Chapter 21: The Player Beyond Limits
Hayden approached the Eclipsed Realm, a legendary territory so remote that only myths spoke of its existence. Shadows twisted unnaturally around him, reacting to his presence as if the land itself recognized his power. The air vibrated with magic, heavy and almost sentient.
His System flickered with information. Level fifty-seven, strength four hundred and fifty, agility four hundred eighty, endurance four hundred twenty. Shadow Step at level nine, Enhanced Reflexes level nine, Shadow Manipulation level nine, Shadow Clone level nine, Shadow Merge level eight, Shadow Strike level eight. Hayden allowed himself a small smile. Nothing here could intimidate him. The Player had risen beyond expectations, and this was only the beginning.
Inside the Eclipsed Realm, the terrain shifted constantly. Massive void beasts, spectral dragons, and shadow titans attacked without warning. Hayden moved as one with his shadows. Clones struck from multiple directions, Shadow Manipulation bent the battlefield to his will, and Shadow Strike pierced even the toughest defenses.
Selene moved openly beside him. Her magic wove into Hayden's attacks seamlessly, shielding him from lethal blows and amplifying his strikes. Her presence was unmistakable. Hayden glanced at her mid-battle and caught a flicker of care and determination in her eyes.
"You've become an inseparable force," he said, a faint smile crossing his face.
"Some challenges require everything," she replied calmly, a subtle warmth hidden in her gaze.
At the heart of the Eclipsed Realm, the legendary boss awaited. The Oblivion Phoenix emerged, a creature of pure void and fire, its wings spanning the chamber and distorting reality itself. Hayden activated Shadow Merge, vanishing completely. Clones distracted the Phoenix while he struck with precise Shadow Strikes, each enhanced subtly by Selene's magic.
The battle shook the realm to its core. Shadows and fire collided violently. Hayden's reflexes were preternatural, every movement calculated, every strike devastating. Selene's magic synchronized perfectly with his attacks and defenses. Together, they moved as a single, unstoppable entity.
Finally, with a coordinated strike combining Shadow Manipulation and Shadow Strike, amplified by Selene's magic, the Oblivion Phoenix fell. Its essence poured into Hayden's System, unlocking near-absolute Shadow mastery. Level seventy, stats maxed beyond forbidden SS-Rank, abilities elevated to godlike levels. The Shadow Dagger evolved into the Shadow Dagger of Infinite Cosmos.
Outside the realm, Hayden emerged, shadows swirling around him. Selene stepped closer than ever before, her hand brushing his subtly. "You've become unstoppable," she said softly. Hayden met her gaze, a rare warmth in his eyes. "And I couldn't have done it without you."
The bond between them was undeniable now, forged in battle, strategy, and trust. Unspoken feelings simmered beneath the surface, growing stronger with each shared victory.
Hayden's legend spread across the hunter world. Forbidden territories, legendary artifacts, and godlike enemies were no longer threats they were challenges he overcame with Selene at his side. Allies and rivals alike now debated whether to challenge him, flee, or seek his alliance. The Player's shadow stretched farther than ever before, reshaping the world.
The System pinged a new task. Ascend beyond human limits. Legendary foes and artifacts awaited. The Player was no longer a hunter, no longer simply strong. He was a force beyond comprehension, and beside him, Selene had become more than a partner. She was a constant, a silent anchor, and perhaps the first true connection he had in a world that had once deemed him the weakest.
The hunter world would never be the same.