The obsidian spires of the Lost City trembled as Fortune crash-landed in the central plaza, his wings beating laboriously. My armor bore fresh gouges from the Deathblade Warrior''s serrated greatsword—a Lv100 Netherguard elite that had nearly turned me into mincemeat.


    Combat Aftermath Report:


    ? HP: 19/2,800 (0.67% remaining)


    ? Armor Durability: [Soulwarder Blooddrinker] 12% | [Aegis of the Damned] 7%


    ? Debuff Stack: [Necrotic Rot] (-5% STR), [Bone Fracture] (-30% AGI)


    Krag''s molten eyes widened beneath his forge-blackened visor. "You provoked the Netherguard Legion? Even suicidal lemmings show more sense!"


    The undead blacksmith dragged us to the Arcane Athenaeum, where a lich archivist floated over ancient grimoires. "The Darkwell Chasm isn''t some backwater grinding zone, fledgling," the lich hissed, skeletal fingers tracing a holographic map. "That''s the Sanctum of Ebon Veils—the crucible where all shadow magic is born."


    Lore Unlocked:


    ? Sanctum Defense Matrix


    - Outer Perimeter: Lv100 [Netherguard Legion] (Endless Spawn)


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    - Middle Ring: Lv250 [Dreadknights] + Lv350 [Umbral Arcanists]


    - Inner Sanctum: Lv400-800 [Abyssal Wardens]


    - Final Guardians: Twin Lv1000 [Voidwyrms]


    Fortune growled at the projection of the twin dragons, his obsidian scales rippling in challenge.


    "Your pet''s bravado is amusing," the lich sneered. "Even if you reach Lv900, those wyrms would reduce you to ash before your first strike."


    I leaned against a bone-carved pillar, adrenaline still coursing through my veins. "There''s always a weakness. Every system has cracks."


    Strategic Insights:


    Netherguard Spawn Mechanics: Legion reinforcements trigger at 1% HP thresholds


    Environmental Hazards: [Void Flux] zones disrupt teleportation/potions


    Sanctum Puzzle Gates: Require [Soulshard Keys] dropped by Arcanists


    Krag tossed me a pulsating black ingot—Nethersteel forged from fallen Netherguard blades. "At least rearm yourself. Watching you fight with chipped iron hurts my professional pride."


    Item Forged:


    ? [Eclipse Reaver] (Epic | Soulbound)


    ├─ATK: 220-340 | Attack Speed: Fast


    ├─25% Armor Penetration


    └─[Soulsiphon]: Heal 5% of damage dealt


    As midnight approached, Fortune''s eyes glinted with predatory resolve. Somewhere beyond those bone-white ziggurats, the Darkwell Core pulsed—a shard of the primordial Creation Star that birthed all shadow magic.


    "Ready for round two?" I murmured, hefting the reaver.


    The drake''s answering roar shook dust from ancient tapestries. Madness? Perhaps. But in the Abyss, only the mad thrive.