2026-01-20 20:06:54The mouth of the Hollowed Cave yawned open like a throat waiting to swallow them whole. Aleric stood with nine other trainees at the entrance, the stench of rot and damp stone thick in the air. His fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword. The blade was standard issue, nothing special, but it was his lifeline now.
Captain Brock stood at the front of the group, arms crossed over his scarred chest. His voice cut through the nervous chatter like a blade through silk.
"Listen up. This isn't training anymore. Inside that cave, you live or you die. No one's coming to save you if you screw up. Stay in formation, watch your flanks, and don't do anything stupid."
Brock's eyes swept over the group and lingered on Aleric for half a second longer than the rest. Aleric felt the weight of that stare. Everyone here knew he was Classless. Everyone here thought he was dead weight.
A trainee named Gareth, a stocky guy with a Tier 1 Warrior class, snorted and muttered loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Great. We get stuck with the freak. Guess we're carrying dead weight today."
A few others chuckled. Aleric didn't respond. He kept his eyes forward, his jaw tight. Words didn't matter. Not here. Not now.
Brock slammed his gauntleted fist against the stone wall, and the laughter died instantly.
"Save your trash talk for after you survive. Move out."
The group filed into the cave one by one. Aleric was near the back, his heart hammering in his chest. The darkness swallowed them almost immediately. Torches were lit, casting flickering orange light against the jagged walls. The air grew colder with every step.
Aleric's status window blinked into view at the edge of his vision.
NAME: ALERIC SWORNE
LEVEL: 1
CLASS: CLASSLESS
HP: 200/200
MANA: 120/120
STRENGTH: 14
AGILITY: 16
STAMINA: 13
INTELLIGENCE: 18
ABILITIES: ABSORPTION (ACTIVE)
He dismissed it with a thought. No time to dwell on numbers. He needed to focus.
The tunnel sloped downward, twisting and narrowing until they could only walk two abreast. The sound of dripping water echoed in the silence. Aleric's breathing was steady, controlled. His training kicked in. Technique over panic. Always.
Then the smell hit him. Sulfur and decay, stronger than before. His stomach twisted, but he forced himself to breathe through his mouth.
Brock raised a fist. The group stopped.
"Contact ahead. Eyes up."
The temperature dropped. Aleric felt it before he saw it. A shift in the air, a wrongness that made his skin crawl. Then the growls started. Low, guttural, and hungry.
Shapes moved in the darkness beyond the torchlight. Hunched figures with elongated limbs and glowing red eyes. Their skin was gray and mottled, stretched too tight over bone. Their mouths hung open, revealing rows of jagged teeth.
Shadow Ghouls.
Brock didn't waste time.
"Formation. Shields front, swords ready. Kill anything that moves."
The ghouls lunged.
Chaos erupted. The frontline trainees raised their shields and braced for impact. The ghouls slammed into them with inhuman strength, claws screeching against metal. Gareth swung his sword wildly, shouting curses. Another trainee screamed as a ghoul tore through his guard and raked claws across his arm.
Aleric moved on instinct. A ghoul broke through the line on his left, heading straight for a girl with a bow who was frozen in terror. Aleric didn't think. He lunged forward, his sword flashing in the torchlight. The blade caught the ghoul across the throat. Black blood sprayed, hot and foul. The creature collapsed in a heap.
The girl stared at him, wide eyed.
"Move!" Aleric shouted.
She snapped out of it and scrambled back.
Aleric turned just as another ghoul lunged at him. He sidestepped, letting its claws scrape past his shoulder, and drove his sword up through its ribcage. The ghoul shrieked and went limp.
And then it happened.
A surge of energy slammed into Aleric's chest like a fist. His vision went white for a split second, and blue text flooded his sight.
ABSORPTION COMPLETE
NEW SKILL ACQUIRED: NIGHT VISION (PASSIVE)
SKILL INTEGRATED
The world snapped back into focus, but it was different now. The darkness wasn't as thick. He could see deeper into the cave, make out details in the shadows that weren't there before. His eyes adjusted almost instantly, sharper, clearer. The ghouls' movements were no longer blurs. He could track them.
Aleric's heart raced, but not from fear. This was power. Real power. And it was his.
"Classless my ass," he muttered under his breath.
Gareth's voice cut through the fight.
"Behind you, freak!"
Aleric spun. A ghoul was mid leap, claws outstretched. He shifted his weight, dodged left, and drove his blade through its skull. Another burst of energy hit him, smaller this time but still intoxicating.
