The room shook violently, dust raining from the high ceiling. Belial blinked, chest heaving, his vision blurry from exhaustion. He had landed a strike—a real strike—and for the first time, the black knight was damaged.
The screen flickered again.
[Warning: Floor Guardian Breached Critical Threshold.]
[Evolving…]
[Abyssal Black Knight → ???]
Belial froze. "...Wait. Evolving? Since when do bosses evolve!?"
The knight planted its massive sword into the cracked stone floor, kneeling as if bowing. The crimson fissures in its armor pulsed violently, glowing brighter with every heartbeat. A low, guttural roar echoed through the chamber, reverberating in Belial's bones.
The air thickened. Mana pressure swelled, suffocating, crushing, like the weight of a mountain pressing down on him. Belial staggered back, clutching his chest.
"Ughhh…! It feels like my lungs are collapsing!"
The knight's black armor began to split, chunks falling away with molten cracks of red light. Underneath, not flesh—but bone, charred black and covered in runes that writhed like living serpents. Wisps of green flame erupted from the empty eye sockets, burning brighter and brighter until they became twin infernos.
The massive sword it wielded twisted grotesquely, elongating into a wicked greatsword of black steel wrapped in glowing crimson veins, dripping with black mist that hissed like acid when it touched the ground.
The system chimed again, cold and merciless:
[Evolution Complete.]
[Death Knight of the Abyss Awakened.]
[Level: ???]
[Cursed Title: Gravewalker of Eternity]
Belial's pupils shrank. His throat tightened as the monster straightened to its full, horrifying height—easily three times taller than him, skeletal armor now fused with glowing obsidian plates. A chilling aura spread through the chamber, extinguishing the torches, leaving only its hellish green fire to light the room.
So this… this is the real fight. The first form wasn't even serious!
The Death Knight opened its maw, releasing a distorted growl—like a thousand voices screaming at once. The very air rippled with the sound.
Belial's knees buckled under the pressure. His instincts screamed at him: Run.
But his heart, his pride as a Lionheart, and his mother's words echoed in his mind.
"You must never show weakness… your strength will make you a target. But it will also make you a protector."
He clenched his fists, teeth grinding, eyes burning red in defiance.
"Damn it… fine! If you're evolving—then I'll evolve too!"
The Death Knight lifted its blade and the chamber fell silent.
It was no longer just a monster. It was a walking catastrophe.
The chamber trembled as the notification echoed in Belial's mind.
[Warning: Floor Guardian Breached Critical Threshold.][Evolving…]
The knight dropped to one knee, sword plunged into the floor. Its cracked armor pulsed with veins of crimson light, like magma forcing its way through stone.
Belial staggered back, sweat dripping down his forehead. His lungs burned under the suffocating mana pressure.No way… it's changing. Monsters don't just… evolve like this, unless—
The knight roared. Armor split apart, bursting like glass under heat. Blackened bones were revealed, inscribed with writhing runes. Twin green flames ignited in its skull, burning brighter until they seared the shadows themselves.
The sword melted into black steel, twisting into a colossal greatsword wreathed in crimson mist that hissed where it touched the stone. The torches around the chamber blew out instantly—the only light now was its unholy flame.
The system announced its ascension:
[Evolution Complete.][Death Knight of the Abyss Awakened.][Cursed Title: Gravewalker of Eternity][Level: ???]
Belial's heart pounded. His thoughts screamed.This isn't just some monster… this thing is a relic from the old world. A fragment of god-tier magic bound into a corpse. That explosion mother mentioned… was it—this?
The Death Knight raised its new blade. The air screamed as the weapon descended.
Belial barely rolled aside, the ground exploding where he had stood. Black mist surged, spreading corruption across the floor. A single graze on his arm burned, flesh sizzling like acid.
"Arghhh! This isn't normal corruption… it's eating my mana directly!"
The knight moved again, impossibly fast for its size. Belial parried with his wooden training sword wrapped in wind magic—only to have it shatter on impact. The shockwave sent him flying across the chamber, slamming into a pillar.
His chest rattled, blood rising to his lips.I can't keep this up. Even fire, wind, and earth together won't scratch it. I'm not strong enough—
The system chimed again.
[Warning: Host in Near-Death Condition.][Mana Veins Releasing Emergency Flow.][Hidden Skill Awakening…]
Belial's vision blurred. His veins burned, his body shaking as an immense flood of mana surged out. His eyes glowed crimson, his chest radiating with dragon-heart energy.
