Chapter One Hundred and Ninety-Nine – "Power Is Power"
The sky above the Blightspire Ridge darkened as Crow approached the entrance to the newly unlocked SSS-rank dungeon: Hollow Crown Catacombs. Crimson fog laced the wind, and even the trees bent away from the dungeon as if nature itself feared it.
Behind Crow, only his shadow stretched—his companions stored safely in the pocket dimension. This time, he walked alone.
The massive obsidian gate, sealed for centuries, trembled as he placed his hand against it. With a groan of shifting stone and ancient magic, it creaked open, revealing a spiral descent into darkness.
The system chimed:
[SSS Dungeon Unlocked: Hollow Crown Catacombs]
[First-Clear Reward: Demi-God Rank Unit – ???]
[Warning: No player has ever cleared this dungeon. Estimated level: 80+]
Crow stepped in anyway.
"Power is power," he whispered to himself.
The first wave hit within seconds—armored undead knights, faster and stronger than anything below divine rank. Crow didn't blink. He raised his hand, summoning one of his SSSS-rank spells: Total Elemental Control. Fire, ice, lightning, earth, wind, and shadow erupted in perfect sync.
In a moment, wave one was ash.
Wave two. Then three. Then seven.
He walked through slaughter and silence, his expression calm, his mind focused. This wasn't for glory. Not even for wealth.
This was for power.
At the heart of the dungeon, a single throne waited—on it, slouched, was a woman clad in crimson silver armor, her eyes glowing gold, chained by forgotten magic.
[You have reached the Final Room.]
[Would you like to break the seal?]
Crow raised his hand.
"Yes."
Chains shattered. The dungeon trembled. The woman's eyes widened—and she smiled.
[You have obtained Demi-God Unit: Lady Veyra, Crimson Sentinel.]
"To whom do I owe my freedom?" she purred.
Crow turned, cloak billowing.
"You serve me now."
And in the catacombs, another piece was claimed for his growing empire.
To be continued...