Lucien groaned, his body protesting with every movement. He lay sprawled on the forest floor, the cold earth a stark contrast to the burning sensation in his abdomen. The wolf, his formidable opponent, lay motionless beside him, a gaping hole marring its otherwise imposing form.
A holographic notification materialized before his eyes.
~[Congratulations on defeating a mutated wolf and we apologize for doubting your survival so we are going to max out your stats of the arcane realm and also a new skill and the shop tab has been unlocked]~
~[ proceed to get your ore,12000 exp has been gained]~
A flicker of surprise, then amusement, crossed Lucien's lips. The system, usually so indifferent, was actually offering a reward? Interesting. He glanced at the wolf, a grim satisfaction settling over him.
Looking around, he realized the other wolves had vanished, leaving only the fallen leader as a testament to their failed assault. He was alone, injured, but victorious.
This was just the beginning, he thought, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
Lucien crawled towards his backpack, his movements slow and deliberate. Pain still throbbed through his body, but the healing potion was already taking effect, the edges of the wound beginning to knit together. He retrieved a small, emerald-green vial from his pack and downed its contents.
A tingling sensation spread through his body as the potion began to work its magic, the wound closing rapidly, leaving only a faint scar.
A grim smile touched his lips. Killing that noble had been…productive.
He approached the fallen wolf, a sense of grim satisfaction washing over him. He drew a dagger from his belt, its blade gleaming coldly in the muted light. With practiced ease, he began to carve into the beast's flesh, tearing through muscle and bone. Deep within the creature's chest, nestled amongst its organs, he discovered what he sought – a dark, obsidian ore, pulsating with an eerie inner light.
The ore was unlike anything he had ever seen before. It throbbed with a malevolent energy, dark smoke swirling around its surface. Lucien carefully extracted it, a shiver running down his spine,he was joyful he couldn't wait to consume it. This was no ordinary ore. This was a manifestation of the Abyss itself, a concentrated source of dark power.
Hunger gnawed at his stomach. He hadn't eaten in two days. With a practiced hand, he began to skin the wolf, the movement fluid and efficient. He quickly built a small fire and began to roast the meat, the savory aroma filling the air.
As the meat sizzled over the flames, Lucien examined the ore more closely. He felt a strange pull towards it, a primal urge to consume it. But he hesitated. What would happen if he consumed such a potent source of dark energy? Would it amplify his own power, or would it consume him from within?.
He wasn't sure if his mortal body could contain the dark energy.
Lucien sat by the fire, the dark ore burning in his gut. Pain, sharp and sudden, ripped through him. He gasped, his breathing ragged. This wasn't supposed to be easy.
Then, a notification popped up, shimmering into existence.
"~[Integrating your cells with the existing element in your body]~"
"~[Due to your affinity being dissame with the element an increase has been received]~"
"~[Stats has been maxed out so the additional stats given by the ore's will be stored until you evolve further a new skill has been acquired]~"
"~[Integration 99%]~"
"~[integration completed ability has been gained a class has been acquired Monarch of Darkness]~"
The pain subsided, replaced by a strange tingling sensation. He felt…different. Stronger. More powerful.
"Monarch of Darkness," he murmured, savoring the title. It rolled off the tongue like a dark prayer.
He quickly opened his status screen.
~[Menu]~
~[Name: Lucien Frost]~
~[Race: Void being]~
~[Title: Monarch of sins and darkness,
Human slayer,Beast slayer]~
~[Rank: Demi human]~
~[Level: 20]~
~[Ability: Darkness]~
~[Strength: 95]~
~[Agility: 95]~
~[Perception: 95]~
~[Defence: 95]~
~[Stamina: 95]~
~[HP: 200/200]~
~[Arcane: 500/500]~
~[System points:80]~
~[Skills]~
~[Mental Invasion]~
(Allows the user to perceive his surroundings and also get partial control of a living things mind unless it's an undead it won't work)
~[Arcane Punch]~
(When active the users arcane energy takes the form of a giant punch crushing all within it's path unless those above your level can only be used once a day due to the immense arcane energy it devours just to cast it)
~["God Speed Technique"]~
(Allows the user to have an insane amount of speed that could match a supreme Arcana in just one minute cool down 24 hours)
~["Shattering Punch Technique"]~
(Gives the user access to a technique when executed the user can shatter a living being inside out)
~[Claw strike]~
(When active The users arcane will take the shape of a claw leaving a devastating strike at the enemy)
~[ Dark steal]~
(When activated you will be able to steal quarter of the dark affinity in the opponent warning only works on dark elementalists like yourself).
