Chapter 6: The Return
The "Summon Skeleton" skill clearly showed the number of skeletons I could summon. And although I currently don't know how to increase this number, I am confident that I will discover the method with time.
I looked at the glowing words accompanying this skill; it was classified as a "black skill." From the name alone, you could tell it was an overwhelming, even terrifying skill. Add to that that it's listed under the "Death" category, meaning it's not just an individual ability, but belongs to a broader group of branching skills, all sharing one theme: Death and its dominion. This reinforced my belief that the skill can evolve in the future—and perhaps, one day, I'll be able to summon an entire army of skeletons. But that remains just a guess... and time will confirm it.
I finished analyzing this exciting skill, then turned my attention to the "Healing" skill, classified under the "Holy category." It seemed to me that it resembled the summoning skill in terms of structure; it is also part of a broader category that might include other skills with the same luminous or spiritual character.
So, I summarized what I had deduced so far: the "Death" and "Holy" categories contain several branching skills, such as "Summon Skeleton" and "Healing," and each one represents an aspect of that category. This is just a preliminary conclusion, and it might be right or wrong, but only the coming days are capable of revealing the truth.
As I pondered the classifications of these skills, I noticed they support different roles like: Summoner, Warrior, and Support. This mix might seem strange, but in this world, it's not impossible. Power doesn't always follow logic. It doesn't matter how things work, or why they exist in this form. What matters is: Do they lead to a result? That's all that matters.
I kept staring at the window displayed by the "Third Eye" skill, then decided to take a look at my main window, and immediately noticed a new difference:
[Strength]: Wall Level
[Speed]: 30
[Flexibility]: 25
[Talents]: Language Learning
[Traits]: Nothing
[Skills]: Strength (Level 1), Swift as Light (Level 1), Healing (Level 1), Summon Skeleton (Level 1)
A new section dedicated to Skills had been added, gathering all the skills I had acquired so far. It wasn't a strange section; in fact, it was supposed to appear from the beginning. It's odd that it didn't appear after acquiring the first skill, especially after reading the description of the "Third Eye" skill which allows seeing these details.
I continued contemplating the screen before me for several minutes, enjoying its wonderful design, then deactivated the skill and looked around.
I was searching for a way out of this place. I examined the surrounding area and noticed a thin thread of black smoke creeping quietly from one direction, barely visible.
I didn't think much, but followed the trail of smoke as if I had no other choice.
I continued walking along the path from which the smoke came, and noticed that the black mist was becoming thicker and clearer with every step I took.
The black smoke thread and I were walking through a space of dazzling whiteness, like a paradise of light enveloping everything. Then, on the horizon, I saw a huge black dot looming in the distance.
I felt a strange excitement wash over me upon seeing it. I didn't stand hesitantly or in awe; I started walking towards it with steady steps. And with each step, my pace increased, until the dot gradually grew larger in my eyes.
It was a giant gate of pitch-black color, emitting a strange feeling hard to describe—a mix of awe and attraction, as if calling me by a name I couldn't remember. It wasn't just an opening in the void; it seemed like a living being, pulsing with its own energy, silently observing anyone who approached it with majestic silence.
The closer I got, the more I felt a change in the air around me. The white light that had flooded the place began to fade gradually, as if the shadows of the gate were mercilessly absorbing it. It seemed to me that this gate didn't just lead to an exit, but to a completely different world, a world I might not return from as I am.
And when I was a few steps away from it, I felt like a pale insect in front of it, like a small human standing next to a giant who could easily crush him... but this giant, unfortunately, was an inanimate object incapable of doing anything.
I stood in awe as I observed this majestic thing, then stepped inside it with a strange confidence, as if I knew it would take me out of this place.
I entered the black gate and emerged from the realm of bright light into a chaotic expanse of space, then the transition from this place began.
The feeling of crossing through this gate was indescribably painful. It wasn't just physical pain, but a real tearing of my entire being. I felt as if my body were tied with ropes, and each of my limbs was being pulled in an opposite direction... this wasn't just a crossing, but torture.
I gritted my teeth hard, trying not to lose consciousness from the intensity of the pain. It was seconds, but it felt like an eternity.
Then suddenly... the scene darkened before me. And the next moment, I found myself standing in a familiar place, the place I was in before entering the first white gate.
I drew air into my chest with all my might, then let it out slowly. It had a special taste, a taste mixed with the smell of rubble and fires... the taste of destruction.
I slowly opened my eyes to look around, and was surprised by an indescribable scene...