My SSS-Rank Innate skill: Infinite Adaptation core

He could take his time inside the dungeon, focus on leveling up without worrying about anything else, and still have enough time left in the real world to visit the library afterward.

With that thought, Nova and Rieka stepped into the dungeon.

The moment he crossed the entrance

Ding!

A system panel appeared in front of him, making his eyes widen slightly.

[Dungeon Entry Confirmed.]

[Re-evaluating External Quest...]

[Host Potential Detected: High.]

[Innate Skill Influence: Infinite Adaptation Core.]

[Difficulty Adjustment in Progress...]

[Warning: Mission Difficulty Updated.]

[System Mission: Power Ascension]

[Difficulty: Hard → Impossible]

[Objective: Clear the dungeon]

[Rewards: ???]

[Penalty: Death]

[Note: This mission has been adjusted based on host capability. Performance will be strictly assessed.]

Nova froze ,His eyes locked onto the panel.

What the fuck is this...? Power Ascension Impossible difficulty, Penalty death.

His expression stiffened. Clearing the dungeon itself was already dangerous but this? Impossible? Just because of his innate skill?

Is this system trying to kill me?

Why the fuck are you trying to kill me? he snapped internally.

[Host, I only convey the quests to you. It is not under my control.]

Nova clenched his jaw.

”Then how the hell do you explain this?” he replied back. ”I haven’t even killed a rabbit before. I have zero experience and now I get an impossible mission?”

[Host’s reaction is valid... but it is not in my control.]

Nova didn’t know what to say now.

”What happened, Nova ? Why did you stop?” Rieka’s voice pulled him back. Nova exhaled slowly, forcing his expression back to normal.

”No... it’s nothing. I’m coming.” He stepped forward again. For now he pushed the problem aside. First, he needed to understand , what had changed inside this dungeon.

Then another message appeared.

Ding!

[Mission Information:]

- Total Floors: 4

- Objective: Clear all floors and eliminate the Boss

[Note:]

Difficulty will increase with each floor. Remain on guard.

[Evaluation:]

Rewards will be determined based on performance.

[Good Luck, Host.]

Nova snorted lightly. ”Yeah... like hell that helps.”He glanced toward Rieka, who was tightening her armor, preparing herself.

Then the ground began to shake.

Violently.

The sudden tremor caught them off guard, but Nova’s body reacted instinctively. His Lightning Steps activated subconsciously as he moved forward and grabbed Rieka, preventing her from losing her balance.

”What the hell is happening? An earthquake?” Rieka asked, her voice sharp with confusion.

The shaking continued for a few moments then slowly came to a stop. Silence followed. And then a heavy sound echoed.

The gate to the first floor of the dungeon opened. Darkness poured out from within.

Thick , unnatural, The interior was pitch black but within that darkness , multiple red eyes flickered into existence. Watching. Waiting.

[Quest: Survive the First Floor]

So this was the first floor, Nova thought as he observed his surroundings. Only then did he realize he was still holding Rieka in his arms, her soft body pressed lightly against his chest.

She quickly stepped back, freeing herself, and although Nova couldn’t see it clearly in the dim light, there was a faint hint of redness on her cheeks.

Both of them shifted their focus forward and began moving slowly toward the gate. ”Be careful... something doesn’t feel right here,” Nova said in a low voice. He couldn’t tell her the truth that this situation had escalated because of him but he made a silent decision that he wouldn’t let her die because of it.

Rieka nodded, her expression turning serious. ”Yeah... you’re right. My senses are telling me something strange is going on.”

As they approached the gate, the atmosphere changed. The air grew thick and heavy, carrying a faint scent of blood mixed with something unnatural.

It pressed against their senses, sending chills down their spines. The deeper they stepped in, the stronger that oppressive feeling became, as if the dungeon itself was watching them.

After a moment, dim light began to spread across the room, revealing what lay ahead. And what they saw stood waiting for them.

In the dim glow of the dungeon floor, wolf-like beasts stood before them. Their silver fur glistened faintly, but they looked nothing like the simple wolves Nova had seen on TV. Their claws were large and curved, their fangs sharp and oversized, with saliva dripping from their mouths as they growled.

And then they charged, Like a flood.

”GET READY!” Nova shouted.

”Grrrr... Grrrr...”

”Howwwwl... Howwwwl...”

A tidal wave of silver wolves surged toward Nova and Rieka, their snarling faces illuminated by the faint glow of the dungeon stones. The ground trembled beneath the pounding of their claws, and their bloodthirsty howls merged into a single, guttural roar that made the walls shudder.

Nova tightened his grip on the sword. For a moment, his body froze as death loomed right in front of him. The killing intent was suffocating, pressing against his mind, threatening to crush his will.

