《Keys of Gold》


 Before Beginning

    What does it mean to be lord of hell?


    Some say eternity of pleasure, excess, and depravity of unimaginable scale. But for one of them, it meant something else entirely.


    Boredom


    Unending, mind-numbing work with the singular purpose of enrichment of his pockets. Be it gold, diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and all types of magical items or the most precious of them all. Souls of sentient creatures.


    But even that can be boring after a long period of time. And so all look for entertainment wherever they can be found. Some start word domination on one of the planets which host life. Others join the old war between good and evil, and everything and anything between.


    And here lies the problem as The Lord of Gold had nothing new to do he often played with a golden egg that he found ages ago. It was some kind of puzzle which he was never able to open until today.


    "Fascinating." He spoke in a booming voice as the egg opened and from its core pale white light glowed.


    "Into what time do you wish to open the portal?" After a few moments, he could hear a feminine voice from the egg.


    As he was about to touch the inside of the egg he heard the door to his throne room open. From behind the door, a red-haired demoness entered leading four demons behind her. While she walked he could hear her hooved feet creating noise every time she took a step.


    After he looked at her he knew who she was. She was his high priestess, leader of his cults, and his right hand who followed him from the beginning. She was the first infernal being to fully commit to him to give her all so his will would be brought.


    When she stood before the stairs that lead to the throne she knelt down and the demons that followed her did the same. She made no sound as she kneel before him, as she was awaiting permission to speak.


    Lord before her taped his finger on the throne and she took it as the sign to speak.


    "My lord, it is pleasure to be in your presence. It is my honor to introduce to you these newborn demons that were just formed from Pit." She kept her head down as she spoke but the same could not be said for the demons behind her that were still kneeling but looking directly at their lord.


    Such manners weren''t uncommon for newborns as they weren''t taught properly. It was only natural for them to be brought before the lord immediately after their forming.


    But today was different as one of the demons was familiar to the lord. He still remembered his face even after all this time.


    Four demons were kneeling behind the demoness. One on the far most right was two meters tall thin red skinned creature with four arms and two black wings. Demon next to it stood a one-meter tall imp-like creature with needle-like teeth, four black eyes, and greenish scales on its body. The third demon was three meters tall with a skin of gold, its golden horns glittered with rubies, and its goat eyes glowed dark red. It wore the golden regalia of a greater demon which differentiated it more from other demons as they were naked. Forth demon looked like a combination of centipede and spider if it had bat wings.


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    When the demoness did not hear her lord speak in acknowledgment she raised her horned head and saw her lord looking attentively at the golden object in his left hand. She knew what it was as her lord often played with it but she never saw it open.


    When she was about to ask her lord a question she heard his laughter. "Ha ha ha, so that''s how it was! YOU, step forward!" He spoke in a commanding voice as he cast his gaze on the golden demon.


    Golden demon hurriedly walked past demoness "Yes my lord! How may I be of service?" He spoke in an excited voice.


    Demoness did not understand what was happening so she watched her lord anxiously as this have never happened before. In past, her lord would be excited when a greater demon was formed but never to this extent. She thought about possibilities and she came with a multitude but many she disregarded in heartbeat as at closer examination they became foolish.


    Only different thing was that opened egg, ''That should be it. But what it is?'' She thought as she waited for her lord to do something.


    Then she saw him raising his right arm and touching the egg and she could see how its glow strengthened from his touch. The warm sensation could be felt from the egg as it glowed moved about a meter from the egg and started to grow.


    "So the mystery is finally solved." Her lord spoke and then laughed. His eyes then shifted back to the golden demon who shivered in expectation and her lord raised his hand and aimed his palm at the demon.


    Golden demon''s joy was shattered when it was pierced with mind-tearing pain it started to howl in agony. But it would not end here as the golden demon felt as if its heart was torn by its lord''s arm. Only confusion could be seen in the golden demon''s eyes as well as in the eyes of the remaining demons and demonesses.


    Demoness could not fathom the reason why her lord would kill his new greater demon but dared not to question him as his will was absolute. Then she saw her lord raise his arm while holding the golden demon by the horns and put his left hand on the demon''s face. She could see that her lord put some kind of curse on the demon and even transferred some type of energy into the demon. While holding him her lord took a golden string with nine golden keys on it and put it around the golden demon''s neck. Then he took out ten gold rings each with a different gem and put them on each of the demon''s fingers. Lastly, he put a black and gold book that was bound in chains and stab it into a golden demon''s wound.


    Then he trowed the golden demon into the white glow that formed a portal to an unknown location, at least the demoness did not know where it lead.


    "So that''s how it all began, now just die properly you loot box." She heard her lord speak as he sat back on his throne. She could see the joy in her lord''s eyes and with it, all doubt melted away. If it takes greater demon life to bring her lord joy then she will bring thousand to him every day, for her lord is all that matters.


    While she thought of all the greater demons'' locations she heard her lord speak and so she immediately started to pay attention. "You may wonder why I did what I did. And I would not fault you for it but know in the right storm seeds of the future can be blown to take root in the past. Sacrifices of today shall bring bountiful harvests in ages past and with it, all shall be as it is today. Past shall repeat in a cyclical way as it did all the time.


    "But truth be told I do feel slightly jealous of it as it was a marvelous journey. The first chest taken and opened, first souls harvested and demons created." He sighed at the memories and looked at the dissipating portal longingly.

 Beginning

    "Oh, come on!" Vilkar spoke as he opened another letter informing him of an unpaid electric bill. It was his second one, the next one will come with shutting the electricity in his shabby apartment. The problem was that he run out of money thanks to his most recent purchases.


    As Vilkar stood in his old and rundown one-room apartment, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of disappointment and resignation. The space was small and cramped, with barely enough room for a bed, a table, and a few chairs. The walls were peeling and stained, and the floorboards creaked with every step he took.


    A single window on the far wall allowed a sliver of sunlight to filter in, but even that did little to dispel the gloom. The room was cluttered with old books and half-finished projects, and the air was thick with the smell of dust and neglect.


    The bed was pushed up against one wall, with a threadbare blanket and pillow that had seen better days. A small table sat in the corner, surrounded by a few chairs that were just as worn and faded as the rest of the room.


    Despite the dreariness of the space, Vilkar couldn''t help but feel a sense of nostalgia as he looked around. This was his home, after all, and he had spent countless hours here over the years, working on his projects and dreaming of adventure.


    Vilkar lived in this apartment for about five years, it was given to him by the government as an aid for damages that he received from the dungeons.


    "So it was already five years," Vilkar spoke remembering the faces of his family which he lost when the gates to the dungeons opened and the world was flooded by the monsters.


    Humans were able to survive and thanks to those that awakened their special powers they were able to restart human civilization. And so city-states were created, and most were independent as travel between them was very dangerous.


    Vilkar is living in the city of Malka, a relatively smaller city-state whose main source of income is its permanent dungeon, which is not unheard of but from what Vilkar was able to gather was rare for a city of this scale as most dungeons were a one-time thing which after the defeat of main boss would collapse they are called lesser dungeons as they are smaller in scale. But they posed a great danger if formed in the city because if not destroyed in time dungeon would collapse on its own and would spill monsters into the world.


    Outside of city walls those dungeons spill and the monsters either fight each other if they are natural enemies or join together and create primitive tribes. The best example is orcs which are most prone to that. And if there were too many of them they would travel and attack different city-states.


    On the other hand, there were dwarfs who after their first meeting with humans became friendly and even joined the cities and even created their own.


    Most of them were awakened craftsmen as so they were a great help in rebuilding civilizations. Many of the first magical weapons were created by them.


    Permanent or more commonly known as Greater dungeons on the other hand are multi-layered dungeons with multiple bosses. At the end of each layer is the main boss whose defeat opens a multitude of paths that lead deeper into the dungeon. One of the dangers of Greater Dungeons are wandering bosses which thankfully are rare but once again not unheard of, usually it ends with great treasure for those who defeat it or their deaths which is more common.


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    Dungeons are full of danger but also of opportunities, be it powers or armaments imbued with magical properties, among which most famous are ''Twin Spears of Unmare'' which were obtained by the city champion and leader of the Flaming Spear guild. Not to forget riches, be it gold coins that became a staple of most city-states or diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. Not to forget magic stones that fuel many of the new wonders that were created.


    Flaming Spear is one of the great five guilds with the greatest influence in the city-state, then there are lesser guilds each with their individual power and influence.


    Most of the people who dive into the dungeons are part of factions of Malka. Very few who enter are factionless as they provide for their members'' great benefits. The only condition of acceptance is to be an awakened individual and one of the lesser sub-factions would take them.


    One mustn''t forget the different factions in the city, main three are the Coalition of Guilds which hosts a representative from each guild, Army of the city-state still holds great power but they mainly deal with threats from outside of walls. Then there is Treaders Circle, the gathering of merchants, craftsmen, and businessmen, and lastly, there are Underworld gangs but they are mostly fractured and as such unless provoked they are not big of a problem for the city as a whole.


    Vilkar was one of the fortunate unlucky people who survived the opening of dungeons but did not awaken any powers. Thankfully city-state had granted him a new home and funds for his loss of home and family, and thanks to it he was able to live relatively comfortably. Even if he lived in one room apartment it was still more than many that were homeless or those that died to the monsters.


    "I was able to buy a weapon at least," Vilkar spoke as he held a spear in his hands. It was a basic spear created by an awakened craftsman and imbued with greater durability so it should last for a longer period of time. Vilkar was able to buy this spear at a discount as it was previously used and its owner had died in battle. Even then he sold nearly all that he owned be it furniture or his mobile or pc. "Unfortunately I had no more money for armor or shield, but it is better this way as buying them would mean that I would have no weapon and ordinary forged weapons were very weak against monsters, even guns were effective only on the first few levels of the dungeon." Guns were heavily regulated by the army, and other factions did not fight against them as magical weapons and armor were much better.


    Vilkar thought of getting a normal job which would be much safer but as time passed and being awakened become more common most of the positions that had any perks or benefits required him to be awakened. Him being an ordinary person meant that he could only get low-paying ones.


    He understood that others would have taken them so they could continue to live with a roof over their heads and food before their mouths but Vilkar wanted more. He did not want to live in one room apartment, he did not want to eat cheap rations. Vilkar desired so much more from life and he will be damaged if he would not get it, so he decided to take fate into his own hands and enter the dungeons to find his riches.


    While people could not simply walk into the dungeon in Malka city-state anyone could apply to be a dungeon explorer as it was the city''s belief that anyone should be given an opportunity. But Vilkar knew that very few unawakened would survive their first dive into the dungeon he still held hope as some could awaken inside if they would defeat the strong monster.


    For some, it was the only option, to take the power of a fallen monster for their own when they weren''t granted their own. There was a difference between the naturally awakened and those who took their powers. Naturally awakened were no different from normal humans only difference was their abilities, as such by some it was viewed as superior for they were either chosen or of a higher breed than others.


    Those who needed to earn their powers were split into two categories. People with enough money to employ others awakened to nearly kill the monster and let the unawakened deal last strike to kill it.


    Then there were those without such a possibility and so they either gave up or went into the dungeon on their own most of the time dying to monsters.


    But even then not every monster would lead to awakening, only a few special ones would grant it making it all more dangerous.

 Getting the licence

    Vilkar made his way to the door and pushed it open, the hinges creaking in protest. He descended the narrow, dimly-lit stairway, the sound of his footsteps echoing through the empty corridors. As he made his way down, he passed a few other apartments, their doors shut tight and their windows shuttered.


    Finally, he reached the ground floor, where a musty odor and dim lighting greeted him. Vilkar made his way towards the entrance, his steps quickening with anticipation. He couldn''t wait to step out into the fresh air and see what the day had in store for him.


    As he pushed open the door, sunlight flooded his vision, momentarily blinding him. Vilkar blinked several times before his eyes adjusted, taking in the scene before him. The street outside was bustling with people, vendors hawking their wares, and the occasional car rumbling past.


    Because of his lack of money and the only remaining funds he had are for his dungeon explorer license, and so he was forced to walk to the dungeon management association.


    The apartment complex in which he lived was located on the outskirts of the city while the association was located at the center of the commerce district.


    Vilkar walked through the bustling streets of Malka, his eyes scanning the surroundings with a mix of excitement and apprehension. The city had once been a beacon of hope for humanity, but now it was one of the last bastions of civilization in a world overrun by monsters.


    While he walked through the streets he watched as people would wait at the bus stations, and others that were either entering or exiting busses on their way to or from the work, or somewhere else entirely.


    As he made his way through the crowds, Vilkar couldn''t help but marvel at the city''s impressive architecture. The buildings were a blend of Victorian-era style and more modern designs, a testament to Malka''s rich history.


    It was still early in the morning and so he could see few students which remained with him as his own education was cut short because of dungeons and when things calmed down it was already two years and when he tried things changed dramatically from his financial position to his social one.


    Much of the subject''s core changed to be more practical in its nature than theoretical. Some were cut entirely and replaced with basic survival courses.


    In some city-states joining the army became mandatory but for Malka, it did not pass as other factions that raised to the power preferred for the people to join them instead and so started a stalemate between three major factions.


    Vilkar thought of his future and the possibilities that it could contain. He thought of what he would do if he would survive his visit to the dungeon. His goal was to accumulate power and wealth to live carefreely and to do everything his heart wants.


    ''I could sell treasures to the merchants, and materials to the craftsman. But if I could get my hands on the magic stones I could make a lot as they are easily sold.'' Vilkar thought as he walked through the streets.


    He passed by the towering headquarters of the Coalition of Guilds, one of the powerful factions that ruled the city. The guilds and merchant circles were the backbone of Malka''s economy, and their influence was felt everywhere.


    Continuing down the street, Vilkar noticed the Merchant Circle''s emblem emblazoned on a nearby storefront.


    As he turned a corner, Vilkar found himself in a seedier part of the city. Here, the influence of the government and the underworld was more apparent. He could hear the sounds of raucous taverns and the occasional scream in the distance which the next moment stopped.


    It took him around two hours until he got to the building. As Vilkar approached the three-story building that served as the place to get his explorer''s license, he looked up at the facade of the building with anticipation. The building was made of sturdy stone material and had a grand appearance that commanded respect.


    The front entrance of the building was made of heavy wood and had a polished brass plate with the words "Explorer''s Guild" engraved on it. Above the entrance, Vilkar could see a carved stone emblem of a compass rose, which he assumed was the symbol of the guild.


    As he entered the building, Vilkar found himself in a spacious, well-lit lobby with marble floors and high ceilings. The walls were adorned with large oil paintings depicting adventurers in action, as well as maps and other artifacts of exploration.


    In the center of the lobby, Vilkar could see a large wooden desk with several clerks behind it, who were busy attending to various customers. The clerks wore formal attire and seemed to be well-versed in the business of licensing and regulating adventurers.


    Vilkar noticed that the lobby was bustling with activity, with adventurers of all kinds filling the space. Some were dressed in rugged leather armor, while others wore finely tailored suits. The air was filled with the chatter of people exchanging stories of their past exploits and discussing their plans for the future.


    As Vilkar made his way toward the front desk, he noticed several doors leading to other parts of the building, likely used for training or storage. He could hear the sound of clanging metal and shouting coming from behind one of the doors, indicating that some kind of combat training was taking place.


    Overall, Vilkar saw a well-organized and bustling hub of activity, dedicated to the art and science of exploration. The building exuded a sense of professionalism and expertise, which gave Vilkar confidence that he was in the right place to pursue his dreams of adventure.


    After he found a line for the license for new dungeon explorers he walked towards it and waited for his turn. Compared to other lines this was the longest as every day more and more people are trying their luck in the dungeon, most of them are freshly awakened individuals that are hyped for the possibility of making fortune and fame.


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    Dungeons were ideal for those people as it was amazing place for training and growing one''s skill and abilities. While beyond the wall was also full of monsters there was much more of unknown danger and much less reward.


    It was five years before the first dungeons appeared and the Great Dungeon of Malka appeared one year after and so people had four years of experience. This made the first few layers relatively safe for exploration as the danger inside was known to the general public.


    "Good day sir, do you wish for an explorer''s license?" Vilkar heard the receptionist speak in a pleasant tone.


    Getting the license was an easy process as he only needed to write his information and pay a fee for creating his certificate as it was magically enhanced so it could not be falsified.


    When he get to the point of him not being awakened he could see the receptionist''s eyes were filled with pity. He ignored it and waited for his certificate.


    When the process finished he took his card of rooky explorer and left the building. As he walked to the dungeon he remembered those eyes of a receptionist. He hated being pitied as if he was somehow less than others only because he was not awakened. It reminded him of a time when he walked home from buying groceries he saw a group of awakened people harassing a homeless man. It made him understand the disparity of the world and how this awakening made it only more obvious.


