I forced myself forward, floating through the air under the power of my spell, even if only a couple inches off the ground meant that there was one less sensation for me to gauge things by. But I was still convinced that it was the safest way to move in these tunnels. The darkness clung to me, a tangible weight, yet I pressed on, driven by a blend of determination and desperation. My skills in Stealth and Hide had served me well thus far, and they continued to level up, but the seemingly endless maze tested more than my ability to remain unseen—it tested my will.

  Hours slipped by, indistinguishable from one another, marked only by the rhythm of my movement and the rare, brief encounters with devilkin. My frustration mounted with each new dead end. The sharp sting of disappointment became a familiar sensation, yet I refused to yield to it. The thought of my team, depending on me to find the source of these creatures, propelled me forward. A fact which they were blissfully ignorant of. I couldn’t believe it, but I was jealous that they were probably only having to deal with undead.

  Then, after what felt like an eternity of darkness and stone, I turned a corner and halted. My heart skipped a beat at the sight before me. A room bathed in pale blue light, so stark against the relentless dark I'd grown accustomed to. It emanated from an energy screen, casting an ethereal glow across the chamber. Behind it, I caught glimpses of food, comfort, luxuries so out of place in this hellish environment. It was like stumbling upon an oasis in a desert, a beacon of civilization amidst the chaos.

  But it was the guardian of this oasis that captured my full attention. A devilkin unlike any I'd encountered before. Nine feet tall, its towering form a silhouette against the light. Four arms, each muscle defined under its dark skin, flexed as it brandished a long serrated spear with an ease that belied its size. Two legs, sturdy and spread wide on hips that created a stance no human could have matched. And then, the details that set a chill down my spine: insect-like features adorning its otherwise humanoid body—chitinous plates, multifaceted eyes that glinted with intelligence and malice.

  It regarded me, an intruder, with a cold, calculating gaze. The air between us crackled with tension, a silent standoff in this unexpected arena. I knew then, this creature was no mere foot soldier; it was a sentinel, a protector of whatever secrets lay beyond the energy screen.

  I gripped my weapon tighter, senses heightened, mind racing. This encounter was inevitable, a confrontation on the threshold of discovery. The creature's posture shifted, a silent challenge. I prepared myself, every muscle tensed for the onslaught I knew was coming.

  It hissed, “So you’re the one slaying all the takers? You’ve taken my food, but delivered yourself as a replacement. I suppose you’ll have to do.” Then he lunged forward, thrusting outward with his spear.

  I hadn’t been idle though. I’d cast Mass Physical Boost already and finished Boon/Bane as the weapon’s tip flashed through the air. Being in the air allowed me to move in ways that the creature might not have expected. I was slowly beginning to get the hang of a three-dimensional battlefield and for once in these tunnels the roof of the room was high enough to give me a bit of room to fly. It was only twenty feet high, so not enough for me to simply fly up and bombard the creature from below, but still enough for me to move in.

  Maybe it was the darkness and maze driving me crazy, but I let out a loud laugh. This was going to be fun.

  Chapter 33- Oasis

  The devilkin's charge was a blur of power and menace. Its spear sliced through the air, aimed with lethal precision. I banked left, evading by inches. The creature's strength and speed were unlike anything I'd faced. Every move it made was a lesson in lethal intent.

  I countered with my polearm, using it defensively at first. The metal clashed against the spear, sparks flying from the impact. I realized quickly I was outmatched in raw strength. My opponent was not just fast. He also had tremendous power behind each of those blows.

  I didn’t think that they would instantly kill me, but being slammed into a wall so hard that I became dazed might be just as bad. Hesitation in battle was death and even a moment of inaction could end everything.

  We went back-and-forth clashing again and again. I tried to move around and strike from behind, but despite the mobility which flight granted me; he was simply too fast. The spear threated to impale me more than once, but I managed to escape without any crippling blows. Something about the spear allowed it to at least partially bypass my Mage Shield, but without that defense in place, I would have been taken through the heart rather than the shoulder. I needed to change tactics.

