The late afternoon sun hung low over the city of REF, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets. Ember, clad in polished steel armor that gleamed faintly with holy runes, adjusted her pauldrons as she walked briskly toward the royal palace. Her mission was simple: meet King Valtherion to discuss approvals for upcoming projects. Yet, instinct whispered that today would not be simple.
A sharp, unnatural tremor under her boots stopped her mid-step. She crouched, hand resting on the hilt of her longsword, ears straining. The usual bustle of merchants and townsfolk was pierced by low, guttural growls—sounds that no ordinary wild animal could make.
Her eyes narrowed. System notifications, always subtle at first, flared in her mind.
MONSTER STATS
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ALERT ]
IDENTIFY: Mutated Goblin
LEVELS: 45
STRENGTH: High
SPEED: Moderate
RANK: Elite
ITEM DROP: Rare Goblin Fang, Mana Shard
EXP: 1,200
SKILLS: Poisoned Claw, Berserk Rage
WEAKNESS: Light Magic
SYSTEM REWARDS: EXP ×2 if defeated efficiently
Ember exhaled slowly, feeling the familiar thrill of combat rise through her veins. The goblins were faster than any she had seen in REF—twisted, hulking forms with jagged claws, eyes glowing an unnatural green. Some limped unnaturally, as if corrupted by an unseen force, while others churned with barely-contained fury.
Her knightly instincts kicked in. She spun her sword in a wide arc, a faint halo of holy light tracing the edge. "Stay back!" she commanded, her voice sharp, leaving no room for hesitation. Civilians scattered as the first goblin lunged from the shadows, its claws slicing through the air with lethal intent.
Ember ducked under its swing, countering with a radiant cleave. The blade met the goblin's arm with a crack, burning flesh and dark energy alike. It shrieked, staggering backward, leaving a trail of corrupted blood that sizzled against the pavement.
System notifications flashed again, almost eagerly.
PERSONAL STATS WINDOW
[ STATS WINDOW ]
NAME: Ember
CLASS: Knight
RANK: S
STRENGTH: 180
SPEED: 145
EXP: 12,450
MANA: 850
HP: 1,600
TITLE: The Horror of Knight
STORAGE: Standard Inventory
SKILLS: Holy Shield, Oathbound Charge, Defender's Blessing, Radiant Cleave, Armor Manifestation, Unyielding Will, Justice Smash
INTELLIGENCE: High
She pivoted, scanning for other goblins. Their numbers were overwhelming—more than she could handle alone. Yet, her mind raced with tactical precision. These were not mere marauders; something had infused them with dark energy, something the dungeon had spilled into the surrounding world.
From a narrow alley, a trio of scouts appeared—assassin-class operatives under her command. Silent and lethal, they flanked the creatures with knives glinting in the waning sunlight. Their attacks were precise, targeting joints, weak points, and vital spots. Ember's system-fed commands coordinated the assault.
"Now! Push them toward the alley!" she shouted. The goblins, unnaturally agile, attempted to evade, but the combined force of knight and assassins corralled them perfectly. Holy light met poisoned claws, steel met corrupted flesh, and Ember could feel the dungeon's taint pulsing like a heartbeat beneath the street.
Yet, despite their combined efforts, a mutated goblin warlord emerged from the shadows. Towering above the others, its skin mottled with green and black veins, the warlord's eyes burned with cruel intelligence. Fangs glinted, dripping venom, and a low growl vibrated through the alley.
MONSTER STATS
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ALERT ]
IDENTIFY: Mutated Goblin Warlord
LEVELS: 78
STRENGTH: Extreme
SPEED: High
RANK: Boss
ITEM DROP: Warlord's Fang, Rare Mana Crystal, Dungeon Key Fragment
EXP: 4,500
SKILLS: Berserk Fury, Venomous Strike, Corrupt Aura
WEAKNESS: Light and Holy Magic
SYSTEM REWARDS: EXP ×3, Rank Upgrade if defeated efficiently
Ember's grip tightened on her sword, holy energy coiling around its blade. She sent a quick signal to her scouts: maintain formation, cover flanks, and conserve resources until I engage. She could feel her heartbeat synchronize with her system, readying Oathbound Charge.
The warlord lunged. Its speed was staggering. Ember sidestepped, using Radiant Cleave to cut across its arm. Sparks of corrupted energy met holy light, sending a wave through the alley. The warlord roared, and Ember felt a shiver ripple through the area—a warning, a prelude to something larger.
Unknown to Ember, Kael had already sensed the sudden spike in dungeon energy. His Ultimate Supreme System pinged relentlessly.
SYSTEM ALERT
Dungeon Emergence Detected – Location: REF Outskirts
Recommended Action: High Priority Intervention
Threat Level: Severe
Target: Mutated Goblin Horde & Warlord
Potential Reward: High EXP, Skill Acquisition Opportunity
Kael's undead scouts, 40 Death Knights and 40 Shadow Mages, were already moving across realms toward Ember's location. Brown's undead legions prepared, guided by Kael's mental commands, ready to engage and contain the dungeon's corruption before it spread further into the city.
Ember, unaware of Kael's imminent arrival, summoned her Holy Shield, a shimmering barrier that cut off several poisoned strikes simultaneously. She countered with Justice Smash, striking the warlord's leg and sending it crashing against a wall. The scouts exploited the opening, piercing its joints with precise attacks.
The mutated warlord screeched, fury and pain coiling together. Its corrupted aura began to flare outward, shaking loose debris, and Ember realized that the dungeon's influence was seeping rapidly into REF.
System notification: Hidden Threat Detected
A ripple of dread ran down her spine. Something was watching, waiting, and feeding on the chaos. Ember tightened her grip. The battle had only just begun, and she knew that she would need more than skill and courage to survive the coming wave of darkness.
Above, the sky dimmed unnaturally as if the dungeon's presence was bending reality itself. A faint whisper reached her ears, a voice both alien and familiar: "Welcome… to the Abyssal Tide…"
Ember's eyes narrowed. She took a deep breath, readying herself for the fight that would define not just REF's outskirts, but possibly the fate of Eldrathin itself.