The brief rest was a luxury, a moment to let the adrenaline from his monumental loot settle. But the silence of the Lone Peak was a deceptive blanket, and Tony knew his mission was far from over. Pushing himself up, he resumed the hunt, his senses once again sharpened to a razor's edge. The mountain's guardians, the Beast Rocks, had a surprisingly short respawn time, their stone forms reconstituting from the very earth they guarded. This constant threat, however, began to reveal an opportunity.
The terrain was his greatest ally. He noticed narrow defiles and tight passages where the massive monsters struggled to move without getting in each other's way. A plan, brutal in its efficiency, crystallized in his mind. He became a ghostly shepherd, luring one Beast Rock after another, his movements a taunt that ignited their single-minded rage. Within minutes, he had a train of over ten enraged behemoths trailing him, their collective roars echoing through the canyon.
They were a tidal wave of stone and muscle, but the narrow pathways bottlenecked them into a comical, yet deadly, conga line of destruction. They shoved and stumbled over one another, their massive frames becoming their own prison. Meanwhile, Tony, a swift and elusive target, would pivot, unleash a [Lightning Strike] into the packed crowd, or send a [Double Slash] ripping across the leading monster's chest before darting away again. He was a phantom farmer, and the Beast Rocks were his unwilling crop.
For three grueling hours, he repeated this process. To an outsider, it would seem like madness—a punishing grind for meager coin and common materials. But Tony was in his element. This was a puzzle of positioning, timing, and resource management. His reward wasn't just the pitiful drops from the monsters themselves, but the hidden treasures of the mountain. He discovered three more Bronze Treasure Chests, their contents a significant step above the common loot: several Iron and Bronze equipment pieces for levels 7-10, three more skill books for various classes (though, frustratingly, none for a Swordsman), and a healthy stockpile of crafting materials. If liquidated, this haul would net him several Gold coins, a veritable fortune that would firmly establish his and Hidden Edge's financial foundation.
The relentless combat also served as a crucible for his skills. In the heat of managing the horde, his body moved on pure instinct, refining his movements into two new, system-recognized techniques.
[Lightning Barrage] (S-Rank): A flurry of six fundamental strikes—Chop, Pierce, Sweep, Stab, Cleave, Slash—executed in a seamless, blinding sequence. It had no cooldown, relying entirely on the user's stamina and skill, making it a perfect finisher.
[Rapid Steps] (A-Rank): An advanced footwork technique that doubled his movement speed for a critical twenty seconds. It was the evolution of [Wind Rush], a skill born from necessity rather than a scroll.
Despite the grinding, Tony never lost sight of his primary objective. For four hours, he combed the mountainside, his [Hawkeye] active until his head throbbed. Finally, he found it: a seemingly ordinary rock face that, to his enhanced vision, pulsed with a faint, dissonant energy. It was an illusion, a seam in reality. A [Lightning Strike] confirmed it; the rock flickered, and a hidden path wavered into view like a mirage. A few more blows solidified the entrance, and with [Wind Rush] carrying him forward, he passed through the stone as if it were mist.
"So, it was an illusion. The devils are not without their tricks," he murmured, a thrill of anticipation cutting through his fatigue.
Ding! System Notification: You have entered a Mysterious Ruin.
Simultaneously, his quest log updated.
Previous Quest: [Devil Hunt - C-Rank] - Locate the Ruin Entrance... COMPLETE.
New Quest: [Devil Hunt - S-Rank] - Investigate the Ruin.
The jump from C-Rank to S-Rank sent a jolt of pure electricity down his spine. This was no longer a simple investigation; it was a descent into the lion's den. The difficulty spike was a stark warning, but it only fueled the fire in his heart. This was the challenge he lived for.
The passage ahead was ancient, with glowing runes etched into walls that hummed with residual power. He proceeded with extreme caution, testing the path with thrown stones before taking a single step. The hallway seemed to stretch into infinity. For an hour, he walked, his [Hawkeye] scanning every inch for traps or hidden mechanisms.
Then, he met the ruin's true guardians.
[Demon Warrior] (Special Elite Rank)
Level: 12
HP: 2000/2000
Description: Possesses mediocre Defense and a terrifying Attack.
A foot soldier of the abyss, its strength forged in endless carnage.
The description was clear: one clean hit meant death. The warrior, clad in blackened armor and wielding a blood-red broadsword, moved with a speed that belied its size. It was not a mindless beast like the Rocks; it was a skilled combatant. Their first exchange was a deadly ballet of feints and parries. For five minutes, neither could land a blow. Tony felt a fierce joy ignite within him; this was like sparring with a master. He shifted from a defensive posture to an aggressive assault, his dual blades creating a whirlwind of steel that forced the Demon Warrior onto the back foot.
