Denizens of the Labyrinth

The tension was palpable as the aftermath of the lava serpent's defeat settled over the battlefield. Though its demise marked a moment of triumph, the reaction to Kaelor's decisive strike was far from celebratory. Voices murmured in disapproval, frustration simmering just beneath the surface. Kaelor, his expression unreadable, leaned on Grimmfang, the spear's crimson aura still faintly pulsing.

Jazmel, ever the tactician, stood firm amidst the dissent. He raised a hand, silencing the crowd. His tone was steady, authoritative. "Enough. We don't have the luxury of squabbling. The serpent is dead, but this merging isn't over. Focus."

Even Lillianna and Selvara, who had kept their distance before, stepped closer to Jazmel's side, their expressions solemn. Selvara's violet eyes met his briefly, a silent acknowledgment of his leadership. Lillianna adjusted her wide-brimmed hat, her crescent eyes gleaming with a flicker of determination.

Jazmel addressed them all, his voice carrying over the clearing skies. "We have twenty-four hours. Use this time wisely. Rest, prepare, and fortify yourselves. Only the labyrinth knows what's coming next." His words held a gravity that pulled at the hearts of all who heard them.

The crowd began to disperse, some muttering grudgingly, others nodding in agreement. Jazmel turned to his core group Sadé, Baek, Charme, Lillianna, Selvara, and even Kaelor and gestured for them to follow. Together, they moved through the bustling city, its stone streets alive with people scrambling to regroup and prepare.

Eventually, Jazmel found a small residence tucked into a quieter part of the city. The modest home was made of thick stone, sturdy against the chaos that loomed. Its humble structure offered a semblance of peace amidst the uncertainty. "This will do," he said, stepping inside. The group followed, each finding a corner to settle in as they prepared for what lay ahead.

As they began tending to their weapons, armour, and Mana reserves, the atmosphere outside shifted. The oppressive smog that had choked the sky earlier began to clear, revealing patches of cooler, darker blue. The volcanic heat diminished slightly; the air no longer thick with ash but sharp with anticipation.

The clearing sky brought a strange calm, almost deceptive in its serenity. But Jazmel knew better. This was only the eye of the storm.

Jazmel pushed open the door to one of the smaller rooms in the residence. The space was bare save for a low table and a simple chair. The stone walls seemed to muffle the noise of the bustling city outside, offering a moment of reprieve. He stepped inside and shut the door behind him with a heavy sigh, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly in the silence.

He sat down cross-legged on the cool stone floor, Yoru No Tsubasa resting across his lap. The blade's surface gleamed faintly, a subtle reminder of its weight and power. Taking a deep breath, Jazmel closed his eyes and focused, summoning the familiar system interface.

A translucent screen materialized in front of him, displaying rows of data and stats that defined his current state. He scanned the numbers and information with a critical eye, the glow of the screen reflecting in his intense gaze.

Name: Jazmel

Level: 123

Species: Tyrant*

Rank: Master tier I

Class: Sword Scion

Trait: HEART OF THE SWORD (BORN TRAIT)

Tempered body; Domineering tyrant

Health: 11330/11330

Stamina: 7943/7943

Mana: 8920/8920

Soul: 7130/7130

STR:286(+5) PER:266

VIT:341 END:341(+3)

INT:316 WIL:487(+7)

AGL:240 DEX:225

Skills:

Black dragon talon (tier II)

Great Rumbling Dragon (tier II)

Flaming Evisceration (tier II)

Shadowing Wraith (tier III)

Voided Reave (tier III)

Title(s):

THE ARDUOUS PATH (PERMANENT)

FIEND BANE (ACTIVE)

MASTERY OF THE DEAD (ACTIVE)

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BEASTIAL BYAKKO SENSES (PASSIVE)

TYRANNY OF THE TYRANT DRAGON (PASSIVE)

SERPENT SLAYER (UNACTIVE)

