Becoming the Dark Lord

Luke entered the cabin bedroom and found Charlie sleeping peacefully. It was morning, and it was his turn to guard the cabin from the monster hordes. He looked at his sleeping girlfriend and failed immediately at resisting temptation. A moment later, he climbed into bed and slipped under the blankets beside her.

“Master Luke…?” Charlie murmured sleepily, turning toward him.

“Did I wake you? Sorry. I was only planning to sleep with you for ten minutes.”

Charlie blinked at him, still half-asleep. “I liked… last night.”

“You did?”

“You… called me Charlie Moon,” she said.

She had looked so happy when he said it, too.

“Well, since you’re awake, Charlie Moon, what do you want to do now?”

She hugged him tightly, rubbing her head against him while breathing in his scent.

“Sorry, the System doesn’t understand that weird form of communication you use,” he teased.

“I just want to hold on to my… husband. But I also want a good morning kiss.”

“A good morning kiss? That’s easy enough to fix.”

Charlie closed her eyes and leaned closer, bringing her lips toward his.

Then she opened them again. “Master Luke, I think I hear something approaching the cabin.”

Luke stared at her. “Ah… seriously?”

“Yes.”

“These damn hordes are getting way too constant.”

“I should go,” she said, starting to get up.

“No, I’ll go. It’s my shift.”

Luke climbed out of bed.

“I’ll make breakfast while you handle it,” Charlie said.

“Damn it. Those guys made me lose a kiss from Charlie.”

She stepped closer and pulled him toward her. When her lips were close enough to make him think she might actually kiss him properly, Charlie turned at the last second and kissed his cheek instead.

“You can give me the kiss when your shift is over and you come have breakfast with me.”

When Luke left the cabin, he was considerably more motivated to kill monsters. While fighting the beasts, he pushed his kukris as far as he could. It was a test. He kept applying [Force Infusion] and [Mana Infusion] to the blades again and again. Before, he never would have done something like that because of the risk of breaking them, but now that the weapons had [Blood Repair], he could use them without worrying as much.

Once the last monster died, Luke examined the kukris. The blades were slightly worn. He drove them into one of the corpses.

“I need to figure out how to activate that feeding skill.”

The weapon had grown stronger that way, though its appetite seemed annoyingly selective. Luke had asked Angie for a few tips about her Spirit Tool, and she had told him that the best way to master and evolve the weapon was to listen to its inner voice and understand what it wanted. That was how he would learn how to give the weapon its version of experience points.

Angie’s method involved magical energy and determination. Mine is murder and a few special types of enemies. Maybe the weapon wants powerful prey?

It was only a theory. Luke opened the skill notification he had unlocked at level 90 of the Witch class and looked over the long list. It contained every skill he had refused from levels 60 through 85.

“There are way too many options.”

After everything he had gone through and all he had learned about the System, Luke could now feel, at least vaguely, which skills had the potential to develop further along his own path. But right now, he was unsure. He tapped on a few of them and began reading them again.

[Enhanced Witch’s Thread (Rare)]: The Witch enchants a knife so that, when thrown, it generates a thread of condensed mana connected to the blade. When the knife strikes a solid surface within a range of ten meters, the thread automatically anchors itself to the weapon, linking it back to the Witch’s hand. This thread allows the Witch to pull herself away or shift position rapidly in combat, reaching elevated places, escaping enemy attacks, or repositioning in the middle of chaos. In addition, the end of the thread that remains in the Witch’s hand can be attached to an object or creature. When the thread is retracted, the bound target is pulled toward the knife, provided its weight and resistance allow it. The thread’s structure is unstable and falls apart after a few seconds, demanding precision in the throw and good mana control to use effectively.

[Enhanced Witch’s Gaze (Rare)]: The Witch focuses mana into her eyes, making her vision sensitive to the energy around her. While the skill is active, she can see objects attuned to mana, allowing her to identify magical items, hidden traps, concealed mechanisms, and disguised passages with greater accuracy. By focusing on a solid surface, the mana gathered in her eyes allows her to see through walls and obstacles, revealing outlines, shapes, and movement on the other side in a visible way. A Witch must always be observant and cunning. This skill reflects her natural curiosity and her ability to see beyond the obvious.

