Chapter 9 - The Clash of Power

Raven took out both swords, his crimson eyes narrowing as he shifted into his battle stance. The Eclipsing Fang in one hand pulsed faintly with dark energy, while the substitute blade gleamed under the sunlight. Neither fighter moved, the air around them growing tense and heavy.

The instructor smirked, gripping his weapon tightly. "If you're not going to make a move… then I will!"

With a burst of speed, the instructor dashed forward, his weapon crackling with flames. "Skill: Blazing Strike!" he roared as his blade ignited, trailing fire as it cut through the air.

Raven's eyes remained cold and focused. In an instant, he whispered, "Skill: 3-Combo Skill. Charge Impact + Blazing Strike + Shadow Edge."

Planting his feet firmly on the ground, Raven pushed all his strength into his legs, propelling himself forward with explosive force. His swords shimmered—one engulfed in flames and the other cloaked in dark energy—as he clashed head-on with the instructor.

The moment they collided, a massive shockwave erupted from the center of the impact. The ground beneath them cracked and shattered, sending tremors rippling across the entire training grounds. The force of their clash caused the walls of the guild to quake violently. Tables and chairs inside rattled, drinks spilled, and adventurers stumbled to keep their balance.

Inside the guild hall, adventurers scrambled as the ground shook beneath their feet.

"What the hell is happening?!" one yelled, gripping the edge of a table.

"Is the guild collapsing?!" another shouted in panic.

At the receptionist desk, Mira's eyes widened in shock as she felt the vibrations. She grabbed onto the counter to steady herself. "What… what is that?!" she gasped.

The noise of the tremors quieted for a brief moment. Somewhere deeper inside the guild, in a grand office, the Guild Master sat calmly at his desk, feeling the distant quakes. He closed his eyes and smiled faintly.

"So… someone interesting has shown up at last," the Guild Master murmured, his voice filled with intrigue.

Back at the training grounds, the air was thick with smoke and dust. Pieces of debris and broken stone littered the ground, remnants of the overwhelming collision.

Suddenly, the side door to the training grounds burst open, and a group of guild receptionists hurried inside, led by Mira. She halted abruptly, her eyes wide as she took in the devastation.

"What in the world…?" Mira whispered, staring at the wreckage.

The thick smoke obscured everything, but faint footsteps echoed through the haze. One of the receptionists pointed toward the shadow emerging from the smoke.

"W-who's that?" she stammered.

Slowly, Raven walked out of the smoke, both swords still in his hands. His coat was torn, and scars marred his arms and face. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but his posture remained firm. His crimson eyes, cold and unwavering, fixed on the group as he approached.

"I won," Raven said simply, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable weight. He tilted his head slightly toward the smoke-filled battlefield. "You might want to heal the instructor."

With that, he sheathed his swords, turned on his heel, and walked away without another word. The receptionists watched him leave, stunned into silence.

As the smoke began to clear fully, everyone's attention shifted back to the center of the field. Lying face-first on the shattered ground was the instructor. His clothes were burned and torn, his body covered in cuts, bruises, and streaks of blood.

Mira gasped and ran toward him. "Instructor Garrick!" she yelled, dropping to her knees beside him. She placed her hands over his body, her voice shaking. "He needs healing! Skill: Heal."

A soft golden light enveloped the instructor as Mira cast her spell. While her hands glowed, her mind raced. How… how did this happen? she thought, glancing toward the direction Raven had walked off. Who is he? How can someone overpower Instructor Garrick like this?

Around the field, whispers erupted among the onlookers.

"I can't believe it… the instructor lost?"

"That guy… he barely looked winded!"

"Who is Raven Cross?!"

The stunned receptionists and adventurers continued to murmur among themselves, the realization sinking in that someone extraordinary had just appeared in their guild.

Raven exited the training grounds, ignoring the whispers and stares that followed him. His mind remained calm as he walked, the faint taste of blood still on his lips.

So this is just the beginning, Raven thought to himself, his crimson eyes gleaming faintly. And they have no idea what's coming.

Raven left the training grounds, his steps heavy and unsteady. Pain coursed through his body from the injuries he sustained during the fight. His vision blurred slightly, and every movement sent sharp jolts through his muscles. He clenched his fists, determined to reach the guild's exit.

As he stumbled into the main hall of the guild, the lively atmosphere fell silent. Adventurers turned to look at him, their expressions shifting to shock as they saw his condition.

"What happened to him?" one whispered.

"Is he even alive? Look at him!" another exclaimed.

"How the hell is he still walking in that state?"

Raven ignored their voices, his crimson eyes dull with exhaustion. He kept walking, every step a battle, but halfway to the exit, his legs finally gave out. He fell to the ground, landing hard, his breathing ragged and shallow.

Suddenly, a rapid series of dings echoed in his mind. His blurry vision cleared momentarily as a blue status screen appeared before him, displaying bright text:

Ding! Leveled up!

The notification repeated over and over as Raven's status screen emerged, showing detailed information about his new abilities, stats, and descriptions of everything he had acquired. Raven managed a faint smirk as he read the words, despite his fading consciousness.

So… I leveled up, he thought weakly. His eyes grew tired, his body refusing to move any further. No… I can't stop here. I have to get stronger.

But even as he thought this, his vision darkened, and his eyes began to close. Just before everything went black, he caught sight of someone rushing toward him. Through his blurry gaze, Raven thought she looked familiar. Then it hit him—it was her.

