Era of Players: Death God

Noah's sharp eyes scanned his surroundings as he walked through the snow-covered landscape. The first floor of this new dungeon was unlike the last—a vast, white world of towering mountains, endless frost-covered trees, and an eerie, unnatural silence.

Despite the chilling temperature, he felt nothing. His body had long since adapted to extreme conditions, and his layered clothing provided enough warmth. Snow crunched under his boots as he moved, his Presence Detection skill activated, searching for any sign of life.

But there was nothing.

No monsters, no sounds, not even the whisper of the wind. It was as if he had stepped into a frozen world devoid of life.

Realizing he wouldn't find any enemies immediately, Noah decided to locate a suitable resting place to assess his status.

After some time, he found the perfect spot—a secluded cliffside alcove, hidden between jagged rocks, overlooking a frozen lake far below. A massive pine tree grew from the edge of the cliff, its thick branches heavy with snow, providing natural cover from above. The alcove itself was a smooth, hollowed-out space within the rock, as if nature had carved out a resting place just for him.

A small waterfall nearby had frozen solid, creating a mesmerizing display of ice formations, with long icicles hanging like crystal daggers. The frozen lake reflected the pale light of the sky, creating an almost ethereal glow across the snowy landscape.

Inside the alcove, the rock walls blocked most of the wind, making it an ideal resting place. Snow had lightly dusted the floor, but it was otherwise dry. With a few adjustments, it would make for a perfect temporary base.

Noah smirked. "This will do."

He dropped his bag, brushing away some snow, then sat down cross-legged, finally pulling up his status window.

Before moving forward, he needed to check his progress. This dungeon was different—it was too quiet.

And in a dungeon, silence was often more dangerous than the roar of a monster.

■Status Window

Noah Adler

Rank: Master

Level: 64

Class: Angel of Death

Title: Goblin Slayer

☆ Stats ☆

Mana: 197

Strength: 200

Intelligence: 155

Dexterity: 195

Luck: 130

Stat Points: 4

Coins: 40,060 G

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☆Skills☆

Common Skills: {Basic Swordsmanship},{Basic Close Combat} {Presence Detection} {Master of Weapons} {Mana's Armor Lvl 1} {Shadow Steps Level 1} {Blood Flowers} {Splitting Ripple Slash LVl 1} {Fangs of Insanity} {Flame Art} {Telekinesis Lv2} {Unprecedented Sense LV1} {Super Regeneration Lv2} [Basic Poison Resistance] [Mind Acceleration]

Exclusive Skills: {Seal of Death} {Night of Death} {Lord of the Night} {Hellfire} {Soul Absorption}

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☆Runes ☆

{Basic Strength},{Basic Speed} {Angel of Death} {Darkness}

■

Noah smirked as he examined his progress. His stats had grown considerably, and the effects of Soul Ascension had given him an edge that few could match. Strength had broken past 200, Dexterity was nearing that mark, and Mana reserves had grown significantly.

His exclusive skills were even more impressive. Soul Absorption—a skill that granted him power from his fallen enemies—was quickly proving to be one of his most valuable assets. Every battle made him stronger, his potential seemingly limitless.

The runes he'd acquired were also noteworthy. Darkness Rune allowed him to blend into the shadows and manipulate them to his will, making him even deadlier in combat. Combined with his Angel of Death rune, he had an arsenal that could overwhelm most opponents.

He glanced at his remaining stat points—4 in total.

"Where should I put them?" he mused.

Strength was already high, meaning his raw physical attacks were powerful enough. Dexterity was just as important for speed and reaction time, but Mana was becoming increasingly necessary as he relied more on his magic-based abilities.

After a moment of thought, he distributed the points:

• +2 to Mana (boosting his energy reserves for extended battles)

• +1 to Dexterity (sharpening his reflexes and agility)

• +1 to Intelligence (enhancing his magical abilities and mana control)

Satisfied, he closed the status window.

The frozen wasteland around him remained eerily silent. The fact that he hadn't encountered any monsters yet was unusual.

Something was off about this dungeon.

Noah exhaled, watching his breath mist in the cold air. "Time to move."

He rose from his resting spot, his black sword Nemesis gleaming as he unsheathed it. The quiet wouldn't last forever, and he intended to be ready when the dungeon finally revealed its dangers.

He was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something important. Sitting back down, he summoned the system store and navigated to the skills section, searching for something useful. After browsing for a while, he finally found a skill worth purchasing.

Thanks to the discount coupon he had earned from clearing the previous dungeon, he could afford the skill with his current gold balance.

[Skill Acquired]

Name: Giant's Blood

Rank: Epic

Description: The blood of a giant possessing both immense power and intelligence.

Effects:

• Increases Strength and Intelligence stats.

• Strength and Intelligence +30.

• Grants an additional skill: Gigantification (Unlocks upon reaching 150 in Strength and Intelligence).

Without hesitation, he bought the skill and was ready to consume it.

As soon as Noah consumed the Giant's Blood, an unbearable heat surged through his veins, like molten metal replacing his blood. His body trembled violently, muscles spasming as an explosion of power ignited within him.

"Gh…ahhh!" He gritted his teeth, gripping his arms as pain wracked his entire being. Every fiber of his body stretched, twisted, and strengthened, as if his very essence was being rewritten.

His bones creaked and cracked, expanding ever so slightly, his muscles swelling with raw power. The pain in his skull was unbearable as if something inside his mind was breaking apart and reconstructing itself anew. The power of the Giants was taking root in him.

Minutes passed, the agony fading, replaced by an overwhelming sense of power.

Noah exhaled sharply, his breath steaming in the cold air. His hands clenched into fists, and immediately, he felt the difference—a newfound strength that seemed to radiate from his very core.

He pulled up his Status Window:

■ Status Window

Noah Adler

Rank: Master

Level: 64

Class: Angel of Death

Title: Goblin Slayer

☆ Stats ☆

• Mana: 197

• Strength: 230 (+30)

• Intelligence: 185 (+30)

• Dexterity: 195

• Luck: 130

Stat Points: 0

Coins: 20,060 G

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☆ Newly Acquired Skill ☆

Gigantification [Epic] – Temporarily enlarges the user, increasing physical strength and durability exponentially.

Noah smirked.

"This… is insane."

His Strength and Intelligence had skyrocketed, pushing him to an entirely new level. And now, with Gigantification added to his arsenal, he could temporarily become a true giant on the battlefield, crushing enemies with overwhelming force.

He flexed his fingers, feeling the pulsing power coursing through his body. The cold around him seemed insignificant now—his body burned with newfound strength.

"Now then…" He stretched his limbs, rolling his shoulders. "Time to test this out."

Without hesitation, Noah leapt forward, heading deeper into the icy dungeon, eager to put his new power to the test.