Morning sunlight slipped through the window, laying a warm stripe across the floorboards. Rowen stirred where he had collapsed the night before, still lying on the floor instead of the bed. His body felt heavy with fatigue, every muscle stiff from the strain.
Fern was slumped in the chair nearby, dozing with his arms crossed, while Shade was curled up beside Rowen on the floor, tail flicking lightly in her sleep.
Rowen opened his eyes fully, the memory of the five-element ring pulsing faintly inside him. It hadn't been a dream.
Rowen pushed himself up from the floor slowly, joints aching. His clothes were stiff with dried sweat and faint stains of blood. With a tired sigh, he went to the basin, splashing cold water on his face first, then rubbing at the smears on his arms and shirt until the worst of it came off. He scrubbed himself down as best he could, then changed into a cleaner set of clothes.
The room still looked messy from last night blankets on the floor, a chair pushed aside, and bits of dirt scattered near where he had collapsed. Rowen took a few minutes to tidy it all, setting things back in place.
When he turned back, Fern was still asleep in the chair, his head tilted awkwardly, and Shade was curled in a ball on the floor. Rowen nudged them both awake. Shade stretched with a soft mewl, while Fern blinked and rubbed his eyes.
"Come on," Rowen said quietly.
He went to the small stove and set water to boil, tossing in chopped potatoes and a handful of fresh tomatoes. The familiar smell filled the room, simple but comforting. When it was ready, the three of them ate together in silence, the warmth of the soup easing the last of the night's weight.
Afterward, Rowen stood and drew in a slow breath. He focused, opening the portal himself this time. The air shimmered before him, and a portal appeared.
Fern and Shade followed as he stepped through.
The sight made Rowen stop in place.
The apple seed he had planted before was no longer just a sprout. In less than twelve hours, it had grown into a young tree, branches thick and leaves wide. Even more shocking, several round apples already hung from its boughs, their skins glossy under natural sunlight.
Rowen stepped closer, staring at the growth of the apple tree. Before he could reach out, the air flickered, and a familiar blue screen appeared in front of him, hovering just before the tree.
The glowing text shifted across its surface, waiting for him to read.
[Apple Tree] [Fruit Cycle: 6 hours after full harvest]
Rowen stepped closer and reached up, fingers brushing against one of the glossy apples. The skin was smooth, almost warm under his touch. He pulled it free with a soft snap, the branch bouncing lightly.
Holding the fruit in his palm, Rowen focused.
Faint lines of light wrapped around the apple, forming a screen of details before his eyes.
[commen+ Apple]
Status: Ripe
Effect: Restores stamina and body vitality when consumed.
Rowen's eyes widened as he read the effects. His chest tightened with a rush of relief and excitement.
This wasn't just some ordinary fruit. Stamina and vitality those were things knights, porters, and even mages desperately relied on. Hunters drained themselves every day fighting monsters, while laborers needed the strength to endure endless work. These apples would sell faster than he could ever stock them.
A grin tugged at his lips despite himself. "This… this is going to be great."
He could already see the demand. Knights would line up for fruit that restored stamina. Porters who carried monster materials until their backs broke would pay anything for it. Even mages, who often collapsed after overusing their mana, would value vitality recovery.
With this, Rowen now had items that covered both mana recovery and vitality recovery. Between the tomatoes and the apples, he held supplies that could make the difference between life and death in the wilderness.
It wasn't just about profit anymore. In a world crawling with monsters, having food that restored mana and stamina meant survival. Hunters, travelers, and even poor villagers venturing beyond the walls everyone needed that kind of security.
Rowen exhaled slowly, clutching the apple as the thought settled in. For the first time, his little shop wasn't just a place that sold vegetables. It could become a lifeline.
Rowen glanced around and spotted a sharp tool near the wood shade. He picked it up, hesitated for a moment, then pressed it lightly against his fingertip. A thin cut opened, and a bead of blood welled up, running down his finger.
Without waiting, he raised the apple to his mouth and bit into it. The flesh was crisp and sweet, the juice flooding his tongue.
Almost immediately, he felt a pulse through his body. The sting in his finger dulled, and before his eyes the bleeding slowed, then stopped altogether. A faint warmth spread from his chest outward, steady and alive.
