The cold air of the gate world hit Luca's skin as he stepped through the shimmering portal. This was the third gate he had entered in two days, each deadlier than the last. His craving for power pushed him onward—he needed stronger enemies, more brutal challenges. Anything to feed his ever-growing hunger.
Power surged through him as the Abyssal Chaos System continued feeding him with absorbed stats and abilities. The hunger gnawed at him, sharper with every step, his singular focus on becoming stronger, no matter the cost.
Current Level: 32.
The system pulsed as he swung his Eclipse Blade, its dark energy shimmering with lethal intent. Before him lay a grotesque horde—creatures from the deepest nightmares, with twisted bodies and gnarled claws. The largest among them was a towering beast with segmented arms and a jagged, razor-sharp tail—the Spire Fiend. Its obsidian-black carapace gleamed in the dull light of the gate.
"Perfect," Luca muttered. He welcomed the challenge.
The Spire Fiend charged first, its tail whipping through the air with a high-pitched screech. Luca sidestepped with ease, his agility far surpassing the speed of the beast. In one swift motion, he brought down the Eclipse Blade, its edge glowing with a fusion of light and shadow. The Fiend screeched as its armor cracked under the force of the blow, ichor spilling out.
Behind it, smaller creatures, twisted imps known as Vile Grubs, skittered toward him, their fangs dripping with venom. They attacked in swarms, biting and clawing, but Luca was already in motion. With a flick of his wrist, his sword cut through the mass of monsters like butter.
Experience Gained: +5,000.
Health: 1800/1800.
As the blood of the beasts splattered across his face, Luca didn't flinch. He had grown used to the carnage. Every death was a step closer to ultimate power. His Sovereign's Harvest kicked in, and their abilities flowed into him, enhancing his strength, speed, and senses.
New Ability Acquired: Venomous Strike – Level 1.
His lips twisted into a satisfied grin. He felt their venomous power coursing through his veins, amplifying his deadliness even further. He glanced at his growing stats, and the numbers reflected his victories.
Strength: 240.
Agility: 210.
Intelligence: 190.
Further down the cavern, a new roar shook the earth. Emerging from the darkness was a hulking figure—the Crag Behemoth. Standing over twenty feet tall, its body was made of dense rock-like muscles, and its eyes burned with primal fury. The ground trembled beneath its massive feet, the cave walls cracking from the sheer force of its movement.
Luca grinned, cracking his neck. "This should be interesting."
The Crag Behemoth swung its massive fists, shattering the earth with each strike. Luca dodged the blows effortlessly, his movements a blur. He activated Venomous Strike, coating his sword in a deadly, pulsating poison. With a single strike, he slashed across the Behemoth's leg, causing it to bellow in agony as the venom spread.
Warning: Enemy counterattack imminent.
The Abyssal Chaos System flashed its warning, but Luca was prepared. He dashed forward, leaping into the air and bringing down his sword with a powerful, darkened arc. The Eclipse Blade cut deep into the Behemoth's torso, and the hulking beast let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing in a heap.
Experience Gained: +12,000.
Health: 1500/1800.
As Luca stood over the fallen body of the Crag Behemoth, a deep satisfaction welled within him. His system rewarded him with its soothing alerts as he absorbed the creature's strength and vitality.
Skill: Eclipse Blade has leveled up. Current Level: 5.
Strength: +50.
New Ability Acquired: Earth Shatter – Level 1.
The battlefield was littered with corpses, but Luca's hunger remained unquenched. He craved more power, more destruction. His thirst for strength now seemed insatiable, and he didn't intend to stop.
Further ahead, deeper into the gate, a colossal creature emerged—the Nightmarrow Tyrant, a towering behemoth with bone-white skin and glowing red eyes. Its body bristled with spikes, and its arms were long enough to swipe across the cavern in a single motion. The gate's true boss.
Luca's grin widened, his blood boiling with excitement. "You'll do nicely."
The Nightmarrow Tyrant charged with terrifying speed, its claws extended. Luca barely dodged in time, the force of the swipe sending shockwaves through the cavern. He struck back, his sword glowing with a mix of light and shadow as he unleashed Eclipse Strike, a deadly fusion of his power. The attack connected, ripping through the Tyrant's side, but the beast barely slowed.
It retaliated, landing a brutal backhand that sent Luca crashing into a rock wall. Pain surged through his body, his ribs cracking under the impact.
Health: 800/1800.
But Luca only laughed, wiping the blood from his mouth. "Is that all you've got?"
The Abyssal Chaos System hummed in his mind as he activated Earth Shatter for the first time. Slamming his fist into the ground, he sent a wave of seismic energy toward the Nightmarrow Tyrant, causing the ground beneath it to fracture and buckle. The beast stumbled, giving Luca the opening he needed.
He leaped forward, spinning mid-air as his sword ignited with dark flames. His Eclipse Blade cut deep into the Tyrant's chest, tearing through flesh and bone. The creature roared in agony, blood pouring from its wounds, but Luca didn't relent. Blow after blow, he carved through the Tyrant's body, until finally, with a sickening crunch, the beast collapsed into a pile of bone and gore.
Experience Gained: +50,000.
Level Up! Current Level: 68.
Luca stood victorious, his body drenched in blood, his breathing heavy. The Abyssal Chaos System pulsed with the familiar rush of new power, and Luca closed his eyes, letting it wash over him.
Strength: 350.
Agility: 280.
Intelligence: 250.
New Skill Acquired: Tyrant's Roar – Level 1.
The power coursed through his veins, intoxicating and absolute. He was stronger than ever, but it wasn't enough. It would never be enough.
With a satisfied smirk, Luca turned and walked deeper into the gate, leaving behind the carnage he had wrought. More monsters, more blood, more power awaited him. His ascension was far from over.