The Luminblade of the Dragon rejected Noir. The sword kept pushing against Noir's grip. He was almost thrown back by the rejection of the sword, but Noir would never allow that. He kept grasping the blade with all his strength.
Noir paused for a moment. Then he smirked.
"If this is hurting me... then it is perfect."
Ssstt.
Noir's hand began to steam. Black vapor rose from the bones of his fingers. Cracking sounds echoed. His HP started decreasing.
[HP -30]
But Noir tightened his grip even more. He refused to let it go.
"I have died a thousand times. This pain is nothing to me," he said with a serious face.
He turned his gaze toward the Avatar of the Demon King that had not opened its eyes yet. Noir ran toward that avatar.
At that moment, the Avatar of the Demon King opened its eyes wide. The holy light shining from Noir shocked it slightly.
"So that is how it is," Noir grinned. "You are the avatar of pure darkness, the Demon King itself. This holy light... is disturbing you, right? In that case, let us see what happens when this sword cuts your body."
CLAAANG.
The slash of the Avatar of the Demon King and the Luminblade collided. A powerful flash of energy erupted, shaking the entire place.
Noir stepped back and managed to throw the Avatar off balance. He moved quickly and slashed toward the back of his opponent.
The slash of the Luminblade penetrated the magical shield of the Avatar. For the first time, the Avatar was thrown back and its body slammed into the ground. A howl echoed from its mouth.
[HP -421]
Noir gritted his teeth. His right hand, the one holding the blade, started cracking. The slash did not only injure his opponent but also himself.
[HP: 569/1,400]
But he did not stop. He kept fighting. The Avatar opened its mouth. Noir, already so close, did not hesitate.
Slash.
"This time... I will reverse your attack."
BRAAANGK.
The attack exploded. Both of them were thrown back, but Noir's condition was far better. The mouth of the Avatar was shattered because its own attack exploded before it could be fired. The Luminblade of the Dragon protected Noir from the darkness that tried to consume him.
"How did that taste," he mocked.
The Avatar of the Demon King charged another orb of darkness. Noir knew he could not block it. He hurled the Luminblade of the Dragon with all his strength.
He did it to reduce the HP depletion that kept affecting him. Noir left the blade behind and ran to the side.
BOOM.
The explosion struck. Noir survived, but he immediately sprinted toward the Luminblade. The Avatar aimed straight for him.
"I am not stupid," Noir muttered.
He dodged the Avatar's slash. His body slid across the ground toward the Luminblade. The Avatar immediately swung again at Noir.
At the same moment, Noir threw the Luminblade of the Dragon again. This time toward the chest of the Avatar of the Demon King.
Two attacks moved quickly. Noir watched with tense eyes. If he failed, he would have to restart everything again.
"Did it work?"
There was no reaction. Dust covered everything.
Tringg.
[Status: Avatar of the Demon King Severely Injured]
As the dust faded, the Luminblade of the Dragon was revealed, embedded in the chest of the Avatar. Slowly, the magical energy inside the Avatar began fading.
It tried to stand, wanting to strike Noir again. But its movements became unstable because of the Luminblade.
"Your biggest mistake was underestimating me. You thought I was stupid and that I would not learn from my mistakes," Noir said. "Unfortunately for you, I managed to overcome what you prepared, Demon King. You were wrong because you woke me up."
He was a warrior who had died 1,237 times.
But only one victory was enough to free him from this endless curse.
[Curse of the Demon King: Cycle of Agony has been deactivated]
"Your plan was brilliant. I almost got trapped here forever, but luck favored me again."
Noir was not sure if he would have won without the Luminblade. Even though he had memorized all the attack patterns of his enemy. That was why he said this victory was partly luck.
The Luminblade shone even brighter. Noir's HP was down to a sliver. But he smiled.
"You win here, but you are a monster. The world will hate you. That is the Demon King's victory," the avatar said.
Noir smirked. "Do you think I still care about reputation, honor, or any of those foolish things? If you think so, then you are greatly mistaken, because my only goal now is revenge. If anyone blocks my path, even a god, I will kill them. From now on, I am a Demon King far more cruel than you."
The avatar was shocked by Noir's answer. Words that should never have come from the mouth of a former hero.
"Ah, you truly have become a monster," the avatar said.
"The world is the one that created me."
Noir walked toward the avatar and pulled out the Luminblade. He lifted the sword, ready to end everything.
"But it is here... that I reforged myself. Thank you for your help."
SLAAAASH.
A final slash filled with light and grim determination tore the Avatar from shoulder to hip. The entire hall trembled. A storm of light and darkness exploded.
BOOOOOMMMMM.
Silence.
Then...
[Dungeon Boss Defeated]
[Level Up. Lv 19 to Lv 30]
[Stat Points +33]
[New Skills Obtained: Death Reversal, Absolute Commander, Summoning Undead, Aura King, Darkness Element, Boneforge Armament, Wailing Legion, Undying Vow, Soul Chain, Abyssal Dominion]
Noir gained many new skills. He even jumped straight to level thirty. It was a high level.
Noir fell to his knees. Black smoke seeped from his bones. The Luminblade still struggled in his grip. Noir dropped the sword.
[HP -30]
But he smiled. For the first time... even though he was a skeleton, Noir felt relieved. This was a great victory for him. He had finally escaped the endless loop of battles that almost trapped him forever.
He won.
"One thousand two hundred thirty eight deaths. And one victory."
And that victory... belonged to him.
Rumble.
The dungeon showed signs of collapsing. Noir sat while holding the core of the Avatar of the Demon King. It was pitch black and radiated an aura of pure evil.
"I have two Abyss Cores," he said.
One from the Hound of the Abyss, and one from the Avatar of the Demon King. This result was incredible.
Noir felt relieved. A light appeared, enveloping him. But this time it did not hurt him because it was not an attack. It was the light of victory. Noir could not hold back a smile on his skeletal face.
"I am finally out."
He stored everything he obtained and waited for the light to fade.
...
...
The light vanished. Noir could see again. He was in the middle of a forest. He did not know which part of the forest, but it did not matter, because he would continue his journey from here. He had a grand plan in his mind. A plan for revenge against the king and his conspirators.
It was night.
[Buff]
[Your power increases by 8 percent at night]
Noir smiled with his rigid skull.
He stood proudly. He raised his bony hand and grasped the core of the Avatar of the Demon King. He stared at it with determination.
"From now on... my name is Morvath."
Morvath was the name of a Demon King who lived tens of thousands of years ago. A terrifying figure who was almost invincible. It took a hundred heroes to defeat him, and even then, they could not kill Morvath. They only sealed him in an unknown place.
Noir chose that name to show the world that he would be a terror that destroyed anyone who stood in his way. He would spread fear across the world. A former symbol of peace and salvation had now turned into the symbol of fear.
"I am no longer the hero. I am now the creature that will destroy the world if it stands between me and my revenge."
"I will become a terror to the Aetherion Kingdom or anyone else."
A powerful aura surged from his body. The earth trembled beneath it. Weak monsters immediately fled in fear.
But some monsters that considered themselves strong moved toward Noir, attempting to attack him.
Noir noticed them.
"Come. You will become my exp."