The cavern had gone unnaturally quiet.
The stale air hung thick in Noah’s lungs, heavy with the foul stench of death and rot. It clung to the stone walls and settled deep into the floor like something had died here long ago—and never truly left.
The chamber itself was massive, the ceiling disappearing into shadow. Jagged rock formations jutted from the walls like broken teeth, and the crimson glow of the rift behind them cast long twisted silhouettes across the ground.
The entrance they had come through was sealed.
Dark magic crawled across the stone like veins of black smoke.
No way out.
Noah tightened his grip around the hilt of his sword.
Across the chamber, the Revenant waited.
The towering figure stood motionless near the center of the cavern, resting a massive greatsword casually over one shoulder as if it weighed nothing at all.
Its armor was ancient.
Dark green metal dulled by age and corruption, trimmed with faded lines of gold that hinted at a once-noble origin. A torn dark-green cape hung from its shoulders, shredded and stained with time.
Through the cracked visor of its helmet, two burning eyes glowed like hellfire.
They watched Noah and Hayate with cold amusement.
Then the Revenant chuckled.
The sound was deep and hollow, echoing across the cavern walls.
“Well now…”
Its voice carried the rasp of something long dead.
“Having second thoughts already, adventurers?”
The creature shifted slightly, the massive blade scraping faintly against its armor.
It tilted its head, studying them.
“I do hope you give me a better fight than that lowly demon who claimed to be the boss of this rift.”
Noah blinked.
“…What?”
Hayate’s eyes narrowed immediately.
“I knew it…”
He shifted his stance slightly, hand tightening on the hilt of his katana.
“Something about this rift wasn’t right.”
His gaze locked onto the creature.
“You’re not supposed to be here.”
The Revenant chuckled again.
A slow, mocking sound.
“Oh?”
“You’ve figured that out now, have you?”
Hayate stepped forward slightly, voice rising.
“What business did you have coming into a rift and causing trouble like this?”
The Revenant’s grin widened beneath its helmet.
“Well…”
It lifted its head slightly.
“I suppose I’ll grant you some answers.”
Its burning eyes flicked between the two of them.
“After all…”
“…these are probably the last few breaths you’ll ever take.”
The blade lifted slowly from its shoulder.
“If you insist on knowing why I’m here…”
Its voice deepened.
“I stand here at the will of my master.”
The air seemed to grow colder.
“The Great One.”
Noah and Hayate exchanged a quick glance.
The miasma…
The crystals…
The journal Noah had recovered…
It was all connected.
Hayate smirked faintly as he lowered into a ready stance, tightening his grip on his sword.
Only a few meters separated them now.
The tension in the cavern snapped tight like a drawn bowstring.
“The Great One, huh?” Hayate said.
“We’ve been finding quite a few clues about this so-called Great One.”
His eyes hardened.
“So tell me something…”
“Why would the Great One send you here?”
The Revenant chuckled again.
“Aren’t you smarter than that, Hayate?”
Its sword slowly lowered until the tip scraped the stone floor.
“My purpose here was simple.”
The blade lifted and pointed directly at him.
“I was sent to intercept your mission.”
The hellfire eyes burned brighter.
“My task…”
“…was to take you out.”
Hayate smirked.
“You think you can take me out that easily?”
Noah stepped forward beside him.
“I’m not letting that happen.”
The Revenant tilted its head, examining Noah.
“Hm.”
“I don’t know who this pesky kid is…”
Its grin widened.
“But he just happens to be standing beside my target.”
“So I suppose I’ll harvest two souls instead of one.”
Hayate snorted.
“It’s going to take more than a Revenant to take me down.”
The Revenant’s expression darkened instantly.
“Enough.”
With a sharp motion, the creature lifted the massive sword high above its head.
A dim glow flickered near the hilt.
Noah’s eyes narrowed.
At first glance it looked like a focus gem.
But as he focused on it—
His eyes widened slightly.
No.
Not a focus gem.
A miasma crystal.
Dark energy began spiraling around the blade.
Black mist poured from the weapon like smoke.
Just then the dungeons core was completely absorbed into the sword.
Hayate’s expression hardened immediately.
“Noah!”
“Be on your guard!”
“There’s something off about that sword!”
The Revenant held the blade high above its head as the miasma crystal began to pulse.
A massive pressure suddenly flooded the cavern.
The air grew heavy.
Oppressive.
Noah felt as if his armor and clothes suddenly weighed twice as much.
Hayate gritted his teeth.
“The pressure from this miasma is intense…”
He lowered into a deeper stance.
“Stay on your guard, Noah.”
His eyes locked onto the Revenant.
“It’s going to take everything we have to take him down.”
The Revenant slowly lowered its blade.
Dark energy spiraled around it like living smoke.
And then—
The battle began.
The Revenant’s blade came down.
Not in a strike—
But in a violent release.
“Dark Cleave.”
The sword roared through the air, tearing a crescent of black energy across the chamber floor.
The wave of miasma carved through stone like paper.
Hayate moved first.
His body blurred.
The dark slash tore past where he had stood an instant before, smashing into a pillar of rock behind them.
The cavern exploded in dust and shattered stone.
Noah’s eyes widened.
That wasn’t just a sword swing…
Hayate slid forward across the ground, boots scraping the stone as he planted himself between Noah and the Revenant.
His katana lifted.
“Kid.”
His voice was calm, but sharp.