DEMON SLAYER (UNACTIVE)

AWAKENER (PASSIVE)

BASTION OF THE TYRANT (PASSIVE)

MANTLE OF THE REAVER (PASSIVE)

Unused Stat points: 0

968X PLATINUM COINS

386X WHITE GOLD COINS

404X GOLD COINS

Item(s):

2/3 PIECES OF THE PLAQUE

TIER I MAGELLANIC MEMORY MOULD

X10 TIER II GREATER MANA POTIONS

X7 TIER II GREATER HEALTH POTIONS

X10 TIER II GREATER STAMINA POTIONS

TIER II KEY TO THE GARDEN OF THE AESIR

TIER III TUNIC OF TUMERIN

TIER III ARMOUR SET OF THE NIGHT WING

TIER III DOUBLE CORE SCHEMA

TIER III HEAVEN'S TRIBULATION

TIER III REFUGE OF RESPITE STATUETTE

TIER IV EBON EMBER OF ETERNITY

TIER IV SWORD SCHEMA

TIER IV DAGGER OF THE RAVAGER

TIER V HEARTSTONE OF THE FORGOTTEN

TIER V ANGELLUM SPEAR

TIER V GARDIGOL SEA KING BEAST CORE

TIER V SPIRIT ADVENT CORE

TIER V THRUMNAL BEAST CORE

TIER V PYROFAWN BEAST CORE

TIER V REAVING CHAIN

3X TIER V THUNDERING RHINO HORN

2X TIER V THUNDERING RHINO HIDE

TIER VI CORRUPTED REVENANT DRAGON HEART

TIER VI CORRUPTED REVENANT DRAGON CORE

TIER VI CORRUPTED REVENANT DRAGON FANG

TIER VII ABYSSAL SERPENT MANA CRYSTAL

RANKER TIER SCOURGING SCARAB 1/2

RANKER TIER TITLE OF THE DRAGON SONG

RANKER TIER IRON SPEAR OF THE HARKENER

X3 RANKER TIER CRIMSON RAMPAGE POTION

MASTER TIER ASHES OF THE FALLEN

MASTER TIER SONG OF THE SUNDERING

MASTER TIER BLOOD CORE

MASTER TIER ARMOUR SCHEMA

MASTER TIER RUKH SONG

MASTER TIER SKILL TOKEN

MASTER TIER SWORD TOKEN

MASTER TIER DOMAIN INVITATION

MASTER TIER SKILL TOKEN

MASTER TIER CROWN OF THE VOID KING

MASTER TIER UNICORN HORN

MASTER TIER SWORD OF THE DAMNED

SIX WINGS OF THE FALLEN VALKRYIE

DUTIFUL TOKEN

SPIRITUAL TRIAL TOKEN

DOMAIN TICKET TOKEN

SCEPTRE OF TIAMAT 2/3

SILVER STAR ORE

COMPANION: NIGHT DRAGON

LEVEL 16

PARTY:

4/4

BAEK LVL 237

CHARME LVL 200

Jazmel frowned as he noted his Mana reserves. His recent use of voided reave had drained him more than he'd expected. Luckily he had so many stat points just sitting there, he dumped them all into his intelligence, feeling his Mana leap up.

"Need to pace myself better," he muttered under his breath. The fights ahead would demand more precision and efficiency.

Closing the status screen, Jazmel placed a hand over Yoru No Tsubasa, feeling the faint hum of its energy. He would need to be at his peak, not just for himself but for those depending on him. For now, he would take the system's advice recover, recalibrate, and prepare for the storm that was sure to come.

Within his hands, Jazmel pulled the skill token reward he had found. Its surface shimmered faintly, but its chill was unmistakable a cold, numbing sensation that seeped into his skin. He turned it over, observing the intricate carvings etched into its surface.

With a sharp snap, he broke the token. A rush of raw power surged through him like a crashing tide, making him gasp as the energy seeped deep into his core.

