Lucian pressed [Yes], and the door before him slowly swung open. Instead of immediately stepping through, he decided to prepare himself by equipping his gear and weapons.
First, he summoned his Bleeding and Crying Scythe and a unique staff. The staff resembled the slender branch of a delicate tree, with ethereal vibes spiraling around the handle. At its top, a green crystal stood firmly, and at the opposite end, another small green magical gem glowed brightly.
[Weapon Name: Ivyweave]
Type: Weapon
Description: A world champion class weapon, crafted for the player [GudetamaNani] by Yggdrasil's developers in recognition of their victory in the Vanaheim World Tournament. This item is now owned by player [LuciLuci].
Skills/Abilities: |Nether Thorn| |Absent Mana| |Ivy Bloom| |Druid Construct| |MP Enhance| |MA Enhance| |Wave of Ivy| |Bloom Defense|
Lucian had acquired this staff from the Vanaheim world champion, even though he was a warrior class player, he requested for this magical staff, because his intention was to sell it. Lucian paid an exorbitant price for it, as it was listed for sale on the Yggdrasil Wiki. Lucian's high bid shocked many, making them question why anyone would invest so much in a weapon, even one of world champion class. Nevertheless, this staff specialized in enhancing magic attack and MP, although it paled in comparison to the boosts provided by his Valkyraes.
Oh, boy, Lucian, you're in for quite a shock...
Lucian was also clad in the World Champion-class gear that Suzune had gifted him. This golden armor featured intricate details, gleaming with a brilliant gold hue, and adorned with patches of red here and there.
With his preparations complete, Lucian gazed at the door bearing the symbol of Lust. He slowly reached out, touching the doorknob, and turned it, causing the door to creak open. Without hesitation, he stepped through the doorway and disappeared from view.
As soon as Lucian passed through the door, it vanished, leaving nothing behind.
*****
Lucian stood within a seemingly endless, straight black staircase. Along each side of the staircase were the Cardinal Evil Sins - Lust, the very ones he had sacrificed earlier. They stood there like statues, eerie and unmoving.
Lucian glanced at the rectangular screen in front of him, which displayed:
[Place: Stairway of Devotion | Type: Boss room]
"This is creepy," Lucian muttered to himself. As he began ascending the stairs, he noticed that the cardinal sins' eyes followed his every movement, tracking him. It sent shivers down his spine.
Continuing his climb up the seemingly infinite staircase, Lucian saw no end in sight.
After 20 minutes of relentless ascent, he finally arrived at a pair of doors. Each door bore an inscription: one with indecipherable gibberish, and the other with his in-game name, [LuciLuci].
"This is really giving me the creeps," Lucian muttered, feeling his hair stand on end and a shiver run down his spine. He had never expected that this world enemy would employ such a method to incorporate his profile into the event.
As he ascended the stairs, Lucian counted each one, noting that there were a total of 350 stairs, the same number as the 700 Cardinal Sins of Lusts he had sacrificed. If you count one on each side of the stairs. It seemed more than just a coincidence, and he couldn't help but wonder why.
"Let's just face the world enemy and be done with it," Lucian said to himself as he touched the door.
[Would you like to enter the boss room «Chamber of Obsession»]
[Yes/No]
Without hesitation, Lucian selected "Yes," and the doors swung open, revealing a magnificently huge room.
Lucian entered the room, and the door closed behind him. The room was as vast as any typical boss room. However, the ceiling and the surroundings resembled a royal chamber, except for the floor, which appeared to be pure darkness, as if darkness itself. The place presented a mixture of opulence and decay.
Mirrors adorned the room, seeming to deflect light as they projected an image of Lucian, albeit without any color.
He glanced around and noticed chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, emitting an eerie pink glow. There were also windows that seemed to lead to nowhere.
Lucian walked to the center of the vast room, and there, he beheld a massive ornate bed draped in sensual fabric.
Upon that bed lay a cursed goddess.
He saw a beautiful woman with black hair, peacefully asleep beneath a pink sheet that covered her ethereal body.
As Lucian approached the boss, something happened.
The woman's eyes shot open as she flung the blanket away, her body starting to float as she fixed her gaze on Lucian.
The background music shifted to something sensual and seductive as the Sin of Lust revealed herself.
"Damn! This world enemy is beautiful!" Lucian exclaimed as he eyed the world enemy.
