"I am no longer that silent shadow drifting in the background… Even if no one notices me yet, I can feel it… that power growing inside me. Slowly, but surely. The system has changed… and so have I. I will not remain a mere witness to this world any longer, I will be one of those who write it."
– From Kain's thoughts
The sunset had begun to paint the sky with soft shades of orange and gold as Kain stepped out of the school building, treading carefully through the usual crowd.
But this time, Kain was not as he once was…
Every step he took felt like it was drawing him closer to something greater. Something that had been waiting for him patiently for a long time.
Kain returned home after a long school day, his steps firmer now, as if the world had grown lighter upon his shoulders. He went straight to his room, closing the door behind him quietly. Sitting on his bed, he took a deep breath and muttered to himself:
— "Alright… let's see what has changed."
He opened the status window immediately:
✦ Host's Basic Status
Name: Kain Swan
Race: Human
Level: 5
[ Strength ]: 19
[ Agility ]: 18
[ Intelligence ]: 21
[ Vitality ]: 19
[ Defense ]: 17
[ Endurance ]: 18 / 18
Available FP: 0
Available SP: 40
Current XP: 5 / 35
Kain smiled in satisfaction as he looked at his new level, then without hesitation opened the shop window.
As soon as the list appeared, a new skill flashed on the display:
✦ New Skill Available!
[ Thunder Breathing — Kimetsu Style ]
Rank: C
Price: 50 SP
Kain's eyes widened in astonishment as he read the skill details.
— "Thunder Breathing? From Kimetsu? How…?"
But before he could collect himself, his eyes fell on something strange. Despite being only rank C, Thunder Breathing was more expensive than the A-rank skill Eternal Dragon Eye.
— "What the…? Is this a mistake?" he muttered in confusion. Then his gaze shifted to the old skill and noticed a small [+] symbol beside it.
The moment he focused on it, a new window appeared:
✦ Skill Upgrade: "Eternal Dragon Eye"
Current Stage: Initial
First Upgrade: 1000 SP
Second Upgrade: 5000 SP
Final Rank: A
Kain froze, then asked the system directly:
— "Why was an A-rank skill cheaper than a C-rank?"
The answer came as a system notification:
[ Alert: High-rank skills may be sold in incomplete versions at lower costs, requiring expensive upgrades to reach their full potential. The skill "Eternal Dragon Eye" is incomplete and must be upgraded successively to reach its full A-rank power. ]
Kain nodded slowly as the picture began to clear in his mind.
— "So… the price reflects the current strength of the skill, not its ultimate potential."
While pondering this, he noticed a new section had appeared in the shop, tucked into the lower corner:
✦ [Hunting]
Opening it, Kain found himself staring at bold headers:
[ You can exchange kills for SP ]
[ The host must be the one who delivers the killing blow ]
[ Insects and very small creatures are not counted ]
[ The body must be touched after death to activate ]
Then a long list of categories appeared:
✦ Plant-eating animals: 10 SP
✦ Predatory animals: 50 SP
✦ Humans: 100 SP
✦ Werewolves (Shapeshifters): 2000 SP
✦ Vampires:
• Lesser: 2000 SP
• Elite: 5000 SP
• Legendary: 50000 SP
Beside these categories, there were notes about the enemies' power:
[ Note: This classification is not solely a reflection of the target's skill or ability but is also influenced by their overall stats. Consider these valuations approximate, as they can fluctuate based on unquantifiable variables like combat experience and true mastery of their craft. ]
Kain read with blazing eyes, shock and curiosity wrestling inside him.
— "So I can earn points through killing? This… I didn't expect at all, but…"
He paused for a moment, then whispered with a smile:
— "Excellent."
✦ [Quest Generated]
— Hunt:
Mountain Lion 0/2
Deer 0/3
Time Limit: 24 hours
Reward: 10 FP
Kain was stunned. This was the first quest to offer free points as a reward. He had thought only daily missions did that. But apparently, he had been wrong.
Once he had absorbed the new system mechanics and quest, Kain began planning. He now needed to gather enough points to obtain Thunder Breathing and train with it alongside Dragon Eye.
