As Daniel walked in the quiet streets, it was night but somehow didn't quite feel like it was night. As the sky was red, as he walked on, he realized how inexperienced he was, with only Arc Lash as his main offensive skill. Daniel wondered, if he could see pages through his eyes, he thought about a status page to himself.
[STATUS PAGE — DANIEL]
Level: 4
Class: —
Ether Signature: Thunder?Aligned / Unstable
HP: 142 / 142
Stamina: 118 / 118
Ether: 64 / 64
ACTIVE SKILLS
Arc Lash (Lv. 2)
A close?range thunder discharge released from the arm. Charge can be held, High voltage, short range.
Aegis Veil (Lv. 1)
A reactive defensive veil that absorbs or deflects minor impacts. Flickers on contact.
Veilshift (Lv. 1)
Short?range invisibility, cloaking. Guarantees a critical hit on the next attack when used from stealth or surprise.
PASSIVE SKILLS
SCAN (Lv. 1)
Instinctive threat?analysis. Highlights enemies, predicts danger angles. Visual indicators can be suppressed SCAN to see enemy stats and information.
Echo Armament (Lv. 1)
Successful hits generate a delayed echo?strike of the same damage type at reduced strength.
Daniel was surprised as this was his first time actually seeing this page as he is now realizing how low his level is. He thought to himself, when did he start getting stats like it was some video game. Daniel realized if this was like a video game, he realized he was going into a mage and rogue like build. He liked it. Daniel closed the page with a slow blink, the afterimage still hovering in his mind as he walked, and his thoughts drifted back to Arc Lash, to the way the charge had clung to his arm during the chase like a living thing; he lifted his left hand again, feeling the familiar thrum coil beneath his skin, and the memory of that held charge tugged at him, a quiet question he couldn’t shake as he stepped into a quieter stretch of the street—if it could linger, if it could hold together for even a heartbeat, then maybe it could do more, so he drew the energy up carefully, letting it pool in his palm as he focused on guiding it forward, testing whether the raw thunder would follow his intent instead of exploding the moment it formed. The charge thickened in his palm, threads of blue?white light snapping between his fingers as he coaxed the energy forward, trying to stretch it instead of letting it burst; the instinct to release it in a single violent snap tugged at his arm, but he pushed against that urge, guiding the current into a narrower line, feeling it resist, wobble, and flare as if the thunder itself was confused by what he wanted, the unstable shape flickering like a half?formed idea that might collapse at any second if he lost focus. The narrow line of light wavered, stretching just enough to resemble the beginning of an arrow before the charge buckled, the shape collapsing with a sharp crack that stung his fingertips and sent a scatter of sparks across the ground; Daniel hissed under his breath, shaking out his hand as the last threads of voltage snapped free, but he drew the energy up again almost immediately, refusing to let the failure settle, guiding the current back into his palm with slower, steadier intent this time, determined to see if he could coax the thunder into holding a shape for more than a heartbeat. Daniel steadied his breathing and let the charge gather once more, slower this time, letting the current settle into his palm instead of forcing it forward; the thunder rolled beneath his skin like a caged animal, but he guided it with a firmer hand, shaping the glow into a thin line that stretched toward his fingertips, the voltage trembling but not collapsing yet, and he narrowed his focus to that single flicker of stability, coaxing the energy to lengthen, to sharpen, to hold its form even as the heat built and the air around his hand buzzed with the threat of another violent snap. The shape held for a breath longer than before, a thin, wavering line of thunder stretching past his fingertips, but the moment he tried to sharpen the point the current twisted on itself, the entire form buckling with a low pop that sent a jolt up his wrist; the light shattered into a spray of crackling fragments that fizzled out against the dirt, and Daniel grimaced, flexing his fingers as the sting faded, realizing the failure wasn’t from lack of power but from the way the charge kept folding inward whenever he forced it too quickly, a detail that only made him more determined as he drew the energy up for a third attempt. "Damn it!" Daniel yelled as he could not seem to form an arrow. He then thought about his other skills for a moment and then remembered Aegis Veil. His defensive skill that allowed him to create a defensive barrier and how it was brought about. Daniel lifted his hand again, letting the charge rise with a steadier pulse, and this time he didn’t try to force it into a shape; he pictured the way Aegis Veil had wrapped around him—smooth, instinctive, following intention instead of pressure—and guided Arc Lash with that same quiet pull, letting the current stretch outward while a thin layer of stabilizing force folded around it, the two motions blending into one as the thunder aligned into a narrow, flickering shaft of light, the veil?like pressure holding its edges together just long enough for the shape to resemble a crude arrow before the voltage bucked against the containment, trembling violently in his grasp. Daniel drew the current up one more time, letting Arc Lash coil through his arm with a steadier pulse, and he guided it the way Aegis Veil guided itself—no forcing, no dragging, just intention shaping the flow; the thunder stretched outward in a thin, trembling line, and he wrapped that same stabilizing pressure around it, the veil?like force smoothing the edges as the voltage aligned, lengthened, and sharpened, the flicker settling into a narrow shaft of crackling blue?white light that held, actually held, humming between his fingers like a living thing waiting to be released. For a moment Daniel just stared at the crackling shape balanced between his fingers, the thin shaft of thunder humming with a steady pulse that felt nothing like the unstable flickers from before; it was warm, alive, almost eager, and the realization that he’d actually done it—shaped Arc Lash the way Aegis Veil shaped itself—sent a tight breath through his chest as he adjusted his grip, feeling the weightless tension of the arrow as if the energy were waiting for him to decide what came next.
