The vast hall buzzed with the soft murmur of spectators and flickering lights as screens displayed the tutorials in progress. Teachers, students, and even a few curious bystanders watched intently. Principal Simon Mordy, a figure of stoic authority with sharp eyes that missed nothing, stood alongside five class teachers. The attention centered on Sophia Silver, the top student, who had already claimed eighteen points by killing three level-one creatures in the Nightmare difficulty. She was a fluid storm of elegance and power, dispatching her enemies with precise magic-infused swordplay. Her efficiency did not go unnoticed.
"Impressive," murmured Mr. Caldwell, Sophia's instructor. "She's working through them almost as if they're mere practice dummies."
Ms. Hartford, Arlen's homeroom teacher, smiled approvingly. "With the skill she's showing, it's no surprise. Arlen, too, is moving swiftly."
However, amidst the praise for their stars, the screens began shifting, drawing a collective gasp as a new scene took center stage. Max Miller, the unexpected choice for the Hell tutorial, had claimed 100 points after defeating a single level 10 monster. Mr. Caldwell's jaw tightened, his gaze intense.
"Is that… correct?" Ms. Hartford's voice betrayed both astonishment and disbelief. "That score. And in Hell?"
All eyes were fixed on Max's screen, where he was surrounded by a field of lush grass, a stark contrast to the intense feral monster he had just defeated. Whispers spread among the teachers, some astonished, others skeptical.
"How did a level-one student defeat a level ten?" another teacher whispered.
Principal Mordy simply observed, saying nothing, but his eyes never left Max's display.
Max's POV:
Max crouched low, his fingers brushing against the cool earth as he scanned the terrain. The tutorial's prairie sprawled around him, filled with tall grasses and rustling sounds. After catching his breath from his previous battle, he took a moment to focus on the essence of his Abyssal Dominion system.
Bones of various small creatures—rats, birds—littered the ground, remnants of earlier battles and victims. He quickly gathered a handful, examining each one, and pieced them into a rough dagger. It wasn't elegant, but it was sharp enough to serve as a weapon. He chuckled darkly, realizing how ironic it was that he, a supposed Shadowrune, was already resigning himself to close combat.
A feral snarl echoed through the field. In a flash, he spun around to face his next opponent—a wiry, slithering creature with razor-sharp claws and a low, predatory growl. A level-six predator, judging by its formidable build.
Gripping his makeshift dagger, Max charged forward, his heart pounding. The creature pounced, and he sidestepped, driving the dagger into its exposed side. The blade struck true, and a burst of red essence flowed into him as he absorbed its essence through Soul Usurpation. Strength surged through his veins, leaving him momentarily breathless.
The Screen Room:
In the observation hall, Max's score ticked up again, pulling more onlookers as his level rose to 5. "He's gaining ground quickly," Mr. Caldwell commented, his tone unreadable. "It's almost as if… he's getting stronger after each fight."
"Is this what they call, a true Genius!??"
"What does his class entail exactly?" Ms. Hartford asked, curious and intrigued.
Principal Mordy's gaze lingered on the screen. "The class is called Shadowrune, but it's connected to an unknown myth. It's already diverging from anything we've seen."
Max's POV:
As Max continued through the fields, his surroundings grew eerier. Each movement, each breath felt attuned to the presence of creatures nearby. As if sensing him, a pack of shadowy, wolf-like creatures bounded from the foliage. Their fur crackled with electric energy, filling the air with a charged hum.
He gazed at the field ahead, eyes sharp as he readied himself for whatever lay in wait. The open prairie, deceptively calm, held an ominous quiet. Max knew this was just the beginning. His Abyssal Breathing Technique heightened his senses and gave him a slight boost, allowing him to maintain his readiness in this high-stakes environment.
Moving forward, he encountered clusters of creatures lurking in the tall grass. The first to cross his path was a giant horned beetle, its mandibles clicking menacingly as it charged. Max dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the beetle's razor-sharp legs. Without missing a beat, he activated Bone Manipulation to reshape his dagger into a short spear, perfect for piercing through the beetle's thick armor. His hands tightened around his weapon, and with precision and force, he drove the spear into the beetle's softer underbelly, killing it instantly.
[You have defeated a Level 5 Horned Beetle. Experience +25]
The screen in the monitoring room updated to reflect Max's score, with teachers observing every movement in stunned silence.
As he continued, the challenges escalated. A cluster of snarling feral hounds—sleek, black-furred predators with razor-sharp claws and fangs—emerged from the grass. They were fast, their movements a blur. He could barely follow them with his eyes, his senses heightened to the maximum.
