The Lavacarion lunged, molten claws slashing through the air. Kabir barely threw himself sideways; heat seared his arm as the creature missed by inches.
He hit the ground hard, rolling in the ash. His daggers glowed faintly, crimson light licking off the blades.
"Don't just stand there—move!" Mara barked.
"I'm trying!" he shouted, pushing to his feet. His lungs burned; sweat stung his eyes.
The creature turned, lava dripping from its jaw. Its chest pulsed like a forge. Then it charged again, each step cracking the ground.
Kabir swung wildly. The first dagger strike clanged off hardened rock. Sparks scattered, useless.
"Aim for the seams!" Mara snapped. "Where the molten veins show—those are weak points!"
He didn't think. He just moved. As the Lavacarion's arm came down, Kabir ducked under it and drove his blade into one of those glowing lines.
The dagger hissed—then sank in. Lava sprayed across his face. The monster shrieked, staggering back.
Kabir fell to one knee, panting. His heart thundered.
[Critical Hit: 27 Damage] flashed across his vision.
He blinked. "Did I… just hurt it?"
"Barely," Mara said. "But it noticed. Now it's angry."
The Lavacarion bellowed, the sound like metal tearing. It swung both arms this time. Kabir dodged left—too slow. The impact threw him across the ground. Pain exploded in his ribs.
[HP -25%]
"Damn it!" he groaned, forcing himself up.
"Get up, Kabir," Mara's voice cut through the pain, cold and steady. "If you stay down, it's over."
Kabir gritted his teeth. "Fine, then give me power… all of it."
[Warning: Confirm Redistribution of All Stat Points?]
[Confirm? Y/N]
"Yes!" he roared.
[All Stat Points Transferred to Strength]
[Strength +6]
A surge ripped through his body — heat, force, raw violence. His muscles burned like fire and his daggers flared crimson, trembling in his hands.
The Lavacarion came again. Kabir didn't back away this time. He stepped forward, blades gleaming.
He slashed both daggers across its chest, the molten veins splitting like burst pipes. Fire gushed from the wounds.
Kabir screamed, driving both blades deep into its core with all his strength.
[Enemy Defeated]
[Side Quest Complete]
[Reward: +10 Stat Points]
The creature collapsed, its molten body melting into the ground before cooling into jagged black stone.
Kabir dropped to his knees, gasping for air. His arms trembled, still humming with the leftover surge of power.
"I… actually killed it," he muttered.
"Barely," Mara said. "But you're still alive. That's what matters."
Kabir let out a weak laugh. "You call this alive?"
"For now."
The ash swirled around them as the last of the creature's heat faded. Kabir's daggers, once glowing with energy, dimmed to a dull gray. The only sound left was his ragged breathing.
He looked down at the battered blades, their edges cracked and blackened.
"Well," he said quietly, "these can't be used again."
Just as he spoke, the black stone where the Lavacarion had fallen began to glow. Cracks spread across its surface, spilling out faint red light. Then, from within, two faint orbs pulsed—dull at first, then blazing bright crimson.
The ground trembled. The lights rose slowly, shaping themselves into a new pair of daggers—sleeker, sharper, forged from fire itself.
[Item Acquired: Infernal Fang Daggers]
The weapons slid free of the creature's chest and landed in the ash with a heavy thud.
Each blade was shaped like a fang — black metal laced with crimson veins that pulsed faintly, still hot to the touch.
Kabir stared. "It… dropped weapons?"
"Everything in Hell has value when it dies," Mara said. "Those blades were forged inside its body — tempered in fire and blood. You should consider yourself lucky."
He reached out carefully, the heat licking his fingertips. The daggers felt alive, humming faintly in his hands.
[Infernal Fang Daggers – Rare]
Attack +5
Special Effect: Inflicts minor burn damage on contact.
Durability: 100/100
Kabir's lips curved in disbelief. "Not bad for my first kill."
"Temporary," Mara reminded him. "Those are the lowest weapons forged in Hell. They'll serve until you find something worthy."
Kabir gave a small, tired grin. "Then I'll just have to find it."
"Ah, Kabir… I suggest you use the key and get out of here—for now," Mara said, her tone filled with concern.
"Hm? Why though? Is something wrong?" Kabir asked, confused.
"Yes," Mara replied. "Lavacarions always hunt in groups. When one dies, the others feel it. They'll be coming here soon—and you're in no condition, or strong enough, to fight them all."
"Okay, but… how do I use it?" Kabir asked.
"Just hold the key in your hand and think about leaving," Mara explained.
Kabir took out the key from his inventory and focused on leaving.
The ground trembled. A massive gate burst from the earth, its surface engraved with glowing crimson runes.
Kabir slid the key into the lock. The gate groaned open, spilling out a surge of dark light.
Without hesitation, he stepped through. The door slammed shut behind him with a heavy echo.
When he opened his eyes again, he wasn't in his house.
He was standing on an empty street, the night air cold and still.
Kabir looked around, confused. "Guess I'm pretty far from home," he muttered.
He was about to walk away when a distant sound caught his attention — shouting, the clash of metal.
Curiosity pulled him closer. He followed the noise until he reached a wide street where a group of awakened were fighting monstrous figures.
It looked like chaos. Fire and wind flared through the air as powers collided.
Kabir froze, watching from the shadows. "It seems a crack has opened here," he whispered. "I don't think I can do anything… they look strong enough already."
"Those aren't demons, Kabir," Mara said. "They're devils — the same kind that dwell in Hell. They're coming through your world's cracks now."
Kabir asked. "What should I do now, should I kill him or leave from here?"
"It completely depends on you," Mara said clearly. "You can leave and let them handle the devils — though I doubt you'll be able to just walk away. Or… you can handle them yourself."
"Fine...I'll handle them," Kabir said firmly.
He called up his system screen and quickly assigned his ten stat points — six into Speed, four into Strength.
A surge of energy rushed through his veins. His muscles tightened, his heartbeat steadied, and the world around him seemed to slow.
"I'll take the big one in the middle," he muttered. "They can handle the rest."
With a thought, his Infernal Fang Daggers materialized in his hands, their blades burning faintly crimson.
Kabir took a stance, bent slightly forward — and then vanished.
A gust of wind tore through the street as he sprinted forward, moving so fast the awakened didn't even see him pass.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared behind the largest devil.
One clean slice.
The creature froze — then split in half, collapsing in a heap of black smoke and molten dust.
Before anyone could react, Kabir was already gone, the faint shimmer of heat the only trace of his presence.
One of the awakened froze mid-swing, staring at the devil that had just been sliced in half.
"Huh? How the hell did that happen?" he blurted out.
The team's tank gritted his teeth, slamming his shield forward to block another blow.
"Doesn't matter! Focus on the rest!" he barked. "We can question miracles later!"