《Calamity Player: Crashing the Multiverse [LitRPG Cyberpunk]》 From Zero to Calamity - Ironhold Goes Boom Luke Kain''s life had gone to hell, and he knew it. At twenty-four, he was trapped in a cramped Chicago apartment that reeked of week-old pizza and failure. His hoodie hadn''t seen the inside of a washing machine in days, nacho crumbs still clinging to the fabric. The glow of his monitor cast shadows across his unshaven face¡ªa face that had forgotten what hope looked like. He''d once dreamed of gaming glory¡ªbecoming a legend, gathering millions of fans, his name chanted in Discord servers worldwide. Reality had other plans. Forty-seven followers watched him fumble through games, and half of those were probably bots. Tonight''s disaster was Ironhold Fortress, a brutal steampunk nightmare that had crushed him six consecutive times. The chat window exploded with mockery: "Does Kain even have hands?" "Just quit already, you''re painful to watch!" "Total garbage. Delete your account." Luke''s fist came down hard on his desk, sending beer sloshing over his keyboard. "Think you''re clever, don''t you? Watch me tear through this fortress, then you can all shut up!" He hit respawn, his character materializing on screen¡ªa disheveled punk wielding a notched sword. The copper walls of Ironhold towered above, slick with industrial grime. Airships growled through smog-filled skies as massive gears ground relentlessly. He wasn''t skilled, just too stubborn to surrender. He took one step forward. The screen went black. An ear-splitting alarm tore through his headset: "WARNING: CALAMITY GAME SYSTEM FAILURE. PLAYER LOGOUT DISABLED. REAL-WORLD BODIES LOCKED." "What the¡ª" His chair vanished beneath him. He plummeted through darkness, wind slapping his face. "Is this another stupid glitch?" he shouted into the void. A mechanical voice answered: "Emergency transfer initiated. Destination: Ironhold Fortress. Prepare for impact." He slammed into cobblestone, face-first. His nose crunched, hot pain spreading across his face. Blood trickled between his fingers as he clutched his injury. "God¡ª" This wasn''t virtual pain. This was real. Scrambling to his feet, he found himself surrounded by rusted towers piercing a smoke-filled sky. Steam hissed from fractured pipes while the air hung heavy with oil and soot. Above, massive airships drifted like predators, casting shadows over streets patrolled by armored guards. A blue notification hovered before his eyes: [System Alert: NPC Consciousness Awakened. Player Survival Rate: 5%. Estimated Players Trapped: 8,472,193.] "Eight million people? Five percent survival?" Luke felt his stomach knot as he struggled to breathe. "Am I dreaming, or is this actually hell?" Calamity Game had consumed the world¡ªa virtual universe where players caused destruction for points. But this was different. His physical body was trapped somewhere¡ªa hospital bed, maybe worse¡ªwhile he stood here, flesh and blood. "Eight million trapped souls... I need to survive this." Heavy footsteps approached. A squad of Ironhold guards surrounded him, their armor clanking with each step. Their leader stepped forward¡ªa mountain of muscle with a face crosshatched by scars and a sneer that could curdle milk. "Look what we found¡ªa pathetic player begging for death," he growled. "Bow down, vermin, or I''ll carve you up for the gears." His voice carried an unusual edge, as though tasting freedom for the first time. One guard muttered to another, "No more scripts¡ªwe''re finally free," his eyes burning with newfound awareness. Luke wiped blood from his chin, forcing a grin. "Bow? Why don''t you bend over