Chapter 25: Kieran's Deadly Resolve

Kieran sat on the cracked ground, his breath ragged as he tried to steady himself. Every muscle in his body burned with exhaustion, the aftermath of his battle against the Ravynclaw weighing heavily on him. The beast had been relentless—its razor-sharp claws and beastly ferocity had nearly overwhelmed him. But he had survived. More than that—he had won.

A faint chime echoed in his mind as a glowing panel appeared before his vision. Its usual pale-blue hue was gone—the system screen was now an eerie dark color, an unsettling reminder of how much had changed since his encounter with the dark entity.

[Congratulations! You have defeated a Ravynclaw.]

[You have leveled up! Current Level: 2]

[Reward: +3 Stat Points, +2 Skill Points]

His eyes narrowed at the unfamiliar message. Skill points? That was new. Before this moment, the system had only granted stat points when he leveled up—but now, something had changed. His thoughts drifted back to his earlier encounter with that dark entity. Ever since he had come into contact with it, the system had begun evolving in ways he didn't fully understand. This was just another sign that the rules of his growth were shifting.

'Skill points… what do they even do?' he wondered, frowning slightly as he examined the display.

For all his curiosity, there was no explanation from the system. But if these points functioned like stat points, then they were meant to make him stronger. The question was—how?

'I guess there's only one way to find out.'

His gaze shifted to the skills section of his status screen. Two words stood out: Veilborn Presence. It was the only skill directly granted by the system itself—the rest, like Demolish and Fury Fist, were techniques he had learned through raw effort. He recalled how Veilborn Presence had helped him remain undetected, suppressing his aura enough to give him the element of surprise. If skill points could improve it, then strengthening it would only give him a greater edge.

Without hesitation, he allocated both skill points to Veilborn Presence. A sudden chill swept through his body as a familiar cold sensation surged through his core.

[Skill Upgrade: Veilborn Presence (Level 2) – Your aura is further suppressed, reducing the chance of detection by enemies below your level by 30%.]

Kieran exhaled slowly, the tension in his shoulders easing as the message faded. It wasn't a flashy ability, but in a world where death could come without warning, the ability to remain unseen was invaluable.

'Good. This will help if I face more of those things.'

He leaned back against a jagged rock, letting his body recover while his thoughts raced. Every battle—every kill—was a step closer to power. And in this world, power was the only thing that mattered.

'I won't waste this opportunity.'

The memory of his old life flashed through his mind—the helplessness he had felt when others had treated him like nothing. But that was the past. Here, he could shape his own fate. No one would make him feel powerless again.

'I was weak before… but not anymore. If I keep moving forward, nothing will stop me.'

His grip tightened into a fist as the resolve in his heart hardened. No matter how dangerous this world was, he would survive. More than that—he would conquer it.

When his breathing steadied, Kieran pushed himself to his feet. The air was heavy—thick with an unnatural stillness. No sun hung in the sky above this dimension. Instead, a perpetual twilight stretched across the horizon, casting everything in muted shades of gray and black. Faint glimmers of violet energy occasionally rippled through the air, as though the very fabric of reality strained to hold itself together.

With cautious steps, he ventured deeper into the unknown, his senses sharp and alert. He wasn't going to be caught off guard again. The Ravynclaw had taught him a painful lesson—but it was one he had learned well.

The barren landscape stretched endlessly before him, jagged rocks and fractured ground resembling the aftermath of some ancient catastrophe. Each step he took was deliberate. There was no room for carelessness—not here.

It wasn't long before movement caught his eye.

In the distance, another Ravynclaw prowled through the cracked earth. Its dark fur bristled with malice, claws digging into the ground as it followed a scent trail. Kieran's stomach twisted with cold realization—it was tracking the blood left behind by the beast he had slain.

'Another one…'

The beast was slightly larger than the first, its glowing crimson eyes scanning the terrain. It hadn't noticed him yet. That was his advantage—but only if he acted quickly.

A part of him considered avoiding the fight altogether. But he shook the thought away. Why run? The system had given him a chance to grow stronger—and this was another opportunity. He wasn't about to waste it.

'This time, I'm striking first.'

Activating Veilborn Presence, Kieran felt the world around him grow quieter as his aura faded. Moving low and fast, he crept closer to the beast. Every step was calculated, his heart pounding steadily in his chest.

When he was within range, his muscles tensed. Without warning, he sprang forward. His fists blurred as he unleashed Fury Fist, a rapid flurry of unpredictable punches aimed directly at the beast's side.

The first blow landed with brutal force, sending a shudder through the creature's body. Before it could react, he struck again—his fists moving too quickly for the Ravynclaw to predict. Each punch targeted weak points along its ribs and neck, driving it backward.

The beast howled in fury, twisting around to swipe at him with its claws. Kieran ducked beneath the strike, shifting his weight as he delivered another volley of blows. The beauty of Fury Fist lay in its unpredictability—each punch came from a different angle, making it nearly impossible for the enemy to block or evade.

'Faster. Hit harder.' His mind sharpened with focus as his knuckles slammed into the beast's jaw, sending it crashing into the cracked ground.

The Ravynclaw staggered to its feet, blood dripping from its mouth. It lunged again, but Kieran was already moving. Pivoting to the side, he drove his fist into its ribs with enough force to crack bone.

'I'm not weak anymore.'

The beast faltered, a broken snarl escaping its throat. Kieran seized the opening, delivering a final, crushing blow to its skull. The creature collapsed in a lifeless heap.

Breathing hard, Kieran straightened, a fierce satisfaction burning in his chest. He had won again—and each victory brought him closer to the power he sought.

'I'll take everything this world has to offer,' he thought coldly, his fists still tingling from the fight. 'And nothing will stand in my way.'