EXP: 5,920/7,220 (Next Level)
Remaining Stat Points: 12
Noir immediately allocated the stat points into DEX and STR. He had already felt the effect of high DEX. His attacks became much faster.
Agility was also useful, but he had already put +20 points there. He felt he needed to balance the other two stats.
"This is incredible. I feel like I can reach or even surpass my former self in a short time," Noir said.
He tried swinging his blade forward. In a single second, he could almost perform three rapid slashes.
This was impossible back when he was a sword hero. However, the current Noir was weaker in raw power. When he was still a hero, he could destroy a mountain with a single swing.
"If only they did not use such dirty tricks, they would never have defeated me."
Magic that restrained magic. It was outrageous. Noir was still annoyed whenever he remembered that defeat.
He shook his head and focused again on what was in front of him. Revenge was something he would definitely do, but not now, and he had to be careful because the king and his group were cunning.
And the people of the church were not something to be underestimated. There were many mysterious things Noir did not know about them.
Dug... Dug...
Suddenly, tremors came from the wall at the far end. A large stone began to move. No, it was a door.
A massive door engraved with familiar symbols slowly opened. The magic wrapped around it shattered. Dark magic burst out like poisonous fog.
Noir raised his sword, alert.
Cold wind greeted him. From beyond that door, he felt an incredibly strong aura. Even his bones trembled as if warning him to turn back immediately.
But this was Noir. He would never do that. He stepped forward and walked into the final chamber. The only path that could take him out of this dungeon.
"Let us see what is inside."
He walked slowly. The closer he got, the more familiar the aura felt, but he was not sure if what he imagined was correct or not.
"This is not what I think it is, right?" Noir murmured as he stepped inside.
His footsteps echoed inside the large, empty room. Its walls were tall, covered in cursed symbols and carvings forming demonic emblems. When Noir looked at the center...
A figure stood there.
Tall. Horned. Winged. A dark red cloak fluttered from a wind that came from nowhere. An aura of power identical to the one he once felt. The strongest enemy he had ever fought.
Noir froze. The purple flames in his skull widened.
"...Impossible..."
The figure smiled faintly. Its black fangs were visible. Its hand held a massive twin-edged sword. The only sword that had ever wounded Noir when he was a Sword Hero.
"Damn it, so you really want me to die," Noir grumbled.
[Demon King Avatar of Agony Lv. ???]
A notification appeared. Noir instantly regretted entering this room. He should have known it was a trap meant to kill him.
"There is no way that bastard would let me return to life for no reason. So this is what he wanted," Noir complained again.
[Warning: Final Boss Detected]
[This avatar is not completely real. However, it was created directly by the Demon King through the curse called Cycle of Agony]
[Main objective: Kill you eternally in an endless loop of suffering]
[Death in this room will reset the battle from the moment you first entered]
[This is the true form of the Cycle of Agony]
Noir clenched his fist.
"So you planned all of this. The Hound of Abyss existed only to raise my confidence, right? How cunning."
His voice was deep and filled with rage. The aura around him trembled. Dark, thick, and full of hatred.
The Avatar opened its eyes. They glowed bright red. Then it spoke, its voice echoing as if two voices overlapped.
"Welcome back, Noir Valenhardt. Let us begin the start of your endless suffering."
"You must be surprised by my gift." The figure smiled maliciously. "I will not let you die peacefully after you succeeded in killing me."
The gigantic sword rose, bringing a wave of death with it.
Noir was about to take his stance, but the Avatar instantly appeared before him. One powerful slash was unleashed.
Noir tried to block, but he was too slow. The Avatar was too fast. The difference in level and stats was overwhelming.
"Damn it."
[-1,380 HP]
Noir's body was cut apart. It did not end there. The Avatar opened its mouth and fired dark magic at the remains of Noir's bones.
BOOM!
His entire body was destroyed without leaving a trace.
[You Died.]
**
Yet Noir lived again. He returned to the moment he stepped into the room. He looked at the Avatar, which had not reacted yet.
Noir retreated, walking to the door. He pulled, pushed, and hit it. Unfortunately, the door would not open.
The only way out was to defeat the Avatar of the Demon King, which was many times stronger than he was.
Noir sat cross-legged. "Like this, I will be stuck here forever. I am truly trapped here for eternity."
Imagining the Demon King smiling made Noir furious, but he quickly calmed himself. He focused again.
Noir stroked his bony chin. "How am I supposed to defeat something that strong with my current power?" he muttered.
Even when he fought the real Demon King, he was not alone. He had his party. Now, he was completely alone.
It felt impossible to win. Even though he was sure this Avatar was not as strong as the real one.
But he was only a level 19 skeleton.
"That bastard really wants to torture me."
Noir lay down. The ceiling was covered in glowing crystals. There was no stairway or exit. Which meant this room was completely sealed.
Noir glanced at the Avatar again. The creature was still there. Motionless.
"Is this the end of my life? To live and die for millions of years in this stupid dungeon?"
Noir wanted to give up, but when he remembered Violet, he immediately stood up. His resolve rose again.
"No. I must get out and save all my friends," he said firmly.
Noir walked toward the Avatar. When he entered the detection area, the Avatar opened its eyes.
Noir took his stance.
"I will not lose in a single hit again, right?" he muttered.
The Avatar appeared in front of him in less than a second. Noir reacted instantly, but his hand was still slower.
Slash!
Boom!
[You Died.]