All around him, the city was silent.
No cars. No voices. No sign of normal life.
It was like he had stepped into a completely different world.
His clothes were tattered and soaked in blood—some of it his, most of it not. His fingers ached from gripping his knife too tightly, and every muscle in his body screamed for rest.
But he wasn’t thinking about any of that.
His eyes were locked on the glowing system notification hovering before him.
[Trial Challenge #2: Infernal Hunt – Complete]
- Survived Until Dawn.
- Reward: 500 XP, Skill Evolution, Class Selection.
Axel exhaled sharply.
The moment he had been waiting for had finally arrived.
His Class Selection.
The system had promised him power, and now he would find out exactly what that meant.
Before Axel could access his class, the system flickered again.
[Skill Evolution Unlocked.]
- The System has recognized your combat performance.
- One of your existing skills may now evolve into a higher tier.
A new menu appeared, displaying his current skills.
- [Analyze] (Rank F) → [Enhanced Analyze] (Rank E) – Improved identification of enemies, objects, and weaknesses.
- [Predator’s Instinct] (Rank E) → [Hunter’s Domain] (Rank D) – Expands threat detection range to 200 meters. Grants minor combat prediction.
Axel didn’t hesitate.
Hunter’s Domain.
His instinct had saved his life multiple times. Making it stronger was a no-brainer.
[Predator’s Instinct] → [Hunter’s Domain] (Rank D) Selected.
- Range expanded to 200 meters.
- Combat prediction activated: 5% chance to anticipate enemy movements.
Axel felt the change immediately.
A cold pulse spread through his mind, his senses sharpening to an unnatural degree. He could hear the faintest movements, sense disturbances in the air, and even feel the lingering presence of creatures that had been nearby.
This was next-level awareness.
And now, it was his.
But that was just the beginning.
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The system shifted again, its blue glow intensifying.
[Class Awakening Initiated.]
- The Evolutionary System has determined your combat style and adaptability.
- Three class options have been generated based on your performance.
- Choose wisely.
Axel exhaled slowly.
This was it.
The three options appeared.
- A warrior of darkness, excelling in stealth, assassination, and precision.
- Specializes in dual-wielding weapons, shadow movement, and fatal strikes.
- Skill Bonus: Unlocks [Umbral Step] (Short-distance teleportation)
- A relentless fighter, thriving on ferocity, aggression, and raw power.
- Specializes in heavy weapon mastery, enhanced regeneration, and explosive strength.
- Skill Bonus: Unlocks [Bloodlust Surge] (Boosts power with each kill)
- A rare class that adapts to combat situations, excelling in both stealth and power.
- Specializes in rapid evolution, skill absorption, and reality manipulation.
- Skill Bonus: Unlocks [Void Resonance] (Absorb defeated enemies’ traits)
Axel stared at the options, his heart pounding.
Each one was incredibly strong.
The Shadowblade meant he could become an unseen assassin, eliminating enemies before they even knew he was there.
The Reaver meant he could become a relentless force of destruction, shrugging off damage and overpowering anything in his way.
But the Voidwalker…
That one was different.
It was higher-ranked, meaning it had greater long-term potential. And that skill—Void Resonance.
"Absorbing traits from defeated enemies…?" Axel muttered.
His mind raced. That meant that every enemy he killed wouldn’t just make him stronger through XP. He could take their abilities.
Their strengths, their powers, their evolution.
A shiver ran down his spine.
That was broken.
Axel grinned.
"I’ll take Voidwalker."
[Class Selection Confirmed: Voidwalker (Rank C)]
- Unlocking Class Abilities…
- Unlocking New Skill: [Void Resonance (Rank C)]
A wave of energy surged through Axel’s body, sending him staggering back.
His vision darkened, his heartbeat thundering in his chest.
He felt something inside him shift—like a door had been opened to a deeper power.
New Skill Unlocked:
- [Void Resonance (Rank C)] – Absorb traits from defeated enemies. Usable once per kill.
Axel’s breath hitched.
This… this was something else.
His eyes snapped open, and for a brief moment, the world looked different.
He could see the lingering energy left behind by his fallen enemies. A faint essence, hovering in the air.
And he knew—he could take it.
Axel extended his hand, focusing on the remains of the Hollowborn.
[Void Resonance Activated.]
- Target: Hollowborn (Rank D).
- Available Trait: Shadow Veil – Grants partial invisibility for 5 seconds.
- Absorbing…
A cold pulse ran through his body.
And then—he vanished.
Axel looked down at his hands.
They were gone.
Or rather—they were there, but completely cloaked in shadow.
His heart pounded.
He had absorbed the Hollowborn’s stealth ability.
And it worked.
A slow grin spread across his face.
"This… is insane."
As Axel adjusted to his new power, the system flickered again.
[WARNING: System Integration at 30%]
- The world is still evolving.
- Stronger enemies will appear soon.
- Prepare for the next trial.
Axel exhaled, rolling his shoulders.
He had survived two trials.
And he had come out stronger.
But the next challenge was coming.
And this time, he wouldn’t just be surviving.
He would be hunting.