    Vilkar shook his head and walked until he got to the dungeon, when he got to the blockade he was allowed to pass after he showed his certification.


    As Vilkar approached the dungeon, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of excitement mixed with trepidation. The dungeon was located in the middle of Malka and was known to be one of the most challenging and dangerous places to explore.


    What stood before him was a pyramid that was two hundred meters tall. At the entrance of the dungeon, Vilkar saw two large statues on either side of the door, both of which were made of dark, polished stone material. The statues depicted fearsome beasts with wings, sharp claws, and fierce expressions, which seemed to be guarding the entrance to the dungeon.


    As Vilkar walked closer to the statues, he noticed intricate carvings and etchings covering the stone surface. The carvings depicted scenes of battles and victories, as well as symbols that Vilkar couldn''t recognize, but that seemed to hold great significance.


    The entrance to the dungeon itself was a large doorway with a stone arch that rose high above Vilkar''s head. The archway was decorated with glowing runes and symbols that pulsed with otherworldly energy.


    As he walked he got a few weird stares as comparably to others he was the only one wearing normal clothes.


    Everyone else had some type of armor. But then armor had no meaning if one doesn''t get hit. But he still liked to wear some clothes and had no interest to fight in his underwear with a pot on his head.


    As Vilkar stepped through the archway, he found himself in a large antechamber with walls made of smooth, polished stone. The room was dimly lit, with torches flickering on the walls and casting eerie shadows.


    In the center of the room, Vilkar saw a circular platform made of a black, glassy material that seemed to absorb all light around it. The platform was surrounded by a circular moat filled with water that shimmered with an iridescent glow.


    Beyond the platform, Vilkar could see a dimly lit corridor leading deeper into the dungeon, its walls covered in strange symbols and markings. The corridor seemed to stretch on for miles, disappearing into the darkness.


    There he looked around and he could see a multitude of possible doorways that he could take. From the information that he gathered beforehand, it did not matter which path he would take as all led to the same location, that is the first layer. It was exceedingly rare for people to meet even if there were a hundred people that entered at the same time. While it was rare there were still instances when random groups would meet, which sometimes lead to greater success or fighting.


    There were stories of groups of people from the underworld that were targeting other groups intentionally, but such rumors were often fake and aimed to spread fear of the underworld as no one knew how it worked to take advantage.


    As Vilkar stepped into the dark corridor of the dungeon, he could feel a chill run down his spine. The air was cold and damp, and the only light came from the flickering torch he held in his hand.


    The walls of the corridor were made of rough stone, with occasional patches of moss growing in the cracks. The floor was uneven and slippery, making each step treacherous.


    Vilkar could hear the sound of dripping water echoing off the walls, and the faint whispers of unknown voices seemed to carry on the drafty air. He couldn''t tell if the sounds were coming from his imagination or from something deeper within the dungeon.


    As Vilkar made his way down the corridor, he could see small alcoves and niches in the walls, some of which were torches and old empty urns. Others held the remains of past explorers, their bones picked clean by the denizens of the dungeon.


    Vilkar noticed that the symbols and carvings on the walls seemed to become more intricate and otherworldly the deeper he went into the dungeon. They were etched with an unnatural precision and seemed to glow with a faint, eerie light.


    As he continued down the corridor, Vilkar could hear the distant sound of movement and scraping, which he assumed was the sound of the dungeon''s inhabitants. He gripped his spear tightly and quickened his pace.


    Overall, Vilkar saw a treacherous and foreboding place, filled with mystery and danger. The darkness and strange sounds seemed to play tricks on his mind, and he couldn''t shake the feeling that something was watching him from the shadows.


    When the walls changed to those made of bricks he knew that now he is officially in the danger zone of the dungeon.


    Vilkar walked slowly while trying to make as little sound as possible. Soon he got to the part where the corridor started to split into three possible directions. He could continue forward or could turn right or left. He knew that it did not matter as all the paths would, in the end, lead to the boss but loot could be varied depending on which path he would take. One of the paths could be even more dangerous than the others but he had no way of differentiating them.


    It mattered little which he would take for such splitting would happen more often as he got deeper.


    Vilkar choose to go left and started to walk slightly faster while still trying to be silent. Sone, he could hear clicking noises and soon he was able to see the source of it.


    As Vilkar made his way down the dark corridor, he noticed a faint glimmer of light reflecting off something up ahead. He quickened his pace, his heart pounding with excitement and fear, wondering what he might find.


    As he got closer, he could see the dim outline of a skeleton lying on the ground. The bones were picked clean, with only scraps of rotted clothing clinging to the brittle frame.


    Vilkar approached the skeleton cautiously, his torch casting flickering shadows on the walls. He couldn''t help but wonder what had happened to the unfortunate explorer who had met their end in this place.


    As he knelt down to examine the bones, Vilkar noticed something strange. The bones had been arranged in an odd pattern, almost as if they had been deliberately placed there.


    He studied the bones for a few moments, trying to make sense of the strange arrangement, when suddenly he heard a sound behind him. He whirled around, his torch held high, but there was nothing there. Only the sound of his own breathing and the faint whispers of the dungeon echoed back at him.


    Vilkar couldn''t shake the feeling that he was being watched, and he quickly gathered his things and made his way deeper into the dungeon. The skeleton would remain a mystery, another warning of the dangers lurking within the dungeon''s dark and treacherous corridors.


    As Vilkar continued down the dark corridor, his torch casting flickering shadows on the rough stone walls, he noticed something up ahead that caught his eye. It was the faint outline of a skeleton standing upright, but this time it was facing away from him.

 Skeletons

    Vilkar froze as he saw the skeleton as it was his first time seeing a monster. But after he stepped back and a few short breaths he calmed himself and started to prepare himself for the conflict that will come next. While he crept up behind the skeleton he was observing its head movements and looked for any signs that his presence was spotted. While the skeleton was turned away from him he did not know how it saw the world, as it had no eyes and so he wondered if it watched through its eyesockets or simply perceived the world in all directions to a certain extent.


    As he got closer, he could see the skeleton more closely, its empty eye sockets staring off into the distance. Vilkar''s heart pounded in his chest as he crept up behind the skeleton, careful not to make any noise that might give away his position.


    When he was close enough, Vilkar raised his spear and plunged it into the skull of the standing skeleton. The bone gave way with a sickening crack, and the skeleton collapsed to the ground in a heap of bones and rotted clothing.


    Vilkar stood there for a moment, catching his breath and making sure there were no other threats in the area. He couldn''t help but feel a sense of relief and triumph at having successfully taken down the skeleton.


    With a sense of renewed determination.


    After the body of the skeleton fell apart even its skull started to crumble and fell to the ground until only dust and a few pieces of bone remained in its place, but then he could see something shiny in the skeleton dust. Vilkar used the bottom of his spear to part dust so he could see what it was. There he found a single gold coin laying on the ground.


    When he saw it he yelled, "Hell yeah!" Vilkar was ecstatic as getting a gold coin from the skeleton was very rare and not to say from his very first skeleton. Then he took the coin into his hand and looked it over. He could see an image of a goat head on the coin, Vilkar wondered what the imagery meant as well as where those gold coins came from.


    Vilkar continued on his way through the dark corridors of the dungeon, his spear at the ready. He knew that there would be many more challenges and dangers to come, but he was ready to face them head-on.


    While walking he mostly saw the same corridor with an occasional torch mounted on the wall for lighting, he tried to take it down but even with all his strength he was unsuccessful. Another thing that he was able to find was an occasional barrel, truth be told when he saw the barrel for the first time he became curious as in the games they would drop some coins or loot. Unfortunately for him, they were either empty or full of rotten fruit.


    It would be strange to find fresh fruit in random barrels in dungeons. It took a few more minutes but he was able to hear a clicking noise once again, so Vilkar prepared himself for another fight.


    Soon he met another skeleton that looked the same as the previous one. A naked skeleton holding a rusted dagger, but one difference was that this one was facing him rather than a wall. He thought of what he should do and if he was spotted. Walking towards him would give away his position, but it was the only way to get closer to the skeleton.


    And so he slowly walked towards his enemy but soon come to the realization that the skeleton was still standing at his original place. Only when he got to be about ten meters before his skeleton moved and started to walk at him.


    ''Aha, so skeleton sees through its eyesockets but also only to a certain extend.'' Vilkar thought as he saw the skeleton walk somewhat unsteadily.


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    Vilkar hurriedly got to his stance and prepared for the skeleton to get into striking distance of his spear. He thought of charging the skeleton but then he decided to be more careful. With the skeletons'' slow pace, it gave Vilkar few moments to observe the skeletons'' movements. After the skeleton got close enough in Vilkars mind he stabbed in the direction of the skeleton''s head. While trying to stab the skeleton with his spear he thought that it would be the same as last time. But to his surprise skeleton raised its hand surprisingly fast and was able to block his attack.


    he saw a skeleton shambling towards him, its empty eye sockets fixed on him. Vilkar didn''t waste any time - he lunged forward with his spear, aiming for the skeleton''s skull.


    But the skeleton was quick, dodging out of the way at the last second and striking out with its bony fists. Vilkar managed to dodge the first blow, but the second one caught him off guard, sending him staggering backward.


    The two circled each other warily, Vilkar watching for any sign of movement from the skeleton. Suddenly, it lunged forward, its bony fingers reaching for Vilkar''s throat. He managed to dodge out of the way, but the momentum of the attack carried the skeleton forward, causing it to stumble and lose its balance.


    Seizing the opportunity, Vilkar lunged forward with his spear again, this time striking true and piercing the skeleton''s skull. It let out a spine-chilling wail as it crumbled to the ground in a heap of bones.


    Vilkar stood there for a moment, catching his breath and making sure there were no other threats in the area. The fight had been intense, but he was relieved to have emerged victorious.


    When its skull shattered and fell apart no gold coin could be found in its place or anywhere on the ground.


    "Well, that is understandable as most of the time those skeletons give nothing other than bones and a rusted dagger that is already breaking. Well, I could use bones for bone armor but I don''t know how effective it would be. And skeleton dust could be used by those who awakened into those wizard roles but they are very common items and so the price is nearly nothing.


    "Maybe bone weapons could be fashioned from the remains of the skeleton but I have no idea how to do it or the skills to make it actually viable. Maybe craftsmen could use them but as they are on the first layer they have no real value, only in large quantities.


    "Hopefully I will enter skeleton village soon. There I could be able to find some actual treasure, and with enough money, I should be able to employ awakened explorers to help me with the boss of the layer. As next layer is zombie town with much more treasure."


    Vilkar stopped daydreaming and started to travel once again. On his way, he met a few more skeletons which he was able to kill in one strike if they were turned away from him and two if not.


    After some time he got relatively confident with his skill in stabbing the skeletons, but he knew that if he met more than one he would be in much more danger.


    While walking he took a few more turns and even a few dead ends, from which he needed to backtrack. Right now he was in one of them and before him, he turned around just in time to see a swirling vortex of golden light forming behind him, and before he could react, a wounded golden demon was expelled from the portal and landed on the ground with a loud thud.


    Vilkar stepped back in shock, his spear at the ready, unsure of what to do. The golden demon lay there for a moment, panting heavily and clutching at its wounds. Its golden armor was cracked and dented, and it looked as though it had been in a fierce battle.


    As Vilkar watched, the golden demon struggled to its feet, swaying unsteadily. It looked up at Vilkar with glowing red eyes, and Vilkar felt a chill run down his spine. He had heard stories of demons that could control the minds of humans, and he didn''t want to take any chances.


    But to his surprise, the golden demon didn''t attack. Instead, it staggered over to him and collapsed at his feet, it''s breathing shallow and labored. Vilkar hesitated for a moment, then cautiously knelt down to examine the demon''s wounds.


    He saw that its armor had been pierced in several places, and blood was seeping out from underneath.


    "M-My.. l..lo..lord... w-why?" It was spoken which spooked Vilkar as only high-ranking monsters could speak.


    Then Vilkar and the demon interlocked their eyes and he could see as the demons started to crawl toward him.


    "I ne-need... to... heal... give... me... your... soul..." It spoke in a rugged way and Vilkar thought of running away but behind him was a dead end. And as he saw that demon was heavily injured he raised his spear and stabbed the demon in its eyes as they looked to be his weak spot.

 Awaking

    Vilkar raised his spear and stabbed the demon in its eye. After the stab, he could hear a demon roar from pain, and it shook Vilkar to the core as he became weak in his legs. But he refocused himself and steeled his mind with the thought of what would happen if he did not kill the demon. Thoughts of having his soul taken by the demon would not be a pleasant experience.


    When he pulled out his spear he could see that the tip became glowing red as if put in a furnace. But Vilkar did not pay it much attention as repeatedly stabbed the demon into its eyes.


    With every stab, Vilkars spear became more and more melted until he could see chunks of glowing metal fall on the ground as he pulled the spear out of the demon''s eyes. When those chunks hit the ground they splattered like liquid water, and the overall length of the spear decreased.


    In a few moments, Vilkar realized that the spear had lost its blade and now is stabbing the demon with his handle only, but even then he did not stop as he needed to end the life of the demon.


    This whole situation was beyond Vilkars wildest dreams and imagination for the first layer should host only skeletons and maybe one zombie if he was unlucky as they are monsters of the next layer.


    To have any type of demon on the first layer was unheard of, not to mention it being this big. Thankfully the demon was already injured which also baffled Vilkar as to what could injure such a creature.


    While he thought of the possibility that the demon was always injured he never heard anything like it happening before. Of course, not all new information is shared as top guilds tend to keep them as their secrets to give them an edge but even then there are often leaks and rumors but he never hear anything like it before.


    Vilkar feared that whatever injured the demon would soon show up and he did not think it would spare him, and why would it when it was able to hurt this demon to such an extent? There was a possibility that whatever attacked this demon was killed by it and not it was simply trying to heal itself but somehow Vilkar did not think it was correct as its claws were clean and not marked by the blood of its victim, there wasn''t any other blood on the demon except its own.


    When only half of the spear remained did demon stopped moving and Vilkar could sigh with relief and sit on the ground from physical and mental exhaustion.


    After a few moments his rest was cut short as he felt unbearable heat on his body, and when he opened his eyes he could see some kind of golden mist left the demon and was enveloping his body. The golden mist was infusing into his skin. Sensation on his skin felt as if burning hot needles were stabbing into every part of his body.


    Vilkar lay on the ground as he screamed from the pain that left his skin and now seared his flesh from the inside. He felt his flesh melt until it became charcoal and when he was unable to move his muscles softened and he regained sensation in his body.


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    But relief was short-lived as the pain shifted into his bones, current pain was much stranger as he did not know how could they hurt so much. When even that pain stopped he thought that it was done but then somehow he felt his soul scream from agony.


    Pain, the unbearable agony of mind-shattering, life-ending proportions from which all desired sweet relief of death. But no end came as the pain did not stop until it was all that he could feel and think about.


    After an unknown amount of time, he could feel his senses returning, pain leaving his body made his body be able to pass out and so it did. He fell blissful as he no longer felt the pain.


    When his mind came back on he looked around himself in surprise, nothing changed except the body of the demon which turned to ash leaving behind its items.


    While he watched the pile of ash that was the golden demon he realized what had happened to him. He read that when a person killed a monster that granted awakening they would experience bodily change that could bring great pain to the individual.


    Vilkar was overcome with overwhelming joy as he started to laugh. "I did it! I became awakened!" he could not contain his excitement as he started to inspect and touch every part of his body looking for any changes.


    Immediately he found that his nails became much harder and their color became pitch black, they even grew slightly and became pointy, "I have claws!" Vilkar spoke in surpise.


    Another change was his teeth which became jagged and much sharper. Vilkar laughed at the image of himself smiling with a mouth full of sharp and pointy teeth scaring children and warriors alike.


    His tongue surprised him as its overall length became three times of what it was before, and not to mention the end of the tongue became forked like that of a snake.


    Vilkar could also feel that his vision was much sharper and the dark corridors of the dungeon became more bright but for now, he had no mirror to see how his eyes changed. So he started to inspect his strength and durability.


    When he tried to jump, kick or punch he could feel that he is incomparably stronger than before, exactly how much he wasn''t sure but he could feel the difference.


    When he finished he looked at his hands and realized that he could control magic in his body, then he thought how the demon must have magical abilities that he should have inherited as most of the magic must be learned from a grimoire or teacher, but depending on the person some people could use some magic innately. Such information should be known to him as when someone awakened they would gain that knowledge automatically.


    Vilkar closed his eyes and tried to recall such knowledge, and after a moment such knowledge started to flood into his mind.


