[System Announcement!]
Congratulations, Player Nyxaris! You have successfully completed the Eldros Key questline.
The ancient power recognizes your strength, granting you new blessings.
[Rewards Earned!]
+3 Levels! (Level 75 → Level 78)
*+6,500 HP | +15,000 MP | +2,500 Strength | +3,200 Agility | +3,800 Endurance | +7,000 Magic Power
+450,000 Gold! (Total Gold: 3,300,000)
*New Passive: Eldros Resonance - Slightly increases effectiveness of Arcane magic when wielding an Eldros artifact.
Nyxaris took a deep breath as the golden notification faded from his vision. His body felt stronger, his magic reserves deeper, and his overall presence more refined.
Even though the boost wasn't massive, he could feel the difference. Every bit of power counted—especially after his near-death experience in that last battle.
He checked his updated status.
[PLAYER STATUS]
Name: Nyxaris
Race: Arcane Slime (Tier 2 Evolution)
Class: Arcane Sovereign (Unique)
Level: 78
HP: 55,000
MP: 190,000
Strength: 10,000
Agility: 16,000
Endurance: 18,300
Magic Power: 77,000
Gold: 3,300,000
New Passive Skill: [Eldros Resonance]
Nyxaris smirked.
"Not bad," he muttered.
Zeraldris' voice echoed in his mind. "You're improving at a ridiculous rate, kid. If you keep this up, you might actually stand a chance against that monster who attacked you earlier."
Nyxaris clenched his fist. He still remembered the sheer power difference between him and that mysterious figure. Even with his new boosts, he knew he was still far from strong enough.
[System Announcement]
[Congratulations! Player Nyxaris has completed the Eldros Key Fragment Questline!]
[A hidden path has been unlocked.]
[The Fate of the Arcane Sovereign is now in motion.]
Nyxaris exhaled, letting the weight of the moment settle. This was big.
He glanced down at his hands, noticing the faint traces of arcane energy swirling around his fingertips. The Eldros Key Fragments were no ordinary quest items. They held power beyond the current limits of the game.
Zeraldris' voice echoed in his mind, laced with amusement.
"Heh, I told you before, didn't I? You just changed the world."
Nyxaris smirked. "Yeah, and now I have to figure out what to do with it."
The ground beneath him trembled slightly, and suddenly, the Eldros Key Fragments began to react.
The five fragments in his inventory merged into one, forming a single crystalline key, radiating immense magical pressure.
Then—
A new notification appeared.
[Quest Update: The Legacy of Eldros]
You now hold the Eldros Key, an artifact of unparalleled power. This key opens the gates to the lost city of Eldros, where knowledge and power from a forgotten age lie waiting. However, you are not the only one seeking its secrets. The moment you acquired the key, the world itself reacted, and new challengers have set their sights on you.
Objective: Find the lost city of Eldros and claim its legacy.
Warning: Other powerful forces will now be hunting you.
Rewards: ??? (Tier Unknown)
Nyxaris' eyes narrowed. "Other forces, huh?"
Zeraldris hummed. "You didn't think you'd just walk away with that much power without consequences, did you?"
Nyxaris rolled his shoulders, his HP and MP still recovering from the fight. "I was hoping for at least five minutes of peace."
As if answering his statement—
A distortion in space suddenly formed before him.
A portal.
Unlike the system-generated blue portals he had seen before, this one was black and red, crackling with unstable energy.
And from within—
A figure stepped out.
The moment the figure emerged, Nyxaris' instincts screamed danger.
The newcomer was cloaked in a black and silver robe, their face hidden beneath a hood. A cold, oppressive aura radiated from them, one that immediately sent a warning through Nyxaris' entire body.
"Heh…" The hooded figure chuckled, their voice distorted, as if layered with multiple tones. "So, you're the one who obtained the Eldros Key. I must say, I expected more."
Nyxaris' grip on his sword tightened. "And you are?"
The figure tilted their head slightly, as if amused.
"My name is of no consequence to you, Arcane Sovereign." The voice carried a mocking tone. "What matters is that you now possess something… beyond your comprehension. Something that does not belong to you."
Nyxaris' gaze remained steady. "Yeah? And what are you going to do about it?"
The figure raised a gloved hand.
And suddenly—
A massive pressure slammed down upon the entire area.
Nyxaris' knees nearly buckled from the sheer force of it. It wasn't just raw power—it was something deeper, more suffocating.
Zeraldris' voice sharpened in his mind.
"Careful, kid. This guy… is on a whole different level."
[Unknown Adversary]
Name: ???
Class: ???
Level: ???
Threat Level: EXTREME
A system warning flashed before Nyxaris.
[WARNING! This opponent far exceeds your current power level.]
Escape is advised.
Nyxaris gritted his teeth.
"Tch. I hate system warnings like that."
The figure took a slow step forward.
"Surrender the Eldros Key," they commanded, their tone leaving no room for negotiation. "And I may let you leave with your life."
