《Abyss Reforged: The Glitched Hunter》 Prologue: The Boy who Wasnt Meant to Be Prologue: The Boy Who Wasn''t Meant to Be
The first time I realized I didn¡¯t belong, I was six years old. It was during the Hunter Classification Ceremony, the day every child was assigned their Rank and Class¡ªthe day we learned whether we¡¯d be heroes, leaders, or nobodies. It was supposed to be a celebration. I remember standing in a long line with the other kids, shifting on my feet, too excited to be nervous. My mother stood beside me, her hands resting gently on my shoulders. She was a kind woman¡ªa healer-class hunter, low-ranked but respected. My father had been a B-Rank Berserker, a man of great strength and even greater arrogance. He had died when I was four, leaving behind only expectations and a name I had to live up to. I remember my mother¡¯s soft voice in my ear. "No matter what rank you get, Tatsuya¡­ I will always be proud of you." And I had smiled up at her, oblivious, unafraid. Because I knew I would be strong. I had to be. I watched as one child after another stepped onto the Classification Altar, their Hunter Codex shimmering to life above their heads.
[CLASS: KNIGHT] [RANK: B]
Cheers erupted. The boy¡¯s family wept with pride.
[CLASS: MAGE] [RANK: A]
More applause. And then¡ª It was my turn. I stepped onto the altar, holding my breath as golden light surrounded me. I could feel it crawling under my skin, reading my soul, my fate. The moment stretched. A long, horrible silence. The officials watching frowned. The glowing text above me flickered¡ªonce, twice¡ªbefore suddenly flashing red.
[ERROR: CLASSIFICATION FAILED] [RANK: UNDEFINED] [WARNING: ENTITY UNRECOGNIZED]
The room fell deathly quiet. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. And then, the murmurs started. "What does that mean?" "A defect?" "I¡¯ve never seen that before¡­" I stood frozen, not understanding. My mother¡¯s hands tightened on my shoulders. Her voice was steady, but I could hear the fear beneath it. "There must be a mistake." The High Examiner, an older hunter draped in ceremonial robes, stared at the flickering text above me. His expression was unreadable¡ªnot pity, not confusion. Just cold analysis. Finally, he spoke. "The system does not make mistakes." His words landed like a blade to the gut. The murmuring turned to whispers, then laughter. Some of the other children pointed at me, giggling. "He doesn¡¯t have a class!" "How weak does someone have to be for the system to reject them?" I felt my stomach drop. Weak? That wasn¡¯t right. I wasn¡¯t weak. I turned to my mother, searching for reassurance, but she was staring at the High Examiner¡ªpleading, desperate. "There must be something you can do." But he was already shaking his head. "The system has deemed him¡­ an anomaly."****" He looked at me then, and for the first time in my life, I saw something in an adult¡¯s eyes I didn¡¯t recognize. Not anger. Not disappointment. Disdain. Like I was something wrong. A flaw. A glitch.
The Weight of a Defect Life changed after that. I learned very quickly that hunters only respected strength. The moment I had been declared a Defect, the world stopped seeing me as human. Teachers ignored me. Other kids avoided me. Those who didn¡¯t bullied me in broad daylight, knowing no one would stop them. I fought back, at first. I took punches and threw them back twice as hard. I trained in secret, convinced that if I could just prove myself, the system would change its mind¡ªthat one day, my Hunter Codex would awaken, and I¡¯d get my class like everyone else. But the system never made mistakes. And neither did society. At twelve years old, I was denied entry to the Hunter Academy. At thirteen, I was kicked out of public school entirely, because I had no potential worth investing in. At fourteen, my mother¡ªmy only supporter, my only family¡ªvanished without a trace. Some said she left out of shame. Some said she was silenced for defending an anomaly. I never found out. All I knew was that, after that day, I had no one. So I fought to survive. I took illegal jobs, hunting stray monsters that wandered into slums where proper hunters wouldn¡¯t go. I worked myself to the bone, training until my hands bled, refusing to accept that the world had already decided my fate. And then, on my sixteenth birthday, the Hunter Association finally came for me. A squad of Enforcers. Their leader¡ªan S-Rank, dressed in black and gold¡ªlooked me over with thinly veiled disgust. "Tatsuya Vael. The system has deemed you unregistered." "You are to be removed." That was the last thing I remembered before waking up in the dungeon. Chained. Alone. Hunted. A system execution, disguised as a forgotten exile. I was meant to rot in that hole. To disappear. To die without a name. And then¡ª
[ABYSSAL OVERRIDE INSTALLING...]
The first glitch in the system. The moment the world made a mistake. The moment I stopped being powerless.
Awakening of a defect Chapter 1: The Awakening of a Defect
Darkness. It was the kind of black that swallowed everything¡ªthe kind where you couldn¡¯t tell if your eyes were open or closed. I was floating. Or falling. Or maybe I had already hit the ground and just hadn¡¯t realized it yet. The last thing I remembered was the Enforcers. Their cold voices. The shackles digging into my wrists. The quiet, accepted truth that I was about to die. And then¡ª Something spoke to me.
[ABYSSAL OVERRIDE INSTALLING...] [ERROR: UNREGISTERED ENTITY DETECTED] [REWRITING SYSTEM PARAMETERS...]
The words weren¡¯t spoken aloud. They weren¡¯t even thoughts. They just¡­ were. Like a truth being carved directly into my existence. I should have been terrified. Instead, I felt something else. A pull. A whisper. A sense that, for the first time in my life, the system wasn¡¯t rejecting me. It was changing for me. And then¡ª Pain. A searing, mind-breaking agony tore through my veins like molten metal. My body arched, my breath caught, and I would have screamed¡ªexcept there was no air, no sound, no me beyond the pain itself.
[ERROR STABILIZED.] [SYSTEM ACCEPTANCE: PARTIAL.] [NEW CLASS ACQUIRED: VOID REAPER]
The darkness shattered.
Waking Up a Different Person I gasped awake, coughing as cold air rushed into my lungs. My body ached, my head throbbed, but I was alive. Blinking against the dim light, I pushed myself upright. My wrists were still red from where the shackles had been, but the chains were gone. So were the Enforcers. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. I wasn¡¯t in the dungeon anymore. I wasn¡¯t sure where I was. The floor beneath me was smooth black stone, polished like a mirror. The sky overhead wasn¡¯t a sky at all¡ªjust an endless void, swirling with faint pinpricks of light. It felt too big, too empty, too wrong. I wasn¡¯t alone. A figure stood in front of me. Tall, draped in flowing obsidian robes. Their face was hidden behind an ornate mask, carved with twisting patterns that seemed to shift when I wasn¡¯t looking. And when they spoke, their voice echoed inside my skull. "The system has rejected you." I stiffened, my hands clenching into fists. No. Not again. The figure tilted their head slightly, as if studying me. "And yet, you still live. Curious." I swallowed. My throat was dry. "Who are you?" They didn¡¯t answer. Instead, they raised a hand. "Tatsuya Vael. You are no longer bound by the laws of this world. But that freedom comes with a cost." The air shimmered around them, and suddenly, I was drowning in pressure. It wasn¡¯t like a killing intent. It wasn¡¯t even something I could describe in words. It was existence itself pressing down on me. A test. A warning. A promise. And then¡ª They were gone. I gasped, stumbling forward as the weight vanished. The void around me cracked, like glass fracturing under pressure. And then¡ª I was somewhere else.
Back to Reality (Sort of) I woke up in an alleyway, gasping for air like I had been drowning. The world around me was loud, bright, real. The smell of city smog burned my nose. Distant chatter, footsteps, the hum of neon signs¡ªsounds I hadn¡¯t heard in weeks. I was back. Somehow, I had survived. I took a shaky breath, pushing myself upright. My body felt different. Lighter. Stronger. There was no pain from my wounds, no exhaustion in my limbs. And most importantly¡ª The system wasn¡¯t rejecting me anymore.
[STATUS WINDOW] NAME: Tatsuya Vael RANK: [ERROR] CLASS: Void Reaper (Level 1) NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: SHADOW STRIDE
I stared at the words, my breath unsteady. This wasn¡¯t normal. This wasn¡¯t supposed to happen. And yet¡­ here I was. A defect with a class. A failure with power. For the first time in my life, I had a chance. And I was going to take it.
A New Beginning: The School Arc Starts The realization hit me like a freight train. I had been gone for months. Officially, I was dead. Which meant I had no home, no money, no identity. I needed a plan. And as much as I hated the idea¡­ there was only one place I could go. The Hunter Academy. Every city had one¡ªa training ground for future hunters, a place where students honed their skills and earned the right to rise through the ranks. And more importantly? It was the only place I could blend in. If I could get in. If I could fake a new identity. If I could survive whatever the hell was coming next. I exhaled, rolling my shoulders. The city stretched out before me, filled with hunters who had spent their lives looking down on people like me. They thought I was gone. They thought I was nothing. Time to prove them wrong. Welcome to Hell (also known as school) Chapter 2: Welcome to Hell (Also Known as School) Hunter Academies were fortresses disguised as schools. Massive walled institutions built to train the next generation of warriors, each one designed to weed out the weak. The only way in was through birthright, talent, or raw luck. I had none of those. Which meant I needed a new identity.
Breaking In Like a Genius (or an Idiot) There were two main ways to enter Arkadia Hunter Academy:
  1. Official Enrollment ¨C Available only to those who pass the Entrance Trials or come from Hunter families.
  2. Transfer Program ¨C Theoretically open to anyone¡­ if you had the right paperwork.
I had neither. What I did have was a stolen uniform, a forged ID, and a level of confidence that bordered on self-destruction. The ID was easy enough¡ªone of the lower-ranked students had a bad habit of leaving their bag unattended. A few modifications, and now, Tatsuya Vael didn¡¯t exist. In his place? Kuro Hoshigaki. Rank: C. Class: Phantom Duelist. Completely fake, obviously. But as long as no one looked too closely at my records, I¡¯d be fine. Probably. I took a slow breath, rolling my shoulders. The academy gates loomed ahead, lined with security drones and rune barriers. No turning back now. Time to be a student.
The Rival Appears I barely made it five steps past the gates before someone decided I didn¡¯t belong. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. "Hey. You." The voice carried the kind of natural authority that made people turn their heads. I didn¡¯t have to look to know this was going to be a problem. Still, I turned. Standing in the middle of the courtyard was a guy who looked like he had walked out of a Hunter recruitment poster. Tall, broad-shouldered, the perfect balance between noble arrogance and sheer talent. His uniform was pristine, his movements sharp¡ªlike someone who had been raised with a sword in one hand and the world in the other. And his expression? Pure disgust. "I don¡¯t recognize you." Well. That made two of us. "Cool," I said, already moving past him. "I don¡¯t recognize you either." A hand gripped my shoulder. I froze. He was fast. Not normal-student fast. Hunter-fast. The crowd around us stopped to watch. "Name," he demanded. I glanced at the ID clipped to my uniform. "Kuro Hoshigaki." His eyes narrowed. "Never heard of you." "Well, I don¡¯t go around introducing myself to self-important rich kids, so that makes sense." A few students nearby gasped. Someone choked on their drink. For a second, the guy just stared at me. Then¡ª He laughed. Not the kind of laugh that meant he found it funny. The kind that said, I am absolutely going to ruin your life. "Listen, Kuro," he said, voice dropping into something quieter. More dangerous. "I don¡¯t know how you got into this school, but I¡¯ll make this simple." His grip on my shoulder tightened. "I don¡¯t like weaklings. Stay out of my way." I sighed. "See, that would be easier if you weren¡¯t literally grabbing me." His eyes flashed. The next second, I felt his aura spike¡ªa pressure that pressed against my skin, heavy and suffocating. This wasn¡¯t just arrogance. This guy was strong. And worse? He was testing me. I met his gaze, keeping my expression bored. "Can I go now, or are we holding hands forever?" Another gasp from the crowd. Someone whispered his name. "That¡¯s Kaien Aldren. The S-Rank Prodigy." Oh. Oh, great. I had just pissed off the strongest student in the entire academy. Fantastic.
Tensions Rise For a second, Kaien didn¡¯t move. Then, slowly, he let go. His smirk was lazy, but his eyes were sharp. "Fine," he said. "Run along, Kuro. But next time¡­" A thin edge of killing intent crept into his voice. "...You won¡¯t walk away so easily." I didn¡¯t take the bait. Just shrugged, turned, and walked away like I hadn¡¯t just dodged a very sharp, very public disaster. But I could feel his gaze on my back the whole time. And I knew this wasn¡¯t over. the Rules of the Game Chapter 3: The Rules of the Game Hunter Academy wasn¡¯t just a school. It was a battleground. A place where students weren¡¯t just trained but ranked, judged, and discarded based on their potential. The strong climbed higher. The weak became obstacles. And me? I wasn¡¯t even supposed to exist.
The Hierarchy of Arkadia Academy The school was divided into three major groups:
  1. The Elite (S & A-Ranks) ¨C The golden children of the Hunter world. Born into legacy families, gifted from birth, expected to rise to the top. Their power was absolute. Their influence stretched beyond the school. If you weren¡¯t one of them, you were beneath them.
  2. The Average (B & C-Ranks) ¨C Capable, but nothing special. The majority of the school fell here¡ªgood enough to be Hunters, not special enough to be feared. They lived in a delicate balance: too weak to challenge the Elite, but strong enough to prey on the lowest tier.
  3. The Outcasts (D & F-Ranks) ¨C The expendable ones. Those who barely made it in, or those whose abilities were too unstable, too strange, or too weak to be taken seriously. They were treated like background characters in a story they weren¡¯t allowed to control.
And then there was me¡ªsomeone who technically wasn¡¯t in the system at all.
The Teachers & Their Games The instructors at Arkadia weren¡¯t ordinary teachers. They were former high-level Hunters, each assigned to oversee different aspects of training. But they didn¡¯t just teach¡ªthey played favorites. Each of them had power. And each of them held influence over who succeeded and who disappeared.
The Standout Students Aside from Kaien Aldren, my newfound rival and the poster boy of the Elite, there were other names that dominated the academy. They ruled the academy with an iron grip. And then there were the Outcasts.
The Outcasts & A New Friend The students at the bottom weren¡¯t just weak. They were forgotten. Hunters-in-training who either lacked raw power or had abilities too strange to fit the mold. And that¡¯s where I met Elias Wolfe. He found me in the cafeteria, slouched in a corner, analyzing my new status screen while trying to avoid unnecessary attention. "You¡¯re new," he said, plopping down across from me. I barely looked up. "And you¡¯re observant." He grinned, unbothered. Elias had the lean build of a rogue, his uniform slightly disheveled, hair a mess of ink-black strands. His left eye was covered by a mechanical eyepatch, glowing faintly with runes. "Let me guess," he continued. "You don¡¯t belong here, but you¡¯re planning to fake it ¡®til you make it?" That got my attention. I narrowed my eyes. "Why do you care?" He smirked, tapping his eyepatch. "Because I¡¯m doing the same thing." I frowned, scanning him. "You have a Class. A real one." "Sure," he admitted. "But my ability¡¯s¡­ not exactly Hunter-approved." I arched a brow. "Which is?" He leaned forward, voice dropping. "I see things I¡¯m not supposed to." A chill crept up my spine. Elias grinned, like he knew exactly what I was thinking. "Don¡¯t worry, though. Your secret¡¯s safe with me," he said casually. "I like collecting interesting people. And right now?" His single eye gleamed. "You¡¯re the most interesting person in this school."
The First Test Looms I didn¡¯t know whether Elias was a threat, an ally, or just an idiot. But I did know one thing¡ªstaying under the radar was already proving impossible. Because the academy had one rule for newcomers. At the end of the week, all new students had to face their First Combat Evaluation. A public fight. In front of the entire school. If I wanted to stay in Arkadia, I had one chance to prove I belonged. No pressure.
The System Has a Sense of Humor Chapter 4: The System Has a Sense of Humor
Two nights before the Combat Evaluation, I woke up to my system having a breakdown.
[SYSTEM ALERT: UNSTABLE MUTATION DETECTED.] [ABYSSAL OVERRIDE RECONFIGURING...] [NEW ENTITY FORMING...]
My eyes snapped open, instincts kicking in. I reached for Nyx¡ªmy living weapon, my cursed blade¡ªbut she was silent, as if watching cautiously from within. Then¡ª A pulse of energy rippled through the room. And something hatched at the foot of my bed. I froze. In the dim moonlight, I saw it¡ªa small, writhing mass of shifting black metal, pulsing like a heartbeat. Tiny tendrils curled and uncurled, and then, with a wet pop, it blinked up at me. A pair of glowing violet eyes stared, wide and unblinking. Then¡ª It squeaked. Like an excited puppy. I stared. It wiggled its little metal body, shifting awkwardly on tiny bladed limbs. Then¡ª It jumped onto my chest. "GRAAH!" I flinched, catching it mid-air, expecting a painful stab to the heart. Instead¡­ it nuzzled me. Like a cat made of liquid metal. "Master!" it chirped inside my head, voice high-pitched and eager. "I¡¯m here! I¡¯m here! I¡¯M HERE!" Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. I blinked. Slowly. "What." "You summoned me!" the tiny thing declared, wiggling excitedly in my hands. "I¡¯m your weapon! I¡¯m your friend! I¡¯M YOUR NUMBER ONE FAN!" I had no idea what was happening. "Nyx?" I called mentally. For once, my normally smug sword sounded equally baffled. "This is¡­ unexpected." I looked down at the tiny, twitchy metal blob. "What are you?" I asked. It puffed up proudly, forming a stubby little tail. "I¡¯m Umbra!" it squeaked. "Your Living Armament! The system made me just for you!"
[NEW ENTITY FORMED: UMBRA (LIVING WEAPON PET)] [CLASS: EVOLVING ARMAMENT] [CURRENT FORM: INFANT]
I exhaled very slowly. I had expected many things when my system decided to evolve. A new skill? Sure. A new weapon? Maybe. A tiny metal gremlin that acted like an overexcited pet? Not on the list. "Master!" Umbra wiggled again, clinging to my sleeve. "Are we gonna fight bad guys? Are we gonna get stronger? Are you gonna feed me?" "Feed you?" "I EAT STUFF!" Umbra declared, as if this was a normal conversation. "Swords! Daggers! Armor! Magic crystals! AND SOON I¡¯LL BE BIG AND STRONG AND DESTROY YOUR ENEMIES FOR YOU, MASTER! GRAAH!" ¡­This thing was going to be a problem.
Learning to Handle a Metal Gremlin For the next few hours, I tried to figure out what the hell I was supposed to do with a sentient baby weapon. Umbra had two modes:
  1. Liquid Metal Blob Form ¨C Which it used to crawl, bounce, and attach itself to me like a clingy parasite.
  2. Miniature Dagger Form ¨C Which it couldn¡¯t stop wiggling in.
"LOOK, MASTER, I¡¯M A STABBY!" "Stop moving while you¡¯re a blade, you¡¯ll cut something!" "ISN¡¯T THAT THE POINT?!" Dear gods.
Nyx Is Not Amused At some point, Nyx finally spoke again, voice dripping with displeasure. "This¡­ thing. What is it?" "I have no idea," I muttered mentally, watching as Umbra tried to bite a wooden chair leg. "It¡¯s loud." "Yeah." "And useless." "I¡¯m hoping that changes." "I CAN HEAR YOU!" Umbra whined, twitching dramatically. "I¡¯M GONNA BE THE STRONGEST WEAPON EVER, JUST WATCH!" I sighed. This was my life now.
A New Companion, A New Challenge By the time dawn broke, I had begrudgingly accepted that I now had a pet weapon. Umbra was¡­ strange. But there was potential. And with the Combat Evaluation tomorrow, I had a chance to test exactly what it could do. Nyx hummed in my mind. "Are you ready, my master?" I exhaled slowly. No. But that had never stopped me before.
The Calm Before the Storm Chapter 5: The Calm Before the Storm
The entire school was buzzing. By noon, the Combat Evaluation had become the only topic of conversation. First-year students were required to prove their worth in front of the entire academy, fighting in one-on-one duels. It wasn¡¯t just about survival¡ªit was about status, hierarchy, and the future of every student involved. And me? I was the unknown variable.
The Outcasts Weigh In I sat with Elias in one of the open courtyard lounges, watching as other students whispered and pointed in my direction. He smirked. "You''re famous, y¡¯know." I didn¡¯t bother looking up. "Not the kind of famous I want." Elias chuckled, resting his hands behind his head. "Well, when you piss off Kaien Aldren on your first day, people tend to notice." I sighed. "It was an accident." "Sure. And I accidentally stole the Headmaster¡¯s wine collection last year." I blinked. "You what?" This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Elias grinned. "Nothing. You can¡¯t prove anything." I rubbed my temples. "I hate it here."
Tension in the Air As the afternoon passed, the tension in the academy grew thicker. Everywhere I walked, I felt eyes on me¡ªsome curious, some mocking, and a few openly hostile. The Elite students were watching me like a joke waiting to happen. The Average students were betting against me. And the Outcasts? Well. They weren¡¯t betting at all. They already knew how these things went. A C-Rank nobody with no history? I wasn¡¯t supposed to win. I was supposed to be crushed.
A Chat with Nyx and Umbra That night, I found a quiet training hall, empty except for the flickering lanterns along the walls. I unsheathed Nyx, the obsidian-black blade pulsing in my grip. Her voice curled into my mind. "Nervous, my master?" I exhaled. "Should I be?" "Considering your opponent is likely aiming to make an example of you?" She chuckled. "Yes." I glanced at the tiny metallic blob clinging to my sleeve. Umbra wiggled excitedly. "I WANNA FIGHT, MASTER!" "You¡¯re barely a dagger," Nyx muttered. "I¡¯M A VERY STABBY DAGGER!" I sighed. "Don¡¯t worry, Master!" Umbra chirped. "If you die, I¡¯ll avenge you! Somehow!" "...That¡¯s not comforting."
The Night Before the Fight I sat against the training hall wall, staring at the ceiling. I¡¯d trained. I¡¯d prepared. But I was still an unknown, a wild card. Would I win? I didn¡¯t know. But one thing was certain¡ª Tomorrow, I wouldn¡¯t just be fighting for survival. I¡¯d be fighting for recognition. For proof that I wasn¡¯t just some defect waiting to be erased. And I had no intention of losing.
A Defects First Battle Chapter 6: A Defect¡¯s First Battle
The Combat Evaluation Arena was packed. Hundreds of students filled the towering stone stands, their voices a dull roar of excitement and anticipation. For most, this was entertainment. For me? This was a declaration of war. I stood at the center of the ring, the smooth black floor beneath my boots radiating faint traces of mana circuitry, enchanted to contain the damage. The arena was large¡ªabout thirty meters across, open space with no cover. A terrible battlefield for someone like me. Across from me, my opponent stood relaxed, a smirk tugging at his lips. Rei Takeda. A-Rank. Lightning Duelist. A known prodigy with the blade, wielding a katana that crackled with electricity. His fighting style was quick, aggressive, and utterly ruthless. And judging by the way he was eyeing me up like a joke waiting to happen, he wasn¡¯t planning to go easy.
The Strategies at Play I analyzed everything immediately. Rei¡¯s Strengths: ? Speed & Precision ¨C His lightning-infused body would make him move faster than the eye could track. ? Precision Strikes ¨C His dueling style meant he¡¯d be waiting for an opening, not swinging wildly. ? Lightning Disrupts Defenses ¨C If I blocked his attacks outright, I¡¯d risk getting paralyzed. My Strengths: ? Unpredictability ¨C He had no idea what my abilities were. ? Shadow Stride ¨C My movement skill could make me harder to track. ? Nyx & Umbra ¨C Two living weapons. One old and cunning. One¡­ still a metal gremlin, but eager. My Weaknesses: ? Lower Rank ¨C I was officially a C-Rank nobody. His technique was far sharper than mine. ? Lightning Counters Speed ¨C Shadow Stride wouldn¡¯t work if he could track me with electricity. ? The Crowd Was Against Me ¨C Losing here meant public humiliation. Conclusion? I had to end this fast¡ªor get torn apart.
The Fight Begins The instructor raised his hand. "Begin." Rei moved instantly. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. A burst of lightning exploded from his feet, launching him across the distance in less than a second. I barely dodged, twisting sideways as his blade sliced through the air, missing me by inches. The heat from the electricity burned my cheek. Fast. Too fast. I retaliated, swinging Nyx in a quick counterattack¡ª But Rei was already gone, dashing past me in a blinding arc. Lightning crackled in his wake as he skidded to a stop, smirking. "Slow." I didn¡¯t answer. Just exhaled.
[SHADOW STRIDE ACTIVATED.]
My body flickered, vanishing into the thin layers of darkness beneath me. Rei¡¯s eyes narrowed. "Tch¡ª" I reappeared behind him, mid-swing. He barely twisted in time to parry my blade, but the impact sent him sliding back. The crowd gasped. "What¡ª?" I didn¡¯t give him time to think. I lunged forward, pressing the attack. Nyx sang through the air, cutting in wild, unpredictable arcs, forcing Rei to stay defensive. His blade moved in precise, calculated counters, but I wasn¡¯t aiming to hit him. I was testing his rhythm. Finding openings. And the moment I saw it¡ª
[UMBRA: DEPLOYED.]
The tiny metallic gremlin-dagger shot out of my sleeve like a bullet. "HI-YAH!" Umbra squeaked. Rei barely had time to dodge, twisting his head as the sentient weapon zipped past his ear. That moment of distraction was all I needed. I slammed my foot into his chest, sending him staggering back. The arena erupted in gasps and whispers.
Tactical Adaptation Rei wiped his mouth, eyes sharpening. "Okay," he muttered. "You''re not completely useless." Lightning crackled around him, and I felt the air shift. I recognized it immediately. Phase Two. He had tested my limits. Now he was about to get serious.
[NEW ABILITY ACTIVATED: FLASH STRIDE.]
Shit. The next second, Rei vanished. Not a normal dash. Not a normal speed boost. A teleporting step. I only saw a flicker of blue light before¡ª CRACK. Pain exploded in my ribs. I skidded back, gritting my teeth, barely keeping my stance as Rei reappeared, blade raised. "Slow," he repeated.
The Crowd Turns The watching students exploded in cheers. "That¡¯s it, Takeda! Crush him!" "Damn, that was fast!" "That C-Rank faker doesn¡¯t stand a chance!" I tuned them out. Focused. Rei smirked, flipping his sword in his grip. "You¡¯ve got tricks, but¡ª" I moved first. His eyes widened. "Oh¡ª" I faked left. His blade shifted to intercept. Then I activated Shadow Stride mid-step, vanishing from his vision. Rei¡¯s instincts kicked in, and he spun, lightning crackling to counter-attack. Too late. I reappeared low, right beneath his guard¡ª And drove my knee into his gut. The force sent him airborne.
A Defect Won¡¯t Fall The crowd went silent. Rei hit the ground hard, gasping for air. His blade clattered against the stone. For a moment, neither of us moved. Then, slowly, I took a step forward. Nyx pulsed in my grip, Umbra wriggling excitedly in my sleeve. Rei looked up, gritting his teeth. His aura flared¡ªhe wasn¡¯t finished yet. I exhaled. "You called me slow," I said quietly. "Let¡¯s see if you still think that when I end this fight."