    When he opened his eyes he raised his hand and spread his fingers and willed for fire to appear. A dark red flame appeared over his palm, he could feel the scorching heat of the flame but somehow it was unpleasant for him.


    It wasn''t the original flame that any wizard could cast or spirit flame that necromancers used, nor holy fire that paladins and clerics employed, it was Hellfire. The flame was used only by devils or their cultists as such flames were deadly to all other creatures as they burned not only the body but the soul as well.


    With such a boon his overall strength had raised significantly, but it was not all that he could do. Once every twenty-four hours he could use something that was called Touch of Midas. It was a curse that would turn anything that he would touch into gold.


    Vilkar laughed as he yelled, "I will be rich!"

 Demons loot

    When he calmed himself Vilkar looked over the pile of ash that was a golden demon, he was truly thankful that he was able to awaken and that the demon was already wounded to such an extent as he knew that if it would be in its full power he would stand no chance.


    As he stood over the ashes he saw golden clothing and different accessories of the demon, he could see ten rings every with a different gem that lay in the ash, a set of nine golden keys, and a book.


    "A book? Is it possible that such a book could be..." Vilkar crouched down and took the book into his hand and sure enough, it was a book of magic or also known as a grimoire.


    The grimoire was bound in dark leather, and its pages were covered in strange symbols and sigils that seemed to shift and writhe as Vilkar approached. As he drew closer, he could feel an almost palpable sense of malevolent energy emanating from the book.


    Despite his better judgment, Vilkar found himself drawn to the grimoire. He approached it cautiously, his spear at the ready, and reached out to touch the dark leather cover. As his fingers brushed against it, he felt a jolt of dark energy course through his body, and he instinctively pulled his hand back.


    But the grimoire seemed to call to him, its pages seeming to turn of their own accord. Vilkar hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and reached out again, determined to uncover its secrets.


    As he opened the grimoire, he saw that its pages were filled with arcane incantations and dark rituals. He couldn''t understand the language in which they were written, but he could feel their power thrumming through the air.


    Vilkar felt a moment of fear, knowing that the power contained within the grimoire was dangerous and corrupting. But he also felt a sense of fascination and curiosity, and he couldn''t resist the urge to study its pages.


    "Demonic grimoire!" He accidentally yelled, fortunately, there was no one else as what he held was extremely precious as all grimoires are but demonic ones are filled with chaos magic one of least understood of all schools of magic. Very few of chaos books were found and everyone was a treasure trow of magical spells, rituals, and alchemical recipes.


    Another reason why they were so precious was that even grimoires were not all equal some were of lower quality and some were of higher. While all demonic were of higher quality as the overall strength of demons was naturally much superior to most of the monsters.


    Vilkar did not think even for a second about selling such a treasure and decided to bind the grimoire to himself, which was another reason why chaos grimoires were so rare. While most grimoires would be bound to the user after their deaths the book would remain and someone else could take it for their own.


    Unfortunately for others, chaos books and holy books could be bound only to one master and if they would die the book would be destroyed, and as such chaos books and holy books need to be given and can''t be taken.


    Vilkar was surprised that the book remained after the golden demon''s death as if it would belong to it it should also turn to ash. So he knew that the book did not belong to the demon, he thought of the possibility that the demon had stolen it and that was the reason that he was wounded or the demon was currier for the grimoire.


    He put the grimoire on the ground took remaining of the spear into his hand and lightly stabbed it into his left palm. When he saw that blood started to flow from the wound he put his palm on the grimoire and willed his magic to enter the book.


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    After a few seconds, he felt a connection forming with the grimoire. When the connection stabilized itself he opened the book and was able to read its content. But for now, he put the book aside as reading and learning from the grimoire needed to wait for when he would get out of the dungeon as it could be draining.


    Then he took those nine golden keys that hung on golden neckless. To his surprise when he touched the neckless it started to shrink until it became a golden circle about twenty centimeters in diameter with nine golden keys hanging from it unchanged.


    Vilkar thought of what use those keys could have and the only possibility that he could think of was dungeon chests that could sometimes be found in the dungeon layers as boss rewards or hidden in secret rooms with other treasure.


    Wooden Dungeon Chest contained from hundred to two hundred gold coins and one weapon or piece of armor, and such they should be quite valuable but whoever who found the chest needs a key to open it as all the chests are locked. Chest keys on the other hand are so much more precious as they are so much more rare that the price for even one key could be around five hundred to thousand gold coins as they are one use only.


    And so it was often not worth the trouble, only higher tier chests were used for their content was much more valuable. Some people still used those keys even on the wooden chests as having dungeon keys could be dangerous if gangs from the underworld would found out.


    And here Vilkar had nine of them, but after careful examination, he came to the conclusion that they are slightly different but he would still try them when he would get a chance.


    The next thing that he inspected was a set of ten golden rings with different gems. When he took them into his hands he could feel magical power from them, "They are enchanted?" Vilkar was surprised as such rings could fetch a high price but he would need to have them inspected.


    One of the rings caught his eye, however. Golden ring with a gem that looked like snake eye, as that was unique among the rings. Vilkar then decided to wear all of them as they were enchanted they should help him somehow. When he will leave the dungeon he could have them inspected for their specific enchantment.


    When he started to put them on he was filled with a warm sensation as enchantments started to work. After he put on the ring with the eye however his mind was once again flooded with the information.


    The golden ring with an eye for the gem was an evil eye ring, capable of inspecting items and granting said information to the wearer, "That is amazing..." Vilkar said as what he held was another treasure that would anyone kill for.


    "Wait, with this ring I can find out what these items are!" he hurriedly spoke as he took off the remaining rings and inspected them one by one.


    Firstly he took the golden ring with the ruby when he touched the ring and willed for evil eye ring to inspect it he felt as information entered his mind. It was a ring with protection against dark and blood magic.


    "It has protection magic!" Vilkar was getting slowly numb to the surprises as protection magic would weaken any attack from said school of magic against the wearer. Such enchantments were always south after as their usefulness was immeasurable.


    The second one was a ring with amethyst with the enchantment of protection against mind control attacks.


    Mental control attacks were a school of the magic of charms and mind control, which were very dangerous in the wrong hands.


    The third one was a ring with tanzanite with the enchantment of protection against psychic attacks.


    Psychic attacks were used mostly by psionics and were dangerous as it was hard to fight against.


    The fourth one was a ring with aquamarine with the enchantment of protection against ice attacks.


    Ice attacks are self-explanatory.


    The fifth one was a ring with topaz with the enchantment of passive healing.


    "Hahaha..." Vilkar just laughed as he held the ring. A passive healing ring was beyond precious, who wouldn''t want to get healed all the time, even if it was not fast?


    ''That could be the reason that golden demon could take so many attacks to its brain through eyes.'' Vilkar wondered.


    The sixth one was a ring with a diamond with the enchantment of protection against physical attacks.


    Amazing enchantment for those that did not wear a lot of armor or would tank as there was never enough armor.

 More demons loot

    The seventh one was a ring with an emerald with the enchantment of protection against earth attacks.


    "Well, I presume it will work if someone will throw a pile of dirt at me," Vilkar said as chuckled.


    The eighth one was a ring with a moonstone with the enchantment of protection against curse attacks.


    Curses are one of the most deadly schools of magic there is as they can debuff enemies or make them experience the most agonizing of pains, curses can be put on items which are then picked up by an unknowing person who can''t feel magic and it will lead to the tragedy of that person or their entire community depending on type and strength of said curse.


    The night one was a ring with sapphire with the enchantment of lie detection.


    "Sure why not another world-breaking one..." Vilkar spoke in a tired voice but inside he was still overjoyed.


    "Well, that''s all the ring as the tenth one is the evil eye which can inspect items, and now to the keys..." After Vilkar put the rings on his fingers he took out those nine rings and inspected them with an evil eye.


    They were Nine Golden Keys of Hell, a relic item, "RELIC!!" Vilkar yelled in surprise as relics were unique items of unfathomable powers. Every relic is one of its kind, they are of the highest tier, Twin Spear the guild leader of Flaming Spear uses was also a relic.


    Vilkar hurriedly hid the keys as if someone would want to steal them. Only when they were safely hidden in his clothes he relaxed.


    With Nine Golden Keys of Hell, he would be able to open the dungeon chest not once but as many times as he want. It was a treasure beyond treasures. He could buy wooden chests for fifty gold coins a piece and still made a profit on every purchase.


    When he finally calmed down he hesitated as he thought of inspecting the grimoire. For some reason, he thought that even that would not be a normal chaos book.


    But finally, he was defeated by his curiosity and took the grimoire into his hands and used evil eye.


    At this point, Vilkar simply accepted that what he held wasn''t Demon Grimoire but Devil Grimoire, "Indeed it is not legendary demon grimoire but something even more valuable, something that is beyond imaginable."


    Devils are lords of demons, rulers of their own Hells. No human had ever quarried devil grimoire, at least to Vilkar''s knowledge. To have a grimoire of the devil''s origin would bring Vilkar unknown dangers but also opportunities.


    Vilkar hurriedly opened the grimoire and looked at the content and sure enough, he found certain rituals that he did not think would be in the demon''s grimoire. There was a ritual for the creation of demons, and even a grand ritual of Hell creation.


    Vilkar thought of the path that he would take with this book and all that awaited him on such a path. Was he even willing to take such a path from which there would be no return? "Yes, whatever it takes." With newfound purpose, he was prepared to take such a road to damnation especially if it was marbled with gold and power.


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    He would be a fool not to take it, who would disregard such power, who would step down from such destiny. It was his right to become something much greater.


    Vilkar calmed himself once again as he had a long round ahead and it was not wise to get lost in daydreaming. So he went to inspect the last piece of loot that he got from the golden demon, and it is its clothes as they remained in good condition so they too should be worth it.


    When he touched the piece of clothing with his hand that wore evil eye he knew that the name of the clothes was Golden Regalia of Greater Demon. As he held it the regalia started to shrink until it was the perfect size for him to wear.


    It was composed of a golden waist guard with infernal symbols engraved into it and golden cloth raped down as loincloth, not to mention golden chains that draped at the sides.


    There was also some kind of golden leg guard that left his feet bare. They too were engraved with infernal symbols that slightly glowed in golden color.


    "Lot of Gold," Vilkar mumbled under his breath as he looked at the arm guard with the same symbols as on the leg and waist guards.


    Lastly, there was some kind of shoulder plates, the left one was in the shape of a skull, right one had spikes on it. From them, golden strips of cloth draped down for about twenty centimeters.


    The waist guard and shoulder were connected at the back with what looked like a golden spine-like connection. Vilkar then took off his clothes and put a regalia on himself he felt a warm sensation as his magical control strengthened.


    The only uncomfortable feeling was the breeze that he felt through his loincloth even if it was long and wide enough that it was more like a kilt with chains it still was different than wearing pants.


    Thankfully regalia could change its shape to that of formal attire, as he willed for the regalia to change he felt as it changed its form to that of liquid and then it changed into that of the golden mage armor. While in this form its powers were weakened but still present.


    "My magical power is still enhanced even if it is weaker than when is regalia in its original form, but this way I can use it pretty much anywhere. Only the color can''t be changed from the original golden." Vilkar spoke as he moved the golden demon''s ashes with his foot looking if there was anything else. When he found nothing more he thought if he should continue with dungeon exploration or if he should backtrack to the entrance.


    "While my spear is destroyed with my new abilities I should be able to conquer this layer with ease." Vilkar decided that he would continue with exploration.


    When he meet the next skeleton he hurriedly changed his regalia into its original form and summoned hellfire into his hand and throw it at the torso of the skeleton.


    After being hit with the hellfire skeleton was enveloped by the flames and inmate of seconds there was nothing more than ash. Vilkar smiled broadly and with a fast stride walked beyond the skeleton ashes until he came to the end of the corridor where a double door stood.


    Vilkar walked towards the door and put his hand on them, applying small pressure. The force applied on the door was strong enough for the door to open and on the other side Vilkar could see the great cavern in which decrepit and rotten building stood, it was a skeleton village.


    In the main square, he would find the boss of this layer, but before he would challenge the boss he would look through the village so he could find as much treasure as possible.


    His main goal had shifted as now he would mainly look for wooden dungeon chests, with his hell keys he would be able to open them all, gathering the gold and items from them.


    When he thought about it he wondered if he should join Treaders Circle as a trading company, a trading company that would be buying dungeon chests and would also sell items from those chests.


    The only problem would be that by doing so he would put a target on himself as others would come for him with a desire to know how he is opening all those chests. Vilkar did not think that he was powerful enough to defend himself if everyone would be after him. Firstly he would need to gain more power until he would start buying dungeon chests in the open.


    "In the beginning, I should collect the chests on my own and buy those that would be sold on the outside in secret and openly only sell those items from the chests.

 Guard Tower

    After entering the skeleton village Vilkar looked for any possible movements and hidden skeletons as he would prefer to not be surprised by the sudden unforeseen attack.


    When he stood before the wooden palisades of the village he looked over and saw three skeletons holding rusted spears right behind the entrance.


    Vilkar thought of possible ways how to enter the village and decided to just simply brute force it. Right after he took a step into the village he saw how the skeletons start to move in his direction and so he hurriedly summoned hellfire and threw it at the closest skeleton. When he was hit he was engulfed in flames and fell to the ground turning into ash.


    After getting rid of one of the skeletons he thought of using hellfire as a flamethrower, so he raised his hand and opened his palm at the two skeletons that were getting closer by the second.


    Then he willed for flames to appear but this time he channeled a stream of hellfire. It was his first attempt and as such he was somewhat unskilled in the process but he was successful at channeling the flames up to five meters, which was enough to hit both skeletons whose bones turned to ash after being directly hit.


    Neighter of the skeletons dropped a gold coin, but he took one of the spears even though it was worthless he could use it for one or two strikes. Vilkar then look around himself to see what paths he could take. He could go either into the guard tower which was a two-story tall wooden structure in which he hoped the dungeon chest would be located, he could also go straight which would lead to the main square, or left where family houses were located.


    After a few moments of deliberation, Vilkar decided that firstly he would explore the guard tower, then family houses, and lastly main square.


    Vilkar approached the tower and climbed a set of stairs that led to a small door. Peering inside, he saw that the tower contained a cramped room with two skeletal guards stationed inside.


    The guards immediately sprang to life as Vilkar entered the room, their empty eye sockets staring blankly at him. Vilkar readied his spear, anticipating a fight.


    Without hesitation, Vilkar lunged forward with his spear, striking one of the skeletons in the chest. The skeleton staggered back, but did not fall, and swung its sword at Vilkar with surprising speed. Vilkar managed to dodge the attack and thrust his spear again, this time striking the skeleton in the skull. The skeleton crumbled to the ground, its bones clattering against the cobblestones, "Well it looks like one hit is all those weapons can take." Vilkar said to himself


    The second skeleton advanced on Vilkar, swinging its sword in a wide arc. Vilkar jumped back and threw hellfire at him burning him to ash.


    After the fight, Vilkar went to explore the room for any possible loot. Firstly he went to look under the beds that were located on one side of the room. When he got to the beds he found a wooden chest under the last one.


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    The chest was about half a meter wide and thirty centimeters tall. At closer inspection, he realized that it was a dungeon chest and so he hurriedly took out gold keys and inserted one into the lock. When he turned the key he could hear the clicking noise of the lock being unlocked, and the key did not disappear which brought him immeasurable joy.


    When he opened the chest he could see that it was filled with gold coins and a sword was buried in it, with only the hilt sticky in. When he pulled the sword out he saw that it was a warhammer and Vilkar started to wonder how it could fit in the chest it was not tall or wide enough to house it inside, but then he disregarded such thoughts as answers to such question was quiet simple "Magic".


    He thought of counting the coins but then he decided to simply close the chest while keeping the sword as he could always simply unlock it later. Normally others could not do it as once closed chest would once again lock itself and what was inside would remain the same.


    After closing the chest he took it outside of the building and then he once again entered the guard tower. He could leave it outside as no one other than he was present and skeletons wouldn''t take the chest, so it was safe to keep it out in the open.


    When he was back in he decided to go to the second floor where he found only one skeleton, but this one had a sword and shield. The skeleton also wore some kind of armor that saw better days as it was rusted and the fabric was rotten.


    It was skeleton warrior, "So you are some kind of miny boss..." Vilkar spoke as eyed his enemy. When Vilkar stepped fully into the second floor he could see how the skeleton warrior raised his shield in front of him. While others started to walk and attacked immediately this one waited for him to go first.


