3rd persons POV:
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Earlier before Azrael clashed with the giant bat monster.
On a distant ruin very far to the east...
a forgotten god lies sealed within its ancient tomb.
The casket begins to crack, and a blinding white light bursts forth, forming a radiant portal.
"HAAAA..." panting
"How long have I been asleep?" he muttered between labored breaths, stepping out of the glowing portal. His face remained obscured, and his body, weakened by the ordeal, slumped to the ground beside the portal.
"Has he been resurrected?" He paused, catching his breath. Then, his voice turned sharp, laced with anger and vengeance.
"The god of Death's resurrection marks my return. Traitor, Once I rebuild this fallen kingdom from ruins, I will come for you and I will kill you with my own hands. After all these years, I have not forgotten your betrayal. My revenge is inevitable." the forgotten god says as his desire of vengeance burns.
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Going back to the Southern Maggie Forest,
"It's dead, Master," Sibat said as he slowly walked forward. Suddenly, he remembered his wolf subordinates.
"Help them first. I'll take care of the remaining monsters," Azrael said as he summoned skeleton warriors and used Soul of the Damned, along with Azy.
After an intense battle, the seemingly endless horde of monsters from the cave was finally defeated.
"That was exhausting," Azrael said, slumping to the ground in relief.
//===
System Notice:
Successfully subjugated an army of cave monsters.
Sucessfully Subjugated a strong opponent named:
Collosal Dark Bat
Level: 50
experience points: 1367/1200
===\\
"Wait, what the hell?" Azrael muttered in confusion...(Why is my level not going up when I already reached the limit for level 50..."
Azrael frustrated and confused have only come up with a reason that he just needs to kill more monster.
Meanwhile, Sibat had already tended to his subordinate wolves, transferring mana to their flail body so they can absorb it and quickly recover from the attacks they had endured from the giant bat.
"I'm sorry, Leader. I wasn't strong enough to fend off that bat," the second higher-ranking wolf said, bowing his head in disappointment.
"It's okay. You tried your best, and what matters is that no one died," Sibat said, trying to comfort his downhearted subordinate.
Meanwhile the resting Azrael as approached by Azy, "Master, I gathered all the materials we can sell out of all the monsters we killed"
Confused Azrael asked "What materials?"
"When we kill monsters, we can take a precious part of them and sell it to a guild" Azy replied
(ohhhh, d-mb me, how could I forget that) Azrael still frustrated to the situation of him not levelling up, could only reply with a "ah, I see - goodjob."
"but where did you hide it, I mean place it?" Azrael added, when Azy replied with "to my own inventory, master."
"You could do that?" Azrael asks in amazement. "Yes master, technically, WE could do that" Azy replied.
"that's new to me, haha" Azrael said. Then Sibat and his subordinates finally recovered and get up, they approached the chitchatting Azrael and Azy.
Confused the subordinate wolves asks right to the moment they saw two Identical faces Azrael(they're master)
"Master??? Who's our master?" the second higher-ranking wolf asked curiously.
"Ahaha, me," Azrael replied with a light chuckle.
"Then, is the other one your twin?" the second wolf asked again, tilting his head in confusion.
Sibat stepped in to answer, "He's from our master. It's another summon that just looks like him, but he's not real."
"How do we tell the difference?" the second wolf questioned further.
Still seated on the ground, Azrael raised his arms sideways, forming a scythe out of thin air. "This. I have this as my weapon," Azrael explained, showing off the weapon. Azy then stepped forward, displaying his weapon, the Necromancer's Stick.
"And he has this as his weapon," Azrael added.
With the wolves' questions finally answered, Azrael stood up and brushed himself off. He then opened his system inventory to check his soul stocks.
//===
**System Inventory:**
x890 Souls
x1 Three-Headed Giant Snake
x1 Colossal Dark Bat
===\\
"(890 souls, huh?)" Azrael thought to himself. "(It might seem like a lot, but I'll need more to sustain my attacks in tougher battles.)"
Azrael glanced at the sky, gauging the time. The sun hung low but hadn't set yet, Turning to Sibat, Azrael asked, "I need more monsters to kill. Do you know any other areas like the cave where we fought earlier?"
Hoping he could fix the non-level up thing he's in.
"Yes, for the Southern Maggie forest I know atleast 57 caves here" Sibat replied
"That many?" Azrael shocked but immediately added with a "well not that i'm complaining so nevermind"
"Do you perhaps want to go for another cave?" Sibat asked
"Yes, I need more soul stocks for harder battles like we had earlier" Azrael replied woth also a motive of fixing the issue.
