The forest was eerily silent, the only sound filling the night was the soft crunch of footsteps on the damp earth.
Two figures moved with precision, their presence barely disturbing the stillness of the dark woods.
One was shrouded in swirling darkness and shadows, his movements fluid, blending into the night itself.
The other had mana storming around him, a raging force barely contained around his small but sturdy frame.
Then, they both stopped.
Ray's body trembled as an overwhelming surge of mana coursed through him.
His golden eyes burned brighter, glowing like molten gold as the mana was pulled into his body, refined, absorbed, transformed.
He felt it—his mana, his body, his mind—all ascending to the Apprentice rank.
His muscles grew denser, his core pulsated as impurities were purged from it.
A black, goo-like substance seeped from his pores, but the moment it was expelled, his Fire Aura incinerated it in an instant.
Just then, a golden screen flashed before his eyes.
***
[Congratulations Host, For advancing to Apprentice Rank]
[10 Stat points are being rewarded]
[All skills are ranking up and evolving]
[Class Based Skill : ~Flicker Step~ is now unlocked]
[You have unlocked Space Element]
***
Ray's mind was already moving faster than before.
His thoughts were sharper, more refined, and the surge of strength left him feeling unstoppable.
Without hesitation, he summoned his status.
'Status'
<STATUS>
Name- Ray Dawson
Race- Human
Age- 12
Rank- Apprentice
Class- Sword God (????)
Affinity- Fire, Space
__
<ATTRIBUTES>
Strength- 105
Agility- 107
Vitality- 103
Intelligence- 100
Stamina- 110
Mana- 109
Charm- 101
Stat Points-{10}
__
<TRAIT & SKILLS>
>TRAIT-
~Sword God (EX RANK)
~Limitless Growth (SSS)
>SKILLS-
~ Sword Instinct (E Rank)
~Aura Blade (Low) (E Rank)
~ Flicker Step (E Rank)
__
{QUESTS} {SHOP}
**
Seeing all these notifications a smile appeared on his face,
His aura stabilized, and at that moment, he knew—he had ascended to the next rank.
Ethan narrowed his eyes, sensing the shift.
"Tsk, now why are you grinning like an idiot? After shamelessly interrupting the fight earlier, don't tell me you're actually a psychopath."
Ray's smile didn't falter. "I am not a psychopath. I am fighting to prove that even someone without a background can compete with those like you." His voice was calm, resolute.
Ethan scoffed. "There is nothing to prove. Talent is not created; it is born through blood."
Ray's gaze didn't waver. "Even if talent is born and not created, consistency and hard work can overcome any amount of talent."
Ethan clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Tsk, stop yapping and start fighting. I don't have time for worthless talk."
Ray exhaled slowly, allowing his newfound power to settle within him.
'I have just Ascended, I may not be able to control my Power, But Again he is strong...there is no need to hold back, Fighting with him can prove to be a training'
His grip on his sword tightened as he locked eyes with Ethan. "Now, we're on equal ground."
Ethan scoffed. "Equal? You wish."
Without another word, he vanished.
Ray's skill, Sword Instinct, flared to life, guiding his reaction.
His sword moved on its own, intercepting Ethan's dagger a mere breath away from his throat.
Sparks flew as metal clashed against metal.
But before he could counter, Ethan disappeared into the shadows again.
Ray barely managed to twist in time as another dagger slashed toward his forehead.
The blade grazed past him, missing by the slimmest margin.
Without hesitation, he retaliated, his sword now enveloped in a crude, fiery red aura—his newly evolved Aura Blade revealing itself to the world.
Ethan ducked low, moving like liquid shadow, his steps soundless as he sidestepped and retaliated with a feint before slashing with his other dagger.
Ray barely managed to block in time, his arms vibrating from the sheer force behind Ethan's strikes.
'He's fast...and due to night he can teleport from shadow to shadow, this is his domain'. Ray thought as he deflected another strike
Ethan pressed forward, a relentless flurry of dagger strikes forcing Ray on the defensive.
His movements were almost supernatural—blending seamlessly into the darkness, striking from impossible angles, flickering in and out of sight.
He fought like a phantom, untouchable yet ever-present.
But Ray wasn't one to crumble.
His sword moved with unwavering precision, parrying, countering, and slashing, forcing Ethan to momentarily retreat.
They circled each other, eyes locked, breaths heavy.
Ethan grinned. "You're good, I'll give you that."
Ray didn't respond. Instead, he made a decision. 'Let's try my new skill: Flicker Step.'
The moment he willed it, his body blurred.
He appeared right beside Ethan.
Both fighters pulled back, eyes wide in surprise.
'W-What just happened?' Ray thought. 'Did I just teleport a short distance?'
Ethan's narrowed eyes betrayed his own shock. 'Did he just teleport?'
Tension crackled in the air.
Now that Ray had revealed his new skill, the outcome of the battle became even more uncertain.
But Ray didn't stop.
Fire condensed around his blade as he lunged forward, vanishing mid-step before reappearing inches from Ethan.
His sword swung with blinding speed, the fiery edge carving a path of destruction.
Ethan's eyes widened slightly—Ray was faster now.
He barely managed to flicker into the shadows before the blade could reach him.