  Persistent Frost Cone was my first spell. I cast it, aiming for the devilkin as I flew high enough to gain a bit of distance. Ice formed on its chitinous armor, crystals blossoming in a bid to slow it down. It hissed in frustration, but its movements were only slightly hampered as it burst through the ice. Cold wasn’t going to be the key to stopping it.

  Lingering Grace flowed through me next. Wounds I had sustained began to heal, the magic knitting flesh and bone with a comforting warmth. It was a brief respite in the midst of chaos, but it was at least sufficient to restore the use of my left arm.

  The creature adapted, its four arms moving in a deadly dance as it began to pull slender knives from a bandolier across its chest. The two lower hands threw them at me with wicked precision while the two upper arms maintained the assault with its spear. I dodged, used my flight to maneuver around it, but it was learning, predicting my movements.

  Barbs of Slowing sprang from the ground at my command. Thick vines covered in thorns as thick as a man's wrist, sought to ensnare the devilkin. It fought against the entanglement, ripping through vines with brute force, yet it slowed, even if just for moments. The thorns were powerful enough to break through its armored hide at a couple of spots and caused problems with its joints.

  Force shields sprang to life around me as I conjured them in response to its scaling attacks. I managed to deflect all the attacks, but my head was starting to ache from splitting my focus so much. As bad as the knives were, the spear was worse. Each time its spear met my magical barrier, the impact resonated through the chamber and sent out a wave of force.

  When one of the shock waves pushed us both back a bit, I triggered Mage Missiles. Five force missiles launched from my fingertips with deadly accuracy. They streaked towards the devilkin and struck true, blasting into one of its knees in rapid succession. For the first time, I felt like I’d truly landed a blow against it as it roared out a sound of anger and pain mixed into one.

  Mage Shield enveloped me as I prepared for its counterattack. The shield absorbed the brunt of its assault, a temporary barrier against the storm. I focused on it with Shape Conjured Constructs and thickened the front at the expense of my rear. That seemed to keep the spear out for a while, but then the creature spit a viscous green liquid at me, which clung to the shield and began eating through it.

  Defense might win playoff games, but it wasn’t going to be enough here. I focused on two of the shields on either side of it while I pretended to be freaking out about the green acid. My apparent panic caused the creature to laugh in what I took to be delight.

  My ability guided by my will turned my force shields into weapons. The edges were sharped to a razor’s edge while I formed them into something more akin to the shape of a spearhead. I drove them into the monster from the side and for once caught it off guard. Deep gouges were cut into one of its arms and the side of its face. Both leaked a thick green blood.

  Encouraged by that success, I continued to conjure shields and shape them as my instruments of war. I wielded them with a desperate creativity, slicing at the devilkin whenever I found an opening.

  The battle raged, a dance of spells and steel. I flew, dodged, and struck, but the devilkin matched me move for move. Its resilience was daunting, its determination to end me unmistakable.

  I realized this fight was more than physical. It was a test of will, a challenge to my very resolve. Every spell cast, every maneuver in the air, was a defiance against the odds.

  The devilkin's spear came at me again, a flash of deadly intent. I countered, used everything in my arsenal to stay one step ahead. But the truth hung between us, undeniable—this creature was a formidable foe. The battle continued, neither of us yielding, locked in a struggle that tested the limits of my abilities. I worried that this was going to become a war of attrition and I wasn’t sure that I’d last longer than he did.

  Identify chose then to give me even more bad news.

  Devil-kin Seeder (PEAK Uncommon- Level 75) – these monstrosities are twisted by a mana not native to this plane. They grow within the still beating heart of captives who have been saturated with Hell Mana.

  Danger: Deadly

  Ugh… could it get worse? I didn’t know what peak meant or why it was in all capitals, but the spell confirmed the danger level which I’d already recognized. It began to dawn on me that the only reason this battle was still going on was that the seeder was enjoying it. Every time I got close to landing a critical blow, he displayed a burst of speed or durability beyond anything I could match.

