Floor 38
As Max stepped onto Floor 38, he found himself in an arid desert landscape under an unforgiving sun. The air was dry and sweltering, and sandstorms swept across the horizon, making visibility a challenge. In the distance, he noticed the outline of a temple, half-buried in sand.
Suddenly, a figure emerged—a giant lioness-headed warrior clad in armor, wielding a spear that shimmered with heat. Max recognized it as a manifestation of Sekhmet, the Egyptian goddess of war and destruction. Her amber eyes glowed, radiating power and fury.
Sekhmet lunged at him with astounding speed, her spear slicing through the air. Max activated Wind Barrier, deflecting the initial blows, but the force behind her attacks pushed him back. He quickly countered with Electropoison Blade, managing to land a hit on her exposed arm, the poison seeping into her veins. As Sekhmet faltered momentarily, Max used Vampiric Touch to drain some of her energy, strengthening himself while weakening her.
After a fierce exchange, Sekhmet staggered, weakened by the poison and drained by his vampiric attack. With a final slash of his elongated, bone-forged sword, he severed her head, ending the battle. The soul of Sekhmet usurped by him, enhancing his Strength and Vitality.
Floor 39
The scenery changed abruptly as Max entered Floor 39, and he found himself in a dense forest filled with towering, twisting trees. Each tree seemed to block his path, creating a maze-like structure. From the shadows emerged a figure clad in the traditional attire of ancient India, wielding a chakram—a weapon resembling a sharp-edged ring.
Max realized he was facing a protector inspired by Draupadi, a fierce heroine from Hindu myth known for her resilience and cunning.
The guardian hurled chakrams with deadly precision, forcing Max to dodge and weave through the maze. He activated Enhanced Reflexes, allowing him to anticipate and evade the chakram's deadly arcs. After several rounds of dodging, he used Bone Manipulation to create barriers that blocked the chakrams, deflecting them back toward their source. With a strategic maneuver, Max closed in, slashing with his Electropoison Blade and draining her remaining energy with Vampiric Touch. The labyrinth dissipated, and Max emerged victorious, his Agility and Stamina increased, and his senses heightened from the essence he had absorbed.
Floor 40
Floor 40 presented a daunting sight. A mist-covered swamp stretched before him, with serpentine creatures slithering through the muck. As he ventured forward, two enormous serpents, each with glowing golden eyes and intricate scales, emerged from the murky water. They radiated a strange healing aura—a sign of their connection to Asclepius, the Greek god of healing. The serpents launched venomous projectiles, which Max countered with Wind Barrier. Despite his defenses, the swamp itself seemed to sap his stamina, as if enchanted by the serpents' regenerative powers. Realizing a direct approach wouldn't work, Max used Poison Mist to create a toxic field around them, countering their regenerative powers. He then activated Bone Creation, crafting spiked gauntlets to pummel the serpents as they writhed, weakened by the mist. After a grueling battle, the serpents fell, and their essence granted Max the Regeneration skill upgrade, accelerating his healing rate.
Floor 41
On Floor 41, Max found an unexpected reprieve. The surroundings were peaceful, resembling a secluded meadow. Here, he took time to check his status and reflect on his progress. His stats had increased substantially, his body growing stronger and more resilient with each floor.
Status Update:
Abyssal Dominion
• Name: Max Miller
• Race: Human
• Class: Shadowrune
• Trait: Soul Usurpation (E) – Grants the ability to absorb essence and skills from defeated foes. 20% chance to acquire a skill. Stat gains are proportional to the level and quality of the absorbed soul.
• Level: 32
• HP: 11,800
• Defense: 4,970
• Strength: 168
• Agility: 185
• Stamina: 167
• Mana: 182
• Vitality: 118
• Sense: 154
Skills:
• Bone Manipulation (Level 5)
• Bone Creation (Level 5)
• Bone Equip (Level 3)
• Soul Flame (Level 1)
• Wind Barrier (Level 4)
• Regeneration (Level 3)
• Venomous Blood (Level 2)
• Ogre's Vitality (Level 2)
• Basilisk's Gaze (Level 1)
• Enhanced Reflexes (Level 1)
• Poison Mist (Level 1)
• Scale Armor (Level 2)
• Vampiric Touch (Level 3)
• Lightning Charge (Level 2)
• Enhanced Hearing (Level 1)
• Electropoison Blade (Level 2)
Floor 42
Max now faced three Valkyries, each radiating divine energy. Their armor gleamed, and their wings shimmered with light. He knew this would be no ordinary battle—these were warriors from Norse myth, servants of Odin and fierce fighters.
The Valkyries coordinated their attacks, swooping down with spears and shields that deflected Max's initial blows. Max used Lightning Charge to electrify his blade, giving him an edge against their divine armor. The Valkyries retaliated with swift strikes, forcing Max to dodge constantly. He countered with Vampiric Touch, draining energy each time he managed to land a hit. After a grueling encounter, he defeated each Valkyrie one by one, their divine essence enhancing his strength and agility further.
Floor 43
Floor 43 was a vast, desolate landscape lit by the eerie glow of underworld fire. Max's heart raced as he came face to face with Cerberus, the three-headed hound of Hades, its massive form casting a terrifying shadow.
Cerberus lunged, all three heads snapping at Max simultaneously. Max dodged, rolling under its massive paws as he activated Wind Barrier to shield himself from the beast's fiery breath. Cerberus's tails whipped around, striking like scorpion stingers, each coated with deadly venom. Max summoned Poison Mist, enveloping the area around him to create a toxic field that the hound would be forced to fight through. He activated Enhanced Reflexes and Regeneration in tandem, allowing him to keep pace with the ferocity of the monster's attacks while his wounds healed. Electropoison Blade flickered to life in his hands, and he leapt at the beast, slicing through one of its heads. With one head severed, Cerberus staggered. Max focused all his power into his next move. Using Bone Creation, he forged spiked gauntlets and punched deep into the creature's chest, tearing through its fur and muscle. Cerberus let out a final roar before collapsing, its remaining heads falling limp. Max collapsed beside the defeated beast, feeling the power of the legendary hound merge with his own, increasing his strength and resistance to poison and fire. His stats surged, marking a significant victory.
Floors 44 and 45
On these floors, Max encountered various mythical creatures, including a phoenix-like bird with regenerative powers and a powerful, bull-like creature inspired by the Minotaur. Each fight pushed him to new limits, refining his skills and pushing his stats higher.
Upon reaching Floor 45, Max took a moment to survey his progress. His body was a testament to the grueling battles, and his status had grown immensely, reflecting his resilience and skill mastery.