Dark trudged through the narrowing passageway, the faint hum of his glaive the only sound accompanying his footsteps. The walls on either side closed in tightly, their jagged edges scraping at his shoulders. The bioluminescent moss that had lit his way earlier was now barely glowing, leaving him in a shadowy tunnel that felt like it was trying to swallow him whole.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: OBJECTIVE UPDATED.]
[EXPLORE THE DEEPEST LAYERS OF THE CORE.]
[WARNING: PATHWAY UNSTABLE.]
Dark: (thinking, muttering) Yeah, unstable, just like this entire grindfest.
His glaive dragged slightly against the stone floor behind him, its faint metallic hum amplifying the suffocating silence of the tunnel. It wasn't exhaustion—it was boredom. Every step deeper into the Core felt like a taunt from the System. He could feel it, laughing at him with every redundant notification.
The tunnel abruptly ended, the path ahead blocked by a jagged stone wall. He stopped in front of it, his crimson eyes narrowing as he studied the faint glyphs etched into its surface. The symbols were faint, their glow flickering weakly like dying embers. For a moment, he just stood there, glaring at the dead end as if sheer irritation could force it to move.
Dark: (thinking) No exit, no trap, no mob jumping out to rip my throat out? What, did the System forget to finish this part?
He leaned the glaive against the wall and ran a hand over the glyphs, half-expecting some secret mechanism to trigger. Nothing happened. No glow, no click, no hidden doorway. Just silence.
Dark: (thinking, irritated) Great. Another one of those "figure it out yourself" moments.
He tapped the wall with his knuckles. Solid. He tried pressing harder against one of the glyphs. Nothing. Finally, he sighed, grabbed his glaive, and swung it at the wall with a grunt. The blade connected with a dull thud, sending faint cracks spiderwebbing across the surface.
Dark: (thinking, annoyed) If nothing else, at least I can vent my frustration.
A second swing sent a chunk of the wall crumbling away, revealing a faint sliver of light. His irritation faltered, replaced by a flicker of cautious optimism. He smashed the wall again, and the cracks widened, sunlight pouring through the gaps.
Dark: (thinking, relieved) Finally. Actual sunlight. I'm out of this pit.
He pried away the remaining rubble with his glaive and stepped through the opening. The air felt lighter, fresher, carrying the faint scent of grass and earth. For the first time in what felt like hours, the oppressive weight of the underground began to lift. A vast field stretched out before him, bathed in warm sunlight, the sky an unbroken expanse of blue.
Dark: (thinking, smirking) About damn time.
But the moment his boots touched the ground, the warmth of the sun flickered. The field shimmered, its vibrant colors draining away like spilled ink. The sky turned an ominous shade of gray, and the ground beneath him rippled with unnatural energy.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: WARNING - ELITE MONSTER AREA ENTERED.]
[MONSTER TYPE: RANDOMIZED.]
[LEVEL SCALING ACTIVATED.]
Dark: (thinking, frustrated) And there it is. The System couldn't let me have one nice thing.
The earth trembled, and the symbols carved into the ground glowed with a faint red hue. A low growl echoed from the distance, followed by several more. The grass shifted unnaturally, as though alive, and from the shadows emerged a pack of feral beasts—matted fur, glowing crimson eyes, and jagged teeth dripping with black ichor.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: ENTITY IDENTIFIED - BLOODHOUND PACK.]
[LEVEL: 42.]
[THREAT LEVEL: MODERATE.]
Dark twirled the glaive in his hands, its blade catching the faint light of the arena as he settled into a fighting stance.
Dark: (thinking, sarcastic) Bloodhounds. Sure. Because regular wolves weren't annoying enough.
The pack lunged all at once, their movements unnaturally coordinated. Dark sidestepped the first, driving his glaive into its side and sending it sprawling. The second pounced from behind, its claws grazing his arm as he twisted to intercept. Shadows erupted around him, lashing out like whips and slamming the beast into the ground.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: ABILITY ACTIVATED - VOID RIP.]
[DAMAGE: MODERATE.]
Dark: (thinking, annoyed) Moderate? You've got to be kidding me.
