The morning air in Vardra carried the faint tang of ozone and decay. Fires from the previous day's mutant attacks still smoldered across the broken forests, sending thin plumes of smoke into the bruised sky. Kairis Ash sat cross-legged in his new house, staring at the interface hovering in front of him.
> [Daily Gacha Available – Spin Now?]
He smirked. "Let's see what the void wants to give me today…"
He activated the gacha. A sphere of swirling violet-black energy coalesced, spinning violently before stopping abruptly. Symbols blinked, then a small window displayed the reward:
> Reward: Void Amplification Crystal
Boosts all gravity-based abilities by 20%. Reduces HP consumption for heavy gravitational techniques by 15%.
Kairis's lips curled into a grin. "Perfect timing… this might save my life."
He stood, coat flaring with the wind from the open windows, eyes glimmering faint purple. Elyra and Aeren were still asleep, unaware of the storm their brother was about to walk into.
> "Time to remind the forest who owns gravity," he muttered, stepping into the ruined streets, moving toward the outskirts of Vardra.
The dense canopy of Vardra Forest loomed overhead, shadows moving unnaturally as he stepped inside. Twisted trees, blackened trunks, and the faint, pungent stench of mutation greeted him. The system beeped softly:
> [Quest – Mutated Forest Tiger: Extreme Difficulty]
Estimated Threat Level: 1.8x Apostles
Reward: Dark Matter Core, Rare Materials, XP
Kairis's eyes narrowed. This would not be a walk in the park.
> "1.8 times… damn. Looks like the void's trying to have some fun with me today."
The forest was eerily quiet at first. No wind. No birds. Only the distant growls that made the hairs on his neck rise.
Suddenly, a rustling from above. Something massive. He activated Gyro-Telekinesis instantly, propelling himself upward and landing on a sturdy branch. The forest floor shook violently. A hulking shadow emerged: the Mutated Forest Tiger. Its body was massive, with jagged spikes protruding along its back, glowing eyes filled with malice, and claws like scythes. Its roar echoed through the trees, shaking the ground beneath Kairis's feet.
> "Alright, friend… let's see if you can dance with the void."
He dropped from the tree, Graviton Blade in hand, circling the creature with calculated steps. The tiger lunged, faster than expected, its claws slicing through the air, narrowly missing him. Kairis pivoted midair with Gyro-Telekinesis, redirecting a branch to impale the monster momentarily.
> The forest became a chaotic blur. Branches splintered, shadows shifted, and the air bent with gravity as Kairis moved.
The tiger adapted quickly, swiping at him with overwhelming strength. One claw grazed his side, tearing through the coat and leaving a shallow but painful gash. Blood trickled down, but his grin remained.
> "Not enough to kill me. Not yet."
He pushed the boundaries of Graviton Blade, warping space to slow the tiger's movements slightly, buying him precious seconds. But it was cunning, using the terrain to corner him.
> This wasn't just a monster… it was a lesson in survival.
Kairis's heartbeat raced. Every instinct, every ounce of his Apostle of Void power, was required just to stay alive. The tiger's roar split the forest, calling out echoes of fear that resonated in his bones.
> "Okay… time to escalate."
The tiger lunged again, faster, catching him off-guard. His shoulder took a direct hit, sending him tumbling across the forest floor. Pain exploded across his body. He coughed, tasting blood, and his vision blurred.
> "So… this is what the void wants…"
He closed his eyes, centering himself, letting the Gravity Surge Core flow fully through his body. Slowly, he activated Black Hole, small but concentrated, pulling the air around the tiger into a singularity. The tiger roared in fury, trying to resist the gravitational pull, but Kairis could feel his own life force draining from the strain.
> HP dropping fast… can't let it end like this.
He pivoted midair using Gyro-Telekinesis, slicing at the tiger's legs with Graviton Blade, destabilizing it just enough. With a final, desperate motion, he pushed his system to unlock latent potential.
> [Level Up – Level 20 Achieved]
[New Abilities Unlocked – Aerial Step, Gravity Falls]
Kairis opened his eyes, the forest trembling under his rising aura. He felt the void within him surge, gravity bending around his body like molten shadows.
> "Let's end this… in style."
Using Aerial Step, he walked along the air above the tiger, avoiding its swipe. Gravity pulled downward violently, each movement precisely calculated to keep him safe while disorienting the beast.
Finally, he activated Gravity Falls. From the sky above, a giant finger of gravitational pressure descended directly onto the tiger. The ground shook violently under the weight; trees splintered, and the air screamed. The tiger roared, resisting, but Kairis's control was absolute — for now.
Every second, he felt his HP drain, blood pounding in his ears, limbs trembling. Pain seared across his chest. But with a final, almost theatrical push, the gravity finger compressed fully, and the tiger let out a deafening final roar before collapsing.
Silence fell. The forest was still. Only Kairis remained standing, battered, bloodied, but alive. His coat fluttered in the wind, eyes glowing faint purple, chest heaving as he grinned:
> "Still standing… still unbroken."
The system chimed:
> [Quest Complete – Reward: Dark Matter Core, XP, Materials]
[Level 20 – Stats Updated]
HP: 6500
MP: 3500
Strength: 58
Dexterity: 55
Agility: 57
Intelligence: 50
Divinity: 48
Authority: 45
Void Mastery: 65
He wiped blood from his lip and exhaled slowly, looking over the destroyed forest around him.
> "Level 20… Aerial Step, Gravity Falls… the void just got a little heavier."
He sat atop a broken tree, looking down at the fallen tiger. The forest had been reshaped, twisted by his battle. Yet, in the void, he felt something else — the echo of challenge.
> If the void allowed me to survive this… what's next?
Kairis turned his gaze skyward. The clouds twisted unnaturally, far-off roars hinting at creatures even more dangerous. Humanity had survived this long, but monsters would not relent. And neither would he.
> "Let's go home," he muttered, voice low but confident. "Elyra and Aeren… this is just the beginning."
He took off through the air, coat flaring, system interface pulsing, ready for the next step in Apocalypse Black.