ABSORPTION COMPLETE
NEW SKILL ACQUIRED: ENHANCED AGILITY (MINOR)
SKILL INTEGRATED
His body felt lighter. His movements smoother. He tested it immediately, stepping into a low stance and pivoting faster than he ever could before. His muscles responded like they'd been oiled.
The ghouls kept coming. Aleric kept killing.
By the time the last ghoul fell, the cave floor was slick with black blood. The trainees were panting, bloodied, but alive. Gareth was on one knee, clutching his side. Another trainee was being bandaged by Brock himself.
Aleric stood near the back, his sword still dripping. His hands were steady. His breathing was controlled. But inside, his mind was racing.
Two kills. Two abilities. And he could feel more waiting deeper in the cave.
Brock walked over, his heavy boots echoing. He looked Aleric up and down, his expression unreadable.
"Not bad for a Classless."
Aleric met his eyes.
"I'm just getting started."
Brock's lips twitched. Almost a smile.
"Good. Because we're not done yet."
He turned to address the group.
"Five minute rest. Drink water. Check your wounds. Then we move deeper."
The others groaned, but no one argued. Aleric checked his status window again.
NAME: ALERIC SWORNE
LEVEL: 2
CLASS: CLASSLESS
HP: 180/200
MANA: 105/120
STRENGTH: 14
AGILITY: 19 (+3)
STAMINA: 13
INTELLIGENCE: 18
ABILITIES: ABSORPTION (ACTIVE), NIGHT VISION (PASSIVE), ENHANCED AGILITY (MINOR)
AVAILABLE SKILL SLOTS: 7/10
He clenched his fist. Seven slots left. He could take more. He would take more.
Gareth limped past him, shooting him a glare.
"Don't get cocky, freak. You got lucky."
Aleric didn't respond. He just smiled.
Luck had nothing to do with it.
The group moved deeper into the cave. The air grew heavier, the walls narrower. Aleric's new night vision let him see farther ahead than anyone else. He spotted claw marks on the walls, old bloodstains, and bones half buried in the dirt.
Then he heard it.
A roar. Deep, guttural, and impossibly loud. It shook the walls and sent dust raining from the ceiling. The entire group froze.
Brock's expression darkened.
"That's the Floor One Boss."
One of the trainees, a younger guy with a spear, stammered.
"We're not fighting that, right? Right?"
Brock shook his head.
"Not today. We're not ready."
But Aleric was already staring into the darkness where the roar had come from. His pulse quickened. His fingers twitched on his sword hilt. He could feel it. More power. Waiting. Calling.
Brock's voice snapped him back.
"Sworne. Eyes front. We're pulling back."
Aleric turned slowly, his gaze lingering on the dark tunnel ahead.
"Understood, Captain."
But inside, he was already planning his return.
As the group made their way back toward the exit, Aleric whispered to himself, barely audible.
"I'll be back for you."
And he meant it.
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
Chapter 110
After leaving the Huaiji Supply and Marketing Cooperative, Cheng Su immediately went to the printing factory, which was referred to her by Mu Yan. It must be said that knowing someone like Mu Yan who worked at the supply and marketing cooperative did come with more resources, and Cheng Su resolved to maintain a good relationship with her.Based on the labels she had seen before, Cheng Su had the approximate ingredients and formula printed on them, with pineapple as the main ingredient, sugar, and so forth, to make it clear to customers at a glance. As for the brand name, she chose to use "Joy Soon Loy".This was also the first batch of pineapple jam to be tested on the market, and as Chairman Li had said, if she really wanted to do this business, she had to register as a specialized household with the relevant departments and also get the brand name registered to prevent future counterfeit.By leveraging her connection with Mu Yan and adding some extra money, the printing factory agre
Chapter 109
The president of Huaiji Supply and Marketing Cooperative, Li Anhong, was a middle-aged man nearing fifty, with a potbelly and a bald head, bearing the typical look of a leader, but he was kind and easy to talk to. Rumor had it that he was also Mu Yan’s distant uncle, and with Mu Yan vouching for him, he quickly started addressing Xiao Cheng with great warmth and familiarity.Since it was jam made with a new recipe, it naturally had to be taste-tested. It wasn’t that Cheng Su was arrogant, but if a product received her own seal of approval, how bad could it be, really?And so, when Cheng Su brought out the jam for everyone to try, they were all in agreement, praising it. Some even said they wanted to buy a bottle to take home to try, and Chairman Li himself kept complimenting it."Xiao Cheng, I had already tried the jam you made before when little Mu brought some for me to taste, but I think this batch is even better than the last, in terms of flavor. It seems your craftsmanship has im
Chapter 108
The scorching heat of summer made you sweat afresh as soon as you stepped out of the bath, yet, even in such sweltering weather, Qi Taiguo had not managed to enjoy the cool breeze from the fan in Cheng Su’s room or "share the fan" with her because...Cheng Su had fallen asleep!After his bath, Qi Taiguo hurried to Cheng Su’s room, only to see the woman emitting soft snores. He almost wished he could go up to her and pinch her awake.He had scrubbed himself clean inside and out, and this woman, she just fell asleep like that!Qi Taiguo gritted his teeth and, after a long struggle, decided to let her off once again. Today had really been too exhausting!In the future, he would absolutely make her beg for mercy!Qi Taiguo returned to his room in a huff, lay on his bed, and thought about the kiss Cheng Su had given him. He couldn’t help but touch his face where she had kissed him, snickering to himself for a good while.When Cheng Su woke up from her sleep, she felt wonderfully refreshed.
