SSS Unknown: Dark Knight's Legacy

'Her face was similar.' Unknown thought as he stared at Alice, who had fallen was still asleep, her features softened and peaceful.

The moment he had held Alice's hand to save her and drifted into sleep earlier, something unexpected had occurred—one of his sealed memory fragments had risen to the surface, breaking through its confinement.

Why did it happen? 

Perhaps it was because of his vulnerable emotion at that point.

Or because the seal to those memories wasn't permanent and they would break eventually.

He wasn't sure.

Unknown didn't know how he came to be, this question was out of his reach.

In the memory, he saw a girl standing beside him. She was smiling, her laughter bright and full of warmth. The image felt vivid, almost tangible, and for a brief moment, he could feel the happiness radiating from that memory as if it had just happened.

Her face, her voice—they bore an uncanny resemblance to Alice. Aside from the difference in hair color, the two were nearly identical. It wasn't just her appearance, either; there was something about Alice's demeanor, the way she spoke, that mirrored the girl in his memory.

Unknown clenched his fists, his chest tightening. The context of the memory was lost to him—he couldn't remember the girl's name, their connection, or why she was so important to him.

But he knew, without a doubt, that she had been.

And now, looking at Alice, he realized something unsettling: the feelings he had for her were, at least in part, a projection of those for the girl in his memory. He knew it wasn't fair, not to himself and especially not to Alice. 

This resemblance, this coincidence—it had to be just that. A coincidence.

But despite knowing that, he couldn't let go of the memory. He clung to it, cherished it, even as it blurred with reality.

Because—it made him happy.

For someone like Unknown, who had long since buried his emotions under layers of survival instincts and pragmatism, that happiness was a rare and precious thing.

It was something he hadn't allowed himself to feel in years, and now, holding onto it, even if only through a shadow of the past, gave him a fleeting sense of warmth he didn't want to lose.

'Even if it's just an illusion,' he thought, watching Alice breathe softly in her sleep. 'It's still worth holding onto.'

He told that to himself. But deep inside, Unknown knew—that was wrong.

***

"Master, it's close," Eclipse said, her voice calm but carrying a tinge of urgency as it guided Unknown through the dark and winding path of the chasm.

The ground beneath his feet was noticeably different from the terrain near the cave where Alice was resting. Here, the earth was harsh and unwelcoming—cracked and scorched, as though seared by an intense, otherworldly heat.

Blackened rock and ash coated the ground, each step crunching underfoot with an eerie finality. The walls of the chasm bore deep gouges and melted streaks, clear evidence of the Earth Dragon's destructive power.

It was unmistakable. These were not natural signs; they were the dragon's mark.

Unknown knelt, running his gloved fingers over a particularly charred patch of rock. "This heat—it's fresh. It must have passed through here not long ago."

Eclipse's glowing form hovered beside him, her ethereal light casting long shadows against the jagged walls. "Correct, Master. Be cautious. The Earth Dragon's aura is particularly dense in this region, indicating it may be agitated."

He rose, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the area. His heightened senses picked up on subtle vibrations beneath his feet, the distant rumble of something massive moving deep within the earth.

'It's hunting,' he thought grimly.

Unknown adjusted his equipment, his movements precise and deliberate. The Earth Dragon wasn't just another monster but a living furnace, a beast of raw elemental power. Its strength couldn't be underestimated.

As he advanced further into the chasm, the air grew hotter, overpowering waves of heat pressing down on him with each step. The faint glow of molten rock seeped through cracks in the ground, painting the path ahead in hues of red and orange.

Unknown tightened his grip on his weapon, his mind sharpening with focus. He wasn't here for glory or sport. This was a hunt born of necessity, a calculated risk to gather the rare materials needed to prepare for the even greater battle ahead.

Eclipse floated closer, its voice a steadying presence. "Master, we're nearing the lair. Do you have a plan?"

Unknown smirked, his expression unyielding. "The same as always: adapt and survive. Let's see what this dragon's capable of."

The ground shuddered beneath him, a low, guttural roar echoing through the chasm. The Earth Dragon had sensed his presence.

"It's coming," Eclipse warned.

The tremor intensified, each quake sending jagged cracks racing through the already charred earth. 

Then came the roar—a deafening, guttural bellow that seemed to shake the very fabric of the chasm. It was not just a sound but a force, ripping through the oppressive heat and sending loose debris tumbling from the walls. 

The vibrations resonated in Unknown's chest, threatening to shatter the tension he'd built within himself.

The Earth Dragon had arrived.

Emerging from the shadows, its massive form took shape. Its long, serpentine body undulated with eerie precision, reminiscent of an earthworm burrowing through the soil, yet infinitely more menacing.

 Its golden skin gleamed like molten metal, cracked and fractured in places, exposing fiery veins of magma that pulsed with each movement.

