Lord Of The Lost

The level 15 black magician had unleashed a powerful suppression spell, targeting everyone, including William, in an attempt to subdue them. For a moment, it seemed like the battle was tipping in his favor; until Alex struck from the shadows.

[Deadly Dagger] + [Vital Attack]!

Alex's dagger found its mark, driving deep into the magician's back, cutting through to vital organs with pinpoint accuracy. The black magician barely had time to register the pain before the blow ended his life, his body crumpling to the ground in silence.

However, the fight was far from over. The level 17 black magician, though gravely wounded, wasn't ready to accept his fate. With most of his abdomen torn open by William's earlier attack, he should have been incapacitated. But his hands moved in the flicker of an instant as he muttered a spell under his breath.

"Life continues!"

A faint glow surrounded his torn body, and the grievous wound across his abdomen began to heal. His tenacity was staggering, this was the life force of the extraordinary, of those who had walked the dangerous path of the magician. Even the level 14 black magician, despite being cut in half by William's spear, struggled to survive, writhing in the pool of his own blood, unwilling to give in.

Given time, these magicians could unleash devastating spells. Their true power lay not only in their immediate attacks but in their ability to turn the tide when given a moment to recover. But William's group had struck fast, catching them off guard. It was this sudden, ferocious assault that had prevented the magicians from mounting a coordinated defense, leading to one death and two severe injuries.

Still, William was surprised. This was his first direct clash with such powerful magic users, and it became clear to him that these foes were not to be underestimated. They were dangerous even when pushed to the brink of death.

His resolve hardened. He gripped the magic-destroying spear tightly with both hands, eyes locked on the level 17 black magician, whose frail form had risen from the bloodied ground. The magician's cloak billowed in the wind, and his cold voice sent a chill through the air.

"Mental shock!"

Boom!

It was as though an invisible hammer slammed into William's mind. The force of the mental attack was overwhelming. He staggered backward, clutching his head, as a searing pain exploded behind his eyes. It felt like his brain was about to split apart. The black magician's mental strength was far too great, and even William's formidable spirit value of 11 was not enough to shield him from the attack. He barely held on, struggling to keep his focus.

The others were hit even harder. The Forum Master let out a scream so raw, so filled with agony, it sounded as though his very soul was being ripped apart. His body shook uncontrollably as he collapsed to his knees, his hands clutching at his temples.

In the midst of the chaos, William knew he had to act. Through the blinding pain, he raised his left hand, gripping tightly onto his 'Developing Lantern'. He summoned its power, and divine light burst forth from the lantern, filling the air with a brilliant, radiant glow.

The light cut through the oppressive mental attack like a blade, bathing the area in protective energy. The power of the 'Mental Shock' was greatly diminished, allowing William and the others to recover. The shadows that had clung to the battlefield were driven away, revealing Alex, who had remained hidden until now. But with the lantern's light, there was no longer any point in stealth.

Alex yanked his 'Deadly Dagger' from the lifeless body of the level 15 black magician. His 'Miracle' talent had shielded him from the brunt of the mental assault, and now, under the protection of the divine light, he was ready to strike again.

Every muscle in Alex's body tensed, his focus sharpening into a lethal point. With the grace and speed of a predator, he darted forward, closing the distance between himself and the level 17 magician.

[Assassination]!

In a blur, Alex's blade found its mark. The dagger plunged deep into the magician's back, cutting through robes and flesh with deadly precision. The black magician's eyes widened in shock as the blade pierced his heart, his spell casting brought to a final, abrupt end.

The magician gasped once, then crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

The battlefield grew still. William, the Gambler, and the Forum Master, still reeling from the attack, stood amid the aftermath of the battle, their breaths heavy. But the victory was theirs. The magicians, though formidable, had been defeated.

William lowered the lantern, letting its light fade, and surveyed the scene. This battle had been a harsh reminder of the dangers that lay ahead, but it also confirmed their strength as a team. Shadow Castle still loomed ominously in the distance, but as they regrouped, they knew they had taken one step closer to surviving its dark depths.

The level 17 black magician, gravely injured and desperate, had cast his final spell 'Mental Shock' hoping it would break the will of his enemies. But before he could witness its full effect, a sharp, cold pain pierced the back of his skull. Alex's 'Deadly Dagger' had severed the magician's brain tissue with surgical precision.