"Okay then master, i'll offer you and Azy another ride on my back" Sibat said as he lean down a little for them to mount him.
With his pack, Sibat with Azrael and Azy mounting on his back begun to move to the next cave, weaving between towering trees and thick undergrowth. As they move past Sibat pointed out subtle markers—scratches on tree trunks and strange, darkened soil—that indicated they were nearing another monster cave.
After a while, they reached a clearing with a large, jagged rock formation at its center. A dark, gaping cave entrance loomed ahead.
"This is one of the caves I mentioned," Sibat said. "Be cautious, master. The monsters here may be stronger than those we faced earlier."
Azrael smirked, gripping his scythe. "It's a good way to practice my new weapon"
With Azy at his side, Azrael and Azy summoned a his max skeleton warriors and Souls of the Damned. The summoned creatures moved ahead cautiously, their glowing forms lighting the path as Sibat,Azrael, Azy and his summoned skeletons and soul of the damned entered the cave while the pack remains outside.
After a while of walking when they had entered the cave, inside, the air was cold and damp, with faint echoes of dripping water. The cave is so quiet, it's silence is defeaning. But even with the quiet environment Sibat can sense them being stalked.
"Master, we're surrounded," Sibat growled, his massive frame tense as he padded forward, eyes scanning the darkness.
"I know," Azrael replied calmly. "Let them make the first move."
The skeleton warriors stood motionless but ready. The Souls of the Damned remains alert, floating silently preparing for an all out attack.
Suddenly, from the left, something shot out of the shadows at an incredible speed, targeting one of Azrael's skeletons. Before it could land its strike, a mini soul blast from one of the Souls of the Damned intercepted it mid-air, knocking it back.
"Get ready, they're coming!" Azrael shouted.
From the depths of the cave, figures began to emerge, their shapes distorted and their movements unnaturally fast. As they drew closer, their black fur appeared to ripple like smoke, and crimson eyes locked onto the intruders.
"It's shadow hounds!" Azrael yelled, dashing forward with his scythe flashing. Beside him, Azy unleashed bursts of soul blasts energy from his Necromancer's Stick.
Sibat then coiled like a spring. When one of shadow hound tried to lunged at Azrael, Sibat met it head-on with his Energy Spear skill. His massive form barreled through the attacker. Slamming it against the cave wall with a bone-crushing impact.
The battle raged on. Skeleton warriors clashed with the shadow hounds. Swords slashing with every swing.
The Souls of the Damned darted around the battlefield, targeting the creatures with precise energy strikes that drained their power inflicting debuff.
Azrael tore through the pack with his scythe, each swing accompanied by a powerful soul blast. Azy supported him, ensuring no attacker had the chance to recover. Sibat remains busy fending off atleast 4-7 shadow hounds at the same time with movements being swift and deadly, breaking through anything that tries to come at him.
After a while the fight still continues
"What's this, there's so much still coming at us, it's also an endless wave of monsters"
Azrael said.
"Master, there's an ominous aura far ahead approaching us, it might be the boss." Sibat said
"Okay, Sibat once that boss arrives can you fend off this monsters with the skeletons?" Azrael asks
"Yes master, and be careful please" Sibat said
"Don't worry, I will." Azrael reassured and added "Azy help me with the boss okay?"
"Yes I will" Azy said
With the continuous fight with the normal shadow hounds, a sudden heavy and very suffocating aura filled the cave.
(This aura is so suffocating) Azrael thought
//===
System Warning!
System Warning!
System Warning!
Boss difficulty detected: 7 star
Chances of winning 45%
===\\
(What the.... This system alert is new, and the chance of us losing is higher) Azrael thought
Undetected prescense as it lurks in the dark. Growled, lunge at a very high speed that no eyes can follow.
Azrael who was deep in thought suddenly sensed something. His instincts kicked in, and without hesitation, he dodged just in time as a lightning-speed charge from an unknown creature struck the ground. The impact caused a massive crater, and dust filled the air, obscuring everything.
"Master!" Sibat yelled, wanting to help but was busy fending off normal shadow hounds, the only thing he can do is trust his master with the fight.
"That was close," Azrael muttered, recognizing the danger. "The boss of the Shadow Hound has appeared!" Azrael yelled.
(Let's see if you're enough to break that level limit) Azrael thought as he prepares for battle.
Out of nowhere, Azy used his Copyswap skill, switching positions with Azrael. Azy immediately followed up with a Soul Blast, charging up before releasing it.
The Shadow Hound boss appeared in front of him with its sharp claws ready to kill. But Azy's Soul Blast hit the boss square in the face, sending it flying backward.
