The air shimmered with heat as Zero stepped through the crimson gate of the next dungeon. The moment he crossed the threshold, a wave of oppressive heat slammed into him like a tidal wave. Lava pulsed through cracks in the stone floor, and unnatural fire danced across the walls. This wasn't ordinary heat—it was magic-born flame, wild and alive.
[Dungeon Type: Elemental – Fire Mage Domain]
Zero took a breath, already feeling sweat trickle down his neck.
"Great," he muttered.
"A walking curse in a volcano."
The minions came first—Flame Wisps, Magma Crawlers, and Charred Knights. Their attacks were unrelenting: blazing projectiles, molten traps, searing blades. But something unexpected began to happen.
Each time he felled a foe, a faint glow wrapped around his body.
+5% Fire Resistance acquired.
+2% Fire Resistance…
Cumulative Fire Resistance: 30%
By the time he reached the mid-layers of the dungeon, Zero was walking through infernos without flinching.
Just before the final chamber, a familiar chime rang in his mind. The dungeon shimmered—and from a glowing orb of light, the Goddess appeared, her form faint but unmistakable.
"Zero," her voice echoed within his thoughts, calm yet commanding.
"You've proven resourceful. But flame alone will not shape your path. One more trial lies hidden."
She raised her hand, revealing a fractured obsidian mirror embedded in a nearby wall.
Side Quest Activated:
Retrieve the Mask of Eclipse from the Mirror of Flame
"In the chamber ahead lies more than a boss," she said. "Complete the hidden trial, and the Mask shall be yours—bound with a power of shadow and concealment."
Then she was gone.
Finding the mirror wasn't difficult. In a world of fire, it pulsed with an unnatural chill. When Zero touched its surface, shadows surged—and he was pulled into a pocket realm of obsidian and flickering emberlight.
There, he faced a reflection of himself.
It moved with his speed. Matched his instincts. It was immune to his Negation—pure skill versus skill.
The duel was relentless. Every feint, every dodge, every strike tested the limits of what he'd learned since the first dungeon. Only when he turned the reflection's blade against itself—twisting at the last second—did the mirror shatter.
In its place, hovering in mid-air, rested a black, featureless mask. A single blue line traced down from the left eye, pulsing faintly.
[Item Acquired: Mask of Eclipse]
Effect: Conceals user's identity and emotion. Grants Shadow Veil—temporary invisibility when in danger.
Zero lifted it slowly, examining its smooth surface.
He placed it over his face.
"It fits perfectly."
The final chamber blazed with crimson fury.
Upon a throne of burning stone sat the Ember Tyrant—a Fire Mage clad in charred robes, skin cracked and glowing like molten lava. Twin flaming blades hovered around him, spinning with unstable energy.
The fight was brutal.
The Tyrant unleashed torrents of flame and magical detonations that melted steel and seared the very air.
Zero's growing resistance dulled the heat, but it was his speed—and luck—that kept him alive.
He dodged through walls of fire. Redirected spells with well-timed maneuvers. Lured the Tyrant into traps that turned on him.
The Negation Cloak and his speed-boosted reflexes worked in perfect sync.
Then it happened.
The Tyrant overcharged a spell—too much, too fast. The platform beneath him cracked.
An opening.
Zero dashed forward. Leapt.
He plunged his dagger into the mage's chest—just as the explosion backfired and consumed the Ember Tyrant in a vortex of fire.
Boss Defeated.
Fire Affinity Gained.
[New Item Acquired: S-Rank Dagger – Emberfang]
•Enhances Fire Affinity
• Burns with magical flame
•
Bonus: Increases attack speed by 15%
Zero emerged from the inferno.
His cloak shimmered with heat, his dagger sheathed, the mask veiling his face.
He was no longer just the cursed adventurer.
He was a phantom of fire and shadow.
A legend in the making.