As Ryusei walked home, she pulled out the C-rank skill book from her inventory. She had been holding onto it since the emergency quest against Raynare, and now was the perfect time to use it before her Job Change Quest: Night Lord.
Dark energy surged through her body the moment she activated the book, sending a shiver down her spine.
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[You have acquired the skill: Shadow Manipulation!]
[You have acquired the skill: Shadow Punch!]
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Ryusei opened her status screen and checked the descriptions of her new abilities:
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[Shadow Manipulation (C-Rank) allows the user to shape, extend, and control shadows within a 10-meter radius. It can be used for stealth, binding, or offense.]
[Shadow Punch (C-Rank): A powerful strike infused with darkness. Deals extra damage when attacking from the shadows.]
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"Shadow abilities, huh?" Ryusei muttered, clenching her fist as a small tendril of darkness flickered around her hand before fading.
These skills were perfect for her upcoming Job Change Quest.
As she neared her house, Rika's voice echoed in her mind.
"Hey, Ryusei... are you really gonna go on a date with that perverted girl?"
Ryusei sighed, rubbing her temple. "I'm not sure yet..."
Rika huffed loudly, making an annoyed clicking sound with her teeth. "Hmph. You better not. I don't like her."
"You don't like anyone who talks to me," Ryusei muttered under her breath.
"Exactly!" Rika declared proudly. "Only I get to be near you!"
Ryusei groaned, already regretting everything.
As the night settled in, Ryusei sat on her bed, opening her system menu to check the details of her Job Change Quest: Night Lord.
A quest window popped up:
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[Job Change Quest: Night Lord]
[Objective: Enter the designated dungeon and clear the trial.]
[Location: Secluded Park, near the fountain.]
[Requirement: Approach the marked location, and the Gate will open.]
Warning: Once you enter, you cannot leave until the trial is complete.
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Ryusei narrowed her eyes. The same park where Issei had been killed and reincarnated...
Inside the ring, Rika stirred. "Where are we going, Ryusei~?"
"Just going out for a bit. Don't worry about it," Ryusei replied casually.
Rika pouted, sensing that Ryusei was hiding something. "Hmph... If anyone tries to touch you, I'll eat them."
Ryusei sighed. "Please don't."
As she approached the park, the fountain glowed faintly under the moonlight. A strange black rift shimmered in the air, forming a gateway.
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[You have entered the Shadow Temple!]
[Objective: Reach the third floor and defeat the boss.]
Warning: Player cannot leave until the Boss is defeated!
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Ryusei immediately tried to call out to Rika. "Oi, you there?"
No response.
Her brows furrowed as she touched the silver ring. It was silent.
"So I have to do this alone, huh?" she muttered, gripping Kasaka's Venom Fang tightly.
A torch flickered to life at the end of the hallway, casting eerie shadows across the stone floor. It was the only source of light guiding her forward.
Two skeletons approached, Ryusei activated Appraisal to check their stats.
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[Appraisal Activated]
[Skeleton Knight – Lv. 15]
[HP: 900]
[Weakness: Holy & Light Magic]
[Skeleton Archer – Lv. 12]
[HP: 600]
[Weakness: Holy & Light Magic]
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She reached into her inventory and pulled out her Silverine Sword, its pure silver blade gleaming in the dim light. With a thought, she channeled her newly acquired Light Magic, causing the sword to glow in a radiant pink hue.
She reached into her inventory and pulled out her Silverine Sword, its pure silver blade gleaming in the dim light. With a thought, she channeled her newly acquired Light Magic, causing the sword to glow in a radiant pink hue.
her shadow flickered and swallowed her presence.
Using Shadow Manipulation, Ryusei merged into the darkness, her form disappearing from sight. The Skeleton Knight clanked forward, unaware as she dashed out from the shadows.
SLASH!
With a single, precise strike, she severed its spine, causing it to crumble into a pile of bones and armor.
A sudden whizz in the air made Ryusei twisted her body just in time to dodge an arrow flying straight at her from the Skeleton Archer. The arrow struck the wall behind her, embedding itself into the stone.
Her eyes flicked toward the archer, who was already nocking another arrow.
As Ryusei prepared to take down the archer, she suddenly heard the clanking of bones and armor approaching fast. She turned to see three more skeletons emerging from the darkness.
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[Skeleton Defender – Lv. 18]
[HP: 1,200]
[Equipped: Tower Shield, Shortsword]
[Weakness: Holy & Light Magic]
[Skeleton Spearman x2 – Lv. 16]
[HP: 850 Each]
[Equipped: Iron Spear]
[Weakness: Holy & Light Magic]
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"Great, more of them," she muttered.
Without wasting time, Ryusei activated Quick Silver, her body glowing faintly as her speed doubled. She dashed sideways, dodging a spear thrust from one of the spearmen while closing the distance between her and the Skeleton Archer.
SLASH!
With a swift horizontal cut, Ryusei beheaded the archer, causing its bones to collapse in a heap.
The Defender charged forward, raising its massive shield to protect itself while the two Spearmen flanked Ryusei.
She ducked, barely avoiding a spear strike aimed at her back. Using her Shadow Manipulation, she sent shadow tendrils to wrap around the spearmen's feet, slowing their movements.
"Alright, one down. Three more to go."
After finishing off the Skeleton Defender and Spearmen, Ryusei let out a breath, shaking off the dust and bone fragments from her clothes.
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[System Notification]
[You have cleared the first wave of enemies!
You have obtained: [Reinforced Shadow Gloves] (C-Rank)]
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Curious, Ryusei pulled up the item's details.
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[Reinforced Shadow Gloves] (C-Rank)
[Type: Armor (Gloves)]
[Defense: +15]
[Effect: Increases hand-to-hand combat damage by 10% and slightly reduces physical damage taken.]
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"Not bad," Ryusei thought as she equipped the fingerless gloves. They were black with dark purple streaks, snugly fitting over her hands. She clenched her fists punching the air and immediately felt a slight surge of energy in her strikes.
Now geared up, she continued moving through the first floor of the temple.
As Ryusei stepped into the large chamber, the eerie glow of pink-flamed torches cast flickering shadows across the stone walls. In the center of the room, a Licht stood tall, its skeletal frame draped in tattered black robes.
Its glowing crimson eyes locked onto Ryusei as it clutched a long, jagged sword in one bony hand and a grimoire in the other.
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[Floor 1 Mini-Boss: Licht, the Cursed Knight]
[Level: 25]
[HP: 5,000]
[Abilities: Dark Magic, Cursed Blade, Levitation]
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The Licht hovered above the ground, its presence exuding an aura of pure malice. The grimoire's pages flipped on their own, and suddenly, dark tendrils of magic erupted from the floor, lunging toward Ryusei.
Reacting quickly, Ryusei activated Quick Silver, narrowly dodging the attack as she rolled to the side. She gripped her Silverine Sword, channeling light magic into the blade, making it glow with a pink hue.
"Alright… Let's do this!"