Dark wiped the blood from his blade, the faint glow of the wolves' disintegrated bodies fading into the darkness around him. The air was still heavy with the scent of ash and iron, a testament to the carnage he had just wrought. He glanced toward the jagged mouth of the cave ahead, its entrance framed by twisted roots and glowing moss that pulsed faintly like a heartbeat.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: OBJECTIVE UPDATED.]
[ENTER THE SHADOW GROVE CAVERN.]
[THREAT LEVEL: HIGH.]
[REWARD: XP MULTIPLIER ACTIVATED UPON COMPLETION.]
Dark: (thinking, annoyed, sarcastically) Great. Another death trap. Exactly what I need right now definitely, 100% what I need.
He adjusted his grip on his blade, feeling the weight of his frustration pressing down on him. The System had always been relentless, but this time it felt personal, as if Cosmic himself had programmed the notifications to mock him.
Dark: (thinking) Reset me to level one, toss me into this nightmare, and expect me to play along. Fine. Let's see how far your game goes.
The cavern loomed before him, a dark abyss that seemed to devour the light around it. With a deep breath, he stepped inside, the cool, damp air brushing against his skin like a shroud. The walls of the cavern were alive, covered in bioluminescent fungi that cast an eerie green glow, illuminating faint scratches and carvings etched into the stone.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: YOU HAVE ENTERED THE SHADOW GROVE CAVERN.]
[CURRENT OBJECTIVE: REACH THE CORE.]
[ADDITIONAL OBJECTIVE: DEFEAT ALL HOSTILE ENTITIES.]
Dark: (muttering) Of course. Because reaching the core wouldn't be enough. Always has some fucked up shit the deeper I go.
The sound of dripping water echoed through the cavern, accompanied by the faint rustling of something moving in the shadows. Dark's crimson eyes scanned the space, his instincts sharp. He could feel the presence of something—or someone—watching him.
A low growl rumbled from deeper within, followed by the unmistakable sound of claws scraping against stone. Dark tightened his grip on his sword, his shadows flickering around him in anticipation.
Dark: (calmly) Let's get this over with I'm getting bored.
The first creature emerged from the shadows—a Shadowfang Stalker, its sleek, panther-like body coated in black fur that shimmered unnaturally under the cavern's glow. Its glowing yellow eyes locked onto Dark, and its lips curled back to reveal rows of serrated teeth.
[ENTITY IDENTIFIED: SHADOWFANG STALKER.]
[LEVEL: 12.]
[THREAT LEVEL: MODERATE.]
Dark: (thinking, unimpressed) Level 12?? No way. Come on I need some proper XP, back then I used to straight up go against high level bosses to level up. Come on system, or Cosmic. I don't know who or what anymore.
The Stalker lunged without warning, its claws extended as it aimed for his throat. Dark sidestepped with ease, activating Phantom Dodge to leave a shadowy afterimage in his place. The Stalker's claws passed harmlessly through the illusion, and before it could recover, Dark struck.
[ABILITY ACTIVATED: VOID STRIKE.]
[EFFECT: IGNORE ARMOR.]
Dark: This is the Void Strike by the way. Apparently its effect is "Ignore Armor" perfect right?
His blade cleaved through the Stalker's side, black ichor splattering against the cavern walls. The creature howled in pain, its body flickering as if it were struggling to maintain its form. Dark didn't hesitate, following up with a swift horizontal slash that severed its head.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: ENEMY DEFEATED.]
[XP GAINED: +200.]
Dark: (thinking, smirking faintly) At least the rewards are starting to add up. But why are they all from the Shadow category?? Like come on give me some speed. Or hell some points for my stats. I have not been given any stats points to increase anything.
Before he could catch his breath, more growls echoed through the cavern. Two more Stalkers emerged, their movements coordinated as they circled him like predators sizing up their prey. Dark took a deep breath, letting the shadows around him grow thicker.
Dark: (calmly yet annoyed) Two of you. Perfect.
The first Stalker charged from the front, while the second leapt from the side. Dark moved like a phantom, his blade flashing as he parried one and countered the other. Shadows erupted around him, wrapping around the Stalker mid-air and slamming it into the ground.
[ABILITY ACTIVATED: SHADOW RIPOSTE.]
[EFFECT: COUNTERATTACK DAMAGE +50%.]
