Level up the Colony

Timothy's breath caught as he took in the scene, his mother standing in a pool of her own blood, barely conscious, shielding Divine, who looked more traumatized than ever.

Then his gaze snapped to the intruder.

No explanation was needed.

"Edward!!!"

He lunged forward, swinging a punch with all his strength

It landed.

But instead of impact, Edward's body dissolved into blood, pooling onto the floor.

Timothy barely registered the shift before a solid kick slammed into his ribs, knocking him to his knees.

He gasped, the air ripped from his lungs.

Edward loomed over him.

"I don't need you dead, but if you die now, you'll be harder to catch." Edward said in a cryptic tone

Timothy clenched his teeth.

"What do you want?"

"Your cooperation." Edward's voice was calm, almost mocking.

"You're the only one who hasn't reawakened, which means you weren't chosen. You'll stay an E-rank nobody forever. But if you follow me…" His smirk deepened.

"I can give you power. Enough to topple them all."

DING.

The system's notification appeared before him.

[Urgent Quest: Kill the Progenitor of Blood]

[Accept? Y/N]

Timothy froze.

He understood the Edwards misconception.

Not now.

He wasn't strong enough.

Ignoring the prompt, he staggered to his feet, turning toward his mother.

If he could just get her to safety

Pain exploded in his thigh.

He collapsed, screaming as blood poured from the wound where Edward had impaled him with a dagger made of blood.

"I said I wouldn't kill you now." Edward grinned, conjuring more daggers in his hands.

"But I never said I wouldn't torture you."

Timothy's vision blurred.

He gritted his teeth, his body trembling.

"I'll kill you."

Edward sighed, feigning disappointment.

"Wrong answer, Timothy."

The daggers shot toward him.

BOOM.

The door slammed off its hinges, hurling Edward into a wall.

Timothy instinctively shielded his mother and sister, but his back ignited in pain as some daggers still found their mark.

[HP: 60]

His system flashed the warning.

"Heal them! I'll deal with him!" A familiar voice barked.

Joshua.

The section chief charged forward, and behind him, a familiar healer rushed in.

Timothy crawled to his mother's side.

She was still alive.

Miriam, the healer who had saved him before, encased her in a high-tier healing bubble.

His hands trembled as he turned to Divine

She was channeling her own healing power.

That explained her pale face.

Timothy forced himself upright.

The pain burned, but he stood.

Joshua and Edward clashed, the battle tearing apart the house.

Edward weaved between liquid and solid form, dodging most of the attacks.

Timothy clenched his fists.

Joshua was strong.

But Edward wasn't taking real damage.

His mother's face softened, the pain leaving her features

But she wasn't waking up.

Timothy panicked.

"Why isn't she waking up?!"

Miriam's brow furrowed.

"I don't know! I'm trying my best!"

Before he could press further

More people burst into the house.

Hunters.

Matthew.

Noah.

The twin assassins.

Magnificent.

Even those whose faces he barely remembered.

They were all in hunter gear.

Timothy understood immediately.

He had become a scapegoat for his pride.

Noah opened his mouth. "If only..."

Matthew stopped him.

Timothy barely heard them.

His eyes drifted to his brothers, still unconscious on the couch.

They had slept through all of this?

Divine shook, blood covering her hands as silent tears ran down her face.

And then...

DING.

The system flashed again.

[Urgent Quest: Kill the Progenitor of Blood]

[Accept? Y/N]

Timothy hesitated.

He wanted to accept.

But he was too weak.

Joshua returned, adjusting his suit jacket as his subordinates handed him a fresh white shirt.

Timothy's stomach twisted.

Joshua didn't even look at him.

"He escaped." His voice was cold.

"But he's injured. You're safe for now."

He turned to the hunters.

"You know what to do."

He walked past Timothy like he didn't exist.

Something in Timothy snapped.

His house was destroyed.

His family was broken again.

But instead of pain, he felt something else rise inside him.

Vengeance.

He stared at Joshua's back, his expression calm.

But inside, he was in turmoil

"If I can just grow stronger…

I have the system, They don't know.

I still have a chance."

"System." His thoughts were clear.

"I accept the Quest." He said quietly

[Urgent Quest Accepted]

Kill the Progenitor of Blood.

[Quest Failed.]

…

[Quest Failed.]

Timothy stiffened.

[Initiating Failed Quest Penalty in 3...2...1...]

His breath hitched.

Not again.

His injuries were still fresh, and the last penalty had nearly killed him.

But then... How has he failed what he hadn't attempted.

DING

[Penalty Item Granted.]

[Check Inventory.]

"Huh?"

Using his thoughts, he opened his inventory and found a slip of paper.

