The battle stretched on.
Another hour passed.
Not slowly.
Not gently.
But painfully.
Every second felt heavier than the last.
---
The Night Walkers did not fall easily.
Each one fought like a true predator.
Unlike the coreless swarm—
These beasts thought.
Moved.
Adapted.
Hunted.
---
Kael roared as he thrust his spear forward again.
"DIE—!"
His spear pierced straight into the glowing chest of a lunging Night Walker.
CRACK.
The core shattered.
The beast froze instantly.
Then collapsed.
Dead.
For real.
---
"That's six!" Kael shouted hoarsely.
His voice sounded dry.
Rough.
Exhausted.
---
Soren rolled across the ground to avoid another claw swipe.
The earth split where the strike landed.
BOOM.
"…They don't stop!" he yelled.
Blood ran down his left arm.
His breathing ragged.
His legs trembling.
---
Elric stepped forward heavily.
Every movement now slower.
But still precise.
Still deadly.
"Focus on timing!"
He waited—
Measured—
Then struck.
SLASH.
His sword pierced the glowing chest of another Night Walker.
CRACK.
Another core shattered.
Another beast dropped.
---
Meanwhile—
Rynelle Aeris stood facing the last three.
His breathing shallow.
His body screaming.
Mana reserves nearly empty.
Fatigue clawing at his bones.
But his eyes—
Sharp.
Focused.
Unyielding.
---
The crown above his head glowed faintly.
His armor shimmered weakly.
Threads barely holding together.
Yet—
He moved.
---
"Weaver Step."
His body flickered.
Appearing behind one of the remaining Night Walkers.
His sword thrust forward—
Straight—
Toward the core.
---
CRACK.
The core shattered.
The beast fell instantly.
---
Two remained.
Both growling.
Both bleeding.
Both furious.
---
Kael forced himself upright again.
"…Last two…"
Soren steadied his daggers.
"…Let's finish this…"
Elric nodded once.
"…Together."
---
The final two Night Walkers lunged simultaneously.
Fast.
Deadly.
Merciless.
---
Kael rushed forward.
Wind gathered around his spear.
"Wind Pierce!"
He launched like a missile.
Straight into the chest of one Night Walker.
CRACK.
The core shattered instantly.
The beast collapsed.
---
The final Night Walker turned—
Locked eyes with Rynelle—
And lunged.
---
Too fast.
Too sudden.
Too dangerous.
---
Rynelle exhaled slowly.
His mind empty.
His instincts sharp.
Then—
He moved.
---
Okkotsu Movement.
---
His body twisted unnaturally.
Sliding past the claw strike.
Barely missing death.
His sword rotated—
Spun—
Then stabbed forward.
---
CRACK.
The final core shattered.
---
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Absolute.
Final.
---
All ten Night Walkers—
Dead.
---
Kael collapsed onto the ground instantly.
"…We… did it…"
He laughed weakly.
"…We actually did it…"
---
Soren dropped beside him.
"…I can't feel my legs…"
---
Elric lowered his sword slowly.
"…Battle… complete…"
Even he struggled to stand now.
---
Rynelle dismissed his blade.
His armor flickered.
Then vanished.
The floating crown disappeared.
Leaving him standing in torn clothing.
Covered in dust.
Blood.
Sweat.
Fatigue.
---
Then—
It happened.
---
A sound echoed inside his mind.
Clear.
Sharp.
Unmistakable.
---
[Ding… You've slain a Night Walker]
[Ding… You've slain a Night Walker]
[Ding… Your stats have increased]
[Ding… You've obtained three shattered core]
[Ding… Your proficiency in Weaver Step has increased]
[Ding… Your proficiency in Elemental Weaving has increased]
[Ding… Your proficiency in Okkotsu Movement has increased]
---
More messages followed rapidly.
Stacking.
Layering.
Repeating.
---
[Ding… You've slain a Night Walker]
[Ding… Your stats have increased]
[Ding… You've obtained three shattered core]
[Ding… Skill proficiency increased]
---
Rynelle blinked slowly.
The notifications kept appearing.
Again.
And again.
And again.
---
Kael looked confused.
"…You seeing this too…?"