The Blade that Choose me Chapter 6: The Blade That Chose Me
[Flashback: The Abyss Calls] Darkness. It had surrounded me, swallowed me whole, drowned me in silence. I had been left to die in the abyss, a forgotten defect, unworthy of the system¡¯s approval. Shackled. Broken. Alone. Then¡ª The whispers came. Not words. Not voices. Just an understanding, crawling into my bones like a sickness. A pulse of energy, slow at first¡ªthen stronger, demanding my attention. And at the center of it all¡­ A blade. Suspended in the air, wrapped in shifting tendrils of black mist, its surface like polished night. It pulsed¡ªalive, aware, watching me. Something inside me recognized it. Not as a weapon. Not as a tool. But as something waiting for me. The whispers coiled around my thoughts, forming into words for the first time. "You do not belong here." I shivered. The voice was female, deep and smooth, layered with something ancient and knowing. I swallowed hard. "Who¡­ what are you?" The shadows curled closer. "I am Nyx. I am hunger. I am purpose. And I am waiting for the one who will wield me." I licked my lips, stepping forward despite the instinctive fear curling in my chest. Nyx hummed in approval. "I have been bound to stronger men before. Kings, warlords, legends. They all broke before they could break the world." The mist coiled tighter. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. "Will you?" I stared at the blade. At my own reflection in its surface¡ªa reflection that wasn¡¯t entirely my own. My eyes were darker, deeper, swirling with something I didn¡¯t understand. Something that shouldn¡¯t exist. I reached out. The moment my fingers touched the hilt, the world shattered.
[ABYSSAL CONTRACT FORMED.] [WEAPON SYNCHRONIZATION COMPLETE.]
Pain ripped through me, a thousand voices screaming at once. And through it all¡ª Nyx laughed.
[Present: The Battle Reignites] The memory snapped away like a rubber band. I was back in the arena. Back in the fight. Rei Takeda was still staggering from my last hit, eyes burning with frustration, lightning crackling around his limbs. The crowd was silent, stunned that a no-name C-Rank was holding his ground against an A-Rank prodigy. But I wasn¡¯t holding my ground. I was about to end this. Nyx pulsed in my grip, her voice sliding into my mind like silk and steel. "Shall we finish this, my master?" I exhaled slowly.
[WEAPON ABILITY: ABYSSAL EDGE ACTIVATED.]
A surge of void energy pulsed through my arm, into Nyx, the blade darkening, extending, warping. The air around us shuddered as reality itself seemed to bend under the pressure. Rei¡¯s eyes widened. "What¡ª" I moved. Faster than before. Shadow Stride kicked in, my body flickering into the abyss for a split second before reappearing behind him. I slashed¡ª Not for his body, but for his weapon. Nyx¡¯s edge sang through the air, slicing clean through Rei¡¯s lightning-clad katana. His blade shattered. The moment of shock was all I needed. I drove my foot into his chest, sending him skidding across the arena floor. He hit the ground, gasping for air, his weapon lying in broken pieces beside him. Silence. Then¡ª
[VICTORY DECLARED.]
The instructor raised his hand. "Winner: Kuro Hoshigaki."
Aftermath: The Weight of Victory The arena erupted. Some students were cheering. Others were staring, whispering, realizing that I wasn¡¯t just some background character in their little hierarchy. I sheathed Nyx, my breath steady. Rei was still on the ground, staring at his broken weapon. Then¡ª He laughed. A dry, disbelieving chuckle. "You really aren¡¯t normal," he muttered, shaking his head. Then, to my surprise, he grinned. "Guess I¡¯ll have to come back stronger." I blinked. That¡­ wasn¡¯t the reaction I expected. But before I could say anything¡ª A new voice cut through the noise. "Interesting." I turned. Kaien Aldren stood at the edge of the arena, arms crossed, watching me with cold amusement. "Looks like I was right about you," he murmured. "You don¡¯t belong here." I met his gaze, my fingers tightening around Nyx¡¯s hilt. I wasn¡¯t sure if that was a threat or an invitation. Maybe both. Either way, one thing was clear¡ª My fight wasn¡¯t over yet. It had only just begun.
Unwanted Attention Chapter 7: Unwanted Attention
The moment the match ended, I knew I had made a mistake. Not because I won. Because I won too well. Because I did something I wasn¡¯t supposed to be able to do. And now? People were watching.
The Crowd''s Reaction The arena was still buzzing as I stepped off the battleground, whispers and murmurs following me like shadows. "Did you see that?" "No way a C-Rank should have that kind of speed¡ª" "That sword¡­ what the hell was that?" "Takeda lost?!" I ignored them. Kept walking, kept my expression blank, even as my mind raced through all the ways this could go wrong. I had planned to stay low, keep my cover, move through the ranks quietly. Instead? I had shattered a ranked duelist¡¯s blade in front of the entire school.
Rei Takeda¡¯s Response I barely made it to the waiting hall before a voice called out. "Oi. Kuro." I turned. Rei Takeda was standing at the entrance, arms crossed, expression unreadable. The last time I saw him, he had been flat on his back, staring at his broken sword. Now? He just looked¡­ thoughtful. "You fought well," he said. I raised a brow. "You don¡¯t sound mad." He shrugged. "Not mad. Just¡­ surprised." His eyes flicked to Nyx at my side. "That sword of yours. It¡¯s not normal, is it?" Nyx hummed in amusement in my mind. "Oh, this one is perceptive." I ignored her. "What makes you say that?" Rei smirked. "Because if it was, I wouldn¡¯t be standing here with a broken weapon." This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. I said nothing. Because he was right. Because Nyx wasn¡¯t a normal blade. And because I had just shown my hand to every hunter-in-training in this school.
Kaien Aldren¡¯s Warning Of course, that wasn¡¯t the worst part. Because when I turned the next corner, I found someone waiting for me. Kaien Aldren. My new least favorite person. He was leaning against the hallway wall, arms crossed, watching me like a cat studying an injured mouse. "You''re a problem," he said simply. I sighed. "Great. You figured that out fast." Kaien pushed off the wall, stepping toward me, his presence unnervingly heavy. "Do you know how things work here, Kuro?" "Let me guess," I muttered. "The strong rule, the weak follow, and you¡¯re at the top of the food chain?" His smirk was slow, dangerous. "Something like that." His eyes locked onto mine. "And now you¡¯ve put yourself on the board." I didn¡¯t answer. I didn¡¯t have to. We both knew what he meant. I had drawn attention. Not just from the students. From the academy itself. And in a place where power dictated worth, that was a dangerous thing.
A Meeting with the Instructors I wasn¡¯t even back in my dorm for an hour before I got the summons.
[REPORT TO HEAD INSTRUCTOR VANCE IMMEDIATELY.]
Of course. I followed the directions, making my way through the administrative wing until I reached a dimly lit office, lined with old weapons and battle-worn maps. Behind the desk sat Instructor Vance. A former A-Rank hunter, built like a war tank, his face lined with scars, his aura sharp and predatory. He didn¡¯t look up as I entered. Just kept reviewing something on his screen. Then, after a long, tense moment¡ª He spoke. "Explain." I hesitated. "Explain what?" His eyes snapped up. "Don¡¯t play dumb." His voice was like gravel, low and dangerous. "That blade of yours. The way you fought. That wasn¡¯t normal." I kept my face neutral. "Maybe I¡¯m just talented." Vance snorted. "You could be. But talent alone doesn¡¯t let a C-Rank move like an A-Rank, or cut through reinforced weapons." He leaned forward. "You hiding something, kid?" A test. A trap. I was one wrong answer away from disaster. So I did what I did best. I lied. "Of course not, sir." Vance stared at me. Hard. Then, finally, he exhaled. "Fine. Keep your secrets." I blinked. That easy? "But understand this," he continued, his voice dropping into something heavier. "Whatever game you¡¯re playing, whatever trick you¡¯re using, it just made you a target." He leaned back, crossing his arms. "And in this school?" His eyes darkened. "Targets don¡¯t last long."
The Weight of Victory When I finally returned to my dorm, my head was pounding. Too much had happened. I had won, but in doing so, I had put myself in the spotlight. I had caught Kaien¡¯s attention. I had been summoned by an instructor. I had outed Nyx as something unnatural. And worst of all? I still had no idea what the academy was planning next. Umbra wiggled onto my shoulder, sensing my mood. "Are we in trouble, Master?" I sighed. "Not yet. But soon." Nyx¡¯s voice curled into my thoughts, amused and knowing. "Then let¡¯s make sure that when trouble comes¡­" Her blade pulsed faintly. "We¡¯re the ones who survive it." I exhaled slowly. She wasn¡¯t wrong. Because from now on? It wasn¡¯t just about staying in the academy. It was about staying alive.
A Teacher Worth Learning From Chapter 8: A Teacher Worth Learning From
After the match, the academy didn¡¯t forget. Word of my fight with Rei Takeda spread like wildfire. Some students saw me as a rising contender, a mystery worth unraveling. Others saw me as an anomaly that needed to be put in my place. And the instructors? Most of them ignored me. Most.
The Mentor Appears I didn¡¯t expect anyone to seek me out. So when I was pulled from my next class and summoned to a secluded training hall, I assumed the worst. What I got instead¡­ Was Instructor Kaela Voss. She stood in the center of the arena, arms crossed, watching me with an expression of mild amusement. "You''re the problem child," she said. I sighed. "I really need a new nickname." Kaela Voss was a former S-Rank Hunter. Notorious for fighting on the front lines against Abyss-class monsters. She had retired from active duty and vanished from public records¡ªuntil she resurfaced here as an instructor. Unlike the other teachers, she wasn¡¯t dressed in formal academy robes. She wore a high-collared, sleeveless combat vest, reinforced gloves, and a long coat with reinforced plating. Her hair was short and messy, silver streaked with black, and her eyes were old, sharp¡ªlike someone who had seen too much but refused to look away. "Vance said you''re interesting," she continued. "I disagree." Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. I frowned. "Then why am I here?" Kaela smirked. "Because I want to see if he¡¯s right."
Training Begins Kaela didn¡¯t waste time. "Draw your weapon." I hesitated. "Here?" "Unless you''re afraid." I exhaled. Nyx pulsed against my palm, her amusement bleeding into my thoughts. "She¡¯s bold. I like her." I drew my blade. Kaela moved instantly. No warning. No hesitation. Just pure speed. Her foot slammed into my gut, sending me skidding across the floor. I barely caught myself before she was already on me again. Her fist blurred¡ªa straight punch aimed at my ribs. I twisted, Nyx moving to parry. A mistake. The moment our weapons clashed, I felt raw force explode through my arms. Not just strength. Control. Kaela used minimal movement, maximum power. I was faster, but she was more efficient. Within seconds, I was on the defensive, struggling just to keep up. And she wasn¡¯t even trying. She caught my next attack, twisted¡ªand I hit the ground, hard. I groaned. "Okay. That hurt." Kaela smirked, stepping back. "Lesson one: Strength means nothing without technique." She offered a hand. I took it. Maybe this wouldn¡¯t be so bad.
New Friends and Enemies As Kaela¡¯s unofficial apprentice, I got new enemies¡ªand new allies.
  1. The Rivalry with Kaien Deepens
  2. Elias Wolfe Becomes a Friend
  3. Iris Fontaine, the Ice Queen
A Growing Threat The academy had its own hierarchy. But outside the walls? Something was watching. Late one night, as I was heading back from training, I felt it¡ª A presence. Not human. Not friendly. Nyx tensed in my grip. "We are being hunted, my master." The academy was supposed to be safe. It wasn¡¯t. Something was coming for me. And soon, I would learn that my fight wasn¡¯t just against students anymore.
The First Quest Chapter 9: The First Quest
Night had fallen over Arkadia Academy. Most students had returned to their dorms, resting after a long day of training. The air was cool, the academy lights casting long shadows along the stone pathways. I was alone. And something was watching me. Nyx pulsed against my palm. "Do you feel it, my master?" I did. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but the air around me felt¡­ wrong. Like reality itself was rippling. Then¡ª
[NEW QUEST DETECTED] [QUEST: HUNT THE UNSEEN] Objective: Discover the entity lurking outside Arkadia Academy. Reward: +1 Level, New Ability Unlocked
I froze. A quest? My system had never given me a proper quest before¡ªjust vague orders, cryptic messages. But this? This was deliberate. I gripped Nyx tighter, scanning my surroundings. Something was here. And my system wanted me to find it.
The Encounter The academy¡¯s protective barriers should have kept monsters out. But this wasn¡¯t a normal monster. I followed the distorted presence, my footsteps light against the stone walkway. It led me beyond the main courtyard, toward the forest bordering the academy. That¡¯s when I saw it. A shape, standing at the treeline. It was humanoid¡­ but wrong. Too tall, too thin, its limbs slightly too long, its head tilted in an unnatural angle. Its skin was smooth, featureless, except for where its face should have been. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Instead, there was only shifting static. Like a glitch in reality. A low, buzzing sound filled the air. The thing twitched as if sensing me. Then it moved. Fast. One second it was at the edge of the forest. The next, it was right in front of me. I barely dodged, twisting away as a distorted limb lashed out, slicing through the air where my head had been. The shockwave alone sent me skidding back. My chest tightened. This wasn¡¯t just some stray beast. This was something else. Something that wasn¡¯t supposed to exist.
The Battle Begins
[QUEST UPDATED: ENGAGE THE UNSEEN ENTITY.]
Fine. I exhaled. Focused. Nyx darkened, her blade humming with abyssal energy. The creature twitched again, its body glitching, as if flickering between different states of existence. Then, without warning¡ª It lunged. I activated Shadow Stride, vanishing into the thin veil of darkness¡ª But the thing followed. It saw me. No one was supposed to be able to track me while in the shadows. But this entity? It didn¡¯t follow sight or sound. It followed something deeper. A low whisper slithered through my mind¡ªnot from Nyx. "You¡­ do not belong." Cold spiked through my veins. I snapped back into reality, twisting just in time to parry the next attack. The impact sent vibrations through my arm. This thing was fast, powerful, relentless. But it was also unstable. Its movements flickered, its form shifting between real and unreal. Which meant¡ª I could exploit that.
The Finishing Move Nyx purred in my mind. "Shall we cut into the unknown?" I smirked. "Let¡¯s." I adjusted my grip, waiting. The entity twitched¡ªthen lunged again. But this time, I didn¡¯t dodge. I stepped forward. Let it come to me. The moment its limbs passed through reality¡¯s threshold, I slashed downward.
[ABYSSAL EDGE: ACTIVATED.]
Nyx howled, a black arc of energy slicing through the air. The moment it hit¡ª The entity froze. Then¡ª It began to unravel. Not like a normal creature. Not like something dying. It simply¡­ ceased. Like it had never been there at all. The only evidence left was a lingering distortion in the air, a ripple where it had stood. Then even that was gone.
[QUEST COMPLETE: HUNT THE UNSEEN] [REWARD: LEVEL UP!] [NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: VOID SENSE]
I exhaled, heart still racing. I had won. But I had no idea what I had just fought.
Aftermath: The Questions Begin By the time I returned to my dorm, my mind was still spinning. A creature that didn¡¯t exist? A new ability? A system that was leading me toward something? I checked my status.
[NEW ABILITY: VOID SENSE] Allows the user to detect entities outside normal reality. Warning: Prolonged use may attract unwanted attention.
My stomach tightened. Unwanted attention from what? Nyx¡¯s voice curled into my mind, softer this time. "Something is watching, my master." I gripped my blade, staring out the window. Whatever was happening¡ª Whatever my system was leading me toward¡ª This was just the beginning.
Questions Without Answers Chapter 10: Questions Without Answers
The academy noticed. They always did. The moment an anomaly appeared, the school¡¯s higher-ups acted like bloodhounds catching a scent. And last night? Something crossed the line.
The Investigation Begins The next morning, the academy grounds were filled with whispers and unease. Something had disturbed the outer barriers. A fluctuation in the defensive runes. A gap in security. The official report claimed it was a natural mana surge. I knew better. Because I had fought the thing that caused it. And I had killed it. So why did it feel like it had left something behind?
The Headmaster¡¯s Statement By midday, an emergency assembly was called. Hundreds of students gathered in the main hall, murmuring amongst themselves. Then, the Headmaster arrived. Headmaster Alden Graves. An old man with sharp, predatory features, wrapped in long ceremonial robes. His presence alone silenced the room. His voice was calm but heavy. "A disturbance was detected last night at the edge of the academy grounds." If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. No unnecessary words. No wasted explanations. "As of now, we are investigating the source. If any student has information, they are expected to report it immediately." His gaze swept across the hall¡ªsearching. For what? For who? I didn¡¯t move. Didn¡¯t react. Because I knew if I did¡­ That predatory gaze would land on me.
Kaela Voss Has Her Suspicions After the assembly, I barely made it down the hall before Instructor Voss intercepted me. She leaned against the doorway of an empty classroom, arms crossed, watching me like she already knew the answer to her next question. "You wouldn¡¯t happen to know anything about last night, would you?" I sighed. "Is this a trick question?" Her smirk was small. "Maybe." I hesitated. "And if I did?" Kaela¡¯s gaze darkened¡ªjust slightly. "Then I¡¯d tell you to be careful." Something about the way she said it sent a chill down my spine. She knew. She might not have proof, but she knew. And that meant others would suspect me soon, too.
Scolding Umbra Later that night, back in my dorm, I stared at Umbra. The tiny metal creature wriggled on my desk, twitching its stubby little legs. I folded my arms. "So. You gonna explain why you didn¡¯t help me last night?" Umbra froze. Then, slowly, it turned its shiny, round eyes toward me. "Uhhh¡­ I was¡­ busy?" I narrowed my eyes. "Busy doing what?" "Uhh¡­" Umbra wiggled. "Moral support?" Nyx snorted in amusement from my side. "Ah, yes. The legendary technique of ¡®watching your master nearly die.¡¯" Umbra twitched aggressively. "HEY. IT WAS DARK AND SCARY, OKAY?" I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Umbra, you''re literally a sentient weapon. You''re supposed to be dangerous." "I AM DANGEROUS!" "You¡¯re a butter knife with a bad attitude." "I RESENT THAT!" Nyx chuckled. "It¡¯s not inaccurate." "I WAS WAITING FOR THE RIGHT MOMENT!" Umbra insisted, bouncing. "STRATEGICALLY!" I sighed. "Next time? Actually do something. Or I¡¯m training you extra hard." Umbra gasped. "YOU WOULDN¡¯T¡ª" I raised a brow. It drooped. "...Okay, okay. I¡¯ll try next time." "Good." Because next time? There wouldn¡¯t be room for hesitation.
The Unseen Threat Lingers As I lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, something kept nagging at me. Something about that creature. Why had it been there? Why had it targeted me? And why did it feel like this wasn¡¯t the last time I¡¯d see one? Nyx whispered softly in my mind. "This is only the beginning, my master." I closed my eyes. I knew she was right. And I had a feeling¡ª The academy did, too.
The Hunter Who Knows Too Much Chapter 11: The Hunter Who Knows Too Much
I knew the academy wasn¡¯t going to let this go. I just didn¡¯t expect them to pull me in so fast.
Summoned to the Headmaster¡¯s Office The summons came the next morning.
[REPORT TO HEADMASTER ALDEN GRAVES IMMEDIATELY.]
I barely had time to process before I found myself in the Headmaster¡¯s office, standing before Alden Graves himself. The air in the room was thick, heavy with something unseen. Graves sat behind his desk, fingers steepled, studying me with the calm patience of a man who already knew too much. "You were outside the academy walls last night," he said. Not a question. A statement. I kept my expression neutral. "I was training." A small pause. Then¡ª Graves smiled. It wasn¡¯t a friendly smile. It was the kind that made you second-guess every decision that led you here. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. "You fought it, didn¡¯t you?" My stomach tightened. But I didn¡¯t answer. Because we both knew that was answer enough.
The Teacher Who Knows the Truth I wasn¡¯t locked up. I wasn¡¯t expelled. Instead, I was sent to Instructor Selene. The academy¡¯s Magic Theory professor. But according to the rumors? She wasn¡¯t just a teacher. She was a former Hunter-Scholar¡ªa specialist in monsters that weren¡¯t supposed to exist. Which meant she knew something about what I fought.
The Conversation Selene¡¯s office was nothing like I expected. Dark, cluttered with ancient books and alchemical artifacts. Strange symbols glowed faintly on the walls, shifting when I wasn¡¯t looking. She stood near a large arcane map, her back to me, tracing something with her fingers. "You saw it," she said. Another statement. I exhaled. "Yeah." She turned, her violet eyes sharp. "And you killed it?" I hesitated. "I think so." Selene studied me for a long moment. Then she gestured. "Sit." I did. And for the next hour, she told me the truth.
The Unseen Beasts "They¡¯re called Nullborn," Selene said. "Creatures that exist outside the system." I frowned. "Outside?" She nodded. "They have no rank, no class, no recorded history. They¡¯re not supposed to be here." The memory of the glitching, shifting entity flickered in my mind. I clenched my fists. "Where do they come from?" Selene¡¯s eyes darkened. "From places we¡¯re not meant to see." The room felt colder. "These things," she continued, "aren¡¯t just anomalies. They¡¯re a message." She looked directly at me. "And the fact that one came for you?" Her voice dropped into something almost dangerous. "That means you¡¯re part of that message."
A New Threat I left her office with more questions than answers. But one thing was clear¡ª This wasn¡¯t over. The Nullborn weren¡¯t just random monsters. They were looking for something. And for some reason¡ª They thought I had it.
A Student, A Hunter, A Problem Chapter 12: A Student, A Hunter, A Problem
I tried to be a normal student. I really did. But it turns out, when a creature from beyond reality tries to kill you, it¡¯s hard to focus on homework.
Balancing Act Arkadia Academy ran on a strict schedule. Mornings were spent in combat training or magic theory classes. Afternoons were for team missions and sparring sessions. Evenings were supposed to be study hours. For normal students, this was manageable. For me? I had to pretend to be normal while secretly investigating creatures that weren¡¯t supposed to exist. Which meant sneaking into restricted archives, listening to rumors, and avoiding the watchful eyes of the instructors. Oh, and trying not to die. Easy. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Gathering Clues I started with the academy records. There were no mentions of Nullborn. No reports, no incidents, no history. But there were gaps. Entire sections of recorded monster attacks were missing, erased. Someone had covered them up. Which meant someone in the academy already knew about them.
Elias Wants In Of course, I wasn¡¯t the only one who noticed I was up to something. "You¡¯re looking for something," Elias said one evening, sliding into the seat across from me in the library. I sighed. "Don¡¯t you have your own life to worry about?" Elias smirked. "Sure. But yours is way more interesting." I considered lying. But Elias wasn¡¯t an idiot. And, despite his annoying habit of getting into trouble, he had a knack for finding things others missed. So I told him¡ªnot everything, but enough. About the thing I fought. About Selene¡¯s warning. About the missing records. Instead of freaking out, Elias just grinned. "Well," he said, cracking his knuckles. "Looks like we¡¯ve got a mystery on our hands." Great. Because what I needed right now was a reckless rogue helping me break more rules.
A Strange Warning That night, as I returned to my dorm, I found something waiting for me. A note, pinned to my door. The handwriting was sharp, precise.
"Stop digging. You''re not ready for the answers."
I stared at it. Felt the weight of the words. And then¡ª I ripped it down. Because I wasn¡¯t stopping. Not now. Not ever.
Secrets Are Never Buried For Long Chapter 13: Secrets Are Never Buried for Long
If someone tells you to stop digging, it usually means you¡¯re close to something important. So, naturally, Elias and I dug deeper. And that¡¯s how we found the door. And that¡¯s also how we almost died.
The Forgotten Wing Arkadia Academy was massive. It had towering halls, endless archives, and entire sections students weren¡¯t allowed to enter. But through careful research¡ªmeaning a mix of bribery, sneaking around, and Elias picking a few locks¡ªwe discovered an abandoned wing beneath the academy. A place that wasn¡¯t on any map. A place that shouldn¡¯t exist. And at the end of the dust-covered corridor, hidden beneath layers of fading protective seals, we found a massive iron door.
Opening the Past "This," Elias muttered, staring at the markings on the door, "is probably a really bad idea." I nodded. "Yup." Neither of us left. Instead, I placed my hand on the rusted surface¡ª And the system reacted.
[UNKNOWN ACCESS POINT DETECTED.] [AUTHORIZATION GRANTED: VOID REAPER.]
The door groaned and unlocked itself. Elias stepped back. "That¡­ seems bad." This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "Too late to back out now." I pushed it open¡ª And what we saw inside changed everything.
The Hidden Archive The room was a forgotten research chamber. Dust-covered books, faded parchments, and cracked glass containers lined the walls. Old, decayed sigils pulsed faintly on the floor, sealing something within. At the center of the room sat a large stone slab. And engraved into it¡ªclear, sharp, undeniable¡ª A drawing of the Nullborn. My blood ran cold. Elias cursed under his breath. "They knew. They knew about these things, and they buried it." He wasn¡¯t wrong. The academy knew. But that wasn¡¯t the worst part. Because beneath the engraving, written in ancient runes, was a warning:
"THE VOID WATCHES. AND IT WANTS HIM BACK."
The hairs on my neck rose. Him? Who¡ª No. What? I barely had time to process before the shadows in the room moved. Something slithered. Twisted. The temperature dropped. And then¡ª
[WARNING: NULLBORN PRESENCE DETECTED.]
A low, distorted voice echoed from the darkness. "You should not be here." And then it attacked.
The Ambush The thing lunged from the shadows, a mass of twitching limbs and static flesh. It wasn¡¯t just one. There were three. They had been waiting. I barely dodged the first strike, rolling across the stone floor as razor-sharp claws carved through the air. Elias cursed, flipping back as another creature warped toward him, moving in a way that defied reality. I gritted my teeth, summoning Nyx. "This is escalating quickly," she murmured. "No kidding!" I slashed at the nearest Nullborn, but it twisted away, its body glitching in and out of existence. Elias flicked his wrist, summoning a series of throwing daggers¡ª But the blades passed right through the creatures. "They¡¯re not fully here!" he shouted. "We can¡¯t hit them!" I exhaled sharply. If normal weapons wouldn¡¯t work¡ª Then we needed something not normal. I tightened my grip. Nyx purred in understanding. "Shall we cut through the unreal, my master?" I smirked. "Let¡¯s."
[ABILITY ACTIVATED: ABYSSAL EDGE.]
My blade darkened, glowing with a deep void energy. The Nullborn hesitated. They recognized it. They feared it. And that meant¡ª I could kill them.
Evolution Through Desperation Chapter 14: Evolution Through Desperation
The room shook as the Nullborn circled us. Their forms twitched, glitching between solid and intangible, their presence pressing against my skull like a distant radio signal full of static and whispers. Elias cursed beside me, gripping a dagger that couldn¡¯t touch them. "They¡¯re waiting," he muttered. "For what?" I asked. That¡¯s when the door behind us slammed shut. And we felt it. A new presence. Something bigger. Something worse. The Nullborn backed away. The boss had arrived.
The Nullborn Tyrant A hole in reality opened above us. Not a portal. Not a gate. A tear. Like something was forcing its way into existence. And then¡ª It descended. A massive, towering entity, its body a fusion of black tendrils and shifting, static-infused flesh. Six burning violet eyes locked onto me, and I felt my entire body freeze. It wasn¡¯t just a beast. It was a predator. And I was its prey.
[NULLBORN TYRANT: DESIGNATION¡ªTHE SEEKER] [WARNING: THREAT LEVEL¡ª???]
