"Got you," I muttered, eyes locked on him as the chain tightened.
Senkoku staggered back a step, the impact denting his armor. His katana hummed faintly, still in his grip—steady, but I saw it. That flicker in his eye.
I straightened, exhaling slow. "Tell me something," I said. "How did you unlock your second awakening?"
He paused. Then scoffed—loud, sharp, full of mockery.
"You serious right now?" His tone dripped with arrogance. "You don't even know that?"
I didn't respond. Just watched him.
"Tch," he clicked his tongue, shaking his head with exaggerated disbelief. "You just need to reach level 40, genius. That's it. You really made it this far without knowing something that basic?"
He laughed, low and biting. "What, did you skip the tutorial or something?"
His smirk said he thought he'd rattled me.
But inside, something shifted.
If reaching level 40 was all it took…
Then what the hell was I?
Something tugged at the back of my mind.
A thought I'd been ignoring.
A gap I hadn't dared to look too close at… until now.
Why don't I have a class?
I stood there, still gripping my weapon, breath steady but my thoughts spiraling.
Level 60. Skills copied. Gold stacked. Kills racked up like trophies.
But no class. No awakening.
Senkoku tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing.
"…Tch." He sheathed his katana halfway, enough to show he wasn't finished. "You've got that look—like you're starting to ask the right questions."
I didn't answer, but the shift in my face gave it away.
He smirked, a little too smug for someone with a blade still warm from battle.
"Looks like you've got more questions than answers. Better find them quick… or next time, you won't get back up."
Then I asked, voice low, unsure if I even wanted the answer.
"My class still says '???'. Why?"
Senkoku froze mid-step. His smirk twitched.
"You're kidding, right?"
I shook my head.
"Tch. Looks like you've got more questions than answers," he muttered, eyes scanning me like I was some puzzle. "Maybe your system's bugged… or maybe something's wrong with you."
I stayed quiet, but the shift in my expression must've given me away.
"…Wait," Senkoku said, a little more serious now. "You seriously don't have a class? What level are you?"
"…Sixty."
His brows rose. "Sixty? Damn. And still nothing? That's not normal. You were supposed to get one way back at level 10—hell, you should've hit second awakening by now."
He leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing.
"Maybe you've got a system error… or maybe you're something else entirely."
Senkoku's gaze sharpened. "Or maybe…" he muttered, hand drifting to his sheath, "I'll help you unlock it the hard way."
He vanished in a blink.
"Shit!" I hissed, yanking my chains to intercept him.
Clink.
Too slow.
"Blazing Sentinel!" I shouted, slamming my palm to the ground.
A burst of molten rock exploded in front of me—solid magma forged into a shield, wrapped in roaring flame. My defense.
But the second his katana left the sheath—
Shingg.
CRACK!
The magma shield didn't even stand a chance.
A single slash tore through it like paper, the flame snuffed out in a clean arc.
Then—
"Mist Slash."
A flurry of steel rained down, too fast to follow. I spun, trying to parry—too late. Heat, pressure, pain.
Red mist filled the air.
Just as my knees hit the ground, a warm glow wrapped around me. The wounds closed, the pain dulled. Seraphine was already beside me, hands glowing, eyes sharp.
"As if I'd just stand by and let you die," she snapped, flames licking at her fingertips.
Senkoku scoffed, blade resting lazily on his shoulder. "Heh… so it's two against one now?"
I stood up slowly, dusting ash from my coat.
"No," I said, voice firm. "Sorry, Seraphine. Next time… I handle it alone."
Her eyes widened, a flicker of hurt flashing through—but she nodded. Quiet. Trusting.
The heat between us cooled, but the air still crackled. Senkoku's grin only grew wider.
Just as my knees hit the ground, a warm glow wrapped around me. The wounds closed, the pain dulled. Seraphine was already beside me, hands glowing, eyes sharp.
"As if I'd just stand by and let you die," she snapped, flames licking at her fingertips.
Senkoku scoffed, blade resting lazily on his shoulder. "Heh… so it's two against one now?"
I stood up slowly, dusting ash from my coat.
"No," I said, voice firm. "Sorry, Seraphine. Next time… I handle it alone."
Her eyes widened, a flicker of hurt flashing through—but she nodded. Quiet. Trusting.
