The wind blows through the arena, carrying with it the echoes of the adventurers' cries of agony as they lie scattered across the ground, their broken bodies scattered to the four corners of this merciless battlefield. The smell of blood and dust saturates the air.

  In the midst of all this chaos, Nolan, his black sword firmly held in his hands, faces the black knight, an imposing ebony blade resting on his shoulder. The ground of the arena is stained with blood, the bodies of the adventurers littering the surroundings, some still moaning, others already silent. The wind blows violently, lifting the dust and sand, forming a misty veil around the two fighters. The black knight, imposing and menacing, fixes Nolan with his empty gaze, an oppressive aura emanating from his dark armor. Despite the fear that settles among the survivors, Nolan remains impassive, his body relaxed but ready to strike at any moment. This is no longer a simple battle, it is a duel between two dark forces, where only one of them will leave this arena alive.

  The black knight disappears in a dark flash and instantly reappears behind Nolan, his blade coming down with devastating power. But Nolan, alert, intercepts the blow with surgical precision, his muscles tense under the impact. The metallic sound of clashing steel echoes in the arena, muffling the groans of the wounded.

  Without wasting a moment, the knight unleashes a series of rapid and brutal attacks, searching for the slightest gap in Nolan's guard. His sword whistles through the air, slicing through space with deadly precision. Yet Nolan, unfazed, parries each assault with uncommon agility, his movements almost unreal fluidity.

  Then, in a flash of dark energy, Nolan materializes behind his opponent, the shadow of his blade descending upon him with incredible power. The knight tries to react, raising his sword just in time to block the attack, but the impact is of immeasurable violence. A shockwave explodes around them, raising a cloud of dust and rubble. The knight is propelled backwards with titanic force, his body crashing violently against the wall of the arena. The stone shatters under the impact, a huge gaping hole forming where he was thrown.

  A heavy silence settles for a moment. Then, from the cloud of debris, a dark figure slowly emerges…

  The Black Knight slowly straightens up, his armor creaking with the effort. A dark aura spreads around him, unleashing a wave of energy so powerful that it sweeps away everything in its path. Azaria, Ruyuk, and the few survivors are thrown violently against the walls of the arena, their bodies hitting the stone brutally before falling back to the ground, groggy.

  Faced with this display of strength, Nolan does not back down. He immediately activates his [Analysis] ability, and a translucent screen appears in front of him, displaying detailed information about his opponent.

  Name: Shadow Knight

  Level: 4

  Hit Points: 2500

  Nolan's eyes narrow as he realizes the challenge that awaits him. But before he can react, the Black Knight raises his sword to the sky, and an oppressive shadow invades the arena. One by one, shadow knights emerge from the void, their black silhouettes materializing around him. In a matter of moments, dozens of them stand before Nolan, their blades glowing with the dark energy that animates them.

  Surrounded on all sides, Nolan grips the hilt of his black sword. A confident smile stretches his lips.

  “Good… I needed a warm-up.”

  The atmosphere becomes electric. Then, in a single movement, the black knights rush at him.

  Azaria and the others, still dazed by the impact of the energy wave, slowly leave the arena, staggering. They take one last look at Nolan, who remains motionless in the center of the battlefield, alone against the army of black knights.

  Silence falls for a moment, only disturbed by the breath of the hot wind that sweeps the arena. Nolan calmly observes his opponents, then raises a finger to one of the knights.

  "Well, before we really start the fight, I have to check a few things," he murmurs.

  In a nonchalant tone, he points at a knight and orders:

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  "Go ahead, attack me."

  Without hesitating, the black knight complies and, in a quick and precise movement, cleanly slices Nolan's right hand.

  The blood doesn't even have time to flow. In a split second, the severed hand instantly reforms under the effect of invisible energy.

  A translucent screen appears in front of Nolan:

  [Regeneration Skill: Activated]

  Note: Each severed body part will be instantly regenerated, as long as there is wind.

  A satisfied smile stretches across Nolan's face. He clenches his fist, testing the flexibility of his newly reformed hand.

  — Excellent, that's exactly what I was hoping for.

  His gaze becomes sharper, and with a fluid movement, he releases his energy. A dark and menacing aura suddenly envelops him, raising the dust around him.

  — Now, let's get down to business.

  Facing him, the black knights raise their weapons in unison, ready to unleash their power. The confrontation can finally begin .

  The black knights rush toward Nolan, their swords slicing through the air with a metallic howl. But he, without a moment’s hesitation, accelerates to meet them, his black sword in hand.

  His body becomes an elusive shadow, weaving between the enemy blades with frightening precision. Each movement is fluid, each blow fatal. A head rolls to the ground, a torso is pierced, a blade cuts through the air to meet nothing but emptiness before its owner is sliced in two.

  In a matter of moments, the dozens of black knights are nothing more than inert carcasses collapsing one after the other, their dark energy dissipating like smoke.

