Morgan explored the maze. The shifting maze led him back and forth, often backtracking three or four chambers only to meet a dead end. Each chamber now contained at least one monster. He fought four more elite minotaurs, six elite orcs and countless groups of regular goblins and orcs. He was discussing with Sophia the oddity of orcs and goblins spawning from a minotaur champion when he entered a chamber drastically different from before.

  ::Title Granted - Elite Hunter - Deal 5% increased damage to elites::

  ::Title Progress 11 of 100 - Kill more elite invaders to unlock this title.::

  The ceiling of the chamber angled up steeply and became vaulted, reaching at least 150 feet high. The walls stretched out in each direction for hundreds of feet. In the center of the cavern, a towering pyramid rose, reaching all the way to the ceiling. A large gated wall topped with gleaming and dripping spikes surrounded the base of the pyramid. Beyond the gate, Morgan could see a wide ledge wrapped around the pyramid, corkscrewing its way to the top where a flickering red glow shone from a large opening.

  At the gate, an impressive-looking orc sat on a simple wooden stool beside a roaring brazier.

  ::Threat Scan Complete - Invader - Orc Champion - Threat Level: Moderate::

  Morgan asked.

  Sophia replied, and the words flashed.

  ::Threat Scan Complete - Invader - Orc Champion::

  The orc wore a metal chest piece on straps that only covered its chest where its heart was. Besides the heart protector, it wore a pair of kneehigh black leather boots and thick dark leather pants. The champion sat sharpening a gigantic sword that looked like a giant kitchen cleaver. It must have sensed Morgan because it looked up and then took a deep breath. It stood unhurried and placed the sharpening stone in a belt pouch before reaching down and picking up an ornate helmet. The helmet looked like a gladiator helmet with an open face and nose guard and a large plume of red fur in the center.

  The orc placed the helmet on its head, picked up its sword, and then spoke in a guttural and barely understandable English.

  “I am Torvka, Champion of…”

  Morgan lunged forward, using kinetic burst and leaping toward the orc. Caught unawares, the orc barely had time to deflect Broken Fang and stagger backward. Snorting in either disgust or disappointment, the orc swiftly counterattacked, but Morgan slid to the side quicker than lightning, parried and riposted low. The orc leaped backward out of range. Morgan pressed the attack, stepping forward and swinging overhand. Using its larger, heavier weapon to block the blow, the orc pushed back hard. Morgan flew backward. Even though he had made himself heavier, the orc tossed him with minimal effort.

  Morgan had to focus. He had spent years in VISTA virtually learning how to handle the sword. Now he just needed to get his body honed and responding to what his mind knew it needed. The orc attacked with a vicious growl, jumping toward him with a heavy horizontal swing. Thinking quickly, Morgan lightened himself and jumped over the blade, slicing downward. His blade barely grazed the orc’s hand as it swept under him. Greenish blood flecked the ground. The orc stepped back, a finger flopping uselessly, barely attached. Morgan could see the red eyes boring into him with hatred from within the helmet.

  “You will pay for that, insect,” It threatened as it ripped its pointer finger off and tossed it into its mouth between two yellowed tusks. It crunched the bones as it readied the giant sword, saying, “This time, you bleed.”

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Morgan, using all of his skill, retreated. The orc moved faster than before. It was all he could do to parry one strike before the next was incoming. Blows rained down, the same strike over and over, relentlessly. The cleaver whistled as it cut the air and clanged heavily whenever Morgan was forced to block. Rattling Morgan and causing him to be tossed about.

  The terrain under their feet grew treacherous with rubble and gravel, but the orc never slowed. Desperately, Morgan made as though to block the next massive overhand chop. Just as the swords would have slammed together, he dismissed Broken Fang and immediately summoned it. The orc’s eyes widened as Broken Fang severed its right arm just above the elbow, the force of its own swing lending Morgan’s power.

  It jumped back, blood gushing from the stub of arm, coating the ground in a green goo. Wisps of the blood were floating toward Broken Fang. With a word Morgan didn’t understand, the orc concentrated, and the blood stopped. The orc then warily advanced, sword in its left hand. Its right stump was a fresh wound with bits of skin and bone showing, but it glowed an angry red and did not bleed. The orc was slower, weaker, and couldn’t swing the sword as accurately. Morgan realized it knew it was beaten, but could not, or would not surrender. He blocked a swing, hopping backwards with the strike, then using Kinetic Burst he blurred forward, bringing the blade in just above the beltline of the orc.

  His sword never stopped. He had expected some resistance, but met none. He kneeled behind the orc as its torso slid from its waist. As his sword greedily drank in the pool of blood, a list of announcements scrolled by at the bottom of his vision.

  ::Congratulations! You have defeated a Champion in a named Dungeon - The Labyrinth. One of Two::

  ::Congratulations! You are the first person in this world to kill two Champions. Title Granted::

  ::Title Granted - Double Your Pleasure - High Chance to receive double experience when defeating an enemy::

  ::Congratulations! You are the first person in this world to Solo a Dungeon Champion. Title Granted::

  ::Title Granted - Soloist - When no allies are within 50 feet, increases your movement speed and dodge chance by 15%::

  ::Absorption complete. You gained Invader Core Champion (x2). Contents: Two Rare. Two Epic. One Legendary.

  ::You gained 25ET, 4LT ::

  Floating nearby were two of the small glowing boxes. Morgan scooped those into his inventory and started searching the body for any other items.

  ::Dungeon Loot Chest - Epic - Loot from a dungeon requires Dungeon Key (purchasable) ::

  After examining all the items the orc wore, Morgan sorted out a helmet, the heart protector, the sword, and a pair of black boots.

  ::Helmet of Iron Will - Rare - Material: Iron - Weight: 2lbs. Properties: Iron Will, Bolster Allies, Con +5::

  ::Armor of Defiance - Epic - Material: Gossamer Steel - Weight: 1lbs. Properties: Glamor, Con +4, STR +4::

  ::Sous Chef - Epic - Material: Steel - Weight 6lbs. Properties: Dishearten, Sunder Armor, Relentless Strikes::

  ::Sure-step Boots - Epic - Material: Eel hide - Weight 2lbs. Properties: Sure-Footed, Trackless::

  The armor surprised him. It was extremely light and felt flexible in his hands.

  Morgan shrugged and slid the giant chest armor on over his head. Once he placed the armor on, it flowed around him. Just like with the helmet, it seemed to feel tight and constricting and then felt very comfortable. He hopped up and down twice, testing the feel. The armor was like a second skin. It felt like he was wearing a sweatshirt over his other clothes. He envisioned how the armor should look, and with a flowing movement he was wearing a knight’s chest plate, bright and shiny. It looked ridiculous.

  He shook his head. The armor just didn’t seem right. He tried to remember other armors, but in the end his mind kept drifting to samurai armor he had seen in a Tom Cruise movie. A red chest plate and shoulder pads now protected his body. He also slid on the boots. They were warm and comfortable and resized to his feet immediately. The sword and helmet he placed in his inventory. Looking up the sides of the massive pyramid, he could now see as the ramp wound its way to the top it was dotted with small openings. Out of these holes milled many monsters. It was going to be a long climb to the top. He took a quick look at his status before opening the gate.

  ::Title Progress 11 of 100 - Kill more elite invaders to unlock this title.::

  ::Title Progress 112 of 1000 - Kill more dungeon invaders to unlock this title.::

  Blood drinker was at 15 out of 100, and his wallet contained 7421CT, 512UT, 152, RT, 91ET, and 10LT.