The Castle

After some time I finally began to approach the green dot I marked on the map previously.

Lifting my eyes from the hologram, I noticed a massive tower piercing through the grey clouds peacefully hovering in the sky.

I strained my ears, trying to pick up any sounds of life or activity, however not even a single bird or an animal could be heard.

The area was utterly quiet...

Looking around, I whistled in amazement.

I've been here in my previous life, but at that time the Dark Prince was already long dead and the territory was inhabited by a lot of creatures.

While thinking about the past, I also recalled a video showcasing some beta testers trying to defeat this boss.

The video was released one hour after the Dark Prince was killed, making a lot of players grit their teeth while looking through its content.

In the recording, one of them discovered a bookshelf that could be pushed to the side revealing a hidden room with a small unglazed window.

From the window, one could see an expansive view of the library and also the Dark Prince's location.

Also, since beta testers aren't allowed to play [ Fragmental ] I should be the first one to discover this hidden room.

A small smirk started to form on my face, knowing the advantage I had.

I will use this hidden room to cast Lightning Spears through the window and slowly wear down the Dark Prince's health.

It might take some time, but with my careful strategy and precise aim, I was confident in my ability to defeat the Dark Prince and collect its loot.

The window is also very small, so small that the Prince's attacks are mostly unable to enter through it, but big enough for my spell to have no problem reaching its target.

Tap... Tap...

Approaching the massive metal gate dividing the castle's yard and outside, I carefully slipped past a few broken tiles on the ground.

As soon as I was inside the fortress, I was assaulted by a stench of rotten flesh and decay.

However, I quickly used my robe to cover my nose and walked towards the wooden door that led to the building.

Creak...

Entering the castle, I didn't waste any time, instantly finding stairs that led me toward the library on the upper floor.

While ascending them, however, I opened my Status and placed the spare SP I had from the last level-up into the INT attribute, further enhancing my magical damage.

< STATUS >

Name: Leo

Level: 3 < 90/400 EXP >

Race: Demon

Class: Mage

Subclass: None

~~~~

< ATTRIBUTES >

HP: 13 [+3]

MP: 32 [+7]

STR: 5

AGL: 15 [+3]

PDEF: 9 [+4]

MDEF: 13 [+3]

INT: 42 [+2]

SP: 0

~~~~

Active Skills:

< None >

~~~~

Passive Skills:

1️⃣ Mana Regen < Lv. 2 >

~ +7.5 MP per minute

~ No cost

~ No cooldown

~~~~

Spells:

1️⃣ Darkness Blast < Lv. 2 >

~ True Damage

~ AoE damage

~ Cost 5 MP

~ 5 sec. Cooldown

~~~~

2️⃣ Lightning Spear < Lv. 2 >

~ Cost 14 MP

~ 18 sec. Cooldown

~~~~

Inventory:

1️⃣ < Healing Potion > x4

2️⃣ < Mana Potion > x5

3️⃣ < 55 Gold Coins >

4️⃣ < Salamander Scale > x6

5️⃣ < Fiery Meat > x8

~~~~

Equipped:

1️⃣ < Darkling Staff > { Copper }

~ MP +5

~ INT +2

~~~~

2️⃣ < Darkling Robe > { Copper }

~ MP +2

~ MDEF +3

~ HP +1

~~~~

3️⃣ < Salamander Scale Boots > { Bronze }

~ AGL +3

~ PDEF +4

~ HP +2

~~~~

4️⃣ < Salamander Ring > { Platinum }

~ +2% Magical Damage

~~~~

< Map >

< Friend List >

< Guild >

< Pet >

~~~~

< CLOSE >

Finally, as I reached the top of the curved stairs a sturdy bronze door loomed before me.

This door allows only one party to pass at a time, which is kind of a safety measure that would disallow anyone to steal the kill.

Pushing the door open I didn't feel any resistance and deduced that no one was inside.

Tap... Tap...

Taking a step into a library I saw rows of bookshelves with tons of books everywhere. There was also a lot of dust everywhere, making the library seem very old or even ancient.

Looking around I shifted my body to the left side of the room.

I knew that the Dark Prince was located in the middle of the library, hence I immediately made sure to not accidentally wander off.