“Stay mobile.”
The Revenant grinned.
“So the famous Captain Hayate still has his speed.”
It lifted its sword again.
“Let’s see how long that lasts.”
Hayate vanished.
The stone beneath his feet cracked as he launched forward.
Steel flashed.
CLANG!
Katana and greatsword collided in a violent explosion of sparks.
The impact shook the cavern.
Noah felt the shockwave ripple through the floor beneath him.
Hayate pushed forward, his blade sliding along the Revenant’s weapon as he twisted his body and cut upward.
Slash!
A clean strike across the Revenant’s chest.
But instead of cutting deep—
SKRRRK!
The katana screamed against the dark green armor, sparks bursting across the Revenant’s breastplate as Hayate’s blade carved only a shallow groove into the metal.
Hayate’s eyes narrowed.
“Tch.”
The Revenant didn’t even stagger.
Slowly, it looked down at the mark across its chest.
Then it chuckled.
A low, rasping sound that echoed through the cavern.
“You noticed it already.”
It tapped the breastplate with one clawed finger.
The metal rang with a deep, heavy tone.
“Orichalcum.”
The hellfire in its eyes burned brighter.
“The same armor that defended me even in my old life.”
The Revenant tilted its head slightly.
“Many warriors died trying to break through it.”
A hollow laugh escaped the helmet.
“Good luck.”
The massive greatsword suddenly moved.
Hayate barely twisted away in time.
WHOOM!
The blade carved through the air where his head had been, smashing into the cavern floor with explosive force.
Stone shattered outward in a violent spray of debris.
Hayate slid backward across the ground before regaining his footing.
His eyes flicked to the shallow mark in the armor.
“…Orichalcum.”
He exhaled slowly.
“That explains it.”
The Revenant lifted its blade from the crater it had carved into the stone.
Dust rolled across the chamber floor.
“You fight well, Captain Hayate.”
It slowly pointed the sword toward him.
“But even your speed…”
“…won’t break this.”
Hayate smirked.
“We’ll see about that.”
The Revenant’s burning gaze shifted slightly.
Landing on Noah.
“Hm.”
“The boy still stands.”
Noah stepped forward.
The emerald gem in his sword pulsed faintly as his grip tightened.
“I’m not planning on leaving him to fight alone.”
The Revenant chuckled again.
“Bold.”
The sword lifted slowly.
Miasma curled around the blade like living smoke.
“Then both of you…”
“…come try.”
Hayate rolled his shoulder once, settling into a deeper stance.
He glanced briefly toward Noah.
“Well kid.”
His grin returned.
“This just got interesting.”
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
Noah lowered his stance.
The emerald focus gem glowed faintly.
The Revenant dragged its greatsword across the stone floor once more.
Screeeeeech.
Then its hellfire eyes flared.
“Come.”
And the next clash erupted like thunder.
Hayate vanished first.
The captain surged forward in a blur of speed, stone cracking beneath his feet as he closed the distance in an instant.
CLANG!
Katana and greatsword collided with explosive force.
Sparks burst outward as the two weapons locked together, steel grinding against steel.
The Revenant leaned forward, its monstrous strength pressing down through the blade.
Hayate braced his stance and twisted, sliding his katana along the edge of the greatsword before snapping a fast counterstrike toward its chest.
SKRRRK!
The blade scraped across the dark green armor.
Another shallow groove carved into the orichalcum plating.
The Revenant chuckled.
“You persist.”
The massive blade swung again.
Hayate ducked beneath the strike as it carved through the cavern wall behind him, blasting stone apart in a violent spray.
He spun back in, striking again.
CLANG!
Steel rang through the cavern.
Hayate slipped around the Revenant’s guard, landing another fast slash across the armor.
SKRRRK!
Again the metal resisted.
The Revenant didn’t even stagger.
It simply shoved forward with overwhelming strength.
Hayate was forced back a step as their blades locked again.
Noah watched the exchange carefully from several meters away.
His HUD flickered faintly.
Captain Hayate — Lv 37
HP: 350
STM: 470 → 432
Hayate twisted free and struck again.
Another clash.
Another burst of sparks.
The Revenant pushed forward relentlessly.
Noah’s HUD flickered again.
Captain Hayate — Lv 37
HP: 350
STM: 432 → 381
Noah frowned.
That’s… odd.
Hayate had barely spent any stamina fighting the ghouls earlier.
But now—
Another brutal exchange.
CLANG!
Hayate locked blades with the Revenant again.
The undead knight leaned forward, forcing the captain backward with raw strength.
Noah’s HUD flickered once more.
Captain Hayate — Lv 37
HP: 350
STM: 381 → 329
Noah’s eyes widened.
Why is he using so much stamina?
That last battle barely affected him…
Something’s off.
Hayate suddenly twisted the Revenant’s blade aside and forced another bind between their weapons.
Steel screamed against steel as the two locked together.
“Now!”
Hayate shouted.
“Noah!”
Noah launched forward immediately.
“Swift Edge!”
His body burst forward in a flash of speed.
STM: 160 → 155
His blade struck the Revenant’s flank.
SKRRRK!
Sparks exploded as the sword scraped against the orichalcum armor.
Another shallow scratch.
No damage.
But in that moment—
Noah saw it.
The crystal in the hilt of the Revenant’s sword pulsed.
A dark wave of energy surged through the blade.
And Hayate’s stamina dropped again.