[Enhanced Curse (Rare)]: The Witch conjures a curse in the palm of her hand, inflicting intensified curse damage on anyone she touches. A single touch is enough to make the target’s flesh erupt in far sharper pain, as though the cursed energy were burrowing deep inside. Even after contact is broken, the curse lingers for a short time, causing the target to continue suffering residual pain and damage before it finally fades.

[Enhanced Telekinetic Impulse (Rare)]: The Witch infuses telekinetic power into a thrown weapon at the moment of release, increasing its speed and range even further. The weapon retains all the force of the original throw, but gains a mental burst that heightens its impact. In addition, the Witch can apply a second telekinetic boost mid-flight, extending the distance traveled even farther without losing speed, efficiency, or force on impact.

[Black Gleam (Uncommon)]: [Shadow Ball] gains the additional effect of Gleam. At the moment of detonation, the sphere of shadow releases a sudden flash that dazzles and temporarily disrupts the vision of nearby targets. In addition, the fire of Shadow Ball gains a small damage bonus against undead.

[Basic Appearance Shift (Ultra-Rare)]: A Witch is not always satisfied with her own appearance, whether out of lust or the need for disguise. Through deep mastery of mana, she learns to alter aspects of her form. A Witch may change the color of her hair with a simple touch, taking on any shade she desires. Her eyes may also change color, and even her voice can be altered to mimic one she has already heard. The transformation is illusion-based and not permanent. To maintain the effect, the spell consumes a small amount of mana. An ideal skill for disguise and infiltration.

[Beldam (Ancient)]: A power meant for Witches who understand the value of appearance. Whether she is an old crone in the woods who devours children or a manipulator seeking entry into courts and noble salons, beauty can be a powerful weapon. Upon acquiring this ability, the Witch’s skin becomes smooth and renewed, erasing scars and wrinkles and restoring youthful features. Natural signs of aging are reversed, transforming even an old witch into a young and alluring figure. But such power demands devotion: from time to time, sacrifices must be offered to the Demoness Beldam. Eternal beauty is always within reach... after all, you are already an assassin.

[Accumulated Curse (Rare)]: The power of [Curse] is strengthened. The damage it deals increases, and linked abilities such as [Cursed Object] and [Throw Cursed Object] receive an additional power bonus. In addition, victims affected by Curse remain under its effects longer than they normally would.

[Curse Objects (Rare)]: By using the power of [Curse], the Witch can imbue an object with a curse. Anyone careless enough to touch it will suffer the effects. Useful for protecting valuable items or setting traps for enemies.

[Blazing Curse (Rare)]: The Witch channels a volatile fragment of her curse into a thrown blade. When it strikes, the curse ignites on impact, setting the target ablaze and dealing damage over time. The flames can spread easily to nearby victims who come into contact with them.

[Curse Scream (Rare)]: The Witch learns that the voice can be a weapon, and hearing can be turned into an opening for attack. By screaming, the Witch pours the power of [Curse] into her voice, causing enemies who hear it to suffer the pain of the curse through sound itself, along with confusion.

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[Sleep Curse (Uncommon)]: Can induce sleep in weaker, lower-level creatures. The Witch has learned from mistakes and missed opportunities, and now she can put certain enemies in her path to sleep.

[Black Flame Torrent (Epic)]: Sometimes a fireball is not enough. This skill allows the Witch to fire a stream of flame from one hand born from a [Shadow Ball], unleashing a torrent of black fire capable of incinerating enemies and everything in its path. Although the flames burn out quickly after use, their temperature is far greater than that of ordinary fire, and they also hinder the regeneration of any target they strike. A spell that reveals the Witch’s most destructive side.

[Mirror Step (Rare)]: Allows the Witch to step into mirrors or other reflective surfaces, such as water. Once inside, she can hide from enemies and even remain concealed while the reflection itself is moved, making this skill extremely useful for infiltration, assassinations, or tormenting those foolish enough to stare into a mirror for too long.

