CHAPTER 50: THE VESSELS AND CORRUPTED BEAST

Ding!

[Congratulations to Sam Walker for leveling up to Level 7 of the Apprentice Rank!]

It had taken exactly five [Black Sun Vessels] for Sam to hit level 7.

Ding!

[Congratulations to Sam Walker for leveling up to Level 8 of the Apprentice Rank!]

And after defeating eight in total, he reached level 8.

To be fair, the start hadn’t been easy.

One moment in particular had pushed him near the edge, when three of those things had charged him together out of nowhere.

Their speed and strength were no joke. Dodging them all at once had almost burned through his barrier completely.

But it didn’t take Sam long to find their weakness.

Their bodies were fast, aggressive, and their reactions sharper than most monsters at this level... but their durability was paper-thin.

As long as he landed a clean hit, they’d go down instantly. Even a quick stun opened the perfect window.

[Abyssal Obliteration] couldn’t finish them in one go, but it could stagger them hard enough for Sam to land the killing strike.

[Sovereign Inferno], however, was useless.

He’d tried. The moment his fire hit their twisted bodies, it fizzled out as if they absorbed it, or perhaps rejected it altogether.

Their corrupted flesh didn’t react the same as normal monsters. It was like trying to burn smoke.

Still, Sam wasn’t complaining. These creatures gave a ridiculous amount of experience. Especially for someone like him, whose class demanded more EXP than most others.

Compared to what others had to grind through, this was quick progress.

He was getting closer.

Level 10 didn’t seem so far anymore.

But it also showed just how dangerous this sub-layer really was. Each of these monsters could tear apart most awakeners with a single strike, and yet Sam was cutting them down one after another.

[The Black Sun gazes at you.]

Sam didn’t even flinch. He could feel its attention, high above in the corrupted sky, watching every move he made, every time he stumbled, and every time he stood back up.

It was watching him win.

[Eternal Barrier: 17/50]

He’d been hit a few times. No doubt about that. Especially when multiple enemies came at once.

But no matter what, he’d kept pushing forward.

And then—

[You are getting close to a terrifying presence.]

The panel appeared like a whisper in the back of his mind. A warning.

Sam immediately slowed down. He glanced upward, scanning the path ahead.

The twisted towers and melting buildings of the [Corrupted City] stretched out around him, and far in the distance, the beam of light that marked his destination still shimmered faintly.

Halfway there.

And whatever was waiting ahead... it wasn’t going to be easy.

[You are alone. Good luck.]

The panel vanished.

Then came the sound.

"RRAAAAAGGGHHHHH—!!"

The air shattered.

A nearby building exploded into shards as something massive tore through its walls.

Sam jumped back just in time to see it.

"...What the hell—"

The creature was massive. Ten meters tall, maybe more.

A beast in the shape of a wolf, but its body was made entirely from pulsing black corruption, its muscles wrapped in veins of twisted darkness.

Its face... or what should have been its face... was just a massive, gaping mouth lined with hundreds of jagged teeth.

Five [Black Sun Vessels] followed close behind it, their empty gazes locked on Sam.

This wasn’t a normal spawn.

This was something else.

---

[Corrupted Beast]

[Level: 20]

[Description: The strongest summon of the "Black Sun", a beast that absorbs the corrupted energy of the humans who fall victim to the "Black Sun" to grow stronger.]

[Hell-Mode Analysis: It’s not fair, but it doesn’t matter. Keep going.]

---

Sam didn’t move.

He didn’t panic either.

Instead, he gripped his sword tighter, his expression calm.

The five Vessels moved first, rushing toward him like shadows with bats in hand, but Sam was already prepared.

He didn’t need time to think anymore. He’d studied their patterns. He knew what worked.

"Tendrils of Oblivion."

Dozens of black tendrils burst from his sword, swirling like a storm around him.

The Vessels slammed their weapons against his barrier, but they were immediately wrapped in tendrils before they could strike again.

With a clean, practiced motion, Sam dashed forward and slashed horizontally once.

Five heads fell in perfect unison.

’Once I know how they fight, they’re nothing,’ Sam thought with a grin. ’Just like a game.’

But there was no time to rest.

The [Corrupted Beast] let out a monstrous roar and lunged forward.

Its size didn’t match its speed, it was fast. Too fast.

Sam didn’t try to block.

Instead, he activated [Void Rush], sinking into the ground and reappearing behind it.

His tendrils shot out again, but this time the beast spun midair and slammed its massive tail down.

BOOM!

The ground cracked. The tendrils were destroyed instantly. It didn’t even flinch.

’That won’t work... and Sovereign Inferno’s out too. Fire’s useless here.’

Sam’s eyes narrowed. He stepped back and lifted his hand. Time to go all out.

Three massive dark portals formed above his head, swirling with shadow.

And then—

SNAP!

The sound echoed like a trigger.

Hundreds of shadow bullets rained down from the portals, pelting the corrupted beast over and over.

Its roars echoed through the city as it tried to charge through the onslaught, but the constant impact slowed it down.

Even as it pushed forward, its body was weakening.

Sam met it head-on.

When the beast slashed at him, he parried the blow, sliding backward with the force but remaining on his feet. His sword vibrated in his hands, but he smiled.

’You’re strong,’ Sam thought, ’But I’m not holding back.’

The beast lunged again, and Sam used the momentum to roll beneath its claws, stabbing upward mid-motion and landing a deep gash into its leg.

Black mist poured from the wound.

It snarled, its massive mouth twisting toward him to bite down.

Sam jumped up, spun in midair, and landed on its back.

It bucked wildly, trying to shake him off.

But the portals were still active. More bullets kept raining down, crashing into its spine, forcing its body to lurch forward.

Sam gripped his sword tighter, took a deep breath—And swung.

His blade sliced through the beast’s thick neck, a clean diagonal cut through the corrupted flesh.

The beast let out one final screech, and then collapsed to the ground in a heap of black mist.

Sam landed on his feet and looked down at the creature, chest rising and falling from the effort.

"Phew..."

He raised his sword one last time, and the tendrils extended again, pulling in the core, all five Vessels and the beast itself, and absorbing them into his weapon.

And then...

Ding!

[Congratulations to Sam Walker for leveling up to Level 9 of the Apprentice Rank!]

Ding!

[Congratulations to Sam Walker for leveling up to Level 10 of the Apprentice Rank!]

"Holy shit."

The rush of energy hit him instantly.

These monsters and specifically the [Corrupted Beast] gave so much experience he managed to level up twice in one encounter.

He had done it.

Ding!

[You have reached the maximum level of the Apprentice Rank!]

[You may now go through an advancement task to reach Adept Rank.]