The Ruined Temple loomed east of Eldrin—cracked stone draped in vines, air thick with decay and faint echoes of forgotten prayers. Beelzebub stood at its threshold, Steel Sword gleaming, aura a twenty-meter tide of cold dominance, doubled by his Devourer profession. Level 16, 2225 EXP, stats a fortress—Strength at 539, Speed at 460, Luck and Charisma at 105. The Corrupted Paladin waited within—Level 20, rusted armor glowing with dark light, a massive sword raised. Its voice rasped, hollow: "You seek freedom… but you chain yourself."
"Bow or break," Beelzebub growled, King's Roar thundering (Mastery to 10/10—maxed). The Paladin staggered, then charged—sword slashing with necrotic force. He flickered with Phantom Step (Mastery to 6/10), teleporting aside, then struck with Razor Rush, Speed at 460 carving its armor. Metal screeched, but dark light lashed back—HP dropping 15%, Minor Life and Magic ticking it up slowly.
The voices roared—Shadow… storm… duty… who?—Stalker's hunt, Wyrm's thunder, now Paladin's resolve bleeding in. His head split, memories clashing: crypto screens, his old smirk, drowned in duty's weight. "I'm me!" he snarled, aura shattering a pillar—a flex against the chaos within. Mana Surge flared, Mana spiking to 648 for thirty seconds. Storm Call summoned lightning—crashing into the Paladin, Mastery to 2/10.
It swung—dark wave rippling. Bone Ward rose (Mastery to 7/10), cracking under the blow—HP dipping 10%. Horned Frenzy pushed Speed to 690 briefly—Arcane Breath seared its chest (Mastery to 4/10), Shadow Bind locking its arm (Mastery to 2/10). The Paladin broke free, sword slashing—Defense at 360 tanked it, HP dropping 7%. He grinned, cold and cruel, then Phantom Step flickered him behind—Strength at 539 driving the Steel Sword through its back. Dark light flared—HP fell 12%—but the Paladin collapsed, rust and ash scattering.
"Ding! Corrupted Paladin defeated. Absorbed: Strength +60, Speed +50, Defense +45, Mana +70, Luck +5, Charisma +5, Dark Aegis (Skill). Loot: Paladin's Crest x1, Copper x500."
Strength: 599 Speed: 510 Defense: 405 Mana: 502 Luck: 110 Charisma: 110 Skills: Dark Aegis (Summon dark shield, Mastery: 1/10)
"Ding! Quest Complete. Reward: 250 EXP, 100 Copper, Favor (Mage Guild Trust +5%)."
"Ding! Level Up! Reached Level 17. EXP: 2475/2250."
The voices screamed—Honor… chains… who am I?—Paladin's duty now, heavy and unyielding. His skull split, a cacophony of wills—Ghoul's hunger, Wyrm's storm, Paladin's oath. He staggered, aura flaring wildly—crushing stone to dust. "I'm Beelzebub!" he roared, shoving it down. The strain pulsed—Gluttony devouring too much, identity a fraying thread. His smirk returned, colder, a mask over the fracture.
POV Shift: Ryn, the Assassin
Ryn watched from the temple's shadows, cloak blending with decay. Beelzebub's aura was a void—Level 17, a force unraveling. Her trust hit 32%, her past as a cursed player binding her to him. "He's fracturing," she whispered, dagger glinting. "But he's still him." His power mirrored her lost self—salvation or a shared fall, she'd see it through.
Beelzebub emerged, aura a storm, Paladin's Crest—+10 Defense, +5% HP Regen—clutched like a prize. Eldrin's square hushed—players gaping, NPCs shrinking. Elara approached, trust at 18%, eyes flickering with dread. "You're… losing something," she said, voice soft but firm.
He leaned close, Charisma at 110 weaving charm into menace. "I'm gaining, priestess. Your goddess can't stop me." She stepped back, trust dropping to 15%—fear solidifying.
The twins rushed up—Lia at Level 12, Mira at 13, both honed now. "Level 17?" Lia breathed, ambition alight. "Help us—a dungeon run, please?"
Mira scowled. "We'll surpass you soon."
He winked, flirty yet sharp. "Earn it, ladies. I don't lift ants." Lia's resolve burned; Mira's rivalry flared.
Kael stormed in, Level 15, Warrior's armor battered. "Paladin-slayer?" he spat. Beelzebub's aura splintered a stall. "Trash barks loud. I'll bury you next." Kael retreated, rage masking terror.
The Mage Guild summoned—trust at 40% now, tense. The priestess, eyes wary, offered a scroll: "Lore: Gods chained a force beneath the Realms. Free it, and they fall." "Your goddess too?" he teased, flirty and cold. Her trust fell to 6%—dread overtaking.
POV Shift: Beelzebub's Mind
The voices clawed—Chains… honor… who?—Paladin's oath, Stalker's hunt, more bleeding in. His head split, a memory flashing: his old life, a laugh, now buried in duty's weight. "I'm Beelzebub," he growled, aura flaring in the guild—cracking crystal. Was he? Gluttony's cost gnawed—identity a tangle of stolen wills. He smirked through it, pride a shield. "I'll break the chains—then I'll know me."
A new quest pinged: "Face the Abyss. Slay the Void Spawn in the Abyssal Rift. Reward: 300 EXP, 120 Copper, Favor." He headed south—Ryn shadowing him. "Still here, Blade?" he called, flirty edge sharp.
"Bound," she replied, trust ticking to 35%. "You're… something else."
"Stay close," he teased. "You'll see the abyss with me."
The Abyssal Rift yawned—darkness pulsing, air thick with void. The Void Spawn loomed—Level 22, a mass of writhing tendrils, eyes glowing with nothingness. Beelzebub grinned, aura a storm. "Bow or break."
Tracker
Level: 17 (EXP: 2475/2250)
Stats: Strength: 599 | Speed: 510 | Defense: 415 | Mana: 502 | Luck: 110 | Charisma: 110
Talents: Gluttony (Error) – No stat gains from leveling; absorbs all attributes, skills, bloodlines, blessings from defeated beings; duplicates enhance mastery
Powers/Skills: Horned Dash (5/10), King's Roar (10/10), Horned Frenzy (1/10), Basic Slash (10/10), Razor Rush (1/10), Shadow Cloak (2/10), Bone Ward (7/10), Necrotic Pulse (7/10), Phantom Step (6/10), Mana Surge (1/10), Arcane Breath (4/10), Storm Call (2/10), Shadow Bind (2/10), Dark Aegis (1/10)
Profession: Devourer – Gluttony absorption +50%, Devourer's Mark (Aura potency x2)
Bloodlines: Human
Blessings: Minor Life (+5% HP regen, 1/10), Minor Magic (+5% Mana Regen, 1/10)
Harem: No bonds yet (Twins Lia and Mira intrigued, Priestess Elara at 15% trust, Assassin Ryn at 35% trust, Magic Priestess at 6% trust)
Recent Gains: Strength +60, Speed +50, Defense +45, Mana +70, Luck +5, Charisma +5, 1 Skill
Loot Drops: Paladin's Crest (+10 Defense, +5% HP Regen), Copper x600 (total: 5010), Health Potion x1