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Chapter 6

  Cyrus took a deep breath, steadying himself after the intense battle with the vampire butler. Sweat dripped down his face, mixing with the blood and grime that clung to his armor. The butler's final shriek still echoed in his ears, a haunting reminder of the close call. He checked his notifications, his eyes scanning the new stats that flashed before him. His strength had increased, his agility sharpened, and his mana pool had expanded. A thrill ran through him, a heady mix of relief and excitement. The exhilaration of growth was a potent drug, but he knew he couldn’t afford to linger. He had a mission: to conquer this dungeon and continue his climb up the leaderboards.

  The grand gothic doors ahead loomed ominously, their intricate designs hinting at the power and danger that lay beyond. Cyrus wiped his brow, feeling his health regenerating steadily, a comforting rhythm that bolstered his resolve. With a final deep breath, he pushed the doors open, their creak echoing through the cavernous space.

  He stepped into a vast hall, the air thick with an oppressive aura. Shadows clung to the high vaulted ceiling, and the faint sound of chanting reverberated off the stone walls. Rows of ominous statues lined the hall, their eyes seemingly following his every move. At the far end, a figure sat on a throne made of dark stone, surrounded by a sinister red mist that pulsed like a heartbeat. He noticed blood red orbs floating around the chamber.

  “You must be the famous Count Drakmar,” Cyrus called out, his voice strong despite the eerie silence that followed. His words echoed, magnifying the tension that hung in the air.

  The figure on the throne stirred, and the chanting ceased abruptly. Count Drakmar’s eyes glowed with a malevolent red as he rose, his presence exuding an aura of dread. His steps were slow, deliberate, each one echoing through the hall. “Indeed, and you must be the troublesome human who’s been cutting through my servants. Tell me, what drives you to seek your own destruction?”

  Cyrus grinned, a fierce determination in his eyes as he readied his shield and sword. “I’m here to end you.”

  Drakmar moved with blinding speed, closing the distance in the blink of an eye. Their weapons clashed with a deafening roar, sending shockwaves through the hall. Cyrus’s Resistor’s Barrier flared to life, his shield glowing with resistance energy, absorbing the initial onslaught. The force of the impact sent vibrations up his arm, but he held firm.

  Resistor’s Barrier (Class Ability - Uncommon - Tier 2)

  Innate Skill Synergy

  The Ability to Infuse Items With Resistance Skills

  Effectiveness of Resistance is X1.5

  Based on Skill Level, Resistance Skills, and Resilience

  Level 16

  Everything is just an extension of your body

  Drakmar sneered, his fangs glinting in the dim light. “Impressive, but let’s see how you handle this.”

  The count’s form shimmered, splitting into multiple shadows that surrounded Cyrus. Each shadow moved with eerie synchronicity, attacking in unison. Streaks of blood whipped around him yet, his dexterity and shieldmanship allowed him to parry and dodge, his movements a blur of steel and determination. He channeled mana into his sword, using Mana Empowerment to enhance its strength, slicing through the shadows with precision.

  Mana Empowerment (Rare - Tier 2)

  Gives the Skill to Empower Objects with Mana

  Empowerment Increases the Strength, Speed, and Innate Magic of Object

  Can Increase Rarity of Items for the Duration of Skill

  Bonus Increases with Level and Intelligence

  Level 31

  ULTIMATE POWAAAA

  “Your tricks won’t save you!” Cyrus roared, his voice a battle cry as he struck at the real Drakmar hidden among the illusions.

  His blade found its mark, but Drakmar merely laughed, the wound healing instantly. “You’ll need more than brute force to defeat me.”

  Cyrus’s mind raced. A small glow from the orbs cllued him into a possible mechanic for the boss. Of course a final boss like him has a mechanic, I need to outsmart him. Use everything He activated his Resistant Strike, channeling his stamina and resilience into a powerful blow. His sword glowed with vibrant energy, each swing resonating with determination and strength. He aimed carefully, his strikes precise, targeting the gaps in Drakmar’s defenses.

  Resistant Strike (Class Ability - Common)

  Innate Skill Synergy

  Use Stamina to Add Extra Power to an Attack

  Can Be Infused With Any Element You Resist

  Based On Ability Level, Strength, and Resistance Skill Level

  Current Bonus - 500%

  Level 12

  To every thousand hacking at the branches of evil

  There is one who is striking at the roots

  Drakmar staggered, surprise flickering in his eyes. “You… you’re stronger than I anticipated.”

  The vampire quickly healed, yet in his moment of hesitation, Cyrus rocketed toward the nearest ord, quickly slashing through it. “ARGHHH” he heard behind him. He continued to dodge shadow versions of Drakmar while finding all the orbs. While nearing the final one, he noticed a huge magical presence building near Drakmar. The lord screamed as he unleashed the dark and bloody magic, “Survive this!” Cyrus’s eyes widened, it was quite the attack. He quickly prepared his shield and attempted to block it, but almost half of the attack hit him. Cyrus fell to a knee, gasping for air.

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  You Have Been Hit With “Bloody Beam”

  -2000 HP

  Heavy Bleed

  Light Slow

  Ouch, that hurt like hell. He caught his breath and tried to stem the bleeding on his left arm. Luckily, the combination of dsestroying his orbs and the magic strain of such a large attack, Drakmar was clearly tiring, his calm demeaning disappearing. Cyrus pressed the advantage, not giving the count a moment to recover. Unfortunately, the vampire wasn’t done, using the rest of his magic to bombard him with magic as he approached. He felt the drain on his mana reserves but pushed through, hoping his Bronze Skin and high resilience would shield him from the barrage of magic Drakmar unleashed. Fireballs, ice shards, and bolts of dark energy assailed him, the heat and cold searing his skin, the dark energy sapping his strength. But his defenses held firm, each attack absorbed by his enchanted armor and skills.

