The Demon Forge loomed—a black obsidian pit pulsing with blood-qi.
Torchlight danced on jagged walls. Crimson-robed disciples packed stands, jeering like starving vultures. Elder chants droned. Formation arrays glowed overhead.
This is it. Public execution or viral villain origin story.
Concubine led me to arena floor, fan snapping shut. "Survive three trials, cripple. Fail? Soul furnace."
Her whisper brushed my ear: "Impress me."
[TRIAL QUEST ACTIVATED]
Objective: Clear 3 Waves. Reward: +50 Malice, Elder Recognition.
Malice: 175/200 → Level 6 imminent.
System's chatty today. Loving the spotlight.
Crowd roared: "TRASH HEIR! FEED THE FORGE!"
Hate crashed in waves.
Hate Meter: 175 → 182
Yesss. Free stats.
Wave 1: Ironclaw Beasts (x3)
Cages rattled. Three venom-clawed wolves lunged—Level 9 demons, eyes mad with hunger.
"Tear the cripple!"
I grinned, twirling jade shard. Beast taunts first—easy mode.
"Big dogs. Huo Kai's chew toys?"
First beast pounced—jaws unhinged.
Sidestep. "Ugly, your breath's worse than scar-lip's corpse."
SLASH! Flank carved. Double poison bubbled.
WHIMPER.
[Beast Despair: +8 Malice → 190]
System purring already.
Second beast circled. Taunt Master proc—let's farm.
"Aww, mad your packmate got neutered?"
Raged blind—wild leap.
DESPAIR MIRAGE! Shadow-me danced.
Clone's got my vibe. Real shard struck throat.
GURGLE.
[Double Kill: +15 → 205]
[LEVEL 6 UNLOCKED!]
Stats +30%. Skill: Malice Spike (Ranged).
Bloodline: 35% Evolved.
HOLY S**T. Level 6 already? This grind's cracked.
Third beast froze—smart.
New toy time. Palm forward.
MALICE SPIKE! Black qi lance skull-pierced.
CRUNCH.
Wave Clear: +12 → 217/250.
Clean. Too clean. Crowd hushed, then: "CHEAT!"
Wave 2: Disciples (x5)
Core Condensation pricks leaped down—saber cyclone spinning.
Leader smirked: "Huo Kai's brothers. Die slow."
Family drama? Gold. Mock bow.
"Aww, reunion? Bring flowers next time."
MALICE DOMAIN: 20m. They slowed. Faces twisted.
"Pretty boy—that formation took archery lessons from enforcers?"
SNORT. One cracked—laughed, then raged.
CRITICAL TAUNT: +18 → 235
Comedy gold AND stats? Broken.
Cyclone gaps opened. Darted in.
VENOM SLASH → THROAT.
MALICE SPIKE → HEART.
Two down. Screams fed system.
"MONSTER!" Formation crumbled.
DESPAIR MIRAGE x2—both flipped off: "Missed us!"
My clones are savage.
STAB. CRUNCH. SNAP. House cleaned.
WAVE PERFECTO: +25 → 260/300.
These notifications mid-fight? Addictive AF. Elders stood. Murmurs spread.
Wave 3: Bloodforged Golem
Arena quaked. 15-foot stone titan rose—Level 15, red core pulsing. Unbreakable sect pride.
"CRUSH THE FREAK!"
Boss alert. Let's break their toy.
Golem charged—fist like meteor.
Dodge. Ground cratered.
"Nice punch, rocky. Practice on Huo Kai's uncle?"
Core flickered. Wait—sentience?
HATE SPIKE: +20 → 280
Crowd hate too? Glitch.
Fist winded. DOMAIN MAX. Golem slowed 30%.
ARRAY RESIDUE burned veins.
Targeted core. MALICE SPIKE BARRAGE! Three lances cratered chest.
Cracks spread.
"Hey big guy—your heart's weaker than enforcer spines."
FINAL SPIKE!
CORE SHATTER—BOOM!
TRIAL CLEAR! PERFECT!
[Level 7 ACHIEVED]
Stats +35%. Title: Forge Breaker.
Bloodline: 45% Evolved.
Malice: 310/350.
Level 7 in ONE TRIAL? This system's my spirit animal.
Arena dead silent.
Thunderous boos: "FAKE!!!! ELDER BIAS!"
Music to my ears.
Lady Mei's fan trembled. Elders descended.
Sect Lord materialized—golden-robed giant. "The 'trash' ... flawless."
His gaze drilled my soul.
The heckkk
[HIGH RANK TARGET: SECT LORD DETECTED]
[TO BE CONTINUED]