Chapter 26: the treasury
Waxothmoth has been defeated, and from his body emerged a golden key similar to the one I possessed. As I took hold of it, the two keys connected and led us towards a hidden wall in the room, which opened before me. I cautiously entered, prepared for any surprises, as the room was illuminated by flickering candles. At the far end stood the dungeon's leader, an enormous figure hovering in the air, wielding a colossal scythe. Its skeletal appearance and glowing red eyes exuded immense power. When it spoke, its words carried a palpable force.
"I was dreaming. What's going on?" the figure uttered, noticing my presence. It began to laugh, gripping its weapon and pointing it in my direction. "So, you're the first to arrive."
Taking a defensive stance, I braced myself for its attacks. In an instant, it closed the distance between us, swinging its scythe at me. I managed to deflect the blow, but its force was overwhelming, causing the weapon to strike the ground and shake the entire room. The figure unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks, and I employed all my defensive techniques to withstand them. It was a formidable opponent.
However, I eventually deciphered its attack pattern and seized the opportunity to strike back. Using the Arcane Blade Style: Arcan Strike, I launched a furious assault, aiming to crush its bony skull. Yet, it remained unfazed and retaliated by targeting my neck. Employing the Arcane Blade Style: Elemental Shield, I managed to block the attack, but the shield shattered under the immense force. Forced to act swiftly, I resorted to the Arcane Blade Style: Arcane Blast, sending both of us flying.
Once again, I found myself in the room where I had conversed with Malphasor. The demon spoke to me, expressing concern for my well-being. "Hey, kid, are you alright? At this rate, you're going to die."
Perplexed, I asked, "What do you mean?"
"...use my strength like last time," he suggested.
"No, I'm not yet accustomed to that power... There's no guarantee it will go as smoothly as before," I replied.
"...you're right, but there's no other choice...do it and you can win, or remain as you are and perish. The choice is yours," he insisted.
After some contemplation, I reluctantly agreed. "Okay, let's do it."
As the enemy prepared to attack, it suddenly halted, sensing the impending danger. Utilizing the Arcane Blade Style: Teleportation, I appeared before it in an instant, catching it off guard. With a powerful kick, I sent it hurtling to the far end of the room, and in that moment, I teleported to its location and unleashed the Arcane Blade Style: Chain Lightning. Its face contorted in pain as it began to dissipate, signifying my victory.
However, I realized that defeating the enemy required relying on Malphasor's power. I need to defeat my enemies using my own strength. Now, armed with the golden keys, it was time to explore the contents of the treasury. Placing the keys in the box, I opened it.
only to find it empty.