Noah’s HUD flashed.
Captain Hayate — Lv 37
HP: 350
STM: 329 → 298
Noah’s eyes widened in realization.
“Hayate!”
The captain twisted away from the Revenant’s next swing.
“What?”
Noah pointed toward the weapon.
“His sword!”
“The crystal!”
Another pulse of miasma flowed through the blade.
Noah shouted.
“It’s draining your stamina!”
“And fast!”
Hayate’s eyes narrowed immediately.
His gaze flicked toward the weapon.
The Revenant chuckled.
“You noticed.”
It lifted the great sword again.
Dark miasma curled around the blade.
“But it’s already too late.”
The hellfire eyes burned brighter.
“The longer you fight…”
“…the weaker you become.”
Hayate’s eyes narrowed.
His gaze flicked toward the crystal set into the hilt of the Revenant’s sword. It pulsed again, faint but unmistakable—like a heartbeat of dark energy.
The Revenant chuckled.
Hayate rolled his shoulders once, stepping back into stance beside Noah.
“Figures,” he muttered.
His HUD flickered briefly in Noah’s vision.
Captain Hayate — Lv 37
HP: 350
STM: 298
Hayate exhaled slowly.
“Kid,” he said quietly without taking his eyes off the Revenant. “That sword’s the problem.”
Noah nodded.
“Yeah.”
His own HUD flickered.
Noah J. Blackwell — Lv 9
HP: 120
STM: 155
MP: 160
“If you keep clashing with it, it’s just going to keep draining you.”
Hayate smirked faintly.
“Then we stop playing his game.”
Across the chamber, the Revenant slowly dragged its sword forward again.
Screeeeeech.
“Planning already?”
The creature tilted its head.
“Good.”
It lifted the blade slightly.
“Struggle harder.”
“Your souls will taste sweeter.”
The Revenant lunged again.
Hayate moved instantly.
But this time he didn’t meet the blade head-on.
He slipped to the side, the great sword slamming into the ground where he’d been standing.
BOOM!
Stone exploded outward.
“Don’t lock blades!” Noah shouted.
“I’m trying!” Hayate snapped back, darting around the Revenant’s flank.
The undead knight turned with surprising speed.
The massive sword swept in a brutal horizontal arc.
Hayate ducked beneath it and struck again toward the Revenant’s ribs.
SKRRRK!
Another shallow scrape across the orichalcum armor.
The Revenant laughed.
“You still cannot break it.”
It twisted suddenly.
The great sword came up fast.
CLANG!
Hayate barely caught the strike this time.
For a brief moment their blades locked again—
And the crystal flared.
A pulse of dark energy surged through the Revenant’s weapon.
Noah’s HUD flickered.
Captain Hayate — Lv 37
HP: 350
STM: 298 → 271
Hayate felt it instantly.
His muscles tensed as the energy drained from him.
“Damn it—”
He shoved the blade away and jumped back before the Revenant could follow through.
The undead knight grinned wider.
“You cannot avoid it forever.”
Hayate landed beside Noah again, breathing slightly heavier now.
His smirk returned anyway.
“Well kid.”
He adjusted his grip on his katana.
“Looks like you’re going to have to hit harder.”
Noah’s eyes flicked to the shallow scratches across the Revenant’s armor.
Then to the glowing crystal in the sword’s hilt.
His HUD pulsed faintly.
Two skill icons flickered in the corner of his vision.
Phantom Slash
Warrior’s Resolve
Noah tightened his grip on the sword.
“Yeah,” he muttered.
“…I was thinking the same thing.”
Across the cavern, the Revenant raised its blade again.
Dark miasma swirled violently around the weapon.
Its burning eyes locked onto them both.
“Your strength fades.”
The creature stepped forward slowly.
“But mine…”
The crystal pulsed again.
“…only grows.”
Hayate exhaled slowly.
Then grinned.
“Well.”
He lowered into stance again.
“Guess we just have to end this before that happens.”
The Revenant lunged again—
And the cavern exploded back into motion.
The Revenant surged forward, its great sword carving a brutal arc through the air.
Hayate didn’t meet it.
He slipped aside at the last second, the blade crashing into the stone wall behind him with a deafening BOOM that sent shards of rock flying across the chamber.
Hayate moved like water.
He darted around the Revenant’s flank and drove a sharp elbow into the creature’s side.
THUD!
The strike knocked the undead knight half a step off balance.
Again.
Hayate slipped behind it and slammed his shoulder into its back, forcing the Revenant forward another step.
The creature snarled.
“Stop moving!”
Hayate smirked.
“What’s the matter?”
He ducked under another wide swing and kicked the Revenant’s knee, disrupting its footing.
“Too slow?”
The Revenant roared in frustration.
Its blade whipped around in a vicious backhand strike.
Hayate barely caught it this time.
CLANG!
The force drove him backward until his back slammed against the cavern wall.
The Revenant leaned forward, pinning him there as their blades locked together.
Stone cracked behind Hayate as the monster forced its weight down.
“Got you.”
Hayate gritted his teeth as the great sword pressed closer to his throat.
“Kid!”
Now.
Noah moved.
His stance lowered as stamina surged through his body.
Time to test it.
“Phantom Slash!”
His sword ignited with a sharp burst of motion as he dashed forward.
STM: 155 → 125
The blade came down on the exact spot Hayate had been striking repeatedly.
