Warlock Ch 28. Shadow Servants
The [Dark Bolt] hit harder, causing Vrex to let out a low, guttural growl as the shadows surrounding him rippled.
[Vrex] took 25 damage.
"Better," Cassius commented, his voice laced with approval. "Now, let's see if you can defend yourself."
With a flick of his wrist, Cassius sent Obsidar charging forward. The creature moved fast—faster than Damian expected—its form shifting like smoke as it lunged toward him, claws extended.
"Shadow Barrier!" Damian yelled, thrusting his hand forward just as Obsidar closed in.
[A barrier has formed!]
A shimmering shield of darkness appeared before him, absorbing the brunt of Obsidar's attack. The impact rattled Damian's bones, but the barrier held.
[Obsidar] dealt 20 damage. Barrier absorbed 10 damage.
Damian stumbled back, his chest heaving as the adrenaline surged through him. "Holy—! This is insane!"
Cassius smiled slightly. "You're holding your own. But don't get comfortable. There's more to learn."
He waved his hand, and Obsidar retreated, giving Damian a moment to catch his breath. Before Damian could fully relax, Cassius began explaining the next spell.
"This one's more advanced," he said. "Dark Chains. It's a binding spell—difficult to master, but crucial in controlling enemies stronger than you. It requires focus and precision."
Damian wiped the sweat from his brow, nodding. "Got it. How do I use it?"
Cassius stepped closer, his tone low but firm. "Visualize the chains. Imagine them wrapping around your target, constricting their movement. You'll need to channel your magic, but don't rush it. The stronger the enemy, the tighter your hold needs to be."
Damian took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly as he raised them again. He closed his eyes, picturing the chains forming, coiling around Vrex's massive shadowy form. At first, nothing happened. The magic flickered, unstable, refusing to take shape.
"Focus," Cassius urged, his voice a calm anchor in the chaos of Damian's mind.
Gritting his teeth, Damian concentrated harder, pouring more of his energy into the spell. Slowly, the chains began to appear—dark tendrils of magic wrapping around Vrex, tightening with every passing second. Vrex let out a low growl, struggling against the bindings.
[New skill unlocked!]
[Dark Chains lv 1]
[Effect: Binds target for 10 seconds. ]
[Vrex] is bound for 10 seconds.
Damian exhaled sharply, but he couldn't help the thrill that surged through him.
Cassius gave a small nod of approval. "Good. You're learning quickly."
Damian grinned, his confidence starting to grow. "I'm getting the hang of this."
But just as he felt a flicker of pride, the chains around Vrex began to strain, and the creature snarled, breaking free with a powerful surge. The chains shattered like glass, and Vrex lunged forward, forcing Damian to summon his [Shadow Barrier] again.
The barrier barely held as Vrex's claws raked across it. Damian staggered, his muscles aching from the effort of maintaining the magic. Every part of him was exhausted.
But despite the fatigue, Damian couldn't help but feel exhilarated. This was real. He was actually getting stronger, learning to control his magic in ways he never thought possible.
The training session progressed. Cassius continued pushing him—spell after spell, attack after attack. Damian's muscles screamed in protest, and his head throbbed from the sheer amount of concentration each spell required. But he kept going, refusing to back down. He had come too far to quit now.
Finally, after what felt like hours, Cassius raised a hand, signaling the end of the session. The shadowy creatures dissipated into the air, and the barrier around the room flickered out of existence.
Damian collapsed onto the floor, panting heavily, his entire body drenched in sweat. He could barely move, his muscles aching and his magic reserves completely drained. But despite the exhaustion, a satisfied grin spread across his face.
"I did it," Damian whispered, more to himself than anyone else. His gaze was on the system in front of him.
Name: Damian Blackthorn
Age: 23
Class: Warlock of Eternal Bonds
Level: 16
[Partners: Evelyn Windward (Witch)]
Stats:
Mana Power: C+
Stamina: B
Endurance: B
Strength: B
Agility: B+
Magic Affinity: C+
XP: 500/1600
Bond Points: 1
Skills:
[Pact Creation Lv. 3 : Ability to form magical contracts with supernatural beings. Requires a deep emotional or intimate connection to succeed. Unlocks more potent magical abilities based on the strength and nature of the bonded partner.]
[Bond Empowerment Lv. 3: Each time a contract's emotional or physical bond deepens, the caster gains a permanent increase in magical strength and new abilities tied to his partner's magic. Current Boost: +30 Magic Power, +5 Agility, +10 Endurance]
[Magical Affinity Lv. 3: Increases the caster's ability to adapt to and master different types of magic through his bonds. He now gains greater flexibility with the magical abilities of his contracted partners. 25% bonus to any magical abilities gained through contracts, with a chance to learn partner-exclusive spells.]
[Dark Bolt Lv. 3 : Fires a concentrated blast of dark energy that deals heavy damage to enemies. +40% damage compared to Lv. 1, now has a chance to inflict Fear status on enemies for 3 seconds.]
[Shadow Barrier Lv. 3: Summons a shadowy shield that absorbs incoming attacks. The barrier's strength increases based on the caster's bond with his partners. Absorbs up to 60% of incoming damage for 10 seconds. Shield strength boosted by an additional 20% for each nearby bonded partner.
[Arcane Bolt Lv. 3: Fires a bolt of pure arcane energy. Deals significant magical damage and can now chain between multiple enemies. Chain lightning effect: can now hit up to 3 targets.]
[Dark Chains Lv. 3: Summons ethereal chains of darkness that bind and immobilize enemies, restricting movement and reducing their power. Binds up to 5 enemies within a 20-meter radius. Enemies are immobilized for 10 seconds and suffer a 30% reduction in physical and magical power while bound.]
'13 level in one training?!' he thought in shock.
Cassius approached him, his expression approving. "Yes, you did. But this is only the beginning. You have much more to learn."
Damian nodded weakly, his chest still heaving. "I'm ready."
Cassius smiled. "Good. Because the real challenge is yet to come."