“I am getting stronger, but it’s not enough yet,” Geon muttered, his voice heavy with melancholy. The truth lingered in the air, undeniable. He had grown more powerful, yes, but the chasm between his current strength and the strength he craved felt infinite.
The shadow at his side stirred, its voice cold and sharp, like a winter gale. “I know. But all will come with time... and the right way of doing things.”
Geon frowned, his dissatisfaction gnawing at him, threatening to drown his focus. Before he could linger on his thoughts, a glowing notification appeared before his eyes.
Fifth Trial Initiated: The Fifth Commandement
Win the duel of the Night.
Geon squinted at the vague text. “A duel of the Night?” he asked, his voice tinged with confusion. “What does that even mean?”
Before he could piece together the cryptic message, his senses screamed a warning. He threw himself forward, narrowly avoiding the cold bite of a blade slashing through the air behind him.
“What the—? That was close!” Geon snarled, spinning to face the assailant.
A figure emerged from the shadows, cloaked entirely in darkness. It was a knight, its armor blacker than an eclipse, and it carried a massive longsword that seemed to devour the light around it.
“Who the hell are you?” Geon demanded, his tone sharp and defensive.
The figure tilted its head, its voice as cold as its presence. “The night.”
As the words left the knight’s mouth, the skies obeyed. Darkness spread like spilled ink, consuming the horizon.
Geon glanced upward, confusion flickering in his eyes. “It turned into night...?”
Another notification flashed before him.
Enemy Identified
Dusk
There was no time to ponder. Dusk lunged with terrifying speed, its enormous blade crashing toward Geon.
“Shadow Shield!” Geon shouted, summoning a barrier just in time to deflect the blow. The force of the attack reverberated through his body. “It’s not just strong—it’s fast too!”
The figure didn’t respond. Instead, it dissolved into black smoke.
“What the—? This feels like my...” Before Geon could finish his thought, he twisted instinctively, dodging another slash aimed directly at his back.
“You bastard!” he growled. “You can use Shadow Exchange too?”
Dusk remained silent, its presence unyielding, as though it existed solely to annihilate him.
Geon steadied his breath, narrowing his focus. “Fine. I need power. I need to be stronger. And that means beating you.”
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The battle raged on, stretching into an unrelenting war of attrition. Days turned to weeks, weeks to months. The darkness of the endless night became both their battlefield and their prison.
Despite the grinding stalemate, Geon began to evolve. His movements sharpened, his timing became impeccable, and his understanding of his abilities deepened. Shadow Exchange, once a crude escape tool, was refined into a weapon of precision. His Shadow Manipulation and Dark Temper grew more synchronized, allowing him to craft and enhance shadow constructs with deadly efficiency.
Each clash brought new insights, each near-miss honed his instincts.
Dusk, however, did not falter. Its strikes remained relentless, its form a ceaseless tide of malice. Yet the signs of a turning point began to emerge. Geon’s adaptability was outpacing Dusk’s cold, unchanging methods.
After an entire year in the unbroken night, Geon felt the end approaching. His resolve burned brighter than ever.
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“Let’s wrap this up,” he muttered, his voice steady and resolute. He raised his hand, summoning his shadow beasts. “Shadow Summon!”
From the darkness emerged Umbra, Gasgar, and Haunger, their forms wreathed in smoky tendrils of shadow, their eyes glowing with anticipation.
Geon smirked. “I kept this trick hidden from you.”
Dusk stood silently, watching the newcomers with unblinking focus.
“Still not much of a talker, huh?” Geon taunted. “No matter. You’ll be silent forever once I cut you down.”
The final clash began. With his shadow beasts harrying Dusk from every angle, Geon pressed the assault with calculated ferocity. Dusk was formidable, its blade a blur as it deflected and countered, but the coordinated attacks overwhelmed it.
Seizing his opportunity, Geon activated Shadow Exchange, teleporting behind Dusk in the midst of its counterstrike.
“Shadow Slash!” he roared, his Shadow Sword augmented with Dark Temper. The blade cleaved through Dusk’s armored form, slicing it cleanly in half.
Enemy Defeated
Dusk
The knight dissolved into a cloud of black fog, and with it, the endless night broke.
Light pierced through the darkness, illuminating the battlefield. A notification appeared before Geon.
⚠️Notice⚠️
Player successfully completed Fifth Trial: The Fifth Commandment.
Completion Time: 1 year.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Level Up!
Level Up!
Level Up!
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Geon stood amidst the fading darkness, his breaths heavy but steady.
“Well done,” the shadow spoke, its voice suddenly alive with amusement.
Geon glared at the entity. “Where were you during the entire battle?”
The shadow chuckled. “That creature had a better grasp of shadow manipulation than you do. It managed to seal the ‘gate’ I connect to your powers. The fact you didn’t notice says you’ve still got much to learn—despite your victory.”
Geon’s expression darkened. He hadn’t realized, and the knowledge stung. The pride of his triumph faded, replaced by an insatiable hunger for even greater power.
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Geon opened his player profile, his eyes scanning the updates.
Player Profile: Demon Geon
Class Global Rank Level Kill Count Demon #153141 78 4758
Health
310/8500
Stamina
80/4400
Energy
100/4000
Distribute Stat Points (0)
Power
550
Strength, affecting the damage of physical attacks.
Defense
250
Resistance, reducing the impact of incoming attacks.
Stamina
400
Endurance, dictating how long the player could fight or move before exhaustion set in.
Agility
300
Speed, improving reflexes and movement.
Geon’s fists clenched. “It’s still not enough,” he whispered to himself.
The shadow swirled at his feet, its tone both amused and ominous. “Then let’s move on. The sixth trial awaits, and with it, the next step toward the strength you seek.”
Geon didn’t reply. He turned toward the horizon, his eyes blazing with resolve, the faint outline of the next trial already forming in his mind.