Elias paled. "I don¡¯t think we can win this." I clenched my jaw. "We don¡¯t have a choice."
Fighting the Unkillable The Tyrant moved first. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. It didn¡¯t charge. It didn¡¯t roar. It shifted. One second it was at the far end of the room. The next¡ª It was right in front of me. I barely raised Nyx in time to block as a massive tendril slammed into me, sending me crashing through the stone walls. Pain exploded through my ribs. I hit the ground hard, coughing up blood.
[WARNING: SYSTEM DAMAGE DETECTED.] [VITALITY CRITICAL.]
I tried to push myself up¡ª The Tyrant was already there. Another strike, faster than I could react¡ª I saw my death. Then¡ª
[CLASS EVOLUTION TRIGGERED.] [VOID REAPER ¡ú VOID SUMMONER.]
A pulse of pure abyssal energy erupted from my body. The Tyrant hesitated. For the first time¡ª It looked uncertain.
A New Power Awakens My system flashed with a new message.
[NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: CALL OF THE VOID.] [Summon an entity from the abyss to fight by your side.]
I exhaled. Then I let it happen. Dark energy swirled around me, forming a portal of shifting black mist. And from within it¡ª Something answered. A figure stepped through. Tall, armor-like obsidian skin, silver eyes that burned like dying stars. Nyx. But not as a sword. As a summoned warrior. She grinned, rolling her shoulders. "Shall we kill a god, my master?" I smirked, wiping the blood from my lips. "Let¡¯s."
The Counterattack Nyx moved first. One moment she was beside me. The next, she was in the air, twin abyssal blades forming in her hands as she clashed with the Tyrant. The impact shook the chamber. Elias gasped, barely dodging as the Nullborn minions shrieked and dissolved. Whatever Nyx was now¡ª She was beyond anything I had ever wielded. And I wasn¡¯t about to waste it.
[CALL OF THE VOID: SECOND SUMMON AVAILABLE.]
A second portal opened. From it, a familiar shape emerged. Umbra. No longer just a tiny metal gremlin¡ª Now a shifting, bladed beast, armored in obsidian plating. "GRAHH! MASTER, I¡¯M READY TO RIP AND TEAR!" I grinned. "Then let¡¯s end this."
The Tyrant Falls Together, we unleashed hell. Nyx was a blur of abyssal steel, slashing into the Tyrant¡¯s shifting form, forcing it back. Umbra lunged, biting into its distorted flesh, tearing through the unreal. And me? I raised my hand¡ª And activated Void Summoner¡¯s final skill.
[VOID CONSUMPTION: ABSORB THE UNREAL.]
A vortex of dark energy exploded from my palm, wrapping around the Tyrant, pulling it into a collapsing void rift. The Tyrant shrieked. It fought, twisted, struggled. But this time¡ª It was being erased. The same way it tried to erase me. And then¡ª It was gone.
[BOSS DEFEATED: NULLBORN TYRANT] [QUEST COMPLETE.] [LEVEL UP: VOID SUMMONER ¨C LVL 2]
I staggered, breathing hard. The room was silent. The fight was over. And I had just become something else entirely.
A Second Path Opens Chapter 15: A Second Path Opens
I should¡¯ve been relieved. I had survived. The Nullborn Tyrant was dead. My Void Summoner class had evolved, and I had summoned Nyx in her full form. But the system wasn¡¯t finished with me yet.
[BATTLE REWARD UNLOCKED.] [SECONDARY CLASS ACQUIRED: ELDRITCH BEAST TAMER.]
My breath caught. "A¡­ second class?" That wasn¡¯t normal. Hunters were born with one class, maybe two if they underwent extreme awakening rituals. But acquiring one as a system reward? That was impossible. And then¡ª You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. The ground beneath me shook. A rift split open, swirling with deep violet mist. And from it, something stepped into existence.
The New Companion At first, I thought it was another monster. Then I realized¡ª It was watching me. Its form was fluid, shifting between beast and shadow, its long, fox-like body wrapped in dark fur that shimmered like a starless void. Eyes like liquid gold gleamed as it circled me, its tail splitting and reforming in ways that shouldn¡¯t be possible. Then¡ª It grinned. "Oh my, oh my. What a fascinating master I¡¯ve been given." Its voice was silk and laughter, full of amusement and secrets. Nyx tensed beside me. "Careful, my master. This one is¡­ different." I exhaled. "Who¡­ what are you?" The creature tilted its head, then gave an exaggerated bow. "You may call me Noctis. A pleasure, dear summoner."
[NEW COMPANION ACQUIRED: NOCTIS, THE STARLESS TRICKSTER.] [CLASS SYNCHRONIZATION IN PROGRESS¡­]
The system¡¯s words faded, but I barely noticed. Because Noctis was still grinning, its gaze sharp with knowing mischief. "Tell me, master¡­" it purred. "How do you feel about making a deal?"
Training a Trickster Chapter 16: Training a Trickster
I had questions. A lot of questions. Like¡ª
  1. What the hell was an Eldritch Beast Tamer?
  2. Why did my system think I needed another smart-mouthed, reality-breaking companion?
  3. Why was Noctis still grinning like he knew all my secrets?
Nyx hummed in my mind, her tone unimpressed. "Your new pet is insufferable." Noctis flicked his tail, lazily floating midair. "Pet? Oh, darling blade, I am so much more than that." I sighed, rubbing my temples. "I already regret this."
Understanding the Class The system finally gave me an answer.
[CLASS: ELDRITCH BEAST TAMER] Allows the user to form contracts with creatures beyond mortal comprehension. Each beast grants unique abilities, but beware¡ªeldritch beings have their own wills and motives.
I frowned. "Wait¡­ so does that mean Noctis could refuse to listen to me?" Noctis stretched, yawning. "Hmm. I could¡­ but where¡¯s the fun in that?" Nyx scoffed. "Meaning he will listen only when it amuses him." I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Great. Just what I needed. A sentient loophole."
Training Begins (and Goes Immediately Wrong) I dragged Noctis to a secluded training ground outside the academy walls, away from prying eyes. "Alright," I said, cracking my knuckles. "Let¡¯s see what you can actually do." Noctis grinned. "Oh, we¡¯ll have so much fun, master." Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
[ABILITIES UNLOCKED: NOCTIS] 1. Starless Step ¨C Allows the user to vanish into the void and reappear unpredictably. 2. Eldritch Whispers ¨C Inflicts mild insanity upon enemies, confusing them. 3. Reality Flicker ¨C Distorts perception, making attacks and movement unpredictable.
I nodded slowly. "Okay, that¡¯s actually useful." Noctis¡¯s tail flicked. "You doubted me?" I pointed at him. "You literally tried to sell me a ¡®mystery deal¡¯ five minutes after being summoned." He grinned wider. "The offer still stands."
Testing Abilities I started with Starless Step. "Alright, teleport somewhere." Noctis flickered out of existence. I waited. And waited. "...Noctis?" A voice whispered directly in my ear. "Behind you, master~" I jumped as Noctis reappeared, casually lounging on my shoulder. Nyx laughed. "I like this one now." I glared. "That was completely unnecessary." Noctis smirked. "Oh, but it was fun."
Next was Eldritch Whispers. "Try it on something that isn¡¯t me," I warned. Noctis lazily waved a paw. The energy shimmered around a nearby tree. The tree¡­ screamed. I took a slow step back. "Nope. Nope, absolutely not. Turn it off." Noctis chuckled, and the whispers faded. "You should¡¯ve seen your face, master." "I hate you." "You love me."
Finally, we tested Reality Flicker. Noctis blurred. Then split into six copies of himself, each one laughing in a different pitch. I swung Nyx at one¡ª My sword passed through empty air. A dozen Noctises laughed at once. "Too slow, master!" I took a deep breath. "I am going to kill you." "Ah, but then you¡¯d lose me. And let¡¯s be honest¡­" The copies all flickered back into one, sitting smugly at my feet. "You¡¯d miss me." I groaned. I was never going to get a normal companion, was I?
The (Mostly) Final Verdict After a few more hours of training¡ªand several existential crises later¡ªI sat on a rock, exhausted. Noctis curled beside me, looking far too pleased with himself. Nyx, still in her humanoid form, leaned against a tree, watching us with mild amusement. "He is useful, at least." I sighed. "Yeah, if I can get him to take anything seriously." Noctis purred. "Oh, master. I take everything seriously. I just prefer to have fun doing it." I groaned. "We¡¯re going to die." Noctis grinned. "And what a glorious death it will be!" I was so doomed.
The Academy Starts Watching Chapter 17: The Academy Starts Watching
I knew it was only a matter of time. After the Nullborn attack, my sudden rise in power, and my questionable new companions, the academy wasn¡¯t just going to let me walk around unnoticed. I had become a variable. And people don¡¯t like variables.
Summoned by the Elite The day after training with Noctis, I was summoned to the High Council Chamber. A place where only top-ranked students and instructors gathered. I wasn¡¯t invited. I was ordered. Elias whistled when he saw the summons. "Damn, already caught their attention? That¡¯s gotta be a new record." I groaned. "This is either really bad or really bad." Nyx hummed in my mind. "Perhaps they seek to recruit you. Or perhaps they wish to dissect you." "Thanks. That¡¯s so comforting." Noctis grinned. "Just flash them a smile and talk in riddles. Works for me." I was so doomed. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
Meeting the Council The chamber was huge, lined with stone pillars and floating mana crystals. At the center, sitting in high-backed chairs, were the academy¡¯s top instructors and elite students. Kaien Aldren was there, arms crossed, watching me with thinly veiled contempt. Iris Fontaine, the Ice Queen, studied me with a cool, unreadable gaze. Instructor Vance looked bored. Instructor Selene, curious. And then, at the head of the room¡ª Headmaster Alden Graves. He spoke first. "You are¡­ an anomaly, Tatsuya." I didn¡¯t respond. Just waited. "You lack a proper ranking," he continued, "yet you¡¯ve displayed abilities far beyond your supposed level." His gaze darkened. "And now, you¡¯ve bonded with an Eldritch Beast." A pause. Then, calmly, he asked: "What are you?" The room fell silent. I exhaled slowly. Then shrugged. "A really lucky C-Rank?"
A New Interest Some of them weren¡¯t convinced. Some of them didn¡¯t care. But one person? She was intrigued. Iris Fontaine. I had seen her before, but we had never spoken. She was an S-Rank prodigy, an ice elementalist who rarely interacted with others. Cold, distant, untouchable. But as I left the chamber, she approached me. "You¡¯re reckless," she said. I raised a brow. "And you¡¯re observant." A tiny smirk. "That thing you summoned. Noctis." He twitched his ears. "Oho, already asking about me?" I shot him a look. "Not helping." Iris ignored him. "I¡¯ve read about creatures like that. They don¡¯t bond easily. You must be¡­ interesting." I shrugged. "Or just lucky." Her gaze lingered, thoughtful. Then, without another word, she turned and walked away. Nyx hummed in amusement. "She is watching you, my master." Noctis grinned. "Oooh, does our dear summoner have an admirer?" I groaned. I was never going to hear the end of this.
The One He Noticed Chapter 18: The One He Noticed
For the first time since coming to Arkadia, I met someone who wasn¡¯t trying to fight me, investigate me, or kill me. And maybe that¡¯s why I noticed her. Because she was different. Because she was kind.
The Healer in the Library It started with a book. I was in the academy library, flipping through a dusty tome on eldritch creatures, trying to find anything useful about my new class. That¡¯s when a soft voice spoke behind me. "That¡¯s a rare one." I turned. A girl stood there, hugging a stack of books. She wasn¡¯t dressed in combat gear like most students¡ªjust a simple academy uniform, her healer¡¯s badge pinned neatly to her collar. Her eyes were bright, curious, but shy¡ªlike she wasn¡¯t sure if she should be talking to me. I blinked. "Uh. Yeah. Just¡­ studying." She smiled. "I read that one last year. The author got some things wrong, but it¡¯s a good place to start." I hesitated. "You study eldritch creatures?" "Just their effects on mana flow," she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I¡¯m a healer. I specialize in¡­ well. Curses. Corruption. Things that most people avoid." That got my attention. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "That¡¯s useful," I said. "Considering half the things I fight shouldn¡¯t exist." She giggled, and for some reason, that threw me off. "Most people don¡¯t like talking to curse healers," she admitted. "They think it¡¯s creepy." I shrugged. "Creepy is kind of my whole thing." Her smile widened. "I¡¯m Emilia, by the way." "Tatsuya." "I know," she said, then flushed. "I mean¡ªeveryone knows. After your fight with Rei, and, um, everything else." Right. That. "Not my fault," I muttered. "I didn¡¯t say it was," she said softly. For some reason, that meant a lot.
Iris Notices I didn¡¯t realize how much time I spent with Emilia until Iris did. It wasn¡¯t intentional. It wasn¡¯t a strategy. I just¡­ liked talking to her. Unlike the others, she didn¡¯t treat me like a puzzle to be solved. She didn¡¯t expect me to be strong, dangerous, or untouchable. She just treated me like me. And Iris? She hated that. One afternoon, as I was leaving the healer¡¯s wing, I felt a chill. Iris was waiting outside, arms crossed. "You¡¯re spending a lot of time with her," she said. I raised a brow. "And?" She tensed. Just slightly. Then she tilted her head, gaze sharp. "I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be interested in someone¡­ like her." I frowned. "What¡¯s that supposed to mean?" "She¡¯s weak," Iris said plainly. "Too soft. This academy will crush her." Something flared in my chest. "She¡¯s stronger than you think." Iris blinked. It was the first time I had ever seen her caught off guard. A beat of silence. Then she smirked. But it didn¡¯t reach her eyes. "Interesting," she murmured. Then, without another word, she walked away. I exhaled slowly. That wasn¡¯t the end of this. Not by a long shot.
The Rivalry Takes a Turn The next day, Iris sat next to me in class. She had never done that before. She started training near me, watching my fights, asking me questions. It was subtle, but it was there. Elias noticed immediately. He leaned over, whispering, "Damn. Ice Queen¡¯s got competition, huh?" I groaned. Nyx purred in amusement. "Careful, my master. You¡¯ve stepped into a battlefield far more dangerous than combat." Noctis grinned. "Ooooh, this is going to be fun." I ignored them. Because whether I wanted to or not¡ª I had someone¡¯s attention. And she wasn¡¯t planning on losing. Bonds Forged in Battle Chapter 19: Bonds Forged in Battle
The attack came without warning. One second, the academy grounds were calm, the evening air cool and quiet. The next¡ª
[WARNING: HOSTILE ENTITY DETECTED.]
The alarm bells rang. Students ran. Instructors shouted. And the sky tore open.
An Unexpected Team I was on the training grounds when it happened. Emilia was nearby, gathering rare herbs for her healing salves. Iris was practicing her ice techniques, sharp and precise as always. Then the Void Rift opened. And they came through.
The Enemy Appears A screech split the air as twisted figures emerged, their bodies shifting between humanoid and something else. They weren¡¯t Nullborn, but they weren¡¯t normal either. Creatures warped by the abyss, leaking unstable energy. And there were a lot of them. Emilia froze, gripping the edge of her robes. "Wh-What are those?!" I drew Nyx, stepping in front of her. "Nothing good." The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Iris conjured a spear of ice, eyes narrowing. "Then let¡¯s kill them." For once¡ª We agreed on something.
Fighting as One The creatures attacked in waves, their movements erratic and unpredictable. Iris moved first, her ice lances piercing their twisted forms. I followed, cutting through the gaps in her defenses.
[Shadow Stride: Activated.]
I blinked between shadows, slashing at the creatures from behind, while Noctis weaved through the chaos, striking with a predator¡¯s grace. Emilia? She wasn¡¯t a fighter. But she was vital. Every time one of us got injured, burned, or cursed, her magic flared, undoing the damage in seconds. She kept us standing. Kept us alive. And for the first time¡ª We fought as a team.
A Moment of Connection Between battles, we caught our breath behind a collapsed wall. Iris wiped blood from her cheek, smirking. "Not bad, Tatsuya. You almost look competent." I rolled my eyes. "And you almost look friendly." She chuckled. Emilia leaned closer, her hands glowing softly as she healed a wound on my arm. "Does it hurt?" she asked. I shook my head. "Not anymore." She smiled, and for some reason, my heart skipped a beat. Iris noticed. Her smirk faded. Her gaze flickered between us, something sharp in her eyes¡ªsomething she didn¡¯t quite understand yet. Something I wasn¡¯t ready to understand, either.
The Final Push The last wave came with a roar. A massive beast, larger than the rest, its jagged form pulsing with dark energy. A Void-Touched Alpha. Iris and I attacked together, our strikes shattering its outer shell. Emilia threw up a defensive ward, blocking its counterattack just in time. And then¡ª I called upon Void Summoner¡¯s final skill.
[Call of the Abyss: Twin Summons.]
Nyx and Noctis appeared at my side, their powers twisting together into one final strike. The beast shrieked. And then¡ª It was gone.
Aftermath The battlefield fell silent. Emilia was panting, exhausted but smiling. Iris was watching me, her expression unreadable. For a moment¡ª Just a moment¡ª We weren¡¯t students, rivals, or warriors. We were just people who survived together. And I knew¡ª Something between us had changed The Pact Of Three Chapter 20: The Pact of Three
[LEVEL UP: VOID SUMMONER ¨C LVL 3] [NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: VOID LINK] Allows the user to share sensory awareness and minor buffs with bonded allies.
I exhaled as the system notification faded. Not a massive power-up, but enough to notice. More importantly¡ª It was proof that I was getting stronger.
The Aftermath The battle had ended. The academy was still on edge. Instructors were tight-lipped about the attack, and whispers of another potential breach spread fast. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. But my concern? Was them. Iris and Emilia. We had fought as one. And we had won. So, naturally, I made a decision. "We should do that again," I said. Iris raised a brow. "You want to almost die again?" I sighed. "I mean we should work together. You saw how we fought¡ªwe covered each other¡¯s weaknesses." Emilia blinked. "So¡­ like a team?" "Exactly." Iris leaned against a tree, arms crossed. "The academy doesn¡¯t assign teams unless you reach A-Rank." I smirked. "Then we just don¡¯t tell them."
Forming the Hunting Team A silence stretched between us. Then¡ª Emilia smiled first. "I think it¡¯s a great idea." Iris clicked her tongue. "It¡¯s reckless." "But?" I prompted. She sighed. "But¡­ effective." That was her way of saying yes. Noctis curled around my shoulders, purring. "Ah, an unofficial hunting pack. I approve." Nyx hummed. "Let¡¯s hope they can keep up." I grinned. "Then it¡¯s settled." We weren¡¯t just students anymore. We were hunters. And our journey was just beginning. The Relic Beneath The Blood Moon Chapter 21: The Relic Beneath the Blood Moon
Hunting outside academy-sanctioned missions was strictly forbidden. Which, of course, meant we were doing exactly that.
The Hunt Begins A week after the attack, strange mana surges were detected in the forest outside Arkadia. The instructors ignored it. They were focused on security, assuming it was leftover from the battle. But we knew better. Something was out there. And we were going to find it first.
Into the Wild The forest was dense and unnatural, a place where reality frayed at the edges. Emilia shivered. "The mana here feels¡­ wrong." Iris frowned. "It¡¯s not just mana. It¡¯s old." Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Noctis stretched lazily on my shoulder. "Oho, secrets buried beneath the earth. My favorite." I gripped Nyx, instincts sharp. "We keep moving."
The First Encounter We didn¡¯t get far before we were ambushed. A pack of twisted creatures burst from the shadows¡ªmutated beasts, their flesh marked with glowing runes. Iris moved first, her ice spears piercing their hides. I followed, cutting through the gaps in her attacks. Emilia stayed back, casting defensive wards, keeping us alive. It was quick. Efficient. We were getting better. But as the last beast fell, something shifted beneath it. A stone slab. Covered in ancient, pulsing runes. A doorway. Nyx pulsed against my palm. "This is not meant to be found." Which meant¡ª We were going in.
The Relic of the Forgotten The entrance led into a buried ruin, a place untouched by time. The air was thick with power, and at the center of the chamber¡ª A relic. Floating above a pedestal, glowing with blackened light, whispering in a language we didn¡¯t understand. I reached out¡ª And the system reacted violently.
[WARNING: UNIDENTIFIED ARTIFACT DETECTED.] [RELIC: ???] [DO NOT TOUCH.]
I ignored the warning. Because whatever this was¡ª It was meant for me. Relics, Ruin, and Rising Power Chapter 22: Relics, Ruin, and Rising Power
[WARNING: RELIC ACTIVATION IMMINENT.]
The moment my fingers brushed the floating artifact, the chamber shook violently. The runes along the walls flared to life, pulsing like a heartbeat. I staggered back as the relic rose higher, black energy spiraling around it. And then¡ª Something answered.
Summoning the Guardian A tear in reality split open at the far end of the chamber. The air hummed, thick with an unnatural pressure. And from the void, something stepped through.
[BOSS-LEVEL ENTITY DETECTED.] [NULLBORN TITAN: THE WARDEN OF THE FORGOTTEN.]
Iris cursed. "You had to touch it." I ignored her. Because we had bigger problems. The Titan loomed before us, its form a shifting mass of metallic tendrils and abyssal plating. Its four glowing eyes locked onto the relic¡ªthen onto me. A deep voice rumbled through the chamber. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "UNWORTHY." And then it attacked.
A Battle for Survival The Titan moved with terrifying speed, its limbs splitting apart like blades as it lunged. I dodged, barely avoiding the impact as the ground shattered beneath its strike. Iris countered, ice lances forming in midair, launching them at the Titan¡¯s core. The spears hit¡ª And did nothing. The Titan turned to her, its body shifting, adapting. Then it lashed out. Iris barely blocked, a wall of ice forming just in time¡ªbut cracks spread instantly. Emilia grabbed my arm. "We need to weaken it first!" I nodded. "Then let¡¯s give it something to fear."
[CALL OF THE VOID: SUMMON NYX & NOCTIS]
The air rippled as my summons appeared. Nyx, blade in hand, smirked. "Another beast that thinks it¡¯s untouchable." Noctis grinned, tail flicking. "Oh, this will be delicious." And just like that¡ª The real fight began.
The Final Blow It wasn¡¯t an easy battle. The Titan was relentless, adapting to every attack we threw at it. Iris kept its movements restricted, freezing its limbs. Emilia kept us standing, healing wounds as fast as they appeared. Nyx and Noctis tore through its defenses, forcing it into a corner. And me? I waited. For one perfect moment. Then¡ª
[NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: VOID REQUIEM]
A pulse of pure abyssal energy surged through my body. My blade darkened, wreathed in black flames that devoured light itself. The Titan screeched, sensing the shift¡ªbut too late. I slashed downward, reality warping around the attack. The moment my strike landed¡ª The Titan collapsed into nothingness.
[BOSS DEFEATED: NULLBORN TITAN.] [REWARD GRANTED: LEVEL UP!] [VOID SUMMONER ¨C LVL 4] [NEW RELIC ACQUIRED: ???]
The relic dropped into my hands, now dark and silent. The battle was over. But the real consequences had yet to begin.
Caught Red-Handed, Saved By Chaos Chapter 23: Caught Red-Handed, Saved by Chaos
We barely made it out of the ruins before they found us. Iris, Emilia, and I stepped into the open forest clearing, breathing hard, the relic still pulsing in my hands. Then¡ª A dozen academy enforcers surrounded us.
[WARNING: ACADEMY RESTRICTIONS BREACHED.]
I sighed. "Of course."
The Capture A familiar voice cut through the tension. "Well, well. Look what we have here." Kaiden Aldren, looking far too smug, stepped forward, flanked by two instructors. Behind him, Instructor Vance looked bored, while Selene watched us with curious amusement. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "You know," Kaien continued, arms crossed, "most students wait until they''re at least A-Rank before pulling this level of stupidity." Iris glared. "We handled it." Kaiden raised a brow. "You handled what, exactly?" Before we could answer, Emilia elbowed me. I turned. And froze. Because the relic in my hands was glowing again. And the air around us was changing.
The Aftermath Awakens A deep, resonant hum filled the clearing. The enforcers tensed. Selene¡¯s eyes widened. "Something¡¯s happening." The relic shattered. A wave of energy erupted outward, rippling through the academy grounds. For a second, nothing happened. Then¡ª
[NEW ENTITY DETECTED: UNKNOWN.] [SYSTEM ALERT: FOREIGN PRESENCE INTEGRATING.]
The sky split open. A portal unlike any before tore across the horizon, its edges flickering between existence and something else. From within¡ª Something moved. Something big. Kaiden¡¯s smug expression vanished. "Okay. What did you idiots do?" I exhaled. "Oh, you know. Just¡­ something bad." Nyx sighed in my mind. "This is why we don¡¯t touch unknown artifacts, my master." Noctis just grinned. "Oh, this will be fun." And just like that¡ª Detention was officially postponed. Because we had bigger problems. When Shadows Bite Back Chapter 24: When Shadows Bite Back
The sky ripped open. Something huge loomed beyond the portal, its form shifting between beast and void, as if it had no true shape. And then it descended.
[ENTITY CLASSIFIED: NULLBORN HARBINGER.] [WARNING: POWER LEVEL¡ªUNKNOWN.]
I gripped Nyx, my body tensing. "That doesn¡¯t sound good." Kaiden cursed under his breath. "This is way above your pay grade." The instructors barely had time to react before the Nullborn Harbinger roared¡ª And the battle began.
The Fight for Survival The Harbinger moved faster than something that big should. Its tendrils lashed out, tearing through the trees as if they were paper. Iris formed a wall of ice, but the moment the creature touched it, the ice cracked and melted, eaten away by its unnatural aura. "It¡¯s dissolving magic?!" Emilia gasped. Noctis vanished, flickering between spaces, barely dodging as a black tendril slammed into the ground. Nyx hummed. "It does not belong to this world¡­ and it seeks to erase everything that does." I dodged left, barely avoiding a strike aimed straight for me. We couldn¡¯t fight it head-on. We needed something more. And that¡¯s when Umbra moved.
Umbra¡¯s Awakening "Master!" Umbra chirped. "I can feel it! I can change!" Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. I didn¡¯t have time to ask what that meant before his tiny, dagger-like form shuddered¡ª And then he shifted.
[UMBRA EVOLUTION TRIGGERED.] [NEW FORM: ABYSSAL FANG.]
His small, bladed body stretched, morphing into a shadowy, wolf-like beast, his fangs gleaming like obsidian blades. He landed in front of me, tail whipping, his glowing violet eyes locking onto the Harbinger. "Master," he growled, voice deeper, stronger. "Let me bite it." I didn¡¯t hesitate. "Go wild, buddy." Umbra vanished. A second later¡ª The Harbinger screamed.
The Turning Point Umbra tore through the creature¡¯s form, his fangs ripping into its shifting mass. Where his attacks landed, the Nullborn didn¡¯t heal. It bled. Or at least, it did the closest thing to bleeding a void creature could. Umbra grinned. "Oh, this is FUN!" The creature lurched back, trying to shake him off, but Umbra clung to its side like a shadow given form. I felt our bond pulse. The system flared again.
[NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: ABYSSAL DEVOURER.] [Umbra can consume unstable entities to grow stronger.]
I grinned. "Umbra. Eat it." "With pleasure." The Harbinger shrieked as Umbra¡¯s fangs sank deeper, tearing into its essence, its form unraveling with every bite. The beast lashed out desperately, but it was already too late. Because Umbra wasn¡¯t just killing it. He was erasing it. And when the final chunk of the creature vanished into his jaws¡ª The sky closed. The portal snapped shut. The battle was over.