Soren nodded weakly.
"…Yeah…"
Elric exhaled slowly.
"…System notifications…"
---
Rynelle whispered quietly.
"…Status."
---
A glowing blue transparent window appeared before him.
Floating several meters from his face.
Clear.
Sharp.
Alive.
---
Status Window
Name: Rynelle Aeris
Level: 0
Class: Weaver Class
Rank: Dormant
Title: Dormant
HP: 150 / 150
MP: 150 / 150
Fatigue: 78%
Stats
Strength: 10 + 4
Vitality: 11 + 8
Agility: 14 + 6
Intelligence: 17 + 5
Perception: 16 + 3
Shattered Core: 3
Skill Points: 10
Active Class Skills
Elemental Weaving: Level 1
Allows the user to weave elemental threads into physical or conceptual forms. The strength and complexity of the weave depend on mana control and elemental affinity.
Weaver Step: Level 1
Allows short-distance displacement using spatial thread manipulation. Movement speed increases based on agility and perception.
Weaver Bind: Level 1
Creates binding threads capable of restraining enemies. Binding strength depends on mana density and elemental compatibility.
Fear Domination: Level 1
Releases mental pressure through woven emotional resonance. Causes fear-based suppression depending on mana strength and target resistance.
Okkotsu Movement: Level 1
A fluid combat movement style derived from instinctive adaptive motion. Focuses on unpredictability, minimal wasted movement, and counter-flow adaptation against enemy attacks.
Equipment:
Syrenic Ethereal Armor
A living woven armor constructed from elemental threads. It adapts to incoming damage, shifts density based on impact, and maintains weightless mobility while enhancing defensive stability.
Syrenic Ethereal Sword
A semi-ethereal blade formed from condensed mana threads. It exists between physical and energy states, allowing it to disrupt both matter and mana flow on contact.
System Upgrade: LOCKED
Advanced Functions: LOCKED
Authority Access: LOCKED
Growth Expansion: LOCKED
---
Then—
A new message appeared at the bottom.
Clear.
Bright.
Tempting.
---
[ Do you wish to distribute your skill points to your stats ]
---
Rynelle stared at it silently.
Thinking.
Calculating.
Evaluating.
---
Then he spoke calmly.
"…No."
---
The message flickered.
Then disappeared.
Skill points remained unused.
Saved.
Reserved.
For later.
---
He closed the window.
The blue light faded instantly.
---
Kael groaned loudly.
"…We need rest…"
Soren nodded weakly.
"…Immediately…"
Elric scanned their surroundings slowly.
"…Agreed…"
---
One by one—
They dismissed their weapons.
Their armor dissolved into threads.
Vanishing into nothingness.
Leaving only exhaustion behind.
---
Rynelle looked toward the horizon.
"…We need shelter."
Kael nodded tiredly.
"…Somewhere safe…"
Soren added quietly.
"…Before night comes…"
Elric pointed forward.
"…That direction."
---
And so—
They began walking again.
Slow.
Heavy.
Painful.
Searching.
For rest.
For shelter.
For survival.
---
Far above—
Floating silently in the sky—
The drones continued recording.
Watching.
Tracking.
Observing every movement.
---
Back at the academy—
Massive viewing screens displayed their condition.
Teachers watched silently.
Some impressed.
Some concerned.
Some calculating.
---
One instructor spoke quietly.
"…They survived the coreless swarm and Night Walkers…"
Another nodded.
"…Impressive endurance…"
A third muttered.
"…Especially that Weaver…"
Eyes remained fixed on Rynelle.
Watching closely.
Measuring growth.
Tracking potential.
---
Meanwhile—
Far across another section of the plains—
The VIP group finally stopped.
Because something stood before them.
Sixteen figures.
Tall.
Dark.
Deadly.
---
Sixteen Night Walkers.
All at once.
---
Seraphina stepped forward slowly.
Her eyes burned with cold fury.
"…Finally."
Her voice carried sharp excitement.
Deadly anticipation.
---
Behind her—
The rest of the VIP group prepared themselves.
Weapons drawn.
Mana rising.
Combat ready.
---
Because now—
Their true battle—
Was finally about to begin.