The black vortex swirled violently in the air, twisting like an open wound in reality. Dark mana seeped out in waves, distorting the space around it. The air felt heavy, charged with something unnatural—something wrong.
Ren stood atop the abandoned skyscraper, gripping his black sword tightly as he watched. His heartbeat was steady. His training had prepared him for this, but fear still lingered in the back of his mind.
He had spent weeks training alone. Cutting through the empty air. Swinging at shadows. But this… this was real.
His first enemy.
His first real test.
[SYSTEM ALERT!]
[Rift Classification: E-Rank]
[Enemies Identified: Shadow Wraiths (4)]
Four figures stepped out of the rift, their elongated bodies shrouded in swirling darkness. Their arms stretched unnaturally, clawed fingers twitching with anticipation. No eyes, no mouths, only hollow faces of black mist.
And then—they moved.
The wraiths rushed forward in unison, gliding over the pavement with impossible speed.
Ren didn't hesitate. He launched himself from the rooftop, the wind rushing past his ears as he twisted mid-air. The moment his feet touched the ground, he rolled forward, barely avoiding a swipe aimed at his head.
A chill ran down his spine as he felt the cold burn of their proximity—these things weren't just shadows; they were something worse.
[Passive Effect: Shadow Wraiths drain life force upon contact.]
"Good to know," Ren muttered under his breath. "Don't get hit."
One wraith lunged, its elongated arm stretching unnaturally to claw at him.
CLANG!
Ren's sword met the attack.
The impact rattled his bones, but his grip was firm. The creature recoiled, its body momentarily distorting like smoke before reforming.
They weren't solid.
Ren's eyes narrowed. That meant brute force wouldn't be enough. He needed something more.
[New System Function Unlocked!]
[Skill Enhancement Available – Spellblade Technique: Mana Infusion]
Ren grinned.
"Alright. Let's see what this does."
He focused, tapping into the mana within him. It responded instantly, flowing through his body like liquid fire. His sword hummed, coated in a thin layer of blue energy.
One of the wraiths rushed forward.
Ren moved first.
He stepped forward, slashing diagonally.
The blade met resistance. Unlike before, the mana-infused edge sliced through the wraith's smoky form, parting it like mist under sunlight. The wraith screeched, its form flickering.
[Direct Hit!]
[Shadow Wraith – HP: 65%]
It wasn't dead.
Ren clicked his tongue and dodged left, narrowly missing a swipe from another wraith. He could feel the burning cold of its presence.
The creatures were relentless.
One came from behind. Another from the side. The third circled him, waiting for an opening.
They were smart. Coordinated.
For a brief moment, doubt crept into Ren's mind.
Could he actually do this?
Was he really strong enough?
He shook his head. No. He had been training for this exact moment.
This wasn't just about survival. This was about proving to himself that he belonged. That he wasn't forgotten.
That he could be stronger.
[Skill Activation: Accelerated Perception]
Time slowed.
He could see everything.
The wraith coming from the left—its claw raised for a diagonal slash. The one behind—lunging forward. The one in front—holding back, waiting.
Ren smirked.
They weren't hunting him.
He was hunting them.
He pivoted on his foot, turning his body just enough to let the first wraith's attack graze past him. As its momentum carried it forward, Ren's sword lashed out.
SHHHK!
The blade cleaved through its torso, severing it in half. The wraith let out a distorted screech before dissipating into black mist.
[Shadow Wraith Eliminated!]
[EXP Gained: 50]
One down.
The second one came from behind.
Ren didn't even turn around.
Instead, he dropped low, allowing the attack to pass over him. His sword flashed in a reverse grip, slashing upward.
Another death cry.
[Shadow Wraith Eliminated!]
[EXP Gained: 50]
Two down.
The third one, realizing the danger, tried to retreat.
Ren didn't let it.
He dashed forward, his blade crackling with mana. The wraith twisted its body unnaturally, trying to escape. But Ren was faster.
He lunged, driving the blade straight into its core.
A final howl of agony.
[Shadow Wraith Eliminated!]
[EXP Gained: 50]
Three down.
The last wraith hesitated.
Ren turned to face it, his body drenched in sweat, his breath coming in heavy bursts.
The wraith shuddered.
For the first time, Ren realized—
It was afraid.
His lips curled into a grin.
"Good," he muttered. "Now run."
It did.
The last wraith fled back into the rift, its form vanishing into the abyss.
[Dungeon Rift Closing…]
[Threat Level Eliminated.]
The vortex collapsed in on itself, sealing shut with a final, eerie silence.
Ren stood there, his sword still raised. His entire body burned from exhaustion, his arms trembled.
But in that moment—
For the first time in his life—
He felt strong.
Ren let out a long, shaky breath.
The reality of what had just happened sank in.
He had fought monsters. Real ones. And he had won.
It wasn't just about strength. It wasn't just about survival.
It was proof.
Proof that he wasn't just some forgotten mistake.
Proof that he was meant to be here.
[LEVEL UP!]
[New Skills Unlocked!]
Shadow Slayer (Passive): Increased damage against shadow-based enemies. Combat Instincts (LVL 1): React faster to immediate threats.
Ren chuckled, looking up at the starless night sky.
"Looks like I'm finally getting somewhere."