Approaching one of the bookshelves I leaned on it and tensed my muscles trying to push it to the side.

Crack...

After a few pushes, the old wooden structure gave in and slid to the side producing a loud sound that might've informed the boss about my presence in the library.

Jumping into the newly-opened room I quickly slid the bookshelf back to its original spot.

As soon as I did I heard heavy footsteps nearing my location.

Thud... Thud...

The sound was getting closer and closer until it finally stopped.

Holding my breath I didn't dare to move and quietly offered a prayer to the God of Luck.

Finally, after a few minutes of silence, the footsteps started distancing from the hidden room's entrance.

Huff...

Letting out a sigh of relief I slowly crawled my way toward the unglazed window and saw the Dark Prince coming back to sit on its couch in the middle of the library.

The Dark Prince was also a Demon, but he was way higher and bulkier than any other Demon I've seen.

He held a staff with a Blue Diamond at its top and wore a black robe with some kind of engravings on its back.

He also had 2 huge horns that were shaped like a crown, meaning that the Prince was a very powerful Demon.

I couldn't contain myself and threw a glance at the Demon's Status.

< THE DARK PRINCE >

~ A boss monster that resides in the Gloomy Castle; Dark Forest.

~ Omnivore; Territorial

~ Immune to Darkness

~ A Hidden Boss; Once killed will never respawn

< ATTRIBUTES >

Lv. 50

HP: 2500

MP: 4000

STR: 350

AGL: 250

PDEF: 150

MDEF: 300

INT: 4500

~~~~

< ACTIVE SKILLS >

1️⃣ Darkness Sword < Lv. 8 >

-- Summon a Darkness Sword that can be used to cut through other Elements

~ Single Target Damage

~ Cost 500 MP

~ 10 min. Cooldown

~~~~

2️⃣ Darkness Robe < Lv. 5 >

-- Surround yourself with Darkness to lower your presence

~ Single Target Use

~ Cost 200 MP

~ 20 min. Cooldown

~~~~

3️⃣ Burst Steps < Lv. 4 >

-- Your speed will increase during the next 3 Steps

~ +28% Movement speed

~ 400 Mana cost

~ 30 sec. Cooldown

~~~~

< PASSIVE SKILLS >

1️⃣ Dark Energy < Lv. 3 >

-- Gather Mana while staying in the Darkness

~ +50 Mana per minute

~ No cost

~ No cooldown

~~~~

2️⃣ Mana Manipulation < Lv. 6 >

-- Channel Mana faster; Spells will be cast faster

~ +6% Spell casting speed

~ No cost

~ No cooldown

~~~~

< SPELLS >

1️⃣ Darkness Beam < Lv. 7 >

-- Summon a Beam that will release Dark Mana evaporating everything in its path

~ True Damage

~ AoE Damage

~ Cost 1000 MP

~ 1 hour cooldown

2️⃣ Dark Step < Lv. 9 >

-- Take a step forward temporarily blinding your enemies

~ AoE Damage

~ Cost 600 MP

~ 15 sec. Cooldown

~~~~

3️⃣ Darkness Blast < Lv. 9 >

~ True Damage

~ AoE damage

~ Cost 5 MP

~ 5 sec. Cooldown

~~~~

Well it was expected, but still...

The Prince's Status was simply ridiculous.

Clinch...

Clenching my fists I lifted my eyes from the hologram.

Raising my right hand I began channeling Mana until a lightning spear appeared in my palm.

Taking a step forward my muscles tensed up and I threw the spell with all my might.

Whoosh...

The lightning projectile flew right out of the window and hit the Prince's chest.

- 49 Magical Damage!

~ The Dark Prince suffered from Status Effect

~ Temporary Stun and Consecutive Lightning Damage

~ Lose 15 HP every minute

~ Duration → 5 min

Seeing the instant effect, I smiled not even realizing that I stood too close to the window.

Were the Prince not stunned, I would be dead.

Luckily, I quickly regained my cool and took a few steps back, waiting until my spell's cooldown was gone.

After 18 seconds passed, I once again gathered Mana in my palm until Lightning sparks started flickering on my wrist and threw the Spear at the boss.

- 98 Critical Damage!

"So far so good..."

I grinned seeing the Boss's HP slowly fading away.