But if he didn’t fight he would die. And if death was coming anyway he refused to go down without a fight, If possible , he would at least save Rieka.

Without waiting any longer, Nova charged forward. Rieka moved alongside him, her claws gleaming as she leapt into the oncoming horde. Despite the fear clawing at his heart, Nova didn’t hesitate. There was no time for doubt, no room for hesitation.

With all his strength, he swung his sword.

The blade tore through the first beast’s open mouth, splitting it apart like a ripe fruit. Warm blood sprayed across his face as the creature collapsed instantly.

For a brief moment, Nova was surprised. He hadn’t expected that single strike to deal such devastating damage to a beast that looked so dangerous.

But then it clicked.

He had never truly tested his strength in this world before ,he didn’t even know his own limits.

Ding!

[You have killed a Level 2 Lesser Wolfang.]

[+EXP Earned.]

[You have leveled up!]

[All Stats Increased by 1.]

[You have gained 1 Stat Point.]

There was no time to think.

No time to process.

Another beast lunged at him, but Nova reacted instantly. Lightning surged beneath his feet as he activated his movement technique, shifting his position in a flash. He kicked the incoming beast in the gut, sending it crashing into two others behind it.

Beside him, Rieka moved like a predator. Her claws tore through the silver beasts with brutal efficiency, far more easily than Nova . It was clear her level was higher than theirs.

”Shit!” Nova cursed as a sharp claw cut across his forearm, leaving a shallow gash. Blood began to drip down his arm as pain flared, making his muscles twitch. Still he didn’t let go of his sword.

Ignoring the pain, he focused entirely on the swarm in front of him. Thankfully, his Pain Resistance skill dulled the sensation enough for him to keep fighting.

But the numbers were overwhelming.

There were too many, It was impossible to block every attack. All he could do was avoid fatal strikes anything aimed at his neck, chest, or vital points.

He swung his sword again and again.

No technique. No structure, Just raw instinct.

Ding!

[You have learned Vertical Slash (Basic).]

[You have learned Horizontal Slash (Basic).]

[You have learned Diagonal Slash (Basic).]

Nova ’s eyes sharpened, so this is how my innate skill works. He sidestepped another lunging beast, lightning bursting beneath his feet as he pivoted sharply.

His blade flashed and the creature’s head was severed cleanly. Blood erupted like a wave, drenching him completely. Before it could settle, he drove his foot forward, crushing the skull of another beast beneath it.

[You have killed a Level 3 Lesser Wolfang.]

[You have killed a Level 2 Lesser Wolfang.]

[+EXP Earned.]

[You have leveled up!]

[All Stats Increased by 1.]

[You have gained 1 Stat Point.]

Nova didn’t stop.

Not even for a second.

He ignored the wounds piling up across his body, pushing through the pain as his sword continued to rise and fall. With every strike, every slash, something inside him began to change. The fear that once held him back was being replaced slowly, violently by rage.

Hatred. These beasts weren’t just enemies.

They wanted him dead. And they weren’t stopping.

No matter how many he killed, more kept coming. From the shadows, from the depths of the dungeon, from places he couldn’t even see. Their numbers didn’t decrease , they multiplied. And with each wave, their levels grew higher. But so did his. So did Rieka’s .

Rieka moved like a storm beside him, her claws ripping through the wolfangs without hesitation. Yet even she couldn’t hide her shock anymore. The beasts weren’t just endless their strength was increasing with every new wave.

And then , there was Nova. The boy she thought had just awakened. He was keeping up. Barely but still. Even while struggling, even while bleeding, he was cutting them down again and again.

But what truly shocked her was something else. His growth. Every time he killed a beast, his strength spiked unnaturally. Leveling up did increase one’s abilities, but not to this extent. Not this fast.

It wasn’t normal. In dungeons, people fought for hours sometimes days just to gain a single level . But Nova was breaking that rule. Completely. Leveling up at a speed that defied logic itself.

Nova’s blade danced slashing, stabbing, slicing throats, tearing through flesh, opening guts as he moved in a relentless frenzy. His adrenaline surged like wildfire through his veins, each heartbeat louder than the last. Every kill fed the storm building inside him, changing him with each passing moment, stripping away the last traces of fear, mercy, and even pain.

Ding!

[Your basic sword slashes have leveled up to (Intermediate).]

[Your intermediate sword slashes have evolved into a skill: Sword Might.]

[Rank: C]

He didn’t have the time to read the messages. But he felt it. Instantly.

The difference in his movements, the weight behind his strikes, the precision in his swings everything sharpened. His blade no longer moved wildly. It carried intent. Technique. Control.

He kept cutting through the beasts, now guided by instinct and skill combined. Blood sprayed across his face, warm and sticky, staining his vision but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t stop.

Thanks for reading.....