Floor ??? - Labyrinth Of The Deathly Embrace
The air was thick with an oppressive silence that seemed to pulse with malice. Adonis stood motionless before his crimson interface that flickered before him, the words hovered in the air like a taunting specter:
"Do you want to absorb 'The Crown of Tyranny'?"
Beneath the question, two options pulsed faintly: Accept or Decline.
Adonis's jaw tightened, his sharp eyes narrowing. He had come too far to hesitate now. Power always came with a price, and he had long since steeled himself for the risk of losing who he was to gain what he needed. With a resolute thought, he selected Accept.
The interface flared to life.
"Initializing..."
"Absorbing Item..."
Adonis closed his eyes as a torrent of energy surged through him, like molten fire coursing through his veins. His muscles tensed, his breath hitched, and a primal roar of power echoed in his mind. It was exhilarating—his body thrummed with newfound strength, as if he could shatter the labyrinth's walls with a single blow.
Nearby, Dennis stood rigid, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword. His sharp eyes tracked every subtle shift in Adonis's form, searching for signs of corruption. The air around Adonis grew heavy, saturated with an unsettling energy that mirrored the halo's malevolent aura. Dennis's fingers twitched, ready to draw his blade and strike if the power consumed him.
Minutes passed, each one stretching into eternity. The half-halo above Adonis's head began to dissolve, its fragments fading into wisps of dark mist. The oppressive energy receded, and Adonis's body stilled. Slowly, he opened his eyes, his crimson gaze locking onto Dennis with an unnerving, expressionless stare.
Dennis's heart pounded. He shifted into a battle stance, his voice trembling but firm. "H-Hey, Adonis… are you okay? Are you still you?"
For a moment, silence hung between them, thick and suffocating. Then, Adonis's stoic facade cracked. A grin spread across his face, and he burst into laughter. "You should've seen your face, Dennis! Priceless!"
Dennis's expression darkened, his fear morphing into irritation. He stepped forward and rapped his knuckles hard against Adonis's head. "You idiot! You almost gave me a heart attack!"
Adonis winced, rubbing the spot where Dennis had struck him. "Ow! Sorry, sorry," he said, still chuckling. "Couldn't resist."
Dennis sighed, sheathing his sword. "So? Feel anything… weird? You know, after absorbing that thing?"
Adonis clenched his fist, testing the newfound power coursing through him. "I don't know how to describe it, but I'm definitely stronger. Like, a lot stronger."
Dennis raised an eyebrow. "Strong enough to take on whatever's waiting for us?"
Adonis's grin turned sharp, predatory. "Instead of waiting for them to come to us, we'll go to them."
Dennis nodded, but his expression grew serious. "Fine. But we rest first. We'll need every ounce of strength for what's ahead."
Hours later, while Dennis slept soundly on the cold hard floor, Adonis sat cross-legged, his crimson interface glowing before him. New messages scrolled across the screen, each one sending a thrill of excitement through him:
"You have gained a new skill: Energy Manipulation (A)"
"You have gained a new skill: King's Domain (S)"
"You have gained a new skill: Telekinesis (A)"
"Energy Manipulation (A) has merged with Fire Manipulation (A) to become Fire Manipulation (S)"
Adonis's lips curved into a satisfied smile as he opened his stats:
Name: Adonis @#!@#
Level: 25
Physique: (Locked)
Stats:
Strength: 135
Agility: 100
Endurance: 140
Intelligence: 95
Luck: 35
Durability: 142
Stamina: 138
Skills: Fire Manipulation (S), Teleport (B), Appraiser Eye (B), Regeneration (D), Poison Immunity (C), Telekinesis (A), King's Domain (S)
Stat Points: 5
Tower Points: 2,250
Adonis leaned back, his mind racing. With these abilities, they might actually have a chance. His newfound power felt like a blazing inferno within him, ready to be unleashed.
But then, without warning, the crimson interface glitched. The red glow warped into a sickly purple, and a new message appeared, cold and ominous:
"??? Is interfering"
Adonis's blood ran cold. Before he could react, more messages flooded the screen, each one a dagger to his heart:
"Fire Manipulation (S) has been downgraded to Fire Manipulation (C)"
"King's Domain (S) has been erased"
"Telekinesis (A) has been erased"
"Your stats will be lowered"
Adonis's breath caught in his throat. "No… no, this can't be happening…"
The interface glitched again, and a final series of messages appeared, each one dripping with sadistic glee:
"Struggle more, Adonis."
"Struggle and despair for my amusement."
"Let your pain be my pleasure."
The purple glow faded, and the crimson interface returned, displaying his new, diminished stats:
Name: Adonis @#!@#
Level: 25
Physique: (Locked)
Stats:
Strength: 65
Agility: 52
Endurance: 55
Intelligence: 95
Luck: 0
Durability: 44
Stamina: 50
Skills: Fire Manipulation (C), Teleport (B), Appraiser Eye (B), Regeneration (D), Poison Immunity (C)
Stat Points: 5
Tower Points: 2,250
Silence enveloped the chamber. Adonis stared at the screen, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. His crimson eyes blazed with fury, the glow intensifying as rage boiled within him. Whoever—or whatever—was behind this interference was toying with him, stripping away his power for their own twisted amusement.
He gritted his teeth, his voice a low growl. "You want me to struggle? Fine. I'll give you a show you'll never forget."