[System Notification]
[New Skill Unlocked]
Veilmark — Your Arc?based ranged techniques can now lock onto multiple enemies.
Current Target Limit: 3 (Primary target + 2 additional).
Additional targets gained with each level.
Marked targets remain tracked briefly through movement and partial cover.
"Wait so I gain levels by discovering or creating skills myself?" Daniel thought to himself as he also gained experience point plus a new skill for his newly created skill.
A grin tugged at Daniel’s mouth before he could stop it, the arrow humming between his fingers like a promise as the afterglow of the level?up settled through his limbs, sharpening everything—his balance, his breath, even the way the air shifted around him; for the first time since all of this started he felt not just lucky or desperate but capable, the weight of inexperience peeling back as Veilmark pulsed at the edge of his awareness, subtle lines of intent flickering across the empty lot as if inviting him to test what he could do now, and the sudden rush of anticipation made his pulse quicken as he lifted the arrow, eager to see how far this new control could take him. Daniel then decided to try echo veil. Daniel slipped through the alley with Echo Veil still shimmering faintly around him, the world muted and cool against his skin as he moved, and it didn’t take long before he spotted the soft, insect?like hum of Visidrones drifting above a collapsed storefront; three of them hovered in a loose patrol pattern, their lenses sweeping the street in lazy arcs, and the moment he focused on them Veilmark pulsed to life. He focused on creating more than one arrow, thin threads of intent snapping into place as faint blue sigils locked onto each drone one by one; excitement tightened in his chest as he drew the crackling arrow into his hand, the energy forming faster and cleaner than before, and he stepped into position, invisible, steady, letting the hum of the drones sync with the rising charge before he released, the arrow splitting mid?flight into three streaks of lightning that curved toward their marked targets with predatory precision. The last drone hit the ground in a shower of sparks, and Daniel didn’t even pause to admire the shot; he was already moving, Echo Veil rippling around him as he slipped deeper into the ruined street, the hum of distant patrols vibrating through the air like a warning; Veilmark pulsed again, sharper this time, tugging his attention toward a cluster of rooftops where more Visidrones drifted in a tighter formation—five of them, scanning in coordinated sweeps—and the sight sent a thrill through him, not fear but anticipation, the kind that tightened his breath as he crouched behind a toppled streetlamp and drew another arrow into existence, the energy forming instantly, clean and stable, as if his body finally understood exactly what he wanted it to do. Daniel immediately took three out with Veilmark and Drew his composite bow again shooting two arrows rapidly without veilmark skill being used. Daniel seemed like a natural at using the bow. As he was, since he trained with the bow a few years back along with several other firearms, without aim assist on the bow too. The twin drones dropped in smoking spirals, and the moment their shells hit the pavement a sharp, metallic alarm cut through the district, echoing off the ruined storefronts like a warning howl; Daniel froze, still cloaked, as Veilmark pulsed hard against his awareness—stronger, heavier—right before the ground trembled with the synchronized footfalls of CRUs sprinting in from the far end of the street, three of them breaking through the haze with their visors flaring red as they locked onto the last known drone telemetry; Daniel’s pulse kicked up, not with fear but with a fierce, electric thrill as he slid behind a collapsed bus stop, drawing another arrow into existence, the energy forming instantly, clean and razor?sharp, and Veilmark snapped three sigils onto the advancing CRUs before he even raised his hand, the targeting threads tightening like a net as he stepped out of cover and released, the arrow splitting into three streaks that curved low and fast toward the charging units with predatory precision. The three streaks of lightning curved low across the cracked pavement and hit the charging CRUs before they even registered the release; the impact wasn’t explosive or messy, just a sharp, surgical punch of force as each arrow sliced straight through their armored torsos like a hot blade through soft butter, the units staggering mid?stride as their momentum carried them forward another step before their systems collapsed in synchronized flickers of red; they dropped almost gracefully, the street falling silent except for the faint crackle of dissipating energy as Daniel lowered his hand, the reality of what he’d just done hitting him with a rush that felt equal parts awe and adrenaline.
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System Notification
[EXP Gained]
Visidrone x5 — +75
CRU Operative x3 — +180
Skill Mastery Bonus — +50
Total: +305 EXP
Level 5 → 305 / 500 EXP
[Movement Proficiency Increased]
Your physical capabilities have improved through repeated combat, precision shaping, and high?intensity evasion.
Agility, acceleration, and reaction speed enhanced.
Jump height increased.
[New Passive Unlocked]
Aerial Shift — You may perform a second jump while airborne.
The second jump allows rapid directional change.
Momentum control improved while mid?air
"No way?! Double jump?!" Daniel yells excitedly to find out he learned double jump.
