Fury didn’t know how long he had been here. The endless void around him stretched infinitely, neither light nor darkness, just an empty, suffocating nothingness. There was no sun, no moon, no horizon. Only the cold, unfeeling abyss.


    His fingers tightened around his katana. His body ached, his breath was uneven, but exhaustion never fully set in. His wounds—no matter how deep—always healed within moments. His hunger and thirst had vanished. It was unnatural.


    The creatures came in waves. They had no set form, shifting between grotesque beasts and shadowy, humanoid figures. Some had burning golden eyes, others dripped with a black, tar-like substance that sizzled against the invisible ground. They attacked relentlessly, and Fury had no choice but to fight.


    At first, it was survival. Then, it became something else.


    Because each time he struck one down… something changed.


    It had started with the first kill. As the creature dissolved into shimmering particles, something had burned in his mind. A sharp, searing sensation that forced knowledge into his brain.


    New Skill Acquired: Telekinesis.


    The words weren’t spoken, yet they rang in his skull like a declaration from an unseen god.


    He had been too dazed to react at first. Then, as if by instinct, he had reached for his katana—without using his hands.


    And it moved.


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    The weapon floated off the ground, weightless, obedient to his will. It had taken him a moment to believe it, but there was no denying it.


    He had gained a power that wasn’t his.


    At first, he thought it was a fluke. But then, more creatures came, and with each kill, the burning sensation returned. More knowledge flooded his mind, more instincts that weren’t his own.


    Enhanced Vision Acquired.


    Heightened Reflexes Acquired.


    Poison Resistance Acquired.


    Predator’s Step Acquired.


    The list grew. His body moved faster, stronger. His sight sharpened, his instincts screamed warnings before an enemy even attacked. He could sense danger before it arrived, react before his mind fully registered the threat.


    It was exhilarating. It was terrifying.


    He had done nothing to earn these powers. They were simply… taken.


    And that was what scared him most.


    Fury stood in the emptiness, staring down at his hands. They were steady, powerful. Too powerful.


    He flexed his fingers, watching the faint glow of energy pulse beneath his skin. He could feel the abilities coursing through him. This wasn’t natural growth. It was something else. Something far more disturbing.


    A low growl echoed in the distance. Fury snapped his head up.


    Another beast.


    This one was different. It stood taller than the others, its body layered in obsidian-like scales. Golden eyes burned with something almost intelligent.


    Fury took a slow breath, rolling his shoulders. His katana hovered beside him, controlled entirely by his mind.


    “Alright,” he muttered. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”


    The beast lunged, faster than the others.


    Fury dodged effortlessly. He didn’t even think about it—his body moved on its own, perfectly timed, perfectly precise.


    He was getting used to this. Too used to it.


    The beast twisted mid-air, its massive claw swiping towards him. Fury raised his katana, the blade moving with his will. The steel met flesh.


    SLASH.


    The beast’s head fell before its body even hit the ground.


    The moment it dissolved, the burning sensation returned. Fury clenched his jaw, bracing for the knowledge that was about to be forcefully implanted in his mind.


    New Skill Acquired: Nightstalker’s Instincts.


    His breathing hitched. Another ability. Another piece of something that wasn’t his own.


    He staggered back, gripping his forehead. No. No, this isn’t normal.


    His body trembled—not from exhaustion, but from something else. Something deeper.


    A twisted chuckle escaped his lips. A laugh that didn’t feel like his own.


    His skills, his strength, his speed… all of it was stolen.


    He didn’t earn anything. He took it.


    A shiver ran down his spine. The void felt colder than before. The silence heavier.


    Fury exhaled, forcing himself to stand tall. There was no escape, no exit, no sky. He didn’t even know how long he had been here. Hours? Days? Years?


    The only certainty was this: If he kept fighting, he would keep changing.