    Vilkar knew what the skeleton wanted to do, after he would swing with his warhammer skeleton warrior would attempted to block it with his shield and counterattack with his sword, but Vilkar did not feel like playing by his rules and simply throw hellfire at the skeleton warrior.


    "Hellfire is just too much for them," Vilkar spoke as he saw the skeleton warrior block the fire but hellfire was strong enough to melt the shield in instant and then spread on his whole body.


    Skeleton warrior was able to withstand those flames of hell only for a moment longer than other skeletons before he too was turned into ash. To Vilkar''s surprise, the ground on which the skeleton stood did not burn as only the skeleton was destroyed.


    When Vilkar got closer to the pile of ash he could see that skeleton dropped a silver neckless with a pendant with a shield on it. After he took the pendant into his hands Vilkar used an evil eye on it.


    He found out that the neckless had an enchantment on it that was the same but inferior to the one on his ring which gave him physical attack protection.


    "Well, this will fetch a good penny," Vilkar spoke as he decided to sell the neckless as he could not stack protection enchantments.


    When he looked around the room he found another chest which he unlocked with the golden key and inside he found pair of boots they had no enchantment on them, the same as the warhammer that he found previously but were of superior quality which was hard to find if one wasn''t master craftsman so they should be worth some gold. His regalia was batter so he did not take them and closed the chest.


    Vilkar also found a rope which he took with him, when he took the chest outside he found the first chest from the first floor. Then he tied them on the rope and dragged them behind him as he walked to family homes.


    He wasn''t afraid that he would destroy those chests as they were nearly indestructible, at least no one found a way to break one open yet. He had no idea what force it would take, and if there was such a force items inside would probably get destroyed as well.


    When he stepped into the family homes district he thought about how many chests he would be able to find there.

 Skeleton Boss

    While walking around the family homes district Vilkar was on the lookout for any skeletons that could be hiding in the shadows or behind the cover. He wondered where he should begin. Should he start at the right side or left, at the end of the street, or start?


    He could start at the end and then he would move his loot one by one, or at the start, and with every house, it would take more and more time to bring it here.


    After a few moments of consideration, he decided to take his time and loot every house after which he would just bring it here. When he walked to the first house he walked through the front garden where no more flowers or grass grew as all life that was once here died out.


    When he stood before the door that would lead him into the house Vilkar listened for any sign of a skeleton being on the other side. When he heard nothing he slowly opened the door and walked into a hall.


    There he saw old wooden walls he could see how they were halfway decayed and that they were originally painted white. On the ground, he could see an old damp carpet with somewhat intricate markings. To his left stood a coat hanger upon which a few pieces of cloth hung.


    To his right, he could see a small table with a vase full of now-dead flowers. While he walked forward he could hear how the wood under his boots creaked with his every step. After he walked out of the hall he found himself in the living room, where he saw a big totem made out of bones.


    When he walked closer he could see that before the totem was laid some kind of offerings, Vilkar could count fifteen gold coins and two silver bracelets.


    "Don''t mind if I do," Vilkar said to himself as he took the money and bracelets. After he pocketed them he could see that totem started to shake until it cracked in middle.


    The door into the house suddenly shut and the furniture in the house started violently open and close until finally, he could see a skeleton hand shoot out from the crack in the totem after which everything became silent once again.


    After a few moments, he could see a skeleton warrior had come out of the totem. But before he could fully leave the totem Vilkar had blasted him with hellfire which started to melt him into ash. Flames did not stop there as they started to spread onto the totem.


    As they grew in intensity Vilkar took a step back automatically even thou he felt no danger from those flames. When flames finally died out there was no more totem only ash, "Well that was anticlimactic." Vilkar said as he started to look through the rest of the house.


    Vilkar found a wooden dungeon chest on the second floor which he hurriedly opened and looked inside. There he found a red cape which he returned back and closed the chest. Then he took it outside with the rest of his loot.


    After bringing loot into the middle of the street he went into the next house which looked identical except inside he found two skeletons in totems place. After dispatching them he looked through the house but did not find any chest only a few coins and smooth fabric.


    When he finally finished looking through every one of those houses he looked at the final loot, there he could see 8 chests and about 70 gold coins, velvet fabric, and two bottles of wine.


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    Vilkar then slowly dragged his loot as he walked into the main square where just before entering he put his loot down and took a few of the items from the chests and tied everything together so people would not question why he is dragging all those chests. This way they will think that Vilkar just took all that he could find.


    When he was done he walked into the main square to fight the boss of this layer.


    Before him, he could see five skeletons standing before the altar of bones upon which armored skeleton stood, but this one had soul flame in its eyes.


    ''Skeleton wizard. They can reanimate their allies if they would be cut down, but too bad for him as hellfire will leave nothing but ash.'' Hector thought and threw a ball of hellfire at the closest skeleton.


    Then he runs at them smashing another with his warhammer and crushing its skull into pieces. At the remaining three he summoned a jet of hellfire which disintegrated them in an instant.


    When their leader saw his underlings destroyed he tried to bring them back to unlife but he was not able to as Vilkar burned all their bones he did not spare even one whom he crushed the skull.


    "Too bad!" Vilkar laughed as he sprinted at the wizard. Skeleton summoned a shield but to no avail, as Vilkar''s flames easily burned through and his warhammer broke the bones of the skeleton.


    "Well that was easier than I thought it would be, but to be truthful I did not think that there would be a demon from which I could awaken, or for the demon to have such amazing treasure." Vilkar was truly ecstatic at his encounter with the demon, now he could have all that he dreamt about. He would be able to achieve all of his dreams and desires.


    "But at the beginning, I should visit and join the merchant circle so I could get a permit to open my shop in the dungeon vicinity. Paying the fee will be quite costly as it is 1000 gold pieces, and not to mention opening it as a trading company."


    Vilkar wanted to have a trading company in place of an ordinary shop as with a trading company he could offer a mission to his visitors and he could also hire mercenaries to work for him but the price to start a trading company is about 2000 gold coins which is double of the normal shop. So most who want to achieve it need to gather investments and backers but Vilkar will be able to achieve it thanks to his golden keys and dungeon chests.


    After the planning, he looked at the loot that he got from the boss and saw two wooden dungeon chests and one iron dungeon chest, next to it lay about 50 gold coins and a short sword. "There is so much more treasure in the dungeon if you can open those chests."


    Vilkar then inspected the short sword and found out that it was a cursed item. Vilkar smiled as they were in high demand from the wizard tower as they were fascinated by them.


    Cursed items were weapons or armor that were stronger than usual but had certain drawbacks this short sword had what is called a berserker curse as it would fuel the user with unbridled fury and rage, on the other hand, it would also give the user ability to use flaming attacks.


    When he opened the silver chest he saw a one-handed axe, after inspection, he found out that the enchantment on the axe was that its sharpness was raised.


    Vilkar then opened all of the chests and took out their items leaving only gold inside. Inside them, he found Monster leather boots that enhanced the wearer''s speed, a red cape that he previously put back which raised the threat level of the wearer, an iron bracelet that had its durability enhanced, iron boots, iron helmets, iron-scaled armor, a round shield which all had same enchantment, iron gauntlets that raised the strength of the wearer, monster leather belt wich raised dexterity.


    "Nice, so now to pack it all and drag it out of the dungeon." Luckily for him after defeating the layer boss he could either continue or teleport back to the entrance.


    Vilkar decided to leave but before he did he transformed his regalia into a golden suit.


    When his senses returned to him after being enveloped in blinding light he saw that he was back at the entrance. He could also see all the stairs he was getting from people around him.


    It was not every day that they saw someone in a golden suit dragging a pile of items and chests behind him.

 Selling the loot

    When he left the dungeon he called for merchant circle service as they would help him sell his items.


    When he walked to the designated place to meet them he saw that a van was already present. When he confirmed his identity he put all of his things into the van and sit next to the driver who would take him to their official shop. The price of ordering a van was cheap at 1 gold coin, as their aim was to bring customers to them where they would make more than enough to offset the cost of the ride.


    After they drove for about fifteen minutes they arrived at the three-story building with a connection to the storehouse where they stored their merchandise.


    The storehouse was an imposing structure, its walls made of sturdy stone and its entrance guarded by a pair of heavily armed guards.


    The van took a turn into the storehouse where it stopped and Vilkar and the driver exited the vehicle.


    As Vilkar approached, the guards eyed him warily, their hands on the hilts of their swords.


    Ignoring their suspicion, Vilkar stepped forward and declared his intention to sell his loot. The guards eyed him critically for a moment before stepping aside and motioning for him to enter. There Vilkar could see an attendant waiting for him, "Good day sir, I was informed that you would be selling dungeon items to us, please follow me your items shall be moved to our storehouse so they can be inspected by our personal, of course, we will be present at that time."


    Vilkar then followed the man and entered the building, "If I may ask is this the first time that you are doing business with us?" the attendant asked as he saw Vilkar looking around witnessing shelves upon shelves of items, from armors and weapons to lamps that were run on magic.


    "Yes, that would be correct," Vilkar said as he stopped looking around like a fool and looked forward.


    "There is nothing to be ashamed about, for anyone to be seeing it for the first time would be wonderful as we are the biggest buyer and seller in Malka." the attendant spoke with what was clearly a fake smile and eyes filled with superiority as he looked saw Vilkar teeth which showed that he was forced awakened.


    ''So he is one of those that think that naturally awakened are superior.'' Vilkar thought as he was reminded of a particular book about wizards.


    When they arrived at the office Vilkar could see a long table that already had his item laid on top.


    "Please sit, an inspector will soon come," the Attendant said and walked out of the office.


    After a few moments, Vilkar saw the door into the office was once again opened and two people entered, Tall man wearing a formal suit and what surprised Vilkar more was a dwarf, ''Well that''s interesting''.


    "Good day sir, my name is... Roy." Roy said as he offered his hand for a handshake.


    Vilkar took his hand, "Vilkar." He did not want to be rude but something was off about "Roy" Even as he said his name Vilkar felt a strange feeling until he realized that it was from the sapphire ring that he wore on his left pinky.


    ''That was a lie detection ring. Well that is fascinating, isn''t it... Roy.'' Vilkar thought as he looked at the dwarf that until now remained silent.


    Vilkar offered him a hand but the dwarf only nodded and went to the tables with items.


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    "I wish to sell all of these items except the chests and short sword," Vilkar said as the dwarf took the first item to his hands. He wanted to keep the gold in the chests and he had a warhammer at his side as he needs some weapon.


    Roy nodded as he walked to the dwarf and waited for him to speak.


    "Round shield, greater item endurance, tier 1 item," Dwarf said after he picked up the shield, after he finished he put it down and went to the second item.


    Items were put into different categories from tier 1 up to tier 5 which was the highest. Above it were only relicks with everyone having their own individual power scale.


    To Vilkar''s surprise, he saw as Roy took an electronic device and started to write into it.


    When he was done he looked at Vilkar and said, "75 gold coins". Tier one weapons usually were up to 100 gold coins and if they had exceptional enchantment they would be up to 150 gold coins.


    "Iron-scaled chest plate, greater item endurance, tier 1 item," after which Roy spoke, "60 gold coins" Vilkar wondered why chest armor was less than the shield and Roy answered before he could say anything, "Shields are more rare than chest armors."


    "Monster leather belt raises dexterity of wearer, tier 1 item," Vilkar saw as Roy smiled and said, "110 gold pieces."


    ''Understandable as for the first tier raised endurance of item was very common.''


    "Iron gauntlets raise the strength of wearer, tier 1." Roy then said, "130 gold coins."


    "Iron helmet, greater item endurance, tier 1 item,"


    "50 gold coins."


    "Iron boots, greater item endurance, tier 1 item,"


    "45 gold coins."


    "iron bracelet, greater item endurance, tier 1 item,"


    "50 gold coins."


    "Red cape, raises monster awareness on the wearer, tier 1." When the dwarf spoke Roy looked surprised and smiled widely, "Well that''s interesting, 150 gold coins, items that raise threat level are very important for tanks of the party."


    "Axe, greater item sharpness, tier 2" Vilkar could see how the dwarf smiled as he held the axe and murmured under his breath, "What nice lass."


    Roy on the other hand looked at the Vilkar and said, "230 gold coins" Tier 2 items were up to 300 gold coins.


    "Silver pendant, lesser psychical protection, tier 2" After the dwarf spoke Roy shooked and said happily, "320 gold coins, twenty is a bonus as psychical protection is very rare indeed."


    "Well, that''s all of the weapons and armor rest is up to you," Dwarf said to Roy, and to Vilkar''s surprise he nodded at him after which he left the room.


    "Don''t mind him he is just cranky," Roy said as he went to look at the rest of the items.


    "I can get you 10 gold coins for velvet fabric as it is very good quality, two silver bracelets for 10 gold coins, and two bottles of wine, let''s see... what about 16 gold coins.


    "All of that adds up to 1256 gold coins, a nice sum if you ask me," Roy said and after few moments of deliberation Vilkar agreed and together they went to the main office where he was asked how he wanted to be paid, Directly here or send to the bank, unfortunately for him he had no bank account so he asked to be given the gold directly.


    As Vilkar stepped out of the storehouse, he looked around for a means of transportation to take him and his newly acquired wealth back to his home. He soon spotted a van parked nearby, its driver leaning against the side smoking a cigarette. Vilkar was offered a ride to his home which he gladly took but before that, he asked if he could be taken to the wizard tower.


    Vilkar planned on selling the cursed item to the tower and ordering a magical tent that would be bigger on the inside so he could have his shop there, a magic pouch for his money.


    As Vilkar sits beside the van driver, he looks out the window at the passing scenery. The van moves through the city streets, weaving in and out of traffic. Vilkar can see the buildings and people rushing by, a blur of colors and shapes.


    As the van leaves the busy streets behind and begins to climb up the winding road toward the Wizard Tower, Vilkar''s view changes to that of rolling hills and dense forests. The air is cooler up here, and the scent of pine and earth fills his nose.


    In the distance, Vilkar can see the outline of the Wizard Tower rising up against the sky. The tower is tall and imposing, with turrets and battlements jutting out at odd angles. As they get closer, Vilkar can see the intricate details carved into the stone, symbols, and runes etched into the surface.


    The van pulls up to the tower''s entrance, and Vilkar steps out onto the cobblestone courtyard. He looks up at the tower, feeling a sense of awe at its majesty and power. The air around the tower seems charged with magic, and Vilkar can''t wait to see what awaits him inside.


    While the van parked he wondered about taking the gold with him for payment, he would need them to pay and so he took the bag and exited the car, he would need the gold to pay for the tent.

 Wizard Tower

    As Vilkar enters the wizard tower, he is greeted by a spacious and well-lit atrium with high ceilings. The walls are lined with tall bookshelves filled with countless tomes and ancient artifacts, and various magical contraptions can be seen scattered throughout the room. The floor is made of polished marble, reflecting the warm glow of the ornate chandeliers that hang from the ceiling. The air is thick with the scent of old books and incense, and the sound of pages turning and magical energy crackling fills the air.


    The floor was marbled by purple and patterns with constellations around them. At the far end of the atrium, Vilkar can see a reception desk with a friendly-looking receptionist waiting to assist him.


    ''But what specifics should I order for the tent? I will need it to have at least two rooms... wait I will need to have some protections in place to guard my merchandise against thieves...


    ''I could just live in the tent... Yes! That will do and I won''t miss my apartment, that''s for sure. And this way I will be much closer to the dungeon. But it is true that normally it is not allowed to live in a tent next to the dungeon but if it will be put as a shop with living quarters then they should have no problem.


    ''After this, I will need to visit Merchant Circle for specifics. But if I will go with it the tent will need to have a first room for selling and buying, then in the back room with my bed, kitchen, storage, bathroom with toilet and shower, ideally living room and guest room would be nice.''


    After making his decision Vilkar went to the clerk, in the Wizard Tower line for making any transaction or request was non-existent as there were much fewer people there.


    Vilkar approaches the reception desk and greets the friendly-looking receptionist. He asks if he can sell a cursed weapon that he acquired during his exploration of a dungeon, and also inquires about purchasing a custom-made magic tent and a magic pouch.


    The receptionist nods, listening attentively to Vilkar''s requests. She asks him to wait a moment while she checks the available options. After a few minutes, she returns with a smile and informs Vilkar that the wizard tower does indeed offer services for both selling and purchasing items and that they have just the right wizard to help him out.


    After a few moments, the receptionist starts to tap to computer and looks at Vilkar, "Please come with me."


    The receptionist leads Vilkar through a labyrinth of winding corridors in the wizard tower, the walls adorned with magical tapestries and glowing orbs. As they pass through a heavy wooden door, Vilkar can feel the air change around him, as if a weight has been lifted from his shoulders. The room is small but cozy, with a thick rug covering the stone floor and plush armchairs nestled around a low table. The walls are lined with shelves filled with various magical trinkets and tomes.


