The wind howled as I squared off with the Masked Woman, the tension in the green field almost suffocating. Her mask remained intact, her black robe billowing in the harsh wind as if feeding on the chaos in the air. The girl she controlled lay still behind me, finally freed from the curse, unconscious.
"Heh," I smirked, adjusting my stance and spinning my Platinum Star sword in a flashy flourish. Anium crackled through the blade, casting a blazing, star-like glow over the field. "You think you've got a chance? That cheap trick you pulled with the girl? It's over now."
The Masked Woman's laugh, muffled but oozing malice, cut through the air like a blade. "You've barely scratched the surface of my power. You think this is the end? Oh, you sweet fool, I haven't even started." Her body shifted, dark energy rippling from the ground beneath her, distorting the space around us.
WHOOSH!
She vanished in a blink, moving so fast my eyes couldn't catch up. "What—?!" Instinctively, I raised my sword, only to feel the BAM! of her strike hit my ribs, knocking me to the side like a ragdoll.
"Tch..." I gritted my teeth, pain flaring as I struggled to stay upright. I wasn't going to let her have the upper hand. "So, that's how it's gonna be, huh? You're fast, I'll give you that. But speed won't save you!" I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, a grin creeping up. The real fight had just begun.
"Oh?" She sneered. "Let's see how long that confidence lasts!" Her form blurred again, launching herself at me like a living bullet.
SLASH! I swung Platinum Star, intercepting her claws mid-flight. CLANG! CLANG! The impact sent a shockwave through the air, flattening the grass around us. But she was relentless—her speed was terrifying. She struck again, and again, each blow faster than the last.
SWISH! THUD!
"ORA! ORA! ORA!" I shouted, swinging my sword wildly, parrying each of her attacks with desperate energy. My muscles screamed in protest, but I wasn't backing down. "You're fast, but not fast enough!" I locked eyes with her mask. The time for games was over. "You're mine!"
"WRONG!" She shrieked, leaping back, eyes burning like the flames of hell behind her mask. Dark energy surged around her, warping the field as if the very fabric of reality was bending under her power.
I could feel the weight of her next attack brewing. Something was coming—big.
I braced myself, clutching my sword tightly. "What the hell is she doing now?!" My heartbeat pounded in my ears. It was like standing at the edge of a cliff, waiting for the plunge.
Suddenly, in a low, sinister voice, she whispered, "I am the shadow that devours all light...!" Her body twitched, moving like a puppet on strings, controlled by something much darker.
"What the—?!" I could barely get the words out, my breath caught in my throat as her form twisted unnaturally. "Don't tell me... she's not human anymore!"
Before I could react, she was on me again, faster than before, her claws whistling through the air as they aimed for my throat.
"GHHHAAAA!!" I roared, pouring all my Anium into the Platinum Star, swinging the blade up to block her attack. CLANG! The collision sent shockwaves through my body, the force of it nearly knocking me off my feet.
"Not today, lady!" I shouted, spinning on my heel and sweeping my sword in a wide arc. ZZZZT! The blade buzzed with raw power as it slashed through the air toward her.
But she wasn't done yet—her movements glitched, her body contorting like a marionette on broken strings. "You fool! You'll never touch me!" Her mocking laughter echoed across the field, taunting me.
But I could see it now—her body wasn't moving right. She wasn't controlling herself anymore.
"Heh..." I couldn't help but chuckle, despite the chaos. "So you're just a puppet after all. Just like the girl." I grinned, my eyes narrowing. "But I bet your master didn't count on facing me."
SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! I attacked with reckless abandon, each strike faster and more precise than the last. The power in my blade was growing, fueled by my desperation.
BAM! A clean hit to her side sent her stumbling back, her laugh turning into a hiss of pain.
"You... dare hurt me?!" Her voice wavered, her once-confident tone replaced by frantic, erratic movements.
"That's right!" I growled, seeing my chance. "And now I'm going to finish this!"
With a final roar, I thrust Platinum Star toward her chest, pouring every ounce of Anium I had left into the blade.
"PLATINUM STAR! FINAL STRIKE!" I screamed, my voice booming across the battlefield.
BOOOOOM!
The explosion of power lit up the sky, shaking the very earth beneath us. I stood panting, the shockwaves of the attack still rattling my bones. Dust and smoke filled the air, making it impossible to see the outcome.
When the dust finally cleared, what I saw made my heart skip a beat.
The Masked Woman's body twitched violently, dark tendrils of shadow pouring from her like a broken dam. Her mask cracked, revealing wide, terrified eyes.
"What the hell is happening?!" I murmured, stepping back, my heart hammering in my chest.
The shadows coiled, twisting into a monstrous figure that hovered above her—a demon-like being with eyes burning red, staring down at me with rage.
