The stench of iron filled the air. Rubble cracked beneath Hayate's boots as he entered the shattered temple deep within the dungeon's third layer. A faint crimson glow pulsed from the broken altar ahead—like a heart refusing to die.
His breath was heavy. His blade, chipped and scorched from endless fights, trembled in his hand.He had been fighting for hours.
System Notification:[Vitality: 23% Remaining][Mana: Critically Low]
Hayate clenched his teeth.He'd made it this far—alone.Abandoned. Forgotten.
Then, from the shadows, a familiar laugh echoed.That voice froze him in place.
"Still alive, Hayate? Didn't expect the trash we threw into the pit to crawl back out."
A tall figure stepped into the light—Ren Ichiro, his former classmate, clad in obsidian armor lined with golden sigils. A glowing sword pulsed in his hand, humming with divine energy.
Hayate's heartbeat quickened. Ren… one of the top-ranked heroes. The same boy who once sneered at him in class, calling him "Level 1 loser."
Ren grinned, tossing his sword lightly."You should've stayed dead. The goddess doesn't need weaklings like you."
Hayate's eyes darkened.He remembered that day—the light, the betrayal, the cold dungeon air swallowing his screams.
Now, the same betrayer stood before him.
"Funny," Hayate said quietly, tightening his grip on his broken blade. "Because the weakling you abandoned… just killed three dungeon lords on the way here."
Ren laughed again. "Bluff all you want, filth. But I've been blessed by Her Grace. Your tricks end now."
With a flash, Ren dashed forward—blinding speed. Their blades clashed, and sparks scattered like fireflies in the dark. Each swing from Ren carried divine pressure; Hayate could feel his bones shaking.
He was being pushed back.
System Alert:[Body Fatigue Reaching Limit][Recommended: Retreat]
"Not yet," Hayate whispered.He ducked under Ren's strike and slashed upward. The clash sent both sliding apart, blood dripping down their arms.
Ren smirked. "Still standing, huh? Let's fix that."
He raised his hand. A magic circle formed beneath Hayate's feet—holy light exploding outward.
The temple floor cracked apart.
Hayate coughed blood, slamming into a wall. His vision blurred. His body screamed.
System Warning:[Life Energy Critical][Activating Survival Protocol – Unknown Source Detected…]
A sudden pulse shook his chest. His blood turned hot—boiling like fire.
Dark crimson runes began to carve themselves across his arm. His heartbeat thundered, and black smoke rose from his body.
Ren stumbled back. "W-What is that?!"
System Message:[New Skill Acquired: Blood of the Fallen][Effect: Converts pain into power. Damage increases proportionally to suffering endured.]
Hayate stood slowly. His eyes glowed gold within a sea of red. His aura pulsed like a storm.The dungeon trembled.
"You wanted me dead…" Hayate's voice deepened, calm and cold. "Now you'll join the fallen you created."
Ren screamed and lunged, holy light blazing—but Hayate caught the blade with his bare, burning hand. Blood dripped from his palm, yet his expression didn't change.
Then, with a twist, he shattered Ren's sword.
The force sent Ren flying into the altar. Cracks spider-webbed across the stone as he coughed blood, wide-eyed in disbelief.
Hayate stepped closer, the crimson aura swirling violently.
"This power… it's not a blessing," Hayate muttered. "It's vengeance."
Ren tried to crawl away, but Hayate's blade flashed once more.A single slash of red light—and silence filled the temple.
The System chimed softly.
[Enemy Eliminated: Ren Ichiro – Rank A Hero][Title Acquired: The Fallen Slayer][Skill Upgraded: Blood of the Fallen → Blood Sovereign Lv.1]
Hayate looked down at his blood-stained hand, then toward the cracked ceiling above.
"This world took everything from me," he whispered. "Now it will pay… piece by piece."
System Notification:[Quest Updated: Awaken the Blood of the Fallen – Hidden Title Acquired.]