~[Dark enhancement]~
(When active you will be coated with dark energy capable of disrupting a person's affinity for 30 second's, you will also have a temporary 10% boost in all stats available after your next evolution cool down a day once used )
{ Your skills grow as you grow Lucien}
~[EXP: 900/30000]~
A satisfied grin spread across Lucien's face. His stats had skyrocketed, a testament to the power of the dark ore. He had gained two new skills: "Dark Steal" and "Dark Enhancement." Intriguing. He would have to experiment with them later.
Time flew by. A week had passed since he had left the city, a week spent honing his skills, exploring the depths of the forest, and recovering from his wounds. It was time to return.
Lucien represented his ID to the guards at the entrance and strolled peacefully towards his destination. He ignored the posters of the missing noble plastered across the walls, remnants of his recent…activities. Finally, he reached the forge, its entrance marked by a sign that read "Closed." He knocked, a low thrum of anticipation building within him.
The door creaked open, revealing a diminutive figure – the dwarf, Borin, the forgemaster, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Welcome back, good sir! I was expecting you sooner, but noon will do. May I inquire as to the reason for your extended absence?"
"It's none of your business," Lucien replied curtly, his voice a low growl.
Borin, unfazed, ushered him inside. "Apologies," he muttered, "old habits die hard."
Lucien surveyed the forge, his gaze drawn to a set of items draped in crimson cloth, as if awaiting an auction. Borin, sensing his interest, dramatically unveiled the masterpiece.
"Behold!" he declared, sweeping away the cloth. "The Crimson Prime!"
Lucien's breath hitched. The armor, a masterpiece of craftsmanship, pulsed with an eerie inner light. It wasn't just armor; it was a weapon, a living thing. The aura emanating from it was…blood red, thick with the energy of fallen beings.
"Created from the finest ores, infused with the essence of…well, let's just say it has a unique energy signature," Borin explained, his eyes gleaming with pride. "This armor allows the wearer to unleash a potent blood energy, capable of decimating any being within a twenty-meter radius, below their current power level. And," he added with a wink, "it's surprisingly stylish, wouldn't you agree? Looks more like high-fashion than battle armor."
Lucien examined the armor, his fingers tracing the intricate patterns. "And the speed boost?" he inquired.
"Ah, yes," Borin continued, "with this armor, you'll move with a speed that defies description. Imagine the speed of a superhuman…multiplied by your own natural speed. It's…intoxicating. Though, be warned," he added with a mischievous glint, "this enhanced speed can only be maintained for twenty seconds."
Next, Borin presented a pair of gauntlets, their original crimson hue replaced with a sleek black. "These gauntlets," he explained, "have a unique property. Simply register a command, and they will transform to suit your needs."
Lucien, intrigued, donned the gauntlets.
"Kill," he commanded.
A series of intricate mechanisms whirred to life. The gauntlets tightened around his wrists, transforming into sleek, black steel constructs, perfect for close-quarters combat.
"Impressive," Lucien admitted, his voice devoid of emotion.
"Indeed," Borin chuckled. "Now, for the final piece…" He presented a pair of boots, seemingly ordinary at first glance. "These boots," he explained, "are incredibly durable. They can withstand almost any punishment. Wear them for ten years without worry."
Lucien stared at the boots, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face. He had expected something more…dramatic.
"That's it?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of disdain.
Borin chuckled. "Consider them a bonus, a token of my appreciation for your…unique patronage."