Chapter 16: A New Surge of Power

---

As the first rays of morning light streamed through the window, Dabi stood quietly in his room, reflecting on the battles he had faced. With the latest mission complete and another mysterious egg under his care, he knew it was time for him to grow stronger.

---

System Notification:

New Level: 15

Skill Unlocked: Phantom Step (Allows temporary invisibility and increased agility for short bursts during combat)

---

Dabi's eyes widened at the notification. Phantom Step was an advanced skill, something he had only heard of in stories. It granted its user the ability to move unseen for a few precious seconds—enough time to escape a critical attack or deliver a devastating blow. It was exactly the kind of skill Dabi needed to take his abilities to the next level.

But that wasn't all. Now that he had reached level 15, it was finally time to allocate the stat points he had been saving.

Dabi opened his status window and stared at the unspent points. He had been holding onto these points for some time, waiting for the right moment. Now, that moment had come.

---

Unspent Stat Points: 18

Current Stats:

Strength: 27

Agility: 23 (+10 from ring)

Endurance: 13

Intelligence: 47

Mana: 23

Memory: 45

---

Dabi quickly made his decision. Endurance had been his weakest area, and while he had managed to survive his battles, the constant strain on his body had slowed him down in prolonged fights. He needed to last longer, fight harder, and endure more if he was going to face stronger enemies in the future.

He allocated all of his unspent points into Endurance, feeling the immediate surge of strength and stamina course through his body.

---

New Stats:

Strength: 27

Agility: 23 (+10 from ring)

Endurance: 31(+18)

Intelligence: 47

Mana: 23

Memory: 45

---

His muscles tightened, his breathing steadied, and his body felt more resilient than ever before. With increased endurance, Dabi knew he could now last longer in combat, shrugging off exhaustion that would have crippled him before. It was a game-changing upgrade, and he felt more confident in his abilities than ever.

With his new strength, it was time to test himself again. He wasn't satisfied with just leveling up to 15—his goal was to keep pushing forward. Dabi knew he had to reach level 16 as soon as possible.

The Darkwood Forest still had many dangerous creatures lurking within it, and with his Phantom Step skill, Dabi felt ready to hunt them down. The stronger the monsters, the faster he could grow.

---

For the next few days, Dabi threw himself into hunting. He moved quickly and efficiently through the forest, eliminating every creature that crossed his path. The wolves, the birds, and even the larger beasts didn't stand a chance against his combination of agility, strength, and endurance. And when a particularly tough enemy appeared, he used Phantom Step to disappear from sight, striking when the monster least expected it.

Dabi's hunting spree paid off. His movements were sharper, his attacks more precise, and his body felt more attuned to battle than ever before.

---

System Notification:

New Level: 16

Stat Points Gained: 3

---

Breathing heavily from his latest kill, Dabi paused to open his status screen once more. He had reached level 16, and now it was time to allocate his new stat points. This time, his focus was on Strength. If he could overpower his enemies with raw physical force, he would be able to handle more dangerous monsters and faster opponents.

He added all of his new points into Strength, feeling the immediate effect as his muscles hardened and his physical power surged. For the first time, Dabi's strength had surpassed that of a normal awakened person.

---

New Stats:

Strength: 30 (+3)

Agility: 23 (+10 from ring)

Endurance: 31

Intelligence: 47

Mana: 23

Memory: 45

---

The realization filled him with a sense of pride. He had started at a disadvantage, his physical stats far below the average for an awakened, but now his strength was unmatched. With his intelligence, memory, and growing mana pool, Dabi knew he had the potential to become something far more powerful than anyone expected.

As he walked back from the forest, the sun setting behind the trees, Dabi couldn't help but smile. For the first time in a long while, he felt a new sense of confidence. He wasn't the weak kid everyone doubted anymore. He was growing stronger with every battle, and he was only

just getting started.

And with the system guiding him, the sky was the limit.

---