The heat between us cooled, but the air still crackled. Senkoku's grin only grew wider.
I flexed my fingers, feeling the heat from Seraphine's healing fade into a steady pulse. The sword in my hand felt heavier now… or maybe I was just remembering.
"I've always been good with a blade," I muttered, eyes drifting up toward the burning orange sky. "But in the life before this… I survived with these." I raised my fists slowly. "Alone. With nothing but grit."
Senkoku narrowed his eyes, sensing the shift. "What're you getting at?"
"Mind if I change it up a little?" I asked, rolling my shoulders, a quiet smirk tugging at my lips.
He tilted his head, lips curling into a knowing grin. "Hmph… just this once."
I opened my inventory, scanning through the items, and my eyes landed on the Close Combat ??? Class Card. This wasn't just some random item—it was the one I got after spending a ridiculous 35,000 gold on a gacha spin just a few days ago. At the time, I'd thought I was wasting my gold, but now, it was the key to the power I needed.
Flashback (A Few Days Ago)
I stood in front of the gacha machine, holding 35,000 gold in my hand. It was the result of countless battles, slaying rare monsters, and scraping together every coin I could find. This was the moment. I tossed the gold into the machine, my heart racing as I pulled the lever.
The machine buzzed, lights flashing. It felt like an eternity before it finally ejected the prize: Close Combat ??? Class Card.
I stared at the card in disbelief. "What the hell is this...?" I muttered. The class was a mystery, marked with ???, but something about it tugged at me. It wasn't a mistake—this had to be it.
Back to the present.
I grabbed the card from my inventory, holding it firmly in my hand. 35,000 gold. I had spent everything on this one shot, and now it was finally time to see if it would pay off.
Without wasting another moment, I activated the card. A surge of power coursed through me, and the air around me seemed to hum with energy. The transformation was beginning.
System Notification:
User identified as the reincarnation of ???
User will evolve into a Close Combat ??? Class.
All copied skills will be permanently deleted. New skills will be added as the player completes their evolution.
I stared at the system notification in disbelief. "Evolution?" I muttered to myself. "I thought this was just a reroll..."
I glanced at the card in my hand, the Close Combat ??? Class Card. This wasn't what I expected. There was no going back now, though. Whatever this was, it was happening. I had no choice but to trust the process
I frowned and immediately turned to the system. "What about my copy skill? Will that be gone too?"
System Notification:
User's permanent skill will not be deleted.
I let out a sigh of relief. At least I wouldn't lose everything in this strange evolution process. But then, more notifications flooded my vision.
System Notification:
User stats will increase by 15x. Second to Third Awakening will start... initiating Awakening.
System Notification:
Awakening complete. All stats of the user will increase by 30x.
System Notification:
User evolution complete. All stats will increase by 30x. HP increased to 17,000.
I felt an overwhelming surge of energy course through me, like a rush of power I could hardly control. My body felt stronger, faster, and more resilient than ever before. I couldn't help but test my newfound strength, feeling the weight of it settle into my bones.
"Damn... this is real," I muttered under my breath, my heart racing with excitement.
I looked down at my hands. Everything had changed—my stats were off the charts now. But there was one thing I couldn't shake: this new power came with a responsibility I wasn't sure I was ready for.
System Notification:
The Sword of Olympus is requesting to fuse with its wielder.
"Huh?" I blinked at the glowing message in front of me.
System Notification:
The Sword of Olympus has declared: 'You can no longer wield me... so why not become one with me?'
Before I could respond, another message appeared.
System Notification:
Your secondary weapon has chosen to sacrifice itself to fuse into your core. It wishes to become a skill, bound to your soul.
A strange pulse echoed through my body—like two old friends saying goodbye to become something greater. My hands trembled as I stared at the fading weapons in my inventory.
They weren't just tools anymore.
They were becoming me.
"Alright then," I whispered, a small smirk tugging at my lips. "Let's become something unstoppable."
System Notification:
Fusion sequence initiated...
System Notification:
Fusion complete. Displaying all active skills of the user below...
System Notification:
Fusion complete. Displaying all active skills of the user below...
User's Skills:
1. Ragnarok Reel
Description: An apocalyptic hook lariat charged with raw power—one swing, end of story.
2. Limit Break Fist
Unleashed at full adrenaline—strips the limiters and turns the punch into pure destruction.
