The first rays of dawn bathed the old man's manor in a soft, golden glow. Eva and the old man stood frozen at the entrance, their eyes locked on the figure approaching from the forest.
Their jaws dropped.
"He's... he's alive," Eva stammered, her voice filled with disbelief and awe. Never in her life had she felt this level of shock.
The old man, on the other hand, allowed a slow, triumphant smirk to spread across his weathered face.
"My instincts weren't wrong after all," he said, his voice steady and proud. "He's the one."
Eva squinted, studying Dera as he drew closer.
"Wait... is it just me, or has he... changed?" she asked, her cheeks tinged with a soft blush she quickly tried to hide.
She couldn't deny it—he looked taller, his frame broader and more muscular. His messy hair framed his sharp features, which seemed more defined, almost regal.
The old man didn't reply immediately. His focus was fixed on Dera's Aura, now radiating off him in waves. It wasn't wild or erratic like before—it was condensed, controlled, and incredibly potent.
"Not just that," the old man finally said, his voice low with awe. "He's much stronger than when he entered the Black Forest. His entire energy has transformed."
Eva looked at the old man, then back at Dera, unable to process the drastic change.
The old man's expression darkened slightly,
'There's no doubt about it—he's awakened his Observation Aura. But... what in the hell did he endure in that cursed forest to evolve this much?' the old man thought, his expression grave yet curious.
From a distance, Dera caught sight of Eva waving at him, her smile wide and genuine. He managed a small wave back, though his arm felt like it weighed a ton.
"I guess… she's glad to see me," he muttered under his breath. But as the words left his mouth, his vision began to blur, his legs wobbling beneath him. His eyelids felt heavy, and the world around him seemed to tilt. The toll of evolution, relentless battles, and the ceaseless run through the deadly forest was finally catching up with him.
Suddenly, his legs gave out.
Dera stumbled, his body tilting forward, seconds away from collapsing to the ground.
In an instant, the old man moved. His speed was so swift it seemed as though he'd teleported, catching Dera just before he hit the ground.
"It's alright, kid," the old man said softly, his gruff tone laced with an unexpected warmth. He hoisted Dera up with ease, cradling the unconscious boy in his arms.
"You've done well. You can rest now."
Dera's only response was a loud snore, his body finally succumbing to the exhaustion.
"Tsk... brat," the old man muttered, smirking as he lifted Dera with ease.
The next morning, Dera woke on an unbelievably comfortable mattress. His head resting on something soft—unusually soft and warm.
"You're awake!" a familiar voice exclaimed, and as his eyes adjusted, he found Eva's face directly above his, her gaze locked onto his.
Dera blinked a few times, confusion giving way to realization. His head had been resting on her lap this entire time. No wonder it felt so soft and comforting. Wait—what?!
"Oh, Eva! It's… it's you," he stammered, jolting upright so quickly that he nearly lost his balance, now sitting up awkwardly on the bed.
Eva raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by his flustered reaction. "What, not comfortable anymore?" she teased.
Dera scratched the back of his head, avoiding her gaze. "Uh… it was, uh… fine, thanks. I just… didn't realize…"
"Relax," she said, laughing lightly. "You were out cold. Someone had to keep an eye on you."
"Well… thanks, I guess," he mumbled, still trying to shake off the embarrassment.
Eva chuckled softly, though her tone shifted as her expression grew serious.
"I can't believe you survived that cursed forest," Eva said, pausing for a moment. "I mean, I'm happy you did, but... how? I saw slashes on your clothes—ones that looked like they came from sword strikes—and tears from arrows. But there's not a single wound on you."
Her voice was laced with curiosity, her questioning eyes bore into him, searching for answers.
Dera froze, his mind scrambling for an explanation. He tried to conjure the perfect lie, but the cursed Commandment would detect it and betray him. Left with no other option, he said nothing, his silence only deepening Eva's curiosity.
{Hmm… still breathing, I see. For a moment there, I thought you'd finally kicked the bucket.}
The mocking, emotionless voice of Shadow echoed in his mind, dripping with condescension.
"Damn bastard!" Dera snapped aloud, his patience snapping. "Can't you at least pretend to be happy that I'm still alive?!"
"What was that you said?" Eva's brows furrowed as she stared at him.
"It's... it's just this subconscious shadow venom bastard voice that keeps echoing in my head, driving me crazy..." he trailed off, realizing his mistake too late.
{Phewww...}
Shadow's infuriating whistle rang through his mind like a taunt.
"What did you just say?" Eva asked again, her tone turning serious as she studied him closely.
Dera blinked, realizing his slip. His heart pounded in his chest as panic began to claw at him.
'Damn it. Damn it! This stupid Commandment! What now? Are they going to think I'm a Venom and try to kill me?' His thoughts raced, his mind frantically searching for a way out of the mess he had just created.
"You... you have a voice in your head? That sounds cute," Eva said, smiling brightly.
Dera's jaw nearly hit the floor. 'Did she just completely miss the part where I mentioned shadow venom?' he thought, utterly dumbfounded.