[Telekinetic Arcane Tentacles (Epic)]: Your mastery over mana allows thick arcane tentacles to rise from the ground through [Mana Infusion], after which they can be controlled mentally through [Enhanced Telekinesis]. They are useful both for restraining enemies and for attacking, giving the Witch extra weapons on the battlefield and reducing her opponents’ advantage. The number of tentacles depends on your mana control and the requirements of the linked skills, but the more that appear, the harder they become to control with precision.

[Cursed Healing (Rare)]: [Despair Aura I] gains an additional effect. Enemies affected by your presence will feel pain whenever their wounds are healed, as long as they remain near the Witch. A perfect skill for confusing healers, disrupting recovery, and spreading even more fear and despair across the battlefield. After all, few things please a Witch more than watching hope turn into suffering.

Refusing any of these skills again means saying goodbye to them for good.

He nearly hesitated before making his choice.

[You have acquired the Class Skill: Basic Appearance Shift]

“Goodbye, Telekinetic Arcane Tentacle.”

[The skill has been strengthened by the Paths of Alchemy]

Luke pulled off his eyepatch. And now, he understood mana a little better. How it moved through his body. How it functioned inside him. How to transmute what some people might call matter, though only his own.

“Transmutation is resonating well with this skill.” He brought a finger close to his own eye. “I can’t change the color of the archangel eye.”

Luke touched his other eye, the one that had originally been dark brown, and shifted it to a shade of blue.

“Now no one can figure out I have heterochromia.”

Then he touched his hair and turned it blond.

“Holy shit, that’s cool.”

With the power of alchemy guiding the skill, he understood how to use it even to alter the tone of his skin. After changing his hair back to its natural color, he kept experimenting.

“I think I can use Transmutation a lot better now.”

The main reason he had chosen that skill was simple. Wearing an eyepatch or having heterochromia made his identity far too distinct. With traits like that, it would be too easy to track him down.

***

Luke and Charlie were eating lunch outside. They had moved the table there, and both of them were already wearing their gear. There was no time left to stay comfortably inside the cabin. The hordes were no longer appearing with any clear pattern.

“I need to decide carefully which skill I’m going to choose,” Charlie said.

“Yeah. And even if we end up separated for some reason, choose anyway, Charlie.”

They were talking about her level 90 vampire skill.

“This is a huge chance for me to get a lost skill from the Path of the Vampire.”

“If you want my advice, it has to be that skill.”

“I think so too.”

That night, Luke was making potions. By infusing mana into his mixtures, he had begun strengthening them beyond their original limits. On the table sat a small vial filled with yellow liquid.

“I need sugar.”

He wanted to test something. For now, though, he went back to working with the yellow liquid. It was the Sea Guardian’s liquid adrenaline.

[You have successfully created a potion!]

**Your profession [Guardian Botanist of Mother Freya] has reached Level 83! (+5 Strength, +3 Agility, +4 Vitality, +4 Intelligence, +12 Free Points)**

***

Luke crouched at the top of a tree, watching Charlie face off against a muscular humanoid monster with the head of a seahorse. It wielded a hammer, knocking aside her sword strikes with brutal force.

[Trident Sea Knight - Lvl 111]

Luke dropped in and cut across its side with his kukri, then struck its leg. The creature grunted in pain and swung for him. Suddenly, water wrapped around the hammer, and the monster spun fast, the surge of water blasting from the weapon and turning it into something like a tornado.

Luke and Charlie both retreated. The monster advanced, hammering down again and again with frightening speed.

“Small. So small. Irritating little creatures.”

Charlie blocked a strike with her sword, and the monster followed with a rapid series of blows. Luke threw his kukri into the gilled side of the creature’s neck. Blood sprayed. A heartbeat later, he struck the monster from behind. She seized the opening, spinning in close and cutting across the beast’s stomach.

“You were smart,” Luke said. “You sent your horde to attack from one side and keep us busy, then tried to sneak in from the other to destroy the cabin.”

The monster dropped to its knees. Blue blood poured from the wound in its stomach, and the hammer slipped from its hand.

“But we’re better.”

“May the abyss drown you...” the monster began.

It never finished. Charlie spun and severed its head.

[Charlotte Vespertilio has slain a Trident Sea Knight - Lvl 111]

Charlotte Vespertilio’s Class [Blood Death Knight] reached Level 89! (+18 STR, +10 INT, +8 END, +8 VIT, +4 AGI, +2 PER, +10 Free Points.)

