Chapter 16: Shadows of the city
The city was a maze of empty streets and decaying structures, each corner hiding the unknown. But Cruz pressed on, determined to uncover the secrets that lay within. The vision of the two knights lingered in his mind, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being drawn toward something—something dark and powerful that awaited him at the heart of this forsaken city.
Cruz now wondered how his skill, [Descent of Primus], would react autonomously as he ventured deeper into the dilapidated city. As he crossed the threshold of what felt like a boundary, a chilling system prompt echoed in his mind: [Dungeon Level Raised].
He glanced up, drawn toward a large obsidian pillar pulsating with ominous light that rose from the old city, casting an unnatural glow over the already gloomy landscape. A sense of unease twisted in his gut, as if something malicious was waking within the shadows. Feeling captivated by the pillar, he moved closer, but instinct kicked in at the last second, urging him to dodge and roll forward.
A shadow lunged where he had just stood, leaving behind a slick, greenish acid-like slime and deep claw marks. He barely had time to react before a thin, sharp object whistled above him. His instincts sharpened, and he quickly used the skill [Identify].
[Shadow Assassin ]– Level 14
Vitality: 5
Strength: 50
Agility: 55
Endurance: 9
Mana Capacity: 50
Stealth Mastery: 70
A nervous hiss escaped his lips. "How in the ever-living f*ck is that a level 14 creature?" he cursed, grappling with the reality of the situation. The creature's agility and strength were already a great deterrent, not to mention its overwhelming stealth mastery and mana. It was a top-tier creature outside the dungeon, yet it was classified as level 14?
Was this what the system meant by dungeon level raised? Was it even possible to clear it anymore? He grimly watched as the Shadow Assassin halted at the spot where he had stood moments before, its attention fixated on him.
The Shadow Assassin was a grotesque silhouette of a humanoid figure draped in a cloak of living shadows. Its form was fluid, warping and shifting in the darkness, and its featureless face was dominated by a gaping, jagged maw filled with sharp, needle-like teeth that clicked together with a sinister rhythm. Long, thin blades extended from its forearms, slick with a dark, ichor-like substance, and it moved with an eerie grace that suggested it weighed nothing at all.
Cruz's eyes widened as he saw the glint of the elongated blades. The jagged maw dripped greenish acid, which sizzled as it hit the floor, signifying its corrosiveness. Each tap of its thin blade arms echoed through the darkness, a sound that reverberated ominously as Cruz reeled from the shock of the grotesque assassin.
A pulsating energy extended from the creature, and it unleashed [Shadow Pulse].
[Shadow Pulse]
Skill Type: Sensory/Detection
Rank: C
Effect: The Shadow Assassin taps its thin blades on the ground or nearby surfaces, sending out an imperceptible vibration that spreads through the area. This pulse detects nearby figures and objects that make any form of sound or subtle movement, allowing the assassin to "see" through sound-based resonance. It reveals the outline and approximate position of hidden or cloaked enemies within a certain range, making it difficult for targets to evade detection through invisibility or stealth.
The creature's cackle filled the air, a sound both mocking and unnerving. In a blur, it lunged at Cruz, feeling the pressure from all sides as his instincts screamed for him to move. He activated [Descent of Primus], but the system responded with a prompt:
[Usage of ... Error 𐌗𐌘𐌗𐌡𐌕 𐌢 𐌡𐌠𐌢𐌔???????... Detected].
[Dungeon Level Raised].
The darkness warped, and the Shadow Assassin's stats updated before Cruz's eyes:
[Shadow Assassin – Level 14]
Vitality: 40
Strength: 50
Agility: 75
Endurance: 35
Mana Capacity: 80
Stealth Mastery: 90
Cruz felt a bitter laugh rise in his throat. He was about to die here, all because his innate skill decided to throw a wrench into the situation. His skill had gone haywire since the vision of the knights, even altering the difficulty of the dungeon itself. Dungeons were supposed to have constant grading—Newbie, Normal, Hard, Impossible. How had it come to this?