The Aftermath Umbra staggered, his form pulsing before settling into something larger, more refined. His wolf-like body now had obsidian armor, his fangs sharper, his presence heavier. He turned to me, licking his teeth. "Master¡­ that was delicious." I exhaled, slumping slightly. "Remind me to never get on your bad side." Noctis grinned. "Oh, I like him now." Iris and Emilia rushed over, both of them still shaken. "You okay?" Emilia asked, hands glowing with healing energy. I nodded. "Yeah. Thanks to him." Iris crossed her arms. "So, your pet can eat reality now?" I shrugged. "Apparently." Kaiden, who had been watching the entire thing, exhaled sharply. Then muttered, "I hate you." I grinned. "Love you too, buddy." And just like that¡ª The battle ended. But the consequences? Were only beginning.
Judgement And an Unwanted Gift Chapter 25: Judgment and an Unwanted Gift
We were in deep trouble. No amount of winning fights, saving lives, or closing reality-tearing portals could change the fact that we had:
  1. Left academy grounds without permission.
  2. Engaged in an unsanctioned hunt.
  3. Unleashed and then defeated a boss-level entity¡ªwhich, in fairness, wasn''t entirely our fault.
  4. Possibly attracted more Nullborn to the academy.
And now? We were about to get yelled at.
Facing the Instructors The academy''s disciplinary chamber was cold, made of reinforced stone, lined with runes to suppress magic. Iris, Emilia, and I stood in the center. Across from us? A row of very angry instructors. At the head of the table sat Headmaster Alden Graves. His expression was unreadable, but the tension in the room could have crushed steel. Instructor Vance sighed. "Let¡¯s make this simple: What. Were. You. Thinking?" Iris, to her credit, didn¡¯t flinch. "We handled it." Graves¡¯ eyes sharpened. "That is not an answer." Emilia swallowed. "We only wanted to investigate the mana surges¡­" Selene, who was watching us with an odd mix of amusement and concern, raised a brow. "And instead, you found an ancient relic, awakened it, and summoned a Nullborn Harbinger?" I shrugged. "When you say it like that, it sounds bad." Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Kaiden, standing at the side with his arms crossed, scoffed. "It was bad." I sighed. "Okay. Maybe a little bad." Graves exhaled slowly. "Under normal circumstances, students who violate academy protocol like this would face severe punishment." Vance nodded. "Expulsion. Possibly even a mana restriction." Iris tensed. Emilia palmed her skirt. I stayed silent. Because I knew there was a "but" coming. Graves'' gaze lingered on me. "But," he said, "you also prevented what could have been a disastrous incursion. You contained the threat before it spread into the academy." Selene leaned forward, smirking. "Which means, technically¡­ you did us a favor." Vance pinched the bridge of his nose. "I hate technicalities."
The Sentence Our punishment was severe, but not unbearable.
  1. One month of restricted movement.
  2. Additional combat training.
  3. Direct supervision from an instructor.
Oh, and¡ª
  1. A formal record of misconduct.
"You''re on thin ice," Graves warned. "One more reckless act, and there will be consequences." I exhaled. "Understood." We weren¡¯t expelled. But we weren¡¯t free, either.
The System¡¯s Reward That night, I collapsed onto my bed, exhausted. And of course¡ª The system chose that moment to act.
[SYSTEM REWARD UNLOCKED.] [NEW EQUIPMENT ACQUIRED: LIVING RELIC ¨C ABYSSAL HELM.]
I blinked. "Wait, what?" A dark mist swirled above me, solidifying into a helmet of obsidian metal, its surface etched with moving runes. Then¡ª It spoke. "Greetings, master." I groaned. Nyx chuckled. "Another mouth to feed. How delightful." Noctis grinned. "Ooooh, I like him already." Umbra just snickered. I sighed, staring at the helm. "Let me guess. You''re alive?" The helm hummed. "Indeed. And I am here to serve. Or¡­ perhaps command?" Oh, great. I had another problem. And this one sat directly on my head. The Helm That Hungers Chapter 26: The Helm That Hungers
[NEW EQUIPMENT REGISTERED: ABYSSAL HELM.] [PRIMARY AFFINITY: VOID AUGMENTATION.] [SECONDARY AFFINITY: EARTH ENHANCEMENT.]
I stared at the floating, rune-etched helmet in front of me. It was alive, sentient like Nyx and Umbra, its surface shifting slightly as if it was breathing. And it had two affinities. Void, which made sense. But Earth? That was new.
Testing the Helm I picked it up carefully. The moment my fingers touched the metal¡ª
[Abyssal Helm equipped.]
A dark surge pulsed through my body, spreading from my head to my core. My vision sharpened, my stance steadied, and¡ª I could feel the earth beneath me. Not just standing on it¡ªconnected to it. Like it was waiting for my command. Nyx hummed. "Interesting. It does not merely amplify¡ªit grounds." Noctis snickered. "Oh, this is going to be fun." I exhaled. "Alright. Let¡¯s see what you can do."
Ability 1: Abyssal Reinforcement I clenched my fists¡ª This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. And my body hardened.
[Abyssal Reinforcement: Activated.] Reinforces the user¡¯s body using a combination of Void and Earth energy, increasing durability and weight control.
I tested it by punching a nearby stone pillar. CRACK. The stone shattered. I blinked. "Okay. That¡¯s new." Iris, who had been watching from the side, raised a brow. "You just broke reinforced stone. With your fist." Emilia gasped. "Does it hurt?" I flexed my fingers. "Nope." Iris muttered. "That¡¯s unfair."
Ability 2: Terra Step Next, I focused on my feet. The moment I willed it¡ª
[Terra Step: Activated.] Allows the user to manipulate the ground beneath them for faster movement and shock absorption.
The ground shifted, and I shot forward twice as fast as normal. Iris barely dodged. "WOAH¡ª" I skidded to a stop, the earth softening beneath my landing like a natural cushion. Noctis laughed. "You¡¯re basically cheating at movement now." Umbra pouted. "I want that!" Emilia clapped. "That¡¯s amazing! You can control your footing instantly. No more getting thrown around in fights!" I grinned. "Yeah. It¡¯s useful." Iris huffed. "It¡¯s broken." I just smirked.
Ability 3: Abyssal Tremor The final test. I focused on the ground beneath me¡ª And stomped.
[Abyssal Tremor: Activated.] Unleash a shockwave through the earth, disrupting balance and damaging enemies.
The entire training field shook. Cracks split through the stone, and even Iris stumbled, catching herself with a scowl. Emilia yelped. "Tatsuya!" "Sorry!" I winced. "Didn¡¯t think it would be that strong." Iris crossed her arms. "Right. You accidentally triggered a localized earthquake." Noctis snickered. "I love this thing." I rubbed the back of my neck. "Okay. Helm¡¯s officially ridiculous." Nyx chuckled. "Ridiculous¡ªbut effective." I couldn¡¯t argue with that.
Final Thoughts The Abyssal Helm wasn¡¯t just a piece of armor. It was an amplifier. A tool that let me control both the void and the earth to enhance my speed, defense, and area control. And best of all? It fit perfectly into my fighting style. I clenched my fists, feeling the power humming beneath my skin. Yeah. This was going to be fun. A Test Of Strength, A Fight For Survival Chapter 27: A Test of Strength, A Fight for Survival
The academy wasn¡¯t stupid. They saw me growing too fast. Too strong. Too unpredictable. So instead of keeping me locked down¡ª They sent me on a solo mission. To "evaluate my capabilities." Right. Because sending a problem away from the academy to fight alone always goes so well.
The Assignment I met Instructor Vance in the mission hall. He tossed me a sealed scroll without preamble. "Your assignment," he said. "Eliminate a beast that¡¯s been disrupting trade routes near the southern ridge." I raised a brow. "That¡¯s it?" He gave me a flat look. "Don¡¯t act cocky. We¡¯re still evaluating you." I smirked. "Sure, sure. Totally normal mission. No hidden danger at all." Vance sighed. "Just get it done, Hoshigaki."
The Hunt Begins The southern ridge was quiet. Too quiet. No birds. No wind. Just the unnatural stillness of a place that had been abandoned. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The reports said this was a beast culling mission. One rogue monster. Easy. Except¡ª There were no tracks. No signs of a normal predator. Just scorched earth. Like something had burned reality itself. Noctis stirred on my shoulder. "Oh, I really don¡¯t like this, Master." Nyx hummed. "Stay sharp. This reeks of deception." Then, the ground shifted. And I realized¡ª The mission was a trap.
The Truth Revealed The earth split open beneath me. Dark tendrils shot up, trying to pull me downward. I barely leaped back before a figure rose from the abyss. It was not a beast. It was not a monster. It was something worse.
[ENTITY IDENTIFIED: VOID REVENANT.] [RANK: S-CLASS THREAT.]
I froze. They sent me here to fight a basic rogue creature. But instead¡ª I was staring at an eldritch horror wrapped in black flame, its body twisted and shifting between forms. And it was watching me. Hunting me.
The Battle That Wasn¡¯t Supposed to Happen The Revenant moved first. A pulse of void energy shot toward me, warping the air around it. I barely dodged, the blast melting through the trees like acid. "Okay," I muttered. "Not a normal mission. Got it."
[Abyssal Helm Activated: Reinforcement Mode.]
My body hardened, my footing stabilized, and I lunged forward. Nyx clashed with the Revenant¡¯s claws, sparks of void and steel lighting up the battlefield. Umbra snarled, leaping onto its back, his fangs sinking into its shifting flesh. The creature screamed. And for a second¡ª I thought we had the upper hand. Then¡ª It shifted. And something massive rose behind it. Not a second Revenant. Not even a creature. A gate.
[WARNING: VOID GATE FORMING.]
I felt my stomach drop. This wasn¡¯t just a test. It was an invasion point. And I was alone. Fusion Of The Abyss Chapter 28: Fusion of the Abyss
The Void Gate widened, splitting the sky apart. The Revenant loomed, its abyssal body shifting, tendrils of black fire writhing around it. I was losing ground. I could feel it. This thing wasn¡¯t just strong. It was meant to be unstoppable. And if I didn¡¯t stop it now¡ª It would consume everything.
The Awakening
[SYSTEM ALERT: UNSTABLE POWER SURGE DETECTED.] [SYNCHRONIZATION RATE EXCEEDING LIMITS.] [NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: ABYSSAL FUSION.]
My entire body burned. The power inside me was shifting, merging, breaking apart and reforming. I clenched my fists, feeling the connections between me and my summons flare. Nyx. Umbra. Noctis. The Abyssal Helm. They weren¡¯t separate anymore. They were pieces of something greater. And I had just learned how to put them together.
Fusion: The Abyssal Beast Nyx¡¯s voice echoed in my mind. "You know what you must do, my master." Umbra growled, his form shifting, warping. "Let¡¯s become something the enemy fears." I raised my hands¡ª And willed them to merge. A pulse of dark energy erupted, swirling around them like a living storm. Their forms melted together, steel and shadow twisting into something new. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. When the light faded¡ª A beast stood beside me. It was massive, a black-furred, obsidian-armored wolf, its eyes burning with twin violet flames. Its bladed tail twitched, and from its back, two jagged, ethereal wings unfurled. It let out a deep, abyssal howl that made the Revenant pause.
[FUSION COMPLETE: ABYSSAL FENRIR FORGED.]
I smirked. "Good boy." The beast grinned, razor fangs gleaming. "Now let¡¯s tear it apart."
Fusion: The Abyssal Requiem The Revenant recovered fast, its tendrils snapping toward me. I needed one final move. One attack to end this. I focused on Noctis and the Abyssal Helm, feeling their presence pulse within me. "You''re up next," I whispered. Noctis laughed. "Ooooh, now this is interesting." The Abyssal Helm hummed. "I will become your edge." A second surge of energy erupted. The darkness around me rippled and condensed, reforming into a weapon that had never existed before. A greatsword. Not just any blade¡ª It was long, jagged, and pulsing with shifting void energy, its edges lined with obsidian veins of earth magic. I gripped the hilt¡ª And felt pure destruction coursing through me.
[FUSION COMPLETE: ABYSSAL REQUIEM FORGED.]
I exhaled, my stance shifting. "Alright," I muttered, hoisting the sword onto my shoulder. "Let¡¯s end this."
The Final Strike The Revenant charged, its body shifting into a maelstrom of shadow and flame. The Abyssal Fenrir lunged first, crashing into it like a meteor. Fangs met dark fire. Claws met void tendrils. The impact shook the battlefield. And in that moment of chaos¡ª I moved. I activated Terra Step, my footing shifting as I surged forward at blinding speed. The Revenant turned¡ª Too late. I swung Abyssal Requiem down, the blade howling with pure abyssal force.
[VOID REQUIEM: FINAL STRIKE.]
The Revenant screamed as my blade tore through its core, rending it apart at the seams. Its body collapsed inward, imploding into nothingness. The Void Gate flickered¡ª Then snapped shut. The battle was over.
Aftermath I staggered, breathing hard. The Abyssal Fenrir padded up beside me, his form still solid. I smirked. "Guess you¡¯re staying, huh?" He huffed. "Of course. Someone has to keep you alive." The Abyssal Requiem pulsed in my grip, then slowly faded, reforming back into Noctis and the Abyssal Helm. Noctis stretched. "Ooooh, that was exhilarating." The Helm hummed. "A worthy battle." I exhaled. Then collapsed onto my back. Yeah. I needed a nap. Breaking the System Chapter 29: Breaking the System
The moment the battle ended, the system reacted.
[LEVEL UP: VOID SUMMONER ¨C LVL 5] [NEW SUBCLASS ACQUIRED: ABYSSAL WARLOCK] [SPECIAL RANK UNLOCKED: ULTRA-CLASS HUNTER]
I blinked. Then blinked again. ¡°¡­Wait. What?¡±
The First Ultra-Class Hunter When I returned to the academy, everything changed. The moment I stepped past the main gates, the instructors were waiting. Selene, Vance, Kaien, and¡ªof course¡ªHeadmaster Alden Graves. They led me to a private chamber, where a single document rested on the table. It bore the academy¡¯s official seal. And in bold, newly printed letters¡ª
HUNTER CLASSIFICATION: ULTRA-CLASS.
I looked up. "Is this a joke?" Vance sighed. "No, but I wish it was." Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Selene smirked. "Congratulations, kid. You just broke the system."
Understanding the Ultra-Class Hunters were ranked from E-Class to S-Class. S-Class was the pinnacle¡ªor at least, it had been. But my evaluation results had forced the academy to create a new category. Ultra-Class. A classification reserved for hunters who surpass the conventional ranking system. Hunters who fuse multiple abilities, command high-tier summons, and wield power that defies normal logic. Hunters like me.
The Abyssal Warlock Subclass The system granted me a new subclass as well.
[SUBCLASS: ABYSSAL WARLOCK] A being who has forged pacts with eldritch entities. Gains:
Iris leaned over my shoulder, reading the system text. Then scowled. "So, now you can talk to void creatures?" Noctis purred. "Ooooh, the negotiations shall be delightful." Nyx hummed. "More like dangerous." I just sighed. "Guess I¡¯ve got a lot to learn."
The Academy¡¯s Verdict Headmaster Graves folded his hands. "Tatsuya, you are now officially an Ultra-Class Hunter. The first of your kind." I nodded. "Appreciate the recognition." Vance scoffed. "It¡¯s not a compliment. This means you¡¯ll be under constant supervision." Selene smirked. "And that means you¡¯ll be sent on¡­ interesting assignments." I paused. "Define interesting." Graves stood. "Your first Ultra-Class mission is already being prepared." Iris groaned. "Of course it is." Emilia frowned. "Can¡¯t he get one day to breathe?" Selene chuckled. "Not anymore." I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. "Well," I muttered. "Guess I¡¯m really in this now." Bonds That Shape Power Chapter 30: The Bonds That Shape Power
They didn¡¯t waste time. A day after my promotion to Ultra-Class, I was summoned to the mission hall. The instructors were waiting. Selene, Vance, Kaien, and, of course, Headmaster Graves. A large map was spread out before them. Graves tapped a marked location near the Ruined Vale. "This is your first mission." I raised a brow. "Solo, or am I getting babysitters?" Selene smirked. "Not solo, but not babysat either. You¡¯ll lead a team of hand-picked allies." That caught my attention. "Who?" The door behind me opened. I turned¡ª And saw Iris and Emilia. Iris crossed her arms. "Tch. Of course it¡¯s us." Emilia, though, smiled softly. "At least we¡¯ll be together." Graves ignored our reactions. "This mission is to test your capabilities as Ultra-Class." This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. I clenched my fists. "Fine. What¡¯s the job?" Vance exhaled. "Investigate and neutralize an emerging rift anomaly." I paused. "...You¡¯re sending us after another Void Gate?" Selene grinned. "You¡¯re the Void Summoner. You tell us." I sighed. "Great. Let¡¯s go poke the abyss."
The Mission Begins The Ruined Vale was dead silent. No wind. No life. The sky twisted overhead, warping around an unseen force.
[WARNING: ABYSSAL ENERGY CONCENTRATION AT CRITICAL LEVELS.]
Iris tensed. "I don¡¯t like this." Noctis purred. "It likes you, though." Emilia shivered. "Something¡¯s watching us." Then¡ª The ground split open. And we were dragged into the dark.
The Abyss Beckons We fell into the void. Not physically¡ªmentally, spiritually. For a brief moment, I felt everything. Their thoughts. Their fears. Iris¡¯s relentless drive to be strong. Emilia¡¯s kind-hearted will to protect. And they felt me.
[NEW ABILITY AWAKENED: ABYSSAL BOND.] [LINKING WITH ALLIES¡­]
Pain flooded my system. But with it came clarity. I wasn¡¯t alone. And neither were they.
Class Evolutions When we came to, we were different. Iris stared at her hands, her magic flaring violently.
[CLASS EVOLUTION: FROST REAPER.] Ice magic sharpened for war. Gains enhanced reaction speed and freezing attacks that cut through magic itself.
Emilia gasped, light swirling around her.
[CLASS EVOLUTION: DIVINE VEILBINDER.] Healer type evolved into a warding class, capable of weaving protective barriers into armor and weapons.
And me? I felt their strength, their presence, resonating through me.
[ABYSSAL BOND: GRANTS SHARED POWER AMONG LINKED ALLIES.]
For the first time, I wasn¡¯t just fighting for myself. I was fighting with them. And as the true enemy emerged from the shadows, I knew¡ª We weren¡¯t going to lose. Not today. Bound By Battle, Forged In Fury Chapter 31: Bound by Battle, Forged in Fury
The void shuddered. Something moved in the abyss. And then¡ª It stepped forward. A colossal entity, twisted and jagged, its form shifting between beast and ruin, as if it had been torn from different realities and forced into one being.
[ABYSSAL TITAN DETECTED.] [THREAT LEVEL: IMPOSSIBLE.]
Iris gritted her teeth. "Okay. That¡¯s cheating." Emilia tightened her grip on her staff. "We can do this. Together." I clenched my fists. Damn right we could.
The Battle Begins The Abyssal Titan struck first. A wave of black fire erupted from its body, the sheer force sending us skidding backward.
[ABYSSAL BOND: LINK ACTIVATED.]
I felt Iris react before she moved. Her magic flared, ice surging around us¡ª The black fire crashed against a frozen barrier, frost eating away at the corrupted flames. But the Titan wasn¡¯t done. A massive fist slammed downward¡ª I moved.
[Terra Step: Activated.]
The ground shifted beneath me, launching me forward faster than humanly possible. I slashed with Nyx¡ª The Titan howled as my blade carved through its outer shell. Iris followed up, ice lances exploding from the impact point. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. The creature staggered. We were winning. And then¡ª It adapted.
The Titan¡¯s Rage Its wounds sealed instantly. Tendrils of void energy erupted, warping space itself. Everything tilted, twisted¡ªas if reality was being rewritten mid-fight. My body froze mid-stride, gravity bending in ways it shouldn¡¯t. Iris tried to move¡ªher ice shattered in reverse, rebuilding itself into chains that trapped her. Emilia screamed, her healing magic flickering wildly¡ªtoo unstable to function.
[WARNING: ABYSSAL RESTRUCTURING DETECTED.]
The system was panicking. We weren¡¯t just losing. We were being unmade.
A New Ally Awakens I felt it before I saw it. Something boiling. Not in the abyss¡ªinside me. Like a sealed force breaking free.
[WARNING: UNKNOWN RELIC ACTIVATING.] [LIVING EQUIPMENT DETECTED: ???]
Then¡ª The armor appeared. A black, jagged mass of shifting plates, pulsing with feral rage. It didn¡¯t speak. It roared. And then it wrapped around me.
[NEW EQUIPMENT BONDED: ABYSSAL WARPLATE.] [MENTAL PROFILE: SIMPLE. ANGRY. LOYAL.]
A deep, guttural voice snarled in my mind. "FIGHT. BREAK. KILL." I smirked. "Yeah, buddy. I can work with that."
The Turning Point The armor enhanced everything. My speed. My strength. Even my connection to Iris and Emilia. We moved as one. I tanked the Titan¡¯s next attack, its massive fists crashing against my plated form¡ªbut this time, I held my ground. Iris freed herself, her ice turning sharper, colder¡ªand when she struck, the Titan¡¯s limbs froze instantly. Emilia didn¡¯t just heal. She reinforced. Her magic wrapped around my armor, merging with its essence¡ªturning me into a walking fortress. And together¡ª We tore the Titan apart.
The Final Blow The creature collapsed, its body breaking down into abyssal fragments. I stood over it, my blade pulsing with energy. The Abyssal Warplate growled. "DESTROY." I raised my sword. And I did.
[ABYSSAL TITAN: ELIMINATED.]
Aftermath The battle ended. The Abyssal Warplate hummed, settling onto my body like it had always been there. It wasn¡¯t going away. It was mine. I exhaled. "Well. That was new." Iris smirked. "You got another living piece of gear. What a surprise." Emilia laughed. "At least this one is¡­ simple?" I felt the armor shift slightly, like it was still hungry. Noctis grinned. "Oh, I like this one." Nyx sighed. "I suppose we must train the beast." I smirked. This wasn¡¯t just power. This was something more. And I was only getting started The Truth Of The Forge Chapter 32: The Truth of the Forge
[HIDDEN CLASS AWAKENING: LIVING BLACKSMITH.] [WARNING: ABYSSAL INFLUENCE DETECTED.] [RECALIBRATING CLASS ORIGINS¡­]
My body burned. Not with pain¡ªwith purpose. For so long, I thought the Abyss defined me. That my power came from it, that it had shaped me into something more. But the system had been holding something back. Something buried beneath the abyssal taint. And now, it was waking up.
The Black Flames of Creation The Abyssal Warplate reacted violently, shifting over my skin like it was being re-shaped. I felt my summons¡ªNyx, Umbra, Noctis¡ªpulse with sudden instability. Iris and Emilia stepped back, eyes wide. "Tatsuya!" Emilia reached for me, but I staggered forward, clutching my chest. Something inside me was breaking. Something older than the abyss. The ground rippled beneath me. Not with void energy¡ªwith something else. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Something forged. And then¡ª
[LIVING BLACKSMITH: TRUE CLASS REVEALED.]
A pillar of black flame erupted around me. But it wasn¡¯t abyssal. It was creation.
The Hidden Truth I saw visions. Fragments of a past that wasn¡¯t mine¡ªbut somehow, I understood it. A blacksmith, hammering weapons from the bones of fallen gods. Armor tempered in celestial fire, forged not to destroy¡ªbut to defy. A force that existed before the abyss. Before the corruption. A force meant to reshape fate itself. And then I saw it¡ª The thing that gave me the abyssal taint. A shadow beyond shadows. Not the Abyss. Something worse. Something that had been using me. "You were never meant to wield ruin, child of the forge." "You were meant to create."
Awakening the Living Forge The flames around me solidified. The Abyssal Warplate twisted¡ªnot breaking, but reforging. My weapons, my summons¡ªthey didn¡¯t vanish. They were being reshaped by my will. I held out my hand¡ª And the Living Blacksmith¡¯s forge ignited within me.
[NEW CLASS ABILITIES UNLOCKED.] [1. FORGE-BORN: Transmute abyssal constructs into weapons of pure creation.] [2. SOUL-TEMPERING: Strengthen allies by forging their power into something greater.] [3. ARMOR OF THE MAKER: Manifest armor that evolves with battle.]
The Abyssal taint was still there¡ªbut now, I controlled it. I was no longer its vessel. I was its blacksmith.
The Aftermath I exhaled, stepping forward. The ground no longer crumbled beneath me. It was reinforced. Iris narrowed her eyes. "Tatsuya¡­ what are you now?" I looked at my hands¡ªat the blackened steel gauntlets forming around my fingers. The heat of the forge burned in my chest. I grinned. "The guy who makes his own destiny." The Storm on The Horizon Chapter 33: The Storm on the Horizon
Arkadia Academy had always been a place of order, of structure. But now? Now, it was a place of preparation. Because something was coming. And this time, it wasn¡¯t just my problem. It was a war.
The Warning The announcement came at dawn. A booming voice echoed across the academy, amplified through magical channels.
"All students are to report to the Grand Hall immediately. This is not a drill."
That was the first clue. Arkadia never called the entire student body unless things were serious. Iris met my gaze. "I don¡¯t like this." Emilia gripped her staff. "Me neither." I exhaled, rolling my shoulders. "Let¡¯s go find out what nightmare we¡¯re dealing with this time."
The Impending Catastrophe The Grand Hall was packed. Hundreds of students, instructors, even elite hunters, all gathered in tense silence. Then¡ª Headmaster Graves stepped forward. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. His expression was grim. "This academy was founded to prepare hunters for the dangers of the world." He paused. "But what happens when the world itself becomes the battlefield?" A holographic projection appeared above him¡ªan astral map of the continent. And in the center? A massive, swirling rift. A Void Gate¡ªthe largest we had ever seen. A ripple of fear spread through the students. Graves¡¯ voice was unwavering. "In three months, this gate will fully manifest. And when it does¡ª" He looked across the crowd. "¡ªthe creatures that emerge will make everything we¡¯ve faced so far look insignificant." Silence. Then murmurs. Whispers. Fear. And then¡ª "That¡¯s why we¡¯re going to be ready."
The Training Arc Begins From that moment on, Arkadia became a war camp. Classes were restructured into combat drills, strategy sessions, and survival training. Sparring matches became full-scale battle simulations. Even the most basic students were forced to awaken their potential¡ªbecause when the Void came, there would be no second chances. As for me? I had more work than anyone. Because I wasn¡¯t just a student anymore. I was Ultra-Class. And that meant I had to train harder, fight smarter¡ª And get stronger than ever.
Forging the Future I wasn¡¯t just preparing myself. I was preparing my team. Using my Living Blacksmith abilities, I began crafting personalized weapons and armor for Emilia, Iris, and anyone else who needed them.
[SOUL-TEMPERING: INFUSING ALLIES WITH FORGED STRENGTH.]
Emilia¡¯s staff became a Divine Warden¡¯s Scepter, enhancing her barrier spells. Iris¡¯s ice blades were reforged into Frozen Fang Sabers, cutting through even void-enhanced defenses. Even my own armor evolved, adapting to every battle. And as the days passed¡ª We weren¡¯t just students anymore. We were soldiers preparing for war.
