The streets of REF trembled as the battle raged on. Ember and her scouts were holding the line, but even the seasoned knight could not withstand an endless wave of corrupted goblins alone. The mutated Warlord roared in fury, swinging massive claws that cracked walls and sent debris flying. In the alley above, Shadow Mages unleashed spectral bolts that collided with poisoned claws, but their energy alone could not suppress the relentless assault.
Kael stood on the edge of a dimensional rift, observing the battlefield from a distance. The Abyssal Tower's influence had spilled far beyond its original location. His Ultimate Supreme System pulsed with urgency as he analyzed the chaos, calculating the optimal point of intervention. Every heartbeat of the corrupted street reverberated through him, every flash of light and shadow feeding his mind with the battlefield's real-time data.
SYSTEM ALERT
Dungeon Influence: Escalating
Hidden Threat: High
Target: Mutated Goblin Horde & Warlord
Recommended Action: Immediate Deployment – Full-Scale Intervention
Potential Reward: High EXP, Skill Acquisition Opportunity
Kael's fingers brushed the hilt of his mana-infused sword. He had the option to intervene cautiously, but hesitation would cost lives. Instead, he activated Tamer Park, opening a pocket dimension directly above the conflict.
From the spatial void, Brown's legions emerged. Forty Death Knights dropped into the streets with earth-shaking force, their blades glowing with shadow energy. Forty Shadow Mages flitted above rooftops, eyes glowing as they readied spectral attacks. A hundred Skeleton Warriors emerged from alleys, moving in perfect synchrony under Kael's mental command.
PERSONAL STATS WINDOW
[ STATS WINDOW ]
NAME: Kael
CLASS: Domain Protector
RANK: Unique
STRENGTH: 430
SPEED: 315
EXP: 49,200
MANA: 2,200
HP: 4,650
TITLE: Domain Protector
STORAGE: Infinite
SKILLS: Mana Blade Extension, Element Slash, Arcane Sword Dance, Spell Parry, Dual Mana Burst, Void Edge, Sword Aura Field, Limit Breaker, Identify, Item Sub-space, Copy, Domain Domination, Tamer Park
INTELLIGENCE: Supreme
Kael focused on the Warlord first. Identify scanned the creature, pulling every fragment of information his system could gather.
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
He felt the Warlord's corruption pulse through the streets like a living wave. This battle wasn't just about defeating monsters—it was about suppressing the dungeon's influence before it spread further. Kael activated Domain Domination, subtly manipulating the battlefield to his advantage. Skeleton Warriors intercepted goblins attempting to escape, Death Knights formed a moving phalanx, and Shadow Mages preemptively struck enemies trying to flank Ember.
Kael's first move was precise. Mana Blade Extension allowed his sword to phase through the Warlord's corrupted armor, striking at its core. The creature screamed, flinging its massive arms in a desperate attempt to retaliate, but Kael's timing was perfect. Spell Parry reflected the venomous strike back at the Warlord, staggering it further.
Ember, sensing Kael's intervention, unleashed Oathbound Charge, her holy energy colliding with Kael's shadow-infused strikes. The combination created a dazzling effect, cutting through goblins like a scythe through wheat. Her scouts exploited the chaos, picking off any stragglers while Kael focused on the Warlord.
SYSTEM ALERT
Hidden Threat: Dungeon Core Awareness Increasing
Skill Copy Potential Detected – Target Abilities: Berserk Fury, Corrupt Aura
Kael's grin widened. He had waited for this moment—the chance to test his Copy skill in a real battle scenario against a boss-level enemy. But before he could engage, the Warlord unleashed Corrupt Aura, a pulse of dark energy that staggered Skeleton Warriors and sent Shadow Mages tumbling from rooftops.
Kael immediately countered with Sword Aura Field, creating an area-of-effect blade storm that sliced through the pulse, neutralizing it before it could reach Ember. The Warlord roared, charging directly at Kael, but the Death Knights met it with a coordinated strike, pinning the creature momentarily.
He pivoted mid-strike, activating Dual Mana Burst, combining shadow and fire into a concentrated strike aimed at the Warlord's exposed side. The attack landed with precision, and system notifications confirmed the effect.
MONSTER STATS
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ALERT ]
DAMAGE SUCCESSFUL – Weakness Exploited
Critical Hit: 78% Effectiveness
EXP Potential: +1,200
The Warlord staggered backward, shaking off the strike with difficulty. Kael's mental command was clear: maintain formation, contain the enemy, and avoid unnecessary casualties. Skeleton Warriors moved into optimal positions, while Death Knights formed a shielded wedge to intercept reinforcements. Shadow Mages fired spectral bolts in perfect timing with Ember's holy attacks.
System alerts continued to feed Kael data on enemy numbers, health, and movement patterns. The dungeon's influence pulsed, trying to destabilize the battlefield, but Kael's presence countered it like a stabilizing force. Every movement was calculated, every strike synchronized with allies' actions.
Kael's eyes scanned the battlefield. Another pulse of dungeon energy flared from a nearby building, indicating the presence of minor corrupted constructs being summoned. Without hesitation, he tapped into Arcane Sword Dance, moving faster than the eye could follow, slicing through constructs while maintaining focus on the Warlord.
SYSTEM ALERT
Hidden Threat Level: Extreme
Dungeon Core Awareness: Elevated
Recommended Action: Prioritize Boss – Potential Reinforcements Incoming
Kael's mind shifted slightly to preparation. He would soon Copy the Warlord's abilities—Berserk Fury and Corrupt Aura. But that required sustained contact, careful observation, and precise timing. The battlefield itself had to be under control.
Ember shouted, "Kael! Over here!" She drew the Warlord's attention, giving him the perfect opportunity. Kael nodded subtly and activated Void Edge, phasing through the Warlord's defenses to deliver a devastating strike.
The Warlord fell to one knee, staggered and breathing heavily. Its corrupted aura weakened under the combination of Kael's Supreme abilities, Ember's holy energy, and the relentless assault of undead legions.
Kael surveyed the battlefield. The goblins had been largely contained, Ember's scouts were unharmed, and Brown's legions maintained discipline. This was the power of strategy, skill, and precise coordination—a battlefield orchestrated perfectly through his systems.
But even as victory seemed near, Kael knew the dungeon's hidden threat had not yet revealed itself. Somewhere, beyond the immediate chaos, the Abyssal Tower's influence waited, watching, calculating, and preparing its next move.
Kael smirked faintly. Let it come. I am ready.