CHAPTER 12 - Rapid Progress
Morning sunlight crept through the window, dragging Chris out of sleep.
He sat up slowly, expecting the usual soreness from training. But surprisingly, his body felt... fine. Better than fine, actually. The aches from yesterday's combat had faded almost completely.
"Master, good morning. I must inform you of a delayed notification."
Chris rubbed his eyes. "What kind of delayed notification?"
"You completed Milestone [3] of the Path of the Blade quest during yesterday's combat. Multiple critical hits were registered against goblin targets. I apologize for the late processing."
Chris blinked. "Wait, I completed a milestone and you didn't tell me?"
"I was occupied optimizing your muscle recovery and monitoring the elf's healing magic integration. I deemed sleep more important than immediate notification."
"You have priorities backwards."
"On the contrary, Master. Your rest was essential. The reward isn't going anywhere."
Fair point.
A screen materialized before him.
╔═══════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ !! MILESTONE COMPLETE !! ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ ║
║ Quest: Path of the Blade ║
║ Milestone [3]: Land a critical hit ✓ ║
║ ║
║ Reward unlocked! ║
║ ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════╝
Another screen appeared immediately after.
╔═══════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ SWORD SKILL UNLOCKED ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ ║
║ SKILL: Piercing Thrust (F) ║
║ Type: Active Sword Technique ║
║ ║
║ Description: ║
║ A concentrated thrust that channels ║
║ all power into a single point. ║
║ ║
║ Effects: ║
║ - Ignores 30% of enemy defense ║
║ - Requires 1-second charge ║
║ - Cooldown: 20 seconds ║
║ ║
║ Synergy: If combined with critical ║
║ hit, ignores 50% defense ║
║ ║
║ Note: Effective against armored foes. ║
║ ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════╝
Chris read the description twice, excitement building in his chest.
An actual technique. Not just a passive bonus, but a real attack he could use.
"How does it work?"
"The technique is now integrated into your muscle memory, Master. Your body knows the motion instinctively. Simply focus your intent, and the skill will activate."
Chris stood, drawing his iron sword. He held it in a ready stance, then focused.
Piercing Thrust.
Immediately, he felt it—a sensation like invisible hands guiding his movements. His stance shifted slightly, weight transferring to his back foot. His sword arm pulled back, elbow tight to his body, blade aligned perfectly.
The motion felt natural. Correct. Like he'd practiced it a thousand times.
He didn't complete the thrust—his room was too small, and he didn't want to stab a hole in the wall—but he could feel the power coiled in the position. Waiting to be released.
"Interesting," he murmured.
"Indeed. I recommend testing it in actual combat. Theoretical knowledge is insufficient."
Chris sheathed his sword, checking his updated status.
╔═══════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ Name: Chris ║
║ Level: 1 ║
║ Title: Shadow Young Lord ║
║ HP: 100/100 ║
║ MP: 50/50 ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ Shadow Skills: ║
║ - Shadow Control (F) ║
║ - Blink (F) ║
║ - Shadow Rise (F) ║
║ - Shadow Sense (F) ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ Sword Skills: ║
║ - Precision Strike (F) [Passive] ║
║ - Piercing Thrust (F) [Active] ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ Servants: 1/1 ║
║ - Scout (Shadow Goblin) - F rank ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ Quests: ║
║ - Path of the Blade ║
║ ✓ Milestone 1: 100 strikes ║
║ ⬜ Milestone 2: 10 kills (6/10) ║
║ ✓ Milestone 3: Critical hit ║
║ ⬜ Milestone 4: Fight without magic ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════╝
Three out of four milestones. He was making real progress.
And he was only four kills away from the next reward.
Chris dressed quickly, grabbed his sword, and headed downstairs.
Time to put this new skill to the test.
---
The Adventurer's Guild was already crowded when Chris arrived.
He scanned the room, searching for silver hair and green robes.
"Looking for someone?"
Chris turned.
Iris stood behind him, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised. Her staff was strapped to her back, and she wore that familiar knowing smile.
"Just wondering if you'd be late again," Chris said.
"Me? Late?" She placed a hand on her chest in mock offense. "I've been here for ten minutes. You're the one who just arrived."
"I'm early. The sun's barely up."
"Early is on time. On time is late. Late is unacceptable." She grinned. "Words to live by, Chris."
"You're impossible."
"Thank you." She turned toward the quest board. "Come on. I found us something interesting today."
Chris followed her to the board. Iris plucked a brown quest paper and handed it to him.
