Kael stood at the edge of the cliff, his breath ragged, the cool night breeze cutting against his sweat-drenched skin.
His muscles burned from the relentless battle, but exhilaration still pulsed through his veins.
Around him, the bodies of slain beasts sprawled across the rugged terrain, their blood pooling into the cracks of the earth.
Then—
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Aether Snake (Lv. 4) defeated!
XP Gained: 250 XP
Skill Points: +1
Loot: Aether Snake Skin x1, Aether Snake Core x1
Coins Earned: 30
Shadow Wolves (Lv. 4) defeated!
XP Gained: 150 XP
Skill Points: +1
Loot: Shadow Pelt x1, Monster Meat x1
Coins Earned: 25
Shadow Griffin (Lv. 4) defeated!
XP Gained: 150 XP
Skill Points: +1
Loot: Shadow Claws x2, Monster Meat x1
Coins Earned: 25
[Skill Mastery]
→ Shadowstep reached Advanced Mastery!
→ Shadow Cloak reached Advanced Mastery!
→ Phantom Blades reached Advanced Mastery!
Kael exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders. His stats had improved, his techniques refined, but there was something missing—something deeper he couldn't quite grasp.
He glanced at the scattered loot. Aether cores, monster pelts, shadow-infused claws—materials that could be used for crafting or bartering. It was a decent haul, but he had hoped for more. Darkspawns offered far better experience, yet he hadn't encountered any.
Guess I'll have to settle for this.
A new system alert chimed.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
New Feature Unlocked: BESTIARY
Bestiary added to Domain Tab!
Kael raised an eyebrow. Bestiary?
As if on cue, a familiar furry form materialized beside him.
"Wow!" Limo, his pint-sized system guide, floated mid-air, eyes wide with disbelief. "Do you have any idea how many monsters you've taken down?"
Kael shrugged. "Lost count."
Limo's ears twitched. "No wonder you unlocked the Bestiary! You need to defeat at least ten different species to get access!"
Ignoring Limo's excitement, Kael pulled up his Domain Tab. A new icon—Bestiary—gleamed within the interface. He tapped it.
A flood of information filled his vision:
— Aether Snake → Weak to ice-based attacks.
— Shadow Wolves → Faster at night, but weaker in daylight.
— Shadow Griffin → Drops rare talons when killed with precision strikes.
The Bestiary wasn't just a monster log—it cataloged weaknesses, strengths, locations, and even loot drop rates.
Kael smirked. This is going to make hunting a whole lot easier.
The wind suddenly shifted. A foul stench curled through the air, sharp and unnatural.
Kael's smirk faded. A chill crawled up his spine.
Something was coming.
The ground trembled—a subtle vibration at first, but it quickly intensified. A deep, guttural growl echoed from the valley below. Kael's pulse quickened as he stepped closer to the cliff's edge. His eyes narrowed.
Then—he saw it.
A monstrous figure emerged from the shadows, its massive body cloaked in twisted black armor. Reality seemed to warp around it, the very air bending to its ominous presence.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Elite Darkspawn detected!
Void Reaver (Lv. 10)
Rank: Boss
Battle Mode Engaged.
Kael's breath hitched.
Level 10.
Shit.
Two burning red eyes locked onto him, gleaming with malice. The creature snarled, its jagged maw stretching into a hideous grin.
Kael's instincts screamed at him to run.
The Void Reaver roared—a deafening, bone-rattling sound. The ground exploded beneath its charge, stone and dirt scattering like shrapnel. It moved with terrifying speed, closing the distance in seconds.
Kael threw himself backward as the creature's massive claws tore through the earth, narrowly missing him. Sparks ignited where its talons struck, sending jagged debris flying in all directions.
Too fast. Too strong. He wasn't ready for this.
But his body moved on instinct.
His muscles coiled. His mind sharpened. The hunt wasn't over yet.
Then—the impossible happened.
[REBIRTH CORE ACTIVATED]
Imminent Threat Detected
Temporarily Unlocking: VOID REND
A pulse of raw power exploded through Kael's body. His senses sharpened to a razor's edge, his muscles surging with unnatural strength. Dark energy coursed through his veins, his vision tinged with shadow.
A name whispered in his mind.
Void Rend.
Kael's body moved on instinct. His arm shot forward, dark energy coalescing around his fingertips. A crescent-shaped blast of void energy ripped through the air, carving a path straight for the Void Reaver.
BOOM.
The attack slammed into the creature, rupturing its twisted armor. A deep, gaping wound seared into its side, shadows writhing violently as the Reaver let out an ear-splitting roar.
"The rebornnnn! Yooouuu're the reeeeboooorrrnnn!" it growled.
Kael froze for a heartbeat, stunned by the sheer power he had just unleashed.
Then—a slow grin spread across his face.
The Rebirth Core can do this?
Memories of the cryptic warnings he'd received flashed in his mind. He had barely begun to understand what the Core truly was, but if it could unlock abilities like this—
He had to learn more.
If he survived.
The Void Reaver's eyes blazed with newfound fury. It lunged, its massive claws cutting through the air with terrifying speed.
Kael's instincts screamed—move!
He vanished in a blur of darkness.
Shadowstep.
In an instant, he blinked out of existence, reappearing meters away. The Reaver's claws sliced through empty space, missing him by mere inches.
Kael landed behind it, adrenaline pounding through his veins. His blade hummed with dark energy, the lingering echoes of Void Rend still crackling along its edge.
"Let's see how much damage this thing can take."
Kael surged forward, slashing down with all his might. The blade connected, unleashing another pulse of void energy straight into the monster's core.
The Void Reaver shrieked, its form flickering like a dying flame.
But it wasn't finished.
With a snarl, it whirled around, claws lashing out.
Kael tried to Shadowstep away—
Too slow.
A razor-sharp claw raked across his chest, pain exploding through his body.
Kael was hurled backward, crashing into the rocky ground. His vision blurred, the impact knocking the breath from his lungs. Blood seeped through his torn tunic, pain radiating with every heartbeat.
He gritted his teeth, pushing himself up.
The Rebirth Core pulsed, responding to his desperation.
Then—
[REBIRTH CORE ACTIVATED]
Temporarily Unlocking: VOID SPIRAL
Kael's eyes widened.
"Another skill—"
No time to hesitate.
He slammed his fist into the ground.
Dark energy erupted outward—a spiraling vortex of raw void power.