Celestia Arcane Academy, Central Teleportation Hall.
Towering stone pillars stood in the center of the plaza, where faint blue spatial ripples shimmered like disturbed water.
It was the fifth day since the freshmen’s awakening, marking the first academy-organized dungeon trial. The hall was a cacophony of voices as hundreds of students gathered, heatedly discussing the challenges ahead.
The lead instructor stood before the teleportation array, his expression grim as he struck his copper staff against the floor, shouting the rules:
"Attention, everyone! The trial grounds are the Shadowfen Ruins, with a recommended level of 3 to 5! The ruins are complex and crawling with high-attack elite monsters. The academy strongly advises entering in five-person parties! I repeat, there are powerful elite monsters inside. Attempting this solo is a death wish!"
The warning chilled the air, and students scrambled even faster to find teammates.
"Anyone need a group? Looking for a strong front-liner!"
"Mage recruiting, Level 3 or higher only!"
Amidst the noise, a slender silhouette with auburn hair walked silently through the crowd.
Elena brushed her left ring finger against the dark red band circling it. Without a moment's hesitation, she stepped toward the stone pillar marked for solo challengers.
The surrounding students gasped.
"Look! It’s Elena from House Nocturne!"
"What is she doing? She chose the solo channel?"
"Is she insane? The instructor just said soloing is suicide! Even for a high-tier Awakened, going into an elite dungeon alone is just throwing her life away!"
Through the noisy chatter, a lean figure hurried over.
Vincent wore an expression of deep concern and anxiety as he rushed to stop her. "Elena! Don't be reckless! The Shade Fiends in there aren't like the training dummies in the Proving Grounds. Listen to me—let me lead a team to escort you. With me there, I can at least ensure your safety!"
Elena stopped and glanced sideways at him.
Her eyes were cold as ice, devoid of any warmth. "No need, Vincent. I can handle it."
She didn't give him a chance to argue further. She turned and stepped directly into the dark, violet-glowing portal.
Vincent was left standing there, his hand hanging awkwardly in the air. As he watched the light from Elena’s departure fade, a flicker of venomous malice flashed in his eyes.
He stepped back and waved off the concerned onlookers with a sigh. "I suppose... since my sister insists on her own path, I can only hope she stays safe."
Internally, however, a cruel sneer spread through his mind.
Going solo?
Perfect, Elena. You chose this dead end yourself! In that sealed, silent ruin, even if an 'accident' happens, there won't be a single witness.
Space warped slightly, and the roar of the crowd vanished instantly.
The stench of dampness, rot, and blood hit her nose.
Elena slowly opened her eyes to reveal a dim, crumbling ancient ruin. Massive stone pillars lay toppled in the muddy swamp, and broken statues were choked by vines and obsidian Shadowthread. The silence was unnerving.
An assassin’s instinct awakened immediately.
Elena crouched low, suppressing her breathing to the absolute limit. Like a soundless wraith, she glided forward, sticking to the shadows cast by the fallen pillars.
She hadn't gone far when a sharp grinding noise echoed from behind a pile of rubble.
Five multi-legged giant spiders, each the size of an adult bull and covered in pitch-black chitin, occupied the center of the ruins. Their compound eyes glowed with a hungry red light.
[Enemy Detected]
Shadow Crawler - Level 4 (Elite)
HP: 1200
ATK: 95
Skills: [Toxbite], [Websnare], [Shadowleap]
Against five Level 4 elites, even a standard five-person party would have to pull monsters carefully.
But Elena’s gaze didn't waver. There was only absolute calm and cold calculation.
Slow movement. Blind spot directly behind.
Enough.
Elena’s legs coiled and snapped!
[Shadowstep]!
Her body dissolved into a puff of illusory black smoke, tearing through the air to reappear instantly behind the Shadow Crawler on the far edge.
The Novice Dagger traced a cold arc, stabbing with surgical precision into the weakest gap between the spider's head and its thorax!
[Lethal Blow]!
