Chapter 4: The Next Trial
The door groaned shut behind Wolfgang, plunging the room into silence. He stood in the aftermath of the Executioners, his body aching, every breath a reminder of the punishment his body had taken. Blood pooled at his feet, not all of it his own.
The system's voice cut through the quiet, cold and mechanical.
[Quest Complete: Trial of Blood.]
[Reward Acquired: Soul Rend - Rank II]
The glow from his status window bathed his face in pale light as he skimmed through the updates.
[Soul Rend - Rank II]
• Effect 1: Steal power from defeated enemies.
• Effect 2: Critical kills allow absorption of enemy abilities.
New Ability Acquired: Executioner's Strike
• A heavy blow that deals massive damage. Power scales with Strength.
• Mana Cost: 20.
Wolfgang's lips curled into a thin, satisfied smile. "Now we're talking."
He clenched his fist, feeling the stolen strength surging through his body. His muscles ached, but there was no denying it—he had grown stronger. Faster. Deadlier.
"Every step I take, I climb higher," he murmured to himself, his voice cold with determination.
The chamber shuddered suddenly, a deep rumble shaking the walls. Dust fell from the ceiling, and Wolfgang's head snapped toward the far end of the room. A new door—massive and reinforced with iron runes—slowly slid open, revealing a staircase spiraling downward.
A notification popped up.
[New Quest: Descent of Trials]
• Objective: Clear the Second Floor of the Dungeon.
• Reward: Unknown.
Wolfgang exhaled sharply, brushing sweat and blood from his face. He wouldn't stop here. Not now. This dungeon had already proven one thing: those who endured its trials came out stronger.
And he would endure.
The Second Floor
The staircase led Wolfgang into darkness—deeper, colder, and somehow alive. His boots echoed across stone steps that twisted endlessly downward. The air grew heavy the further he descended, and a faint, metallic scent clawed at his nose.
When he finally reached the bottom, his lantern revealed a sprawling chamber lined with massive stone arches. The floor was uneven, broken, as though something had torn through it long ago.
Wolfgang stepped forward cautiously, Shadowfang ready in his hand.
Something's here.
He didn't hear it. He felt it—a shift in the air, a ripple of movement just beyond the lantern's reach.
The system chimed:
[Enemies Identified: Shadow Wraiths]
• Level: 6
• Danger: High
• Description: Ethereal beings that thrive in darkness. Can phase through physical attacks.
Wolfgang froze as shapes flickered in the edges of the light—black silhouettes with glowing white eyes. The Wraiths moved like smoke, their bodies flowing in and out of the shadows.
From the darkness, a wraith lunged.
Wolfgang spun to the side, barely avoiding its claw. The air where it passed turned cold as ice, and the faint whisper of something unnatural brushed his ears.
His blade swung, slicing clean through the creature—only for it to vanish in a puff of black smoke.
"They're intangible," Wolfgang muttered, gritting his teeth.
The Wraiths circled him now, emerging and disappearing with fluid, inhuman movements. Wolfgang's mind raced. I need a way to hit them—something that forces them to materialize.
A second Wraith lunged, and this time Wolfgang activated Shadow Step, vanishing into the darkness. He reappeared behind it, slashing through the air. The Wraith shrieked as Shadowfang connected, its body writhing as black smoke trailed from the wound.
[Damage Inflicted: 35 HP]
The dagger worked—but only when he caught them mid-attack.
Wolfgang's lips curled into a grin. "So, you have to commit to the fight."
He darted forward, his movements faster now, sharper. When another Wraith phased out of the wall, Wolfgang baited it into attacking. At the last second, he twisted around its lunge and activated his new skill.
"Executioner's Strike!"
Shadowfang pulsed with power. Wolfgang's arm shot forward in a brutal, two-handed slash. The dagger struck the Wraith's core with a sickening crunch, forcing its form to solidify.
The creature screamed, its body tearing apart as it collapsed into shadow.
[Shadow Wraith Defeated.]
[Experience Gained.]
Wolfgang didn't stop. Another Wraith lunged, and Wolfgang closed the distance instantly. His dagger glowed faintly as he whispered: "Soul Rend."
The blade sank deep into the Wraith's chest, its energy surging into Wolfgang like ice-cold fire.
[Soul Rend Successful: Intelligence +3]
The remaining Wraiths hesitated now, their glowing eyes flickering as though realizing the threat Wolfgang posed.
"You can feel fear?" Wolfgang growled, his voice low and mocking. "Good."
He charged forward, his movements a blur of precise, deadly strikes. One by one, the Wraiths fell, their screams echoing as they dissolved into nothingness.
When the last enemy fell, the system chimed softly.
[Second Floor Cleared.]
[Quest Complete: Descent of Trials.]
[Reward Acquired: Skill - Shadow Flare]
[Shadow Flare]
• Releases an explosion of shadow energy, damaging all enemies within a 10-meter radius.
• Mana Cost: 40
Wolfgang leaned on his knees, sweat dripping from his chin. His body was battered, his mana nearly drained, but his eyes blazed with victory.
He straightened, exhaling slowly as he reviewed his gains. The power he was collecting was staggering, each battle sharpening him into something stronger, something unstoppable.
At the far end of the chamber, another staircase revealed itself, spiraling even deeper.
Wolfgang grinned through the pain.
"Let's see how far this rabbit hole goes."
He stepped forward—but as he reached the base of the stairs, a deep, guttural roar echoed from below. The stone beneath his feet shook, dust raining from the ceiling.
Wolfgang froze, his hand tightening around Shadowfang.
The system chimed once more, its voice sharper than ever before.
[Warning: Dungeon Boss Detected.]
[Enemy Approaching: ???]
From the darkness ahead, two burning crimson eyes flared open. The roar came again, louder this time—closer.
Wolfgang's grin faltered slightly.
"…What the hell is that?"
Chapter 4 end.