The dungeon air grew stronger. His boots splashed through pools of monsters' blood, his sword dripping crimson. Yet his eyes remained sharp, filled with revenge.
He had killed thousands of monsters. Each slash, each burst of magic carved him closer to the bottom. His level soared, his skills multiplied, and yet his heart hammered with one thought:
"I need to stop them… before the raid destroys the kingdom."
— POV: King's Castle —
The next morning, as the sun barely peeked over the horizon, the watchtowers rang alarm bells. Monsters were coming to the capital.
"Aaa...Monsters! They're coming toward us!" shouted a guard, his voice trembling.
The King rushed to the balcony, his eyes widened. From every direction, like waves crashing against a shore, monsters poured in. Tens of thousands, claws gleaming, eyes glowing with malice.
"...Ten thousands, maybe more…" one general muttered, sweat dripping from his temple.
The King slammed his fist on the railing. "Renji was right. They wanted us distracted in the dungeon!"
Soldiers tightened their grips on spears and swords. Archers nocked arrows. Mages raised staffs, forming defensive circles around the walls.
The princesses, pale-faced, ran into the throne room.
"Father! Where's Renji?!""Isn't he coming back yet?" cried the younger princess, her eyes brimming with fear.
The King's gaze darkened. "...He han't coming bacl yet..."
Their hearts sank.
"He hasn't coming back?!"
"He is always doing something without thinking.."
"But for now all we can do is protecting our capital." the King roared, though his voice cracked with guilt. "Our duty is to protect this capital until we die."
— POV: Renji, at 100th Floor —
Renji stepped into the final floor. His breath caught. The ceiling changed into darkness, glowing veins of crimson mana pulsing along the walls. At the center, etched into the stone, was a massive summoning magic circle, writhing with ominous energy.
And standing beside it, dressed black, was the mysterious man.
"...So we meet again,Hero!" the man's voice echoed, cold and mocking.
Renji's held his blade tightened. "As I expected! You're the one behind this. The monster waves, the summoning circles, all of it."
The man chuckled, his hood shadowing his face. "Oh, how clever of you to reach me. But you're too late. The monsters are already going to the capital."
Renji's eyes burned with fury. "Then I'll kill you before they reached the capital—"
Before he could finish, the man rushed forward, his black blade slashing with frightening speed.
CLANG! Sparks erupted as Renji blocked with his sword. The impact rattled his arm.
"Fast…!" Renji gritted his teeth, pushing back and countering with a flaming slash. The black-robed man twisted aside, shadows swirling around him.
Magic surged. Renji's hands flew in a blur of seals—"Lightning Spear!" Bolts of thunder cracked toward the man, but he simply raised a hand. A barrier of darkness absorbed the attack like smoke vanishing in the wind.
"Pathetic."
Renji narrowed his eyes. He's stronger than before.
The man's cloak billowed as he raised both arms. "Rise, my servants."
The summoning circle flared, and grotesque creatures clawed their way out—demons with twisted horns, skeletal knights, and beasts with eyes glowing red.
"Again with the monster spam?!" Renji spat, but planted his feet. "Fine. Then I'll slaughter them all!"
He charged forward, his sword cleaving through the first wave. Limbs flew. Heads rolled.
"Firestorm!" Dozens of fireballs exploded, scattering the horde.
"Frost Bind!" Ice spears impaled demons, freezing their legs.
But even as he cut them down, the black-robed man attacked from the shadows, sending blades of darkness slashing at Renji's sides. He parried, spun, countered—sweat dripped down his forehead.
Damn… if this keeps up, I'll run out of mana before him.
Then—
[Level Up!]
[New Skill Unlocked: Multi Casting]
Renji's eyes widened and surprised. A grin cracked his lips.
"Multi-Circle Casting… huh? Perfect timing."
He raised his hand. Mana surged like a storm behind him. Suddenly, dozens of glowing circles bloomed in the air, each humming with power.
"Let's see you block THIS!"
From the circles, hundreds of fireballs launched in a storm, raining down upon the black-robed man and his summoned monsters. Explosions lit the chamber like a second sun. The ground quaked.
"GRAAAHHH!!" The man roared, his barrier cracking under the relentless bombardment. The summoning circle start disappearing, its light flickering out.
Renji got an idea at the moment. He blurred forward, sword blazing with holy flame.
"This is the end!"
He slashed. The man twisted, barely dodging.
But Renji was ready. With a roar, he summoned four circles—north, south, east, west—encircling the man.
"Quadra Burst!"
Blinding beams erupted from all four directions, colliding into the man and no way to escape. His scream echoed as the blast consumed him, his body tearing apart under the combined force.
When the light faded,only the dead body of him left, his blade lying beside him.
[Skill Acquired: Darkness]
Renji stared at the notification. "Darkness…?"
He scanned the description. A power that thrived in shadow, doubling his speed, strength, reflexes, and defense in the night. His heart pounded.
"...An OP skill like this… this is what he was using against me."
Renji sheathed his sword, breathing hard. His body ached, but his will remained unbroken. He turned toward the stairway upward.
"...Time to head back. The kingdom still needs me."
— POV: King's Castle —
The horns wailed louder. The monster army was nearly at the gates.
"Archers, attack!!"
"Don't let them come closer!!"
Thousands of arrows rained, piercing the front lines. Explosions from mages shook the battlefield, but still the wave were still coming endless.
"Hold the line!" the general bellowed, his voice straining.
The princesses clutched each other, watching from the walls.
"Renji… please… hurry back…"
And as the ground trembled beneath the kingdom, as the army of monsters closed in, the hope of all still rested on one boy fighting his way back from the depths of hell.