The night at Yancy was quiet, except for the constant rumble of distant thunder. Kenji lay in bed, eyes open, watching lightning flash beyond the dorm window. His body still tingled from the earlier dungeon fight—he was addicted to the rush already.
> *System Notification: Custom Dungeon Skill Available*
> Would you like to create your first Custom Dungeon?
> Theme: [User-Generated]
> Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate
> Reward Scaling: Moderate
> Timer: 1 hour real time = 2 hours dungeon time
Kenji sat up and whispered, "Create Dungeon: 'Ruins of Boreas'."
He imagined the ancient palace of his divine father, swept under northern winds and forgotten by time.
> *Custom Dungeon Created – Enter Now?*
> YES / NO
"Enter."
The room shimmered. Cold air bit at his skin. He stood on snow-dusted black stone, the wind howling through crumbling white pillars. Icy blue torches burned along the walls.
> *Dungeon: Ruins of Boreas
> Objective: Survive the Trial of Wind
> Sub-Objective: Defeat the Frost Sentinel
> Bonus: Discover the Forgotten Sigil (Rare Skill Unlock)*
Kenji readied his Celestial Bronze blade.
Then he heard it.
*Creak—thud—crack.*
A massive armored figure emerged from the mist, dragging a glaive behind it. It was like the undead gladiator—but colder, with frost forming around its joints.
> *Frost Sentinel – Level 6
> HP: 350
> Resistance: Ice
> Weakness: Fire, Speed
> Drops: Rare Ice Core, 250 Drachmas, Skill Scroll (Uncommon)*
"Let's go," Kenji whispered.
---
*Meanwhile – Percy Jackson's Dorm*
Percy tossed and turned in bed, sweat on his forehead. His dream was vivid—blindingly real.
He was underwater. Something ancient stirred in the depths. A woman's voice whispered his name.
"Perseus…"
He floated upward toward a glowing trident, but just before he touched it—
A shadowy shape lunged at him.
Percy gasped awake, heart pounding.
He didn't know why, but something was changing—and fast.
---
*Back in the Dungeon*
Kenji spun, dodging wide swipes from the Frost Sentinel. The cold slowed him, but his agility stat allowed narrow escapes. He struck twice—ice chipped from the creature's armor.
> *Agility +1
> Sword Proficiency +5 EXP
> Achievement: First Rare Monster Battle (Frost Element)*
> Reward Unlocked: Skill Scroll – "Wind Step"*
One last strike to its exposed core, and the sentinel shattered into a storm of ice shards.
> *Victory!
> Gained: 250 Drachmas, Rare Ice Core, Wind Step Scroll
> XP: +400
> Level Up: 4 → 5*
Kenji fell to one knee, breathing heavily, grinning.
He was getting stronger.
And the world was just beginning to wake up.
---
*End of Chapter 7*