Zaro pulled some water from his void storage and one of Ol’ Jebs flapjacks he had stored. It was still hot and fresh. The void storage ability surprised him with its apparent stasis effect.
He ate his carbs and washed them down with water. Then watched his silent observer pace.
He stretched a little while he had a few seconds.
This construct moved differently from the others, more predatory, like a big cat sizing up its prey. Where the previous three had been direct in their intentions, this one seemed to savor the psychological element of combat. Its void energy signature rippled with each step, coiling and uncoiling like stored power.
30 seconds.
The construct continued its methodical stalking, never taking its endless void eyes off him. The remaining three constructs watched from their pillars, but somehow this one's silent assessment felt more calculating than their collective observation.
15 seconds.
Zaro stood, brushing off the last crumbs of his snack. His stats were maxed, void skin ready, mana pool full. But something told him this fight would require more than raw power.
05.
The construct stopped pacing.
Zaro took a deep breath, and calmed himself. He popped his neck and got into a ready position. Then he stepped back with his right leg and offered both empty hands forward while he emptied his mind.
The construct paused a brief moment, then lunged forward with more speed than all of the previous enemies put together.
It darted and pivoted, changing direction then used its momentum to throw a powerful punch. Zaro was ready and sensed the energy more than he saw the attack. He raised his right hand flipping his pinkie inward while making a fist and pulling his elbow tight which harshly blocked the attack. He instantly went back to an open hand so he wasn't too rigid. It was a good choice. Because his enemy threw another punch but Zaro slipped low left while throwing a leg kick. It caught the wild thing clean, and it fell.
However, it landed on one hand and threw two more kicks as if the fall was a gift.
Zaro raised his knee and blocked the first kick and blocked the second kick with his teeth.
He took a step back and recentered himself.
The construct stood up calmly. It got into a ready position again and took a step forward. Zaro threw a quick side kick and stepped through to a left punch, his enemy dodged and lowered its head to dodge the punch then threw its own back. Catching him in the chest plate. Zaro threw a leg kick then a right, telegraphing it so the big dummy would lean forward again.
When it did he used that left arm to pin its weight forward with his forearm on the back of its neck while punching its ribs with his right hand. 2 solid punches until it escaped and backed off.
Zaro pressed forward and threw a powerful right. The construct's head was in the perfect place to eat this punch.
That's when a hole opened in front of his fist and redirected it into his gut.
He stepped back and realized that was a void redirect.
This thing was on another level. Zaro knew he needed to be careful with his attacks now. Getting hit by his own strikes wasn't part of the plan.
The construct held its ground, those endless void eyes studying his every move. Its form rippled with the same unknown power he had. The void redirect had changed the entire dynamic of the fight. Good thing he has battled with it before.
Zaro circled left, keeping his guard tight. He needed to find out if it could redirect any attack, or if there were limitations to this new technique.
Zaro threw a probing leg kick, but pulled it at the last second when another void hole appeared. The construct's focus seemed intense during the redirect - maybe there was something there he could exploit.
He void stepped to the right while throwing a void bolt, watching carefully as the construct opened another hole to send it back. The void energy manipulation took concentration, a slight pause in its fluid movement. That was the tell he needed.
Zaro threw another void bolt, this time charged with twice the normal power. As expected, the construct began forming its redirect hole. But Zaro was already moving, void stepping behind it while the construct was focused on the redirect. His elbow caught it clean in the back of the head before it could react.
The construct staggered forward but recovered quickly, spinning to face him with those nightmare eyes. Its void energy signature pulsed with what almost felt like approval.
The construct unleashed a barrage of its own void bolts while forming holes around the arena. Each bolt that missed disappeared into a void hole only to emerge from another at a different angle. The crossfire was intense, forcing Zaro to constantly move.
He activated his void skin at triple charge, buying time to analyze the pattern. The construct wasn't just throwing random shots - it was herding him toward specific positions. Each void hole placement was calculated, turning the entire arena into a geometric death trap.
