The sound of thunder split the heavens.
Both Duke Jacob and Roman rushed to the tall windows of the ducal office, their eyes widening at the scene outside. The once-clear skies had been swallowed whole by a swirling mass of black clouds, so thick and heavy it seemed the world itself was suffocating. From these clouds fell not rain, but inky black droplets, thick and unnatural.
The first droplet that touched the courtyard grass instantly withered it into dust. Trees shriveled, their bark crumbling into ash. A horse in the stables screamed, collapsing as the dark water boiled against its skin, leaving behind nothing but charred bone and smoke. Insects that dared fly into the storm dropped midair, wings dissolved into black mush.
And then came the screaming.
From the streets below, panic spread like wildfire. Men and women fled, clutching their children, trying desperately to find shelter. But for those unlucky enough to be touched by the droplets, their cries were cut short—flesh blistered and peeled away as though set ablaze, leaving nothing but dust scattered on the wind.
"By the gods… what is this?" Jacob muttered, his usually iron voice trembling.
Roman's body went rigid. The vision from earlier—flames, darkness, screams—flashed vividly in his mind. He felt a suffocating weight in his chest, his breathing ragged. And then—
[Shadow System Awakening…]
Anomaly Detected.
Origin: One of the 12 Demonic Angels is making its move.
Objective: Unknown.
The words echoed coldly in his head.
Before Roman could react, the storm grew worse. The black rain suddenly ceased, but what followed was far more terrifying. The ground shook violently, the palace walls groaning under the force. Houses in the city cracked, roofs caving in as terrified citizens clung to whatever they could.
Selena burst through the doors, her face pale but her resolve intact.
"Roman! Father! What's happening?"
Roman's voice was hoarse. "Where are the children?!"
"They're in the inner sanctum, guarded by the maids and knights," Selena replied quickly, her fists clenched.
Suddenly, the sky tore open. A jagged crack of black lightning split the clouds, tearing apart space itself. From the rift bled a darkness unlike any seen before, and with it came a sound—a roar so deafening, so primal, it forced everyone to their knees, clutching their ears in agony.
From that rift stepped something monstrous.
A beast taller than the palace itself, its body made of jagged stone and molten cracks, eyes glowing like burning coals. Its presence alone warped the very air, suffocating and oppressive.
[System Notice: Dungeons have appeared.]
Each Dungeon is a wound in this world, draining its mana.
To close them, you must kill the Boss Monster.
Failure will lead to collapse of the world's foundation.
The first monster slammed its colossal fist into the ground, the shockwave flattening a squad of knights into nothing more than bloody stains on the cobblestones. Panic turned into despair.
"ALL KNIGHTS, TO ARMS!" Duke Jacob bellowed, his aura flaring blue, commanding obedience even amidst fear. "Protect the people! Drive those abominations back!"
Captain Zion raised his blade, shouting orders, but even with ten knights striking in unison, only one monster fell. The others tore through squads mercilessly—limbs severed, bodies trampled into mush, screams echoing through the night.
Roman's blood boiled. He snatched a knight's sword and charged forward, aura sparking around him. "GET BACK!" he roared, slashing at the monster's leg. His blade met stone—and snapped in half.
Before he could react, the beast's fist slammed into his chest. His body was hurled like a broken doll, smashing through a wall. Blood spilled from his mouth, pain flooding his veins. For a moment, he lay still, darkness swallowing him.
But then—
[Spiritual Sword – Archon Manifested]
[Fallen God's Power Available – 10%]
In his hands materialized a blade of both gold and black aura, burning like the sun yet devouring light like the abyss. Roman rose, his expression hardened into steel. His aura exploded outward, sending dust and rubble flying.
Selena, rage in her eyes, unleashed her own red, fiery aura, carving through smaller monsters, though tears stung her eyes as she saw children and innocents being slaughtered by the dozens. "DAMN YOU ALL!" she screamed, cutting through beasts with reckless fury.
Duke Jacob, his blue aura manifesting like a calm storm, strode forward. "Adam! My sword!"
The butler rushed forward, handing over the massive greatsword. Jacob's eyes sharpened, and his aura flared—silent but lethal. He cut through the monsters with frightening efficiency, but even he began to falter under their sheer numbers.
The battlefield was hell.
Bodies lay torn apart—men and women ripped limb from limb, some swallowed whole by grotesque beasts. Children cried out for parents who would never answer again. Blood painted the once-proud courtyards of Presia black and red.
Roman fought like a madman, throwing himself in front of every monster that lunged at innocents. The Shadow System coldly whispered numbers into his mind.
[Casualties: 112… 143… 197…]
Each number was a dagger into his chest. His teeth ground so hard his jaw ached. His sword swung faster, his aura brighter, his eyes wild with desperation. "RUN! ALL OF YOU! RUN!"
The ground beneath him cracked as his aura flared brighter than ever before—a miniature sun of divine light battling against the tide of darkness.
Deep in the abyss from where the monsters crawled, a voice echoed.
"Oh? The god's chosen warrior shows his fangs at last. But look at him… flailing. Weak. Helpless."
The voice chuckled, a cruel and mocking laugh that reverberated through the rift.
"Pathetic… but entertaining."
And the monsters kept coming.