A pale blue screen appeared:
[Unique Skill: Mana Devourer Awakened.][Effect: Converts hostile mana into personal strength. Amplifies elemental resonance.]
Belial's lips curled into a shaky grin."…So that's it… You eat mana? Then I'll eat more than you."
He spread his arms wide, focusing. The black mist of corruption flowed into him—screaming, twisting, fighting—yet his veins absorbed it, devouring its power. His body trembled on the brink of collapse, but for the first time… he felt stronger.
The Death Knight tilted its head, as if recognizing its prey had changed.
Belial raised his hand. Flame, wind, and lightning sparked around him—seven elements flickering, intertwining, dancing like a storm.
"Let's see how you like a taste of your own mana."
The Death Knight charged, sword raised. Belial roared back, unleashing a torrent of magic that shook the chamber.
Mana clashed with mana. Light against abyss.
The chamber trembled as the notification echoed in Belial's mind.
[Warning: Floor Guardian Breached Critical Threshold.]
[Evolving…]
The knight dropped to one knee, sword plunged into the floor. Its cracked armor pulsed with veins of crimson light, like magma forcing its way through stone.
Belial staggered back, sweat dripping down his forehead. His lungs burned under the suffocating mana pressure.
No way… it's changing. Monsters don't just… evolve like this, unless—
The knight roared. Armor split apart, bursting like glass under heat. Blackened bones were revealed, inscribed with writhing runes. Twin green flames ignited in its skull, burning brighter until they seared the shadows themselves.
The sword melted into black steel, twisting into a colossal greatsword wreathed in crimson mist that hissed where it touched the stone. The torches around the chamber blew out instantly—the only light now was its unholy flame.
The system announced its ascension:
[Evolution Complete.]
[Death Knight of the Abyss Awakened.]
[Cursed Title: Gravewalker of Eternity]
[Level: ???]
Belial's heart pounded. His thoughts screamed.
This isn't just some monster… this thing is a relic from the old world. A fragment of god-tier magic bound into a corpse. That explosion mother mentioned… was it—this?
The Death Knight raised its new blade. The air screamed as the weapon descended.
Belial barely rolled aside, the ground exploding where he had stood. Black mist surged, spreading corruption across the floor. A single graze on his arm burned, flesh sizzling like acid.
"Arghhh! This isn't normal corruption… it's eating my mana directly!"
The knight moved again, impossibly fast for its size. Belial parried with his wooden training sword wrapped in wind magic—only to have it shatter on impact. The shockwave sent him flying across the chamber, slamming into a pillar.
His chest rattled, blood rising to his lips.
I can't keep this up. Even fire, wind, and earth together won't scratch it. I'm not strong enough—
The system chimed again.
[Warning: Host in Near-Death Condition.]
[Mana Veins Releasing Emergency Flow.]
[Hidden Skill Awakening…]
Belial's vision blurred. His veins burned, his body shaking as an immense flood of mana surged out. His eyes glowed crimson, his chest radiating with dragon-heart energy.
A pale blue screen appeared:
[Unique Skill: Mana Devourer Awakened.]
[Effect: Converts hostile mana into personal strength. Amplifies elemental resonance.]
Belial's lips curled into a shaky grin.
"…So that's it… You eat mana? Then I'll eat more than you."
He spread his arms wide, focusing. The black mist of corruption flowed into him—screaming, twisting, fighting—yet his veins absorbed it, devouring its power. His body trembled on the brink of collapse, but for the first time… he felt stronger.
The Death Knight tilted its head, as if recognizing its prey had changed.
Belial raised his hand. Flame, wind, and lightning sparked around him—seven elements flickering, intertwining, dancing like a storm.
"Let's see how you like a taste of your own mana."
The Death Knight charged, sword raised. Belial roared back, unleashing a torrent of magic that shook the chamber.
Mana clashed with mana. Light against abyss.
As his power surged, fragments of knowledge surfaced—like whispers not his own. This dungeon wasn't just a trial… it was a seal. The mage who once owned this estate bound something here. And this knight… it's the warden. If it evolves again…
Belial clenched his jaw, forcing more mana into his core.
Then the world outside won't be safe.
The screen flickered again.
[Warning: Floor Guardian Approaching Final Phase.]
[Death Knight Engaging Limit Break Evolution.]
The Death Knight's flames exploded, its greatsword cracking open to reveal a cursed core pulsing like a heart.
Belial's knees shook. His lips twisted into a smile despite the terror.
"…You've got to be kidding me. A second evolution? This place is insane.