Extra's Magic

Clank...

My Authority's blade met with the Demon's scythe, creating a shower of sparks.

My hands threatened to give out under the pressure but I refused to let go of my sword.

'Just a few more...'

I urged my aching limbs, deflecting another attack sent by the Demon.

Clank...

The edges of our weapons created Mana ripples that crackled through the air, amplifying the intensity of our clash.

My eyes met with the Demon's icy ones, making a shiver race down my spine.

The creature was enjoying the fight.

It seems it was already well aware of what the result of this battle will be.

'Overconfident bastard...'

Leaning forward, I extended my empty hand forward, making the Demon chuckle.

"What? Are you trying to harm me with a palm? At least try to form a fist!"

It snickered, watching as my palm approached its abdomen, however, this was a critical mistake.

'Aura Blade...'

Golden particles began to gather in my grasp, forming a Golden Blade that was as brilliant as the sun.

Pluck...

The Blade dug deep into the Demon's flesh, causing a roar of pain to escape its lips.

Before it could react, I twisted the blade, causing even more agony to course through the Demon's body.

Thud...

Wanting to get rid of me, the Demon delivered a heavy punch to my chest, sending me flying away.

"Aghhh..."

I let out a groan as the impact knocked the wind out of me.

Blood escaped from my mouth as I struggled to regain my composure.

"B-astard..."

However, now, the Demon was also struggling to stay on its feet.

Dark blood was oozing out of its wound, staining the ground beneath it.

The creature tried to stop the bleeding by applying pressure with its hand, but the wound was too severe.

His Dark Mana's reserves were also almost depleted, preventing him from healing his injuries.

With a fiery smile, I stood up.

At first, I felt fear toward this being, a Demon, who is fated to become a very powerful adversary in Leclentia.

It was almost as if PTSD was creeping up on me, memories of past battles where I fought the monster flooded my mind.

However, the being that stood before me didn't seem like the one I always faced in this game.

Instead, it seemed vulnerable, weakened, and desperate.

There is a saying that says...

Even gods can bleed.

"Let's take it up a notch..."

A small smirk appeared on my face as I reached for the Timekeeper's stopwatch in my pocket.

Mana flooded into the Artifact, energizing it with a pulsating glow.

Whoosh...

The world around me began to blur and distort. 𝓫ℯ𝓭𝓃𝓸𝓋ℯ𝓁．𝓬𝓸𝓂

Time began to slow down, making the Demon appear even slower and more sluggish in its movements.

'I've always thought about this moment...'

Approaching its wounded form, I trailed as the Demon lifted its scythe and swung it with desperation and frustration.

'To me, you were almost a checkpoint in this new world... An enemy that would test my rights in this world...'

Bending my body, I dodged the weapon's blade by a hair's breadth, leaving a bloody gash on my cheek.

'...'

For a moment, our eyes met and I saw a flicker of defeat in the Demon's eyes.

'Thank you.'

I whispered in my mind.

Although this guy was a Demon, he was also my test.

A test that would prove my worth, my right to live in this world.

Pluck...

I plunged my Aura Blade deep into the Demon's chest, making it stumble backward in pain.

Its face paled as its blood began to pour out from the wound, unable to be stopped or slowed down by any means.

"Yo-u... Fuc..ker!"

It fell backward in a heap, its strength finally giving out.

"..."

Looking at the Demon, slowly dying, I pulled out my Authority and approached its fallen form.

"Go fuck yourself, Azael!"

I brought down my longsword, ending its life before it could utter another word.

Swish...

At the last second, I could see its eyes widening in shock, however, soon, everything faded into silence, and I was left standing there, breathing heavily.

"I've done it!"

I lifted my fist into the air and shouted with triumph.

I did it.

I've yet to collect the Shadow Mana Art but I completed the hardest task in this entire journey.

Kill the Demon, who in the game, would get the Art and kill a lot of innocent people.

"Fufu..."

Smirking, I looked at the Demon's corpse which was already consumed by the floor's winds, I noticed a faint glow in the ashes.

An azure crystal.

An object that would teleport me to the fifth, last floor of the spire.

"..."

Looking at the crystal, I reached out and picked it up, feeling its cool, smooth surface in my palm.

Light began to engulf me as I held the azure crystal tight, transporting me to the final stage of my journey in this Shadow Dungeon.

Whoosh...

I opened my eyes to find myself in a hallway adorned with intricate, shimmering runes.

It wasn't the same as on the third floor, where the ballroom was extravagant and ancient.

This floor's design seemed almost futuristic, the hallway was made out of sleek, polished metal that reflected my own image back at me.

"This always creeps me out..."

Muttering under my breath, I stumbled forward into the hallway, my body battered after the battle.

I quickly downed a health potion to replenish my strength and alleviate some of the pain.

As I cautiously ventured further into the sleek and futuristic hallway, my heart raced with anticipation.

"This place... it's so different..."

I muttered to myself, trying to push aside the eerie feeling that had settled over me. The polished metal walls reflected my every move, creating a disorienting effect as if the corridor itself was watching me.

I took a deep breath and steeled myself for whatever challenges lay ahead. I knew that I couldn't afford to let my guard down now, not after coming this far.

Just as I started to regain my composure, a sudden, spine-chilling sound echoed through the corridor. A low, ominous hum filled the air, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. It was as if the very walls themselves were coming to life.

I turned my attention to the floor, and to my horror, I watched as countless spiders began to emerge from the sleek metal beneath my feet. They scuttled out with an eerie grace, their dark bodies contrasting sharply against the polished surface.

Panic surged through me as I realized I had no choice but to keep moving forward. I could feel the spiders closing in behind me, their numbers increasing with each passing moment.

Without hesitation, I broke into a sprint, my footsteps echoing in the metallic corridor. I could hear the skittering of the spiders growing louder, their many legs clicking against the floor as they pursued me.

As I ran, I couldn't help but glance to the sides of the hallway. To my horror, I saw the metal walls themselves come alive with movement. Spider-like creatures emerged from hidden crevices, their mechanical limbs extending with an unsettling precision.

I gritted my teeth and pushed myself harder, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I knew I had to reach the end of this nightmarish corridor and complete my journey. The azure crystal's glow seemed to intensify, urging me forward.

The hallway stretched on endlessly, and the spiders showed no signs of relenting. I could feel their presence closing in, their cold, unfeeling eyes fixed on me. Each step forward was a battle against my fear and exhaustion.

Finally, as the tension reached its breaking point, I burst through a set of massive double doors at the end of the hallway. The sight that greeted me on the other side was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

Machines or rather creatures that seemed to be a fusion of machine and biology stood before me.

Their mechanical eyes stared at me with an intensity that sent a chill down my spine.

"At least I don't have to fight them..."

A wave of the spiders that were previously chasing me, burst into the room and instantly changed targets, their attention now focused on the mechanical creatures in front of me.

Their small bodies climbed and clung to the massive machines, weaving intricate webs of silk that began to immobilize the mechanical beings.

Their small, sharp metal teeth dug into the metal flesh of the machines, tearing through wires and circuits with a precision that was both impressive and terrifying.

"I don't want to stay here for too long..."

Observing the machines, I slipped away from the scene, carefully navigating my way through the chaos.

Click...

I approached a door at the back of the room that was supposed to be found only when all the mechanical monsters were defeated.

The door creaked, however, not a single soul looked back at the sound.

It was as if the spiders and machines were locked in a battle of their own, completely oblivious to my presence.

"Better for me..."

Smiling, I entered the room, which had an altar in the middle of it.

On that altar, there lay a book.

An old, dark tome with a cover that had a strange symbol etched onto it.

The Shadow Mana Art...