instead, Captain Rust-Bucket?" He wasn''t brave¡ªjust too angry to submit. It reminded him of school, mouthing off to bigger kids, taking beatings to prove they couldn''t break him. "I''ve died in this fortress a hundred times on my screen¡ªI know every corner of this place. You''re just another obstacle." The captain''s face darkened. "Gut him!" Spears thrust toward Luke''s chest. He stumbled backward, tripping over debris¡ªclassic Luke, choking when it mattered most. "Not again¡ª" A golden flash exploded in his mind: You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. [Calamity System Activated!] [Host: Luke Kain | Class: Calamity Apostle (Unique)] [Level: 1 | EXP: 0/100] [Skill Unlocked: Calamity Descent (Lv1) - Destroy target, absorb power. Range: 10m. Cost: 20 Energy] [Stats: Strength 5, Agility 5, Intellect 10 | Energy: 100/100] [Note: System anomaly detected¡ª''Original Code'' fragment active.] "A system?" Luke''s laugh was tinged with panic. "Some broken game code coming to my rescue?" All those hours in Ironhold, memorizing spawn points and patrol routes¡ªperhaps they meant something now. His hands trembled as he snapped his fingers. "Calamity Descent¡ªwork, damn it!" The street erupted. A void¡ªblack as midnight and crackling with energy¡ªopened beneath the captain''s feet. He stumbled, spear half-raised. "What¡ª" The rift consumed him, his armor crumpling like paper, blood spraying across the stones. His body crashed against a wall, lifeless. A notification appeared: [Enemy Slain: Karl (Lv15) | EXP +50 | Current: 50/100] [Absorbed: Ironclad Might - Strength +10 | New Strength: 15] Luke flexed, feeling the raw power flow through his muscles. "That actually worked?" The remaining guards stood frozen, jaws slack with shock. Luke caught his breath, heart hammering against his ribs. "I did that. Maybe I''m not completely worthless after all." He cracked his knuckles, voice shaky but defiant. "Who wants to be next?" "Kill him!" they roared, charging with spears aimed at his heart. Luke steadied himself and shouted, "Calamity Descent¡ªnow!" His energy dropped to 80. The cobblestones exploded¡ªdebris sprayed outward as guards dissolved into crimson mist, ten vanishing in an instant. Notifications flashed: [Enemies Slain: Ironhold Guards x10 (Lv10) | EXP +100 | Current: 150/100] [Level Up! Lv1 ¡ú Lv2 | Stats +5 | Skill Point +1] [Absorbed: Gear Sense - Intellect +10 | New Intellect: 20] Luke pushed his bonus points into Agility¡ªhis legs tingled with newfound speed, now at 10¡ªand narrowly dodged a stray spear. "Too slow!" The town square had become a smoking crater, airships wobbling unsteadily above. He leaned against a wall, breathing heavily, surveying the destruction. "I''ve died here countless times... now I''m the one doing the killing." His emotions swirled¡ªfear, excitement, disbelief. "This is insane, but I''m just getting started." The air thickened with tension. A figure emerged through the smoke¡ªfiery red hair whipping in the wind, mechanical armor gleaming with deadly purpose. She stopped several paces away, her gaze cold and calculating. "Filthy player," she spat, voice sharp as broken glass. "You''ve destroyed my streets¡ªhomes where my people live. Surrender, or I''ll reduce you to ash." [Enemy Detected: Elisa Stern, Vice-Commander (Lv20)] [Stats: Strength 25, Agility 15, Intellect 20 | Skill: Mech Barrage] Luke straightened, offering a crooked smile. "Reduce me to ash? I''ll turn your fancy suit into scrap metal first." His enhanced intellect pieced together what he was facing. He''d encountered her type in-game: determined, intelligent, defending this fortress like it