Leon didn't even let the [Darkness Shaman] finish his sentence.
The moment the words left the creature's mouth, Leon had already raised his staff and launched a fireball straight at him.
There was no hesitation.
This thing was the final obstacle of the S-Level assessment. The last guardian. The existence that had likely crushed the hopes of everyone who managed to reach this far.
Receiving an [S-Rank] evaluation didn't mean success was guaranteed. Failing the assessment was still very much possible.
Leon had no intention of taking that risk.
If there was even a small chance this thing could overwhelm him if given time, then the smartest option was obvious: kill it fast.
"Not good," the shaman groaned, irritation clear in his voice as he lifted his scepter. "I hate when people interrupt me."
Darkness surged outward.
Darkness Barrier!
A thick, pitch-black barrier formed in front of the shaman just in time. The fireball slammed into it with tremendous force, erupting in a violent explosion that shook the peak of the mountain.
The barrier held. Barely.
Cracks spread across its surface like spiderwebs, evidence of how powerful the spell had been.
"You carry both a sword and a staff," the shaman remarked calmly, his eyes fixed on Leon. "How intriguing."
"I hear that one often," Leon replied flatly.
Unlike the [Soldiers of Darkness], the [Darkness Shaman] was fully aware. It observed. It judged. It adapted.
That alone made it dangerous. Leon didn't stop.
Lightning Strike!
A bolt of lightning crashed down, striking the darkness barrier again. The cracks deepened, spreading rapidly across the surface.
The shaman's expression shifted. Only slightly, but Leon noticed.
At that moment, the shaman understood something important.
This human's combat power was no joke. And so, it was his turn.
Darkness Ball!
The shaman swung his scepter, condensing darkness into a massive sphere that pulsed violently before shooting straight toward Leon.
Vision Enhancement!
Leon activated the skill instantly. The world slowed.
Every movement became clear. The flow of darkness. The angle of the attack. The timing.
BOOM!
Leon leapt to the side just before impact. The darkness ball slammed into the ground behind him and exploded, sending debris and shattered stone flying in all directions.
Leon didn't retreat.
Fwoosh!
He surged forward, closing the distance in an instant. His sword flashed as he struck the barrier again and again, each swing heavy with strength.
The barrier trembled.
Crack!
With one final blow, the [Darkness Barrier] shattered completely, dissolving into fragments of fading darkness.
The shaman staggered back.
"What?" he exclaimed, genuine shock in his voice. "You destroyed it in so few attacks… how strong are you?!"
Leon didn't answer. He simply raised his staff.
Powerful Fireball!
Another blazing sphere shot forward.
The shaman snarled and responded immediately, launching another darkness ball. The two collided midair, detonating in a massive explosion that engulfed the peak in fire and shadow.
"It'll take much more than that to defeat me!" the shaman roared. "I have stopped most of those who came here. You won't be any different!"
The smoke slowly cleared. And then the shaman frowned. The human was gone.
SLASH!
Pain erupted through his body as Leon's sword cleaved straight through him from behind, slicing him cleanly in half before he could even react.
The shaman froze. Then his body split apart and collapsed.
Ding!
[You have killed "Darkness Shaman (Boss)"]
[100% Drop Rate has triggered, items have been automatically placed in your storage space.]
Leon exhaled slowly and lowered his weapons.
He immediately checked what had dropped.
[Sub-Talent Scroll: Darkness Manipulation (C-Level)]
[Darkness Barrier (Epic): Focus the element of darkness into a barrier that can tank several blows. Requirement: Darkness Manipulation (C-Level)]
[Skill Stones x3]
[Legacy Fragment x3]
"Damn."
Leon didn't waste time.
He grabbed the [Sub-Talent Scroll] and tore it apart, guiding the dark energy straight into his body, attempting to fuse it with his existing sub-talent.
The darkness surged violently.
Then—
Ding!
[Fusion successful.]
"…It actually worked?!"
Leon felt a sudden change. The darkness around him wasn't just reacting to him anymore.
It was emanating from him.
[You have evolved "Darkness Manipulation (C-Level)" to "Vessel of Darkness (B-Level)"]
[Vessel of Darkness (B-Level): Darkness seems to emanate from you, darkness-based attacks will deal a LOT less damage to you. Perhaps evolving this talent any further isn't a good idea.]
Leon stared at the description. A B-Level sub-talent.
He hadn't expected that. Not this fast.
Unlike other sub-talents that specialized in specific effects, this one felt broad. Fundamental. Almost dangerous in how simple it was.
The warning at the end caught his attention as well.
"…Interesting."
He stored that thought away for later.
Next, Leon poured mana into the [Darkness Barrier] skill scroll and tore it apart.
Ding!
[You have learned "Darkness Barrier"]
With his new sub-talent, he was confident the barrier would be far stronger than what the shaman had used.
Once everything was settled, Leon turned toward the small monument the shaman had been protecting.
He walked closer, each step slow and deliberate.
The moment he reached the center of the area—
Every [Legacy Fragment] inside his [Storage Space] burst out at once.
The pages spun around Leon in a wide circle, moving faster and faster until they merged together in a blinding flash of light.
Leon shielded his eyes.
When the light faded, an ancient book floated in mid-air before him. Golden divine runes surfaced and vanished across its cover, radiating an overwhelming presence.
Ding!
[You have obtained the "Book of Inheritance"]
"I guess that really was the goal of the assessment," Leon said, letting out a relieved breath. "Good."
He reached out and grabbed the book.
The moment his hand touched it, Leon felt a subtle urge, guiding him toward the pedestal behind the monument.
"My assessment should be complete once I place this, right?"
Leon stepped forward and set the [Book of Inheritance] onto the pedestal.
It locked into place instantly.
And then—
Ding!
[Open the "Book of Inheritance" and face the gaze of the gods.]
"…Seriously?"
Leon stared at the panel.
He had genuinely believed that assembling the book would be the end of it. The reward. The conclusion.
But it seemed there was still more.
"Well," Leon muttered, tightening his grip on his weapons, "whatever. Bring it on."
He opened the book. Instantly, a blinding flash of light swallowed him whole.
Ding!
[You have entered the "Heavenly Courtyard"]
Leon felt himself being pulled through space itself. His senses blurred, and a moment later, he slammed onto solid ground.
He rolled and sprang to his feet immediately, staff and sword raised, fully prepared for battle.
But nothing attacked him. The place was silent.
Leon stood in a vast courtyard filled with ancient architecture. The structures were breathtaking, yet the pressure in the air made his skin crawl.
This wasn't a battlefield. This was something else entirely.
His eyes locked onto a massive gate in the distance. It was tightly shut, radiating an aura far greater than anything else around.
Leon swallowed.
'Must be the last room,' he thought as he started walking toward it. 'Here goes nothing.'
...
A/N
Powerstones greatly help the novel, if you like it feel free to give some, thank you!