Zaro void stepped through a narrow gap in the crossfire, launching three quick void bolts of his own. The construct redirected two, but the third clipped its shoulder as its concentration wavered. The hit disrupted its void hole network, the portals collapsing like popped bubbles.
Now was his chance.
Zaro charged in behind a void bolt, knowing it would redirect. As the construct's focus shifted to creating the hole, he void stepped to its blind side. But this time the construct was ready, pivoting with terrifying speed to catch his arm. It used his momentum to throw him, opening a void hole mid-throw.
Zaro emerged from another hole across the arena, slamming hard into the wall. Before he could fully recover, the construct was already there, its fist coming in fast. He barely managed to void step away as the punch cratered the wall where his head had been.
This was Ezras' ability leveled up. Holes large enough to fit entire people.
The system noted dryly: It's learning to combine throws with void redirect. Fascinating.
Zaro's mind raced, this thing was using his own movement techniques against him, adding its void holes to create impossible attack angles. But maintaining those holes had to be draining its energy. He needed to force it to overextend.
A dark smile slowly grew on Zaro's mug.
Two could play the mobility game. He void stepped three times in rapid succession, each move forcing the construct to redirect its focus and adjust its void portals. On the fourth step, he appeared directly above it, dropping down, with his void fangs in both hands.
The construct opened a portal above its head, expecting another frontal attack. Instead, Zaro threw both void fangs wide, forcing the construct to split its attention between multiple threats. As it created additional portals to redirect the daggers, Zaro launched a void bolt straight down while activating double tap.
The construct's network of portals wavered as it tried to manage too many redirects at once. The void bolts caught it clean in the shoulder, disrupting its concentration. The portals collapsed, and Zaro used Will of the Void to direct the daggers at its torso. They found their mark.
He landed behind his prey and swept its weakened legs, following through with a shadow strike uppercut as it fell. But instead of connecting, his fist passed through another hastily formed hole. This time he was ready, he activated void step mid-punch, disrupting the redirect while he drove his knee into the construct's exposed back.
The hit landed clean, but the construct rolled with the impact, its form rippling as it reassembled itself several feet away.
The construct's void energy signature pulsed erratically now, its perfect control showing the first signs of strain. But instead of backing away, it charged forward, opening multiple portals in a complex pattern around itself. Each portal shifted and rotated, creating a defensive maze of void energy.
Zaro recognized the trap, any attack would be caught in an endless loop of redirects. The construct was adapting, using its superior void control to compensate for its weakened state. Its endless eyes locked onto him, waiting for his next move.
Zaro decided to get inside and grapple the construct. He fired off several void bolts in quick succession, each one forcing a new portal defense while he darted with his natural agility and void stepping until he was within striking range.
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He threw a dagger at its chest and void bolt at its feet then void stepped to where he knew it would dodge - these things always moved predictably when overwhelmed.
Zaro emerged out of the shadowy veil of the void step like a predator, shooting low for the double leg takedown. He drove his shoulders into its midsection and dumped the construct on its head with practiced violence, then smashed down with crushing top control before it could even process what happened.
He immediately secured mount and kept the pressure tight. The construct was at a clear disadvantage and its movements became erratic, almost panicked. But Zaro was so comfortable being uncomfortable that he just became a stone on its chest while driving his elbow into its face and neck as he settled in like concrete. Years of training had made this position feel like home.
The construct tried to bench press him off with inhuman strength and Zaro calmly pushed the hands away and popped it in the mouth with an open palm strike that would have shattered a normal jaw. He immediately smothered its face with his shoulder and waited for it to make the same mistake twice. These things always did.
He had half a mind to rip its arm off on the next press.
The press came with devastating force, enough to launch a lesser fighter into the ceiling. In a practiced movement, Zaro redirected the right arm over his shoulder as he locked in the tightest arm triangle he had ever felt. He squeezed and pressed his shoulder into its neck until he felt its neck and shoulder pop and crack like breaking branches. Then he squeezed a little bit more for good measure.