"YOU!" The creature growled, its voice like nails on a chalkboard. "You've ruined EVERYTHING!"
Before I could even process what was happening, the demonic figure let out a blood-curdling scream and vanished, leaving the woman's lifeless body to collapse in a heap.
I stood frozen, gasping for breath. What the hell just happened?! My mind raced as I looked down at her. Her mask had fallen away, revealing her face—delicate, beautiful, and at peace now that the darkness had left her.
I knelt beside her, exhaustion weighing me down like a boulder. "What do I do now?" I muttered, wiping the sweat from my brow.
Suddenly, my flip phone buzzed. The screen blinked with an urgent message:
"URGENT: Dungeon gate detected in Narsingdi."
My blood ran cold. A dungeon... here? Now?!
I glanced back at the unconscious girl. What the hell am I supposed to do now?!
I carried them both up to the hotel room, the cold mechanical hands sliding them gently onto the bed. "Now what?" I muttered, staring at their battered forms. The Masked Woman was finally free of the demonic possession, her face peaceful and delicate, but both girls were in dire condition. My head spun.
"Eric, Eric, Eric…" Elena's voice chirped in my mind, taunting as always. She appeared in her usual fashion, lounging on the bed like she owned the place. "Look at you! Two unconscious girls, in a hotel room. What's next, you're gonna start calling yourself a playboy? Hah!"
I clenched my fist. "Stop it, Elena. You know it's not like that! They're hurt, and I'm trying to figure out how to help them."
Elena waved a hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. But admit it, even the doctors would freak out seeing these girls. They're not exactly normal, y'know?"
That struck a chord. My mind whirled as I remembered something. "Wait… I have… Super Regeneration!"
Elena grinned like a cat that had just caught a mouse. "Oh, NOW you remember. But it's not magic, dummy. Just a skill. Use it to restore their HP."
I wasted no time. I placed my hands on each of the girls and activated Super Regeneration. The air crackled with energy as my power surged through them. Slowly, their wounds began to close, their breathing steadied. My heart pounded—there was no time to celebrate, though. I had bigger problems.
"Alright, that should be enough," I muttered, watching them heal. "Now I need to head to that dungeon break."
Without another word, I darted out of the hotel, leaving the girls safely behind. The streets were chaotic. The dungeon gate had torn open, and waves of monsters were pouring out. The sky was darkened with their forms, and people screamed as they fled. Hunters fought bravely, but they were overwhelmed. The sheer numbers of monsters made it impossible for them to gain control.
As I arrived at the scene, I saw the gate in the distance—a massive, ominous rift in reality. It pulsated with dark energy, monsters clawing their way out by the dozens. Hunters were barely holding the line, and civilians scrambled to escape.
"Time to step in." I gripped Platinum Star, its edge glinting in the chaos. I could feel the rush of Anium flowing through me, surging into the blade. This was my fight now.
I sprinted toward the gate, slicing down a wolf-like beast with a single clean strike as I passed. ZZZZZZT! The Anium-infused blade hummed with deadly precision. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the nearby monsters.
"ORA! ORA! ORA!" I roared as I carved my way through the beasts, pushing closer to the dungeon gate. My strikes were like lightning, precise and relentless.
Just as I prepared to enter the gate itself, I felt a force pulling me back. "What the—?!" I spun around, confused.
Behind me stood a group of Hunters, faces pale with fear. They looked at me as if I were mad.
"Don't go in alone!" one of them called out, his voice trembling. "It's suicide! The monsters inside... they're too strong! You'll get yourself killed!"
Another Hunter stepped forward, her face etched with worry. "We're outnumbered, but we need someone like you here, helping us hold the line. Don't rush in blindly."
I could see the desperation in their eyes, but I wasn't about to let some barrier hold me back. With a flick of my wrist, I shattered it like glass. The force rippled outward, and I gave them a reassuring grin. "Sorry, but I have places to be."
I stepped through the gate and into the dungeon.
Immediately, I was hit with an overwhelming sense of wrongness. The air was thick, heavy with a feeling of dread, as if the dungeon itself were alive and waiting to swallow me whole. The walls were slick with some kind of black ooze that seemed to pulse like a heartbeat. Every step I took echoed through the empty halls, bouncing back in a way that made the space feel even more haunted.
[System Notification]
Dungeon: Tier SS+
Danger Level: Catastrophic
Completion: 0%
Recommended: Retreat immediately!
I scoffed at the message. "Come on, system. You know me better than that."
The sound of claws scraping against stone echoed from the shadows. Monsters—horrific creatures with twisted bodies and eyes glowing like embers—charged at me from all directions. They were nightmarish in form, deformed and grotesque, their mouths drooling with hunger.
