The reason Kai didn't bring any weapons or supplies with him was simple: he didn't need them. The location of the inheritance wasn't some dungeon or battlefield. It was actually a safe zone. More than that, it was a spa. A literal high-end resort in the mountains. The kind of place nobles used to relax, where the rich paid extra to soak in mana-infused hot springs. The novel had mentioned it briefly, calling it one of the biggest ironies in the story. A legendary inheritance, hidden in plain sight, inside a luxury spa. It was so ridiculous, most people never even considered looking there. But Kai knew better.
He made his way up the path, ignoring the sound of birds, the soft bubbling of water in nearby pools, and the quiet chatter of guests wrapped in towels or robes. When he reached the main entrance, he stopped right in front of the large stone arch that marked the resort's threshold. People were going in and out casually, completely unaware of what was hidden within.
Kai didn't hesitate. He stood tall, took a deep breath, and yelled loud enough for everyone nearby to hear:
"Me. Me. ME. Me me me me me me. GIVE IT TO MEEEEE."
A few people turned to stare. One woman in a towel gave him a look like he was insane. Someone behind the front desk leaned forward, probably wondering if security should be called.
Kai didn't care.
Still ignoring the stares, he walked past the entrance, found a shaded area near a patch of rocks, and sat down with his back to a tree. No fancy rituals. No item requirements. This part was simple. All he had to do was fall asleep on the grounds of the resort. In the novel, the Lightless Blade didn't respond to blood or trial it responded to intent. To being seen. To being asked.
Sleep came quickly, like it always did when his mind was clear. No stress. No distractions. The mountain air helped too. Cool, quiet, clean.
And then, he woke up.
Or at least, his mind did.
Kai found himself in complete and utter darkness. Not the kind you get in a room with no windows. This was absolute. No floor, no sky. Just void. But he didn't panic. He knew exactly what was happening.
A figure began to manifest in front of him slowly, deliberately. It was tall. Easily over seven feet. Covered head to toe in solid black armor, the surface matte and featureless, almost like shadow given shape. The only thing Kai could see behind the helmet was a faint glow where the eyes might be, studying him in silence.
The Knight of Black.
Despite the name, he wasn't actually a knight. He was one of the seven core members of the Dark Legion. The name "Knight" had been given to him as a nickname by the people, after he rescued a duke's daughter from a dragon during a border raid. It was a title earned by action, not rank. In the novel, he only appeared briefly, but the impact he left was huge. Players and readers alike debated his backstory, argued about his motives, and begged the author to give him more screentime.
Kai didn't move. He didn't flinch. He didn't stutter. This wasn't the time to be overwhelmed. He had to look cool He met the armored gaze with a cold, calm expression.
The phantom said nothing.
He simply raised one hand and held out a small black crystal. Alongside it came a scroll an inheritance guide, perfectly legible to Kai, thanks to his knowledge of the lore.
No words. No test. Just a handoff.
Kai took both items. As he opened the scroll, his eyes scanned the first lines, already recognizing what it meant. He wouldn't get everything now. The Lightless Blade was layered. He'd have to learn its contents over time, return to this place again and again, and grow into it. The inheritance didn't just give power it expected growth. Progress. A mindset. That was the condition.
He nodded without hesitation.
A grin stretched across his face.
Being allowed to leave meant it had begun. He was chosen.
He was in.
As his consciousness was released, and the darkness faded, he could barely contain his excitement. The Lightless Blade wasn't just powerful—it was a mystery. One of the biggest loose threads in the novel. A character the author never explored fully. A power that was never understood.
Kai was going to figure it out.
Kai didn't waste time. The moment the teleportation dropped him off back in Milton Centre, he moved fast. He kept his head down, his pace quick, and avoided eye contact. There was this pressure now—like a weight that hadn't been there before. It reminded him of something he'd only ever heard about: how rich people feel when carrying a briefcase full of cash through a sketchy alleyway. Like everyone's eyes are on you. Like they know. The black crystal sat in his pocket, burning a hole through the fabric
He couldn't help but feel paranoid.
What if someone noticed? What if a strong mage scanned him and realized what he had?
Kai shook his head. He was thinking too much. The novel never mentioned any such risks. Still, it was different actually holding one of the mythical shards. Knowing what it could do. He took no detours, ignored every shop, and practically jogged the last two blocks.
Eventually, he made it back hadn't changed barebones, plain, but his. Door locked. Curtains closed. He finally exhaled.
He pulled the crystal from his pocket and stared at it for a few seconds.
This is it, he thought. The mythical shard. The item that raised potential grades. In the novel, it was one of the rarest consumables in the world only appearing a handful of times. Painful. Dangerous. Most users passed out But when it worked, it worked. June had used one to raise his potential from B to S. It was slow and grueling but effective. Kai knew what to expect or so he thought.
He sat on the bed and steadied his breathing. His hands trembled slightly not from fear, but anticipation.
Then he gripped the shard tightly and crushed it.
The crystal didn't shatter like glass—it crumbled. Mana spilled into the air like black smoke before diving straight into his chest.
And that's when it hit.
His body locked up immediately. Every muscle in his body tensed like he'd been struck by lightning. His eyes rolled back. His breath caught. And then the real pain started.
It felt like his heart had been replaced
Day bled into night. Time stopped meaning anything.
Eventually, though, the pain dulled. It never really went away, but it stopped trying to tear him apart. He lay there, drenched in sweat, eyes barely open, chest rising and falling like he'd run a marathon.
"…Status," he croaked.
The screen popped up immediately.
---
Name: Kai Asukura
Talent Grade: B+
Level: 6
Mana Affinity: Darkness
Class: None
Physical Ability: C
Mana Control: C
---
A weak smile formed on his face. "B-plus," he whispered. "And darkness…"
He'd done it.
From C to B+ in a single step. Just one shard. In a world where rank defined your future, this was everything. Darkness Affinity wasn't even a mainstream path it was rare, mysterious, and powerful in ways most couldn't understand(cause the author did not want to elaborate)
He grabbed the scroll and opened it again.
There were five initial items listed his first set of tasks and teachings from the Lightless Blade inheritance.
1. Become skilled at Dark Manipulation.
Everyone in this world could manipulate their mana Affinity to some extent. Fire users summoned flames, water users controlled moisture, etc. Darkness worked the same but Learning to shape it was the first step.
2–5 were spell guides.
The first and most basic was one that every path had in common.
Manifestation.
It was a foundational ability. It allowed a user to summon a weapon or tool suited to their Affinity.
Kai sat cross-legged on the floor and started meditating. He reached inward, focusing on his core. His mana control was still only at C-grade, which meant his efficiency and shaping were limited. But even a C-grade meant he had a baseline level of performance. It wouldn't be pretty, but it would work.
He followed the guide step-by-step. Flow mana into your spine. Anchor it in your chest. Push it outward through the dominant hand. Picture the shape. Pour meaning into it. Repeat.
It took time.
Three hours passed. No interruptions. Just silence, breath, concentration.
Finally, something began to form.
Smoke gathered in front of him black and gray, with streaks of faint purple. It twisted, coiled, and solidified. The weight in his palm increased.
Then it finished.
A long, curved blade rested in his hand. Almost like a scimitar, but thinner. The metal looked unfinished—rough gray with streaks of matte black. It didn't shine. It absorbed light. Held wrong, it looked almost broken. Held right, it looked like it was part of the shadows.
Kai's fingers tightened around the hilt. It was amazing
He stared at it for a while, then whispered, "…Not bad for a first try."
This was just the beginning.
And it already felt like power.