The Dimensional Shop and Its Master

“What is this…?”

I had merely lifted my hand lightly.

Along with the unknown message that appeared before my eyes, my body moved instinctively.

That alone.

Was enough to completely block the movement of Cerberus, which had been charging at me while drooling in excitement.

“Whimper!”

A pathetic cry escaped from its mouth.

Just moments ago, it had been roaring ferociously even as its eye was destroyed.

But now.

Between me and the beast, a thin transparent barrier had formed.

“…A shield?”

-To be precise, Absolute Shield.

“What?”

Absolute Shield.

Also known as an absolute defensive barrier.

It was the most powerful defensive magic a hunter could use.

A magic that someone like me—who had only just awakened, who couldn’t even use magic before—should never have been able to cast.

For a moment, I wondered if the staff watching from above had stopped the simulation.

But I soon realized.

The caster of this magic was me.

“I… used this?”

-Of course, customer.

Something warm, like gentle water, flowed around me.

Even though I had never felt it directly before, I had studied enough to recognize it instantly.

Mana.

And more than that.

It was gathering at my command, forming the Absolute Shield.

“Whine…”

The beast, startled, shook its head and stood up again.

The moment our eyes met.

I instinctively spoke.

“Sit.”

“Whimper!”

Thud!!

Cerberus collapsed to the ground again.

But something was wrong.

Its legs were twisted at an unnatural angle.

As if some invisible force was pressing it down.

It couldn’t even lift its head properly, writhing in pain.

-Your adaptability is impressive. You used a shield instinctively, and now even Dragon Speech.

Dragon Speech.

Wasn’t that the power of dragons from fantasy stories?

At that thought, I recalled the system message I had seen earlier.

[Kataxilis – Dark Dragon of the Black Mountains]

I didn’t know what dimensional stones were.

But I could guess.

Right now.

The power of that Dark Dragon was dwelling within me.

“So this is dimensional magic?”

-Correct. Though I would appreciate it if you called it the Dimensional Shop.

This was insane.

The power of a dragon—the strongest among monsters.

And I could use it.

I had just awakened.

Yet I had already subdued Cerberus this easily.

Even after experiencing it myself, it still didn’t feel real.

-Are you planning to leave that creature alive?

“As if.”

Just moments ago, it had been trying to tear me apart.

And besides.

It was just a simulated monster.

There was no reason to spare it.

If anything.

It was the perfect test subject for my new power.

Slowly.

I raised my hand toward it.

Sensing danger, it struggled desperately despite the crushing force.

But it couldn’t break free.

“W-Whimper!”

It cried out toward me.

I couldn’t understand its words.

But it sounded like it was begging for its life.

“Dark Breath.”

A dragon’s unique ability.

And now.

It manifested through me.

Rumble!

Each dragon’s breath was different.

Fire dragons breathed flames hotter than lava.

Blue dragons unleashed torrents of water.

And the Dark Dragon’s breath.

Drip—

Gurgle—

“Graaah…”

It carried a deadly poison.

Not just living beings.

Even the ground and surrounding terrain melted.

Cerberus dissolved along with the ground it stood on.

Soon.

Nothing remained.

The destruction was absolute.

The poison was so strong that even the simulator malfunctioned.

And just like that.

My left arm, which had been torn off, returned to normal.

“…This is insane.”

Defeating Cerberus didn’t move me much.

What amazed me was the sheer power of that attack.

As I stared at my hand in disbelief.

More messages appeared.

[Quest ‘Great First Step’ completed.]

[100,000 points acquired.]

[The power of ‘Kataxilis’ has disappeared.]

[???]

[???]

[???]

“The power… is gone?”

-Did you think you could use a dragon’s power forever?

Just like the message said.

The overwhelming power vanished instantly.

Even the vast knowledge that had filled my mind disappeared.

After experiencing such immense strength.

My current body felt unbearably weak.

More importantly.

“Who are you?”

-Ah, my introduction is long overdue.

Finally.

I asked the question I had been holding back.

The voice had appeared right after my awakening.

So it had to be connected to my ability.

-I am the one who possesses everything in this world. The master of the great Dimensional Shop.

As the voice continued.

The surroundings began to distort.

Buildings and trees disappeared.

The ground and sky twisted together.

Soon.

The world I knew vanished completely.

In its place.

An empty space.

And from within it.

A man adorned with jewels and luxurious fur stepped forward, bowing lightly.

-You may call me Monas.

At the moment Woo-hyuk was about to be devoured by Cerberus.

The staff member watching instinctively shut his eyes.

Even though it was a simulation, the pain was perfectly replicated.

If those fangs pierced him.

It would leave lifelong trauma.

But.

What he heard next.

Was not the sound of flesh tearing.

“Whimper!”

“…Whimper?”

A sound that didn’t match Cerberus at all.

Startled, he opened his eyes.

And froze.

“What… is happening?”

Cerberus was whining.

And Woo-hyuk.

Aside from his missing arm.

He looked completely fine.

“Did he… block Cerberus?”

It made no sense.

It looked like a simulator malfunction.

“Whimper!”

But that wasn’t the end.

The moment Woo-hyuk spoke.

Cerberus collapsed violently.

Its legs nearly shattered.

“I-Is it a simulator error…? Otherwise this makes no sense…”

The staff frantically checked the system.

But found nothing wrong.

Then.

Crackle!

“Huh?”

The screen showing Woo-hyuk distorted.

Then turned black.

Other monitors followed.

Drip—

Gurgle—

An ominous sound echoed outside.

The staff rushed out.

What he saw.

Was a melted arena.

The simulator was destroyed beyond recognition.

“What on earth… happened?”

And worse.

Woo-hyuk was nowhere to be seen.

“Monas?”

-It is not my real name, but you may call me that.

My chest swelled.

Finally.

My awakened talent had a name.

The Dimensional Shop.

The dragon’s power had disappeared.

But that couldn’t be the end.

If I could use such power again.

Then all my efforts had been worth it.

‘Still… what kind of ability is this…?’

Even after studying countless hunter abilities.

I had never heard of anything like this.

Borrowing the power of dragons.

And that man.

He seemed like part of my ability.

Yet he had his own will.

‘Well… it makes sense.’

My talent was dimensional magic.

The only one in the world.

It would be stranger if it were ordinary.

-Were you satisfied with your first dimensional stone?

“It was incredible. Borrowing a dragon’s power…”

-Hm? It seems you misunderstand something.

“Misunderstand?”

-Kataxilis is one of my finest items, but it is not the only one.

“…Don’t tell me.”

-Exactly. You can use many kinds of power.

Snap!

Monas snapped his fingers.

The empty space changed instantly.

Then.

The sounds of battle filled my ears.

Clang!

“Charge!”

“Forward!”

“Crush them!”

Soldiers in red and blue armor filled the battlefield.

“What is this…?”

As I turned in confusion.

Monas raised his arms, smiling.

-Think of this as a tasting session. Enjoy my items.

[The power of a dimensional stone flows into your body.]

[Black Demon Emperor Ma Yutai – 4th leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult]

-The ruler of the strongest martial force that worships power itself.

As soon as his words ended.

Names of various dimensional stones began appearing before my eyes.