Rai stood beneath the soft shade of a pine-covered hill, his interface glowing before him with the newly unlocked Minor Advancement window. Having reached Level 11, a milestone many beginner players would still be weeks away from, it was time to select the skills granted thanks to his legacy class.
A satisfied smirk tugged at Rai's lips. Normally, a player would get one of three advancement skills tied to their class. But Rai was not exactly what people called normal. Thanks to his unique legacy path, he now faced five powerful options, and the right to choose two.
Still, as the skill window appeared before him, he frowned slightly. Only two choices. The other three would be locked away forever.
"Of course," he muttered to himself. "They always make you regret not picking the others."
The choices floated before him, each glowing with a hue that hinted at their power:
Available Skills (Minor Advancement):
Echo of Ruin(Passive) —Your attacks leave behind spectral echoes. Every fifth strike triggers a delayed shadow attack for 75% of original damage. Echoes can critically strike.
Umbral Reversal(Active — 45s CD) —Instantly teleport behind your target, reversing the last instance of damage you took within the last 5 seconds (max 25% of HP). Gain a temporary boost to movement speed (30%) for 3 seconds after use.
Ruinweaver's Gambit(Passive) —Critical strikes increase your next skill damage by 12%, stacking up to 3 times. Stacks reset if no skill is used within 6 seconds.
Soulpiercer Blade(Active — 20s CD) —Unleash a cursed blade that bypasses 30% of enemy defense and deals 160% damage. If used on enemies below 30% HP, deals an additional 20% true damage.
Black Veil Mantle(Active — 60s CD) —Envelop yourself in a cloak of shadows, gaining 25% evasion and becoming untargetable by basic attacks for 4 seconds. Movement is slowed by 20% during this time.
Rai stared at the options, eyes narrowing.
Echo of Ruin was incredibly synergistic with his fast attack style. The extra shadow damage would give him pressure even during disengagements. Soulpiercer Blade offered lethal precision, a finisher that could turn the tide in critical moments.
As much as Umbral Reversal and Black Veil Mantle tempted him, he already had Phantom Step—a powerful repositioning skill with invincibility baked in. There was no need to stack same skills over and over again.
He had made his choices.
Skill Learned: Echo of Ruin
Skill Learned: Soulpiercer Blade
Seeing the unused skills vanish was still a sting. In his past life, he'd been thrilled just to have one. Now, even two felt like a limitation.
Later That Day
Rai regrouped with Alex and Eron near the edge of the Sunshadow Glade, a place swarming with Level 15 beasts. The weather had turned cloudy, the perfect cover for fast movement and tactical play.
Both Alex and Eron, had leveled up rapidly since the dungeon clear, and were just a hair's breadth from reaching Level 10. While they lacked his aggressive grinding efficiency, the pair had grown exponentially under his guidance.
As for Alex, the guy was starting to show promise. His use of healing charms had saved them more than once, and even if his combat style was still amateurish, he was eager to improve.
"They're not deadweight anymore," Rai mused internally, watching them slice through a few lesser monsters near the northern glade. "They'll get stronger and better soon."
"You two ready?" Rai asked them.
Alex tightened his gloves. "I've got enough healing charms this time."
Eron unsheathed his worn blade. "Let's make this quick. The more we grind, the faster we get out of beginner tier."
Rai led them into the thicket. The monsters here weren't exactly brainless, some even worked in packs, but they were nothing the trio couldn't handle.
The trio ventured deeper into the wilds, pushing the boundaries of their current level. Their targets: the rare Razorhide Boar—Level 15 apex predators with high mobility and poison-laced tails.
The experience gains here were exceptional, but the risks were even higher.
They fought one, then another, and then even two at once. Rai's new skills worked like a dream, Echo of Ruin amplifying his damage through relentless slashes, and Soulpiercer Blade cleaving through even the tough hide of the manticores.
[System: You've slain Razorhide Boar – EXP gained]
[System: Alex has reached Level 10.]
[System: Eron has reached Level 10.]
Alex let out a celebratory whoop, while Eron cracked a rare smile. Rai grinned.
"Congrats, both of you." Rai said, eyes scanning the area.
Just then, the sound of branches breaking came from their left, followed by silence. It was unnatural.
Rai's instincts screamed danger.
"Scatter!" he shouted.
The forest floor erupted as a massive beast burst through the underbrush. A hulking predator, dark crimson fur, two sets of yellow eyes, and fangs like ivory daggers.
[Danger Detected — Beast Signature Identified]
[Wild Elite Beast: Bloodmaw Predator— Level 20]
It was nearly 10 feet tall, and its muscles rippled with barely contained rage.
"Shit! That is not a regular mob!" Eron gasped.
"We have no time to think, get in circle formation!" Rai barked.
Alex started lobbing mana-charged orbs while Eron rushed to flank it, his sword glowing as he attacked with newfound strength thanks to the minor enhancement. Rai blinked behind the beast using Phantom Step, slashing deep across its exposed hind leg.
Rai lunged with Soulpiercer Blade, managing to stagger the beast briefly. Alex threw every charm he had, desperately healing and applying buffs. Eron, wielding his sword like a hammer, landed blow after blow despite being knocked down twice.
Still, the monster was relentless.
Suddenly, Eron got caught in a tusk swipe and was flung into a boulder. Still, he didn't give up and continued fighting to the bitter end.
"Damn it!" Alex screamed, barely dodging a charge.
"Stay alive," Rai shouted. He was down to 20% HP himself. One more hit and he'd—
-314 HP! [Bleed] Applied.
The beast roared, spinning mid-air and hurling Eron with its tail.
[Eron – HP: 33%]
"Eron, retreat!" Rai shouted.
"I can still—" Eron tried to argue but was caught mid-sentence as the beast lunged and its fangs pierced his torso.
[System: Party Member Eron has died.]
"No!" Alex yelled, firing healing charms to Rai.
Rai's health was plummeting. He triggered Soulpiercer Blade, leaving a searing mark across the beast's chest.
-465 HP! Healing Reduction applied.
But it wasn't enough.
One final swipe from the monster knocked Rai down to 1 HP.
Just then—
[Passive Triggered – Death's Whisper: Rai is Immortal for 2 seconds.]
Rai's body shimmered, refusing to fall.
His hand clenched around his weapon as time itself seemed to slow. Using his final burst of speed, he activated phantom Step, blinked above the beast, and drove his blade straight into its skull.
Critical Hit! – 1192 HP
The Bloodmaw let out a choked screech—and collapsed.
Silence.
[System: Bloodmaw Predator Defeated – EXP Gained]
[System: Rai has reached Level 12.]
[System: Party Member Alex has reached Level 11.]
Rai fell to one knee, panting.
Rai dropped to one knee, panting, blood dripping from cuts across his arm and chest.
Alex ran to his side. "Are you okay?!"
"I'm alive," Rai managed. "Barely."
He glanced toward Eron's body.
"Eron…" Alex said, stumbling forward, his hands shaking.
A bright light suddenly appeared over Eron's body and his body disappeared. He had most likely respawned back in the village.
After all this, Rai and Alex barely returned back to the village. There, they met Eron once again.
"You… idiots actually pulled it off?" he wheezed.
Rai grinned weakly. "Next time, try not to take a bite to the face."
Alex wiped his eyes and let out a short laugh. "Man, I thought I was done for."
Rai looked up at the sky, the wind ruffling his hair. The taste of death, fleeting victory, and danger stirred something primal in him. This was what the path ahead would look like.
Brutal. Bloody. Beautiful.