    The receptionist explains that this room is enchanted with a powerful soundproofing spell, designed to ensure complete privacy for any sensitive discussions that take place within it. She assures Vilkar that no sound will escape this room, and any conversation held within it will remain completely confidential.


    As Vilkar settles into one of the armchairs, he feels a sense of calm wash over him. The silence is almost palpable as if the room itself is holding its breath. He realizes that he can hear his own heartbeat, the sound amplified in the stillness.


    Vilkar is impressed with the power of the enchantment, and he feels a sense of gratitude toward the wizard who created it. He is glad that he can speak freely without worrying about anyone eavesdropping on his conversation.


    The receptionist bids Vilkar farewell and leaves him alone in the room. As he waits for the wizard to arrive, Vilkar takes a deep breath and lets himself relax. He knows that he has come to the right place to seek the magical items he needs, and he feels confident that the wizard will be able to help him.


    Soon he saw a woman wearing a black and red robe enter the room as well.


    "Hello, my name is Ida, I have heard that you have cursed weapons for me." She spoke while looking him up and down sensing magic from his clothes.


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    ''Well, I presume my clothes would be eye-catching for someone able to feel magic in the air, not to mention my rings.'' Vilkar thought as she sat down opposite him and Vilkar put the sword on the table.


    "Ah, let''s see now..." She said as she took a closer look.


    "hm... yes, it is cursed all right. Flaming attacks in exchange for reasoning as the user would be fueled by rage... 250, I will give you 250 gold pieces for berserker blade."


    Vilkar thought of the price and accepted it as for a tier 1 weapon it was a good deal. When he confirmed their transaction she smiled and took the blade which she put into her pocket that should not be able to hold an object of such size.


    "Now that is out of the way we can move to the magic pouch, what tier would you like?" She asked Vilkar


    Vilkar thought of what kind he should choose as tier 1 could hold about one cubic 1 meter of items and it cost 50 gold coins, tier 2 about 5 meters which cost 100 gold coins, tier 3 could hold 10 meters 500 gold coins, tier 4 was where it jumped to 50 meters which cost about 1000, and lastly, tier 5 which could hold 100 cubic meters which could cost upwards 5000 gold coins.


    Of course, there were relics but they were not commercially sold. Vilkar also needed to be careful as he still needed two thousand coins for his application for a trading company. As of now, he had about 3500 gold coins if he would count all the gold from the chest, the ones he got from selling the items to merchants and the cursed sword.


    The custom magic tent would cost upward of 1000 gold coins, plus 2000 for the company he would have 500 gold coins left, he felt pain in his heart as just after so much gold he is going to spend it all.


    As he would be needing the best he could get he finally spoke, "I will take the tier 3 magic pouch."


    "That will be 500 gold pieces. Now then let''s start with specifics for the tent." After she spoke Vilkar told specifics for the tent, when he was done she asked another question, "What about the exterior, what colors would you like or any kind of markings?"


    Vilkar thought of what he should put on the outside and in the end, he decided, "Let it be in black in color with golden hand prints on it."


    "You are in luck as multiple enchanters had joined our tower and so the price for the magical tent will be 800 gold pieces. With the price for the pouch it is 1300 minus gold for the cursed sword will be 1050 gold pieces." After she spoke he agreed at the price and he would pay for the magic pouch as he would receive it now and he would also put the deposit of 100 gold coins for the tent and when it would be finished he would pay the rest of the sum.


    When she heard him she smiled and stood up extending her hand when he took it she said, "Pleasure doing business with you." When he held her hand he could feel some kind of electricity from her touch as she stared into his eyes.


    ''She is using some kind of inspection magic.'' he thought as he pulled his arm away.


    "I must apologize, my curiosity got the better of me. The tent will be ready in two days so please come to the reception at that time." As Vilkar exits the soundproof room, he can feel the hush of the enchantment dissipating as he steps back into the bustling atmosphere of the wizard tower. He takes a deep breath and makes his way back


    As he steps outside, he takes in the sights and sounds of the city-state Malka once again. The sun is setting in the west, casting a warm glow over the rooftops of the nearby buildings.


    He notices the streets are quieter now, the usual hustle and bustle of the day fading into the background. He feels a sense of relief wash over him, grateful for the chance to unwind after a long day of exploring and haggling.


    Vilkar makes his way towards the van, eager to return to his home on the outskirts of the city-state. As he sits beside the driver, he takes a moment to reflect on the day''s events. He thinks about the treasures he found in the dungeon, the battles he fought, and the loot he got.


    He realizes that despite the dangers of living in a post-apocalyptic world, there is still beauty and wonder to be found in the ruins of the old world. Vilkar smiles to himself, feeling content with the choices he''s made and the adventures that lay ahead.


    While on his way home he decided that tomorrow he would go to the Merchant Circle to apply for a trading company.


    As they neared his neighborhood, Vilkar paid the driver and stepped out onto the sidewalk. He took a deep breath of the cool evening air and looked around at the familiar buildings and streets. It felt good to be back in his own neighborhood, even though he had only been gone for a few hours.


    Vilkar walked down the street to his apartment building, nodding to a few of his neighbors as he passed them. He took the elevator up to his floor and walked down the hall to his apartment.


    As he unlocked his door and stepped inside, he felt a sense of relief and relaxation wash over him. He kicked off his shoes and walked over to his couch, collapsing onto it with a sigh. He closed his eyes and leaned back, feeling the tension of the day slowly drain away.


    After a few minutes, he went to his kitchen and made himself a cup of tea, sipping it as he walked around his apartment, taking in the familiar sights and smells.


    Then he started to count the gold which was in the chests or in his pockets, together he counted 2255 gold pieces. Thankfully he had two thousand for Merchant Circle. Then he put the gold into the magic pouch that he put in his pocket.


    Vilkar then walked to the bathroom to clean himself of dirt from the dungeon. When he stood before the mirror Vilkar became surprised as he saw two golden goat eyes staring back at him, "Now I see why people were staring..."

 Cursed Gold

    Vilkar gazed into the mirror, studying his eyes closely. They were no longer the dull brown he was accustomed to; instead, they were golden goat eyes. He blinked a few times, trying to adjust to the newfound power that seemed to emanate from them.


    "What must have people thought when they saw them, hah hah." Vilkar found the whole situation comical as he already knew that awakening by killing a specific monster would bring physical changes to him.


    While his eyes, teeth, tongue, and nails changed it wasn''t that bad. Once he saw a man that had grown a tail, and another that now has a pair of wings, but the greatest change would be that of an Orc, he is called that because he awakened by killing high ranking orc monster and his changes were much more pronounced.


    Among them were a pair of tusks, pointy ears, and a much bigger body. He was the definition of inheriting traits of the monster that you awaken from. Surprisingly from what Vilkar heard Orc was a pretty good person. There were numero occasions where he abandoned his treasure or spotlight for sake of helping others, even if they did not always return their gratitude.


    Seeing two and a half meters tall, a fully armored individual with tusks running at you is not their choice of hero but they have what they got.


    While he was loved by some, there were many from those naturally awakened that spoke against him whenever they could, and quite loudly if Vilkar could be the judge.


    They were like ''Preserve humanity... Forcefully awakened are monsters... They are doomed to betray us '' and many more. But the last one stemmed from that when naturally awakened strengthened their powers nothing would change but when Forcefully awakened did the same their monster traits would become greater as well.


    Some say that by strengthening their powers forcefully awakened are losing their humanity until there are stronger versions of monsters that they killed at the beginning of their paths.


    Vilkar did not believe in such superstitions as there was no proof of such transformations. But he also realized that he did not know everything about the world that was changed so much by the energies from the dungeons.


    While his eyes were cool looking he knew that some people would get scared or uncomfortable seeing them. So he decided that he would later go to a shop to buy glasses that would hide them.


    Before he could think about it anymore he felt a sensation from his regalia and he found new pair of glasses in his left breast pocket. They were black tinted glass with gold rims. They had tinted lenses on the front and sides so others could not see his eyes from any angle.


    "They look nice." Vilkar said as he watched himself in the mirror, "Who knew that the regalia can make also the glasses? While it can change the form of clothing glasses are different pieces altogether.


    "But maybe..." Vilkar took the glasses and threw them away. When they flew about two meters from him they disappeared, "So that''s how it works."


    Vilkar then makes another pair and put them into his breast pocket. When he was done he walked towards his chest and gold.


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    When all of the gold was outside of chests Vilkar took a handful of gold coins and let them fall back to the ground. He repeated the process numerous times and he just could not help himself.


    Gold was so captivating, that warm feeling in his hands as he held such precious objects. ''Their size and shape are perfections to look at.'' But he realized that he have more important things to do like studying the devil''s grimoire.


    But he could not help himself from playing with the gold for a little more. When he was done Vilkar collected every piece of gold coin and put them on his bed, every one of his 2255 gold coins then he lay down at them and opened the grimoire.


    Firstly he looked at the beginning but when he did not find what he was looking for, he looked at end of the book. He was overjoyed at what he found there. There he found the grimoire''s table content.


    While looking at the content of the book he felt some kind of energy radiating from the book, not to mention when he looked at the names of spells and rituals he could somehow feel what they were and what they do.


    "Well that is helpful, I won''t need to go back and forth to understand what it does," Vilkar said as he


    "Fascinating... Hell seed creation - the seed of hell that after proper care will grow into the wound in reality that with time will transform into hell... Demon creation - the creation of demonic minions, from basic imps up to greater demons... Curses... Enchantments... Hell energy imbuement... Ritual sacrifice for - healing, energy, entertainment..." and many more.


    Vilkar was interested in Hell seed creation as he could start to take care of it so it could properly grow but he did not exactly have a place where to put it, while at the beginning he could wear it as an accessory or in his pocket as it was as small as pabble. But later it would break flooding his surrounding in hell energy which would then create a wound in time and space where the divine plane of existence would be formed. Well, to be precise it should be called the infernal divine plane of existence as all of them were divine no matter their origin, "Huh, I did not know that before." Vilkar mumbled as he read. It was interesting but it would need to wait until he would set up his shop next to the dungeon.


    For demon creation, he would need to have Hell seed so he also needed to wait until he would set his shop.


    But what he could do was to curse his gold so if anyone would steal it they would suffer consequences, of course, he would also need to know how to break the curse so he could use the gold to buy things.


    Vilkar looked through the grimoire for the good curse to put at the gold, "bad luck... rotting hands... skeletonization... petrification... yes that''s it" In the end, he decided on different versions of petrification. If someone would maliciously steal from him then they would start to slowly turn into gold.


    "If they want to rob me their punishment will be to make me richer by themselves joining my treasury." Vilkar got inspiration from his curse ability Touch of Midas. Of course, he would also be able to break the curse whenever he wanted to, it was best to be prepared for anything.


    And by giving the gold to others the curse would be automatically broken as it was not stolen.


    "So 2000 for trading company license... that leaves me with 255 gold coins that need to be cursed... I had so much gold before making all the transactions." Vilkar felt sad at thought of parting with his gold but he knew that it was necessary.


    So he put 255 gold coins at his side. Then he summoned hellfire to his fingertip and scorched the ground. Only enough for it to be visible as he did not have chalk, he would also put a rug over it so no one would know what happened.


    Vilkar made the circle big enough that those 255 gold coins would be able to fit inside with some spare room. Then he made a reverse pentagram as grimoire dictated. Then he put the gold inside but left the middle of the pentagram bare. When he was done he put his palm in middle and let his energy to imbue the ritual circle.


    He then used his Touch of Midas as a catalyst and made his curse enter every gold coin in the circle. Vilkar could not use Touch of Midas for the next full day but for him, it was worth it.

 Tables Turned

    After Vilkar finished putting Touch of Midas on his gold he had nothing else to do. He was also exhausted from putting a curse on the gold so he ordered food delivery.


    After fifteen minutes pass he heard knocking on his door. When he opened then he saw a man holding a black bag with the logo of a food delivery service.


    ''This is actually a good opportunity to see if the curse will brake if gold is given willingly.


    "Good day, it will be 8 malks." Malks were currently used in Malka city-state after dungeons started to open. When the world become full of monsters any centralized currency became lost its value as food, water, and shelter were only important commodities for people.


    But after humanity had time to adapt new currencies were created, some followed old ones but most were made new. Mostly they worked only in their own cities and gold coins were used for trade amongst them.


    While humanity is once again spreading its influence and reclaiming more territory gold coins are gaining in value and becoming the norm. Of course, some politicians did not like it as it undermined their treasuries and power. No one was able to receive those gold coins, so the only one way to get them was to explore dungeons.


    That meant no state or political side could just print more for themselves, and anyone could get more if they would be able to explore the dungeon.


    Once they realized what was happening, Malka''s higher echelon tried to block the entrance to the dungeon but it was already too late, and new factions had already become too strong to fight and too rich to bribe.


    And so those that were fastest could still exchange their money for gold somewhat reasonably rest took a great hit to their finances. As of now, one gold coin was worth ten malks. Vilkar wasn''t sure how much malks would be relative to money from before dungeons.


    "Here take this," Vilkar spoke as he gave the man one gold coin.


    "Thank you, sir." The man spoke and gave Vilkar his food, then he turned around and started to leave.


    Vilkar watched his every step looking for any signs of a curse taking effect, and to knowledge, nothing happened. He saw no sign of golden petrification or saw any strong magical movements in or around of the delivery man.


    "Good, then the curse works as intended" Vilkar whispered and closed the door.


    After he ate he rested for the rest of the day. He had nothing more that he needed to do at this time. Tomorrow he would visit Merchant Circle to apply for a Trading company license, "I hope that there will be no problem, I did order a magical tent to serve as my shop. I don''t know about any rule that would state that I could not use such premises, only that I already need to have them or have ordered them to be built in a reasonable amount of time.


    "So they should have no problem with giving me the license and place to set up my shop. I just hope its location wont be too far away from the entrance. That could bring slower business to my shop and hinder the spreading of information to others. Once my shop will get famous for selling enchanted weapons and armor there should be no lack of customers."


    Vilkar went to sleep early that morning as he wanted to visit Merchant Circle as soon as possible. After getting his tent he would explore the second layer of the dungeon.


    The next day Vilkar stood outside his home, considering his options. He needed to go to the Merchant Circle building, but he wasn''t sure how to get there. He could take public transport, but it would cost him a few coins, and he was trying to save money. On the other hand, he could walk, which would be free but time-consuming.


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    He looked up at the sky, judging the weather. It was a clear day, with a gentle breeze blowing. He could feel the sun''s warmth on his skin, and he decided that a walk would be pleasant.


    He checked the map on his phone to make sure he knew the way. It was a little further than he thought, but he was confident he could get there on foot.


    As he began to walk, he took in his surroundings. He passed by a park where children were playing, and he could hear their laughter and shouts. He walked by a group of people selling goods on the street, their voices blending together as they shouted out their wares.


    He kept walking, and the cityscape began to change. The buildings grew taller, and the streets became more crowded. He had to weave in and out of people, and he had to be careful not to bump into anyone.


    While he walked he took a few shortcuts by walking through narrow alleys and a few sketchy neighborhoods, "Well when I think about it... It may have not been the smartest idea, especially considering what I''m wearing. Golden suit with gold glasses..."


    Vilkar chuckled as he saw two men jumping at him. One from each side, "Well hello there my friends. It seems that you got lost I could..." Vilkar did not listen to what the man had to say as it would be the usual, pay up and nothing happens to you.


    "Aha!" Vilkar got an idea, "You know what gentlemen? YOU pay me! And I will let you leave alive and maybe just maybe unhurt." Vilkar said in a casual tone as he did not mean it as a threat but as a statement. Vilkar actually abhorred threats especially when they were directed at him. When he heard them he was filled with an unpleasant feeling of having insects running under his skin. It stopped only when he did something unkind to the people that threatened him.


    "What?" Those two men became perplexed at the same time as they did not expect this kind of reaction.


    Vilkar shifted his eyes between them waiting for his compensation, "Nothing? Then how it goes..." Vilkar then punched the man before him with his full strength. He could hear the sickening sound of breaking bone and shattered teeth.


    When one of the men had fallen on the ground Vilkar turned around at the other one.


    After seeing his fellow robber being knocked out with one punch he got scared as he wasn''t awakened, his friend was and he was supposed to be as strong as five people. He wanted nothing more than to run away but when he saw there would be a victim took off his glasses and looked in his direction his knees gave out at the sight of the glowing eyes that he saw.


