Miguel awoke to an unsettling silence. The forest around him felt alive, shadows stretched unnaturally, mist curled around twisted roots, and a low hum vibrated through the air. His body no longer felt human; every muscle, every nerve, pulsed with unfamiliar energy.
He flexed his fingers and felt it the void. A cold, inky sensation that responded to his will. The status window from his vision returned, etched in his mind:
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[User: Deceased]
[Hidden Class Unlocked]
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Class: Void Revenant Ranger (Mythic – Unique)
Level: 1
Title: The Black Requiem
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A rustle in the underbrush drew his attention. Two small, bat-like shapes darted between the trees, screeching with hooked claws.
"Skitterbats," he muttered, studying them. Their wings are thin but sharp-edged, like broken sails. Claws long and hooked—perfect for ambushing from above. Small, yes—but fast enough to tear open an unprepared soldier in seconds.
They attacked in unison, relentless and quick. Bullets from his rifle barely grazed them. Shadows coiled around his arm, forming dense, inky mist.
Void Step!
In a blink, he vanished and reappeared behind the first Skitterbat. His dagger struck cleanly, and the creature collapsed. The second one screeched, flapping wildly, but Miguel twisted midair to avoid its claws and plunged his dagger into its side. Both were down before the forest could register the noise.
The ground trembled, snapping his focus to the next threat. Branches cracked overhead, and a massive, black-scaled beast emerged from the mist. Its amber eyes glowed like molten gold, muscles rippling beneath jagged scales.
A Shadowfang.
Miguel's heart raced. It's enormous… like a wolf fused with a crocodile. Thick, jagged scales cover its body, and those eyes… they calculate every move I make.
Every instinct screamed to run, but he moved before his mind could. Void Step whisked him behind the Shadowfang just as it swung a claw capable of crushing bone. His dagger bit into the hide, drawing first blood. The beast roared, circling him.
From the treetops, a moss-covered humanoid dropped a Vinecrawler, its bark-like fingers stretching to entangle him. Bark-like skin blends perfectly with the trees. Its arms are long and whip-like. Small, yes but deadly in an ambush. Miguel quickly marked it with Requiem Mark, freezing it in place, and struck again to finish it off.
Then a chill washed over him. From the mist, a semi-transparent figure floated toward him a Forest Wraith. Its form flickered in and out of visibility, humanoid yet unnatural, exuding a cold, life-draining aura. Every second it touches you, energy bleeds away, like your life is being unmade.Miguel dodged its first swipe with Void Step, then slashed his dagger into its torso as it fully materialized. The Wraith hissed and dissipated into mist.
The Shadowfang growled again, circling, more cautious now. Miguel's mind raced. I can't just rush it… one mistake and it's over. He timed his movements carefully, dodging each massive strike while countering with precise dagger slashes into the exposed gaps between its scales. Blow by blow, the beast weakened until, with a final pained roar, it collapsed.
Minutes felt like hours. Sweat dripped down Miguel's face as he dropped to a knee, breathing heavily. The forest was silent now, save for the occasional rustle of leaves. He had survived, but the encounter had been a warning: the world was alive, evolving, and predators were everywhere.
After catching his breath, Miguel's vision cleared, and the familiar status window appeared, showing his growth after the battle.
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- Name: Miguel Ramirez
- Class: Void Revenant Ranger
- Title: The Black Requiem
- Level: 2
- EXP: 60 / 200
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- Core Stats:
Strength: 18
Agility: 18
Stamina: 20
Perception: 16
Intelligence: 15
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- Affinity:
Void Affinity: 12
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- Passive Skills:
Death Threshold: Detects nearby life forms and senses death energy.
Hunter of the Abandoned: Enhanced survival instincts and tracking.
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- Active Skills:
Void Step (Lvl 1): Teleport through shadows to dodge or reposition.
Requiem Mark (Lvl 1): Marks a target to take increased damage and slow movement.
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- Health: 240 / 240
- Energy: 130 / 175
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- Equipment: Standard Military Rifle, Combat Knife
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Miguel felt the surge of power coursing through him. Even without seeing XP prompts, he knew he had grown stronger in every way. His body was sharper, his senses keener, and his instincts more precise.
The forest was alive, predators lurked everywhere, and he Obsidian, the Black Requiem was learning how to survive, fight, and dominate in this new world.
He crouched behind a fallen log, whispering to himself.
"From now on… I survive on my terms."
The hum of the evolving forest pulsed in his ears, and the first true taste of his new life began.