Luca strode confidently through the swirling vortex of yet another gate, his mind buzzing with the thrill of battle. His steps echoed through the dark, warped landscape that stretched before him—a twisted forest of gnarled trees and crimson mist that seemed to pulse with malevolent energy. The air was heavy with the scent of blood, the unmistakable sign that monsters lurked just beyond the shadows.
But this time, something was different.
The presence of Astravira, the Celestial Dragon, lingered in his mind, a constant reminder of the cosmic power now coursing through his veins. Her power was a gift—no, a contract—but it came with a price. And that price was her voice, a calm, cold whisper that never left his thoughts.
"You fight like a beast, not a warrior."
Luca clenched his jaw, irritated. He scanned the terrain ahead, his Eclipse Blade glowing faintly in his hand. "I've killed dozens, no, hundreds of monsters. You think I don't know how to fight?"
"You swing your weapon with reckless abandon, like a savage. Power without control is wasted." Astravira's voice rang through his skull, a constant, critical tone. "Your stance is wrong. Your grip is too tight. Your footing is uneven. You've survived by brute strength alone, but that will not always be enough."
Luca ignored the dragon's words and pressed forward, his eyes narrowing as movement caught his attention. From the shadows, a group of Fleshbinders—monstrous humanoids with sinewy muscles and eyes that glowed like embers—emerged, their twisted mouths snarling with hunger. Their claws were long, sharp, and covered in the blood of previous victims.
Without hesitation, Luca charged forward, his blade slicing through the air. He cut down the first Fleshbinder with ease, the creature's blood spraying across the darkened ground. The thrill of battle surged through him, and he moved on to the next, a savage grin spreading across his face as he cleaved through its torso.
"You rush in without strategy," Astravira's voice cut through his thoughts. "You leave yourself open to attack, assuming brute force will win the day."
Luca barely dodged a swipe from one of the Fleshbinders, its claws grazing his armor. He cursed under his breath, realizing that Astravira was right. The last strike had been too close for comfort. He lashed out again, this time with more caution, but the dragon's voice didn't let up.
"Your stance is unbalanced. A warrior moves with precision, not recklessness."
Luca growled in frustration as he dispatched another Fleshbinder, his muscles tense with irritation. "Do you ever stop talking?"
Astravira's presence surged in his mind, her cosmic energy brushing against his consciousness. "You agreed to our contract, human. This power I gave you requires discipline, not blind rage. If you wish to survive the trials ahead, you will listen."
Luca took a deep breath, trying to calm the burning frustration within him. He could feel the bond between them, the overwhelming force of the dragon's wisdom pressing against his every thought. But she wasn't wrong—his fighting style was aggressive, unrefined. It had gotten him this far, but the enemies he faced were growing stronger.
Just then, a Deathstalker, a massive scorpion-like creature with pincers that could crush steel, emerged from the shadows. Its glowing, venomous tail arched high above its body, dripping with a thick, green liquid that hissed as it hit the ground.
Luca readied himself, his mind already racing with the best way to attack. But before he could charge, Astravira's voice rang through his thoughts again.
"Do not be reckless." There was a cold edge to her tone. "This creature is dangerous. Its venom can paralyze you in an instant."
He tightened his grip on his sword, his muscles tensing. "I've taken down monsters more powerful than this. You think I'm scared?"
"Underestimating your enemies is the surest way to die." Her voice was calm, but there was a dangerous warning hidden within her words. "You must choose your battles wisely. There will come a time when brute force is not enough, no matter how powerful you think you are."
Luca felt the weight of her words as the Deathstalker lunged forward, its pincers snapping through the air. He ducked, rolling to the side as the creature's tail struck the ground where he had been standing moments before. The venom hissed, burning through the stone like acid.
He launched himself forward, slashing at the Deathstalker's side. His blade cut deep, but the creature's thick exoskeleton absorbed most of the impact. Luca cursed under his breath, pulling back as the scorpion's tail whipped toward him again.
"Your movements are predictable," Astravira said, her voice sharp. "You telegraph every strike. A true warrior is unpredictable, swift, and precise. Watch your stance. Stay light on your feet."
Luca gritted his teeth, adjusting his position, trying to ignore the fact that he was taking advice from a dragon. He shifted his weight, dodging another attack from the Deathstalker's claws, and then, with a quick, fluid motion, he struck at the creature's underbelly—a weak point just beneath its armor.
The Deathstalker screeched, its venomous tail flailing wildly as Luca dodged to the side. This time, his strike had been more calculated, more controlled.
"Better," Astravira said, her tone slightly more approving. "But still far from perfect."
Luca took a breath, his heart pounding as he faced the now-enraged Deathstalker. He could feel the surge of power from the Sovereign's Harvest, the energy of the previous kills still fueling him, but it was Astravira's cold, relentless guidance that was making him sharper.
The creature lunged once more, but this time Luca was ready. He sidestepped with precision, his body moving fluidly as he brought the Eclipse Blade down in a perfectly timed strike, severing the Deathstalker's tail in one swift motion.
The creature let out a blood-curdling shriek, collapsing to the ground as its venomous lifeblood poured from the wound.
Luca stood over its twitching body, his chest heaving. The rush of victory coursed through him, but this time it was tempered by a new understanding—a new level of discipline.
Sovereign's Harvest Activated.
Stats Absorbed: Strength +30, Agility +20, Vitality +15.
Health: 3400/3400.
He wiped the blood from his blade, his muscles still thrumming with energy. Astravira's voice echoed in his mind once more, this time softer, almost contemplative.
"You have power, human. But power without wisdom is nothing more than a ticking bomb. You must choose your enemies carefully, lest you fall to one stronger than you."
Luca scowled, but he couldn't deny the truth of her words. His path had always been about taking more, killing more, and growing stronger. But Astravira was right—there was always something stronger waiting in the shadows.
"I don't need to be careful," he muttered, though his voice lacked its usual conviction. "I'll kill whatever stands in my way."
Astravira's voice was a soft whisper in the back of his mind. "For now, perhaps. But remember this, human—there will come a time when you cannot kill your way out of the darkness."
Luca didn't respond, but her words lingered as he moved forward, deeper into the dungeon.