The frozen air of Thryndal bit at Ashura's face as he moved through the crystalline forest. Every step carried purpose; the snow crunched underfoot, glittering like shards of glass in the faint morning light. Yet even amid the calm, the land hummed with tension, alive with a pulse older than kingdoms, older than men.
He didn't have to wait long.
A shadow shifted behind the trees, an unnatural ripple in the otherwise serene frost. The ground shook faintly, and a low growl vibrated through the air — not just a sound, but a statement. Ashura's eyes narrowed.
Emerging from the edge of the forest was the first monster of Thryndal: a Frostfang Behemoth. Standing nearly four meters tall, its body was sheathed in jagged ice armor, frost curling from its fangs and claws like curling blades. Eyes glowed a sickly cerulean, and even from fifty meters away, Ashura could feel its aura: calamity level, the system whispered silently, almost approving of the challenge.
Ashura's hand brushed the hilt of his sword, and a faint purple electricity arced across his skin, the energy of Amethyst Lightning flowing through every vein.
Amethyst Lightning, he reminded himself, is the natural manifestation of the life-force and willpower combined with the system's divine spark. It amplifies speed, perception, and attack output in a way ordinary lightning cannot. Unlike normal elemental lightning, it doesn't just burn or shock; it flows into the body, enhancing reflexes, intuition, and instinctive combat decisions.
And then there was the gift of the Nameless One, the black lightning, upgraded from his prior authority, now called Transcend Wrath. A black halo formed faintly behind his head, each pulse of energy like a heartbeat.
Why black lightning?
Ashura recalled the vision he had been given by the Nameless One. When Leios—the Nameless One—fell protecting The One, the power that had been seeded within him was pure judgment, raw authority over existence itself. It wasn't colored by morality or sentiment; it was finality, inevitability, destruction carved into energy. The black was the absence of restraint, the shadow of wrath made manifest.
And it resonated with his own Amethyst Lightning. Purple and black — two halves of a whole. The purple was the self, the will, the life and drive of the wielder. The black was the raw judgment, the authority from the Nameless One, which could bend existence in small ways to enforce will or destroy obstacles. Together, they harmonized; one guided, one commanded. One reflected intent, the other enforced it.
Ashura flexed his fingers, lightning curling across his arm. His current stats were sharp in his mind now:
Level: 79
Health: 10,450 / 10,450
Mana: 14,200 / 14,200
Strength: 865
Speed: 1,220
Endurance: 990
Intelligence: 870
Willpower: 1,150
Charisma: 320
Abilities & Authorities:
Storm Veins: Natural lightning flow enhancing physical abilities Aether Conduction: Absorb certain elements and redirect Judgment Spark: Focused purple lightning burst piercing defenses Transcend Wrath (Level 1): Black lightning manifestation with black halo, amplified damage, environmental control, and enhanced reflexive response in combat Summons (Erevos & other Wraiths): Assist in battle, fight independently System Passive Rewards: Stat boosts, skill mastery, elixirs, gear creation
The Frostfang Behemoth roared, ice shards tumbling from its shoulders, charging straight for him. Ashura's boots dug into the frozen ground as Transcend Wrath ignited around him. Black and purple lightning coiled around his frame, illuminating the frost in violent flashes.
With a casual smirk, he muttered, "Let's see if the north is going to bore me or break me first."
He launched forward, lightning snapping along his limbs. Each step carried force like a hammer on the snow, his shadow stretching unnaturally long in the rising sun. The Frostfang Behemoth swung its massive claw, ice chipping and cracking where it met the ground, but Ashura bent his body around it with preternatural reflexes enhanced by the Amethyst Lightning.
A strike of black lightning shot from his hand, lancing into the Behemoth's armored chest. The ice sizzled and shattered where it made contact. The purple energy intertwined with the black, burning not just flesh but also compressing the Behemoth's aura, making it flinch under the weight of divine authority.
The monster roared again, eyes locking onto him with predatory precision. Ashura's grin widened. "Not bad… but I'll break you before you break me."
As the battle raged, he analyzed every movement: the snap of claws, the hiss of frost, the rhythm of its charge. Each swing of his sword carved lightning in the air, arcs of black and purple illuminating the battlefield like twin storms.
The Amethyst Lightning gave him speed, precision, and instinctive flow in combat. The Black Lightning, Transcend Wrath, forced the monster into compromise, twisting its attacks subtly, redirecting its momentum, amplifying each strike's impact beyond mortal capability.
One hand gripped his blade; the other crackled with raw judgment. Every strike, every dodge, every surge of energy displayed a symphony of force, precision, and authority. Ashura wasn't just fighting — he was orchestrating a storm.
Above the snow-crusted ground, his black halo shimmered, a faint aura of absolute command. Each strike against the Frostfang Behemoth left him slightly drained, but the system subtly compensated: the recent system rewards had given him passive mana regen, minor stamina recovery, and an energy buffer. Still, it was Ashura Bellet's skill, intuition, and ruthlessness that made the difference.
This was more than power; it was the weight of history. The Nameless One's wrath, the Amethyst Lightning of his own life-force, and the precision honed through countless battles — from the Tower of Silence to the God's Ruin — all converged in this one fight.
The Frostfang Behemoth roared again, staggering from a final strike that fused black and purple lightning into a spear, piercing its heart of ice. Snow exploded around it as it collapsed, shaking the frozen ground.
Immediately, the system appeared:
System Update:
Monster Defeated: Frostfang Behemoth EXP Gained: 12,450,000 Level Up: 79 → 81 Reward: 1 Rare Soul Crystal, 3 System Points New Quest Available: Explore Thryndal, uncover hidden remnants of the old gods
Ashura smirked, wiping a streak of frost from his cheek. "Welcome to the north," he muttered. "Let's see who else wants to make me smile… or die trying."
And as the wind howled through the crystalline forest, the faint flicker of black and purple lightning danced across his figure, the herald of storms yet to come.