As soon as I ran past the exit, the sound of stone collapsing echoed behind me.
I turned back just in time to see the dungeon crumble in on itself, the entrance now buried under a mountain of rubble.
I heaved a sigh of relief, my legs giving out as I sat down on the forest floor. My chest rose and fell rapidly, my body still trembling from the adrenaline and exhaustion. But I was alive. I'd made it out.
Looking around, I recognized the forest immediately.
The towering trees, the faint scent of pine, and the soft rustling of leaves in the wind—this was the Elshire Forest, part of the Federation.
And it's also most likely where the goblin army's hideout had been.
But something didn't sit right with me. In the novel, the dungeon hadn't collapsed after Aron took the Truthseeker Fruit.
So why had it collapsed now? Was it because I'd triggered some kind of failsafe? Or was it just bad luck? I shook my head, pushing the thought aside.
It didn't matter now. What mattered was that I'd survived and gotten what I came for.
"Wow," Aro's voice rang out in my head, his tone dripping with mock amusement. "You actually survived that. Color me impressed."
I didn't bother responding. Instead, I summoned the Truthseeker Fruit from my space ring, holding it in my hands.
The fruit was a deep, vibrant purple, its surface smooth and cool to the touch.
It pulsed faintly with an otherworldly energy, and I couldn't help but sigh in exasperation.
After all the trouble I'd gone through, this was what I'd been chasing. A single fruit.
But I knew better than to underestimate it.
The Truthseeker Fruit was no ordinary fruit—it was a treasure, one that could unlock immense power. And I wasn't about to waste it.
I took a bite, the flesh of the fruit bursting with flavor in my mouth.
It was sweet, almost overwhelmingly so, but there was an underlying bitterness that made it feel… ancient.
As soon as I swallowed, I felt it—a surge of power coursing through my veins, like a dam had been broken and a flood of energy was rushing through me.
My body felt lighter, stronger, more alive.
I didn't hesitate. I took another bite, and then another, each one amplifying the sensation.
With every bite, I could feel my mana growing, my potential expanding. It was intoxicating.
By the time I reached the seed, I was practically buzzing with energy. I popped the seed into my mouth, devouring it whole, and that's when it happened.
It felt like a lock had been released, a barrier shattered. My mana surged, overflowing like a river breaking its banks.
The sheer amount of power was overwhelming, and for a moment, I thought I might lose control.
But I held on, focusing on the sensation, letting it flow through me.
When the surge finally subsided, I felt… different. Stronger. Faster. Sharper.
I could feel the mana coursing through me, a constant, thrumming presence. It was incredible.
Curious, I decided to check my status window. "Status," I muttered, and the familiar interface appeared before me.
________________________________________________________________________________
Name:Lucas Morningstar (Alex Friedman)
Age:13
Rank:D-
STR (ATT):155/1000 (310/2000) [D]/[SSS-]
AGI (SPD):172/1100 (344/2200) [D+]/[SSS-]
DEF:160/950 [D+]/[SS+/SSS-]
Mana:4200 [SSS]
Magic:170/1100 [D+]/[SSS-]
Affinities:
- Fire [S]
- Ice [S]
- Lightning [S]
- Chaos [???] [Partially Locked]
Skills:
- Devour (Unique): This ability allows the user to devour his opponents and add a portion of their power to his. Subskill of Gluttony.
- Appraisal (B): This ability allows the user to scan and see the information (Stats) of anything (people and artifacts).
- Rule Breaker (Divine): This allows the user to break rules and reconstruct new ones in their place as the user sees fit. Time limit: 5 minutes. Cooldown time: 1 day.
Corruption: 2%
________________________________________________________________________________
I stared at the interface, my eyes widening in shock. My potential had skyrocketed—far more than I'd expected.
In the novel, the Truthseeker Fruit was supposed to increase one's potential by two, maybe three ranks at most.
But mine had jumped by four ranks. My mana was now at [SSS] rank, and my physical stats had reached insane levels of potential.
Even my affinities had improved, though the Chaos affinity was still partially locked.
A smile spread across my face as I absorbed the information. This was beyond anything I'd hoped for. I was stronger now—far stronger.
And with this power, I could protect myself and those I cared about. I could face whatever challenges lay ahead.
But there was no time to dwell on it. I needed to get moving. Katherine was still out there, and I had no idea if she was safe.
I got to my feet, stretching my body and feeling the newfound strength in my limbs.
The forest around me was quiet, the only sound the rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds.
I took off in the direction of the town or at least I assumed was the direction of the town, my movements swift and effortless.
The Truthseeker Fruit had done its job, and now it was time to put that power to use. Whatever lay ahead, I was ready for it.