Awakening Of The Forgotten World

The massive stone doors groaned as they slowly slid open, revealing a passageway shrouded in darkness. The air beyond was thick with the weight of something ancient, something watching from the abyss.

Dain took a slow breath, Silverlight pulsing faintly in his grip.

A system notification appeared.

[Final Dungeon Chamber Unlocked: Throne of the Hollow King]

• Threat Level: EXTREME

• Curse Level at Stage 4: Presence of the Hollow King detected.

Dain's stomach tightened.

Stage 4 of the curse.

The deeper he went, the more the dungeon was pulling him in.

If he wasn't careful—he wouldn't make it back.

But he had come this far.

And now, there was no turning back.

With one final breath, he stepped forward—

And entered the chamber of the Hollow King.

Dain's boots echoed against polished obsidian stone as he walked into a vast, ruined hall.

The architecture was different from the rest of the dungeon.

Where the upper levels had been carved from cold stone, this place had once been a grand throne room.

Tattered banners hung from the high ceilings, their symbols long faded.

And at the far end—a throne of black iron stood, shrouded in mist.

But it was the figure upon it that made Dain stop in his tracks.

A system notification appeared.

[Final Boss Identified: The Hollow King (Lv.18)]

• Health: 800/800

• Threat Level: LETHAL

• Status: Cursed Wraithlord, Bound to the Throne

Dain's breath caught.

Level 18.

This was the strongest enemy he had ever faced.

And it was watching him.

For a long moment, nothing happened.

Then—

The figure on the throne moved.

Slowly.

Its skeletal fingers tightened around the hilt of a massive black sword, its head lifting to reveal a crowned skull, wreathed in cold blue fire.

And then—it spoke.

"You have come far."

The voice was not a whisper like the others.

It was something deeper.

Something that echoed through the bones of the world itself.

Dain's grip on Silverlight tightened.

"Who are you?"

The Hollow King slowly stood, its movements unnatural, as though it had long forgotten what it meant to be human.

"I was once the Warden of this realm."

"Now, I am its prisoner."

"Bound to the throne of the forsaken."

A system message flashed.

[Final Boss Dialogue Triggered]

• The Hollow King acknowledges your presence.

• The battle will begin shortly.

Dain's pulse quickened.

He didn't know if he could win this fight.

But he had no choice.

The Hollow King lifted its sword, its cursed fire flaring.

"Come, warrior."

"Let us see if you can free me."

Then—

The battle began.

The Hollow King moved first.

Despite its massive frame, it was fast.

Too fast.

Dain barely had time to react before the king's greatsword cleaved through the air, aiming for his skull.

He dodged left, rolling just in time to avoid a blow that would have split him in half.

The ground where he had stood erupted into black fire, the sheer force of the strike sending shockwaves through the chamber.

A notification appeared.

[Hollow King's Curseblade: Direct Hits Inflict Weakened Status]

• You must not get hit.

Dain gritted his teeth.

If that attack had landed—

He would already be dead.

Dain rushed forward, slashing at the Hollow King's side.

Silverlight glowed as it struck—

But the Hollow King parried effortlessly, knocking Dain's blade aside with one hand.

Then, with inhuman speed, it countered.

Dain barely had time to raise his weapon before the Hollow King's sword collided with his guard.

A shockwave blasted outward.

Dain was sent flying, crashing against the stone floor.

[Health: 70/140]

Pain exploded through his body.

The Hollow King did not relent.

It descended upon him, its sword raised for a killing blow.

A notification flashed.

[Skill Activated: Adaptive Reflexes (Lv.1)]

• Predicts enemy attack patterns based on previous movements.

Dain saw it.

The exact angle the Hollow King would swing.

And this time—

He moved before it happened.

The Hollow King's blade sliced through empty air.

Dain sidestepped, then countered with a powerful thrust.

Silverlight's holy aura flared—

And this time, it connected.

The blade sank deep into the Hollow King's chest.

The undead staggered.

A notification flashed.

[Critical Hit! 120 Damage Dealt]

Dain pressed forward, unleashing a flurry of strikes.

Each one burned against the Hollow King's cursed form.

But the king did not fall.

Instead, it laughed.

"Yes… Yes… That is what I remember…"

And then—

It unleashed its full power.

A new system warning appeared.

[Final Boss Phase 2 Initiated]

• The Hollow King has awakened his true form.

• All stats increased by 30%.

Dain's breath hitched.

The Hollow King's form twisted, its fire growing darker, its sword now wreathed in unholy energy.

It raised one hand—

And the dead answered.

A chorus of whispers filled the hall as dozens of Hollowed Ones rose from the shadows.

Dain's heart pounded.

He wasn't just fighting the king anymore.

He was fighting an army.

A final system notification flashed.

[Final Challenge Unlocked: Survive the Hollow King's Last Stand]

• Defeat the king before his army overwhelms you.

• Time Limit: 5 minutes.

Dain tightened his grip.

Five minutes.

One chance.

No mistakes.

He charged forward.

And the final battle began.