Free Web NovelChapter 2: Hidden Talent, Beginner Dungeon
The talent wheel spun faster and faster before Dan Moriarty’s eyes, as he leaned forward, his heart beating nervously, trying to make out any hint of what fate might be preparing for him.
Then, with a sudden chime, the wheel jerked to a complete halt. Then, a blue glow shun directly in front of him, forming into a transparent panel.
[Talent Draw Complete!]
[Congratulations! You have obtained Uncommon-Ranked Talent: Quick Hands]
[Quick Hands: Slightly increases hand speed and reaction when handling tools, weapons, and basic actions.]
A profound quietness then seemed to expand in the room, stretched out around Dan Moriarty as he simply stared, his gaze fixed blankly on the panel.
After a long pause, the corner of his mouth twitched, "Quick Hands?" he mumbled.
"So this is what I receive after choosing this path?" he sighed, weariness settling over him. "As expected, luck is still my greatest enemy in this life." It was a familiar saying, one he had muttered countless times before.
Yet, just as he was about to reluctantly accept this bleak reality, to resign himself to a future of slightly faster tool handling, the blue panel suddenly trembled violently.
[Warning!]
[Unknown fluctuation detected...]
[Foreign authority interference...]
[Error... Error...]
[Re-evaluating Host...]
Dan Moriarty’s expression, previously filled with frustration, instantly shifted to one of intense alarm and confusion. He felt a sudden chill crawl up his spine, a sense of something fundamentally wrong.
"What now?" he whispered.
The very next moment, before he could even fully process the question, countless rays erupted from the panel. They swirled and spiraled, forming into existence a sort of divine sign. The earlier, pitiful [Quick Hands] talent, still displayed on the screen, shimmered for a split second, then shattered into a myriad of dazzling fragments of light, dissipating into nothingness.
[Quick Hands has been forcibly removed.]
[Hidden Condition Triggered.]
[Transmigrator Soul Signature Detected.]
[Calculating true compatibility...]
The room around him began to shake violently, the floor vibrating beneath his feet. Outside, a deep roar of thunder suddenly ripped across the skies above Pong City, a dramatic and fitting sound.
But, inside the quiet mansion, no one noticed the profound disturbance, nor did anyone realize that the room at the corridor’s end had filled with an otherworldly power.
Amidst the chaos and the brilliant light, a new panel slowly appeared.
[Talent Redraw Initiated.]
[Rarity Override in Progress...]
[Divine Grade exceeded.]
[Hidden Grade unlocked.]
[Congratulations!]
[You have obtained Hidden-Ranked Talent: Infinite Amplification.]
[Infinite Amplification: All gifts received by the host will be amplified multiple times, by no less than a thousand]
[Current Multiplier is 1,000X, but by increasing level, raising your popularity, clearing dungeons, can you increase your multiplier by X10]
Dan Moriarty froze completely, every muscle in his body locked in place. His mind, struggling to catch up, tried to process the impossible words. He blinked twice, slowly, as if to clear his vision and convince himself that what he was seeing was real.
"So..." he said slowly, his voice slightly hoarse, "if someone were to give me one coin..."
"I would receive one thousand coins."
"And if I were given a low-grade skill?" he continued. "It will evolve into a superior skill."
A slow, incredulous grin stretched across Dan Moriarty’s face.
"Hahaha..." he began, "Heavens truly did not abandon me after all!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with exhilaration, a profound sense of justice washing over him.
Before he could even fully indulge in his newfound euphoria, before he could celebrate this incredible turn of fortune any further, the panel flashed once more.
[Beginner Streamer Guidance Dungeon opening.]
[Teleportation begins in 3...]
Dan Moriarty’s triumphant grin faltered slightly. "Wait, now?" he exclaimed, a sudden jolt of unpreparedness shooting through him. He hadn’t expected the immediate follow-up.
[2...]
"At least let me sit down first!" he protested, at the face of imminent teleportation. He wanted a moment to compose himself.
[1...]
His words were cut short. A blinding pillar of light descended from above, enveloping Dan Moriarty entirely. He felt a strange, dizzying sensation, a momentary weightlessness, and then, just as quickly, the light swallowed him whole, pulling him away from the room, from Pong City, from everything he knew.
The room became utterly empty, the air still filled with the residual energy.
