4 - level up

The ominous Alberoth Dungeon loomed before Reynold, its reputation as one of the most dreadful places on Earth well-deserved. The stench of death and rot hung heavily in the air, and the eerie silence was broken only by the distant moans of mindless zombies and the clattering of skeletal remains.

Reynold wasted no time; he approached the guards stationed at the entrance. Without waiting, he presented his hunter ID with determination in his eyes. To his dismay, the guards burst into mocking laughter, their scornful comments stinging his ears.

Guard 1: "You're a Level 1? Alberoth is no place for a rookie like you!"

Guard 2: "You'll be zombie food in no time, kid!"

Undeterred, Reynold retorted with a stubborn edge, his voice unwavering. "Why do you care if I die? Why does it matter to you if I died?"

His persistence grated on the guards' nerves, and they quickly grew tired of the argument. With a dismissive wave, they directed him towards the ominous portal leading to Alberoth.

As Reynold approached the portal, his thoughts drifted back to his family, the memory of their loss haunting him. He took a deep breath, steeled himself, and stepped through the portal, entering the realm of darkness and death.

The scene that unfolded before him resembled a nightmarish horror movie. A sprawling graveyard stretched into the distance, shrouded in perpetual twilight with dark, foreboding clouds looming overhead. Chills ran down his spine as he ventured deeper into the eerie landscape.

Soon, he encountered a group of enemies – four zombies and two skeletons, a total of six threats. Reynold knew he had to act swiftly and with precision to survive. He whispered an incantation, activating his "Shadow Concealment" ability, which enveloped him in shadows, rendering him nearly invisible for a brief five seconds. He also noted that the ability would be on cooldown for 14 seconds after use.

Before the enemies could react, Reynold focused his attention on the two menacing skeletons. They posed the greatest threat due to their intelligence and deadly swords. With a burst of shadowy power, he employed "Shadow Grasp," forming tendrils that coiled around the skulls of the skeletons, crushing them into lifeless piles of bones. The bones clattered to the ground with a chilling resonance, and he noted that the ability would be on cooldown for 6 seconds after use.

Reynold's heart raced as he heard the agonizing sound of breaking bones. Fear coursed through him at the thought of being torn apart by the approaching zombies. However, a burning resolve surged within him as he recalled the face of Ronald Duchson, the corrupt hero who had shattered his life.

Fueled by anger and desperation, Reynold unleashed "Shadow Grasp" once more, targeting the two nearest zombies. His shadowy tendrils wrapped around their grotesque heads, and with a forceful crush, he dispatched them. The remaining zombies, alerted by the bone-rattling noise, stumbled toward him.

As the last two zombies closed in, Reynold summoned all his courage. With determination in his eyes, he unleashed "Shadow Grasp" yet again, sending tendrils snaking around their decaying heads. He clenched his teeth, feeling the resistance and grotesque sensations, but he didn't waver. With one final crushing motion, he ended the threat.

Exhausted and trembling, Reynold sat down to catch his breath. He hadn't fully comprehended the extent of his powers or the darkness that resided within him. However, amidst the shadows and the eerie graveyard, a notification from the system brought him to his senses:

Skeletons Defeated: 4 x 2 = 8

Zombies Defeated: 2 x 4 = 8

And then, he saw the words that filled him with both disbelief and hope:

Level Up

Level 2

Tears welled up in Reynold's eyes, unbidden. The memories of his past weaknesses and the relentless bullying he endured seemed to fade into the shadows. For the first time in his life, he felt a glimmer of strength, a spark of hope.

His powers remained:

Shadow Manipulation - Level 1 (Kill 14 more enemies for this power to level up)

Shadow Grasp - Level 1 (Use Grasp 14 more times to level up this power, with a cooldown of 6 seconds after use)

Shadow Concealment - Level 1 (Use Concealment 9 more times to sneak kill the enemies for this power to level up, with a cooldown of 14 seconds after use