She was an exquisite woman with long, flowing black hair. Her beauty seemed meticulously crafted, as if the developers had poured their utmost effort into her design. Her black hair cascaded like waterfalls, and she wore a golden and black armor that lightly covered her body, revealing hints of her cleavage. Unlike any of the Sins Lucian had faced before, she was a humanoid figure, in stark contrast to Gluttony, which had more demonic properties and resembled a slime. Also, the strongest world enemy he had faced before this.
"[Ah, my beloved, you've finally arrived. I've yearned for you, my sweet, with every fiber of my being,]" the World Enemy spoke, her words tinged with obsession.
This was the setting of this world enemy, and yes, she was a bona fide yandere.
"Who the heck is she even talking about? Is it me?" Lucian wondered as he observed the boss speaking and her dialogue box appearing. Her pupils were pink and heart-shaped as she fixed her gaze on Lucian. He remained alert, scythe and staff at the ready, because every time her eyes blinked, her pupils seemed to glow even brighter, all directed at Lucian, which gave him the creeps.
"[Don't be shy; let me wrap you in the warmth of my affection,]" the Sin said as the battle animation began. Lucian immediately jumped back and checked her status. But before he could do that, a massive arrow landed near him. With quick reflexes, Lucian managed to dodge it. The arrows were heart-shaped and started coming from all directions at Lucian as the boss continued her passionate dialogue, her name still unknown to him.
"[Do you feel that fluttering in your heart? It's the same feeling I have for you,]" she said as the dialogue box briefly vanished. Lucian dodged another arrow but got hit by two more in quick succession, each adding debuffs to him. When the arrows finally stopped, he checked her stats.
[Sin Luxuria - First Deadly Demon of Lust]
Level - 140
HP - 500/500
MP - 350/350
"What!?" Lucian audibly exclaimed in shock, staring at Sin Luxuria's stats. Her whispering dialogue continued, and Lucian couldn't believe how overwhelmingly weak the boss monster appeared to be.
"Sigh~ Suzune probably wanted me to feel uneasy," Lucian mused aloud as he dodged a spear in the shape of a heart lunged at him by the boss monster. However, he soon realized how wrong he was.
"[Ah, my dearest... Watch closely as all else fades away, and it's just you and I. No one else exists in this world but us. Your every move, your every breath, is mine to control,]" Sin Luxuria whispered seductively, waving her hand as a black aura enveloped Lucian. He received a series of notifications that made him understand why Suzune had been so pleased when he chose to fight this boss.
[You have been Inflicted by the Skill «Singular Obsession»]
[Your stats are reduced by 30%]
"What!?" Lucian exclaimed as he dodged another spear. Before he could fully grasp what had happened, he realized that his agility and all his stats had dropped significantly.
"Shit!" Lucian cursed, deciding it was time to use his Valkyrae form to swiftly defeat this World Enemy and end the battle.
Lucian felt a growing sense of dread as he tapped on his Valkyrae tab, hoping to transform into the powerful Amethyst Valkyrae form to defeat the boss. However, his hope quickly turned into disbelief and frustration when he heard the boss utter new dialogue, something he never anticipated followed after that.
"[Only I can hold your desires, my love. Envy's embrace stifles all others,]" the boss said as her pink eyes momentarily glowed blue.
[The ability «Envious Suppression» has been used on you]
[Your «Valkyrae» ability has been sealed]
[Your skill «Blood of the Valkyrie» has become ineffective]
[Your skill «Valkyrie's Valor» has become ineffective]
A wave of notifications flooded Lucian's vision, informing him that most of his skills related to his Greater Einherjar class had been sealed. What shocked him even more was that these sealed skills were mainly those geared for females or had a feminine power-granting origin.
"Damn it!" Lucian muttered in frustration as he realized the gravity of the situation. He needed to find a way to overcome this unexpected obstacle.
"Damn it! They really had to create a yandere," Lucian cursed as he quickly leaped backward, putting some distance between himself and Sin Luxuria. She continued to laugh and giggle, fixated on him.
"Suzune, you traitor! I'll make you pay for this!" Lucian exclaimed angrily as he evaded yet another arrow aimed at his heart. Each arrow inflicted the [Lovestruck] effect, causing his vision to blur and his movements to slow. In the past, he could heal and fend off the effect, but now, with his Valkyrae forms and related skills sealed, he felt powerless.
