The forest was too quiet.
No wind. No rustling. Only the sound of our boots pressing against the damp earth as we made our way back from the mission. Lyra walked beside me, humming softly, while Arden trailed a few steps behind, whistling off tune like always. Amara was the only one scanning the shadows. Her staff glowed faintly, light blue symbols pulsing along its shaft.
Something was off.
I could feel it in my chest—an invisible weight pressing down on me. My system interface flickered in my mind, static and distortion warping the edges.
[Warning: Unknown presence detected.]
My eyes narrowed. "Stay sharp," I whispered.
Lyra stopped mid-step. "You feel it too, don't you?"
Before I could answer, the forest erupted.
A streak of black shot from the treeline—too fast for the eye to follow. Arden barely managed to pull his daggers up when a burst of mana slammed into him, sending him crashing into a nearby rock. The air rippled with killing intent.
Five figures in black cloaks emerged from the shadows, their faces masked, movements precise—professional assassins.
"Looks like we're not getting a quiet walk home," I muttered, unsheathing my sword.
The tallest of them stepped forward. His voice was smooth but cold. "Kael of the Celestial Lineage… you've exceeded expectations. The High Council doesn't like anomalies."
"Then they can come tell me that themselves," I snapped.
He chuckled darkly. "I'm afraid you'll be too dead to hear it."
Before I could move, he was already gone—vanished from sight. The next instant, I felt a sharp pressure at my back. Instinct screamed.
[Skill Activated: Reflection]
My sword swung backward on its own as if pulled by another will. Metal clashed with metal, sparks exploding into the air. I twisted, parried, and spun low, my blade cutting through the cloak's edge. The assassin leapt back, his mask splitting slightly to reveal a glimpse of grey eyes glowing with hate.
"Fast…" he hissed.
"I'm just getting started."
The others moved at once. Spells flared, runes igniting midair. Lyra darted left, weaving wind barriers around us, while Amara's staff blazed with silver light. She slammed the tip into the ground.
[Divine Seal: Lunar Bind!]
Blue chains shot from the soil, wrapping around two assassins before they could react. Their magic faltered as Amara's seal drained their mana.
"Arden!" I shouted.
From behind, Arden burst from the shadows, his daggers glowing crimson. He crossed them in a deadly arc, slicing through the restrained assassins. They dropped instantly, their bodies evaporating into black mist.
"That's two," Arden grinned, wiping blood from his cheek.
But the leader wasn't impressed. His mana surged, a heavy aura pressing over the clearing like a storm cloud. Even the air trembled.
> [Analysis Failed. Target Level: Unknown.]
"System can't read him…" I muttered. "That's new."
He raised a hand, and the ground beneath us cracked open. Shadowy tendrils snaked up, grabbing at my legs, trying to pull me under. I swung my sword, but the shadows kept reforming.
[Skill Activated: Elemental Shift — Light Mode]
Golden light flared across my blade. One sweep, and the tendrils disintegrated, leaving the air sizzling.
The leader tilted his head. "Interesting. You carry divine essence, yet you are human. What are you, Kael?"
"I could ask you the same thing."
"Your end."
He vanished again. This time, I didn't track his movement—I felt it. The ripple of mana behind me, the whisper of air—then steel met steel. The shockwave sent both of us flying backward.
I landed hard, my hand throbbing from the force. He was strong—no, not just strong. He moved like someone who had fought gods before.
[Skill Suggestion: Activate Reflection—Copy Target Ability?]
"Yes," I hissed. "Do it."
Light flashed across my eyes.
> [Reflection: Ability Copied — Shadow Step.]
I blurred out of sight just as his next attack came. The world slowed, colors warping into streaks of motion. I reappeared behind him, swinging upward. He turned, parrying by instinct—but my blade grazed his mask, tearing it clean off.
Underneath, his face was human. Or close to it. His skin was pale, almost translucent, his eyes swirling with darkness.
"You…" I breathed. "You're not mortal."
"I was," he said quietly, "before I ascended."
That word—ascended—hit something deep inside me. The same word the system had whispered long ago when I'd first awakened.
He raised both hands, black fire forming into twin daggers. "Let's see if you deserve to live among gods."
His speed tripled. Every strike he made was precise, deadly. I countered with pure instinct—deflect, twist, dodge, strike. Each blow lit the air with sparks, our movements a blur of steel and light. My heart pounded like thunder.
Then his blade sank into my shoulder.
Pain tore through me. I fell back, breath sharp. The world dimmed for a second.
[Critical Damage Detected. Auto-Heal Initiating.]
Warmth spread through my veins. The wound sealed within seconds. His eyes widened.
"What are you…?" he whispered.
"Something your gods forgot to destroy."
Rage flared in his gaze. "Then I'll finish what they couldn't."
He lunged. But I was already moving.
[Skill Activated: Skill Domination]
A red sigil appeared on my palm. His mana froze midair. The fire daggers dissolved instantly.
"What—what did you—?"
"I told you," I said, stepping closer, voice low, "I don't copy skills. I own them."
I thrust my palm forward, and his own spell turned against him. Black fire roared back, consuming his cloak and body in one massive eruption. The explosion shattered the trees, sending waves of heat across the clearing.
When the smoke cleared, he was on one knee, barely breathing.
"Impossible…" he coughed, blood trailing down his chin. "No mortal should wield domination…"
I lifted my sword, the reflection of the flames dancing across the blade. "Guess I'm not mortal anymore."
I brought it down. The strike was clean, merciful. His body turned into ash before hitting the ground.
Silence fell.
The forest began to move again—the wind returning, birds chirping faintly as if nothing had happened. My sword dimmed, sliding back into its sheath.
Lyra approached, wiping dirt from her cheek. "You good?"
"Yeah," I said, flexing my arm. "Just another day of being hunted."
Arden kicked one of the burned cloaks. "Who the hell sends assassins like this? They moved like divine-class soldiers."
Amara looked grim. "Their mana signature… it wasn't human. It felt ancient."
I glanced down at the spot where the leader had fallen. Something shimmered in the ashes—a glowing crystal orb. I picked it up, and the system immediately reacted.
New Item Acquired: Shadow Core (Divine Rank)]
[Warning: This item contains sealed divine essence.]
Divine essence again. My pulse quickened. Whoever these people were, they weren't just random attackers. This was bigger—much bigger.
"Kael," Lyra said softly, "what do we do now?"
I looked toward the horizon, where the sun was sinking behind the trees. "We find out who sent them."
"And then?" Arden asked.
"Then," I said, clenching the orb in my hand, "we make them regret it.