The Void.

The wind hummed softly through the air, carrying the gentle rustle of leaves dancing outside the hospital window. Inside, a room bathed in sterile white light held a neat bed, where a woman lay unconscious. Her black hair, streaked with strands of white, framed her peaceful yet fragile face. Beside her, a heart monitor beeped steadily, accompanied by other medical equipment that filled the room with an air of quiet urgency.

"Mom, I promise..." Vanitas whispered, his voice trembling slightly as he held her frail hand. "I'll pay for all of this... the debts, the bills... everything. I promise."

He lingered for a moment, gazing at her motionless face, before finally turning away and walking out of the room.

"Stats!" he commanded.

---

[Stats]

Strength: 34

Agility: 15

Stamina: 15

Intelligence: 12

Luck: 8

'This should be enough right?' he thought analyzing his stats, 'I put so much on strength so this should be good when im inside on the Void Realm.'

---

Vanitas made his way to a secluded, wooded area—restricted territory that most wouldn't dare to enter. He opened his inventory system and pulled out the Void Key, its dark, metallic surface reflecting the dim light filtering through the trees.

'This... this is it. The way to become stronger. For Mom. I have to pay those debts no matter what.'

As he gripped the key tightly, a shiver ran through him. The cold wind cut through his clothes, and the forest fell into an eerie stillness. Only the sound of rustling leaves, moving as if they were alive, accompanied him.

"This is it... but how do I even use this thing?" Vanitas muttered, inspecting the key. He scratched the back of his head, frustration creeping in. "Maybe if I just—"

Before he could finish his thought, the key dissolved into mist in his hands. Suddenly, the air around him cracked with a deep, resonating sound. It was as if space itself was being torn apart. In front of him, a rift split the air wide open—a swirling, hollow purple void with shadows twisting and writhing inside like living tendrils.

Vanitas swallowed hard, his fists clenching instinctively.

"This... this is different from a Dungeon," he muttered under his breath, his heartbeat quickening.

"If this is the way to become stronger... there's no turning back now." Vanitas thought, his knuckles tightening into a fist.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped into the void. The moment his foot crossed the threshold, an unsettling sensation washed over him—like invisible hands pulling him deeper into the darkness.

Inside, everything was pitch black. Not just darkness, but an endless abyss where even his own hands disappeared from view. It felt as if existence itself had been swallowed whole. A moment later, a soft white glow flickered to life, illuminating the surroundings. Vanitas turned quickly, searching for the entrance he had just passed through—but it was gone.

His eyes widened as he looked down. The ground beneath him wasn't normal—it was a vast expanse filled with swirling galaxies, stars, and constellations that shimmered under his feet. It felt like standing on the very fabric of the universe.

"Wh-What is this place? Is this really the void? Why does it feel... like something is watching me?" he thought, his gaze scanning the endless black.

Suddenly, a notification flashed in front of him.

[You have entered the Void!]

[Let the Void Challenge begin!]

[Mission: Survive for 25 minutes. Rewards will be based on performance.]

[Void Instructions: The waves will continue only if you obtain another Void Key. Example: If you survive two waves before time runs out, you will receive a reward and an exit portal will appear. When you re-enter, you can resume from the next wave.]

Vanitas narrowed his eyes, absorbing the information. "So I can keep challenging it as long as I have a Void Key... but 25 minutes? That's a long time."

A sudden shift in the atmosphere made his skin crawl. He felt a dark, pulsing energy rising from beneath. Without hesitation, he opened his inventory and pulled out his dagger, gripping it tightly.

Then, the void shifted. Shapes began to emerge from the ground—twisted, shadowy figures. Some took humanoid forms with distorted limbs, others resembled goblins, their glowing eyes piercing through the darkness. A few resembled giant spiders, their legs clicking against the void-like surface. But the most terrifying of them all stood at the back—an enormous, faceless being clad in a knight's mask, its aura sending a wave of dread through Vanitas.

[First Wave: 0/20 Void Creatures Remaining.]

Vanitas steadied his breath, taking a defensive stance. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Alright, looks like it's starting... Come at me, you creepy void freaks!"

With a firm grip on his dagger, he prepared to face the oncoming horrors.

In a blink of an eye, one of the humanoid void creatures lunged at him with blinding speed—faster than a C-Rank hunter. Vanitas barely managed to sidestep the attack, feeling the rush of air as it narrowly missed him. Without wasting a second, he slashed his dagger in a swift arc, aiming for its head.

The blade struck cleanly. The void creature let out a distorted screech before dissolving into a mist of black fragments, vanishing as if it had never existed.

[1/20 Void Creatures Remaining.]

Vanitas exhaled sharply, glancing at the notification. "One down... can I copy its skills?" he muttered, anticipation flickering in his eyes.

[Unable to copy skills from this figure!]

"Tch. Figures." He clicked his tongue in annoyance. His gaze shifted to the back of the battlefield—to the towering knight-like void creature standing ominously still, its mask radiating an eerie glow.

'That one's different from the rest... Maybe I can copy its skills. Guess there's only one way to find out.'

A sly grin crept onto his lips, his eyes gleaming with a deadly resolve. He tightened his grip on the dagger, the thrill of battle coursing through him like fire.

"Alright... who's next!?" he taunted, his voice echoing in the void.

The creatures growled in response, their twisted forms inching closer. But Vanitas only stood his ground, ready for the next strike

[Time remaining: 24 minutes.]

'There's still a long way to go,' Vanitas thought, clenching his teeth.

Without warning, a void goblin leaped from above, its clawed hands reaching out to tear into him. Reacting on instinct, Vanitas rolled to the side, narrowly dodging its attack. Before the creature could regain balance, he jumped above it, his dagger flashing in a downward arc.

The blade struck true, slicing through the void goblin's back. It let out an eerie screech before dissolving into mist, just like the first one.

[3/20 Void Creatures Remaining.]

Vanitas landed smoothly, watching the fragments disappear into the dark void around him. He narrowed his eyes.

"So... it doesn't matter where I slash them. As long as I land a hit, they'll completely turn into mist," he muttered, his gaze locked on the spot where the creature once stood.

[Unable to copy skills from this figure!]

"Tch... still no luck," he grumbled under his breath, frustration creeping into his voice. He gritted his teeth and turned his focus back to the remaining void creatures, their shadowy forms shifting and writhing in the darkness.

'The knight-like one... it has to be different,' he thought, gripping his dagger tighter. 'I just need to hold out a little longer.'

The creatures began circling him now, their movements cautious yet aggressive. Vanitas could feel the pressure mounting, but he welcomed it.

"Alright... come at me," he whispered, his body tensing, ready for the next wave.