Before he could rise, another strike came crashing down.
Alex barely managed to block. This time, the force connected fully. The impact tore through him, ripping open his chest. Blood sprayed as he was slammed into the ground.
Velkar followed with a second slash.
Alex rolled desperately, the blade cleaving the stone where his head had been an instant before.
He rose shakily, Nebula Healing struggling to keep pace now. His wounds closed—but slower. His stamina was draining fast.
Gritting his teeth, Alex charged.
Chains lashed toward him from all directions. He spun his scythe in wide arcs, deflecting and severing them as sparks and shadow burst through the hall. Closing the gap, he reached into his inventory and drew a dagger, cloaking it in dense shadow energy.
He threw.
Velkar blocked it—but the impact forced his arm back. For the first time, strain showed.
Alex saw it.
He surged forward, raising his scythe high and bringing it down with everything he had. Velkar blocked again—but his arm shook violently from the force.
The battle escalated into pure chaos.
Steel clashed endlessly. Sparks flew like stars. The palace floor was reduced to rubble. The walls collapsed. Columns shattered. Alex's body was riddled with wounds—each healed in moments, each draining him further. Velkar bled too, cracks forming in his chains, his breathing growing heavier.
Both warriors stood at their breaking point.
They separated slowly, distance growing between them.
Their eyes locked as though saying together "Let's end this".
Power erupted from both of them. A wave of energy blasted outward, tearing apart what little remained of the hall. Velkar stepped back into a grounded stance as chains wrapped around his sword, then his body, forming a living armor.
Alex coated his scythe in pure shadow. Mana surged around him, reinforcing muscle and bone, sharpening his movements beyond human limits.
They charged.
Alex spun into Half Moon Slash, rotating his body as shadow spiraled outward.
Velkar answered with a technique unseen until now—
Soul Chain Slash.
The attacks collided.
A blinding white explosion consumed everything.
Reality warped. The stone disintegrated. The shockwave tore through the palace, flattening everything within range.
Alex screamed as energy ripped into him—blood pouring from his eyes and mouth as invisible blades carved into his flesh again and again.
Across from him, Velkar's chains cracked.
Then shattered.
Alex knew—this isn't enough.
Summoning the last of his strength, Alex twisted midair, using the rotation from the previous strike. He unleashed Half Moon Strike once more—this time forcing every last fragment of shadow energy into the blade.
His vision darkened.
His pitch-black eyes, pierced by a single white point, suddenly shone with a light that burned like judgment itself.
The scythe struck.
Light swallowed everything.
When the dust finally settled, Velkar stood motionless. His helmet split cleanly in two, falling away to reveal white hair and piercing silver eyes.
He smiled.
"Thank you," he said softly. "Now… I can be reunited with my family."
His body dissolved into black mist, scattering into nothingness.
Suddenly a wave of system notification was heared
System Notifications[You have defeated Velkar the Fallen Knight]
[You have received 6,000 XP]
[Congratulations on reaching Level 31]
[As a reward for clearing the second floor, you have received the Coat of Invincibility]
[You have received 2 unallocated stat points]
[Ding! You have cleared the second floor]
[Moving to the third floor]
Alex collapsed onto the ruined floor, body broken, breath ragged.