Another hound darted in from his blind spot, its fangs snapping inches from his throat. Dark flicked his wrist, the glaive's edge carving through its neck in one clean strike. The body dissolved into particles of light, leaving behind a faint glow on the ground.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: LOOT DROPPED - COMMON MEAT.]
Dark: (muttering) Meat. Of course. Because that's exactly what I need to survive this grind. A snack.
The fight dragged on, the pack seeming endless. Each time one fell, another would emerge from the shifting shadows. Worse, their loot drops remained pitiful—scraps of meat, torn hide, and the occasional rusty coin.
Dark: (thinking, irritated) So I kill twenty of these things and the best I get is pocket change and dog food? Thanks, System.
Finally, the last hound fell, dissolving into light as Dark drove his glaive into its chest. He wiped the ichor from his blade, breathing heavily as the battlefield grew still once more. A notification flashed across his vision.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: ENEMIES DEFEATED.]
[XP GAINED: +1,500.]
[LEVEL UP! MULTIPLE LEVELS GAINED.]
[CURRENT LEVEL: 44.]
Dark: (thinking, unimpressed) Levels are nice and all, but how about some decent loot for once?
The System, as always, remained silent.
Dark leaned against his glaive, staring out at the shifting, surreal landscape of the arena. The sky above churned like ink in water, dark clouds streaked with faint glimmers of light, as if the System couldn't decide what weather to render. He felt the tug of exhaustion, not physical but mental—the kind that sank deep into your bones when every effort felt pointless.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: NEXT WAVE INCOMING.]
[PREPARING MONSTER RANDOMIZATION...]
[MONSTER TYPE: SHADOW FANGS.]
[LEVEL: 45.]
[THREAT LEVEL: HIGH.]
Dark: (thinking, sighing) Of course, we're skipping straight to "high threat." No warm-up? No water break? Screw you too, System.
He adjusted his grip on the glaive, its weight oddly comforting now despite his annoyance. The ground trembled again, this time more violently, and from the distance, he saw black shapes emerging—sleek, panther-like creatures with glowing green eyes and serrated claws that shimmered like obsidian in the flickering light.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: ENTITY IDENTIFIED - SHADOW FANG PREDATORS.]
[NUMBER: 8.]
[SPECIAL TRAIT: HIGH DODGE RATE.]
Dark: (thinking, sarcastic) High dodge rate? That's perfect. Just what I needed—enemies with plot armor.
The first predator leapt toward him, its body a blur as it twisted in mid-air. Dark swung the glaive in a wide arc, but the creature contorted unnaturally, avoiding the blade entirely before landing a slash across his chest. He stumbled back, feeling the sting of shallow cuts as the beast hissed at him, its glowing eyes gleaming with malice.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: HEALTH DECREASING.]
[+10 DAMAGE.]
Dark: (gritting his teeth) You think that's enough to take me down?
Another predator lunged from his right. This time, Dark activated Phantom Dodge, leaving a flickering shadow in his place as he appeared several feet away. The beast's claws sliced through empty air, and before it could recover, Dark drove the glaive into its side, twisting the blade with a satisfying crunch.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: ENEMY DAMAGED.]
[ARMOR PIERCED.]
The creature dissolved into particles, leaving behind a faint glow. Dark bent down, picking up the loot drop—a jagged fang that pulsed faintly with shadow energy.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: LOOT DROPPED - COMMON SHADOW FANG.]
Dark: (thinking, annoyed) Common again. Why am I not surprised?
The remaining predators circled him, their movements unnervingly coordinated. He felt a bead of sweat slide down his temple, his instincts screaming at him to stay sharp. The beasts moved like shadows themselves, flickering in and out of sight, their claws and teeth glinting in the dim light.
Dark: (muttering) If you're going to try and kill me, at least have the decency to stand still.
He slammed the glaive into the ground, activating Void Requiem. Shadows erupted around him in a swirling storm, catching two of the predators mid-pounce. The beasts howled as the tendrils of darkness crushed their bodies, but the others used the chaos to close in, their claws slicing through the edges of his armor.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: ABILITY ACTIVATED - VOID REQUIEM.]
[+2 ENEMIES DEFEATED.]
[XP GAINED: +600.]
