The Twisted Sentinel let out a guttural roar, its jagged form shifting unnaturally like shards of shattered glass brought to life. Crimson sparks crackled along the edges of its bladed protrusions, and its thunderous steps shook the ground, sending fractures racing outward in the stone floor.
"Alright, big guy-" I muttered, sinking into a low, predatory stance. My fingers flexed instinctively, brimming with barely restrained energy. "Let's see what you've got."
The Sentinel lunged forward with terrifying speed, its massive blade-arm slicing through the air. The hum of its swing reverberated like a war cry. Time seemed to slow as I activated [Fleeting Step], the world blurring as I sidestepped effortlessly, leaving a shimmering afterimage in my place. The creature's blade crashed into the ground, splintering stone and hurling debris in every direction.
I didn't wait for it to recover. With a sharp exhale, I unleashed [Necrotic Veil], the dark mist spiraling outward like living tendrils. The veil surged low, weaving itself around the Sentinel's legs, sapping its vitality as if it were feeding on the very essence of its existence. The Sentinel bellowed, its movements jerky and sluggish as the mist tightened its grip.
Seizing the moment, I darted forward, my body a blur of motion. My fist, cloaked in the corrosive energy of the veil, slammed into the Sentinel's chest with a satisfying crunch. Cracks spider-webbed across its armor-like exterior. I spun sharply, my heel arcing in a fluid motion to connect with its side. The sheer force of the kick sent the hulking creature stumbling, the veil intensifying its corrosion.
It retaliated with a desperate swing of its blade, the crimson energy sparking violently along its edge. The blade whistled past, grazing my shoulder in a near miss that sent a jarring shock through my body.
-5000 HP
I felt the sting of the impact but rolled my shoulder with a grin. "Guess it pays having high stat points."
The Sentinel roared again, surging forward in a frenzied charge. I activated [Fleeting Step] once more, the world slowing to a crawl as I slipped under its blade. Using its momentum against it, I vaulted upward, planting my foot firmly against its chest. A surge of necrotic energy exploded outward, propelling me backward in a controlled flip. The mist clung to the Sentinel's form, gnawing at its armor like acid.
The Sentinel staggered, its once-imposing silhouette crumbling under the relentless assault. It howled weakly, its crimson eyes flickering as the last of its strength ebbed away. Summoning the remaining energy of [Necrotic Veil], I focused it into a tendril of pure corrosive force. The tendril struck its core with pinpoint precision, piercing through its jagged form.
The Sentinel froze, its form trembling before disintegrating into ash. The chaotic winds of the chamber carried its remains away, leaving silence in its wake.
[Floor 1 Cleared!]
+5,100 EXP
Level Up!
[Tyros Celestorn LV. 2]
[Fleeting Step] has increased to LV. 3
[Necrotic Veil] has increased to LV. 3
(x5) Chaos Shards acquired
I exhaled slowly, letting the veil dissipate. My body hummed with renewed power, each movement feeling sharper, faster, stronger. "Damn…that's it?" I muttered, glancing around. With a shrug, I flexed my fingers. "Progress is looking nice."
I turned my gaze to the fractured path ahead, its uneven stones glowing faintly with sickly hues of chaos. The air was thick and oppressive, like the world itself was groaning under the weight of the Rend. A low, guttural growl rose from the shadows, drawing my attention. My eyes narrowed as twenty Abyssal Hounds emerged from the darkness.
Once canine in shape, their forms were now monstrous, warped by chaos. Jagged spikes protruded from their backs, green-black veins pulsing across sinewy muscles. Their glowing red eyes fixed on me, their malformed maws dripping with a corrosive green fluid that hissed against the stone below.
I raised a hand and curled my fingers in a beckoning gesture. "Time to take you ugly ass mutts back to the shelter."
With enraged snarls, the pack surged forward, claws tearing into the ground as they charged. The first hound leaped at me, jaws snapping inches from my face. I activated [Fleeting Step], vanishing from its path and reappearing at its side. My fist shot out, driving into its ribs with necrotic energy coiling from my knuckles. The corrosive mist spread like wildfire, consuming the hound until it crumbled to ash before it hit the ground.
Two more lunged at me from behind. I blurred out of reach, appearing behind them mid-strike. My roundhouse kick sent one careening into a jagged outcrop, while my knee met the other's jaw in a brutal impact. The veil latched onto their forms, consuming them as they disintegrated into nothingness.
The remaining hounds hesitated briefly, growling as they circled me. Then, three charged together. Their glowing claws slashed wildly, forcing me to duck low and counter with a lightning-quick punch to the closest one's side. The veil spread instantly, sapping its strength. I twisted sharply, catching another mid-lunge with an elbow strike that shattered its jaw. The third managed to graze my leg, but I retaliated with a spinning kick that left it sprawled and corroding.
One by one, they fell to the precise strikes of my fists and the relentless hunger of [Necrotic Veil]. When the last hound collapsed into ash, a deafening roar reverberated through the chamber.
Two Twisted Sentinels emerged from the far end, their jagged forms blazing with crimson energy. Behind them, a wave of Shrieking Wretches poured forth, their gaunt, skeletal frames screeching as they staggered forward.
I cracked my knuckles, the veil swirling around me like a living shroud. "Ah, the cavalry. Smart move-" I said with a grin. "But it won't save you."
The Sentinels charged first, their massive blades slicing through the air with devastating power. I darted between their strikes, a blur of motion. My fists slammed into the chest of the first Sentinel, cracks spreading as the corrosive mist chewed through its armor. The Wretches swarmed me, clawing wildly. I spun into a kick, sweeping two of them away in one motion. The veil latched onto their brittle forms, reducing them to ash.
The second Sentinel swung, its blade carving into the stone with enough force to shake the ground. I vaulted over the strike, landing a crushing blow to its head. The mist surged, spreading like a disease through its form.
The battle raged on, but I remained unyielding. Every strike, every move was precise and deadly. The Sentinels crumbled, their crimson energy extinguished. The Wretches, too, fell to ash, their chaotic forms unable to withstand my assault.
When the last enemy fell, I stood amidst the rubble and ash, my breathing steady as silence settled over the chamber.
[Floor 2 Cleared!]
+19,951 EXP
Level Up!
[Tyros Celestorn LV. 4]
[Fleeting Step] has increased to LV. 8
[Necrotic Veil] has increased to LV. 8
(x30) Chaos Shards acquired
(x18) Aethersteel acquired
(x7) Nightshade Essence acquired
I wiped sweat from my brow, letting the faint glow of my veil dissipate. My fists still tingled, the echoes of each strike resonating in my bones.
"They definitely don't let up.." I muttered, smirking as I stepped forward, the oppressive energy of the Rend growing heavier with each step. "But I like the challenge."