Ren's body screamed in pain as he stumbled through the ruined streets. His breath was ragged, each step agonizing. Every movement sent a fresh wave of agony through his ribs. He had barely escaped Astaroth's wrath.
Barely.
[HP: 15/120]
[Status: Fractured ribs, severe bruising, internal bleeding.]
[Warning: Extended combat without recovery may result in system failure.]
Ren gritted his teeth. Yeah, no shit. Thanks for the warning.
He leaned against a broken streetlight, surveying the wreckage behind him. The place where he had fought was now an inferno of destruction. Skyscrapers reduced to rubble, the pavement cracked open from shockwaves, a burning trail of golden fire carved into the city itself.
Astaroth's power wasn't just overwhelming—it was unnatural.
Ren exhaled, forcing his trembling hands to steady. He had fought monsters before, but this was the first time he had fought a man.
And he had lost. Badly.
But…
He was still alive.
And that meant he had time to grow.
Ren pushed himself forward, his mind already calculating. He needed a safe place to recover.
His eyes drifted across the empty city, searching. Every building was abandoned, frozen in time.
And then, he saw it.
A department store.
"Perfect," he muttered, staggering toward it.
Inside, the place was eerily untouched. Mannequins stood frozen in place, advertisements for clothes that no one would ever wear hanging from the walls.
Ren collapsed onto a couch in the furniture section, his body finally giving in.
He forced himself to stay awake, even as the pain threatened to drag him into unconsciousness.
[New Notification!]
[Rest Mode Activated – Natural Recovery Boosted.]
Ren sighed.
For the first time in what felt like hours, he let himself breathe.
He wasn't dead.
He wasn't broken beyond repair.
And most importantly—he wasn't finished.
Elsewhere, standing atop a crumbling rooftop, Astaroth Von Helbrecht watched the distant cityscape with an amused expression.
The battle had been nothing more than an amusement—a passing curiosity. He had expected to crush Ren completely.
But instead—
The boy had survived.
Astaroth touched the faint cut on his coat. It wasn't deep, barely a scratch. But it was the first time in years that someone had actually touched him in battle.
Interesting.
He turned his gaze toward the sky.
[Celestial Communication: Connection Requested]
[Sender: ???]
Astaroth sighed and accepted the link.
A holographic projection of a cloaked figure appeared before him, shrouded in golden light.
"Astaroth. Report."
Astaroth crossed his arms. "You're as impatient as ever."
"Enough games. What did you find?"
Astaroth smirked. "A loose thread. A mistake in the grand design."
The cloaked figure stiffened. "The Forgotten One?"
Astaroth nodded.
"He's alive. And not just alive—he's growing."
Silence.
Then—the air trembled.
Astaroth could feel the shift in energy even through the projection.
"Eliminate him."
Astaroth's smirk widened.
"No."
"You dare defy the Celestial Order?"
Astaroth chuckled. "Relax. Killing him now would be wasteful."
He looked toward the smoldering ruins of their battle.
"I want to see how far he can go."
Hours later, Ren's eyes snapped open.
Pain still pulsed through his body, but it was manageable.
[HP: 45/120]
[Status Effects Stabilized.]
Not great, but he could move.
Ren forced himself upright, his mind already shifting to what came next.
He had survived.
But next time? He needed to do more than survive.
Astaroth was on a completely different level.
Ren needed to grow stronger, faster, smarter.
The system had given him the tools—but he wasn't using them properly yet.
Ren opened his Status Window.
There was something he had been ignoring.
[Sub-Class Slots Available: 3]
His main class, Spellblade, was strong—but it wasn't enough.
He needed to specialize.
[Available Sub-Classes:]
1. Shadow Dancer – Enhanced stealth, mobility, and backstab damage.
2. Arcane Warrior – Stronger mana control, mid-range energy slashes.
3. Titan Guard – Increased durability, resistance to knockback.
4. Void Striker – Spatial magic, teleportation-based combat.
5. Predator – Instinct-based combat, enhanced reactions and critical hits.
Ren's mind raced.
Each choice was permanent—once taken, he couldn't undo it.
Shadow Dancer was great for evasion.
Arcane Warrior gave him more magical options.
Titan Guard would make him harder to kill.
Void Striker would let him teleport.
Predator would make him a pure combat monster.
Ren closed his eyes.
What had Astaroth said?
"You're quick. And reckless."
Ren smirked.
He could use that.
[Sub-Class Chosen: Void Striker]
[Skill Unlocked – Blink Step (LVL 1): Instantly move up to 5 meters in any direction.]
[Skill Unlocked – Void Slash (LVL 1): A spatial attack that ignores armor.]
The moment he confirmed the choice, he felt it.
A shift in his body.
The air around him warped slightly, reacting to his presence.
Ren took a slow breath.
He was still injured, exhausted, outmatched.
But he had a plan.
Next time he fought Astaroth…
He wasn't going to run.
Back at the ruins, Astaroth watched the night sky.
The celestial projection had vanished, but its message lingered in his mind.
Eliminate the Forgotten One.
He smiled.
"No," he murmured. "Not yet."
He turned his gaze toward where Ren had escaped.
"Survive, Ren Kisaragi."
His golden eyes gleamed.
"Because the next time we meet… you won't have the option to run."