Awakening: Reincarnating With the SSS-Level Extraction Talent

The atmosphere in the Dark Dungeon's final room was oppressive.

Shadows loomed and twisted as if alive, while the scent of ancient rot filled the air.

Alex tightened his grip on the [Elysian Staff of the Silver Mage] and advanced deeper, feeling the thick presence of the [Demon Warden] up ahead.

A sudden blast of frigid air washed over him, nearly freezing him in place as the towering form of the Demon Warden got up from his throne.

The creature was a monstrous, horned fiend with skin as dark as coal, and eyes glowing a fierce crimson.

"..." But Alex stared back with the same determination, ready to do anything in his power to win.

He didn't want to die again, like he did against the [Spider Queen].

"Let's see what you're made of," he muttered, gathering mana into his staff.

The Demon Warden let out a deep growl, raising one clawed hand.

[Demon Warden - Mythical - Tier 5]

[Level: 250]

[HP: 2,000,000]

[Skills: Summon Minions, Dark Magic Affinity, Aura of Despair, Warden Smash, Dark Dungeon Master, Scythe Flash...]

With a guttural roar, it lunged, aiming to crush him in a single swipe.

"Not today," Alex said, invoking [Meteoric Blaze].

The fiery orb hurtled toward the Warden, lighting up the dungeon in a blinding flash as it struck the demon square in the chest.

Flames exploded outward, searing through flesh and charring the air.

-38,780!

The demon staggered but didn't fall.

Instead, it retaliated with a powerful blast of dark energy, slamming into Alex and sending him stumbling backward.

-6,734!

But the boy managed.

"Alright, you're tougher than I thought," he said, wiping blood from his lip.

He steadied himself, focusing his mana. "Let's try something else!"

Around Alex were the hundreds upon hundreds of other demons, all looking at him.

The warden had gestured for them to stand back, and Alex actually did the same with his undead.

It was a true 1 on 1, and until one of them felt threatened enough to use their troops, it would stay that way.

He launched [Crimson Spike], sending a jagged spear of red energy into the Warden's shoulder, piercing it and leaving a smoldering wound.

The demon bellowed, the wound bleeding a dark, oozing substance.

Its eyes flared with anger, and it charged him with terrifying speed.

"WEAK!" the demon snarled.

As the Demon Warden closed in, Alex threw up a [Stone Fortress], just in time for the demon's fist to crash into it.

The barrier, having now 18,000, absorbed the impact, but cracks formed along its surface before shattering entirely.

Alex leaped back, narrowly avoiding another swipe as he readied his next attack.

"Take this!" he yelled, summoning [Rock Crash].

A massive stone formed above him, hurling down toward the demon.

The boulder crashed into the Warden's side, staggering it and creating an opening.

-12,000!

Alex quickly followed up with [Thunderclap Bolt], the electric strike crackling through the air before slamming into the demon's chest, leaving it twitching as the stun took effect.

-15,538!

While the Demon Warden was momentarily dazed, Alex called forth [Spirit Chains].

Dozens of spectral chains erupted from his staff, wrapping around the demon's arms and legs, immobilizing it and dealing continuous damage.

"Not so tough now, are you?" he taunted, watching as the Warden writhed against the chains, its movements slow and strained.

He raised his staff high and channeled [Fire Vortex].

A roaring cyclone of fire erupted around the Demon Warden, scorching its body as it roared.

The intense heat singed its flesh, but even as flames licked across its skin, the Warden managed to tear free from the Spirit Chains, shrugging off the remaining damage.

Alex still had max mana, meaning he could send an infinite amount of spells.

But it was just the same for the warden.

"Is that all?" even after all of this, it shrugged off the damage, which only dealt around 100,000 HP out of it's 2,000,000 available ones, "Well, this is boring now."

The warden went back to his throne, grabbing the scythe that was leaning against it, then pointed it at Alex.

"Come on, demons, it's time to feast."

The Warden's voice boomed as he swung the scythe forward, its blade crackling with dark energy. Discover more content at m,v l'e|m-p| y r

A surge of demons rose from the shadows, flooding toward Alex's undead army as a thunderous clash erupted across the room.

"Too scared to fight fairly, heh, fine by me," Alex wasted no time.

With his staff alight with mana, he directed his undead forward.

Skeletal soldiers clashed with snarling demons, and the battle split the dungeon into a storm of clashing metal, gnashing fangs, and torn flesh.

He sidestepped as the Warden's scythe whistled past him, the blade tearing through the air inches from his face.

Alex rolled to his feet, feeling the hot breath of the Demon Warden as it bore down on him with unrelenting fury.

The scythe came down in a brutal arc, and Alex parried it with his staff, the force shaking his arms to the core.

With the scythe pressed against him, Alex lashed out, releasing a stream of spells.

Each blast of energy tore into the Warden's defenses, chipping away at the monster's seemingly endless stamina.

The Warden, however, fought through the onslaught, his blood-red eyes fixed on Alex with an unwavering, predatory focus.

Slash! Slash! Bam!

Around them, the battle raged on.

Demons clashed against Alex's undead army, bones shattering under claws while Alex's Grand Skeletons retaliated with heavy blows, hacking down their foes.

His Spectral Wraith darted through the fray, lancing dark energy into enemy ranks.

"Arise! Arise! Arise!" in the meantime, Alex had to focus on his undead army, as allowing the demons to pass would be an instant loss.

Alex forced himself to focus.

Every move counted.

Ducking under another scythe swipe, he leaped forward, his dagger flashing in his hand.

He drove it into the Warden's side, feeling the resistance as the blade met the demon's flesh.

Shadow Strike! Rending Slash! Rending Slash! Meteoric Blaze!

Dark blood spurted out, staining his hand, and he twisted the blade deeper, earning a guttural roar from the creature.

The Warden retaliated, bringing his fist down.

Alex felt his ribs crack as the blow landed, pain shooting through him.

-12,749!

He gritted his teeth, summoning all the energy he had left to hold his ground.

His vision blurred, but he wasn't done.

He unleashed a relentless sequence of attacks, throwing every spell he had, one after another, not giving the Warden a moment's respite.

The dungeon floor trembled beneath the barrage, cracks spiderwebbing through the stone as the two clashed.

Slash! Slash! Slash!

Scythe against dagger, with hundreds of monsters around them fighting.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of blows and counterblows, the Warden staggered, his towering form wavering.

"Now…" Alex muttered, barely audible over the clamor of the battlefield.

He tightened his grip on his dagger, rushing forward.

"YOU FOOL, I WILL KILL YOU!"

The warden slammed down, but Alex faster, rolling forward and casting [Spirit Chains] to hold the warden down for even a second.

And so with a final, determined thrust, he drove the blade deep into the Warden's chest, piercing through its demonic heart.

[Eyes of the Cursed King]

His eyes had actually guided him there, and he didn't waste any time in doing what needed to be done.

SHADOW STRIKE!

[Weakness hit, dealing 1000% of damage.]

"GARGH-"

-545,625!

An absolutely terrifying damage number.

The Warden's roar turned into a gurgle, his form collapsing in on itself in a cascade of dark energy.

Alex stood there, panting, the remaining demons getting destroyed by his army, even those trying to escape getting caught by the [Spectral Wraiths].

In the quiet that followed, a notification appeared in his vision.

Ding!

[You have completed the Dark Dungeon!]

"First try... nice."