Becoming the Dark Lord

Charlie opened her system interface. Five skill options appeared when she clicked the level 85 notification for her second class. She had waited on this choice for a while, but now she had finally decided.

[Steel Bastion (Ultra-Rare)]: Through [Steel Fist], by channeling a considerable amount of mana and stamina into your fists, you can unleash blows of immense power. These charged punches can break metal, shatter stone, and damage armor, making this a formidable skill against both enemies and physical obstacles. With this enhancement, however, your fists also become defensive tools, functioning like shields that can block strikes and explosions. In addition, the skin on the pugilist’s arms is temporarily coated in a thin layer of metal.

[Incendiary Flame Fist (Rare)]: The pugilist draws on the power of [Flame], wrapping a fist in searing fire. Each hit deals additional fire damage, with a chance to ignite flammable objects or burn vulnerable enemies. With this enhancement, however, the skill absorbs the power of [Ignite] more effectively. Every punch will now set the target ablaze, and the flames will linger instead of dying out after only a few moments.

[Arcane Power Punch (Ultra-Rare)]: A pugilist does not rely on strength alone. By channeling Vigor and Mana into the fists, each blow becomes a burst of concentrated energy. The impact combines physical force with arcane power, piercing defenses more easily than a normal strike. With enough power, a single punch can break through strong barriers or crush reinforced structures. The more mana invested, the greater the destruction. But be warned: forcing too much mana through the arms can cause internal damage.

[War Roar (Rare)]: The pugilist unleashes a powerful shout that temporarily increases physical strength, amplifying melee damage and enhancing actions that depend on brute force. With this enhancement, the roar also carries a mental attack, frightening enemies with weak morale and potentially inflicting Fear.

[Power Focused Kick (Rare)]: The pugilist channels all strength into a single point, unleashing a devastating kick with brutal force. The blow can stagger the target, break their stance, and interrupt actions. With this enhancement, the pugilist can now channel stamina into the leg itself, strengthening it for truly destructive kicks. The more stamina poured in, the greater the impact, enough to shatter defenses, launch enemies away, or even tear through solid structures.

All five were upgrades to skills she already had in her second class. They were all excellent. Charlie had been torn between the first three ever since her last conversation with Luke. Then she clicked. She had made up her mind.

[Charlotte Vespertilio has acquired the Second Class Skill: Arcane Power Punch]

She can still choose one of the discarded ones when she reaches level 90.

The system would give her one final chance at that milestone, offering every skill she had rejected from level 60 through 85.

“There’s still one attacking up ahead!” Layla shouted.

Eleanor fired arrows at the ones flanking them. The ship could not be destroyed.

Luke looked at Charlie in the middle of that chaos. She ran. Her arm began to glow. Then she jumped, soaring high. The massive shark looked up, opened its jaws, and lunged for her. Charlie hit it with a punch.

[Charlotte Vespertilio has slain a Hammerhead Shark - Lvl 104]

The impact crushed through the shark’s head in a single blow. Blood burst through the water, and Charlie dropped back down, swimming toward the others with that same relentless focus.

“Damn,” Layla said, staring.

“What kind of punch was that?” Evangeline asked. “I wouldn’t want to piss her off if she were my girlfriend.”

“Yeah... I don’t think I want to piss her off either,” Luke said.

The sharks were wiped out. Charlie also took the chance to feed her vampire core. Out of the five Rank D sharks in the water, only one had a beast core.

“Collecting cores reminded me of Jerry,” Evangeline said. “Wherever my old crow friend with the screeching little voice is, I hope he’s okay.”

“And Franky too.”

“Do you think we’ll see them again?”

“If our theory is right, Event 51 removed the Familiars so they wouldn’t starve or die or something. So when this ends, they’ll be back.”

That was their theory. Having a Familiar during Stage 1 or Stage 2, depending on where you were, could easily have meant the creature’s death. Three months trapped in an island challenge, then thrown into the ocean in Stage 2. It would have been too much for most of them.

Charlie handed one of the cores to Luke. “For you, Master Luke. It’ll help make you stronger.”

Luke touched it and absorbed it.

