While Rey slept…
Inside the Martial Center Rey had just escaped from, a grim silence loomed.
The scent of blood and scorched flesh still lingered in the air as a squad of guards burst into the ruined chamber. Their boots screeched against the marble floor before halting abruptly.
"Director Darius?!" one of them gasped, rushing toward the man sprawled in a pool of blood.
Darius writhed on the ground, clutching the grotesque wound where his arm had once been. His eyes were wide—bloodshot and trembling—not from pain, but fear.
"Get… the Head Marshal…" he croaked, voice hoarse and broken. "Seal the city… now."
One guard turned to another, panic etched across his face. "What the hell happened here?"
"The window's open… someone escaped through the third floor," a younger guard noted, peeking outside.
Another crouched beside a deep gash left in the floor. "This… this isn't normal. That sword—it could've cut through a fortress wall."
But it was something else that truly chilled them.
"The hand… it's missing," a guard whispered. "The attacker took it. Why would someone take… his hand?"
Suddenly, Darius laughed—a low, broken, maniacal sound.
"You don't understand… you fools… that wasn't just a thief…" Blood dribbled from his lips as he looked up.
"That was The Raven Blade."
Silence.
A name whispered in hushed tones after the factory incident weeks ago. Brushed off. Forgotten.
But now… it returned, with bloodstained wings.
"Inform the Central Office," the squad leader said, his voice grave. "We're dealing with someone who can breach a Martial Center… and walk out alive."
Outside, alarms echoed across every city in the Dragon Kingdom.
A ghost had entered their land—and now, the world was watching.
Meanwhile, in the morning…
That very ghost… was fast asleep in his room.
The doorknob shifted slightly—someone was trying to come in.
"Rey? Are you inside?" Jasmine called as she tried to enter her son's room, a cleaning cloth in hand.
Rey's eyes snapped open, his instincts kicking in. He bolted upright, dagger in hand—ready to strike—until he recognized the familiar surroundings of his room.
Relaxing, he moved to open the door but paused.
His eyes fell on his clothes. The same ones he wore during the raid—torn, stained with blood and ash.
"Shit…" he whispered. "Zero, are you there? Can you change my clothes?"
No response.
He frowned. That silence… it was the same as back then.
Just as he prepared to activate his system to force the change, his clothes shimmered—morphing back into his casual wear from the day before.
"…Thank god. You're all okay," he muttered. "I thought something happened when my HP dropped to zero."
He opened the door, finding his mother standing there with a slight frown.
"What were you doing in there? And when did you get home? I didn't see you return—and what's with all that sweat?" she asked, concerned.
"Oh… nothing, Mom," Rey said, scratching his head. "I came back just a little while ago while you were in the kitchen. Didn't want to disturb you, so I went straight to bed. The sweat… well, I took a jog on the way back. Got a bit carried away."
He laughed awkwardly.
His mother sighed. "Alright, but you didn't need to push yourself that hard. Take care of your body—don't force it beyond its limits."
With that, she walked off to clean the house, already running late.
Rey let out a breath. That was close…
Closing the door behind him, he summoned his four spirits.
"So… what happened to you guys after I collapsed?" he asked.
Aiden, ever the concerned one, responded first. "We've got some important things to tell you, Rey. We're not even fully sure why it happened… but something changed in you."
"When our bond was sealed by some unknown force, it was like being frozen," Aiden continued. "We could see what was happening but couldn't do anything. Like something blocked us from leaving our space."
"I know the reason," Veylen said suddenly, stepping forward. The quietest among them, but his words carried weight.
"What? You were sealed just like us," Victor replied, puzzled.
"Yes, but my bond with Rey is different," Veylen explained. "I was chosen by the Lord to mentor him. So, while I was sealed, too, I felt something else. A familiar energy entered his body—a power nearly equal to our Lord, but slightly beneath."
He paused.
"And when I saw the changes… I realized the truth. Rey, your awakening triggered something beyond rare—a Darkness Element Variation. One that ranks just below our Lord's own '?????????' variation."
Rey's eyes widened. "Wait… so you're saying my new element… is the reason the system locked everything down?"
