They kept spawning, as I got closer the frequency of the spawns accelerated, as I cut down 3 or 4, 6 spawned in its place. I had to keep moving, the giant golem slammed the ground where I used to stand but Light Step had become almost second nature as I darted around the battlefield cutting down the smaller spawns to keep my Dark Pact active. Once again the large golem slammed its fist into the ground, I jumped on its arm and ran up striking the heart once again, the HP bar slightly chunked as I saw a crack in the casing, I aimed a precise Arcanic Blast at the heart, smashing open the casing and landing once again on the ground, I knew this was going to be hard as the others began to move from their positions and started to move towards me, I had to make the next attack count before the Crystal Elemental made its move.

I ran up the golem's arm and finally smashed the heart, it tumbled over throwing its fist into the other golems causing a destructive chain reaction as their fists connected with each other's hearts, causing them to destroy themselves. The smaller spawns stopped and fell to the floor. I heard wind and the sound of crystals picking up speed as the Crystal Elemental emerged from its spot with the name 'Elder Crystal Elemental' appearing on my HUD, this was it. This was going to be a long battle.

The tension in the battlefield thickened as the Elder Crystal Elemental loomed over me, its immense form radiating waves of arcane energy. Each movement it made sent tremors through the ground, shards of broken crystal glinting in the dim light. My breathing was steady, but I could feel the strain. This fight wasn’t going to be won by brute force alone—it would take every ounce of strategy and skill I had.

The elemental raised its enormous crystalline sword again, the air shimmering with raw power as it swung downward. I anticipated the attack this time, using Light Step to dart to the side. The sword smashed into the ground, sending a shockwave of crystal shards outward. I activated Dark Pact: Stamina Drain, dodging the shards and using the restored energy to close the gap between me and the massive construct.

“Alright, big guy,” I muttered, gripping my Unbidden Sword tighter. “Let’s see how you like this.”

With a flourish, I activated Sky Walk, bounding into the air and scaling the elemental’s massive frame. As I reached its shoulder, I aimed a precise Arcanic Blast at what I thought could be its core. The blast struck true, and the creature staggered slightly, a deep crack forming across its chest. But it wasn’t enough—the elemental’s HP bar barely moved.

The elemental retaliated, its crystalline form reshaping with terrifying speed. Its sword dissolved into razor-sharp shards, swirling around it like a deadly storm. The shards launched at me in rapid succession, forcing me to use Light Step repeatedly to avoid being skewered. My stamina bar dipped dangerously low, but I managed to stay ahead of the onslaught.

“Not good,” I hissed, chugging a Remedy X potion mid-movement. The refreshing burst of energy gave me just enough to plan my next move.

The elemental suddenly reformed, its chest splitting open to reveal a pulsing, glowing heart—a weak point, finally exposed. But this revelation came with a cost. The elemental unleashed a Crystalline Howl, a piercing shriek that disrupted my balance and drained a chunk of my HP.

“Damn it,” I growled, staggering but quickly regaining composure.

The heart was a clear target, but getting to it was another story. The elemental’s movements became erratic, its body morphing into jagged shapes designed to repel any assault. It swung its massive arm at me, and I narrowly avoided the attack, feeling the rush of wind as the crystals scraped past my armor.

I needed to break through its defenses, and I had one trick left. I activated Second Blade, conjuring a spectral copy of my Unbidden Sword in my off-hand. The dual blades pulsed with dark energy, their combined power amplifying my attack potential.

“Let’s end this,” I said, charging forward with renewed vigor.

Using Sky Walk again, I ascended rapidly, dodging a volley of crystal spikes as I closed in on the elemental’s heart. I unleashed a combination of Dark Pact: Mana Drain and Arcanic Blast in a series of precise strikes, each hit chipping away at its HP. The heart cracked further, its glow flickering.

The elemental roared in defiance, summoning a massive crystalline barrier around its heart. It began to channel an attack that made the entire arena tremble—a Crystal Maelstrom, swirling shards forming a devastating vortex.

“Not happening!” I shouted, activating Final Stand and rushing forward with all my remaining stamina. My blades struck the barrier repeatedly, each impact reverberating through my arms. Cracks began to spiderweb across the crystalline shield, but my HP was dropping fast under the relentless barrage of the maelstrom.

