Now, with the Leviathan’s soul no longer resisting, the heart began to pulse like a living organ.
Thump.
Thump.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the crystal shell before it shattered.
The outer casing dissolved into pure mana, which rushed into Corvin’s body like a flood. What remained of the heart, now far more organic than crystalline, turned ethereal and shot forward, passing straight through his chest.
Corvin’s scream filled the chamber as his chest burned from the inside out. It felt as though molten claws had dug into his ribcage, prying it apart from within. His heartbeat stuttered and then surged as the Leviathan’s heart crashed into place, merging with his own by force.
As the two merged into one, his heartbeat changed into a deeper, louder, and more powerful rhythm, which sent searing heat through his arteries, each beat sending agony spiraling outward, into his lungs, his mind, and his whole body.
Hot burning Mana and Vitality poured outward, his muscles spasming, veins swelling, his ribcage turning into the core of a living furnace.
His vision turned red as a transparent shell started to form around Corvin’s beating heart, etching itself into existence layer by layer.
He arched violently as the pressure peaked. Within his new heart’s center, a diamond-shaped core embedded itself, glowing faintly with ember-like light.
Corvin roared, clutching his chest as blood burst from his mouth while he fought to contain the pain and surge of power.
Then the pain spread, and from the core, new mana lines burst forth. He felt the new lines burrow through his body like burning veins. The lines surged down his spine, wrapped around his organs, and merged into his muscles and bones, creating pathways that never existed within him before.
His old mana lines connected to the new ones, and then he felt it. Mana flooding places he never sensed before, it intertwined with his bloodstream, mana and blood merged into a single unstoppable current. His pulse rose, echoed within his temples, and then, with a single final surge of remaining energy, his Mana Heart and his Soul Root connected to this new stream of energy, and the pressure gave way, his body adapted, and pain dulled.
Corvin heaved, finally able to breathe again, his body covered with sweat and bile mixed with blood as he struggled to rise to his knees, hands pushing against the stone.
He retched again, coughing up what little remained of old blood, and sensed a new rhythm within. His mana, which was guided by the system before, forcibly absorbed now flowed naturally like it was alive. A small vortex around his new heart swallowed ambient mana, and it mixed within him, circulating with every breath and every heartbeat.
“Motherfucker… Nobody told me this would hurt so much. What the hell…” Corvin again collapsed to the ground. I feel like I died again and was reborn. Hope it was worth it. Fuck I still feel like puking. He stared at the chamber's ceiling, breath returning to normal.
*** Special Quest Completed: Leviathan’s Hope ***
You have successfully fused the heart of a Leviathan with your own.
[100,000 Points Awarded]
[Congratulations! You have accomplished an unexpected feat!]
[Achievement Unlocked: Carry on my legacy.]
Accept the legacy of a legendary being and fuse with it perfectly.
***Skill Unlocked: Leviathan’s Heart Lv. Max ***
Within your chest beats the heart of the Leviathan King Erythron.
When surrounded by fire or the burning terrain, your HP will regenerate 50 per second, and your MP regeneration rate will double.
All Fire skills will deal 30% more damage.
Magicka +20, Vitality + 20
[Due to your high proficiency, the Fire God’s Vortex bonus feature will be unlocked.]
If your health reaches below 1%, you can activate the special ability of the Leviathan race called Undying Heart and sacrifice your mana to replenish your vitality.
This skill can only be used once every six months due to the limitations of the human body.
*** Skill Upgrade: Fire Resistance Lv. Max > Fire Immunity Lv. 1 ***
Grants immunity to types of fire mastered. Currently, immunity is granted to weak fire and flames produced by the Leviathan races.
“Wow! I cannot believe this! I guess all that pain was worth it after all. Thank you, Erythron, for a scheming lizard. You sure give amazing gifts.” Corvin stood up and painfully bowed towards the leviathan’s massive corpse.
[60,000 Points Awarded]
[+10 Stat Points]
*** Skill Unlocked: Summon Erythron Lv. 1 ***
Summon the Leviathan King Erythron to fight by your side.
Cooldown: None
Duration: Until Canceled
Mana Cost: 5000 Mana + 100 Mana per second
Requirement: User Level 350+
[Due to high requirements, the skill will be locked for now.]
Corvin whistled.
“That mana cost is insane,” he muttered. “What am I, some kind of walking mana bank?”
He shook his head with a grin.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“Doesn’t matter. One day, I’ll release you, you crazy lizard. And then…”
His smile widened dangerously. “…we’ll burn angels, demons, and gods together.”