Core: Spectral Beast

Rank: E

Rank D Cores: [32/1000]

Core Skill: [Form Devourer]

Beast Skills: [Spectral Rend (Rare)], [Predatory Sovereignty (Epic)], [Typhon (Mythic)]

Form Devourer: [Deep White Megalodon (Rank E)]

Form Devourer Skills: [Powerful Bite (Common)], [Torpedo Charge (Rare)], [Successive Bite Assault (Epic)]

***

Layla was in the bastard’s room while he worked on one of his insane potions.

“I can’t believe you tricked me!” she snapped.

The deck had ended up covered in shark blood, and that was right after she had finally gotten it spotless the night before, scrubbing away all the slimy plant mess.

“I didn’t even need to clean that stupid sludge! You had telekinesis the whole time!” she said, furious.

As usual, the bastard ignored her, staring into a sheet of algae before dropping it into the cauldron.

“When I went to clean the damn blood, that’s when they told me about your stupid power!”

“Layla, it’s not like I tricked you. You’ve known for a long time that I had telekinesis,” he said without taking his eyes off the pot.

“Yeah, but you could have told me you’d gotten really good at it!”

She looked down at her beautiful princess hands. “I have calluses now, you know!”

He sighed. “I made it clear from the beginning that your role was the parrot.”

A vein throbbed in her forehead.

“But you were really useful, Layla. You cleaned so well, and you looked so happy doing it, I didn’t want to get in the way.”

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“Oh, sure. Right. So you were just messing with me again.”

“And besides, I was using that skill of mine to see through your eyes, so I could spot what needed cleaning. That made it much easier to control objects with telekinesis. You were genuinely helpful, Layla. Honestly, I’d like you to teach me how to clean as well as you do.”

That caught her completely off guard. The bastard was... complimenting her?

She narrowed her eyes, waiting for the laugh. Waiting for him to smirk, mock her, point at her like always. But he did not. Instead, he stopped stirring the cauldron and looked at her with surprising sincerity.

“R-really?” she had to ask.

“Yes.”

He reached into a box and pulled something out. “This is for you, Layla. I made it myself.”

“What is it?”

“Cookies. As captain, I’m officially congratulating you for being the best sailor on the ship this week. You worked harder than anyone.”

Layla stared at him in disbelief. She took the box. It was decorated, too.

“You don’t believe me?” he asked. Then he picked up one of the cookies and ate it. “Look. They’re really good.”

He held one out to her. “Try it.”

Layla was still suspicious, but she took a bite. They’re incredible.

“This is amazing! How did you make these?”

“I like cooking. Did you actually like them?”

“I did. Wow. It tastes like childhood.”

“Then keep working hard if you want to keep winning, sailor,” he said. “But really, thanks for helping me with the ship. I meant it when I said I wanted to learn from you. When you put your mind to something, you do it well. You’re careful. Thorough.”

“I... I just do the basics. I’m not that good,” she said, suddenly embarrassed. “But I’ll keep trying.”

For some reason, the bastard reached out and patted her on the head.

“Good girl. Want more cookies?”

“Yes.”

***

Your second class [Arcane Witch] has reached Level 83! (+12 Intelligence, +10 Wisdom, +7 Perception, +6 Willpower, +5 Agility, +3 Vitality, +2 Endurance, +10 Free Points.)

Luke kicked the body of a Stalker off the ship. It had climbed aboard in silence and hidden itself. They had to stay alert at all times.

“They really look like that lizard professor from Spider-Man,” Artemis said.

“They kind of do, except these ones want to drag somebody down to the bottom of the sea.”

“Then it’s more like that movie with the mute janitor who ends up sleeping with the water monster.”

“I’m almost sure that’s not how the movie ends.”

“And I’m completely sure that’s exactly how it ends.”

An hour later, another Stalker climbed onto the ship. But something else had everyone’s attention.

“I think we found where the Phase 3 Beacons are,” Eleanor said.

Luke stood with the others on deck. There was no way to miss it. A vast city rose out of the ocean, though they could only see its tallest structures. The city was encircled by a wall of jagged stone. Waves slammed against it and broke hard. Shipwrecks littered the waters around it. Anything that drifted too close got dragged by the currents.

“I’ll keep... steering. Watch... the sails... and the pennants...” Anne said from the helm.

