It had been two weeks since Raven began his adventure in the new world. In such a short amount of time, he had already become far more powerful than he could have ever imagined. By absorbing countless monsters with his unique abilities, he had honed his strength, speed, and skills. Yet, despite his rapid growth, Raven's cold and detached personality remained unchanged. His crimson eyes, sharp and emotionless, reflected the weight he carried within.
As Raven walked through the forest, his steps silent as ever, his ears twitched at a faint noise in the distance. He stopped in his tracks, narrowing his eyes as he focused on the sound. It grew clearer: shouting—no, screaming. Desperate cries for help echoed from afar.
Raven tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable.
Should I help? Or shouldn't I? he thought coldly, standing motionless as the distant cries continued.
For a moment, he hesitated. Then, as if triggered, a memory surged through his mind—a memory he had buried deep within himself.
The scene of a burning car flashed vividly before him. The sound of crunching metal, screeching tires, and shattered glass. He saw the terrified faces of his parents as the car spun out of control. He saw himself, small and helpless, watching them die while he alone survived. Their screams—their final moments—echoed in his ears, clawing at his mind.
Raven clenched his fists tightly, the memory tearing through him like a dagger. A low, pulsing aura radiated off his body—a dark, greyish-black energy that swirled around him, charged with unspoken pain and rage. His crimson eyes glowed faintly as he exhaled sharply.
"You know what…" he muttered darkly, his voice low and steady. "Let's check it out."
Without further hesitation, Raven whispered, "Skill: Flock Shift."
In an instant, his body dissolved into a swarm of black ravens that scattered into the sky. The dark flock soared through the forest with unnatural speed, weaving effortlessly between branches and leaves. The sounds of shouting and clashing grew louder as he approached. After a few minutes, the ravens converged once more, and Raven materialized silently on a sturdy tree branch, overlooking the scene below.
He crouched low, his crimson eyes narrowing as he scanned the battlefield.
Below, a group of humans—adventurers—were locked in combat with a massive, crystalline creature. The monster towered over them, its jagged body shimmering like glass under the sunlight. Its movements were slow but devastating, each swing of its massive limbs sending shockwaves through the ground.
The adventurers were shouting orders and scrambling to hold their formation. Their voices rang out in a mix of fear, determination, and desperation.
"Hold the line!" yelled a man who appeared to be their leader, a tall figure in steel armor. His voice carried authority despite the chaos. "This is our mission! We need to stop these crystal golems before they destroy more farms. Do you understand?!"
"Yes, sir!" the party responded in unison, though the strain in their voices was evident.
The adventurers scattered to avoid a massive swing of the monster's arm, which slammed into the ground with a deafening crash. One of the fighters shouted, "We need to aim for the cracks in its joints!"
Another yelled back, "We're not strong enough! It's too durable!"
Raven remained silent as he listened to their chaotic exchange, perched like a predator above them. His expression remained cold and unmoving as he whispered, "Skill: Appraisal."
A glowing blue screen appeared before his eyes, displaying the details of the monstrous creature below:
Name: Crystal Golem
Level: 17
Health Points (HP): 1,500/1,500
Strength: 90
Defense: 120 (Crystal Body)
Agility: 20
Weakness: Joint cracks and impact fractures
Abilities:
Crystal Slam: Delivers a devastating ground slam, causing shockwaves.
Shard Explosion: Releases shards of crystal in all directions upon taking significant damage.
Fortified Form: Temporarily increases defense when under attack.
Raven raised an eyebrow slightly at the information, though his expression quickly returned to indifference.
"A level 17 Crystal Golem," he muttered softly to himself. "They don't stand a chance."
The adventurers below continued to fight, their weapons clashing futilely against the golem's hard exterior. One of them cried out as the creature swung its massive arm, sending a fighter flying into a tree with a sickening crack.
Raven observed the party calmly, silently analyzing their strategy and movements.
They're reckless, he thought. No coordination. Wasting their energy. At this rate, they'll all die.
As he watched from above, Raven's cold gaze lingered on each member of the party. Their leader, despite his efforts, was growing weary, his heavy armor slowing him down. The mages in the back were casting spells, but their magic barely scratched the golem's crystalline surface. The archers' arrows shattered on impact, and the frontline fighters were barely holding their ground.
