The D-rank dungeon, Depths of Dusk, yawned beneath Eldrin's western fringe—a labyrinth of twilight stone and shimmering mist, its name whispered in awe among players vying for glory. Beelzebub strode in, Wraithfang Scythe gleaming on his back, Steel Sword at his hip, aura a twenty-meter shroud of icy dominance rippling with Devourer's might. Level 21, 3975 EXP, stats a colossus—Strength at 959, Speed at 820, Luck and Charisma at 130. The HUD flared: "Clear the D-Rank Dungeon: Depths of Dusk. Slay the Dusk Sovereign. Reward: 300 EXP, 120 Copper, Achievement."
Ryn shadowed him, her dagger a silent gleam, trust at 40%. "D-rank's a leap," she murmured, eyes tracing the mist. "You're reckless."
He smirked, flirty yet sharp. "Reckless wins, Blade. Stay sharp." Her lips twitched—intrigue laced with her cursed past.
The labyrinth twisted, walls carved with runes older than Eldrin—tales of the Abyssborn, a force the gods chained in shadow, its whispers stirring the Realms. Shadows lunged: Dusk Sentinels, Level 20, armored wraiths with glowing spears, twelve of them. Beelzebub's aura erupted—stone cracking—as he swung the Wraithfang Scythe, Speed at 840 (boosted by gear) slicing through the first. Mana pulsed along the blade, mist coiling—Wraith Slash (Mastery to 2/10) carved a second, spear clattering.
They retaliated—spears thrusting in unison. He danced through, Phantom Step (10/10) flickering him between strikes, then spun—Storm Call (Mastery to 6/10) summoning lightning that chained through four, armor sizzling. A spear grazed his chest—HP dipping 10%, Paladin's Crest ticking it back. Horned Frenzy flared, Speed spiking to 1260—Wraithfang whirled, Inferno Burst (Mastery to 3/10) igniting three in a fiery blast, Emberheart fueling the roar. The last lunged—Void Grasp (Mastery to 5/10) pinned it, Strength at 959 snapping its neck. Twelve down, the cavern shuddering.
"Ding! 12 Dusk Sentinels defeated. Absorbed: Strength +60, Speed +48, Defense +36, Mana +72, Luck +12, Charisma +12."
Strength: 1019 Speed: 868 Defense: 731 Mana: 1074
The Dusk Sovereign loomed at the labyrinth's heart—a Level 28 titan of shadow and twilight, its massive glaive shimmering with dusklight, eyes burning like dying stars. "You tread the Abyssborn's path," it intoned, voice a rumble through the stone. Beelzebub grinned, aura surging—walls groaning—as he charged, Wraithfang Scythe raised.
The Sovereign swung—glaive arcing in a wave of dusk. He leaped, Phantom Step flickering him mid-air, then countered with Radiant Strike (Mastery to 4/10)—holy light clashing with shadow, sparks flying. The glaive spun back—slamming his side, HP dropping 22%. He laughed, aura pulsing, Mana Surge spiking Mana to 1611. Arcane Breath (Mastery to 9/10) roared—mana fire searing its chest, Titanborn shrugging off the heat.
It thrust—dusklight piercing stone. Dark Aegis (Mastery to 6/10) rose, cracking under the blow—HP dipping 15%. Beelzebub darted, Shadow Bind (Mastery to 5/10) locking its arm—glaive faltered. He closed in, Wraith Slash slashing its flank—mana cutting deep, mist swirling. The Sovereign roared—shadow wave erupting, throwing him back—HP falling 18%. He rolled, Speed at 868 weaving through debris, then Horned Frenzy flared—Speed at 1302—Wraithfang a blur, Inferno Burst exploding across its legs.
The glaive slashed—Void Grasp countered (Mastery to 6/10), tendrils snapping its wrist. Beelzebub leaped, Strength at 1019 driving the scythe through its chest—dusklight flared, HP dropping 20%. He snarled, Storm Call crashing lightning down—stone shattered, the Sovereign crumbling into twilight ash.
"Ding! Dusk Sovereign defeated. Absorbed: Strength +100, Speed +90, Defense +80, Mana +120, Luck +5, Charisma +5, Bloodline: Duskborn (Darkvision +10%), Talent: Twilight Veil (Boost stealth in low light), Dusk Cleave (Skill). Loot: Duskreaver Glaive (D-tier, Glaive, +30 Strength, +15% Crit Chance), Copper x700."
Strength: 1119 Speed: 958 Defense: 811 Mana: 1194 Luck: 135 Charisma: 135 Skills: Dusk Cleave (Shadow-charged slash, Mastery: 1/10)
"Ding! Quest Complete. Reward: 300 EXP, 120 Copper, Achievement: D-Rank Vanguard – First to clear a D-tier dungeon. Reward: 200 EXP, Title: Twilight Warden (+5% Defense)."
