The ancient ruins of Thal'Zir were eerily silent, save for the occasional gust of wind that carried whispers of long-forgotten spirits. Leon walked cautiously through the decayed remnants of a once-grand fortress, his sharp gaze scanning for any sign of movement.
His breath was steady, controlled. He had fought countless battles, faced creatures beyond mortal comprehension, yet something about these ruins unsettled him.
Nyx slithered beside him in its shadowy form, moving seamlessly between the cracks of broken walls. Umbra, ever the silent predator, had long since faded into the darkness, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
The air felt heavier the deeper he ventured. A thick mist coiled around his ankles, glowing faintly with an unnatural blue hue.
Then, a chilling rattle echoed through the ruins.
Leon halted. His grip on his sword tightened as he activated Hunter's Instinct. A ripple of awareness flooded his mind, warning him of an imminent presence.
And then, it appeared.
A massive figure, clad in ancient, spectral armor, floated before him. It wielded a jagged, rusted greatsword, its surface wreathed in pale blue fire.
[Wraithlord of Thal'Zir (Divine Grade) - Level 260]
The wraith's hollow eyes locked onto Leon. A deep, guttural voice echoed through the ruins.
"Mortal… your soul… shall feed me."
A gust of spectral energy erupted from the Wraithlord, shaking the very foundations of the ruins. The battle had begun.
---
Ethan's Perspective – The Tower of Trials
Far from Thal'Zir, in a desolate valley filled with colossal stone pillars, Ethan stood before a monolithic structure—the Tower of Trials.
Sweat dripped down his face as he dodged a massive stone fist, barely escaping the crushing force. He rolled across the dusty ground and sprang to his feet, gripping his spear tightly.
His opponent, a Guardian Construct (Mythic Grade, Level 170), loomed over him, its obsidian body etched with glowing runes. It had been relentless, adapting to his every move.
I'm running out of stamina… Ethan thought, breathing heavily. He had been fighting for over an hour, pushing himself beyond his limits.
The Guardian didn't allow him a moment's rest. It raised its colossal fist, preparing to strike.
Ethan's mind raced. I need to end this now.
Then, he saw it—a brief flicker in its movements. A pattern.
As the fist descended, Ethan sidestepped at the last second, spinning his spear with lightning speed. His blade found an opening between the construct's plates and struck deep.
CRACK!
A shockwave burst from the point of impact as the Guardian staggered, blue energy leaking from the wound.
[Critical Hit!]
[Guardian Construct's Core Integrity: 20% remaining.]
Ethan's eyes gleamed. This is my chance.
With a powerful leap, he propelled himself toward the Guardian's chest, driving his spear straight into its core.
The construct let out a mechanical roar before its body shattered into countless fragments, dissolving into light.
[You have gained 7,500,000 EXP.]
[You have gained Ancient Titan's Core (Mythic Grade).]
[You have leveled up!]
Level 148 → Level 152.
Ethan landed gracefully, exhaling sharply. That was close.
But as he turned toward the next chamber, a chill ran down his spine.
Something… was waiting for him beyond that door.
And he had the feeling this trial was far from over.
---
Leon vs. Wraithlord – The Clash of Blades
Back in Thal'Zir, the Wraithlord lunged at Leon with impossible speed, its greatsword cleaving through the air.
Leon twisted his body, dodging by a hair's breadth as the spectral flames singed his armor.
He countered immediately. With a quick step forward, he swung his blade, aiming for the wraith's exposed flank.
But his sword passed right through it.
The Wraithlord chuckled, its voice a haunting echo. "Foolish."
A dozen ghostly chains erupted from its body, lashing out at Leon like vipers.
Leon reacted on instinct, activating Phantom Step, his body flickering out of existence for a fraction of a second. The chains passed harmlessly through where he had stood.
Reappearing a few meters away, he cursed under his breath. Physical attacks won't work? Then let's try something else.
He raised his free hand, channeling dark energy.
"Nyx, now!"
From the shadows, Nyx materialized, its body pulsing with darkness. It let out a low hiss, launching a surge of shadow magic at the Wraithlord.
The attack struck true. The wraith shrieked, its form wavering as tendrils of darkness seeped into its body.
[Weakness Exploited! Wraithlord is vulnerable to Dark Affinity attacks.]
Leon smirked. That's it.
"Umbra, finish it."
A pair of glowing, phantom-like eyes opened behind the Wraithlord as Umbra emerged from its shadow, its claws gleaming with soul-consuming energy.
With a silent slash, Umbra's claws ripped into the Wraithlord's very essence.
The Wraithlord screamed, its form unraveling. Leon wasted no time—he charged forward and drove his blade straight through its core.
The ruins trembled. The wraith let out a final, ear-piercing cry before shattering into fragments of spectral light.
[You have gained 15,000,000 EXP.]
[You have gained Soulbound Wraith Core (Divine Grade).]
[You have leveled up!]
Level 201 → Level 204.
Leon lowered his sword, exhaling sharply. That was tougher than I expected.
But as he looked at the Soulbound Wraith Core in his hand, he knew…
This was only the beginning.
--