  The battle's intensity surged as I realized the full threat of the Devil-kin Seeder. My spells and tactics, while effective at times, seemed only to amuse it. The revelation from Identify sharpened my focus. This wasn't just another battle. I’d had too many of them now and perhaps I was becoming adapted to it. I didn’t even know if I could survive this encounter, let alone win.

  I took to the air again, gaining altitude. I was much better at flying than before, but I intentionally made my flight path erratic, unpredictable. I needed every advantage. My polearm became an extension of my will, parrying and thrusting. The metal sang through the air, a desperate melody against the spear's deadly chorus to which I added my voice and began to Spirit Sing.

  I conjured more force shields, their numbers multiplying around me. They were my army, my barrier, my weapon. Each shield shimmered with potential, waiting for my command. I wanted to scream with the pain that split my head, but I wove a spread of connections to each shield. This time, I infused half the shields with lightning mana. The energy crackled along their edges.

  The seeder noticed. Its eyes narrowed in calculation. It launched another assault, spear and knives formed a whirlwind of destruction. I met it with my lightning-charged shields. They moved at my thought, swift and sharp. One shield sliced at the creature's arm, electricity arcing upon contact. The muscles under its skin spasmed, but the monster forced its way through the pain.

  I didn't stop no matter how many shields it shattered. I pulled deep on all my mana, trying to suck it in faster from around me as I conjured shield after shield. As quickly as I could shape the shields, I sent them flying forward. They cut through the air, aimed at the seeder. Lightning danced from one to the other, creating a network of energy. The seeder dodged, but not fast enough. A shield grazed its side, leaving a scorched wound.

  Its retaliation was swift. A barrage of knives, coated in that viscous green liquid. My Mage Shield flickered, the acid eating away at its integrity. I flew higher, dodging, weaving through the air. The chamber became a battleground of light and shadows, spells and steel clashing in a cacophony of violence. I ignored all the notifications, but even as I sang and tried to draw in the spiritual energy around me, I felt myself stretching inside. I was growing in ways I didn’t understand.

  My focus split between defense and offense. Shields formed and reformed, now fully integrated with lightning. They became my spears, my swords. I thrust them at the seeder, each strike a gamble, each movement a risk.

  The seeder's speed was phenomenal. It moved like a shadow, unpredictable and dangerous. Yet, its enjoyment of the fight was evident. It thrived in the chaos, in the challenge. But so did I. I knew the odds were still stacked against me, but clenching my cheeks wasn’t going to save me, so I let loose with the crazy. If I was going out, it would be with a grin on my face.

  A direct hit. One of my lightning shields found its mark, piercing the seeder's thigh. Electricity coursed through its body, locking its muscles in a brief spasm. I seized the moment, launching a flurry of Mage Missiles, each one exploding against its form in a burst of force.

  The seeder recovered quickly, too quickly. It wasn’t fair. I’d struck it down, but somehow this thing healed faster than I could damage it. It was upon me then with its spear thrusting through my shield. I felt it ram into my gut and I gasped in pain as it pulled me down, slamming me into the ground. Darkness wanted to cloud my vision. Pain became my world, but I set it all on fire.

  I conjured a shield right in front of me and shaped it so quickly that it seemed to appear in the shape of a six inch wide blade. The seeder was so fixated on its attack that it never realized I was attacking it until I rammed the blade up under its chin. The force shield turned saw blew straight through his brain and up through the top of his skull.

  It fell over. Its hands lost their grip on the spear. I fell onto my side, biting back a scream of pain. My focus wavered and everything from my Mage Shield to the other force shields floating in the air disappeared. I only managed to focus on two things- not choking on blood and visualizing that one blade of pure force that was driving through my foe’s skull.

