Gavin stayed hidden in his shadow while he listened to the words. Inform their master? This doesn't seem like an actual dungeon. These guys are showing intelligence, and the first Vampire was shocked to see me. Koray, what in the hell is going on?
Gavin jumped out of the Vampire's shadow and grabbed him by the back of the neck. With one quick twist of Gavin's wrist, the Vampire let out a cry and crumpled to the ground.
Three out of ten Vampires were defeated. Seven remain.
Gavin looked around as his chest heaved from exertion. His limbs burned from the effort, but he was grinned. Damn, three down already. They may not be physically strong, but their magic is a problem.
His back still burned from the earlier impact and his arms were sore from blocking that second strike. He could feel his stamina slowly depleting as his Were-Wolf healing began to take effect in mending his minor injuries. Perhaps on my next level up, I'll spend everything on stamina to help with that Were-Wolf healing skill.
Gavin rolled his shoulders as the pain lessened in his back. The dark cliché castle was creeping him out. This felt like a video game level he'd played a thousand times back home.
He quickly walked through the tunnels, head on a swivel. He continued along the path, going up a flight of stairs and beyond as he eventually ended up entering a giant room.
Gavin paused as he stepped through the threshold. It was quiet.
Too quiet.
Thick stone pillars, cracked with age, lined the walls along the length of the room. Old tapestries hung from the banners and a single throne made from a strange black material stood at the far end of the hall.
The throne itself was stuff made from nightmares. It was made from bones of previous victims. A single wide seat with white, red and blackened bones protruding from the sides for arm rests. Each arm rest ended with a curved skull. Gavin could barely make out canine features on the right, yet couldn't figure out what the one on the left was. A tall backrest that was lined with skulls of different races across the top.
Dark red steins littered across the white bone of the chair.
The air shimmered, like a spell dissolving.
Alert. Floor boss detected. New quest received. Defeat Vampire Lord.
"I take it you must be the floor boss." Gavin muttered as he took stock of the large, opposing creature that sat in the giant black throne. The creature looked up from where it held a strange looking beast by the neck. It remained silent and continued drinking form the carcass.
It was a standoff that lasted several tense moments until the Vampire tossed the drained husk to the side and wiped his lips. His black eyes shone with malice as he regarded Gavin at the other end of the hall.
"You must be the latest favored brat from Koray." The creature responded with a lilting cadence. "We do not need to fight young wolf. Come, drink by my side and together we can forge an army that can take on the gods themselves." The Vampire Lord's lilting cadence was laced with mana as he spoke softly to Gavin.
Gavin took one step forward.
Then another as the magic filled his mind and clouded his thoughts.
He's right. Is it even worth continuing to struggle through this dungeon? Gavin wondered as if the thought of joining the Vampire Lord in front of him was all too appealing.
It'd become peaceful I bet. No more fighting, or struggles. I wouldn't be alone anymore.
Gavin! Snap out of it you damned fool! He is trying to enthrall you and make you his slave. Since when did the feral beast of a wolf want to become somebodies bitch?! Veronica shouted in his mind as a new message popped up.
Alert. Mental manipulation detected.
Veronica's words and the message distracted Gavin enough that he shook his head and used the claws on his right hand to tear down his left arm. The pain of the injury helped to clear the magic from Gavin's mind and his thoughts became clear.
"Nice try, you undead bastard. But I will leave here with your head." Gavin snarled in anger and pain.
Alert. Enthrallment disabled by users' actions. Attempt by the enemy Vampire Lord failed.
The Vampire Lord lifted his hand and seven cloaked figures dropped down from the ceiling. All of them had their arms raised at Gavin, different elemental spells poised to strike.
"I expect results." The Vampire Lord's lilting voice filled the room. "Bring me his body alive. I want to drain him myself." His command echoed with power and authority.
Alert. Floor boss detected. New quest reward received-one elixir of restoration.
Gavin grinned like a madman. His inner wolf was hungry for a battle. He found himself surrounded by seven powerful Vampires as they all aimed their spells. A cluster of elemental spells were sent flying in his direction simultaneously. The very air crackled from the power of so much magical might being used at once.
Gavin kept his head on a swivel as he did the only move he could at the time. He crouched low and jumped high into the rafters of the throne room.
He grabbed onto one of the rotted wood beams and quickly swung his feet. He propelled his body forward as he landed behind one of the Vampires.
The Vampires cried out in alarm as they turned to face him on top of the Vampire.
Gavin reached down to slice his clawed hand across the Vampire's throat. The Vampire gurgled and tried to cover his neck. He crumpled to the ground as Gavin started running once more around the room. He jumped, dipped, dived and dodged the spells the remaining six Vampires hurled at him.
The Vampire Lord raised his hand towards Gavin, a crooked smile on his face.
Gavin blinked several times as he found himself standing in the center of the forest from the first floor. The mold and dampness from the throne room was replaced by dirt, trees and fresh air. He stopped mid-stride and looked around in confusion.
"What the hell?" Gavin muttered as he searched for the enemies that were just in front of him moments ago. Where did the castle go? How did I end up back here?
Suddenly Gavin cried out as he felt a blade of water slice down his chest. He swiped with his hand.
Nothing to see.
Nothing to tear.
Alert. Illusion magic detected.
Alert. Health down to ninety points.
Multiple messages appeared one after the other as Gavin growled low in his throat. Veronica, what are the options here? I can't see them to kill them.
Analyzing. This is just illusion magic Master Gavin. You are still located on the second floor in the throne room. The culprit appears to be the Vampire Lord from the throne. A concentrated blast of mana should enable you to break through the illusion spell he placed you under. But be warned, using so much mana will risk running out and force shift back into human form.