╔═══════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ QUEST DETAILS ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ ║
║ Quest: Bandit Suppression ║
║ Rank: E ║
║ Objective: Eliminate or drive off ║
║ bandit group (Est. 5-7) ║
║ Location: Old Trade Road - West Sector ║
║ Reward: 15 Copper per bandit confirmed ║
║ Danger Level: Moderate-High ║
║ ║
║ Note: Bandits are armed and organized. ║
║ Exercise caution. Lethal force ║
║ authorized. ║
║ ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════╝
Chris looked at her. "Bandits? Not monsters?"
"Bandits are worse than monsters in some ways," Iris said seriously. "Monsters act on instinct. Bandits choose to hurt people. They're smarter, more dangerous, and they don't fight fair."
"You've dealt with them before?"
"Too many times." Her expression darkened briefly. "They've been raiding merchant caravans on the western road for weeks. The guild's had enough."
Chris read the quest again. Five to seven bandits. If he could take down even four of them, he'd complete Milestone 2.
"Alright," he said. "Let's do it."
Iris's smile returned. "Good. Just remember—bandits won't hesitate to kill you. Don't hesitate either."
---
The Old Trade Road cut through sparse woodlands west of Rendercity.
It was a well-worn path, wide enough for two carts to pass side-by-side. Merchant wagon ruts scarred the dirt, and the occasional abandoned crate sat rotting in the underbrush.
Chris and Iris walked in silence, both alert.
His Shadow Sense spread constantly, sweeping the area. So far, nothing but birds and small animals.
"How do we find them?" Chris asked quietly.
"We don't." Iris adjusted her staff. "We let them find us. Bandits watch the road, looking for easy targets. A young swordsman and a mage traveling alone? We look like perfect prey."
"So we're bait."
"Smart bait." She grinned. "Trust me, this works."
They continued walking. Minutes passed. The forest grew denser, the road narrower.
Chris's Shadow Sense prickled suddenly.
Movement. Multiple contacts. Ahead and to the sides.
"Iris," he said softly. "We've got company."
"I know." Her grip on her staff tightened. "Six of them. Classic ambush formation—two ahead, two on each flank."
Chris's hand moved to his sword. "Orders?"
"Let them make the first move. The moment they reveal themselves, I'll hit the flanks with wind magic. You take the front two."
"Got it."
They walked forward, pretending not to notice.
The ambush sprung fifty feet later.
"HOLD!"
A man stepped onto the road ahead—tall, scarred, wearing mismatched leather armor. He held a longsword in one hand and a confident sneer on his face.
Behind him, a second bandit appeared, shorter but stockier, wielding a mace.
From the trees on either side, four more bandits emerged. Two with bows, two with short swords.
Six total.
The leader's sneer widened. "Well, well. What do we have here? Couple of adventurers, all alone in the woods. That's dangerous, you know."
Iris sighed. "Let me guess. You want our coin, our weapons, and maybe our lives?"
"Smart girl." The leader pointed his sword at them. "Drop your weapons. Hand over your valuables. And maybe—maybe—we let you walk away."
"Tempting offer," Iris said dryly. "But I have a counter-proposal."
"Oh?"
"You leave. Now. And we don't kill you."
The bandits laughed.
The leader shook his head. "You've got spirit, I'll give you that. Shame you're about to—"
He didn't finish.
Iris's staff glowed, and twin blades of compressed air shot toward the flanking archers.
Both men screamed as the wind magic slammed into them, throwing them backward into the trees.
"NOW!" Iris shouted.
Chris drew his sword and charged.
The leader barely had time to raise his blade before Chris was on him.
Their swords met with a sharp clang. The bandit was strong—stronger than the goblins—but his technique was sloppy. Aggressive, relying on power over skill.
Chris parried, sidestepped, and countered with a quick slash.
The bandit blocked, grinning. "Not bad, kid! But you're gonna need more than—"
Chris didn't let him finish.
Shadow Sense tracked the bandit's movements, predicting his next strike. The man was about to thrust forward, aiming for Chris's chest.
Chris moved first.
He sidestepped the incoming thrust, letting it pass harmlessly by, then stepped in close.
Piercing Thrust.
The world seemed to slow. His body moved instinctively, guided by the skill. His stance shifted, weight transferring perfectly. His sword pulled back, elbow tight, blade aligned.
Then he released.
The thrust was faster than anything he'd done before. Sharper. Focused.
The blade punched through the bandit's leather armor like it was paper, driving deep into his chest.
Critical hit.
The leader's eyes widened in shock. He gasped, blood bubbling from his lips, then collapsed.
One down.
Chris yanked his blade free, spinning to face the second bandit—the one with the mace.
The stocky man's confident expression had vanished, replaced by fear.
"You—you killed him! You actually—"
"Drop the weapon," Chris said coldly. "Walk away. Now."
The bandit hesitated, looking between Chris and his fallen leader.
Then he turned and ran.
Chris let him go. No point chasing a fleeing enemy.
He turned his attention to the rest of the fight.
