Chapter 28: Realm Dungeon II
Asher clenched his fists, activating his Total Assimilation ability. He focused on the fallen skeletons around him, drawing in their remaining energy and decay essence. In an instant, dark wisps of mist rose from their bodies, spiraling toward him and merging with his Blood Golem. The golem's form darkened further, its edges taking on a sharper, more menacing appearance as it absorbed the newfound power. Now, its strikes were swifter, slicing through the undead defenses with lethal precision.
The golem, now fully powered by the decayed energy, tore through the remaining undead ranks, leaving broken bones and ash in its wake. As the last of the skeletal creatures fell, silence once again settled over the cavern. Asher took a moment to scan the area, his gaze sharp and wary. He had a feeling that this was only the beginning of what the Realm Dungeon had in store for him.
His suspicions were confirmed when he felt a sudden shift in the air. The ground beneath him trembled, and he instinctively stepped back as a new figure emerged from the shadows, towering over the remnants of the fallen undead. It was a massive, armored knight, its armor blackened and corroded, with cracks running through the metal. The knight's helmet was hollow, yet a pair of burning red eyes glared from within, seething with malevolent intent.
The knight raised its weapon—a massive greatsword covered in dark, writhing tendrils that seemed to pulse with life. Asher could feel the intense energy radiating from the sword; it was infused with dark magic, likely powerful enough to rival his own abilities.
Not to mention this Knight is peak of Gold rank from it Aura alone and since it's an humanoid monster, it will be difficult to fight it. But..
"Its good, I was getting bored of small fries " A smile formed on Asher face as he looked at the newcomer.
Without hesitation, Asher commanded his Blood Golem to engage. The golem charged forward, its movements fluid and deadly, its bladed arms raised to strike. But as it closed in, the knight swung its greatsword with surprising speed, blocking the golem's attack and sending it staggering backward. The impact reverberated through the cavern, echoing off the walls like thunder.
Asher narrowed his eyes. This opponent was on a different level than the previous creatures. He extended his hand, feeling the connection to his golem intensify as he pushed more of his mana into it, reinforcing its strength. The golem's form shimmered, its blades sharpening further, and it lunged again, aiming for the knight's exposed joints.
The two clashed in a flurry of strikes, each blow more powerful than the last. Sparks flew as metal met darkened blade, and the knight's armor began to show signs of wear, small cracks forming where the golem's attacks had landed. But the knight was relentless, swinging its greatsword in sweeping arcs that forced the golem to dodge and weave to avoid being struck.
Realizing he needed a different approach, Asher activated Total Assimilation once more, drawing in the remnants of the undead energy that lingered in the cavern. This time, he directed it not to strengthen the golem but to infuse it with dark magic. The golem's form shifted, dark tendrils wrapping around its body as it took on a more shadowy, spectral appearance, mirroring the knight's own dark magic.
With this newfound power, the golem's movements became faster, almost ethereal. It darted around the knight, striking with blinding speed, each blow landing with precision. The knight staggered, its armor splintering as the golem's attacks began to overwhelm it. In a desperate attempt to counter, the knight raised its greatsword high, summoning dark energy that crackled and surged along the blade.
But Asher anticipated the move. With a sharp command, he had the golem lunge forward, bypassing the sword and aiming directly for the knight's exposed helmet. The golem's bladed arm pierced through, striking the source of the knight's burning red eyes. A burst of dark energy erupted from within, and the knight collapsed, its armor clattering to the ground, now lifeless and empty.
The cavern fell silent once more, the oppressive energy dissipating as the knight's form crumbled to dust. Asher released his hold on the golem, allowing it to dissolve back into his blood orb, which pulsed faintly as it absorbed the remnants of the battle. He took a moment to survey the scene, feeling a sense of accomplishment tempered by an awareness of the dungeon's remaining depths.
Soon, he walked towards the Altar which the Knight was guarding and then picked the Sword on it,
It was a Rare grade sword, a good one, but Asher has just been gifted with Legendary and Mythical stuff so he didn't bothered much with it and just stored it away and began to leave.
Sebas and Emily waited near the entrance, sensing the shift as the dark energy receded. They watched as Asher emerged from the shadows, his expression unreadable but his eyes sharp.
"The knight?" Emily asked.
"Defeated," Asher replied simply, his tone as cold as ever.
Sebas nodded approvingly. "You handled it well, young master. That knight was the dungeon's first true challenge. Deeper within, the threats will only grow more… unpredictable."
Asher didn't respond, his gaze drifting toward another faint trail of light leading further into the dungeon. He knew that whatever awaited him would be stronger, more cunning, and that his current abilities might soon be tested to their limits.
Without another word, he stepped forward, following the trail, leaving Sebas and Emily to follow in silence.
"This road also leads to an Gold rank monster but this time its called Insatiable Wendigo, and he guards a skill book, that Young master might like unlike the sword guarded by the knight" Sebas said as Asher nodded looking forward what skill book it is going to be.
"What are the usual skills found here?" Asher asked, knowing there was no fixed record but understanding that a set number of skills circulated each cycle after the Guardian was defeated.
Like, at one time it could be Skill A, the next it might be Skill B, then Skill C, and then back to Skill A.