was her life''s purpose. Her armor hummed as weapon ports opened. "Die!" she commanded. Rockets screamed toward him, leaving fiery trails. He ducked, his improved agility barely saving him, heat scorching his arm. "Calamity Descent¡ªnow!" His energy dropped to 60. A void opened mid-air, swallowing the rockets. Elisa''s eyes widened. "Impossible¡ª" The void redirected her attack¡ªstraight at her squad. The explosion tore through her guards, sending metal fragments flying, silencing screams before they finished. The blast wave threw Elisa into rubble, her armor cracking, health reduced to a sliver. Notifications appeared: [Enemy Defeated: Elisa Stern (Lv20) | EXP +100 | Current: 250/200] [Level Up! Lv2 ¡ú Lv3 | Stats +5 | Skill Point +1] [Absorbed: Barrage Mastery - Control explosions, Range +10m] Luke approached, kicking debris aside. "Big talk for someone eating dirt." Elisa dragged herself upright, blood trickling from her mouth, rage burning in her eyes. "Not finished yet!" She slammed her damaged armor, a panel opening¡ªa sparking explosive rolled toward him, fuse hissing. Luke''s smile faltered, then returned with renewed confidence. "Still fighting, I see." He gestured, his new Barrage Mastery activating¡ªenergy dropping to 50. He caught the bomb mid-roll, hurling it back. The explosion sent Elisa flying backward, crashing hard, her health nearly depleted, armor failing. A notification appeared: [Additional Damage Dealt: Elisa Stern | EXP +20 | Current: 270/200] "Stay down," Luke warned, testing his Barrage Mastery. A nearby tower exploded¡ªflames lighting the sky as ash rained down. "Looks like I own this place now." Elisa glared, coughing blood. "You''re a monster. Ironhold''s people will die without protection." Her gaze shifted to dark fissures spreading across the ground, tendrils of void energy writhing outward. Luke followed her line of sight, his smile fading. "What is that?" [System Alert: Void Breach Detected. Source Unknown.] "Die?" He laughed, hiding his trembling hands. "That''s your problem, not mine." But internally, reality struck him¡ªEight million trapped. Five percent survival. I''m dead unless I keep fighting. "I''ll blast my way out¡ªor take this whole place down trying." The ground shook violently. A massive shadow loomed¡ªsteam-powered, towering three meters tall, eyes glowing crimson. Commander Grey Ironwall stomped forward, bellowing, "Worthless player! You''ve desecrated my city¡ªI''ll have your blood!" [Enemy Detected: Grey Ironwall, Fortress Commander (Lv30)] [Stats: Strength 40, Agility 10, Intellect 25 | Skill: Steam Crush] [Task: Defeat Grey | Reward: EXP +200, Skill: Ruin Touch] Luke''s heart raced, but he smiled defiantly. "Big guy, aren''t you? Let''s see if you bleed steam or blood." His energy slowly rebuilt to 55. He raised his middle finger, thinking of everyone who had ever laughed at him. This was his moment¡ªfrom nobody to conqueror. Grey charged, each step fracturing the street. Luke braced himself, muttering, "Time to tear this place apart." Ironhold was about to meet its reckoning. Chapter 2: Steam Titan Smackdown