He reappeared behind Ray, striking out.
Ray twisted midair, barely managing to block.
He previously tried to teleport from midair, but was unsuccessful.
'I can't teleport in midair… I need to be on the ground'
Ethan clicked his tongue in frustration.
'His Movements and attacks are getting sharper…'
Then,
They clashed again, neither giving an inch.
Ray's sword was relentless, a storm of fire and steel.
Ethan's daggers were precise, striking at weaknesses in Ray's stance.
Each exchanged blow was met with another, their movements a deadly dance.
Then Ethan smirked.
Dark mist coiled around his daggers. A surge of mana flowed through him as he activated his affinity—Darkness.
His blades became extensions of the shadows, nearly invisible.
Ray's grip tightened.
Ethan vanished again.
Ray inhaled deeply, focusing on his skill ~Sword Instinct~,
'Don't fail me now' he thought,
Then he felt a whisper of movement behind him.
He spun, barely deflecting the strike aimed at his spine.
'~Flicker Step~ has a Cool Down of about 2 Seconds, I can't use it every time' Ray thought,
But Ethan wasn't done.
A second dagger shot toward his ribs.
Ray twisted, but not fast enough.
A sharp sting flared along his side.
Blood seeped through his tunic.
Ray clenched his teeth, refusing to let the pain slow him.
He retaliated, slamming his sword down with brute force.
Ethan barely managed to escape, rolling backward.
Ray teleported beside him, swinging his sword upward in a brilliant red arc.
Ethan blocked with both daggers but was pushed back, a wound appearing on his cheek.
The two stood apart, blood dripping onto the ground.
Ethan wiped his cheek. "Huh. You actually nicked me."
Ray didn't reply.
He lifted his sword once more.
And then, the real fight began.
Minutes stretched into what felt like eternity.
Blades clashed, shadows and fire intertwining in a brutal display of skill.
Ethan's Concealment made him nearly impossible to sense, but Ray's instincts were sharper than ever.
Whenever Ethan Attacked his concealment was undone, And Ray Attacked at that time,
His Sword Instinct guided him through the battle, keeping him one step ahead—barely.
Their bodies bore the marks of combat.
Ray's side ached from multiple shallow cuts.
Ethan's arms bore burns and cuts where the fire Aura had licked too close.
They were equally matched.
Ethan clicked his tongue, glancing at his dwindling mana reserves.
'Damn it… if this drags on any longer…'
Ray wasn't faring any better.
His Body was exhausted, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.
Then Ethan made a decision.
A final gamble.
He vanished completely.
Ray's grip tightened.
He closed his eyes.
Focusing on even the tiniest Movement in the surroundings,
The world slowed down in his perception,
A flicker of movement— Behind.
Ray spun, sword igniting one last time.
Ethan's dagger was inches from his throat. Ray's sword was aimed at Ethan's heart.
Both froze.
Not by choice, but by FORCE.
Then, a voice echoed through the forest.
"Oh My, ~Didn't I Say No Killing, But here you two are Fighting to kill"
"~Now, What Punishment should be given to the Rule Breakers" Vice Principal Elva's amused tone sent a chill through both of them, though her face remained serious.
***
Few Moments Ago,
Elva watched the fight unfold with an expression of quiet intensity.
Her piercing violet eyes followed every movement, every exchange of blows between Ray and Ethan.
When Ray's aura flared, signaling his breakthrough, her fingers twitched slightly—a rare sign of intrigue.
"So… he ascended," she murmured under her breath.
But her focus never wavered from Ethan.
His speed.
His technique.
The way he vanished into the shadows like a phantom.
Elva's mind worked fast, analyzing his every move. His Shadow Step wasn't perfect—Ray had adapted.
His Concealment was effective, but not absolute.
And then, there was Ray.
She could see it—the shift in his stance, the way his instincts sharpened, how his sword moved with newfound precision.
And his short distance teleportation Skill,
The balance of power teetered, neither willing to fall first.
As the fight reached its peak, Elva's lips curled slightly.
She knew what this was—two warriors pushing past their limits, neither willing to surrender, neither willing to acknowledge defeat.
As she saw they were almost about to kill each other.
Elva exhaled slowly.
Her violet eyes gleamed with something unreadable.
"Hmph," she muttered, teleporting away.
She vanished leaving behind the words,
"What a waste."
***
A/N : Let me give you all description about Ray's Trait
Sword God(Ex):
Description: The pinnacle of all sword-related abilities. Grants instinctive mastery over all swords, weapons that resemble swords, and techniques that involve swordsmanship. The user will learn, adapt, and improve in ways beyond human understanding.
Effects:
-Swordsmanship does not require formal learning—it is instinctively understood.
-The body will naturally adjust to wield any sword perfectly.
-All sword techniques, regardless of origin, can be learned instantly upon witnessing them.
-The user can create their own sword techniques naturally.
__
Limitless growth(SSS):
Description: A talent that removes all growth limitations. The user can improve endlessly without hitting a bottleneck. The user will continue to grow as long as he put in the effort.
Effects:
-No upper limit on stats.
-Faster learning speed across all fields.
-The stronger the enemy, the faster the user's growth.
**