Dawn broke in muted hues over the ruined outpost. Smoke still clung to the earth like a shroud, but the air no longer reeked of fresh blood or scorched stone. Ethan stood at the cliff's edge, sweat beading on his brow, breath misting in the cold.
He moved through a slow combat form—feet sliding, blade carving arcs, breath syncing with motion. Not for flair. For control.
Behind him, Aelira watched, arms folded.
"You're improving," she said finally. "Sloppy, but less suicidal."
Ethan grinned. "I'll take the compliment."
She tossed him a cloth. "Clean your blade. We're heading out in an hour."
He caught it and wiped down his weapon. "Where?"
"There's a weathered temple half a day's walk from here—used to be a pilgrimage site before the cataclysms. Locals say the beasts there behave strangely. Aggressive, coordinated."
Ethan raised a brow. "Beasts don't usually coordinate."
"Exactly. I want to see why."
The temple emerged from the cliffs like a forgotten god's ribcage—collapsed spires, worn mosaics, and vines that pulsed faintly with bio-luminescence. But what caught Ethan's attention wasn't the decay. It was the silence.
Too quiet.
Environmental Anomaly Detected.System Warning: Ambient beast-signs suppressed. Potential cause: Psionic Distortion Field (Low Grade).Effect: Inhibits base instincts. Amplifies latent aggression in corrupted entities.
"This place feels wrong," Ethan muttered.
"That's because it is wrong," Aelira replied, drawing her daggers.
Then the screech hit.
From the temple's shattered nave burst a trio of beasts—avian, scaled, their feathers bristling with unnatural crimson glow. One flared its wings, eyes leaking black mist.
[Crimson Shrike – Grade F+]— Status: Psionically Agitated— Pattern: Divebomb / Slicing Talons / Sonic Wail— Weak Point: Underwing joint (left side)— Combat Tip: Interrupt charge phase to prevent Sonic Wail buildup.
Ethan moved instinctively. A red flash blinked across his vision.
Dive incoming – Brace and deflect upward.
He pivoted, blade catching the shrike's talons mid-plunge. The clash rang like a bell. Pain shot down his arm, but he held firm.
Aelira blurred past him, daggers scoring twin arcs through a second shrike's wing. "Don't play with your food."
"Trying not to become food!"
The third shrike shrieked, its body vibrating. Ethan felt his ears pop.
Sonic Wail Charging – 3 seconds.
Interrupt or Evade Range.
He reached for his Echo Step—but something new shimmered in his mind. A ripple, not a voice, not text.
Instinct.
He moved before the thought finished. One heartbeat, two—then his body blurred, twisted mid-step.
He reappeared behind the shrike and drove his blade through its back.
Combat Reflex Surge TriggeredEcho Step – Adaptive Trigger Engaged— Evolution Available: Echo Step (Lv. 2) → Echo Shift (Lv. 3)— Description: Short-range phase step with integrated reflex cue. May preempt incoming attacks based on Insight Sync.
The shrike crumpled.
The others screeched once more—then faltered. Confused. Without their kin's signal, the psionic agitation fractured. They scattered.
Ethan stood, breathing hard.
Aelira approached, giving a low whistle. "That... was new."
"Yeah," he said. "Felt like my body moved before I did."
"Good. You're finally listening to your instincts."
He glanced back at the ruined temple. "Something's affecting the beasts. A field, a resonance... it's not natural."
"No. But it's spreading." Aelira's eyes darkened. "And we're not ready."
Ethan looked at his System screen, the stats flickering.
System Sync: 62%Skill Evolution Available— Echo Shift (Lv. 3) – Unlocked
He clenched his fists. Then I'd better get ready.