Chapter 8: The Hidden Power
A year had passed in the blink of an eye. In that time, Aiden had continued his journey in secret, farming through endless portals and battling countless monsters. His power grew exponentially, but he never allowed anyone to discover the extent of his strength. His mastery over the Dark Ancient Martial Artist abilities continued to improve, and he soon found himself at a staggering Level 100. His stats were a force to be reckoned with, and his abilities had expanded far beyond anything he could have imagined when he first awakened.
Though he knew the importance of keeping his power a secret, it was becoming increasingly difficult. People were starting to notice the extraordinary feats he was performing—defeating monsters that would have slaughtered entire teams, effortlessly dodging attacks, and even performing techniques that others had only heard of in stories. His reputation, though unknown by name, was spreading through whispers and rumors. That was when Aiden decided it was time to pull back, to retreat into the shadows for a while and refine his skills even further.
The Decision to Join the Academy
Aiden realized that if he were to continue growing, he needed more than just the portals and random encounters. He needed structured training, access to rare knowledge, and the ability to learn from masters who had honed their craft for decades. He thought about the best academy in the world—one known for taking in the most promising and dangerous individuals, a place where even the strongest would be challenged.
It was there, in that prestigious institution, that Aiden would be able to refine his abilities further, learn new fighting styles, and hopefully remain under the radar as he continued his ascent to unimaginable power.
The decision was made.
As Aiden made his way toward the academy, something unexpected happened. A familiar voice echoed in his mind, causing him to stop in his tracks.
System Notification:
"Congratulations! You have reached 50% Mastery of the Dark Ancient Martial Artist Class."
"New Ability Unlocked: Dark Healing"
"Dark Healing" allows you to regenerate health at an accelerated rate. You can now convert dark energy into life force, healing yourself and others. The healing effect is stronger in darkness or night. This ability can also be used on others, provided they are within range.
Aiden felt a surge of energy pulse through his body. The sensation was overwhelming. His wounds, even the scars he'd accumulated over the last year, began to fade away. Dark tendrils of energy swirled around him, sinking into his skin as his vitality was restored. It wasn't just his own health that could benefit from this new power—it was a tool he could use to heal others as well, should the need arise.
This newfound ability brought Aiden a sense of peace, knowing that no matter how harsh the battles ahead, he now had the power to keep himself and others alive in the face of danger.
Farming and Training—One Year of Progress
During the year of secret training, Aiden had constantly pushed himself to the limit. He sought out high-level portals, hunted monsters that most would consider impossible to defeat, and mastered techniques in isolation. The ability to heal himself meant he could fight longer and harder, even when he was exhausted. This advantage allowed him to take on the most dangerous challenges.
The most important part of his training, however, was his pursuit of knowledge. Aiden spent hours each day studying different martial arts styles, ancient techniques, and obscure fighting styles from all corners of the world. With each style he studied, Aiden incorporated it into his fighting repertoire, constantly refining his martial prowess. His Dark Ancient Martial Artist class became even more diverse as he adapted techniques from other disciplines, mixing them with his own dark abilities to create something entirely unique.
The Encounter with the Portal Boss
One fateful night, Aiden decided to face off against a particularly dangerous portal boss, a beast whose power was known to wipe out entire groups of high-level fighters. It was a massive beast, a creature of shadow and flame, with claws that could tear through steel and eyes that burned with an unnatural fire.
Aiden engaged the beast with everything he had, using his Fists of Shadow, Nightmare Fist, and Void Pulse. Each attack he landed seemed to do little more than frustrate the beast, its dark aura absorbing the blows as if they were nothing. But Aiden's determination pushed him forward.
The fight was grueling. His body was battered and bruised, and he found himself struggling to keep up with the relentless assault of the boss. But with each blow that landed, his Dark Healing ability kicked in, mending his wounds faster than they could be inflicted.
Finally, after hours of intense fighting, Aiden found an opening. He summoned his full power and unleashed a devastating combination of Shadow Step and Nightmare Fist, channeling his dark energy into a single, fatal blow. The beast crumbled to the ground in a heap of shadowy remnants, defeated at last.
A New Chapter—The Academy Awaits
As Aiden made his way toward the academy, the realization of his true potential started to settle in. He had become more than just a survivor; he was a force to be reckoned with. His abilities, both old and new, had shaped him into something no one had expected.
His Dark Healing would be an asset, and with his refined combat skills and mastery of the Dark Ancient Martial Artist class, Aiden was now a formidable fighter—perhaps even more powerful than most of the instructors at the academy. But despite all his progress, he knew that he was only at the beginning of his journey.
System Notification (End of Chapter):
"Congratulations! You have unlocked a new ability and reached Level 100. You are now ready for the next stage of your training. Continue to grow stronger, and your power will only increase."
End of Chapter 8.
Aiden's Full Stats (Updated)
Name: Aiden
Level: 100
Class: Dark Ancient Martial Artist (50% Mastery)
Class Abilities Mastery: 25%
Overall Stats:
Strength: 5,200
Endurance: 5,000
Agility: 5,150
Reflex: 5,000
Focus: 4,900
Strategic Thinking: 4,800
Willpower: 5,100
Health: 10,000
Mana: 7,500
Stamina: 8,000
Dark Energy: 6,500
Abilities & Skills (Full List)
Dark Ancient Martial Artist Abilities (Class 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 (from Monsters/Other Fighters):
Stone Resilience
Lightning Strike
Fireball
Regeneration
Iron Skin
Speed Surge
Venomous Bite
Dark Phoenix Revival
Iron Fist
Shadow Cloak
Berserker's Rage
Wind Slash
Earthquake Stomp
Vampiric Touch
Frostbite
Hawkeye Vision
Poison Mist
Barrier Breaker
Summon Dark Beast
Light Absorption
Plague Touch
Chaos Control
Rage Aura
Summon Blood Shield
Toxic Spikes
Time Manipulation
Flame Cloak
Earth Wall
Mental Overload
Soul Bind
Energy Absorption
Bloodlust
Flare Explosion
Void Beam
Aura of Despair
Summon Shadow Army
Enhanced Reflexes
Sacrifice
Necrotic Touch
New Ability:
51. Dark Healing
With his powers now undeniable, Aiden prepared to enter the academy—his journey to become the greatest martial artist and warrior had only just begun.