With one final surge, I activated Arcanic Blast: Overload, channeling every ounce of remaining MP into a single, devastating strike. The explosion shattered the barrier and pierced the elemental’s heart, the glow fading as it let out a final, guttural roar.

The Elder Crystal Elemental disintegrated into a cascade of shimmering fragments, the storm around us dissipating. A notification appeared on my HUD:

Quest Complete: The Crystal Elemental’s Heart Obtained. Reward: Crystal Heart (Rare), +10 Skill Points, Access to Spellblade Subclass.

I collapsed to one knee, panting heavily as the arena grew silent. The fragments of the elemental settled around me like glittering snow. My Unbidden Sword dimmed, its energy spent.

I stared at the glowing Crystal Heart in my inventory, a satisfied smile creeping onto my face. This wasn’t just a victory—it was the start of something new. The Spellblade subclass was mine, and with it, the promise of new power. As I looked over the newly unlocked abilities, a grin spread across my face. The Spellblade subclass was a game-changer. The combination of mobility, enhanced elemental control, and devastating potential with Vorpal made me feel unstoppable. The stat bonuses were precisely what I needed to take my combat prowess to the next level, especially after the beating I took from Blackfist. This wasn’t just about revenge—it was about reclaiming my pride and showing him just how far I could push the boundaries of skill and strategy.

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SPELLBLADE ABILITIES UNLOCKED

* Access to Tier 4 Elemental Spells: Unlocks powerful intermediate spells in fire, ice, lightning, and earth elements.

* Advanced Elemental Channeling: Allows seamless casting while in motion, increasing versatility in combat.

* Quickened Casting: Reduces casting time for all elemental spells by 30%.

* Elemental Damage Boost: 15% increase to all elemental damage dealt.

* Black Enchantment: Vorpal: Unlocks the Vorpal Blade ability, a finishing strike that can decapitate or sever a target when their HP is below 20%.

* Mobility Enhancement: Increases combat movement speed by 25%.

* Higher Agility: Provides a 25% boost to overall speed, including attack animations, dodging, and general movement.

With the mobility and speed bonuses combined, I was now 50% faster than before. I’d already been quick, but this was next-level. The agility boost alone would give me an edge in dodging and countering Blackfist’s relentless attacks. But the highlight was Vorpal—a conditional strike that required precision, timing, and skill. I couldn’t help but smirk. Blackfist had bested me once, but with this new arsenal, he wouldn’t see what was coming.

I spent the next hour refining my Atlas of Power, respeccing nodes to maximize synergy with my new abilities. I focused on three key areas: Elemental Mastery, Survivability, and Speed. Each node I unlocked brought my build closer to perfection. I sacrificed some raw physical damage mitigation to bolster my elemental defenses, knowing Blackfist’s Ascended abilities likely included elemental effects.

Then, I turned to my base stats. The Warlock class demanded a balance of Intelligence and Dexterity, but the Spellblade’s added reliance on speed and survivability meant I needed to adjust. I redistributed points to create a balanced build that could endure prolonged battles while dishing out devastating damage.

ASTRAEUS

Level: 100

Exp: 1,588,522/3,855,369

Attributes:

* HP: 12,000 (+20% from equipment bonuses)

* MP: 9,000 (+25% from Warlock passives)

* Stamina: 11,000 (+15% from Fighter passives)

* Strength: 450

* Dexterity: 520

* Intelligence: 500

* Endurance: 400

* Agility: 600 (+50% speed boost from Spellblade abilities)

* Luck: 250 (Loremaster bonus)

DEFENSIVE ATTRIBUTES

* Physical Damage Mitigation: 60%

* Elemental Damage Mitigation: 70%

* Status Effect Resistance: 45%

* Life Steal: 12% (from Dark Pact abilities)

* Mana Regen: 8% per second

Satisfied with my adjustments, I scrolled through the forums for any information about the Architects that Blackfist had mentioned. There was next to nothing—just scattered rumors and cryptic posts from other players claiming to have encountered similar Ascended enemies. But none of them had faced someone as skilled or vengeful as Blackfist.

“Alright, Blackfist,” I muttered, gripping my Unbidden Sword, now paired with its spectral twin thanks to Second Blade. “You wanted a fight. This time, I’m bringing hell.”