He laughed, wild and unrestrained.
For the first time in a long while, revenge no longer felt like a fantasy.
The system chimed once more.
[A special item will be rewarded for the astonishing feats]
[Unique Weapon Lottery Ticket]
Rewarded to the user for completing a Special Quest and earning the trust of one of the four ancient rulers.
Final reward depends on the user’s Luck stat.
Corvin pumped his fists but remained silent. I just remembered what happened last time I came here. Almost lose my damn life. First, I will leave this place, then use this ticket.
He sobered up and stored the corpse of the leviathan before him.
[Obsidian Cinderborn Leviathan’s Corpse (Legendary)]
That I will save for now. This is my first legendary corpse. I need to find a good way to use it.
Corvin checked his timer and promptly left the chamber as the area started to slowly cool down from the lack of the fire mana’s source. He dashed and sprinted to the outside, leaving the chamber and the tunnel safely for a change.
[Estimated time left: 75 Hours]
***
I gained a lot, but nothing I can use against the spiders right now. I need more levels to use Cataclysm. Hmm, let’s get this weapon, then I’ll decide what to do. A crazy plan started growing in his mind as he activated the ticket.
The familiar wheel materialized before him, filled with segments of varying sizes and colors as the system responded.
[Spin the wheel and receive your reward.]
“I sure will!” Corvin smiled, grabbed the wheel, and spun it with all his might.
The wheel whirred loudly, spinning for a long moment before gradually slowing down.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Bing. Bing. Bing. It landed on a mid-sized segment.
“Hah… guess luck didn’t bless me this time.” Corvin shook his head. “That stat is so damn weird.”
Still, he leaned forward eagerly as the result manifested.
A burst of rainbow light flared, and the wheel dissolved, leaving an object floating in the air. Slowly, it descended, straight into Corvin’s waiting hands.
His breath quickened as he checked the reward.
It was a long, heavy weapon.
The handle gleamed gold at the base before fading into deep blue toward the grip. One side bore a massive, golden axe head, intricately etched with Leviathan motifs. Opposite it curved a smaller crescent hook, razor-sharp. From between them jutted a deep-blue spear-like spike, giving the weapon a brutal three-pronged design.
At its core lay a crimson jewel, embedded deep within the weapon’s heart, pulsing faintly, as though alive.
[Fire Lord’s Halberd]
Rarity: Unique
Type: Halberd
The weapon was forged for one of the sentinels of the Leviathan Kingdom. Its handle was forged out of Cinderwood and Darkgold, while the axe and the tip were made out of Darkgold and Mythril. In the center of the weapon, a Heartfire Ruby had been etched.
Each attack causes burning and physical damage. After the weapon has drunk enough blood, the ruby in the center of the weapon will glow crimson and allow the user’s next attack to unleash a flaming whirlwind attack, which will set the area within a three-meter radius on fire and increase burning damage.
Strength +25, Agility + 30
Fire damage +42%
Requirements: Strength 50, Agility 50, Fire Resistance Max
Corvin grasped the long, heavy weapon and smiled as bright as the sun.
“I’ve been blessed,” he said reverently. “Lord lizard, I swear I’ll never be rude to you again. This weapon is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
He gently caressed the halberd’s head, his fingers tracing the intricate artwork carved into the axe blade.
“The only problem is…” Corvin chuckled. “I don’t really know any halberd fighting styles. I guess it’s similar to spears and axes, well, I’ll make it work.”
He tightened his grip, excitement bubbling over. “This is exactly what I’ve been waiting for!” he laughed.
Then his expression shifted as his gaze drifted toward the dark tunnel behind him.
I have enough time. If I can kill at least one turtle, I’ll get the levels I need to unlock Cataclysm.
He swallowed hard and opened the market interface. “Time to buy some… special presents for our shelly friends,” he murmured.
He spent nearly half his remaining points without hesitation, then turned back toward the tunnel, smirking evilly as he hefted the halberd.
“Let’s hunt,” Corvin said. “I hear turtle soup is quite delicious.”
***
Corvin walked back into the chamber.
The magma lake still burned as fiercely as ever, but the temperature had dropped noticeably. The once-abundant crimson mana had thinned, leaving the air heavy rather than oppressive.
He grabbed a sizable boulder, approached the lake, and threw it in.
The magma churned and hissed violently as ripples spread outward. The rock burned, cracked, and sank beneath the surface.
