Shunkyō, Arin Solara's Spirit Arm, was a system reward — an ability perfectly tailored for him, limitless in potential.
Its first stage was permanently active, granting him the ability to enter an intangible state at any time, rendering him untouchable to both physical and spiritual attacks.
Attacking while intangible remained impossible, but the energy cost to maintain the state was negligible.
Arin could theoretically stay intangible for days without issue.
The magnitude of Shunkyō's first-stage ability was staggering — ordinary warriors relied on time-limited or situational defenses, but Arin had no cooldown or restrictions.
And that was just the first stage.
The second stage, which required conscious activation, was even more formidable.
By overlapping Shunkyō's space with a portion of the surrounding reality, he could slice through dimensions, creating attacks that bypassed conventional defenses.
Against this power, shields, barriers, or protective wards were meaningless.
Nothing could stop him.
For offense, it was absolute destruction.
For defense, it was absolute invulnerability.
That was Shunkyō.
And this was still only the Spirit Arm's potential.
Its full mastery — the ultimate evolution — remained untouched, waiting for him to develop it.
With the system guiding his growth, achieving this next level was only a matter of time.
As night deepened, Arin prepared to receive the results of his shadow clones' training.
He could sense Shunkyō's exclusive dimension — a personal space the size of an entire city.
Compared to conventional training domains, this was enormous.
Within this vast expanse, his four shadow clones trained freely, performing advanced techniques without any spatial restrictions.
With a thought, the clone practicing Blade Arts dispersed.
Immediately, a flood of experience and knowledge transferred to Arin.
He could feel his mastery of Blade Arts increasing — as if the system itself had granted him a [Blade Arts +1] bonus.
Satisfied, he dispelled the remaining clones — those practicing Step-Speed, Close-Combat Mastery, and Arcane Techniques.
With each dispersal, his combat proficiency increased quietly but steadily.
Stronger without lifting a finger.
If other wardens knew the truth, even the most seasoned officers would envy him.
Morning arrived, and Arin checked his daily task panel:
[System Notification]
[Daily Task: Take a Walk]
Take a peaceful evening stroll. When you reach ninety-nine cycles, you will have embraced the lifestyle of a wandering vagabond.
[Reward: Random Attribute +2]
Arin couldn't help but chuckle.
"In this world, ninety-nine cycles isn't long life — it's practically still a young adult."
As always, daily tasks were effortless, with no penalties and constant rewards.
Free power-ups every day.
Stretching lightly, he left his courtyard to complete the mission.
But first, a stop was necessary.
He visited the First Order's vice-star — Sasakibe Choryo, a veteran with white hair and golden eyes.
Though he had the skill to ascend higher, he chose to remain in his position, guiding others quietly and effectively.
Arin casually reported intelligence gathered from his network.
Most of it was minor or outdated, but effort mattered more than accuracy.
Slacking off required strategy, and appearances were crucial.
Choryo nodded approvingly.
"This young Warden is diligent after all," he thought.
Even those who criticized Arin's laziness couldn't deny his effectiveness.
Meanwhile, across the city, Kyoraku Shiro frowned dramatically.
A twinge of worry crept in — perhaps someone had noticed his recent escapades?
He shook his head, dismissing the thought, and sighed.
"Being too charming is such a curse…"
The city of Astra Citadel, heart of the Astral Dominion, sprawled for hundreds of soul miles.
Ordinary travelers would take over a month just to cross the outer districts on foot.
The city was circular, its outer walls infused with energy-repelling wards, preventing unauthorized entry.
Four main gates — North, South, East, and West — were guarded by powerful sentinels, admitting only those with permission.
Arin wandered near the White Passage Gate, enjoying the architecture and serene atmosphere.
Traditional buildings lined the streets, white stone and tiled roofs, interwoven with spiritual conduits that enhanced the flow of energy.
The air hummed faintly with spiritual particles, denser toward the city center.
Before he realized it, his daily task was complete.
[System Notification]
[Task Complete!]
Reward: [Blade Arts +1, Astral Resonance +1]
Another effortless power-up.
Life was good.
Now, only one special mission remained on his panel:
[Witness the Birth of the Masked Army]
And the reason he had come to the White Passage Gate?
To complete it.