He had underestimated this boss, believing he could defeat her with his usual tactics.
However, he still believed he was strong enough to defeat the boss, but an unexpected outcome awaited him.
"[Come forth, my maidens. Your master requires your service.]"
Suddenly, Lucian saw the entire room being covered with magic circles at Sin Luxuria's command, witnessing an event he never wanted to happen and had never expected.
"Shit. I think I'm in trouble," Lucian exclaimed as he gazed upon the legions of 700 Cardinal Sins of Lust appearing in the room. They were the same 700 Cardinal Evil Sins he had defeated at the entrance and encountered on the stairs of devotion.
"This is atrocious. Damn you Devs!" Lucian shouted, realizing how the Devs had used the sacrifices for opening the boss room against the player in battle. Immediately, he heard the Sin Luxuria's command.
"[Become one, my maidens. Become the hands that will present me my beloved.]" The eerie dialogue was followed by Luxuria raising her hand. From her hand, a pink light materialized and spread throughout the room, enveloping all 700 cardinal sins. They started turning into motes of light and gathering behind Luxuria.
Soon, a monstrosity stood before Lucian, and he couldn't help but vomit blood at the sight.
[Arch-Evil Sin - Lust]
Level - 140
HP - 600/600
MP - 200/200
The result of the combination was a monstrous four-legged spider-like chimera with a humanoid female at the center. However, she had two antennae instead of hair, and her entire body looked as if it was covered in slime. In the center of her chest, there was a hole that resembled another orifice, emitting pheromones. It appeared to be some sort of passive skill animation.
"Shit, shit, shit!" Lucian cursed as he tried to distance himself from the monstrosity, which immediately leaped towards him.
"[Ivy Bloom]" Lucian used one of the staff's abilities, an ability he had never considered using before. However, in this dire situation, he had no other choice. Green thorny vines materialized, blooming like flowers before capturing the monstrous being, entrapping it in a flowery prison.
[-50]
[-50]
[-50]
Lucian realized that he had grown overly reliant on his Valkyrae forms and felt the weight of his mistake.
After taking considerable damage, the Arch-Evil Sin - Lust tore through the ivy prison and charged toward Lucian. Lucian swung his scythe, activating another one-time-use skill for the day. The scythe struck the monster, causing its central eye to bleed, and the monstrous creature was thrown to the other side of the room with a massive bleeding wound on its body. Normally, this type of damage would result in data animations, but Lucian had inflicted it with a bleeding condition, enhanced by the abilities [Permanent Deficiency] and [Eternal Bleed]. This meant the monster would continue losing HP unless it cast specific holy spells.
Now, Lucian had to deal with the monster's boss, which he knew would be a challenging task. The Sin Luxuria summoned a bow and arrow and aimed it at Lucian.
"I'm screwed, aren't I?" Lucian muttered to himself as he watched the World Enemy take aim and release an arrow.
[-90]
The arrow struck Lucian, dealing significant damage and sending him flying, landing near one of the mirrors.
Lucian realized he needed to avoid getting hit by any more arrows, but he had no idea how many more sequences the boss had.
"[Oh, my beloved, become mine, and we'll be eternally together...]" The boss uttered her dialogue as Lucian swung his scythe toward her, attempting to activate another of his one-time skills.
[Your skill has been rendered ineffective]
However, he received a notification informing him that his skill had been rendered ineffective. Lucian didn't waste any time; instead, he used the staff's powerful skill. "[Wave of Ivy]" A massive vine materialized, adorned with thorns, and wrapped itself around the staff. Lucian swung the staff like a whip, delivering a substantial blow to the boss monster, finally inflicting some damage.
[-47]
Lucian continued to strike with the staff, delivering consecutive blows.
[-65]
He swung the staff repeatedly until it finally vanished, and then he noticed an arrow flying straight at him.
[-76]
Lucian once again realized he needed to avoid getting hit by more arrows and find a way to defeat the boss quickly.
"[Oh, my beloved, why must you hurt me? Just become mine, let me capture you. Let me embrace you...]" narrated the Sin Luxuria, vanishing from Lucian's vision and giving him a scare. He suddenly felt a tug on his back and, when he looked back, he was terrified to see the World Enemy materializing behind him, her seductive eyes locked onto him.