CRACK!
The orichalcum armor finally gave way.
A jagged fracture split across the chest plate.
The Revenant staggered slightly as the impact forced it to loosen its hold on Hayate.
Hayate shoved the greatsword aside and pushed off the wall.
He grinned.
“That one hit hard, kid.”
“Good stuff.”
The Revenant growled as it regained its footing, touching the cracked armor with one clawed hand.
“You dare—”
Noah raised his sword again.
“We just need to keep opening that hole.”
His eyes stayed locked on the fracture in the armor.
“Break it wider until the whole thing shatters…”
A determined grin crossed his face.
“…then we unleash hell.”
Hayate chuckled.
“I like your style.”
He rolled his shoulder once, stepping back into stance.
“Actually…”
His eyes sharpened.
“I’ve got something that might work.”
The Revenant lunged again.
Hayate stepped aside this time.
“Noah!”
“Take point!”
Noah didn’t hesitate.
He surged forward to intercept the Revenant.
Hayate slipped backward several meters, lowering his stance as energy began gathering along his blade.
“Stay focused!”
Hayate called out.
“He’s stronger than you…”
“And just as fast.”
Noah dodged a brutal downward strike that split the stone floor beneath him.
“This won’t be easy!”
Another swing came from the Revenant.
Noah blocked.
CLANG!
The impact rattled through his arms.
His HUD flickered.
Noah J. Blackwell — Lv9
HP: 120 → 110
STM: 125 → 120
The Revenant grinned.
“Brave little fool.”
Noah ducked beneath another swing and slashed again toward the cracked armor.
SKRRK!
The fracture widened slightly.
Behind him, Hayate’s voice came again.
“Hold in there!”
“Cause an opening!”
Noah jumped back as the great sword slammed into the ground again.
“Give me one chance…”
Hayate’s voice dropped.
“…and I’ll use my special attack.”
Noah exhaled slowly.
“Got it.”
The Revenant rushed him again.
This time Noah stepped in close.
Too close.
The Revenant moved faster than he expected.
The massive greatsword came up in a brutal backhand swing before Noah could pull away.
WHAM!
The blade slammed into Noah’s side like a battering ram.
His body lifted from the ground and flew across the cavern.
CRASH!
Noah slammed into the stone wall hard enough to crack the rock behind him.
His HUD flickered violently.
Noah J. Blackwell — Lv 9
HP: 110 → 82
STM: 120
The impact ripped the breath from his lungs.
Noah dropped to one knee, coughing as pain exploded through his ribs.
His vision blurred.
The Revenant turned.
Its hellfire eyes locked onto him.
“Pathetic.”
The undead knight charged.
The greatsword came forward in a brutal thrust aimed straight for Noah’s chest.
Noah barely rolled aside in time.
BOOM!
The blade punched through the cavern wall like it was soft clay, the massive weapon burying itself deep in solid stone.
The Revenant snarled.
With terrifying strength it ripped the sword free—
Then dragged it sideways through the wall in a violent horizontal slash.
Stone split open like butter as the blade tore through the rock toward Noah.
Noah dropped low.
The massive sword screamed overhead, carving a trench through the cavern wall where his head had been moments before.
Dust and debris rained down around him.
Noah’s heart pounded.
He’s too fast…
The Revenant stepped forward again, adjusting its grip on the sword.
Noah’s eyes narrowed.
Then he saw it—
The crystal in the hilt pulsed.
The handle…
That was the opening.
Noah clenched his jaw.
“NOW!”
He burst forward.
“Swift Edge!”
His body flashed in a quick burst of speed.
STM: 120 → 115
Instead of striking the armor—
Noah’s blade slammed directly into the Revenant’s sword hilt.
CLANG!
The impact knocked the weapon sideways.
The Revenant stumbled slightly as its grip shifted.
Just enough.
Noah saw Hayate at a glance.
That was all the captain needed.
Hayate’s body ignited with white wind-like energy.
The air around him began to howl.
A sharp outline of rushing wind wrapped around his form and blade like a living storm.
For a split second—
He vanished.
Then he appeared in front of the Revenant like a bolt of lightning.
His katana drew a brilliant arc through the air.
“Gale Wind Slash!”
A roaring crescent of compressed wind erupted from the blade.
SHATTER!
The cracked chest plate exploded apart as the attack tore straight through the weakened armor.
Fragments of orichalcum burst outward across the cavern floor.
The strike carved deep into the Revenant’s torso.
Hit Confirmed
Damage Dealt: 100
Rift Revenant — Lv 32
HP: 500 → 400
The force of the blow blasted the undead knight backward.
The Revenant slid several meters across the cavern floor before crashing violently into a pillar of stone.
Dust filled the chamber.
Hayate landed lightly beside Noah.
He gave the kid a quick sideways glance and smirked.
“You okay, kid?”
Noah wiped a thin line of blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. His ribs ached where the blow had landed, but he forced himself to stand straighter.
He smirked.
“Never better.”
He rolled his shoulder slightly, testing the pain.
“This is good training.”
Hayate barked a short laugh.
“Training, huh?”
He rested his katana briefly across his shoulder.
“You know…”
His grin widened.
“If we survive this, I might just make you, my apprentice.”
For a moment Noah forgot the pain entirely.
His eyes lit up.
“Seriously?”
Hayate chuckled.
“Don’t get too excited yet.”