Dark: (thinking, frustrated) At least something's dying, but these dodge mechanics are ridiculous.
The three remaining predators lunged simultaneously, their speed and coordination forcing him on the defensive. He swung the glaive in tight arcs, his strikes precise but ineffective as the creatures twisted and contorted mid-air to avoid his attacks. One of them managed to rake its claws across his arm, leaving deep gashes that bled freely.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: HEALTH DECREASING RAPIDLY.]
[RECOMMENDATION: USE HEALING ITEM.]
Dark: (thinking, sarcastic) Oh, I'd love to—if I had anything better than meat scraps.
He gritted his teeth and activated Shadow Riposte, his body flickering as he countered the next attack with a surge of dark energy. The tendrils wrapped around the predator's neck, snapping it with a sickening crunch.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: ENEMY DEFEATED.]
[XP GAINED: +300.]
The last two predators hesitated, their glowing eyes flickering as if recalculating their odds. Dark smirked, wiping the blood from his arm as his shadows writhed around him like living serpents.
Dark: (mockingly) What's wrong? Don't like the odds anymore?
One of the beasts growled, lunging forward in a desperate final attack. Dark met it head-on, driving the glaive through its chest before slamming it into the ground. The final predator turned to flee, but Dark wasn't about to let it go. With a flick of his wrist, a tendril of shadow shot forward, wrapping around the beast's leg and dragging it back. He ended it with a swift, downward slash.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: ALL ENEMIES DEFEATED.]
[XP GAINED: +1,200.]
[LOOT DROPPED: COMMON SHADOW FANG x2, SHADOW CORE (RARE).]
Dark knelt to examine the glowing core, its faint purple light casting eerie shadows across his face. He could feel the energy radiating from it, a small but significant improvement over the usual garbage drops.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: SHADOW CORE ACQUIRED.]
[+5% BOOST TO SHADOW ABILITIES.]
Dark: (thinking, sarcastic) Oh, so now you're being generous. Thanks for nothing.
He opened his stats menu to allocate the XP, his gaze flicking over the long list of attributes. Strength, Agility, Vitality... and then Luck, still sitting at a pitiful 5, glowing faintly as if mocking him.
Dark: (thinking) Luck. Always at the bottom of the list, like it doesn't even matter.
For a moment, he considered putting a few points into it—just to see if it made any difference. But the thought of sacrificing points that could go into Strength or Agility made him hesitate.
Dark: (thinking, stubborn) No. Luck's just a crutch for people who can't brute-force their way through.
He dumped the points into Strength and Vitality again, feeling the familiar surge of power flood through his body. His muscles tightened, his movements feeling sharper and more precise.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: STAT POINTS ALLOCATED.]
[STATS UPDATED.]
The ground beneath him trembled again, and the faint shimmer of a portal appeared in the distance. Dark gripped his glaive, his eyes narrowing as he stepped forward.
Dark: (thinking, smirking) Alright, what now?...
Then...
The ground beneath him trembled again, and the faint shimmer of a portal appeared in the distance. Dark gripped his glaive, his eyes narrowing as he stepped forward.
Dark: (thinking, smirking) Alright, what now? Can't be this easy... right?
The portal glowed faintly, its surface swirling like liquid mercury. Its presence made the air thicker, heavier, as if daring him to step through. But something didn't sit right with Dark. The System never handed him anything without strings attached. His gaze swept over the area, the shadows of the arena flickering as if alive.
Dark: (thinking, suspicious) There's always a catch.
He took a step away from the portal, scanning the ground for anything unusual. The System was full of tricks—hidden loot, secret bosses, even entire areas locked behind seemingly innocuous details. His instincts prickled, urging him to look closer.
Dark approached a cluster of jagged rocks near the edge of the arena, the faint glimmer of something metallic catching his eye. He crouched down, brushing aside debris to reveal a small chest tucked between the stones. Its surface was covered in intricate runes, glowing faintly with an amber hue.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: HIDDEN LOOT DISCOVERED.]
[CHEST TYPE: ENCRYPTED.]
Dark: (thinking, intrigued) Encrypted, huh? You couldn't just let me open it like a normal person.
