Cipher splashed water on his face, his reflection staring back at him from the mirror. He took a moment to study himself, wondering, Do I look older? He had arrived in Sol around two years ago, or at least that was the perception within the church. However, if you asked Toli, he'd say Cipher had been there for barely eight days. It was bewildering to the residents, as every time they saw Cipher, he looked a little older, sometimes multiple times a day. Today, he noticed the subtle changes—his more pronounced jawline, his piercing silver eyes, and his hair, now mid-length after a recent cut.
Turning away from the mirror, Cipher heard a familiar voice in his head. DEM, I thought you might stand there and stare at yourself all day.
Cipher sighed, thinking about how much DEM had changed over the past two years. The system itself hadn't altered much because Cipher hadn't been collecting Dream Credits since his arrival, but DEM had made use of the virtual library to assist him, enabling Cipher to access any information stored in it at a moment's notice.
The library had proven to be an invaluable resource for Cipher's training. He remembered a particular day when he had visited on his day off, allowing DEM to gather information while Cipher relaxed in a chair, reading. It seemed like the perfect setup—until he fell asleep, his hand resting on the podium for hours. In the time it took for Cipher to wake, DEM had accumulated an overwhelming amount of knowledge. His arm had been stiff for the rest of the day, leaving him unable to train properly.
Though the situation was inconvenient, Cipher had come to appreciate DEM's quiet efficiency. Over time, DEM had started to develop its own personality, one that Cipher found comforting. It was always there, offering support when needed, but never getting in the way. That balance was something Cipher valued deeply.
Cipher closed the bathroom door and moved to his closet to grab a new set of clothes. As he pulled a shirt over his head, he realized he had grown taller. He was now 5 foot 11 inches, with a lean, athletic build that reflected the intense training he'd undergone over the past two years. He shook his head letting his thoughts leave him and headed out.
Cipher stood outside the north entrance of Sol, his breath steady as he surveyed the forest ahead of him. The morning air was crisp, the distant hum of the city behind him was quiet against the raw silence that stretched before him. His hands rested on the hilts of the Twin Stars, the silver blades gleaming faintly in the low light.
A sudden growl echoed from the morning darkness, sending a chill down his spine. Cipher's eyes narrowed as a towering figure emerged from the shadows—a massive, bipedal creature, its skeletal frame covered in tattered fur that shimmered like a sickly haze. The beast's glowing yellow eyes fixed on him, and it let out a low, guttural growl that reverberated through the ground. Cipher's pulse quickened. This was it—the moment he'd been waiting for.
Without hesitation, the Dark Beast lunged, its sharp claws slashing through the air. Cipher sprang into motion, dodging the first strike with a swift roll to the side. His mind was clear, his body moving instinctively, each step calculated. The creature was fast—too fast. Its tail whipped toward him like a deadly whip, but Cipher was already moving again, darting around the beast's side and slashing with the Twin Stars.
The blade cut through the creature's fur with a sharp hiss, but the beast barely flinched. It turned on its heel, growling in fury. Cipher kept his distance, his eyes scanning for weaknesses. He couldn't let it corner him. The Dark Beast's regenerative abilities were well-known—he needed to end this fight quickly.
"Focus, Cipher. Remember what Yuri taught you," DEM's voice reminded him, its usual calm tone cutting through the tension in his mind. "Stay mobile. Attack, dodge, and attack again. Don't let it gain ground."
Cipher nodded mentally, his resolve hardening. The creature's claws slashed toward him again, but this time Cipher was ready. He leaped into the air, his movements fluid, his focus razor-sharp. The Twin Stars gleamed as he cut downward, aiming for the beast's exposed side. The blade connected, but it only seemed to enrage the creature further.
The Dark Beast screeched, its voice like nails on a chalkboard. It twirled its body, swinging its tail in a wide arc. Cipher rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike, but the beast wasn't done. Its claws shot out with terrifying speed, slashing across Cipher's side. He barely managed to twist his body away, the tip of the claw grazing his shoulder. Pain flared, but Cipher pushed it aside. He couldn't afford to hesitate now.
The fight was brutal, each exchange leaving Cipher with less room to breathe. The Dark Beast was relentless, its speed and strength overwhelming. Cipher's muscles burned, his mind working overtime to stay one step ahead. He couldn't let the creature get a chance to adapt. He had to stay unpredictable.
With a grunt, Cipher dodged another claw swipe and ducked low to avoid the beast's next charge. He slashed upward, cutting through the beast's thick fur, aiming for the throat. The Dark Beast howled in pain, but it retaliated with a vicious swipe of its tail, knocking Cipher off his feet. He hit the ground hard, pain shooting through his back, but he didn't have time to dwell on it. The creature was already on him.
Cipher scrambled to his feet, barely managing to avoid another fatal strike. His heart pounded in his chest as the Dark Beast came at him again. It was fast. Too fast.
Cipher's grip tightened on the Twin Stars. The key to victory wasn't just brute force—it was precision. He had to outthink the beast. He had to find its weakness.
The beast's eyes gleamed with malice as it rushed him, moving on all fours now. Cipher's eyes locked on its movements, his body tensing. He could feel the power in its limbs, the weight behind each attack. But Cipher had learned something in the past two years—he could outmaneuver it. With a swift sidestep, he avoided the beast's lunging claws, and in one fluid motion, Cipher spun around, his left blade flashing as it cut through the beast's tail.
The Dark Beast screamed, thrashing in agony, but Cipher didn't hesitate. He couldn't afford to. Cipher's instincts kicked in. He dove low, his body twisting with agility as he cut through the beast's legs, severing its mobility. The creature struggled, its claws scraping against the ground as it tried to move, but it was too slow. The opening was there. Cipher didn't wait. He sprang forward, his right blade arcing through the air with deadly intent.
The creature screeched in defiance, but Cipher was already on it. He sliced through its throat in one clean motion, his twin blades gleaming with the reflection of the last of the fading light.
The Dark Beast crumpled to the ground, its body twitching in its death throes. Cipher stood over it, panting heavily. His heart was still racing, but the adrenaline was already fading. He had done it. He had faced his first real battle and won.