Chapter 42: Into the Abyss: The Fallen Knights' Challenge

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As Gabriel read the email, he struggled to process what he was seeing. He had expected a rigorous, drawn-out interview with the city officials, for which he had meticulously prepared. He had anticipated the questions they might ask and even made detailed notes in advance. But all of his careful planning now seemed pointless.

The email informed him that his application had been approved, and he was instructed to be near the dungeon the following morning. Confusion mingled with excitement as Gabriel realized he would soon explore the mysterious realm he had been eager to enter.

As he pondered the email, an alarm blared loudly, jolting him out of his thoughts. He hurriedly grabbed his communication device and saw an unread message. The message was brief, consisting of only four words: "Good luck, young man." Gabriel had no idea who had sent it, but a strange sense of familiarity made him feel that he knew the sender.

...

Meanwhile, in the Principal's office at Green Leaf Academy, Principal Dalhmer sat with a sly smile, looking at his communication device. He had personally approved Gabriel's application to enter the dungeon, eager to see what surprises the young man would uncover.

Unbeknownst to Gabriel, Principal Dalhmer was the reason he had been able to bypass the lengthy interview process. The principal had seen something special in Gabriel and decided to give him an opportunity.

...

Despite his confusion about the sudden approval, Gabriel chose to focus on preparing for his journey. He restocked his supplies of mana and health potions, even though his role as a healer meant he didn't necessarily need them. He wanted to be ready for anything that might happen.

After placing his order with his supplier and receiving a box full of potions, Gabriel spent the rest of the day meticulously checking the durability of his equipment, ensuring everything was in perfect order.

...

The next morning, Gabriel arrived at the entrance to the mystical realm, his heart pounding with excitement and anticipation. However, his eagerness was quickly met with resistance. The guards blocked his path with their spears.

"Halt!" barked the first guard, while the second moved closer to Gabriel, eyeing him with suspicion. The third guard stood at the ready, poised to react to any sign of trouble.

Unfazed, Gabriel calmly produced his documents and handed them to the fourth guard, who read them carefully before disappearing into the camp.

As Gabriel waited for the guard to return, he took in his surroundings, feeling relaxed and at ease. Unlike the other adventurers around him, who appeared nervous and anxious, Gabriel was in his element.

The gloomy aura emanating from the portal leading to the dungeon was hard to ignore. It was the complete opposite of the vibrant, life-filled realm he had explored during his assessment. Dark energy tentacles surrounded the portal, and Gabriel couldn't shake the feeling that they were connected to the inhabitants within the dungeon.

After a few hours of waiting, the fourth guard returned, holding a mysterious-looking token in her hand. She handed it to Gabriel and signaled for him to follow her, leading him toward the portal.

As they walked, the guard warned Gabriel of the dungeon's dangers. She instructed him to shatter the token if he found himself in trouble beyond his control. With that, she activated the portal, causing it to vibrate and emit an even darker aura. A deep vortex appeared, swirling ominously, signaling that the portal had opened.

...

Gabriel stood before the dark portal, his heart pounding with nervous anticipation. Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself and stepped forward without hesitation, disappearing into the unknown.

On the other side, Gabriel was struck by the stark contrast between the portal's bright light and the dark, foreboding atmosphere that now surrounded him. The air was thick with a sense of danger, sending a chill down his spine.

He found himself standing on a small platform in the middle of an eerie forest. The towering trees cast long, dark shadows, and the only sound was the rustling of leaves in the wind.

As Gabriel took in his surroundings, a sense of unease settled over him. The plants and insects around him were unlike anything he had ever seen—twisted and unnatural, adding to the unsettling atmosphere.

His attention was suddenly drawn to the ground beneath his feet. Rotten branches and leaves covered the forest floor, and ancient, gnarled trees reached into the sky, their twisted limbs casting ominous shadows across the landscape.

"This place looks like something out of a horror movie," Gabriel muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper.

Before he could contemplate the strangeness of his surroundings further, two humanoid monsters emerged from behind a nearby tree. Their black armor was tattered and decayed, revealing glimpses of rotting flesh beneath. They wielded rusty iron swords, their weapons raised high, ready to strike.

With bestial roars, the creatures advanced on Gabriel, weapons poised to attack as soon as he stepped off the platform.