When he was sure it was done, he got up and stomped its head with merciless precision. The construct's form shattered under the final blow, its void energy dispersing into the arena like smoke in the wind.
Zaro's breath had barely steadied when the next construct descended from its pillar. This one was different - much different. It landed with enough force to crack the arena floor, its void-twisted form easily twice the size of its predecessor. The air around it felt heavy, like standing at the bottom of an ocean.
Those endless void eyes stared down at him as it rose to its full height. Where the last construct had been precise and technical, this one radiated raw power. Void energy rolled off it in waves, each pulse making Zaro's muscles strain just to stay upright.
It didn't waste time with a fighting stance. The colossus simply walked forward, each step leaving crater-like impressions in the floor. Its massive arms opened wide, almost mockingly, like a parent ready to embrace a child. But Zaro knew better - those arms could crush void-reinforced armor like paper.
His usual void step felt sluggish, the creature's gravity field already affecting his movement. This wouldn't be a fight about technique or speed. This would be about survival.
Zaro closed his eyes for a moment, remembering his training. His aura exploded outward, pushing against the crushing pressure of the void colossus. The two energies met and wrestled for dominance, creating a zone where the air itself seemed to crackle with competing forces.
The construct paused, those bottomless eyes narrowing slightly. Perhaps it wasn't used to prey that could resist its overwhelming presence. The gravitational pressure increased, but Zaro's aura held firm, creating a bubble of normalized space around him.
Still, this was just the beginning. The colossus resumed its advance, but with purpose now. Its massive form moved with surprising speed for its size, those huge arms sweeping forward to grab him. One clean hit from those void-enhanced limbs would end the fight, aura or not.
Zaro ducked under the first massive sweep, feeling the void energy distort the air above his head. He drove a void bolt into its knee, but the energy seemed to get absorbed into the construct's dense form. This thing was built different.
He void stepped behind it, but the gravity field made his movement feel like swimming through tar. The colossus turned with frightening speed for its size, one giant hand snatching at him. Zaro barely managed to roll away, the construct's fingers leaving deep gouges in the arena floor where he'd been standing.
His aura flared brighter as the colossus increased its gravitational pressure, trying to pin him down. The competing forces created visible distortions in the air between them. Zaro knew he couldn't match it in raw power, he needed to be smarter.
The construct suddenly lunged forward, its massive form moving like a landslide. Those enormous arms spread wide, ready to catch him in what would be a fatal embrace.
Zaro had a split second to decide as the colossus' massive arms swept in to crush him. Direct confrontation would be suicide, he needed to use its own power against it.
Just before impact, he void stepped straight up, letting the construct's arms slam together below him. The impact sent shockwaves through the arena, but Zaro was already moving. He landed on the colossus' shoulders and drove both void fangs deep into its neck, channeling void drain in an attempt to even the odds.
Zaro activated temporal dilation at 90% speed decrease on the Colossus. The space around it pulsed with a shimmer of power as its movements became slowed.
Zaro moved with purpose, he moved to the left and dropped down to focus on the left knee of his prey. His daggers slipped into his void storage as shadow strike was charged in both fists at double the charge. Zaro threw a set of punches with all of his power and activated double tap. The constructs knee blew out and buckled like it was made of popsicle sticks. The void giant was suspended in place due to temporal dilation, which was making its existence a mockery of force.
Zaro immediately touched its leg and channeled void drain to top off his mana.
[System alert]
Temporal Dilation has reached level 2.
Zaro smiled and channeled a shadow strike at 5 times charge directed into the other knee. He wanted to cripple this monstrosity.
The punch landed with a shockwave that blew through the knee with such force it broke all of Zaro's fingers. Well fractured. His void sense showed him that. The pain was nothing compared to the existential dread he used to feel in his apartment back home.
He was down 195 mana and it was glorious.
The Colossus was stuck in the air, slowly collapsing the way a car crash seems to slow down when your adrenaline pops.
Zaros' dagger was in his good hand as he began to slash and stab the airborne pile of void stone.