Azrael, now in Azy's position after the Copyswap, took advantage of the opening. He used Soul Traversal to close the gap, moving quickly toward the boss. The Shadow Hound, quick on its feet, attempted to charge in for revenge, but Azrael was already there. His scythe slashed the boss, cutting through its skin and spilling blood. The boss howled in pain as it staggered back.
As Azrael prepared for another strike, a normal Shadow Hound appeared to his left, aiming for him. But Azrael was already one step ahead. He dodged, using Soul Traversal to reposition and avoid the incoming attack.
Meanwhile, Azy continues his attacks by firing ten Soul Blasts simultaneously at the Shadow Hound boss. The powerful blasts hit the boss directly, knocking it back. With the boss distracted, Azrael appeared behind the normal Shadow Hound that had tried to attack him. In one swift motion, he decapitated the beast, its head falling to the ground then quickly reentered his Soul Traversal as if nothing happened. With boss being injured the battle looks over as the tide of the fight was turning in their favor.
This leaves the Shadow hound boss no choice, it let out a deafening roar. Its body swelled with power, its claws growing even larger and more menacing. The ground beneath it cracked as it lunged forward, now even faster and more aggressive than before.
(He's now in enraged state?) Azrael thought
(just like the skill Sibat used when he's fighting me)
The Shadow Hound boss disappeared into thin air, using his own skill **Shadow Cloak** to blend seamlessly with its surroundings. Azrael and Azy stood motionless, looking for the missing shadow hound as they wait for any sign of movement.
"It's gone," Azrael muttered in shocked. "He can be invisible just like us?"
Azy gripped his weapon tightly, his senses on high alert.
Without warning, the ground trembled, and a sharp sound rang out. The **Ground Slash** attack skill came from beneath their feet. Azrael leaped backward just in time, but Azy wasn't fast enough. The attack struck him across the chest, sending him skidding across the cave floor.
"Azy!" Azrael shouted. But at that moment the Shadow hound boss reappeared on Azraels side unnoticed, swung his sharp claws grazing azrael on his side who fortunately manages to dodge in time.
"ahhhh" Azrael said in pain as he holds his grazed side belly with his left hand.
Azy grunting in pain, pushing himself up with a pained expression.
The Shadow Hound reappeared in a blur of shadows, charging straight at Azrael with its claws extended. Azrael, anticipating the attack, used **Soul Traversal**, vanishing in an instant and appearing behind the beast but his surprise attack is too slow because of the attack he received, the hound boss swiped at the air quickly, its claws furtherly injuring Azrael like a blade has pierced trough his body.
"ACKKK" As Azrael guttered in pain, then using souo traversal to leave the battle for him to regenerate.
Azy quickly responded to aid Azrael, activated his own **Soul Traversal** to position himself behind the Hound. With swift movements, Azy unleashed a series of **Soul Blasts** directly at the boss, each one hitting with explosive force. The Shadow Hound staggered but didn't fall. It snarled in anger and quickly retaliated, moving with incredible speed.
(It's faster than I thought) Azrael observed, eyes narrowing. (This monster is no joke.) He thought while he is in traversal state.
Now the Shadow Hound boss's attention is now to Azy. Swifytly moving to close the gap wanting to slash him too, Azy propelled himself up entering his traversal state.
The Distracted Shadow hound boss made Azrael thought it's safe to attack, for the moment he exits his traversal state and was about to strike the monster with his Sycthe, the Shadow Hound quickly dodges it with his own skill **Feint** skill completely dodging Azrael's attack. The feinted shadow hound boss appeared on Azrael back in a matter of seconds aiming to cut Azraels back. But Azrael was quick on it uses soul traversal state to make him invulnerable and be gone of sight dodging the attack.
Azy, now more cautious exits the traversal state, then used his Soul Blasts to keep the boss at bay, launching multiple shots to force the attention to him. The Shadow Hound's took the hit directly mid-air as it couldn't dodge the powerful barrage of soul blasts attacks Azy released, sending the boss away smashing to the cave walls.
//===
System Notice:
Necromancer's Scythe Buff and Debuff in Effect:
Buff:
Endurance increased: 5%
Agility increased by 10%
Debuff:
Bleeding 1.5% damage on health to enemies per 3 seconds
Reduces 20% of enemies' regeneration speed (stackable)
Necromancer's Stick Spell Debuff in Effect:
Debuff:
Reduces 10% of enemies' regeneration speed (stackable)
-30% resistance of the enemy
-5% speed of the enemy
===\\
The shadow hound boss quickly recovered from the attack uses his skill again ***Shadow Cloak*** to hide from their vision.
