The city lay in ruin, frozen in time, an abandoned world where Ren stood alone.
He tightened his grip on his sword, feeling the subtle shift in the air as the Void Striker's power awakened inside him. Blink Step had improved. Void Slash had evolved. And now, two new options lay before him.
[Skill Development Options Unlocked]
Void Edge – Slices through space itself. Can sever mana-based attacks.
Phantom Blade – Creates an afterimage strike with every slash.
Ren smirked.
Why choose one?
[Skill Development Confirmed – Phantom Blade (LVL 1)]
[Skill Development Confirmed – Void Edge (LVL 1)]
The moment he selected both, a surge of black and violet energy coursed through his sword.
The air warped around the blade, distorting reality itself.
And when he swung, the effect was instantaneous.
A ghostly afterimage followed the strike.
It was like his sword existed in two places at once.
Ren's smirk widened.
This is going to be fun.
Ren set up his usual training area—a stretch of open space in the middle of an abandoned shopping district.
The goal was simple: Strike without wasting movement.
He activated Phantom Blade, swinging at a nearby metal pole.
SHING!
The first slash cut cleanly through.
The afterimage slash followed an instant later, cutting again—
Ren blinked. The pole had been cut into four precise pieces.
He had only swung once.
[Phantom Blade Effect – Every strike creates a delayed afterimage attack.]
So that's how it works…
He tried again, faster.
SHING-SHING-SHING.
Each time, the delayed slash followed his initial attack, doubling his strike count effortlessly.
"Holy shit," Ren muttered.
This wasn't just about speed. This was about overwhelming force.
If someone blocked his attack, the phantom strike would land right after.
A counter they wouldn't see coming.
Ren grinned. Alright. Next test.
Ren turned his attention to the ruined asphalt road beneath him.
He activated Void Edge, channeling mana into his sword.
The blade hummed, its edges flickering with a strange, unstable black light.
He swung downward.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
SHHHHHHK!
A thin, invisible cut spread across the pavement.
A second later, the ground split apart.
The entire street was severed cleanly, as if a giant invisible sword had passed through it.
Ren's eyes widened.
[Void Edge Effect – Bypasses armor and physical resistance, cutting through space itself.]
His sword wasn't just cutting objects anymore.
It was cutting reality.
Ren took a deep breath.
Testing skills in isolation was one thing.
But he needed to see how they worked in an actual fight.
[Activating Combat Simulation]
[Generating Opponent…]
[Enemy Type: Elite Void Beast]
A dark rift opened in front of him, and from within, a creature emerged.
It was humanoid, but its entire body was covered in shifting black mist, its hands elongated into wicked claws.
Its eyes glowed red.
And then—it moved.
The Void Beast lunged at him with terrifying speed.
Ren vanished.
Ren reappeared behind the beast, Blink Stepping mid-motion.
The creature reacted fast, whipping around to slash at him.
But Ren was already gone again.
Blink Step. Teleport to the left.
Blink Step. Teleport behind.
The Void Beast lashed out wildly, unable to track him.
Ren's smirk widened.
This is what it feels like to be untouchable.
He activated Phantom Blade and struck.
The first slash cleaved into the beast's side.
The afterimage slash followed instantly, cutting deeper.
[Direct Hit!]
[Void Beast HP: 72%]
The beast roared, shifting its body to counterattack.
Ren activated Void Edge.
SHHHK!
The moment the beast tried to defend, Ren's sword cut through it effortlessly, bypassing its natural defenses.
[Critical Hit!]
[Void Beast HP: 40%]
The Void Beast staggered back, its form flickering in distress.
Ren didn't give it time to recover.
He blinked directly above it, sword raised high.
Final strike.
He swung downward.
Void Edge tore through the monster's head like paper.
[Simulation Complete – Enemy Defeated]
[Skill Proficiency Increased!]
Ren landed softly as the simulation dissolved.
He sheathed his sword, exhaling.
He could feel it.
The gap between him and Astaroth was still there.
But now—
Now it was smaller.
Just as Ren was about to shut down the training simulation, a new alert appeared.
[Warning!]
[An Unscheduled Dungeon Rift is Forming Near You!]
[Unknown Threat Detected.]
Ren's eyes narrowed.
A real dungeon.
No simulation.
This was a live enemy.
He rolled his shoulders, feeling the energy of his new skills still fresh in his veins.
A grin spread across his face.
"Perfect timing."
He turned towards the forming rift.
"Let's see how strong I've really become."