*****
When Dan Moriarty opened his eyes again, the world around him had utterly transformed. He found himself standing in a vast, impossibly grand white hall, its every surface sculpted from gleaming marble that seemed to emit a soft glow. Golden pillars, impossibly tall and slender, stretched endlessly upwards, disappearing into what appeared to be an infinite sky, while soft clouds drifted lazily beneath his very feet, a breathtaking spectacle.
Directly in front of him, radiating an immense aura, stood a woman of unparalleled beauty. Six magnificent white wings, each one impossibly perfect, unfurled gently from her back, shimmering with an inner light. Her long, silver hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing a calm, elegant expression. She wore flowing, almost translucent robes that seemed to ripple with every movement, and in her hands, she held a crystal staff that glowed. freeweɓnøvel.com
Above her head, a pristine, golden halo floated, casting a gentle light around her.
Dan Moriarty blinked, once, then twice, trying to process the ethereal vision before him. His mind, still reeling from the sudden teleportation, fumbled for the right word.
"Angel?" he managed, the question more of a statement, laced with a bewildered awe.
The woman nodded gracefully, freёweɓnovel.com
"Correct. I am Beginner Guide Angel No. 7749. You may address me as Ariel." Her voice, when she spoke, was gentle, yet it carried an undeniable sense of authority.
"Welcome, new Streamer Dan Moriarty, to your first Guidance Dungeon."
Dan Moriarty slowly turned his head, taking in the grandeur of the hall. The sheer scale of it was overwhelming.
"So this is a dungeon?" he asked, a hint of skepticism in his voice. It certainly didn’t look like any dungeon he’d ever imagined.
Ariel offered a small, reassuring smile. "This is a safe introductory space. Consider it a preliminary chamber. Here, I will explain the fundamental basics and necessary protocols before you step into true danger."
With a delicate wave of her hand, a gesture of effortless power, countless translucent panels materialized around them.
"First," Ariel began, "every Streamer gains immediate access to live broadcasting capabilities. Once you are inside a dungeon proper, your every action, your every decision, will be watched, judged, and even influenced by beings from countless realms across the universe."
"Second," she continued, her gaze sweeping over the various panels, "viewers, captivated by your progress or simply entertained by your struggles, may choose to send you various rewards. These could be expressions of their enjoyment, their admiration for your skill, or perhaps simply their investment in your potential."
"Third, the things awaiting you within dungeons are varied and substantial. They include experience to increase your levels, powerful new skills to master, invaluable equipment to aid your journey, and even rare, special opportunities that can fundamentally alter your path."
"Fourth..." Her gentle demeanor hardened, her eyes sharpening as they met his, conveying a shift to seriousness.
"If you die inside a dungeon, you die completely. There is no revival, no second chances. Your existence ends."
Dan Moriarty nodded slowly, a grim understanding settling over him. This was the one truth that had been hammered into every potential streamer.
"That part," he confirmed, his voice a little softer, "I understood very clearly indeed."
Ariel’s expression softened slightly, seeing his comprehension. "As a beginner, your first true dungeon experience will be of relatively low difficulty. You can expect to encounter creatures like goblins and various wild beasts, navigate cunning traps, and complete straightforward survival tasks. These are common challenges in such introductory environments."
She paused then, her eyes looking directly into his, searching for any lingering questions or uncertainties.
"Do you have any questions?"
Dan Moriarty, after a moment of thoughtful consideration, raised his hand with a surprisingly serious demeanor, as if he were a student in a classroom.
"Yes," he stated.
"Ask."
A mischievous glint flashed through his eyes, carrying that familiar trace of shamelessness. "If I become famous enough," he asked as he leaned forward slightly, "would heavenly angels personally deliver themselves to me? To help warm my bed obviously"
Ariel’s calm, perfectly composed face stiffened for the very first time. The subtle change was almost imperceptible, a slight widening of her eyes, a faint tension in the line of her lips. She seemed to process his question for several long seconds, her serene expression wavering, before she finally delivered her reply.
"...Please focus on the matter at hand," she stated flatly, the underlying message clear.
Dan Moriarty gave a light cough, a subtle attempt to mask his amusement.
"As expected," he murmured, almost to himself. "Very strict indeed."
Ariel chose to ignore his cheeky comment entirely. Her focus had already shifted. She lifted her crystal staff, its glow intensifying, and a sense of impending action began to fill the vast hall.
"Prepare yourself, Streamer Dan Moriarty," she announced, her voice now firm. "The first true dungeon shall begin shortly."