Across the cavern—
The Revenant stood again.
Slowly.
Pieces of shattered orichalcum fell from its chest as it straightened, the deep wound from Hayate’s attack still smoking faintly.
Then it began to laugh.
A deep, hollow sound that echoed through the cavern.
“That…”
The Revenant rolled its shoulders as dark miasma curled around its body.
“…was something, Hayate.”
Its burning eyes gleamed.
“My master warned me you might have a few tricks up your sleeve.”
The creature tilted its head slightly.
“But this battle…”
The grin widened.
“…is raging far better than I thought it would.”
For a moment its voice softened with something almost nostalgic.
“It reminds me of the great battle…”
“…before I fell in my old life.”
Hayate’s eyes narrowed.
He studied the armor again.
The dark green plating.
The faded gold trim.
The torn cape trailing behind it.
“…Your armor.”
Hayate’s voice grew sharper.
“That color… that cape…”
His eyes widened slightly.
“You were a knight of the Kingdom of Allador, weren’t you?”
The Revenant went silent for a moment.
Then slowly—
It reached up.
Its clawed hand grasped the cracked helmet.
The metal groaned as it pulled it free.
With a flick of its wrist, it tossed the helmet aside.
It clattered across the stone floor.
A pale, gaunt face stared back at them.
Eyes burning with unnatural hellfire.
Since I find you worthy…
The Revenant straightened.
“…I’ll do you the honor of knowing your killer.”
Its voice carried chilling pride.
“I was once known as…”
The creature lifted its sword again.
“…General Magnus Ironhart.”
The hellfire eyes burned brighter.
“The Shield of Allador.”
Hayate froze for half a second.
“…Ironhart?”
The name was legendary.
Decades ago—
The war between the kingdoms of Allador and Arendelle had shaken the entire continent.
Magnus Ironhart had been the commander who held Allador’s army together through the bloodiest battles.
The man who refused to retreat.
The man who turned entire battlefields into fortresses.
The man they called—
The Shield of Allador.
Hayate exhaled slowly.
“…I remember.”
“That war ended with Arendelle’s victory.”
He looked around the cavern briefly.
Arendelle now stood between Caldonia and the rest of the eastern kingdoms.
A wall separating them.
Magnus chuckled.
“Yes.”
His burning eyes gleamed.
“And I died on that battlefield.”
The Revenant lifted its blade again.
“But death…”
Dark miasma surged around his body.
“…was not the end of my service.”
Magnus pointed the great sword toward them.
“My master gave me purpose once more.”
His grin widened.
“And now…”
Hellfire flared brighter in his eyes.
“…I will claim your souls.”
The Revenant stepped forward again.
The cavern trembled beneath his weight.
Magnus Ironhart lifted the great sword slowly, dark miasma spiraling around the blade as the crystal in its hilt pulsed like a black heart.
Then he moved.
The undead general surged forward with terrifying speed, the massive blade cleaving through the air in a brutal downward strike.
Hayate met it.
CLANG!
Steel exploded in sparks as katana and great sword collided again, the shockwave rattling the cavern walls.
Hayate slid backward half a step under the force.
Magnus grinned.
“Still standing, Captain?”
The great sword twisted and came down again.
Hayate slipped sideways this time, the blade slamming into the stone floor with a violent BOOM that cracked the rock beneath them.
“Kid!” Hayate barked.
“Stay sharp!”
Noah moved.
He dashed around the Revenant’s flank, searching for the exposed gap where the armor had shattered.
His HUD flickered.
Noah J. Blackwell — Lv 9
HP: 82
STM: 115
MP: 160
Magnus saw him.
The Revenant pivoted instantly, swinging the blade in a brutal horizontal arc meant to cut Noah in half.
Noah pushed off the cavern floor and leapt high into the air, sword raised overhead.
Dust spiraled beneath him as he rose.
Magnus Ironhart looked up.
The Revenant grinned.
“Fool.”
The great sword came up in a brutal upward swing aimed straight for Noah as he descended.
The blade roared toward him—
But another strike intercepted it.
CLANG!
Hayate appeared beneath Noah in a flash of steel, his katana slamming against the greatsword to stop the attack mid-swing.
The impact shook the cavern.
Dark energy pulsed through Magnus’s blade.
Hayate’s HUD flickered.
Captain Hayate — Lv 37
HP: 350
STM: 240 → 215
Hayate felt it instantly.
The crystal in the sword flared.
His stamina drained sharply as the two weapons ground against each other.
Magnus chuckled.
“There it is.”
The Revenant drove his knee forward.
THUD!
Hayate was kicked backward violently, sliding across the stone floor as the clash broke.
At the same moment—
Noah landed.
The moment his feet touched the ground he moved.
“Phantom Slash!”
His blade surged forward with explosive power.
STM: 110 → 80
The strike came fast—
But Magnus was faster.
The Revenant twisted.
CLANG!
The greatsword parried Noah’s attack.
The redirected force sent Noah’s blade crashing into the cavern wall behind Magnus.
BOOOOM!
The deflected strike tore a deep crater into the stone, shaking the chamber as fragments rained down.
Magnus glanced back briefly at the destruction.
Then chuckled.
“Not bad, young one.”
His hellfire eyes burned brighter.
“But I’ll be ending you soon.”
He turned.
And walked toward Hayate.
Hayate was already back on his feet.
Barely.
The two warriors collided again.