Luke Kain was still catching his breath, slumped against a busted wall in Ironhold Fortress, hands shaking like he¡¯d chugged ten energy drinks. The square was a smoking hole¡ªbits of Karl¡¯s goons splattered across the rubble, air thick with ash and blood-stink. He¡¯d just bombed the hell outta that smug captain and flattened Elisa¡¯s mech ass, his energy ticking back from 50 to 55. He grinned, panting hard. ¡°Holy shit, I¡¯m on fire today!¡± But before he could enjoy it, the ground started shaking¡ªbig, ugly stomps thundering closer like a train off the rails. Grey Ironwall stomped into view¡ªa three-meter steam-powered monster, all iron slabs and hissing pipes, red eyes glowing like a pissed-off demon. He roared, voice rattling Luke¡¯s teeth: ¡°You little shit! You trashed my city¡ªyour blood¡¯s mine now!¡± One massive boot slammed down, cracking the street into a mess of fissures, steam blasting out like a volcano ready to pop. Luke¡¯s HUD flared: [Enemy Detected: Grey Ironwall, Fortress Commander (Lv30)] [Stats: Strength 40, Agility 10, Intellect 25 | Skill: Steam Crush] [Task: Crush Grey | Reward: EXP +200, Skill: Ruin Touch] ¡°Lv30?!¡± Luke¡¯s throat went dry, heart slamming against his ribs. ¡°This dude¡¯s gonna turn me into roadkill!¡± But he flashed a crooked grin, flipping Grey the bird. ¡°Big ugly, huh? Let¡¯s see if you can catch me, steam-breath!¡± His legs were wobbling¡ªhell, he was scared shitless¡ªbut he¡¯d been talking smack through beatdowns since grade school. No point stopping now. Grey didn¡¯t bother replying. He charged, ground quaking like a damn disaster flick. Steam shot from his pipes, hot enough to melt asphalt. Luke dove sideways, Agility 10 saving his ass as the spot he¡¯d been standing on blew into chunks. ¡°Fuck me, that was close!¡± He scrambled up, brushing off dirt, brain spinning¡ªIntellect 20 kicking in like a shot of adrenaline. ¡°Strength 40, Agility 10¡ªhe¡¯s a tank, not a racer,¡± Luke muttered, dodging another stomp that smashed a wall to dust. Grey swung a fist the size of a car, steam trailing it like a freaking comet. Luke ducked, heat scorching his hoodie. ¡°Too slow, dipshit!¡± He bolted back, eyeing those pipes¡ªbig, clunky, leaking steam. This guy was a walking boiler, and Luke knew boilers could blow. ¡°Calamity Descent¡ªlet¡¯s pop this can!¡± Luke snapped his fingers, energy dropping to 35. A black void ripped open under Grey¡¯s feet, crackling like a live wire. It clawed at his legs¡ªbut Grey stomped hard, steam blasting out, and the rift fizzled like a wet firecracker. Nothing. The HUD pinged: [Target Resisted: Grey Ironwall | Damage Negated] ¡°Are you kidding me?!¡± Luke¡¯s jaw hit the floor. ¡°This bastard¡¯s tougher than a brick shithouse!¡± Grey laughed, a deep, rumbling growl, and stomped closer. ¡°Your puny tricks ain¡¯t shit, kid!¡± He slammed both fists down¡ªBOOM¡ªsteam and stone erupted in a shockwave, hurling Luke ass-over-head into a pile of rubble. Health dropped to 80%, and he groaned, spitting blood. ¡°Ow, you oversized asshole!¡± Luke dragged himself up, wiping his mouth. ¡°Okay, steam-douche has armor¡ªand a bad attitude.¡± His gut screamed I¡¯m screwed, but his mouth wouldn¡¯t quit. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, big guy? Too much hot air slowing you down?¡± The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Grey snarled, charging again, slower but like a damn freight train. Luke¡¯s brain clicked¡ªthose pipes were the key. ¡°Steam Crush needs juice, right? Let¡¯s see you run dry!¡± He darted left, weaving through the wreckage, baiting Grey into a tight alley he¡¯d died in a dozen times before. The titan lumbered after, pipes hissing, but his fat frame scraped the walls, slowing him to a crawl. ¡°Got you, you clunky piece of junk!¡± Luke spun around, skidding to a stop. ¡°Calamity Descent¡ªpipes only!¡± Energy hit 15, and the void snapped open, zeroing in on the tubes jutting from Grey¡¯s back. This time, it stuck¡ªmetal screamed, pipes exploded, steam spraying like a busted hose. Grey roared, stumbling hard, health dropping to 90%. The system sang: [Damage Dealt: Grey Ironwall | HP -10% | EXP +50 | Current: 320/300] ¡°Hell yeah, baby!