The silver-armored Paladin strode across the ruined square, each step heavy with holy purpose. His blade gleamed, etched with runes that glowed like dawn itself. Around him, the smoldering village seemed to shrink, as if even the ashes feared his presence.
Elior stood tall amid the wreckage, Direfang Armor pulsing faintly, bloodfire licking his claws. His heart thundered—not with fear, but with exhilaration. This was no beast, no mindless dungeon spawn. This was his first true test against mankind.
---
System Warnings
> [Battle Commenced: Paladin of the Silver Order – Tier 4]
Survival Chance: 18%.
Enemy Traits: Holy Resistance, Light Affinity, Purification Aura.
Recommended Action: Evade or Escape.
The vampire snarled: "Run? Never. Drain his sanctity."
The dragon's growl thundered: "Steel against fang. Crush his order."
The Overflow Engine chimed: [Potential loot: Holy Relic, Silver Rune Blade].
---
First Exchange
The Paladin moved with impossible speed. His sword flared, a crescent of light cutting across the ruins. Elior leapt aside, stone exploding where he'd just stood.
Elior countered, claws slashing forward. Bloodfire trailed behind his strike, a crimson arc aimed at the knight's chest. The Paladin met it with his blade. Steel rang, sparks spraying.
Holy energy surged down the weapon, searing Elior's arm. He hissed in pain, smoke curling from his scales.
> [Debuff Applied: Light Burn – Ongoing Damage]
The Paladin's voice rang clear.
"Abomination. You should never have crawled out of that pit."
Elior grinned through the burn.
"Funny. I was just thinking the same about you."
---
Bloodfire Clash
The systems pulsed, pouring strength into his limbs. Elior roared, wings of crimson flame bursting from his back. He lunged, exhaling Bloodfire Breath. The torrent of red flame slammed against the Paladin's radiant shield, the clash of light and bloodfire splitting the air with a deafening boom.
The shield cracked—but held.
The Paladin pushed through the flames, holy aura blazing brighter. His sword came down, forcing Elior back step by step.
> [Warning: Vitality dropping – 72% remaining]
---
Counterstrike
Elior's claws dug into the ground. He twisted, grabbing rubble from a broken wall and hurling it into the Paladin's path. As the knight cut through it, Elior vanished into smoke and reappeared at his flank, driving his claws into the gaps of silver armor.
Sparks flew. Blood spilled—not his own.
> [Loot Secured: Holy Blood Fragment x1]
The Paladin grunted, twisting free. A line of crimson streaked across the steel of his breastplate.
For the first time, his calm voice faltered.
"…So you truly are not human."
Elior's eyes glowed crimson, fangs bared.
"Not anymore."
---
The Duel Intensifies
The square became a storm of fire and light, rubble scattering as predator and Paladin clashed again and again. Neither yielded, each blow testing the limits of the other.
And above, unseen in the smoke, the Dungeon Heart in Elior's chest pulsed harder, hungering for more.