Liam woke with a jolt, his heart hammering against his ribs. The fear was primal, disorienting. He was in his bed in the palace, but something was terribly wrong. His eyes snapped open, and he saw her. Princess Lyra lay beside him, her soft hair fanned across the pillow, her eyes still closed in slumber, and... she was without dress. The memories of last night's celebratory feast, the king's endless toasts, the rich wine, all flooded back in a hazy blur. Did something happen? His mind raced, a wave of mortification washing over him.
Just then, Lyra stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, wide with innocent confusion, then widened in a sudden, mortified realization. Their gazes met, both seeing the impossible, awkward truth. A gasp escaped her lips, and she bolted from the bed, a blur of motion as she grabbed a silk robe and fled the room, a faint squeak of embarrassment echoing in her wake. Liam buried his face in his hands, red to the roots of his hair.
Breakfast was a surprisingly less awkward affair. Afterward, seeking to diffuse the tension, Liam suggested a walk in the palace gardens, where he confided in her about the dragon egg.
"It's due to hatch tomorrow," he explained. They returned to his room, and Liam carefully placed the egg, pulsating with faint fire and lightning, in a soft, plush bed he'd prepared.
Their walk continued, the conversation flowing more easily. Suddenly, a deafening crash echoed from within the palace. They sprinted back to Liam's room. The window was shattered, and perched on the edge of the now-broken eggshell was a small, incredibly cute dragon, its scales shimmering with miniature versions of Ignis's molten gold and obsidian.
The moment its eyes met Liam's, it launched itself into the air. "BOOM!" a voice echoed directly in his mind, bright and eager. "Hello, Master! I'm so happy to see you! ! I will protect you and the princess! I'm so powerful! I can kill a squirrel with one attack!"
Lyra gasped, then burst into a delighted laugh. "Oh! So cute!" She scooped up the tiny dragon.
"Can you protect the princess for me while I'm gone?" Liam asked the hatchling.
A tiny puff of smoke rose from its nose. "Yes!" the little dragon chirped in his mind.
Lyra's face fell, but a new resolve was in her eyes. "He will come back again," she whispered. "And his dragon will stay."
Liam bid farewell and teleported into the Whisperwind Jungle. He walked for thirty days, pushing further than ever before. In the distance, a colossal palace loomed, dominated by a single, impossibly tall tower. After a five-day meditative walk, he reached the gates of the Dark Castle. They groaned open, and as he stepped inside, they slammed shut.
A deep voice echoed, "Come one, join me for a feast! If you can get to the last floor, you're worthy of fighting me. I'm the 6th Demon Lord Army General. Just let you know, there are five generals more powerful than me to kill a demon lord . And if you want to kill the gods, there are six Light Generals as well. And two powerful bodyguards... Hahahah! This castle is going to be your grave!"
Liam ignored the taunts and entered the first floor. The door sealed behind him.
> FLOOR ANALYSIS
> * Objective: Eliminate All Targets.
> * Entity Count: 250
> * Level Range: 45 - 60
>
From every shadow, the creatures swarmed. Liam became a whirlwind of destructive power, his fists infused with Light Attributes, shattering demonic flesh. This wasn't a fight of skill, but of sheer, overwhelming power. Within minutes, the floor was littered with fading remains.
> FLOOR CLEARED!
> * Enemies Defeated: 250
> * Experience Gained: 10,000
> LEVEL UP! (x10)
> Liam – Level 136/∞
> * Title: Assassin
> * Strength: 670
> * Agility: 670
> * Endurance: 670
> * Magic: 670
> * Dark Force: 320
> * Green Attributes: 45 (Harmony - Tier 1)
> * Light Attributes: 40 (Inherited - Tier 1)
> * Health: 39000/39000
>
"Their levels weren't high," Liam muttered. "They weren't powerful."
He advanced to the second floor. In the center of the chamber stood a grotesque, towering beast.
> MINI-BOSS DETECTED!
> Demon Overseer – Level 132
> * Strength: 700
> * Agility: 600
> * Endurance: 700
> * Magic: 600
> * Health: 41000/41000
>
The Demon Overseer roared and charged. The fight was brutal, a dance of destruction and raw power. Liam utilized every facet of his paradoxical attributes, weaving Dark Force blasts with bursts of enhancing Light energy, and subtly activating his Green Attributes for continuous recovery. He moved faster, hit harder. With a final, desperate surge of power, he unleashed a concentrated blast of telekinetic force, tearing the demon's head apart.
Liam stood, panting heavily, leaning against a crumbling wall. He was at his absolute limit.
> MINI-BOSS DEFEATED!
> * Enemy: Demon Overseer
> * Experience Gained: 20,000
> LEVEL UP! (x20)
> Liam – Level 156/∞
> * Title: Assassin
> * Strength: 770
> * Agility: 770
> * Endurance: 770
> * Magic: 770
> * Dark Force: 360
> * Green Attributes: 65 (Harmony - Tier 1)
> * Light Attributes: 40 (Inherited - Tier 1)
> * Health: 45000/45000
>
A shadow detached itself from the deeper darkness. A figure stepped forward, radiating an aura of overwhelming power.
> BOSS DETECTED!
> Demon Lord General (6th) – Level 165
> * Title: The Unyielding
> * Strength: 850
> * Agility: 850
> * Endurance: 850
> * Magic: 850
> * Health: 50000/50000
> * Attribute: Dark
>
The Demon General stood directly in front of Liam, its face a mask of dark amusement. "I can kill you now," its voice rumbled, "but what's the point if I don't fight a good fight?"
To Liam's astonishment, the General extended a hand, and a wave of swirling, dark energy washed over him. It wasn't an attack. It was a surge of raw, cold healing magic. It was the first time Liam had ever seen dark magic used for healing.
The General then shimmered, beginning to disappear. Its voice echoed, "I'm waiting in the last floor. Make a full recovery and come to me. I don't want to fight a weakened opponent. I'm a General. A respectful warrior."
Liam's eyes, wide with confusion and exhaustion, slid shut.
To the next episode...