Everything was ready. The forest stood before us, as lifeless and dark as ever. With Homizd by my side, I headed toward the edge of the cursed woods. As we neared, he stopped abruptly and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Friend," he said, his tone firm yet reassuring, "this is where you go alone. But remember—I'll be watching over you. Don't let fear consume you. Face those shadows with courage."
His words steadied my nerves. Confidence surged within me as I prepared for my first real battle. The air grew thick, oppressive, but I focused. And then, without warning, they came. From the depths of the forest, the shadows lunged at me, swift and relentless.
I had been ready for this. Summoning the Photon Blade, I launched myself at the closest ones and struck with precision. My first opponent was cut clean in half, its form dissipating into nothingness. Another shadow, then another, fell to my blade, but their numbers felt endless.
Suddenly, three shadows armed with swords emerged from the darkness, their movements synchronized and calculated. I hadn't anticipated them having weapons. Reacting on instinct, I infused energy into my legs and leapt back, narrowly dodging their attack.
I needed distance. Raising my hand, I began to charge a Laser Shot, hoping to eliminate them from afar. But they were relentless, giving me no time to catch my breath. Before I could act, one of the shadow swordsmen appeared out of nowhere, its blade slicing clean through my left arm.
Pain exploded through me as blood sprayed across the forest floor. My scream echoed through the endless night, yet the shadows pressed on, closing in for the kill. As I braced for the inevitable, Homizd materialized before me, shielding me from their assault.
I barely registered his intervention. The pain was overwhelming, my thoughts clouded and scattered. As darkness began to close in around my mind, Absolute Insight issued a desperate warning: "Activate Reset."
Mustering every ounce of focus I had left, I activated the ability. In an instant, my body reverted to its state from ten seconds earlier—my arm was whole once more.
Homizd glanced back at me, his face breaking into a proud smile. "Hurry up! Your fight isn't over yet. You can still beat them!" With that, he stepped aside, leaving the shadows to refocus their attention on me.
This time, I didn't hesitate. Letting go of all doubt, I unleashed everything I had. Energy surged through me as I fired Laser Shots one after another, their relentless beams tearing through the shadows. I lost count of how many I had fired. The forest blazed with light as I pushed myself beyond my limits.
But the shadows kept coming. I was exhilarated, almost drunk with adrenaline. I wanted to obliterate them all—every last one. Without a second thought, I downed the potion Homizd had given me earlier. Energy flooded my body as I channeled even more power using Manipulation of Everything.
The battle had shifted completely. It was no longer a struggle—I was dominating them. Each attack grew more precise, more devastating. My control over energy had never felt this natural, this instinctive. I converted my energy into light, coating my fists with its brilliance, and struck with all my strength.
The shadows began to retreat, their movements faltering as if they had realized the futility of their efforts. Within minutes, they were gone. Silence fell over the forest. I stood there, my chest heaving, victorious.
From behind the trees, I heard footsteps. I turned to see Homizd approaching, his expression a mix of pride and critique.
"Congratulations," he said. "But let's be honest—your performance at the start was terrible. Once you calmed down, though, you did well. For your first real fight, you've done better than I expected."
I didn't have the words to respond. I simply nodded, the weight of the battle still settling in my mind.
Homizd clapped me on the shoulder. "Come on, let's head back to the cabin."
Back at the cabin, exhaustion hit me like a wave. My eyes grew heavy, and before I knew it, I was asleep. But my dreams were far from peaceful.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself in a strange space. Cyrus stood before me, his hands clapping slowly, a smug smile on his face.
"Well done, young Darius," he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "You defeated an enemy that should have been far beyond your current skills. Impressive."
I narrowed my eyes. "Alright, Cyrus. Why am I here? What do you want this time?"
He chuckled. "First, to congratulate you. Second, to remind you—always stay alert. Don't trust so easily. And third… to give you a gift. Something I'm sure you'll love."
I blinked, caught off guard. "A gift? Really? What kind of gift?"
"Patience, my friend. When you return, it will be waiting for you. But before that, let me offer some advice: mastering Manipulation of Everything isn't as hard as you're making it. You need to refine your control and stop relying so much on Absolute Insight. It's a crutch. Learn to convert energy into different forms fluidly. Stop trying to think like the people of this world. Your way of thinking—your creativity—is what sets you apart."
His words stung, but they rang true. I nodded slowly. "Thanks for the reminder. Anything else?"
"Nothing for now. I wish you luck on your journey."
"Same to you, Cyrus. Whatever it is you're doing… I hope it works out."
With that, he vanished, leaving me alone in the strange dreamscape.
When I woke, something felt… off. A presence called to me, faint but undeniable. I focused on the sensation, and to my astonishment, a weapon appeared in my hands. Its design was breathtaking. Absolute Insight wasted no time in analyzing it.
Analysis: Indestructible Glaive of Manifestation
Class: Legendary Weapon
Type: Glaive (Polearm)
Unique Trait: Manifestation by Thought
Attributes
- Durability: Indestructible
- Forged with unearthly materials, this glaive is impervious to all forms of damage, whether physical or magical. Its durability makes it ideal for both offensive and defensive combat scenarios.
