Chapter 6 — The First True Strike
I woke to the first light of dawn, the mana in the forest thick but gentle, as if the world had forgotten my presence.
Cursed Sage stirred before I even did. Its voice, now less formal and more… predictive, echoed in my thoughts.
"Host, current environment contains multiple variable threats. Probability of survival in random encounter: 87.6%."
I sighed. "I suppose we need to test ourselves again."
The system chimed softly. Five sign-ins were available today, and I had learned to approach them deliberately. No more haphazard clicking—I wanted purposeful growth.
[Sign-In 1 — Reward: Ultimate Skill — Shadowed Flow Technique]
The name resonated in my mind, almost as if it had always existed within me.
Shadowed Flow Technique (Ultimate Skill)
Description: Allows the host to manipulate mana and curse energy in fluid, adaptive ways, blending with shadows, wind, or ambient energy to create devastating offensive and defensive techniques.
Sub-Skills:
1. Veil of Umbral Steps — Partial invisibility through shadow integration; allows near-instant repositioning.
2. Curse-Laced Strike — Infuses physical or mana attacks with subtle curse distortion, destabilizing targets' defenses.
3. Mana Current Assimilation — Draws ambient mana from environment to replenish personal reserves.
I felt a subtle shift as the skill integrated. My body, still semi-conceptual, now resonated with an energy I could control actively.
[Sign-In 2 — Reward: Unique Skill — Spectral Echo]
Spectral Echo (Unique Skill)
Description: Generates intangible copies of the host's form or attacks to distract or flank enemies.
Sub-Skills:
1. Phantom Residue — Creates a delayed echo that replicates a recent movement or attack pattern.
2. Temporal Displacement Echo — Briefly shifts the timing of an echo to cause enemies to miscalculate.
3. Adaptive Mimicry — Echoes can partially replicate effects of sub-skills like Curse-Laced Strike, depending on the situation.
Even a small creature could be overwhelmed by the combination of Shadowed Flow Technique and Spectral Echo. I smiled faintly. Not arrogance, just acknowledgment—I was becoming capable, but still far from invincible.
---
I walked deeper into the forest, testing the integration of my new abilities.
The first real test came in the form of a Bloodfang Panther, a mid-rank predator with predatory intelligence and a body saturated with reactive mana.
Its eyes caught me instantly. Unlike weaker creatures, it didn't hesitate. It calculated, estimated, and struck in a flash.
"Host, threat level: Moderate-High. Recommended strategy: integrate Shadowed Flow Technique + Spectral Echo."
I nodded. "Understood."
I exhaled, and my form shimmered.
Veil of Umbral Steps activated naturally. My outline blurred, disappearing into shadows cast by the trees. I drifted laterally, letting the Panther's momentum carry it forward.
It misjudged and crashed into a tree trunk.
Curse-Laced Strike followed instinctively. Not a direct strike, but a subtle infusion of curse energy into the vibrations of the trunk, sending feedback into the Panther's nervous system.
It yelped, staggered—but recovered quickly. Intelligent predator. Not easy prey.
Spectral Echo — Phantom Residue activated. An echo emerged, mirroring my prior movement. The Panther turned toward it instinctively. Another Veil of Umbral Steps, another reposition.
Cursed Sage spoke.
"Host efficiency: 74.3% execution. Probability of full neutralization without lethal damage: 63.5%."
I smiled inwardly. "Let's see if we can improve those odds."
Sub-Skill Fusion Attempt:
I combined Curse-Laced Strike with Temporal Displacement Echo. The echo appeared milliseconds before my actual strike would land. The Panther struck at the echo and felt the destabilization effect from the curse-infused shadow behind me.
Its movements staggered uncontrollably, every attempt to strike me countered by the predictive guidance of Cursed Sage.
Then I advanced cautiously, maintaining the illusion of weakness.
Finally, Adaptive Mana Channeling, a sub-skill I had acquired earlier, allowed me to draw ambient mana from surrounding trees and moss, reinforcing my curse-infused attacks.
The Panther, finally exhausted from miscalculations, fled deeper into the forest, leaving me standing quietly.
I exhaled heavily. My skills had worked. Not perfectly. Not flawlessly. But effectively.
Cursed Sage spoke with a new tone, almost… proud.
"Host, first integrated offensive operation successful. Estimated growth in skill synergy: +12.4%."
I laughed softly.
Not out of triumph, but humility. I had survived, yes—but the forest was vast, and the world beyond would be far more dangerous.
---
The system chimed again:
[Sign-Ins Remaining Today: 3]
I signed in deliberately:
Sign-In 3 — Reward: Unique Item — Shadowed Ribbon
Description: Enhances shadow-based mobility; integrates with Shadowed Flow Technique to extend range of Veil of Umbral Steps by 25%.
Sign-In 4 — Reward: Ultimate Skill Sub-Upgrade — Flow Adaptation
Description: Enhances Shadowed Flow Technique, improving reaction speed to enemy attacks and allowing automatic curse redistribution based on real-time combat analysis.
Sign-In 5 — Reward: Unique Skill Sub-Upgrade — Echo Enhancement
Description: Improves Spectral Echo's Phantoms to replicate 60% of host's sub-skill effects automatically in combat scenarios.
By the end, I was drained—but satisfied. Each sign-in now carried meaningful, integrated growth, not just arbitrary rewards. My body, my race, and my skills were evolving together, each amplifying the other.
---
Later that night, I sat on a fallen log. The moonlight reflected faintly off my semi-conceptual form.
I thought of Rimuru, somewhere far away.
"…He's not my target," I whispered. "But someday, paths will cross. I need to be ready for that."
Cursed Sage remained quiet. Perhaps it understood that this was a vow, not a whim.
I focused inward, feeling the synergy of my race, my Ultimate Skills, and Unique Skills.
This wasn't godhood. This wasn't unstoppable power.
But it was a foundation.
And it was mine.
---
Status — End of Chapter 6
Name: Unnamed
Race: Cursed Spectral Sage (Evolved)
Existence Type: Semi-Conceptual Monster
Core Attributes
Mana Capacity: Medium → Medium+
Structural Stability: High
Growth Potential: Infinite (Unbounded Growth Vector)
Ultimate Skills
1. Shadowed Flow Technique
Sub-Skills: Veil of Umbral Steps, Curse-Laced Strike, Mana Current Assimilation
Upgrade Sub-Skill: Flow Adaptation (Automatic curse redistribution, reaction enhancement)
Unique Skills
1. Spectral Echo
Sub-Skills: Phantom Residue, Temporal Displacement Echo, Adaptive Mimicry
Upgrade Sub-Skill: Echo Enhancement (Phantom replicates 60% of host sub-skills)
Items
Shadowed Ribbon (Enhances Shadowed Flow Technique mobility)
Curse-Infused Crystal Shard
Primordial Rune of Containment
Traits
Minor Regeneration → Enhanced Regeneration
Curse Affinity → Curse Manipulation (Active)
System
Daily Sign-In: 5 per day
Reward Probabilities: Ultimate Skills 25%, Unique Skills 35%, Unique Items 20%, Legendary+ 10%, Common/Extra Skills 10%
Threat Level
Overall: High (for early-mid tier monsters)
Survivability: High
Evolution Readiness: Preparing for second-tier conceptual growth
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Author's Note
Hey readers, Chapter 6 just showcased Kaito's first real offensive with fully integrated Ultimate and Unique Skills.
If you want to see more chapters, witness complex battles, and watch him grow beyond world-class threats, please support the story by:
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