Xuian treaded carefully through the alien terrain, his senses heightened. The molten rivers of silver emitted a faint glow, casting eerie reflections against the jagged obsidian spires that surrounded him. The Void Wolf Pup padded silently beside him, its translucent form blending with the environment.
"This place feels... alive," Xuian muttered, his eyes darting to the shadows that seemed to shift and move.
The system chimed softly in his mind.
[System Notification]
Dimensional Trait Detected: Sentient Terrain. Description: The dimension adapts to intruders, creating traps and obstacles to test their resolve.
Xuian frowned. "A living dimension? Just great."
The Void Wolf Pup suddenly stiffened, its ears perked. A low growl escaped its throat as it stared ahead.
Xuian followed its gaze and saw something shifting in the distance. A creature emerged from behind one of the obsidian spires—a hulking beast with a crystalline body and molten veins running through it. Its eyes glowed like embers, and its heavy footsteps left scorch marks on the ground.
[System Notification]
Enemy Identified: Molten Sentinel. Rank: C. Traits: Resistant to physical damage, weak to spectral and water-based attacks.
Xuian smirked. "Looks like we've got our first test."
The Molten Sentinel let out a guttural roar, its body radiating intense heat as it charged toward Xuian.
The First Battle
"Void Pup, circle it!" Xuian commanded.
The Void Wolf Pup darted to the side, its ghostly form leaving a faint trail of shadows. Xuian raised his dagger, the Spirit Amplification Ring on his finger glowing faintly as he summoned his specters.
Three ghostly figures emerged from the ground, their forms flickering like pale flames.
"Attack its legs! Bring it down!" Xuian ordered.
The specters moved in unison, their claws raking against the molten surface of the creature's legs. The Sentinel roared in anger, swinging its massive arms to swat them away, but the specters were too agile.
Xuian dashed forward, aiming for the glowing veins in the Sentinel's chest. His dagger, enhanced by the Spiritbane Elixir, pierced the crystalline surface, sending cracks spidering outward.
The Sentinel retaliated, slamming its fist into the ground. The impact created a shockwave that knocked Xuian back, his body skidding across the ground.
[Health -12%]
Xuian coughed, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "Damn, that thing hits hard."
The Void Wolf Pup howled, its small form suddenly glowing with a faint silver light. A burst of shadowy energy enveloped the battlefield, momentarily blinding the Sentinel.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Xuian activated Devourer of Domains. Tendrils of dark energy erupted from the ground, wrapping around the Sentinel's legs and anchoring it in place.
"Now!" Xuian shouted.
The specters swarmed the immobilized creature, tearing at its weak points. Xuian charged in again, plunging his dagger deep into the Sentinel's core.
The creature let out a final, deafening roar before collapsing. Its body disintegrated into a pool of molten silver, leaving behind a glowing crystal shard.
[System Notification]
You have defeated the Molten Sentinel. Reward: +800 Abyssal Coins. Special Drop: Sentinel Core obtained.
Xuian picked up the glowing shard, inspecting it closely.
[Item: Sentinel Core]
Description: A powerful crystal that can be used to enhance weapons or strengthen a Domain.
"Not bad," Xuian muttered, slipping the core into his inventory. He glanced at the Void Wolf Pup, which was wagging its tail proudly. "You're pulling your weight, pup. Keep it up."
Deeper Into the Breach
The further Xuian ventured into the dimension, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. The rivers of molten silver grew wider, and the terrain became increasingly treacherous.
The system chimed again.
[System Notification]
Dimensional Trait Activated: Ethereal Predators. Description: Invisible creatures have begun hunting you. Stay alert.
Xuian froze, his grip tightening on his dagger. "Invisible predators? Of course."
The Void Wolf Pup growled, its eyes darting around. Xuian activated his spectral vision, allowing him to see faint outlines of the creatures stalking him.
They were humanoid in shape but moved on all fours, their bodies partially translucent. Their claws glinted like blades, and their mouths were filled with jagged teeth.
Xuian clicked his tongue. "These things just keep coming."
The first predator lunged at him, its claws aiming for his neck. Xuian ducked, slashing upward with his dagger. The Spirit Amplification Ring enhanced the attack, slicing through the creature's form and dispersing it into mist.
The others closed in, but Xuian's specters intercepted them, engaging in a fierce battle.
"This place really doesn't want me here," Xuian muttered, summoning more specters to even the odds.
The Void Wolf Pup joined the fray, its small size belying its ferocity. It bit into one of the predators, its shadowy aura spreading through the creature and causing it to dissolve.
The Dimensional Guardian
After what felt like hours, Xuian finally reached the center of the dimension. A massive obsidian throne stood at the heart of the molten rivers, and seated upon it was the Dimensional Guardian.
The Guardian was a towering figure clad in molten armor, its eyes glowing like twin suns. A massive greatsword rested across its lap, radiating an aura of destruction.
[System Notification]
Dimensional Guardian Identified: Molten Warlord. Rank: High C. Traits: Immense physical strength, capable of summoning molten minions.
Xuian's eyes narrowed. "This is going to be tough."
The Molten Warlord stood, its greatsword igniting with flames as it pointed at Xuian. The ground trembled beneath its feet, and molten minions began to rise from the rivers.
Xuian took a deep breath, readying himself. "Let's end this."
End of Chapter 6