The moment Riven stepped through the unstable dungeon gate, a rush of heat, humidity, and the pungent stench of decay hit him like a wall.
He staggered slightly, boots sinking into something soft and wet. A second later, his foot slipped—then his whole body tilted, sliding down a sloping embankment of moss-covered mud and tangled roots.
He landed with a splash.
"Ugh…" Riven groaned as he pulled himself up from the shallow, murky swamp water. The foul smell clung to him instantly—thick, sticky, impossible to ignore. "Of all the places…"
Moss-draped trees loomed overhead, their canopies blotting out the sky, letting only pale green light filter through. Insects buzzed in thick clouds. Steam rose off the dark water in lazy spirals, and strange clicking sounds echoed from unseen creatures deeper in the jungle.
The humidity was suffocating.
He wiped the sludge from his hoodie and glanced around. No Crystal like dungeon, no freezing environment and no molten volcano. Just jungle and trees everywhere.The portal had simply brought him here.
The Omnitrix on his wrist pulsed faintly, but not in warning. More like… anticipation.
"…Thanks for the silence, as usual," Riven muttered. He tapped it twice, but it remained unresponsive. Silent Mode still held.
At his back, Nullshift vibrated softly—resonating.
The adaptive armor he wore, courtesy of Nova Arcanum, began to shift. Riven stopped, eyes widening slightly as the fabric peeled itself clean where it could, reforming across his body in tighter plates. The coat shortened, sleeves receded, the hood pulled back, and a new layer formed over his shoulders.
Within seconds, the relic suit had adjusted into a sleek, dark combat configuration with swamp-colored accents—blending against the wet green shadows.
"Okay… that's new." Riven looked down at himself, turning slightly. "Didn't know you could do that on your own."
The scent, however, remained.
He exhaled sharply, wrinkling his nose. "Well, you can adapt to the jungle, but you can't filter the swamp smell?"
Nullshift hummed again, as if mockingly.
Riven drew it in its sword form. The crystal edge shimmered with faint inner light, the blade balanced and sharp. He held it in front of him, letting the familiar weight settle in his grip.
"No transformations unless I need it," he murmured. "Time to get better with the basics."
He started forward, moving through the mire with cautious steps.
The deeper he went, the more hostile the environment felt. Thorned vines twisted low over the water. Mushrooms pulsed with dim bioluminescence. The clicking grew louder. Something splashed far off to his right—then a low, gurgling snarl echoed back.
Riven paused.
He knelt, touching the water's surface.
Still warm.
Movement ahead.
He straightened slowly, eyes narrowing. He didn't draw attention. Not yet.
As he pushed forward through the overgrown foliage, the canopy began to open, revealing a wider clearing beyond the trees—a sunken basin where fog coiled over a wide pool, and dozens of insect-like husks lay broken across the roots and logs.
"...What the hell did this?" Riven whispered.
The husks looked torn apart. Not eaten. Just shredded.
Whatever had done it… was still nearby.
He took a step back, slowly adjusting his grip on Nullshift.
Something above shifted.
Leaves rustled.
And the swamp fell silent.
Riven didn't look up.
He darted forward, rolling into the basin just as a large, spined creature dropped from the canopy—a four-legged, amphibious beast with translucent armor plates and extended jaws. It slammed into the ground where he'd just stood.
He swung Nullshift without hesitation.
The blade met its side with a sharp hiss—the creature shrieked, stumbling back.
"Good reflexes," Riven muttered. "Let's see if I can keep it up."
The creature lunged again.
He sidestepped and slashed low, aiming for its legs. One strike hit, the other glanced off a bony plate. The swamp water surged around them.
He could feel the blade's response to his motion now. Nullshift was syncing more easily. His stance adjusted mid-step. The armor adjusted too, tightening around his legs as he moved.
It wasn't perfect. But it was progress.
The creature shrieked again and backed off, disappearing into the thick fog.
Riven stood there, panting quietly.
The environment was against him. The enemies weren't weak. And he was deep inside a dungeon he couldn't even identify.
He didn't smile.
But a quiet look of determination crossed his face.
"This is good training," he whispered, adjusting his grip again.
Nullshift pulsed.
The swamp remained.
And somewhere deeper within, something else was watching.
End of Chapter.
THANK YOU FOR READING.
CHAPTER MIGHT SEEMS SHORTER BUT ADJUST IT FOR NOW I WILL TRY TO KEEP IT LENGTHY.