"[Become mine, let us be alone forever, ever.]" She said as Lucian stood there paralyzed due to her skill.
[Inescapable Gaze]
Suddenly, she embraced Lucian, making him feel extremely uncomfortable, although he didn't feel much sensation. However, something else began to happen. Lucian felt a darkness creeping over him, as if he were being swallowed by something alive.
[You have been influenced by «Dominion of Lust»]
Lucian surveyed his surroundings, having broken free from immobilization. All that met his gaze was an abyss of wiggling darkness, as though the very shadows were alive. His armor, hands, and console remained visible, confirming that this was not a technical error but rather a skill at play.
Whispers echoed in his ears, originating from the World Enemy.
'My love, I've longed for you,' a voice whispered in his left ear, its origin marked by a question mark, though it was unmistakably the World Enemy.
'Eternal devotion binds us, my dear,' another voice resonated in his right ear.
'You are the light in my darkness,' his left ear echoed.
'No one else can have you,' his right ear followed.
'In your absence, I ache,' his left ear continued.
'Every moment apart, it hurts,' his right ear chimed.
'Your heart belongs to me,' his left ear declared.
'And I belong to you, my beloved,' the right ear completed.
[You have been inflicted with «Delusion»]
[You have been inflicted with «Enraptured»]
[You have been inflicted with «Ensnared»]
[You have been inflicted with «Embrace»]
Four effects took place after the whispers of the World Enemy, likely a result of her specialized skills. Lucian found himself burdened with several new debuffs that had been placed upon him. His movements slowed, his vision warped, and his options dwindled, with some spell hotkeys becoming inaccessible.
As the dialogue concluded, Lucian witnessed a manifestation emerging from the shadowy abyss. It was a seductive and alluring figure, adorned in a revealing dress with ample cleavage on display. A veil adorned her head, leaving her face uncovered. From beneath her dress, multiple glowing green tentacles extended, matching her hair's luminescence. Her eyes gleamed with heart-shaped green pupils.
[Image Here]
"[Oh, my beloved. Why can't you see? I'm the only one who loves you to such depths of devotion...]" the World Enemy lamented, her mouth moving in a forlorn expression. Lucian couldn't help but wonder what was transpiring as he noticed her status undergoing a dramatic transformation.
[HP - 243/500 -> 343/600]
[MP - 235/350 -> 335/450]
Her stats had surged significantly, posing an even greater threat to Lucian.
"Fuck me!" Lucian shouted as he faced the dire situation. Before he could react, the previous Arch-Evil Sin Lust materialized behind him, catching him off guard. Lucian attempted to dodge, but the creature struck him with its claw-like appendages, inflicting a wound.
[You have been inflicted with «Evil Corrosion»]
Cursing his predicament, Lucian retaliated by swinging his scythe, cutting her down. She had already depleted all her HP through bleeding and immediately vanished into data.
[-20]
[-20]
Notifications flooded Lucian's console, and he quickly cast a healing spell to remove the Corrosion effect. However, this place seemed to inhibit his HP recovery, leaving him with only the ability to tend to his wounds. His HP had already dropped significantly due to the wound he sustained, and he was now at half health.
"[My dearest, wound me, but not yourself. My life is yours, as yours is mine. Let our souls entwine, and your pain become mine to bear]," the World Enemy's voice resonated in Lucian's ears, and he noticed a new dialogue box along with a new notification.
[The skill «Sacrificial Devotion» has been used on you]
[A new link has been formed]
[You have been inflicted with «Lifelink of Obsession»]
Lucian was taken aback as he saw the World Enemy's HP rapidly plummet to match his own. He then gazed at the World Enemy, who swung her tentacle at him. Lucian chose not to dodge, taking the attack. As expected, the tentacle inflicted 20 damage on him, but the surprising part was that she also received the same amount of damage, plus an extra point.
"I see... Suzune is right. This is an impossible task..." Lucian chuckled, almost maniacally, as he allowed the tentacles to strike him, disregarding his HP.
"It's impossible to defeat her... Ahahaha!" Lucian continued to laugh hysterically, then, with determination in his eyes, he summoned something he had planned to use from the beginning.
"Let's see how you will break the game," Lucian muttered as he dodged another incoming tentacle, clutching the black cube tightly in his hand, his emotions running high.
