[[Location: Seventh Floor of the D.M.U. – Ruined City]]
[[Time Elapsed Since Entering the Floor: 00:12]]
The ground beneath his feet was dusty, cracked, and littered with debris. Mark glanced down and saw a paved road, half-buried under the rubble, flanked by ruined buildings. The air was heavy, filled with the scent of burned stone and rusted metal.
He lifted his gaze and took in the sight of a vast abandoned city, stretching as far as the eye could see. The buildings, once majestic, were now reduced to dark, skeletal remains. Some structures barely stood, their broken facades exposing hollow interiors. Others had collapsed entirely into piles of rubble.
[[New Rule for the Seventh Floor: Survival and Conquest Trial]]
Ruined City: A hazardous environment filled with traps and unpredictable collapses.
Presence of advanced creatures, elites, and a boss.
Exit accessible only after eliminating the Lord of Ruins.
Mark took a deep breath. Unlike previous trials, where he had been thrown into harsh environments testing endurance and survival, this place had a different feel. It was once alive, but now, only shadows and forgotten remnants remained.
A noise echoed nearby—a deep creak, followed by the sound of crumbling debris.
He advanced cautiously, every sense on high alert. The narrow streets were lined with shattered statues, toppled lampposts, and open doorways leading into dark, silent structures. The wind howled through the broken buildings, creating a ghostly resonance.
Suddenly, movement caught his attention. A figure leaped from a side alley, lunging at him.
[[Creature Detected: Steel Phantom – Class: Elite]]
Mark barely dodged a razor-sharp claw slicing through the air where he had stood a second earlier. The creature was humanoid, partially covered in broken and rusted armor. Its glowing eyes radiated an eerie, calculating light.
No time to think. The Phantom attacked again, fast and relentless. Mark blocked the strike with his forearm, feeling the force vibrate through his bones. His body had become far more resilient, but he couldn't afford to underestimate his enemy.
He countered, activating Titan's Frenzy. His fist slammed into the monster's chest with crushing force, sending it crashing into a nearby wall. Debris exploded in all directions, yet the Phantom didn't fall. It immediately recovered, rising as if the blow had done nothing.
Mark narrowed his eyes. He needed to hit harder.
He unleashed a barrage of strikes, targeting the weak points in the armor. Each impact sent tremors through the Phantom's metallic body, revealing slight vulnerabilities in its structure.
After an intense exchange, the Phantom let out a final, distorted screech before collapsing into pieces.
[[Elite Eliminated. Progression: 1/???]]
Mark exhaled sharply. This was just the beginning. This city was an arena where only the strongest would survive.
Moving deeper into the ruins, Mark noticed strange inscriptions carved into some of the collapsed walls. They emitted a faint glow, as if still pulsing with residual energy. Was this the remnant of an ancient civilization? A relic from another universe? He had no time to dwell on it.
Heavy footsteps echoed down a nearby avenue. He pressed against a wall and observed.
A patrol of Fallen Guardians marched slowly through the wreckage, their broken armor clanking with each movement. Their hollow eyes scanned the area, as if following a command issued from ages past.
Mark inhaled deeply. Taking them all on at once was suicide. He waited for an opening before slipping into a parallel alley, avoiding direct confrontation.
After minutes of careful navigation, he arrived at a ruined cathedral, its shattered roof exposing the dark sky above. A powerful energy radiated from within.
[[Lord of Ruins' Domain Detected.]]
Mark clenched his fists. He knew what this meant. He had reached the boss.
He placed a hand on the massive doors, which groaned as they opened. A suffocating heat rushed to meet him. Inside, fallen columns, overturned benches, and a shattered altar bore witness to a forgotten past. At the cathedral's center, a towering figure awaited.
A massive war-worn suit of armor, etched with broken runes. A colossal sword dragged along the ground, emitting a dark aura. Two blood-red eyes locked onto him.
[[Lord of Ruins Detected. Class: Boss.]]
The monster slowly raised its massive head, its gaze assessing Mark. Its movements were deliberate, yet each motion carried overwhelming power.
A surge of excitement coursed through Mark. Unlike the previous trials, this was a true test of strength. This fight would be merciless.
The Lord of Ruins took a step forward, its movements sending tremors through the cathedral. Its serrated sword lifted, slow yet deliberate, before slashing downward in an instant.
Mark barely rolled aside as the devastating strike shattered the ground, creating a crater. Fragments of stone flew in all directions, some narrowly missing him.
Wasting no time, he rushed forward, delivering a punch empowered by Titan's Frenzy. His reinforced fist collided with the boss's armor.
A deep, resonant sound filled the chamber. It felt like punching a mountain.
The Lord of Ruins barely budged, but a faint red crack formed where Mark had struck. A small but crucial weakness.
The boss let out a guttural roar, lifting its massive blade with terrifying speed. Mark saw the attack coming but reacted too late. He tried to retreat, but the impact slammed into his torso, sending him crashing into a broken pillar.
Pain erupted through his body. He coughed, spitting blood, and struggled to rise. The Lord of Ruins didn't give him time. Its sword came down again, cutting through the air with deadly precision.
