Damien emerged from the fortress into the pale light of dawn. The cool breeze carried the faint scent of dew and wildflowers, a stark contrast to the oppressive air inside the ancient structure. For the first time in what felt like days, he could breathe freely. The trials had been grueling, each one pushing him further than the last, but he had emerged victorious.
He stepped into a clearing, the ground soft beneath his boots. In the distance, the forest stretched out like a sea of green, and beyond that, the jagged peaks of mountains stood silhouetted against the rising sun. The world felt different now, sharper and more alive, as though his very perception had shifted.
Damien drew Ebonfang and held it in front of him. The blade hummed softly, its runes glowing with a faint but steady light. He could feel the bond between them deepening, the weapon becoming more than just a tool—it was a part of him, a conduit for the power that now coursed through his veins.
He clenched his free hand into a fist, feeling the raw strength in his grip. The trials had unlocked something within him, something far beyond what he had ever imagined. He knew it was time to see the results for himself.
Raising his hand, he summoned the Stat Window.
---
[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Damien Ashenblade
Title: The Blade's Chosen
Level: 8
Class: Celestial Bladebearer---
---
Core Stats:
Stat
Current Value
Strength
28
Agility
30
Endurance
24
Intelligence
18
Perception
26
Vitality
22
---
UNIQUE TRAITS:
Trait Name
Description
Celestial Resonance
Bonded with the Celestial Blade, unlocking latent abilities and enhancing growth potential.
---
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
ABILITIES:
Ability Name
Type
Level
Astral Slash
Active
3
Phase Step
Active
2
Blade Echo
Passive
3
Celestial Aura
Passive
2
---
DYNAMIC BUFFS:
- EXP Boost: +300% EXP gain from combat with higher-level enemies.
- Health Regeneration: 10% of max health regenerated per minute outside of combat.
---
Damien stared at the numbers, a slow smile spreading across his face. These weren’t just incremental improvements—they were leaps, tangible proof of how far he had come. His strength and agility had more than doubled since his first encounter in the forest. The gains in endurance and vitality ensured he could fight longer and withstand more punishment, while his heightened perception made him acutely aware of every movement, every shift in the environment.
He scrolled down to the Abilities section, his eyes lingering on the names that had become familiar to him.
Astral Slash had grown into a devastating technique. At its current level, the energy wave it unleashed was larger, faster, and more destructive, capable of cleaving through multiple enemies with ease. He could feel the power waiting to be unleashed, ready to devastate anything in its path.
Phase Step had become more fluid, its cooldown reduced, allowing him to blink through the battlefield with even greater efficiency. It was no longer just a defensive maneuver; it had become a tool for seizing control of the fight, positioning himself perfectly for the next strike.
Blade Echo was perhaps the most thrilling upgrade. Now at its third level, the afterimages created by his strikes dealt significantly more damage and triggered more frequently, effectively doubling his offensive output.
Finally, Celestial Aura had grown stronger, its effects on the battlefield more pronounced. Enemies caught within the aura were noticeably slower, their strikes clumsier and less accurate, while Damien felt lighter, faster, more in control.
The stat window flickered for a moment before vanishing. Damien lowered his hand, taking a deep breath. The weight of his progress settled over him—not as a burden, but as a foundation, a promise of the power he could still achieve.
He turned his gaze toward the forest. Somewhere beyond the trees, more challenges awaited. He could feel it in the air, a subtle tension that hinted at forces stirring in the distance. His journey was far from over, but for the first time, he felt truly prepared.
Ebonfang pulsed in his hand, its energy syncing with his own. It was as if the blade shared his determination, ready to face whatever lay ahead. Damien sheathed it, the familiar weight at his side a comforting presence.
But before he could move forward, a faint sound caught his attention—a rustling in the underbrush. He froze, his hand hovering near Ebonfang’s hilt. The sound grew louder, closer, and then… it stopped.
From the shadows emerged a figure, cloaked and hooded, their face obscured. They moved with a quiet grace, their footsteps barely disturbing the ground. Damien’s instincts screamed danger, but the figure made no move to attack.
Instead, they stopped a few paces away and spoke in a calm, measured tone. “You’ve done well to come this far, Bladebearer.”
Damien’s hand remained on his sword. “Who are you?”
The figure lowered their hood, revealing a weathered face marked with scars. Their eyes, however, glowed faintly, the same light that pulsed from the runes on Ebonfang.
“I am a Watcher,” the figure said. “A guardian of the balance you now seek to uphold. The trials you’ve faced were but the beginning. The power you wield is both a gift and a responsibility.”
Damien narrowed his eyes. “Responsibility?”
The Watcher nodded. “The blade you carry is one of many. Together, they form a key—a key to a power that can reshape this world. But such power must be tempered, or it will destroy everything.”
The weight of their words settled over Damien like a cold shroud. He had suspected there was more to Ebonfang, but this was far beyond what he had imagined.
“What happens next?” Damien asked.
The Watcher’s gaze hardened. “You must continue your journey. Seek out the other shards, face the trials ahead, and learn the truth of the Celestial Blades. Only then will you understand the role you were chosen to play.”
Without another word, the Watcher stepped back into the shadows, their form fading into the forest as if they had never been there. Damien stood in silence, the weight of their message sinking in.
He didn’t know what awaited him, but he was ready to find out.
With a final glance at the forest ahead, Damien took his first step into the unknown.