Morning light filtered through the cracked glass of Room Thirteen, casting pale green shadows across the stone floor.
I sat up on the wide wooden bed, stretching my arms. My chest felt clear, and the Aether drain from last night’s battle in the Grand Plaza had completely faded thanks to the deep Soul Synchronization with Valeska.
Beside the window, Valeska stood with her arms crossed over her armored chest, her featureless helmet staring out at the rainy streets of Oakhaven.
"You’re awake," Valeska noted, her voice cold and even. "The city below is in chaos. The Imperial Vanguard is searching every alley for the ’Heretic’."
"Huh?! Are they retarded or what?" I commented.
"What made you think that?" She asked, her voice a little intrigued.
"Aren’t you a calamity tier summon?" I muttered, swinging my leg over the edge of the bed. "Although I don’t know much about summons, I do remember how Vector’s summon didn’t even dare to go against you. And on top of that, we literally defeated the three Grand Archons. So—"
PING! DING! DING!
A blinding, amber-and-black System HUD expanded in front of my face, flashing with urgent warning runes.
[CRITICAL NOTICE: NOVICE SYSTEM BUFF EXPIRED]
[ATTENTION USER: KAELEN CROSS]
[System Adjustments Implemented:]
[Novice Multiplier Removed:]Up until now, all User skills (Somatic Overload, Endless Resilience, Adaptive Resonance, Ashen Pulse, Ashen Cleave) were granted an artificial [10x Novice Enhancement Multiplier].
[Hard Reset Engaged:]Now that your vessel has survived initial calibration and crossed the 1,000 Soul Essence threshold, the temporary multiplier has been permanently stripped.
[Skill Status:]All Innate and Granted skills have been reset to their TRUE, RAW Level 1 State.
I stared at the floating text box for five full seconds.
I read the line about the 10x Novice Multiplier twice. Then I looked at my hands, looked back at the screen, and let out a long, dry laugh.
"You know what?" I said, shaking my head. "I’m not even surprised anymore. I had a hunch that it felt too easy."
Valeska turned her visor toward me, her red slits narrowing. "What is that System of yours babbling about now, mortal?"
"Remember when I used Ashen Pulse in the cathedral and blasted thirty heavy paladins fifty feet into a stone fountain?" I asked, looking up at her. "Or when I used Ashen Cleave last night and cut through three golden spears of light and a stone wall?"
"Yeah, I remember," Valeska said. "You were way too brazen." She paused. "What if your attack hadn’t been able to cut through the spears?"
It took me quite a while to process.
The Ashen Monarch is actually worried about me?!
Unable to contain my curiosity, I asked out loud. "Are you worried about me?"
Valeska didn’t remark.
Deep down, I knew she wasn’t wrong.
’It was too reckless of me’
Breaking the silence, I continued, "Well, whatever. Turns out the System was giving me a 10x cheat-buff so my arm wouldn’t explode."
I wheezed, rubbing my temples. "That cheat-buff just expired. My skills just got reset to their raw, unboosted Level 1 stats."
She let out a low, condescending snort.
"Good," Valeska said, a dark smirk in her voice. "I was wondering why an F-Rank’s pathetic strike was generating so much kinetic force. The training wheels are finally off."
"Training wheels?!" I yelled. "I have to fight Imperial Archons today! What do you mean training wheels?!"
I immediately pulled up my skill details to see what my real Level 1 output looked like.
[SYSTEM SKILL STATUS (RAW LEVEL 1 - NOVICE BUFF REMOVED)]
1. [Somatic Overload (Basic) - Lv. 1 / 100]
Proficiency: 3.6%
Sensory Receptivity Multiplier: 1.2x Base
Overload Range: Direct Skin-to-Skin Touch Only
Aether Refill / Pool Boost:[DISABLED / REMOVED]
Description: Physical contact overloads and heightens sensory feedback in Villainous Entities. (Next Evolution at Lv. 30).
2. [Endless Resilience (Basic) - Lv. 1 / 100]
Proficiency: 4.2%
Regeneration Speed: 10x Human Base (No longer 100x instant bone-knitting)
Pain Suppression: 15% Max
Bone/Tissue Repair Rate: 1.5 Hours for Major Fractures
Description: Accelerates natural healing and pain tolerance. (Next Evolution at Lv. 30).
