Raven stood tall, his crimson eyes scanning the injured adventurers with his cold, unreadable expression. His voice, sharp and commanding, cut through the silence.
"Do you have a healer in your party?"
One of the adventurers, a younger man with a shaky voice, stepped forward hesitantly. "Y-yes, we do," he stammered.
Raven's gaze shifted toward the group, unflinching and cold. "Then start healing," he said flatly. "If not, everyone here will probably die."
The weight of his words pressed down on the group. A wave of despair and fear washed over the adventurers as they exchanged glances, unsure of themselves. The healer, a young woman clutching her staff tightly, flinched under Raven's piercing gaze. Her voice trembled as she replied, "Y-yes, sir…"
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she raised her staff, and a soft glow began to radiate from its tip. "Skill: Heal," she said, her voice barely audible.
A glowing healing circle expanded across the ground, illuminating the battered adventurers in a gentle light. Warm, golden energy began to envelop their wounds, aiming to restore their strength. One of the glowing orbs drifted over Raven, lingering above him. Raven, however, narrowed his eyes as a thought sparked in his mind.
"Abyssal Devourer," Raven muttered, raising his hand.
The moment he uttered the words, a swirling greyish-black vortex burst forth from his palm, coiling toward the glowing healing orb above him. The energy spiraled into his hand, consumed completely by his unique skill. The light vanished, leaving only the faint echoes of magic dissipating into the air.
Raven heard the familiar ding sound in his mind.
"New Skill Acquired: Heal."
Another chime followed immediately after.
"Skill Heal is evolving..."
Raven's eyes narrowed slightly as he listened.
"Skill Heal Evolution Complete. New Skill: Greater Heal."
Before Raven could fully process it, another chime echoed in his mind.
"Skill Greater Heal is evolving..."
Raven's brows furrowed faintly as the progression continued.
"Skill Evolution Complete. New Skill: Radiant Restoration."
Another beat passed, and yet again, the mechanical voice rang in his head:
"Skill Radiant Restoration is evolving..."
Raven clenched his hand, feeling the power resonate within him. A final chime sounded, reverberating through his mind.
"Skill Evolution Complete. New Skill: Abyssal Renewal."
The glow in Raven's eyes intensified faintly, though his face remained expressionless. He lowered his hand slowly, absorbing the magnitude of what had occurred.
Meanwhile, the healer's eyes widened in panic. The golden circles around the adventurers flickered and dimmed, the light no longer working as intended. The woman clutched her staff tighter, confusion and fear written across her face.
"I-it's not working…" she stammered, looking at the others. "Why isn't it working?"
The injured adventurers, who had been relying on the healer's magic, stirred uncomfortably, their panic growing.
Raven stood still as the chaos unfolded, his mind suddenly clouded by a vivid memory. Blood. The twisted wreckage of a car. The anguished screams of his parents as they lay trapped—dying—and he, too young and helpless to do anything but watch. The guilt, the horror, and the pain of that moment resurfaced all at once, like a knife twisting in his chest.
His crimson eyes narrowed sharply as the memory faded, replaced by the cold, unrelenting present.
Raven's body radiated a swirling grayish-black aura, the energy flickering like shadows brought to life. His crimson eyes glowed with an otherworldly intensity as he raised his hand.
"Skill: Abyssal Renewal," Raven commanded.
Immediately, dark circles rippled outward from his palm, expanding over the injured adventurers. The eerie grayish-black energy washed over them, enveloping their broken forms. Wounds sealed shut, bruises vanished, and shattered bones knitted back together as though time itself reversed.
Gasps of disbelief broke the silence.
"My leg… it's… it's fixed!" one adventurer shouted, his voice trembling with awe.
"I'm… I'm healed?" another stammered, stretching his arms in disbelief.
Liana, the adventurer whose broken arm had left her helpless moments earlier, stared at her completely healed limb, tears welling in her eyes. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice shaking with gratitude.
Raven lowered his hand, the dark aura dissipating as he closed his fingers into a fist. His cold, unreadable gaze swept over the group.
The adventurers hesitated for a moment before bursting into excited chatter, their voices a chaotic mix of amazement and confusion as they tested their healed bodies. They stretched, checked their limbs, and exchanged astonished looks.
"It's like we were never injured!" someone exclaimed.
The leader of the group, a tall man with a commanding presence and rough demeanor, stepped forward. He nodded toward Raven, his expression a mix of respect and curiosity.
"I don't know how to thank you," the leader said firmly. "I'm Garrick, the leader of this team. We're the Iron Talons." He gestured to his party members, introducing them one by one.
Liana, blushing faintly, stepped forward. "Thank you so much… we wouldn't have made it without you."
Raven simply nodded, his cold expression unchanging. "Yeah, sure. No problem." His voice was flat and emotionless, as though their gratitude meant nothing.
