Van hadn't thought much of Kuvin at first—just another loudmouth claiming to be an Aetherbrid. That was until his system pinged.
> [New Quest Available]
Target Identified: Kuvin – Ninja Heritage Detected
[Challenge Kuvin to a duel and survive for 10 minutes]
Reward: New Skill Unlocked
[Bonus Objective: Force Kuvin to reveal his ninja heritage]
Reward: ????
Van's brows furrowed. Ninja heritage? Seriously? He glanced at Kuvin again, this time with narrowed eyes. The easygoing kid didn't seem like much—but the system didn't lie.
The thought of backing out crossed his mind. Sure, he had the system, but he was still learning the ropes. He hadn't even mastered the basics, and here he was, standing on the verge of a duel with someone cloaked in mystery.
But… that reward.
A new skill could mean anything. A weapon. A technique. Maybe even a magical ability. Something that could give him the edge he desperately needed in this world of secrets.
Van clenched his fists, fire flickering in his eyes.
"Fine," he muttered under his breath. "Let's see what kind of ninja you really are."
Van tightened the straps of his newly equipped gear, feeling a surge of power course through him. His eyes gleamed as he pulled up his system interface.
> [Equipment Status]
Terragan Gauntlets – Super Tier
[+5 Strength]
Forged from the bones of a volcanic beast, these gauntlets enhance physical power and heat resistance.
> Wingmare Boots – Super Tier
[+5 Speed]
Unique Skill: Skystride
Allows user to walk on air or levitate for up to 20 seconds.
Van flexed his fingers, the gauntlets crackling faintly with dormant energy. The boots pulsed at his feet, light as wind, yet sturdy as steel.
A grin crept onto his face.
"New skill, here I come," he whispered, his gaze fixed on Kuvin like a hawk eyeing prey
Haha! Bring it on, man!" Kuvin said with a grin, his body flaring with a radiant yellow aura. Electricity crackled around him as he began bouncing lightly on his feet—his stance eerily reminiscent of Dame's during his fight with Kenji.
Van didn't waste a second.
In a blur, he surged forward, his boots kicking off the ground with a sonic burst. He spun mid-air and launched a powerful kick toward Kuvin's head. But—
Kuvin ducked effortlessly, his expression still casual.
Too slow, he thought.
But the next instant—crack!
A sudden impact met Kuvin's jaw as another kick connected, sending him stumbling back. His eyes widened in disbelief.
"What the…?"
He looked up—and froze.
Van was levitating, standing mid-air like a phantom of the wind. The Wingmare Boots glowed beneath him, emitting faint wisps of air like they were bending reality itself.
"Damn! These veyweapons are really something else," Van said, a wide grin stretching across his face as he looked down on the stunned Kuvin.
Kuvin's playful smirk vanished.
His hands surged with raw power as he gathered crackling yellow energy, condensing it into a basketball-sized orb of lightning.
"I'm gonna wipe that smirk off your face!" Kuvin snarled, his tone laced with grit and fire.
He hurled the orb skyward. It tore through the air with a high-pitched screech, aimed straight at Van.
Van's eyes narrowed as the crackling energy ball soared toward him. Without hesitation, he deactivated the Sky Stride skill of his Wingmare Boots, instantly cutting off his mid-air levitation.
He dropped like a meteor.
The very moment his feet slammed into the ground, Van launched himself forward like a bullet—speed enhanced by the boots, strength amplified by his Terragan Gauntlets.
He closed the distance in a blink, unleashing a rapid barrage of kicks. Each strike came with the force of a charging beast, his movements sharp and relentless.
But Kuvin…
Kuvin weaved through the flurry of attacks with supernatural ease, his body flowing like water. His eyes remained focused, calculating, as he dodged kick after kick—until—
He caught Van's leg mid-strike.
With a smirk, Kuvin twisted his grip and spun into a full 360-degree motion. The force sent Van flying like a ragdoll, crashing through the air before slamming hard into the distant training mats.
Boom!
Dust erupted from the point of impact.
Van groaned, trying to push himself up through the ringing in his ears.
Kuvin stood tall, lightning dancing across his fingers, his expression unreadable.
"You're fast... but not fast enough," he said, his voice low, steady, and deadly serious now.
The next thing Van knew, a blur of motion streaked before his eyes.
KRAK!
Kuvin appeared right in front of him—fists crackling with yellow lightning. Before Van could react, both of Kuvin's fists came crashing down on his chestplate with brutal force.
BOOM!
Electricity surged through the impact as the blow landed dead center on Van's chest. His armor sparked and groaned, a deep dent forming in the metal as the force lifted him off the ground like a ragdoll.
Then—CRASH!
Van's body slammed into the wall with a thunderous impact, cracks webbing out across the reinforced stone.
Smoke and dust hissed into the air.
For a second, everything was silent.