As the life drained from him, the black magician let out a murmur, his voice laced with dark magic and spite. "I curse you with my life... After I die, I will become hatred itself, and I will use your blood and souls to bury me."

With that final, venomous promise, his body collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

But death wasn't the end for him.

[Death Transformation]!

An explosion of dark magic erupted from the fallen magician's body. His black cloak ripped apart, and his form twisted and contorted grotesquely. The ground trembled as his corpse underwent a horrifying transformation, limbs lengthening, skin turning pale and ghoulish. Massive bat-like wings burst from his back, and his eyes opened once more, no longer human, but a creature of the night.

He had become a vampire, a monstrous figure of narrow limbs, jagged teeth, and powerful wings.

[Battle Tips: You have encountered a fallen vampire!]

The Forum Master, having regained his senses, shouted in alarm, "Wallace! This magician was favored by the blood clan! After death, he's become a vampire!"

The newly-formed vampire let out a piercing scream, its wings wrapping around itself in a desperate attempt to block the radiant light streaming from William's 'Developing Lantern'. The divine glow burned into the vampire's flesh, causing it to recoil in pain. The once-mighty magician, now a creature of darkness, flapped its massive wings violently, trying to flee the lantern's purifying light.

"Kill it!" the Forum Master roared.

They couldn't afford to let this creature escape. [Death Transformation] was a form of black magic, a posthumous curse that allowed the caster to cling to the path of vampirism. While it weakened many of the magician's original attributes, his physical power grew monstrously. His new vampire form was filled with the corruption of death, far darker and more twisted than a typical blood clan vampire.

If they allowed the vampire to flee, it would relentlessly hunt them, seeking vengeance night and day until it drained every last drop of their blood. The curse wouldn't rest until its hateful mission was complete.

William and the others didn't need the Forum Master's warning. They knew instinctively that they couldn't let the vampire escape. Just as the creature launched itself into the air, a figure shot forward with incredible speed.

It was the Gambler.

With both hands, he grabbed hold of the vampire's hind claw mid-flight, using all of his strength, bolstered by his physical value of 14 points. With a roar, he yanked the vampire down, swinging its body like a hammer. The impact of the vampire hitting the ground was devastating, cracking the earth beneath them with the force of the blow.

But the vampire retaliated swiftly. Its claws retracted for a brief moment before shooting forward, sinking deep into the Gambler's wrist. The sharp talons tore through flesh and bone, and blood spilled freely from the wound. The Gambler let out a grunt of pain, but he wasn't about to let go. With a fierce twist of his body, he spun the vampire around and hurled it toward a nearby house.

Boom!

The house collapsed in an explosion of debris and dust as the vampire crashed through it. But even buried under the rubble, the creature was far from defeated. With a screech, it burst from the ruins, wings flapping furiously as it ascended into the dark sky once more.

"Don't let it escape!" William shouted, eyes narrowing on the fleeing figure.

Suddenly, a brilliant flash of silver-white light split the sky.

Whoosh!

Like a lightning bolt striking from the heavens, the Forum Master unleashed a powerful bolt of magic, his hands crackling with energy. The lightning shot across the sky, arcing toward the vampire with unrelenting force.

The bolt hit its target.

The vampire let out an ear-splitting screech as the lightning coursed through its body, its wings spasming in mid-flight. The creature's dark form was momentarily illuminated, its silhouette writhing in agony as it fought against the electrifying power that surged through it.

The vampire began to falter, its flight pattern wobbling as it lost altitude. The combined assault of divine light, sheer strength, and now, the force of lightning was proving too much even for a creature born of dark magic and death.

"Now!" William commanded, gripping his spear tightly, ready to strike the final blow.

Alex, Gambler, and the Forum Master readied themselves for one last, decisive attack. The fallen vampire, already weakened, had nowhere left to run.

The spear pierced the fallen vampire in mid-air, driving through its torso with devastating force. The creature screeched in agony, its body convulsing as the impact nearly tore it apart. It managed to twist its head, catching sight of the one who had struck the blow, a young human boy standing on the ground below, his arm still outstretched from the throw, his eyes cold and unyielding as ice.

