As Raven floated effortlessly inside his vast Mind World, the familiar landscape of forests, mountains, and skies surrounded him. A whole year had passed since he began his intensive training, and the results were remarkable. He smirked to himself, feeling the immense strength coursing through his body. Every ability he possessed had reached A-rank or above, and he couldlofeel his power steadily growing with each passing day.
Suddenly, a system notification appeared before him, interrupting his thoughts.
---
[System Notification: From now on, due to the evolution of your Appraisal ability, your stats will be displayed with ranks rather than numbers.]
---
Raven raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the new change. "Ranks, huh?" he muttered to himself. "Let's see what I've become."
A familiar screen materialized before him, listing his current abilities and stats in greater detail. This time, however, there were no numbers—just ranks indicating his newfound strength.
---
[Raven's Current Status]
Physical Strength: B-rank
Endurance: B-rank
Intelligence: A-rank
Wisdom: B-rank
Spirit: B-rank(soul and mind related stat)
Mana Capacity: A-rank
---
[Abilities]
Appraisal: A-rank (Evolved)
Stealth: SS-rank (Evolved through system ability)
Wind Manipulation: A-rank (Evolved)
Regeneration: S-rank
Pain Endurance: A-rank (Evolved)
Mind Realm: A-rank (Evolved)
---
As Raven examined the screen, a sense of satisfaction filled him. His hard work had paid off, and he was now far stronger than he had been just a year ago. Each of his abilities had evolved or grown stronger, and now that even his stats were displayed with ranks, he felt a new sense of clarity about his progress.
Raven stood in the vast expanse of his Mind World, the breeze swirling around him, reflecting the mastery he had gained over his Wind Manipulation. A full year had passed since his last random evolution, and every one of his abilities was now at A-rank or higher. His strategy had worked—he had maximized the potential for the system's yearly upgrade, ensuring any chosen skill would propel him to new heights.
As he floated, contemplating his progress, the familiar chime of the system rang out, signaling the moment he had been waiting for.
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[System Notification: Yearly random evolution has begun. Selecting a random ability for evolution... Evolution rank between 1 and 3 will be applied.]
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Raven's heart quickened as he anticipated which ability would be boosted this time. He had pushed all his skills to A-rank or higher, hoping for another powerful leap forward.
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[System Notification: Selected ability for evolution—Stealth. Evolution rank: +2]
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Raven's eyes widened slightly. Stealth? Again? His Stealth ability, already at SS-rank, had just received another two-rank boost.
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[System Notification: Stealth has evolved to EX-rank.]
---
A rush of power surged through Raven. EX-rank. This was a level of mastery far beyond anything he had imagined. His Stealth had now ascended to a point where his presence could be nearly erased from existence itself.
The Mind World around him seemed to shift, reacting to the sheer intensity of his newfound power. Even standing still, Raven felt as though the world around him struggled to perceive his presence. He was more than hidden—he was invisible in every sense of the existence.
A huge smirk formed on his lips. "I've become... untouchable."
He could hardly fathom the implications of his new ability. With EX-rank Stealth, there would be few beings in existence capable of detecting him. He could vanish from reality itself, only to reappear when he chose, completely undetected.
Raven clenched his fists, the surge of power filling him with a new sense of invincibility. This level of stealth was no longer just about blending into shadows—it was the ability to disappear entirely from the world.
"With this..." he mused. "No one will ever see me coming."
His path forward had become clearer than ever. With the power to go unnoticed, even in the most dangerous of situations, he had become a true predator of the shadows. Raven knew that no one could match him now in the art of stealth, and he intended to use this advantage wisely.
Satisfied with the evolution, Raven closed his eyes, preparing to leave the Mind World.
"Exit Mind World."
In a flash, Raven found himself back in his room. The familiar setting grounded him once more in reality, but the knowledge of his new abilities stayed fresh in his mind. With EX-rank Stealth, he could go anywhere, remain unseen, and strike without warning.
As he stood in his room, Raven's mind wandered for a moment, and a mischievous grin formed on his face. The temptation to test his newfound stealth abilities on unsuspecting people crept in. He could easily observe anyone without them ever knowing—eavesdrop on conversations, or even sneak into places he had no business being in.
But almost as quickly as the thought came, he shook his head and dismissed it.
"I shouldn't breach others' privacy," Raven muttered to himself, regaining his composure.
Raven stood in his room, the echoes of his newfound power still fresh in his mind. The EX-rank Stealth had brought him confidence he hadn't felt before—confidence that he could walk through even the most dangerous places undetected. And there was one place he had been curious about for a while: the battlefield.
The escalating war in the north had been drawing attention from all corners of the kingdom. Soldiers and adventurers were being sent daily, but few returned with tales of victory. The conflict had reached a point where only the strongest could survive. But with his recent power boost, Raven was no longer just a passive observer of the world. He could be a ghost on the battlefield, watching, learning, and perhaps even intervening where necessary.
The thought of witnessing the chaos firsthand excited him. He could see the strategies unfold, the strengths and weaknesses of both sides, and more importantly, gather valuable information for the future.
Raven moved toward the window, gazing out at the distant horizon. Althea had been out for work for at least a month, handling matters Raven didn't concern himself with. This gave him the perfect opportunity. Without her watchful eyes on him, he could disappear for a few days, go to the battlefield, and return before anyone noticed.
"I'll just have to tell the maids not to disturb me," Raven mused. "And no one will suspect a thing."
He knew how the household worked. The maids were accustomed to his routines, and he could easily make it seem like he was deep in his studies or training. As long as no one checked on him, he had all the time he needed.
With a plan forming, Raven began preparing for his trip. He packed light—just the bare essentials in case something unexpected happened. His true advantage would be his stealth and speed, not equipment. Once he was ready, he moved downstairs, calling the head maid.
"I'll be occupied for the next few days," he informed her casually. "Please make sure I'm not disturbed during that time. No one is to enter my room."
The head maid bowed obediently. "Of course, young master. We'll make sure your privacy is respected."
Raven nodded, satisfied. He didn't have much to worry about. Althea wasn't around to question his sudden disappearance, and the maids were more than compliant with his requests. Everything was set.
Back in his room, Raven stood before the mirror, tightening his cloak around him. The thought of the battlefield, the chaos, the clashing of swords, and the dark mana that often surrounded such places, filled his mind. He was no longer just a passive observer of the world. He was becoming a force that could change the outcome of events without anyone even knowing he was there.
With his heart racing in anticipation, he activated his Stealth ability, feeling the familiar rush as the world seemed to fade around him. His presence vanished from the physical realm, leaving behind only the faintest whisper of wind as he moved.
"I'm ready," he muttered to himself.
Raven stepped out of his room and into the shadows, beginning his journey toward the battlefield with a newfound confidence. He had no doubt that, with his stealth at EX-rank, he could walk among both armies, unseen, learning their secrets, and witnessing the tides of war firsthand.
As the mansion grew smaller behind him, Raven's thoughts shifted to what he might encounter. The war had been escalating, and with it, greater dangers likely awaited him. But that only made the mission more thrilling.
"Let's see what this war is really about," he thought, as he disappeared into the wilderness, the city fading behind him.