The Countdown to Chaos The Void Gate was still dormant. But we could feel it. Every night, the sky flickered with unstable energy. Every morning, the air felt heavier. Something was waiting beyond that gate. And when it came¡ª Arkadia would either stand... Or be destroyed. Forging the Ultimate Form Chapter 34: Forging the Ultimate Form
The academy was preparing for war. Every student, every instructor¡ªtraining, sharpening their skills, pushing past their limits. But I wasn¡¯t training for survival. I was training to become unstoppable. Because when the Void Gate opened, I wouldn¡¯t just fight. I would end whatever came through. And to do that¡ª I needed a new form.
The Concept: Total Fusion I sat in the blacksmith¡¯s forge, my hand resting against the cold surface of Nyx¡¯s blade. Umbra lay curled beside me, his wolf-like body twitching in sleep. Noctis perched on a beam above, watching with amused curiosity. And the Abyssal Warplate pulsed on my skin, waiting, listening. I had four living weapons. Each of them powerful. Each of them bound to me. But separately, they were limited. If I could forge them into one unified entity¡ª I wouldn¡¯t just wield power. I would become power.
Step One: Synchronization
[ABILITY DEVELOPMENT: LIVING BLACKSMITH ¨C TOTAL FUSION.] [INITIATING SYNCHRONIZATION WITH LIVING EQUIPMENT¡­]
Pain ripped through me. Not from injury¡ªfrom connection. Each of my weapons had their own will, their own instincts. Now, I had to align them. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Nyx whispered, "Do you truly wish to carry us all at once?" Umbra growled, "I won¡¯t be caged." Noctis chuckled, "Oh, this will be chaotic." The Abyssal Warplate hummed. "Power¡­ must be tempered." I exhaled. Then I focused.
Step Two: Unification I stood in the center of the training field, the ground scarred from countless battles. Iris and Emilia watched from the side, ready to intervene if this went wrong. "Alright," I muttered. "Here goes nothing." I held out my arms¡ª And called upon them. Nyx melted into black liquid metal, flowing up my right arm. Umbra howled as his body dissolved into swirling shadows, wrapping around my legs. Noctis vanished, his essence infusing into my core, twisting with abyssal energy. And the Abyssal Warplate cracked apart¡ª Then reformed, consuming everything.
[FUSION ACTIVATED: ABYSSAL BEAST ARMOR.]
The Ultimate Form A shockwave exploded outward, shaking the academy grounds. I wasn¡¯t wearing armor anymore. I was the armor. My body had transformed into something monstrous yet refined. A fusion of steel, shadow, and abyssal power. My right arm was a massive obsidian blade, shifting between solid and ethereal. My left hand had clawed gauntlets, glowing with Noctis¡¯s unstable void energy. My legs had Umbra¡¯s raw agility, each step merging with the ground itself. And my helmet¡ª It wasn¡¯t just armor anymore. It was alive, its jagged maw grinning with feral rage.
[ABILITY UNLOCKED: BEAST GOD MODE.] Temporarily fuses all living equipment into a singular warform, maximizing offense, defense, and adaptability.
I flexed my claws. Power hummed through me. Iris took a step back, stunned. "That¡¯s¡­ insane." Emilia swallowed. "Tatsuya, you¡¯re¡ª" I vanished. In a single movement, I closed the distance between us¡ªfaster than I had ever moved before. I stopped just inches away, the air itself distorting around me. I wasn¡¯t human in this form. I was something else. Something unstoppable.
Step Three: Unleashing the Beast A sudden shockwave erupted nearby¡ªa training dummy self-destructing from my mere presence. I exhaled, feeling my body pulse with unstable energy. This form was pure destruction. But I had to control it. I closed my eyes¡ªreining in the power, feeling the synchronization between my weapons. I was not separate from them anymore. We were one.
[STABILITY ACHIEVED: BEAST GOD MODE CAN NOW BE ACTIVATED AT WILL.]
I released the transformation, the armor peeling away, reforming into my individual weapons. Iris exhaled. "That was terrifying." Emilia nodded. "But¡­ incredible." I smirked, cracking my neck. "Yeah." I looked at my hands, clenching my fists. This was it. The weapon to end the war. And when the Void Gate opened¡ª I would be ready. Evolution Never Stops Chapter 35: Evolution Never Stops
I stood in the center of the forge, unsatisfied. Beast God Mode was powerful. But not enough. Not yet. If I wanted to win this war, I couldn¡¯t just combine my weapons. I had to evolve them. All of them. And maybe even¡ª Create something new.
The Process of Evolution I reached out, feeling the bonds between me and my living weapons. They weren¡¯t just tools. They were alive. And just like me, they could grow.
[SYSTEM ALERT: FORGE-BORN SYNTHESIS UNLOCKED.] Living weapons can be further evolved through refinement, experience, and fusion.
I smirked. "Let¡¯s get to work."
Nyx¡¯s Evolution: Eclipse Fang Nyx pulsed in my hand, her blade trembling. "You wish to change me, my master?" I nodded. "Not change. Enhance." The forge ignited, black flames wrapping around her steel. Her form shifted, lengthening into a curved, obsidian blade, lined with glowing void sigils. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. She hissed as the transformation completed.
[NYX EVOLVED: ECLIPSE FANG.] Now possesses a secondary form¡ªa whip-like chain blade that extends with abyssal energy.
She pulsed with excitement. "Now this¡­ this is beautiful."
Umbra¡¯s Evolution: Abyss Wolf Tyrant Umbra growled, his black-furred body shifting in the forge¡¯s heat. "Master¡­ I need more." I nodded. "You¡¯re getting it." I infused his core with pure abyssal essence, forging his shadowy form into something greater. His body expanded, his fur turning into obsidian armor plating, his fangs now glowing with raw void energy. A second tail formed, each one laced with sharp blade-like spikes.
[UMBRA EVOLVED: ABYSS WOLF TYRANT.] Can now split into multiple shadow clones, each capable of independent attacks.
He howled, the forge trembling. "Now I HUNT."
Noctis¡¯s Evolution: Starborn Trickster Noctis laughed, floating above me. "My turn?" I smirked. "Obviously." His essence pulsed, merging with astral energy from the forge. His body shifted, his fur taking on a galactic shimmer, his tails splitting into six. His eyes became burning silver voids.
[NOCTIS EVOLVED: STARBORN TRICKSTER.] Can now phase between dimensions for brief periods and redirect enemy attacks.
He grinned. "Ohhh, I am going to be unbearable now." I groaned. "Great."
The New Arrival: A Talking Axe¡­? The forge wasn¡¯t done. A sudden surge of power erupted¡ªand something formed. A massive battle axe, its metal surface pulsing with emerald and golden energy. It trembled¡ª Then spoke. "Whoa, dude¡­ that was an intense birth experience." I stared. Iris stared. Emilia blinked. "Um¡­ did your forge just make a¡ª" The axe chuckled. "Name¡¯s Oakheart, brother. I¡¯m all about peace, love¡­ and, y¡¯know, cleaving people in half when necessary." Iris facepalmed. "He made a hippy axe." I sighed, rubbing my temples. "This is my life now." Noctis cackled. "Ohhh, this is priceless." The axe vibrated. "Let¡¯s fight for harmony, my man." I grinned. Maybe this wasn¡¯t so bad. Baptism By Fire Chapter 36: Baptism by Fire
The best way to test new weapons? A real fight. Unfortunately, I didn¡¯t have to go looking for one. It found me first.
The Surprise Attack The academy¡¯s training field was empty except for me, Iris, and Emilia. I was testing Nyx¡¯s new Eclipse Fang mode, its whip-blade extending and retracting as I practiced precision strikes. Umbra stalked the perimeter, his new form blending seamlessly into the shadows. Noctis flickered in and out of reality, laughing. "Oh, I can¡¯t wait to use these tricks in a real fight." Oakheart hummed in my grip. "Violence is, like¡­ inevitable, man. But let¡¯s make it beautiful." I sighed. "Still not used to a talking axe." Then¡ª
[WARNING: UNIDENTIFIED HOSTILES DETECTED.]
The sky split open. And they arrived.
The Enemy Revealed Figures in blackened armor emerged from the sky, their presence suffocating. They wore no insignia, but their movements were precise, disciplined. Not just random invaders. This was an organization. A new enemy. One I had never seen before. Their leader¡ªa tall, silver-haired warrior cloaked in void energy¡ªstepped forward, his mask hiding his expression. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. "Target acquired. Engage." And just like that¡ª The battle began.
Weapons vs. Warriors The first assassin lunged at me, dual daggers flashing¡ªtoo fast for normal eyes to track. But I wasn¡¯t normal.
[BEAST GOD MODE: PARTIAL ACTIVATION.]
My clawed gauntlets formed in an instant, intercepting the strike. The moment his blades clashed against my armor¡ª Nyx extended, her whip-blade wrapping around his arm. I yanked¡ªhis balance shattered. Then Umbra pounced, his armored jaws snapping shut around the assassin¡¯s throat. One down.
Another enemy charged Emilia. She raised her newly evolved Divine Warden¡¯s Scepter, golden runes forming a barrier just before impact. The moment their blade struck, the barrier reflected the force back. The attacker staggered¡ª And that was all the opening Iris needed. She moved in a blur, her Frozen Fang Sabers cleaving through their defenses. Their armor cracked¡ª Then shattered under the force of her strike. Two down.
Tatsuya vs. the Leader The silver-haired warrior watched silently, unimpressed. Then he moved. I barely had time to react before he was in front of me. A single punch landed against my chest¡ªand I went flying. CRASH. I slammed into a boulder, my vision spinning. He was fast. Too fast.
[WARNING: OPPONENT STRENGTH LEVEL¡ªUNKNOWN.]
I stood, rolling my shoulders. "Alright, buddy. Let¡¯s see if you can handle this." I hoisted Oakheart onto my shoulder. He hummed. "Time for a little constructive destruction, man." I smirked. Then charged.
The Clash of Forces He met me halfway. His sword flashed¡ª Oakheart swung. Our weapons collided, sending shockwaves across the battlefield. The sheer force tore up the ground beneath us. He tried to overpower me. But I was no longer the same hunter. I let my Living Blacksmith powers surge, my armor adapting mid-fight, reinforcing itself against his attacks. He frowned. Then he whispered: "Interesting." And in the next instant¡ª He vanished.
The Aftermath The remaining enemies fled, following their leader into the shadows. Noctis hissed. "That guy¡­ he was wrong. Something about him isn¡¯t human." Emilia knelt beside me. "Are you okay?" Iris wiped sweat from her brow. "That wasn¡¯t a random attack. They came for you." I clenched my fists. Who the hell were they? And more importantly¡ª Why did they know me? One thing was certain. This wasn¡¯t over. Not by a long shot. The Rift Opens, The War Begins Chapter 37: The Rift Opens, The War Begins
The attack was unexpected. The enemy was unknown. But it didn¡¯t matter. Because the real mission hadn¡¯t changed. The Void Rift was still growing, expanding. And if we didn¡¯t stop it now¡ª The world wouldn¡¯t survive.
Deployment to the Frontlines Arkadia¡¯s forces gathered at the war camp, stationed just miles from the rift¡¯s unstable borders. Hundreds of hunters, instructors, and elite squads stood ready. Massive siege weapons lined the field, their runes glowing with anti-void enchantments. At the center, Headmaster Graves and the academy¡¯s top warriors stood before a magically projected battlefield map. The plan was simple.
Phase One: Break through the rift¡¯s outer defenses. Phase Two: Establish a foothold inside the void zone. Phase Three: Close the rift¡ªby any means necessary.
And who was leading the first strike? Me. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Because, of course, I was.
The March to Battle As we approached the rift, the world twisted. The sky above the rift wasn¡¯t natural¡ªit flickered between deep purples and fractured blacks, like existence itself was breaking apart.
[VOID DISTORTION DETECTED.] [WARNING: TERRAIN UNSTABLE.]
The ground was corrupted, pulsing with abyssal energy. And waiting for us¡ª Was an army.
The Riftborn Horde Hundreds of creatures, twisted and grotesque, stood at the rift¡¯s edge. Some were towering, bone-plated monstrosities. Others were shadows given form, flickering between worlds. And at their center¡ª A Void General. A humanoid figure, clad in living darkness, its face obscured by a twisted, shifting mask. It raised a clawed hand¡ª And the horde charged.
The Battle Begins "FORM RANKS!" Graves roared. The battlefield exploded into chaos.
[BEAST GOD MODE: ACTIVATED.]
My armor formed instantly, my weapons pulsing with refined abyssal energy. Nyx¡¯s Eclipse Fang extended¡ªcleaving through three creatures at once. Umbra howled, his clones tearing apart the weaker enemies in a storm of fangs and shadows. Noctis flickered through the battlefield, redirecting enemy attacks into their own ranks. Iris moved like a storm of ice and steel, cutting through enemy lines with brutal precision. And Emilia? She wasn¡¯t just healing. She was empowering. Her magic wrapped around us, reinforcing armor, amplifying speed, making us nearly untouchable. But the enemy wasn¡¯t endless. The longer we fought¡ª The closer we got to the Void General. And when I finally stood before it¡ª It spoke.
"The False One has come at last."
I froze. "...What did you just call me?" The General raised its twisted blade.
"Come, Blacksmith. Show me if you are worthy."
And just like that¡ª The real fight began. The Blacksmith Vs The Void Chapter 38: The Blacksmith vs. The Void
The Void General moved first. A pulse of abyssal energy erupted from its blade, warping reality itself. I barely dodged, the air splitting apart where I had just stood.
[WARNING: REALITY DISTORTION IN EFFECT.] [VOID GENERAL¡ªCLASS: UNKNOWN.]
My entire body tensed. This wasn¡¯t just a monster. It was something more. And it knew me.
A Clash of Titans I swung Eclipse Fang, the blade stretching into a void-forged chain, wrapping around the General¡¯s arm¡ª But before I could pull, it twisted. With a flick of its wrist, it ripped Nyx free¡ªreversing my own attack. I skidded back, just as Umbra lunged from the shadows, his fangs aiming for the General¡¯s throat. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. A single gesture¡ª And Umbra was sent flying, his form flickering.
[UMBRA¡¯S CONNECTION WEAKENED.]
I gritted my teeth. "Fine. No tricks. Just power."
Beast God Mode: Full Release I activated everything. The Abyssal Warplate fused fully into my form, jagged plates shifting into adaptive armor. Noctis synced into my core, boosting my speed and reaction time. Umbra reformed, his Void Tyrant form surging with renewed rage. And Oakheart? He hummed in my mind. "Alright, brother. Let¡¯s break the chains of fate." I charged.
The General Reveals Its Hand The Void General met me head-on. Blade against blade. Strike against strike. The battlefield shook with every impact. But then¡ª It spoke again.
"You forge power without knowing its cost."
I swung Eclipse Fang, but it sidestepped effortlessly. Its free hand touched the ground¡ª And suddenly¡ª I couldn¡¯t move.
[SYSTEM ERROR: ABYSSAL RESTRICTION IN EFFECT.]
I staggered, my entire body locking up. The General raised its blade.
"And so, the hammer must break before it learns."
It plunged the sword toward my core.
A Cliffhanger of Shadows A flash of light. A sound like shattering steel. Pain. Darkness. A single final thought before everything vanished¡ª Did I just lose? Birth Of The Abyssal Hatchling Chapter 39: Birth of the Abyssal Hatchling
I was seconds from death. The Void General¡¯s blade was plunging toward my core, reality itself warping around its strike. My body wouldn¡¯t move. My weapons wouldn¡¯t respond. And then¡ª The system activated.
[LEVEL UP!] [CLASS EVOLUTION TRIGGERED: PERFECT SYNTHESIS.] [NEW SUMMON UNLOCKED: ???]
A sudden pulse of energy erupted from my chest. The Void General froze. Not in shock¡ªin recognition.
"Impossible."
And then, the newborn scream of something ancient and new filled the battlefield.
A Beast Born from Power Itself The energy in my core unraveled¡ªnot in destruction, but in creation. The shadows, the steel, the divine energy from Emilia¡¯s wards, the icy bite of Iris¡¯s magic¡ªall of it fused together. And from that fusion¡ª Something hatched. A rift tore open above me, not of the Void¡ªbut of my own making. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. And out of it tumbled¡­ a tiny creature. A pitch-black scaled hatchling, its small wings dripping with celestial mist, its horns curling like void-forged metal. It looked like a dragon, a wolf, a demon¡ªyet none of those things at once. And its first act? It let out a furious baby growl¡ª And bit the Void General¡¯s arm.
The Impossible Turnaround The General snarled, shaking its arm violently.
"You¡­ you cannot exist!"
The tiny beast refused to let go, its tiny claws digging into abyssal flesh. Then, suddenly¡ª It glowed.
[NEW ABILITY ACTIVATED: PRIMAL DOMINION.] All attacks against its bonded master are redirected onto itself¡ªand converted into growth.
The General¡¯s strike meant for me¡ª Was now fuel for the beast. Its body expanded slightly, growing stronger, its aura intensifying. And for the first time¡ª The Void General stepped back. Not out of calculation. But out of fear.
A Newborn¡¯s Wrath The hatchling finally let go, landing in front of me, its tail lashing with instinctive aggression. It turned its glowing, shifting eyes toward me. Then, in a voice that was both childlike and cosmic, it spoke: "You¡¯re my dad now." I blinked. Iris choked on her own breath. Emilia stared in shock. The Void General roared and lunged forward once more. And my new summon? It opened its tiny jaws¡ª And unleashed a breath attack that split the sky.
Aftermath When the light faded, the Void General was gone. Not dead. Fled. The Rift began to destabilize, the void creatures scattering in panic. And standing in the center of it all¡ª Was a very smug, very tiny, all-powerful baby monster. It turned to me, blinking. Then nuzzled into my chest, purring. Emilia melted. "It¡¯s¡­ so cute." Iris crossed her arms. "It¡¯s too powerful." Noctis cackled. "Oh, this is fantastic." I sighed, running a hand down my face. "Great. Now I¡¯m a parent." The baby just chirped happily. And somehow, I knew¡ª This was only the beginning. Ashes of Arkadia Chapter 40: Ashes of Arkadia
The battle was over. The Void Rift had collapsed. And somehow, I had a new, ridiculously powerful baby monster latched onto my shoulder, purring like it didn¡¯t just erase a Void General from existence. I should¡¯ve been relieved. But something felt wrong. Deep in my gut, an instinct clawed at me. Get back. Now. I turned to the others. "We need to return to Arkadia. Immediately." No one argued. And the moment we arrived¡ª We understood why.
The Fall of the Academy Arkadia Academy was supposed to be impenetrable. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. A fortress of learning. A sanctuary for the strongest hunters. Now? It was burning. Smoke curled into the sky, blackened ruins where grand halls once stood. Shattered walls, collapsed towers, the once-powerful barriers now flickering, broken. And worst of all¡ª No bodies. No survivors. Just silence. Emilia gasped. "No¡­ no, no, no." Iris clenched her fists. "What the hell happened here?!" Noctis hissed. "This wasn¡¯t a battle. This was a message." I stepped forward, my teeth grinding. And then¡ª I saw it.
The Mark of the Enemy A single banner, impaled into the academy¡¯s shattered courtyard. Dark fabric, stitched with a twisting sigil¡ªsomething unnatural, something wrong. Not Void. Something else. And beneath it¡ª A single, blood-scrawled phrase.
"The Forge Must Be Broken."
I stared at the words, my pulse pounding. The enemy had attacked while we were gone. And they weren¡¯t after Arkadia. They were after me. The tiny eldritch beast on my shoulder growled, sensing my fury. Umbra¡¯s voice rumbled in my mind. "Shall we hunt, Master?" I exhaled slowly. Then lifted Eclipse Fang, my eyes burning. "They took our home." I turned to the others. "Let¡¯s take everything from them."
A World in Ruin, A Shadow in Power Chapter 41: A World in Ruin, A Shadow in Power
Arkadia¡¯s fall was just the beginning. As we stood among the academy¡¯s ruins, a cold realization sank in. The world we once knew was gone. And something far worse had taken its place.
The Rift Crisis Escalates We traveled for days, searching for survivors. Instead, we found destruction. Cities reduced to skeletal ruins, their streets crawling with Rift-born horrors. Towns swallowed by abyssal corruption, the air itself toxic with unnatural energy. The world was no longer just under siege. It was losing. And at the center of it all¡ª Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Was a name whispered in fear.
The Black Gull.
Rise of the Black Gull They didn¡¯t just survive the Rift Crisis. They thrived in it. While kingdoms crumbled, they seized power, their influence spreading like a controlled plague. No one knew where they came from. No one knew what they truly wanted. Only one thing was certain¡ª They were organized. They were everywhere. And they were hunting people like me.
Their True Motives? We found scattered refugees, survivors who had barely escaped the Rift horrors. One of them¡ªa former noble¡ªtold us everything. "The Black Gull¡­ they don¡¯t fight the demons. They control them." Iris narrowed her eyes. "That¡¯s impossible." He shook his head. "They make pacts. They twist Rift energy into something worse. They don¡¯t destroy the world¡­ they reshape it in their image." My fists clenched. This wasn¡¯t just an enemy. This was a new world order. And we were the last ones standing against it.
The War Begins I turned to my team, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. "They wanted to break the forge." I lifted Eclipse Fang, the air around it distorting. "Let¡¯s show them what happens¡­ when the forge strikes back." The fight for survival was over. Now, it was a war. And I intended to win. Forging the Resistance Chapter 42: Forging the Resistance
The world was burning. The Black Gull controlled what remained of civilization, ruling through fear and corruption. The Rift-born horrors spread like an unstoppable disease, their numbers growing with each passing day. But we weren¡¯t done fighting. If the world had fallen¡­ We would rise from its ashes.
Finding the Fighters Building a resistance wasn¡¯t just about numbers. We needed warriors. Leaders. Survivors who wouldn¡¯t break. So we hunted for them. Through the ruins of fallen cities, in the depths of abandoned strongholds¡ªwe searched. And one by one, they came.
The First to Join: The Phantom Blade We found Raika in the remnants of a shattered empire. A rogue assassin, once part of an elite order, now a lone hunter. She wielded a twin-bladed katana, forged from Rift-infused steel. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Fast, ruthless, and unpredictable. But she had a rule. "I don¡¯t fight for lost causes." I smirked. "Good. This isn¡¯t a lost cause. It¡¯s a war." She studied me. Then nodded. And just like that¡ªwe had our first blade.
The Unbroken Shield: Darius the Titan Our next recruit was Darius. A former knight-captain, built like a war machine. The kind of man who could stand against an army and not move an inch. He had survived the Rift¡¯s invasion alone, holding a ruined keep for weeks. When we found him, he was standing atop a pile of dead Rift creatures. "Took you long enough," he grunted, hoisting a colossal shield. Iris raised a brow. "You were waiting for us?" Darius grinned. "Nah. Just figured I¡¯d run into the right kind of trouble sooner or later." We had our shield.
The Arcane Genius: Zephyr of the Storm Zephyr wasn¡¯t just a mage. He was a walking storm. Lightning crackled along his fingertips, his eyes glowing with raw mana. He had been a scholar, one of the few who studied the true nature of the Rift. When his research was branded heresy by the Black Gull, he was hunted. Now? He wanted revenge. "They fear knowledge," he said, smirking as he conjured a swirling tempest. "Let¡¯s show them why." We had our spellcaster.
A New Fire Burns We had warriors. We had strength. And most of all¡ªwe had purpose. I stood before them, looking at the faces of the last hope this world had. "We are all that remains," I said. "But we are enough." I raised Eclipse Fang, its blade burning with abyssal energy. "This war isn¡¯t over." The resistance roared in unison. And the fight for the world began. The Bond of Fire and Steel Chapter 43: The Bond of Fire and Steel
A resistance wasn¡¯t just a group of fighters. It was a brotherhood. A pact. If we wanted to stand against the Black Gull and the Rift¡¯s horrors, we needed more than just strength. We needed to be forged into something unbreakable. And that¡¯s exactly what I was going to do.
The War Bond Ritual I gathered the team in the depths of our hidden stronghold, an old underground forge once used by legendary blacksmiths. Now, it was mine. The fires roared to life, glowing with abyssal and celestial energy as I activated my class.
[LIVING BLACKSMITH: WAR BOND RITUAL INITIATED.] [FORGING COMPANION SOUL-LINKS¡­]
A circle of molten sigils appeared beneath each of them, connecting our energies. Their bodies tensed¡ªbut they didn¡¯t pull away. They trusted me. And as the ritual began¡ªthe forge changed them.
Raika¡¯s Gift: The Phantom¡¯s Requiem The assassin¡¯s katana glowed, reshaped by my power. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. It became a twin-soul blade, one side wreathed in abyssal shadows, the other in silver flame.
[NEW ABILITY: SHADOW REQUIEM] Raika can phase between dimensions, striking from unseen angles with unnatural speed.
She unsheathed the blade, testing its weight. Then smirked. "Oh, I like this."
Darius¡¯s Gift: The Titan¡¯s Aegis His tower shield cracked apart¡ª Then reforged into a living fortress of metal and arcane energy. Its edges pulsed with gravitational magic, an unmovable object made absolute.
[NEW ABILITY: TITAN¡¯S DOMAIN] Darius can anchor himself to the battlefield, making him completely unshakable and reflecting damage onto enemies.
He slammed the shield into the ground. The very earth rumbled beneath him. He grinned. "Now this is proper armor."
Zephyr¡¯s Gift: The Tempest Core Lightning danced across his fingertips as his mana circuits expanded, fusing into the forge¡¯s heat. His staff reformed into a conduit of raw elemental chaos.
[NEW ABILITY: STORMFORGED ASCENT] Zephyr can overload his body with pure lightning, briefly becoming an untouchable force of destruction.
His eyes burned silver, his aura crackling. He exhaled. "They¡¯re not ready for me."
Forging My Own Evolution The War Bond ritual wasn¡¯t just for them. It was for me, too. The forge pulsed, and my armor and weapons reacted. The Living Blacksmith class was evolving again.
[LIVING BLACKSMITH ¨C MASTER FORGE UNLOCKED.] Tatsuya can now shape weapons and armor mid-battle, adapting in real time to any situation.
The moment it completed, I could feel it. We weren¡¯t just allies anymore. We were linked. One flame, one forge. A single, unstoppable force. I looked at them, seeing their newfound power ignite. This wasn¡¯t just a resistance anymore. This was a revolution. And we were ready to burn the enemy to the ground. The True Forge Awakens Chapter 44: The True Forge Awakens
The War Bond Ritual had changed everything. Not just for my team¡ªfor me. My connection to the forge had deepened, my weapons responding faster, shaping themselves at will. But the system wasn¡¯t done revealing secrets.
[HIDDEN CLASS SUFFIX UNLOCKED: LIVING BLACKSMITH ¨C CREATURE & BEAST PRO.] [UNVEILING FULL ABILITY SET¡­]
I felt it immediately. This wasn¡¯t just about crafting weapons. This was about creating life itself.
