Kenji stood by the broken gate, holding on to the Void Spear tightly. The weird thing in front of him pulsated with dark energies. The air felt heavy, smelled bad, and seemed like a fight was coming. Behind him, students and teachers froze, their faces pale with fear and shock.
"Kenji, fall back!" one of the instructors shouted, his voice barely audible over the roars of the monsters spilling from the gate. "You'll get yourself killed!"
Kenji ignored him. The spear in his hand felt both alien and familiar, a contradiction he couldn't afford to dwell on. The fragment roared again, its amorphous body shifting, a blend of molten gold and shadowy tendrils.
[MISSION ALERT: A piece from the divine has been discovered. Defeat the being to keep the gate safe. Reward: System Upgrade, +500 EXP.]
The system message showed up in front of him, reminding him of what really mattered. The city. The academy. His life.
"You are a godslayer. Act like it."
His past self's words echoed in his mind, helping to steady his trembling hands.
Kenji moved quickly, the Void Spear whizzing in a way that sounded strange as it cut through the air. A piece shot back at him, sending a wave of hot energy his way. He sidestepped, and in that instant, he was doing something he never thought possible: memories he thought were lost came flooding back to him—battles won and skills learned over many years.
The spear struck the fragment, sending shockwaves through the air. The fragment drew back for a moment, changing shape.
[CRITICAL STRIKE! +100 EXP.]
Kenji smiled, but it left his face as the fragment reassembled itself, its body growing pointed limbs that slashed with deadly speed.
Kenji moved fast, his instincts guiding him. But it didn't help. One of the limbs hit his side, making him feel sharp pain. He lost his balance, and blood stained his uniform.
"Kenji!" Ayane Himura's voice came through the noise. He turned to see her at the defensive line, her silver hair shining in the dim red light of the gate. She was ready to fight, holding her weapon.
"Stay back!" Kenji shouted, surprising himself with how loud he sounded. "This is my fight!"
Ayane stopped, her eyes narrowing. But something in his voice made her stay put.
Kenji turned to look at the fragment. The pain in his side went away as adrenaline filled him.
[TIP: Use the Void Spear's second ability: Devour Essence.]
"Devour Essence?" he whispered.
The Void Spear seemed to react, its veins glowing brighter.
"Okay. Let's see what you can do," Kenji said softly.
He moved closer and poked the spear at the middle of the piece. This time, instead of being pushed away, the spear started to shine as it took energy from the piece. The creature screamed as its body shook and cracks started to show.
Kenji felt a surge of energy flow through his body. He began to feel dizzy and his injuries began to mend. His vision returned to normal.
[FRAGMENT DEFEATED. +500 EXP. ]
[SYSTEM UPGRADE UNLOCKED: New Ability Acquired—Eclipse Strike. ]
The fragment shone brightly and the gate behind it flashed once before stabilizing. The red coloration vanished, leaving a plain, empty portal.
Kenji dropped to his knees as the Void Spear turned into black mist. He was tired but still alive.
For a few seconds, no one spoke. Then the other students and teachers started cheering.
But not Ayane. She walked over to him, and her face showed no emotions.
"What… are you?" she asked.
Kenji looked at her, trembling. For the first time, he realized how his actions changed everything. He wasn't just a nobody anymore. He wasn't "Null." He was something much more dangerous—and much more visible.
"I don't know," he said softly.
But deep down, he knew the truth.
He was a godslayer. And his battle was only just starting.