The last goblin collapsed at my feet, its body disintegrating into black mist.
Then—silence.
I exhaled sharply, standing amidst the scattered remains of the monsters. My fists were clenched, my breathing steady. No more enemies.
The system had stopped spawning them.
A familiar chime echoed in my mind.
***
[ SYSTEM QUEST COMPLETED ]
All conditions met. Calculating rewards…
Golden text flashed before my eyes.
***
[Quest Completion Rewards]
Main Rewards:
Skill Upgrade: Phantom Dash – Phantom Step has refined itself further. Your movements now leave behind afterimages infused with residual mana, allowing you to instantly reposition over short distances (within 3 meters). The cooldown remains 10 seconds.
Temporal Labyrinth Key (C-Rank, Exclusive) – A mysterious key that grants entry to a hidden dungeon untouched by time. The dungeon exists in a separate dimensional space, allowing only the key holder to enter. No outside interference is possible.
-
Bonus Rewards (Achieved: No Damage Taken & High Critical Rate)
Predator's Instinct (Passive Skill) – Heightens combat awareness, improving reaction speed and instinctive dodging. Your senses sharpen in battle, making it easier to anticipate and counter incoming attacks.
Unique Enhancement Stone – An exceptionally rare stone that binds to a single ability or piece of equipment, permanently enhancing its effectiveness. This enhancement transcends normal reinforcement methods, unlocking hidden potential.
-
Additional Bonus Rewards:
Summoning Core: Shadow Fang (D-Rank Familiar) – A soul-bound core containing the essence of a beast. Upon activation, binds Shadow Fang—a swift and cunning wolf-like familiar with heightened agility, exceptional tracking skills, and moderate combat ability. Can grow stronger over time.
Stat Boost: +5 to All Attributes – The system acknowledges your exceptional performance. All stats have been increased permanently.
-
+7 Level Ups – You have significantly grown from battle. Your level has increased by seven.
***
I stared at the glowing text, letting the significance of each reward sink in.
Not only had Phantom Step evolved, but I had also gained an exclusive dungeon key, a unique enhancement item, a personal summon, and an instinct-based skill designed to sharpen my combat reflexes.
Seven levels in a single session.
I clenched my fists, feeling my body adjust to the sudden growth.
The golden system messages faded, leaving behind a quiet sense of finality.
I took a deep breath. My body felt… different. Stronger. Faster. My senses felt sharper, my mind clearer.
I needed to see just how much had changed.
"Status Window."
A translucent screen materialized before me.
***
[ Updated Status Window ]
Name: Ryzen Kael
Level: 12
Class: System's Avatar
Adventurer Rank: C
-
[ Titles ]
[First Blood]
+2% Attack Power against Monsters.
[Sole Survivor]
When facing enemies alone or higher-level than you, all stats temporarily increase by 15%. Near-death experiences trigger Survivor's Instinct, ignoring fatal damage once per battle for five seconds (24-hour cooldown).
[One Who Defies Death]
Upon surviving a battle where death was certain, gain a temporary boost of +5% to all stats for ten minutes. Additionally, the system acknowledges your will to fight beyond your limits.
-
[ Stats ]
Strength (STR): 30
Agility (AGI): 35
Vitality (VIT): 30
Intelligence (INT): 25
[Unallocated Stat Points: 0]
-
[ Exclusive Skills ]
Adaptive Growth- (Active)
Eclipse Sovereign (Upgraded) - (Active/Passive)
Phantom Dash - (Active/Passive Hybrid)
-
[ Special System Stats ]
Fatigue: 0/100
HP: 1050/1050
MP: 570/570
-
[ Newly Acquired Skills & Items ]
Predator's Instinct (Passive Skill) – Heightens combat awareness, improving reaction speed and instinctive dodging. Hostile intent is detected faster, allowing preemptive action against attacks.
Summoning Core: Shadow Fang (D-Rank Familiar) – Can be activated to summon a wolf-like creature specializing in tracking, agility, and rapid attacks. The familiar can grow stronger over time.
Temporal Labyrinth Key (C-Rank, Exclusive) – Grants access to a hidden dungeon existing in a separate dimensional space. Only the key holder may enter.
Unique Enhancement Stone – A one-time-use item capable of permanently enhancing a skill or equipment, unlocking hidden potential beyond normal limits.
***
I stared at my stats, my mind racing.
Level 12. C-Rank. A massive boost in all attributes. A new passive skill. A summon. An exclusive dungeon.
This was beyond anything I had imagined.
I clenched my fists, feeling the raw power coursing through me.
***
Leon clapped, the sound sharp in the quiet space. "Damn, Ryzen. I knew you had potential, but this…" He shook his head, grinning. "This is something else."
I let out a slow breath, my muscles still thrumming with energy. The fight was over, but my body remained on edge, as if ready for more. Adaptive Growth had been working in the background, sharpening my reflexes, reinforcing my body. Every movement felt more natural than before.
"You're too smooth with your movements for a rookie." Leon tilted his head, observing me like I was a puzzle he was trying to solve. "You've done martial arts before, haven't you?"
I met his gaze, then gave a small nod. "Yeah. Took classes when I was younger."
Leon let out an amused chuckle. "Well, it's paying off now. Your footwork, your reaction speed—most fresh Hunters would be stumbling over themselves, but you…" He gestured vaguely at the arena. "You fight like someone who's been doing this for years."
I didn't respond right away, still caught up in my own thoughts. Something had been nagging at me.
I hadn't even used my dagger.
The weapon sat untouched in my inventory, a tool I had nearly forgotten about in the heat of battle. I exhaled, clenching and unclenching my fists. If I had done this well unarmed, then once I started incorporating weapons—once I truly fought at my full potential…
Leon watched me closely. "You're growing fast, Ryzen. Almost too fast." His tone was lighter than before, but there was an edge to it—curiosity, maybe even a bit of concern. "You sure you're keeping up with yourself?"
I met his gaze evenly. "I have no choice."
For a moment, silence stretched between us. Then, Leon smirked. "Fair enough."
At that moment, the system notifications finally faded, leaving me with a single thought.
This was just the beginning.