The Hidden Depths of My Class

1. Forgeborne Beasts

I could now infuse living essence into my creations, allowing my weapons and armor to develop their own instincts, personalities, and even independent movement. Example: If I crafted a spear, it wouldn¡¯t just be a spear¡ªit would be a hunting beast in weapon form. I tested it immediately. Summoning my forge, I let its energy flow into a raw chunk of obsidian void-metal. The flames twisted¡ªand a new creation emerged. A blackened spear with glowing emerald eyes set into its blade. It coiled like a serpent before striking the air, its hiss sharp as steel. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. The system confirmed it:
[NEW FORGEBORNE BEAST CREATED: VIPERFANG SPEAR.] A weapon that acts like a living snake, striking and deflecting on its own.
Raika whistled. "That¡¯s¡­ mildly terrifying." I grinned. "And that¡¯s just the start."

2. Beast-Forged Armor

Armor could now do more than just protect. It could fight alongside me. I activated my Abyssal Warplate, focusing on the new ability. The metal shuddered¡ªthen peeled itself away, taking shape beside me. Instead of just a set of armor¡ªit became a four-legged, wolf-like construct. A guardian beast, born from my plating, ready to fight independently when needed.
[ABILITY UNLOCKED: BEASTBOUND ARMOR.] Allows armor to separate into an autonomous combat form.
Darius grunted. "You just made your armor into a pet. That¡¯s cheating." I smirked. "It¡¯s called innovation."

3. Adaptive Weapon Evolution

I could now modify my weapons mid-battle. Swords could grow fangs, shields could become beasts, bows could fire living arrows. Even my team¡¯s weapons were now linked to the forge, allowing me to upgrade them dynamically. Zephyr tested it first, channeling his lightning into his Stormforged Staff. The system reacted immediately.
[NEW STATE ACQUIRED: SKY HUNTER MODE.] The staff now generates a lightning falcon that attacks autonomously.
A crackling bird of thunder formed, its talons glowing with raw magic. Zephyr grinned. "I could get used to this."
The Implications This wasn¡¯t just about crafting better gear. It was about evolving my arsenal into an army. Weapons weren¡¯t just weapons anymore. They were living creatures. And with each battle, each upgrade¡ªthey would grow stronger. This changed everything. Because I wasn¡¯t just a hunter. I was a forgemaster of beasts. And when the Black Gull came for us¡ª We would be ready. The Living Forge vs The Black Gull General Chapter 45: The Living Forge vs. The Black Gull General
War had found us. The Black Gull wasn¡¯t just watching anymore. They were moving. And their first real move? Sending a General to wipe us out. I wasn¡¯t about to let that happen.
The Challenge The battlefield was set¡ªa ruined city swallowed by Rift corruption. At its center stood my opponent. General Orvos. A towering figure in obsidian-black armor, his face hidden behind a cracked mask. His weapon? A war axe dripping with Rift energy, its edges warping the air like a wound in reality. He looked at me, unimpressed. "You are the Forge." I cracked my knuckles. "That¡¯s me." He raised his axe. "Let¡¯s see how easily you break."
The Battle Begins Orvos moved first. One swing of his axe¡ªand the ground itself collapsed beneath me, ruptured by pure abyssal force. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. I barely dodged, activating Terra Step to stabilize myself.
[WEAPON ADAPTATION: VIPERFANG SPEAR FORMING.]
My spear slithered into my hand, its blade gleaming. I lunged¡ªstriking at his exposed side¡ª But his armor pulsed, shifting like liquid metal, absorbing the hit. I barely had time to block as his counterattack came. Our weapons clashed, shockwaves blasting through the ruins. This wasn¡¯t a fight of raw strength. This was a battle of forged power vs. abyssal corruption.
Unleashing the Living Forge If brute force wasn¡¯t enough¡ªI¡¯d overwhelm him with innovation.
[BEASTBOUND ARMOR: ACTIVATED.]
My armor peeled away, taking form beside me¡ªa four-legged construct of obsidian steel, howling like a war beast. It rushed Orvos, forcing him to parry¡ª And that¡¯s when I struck again.
[VIPERFANG SPEAR: SECONDARY STATE UNLOCKED.] ¡ªTail Split Mode Activated.
The spear divided into two, each half striking from a different angle. Orvos barely twisted in time, my blade tearing through his side. Black energy spilled from the wound¡ªbut he didn¡¯t collapse. Instead, he laughed.
"Good. You¡¯re worth killing properly."
His aura exploded. And the real fight began.
Pushing the Limits Orvos didn¡¯t just fight back¡ªhe adapted. His armor shifted, forming abyssal tendrils that lashed out like whips. His axe split into twin blades, striking faster than before. He was evolving mid-fight. But so was I.
[LIVING BLACKSMITH ¨C MID-BATTLE REFORGING UNLOCKED.] Weapons and armor can evolve instantly to counter enemy attacks.
I grinned. "Alright, let¡¯s dance."
The Final Exchange I forged a new weapon on the spot, a fusion of Eclipse Fang and Viperfang Spear¡ªa twin-bladed glaive, shifting between solid and liquid states. Orvos charged. I did too.
One final clash. One final strike.
Our weapons met in a shockwave of raw energy. And when the dust settled¡ª One of us was on the ground. But the battle wasn¡¯t over yet. The Waiting Shadows Chapter 46: The Waiting Shadows
The battlefield was silent. The city ruins stretched in every direction, the sky still tainted with Rift-born corruption. And in the distance¡ªthe dust was settling. But we didn¡¯t know who had won.
The Resistance Watches From a hidden vantage point, Iris gripped her blades. Her knuckles were white, her breath controlled¡ªbut her tension was obvious. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "Tatsuya¡¯s been fighting too long." Darius, standing like a stone sentinel, kept his eyes fixed on the battlefield. "He wanted this fight alone." "That doesn¡¯t mean we leave him to die!" Raika snapped. Zephyr, arms crossed, spoke carefully. "If he lost¡­ then we¡¯re next." The words hung heavy in the air. Because the truth was simple¡ª If Tatsuya didn¡¯t get up, the resistance was as good as finished.
The Uncertain Aftermath A figure moved in the dust. Everyone tensed¡ªweapons raised, spells prepared. Then a second shape lurched forward. One of them collapsed. And the other stood. The resistance held its breath. Who had fallen? And more importantly¡ª Who was left standing? Venom of The Victor Chapter 47: Venom of the Victor
The figure that stood was me. Tired. Bloody. But alive. And Orvos? He lay in a crater of shattered stone, his armor cracked, broken, his abyssal axe split in two. He wasn¡¯t moving.
[BATTLE WON.] [LEVEL UP: LIVING BLACKSMITH ¨C LVL 6.] [NEW ELEMENTAL AFFINITY ACQUIRED: POISON.]
I barely had time to process it before the system flared again.
[FORGE-BORN VENOM UNLOCKED.] Your creations now inherit a deadly, evolving poison, adaptable to any foe.
My breath came slow. Poison? That was new. And dangerous. I looked down at my hands, feeling a strange energy pulse through my veins. My weapons hummed in response. The forge had changed me again. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. And now? I was more lethal than ever.
The Resistance Arrives The moment the dust cleared, they rushed in. Iris was first, blades drawn. She barely slowed down before checking me over, eyes sharp. "You look like hell." I smirked. "Feel worse." Darius grunted, eyeing Orvos¡¯s fallen form. "That¡¯s one hell of a body count." Raika raised a brow. "He dead?" Noctis snickered. "If not, I can fix that." I took a step forward¡ªthen staggered. Emilia caught me instantly. Her magic flared, scanning my wounds. "You pushed too hard again." I shook my head, trying to stay steady. "Had to." Her gaze softened, but she didn¡¯t argue.
A Warning Left Behind Zephyr moved past the group, studying Orvos¡¯s body. Then, he frowned. "Something¡¯s wrong." We turned¡ªjust in time to see a black sigil burning into Orvos¡¯s chest. An abyssal mark, twisting and shifting. Before we could stop it¡ª His body disintegrated into shadow. Iris cursed. "Damn it! They won¡¯t even leave a corpse?" Darius¡¯s grip tightened on his shield. "No. This was intentional." Raika¡¯s voice was cold. "They don¡¯t want us learning anything." And that meant one thing. The Black Gull was watching. And they knew we were getting stronger.
What Comes Next? We won the battle. I leveled up. And now, I had a new power I didn¡¯t fully understand. But this war? It was far from over. I looked at my team, standing together, stronger than ever. Then turned to the horizon¡ªwhere our next fight waited. "Let¡¯s move." We weren¡¯t stopping now. Not until we had destroyed the Black Gull completely. The Venomous Awakening of Gwaine Chapter 48: The Venomous Awakening of Gwaine
I sat alone in the forge, the embers casting flickering shadows against the stone walls. In my hands, I held the axe. It had been a weapon of war¡ªbrutal, efficient, but nothing special. Until now.
[POISON AFFINITY INTERACTING WITH LIVING FORGE.] [RESTRUCTURING WEAPON: EVOLUTION IN PROGRESS.]
The metal pulsed, veins of emerald energy spreading through its surface. The transformation wasn¡¯t violent like past evolutions. This was slow, methodical¡ªlike something alive was awakening. Then, a deep, lazy voice rumbled in my mind. "Whoa, dude¡­ this is trippy." I blinked. "¡­Did my axe just talk?" Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. The weapon hummed, its surface shifting as if it was stretching. "Name¡¯s Gwaine, man. And I think I¡¯m, like¡­ super strong now." I stared. Noctis cackled from the rafters. "Oh, this is fantastic."
The Evolution of Gwaine
[LIVING WEAPON EVOLUTION COMPLETE: GWAINE, THE VERDANT EXECUTIONER.] [NEW ABILITIES UNLOCKED:]
I tested my grip¡ªthe weapon felt lighter, more balanced. I swung once¡ªand the air hissed, the blade leaving behind a faint, toxic green afterimage. Gwaine chuckled. "Oh yeah, man. That¡¯s the good stuff." Iris crossed her arms. "¡­Great. Now you have a stoner battle axe." Raika inspected the weapon, intrigued. "I¡¯ve heard of living weapons, but this is next level. A constantly evolving venomous axe? That¡¯s absurd." Darius scoffed. "As long as it kills things, I don¡¯t care if it sings lullabies." Zephyr grinned. "Honestly, I love it. You¡¯ve got a poisoned berserker weapon now." I smirked. "Yeah. And something tells me¡­ it¡¯s only going to get stronger." Gwaine hummed. "Oh, absolutely, man. Just keep feeding me fights, and we¡¯ll be unstoppable." And I intended to do just that. The Black Gull wouldn¡¯t know what hit them. Gwaines Verdant Awakening Chapter 49: Gwaine¡¯s Verdant Awakening
Gwaine was already unlike any other weapon. A living axe, forged through poison and battle. But I could feel it¡ªhe wasn¡¯t done evolving. Not yet. The Living Forge never stopped. And neither did I.
The Ritual of Growth The forge blazed, but this time, I wasn¡¯t just using fire and steel. I gathered rare spiritwood, infused with nature¡¯s energy. Mixed in crushed soulstones, remnants of fallen shamans. Then, using my Poison Affinity, I bound them together with life-giving venom. Gwaine hummed, his voice slow and thoughtful. "Dude¡­ this feels different." I placed him at the center of the forge, activating my Living Blacksmith class.
[FORGE-BORN SYNTHESIS: PLANT & SHAMAN CORE INFUSION.] Stolen novel; please report. [EVOLUTION IN PROGRESS¡­]
The forge flared, shifting from its usual crimson glow to a deep, verdant green. Roots wrapped around the axe, pulling it into the flames. And then¡ª Gwaine laughed. Not his usual lazy chuckle. This was something new. Something primal.
[EVOLUTION COMPLETE: GWAINE, THE SHAMAN OF VERDANT DEATH.]
The New Gwaine When the flames died, Gwaine was completely transformed. His axe head was no longer just metal¡ªgnarled wood and sharp, vine-like growths coiled through it. Glowing runes pulsed along the blade, shifting between poisonous green and deep earthen gold. I picked him up, and immediately, I felt it¡ªthe presence of a shamanic force.
[NEW ABILITIES UNLOCKED:]
Gwaine whistled. "Whoa, man. I think I just hit enlightenment." I tested the new weight¡ªit felt perfect. Balanced between destruction and renewal. Iris stared. "Okay¡­ that¡¯s actually terrifying." Emilia¡¯s eyes widened. "He¡¯s not just a weapon anymore¡­ he¡¯s a conduit." Raika smirked. "A druidic war axe? That¡¯s ridiculous. I love it." Darius nodded approvingly. "If it keeps us alive, I¡¯m not complaining." Zephyr grinned. "Tatsuya¡­ you didn¡¯t just make a weapon. You made a legend." I smiled, gripping Gwaine tightly. The Black Gull wouldn¡¯t just face a hunter anymore. They¡¯d face a force of nature itself. And I couldn¡¯t wait to test it. The Evolving Predator Chapter 50: The Evolving Predator
The air thickened with tension. Something moved in the ruins ahead¡ªa shadow too large, too unnatural. Even my senses struggled to lock onto it. I gripped Gwaine, feeling the new power hum through his handle. Then, the system warned me.
[WARNING: EVOLVING ENTITY DETECTED.] [CLASSIFICATION: UNKNOWN.]
Iris drew her blades. "This thing doesn¡¯t feel normal." Darius planted his shield. "Feels like it¡¯s watching us." Noctis purred. "Ohhh, this one¡¯s going to be fun." Then¡ª It attacked.
The First Phase: Hunting Us A blur of movement. Something massive dashed across the battlefield faster than it had any right to. I barely raised Gwaine in time as a shadowy limb struck me, sending me skidding back. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. I caught a glimpse of it through the dust¡ª A beast covered in twisting, jagged plates, its limbs constantly reshaping, adapting to its own movements. Then, I saw its eyes. They were calculating.
[ENTITY ANALYZING COMBATANTS¡­] [PHASE SHIFT: BEGINNING ADAPTATION.]
My gut sank. It was learning.
The Second Phase: Countering Us We struck hard and fast. Iris lunged, her frost-coated blades cutting deep¡ªonly for the wounds to seal instantly. Zephyr blasted it with lightning¡ªbut its body conducted the energy, redirecting it into a counterattack. Darius tried to block a swipe, but the beast¡¯s claws reshaped mid-strike, slithering around his shield.
[ENTITY HAS ADAPTED TO CURRENT STRATEGIES.] [ENHANCING DEFENSIVE AND OFFENSIVE CAPABILITIES.]
I clenched my fists. "Enough of this." I raised Gwaine, focusing on my new powers.
[VERDANT REGROWTH: FIELD CREATION.]
The ground exploded with poisonous flora, vines and roots grasping at the beast. For the first time, it hesitated. And that was all the opening I needed.
The Final Phase: The Predator vs. The Forge I charged, Gwaine¡¯s axe head shifting, vines growing along its blade. I swung¡ªand this time, it hit. The beast screeched, its body resisting the toxic energy¡ªbut struggling.
[ENTITY RECOGNIZES THREAT.] [EMERGENCY EVOLUTION: ACTIVATING FINAL FORM.]
Its entire body cracked apart, reshaping into something new. Something faster. Stronger. Deadlier. I grinned. "Good. Now we¡¯re talking." The toughest fight yet had only just begun. Predator Ascendant Chapter 51: Predator Ascendant
The beast¡¯s body cracked open¡ªnot breaking, but shedding. What emerged was wrong. Its limbs stretched too long, its skin pulsating like it was breathing. Eyes formed where there shouldn¡¯t be eyes. Teeth¡ªrows upon rows of jagged fangs¡ªrippled across its shifting mass. And worst of all? Its mouth split open, and it spoke. Not in words. Not in a language I could understand. But in a sound that burrowed into my skull, whispering in a chorus of my own voice.
"You will break."
"You will be remade."
"You are not enough."
My grip on Gwaine tightened. "Shut up." And then, it attacked. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
A Nightmare Given Form It didn¡¯t move¡ªit shifted. Its body snapped between forms, from quadruped to biped in a blink, its limbs liquid one moment, solid razors the next. It struck at inhuman angles, impossible to predict. Darius barely raised his shield in time before a spike of bone shot from its spine, piercing the air where his head had been. Raika vanished into the shadows, reappearing behind it, blades flashing¡ª But the beast¡¯s body split apart, her weapons slicing through nothing. Zephyr unleashed a tempest of lightning, the storm blinding and furious. For a moment, we thought it worked. Then¡ª The electricity crawled over the beast¡¯s skin, and it laughed. Not mimicking my voice this time. But all of ours.
"You are not enough."
And then it struck me.
The Beast vs. The Forge The impact was like a mountain collapsing. I was sent flying, crashing through a ruined tower. My vision spun. My body screamed. But I wasn¡¯t done.
[BEASTBOUND ARMOR: RECONSTRUCTING.] [LIVING BLACKSMITH: AUTO-FORGE ENGAGED.]
My armor knitted itself back together, shifting, adapting. I forced myself to my feet, Gwaine pulsing in my hands. The beast turned toward me, its shifting eyes locking onto mine. It was waiting. Because it wanted me to evolve too. To see if I could keep up. A slow grin spread across my face. "Alright, then." I raised Gwaine, feeling the axe pulse, twist, shift. If it wanted an apex predator¡­ I was about to show it what true evolution looked like. And then, I charged. Awakening the Arsenal Chapter 52: Awakening the Arsenal
The beast lunged, its grotesque form warping as it closed the distance. I braced myself, but I wasn¡¯t alone anymore. A streak of frozen blue blurred past me¡ª Iris. Her Frost Reaper blades clashed with the creature¡¯s tendrils, ice surging from her weapons, freezing its limbs mid-strike.
"You¡¯re not fighting this thing alone, dumbass!"
Then, a thunderous impact¡ªDarius slammed into the beast with his Titan¡¯s Aegis, his new power activating. The air around him shimmered, his armor locking into an unmovable stance.
[TITAN¡¯S DOMAIN: ENEMY MOVEMENT RESTRICTED.]
The beast twitched, its fluid form struggling against Darius¡¯s gravitational field. Raika emerged from the shadows, her twin blades flashing like silver ghosts, carving into the beast¡¯s shifting flesh. And above us¡ª Lightning screamed down from the sky, Zephyr¡¯s magic amplifying the storm tenfold.
"If this thing adapts to pain, let¡¯s see if it adapts to absolute annihilation!"
The battlefield erupted. The beast howled, its mass convulsing¡ª And my weapons responded. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
The Weapons Evolve I felt it before I saw it¡ªGwaine, Nyx, Umbra, and Noctis reacting to the battle. They weren¡¯t just tools. They were alive. And they were changing.
[LIVING BLACKSMITH RESTRUCTURING¡­] [NEW WEAPON FORMS UNLOCKED.]
The ground beneath me pulsed, raw creation energy bursting outward¡ªand my weapons took shape.

1. Gwaine, the Verdant Titan

The battle axe twisted, its wooden core growing thicker, vines wrapping into runic armor plating. A second blade sprouted from its back, forming a double-headed battle axe. The energy of poison and shamanic power fused, creating a new ability¡ª
[ABILITY UNLOCKED: TITANIC THORNS.] Gwaine¡¯s strikes now generate massive, twisting roots laced with venom, restricting enemies and siphoning their strength.
Gwaine whistled. "Dude. I feel buff."

2. Nyx, the Eclipse Serpent

Nyx¡¯s blade liquefied, reforming into a longer, thinner form¡ª A whip-like chainblade, pulsing with abyssal moonlight. Her voice was smooth. "I was always deadly¡­ but now?"
[ABILITY UNLOCKED: PHANTOM STRIKE.] Nyx can now phase between dimensions mid-swing, bypassing enemy defenses.

3. Umbra, the Abyssal Stalker

Umbra¡¯s form shifted, his wolf-like body becoming more armored, his shadowed fur shifting like liquid voidsteel. His eyes glowed brighter, his tail splitting into two whip-like appendages.
[ABILITY UNLOCKED: PREDATOR¡¯S NIGHT.] Umbra can now create an area of absolute darkness, masking movements and warping perception.
Umbra snarled. "Now the hunt is mine."

4. Noctis, the Starborn Phantom

Noctis didn¡¯t just change¡ªhe ascended. His small form expanded, his tails splitting into six, each one trailing cosmic mist. His fur shimmered, reflecting the night sky itself.
[ABILITY UNLOCKED: REALITY REND.] Noctis can now tear small rifts into space, creating unpredictable attack patterns.
He laughed. "Ohhh, I am going to enjoy this."
The Final Clash Begins The beast twitched, its monstrous form struggling to adapt to our new powers. I stepped forward, my weapons and allies at my side. "Alright," I said, cracking my neck. "Let¡¯s end this." And then, we attacked. Purn Awakens: The Predator Falls Chapter 53: Purn Awakens, The Predator Falls
The battlefield was silent. For a moment, we thought we had won. Then¡ª The beast convulsed. Its body split apart, not from damage, but from something worse. It wasn¡¯t dying. It was shedding again.
[WARNING: FINAL EVOLUTION DETECTED.] [ENTITY IS TRANSFORMING BEYOND SYSTEM CLASSIFICATIONS.]
I felt my stomach drop. The monster''s flesh melted, shifting into a tide of writhing limbs, each one splitting, duplicating. It no longer resembled anything natural. It was pure hunger. And it was coming for us.
The Breaking Point Darius slammed his shield into the ground. "We kill it now!" Zephyr¡¯s hands crackled with lightning. "Throw everything at it!" Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. I braced myself, gripping Gwaine¡ªbut something else was happening. A pulse of energy erupted from my chest. Not from my weapons. Not from my armor. But from the baby. The eldritch beast that had been with me since the Rift battle. The tiny creature perched on my shoulder stirred. Its golden eyes blazed.
[PURRN EVOLUTION INITIATED.]
The air warped. And then¡ª Purn grew.
The Birth of the Apex Beast The small, mischievous creature expanded, its body stretching into something larger, stronger. Its once-soft form became sleek and armored, plated with darkened celestial metal. Its claws extended¡ªeach one vibrating with an unnatural hum. Its six glowing eyes stared at the evolving beast¡ªnot with fear. But with predatory focus. Then it spoke. "I understand now." The voice was still Purn¡¯s, but deeper, stronger. And when it opened its mouth¡ª It let out a howl that tore through existence itself.
[PURRN, THE ABYSSAL STARFORGED BEAST, HAS AWAKENED.]
The Final Hunt The evolving monster screeched, tendrils lashing out in desperation. Purn vanished. Not with speed¡ªbut with something beyond speed. Reality bent around its movements. And when it reappeared¡ª The beast was already missing half its body. Its howl of agony shattered the air. But Purn wasn¡¯t done. It landed beside me, its cosmic armor gleaming, golden veins of power running across its form. Its voice rumbled. "Now, Father. Finish it." I nodded, raising Gwaine, feeling all of our strength converge. The Black Gull wanted a monster? They were about to see the true apex. And with one final swing, we ended it. Purn’s Awakening & The Black Gull’s Reaction Chapter 54: Purn¡¯s Awakening & The Black Gull¡¯s Reaction
The Aftermath of Evolution The battlefield was eerily silent. The monster that had nearly killed us all was nothing but a smoldering husk beneath our feet. And Purn¡ª Purn was no longer small. It stood beside me now, its sleek armored body pulsing with celestial energy, its six eyes scanning the battlefield. I could still see traces of its former self¡ªthe playfulness, the curiosity. But something had changed. And it wasn¡¯t just power. It was purpose.
Testing Purn¡¯s Abilities I knelt beside him, placing a hand against his smooth, midnight-metal hide. "How do you feel?" Purn blinked, tilting his head before responding in a voice calm yet powerful. "Like I was always meant to be this way." The system flared in my vision.
[NEW COMPANION UNLOCKED: PURN, THE ABYSSAL STARFORGED BEAST.] [ABILITIES UNVEILED:]
I felt my breath hitch. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. This wasn¡¯t just a summon. This was a walking battlefield advantage. Zephyr whistled. "Alright¡­ so, you¡¯re officially broken now." Iris crossed her arms, her gaze flickering between me and Purn. "We just watched him tear apart something that was evolving faster than us. This isn¡¯t just power¡ªthis is something else." Purn flicked his tail. "Father and I are merely preparing for what¡¯s to come." Darius grunted. "That¡¯s what I¡¯m afraid of." Because we all knew¡ª The real war was only beginning.
The Black Gull Reacts Far from the battlefield, deep in the ruins of a forgotten stronghold, a gathering of shadows took place. Figures in darkened robes stood around a floating abyssal sigil, watching through a warped mirror of Rift energy. They had witnessed the fight. They had witnessed Tatsuya¡¯s power. And they were not pleased. A voice, deep and commanding, cut through the silence. "We miscalculated." Another, higher-pitched and cold, followed. "The Forge was never meant to awaken this much power. He is exceeding every projection." The eldest among them, their leader, finally spoke. His voice was a whisper, yet it carried an unnatural weight. "Then we change the game." The air around them shuddered.
[NEW DIRECTIVE: TATSUYA MUST BE BROKEN BEFORE HE FULLY FORGES HIS DESTINY.]
A dozen shadowy figures nodded in unison. The hunt was about to begin.
A Storm is Coming Back at the battlefield, Purn turned his glowing golden eyes toward the sky. His body tensed. I frowned. "What¡¯s wrong?" His voice was calm, but there was a new edge to it. "They¡¯re coming." Iris tightened her grip on her swords. "Who?" Purn blinked. Then, for the first time since his evolution¡ªhe grinned. "Prey." I smirked. Let them come. We were ready. A Much-Needed Break (With a Side of Chaos) Chapter 55: A Much-Needed Break (With a Side of Chaos)
After nearly dying, evolving weapons, and watching my baby eldritch beast grow into a reality-breaking apex predator, I had one thought. I needed a nap. Unfortunately, my team had other ideas.
Back at the Stronghold We returned to our hidden base, an old underground fortress we had repurposed into the Resistance¡¯s headquarters. I barely took three steps inside before Emilia grabbed my arm. "Sit. Now." I frowned. "I¡¯m fine." Iris snorted. "You got hit by a reality-warping nightmare abomination and thrown through three buildings¡ªyou¡¯re not fine." Darius crossed his arms. "Honestly, it¡¯s a miracle you¡¯re still standing." Raika grinned. "I think he just runs on spite at this point." Zephyr sighed dramatically. "Our fearless leader, too stubborn to admit he needs medical attention. Truly an inspiration." I groaned as Emilia dragged me to a chair. "Fine. But no weird potions this time." The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. She gave me a sweet smile. "Of course not." ¡­That did not make me feel better.
Flirtation, Fumbles, and Furry Menaces As Emilia checked my wounds, I noticed Iris watching from the doorway, arms crossed. She looked¡­ annoyed. I raised a brow. "Something wrong?" She huffed. "No." I smirked. "You sure? You look¡ª" She stabbed her sword into the ground. "I SAID I¡¯M FINE." Emilia hid a giggle. "Iris, you know you can help if you¡¯re jealous¡ª" Iris turned red. "WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THAT?!" I chuckled, but before I could tease her more, something pounced on me. Purn. The now huge, apex predator, purring aggressively while pinning me down. I struggled under his weight. "Purn. Buddy. You¡¯re¡­ kind of crushing me." His six golden eyes blinked innocently. "Affection is important for strong pack bonds." Emilia cooed. "Aww, he¡¯s cuddly!" Iris muttered. "Cuddly? He just BODY-SLAMMED him." Zephyr smirked. "Purn, you¡¯re doing great. Maximum discomfort. Keep it up." Darius nodded approvingly. "A strong bond between warrior and beast is crucial." Raika was openly laughing. I sighed. This was my life now.