  Nolan calmly wipes his blade, then raises his gaze to the real black knight, still motionless, watching the scene with an impassive air.

  With a nonchalant gesture, Nolan points his sword at him and says with a smirk:

  “Sending your minions instead of fighting me yourself? That’s pathetic. You must be a damn weak boss.”

  His mocking tone echoes in the arena, and a new tension sets in.

  The black knight slowly grips the handle of his weapon. Then, without a word, he raises his gigantic sword.

  The sky turns black, and a dark storm erupts above the arena. Black and white lightning rips through the skies, briefly illuminating the imposing figure of the black knight. His armor absorbs the light, his dark aura crackling around him like a cursed flame.

  With a simple gesture, he swings his sword in Nolan’s direction. A wave of sharp energy, massive and destructive, rushes at a terrifying speed.

  Nolan, in a flash, activates his [Teleport skills] and disappears just before the impact, reappearing on the other side of the arena.

  But when he turns his eyes to where he was standing, his expression freezes for a moment.

  The black knight’s slash has literally annihilated half of the arena. All that remains is a gaping chasm, an expanse of nothingness where the stone itself has been reduced to dust.

  A smile tugs at Nolan's lips.

  "Interesting..."

  The Dark Knight raises his weapon again, ready to strike.

  Nolan calmly observes his opponent, a glint of certainty shining in his eyes. His sword dematerializes, disappearing in a quiver of dark energy.

  He then activates his ultimate skill: [One Strike].

  An overwhelming pressure invades the arena. The black knight, despite his overwhelming power, suddenly falters. His body trembles, his energy crumbles, his dark aura dissipates like ash in the wind.

  A moment later, he collapses brutally. His immense frame crashes against the ground, raising a cloud of dust. His eyes, previously burning with a dark glow, go out in absolute silence.

  [One Strike] is not a simple attack. It is an inevitable death sentence. In an instant, it reduces the hit points and energy reserve of its target to zero, putting a definitive end to his existence without him being able to defend himself.

  Nolan contemplates his work with icy serenity. The fight is over before it has even really begun. As the Dark Knight’s body disappears in a swirl of dark energy, a translucent screen appears in front of Nolan, displaying the rewards obtained for defeating the boss.

  [Rewards Obtained]

  EXP Gained: 5000

  Gold Obtained: 300,000

  Rare Item: [Shadow Knight’s Cursed Sword]

  A sword imbued with a dark force, capable of draining the life energy of enemies with each swing.

  Legendary Item: [Shadow Lord’s Cloak]

  Grants enhanced stealth and reduces physical and magical damage taken by 30%.

  Skill Acquired: [Dark Walk]

  Allows you to instantly move in the shadows and dodge deadly attacks.

  Nolan calmly analyzes the rewards before closing the screen. He puts the [Shadow Lord's Cloak] into his inventory and observes the [Shadow Knight's Cursed Sword], spinning it in his hand.

  A satisfied smile appears on his face. This fight will not have been in vain.

  A new screen appears in front of Nolan, displaying an additional item he had just obtained, the Dark Ring of the Lord of Knights, shining and mysterious, surrounded by a dark aura.

  [Item Obtained]

  Dark Ring of the Lord of Knights

  Grants its wearer increased resistance to magic attacks and an increase in the attack power of dark-type skills by 30%.

  At the same time, a massive treasure appears before him. Shields of gold and sapphire, gleaming swords, precious-looking chests, and precious stones of all kinds are scattered around him. The place, which seemed deserted and devastated just a few moments ago, is now invaded by the wealth of the treasure guarded by the Lord Knight.

  [Lord Knight's Treasure]

  Gold and Sapphire Shields x5

  Gold Swords x4

  Mystical Chests x3

  Gemstones (Rubies, Emeralds, Sapphires) x7

  The screen then confirms the rewards obtained:

  You have earned the merit of having the treasure guarded by the Lord Knight.

  Nolan, with a quick gesture, puts all the fortune he has collected into his storage dimension, his nimble hands manipulating the objects with deadly precision. The golden shields, the gleaming swords and the precious stones disappear in a mysterious mist, well protected in his personal space. He takes one last look at the devastated arena, his sword still in hand, before approaching the body of the Lord Dark Knight.

  With a cold voice, marked by the domination he imposes, he addresses the remains of the knight:

  "Rise, now you are my servant."

  The body of the knight seems to respond to the call, slowly dissipating into the shadows, as if sucked by an invisible force. The last vestige of the powerful enemy melts into the darkness, absorbed by the implacable will of Nolan, who now has a new servant under his domination.

  Without waiting, Nolan turns and leaves the dungeon, the light of day hitting his face as he joins the others outside. Azaria and the other members of the group, still shaken by the magnitude of the fight, watch him, their eyes mixed with gratitude and awe for the man who, once again, saved them.

  The ground beneath their feet, still scarred by the battle, seems calmer now, but Nolan knows that this is only the calm before the next storm. The secrets of the dungeon are now his, and his power only grows.