My Infinite Mana System

The hum of neon lights buzzed overhead as Allen stood in line outside the Hunter Association building. The air smelled faintly of oil and cheap street food from the vendors that lined the streets of Beijing. Hunters of every rank, clad in gear ranging from leather armor to glowing enchanted equipment, moved in and out of the grand hall.

Allen adjusted the strap of his secondhand backpack, the weight of the old sword inside pressing against his shoulder. It was the only weapon he could afford a hand-me-down from a pawn shop.

"First time?" the man in front of him asked. He was tall, with scars crisscrossing his forearms and a jagged axe strapped to his back.

Allen nodded. "Yeah."

The man grinned, his teeth yellowed. "E-rank, huh? Don't worry. The first dungeon's always the easiest. Just stick with the group, and you'll be fine."

Allen wasn't sure how to respond, so he stayed silent. He knew what the man was thinking: Another rookie. Probably won't last long.

The line moved forward, and soon Allen was inside the massive lobby of the Hunter Association. Giant screens displayed dungeon activity and rankings, showing the names of elite Hunters who had cleared the most dangerous dungeons. At the top of the leaderboard was a name everyone recognized: Li Wei – SSS Rank.

"Next!"

The clerk at the desk motioned him forward.

"Name?" she asked without looking up.

"Allen."

"Rank?"

He hesitated. "E."

The clerk finally looked up, her expression indifferent. "Newbie, huh? There's an open slot in a beginner dungeon. Portal 118. You're joining a group no solo attempts allowed at your rank."

Allen nodded and took the slip of paper she handed him.

***

[Portal 118]

The portal shimmered like liquid glass, its edges crackling with faint energy. A group of four stood nearby: three men and one woman. They turned to Allen as he approached.

"You're the fifth?" one of the men asked. He was burly, with a hammer slung over his shoulder. "Name's Zhao. I'm the tank. These two are melee DPS, and she's a fire mage."

Allen nodded and introduced himself.

"Lightning, huh?" Zhao said, eyeing him up and down. "Well, don't get in our way."

The group moved toward the portal, and Allen followed. As he stepped through, the world around him shifted.

The air grew colder, the light dimmer. They were inside a cavern, its walls lined with glowing crystals. The sound of dripping water echoed faintly, and the ground beneath their feet was uneven.

[Dungeon Entered: Crystal Caverns – Rank E]

Objective: Clear all enemies and defeat the Dungeon Boss.

Allen tightened his grip on his sword.

The first wave of monsters appeared almost immediately. Small, insect-like creatures with sharp mandibles and glowing eyes scuttled out from the shadows.

Zhao charged forward, his hammer smashing into the nearest creature and sending it flying. The melee fighters followed, slicing through the swarm with practiced ease. The fire mage stood back, her hands glowing as she launched fireballs that incinerated clusters of the insects.

Allen hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to contribute.

"Move!" Zhao barked, glancing back at him.

Allen raised his hand, and electricity sparked to life. He aimed at the nearest monster and released the energy. The lightning bolt struck true, frying the creature instantly.

The System chimed:

[Monster Defeated: 10 EXP Gained.]

A rush of exhilaration coursed through him. He fired again, and another insect fell. The sparks danced along his fingers, responding to his will with surprising ease.

"Not bad," the fire mage said, glancing at him with a smirk.

The group pushed deeper into the dungeon, the battles growing more intense. The monsters became larger, their carapaces tougher. But Allen's confidence grew with each encounter.

[Level Up! Current Level: 2. Skill Point Gained.]

He pulled up his stats screen during a brief lull:

[Stats]

Strength: 4

Agility: 5

Intelligence: 10

Vitality: 6

Mana: Infinite

Without hesitation, he added the new skill point to Strength.

***

At the heart of the cavern, the air grew thick with tension. A massive crystalline beast emerged from the shadows, its body shimmering like glass.

[Boss: Crystal Guardian]

"Formation!" Zhao shouted.

The group spread out, attacking from different angles. Zhao tanked the creature's massive claws while the melee fighters struck at its legs. Fireballs exploded against its body, but the Guardian barely flinched.

"Allen, take the rear legs!" Zhao ordered.

Allen circled behind the creature, his hands crackling with electricity. He released a bolt aimed at the joints of its hind legs. The Guardian roared, staggering slightly.

"Again!" Zhao yelled.

Allen didn't hesitate. He unleashed a barrage of lightning strikes, each one more powerful than the last. The air smelled of ozone as the Guardian faltered, its movements slowing.

The fire mage seized the opportunity, launching a massive fireball that struck the creature's chest. With a final roar, the Crystal Guardian collapsed, its body shattering into pieces.

[Dungeon Cleared.]

[Boss Defeated: 200 EXP Gained.]

Allen dropped to one knee, breathing heavily.

"Not bad, rookie," Zhao said, clapping him on the shoulder.

The fire mage smirked. "Looks like lightning boy can hold his own after all."

Allen didn't respond. His eyes were fixed on the shards of the Guardian's body, where a faint glow caught his attention.

[Item Acquired: Crystal Core – Rare Item.]

He picked it up, feeling its energy pulse in his hand.

The System chimed again, its voice colder than before:

[Hidden Quest Unlocked: The Forgotten Path.]

Objective: ???