The damp air reeked of decay and old blood. Kael's lungs burned with every shallow breath, but his grip on the rusted dagger never wavered. The faint pulse of the Ascension Code throbbed in his vision, a steady heartbeat beneath the chaos.
Lira's words echoed in his mind — You'll need allies if you want to survive.
But survival was only the beginning.
Ahead, the dungeon twisted into an ancient hall, its walls scarred with runes that whispered forgotten curses. The blue glow of the Ascension Trail flickered uncertainly, as if warning him to turn back.
Kael stepped forward.
The ground trembled beneath his boots.
A guttural roar shattered the silence.
From the shadows burst a hulking figure, dripping with shadow and malice — a Demon Warden, its eyes burning crimson, wielding a whip forged from hellfire and shattered chains.
[Enemy Detected: Demon Warden Lv.7 — Fire Whip, Chain Lash, Area Suppression]
Kael's heart slammed against his ribs. The air around the Warden shimmered with heat; each step scorched the stone floor.
Lira appeared at his side, dagger drawn and eyes sharp.
"We fight together," she said, voice steady.
Kael nodded, feeling the surge of Blood Hunger coursing through him.
The Ascension Code pulsed.
Skill Ready: Shadow Veil.
Without hesitation, Kael melted into the shadows, his form vanishing as the skill activated. The Demon Warden lashed its whip blindly, scorching the air where Kael had been moments before.
Kael struck from behind, dagger flashing with toxic venom.
[Damage: 120 + Poison Effect]
The Warden roared, spinning to catch the attack, but Kael slipped away again, weaving through the deadly flames and chains.
Lira darted forward, slashing at the Warden's legs to disrupt its movement.
Skill Ready: Blood Pact.
Kael's vision blurred as he sacrificed part of his life force, feeling pain spike and then turn into a furious strength. His strikes became faster, harder — each one cracking through the Warden's defenses.
Chains shattered.
Flames died.
The Demon Warden staggered.
But it was not defeated.
With a guttural growl, it summoned tendrils of shadow that lashed at Kael and Lira.
Kael's body burned where the shadows touched, but the Blood Hunger trait kicked in, healing his wounds faster than they appeared.
He grabbed Lira's arm, pulling her behind a shattered pillar.
"We need to end this. Now."
The system blinked urgently:
[Use Ascension Code: Consume Soul? (Y/N)]
Kael's eyes narrowed. This was the moment.
"Y."
His dagger plunged deep into the Warden's chest, piercing the core of corrupted energy. The creature screamed, a sound that echoed like thunder in the cavernous hall.
Darkness and fire spiraled into the dagger, sucked into the blade like a ravenous void.
[Boss Defeated: Demon Warden]
[Experience Gained: 850]
[Ascension Code Level Up! Lv.4 -> Lv.5]
[New Skill Unlocked: Infernal Chain — Control and manipulate fiery chains for offense and defense.]
[Trait Upgraded: Blood Hunger Lv.3 — Now grants increased stamina and damage resistance.]
Kael gasped, sweat and blood dripping from his brow. The dungeon's oppressive silence returned, heavier than before.
Lira looked at him with a new respect. "You're becoming something more... something dangerous."
Kael wiped the grime from his face, voice low but fierce.
"They thought death would stop me. But I'm just beginning."
The Ascension Trail flickered ahead, brighter now, revealing a passage leading deeper into the unknown.
Kael's heart thudded.
His ascension was far from over.
End of Chapter 3