The corrupted beast collapsed with a final, gurgling cry, its body steaming as it dissolved into thick, rancid smoke. Auther's blade hummed faintly, still glowing from the final surge of mana that cleaved the creature in two.
> [Enemy Eliminated – E3]
+10 SP Gained
Total SP: 36
He exhaled sharply, blood pounding in his ears. The rift beyond the shrine still pulsed like a heartbeat, now distorting the air around it.
It wasn't done.
"Another one's coming," Veira said, eyes locked on the tear in space.
He nodded, focusing. "That one wasn't a random mutant. Something's stirring inside."
Before either of them could speak again, the second anomaly stepped through. It moved with a serpent's grace but stood upright like a man. Scaled arms, long claws, and a crown of bone spikes adorned its head. Its eyes glowed with violet mana.
> [Entity Detected: Gate Guardian – E4]
Mutation Level: High
Threat Level: Lethal (Solo Rank Recommendation: D1+)
Auther's jaw tightened. "That's too strong for my rank."
Veira took an involuntary step back. "Do we retreat?"
Auther considered it. He could run. The gate wouldn't last forever. But if he left, someone else might die. And more importantly… he wanted the reward. He needed more SP, more mana cores. More progress.
"I'm not going to break through if I keep running from everything stronger than me," he said, raising his weapon. "Stay behind cover. If I fall, run."
Veira didn't argue, but her hand twitched near her dagger, instincts rising.
---
The guardian surged forward with terrifying speed. Auther activated Enhanced Agility instantly, leaping back as claws sliced through the air just inches from his chest.
He countered with Mana Arc, sending a sharp crescent of light across the guardian's midsection. It struck—but only left a shallow mark. The beast snarled, tail whipping around.
He ducked, but the tail still grazed his shoulder, sending pain shooting down his spine.
"Damn thing's fast," he growled. "I need more range, more pressure—"
The thought struck him mid-dodge. He dived behind a broken statue and yanked the system open.
> Skill Creation: Kinetic Burst (F-rank)
Description: Releases stored momentum in a directed blast from the feet, boosting short-range movement speed explosively.
Cost: 14 SP
✔ Confirmed
Remaining SP: 22
He waited, timed the next leap—
The moment the beast lunged, Auther activated Kinetic Burst and launched himself sideways with blistering speed. He circled around, slashing through the guardian's knee with Mana Edge.
A scream of pain. The creature dropped to one leg, spinning to swipe blindly.
Auther didn't give it the chance. He poured mana into a double-slash with Mana Arc, targeting its eyes.
The beast roared, now truly enraged. Its body began to swell, dark veins pulsing beneath its scales.
"Oh no…" Auther breathed.
The creature's mana began to spike.
> [Warning: Gate Guardian entering Overcharge State]
Estimated Time to Full Detonation: 30 seconds
"Veira, run!" he shouted. "Now!"
But she didn't move. Her eyes were wide. Pupils narrowed. Breath fast.
"Veira—!"
She screamed.
It wasn't a scream of pain — it was a roar. Her mana exploded outward, violet lightning arcing around her like a storm. The air trembled. The runes on the shrine walls glowed in response.
Auther stared, stunned.
Something inside her… woke up.
---
Veira's body was glowing now, her eyes pure amethyst. The wind howled around her as she stepped forward, right hand raised. The guardian snarled and turned toward her, sensing a new threat.
But she was faster.
She whispered something in a language Auther couldn't understand.
From her fingertips, a beam of compressed violet light shot forward like a lance. It pierced the guardian's chest before it could finish charging its mana.
> [Critical Damage Inflicted – Core Shattered]
[Enemy Eliminated – E4]
+15 SP Gained
Total SP: 37
The creature collapsed in silence, its body breaking apart into ash.
Veira fell to her knees, trembling.
Auther was beside her in seconds. "Veira—what just—?"
"I don't… know," she panted. "It wasn't me. Not fully. Something took over. But it didn't control me. It guided me."
She looked up at him, her violet eyes returning to normal. "There's something inside me, Auther. It's old. It whispered a name…"
"What name?"
She shook her head. "It's gone now."
Auther helped her up slowly. "Whatever it is… it just saved both our lives."
---
When the gate finally collapsed, it left behind only faint shimmering dust — and a single item floating in the air.
> [Gate Fragment Reward Acquired]
Item: Skill Book – Shadowstep (E-rank)
Description: Grants the user the ability to instantly move through a shadow within a short radius.
Rank: E3
Usage Condition: Awakener (Usable by Humans)
Status: Consumable
Auther's breath caught.
It wasn't a rare spell. But it was useful—especially for a solo fighter.
"Finally," he muttered. "A real skillbook."
He hesitated… then handed it to Veira.
She blinked. "You're giving this to me?"
"You saved me. More than once. And I have Skill Creation. I can make my own." He smirked. "Besides, it's a shadow-type movement skill. Seems to fit you."
Veira stared at the book for a long time, then nodded. "Thank you."
As the two began their walk back to Dawnhelm, Auther pulled up his system screen.
---
> [Auther Finn]
Rank: E1
Unique Ability: Skill Creation
SP: 37
Active Skills:
– Mana Edge (F-rank)
– Mana Arc (F-rank)
– Enhanced Agility (F-rank)
– Kinetic Burst (F-rank)
– Enhanced Barrier (F-rank)
– Breathing of the Arcanum – Tier II (F-rank)
– Battle Instinct (F-rank)
Notes: Saving SP for future E-rank skill development.
He tapped a note into his system log:
> Observation: Veira's bloodline may be linked to a lost noble or royal bloodline. Possibly a sealed heritage awakening through stress and proximity to corrupted mana.
> Goal: Strengthen bond. Help her unlock it at her pace.
> Next Objective: Explore deeper into Awakener Association missions and identify possible hidden gate sites.
He closed the window and glanced at Veira, who walked just a step behind him.
For the first time in a long while, he felt something other than ambition or hunger for power.
He felt purpose.