He leapt from his bed with excitement and reopened the skills window, gazing at Dragon Eye. It was working brilliantly, granting him sharper sight than even a vampire, without needing to transform.
But the real difficulty was something else…
His mind could not process all the information flooding in.
He could only sustain the skill for five minutes before the pain overwhelmed him.
— "I'll need far higher Intelligence…"
Kain closed the window, then looked out of his balcony toward the forest on the horizon.
A long silence filled the air…
Then he smiled with confidence:
— "Alright… time to hunt."
The sun was nearly set as Kain left home in his truck. As usual, he used the excuse, "I'm going for a run." Charlie gave him a suspicious glance but said nothing, while Bella watched distantly, uninterested. To them, it was ordinary. Nothing worrying.
But for Kain, that forest was his private stage—where everything would turn into a new experiment.
He reached the forest within minutes and pulled out a hunting rifle he had taken from Charlie without permission. For his first hunting quest, he needed to use it. This was not difficult thanks to his enhanced stats, already surpassing those of a grown man.
With Dragon Eye, gathering the ten points required for the next stage was easy. He accomplished it in record time, and once sure he had the points, he decided it was time to buy.
He opened the system at once and purchased Thunder Breathing for 50 SP. The moment the purchase completed, knowledge poured into his mind, as if carved into his very body. He felt the technique fuse with him instantly, like it had always been a part of his being.
He began testing the skill immediately.
Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash
Kain performed the first form of Thunder Breathing with exhilaration. The air around him ignited as though the heavens themselves lit up. Suddenly, his body erupted with a surge of power that shook the very world around him.
Electricity burst through the air, arcs of lightning wrapping his body as Kain felt every cell within him charge with explosive strength. His movements blurred, time itself seeming to halt.
Then came the destruction. In one instant, trees were shredded, the ground torn apart beneath his feet. A mountain lion lunged toward a deer, but instead of prey, it found itself turned into Kain's victim.
Even the surrounding trees, far from the center of impact, were smashed into splinters.
Kain stood amidst utter ruin. Nothing remained within the blast radius but broken earth and scattered wreckage. Fields lay torn apart, the air heavy with the scent of ozone, thunder echoing across the horizon.
After a moment of silence, Kain felt the crushing fatigue. His body groaned under the toll of the overwhelming power. Breathing heavily, he steadied himself—but his endurance had dropped to just 1 out of 18.
Kain cursed Thunder Breathing bitterly. Its destructive power was unbelievable, but the cost of using it was far too steep. Yet, even in his frustration, he felt a strange admiration for its sheer, decisive devastation.
After a brief rest, Kain rose to continue his mission. His katana was beginning to show signs of breaking, close to shattering after only a few more uses. Still, he pushed on, switching to the rifle when needed.
Completing his hunt with the rifle, he returned to the truck, drained to his limits.
Thankfully, the low-tier Stamina Recovery Potion he had bought for 20 SP restored 30 endurance points instantly. Though limited to three uses per day, it gave him enough strength to keep going. Not enough to breeze through, but just enough to stagger onward, completing his quest by sheer willpower.
When he finally returned home, Kain opened the system to browse the weapons shop. His eyes narrowed on one weapon in particular: "The Devourer."
Its description revealed it was a weapon that could grow and adapt with its host. More astonishing, it could never break—eventually evolving into a weapon with its own consciousness. Its final rank was SS, the highest Kain had ever seen, rivaling only the sealed Fallen Dragon within him.
But the cost was staggering. 1000 SP. Kain only had 230 SP. Far from enough.
He resolved to save every point until he could obtain it. As for upgrading Dragon Eye, it would have to wait. Its full potential was still locked away.
Excitement coursed through him for the future. His journey had only just begun, and he felt that with time, nothing would be impossible.
That night, Kain fell asleep after ensuring he had gathered every point possible for the day, unaware that his next adventure would change everything.
🌀[End of Chapter Six]
✦ Next Chapter: "Ascension Through Pain… and Watching Eyes"
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The beginning of the new chapters! 🔥
Next chapter is on Sunday. Be on time!