~Laurent
The morning light broke through the cracks in the curtain, a pale stripe across my face. I groaned and rolled onto my side, blinking at the faint hum that always came before the shimmer.
[Status Menu]
It spread across my vision, neat and precise as ever.
Name: Laurent Draven
Level: 2
Strength: 29
Agility: 10
Endurance: 11
Perception: 6
Intelligence: 8
Skills:
• Blood Instinct
• Night Vision
• Claw Manifestation
• Fang Bite
• Shadow Step
• Blood Recovery
Weapons:
• Fang & Talon (Twin Daggers)
I swiped the screen and a new icon blinked at the corner of my vision: [Inbox: 1 New Message]
A familiar tension crawled up my spine as I tapped it open.
[Daily Task Generated]
Mission: Enter the Crimson Hollow and retrieve the Heart of the Abyss. Defeat the guardian, Gorath the Warden.
Rewards: New weapon, +20 attribute points, possible rare skill unlock.
Penalty: Loss of half current stats. Physical trauma.
I stared at it for a moment. The words Heart of the Abyss pulsed faintly, like it was alive.
I sighed as I saw the location that I was supposed to go to. This was even worse than the Ashen Crypt. I could actually lose my life here.
Marek and Jonah were still asleep, the sound of their breathing filling the room. I slid quietly from my bunk and pulled on my cloak. The air outside the dorm was cool, washed in early light. Dew clung to the grass, the kind that soaked through boots if you weren't careful.
"Alright," I exhaled. "Let's get this over with."
The shimmer flared across my eyes again.
[Activate portal to the Crimson Hollow?]
Yes / No
"Yes."
The air split open in front of me, a swirl of black and red mist. The sound was like tearing fabric. I stepped through.
–––
The world twisted. When it settled, the smell hit first — iron, smoke, and something wet.
I stood in a canyon of crimson rock. The ground beneath my boots pulsed faintly, like veins running through the earth. Shadows clung to the cliffs, shifting, breathing.
[Crimson Hollow – Level 1 Zone]
The moment I took a step forward, something crawled out of the rock wall.
[Crimson Imp – Rank F]
It was small, maybe the size of a child, skin cracked and red, eyes like molten coals. It shrieked and lunged.
I met it head-on. Talon flashed once — the imp dissolved in a burst of ash. Too easy.
Another came. Then three more. I danced through them, blades singing, Blood Instinct guiding each strike. Their claws barely grazed me before they fell.
Each kill sent a faint pulse of warmth through my body. The system chimed again and again.
[+2 Strength]
[+1 Agility]
[Level 2 → Level 3]
The hollow stretched deeper ahead, tunnels branching like veins. The air thickened as I walked, heavy with copper.
[Level 2 Zone Unlocked]
The ground trembled. From the far end of the corridor, something massive stirred.
[Crimson Fiend – Rank E]
It crawled out of the dark on six limbs, its body plated with bone armor, its jaw split open into four parts that screamed in harmony.
I rushed forward. Fang and Talon struck in arcs, carving along its side. Black blood splattered. It swung a claw the size of a shovel, catching my ribs. I staggered but didn't fall. Blood Recovery kicked in — wounds closing mid-motion.
I rolled, drove Talon through its throat, then tore it free. The fiend crumbled into dust.
[+3 Strength]
[+2 Endurance]
"Still easy," I muttered, chest heaving. "Too easy."
But as I stepped deeper, the air changed again.
–––
[Level 3 Zone Unlocked]
This chamber was larger — a cathedral of red stone, ceiling lost in fog. Torches burned with black fire.
Shapes slithered out from the dark — tall, lean, armored.
[Crimson Sentinels – Rank D]
They moved like trained soldiers, spears gleaming.
The first one lunged, and for a moment I was overwhelmed — three at once, strikes coordinated, precise. My daggers caught two blows but the third grazed my cheek.
Blood Instinct flared hot, pulling me into their rhythm. I ducked under a spear thrust, drove Fang into a Sentinel's knee, twisted, then cut through the other's midsection.
They fought in silence, no screams, only the sound of metal and breath. When the last one fell, my arms trembled from the effort.
The system chimed again, and this time, a new notification appeared.
[New Skill Unlocked: Blood Surge]
Temporarily enhances strength and speed when HP drops below 40%.