The runes on the chest pulsed as if responding to his presence. He tapped it with the glaive's tip, half-expecting a trap, but nothing happened. Then, as if on cue, a holographic interface flickered to life above the chest, displaying a series of glyphs and numbers.
[SYSTEM CHALLENGE: DECRYPT THE CHEST.]
[TIME LIMIT: 1:00.]
[REWARD: ???.]
Dark: (thinking, frustrated) A puzzle? You're really testing my patience today.
The glyphs rearranged themselves, forming a sequence that shifted constantly. It was a simple enough logic puzzle—match the patterns before the timer ran out—but the shifting symbols made it harder to focus.
He stared at the interface, his fingers hovering over the glowing glyphs. Every time he tried to select one, the sequence changed slightly, forcing him to start over.
Dark: (muttering) Oh, you think this is funny, don't you?
The timer ticked down, the glowing numbers flashing ominously as the seconds bled away. 00:15. 00:10. 00:05.
Dark: (thinking, annoyed) Screw it. Let's brute-force this.
With a swift motion, he activated Void Rip, slamming the glaive into the chest. The runes flared brightly, resisting the attack for a moment before shattering under the force. The chest opened with a hiss, revealing its contents.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: CHEST OPENED.]
[REWARD CLAIMED: RARE ITEM - SHADOW GRASP AMULET.]
Dark reached in and pulled out the amulet, its surface cool to the touch and etched with swirling shadow patterns. A faint, pulsing energy radiated from it, seeping into his hand as he held it.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: ITEM EQUIPPED.]
[SHADOW GRASP AMULET - EFFECT: +10% SHADOW ABILITY DAMAGE. +5% CHANCE TO EVADE.]
Dark: (thinking, satisfied) Finally, something worth the effort. Guess breaking things works after all.
He slipped the amulet around his neck, feeling its energy merge with his own. The air around him seemed to ripple slightly, his shadows growing darker and more defined. But as he stood, a faint rustling caught his attention from behind.
Dark turned sharply, his glaive raised. In the distance, near the portal, a figure emerged from the shadows. It wasn't a monster. It was humanoid, shrouded in a tattered cloak that seemed to blur at the edges, as if it didn't fully exist in this reality.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: UNKNOWN NPC DETECTED.]
[NAME: SHADEKEEPER.]
[STATUS: NEUTRAL.]
Shadekeeper: (calmly) Took you long enough. I was beginning to think you'd never find me.
Dark: (thinking, cautious) An NPC? Here? This is new.
He didn't lower his weapon, studying the figure carefully. The Shadekeeper's face was obscured, only faintly visible beneath the hood. Its voice was smooth, yet layered with an echo that hinted at something... unnatural.
Shadekeeper: (mockingly) You've been making quite the mess, haven't you? Slaying everything that moves, smashing ancient mechanisms. Typical brute-force approach.
Dark: (calmly) And you've been watching? That's not creepy at all.
The Shadekeeper chuckled, a hollow, unsettling sound that echoed through the arena.
Shadekeeper: (mockingly) Watching? No, shadow walker. I've been waiting. The System doesn't place me lightly. Only those who stray too far from its design ever meet me.
Dark: (thinking, smirking) Stray too far, huh? Sounds like I'm doing something right.
The Shadekeeper stepped closer, its presence unsettling in a way Dark couldn't quite place. It gestured toward the portal, its tattered sleeve fluttering as if caught in a nonexistent breeze.
Shadekeeper: The path ahead isn't just about strength, you know. The System was designed to challenge more than your blade. You've ignored it so far, but luck, perception, wisdom—they matter too. Ignore them at your peril.
Dark: (flatly) Is this the part where you tell me to put points into Luck?
The Shadekeeper laughed again, its tone sharper this time.
Shadekeeper: (mockingly) Oh no, shadow walker. Luck won't save you where you're going. But perhaps... curiosity will.
It raised a hand, and the portal began to shift. The shimmering surface grew darker, the light fading into an ominous void. Dark's grip on the glaive tightened, his instincts screaming that something was very wrong.
Dark: (thinking) Curiosity, huh? This feels like a trap.
Shadekeeper: (softly) Go ahead. Step through. Or turn back and stay in this pit forever. The choice, as always, is yours.