[Charlotte Vespertilio has unlocked a new skill.]

And with that, the horde was defeated.

“We did it,” Charlie said.

[Dungeon Challenge 3: Protect the Cabin from the Monster Hordes]

[Time Remaining: 0 Weeks : 1 Day : 17 Hours : 14 Minutes : 23 Seconds.]

“Another knight dead.”

That made two. Three still remained.

“If we didn’t have good perception skills, that knight would’ve destroyed the cabin,” Luke said, crouching to pick up the hammer. “And we would’ve failed the challenge and died.”

He stored the hammer in his pocket dimension. He had already taken the spear from the previous knight.

“There are still three of them left,” Charlie said.

“We can’t slip up. I’m going to meditate and recover the mana and stamina I spent.”

Luke sat down in front of the cabin. The knights could only appear once per horde, but nothing stopped them from coming one after another. With time running out, Luke suspected they would save their move for the final day, during the last remaining hours. That was what he would do if he were on the other side. Make the enemy waste every resource they had.

“They don’t need to kill us, Charlie. They only need to destroy the cabin. If you hear anything strange, tell me. Even if it’s just a branch making noise in the forest.”

“I will, Master Luke.”

She leaped onto the roof of the cabin. Her senses were better than his, so she could take the best position. Five hours passed, and no horde came. Luke had recovered what he had lost. Charlie climbed down from the cabin, spread a cloth on the ground, and took out some fruit.

“What are you doing?”

“A picnic,” she said.

“A picnic?”

Charlie set down one of the glass plates Luke had made for her and arranged several cut sandwiches on it.

“Keep paying attention to our surroundings.”

“I am paying attention, Master Luke.”

“My concern is a Trident Knight with a ranged weapon. Now we know they can change weapons.”

“At least a spear and a hammer.”

The little bat girl bit into an apple. Charlie tapped the skill notification.

“Do you think I should choose the skill now?”

“It’s the last skill for this class before you evolve. I’d suggest waiting until we finish this Beacon. Then we can think calmly about the possible uses for each option. Right now, we need to stay alert.”

“You’re very serious sometimes, Master Luke.”

He started to answer, then stopped. “I guess I get too focused sometimes. But I have reasons.”

“We can handle the enemies. The two of us make a good team.”

“All right, but don’t focus too much on reading.”

“He really does have the vibe of an old, pragmatic, paranoid man,” Artemis commented.

“But he looks cute like this when he makes that face,” Charlie said.

“I’m still here...”

Charlie tapped the notification for her new skill, and five options appeared.

[Blood Bond Expansion (Ancient)]: The Blood Familiar deepens its bond with the knight even further, while also gaining greater autonomy through its connection to the Blood Core. The requirement to remain near the Blood Death Knight in order to continue existing is removed, allowing the familiar to move freely away from its master. The maximum distance it can travel now scales with Perception.

[Dual Blood Swords (Epic)]: Sometimes, one sword simply isn’t enough. The Blood Death Knight awakens a new combat style, gaining the ability to wield two swords at once. The harmony between both blades makes the knight faster and deadlier on the battlefield, increasing combat speed and opening the way to a far more aggressive fighting technique. While using two swords, attacks gain a small additional damage bonus that scales with Lethality, Agility, and Perception. A technique that reminds the knight that the blade should be every bit as deadly as the will behind it.

[Blood Death Soldier (Ancient)]: The Blood Death Knight understands that not every battle deserves direct attention. By concentrating the power of [Sword Drain Vampire], the knight drives their sword into a corpse, corrupting it with the familiar’s cursed vampiric blood and transforming it into a Blood Death Soldier bound to their will. The soldier returns with 60% of the body’s original level and retains the basic combat ability of the main class it possessed in life. It also receives a bonus equal to 20% of the Blood Death Knight’s class level, up to the skill’s limit. Each active soldier requires 10 Willpower to keep under control, limiting how many can be commanded at the same time. Once destroyed, the soldier vanishes, but not before trying to carry out its commander’s final order to the very end.

And the last two were the most powerful, and most dangerous, skills that had ever appeared for Charlie.