Chapter 10: Eldritch Awakening
The moment Ego chose the Path of the Eldritch, he felt something change within him, like a doorway unlocking to a place where light was forgotten. Dark energy spiraled around him, pulsing with a life of its own, seeping into his skin, bones, and even his thoughts. It was raw, untamed power—the kind that promised both immense strength and the possibility of losing control. A voice echoed faintly in his mind, an ancient murmur in a language he couldn't understand, leaving his skin prickling with a strange, cold anticipation.
System Notification: You have chosen the Path of the Eldritch. Forbidden powers are now within your grasp.
The system displayed a series of new skills, each one a gift and a challenge in its own way. He scanned through the descriptions, feeling the thrill of the possibilities they offered.
Skills Unlocked:
Eldritch Pulse: Release a wave of corrupting energy, dealing damage over time to enemies and slightly lowering their defenses.
Mindflay: Channel a psychic assault to disorient an enemy, causing confusion and minor damage. Can be chained to Eldritch Pulse for increased effect.
Reality Rift: Create a tear in space to temporarily distort reality around you, disorienting nearby enemies and granting temporary invincibility for 3 seconds.
Forbidden Insight: Gain knowledge of your opponent's weaknesses, increasing critical hit chances. Passive effect.
Corrupt Essence: Absorb part of an enemy's energy upon their defeat, converting it into health and mana over time.
His hands tingled with a dark power as he gazed at each of his new abilities, feeling an inexplicable thrill. These skills wouldn't just make him stronger—they would reshape the way he approached battles, the way he dominated his enemies.
He turned to leave the chamber, pushing further into the depths of the labyrinth. The walls around him pulsed faintly, like some great beast's heart, while distant echoes hinted at the challenges still lying in wait. Before long, Ego spotted his first targets: a pack of Netherhounds—shadowy, lean creatures with black fur and ember-like eyes. They snarled, closing in on him as he approached.
System Notification: You are in combat with Netherhound Pack (5 enemies).
Without hesitation, Ego extended a hand, activating Eldritch Pulse. A wave of dark mist radiated outward, sinking into the creatures' bodies, making their movements sluggish as their health bars began to tick down. The Netherhounds let out strangled growls, their forms wavering under the weight of the corrupting energy. Their defenses weakened, and the creatures seemed almost… afraid.
One lunged at him, teeth bared. Ego reacted instinctively, launching Mindflay. He could feel his psychic energy collide with the creature's mind, twisting its thoughts into disarray. The Netherhound froze mid-leap, stumbling to the ground, shaking its head as it tried to resist the assault. The others hesitated, giving him the opening he needed.
Activating Reality Rift, Ego felt a brief, chilling detachment from reality as space around him shifted. To the Netherhounds, he seemed to disappear and reappear in flashes, disorienting them even further. He took advantage of their confusion, landing punches and kicks that brought two of them down, each dissolving into wisps of darkness as they faded.
As he defeated each hound, he activated Corrupt Essence, absorbing the fading life energy. His health and mana ticked upward, refreshing him with each fallen foe. It was a rush unlike any he'd felt before—power fed directly to him from his enemies, a dark but addictive surge that kept him going.
The remaining hounds regrouped, growling as they circled him. Ego focused on the largest, sending another wave of Eldritch Pulse. The creature's fur bristled as the corrupt energy seeped into it, its health bar steadily draining until it too collapsed, leaving only the two smallest ones. Ego allowed himself a smirk as he dispatched them with relative ease, their weakened forms no match for his relentless attacks.
System Notification: +300 XP.
He exhaled, adrenaline pulsing through him, the darkness within him feeling more natural by the second. This power was intoxicating—raw, unfiltered, and without limits, but he could feel it tugging at the edges of his mind. It demanded control, a steady hand. He'd have to tread carefully with these abilities; losing himself to them could come at a cost.
But he didn't regret his choice. Not even a little.
He continued his exploration, traversing the labyrinth and taking on various enemies. Each encounter sharpened his skills, the synergy of his abilities growing stronger with every use. He would start with Eldritch Pulse, weakening his foes, then follow up with Mindflay to break their focus, exploiting every opening. And when the odds stacked against him, Reality Rift provided a moment of invincibility, letting him maneuver out of harm's way or disorient his enemies.
Hours passed, and his level inched closer to eight. His body felt stronger, more resilient, and he found himself growing familiar with the feel of the eldritch energy, almost as if it were an extension of his own mind.
Finally, he reached a new area of the labyrinth—a cavernous chamber with towering obsidian statues lining the walls, each one etched with unfamiliar symbols that glowed faintly in the dim light. The chamber's oppressive atmosphere told him this was no ordinary location.
Then, at the chamber's center, he spotted a portal—shimmering and unstable, with symbols pulsing around its edges. Curiosity got the better of him, and he approached it cautiously, eyes narrowing as he took in the details.