Shaking off his disbelief, Cruz sprinted to the side just as the assassin's blades slashed through the air where he had been standing. The chilling intent behind the creature's attack sent shivers down his spine. He could feel its hunger, its relentless desire to hunt him down.
He skidded to a halt, catching his breath and quickly assessing his surroundings. The decaying structures felt alive, as if the walls were closing in, shadows dancing along the edges of his vision, taunting him.
His mind raced, desperately trying to formulate a plan. With the creature's enhanced stats, he needed a new approach. He couldn't afford to be reckless; this was a calculated battle against a foe that could likely outmaneuver him at any moment.
Cruz took a deep breath, centering himself. He activated
[Earth Quake Stomp], channeling the bloodline power he had recently gained from the Stonehide Rhino. He felt the earth pulse beneath him, resonating with his intent.
The ground trembled, and a shockwave surged forward, ripping through the earth and heading straight for the Shadow Assassin. The creature paused for a moment, clearly thrown off by the sudden shift in the terrain, but quickly regained its composure. It darted sideways, its agility allowing it to dodge the brunt of the attack. The shockwave still staggered it, giving Cruz a fleeting moment of advantage.
Seizing the opportunity, Cruz charged forward, closing the distance between them. He drew his daggers, feeling the familiar weight in his hands, and lunged at the assassin, aiming for its exposed side.
But just as he was about to strike, the Shadow Assassin melted away into a cloud of shadows, reappearing a few feet away. Its laughter echoed eerily, sending a shiver down Cruz's spine. The [Shadow Pulse] must have detected his movement, giving it the advantage to evade.
"Damn it!" he cursed, frustration bubbling within him.
In that moment of distraction, the creature lunged again, its blade aimed directly at Cruz's throat. He barely managed to duck, feeling the air rush past as the blade narrowly missed him. The assassin twisted mid-lunge, slashing downward with its other arm. Cruz barely had time to parry with one of his daggers. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through his arm, and he stumbled back, trying to regain his footing.
"This is not happening," he muttered, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "I need to think!"
The creature began circling him, its movements fluid and almost hypnotic. Cruz knew he couldn't let it get the upper hand. He needed to disrupt its rhythm. With a sudden burst of determination, he launched himself forward again, but this time, he feigned a strike, making it look like he was aiming for the left.
As expected, the Shadow Assassin reacted, twisting to evade. But Cruz pivoted, his real target being the ground beneath it. He activated [EarthQuake Stomp] once more, and the earth erupted, sending shards of stone and debris into the air.
The attack caught the assassin off guard. It staggered as the ground shook violently, giving Cruz just enough time to press the advantage. He charged forward, aiming his daggers at its vulnerable spots. But just as he was about to strike, the creature dissipated into shadows, reappearing behind him.
"Not again!" he gasped.
The Shadow Assassin struck him from behind, its blade aimed at his back. Cruz felt a sharp pain as it made contact, and he instinctively turned, but it was too late. The attack hit with brutal force, and he felt the warmth of blood pooling at his back, mixing with a thick, purple liquid that dripped from the wound.
[Health Points: 36/50]
Cruz gritted his teeth, forcing himself to focus through the pain. He staggered forward, trying to regain his footing, but the Shadow Assassin wasn't finished. It lunged again, its blade glinting in the unnatural light, and Cruz could feel the surge of its dark energy, as if it thrived on his despair.
He needed to finish this fight before he succumbed to the poison coursing through his veins.
[Poisoned Dagger]
Type: Offensive/DoT (Damage over Time)
Effect: Coats the dagger in poison, causing the next attack to deal 50% additional damage and inflict Poison on the target. The poison deals 5% of the target's max HP as damage every second for 8 seconds.
Cooldown: 25 seconds
His mind raced as he felt the poison's grip tighten, each second stripping away his vitality. He had to outthink the assassin, not just outfight it.