Ethan’s breathing was still uneven, his heart hammering against his ribs as the power settled inside him. The battlefield around him was eerily silent, the shadow’s form completely gone—erased as if it had never existed. But its presence still lingered within him, woven into his movements, into the way his muscles coiled with newfound energy.
His hand flexed, and with a mere thought, the Abyssal Blade flickered to life once more, its shape fluid and shifting. The weapon felt like an extension of himself now, responding not to force, but to intent.
A slow clap echoed through the void.
Ethan turned.
The Master was watching him from a short distance away, arms folded, his usual smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Impressive," he mused, stepping forward with his usual lazy grace. "You learn faster than most." His void-like eyes flickered with something unreadable. "Not that I expected anything less."
Ethan exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders as he straightened. "Is that your way of saying congratulations, or should I expect another surprise attack?"
The Master chuckled. "Oh, you misunderstand." His fingers twitched, and suddenly, the space around them shifted—warping like rippling water. "That was merely the preliminary assessment."
The floor beneath Ethan trembled. He tensed, instinct kicking in as the shadows around them began to move, shifting, rising.
A dull hum resonated through the air, low and steady, like a heartbeat beneath the surface of the world.
Then the world split open.
The void beneath them gave way, and Ethan was falling again.
But this time, there was no endless abyss—only the rush of wind as he plummeted into something new.
He landed hard, knees bending to absorb the shock. His boots skidded across solid ground, dust and debris kicking up around him.
The air was thick with heat and static energy.
Ethan’s gaze snapped up, scanning his surroundings.
He was in an arena.
Massive stone pillars, cracked and worn with time, jutted out from the earth at odd angles. The ground beneath him was ancient obsidian, slick with a faint sheen of mist that writhed unnaturally. Above, the sky was a churning mass of black and red, twisting like a living storm.
And scattered around the arena were other figures—some humanoid, others monstrous, all locked in brutal combat.
Ethan clenched his jaw.
This wasn’t just a battlefield.
It was a trial.
The Master’s voice echoed through the space, his tone almost casual.
The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
"Welcome to the Gauntlet. You’ll find it a bit more… engaging than your last test."
Ethan shifted his stance, his grip tightening on the hilt of his blade. "What’s the objective?"
The Master’s smirk widened. "Simple. Survive."
A low, guttural growl came from behind him.
Ethan didn’t turn—he reacted.
He moved.
His body twisted, his abyssal blade igniting in a streak of darkness as he lashed out. His weapon met flesh, cutting clean through, and the thing behind him collapsed with a gurgled snarl.
His feet barely hit the ground before another shape came hurtling toward him.
A Nightfang.
Its glowing red eyes locked onto him as it pounced, claws extended. Ethan dodged to the side, but not fast enough—its claws ripped into his shoulder, sending a sharp bolt of pain through his arm.
He gritted his teeth, shifting his weight. The moment the beast landed, he was already countering—his blade arcing down in a lethal sweep.
The Nightfang snarled, its body splitting apart in a burst of shadow.
Ethan exhaled, pressing a hand to his wound. It was shallow, but the sting was enough to remind him—this wasn’t a sparring match.
These creatures were real.
And they were hunting him.
More figures emerged from the mist. Three this time.
A twisted, hulking humanoid, its flesh warped and shifting.
A slender, insectoid-like creature, its limbs unnaturally long.
And another Nightfang, prowling low to the ground, its fangs bared.
Ethan adjusted his grip on his blade. He was outnumbered, but something in him welcomed the challenge.
The hulking creature moved first, charging like a battering ram. Ethan sidestepped, his blade flashing in an upward arc—severing its arm at the joint. The thing barely reacted, its form twisting to compensate.
The insectoid leapt, claws aiming for his throat.
Ethan dropped low, sliding under its attack before twisting mid-motion, his dagger carving upward. The strike landed, sending the creature staggering back, shrieking in some inhuman tone.
The Nightfang lunged.
Ethan was ready.
He blinked—his form dissolving into shadow for an instant before reappearing behind the beast. His blade drove deep into its spine, twisting.
A sharp jolt ran through him as his ability activated.
<blockquote>
[Predator’s Absorption: Minor Strength Gained.]
</blockquote>
His breath hitched.
The power wasn’t just theoretical anymore.
It was real.
Every enemy he struck down made him stronger.
A thrill shot through him, but he shoved it down. He couldn’t afford to get careless.
The fight wasn’t over.
The space around him flickered for a brief moment as his mind registered a shift in his power.
Ethan exhaled slowly.
He could feel the difference.
The weight of the blade in his hand, the way his movements felt more fluid, more precise—it was all connected.
Every fight was shaping him.
Molding him into something new.
The Master had been right about one thing.
This was no ordinary training.
It was transformation.
And it wasn’t over yet.
[STATUS & SKILLS]
Name: Ethan Voss
New Passive Skill Unlocked:
?? Shadow Reflexes (Passive): Combat instincts heighten. Reaction time improves with sustained battle.
Ethan exhaled slowly.
He could feel the difference.
The weight of the blade in his hand, the way his movements felt more fluid, more precise—it was all connected.
Every fight was shaping him.
Molding him into something new.
The Master had been right about one thing.
This was no ordinary training.
It was transformation.
And it wasn’t over yet.
The arena trembled.
The air grew colder.
Ethan’s muscles tensed as a massive shadow loomed before him.
This wasn’t just another beast.
This was something else.
The Master’s voice drifted through the air, carrying a note of amusement.
"Let’s see if you can handle something a little more… advanced."
A pair of massive, glowing eyes opened in the darkness.
The ground cracked beneath its weight.
Ethan steadied himself.
Whatever this was, it wasn’t just another opponent.
It was a lesson.
And he was about to learn the hard way.