Dark: (smirking) Choices are overrated. Let's see where this goes.
Without another word, he stepped through the portal, the Shadekeeper's laughter echoing behind him as the void swallowed him whole.
Dark emerged on the other side of the portal, his feet landing on uneven ground. The air was colder here, biting and sharp, and the faint sound of wind howled in the distance. His crimson eyes scanned his surroundings. He stood in the middle of what seemed to be a massive expanse of fractured terrain—jagged cliffs, floating islands, and rivers of molten light weaving through the void like veins.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: NEW ZONE UNLOCKED.]
[ZONE: THE SHATTERED FIELDS.]
[THREAT LEVEL: EXTREME.]
[OBJECTIVE: SURVIVE.]
Dark: (thinking, annoyed) Survive? Great. That's comforting. Just one nightmare after another.
The terrain stretched endlessly, with pieces of land suspended in the air, connected by thin bridges or floating platforms that barely looked stable. In the distance, massive creatures roamed—some with glowing eyes that pierced the gloom, others with hulking frames that radiated power. Their low growls reverberated through the air like distant thunder.
Dark: (thinking, smirking faintly) Big, bad, and ugly. Just the way I like them.
The ground beneath him shifted slightly, drawing his attention downward. A faint ripple in the rocky surface caught his eye. He crouched, running a hand along the uneven ground. It wasn't natural—this place was alive, somehow.
Dark: (muttering) The Shadekeeper wasn't kidding. This isn't just another grind spot.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: ENVIRONMENTAL MECHANIC DETECTED.]
[TERRAIN REACTS TO MOVEMENT. PROCEED CAREFULLY.]
Dark: (thinking) Reacts to movement? Of course, because walking wasn't hard enough already.
He stood, testing the ground with a light step. The ripple expanded outward, a faint hum accompanying it. The further he moved, the stronger the hum became, and then—
A section of the ground erupted, sending shards of rock flying as a massive creature emerged. Its body was composed of jagged stone and flickering energy, its form shifting like a living earthquake. Glowing symbols pulsed along its surface, and its hollow eyes locked onto Dark with an intensity that made his skin prickle.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: ENEMY IDENTIFIED.]
[NAME: TITAN OF THE FRACTURE.]
[LEVEL: ???.]
[THREAT LEVEL: UNKNOWN.]
Dark: (thinking, narrowing his eyes) That's new. No level, no stats. Just a big question mark.
The Titan let out a deep, guttural roar, shaking the ground as it raised one massive arm. With a swift motion, it slammed the arm down, sending a shockwave of energy rippling toward Dark. He leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding the blast, but the ground beneath him cracked and shifted again, forcing him to keep moving.
Dark: (thinking) Alright, big guy. Let's see if you can keep up.
He activated Phantom Dodge, his body flickering as he darted to another platform. The Titan's movements were slower than expected, but every step it took reshaped the terrain, making it harder for him to find stable footing. Dark swung his glaive, aiming for the creature's leg, but the blade barely scratched its rocky surface.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: DAMAGE REDUCED.]
[REASON: TARGET'S ARMOR INTEGRITY.]
Dark: (muttering) Oh, come on.
The Titan retaliated, swinging its massive arm in a wide arc. Dark ducked, rolling beneath the strike and using the momentum to leap onto the creature's arm. He ran along its length, aiming for the glowing symbols on its shoulder.
Dark: (thinking) Let's see if those are your weak spots.
He brought the glaive down with a surge of shadow energy, the blade sinking into one of the symbols. The Titan roared, its body convulsing as the symbol flickered and dimmed. Dark smirked, pulling the glaive free.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: WEAK POINT IDENTIFIED.]
[INCREASED DAMAGE TO RUNES.]
Dark: (thinking, grinning) There it is.
The Titan swung its arm wildly, trying to dislodge him. Dark leapt off, landing on a nearby platform just as the creature slammed its fist into the ground, obliterating the space he'd been standing on moments ago.
Dark: (thinking) You're strong, but not smart. I can work with that.
He darted between platforms, using the shifting terrain to his advantage. Every time the Titan overreached or exposed itself, he struck at another rune, chipping away at its strength bit by bit. The battle was a game of endurance, each move calculated to exploit the creature's size and sluggish reactions.