Its head was unmistakably draconic, a terrifying amalgamation of primal ferocity and reptilian cunning. Massive horns jutted out like jagged spires, their edges glinting sharply in the faint light. 

Its eyes burned like twin suns, their gaze searing as they locked onto Unknown.

It was gargantuan, easily dwarfing most creatures he had encountered, but it wasn't the largest Earth Dragon he had faced. The one in the spider nest had been larger, more ancient, and perhaps more terrifying. Yet this one was no less deadly, its movements radiating violent energy, as if the very earth was its weapon.

Unknown studied the beast carefully, his sharp eyes noting every detail—the pattern of its cracks, the rhythm of its breathing, the way its magma-filled veins glowed brighter when it tensed its muscles.

"This one's fast," he muttered under his breath, his mind already running through potential strategies. 

The smaller size compared to the previous dragon didn't mean it was weaker—if anything, it meant this one was built for agility.

The Earth Dragon opened its maw, revealing rows of jagged, obsidian-like teeth. Lava bubbled and seethed in its throat as it prepared to unleash its first attack.

Unknown didn't wait. He lunged forward, his movements fluid and calculated, closing the distance before the beast could react. The hunt had begun in earnest.

The Earth Dragon unleashed its first attack, a searing stream of molten lava that spewed from its colossal maw, carving fiery trenches into the already-scorched ground. The heat was suffocating, making the air shimmer as the molten rock sizzled and hissed.

Unknown's instincts took over, his body a blur as he darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the destructive torrent. Even from a distance, the heat scorched his skin, a reminder of the immense power of the dragon's breath.

Without missing a beat, Unknown shifted into an offensive stance, gripping Eclipse tightly in her spear form in his right hand. His left hand wielded the ominous dark blade, its edge pulsating with an eerie glow.

"[Flying Spear]," he whispered under his breath. With precise force, he hurled Eclipse forward. The spear sliced through the air like a bolt of lightning, its trajectory unwavering. It struck the Earth Dragon's thick, cracked hide with a sickening crunch, piercing through its golden-scaled armor and embedding deep into its side.

The Earth Dragon roared in fury, its deafening bellow shaking the cavern walls. Molten blood, glowing with an intense heat, spilled from the wound, sizzling as it splattered onto the ground. The beast's golden, cracked hide glowed brighter as it channeled its rage, and its massive frame twisted as it turned to face its attacker.

The dragon charged at him with earth-shattering force, its claws tearing into the ground and leaving deep gouges in its wake. Each step it took sent tremors through the battlefield, threatening to unbalance Unknown.

Unknown remained calm, his movements fluid as he sidestepped the dragon's wild charge. The sheer speed of the beast belied its massive size, and its molten blood trailed behind, creating dangerous obstacles of searing heat.

He extended his left hand, calling Eclipse back to him. The spear responded instantly, tearing itself free from the dragon's wound and returning to its master with a metallic whistle.

"Not bad," Unknown muttered, gripping the spear firmly once more, his calm demeanor betraying the ferocity of his focus.

The Earth Dragon, maddened by its injuries, reared back on its tail. Its massive maw opened wide, revealing a glowing inferno within as molten lava began to pool, preparing for another devastating torrent. 

The magma veins across its golden, cracked hide pulsed with light, casting an eerie, ominous glow throughout the battlefield— it going to unleash an ultimate attack.

Unknown smirked, his silver aura flaring to life as he activated [Accel]. The energy surrounded him, shimmering like liquid mercury, amplifying his speed and reflexes. He had been waiting for this moment.

The Dragon's fiery assault was both its greatest strength and its most glaring weakness. Once committed to releasing its molten fury, its massive form was left vulnerable, locked in place by the sheer effort of its attack.

As the beast unleashed its infernal onslaught, Unknown moved. "[Aura]," he whispered, channeling mana into his dark blade. Its edge shimmered with power as he dashed forward, a blur of silver light cutting through the suffocating heat.

With a swift command, he transformed Eclipse into shield form, the crimson barrier appearing in his left hand just in time to intercept the torrent of molten lava. 

The fiery stream struck with explosive force, splattering molten rock in every direction, but Eclipse held firm.

Unknown advanced relentlessly, his glowing aura dissipating the residual heat as he moved. His sheer speed and precision left the lava no time to transfer enough heat to harm him before he closed the distance to the dragon.

The moment came—a fleeting opportunity, a single heartbeat. Unknown seized it.

[Sweeping Slash].

With a powerful swing of his dark blade, he struck at the dragon's exposed front jaw. The black energy-enhanced slash tore through flesh and bone, dislodging the massive jaw with a sickening crunch. 

The dragon's molten roar faltered, its fiery assault cutting off as it recoiled in agony, molten blood pouring from the wound like a fiery cascade.