Iris had already taken down three bandits—two archers and one of the sword-wielders. Vines wrapped around their unconscious bodies, pinning them to the ground.
The last bandit, seeing his companions defeated, threw down his sword and raised his hands.
"I surrender! Don't kill me! I surrender!"
Iris lowered her staff, breathing hard. "Smart choice."
The fight was over in less than a minute.
Chris stood among the bodies and bound prisoners, sword still drawn, adrenaline slowly fading.
Four confirmed kills—one by him, three incapacitated by Iris. One fled. One surrendered.
"Master, updating quest progress."
╔═══════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ !! QUEST PROGRESS UPDATE !! ║
╠═══════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ ║
║ Quest: Path of the Blade ║
║ ║
║ Milestone [2]: Defeat 10 enemies with ║
║ sword only ║
║ ║
║ Progress: 7/10 ║
║ ║
║ Note: Three more kills required. ║
║ ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════╝
Seven out of ten.
Three more to go.
"Chris."
Iris's voice pulled him back. She was watching him with an unreadable expression.
"That thrust. At the end." She tilted her head. "That was... precise. Very precise. Almost like a technique."
Chris kept his face neutral. "Just got lucky."
"Mmhmm." She didn't look convinced, but she didn't push. "Well, your 'luck' just saved us a lot of trouble. That leader was dangerous."
Chris sheathed his sword. "What do we do with them?"
Iris gestured to the bound and unconscious bandits. "We take the surrendered one back to the guild. They'll lock him up, get information. The others..." She shrugged. "Guild will send a cleanup crew."
"And the one that fled?"
"Probably still running." Iris smiled grimly. "Word will spread. Bandits will think twice about this road now."
They searched the bodies and found a small stash of stolen goods—coins, a few cheap weapons, some traveler's supplies. Nothing valuable, but enough to confirm these were the raiders the guild wanted gone.
Quest complete.
As they prepared to head back, Iris glanced at Chris.
"You're getting stronger," she said quietly. "Faster. More confident." Her green eyes searched his face. "Whatever you're doing, it's working."
Chris met her gaze. "Just trying to survive."
"Is that all?"
He didn't answer.
Iris smiled faintly. "One day, you'll tell me the truth. Until then..." She turned toward the road. "I'll keep watching."
They walked back to Rendercity in comfortable silence.
But Chris couldn't shake the feeling that the walls around his secrets were getting thinner.
And eventually, they'd crumble completely.
---
They returned to the guild just before noon.
The tired receptionist processed their quest completion with her usual efficiency, barely looking up as she stamped the forms.
"Bandit suppression confirmed. Four eliminated, one captured, one fled. Reward: sixty copper. Divided evenly—thirty each."
She slid the coins across the counter.
Chris pocketed his share, bringing his total funds to just over one hundred copper. Not a fortune, but enough to feel secure.
"You're building a decent record," the receptionist said, finally glancing at him. "Ten completed quests in less than a week. That's... unusual for F-rank."
"He's got a good teacher," Iris said cheerfully.
The receptionist's eyes flicked to Iris, then back to Chris. "Even so. Most rookies take a month to complete ten quests. You're either talented, lucky, or reckless."
"Can't it be all three?" Chris asked.
The corner of her mouth twitched. Almost a smile. Almost.
"Keep it up and you'll qualify for E-rank soon." She returned to her paperwork. "Try not to die before then."
"I'll do my best."
As they walked away from the counter, Iris elbowed him lightly.
"She almost smiled. You're making progress."
"I consider that a personal victory."
"You should." Iris stretched, joints popping. "I'm starving. Want to grab lunch? My treat."
Chris raised an eyebrow. "You're paying?"
"Don't get used to it. Consider it a reward for not getting yourself killed today." She grinned. "Plus, I want to hear about that thrust technique. In detail."
Chris's stomach sank slightly. She wasn't going to let that go.
"It's nothing special. Just good timing."
"Uh-huh." Iris's eyes sparkled with mischief. "We'll see about that."
---
They found a small tavern near the guild—a cozy place called The Hungry Blade, frequented by adventurers.
Iris ordered roasted chicken, vegetables, and ale. Chris went with beef stew and bread.
As they ate, Iris leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand.
"So. That thrust."
"You're really not letting this go, are you?"
"Nope." She smiled sweetly. "I've been adventuring for three years, Chris. I know the difference between luck and technique. What you did wasn't luck."
Chris considered his options. He could keep denying it. But that would only make her more suspicious.
Or he could give her a partial truth.
"I've been training," he admitted. "At night. Practicing forms, footwork, strikes. Trying to improve."
Iris's expression softened. "You're pushing yourself that hard?"
"I have to. This world doesn't wait for people to catch up."
