POV: Samuel Gebb
The man in black stepped forward, his silver eyes gleaming with amusement as he assessed me. He had a relaxed posture, but I could sense the overwhelming power radiating from him—the kind that only belonged to those who had conquered death more times than they could count.
"Not bad, Investigator," he said with a smirk. "But brute force alone won't get you far in the Southern Region."
I arched an eyebrow. "You know who I am?"
He chuckled. "Samuel Gebb. The madman who's been tearing through the strongest beasts of this land. Word travels fast."
I grinned. "Good. Makes things more interesting."
Without another word, I launched forward, my blade slicing through the air with terrifying speed. He sidestepped effortlessly, countering with a quick palm strike to my ribs.
Damn, he's fast.
I barely managed to block, but the force sent me skidding back.
He cracked his knuckles. "You're strong, but let's see if you can handle a real fight."
And then it began.
Blades clashed. Fists met flesh. The ground trembled under the sheer force of our battle.
He was precise, every movement calculated—not wasting a single motion. I, on the other hand, was raw power, striking with sheer force and overwhelming speed.
Neither of us held back.
At some point, we both landed a solid blow on each other at the same time—his fist slamming into my jaw while my knee drove into his gut.
We both staggered, breathing heavily. Then… we laughed.
"Damn, that was fun," I said, wiping blood from my lip.
He grinned. "Been a while since I had a fight like that."
We stood there, grinning like fools, knowing that neither of us would give up until one of us was dead. But we both respected the strength the other had.
He extended a hand. "Name's Kieran. You're not bad, Samuel."
I shook his hand firmly. "Likewise, Kieran."
We sat by the remains of the Titan Wyrm, sharing a few drinks from his flask.
Kieran leaned back, looking at the sky. "So, what brings a monster like you to this hellhole?"
I smirked. "Getting stronger. Got some unfinished business to settle."
He nodded. "Figures. You'll find plenty of challenges here."
After a while, Kieran stood up, stretching. "This is where we part ways, Gebb. But if you ever need a real fight again, you know where to find me."
I grinned. "Count on it."
And just like that, we went our separate ways—two warriors walking their own paths.
For now.
_______________________________________
I glanced at the System Interface and commanded, "Display my Status Window."
A translucent screen materialized before me.
---
[Status Window]
Name: Samuel Gebb
Title: The Harbinger of Destruction
Level: 170
HP: 110,000 / 110,000
Mana: 50,500 / 50,500
Strength: 550 → 610 (+60 from Warden's Gauntlets)
Agility: 470
Endurance: 545 → 595
---
[Abilities]
Combat Techniques:
1. Titan Slayer – Increases damage dealt to colossal enemies by 50% and grants armor penetration against high-defense opponents.
2. Phantom Step – A high-speed movement ability that allows instant repositioning, making Samuel appear as though he vanished.
3. Crimson Burst – Stores energy within the body and unleashes it in a devastating, explosive strike.
4. Fury Overdrive – Temporarily enhances strength and speed by 30%, but rapidly drains stamina.
5. Heaven's Execution – A finishing move that delivers a massive downward slash, capable of splitting even the toughest armor.
6. Dragon Fang Fist – A close-combat technique infused with draconic energy, significantly amplifying physical strikes.
---
Magical Abilities:
7. Abyssal Flame – An advanced fusion of Breath of Destruction and Breath of Oblivion that creates eternal flames, consuming the life force of all it touches.
8. Void Spear – Conjures an ethereal spear that pierces through space itself, bypassing conventional defenses.
9. Thunderous Wrath – Summons a storm of lightning, obliterating all enemies within a designated area.
10. Shadow Dominion – Temporarily commands shadows to bind or attack foes.
11. Mana Fortress – Forms a protective barrier of pure energy, capable of absorbing a fixed amount of damage before shattering.
---
Unique Skills:
12. Harbinger's Awakening – When near death, Samuel's power surges exponentially, doubling all stats for 30 seconds.
13. Predator's Instinct – Sharply enhances battle awareness, allowing him to anticipate enemy movements in real time.
14. Warden's Authority – Exerts dominance over lesser beings, inducing submission or fear.
15. Blood Pact Regeneration – Converts a portion of inflicted damage into self-healing.
16. Heavenly Demon's Will – A passive skill that nullifies mental interference and greatly enhances resistance to divine magic.
---
[System Notice]: Due to extensive combat experience, several skills have undergone evolution. Access "Skill Evolution" to review updates.
---
I scanned through the list, a smirk forming on my lips. "Not bad... but there's still room for improvement."
Clenching my fist, I could feel the immense energy coursing through my body.
"Time to push forward."