Then… movement.
Van staggered to his feet, groaning as he wiped a smear of blood from his lip. His eyes burned—not just from pain, but from the thrill.
Across the courtyard, Kuvin stood with a confident grin, his arms still humming with residual lightning.
"You've got potential, man," Kuvin said, flexing his fingers. "I'll give you that."
As Van pushed himself off the shattered wall, his system pinged in his mind.
> -12 HP
Tch..." Van clenched his jaw, wincing as pain flared across his chest. "Damn... this guy's the real deal."
He looked up through narrowed eyes, locking onto Kuvin who stood casually with lightning still crackling around his arms. The pressure radiating from him wasn't just for show—it was overwhelming.
And then it hit him.
He's an Aetherbrid…
Not just that—one way stronger than Kenji.
Van's thoughts spiraled for a second. Kenji had always been on a different level, even when holding back. But this… Kuvin was a whole different beast. And he hadn't even broken a sweat yet.
Still, Van grinned.
"Guess I'll just have to dig deeper."
Van took a deep breath, his eyes sharp with focus. Then—with a burst of speed—he lunged at Kuvin, fist reared back.
The fingertips of his gauntlets glowed a fierce red as the weapon's unique skill activated.
> Lava Swipe: Unleashes a claw-like arc of fiery energy at the target.
"Hmph, I'll win this!" Van growled, swiping his other hand upward. A blazing claw of molten energy tore through the air, slamming against Kuvin's torso and sending him skidding a few paces back.
Kuvin steadied himself, gritting his teeth. "This guy's good…" he muttered, eyeing Van who had already dropped back into a battle stance.
"Sha—!" Kuvin began, his hands shifting into a shadowy form, preparing a ninja technique—
But Van suddenly raised both hands and said, "Alright man, you win. You're strong, no denying that. But hey, I think I made my point too."
Kuvin froze mid-technique, then scoffed. "Yeah… thanks for stating the obvious."
The two stared for a moment before bursting into laughter, the tension breaking.
Just then, Kuvin's advanced smartwatch let out a soft beep-beep, flashing with a new alert. At the same time, a different kind of notification appeared in Van's vision.
> Ding! Congratulations, host. You have leveled up. +2 Free Stat Points New Skill Unlocked
Van's grin stretched wide as he glanced at Kuvin. "They're close, right?"
Kuvin nodded, catching his breath.
"Alright then… let's roll," Van said, both of them now facing the monitoring booth above, where Mr. Lee, Kenji, and Dame had been observing.
Inside the booth, Kenji's grip tightened on his twin Storm Fang daggers. His pupils narrowed, his voice low and filled with dread.
"They're close… The Red Skulls."
He looked out toward the horizon.
"Very close…"
Belimoth stormed through the district with a squadron of Red Skull enforcers trailing behind him, ignoring the panicked stares of civilians as if they were mere insects in his path. His crimson trench coat fluttered in the wind, and the aura of danger that radiated from him silenced the streets in seconds. They were hunting—searching for one thing: Kenji... and the Oakville Orphanage.
Without a word, the gangsters moved in unison, following their leader's deadly presence straight to the orphanage gates.
And there they were—standing boldly at the front of the building.
Kenji, flanked by Van and Dame, all three wielding glowing Veyweapons, their energy resonating with silent defiance.
Suddenly, as if summoned by shadow, Kuvin appeared beside Belimoth. No one questioned his presence. He had to keep playing the role of the double agent.
"D-Damnnn… that guy's huge…" Dame muttered under his breath, his palms slightly clammy around the hilt of his weapon.
Kenji's eyes sparked with an electric blue glow, reacting to Belimoth's presence.
And in response…
Belimoth's eyes ignited with a fierce crimson blaze.
> "A… red aetherbrid…" Van whispered, eyes wide with awe. Mr. Lee had warned them about this—red aetherbrids were dangerous… nearly unstoppable.
But before he could dwell further, a familiar chime rang in his mind.
Ding!
> [New Quest Received!]
Objective: Use your new skill to defeat at least 10 enemies.
Penalty if failed: -5 from all stats permanently.
Van's heart skipped. Permanently?!
He gritted his teeth and cracked his knuckles.
"I guess… we don't have a choice," he said, his gaze firming as he activated his skill, the ground beneath him lightly sparking.
Kuvin flicked a glance his way but said nothing.
They all turned toward the incoming wave of Red Skulls members
[New skill: Tempest body]
Description:
Cloaks the host in black lightning, massively enhancing speed and strength while enabling the use of lightning-infused ranged attacks.
"I just leveled up to a whole new game," Van muttered, a grin tugging at his lips—then he burst forward with explosive speed.
A crackling aura of black lightning engulfed his body, searing through the air as he moved.
Everyone watched, wide-eyed and stunned, frozen in awe.