All Lucian needed now was an opening to cast his skill, [World Break]. He waited for the right moment, a moment when she would be in the middle of another dialogue, as her tentacle attack ceased. That moment came sooner than expected.
["My sweet, sweet love, my obsession for you knows no bounds. I'd drown the world in madness to keep you close-"] Before she could finish her dialogue, Lucian sprang into action. He ran towards her, closing the distance and touching her. Then, he unleashed his most powerful skill of the world champion class, the only option left to him.
"[World Break]" Lucian activated the skill, his hand glowing as a cross-shaped light surrounded the boss. This was the moment he had been waiting for. Lucian immediately brought out the Black Cube and used it.
[Would you like to use the world Item «The Thing on the Doorstep»?]
Immediately after Lucian used the item, the black cube and the white cross-shaped light from the World Break skill merged together. The boss's last words echoed as her HP rapidly dropped to zero.
"[Oh, my beloved, you've finally defeated me... embrace me within yourself, let me be in you. Let me become one with you, let me love you forever and ever. Our desires shall merge into an eternal embrace, and yo- GAME INSTABILITY DETECTED. SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS INITIATED. ERROR. ERROR. ERROR.]"
Lucian was expecting an error, but what happened next surprised him.
[System Message: Initiating Character Transfer...]
[System Notification: Data Overload Detected]
[System Error: Data Overload Detected - Compromising...]
[System Error: Data Overload Detected - Compromising...]
[System Error: Data Overload Detected - Compromising...]
[System Error: Character Transfer Failed]
[System Error: Character Integration Failed]
[System Error: Access Authorization Failed]
[System Error: Player Inventory Access Failed]
[System Alert: Fusion Process Initiated]
[System Error: Game Integrity Compromised]
[System Message: Player and Enemy Bound Together]
[System Alert: Creating Combined Avatar]
[System Alert: Generating Appropriate Class]
[System Alert: Compromise Detected - Vice of Lust]
[System Alert: Compromise Detected - Luxuria of Lust]
[System Message: World Enemy Initialization in Progress...]
[System Notification: New Event Initiating]
*******
At the same time, the entire player base of Niflheim received a series of notifications that marked a memorable day in the world of Niflheim, and for those who knew more, in the entire Yggdrasil.
Some players from the guild Ainz Ooal Gown were also in Niflheim today, gathering drops from Glacial Leviathans. Although not all guild members were present, some notable ones were.
"Ulbert-san, what are you thinking? Please show a little consideration for me. I need to use death magic to fend off the monsters. Please use the correct spells next time instead of using flashy ones," Momonga berated Ulbert as they stood there after defeating a Glacial Leviathan.
"Momonga-san! You don't understand! We're magicians; we need to use cooler spells. And we could've defeated it even if we didn't use Explosion or Nova Burn," Ulbert replied.
"Ulbert, Momonga is right. You need to be careful. If Aneki wasn't there to save you, you could've been dead. And you would have gotten Momonga killed as well. You are a magician in the end; your physical defense is weak!" Peroroncino berated Ulbert, ruffling his head.
"Fine, fine, sorry, Momonga-san," Ulbert apologized.
"It's fine, Ulbert-san. It's okay to use cool spells sometimes, but other times we need to be careful," Momonga said with a smiling emoji floating before his face.
"Heh! Look, Momonga is totally right. He understands the aspect of cool destruction."
"You guys are really..." Bukubukuchagama, standing on the sidelines, could only sigh at their conversation. They were quite something. However, as they chatted, a notification appeared in all of their vision, as well as in the visions of the entire player base of Niflheim. This notification that will mark the beginning of something...
[System Alert: Unidentified Threat Detected]
[System Message: New World Enemy Discovered - Player Origin]
[System Notification: Location Coordinates Revealed - «Frozen Hallow Caverns»]
[System Message: Confront this challenge in «Frozen Hallow Caverns». Will you accept?]
[Yes/No]
_______________________________________________________________________
First of all; there won't be a chapter tomorrow, due to my hands hurting like hell. So, I would love it if you guy's donated some power stones for today and tomorrow.
Today's chapter is over 3500+ words.
Anyway, we are soon gonna have the NPC Arc, so maybe recommend something for that. or anything... ahhh... I don't know what else to say, I'm so sleepy. goodnight.
Also, I'm getting a lot of ideas for new world, can't wait to write it to be honest.