Luca lay in the dirt, the cold wind cutting across his battered skin. The world seemed distant, muted—his body nearly broken beyond repair. His mind raced with fury, but his body refused to respond. His chest rose and fell slowly, the Abyssal Chaos System flashing relentlessly.
Warning: Health Critical. Current health: 20/1800. Immediate action required.
"Damn it," Luca hissed, barely able to form the words. His vision blurred, and every muscle screamed in pain. His mind clung desperately to the last shreds of consciousness. This defeat, this humiliation—being tossed aside like a broken toy—it gnawed at him.
Suddenly, the system pinged.
Immediate Healing Protocol Activated. Initiating Recovery Mode...
Warmth spread through his body as the healing process began, his wounds knitting together at a sluggish pace. The pain dulled, but it was still there, ever-present, a reminder of the brutal beating Vanessa had inflicted on him. Luca cursed under his breath, feeling helpless as his body took its time to recover.
Health: 200/1800... 400/1800...
He gritted his teeth. The healing wasn't enough. His mind churned with thoughts of vengeance, of how close he'd come to power, only to be mocked and beaten down. Vanessa's words echoed in his head: "There will always be someone stronger."
"No... there won't," Luca muttered, forcing his arms to push against the ground. The recovery continued at a snail's pace, but he was already plotting, already imagining how he'd break through to even greater strength. The witch may have bested him today, but this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
As he sat up slowly, the world spun for a moment before settling. He surveyed his surroundings—a desolate wasteland outside the dungeon. The eerie silence pressed down on him, only broken by the occasional distant cry of a monster.
Health: 700/1800... 1000/1800...
His body was regaining strength, but the emptiness in his soul was far from healed. The rush of power he craved, the need to dominate, still burned inside him. His thoughts shifted to Ghost and Aria, to his past life, to the decisions that led him to this point. Their deaths had fueled his rise, but Vanessa's words rang in his ears—warning him of his self-destructive path.
Luca shook his head, rejecting her doubts. He would prove her wrong. He'd prove everyone wrong. No one would stop him, not even this so-called "powerful witch."
He stood up, legs shaking but holding steady. The Abyssal Chaos System continued to flash recovery updates in his mind, slowly pushing him back toward full strength.
Health: 1400/1800.
Luca clenched his fists, feeling the power flowing through his veins, though it wasn't enough. It never would be. "I'm not done," he muttered to himself, looking back at the sealed dungeon door in the distance. "I'll come back... when I'm ready."
Turning his back on the dungeon for now, Luca began his slow, deliberate walk back toward the nearest gate exit. Every step was a reminder of his defeat, but it also fueled his desire for greater power. He wasn't an ant. He was destined for far more. Vanessa's words were wrong—he would carve out his own path, no matter how many enemies he had to face, or how much blood he had to spill.
Health: 1800/1800. Fully recovered.
As he made his way through the wasteland, his mind drifted back to the abyss of his system, contemplating how he could evolve further. There had to be more power hidden within it, locked away, waiting for the right moment.
New Quest: Overcome the Witch's Trial.
A sharp ping caught his attention. The system hadn't abandoned him yet—it was pushing him forward. Luca smirked, eyes gleaming with determination. He would accept the challenge, defeat Vanessa, and rise beyond anyone's imagination. Power would be his, and no one could stop him.
The journey continued, the chaos brewing within him, stronger than ever.