---
Tyranor sat alone in his room at the inn, the flickering candle casting his shadow against the wall. His mind was still buzzing with the effects of the ritual. He could feel the dark mana coursing through him, more stable now, but still dangerous. It was like taming a wild beast—one wrong move, and it would tear him apart. But for now, he was in control.
As he sat there, his system screen flickered into view again, the words sharp and clear.
---
Status Screen
Name: Tyranor Althar, The Tainted
Title: Shadow Reaper
Level: 27
Class: Dark Warrior (Mastered)
Mana Type: Tainted (Dark)
Health: 900/900
Mana: 620/620
Dark Affinity: 45%
Dark Influence: Stabilized at 12%
Skills:
Dark Slash (Level 3): Infused with greater control, capable of splitting defenses and dealing heavy damage.
Void Step (Level 2): Improved range and duration, allowing for stealthy movement over greater distances.
Mana Drain (Level 3): Absorbs mana from a target, replenishing the user's own reserves.
Dark Binding (New): Allows the user to suppress dark mana surges and stabilize their power.
Nightmare Gaze (New): A mental attack that instills fear and confusion in enemies, weakening their will to fight.
Corrupted Aura (Passive): An aura of darkness surrounds the user, intimidating weaker foes and corrupting the environment.
Dark Influence (Unstable):
Corruption Rate: 12%
Warning: Dark Influence may increase with use of dark mana. Further stabilization required.
---
Tyranor's eyes scanned the details, taking in the new changes. His Dark Binding skill had already proven useful in controlling the flow of dark mana, but now he had a new skill—Nightmare Gaze—a mental weapon to disorient and terrify his enemies. And the Corrupted Aura… that was something he hadn't expected. It was passive, something that would always be active, casting a shadow over everything around him. He wondered how much it would affect those near him—and how much they might start to fear him because of it.
The numbers on his screen reflected his growing power, but also the danger that lurked beneath the surface. The corruption was still there, a constant threat. If he wasn't careful, it could start to grow again.
Tyranor dismissed the screen with a wave of his hand. There was work to be done.
---
In the Tavern
The tavern was louder than usual, filled with adventurers preparing for the next set of gate openings. Word had spread that another series of gates had appeared near the city, and everyone was talking about who would be chosen to clear them.
Tyranor's team was seated at their usual table in the corner, but tonight there was a tension in the air. Ferran, Lira, Kale, and Varin were talking in low voices when Tyranor approached. He could feel their eyes on him, suspicion lingering in the way they watched him. Ever since the incident with the dark mana, things hadn't been the same.
Ferran glanced up as Tyranor sat down. "Where were you last night?"
Tyranor's gaze met Ferran's, cold and unreadable. "I told you, I had something to take care of."
"You've been having a lot of 'somethings' to take care of lately," Lira muttered, not bothering to hide the accusation in her voice.
Tyranor leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "If you have something to say, say it."
Lira's eyes flashed. "We all know something's off with you, Tyranor. The dark mana, your disappearing act, the way you've been… distant."
Ferran raised a hand, trying to calm the situation. "We just want to know what's going on. We're a team, but you've been keeping us in the dark."
Tyranor felt a flicker of irritation. He didn't owe them an explanation. They wouldn't understand anyway. But he couldn't afford to alienate them completely, not yet.
"I've been dealing with the effects of the dark mana," Tyranor said, his voice calm but firm. "It's not something I can easily explain, but I've taken steps to control it. That's all you need to know."
Kale frowned, looking unconvinced. "And we're just supposed to trust that?"
Tyranor's eyes narrowed. "You don't need to trust me. But if you want to survive the next mission, you'll follow my lead."
The table fell silent, the tension thick between them. Tyranor could feel the Corrupted Aura stirring around him, amplifying their unease. He wondered if they could sense it, if they felt the cold edge of the darkness that now clung to him.
Lira was the first to break the silence. "Fine. But if this dark mana thing puts us in danger, we're done."
Tyranor didn't respond. He knew that trust was already broken. But he didn't need their trust. He needed their cooperation—at least for now.
---
The Next Morning
The sun had barely risen when Tyranor left the inn, his mind focused on the next steps. The gates were opening again soon, and the city would be abuzz with activity. He had to make sure his team was prepared, but more importantly, he had to ensure that his power was ready for whatever came next.
As he walked through the quiet streets, his status screen flickered again.
---
Status Update
Name: Tyranor Althar, The Tainted
Title: Shadow Reaper
Level: 27
Class: Dark Warrior (Mastered)
Dark Influence: 12%
Warning: Increased usage of dark mana may destabilize the current balance.
Quest Alert:
Survive the next gate opening.
Reward: +500 EXP, New Skill (Undisclosed)
---
Tyranor's eyes narrowed at the quest alert. The gates had always been dangerous, but this time, it felt different. The system was giving him a direct warning—something it rarely did. Whatever was coming through those gates, it would be more than just another beast or monster.
Survive the next gate opening. Tyranor smirked. I've survived worse.
But as the cold morning air brushed against his face, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was waiting for him on the other side of the gate—something that would push him to the very edge of his new power.
He only hoped his newfound control over the dark mana would be enough.
---
End of Chapter 15
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In this chapter, we see Tyranor continuing to wrestle with the distrust of his team while further exploring the effects of his dark mana. His status screen is updated with new skills, and we introduce a quest alert that signals a significant challenge ahead.
Would you like to delve into the gate opening next, or focus on Tyranor's preparation and his team's dynamics before the mission?