Steel shrieked through the cavern as their blades clashed in a violent exchange.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
Hayate’s katana flashed with precision; each strike aimed at the shattered gap in the Revenant’s chest armor.
Magnus answered with overwhelming force, the great sword smashing against Hayate’s blade repeatedly, occasionally landing cuts on Hayate.
The crystal in the hilt pulsed.
Dark energy surged through the weapon.
Hayate felt it immediately.
His stamina and health was draining with every clash.
Captain Hayate — Lv 37
HP: 350 → 260
STM: 215 → 170
Magnus leaned forward.
“You slow down, Captain?”
Hayate twisted away from a downward strike and countered—
But Magnus stepped inside his guard.
The great sword drove forward.
SHNK!
The blade pierced clean through Hayate’s shoulder.
Hayate gasped.
Blood sprayed across the stone.
His HUD flickered violently.
Captain Hayate — Lv 37
HP: 260 → 120
Magnus leaned closer.
The undead general’s hellfire eyes burned inches from Hayate’s face.
“Your defense falters.”
Then Magnus ripped the blade free.
RIP!
Blood erupted from the wound—
And the Revenant followed through with a brutal horizontal slash.
SHRRRAK!
The blade tore across Hayate’s abdomen, sending a spray of blood across the cavern floor.
Hayate staggered backward.
His legs nearly gave out beneath him.
Captain Hayate — Lv 37
HP: 120 → 60
STM: 170 → 70
Hayate dropped to one knee.
His katana clattered against the stone beside him.
“I’m sorry… kid…”
His breathing was ragged.
“I messed up…”
“…with that opening.”
Noah’s chest tightened.
“Hayate!”
Magnus slowly lifted his blade again.
Dark miasma curled around the weapon.
“It ends here.”
The Revenant stepped forward.
But Noah stepped between them.
CLANG!
His sword intercepted the killing strike.
The impact forced Noah down to one knee—but he held the blade.
“No.”
His voice was steady.
Magnus tilted his head slightly.
“You persist.”
Noah’s HUD flashed.
Warrior’s Resolve Activated.
Green mana erupted around his body as the buff activated.
MP: 160 → 130
Energy surged through his limbs.
His breathing steadied.
His stamina flow stabilized.
Warrior’s Resolve Activated
Stamina Costs Reduced by 50%
Duration: 30 seconds
But Noah wasn’t done.
His eyes sharpened.
“Overdrive!”
The emerald aura intensified, bright green mana spiraling around his body like a storm.
MP: 130 → 110
His muscles tensed as power flooded through him.
His stance lowered.
Faster.
Sharper.
Hayate’s eyes widened.
Noah moved.
Magnus swung.
The great sword tore through the air—
But Noah wasn’t there.
He slipped past the strike with unnatural speed, the green aura trailing behind him like wind.
Hayate stared in disbelief.
This kid…
His speed just doubled.
Magnus turned sharply.
But Noah was already moving again.
His blade flashed.
CLANG!
Steel met steel.
Magnus was forced half a step back.
Hayate blinked.
His timing…
His movement…
Blood dripped from Hayate’s mouth as he forced a weak grin.
“This boy…”
“…he’s something special.”
Magnus swung again.
Noah parried.
The impact rang through the cavern.
Hayate’s eyes widened again.
His skill…
His instincts…
He’s almost matching mine.
Hayate coughed, blood running down his chin.
But he smiled anyway.
“Go get him…”
“…newbie.”
Across the cavern—
The Revenant raised its sword again.
Hellfire burned brighter.
Rift Revenant — Lv 32
HP: 250
Noah’s HUD flickered again.
Warrior’s Resolve — 30 seconds remaining
Thirty seconds.
That was all he had.
Magnus grinned.
“Good.”
The great sword lifted.
“Now this…”
“…is a battle.”
And Noah launched forward.
The emerald aura around him surged as he moved, green mana trailing behind his body like a comet tearing through the darkness.
The moment he stepped into motion—
Something changed.
That feeling again.
That deep, burning determination that had carried him through every fight since arriving in this world.
The solo player rush.
It crept back into his chest like a rising storm.
His heartbeat slowed.
His breathing steadied.
The pain in his ribs… the blood on his lip… the fear from moments ago—
All of it faded.
Only the fight remained.
Only the enemy in front of him.
Noah’s eyes locked onto Magnus Ironhart.
I’m not losing here.
Not now.
Not when Hayate’s counting on me.
The Revenant stepped forward to meet him.
Hellfire burned brighter behind Magnus’s eyes.
“You return again.”
The great sword rose high.
“Very well.”
Dark miasma surged along the blade.
“Struggle harder.”
The blade crashed down toward Noah’s head.
But Noah was already gone.
He slipped past the strike in a blur of green mana.
BOOM!
The great sword shattered the stone floor where he had been standing.
Noah spun around Magnus’s flank, blade flashing.
“Swift Edge!”
His sword struck toward the shattered chest plate.
STM: 80 → 78 (cost halved by Warrior’s Resolve)
CLANG!
The blade slammed into the exposed gap in the armor.
Magnus staggered half a step.
Hit Confirmed
Damage Dealt: 22
Rift Revenant — HP: 250 → 228
Magnus growled.
“Well, something changed inside you kid— I like this new resolve of yours but is it enough?” he chuckled.
Noah was already moving again.
He ducked under a sweeping counterstrike that carved through the cavern wall like paper.