Using Bone Manipulation, he adapted his weapon again, this time adding a sharpened edge to both ends of the spear, creating a makeshift glaive. As the hounds lunged, he spun, using the reach of his weapon to hold them at bay. One by one, they fell, his precise strikes meeting their vitals. Each kill brought another surge of experience, his level inching higher.
[You have defeated 5 Level 6 Feral Hounds. Experience +75]
The students watching the screens gasped, realizing how he'd managed to earn such a high score so quickly. Max was using every aspect of his skill set to dominate creatures that should've overwhelmed him.
Finally, after several encounters, Max took a moment to assess his progress. Each kill brought a boost to his stats as he absorbed the essence of his foes through Soul Usurpation. The increases were small but consistent, slowly stacking his strength, agility, and stamina beyond the typical limits for his level.
A feral grin spread across Max's face. "Perfect," he muttered. Raising his dagger, he met the pack's charge with lethal precision. One swipe, one dodge, and each kill added to his strength. His movements grew fluid, instinctive, his skills evolving to match each threat. With each successful strike, his understanding deepened. He mentally filed away each new trick—target the softer underbelly, exploit their elemental weaknesses—and he began to make short work of his attackers.
After his third wolf kill, a notification flashed:
You have Leveled up!
You are now Level 6.
As the last wolf fell, he noticed a glowing wisp of red essence flowing toward him. He allowed it to fill him, each breath thick with energy. A sudden jolt made him clench his fist.
Congratulations! You have acquired a new skill: Lightning Charge.
[Lightning Charge: Creates an electric field around the user, dealing electrostatic damage to nearby foes. Duration: 10 seconds. Cost: 1Mana]
Max grinned, testing out the skill by sending crackles of electricity down his arm. Though it was a low-grade skill, it promised valuable utility in his fights. The wolves hadn't been difficult alone, but they would swarm fast if given the chance. He needed every edge he could get.
Crafting His Arsenal
Max knelt over the wolf carcasses, carefully removing bones from the remains. His fingers moved skillfully, shaping each piece with Bone Manipulation.
He crafted a medium sized arm long sword, careful to balance it perfectly in his hand. He then condensed the bone as much as possible giving it a bullet like shape, then used created a slot in the middle of the sword, creating a sword-gun hybrid. After adding bone bullets into the sword, and infusing it with a his Lightning Charge skill, he had created a lightning powered bone gun.
The sword of his gave him an additional stat of 2 Strength, 1 Agility.
He then also saw all his bone skills had leveled up again.
He ventured further into the dungeon, approaching the ominous presence of the floor boss. The tension was palpable. Standing atop a rocky ledge was a massive winged creature, its feathers swirling with controlled gusts of wind.
A notification popped up:
[Floor Boss: Tempest Roc. Level 15.]
The birdlike creature was unlike anything Max had encountered, with piercing golden eyes that surveyed him with a haughty indifference. He crouched low, analyzing his options, then darted forward, aiming his sword. The Roc released a piercing screech, summoning powerful gusts that sent him tumbling backward. Each strike he attempted was repelled by a shield of air.
Max took a deep breath, formulating his strategy. He darted to the side, timing his movements as he used Bone Manipulation to shift his bones slightly, effectively "lifting" him for a brief moment—a makeshift levitation that would sap his mana rapidly. Each second demanded focus and drained his resources.
But he was undeterred.
Gathering his strength, he waited for an opening, then launched his bone bullet infused with Lightning Charge directly at the Roc's wing. The projectile struck true, sending a jolt through the creature and grounding it momentarily. Enraged, it flew at Max, talons extended, striking him with enough force to reduce his HP to 5.
Desperation fueled him, he dodged left, summoning every ounce of strength as he drove his sword deep into the Roc's chest, releasing a final surge of lightning through his bone-crafted weapon. The Roc's screech cut off abruptly, its wings collapsing as it hit the ground.
Breathing hard, Max stood victorious over the creature, his vision swimming with exhaustion and the rush of achievement. A message appeared, signaling his level-up:
You have Leveled up!
You are now Level 9.
He jumped for Level 6 to 9
After the Soul Usurpation, he gained stats and a new skill
[You have gained a new skill: Wind Barrier.]
[Wind Barrier: Creates a reflective shield of air around the user, reflecting attacks.]
He was more powerful than he'd ever imagined.
Max took a moment to review his status screen, and his progress was brilliant.
On the leaderboard outside, the teachers stared, awestruck, as Max's score skyrocketed once more. He had cleared 50 monsters, including a level 15 floor boss, and amassed a score that eclipsed his peers:
Max Miller: 20,000 points
Sophia Silver: 4,000 points
Arlen Grace: 1,760 points
The juniors watching in awe saw Max's strength with disbelief and envy, while the teachers were speechless.