Keon looked at the three options before him. Mystic Barrier. Rift Barrier. Eclipse Barrier. Each one held unknown potential, but he already knew something—his Eclipse State already made him undetectable and untouchable.
So why would he need Eclipse Barrier?
Even if his real body didn't have the same immunity, he wasn't in immediate danger. He needed something that would give him an advantage in battle, not just defense.
His thoughts raced. If he took Mystic Barrier, it would be raw power. If he took Rift Barrier, it could turn enemy attacks against them.
Mike rolled over on the ground lazily, flicking his tail. "You're taking forever. Just pick one already."
Keon exhaled. He didn't need to be untouchable—he needed control.
"I'll take Rift Barrier."
The system immediately responded:
> Confirm selection: Rift Barrier? Y/N
Adan raised an eyebrow, closing his book with a soft thud. "Oh? Interesting choice."
Keon tapped Yes.
[Skill Acquired: Rift Barrier]
> Description Unlocked:
Rift Barrier – A defensive ability that bends the laws of space. Anything that strikes the barrier will be absorbed and redirected.
• Can send projectiles back at enemies.
• Can store an attack temporarily and release it later.
• Can open small rifts in the barrier to let host attack through while being fully defended.
Keon's eyes widened. This wasn't just a shield—it was a counterattack system.
Mike whistled. "Ooooh, now that's nasty. Imagine someone fires a rocket at you, and you just—" he swiped his paw in the air "—send it right back. Boom."
Adan nodded approvingly. "With this, you can turn any enemy's strength into their downfall."
Keon clenched his fist. This was it. He wasn't just going to survive—he was going to dominate.
Time to go back.
As the system finalized his skill acquisition, Keon stretched his fingers, feeling a strange new awareness of space around him. Rift Barrier… it felt intangible yet absolute, like he had claimed a fragment of the void itself.
Before he could dwell on it, Mike rolled onto his back, lazily swiping the air with his paws. "Oh yeah, before you go—bring me some treats."
Keon blinked. "...What?"
Mike rolled upright, tail flicking. "You know, snacks. I don't know what your world has, but just grab whatever looks delicious. Something crunchy."
Adan sighed, adjusting his glasses. "And bring me some books."
Keon raised an eyebrow. "Books? I don't even know much about my own world."
Adan shrugged. "Exactly. That's why you should bring some back. It's always fascinating to see how different worlds record their knowledge."
Keon exhaled, crossing his arms. "You guys sure are treating this like I'm going on a vacation."
Mike smirked. "We're just making sure you come back."
Keon scoffed, shaking his head. These two were something else.
As Keon activated Rift Leap, the world around him distorted, colors twisting into an unrecognizable void. The sensation was neither falling nor flying—just movement without direction.
Before the scene could fully shift, Mike's voice echoed through the fading space.
"Oh, wait! I should've given him my blessing."
Adan's voice followed, unimpressed. "Then why didn't you?"
Mike casually replied, "Didn't have a use for it in this world."
Adan sighed. "You're impossible."
Keon barely caught their words before the leap completed—before reality snapped back into place.
And just like that… he was back in Esperia.
Keon took a deep breath as the sensation of Rift Leap faded. His vision cleared, and the first thing he noticed was the overwhelming silence.
He looked around—a dead town.
Buildings stood abandoned, their windows shattered, doors left ajar. Rusted modern cars lined the streets, some with their doors open as if their owners had left in a hurry. The pavement was cracked, weeds pushing through the concrete.
Keon sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"At least it's the right world."
He pulled up his System Panel.
---
System Panel
Name: ??? Keon
Title: The Forgotten One
Age: 17
SP:47
Primary Stats:
Strength: 18
Agility: 32
Endurance: 20
Perception: 25
Intelligence: 27
Mystic Affinity: 4
Abilities & Skills:
Eclipse State (Passive)
Rift Leap
Rift Barrier
Rift Storage
Rift Storage Inventory:
Mutated Bone Snake
Big Boulder
Obsidian Hourglass
System Tasks:
Rift Leap Through Worlds (3/20)
Reward: Void Gazer Mask
Equipment:
Cloak of Disguise
---
Keon frowned as he scanned the list.
"Eclipse State? That wasn't here before..."
His fingers hovered over the text, but no additional information popped up.
"Does the system reveal more about itself the more I figure out?"
That thought sent a shiver down his spine. It meant the system wasn't just a tool—it was reacting to him, changing as he learned.
Keon lowered the panel, his eyes scanning the deserted streets. The silence was unnatural, almost suffocating. He needed to figure out what happened here—and fast.
Keon walked through the dead town, his footsteps echoing in the eerie silence. The streets were empty, the air thick with dust and decay. He passed by rusted cars with shattered windshields, their interiors filled with dried leaves and dirt. Some buildings had collapsed entirely, while others stood barely intact, their walls cracked and covered in vines.
He stepped over a fallen streetlamp, glancing at a faded billboard ahead. The words were barely legible, but it seemed to advertise something mundane—maybe a product or a service that no longer mattered in this forsaken place.
Keon sighed. "Just how long has this place been abandoned?"
The lack of bodies was unsettling. No corpses, no bones, nothing. It wasn't just an abandoned town—it was wiped clean.
His instincts told him to stay alert. Even if there were no visible threats, something about the place felt wrong. He kept walking, scanning the area for anything useful or any sign of life.
As Keon wandered the lifeless streets, he couldn't help but remember the first time he arrived in this world—the chaos, the police raid, the desperate escape. Back then, the world had felt alive, filled with danger and activity. Now, it was eerily silent.
He frowned, glancing around at the abandoned town. "Did something happen while I was gone? Or was this place always like this?"
He considered his options. If this town was dead, then he'd need to find another place—preferably a city. The last time he was here, he had barely grasped how this world functioned. If he could find civilization again, he might get some real answers.
Keon sighed. "I need to figure out where the hell I am first."
His eyes scanned the distant horizon. There had to be something out there—a sign, a road, or even just a clue on where to go next.