From his arrival at the heart of Duskfall City, Darien had encountered both monsters and humans.

He checked his status window for his experience.

Leveling up to Rank 2 soon was no longer a priority for him, as he wanted to farm as many skill points as he could whilst at Rank 1 alone.

[Knight Rank: Expert 26000/250000]

Apparently, it seemed there was still a long way to go, so Darien wasn't worried.

Slaying a powerful Shrine Monster would add up adequately, even though the experience points would be shared with his partner.

His partner, Vynsera, had retrieved the orb key from Vincent's corpse. The orb key unlocked the inner shrine where the Shrine Monster dwelled.

But before they entered, Vynsera used the same skill she mentioned earlier to lift Vincent's corpse onto the altar.

Darien watched in silence as she, without remorse, sacrificed her brother's body into the glowing runes of the shrine.

Golden light pulsed as his essence was consumed, feeding whatever slumbered within.

When it was done, Vynsera revealed the orb key and fitted it into the hollowed dent before the altar.

In response, the entire shrine trembled, its walls and floor rumbling as massive unseen doors split open, unveiling the darkness within.

The two determined warriors stepped into the shrine, and Darien realized it was like the Nightmare Warden's lair.

However, this one was deeper and different. Even the shrine doors behind them didn't close.

[You have entered: Forsaken Magus' Lair]

As they advanced into the special cursed area, Darien silently brought up his creation panel.

His plan was to make and use only fire-based skills to conceal his truer powers from Vynsera, who had only seen him wield fire spells and a blade.

Darien could sense that Vynsera also had more to her power, something she would not share either. So, he wasn't going to be the first to show his full hand.

With 30,200 Skill Points at his disposal, Darien was free to make skills as he wished.

But he settled for one now, middlingly powerful, yet immensely useful.

[Skill frame established]

[Name: Mythic Pyrolash]

[Type: Offense / Discharge]

[Level: (4-star)]

[Description: Summons chains or vines of fire from anywhere, lashing out and binding targets. Inflicts burning damage, restraint damage, and consuming damage. 30-meter-range. Consumes negligible P.E.]

[Cooldown: 5 sec]

[Cost: 950 SP]

[Are you sure you want to spend 950 Skill Points to create the skill: <Mythic Pyrolash> ???]

'Yes.'

[Successfully created a new skill!]

As Vynsera took the lead, advancing cautiously, Darien remained behind to absorb his newly created skill book.

[You have acquired new skill: <Mythic Pyrolash>]

Vynsera glanced over her shoulder, noticing her partner lagging several steps behind, his focus seemingly returning from somewhere else.

Smirking, she thought, 'Where did all that confidence go now, huh?'

But then, a chilling sound echoed through the shrine from the depths they were yet to explore. It sounded like stones grinding together and acid boiling.

~GRRKK! CHRRRRHHHHH!

Vynsera instantly turned her gaze forward as towering shapes began to form in the emerald mist.

(Venomous Oath Golem)

(HP: 1100)

(Rank 1 Stray!)

THOOM… THRMM… the ground trembled with each step from the golems.

Standing over three meters tall, the five of them were forged from abraded stone, with cracks and veins pulsing with green light.

The sword in Vynsera's hand glowed to life as she prepared to lunge.

But before she could even move, something blazed past her like a fiery chain or serpent, streaking through the air like a flying, wingless wyrm.

~FWOOOSH!

The blazing lash coiled around one of the massive golems, wrapping its molten length around the creature's arms and torso, seizing it with burning restraint.

Then the whip retracted as swiftly as it had ejected, dragging the captured golem back to its source.

Vynsera turned swiftly as the bound golem was hurled toward Darien. The flaming chain released it mid-air, flicking away cinematically in a curl around the lair.

Waiting for the golem was Darien, his silver hair flying and his weapon drawn. He swung diagonally with devastating precision that split the flying golem in two.

~KRAA-SHH!

The core of the monster spilled across the stone floor, with Darien at the center.

-1098!

[You slayed a Rank 1 Monster!]

[You get 950 XP!]

'Great! My sword damage is getting stronger with every minute.'

Even though he knew the <Mythic Pyrolash> had already inflicted severe damage on the golem, Darien was still fulfilled that he had managed to slay it with one slice of his blade.

Greater damage meant quicker fights and faster kills!

As the golem's essence was drawn into Hellheart, he locked eyes with Vynsera, who had witnessed his feat: the fiery whip, his flawless cut, and the effortless poise that followed.

Her expression didn't change much as she only gave him a firm nod before lunging again at the other monsters.

Using perfect coordination of sword parries, quick swings, and Light blasts, Vynsera swiftly slaughtered the Venomous Oath Golems.

One of the monsters attempted to slam its massive fists on the floor to release a shockwave of acidic mist. But before it could, she severed both rocky hands off, green acid oozing out.

Another reached out with a condemned grasp around the warrior, squeezing her slim, feminine body, but within seconds, Vynsera freed herself with a burst of light.

She was quick and practiced, clearly showing that this tier of monsters wasn't unfamiliar to her.

Behind her, Darien was just as efficient in the fight, though he was silently spectating her moves.

He cast another <Mythic Pyrolash> at the last golem, dragging it across the lair toward him and severing it just like the first.

[You slayed a Rank 1 Monster!]

[You get 940 XP!]

'Didn't you say you weren't a hundred percent?' Darien thought as he watched his partner move in contradiction to her earlier words. 'Then why push yourself like this?'

After the last golem crumbled into fragments, Vynsera was visibly panting. But she masked her exhaustion, swallowing it all before turning toward Darien.

"We did a good job," she said blandly. "It seems you're lucky," she added afterward, after seeing the loot his kills dropped.

Darien could clearly see through the fake composure of his partner.

He wondered why exactly killing Vincent was draining. Perhaps she had already been worn before entering the Sanctum?

Whatever it was, it seemed Vynsera was the kind who would never fully admit to anything that made her look weak or inferior before another.

And definitely not before someone she'd just fought beside, a fellow student too.

Darien wasn't judging her, because he could say the same for himself. But such was the conditioning of noble heirs: trained and raised for purpose, taught to embody strength even when on the verge of collapse.

"You'll need this," he said, tossing her the two neutral energy cores from his kills.

He handed them over because none of Vynsera's kills had dropped any life core, and he also had more than enough stored in his Inventory to spare.

Vynsera caught them neatly, her golden eyes narrowing slightly as Darien took the lead this time, while gurgling sounds and the flapping of wings could be heard approaching.

"I didn't ask, but thank you," she said.

Ignoring her words, Darien unleashed <Soulfire Feast> at the flying monsters with glowing, orange eyes.

(Hell Gargoyle)

(HP: 999)

(Rank 1 Stray!)

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