Also, the idea of Shadow being described as "cute" was enough to make Dera's brain feel like it was disintegrating into a million pieces.
"Tell me, tell me, what's it saying right now?" Eva asked eagerly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as she leaned closer to him, practically glowing with excitement.
Dera hesitated, unsure how to respond. "Umm…" he muttered, curious yet terrified to know what Shadow would actually say.
{This b*tch is ugly. Dera, you could do better.}
Dera choked, his stomach twisting in horror. He nearly gagged at the thought of repeating those words.
There was no universe where he could repeat that out loud and still be alive by the end of the day.
He pressed his hand to his forehead, mortified, his gaze dropping to the floor. The awkward silence thickened as he kept his mouth firmly shut, refusing to let anything slip.
"Damn brat! If you're awake, get outside! Your training isn't over yet!" the old man's voice boomed from outside the manor, cutting through the tension like a lifesaving sword.
"Not now, Grampa! He needs to eat first!" Eva yelled back, shooting a glance toward the door.
"Tsk… youngsters these days," the old man grumbled loud enough for them to hear. "Back in my day, you'd be lucky if you ate anything for two whole days! Tsk, tsk, tsk… I weep for the future." His dramatic sigh was almost comical.
Eva sighed in return, muttering under her breath. "Tsk… old people." She stood up, brushing her hands on her skirt.
"Hold on, I'll go prepare something for you to eat," she said, flashing Dera a cheerful smile before leaving the room.
"Phew…" Dera exhaled deeply, the pressure in the room finally lifting. He slumped back against the bed, momentarily at ease.
{Isn't this the perfect opportunity for you to check your status window?}
Shadow's cold, mocking voice interrupted his peace, yanking him back to reality.
"Oh, right… those rewards," Dera muttered, suddenly remembering.
"Show rewards," he said, addressing the system.
CLING!
[For killing a One-Finned Venom, you have evolved from a Finnless Venom to a One-Finned Venom.]
Dera flinched at the memory. "Ah, that evolution… painful as hell. Am I seriously going to face that kind of agony with every evolution?" he grumbled.
[For killing a One-Finned Venom, you have acquired 150 points.]
[Aura has increased to: 200.]
[You have obtained the Shadow Aura Attribute.]
Dera's brows shot up. "Shadow Aura Attribute? That sounds promising," he said, intrigued.
[For absorbing a Venom Core, you have gained a new skill: Shadow Attribute: Venomic Arts – Severing Slash.]
Dera's eyes widened. "Wait, that's the attack the lycan used on me... the one that sent me flying. This skill could actually come in handy. I can't wait to test it out." He smirked, already imagining its destructive potential.
[You have received a new skill: Shadow Summon. An ability that allows you to summon Shadow to the real world for 10 minutes. Cooldown: 30 days.]
"H-huh?" Dera stammered, blinking in confusion.
{Tsk… It's a skill that lets you summon me into the real world, just like I did back then. Try to keep up, you mumbling idiot,}
Shadow sighed, his tone drenched in exasperation.
"Oh." Dera frowned. Did Shadow really have to insult him every single time?
[You have achieved a new Aura Class: Emitter.]
Curiosity sparked in him as he straightened up. "Status window," he said, deciding he'd probably feel better seeing all his achievements laid out in one place.
CLING!
[Name: Chidera]
[Race: Shadow Venom Incarnate]
[Venom Rank: One-Finned]
[Levels before Evolution: Lv. 10/100]
[Shadow Talent: Predator]
[Title: Savior of the Weak]
[Title: Slaughterer of Wolves]
[Aura Technique: Shadow Attribute]
[Skills:
- Venomic Recovery: (Cooldown 6 days remaining),
- Shadow Attribute, Venomic Arts: Severing Slash
- Aura Sense: Lv. 5
- Shadow Summon: (Cooldown 29 days remaining),]
[Status]
Strength: 50
Agility: 50
Stamina: 45
Perception: 60
Aura: 200/200
[Aura Class: Enhancer / Transmuter / Emitter]
[Available Points: 150].
Dera stared at the status window, his brows furrowing as he read through the information.
"Hmm… this Aura Class… I don't really understand what it means. Enhancer, Transmuter, Emitter? Maybe I should ask the old man," he muttered.
Asking Shadow for clarification was not an option. Doing so would just invite a fresh wave of insults, and Dera wasn't in the mood for that kind of emotional damage.
"Damn brat! Aren't you done eating yet? Get out here this instant!" the old man's voice roared from outside, filled with irritation.
Dera winced, already picturing the man's fiery glare.
"I'm coming, damn old—" he stopped mid-sentence, instinctively clapping his hands over his mouth. His eyes widened as he realized what he had just said aloud. A cursed punch from the old man was the last thing he needed.
He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself.
"I'm coming, master!" he called out instead, his tone dripping with reluctant respect as he dragged his feet toward the door, already dreading whatever training awaited him.