¡± Luke whooped, fists pumping. ¡°How¡¯s that feel, you steaming pile?!¡± Grey turned, sluggish now, steam leaking everywhere. ¡°You¡¯re dead, punk!¡± He slammed a fist into the ground, a steam wave rolling out¡ªLuke jumped, Agility 10 barely clearing it, landing with a stumble. ¡°Energy¡¯s at 15¡ªshit¡¯s getting dicey,¡± Luke growled, glancing around. The alley was trashed¡ªbroken crates, a rusty cannon lying sideways from some old fight. His eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re toast now, buddy!¡± He bolted for the cannon, Grey huffing after him, pipes spitting weak. Luke grabbed the barrel, hands slick with sweat. ¡°Barrage Mastery¡ªtime to spice this up!¡± Energy ticked to 10 as he juiced the cannon¡¯s blast, aiming at Grey¡¯s busted pipes. BOOM! The explosion ripped loose, slamming into the titan¡¯s back¡ªmetal shredded, steam burst like a geyser, and Grey crashed to his knees, health tanking to 60%. The HUD went wild: [Critical Hit: Grey Ironwall | HP -30% | EXP +100 | Current: 420/300] [Level Up! Lv3 ¡ú Lv4 | Stats +5 | Skill Point +1] Luke staggered back, grinning like a psycho. ¡°Eat that, you rusty fuck!¡± He dumped the stats into Intellect¡ªnow 25¡ªbrain buzzing like a damn supercomputer. Grey hauled himself up, pipes half-gone, but still coming. ¡°I¡¯ll smash you flat!¡± he bellowed, charging with a limp, fist cocked back. Luke¡¯s grin slipped. ¡°Still alive? You¡¯re one tough bastard!¡± He dodged the punch, steam scalding his arm¡ªhealth to 70%. Energy crept to 15¡ªnot enough for a big hit, but he wasn¡¯t out. ¡°Think, you idiot!¡± His eyes caught something¡ªblack tendrils slithering from a void fissure nearby, same creepy shit from before. ¡°Hang on¡­¡± Luke¡¯s mind raced. ¡°If I can¡¯t bomb him out, maybe that can.¡± He sprinted, luring Grey toward the fissure. ¡°Come on, steam-breath¡ªcatch me if you can!¡± Grey chased, slower, steam fading. Luke slid to a stop, inches from the void, and taunted, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Tank running on empty?¡± Grey roared, lunging¡ªstraight into the fissure. Tendrils shot out, wrapping his legs, yanking him down. He thrashed, steam sputtering, health dropping fast¡ª50%, 40%, 30%. Luke flicked his wrist, energy at 5. ¡°Barrage Mastery¡ªend this shit!¡± He snagged a leftover blast from the cannon wreckage, chucking it into the void. BOOM! The explosion rocked the alley, tendrils snapped, and Grey¡¯s health zeroed out. He sank, howling, into the black. The system screamed: [Enemy Slain: Grey Ironwall (Lv30) | EXP +200 | Current: 620/400] [Level Up! Lv4 ¡ú Lv5 | Stats +5 | Skill Point +1] [Skill Unlocked: Ruin Touch - Destroy on contact, Cost: 30 Energy] Luke hit the ground, panting, energy at 5, health at 65%. ¡°Take¡­ that¡­ you steaming junk pile.¡± He looked up¡ªvoid fissures were spreading, tendrils snarling louder. Elisa limped over, bloody but kicking, glaring daggers. ¡°You dumbass¡­ you just made this worse.¡± Luke smirked, too wiped to snap back. ¡°Worse? I just won, Red.¡± But the ground shook again¡ªsomething bigger was coming. Chapter 3: Void鈥檚 First Bite