"Exactly," Veylen nodded. "To protect everything. That energy… it wasn't just a variation. It was a seed—like a capsule containing the entire element. Without your bloodline source's power, you wouldn't have survived the awakening."
"And if your skills had stayed active… the seed would've erased them all."
"So this happened because of your lord?"
"Yes," Veylen replied calmly. "And you should be grateful."
"Grateful?" Rey scoffed, his voice tinged with frustration. "Why should I be? If that so-called great lord of yours hadn't planted that seed of variation inside me, I wouldn't have been lying on the floor, helpless and waiting for death. What mercy are you even talking about?"
His eyes narrowed, his voice sharp. "If your precious bloodline didn't step in to save itself, then maybe I would've just died—and your lord's last descendant would've vanished for good. Nice ending, huh?"
For a moment, silence hung in the air.
Then, Veylen's aura subtly shifted.
"Kid... watch your mouth," he said, his tone colder. "Just because I'm not saying anything doesn't mean you can speak however you want about my Lord. You've been gifted a power beyond comprehension—so strong, even a Tier 1 wouldn't be able to match you in your current state."
He stepped forward, eyes glowing with something ancient. "There's an old saying: Power itself isn't weak—the wielder is. Maybe that's the real problem here."
With that, Veylen vanished from sight, clearly done with the conversation.
Rey scoffed under his breath, hiding his lingering unease. "Tch. Talks big… I'll show him my real potential one day."
Still, he wasn't brave—or foolish—enough to say it to Veylen's face.
He turned back to the others. "So? Do you guys think he was right?"
Aiden was the first to respond, thoughtfully. "Maybe he is. Maybe he isn't, but… I won't deny his logic. He's walked this path longer than any of us. We'd be fools to ignore him completely."
Victor and Zero nodded silently in agreement.
Rey let out a slow breath, his anger settling into a cold resolve.
"Alright… time to check the changes."
He pulled up his system interface, determined to finally see what had shifted inside him since the night everything had nearly ended.
__
[
[Proficiency: 0.4%]
[Tier: 0 | Mutation Type | Locked from Rank Evolution]
[Description:]
A transcendent ability that embodies the highest authority over darkness, surpassing all conventional limitations. DARKNESS (EX+) is not simply a mastery of darkness but the foundation of an ultimate force, waiting to be shaped by its wielder.
After being merged with the terrifying and sentient darkness variation Oblivion Gloom, the ability has undergone a mutation, evolving into a forbidden form. Due to the overwhelming and chaotic nature of this variation, the ability's rank is now permanently locked, unable to be raised until a higher Tier is achieved that can contain its infinite depth.
Oblivion Gloom judges its host constantly—should it deem the host unworthy, it may turn its power inward, consuming them without mercy.
This ability holds boundless potential but starts as a blank slate—the true power within remains sealed until the host discovers how to wield it. Every use, every breakthrough, and every test will unlock new sub-abilities, molding the darkness into a force that aligns with the host's will.
[Sub-Abilities]
↠ Darkness Manipulation (E-~EX+) [47%]
A fundamental sub-ability of DARKNESS, allowing the user to control and shape darkness at will. At its current stage, manipulation is basic, enabling movement, condensation, and spreading of darkness in a limited range. As proficiency increases, control expands, unlocking devastating applications.
↠ Devour [Partially Unlocked | Requires Proficiency Threshold] (F-~EX+) [8%]
grants the user the ability to command darkness to consume everything in its path and, in exchange, provide the source a benefit. What is devoured can potentially be converted into power or stored in darkness. The growth of this sub-ability depends on how it's used and what is devoured.
↠ Storage of Void [Partially Unlocked | Requires Bond Acceptance from Oblivion Gloom]
The user can store physical and ethereal objects within a pocket of darkness tied directly to Oblivion Gloom's will. This void storage transcends space, but its capacity and accessibility depend on the user's compatibility and bond with the variation. Abuse or recklessness may provoke the storage itself to backlash. Space: 6 m³.
__
What appeared before Rey was the most outrageous thing he had seen in all the days since he'd bonded with Aiden.
