Raven stood up slowly, one hand gripping his side where blood seeped through his fingers. His crimson eyes remained sharp despite the pain, fixed on Selene as she turned to face him fully. Her emerald eyes glimmered with amusement as she saw his wound.
She laughed softly, tilting her head. "So, the rookie bleeds after all," she said mockingly. "That strike should've put you down. You've got endurance, I'll give you that. But you're not walking away unscathed." She reached up to touch the cut on her neck, her smirk widening slightly. "Still, it's not every day someone manages to land a blow on me. I'll admit, that was impressive… for a rookie."
Raven ignored her words, his cold expression unchanging as he steadied himself. "Skill: Regeneration," he murmured.
A faint green glow enveloped his body as his wound began to close, the bleeding slowing until it stopped entirely. The gash on his side knitted itself back together, leaving only faint traces of damage behind. Selene's smirk faltered as she watched the process, her amusement quickly replaced by surprise.
Her emerald eyes narrowed. "Regeneration? So, you can heal yourself," she muttered, her voice laced with intrigue. "Interesting. You just keep getting more and more unexpected, don't you?"
Raven's gaze remained steady, his voice cold. "You talk too much."
Selene's smile returned, but it was sharper now, more dangerous. "Alright then, rookie," she said, stepping forward. Her sword began to glow with a swirling mixture of fire, ice, and lightning. "Let's see if you can handle this. Skill: Elemental Surge!"
She slashed her blade through the air, sending a wave of combined elemental energy hurtling toward Raven. The attack crackled with power, flames roaring, ice shards glinting, and arcs of lightning sparking within the surge. Selene laughed, her voice ringing through the field.
"Let's see you heal through that, rookie!" she taunted. "You wanted to play with the big leagues? Then take this and see what it means to face real power!"
Raven's eyes narrowed as the attack approached. Calmly, he raised his hand and said firmly, "Skill: Gluttony."
A swirling, grayish-black vortex appeared in front of him, expanding rapidly. The Elemental Surge collided with the vortex, its energy being pulled in and devoured entirely. Flames, ice, and lightning disappeared into the void, leaving nothing but silence in its wake.
Selene's laughter stopped abruptly as her attack vanished. Her eyes widened in shock, and she took a step back, gripping her sword tightly.
"What the…" she whispered, her voice filled with disbelief. "You absorbed it?"
A familiar ding echoed in Raven's mind, and a translucent screen appeared before him.
---
**New Skill Acquired: Elemental Surge**
**Description:** A powerful attack that combines fire, ice, and lightning elements to overwhelm enemies. Can be modified to focus on a single element for increased potency.
---
Raven's gaze flicked over the details before closing the screen. "Interesting," he said quietly. "This will be useful."
Selene's grip on her sword tightened as she stared at him, her mind racing. "He absorbed it," she thought, her heart pounding. "Not just nullified it—he took it. What kind of ability is that? Gluttony… It's not just powerful, it's terrifying."
She forced a smirk, though the unease in her eyes was clear. "You… You really are something else, rookie," she said, her voice carrying a mix of frustration and reluctant admiration. "I've never met anyone like you."
Raven said nothing, his expression as cold and unreadable as ever. His aura pulsed faintly as he lowered his hand, the field around them silent except for the faint hum of residual energy.
Raven stood up slowly, one hand gripping his side where blood seeped through his fingers. His crimson eyes remained sharp despite the pain, fixed on Selene as she turned to face him fully. Her emerald eyes glimmered with amusement as she saw his wound.
She laughed softly, tilting her head. "So, the rookie bleeds after all," she said mockingly. "That strike should've put you down. You've got endurance, I'll give you that. But you're not walking away unscathed." She reached up to touch the cut on her neck, her smirk widening slightly. "Still, it's not every day someone manages to land a blow on me. I'll admit, that was impressive… for a rookie."
Raven ignored her words, his cold expression unchanging as he steadied himself. "Skill: Regeneration," he murmured.
