Chapter 7:The path to Power
Aiden woke up from his week-long recovery, his body still sore but his spirit as strong as ever. The harsh battle with the level 50 monster had taken a toll on him, but it also pushed him beyond his limits. He stood up, took a deep breath, and looked around his small training area. The sun had barely risen, casting long shadows across the ground.
Suddenly, a notification from the system popped up before him.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION:
Mission: Kill 10 Monsters
Objective: Gain experience and new abilities. Complete the mission to proceed to the next step of your growth.
Warning: You may encounter more difficult opponents ahead. Be prepared.
Aiden read the message and felt his pulse quicken. He had been looking forward to this moment: the chance to prove himself, to grow stronger, and to sharpen his skills. With his Dark Ancient Martial Arts style and the various abilities he had copied, he felt ready. The only question now was which monsters he would encounter.
He immediately set out toward the nearby forest. The path was familiar—one he had walked countless times in search of training or monsters to slay. But this time, things were different. He was no longer the same uncertain man who had stumbled through the trials of his new life.
After trekking for a while, Aiden encountered a group of Dire Wolves. These monsters, about three in total, were a perfect starting challenge. They were fast, deadly, and their coordination in battle made them difficult opponents for many others.
Aiden took a deep breath and entered his combat stance. His body was already in Eclipse Stance, which increased his speed and allowed him to react faster than his enemies. The Dire Wolves snarled and charged. Aiden moved quickly, his body flowing with the precision of Dark Ancient Martial Arts, his fists lashing out like shadows.
Fight:
The first Dire Wolf lunged at him, jaws snapping. Aiden sidestepped, his footwork flawless, and with a quick jab, he hit the wolf's side. The blow was amplified by Fists of Shadow, the dark energy bursting forth, sending the beast flying. It landed with a yelp, temporarily stunned.
The second Dire Wolf was faster. It darted toward Aiden, attempting to strike from the side. But Aiden anticipated the move. His body blurred as he used Darkstep Teleportation, reappearing behind the wolf. He spun around, delivering a powerful Nightmare Fist right to its back. The impact sent the creature into a spin, its body jolted by the shockwave. The wolf collapsed, struggling to get back on its feet.
The third wolf circled around him, trying to create an opening. But Aiden was ready. He activated Void Pulse, sending a wave of dark energy outward. The pulse hit the wolf, knocking it back several meters, dazing it. With a swift motion, Aiden rushed in and finished the fight with a single Demon's Mark enhanced punch, sending the last Dire Wolf crashing to the ground.
The battle was over, but Aiden didn't feel satisfied. He had fought well, yes, but he knew he could improve. He felt his body and mind adapting, each battle sharpening his skills. His strength, agility, and reflexes had all grown significantly over the last month.
He continued his mission, hunting more monsters for the next few weeks. By the end of the month, Aiden had gained a vast amount of experience, fought dozens of monsters, and emerged victorious. Not only had his stats increased, but he also learned three new abilities.
Abilities Gained:
Iron Fist (Copied Ability):
A devastating punch that focuses raw physical strength into a single strike, bypassing most defenses.
Base Damage: 400Cooldown: 15 seconds
Special Effect: Can break through even the hardest shields.
Shadow Cloak (New Ability):
A defensive ability that cloaks Aiden in shadow, making him invisible to enemies for a short period.
Duration: 10 secondsCooldown: 30 seconds
special Effect: The first attack during invisibility is a critical hit.
Berserker's Rage (New Ability):
Temporarily boosts Aiden's strength and speed to an extreme level, but reduces his defenses during the effect.
Boost to Stats: +50 Strength, +40 AgilityDuration: 20 secondsCooldown: 1 hour
Special Effect: After the effect ends, Aiden suffers 10% of the damage dealt as fatigue.
Aiden stood at the edge of the forest, looking back at the path he'd walked. His body felt different now—stronger, faster, more capable. He was no longer the person he had been when he first started this journey. He was evolving, becoming something new.
His Dark Ancient Martial Artist style was growing more powerful by the day, and now, with his newly acquired abilities, he could face even more challenging foes. But Aiden knew this was only the beginning. The road ahead would be long and filled with even greater dangers.
Aiden's Full Profile (After 1 Month of Training)
Name: Aiden
Level: 20
Class: Dark Ancient Martial Artist (25% Mastery)
Overall Stats:
Strength: 600
Endurance: 525
Agility: 550
Reflex: 540
Focus: 460
Strategic Thinking: 475
Willpower: 500
Abilities & Skills:
Dark Ancient Martial Artist Abilities:
Fists of Shadow
Nightmare Fist
Soul Infusion
Darkstep Teleportation
Void Pulse
Death's Grasp
Dark Ancient Martial Arts
Shadow Ward
Darkened Mind
Demon's Mark
Eclipse Stance
Copied Abilities:
Stone Resilience
Lightning Strike
Fireball
Regeneration
Iron Skin
Speed Surge
Venomous Bite
Dark Phoenix Revival
Iron Fist
Shadow
Cloak
Berserker's Rage
Aiden's journey was just beginning, and with each battle, he would continue to grow stronger. His path was uncertain, but he knew one thing for sure: he was ready for whatever came next.
End of Chapter 7.