  Fire RESISTANCE (Common)

  The Skill to Be Able to RESIST the Effects of Fire

  Based on Skill Level and RESILIENCE

  Level 24

  The finest steel is forged by the hottest fire

  Ice RESISTANCE (Common)

  The Skill to Be Able to RESIST the Effects of Ice

  Based on Skill Level and RESILIENCE

  Level 20

  Ice ice baby

  Dark RESISTANCE (Common)

  The Skill to Be Able to RESIST the Effects of Darkness

  Based on Skill Level and RESILIENCE

  Level 19

  Who’s there?

  Blood RESISTANCE (Common)

  The Skill to Be Able to RESIST the Effects of Blood

  Based on Skill Level and RESILIENCE

  Level 21

  BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD

  With a final, decisive strike, Cyrus used Resistor’s Block to nullify Drakmar’s desperate attacks. The count’s eyes widened in shock as Cyrus’s mana-infused sword pierced hischest. The red mist that had shrouded the throne room dissipated, and Drakmar’s body crumbled into dust, a faint whisper escaping his lips as he disintegrated. “How…”.

  Cyrus stood amidst the settling dust, his breath coming in heavy gasps. He looked around the now silent hall, the oppressive aura lifted. The statues seemed less menacing, their stony gazes no longer filled with malice. He checked his notifications, seeing the rewards for defeating Drakmar: a surge of experience points and a significant boost to his stats. The path ahead was still long and fraught with danger, but with each victory, Cyrus felt himself growing stronger, more capable. He checked what dropped from the Vampire Lord, and was very happy with the results. He sheathed his sword and moved forward. He would conquer this dungeon.

  You have killed a

  Count Drakmar (LV 55)

  Level Up!

  Level 26

  5 Stat Points

  Level Up!

  Level 27

  5 Stat Points

  ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED

  Defeat a Dungeon Boss

  Gained 200 Achievement Points

  The dust settled, and a treasure chest appeared where Drakmar had fallen. Inside, Cyrus found a shimmering amulet.

  Amulet of the Night:

  EPIC

  +10 Resilience

  +15 Intelligence

  +10 Vitality

  Increased Shadow Affinity

  Defense Rating - +10

  Grants Basic Night Vision

  Increasing Mana Regen By 5%

  This amulet is imbued with the power of the eternal darkness

  Soulbound to Cyrus Raven

  Cyrus equipped his new gear, feeling their power augment his abilities. With renewed determination, he set his sights on the next challenge. There were still 24 days left in the tutorial, and he was determined to become the strongest.

  Tutorial Information

  Time Remaining: 24D-22H-9M

  Achievement Points: 845

  Remaining Humans: 4B

  As he exited the dungeon, he checked the leaderboards again.

  Leaderboards

  Level

  


      
  • BP: 39


  •   


  


      
  • GT: 37


  •   


  


      
  • JL: 36


  •   


  …

  


      
  1. CR: 27


  2.   


  Single Skill

  


      
  • BP: 47


  •   


  


      
  • HY: 44


  •   


  


      
  • PP: 42


  •   


  …

  


      
  1. CR: 36


  2.   


  Total Innate Unlocks

  20

  Cyrus found a hidden passage behind Drakmar’s throne, leading to a staircase descending into darkness.

  Second Floor: Aelorian Thicket

  Good Luck

  Name: Cyrus Raven

  Race: Human

  Class: Guardian

  Tier: 2

  Level: 28

  HP(Health Points): 3920 (+2.5%)

  HP Regen: 216HP/Minute

  MP(Mana Points): 3620

  MP Regen: 77MP/Minute

  SP(Stamina Points): 3650

  SP Regen: 98SP/Minute

  STATS

  Charisma: 29 (+20)

  Dexterity: 64 (+6)

  Intelligence: 47 (+35)

  RESILIENCE: 110 (+78)

  Strength: 63 (+22)

  Vitality: 62 (+50)

  Wisdom: 39 (+10)

  Stat Points: 60

  Total Defense: 1880 (+146) (+208%)

  Protective Swordsmanship (Class Skill - Uncommon - Tier 2)

  Gives the Skill to Use a Sword

  Gives a Passive Bonus to Damage

  Gives a Passive Bonus to Defense

  Current Bonus - 75%

  Defense Bonus - 15%

  Bonus Increases With Level

  Level 15

  If you sharpen the sword, the sword sharpens back

  True Shieldmanship (Class Skill - Uncommon - Tier 2)

  Gives the Skill to Use a Shield

  Gives a Strong Passive Bonus to Defense

  Current Bonus - 180%

  Bonus Increases With Level

  Level 18

  Your spirit is your true shield… and this

  Pain RESISTANCE (Uncommon - Tier 2)

  The Skill to Be Able to RESIST the Effects of Pain

  Pain Increases Regeneration of SP and HP

  Based on Skill Level and RESILIENCE

  Level 36

  Keeping a clear mind even through pain, is the sign of a warrior

  Mana Control (Uncommon - Tier 2)

  The Skill to Be Able to Access and Control Mana

  Increased Control and Effectiveness of Mana

  Based on Skill Level and Intelligence

  Level 33

  One who controls is one who has power

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