Kieran exhaled sharply, leaning against a jagged rock as his battered body slowly recovered. Though the system had restored him to his peak condition after reaching Level 3, the memory of the brutal fight against the three Ravynclaw beasts still lingered. Every muscle in his body ached with the phantom pain of that battle—a reminder of how close he had come to death.
With a thought, he summoned his main system screen. The familiar black interface flared into existence, casting a faint glow across his face.
[ Name: Kieran ]
[ Race: Human ]
[ Ability: Abyssal Veil (level 1 ) ]
[ Level: 3 ]
[ HP: 100 ]
[ MP: 10 ]
[ Strength: 15 ]
[ Agility: 12 ]
[ Stamina: 13 ]
[ Defense: 12 ]
[ Available Stat Points: 5 ]
[ Veilborn presence ( level 2) ]
[ Analyze ( level 1) ]
[ Demolish ( level 1) ]
[ Fury fist ( level 1) ]
[ Available Skill Points: 2 ]
His eyes narrowed as he scanned his stats. He was definitely stronger than when he first entered the dimension, but it still didn't feel like enough. Not after what he'd just faced.
"That last punch… how did I even do that?" Kieran mused, recalling the way his hand had erupted with black, flame-like energy. The raw destructive force of that single strike had been terrifying—it had torn through the final Ravynclaw beast as if its flesh were paper. But he hadn't fully understood how to control it.
"Abyssal Veil… just what kind of power is this?"
The system's description gave him almost nothing to work with. He only knew that it was connected to the strange, black energy he had instinctively tapped into during the battle. But there had to be more to it—something deeper that he hadn't yet unlocked.
Shaking off his thoughts, Kieran pushed himself to his feet. If he wanted answers, he needed to keep moving—and keep fighting. The more he used this power, the better he would understand it.
The air grew heavier as he ventured deeper. The eerie silence of the dimension was only broken by the faint growls and the sound of distant footsteps. Another beast was nearby. His lips curled into a grim smile. Good—he needed more targets to experiment on.
Before long, a pair of glowing red eyes emerged from the shadows. A basic-tier Ravynclaw beast. Without hesitation, Kieran launched himself forward.
He fought with precision, focusing on refining his combat style while testing the Abyssal Veil. The power wasn't easy to control—channeling it directly through his body drained his MP at an alarming rate. A simple Abyssal Veil Strike cost 5 MP, and while devastating, it wasn't sustainable for prolonged battles. However, when he used the energy through a system-given skill like Veilborn Presence, the cost was significantly lower—just 2 MP—and it allowed him to deliver critical strikes while remaining efficient.
After killing his sixth beast, he paused to catch his breath. A familiar chime echoed in his mind.
Basic Tier Beast Killed – EXP Gained: 100
Kieran swiped his hand through the air, pulling up his system screen again. His experience was climbing steadily—if he kept up this pace, another level-up was inevitable.
"But how far can I push this power?" he wondered, flexing his fingers as traces of black energy flickered across his palm.
He clenched his fists and continued forward. Each battle was a chance to grow stronger—to refine his abilities. For now, that was all that mattered.
As the hours passed, his understanding deepened. He found that using Abyssal energy in its raw form drained him quickly—but the sheer destructive force was undeniable. On the other hand, channeling the power through his skills was more efficient and easier to manage.
The battles blurred together. By the time he faced his 13th beast, Kieran's body burned with exertion. Blood dripped from a gash on his shoulder, and his breathing grew ragged. Yet, despite the pain, his focus never wavered. With a surge of black energy, he lunged forward, driving his fist into the creature's chest. The Abyssal Veil surged, punching through the beast's flesh and ending the fight in a single blow.
As the creature collapsed, the system chimed.
[ Basic Tier Beast Killed – EXP Gained: 100 ]
[ Level Up! ]
[ Level 4 ]
A surge of energy washed over him, restoring his body to peak condition. His strength grew sharper—his movements, faster. The Abyssal Veil energy pulsed within him, stronger than ever before.
But he didn't stop. Fueled by a mix of curiosity and the hunger for power, Kieran pressed on, determined to uncover the full potential of his ability.