Rowen stared at his hand, flexing his fingers. The small cut was already sealing itself.
Morning sunlight slipped through the window, laying a warm stripe across the floorboards. Rowen stirred where he had collapsed the night before, still lying on the floor instead of the bed. His body felt heavy with fatigue, every muscle stiff from the strain.
Fern was slumped in the chair nearby, dozing with his arms crossed, while Shade was curled up beside Rowen on the floor, tail flicking lightly in her sleep.
Rowen opened his eyes fully, the memory of the five-element ring pulsing faintly inside him. It hadn't been a dream.
Rowen pushed himself up from the floor slowly, joints aching. His clothes were stiff with dried sweat and faint stains of blood. With a tired sigh, he went to the basin, splashing cold water on his face first, then rubbing at the smears on his arms and shirt until the worst of it came off. He scrubbed himself down as best he could, then changed into a cleaner set of clothes.
Rowen's eyes snapped open, his breath catching. His body felt alive in a way it never had before, with the feeling of roots and soil beneath him, air in his lungs, fire in his veins, and now water cooling his very blood. The elements weren't fighting anymore. They were orbiting each other, fragile but complete.
The five-element ring shone inside him, brighter and clearer than ever.
A grin tugged at his lips, sweat rolling down his temples. "It's real…" he whispered, voice shaking. "The theory is real…"
But as soon as the words left him, the strain of holding five elements at once clawed at his body.
His vision blurred.
Rowen slumped to the floor, the glow of the five-element ring flickering faintly inside him. He was still conscious, but his body felt unbearably heavy, every muscle drained.
Fern appeared before him, his green aura dim but steady, eyes filled with concern as he looked at Rowen's exhausted state.
Shade padded closer and sat quietly at Rowen's side, watching him with the same worried gaze.
The two stayed near, their presence steady and protective, as Rowen struggled to catch his breath.
It was around 11:00 PM. Far from Rowen's shop, outside the border town, a new dungeon portal pulsed under the watch of federal officials. But inside, something strange was unfolding.
The dungeon stretched out not as tunnels but as a wild jungle. Massive trees towered overhead, their canopies so thick they drowned the light, leaving the ground dim and humid. Vines dangled from branches, and strange glowing flowers cast eerie colors across the undergrowth.
The air was heavy with mana. Every breeze carried the sharp scent of damp earth mixed with something faintly metallic. From time to time, the cries of catlike beasts echoed through the thickets, reminding anyone inside that they weren't alone.
Cat-type monsters lurked everywhere. Some hid within the foliage; others prowled openly in packs. Their movements were restless, far more aggressive than expected for a newborn dungeon.
At the heart of it all, the dungeon core pulsed with unstable light. Beside it stood a statue of a massive black cat, its stone eyes glinting with something that felt disturbingly alive.
Then, the space before the statue began to twist.
Strange lines of mana flared across the ground, carving themselves into the soil in an intricate pattern. A glowing circle emerged, pulsing faintly with colors that didn't belong to the natural world deep violet edged with streaks of black and silver.
The jungle fell silent. Even the restless cat-monsters crouched low in fear, their ears flat and their eyes fixed on the circle.
Something was trying to come through.
The mana circle flared brighter, and after a long, tense silence, a shape emerged.
A beast stepped out, its sleek fur shining silver even in the dim dungeon light. Its golden eyes burned with arrogance, the kind of gaze that saw everything beneath it. The creature was unmistakably male, every movement filled with authority.
It let out a low, almost lazy meow, but the sound carried through the jungle like a command.
Then, its expression shifted. A faint pressure pressed against it, and realization struck—the dungeon's rules bound him. His power, once overwhelming, had been suppressed, forced down to the level of a mere trainee.
The silver beast froze, fury flashing in his eyes. He could do nothing against the restriction. His ears twitched back, and he spat a curse under his breath.
With a sharp lash of his tail, he summoned the surrounding cats. Dozens of feline monsters stirred, emerging from the shadows, their glowing eyes trained on him.
Then, with a wave of mana, a strange portrait appeared before him, floating in the air. He pulled it open.