The first Stalker hesitated, its instincts screaming at it to flee, but Dark didn't give it a chance. He lunged forward, his blade slicing cleanly through its neck. The second Stalker struggled to its feet, only to be met with a dark tendril piercing through its chest.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: ENEMIES DEFEATED.]
[XP GAINED: +400.]
Dark sheathed his blade briefly, his shadows retreating as he surveyed the now-silent cavern. The air was heavier now, charged with an almost palpable tension. He could feel the presence of something far stronger deeper within, something ancient, something that made his blood run cold.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: WARNING - ELITE ENTITY DETECTED.]
[ENTITY CLASSIFICATION: WARDEN OF THE ABYSS.]
[LEVEL: 50.]
[THREAT LEVEL: HIGH.]
[HEALTH BAR: DARK RED.]
Dark: Yup. Great, perfect, exactly what I needed, so great.
He pressed forward, the faint glow of the fungi growing brighter as the cavern opened into a massive chamber. At its center stood the Warden, a towering humanoid figure cloaked in tattered shadows, its eyes glowing like twin suns. It held a massive glaive, its blade dripping with an inky black substance that sizzled as it hit the ground.
The Warden's voice echoed through the chamber, deep and resonant, as if it spoke directly into Dark's mind.
Warden: (calmly) You who trespass upon the Abyss. Do you seek power? Or death?
Dark drew his blade, his shadows flaring as his aura surged.
Dark: (calmly) I seek neither. Just trying to clear some notifications that have been bugging me.
The Warden tilted its head slightly, as though amused, before raising its glaive. The air around it crackled with dark energy, the ground beneath its feet splitting as its power surged.
Warden: (softly) Then prove your worth, little shadow.
The battle began in an instant. The Warden moved with a speed that belied its massive frame, its glaive slicing through the air with deadly precision. Dark dodged narrowly, the blade grazing his shoulder as he retaliated with a quick strike to its side.
The Warden roared, its shadowy form flickering as it countered with a devastating horizontal slash. Dark ducked low, rolling to the side before activating Void Requiem. Shadows erupted from the ground, lashing out at the Warden like living whips.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: ABILITY ACTIVATED - VOID REQUIEM.]
[DAMAGE: MODERATE.]
The Warden stumbled, but it quickly recovered, slamming its glaive into the ground. A wave of dark energy rippled outward, forcing Dark to leap into the air to avoid it.
Dark: (thinking, smirking) You're not half bad.
The Warden didn't respond, its glowing eyes fixed on him as it raised its glaive once more. Dark could feel the weight of its power bearing down on him, but he refused to falter.
Dark: (smirking) Ooohhhoohohohoooo this is gonna be fun.
The battle raged on, the chamber shaking with each clash of their weapons. Dark's shadows clashed with the Warden's, their powers vying for dominance in a storm of dark energy. With each strike, Dark grew more focused, his movements sharper.
This was what he lived for, the struggle, the challenge, the chance to prove that no matter what the System threw at him, he would rise above it.
Dark: (thinking) Bring it on you shitface.
The chamber pulsed with an oppressive energy, the echoes of their battle reverberating off the cavern walls. Dark's blade clashed against the Warden's glaive with a thunderous crash, sparks of shadow and void energy spiraling outward. Each impact felt like a test of will, a battle not just of strength but of who could outlast the other.
The Warden twisted its glaive in a wide arc, forcing Dark to backpedal quickly. The weapon carved through the stone floor, leaving a deep gouge that radiated a dark, sizzling mist. Dark shifted his stance, his body low, shadows coiling around his legs as if ready to launch him forward.
Dark: (thinking) This thing's stronger than it looks. Definitely not your average boss fight.
The Warden didn't let up. It charged, closing the distance with a surprising burst of speed. Its glaive came down in a devastating overhead swing. Dark sidestepped at the last possible second, activating Phantom Dodge to leave an afterimage behind. The glaive passed harmlessly through the illusion, embedding itself deep into the ground.
Dark: (taunting) Too slow. Are you sure you're the Warden and not the janitor?
The Warden snarled, its glowing eyes narrowing as it yanked the glaive free with ease, the motion sending debris flying in all directions. It swung horizontally, the blade whistling through the air as Dark ducked, narrowly avoiding decapitation. He retaliated with a quick upward slash, his blade connecting with the Warden's side.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: DAMAGE DEALT - MINOR.]
[ENEMY HP: 80%.]
Dark: (gritting his teeth, thinking) Of course. This bastard is built like a fortress. Perfect.