She was quiet for a moment, her smile fading into something more serious.
"You sound like someone running from something. Or toward something." Her green eyes searched his. "Which is it?"
"Both, maybe." Chris stabbed a piece of beef with his fork. "I don't want to be weak. I don't want to be useless. If that means training until my hands blister, then that's what I'll do."
Iris studied him, then nodded slowly.
"I understand that more than you know." She took a sip of ale. "Just... be careful. Strength without rest leads to burnout. And burnout leads to mistakes. Mistakes get you killed."
"I'll be careful."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Iris smiled, apparently satisfied. "Good. Because I'd hate to lose my favorite project."
"I thought I was your only project."
"Semantics."
They finished their meal in comfortable conversation, the tension from earlier fading.
As they stepped outside, Iris turned to him.
"Same time tomorrow?"
"You're not tired of me yet?"
"Not even close." She grinned. "Besides, you're getting interesting. I want to see how far you can go."
That word again. Interesting.
Chris was beginning to hate it.
"Tomorrow, then."
Iris waved and walked off toward the northern district, leaving Chris alone.
He stood there for a moment, watching her disappear into the crowd.
She was getting too close. Seeing too much.
Eventually, she'd figure it out. Or he'd slip up. Or the God would interfere.
Something would give.
Chris shook his head and turned toward The Copper Coin.
He needed rest. And tonight, more training.
Three more kills until the next milestone.
Three more steps toward strength.
He could almost feel the next skill waiting.
And he intended to claim it.
---
Night fell.
Chris sat in his room, waiting for the familiar transition.
The moment the last light faded, he felt it—the shift. The sharpening of his senses. The darkness welcoming him.
Night Phase Activated.
His Shadow Sense expanded, sweeping the inn and beyond. No one near the training yard.
Perfect.
Chris slipped out the window and made his way through the shadowed streets.
The training yard was empty, as expected.
He vaulted the fence and landed softly in the center.
But tonight, he wasn't here to practice sword forms.
Tonight, he had a different goal.
"Scout," he whispered. "Come forth."
His shadow rippled, and the familiar form emerged—purple eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.
The shadow goblin stood at attention, waiting for orders.
Chris had tested Scout's combat abilities before. But tonight, he wanted to try something new.
Coordinated attacks. Combination techniques. Using Scout not as a separate entity, but as an extension of himself.
"Scout. Attack pattern Alpha. Follow my lead."
The goblin tilted its head in acknowledgment.
Chris drew his sword and faced a practice dummy.
He moved forward, engaging the dummy with a standard slash.
Scout flowed around him, striking from the opposite side simultaneously.
The dummy was hit from two directions at once.
Chris grinned. Good.
They ran through the pattern again. And again. Refining the timing. Perfecting the coordination.
After an hour, they moved like one entity—Chris striking high, Scout striking low. Chris engaging from the front, Scout flanking from behind.
It was beautiful. Deadly. Efficient.
And completely illegal.
But in the darkness, with no witnesses, Chris allowed himself to explore his full potential.
Shadow and sword. Together.
This was who he was becoming.
Not just a swordsman. Not just a shadow mage.
Both.
And eventually, when he was strong enough, he wouldn't have to hide anymore.
Eventually.
Chris dismissed Scout and turned to leave—
His Shadow Sense flared.
Someone was watching.
He spun, scanning the darkness.
There.
On the guild rooftop again. Same position as before.
But this time, the figure was clearer. More defined.
The God stood silhouetted against the purple moon, that frozen smile gleaming.
Chris's jaw clenched. "What do you want?"
The God's voice drifted down, amused and lazy.
"Just observing, dear Chris. You're progressing nicely. Shadow servant. Sword techniques. A lovely elf growing more suspicious by the day." It chuckled. "You're walking a very thin line. I wonder how long you can balance."
"I don't need your commentary."
"Oh, but I enjoy giving it." The God leaned forward. "Tell me—when she finally learns the truth, what will you do? Lie again? Run? Or will you finally stop hiding?"
Chris said nothing.
The God's smile widened.
"Three more kills, and you unlock another technique. Then one final milestone—survive a fight without magic. How delicious. How... contradictory." It tilted its head. "Can the shadow mage truly fight without shadows? Or will you fail when it matters most?"
Before Chris could respond, the figure dissolved into nothing.
Gone.
Chris stood alone, fists clenched, breathing hard.
The God was right about one thing.
He was walking a thin line.
And sooner or later, he'd fall.
The question was—which side would he land on?
Chris turned and left the training yard, disappearing into the night.
Tomorrow, he'd take another quest.
Tomorrow, he'd get those last three kills.
Tomorrow, he'd unlock the next skill.
And tomorrow, he'd keep pretending everything was fine.
Until it wasn't.
[End of Chapter 12]