Raven stood over the shattered remains of the Crystal Golem, his crimson eyes glinting with cold detachment. Slowly, he raised his hand, palm outstretched toward the fallen creature.
"Skill: Gluttony," he said, his voice firm and commanding.
A swirling, grayish-black vortex erupted from his hand, enveloping the crystalline shards of the defeated Golem. The fragments trembled and were pulled into the vortex, their radiant glow dimming as they were consumed. The energy radiating from the absorption was intense, causing the ground beneath him to tremble slightly.
As the last remnants of the Crystal Golem vanished, a series of dings echoed in Raven's mind. **Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!** The sound repeated ten times, signaling something significant. A translucent black screen materialized before him, the glowing text illuminating the darkened forest.
---
**Status Screen Update:**
- **Level Increased:** 15 → 25
- **Health Points (HP):** 750/750
- **Magic Points (MP):** 400/400
- **Strength:** 80
- **Agility:** 75
- **Attack:** 90
- **Intelligence:** 60
**New Skills Acquired:**
- **Crystal Shield:** Temporarily increases defense by creating a hardened crystal barrier.
- **Shard Barrage:** Fires razor-sharp crystal shards at enemies.
- **Regeneration:** Gradually repairs damage over time.
**Skill Evolution:**
- **Gluttony (Stage 1 → Stage 2):** Gains the ability to absorb elemental resistances and store essences for later use.
- **Flock Shift (Base → Shadow Flock Shift):** Now enables teleportation across shadows and creates disorienting decoys upon reappearance.
---
Raven's gaze flicked across the screen as he processed the information. His lips curled into a faint smirk.
"Level 25 already?" he muttered, his tone neutral but edged with satisfaction. "That Golem was worth more than I expected." His eyes lingered on the new skills.
"Crystal Shield," he mused, rolling his hand as if testing the thought. "A defensive barrier. That could be useful against stronger enemies." He glanced at the next skill. "Shard Barrage. Offensive and precise. Interesting."
His eyes narrowed as he read the final skill. "Regeneration," he murmured. "Now this... this is going to be a game-changer. No more worrying about minor injuries holding me back."
The text detailing his evolving skills caught his attention next. Raven's expression shifted slightly as he reread the description of **Gluttony's Stage 2** evolution.
"So now I can absorb elemental resistances," he said, a note of intrigue creeping into his otherwise cold voice. "And I can store essences. That means I'll have even more flexibility in combat." He closed his fist, feeling the power coursing through him.
The update to **Flock Shift** intrigued him as well. "Teleportation through shadows," he muttered. "And decoys? That'll make stealth missions a lot more interesting." He nodded to himself, already strategizing how to incorporate the upgrades into his fighting style.
Taking a deep breath, he closed the screen and let his hand drop to his side. His crimson eyes gleamed as he stared at the empty space where the Crystal Golem once stood.
"This power… it's only the beginning," he said quietly. "If I keep growing at this rate, no one will be able to stand in my way." His voice dropped to a cold whisper. "Not monsters. Not humans. No one."
Raven turned away from the scene, his expression as unreadable as ever. The faint glow of the moon illuminated his path as he walked deeper into the forest, his thoughts racing with possibilities for the future.
Raven stood over the shattered remains of the Crystal Golem, his crimson eyes glinting with cold detachment. Slowly, he raised his hand, palm outstretched toward the fallen creature.
"Skill: Gluttony," he said, his voice firm and commanding.
A swirling, grayish-black vortex erupted from his hand, enveloping the crystalline shards of the defeated Golem. The fragments trembled and were pulled into the vortex, their radiant glow dimming as they were consumed. The energy radiating from the absorption was intense, causing the ground beneath him to tremble slightly.
As the last remnants of the Crystal Golem vanished, a series of dings echoed in Raven's mind. **Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!** The sound repeated ten times, signaling something significant. A translucent black screen materialized before him, the glowing text illuminating the darkened forest.
---
**Status Screen Update:**
- **Level Increased:** 15 → 25
- **Health Points (HP):** 750/750
- **Magic Points (MP):** 400/400
- **Strength:** 80
- **Agility:** 75
- **Attack:** 90
- **Intelligence:** 60
**New Skills Acquired:**
- **Crystal Shield:** Temporarily increases defense by creating a hardened crystal barrier.
- **Shard Barrage:** Fires razor-sharp crystal shards at enemies.