    When Vilkar saw the man fall on his knees from fright he became satisfied with himself, ''Those eyes are really something. I just channeled some magic into them and he is already too scared. I didn''t even use any fear spell as I don''t know any.'' Vilkar thought as he smiled widely showing his mouth full of jagged teeth and forked tongue.


    "D-Demon!" The man yelled as he started to drag himself away from Vilkar.


    ''I just hope no one will come running here, I would have a hard time explaining what had happened before they would attack me or call the police. At the end of the day, I would be free and anything against me would be dropped but my visit to the Merchant Circle would be postponed.


    ''There are too many things that I plan to do to wait in a police station for them to deal with this situation.''


    "Now... You were naughty boy weren''t you?" Vilkar said chuckling which scared the man even more.


    "And you need to be punished for it... in the most brutal and painful of ways


    "Or..." Vilkar stopped for a dramatic pause, he saw a man''s eyes sparkling with the hope of being let go. Church used to offer them so I see no problem in doing the same as I''m the one that will hurt you otherwise.


    "You could pay for Indulgence a ticket to remission of one''s punishments for their sins. So what it will be, Pain and Agony or Indulgence?" After Vilkar finished speaking he could see how the man still shake from fear but he was already going through his pockets taking out all of his money.


    "I-Is t-this enough?" He said as he took out two 50 malks and one ten malks banknote.


    "... Unfortunately no." Vilkar said in a mocking tone, "But maybe your associate will have enough." When he pointed at the man that was laying on the ground with his teeth broken one on the ground jumped at him and went through his pockets.


    "And this?" He took out another hundred and sixte malks.


    "This will be enough... this time," Vilkar said as he took the money and walked away.


    After he took a few steps he could see how the robber stood up and run in the opposite direction.


    "Haha, what an interesting turn of events." Vilkar laughed while he walked in direction of Merchant Circle.


    The rest of the way was uneventful and so he made it relatively soon.

 Application

    As Vilkar approached the Merchant Circle building, he couldn''t help but be impressed by its grandeur. The imposing structure was built with marble columns and adorned with intricate carvings on its fa?ade. The tall, arched windows on each floor allowed natural light to stream in, and the roof was topped with a dome that glittered in the sun. The entrance to the building was framed by two imposing statues of merchants, each holding a sack of gold coins.


    Vilkar never had a reason why to visit it or go past it as most of the buildings around serve in some capacity to either explorers or merchants, Vilkar was nither.


    As he walked closer to the building, Vilkar noticed the large double doors made of heavy oak. The doors were flanked by two guards dressed in ceremonial armor, each holding a long spear. Above the entrance, a banner with the emblem of the Merchant Circle fluttered in the breeze. Vilkar took a deep breath and stepped inside.


    The interior of the building was just as impressive as the outside. The walls were lined with ornate tapestries depicting scenes of prosperous trade, and the floors were made of polished marble. The sound of footsteps echoed in the grand hall as Vilkar made his way toward the reception desk.


    When he looked up he could see an empty space that lead to the ceiling of the building with a glass dome. From his point of view, each floor was filled with offices where people of all kinds were talking, laughing and some even crying.


    The receptionist was a young man with dark hair and bright eyes, dressed in a neat business suit. He greeted him with a smile and asked how he could assist him.


    After a few seconds of silence Arthur spoke, "Alright sir, please wait a moment, I will be back with the application."


    Vilkar then waited while Arthur went for the papers, he waited about a minute before he could see Arthur walking back.


    "Here it is sir. After finishing the application please call for attendant which will bring it back for confirmation. You can do it in our lounge, there you can also order something to drink while you wait." Arthur handed him a paper which Vilkar took and walked to the lounge which was on his left side.


    The whole lounge gave a different feeling than the rest of the building. When he stepped in he could feel as sounds from the outside were silenced and replaced by a calming tone of the music.


    Air was filled with some kind of incense, ''Is that magic that I smell?'' Vilkar thought as he tried to identify from where it originated.


    After taking his seat he put the application before him and looked it over. Firstly he wrote his name, the date of his birth, and a few other pieces of information about him.


    When he got to the part about the trading company that he wanted to start he wrote the name that would represent it.


    "Name of would-be company: Golden Hand


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings."Main purpose of the company: To make a profit." ''strange...'' Vilkar thought, ''It should be obvious.''


    "Type of inventory that would be sold, and/or bought, Type of mission that would be ordered, What type of mercenaries would be preferred..." Vilkar read the questions on the application.


    "While those questions are related to the business but why are they asking it in the application... Wait!" Vilkar stared into the paper more intently, looking for something hidden.


    After a moment he could see faint light hidden in the paper. It gave off a similar feeling as the ring gave, one which had the enchantment to detect lies, "Well that''s interesting." Vilkar mumbled under his breath as he heard someone walking up to him, and some type of pressure rising in his chest.


    When he looked to his left he saw a woman wearing a black skirt and white shirt and grey apron, "Would you like to drink something, sir?"


    "Black tea thank you," Vilkar said calmly but when he watched the woman walk away he felt as if the pressure that he felt disappeared. While she moved he was able to see something under her neck for split second.


    It looked like a connection that would be used in human size doll, "Is she... Yes, it is an artificial being." Vilkar confirmed it as he concentrated on her and was able to see how magic was running through it.


    Vilkar read about them on the internet and from what he knew they were extremely pricy if one didn''t know how to make them.


    To create one they would need to be able to do two opposing types of magic. Firstly they would need to create the body, but for it to be used it needed to be made of special materials. Body creation would require a high level of reality magic, as they would take ingredients from the dungeon and change their properties so they could be even used.


    Then it was time to create a mind for it. Even the most basic of artificial minds needed a great number of magic stones and everyone would need to be engraved with runic magic. Then it needed to be molded with soul magic.


    The whole process could be successful only if one type of energy was used, and so the whole process from start to end would be done by one person. There weren''t many people that could wield reality and soul magic to such a degree as mastering two opposite align types of magic was extremely complicated.


    ''She should be guarding this building against threats.'' Vilkar thought as he calmed himself. He understood why there was that strange incense in the air. It had calming effects on the minds that would breathe it in.


    The artificial being had one major flaw. Their very presence was unnerving to people around it as contradictory elements that they were filled with created a vortex, that could not be seen but could be felt.


    Vilkar returned to the application that he needed to finish. When she returned with his tea he was once again filled with pressure but now it wasn''t as strong as the first time.


    He wondered why he never heard that there was an artificial being in one of Merchant Circle buildings, especially when he clearly felt her presence. But when he saw her walk up to other people and saw that they did not react he wondered why was it so.


    The only thing that came to his mind was that his magical senses were heightened as it was known that magic wielders were more affected by their presence.


    Vilkar drank his tea while he finished the application and called for the attendant whom he gave the papers.


    Then he waited for it to be processed and he would be called to one of the offices. There he would either be denied or granted his license after paying the fee.


    Just as he finished the tea he saw the same attendant coming closer to him and asking him to follow. Vilkar did as he was told and walked right behind the attendant who led him into one of the offices on the second floor.


    While he saw the stairs that would surely lead them there attendant took him to the elevator. There he enjoyed a few seconds of old-style music until he arrived on the second floor.


    There he stood before the glass see-through door, behind which he saw a man sitting behind a wooden desk.


    "Please go in sir." The attendant spoke while he opened the door for Vilkar.

 License

    After he stepped into the office he felt a warm sensation of magical influence, ''Another soundproof magic.'' Vilkar thought as he stopped before the wooden desk looking at the man before him.


    "Please sit down mister Vilkar." The man spoke with a warm smile plastered on his face.


    "My name is Arthur and I reviewed your application for a trading company license, from what I saw there is nothing wrong with it. But I must say it is unusual for someone to use the tent as their first shop even if it is enchanted for more space.


    "While it is unusual it is not unheard of as few started like that when the city was being built around a permanent dungeon and because of it there never was any rule against it.


    "And so it is my pleasure to accept your application. I believe you have an application fee of 2000 gold coins which you will need to pay downstairs." After he spoke Arthur took out a piece of paper on which he wrote a few lines of letters. Finally, he took out the stamp and used it on the paper.


    Vilkar could see a few purple sparks shoot into the air after the stamp had hit the paper. When he took the stamp away Vilkar could see the symbol of Merchant Circle.


    Then he gave the paper to Vilkar and spoke, "Here it is, give it to the person at reception with gold coins and your license will be granted."


    After taking the piece of paper Vilkar said his goodbye and walked out of the office. When he came to the reception lines and it was his turn he gave the paper with the money to the receptionist. In exchange, he received glowing parchment with his name and the name of his new company on it.


    "Nice, now I just need the tent to be finished and I can start packing. Now, what is my allocated shop placement?" Vilkar looked for information about locations and then he found it.


    "Not bad, but it could have been batter." While he wasn''t that far from the entrance thanks to his shop being a tent and not taking much space it was slightly overshadowed by a few buildings. But it is still worth it as he is only 84 meters from the entrance.


    ''Maybe poles with signs of my shop on them would be helpful to show directions.'' Vilkar wondered while he walked home.


    After entering his apartment he lay rested on his bed, one of the few pieces of furniture that remained. Soon after he went back and recounted his gold making sure that he did not lose a single coin.


    Later that afternoon he received a magical letter which stated that his tent was finished and he could come to take it and pay the remaining sum of money.


    Vilkar immediately left his home and went to Wizard Tower. When it was his turn he said his order and the receptionist confirmed his identity he paid the remaining sum and was called in the back.


    The tent was disassembled and so it looked like a normal tent for four people. Its poles were one and a half meters long while being folded in half. He could see parts of the black exterior with golden hand prints.


    After he inspected his new tent he took it under his arm and left the building. His next stop would be his allocated place for his tent.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Passing through the guards was slightly strange as he held disassembled tent in his hands but after showing them his license he was allowed to pass and Vilkar was on his merry way.


    Vilkar took the main road to the dungeon and while on it he could see that people were still going to explore. It was already late afternoon and Vilkar could see as the sun was preparing to pass behind Karpane Mountains in the west.


    Berserker tribes would sometimes visit Malka city-state to trade their beast skins for weapons and armor. It was always a sight to see them, while they were humans they were allegedly blessed by the great spirit of bear Ursus.


    While Vilkar never saw any animal spirits he could not deny their existence as after dungeons started to show up much had changed. When he thought about it dungeons served as the first wave of strangeness.


    Berserkers of Ursus could be always seen as they were distinct with their red hair and pale white eyes. Not to mention they usually stood over two meters and fifteen centimeters.


    When meeting berserkers it was wise to first observe them to determine to what tribe they belong. While most of them were calm and not threatening while being in the city some could be hot-headed.


    By their beliefs, Ursus is neither good nor bad but more like nature. Sometimes helpful and kind other times cruel and bloodthirsty, and so two main ideologies arose from it.


    Those that follow the wisdom of the bear are led by their druids to understand nature and seek balance, that is until someone pisses them off and then they start eviscerating limb from limb. While they stand on the light side they still seek to represent all of the aspects of Usus.


    The second ideology is more bloody and primal. It''s mostly the same thing with the exception of sacrifices. They have no problem sacrificing other humans and take their bear symbolism much more strongly as they partake much more deeply in their transformations.


    Another difference is that they also use shamans to communicate with other spirits as well. While they scream about the truth of Ursus they are practical people and will use any advantage they will get as long as it aligns with their ideology.


    Berserkers also held secrets of rune magic, while being more basic of the school of magic it was more natural and powerful than even reality magic. It could reshape very laws of the universe be it magical or physical. Wizard Tower was offering a great sum of money to anyone that would share such secrets, but unfortunately for them, berserkers are not willing to divulge it to anyone.


    There was a rumor that to be able to use runic magic one needed to pass through some bloody ritual and because of it, they are keeping it secret.


    When Vilkar arrived at his allocated place he looked around and saw that next to him was a tavern, "Nice." Vilkar said and started to assemble his new home and shop.


    It was a bell tent and when fully raised its height was around three meters tall. When he entered through the entrance he could see empty counters and a door leading farther back.


    The walls on the inside were much different than on the outside. Here they were made out of wood and looked like a normal wooden buildings. On each side of the room, he could see empty counters, some with racks for weapons and others with holders for different types of armor. On the walls, he could see shelves being hung and from the ceiling, a chandelier hung which illuminated the room in warm golden color.


    He could also see the board on which he could put missions or information for customers.


    When he passed through the door in the back he saw a long hall with a multitude of rooms leading to a vault at the back, "That will come in handy." Vilkar said as he inspected the vault door. Doors in the hall lead to a multitude of rooms, amongst them he found the kitchen, living room, study, toilet, guest room, and dining room which was connected with the kitchen, storage room, and even literal bathhouse.


    Vilkar wondered how it was all operated until he found an operation room in which magic stones were used as fuel for functions and resources of the tent, "It should use space magic for well more space and conjuration magic for water. I can either add magic stones or fuel my own mana for it to continue working. It looks like it has enough juice for two years of operation."

 Zombie Town

    When he went through the kitchen cupboards he was pleasantly surprised to find that they were filled with pans and cooking utensils, "Good I won''t need to buy them anymore." Vilkar said as he went to his new bedroom.


    There he found a super king-size bed next to which he saw a cabinet and on the other side full-length mirror with its frame decorated with engravings.


    Vilkar went to the bed and tested it, he found it satisfactory. Then he stood up and looked for pair of silver keys. Their use was to lock the tent from anyone trying to enter. Next to them, he saw a sign with written words on each side, one side was OPEN and another was CLOSED.


    Vilkar found them in the first part of the tent that will serve as his store. After he exited the tent he hung the sign with CLOSED being shown. Then he taped the entrance with his key and a thin silver chain appeared holding the entrance shut.


    After locking the tent Vilkar went home to pack the rest of his things. He also thought of selling his apartment as he had no more use for it. And its location being far away from the dungeon and any important districts was another downside.


    When he arrived at his apartment he put his clothes in his suitcase and called for a late-night cab using the inhouse phone. Then he went outside for the cab to arrive, "Not having a phone is quite a hindrance." Vilkar said as he finally saw the cab and after showing his identity he put his suitcase into the cab.


    After once again arriving next to the tent he unlocked its lock and started to unpack.


    "Tomorrow I will need to buy a pole to show others my location and also mailbox, not to forget to change my residence."


    When he was done unpacking he went to change his clothes he lay down on his bed. It did not take much time for him to fall asleep as the bed on which he lay was not too soft or too hard.


    The next day he decided to firstly change his place of residence by sending a letter to the one of government offices as he could not be bothered to go in person.


    Then he went to the shopping district and brought a mailbox and a two-and-a-half meter-long wooden pole with an arrow pointing in certain directions. Vilkar then painted the logo of his trading company and went back to his new home.


    There he met the mailbox next to his tent and stashed his pole into the tent for now, as firstly he needed to gather some items to sell.


    And so it was time to visit the second dungeon layer Zombie Town.


    Vilkar then entered his tent and took his warhammer after which he went to the dungeon entrance. After he arrived at the dungeon he could see that there were much more people than last night, which was understandable.


    Not many people explored the dungeon in the middle of the night as most chose to sleep in their beds. But some people were forced to do so, usually, because of lack of money they worked a normal job during the day, and at the night they explored dungeon layers.


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    Most people that did so died soon after as dungeon exploring was a hard and dangerous thing to do, and because they were lacking recourses for equipment and even what they would find would be sold they came to a tragic end.


    What Vilkar did was dangerous but he at least had a proper weapon, even if it was not the best weapon against skeletons.


    After he passed through the entrance into the dungeon he looked over to his left where most of the people congregate. Vilkar could see a board with different missions asking for certain resources or items that could be found in specific layers or groups looking for someone to join them.


    For Vilkar it had no value as he planned to keep everything that he will find and was not interested to join other groups only to share what should be his.


    Before him he could see a multitude of doors all leading deeper into the dungeon, it was there where danger started.


    After passing one of the doors he felt his surroundings shift and as he walked he came to a junction. There were two paths that he could take. One had a skeleton skull hung over it while the other had a sign with Prespor written over it with an image of the town.


    "The path with the skull should be Skeleton Village and the second one is Zombie Town, truth be told it is quite obvious and self-explanatory," Vilkar said as he started to walk through the path to Zombie Town.


    Corridor was dimly lit even though there were no candles or sources of light, walls were made out of smooth dark grey bricks. Soon he found an end to the corridor and behind it a path that led to the walls of zombie town, "So firstly I need to get past the walls to enter the town... but there are few farms on the way there." Vilkar said to himself as he observed his surroundings.


    Before him, he saw a dirt path that led through the farmstead and behind its guard post. Behind them, he could see the gate to the town.