Being out of their sight again, Azrael leaves the traversal state so that the cooldwon won't be very high.
On the other hand Azy uses his soul traversal state worried he might get attacked from behind, but Azrael timed it perfectly. When the boss reappeared on his side, he quickly moved into position and dodge the attack he follow up with a swing of his scythe, but the boss was too quick and dodge the attack again.
"Get back!" Azy shouted, firing another round of Soul Blasts at the boss after exiting soul traversal state.
The Shadow Hound didn't take long to recover, charging at Azy next, but Azrael wasn't about to let it go. He moved again, using Soul Traversal to close the gap. This time, he was ready. As the Shadow Hound turned to face him, Azrael's scythe cut deep into its side, causing it to stagger back, howling in pain.
The creature didn't stop there. With a snarl, it charged again, using Ground Slash once more. The invisible attack cut through the floor, but Azrael, having anticipated it, jumped just out of the path of the strike.
Seeing an opening, Azy launched a barrage of Soul Blasts, catching the boss off guard. The blasts hit it directly, knocking the Shadow Hound boss back, but it was far from defeated.
"We need to finish this now." Azrael said.
The boss, now far more aggressive, began to use Feint more often, dodging their attacks with ease. Its attacks grew fiercer, and its Ground Slash seemed to tear up the entire cave floor. The two had to constantly stay on their toes, dodging and repositioning themselves.
Azy used his Soul Blasts to keep the creature distracted while Azrael moved in, waiting for the right moment. The boss's movements were almost unpredictable even with the debuffs applied, but Azrael managed to land a hit with his scythe just as the Shadow Hound lunged at him. Blood splattered as the attack connected, but it wasn't enough.
"Keep going!" Azrael yelled.
Azy, seeing that they were close, pushed forward with everything he had. Another wave of Soul Blasts hit the boss, this time catching it in the chest. The Shadow Hound howled in agony and staggered back.
Azrael didn't wait. He switched places with Azy using Copy Swap, taking the front position. He closed the distance with Soul Traversal, right into the boss's face. The Shadow Hound tried to strike him with its claws, but Azrael was ready. He dodged and slashed it with his scythe, leaving the shadow hound boss impaired on it's leg.
The final blow came when Azy released a powerful Soul Blast directly at the boss's face. Azrael, now in the perfect position, moved in and swung his sycthe again to the Shadow Hound's heart, lodging it very deep. The creature howled one last time before it collapsed, its body dissolving into the shadows like a paper being burned.
Azrael and Azy stood, panting heavily from the bloody battle
"That was too close" Azrael said, wiping sweat from his brow. As his wounds are being repaired by his own mana.
Azy nodded, looking at the remains of the defeated boss.
//===
System Notice:
Skill "Soul Traversal" has leveled up!
Duration:1min -> 2mins
Cooldown: Halfed of the time used
Skill Soul blast has levelled up!
Soul blast will now be renamed as "Soul Plasma Energy "
The soul plasma energy is an upgraded version of soul blast, every plasma energy hit directly to enemy it will absorb their mana by 300. The absorbed mana will be transferred to the one who released it.
Mana Consumption per use: 500
===\\
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Now present---
Going back to the distant ruins, the Forgotten God struggled to move, his legs unsteady after centuries of stillness.
"I'm weak," he muttered, his voice low. "I need to prepare and bring back my army that's been sealed for thousands of years."
The ruins began to glow faintly as the white portal behind him condensed into a sphere of light. The orb scattered into fragments, merging with the ancient stones around him.
A faint smile formed on his lips. "The power of this kingdom is stirring. It won't be long now."
Looking out over the crumbling remains of his once-great domain, he said quietly, "God of Death... I won't rest until I see your end."
The ruins trembled softly, a sign that something long dormant was beginning to awaken.
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In the northern kingdom, where snow-covered peaks loomed over frost-bitten forests, a 9-star mage stood in his tower, gazing into a glowing crystal orb. The air around him grew heavy, charged with an unseen energy that made the room hum faintly.
He placed his hand on the orb, its surface swirling with chaotic patterns. "This power," he muttered, his brows furrowed. "It stirs like a quiet storm... ancient, unyielding."
(It was the same feeling I had 6 years ago) the 9 star mage thought as he turns to the frosted window, he felt the storm of energy brewing in the distance. The mage tightened his grip on his staff. "Whatever has awakened, it threatens the balance of the world. I must prepare."
The northern winds howled outside as the mage looks far from at a distance.
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