The night air thickened, heavy with tension. The remains of the once-grand mansion lay in ruins, walls shattered and scattered like broken teeth across the garden. The moonlight cast pale silver beams through the drifting mist, illuminating two figures standing amidst the destruction.
Aron's chest rose and fell steadily, his violet eyes gleaming with something primal. His twin Shen Blades dripped with the blood of the countless enemies he had slain earlier. Opposite him stood Duke Akresman, towering and imposing, his black armor etched with glowing crimson runes. The ground beneath their feet trembled just from the weight of his presence.
Aron tilted his head slightly, a calm, almost amused expression playing on his lips. Then, silently, in the privacy of his mind, he whispered:
'Add 50 undisturbed stat points to each of my stats.'
Immediately, a faint ding echoed in his head as the system screen materialized before his eyes, translucent yet sharp.
[ Updated Status ]
[ Name: Aron #$#@{Unknown} ]
[ LVL: 16 ] [ EXP: 5320 / 500,000 ]
[Titles:
The Unbroken
Effect 1: Mental strength and will remain unbroken.
Effect 2: ???
Effect 3: ???
Effect 4: ???
Cosmic $#@#$#
Limited Effect: +10 stats bonus with every kill.
To use Cosmic $#@#$# in full potential, the Host must become stronger.]
[ Stats:
STR: 65 → 139 (+24 +50)
AGL: 62 → 136 (+24 +50)
VIT: 79 → 153 (+24 +50)
STM: 60 → 134 (+24 +50)
INT: 144 (+24 +50)
LCK: 94 (+24 +50)]
[ Undisturbed Stat Points Remaining: 395 (695 - 300) ]
[System Shop: [Current SP – 60SP (19 + 41)]
[Inventory]
[Skills:
{Dagger Wielding (Advanced): Progress 92% → 100% (Accelerated Growth active)}
→ Upgraded to Master Level!
Stealth Movement (Intermediate): Progress 79%
Quickstep (Intermediate): Progress 75%
Evasion Mastery (Passive): Active]
[ Equipment:Shen Blades – Twin Daggers (Lvl. 7)]
[ Effects:
[Twin Harmony] – Attack speed +15%, enhanced precision when dual wielding.
[Double Strike Enchantment] – Each strike deals 2× base damage.
[Accelerated Growth] – Triple skill growth for dagger techniques.
[Predator's Instinct] – Gain +5 AGL for 10 seconds after each kill.
[Blood Resonance] – Restores 1% stamina per kill and slowly repairs durability. ]
[ Special Item:
Axenol – The Cube of '???'
Uses: Unknown
Warning: Host is too weak to access this item's true power.]
As the window faded, Aron's lips curled into a small, almost imperceptible smirk. He felt it—the raw, overwhelming power flooding his veins. His muscles thrummed with strength, his senses sharpened to razor precision. Even the very air seemed slower, as if the world itself struggled to keep up with him.
Akresman's sharp eyes narrowed. He hadn't heard the words, but he felt the sudden spike of energy radiating from Aron. It was like staring into the heart of a storm—chaotic, violent, and unrelenting.
He couldn't afford hesitation.
With a guttural roar, Akresman surged forward, his armored fist a blur of motion as it shot straight toward Aron's chest.
Aron's Shen Blades met the strike midair.
BOOOOOOOM!
The collision was cataclysmic.
The shockwave ripped through the courtyard like a wrathful god's breath, hurling debris and shattered stone outward. Nearby trees were uprooted entirely, their roots twisting skyward as the very earth cracked and split beneath the sheer force.
Far away, deep in the capital, old men in ornate robes paused mid-conversation, their eyes snapping open.
"That energy…" one of them hissed, trembling slightly.
Another narrowed his gaze, sensing the disturbance. "It's coming from the east sector. Send scouts immediately."
Back to the Fight
The clash was pure chaos, a storm of motion and violence. Aron weaved between Akresman's crushing punches, his twin blades carving shallow lines across the Duke's armor. Sparks flew with every strike, mingling with the crimson glow of Akresman's runes.
Each of Akresman's blows was a miniature earthquake. When his fist struck the ground, entire chunks of stone were pulverized to dust. When he punched the air, it created a sonic boom that tore through the mist.
Clang! Bang! Shhhhk!
Aron moved like water, fluid and relentless, but Akresman's raw power forced him back step by step.
Akresman snarled between strikes. "You fight well… but this is pointless!"
His voice was like rolling thunder, his punches growing faster and heavier.
Aron laughed—a wild, unrestrained sound. "Pointless? No. This is fun!"
With a sharp pivot, he vanished from sight using Quickstep, reappearing at Akresman's flank with both daggers raised high.
His blades descended in a devastating cross slash.
CRASH!
The impact sent Akresman skidding back several meters, leaving deep trenches in the earth.
Aron's grin widened. 'Hmmm… let's fight his way.'
