The morning air was crisp, but Onex barely noticed it. Shadowlight energy coursed through their veins, a steady pulse that seemed to whisper, "This is just the beginning."
Nix stretched beside them, their expression a mix of amusement and skepticism. "You're getting sloppy with your aura extraction," Nix said, voice teasing. "Even a rookie would notice."
Onex smirked, adjusting their stance. "Yeah? Maybe I'm giving the rookies a head start." Their eyes glinted as the Shadowlight halo above their head spun slowly, faintly slicing the light streaming through the training arena.
Nix shook their head, arms crossing. "Sure, sure… just don't get cocky. Last time you got cocky, we almost lost the alley fight."
"Almost lost? I call that a warm-up," Onex replied, flicking their wrist. Shadows coiled around their forearms like serpents, and the Eclipse Flicker halo ignited, sending thin arcs of darkness crawling across the floor. It was a subtle display, but enough to make anyone watching take notice.
The training ground was quiet, abandoned except for them. Broken street lamps and cracked pavement gave it a desolate, yet perfect, halo-battleground vibe. Onex's system pinged faintly in the corner of their vision:
[Ding!]
[Nearby Aura Source Detected: Level 1-2]
"Looks like someone's trying to play halo games nearby," Onex muttered. Their lips curled into a grin.
"Or maybe someone's about to get a lesson," Nix said, smirking.
No sooner had they finished speaking than three figures emerged from the shadows. Each one had halos of their own, radiating energy in bursts of crimson, gold, and silver. These were minor rivals, self-proclaimed elite halo hunters who thought the deserted district gave them the upper hand.
Onex's eyes narrowed. "Seriously?" They flicked a glance at Nix. "Stay close. This is going to be fun."
The rivals made the first move, swinging with aggressive, flashy aura attacks. Onex dodged effortlessly, shadows bending and warping around their form. The Eclipse Flicker halo pulsed, absorbing a fraction of each strike. Their system pinged with each hit:
[Ding!]
[Aura Absorbed: +10 Shadowlight Energy]
[System Combo Available: Shadowlight + Voidlight]
"Not bad," Onex muttered. "This is just the warm-up."
Nix crouched slightly, observing. "They're getting sloppy… your aura absorption is already throwing them off balance."
Onex twirled mid-air, aura twisting into a blade-like ribbon that sliced the nearest rival's attack path cleanly. The rival staggered, eyes wide, their halo dimming slightly.
"Impressive," Nix muttered, a hint of admiration creeping into their voice. "You've actually improved since yesterday."
Onex grinned. "Improvement is my middle name."
The fight escalated, the rivals trying to coordinate, but Onex stayed calm. Each strike, each dodge, each pulse of Shadowlight energy was deliberate. The system highlighted weak points in their stance and suggested extraction points. Onex followed instinctively, letting the Eclipse Flicker halo siphon bits of aura with precision.
[Ding!]
[Halo Farm Bonus: +15 Aura]
[Next Objective: Seek higher-level Halos]
The rivals were starting to panic. One of them yelled, "What the—? How are you absorbing our halos?!"
"Technique," Onex replied casually, spinning in the air as their Voidlight halo joined the Eclipse Flicker. Shadows and light intertwined, creating a dazzling effect that was almost hypnotic. The rivals froze, unable to anticipate the next strike.
Nix chuckled. "This is… beautiful, in a terrifying way."
Onex tilted their head. "Don't admire it too long, or you might become a target too."
With a swift motion, Onex stepped forward, palms glowing with concentrated aura. The rivals were overwhelmed, their halos flickering as energy was siphoned. Within seconds, they stumbled back, disoriented and weakened.
"Face-slapped," Onex whispered, smirking. "And that's how it's done."
The rivals scurried away, muttering threats, but Onex didn't chase. Instead, they exhaled slowly, letting the energy settle. Shadowlight and Voidlight halos hovered above their head, pulsing in tandem.
Nix stepped closer, shaking their head in disbelief. "You're insane. That… was insane."
Onex shrugged. "Maybe. But insane works." They glanced at the system interface, the words blinking invitingly:
[Ding!]
[Next Objective: Seek Legendary Halos – Danger Level: High]
A grin slowly spread across Onex's face. "Looks like we're moving up. Time to farm something worth bragging about."
Nix smirked. "Just promise me you won't get yourself killed before you reach the big leagues."
Onex tilted their head, eyes glowing faintly as the Eclipse Flicker halo spun faster. "No promises," they said. "But if anyone's going to die, it's going to be them, not me."
The district seemed quieter now, shadows stretching unnaturally as if sensing the rise of a new halo devourer.
Onex adjusted their stance and looked at Nix. "Ready for the next round?"
"Always," Nix replied.
And with that, they vanished into the streets, shadows dancing behind them, leaving only the faint afterglow of stolen halos.