Solace gripped the hilt of his katana tightly and leaped from the massive tree branch with fluid precision. The air rushed around him as he descended, his body perfectly balanced in midair. He landed with a soft thud in the forest below, his movements graceful and controlled, as if he'd done this countless times before.
The forest around him was dense, with towering trees that seemed to reach toward the heavens, their leaves thick with the scent of ancient growth. A hushed stillness hung in the air, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant call of a creature.
As he stood up straight, Solace glanced around, taking in the sights and sounds of his new surroundings. The shadows of the trees stretched long and dark across the ground, and the weight of the vastness of space seemed to hang in the air, like an unseen force pressing against him. With the Abyssal Eye of Infinity activated, the sensations of space and shadows intertwined with his very being.
"System, do you have a name?" he asked, casually as he continued walking forward, the katana resting lightly in his hand.
[No, I don't have a name.]
"Hmm," Solace mused. "Well, I'll think of one for you soon." His voice was thoughtful, as if already considering possibilities. "Now, do you have any suggestions for me right now? Something I should focus on?"
[In the mortal realms, the only thing necessary is leveling up and learning skills. Currently, you have everything you need. This forest contains magical beasts, which will be useful for leveling. As for skills, you can use your Abyssal Eye to help create new abilities. Your eyes can also wield your affinities—space and shadows—but you'll need skills to make full use of them.]
Solace nodded, his focus sharpening as he absorbed the system's advice. The potential of his newly acquired affinities was immense. He stopped walking, finding a quiet spot in the forest where the shadows of the trees deepened. The air was thick with the energy of the world around him—full of potential and unknown power.
He took a deep breath and activated the Abyssal Eye of Infinity.
| Abyssal Eye of Infinity |
A shift occurred almost immediately. His perception of the world around him expanded, revealing the fabric of space and the intricate dance of shadows. The space between trees stretched out before him, like threads that could be pulled or pushed with just a thought. The shadows clung to the ground, alive and full of energy, as though they were part of something larger.
Insight flooded his mind in waves. He could feel the countless possibilities of how to manipulate space—how to control the shadows that seemed to answer his call. Every flicker of movement, every nuance of the environment was revealed to him.
He stood there for hours, completely still, his body and mind perfectly attuned to the flow of energy around him. The more he stood, focusing on the ebb and flow of space and shadows, the more the knowledge of how to manipulate them settled into his being.
Time seemed to stretch as he continued absorbing the insights. He didn't move, didn't speak, allowing the depths of his new abilities to settle in.
Five hours later.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a system notification rang in his ears.
[New skills created.]
| Swap |
This skill uses the affinity of space. The user can swap positions with anything they can visually see.
| Shadow Bind |
The user can halt the target's movement by controlling their shadow.
| Phantom Blade |
The user creates sword arcs that can partially pass through space, allowing the blades to strike from unexpected angles.
Solace smiled, satisfied with the skills he'd created. It was like a new door had opened, one filled with untapped potential and power. The ability to swap positions with anything he could see was already a tactical advantage. Shadow Bind gave him control over his opponent's movement, which was a powerful tool for both defense and offense. And Phantom Blade—he could already imagine the possibilities with that skill, creating deadly, unexpected strikes from seemingly nowhere.
"Alright," Solace said, his voice low but filled with determination. "Now, let's train."
He took a deep breath and focused his mind. His hands tightened around the hilt of his katana as he prepared to practice. First, he activated Swap, testing it by teleporting a short distance to the side. He repeated it several times, each time adjusting his focus and precision. The more he practiced, the more fluid the motion became, until he could seamlessly swap with any object or person within his sight, without hesitation.
Next, he turned to Shadow Bind. The shadows around him seemed to respond to his call, shifting and swirling as he directed them. He focused on a nearby tree, commanding the shadows beneath it to extend and wrap around its trunk. With a mental command, the tree's movements halted entirely, frozen by the dark tendrils of shadow that he controlled.
"Impressive," Solace muttered, his grin widening. The skill was more powerful than he had imagined. The shadows responded to his will like an extension of himself.
Finally, Solace activated Phantom Blade. He swung his katana in the air, focusing on creating arcs of space that sliced through the air, making the blade pass through thin pockets of space. Each slash was followed by an invisible extension, an ethereal edge that cut through the air before disappearing. Solace practiced, adjusting the distance and speed at which the blade would travel. Soon, he was able to create multiple arcs in rapid succession, striking enemies from different angles with deadly accuracy.
After an hour of intensive practice, Solace finally stopped, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. His breathing was steady, but his body felt alive with the power he had just unlocked.
"Now, let's see how this works against something real," he said, scanning the darkened forest. The energy around him hummed, and he could feel the presence of magical beasts nearby. It was time to test his new skills in battle.
With a newfound confidence, he stepped forward, his katana in hand and his eyes glowing faintly with the power of the Abyssal Eye. This was only the beginning.