Pfft!
Black toxic blood sprayed. The Shadow Crawler didn't even have time to hiss before its massive body crashed to the ground.
The remaining four spiders flew into a rage, screeching as they lunged with their blade-like legs.
Yet Elena moved like a ghost dancing on a razor's edge. Using the fallen pillars as cover, she twisted and turned, every strike drawing blood.
8 minutes later.
The final Shadow Crawler collapsed into a pool of gore.
Throughout the entire battle against five Level 4 elites, Elena hadn't taken a single scratch. It was a flawless execution.
[Battle Results]
5x Shadow Crawler slain
Total EXP: +420
Total Gold: +85
Items: [Shadowthread] x12, [Venom Sac] x5
[Level Up]
Elena: Level 2 → Level 3
[Level Up]
Elena: Level 3 → Level 4
HP: 240 → 280
MP: 380 → 460
Attribute Points: +10 (Assigned to Agility)
Agility: 55 → 65
Combat Power: 1120 → 1650
A surge of energy erupted from within, rapidly nourishing her limbs.
Elena let out a long breath, feeling the massive boost to her physical stats. She dumped all 10 attribute points into Agility without hesitation.
The Combat Power on her display soared to 1650!
Without lingering, she gathered the loot and pushed deeper into the ruins.
The further she went, the thicker the stench of rot became.
After passing through a long, narrow stone canyon, the path opened into a colossal, dilapidated underground hall.
Massive webs hung from the domed ceiling like drapes, and countless bones littered the floor.
In the center of a giant web sat a terrifying venomous spider the size of a small hill. A twisted human-faced pattern was etched onto its back, and its eight spear-like legs were covered in dense barbs.
As Elena stepped into the hall, the spider snapped its many eyes open and let out a piercing, ear-splitting shriek!
[Boss Encounter]
═════════════════════════════
Shadowfen Matriarch - Level 5 (Elite Boss)
═════════════════════════════
HP: 5000 / 5000
MP: 1000 / 1000
ATK: 150
DEF: 80
Skills:
- [Venomstrike]: 300% ATK Damage + Poisoned
- [Duskweave]: AoE Root, 5 seconds
- [Brood Calling]: Summons 8x Level 3 minions
- [Rampage]: ATK +50% when HP < 30%
5000 HP. 150 base attack.
Any ordinary Level 5 party would feel despair looking at these stats.
But Elena remained composed.
Her eyes scanned the boss's massive frame, her mind working like a high-speed machine.
Massive body means slow turning. Significant skill wind-up.
Core Tactic: Kite and bleed. Never trade hits.
Tier 1!
Elena’s body blurred again as [Shadowstep] activated!
Shhh!
She vanished, appearing a heartbeat later on the high crevice of the Matriarch’s back.
The Novice Dagger howled through the air, driving into the center of the human-face pattern!
[Lethal Blow]!
[Battle Log]
Backstab! Critical Hit!
Damage: 825!
Shadowfen Matriarch HP: 5000 → 4175
SCREECH—!
The boss shrieked in agony, its massive frame trembling violently. Its abdomen whipped upward, and a flood of black webbing swept out in all directions!
[Duskweave]!
The range was immense; a single touch meant being rooted for 5 seconds.
However, Elena had predicted the trajectory the moment the tail lifted. Her body folded into a mid-air roll, landing lightly just outside the web's reach.
The moment her feet hit the ground, she bounded back, her dagger flashing toward the boss's eyes!
Weakness Hit! Damage x1.5!
Damage: 615!
Shadowfen Matriarch HP: 4175 → 3560
The health bar was plummeting.
Tier 2!
Badly wounded, the Matriarch fell into a frenzy. It reared up, its abdomen churning until it spat out 8 foul, obsidian spider eggs that shattered upon hitting the ground.
Cr-crack!
8 small venomous spiders burst from their shells, hissing as they swarmed Elena.
"Trying to overwhelm me with numbers?"