Before anyone could say more, Raven whispered, "Skill: Flock Shift."
In an instant, his body dissolved into a swirling storm of ravens. The adventurers flinched, their eyes widening as the dark flock scattered and vanished into thin air.
"What the—?!" one adventurer shouted, stepping back in shock.
"Did he just disappear?" another gasped.
Liana, clutching her staff, murmured softly, "He's so… mysterious…" Her face flushed slightly as she stared at the spot where Raven had been.
Garrick turned to his team, his tone firm. "Let's get back to the guild. We need to report what happened here, and that includes the Crystal Golem… and him."
The adventurers murmured their agreement, still processing what they had just witnessed. They began gathering their gear and preparing to leave.
High above them, hidden from view, Raven perched silently on a thick tree branch. His crimson eyes watched the group below, his cold gaze observing their every move.
"Guild," Raven muttered to himself, the word lingering in his mind. "That must mean there's a city nearby."
He leaned back against the trunk of the tree, his expression as emotionless as ever. "I suppose I'll follow them. I need to see this world for myself… and the people in it."
As the adventurers began their journey back, Raven followed them silently from a distance, his steps soundless and his presence undetectable. The group had no idea that the shadow of the lone stranger loomed just behind them, watching and waiting.
The path back to the guild was not a simple one. The forest seemed darker as the sun began to dip behind the mountains. The Iron Talons moved carefully, with Garrick leading the way, his sword drawn. Every snapping twig and rustling leaf made the adventurers flinch, their earlier battle leaving a lingering tension in the air.
Raven, hidden in the shadows, followed them effortlessly. His sharp crimson eyes scanned the surroundings with practiced precision, noting movement in the underbrush. He narrowed his gaze as a series of faint growls reached his ears.
Monsters.
Garrick halted the group, holding up a hand. "Stay sharp. Something's here."
From the darkness, glowing yellow eyes appeared—several pairs at once. Low snarls echoed as wolf-like creatures with dark, matted fur slunk out of the shadows, their fangs bared. The adventurers gripped their weapons tightly, fear flashing across their faces.
"Shadow Wolves," Garrick muttered. "They must've been attracted by the blood earlier. Everyone, form up!"
The wolves circled them, their growls growing louder. One lunged forward, and Garrick swung his sword, slicing it cleanly through the beast. Another leapt from the side, but an adventurer blocked it with his shield. Liana began chanting, her staff glowing faintly as she prepared a spell.
From his perch in the trees, Raven watched quietly. They're holding their own, he thought, but his gaze sharpened when he noticed something else: a larger wolf lingering in the shadows behind the pack. Its fur was darker, almost black, and its eyes glowed with an ominous red hue.
Alpha Wolf.
The Alpha let out a deep, bone-chilling howl, and the surrounding wolves surged forward in a frenzied attack. The Iron Talons struggled to maintain their formation as the beasts overwhelmed them.
"Liana, cast it now!" Garrick shouted, slashing another wolf.
"I need more time!" she cried.
The Alpha Wolf moved forward, its presence exuding a predatory aura. Garrick turned toward it, gritting his teeth. "Damn it, it's strong!"
Before the Alpha could strike, a swirl of ravens descended upon the battlefield, and Raven materialized between the wolf and Garrick.
"What—?!" Garrick's eyes widened.
Raven's body radiated his dark aura, his crimson eyes glowing as he turned to face the Alpha. Without a word, he raised his hand.
"Skill: Abyssal Devourer."
The black vortex swirled from his palm, pulling at the Alpha Wolf. The beast growled and resisted, its claws digging into the ground, but it couldn't escape the pull of Raven's power. With a final roar, the Alpha disintegrated into energy, consumed completely.
The remaining wolves froze, their leader gone, and turned to flee into the forest. Silence fell over the clearing.
The Iron Talons stared in stunned disbelief as Raven lowered his hand. His cold expression remained unchanged as he turned to leave.
"Wait!" Garrick called out. "Who are you, really?"
Raven paused, glancing over his shoulder. "Raven Cross," he said flatly.
Without another word, he vanished into the trees, leaving the group speechless once more.
Raven watched from a distance as the Iron Talons resumed their journey. As the forest opened into the plains beyond, he spotted faint outlines of city walls in the distance.
"A city," Raven murmured to himself. "Let's see what this world has to offer."
Silently, he followed them, his shadow blending seamlessly into the fading light of dusk.
Raven followed the adventurer party silently, his steps soundless as he moved like a shadow through the dense forest. His crimson eyes glowed faintly, never losing sight of the group ahead. He watched them carefully, noting their movements and chatter, but his attention was soon interrupted by a sudden sound in his mind.
Ding!
A calm, mechanical voice echoed in his thoughts:
"Level up multiple times."
Another chime followed immediately after:
"New skills acquired."