The woman he had saved in the forest.

"Raven! Are you okay?!" she yelled, her voice panicked as she knelt beside him.

Raven tried to respond, but his body refused to obey. His eyes shut fully, and the world faded to darkness.

Hours later, Raven awoke with a start, bolting upright as he gasped for air.

"No!" he yelled, his voice echoing through the quiet room.

Sweat dripped down his face as he looked around, his breathing still heavy. The faint images of his dream lingered in his mind—his parents, their lifeless bodies, and the wreckage of the car crash that stole them from him. He wiped his face and looked around the unfamiliar room.

A simple bed, a small table with a jug of water, and a window letting in faint sunlight greeted him. He exhaled, calming himself.

"I guess I got healed," Raven muttered under his breath, leaning back onto the bed. He stared up at the ceiling, the events of earlier still fresh in his mind. "What happened to me…?"

"You lost consciousness in the middle of the guild hall," said a soft voice from his side.

Raven turned his head to see the woman from before sitting in a chair near the bed. She smiled gently at him, her emerald eyes calm and kind. Her long auburn hair shimmered slightly in the sunlight streaming through the window.

"Liana, right?" Raven said flatly, though there was a hint of recognition in his tone.

Liana nodded, her smile growing warmer. "So you do remember me."

Raven gave a faint nod. "Yeah." His crimson eyes fixed on her as he asked coldly, "Why did you help me?"

Liana tilted her head, her smile never faltering. "Because you saved me back in the forest, from that Crystal Golem. I'm simply returning the favor."

Her words were accompanied by a beautiful smile, and for the first time in a long while, Raven felt a strange warmth in his chest. He looked away quickly, feeling his face heat up slightly. He didn't let it show, though his thoughts betrayed him.

She's… beautiful.

Raven quickly shook the thought away, forcing himself to focus. He sat up and instinctively placed a hand on his chest, where the cancer had once plagued him. He let out a quiet breath as he muttered to himself.

"I'm still here…"

He nodded faintly to himself and then turned his gaze back to Liana. "Thanks again," he said curtly. Without another word, Raven's body dissolved into a swirl of dark ravens, shocking Liana.

"Wait, Raven!" she called, standing up quickly and reaching out for him. But it was too late. The swirling ravens faded away, and Raven was gone.

Liana stood frozen in the empty room, her hand still outstretched. She lowered it slowly, sighing as she sat back down. A thoughtful smile played on her lips.

"You're as mysterious as ever, Raven Cross," she murmured to herself.

Raven reappeared outside the building, materializing in a small alley where no one could see him. The cool air brushed against his face as he took a deep breath, steadying himself.

"Status Screen," he said calmly.

Instantly, the familiar blue screen appeared before him, glowing softly in the dim light. Rows upon rows of text detailed every facet of his abilities, stats, and skills. Raven's crimson eyes scanned the screen carefully, absorbing the information.

Raven Cross - Status

Name: Raven Cross

Age: 17

Species: Human

Gender: Male

Level: 33

Occupation: Adventurer

Nicknames: Abyss Walker, Crystal Slayer

Titles:

The Abyss Walker

Crystal Golem Slayer

Health Points (HP): 6,500 / 6,500

Mana Points (MP): 5,800 / 5,800

Attributes:

Strength: 420

Agility: 390

Endurance: 350

Attack: 450

Intelligence: 400

Skills:

Flock Shift: Transform into a swarm of ravens to teleport.

Shadow Edge: Imbue attacks with dark energy.

Blazing Strike: Fire-infused attack.

Charge Impact: A high-speed charging strike.

Abyssal Devourer: Absorb energy, skills, and mana.

Twirling Tornado: A defensive spinning attack.

Sonic Step: Dash at immense speed.

Thunder Cleave: Lightning-based blade attack.

Wind Cutter: A sharp wind-based strike.

Iron Guard: A defense-boosting skill.

Heal: Basic healing magic.

Regeneration Aura: Gradually heals over time.

Blazing Fury: Combines fire and physical attacks for area damage.

Mana Burst: Release a wave of raw magic energy.

Quill Storm (Evolved from Quill Barrage): Launches deadly, reinforced quills that explode on impact.

Infernal Roar (Evolved from Fire Roar): Releases a powerful, flaming shockwave that burns enemies.

Flame Reaper (Evolved from Flame Swipe): Sweeping slash with flames, leaving a lingering fire trail.

Piercing Wail (Evolved from Piercing Howl): Releases a sonic burst that stuns enemies and weakens defenses.

Root Constrictor (Evolved from Root Grasp): Summons enchanted roots to bind enemies and drain their energy.

Abilities:

Mana Control: Precise control over magical energy.

Enhanced Physical Resistance: Reduces damage from physical attacks.

High-Speed Regeneration: Accelerates recovery of minor wounds.

Items:

Eclipsing Fang: Legendary evolving sword.

Substitute Sword: Reliable steel blade.

Unique Skill:

Abyssal Devourer: Absorbs abilities, skills, and mana from defeated enemies and attacks.

Raven read the details carefully, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. His strength had increased significantly, and the array of new skills he absorbed from the instructor and earlier battles gave him a new edge.

"Good," he muttered to himself. "I'm getting stronger."

Raven closed the status screen with a flick of his hand, the blue light fading into the air. Looking up toward the city skyline, his crimson eyes narrowed faintly.

But this is just the beginning.

Let it be continued...