Finally, with one last strike to the rune on its chest, the Titan let out a deafening roar. Its body crumbled, the glowing symbols shattering into fragments of light. Dark stepped back as the creature collapsed, the ground shaking one final time before going still.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: TITAN DEFEATED.]
[XP GAINED: +15,000.]
[REWARD: FRACTURED CORE SHARD.]
Dark: (thinking, panting) That... took longer than it should have.
He leaned against his glaive, catching his breath. The shard floated in the air where the Titan had fallen, its faint glow pulsing like a heartbeat. Dark reached for it, hesitating for a moment before grabbing it.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: ITEM ACQUIRED - FRACTURED CORE SHARD.]
[EFFECT: ENHANCES SHADOW ABILITIES BY 15%. UNLOCKS PASSIVE TERRAIN ADAPTATION.]
Dark: (thinking, smirking) Now we're talking.
The shard dissolved into his hand, a warm energy coursing through him. The ground beneath him felt steadier, as if the terrain had accepted him. He glanced back toward the portal, still shimmering in the distance, but another path caught his attention—an archway carved into one of the floating cliffs, faintly glowing.
Dark: (thinking) The portal's the obvious choice. Which means it's probably a trap. Let's see where this goes.
With the shard's energy still resonating in his body, he made his way toward the archway. The wind grew stronger, carrying faint whispers that sent a chill down his spine.
Dark: (thinking, gripping the glaive tighter) Yeah, this is definitely going to be a problem.
Dark stood in the middle of the desolate field, the portal's faint shimmer casting an eerie glow on his face. The silence around him was unnerving. Even the distant howls of the creatures he'd fought earlier seemed to fade into nothingness. He rested the glaive on his shoulder and scanned his surroundings with sharp eyes, his instincts alert for anything out of place.
Dark: (thinking, focused) The System never just gives you a portal for free. There's got to be something else here.
He began to move slowly, his footsteps crunching against the dry, cracked earth. His gaze darted to every corner of the field, searching for anything that could be useful. The faint outlines of broken statues stood in the distance, their surfaces covered in strange glyphs. Dark approached one of them cautiously, brushing his fingers against the carvings.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: INSPECTING ANCIENT MARKINGS.]
[HISTORY OF THE REALM - PIECE DISCOVERED.]
[XP GAINED: +200.]
Dark: (thinking, unimpressed) A history lesson? Really? Come on, System, give me something worth my time.
As he turned away, a faint glimmer caught his eye near the base of another broken statue. He crouched down, brushing away the dirt to reveal a small, intricately designed chest. The carvings on its surface pulsed faintly, and a soft hum emanated from within.
Dark: (thinking, smirking) Now we're talking.
He tapped the chest lightly with his glaive, wary of traps. When nothing happened, he leaned in closer and ran his fingers over the lock. It was inscribed with a rune that glowed faintly in the dim light.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: LOCKED CHEST DETECTED.]
[REQUIREMENT: UNLOCK WITH LUCK STAT ABOVE 15 OR USE KEY.]
Dark froze, his smirk fading.
Dark: (muttering) Of course. Of course, it's tied to Luck. Why wouldn't it be?
He sat back on his heels, staring at the chest with a mix of frustration and resignation. His Luck stat, even with the slight boost earlier, was nowhere near the required threshold. He considered smashing the chest open, but something about the runes made him hesitate.
Dark: (thinking) Fine. Be stubborn. I'll find a way back to you later.
He stood and made a mental note of the chest's location before heading toward the portal. The shimmering energy felt unstable, like it was barely holding itself together. He hesitated for a moment, then stepped through.
The transition was jarring. The air shifted from the stale, dry field to a humid, oppressive atmosphere. Dark found himself standing on a stone platform surrounded by thick jungle foliage. The sound of distant animal cries echoed through the dense canopy above.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: NEW AREA DISCOVERED.]
[LOCATION: EMERALD CATASTROPHE.]
[THREAT LEVEL: MODERATE TO HIGH.]
[REWARD: ENVIRONMENTAL MASTER CLASS - REWARDS INCREASED FOR SURVIVAL.]