- **Regeneration:** Gradually repairs damage over time.
**Skill Evolution:**
- **Gluttony (Stage 1 → Stage 2):** Gains the ability to absorb elemental resistances and store essences for later use.
- **Flock Shift (Base → Shadow Flock Shift):** Now enables teleportation across shadows and creates disorienting decoys upon reappearance.
---
Raven's gaze flicked across the screen as he processed the information. His lips curled into a faint smirk.
"Level 25 already?" he muttered, his tone neutral but edged with satisfaction. "That Golem was worth more than I expected." His eyes lingered on the new skills.
"Crystal Shield," he mused, rolling his hand as if testing the thought. "A defensive barrier. That could be useful against stronger enemies." He glanced at the next skill. "Shard Barrage. Offensive and precise. Interesting."
His eyes narrowed as he read the final skill. "Regeneration," he murmured. "Now this... this is going to be a game-changer. No more worrying about minor injuries holding me back."
The text detailing his evolving skills caught his attention next. Raven's expression shifted slightly as he reread the description of **Gluttony's Stage 2** evolution.
"So now I can absorb elemental resistances," he said, a note of intrigue creeping into his otherwise cold voice. "And I can store essences. That means I'll have even more flexibility in combat." He closed his fist, feeling the power coursing through him.
The update to **Flock Shift** intrigued him as well. "Teleportation through shadows," he muttered. "And decoys? That'll make stealth missions a lot more interesting." He nodded to himself, already strategizing how to incorporate the upgrades into his fighting style.
Taking a deep breath, he closed the screen and let his hand drop to his side. His crimson eyes gleamed as he stared at the empty space where the Crystal Golem once stood.
"This power… it's only the beginning," he said quietly. "If I keep growing at this rate, no one will be able to stand in my way." His voice dropped to a cold whisper. "Not monsters. Not humans. No one."
Raven stood amidst the injured adventurers, his crimson eyes surveying their battered forms with a detached expression. He spoke, his voice sharp and commanding. "Do you have a healer in your party?"
One of the adventurers hesitated before answering, their voice shaky. "Y-yes, we do."
Raven turned his cold gaze toward the healer. "Start healing," he said bluntly. "If you don't, everyone here will probably die."
The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, causing the group to exchange nervous glances. Fear and despair rippled through them, their resolve faltering. The healer, trembling and stuttering, managed to respond. "Y-yes, sir."
With unsteady hands, the healer raised their staff and chanted, "Skill: Heal."
A glowing circle of light materialized, spreading over the group and bathing them in its warm, soothing glow. The adventurers began to feel the healing magic take hold, their pain dulling as their wounds started to mend. One of the glowing circles drifted toward Raven, enveloping him in its soft radiance.
As the magic washed over him, Raven's thoughts began to stir. He raised his hand, staring at the light around him, and murmured to himself, "Skill: Gluttony."
A grayish-black vortex swirled out from his palm, spiraling upward and consuming the healing magic surrounding him. The light flickered and twisted as it was drawn into the vortex, vanishing entirely. The sight left the adventurers wide-eyed and speechless.
A familiar ding echoed in Raven's mind. **Ding!**
**New Skill Acquired: Heal**
Before Raven could fully comprehend this, another notification appeared:
**Heal Skill Evolving...**
**Evolving Heal Skill...**
The glowing text on the screen intensified for a moment before stopping. A new message appeared:
**New Skill Evolution Complete: Radiant Restoration**
**Description:** An advanced healing skill capable of restoring significant health to all allies within range and purging minor ailments.
Raven's gaze lingered on the screen, his mind processing the implications. "Radiant Restoration," he murmured. "Far more powerful than basic healing. This might be useful." His tone was flat, but there was a hint of satisfaction in his expression.
The healer's voice cut through his thoughts, panicked and trembling. "It's not working! Why isn't it working?" they cried, their hands shaking as they chanted the healing spell again.
The adventurers, still struggling to recover, looked around in confusion. The healer dropped to their knees, their face pale. "I don't understand," they muttered. "Why isn't the healing magic working anymore?"
Raven's hand clenched into a fist, and his mind was suddenly flooded with a painful memory. He saw his parents—their bloodied bodies lying motionless in the wreckage of the crash. Their lifeless eyes stared back at him, the image seared into his soul. His jaw tightened, and his crimson eyes narrowed, darkening with a mix of anger and determination.
