The Gate swallowed Klaus in a rush of black water.
He staggered forward into choking heat. The Sanctum of Venoms was no dungeon of stone—it was a cavernous nightmare, walls slick with dripping green poison, air thick with venomous haze. Snakes slithered across the ground, their scales whispering like blades, and shadows pulsed with the heartbeat of a buried god.
Klaus's breath hitched. The poison inside him pulsed in harmony with the Sanctum, as though the dungeon itself was feeding it.
[SYSTEM ALERT] Entered Dream-Weave Instance: Sanctum of Venoms.Time Dilation Active: 1 Dream-Hour = 1 Real-Day Lifespan.Current Cost: -1 Year Lifespan.Status Effect: Poison (Severe).
Projected Lifespan Loss: -6 Years if untreated.
He clenched his jaw. "Then I'll carve years out of you."
Serpents of Poison
The floor writhed. Serpents rose, fangs dripping acid. They lunged in unison, striking like a storm.
Klaus's wings flared, shadowfire burning bright. His claws tore through scaled flesh, black ichor spraying across his silver skin. His wolf lunged alongside him, jaws snapping bone. His crow screamed from above, scattering venomous shadows.
But for every serpent slain, another slithered forward.
[SYSTEM] Target Defeated.[DEVOUR] Trait Acquired: Venom Fang (Basic).[DREAM-WEAVE] Lifespan Restored: +6h.
Klaus roared, drinking the essence into his veins. For a moment, strength surged. But then the poison fought back, eating at him harder.
[SYSTEM WARNING] Lifespan Bleed Active.-1 Day per minute of exposure.
He gritted his teeth, sweat dripping cold. "This place… it wants me broken."
The Warden
The ground shook. Venom poured down like rain as the cavern ceiling split open. From the darkness slithered a monstrous serpent, larger than a cathedral. Its scales were carved in green sigils, its eyes burning with toxic light.
The Warden of Venoms.
It hissed, voice a chorus of whispers."Crown-Bearer. Trade me your years, and I shall let you live. Refuse… and your bones will rot in my coils."
[SYSTEM BOSS ENCOUNTER: Warden of Venoms]Difficulty: High (Weakened State Penalty).Reward: Poison Cleanse (Unique) + Venom Core (Rare).Failure: Permanent -10 Years Lifespan.
Klaus's crimson eyes flared. "I don't bargain with corpses."
He charged.
Battle in Venom
The serpent struck. Its fangs pierced his wing, venom searing into marrow. Klaus screamed but retaliated, ripping one fang free with his bare hand. Shadowfire burned, claws slashing deep into its throat.
His wolf sank fangs into the serpent's tail, crow tearing at its eyes. But the Warden's body coiled, crushing them in waves of muscle.
Klaus staggered, blood pouring from his ribs.
[Lucifer]: "Pathetic. You bleed years like water. Burn another, and I'll give you the strength to stand. Gamble, Crown-Bearer!"
The Crown pulsed.
[DREAM-WEAVE OPTION] Burn 1 Additional Year Lifespan for Berserk Surge? (Y/N).
Klaus's hands trembled. His lifespan was already crumbling away. But without it—he'd die here.
"Do it."
[CONFIRMED] Lifespan -1 Year.[STATUS] Berserk Surge Activated: STR +40%, AGI +25%.
Klaus's scream shook the Sanctum. His wings erupted in black-edged flame. He tore through the serpent's coils, claws shredding scales, shadowfire flooding its throat. With one final roar, he ripped its skull open and bathed in its venomous blood.
The Warden collapsed.
The Spoils
[SYSTEM] Boss Defeated.Reward Acquired: Poison Cleanse (Unique).Reward Acquired: Venom Core (Rare Material).[DEVOUR] Trait Assimilated: Venom Resistance (Intermediate).Net Lifespan Burn: -3 Years.
Klaus collapsed to his knees, panting, blood and venom dripping from his fangs. The poison inside him dissolved, burned away by the Crown's flame. But victory felt hollow—he had lost more than he gained.
[Lucifer]: "Three years for a trinket. A poor exchange. You spend more than you earn, Crown-Bearer. At this pace, Belmora will drain you dry."
Return
The Sanctum shattered. Klaus was hurled back into his flat, crashing onto the couch. Selene was already there, silver eyes burning, tails wrapped in fire. She rushed to him, catching his body as he collapsed.
"You did it," she whispered, pressing her hand to his chest. "The poison is gone."
He coughed, wiping black blood from his lips. "At the cost of years. Too many years."
Selene's expression hardened. "That's what I've been telling you." She leaned close, her voice low, urgent. "Belmora isn't your throne. Not yet. Every fight here bleeds you. Every step costs more than it gives. Stay here, and this city will consume you."
Klaus's crimson eyes flickered. "…You're saying to run."
Selene's nine tails wrapped around him, warm, fierce. "I'm saying to survive. Retreat is not defeat, Klaus. Retreat is preparation. Another city. Another start. Somewhere you can grow strong enough to come back and burn Belmora to the ground."
[SIMP SYSTEM: Resonance Strengthened.]New Bond Perk: Foxfire Vow — Selene gains +15% combat power when fighting to protect Klaus.
Klaus exhaled, leaning against her, eyes blazing with fury. "Then we run. But mark my words, Selene… when I return, this city will beg for mercy. And I won't give it.