Elena sneered, her hands forming a seal.
[Phantom Veil]!
A pitch-black clone, identical to her, remained in place, radiating a strong mana signature. The 8 spiderlings were lured by the illusion, screaming as they lunged at the double.
Meanwhile, Elena’s true self had already slipped into the shadows, flanking the minions.
Cold light flashed. Throat slits. Backstabs.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
In less than 20 seconds, the spiderlings were annihilated, turned into experience points on Elena’s screen.
8x Spiderling slain
EXP: +160
With the adds cleared, Elena refocused her fire on the boss.
Cold steel continued to bite into flesh. The Matriarch’s HP bled out until it finally dipped below the 30% threshold!
Tier 3!
BOOM!
The black chitin on the boss took on a crimson glow. Its already massive size swelled further, and its speed and power exploded!
[Rampage] status!
Attack power rose to 225. Attack speed increased by 50%.
The Matriarch swung its front claws wildly, smashing deep craters into the floor. Rubble flew everywhere, and the entire hall felt like it might collapse.
In this state, even a glancing blow would empty Elena’s fragile assassin health bar.
But Elena was calm.
The more dangerous the situation, the more terrifyingly focused she became.
She used the towering, broken pillars to break the boss's line of sight, her footwork perfect as she toyed with the rampaging beast.
One hit, then a retreat.
Skills off cooldown, then another strike!
One cut after another!
The boss’s health was finally whittled down to a sliver!
Now!
Elena kicked off a stone pillar, turning into a black meteor. Mid-air, she channeled all her mana and Agility into her hands!
[Lethal Blow]!
Backstab! Critical!
SHINK—!
The black dagger buried itself deep into the Matriarch’s skull!
[Battle Log]
[Lethal Blow] + Critical + Backstab!
Damage: 1547!
Shadowfen Matriarch HP: 280 → -1267
[Boss Defeated]
═════════════════════════════
VICTORY!
═════════════════════════════
Clear Time: 12:34
Damage Taken: 0
Perfect Clear!
The mountain of a spider crashed down, kicking up a cloud of dust.
A second later, brilliant golden light and a flood of system notifications erupted in the hall!
[Loot Results]
EXP: +500
Gold: +200
Items:
- [Shadowfang Dagger] (Blue - Rare)
- [Skill Book: Void Step] (Green)
- [The Matriarch's Fang] (Purple - Quest Item)
[Achievement Unlocked]
Solo Elite Boss Kill - First Completion
Rewards: +100 Gold, Title: [Lone Wolf]
[Level Up]
Elena: Level 4 → Level 6
HP: 280 → 320
MP: 460 → 540
All Stats: +10
Combat Power: 1650 → 2580
2 levels at once!
Her Combat Power smashed through the 2500 barrier, reaching a terrifying 2580!
Elena stood by the boss's massive carcass, steadying her breath.
She opened her inventory and pulled out the [Shadowfang Dagger], which radiated a faint blue chill. The blade was cold to the touch, etched with mesmerizing shadow runes.
She immediately swapped her gear and updated her skills.
[Gear Update]
Weapon: [Novice Dagger] (White) → [Shadowfang Dagger] (Blue)
ATK: +10 → +68
Agility: +3 → +12
Special: 15% chance to apply [Poisoned] (50 dmg / 3s)
[New Skill Learned]
Void Step Level 1 (Advanced)
Upgraded from [Shadowstep]
Cost: 80 MP
Effects:
- Stealth Duration: 8s → 12s
- Movement Speed: +30% → +50%
- Break-stealth Damage: +120% → +180%
- Cooldown: 30s → 25s
[Title Equipped]
Lone Wolf
Effect: +5% to all stats when solo.
She gripped the blue-glowing blade, giving it a sharp flick. The air hissed with a faint sonic pop.
"This dagger... is perfect for me."
Satisfaction glimmered in Elena’s eyes.
With this Rare-tier weapon and the upgraded [Void Step], her survival and burst potential had reached a new level.
