The scorching sun blazed mercilessly overhead, casting sharp shadows across the endless expanse of the desert. The air shimmered with heat, and the dry wind howled softly, carrying with it the faint scent of sand and desolation. Kael stood amidst the dunes, his skeletal frame stark against the golden landscape. The only sounds were the faint whistling wind and the occasional rustle of shifting sands.

(Inventory: Darkness Embrace, Lv1 Health Potion (x5), Lv1 Mana Potion (x5))

"I got three items!" Kael announced, his voice cutting through the stillness of the desert. The sound echoed briefly before being swallowed by the vast emptiness. He clenched his skeletal fists, the dry clink of bone against bone blending seamlessly with the rustling sands beneath his feet.

His hollow sockets glowed faintly as he focused on the first item in his inventory.

(Darkness Embrace: 'born from darkness, belongs to darkness, embrace the darkness')

(Type: Cloak)

(Level: 5)

(Abilities: Darkness Blend, Energy Nullification, Darkness Transportation)

Kael tilted his skull slightly, his hollow gaze narrowing in curiosity. "The cloak is powerful," he muttered, the dry wind tugging at his bones.

descriptions unfurled in front of him like on the system, accompanied by the faint.

(Darkness Blend: This makes the user invisible and untouchable in darkness.)

Kael tapped a bony finger against his chin, grains of sand clinging to the crevices of his skeletal hand. "That quite suits my true name perfectly," he murmured, his voice low as he surveyed the vast, sunlit desert. The thought of darkness seemed almost ironic in this blindingly bright landscape.

(Energy Nullification: This cancels out energy or magic fired at the user.)

(Darkness Transportation: This allows the user to teleport through darkness with speed and precision.)

"Good for escaping," he said under his breath, glancing at the shifting shadows of the dunes as the sun began its slow descent.

The system’s prompt interrupted his thoughts.

(Do you want to equip 'Darkness Embrace'?)

Kael hesitated, the dry wind swirling around him, carrying faint sounds of sand across the dunes. Then, he thought, Yes.

The moment he confirmed, shadows erupted from nowhere, despite the relentless sunlight. The tendrils coiled upward from the ground, swirling like living smoke around his skeletal frame. The air grew colder, the oppressive heat of the desert retreating momentarily as the darkness wrapped itself around him. A chilling sensation seeped into his bones, sharp and biting, as though an endless night had claimed him.

Kael's sockets flared with an eerie glow as the shadows condensed. In an instant, the swirling darkness stilled and solidified into a jet-black cloak. It draped over his frame like a flowing shadow, the hood pulling itself over his head, casting his skeletal face into impenetrable darkness. Even if someone had been present to witness, they would see nothing but an endless void where his face should have been.

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He flexed his fingers, the cloak moving as if it were alive, responding to his every thought and motion. The sunlight seemed to bend around him, unwilling to touch the cloak's inky fabric. Kael took a tentative step forward, and the sand beneath his feet darkened, as if recoiling from the unnatural presence.

Kael sat back on the ground, the desert stretched endlessly around him, its ochre sands rippling like an ocean frozen in time.

(Sin Stones: 500)

"500!" he exclaimed, his voice raspy and hollow, yet carrying a hint of triumph. "Defeating that serpent sure gave me a lot!" His empty eye sockets flickered briefly with an otherworldly blue glow as he tilted his head, a skeletal grin forming beneath his hood.

(Abilities/Skills: Scythe Summoning, Scythe Mastery, Thought Acceleration)

A new line appeared in his system, catching his attention. 'I got a new ability too,' he mused silently, tapping his temple with a bony finger.

(Thought Acceleration: It allows the user to greatly increase the speed of their thought process.)

Kael lowered his hand and flexed his fingers, testing their movement. "Thought Acceleration," he muttered, the words sounding foreign yet thrilling. His grin widened.

(Titles: Northern Serpent Master)

The title gleamed proudly on the screen. He couldn't help but remember the battle the massive serpent lunging at him, its fangs the size of spears. 'absolutely terrifying'

he scanned to his status screen.

(Status)

(Level: 2)

(Sins: 10/300)

(HP: 50/50)

(EP: 30/30)

(MP: 30/30)

(Strength: 10)

(Endurance: 15)

(Speed: 15)

(Resistance: 5)

(Upgrade Points: 10)

Kael tapped his chin thoughtfully, his skeletal fingers producing a faint clinking sound. 'I have 10 upgrade points. I have to upgrade wisely, my life depends on this.' he thought, his gaze narrowing as he studied the options.

'I will upgrade my speed and endurance'

(Speed: 15 > 20)

(Endurance: 15 > 20)

'it will help me to attack and dodge faster, while for endurance it will increase my rate of how much I can take, strength won't help me here'

The system prompted:

(Upgrade?)

'Yes,' Kael confirmed without hesitation.

(Successfully Upgraded)

(You grow stronger)

A subtle pulse coursed through his body as the upgrades took effect. His joints felt lighter, his movements smoother. He stretched, feeling the increased power and resilience in his limbs.

Returning to the status screen, Kael noted the changes with satisfaction.

(Status)

(Level: 2)

(Sins: 10/300)

(HP: 50/50)

(EP: 30/30)

(MP: 30/30)

(Strength: 10)

(Endurance: 20)

(Speed: 20)

(Resistance: 5)

(Upgrade Points: 0)

"I got a lot of upgrade points from defeating the Northern Serpent," Kael remarked aloud, his voice carrying a strange, hollow echo in the empty desert. He stretched his bony arms again, rolling his shoulders experimentally. "It sure was powerful."

Satisfied, he dismissed the glowing screen with a flick of his wrist. The world around him seemed to return to life wind brushing against his cloak, the sand shifting beneath his feet.

But then, a loud sound tore through the stillness, reverberating like the crash of boulders tumbling down a cliff. It was deep and rhythmic, a mix of heavy impacts and distant, ominous growls.

Kael froze, his hollow sockets scanning the horizon. His hand twitched instinctively as he raised it up preparing to summon his scythe. The air seemed to grow heavier, the oppressive heat now mixed with a sense of impending doom.

his skeletal frame tensing. The sound grew louder a thunderous cacophony, like a walking disaster tearing its way through the sands.

'Something is approaching,'

....