System Notification
[Skill Evolution Detected]
Veilmark has adapted to your improved shaping control and combat precision.
Target acquisition speed increased.
Lock?on stability improved.
New Target Limit: 5
(Primary target + 4 additional)
Marked targets remain tracked through rapid movement, partial cover, and short?range vertical displacement.
Daniel, now excited as he was shaping up to be a better combatant. He thought to himself, this was like a video game, but why. He dicided to just ignore the thought for now and try out his new abilities. Daniel slowed as the street opened into a wider courtyard of cracked concrete and scattered debris, the looming building still distant enough to give him room to breathe; curiosity tugged at him, and before he could talk himself out of it he bent his knees and launched upward, the jump carrying him higher than he expected—clean, powerful, almost weightless—and at the peak of the arc an instinctive pulse flickered through his legs, a second burst of force snapping sideways instead of up, sending him twisting mid?air in a sharp, controlled redirect that landed him atop a half?collapsed delivery truck with a light thud; he laughed under his breath, surprised at how natural it felt, then pushed off again, this time chaining the jumps deliberately—up, twist, forward—each second burst letting him carve new angles through the air as if gravity had loosened its grip on him just enough to make the world feel like a playground. He also realized being so high up and landing was not hurting him at all. He landed safely each time. Daniel hit the ground running, momentum still buzzing through his legs from the last Aerial Shift as he sprinted across the courtyard, and the district seemed to wake up in response—Visidrones rising from shattered rooftops, CRUs breaking from alley shadows, and two Transference Frames powering up with a low, predatory hum that vibrated through the pavement; he didn’t slow, didn’t hesitate, just vaulted off a broken barrier, used his second jump to snap sideways mid?air, and landed behind a cluster of drones before they could track him, Veilmark pulsing hard as five sigils locked on instantly; the arrow formed in his hand with a sharp, electric snap, and when he released, the shot split into a fan of lightning that carved through the drones and punched straight into the chest plates of two CRUs behind them, dropping all seven targets in a single, brutal cascade of sparks—just in time for the Transference Frames to swivel toward him, their arm?mounted emitters charging with a rising whine that promised real danger. Both Transference Frames locked onto him at the same instant, their emitters flaring with that cold, surgical glow that meant a transfer shot was seconds away, but Daniel was already moving—legs coiled, muscles primed, the new agility humming through him like a second heartbeat as he launched forward, hit the ground, and snapped into an Aerial Shift that sent him cutting sideways just as the first beam carved a clean line through the space he’d been in; Veilmark pulsed hard, five sigils snapping onto both Frames and the three CRUs flanking them, the world tightening into a grid of perfect angles as Daniel landed, pivoted, and drew another arrow into existence, the energy forming instantly and cleanly, and when he released, the shot split into a razor?sharp spread that curved around the Frames’ firing lanes and punched into their side plating—exactly where their armor was weakest—forcing all units to stagger as their emitters flickered under the sudden overload, and fall silent.
[Level up - Level 6]
Daniel realized he'd level up again and decided to take out enemies on his way to the massive building he saw in the distance. He notices he's getting closer as his Smart watch pulsed on his left wrist. Then remembered he still had the watch. He now wonders how the smartwatch ties in with all that's been happening recently. He decided to just let things be for now as he was unsure where he would even find the answers to his questions be. Daniel slowed as the street opened into a massive plaza, the kind of wide, open space meant for crowds and events, but now it felt hollow and wrong; the colossal building he’d been heading toward dominated the far end like a monolith, but what froze him was the activity filling the plaza itself—thin red streaks of light snapping down from the surrounding towers as Transference Frames fired their transfer emitters elsewhere in the district, each beam pulling a suspended figure through the air and depositing them here, one after another, in controlled bursts of light; dozens of people materialized across the plaza in rigid, disoriented clusters, some collapsing to their knees, others frozen in shock, all of them herded by the city’s unseen logic toward the looming building ahead; the air vibrated with the quiet hum of incoming transfers, a constant rhythm of red flashes as more and more bodies arrived, and Daniel stood at the edge of it all, heart pounding, realizing this wasn’t just a battlefield—it was a funnel, a gathering point, a place where the city delivered its captured population before whatever came next. Daniel stopped at the edge of the street, the plaza still a block ahead, and for the first time since the fighting started he let himself really look at the skyline; the buildings surrounding the massive structure weren’t just unfamiliar—they were wrong, jutting up from the city like they’d been dropped into place without permission, their foundations cutting through old storefronts and sidewalks as if the world had been overwritten in an instant, and the more he stared, the more the unease twisted in his gut; he’d lived here his whole life, walked these streets a thousand times, and yet entire towers now stood where open lots or low-rise apartments should’ve been, their surfaces humming with a faint resonance that didn’t belong to anything human; he swallowed hard, pulse tightening as the thought crept in—these buildings didn’t rise, they arrived, like something had pushed them into his world from somewhere else, bending reality to make room, and as he stood there with the distant red flashes of transfer emitters lighting the sky, Daniel couldn’t shake the feeling that the city wasn’t changing naturally… it was being replaced.