- Energy Compatibility: 10/10
- The glaive is perfectly attuned to energy manipulation, allowing seamless channeling of the wielder's power. It minimizes energy loss and enhances precision, making it highly efficient for energy-based techniques.
- Weightlessness: Adaptive Weight
- The glaive feels weightless in the hands of its rightful wielder, adjusting to their strength and style. This allows for fluid and precise movement, ensuring unmatched control during combat.
- Manifestation: Thought-Controlled
- The glaive can materialize instantly with a simple thought from its wielder. It vanishes just as easily when not needed, making it impossible to steal or disarm.
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Abilities and Traits
Energy Conduit:
- The glaive amplifies the flow of energy from the user, ensuring minimal loss and maximum output. Energy-based attacks channeled through the glaive are significantly stronger and more focused.
Aura Shielding:
- Generates a protective aura around the wielder, reducing incoming damage from both physical strikes and energy-based attacks. The aura acts as a secondary defense, absorbing a portion of the impact from enemy blows.
Piercing Reality:
- Both the glaive itself and any energy projectiles launched from it possess the ability to bypass all barriers, magical shields, and physical obstacles. This ensures that attacks always reach their target, regardless of defensive measures.
Self-Repair:
- Although the glaive is indestructible, it has an innate ability to restore its energy resonance if disrupted by extreme external forces. This ensures that it remains in peak condition at all times.
Alignment Lock:
- The glaive is bound exclusively to its chosen wielder. It cannot be wielded or used by anyone else, making it an extension of the user's own strength and will.
Strengths
- Instant Accessibility:
- Summons instantly, ensuring the wielder is never unarmed in the heat of battle. Its manifestation ability is both practical and tactical, especially in emergencies.
- Energy Efficiency:
- The glaive's design allows for effortless energy channeling, reducing strain on the wielder and enabling more advanced techniques. This makes it a vital asset for combatants who rely on energy manipulation.
- Unstoppable Attacks:
- The ability to bypass defenses makes the glaive uniquely lethal. Even the most fortified enemies and barriers stand no chance against its precision and power.
- Extended Reach:
- Its polearm design provides a significant tactical advantage, keeping enemies at bay while delivering precise and devastating strikes.
- Adaptive Combat Utility:
- The glaive is highly versatile, excelling in both wide-range sweeping attacks and pinpoint strikes. This adaptability makes it effective in any combat scenario, whether one-on-one or against multiple opponents.
Danger Enhancers (Unique Offensive Traits):
Phantom Strike:
- Unleashes an ethereal blade extension, capable of slashing enemies from a distance. This nearly invisible and swift energy-based attack is difficult to anticipate or block.
Energy Overload:
- The glaive can absorb and store excess energy, releasing it in a devastating burst that obliterates everything within a 20-meter radius. This ability is particularly effective in crowd-control situations or high-stakes encounters.
Echo Assault:
- Each strike delivers a delayed aftershock, sending a secondary wave of force moments after the initial hit. This overwhelms enemy defenses and creates openings for further attacks.
Piercing Resonance:
- Emits a focused, harmonic vibration that disorients enemies and shatters magical shields. This resonance ensures that even intangible defenses are rendered ineffective.
Reality Pierce:
- Enhances all attacks launched through the glaive, guaranteeing that they ignore all physical and magical obstacles. Each attack targets the enemy's core directly, bypassing traditional defenses entirely.
Weaknesses
- Wielder Dependency:
- The glaive's power is directly tied to the wielder's energy reserves. Extended use can deplete the user's stamina if they lack sufficient control or endurance.
Recommended Use Cases
- High-Stakes Combat:
- Ideal for battles against powerful enemies, where both offensive strength and defensive capabilities are critical.
- Energy Mastery Practice:
- Perfect for refining advanced energy manipulation techniques due to its unparalleled compatibility with user energy.
- Barrier-Penetration Scenarios:
- An invaluable asset when facing heavily fortified enemies or magical shields, as its attacks are unstoppable.
- Solo and Group Combat:
- Equally effective in one-on-one duels or crowd-control situations, thanks to its versatile design and traits.
The Glaive had a sleek, entirely black body that exuded an aura of mystery and power. Its surface was intricately adorned with gemstones that shimmered faintly, adding an air of elegance to its menacing design. Scattered across the shaft were enigmatic emblems and symbols—ones I had never encountered before, their meanings remaining a tantalizing mystery. These unfamiliar markings seemed almost alive, pulsing gently with an otherworldly energy that made the weapon appear even more extraordinary. The contrast between the dark body and the radiant jewels created a striking visual, reinforcing the notion that this was no ordinary weapon but a relic of profound importance and untold power.
Satisfied, I smiled. "This is so much better than that ordinary sword Homizd gave me."
I decided to name it Sayeh. With that, I prepared myself for the training ahead. Tomorrow, the real work would begin.