He decided to end it as he charged up shadow strike after slipping his dagger inside his palm. The power pulsed as he pulled back his fist to throw the hail mary of punches.
As he reached the peak of his wind up, he met eyes with the construct. And it smiled.
The concussive force of it using whatever technique caused the gravity explosion that shattered his concentration and ended his temporal dilation as well as shattered his void skin and knocked him back against the nearest pillar was the most powerful attack he had ever survived.
Our hero got to his feet as fast as he could. He was disoriented and concussed. Along with having a broken hand. Luckily his void armor had helped him along with Ernesto's armor. It spread the blast evenly around his meat vehicle, which made it much less damaging.
Zaro's health was at half. He was already healing and a health potion was in his hand and being poured into his mouth like free tequila shots. Gratuitously. As fuck.
The colossus dragged itself forward with its arms on account of its ruined knees, void energy crackling as it tried to regenerate. Its smile remained fixed, gathering power for another gravity blast.
Zaro flexed his freshly healed hand while void gathering was pulling in the residual energy from the blast that had nearly turned him into liquid wall art. The ability worked overtime, converting the colossus's own power into fuel for his recovery. His mana surged to maximum as the ambient void energy responded to his call.
[System alert]
Void Gathering has reached level 2. Conversion efficiency increased.
The construct raised both arms, preparing another gravity explosion. This time Zaro void stepped forward, directly into the blast zone. The colossus's endless eyes widened slightly, not expecting its prey to charge into the attack.
Zaro activated temporal dilation on himself with 90% speed increase. He rushed forward like a mad man attacking with speed and force. The gravity blast began in slow motion as Zaro was able to easily adjust his body in the air during the impact of concussive force. His void skin dampened the force while his physical armor spread the remaining impact out. Zaro was able to use the wall to press off and jump back into the attack zone immediately.
He landed close, time still showed the world in slow motion, his perception pulling in all the data and processing it so fast it would have made the old Zaro's brain melt.
He palm striked and redirected the right arm while activating void drain to get a little bit more mana to maintain his current ability a little longer.
As soon as the arm moved and opened up his prey's chest Zaro went to work.
He started throwing punches as if he was working the heavy bag. Throwing 3 to 4 punches per second. He changed positions and circled around. The Colossus hadn't finished recovering its knees, and that was the only position he preferred his opponents in, that or prone.
The construct was using one arm to hold itself up and swiping with the other. In the slowest of motions.
Zaro touched it again as he circled to the outside. After throwing 10 or 12 punches. Just peppering the thing and tenderizing it a bit.
Void drain pulled mana in, while sacrificing stamina.
His stats were robust, so it was working out well, but he was feeling the fatigue of his stamina at 40%.
Our hero kicked the right arm out, reached up and grabbed the shoulder, his fingers digging into the void colossus Armor, bending finger marks into it.
He pulled hard and slammed the Goliath down on its chest. The dust that tried to kick up was so slow he could see every particle.
Zaro jumped on its back and charged void bolt to 10 times charge. He released temporal dilation and the world crashed into place with the dust spreading like a black halo around them.
Zaro let the potentially 500 damage attack direct its rage into the center of the constructs back.
The resulting blast blew a hole the size of a basketball into his now dying friend.
He knew he needed to finish the fight now.
The beast felt his arm being grabbed in a shoulder lock, as it was pulled back and up. Zaro was holding the large arm over his shoulder while standing on the shoulder of the fallen soon to be dead enemy.
He slammed it over and shattered the shoulder, taking that arm out of the equation. Then he used it to turn the thing over and look it in the eyes as he finished it.
Surprise welled up inside as they were face to face. The Colossus was smiling. It had received the beating of its life, and it approved of this message.
The Voids champion closed its eyes, ready to go back to whatever gods it chose.
And Zaro granted it peace with a charged shadow strike.
He wouldn't call what was inside the head brain matter. It resembled dark purple jellied void shards. It smelled surprisingly sweet to Zaro and that made him feel bad for enjoying it.
He almost gave it a taste. But pulled himself to his senses.
