Night swallowed the dungeon in blue light.
There was no rest period. No safety barrier. Only darkness, twisted trees, and the distant howls of beasts.
Zael moved through the forest with Lily beside him.
They hadn't separated since they met.
Every monster they encountered, they hunted together.
And every time…
Zael let her strike first.
A horned lizard-beast crawled from between the rocks.
Lily vanished in a ripple of space and reappeared behind it, cutting cleanly through its neck.
Light burst from its body.
[Kill confirmed]
[Points gained: +180]
[Total points (Lily): 8,210]
Zael watched quietly.
"You could've taken that one," Lily said.
"You were closer."
He smiled but said nothing.
"Why aren't you going all out",She asked with a confused expression. "I know you're much stronger than you look and I sure as hell don't believe you're just a common rank awakener so what's going on".
"Don't you think you're asking a tad bit too many questions for someone I just met a few hours ago",Zael countered with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"I'm just curious that's all", She mumbled in reply.
Zael smiled and said nothing.
They continued deeper into the forest.
--
They had been walking for a few minutes when suddenly figures emerged from behind broken pillars.
Three nobles.
And one man standing slightly ahead of them.
Golden light faintly wrapped around his body.
Lily's expression changed instantly.
"…It's him."
Zael looked at her. "The one from before?"
She nodded. "The one who ordered the attack when we first met."
The man smiled faintly. "Still alive, Spatial Walker. And you brought the same companion."
Selvig stepped forward, hammer resting on his shoulder.
"Kill them. Points are points."
Zael's grip tightened.
They charged.
The nearest noble rushed Lily.
Zael moved first.
His blade pierced the man's chest.
Light swallowed the body.
[Kill confirmed]
[Points gained: +120]
[Total points: 3,940]
Another noble tried to retreat.
Zael appeared in front of him and cut downward.
[Kill confirmed]
[Points gained: +110]
[Total points: 4,050]
Lily warped behind the third noble.
Space folded.
Her blade pierced through his back.
[Kill confirmed]
[Points gained: +130]
[Total points (Lily): 8,340]
Selvig roared and swung his hammer.
Zael slipped inside the arc and stabbed into his thigh joint.
Metal cracked.
Selvig screamed and activated his surrender rune.
Light swallowed him whole.
The golden man stepped forward.
"You're faster than before," he said calmly. "But speed won't save you."
Lily whispered, "That's him. Don't underestimate him."
Zael nodded once.
They attacked together.
Golden energy clashed with steel.
Shockwaves tore through the forest.
Zael's arms trembled as he blocked, but he didn't retreat.
Lily vanished.
Space bent.
She reappeared at the man's flank.
Zael struck at the same time.
The man raised his arm too late.
Light exploded around him.
[Kill confirmed]
[Points gained: +600]
[Total points: 4,650]
Silence returned.
A projection appeared before Zael.
[Current Rank: 47]
He had broken into the top fifty.
Lily checked her own ranking.
[Current Rank: 2]
She stared at the number… then at Zael.
"You're still not going all out," she said quietly.
Zael sheathed his blade. "We should move."
"You keep letting me take the kills," she continued. "You could've finished him yourself."
"I told you, don't ask what you shouldn't know".
They walked deeper into the forest.
Lily's eyes lingered on his back.
What are you hiding…?
The dungeon howled again.
And the night went on.
---.
The forest changed.
The blue glow of the dungeon dimmed as if swallowed by something vast and breathing. Even the wind vanished.
Lily stopped walking.
"…Zael."
Ahead of them, the trees were bent inward, snapped like broken bones. The ground had been scorched black in a wide circle.
Something moved in the darkness.
Two crimson eyes opened.
A massive shape crawled forward — plated in black chitin, its body resembling a fusion of a panther and a centipede. Lightning-like patterns pulsed across its shell.
The dungeon notification appeared:
[Rare Elite: Night Devourer (Second-Class Evolution)]
Lily inhaled sharply.
"…This isn't meant for solo hunters."
Zael felt it too.
The pressure rolling off the beast was heavier than anything they had faced.
For awakeners around level 15, this was a death sentence.
The Night Devourer screamed.
The sound tore through the trees.
And it charged.
---
Lily vanished first.
Space folded as she reappeared above the beast, slashing downward.
Her blade struck—
—and bounced.
Sparks burst.
The beast's tail lashed.
Zael shoved her aside as the tail smashed into the ground, carving a crater.
They separated instinctively.
Zael rushed in from the flank, blade glowing.
He struck at a joint.
The blade bit in slightly.
But the beast twisted and slammed him away.
Zael rolled through the dirt, stopping with one knee down.
"Armor's too thick," Lily said, breathing fast. "It's regenerating."
The Night Devourer reared up.
Black mist poured from its mouth.
The mist solidified into clawed shadows that rushed them.
Zael cut through one.
