Cade lay on his bed, staring blankly at the wooden ceiling of his room. The faint glow of moonlight filtered through the cracks in the shutters, but he barely noticed it. His mind was elsewhere, trying to process everything he had learned from Lyra earlier. Her explanation of the Dark Guild's movements and the looming threats replayed in his head, but something else lingered.
"She's hot," Cade muttered under his breath, only to shake his head immediately. "Focus, idiot."
He clenched his fists, the familiar coldness returning to his expression. This isn't about her. This is about me. Cade closed his eyes for a moment, steadying his thoughts. He had to get stronger, not just for survival, but for his peace of mind.
"It's time," he said to himself, sitting up. "System, display my attributes."
A familiar glow washed over his vision as the System Interface materialized.
[System Display: Attributes]
Name: Cade Nightshade
Hunter Level: 5
Attributes:
• Strength: 5
• Agility: 15
• Endurance: 10
• Speed: 5
[Notice: 100 Free Attribute Points Available]
Cade blinked, his usual cold demeanor cracking for just a moment as a grin tugged at his lips. "A hundred points? Finally, something's going my way."
He leaned back, staring at the glowing screen with a calculating gaze. No room for mistakes here. Everything has to complement my swordsmanship.
"Alright," he muttered, his voice low and measured. "System, distribute the points like this: Strength, 30. Agility, 30. Endurance, 20. Speed, 20. Lock it in."
[Points Allocated.]
[Updated Attributes:]
• Strength: 35
• Agility: 45
• Endurance: 30
• Speed: 25
Cade exhaled sharply, feeling the changes ripple through his body. His muscles tensed and relaxed as if testing their newfound power. He flexed his fingers, a faint smirk forming. "Not bad."
The screen faded, but Cade wasn't done yet. "System, show me my skills."
[System Display: Skills]
1. Dark Summoner (SSS-Rank)
• Current Limit: Two active summons.
2. Demon Dogs (SSS-Rank Summons)
• Active Summons:
• Fang (Evolved Form)
• Slot Available for Additional Summon
3. Beast Reanimation (SSS-Rank)
• Current Reanimated Beasts:
• Blazing Warden
• Umbrix, the Eternal Shadow
4. Swordsmanship (B-Rank)
• Enhanced proficiency with blade-based weapons.
5. Dark Blade Manifestation (NEW)
• A manifestation of destructive energy channeled into blade form.
Cade's eyes fixed on the new skill: Dark Blade Manifestation. He thought back to that desperate moment against Umbrix. The sheer power that had surged through him—it wasn't just a fluke.
"So it really was a skill," he murmured, his tone icy but intrigued. "What else is hiding in this system?"
He crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes. "System, do I have other hidden skills?"
The system remained silent for a moment before displaying:
[Notice: Certain skills remain locked. Conditions for unlocking vary.]
Cade sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "Of course. Cryptic as always." He leaned back, staring at the glowing screen. "You really enjoy keeping me in the dark, don't you?"
But his attention shifted to the empty slot in the Demon Dogs section. His expression hardened. "One more summon. Let's see what I'm working with this time. System, summon a new Demon Dog."
[Summoning New Demon Dog…]
A low rumble filled the room, followed by a crackling sound like distant thunder. A golden light burst forth in front of Cade, momentarily blinding him. When the light faded, standing before him was a fiery, majestic dog.
Its deep yellow fur shimmered like molten gold, and its eyes burned with a bright, electric glow. Sparks of lightning danced along its body, crackling with raw energy. The beast exuded power, its presence filling the room with a sense of danger and awe.
[Summon Complete.]
Race: Lightning Hound
Name: Pending
Level: 1
Skill: Stormclaw Strike
• Unleashes devastating lightning-infused attacks. Scales with user's level.
Cade let out a low whistle, his cold expression softening just slightly. "You're a real stunner, aren't you?"
The hound stepped forward, sparks crackling under its paws, and let out a low, approving growl. Cade reached out, resting his hand on its head. Its fur was warm to the touch, humming faintly with energy.
"Vermilion," Cade said after a moment. "That's your name."
The hound let out another growl, this one softer, almost affectionate. Cade couldn't help but smirk. "Alright, Vermilion. You're impressive, but I've got work to do."
He straightened, his cold demeanor returning. "System, return Vermilion to the Demonhold Realm for now."
[Command Received.]
•Vermilion has been sent to the Demonhold Realm.
Cade stood and stretched, his muscles feeling more powerful than ever. He glanced at the dagger leaning against the wall, then back at the moonlight spilling into the room.
"Tomorrow, I'll check out the town. I need better gear, supplies… and maybe a stronger blade." His smirk returned for just a moment as he muttered, "Not that I'm trying to impress anyone."
More fights, more power, he thought, his mind already sharpening for the next challenge.
He lay back down, letting his eyes drift shut. For the first time in a while, his mind was clear. His path was set, and he wasn't going to stop.
Dungeons, beasts, leveling up—whatever it takes, he thought, letting sleep take over. This is just the beginning.