The violet light of the crystalline chandeliers dimmed slightly.

The manor recognized the passage of time. It was morning on the surface world.

Kaelen stood by the large glass window of the master bedroom. He looked out at his new domain, the shadow barrier held strong against the swirling tenth-floor miasma. The two massive gargoyles stood perfectly still at the obsidian gates, an absolute and terrifying defense.

He turned back toward the center of the room.

Seraphina was still deep asleep. She lay tangled in the dark silk sheets. The exhaustion of the complete Mana-Binding ritual had drained her completely.

Her skin glowed with a healthy, pure vitality. The sickening yellow holy magic was completely gone from her veins. She belonged entirely to the Abyss now.

Kaelen pulled up his system interface.

He had 90,000 Dungeon Points remaining, so he decided to open the [Dungeon Shop].

"I can’t walk into the capital looking like Kaelen Vance," he muttered softly to himself. "The Church registered my face when I was an F-rank squire. They threw me down here to die. If I return from the dead, the Inquisitors will hunt me immediately."

He needed a perfect disguise. He filtered the massive shop inventory for stealth and illusion artifacts.

[Purchase: Weaver’s Shadow-Ring. Cost: 20,000 DP. Confirm?]

"Confirm," Kaelen whispered.

A sleek, matte-black ring materialized directly in Kaelen’s palm. He slid it onto his left index finger.

[Item Equipped: Weaver’s Shadow-Ring.]

[Passive Effect: Conceals true Level and Class from all scanning magic below Mythic-Tier.]

[Active Effect: Minor facial and vocal alteration.]

Kaelen channeled a pulse of his void mana into the ring.

He walked over to a tall mirror in the corner of the bedroom. The reflection staring back at him actively shifted, his sharp jawline widening slightly. His distinct violet eyes, the absolute mark of a Mana-Binder, faded into a dull, mercenary-like brown. His voice grew slightly deeper.

Kaelen looked completely ordinary. He looked like a wandering, low-level rogue. It was a perfect camouflage.

"You’re leaving...?"

Kaelen turned. Seraphina was awake.

She sat up slowly, clutching the dark silk sheet to her bare chest. Her golden eyes were clear and incredibly sharp. She looked at him with absolute devotion, but there was a flicker of genuine panic in her voice.

"I’m going to the surface," Kaelen confirmed. He walked back to the edge of the bed.

"Take me with you," she pleaded instantly. She reached out and grabbed his hand tightly. "I am your Vanguard. My place is at your side. I will protect you."

"You can’t protect me up there," Kaelen said gently. He squeezed her warm hand. "The Church has thousands of portraits of their High Saintess. The moment you step into the sunlight, a massive holy crusade will descend upon us."

Seraphina flinched. She lowered her gaze, knew he was completely right. Her face was too famous.

"Furthermore, my Sanctuary needs a guard while I’m gone," Kaelen continued. He opened his interface and transferred a portion of his administrative rights directly to her.

[System Prompt: Vanguard Seraphina has been granted Sub-Master Authority.]

"With this authority, you can control the gargoyles and shadow barrier now..." Kaelen commanded. "If any monster break through the tenth floor while I’m gone, you just slaughter them."

Seraphina’s golden eyes widened. The panic faded instantly, replaced by a fierce, glowing pride. He trusted her with his very home. He trusted her with the Core.

"I will not let you down, my King," she vowed. "I will guard the Core with my life."

"See that you do," Kaelen smirked. He leaned down and kissed her deeply. Her lips were soft and pliant, completely yielding to his dominance.

He broke the kiss and turned to leave. He picked up his chipped hunting knife and threw a tattered black cloak over his shoulders.

"I will return in a few days with food, proper clothes, and a weapon worthy of your strength," Kaelen promised.

He walked out of the bedroom. The heavy obsidian doors shut behind him.

Kaelen left the manor and stood before the massive, pulsing Primordial Core.

Climbing thousands of feet of stairs back up the Chasm would take days. He didn’t have that kind of time to waste. He was the Dungeon Master now, he has authority to manipulating the rules of the environment.

He opened the [Construction] tab and navigated directly to the utility section.

[Purchase: Abyssal Waypoint (Surface Exit). Cost: 30,000 DP. Confirm?]

"Confirm."

The earth rumbled heavily. The Primordial Core pulsed with blinding violet light.

A massive, circular rune carved itself directly into the stone floor at Kaelen’s feet. It glowed with dense, swirling void magic. It linked directly to the hidden entrance of the Chasm on the surface world.

Kaelen stepped into the center of the rune.

"Take me up," he commanded the system.

The void magic erupted. The world dissolved into a violent blur of purple streaks. The immense, crushing pressure of the deep dungeon vanished instantly from his shoulders.

When Kaelen’s vision cleared, he was no longer in the dark.

He stood inside a shallow cave. Outside the cave entrance, bright sunlight nearly blinded him. The air smelled of pine needles and fresh rain, an extreme contrast to the blood and rotting monsters of the Chasm.

He stepped out of the cave.

The vast, sprawling forest of the upper realm stretched before him. In the distance, massive white stone walls reached high into the sky. It was the capital city of Aethelgard.

It was the very heart of the Holy Church.

Kaelen pulled the hood of his black cloak over his head. He adjusted the Weaver’s Shadow-Ring on his finger, ensuring his disguise was flawless.

"Kaelen Vance died at the bottom of the Chasm," he whispered to the wind. "My name is Vane now. Let’s see how much gold a dead man can make."

He began the long walk toward the towering city gates.

He needed to register at the Crimson Aegis Guild. He needed to secure a massive supply line for his new dungeon. The second arc of his life had officially begun, and he was ready to conquer the light from the shadows.