The chamber plunged into darkness as the Wraith Knight stepped fully into being. Its eyes burned like coals buried in frost, and its sword—half fire, half shadow—dripped with raw malice.
Elior's scales prickled, claws digging into stone. The Direfang Armor hummed faintly, its healing effect keeping his battered body just steady enough for what came next.
> [Boss Battle Initiated: Wraith Knight – Tier 3 Elite]
Survival Odds: 21%.
Rewards: Dungeon Heart, Unknown Epic Drops.
---
First Clash
The knight moved faster than its bulk suggested. Its blade came down in a sweeping arc, splitting the floor open. Elior dodged, heat and shadow licking his face as the strike barely missed.
He countered—claws slashing across the knight's chest. Sparks flew, scales scraping against bone armor. The knight did not flinch. Instead, it backhanded him across the chamber.
Elior slammed into a pillar, stone cracking around him. His blood dripped into the runes etched on the ground, and for a moment, they flared brighter.
> [Blood Resonance Detected: Dungeon Heart reacts to host]
---
Bloodfire Breath
Elior roared, exhaling his newly unlocked power. Crimson fire gushed forward, washing over the knight. The shadow-armor hissed, glowing red under the assault.
The knight staggered, but did not fall. It raised its blade and carved through the fire, the chamber filling with smoke. Out of the haze, its skeletal grin burned brighter.
---
System Fusion Surge
The dragon rumbled: "Break it with force."
The vampire hissed: "Bleed it dry."
The Overflow Engine chirped: [Loot potential: Soul Shards detected].
The systems collided, their voices pushing into Elior's mind. His blood boiled; his claws lengthened further, glowing faintly crimson.
> [Temporary State: Fusion Overdrive Activated]
Strength +5 | Speed +4 | Willpower +6
Elior lunged, faster than he had ever moved, his claws slamming against the knight's blade. Sparks showered.
---
The Knight's Counter
The knight twisted, dragging Elior close. Its hollow voice rasped in his ear:
"Blood. Yours. Mine."
Its sword pierced into his side, fire and shadow eating into flesh. Elior roared in agony, but instead of retreating, he sank his fangs deep into the knight's shoulder joint.
The taste was wrong—ash and flame—but beneath it pulsed something rich: a stolen soul. He drank greedily.
> [Ability Unlocked: Soul Drain – Minor]
Effect: Absorb fragments of enemy essence to heal.
---
Locked in Struggle
The two figures, dragon-vampire hybrid and skeletal knight, grappled in the heart of the dungeon. Fire and shadow met blood and claw, each refusing to yield.
The dungeon itself trembled, runes pulsing like a heartbeat, as if it waited for the victor to claim its core.