It looked like a Japanese talisman.

He pulled it out.

[Level Up Privilege] – 11:59:59

Clear the Dungeon or die trying.

[You will be automatically sent to the penalty zone at the end of the timer.]

Timothy froze.

Was this a joke?

A chance to level up?

This was supposed to be a penalty?

His mind raced so fast he didn't even notice the hunters speaking to him until Divine tapped his arm.

"We need to go."

His gaze flickered to her.

"Where?" His voice was neutral, his expression calm.

"You weren't listening, were you?" Noah snapped.

Joshua had already left, but the remaining hunters were still here, probably sent to retrieve him.

Divine hesitated.

"We don't have anywhere to live. The Association is offering shelter until the damage is repaired..."

Timothy cut her off.

"You handle that. Call our relatives, sort things out. I'm not leaving this building."

Silence.

The hunters stared.

"Is he insane?"

Miriam finally spoke.

"The Association will take care of your mother. You don't need to worry about that."

Noah stepped forward.

"You're either coming with us willingly or by force. And I won't go easy this time."

Timothy didn't flinch.

"Okay." He said

He stooped down, picked up Gray, and grabbed a knife.

The moment the blade touched his fingers, a slow smile crept onto his lips.

Every hunter tensed.

Nobody paid attention to the tiny termite in his other hand.

[Do you want to use Level Up Privilege Ticket?] The system prompted

Matthew narrowed his eyes.

"What are you planning?"

Timothy didn't hesitate. "Yes."

The paper in his hand ignited.

Then in front of everyone

He vanished.

The hunters and Divine stared at the empty space.

"What just happened?" one of the hunters muttered.

"I don't know... He just... Vanished" Another answered, voice filled with awe.

Timothy landed on a damp, rocky surface.

The air was stale, the darkness absolute.

It felt like he had been dropped into a cavern, narrow, suffocating, and devoid of light.

A system notification flashed before his eyes.

[You have entered a Layered Dungeon (3).]

[All Items Confiscated.]

[Clear the Dungeon or Die Trying.]

...

His heart pounded.

No knife.

No supplies.

Just Little Gray, clinging to his hand.

He gently touched the termite.

It twitched in response.

He placed it on his head. "Stay."

Then, he walked.

The path stretched endlessly, swallowed in shadows.

His footsteps echoed against the cavern walls.

After a while, a faint glow flickered in the distance.

Hope surged through him.

He sprinted toward the light.

But when he reached it, his excitement faded.

It wasn't an exit, just a floating, circular ring embedded in the cave wall.

Like a door knob, but hanging in midair.

Timothy gripped it.

No warmth, no texture.

Just emptiness.

He pulled. Nothing.

He pushed.

It barely budged before snapping back.

Frowning, he released it and turned away.

Maybe there's another way out?

But the moment he stepped away, a sharp chill shot down his spine.

The air shifted.

Something was there.

Watching.

Timothy froze.

Little Gray suddenly went berserk.

The termite scrambled frantically across his head, twitching its antennae.

Then, a rush of wind.

There was no wind in this cave.

His instincts screamed.

Run.

Without thinking, he bolted back to the ring.

The presence vanished.

Little Gray calmed.

Timothy panted.

No other way out.

The only choice left was through the door.

He gritted his teeth and pushed again.

No luck.

"System, add all points to Strength."

A surge of power coursed through his body. He planted his feet and shoved.

The ring shifted.

He threw his weight against it, forcing the gap wider.

A glimpse of the other side...

A paradise?

Lush greenery.

A waterfall cascading over golden rocks.

A sky clearer than any he had ever seen.

He pushed harder.

The door snapped back like a spring, but not before he tumbled through.

The moment his feet hit the grass, everything changed.

The world froze.

The air shifted behind him.

Timothy whirled around.

A goblin.

Beady yellow eyes locked onto him.

It shrieked.

A deafening, bone-chilling cry.

Timothy lunged.

His fist slammed into the goblin's face, sending it tumbling across the ground.

His eyes widened.

His strength… It was huge.

But before he could celebrate...

A village.

Hundreds of goblins turned toward the commotion.

He could only stare and curse

"...Shit."

[Status]

Name: Timothy Walters

Title: None

Level: 1

Class: None

HP: 60

MP: 10

Fatigue: 30

Strength: 24

Stamina: 14

Agility: 10

Intelligence: 10

Perception: 10

Free Stats (FS): 0

[Skills]

King(Unknown) Lv. Max

Dash Lv. 1

Pheromones (Passive) Lv. 2

Clarity (Passive) Lv. 1

[Colony (1)]

Silverback Termite (Gray) Lv .1

...