Stone fragments rained down.
Noah slid beneath the Revenant’s guard and slashed again.
Swift Edge
STM: 78 → 76
Hit Confirmed
Damage Dealt: 24
HP: 228 → 204
Magnus snarled.
The Revenant swung again.
But Noah was faster now.
Green mana flared around him as he stepped inside the Revenant’s reach, deflecting the blade aside.
Steel rang through the cavern.
Hayate watched from the ground, eyes wide.
Unbelievable…
The boy’s movements flowed like instinct.
Strike.
Step.
Dodge.
Counter.
The rhythm of battle had consumed him.
This kid…
He’s adapting in real time.
Magnus swung again in a brutal overhead strike.
Noah slipped to the side and drove his blade toward the exposed wound.
Swift Edge
STM: 76 → 74
Hit Confirmed
Damage Dealt: 26
HP: 204 → 178
The Revenant staggered back.
For the first time since the battle began—
Magnus Ironhart took a full step backward.
The undead general’s eyes burned brighter.
“You grow bold.”
His grip tightened on the great sword.
“Too bold.”
Dark miasma erupted from the blade.
The Revenant lunged forward again—
But Noah didn’t retreat.
The green aura around him flared brighter.
His grip tightened on the sword.
His HUD pulsed.
And Noah launched forward.
The cavern trembled beneath his boots as green mana surged around his body. The emerald aura whipped through the stale dungeon air like a storm breaking loose.
His heart pounded.
But his mind had gone still.
That same feeling was creeping in again.
That rush.
That dangerous, intoxicating clarity that came when the world narrowed to a single point.
The solo player rush.
Everything outside the battle faded.
The pain.
The fear.
Even the blood soaking his armor.
All that remained was the enemy in front of him.
Magnus Ironhart stood like a dark monument in the center of the cavern, the miasma crystal in his sword pulsing like a second heart.
Hellfire burned in the empty sockets of the revenant’s eyes.
“Come then, boy.”
The undead general lifted his blade.
“Show me your grit!”
Noah didn’t slow.
His HUD flickered in the corner of his vision.
Warrior’s Resolve — 23 seconds remaining
Overdrive — 23 seconds remaining
Green mana surged again.
The floor cracked beneath his feet as he exploded forward.
The Revenant moved to meet him.
Their blades collided in a violent burst of sparks.
CLANG!
Magnus twisted the great sword downward, forcing Noah’s blade toward the stone floor.
The weight behind the attack was monstrous.
Noah barely held.
The revenant’s burning gaze lowered toward him.
“You fight well…”
The sword pressed harder.
“But you are still only a child.”
Magnus suddenly shifted his stance.
Too fast.
The great sword ripped sideways in a brutal counterattack.
Noah tried to dodge—
Too late.
SHRRRAK!
The blade tore across his shoulder and chest, throwing him violently across the cavern.
Stone shattered as he crashed into the ground.
Pain exploded through his body.
His HUD flared.
HP: 82 → 20
For a moment the world spun.
The cavern ceiling blurred.
His lungs refused to pull in air.
Magnus walked toward him slowly, dragging the blade across the stone.
Screeeeeech.
“You rise again and again…”
The revenant tilted his head slightly.
“…but how long can that last?”
Noah forced himself to move.
His vision swam as Magnus slowly advanced.
He reached into his inventory.
A small vial appeared in his hand.
His last one.
Noah quickly uncorked it and drank.
Minor Healing Potion Consumed
Warm energy surged through his body.
HP: 20 → 70
The torn flesh across his chest began to close as the potion restored his strength.
Magnus chuckled as he watched.
“Still refusing to die?”
Noah wiped blood from the corner of his mouth and raised his sword again.
“Not today.”
The emerald aura around him surged.
The cavern floor cracked as he burst forward again.
Magnus Ironhart welcomed him with a grin.
“Good.”
The great sword lifted.
“Die fighting.”
Their blades collided again in a thunderous crash.
CLANG!
The impact rattled Noah’s bones, but the green mana swirling around him kept his body moving.
His HUD pulsed.
Warrior’s Resolve — 19 seconds remaining
Overdrive — 19 seconds remaining
Noah twisted under the revenant’s blade and struck.
“Swift Edge!”
STM: 42 → 40 (cost halved)
The strike flashed toward Magnus’s exposed chest where the shattered armor had once protected him.
The blade bit into dead flesh.
Hit Confirmed
Damage Dealt: 21
Rift Revenant — HP: 250 → 229
Magnus grunted.
The undead knight twisted his torso and brought the greatsword down in a brutal counter.
Noah pivoted sideways.
The blade smashed into the cavern floor beside him.
BOOM!
Stone shattered like glass.
Dust blasted through the chamber.
Noah slid inside the revenant’s guard again.
“Swift Edge!”
STM: 40 → 38
The emerald blade flashed across Magnus’s exposed chest.
Damage Dealt: 24
HP: 229 → 205
Magnus snarled.
“Persistent insect!”
The greatsword ripped upward in a savage backswing.
This time Noah didn’t quite clear it.
THUD!
The flat of the blade slammed into his ribs and launched him across the cavern.
He rolled hard across the stone before forcing himself back up.
HP: 70 → 54
Magnus stalked toward him.
“Your strength fades.”
Noah spat blood across the cavern floor.
But his eyes burned brighter.
His HUD flickered again.