I raised my sword, Platinum Star, and the sound of metal cutting through the air was deafening.
"ORA ORA ORA ORA!" I roared, slashing through the oncoming creatures. Blood sprayed across the walls, dark and thick like oil. Every time a beast fell, more seemed to take its place.
System Notification: Monsters defeated: 60 XP gained: 8,700 You have leveled up!
The sensation of leveling up coursed through my veins, sharpening my reflexes, making my movements faster and stronger. The monsters didn't stand a chance as I cut through them like butter, my blade glowing with each kill. But the deeper I went, the more intense the atmosphere became.
The moment I stepped through the gates, the dungeon felt like a living, breathing nightmare. The walls pulsated with an eerie rhythm, a heartbeat so loud it was drowning my own. The air was thick, suffocating, making every breath feel like a struggle. The space itself seemed to bend, narrowing the further I moved, as if the dungeon itself wanted to crush me under its weight.
[System Notification]
Dungeon: Tier SS+
Danger Level: Catastrophic
Completion: 0%
Recommended: Retreat immediately.
"Hah, retreat? Not happening. I'm not the type to turn tail!" I muttered to myself, cracking my knuckles.
Then, the boss room loomed before me.
I shoved the door open with a grimace, and my blood ran cold.
A massive white snake, the size of a skyscraper, uncoiled in the center of the cavernous room. Its scales gleamed like polished steel under the dim dungeon lights. Its slitted eyes, cold and calculating, locked onto me with the kind of malice that only an apex predator could muster.
[System Notification]
Dungeon Boss: Steel Viper
Level: 1900
HP: 2,000,000
Status: Aggressive
Danger Level: World Threat
Its body was impossibly long, wrapping around the entire room, trapping me in an arena of death. The Steel Viper hissed, venom dripping from its enormous fangs, and the ground beneath me sizzled. One drop could eat through steel. Wonderful.
"Alright, big guy," I growled, drawing Platinum Star, my sword shimmering with Anium energy. "Let's dance."
The fight exploded into motion.
The Steel Viper moved with terrifying speed for something so massive. In an instant, it lunged at me, its maw wide open, ready to devour me whole. Time seemed to slow, the air vibrating with the sheer force of its approach.
"ORA ORA ORA ORA!" I roared, dodging its strike by a hair's breadth, swinging my sword in a flurry of slashes. My blade met its scales, but the impact barely scratched the surface.
"Too slow!" I taunted, leaping to the side as its tail whipped around, crashing into the ground where I stood just moments before. The impact shook the entire room, sending chunks of debris flying in all directions.
I knew I couldn't keep this up for long. The Steel Viper's attacks were relentless, and each movement it made was a calculated effort to corner me. I needed to change tactics—this wasn't just about brute strength.
"System, analyze weak points!" I shouted, dodging another strike.
[System Notification]
Analyzing... Complete. Steel Viper's weak points detected: Neck, underbelly, and venom sacs.
"Gotcha," I grinned. "You're not invincible after all."
The Viper lunged again, and this time, I aimed for its underbelly. With a swift, calculated strike, I unleashed a powerful Anium-infused slash at its exposed scales.
The Viper recoiled in pain, hissing furiously. Blood sprayed from the wound, black and thick like tar. But the moment of victory was short-lived. Its eyes glowed with a murderous intent, and it raised its head high, preparing something devastating.
[System Warning]
Steel Viper is preparing its ultimate attack: Venom Rain. Warning: Lethal damage imminent!
The room darkened as the Steel Viper opened its maw wide. I could feel the venom building up inside its throat, ready to rain down death upon me.
"Oh, hell no! I'm not letting you get that off!" I roared, launching myself into the air, my sword blazing with energy.
"Take this—Star Crusher!"
I aimed straight for its venom sacs, the energy of my attack splitting the air with a deafening crack. BOOM! The force of the blow hit the Viper's venom sac dead-on, and with a sickening squelch, it burst. Venom sprayed everywhere, but I was faster, using my Anium to shield myself.
"You're gonna regret showing me your weak spots!" I taunted, darting back down to the ground.
The Viper screeched in pain, thrashing wildly, and the room shook violently. But even as it bled, even as it writhed, the fight wasn't over.
[System Notification]
Steel Viper's HP: 1,200,000
Its tail whipped around, smashing into me. I couldn't dodge this one. The impact sent me flying across the room, crashing into the dungeon wall with a sickening thud. My vision blurred for a second, and blood dripped down my face.
"Alright…now I'm pissed." I spat out blood, forcing myself back to my feet. "You want to play rough, huh? Then let's go all out!"