After gathering the remaining drops, she turned to head back toward the exit.
However, just as she reached the threshold of the hall—
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Deliberate, steady footsteps echoed from the shadows of the passage ahead.
Elena’s eyes sharpened. She gripped the [Shadowfang Dagger] and barked, "Who is it?!"
A familiar figure stepped slowly out of the darkness.
Vincent was there, a warm smile on his face as he clapped. "Impressive work. Truly worthy of a genius of House Nocturne, soloing a Level 5 elite boss."
Suspicion flared in Elena’s eyes. "Vincent? What are you doing here?"
Vincent sighed, his tone gentle and full of concern. "I told you, didn't I? How could I be at peace with you in here alone? I followed you quietly the whole way, just in case you ran into trouble. Seeing you unharmed... I can finally breathe again."
Vincent walked naturally to Elena’s side, reaching out to pat her shoulder. "Come, since the trial is done, let's leave together. When Father hears you killed a boss alone, he’ll be so proud."
Looking at Vincent’s flawless mask of concern, Elena’s tense nerves relaxed just a fraction.
Perhaps... I was overthinking it?
He is my brother, after all.
The two walked toward the exit, one after the other, through the narrow passage.
The moment Elena dropped her guard and fell half a step behind—
Vincent’s warm expression twisted into a mask of pure, hideous malice!
Extreme jealousy and venom burned in his eyes as his right hand snapped to the hilt of the sword at his waist!
Shring!
The blade cleared its scabbard!
A bone-chilling killing intent exploded. The mana in Vincent's body surged to its peak as the razor-sharp blade transformed into a streak of lethal light, thrusting straight for Elena’s heart from behind!
The strike was lightning-fast and utterly ruthless!
[Warning]
Surprise Attack!
Vincent's [Shadow Blade] Level 15
Damage: ???
The icy chill of death enveloped Elena instantly!
In that split second of ultimate peril, her instincts as a top-tier assassin saved her life.
Her pupils constricted. Without time to turn around, she threw every ounce of Strength into wrenching her body half an inch to the right!
Pfft!
The dull sound of steel piercing flesh echoed through the tunnel.
Vincent’s sword missed her heart, but buried itself deep in her left shoulder!
A crimson critical damage number sprayed out along with her blood!
[Damage Taken]
HP: 320 → 185
Status: [Bleeding] (-20 HP / 5s)
The agonizing pain turned Elena’s face white. She used the momentum of the strike to throw herself forward, rolling and scrambling to put several meters of distance between them.
She clamped her right hand over her bleeding shoulder, looking up at her unrecognizable brother with disbelief.
"You... Vincent?!"
Elena’s voice trembled, her eyes instantly reddening.
She never could have imagined that the person trying to murder her would be the kin she had always trusted!
Vincent slowly withdrew the bloody blade, looking down at the fallen Elena. The concern was gone, replaced by a chilling, skin-crawling cruelty.
"I'm so sorry, my dear sister."
Vincent sneered, closing in step by step, blood dripping from his longsword.
"If you want someone to blame... blame your own excellence. As long as you exist, Father will never look at anyone else! The inheritance of House Nocturne would never be mine!"
He raised his sword high, black mana rampaging across the steel. His eyes were wide with psychotic bloodlust.
"So... please, just die quietly here!"
The blade hissed through the air as it swung down again!
In this life-or-death moment, Elena gritted her teeth. The shock and grief in her eyes were instantly replaced by the cold, hard resolve of an assassin.
She gripped the [Shadowfang Dagger], ignored the searing pain, and rolled toward the lethal blade to close the distance!
The battle had truly begun.
[Current Character Status]
Elena Nocturne
Level: 6
HP: 185 / 320
MP: 540 / 540
Combat Power: 2580
Agility: 75
Class: Shadowdancer (S-Rank)
Weapon: [Shadowfang Dagger] (Blue)
Status: [Bleeding] (-20 HP / 5s)
EXP: 10 / 150