Chapter 80 – The Phantom's Rest
[Alden's POV]
Every step felt like hell.
My body was screaming. My muscles felt like they were ripped apart, my mana circuits were on the verge of burning out, and my head throbbed with an intensity that made me want to pass out right there on the street.
But I couldn't.
Not yet.
I gritted my teeth, forcing my body to move as I stumbled through the city's dark alleys. My destination was clear—my dorm.
I had barely made it out of that cursed underground black market. Void step drained me dry, and even though I had used the last of my mana to teleport near the sewer entrance, it had taken everything I had left.
I leaned against a wall, breathing heavily.
Damn it.
I had never pushed my body this far before. Not even in training.
Forcing down the pain, I dragged myself forward, step by step.
It felt like an eternity before I finally reached the academy gates. The guards barely spared me a glance.
Good.
With my hood up and mask off, I looked like just another exhausted student returning from a late night out. No one suspected a thing.
By the time I reached my dorm, I barely had the strength to lock the door.
Then—darkness.
I collapsed onto the bed, and before I could even think—
I was out.
---
Morning
When I woke up, the first thing I felt was hunger.
The second was pain.
"Ugh…" I groaned, stretching my stiff limbs. Every part of me ached like I had been run over by a stampede of monsters.
It made sense. I had overused Eclipse vision.
Never again.
"You finally awake, brat?"
A familiar voice echoed in my head.
I turned my gaze toward the crimson sword resting against the wall. Kurenai.
Before I could respond, another voice—lighter, amused.
"You really are reckless, master," Shiranui, my fox companion, purred as she lounged on my bed, her nine tails flicking lazily. "I told you using Eclipse vision so much would come back to bite you."
I sighed, rubbing my temples.
"Yeah, yeah. I learned my lesson."
Kurenai let out a snort. "Doubtful. You'll do it again the moment you think it's necessary."
"...Maybe."
They weren't wrong.
If I had to push myself again, I would. No hesitation.
But before I need to get fresh and eating something.
But for now—it was time to check my spoils.
---
I sat up, stretching before pulling out the items I had stolen.
Laying them before me, I took a moment to examine each one carefully.
A finely crafted dagger—deadly and perfectly balanced.
I was already thinking about new one but this is even better.
A cloak with stealth properties—perfect for blending into shadows.It is going to be huge help in robbing.
A potion that increased mana capacity and stat growth—valuable, but I'd save it for later.
But It can only be used by those below C - rank .
And finally—the mask.
I picked it up, running my fingers over its surface.
A sleek black mask with silver, vein-like patterns resembling cracks in space. The left side of the mask appears slightly distorted, as if phasing in and out of reality. The eye section glows with an eerie violet hue when Eclipse Vision is activated, while Voidstep causes faint ripples to emanate from the mask's edges. The lower part of the mask is slightly fragmented, giving it a phantom-like aesthetic
Status Window
[Eclipsing Phantom Mask]
Type: Artifact (Legendary)
Effects:
Voidstep Efficiency: -20% Mana Cost
Eclipse Vision Efficiency: -40% Mana Cost
Dimensional Cloak: Slightly obscures the wearer's presence when moving between dimensions.
Perception Boost: Enhances visual clarity in low-light or high-mana environments.
Description: A mask worn by those who transcend the boundaries of reality. It bends light, distorts presence, and grants its wearer dominance over spatial perception.
Would you like to add any additional abilities or modifications?
I knew exactly what this was.
An Easter Egg from the Game.
This mask wasn't just for looks.
When voidstep was introduced in the game, this mask was discovered as a hidden item.
Even if players in serious play through didn't use it often but when mask was discovered people stated using it more.
And its effects?
A 20% decrease in voidstep mana consumption and physical strain.
That alone made it priceless.
But that wasn't all.
It also had:
A built-in voice changer.
A passive defense ability that lessened the impact of minor attacks.
And 30% decrease in mana used for normal use of Eclipse vision.
I smirked.
This… was exactly what I needed.
Shiranui padded over, sniffing the mask. "That thing looks creepy."
Kurenai chuckled darkly. "It suits him."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the satisfied grin forming on my lips.
With this, my future fights would be much easier.
Now, it was time to figure out how best to use it.
---
To Be Continued…