Raito grinned. "It's not supposed to."

Then his instincts flared. He sensed movement behind him.

He spun another Mireborn Knight, the second one, was rushing straight at him.

The blade came down fast. Raito ducked low, twisting his body in one smooth motion. His right leg shot back, driving into the knight's chest with explosive force. BAM!

The knight was launched backward, smashing through a frozen pillar.

Raito straightened, his dagger dissolving into particles of light. He stretched out his right hand as a new weapon materialized, a long obsidian blade wrapped in crimson runes.

[Weapon Summoned: Abyssal Edge]

[LP Consumption: Complete]

He smirked. "I didn't want to use this… but fine. Let's end this."

The air vibrated with power as he spoke, his aura flaring violet black.

"No matter what you are, a cursed soul, a dark entity, or a monster made of mana… if this blade cuts you, you won't regenerate."

The Mireborn Knight smiled, raising its sword. "Then try it, human."

The two charged at each other.

BOOM!

Their blades collided, releasing a shockwave that shattered the frozen ground beneath them. Sparks of blue and violet mana erupted as the two forces pushed against each other.

Raito ducked low, twisting his body and slashing upward. The Knight parried, retaliating with a brutal punch aimed at Raito's chest.

CLANG!

Raito blocked it with his elbow, spinning sharply to knee the Knight under the jaw. The blow connected, throwing the Knight back, but it recovered instantly.

Both fighters lunged forward again.

Their swords clashed in a blur, strike after strike, each one faster and heavier than the last.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Ice shattered. Mana rippled. The undead army screamed around them as the battle between Raito and the Mireborn Knight lit up the entire frozen chamber like a storm.

Raito kept clashing swords with the Mireborn Knight, blow after blow, their blades ringing through the frozen ruins like thunder. Sparks burst in the air every time steel met steel.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

They moved in sync, each step, each swing, mirroring each other's killing intent. Raito's breath came heavy, his LP dropping fast with every exchange.

[LP: 230 → 180 → 140]

He gritted his teeth. I can't drag this out. I need to finish this one and head for the boss.

The Mireborn Knight suddenly raised its sword high, dark mana gathering around the blade. Its eyes glowed crimson as it swung down with monstrous force.

Raito stepped sideways, twisting his wrist in perfect timing. His crossblade caught the incoming strike, sliding along the enemy's edge, and then

Slash!

Raito's blade cut through the Knight's wrist cleanly. The severed hand fell to the ground with a heavy thud.

The Mireborn Knight froze, looking at the stump in disbelief. Dark mana poured from the wound like smoke, but the corrupted energy began to disintegrate.

[System Log: Crossblade Effect: Consuming Dark Mana Residue]

The Knight's remaining hand trembled as it tried to regenerate, but the mana was being eaten away, devoured by the weapon's anti curse property. Its scream echoed through the icy chamber.

"Wha what… what is this blade…?" the Knight roared, clutching its arm in agony.

Raito didn't answer. He darted forward, his eyes cold and focused. The Knight raised its sword with its remaining hand to block

but Raito vanished from sight.

In the next instant, he was right in front of it.

SHIIING!

The crossblade pierced the Knight's throat.

Dark mana burst outward, swirling violently before collapsing inward. The Mireborn Knight let out a distorted scream as its body cracked like glass, its illusion shattering, revealing its true form: a mass of pure black mana writhing before dissipating into ash.

[Enemy Defeated]

[LP +250]

Raito exhaled, lowering his weapon. He turned his gaze toward the Lich, still battling the second Knight on the far side of the chamber.

"I'm leaving that one to you," Raito said calmly. "End him."

The Lich turned its skull slightly and nodded, its violet eyes burning brighter.

The second Mireborn Knight glared at Raito. "So… you defeated my comrade." He raised his sword, stepping forward. "Not so fast, I won't let you leave alive!"

Before he could charge, the Lich slammed its staff into the ground. A surge of necrotic energy spread across the ice.

From beneath the frozen floor, dozens of undead hands erupted, grabbing the Knight's legs.

The Knight snarled, slashing at them wildly. Bam! Bam! Each swing shattered bones and skulls, but more arms reached up, dragging him down.

Raito smirked, turning toward the massive staircase that led deeper into the dungeon. "Hasta la vista," he said under his breath.

Then he broke into a sprint.

The echo of his footsteps faded as he ascended the ancient stairway, leaving behind the raging clash of ice and death below.

Raito ran up the frozen staircase, his boots cracking through sheets of ice with every step. The entire passage spiraled upward, glittering with pale frost that shimmered in the dim blue light. His breath came out in clouds.

Damn, even the air's freezing… he thought, glancing around. This place is giving me chills.

Then

[System Notification]

[You have defeated: Mireborn General]

[LP Gained: 14,000]

Raito's eyes widened. "Huh?"

Before he could even react, another notification flashed across his vision, filling the space before his face.

[Skill Obtained: Toxic Vein]

Your blood has fused with chloride energy.

Effects: Increases resistance to poison and venom by 80%. Inflicts toxic damage on melee contact.

"What? What hey! I'm still climbing!" Raito barked, swatting at the glowing text as if he could push it away.

But the system wasn't finished.

[Skill Fusion in Progress…]

[Result: Blood Chloride: Toxic Vein (Unique Variant)]

Passive ability activated.

Your bloodstream now carries a corrosive element. Compatible weapons may gain temporary venom effects.

Raito blinked, breath catching. "You ill fated girl

your blood chloride toxic vein, what even is this?" he muttered. His skin tingled, a faint glow running through the veins in his arms like neon light. His body felt heavier, but alive, stronger.

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