The [Hollow Baron] wielded a large sword very similar in shape to the [Ember Knights], it seemed greatswords were a popular weapon where they came from.

  But it was very different to the weapons of the knights. It seemed to be made from the same material that the Baron was made from. A hard, inexorable crystal.

  The Baron noticed it's gaze, and displayed a level of sapience Dorian did not know was possible from dungeon-spawn.

  "Feast your eyes on the ultimate weapon. Created by the forefather of my title, when he died, he sacrificed his body as his forefathers did for him, and imbued himself in this sword passed down for generations. Yes... feast your eyes on [Evershard] - a blade that never dulls."

  With that, he spun the weapon round with ease, and charged at Dorian with incredible speed, he was caught completely off-guard by the sudden attack.

  Luckily, Isolde and Dain were not. Dain blocked the attack with his hammer, and Isolde stabbed into the ribs of the crystal specimen.

  Dain was pushed back several feet, his hammer cracking slightly, Isolde's rapier bent unnaturally and snapped.

  With inhuman speed, the Baron spun and backhanded Isolde, then turned into Dain and kicked the large man with extreme power, they both were sent shooting away like ragdolls, and Caroline huried to go and help.

  The [Hollow Baron] rolled it's shoulders, it didn't seem to have joints that required such a movement, so it seemed the action was purely a show of confidence and ease. It turned toward Dorian once again.

  "You seem to be the strongest here, I don't know what happened to the other man who was here before, it seemed he fled. What a coward. I commend you for not following in his footsteps, unfortunately, I cannot spare you. Perhaps if this were not a dungeon - and I was not forced to kill - I would spare you. Alas, this is not the situation we were in, in appreciation of all of you standing your ground and standing together, I will deliver a quick death."

  Once again, the Baron shot toward Dorian. But this time, Dorian had learnt from his previous mistake and was ready. He held his shortsword in front of him already, and as the creature neared within striking distance, he used his so far successful strategy with [Spacerend].

  His blade struck out, seemingly a much too powerful block of the Baron's incoming attack that would leave him over-extended afterward. This was clearly what the Baron was expecting to happen as well, as a small smirk appeared on his face as his body caught up with the events that had already happened in his mind.

  Dorian did not give this too much thought, and activated [Spacerend].

  Time again slowed until it stopped, and he was in the now familiar state of suspended animation.

  He willed his sword forward, it passed through the massive [Evershard] and found itself in a fatal striking position.

  Time resumed again, and his sword burst with momentum toward the side of the Baron's chest, a shocked look passed over the Baron's face as he was so easily struck by Dorian.

  Dorian smirked, gotcha.

  The blade slammed into the skin of the Baron, and his arm jarred so heavily that he dropped the sword.

  What? I can't penetrate it's skin? But... my Strength is so high. Is it really impossible for me?

  Dorian now looked at the eyes of the [Hollow Baron], they too, were empty.

  A sad smile appeared on his face.

  "A commendable attempt. That skill of yours is quite powerful, but it still is not enough when your Strength isn't enough to even scratch me."

  The Baron's sword flashed.

  Dorian stood unmoving, and then his body fell, his head falling the other way.

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  Two seperate thumps sounded out as head and body fell to the floor before the [Hollow Baron].

  ****

  Come on. Veylan thought. I know you can do this.

  When the Baron had smacked away Dain and Isolde, Veylan had quickly swooped down and hid them both, then he got Caroline as well.

  "What're you doing?" Dain had growled, "We need to help Dorian, otherwise he will die all by himself."

  Veylan had tried to console the man, "Don't worry. This is just a test for Dorian, I want to push him to another level. This dungeon is just the first stepping stone on our path. We - or him - will not fall here."

  And now, the headless body of Dorian was on the floor, Caroline screamed at Veylan so much that he had to knock her out.

  "He can make it through this." Veylan insisted, even as the [Hollow Baron] stood on Dorian's head and squashed it, looking around for the rest of the people he had not killed yet.

  Isolde spoke quietly, clearly unwilling to disagree with the man who was right so often, "How can he make it through death? It is inevitable and unstoppable."