The silence grew heavy, broken only by the faint hum of fading magic and the ragged breaths of the injured adventurers. The weight of Raven's past and the present moment hung in the air, colliding in his mind.
Hours later, the adventurer party finally emerged from the dense forest. The leader, Darius, sighed in relief and pointed ahead. "Hey, look, there's the town!"
The other members perked up, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten. They began voicing their thoughts.
"Finally! I thought we'd never make it out of that cursed forest," Taryn muttered, rubbing his neck.
"I can already taste a hot meal and a warm bed," Marcus added with a tired grin.
Liana gazed at the town, her eyes lighting up. "It's huge," she whispered. "And is that a castle in the back?"
Raven watched silently from the trees above, his crimson eyes scanning the sprawling town. The tall stone walls and bustling gates were impressive, but his attention was drawn to the grand castle standing proudly in the background.
"That must be where royalty lives," he murmured to himself. His cold demeanor remained unchanged, but his mind was busy analyzing the structure and the potential opportunities it presented.
He leapt from the branch, his body dissolving into a swarm of ravens. Within moments, he reappeared in front of the adventurers, startling them.
"What the hell?!" Darius shouted, stepping back instinctively. The rest of the group flinched, their faces a mix of shock and fear.
"Where did you come from?" Marcus demanded, his hand twitching toward his weapon.
Liana, however, simply stared at Raven, her earlier blush returning. "It's him again…" she murmured under her breath.
Raven glanced back at them, his expression cold and unreadable. "Thanks for showing me the way out of that hellhole of a forest," he said flatly. Without waiting for a response, he turned and began to walk toward the town.
"Hey, wait! I said wait, asshole!" Darius called after him, his voice filled with irritation.
Raven stopped but didn't turn around.
Darius strode forward, muttering, "What's your problem? You could at least show some gratitude." As he reached out to place a hand on Raven's shoulder, Raven's voice cut through the air like ice.
"Skill: Web Shot."
In an instant, sticky webs shot from Raven's hand, wrapping around Darius and restraining him. The leader struggled against the binding, his expression shifting to shock.
"What the hell is this?!" Darius yelled, trying to break free.
One of the adventurers shouted, "Let him go!" while others voiced their anger and disbelief.
"You can't just attack him!" Marcus yelled, gripping his weapon.
One of the party members, Elys, cast a skill Raven hadn't encountered before. "Skill: Lightning Bolt!" she shouted, and a crackling surge of energy shot toward him.
Raven's eyes narrowed. He extended his hand calmly. "Skill: Gluttony."
The grayish-black vortex swirled out, absorbing the Lightning Bolt midair. The adventurers froze as Raven's screen materialized in front of him. **Ding!**
**New Skill Acquired: Lightning Bolt**
**Skill Details:** A precise, mid-range magic attack that deals electrical damage.
Without another word, Raven dissolved into ravens and vanished. The webs restraining Darius disappeared at the same moment. Raven's cold, disembodied voice echoed around them.
"I don't like to be touched. Learn that next time."
The group stood in stunned silence, their thoughts racing.
"What the hell is with that guy?" Marcus muttered.
Liana, still staring at the space where Raven had been, whispered, "He's… unbelievable." Her cheeks flushed as her mind lingered on his cold yet powerful demeanor.
Darius dusted himself off, his jaw clenched. "Let's just get to the guild. We can't waste any more time on him."
The group nodded, gathering themselves and heading toward the town. Raven, however, wasn't far. He perched silently on a tree branch, watching them leave.
"A guild," he murmured. "That must mean a city. Perhaps it's worth checking out."
His crimson eyes glinted with curiosity as he silently followed them, his presence unnoticed. Minutes later, he arrived at the city gates, his form materializing in front of the guards.
"Who are you?!" one of the guards demanded, startled by his sudden appearance.
Raven's gaze was icy as he replied, "New here. Adventurer."
The guards exchanged glances, still wary, but eventually nodded. "Fine, go ahead," one said, stepping aside.
Raven gave a curt nod. "Thanks."
As the gates closed behind him, he stepped into the bustling streets of the town. The sheer vibrancy of the city caught him off guard, though his expression remained neutral. People laughed and chatted, street vendors called out their wares, and the aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air. Raven observed it all silently, his thoughts churning as he walked deeper into the city.