The gray sky above Nol looked like a painting drawn by a trembling brush, streaked with hazy lines of faint violet, reflecting the chaos of this world. The air around him was cold and volatile, as if the earth itself was struggling to breathe under the curse of the abyss that had drained it of life and warmth.
Nol stood in the middle of the barren land, his body still vibrating with the pulses of mana surging through him—a mysterious, newfound power. A new spectrum had been born within him, entirely different from the frail boy who had plunged into the void just days ago.
His heartbeat accelerated like a war drum pounding in the chests of heroes who refuse to flee their fate.
Deep in his consciousness, he heard a faint, continuous tone—the pulse of the system within him, syncing with his life, reminding him that he was no longer just an ordinary person. Not only his body, but his very soul was beginning to change, slowly shaping itself for a greater destiny.
*"I... am not what I used to be."*
He muttered it to himself in a broken voice, catching glimpses of the blue glow radiating from within him, as if two worlds were clashing inside a single body.
In the distance, Airghoul—the nightmare beast of the Demon Continent—regathered its strength. It took a deep breath, and from the black pores of its skin, dark gases seeped out like poisonous clouds.
Nol couldn't completely suppress his terror, but he refused to let it control him. This time, he was different.
He opened the system screen that appeared before him like a window to another world:
**[Black Lotus System – Status: Active]**
**[User: Nul Fier]**
**[Age: 16]**
**[Location: Edge of the Abyss – Demon Continent]**
**[Active Spectrum: First (Abyss)]**
**[Acquired Abilities:]**
- **Survival Instinct – Active**
- **Consecutive Strikes – Level 1**
- **First Spectrum – Partial Activation**
- **Force Link – Under Development**
With every word on the screen, Nol felt a current of energy flowing through his veins, as if forging a bridge between him and this dark world.
Gradually, fragments of his past surfaced—scenes from his previous life, the advanced technology, pulsing lights, and the faces of heroes with unique abilities.
But here, in the abyss, reality was different.
The ground trembled beneath his feet, and the withered plants bent as if groaning in unbearable pain.
In the peak of silence, Airghoul launched a deadly attack.
With unbelievable speed, Nol summoned his first spectrum—a transparent blue barrier emitting an eerie glow.
The attack collided with the shield, its echoes shattering in the air with a metallic crash like thunder roaring in a storm.
Nol seized the moment, moving like a shadow between the rocks. His steps were heavy but filled with determination. He was slower than the beast, but smarter.
He felt the system ringing in his ears:
**[Passive Skill Activated: Survival Instinct]**
**[Temporary 15% increase in reaction speed]**
Critical moments passed, each one deciding whether he would survive or perish.
As he fought, he remembered what he had read about "Unification" in the spectrum—how powerful users could merge multiple spectrums to activate supernatural abilities.
*"I must control this link... or I won't survive."* He muttered it with resolve.
From deep within his body, a deeper blue glow began to emanate, manipulating the energy coursing through his nerves.
The beast tried to overpower him again, this time with its chest transformed into a toxic shield, absorbing attacks like the belly of a deadly volcano.
But Nol did not retreat.
Time itself no longer mattered—only the moment of survival.
With a steady step, Nol pushed forward, each strike leaving a mark, no matter how small.
A new flash appeared on the screen:
**[Skill Unlocked: Abyssal Blade — Level 1]**
*"Summon a shifting spectral weapon capable of piercing shadow armor."*
**[Rating: B-]**
Nol felt a spectral dagger manifest in his hand—transparent, glowing with a violet light.
He launched a sudden attack, piercing the beast's toxic shield and inflicting a deep wound.
Airghoul's scream echoed high, the ground shook beneath its feet, and the sky seemed on the verge of collapse.
But Nol felt pulses of power surging through his veins, guarding his newfound radiance.
He was changing.
No longer just a fleeing boy. Now, he was a soldier of two spectrums, defying the rules, carving his path in a world of darkness and light.
And in that moment, beyond the horizon, the eyes of a mysterious watcher gleamed.
Eira smiled, her eyes burning with confident fire.
"This is only the beginning of Nol's story... The Black Lotus has yet to bloom."