Cherreads

Chapter 2 - first dungeon.

Inside the Mana Crystal Mine

Lavesh, still catching his breath, feels something. A presence. Multiple ones.

He turns his head—his heart pounds.

In the distance, emerging from the shadows of the glowing crystals, four wolf-type monsters approach him, growling low.

Lavesh (tense):

"Nope. Not today."

His hand grips the dungeon key he just received.

> [Use Dungeon Key: E-Rank – Unknown Dungeon?]

[Yes] [No]

He taps "Yes".

A spiraling blue portal bursts open in front of him.

> Lavesh (in shock):

"Ever since the portals appeared on Earth... no human has ever entered one and survived. Just touching the rift burned people alive."

"Am I really going to be the first human to walk into one... and live?"

He doesn't wait to finish the thought.

He steps in.

---

E-Rank Dungeon – Subterranean Ant Nest

The cave changes.

The air grows heavy. Hot. Damp. The walls now feel alive, pulsating with hive energy. He's inside a dungeon, and the atmosphere is oppressive.

> Lavesh:

"Inventory."

A new window pops up. He selects the Normal Grade Sword.

It appears in his hand instantly—lightweight but sharp.

> Lavesh (gripping the blade):

"No boss kill. No exit. Let's do this."

He cautiously walks forward—until the clicking sounds of multiple legs catch his attention.

Five giant ant monsters emerge from the tunnel ahead. Each one marked:

> [E-Rank – Soldier Ant]

They spot him.

> System:

Combat Engaged.

Lavesh steadies himself.

The first ant lunges. Lavesh swings the sword—slicing its head clean off.

Another charges—he kicks it back into a wall, cracking its exoskeleton.

Then, three ants attack at once.

> Lavesh (under his breath):

"Three in one swing..."

He spins, slashing through all three necks in one fluid motion.

Silence.

> System Notification:

Level Up!

Level Up!

Level Up!

---

New Level: 3

> Lavesh (breathing heavily):

"Sword fighting is... harder than it looks."

He wipes the sweat from his forehead.

> Lavesh:

"Status window."

PLAYER STATUS – UPDATED

Level: 3

Available Points: 12

Stats:

Intelligence: 12

Strength: 4

Stamina: 3

Dexterity: 3

Sense: 2

> Lavesh:

"Put all 12 points into Strength and Stamina. Split evenly."

Intelligence 12

Strength 10

Stamina 9

Dexterity 3

Sense 2

Stats update.

Fatigue: 4

Suddenly, he sees another option: System Store.

He opens it, surprised.

He drags the ant bodies to the sell panel.

> Sale Value: 78 Gold Coins

[Confirm Sale?]

[Yes]

The bodies disappear.

Coins added. Lavesh stares in disbelief.

> Lavesh:

"I can sell bodies for gold...? This system... it's a game engine in real life."

He moves forward, slicing through every monster that appears.

Each swing gets sharper.

Each kill, faster.

The system keeps popping up.

> Level Up!

Level Up!

Level Up!

Until—

Current Level: 14

Available Points: 33

> Lavesh:

"Distribute all points equally."

Updated stats

Intelligence 18

Strength 16

Stamina 15

Dexterity 9

Sense 8

Stats surge.

A warmth flows through him. His wounds close. His muscles tighten.

He feels strong. Ready. Dangerous.

A massive door opens in front of him—the boss room.

---

Boss Fight: Ant Queen

Lavesh steps in.

A monstrous Ant Queen, ten times larger than the others, hisses.

Her body pulsates with venom. Her rank flashes:

> [Dungeon Boss – Ant Queen – E+ Rank]

Lavesh hesitates... then charges.

He slashes at her left leg—a clean cut.

She screams in fury, striking back.

He blocks, evades.

Blow for blow. Hit for hit.

> System:

Ant Queen has entered Berserk Mode

Warning: HP dropping rapidly

Before Lavesh reacts—her leg stabs toward his heart.

He barely blocks it, pushed back. His blade rattles.

> Lavesh (thinking):

"She's not going down. Where's the weak spot?"

He lands several hits—but no damage.

Then he sees it—the neck. Unarmored. Vulnerable.

With all his strength, he leaps up, spins behind her—and slices across her neck.

> System:

Critical Hit!

Boss Defeated!

> Level Up!

Level Up!

Level Up!

---

Current Level: 17

HP: 150

MP: 136

Available Points: 9

Reward Unlocked:

Item: Ant Queen's Shield

Grade: Legendary

Description:

Absorbs incoming damage. Nullifies low-level attacks.

Durability: 230/230.

> Lavesh (smiling):

"Legendary loot... from an E-Rank dungeon? That's broken."

System Notification:

> Dungeon Cleared. Returning to original location...

Lavesh begins to fade—

But before the teleport completes, four rare blue wolf monsters stand in front of him.

> [Rare – Blue Wolf – E+]

They charge.

Lavesh doesn't blink.

In a single swing, he cuts through them all.

---

Back in Mana Mine

Lavesh looks around.

> Lavesh:

"Can I sell these crystals?"

