"It's time to Rank Up."
A glowing blue text floats in front of my eyes after 3 level-up notifications bring me well past the level 500 threshold.
Time feels as if it temporarily stops around me the moment I make this decision.
The two other ice lizards still come at us from above on both sides, but so much slower than before.
My breathing is loud in my ears and my perception of magic around me only gets more heightened the longer I'm exposed to this odd flow state.
As my gaze shifts over my surroundings, a white glow starts to shine below me and I feel Ember's scales begin to shift and vibrate.
Looking down, the black-scaled dragon glows white too, and my body begins to react.
The base of his back I'm standing on begins to expand, the scales grow larger.
The white light feels warm.
It's pure energy expands in my chest distributing itself evenly throughout my entire body.
I take a deep breath in and my eyes open wide. It feels like the first real breath I've ever taken. The air tastes sweet and the world around me looks even more crystal clear than I already thought it was...
It's like my All-Seeing Eye is activated at all times, not just the hint of passive control I had before.
The efficiency of my mana usage just drastically increased, and I didn't absorb a single MP.
This explains how Lydia kept up with me earlier. She didn't absorb the same amount of MP as me, she was just ranked up. Odds are, the ice mage probably hasn't absorbed much more than Fisher...
My mana control easily doubled in a matter of seconds. I check my status and see a single change under the buffs section.
Rising Emperor's Domain[Hidden Ability]
I take a closer look.
Rising Emperors Domain[Hidden Ability]
This is a hidden passive ability for a spell caster with the traits of an Emperor in the making. The Rising Emperor's Domain allows the caster to share skills in their status with any party member who has sworn their loyalty. A copy of the exact skill shared will appear in the party member's status. If this member betrays the caster or leaves the Domain's range, the skills will be deleted from their status.
An invisible domain expands around my body. I have no control over how far it pushes out, but my reach seems to be just over 10 meters.
This has the potential to be an incredibly powerful skill...
The grin on my face starts to grow wider as I activate appraisal to see the new buffs Ember has received in addition to his mana control increase.
Ultimate Fire Defense[Hidden Ability]
Crimson Aura of Attack[Hidden Ability]
I skim the details as I steady myself on his moving back. The black-scaled dragon has grown in size by almost 100%. Ember is over 15 meters and his scales have become even darker. The crimson shine in his eyes is more radiant and the blood-red underbelly emanates strength.
His new buffs add to the significance of this change. He's just received a similar ability to the Frost Dragon we're facing, but one more compatible with his flames. The Crimson Arua buff seems to be a perk like my berserker skill, just a ranked-up version.
The glowing sensation in my chest starts to fade and the one around the growing dragon stops too.
Reality speeds up and the incoming Ice lizards shriek as they're blinded by the white flash of light followed by two slashes from my blades and an eruption of dense black flames from Ember's mouth.
They're incinerated in seconds and we reach level 506.
A shock wave of energy from our rank up bursts out like the pulse of a Floor breaking and I can't help but let out a laugh while pointing my sword forward at the Demon and Dragon in front of us.
We hover nearly a kilometer over the highest mountain in the boss room and radiate with energy that rattles these collapsing labyrinth walls.
The Arch Demon Stares forward, and it's the first time I get the sense of any true emotion on its face. It's surprised... no, it's in fear.
A shimmering silver sword materializes into its hands and the red-tinted dark-skinned menace jumps off of the dragon's back heading straight for us.
In response, I do the same.
It pushes itself forward by creating small mana-shielding layers under its feel and using them as footholds to walk through the sky in a similar fashion to my wind-powered air-steps.
As the two of us run up at each other, both dragons swoop down.
Ember's black scales start to glow red, orange, and yellow as he activates his defensive buff, looking like a bubbling pit of lava. His entire body is covered in a thick coat of armor glowing even brighter than the silver dragon diving his way.
Then, I watch the fire dragon's crimson eyes pulse and his claws shine with the same dark red aura. His attack buff has been activated too. Ember is a much more cautious fighter than I am, he clearly has a strength and defense advantage if he's facing his opponent straight on.
I won't have to worry about him one bit, I'll focus on the real danger in front of me.
With all my stat-boosting skills on full blast, my vision tunnels and all I see is the demonic presence glaring back at me with its sword raised.
Just moments ago, I was completely outmatched. Now, this is an opponent for me to finally use all my new skills and strengths to their full potential.
I swing both my dagger and sword across my body while the Arch Demon brings down its silver sword.
Coated in layers of aura and shielding, the three blades let out an echoing twang as they come to a halt over a meter away from each other. Both release white explosions of energy and attempt to break through the other's thick defenses.
The corners of the Demon's mouth curl and so do mine.
It speaks through our link as the shockwaves of energy fill the Room.
"So, you really are the one they've all been talking about, aren't you?"
I grit my teeth and push my blades further toward the buzzing energy and light.
"The one who's been talking about?"
The Arch Demon tightens its gaze and follows my lead pushing its own sword closer in tearing through a portion of the pink mana shielding letting elemental magic leak out.
"It doesn't matter who. Word is.. a stray Demon and Dragon have been challenging Labyrinths and stealing the abilities of those within. However, you're a human... bonded with a... Fire Dragon..."
I erupt into black flames, pushing my weapons in even more. They're less than half a meter away from touching now. The energy pulsing out from in between is on a magnitude greater than anything I've ever experienced before.
It seems rumors of our existence somehow made it out here... If I want more information, I'll have to rile up this Boss and keep him talking.
I reply with a smirk.
"So what if it is?! After I'm done with you, I'll face the King!"
I let out a wave of intimidation and push my blades even closer.
The Demon's eyes open wide, horrified by my statement and momentarily caught off guard.
I thrust my dagger and sword forward again and they collide with its long silver sword to create a clang that distorts the air around us.
The final battle in the Labyrinth has begun.