A fully high-tier ability—already powerful before—was now reaching the ceiling of its Tier. Yet the system had sealed it, hiding even his current realm and power classification.
It should've shaken him, but Rey wasn't all that fazed. In fact, a part of him was glad. Because despite the seal, he had still gained something incredible—abilities he used to only dream about.
And the biggest surprise?
The limiter on his Manipulation was gone.
But not everything was perfect.
Two new sub-abilities had appeared—Devour and Storage of Void—but they weren't his to use freely. Both could only be activated if the variation's ego allowed it. In other words, he needed to deepen his bond with the Darkness variation before he could wield its full potential.
Still, the real question bugging him wasn't the restriction—it was the origin of these abilities.
He thought back. "I didn't do anything except absorb that weird substance..."
Then it hit him.
"Oh sh*t..." His eyes widened. "That ring—the one that thing devoured—was Darius's storage ring! No way... he must've had a ton of valuable stuff in there!"
Rey practically collapsed in despair, mourning the loss of loot he'd never even seen.
"Stop whining, kid," Aiden chimed in, voice calm but thoughtful. "Maybe… just maybe, the ring wasn't devoured. There's a slight chance the contents were transferred into your ability's storage. 'Storage of Void' might be holding it now."
Rey paused, hope flickering in his chest.
He wanted to believe it—badly—but until he could access the ability, he'd be left with only the idea of treasure, not the treasure itself.
Still, sitting around doing nothing wasn't going to help.
With a sharp breath, he pulled up his system interface again.
"Let's see what's changed…"
And what he found—sent another shiver down his spine.
[STATUS]
Name: Rey Shadowthrone
Age: 18
Race: Human (Fully Dark-Attributed)
Physique: Darkness Physique (Upgradable)
Titles: Self-Learner, The Psycho, The Killing Manic
Class: None
Level: 3 [2250/4000]
Rank: 0th Rank
Core: Mana Core [F-] (Rank 0) {Not Formed} {!}
Curse: Nirzveil's Covenant (Origin- Grade)
Variant: Oblivion Gloom (Darkness Path) {!}
Laws: Death {.00003%}, Soul {.0000001%}, Darkness {.01306%}
[Attributes]
HP: 4,130 / 4,130 (Reserve Energy: +4,130) {VIT: HP --> 1:20}
MP: 3,750 / 3,750 (Mana Overload: +3,750) {INT: MP --> 1:15}
Stats:
Strength (STR): 84/200 (F+) (↑271)
Agility (AGI): 94/200 (F+) (↑271)
Vitality (VIT): 163/200 (F+) (↑362)
Intelligence (INT): 50/250 (E-) (↑435)
Stamina (STA): 148/200 (F+) (↑330)
Endurance (END): 157/200 (F+) (↑348)
Luck (LUK): F- (Dependent on Core)
Free Stat Points: 600
Derived Stats:
Attack Power (ATK): 678 [(STR + AGI) * 2] (Potential Strength: +678)
Magical Power (MGL): 500 [INT * 2] (Arcane Potential: +500)
Defense (DEF): 805 [({END + STA} * 1.5)] (Reinforcement Reserve: +805)
__
Among all the system tabs, only the Variation Tab remained.
The rest—those that were deemed "non-essential"—had been removed by the system, likely to clean up clutter and streamline his interface. But staring at that nearly blank layout made everyone in his mindscape a little gloomy.
It felt… empty.
Still, Rey couldn't deny something else—his stats had jumped. The increase had just occurred, but whether it was from Devour kicking in or just the result of surviving a near-death scenario, he couldn't say. Only more testing would reveal the truth.
He got what he came for—power—but something was missing. A lingering feeling. A puzzle without its final piece.
That's when Victor spoke up and filled the gap in his thoughts.
He brought out two items from Rey's inventory. One was the locker he'd stolen from Darius's office. The other was the greatsword he'd claimed as a trophy—a brutal, heavy weapon formerly wielded by the man he'd defeated.
Rey stared at the sword, the realization dawning.
'What's the point of keeping this now? Darius lost an arm… and so I did bring it back. As Darius wasn't going to fight with this massive thing one-handed?'
