Returning to the real world, I found myself standing at the border of the Forest of Time, a surreal landscape stretching out before me. The afterglow of that mysterious vision still lingers in my mind, but I know that now is not the time to reflect. This place is a hidden level in the dungeon, but it also contains a special environment. In this world, dungeons are often associated with monsters and destruction. Therefore, they are often considered dangerous places that must be left immediately. It is a place full of dangers and disasters. But, this is not entirely correct. Dungeons are essentially sub-spaces that each have their own unique environment. Therefore, they can also be called "small worlds with different rules". Not everything in this world is dangerous. There are some things that are beneficial, and it is everyone's responsibility to distinguish what is beneficial to oneself and what is not. Even though this space is limited, there is still a lot to explore. Most importantly, this place is the ideal training ground. 'After all, time passes very quickly here.'
Thirty days here is equivalent to one day in the outside world, which means I have a full thirty days to train myself here and then leave. In the game, if you still fail to conquer the dungeon after thirty days, or fail to come out within one day after defeating the Boss outside, you will be forced to teleport out of the dungeon because the mana core that maintains it has disappeared. 'But, I need that reward.' Since I needed that reward, I couldn't just train. I also needed to conquer the hidden level, which was no easy task. 'The boss monster here is a mid-level third-tier monster.' "For Ethan, the task was not too challenging. But for me, it was difficult." ———— Name: Morse Scott Occupation: Weapon Master (Stage 1) Talent Cap: 6 — Passive: Blade of Vengeance — Attributes: Strength: Agility: Constitution: Perception: Magic Power: Mana Capacity:
— Features: Insight Perception (Unique) Moon (???) (Growth) (Stage 0) Shadow (Legendary) (Growing) (Stage 1) — Stunt Reaching the pinnacle (???) (13%) -Skill Fast Running Sharp Eyes — Psionic Brand ??? ———— My attribute is currently close to the border of 2, but it is not enough. For a mid-level third-order monster, I need an attribute of at least 3 to fight it head-on, but I currently only have one attribute close to this value. 'Magic strength.' And I still can't maximize the use of my mana. Therefore, necessary preparation and training are essential. And that’s exactly what I came here for. I tread cautiously into the forest of time, staying alert and sensing the ever-changing climate and landscape. call! The bizarre changes in climate and topography are disorienting, creating a sense of constant exploration within this small space. However, my movements were quickly restricted by an invisible magic barrier. It was an impenetrable wall, preventing me from crossing its borders, much like the barrier in the first stage of the dungeon. "Sure enough, the barrier still exists." This is also a mana barrier, but this time it is not powered by the dungeon's mana core, but from a source outside this place. Therefore, there is no way to break it from the inside, and I don't intend to do so. 'If I step in there I'm dead.' Because that place is full of "monsters" in the literal sense. Not only in appearance, but also in strength. Anyway, since I was "confined" to this place and also "protected", I continued to move forward. As I continued to explore, I eventually reached relatively high ground.
'It's right here.' The level isn't huge, and with my good memory, I can easily remember this location as it's a great place to scout out the chaotic landscape of the dungeon. [Sharp Eyes] Activating my skill [Sharp Eyes], I began to observe my surroundings. There, I saw the "Guardian of Time", a mysterious being that inhabits this realm. It moves through the woods, its ghostly figure looming, manipulating time itself. I keep a safe distance, observing its movements with my [Sharp Eyes], fearing to attract its attention. After all, this monster is the boss of this stage, and there is no point in fighting it now. The distance was quite far, so my skill consumed a lot of mana, but it was worth it. I checked the boss's position information, and as usual, it was in the center of the space. In addition to the Time Keepers, my gaze also encountered the Time Changers and Eternal Ghosts, which are the "inhabitants" or "monsters" that exist in this surreal realm. 'High-level second-level monster, time changer.' Time Changers are monsters that evolved from the power of time. They are skilled in manipulating time, and can speed up or slow down their movements at will. Their forms appear distorted and fragmented, making them difficult to pin down. This is their variable and will also change as the attack occurs, increasing the impact and momentum. The Eternal Ghosts, on the other hand, are ghostly beings that loom, making them partially untouchable. They are able to travel through physical bodies and are known for their blood-curdling, echoing screams. 'Advanced level 2, ghost-type monster. Eternal ghost.' They are not known to the world now, but there will be an event in the future when they will appear and haunt humanity, and then they will unveil themselves. They aren't actually that strong if you know their weaknesses and have the necessary equipment. 'Mana Bell.' That's the bell in my space bracelet. When it rings, it temporarily disrupts the magic of the surrounding environment. This allows the Eternal Ghost to manifest its physical form, because the Eternal Ghost uses space magic to transfer its physical form to a different dimension. This is why they can attack when they want to, but cannot be attacked when they want to dodge. Without the bell, though, handling them can be pretty tricky. From my position, I continued to observe the space around me, locating the monsters' positions and analyzing their movement patterns. 'That should be enough.' After confirming all the information and collecting enough materials, I closed my eyes and began to draw a map in my mind. Since the place was not very big, I finished drawing the map quickly. 'Very good. Now let me start my plan.' With a clear grasp of the layout of the Forest of Time in my mind, I began to set up camp. I carefully selected a suitable location, taking into account safety and strategic placement. The items I purchased came in handy at this time.
The tent was made of high quality materials and even had a shower inside. The heating system was excellent and I never felt cold even when it was snowing. Once the tent was set up, I began setting up a series of traps and alarms to detect any approaching monsters. This extra layer of security provides alerts, ensuring I can respond quickly to potential threats. With my defenses set up, I turned my attention to my primary purpose for entering the Forest of Time, training my mana control and physical fitness. This unique environment, with mana density fluctuating, and monsters appearing when necessary, provided me with the perfect opportunity to hone my skills. I started by laying down the necessary equipment, simple clothing cushions and some dummies for training, and then continued to make potions that would increase efficiency. 'Alchemical Potion - Corleone.' A special alchemical potion whose recipe is inspired by the secretions of a monster in a special place. This is a monster that uses the mana in the air to train its body and make itself stronger. And here, this place filled with strong magical power, is the most suitable place. After it is made, swallow it in one gulp. Feeling my pores opening slightly, I closed my eyes and began to try to absorb the mana from my head. However, at first, it all seemed impossible. In a sense, the mana I use comes from my trait, but how exactly does that work? This is a perfect place to study how my mana works. I plan to research and learn each color of my mana and its properties here. I even brought the book "Moon by Moon: The Legend of Lunar Mana" with me to study its contents more deeply. Before, my time was limited and I had to think about too many things, but now it’s different. I had never questioned my trait, and now I was unconsciously using it again, but this time, it felt like walking in a quagmire. The density of mana is too high, and due to the unique properties of space, even raw mana is difficult to move. 'But this is much more interesting.' The more difficult the task, the more you can see the difference between mana colors and their characteristics. Now all I need to do is what Senior Maya taught me. "Don't just try to feel the mana, circulate it through your body. You need to be in harmony with it." And so, recalling her words and what I had observed, I began my training.