Chapter 107
Cheng Su and Qi Taiguo worked hand in hand, and feet tangled, before finally managing to turn half of the pineapples into jam, which they then left to cool in a basin of water. By this time, Qiulan had already arrived early on, and Cheng Su was rushed off to prepare the noon meals. Since Taiguo had come and seen them bustling about incessantly, he simply took over the task of cooling the pineapple jam.The group was busy until dusk, when Cheng Su told Qiulan to head home first, leaving the mess for her and Taiguo to clean up."This is more tiring than training," Taiguo grumbled, collapsing in the courtyard."You’ve worked hard," Cheng Su walked over and planted a sweet kiss on his face, saying, "Once we’ve made some money, I’ll share some with you."Taiguo was caught off guard by her kiss, his breath halted for a split second, and he touched his face, looking at her as if stupefied.She, she was actually so frivolous!"You, you..." he jumped up, pointing at Cheng Su incessantly."What
Chapter 106
Cheng Su reflected on her own haste in speaking and felt relieved that Qi Taiguo did not press further. At the same time, she poured all her attention into making the jam.Realizing that the jam she was now making was not for casual consumption but for commercial sale, she understood the need for increased attention to not only the quality but also the texture, hygiene, and other factors.Many times, details determine success or failure, so Cheng Su could not afford to be playful or careless.In her previous batches of jam, she had not added gelatin powder, which meant she had to start all over, as if making it for the first time.The pineapple had been cut into small pieces and soaked in saltwater for twenty minutes. She had completed this step, taken a portion to drain and marinate in granulated sugar for an hour, and the portion to be mashed was also ready. Now it was time to cook.The pot for cooking the pineapple jam was brand new, and it had to be free of oil and water, or not o
Chapter 105
Cheng Su expended the strength of "nine bulls and two tigers" just to drag those peeled pineapples back to the restaurant. Together with Qiulan, she took care of them one by one, removing the "pineapple eyes" until all the pineapples were processed and hanging in the well to stay cool and fresh. Her back was almost too stiff to straighten up.By the time she got home, Qi Taiguo was already home, doing push-ups on the living room floor."You’re back? I’ll cook right now," Cheng Su said as she put down her canvas bag, took out the rice cooker insert, and started washing rice to cook.Qi Taiguo watched her walk out of the room, hammering her waist with her hand, and couldn’t help but pause.It’s quite exhausting, isn’t it?Though tired, Cheng Su moved swiftly and soon had two dishes and a soup ready on the table."How’s it going with making that jam," Qi Taiguo asked casually."Almost all the preparations are done, planning to cook the jam tomorrow," Cheng Su replied, her exhaustion maki
You may also like
ONCE BULLIED: LYON ARMSTRONG IS BACK.
ASystem18.9K viewsWorld Evolution
Zero_writer51.7K viewsEarth Is In Trouble But With The System, Escape Earth..
Raishico13.9K viewsTHE CHOSEN ONE (Reunion)
Kim B16.5K viewsLegacies of light
FrogPanda7 4.3K viewsBullied Hollowborn: My Tribrid System Awakening
Alexander Jackson704 viewsWHIT
VKBoy20.9K viewsStranded Stranger
Author Warren II2.9K views