In a fluid motion, he dismissed his Shen Blades into his inventory. His now-empty hands curled into fists, knuckles cracking.
Akresman's eyes widened at the sudden shift. "You're going to face me barehanded?"
"Not barehanded," Aron corrected, lowering his stance. "Just better."
Then he struck.
The punch was so fast Akresman barely saw it. His instincts screamed danger, and he twisted aside at the last possible moment.
The blow continued past him… and obliterated the entire left wing of the mansion.
Stone, timber, and centuries-old pillars simply ceased to exist, vaporized by the sheer force.
KRRAAAAAASH!
Akresman stumbled back, genuine shock etched across his normally stoic features.
"What… what are you?!"
Aron straightened slowly, rolling his shoulders with a casual shrug. His voice was calm, almost conversational, but his violet eyes glimmered with cold amusement.
"So, Soldier of Nigoshin…" he began, the title falling from his lips like a curse, "why don't you show your real form and fight? That would be quite the entertainment… right?"
The words hit Akresman like a physical blow. His pupils dilated, darting left and right as if searching for hidden watchers. His breath quickened, and for a moment, the mighty Duke looked… afraid.
"How—" His voice cracked slightly before he caught himself.
"I don't know who you are, why you killed my guards, or how you know that name," he growled, his hands clenching into trembling fists. "But I will kill you. Here. Now."
Aron tilted his head, smiling faintly. "Oh, so there's some fight left in you. Good."
Akresman closed his eyes, exhaling slowly. When he opened them again, the crimson runes on his armor flared like molten lava.
"Release… Protocol Nigoshin."
The world shifted.
The crimson glow spread rapidly, consuming his armor piece by piece until it seemed to melt and fuse with his skin. His body expanded, bones cracking audibly as his muscles swelled to grotesque proportions. His mouth opened in a silent scream as jagged fangs pushed past his lips, while blackened horns erupted from his skull.
The mist around them recoiled violently as if terrified of what now stood in its midst.
When the transformation completed, Akresman no longer looked human. His skin was pitch-black and covered in pulsating crimson veins. His hands had become claws, each tipped with talons sharp enough to cleave stone. A long, barbed tail lashed behind him like a whip.
Even his voice changed, deepening into a guttural, bestial growl.
"...You should never have forced me to reveal this form."
Aron's expression didn't waver. If anything, his grin widened, a predator recognizing a challenge worthy of his attention.
"Finally," he murmured, flexing his fingers as his aura flared violet around him.
"This is going to be fun."
Akresman vanished, reappearing directly in front of Aron in a burst of speed far greater than before. His clawed hand swiped in a horizontal arc, aiming to decapitate.
Aron ducked under the blow, his fist snapping upward in a brutal uppercut.
BOOM!
The punch connected with Akresman's jaw, sending shockwaves through his body. But instead of falling, Akresman's monstrous form absorbed the blow, his tail whipping around to slam into Aron's side.
CRACK!
Aron skidded across the ground, flipping midair to land gracefully. He spat blood, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Good hit," he admitted, violet eyes blazing. "My turn."
He surged forward, fists blurring into a relentless barrage. Akresman met him blow for blow, their clash so fast and violent that the air itself screamed.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Each strike cratered the earth, shattered stone, and sent shockwaves rolling outward like tidal waves. Entire trees were reduced to splinters, and what remained of the mansion crumbled further with each exchange.
As they fought, Aron's grin slowly faded, replaced by a cold, calculating expression. He wasn't just fighting now—he was measuring. Testing. Learning.
Akresman, despite his monstrous form, was starting to falter. His breathing grew ragged, and his movements lost their initial sharpness.
But then… a sudden pulse of energy rippled outward from Akresman's chest, nearly knocking Aron back.
"What now?" Aron muttered, narrowing his eyes.
Akresman's crimson veins began to glow brighter, his tail thrashing wildly. His voice came out in a low, rumbling growl.
"You think you've seen my full strength?"
He bared his fangs in a terrifying smile. "You've seen nothing."
Aron exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders. His voice was quiet but cutting, carrying through the chaos.
"Good," he said, violet flames flickering around his fists. "Then show me."
The final clash began, their figures blurring into a storm of motion. Each blow was faster, heavier, more destructive than the last. The ground beneath them shattered completely, turning the garden into a vast crater.
Above them, the moon was hidden by swirling storm clouds drawn to the overwhelming energies clashing below.
And then—
A final, deafening BOOM! echoed, followed by silence.
When the dust cleared, only one figure was standing.
But before the victor could move, a third presence made itself known. A slow, mocking clap echoed from the shadows, and a voice like silk and poison slithered through the air.
"Well, well," the newcomer drawled. "Looks like I arrived just in time."
Aron's eyes narrowed, his muscles tensing.
Akresman's monstrous form froze, trembling slightly.
The battle was far from over.
_ _ _
To be continued…