  A sliver in the back of my mind wondered what would happen to me if I couldn’t get this spear out, but then I glanced at the monster again. It was moving. There was no grace or coordination to it, but the thing was moving. A six-inch blade driven right through its skull and still it was moving. This must be what it felt like to be screwed over by the system.

  Then I heard Samvek’s voice. “Use this.”

  A crystal bounced along the ground, rolling from wherever he was outside of my field of vision. It sparked and crackled as lighting surged through it so violently that it threated to crack or explode open any second.

  It took my mind all of two seconds to comprehend what was going on, to understand just what he was offering me. Then I reached and soaked in all of that lighting mana. I pulled at it with all my might, sucking it through my body like I was a lightning rod and then running it up the force sword, impaling the devilkin.

  The surge of power was too much for it and its head exploded like an overripe tomato put in the microwave. Still, I kept up the pressure.

  Lightning Attunement has increased to 30%

  The flesh of its body sizzled, then crisped until it smelled worse than a burnt piece of turkey bacon. Only then, when I got a notification that I could loot the seeder did I finally let go. I looked up and Samvek was leaning over me. He poured something down my throat as he said, “Good job. You’ve passed my tests disciple, welcome to Rayden Clan, now rest.”

  Chapter 34- Oasis

  When I woke up, it was with a gasp as I sucked in a deep breath and moved my hand reflexively to my stomach. My first clue should have been the absence of pain, but I needed to feel the area myself. I was shirtless, so I felt the puckered skin where the wound had been, but the absence of a huge freaking spear was also noted. Then I realized that I was only in my boxers.

  As I lay there, the first thing that enveloped me was the sheer relief from the padded divan beneath me. It was as if each cushion was crafted to contour against my form, drawing out the aches and fatigue from my muscles with a gentle, almost magical efficiency. The sensation was akin to being bathed in a pool of tranquility, each wave of comfort smoothing over me like the calm after a storm.

  While my mind woke up and my senses expanded, the room unfolded around me in a cascade of opulence that seemed lifted from the tales of old. Rich tapestries hung from the walls, their deep hues absorbing the light and softening the space into a haven of warmth. The floor was covered in thick, plush carpets spread over the rich mahogany floor. Their craftsmanship being so immaculate that even my novice eyes saw the quality. It all combined to create the opulent feeling of an ancient sultan’s private chambers.

  Luxury permeated every corner, from the delicate glass lanterns casting a soft glow to the ornate carvings adorning the wooden furniture. Each piece was a work of art, blending form and function in a display of unmatched craftsmanship. The air was thick with the aroma of exotic incense, weaving a tapestry of scents that relaxed the mind and soothed the spirit.

  Scattered throughout the room, cushioned seating and an array of throw pillows painted a picture of comfort and extravagance. The overabundance of those small pillows indicated that a woman had been behind the decoration scheme.

  The temperature hovered in that perfect equilibrium, a gentle embrace that felt neither too warm nor too cool. It was as if the room itself was attuned to my needs, adjusting its climate to offer solace from the harshness of the outside world.

  In this chamber, luxury was not just seen but felt, a sanctuary designed not just to impress the eye but to offer refuge to the weary. The divan beneath me was more than a mere piece of furniture; it was a cradle of rejuvenation, leeching the soreness from my muscles and wrapping me in a cocoon of comfort.

  I heard just at the very edge of my perception a gentle voice which said, “Welcome to the Oasis.”

  I looked around and saw Samvek reviewing a pad that was set on a table in front of him while he savored some type of pastry. Dori, Crag, and Nevin were all sitting at the table with him. He must have felt my eyes on him, because he immediately looked up. The tablet disappeared a moment later and then he was striding over to me with my team only a step behind him.

  “Your team undressed you and cleaned the rest of the blood off of you. You’re inside a dungeon oasis. These are rare, but not unheard of. They are something like safe spots inside of a dungeon, but I’ve never seen one with this type of luxury. Usually, they are just bare stone with barriers to keep monsters out.”