As Derek caught his breath, a moment of respite in the aftermath of his hard-fought victory, he felt a glimmer of relief washing over him.
But before he could fully let his guard down, he sensed a shift in the air. The D+ rank monster's body twitched, and in an instant, it lunged forward, its claws slashing through the air with newfound strength.
Caught off guard, Derek's reactions were too slow. The monster's attack connected with brutal force, and pain seared through his body as he was flung backward.
He sailed through the air, his body colliding with the trunks of one, two, three, and more trees. Each impact was an agonizing shock, leaving him battered and bloodied.
Finally, after being hurled through more than five trees, Derek crashed onto the forest floor, his body motionless.
His clothes were torn, and blood oozed from numerous wounds that marked his broken form. The injuries were severe, and Derek's strength was ebbing away.
In his despair, Derek struggled to gather his thoughts. He felt defeated, overwhelmed by the creature's sudden resurgence.
He knew he couldn't withstand another attack. As darkness threatened to consume him, he clung to the ball of light he had acquired from the sanctuary, desperate for any help it could offer.
Just as hope was slipping from his grasp, the ball of light began to glow with an intensity that matched the sun at its peak.
A surge of energy washed over Derek, invigorating his tired body and mind. Within the radiant glow, a piece of information entered his consciousness ;
....
{Oath of Vengeance } (Requires: Weapon Equipped)
Harness the spirits of vengeance and ignite a ferocious power within for one final, relentless assault against your enemies!
As long as your weapon remains equipped, you'll surge with unparalleled might, dealing devastating damage, attacking with blinding speed, and gaining formidable damage reduction.
Unleash the wrath of a vengeful spirit, leaving no foe standing in your path!
But be warned, this oath demands unwavering resolve. Should you dare to unequip your weapon or fail to eliminate all enemies within 1 minute, the borrowed power will turn against you, dealing retribution.
Only those willing to risk everything should undertake the Oath of Vengeance!
[Bonus Effects]
- Attack Damage: +200%
- Attack Speed: +50%
- Damage Resistance: +50%
- Health Cost: 1.66% of maximum health per second for 60 seconds.
[Ability Restrictions]
- Ability automatically ends if the weapon is unequipped.
- Ability ends if any enemies remain alive after 1 minute.
[FAILURE CONDITION]
If you take damage equal to your remaining health, a Retribution curse triggers, ending your life instantly.
...
Derek's heart raced as he invoked the Oath of Vengeance, his weapon gleaming with an ethereal light.
He could feel the spirits of vengeance coursing through him, granting him unprecedented power and determination.
The wounds from his previous battles seemed to fade into insignificance as he focused solely on his ultimate goal—to defeat the D+ rank monster that had pushed him to the brink.
With each swing of his radiant blades, Derek's strikes were imbued with incredible force, cutting through the air like lightning.
The monster, sensing the surge of power within him, met his onslaught with renewed fury, but Derek was unyielding.
He darted and weaved, striking with blinding speed, his attacks now amplified beyond imagination.
As the forest echoed with the clashes of light and darkness, Derek's mind was singularly fixed on his mission.
The seconds ticked away relentlessly, and he could feel the health cost taking its toll. His body burned with exertion, but he refused to relent.
The monster roared, its attacks increasingly desperate as it recognized the threat Derek had become.
Yet, with each passing moment, Derek's resolve only strengthened.
The borrowed power granted him the strength to match the monster's onslaught, and he would not falter.
Halfway through the one-minute deadline, Derek could feel his energy waning, but he pushed himself further, spurred on by the consequences of failure.
The wounds he sustained were severe, but he gritted his teeth and pressed on, knowing that victory was within reach.
His radiant blades danced like a tempest, and the monster's defenses began to crumble.
Derek saw an opening and seized the opportunity, driving his blades deep into the creature's core, where its malevolent miasma churned.
The monster let out a final, agonizing shriek as Derek's light-infused strikes disrupted its very essence.
Derek knew that he had to end this swiftly before his life force depleted entirely.
With seconds to spare, he summoned the last remnants of his strength and delivered a final, devastating blow.
The monster's body convulsed, and its dark aura dissipated into the air.
As the one-minute mark approached, Derek stumbled backward, his vision blurred, and his body aching.
He had pushed himself to the limit, and the health cost had taken its toll. The forest fell silent, and he could feel the lingering weight of the borrowed power beginning to recede.
But in the end, he had triumphed. The D+ rank monster lay defeated before him, vanquished by the Oath of Vengeance.
He had staked everything on this battle, and it had paid off.
As the power of the oath dissipated, Derek slumped to his knees, utterly spent. He gazed at the monster's lifeless form, his breaths ragged, and a sense of relief and pride washed over him.
He had faced the darkness within himself, tapping into the spirits of vengeance to secure victory.
In the aftermath, Derek knew that this had been a battle he could never forget. The Oath of Vengeance had pushed him to his limits, demanding a sacrifice in exchange for unparalleled power.
He had tasted the sweet triumph of victory but also the bitter knowledge that he had narrowly avoided the retribution that awaited those who failed to fulfill the oath.
[Congratulations, You have successfully fulfilled the Oath of Vengeance and shall be rewarded accordingly. The spirits of vengeance have acknowledged the strength of your resolve, and you have proven yourself worthy of their power.]
[The God of Covenants looks upon you with amusement and happiness, for you have faced the ultimate test and emerged victorious. Your determination and bravery have been noted, and the power you wielded shall not go unrecognized.]