Endless Trials and the Dark Knight
Mu-hyuk had cleared the first stage in record time, but every second counted now.
"Let's move."
Descending the newly appeared stairs, they entered a vast hall.
For the second stage, flying monsters would appear, so he'd already ordered his skeletons to prepare their magic.
Having held back on skills to finish the first stage, he could unleash a barrage of spells right from the start.
Boom!Kaboom!
The moment the massive explosions faded, Mu-hyuk sprang into action.
Flying monsters soared through the air.
He locked onto one and kicked off the ground.
"Hup!"
He barely grabbed its leg. With a surge of strength, he flung himself upward, arcing in a semicircle to land on its back. His sword slashed down, severing a wing.
Kieeeeeek!
Even losing one wing was enough to send a flying monster crashing down. No greed for the remaining wing—he leaped to the next one nearby.
Meanwhile, the crippled monster plummeted. Mu-hyuk turned, driving his sword into another.
Squelch.
He twisted the blade free and jumped to the next target.
Relentless motion.
"Hoo…"
Thanks to that, the second stage cleared just as swiftly.
Time spent on stage two: 11 minutes.
Remaining time: 32 minutes 20 seconds.
Plenty of leeway, but that only deepened his unease.
Too much time left.
Maybe the third stage isn't the end.
He shelved the thought.
Focus on clearing the third—for now.
"Get ready!"
Light flared.
The new monsters appeared, and another fierce battle unfolded.
*
Arriving at his destination, Dark faced a Yaksha boasting pitch-black skin.
Grrroooar!
As it charged, Dark thrust out his shield.
Kaboom!
It felt like an explosion, but the impact wasn't as devastating as the sound suggested.
As expected…!
Ecstasy gleamed in Dark's eyes.
Thanks to enhancements, the HP drain was negligible. Then it rammed again. Dark twisted his waist slightly, shoving the shield forward to minimize shock and topple the Yaksha's balance.
Lightning Strike
The heavens split.
Kraaaack!
Lightning crashed down.
-5,711 HP
He hammered the stunned Yaksha relentlessly.
-3,127 HP
The damage output was insane.
As expected…!
This was the true power of enhancements.
I can win this.
As he wound up another strike, the Yaksha shook off its stun.
It roared, stomping the ground. Crimson energy erupted from its feet, enveloping Dark completely.
HP continuously decreases.
Movement speed greatly reduced.
Attack speed greatly reduced.
Reaction speed greatly reduced.
His body moved in slow motion.
Frustration choked him.
The Yaksha closed in, swinging a fist wreathed in demonic energy that ravaged Dark's body.
Thud… kaboom.
His vision reeled from the impact.
Am I flying?
Regaining his senses, Dark cast a heal.
Great Heal
Still sluggish. He skidded across the floor on a poor landing.
The leaping Yaksha stomped his chest.
Shield
Shield blocked the first blow; he rolled away.
Thud!
Another hit from the encroaching Yaksha. Enhancements saved him—otherwise, he'd be dead.
Just hold on a bit longer!
He endured, steeling his will.
All stats return to normal.
Finally, his body responded properly.
He shoved the Yaksha back with his shield.
Holy Sword
Pure white light cloaked his blade.
Haste! Strength!
Buffs stacked, he unleashed his ultimate single-target nuke.
"Haaaaap!"
Heaven's Wrath.
Thud… rumble rumble boom!
A colossal bolt, infused with holy power, speared the Yaksha. Second bolt, third—and the rent sky mended.
Experience gained.
The Yaksha—far stronger than normal, with its black skin—lay defeated.
*
Hunting became viable, greed followed.
Need more enhancements.
He'd grown disillusioned with Holy Knight lately, but no turning back.
He'd chosen it for hybrid potential, but now it paled against other jobs.
Mediocre damage, mediocre buffs.
Nothing satisfied.
Enhancements are all I have.
Then came this hope. They let him hunt above his level, naturally breeding ambition.
Quest first.
As thoughts settled, another Yaksha appeared.
Grrroooar!
Another brutal fight—he triumphed.
Experience gained.
Acquired Yaksha's Heart.
Quest item dropped.
"Oh ho…!"
Needed five; luck struck early—one down. Four more to go.
Thought it'd take forever…
Grinning, he dove back in.
Experience gained.
Experience gained.
Less than two hours later, another.
Good—two down!
Three more to end it.
Dark's focused expression twisted over time. Drop rate sucked.
First four hours: two drops. Next eight: zero.
Come on, drop already!
Three days of grinding later, he had all five. He rushed back to the Empire, meeting the noble NPC.
"Good work."
"No problem."
"Faster than I expected—quite the surprise."
Dark smiled.
"So, I've prepared a special gift."
"Special gift?"
"Indeed. Interested?"
As if he wouldn't be.
"Of course."
The noble's eyes gleamed coldly.
"Your current class is Holy Knight, right?"
"Yes."
"What if you could become far stronger?"
Dark tilted his head at first, then grasped it. Excitement lit his face.
A new class?
The noble chuckled darkly, reading him.
"What say you?"
"If it makes me stronger…"
"And if it does?"
"I'll do anything."
"Good attitude. Then I'll trust you with this. Refuse, and bad things might happen—know that."
The noble's vibe shifted. His kindly face now radiated menace.
Dark nodded anyway. True power? He'd do anything.
"Know of the darkness?"
"Darkness…?"
Episode 1 flashed in mind.
"Black Mage?"
"Just a sliver. True darkness slumbers deeply, building power. I'll give you a piece. Accept?"
It clicked.
Darkness's power.
Accepting meant joining its faction.
Possibly enemies of the continent.
But that thrilled him more.
"Will it really make me stronger?"
"Of course."
"Much stronger?"
"Naturally. Wary? One chance: accept, and within an hour, change your mind. I'll reclaim the power harmlessly. After? You're darkness's forever."
No downside.
Hate it? Cancel.
"I'll accept."
"Heh, good."
The noble extended a hand.
Viscous darkness billowed, engulfing Dark.
Accept the new power 'Darkness'?
Yes / No
Accepting will change class to Dark Knight.
Yes.
A cascade of messages.
Reviewing details, a grin spread.
Pure DPS heaven.
Buffs, debuffs too.
Three AoEs.
Sky-high coefficients.
Perfect…!
Dark had obtained his dream class.
*
Third stage cleared in 15 minutes.
Remaining time: 18 minutes 12 seconds
Still 18 minutes left.
Turning, stairs led deeper.
"Hah."
Fourth stage.
"Third wasn't the end."
"Knew it."
Users grumbled.
"Five stages?"
"Maybe."
Mu-hyuk ignored them, heading down.
"Descending."
They followed reluctantly. Below: a smaller hall than expected.
"Small."
"Hm."
Light burst—not from walls, but center.
"Center?"
"What?"
One monster emerged.
Boss Monster 'Giant Cyclops' appears.
The problem: it was the boss.
"Crazy…!"
"Boss monster?"
Over five meters tall, massive.
Defeat it in 18 minutes? Possible?
No time for doubt—act.
Just one anyway.
Chaos meant summons wouldn't obey well.
Lead by example.
Mu-hyuk morphed his sword to bow, nocked an arrow.
Storm, Powerful Arrow Shot.
Releasing, nearby Armor Archers loosed bone arrows too. They riddled the Giant Cyclops— it bellowed.
--------!
Straight-line then fan-shaped shockwave, too fast to dodge.
Unable to move for 5 seconds.
Frozen, he watched the follow-up.
"Damn…!"
"Can't move!"
Users died fast.