Era of Players: Death God

After hours of relentless combat, Noah had gone on a frenzy of slaughter across the ninth floor. From A-rank monsters to C-rank creatures, he carved his way through the wilderness, pushing both his abilities and his stamina to their limits.

Despite slaying dozens of monsters, his level rose by only one, a harsh reminder of how grueling progress was in the Master Realm. However, the true reward wasn't his level—it was his stats, which had skyrocketed thanks to Soul Ascension. Each powerful enemy had added to his strength, widening the gap between him and his peers.

[System Notification:]

Level Up! You are now Level 62.

■ Status Window

Name: Noah Adler

Rank: Master

Level: 62

Class: Angel of Death

Title: Goblin Slayer

☆ Stats ☆

Mana: 182 (+7)

Strength: 188 (+9)

Intelligence: 149 (+2)

Dexterity: 183 (+7)

Luck: 126 (+2)@@novelbin@@

Stat Points: 2

Coins: 37,060 G

His progress was undeniable. Every fight honed his skills, every kill boosted his stats, and every step brought him closer to dominance.

Now, he stood before the massive iron doors of the mini-boss room on the ninth floor. The oppressive aura emanating from beyond the doors was enough to make even the strongest adventurers hesitate. But not Noah.

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He placed a hand on the cold surface of the door, his black sword Nemesis glinting ominously at his side. The room promised danger, but it also promised rewards—and perhaps the challenge he'd been craving.

"This is it," he muttered, a determined glint in his eyes. "Time to see what this floor has to offer."

With a push, the doors creaked open, revealing the darkness within. Noah stepped inside, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

The massive iron doors creaked open with a resounding echo, revealing a cavernous chamber bathed in a hellish red glow. The temperature spiked instantly, the oppressive heat rolling out like waves from a furnace. Noah stepped inside, his black sword Nemesis in hand, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight before him.

Towering at the center of the chamber was the Fire Drake, a monstrous, serpent-like beast with wings that spanned half the room. Its scaled body shimmered with a fiery glow, each scale appearing as if it had been forged in molten lava. Smoke curled from its nostrils, and its yellow eyes glowed like twin suns, locking onto Noah the moment he entered.

The monster let out an ear-splitting roar, flames erupting from its mouth as if to mark its territory.

"A mid-rank A boss," Noah muttered, gripping Nemesis tighter. "Perfect."

The Fire Drake didn't wait for pleasantries. With a feral snarl, it reared back, opening its massive maw to unleash a torrent of fire. The flames roared toward Noah like a tidal wave, the intense heat threatening to melt the very air around him.

Noah reacted instantly. Activating Shadow Steps, he vanished from his spot, reappearing several meters to the side. The flames slammed into the ground where he had been standing, leaving a smoldering crater in their wake.

Without missing a beat, Noah charged forward, his feet barely touching the ground as he closed the distance between himself and the Fire Drake. His sword glinted as he activated Splitting Ripple Slash, sending a wave of slicing energy hurtling toward the monster.

The attack struck the Drake's flank, earning a roar of pain as a shallow wound appeared on its molten scales. But the beast was far from done. It spun around with surprising speed, its tail whipping through the air like a battering ram.

Noah ducked under the massive appendage, feeling the rush of air as it narrowly missed him. He retaliated with a quick slash to its exposed belly, but the blade barely cut through the thick scales.

"Tough hide," Noah thought, leaping back to reassess.

The Fire Drake roared again, its wings unfurling as it took to the air. Hovering above the ground, it began spewing smaller, concentrated fireballs, each one homing in on Noah with terrifying accuracy.

He weaved through the onslaught, his Presence Detection skill allowing him to predict the trajectory of each attack. Still, the sheer heat of the room was taking its toll, beads of sweat dripping down his face as he dodged and parried.

"Time to turn up the pressure," Noah muttered, activating Mana's Armor. A shimmering, translucent layer of energy enveloped his body, shielding him from the brunt of the heat.

Seizing an opening, Noah dashed forward, his sword glowing with the energy of Fangs of Insanity. He leaped high, bringing Nemesis down in a devastating arc aimed at the Drake's neck.

The attack connected, sending a shockwave through the chamber as the blade carved a deep gash. The Fire Drake screeched in agony, its flames momentarily faltering as it crashed back to the ground.

But it wasn't defeated yet. The beast retaliated with a sudden burst of flame from its body, a fiery explosion that sent Noah hurtling backward. He hit the ground hard, rolling to his feet just in time to avoid a crushing stomp from the Drake's massive claws.

The battle continued in a relentless dance of attack and evasion. Noah cycled through his arsenal of skills:

Telekinesis allowed him to hurl loose chunks of molten rock at the Drake, distracting it while he repositioned.

Flame Art let him manipulate the ambient fire, redirecting some of the Drake's flames back toward it.

Unprecedented Sense kept him one step ahead of the Drake's attacks, allowing him to predict its movements with uncanny precision.

Despite his efforts, the Fire Drake's strength and durability were formidable. Its scales seemed impervious to most of his attacks, and its relentless flames left little room for error.

As the fight dragged on, Noah realized he had to end it quickly. His stamina was draining, and the oppressive heat was beginning to seep through even his Mana's Armor.

"Enough holding back," he said, his voice calm but resolute.

Dodging another fiery swipe, he positioned himself beneath the Drake's exposed underbelly. Gathering all his remaining strength, he channeled his mana into Splitting Ripple Slash, amplifying it with his full power.

"This ends now!"

The slash tore through the air, its sheer force splitting the flames around it. The attack struck the Fire Drake's vulnerable belly, ripping through scales and flesh with a deafening crack.

The Drake let out a final, guttural roar, its massive body collapsing to the ground in a heap. Flames flickered and died around it as the light faded from its eyes.

Noah stood over the fallen beast, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths. The room was eerily quiet now, the oppressive heat slowly dissipating.

[System Notification:]

Congratulations! You have defeated the Fire Drake, a mid-rank A boss monster.

Experience gained: Significant.

Soul Ascension activated: +3 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Mana.

A faint glow surrounded Noah as the stat boosts took effect. He opened his Status Window, satisfied with the new increments.

"One more step closer," he said, wiping the sweat from his brow.

The Fire Drake's body disintegrated into mana particles, leaving behind a chest that shimmered with golden light. Noah approached it, anticipation bubbling within him. Whatever lay inside was bound to be worth the effort.

"Let's see what this floor has to offer." He opened the chest, ready to claim his reward.