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[Name: Fallen Knight]

[Health Points: 300,000/300,000]

[Mana: 5,000/5,000]

[Physical Attack: 9,000]

[Defense: 1,500]

[Rank: Bronze Stage ★★★★★★★★★★] 

[Skills: Rapid Slash, Dashing Strike, Jumping Slash, Pierce]

[Description: The warriors of the Azeal Empire displayed immense valor in their battle against the relentless undead invasion. However, the war took a terrible toll, and they lost their lives in the attempt to protect their land. Their souls, captured by an unknown force, were unable to find eternal rest. They have since transformed into vengeful and malevolent ghosts, haunting the Valley of the Fallen. These spirits attack any living creature that dares to trespass on their territory, driven by a desire for vengeance.]

...

The dungeon was fraught with danger. Though the Fallen Knights were lower-ranked than the silver monsters, they were nothing to be underestimated. They were 10 ★-Bronze stage warriors, capable of defeating all the monsters and bosses Gabriel had previously encountered. What's more, they possessed a corresponding Orion system that allowed them to adjust their attributes and utilize their professional skills. It was a concept both intriguing and terrifying.

Their intelligence, though diminished, was still formidable, and their attack and skill patterns were rigid but deadly. Despite being easy to predict, their skill sets were potent enough to kill more than 95% of low-level Orions who ventured into the dungeon. These spirits had once been battle-hardened, advanced Orions, and fighting them was like facing veterans against rookies—a recipe for disaster.

Though their strength had been weakened by death, and their intelligence severely diminished, they still posed a considerable challenge. For Orions who weren't fully equipped, it would be a perilous endeavor. A full-health level 25 Orion could be felled with just three or four slashes, leaving no room for error in this fight.

To enter the dungeon, Orions had to be at a high enough level to avoid being insta-killed. They also needed a full set of class equipment and had to form a team with other Orions to fight together. It was too dangerous to venture into the dungeon alone. The Fallen Knights were fully equipped with combat classes, magic spells, and bow snipers. A low-level Orion could easily be killed by a series of combo attacks, leaving them no time to use escape items.

...

Gabriel found himself deep in thought, considering the best strategy to take when facing the formidable Fallen Knights. These ghostly warriors, with their exceptional combat prowess, posed a significant threat, and even his talents might not be enough to defeat them easily.

The primary attribute of these Fallen Knights was their immense strength, making their attacks devastatingly powerful. Each slash they delivered was akin to a minor skill in its own right, and their damage output was nothing short of formidable. Despite Gabriel's high damage output and his impressive amount of HP, he knew that he could not withstand even a few direct slashes from these elite warriors, no matter how much he relied on his defense.

To survive, Gabriel would have to rely on his [Goddess Blessing] and [Blessing of the Ocean] skills, along with his shield's damage reduction capabilities, to prolong the fight. He also had to be cautious of the Fallen Knights' tendency to follow up their attacks with rapid strikes, which could quickly add up to significant damage.

Gabriel knew that engaging the Fallen Knights head-on was a recipe for disaster. Instead, he would need to stay agile and strategic, dodging their attacks while searching for openings to counterattack. With a combination of skill, strategy, and a bit of luck, he might just be able to overcome these fearsome enemies.

...

As Gabriel stepped out of the safety zone, both Fallen Knights sprang into action. Gabriel's eyebrows furrowed as he deftly dodged their initial assault.

"Ah, so this is the Fallen Knight's [Pierce] skill," Gabriel muttered, quickly analyzing the situation. He realized that the skill wasn't difficult to counter as long as his reaction speed was quick enough. Without hesitation, he evaded the second Knight's attack and swiftly moved out of their immediate range.

With a calm and collected demeanor, Gabriel raised his right hand, aiming it at the two Fallen Knights. Holy light began to gather in his palm, forming an energy cannon that illuminated the surrounding area like a beacon.

"I'm afraid playtime is over," Gabriel declared as he cast [Light Hurricane] toward one of the Knights.

...

-29,640 HP (75% Supper Effective)

The holy light engulfed the first Knight, causing it to stagger as its health dropped. Gabriel could see the effectiveness of his attack and knew he had found a weakness in his enemies

. But the battle was far from over.

The second Knight charged at Gabriel with its rusty sword raised, determined to avenge its comrade. Gabriel quickly shifted his stance, preparing for the next wave of attacks. His mind raced as he calculated his next move, knowing that one wrong step could spell disaster.

With a steely resolve, Gabriel braced himself for the fight of his life, knowing that the outcome of this battle would determine his fate in this treacherous realm.