Absolute Cheater

Realm Dungeons were fragments of broken worlds, each a remnant preserved by the will of its ancient creator. These worlds, shattered and scattered, held within them a powerful seed—a remnant of their core essence. Over time, this seed absorbed power from the beings it defeated, slowly developing the potential to restore the world to its former glory. However, only the strongest intruders could survive, and many were drawn by the unique treasures and power waiting within.

And today, Asher was preparing to enter one of these elusive dungeons, to try them out.

Asher stood before the entrance of the Realm Dungeon, a towering archway covered in dark, twisting vines that seemed to pulse with a faint, otherworldly glow. The air around it was heavy, almost thick, carrying a strange hum that resonated from deep within. Emily and Sebas stood behind him, silent yet watchful.

Asher stepped closer, feeling an unfamiliar pressure from within the dungeon, as if it were assessing him, testing his presence. Echoes of battles past lingered in the air, and he could almost sense the remnants of power that had been left behind by defeated intruders.

Emily placed a hand on his shoulder. "These dungeons are different from anything you've seen. They adapt, they counter, and they push back. Be prepared."

Sebas added, "If you reach the heart, you may encounter the dungeon's core—its seed. Few have managed to obtain it, and the rewards are unlike anything else."

Asher gave a short nod, taking in their words. Without looking back, he stepped through the archway and into the Realm Dungeon. Shadows twisted and curled around him, a dense fog filling the air and hiding whatever lay ahead.

Asher moved forward, each step muffled by the thick fog swirling around him. Shapes loomed in the mist—gnarled trees with twisted branches and stones etched with strange markings. The silence was unsettling, broken only by faint, echoing whispers, remnants of voices that seemed to drift in and out of existence.

He noticed faint trails of light leading deeper into the dungeon. Following them, he soon entered a clearing where he could make out ancient, crumbling statues positioned in a circle, their stone faces frozen in expressions of rage or despair. Around their bases, thorny vines pulsed as though alive, occasionally sparking with dark energy.

Suddenly, a low growl came from the shadows. Asher's eyes narrowed as he saw figures stepping forward—hulking, bestial creatures with misshapen bodies and glowing red eyes. Each held jagged weapons that seemed crudely fashioned yet dangerously sharp, their edges dark with an oily, unnatural sheen.

Asher extended his hand, summoning the Blood Golem. In an instant, the hulking form took shape beside him, its sharpened, poison-tipped edges gleaming in the dim light. The creatures hesitated, but only for a moment. With a guttural roar, they charged.

The Blood Golem surged forward, meeting the first creature head-on. Its bladed arm sliced through the air, severing the creature's arm in a single, fluid motion. Poison seeped into the wound, causing the creature to convulse and drop. Without pause, the golem turned, its movements sharp and precise as it cut through the remaining beasts, their bodies falling one by one to the ground.

When the last creature lay motionless, Asher glanced around, his gaze settling on an ancient stone door at the edge of the clearing, half-hidden by vines. The faint trails of light led directly toward it, pulsing like a heartbeat. The dungeon seemed to guide him, deeper into its secrets and closer to whatever lay at its core.

Asher stood in the eerie clearing, his gaze fixed on the ancient stone door partially concealed by thick vines. Despite its dilapidated appearance, the door exuded a faint, unsettling energy that only grew stronger as he approached. The pulse of light leading to it flickered in rhythmic intervals, almost like a beckoning heartbeat. Asher wasn't one to linger, so he gave a single nod to his Blood Golem, commanding it to follow as he walked toward the door.

The closer he came, the more he noticed the intricate details engraved on its stone surface. Scenes of battles long past, of mighty creatures clashing, were carved into the door's heavy panels. At its center, an emblem of an ancient sigil glowed faintly—a coiling serpent devouring its own tail, encircling what looked like a shattered world. He reached out and pressed his hand against the door, feeling the strange energy course through his palm, cold and ancient. With a low rumble, the door creaked open, releasing a wave of musty air from within.

Beyond the doorway, the dungeon's interior opened into a massive cavern lined with pillars that spiraled up toward a ceiling shrouded in darkness. Dim orbs of greenish-blue light floated in the air, casting ghostly shadows across the stone floor. The silence was suffocating, yet Asher felt a presence watching him, as if the dungeon itself was alive, observing his every step.

He entered the cavern with the Blood Golem following closely, its dark-red form a stark contrast against the cold, gray stone. Asher barely had time to take in his surroundings before the faint sounds of movement echoed through the cavern. Shadows gathered along the far wall, and then slowly, figures began to emerge from the darkness.

At first, they appeared humanoid, but as they drew closer, he saw they were twisted amalgamations of bones and decay. Shambling skeletons draped in rotting flesh, their eyes hollow yet glowing faintly with a dark light, emerged in rows. They carried weapons covered in rust, their once-fine armor now dented and falling apart. Despite their decayed forms, they moved with disturbing coordination, forming a line in front of Asher as if barring his way.

With a flick of his wrist, Asher commanded his Blood Golem forward. The hulking figure charged, moving with surprising speed as it closed the distance between itself and the undead creatures. The first few skeletons fell easily, their bones shattering under the golem's sharp blades. The poisonous essence infused within its weapons seeped into the undead, causing them to crumble into piles of ash with each strike.

Yet, as more fell, others seemed to take their place, and soon Asher found himself surrounded. The undead advanced, closing in on him from all directions. Some held rusted swords, others wielded jagged maces, and a few even had shields, forming a tight wall to fend off the golem's blows.