A small grin tugged at my lips. "Now we're talking."
I wiped the blood off my face, breathing hard.
Deeper still. The hollow narrowed into a long hall lined with glowing runes. The air pulsed in time with my heartbeat.
[Level 4 Zone – Boss Ahead]
I slowed, eyes narrowing as the next message appeared.
[New Weapon Unlocked: Crimson Spear – "Vermilion Edge"]
The air shimmered, and the spear materialized before me. Its shaft was dark steel veined with red, the blade long and curved, etched with unfamiliar runes. It hummed faintly when I touched it.
Weapon Trait:
• Attacks extend reach with blood energy.
• Piercing strikes cause internal bleed.
I exhaled. "Alright. Let's see what you can do against a worthy opponent."
The gate at the end of the hall groaned open, and a wave of heat rolled through.
[Boss Monster: Gorath, Warden of the Abyss – Rank B]
He was huge — twelve feet tall, armored in black chitin. His head was half skull, half molten flesh, and chains hung from his wrists, dragging across the floor with a sound like screaming metal. His eyes burned violet.
I stepped back instinctively, the energy of this new foe enough to make me want to run in the opposite direction. The power he radiated was immense, even though I just levelled up and got a new stronger weapon, I still didn't feel confident.
I took a deep breath and then lunged for the monster. I wasn't sure I stood a chance against this monster but I would never know unless I tried.
–––
The fight began like a storm. Gorath swung a chain that cut through stone. I rolled under it, Blood Instinct whispering in my head. I lunged with Vermilion Edge, the spear slicing across his shoulder. Sparks flew, and dark blood hissed as it hit the ground.
He roared, but I was already moving, spinning the spear, driving the blade into his thigh. Each impact sent shockwaves up my arms.
The weapon hummed with life. Each strike faster, sharper. I slashed across his chest, drew blood, then again across his neck.
He fell to his knees, coughing blood. I grinned, circling him.
"This has been surprisingly easy." I smiled and pointed the spear at him. "It's time to end this."
His chains lifted from the ground, glowing red.
[Phase Shift Detected – Gorath Adapting]
His wounds sealed in seconds. His eyes blazed brighter. He growled and lunged for me.
He moved faster this time — impossibly fast for his size. His chain whipped across the floor, catching my ankle. Pain shot up my leg as he yanked me off my feet.
I hit the ground hard. The air left my lungs.
Before I could rise, he was there — a shadow blotting out the light. His fist came down like a hammer. I barely rolled away, the impact cracking the floor where I'd been.
I slashed upward. Vermilion Edge cut through his arm — shallow but clean. He roared again, backhanding me across the chamber.
I crashed into the wall. Bones screamed.
Blood Recovery worked overtime, flesh knitting, but it wasn't fast enough now.
He came again. Chains slashed, sparks flying. I parried once, twice — the third caught my shoulder, tearing through cloth and skin.
I fell to one knee.
[Warning: HP Critical – 40% Remaining]
Blood Surge triggered. My veins burned red. Speed flooded back. I darted in low, striking three times in rapid succession — leg, chest, neck. The spear sang, drawing arcs of blood but Gorath only smiled — a terrible, broken thing.
The flames in his eyes flared. His body expanded, skin cracking as more molten light spilled through. His voice was a growl that shook the floor.
The next blow hit like a thunderclap. His chain smashed into my ribs, sending me tumbling end over end. I crashed to the floor, coughing blood.
[Warning: HP Critical – 10% Remaining]
The first hit took out most of my HP but Gorath didn't give me a chance to recover. In seconds he was upon me again. I dropped the spear as his second punch connected with my face, sending me sprawling across the room.
He advanced, dragging a sword now — a jagged blade, black as void. Sparks trailed behind it as he scraped it along the ground.
Each step echoed, slow and final.
I tried to move, but my body didn't respond. I had no energy left. Gorath walked slowly and deliberately towards me, dragging his sword along the floor with intent.
A pop up flickered desperately in front of my eyes.
[Use Escape Card?]
Yes / No
I reached for it but I was too weak, too slow to get to the pop up in time.
The last thing I saw was Gorath's blade lifting, molten light reflecting off its edge, his voice rumbling like thunder.
"Die."
Then the sword came down.