He picked up the sword anyway, testing its weight. Surprisingly, it still felt… usable. Even now.
But then, Aiden offered a different solution—one that hadn't crossed his mind.
"Why not use one of Zero's abilities? Try
Rey frowned.
"Shouldn't we save that for the Stage 2 sword?"
"No. If you use it there, you'll lose the full arsenal of benefits it could've given. Trust me. Use it now with this sword—and Zero will evolve in a way that'll help you replicate and enhance your next weapon, too."
Rey paused, lips twitching with uncertainty.
"Alright. But listen—if this doesn't work out the way you said... you're taking the blame."
Without waiting for a reply, he activated
Immediately, the black matter of Zero—viscous and pulsing like a living organism—began to spread over the greatsword, coating it like a liquid shadow.
Within seconds, the entire blade was consumed. Then, just as quickly, the mass started retracting, flowing back into Rey's palm and vanishing inside him.
A flurry of system notifications followed:
[System Notification]
– Uncommon Rank weapon devoured.
– Relic
–
– Host can now replicate the structure and form of devoured weapons onto other gear.
– Please check the Zero tab for details.
Rey blinked. That… was not what he was expecting.
"Wait. I can copy weapon shapes and their effects onto other items now?"
"That's what it looks like," Aiden replied, tone impressed. "Zero just became a mimic-type relic. You're going to have some serious flexibility in battle."
Intrigued, Rey wasted no time. He flicked open his system and went straight to the Zero Tab.
__
3. Zero
Type: Unknown (Darkness)
Rank: Absolute
Stats per Level: +90 All
Weapon Stats: +12 (2^)AGL, +13 (5^) STR, +3 (1^) STA, +7 (7^) END
Abilities:
1.
2.
→ (UP): 3
3.
4.
5.
6.
───◈ Arsenal Mastery ◈───
Sword: E- ↑ (3%)
Dagger/Knives: E ↑ (19%)
Spear: F+ ↑ (4%)
Shield: F ↑ (24%)
Bow: F- (0%)
Greatsword: E- ↑ (04%)
Hand-to-Hand: E- ↑ (0%)
Gun: F- (0%)
Hammer: F ↑ (13%)
Katana: F- (0%)
───◈◈◈◈◈───
7-16.Locked (Unlocks at Rank 1-10)
__
He looked at the screen and noticed that his stats had increased in both the main tab and the Zero tab.
"Well, this is good. But what's this Eternal Darkforge thing glowing with a mark?" Rey asked, pointing at the unfamiliar feature.
"Oh, that? You hit the jackpot this time," Aiden said, grinning. "It's one of Zero's most important functions. With this, you can increase both the quantity and quality of her matter using Upgrade Points. You'll get those from the system each time you level up."
Rey, instantly intrigued, decided to test it out and see the effect firsthand.
→ Upgrade Quantity [F-] {Tier 0} (0/1)
→ Upgrade Quality [F-] {Tier 0} (0/1)
→ Upgrade Points (UP): 3 (Gained per level)
"System, use Upgrade Points to increase both quantity and quality," Rey commanded.
The moment two points were spent, the matter covering his body began to tremble slightly. It swelled outward as if on the verge of overloading—then compressed itself automatically. Though it looked unchanged, Rey could immediately sense the difference. The power radiating from it had grown.
"Whoa... this is useful in serious situations. Let's try bumping it up once more."
→ Upgrade Quantity [F] {Tier 0} (0/2)
→ Upgrade Quality [F] {Tier 0} (0/2)
→ Upgrade Points (UP): 1 (Gained per level)
But then he noticed something else.
"Tch... so the cost increases each time, huh? I guess I'll have to wait until I level up again."
Rey muttered as he tested out his newly empowered ability, summoning a great sword forged entirely from Zero's matter. It shimmered with a refined edge and heavier pressure.
But just as he was starting to get used to it, his system sent out a string of alerts—urgent ones.
Something bigger was coming.
Something that would reshape the very foundation of his being.
—To be Continued...
Do you know what's going to cause such a massive change?
It's hidden somewhere in the chapter.
Think you figured it out? Drop a comment with your guess!