The morning sun filtered through the curtains of Arin’s apartment, casting a soft light across the room. Blinking against the brightness, he stirred, the events of the previous day flooding back in sharp, vivid flashes—the monsters, the battles, the thrill of his newfound power.
He sat up slowly, rubbing his hands together, still feeling faint echoes of the Howl skill he’d used to tear through the beasts. The whole city had descended into chaos overnight, but he’d fought harder than he ever imagined he could, alongside strangers who were no longer strangers—Kai and Leo, his first allies in this strange new world.
Arin glanced out the window. Unlike yesterday, the city was eerily calm. Small patrols of soldiers, armed and on edge, were stationed along the streets, keeping watch for any remaining threats. Drones buzzed overhead, surveying the damage. Citizens cautiously emerged from their homes, cleaning up broken glass and clearing debris as they worked to restore a sense of normalcy.
A knock on the door broke his thoughts. He opened it to see Kai, standing there with a tired smile.
“Hey, Arin,” Kai greeted him, his voice a bit raspy. “Thought you’d want to grab some breakfast. I hear they’re giving out supplies down at the park.”
Arin nodded, grabbing his jacket. “After everything that happened, food sounds great.”
As they made their way through the streets, Arin noticed people exchanging stories—tales of battles with monsters, new abilities, and narrow escapes. People spoke of "awakeners," the newly empowered humans who had surfaced during the chaos. It was strange, almost surreal, to think that he was one of them.
Kai glanced over, noticing Arin’s thoughtful expression. “Feels different, doesn’t it?” he said. “Yesterday, we were scrambling to survive. Now…well, now people are calling us heroes.”
Arin laughed lightly. “Yeah. I’m not sure I’m used to that yet.”
They reached the park, which had been transformed into a makeshift aid station. Soldiers were distributing food and water, while medical personnel tended to the injured. As they picked up their supplies, Arin felt a tug at his sleeve. He turned to see a young girl, no older than ten, holding up a piece of paper. It was a crude drawing of a man with a green shield and another with a sword, fighting a giant beast.
“It’s you and your friend,” she said shyly, looking at Kai. “Thank you for saving us.”
Kai’s face softened, and he knelt down to thank her. Arin felt a strange warmth spreading through his chest—this wasn’t just about surviving anymore. People were looking up to them, depending on them.
They found a quiet spot to eat, away from the commotion. Kai took a deep breath, breaking the silence. “So, what now, Arin? You’re clearly something special—you took down that huge beast single-handedly.”
Arin hesitated, then spoke carefully. “I’m still figuring that out. I have this…‘Dual Ascendance’ ability, which lets me swap skills from monsters I defeat, but I can only keep two active skills at a time. Yesterday was my first time using it. And even though I’ve already learned two abilities, there’s so much I don’t know yet.”
Kai nodded thoughtfully. “You’ll need to be careful with your choices, then. Each skill you pick could change the way you fight, right?”
“Exactly,” Arin replied. “Yesterday I swapped out Enhanced Reflexes for Howl, but that might not always be the best move. I need to figure out what works in each situation.” He paused, glancing at Kai. “And it sounds like a lot of people are developing powers, not just us. Who knows what we might encounter?”
Kai looked around at the people in the park, nodding slowly. “Then we have to be ready for whatever comes next. If dungeons start appearing again, there could be more…or worse monsters out there.”
Arin sighed, gazing across the park, where families huddled together and friends recounted stories of survival. A calm had settled over the city for now, but deep down, he knew it wouldn’t last. There were still so many unanswered questions—about the dungeons, the powers, and his own abilities.
But one thing was clear: yesterday’s battles were just the beginning.
“Then let’s train,” Arin said, a determined glint in his eye. “If we’re going to protect this city—and ourselves—we’ll need to be stronger than ever.”
Kai grinned, offering his hand. “I’m with you.”
Arin clasped Kai’s hand, feeling the weight of the path before him. Together, they would prepare for whatever lay ahead, ready to face the dangers that the dungeons—and their own powers—would bring.
As Arin and Kai prepared to train, they opened their screens, curious to examine their powers in more detail. Arin’s display materialized before him, glowing faintly as he scrolled through the information. Beside him, Kai did the same, their expressions focused.
"Wait," Kai murmured, frowning as he pointed to a part of his screen. "Look at this. There's a section labeled Abilities...and then a separate one for Skills."
Arin glanced over and saw it, too. His screen had always shown his two active skills, but this was different. He tapped on Abilities, and a description unfolded:
> Abilities: Passive powers that enhance the user’s physical and mental attributes. Unlike skills, these cannot be swapped or learned from enemies but are tied directly to the user’s unique awakening.
>
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“So, abilities are passive,” Arin said thoughtfully. “Things that are just…part of us.”
“Right,” Kai replied, reading his own display. “And they don’t seem limited, like skills. We can have multiple abilities active at once. They’re just…there, enhancing what we can already do.”
Arin felt a thrill of excitement at this revelation. This meant his Dual Ascendance wasn’t just a skill; it was something more fundamental to who he was. He scrolled down and saw it listed under Abilities:
> Dual Ascendance: Enhances leveling speed and grants skill swap functionality, allowing the user to absorb skills from defeated foes. Limits user to two active skills at any given time.
“So Dual Ascendance is my ability,” he murmured, feeling the weight of its implications. Unlike his active skills, this was something he could always rely on, a constant advantage that set him apart.
