The Awakening of Strength
I sat cross-legged inside an old, abandoned temple in the Forsaken Lands, my body finally feeling like my own again after three days of intense recovery.
The fight against the Forsaken Warden had nearly torn me apart, but in return, I had gained something far greater—power.
The moment I had defeated him, I felt my strength surge to new heights. My body had been broken, pushed past its limits, yet it had adapted. I wasn't just getting stronger—I was evolving.
Taking a deep breath, I exhaled slowly and muttered, "System, show me my status window."
A blue, semi-transparent screen flickered into existence before me.
---
[Status Window]
Name: Samuel Gebb
Title: Harbinger of Destruction
Level: 152
HP: 97,000/97,000
Mana: 34,500/34,500
Strength: 450 → 510 (+60 from Warden's Gauntlets)
Agility: 430
Endurance: 500 → 545 (+45 from battle experience)
---
I smirked, stretching my arms as I felt the raw power coursing through me.
"510 Strength, huh?" I clenched my fists, feeling the Gauntlets of the Warden pulsating with a faint blue glow. "Looks like that bastard left me with a nice parting gift."
I stood up, rolling my shoulders. My body no longer ached—it felt reforged, stronger than ever before.
---
Testing My New Strength
Curious to test my newfound power, I walked toward a massive, half-crumbled stone pillar that had once been part of the temple's entrance. The pillar was at least twenty feet tall and five feet thick, weighing several tons.
"Let's see how much I've improved."
I planted my feet firmly, inhaled deeply, and threw a full-force punch.
The moment my fist collided with the stone, a massive shockwave erupted from the impact. Cracks spread like lightning across the pillar before—
BOOOOM!
—it exploded into pieces.
Dust and rubble rained around me, and as the dust settled, I looked at the destruction I had caused.
"Hah…" I exhaled, grinning.
"If I had this strength when I fought the Warden, I would've crushed him in half the time."
My strength had grown exponentially. I wasn't just stronger—I was in a completely different league now.
As I stood amidst the rubble, I thought about my next move.
I had two quests left:
1. Claim the Forsaken Throne – Find and activate the throne to gain the Forsaken King's Authority.
2. Unseal the Abyssal Gate – A mysterious, hidden quest with unknown rewards.
Then, of course, there was Titan Queen Valeria.
I smirked, recalling our last encounter. She had summoned me after watching what I was capable of, and judging by her words… she wasn't just interested in my strength.
"Well, well, Valeria… Looks like we'll be seeing each other soon."
I looked back at the system window, my eyes gleaming with determination.
"But first, let's finish what I started."
I stretched my arms, ready for whatever came next. The Forsaken Lands still had secrets to uncover… and I was going to claim them all.
----
[Quest Activated: Unseal the Abyssal Gate]
Objective: Locate and interact with the Abyssal Gate.
Reward: ???
----
I smirked as the system notification flickered in front of me.
"Unsealing an Abyssal Gate? Sounds like my kind of adventure."
I tightened the Warden's Gauntlets around my fists, feeling the surge of power they granted me.
My strength had grown tremendously, but something about this quest made my instincts tingle.
"A hidden quest with unknown rewards… that either means something incredible, or something that'll try to kill me."
Either way, I was ready.
I moved swiftly through the Forsaken Lands, my boots crunching against the cracked and ancient stone pathways.
The lands were eerily silent—no monsters, no undead, just the occasional whispers carried by the wind.
"Where the hell is this Gate?" I muttered.
Then, as if answering my question, my system pinged.
[Abyssal Energy detected – 500 meters ahead.]
I grinned and broke into a sprint.
---
The Abyssal Gate
The air grew heavier as I neared the location. The sky above darkened unnaturally, a swirling vortex of black and crimson clouds forming overhead.
And then I saw it.
A colossal, ancient gate stood embedded in the side of a ruined fortress. Its surface was covered in glowing abyssal runes, pulsating like a heartbeat. The ground trembled slightly, as if the gate itself was alive.
"Well, that's not ominous at all."
I walked closer, inspecting the intricate carvings. They depicted titanic figures locked in battle, monstrous creatures from a time long forgotten.
"A sealed gate… So how do I open it?"
Just as I reached out to touch the runes, the system spoke.
[To unseal the Abyssal Gate, present a token of strength.]
I raised an eyebrow. "Token of strength?"
Then I smirked. "I guess that means brute force."
I pulled back my fist, abyssal energy crackling around my gauntlet, and slammed my punch into the center of the gate.
BOOOOOM!
The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the entire fortress. The runes flared brighter, reacting to my power, and then—
CRACK!
The ancient stone split apart, revealing a gaping void beyond.
A voice echoed from the darkness:
"You dare open the Abyss?"
A chill ran down my spine. Whatever was inside… it was awake now.
I grinned. "Let's see what's waiting for me on the other side."
And with that, I stepped through the gate.