Raven paused for a moment, narrowing his glowing crimson eyes as a familiar blue status screen appeared before him, floating in the air. The glowing text expanded quickly, revealing detailed information about his progress. His cold expression remained unchanged, but he scanned the screen meticulously, taking note of every improvement.
Raven's Updated Status Screen
General Information
Name: Raven Cross
Age: 17
Species: Human
Gender: Male
Level: 28 (Leveled up multiple times)
Nickname: The Lone Crow
Titles: Predator of the Forest (For defeating numerous monsters in the wild)
Silent Savior (For saving others without revealing his presence)
Devourer of Strength (For using Abyssal Devourer to consume countless enemies)
Occupation: Adventurer
Unique Trait: Survivor's Resilience (Enhanced recovery and endurance when critically injured)
Health and Energy
Health Points (HP): 2,000/2,000
Magic Points (MP): 1,500/1,500
Stamina: 1,000/1,000
Status: Stable
Attributes
Strength: 180 (Enhanced by skill absorption)
Agility: 165 (Heightened reflexes and speed)
Defense: 150 (Boosted by absorbed traits)
Attack Power: 220 (Amplified by physical and skill enhancements)
Magic Resistance: 70 (Increased resilience to magical attacks)
Perception: 90 (Enhanced awareness and sensory abilities)
Intelligence: 45 (Moderate tactical understanding and magic control)
Endurance: 120 (Extended stamina and resistance to fatigue)
New Skills Acquired
Shadow Cloak (Active)
Effect: Cloaks the user in darkness, rendering them invisible for 10 seconds. Cooldown: 15 seconds
Dark Rend (Active)
Effect: A slashing attack infused with dark energy, dealing physical and magic damage. Cooldown: 8 seconds
Sonic Step (Active)
Effect: Enhances movement speed temporarily, creating afterimages to confuse enemies. Duration: 5 seconds Cooldown: 10 seconds
Life Drain (Active)
Effect: Steals health from an enemy and restores the user's HP. Cooldown: 12 seconds
Abyssal Barrier (Active)
Effect: Generates a shield of dark energy that absorbs incoming damage. Duration: 10 seconds Cooldown: 20 seconds
Hunter's Mark (Active)
Effect: Marks an enemy, increasing damage dealt and revealing their location. Duration: 30 seconds Cooldown: 15 seconds
Piercing Howl (Active)
Effect: Releases a powerful howl that lowers enemy defense and paralyzes weaker foes. Cooldown: 18 seconds
Mana Regeneration (Passive)
Effect: Restores 10% of maximum MP every minute.
Passive Skills
Enhanced Reflexes (Increases reaction speed and combat awareness)
Thickened Skin (Reduces incoming physical damage)
Predator Instinct (Enhances perception and tactical awareness during battle)
Nature's Resilience (Boosts defense when HP drops below 30%)
Endurance Boost (Increases stamina recovery rate)
Combat Awareness (Improves evasion of critical hits)
Fortified Form (Temporarily increases defense under heavy attack)
Night Vision (Allows clear sight in complete darkness)
Unique Skill Abyssal Devourer (Evolved Gluttony) Effect: Absorbs stats, skills, and traits from defeated enemies. Current Boosts: Strength: +80 Defense: +60 Agility: +40 Endurance: +50 New Features: Allows absorption of magical traits and enemy abilities.
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)
Quillback Hedgehog (Quill Barrage and physical resistance)
Alpha Shadow Wolf (Piercing Howl and Dark Rend)
Abilities
Survivor's Resilience (Enhanced recovery during critical HP situations)
Hidden Predator (Conceals presence and killing intent when needed)
Mana Regeneration (Gradual magic recovery over time)
Fortified Will (Increases resistance to mental and fear-based attacks)
Shadow Mastery (Improves dark-elemental skills and stealth techniques)
Titles
Predator of the Forest
Silent Savior
Devourer of Strength
Shadow Walker (Granted for mastering shadow-based skills)
Items Flameclaw Fur (Material for crafting)
Blightwood Bark Fragment (Rare material for reinforcement)
Alpha Wolf Fang (Weapon crafting material)
Health Potion (x3) (Restores 100 HP each)
Mana Potion (x2) (Restores 50 MP each)
Shadow Essence (Special magical material)
Stoneback Hide (Durable crafting resource)
Status Effects
Heightened Focus (Temporarily increases perception after combat)
Empowered Strength (Post-absorption strength boost from Alpha Shadow Wolf)
Raven's cold, expressionless gaze scanned the detailed status screen. The sheer number of new skills and improvements was staggering, but he remained unshaken.
"Acceptable," Raven murmured quietly as he dismissed the glowing screen with a wave of his hand. His crimson eyes refocused on the adventurer party below, still unaware of the shadow silently watching them from afar.
With a faint smirk, Raven stepped forward, his presence vanishing into the darkness of the forest as he continued his silent pursuit.
Let it begin again...