    "From what I know there is no way around it as this is the intended way in. Some tried to go around but they were unable to find an end as if every space around them had stretched.


    "And on the farm, I should be able to find some treasure so it is not that bad," Vilkar said as he started to walk forward.


    Farm buildings were mainly made out of wood, except the main house which was constructed with stones instead. Not bricks but stones stacked upon each other with hey as the roof.


    Vilkar could see the small forest on his right and a lake of water on his left. Occasionally he could see a human-shaped being standing between the trees of forests and what looked like bodies drowned in the lake.


    When he saw them he did not feel the need to explore either of them and continued to walk into the farm. But just as he stood before the entrance to the farm he thought something, "I could just burn down the forest..." Vilkar whispered to himself.


    His eyes lit up as he turned around and carefully walked closer to the forest. Making sure he was not followed or to see if zombies from the forest started to come out.


    When he stood right before the first trees of the forest he summoned hellfire into his hands and started to throw them at the trees. They in turn caught on fire and started to burn. Soon trees next to them started to burn as well.


    It did not take a long time before the whole forest was burning. Then Vilkar could hear the ear-piercing howl of zombies being burned by hellfire.


    "Haha haha..." Vilkar laughed at how easy it was. He watched as flames consumed the whole forest and waited for the flames to die down so he could go look for some type of treasure.


    And sure enough, when the flames stopped spreading and he felt comfortable walking amongst them he went in and was able to find two wooden dungeon chests and one iron one. next to it was a pile of gold and a big pile of ash with gloves in them. They were black with sharp knuckles and fingers ended with pointy ends.


    When he touched the gloves he found out what they were, "Death knights gloves...


    "Death knight?! What is one of them doing here? They should appear on the next layer." Vilkar thought as he realized that on the previous layer, he encounter an altar which also should have not appeared there but on this one.


    "Are they merging?" Vilkar asked himself.

 Empty Handed

    "If they really are merging or monsters are moving from one floor to another it could become disastrous for new explorers." Vilkar thought


    Vilkar emerges from the burned-down forest, the smell of smoke still lingering in the air. He stretches his legs, feeling the tension in his muscles ease as he leaves the smoldering ruins behind while dragging his loot which he bound with a rope.


    In the distance, he can see the murky waters of a river, and he decides to head in that direction. As he walks, he takes in the sights around him - the scorched earth, the charred remains of trees, and the occasional flicker of flame in the distance.


    The sound of shuffling footsteps that hit a bell breaks his reverie. Vilkar stops in his tracks and grips his warhammer tightly. He sees movement in the nearby farmland - a group of zombies, their tattered clothes hanging off their emaciated frames.


    Vilkar knows that he could easily defeat them, but he also knows that it is important to keep his priorities. He casually walks in the opposite direction, keeping a watchful eye on the zombies to make sure they don''t follow him.


    As Vilkar approaches the murky river, he takes in the desolate landscape around him. Dead trees with twisted branches stand like gnarled sentinels along the riverbanks, their bare limbs reaching up to the gray sky. The ground is barren and lifeless, with dried grass crunching underfoot as he moves.


    The river itself is slow-moving and murky, its surface rippling with the occasional breeze. Vilkar can see the reflection of the dead trees on the water''s surface, creating an eerie and unsettling feeling in his gut.


    The air is thick with the scent of decay, and Vilkar can see the bloated bodies of dead animals floating in the river. The sight makes him instinctively hold his breath, trying to avoid the foul smell.


    "I could take the same approach and throw hellfire at it and wait until all of the water evaporates." Vilkar looked around the lake to see anything unusual or extraordinary.


    And so Vilkar decided to make a small attempt as he took the pebble that was laying close by. When he got closer to the water and looked into it Vilkar only saw murky water.


    When Vilkar was about to shift his gaze he saw a sudden movement in the water. He wasn''t able to see it clearly but it looked like a human hand.


    "So there are zombies in the water." Vilkar smiled as he threw the pebble at the place where he saw the hand.


    After the pebble hit the surface of the water it created ripples as it sunk deep down. The next moment Vilkar could just barely see fingers moving just under the surface of the water.


    Vilkar then summoned hellfire into his hands and threw it onto the lake. Flames burned the water with the same ferocity as it with forest.


    Soon the whole lake was enveloped in a fiery inferno. When flames burned nearby bushes he could make the shape of a small boat hidden, "So there was some trick to it." Vilkar said to himself.


    While he waited for the water and zombies in it to burn, Vilkar took a few steps back and sat on the grass. Then he decided to take one of his provisions and eat while watching the fire.


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    Vilkar sits on the shore of the murky lake, the sound of the lapping waves filling his ears. He pulls out his bag of exploration provisions and begins to rummage through it, looking for something to eat.


    After a few moments, he finds dried meat jerky and begins to chew on it. The flavor is not great, but it''s filling and provides him with the sustenance he needs to continue his journey.


    As he eats, Vilkar takes in the view around him. The murky lake stretches out before him, its surface burning. Dead trees line the shore, their twisted branches reaching out like skeletal hands.


    Despite the eerie surroundings, Vilkar feels a sense of peace and contentment wash over him. There''s something calming about the sound of water and the feeling of nature around him. He takes a deep breath, enjoying the damp air, and takes another bite of his jerky.


    After two minutes he heard zombie screams from the lake, but soon after they would stop only to be repeated every few minutes.


    As he sits and eats, Vilkar begins to plan his next steps. He knows that there are dangers lurking in this area, but he''s determined to uncover the secrets that lie within.


    When another fifteen minutes he lay down and observed the sky.


    Vilkar gazes up at the sky, his eyes fixed on the dark, ominous clouds that loom overhead. The sky is a deep shade of gray, and the clouds seem to stretch on endlessly as if they are swallowing up the entire world.


    But amidst the darkness, there are a few places where the sunlight manages to break through. Small pockets of light illuminate the landscape below, casting a golden glow on the trees and fields.


    Vilkar can''t help but feel a sense of awe at the sight before him. The contrast between the darkness and light is stark and striking, and he finds himself lost in thought.


    He wonders what lies beyond the clouds, what secrets and mysteries are hidden away in the depths of the sky.


    But for now, Vilkar is content to simply observe and take in the beauty of the moment. He watches as the sunlight shifts and changes, casting new patterns on the land below.


    Despite the foreboding clouds, there is a sense of hope and wonder in the air.


    It took about half an hour for the whole lake to burn away. When hellfire subsided Vilkar stood up and went to look at the loot he received.


    "No, no, no..." Vilkar repeated as he started at the empty pit where the lake was, "Don''t tell me that it required me to take certain steps for me to receive the reward." Of course, it could have been that the treasure simply burned but Vilkar did not think so as loot in the forest remained unharmed.


    Vilkar sighed and turned around. He sets off towards the farm, his feet crunching on the dried grass and twigs underfoot.


    As he walks, he keeps his guard up, knowing that danger could be lurking around any corner. He approaches the farm, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of movement.


    He knows that nothing here poses any danger to him in the fight but he did not want to risk any surprise attacks.


    The once-beautiful fields are now barren, and the farmhouse itself is in ruins. The windows are shattered, the door hangs off its hinges, and the roof is partially collapsed. Vilkar can see movement inside, however, and knows that he must proceed with caution.


    As he enters the farmyard, he sees that several zombies are wandering around. They are slow and sluggish, but dangerous nonetheless. Vilkar grips his warhammer tightly and begins to move toward them.


    He takes his time, circling around the zombies and waiting for the right moment to strike. With a swift motion, he swings his warhammer, smashing it into the head of one of the undead creatures. The zombie crumbles to the ground, its body twitching as it tries to rise again.


    Vilkar continues to fight, dodging and striking with his warhammer as he moves through the farmyard. He manages to take down several more zombies before they become too overwhelming, and eventually, he emerges victorious.


    Breathing lightly, Vilkar looks around at the devastation around him. The farm was once a place of life and growth, but now it is nothing more than a desolate wasteland, overrun by the undead.


    Vilkar then walks towards the farmhouse and yells, "Come out wherever you are." Vilkar said in hope that he won''t be bothered to look for them. Unfortunately, he saw no movement in the farmhouse.

 Farmstead

    Vilkar approached the farmhouse, taking in its weather-beaten facade and the sagging roof. He could see that the building had seen better days, but he was undeterred. He was on the lookout for loot, and he had a feeling that this place might hold some secrets.


    As he pushed open the creaky wooden door, he was greeted by a musty smell that made his nose wrinkle. The inside of the farmhouse was dimly lit, the light filtering in through the cracks in the wooden shutters. Vilkar''s eyes took a moment to adjust to the dimness, but as they did, he could make out the shapes of old furniture and farming tools scattered about the room.


    He stepped further inside, his footsteps causing the old wooden floorboards to creak and groan. Vilkar''s eyes roamed the room, searching for any signs of treasure or clues to the zombie ambush. He noticed a large, rusted scythe leaning against one wall and a pile of old hay bales in the corner.


    After closer examination, he found out that it was an ordinary object holding no magic or magical properties.


    As he continued to explore, Vilkar heard a faint shuffling noise coming from a nearby room. His heart quickened with excitement as he crept towards the sound, his hand reaching for the hilt of his trusty warhammer.


    With a sudden burst of energy, Vilkar kicked open the door, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of danger. To his surprise, he found himself face to face with a group of zombies, their pale eyes fixed on him with an unquenchable hunger. Vilkar braced himself for battle, ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead.


    As Vilkar stepped forward, his warhammer raised high, the zombies lurched forward with a guttural growl. Vilkar swung his weapon with all his might, sending one of the zombies flying across the room with a sickening crunch. The other zombies closed in, their decaying flesh giving off a putrid stench that made Vilkar''s stomach churn.


    Vilkar ducked and weaved as the zombies lunged at him, his warhammer striking them with precise, powerful blows. The creatures seemed to have no fear, no pain, and no weakness. Vilkar felt a sense of unease creeping over him as the fight wore on. These zombies were different than any he had encountered before. Somehow they were more present, Vilkar could not describe it in any other way.


    With fierce determination, Vilkar continued to fight on, dodging the zombies'' attacks and striking back with his warhammer and burning them with hellfire. He could feel his strength waning, but he refused to give up. He would not let these creatures defeat him.


    Finally, with one last mighty swing of his warhammer, Vilkar dealt the final blow to the last zombie. The creature crumpled to the ground in a heap, its lifeless eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.


    His strength continued to drop even after the battle and he knew that something was wrong. Vilkar hurriedly looked around and was able to see a life-size doll staring at him.


    When his eyes met with the eyes of a doll his strength stoped weakening.


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    The Victorian life-size doll was a sight to behold, with her porcelain skin and delicate features. Her hair was a stark white color, cascading down her back in perfectly coiled ringlets, while her eyes were large and crystal clear, almost unnaturally so.


    Her dress was a masterpiece of embroidery and lace, with intricate designs that seemed to dance in the light. The fabric was a rich, deep burgundy color, and it flowed around her like a river of silk.


    Despite her beauty, there was something unsettling about the doll. Perhaps it was the way her eyes seemed to follow you wherever you went or the fact that her smile never wavered, no matter what was happening around her.


    After he took a few steps forward he raised his hand to inspect the doll.


    "Fascinating..." Vilkar said as he found out what it was.


    "So you are Evangeline... what about Eve?" Vilkar said as he took the doll to his hand and brought it outside.


    It was one of the eldrich creations made by old ones to serve as their spokesmen when they desired to communicate with "lesser creatures".


    With a chuckle as he said, "Looks like I''ve found my new shopkeeper," he said to himself, settling the doll onto the rest of his loot. "What do you think, Eve?"


    "With a little bit of hellish magic, you will make the ideal seller of my loot." Vilkar thought of ways to activate her and made himself her master.


    When he was done he returned to the farmhouse to explore the rest of the rooms.


    Vilkar took a deep breath and surveyed the rest of the farmhouse. It was clear that no one had lived there for quite some time - cobwebs hung from the ceiling and furniture was covered in dust.


    As he began to explore, Vilkar made his way through the abandoned kitchen, where pots and pans lay strewn across the counters. He then moved on to the living room, where a rusted old gramophone sat in one corner and a moth-eaten sofa faced a fireplace, which had long since gone cold.


    Vilkar made his way up the creaking staircase and found himself in what appeared to be a child''s bedroom. A rocking horse stood in one corner, and a faded old teddy bear lay on the bed.


    He moved on to the master bedroom, where a large four-poster bed stood in the center of the room. An old wooden chest lay at the foot of the bed, and Vilkar approached it cautiously. As he opened it, he saw that it was filled with old clothes and a few pieces of jewelry, which he quickly pocketed.


    Finally, Vilkar made his way to the attic, where he found a dusty old trunk. He opened it to find a collection of old books and papers, and he eagerly began to sift through them. Unfortunately, they were ordinary items.


    Finally, Vilkar came to the basement door, which was slightly ajar. He cautiously made his way down the rickety stairs and found himself in a dimly lit room. The walls were lined with shelves filled with jars and bottles of various sizes and shapes. Some contained pickled vegetables, while others held strange concoctions of murky liquids. Vilkar also noticed an old workbench with various tools scattered about.


    As he made his way through the basement, Vilkar suddenly heard a strange noise. He turned around to see two zombie-like creatures staggering toward him. He quickly readied his warhammer and hellfire, preparing to defend himself against the undead enemies.


    As the zombie lunged at him, Vilkar quickly sidestepped to avoid its grasp. He swung his warhammer with all his might, aiming for the creature''s head. The weapon connected with a sickening thud, and the zombie stumbled back, its skull partially caved in.


    But the undead monster was far from defeated. It shook its head, growling in anger as it charged toward Vilkar once again. Vilkar took a step back, preparing for another attack. This time, he aimed for the zombie''s midsection, hoping to break its spine and immobilize it.


    The zombie was surprisingly quick, and Vilkar''s swing missed its mark. The creature grabbed hold of Vilkar''s arm who in return summoned a torent of hellfire in its palm.


    Flames started to burn the zombie until nothing remained, process took less than a second as the flames were exceptionally hot.

 Rage

    After he burned the first zombie to ash he turned his full attention to the second one.


    This one was different, he exhumed bloodlust from his eyes and was wearing armor and holding a sword.


    Vilkar approached the zombie with caution, his eyes locked on its decayed form. The undead creature was heavily armored, its rusted chainmail and dented helmet giving it an intimidating presence. Vilkar gripped his warhammer tightly, ready for whatever the zombie might throw at him.


    The zombie lurched forward suddenly, its sword raised high above its head. Vilkar quickly sidestepped the attack and swung his warhammer at the creature''s side.


    The blow connected with a sickening crunch, sending the zombie stumbling to the side. But the zombie was not deterred. It swung its sword again, aiming for Vilkar''s head. Vilkar ducked under the attack and swung his warhammer upwards, catching the zombie in the chin. The zombie staggered backward, its helmet flying off from the impact.


    Vilkar knew he had to keep the pressure on. He swung his warhammer in a powerful arc, aiming for the zombie''s midsection. The zombie raised its arms to block the attack, but the force of the blow knocked it off balance.


    Vilkar saw his opening and followed up with a quick strike to the zombie''s exposed chest. The blow caved in its ribcage and sent it crashing to the ground. But as Vilkar prepared to finish off the zombie, it suddenly rose up again, its undead eyes glaring at him with renewed hatred.


    Vilkar cursed under his breath and braced himself for another round. The zombie charged forward, swinging its sword wildly. Vilkar dodged to the side and swung his warhammer at the zombie''s arm. The blow connected with a loud crack, causing the zombie to drop its sword.


    But the zombie wasn''t done yet. It grabbed Vilkar with its other hand and pulled him close, attempting to bite him with its decayed teeth. Vilkar struggled to break free, but the zombie''s grip was surprisingly strong.


    Thinking quickly, Vilkar managed to slam his forehead into the zombie''s nose, causing it to release him in surprise. Vilkar then swung his warhammer upwards, hitting the zombie square in the jaw. The blow sent the zombie flying backward, its head snapping back with a sickening crack.


    Vilkar paused for a moment, catching his breath and surveying the scene. The zombie lay motionless on the ground, its armor and weapons clattering uselessly around it. Vilkar felt a sense of relief wash over him as he realized he had emerged victorious.


    But his victory was short-lived. As he turned to leave the area, he heard a faint moaning sound. Looking around, he saw several more zombies emerging from the nearby farmhouse. Vilkar knew he would have to keep fighting if he wanted to survive. He tightened his grip on his warhammer and prepared to face his next challenge.


    The zombie lurched forward, its arms outstretched, its rotting flesh falling off in chunks. Vilkar was ready for it this time, dodging out of the way of its grasp and swinging his warhammer with all his might. The hammer collided with the zombie''s skull, shattering it into a million pieces.


