2025-04-08 21:07:49Meanwhile, in a large, opulent office adorned with dark mahogany walls, gold trim, and shelves of ancient artifacts, a man stood tall by the full-length window. He looked to be around six feet, clad in a sharp black suit that hugged his muscular frame. His presence exuded authority. His sharp eyes scanned the horizon beyond the glass, lost in thought.
Behind him stood a man with peach-colored hair slicked back neatly, a single monocle perched on his left eye, magnifying the sharp gleam in it. His name was Cassian Vale.
“Mr. Ryu,” Cassian began, his voice polished, professional. “The situation in Darkvale Forest is becoming increasingly unstable. Reports suggest the Nightscale Crawlers are growing more aggressive.”
Ryu turned slowly to face him, his jawline sharp, his expression unreadable. “Have we rounded up the D-class hunters?”
Cassian nodded. “Yes, sir. They're assembled and awaiting your orders.”
Ryu walked back to his grand desk, sitting down with a measured sigh. He laced his fingers together. “The Crawlers are just F-class...but if they swarm, they could rival an E-class beast. Possibly even D-class in destruction if they continue to copulate unchecked.”
Cassian's brow furrowed slightly. “Understood.”
“Send the hunters out within the hour. Make sure they’re well-equipped,” Ryu ordered, the steel in his voice unmistakable.
Cassian gave a curt nod and turned to leave, his steps silent.
Just as the door closed behind him, it swung open again without a knock. A man strode in, his jet-black hair tousled stylishly, a smirk tugging on his lips. He didn’t wait to be invited. He sat across from Ryu like he owned the place.
Ryu's eyes narrowed. “Logan. What the hell are you doing here?”
Logan chuckled, crossing one leg over the other. His black combat gear hugged him like a second skin, and the aura he exuded made the room feel heavier. “Just came to pay the guild a visit. You should be honored. Not every day an S-class hunter takes a stroll to your boring-ass office.”
Ryu rolled his eyes. “I’m an S-class too. I don’t go around parading it like a damn badge of honor. And I won’t be content until I hit M-class. Unlike you, who treats S-class like some VIP club.”
Logan scoffed, a bit stung. “Harsh. Real harsh. You never change, do you?”
The silence stretched for a moment before Logan leaned forward slightly.
“You planning to recruit? Things are getting... messy out there. Monsters multiplying at insane speeds. Something’s off.”
Ryu gave a slow nod. “Already on it. Other guilds are scrambling too.”
Back in Darkvale Forest
Leo crouched behind a massive jagged boulder. Blood trickled from the corner of his lips. His breath was ragged. He wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve.
“Fuck...” he muttered under his breath. “That mid-boss is insane.”
He used the reflective surface of his light dagger to peek around the rock. In the warped image, he saw it.
A massive Nightscale Warden—the mid-boss.
It was nearly eight feet long, serpentine, with thick obsidian-black scales that shimmered with violet pulses. Its body was armored like plated steel, and its numerous legs ended in serrated talons. Two glowing crimson eyes scanned the tunnel like searchlights.
[Mid-Boss: Nightscale Warden | Rank: E+]
Leo’s body trembled as he recalled the encounter. Three hours of evading. Three hours of near-death brushes. Three hours, and he had already coughed up blood thrice. The Punishment Protocol was relentless.
“I have to finish this... or I’m dead either way.”
Just as he braced himself, a deep screech echoed. The Warden turned.
BOOM!
The massive boulder Leo hid behind was suddenly ripped from the ground by a lash of the creature’s tail and flung aside like a toy. Dust and stone rained down as Leo was left exposed, blinking through the debris.
[Warning: You have been detected.]
“No shit!” Leo cursed and rolled sideways as the Warden lunged.
Its jaw snapped where Leo had been a heartbeat ago, digging into the earth instead.
Leo scrambled to his feet and sprinted, zig-zagging as the beast chased. The tunnel vibrated with the creature’s screeches.
[System Alert: Critical Health Threshold Approaching.]
[System Notice: Emergency Protocol Initiated. Temporary Skill Unlock: Shadow Blitz]
Suddenly, Leo's body felt a rush of dark energy. He blinked—and in an instant, the world around him blurred.
[Temporary Skill Acquired: Shadow Blitz - A high-speed dash technique allowing the user to move at near-invisible speed for 3 seconds. Cooldown: 1 minute.]
He vanished from the creature’s path and reappeared behind it.
“Whoa...”
The beast whipped around, confused. Leo didn’t hesitate.
With his light dagger glowing faintly, he ran toward the underbelly where the scales were weakest. The Warden struck down, and Leo Shadow Blitzed again, appearing directly beneath its core.
“Come on, come on...”
He thrust the dagger upwards, piercing the soft, pulsating flesh. The Warden let out a screech that shook the very tunnel.
Leo barely rolled away before its body slammed down.
[Critical Hit. Mid-Boss HP: 47%]
The battle raged on. Leo had to use every second of his temporary skill, each moment dancing between life and death. The Warden’s tail struck him once, sending him sprawling, ribs cracking. But he pushed on.
With a final Shadow Blitz, Leo landed atop the beast’s head and drove the light dagger down through its skull.
A shudder. A final screech.
Then stillness.
[Mid-Boss Eliminated.] [Reward: Venom Gland (E), Beast Core (D), Skill Scroll (Shadow Blitz - 50% Sync)]
Leo collapsed beside the corpse, panting, blood-soaked and bruised.
“Holy...shit...”
The system screen flickered before him.
[New Achievement Unlocked: "Survivor of the Abyss"] [Stat Points +5. Skill Retention Unlocked: Shadow Blitz - Permanently Acquired (Level 1)]
Leo laughed weakly, a delirious grin on his face.
“Guess I’m not completely useless after all..."
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