  Veylan could only grin, "This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets and immovable object."

  ****

  No. I can't.

  Death. All-encompassing. Omnipresent. Inconquerable.

  No. It's too soon. This can't happen.

  Death. Ubiquitous. Insurmountable.

  No.

  [Bloodline Trait: Iron Will --> Absolute Will]

  [Bloodline Trait Unlocked: Absolute Will (Tier IV)]

  Effect: Wounds regenerate. Cannot die. Heal? Healing? Death is not insurmountable.]

  Dorian's body writhed, it spasmed on the battlefield floor.

  The flesh at the severed stump quivered. Muscle fibers wriggling like frantic worms, sinew snapping and twisting. Veins slithered up from the neck like roots searching for soil.

  With a sickening, wet crack, the base of a new skull punched through the gory mess. Bone stretched and expanded in an unnatural bloom, cartilage knitting together in jagged bursts.

  The eye sockets were empty at first - hollow, dark and gaping - until milky orbs bubbled up from the void, settling into place with a nauseating squelch. The eyes uncleared - an iris and pupil screamed forth from a deep, white abyss in a mess of dark red that focused into lucid eyes.

  The final touch - a surge of colour, the features restoring themselves in perfect, uncanny clarity.

  The mouth opened first, gasping in a deep, ragged breath. And then, with a final snap, the head was whole again.

  As if it had never been gone.

  Dorian looked around, in disbelief. How was this possible?

  He glanced at his new Bloodline Trait description, it seemed as if the System itself was confused at how to describe his Trait, but one thing was certain. It was powerful as fuck.

  Dorian glanced at the second series of messages from the System.

  [Skill: Self-Heal --> Absolute Authority]

  [Skill Unlocked: Absolute Authority (Max Tier)]

  [Absolute Authority (Max Tier): "Within your domain, you are absolute. Death? Stopped. Suppression? Wish granted."]

  ****

  What an intersting situation I am in. The Baron thought.

  He had killed the willful man, only to find that all his other enemies had disappeared. It was a weird situation.

  The dungeon hasn't closed. Which means they must still be here. They are hidden so well I cannot sense them? Peculiar, indeed.

  He walked round, trying to use his spiritual sense to find anything out of the ordinary.

  He sighed, what was the point in hiding? Surely they knew the only way out is to kill me, which is hopeless for them. I'm not sure why they have spawned such a powerful version of myself when they are so weak, it seems it may be a miscalculation by the system, or maybe they had a powerful ally who died before reaching me? That also seemes unlikely.

  Before the [Hollow Baron] could think upon it further, he felt a powerful suppression on him.

  What the fuck?!

  The Baron wildly looked around, trying to find the culprit. When he did, it did not alleviate his confusion.

  Him? How? This is not possible! I killed him. WHY IS HE SO POWERFUL?!

  In the not-so-distant distance, a man walked slowly towards him. Each step seemed to take him much further than was possible, and he jerked forward violently as he neared him.

  "Hello again, Baron."

  As the words reached his ears, the pressure increased drastically and he was forced to his knees, making small craters where they met the floor.

  "You seem to think you are the strongest. I applaud you for managing to deliver such a strong blow upon me. A commendable attempt. Unfortunately, I cannot spare you." The man named Dorian spewed familiar words, as he bent down to stare right into the Baron's eyes, a grin spread across his face, "We are in a dungeon, which means it's kill or be killed. Alas, we are not in such a situation where I could spare you, as such a situation does not exist."

  A baleful, murderous aura slowly seeped out of the human.

  "Because I would kill you. Every. Single. Time. Because that is what you deserve. For crossing me. Even death cannot stop me."

  The man's smile reached it's apex, splitting and disfiguring his face into that of a demon.

  "Goodbye, cowardly Baron."

  The demon's sword flashed, and he felt a relief at his neck, and a harsh pain from his scalp.

  He's holding me by my hair. The Baron thought.

  The demon turned the Baron's head.

  "Watch." The demon spoke.

  He could do nothing but watch as his headless body fell to the floor.

  The last thing he saw was the spinning, dizzying array of colours as his head was tossed lazily to the floor.