Warrior’s Resolve — 13 seconds remaining
Overdrive — 13 seconds remaining
He dashed forward again.
Steel screamed through the cavern as their blades clashed repeatedly.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
Noah struck in bursts.
Magnus answered with crushing force.
The revenant’s blade slammed down again and again, each impact shaking the cavern floor.
Noah slipped past another strike.
“Swift Edge!”
STM: 38 → 36
The blade plunged into the open wound again.
Damage Dealt: 26
HP: 205 → 179
Magnus staggered.
For the first time the undead general took a full step back.
Hayate, still kneeling against the cavern wall, coughed weakly as he watched.
The kid was actually pushing him back.
Magnus roared and surged forward again.
The greatsword crashed down.
Noah barely deflected it.
The impact drove him to one knee.
His HUD flashed again.
Warrior’s Resolve — 6 seconds remaining
Overdrive — 6 seconds remaining
Magnus raised the blade high above his head.
Dark miasma swirled violently around the weapon.
“This ends now.”
The sword came crashing down.
Noah saw the strike.
And in that instant—
He knew exactly what he was going to do.
His eyes flicked to the timer.
4 seconds…
“Aegis Shield!”
MP: 110 → 80
A radiant barrier of golden light erupted in front of him just as the massive blade came down.
BOOOOM!
The greatsword slammed into the shield.
Instead of cutting through—
The impact rebounded.
The reflected force jolted Magnus Ironhart backward, the revenant’s stance breaking as the unexpected resistance threw him off balance.
The barrier shattered moments later as Noah dismissed it.
Warrior’s Resolve — 3 seconds remaining
Overdrive — 3 seconds remaining
Noah surged forward.
Green mana still burning around his body.
2 seconds…
“Divine Palm!”
Light erupted from Noah’s hand as he drove his palm directly into the revenant’s exposed chest wound.
Holy energy exploded through Magnus’s undead body.
MP: 80 → 60
Hit Confirmed
Damage Dealt: 88
Rift Revenant — HP: 179 → 91
Magnus staggered backward.
For the first time since the battle began—
The ancient general looked shocked.
Noah saw it.
The final opening.
His HUD flashed.
1 second…
Noah roared.
“PHANTOM SLASH!”
He drove forward with everything left in his body.
STM: 36 → 21
The emerald gem in his sword blazed brilliantly as the blade plunged deep into the revenant’s exposed chest.
CRITICAL HIT
Damage Dealt: 91
“A critical hit!” Aoi chimed.
Rift Revenant — HP: 91 → 0
At that exact moment—
Magnus’s blade began a final swing.
The great sword carved into Noah’s shoulder, opening a deep gash—
HP: 53 → 8
—but the attack never completed.
The momentum died halfway through the strike.
Magnus Ironhart froze.
The hellfire in his eyes flickered.
Cracks spread across the undead general’s body.
“…Well fought…”
The ancient knight exhaled slowly.
Then his body collapsed into drifting ash.
The massive great sword slipped from his grasp.
CLANG
The blade struck the cavern floor as the revenant vanished completely.
Silence filled the chamber.
Noah stood there for a moment.
Breathing hard.
Barely holding himself upright.
His HUD flickered weakly.
HP: 8
Then the sword on the ground began to glow.
The miasma crystal embedded in its hilt pulsed violently.
The weapon lifted slowly into the air.
Noah and Hayate both turned toward it instantly.
Ready.
Expecting another attack.
Instead—
A voice echoed from the crystal.
Calm.
Cold.
“You’ve managed to ruin my plans, Hayate.”
The voice filled the cavern like distant thunder.
“But rest assured…”
“…I will have your head.”
The crystal flared brighter.
“And that boy…”
“…whoever he is.”
“Will die alongside you.”
Hayate’s eyes narrowed.
The voice continued.
“No one will stop me.”
“My will has only just begun.”
The crystal cracked.
Energy surged violently through the blade.
Then—
BOOM
The sword exploded into fragments of black miasma.
When the light faded—
A large chest appeared in the center of the cavern.
And Aoi’s voice chimed in Noah’s mind.
First Rift Cleared
Congratulations
The chest dissipated – then reappeared in his inventory.
Level Up
Noah blinked as his HUD expanded.
Level Up
Level 9 → Level 10 → Level 11 → Level 12
“…Three levels?”
Hayate slowly pushed himself upright, still breathing heavily.
“Well…”
He coughed.
“Well-done Newbie.”
Hayate forced a grin.
“That must have been the so called great one huh?”
Noah moved to help him up.
Hayate leaned slightly on him as they began walking toward the rift exit.
“Wait till Galvin hears this.”
Hayate smirked weakly.
“Seems like we’re going to have our work cut out for us.”
He glanced at Noah.
“And you, kid…”
Hayate chuckled.
“Very impressive.”
“You weren’t lying when you said you’d pass with flying colors.”
He coughed again, clearly still feeling the wounds.
Noah steadied him.
The evel ups completely replenished his resources.
"Good - hold still captain."
Noah used divine touch on Hayate - healing him a bit as it slightly mended his wounds.
"You can use light magic?" He murmured.
Noah smiled rubbing the back of his head.
“Easy, Captain.”
“Let’s talk when you recover.”
Hayate looked at him with quiet respect.
Together they stepped out of the shattered rift.
Toward Caldonia.
Toward the storm that was only just beginning.