A Brief, Peaceful Moment Eventually, Purn let me breathe, and we all settled down, enjoying a rare moment of peace. Food was cooked. Stories were shared. At one point, Emilia rested her head on my shoulder. At another, Iris sat beside me, pretending not to care but clearly enjoying the proximity. For the first time in a while, we weren¡¯t fighting for our lives. We were just¡­ together. And as much as I knew the Black Gull was looming, waiting for their next move¡ª For now? I let myself enjoy this. Because tomorrow, we¡¯d be at war again. But tonight? Tonight, we were human. ¡­Well, mostly. Purn rolled onto my lap. "Father, scratch my head." I sighed. "Fine. But only because you saved my life." The Birth of Danielle, the Sultry Living Necklace Chapter 56: The Birth of Danielle, the Sultry Living Necklace
I woke up feeling strange. Not the usual "I survived a battle with an evolving nightmare" strange. No, this was a different kind of weird. Like¡­ warm, silky, and slightly damp?
[LIVING BLACKSMITH: UNAUTHORIZED FORGING EVENT DETECTED.] [NEW LIVING EQUIPMENT CREATED: DANIELLE, THE SIREN¡¯S EMBRACE.]
I blinked groggily. "Wait. What?" And that¡¯s when I felt it. Something smooth and cool wrapped around my neck, pressing against my skin in a way that was¡ª ¡­Well. A little too intimate. Then, a voice purred into my ear. "Mmm~ morning, Master~." I froze. Oh. Oh no.
Meet Danielle, the Living Necklace I scrambled upright, nearly tripping over myself. The "something" around my neck slithered, shifting into a liquid-metal form, coiling sensually over my collarbone. It was a deep sapphire blue, its edges shimmering like flowing water. And then¡ª This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. It morphed. A figure emerged¡ªa woman made of liquid silver and blue gemstone, her curves flowing like water in motion. Her eyes were mischievous, her lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Finally awake, hmm?~ You were quite¡­ restless last night, Master." I choked on air. "Excuse me?!" She giggled, trailing a cold finger down my neck. "You made me in a dream, love~. A very¡­ steamy dream, I might add." My brain short-circuited. Iris kicked open the door. "Tatsuya, what the hell was that noi¡ª" She froze. Her gaze locked onto Danielle, who was still draped over me like a lover. A long, horrible silence. Then¡ª "¡­I¡¯m going to kill you."
The Chaos Ensues "IT¡¯S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!" I yelped, holding up my hands. Danielle purred, swirling around me like a living wave. "Oh, but Master, don¡¯t be shy~ You were so creative when you made me~." Iris¡¯s eye twitched. "CREATIVE?" Emilia entered next, saw the scene, and immediately turned red. "W-What is¡ª?!" Zephyr poked his head in. "Oh, this is fantastic. Please, continue." Darius sighed. "Of course it¡¯s this kind of morning." Raika, leaning against the doorway, grinned. "Tatsuya. My respect for you has doubled." I grabbed Danielle¡¯s shoulders. "Alright, listen! What are you?" She smiled, pressing a cold hand to my chest.
[DANIELLE, THE SIREN¡¯S EMBRACE: LIVING WATER EQUIPMENT.]
I stared at the last one. Then at Danielle. She winked. Iris picked up a chair. "I SWEAR TO GOD¡ª"
The Aftermath After prying Iris off me and convincing Emilia to stop hyperventilating, I finally got a moment to breathe. Danielle lazily draped herself across my shoulders, humming. "Oh, I do love a dramatic entrance~." I muttered, "You are going to be a problem." She laughed. "Oh, Master, I am the solution." And somehow, I knew¡ª This was only the beginning of my suffering. A Necklace, A Nightmare, and a Coming War Chapter 57: A Necklace, A Nightmare, and a Coming War
The morning after Danielle¡¯s grand debut was an absolute mess. And, as usual, I was the cause of it.
The Team Reacts We gathered in the war room, though it felt less like a strategy meeting and more like an intervention. Iris had her arms crossed, still glaring at me like I had personally betrayed her ancestors. Emilia sat beside her, looking less angry but equally exasperated. Darius sighed. "Alright. Let¡¯s break this down rationally." Zephyr smirked. "Why start now?" Raika snorted. "Yeah, this is definitely not the weirdest thing Tatsuya¡¯s done." I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Look, I didn¡¯t mean to create her." Danielle, lounging across my shoulders in liquid-metal form, traced lazy circles on my collarbone. "Oh, but you wanted me, Master~." Iris¡¯s eye twitched. "I¡¯m going to rip her off you." Danielle smirked. "Mmm~ I dare you." The room temperature dropped. I swallowed. "Okay, let¡¯s all calm down¡ª" "CALM?!" Iris snapped. "YOUR JEWELRY IS FLIRTING WITH YOU." This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Raika chuckled. "To be fair, it¡¯s kind of impressive. Dude literally dream-forged a girlfriend." Zephyr leaned in. "So, do we¡­ count this as a harem addition?" Emilia choked. "D-Don¡¯t phrase it like that!" Darius massaged his forehead. "Focus." I sighed. "Okay, look. She¡¯s here now. We just have to deal with it." Danielle grinned. "Mmm~ I do love the idea of being ¡®dealt with.¡¯" Iris threw a dagger into the table.
Managing the ¡®Problem¡¯ After ten minutes of arguing, we finally broke it down: (Which made Iris even angrier.) Darius nodded. "As much as this is a problem¡­ we¡¯d be stupid not to use it." Iris grumbled. "Fine. But if she gets too touchy, I¡¯m ripping her off." Danielle smirked. "Oh, sweetheart, I love it rough." Iris lunged at me. Emilia had to hold her back. Zephyr was laughing so hard he nearly fell out of his chair. Raika sipped her tea, totally unfazed. "Best meeting ever." I sighed. This was my life now.
The Impending Attack Just when I thought things couldn¡¯t get worse, a scout burst into the room. His face was pale. His voice shook. "Commander, we have a problem." Darius immediately straightened. "Report." The scout swallowed. "The Black Gull is moving. A strike force¡ªlarge, coordinated. They¡¯ll be here in less than a day." The room fell silent. The laughter, the bickering¡ªall of it vanished. I rose to my feet, gripping Gwaine. Danielle hummed against my neck. "Mmm~ time for action? Good. I was getting bored." Iris pulled out her blades. Emilia¡¯s magic flared. Zephyr smirked. "Well, at least we have a fun warm-up coming." Raika cracked her knuckles. "Finally, a chance to kill something." Darius nodded, already preparing for battle. I exhaled. The Black Gull thought they could take us down? They had no idea what we had become. I smirked. "Let them come." Danielle’s Scandalous Ascension Chapter 58: Danielle¡¯s Scandalous Ascension
The Black Gull was fast. We barely had time to react before they were inside the stronghold. Shadows moved through the corridors¡ªcloaked assassins, Rift-powered warriors, and spellcasters whispering forbidden incantations. Darius barely lifted his shield before one of them lunged¡ªonly to stop mid-air, completely frozen. Their weapons clattered to the floor. Their bodies trembled. And then, I realized¡ª They weren¡¯t paralyzed by magic. They were staring at me. No. Not at me. At Danielle.
The Siren¡¯s Call Danielle purred, shifting slightly around my neck, her liquid-metal form glowing with deep, shimmering blue. Her voice dripped with sultry amusement. "Oh my, what handsome little intruders we have here~." The Black Gull assassins¡ªhardened killers, trained to resist all forms of manipulation¡ª Suddenly looked like lovesick fools. Their leader, a towering brute with an abyssal glaive, actually blushed. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. "W-We¡­ we came to k-kill you¡­?" Danielle laughed, and the sound was pure silk. "Oh, but darlings~ don¡¯t you want to serve me instead?~" The assassins dropped their weapons. Darius blinked. "What." Zephyr cackled. "Oh, this is hilarious." Iris looked horrified. "Tatsuya. WHAT DID YOU MAKE?!"
Danielle¡¯s Destructive Delight One of the spellcasters, completely entranced, fell to his knees. "We are yours, my lady." Danielle sighed dreamily. "Mmm~ such good boys." Then she turned into her liquid form, extending toward them¡ªand in a blink, she became a tidal wave of shimmering, crushing force. The Black Gull forces had just enough time to look betrayed before she drowned them in her embrace. A single second of muffled screams. Then¡ªsilence. When Danielle reformed, the assassins were gone. She licked her lips. "Mmm~ that was delicious." Everyone stared at me. I held up my hands. "I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS."
Danielle¡¯s Evolution
[DANIELLE HAS CONSUMED HIGH-LEVEL LIFE ENERGY.] [INITIATING EVOLUTION.]
Her form shimmered, her body morphing again. Her once sleek design grew¡­ curvier. Her liquid-metal form shifted, becoming smoother, more defined, more¡­ scandalous. She stretched, her now voluptuous silhouette shimmering with oceanic energy. Iris covered her eyes. "Oh my GOD, she got sexier?!" Zephyr nodded approvingly. "You love to see it." Danielle moaned as she settled into her new form, draping herself around me like a water-goddess reclining on a throne. "Oh, Master~ I feel divine." I buried my face in my hands. Darius grunted. "¡­I think we should all just go home." Raika shrugged. "This is home." Darius sighed. "Then I want to leave home." Iris stabbed the floor. "Tatsuya. You are NEVER allowed to dream again." And I? I just prayed the Black Gull never found out about this. Because if they did¡ª I was never living this down. The Siren’s Wrath & The Eclipse Embrace Chapter 58: The Siren¡¯s Wrath & The Eclipse Embrace
I needed to test Danielle¡¯s new abilities. Unfortunately, I had several problems.
  1. She was now dangerously powerful.
  2. She was even more dangerously flirty.
  3. She had somehow gotten even curvier.
But hey¡ªif she could kill Black Gull assassins with just her voice, I wasn¡¯t going to complain. At least, not too much.
Testing the Tidal Queen We moved to the training grounds, a ruined coliseum we had converted into a battlefield. Danielle dripped off my shoulders, forming into her humanoid shape, stretching with a lazy smirk. Her body gleamed, liquid silver mixed with deep blue, shifting between armor and flesh-like curves. Iris muttered. "She¡¯s literally built to be a distraction." Zephyr nodded. "A dangerous distraction." Danielle laughed, flicking her wrist¡ªand the air around us instantly grew humid. She raised a hand¡ªand a tidal surge of deep blue water formed behind her, swirling like an ocean¡¯s wrath given form.
[DANIELLE¡¯S NEW ABILITIES:] Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
She winked. "Mmm~ ready to get wet, Master?" I choked on air. Iris immediately pulled out her swords. "THAT¡¯S IT. I¡¯M KILLING HER."
Fusing Nyx & Danielle ¨C Eclipse Embrace Form Before Iris could commit murder, Nyx slithered from my shadow. She had been watching, intrigued. Her serpentine chainblade form shimmered, pulsing in sync with Danielle¡¯s flowing water. And then, the system flared.
[COMPATIBLE LIVING WEAPONS DETECTED.] [FUSION POSSIBILITY: ECLIPSE EMBRACE FORM.]
I barely had time to react before Nyx and Danielle melted into one another. Water and shadow merged, twisting into a shape that was beyond either of them. When the fusion settled, a new being stood before me. She was taller, her body a perfect balance of Nyx¡¯s abyssal curves and Danielle¡¯s aquatic sheen. Her eyes glowed¡ªone silver as the moon, the other deep sapphire. Her body shimmered between armor and bare skin, wrapped in liquid chains that danced around her frame. Her smile was sinful. "Oh, Master~," she purred, "We are so much more together." I was in serious trouble. Zephyr smirked. "Tatsuya, my man. You have ascended." Iris stormed away. "I CAN¡¯T DEAL WITH THIS." Raika just whistled. "You lucky bastard." And me? I just prayed that this fusion didn¡¯t kill me before the Black Gull got the chance. Eclipse Embrace Awakens – Dark Harem Master Unlocked Chapter 59: Eclipse Embrace Awakens ¨C Dark Harem Master Unlocked
The training grounds trembled. The air shifted, pulsing with abyssal energy as Eclipse Embrace came to life. Nyx and Danielle had merged into something beyond comprehension. And now, it was time to unleash it.
The Opponent: Abyssal War Golem Darius had prepared a test subject for us¡ªa massive, Rift-infused war golem, salvaged from one of our past battles. It stood twenty feet tall, covered in thick obsidian armor, its core pulsing with corrupted energy. Raika whistled. "That thing would take an entire battalion to bring down." Zephyr grinned. "Or just one overpowered pervert and his demon-waifu fusion." I ignored him. "Let¡¯s do this."
The Battle Begins The war golem charged, each step shaking the ground beneath us. But I wasn¡¯t alone. Eclipse Embrace flickered beside me¡ªboth shadow and water, her body shifting fluidly between solid and mist. Her voice whispered in my ear. "Let¡¯s dance, Master~." Then, she moved. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. One moment she was beside me¡ªthe next, she was everywhere.
Unleashing Eclipse Embrace
[NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: SIREN''S NIGHTFALL.]
The golem faltered, its massive frame thrashing blindly, unable to see. I raised my hand¡ªEclipse Embrace shifted into a twin-bladed glaive, her liquid edge dripping with abyssal venom.
[NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: VOIDFANG RIPTIDE.]
I lunged, my new weapon slicing clean through the golem¡¯s armor like it was paper. Black cracks spread across its surface¡ªits core energy unraveling. Danielle-Nyx moaned delightfully. "Mmm~ such a big, sturdy enemy¡­ it feels so good breaking it apart~." Iris gagged. "OH MY GOD." Zephyr wiped a tear of joy from his eye. "This is my favorite timeline."
The Final Strike & Level Up The golem stumbled, its defenses failing. I raised Eclipse Embrace, power surging through me.
[NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: ABYSSAL CONSUMMATION.]
I brought the blade down. A surge of shadowed water and abyssal force tore through the war golem¡¯s core, erasing it from existence. Then, the system flared.
[LEVEL UP: ABYSSAL SUMMONER ¨C LVL 7.] [NEW CLASS SUFFIX UNLOCKED: DARK HAREM MASTER.]
I froze. Iris dropped her sword. "Excuse me?!" Emilia turned bright red. "T-Tatsuya?! What¡ª?!" Raika wheezed. "Oh, this is priceless." Zephyr literally fell over laughing. "YES. YES! THE SYSTEM KNOWS. IT KNOWS!" Danielle-Nyx grinned. Then, she wrapped herself around me again and purred. "Mmm~ Master, it seems you¡¯ve finally accepted your true role~." I groaned. "I¡¯m never living this down." The Cursed Blessing of Dark Harem Master Chapter 60: The Cursed Blessing of Dark Harem Master
The moment the system announced my new title, I knew I was screwed.
[CLASS EVOLUTION: DARK HAREM MASTER.] [NEW ABILITIES UNLOCKED:]
I stared at the list. Iris stared at me. Emilia turned scarlet. Raika nearly fell over laughing. Zephyr wiped a tear from his eye. "Tatsuya, my dear friend¡­ the system has finally exposed you." Danielle-Nyx grinned and wrapped around me in liquid-metal form. "Ohhh, Master~ this means we need lots of¡­ intimate training." Iris grabbed a chair. "I SWEAR TO GOD¡ª"
Testing the Cursed Abilities Since the team refused to let me ignore it, we moved to the training field. Darius crossed his arms. "Alright, let¡¯s see what this absurd class can do." I sighed. "Fine." I focused and activated Abyssal Bond. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Immediately, Danielle-Nyx shivered against my skin, her voice breathless. "Mmm~ I feel so close to you right now, Master~." Iris looked ready to explode. Emilia covered her face. "Why is this happening?" Zephyr gave a thumbs up. "I approve." I groaned. "This is so dumb." But then¡ªI moved. And holy hell. My reflexes were insane. My reaction time cut in half. Every weapon movement felt natural, like I wasn¡¯t even thinking. Danielle-Nyx melted into my armor, merging with my strikes, her water-flowing chains amplifying each attack. I slashed¡ªand the air itself rippled. Raika whistled. "Okay, that¡¯s kinda badass." Darius grunted. "Still dumb, but effective."
The Unwanted Side Effects Then, the real problem happened. I accidentally triggered Forbidden Caress. Which meant every bonded weapon and summon¡­ felt it. Purn¡ªmy eldritch apex beast¡ªPURRED SO LOUD IT SHOOK THE BUILDING. Umbra, my shadow wolf, howled and shuddered like he¡¯d just evolved again. Even Gwaine, my battle axe, hummed with deep satisfaction. "Ohhh yeah, brother, that¡¯s the good stuff." Iris screamed in rage. "TATSUYA, CONTROL YOUR STUPID HAREM POWERS!" Zephyr was on the floor, laughing so hard he couldn¡¯t breathe. Danielle-Nyx wrapped tighter around me, trembling. "Mmm~ this class is the best." I dropped to my knees. "I hate my life." Raika grinned. "Nah, man. You won life." Emilia muttered. "I feel like this is an actual crime." Darius sighed. "I officially quit trying to understand you."
The Worst Part? As I sat there, trying to process my fate, the system pinged again.
[ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: KING OF MISFORTUNE.] [THE BLACK GULL HAS TAKEN NOTICE OF YOUR CHAOTIC POWER.]
My stomach dropped. Zephyr grinned. "Ohhh, they¡¯re gonna be so confused." Iris cracked her knuckles. "Good. Maybe they¡¯ll just kill him for us." Danielle-Nyx whispered in my ear. "Or maybe, Master~ you¡¯ll just add them to your collection~." I screamed internally. This was my curse now. And somehow, it was only going to get worse. The Black Gull’s Ritual & The System’s Omen Chapter 61: The Black Gull¡¯s Ritual & The System¡¯s Omen
Deep in the Black Gull¡¯s Stronghold¡­ The council chamber was filled with a suffocating darkness. Twelve figures stood in a circle, their robes woven from living shadows, their faces obscured by twisting masks. In the center of their gathering, a single name echoed through the abyssal void.
"Tatsuya."
A mirror of Rift energy hovered above them, displaying the recent battle. The fusion of Nyx and Danielle. The awakening of Purn. The Dark Harem Master title. The bizarre, unpredictable chaos he had unleashed. A low, guttural voice broke the silence. "This was not foreseen." Another figure spoke, their voice like a thousand whispers at once. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. "His power was meant to be controlled. Yet, it mutates. Evolves beyond our reach." A third figure, the eldest among them, stepped forward. **"Then we must act. If the Forge cannot be broken¡­ it must be unmade." They raised a pale, scarred hand toward the Rift mirror, and the entire room shuddered.
[INITIATING FORBIDDEN RITUAL: THE UNMAKING OF THE FORGE.] [WARNING: WORLD-LEVEL EVENT IMMINENT.]
A deep, terrible chant filled the air. A new power awakened. And somewhere far away, Tatsuya felt it.
System Alert: The End Approaches I was in the middle of suffering through another training session with Danielle when the world trembled. Then, the System flared.
[WARNING: A FORBIDDEN RITUAL HAS BEEN ACTIVATED.] [CATASTROPHIC EVENT PREDICTED IN 72 HOURS.]
I froze. Iris, sparring nearby, noticed my sudden tension. "What? What¡¯s wrong?" Emilia¡¯s magic flared. "Tatsuya, you just went pale." Then, the System gave me the final message.
[NEW QUEST UNLOCKED: STOP THE UNMAKING.] OBJECTIVE: Prevent the Black Gull¡¯s ritual before the world is permanently altered.
I exhaled slowly. Then turned to my team. "We have three days to stop the end of everything." Raika sighed. "Of course we do." Zephyr grinned. "Well, at least it¡¯s not boring." Danielle purred against my skin. "Mmm~ nothing gets the blood pumping like a little apocalypse." Iris cracked her knuckles. "Then let¡¯s get moving." Because if the Black Gull thought they could erase me from existence¡ª They were about to learn just how unbreakable I had become. The Trial of the Abyssal Crucible Chapter 62: The Trial of the Abyssal Crucible
The moment I accepted the quest, the ground beneath me shattered. A massive sigil burned into existence, warping with an energy I had never felt before. Then¡ª
[SUB-QUEST INITIATED: TRIAL OF THE ABYSSAL CRUCIBLE.] [YOU HAVE BEEN FORCIBLY TELEPORTED.]
I barely had time to curse before the world around me vanished.
Abyssal Crucible ¨C The Training Dungeon of Legends When my vision cleared, I was no longer in the stronghold. I stood in an endless void, filled with floating ruins and massive black chains stretching into the darkness. The air hummed with raw, oppressive power. The System¡¯s voice echoed in my mind.
"Only those prepared for the horrors beyond mortality may proceed." "Prove your worth¡­ or be erased."
Danielle shifted around my neck, tighter than usual. "Ohhh~ this place reeks of old magic, Master~." Nyx purred from the shadows. "I like it." Purn growled, his golden eyes gleaming. "Something¡­ ancient is watching us." Then, the first trial appeared. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Trial One: The Beast of Reflection A massive portal tore open, and from it stepped¡ª Me. Or rather, a distorted version of myself. Its body was covered in abyssal runes, its eyes pitch-black, filled with nothing but hunger. Then, it spoke in my own voice. "You cannot defeat what you refuse to accept." And then it attacked.
Fighting Myself ¨C And Losing I barely raised Eclipse Embrace before the dark version of me struck first. It moved faster, fought harder, and countered everything I did. Gwaine roared. "Brother, this thing¡¯s reading your damn mind!" Darius had once told me¡ªthe hardest enemy to fight is yourself. And he was right. Because this thing knew me. It dodged every strike before I even thought of making it. It countered with my own techniques, but faster, stronger, sharper. Within minutes, I was already on the defensive.
The Answer Lies in Change I dodged another strike, panting. I couldn¡¯t win like this. Then¡ªI understood. This wasn¡¯t just a fight. It was a lesson. I wasn¡¯t supposed to beat myself by being better at my own game. I had to evolve past it. I smirked. "Fine, then. Let¡¯s try something new."
[NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: DARK HAREM MASTER ¨C UNITY SUMMON.]
Danielle and Nyx shivered. "Ohhh, Master, you¡¯re making me feel tingly~." Then, the two of them merged into my armor. I felt their power surge through me, shifting my stance, changing my flow. The dark version of me hesitated. It hadn¡¯t seen this before. And that was all I needed. I struck¡ªfast, fluid, unpredictable. The reflection shattered. And I won.
The Dungeon¡¯s Warning The System flared again.
[TRIAL ONE COMPLETE.] [WARNING: THE FINAL MONSTER YOU WILL FACE¡­ IS BEYOND EVEN THIS.]
The ground shook. A new portal opened. And the next trial began. The Second Trial – The Path of Choice Chapter 63: The Second Trial ¨C The Path of Choice
The first trial had tested my ability to evolve beyond myself. The second? It was going to be worse.
The Trial Revealed The floating ruins shifted, forming a massive staircase leading into darkness. The System¡¯s voice echoed.
"Trial Two: The Path of Choice." "To move forward, one must understand the weight of sacrifice."
A doorway of shifting void appeared. And as I stepped through¡ª I found myself standing in a blackened arena. Three pedestals stood before me, each holding an ethereal relic. And then the System gave me my choices. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
The Three Choices
[OPTION ONE: THE SOUL-FORGED GAUNTLET]
[OPTION TWO: THE ABYSSAL CHRONICLE]
[OPTION THREE: THE WRAITHBLADE]
My breath hitched. Each of these rewards was incredible¡ªbut I could only choose one. And worse¡ª
[WARNING: ONCE A CHOICE IS MADE, THE OTHERS WILL BE DESTROYED.]
This wasn¡¯t just a reward system. It was a test. What mattered most to me?
The Decision I looked at my hands. The Soul-Forged Gauntlet meant power. The Abyssal Chronicle meant knowledge. The Wraithblade meant an unpredictable, lethal advantage. I exhaled. Then reached out¡ª And made my choice.
The Reward & Level Up The moment my fingers touched the relic, a pulse of power surged through me. The other two pedestals crumbled into dust. The System flared.
[TRIAL TWO COMPLETE.] [LEVEL UP: ABYSSAL SUMMONER ¨C LVL 8.] [NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: DEPENDENT ON CHOICE MADE.]
A new door appeared. And the final trial awaited. The Abyssal Chronicle – Secrets Unveiled Chapter 64: The Abyssal Chronicle ¨C Secrets Unveiled
I reached for the Abyssal Chronicle. The moment my fingers touched it, the book opened on its own, pages flipping rapidly. A wave of cold energy surged through me. The System flared.
[CHOICE MADE: THE ABYSSAL CHRONICLE.] [UNLOCKING LOST KNOWLEDGE¡­]
And then, my mind exploded with visions.
The Hidden Truths I saw the Rift before it ever tore into our world. A being¡ªno, a presence¡ªbeyond mortal comprehension. Not just a monster, but something far worse. A Primordial Entity. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. A thing that existed before time itself. And the Black Gull? They weren¡¯t just worshiping the abyss. They were trying to bring it back. The ritual they were performing wasn¡¯t just to stop me. It was to summon something that could consume existence itself. My vision snapped back. And the System gave me my new abilities.
The Chronicle¡¯s Gifts
[NEW ABILITIES UNLOCKED:]
1. Abyssal Insight: Allows me to see through illusions, detect hidden enemies, and read forbidden texts.
2. Eldritch Comprehension: I can now understand and communicate with beings from the Rift.
3. Forbidden Archive: Once per day, I can ask the Chronicle a question, and it will reveal a hidden truth.
4. Doomseer¡¯s Gaze: When activated, I can see glimpses of possible futures¡ªbut at a cost.
I staggered, the weight of this knowledge settling in. This wasn¡¯t just power. This was understanding. And now? I knew exactly what the Black Gull was trying to do. Iris stepped forward, concern in her eyes. "Tatsuya¡­ what did you see?" I exhaled. "The truth." And that truth? We were running out of time. The Final Trial – The Reforging of Fate Chapter 65: The Final Trial ¨C The Reforging of Fate
The final trial gate stood before me, pulsing with an eerie silver-black glow. The System¡¯s voice echoed through the void.
"Final Trial: The Crucible of Existence." "All that you are will be tested. What remains will be your true self."
I exhaled. "Let¡¯s finish this." Then, I stepped through.
The Final Trial ¨C Facing the Abyss The moment I entered, the world vanished. I was no longer in the dungeon. I was in a place outside of reality. The ground beneath me was a shifting mass of stars and void. And standing in front of me¡ª Was myself. Or rather, a version of me covered in chains, bound to countless weapons and beasts. It stared at me with golden abyssal eyes. Then, it spoke. Stolen story; please report. "You have too much." I frowned. "What?" It gestured to the chains. "You carry too many paths, too many burdens. If you wish to become something greater¡­ then break free." And then¡ªit attacked.
A Battle Against Myself ¨C And My Limits It wasn¡¯t just fighting an enemy. It was fighting everything I had become. Every class, every summon, every technique¡ªall at once. The weight of Void Summoner, Eldritch Beast Tamer, Living Blacksmith¡­ It was too much. I could feel my body slowing down, my mind overloaded. That¡¯s when I understood. I wasn¡¯t meant to fight this thing. I was meant to let go.
Reforging My Power I stopped dodging. Stopped attacking. And instead, I accepted it. The System flared.
[CLASS EVOLUTION INITIATED.] [MERGING ALL ACTIVE CLASSES INTO A SINGLE FORM.]
