The wind howled through the deserted city, carrying the scent of concrete, dust, and something new—the lingering trace of mana.
Ren sat on the edge of a crumbling rooftop, his black sword resting across his lap. He exhaled slowly, watching the neon signs of a long-dead world flicker. The battle was over. The Shadow Wraiths were gone.
But the adrenaline hadn't left his system.
His hands still trembled, a side effect of exhaustion—or maybe something deeper.
He had killed.
Even if they weren't human, even if they were just monsters, there was something unshakably real about taking a life.
The last wraith had feared him. That part stuck.
For ten years, he would be alone in this world, fighting against the unknown, growing stronger in the silence of a dead Earth. And when the others returned, they would come back to a world where he was no longer the forgettable nobody.
He wanted that.
But was that all?
Ren shook his head, pushing the thought aside. He checked his status screen.
[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Ren Kisaragi
Title: The Forgotten One
Level: 2
Class: Spellblade
Sub-Class Slots: 0/3
HP: 120/120
MP: 60/60
Strength: 14 (+2)
Agility: 18 (+3)
Endurance: 12 (+2)
Intelligence: 14
Willpower: 15
Luck: ???
New Skills Unlocked:
Shadow Slayer (Passive): +15% damage to shadow-based enemies.
Combat Instincts (LVL 1): Faster reaction time to immediate threats.
Mana Infusion (LVL 1): Coat weapons with raw mana for increased cutting power.
Ren studied the numbers. His strength had increased. His agility was sharper.
The system rewarded growth.
If he kept training, kept fighting, he would become something more.
Something unstoppable.
A new notification pinged in his vision.
[New System Feature Unlocked!]
[Skill Mastery Paths Available.]
[You can now specialize your techniques based on your combat style.]
Ren raised an eyebrow.
"Skill Mastery Paths?"
He focused on the prompt, and suddenly, a secondary window opened.
[Skill Mastery: Mana Infusion]
Choose a Development Path:
1. Mana Edge – Increases cutting power and sharpness. More efficient mana usage.
2. Mana Burst – Unleash explosive energy with each strike. Consumes more MP.
3. Mana Flow – Allows finer control of mana distribution, balancing offense and defense.
Ren paused.
Each choice would shape his fighting style long-term.
Mana Edge would make him a precise killer, like a razor blade cutting through the battlefield.Mana Burst would make him a shockwave of destruction, overwhelming enemies with raw power.Mana Flow would make him a balanced fighter, capable of adapting mid-combat.
Ren exhaled.
"…Precision."
He selected Mana Edge.
[Mana Infusion → Mana Edge (LVL 1)]
[Your sword techniques will now enhance cutting power and energy efficiency.]
A faint blue glow pulsed along his blade. He could feel it. The mana was no longer wild—it was focused, honed.
He swung.
SHHHK!
The air parted cleanly, as if the very fabric of reality had acknowledged the blade's presence.
Ren smirked. This was progress.
Ren jumped down from the rooftop, landing on the cracked pavement below.
The city felt different now.
The emptiness wasn't just unsettling—it was a reminder.
Billboards still displayed ads for movies that would never release. Storefronts still had mannequins dressed for a season that would never come. Food sat untouched in abandoned restaurants.
The world wasn't dead.
It was just waiting.
For ten years, it would wait.
And in those ten years, Ren would become something greater.
The only question was—who would he be at the end of it?
Ren's thoughts were interrupted by a distant, thunderous echo.
He turned toward the horizon.
Something was coming.
The air grew thicker.
It was different from the wraiths.
[SYSTEM ALERT!]
[A High-Rank Entity Has Entered the Earth.]
[Identifying…]
A new rift tore open in the sky, swirling with deep crimson energy.
A figure stepped through.
Ren's grip on his sword tightened.
It wasn't a monster. It was a man.
But unlike Ren, this man had not been forgotten.
He had been sent back early.
The stranger's eyes glowed like molten gold, his long white coat billowing in the wind.
His presence was overwhelming.
[Name: Astaroth Von Helbrecht]
[Race: Human (Modified)]
[Class: Celestial Champion]
[Level: ???]
Ren exhaled sharply.
He wasn't ready for this.
But he didn't have a choice.