For a moment, the vampire hovered, wings flailing as it struggled to maintain flight. Then, like a bird with shattered wings, it plummeted from the sky, crashing into another part of the ruined village.

William, Alex, the Gambler, and the Forum Master didn't hesitate. They knew it wasn't dead yet. Together, they sprinted toward the fallen vampire, their footsteps pounding through the desolate streets as they raced to finish the fight.

When they arrived, the scene before them was gruesome. The vampire, still very much alive, had ripped the knight's spear from its abdomen. Its monstrous fangs were now deep in the necks of several magic apprentices, draining their life force. Blood dripped from its mouth, and with every gulp, the wounds on its body visibly healed, the vitality of the apprentices restoring its power.

"Not again," William growled as the vampire took to the skies once more, its dark wings cutting through the air.

But before the creature could escape, a cold, radiant beam of moonlight descended from the sky like a divine judgment. It struck the vampire head-on, slamming it back down into the dust with a heavy thud.

"Light of Purification!" Metatron's voice rang out as he stepped forward, the 'Moonlight Codex' glowing in his hands. His expression was calm, almost serene, as if the chaos around him didn't touch his soul.

The fallen vampire writhed on the ground, hissing and snarling, but William, Alex, and the Gambler rushed in without mercy. They unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks, each blow landing with deadly precision. Their strikes were heavy, their intent clear, to end this monster once and for all. But the vampire's body, twisted by dark magic, healed with incredible speed. Each wound they inflicted closed within seconds, the vampire's regenerative power fueled by the dark energy within it.

"It won't stay down!" the Gambler grunted, his fists bruised from the repeated assaults.

"Keep hitting it!" William ordered, his spear slicing through the air once more, but even he could see that their efforts weren't enough to put the creature down permanently.

Suddenly, a crackling sound echoed through the air.

"Lightning Link!"

The Forum Master arrived, his hands raised as he chanted a spell he had learned from the Magic House. Lightning coiled around him, bright and dangerous, before snapping forward with lethal force.

Snap!

The bolt of electricity surged into the fallen vampire, its body seizing violently as the lightning coursed through it. For a moment, the creature's skin blackened, smoke rising from its charred flesh. The magic was too much for its healing abilities to handle. The vampire convulsed one final time before its body turned into a smoldering, motionless heap, reduced to charcoal.

It was over.

The group stood panting, staring at the remains of the creature. The tension in the air began to ease, and for the first time since the battle started, they allowed themselves a moment to breathe.

---

With the fallen vampire vanquished, the five players turned their attention to the abandoned village. Moving through the ruins with calculated precision, they searched for any remaining threats. There were still magic apprentices lurking in the shadows, but none of them stood a chance against the team. One by one, the apprentices were hunted down and eliminated, their life forces drained by their master's betrayal or their own weakness.

The level 14 black magician, still struggling in a pool of his own blood, was the last to be found. His earlier resilience was gone, and now, he barely managed a gurgle of resistance as William's spear ended his suffering.

Once the village was cleared, they set it ablaze. The fire roared to life, consuming the remnants of the black magicians' dark legacy. Flames licked the crumbling buildings, reducing them to ash, and with it, the magical traps and wards that had been laid throughout the area.

The Forum Master, his 'Identify All Things' ability still active, had detected those traps before they could pose a threat. Thanks to his keen detection skills, they had managed to navigate the village safely, coming upon the black magicians without triggering any alarms.

Alex, too, had used his 'Miracle' ability to move freely, avoiding danger with uncanny ease. His talent allowed him to slip through the village like a shadow, ensuring that no enemy could catch him off guard.

But as they gathered together, ready to leave, a game prompt flashed across their vision.

[You have been marked by the Black Mage.]

[All dark magicians will recognize you as enemies.]

William scoffed at the message. He had already been cursed by a werewolf before, and now, being targeted by dark magicians was just another complication to add to the list. "Just another reason to stay on our toes," he muttered, unconcerned.

The others seemed equally indifferent. They had long grown accustomed to the dangers of this world, and another mark on their heads was just part of the journey. Together, they walked away from the burning village, knowing that this was only the beginning of what awaited them deeper in Shadow Castle.