    "You vile scum!" Vilkar yelled as he used his hellfire to coat his warhammer.


    Vilkar knew that was not the end of it. He had encountered zombies before and knew that they could sometimes continue to move even after suffering significant damage. Sure enough, the zombie continued to crawl towards him, its mangled face twisted in rage.


    Vilkar was about to deliver another blow when he felt a cold hand wrap around his ankle. He looked down to see another zombie had crawled out from under the bed and had a hold of him. He tried to shake it off.


    Suddenly, Vilkar felt a sharp pain in his leg as the zombie sank its teeth into him. He yelled out in pain and kicked at the zombie, finally dislodging it from his leg. Blood seeped from the wound, but Vilkar knew he couldn''t let that distract him.


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    Vilkar roared from rage as his surrounding turned blood red and his perception shifted. It seemed as if he grew taller to two and a half meters.


    After sustaining damage and being fueled by rage Vilkar lost control of the primal energy that was in him from the moment he awakened.


    His body grew and his regalia had extended to remain perfectly fit to his physic. Then from his back two pairs of golden bat wings sprouted followed by the tail that ended with two snake heads at the end.


    His feet turned to hoves with obsidian black color. Great pair of golden horns grew from his forehead and pitch-black claws that were ten centimeters in length had grown from his fingers.


    Vilak''s skin turned porcelain white and his eyes started to glow.


    In his frenzy, he jumped at the zombie before him and started to tear him limb from limb. Blood and gore were thrown all around the room as more zombies started to materialize from thin air.


    With a roar, hellfire coated Vilkar''s body as if it was a suit of armor burning anything that touched him.


    What followed could be described as a carnage of slaughter. Vilkar tore, ripped, and eviscerated everything around him. He did not stop to rest or defend himself as rage took control of him.


    Only when the last of the zombies were destroyed and no more appeared his mind had returned to him.


    Vilkar started to breathe heavily as he sat on the floor from exhaustion.


    "W-What happened..."He said tiredly as he started to transform back.


    "Hah haha hahaha" Vilkar started to laugh as he remembered every moment of slaughter.


    "Fascinating, truly fascinating." When he felt better Vilkar stood up and looked for any treasure that was left behind as loot matters most.


    "YES!" he yelled as he saw three iron chests in corner of the room.


    Vilkar carefully approaches the chests, scanning for any signs of traps or other dangers. After finding none, he kneels down and inspects the first chest. It''s surprisingly heavy and appears to be locked, but Vilkar takes out one of his golden keys and opens it.


    He hears a satisfying click and the lock pops open. Vilkar lifts the lid and peers inside. The chest is filled with a variety of items, including gold coins, jewelry, and a valuable-looking gemstone. But its main item is a helmet.


    After the inspection, he founds out that it is one of Death Knight''s sets. "Death knights helmet"


    Vilkar then approaches the second chest which looks the same as the first one. When he put his key into it and turns it around he is able to see its content. There he finds an old-looking sword, "What is this...Old hero sword" After a few moments of wondering he realizes something.


    "It should be one of the quest items." He said happily.


    Quest items are objects that have their powers locked and individual needs to achieve a certain mission to unlock them. Usually, people take those weapons to Wizard Tower for the ritual to reveal what such a quest is.


    For Vilkar it does not have much value as you need to be especially awakened to be able to use it to its full potential.


    Finally, Vilkar approaches the third and final chest. Vilkar takes a deep breath and opens it to reveal its content.


    Pair of blades that after inspection are revealed to be "Assassin''s daggers", "They apply poison... useful in certain situations."


    After inspecting them he once again closes those chests. Vilkar heaves a heavy sigh, wiping sweat from his forehead as he stands over the three iron chests.


    He takes a deep breath, steeling himself for the task at hand. He grabs hold of the first chest and slowly lifts it, the weight straining his muscles as it is much heavier than the wooden one. But with his enhanced strength, it is manageable.


    After bringing it out he returns for the second one and finally the third one. When all of them are safely amongst his loot properly tied up he drags them behind him as he starts to walk out of the farm in the direction of the city walls.


    "hehe, more loot awaits," Vilkar said as joyfully walks forward leaving the memory of his frenzy behind no longer bothering him in favor of all the gold he found.


    The path ahead of him was rough, with overgrown grass and uneven ground. He had to be careful not to trip on any hidden obstacles. As he walked, he kept his hand on his warhammer, ready for any potential danger. The surrounding area was quiet, with only the sound of his footsteps breaking the silence.


    As he walked, the thick fog slowly lifted, revealing the desolate and ruined landscape around him. The few trees that remained were twisted and gnarled, their leaves brown and withered. The ground was littered with debris and the ruins of once-great buildings, now nothing but rubble.


    The eerie silence was only broken by the occasional moan of a distant zombie, and Vilkar kept his senses sharp, listening for any signs of danger.


    Vilkar paused for a moment, staring up at the walls that surrounded the city. They were made of thick stone and steel, with towers and battlements stretching high into the sky. The walls were heavily fortified, with no apparent weaknesses or breaches that he could see.


    Taking a deep breath, Vilkar started walking towards the gates of the city, his heart pounding with anticipation of the gold that was hidden in the city.

 Death Knight

    As Vilkar walked towards the gate of the zombie town, he could see a platoon of zombie guards in the distance. They were clad in rusted armor and held weapons made from the scraps of metal they could find. Vilkar knew he had to be careful not to attract their attention, as the guards were always on the lookout for any living humans who might try to enter the town.


    He walked slowly and carefully, keeping to the shadows and trying to make as little noise as possible. He could see the guards up ahead, milling about outside the gate. They were groaning and shuffling as if they were bored and had nothing better to do. But Vilkar knew better than to underestimate them.


    As he approached, he could hear their rasping breaths and the sound of their rusted weapons scraping against the ground. He took a deep breath and prepared himself for what might come next. He knew that if he was caught, he would be at disadvantage.


    Vilkar crept closer to the gate, keeping his eyes on the guards. They seemed oblivious to his presence, so he continued towards the gate. As he got closer, he could see that the gate was made of thick metal bars, with spikes jutting out from the top.


    As Vilkar approached the zombie platoon guarding the gate, he realized that sneaking past them unnoticed would be difficult. The zombies seemed to be on high alert, scanning their surroundings and occasionally exchanging guttural grunts to communicate with each other. Vilkar knew he had to be careful if he wanted to get through.


    Taking a deep breath, Vilkar moved quietly behind the zombie guards, careful not to make any sudden movements or noises. He moved as silently as he could, relying on the shadows of the buildings to keep him hidden. Slowly but surely, he made his way closer to the gate.


    As Vilkar crept up behind the platoon of zombie guards, he could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He had to time his attack perfectly if he was going to take them by surprise.


    As he approached, he noticed that the zombies were not very alert, probably due to their undead nature. Vilkar took advantage of this and slowly raised his warhammer coating it with hellfire, ready to strike.


    With a sudden burst of speed, Vilkar charged forward and brought his warhammer down on the head of the closest zombie guard. The impact sent a shockwave through Vilkar''s arm, but he managed to maintain his grip on the weapon.


    The other zombies turned to face him, their eyes glowing with a hunger for flesh. Vilkar knew he had to act fast. He swung his warhammer in a wide arc, striking one zombie in the chest and sending it stumbling backward.


    Another zombie lunged at him, but Vilkar dodged to the side and brought his warhammer down on its head, crushing it like an overripe melon.


    The rest of the platoon closed in on him, but Vilkar was ready for them. He used his warhammer to deflect their clumsy attacks, then struck back with brutal force, breaking bones and sending zombie limbs flying.


    Despite their numbers, the zombies were no match for Vilkar''s skill and determination. He fought with a ferocity that seemed to surprise even the undead soldiers, and soon the ground was littered with their broken bodies.


    As the last zombie fell to the ground, Vilkar stood panting and covered in sweat. He looked around at the carnage he had wrought, feeling a sense of satisfaction that he had protected himself and his hard-earned loot.


    As the last of the zombies felt their bodies started to melt until a pull of dark sludge remained from which zombies wearing knight armor exited.


    Vilkar approached the death knight, his warhammer at the ready. The death knight was a formidable opponent, clad in dark, heavy armor and wielding a wicked sword wreathed in black flame. Vilkar knew he would have to be quick and precise to defeat him.


    The death knight charged forward, swinging his sword in a wide arc. Vilkar dodged to the side and brought his warhammer down in a powerful strike, but the death knight parried with his weapon. The force of the blow sent Vilkar stumbling back, but he regained his footing quickly and readied himself for the next attack.


    The death knight unleashed a flurry of blows, each one more deadly than the last. Vilkar managed to deflect several with his weapon, but he knew he couldn''t keep it up forever. He needed to find an opening.


    Suddenly, the death knight let out a deafening roar and charged forward with renewed vigor. Vilkar held his ground and waited for the right moment. As the death knight closed in, Vilkar sidestepped and swung his warhammer with all his might, and flames that were enveloping his weapon was spreading on Death Knight with every strick but somehow he was able to withstand them much better than other.


    ''It should be the armor those pieces that I found previously had good resistance to such things.'' Vilkar thought.


    The blow struck the death knight squarely in the chest, sending him stumbling back. Vilkar followed up with a series of quick strikes, each one landing with a satisfying crunch. The death knight tried to counterattack, but Vilkar was too quick, dodging and weaving around the strikes with ease.


    Finally, with a final, mighty blow, Vilkar struck the death knight down. The dark armor cracked and shattered, and the black flame surrounding the sword flickered and died. The death knight fell to the ground, defeated.


    Vilkar stood panting, his warhammer still raised. He had emerged victorious and from seeing that Death Knight''s shield remained he gained more loot.


    After Vilkar defeated the Death Knight, he noticed a teleport platform had appeared behind the enemy. The platform seemed to have been hidden or inactive until the Death Knight was defeated.


    "Ah, here it is." The second layer was also different with its semy checkpoints that people could take after defeating the boss at certain places. One was at the gate, the second was after the outer part of the city.


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    Vilkar went to his loot and dragged it onto the teleportation platform.


    Without hesitation, Vilkar stepped onto the platform and felt a sudden jolt of energy course through his body. He closed his eyes and braced himself as the teleportation magic took hold. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself back at the dungeon entrance.


    Vilkar breathed in the fresh air as he dragged his loot out of the dungeon. People were once again staring at him but he paid them no attention.


    As Vilkar steps out of the dungeon, he adjusts the rope around his heavy treasure, feeling the weight of the loot he had acquired in the dungeon. The sun would soon set, and the sky was painted in a deep shade of red. He started walking towards his tent.


    After walking for a few minutes, Vilkar sees the faint glow of his tent in the distance. The glow becomes more prominent as he approaches, and he can see the silhouette of his home against the night sky.


    As Vilkar reaches his tent, he takes a deep breath and enters. The interior of the tent is dimly lit, and the air inside is as fresh as the outside.


    When he drags all of his loot into the tent he starts to put the items that he found in the dungeon on shelves and write what they are under them.


    After he is done with it he takes the remaining gold and takes it into his safe where he pours it all out on the ground.


    While looking at all of the gold he collected, he could not help himself but laugh. But after a few moments, he starts to count every single coin.


    One by one, and from the time to time he writes on the paper how much he counted so he wouldn''t get lost.


    "Let''s see... 220 gold coins from wooden chests and 951 gold coins from iron chests, lastly 126 from that pile that I found... that makes it together 1297 gold coins, Hahaha" Vilkar laughed as he took the gold and started to throw it over himself.


    "And now it is time to put the gold curse on them..."


    "When it is done it is time to open Golden Hand trading company so people of Malka city-state could come and enjoy my services."


    He carried the doll to the center of the room and carefully placed her on the ground. He stepped back and looked at her, her white hair and eyes standing out against the dim light. The doll''s features seemed to come alive in the flickering light. He stood there for a moment, silently contemplating the doll.


    Vilkar then took out his devil grimoire, after reading parts of it he went to prepare all of the necessary items that he would need.


    When he was done he stood before the door.


    Vilkar sat cross-legged on the ground, the doll positioned before him. He lit a circle of candles around them, their flickering light casting dancing shadows across the walls of his tent. He closed his eyes and began to chant in a language unknown to mortal ears as it was the language of Devils, the sound of his voice deep and rhythmic.


    As he chanted, he took a small dagger from his belt and made a small cut on his palm. He held his hand over the doll and let a few drops of his blood fall onto it. He continued to chant, his voice growing louder and more intense with each passing moment.


    Suddenly, the doll''s eyes began to glow with a pale white light. Vilkar''s chanting reached a crescendo, and the doll rose up from the ground, hovering in the air before him.


    With a final burst of energy, Vilkar''s chanting came to a sudden halt, and the doll fell back down to the ground. But something was different. The doll''s joints began to move, and it began to walk toward Vilkar.


    He watched with fascination as the doll moved towards him, its movements are jerky and unnatural. But it was alive, imbued with some of his own essences.


    Vilkar smiled, knowing that he now had a powerful tool at his disposal. He commanded the doll to sit down, and it complied. He knew that it would take time to train the doll and teach it how to act as a shopkeeper, but he was patient.


    As he looked at the doll, he knew that it would be a valuable addition to his team and that it would help him in his adventures to come.


    But he was far from done. Why stop now when it is the ideal time to take the first steps of becoming invincible?


    Vilkar took a deep breath and focused his mind on the task at hand. He lit the candles around the doll once again and placed his hands on it. He began to recite the ancient incantation, speaking the words with precision and clarity.


    As he spoke, he poured his energy into the doll, imbuing it with power and strength. The doll began to glow with a faint golden light, and Vilkar knew that the ritual was working.


    He continued to speak the incantation, his voice rising in intensity as he poured more and more energy into the doll. The room began to vibrate with power, and Vilkar could feel the energy coursing through him.


    Finally, he finished the incantation, and the doll was fully empowered. It sprang to life, its eyes gleaming with intelligence and power. Vilkar stepped back, watching as the doll stood up and stretched, its movements fluid and graceful.


    He smiled, pleased with his work. He knew that the doll was now able to defend herself and the shop and that she would be a valuable asset in the days to come.


    But even that was not enough Vilkar let his energy float to the grimoire making it levitate in the air. Its pages started to glow as he spoke incantation, but this time it was different.


    Very air was filled with powers of depravity and vileness. Every breath he took was filled with a taste of cruelty and wrongness.


    Vilkar''s voice became deeper and darker as he continued with his incantations. Soon very lights in the room started to shift and in the shadows, one could see shapes of being that existed in between what, what could be, and what should not be.


    Their dark and twisted form gained strength and in return, Vilkar''s voice gained a new edge, new authority as they acknowledged his existence and cast their sight on him.


    The air around him started to crack with dark energy as the walls around him shook as if in protest. Suddenly space around him turned blood red and blood started to pour from the walls.


    Those shapes in the shadows started to move in a circular motion around Vilkar witnessing his actions in dark delight.


    Soon the blood from the walls and light started to combine in a singular point before Vilkar. He achieved singularity of blood, darkness, and desire.


    Now it was time to put his essence into it, his greed and pride. It would become part of him, his extension and domain. It would become the seed of hell which he would be sovereign eternal.


    His ruler and the doll his first servant. His first creation was born from his essence.


    Vilkar''s mouth widened as he watched the reality around him begin to crack and distort. The once-solid ground beneath his feet seemed to turn to liquid, swirling and shifting like a mirage in the desert. The air around him shimmered and swirled, taking on colors and shapes that were not of this world.


    As he watched, a group of shadowy figures appeared in the distance, chanting in a language that he didn''t understand. They seemed to be the source of the strange energy that was twisting and warping the world around him.


    While he did not exactly understand he knew what they spoke. They acknowledged him and his seed of hell. Vilkar felt all of the chaos around him freeze and in an infinitely small split-off second fused together creating a crimson gem that levitated before Vilkar.


    He did not breathe as he raised his hand and took the gem. It felt warm to touch and while he held it he felt a chorus of bloodthirsty screams pass through him as if a sea of blood was flowing through his heart as if a liquid flame had replaced his own blood.


    But none of it had made him feel any discomfort. All that he felt was raw power and hunger to consume, "heh heh, you are hungry, aren''t you." Vilkar chuckled and said in a satisfied tone.


    When he shifted his gaze from the seed he looked at the doll that stood a few steps before him.


    "Eve." That was all that he said.


    "Yes, my lord." She said in return in a such soft voice that it send shivers across Vilkar''s neck.


    "Soon we will open the shop and you will help me as its shopkeeper," Vilkar said while smiling with joy.


    "Your wish is my command," Doll answered