Fayt stood silently in the cavern, the weight of the battle still heavy on his chest. The defeated demon lay at his feet, the echoes of his final blow still ringing in the stillness of the cavern. The battle had been intense, but Fayt had emerged victorious. The Vampiric Aura continued to heal his wounds, and though the damage had been significant, he felt the strength inside him growing with every step.
His dual shields, still humming with residual blood magic, felt almost alive as they settled against his arms. The magical energy within them had been drained, but it was still there—lingering, ready to be summoned again when needed. Fayt flexed his hands, feeling the weight of his shields, a reassuring presence. This battle had tested him, but he knew it wasn't the last one. In fact, this victory, while sweet, had only just begun to scratch the surface of what awaited him in Elast.
"You did well, Fayt," the God of Death's voice echoed softly in his mind, "but know this—this victory is only a taste of what lies ahead. The Demon Lords will not be so easily defeated."
Fayt nodded mentally, absorbing her words. He knew the God was right. This world was filled with dangers, and though his blood magic and shield skills were powerful, they were not limitless. The enemies he would face would only grow stronger, and he needed to keep pushing forward, to continue growing and mastering his abilities.
His fingers tightened around his shields as he turned back to the fallen demon lord. It had been a brutal battle, but he had won, and now the Infernal Knight lay at his feet. Fayt couldn't shake the feeling that this was only a small victory in the grand scheme of things. There was still much he needed to learn about this world and the demons who inhabited it.
Fayt slowly walked toward the body of the Infernal Knight, examining the demon lord's armor closely. The armor was dark, made from materials he couldn't quite identify, its surface covered in ancient runes that glowed faintly in the dim light of the cavern. The blade the demon lord had carried still lay discarded nearby, crackling with dark infernal magic. Fayt could feel the power of the sword from where he stood, and the very air around it seemed to hum with energy.
The sword's presence was undeniable. It was a weapon far beyond anything Fayt had ever seen—a relic of unimaginable power, forged in the depths of the Infernal Realm itself. The runes etched into the blade pulsed with a dark, fire-infused energy that made Fayt's skin tingle as he stepped closer. But Fayt had already made a decision. The sword, no matter how powerful, wasn't for him—at least not yet.
He bent down to examine the sword more closely, lifting it with one hand to feel its weight. He could sense the magic within it, the arcane power that made it more than just a weapon. But Fayt knew that he wasn't yet ready to wield something like this. His dual shields were sufficient for now, and he didn't want to risk becoming dependent on a single item of power. He placed the sword carefully into his inventory, where it would stay until the day he felt strong enough to wield it.
"This is no ordinary weapon," Fayt mused, feeling the weight of it even after he had stored it away. "But it will not be mine yet."
With the sword out of sight, Fayt turned his attention back to the demon lord's body. He could feel a strange connection to the fallen warrior, not out of respect, but because he understood what had led to the knight's downfall. The demon lord had been ruthless in life, but that had made him weak. It had blinded him to the true power of growth. Fayt wasn't just relying on his strength—he was relying on his mind, his adaptability, his willingness to evolve.
Fayt's thoughts were interrupted by a faint rumble beneath his feet, and the ground shook again. This time, it was stronger than before. The air grew colder, and a deep feeling of dread washed over him. He immediately raised his dual shields, the magic in them humming with power as he prepared for the unknown.
"Something's coming," he thought, his senses sharpening. He could feel the shift in the air, the subtle distortion of magic. The ground trembled once again, this time much more violently. Fayt's heart quickened, his body readying for combat.
Suddenly, from the shadows of the cavern, figures began to emerge. They moved in unison, stepping out of the darkness like ghosts—their forms both humanoid and twisted, each one covered in dark, spiny armor, their eyes glowing with an eerie red light. Fayt felt his pulse quicken. These weren't the ordinary rank-and-file demons that roamed the Demon Territory. These were higher-tier demons, likely servants of the Demon Lords, the rulers of this land.
Fayt raised his shields, his mind already working through the best strategy. These demons would be strong, but he knew they were nothing compared to what he would face later. The Infernal Knight had been a true test of his abilities, but these demons were only stepping stones.
The demons, with their sharp claws and spiked armor, advanced on him. Fayt didn't wait for them to strike first. He activated Blood Reprisal, feeling the magic surge through him as he dodged the first attack, Quickstep sending him to the side. One of the demons swung a spiked mace, but Fayt was already moving. His dual shields rose to block the blow, the Sanguine Shield absorbing the impact, though the force of it made him stumble slightly.
Damage Taken:
Damage Taken: 35 (via Sanguine Shield)
Damage Absorbed: 30
Damage Remaining: 5
Fayt retaliated quickly. He raised his dual shields, the blood magic within them surging as he slammed them into the demon's side. The magic-infused strikes caused the demon to stumble back, but it recovered quickly, its glowing eyes locking onto Fayt with fury.
Attack: Shield Bash (Dual Shields)
Damage Dealt: 50
Critical Hit: No
Another demon lunged toward him, but Fayt activated Quickstep again, evading the creature's attack and landing behind it. He slammed both shields into the demon's back, the impact knocking it to the ground. Blood Reprisal fired off another drop of blood, striking the creature's side with force.
Damage Dealt (Blood Reprisal):
Damage Dealt: 12 (30% of damage taken)
Critical Hit: No
The remaining demons roared in fury as they closed in on him from all sides. Fayt blocked and countered, using his shields to create a perimeter of defense around himself. His Vampiric Aura was steadily replenishing his health as he fought, each strike he made healing him in small amounts.
But the demons were relentless, their numbers overwhelming. They were strong, but Fayt was stronger. With each passing moment, the power of his blood magic surged within him, and his shields became more deadly.
Final Damage Dealt
Total Damage: 220
EXP Gained: 150
As the last demon fell, Fayt stood amidst the carnage, his body bruised but unbroken. The Vampiric Aura healed him, though he was left breathless from the intensity of the fight. He had faced five demons, each stronger than the last, and had come out victorious. But he could feel the weight of the expansion of power in this world. He was still not at his peak, and he knew that the next step in his journey would demand even more from him.
Fayt Valentine – Brief Status Update
Level: 4
EXP Progress: 200/1000
Attributes:Attribute, Base Value, Notes
Strength (STR)12 Increased due to Blood Demon lineage.
Dexterity (DEX)14 Agility suited for shield-based offense.
Constitution (CON)15 High health, regenerative capabilities.
Intelligence (INT)12 Average magic affinity for blood-based spells.
Wisdom (WIS)10 Average perceptive skills, enhancing status appraisal.
Charisma (CHA)8 Low impact on social interactions in Elast.
Luck (LCK)10 Average, random encounters and loot.
Fayt stood amidst the aftermath, breathing heavily as the blood magic still surged within him, his dual shields humming with the echoes of battle. The demon horde had been formidable, but they had fallen before him. This was his world now, and he would shape it with every victory, every strike.
But deep inside, Fayt knew the next challenge would be greater. The Demon Lords were watching. His journey had only just begun.