Nyxaris chuckled, despite the situation. "Yeah? You think I'm just gonna hand over my hard-earned reward? Not a chance."
The figure sighed, as if disappointed.
"So be it."
Then—
The air itself shattered as the figure vanished from sight.
And in the next instant—
A blade was already at Nyxaris' throat.
Nyxaris barely had time to react. The mysterious figure's blade hovered inches from his throat, the razor-sharp edge crackling with unknown energy.
His instincts screamed at him—MOVE!
Spatial Blink!
At the last possible second, Nyxaris activated his teleportation skill, vanishing in a blur of arcane energy. He reappeared ten meters away, sword in hand, magic surging through his veins.
The figure didn't even flinch.
"Hoh… You dodged?" Their voice carried a faint trace of amusement. "Interesting. But it won't save you."
Nyxaris didn't answer. He was already analyzing the situation.
The pressure from the enemy's presence was immense.
Their speed was far beyond anything he had encountered.
His system warning was still flashing—a sign that this opponent was significantly stronger than him.
This was bad.
Zeraldris' voice rang in his mind, serious for once.
"Nyxaris, listen. This guy… is an existence beyond the normal power scale. If you fight him head-on, you'll die."
Nyxaris clicked his tongue. "Yeah, I figured as much."
The figure took a slow step forward, and the air itself trembled.
[System Alert!]
You are being targeted by an unknown entity of immense power. Your actions from here will shape your fate.
Nyxaris gripped his sword tightly, his mind racing.
Can I run?
The system warning had advised escape, but something in Nyxaris refused to turn his back.
He wasn't just some weak player anymore. He was the Arcane Sovereign.
And besides—
If he ran now, this enemy would never stop hunting him.
"Tch… Fine. Let's test just how 'beyond me' you really are."
[Nyxaris – Arcane Sovereign]
HP: 55,000
MP: 190,000
[??? – Unknown Adversary]
HP: ???
MP: ???
Nyxaris rushed forward, sword igniting with arcane flames. His movements blurred as he activated Arcane Blade Mastery, channeling raw magical energy into his strikes.
He swung—
But the figure was gone.
A voice whispered behind him.
"Too slow."
Nyxaris' eyes widened. A wave of energy slammed into his back, sending him flying.
-14,250 HP!
He crashed into the temple ruins, dust and debris scattering everywhere.
Zeraldris' voice growled. "Damn it! That was a casual attack!"
Nyxaris gritted his teeth, forcing himself up.
This is insane…
He had never taken that much damage from a single attack before.
The figure was still standing calmly, unfazed.
"If this is all you can do, then this will be a disappointment."
Nyxaris wiped the blood from his lip, his mind racing.
I can't win with raw power. I need a strategy.
Taking a deep breath, he activated Mana Regeneration (High Tier). His MP surged as he prepared his next move.
"Alright then," Nyxaris muttered, raising a hand. "Let's see if you can handle this."
The air around him crackled as he unleashed his strongest spell.
"[Arcane Cataclysm]!"
A massive circle of glowing runes spread beneath his feet. The entire battlefield shook violently as raw arcane energy erupted from the ground, forming dozens of massive spears of condensed magic.
Then—
They shot forward, converging on the enemy.
A direct hit was inevitable—
Or so Nyxaris thought.
But then—
The moment before impact, the figure simply raised a single hand.
A pulse of black energy spread out—
And every single arcane spear dissolved into nothing.
Nyxaris' heart sank.
"Impossible—"
And then the figure was in front of him.
Their hand clamped around his throat, lifting him effortlessly into the air.
"I told you." The figure's voice was cold, emotionless. "You are not ready."
Nyxaris struggled, his strength meaningless against the sheer power of his opponent.
His vision blurred.
Was this it?
Was he going to die here?
[Emergency System Override!]
Just as the grip on his throat tightened—
A sudden force erupted from within Nyxaris.
A pulse of gold and violet light exploded outward, forcing the enemy to release him.
Nyxaris fell to the ground, gasping for air.
The figure staggered back slightly, their aura flickering for the first time.
Zeraldris' voice was urgent.
"NOW! GET OUT OF HERE!"
Nyxaris didn't hesitate.
Activating Spatial Blink three times in rapid succession, he created enough distance to trigger his escape skill.
A new golden portal appeared before him—one the system itself had generated.
Without looking back, Nyxaris threw himself into it.
And just like that—
The battle was over.
Nyxaris landed hard, rolling across the ground as the portal behind him snapped shut.
His entire body was aching, his HP dangerously low.
[Current HP: 3,250 / 55,000]
[Current MP: 39,200 / 190,000]
"Shit… that was too close," he muttered, coughing.
Zeraldris sighed. "Yeah, no kidding."
Nyxaris pushed himself up, his hands still shaking.
That wasn't just a powerful enemy.
That was someone who had completely outclassed him.
And the worst part?
They were still out there.
A system notification popped up.
[Main Quest Updated!]
[The Eldros Key is now being pursued by an unknown force. You must uncover the truth before it is too late.]