Eru, formerly Rey, was now wearing the identity of a dead Searcher.

He walked beside his two new companions as they left the Dungeon of Malice behind, his expression carefully arranged into one of pleasant relief.

Inside, his mind operated with the cold precision that had kept him alive through three years in the Labyrinth’s depths.

’Success,’ he assessed clinically. ’The integration proceeds according to plan. I’ve confirmed that there aren’t any complications or suspicions. Just gratitude and opportunity... as expected.’

He allowed himself a moment of satisfaction while maintaining his external mask of humble competence.

The past week had been intensive preparation for this exact outcome. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

***

[One Week Earlier]

Rey had emerged from the passage connecting the Labyrinth of Darkness to the Dungeon of Malice with caution bordering on paranoia.

The Prince of Darkness resided within his soul, undetectable even to advanced mystical perception, but Rey himself remained vulnerable to observation and investigation.

The transition between territories had been jarring.

The Labyrinth existed in twisted space that defied normal geography—ancient, corrupted, saturated with Chaos Energy that made reality itself feel unstable.

But the Dungeon of Malice, despite its ominous name, operated on principles that suggested order and structure.

The passages were carved rather than organic.

The ambient mystical energy flowed in patterns that indicated deliberate design rather than chaotic accumulation. And most importantly—

There were people here.

Actual living practitioners exploring the dungeon with professional methodology and organized teams.

Rey had immediately withdrawn to concealed position, his enhanced perception allowing him to observe without being detected.

He needed information before attempting integration into what was clearly an established society with its own customs and expectations.

The first group he observed consisted of six Searchers—the term they used for dungeon explorers—ranging in age from late teens to middle age. Their equipment was well-maintained, their techniques operated at Low to Mid Sequences, and their coordination suggested extensive team experience.

Rey watched them navigate through passages he could traverse with casual ease, fighting corrupted entities he could eliminate without effort, celebrating treasure discoveries that seemed almost trivial compared to what he’d accumulated in the Labyrinth.

But most importantly, he listened to their conversations.

"Think we’ll reach Silver rank after this expedition?" the youngest asked hopefully.

"Depends on what we recover," the team leader replied. "But your Spirit Art has improved significantly. GuildMaster will definitely notice."

"Just don’t get too confident," an older woman cautioned. "The Dungeon of Malice isn’t as dangerous as deeper territories, but complacency kills."

They discussed Guild politics, ranking systems, payment structures, and social dynamics that revealed a complex civilization operating with bureaucratic sophistication.

Rey absorbed it all with meticulous attention.

The Land of Aether—as they called this territory—operated under governance of the Five Ancient Holy Gods.

Angels served as administrative and military elite, with Aether practitioners forming the bulk of society.

Magic—or "Ancient Majik" as they termed it—required either divine blessing, formal education, or exceptional natural talent to manifest.

Nephilim, like Rey’s current appearance, existed in a complicated social position.

They were not actively persecuted like in Nether territories, but regarded with suspicion and relegated to lower social classes unless they demonstrated exceptional capability or divine favor.

Some pitied them.

Others looked down on them.

However, they still possessed rights and were simply treated as unequal or ’tainted’ to pure Aethers.

Naturally, displaying great ability as a Nephilim was the exception to this.

It meant one was blessed by the Gods.

Perfect.

Rey could work with that framework.

Over the next three days, Rey observed seven different Searcher teams, mapping their behavior patterns and internalizing the language, customs, and expectations of Aether society.

He learned that Dungeons like the Malice served as training grounds and resource sources for developing practitioners.

The corrupt entities within—manifestations of residual Chaos Energy that seeped from the ancient link connecting the two territories—provided combat experience while treasures left behind offered economic opportunities.

Guilds organized Searcher activities, providing equipment, training, and mission coordination in exchange for fees and loyalty.

Ranking systems created clear hierarchies based on demonstrated capability. And social mobility existed for those willing to risk their lives in dungeon exploration.

It was a system Rey could exploit.

But first, he needed an identity.

His current appearance—black and white Nephilim hair, gray eyes—would draw attention regardless of what story he constructed. Better to claim that identity openly while crafting a backstory that explained his capabilities without revealing their true source.

He needed clothing appropriate to Aether fashion. He also required documentation or at least connections that would vouch for his existence. And most importantly, he needed to eliminate any evidence that might contradict whatever identity he established.

The solution presented itself on the fourth day.

A solo Searcher—male, early twenties, Nephilim heritage based on his mixed-color hair—entered the dungeon alone.

His equipment was worn but functional, his techniques operated at Low Sequence level, and his cautious movements suggested someone accustomed to working without backup.

A perfect target.

Rey followed him for six hours, analyzing patterns and waiting for an optimal opportunity.

During this process, he learned of the man’s harsh childhood, secluded personality, and his grand ambitions. Rey got to know how he wanted to make it big as a Searcher so he could return to his remote town as a hero.

This meant two main things.

One was that this person’s death would not greatly affect the situation of nearby cities.

Secondly, he could take on the identity.

The Searcher was skilled enough to handle normal dungeon threats but not exceptional enough to detect Rey’s concealed observation.

When the man stopped to rest in a supposedly secure chamber, Rey made his move.

Not direct assault—that would leave mystical traces that might be investigated. Instead, Rey triggered a carefully arranged "accident."

A structural weakness in the ceiling, destabilized through precisely applied entropy.

Falling stone that crushed the Searcher before he could react effectively. Death that appeared completely natural within a dangerous dungeon environment.

Rey waited thirty minutes to ensure no complications, then approached the corpse.

The body showed extensive damage from the collapse, but the man’s personal effects remained intact. Rey stripped the clothing carefully, noting the style and wear patterns. He collected the Searcher’s identification documents—sparse, but sufficient to establish basic legitimacy. And most importantly—

He activated a Soul Art technique through his Scroll.

"Soul Art, Dominion Technique, Sequence #3: Memory Echo."

The technique operated on principles that would horrify most practitioners—extracting residual consciousness from recently deceased souls and parsing them for information. It was invasive, ethically questionable, and completely necessary for Rey’s purposes.

But... this was only the beginning.