Kain's grip tightened around the knife as the third and largest Ravager stormed toward him, each of its thunderous steps sending tremors through the shattered pavement. Its red eyes locked onto him, seething with fury, and its maw gaped open, revealing rows of jagged, bloodstained teeth. There was no hesitation in its movements now, no mindless hunger—it was a creature of pure rage, bent on tearing him apart.
His pulse quickened, but fear wasn't what gripped him now. No, what he felt instead was something much sharper, something more powerful—anticipation. That strange, primal instinct that had awakened in him during the last fight surged to life again.
He was ready. This fight wasn't just survival anymore. It was a test.
What are you made of, Kain?
He'd often asked himself that question in his old life - what was now his old life.
But in the present, he didn't have the luxury of pondering if he could win. He had to. There was nothing else for it.
He wasn't about to lose to trash like this.
The Ravager's roar echoed through the street as it closed in, raising one massive clawed hand and swinging it down in a wide arc, aiming to smash him into the concrete.
But Kain was already moving.
His body reacted faster than his mind, reflexes heightened by the System's enhancements. He dove to the side, rolling across the ground as the clawed hand slammed into the spot where he'd been standing, sending chunks of asphalt flying. As he came up to his feet, he barely had time to process the incoming swipe of the creature's other arm.
Void Step.
The command was instinctual now.
In the blink of an eye, he felt that familiar sensation of being pulled through the void—a brief moment of disorientation as reality bent around him—and then he reappeared behind the Ravager, the beast's massive swing missing him by a hair.
Kain grinned as the creature staggered, confused by his sudden disappearance. It whirled around, trying to locate its prey, but Kain wasn't interested in waiting for it to catch up.
"Void Slash!"
The knife in his hand pulsed with dark energy, crackling like lightning as he slashed at the Ravager's exposed back. The blade tore through its tough hide with a sickening rip, leaving behind a gash that oozed thick, black blood. The void energy spread through the wound, twisting and warping the creature's flesh, causing it to let out a shriek of pain.
The Ravager spun, faster than he expected, lashing out with its claws. Kain barely managed to duck in time, feeling the rush of wind as the claws sliced the air above his head.
I've got to be smarter about this one, he thought, backing up a few steps. This Ravager was bigger, faster, and definitely stronger than the first two. If he didn't keep his head in the game, it would turn him into a stain on the pavement.
He risked a quick glance at his cooldown timers.
Void Slash: 5 seconds.
Void Step: 25 seconds.
His most powerful skills weren't available yet. He'd need to stall for time. But that didn't mean he couldn't still fight.
The Ravager charged again, its eyes burning with hatred. Kain waited, knife poised, until the very last second—then he sidestepped the creature's reckless charge, spinning around as it barreled past him. He slashed at its leg, aiming for the tendons. The void-empowered blade sliced deep, sending a burst of energy through the creature's limb, and it let out another roar of pain, stumbling as its leg buckled.
Kain pressed the attack. He ducked low, slipping beneath the Ravager's swiping claws, and drove his blade into its side, aiming for the ribs. Another surge of void energy rippled through the beast's body, and the wound sizzled with dark lightning.
Void Slash ready.
Kain's eyes lit up. He had his chance.
"Void Slash!"
The knife flared to life in his hand once more, dark energy swirling around the blade. With a quick step forward, he drove the empowered strike straight into the creature's chest, aiming for its heart. The blade sank in deep, and the void energy exploded outward, tearing through flesh and bone alike. The Ravager let out a final, earth-shaking roar before collapsing to the ground, twitching as the energy consumed it from within.
Kain stumbled back, breathing hard. His heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins. The massive beast lay at his feet, its body disintegrating into black ash as the void energy continued to work its destructive magic.
Lesser Ravager eliminated. 150 XP gained.
Another notification popped into his vision. He swiped it away, his breath ragged but steadying. 150 XP. More than the others. This one had been a tougher fight.
And now he was stronger.
Level Up!
A rush of energy flooded his body as the words appeared. He felt a surge of vitality, strength, and clarity, as if every fiber of his being had been sharpened and honed. His muscles ached less, his senses were keener, and the knife in his hand felt lighter, more responsive. He glanced at his stats screen.
Level 2 Achieved.
Stat Points Available: 5
He scanned his stats: Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Endurance, Wisdom. Each stat represented a key aspect of his abilities. He had a few seconds to think about it, but even as he caught his breath, he knew exactly where to allocate them. He needed speed, agility, and endurance right now. These weren't enemies he could outmuscle, not yet.
Stat Allocation:
+3 Dexterity
+2 Endurance
The changes were immediate. His body felt lighter, his movements smoother, and the burning in his lungs from exertion faded slightly. He glanced at the ash pile that had once been the Ravager and allowed himself a small smile. Not bad for his first real test.
But there was no time to celebrate. The sounds of chaos still echoed from nearby streets. More of those monsters could be anywhere. He had to keep moving.
Quest Complete: Defend the Survivors
Reward: 200 XP, Basic Armor
A flash of light appeared in front of him, and when it cleared, a simple set of black armor lay on the ground. It wasn't much—a chestplate, some armguards, and leg coverings—but it was better than the clothes on his back. He quickly equipped the armor, feeling the weight settle comfortably over his body. The System seemed to know what he needed and provided just that.
He checked his surroundings, the eerie quiet of the shattered city creeping back in. There were no more immediate threats, but Kain knew better than to let his guard down. The monsters had come out of nowhere, and there was no telling how many more might be lurking nearby. And then there was the bigger question—the one that gnawed at the back of his mind.