Unknown wasted no time. Transforming Eclipse back into a spear, he drove it into the dragon's heaving chest. The weapon pierced through its hardened scales, embedding deep into its flesh. 

He twisted the weapon for maximum damage before yanking it free in a spray of molten ichor.

Without hesitation, Unknown shifted Eclipse once more, the spear morphing seamlessly into a long sword. The dark blade and the crimson sword gleamed in the flickering light, their razor edges thirsting for blood.

[Penta Slash].

Unknown unleashed a storm of strikes, his blades a blur of motion. Each swing was precise, cutting through scale, muscle, and sinew as if the dragon's hide were paper. 

The onslaught was relentless, his movements a dance of death as the dragon's massive frame was reduced to a mist of blood and flesh.

The Earth Dragon thrashed wildly, its golden scales cracked and falling away, its mighty form collapsing under the relentless assault. 

Its molten blood hissed and sizzled as it pooled beneath its shattered body, the once-fearsome beast reduced to nothing more than a smoldering ruin.

It was turned into minced meat.

Breathing heavily, Unknown stood amidst the carnage, his weapons glinting ominously in the aftermath. He wiped a speck of molten blood from his face and surveyed the battlefield with cold, calculating eyes.

"Another one down," he muttered, his voice devoid of triumph, as if this victory was just another step in his endless journey.

"Good job, Master!" Eclipse's cheerful voice rang out as Unknown began the grim task of butchering the fallen Earth Dragon for its residual core. The weapon's jovial tone was a stark contrast to the blood-soaked battlefield.

Unknown, his hands steady as he worked, offered a slight nod and a faint smile in response. The core was a valuable prize, pulsating with raw energy that shimmered faintly like molten gold. Extracting it required precision and care, but for him, it was nothing new.

"Though," Eclipse continued, her tone shifting slightly as if scolding him, "charging straight into its attack was quite risky."

"Yeah," Unknown replied, his smirk growing as he paused to wipe his hands clean on a torn piece of cloth. "But it worked—like it has many times now." His voice carried a confident edge, his silver eyes glinting with a spark of amusement.

High risk, high reward—that was the creed he lived by. For him, a fight wasn't just about survival or victory; it was about the adrenaline, the raw thrill of pushing his limits.

"Not everyone's idea of fun, I suppose," he added, a hint of self-awareness in his tone. "But hey, better than cowering in some corner and dragging a fight on for hours just to kill one overgrown lizard."

Eclipse sighed dramatically. "You're impossible, Master." But there was a fondness in her voice.

Unknown chuckled lightly, his movements swift and efficient as he finished extracting the core. He held it up, inspecting its radiant glow. A relic of immense power—one more piece in the puzzle he was determined to solve.

"Risky or not," he murmured to himself, "it's my way. And it gets the job done."

With that, he pocketed the core, stood up, and cast a final glance at the fallen dragon. The battlefield was silent now, save for the occasional hiss of molten blood cooling on the charred ground. Another challenge was overcome. Another step forward.

Now he just had to kill ten more Earth Dragons. The thought didn't faze him; instead, it filled him with grim determination.

But before pressing on with the task, there was something far more important he needed to do:

Checking on Alice.

Though her injuries and condition had largely improved, Unknown couldn't let his guard down. The memory of her nearly succumbing while he was distracted by his bloodlust lingered in his mind. The weight of that mistake was something he refused to carry again.

He began walking back toward their camp, his steps steady but purposeful. The charred and cracked earth beneath him bore the marks of his latest victory, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

As he drew closer to the temporary shelter, the crystal lamp's faint glow illuminated Alice's resting form. She seemed peaceful, her breathing steady, but he knew better than to trust appearances.

'I need to make sure she's truly fine,' he thought, crouching beside her and observing her for a moment. The fever was gone, and her complexion looked better, but he still had his doubts.

Unknown's gaze softened as he reached out to feel her forehead, confirming the absence of any lingering heat.

"Good," he muttered under his breath. But even as relief washed over him, another thought surfaced.

He didn't just need to ensure her physical well-being—he needed to see her fight. To test her abilities against something as formidable as an Earth Dragon.

'If she's going to survive out here... if she's going to take on what lies ahead...'

He stood, glancing back toward the direction of the battlefield. The residual core from the last dragon pulsed faintly in his pocket, a stark reminder of the strength it took to win against such a foe.

'I need to know if she's strong enough or not.'

The thought wasn't born from cruelty but from pragmatism. He couldn't always protect her. At some point, she'd need to stand on her own. Better for her to face that now, under his watch, than when it was too late.

For a fleeting moment, he hesitated. Testing her strength meant putting her in harm's way again, something he'd vowed not to do lightly. But this was necessary—not just for her survival, but for his peace of mind.

"Rest up, Alice," he said softly, turning away to prepare for what came next. "Because next time, you're coming with me."

"But before that, I must test your conviction, your resolve."