The potion paired with his vitality healed him fast. He avoided further damage by leveraging the armors he had.
Zaro had Eye of the Storm healing his stats immediately. He didn't know what to expect next.
He had never been more ready in his life.
Two constructs remained on their pillars, watching with their endless void eyes.
The final two constructs descended like falling stars, their movements perfectly synchronized. Instead of attacking, they settled into lotus positions on either side of the arena. Their black holes for eyes fixed on Zaro with ancient purpose.
[System alert]
Primary trials complete. First legacy activation detected. Might want to sit down for this one.
The constructs began a low drone that resonated through Zaro's bones. The sound wasn't just noise - it was pure void energy given voice. Their forms rippled in perfect harmony as rivers of void energy flowed between them, creating patterns that tugged at something deep in Zaro's consciousness.
As he settled between them, their humming shifted frequency. His breath naturally fell into rhythm with the sound, each inhale drawing void energy deeper into his system. The familiar sensation of Eye of the Storm deepened into something else entirely.
[System alert]
Ancestral connection initializing. Legacy scroll one of five unlocking. Loading family drama in three, two...
The world faded into darkness, but this wasn't his usual void. This darkness felt ancient, aware, heavy with hidden knowledge. A presence emerged - the same entity he'd encountered before, but now it showed him more.
Images flashed through his mind - a man standing before an ancient terminal, void energy crackling around him as he interacted with reality itself. The system provided an impossible name: Cemi the Void Stalker.
Zaro's soaked in every detail. He'd never heard this name, never known of any connection to the void. The entity's eyes met his as more visions flowed. Cemí discovering the system and the void, wielding power beyond anything Zaro had seen, helping protect the Akashic System itself.
The entity's voice resonated through Zaro's entire being: “The first scroll reveals only beginnings, discovery of the system and the void, his rise to power, the foundation of everything that followed. But much remains hidden. Four more scrolls wait, each guarding deeper truths.”
The visions began to fade, but not before showing one final scene - Cemí sealing away his knowledge, hiding scrolls, waiting for someone worthy to find them. The entity's final words echoed: “Seek the remaining scrolls. Learn the truth of your legacy. The dark void users must not find them first.”
[System alert]
Legacy scroll one of five unlocked. Partial admin access granted. Warning, full permissions require additional scroll authentication. History module corrupted. Attempting repairs...
The constructs rose as Zaro's consciousness returned, their forms beginning to dissolve. Their raven colored eyes held approval mixed with urgency as they bowed. A single word echoed in his mind as they faded: “Hurry.”
Zaro stood on shaky legs, mind spinning. A Void Stalker named Cemí that he is tied to somehow. A legacy hidden in scrolls. Dark void users seeking the same knowledge.
The corruption in the crystal mines suddenly felt less like coincidence and more like a beacon - where darkness gathered, legacy scrolls might wait.
The ancient door closed behind him as Zaro stepped into sunlight. His mind still overwhelmed from the revelations about Cemí and the weight of the remaining scrolls yet to be found.
[System Alert]
Void Legacy Scroll Quest 1 complete.
Reward: Void Convergence unlocked.
Ability allows instant teleportation to any void family member.
Cost: 200 mana.
Cooldown: 5 minutes.
Note: Family means never having to say you walked.
The timing felt right - he'd just expanded his void family, and now he had a way to reach them instantly. Through void sense, he could already feel the connections. Ezra's shadow touched presence, Chad's arcane void fusion, Ramrod's raw void power. Each one a beacon he could now follow through the void itself.
The walk back to Galahad could wait. Zaro focused on Ezra's signature and channeled 200 mana into his new ability. The world dissolved into pure void for a heartbeat before he emerged beside her in the city's training grounds. Her startled expression was worth every point of mana.
Time to tell his family about the void and teach them the new ability. And maybe figure out where the next scroll could be. The last one was given in a corrupted location. Galahad might end up being the perfect place to be, for now.
The system chimed one last time: “Welcome to the family business. Try not to teleport into any walls.”