THE MOMENT RYUJIN GRIPPED THE ABYSSBREAKER, A SURGE OF ENERGY TORE THROUGH HIS BODY. THE FORGE'S FLAMES BENT TOWARD HIM, DRAWN BY THE WEAPON'S AURA. HIS HEARTBEAT SLOWED, AND THE SHADOWS IN THE ROOM PULSED IN RHYTHM WITH HIS BREATH.
"RYUJIN…" ARIANA WHISPERED, HER VOICE TREMBLING. "YOUR AURA… IT'S TERRIFYING."
RYUJIN IGNORED THE COMMENT. HE FOCUSED INWARD, WHISPERING THE SINGLE WORD THAT HAD BECOME SECOND NATURE.
"STATUS."
A TRANSLUCENT SCREEN APPEARED BEFORE ONLY HIM:
[STATUS SCREEN – UPDATED]
NAME: RYUJIN
LEVEL: 52 (+7 LEVELS)
CLASS: KING OF ABYSS (RANK: ???)
HEALTH: 980 / 980
MANA: 620 / 620
STRENGTH: 185
AGILITY: 205
ENDURANCE: 170
PERCEPTION: 180
CHARISMA: 35
[EQUIPMENT]
WEAPON: ABYSSBREAKER (SOULBOUND – MYTHIC TIER)
[NEW WEAPON ABILITIES UNLOCKED]
ABYSSAL EDGE (ENHANCED): CUTS THROUGH MAGICAL AND PHYSICAL DEFENSES WITH 70% ARMOR PENETRATION.
VOID RESONANCE: ABSORBS THE ENERGY OF SLAIN ENEMIES, PERMANENTLY STRENGTHENING THE BLADE AND TEMPORARILY BOOSTING RYUJIN'S STATS.
SHADOW PHASE: CAN COMPLETELY PHASE THROUGH PHYSICAL MATTER FOR 3 SECONDS. COOLDOWN: 2 MINUTES.
ABYSSAL ARTS: DARK MOON – ECLIPSE EVOLUTION: EXISTING DARK MOON TECHNIQUES HAVE DOUBLED RANGE AND POWER. UNLOCKS THE VOID ANNIHILATION SLASH (DEVOURS EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH).
SOULBIND (TRUE FORM): THE BLADE IS FULLY BOUND TO RYUJIN'S SOUL. ANY ATTEMPT TO WIELD IT BY ANOTHER WILL LEAD TO INSTANT DISINTEGRATION.
RYUJIN STARED AT THE SCREEN, THE NUMBERS AND ABILITIES BURNING INTO HIS MIND. HIS FINGERS TIGHTENED AROUND THE KATANA'S HILT, FEELING THE ABYSSAL ENERGY HUMMING UNDER THE SURFACE.
"THIS POWER…" HE MURMURED. "I'M DONE HOLDING BACK."
KAI TRIED TO PEEK AT THE SCREEN, BUT RYUJIN'S SHARP GLANCE STOPPED HIM COLD.
"YOU KNOW WE CAN'T SEE EACH OTHER'S STATUS, RIGHT?" KAI MUTTERED, FEIGNING CASUALNESS.
"GOOD," RYUJIN REPLIED, HIS VOICE DEVOID OF EMOTION. "YOU DON'T NEED TO."
ARIANA STEPPED CLOSER, HER VOICE SOFTER.
"RYUJIN… THIS BLADE FEELS LIKE IT'S ALIVE. WILL IT CHANGE YOU?"
HE MET HER EYES, HIS OWN GLOWING FAINTLY BLACK.
"NO," HE SAID CALMLY, SLIDING ABYSSBREAKER BACK INTO ITS SHEATH. "I WAS ALREADY LIKE THIS. NOW I JUST HAVE THE STRENGTH TO SHOW IT."
THE GROUND TREMBLED AS A DISTANT EXPLOSION ECHOED THROUGH THE GUILD HALLS. MESSENGERS RUSHED IN, PANICKED.
"A HIGH-RANK GATE HAS APPEARED! IT'S… IT'S ON THE VERGE OF BREAKING!"
RYUJIN STOOD UP, HIS AURA FLARING SO VIOLENTLY THAT EVEN KAI STEPPED BACK. HE PLACED HIS HAND ON ABYSSBREAKER'S HILT, THE SHADOWS SWIRLING AROUND HIS FEET.
"THEN LET'S TEST MY NEW STRENGTH," HE SAID COLDLY.