I activated my Anium Boost, feeling the raw energy coursing through my veins. My vision sharpened, and time seemed to slow. Every movement of the Viper became clear, every flicker of its muscles telegraphed its next attack.
The snake lunged again, but this time, I was ready.
"System: Engage battle tactics!"
[System Notification]
Engaging battle mode: Predictive tactics active.
With the system guiding me, I danced around the Viper's strikes, my body moving like a blur. Each slash I made was precise, cutting deeper into its weak points. My attacks became more surgical, each one designed to cripple its movements.
"Too slow! Too predictable!" I taunted again, slashing through its neck with a powerful blow.
The Viper hissed in agony, its massive body convulsing. Blood splattered across the walls, and I felt the ground tremble beneath me.
[System Notification]
Steel Viper's HP: 200,000.
"Time to end this." I took a deep breath, focusing all my remaining energy into my next attack.
The Viper raised its head one last time, its eyes burning with rage. But I was faster.
"Platinum Star Overdrive!"
I launched myself into the air, my sword glowing with the full force of my Anium. I brought the blade down with all my might, aiming straight for its head. The impact was like a bomb going off. The ground shook, the walls cracked, and the Viper let out one final, blood-curdling hiss before its massive body collapsed.
[System Notification]
Boss defeated: Steel Viper XP gained: 350,000 You have leveled up! You have obtained: Mysterious Red Stone.
I landed on the ground, panting. The Steel Viper's body disintegrated into black mist, leaving behind only the Mysterious Red Stone.
The dungeon's walls groaned, a low rumble like the growl of a waking beast. My leg was trapped under the stone, the weight pressing down like the grip of death itself. The air grew thick with the stench of decay and despair, each breath tasting of iron and ash. I could almost see the shadows of countless victims swirling around me, their forms twisted in torment, merging into grotesque figures clawing at the edges of my vision.
System Notification: Dungeon collapse in 10 seconds.
I grasped the Mysterious Red Stone, its warmth pulsing with an unsettling energy, a heartbeat echoing ominously in my hand. The walls shivered, as if alive, and whispers filled the air—voices of the countless hunters who had perished within this cursed place. They cried out in agony, their screams invading my thoughts. Each echo reminded me of the horrors that had transpired here.
5 seconds.
Suddenly, the shadows thickened, merging into a horrific tapestry of the past—visions of hunters torn apart, their bodies strewn across the dungeon floor. The chilling sound of flesh being rent apart filled the air, making my skin crawl. I could feel their agony, their terror wrapping around me like a vice.
3 seconds.
The ground trembled violently. The stone embedding itself in my leg burned hotter, searing my skin, and the whispers grew louder, drowning out all reason. I could see figures in the shadows, their eyes glinting with malicious delight, feasting on despair as they swirled around me.
1 second.
Just as the last heartbeat of the dungeon echoed in my ears, the stone erupted with blinding light. I was yanked into an abyss of darkness, and for a moment, everything went silent.
Then I was thrust into a realm of horrors—a twisted landscape of broken bodies and anguished souls. I was surrounded by familiar faces, their eyes hollow, mouths open in silent screams. They reached out to me, begging for release, and I felt the weight of their despair crushing me.
"Eric… it's not over," Elena's voice cut through the chaos, now twisted and sinister, echoing around me as if she were omnipresent. "You've merely scratched the surface of the true nightmare."
Suddenly, the landscape shifted. I was no longer in the dungeon; I stood in a vast expanse of nothingness, a void filled with distorted images of my past—the faces of my friends, my family, their expressions morphing from love to horror. They vanished into the dark, leaving only echoes of their laughter that twisted into mocking cackles.
"Is this what you wanted?" a familiar voice sneered, yet it was distorted, like a memory tainted with malice.
"NO!" I screamed, but my voice was swallowed by the darkness, lost among the whispers of the damned.
The ground beneath me fractured, and from the cracks emerged grotesque creatures, twisted versions of my past foes and friends. They circled me, their eyes hollow, their mouths stretching into grins that made my skin crawl.
"Welcome to your hell, Eric," one of them hissed, lunging at me. "You wanted to be a hero? Now you're just a coward trapped in your own nightmares!"
I fought back, swinging wildly, but every strike was met with laughter, a cacophony of sound that overwhelmed my senses. The more I fought, the more I realized—there was no escape.
Suddenly, the Mysterious Red Stone pulsed violently, and I felt its energy surge through me. It transformed, morphing into a dark specter of my former self—my own face, twisted and malevolent.
"Join us," it whispered, and I felt its pull, the temptation of despair wrapping around my heart.
"NO! I won't!" I roared, but the specter only laughed, a chilling sound that echoed in the void.
The last thing I saw before everything went dark was the world collapsing into dust, my own face staring back at me, grinning with an insatiable hunger.