After defeating the Abyssal Guardian, Kale didn't have time to bask in his victory. The dungeon was still very much alive, twisting and changing as it responded to the ever-present threat of his cursed talent, Higher Risk, Higher Reward. Every step deeper into this death trap meant facing even greater dangers. Kale could feel the malevolent energy of the dungeon shifting, as if preparing something far worse.
He activated Monster Hunter, increasing his damage. The dungeon pulsed with life, filled with creatures lurking just beyond the dim, bioluminescent glow that dotted the cave walls. Kale had barely recovered, but there was no choice but to press on.
Activating Sage's Eyes, his vision sharpened even further, allowing him to analyze the dungeon's layout and its intricate traps. As he moved forward, he noticed that the monsters were adapting, becoming faster and more intelligent with every encounter. What started as mutated beasts now resembled something more calculated, like predators assessing their prey.
Several monsters charged at him from the shadows—hulking figures with razor-sharp claws and gleaming, blood-red eyes. Kale reacted instantly. His blade, Nandaki, glowed as he unleashed a flurry of attacks. Each swing was precise, guided by his Omniscient Eyes, which allowed him to read the monsters' movements before they even happened. He cut them down with efficiency, but even so, the dungeon seemed endless.
His Omniscient Eyes began analyzing everything—the creatures, the air currents, even his own body. The system within him was adapting, teaching him how to use his chakra more efficiently, showing him where he was wasting energy. Kale felt the gradual shift in his understanding, as if his very being was evolving with each strike.
But as powerful as he was, the constant use of Limit Break was beginning to take its toll. His muscles screamed in agony, his breathing was ragged, and every inch of his body ached. He knew this was unsustainable, but there was no turning back now.
The next set of monsters came in droves. Kale's sword flashed through the air as he spun, dodged, and struck with deadly precision. Each step forward felt like a battle for survival, the dungeon pushing him to the edge of his endurance. But through it all, his mind remained sharp, aided by his Sage's Eyes. It allowed him to anticipate the monsters' next moves, and even the traps hidden beneath the stone floor were no longer a mystery.
Still, the deeper he went, the more the dungeon changed. The air grew colder, the walls darker, and soon he found himself standing before a massive, intricately carved door. Beyond it, he knew, was the final chamber—the boss room. The presence behind the door was suffocating, a primal force far stronger than anything he had encountered thus far.
He pushed open the door, and the temperature dropped even further, a biting cold that gnawed at his bones. There, in the center of the cavernous room, was the boss—a colossal drake with scales as dark as the night sky. Its eyes glowed with a malevolent intelligence, and its sheer size dwarfed anything Kale had seen in this dungeon so far.
The fight began almost instantly. The drake lunged, its maw opening wide as it unleashed a torrent of flame. Kale narrowly dodged, activating Infernal Command to counter the flames with his own. The cavern exploded in a blaze of light as fire met fire, but the drake was relentless.
Kale's Sage's Eyes locked onto the drake, analyzing its movements and predicting its attacks. He saw the way its muscles tensed before each strike, the slight flicker in its eyes before unleashing its breath. Every second of battle became a test of reaction and strategy, each of his moves calculated to counter the drake's overwhelming power.
But the drake wasn't just any dungeon boss. Kale watched in horror as its form began to twist and mutate, scales shedding and reforming into something far darker. The creature roared, its body elongating, its limbs warping into something demonic. The drake had evolved into a low-ranking demon.
The system's cold notification flashed before him:
[Due to Title: Over Hell, Damage Increased by 400%.]
Despite the boost in power, the drake—now a demon—was a force of nature. Its strikes were heavier, its attacks faster, and its presence more suffocating. Kale was pushed to his limits, barely managing to parry the demon's claws as they came crashing down. His chakra reserves were running dangerously low, and the repeated use of Limit Break had drained him almost completely.
But he couldn't stop. Not now.
His Omniscient Eyes flickered, showing him the demon's weaknesses, the precise point where he could land the killing blow. At the same time, his Sage's Eyes continued to analyze the demon's skills, revealing its next move and the perfect counter. It was a delicate dance of survival, but Kale knew he had one final chance.
The demon lunged at him, its maw snapping shut inches from his head. Kale rolled out of the way, then gathered every last ounce of chakra left in his body. His Omniscient Eyes had taught him how to channel it more efficiently, how to waste nothing. He poured it all into a final, desperate attack.
With a fierce cry, Kale launched himself into the air, his sword glowing with raw power. He thrust the blade forward, aiming directly for the demon's core. Time seemed to slow as the blade pierced the demon's chest, driving deep into its heart.
For a moment, everything was still. The demon let out a final, guttural roar, its body convulsing as the last of its energy dissipated. Kale's vision blurred, his body screaming in agony from the strain of the fight.
Then, with a deafening crash, the demon collapsed, its form dissolving into black mist. Kale stood over the remains, panting, his hands trembling around the hilt of his sword.
He had won.
Barely.