Chapter 15: A Vision of Two knights

Cruz stepped away from the Obsidian Pillar, the dark energy still lingering in the air, as if the dungeon itself had become aware of his presence. He felt the faint pull of the shadows, guiding him deeper into its depths. Clutching the beautiful skill book in his hand, Cruz marveled at the craftsmanship of the runes etched into its cover. The moment he opened it, a prompt flashed before his eyes.

[Learn skill: Shadow Thrust?] [Yes/No]

Without hesitation, he chose Yes. Instantly, the book dissipated into particles, which shot toward his forehead, converging at his glabella. Cruz's vision dimmed as a wave of information flooded his mind. A dark figure appeared in his thoughts—an ominous silhouette wielding a spear with terrifying precision. It danced between enemies, thrusting forward with such force that multiple shadow spears followed behind, impaling everything in their path. The figure moved like a predator in the dark, invisible and unstoppable.

When Cruz came to, his body felt lighter, sharper. A new understanding of the spear flowed through him. He glanced down at the shaft of the Obsidian Spear, a thing of jagged beauty, its once pristine form marred by cracks and rust. The shaft, etched with symbols of battles long past, felt alive in his hands. The dilapidated dragon carved into the tip seemed to watch him, lifeless yet somehow pulsating with hidden potential. Its aura radiated the bloodlust of countless kills.

Cruz spun the spear in his hand, feeling the weight shift with each movement. As he swung it in a wide arc, the spear whistled through the air, the sharp edges cutting the wind. He practiced the new skill, [Shadow Thrust], and a blue mist surrounded him as his azure eyes darkened. All around him, the world seemed to fade into shadow. For a brief moment, he was lost within the shadow realm itself, a dark, mirrored world that reflected the lightless side of his surroundings. The sensation was disorienting, and when he tried to move within it, he struggled to find his footing.

With a sudden burst, Cruz thrust his spear forward, emerging from the shadows and tumbling forward, unbalanced. His mana had drained rapidly in the process. Glancing at his status screen, he noticed his mana had dropped to 11/40, reminding him of the steep cost of the skill. He grimaced, realizing how limited his mana pool was compared to his stamina. Unlike the physical energy he had relied on until now, these new skills demanded mana, forcing him to conserve his resources carefully.

Cruz wiped the sweat from his brow and brought up his system panel to review his progress. Notifications he had ignored during his battle with the Guardian now flooded the screen.

[You have defeated The Guardian – EXP gained: 1000]

[Bonus EXP from defeating an Obsidian Guardian: 600 EXP gained]

His eyes scrolled to the bottom of the list.

Current Experience (XP): 850/1800 (Level 8)

Experience Needed for Next Level: 950

Available Stat Points: 10

He smiled. The battle had been taxing, but it had yielded significant rewards. His level had increased, and now, with 10 stat points to distribute, he felt the potential for growth surge within him. Knowing he would need to balance his physical prowess with his newfound reliance on mana, he allocated his points carefully.

[Stat Points Distributed]

[Inteligence: +5]

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[Wisdom: +5]

The moment the points were assigned, he felt a surge of energy course through him. His muscles tightened, his movements felt sharper, and a faint buzz filled his mind as his mana reserves expanded.

"That should help," Cruz muttered, satisfied with the increase in his mana. He now had enough to activate [Earthquake Stomp] once or use [Shadow Thrust] twice. But he knew he would need more in the future—these skills had a steep learning curve, and managing his resources would be critical in surviving the battles ahead.

Cruz sat down to rest, his body still weary from the fight. As he caught his breath, he contemplated the nature of the [Shadow Thrust] skill. While most of his abilities had come naturally, this one eluded him. Moving through the realm of shadows, becoming one with the darkness—it was as if the shadows themselves had a mind of their own. He would need time to master the skill, to fully understand how to wield it. But for now, he was content with the progress he had made.

Refreshed and ready, Cruz rose and ventured deeper into the dungeon. The further he went, the more ominous the surroundings became. Creatures that had once lurked in the shadows now fled from him, as if they sensed the aura of death that clung to him after his many victories. His mind wandered to the nature of dungeons, how they twisted and changed in response to those who entered them. It was a living, breathing thing—one that tested those who sought to conquer it.

Before long, Cruz came to a crossroads. To his left, a dark, eerie forest stretched out before him, its trees gnarled and twisted as if warped by the dungeon's influence. To his right, a shadowy city loomed in the distance, its buildings crumbling and desolate, bathed in the glow of an unseen moon. He hesitated for a moment, considering his options.

"I know the forest," he thought. "At least there, I can use the terrain to my advantage."

But as he took a step toward the forest, the skill [Descent of Primus] activated on its own. Time slowed to a crawl, and Cruz found himself caught in a vision.

He saw a city—once prosperous and vibrant, now overrun by shadowy creatures and soldiers. The inhabitants fought bravely, but their efforts were in vain. The shadows consumed everything in their path, leaving nothing but despair in their wake. As the battle raged on, the city's defenders began to fall apart. Betrayal and infighting broke out among them, as some chose to side with the invaders, hoping to save themselves.

At the heart of the chaos, two figures faced off. One was a towering knight, clad in immaculate silver armor that gleamed with a faint blue hue. His piercing blue eyes radiated calm determination as he stood firm, a beacon of hope in the darkness. His sword shimmered with an inner light, a reflection of his unshakable spirit.

On the opposite side stood a dark knight, twisted and corrupted by the abyss. His armor, black as night, absorbed the light around him, casting an eerie shadow that seemed to writhe with malevolence. He wielded a Spear of darkness, its edges jagged and dripping with the essence of the abyss. oddly similar to the spear Cruz was holding yet more prominent.

With a slow, deliberate motion, the dark knight gripped his spear, its wicked point glistening ominously. The moment the blades were unsheathed, a hush fell over the battlefield as the two warriors sized each other up..

The two knights clashed, their weapons meeting in a blaze of light and shadow. The battlefield erupted around them as they fought, their powers shaking the very ground beneath them.

The vision ended abruptly as [Descent of Primus] deactivated and all of cruzs stamina was sucked out of him by the skill

Cruz gasped as the vision ended, leaving him breathless. He stumbled backward, shaking his head to clear the images from his mind. The weight of what he had seen pressed heavily on his chest.

"What was that?" he whispered, still reeling from the intensity of the vision. It felt so real, as if he had been there, witnessing the battle firsthand.

He glanced toward the city once more, the dark structures now looming with an even greater sense of foreboding. Something was drawing him there, a pull he couldn't ignore. Despite his initial hesitation, Cruz turned toward the city and began walking.

As he entered the shadowy ruins, the air grew colder, and a sense of unease settled over him. The streets were silent, the buildings crumbling and abandoned. Yet, as he ventured deeper, he felt eyes watching him from the darkness. Shadows moved in the corners of his vision, but when he turned to look, there was nothing there.

The city was a maze of empty streets and decaying structures, each corner hiding the unknown. But Cruz pressed on, determined to uncover the secrets that lay within. The vision of the two knights lingered in his mind, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being drawn toward something—something dark and powerful that awaited him at the heart of this forsaken city