*Next Day*
Damien looked at the massive gate in front of him before glancing down at his weapons which consisted of two dual spears.
_______
[Name: Blood Fang]
[Item Type: Short Spear]
[Grade: Epic]
[Rank: 1]
[Effects]
- Increase agility by 25%
- Increase critical hit chance by 20%
- 50% chance to deal bleed damage
- 100% chance to cause severe bleeding for 4 seconds when a critical hit is dealt
[Active Skills]
[Blood Nova]: Inflict bleeding on everything in an 8-meter radius (Cooldown: 5 minutes, Mana Cost: 100)
[Blood Thrust]: When used, deal 300% damage with guaranteed bleed damage (Cooldown: 8 minutes, Mana Cost: 150)
_______
Funny enough he didn't have to look hard for these weapons, both weapons were copies and mass produced back in the day before the fall of the Ancient city for rich second-generation young masters that tried to copy Clifford's dual spears.
It was part of the few weapons that survived the fall and Edward was happy to give it to him although he didn't have an appropriate armour to give him.
Damie moved his thought from his equipment to the once mighty wall in front of him.
The gate, once a grand entrance, now stood weathered and partially collapsed, bearing the scars of time.
Massive stone pillars, intricately carved with faded symbols and scenes of past glories, flank the gate.
The gate's archway, still remarkably intact, reaches high above Damien's head, its apex partially fallen. At the centre of the arch, an emblem of a long-forgotten dynasty remains discernible, a testament to the city's former grandeur.
Below the arch, the remnants of a heavy wooden door, now splintered and rotting, lay partially ajar.
Despite this Damien could only see the light gradually disappear into pure darkness.
Damien cautiously walked towards the dark gate and as he did, he observed that the darkness seemed to sip into the ground.
As he walked into the darkness the light was still behind him he realized that he could bare see his own hands but as he moved to light the torch with him, he heard the familiar ring of the system.
[Ding: Your body is Adapting]
[Ding: Your body is Adapting]
[Ding: Your body is Adapting]
[Ding: You have developed Lesser Darkvision]
[Passive skill: Lesser Darkvision
Description: Allows the character to see in dark conditions up to 10 metres. Visibility is reduced to grayscale and finer details may be missed.]
[Ding: Your body is Adapting]
Damien paused for a moment a smile appeared on his face before he proceeded to discard the torch. The last notification already gave him an idea of what was going on.
'The longer I stay in the darkness the stronger my vision becomes so why waste this precious opportunity besides using the torch would attract more monsters.' Before he didn't have a choice but now, he did.
He immediately began his exploration.
*A few Minutes later*
[Ding: Your body is Adapting]
'So far nothing.' Damien paused as he inspected the dilapidated buildings around him. 'It actually makes sense this place has been explored so many times already so I shouldn't expect anything.'
He immediately resumed his exploration neither slow nor fast, going on his way through the ruins.
*Few minutes later*
'This place is just too empty...So where did those ghosts mentioned come from... wait what is that?'
Damien paused as he looks forward,
'Something feels off... It almost like this point is a dividing point.'
'Well, I won't find out if I don't check but better safe than sorry.' Damien thought before drawing his weapons from behind him'
Immediately he stepped forward, faint purple smoke started to appear, making his skin tingle as it reached him causing him to shiver.
"Fuck, what is this?"
[Ding: You have been inflicted with 'The ancient city's corruption']
[Name: Ancient City's Corruption
Description: Lose 1 HP per second.
The longer you remain, the more severe the effects become, the deeper you go the stronger it becomes with a significant risk of an instant kill.]
"Shit...Instant kill...No wonder no one wants to be here"
[Ding: Your body is Adapting]
'Damn. Hopefully my body adapt in 3 minutes otherwise I am out of here. 2 minutes should be enough to run.' Damien thought as he stood still.
A few seconds later Damien had the familiar ring.
[Ding: Your body is Adapting]
Then finally he had the third ring.
[Ding: Your body is Adapting]
[Ding: You have gained resistance to the city's corruption]
"That was fast... Well, no time to waste!"
Damien calmed down his breathing and started moving, faster than before.
*******
*A few minutes later*
Damien continued to walk through the streets, he saw buildings of many kinds, abandoned and filled with dust and old things.
Most of the stuff in them was now rotten and broken, but it was possible to understand these were once homes and shops, evidence of a bustling city life that had long since vanished.
However, Damien did not encounter a single traps or monster…
*Clack!*
"!" Damien immediately paused and raised his guard.
'Looks like I thought too much... But I am sure I had something.'
In front of Damien was a pile of bones, but the moment he approached it, it started to rise…
Black and white bones with hollow skulls gazing eerily at him. No sounds, no magical effect, just that eerie unnatural stare.
_______
[Bone Rat]
[level: 50]
[HP: 1500]
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[Bone Rat]
[Level: 50]
[HP: 1500]
_______
[Bone Rat]
[Level: 50]
[HP: 1500]
_______
Three skeletons resembling rat but with sizes as big as a dog.
*FWUSH!*
Without a word, they dashed to him in a messy manner, tripping over each other as they tried to approach him.
"..."
Damien kept a straight face, he wasn't scared, however, he was a little tense.
"HA!"
Damien gripped his short spears tightly, his eyes locked on the trio of skeletal rat monsters. With a swift, decisive movement, he thrust his right spear, piercing the open maw of the nearest rat-like creature.
-1500 appeared on the head of the rat signifying an instant kill.
The impact reverberated through the night as he spun on his heel, sending his left spear slicing through the air towards the second rat killing it instantly as well.
He followed up by delivering a powerful kick to the last rat, propelling it towards the wall.
*Crack!*
The sound of splintering bones and crumbling remains echoed through the eerie silence of the street. The rat's skeletal frame shattered upon impact, sending fragments scattering in all directions.
Damien's breath came in measured bursts as he prepared for the next attack, his eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of movement before his eyes moved to his notifications.
[Ding: You have killed a bone rat]
[Ding: You have killed a bone rat]
[Ding: You have killed a bone rat]
[Ding: You have received 3500 EXP]
[Ding: You have received 3500 EXP]
[Ding: You have received 3500 EXP]
[Ding: You have levelled up] X5
[Ding: You have reached level 21]
[Ding: You have received 15 free attribute point.]
'There is a chance off me hitting Level 100 first then.' Damien thought as he picked up his second spear before making his way deeper.