Mark forced himself up just in time, narrowly dodging what would have been a fatal blow. But he knew—this fight wouldn't be easy. This monster was different. Stronger. Smarter.
Despite the pain, a grin stretched across Mark's face.
— "Come on. Show me what you've got."
The colossus charged forward, and in an instant, the battle resumed with devastating intensity.
[[Time Elapsed Since Entering the Boss Battle: 06:42]]
Mark barely had time to react before the Lord of Ruins' blade came crashing down again. The sheer force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling through the stone floor, shattering more of the ancient cathedral. Mark threw himself to the side, rolling across the rubble to avoid being cut in half.
His breathing was ragged. His body ached from the numerous blows he had already taken. Even with his improved constitution, the sheer power behind each of the Lord's attacks was overwhelming. But despite the pain, despite the exhaustion, a wild grin remained on his face.
— "You hit hard," Mark muttered, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "But not hard enough."
The Lord of Ruins turned its glowing red gaze toward him, its enormous frame unmoving for a brief moment before it began advancing again. Each of its steps sent tremors through the ground. Dust and debris cascaded from the weakened ceiling as the cathedral itself seemed to groan under the immense presence of the monster.
[[Status Update: Energy Reserve – 38%]]
Mark flexed his fingers, feeling the weight of fatigue pressing against his muscles. He couldn't afford to drag this fight out. He needed to end it—now.
As the boss raised its massive sword once more, Mark activated Titan's Frenzy, forcing his body into overdrive. His heart pounded against his ribs as a surge of raw power flooded his limbs. His skin burned with intensity, his muscles swelling with newfound strength.
The Lord of Ruins swung its sword in a wide arc, aiming to cleave Mark in half. This time, Mark didn't dodge. Instead, he lunged forward, catching the downward force of the blade with both arms. The weight was immense—his bones groaned under the pressure—but he held firm, stopping the sword mere inches from his body.
[[Status Update: Muscular Strain – High]]
— "Not this time," he growled through clenched teeth.
With a roar of exertion, he twisted his body and punched the blade itself. A thunderous crack echoed through the cathedral as the sword fractured, pieces of corrupted metal flying in all directions. The Lord of Ruins staggered backward, unbalanced by the loss of its weapon.
This was his chance.
Mark surged forward, launching himself into the air. He drove his fist straight into the exposed crack in the Lord's chestplate, pouring every ounce of his remaining strength into the blow.
[[Critical Damage Inflicted!]]
The impact sent shockwaves through the air as the crack widened, glowing with unstable energy. The Lord of Ruins let out a deep, guttural roar—its form shuddering violently as the light within its core began to flicker uncontrollably.
The massive entity took a step back, its frame trembling. Mark landed hard on the ground, barely able to stay upright as his vision blurred from exhaustion.
The Lord of Ruins fell to its knees, a brilliant eruption of energy spilling from its core. The entire cathedral trembled as cracks ran along the remaining walls and ceiling, signaling imminent collapse.
[[Final Blow Opportunity Detected]]
Mark clenched his fists and took a deep breath. Ignoring the pain screaming through his body, he rushed forward one last time.
— "It's over!"
He slammed his fist directly into the exposed core, unleashing every last bit of force he had left.
A deafening explosion of energy engulfed the entire chamber. The Lord of Ruins let out a final, bone-chilling wail before its entire body crumbled into dust and shards of molten metal. The shockwave from its collapse sent Mark flying backward, slamming him into a broken pillar.
Silence followed.
Only the sound of rubble settling remained.
[[Boss Eliminated.]]
[[Rewards Obtained: 20,000 Credits – Strength +5 – Elite Equipment Chest]]
Mark coughed, struggling to sit up. His body felt like lead, his limbs numb from exhaustion. He forced himself to check his interface, noting the new rewards. His vision swam, darkness creeping at the edges.
Before he could react further, the ground beneath him gave way. The cathedral, weakened from the battle, collapsed entirely.
Mark plunged into the abyss below.
Everything went black.
[[Location: D.M.U. Waiting Room]]
[[Time Elapsed Since Boss Defeat: 00:00]]
Mark's eyes snapped open, his body bolting upright. He was no longer in the ruins—he was back in the waiting room. A familiar warmth washed over him as he realized he had been fully restored. His wounds were gone, his energy replenished. He flexed his fingers, his strength returning as if the battle had never happened.
He let out a long breath, allowing himself to finally relax. He had survived. Again.
But the battle had left an impression.
He had been pushed to his limits—and it still hadn't been enough. He had barely won. If he hadn't struck the core at the last moment, he might not have made it out at all.
Mark leaned back against the wall, staring up at the glowing interface before him. His heart still pounded with adrenaline. The Lord of Ruins had been his toughest opponent yet. And it wouldn't be the last.
[[New Training Options Unlocked]]
Enhanced Gravity Training
Combat Simulation Mode
A smirk crossed his lips. He would have to push himself even harder.
But first he needed to rest.