Kai looked over, intrigued. “It makes sense now. Dual Ascendance is what gives you that unique edge, letting you swap skills whenever you need. It’s not something you choose—it's just part of who you are.”
Arin nodded, still processing the significance of this new information. "And since abilities are innate, that means yours—" He gestured to Kai. "It must be the shield."
Kai smiled, reading over his own screen. “Yeah. Looks like mine’s called Barrier Forge.”
He read the description aloud:
> Barrier Forge: A passive ability allowing the user to manifest durable, energy-based shields. Shield strength increases with experience, but shields are limited in size and duration based on the user’s physical stamina.
“Barrier Forge,” Arin repeated, grinning. “That’s perfect. Your shield was the only reason I was able to catch my breath in the middle of all that yesterday.”
Kai chuckled. “Well, thanks. But now that we know this, we can train smarter. You can swap skills in and out for versatility, and I can focus on making my shield stronger to give us better defense.”
Arin nodded in agreement. They were uncovering new layers to their powers, but he knew this was only the beginning. Abilities and skills were distinct, each serving a purpose that went beyond what they’d first imagined.
“Then let’s make the most of this,” he said, determination in his voice. “If abilities are a constant and skills are flexible, we can combine them to cover all angles in a fight.”
“Agreed,” Kai replied, his gaze fierce. “Let’s get stronger. With the dungeons out there, we’re going to need every edge we can get.”
Together, they stepped forward, eager to test their newfound understanding and grow stronger for the battles that would undoubtedly come.
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Over the next few days, Arin and Kai trained tirelessly, honing their abilities and pushing their limits. Arin practiced using Howl in rapid succession, experimenting with timing and recovery, while Kai worked on strengthening his shield, testing its resilience and durability. As they trained, they started to wonder if there was more to their powers than what they had already discovered.
One afternoon, Kai had an idea. “I’ve been thinking...what if I could shape the shield instead of it being just a flat barrier? That could let me block from different angles or even protect more than one person at once.”
Intrigued, Arin watched as Kai focused, the green holographic shield forming before him. But instead of stopping at the usual flat screen, Kai tried to bend it, willing it to curve. His brow furrowed in concentration as the edges of the shield trembled, shimmering slightly as he struggled to alter its form.
“Come on…” Kai grunted, pushing his energy into the shield. Finally, with a surge of effort, the shield curved inward, forming a protective dome-like shape. He held it there, breathing heavily, a proud grin spreading across his face.
At that moment, a new notification appeared on Kai’s screen:
> New Skill Unlocked: Shield Mold – Allows the user to shape their shield into various forms, increasing versatility in defense.
Kai’s eyes widened, and he turned to Arin, who was equally surprised.
“Did…did you just learn a new skill?” Arin asked, amazed. “Just by practicing?”
Kai nodded, still catching his breath. “Yeah…looks like it. Shield Mold—I can shape the shield however I want now.” He flicked his wrist, and the shield shifted from a dome to a tall wall, then to a smaller, curved shield that could protect one person closely.
“That’s incredible,” Arin said, watching in awe. “So, we can gain new skills just by pushing our abilities to their limits. It’s not just about absorbing skills from monsters.”
“Exactly,” Kai replied, eyes gleaming with excitement. “This means we have more control over what we learn and how we grow. If I can mold my shield, maybe you can find a way to get new skills just by refining your own abilities.”
Arin felt a renewed sense of purpose. He’d been relying on Dual Ascendance to gather skills from monsters, but now he realized his potential wasn’t limited to what he could take from others. By mastering his own powers, he could gain new abilities that suited his fighting style.
“Then let’s keep training,” Arin said, a smile spreading across his face. “Who knows what else we can discover if we push hard enough?”
With this revelation, their path forward felt clearer—and even more exciting. Together, they resumed their training, ready to unlock whatever potential lay within them.
Kai examined his screen, fascinated by the details of his new skill, Shield Mold. As he read through the description, he noticed something new below it: a small indicator labeled Mastery Level: 1.
“Huh…” Kai muttered, intrigued. He glanced over at Arin, who was taking a break nearby. “Hey, Arin, have you noticed anything about ‘mastery levels’ on your skills?”
Arin looked up, surprised. “Mastery levels? Let me check.” He pulled up his own screen, scrolling through his list of skills until he reached one labeled Blade Mastery. Sure enough, next to it was a small label: Mastery Level: 2.
“So it’s not just about having the skill,” Arin said, thinking out loud. “The mastery level must affect how powerful it is or how easily we can use it.”
Kai nodded, glancing back at his own display. “It makes sense. I mean, I just got Shield Mold, so it’s at level 1. But if I keep training with it, maybe I can increase the mastery level and make the shield even stronger or shape it faster.”
“Same here with Blade Mastery,” Arin replied. “I’ve been using it consistently, so it’s already at level 2. Maybe the higher the mastery, the better I’ll get at wielding different types of blades.”
Kai grinned, feeling a rush of excitement. “Then every skill we pick up isn’t just a one-time thing. We can keep getting better at them, adapting and improving. It’s like having another way to grow stronger, beyond just learning new skills.”
Arin nodded in agreement, his eyes bright. “Exactly. Let’s focus not only on learning new skills, but on leveling up our mastery in the ones we have. That’ll give us an even bigger advantage.”
With a shared sense of purpose, they returned to their training, ready to push the limits of their skills and master each one to its fullest potential.