Luke Kain was still cackling, sprawled on his ass in Ironhold Fortress¡¯s trashed alley, Grey Ironwall¡¯s steaming corpse sucked into the void fissure like a bad memory. Energy sat at 5, health at 65%, and he was grinning like a lunatic who¡¯d just won the lottery. ¡°Take that, you steaming junk pile,¡± he wheezed, chest heaving. Elisa limped over, her mech armor sparking, red hair a tangled mess, glaring like she¡¯d choke him with her bare hands. ¡°You dumbass¡­ you just made this worse,¡± she growled, pointing at the fissures splitting wider, black tendrils snarling like they were pissed and hungry. Luke¡¯s laugh cut off as a massive claw¡ªbigger than Grey, bigger than anything he¡¯d seen¡ªpoked out of the fissure, void energy crackling like a storm. The ground shook harder, splitting the street apart. Elisa grabbed his arm, yanking him up. ¡°Run, you moron!¡± ¡°Run?¡± Luke yanked free, wild-eyed, grin back full force. ¡°I¡¯m just getting started, Red!¡± His HUD blared: [System Alert: Void Incursion Critical. Elite Entity Approaching.] Before he could spit another quip, the claw ripped through¡ªattached to a hulking void beast, eight feet of spiked nightmare, no eyes, just a maw of jagged teeth drooling black acid. The fissure puked out a swarm of smaller void freaks behind it, all claws and snarls, skittering like roaches on a bender. [Enemy Detected: Void Elite (Lv30)] [Stats: Strength 35, Agility 20, Intellect 15 | Skill: Acid Rend] [Enemy Detected: Void Spawn x20 (Lv15-20)] ¡°Oh, come the fuck on!¡± Luke yelped, stumbling back. ¡°What¡¯s this, the void¡¯s welcome party?!¡± The elite roared, claw slashing¡ªLuke dove, Agility 10 barely dodging as acid splattered, sizzling the cobblestone where he¡¯d stood. Health ticked to 60% from the splash. ¡°Alright, ugly¡ªlet¡¯s party!¡± ¡°Calamity Descent¡ªchew this!¡± Energy dropped to 0, a black void tearing open under the elite. The rift snapped at its legs, shredding spikes and goo¡ªhealth dropped to 80%. It screeched, pissed, but didn¡¯t go down. [Damage Dealt: Void Elite | HP -20% | EXP +75 | Current: 695/400] ¡°Still kicking, huh?¡± Luke growled, energy dry. The swarm rushed him¡ªclaws slashing, teeth snapping. Elisa swung her busted mech arm like a bat, smashing a spawn into black paste. ¡°Move, you idiot!¡± she barked, dodging a claw herself. ¡°They¡¯ll rip us apart!¡± ¡°Rip us? I¡¯m ripping them!¡± Luke shot back, spotting a cracked steam pipe from Grey¡¯s wreck, still hissing hot. ¡°Time to cook, assholes!¡± He bolted over, a spawn claw grazing his leg¡ªhealth to 55%¡ªand slammed his hand on the pipe. ¡°Ruin Touch¡ªblow it!¡± Energy ticked to 5 and dropped to 0, the pipe exploding in a steam-and-metal storm, shredding half the swarm into gooey chunks. The HUD screamed: The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. [Enemies Slain: Void Spawn x12 (Lv15-20) | EXP +300 | Current: 995/400] [Level Up! Lv5 ¡ú Lv6 | Stats +5 | Skill Point +1] ¡°Steam-fried void snacks¡ªdelicious!¡± Luke cackled, dumping the stats into Agility¡ªnow 15¡ªlegs buzzing like they¡¯d been turbo-charged. He darted through the mess, claws missing him by inches. The elite lumbered forward, roaring, acid dripping like a busted faucet. Elisa smashed another spawn, panting hard. ¡°You¡¯re gonna get us killed!¡± ¡°Killed? I¡¯m the grim reaper here, Red!¡± Luke grinned, energy at 5. The elite swung¡ªa claw the size of a fridge¡ªLuke rolled, Agility 15 dodging clean, but the acid splash hit his arm¡ªhealth to 45%. ¡°Son of a¡ªBarrage Mastery¡ªlight him up!¡± He flicked his wrist, energy dropping to 0, snagging a stray spark from the pipe blast and hurling it at the elite¡¯s drooling maw. BOOM! The fireball erupted, acid igniting into a screaming inferno, health crashing to 50%. [Damage Dealt: Void Elite | HP -30% | EXP +100 | Current: 1095/600] ¡°Burn, you slimy fuck!¡± Luke howled, staggering back. The elite thrashed, half its face melted, but it wasn¡¯t done¡ªclaws slashing wild. Elisa tackled him out of the way, both hitting the dirt as the claw smashed a wall to dust. ¡°Stay down!¡± she snapped, shoving him off. ¡°Down? Watch this!