Veronica's warning filled Gavin's mind. Another strike of magic landed against his back. He swung out with a clawed hand and again, hit nothing but empty air.
"Screw the risks." Gavin growled as he closed his eyes momentarily and focused on his mana. A sufficient blast of magical power huh? Memories came back of Veronica controlling what remained of his mana against the first-floor boss.
He focused on his anger and the pain in his body as his arms trembled. His mana manifested around him as a dark red curtain. A powerful wind picked up around Gavin.
His eyes glowed a vibrant red as his anger mounted. He threw his head back and roared to the heavens. The sound echoed all around him as his mana blasted out in all directions. Dark red blades of energy made physical sliced through the throne room, ending the spell.
The air shimmered, then shattered like broken glass as the spell was canceled out. The blades of red mana sliced clean through the stone pillars as the wind picked up. Tables flew in all directions as the other Vampires struggled to remain on their feet. Their black cloaks billowed out around them.
The lesser Vampires were able to dodge the sheer number of blades at the start. But they were soon overwhelmed by the intensity of mana infused blades that sliced everything apart.
Multiple messages appeared to Gavin.
Fourth Vampire was defeated. Six remain.
Fifth Vampire was defeated. Five remain.
Sixth Vampire was defeated. Four remain.
Seventh Vampire was defeated. Three remain.
"You fools are useless!" The Vampire Lord shouted as he stood up from his bone throne. Dark grey wings unfurled from his back and his eyes glowed a vibrant red now. His entire body trembled as he held his hands out and blocked the mana blades with his bare palm.
He closed his hand over the blade, and it shattered instantly. "This is just one single wolf. Bring him down already, or I will kill you all myself!" The Vampire Lord glared at Gavin until he noticed something.
The fur on Gavin's arms receded slightly before returning to where it was.
"He is weakening you fools. Strike now!" he instructed as he threw out his hands and spikes of shadow magic erupted from the ground at Gavin's feet.
Gavin staggered slightly jumping out of the way. His breathing was ragged and he fought to maintain his shift.
Alert. Stamina is down to fifteen points. Mana is down to twenty points. Estimated time remaining in shift is five minutes. Gavin, you must hurry of risk losing this fight.
Gavin grunted his acknowledgment. That was easy for her to say.
Gavin clenched his fist as he struggled. He strained to breathe as he jumped back and threw out a fist, connecting to the Vampire that foolishly charged in.
"I'm not so weak to allow myself taken out by the undead." Gavin snarled in the Vampire's face. He grabbed him by the cloak and pulled the Vampire closer. Gavin snapped his canines around the throat and ripped back.
Blood covered Gavin as he spit the pale flesh out of his mouth and winced at the rotting taste. "Damn, you taste foul," Gavin complained.
Eight Vampires were defeated. Two remain.
Gavin charged forward to the two remaining Vampires. He had only one more use of this skill left today so he had to make it quick. As he ran forward on all fours, he threw his head back and activated his skill. Hunter's Howl activated.
The sound reverberated through the throne room, eerie and foreboding. The first Vampire hesitated as he heard the cry from Gavin. Fear gripped his heart as he struggled to move but his body refused to listen.
Gavin quickly closed the distance as he lunged, landing with all four limbs on the Vampire's chest and with a quick swipe of his claws he tore the throat out before he jumped off.
He approached the second Vampire and just as Gavin was about to strike, the Vampire jumped back out of reach.
Damn it, the spell didn't last on this one. Gavin cursed as he gave chase. The remaining Vampire threw out fire balls to kill Gavin. Gavin dodged them by jumping into his shadow and reappeared behind the final Vampire. He opened his jaws and bit down on the Vampire's head, twisting and tore the head clean from the body.
Ninth Vampire was defeated. One of ten remains.
Tenth Vampire was defeated. Zero out of ten remain.
Congratulations. Quest completed. Ten Vampires slain. Reward-instant level up.
Gavin gasped as he felt new energy enter his fatigued body.
Level six achieved. Health, stamina and magic have been replenished. All skill cool downs have been replenished.
Current active quests.
One. Defeat the Vampire Lord. Reward one elixir of restoration.
Two. Conquer the second floor without becoming enthralled by the enemy within. Reward. Instant skill level up.
A volcano of blood erupted from the neck as the body dropped to the ground. Gavin panted as he spat the head out and glared at the Vampire Lord that stood in front of his bone white throne.
"You and me left big guy." Gavin grinned as he felt rejuvenated by the level up. I have a feeling it's going to take everything I have to bring him down.
The Vampire Lord laughed as his eyes grew into large saucers. He lifted his finger and a purple miasma of mana exploded throughout the throne room. It washed over Gavin as it flowed out around the Vampire Lord.
Alert. Interference detected from the Vampire Lord. Regeneration is reduced by fifty percent, and all cool downs are paused as a result. Leave the Boss's domain to remove status effect.
Oh, seven's hells. Gavin grimaced as he felt the purple miasma of the Vampire Lord's mana wash over him.
"Not so fast pup. My domain, my rules." The Vampire Lord flashed a fang-toothed grin at Gavin as his body began to tremble. The Vampire Lord growled low as his body enlarged and grew in height.
His cloak fell off his shoulders as his skin turned paler and grew tight along his body. His black eyes glowed purple with his mana as his wings flared out behind him. His low growl turned into a horrifying shriek, the stuff of nightmares.
It looks like this fight is just beginning. Gavin thought as he braced himself.