Chapter 4: Testing the Limits

The candlelight flickered against the stone walls of my dorm room, casting restless shadows as I sat cross-legged on the floor. A small hand mirror lay in my palm, reflecting the crimson glow of my eyes—proof that the ritual had worked.

Even now, my heartbeat hadn't fully settled. I clenched my fists, trying to ignore the lingering ache in my body. That ritual had nearly killed me. But the results…

I took a deep breath. Time to test my power.

Step One: Visual Perception Enhancement

I turned my gaze toward a stray feather lying on my desk and flicked it into the air.

Before, it would have been a blur of motion—just another object obeying gravity. But now?

Everything slowed.

The feather's every movement was laid bare before me—the way it twisted, the subtle resistance of the air pushing against it. I reached out, fingers closing around the feather before it had even begun to fall.

In combat, this meant I could read and react to attacks before they even landed.

If I had this ability in my past life, no one would have been able to sneak up on me—not that it would've helped a bedridden boy.

I exhaled, setting the feather down. This alone made me a monster. But there was more.

Step Two: Illusions & Mental Manipulation

The Eclipse Vision wasn't just about enhanced sight—it had the power to manipulate perception itself. In the game, this ability had been an afterthought, a gimmick meant to confuse NPCs. But here, in reality?

I needed a test subject.

I placed my hand on my wooden desk and concentrated. A faint pulse of mana spread from my fingertips as I willed the illusion into existence.

To my mind, the desk was now searing hot.

My fingers hovered over the surface—and immediately, a sharp sting shot up my hand. I recoiled on instinct, heart pounding.

It wasn't real.

I knew that. And yet, my nerves had been completely fooled.

That meant I could do the same to others. I could make an opponent feel like their legs were chained, their body impaled, their lungs starved of air. I could cripple someone without even touching them.

I swallowed. This was terrifyingly powerful.

But I wasn't done yet.

Step Three: Voidstep

This was the one ability that shouldn't have existed.

In the game, sacrificing your ally at the altar only granted Eclipse Vision. But there had been a hidden path—one only accessible if the player made a specific choice. A choice I had made, by sacrifice my name.

Voidstep.

A trait that allowed the user to phase through matter, bend space, and step into the void itself. It was a skill that should have been broken beyond belief—except for one fatal flaw.

Its mana cost was absurd.

I reached for my desk again, focusing this time on my own hand.

A strange sensation washed over me, as if my flesh were turning to mist. The edges of my fingers shimmered, and then—

They passed through solid wood.

My breath caught. The desk was still there. But to me, it no longer existed. My fingers had simply slipped through reality.

I pulled my hand back—only to stagger as a wave of exhaustion slammed into me. My vision blurred, and I barely caught myself before collapsing.

So that's the catch.

If I had tried to phase my entire body, I would've passed out on the spot.

For now, Voidstep was a last resort. I had to be careful.

Step Four: Status Update

I called up my system window.

---

[System Interface]

Name: Alden Blackwood

Race: Human

Class: None (Unawakened)

Rank: E- (Upgraded from F-)

Mana Capacity: E- (Slightly improved)

Skills:

Eclipse Vision (Active)

Illusionary Control (Basic)

Traits:

Voidstep (Legendary)

---

I had ranked up.

I was still weak, but at least I wasn't at rock-bottom anymore. The academy had classified me as an F-rank failure. But they didn't know the truth.

Not yet.

Step Five: The Next Seven Days

I had exactly one week before classes officially started.

One week before I was thrown into the story's main events.

I needed a plan.

Goals for the Week:

1. Increase My Mana Reserves – Without more mana, Eclipse Vision and Voidstep were nothing but expensive parlor tricks. I needed to find a way to increase my capacity—fast.

2. Train My Body – The protagonist and other major characters were monsters in terms of raw stats. I needed to at least survive a direct hit.

3. Master My Illusions – If I could subtly influence people's perceptions without them realizing, I could avoid unnecessary fights—and manipulate situations to my advantage.

4. Gather Intel – The academy was filled with hidden quests and secret artifacts. I needed to figure out which ones I could claim for myself.

5. Stay Under the Radar – The biggest risk wasn't an enemy—it was suspicion. If anyone noticed my sudden change in behavior, things could spiral out of control.

For now, I needed to act like the Alden they all expected—a spoiled noble failure.

I leaned against the cold stone wall, staring up at the ceiling.

This week is gonna be long one.