Another slammed into his chest and sent him sliding backward.
[Minor injury detected]
They fought.
And fought.
Minutes passed.
Trees collapsed. Craters formed.
But the beast barely slowed.
Its wounds closed.
Its eyes burned brighter.
Lily's breathing turned ragged.
"…Zael," she said quietly. "If this keeps going…"
He knew.
She was mythical grade.
And still, they were losing.
The beast leaped.
Straight for Lily.
Zael moved without thinking.
He appeared between them and raised his blade.
The impact crushed him into the ground.
Pain exploded through his bones.
[Warning: Vital damage approaching threshold]
Zael coughed.
Blood filled his mouth.
So this is it…
He looked at Lily.
She was already charging back, space twisting wildly.
No more hiding.
No more pretending.
Zael whispered:
"Ascendant Echo."
---
The world froze.
A silver system window unfolded before him.
[Skill Activated: Ascendant Echo]
Sub-trait
Description:
Allows the user to fully synchronize with the recorded existence of Zane.
Temporarily grants access to all of Zane's skills and talents.
User's attributes are superimposed with Zane's attributes.
Duration: 3 minutes
Side Effects: Severe bodily strain, internal damage, post-use exhaustion.
Zael's body ignited in silver light.
Power flooded him.
His muscles screamed.
His bones cracked and reforged in the same breath.
His vision sharpened.
Another window appeared.
---
[STATUS — ZAEL]
Strength: 68 (142)
Agility: 74 (155)
Vitality: 70 (138)
Perception: 81 (160)
Mana: 95 (220)
(Values in brackets represent superimposed attributes.)
---
Another panel unfolded.
[TALENTS]
Supreme Blessing (Mythical):
Allows all lower-grade talents to evolve beyond their limits.
Passively enhances compatibility with all skills.
Ascendant Echo (Mythical):
TRAIT---
Creates perfect autonomous clones based on user's current state.
Clones inherit skills and partial talents.
Clone can also learn skills and awaken new talents.
Damage taken by clones transfers as fatigue, not injury.
SUB-TRAITS
Ascendant---
Synchronizes user with Clone
Grants full access to Clone talents, skills, and attributes for limited time.
Echo clone --
Creates temporary clones with fifty percent health value of the host.
---
[SKILLS]
Blade Domain (Legendary):
Establishes a controlled combat field where user's blade speed and precision are enhanced.
Void Step (Legendary):
Instant short-range displacement without spatial distortion.
Resonance Strike (Mythical):
Converts absorbed force into destructive counterattacks.
Night Sever (Legendary):
Delivers a strike that bypasses armor and damages internal structures.
Phantom Split (Legendary):
Splits movement into layered afterimages, confusing perception. Clones have equal attack value but cannot use skills or talents.
---
Zael exhaled.
Silver light wrapped around him like armor.
Lily stared.
"…Zael?"
He stepped forward.
The Night Devourer roared and lunged.
Zael vanished.
Void Step.
He reappeared above the beast's head.
Blade Domain unfolded.
The air bent.
He struck.
Night Sever.
The blade passed through the chitin as if it didn't exist.
Black blood sprayed.
The beast screamed.
Shadow tendrils exploded outward.
Zael raised his arm.
Resonance Strike.
The impact reversed.
The tendrils were blown apart like mist.
The Night Devourer reared up, summoning its full aura.
Dark lightning crackled.
It slammed both claws down.
Zael caught them.
The ground collapsed under his feet.
His arms trembled.
Then he twisted.
Phantom Split activated.
Three afterimages attacked at once.
The real strike landed between the creature's eyes.
The beast staggered.
Zael summoned Echo Clone.
Two silver figures appeared beside him.
They attacked simultaneously.
Blade after blade.
Cracks spread across the Night Devourer's shell.
It howled in agony.
Zael felt his organs burning.
Blood leaked from his nose.
Time's almost up.
He gathered everything.
Mana surged.
Resonance Strike.
Night Sever.
Blade Domain collapsed inward.
He thrust.
Straight through its core.
The Night Devourer froze.
Its eyes dimmed.
Then its massive body shattered into light.
[Kill confirmed]
[Points gained: +2,300]
[Total points: 6,950]
[Rank:15]
Zael fell to one knee.
The silver light vanished.
Pain returned tenfold.
He let himself collapse.
Lily rushed to him.
"Zael!"
He forced a weak smile. "Guess… I overdid it…"
Blood trickled from his lips.
He deliberately slowed his breathing.
Let his limbs shake.
Let his vision blur.
The system healed his injuries quietly.
But he acted as if it didn't.
"…I think I'm… done for tonight…"
Lily clenched her fists.
She stared at him — not with fear.
But with something close to disbelief.
What… are you really?
The dungeon howled again in the distance.
And Zael lay there, pretending to be broken.
While the truth waited behind his closed eyes.