He looked at the system interface. "Interference with my senses? Huh, let's see," he muttered, closing his eyes. Though this mortal body was weak, his senses as a Constellation were not.
"System, help me break out of this," he said firmly, extending his hand.
[Alright.]
As he slowly extended his hand, it was as if he were reaching out to grab the very air itself. The moment his fingers closed in, the world around him began to crack, faint fissures forming in the fabric of reality. The cracks spread quickly, glimmering like shards of shattered glass.
The next second, as he opened his eyes, everything was back to normal. The distorted illusion was gone, replaced by his true surroundings. The faint glow of the rune on the floor flickered before dimming entirely.
"That was easy," he thought, brushing his hands off.
"Now, time to see who it is," he muttered, turning toward the top of the staircase. His gaze sharpened, and he took a cautious step back for safety.
"Come out," he called.
There was a long pause, followed by the sound of deliberate footsteps descending the stairs. Slowly, a figure stepped into the light—a tall figure clad entirely in black. Not a single inch of skin was visible beneath the fitted costume. A hood obscured most of the figure's face, but piercing eyes glimmered faintly beneath the shadow.
Without a word, the figure lunged forward, the glint of a blade reflecting in the dim light. The strike was swift and aimed directly at his throat.
He instinctively twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the blade. He stepped back as the figure pressed forward, slashing in a flurry of strikes. Yet, to his surprise, he evaded every single one, his movements unnaturally precise. He ducked, sidestepped, and pivoted with ease, almost as if he were predicting the attacks before they happened.
"What the—" he muttered under his breath. His body felt... different. Faster, sharper, more reactive.
[Reflexes and sppeed has been significantly boosted becouse of the prana experncince.]
"ohh becous of that...?" he thought, briefly glancing at the system interface while dodging another slash. "but why i only now i am felling the effects?"
[Becouse you are in a situation where you could test the improvm3ents]
The figure growled in frustration, its strikes growing more erratic and forceful. He, however, found himself moving with a fluid grace he didn't know he possessed. Each swing of the blade missed its mark, cutting through air as he stayed one step ahead.
He smirked as he sidestepped another lunge, spinning around the figure and landing a hard kick to its back. The force sent the attacker stumbling forward.
"Is that all you've got?" he taunted, his confidence growing.
The figure turned to face him, silent as ever, but he could sense her frustration. She adjusted her stance, gripping the blade tighter before charging at him again.
This time, he didn't just dodge. He countered. As the blade came toward him, he caught her wrist with one hand, twisting it sharply. The weapon clattered to the ground. With his other hand, he delivered a swift punch to her chest, sending her crashing into the wall.
She slumped for a moment before slowly rising to her feet.
"That... felt soft... almost..." he muttered, then looked more closely at his attacker.
"Wait, you're a woman?" he said, the realization dawning on him. That explained the sensation when he struck her chest.
The woman, however, didn't respond. Instead of attacking again, she appeared troubled. Her stance faltered, and he noticed the subtle shift in her posture—she was preparing to retreat.
Before he could react, she suddenly threw something to the ground. A blinding light erupted, forcing him to shield his eyes.
When the light faded, he looked at the spot where she had been. It was empty.
"...Escaped," he muttered, shaking his head.
"For sure, there's something going on here. She clearly tried to manipulate my senses—or maybe even control me," he thought aloud.
[Yes. The illusion was quite strong. If someone normal had been in this place, they wouldn't have escaped. That illusion manipulates all seven senses of a person, rendering them completely vulnerable,] the system confirmed.
"Seven senses, huh?" he said, frowning. "Who even has that kind of power? And why target me?"
He crouched down, examining the ground where she had stood. There were faint marks, likely from her boots, but they didn't lead anywhere. It was as if she'd vanished into thin air.
"System, can you analyze her? Anything about her combat style, skills, or the illusion she used?"
[Analysis incomplete. The individual's abilities exceed the current scope of data. However, her illusions are advanced enough to require high levels of knowledge.]
"Great. So not just some random assassin," he muttered.
[Correct. It is highly likely she is someone from within this manor.]
He crossed his arms, deep in thought. "Maybe she wanted to control me to spy on Adrian."
He shook his head and exhaled sharply. "Hmph... I should return." With that thought, he began walking back toward the room where Adrian—or rather, Renaia—was staying. For now, he'd just stick to calling her Adrian. It felt less complicated.
He approached the door cautiously, his mind still replaying the encounter with the mysterious woman. As he pushed the door open and stepped inside, his gaze landed on Adrian sitting at a desk near the window, her back partially turned to him as she gazed at the view outside.
She turned her head slightly, her sharp eyes catching his. A faint smirk played on her lips. "Oh, you're back, angel," she said in a tone teasing.
"Did you find anything?" she asked, tilting her head slightly as her fingers traced the edge of the desk.
He nodded. "I didn't find anything significant," he said, then paused. "But I was attacked some minutes ago."
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Attacked?" she repeated, standing up from her chair and approaching him. "By who?"
"Not sure," he said, crossing his arms. "A woman, fully covered in black. She tried to use some kind of illusion on me, something meant to manipulate my senses—or maybe control me altogether."
Adrian's eyes narrowed as she studied him. "An illusion, you say? And you're sure it wasn't just a guard or some petty thief?"
He shook his head firmly. "No. Her skills were far beyond that. her illusions manipulate all seven senses. This wasn't random."
Adrian let out a soft hum, her fingers resting against her chin. "Interesting. Someone capable of using advanced illusions. That kind of power doesn't just show up out of nowhere, especially not in a place like this manor."
"Exactly my thought," he said. "It's possible she's working for someone here, trying to keep tabs on you."