"Pathetic," Raven whispered, his voice cold and sharp.
Yet, something held him in place. For all his detachment, he watched them—these humans fighting desperately for something they believed in. His crimson eyes glowed faintly as he continued to study their struggle.
Should I step in? he wondered. Or should I let them figure it out for themselves?
Raven's aura flared subtly, the greyish-black energy pulsing faintly around him as he debated his next move. The scene before him played out like a distant memory—one where survival was a fragile hope.
For now, Raven watched, his presence hidden, his mind calculating every possibility.
The adventurers continued to fight, but their attacks were proving ineffective. One woman, a mage with long brown hair and a determined gaze, stepped forward."Skill: Firebolt!" she screamed, launching a fiery attack straight at the golem.
The attack exploded on impact, but it left only a faint scorch mark on the creature's crystalline surface. Before she could react, the golem swung its massive arm. The blow hit her directly, sending her flying through the air. She crashed into a nearby tree with a sickening thud, blood spraying from her mouth. She gasped in pain, clutching her arm.
"Liana! Are you all right?!" the leader shouted, his voice panicked.
The woman, trembling, coughed and whispered, "No… my arm… it's broken… I can't get up…"
The leader gritted his teeth and dashed toward her, but before he could reach her, the Crystal Golem slammed its foot into the ground. Shards erupted upward, stopping him in his tracks. The golem followed up with a swing of its arm, hitting the leader and sending him skidding across the ground. His body collided with a rock wall, embedding him into it. He coughed violently, blood dripping from his mouth as he struggled to breathe, unable to move.
The golem turned back toward the injured woman, its massive arm raising high above her trembling form. Tears streamed down her face as she looked up, pleading desperately.
"No, please! I have so much to live for!" she cried. "Somebody! Anybody! Leader… help me! Please… I want to see my family!"
Raven's eyes widened slightly as those words struck him. Family. The word echoed in his mind, and a memory clicked—a younger version of himself crying alone in the dark, whispering the same desperate plea:
"I want my family…"
The golem's arm came crashing down—
"Skill: Root Grasp!"
Suddenly, thick roots erupted from the ground, twisting tightly around the golem's arms and legs, stopping it mid-swing. The woman gasped in surprise, her tears freezing as she stared at the immobilized monster.
Before anyone could react further, a commanding voice echoed through the clearing:
"Combo Skill: Fire Roar and Flame Swipe!"
A wave of searing flames engulfed the golem's weakened joints as Raven appeared behind it. He struck the creature with precision, his fiery claws ripping through its cracks. The golem shuddered violently, its crystal body splintering as flames spread throughout it. Moments later, the monster crumbled into a pile of smoldering ash and crystal shards.
The clearing fell silent.
Raven stood tall, turning his cold crimson eyes toward the adventurers. His face betrayed no emotion as he said quietly, "Pathetic."
The injured woman, still clutching her arm, looked up at him with wide, teary eyes.
"Who… who are you?" she whispered.
Raven stared at her, his expression as cold and unreadable as ever.
"Raven Cross," he replied simply, his voice steady and unyielding.
Raven suddenly heard a familiar ding sound in his head. His crimson eyes narrowed slightly as a glowing blue screen appeared before him, hovering silently in the air.
"You leveled up," a calm, mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
Without hesitation, Raven raised a hand, dismissing the notification and pulling up his Status Screen. As the detailed information appeared, his eyes scanned it carefully, taking in everything he had gained since arriving in this world.