3. [Adaptive Resonance (Basic) - Lv. 1 / 100]
Proficiency: 2.1%
Reflex / Movement Adjustment: +15% Speed
Physical Hardening: +10% Density
Adaptation Delay: 1.5 Seconds
Description: Body scales and adapts physically to incoming kinetic forces. (Next Evolution at Lv. 30).
4. [Ashen Pulse (Basic) - Lv. 1 / 100]
Proficiency: 1.5%
Kinetic Impact Radius: 3 Feet Max (Reduced from 70 Feet)
Impact Force: 120 Impact Units
Cost: 20 Soul Essence
Description: Releases a short-range wave of black kinetic force. (Next Evolution at Lv. 30).
5. [Ashen Cleave (Basic) - Lv. 1 / 100]
Proficiency: 0.5%
Ember Blade Extension: 3 Feet Max (Reduced from 100 Feet)
Thermal / Cutting Power: 250 Units (Requires Melee Weapon / Martial Technique)
Cost: 50 Soul Essence
Description: Imbues melee weapon with a short edge of black kinetic fire. (Next Evolution at Lv. 30).
I stared at the screen, my jaw dropping.
"A three-foot kinetic shove?!" I groaned, slumping back onto the bed. "My Ashen Cleave went from a building-slicing beam of death to a three-foot spicy sword-blur?!"
"You were relying on artificial power," Valeska said coldly, stepping away from the window. "A real warrior’s strength comes from mastery, not System handouts. You must train your skills through actual combat."
I checked the bottom of the System HUD to see if there was any other catch.
[NOTICE: Full Calamity Ability List & Detailed Descriptions]
Requirement: Reach [Stage 2 Middle Phase] (35% Soul Synchronization / ~1,800 Soul Essence).
Current Progress: Stage 2 Initial Phase (25% Soul Synchronization / 1,080 Soul Essence).
’At least I’ll get to see Valeska’s complete skill tree once we hit 1,800 Soul Essence,’ I thought, closing the HUD.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
A sharp, rhythmic knock rattled the heavy oak door of Room Thirteen.
I grabbed my steel dagger from the nightstand, my body automatically adjusting. Even without the 10x System buff, my [Adaptive Resonance] and [Endless Resilience] meant my body was still far more durable and agile than an average human’s.
"Who is it?" I called out, stepping toward the door.
"It’s Raven," her smooth, husky voice came through the thick wood, accompanied by the faint smell of blue cigar smoke. "Open up, kid. The Underworld Guildmaster wants to see you."
I unlocked the door and pulled it open.
Raven stood in the corridor, her dark leather trench coat damp from the rain, her hat tilted forward. She took a slow drag from her blue cigar, her sharp blue eyes scanning both me and Valeska standing behind me.
Raven’s eyes lingered on Valeska’s unarmored collarplate and the subtle shift in her posture. A razor-sharp, knowing smile appeared on Raven’s lips.
"I see the two of you had a productive night," Raven murmured, blowing a ring of blue smoke over my head. "Your soul-tether looks much tighter today, kid."
Valeska’s visor flared a deadly crimson, her hand gripping her greatsword hilt. "Watch your tongue, shadow-dweller."
"Relax, Empress," Raven smirked, turning toward the stairs. "I’m not here to gossip. The Imperial Archons have locked down the outer gates of Oakhaven, but they haven’t dared push into the Guild’s territory yet. The Guildmaster has a contract for you."
I followed her down the wooden hallway, Valeska trailing behind us like a looming shadow.
"What kind of contract?" I asked.
"A high-tier raid," Raven replied without looking back, her voice dropping into a serious tone. "An Ancient Ruin located beneath the Oakhaven Slums just breached its seal. It’s packed with high-grade Soul Crystals, ancient artifacts... and hordes of dark entities."
Raven stopped at the top of the grand staircase overlooking the crowded tavern below, turning her head to look at me.
"You need Soul Essence to expand your vessel and level up those raw skills of yours, right?" Raven asked, her blue eyes glinting under her hat. "That ruin is the only place in this city where you’ll find the density required to forge your soul."
I looked at my right hand, feeling the quiet, unboosted hum of [Ashen Pulse] resting inside my gauntlet.
The System had stripped away my training wheels. If I wanted to survive the Imperial Archons, unlock Lilith at 3,000 Essence, and reach Level 30 on my skills, I had to earn every single drop of power by any means.
I looked up at Raven and smirked.
"Lead the way, Raven."