The night air was sharper than ever, each breath of wind carrying a biting chill that seemed to seep into Ren's bones. He paused among the rubble of Sector 3-D, senses attuned to every sound: the creak of twisted metal, the distant drip of water pooling in shattered gutters, the faint rustle of something moving just beyond sight. His heart hammered, not from exhaustion but from anticipation—he knew the white serpent lingered here, even if its form had vanished moments ago.
Suddenly, a blast of frigid air swept down the street, frosting the edges of his vision. Ren's breath puffed into mist as a long, pale shape slid from the shadows, eyes like frozen stars locking onto him. Before he could steady himself, the creature struck. He dove aside, the impact shattering the concrete beneath where he had stood, sending fragments of stone scattering. Pain lanced through his side as he rolled, coming up with blades in hand and retreating to gain distance.
His panel flickered in his mind: Frost Serpent—Level 10. He swallowed, recalling how nothing else had unsettled him as much as its silent appearance. Now, it moved with predatory grace, weaving around debris as frost gathered at its mouth. Ren ducked behind a rusted car just as a pulse of icy mist erupted, coating the metal and chilling his legs until they ached. But he forced himself to move again.
He burst from cover in a single fluid motion, feinting left and sliding beneath the serpent's coiled body. His blades pierced its underbelly; the creature shrieked, exhaling clouds of frost that began to encase Ren's sleeves and cheeks. He held firm, dragging his blade along its scales, then leapt clear as it writhed violently. When it lunged again, fangs flashing, Ren met it mid-air, twisting and driving his second blade through the roof of its mouth. A final, deafening hiss escaped the beast, then its form went limp. Its long body collapsed in an instant .
Ren sank to his knees, lungs burning. The rush of heat followed almost immediately—a familiar surge as Devourer activated. He closed his eyes against the cold and the adrenaline, feeling energy flow through him. The serpent's corpse shivered as dark mist coalesced and consumed it, leaving no trace except the echo of power leaving his veins.
When he opened his eyes, he saw the faint glow of a core nestled at the center of the fallen beast. It hovered just above the ground, a marble-sized orb pulsing with icy light, faint mist spiraling around it. He approached cautiously. Reaching out, he felt the hum of energy at its surface. Instinctively, Devourer responded: the core dissolved in his palm, its essence merging into him. He sensed the gained 200 experience settling into his being, the total Devour Points and Energy Points rising together—though the precise increment he did not dwell upon, only noting the new totals when he opened his panel afterward.
With effort, Ren stood and activated his status display in his mind. The panel outlined his new standing:
[Status Panel – Ren Kurozawa]
Level: 10
EXP: 250/1000
Devour Points: 144
Energy Points: 144
Main Talent: Devourer
Acquired Talents:
Swift Speed
Night Sight
Quick Recovery
Scent Suppression
Minor Regeneration
Enhanced Reflex
Vibration Sense
Adrenaline Burst
Silent Steps
Pain Dampening
Danger Instinct
Frost Manipulation
Attributes:
Strength: 21
Agility: 27
Endurance: 20
Intelligence: 16
Perception: 19
He absorbed the numbers without surprise. His body pulsed with warmth that chased away the lingering frost. Frost Manipulation had awakened, a new skill he could inspect further. He summoned its description: the ability to form and control ice and cold, from subtle chills to sharper, blade-like formations—a power that now lay dormant within him, waiting for practice.
As he reviewed the panel, a system notice appeared: Skill Fusion Available by using devouring points. He scrolled through his acquired talents and saw some faintly highlighted—potential candidates for fusion. Yet the notice clarified that fusion required perfect compatibility: only talents that aligned with one hundred percent synergy could combine. Ren considered possibilities—Swift Speed and Enhanced Reflex might mesh, or Night Sight with Danger Instinct—but he did not yet know which pairs truly matched. He decided to leave fusion for a future trial, when he could research compatibility more deliberately.
Another detail caught his attention: Energy Points could now be spent to upgrade skill levels, enhancing his talents beyond their basic form. Each skill could be refined or strengthened through practice or focused investment. Frost Manipulation, fresh and raw, beckoned: he could allocate points to deepen his control, hone subtleties of temperature and structure. But tonight, with dawn approaching and his body still throbbing from battle, he chose caution. He would return home, rest, and plan carefully how to distribute his points.
He lingered a moment beside the fallen serpent, staring at the spot where it had collapsed. The ruins were silent except for the faint drip of melting frost. He recalled how this creature had felt different—ancient, intelligent, almost as if it had tested him rather than attacking blindly. That encounter left a chill deeper than any frost: a sense that there were greater threats lurking beyond, beasts or forces he had yet to imagine.
Ren straightened, brushing snow-damp hair from his face. He sheathed his blades, tightening his jacket against the cold. With one last look at the ruins, he began the long walk back. He kept to shadows, avoiding any watchers. If someone saw him now—bloodied, eyes sharper than before—they might suspect him . He had to remain Unknown
As he moved through the empty streets, his mind raced with plans: how to test Frost Manipulation safely, how to determine skill compatibility for future fusion. The world beyond these ruins was shifting too fast for comfort—reports of higher-level beasts sighted near city outskirts, rumors of new talents emerging with unpredictable effects. He needed every advantage.
By the time he slipped back into his room, the first pale light of dawn was edging the horizon. He shut the window against the cool air and collapsed onto the bed, muscles exhausted yet restless. Sleep would be fleeting. He would wake early to train Frost Manipulation, perhaps in the abandoned courtyard behind his school or in some hidden spot he had scouted. He would study compatibility of talents mentally, cataloging their nature and potential overlaps. He would prepare for the Awakening Ceremony and the dangerous days beyond.
His panel floated before his closed eyes as he drifted toward uneasy rest—reminders of power gained and challenges ahead. The white serpent's defeat marked a milestone, but it also heralded something more: a world where every step forward would demand ingenuity, stealth, and unwavering resolve. Ren Kurozawa embraced the weight of that path. He had reached Level 10, but he knew this was only the beginning of trials darker and larger than any he had faced.
And as the purple dawn light filtered into his room, he steeled himself for what tomorrow would bring.
End of Chapter 5