Odyssey of the Blind God Chapter 3 Dungeon

Nial's mother found herself questioning if her ears were playing tricks on her.

This realization caused her to fixate on her son with a bewildered gaze.

"You... what did you do?!"

Her weariness vanished in an instant, and Nial perceived the rapid approach of footsteps rushing directly towards him.

Only a moment passed before he felt the gentle touch of his mother's hand on his forehead.

A comforting sensation flowed into his mind, bringing immediate refreshment.

This feeling was a result of the mana that had entered his body.

His mother, believing he was in distress, had instinctively channeled a small amount of her mana into him.

However, she withdrew it shortly thereafter and he heard her soft thud as she collapsed to the floor.

Her legs abruptly failed her, and he heard her weeping uncontrollably, her stifled sobs piercing his ears.

"How is this possible... no.. since when can you sense mana again?? Why did you keep this from us?"

Her emotional turmoil and bewilderment were palpable, and Nial could only offer a contrite smile, contemplating his response.

"I experienced the same recurring nightmare, and upon waking, I found I could sense mana. It was shortly after that I awakened my origin as well…"

Nial recounted the truth, unwilling to deceive his mother.

Yet, he deliberately omitted certain details, which left him feeling a pang of guilt.

The exact specifics of his dream, including the celestial palace and the events within it, had never been shared with anyone.

For some reason, it didn't feel appropriate to disclose them.

Ultimately, he suspected that revealing the complete truth might inadvertently place others at a disadvantage.

This assumption lacked concrete evidence, nor did he require any.

Nial simply trusted his instincts and inner perception, as he always had.

Rising from the bed, his feet met the coarse wooden planks that formed the flooring of their home. Leaning forward, he reached out and enveloped his mother in a tight embrace.

He could keenly sense her current emotional state.

Therefore, no words were necessary; his actions spoke for him.

On one hand, his mother rejoiced in Nial's origin awakening, which signified an elevation in his societal standing.

Conversely, individuals with awakened origins who were otherwise incapacitated were, in rare instances, subjected to harsher treatment than even lower-class citizens.

This was because those with awakened origins were designated as humanity's protectors, while little concern was given to those who had not awakened theirs.

Consequently, Nial's unique condition was bound to draw attention.

Nonetheless, Maline was ecstatic, recognizing that Nial would now possess a significantly enhanced perception of his surroundings.

This newfound ability would foster greater independence, alleviating her concerns about leaving him unattended for extended periods.

He could now accomplish far more, venturing out independently without the need for his white cane or specialized directional aids for the visually impaired navigating crowded thoroughfares.

It was even conceivable for him to live autonomously in the future and learn to defend himself against formidable beasts!

One could argue that the awakening of his origin enabled Nial to lead a life nearly approximating normalcy in an era saturated with peril, dread, and interdimensional portals.

This significantly reduced the anxieties burdening his parents and propelled his self-assurance to unprecedented heights.

The same could be asserted regarding the guilt his mother had carried for fifteen long years.

She had been unable to offer him support when he had most desperately needed it.

Ever since the day he vanished, Maline had lamented permitting him to play unsupervised at the playground.

Had she not left him to his own devices, she might have intervened during the dungeon incident and rescued him promptly.

Even though it wasn't her fault for performing a perfectly ordinary action, the thought that she could have altered Nial's destiny by choosing a different location for his play tormented her for over a decade.

All the memories and the overwhelming guilt that had weighed her down finally found release through the flow of sorrowful yet joyous tears streaming down her face.

He remained silent as her tears began to permeate his shirt.

He simply held her close, only to detect the sound of another set of footsteps entering his chamber.

He instinctively lifted his head, sensing a familiar presence. A faint smile graced his lips as he greeted,

"Hey, Dad!"

Miles, his father, stood framed in the doorway, observing the mother-son pair with a puzzled expression.

Maline was weeping profusely, while Nial radiated more happiness and vitality than she had ever seen.

It was almost as though they had reverted to a state akin to fifteen years prior. Perhaps, he even seemed more joyful than in his early childhood.

However, this did little to explain his wife's current deluge of tears. As he studied them, confused, Nial elucidated the situation with a beaming smile.

A moment later, Miles's bewilderment evaporated, replaced by profound relief as he moved to embrace his wife and son.

He embraced them both tightly, dropping to his knees with a radiant smile, tears streaming down his face.

Joy filled the small room as their laughter mingled with sobs.

With his origin now awakened, Nial's future seemed far brighter than his parents had once feared.