DING!

NEW SKILL GAINED!

REAPING RAVENS FOUND! Reaping ravens, using their wings, talons, and claws to inflict darkened damage on all struck by them. Engulf your enemies and darken their demise!

The description sounded dramatic, even to him, and for a moment, Jazmel couldn't help but smirk. Still, as the notification faded, a pang of regret tightened his chest. He missed his old skill. The Raven's Cleaving Descent had been a signature ability he'd nurtured for years, and its loss still felt raw. But the time for sentiment was over there was no room for unnecessary nostalgia here.

Another chime echoed in his ears.

DING!

YOU HAVE A SKILL BUT ALL SLOTS ARE TAKEN!

WILL YOU SUNDER AND MERGE?

Y/N?

He stared at the glowing prompt, hesitating for only a moment before declining.

DING!

WILL YOU REPLACE?

Y/N?

Jazmel sighed. He knew what needed to be done. With a heavy heart, he confirmed the replacement.

DING!

WHICH SKILL WILL YOU REPLACE?

Black Dragon Talon

Great Rumbling Dragon

Flaming Evisceration

Shadowing Wraith

Voided Reave

His eyes flicked across the list. He hadn't changed his skill set in a long time, and each one was vital. But deep down, he already knew his choice.

Black Dragon Talon.

The decision was made quickly. He couldn't dally there were only 24 hours until the second wave hit, and he needed time to rest and regroup. With a deep breath, he selected the skill, watching as it shimmered for a moment before disappearing into nothingness.

DING!

YOU HAVE REPLACED BLACK DRAGON TALON!

DING!

YOU HAVE LEARNED REAPING RAVENS!

As the final notification faded, he felt the shift in his core, the new skill integrating into him seamlessly. There wasn't time to dwell on what he'd lost only on what he'd gained.

Jazmel wasted no time. Pulling out his Max Skill Tokens, he laid them out in front of him. These rare items were his key to unleashing the full potential of his arsenal, and he wouldn't squander them.

One by one, he snapped the tokens, channelling their power into each of his skills. The room filled with the electric hum of the system's notifications, and the weight of his growing strength pressed against his chest.

DING!

REAPING RAVENS UPGRADED TO MAX TIER! Shadow-forged ravens become larger and faster. Each raven now delivers piercing damage and siphons a portion of the target's Mana to the user. At max tier, ravens are capable of returning to heal or shield the user.

DING!

GREAT RUMBLING DRAGON UPGRADED TO MAX TIER! Summon a massive, ethereal dragon to crash into enemies with seismic force, dealing devastating area-of-effect damage and leaving shockwaves that linger for several seconds.

DING!

FLAMING EVISCERATION UPGRADED TO MAX TIER! A burst of flames surges from the user's blade, carving through enemies in an expanding arc. Flames now linger in the area, causing continuous burn damage to all enemies within the radius.

DING!

SHADOWING WRAITH UPGRADED TO MAX TIER! The user transforms into a wraith-like form, becoming nearly invulnerable for a short duration. Enemies within the vicinity are drained of their stamina and Mana, leaving them weakened and exposed.

DING!

VOIDED REAVE UPGRADED TO MAX TIER! The ultimate cleaving strike, infused with void energy. Upon impact, the skill creates a vacuum that pulls enemies toward the epicentre, dealing massive damage and leaving them disoriented.

Each upgrade left him feeling stronger but also wary of the immense power he now wielded. Jazmel clenched his fists, his body buzzing with energy as the enhancements settled. He didn't have time to marvel at his new strength there was still much to prepare for.

With his stats and skills now fully optimized, he rose to his feet, ready to face whatever horrors the second wave might bring. No matter how dire the merging became, he would endure. They all would.

He had raised each of his skills to max tier, something that imbued him completely with power and he also had raised his sword to its highest tier also.

He sighed with appreciation; he felt good now. he would get some rest before the true preparations begun.