What the hell just happened to the world?
The System had given him powers, classes, quests—but none of it made sense. Earth wasn't supposed to have monsters, or leveling, or skills. The sky above him, with its strange, swirling vortex of color, was still warping and twisting like the fabric of reality had torn apart.
He needed answers. Fast.
And maybe, just maybe, there were others out there like him.
Kain started moving, heading in the direction of the larger city center. He had to find people, other survivors, and figure out what was going on. The monsters—those Ravagers—had been a test, but there had to be more coming. Bigger threats. Stronger enemies.
The kind that would require more than just a knife and a few basic skills.
As Kain made his way down the deserted streets, the once-familiar city now looked like a war zone. Buildings were collapsed, vehicles overturned, and debris littered the ground. The silence was eerie—no voices, no sounds of life, just the distant crackling of fires and the occasional rumble from far-off explosions.
It felt like the world had fallen apart overnight.
Every few minutes, he'd see more of the strange cracks in the air—dimensional rifts that flickered and pulsed, almost like wounds in the fabric of reality. The longer he stared at them, the more they seemed to ripple, as though something was watching from the other side. It was unnerving, but there was nothing he could do about it now.
His steps quickened as he neared a familiar block, a section of the city he knew well. If anyone was left, they'd be here. He just hoped that—
A scream tore through the air.
Kain's body tensed, his instincts kicking in. It was coming from somewhere nearby—around the corner, maybe two blocks down. Without thinking, he sprinted toward the sound.
As he rounded the corner, his eyes locked onto the source of the scream.
A young woman, no older than her mid-twenties, was backed into an alleyway. In front of her, two more Ravagers—slightly smaller than the ones he'd just fought, but no less dangerous—were stalking forward, their eyes glowing with predatory hunger.
Kain didn't hesitate. He wasn't about to let anyone else die.
"Hey!" he shouted, drawing the attention of the monsters.
Both Ravagers turned, their snarls echoing through the alley as they spotted him. The woman looked up, her eyes wide with fear, but there was a flicker of hope when she saw him. She didn't waste time asking questions—she just bolted, taking the opportunity to escape while the creatures' attention was on Kain.
Good, he thought. Now it's just you and me.
He readied his knife, the dark energy already swirling faintly around the blade. Two Ravagers. Both of them focused on him. His cooldowns were almost ready, and he had a few more tricks up his sleeve now.
"Let's see what you've got," he muttered, stepping forward.
The first Ravager lunged at him, claws slashing through the air. Kain ducked under the strike, rolling to the side as the second one charged in from the opposite direction. He dodged the attack, spinning around and driving his knife into the first Ravager's flank.
"Void Slash!"
The blade crackled with dark energy as it sliced through the creature's side, leaving a trail of black lightning in its wake. The Ravager howled in pain, stumbling back as void energy spread through its body, twisting and warping its flesh.
Kain didn't stop. He dashed forward, aiming for the second Ravager, but the creature was faster than he anticipated. It swiped at him with its massive claws, and though he managed to block the first strike, the second one caught him in the chest, sending him skidding across the pavement.
Pain exploded in his ribs, but the armor had absorbed most of the blow. Kain grimaced, pushing himself to his feet as the two Ravagers regrouped, snarling and ready for round two.
His cooldown timers flashed.
Void Step ready.
A grin spread across his face.
"Void Step!"
In an instant, the world around him blurred, and he reappeared behind the second Ravager. Before it could react, he drove his knife into its back, the blade pulsing with energy as he twisted it deeper.
"Void Slash!"
The empowered strike tore through the creature's spine, and the void energy exploded outward, consuming the Ravager from the inside. The beast let out a final roar before collapsing to the ground, its body disintegrating into ash.
Kain spun around, just in time to see the first Ravager charging at him again. He sidestepped the attack, his movements faster, smoother than before. Every fight seemed to sharpen his instincts, push his reflexes to new heights.
This time, he was ready.
As the Ravager lunged again, Kain met its charge head-on. He ducked low, avoiding its claws, and drove his knife upward into its chest.
"Void Slash!"
The blade sank deep, and the familiar surge of energy followed, tearing through the Ravager's body. It staggered back, roaring in agony, but Kain didn't give it a chance to recover. He struck again, and again, each blow empowered by the void, until the creature finally collapsed into a pile of ash.
Lesser Ravager eliminated. 100 XP gained.
The screen flashed in his vision, and Kain let out a breath, wiping the sweat from his brow. He felt the familiar rush of satisfaction as the System tallied his experience points.
Two more down.
He glanced around the alley, making sure there weren't any more threats. The woman he'd saved was long gone—hopefully safe. He'd have to catch up to her later, see if there were more survivors nearby.
But for now, he had another priority.
Kain's stats screen flashed in his vision, and a grin tugged at the corners of his lips.
Level 3 Achieved.
Stat Points Available: 5
He glanced at the options, considering his choices carefully. He was getting faster, more agile, but he'd need more strength soon. These fights were only going to get tougher. And there was something else—something deeper that he could feel. His connection to the void energy. It was growing stronger with every battle, every kill.
Stat Allocation:
+2 Strength
+2 Dexterity
+1 Intelligence
The changes washed over him, subtle but noticeable. His muscles felt stronger, his movements even more fluid, and his mind sharper, more attuned to the strange energy pulsing around him.
He took a deep breath, adjusting the armor on his chest.
There was still a long road ahead. But with each fight, each level, he was getting closer to mastering the power inside him.
And whatever the Shattered Realm threw at him next... he'd be ready.