The forest trembled.
The Corrupted Forest Warden rose to its full height, branches cracking like thunder, bark oozing with black ichor. Its glowing red eyes fixed on Lian with mindless fury, a primal will forged from corruption itself.
The system chimed:
[Boss Battle Initiated: Corrupted Forest Warden – Lv. 15]
[Warning: Survival Rate – 23%.]
Lian laughed.
"Twenty-three percent? That's higher than I expected."
The Warden's roar split the silence. Its arm, thick as a house pillar, swung down. The ground shattered as roots surged upward, jagged as spears, aiming to impale him.
Lian blurred into a Shadow Step, his body flickering like smoke. He reappeared atop a root, spear flashing as he leapt toward the giant's chest. Shadows coiled along his weapon, hungry for blood.
"Pierce through!"
His strike landed. The spear sank deep into the bark, but instead of blood, thick tar-like corruption poured out, burning his skin. The Warden bellowed, swiping with a massive arm. The impact caught him midair, hurling him across the clearing.
He crashed through trees, bones screaming, breath torn from his lungs.
[HP: 41%.]
Lian staggered to his feet, blood dripping from his lip. His grin widened.
"Yes… break me more."
The Warden advanced, each step shaking the forest. Its roots lashed outward like whips, tearing through the ground, chasing him relentlessly. Lian danced between them, shadows flickering at his heels. But even he couldn't dodge forever.
A root caught his leg, lifting him high before slamming him into the earth. The ground cratered. Pain exploded through his body.
[Critical Damage Taken: HP 18%.]
[Warning: Death Approaches.]
The whispers grew louder.
"…fall, sinner…"
"…the forest will devour you…"
But another voice pulsed from the system.
[Sin Points Available: 500.]
[Unlock Skill: Shadow Chains – Bind enemy movement with cursed restraints. Cost: 400 SP.]
Lian's crimson eyes burned brighter.
"Chains, huh? Fitting."
[Skill Unlocked: Shadow Chains.]
Dark tendrils erupted from his shadow, lashing upward. They coiled around the Warden's massive limbs, biting deep into corrupted bark. The guardian roared, thrashing, tearing trees from the earth in its fury.
"Struggle all you want," Lian hissed, dragging himself upright. "The more you resist, the tighter they bind."
With the Warden slowed, Lian lunged. His spear shimmered with shadow and malice as he dashed between the thrashing roots. He carved bloody gouges into the guardian's body, ichor spraying like tar-rain.
The Warden shrieked, its arm slamming into the ground. The force shattered the altar stone, sending the Mask of Hollow Laughter tumbling to the earth.
Lian's eyes flicked to it. A relic. Power. Temptation. But the guardian stood between him and his prize.
He tightened his grip on the spear.
"One kill at a time."
The Warden's chest opened, bark splitting to reveal a glowing core of crimson corruption. Its weak point.
The system whispered:
[Boss Core Detected.]
[Target: Corrupted Heart.]
The monster unleashed its fury. Vines exploded from its body, hundreds of them, each tipped with jagged thorns dripping venom. They lashed in every direction, creating a storm of death.
Lian became a blur. Shadow Step. Spin. Dash. Spear flashing, slicing through vines, cutting his way toward the core. But each strike left wounds across his flesh, blood soaking his clothes.
Still, he laughed. A wild, broken sound.
"Yes! Tear me apart if you can!"
At last, he reached the core. He thrust with all his might. The spear plunged deep into the glowing heart. Darkness surged.
The Warden's scream shook the skies. It convulsed, slamming its fists down in a desperate attempt to crush him. Roots erupted in chaos, the ground splitting open.
Lian activated Blood Feast. Shadows wrapped around the core, draining its corrupted energy into him. His wounds closed, his veins burned with stolen vitality.
The Warden staggered, weakening. But it wasn't finished. Its massive hand seized him, claws closing like an iron cage.
Bones cracked. Blood gushed from his mouth. The giant raised him toward its gaping maw, intent on devouring him whole.
[Critical State: HP 7%.]
Lian's eyes glowed scarlet. Shadows burst from his body, chains stabbing into the Warden's arm, forcing its grip open. With a roar of defiance, he plunged his spear straight down, driving it deeper into the glowing core.
A surge of darkness erupted.
The Warden's chest split wide, ichor and shadow exploding outward. Its roar faded into a hollow wail as its colossal body crumbled, collapsing into ash and splintered bark.
Silence fell.
[Boss Defeated: Corrupted Forest Warden.]
[Reward: +2500 EXP, +500 Sin Points, Relic Drop Secured.]
[Level Up! Current Level: 11.]
Lian staggered forward, battered and bloodied. The mask lay before him, its cracked surface glowing faintly with crimson light.
The system pulsed:
[Relic Acquired: Mask of Hollow Laughter.]
[Effect: Amplifies Sin Energy. Grants +20% damage to shadow skills. Warning: Wearing the mask may influence the user's mind.]
He picked it up, the cold surface pressing against his palm. For a moment, he swore he heard laughter—low, mocking, endless.
Lian smirked, pressing the mask to his face.
"Then laugh with me. Together, we'll drown the world in shadows."
The forest fell silent, but the whispers did not stop. They grew louder. Angrier. Terrified.
The Lord of Sin had claimed his first relic.