Kingoro sat on the ground, his body exhausted, and his clothes covered in blood and dust. The magical sword in his hand dripped with the blood of the monsters he had just slain. His breaths were heavy, but within him, something new pulsed: hope.
"I did it... I thought I was going to die, but I survived." He smiled to himself, despite the pain coursing through his body.
[Ding!]
"Condition one for activating Phase One has been met."
"Phase? What phase is this?" Kingoro asked weakly, looking around as the strange light reappeared before him.
[New Mission Available]
"Open the Hidden Gate."
Location: 50 meters ahead
Time Limit: 10 minutes
Reward: New Skill + 500 XP
A shiver ran through Kingoro's body. "A hidden gate?"
He glanced at his sword, then at the wounds on his arms, and stood up with difficulty.
"I can't back down now. If I've survived this far, maybe this is my chance to prove myself."
The air grew colder with every step he took. The ancient stones beneath his feet made faint creaking sounds, and the walls were etched with strange carvings. The deeper he ventured, the stronger the feeling of danger became.
"This isn't an ordinary place. I feel like something's watching me..."
Finally, he stood before a massive gate made of gleaming black metal. Strange symbols pulsed with a blood-red glow, as if alive.
[Ding!]
"To complete the mission, place your hand on the gate."
He hesitated for a moment. "Is this a trap? Will the gate consume me?" But the system's voice refocused him.
"If I'm going to grow stronger, there's no room for fear!"
He extended his hand and placed it on the gate. Suddenly, a powerful energy surged from the symbols into his body. He screamed as a searing heat coursed through his being.
[Gate Unlocked]
The gate groaned as it slowly opened, revealing a passage leading to a vast, dark chamber. In the center of the room, something shimmered faintly.
"What is that?" Kingoro whispered as he cautiously advanced.
As he got closer, a new voice rang out—not the system, but one that was calm and eerie:
"You who dare enter this chamber. Are you ready to prove your strength?"
Kingoro froze in place. "Who… who's speaking?"
From the shadows, a massive figure emerged. It was an otherworldly being, half-human and half-beast. Its glowing blue eyes pierced through the darkness, and it wielded an enormous sword.
"Prove my strength? How?"
"A battle. If you desire the power you seek, you must defeat me."
Kingoro tightened his grip on his sword. "I've come this far. I won't back down now. I'll fight you!"
As soon as Kingoro shouted, the Gatekeeper lunged at him with incredible speed. Kingoro barely managed to block the first strike, but the sheer force sent him stumbling back, his arm trembling from the impact.
"He's so strong… far stronger than the monsters I've faced."
The Gatekeeper didn't relent. It charged again, slamming its giant sword into the ground and unleashing a shockwave that knocked Kingoro further back.
But this time, Kingoro wasn't just a spectator. Summoning his courage, he dashed toward the Gatekeeper, aiming for its exposed side.
[Technique Copy]
Suddenly, Kingoro felt something strange happening.
[Ding!]
"Technique copied: Explosive Energy Strike."
"What? I copied his technique? How do I use it?"
The voice in his mind quickly provided instructions:
"Focus your energy into the sword, then release it in your next attack."
Kingoro didn't hesitate. Gripping his sword tightly with both hands, he channeled all his strength into it. He could feel the energy surging from his body into the blade. As the Gatekeeper charged again, he yelled:
"Take this!"
[Explosive Energy Strike]
A massive surge of energy erupted from his sword, striking the Gatekeeper directly. The force of the blow pushed the creature back, but it didn't fall.
"What is this? This boy…" the Gatekeeper muttered in a low voice.
But Kingoro didn't give it a chance to recover. He charged again, using every ounce of his remaining strength for one final strike.
[Ding!]
"The Gatekeeper has been defeated. Congratulations!"
The Gatekeeper staggered before slowly vanishing. "You have proven your strength… This is only the beginning."
Kingoro collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. "I… I did it."
At the center of the chamber, a small, golden chest appeared, glowing faintly.
[Ding!]
"Claim your reward: New Skill [Flash Step]."
A smile spread across Kingoro's face as he reached for the chest.
"This is just the start… I'll become stronger than I ever dreamed."
Growth and Stats
After the battle and feeling the system's power, Kingoro decided to invest his newly earned points wisely. He hesitated for a moment as he reviewed his stats:
"If I want to use more powerful techniques in the future, I'll need more magical energy… I'll put all my points there."
[Ding!]
"Points distributed. Magic Power increased by 10 points."
Kingoro's Updated Stats:
Name: Kingoro
Age: 16
Level: 2
Physical Strength: 30
Available Points: 0
Sword Power: 50
Skills: [Technique Copier, Flash Step]
Magic Power: 20
Health: 100%
Speed: 15
Intelligence: 10
Copied Techniques: 1