"Ding! Level Up! Reached Level 22. EXP: 4495/3500."
The voices howled—Echo… fire… dusk… who?—Wraith's wail, Titan's flame, Sovereign's shadow. His skull split—Duskborn's sight sharpening, Twilight Veil cloaking his breath. He staggered, aura flaring—stone dust swirling. "I'm Beelzebub," he growled, shoving it down, but Gluttony's strain pulsed—bloodlines and talents weaving into him, identity fraying. His smirk returned, colder, a mask cracking.
In the starwoven tapestry above, the Goddess of Fate's fingers paused—Beelzebub's thread twisted, dark and jagged, slipping her weave. "He bends fate," she whispered, golden eyes cold. The Abyssborn's whispers grew—the gods' chains rattled.
Eldrin's square thrummed—players crowding the leaderboard: "1. Beelzebub (Lv. 22), 2. Kael (Lv. 19), 3. Mira (Lv. 17), 4. Lia (Lv. 16), 5–10 TBD." Beelzebub emerged, Duskreaver Glaive in hand—D-tier, its shadow hum a thrill. Elara waited, trust at 5%, eyes hollow. "You're… dusk now," she whispered.
He leaned close, Charisma at 135 weaving menace into charm. "Dusk swallows light, priestess." She fled, trust at 2%.
Lia and Mira approached—Level 16 and 17. "Level 22? D-rank first?" Lia gasped, ambition burning. "C-rank next—help us?"
Mira smirked. "We'll claim it too."
He winked, flirty yet sharp. "Earn it. I don't drag." Their resolve flared.
Kael stormed up, Level 19, fury etched. "Dungeon king?" he spat. Beelzebub's aura splintered stone. "Trash chases. I'll bury you." Kael backed off, dread beneath rage.
The Mage Guild summoned—trust at 65%, tense. A tome glowed: "The Abyssborn's chains weaken—gods falter as it stirs." Ryn stepped closer, trust at 40%. "C-rank?"
"C-rank," he agreed, flirty and cold. "Stay close, Blade."
Tracker Level: 22 (EXP: 4495/3500)
Stats: Strength: 1119 | Speed: 958 | Defense: 811 | Mana: 1194 | Luck: 135 | Charisma: 135
Actual Combat Strength: Equivalent to Level 45; can fight up to Level 50 solo
Talents: Gluttony (Error), Emberheart (Boost fire-based skills), Echo Pulse (Enhance sound-based skills), Twilight Veil (Boost stealth in low light)
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 (10/10), Mana Surge (1/10), Arcane Breath (9/10), Storm Call (6/10), Shadow Bind (5/10), Dark Aegis (6/10), Void Grasp (6/10), Radiant Strike (4/10), Inferno Burst (3/10), Wraith Slash (2/10), Dusk Cleave (1/10)
Profession: Devourer – Gluttony absorption +50%, Devourer's Mark (Aura potency x2)
Bloodlines: Human, Titanborn (Fire Resistance +10%), Wraithkin (Stealth +5%), Duskborn (Darkvision +10%)
Blessings: Minor Life (+5% HP regen, 1/10), Minor Magic (+5% Mana Regen, 1/10)
Equipment: Duskreaver Glaive (D-tier, Glaive, +30 Strength, +15% Crit Chance)
Wraithfang Scythe (F-tier, Scythe, +20 Speed, +10% Mana Regen)
Steel Sword (F-tier, Sword, No attributes)
Warden's Gauntlets (F-tier, Armor, +20 Defense, +5% Mana Regen)
Titan Core (F-tier, Accessory, +25 Mana, +10% Fire Resistance)
Void Shard x2 (F-tier, Accessory, +15 Mana, +5% Mana Regen each)
Paladin's Crest (F-tier, Accessory, +10 Defense, +5% HP Regen)
Stalker's Cloak (F-tier, Armor, +10 Speed, +5% Stealth)
Harem: No bonds yet (Twins Lia and Mira intrigued, Priestess Elara at 2% trust, Assassin Ryn at 40% trust, Magic Priestess at 0% trust)
Recent Gains: Strength +160, Speed +138, Defense +116, Mana +192, Luck +17, Charisma +17, 1 Bloodline, 1 Talent, 1 Skill
Loot Drops: Duskreaver Glaive, Copper x820 (total: 8330), Health Potion x1
Titles: Ashen Conqueror (+5% Fire Resistance), Echo Breaker (+5% Mana), Twilight Warden (+5% Defense)