Frustrated, the demon unleashed its killing intent, a palpable wave of hatred that chilled the air. It roared, putting all its strength into a single, annihilating overhead chop. This was the moment Tony had been waiting for. He crossed his blades in an X, activating [Reflect] at the precise moment of impact. The [Jade Sword] flared, its unique property—10% chance to Ignore Defense—miraculously activating in tandem.
BOOM!
A cataclysmic shockwave erupted. The demon's own overwhelming force, combined with Tony's reflected power and the defense-piercing effect, slammed back into it with unimaginable violence. The creature was hurled backwards, a devastating -914 flashing above its head. Seizing the opening, Tony surged forward. [Lightning Strike] stunned the reeling warrior, and he immediately followed up with his new [Lightning Barrage]. The six-strike combo was a masterpiece of violence, carving away -460 HP in seconds. A final [Double Slash] severed the demon's head from its shoulders, ending the fight.
System Notification: Congratulations for killing a Demon Warrior. Rewards: 630 EXP.
Title Progress: Demon Slayer (1/100).
The experience was immense, a balm for the soul-crushing grind outside. He checked his experience bar—Level 8 (23%). The road to Level 9 required a staggering 100,000 EXP, making this ruin an incredible leveling spot. The promise of the "Demon Slayer" title, a rare and powerful asset according to the game's lore, was a tantalizing bonus.
It was then that something strange occurred. The [Humming Blade] in his hand vibrated, emitting a faint, dark suction force. A wisp of shadowy aura was pulled from the demon's corpse and absorbed into the blade. Tony watched, mesmerized, as the sword seemed to drink the creature's essence. He checked its status.
[Humming Blade] (Unique)
Durability: 130/130
Attack Power: +20
Attack Speed: +20
Deals an additional 35% damage to monsters.
Increases critical rate by 55% when attacking monsters.
Absorb the life force from dark creatures you kill to awaken the Blade.
Dark Life Force: 3/10,000.
Its stats had slightly improved. "Three per kill? I'll need to slaughter an army," Tony muttered, but a grim smile touched his lips. It was a new long-term goal.
For the next four hours, he became a reaper in the dark hallways, systematically hunting down 22 Demon Warriors. He gained over 13,000 EXP and 66 Dark Life Force, his efficiency improving with every fight. Finally, the hallway opened into a vast, cavernous hall, as large as a football stadium. At the far end stood three immense doors. Two were sealed with chains and glowing, malevolent runes. Only one stood slightly ajar, an invitation to the unknown.
Every instinct screamed at him to turn back. He gripped the [Teleportation Stone] tightly in his off-hand, his knuckles white. This was the point of no return. Steeling himself, he slipped through the open door.
The room within was a circular chamber, its walls covered in complex, pulsating magic arrays that cast a sickly green light. And in the center, held within the largest array, was a being of nightmare.
It was a devil. Pitch-black skin stretched over a powerfully built frame, vast bat-like wings folded behind it, and eyes that burned with the fires of hell itself. The moment Tony's gaze fell upon it, a primal, overwhelming sensation crushed him.
DEATH.
His breath hitched. His heart hammered against his ribs. With Herculean effort, he activated [Hawkeye].
[Name: ?????]
[Rank: ?????]
[Level: ?????]
[HP: ?????]
Nothing but question marks. For the first time, his godly skill had completely failed. This could only mean one thing: the gap in power between them was an unbridgeable chasm.
Without a fraction of a second's delay, he triggered [Absolute Nothingness] from his ring and layered his skill [Camouflage] over it, sinking into the shadows near the doorway. At that exact instant, the devil's head turned. Its hellish gaze swept over his hiding spot. The killing intent in that look was so intense, so absolute, that Tony's virtual lungs refused to function. It felt more real than any game had a right to be. His brain, the brain of the Mad Demon, screamed only one command: FLEE.
He held his breath, his finger poised to crush the Teleportation Stone. After an eternity of three heartbeats, the devil retracted its gaze, a low, rumbling chuckle echoing in the chamber like stones grinding together.
"To think I, the great Jurthradaan, have become paranoid to this point..."
Ding! System Notification: Congratulations! You have learned the True Name of a Devil.
The notification was a cold, terrifying confirmation. He was hiding in the presence of Jurthradaan, and his only hope was that the devil's arrogance would continue to blind it to the mouse in the corner.