Chapter 11: The Last Revenant

Ryosuke's chest rose and fell heavily, his breath ragged.

His arms burned, his body barely holding itself together. His uniform was torn, stained with blood—his own and the revenants'.

His grip on the worn longsword tightened.

🔹 [Trial Progress: 91% Completion]

Only two enemies remained.

One was crippled, missing an arm, its movements sluggish.

The other was unscathed.

The strongest.

It stood at the edge of the battlefield, its obsidian armor pristine, its violet gaze unyielding.

It wasn't moving.

It was watching.

Waiting.

Judging.

Ryosuke exhaled slowly. This was the final test.

And he was running on fumes.

The Limit of Nyx

Nyx lurched forward, its form flickering, its body low to the ground.

Ryosuke knew that stance.

It was struggling.

🔹 [Nyx's Condition: 42% Integrity]

Too much damage. Too many fights.

It wouldn't survive another direct hit.

Ryosuke clenched his jaw.

"Hold position," he commanded.

Nyx froze, shuddering.

It didn't want to stay back.

But Ryosuke couldn't afford to lose it here.

This last fight—he had to do it himself.

A Duel Against the Strongest

The final revenant stepped forward.

Its armor, engraved with forgotten runes, shifted under the dim violet light.

Unlike the others, it did not rush mindlessly.

It walked.

Deliberate. Calculated.

A warrior.

Its blade shimmered, twin reflections of violet flames licking along the steel.

🔹 [Final Opponent Identified: Forsaken Executioner]

🔹 [Special Attribute: Adapts to Opponent's Fighting Style]

Ryosuke's breath hitched.

It wasn't just strong.

It was learning from him.

The Executioner raised its sword.

Then—it attacked.

The Breaking Point

Ryosuke barely had time to react.

CLANG!

The force of the impact sent him skidding backward, his feet barely holding traction.

Too strong.

His arms shook violently, his body screaming in protest.

He wasn't going to last.

His breath came faster, his mind racing.

He needed an opening. A way to turn this around.

But the Executioner wasn't giving him one.

It pressed forward, relentless—a flurry of precise, overwhelming strikes.

A cut to his side—pain flared.

A second strike to his leg—his knee buckled.

He was falling apart.

🔹 [Warning: Life Force Critical]

Ryosuke gritted his teeth.

This was it.

His last chance.

A Scrivener's Strategy – Using the Enemy's Strength

His mind slowed everything down.

✔ The Executioner adapts.

✔ It learns from its opponent's fighting style.

✔ If it's forced into an unfamiliar battle pattern—it will hesitate.

Ryosuke adjusted his stance.

Instead of meeting its blade—he let himself fall.

The moment the Executioner swung downward—

He rolled.

The blade missed him, carving deep into the stone floor.

A fraction of a second—but it was enough.

Ryosuke sprang up behind it, gripping his sword with both hands—

And drove his blade straight into the Executioner's back.

The Fall of the Last Revenant

The Executioner stiffened.

For the first time, its flaming violet eyes flickered.

Ryosuke twisted the blade, forcing it deeper.

The revenant lurched forward, struggling—

Then, it collapsed to its knees.

A final, shuddering breath escaped it.

Then—

It vanished into violet mist.

🔹 [Trial Progress: 100% Completion]

🔹 [Trial Cleared: The Forgotten Blade]

The Aftermath – A Body Restored

A pulse of ancient energy surged through the battlefield.

Ryosuke's vision flickered.

🔹 [Resetting Condition…]

His injuries faded.

His stamina restored.

His body felt… whole.

He gasped, stumbling slightly as the pain disappeared.

Then—

The Warden moved.

The First Reward

The massive armored figure stepped down from its platform, approaching him slowly.

Ryosuke forced himself to stand straight.

The violet flames in the Warden's hood flickered.

Then, it spoke.

"You have proven dominion."

The battlefield shuddered.

🔹 [You Have Earned Your First Inheritance.]

🔹 [Skill Unlocked: Phantom Blade (Basic)]

A wave of information flooded his mind.

His fingers twitched.

He could feel it—

A blade that exists between the seen and unseen.

The Warden studied him for a moment longer.

Then, it slowly raised a gauntleted hand—

And pointed to the gate at the far end of the Sanctum.

"Step forward, Forsaken One. The next trial awaits."

Ryosuke exhaled.

This wasn't over.

It was only the beginning.