¡± Luke sprang up, spotting an airship wreck nearby, fuel tank leaking like a drunk¡¯s bottle. Energy ticked to 5¡ªhe was running on fumes but didn¡¯t care. ¡°Calamity Descent¡ªbig boom!¡± The void ripped open under the tank, energy hitting 0, and the fuel ignited¡ªKABOOM!¡ªa fireball swallowed the elite and the last spawns, void goo and flames mixing into a glorious mess. The elite¡¯s health zeroed out, collapsing in a sizzling heap. The system went ballistic: [Enemy Slain: Void Elite (Lv30) | EXP +200 | Current: 1295/600] [Enemies Slain: Void Spawn x8 (Lv15-20) | EXP +200 | Current: 1495/600] [Level Up! Lv6 ¡ú Lv7 | Stats +5 | Skill Point +1] [Level Up! Lv7 ¡ú Lv8 | Stats +5 | Skill Point +1] Luke hit his knees, laughing like a maniac, health at 45%, energy at 0. ¡°Who¡¯s the snack now, huh?!¡± He dumped the stats into Strength¡ªnow 20¡ªfists feeling like they could punch through steel. The alley was a graveyard¡ªvoid guts steaming, airship wreck blazing. Elisa dragged herself up, glaring. ¡°You¡¯re a disaster.¡± ¡°Best damn disaster you¡¯ll ever see,¡± Luke wheezed, smirking. But the fissures pulsed louder¡ªa deep, guttural roar echoed from below, shaking the whole fortress. His HUD flashed red: [System Alert: Void Overlord Detected. Prepare for Incursion.] Luke¡¯s smirk froze. ¡°Overlord? Oh, you¡¯ve gotta be kidding me!¡± A shadow loomed from the fissure¡ªbigger, meaner, and pissed. Chapter 4: Overlord鈥檚 Welcome Party Luke Kain was still on his knees in Ironhold Fortress¡¯s trashed alley, laughing like a psycho, health at 45%, energy zilch, when the ground gave one last shake. He¡¯d just torched a void elite and its swarm of drooling freaks¡ªLv8, EXP at 1495/600, fists buzzing with Strength 20. ¡°Who¡¯s the snack now, huh?!¡± he¡¯d cackled, catching his breath. Elisa stood over him, mech arm dangling, glaring like she wanted to punt him into next week. ¡°You¡¯re a disaster,¡± she¡¯d snapped, voice hoarse. But then it hit¡ªa roar so deep it rattled his bones, echoing from the void fissure he¡¯d been eyeballing. His HUD flashed red: [System Alert: Void Overlord Detected. Prepare for Incursion.] Luke¡¯s smirk froze as that massive claw from before ripped the street wide open, pavement flying like shrapnel. ¡°Overlord? Oh, you¡¯ve gotta be kidding me!¡± he yelped, staggering up. A shadow loomed¡ªbigger, uglier, and meaner than anything yet¡ªten meters of spiked void muscle, three gaping maws drooling acid, claws like freaking scythes. The fissure pulsed behind it, spewing more tendrils that snarled like they were starving. [Enemy Detected: Void Overlord (Lv35)] [Stats: Strength 45, Agility 25, Intellect 20 | Skill: Abyssal Roar] Elisa grabbed his arm, yanking him back. ¡°Run, you moron!¡± she barked, voice cracking. The overlord¡¯s roar hit¡ªa wave of void energy slamming them both off their feet. Luke crashed into rubble¡ªhealth to 35%¡ªspitting dirt. ¡°Run?!¡± he laughed, wild-eyed, shoving her off. ¡°I¡¯m blowing this ugly bastard to kingdom come!¡± Energy ticked to 5¡ªnot much, but he¡¯d make it work. The overlord charged, claws slashing¡ªLuke rolled, Agility 15 dodging by a hair, acid splashing the wall behind him, melting it into goo. ¡°Calamity Descent¡ªeat this, you void freak!¡± Energy hit 0, a black void ripping open under the beast. It roared, tendrils thrashing as the rift chewed its legs¡ªhealth dropped to 90%. [Damage Dealt: Void Overlord | HP -10% | EXP +75 | Current: 1570/600] ¡°Not enough?!¡± Luke growled, ducking a claw swipe¡ªhealth to 30%. The overlord¡¯s maws snapped, acid spraying like a busted pipe. Elisa swung her mech arm, cracking a tendril off, shouting, ¡°You¡¯re gonna die, dumbass!¡± ¡°Die? I¡¯m the one killing here!