Luca stepped through the swirling, crackling vortex of the gate and entered another twisted, nightmarish realm. The air was thick with the scent of death, and the ground was slick with blood. Before him, monstrous creatures prowled, their eyes glowing with hunger.
He cracked his neck and summoned his Eclipse Blade. He had grown used to this by now—charging through gates, cutting down everything in his path, and growing stronger. Each kill brought more power, more abilities, and more control over the chaos inside him.
The first wave of creatures emerged from the shadows. Their gnarled forms resembled skeletal wolves, with claws made of obsidian and skin like burnt stone. Howlers—creatures known for their relentless hunting in the darkness. They circled him, their eerie howls filling the cavernous space.
Luca grinned, his eyes flashing with excitement. "Come and get it."
The pack attacked as one, claws slashing through the air, aiming for his throat. Luca sidestepped effortlessly, driving his blade through the first Howler's chest. Its blood sprayed across the ground as it crumpled, and Luca felt the familiar rush of energy surging into him.
Sovereign's Harvest Activated.
Stats Absorbed: Strength +20, Agility +15.
Health: 2600/2600.
The others hesitated for a moment, but Luca gave them no time to recover. His blade flickered in the dim light, cutting through the next Howler with deadly precision. One by one, the pack fell, their bodies twitching as their strength was siphoned into Luca's veins.
By the time the last creature collapsed, Luca stood alone, surrounded by the remnants of his enemies.
Sovereign's Harvest Activated.
Stats Absorbed: Strength +40, Agility +30.
Health: 2600/2600.
He wiped the blood from his face, a sense of satisfaction settling over him. But something about this gate felt different. The air was charged with an energy he hadn't felt before—something far more ancient, far more powerful.
As Luca moved deeper into the realm, cutting through more monsters like Void Serpents—vicious, black-scaled creatures with venomous fangs—and Darkflame Revenants, he felt a growing tension, as if the very world was holding its breath.
Finally, after what seemed like hours of relentless slaughter, he reached the end of the dungeon. Before him stood the entrance to the boss room—a massive door, covered in glowing runes that pulsed with an otherworldly light.
Luca's heart quickened. Whatever lay behind this door was far stronger than anything he had faced before. He could feel it in the air, a heavy, overwhelming presence that made the hairs on his neck stand on end.
He pushed open the door, the ancient stone grinding loudly as it gave way.
The chamber beyond was vast, larger than any he had seen in previous gates. The ceiling stretched up into darkness, and the walls were lined with the same glowing constellations that had adorned the floor outside. In the center of the room was a raised platform, and atop it sat a massive figure, its form curled up as if resting.
Luca froze.
It was a dragon, but unlike any dragon he had encountered in his previous hunts. Its scales shimmered like the night sky, hues of deep blues and purples reflecting the faint starlight that seemed to come from nowhere. Its wings, folded against its sides, looked as if they could block out the sun itself. And its tail, long and sleek, curled around its body like a protective barrier.
For a moment, Luca was stunned by its beauty, but the feeling quickly turned to suspicion. This was no ordinary boss.
The dragon's head lifted slowly, its sapphire-blue eyes glowing in the darkness as they focused on Luca. A voice echoed through the chamber, soft yet powerful, reverberating in Luca's mind.
"Who dares enter my domain?"
Luca tightened his grip on his blade, his muscles tense. "I came for your power."
The dragon's eyes narrowed, a flicker of amusement crossing her gaze. "Power? You believe you are worthy of such power?"
Luca scowled, stepping forward. "I've killed everything in my path. Monsters, hunters, even my own comrades. I've absorbed their strength. I am stronger than anyone you've ever faced."
The dragon let out a low, rumbling laugh, her voice filled with cold disdain. "Foolish human. You do not even know what power is."
She slowly unfurled her wings, rising to her full height, towering over Luca like a living night sky. Her presence filled the room, a weight pressing down on his chest.
"I am Astravira, the Celestial Dragon. I have watched over the stars and the realms for eons, and I have seen countless beings like you, consumed by their lust for power. You are nothing more than an insect."
Luca clenched his jaw, ready to attack. "I'll kill you and take your strength."
Astravira's eyes darkened, her gaze filled with pity rather than anger. "Power that comes from stealing, from killing, is fleeting. It will consume you, as it has so many before you."
Before Luca could react, Astravira's massive tail lashed out, striking him with the force of a tidal wave. The impact sent him crashing into the far wall, his body screaming in pain as he hit the stone with a sickening thud.
Warning: Health Dropping – 2200/2600.
Luca groaned, trying to push himself up, but his body felt like it had been crushed by a mountain.
Astravira's voice echoed in his mind again, colder now. "You think you can take everything by force, but power comes with a price. You have already lost your humanity, haven't you?"
She stepped closer, her massive form looming over him. Luca gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand despite the pain.
"I've done what I had to," he spat, "to survive."
Astravira let out a soft sigh, her eyes narrowing. "You believe that taking from others makes you strong, but the path you walk will lead to nothing but destruction. You cannot kill forever."
Luca raised his blade again, blood dripping from his lip. "Watch me."
The dragon's tail moved faster than his eyes could track, slamming into him again, pinning him to the ground. Luca screamed as the pressure crushed him, his ribs cracking under the weight.
Warning: Health Dropping – 1500/2600.
Warning: Danger, Critical Health.
"You are reckless, consumed by greed and hunger," Astravira growled, her voice vibrating through his skull. "I will not let you continue on this path of ruin."
Before Luca could protest, the dragon's celestial energy surged through her tail, wrapping around him like chains. His body screamed in agony as the power flooded his veins, overwhelming him.
"You want power, human? Then I will give it to you—but not without consequence."
Astravira's eyes flared with cosmic light, her wings spreading wide. Her power pulsed through Luca's body, searing into his bones. The pain was unbearable, but through it, he could feel something else—a force far greater than anything he had ever known.
"I will forge a contract with you," Astravira hissed. "You will carry my power, but you will also carry the weight of the stars."
Luca's vision blurred as the celestial energy fused with his own, his body trembling from the strain. He screamed, but his voice was lost in the overwhelming surge of power.
New Ability Acquired: Starflame Wrath – Level 1.
New Ability Acquired: Cosmic Bond – Level 1.
Warning: Health Dropping – 900/2600.
Astravira released him, and Luca collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. His entire body ached, but something inside him had changed. He could feel the dragon's power pulsing through him, a new force that he could barely control.
"You are bound to me now, human," Astravira said, her voice cold. "But remember this—power without wisdom will lead only to your undoing."
Luca lay on the cold stone floor, his body broken but filled with new strength. He didn't know what the future held, but one thing was certain: the power of the Celestial Dragon now coursed through his veins.
Health: 1600/3400.
Level: 68.
With a final, chilling stare, Astravira vanished, leaving Luca alone in the darkened chamber, bound to a force he could barely comprehend.