The world was merciless. Kael already knew that.
But he held something no one else did—the Rebirth Core.
A key that bent the system's rigid rules. Others locked themselves into a single branch, a single destiny. Kael could take pieces from many… weave them into something new.
A class that belonged to him alone.
Exhilarating. Terrifying.
He drew a slow breath. Energy thrummed through his veins, brushing against his skin like an invisible tide.
Balance mattered.
Too much offense, and he would crumble. Too much defense, and he'd never strike fast enough. He needed it all—mobility to dodge, healing to endure, buffs to hit harder, defense to survive, and something wide enough to clear a group.
"I need to cover every angle," he murmured, fingertips brushing the hilt of his blade. The metal bit cold into his fingers, grounding him. "Or I won't last."
The system pulsed.
Branches unfurled, glowing lines twisting like living veins, reaching toward him. A faint scent of ozone cut the air. A low vibration throbbed in his chest, syncing with the pulse of the interface.
He leaned closer, eyes scanning each path. Shadow Arts glimmered at the edge of the display. Stealth. Precision. Control. Every line seemed alive, stretching, curling, whispering possibilities.
Kael hesitated, breath shallow, heart hammering. One wrong choice, one misstep, and he would waste precious potential. His fingers hovered just above the branch. The hum of energy pressed against him, insistent yet patient.
"…Alright," he murmured, letting his hand settle on the Shadow Arts path. A spark of light ran up his arm, warm, thrilling. The branch pulsed, unfurling further, as if it recognized him.
A subtle thrill shivered through Kael. This was the first step. The moment he committed, the path opened, and he could not turn back.
[SKILLS UNLOCKED]
You unlocked Shadow Arts skill Shadowstep!You unlocked Shadow Arts skill Veil of Shadows!You unlocked Shadow Arts skill Shadow Cloak!You have used 6 SP.
A strange sensation coursed through him as the skills unlocked, power flowing deep within, sparking something alive.
[Shadow Arts Skill]
Shadowstep (Active – Mobility): Teleport a short distance to a targeted location, leaving a decoy behind for 3 seconds. Generates Shadow Energy. Cooldown: 8 seconds.
Veil of Shadows (Active – Buff): Enter stealth for 6 seconds, increasing movement speed by 20%. Attacking or using abilities breaks stealth but grants bonus critical damage for the next attack. Cooldown: 12 seconds
Shadow Cloak (Passive – Defensive): Reduces detection range by enemies and increases evasion by 10% while in stealth.
He tested them, each skill sending a shiver of satisfaction through him.
Shadowstep made the world pause for a brief moment as he teleported across the room, leaving a ghostly afterimage behind.
Veil of Shadows blurred his movements, faster, sharper, unseen.
Shadow Cloak wrapped him in a faint haze, fading him from sight, an afterthought in anyone's perception.
Each skill became an extension of him—more than tools, more than tricks. They formed a part of his core now, shaping him as he shaped them.
Kael stepped back, heart pounding. This was growth. Not just through sheer force, but through understanding, through becoming something greater than the sum of his parts.
But more waited. He wasn't done.
Next, he reached for Phantom Blades, selecting Shadowfang, a quick dual-strike attack. Perfect for burst damage from stealth.
You unlocked Phantom Blades skill Shadowfang!You have used 2 SP.
[Phantom Blades Skill]
Shadowfang (Active – Offensive): A quick dual-strike attack that deals bonus damage if performed from stealth. Generates Shadow Energy.
Energy hummed through his body. The dual strikes flowed smoothly, a perfect complement to his newfound speed. Clean. Precise. Swift. Efficient.
Finally, he turned to Venomcraft. Crowd control. Area damage. Weakening enemies. Virus Cloud. He imagined it spreading, enemies faltering, healing halved, poisoned and struggling.
You unlocked Venomcraft skill Virus Cloud!You have used 3 SP.
[Venomcraft Skill]
Virus Cloud (Active – AOE): Releases a poisonous cloud in a radius, dealing damage over time and reducing enemy healing effects by 50%. Cooldown: 12 seconds
One skill remained—survival. Venomous Reprieve. Healing siphoned from the poison he spread, sustaining him through drawn-out fights.
Without hesitation, Kael selected it, spending 4 SP.
His body trembled as the skill unlocked, a subtle but powerful surge of energy filling him. The healing would draw from his poison, balancing offense with endurance.
You unlocked Venomcraft skill Venomous Reprieve!
[Venomous Reprieve (Combo – Healing)] Trigger a burst of poison from all affected enemies, healing you for a portion of the damage dealt
Healing energy flowed through him like a soothing balm. Relief spread deep inside—no longer at the mercy of long battles. The poison would harm foes and sustain him simultaneously.
Kael exhaled, letting the rhythm of information settle. His heart raced—not with excitement, but with focused intent. He had the tools. Now, he had to make them work together.
The notifications faded. He drew a deep breath.
Skills unlocked. But what next? Rush into battle? Seek power? Or pause, understand, and hone them first?
"Mastery requires patience," he murmured, echoing the Entity's advice. He would not rush. The skills demanded comprehension and precision, not recklessness.
The Entity's voice rippled through his mind. The real challenge has only just begun.
Kael clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the power he had just claimed. This was only the beginning. He wasn't the same person who had entered this world; his core had shifted.
Suddenly, a new notification chimed, cutting through his thoughts.
[Tutorial Quest: Awaken Class completed!][Tutorial Quest: Unlock a Skill completed!]Tutorial Quest Progress: 4/5You have unopened rewards!
Kael blinked, momentarily distracted by the sudden influx of information. He had almost forgotten the tutorial system.
Curiosity gnawed at him. Unopened rewards… he wasn't sure what they held, but he felt the pull of significance.
He hesitated only a moment before pressing the notification.