“I woner what's next,” Geon muttered to himself, the triumph of his previous battle tempered by a gnawing restlessness. The victory had not brought the satisfaction he sought. It was just another step forward. Another fleeting moment on his relentless path to power.
Before he could dwell further, a new notification materialized.
Fifth Trial Initiated: The Fifth Commandement
Win the duel of the Day.
Geon raised an eyebrow. “The duel of the day? So, after the Night... comes the Day?” His voice was a mixture of curiosity and irritation.
The air shifted abruptly, the cold remnants of the endless night replaced by an oppressive, searing heat. The sun grew impossibly large, blazing down like a massive lamp aimed at him. Its light was blinding, a stark contrast to the shadows that Geon relied on.
From the glaring brightness stepped a figure. Its armor gleamed pure white, radiating an almost painful brilliance. In its hands, it wielded a long trident spear that glimmered with fiery intensity.
Geon squinted, shielding his eyes against the overwhelming light. “Who are you?”
The figure’s voice was clear and commanding, carrying the weight of inevitability. “The Day.”
As the words echoed, the sunlight seemed to intensify further, suffocating the world in its unyielding glow.
Geon scowled. “You’ve gotta be kidding me. First the Night, now this?”
Another notification flashed.
Enemy Identified
Dawn
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Before Geon could process the new threat, Dawn moved. It was impossibly fast, the trident spear slicing through the air in a fiery arc.
Geon threw himself backward, narrowly avoiding the strike. The ground where he had stood erupted into flames, the heat forcing him to retreat further.
“Shadow Shield!” Geon shouted, summoning his barrier to block the next blow. The shield materialized, but as Dawn’s spear struck it, the shadows warped and sizzled under the radiant energy.
Geon gritted his teeth. “You’ve got to be kidding me! That thing burns through my shield?”
Dawn didn’t respond. It surged forward again, its movements fluid and relentless, pressing its advantage. Geon dodged desperately, the oppressive sunlight sapping his strength and limiting the power of his shadows.
The battle stretched into a brutal test of endurance. Months passed as Geon struggled to adapt. Unlike Dusk, whose movements were methodical and predictable, Dawn was erratic, unpredictable. Its attacks alternated between graceful precision and overwhelming force, leaving Geon little room to counter.
His usual strategies faltered. The sunlight limited his ability to manipulate shadows effectively, and the intense heat made prolonged combat a grueling ordeal.
“Damn it,” Geon muttered after narrowly dodging another fiery strike. Sweat poured down his face, his energy draining faster than ever before. “This is a bad match-up.”
The shadow at his side, though faint under the oppressive light, spoke. “This is the natural order. Light and fire consume shadows. If you want to win, you’ll need to evolve.”
Geon snarled in frustration. “Easier said than done!”
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Time passes, and Geon’s progress was slow but steady. His desperation forced him to experiment, to adapt his abilities in ways he hadn’t considered before.
Instead of relying on massive constructs or aggressive shadow attacks, he focused on subtlety and efficiency. He used Shadow Exchange sparingly, timing it perfectly to evade Dawn’s strikes and reposition himself for a counterattack.
He learned to manipulate his shadows to absorb and deflect some of the radiant energy, reducing the strain on his body. The process was agonizing, the burns and exhaustion constant reminders of his weakness, but he pushed through.
Even with his improvements, Dawn was relentless. Its control over light and fire was absolute, and its attacks left little room for error. Geon’s body was covered in burns and scars, each a testament to his struggle.
As the year dragged on, Geon began to see cracks in Dawn’s seemingly flawless assault. It wasn’t invincible. Its reliance on overwhelming power and relentless pressure created opportunities for counters.
Geon smirked through the pain, his confidence growing. “You’re strong, but you’re not unbeatable.”
Dawn remained silent, its blazing form as impassive as ever.
Geon steadied his breath, focusing his energy. “Let’s see how you handle this.”
The final confrontation was a clash of raw power and refined technique. Geon again summoned his shadow beasts one last time, their forms barely holding together under the oppressive sunlight.
“Umbra, Gasgar, Haunger—keep it busy!” Geon commanded, his voice firm despite his exhaustion.
The shadow beasts obeyed, charging at Dawn with reckless abandon. The bright figure responded with ferocious precision, its trident spear cleaving through the smoky creatures with ease.
Geon watched carefully, waiting for his moment. Dawn’s attacks were powerful but predictable when focused on multiple targets.
“Shadow Exchange!” Geon teleported behind Dawn, his Shadow Sword poised to strike.
However unlike Dusk, Dawn reacted with startling speed, twisting to block the attack. Their weapons clashed, shadow meeting light in a blinding explosion of energy.
“You’re not as untouchable as you think,” Geon growled, pressing the attack.
The battle was reaching its peak, each strike pushing both combatants closer to their limits. Geon’s precision and adaptability began to outpace Dawn’s overwhelming power.
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After a grueling year, Geon finally saw his chance. Dawn’s movements steadily slowed, its energy waning. The unyielding sunlight dimmed ever so slightly, signaling the end was near.
Geon gathered the last of his strength, his voice a roar of determination. “Shadow Spear!”
The enhanced attack struck true, cutting through Dawn’s armor and piercing its core. The figure staggered, its radiant form flickering before dissolving into blinding light.
As Dawn faded, the oppressive sunlight finally receded.
Enemy Defeated
Dawn
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A notification appeared before Geon.
⚠️Notice⚠️
Player successfully completed Sixth Trial: The Sixth Commandment.
Completion Time: 1 year.
Level Up!
Level Up!
Level Up!
Geon collapsed to his knees, his body trembling with exhaustion. The burns and scars from the battle were a painful reminder of how close he had come to losing.
“Well done,” the shadow said, its voice tinged with genuine approval.
Geon looked up, his expression a mix of triumph and frustration. “And where the hell were you this time?”
The shadow chuckled. “Dawn’s light was... difficult to work around. I had to adapt, just like you. Consider this a test of your independence.”
Geon scowled but said nothing. His victory felt hollow, the satisfaction of defeating such a formidable foe overshadowed by the realization of how much further he had to go.
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Player Profile: Demon Geon
Class Global Rank Level Kill Count Demon #126755 81 4759
Health
90/8800
Stamina
7/4600
Energy
1/4300
Distribute Stat Points (0)
Power
550
Strength, affecting the damage of physical attacks.
Defense
350
Resistance, reducing the impact of incoming attacks.
Stamina
450
Endurance, dictating how long the player could fight or move before exhaustion set in.
Agility
350
Speed, improving reflexes and movement.
Geon looked up to the clear sky, his resolve hardening. The trials were becoming more grueling, each enemy more punishing than the last. But he was growing stronger, and he wouldn’t stop until he reached his goal.
“On to the next,” he muttered, standing despite the pain. The shadow swirled around him, its presence a dark contrast to the fading light of the battlefield.
“The seventh trial, the last one, awaits,” the shadow whispered. “Are you ready for what’s to come?”
Geon smirked, his eyes burning with determination. “I was born ready.”