The Warden responded by slamming the pommel of its glaive into Dark's chest, sending him skidding backward across the chamber floor. He coughed, his vision flickering briefly as the System chimed.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: DAMAGE TAKEN - MODERATE.]
[HEALTH: 85%.]
Dark rolled to his feet, his shadows flaring as he activated Eclipse Strike. His blade shimmered with a dark, ethereal energy as he lunged forward, aiming for the Warden's exposed flank. The strike landed, carving deep into the shadowy mass of its torso.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: DAMAGE DEALT - CRITICAL.]
[ENEMY HP: 65%.]
The Warden howled, its form flickering as if destabilizing. It spun on its heel, its glaive swinging in a wide arc. Dark raised his blade to block, but the force of the impact sent him flying into a nearby wall. He hit the stone with a grunt, the jagged edges digging into his back.
Dark: (thinking, frustrated) Damn it, this thing hits like a truck.
The Warden didn't relent. It raised its glaive high, dark energy swirling around the blade as it prepared a devastating attack. Dark's instincts flared, warning him of the incoming danger. He activated Void Requiem, shadows erupting around him to form a protective barrier.
The glaive came down with an earth-shattering crash, the impact sending shockwaves rippling through the chamber. Dark's barrier held, but only barely. Cracks formed in the shadowy dome, and his stamina dipped significantly.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: STAMINA DRAIN - HIGH.]
[RECHARGE REQUIRED.]
Dark: (thinking) Can't keep tanking hits like this. Time to switch tactics.
As the Warden pulled back for another strike, Dark dashed to the side, his shadows propelling him forward at blinding speed. He circled the Warden, looking for an opening. Its movements were methodical but heavy, leaving brief windows of opportunity between its attacks.
Dark: (thinking) Its core. That's the weak spot.
The Warden swung its glaive horizontally again, but this time Dark ducked low, sliding under the blade. He closed the distance in an instant, his blade glowing faintly as he activated Shadow Riposte. His strike was precise, aimed directly at the faintly glowing core nestled within the Warden's chest.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: DAMAGE DEALT - CRITICAL.]
[ENEMY HP: 45%.]
The Warden staggered, dark ichor spilling from the wound as it let out a guttural roar. Its body flickered violently, shadows swirling around it as its aura surged.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: WARNING - ENRAGE MODE ACTIVATED.]
[ENEMY DAMAGE OUTPUT INCREASED BY 50%.]
Dark: (thinking, smirking) Great. Just what I needed. Because it wasn't already hard enough.
The Warden lunged, its glaive moving in a series of rapid strikes that left Dark scrambling to keep up. He dodged and parried as best he could, but the sheer speed and force of the attacks began to wear him down. A glancing blow caught his side, tearing through his armor and drawing blood.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: DAMAGE TAKEN - MODERATE.]
[HEALTH: 65%.]
Dark: (thinking, wincing) I'm running out of time here.
The Warden raised its glaive again, dark energy crackling along the blade as it prepared to unleash another devastating attack. Dark knew he couldn't let it connect. With a deep breath, he activated Void Step, his form flickering out of existence for a brief moment before reappearing directly behind the Warden.
Dark: (calmly, voice low) Checkmate.
He drove his blade into the Warden's core with all his strength, shadows erupting from the point of impact like a volcanic eruption. The Warden let out a final, agonized roar as its body destabilized, collapsing into a swirling mass of shadow and ichor before disintegrating entirely.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: ENEMY DEFEATED.]
[XP GAINED: +10,000.]
[LEVEL UP.]
[CURRENT LEVEL: 40.]
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: ITEM DROPPED - WARDEN'S GLAIVE.]
[ITEM RARITY: EPIC.]
[ITEM EFFECT: SHADOW DAMAGE +30%. STAMINA DRAIN -10%.]
Dark bent down, picking up the massive glaive. It was lighter than it looked, the dark energy pulsing faintly in his grip. He smirked, giving it a small swing to test its balance.
Dark: (thinking, satisfied) Finally, something useful.
The cavern fell silent, the oppressive energy fading as the Warden's death restored a sense of calm. Dark sheathed his blade, the faint glow of the fungi illuminating his path forward.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: OBJECTIVE UPDATED.]
[PROCEED TO THE INNER SANCTUM.]
Dark: (muttering) And it never ends.
With a resigned sigh, he tightened his grip on the glaive and began his descent deeper into the cavern, the faint echoes of his footsteps swallowed by the abyss.
End Of Arc 3 Chapter 9.