He breaks one.

> System Store:

Legendary Grade Mana Crystal – 10,000 Gold Coins

> Lavesh:

"Okay. Jackpot."

He mines half the cave, storing and selling crystals.

> Gold Gained: 20.8 Million Coins

He seals the cave entrance and walks back to the airship crash site.

His bodyguard and pilot are dead.

He's the only survivor.

Moments later, another airship arrives.

It lands, and a tall man steps out.

> Arjun (B-Rank Hunter):

"Lavesh sir! I apologize for being 4 hours late..."

> Lavesh (calmly):

"It's fine. Let's get out of here."

---

En Route to Mumbai

Onboard, Arjun hands Lavesh a low-grade healing potion.

Lavesh drinks it—and the system pings.

> Item consumed: Slightly Toxic. Minor Side Effect: -1 MP for 3 minutes.

> Lavesh (laughing quietly):

"Even potions lie."

He stares out the window as the city skyline of Mumbai appears in the distance.

The airship lands.

A black car waits. Lavesh enters, heading to his hotel.

He showers, changes, and gets dressed in a tailored suit.

The clock ticks.

> Lavesh (in the mirror):

"From zero to player... and no one even knows yet."

He walks out, ready for the meeting—but something in his eyes has changed.

He isn't just a billionaire anymore.

He's the first player of Earth.

The City, The Sword, and The Dungeon

---

Location: Mumbai City – Sector 3 – NeoArmory Corporation Headquarters

A high-tech meeting room sits on the 49th floor, glass walls overlooking the skyline.

Inside, several men in suits sit across from Lavesh Sharma.

He's calm, composed, confident.

> Lavesh:

"We're ready to close the investment. 11% equity, 8-year weapons contract for city defense, and exclusive manufacturing rights in New Bharat."

The room is silent for a beat.

Then—

> Chairman (smiling):

"Mr. Sharma, deal accepted. It'll be an honor to work with your family."

> Lavesh (nodding):

"Likewise."

Hands shake. Documents signed.

Another empire secured.

---

Later That Day – Exploring Mumbai

Dressed in a plain black hoodie and joggers, Lavesh blends into the crowd, walking through old markets, scanning the skyline, silent.

Nobody knows he just cleared a dungeon.

Nobody knows he holds the power to level up.

---

1:35 PM – Local Gym, South Mumbai

Inside a large private gym, Lavesh stands by himself on the mat.

> Lavesh (whispers):

"System. Daily Quest."

> [Daily Workout Quest – In Progress]

• 100 Push-Ups

• 100 Sit-Ups

• 100 Squats

• 10 KM Run

• 1 Hour Meditation

One by one, he crushes every task—body screaming, system tracking every movement.

> [Quest Complete]

Rewards Unlocked:

1. +4 Stat Points

2. Advanced Grade Sword

3. Dungeon Key – Rank D

The items appear before him.

He inspects the sword.

---

Item: Venom Fang Blade

Grade: Advanced

Effects:

• Poison Lv. 1

• Paralyze Lv. 1

Durability: 154/154

> Lavesh (grinning):

"Now this is what a blade should feel like."

Around him, a few gym members begin noticing.

> Gym-goer 1 (whispering):

"Hey… isn't that Lavesh Sharma?"

"The billionaire?"

They glance, they whisper—but no one approaches.

Lavesh taps open his system again.

> Lavesh:

"Dungeon key location?"

> [Key Active: D-Rank Dungeon – Location: South Mumbai Quarry Zone]

He grabs a towel, throws on his hoodie again, and exits the gym.

---

4:45 PM – South Mumbai – Abandoned Quarry Zone

An isolated construction zone near the sea—fenced off, overgrown, forgotten.

Lavesh moves quietly between broken walls, ducking behind concrete, avoiding drones and civilians.

Then he sees it: a swirling purple portal, barely stable.

> Lavesh (to himself):

"Let's see what a D-Rank dungeon looks like."

He steps through.

---

D-Rank Dungeon: "Ruins of the Wolf Lords"

The dungeon is ancient. Ruined stone buildings, blue fog covering the ground, and eerie howls in the distance.

Almost immediately—wolves.

> [Enemy: Frost Wolf – D-Rank]

Three of them.

Lavesh doesn't hesitate.

He draws his new Venom Fang Blade—and in a flurry of slashes, cuts through them, fast and precise.

> Critical Hit – Paralysis Triggered – Enemy Slowed

Poison Activated – Enemy HP Draining

> System Notification:

Level Up!

Level Up!

Level 20 Reached

He opens his stats window.

---

Player Status – Level 20

HP: 180

MP: 140

Available Stat Points: 12

Current Stats:

Intelligence: 18

Strength: 16

Stamina: 15

Dexterity: 8

Sense: 9

AP: 21

> Lavesh:

"Distribute points equally."

Intelligence: 22

Strength: 21

Stamina: 19

Dexterity: 12

Sense: 13

Stats flash. He feels the surge—strength in his limbs, clarity in his mind.

> Lavesh (focused):

"Let's keep going. I'm not done yet."

More Chapters