¡± Luke shot back, spotting a wrecked airship¡¯s fuel tank from the last fight, still leaking. Energy crept to 5¡ªhe grinned like a maniac. ¡°Barrage Mastery¡ªlight it up!¡± He flicked his wrist, energy dropping to 0, juicing the fuel into a fireball¡ªBOOM!¡ªflames roared, scorching the overlord¡¯s side, health tanking to 70%. Acid ignited, sizzling the street. [Damage Dealt: Void Overlord | HP -20% | EXP +100 | Current: 1670/600] Stolen story; please report. [Level Up! Lv8 ¡ú Lv9 | Stats +5 | Skill Point +1] ¡°Hell yeah, barbecue time!¡± Luke whooped, dumping the stats into Strength¡ªnow 25¡ªfists feeling like goddamn hammers. The overlord roared again, void energy pulsing¡ªLuke and Elisa flew back, slamming into debris. Health dropped to 25%, Elisa¡¯s mech arm snapping off completely. ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡± she coughed, glaring. ¡°Insane¡¯s how I win, Red!¡± Luke laughed, energy at 5. The overlord lumbered forward, claws slashing wild¡ªLuke darted, Agility 15 weaving through, grabbing a chunk of Grey¡¯s busted steam pipe. ¡°Ruin Touch¡ªblow this shit!¡± Energy hit 0, the pipe exploded¡ªsteam and shrapnel blasted the overlord¡¯s chest, health crashing to 50%. [Critical Hit: Void Overlord | HP -20% | EXP +150 | Current: 1820/600] [Level Up! Lv9 ¡ú Lv10 | Stats +5 | Skill Point +1] ¡°Take that, you drooling asshole!¡± Luke roared, dumping stats into Agility¡ªnow 20¡ªmoving like a greased bullet. The overlord¡¯s maws snapped, tendrils lashing¡ªLuke dodged, acid grazing his leg¡ªhealth to 20%. ¡°Close one, ugly!¡± Energy ticked to 5¡ªhe was running on fumes but didn¡¯t give a damn. Elisa staggered up, grabbing a fallen spear. ¡°You¡¯re out of juice¡ªmove!¡± She chucked it, spearing a tendril¡ªbuying him a second. Luke¡¯s eyes locked on the airship wreck¡¯s engine, still sparking. ¡°Out? Watch me cook!¡± He sprinted over, void claws slashing air behind him, and slammed his fist down. ¡°Ruin Touch¡ªend this freak!¡± Energy dropped to 0, the engine BOOMED¡ªa massive explosion engulfed the overlord, fire and void goo mixing into a glorious mess, health plummeting to 20%. [Critical Hit: Void Overlord | HP -30% | EXP +200 | Current: 2020/1000] [Level Up! Lv10 ¡ú Lv11 | Stats +5 | Skill Point +1] Luke stumbled back, laughing like a nutcase, health at 20%, energy dry. ¡°Burn, you void bitch!¡± He dumped stats into Intellect¡ªnow 25¡ªbrain buzzing like a live wire. The overlord thrashed, half-melted, roaring¡ªLuke grinned, spotting a void fissure pulsing nearby. ¡°Time to finish this party!¡± ¡°Calamity Descent¡ªsayonara!¡± Energy ticked to 5 and hit 0, void ripping open under the overlord¡¯s feet. It screeched, claws clawing air as the rift swallowed it¡ªtendrils snapped, acid sprayed, health zeroed out in a glorious crunch. The fissure sucked it down, sealing with a pop. The system went ballistic: [Enemy Slain: Void Overlord (Lv35) | EXP +300 | Current: 2320/1000] [Level Up! Lv11 ¡ú Lv12 | Stats +5 | Skill Point +1] [Level Up! Lv12 ¡ú Lv13 | Stats +5 | Skill Point +1] [Looted: Void Shard - Energy +50 | New Energy Max: 150/150] Luke collapsed, cackling, health at 20%, energy at 0 but max bumped to 150. ¡°Who¡¯s the king now, huh?!¡± He dumped stats into Strength¡ªnow 35¡ªfeeling like he could punch a goddamn mountain. The alley was a steaming void graveyard¡ªoverlord gone, tendrils smoked. Elisa limped over, glaring, mech suit trashed. ¡°You¡¯re a walking apocalypse.¡± ¡°Damn straight,¡± Luke wheezed, smirking. But the ground rumbled again¡ªfissures pulsed, a new shadow stirring deep below. His HUD flashed: [System Alert: Void Nexus Activated. Incoming Transmission Detected.]