Nial felt a surge of exhilaration; his entire life had been transformed in just one night!

Just last night, he had dreaded the recurring dream, never imagining that a situation like this could possibly occur.

However, this very turnaround left him feeling a touch anxious.

‘What exactly is this seed? It consumed the Goddess’s divine energy like a mere appetizer… It won't harm my body, will it?’

The unknown nature of the black seed was unsettling, yet no immediate ill effects were apparent.

For the moment, Nial couldn't sense anything amiss.

In fact, the black seed seemed to be directly linked to his mana veins, much like his mana core.

This, too, was something Nial couldn't quite comprehend.

Reflecting on the changes within him, he lost track of time.

His thoughts were interrupted when his father released them and hesitantly spoke, "We have some savings... perhaps enough for a low-grade ability crystal, if you wish... it’s better than nothing, after all…"

Nial was taken aback by his father's offer and immediately shook his head.

"I don't need anything. You saved those funds for Sabrina's medicine. I don't want to take anything just because I awakened my origin!"

Upon awakening their origin, Originals could absorb knowledge from specific crystals found within dungeons.

These ability crystals conferred powers comparable to those bound directly to an Original's mana core.

Through this binding process, individuals could acquire diverse abilities, such as elemental control, superhuman strength, or even defying gravity to fly.

Ability crystals seemingly made everything possible!

The awakening of an Origin initiated the formation of mana veins and a nascent mana core within the body.

This transformed a seemingly ordinary human into a superhuman, elevating their social standing overnight simply by gaining the ability to actively absorb and store mana.

This was precisely the case for his parents.

Despite their poverty, they were classified as middle-class once they awakened as Originals.

However, awakening didn't instantly guarantee immense wealth.

Talent, strength, and persistence were the true determinants of accumulating riches and earning respect.

After all, if one possessed the requisite talent, strength would naturally follow.

This understanding explained his father's embarrassment regarding their current circumstances.

He yearned to provide his children with a brighter future, but their dire economic situation made it impossible.

Their meager savings were insufficient to afford his son his first ability crystal, an event that would have brought him immense pride.

"I'm sorry we can't support you financially…"

He sounded genuinely regretful, and Nial's sharp ears detected the faint sound of his father clenching his fist.

Miles, however, realized that even a weak ability would not truly aid his son.

In fact, it might even hinder Nial’s future progress.

This allowed individuals with powerful abilities to advance more rapidly, without relying on others.

Conversely, weak abilities offered little practical benefit.

As a newly awakened Original, one could initially bind only a single ability.

The number of abilities one could possess increased solely with the Original's growing strength!

Consequently, Originals needed to continuously grow stronger to acquire more abilities, which in turn further amplified their power.

This fundamental principle underscored the critical importance of a strong start with a potent first ability to pave the way for acquiring greater powers and strength!

"We can simply work harder, you know… You don't have to worry about our finances!" His father attempted to reassure him, but Nial's solemn expression silenced him, as he recognized Nial could easily see through his words.

Both of Nial's parents were already venturing into low-ranked dungeons, toiling for over 12 hours daily to hunt beasts and amass wealth.

Upon returning, they would then attend to Sabrina, whose condition had worsened considerably since her diagnosis with a mysterious ailment.

With this understanding, Nial strove for self-sufficiency, minimizing the strain on his parents through his own small efforts.

Much of his time was spent in their modest backyard, a space where he had established a small training area for both practice and recreation.

Even without the ability to sense mana, Nial refused to succumb to despair regarding his own situation.

He recognized the necessity of his responsibility, especially when his parents left him to look after his sister.

In the unlikely event that a rogue monster breached a newly formed dungeon, Nial knew he would have to defend his sister with every ounce of his being!

Such an occurrence was exceedingly rare, given the stringent measures the government implemented for dungeons within the shelter, ensuring meticulous control.

Nevertheless, the possibility, however slim, still existed!

Consequently, he trained his physical body to its utmost capacity, enabling him to skillfully wield the gift he received on his eighteenth birthday!

His birthday present was a white cane, a unique item possessing a special characteristic – it could double as a spear!

Crafted from a material incapable of holding even a speck of mana and quite inexpensive, Nial found himself unbothered by its composition.

This was primarily because he had been incapable of sensing mana at the time of its reception.

Therefore, having a weapon for combat was more than sufficient for his needs back then.

Furthermore, driven by a fascination with blind spearmanship, he had already attained a degree of proficiency.

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