If a dangerous current or obstacle appeared, they could turn the sails, and the pennants would generate wind to pull them clear. They kept sailing close to the wall of sharpened stone, following its edge.

“It just keeps going. This city is huge,” Eleanor said.

“There’s no other way in,” Charlie said.

They would have to abandon the ship, get close to the wall, and climb it. But jumping into the water there would have been an invitation to get swept straight into the stone and crushed by the current.

“Can your little shark handle that current?” Evangeline asked.

“I think so,” Luke said.

For two hours they sailed alongside the wall until they finally spotted an opening.

“Some kind of entrance,” Eleanor said.

There was a wooden gate there, or what was left of one. It had clearly once been a massive double gate, but one side was gone, shattered. Beyond it they saw a passage leading into the city. There were no streets. Everything was flooded.

It was like a Venice of towering buildings and colossal structures, an entire drowned city built that way. Empty. Silent. Ancient. Only the sound of the water remained, and the whole place was wrapped in fog. Luke could see well enough with his magic eye, but with his normal eye, visibility was terrible. That was the view the others were dealing with.

“We can get the ship in there,” he said. “But it’ll be a maze between those buildings.”

“Better than leaving our ship out here,” Eleanor said.

A silence settled over them.

They all knew that once they went in, they would not be coming back out anytime soon. Other things were waiting inside. They had already seen the wreckage of ruined ships on the way here, proof that others had tried and died. Entering that city meant accepting that treacherous waters, human enemies, and things far worse would all be waiting for them.

“Jack, this one’s on you,” Eleanor said.

“The tracking thread to my father... it’s not pointing toward the city.” He raised a hand and pointed.

“It’s leading away from it,” Evangeline said. “So what do we do?”

“We’ve got five days left before the end of Phase 3, right?” Charlie asked.

“Right. I think we can afford to spend at least one day looking for Jack’s father. What do you all think?” Luke asked.

“I’m fine with that,” Layla said.

“Me too,” Eleanor said.

Everyone agreed. Relief washed over Jack’s face. “Thank you, everyone.”

For him, every second his father remained in danger had to feel unbearable. So they turned away from the city and sailed in the direction Jack indicated. Luke stayed on deck with them for a while, ready for any threat. None came. After three hours, he headed down toward his room. The moment he sat in the chair, the door swung open.

“We found something,” Eleanor said.

He rose at once, drawing his kukris.

“I don’t think we’ll need those,” she said. Then she hesitated. “And... sorry for opening the door without knocking.”

***

Their ship had anchored at a port on an island.

“There are so many people,” Layla said.

Everywhere they looked, there were ships. The place was alive. It was night, but the island blazed with torchlight. The island itself was enormous, and they were only at the port, where a sprawling village stretched out before them. Bonfires burned everywhere. People were singing. Others were selling fish, clothes, jewelry. It was not chaos. It was a functioning society.

“Holy shit, we got insanely lucky,” Evangeline said.

People were drinking, forging weapons, trading goods. The whole place thrummed with life, and no matter how far Luke looked with his sharpened vision, he saw more of it. More people. More houses. More markets.

“So what do we do? Leave our ship here unprotected?” Charlie asked.

“I... can... stay,” Anne said, tapping the hilt of her sword.

“I-I have to find my dad,” Layla said.

They all looked at Jack.

“Well?” Evangeline asked.

“The locator said my father is here,” Jack replied. “But then it disappeared.”

“The locator thread already did its job, Jack. It brought you into the right area,” Eleanor said. “We need to move fast. If your father boards a ship and leaves the island, that’s it. You’ll have wasted the locator.”

He looked at them, visibly tense. “Can you help me?”

“We don’t even know what your father looks like,” Evangeline said.

Jack tried to answer, but nerves got in the way.

“Where would he be?” Luke asked, trying to help.

Jack looked around helplessly. “I don’t even know where to start.”

“What does... your father... like?” Eleanor asked.

“Being a promiscuous man.”

“Be more specific, Jack,” Eleanor said flatly.

“He’s a retired actor. He likes drinking... and prostitutes. A man walking the path of evil.”

“Okay. A tavern is a strong place to start,” Eleanor said.

Then Luke noticed someone stumbling along in a crooked, uneven walk.

“I can’t believe it. It’s you,” the person said, recognizing him at the same moment.