Kael stood in front of the massive, towering doors that marked the entrance to Floor 70. His body was bruised and battered, his breath ragged from the previous battles. The dungeon had tested him to his limits—every floor had been a grueling challenge, but this was a turning point. He could feel it in his bones. Every cell of his being was alive with power, and he knew the trials were about to get even worse.
Ding!
[System Update]
Floor 70: The Storm of Trials.
Objective: Survive the Trials.
Reward: Unknown.
Failure = Erasure.
Kael took a deep breath and pushed the doors open.
The air inside was thick with an electric hum. Floor 70 was unlike anything he had faced before. The atmosphere itself seemed to pulse with energy, and the air crackled with static. The walls were lined with glowing runes, their patterns shifting and changing like an intricate, living puzzle.
And then, the enemies appeared.
Massive, towering golems of stone and energy charged at him. Their massive fists crashed down with unrelenting force, sending tremors through the ground. Kael barely had time to react, but his instincts took over. Battle Instinct kicked in, and he sidestepped the first blow, rolling out of the way just as the golem's fist collided with the stone floor.
Kael's body blurred as he activated Echo Step, disappearing from the golem's sight for just a second. He reappeared behind it, his Riftblade already in motion. The blade cut through the golem's stone exterior like butter, but the golem didn't stop. It turned, swinging its other fist at Kael. He jumped backward, narrowly avoiding the crushing blow.
"You want to play rough?" Kael muttered, feeling his confidence grow. He had faced harder opponents, but this was the first time he felt like he could truly dominate the battlefield.
He activated Rift Storm, summoning a swirl of energy that lashed out in every direction, striking the golem and tearing through its rocky exterior. The golem staggered, its body beginning to crack under the force of Kael's attacks. With one final Dimensional Strike, Kael drove the Riftblade through the golem's chest, shattering it into a pile of rubble.
Ding!
[Battle Commenced: Floor 70]
[Trial Completed. Reward: 1000 XP. Level Up.]
Kael's breath hitched as a massive surge of energy flooded through him. Level 81.
He staggered back, feeling the power flood his body. It was like an electrical storm surging through his veins. His stats skyrocketed in an instant.
[Status Report]
Name: Kael Drayven
Class: Gatekeeper
Level: 81
XP: 0/200
HP: 520/520
MP: 900/900
Strength: 250
Dexterity: 235
Constitution: 240
Intelligence: 150
Wisdom: 140
Charisma: 80
Skills:
Riftblade Mastery (Level 7)Shadow Fusion (Level 6)Echo Step (Level 5)Dimensional Strike (Level 2)Rift Storm (Level 2)Battle Instinct (Level 4)
Kael's eyes widened as he looked at his stats. Level 81. His growth had been exponential—each trial, each battle had propelled him forward at a pace he hadn't expected. His strength had nearly doubled in mere days, and his other attributes were following close behind.
The Riftblade Mastery skill had leveled up, making him even deadlier with his weapon. Shadow Fusion allowed him to blend with shadows for longer durations. Dimensional Strike had become more powerful, and his Rift Storm was a new, devastating skill that would make any group of enemies think twice before engaging him.
But there was no time to dwell on his progress. Floor 70 was only the beginning.
He moved quickly, powering through the floor's challenges. Golems, enchanted beasts, and complex magical traps tested his abilities, but he was no longer just a survivor—he was a force of nature.
By the time Kael reached the 80th floor, he had encountered powerful warriors with abilities far beyond anything he'd seen before. These foes were quicker, smarter, and more dangerous. But with each battle, Kael adapted, his body becoming a finely tuned weapon. The dungeon's enemies seemed to be growing in number and strength, but Kael was now able to hold his ground with ease.
As Kael approached the entrance to Floor 99, he was ready for the final challenge before the true heart of the dungeon. He could feel the weight of the trials ahead, but there was a fire inside him now—an unstoppable will to succeed.
The dungeon had tested him. Pushed him beyond his limits. But Kael wasn't just a survivor anymore. He was Gatekeeper. And the world would soon know his name.
End of Chapter 6.