Corvin prepared himself, but nothing came. With a sigh, he turned back and picked up another rock.
Then another…
On the fourth toss, the lake surged and rippled unnaturally.
From one of the adjacent magma rivers, a massive, burning turtle burst to the surface, roaring as it locked onto Corvin.
[Igneous Terrapin Lv. 287] [HP: 83069 / 83069] [MP: 3000/3000]
“Well, well,” Corvin grinned. “If it isn’t my old friend. What, no crew this time?” Corvin mocked the enraged turtle, which already started preparing its breath attack.
“I don’t think so!” He shouted and pulled out a round, blue, cold orb from his storage.
With a powerful throw, he launched it just as the turtle opened its maw.
The orb flew straight in and detonated. A violent burst of glacial frost exploded outward, freezing the Terrapin’s mouth shut and encasing its head in jagged ice. The temperature of the chamber plummeted.
Corvin smiled and summoned another.
[Glacial Ice Bomb x9 (Rare)]
Good plan, he thought. Too bad these damn things are expensive. One bomb alone had dealt nearly 15,000 damage. Not bad at all.
He smiled and hurled another.
The explosion sent thick spears of ice stabbing into the Terrapin’s extended neck.
With a manic look in its eyes, the turtle released enormous waves of red mana as it plunged into the depths of the magma lake. Suddenly, a massive burning meteor shot from the depths of the lake towards Corvin.
“Shit!” Corvin cast Aqua Barrier and dashed sideways.
The meteor smashed into the chamber wall and exploded. Shrapnel caught him in the back, shattering the barrier and slamming into his armor.
The plating held, but the impact cracked a few bones. Corvin barfed blood all over himself, pain tearing through him as he hit the ground.
“Fuck… I took this way too lightly,” he snarled through blood-stained teeth. “Fucking idiot.”
He dove behind a boulder and downed an expensive potion. As warmth spread and the pain dulled, the Terrapin resurfaced. The ice on its head had melted completely.
It inhaled and unleashed its strongest attack. A massive, dragon-like flame breath engulfed the boulders protecting Corvin, turning the stone red-hot.
"Shit!" Corvin growled and shouted, “Firebend!” Redirecting the inferno just enough to deflect it, then hurled another ice bomb.
Flame and frost collided and exploded over the turtle’s body, knocking it violently out of the lake and into a nearby wall.
Corvin switched his title to Combat Veteran and surged forward, halberd in hand. He lunged into the air and descended, cleaving with his axe towards the turtle's neck. Sensing danger in an instant, the Terrapin retreated fully into its shell.
CLANG!
The impact sent bone-rattling vibrations up Corvin’s arms. His hands went numb as the reflected force blasted him backward.
“Holy shit, what was that?!” He cursed, still shaken from the counterattack, if you could call it that. “Its shell can reflect damage? And it's so sturdy? What now? “ He cursed than another idea hit him.
He stored the halberd and took out Coilbreaker. “My dear baby. This is the job for you!” He laughed as he lunged again, this time with Coilbreaker in hand, and struck the shell again.
[Weapon Effect Activated: Brittle Armor]
A fracture appeared, barely visible, and once again, reflected force blasted into Corvin, tossing him away and rebounding some damage towards him.
“Tch. Damnit.…” It looks like melee attacks on the shell won’t do it.
He turned back to his bombs. “Shame to spend them all,” Corvin muttered, shrugging. “Each one’s worth fifteen thousand points.”
He tossed bomb after bomb straight into the opening where the turtle’s head had retreated.
Explosions rocked the chamber as the Terrapin’s HP plummeted. Then suddenly its shell began to glow. Red-hot cracks spread across its surface as burning mana poured out.
Then, with a final roar, the turtle's whole shell ignited.
“Oh shit! It’s going to explode!”
Corvin turned and sprinted, diving into the side tunnel just as white-hot fire swallowed the chamber, melting stone and blasting molten debris in every direction.
Skills Unlocked: Leviathan’s Heart Lv. Max, Summon Erythron Lv. 1, Infernal Cataclysm Lv. 1
Skills Leveled Up: Mana Circuit Lv. 6 > Lv. Max, Fire God’s Vortex Lv. 1 > Lv. Max
Skills Evolved: Fire Resistance Lv. Max > Fire Immunity Lv. 1
Just a reminder, starting next week, posting will go to 3x a week as planned, Tue/Thu/Sat. Writing two stories at the same time is quite time-consuming. Thanks for understanding!
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