A Step Beyond Mortality
Ray's heart was still pounding. His breath came in sharp gasps as the world around him slowly came back into focus. The dust had yet to settle from his last strike, and the stunned silence of the onlookers was almost louder than the clash of steel moments ago.
He had vanished—for just a moment—but that moment had changed everything.
Across from him, his opponent still stood frozen, sword half-raised, face pale with disbelief. The dull training blade in Ray's hand trembled slightly, not from exhaustion, but from the lingering sensation of whatever had just happened. He had felt it—the strange pull of space bending around him, the rush of air as he reappeared an instant later, cutting through what should have been an impossible distance.
"…What just happened?" One of the spectators finally broke the silence.
Another whispered, "Did he… teleport?"
The murmurs spread like wildfire.
Ray exhaled, trying to steady himself. He looked at his own hands, flexing his fingers. What was that? How did I do it?
It hadn't felt like teleportation exactly—not like the way Grand Magi used spatial magic. No incantations, no ripples of mana—just an instinctive step, as natural as breathing.
Before he could dwell on it further, a sharp voice cut through the whispers.
"That's enough."
A heavy presence swept over the training grounds as Instructor Valen stepped forward. The grizzled swordmaster, a veteran of countless battles, eyed Ray with a look of careful scrutiny. Unlike the younger trainees, there was no shock on his face—only calculation.
Ray straightened instinctively. Valen wasn't the type to be impressed easily.
"Ray." His voice was calm, but firm. "That last move… explain it."
Ray hesitated. He wanted to, but… how could he explain something he himself didn't understand?
"…I don't know." He answered truthfully. "I just—moved."
Valen studied him for a long moment, then gave a short nod. "Very well."
He turned to the rest of the trainees. "Training is dismissed for today."
There was an immediate outcry. "But Instructor—!"
"I said dismissed." His tone brooked no argument. "You've all seen enough."
Reluctantly, the others began to disperse, though many threw lingering glances at Ray. A few whispered among themselves as they left, no doubt speculating about what had happened.
Ray remained still as Valen approached him. "Walk with me."
…..
The sun had begun its descent by the time they reached the swordmaster's quarters, a modest but well-kept space near the training grounds.
Valen motioned for Ray to sit, pouring himself a cup of tea before speaking.
"You realize what you did today wasn't normal," he said, not as a question, but a statement.
Ray nodded. "It didn't feel normal."
Valen took a slow sip before setting his cup down. "There are techniques—high-level ones—that allow warriors to move faster than the eye can follow. But what you did wasn't speed. It was something else." His gaze sharpened. "You disappeared. And then you reappeared somewhere else, cutting through space itself."
Ray clenched his hands. "I don't know how I did it."
The swordmaster leaned back slightly. "That… is both troubling and intriguing."
There was a pause. Then Valen sighed, rubbing his temples.
"I'm not a magus, and I won't pretend to know how magic interacts with swordsmanship on this level," he admitted. "But I do know one thing—abilities like yours will draw attention. Whether you want it or not."
Ray's jaw tightened. He had always wanted to grow stronger. But this—this was different. This wasn't just talent or skill. It was… something beyond mortal limits.
Valen watched him closely. "I'm not going to ask you to suppress it," he said finally. "But you need to control it. Learn what it is, how to use it—before someone else decides to learn it for you."
Ray met his gaze. Someone else?
He didn't have to ask. The world was filled with powerful warriors, ambitious nobles, and secretive factions. If word spread about this ability… there would be those who would want to use it.
Or worse—stop it before it could grow further.
Ray exhaled. "Then I need to train."
Valen smirked. "That was always the plan."
…..
That night, long after the rest of the training ground had emptied, Ray stood alone beneath the moonlight. He gripped his sword tightly, eyes narrowed in focus.
Void Stride.
He remembered the feeling—the way space itself had bent around him, the effortless shift from one place to another.
He took a step forward—and the world blurred.
For a fraction of a second, everything distorted—his body felt weightless, untethered. Then, in a blink, he reappeared several feet ahead, his blade slicing through the empty air.