A faint green glow enveloped his body as his wound began to close, the bleeding slowing until it stopped entirely. The gash on his side knitted itself back together, leaving only faint traces of damage behind. Selene's smirk faltered as she watched the process, her amusement quickly replaced by surprise.
Her emerald eyes narrowed. "Regeneration? So, you can heal yourself," she muttered, her voice laced with intrigue. "Interesting. You just keep getting more and more unexpected, don't you?"
Raven's gaze remained steady, his voice cold. "You talk too much."
Selene's smile returned, but it was sharper now, more dangerous. "Alright then, rookie," she said, stepping forward. Her sword began to glow with a swirling mixture of fire, ice, and lightning. "Let's see if you can handle this. Skill: Elemental Surge!"
She slashed her blade through the air, sending a wave of combined elemental energy hurtling toward Raven. The attack crackled with power, flames roaring, ice shards glinting, and arcs of lightning sparking within the surge. Selene laughed, her voice ringing through the field.
"Let's see you heal through that, rookie!" she taunted. "You wanted to play with the big leagues? Then take this and see what it means to face real power!"
Raven's eyes narrowed as the attack approached. Calmly, he raised his hand and said firmly, "Skill: Gluttony."
A swirling, grayish-black vortex appeared in front of him, expanding rapidly. The Elemental Surge collided with the vortex, its energy being pulled in and devoured entirely. Flames, ice, and lightning disappeared into the void, leaving nothing but silence in its wake.
Selene's laughter stopped abruptly as her attack vanished. Her eyes widened in shock, and she took a step back, gripping her sword tightly.
"What the…" she whispered, her voice filled with disbelief. "You absorbed it?"
A familiar ding echoed in Raven's mind, and a translucent screen appeared before him.
---
**New Skill Acquired: Elemental Surge**
**Description:** A powerful attack that combines fire, ice, and lightning elements to overwhelm enemies. Can be modified to focus on a single element for increased potency.
---
Raven's gaze flicked over the details before closing the screen. "Interesting," he said quietly. "This will be useful."
Selene's grip on her sword tightened as she stared at him, her mind racing. "He absorbed it," she thought, her heart pounding. "Not just nullified it—he took it. What kind of ability is that? Gluttony… It's not just powerful, it's terrifying."
She forced a smirk, though the unease in her eyes was clear. "You… You really are something else, rookie," she said, her voice carrying a mix of frustration and reluctant admiration. "I've never met anyone like you."
Raven said nothing, his expression as cold and unreadable as ever. His aura pulsed faintly as he lowered his hand, the field around them silent except for the faint hum of residual energy.
Selene laughed louder, her emerald eyes blazing with excitement. "Oh, I'm not done yet, rookie! Let's see if you can handle this again. Skill: Elemental Surge!" she shouted.
Her blade shimmered as fire, ice, and lightning crackled along its edge, forming a swirling vortex of elemental power. With a powerful swing, she unleashed the attack toward Raven, the energy roaring as it tore through the air.
Raven stood firm, his crimson eyes narrowing as he gripped his Abyssal Blade tightly. "Skill: Elemental Surge!" he called out, his voice calm and resolute.
The dark energy of his sword flared, and a similar surge of elemental power erupted from his blade. The two attacks met in the center of the field, colliding with a deafening explosion. Fire, ice, and lightning intertwined in a chaotic dance before detonating, sending a shockwave rippling through the air.
Both Raven and Selene were thrown backward, skidding across the ground from the force of the blast. They dug their feet into the dirt, stopping themselves just short of hitting the walls of the testing field. Dust and debris filled the air as silence fell over the battlefield.
Selene was the first to recover, her breath coming in short bursts as she quickly looked up. Her emerald eyes widened in shock as she stared at Raven.
"You… you used my skill?" she stuttered, her voice tinged with disbelief. "How is that even possible? That's my Elemental Surge! And you matched it… perfectly."