The chains around my other self snapped, dissolving into pure energy. That energy rushed into me, burning like celestial fire and abyssal void combined. I roared as my very existence rewrote itself.
[NEW CLASS CREATED: LIVING ABYSS FORGEMASTER.] [SPECIAL TRAIT: NOW CAPABLE OF OBTAINING ADDITIONAL CLASSES.]
I staggered forward, feeling lighter, faster, stronger. I wasn¡¯t split anymore. I was whole. And then, the final reward appeared.
The Ultimate Reward A single floating artifact materialized before me¡ªa glowing black cube filled with shifting runes. The System spoke one last time.
[FINAL REWARD: CORE OF LIMITLESS POTENTIAL.] [Allows user to create a custom class by fusing abilities from multiple sources.]
I grinned. This¡­ This was going to be fun. The Experimentation of Power – The Hidden Knowledge Seeker Chapter 66: The Experimentation of Power ¨C The Hidden Knowledge Seeker
The moment I left the final trial, I felt different. Not just stronger. Not just faster. But¡­ unshackled. My abilities weren¡¯t competing anymore. They were flowing¡ªseamlessly, effortlessly, like they had been meant to be one all along.
[LIVING ABYSS FORGEMASTER: PRIMARY CLASS ACTIVE.] [SPECIAL TRAIT: CUSTOM CLASS SLOT AVAILABLE.]
I stared at the Core of Limitless Potential, its runes shifting like whispers from the void. "A custom class, huh?" I had an idea. Something I had wanted since I first saw beyond the Rift. Something that would let me truly understand this world¡¯s secrets. I closed my eyes. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. And let the forge do its work.
Forging the Hidden Knowledge Seeker
[MERGING TRAITS FROM ABYSSAL CHRONICLE, VOID SUMMONER, AND ELDRITCH TUNING.] [NEW CLASS CREATED: HIDDEN KNOWLEDGE SEEKER.]
The moment the words appeared in my vision, my mind exploded with revelation. I saw things I wasn¡¯t meant to see. The true nature of the Rift. The Black Gull¡¯s deepest rituals. The whispers of beings beyond reality. My body shuddered, but I held on, embracing the flood of understanding. And then, the System gave me my new abilities.
Abilities of the Hidden Knowledge Seeker
1. Eyes of the Unseen: I can now perceive hidden forces, detect ancient runes, and see through illusions.
2. Archive of the Forgotten: I can recall lost knowledge, even that which was erased from history.
3. Abyssal Tuning: My senses are now in sync with the Rift, allowing me to decipher eldritch patterns and predict enemy movements.
4. Whispered Prophecy: By focusing, I can receive fragmented glimpses of the future.
I exhaled, feeling the weight of my new power. This¡­ This was dangerous. Because now? I didn¡¯t just fight monsters. I understood them. And that made me deadlier than ever.
The Next Step As the new power settled into me, I clenched my fist. The Black Gull thought they could summon something beyond comprehension. But now? I knew their secrets. I knew their plans. And I was about to tear their world apart. A Glimpse of Disaster Chapter 67: A Glimpse of Disaster
The moment my new class activated, something snapped in my vision. I wasn¡¯t in the training grounds anymore. I wasn¡¯t even in the real world. I was somewhere else. Somewhere¡­ terrifying.
[ABILITY TRIGGERED: WHISPERED PROPHECY.] [WARNING: IMMEDIATE FUTURE EVENT DETECTED.]
The Rift shook around me, and then¡ª I saw the end. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!
The Vision A massive black spire, reaching into a sky bleeding with abyssal corruption. An army of Riftspawn, unlike anything I had ever faced¡ªtwisting, evolving, merging. And at the center of it all¡­ A figure cloaked in shadow, standing atop a ritual altar, their hands raised toward the sky. The Black Gull¡¯s leader. And then¡ª Their voice. "The Forge has grown too strong." "We will rewrite him. Unmake him. Forge him anew in the Abyss." I felt a sudden, sharp pain in my chest¡ª Like something was tearing me apart from the inside. I collapsed to my knees, gasping¡ª And then, the vision ended.
Back in Reality I woke up to Emilia and Iris shaking me. "Tatsuya! Snap out of it!" My breath was ragged. My body felt cold. Darius stood over me, arms crossed. "What did you see?" I exhaled. Then, I forced myself to my feet. "The Black Gull is preparing to erase me." I clenched my fists. "And we only have a short time to stop them." Summoning the Forbidden One Chapter 68: Summoning the Forbidden One
I barely had time to process the vision before the System flared again.
[NEW QUEST UNLOCKED: THE FORGOTTEN CALL.] OBJECTIVE: Use your newfound knowledge to summon an ancient ally.]
I staggered, feeling the weight of the task settle over me. A hidden ally? One that had been sealed away from history itself? I didn¡¯t know who or what I was about to awaken. But I was damn sure it would change everything.
The Ritual of Calling The team gathered around me in the stronghold¡¯s central chamber, a place pulsing with old magic. Zephyr smirked. "Alright, Tatsuya, what eldritch bomb are you about to drop this time?" I ignored him, focusing on the Abyssal Chronicle, flipping through its shifting, spectral pages. Then, I found it. A summoning incantation. One so old and powerful that the moment I spoke the first word, the entire room trembled.
[FORBIDDEN SUMMONING: THE ENCHANTRESS OF THE VOID.] WARNING: THIS ENTITY WAS SEALED AWAY FOR A REASON.
Iris tensed. "Tatsuya¡­ maybe we should think about this¡ª" If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Too late. The void cracked open. And she appeared.
The Arrival of Lilith, Enchantress of the Abyss A rift of liquid darkness spread across the floor, swirling into an elegant, enticing form. She emerged slowly¡ªgraceful, poised, deadly. Her curves were draped in flowing black silks, shimmering like a galaxy trapped in fabric. Her eyes burned violet, filled with amusement and hunger. And her voice? It was pure, intoxicating seduction. "Oh, my¡­ what delicious little hands have unbound me?" Danielle hissed from my neck, shifting in irritation. "Tch. Another flirt?" Lilith¡¯s gaze locked onto me, a slow smile spreading across her lips. "And you¡­ You feel divine." Iris grabbed her sword. "Oh, HELL no." Raika smirked. "I think I like her." Zephyr laughed. "Tatsuya, my man, you are living the dream." Lilith took a step forward, trailing a finger along my chest, her touch sending a shiver through my soul. "Tell me, darling~" she whispered. "Did you summon me for power¡­ or pleasure?~" I gulped. "B-Both?" Iris threw a chair.
Lilith¡¯s Power & Pact As chaos unfolded behind me, the System flared again.
[NEW SUMMON CONTRACTED: LILITH, ENCHANTRESS OF THE VOID.] ABILITIES UNLOCKED:
I took a deep breath. This was going to be a problem. A sexy, powerful, reality-breaking problem. Lilith leaned in close, her voice a sultry purr. "So, my little summoner~ what shall we conquer first?" Iris growled. "Tatsuya. I am begging you. STOP SUMMONING HOT WOMEN." I sighed. Like that was ever going to happen. The Forbidden Bond – Lilith’s Unique Reaction Chapter 69(nice): The Forbidden Bond ¨C Lilith¡¯s Unique Reaction
The moment Lilith¡¯s contract sealed, something shifted. A deep, primal energy pulsed through me¡ªdifferent from my usual summons. Stronger. More¡­ intimate. And then, the System flared in panic.
[WARNING: DARK HAREM MASTER CLASS IS REACTING TO LILITH¡¯S EXISTENCE.] [UNAUTHORIZED CLASS INTERACTION DETECTED.] [OVERRIDING SYSTEM LIMITS¡­]
I staggered, my breath catching as a sudden connection snapped into place. Lilith, standing before me, arched a brow. Then¡ªshe gasped. Her entire body trembled, her eyes going wide as a surge of abyssal energy tethered us together. And then, she moaned. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Loudly. Long. Sultry. Iris immediately threw her sword at my head. "TATSUYA, WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST DO?!"
The Unique Bond ¨C A Pact Beyond Contracts Lilith shivered, her hands gripping her own arms as if trying to contain herself. "Mmm~ ohhh, my little summoner, you are¡­ delicious." I took a step back. "Uh¡ªwhat just happened?" The System pinged again.
[DARK HAREM MASTER HAS CREATED A UNIQUE BOND: QUEEN¡¯S CONSORT.] [LILITH IS NO LONGER JUST A SUMMON¡ªSHE IS A TRUE PARTNER, SHARING HER POWER DIRECTLY WITH THE USER.] [NEW PASSIVE UNLOCKED: ABYSSAL BRIDE.]
Iris looked like she was about to explode. Emilia was bright red, staring at the System message in horror. Raika was on the floor laughing. Zephyr wiped a tear from his eye. "This is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you." Lilith? She just grinned, her violet eyes smoldering. She took a single step forward¡ªand suddenly, I felt weak in the knees. "Oh, my dear summoner~ it seems you¡¯ve made yourself mine." I gulped. This was going to be a problem. A very sexy, very powerful, possibly world-ending problem. And somehow, I knew¡­ I wasn¡¯t getting out of this anytime soon. Returning to the Warpath Chapter 70: Returning to the Warpath
For all the chaos Lilith had caused, I didn¡¯t have time to deal with it. Because the Black Gull¡¯s ritual was still happening. And we had less than three days to stop it. I pushed my personal problems (and Lilith¡¯s¡­ overwhelming presence) aside and focused. "Alright, listen up. The Black Gull is trying to erase me from existence." Darius nodded, his expression grim. "And I assume they aren¡¯t doing it the easy way." I clenched my fists. "They¡¯re performing a ritual to rewrite me¡ªto strip away everything that makes me me and turn me into something else." Iris¡¯s eyes darkened. "Like hell we¡¯re letting that happen." Emilia nodded. "What do we do?" I exhaled. Then, using my new Hidden Knowledge Seeker class, I flipped through the Abyssal Chronicle, searching for clues. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. And that¡¯s when I found it.
The Ritual of Unmaking
[LOCATION IDENTIFIED: THE BLACK SPIRE, A FORGOTTEN MONOLITH LOST TO TIME.] [RITUAL REQUIREMENTS:]
I felt my stomach drop at the last one. They weren¡¯t just trying to erase me. They were going to use something personal to do it. Raika frowned. "What¡¯s the catalyst?" I tightened my grip on the book. "I don¡¯t know. But if we don¡¯t stop them, it won¡¯t matter." Zephyr cracked his knuckles. "Then let¡¯s burn their little magic tower to the ground."
The Road to Battle We prepared immediately. Weapons sharpened. Armor fortified. Summons ready. Purn paced beside me, his golden eyes glowing with anticipation. "This will be a hunt worth remembering." Umbra growled. "We need to be fast. They¡¯ve had too much time already." Lilith? She just smiled, stepping up beside me and trailing a finger along my arm. "Oh, darling~ I do love a good blood ritual¡­ but I¡¯d rather keep you exactly as you are." I ignored the goosebumps she sent down my spine and turned to the group. "We leave now. We hit them before they¡¯re ready." Darius nodded. "Then let¡¯s move." And with that, we set off¡ª Straight into the heart of the Black Gull¡¯s twisted domain. The Road to Ruin Chapter 70: The Road to Ruin
A storm churned over the horizon. Black clouds swirled above the desecrated land ahead, pulsing with abyssal energy. Even from miles away, I could feel it. The ritual was already underway. Time was running out. And if we didn¡¯t reach the Black Spire before it was complete¡ª I wouldn¡¯t be me anymore.
The Gathering Storm I stood at the edge of our stronghold, staring into the twisting wastes where the Black Gull had set their ritual. My team gathered behind me, tense, focused. "This is a trap," Darius said, voice like carved stone. "Of course it is," Zephyr grinned, twirling a dagger. "But that just makes it more fun." Iris tightened her grip on her swords. "We hit them fast. Hard. No hesitation." Raika cracked her knuckles. "If they wanna rewrite Tatsuya, they¡¯ll have to get through all of us first." Purn¡¯s golden eyes gleamed. "This is no mere hunt. This is war." This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Lilith purred, draping herself against my back. "Oh, darling, I do love it when you march toward destruction with such confidence~." I ignored her. Because I could feel the abyss pulling at me. The Black Gull wasn¡¯t just trying to erase me. They were trying to reshape me. Into something else. Something¡­ the abyss wanted. And I refused to let that happen. I clenched my fists, feeling the power of Living Abyss Forgemaster hum through my veins. "We¡¯re stopping this. Tonight."
Through the Riftlands The Black Spire loomed in the distance, jagged and unnatural against the bleeding sky. The land around it was wrong¡ªtwisted trees, shifting ground, shadows that moved when they shouldn¡¯t. The closer we got, the worse it felt. At some point, the wind stopped. Not slowed. Stopped. Like the world itself was holding its breath. Then¡ª A whisper. A voice, not from one place, but from all around us. "He is coming." I froze. Iris snapped her head toward me. "You heard that too?" Darius gritted his teeth. "They know we¡¯re here." I exhaled slowly, then pressed forward. "Let them know." Because I wasn¡¯t running. Not this time.
The Gates of the Black Spire We reached the base of the Spire, a fortress of obsidian stone and pulsing Rift energy. The entrance was sealed, a massive gate marked with abyssal runes, swirling and shifting like they were alive. Then¡ª It opened on its own. A single figure stepped out from the darkness. Tall. Cloaked in black, their face hidden by a golden mask etched with eldritch symbols. And when they spoke, their voice echoed like a chorus of the damned. "You are too late, Forge." The ground shook. The abyss stirred. And I realized¡ª The ritual had already begun. The Dawn of War Chapter 71: The Dawn of War
The Black Spire loomed above us, its jagged, unnatural form cracking against the bleeding sky. The air pulsed with eldritch energy, a thick, suffocating weight pressing down on my chest. Lightning forked across the heavens¡ªblack and violet, arcing toward the spire¡¯s peak, where the ritual was already in motion. I could feel it. The abyss pulling at me, threads of unseen power trying to unravel who I was. And beyond the open gates, they waited. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. A sea of Black Gull acolytes, their eyes glowing with voidlight, their bodies wrapped in shifting robes of living darkness. Weapons forged from the Rift itself gleamed in their hands. And standing at the forefront¡ª The gold-masked leader. Watching. Waiting. For us to step forward.
A War Without Mercy Darius planted his shield in the ground, his expression carved from stone. "This is it." Iris unsheathed her swords, fire blazing in her eyes. "We cut through them and end this ritual." Zephyr cracked his knuckles, lightning dancing across his fingertips. "I do love a dramatic entrance." Purn growled, his golden eyes locked onto the cultists. "They reek of corruption. Their hunt ends here." Lilith sighed, stretching lazily. "Oh, darling~ I do adore a good bloodbath." I exhaled, gripping Gwaine. "Then let¡¯s give them one." A single step forward. And the war began. Baptism in Blood Chapter 72: Baptism in Blood
The moment we stepped forward, the Black Gull attacked. No hesitation. No words. Just death. The first wave of cultists surged toward us¡ªfigures wrapped in abyssal robes, their weapons pulsating with Rift energy. They moved like shadows, flickering in and out of reality, their blades carving through the air faster than human eyes could track. But we weren¡¯t human anymore. We met them head-on.
The Clash Begins Darius tore through the front line, his shield shattering bones and sending enemies flying. Raika vanished into the darkness, her daggers flashing as throats were slit, bodies falling before they even realized she was there. Zephyr unleashed hell, lightning ripping through cultists, their bodies convulsing before they collapsed in smoldering heaps. Iris spun through the battlefield, her twin swords carving through robes, flesh, and bone alike. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. And then¡ª I moved.
The Abyss Unleashed I summoned Gwaine, the massive battle-axe roaring to life, its vines and thorns dripping with poison. A cultist lunged at me. I swung once. His body split in two. Another charged, a spear lunging for my heart. Nyx, still fused with Danielle, morphed into a rippling chain-blade, coiling around his neck before tearing his head clean off. Blood sprayed across the battlefield. But there was no time to stop. Because then, the second wave came. And this time, they weren¡¯t human.
The Riftspawn Arrive A howl erupted from the Spire¡¯s entrance as massive, mutated creatures emerged. Their bodies were twisted amalgamations of flesh and void, multiple limbs sprouting in unnatural places. Eyes blinked where there should be none. Mouths formed only to scream. And then they charged. Purn roared, his golden claws tearing through the first beast, its body rupturing in a spray of blackened ichor. Darius grunted as another slammed into him, his shield barely holding against its monstrous strength. Zephyr cursed. "I hate when they do this." Iris gritted her teeth. "Keep moving! We need to reach the ritual site!" I nodded¡ªthen threw myself back into the carnage.
A Bloody Path Forward Blades clashed. Screams filled the air. The ground was **soaked in blood¡ª**ours, theirs, the Riftspawn¡¯s. But we kept fighting. Kept killing. And slowly¡ªwe carved our way through. Toward the Spire. Toward the ritual that would end me. And toward the Black Gull¡¯s leader¡ªwho was still waiting. Watching. As if this was all exactly as they had planned. The Ritual’s Master – Battle Against the Black Gull Leader Chapter 73: The Ritual¡¯s Master ¨C Battle Against the Black Gull Leader
The battlefield behind me was a graveyard of bodies and Riftspawn, but there was no time to stop. The Black Spire loomed above, and at its base, the leader of the Black Gull waited. His golden mask reflected the crimson-streaked sky, his long robes dripping with abyssal energy. He raised a single hand, and the very air twisted around him.
"You have come far, Forge."
His voice wasn¡¯t just one. It was many¡ªlayered, distorted, as if countless voices were speaking at once. I tightened my grip on Gwaine. "I¡¯m ending this. Right here. Right now." The leader tilted his head. And laughed.
The Duel Begins He moved first. Not running. Not dashing. Just¡­ appearing. One moment he was yards away¡ªthe next, he was in front of me, a curved dagger plunging toward my throat. I barely had time to react. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Nyx snapped into place, parrying the strike as I twisted, slashing Gwaine upward. He vanished again, reappearing above me. A spear of pure void formed in his hands, crashing down¡ªbut before it could land, Lilith moved. Her chains whipped forward, intercepting his attack with an explosion of black fire. "Tsk tsk~," she purred. "No touching my summoner." The leader hissed, retreating back. But his mask remained¡­ amused.
"Good. Show me your worth."
And then he unleashed hell.
A Fight Against the Impossible The air split apart, rifts forming mid-space as hundreds of abyssal blades materialized, raining down on me from every angle. Purn tore through them, his golden energy fangs ripping apart the incoming storm. Darius slammed his shield into the ground, forming a barrier of pure willpower, deflecting the onslaught. Iris and Zephyr flanked from the sides, moving like lightning to strike at the leader¡ª But he was too fast. He warped through reality itself, stepping between dimensions as if the rules of space didn¡¯t apply to him. Then¡ªhe appeared right in front of me. His hand touched my chest. And suddenly, my entire body went numb.
The Unexpected Event ¨C A Fractured Reality I felt something tear inside me. Not flesh. Not bone. Something deeper. The System screamed.
[ERROR: UNKNOWN ENTITY ATTEMPTING TO OVERRIDE FORGE.] [WARNING: REALITY FRACTURING.]
I collapsed, gasping as my entire vision blurred. The battlefield faded. The Spire vanished. And suddenly¡ª I wasn¡¯t in the fight anymore. I was somewhere else. Standing in a world of nothingness. And in front of me¡­ A throne of void. A figure seated upon it. And when it opened its eyes, I knew¡ª This was the thing the Black Gull had been trying to summon. And somehow, it had just pulled me to it. The Death and Rebirth of the Forge Chapter 74: The Death and Rebirth of the Forge
I couldn¡¯t move. The world around me was pure nothingness, an endless abyss where time and space had no meaning. And before me¡ª A throne of void. A figure seated upon it. Its form was indescribable, shifting between a towering godlike presence and something impossibly vast, stretching beyond dimensions. And when it spoke, its voice wasn¡¯t sound. It was law.
"You were never meant to exist."
Then¡ªpain.
The Unmaking A force ripped through me, not physical, but conceptual. It didn¡¯t tear my flesh. It tore me. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. My titles. My class. My very existence. I felt everything unravel. My System¡ªgone. My body¡ªdisintegrating. The forge inside me¡ªcollapsing into dust. And for the first time since this all began¡ª I was truly, completely dead.
The Refusal to End But something remained. A single ember. Faint. Flickering. But unyielding. The forge may have broken. But fire¡ªfire never truly dies. And as I drifted in the void, my soul faced a choice. I could fade. Or I could reignite. Not as what I was. But as something new. Something pure. Something beyond the abyss.
[SYSTEM OVERRIDE: FORGE RECONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS.] [ABYSSAL TAINT CLEANSING¡­] [PURIFYING INTO ELDRITCH PURITY.]
I roared as the flames inside me exploded outward, consuming the abyss. I wouldn¡¯t be erased. I wouldn¡¯t be corrupted. I would be reborn. And when my body reformed, the void shuddered.
The Birth of the Eldritch Pure I opened my new eyes. No longer abyssal. No longer tainted. Now¡ªa deep, endless gold, burning with purity. The entity on the throne stared. For the first time, its voice held something other than certainty.
"Impossible."
I grinned. "I get that a lot." Then, I stepped forward. And the void itself bent before me. The Vessel Awakens – The Fall of the Black Gull’s Leader Chapter 75: The Vessel Awakens ¨C The Fall of the Black Gull¡¯s Leader
The void shattered around me. One moment, I stood before the eldritch throne. The next, I was back in the Black Spire. Back in the battle. My team was struggling. Darius was locked in a brutal melee, his shield cracked, his breath ragged. Iris fought like a storm of blades, but even she was slowing, exhaustion creeping in. Zephyr and Raika had pushed to the ritual site, but the enemy forces were too many. And the Black Gull¡¯s leader still stood¡ªuntouched, unbothered.
"You cannot stop the inevitable."
His abyssal energy swelled, forming a spear of pure oblivion. He raised it, preparing to end everything. Then¡ª I appeared behind him.
The Unstoppable Strike He barely had time to react before I drove my fist through his chest. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Not with abyssal power. Not with Rift energy. But with something purer. Something older. Golden light erupted from my hands, burning through his form like a collapsing star. His mask cracked. His voice, once so certain, now shook with fear.
"W-What¡­ have you¡­ become?!"
I leaned in, my voice calm, absolute. "Something you should¡¯ve never challenged." Then, I ripped my arm free¡ª And his body disintegrated.
The Ritual Ends ¨C The Vessel Awakens The moment the Black Gull¡¯s leader fell, the entire Spire shook. The cultists screamed, their connection to the abyss severed. The Rift energy that had threatened to rewrite me collapsed in on itself. But the power? It didn¡¯t vanish. It flowed into me. The System flared, not in warning¡ª But in acceptance.
[NEW CLASS ACQUIRED: VESSEL OF THE OLD ONES.] [You are no longer just a Summoner. You are a conduit. A being through which the Primordial Forces now speak.]
A wave of knowledge flooded my mind. The whispers of things beyond mortal comprehension. Not to control me. Not to consume me. But to serve me. I was no longer a pawn in the abyss. I was its master.
The Aftermath The battlefield fell silent. The cultists who hadn¡¯t fled were crushed beneath my gaze. My team stood, staring at me¡ªsome in awe, some in horror. Iris swallowed. "Tatsuya¡­ what are you now?" Lilith purred, stepping beside me. "Oh, my darling~ You are magnificent." I exhaled, feeling the raw power coursing through me. The Black Gull had tried to reshape me. Instead, I had transcended them. And now? I was going to rewrite the world in my own way. The Mask’s Final Curse Chapter 76: The Mask¡¯s Final Curse
Silence hung over the battlefield. The Black Gull¡¯s leader was dead. His body had crumbled into nothing, erased by my newfound power. And yet¡­ Something wasn¡¯t right. A low, wet squelching sound filled the air. I turned¡ª And saw his mask still intact, lying in the blood-soaked dirt. The golden surface twitched. Then, it breathed.
A Last-Ditch Horror
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The voice didn¡¯t come from any living throat. It came from the mask itself. Its golden surface split open, revealing a writhing mass of teeth, eyes, and shifting black tendrils. Then, with a sickening crack, it grew. Expanding. Mutating. Until it towered above us, a colossal, nightmarish fusion of the Black Gull leader¡¯s will and the abyssal entity he had served. A grotesque, shifting form, humanoid only in mockery, its body covered in golden masks, each one contorted into a different expression of agony. It had no single mouth¡ªit had thousands. It had no single voice¡ªit had an endless chorus. And all of them screamed.
"I WILL NOT BE ERASED."
The True Final Battle Begins The creature lunged, its mass of writhing limbs surging toward us. Darius raised his shield, bracing for impact. Iris and Zephyr moved to flank. Purn roared, his form growing larger, his golden light clashing against the abyssal corruption. Lilith¡¯s grin widened. "Oh, what a delightful encore~." I stood at the center, gripping my weapon. I wasn¡¯t the same Tatsuya I had been minutes ago. And this monster? It wasn¡¯t going to win. I raised my hand¡ª And unleashed hell. The Power of the Vessel Chapter 77: The Power of the Vessel
The monstrous mask-being lunged. A roiling mass of writhing limbs, endless mouths, and golden screaming faces, its abyssal power twisting the air around us. A month ago, I would have struggled. A week ago, I would have barely survived. But now? Now, I was something beyond it. And I wasn¡¯t just going to win. I was going to erase it.
The Power Unleashed I raised my hand, and the world shifted.
[Vessel of the Old Ones ¨C Authority Claimed.]
My voice rang with absolute will. "Kneel." The monster froze. Not by choice¡ªbut because reality itself bent to my command. The air around me rippled as my new power interacted with my living weapons. Gwaine laughed, his vines growing, coiling around my arms like battle-thorns. "Ohh, Brother, I can feel the power!" Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Nyx and Danielle merged into my armor, their forms flowing like shadowed silk over my skin, forming an eldritch battle-garb of shimmering abyssal steel. Lilith moaned in delight, shivering. "Ohhh, darling, this class makes you irresistible." Purn¡¯s golden energy flared, his body shifting into an even larger apex form, his golden fangs pulsing with my own aura. I clenched my fists. And then I moved.
The Effortless Erasure The mask-beast tried to scream, to lash out¡ª But it was too slow. I was already there. My living armor enhanced every movement, my weapons responding before I even thought. Gwaine twisted into a scythe, his edges pulsing with pure eldritch fire. Nyx extended, forming a chain-blade of liquid darkness. And I tore through the creature. Limbs severed. Masks shattered. Abyssal corruption consumed by my purified eldritch essence. The being shrieked, trying to reform. But I wouldn¡¯t let it. I raised my hand¡ª And spoke its doom.
"Begone."
A single word. And the creature ceased. No explosion. No final scream. It simply vanished, erased from existence.
The Aftermath Silence fell over the battlefield. The Black Spire crumbled. The remaining cultists fled, their will shattered. My team stood in stunned silence, staring at me like I had become something beyond comprehension. Iris swallowed. "That¡­ that wasn¡¯t a battle. That was a massacre." Darius crossed his arms. "That was godlike." Zephyr grinned. "I¡¯ve never been more terrified and impressed in my life." Lilith just laughed, draping herself against me. "Oh, darling, I approve of this evolution." I exhaled, feeling the power still humming in my veins. I had won. And I had become something even greater. And now? The world was about to fear me like never before.