MMORPG: Rebirth of the Shadow Mage

Leaning against the soft fabric of the chair Leo sighed.

The fake sun could be seen slowly rising in the horizon...

Lifting his stiffened body that had spent the whole night in one position Leo almost moaned feeling his back crack at least a dozen of times.

Dusting off his cloak he looked through the window, Leo hoped to see any demons nearby, unfortunately none were in sight.

Leo didn't want to lure demons from far, because he'd have to venture out and they could simply overtake him while he ran back to the temple. He had to remember all of them were Lv. 70 and above.

Massaging his templates Leo went to the exit of the temple, only to see half-torn doors, barely holding on their hinges.

...

...

'Couldn't he just have opened them?'

Even though Leo knew that the next wave of orange fog would make the temple regain its former form, the shroud still needed some time to recharge.

Looking at the massive spire in the distance Leo eyed the orange clouds gathering around its summit and sighed.

"I have around 2 days...."

Moving his body, so he would face the forest nearby Leo noticed a pair of yellow eyes looking at him through the lush greenery. Leo could see the rough shape of the stalker and slightly paled. It was a high level nocturnal demon.

It was similar to the monster the altar devoured yesterday, this demon was only a few levels weaker.

'I should be prepared to have a guest tonight...'

Turning his eyes away from the nocturnal creature Leo took a deep breath.

Whoosh...

Using half of his Mana at disposal he created a Shadow Blast, Lightning Bolt, Shadow Protection and even massive demonic flames that engulfed his entire body.

Looking around Leo knew that now he was like a beacon to the monsters of hell, who had high sense attribute and were very sensitive to Mana.

Roar...

Surely enough he soon heard a loud roar and saw a silhouette with two massive horns, far in the distance, approaching him at speed hard to follow with eyes..

Waiting until he could discern its face Leo waved his hand to attract its attention and ran inside the temple while the monster chased after him.

Growl...

He could hear its angry growl echo through the tunnels of the temple as he stumbled into the room with the altar.

'All I need is blood now...'

Raising his thumb to the mouth Leo bit it before a stream of blood ran down his hand.

 Bracing himself for the incoming enemy he stood with an emotionless face, leaning against the altar.

Roar...

A top-less demon found its way into the hall, smashing through the wall and roaring in rage upon seeing Leo leaning against the altar.

Leo didn't miss the slight hesitation visible in the monster's unintelligent eyes as it glared at the altar behind him.

'So he is knowledgeable about its capabilities...'

Clicking his tongue Leo prepared to create Shadow Protection while his hand with a bleeding thumb was hidden inside his cloak.

No matter how stupid the demon was, it could still discern danger of the altar, hence Leo had to take countermeasures, hide his hand, because it might understand his plan.

Growl...

Luckily the creature didn't sense anything amiss and bared its teeth while rushing towards Leo.

Tip...

Letting the drop of blood fall on one of the chains nearby Leo deployed Shadow Protection.

Clank... Clank... Squashh....

Two of the metal snakes awoke and while one of them made its way towards Leo the other went after the demon.

Luckily Leo was already prepared and the chain was repelled by his Shadow Protection. He casted it behind himself, he completely ignored the demon who dashed towards him.

'That was risky...'

If the chains hadn't awoken as fast as they did Leo would've probably cut in half by the claws of the demon.

Roar...

The same thing occurred again, the monster was trying to free itself in any way possible. Leo could see desperation mixed with fear within its eyes and left the room.

He didn't want to see or hear the demon eaten alive...

Screech...

Walking around the temple Leo heard the sounds of demons screeching in pain and soon his vision was obstructed by a system window.

[ Altar of ??? has devoured 54/200 souls... ]

'Just 146 left, huh...'

Sighing, Leo waved his hand dismissing the system.

'I should be able to get 5 more...'

Looking at the position of the artificial sun Leo drank a MP potion to replenish the mana he had lost when creating 4 different spells in a short time duration.

The day in hell was about 2 times shorter than in the starting realm (above the ground). While a day passes above the ground, two do in hell.

"Let's just get this over with..."

Looking around and not seeing any demons Leo started guiding mana throughout his body.

***

Screech...

[ Altar of ??? has devoured 59/200 soul...]

Leo was sitting on the soft padding of the luxurious sofa he found within one of the halls in the temple and brought to his room, the only room with a door that wouldn't fly off their hinges from a single push.

The red sun was disappearing from his sight and soon nocturnal creatures would leave their hiding places to hunt.

Leo has already completed his goal of the day, managed to sacrifice 6 monsters, but there was still one left. The nocturnal demon that eyed him in the cover of the red, blooming forest.

The Shadow Mage was certain that the beast would come to kill him, it was an NPC with a clear pattern programmed into it.

See a player → Kill it

In his past life some users even ran some tests and all of them confirmed that the normal creatures in hell go after the players no matter what.

Even if they were mortally wounded like the demon that stumbled upon Leo hiding behind the altar, the demons would still try to end the life of the player no matter what.

It just showed how fearsome the altar of ??? was. How could a monster with a clear goal of attacking players no matter what, hesitate upon seeing it.

Screech...

Hearing some unknown creatures in the darkness Leo rose from his seat and started walking towards the altar hall.

With a small flame dancing on his palm he would be like a target to all nocturnal beings. Leo was, of course, aware of this and lowered his mana output and kept the flame weak enough, so it would only illuminate 1 meter radius around him.

"I really do need night vision..."

Recalling the uncomfortable night vision goggles, Leo frowned, he'd better go kill a Lv. 500 Boss for the item with similar properties than wear the goggles. They were simply that uncomfortable and also obstructed the corners of the player's vision.

Creak...

Leo heard the rusty doors being opened, but this time they weren't flung off their hinges. The monster obviously tried to open them quietly, but it failed.

"So it has a higher form of intelligence..."

Frowning Leo already deemed the monster as an Elite monster and picked up his pace. If the demon could infiltrate the temple quietly, he was capable of thinking and that made Leo tense.

He could count on his fingers how many monsters, with a higher form of intelligence, he had fought during the past few months.

Leo felt slightly intimidated, but at the same time the corner of his lips curled up. He was feeling ecstatic to bull.... mhmm... fight an intelligent demon.

Entering the hall Leo immediately took a peek at the bloody altar, embedded with various gemstones. Fearsome metal snakes were lying all around it, as if protecting it from outsiders.

Looking at the chains connected to its foundations Leo suddenly got an idea.

'I wonder what would happen if one accidentally destroyed its stone foundation...'

Leo was sure that the altar wouldn't be as sturdy as the metal chains guarding it. It was made out of the same material like the walls and previously, today, a demon just bulldozed through one of them without the slightest resistance.

As if reading his mind one of the chains suddenly shot forward almost piercing Leo's abdomen. At the last second he managed to deploy Shadow Protection.

[ ??? warns you not to touch his belongings! ]

Slightly shocked Leo read through the system message and momentarily froze. He only knew about a dozen or so beings so obsessive over their shrines or other objects.

Leo was now a step closer to finding out which being offered him his legacy.

'It's probably an evil one...'

Recalling the chain that would've pierced through his stomach if he hadn't casted Shadow protection and the way of feeding the altar Leo was at least 50% that the being, who offered its legacy was an evil one.

'Man... Fuck that Ice Wyvern!'

Cursing the reason for him being in hell Leo heard quiet footsteps echoing in the tunnel and tensed.

Leo's Mana and Shadow Energy was full, his body wasn't stiff, in his alcove he had a potion filled with his blood.

He made all the preparations he could, so it was time for the demon to reveal itself.

Crack!