The passage was now almost collapsing on Fade. As they progressed, the inside of the cave had narrowed even more, and strange-colored mosses and bluish mushrooms had started to sprout from the damp stone walls. In some corners, small, sphere-shaped plants with a yellowish glow were hanging down; a vibration seemed to emanate from them as if they were breathing. Fade couldn't take his eyes off them.
"This place... feels like a living thing..." he murmured.
With every step, strange crackling sounds came from the stones beneath his feet. On the left side, in a hollowed-out section of the wall, a plant emitting a flickering purple light caught Fade's attention. For a moment, he thought about approaching and touching it, but a voice inside him told him not to.
And at that moment...
The bridge suddenly shook.
Fade involuntarily took a step back. The passage in front of him was no longer straight. There was a wide gap in front of him, and the ceiling height had multiplied.
And there he was, standing.
The Gatekeeper.
In the middle of a giant silhouette about three meters tall, there was an armor that seemed to be covered in tar. It had no face, or at least it seemed that way. There was only a pitch-black, foggy void... There was a spiny, bony structure extending from its back to the ground, and the ground trembled with each step. In his hand, he was carrying a mace that looked almost as tall as Fade, seemingly made of black steel.
Fade's eyes involuntarily called for the stat window. The system had recognized the monster. But...
**[GATEKEEPER(Weakened)]**
Type: Existence Guardian
Level: ???
Health: ???
Power: ???
Agility: ???
Zeka: ???
Feature: Limited Area Effect, Mental Pressure
Note: This entity is much stronger than you, so not all stats can be displayed.
"You're joking..." Fade gritted his teeth.
"I can't win this thing... but there's no turning back either."
The guard began to advance with a heavy grunt. He was dragging his mace on the ground, tearing up the floor as he approached. Fade took a few steps back, clenched his left hand. He drew the Old Rusty Sword from its sheath.
"I have to try..."
The first attack came from the Gatekeeper. The giant mace nearly fell on Fade. He jumped to the side with a split-second reflex. The moment the mace hit the ground, the earth split; stones shattered, and the mushrooms on the wall burst, scattering everywhere.
Fade seized an opportunity and glided next to the monster, slashing the joint of its leg with his rusty sword. There was no blood. He had only managed to leave a small cut mark.
Underground Guardian -15 Health
Fade's eyes widened in astonishment.
"I hit it!" This... works!
But this victory was short-lived. The guard suddenly turned around and caught Fade with his arm, throwing him. The young man crashed against the cave wall and fell to the ground. He felt like one of his ribs was cracked. Even breathing was painful.
While coughing, he looked at the sword on the ground. And…
System Notification:
"Blade Usage Detected – Basic Blade Mastery Skill Level: 1 gained."
"+Your Speed Stat Increased by 2 Points."
"I achieved this... thanks to this sword." I must continue...
Fade got up from the ground. With every step, his left side throbbed, but his eyes shone with determination. As the creature in front of her slowly approached, Fade whispered to herself:
"If I die here... I won't be able to change anything."
He went on the offensive. He was more agile. He was using the sword more accurately. The blows he delivered in quick succession were small but caused effective damage. The guard staggered for a moment. But then… he let out a deep scream that darkened the entire area. Fade's ears buzzed, his vision darkened.
At that moment… the sound came back.
But this time, he whispered not for everyone, but in a way that only Fade could hear:
"You found the weak spot... my touch is with you, deliver the final blow..."
Fade got up from the ground with his last strength. The Gatekeeper was now in front of him. He had slowed down. He had lost his balance. And the sword...
System Notification:
"Gatekeeper - Final Blow Detected - Death Protocol Activated."
Fade swung the sword forward with all his might. The light spread across the guard's body like a crack... and suddenly the body vanished. It fragmented into dark pixels.
System Notification:
"Gatekeeper(Weakened) Killed – +500 Experience Points"
Level Up: Level 2 → Level 3
Special Award: 'Shadow Contract' (Rare) obtained.
"Stat Points +6 / Skill Points +2"
Fade knelt on his knees. He was drenched in sweat. It was as if his heart couldn't fit in his chest.
"I... did it." Did I really do this?..
The dark passage was now open. A new path... but Fade was no longer the old Fade.
He was now someone who had broken the system's rules.
And the shadows had begun to whisper his name...
Fade, taking deep breaths on his knees in the dark corridor, the system window was still in front of his eyes. Stat points, level up, and most importantly… that mysterious "Shadow Contract" text.
Fade touched the texts that appeared on the window with his trembling hands.
**[Shadow Contract (Rare)]**
Explanation: This contract is the first step in making a pact with the dark. It is only offered to those who challenge the system's rules. When used, it temporarily calls upon the power of shadows, increasing defense and attack speed by 30%. Duration of use: 30 seconds. Reuse: 1 hour.
Note: Not all the secrets of the contract are revealed immediately...
Fade wiped the sweat from his forehead. There was an indescribable feeling inside him. It was as if a door had opened, and shadows were looking at him through that door.
"This... could be my first real power." But... what if these shadows want something from me?..." he thought.
He remained silent for a while. Then he came to his senses. He immediately opened the stadium window.
[STAT WINDOW]
Level: 3
Experience: 0 / 600
Health: 100 (+10)
Strength: 12
Agility: 10 (+2)
Intelligence: 8
Defense: 6
Skill Score: 2
Stat Score: 6
Fade, lost in thought:
"Should I distribute the stats right away?" Should I distribute the stats right away? .. Maybe if I increase my agility, I can escape from those creatures more easily... Maybe if I increase my agility, I can escape from those creatures more easily... but strength is also needed...
He hesitated for a moment but then trusted himself.
He distributed +3 Agility and +3 Strength points.
He could now feel his body becoming lighter and the flexibility in his muscles improving.
Fade stood up. The cave's narrow passages had slowly begun to widen, and a flickering light had appeared ahead. But this light was unlike the previous ones. It was as if it was calling to him.
"Is this... a door to another region?" .."
Fade headed there with heavy steps. At that moment, the system sent another notification:
System Notification:
"Sword Mastery Skill Level: 1 → 2 increased."
"New Skill: [Quick Strike] added."
**[Quick Strike]**
In a short time, it deals a total of 150% damage to the enemy with 3 consecutive hits. Cooldown: 2 minutes.
Fade's eyes sparkled. He gripped the rusty sword tightly in his hand.
"This... this is real power." "Now, I will fight not just to survive, but to win."
He quickened his steps. He stopped in front of the light seeping through the passage. But just as he was about to step inside, the sound of a small stone falling from the cave's ceiling interrupted. Instantly, the shadows around him stirred. Fade's eyes widened.
And... the mysterious voice whispered once more:
"Go ahead..." but remember... every power comes at a cost.
Fade's hand trembled, but there was determination in his eyes.
"Price to pay?" No matter what... I will walk this path!
And Fade stepped into the next region.