Raven's Status Screen
General Information
Name: Raven Cross
Age: 17
Species: Human
Gender: Male
Level: 23 (Leveled up multiple times)
Nickname: The Lone Crow
Titles: Predator of the Forest (Granted for defeating numerous monsters in the wild)
Silent Savior (Granted for saving others while remaining hidden)
Devourer of Strength (From using Abyssal Devourer)
Occupation: Adventurer
Unique Trait: Survivor's Resilience (Enhanced recovery when critically injured)
Health and Energy
Health Points (HP): 1,500/1,500
Magic Points (MP): 1,000/1,000
Stamina: 800/800
Status: Stable
Attributes
Strength: 150 (Boosted by Abyssal Devourer skill)
Agility: 135 (Enhanced reflexes and speed)
Defense: 120 (Boosted by multiple absorptions)
Attack Power: 180 (Amplified due to multiple physical boosts)
Magic Resistance: 50 (Enhanced magical durability)
Perception: 75 (Heightened sensory awareness)
Intelligence: 35 (Moderate tactical knowledge) Endurance: 100 (Increased stamina and physical tolerance)
Active Skills
Flock Shift
Effect: Dissolves Raven's body into ravens, allowing him to teleport within range. Range: 40 meters Cooldown: 8 seconds
Howling Fear
Effect: Releases a paralyzing howl that stuns enemies for 3 seconds. Cooldown: 15 seconds
Quill Barrage
Effect: Launches hundreds of sharp quills in all directions. Cooldown: 20 seconds
Charge Impact
Effect: A high-speed physical charge that deals significant impact damage. Cooldown: 10 seconds
Root Grasp
Effect: Summons roots to trap and immobilize enemies. Cooldown: 20 seconds
Fire Roar
Effect: Releases a cone of fire, dealing area-of-effect damage. Cooldown: 15 seconds
Flame Swipe
Effect: A fiery melee attack that burns targets on contact. Cooldown: 10 seconds
Predator Dash
Effect: Increases movement speed temporarily, allowing quick repositioning. Duration: 5 seconds Cooldown: 8 seconds
Shadow Step
Effect: Short-distance teleportation through shadows. Range: 10 meters Cooldown: 8 seconds
Absorb Essence
Effect: Absorbs residual essence from defeated enemies to restore MP. Cooldown: None
Passive Skills Enhanced Reflexes (Improves reaction speed during combat)
Thickened Skin (Reduces incoming physical damage)
Predator Instinct (Heightens perception and focus during combat)
Nature's Resilience (Boosts defense when HP drops below 30%)
Endurance Boost (Increases stamina recovery rate over time)
Combat Awareness (Improves evasion of critical hits)
Fortified Form (Increases defense when under attack)
Unique Skill Abyssal Devourer (Formerly Gluttony) Effect: Absorbs stats, skills, and abilities from defeated enemies.
Current Boosts: Strength: +60 Defense: +50 Agility: +30 Endurance: +40
New Bonus: Allows partial absorption of enemy traits and unlocks hidden evolutions.
Current Absorptions: Stoneback Boar (Defense boost and Thickened Skin) Howler Wraith Pup (Shadow Step and Predator Instinct) Flameclaw Lynx (Flame Swipe and Agility boost) Blightwood Guardian (Root Grasp and Nature's Resilience)
Abilities
Survivor's Resilience (Passive recovery ability when critically injured)
Shadow Step (Short-range teleportation through shadows)
Fortified Form (Temporarily increases defense when under heavy attack)
Hidden Predator (Allows concealment of presence and killing intent)
Titles
Predator of the Forest
Silent Savior
Devourer of Strength
Items Flameclaw Fur (Material from Flameclaw Lynx)
Blightwood Bark Fragment (Material from Blightwood Guardian)
Health Potion (x3) (Restores 100 HP each)
Mana Potion (x2) (Restores 50 MP each)
Broken Sword Shards (x2) (Can be reforged into a weapon)
Shadow Essence (Magical material absorbed from Howler Wraith Pup)
Stoneback Hide (Durable crafting material)
Status Effects
Heightened Focus (Temporary increased perception after combat)
Minor Fatigue (Slight stamina loss after prolonged battles)
Heightened Strength (Post-absorption strength boost)
Raven's cold, stoic gaze scanned the updated status screen. His crimson eyes glimmered faintly as he took note of every detail. Despite the immense progress he had made, there was no pride or joy in his expression—only quiet acknowledgment.
"Acceptable," Raven muttered coldly, closing the screen with a wave of his hand.
He turned his gaze back to the world before him, his mind already calculating his next move. This world was vast and dangerous—and he had only begun to scratch the surface of its challenges.
Let it begin again.