Dark: (thinking, annoyed) "Emerald Catastrophe." Lovely name. Sounds so welcoming.
He stepped off the platform, the ground beneath his boots soft and uneven. The thick jungle was alive with movement—leaves rustled, and faint shadows darted between the trees. Dark gripped his glaive tightly, his senses on high alert.
The sound of a branch snapping behind him made him spin around. A hulking beast emerged from the shadows, its emerald scales shimmering in the faint light. Its eyes glowed a sickly green, and venom dripped from its jagged teeth.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: ENEMY IDENTIFIED.]
[NAME: VENOMBACK HUNTER.]
[LEVEL: 45.]
[THREAT LEVEL: HIGH.]
Dark: (thinking, smirking) Finally, something interesting.
The Venomback Hunter let out a guttural roar, charging at him with incredible speed. Dark barely had time to react as the beast swiped at him with razor-sharp claws. He dodged to the side, activating Phantom Dodge to leave a shadowy afterimage in his place.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: ABILITY ACTIVATED - PHANTOM DODGE.]
[EVADED.]
Dark spun around, his glaive humming with energy as he aimed for the beast's exposed side. The blade connected, slicing through its scales and drawing dark, oozing blood. The Venomback howled in pain, but instead of retreating, it lunged at him again, faster this time.
Dark: (thinking, frustrated) This thing doesn't know when to quit.
He activated Void Requiem, shadows erupting from the ground and lashing out at the beast. The tendrils wrapped around its legs, holding it in place long enough for Dark to deliver a powerful strike to its head. The glaive cut deep, and the Venomback collapsed with a final, pitiful growl.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: ENEMY DEFEATED.]
[XP GAINED: +1,500.]
[ITEM DROPPED: VENOM SACS (UNCOMMON).]
Dark stared at the loot notification, unimpressed.
Dark: (muttering) Venom sacs? What am I supposed to do with that?
He wiped the blood off his glaive and continued deeper into the jungle. The air grew thicker, the vegetation more tangled. He could feel the presence of more creatures watching him, their eyes glinting in the shadows.
As he moved, the ground beneath him shifted slightly, and he froze. A faint clicking sound echoed from below, growing louder with each passing second.
[SYSTEM WARNING: ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD DETECTED.]
[TRAP ACTIVATED: BURIED SPIKE PIT.]
Dark: (thinking, irritated) Of course. Why wouldn't the ground try to kill me?
He leapt forward just as the ground beneath him gave way, revealing a deep pit lined with jagged spikes. The edge crumbled beneath his weight, but he managed to grab hold of a thick vine hanging from the trees above.
Dark: (thinking, panting) That was close. Too close.
He climbed up onto stable ground, his grip on the glaive tightening. The System wasn't pulling any punches. Every step, every movement, felt like it could trigger another trap or ambush. But Dark couldn't afford to stop. This was the grind, and he was determined to come out stronger.
As he pressed on, he noticed a faint glow in the distance—a flickering blue light that seemed out of place in the jungle. Curiosity got the better of him, and he made his way toward it.
At the center of a small clearing stood a pedestal, similar to the one in the Inner Sanctum. On top of it was a glowing crystal, pulsating with energy.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: RARE ITEM DETECTED.]
[NAME: CRYSTAL OF INFINITE SHARDS.]
[TYPE: CRAFTING MATERIAL.]
[USE: UPGRADE EQUIPMENT AND ENHANCE ABILITIES.]
Dark: (thinking, smirking) Now we're talking.
He reached out to grab the crystal, but the moment his fingers touched it, the jungle erupted into chaos. Trees fell, and the ground split open as a massive creature emerged—a serpent-like monster with scales that shimmered like molten metal.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: BOSS ENCOUNTER INITIATED.]
[NAME: SERAPHIC JUNGLE GUARDIAN.]
[LEVEL: 55.]
[THREAT LEVEL: EXTREME.]
Dark: (thinking, grinning) Alright, this is going to be crazy.
He tightened his grip on the glaive, shadows already swirling around him as he prepared for the fight of his life. This was why he kept grinding. This was the challenge he lived for.
End Of Arc 3 Chapter 11.