3. Phantom Drive
A blink-speed dash followed by a blurring flurry of strikes that hit before the sound catches up.
4. Godvein Frenzy
Unleashes forbidden power hidden in the veins—multiplies strength 50x, but causes intense fatigue, torn muscles, and eventual collapse. Use at your own peril.
5. Freight Breaker
A full-speed body tackle that hits like a freight train, followed by a lift-and-slam finisher.
6. Colossus Form
The user's muscles harden like stone, granting a substantial boost to both defense and power, making them a near-unstoppable force.
HP: 17,000
Original Skill: Copy Skill
Class: Close Combat ???
Senkoku scoffed, his eyes narrowing as he sized me up. "So you sacrifice your sword and choose fists instead? How will that help you?" He smirked, his tone laced with mockery. "Sure, you evolve and your stats go insane now, but the real question is, will those fists even land a hit on me?"
I stayed silent, my gaze fixed on him, the weight of his words sinking in. He was right about one thing: the fist may have more power, but it was a new weapon for me. Still, there was something about this evolution that felt different—something that stirred deep within me.
I gripped my hands into fists, feeling the raw power that surged through my veins. This wasn't just any power—it was a new path, a new way to fight. And I wasn't about to let anyone doubt it, least of all him.
I bowed slightly, my gaze never leaving Senkoku. The air around us thickened with tension as I clenched my fists, feeling the raw power surge through my body. I could almost hear the hum of energy beneath my skin. This wasn't just any fight—it was the moment to prove myself.
Senkoku grinned, a sharp, cocky smile spreading across his face. "Heh, no reply, huh?" His hands hovered near his katana, poised in a low bow, preparing for the attack he knew would come.
I grinned back, my body coiling like a spring. Every muscle in me tensed, preparing for the moment that would decide everything. The power was there, pulsing, begging to be unleashed.
"What to hit..." I muttered under my breath, the words barely escaping my lips.
Senkoku's eyes sharpened, his voice dropping to a serious tone. "You think power can be everything? Power can't do anything when your opponent is faster. And that's what I'm about to show you."
He took a deep breath, his expression hardening. Then, in an instant, he dashed straight toward me, his eyes blazing with killing intent. The air around us seemed to crackle with his focus.
But I was ready.
My legs were already tight with tension, like coiled springs, waiting for the perfect moment. As he closed the distance, I moved with lightning speed, my body flowing into the attack without hesitation. My lariat connected—hard—landing squarely on his throat.
"Grrrhh!" Senkoku grunted, the force of the blow lifting him off his feet and sending him spinning mid-air.
I watched him struggle against the pressure, my grin widening. "You're right," I said, my voice dripping with confidence. "Power can't beat speed. But you can win with speed by using timing."
He landed, his eyes narrowing as he steadied himself, but I could already tell—he'd underestimated my ability to read the moment. And now, with the timing on my side, I was ready to take the next step.
I grinned, feeling the power coursing through my body as I activated Colossus Form, every muscle in my body tightening like stone. The ground beneath my feet cracked, a loud rumbling filling the air as I prepared to launch myself. Senkoku stood there, watching me with a serious gaze, ready for whatever I was about to throw at him. His confidence was clear, but I could see the shift in his posture as he prepared himself.
I took a breath, my body coiled like a spring.
Freight Breaker!
I sprinted forward, my body a blur of raw power. My legs pushed off the ground with a force that sent shockwaves through the earth. In an instant, I collided with Senkoku, my shoulder slamming into his chest with the force of a freight train. He grunted, a sharp exhale escaping his lips as I tackled him into the nearby wall. The stone shattered under the weight of the collision, dust and debris flying everywhere.
But I didn't stop. I didn't give him a chance to recover.
I kept the momentum going, pushing myself off the wall and charging again. Senkoku tried to recover, but I was already on him. Another tackle, another slam into the wall. The sound of stone cracking, the impact of flesh on concrete. He coughed, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth as he tried to shake off the hits.
His eyes were full of surprise now, his calm demeanor slipping as he realized that I wasn't holding back. That I wasn't playing by the rules anymore.
"Still think power can't beat speed?" I muttered, a grin stretching across my face as I tightened my grip. His body was at my mercy now, and I was more than happy to take control.
I wasn't done yet.