As Ivan stepped into the first dungeon, he swung his spear around with confidence, ready to confront any mobs that awaited him. Soon, the eerie sound of bones and a dragging sword filled the air.
"Oh, it's you guys," Ivan remarked, observing the army of undead skeletons that began to encircle him. Some held rusty swords and shields, while others moved without weapons.
Skeletal warriors were not formidable foes. Their defense and intelligence were relatively low, and their attacking power was nothing remarkable. However, like all low-level mobs, their strength lied in their numbers.
Armed with newfound strength, Ivan effortlessly wielded his spear, overpowering the low-level skeletal warriors. With each swing, he dispatched multiple foes simultaneously, swiftly thinning their ranks.
Ivan's plan to deal with the skeletal warriors was straightforward and simple. He needed to avoid being surrounded by them, so he launched himself into the midst of the enemies, demolishing the skeletons with each powerful strike.
The fight was short-lived and heavily one-sided. The skeletons lacked the strength, power, and speed to keep up with Ivan. In a matter of minutes, he cleared the entire dungeon, leaving nothing but piles of bones in his wake.
[Dungeon Cleared]
[+300 XP]
As Ivan arrived at the entrance of the next dungeon, he had no intentions of wasting time. However, this particular dungeon presented a slightly greater challenge. It was infested with venomous spiders. Although they were low-level and easily killable for Ivan, he had to be cautious to avoid their bites. The spider bites inflicted excruciating pain, gradually reducing the player's HP before ultimately leading to death.
The spiders, sensing Ivan's presence, skittered towards him with aggressive intent. Their fangs glistened with venom, the most potent weapon they possessed in their arsenal.
With a swift and calculated movement, Ivan lunged forward, his spear slashing through the air. His strikes were precise and powerful, aiming to decimate the spiders while keeping a safe distance. As the venomous creatures closed in, Ivan unleashed a series of sweeping attacks, his spear slicing through multiple spiders at once. Each strike sent arachnid bodies flying in different directions.
The spiders retaliated, lunging with speed and attempting to sink their venomous fangs into Ivan's armor-clad form. However, his defensive measures proved effective. His armor provided ample protection against their bites, deflecting their attempts to penetrate his flesh.
Despite their venomous advantage and their overwhelming numbers, the spiders couldn't match Ivan's strength and skill. With each swing of his spear, more spiders fell. Their venomous bites became less of a threat as Ivan deftly avoided them, his instincts and experience serving him well.
The fight raged on, Ivan standing tall amidst the chaos. His strikes were relentless, diminishing the spider horde one by one. As the final spider fell, silence settled in the dungeon, broken only by Ivan's steady breaths.
Ivan emerged from the battle victorious, the venomous spider horde vanquished.
Ivan swiftly navigated through all the dungeons, overpowering the mobs within with ease. He deviated from his original plan to grow his strength through detours since he had discovered a more efficient method. With determination, he finished clearing the remaining dungeons and made his way towards the colossal door leading to the boss room.
[All dungeons have been cleared]
[Total XP Earned: 1800 XP]
"Congratulations on clearing all the dungeons," the tutorial voice resonated as Ivan stood before the boss room.
"Would you like to proceed into the boss room?" the voice echoed, accompanied by a prompt that appeared before Ivan.
"Yes," Ivan affirmed, prompting the colossal doors of the boss room to groan as they opened wide.
Ivan stepped forward with deliberate steps, his gaze sweeping across the usually expansive boss room. The massive door sealed shut with a resounding groan behind him.
[Malachi, The Arcane Archmage Lvl(??) is Present]
[Eye of the Creator Rank Too Low to Read Level]
[Boss Battle Has Begun]
"Wait, that name, this boss was never in the game before," Ivan muttered to himself, his eyes darting around the boss room in search of the elusive foe.
In an instant, a cloaked figure materialized before Ivan, their face concealed from view. The presence emanated an overwhelming aura of magic, causing Ivan to sense it acutely.
[Unforeseen Variable Detected]
[Unprocessable Instance]
[Unmatched Time-Flow]
[The Inhabitants of the Unnumbered Floors Are Watching You]
A sudden wave of pain surged through Ivan's head, as if his mind was about to implode. Scenes and flashes rapidly flickered before his eyes, overwhelming his senses. Ivan instinctively grabbed his head, trying to steady himself amidst the onslaught of fragmented images.
Amidst the chaos, he witnessed himself—or someone bearing an uncanny resemblance to him—sitting on a throne, while the boss he faced now stood before him. These visions flashed through his head, creating an eerie sense of presence.
"Malachi, you've chosen to align yourself with the finding one's. You, of all people, should have known it would lead to certain death. Yet, you dare come before my presence to negotiate," Ivan's doppelgänger spoke with a chilling voice, emanating an aura of authority.
"Your actions will unleash chaos. The only way is that you perish," Malachi declared defiantly.
"I won't stop nor suicide so, are you the one sent to end my life?" Ivan questioned, his face twisted into a sinister grin.
"Yes, if I must," Malachi responded, enveloped by a grand aura of power.
In that moment, Ivan's look-alike uttered a single command that resonated through their very beings, compelling both Malachi and Ivan who spectated to drop to their knees.
"Kneel"
[Game developer skill: Creator's Command is Active]
"Wait, isn't that my class? " Ivan pondered looking at the prompt appearing before his look-alike, completely engrossed in the visions unfolding before him. Unaware of his physical surroundings, he failed to notice the boss he had come to fight, now inching closer to him.
As the vision persisted, Ivan's doppelgänger approached Malachi with a sword in hand. With a swift and precise strike, the blade cleaved through Malachi's arm, severing it cleanly from his body.
"I'll spare your life, only to deliver this message: I won't tolerate such insult again. If they seek my life, they should come together, all at once," Ivan's doppelgänger declared, his voice dripping with malice.
Unbeknownst to Ivan, who remained entranced by the vision, Malachi had approached him unnoticed and unleashed a powerful spell. It wasn't until searing flames engulfed his body that Ivan became aware of his perilous situation.
[Player Has Died]
The intense heat consumed Ivan, his life snuffed out by the deadly flames. The vision abruptly ended, leaving him only with the notification of his death.