his eyes burned brighter. The possibility of reaching such heights, of holding that kind of power—it was exhilarating.
His thoughts turned to the one responsible for his situation.
"Loki," he muttered, his voice cold as steel. "God of Mischief and Woe, huh? I'll remember you for the rest of my life."
His fists clenched, the memory of the chaos that god had wrought still fresh. But beneath the anger was a spark of something else—ambition.
"This world," he whispered to himself, "might be just what I needed."