Before setting out to confront him again, I returned to the Coiled City to prepare. I stocked up on Remedy X, mana potions, and stamina restoratives, knowing full well I’d need every advantage.

As I stood in the bustling marketplace, I received a direct message from Mira.

"Astraeus, Apollo's asking if you're alright. He heard about your fight with Blackfist. Should we prepare a raid party for backup?"

I smirked at the concern.

"Tell him to hold off for now. This is personal. But I’ll keep you all in the loop. Just be ready in case things escalate."

Mira’s response was instant.

"Be careful. If Blackfist’s Ascended, who knows what kind of tricks he’s hiding."

I opened the forums, typing out a post designed to grab attention and make sure Blackfist saw it. There was no need for subtlety or clever wordplay—this was a declaration of intent.

"Dear Blackfist,

After ambushing me in the Concrete Jungle, I’ve decided to call you out for a rematch. How about the same place you attacked me? This time, however, it won’t be an easy one.

Regards,

Astraeus"

Satisfied, I hit "Post" and logged off the forums. There was no turning back now.

I made my way to the Concrete Jungle, the haunting silence and decayed surroundings feeling almost welcoming this time. Every step echoed in the stillness as I reached the spot where Blackfist had humiliated me before. I waited in silence, my fingers tightening around the hilt of my Unbidden Sword. The spectral twin floated beside it, faintly humming with power, ready to spring into action.

A ripple in the air warned me of his approach before he even spoke.

“You’re even dumber than I thought,” Blackfist sneered as he emerged from the shadows. His fists sparked with glitching fire, but I could tell it wasn’t elemental magic. It was something else entirely—malware, designed to exploit weaknesses in the EternaLink system. Unfortunately for him, my gear upgrades and the latest firmware patch made sure his little tricks wouldn’t get past my defenses.

“Leveling up doesn’t give you any advantage over me, you know. I’m Level 100 now too. The difference is, you won’t walk away from this. I’m going to give you your first—and most painful—death.”

I stood tall, meeting his venomous glare with a calm that belied my anticipation. “Using given power is no way to play a game,” I said, drawing my sword, the dark lightning crackling along its edge. “Unless you’re playing one of those trash god simulators, then fine. But in Age of Eternity? Building the meta is half the fun.”

His expression twisted with anger. “Still holding onto your deluded ideas of ‘character building.’ You’re nothing but a fool playing at being a king. This is going to feel good—seeing your name in the headlines, your eyes burned out, your body left to rot. Get ready, Avisious. Today is the day you die.”

He charged without hesitation, his movements a blur. The force of his attack cracked the concrete beneath his feet, sending shards of debris flying as his fists, coated in fiery malware, swung toward me.

I braced myself, the clash of his punch against my blade sending shockwaves through the battlefield. Sparks flew as we collided, the raw strength of his blows reverberating through my arms. His speed was astounding, each strike faster and more brutal than the last, but this time, I wasn’t the same Astraeus he had fought before.

My enhanced agility and mobility kicked in, allowing me to parry and counter with precision. The spectral blade of my Second Blade danced alongside me, slashing in tandem with my movements. Blackfist’s smirk faded slightly as he realized I was no longer the easy target he had left beaten and humiliated.

“You’ve been practicing,” he admitted begrudgingly, his tone laced with mockery. “But it won’t matter. You’re still nothing compared to me.”

“Keep talking,” I replied, sidestepping his next attack and landing a clean strike on his shoulder. “The more you run your mouth, the easier this gets.”

He roared, his fists erupting with glitching energy as he unleashed a devastating combo. I barely had time to activate Absolute Barrier, the shield absorbing the brunt of the attack as I was pushed back. The force of the impact shattered the ground beneath me, but I stood firm, a grin tugging at the corner of my lips.

“This is just getting started,” I said, gripping my sword tighter. The spectral blade glowed faintly, waiting for its moment to strike. The battle was far from over, and as much as Blackfist wanted to end me here, he was about to learn that I wasn’t the same Astraeus he had faced before.

The Concrete Jungle fell silent again, save for the sound of our breathing and the faint crackle of electricity. The battle wasn’t over—it had barely begun.