Raven stood silently, his crimson eyes unwavering as he processed the situation. His mind raced, analyzing the power he had just unleashed.
"So, this is what it feels like to use Elemental Surge," he thought. "The balance of fire, ice, and lightning… it's raw and destructive. But it's also versatile. I can see why it's one of her signature skills."
He tightened his grip on the Abyssal Blade, its energy still humming faintly in his hand. "Absorbing skills isn't just about copying them. It's about understanding their essence, making them mine. And now, it's part of my arsenal."
Selene straightened, brushing off the dirt on her shoulder. Her shock was quickly replaced by a mixture of curiosity and respect. She fixed her gaze on Raven, her lips curling into a sly smile.
"You're full of surprises, aren't you, rookie?" she said, her tone lighter but still carrying an edge. "First, you absorb my skill. Now, you're using it against me? That's not something just anyone can do."
She rested her sword on her shoulder, her emerald eyes glinting with intrigue. "But I have to ask… what's your deal, Raven? You're not like the others who come through this guild. You're… different. And I don't just mean your powers."
Raven's gaze remained steady, his voice calm as he finally spoke. "Different, huh?" he said quietly. "Maybe. Or maybe I just don't waste my time pretending to be something I'm not."
Selene laughed softly, shaking her head. "You're a strange one, rookie. Cold, calculating, and way too quiet for your own good. But I like that. It's refreshing."
Her expression softened slightly, her tone becoming more thoughtful. "Still, there's something about you that I can't quite figure out. You're strong, no doubt about that. But there's more to you than just raw power. I can feel it."
Raven didn't respond immediately, his mind turning over her words. "Feel it, huh?" he thought. "What exactly is she sensing?"
Selene tilted her head, watching him closely. "Alright then, rookie. You've earned my attention. Let's see where this goes."
Raven narrowed his crimson eyes, his grip tightening slightly on the hilt of his Abyssal Blade. "What do you mean, I've earned your attention?" he asked, his voice calm but tinged with suspicion. He shifted his stance slightly, keeping his guard up.
Selene chuckled softly, lowering her sword. Her emerald eyes softened as she studied him. "Relax, rookie," she said. "You're not in any danger… at least, not from me."
Raven didn't respond, his expression remaining stoic as he waited for her to continue.
Selene sighed and rested her sword on her shoulder, her tone becoming more genuine. "You're not like the others who come through this guild. Most rookies are either full of themselves or completely clueless. But you… you're different. You're calm, focused, and determined. You don't waste time on empty words or pointless bravado. And, well… you've got skills to back it up."
Raven remained silent, his gaze locked on her as she continued.
"When I say you've earned my attention, I mean it," Selene said, her voice firm. "You've shown me that you're more than just another rookie trying to prove themselves. You've got real potential, Raven. And I respect that."
Her words hung in the air, but Raven didn't react outwardly. Inside, his thoughts churned as he processed what she had said.
"Respect, huh?" he thought. "That's not something I hear often. But it doesn't change anything. I'm here to grow stronger, not to win anyone's approval."
Selene's expression shifted slightly, a small smile forming on her lips. "And one more thing," she said. "Congratulations, rookie. You've officially been promoted. Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild."
Raven raised an eyebrow. "Promoted?" he asked, his voice flat but with a hint of curiosity.
Selene nodded. "That's right. You've proven yourself in this test, and you've shown you have what it takes to be a proper adventurer. From now on, you're officially a part of the guild. Consider this test your initiation."
She sheathed her sword and crossed her arms, her emerald eyes glinting with approval. "Not bad, rookie. Not bad at all."
Raven nodded slightly, his expression unchanging. "Thanks," he said simply, his tone devoid of emotion.
Selene's smile widened slightly. "You're welcome. Just try not to get yourself killed, alright? The guild could use someone like you."
Raven didn't respond, his mind already moving to the next step. He turned slightly, his gaze drifting toward the exit of the testing field.
**To be continued...**