Ray exhaled sharply. I did it again.
This time, however, he felt something else. Exhaustion.
A deep, draining fatigue settled into his bones, not like normal tiredness, but as if something inside him had been strained.
"So it has a cost…" he muttered, steadying himself.
He would have to be careful. If he overused it in a real fight without knowing its limits… it could be as dangerous to him as it was to his enemies.
Still, despite the exhaustion, a slow grin formed on his lips.
He had something now. Something unique. Something no one else had.
And he was going to master it.
As the night stretched on, Ray continued his training, pushing himself further, testing the very boundaries of reality itself.
Unbeknownst to him, in the shadows of the courtyard, a pair of unseen eyes watched his every move.
And they were very, very interested.
The night was silent, but Ray's instincts screamed otherwise.
He stood alone in the courtyard, sweat dripping from his brow as he steadied his breathing. He had been testing Void Stride for hours, pushing his limits, trying to understand the strange power that had awakened within him. How far could he go? How much could he use before his body gave out?
But now… he wasn't alone.
He could feel it—a presence. Unseen, yet unmistakable. Someone was watching him.
Ray didn't react immediately. He kept his stance relaxed, pretending to stretch his arms, his sword still in hand. But his senses were sharpened, searching the shadows between the training hall pillars, the rooftops, anywhere an observer could hide.
Who?
Was it Valen? Unlikely. The swordmaster would have confronted him directly. Was it one of the trainees? No, they had left long ago.
Then, in a brief flicker of moonlight—a shadow moved.
Ray's grip on his sword tightened. There.
He moved. Fast.
In an instant, he activated Void Stride—the world blurred, space twisted, and he reappeared at the exact spot where the shadow had been.
But there was nothing. Only empty air.
Ray's eyes darted around. Gone? No. They're still here.
Then—
A whisper of wind. A shift in the air.
Ray ducked just in time.
A blade sliced through the space where his neck had been.
…..
Ray twisted on instinct, countering with a sharp swing, but his blade met nothing but air. His attacker had already vanished into the darkness.
Adrenaline surged through him. This isn't a spar. This is real.
Then—movement behind him.
Ray didn't hesitate. He spun, Void Striding mid-motion, reappearing behind his opponent instead. His blade lashed out, and—this time, he struck something solid.
A brief spark of steel against steel.
His attacker had blocked the strike—barely.
For the first time, Ray saw them clearly.
A masked figure, clad in black, their stance low and precise—like an assassin.
A second of silence stretched between them, both measuring the other.
Then the masked figure tilted their head slightly. "Interesting," they murmured. Their voice was smooth, but unreadable. "You really don't know what you are, do you?"
Ray narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"
The assassin didn't answer. Instead, they vanished again.
But this time, Ray was ready.
He didn't wait. He Void Strided forward—not defensively, but aggressively. His sword lashed out, faster than before, cutting into the air where his opponent had reappeared.
A sharp clang—his blade met theirs.
A pause.
Then, the assassin let out a soft laugh. "You're learning quickly."
Ray didn't waste time responding. He pushed forward, attacking relentlessly, forcing his opponent to move defensively.
For the first time… he was on equal footing with someone far above him.
And he was enjoying it.
...
The battle lasted only minutes, but to Ray, it felt like an eternity. His body was burning, Void Stride taking its toll. His opponent was fast, but they had stopped underestimating him.
And then—just as suddenly as they had appeared… they stepped back.
The assassin twirled their blade once and sighed. "That's enough for tonight."
Ray tightened his grip. "You think I'll let you leave after attacking me?"
A smirk. "If I wanted to kill you, you'd be dead."
Ray stilled. He hated to admit it, but… they were right. The assassin had been testing him. Watching him.
"Then what do you want?" he demanded.
A pause.
Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, they said:
"To see what you'll become."
And with that, they disappeared into the night.
Ray stood frozen for a long time, staring at the empty space where his opponent had been.
Something inside him told him this was only the beginning.