System Notification: Hidden Realm Discovered. Enter?
Ego hesitated. The realm looked dangerous, like something that might hold treasures beyond measure—or consequences he wasn't ready for. After a moment's pause, he decided to hold back, saving the challenge for another time. There were still too many unknowns about his new powers, and diving in unprepared was a risk he wasn't willing to take… yet.
Stepping back, he let the portal be, vowing to return once he was stronger and better equipped. Just as he turned to leave, he heard movement at the chamber's edge.
A figure stumbled into view—a young god player by the looks of her. Her armor was scratched, and her health bar blinked dangerously low. Two shadowy creatures clawed at her, forcing her to retreat.
She spotted him, eyes wide with a mix of fear and hope. "A little help here?"
Ego smirked, raising his hand to unleash Eldritch Pulse. The dark energy blasted forward, wrapping around her attackers and sapping their strength. The creatures snarled in confusion as they staggered, weakened by the corrupt energy. Ego closed the distance, dispatching each creature with a flurry of strikes.
Once they were gone, the player straightened up, catching her breath. She nodded at him in gratitude. "Thanks… I thought I was toast back there."
He gave her a curt nod. "Just happened to be passing through. You alright?"
She wiped her brow, looking a little sheepish. "Yeah, I'll manage. Name's Seraphim, god of light and healing. Bit of a disadvantage here, as you can see." She extended her hand.
He shook it, giving her a once-over. "Ego, god of the void."
She blinked, eyes widening. "Void? Thought that was more legend than class. Guess you're the daring type, huh?"
Ego chuckled. "Guess you could say that. This place is rough for low-level gods. Be careful if you're exploring alone."
She nodded, visibly relieved to have someone watching her back. try. But I could say the same for you. These hidden realms are no joke."
They exchanged friend requests, and with a final nod of thanks, Seraphim turned and left the chamber, headed back to safer areas. Ego watched her go before he continued on his path, his thoughts returning to his newfound power and what he'd yet to uncover.
As he navigated through the maze of corridors, Ego could feel the eldritch energy subtly changing him. It was making him sharper, more aware. The world around him seemed clearer, the colors richer, the air heavier with a presence only he could sense. The power was seeping into him in ways he hadn't anticipated.
A few more battles against wandering creatures brought him to the edge of leveling up. His level was nearing 8, and he felt his strength and skills heightening with each encounter. With every strike, he understood his abilities more, learning to harness them with greater precision.
Suddenly, a new notification flashed in front of him, this time with an ominous hum that echoed in the silence.
System Notification: Dungeon Challenge Available: Abyssal Maw Depths.
Boss Level: 15.
Rewards: Eldritch Gear Set (partial), XP Boost, Relic of the Void.
Ego felt a pulse of excitement as he read the notification. The idea of diving into a dungeon that held unique eldritch rewards was tempting—especially one that aligned with his newly chosen path. But the recommended level gave him a pause He was only level 7, and while he felt powerful, he knew better than to charge headlong into a dungeon meant for players twice his strength. Still, the promise of eldritch gear, an experience boost, and the Relic of the Void was a pull he couldn't ignore.
He glanced around the chamber, deep in thought. This dungeon could be the turning point in his progression, especially if he could find a way to manage the challenge. But he wasn't reckless; Ego had already pushed his luck on more than one occasion, and he understood that there was no reset button here. One wrong move could spell the end of his progress.
As he weighed his options, he accessed the new skill tree he'd unlocked upon reaching level 7. The menu opened with a soft glow, showing the branching paths and unique abilities available to those who chose the Path of the Eldritch. Skills like Voidstorm and Mind Leech caught his eye, powerful abilities that would allow him to drain enemies of their strength or create explosive blasts of void energy. Each skill had its cost in Ethereal, a currency he was still struggling to manage but would soon find essential for his continued development.
Voidstorm could give him an advantage against groups of enemies, while Mind Leech seemed tailored for one-on-one combat. The idea of controlling the battlefield, turning his opponents' strengths against them, resonated with him deeply. After some consideration, he selected Voidstorm, which would allow him to create an area-of-effect attack that could wear down groups of enemies over time.
System Notification: Skill Acquired - Voidstorm: Unleash a vortex of void energy around you, dealing damage over time to all enemies within the radius.
The new skill filled him with renewed confidence, but it didn't ease his wariness about the dungeon's difficulty. He had been making steady progress, and the thought of risking everything on a dungeon so soon seemed foolish. But maybe… just maybe, there was a way to get stronger before taking it on.
He took one last glance at the dungeon notification, his resolve hardening. He'd continue leveling up, refining his skills, and building his strategy. And once he was ready, the Abyssal Maw Depths would be his for the taking.