[Dark Knight]
〘The path focuses on body tempering, maximizing the full use of void energy. Increases all attributes, enhances senses, and unlocks the true power of the tribal tattoo. +15 Strength, +15 Speed, +15 Stamina.〙
〘Side effects: This path grants the host the title 'Enemy of the Void.' A clear target will be placed on your back, and your goals will be set by your own purpose.〙
(A skill will be granted)
[Void Being]
〘This path focuses on agility and the perfection of void energy usage. The host's power system will mirror that of a void creature. All senses will be heightened, and you will no longer possess the tribal tattoo. +20 Strength, +5 Speed, +5 Stamina.〙
〘Side effects: This path grants the host the title 'Enemy of Humanity.' The host's goal will be to eradicate humanity and side with the void creatures—or face death.〙
[Doga]
〘This path focuses on stamina amplification and the body structure of a tank. It grants the host reduced use of void energy in exchange for robustness and high defense. +20 Stamina, +5 Strength, +5 Speed.〙
〘Side effects: Difficulty in movement. The host's speed will drastically decrease due to transformation.〙
Damon was overwhelmed as his eyes gleamed with both dilemma and satisfaction. Initially, he hadn't thought much about what the system meant by choosing a path. He had simply figured it was a power system or something else—nothing even close to this.
The revelation from the system brightened his heart, and the urge for power filled him with determination as he shivered with excitement.
'Oh, my. This is just amazing; each of these paths is quite enticing,' Damon thought, fighting the urge to rush his decision. 'My greatest dilemma now is choosing the right one.'
The Dark Knight path immediately seized his attention. He was unclear on what body tempering entailed, but the attribute increases and void energy mastery intrigued him.
The side effects of this path seemed more manageable compared to the others. Being an enemy of void creatures was preferable to being an enemy of humanity. For one, he was mostly human.
Also, although he despised humanity, he would rather use them before destroying them.
Becoming a Void Being would make all of humanity his enemy, and while the Dark Knight path also made void creatures his enemies, that wouldn't be much of an issue since they were already enemies of humanity.
'Besides, I'm already an enemy of humanity for using void energy, so I'll rule out Void Being,' Damon decided. 'That leaves Doga and Dark Knight.'
Doga might be advantageous in battles, with enough stamina to last longer in a fight, allowing him to stand his ground or survive. However, focusing on increasing a single attribute was risky. An enemy could easily find a weakness to exploit.
Furthermore, the idea of his movement decreasing, even if he were built like a tank with solidified defense, didn't sit well with him. The thought of becoming an easy prey because of his slow speed was unsettling.
'I guess Doga is out; there's too much risk. That means Dark Knight earns the spot. Part of the reason I even considered it was because of the skill involved,' Damon thought.
❰The path of the Dark Knight has been successfully acquired.❱
[New skill received:]
[Theft]
[Theft enables the user to rob others of their abilities, one ability at a time, with a duration of 1 hour.]
'What about the path I chose? Nothing's happening,' Damon thought, confused. However, the next notification shed some light on the situation.
[Synchronization to the path "Dark Knight" will take 10 hours.]
"Well, then I think I should get some sleep and check back tomorrow," Damon said. Lately, he had noticed that sleeping had become difficult for some reason.
He wasn't sure whether it was because he had gotten the Grimoire or because of the natural environment the void had plunged humanity into, but something felt different.
Nevertheless, Damon went to bed immediately, and the warm embrace of slumber covered him. Today's events had made him exhausted.
Fighting with mega rats and Brooks without any real rest— a normal human would have succumbed to death by now.
But thanks to his strong will and the system of the Grimoire that gave him powers to match Curseweavers, he lived to tell the tale.
...
A large number of individuals stood at the border that divided the Red District, the darkest part of the slums, from the Blue District.
Terrified people said the Blue District always distanced itself from this area because of the dangers that lurked in the shadows.
However, today, instead of pure horror, there was a mix of anticipation and liberation.
The fact that today they would leave the confinement of the slums brought peace.
The results of dwelling in the slums were visible in their skinny and fragile bodies, displaying only bones coursed by malnutrition and unhealthy spoiled foods.
People from the Eastern area occupied the place, which implied that only a few people were told.
At the edge of the border, a group of four stood firm, assessing the situation with keen eyes.
"What the heck have you been feeding this guy, Kenny? He's twice the size of when I initially saw him, and that was yesterday," Michael said, surprised and confused.
"Are those oversized rats that beneficial?"
"It's not that. I think he ascended his level, which might have prompted the body changes. It might be a Negator thing; I don't know," Kenny replied.
Although he had second thoughts about this, he wasn't an expert, and nature worked in strange ways.
Damon stood there quietly. He himself was shocked when he saw his appearance in a shattered piece of glass at the store when he woke up.
The shock gripped him completely, to the degree that his legs lost motion and foothold, making him plummet to the ground.
Kenny, who had heard Damon's surprised cry, rushed in and was also stunned by Damon's appearance.
[Congratulations, you have successfully synced to your path, Dark Knight.]
〘Status〙
[Title: Dark Knight]
[User: Damon Blackwood]
[Race: Human (Tinted Blood)]
[Unique Skill: Cursed Tattoo]
〖Attributes〗
Level 5 [300/500 exp]
Health: 50/50 (Increased by 40)
VE: [200/200%] (Increased by 100)
[Strength: 27]
[Speed: 27]
[Stamina: 27]
❰Skills❱
〘Unlocked Skill: Theft〙
〘Unlocked Skill: Devourer〙
〘Unlocked Skill: Craft〙
'Kekeke, I see great changes,' Damon thought, his face shifting from shock to amazement.
***