The Ripple Effect

Kenji stood at the edge of the gate’s corruption, the Void Spear humming in his grasp. The divine fragment loomed before him, its grotesque form pulsating with malevolent energy. The air was thick, suffused with the stench of decay and the electric tension of impending battle. Behind him, students and instructors held their ground, their faces pale with fear and disbelief.

"Kenji, fall back!" one of the instructors shouted, his voice barely audible over the roars of the monsters spilling from the gate. "You’ll get yourself killed!"

Kenji ignored him. The spear in his hand felt both alien and familiar, a contradiction he couldn't afford to dwell on. The fragment roared again, its amorphous body shifting, a blend of molten gold and shadowy tendrils.

[MISSION ALERT: Divine Fragment Detected. Defeat the entity to stabilize the gate. Reward: System Upgrade, +500 EXP.]

The system notification flashed in the corner of his vision, a cold reminder of what was at stake. The city. The academy. His life.

“You are a godslayer. Act like it.”

The words of his past self echoed in his mind, steadying his trembling hands.

Kenji surged forward, the Void Spear slicing through the air with an otherworldly hum. The fragment retaliated, a wave of molten energy surging toward him. He leaped to the side, his body moving with a grace that surprised even him. Memories flooded in—of battles fought and won, of techniques honed over lifetimes.

The spear met the fragment’s mass, the collision sending shockwaves through the air. For a moment, the fragment recoiled, its form flickering.

[CRITICAL STRIKE! +100 EXP.]

A grin tugged at Kenji’s lips, but it faded as the fragment reformed, its body sprouting jagged limbs that lashed out with terrifying speed.

Kenji dodged, each movement guided by instincts not entirely his own. But it wasn’t enough. One of the limbs grazed his side, searing pain ripping through him. He stumbled, blood staining his uniform.

“Kenji!” Ayane Himura’s voice cut through the chaos. He turned to see her standing at the defensive line, her silver hair gleaming even in the dim crimson light of the gate. She was ready to charge, her weapon drawn.

“Stay back!” Kenji shouted, surprising even himself with the force of his words. “This is my fight!”

Ayane hesitated, her eyes narrowing. But something in his tone made her hold her ground.

Kenji turned back to the fragment, the pain in his side dulling as adrenaline surged through him.

[TIP: Utilize the Void Spear’s secondary ability: Devour Essence.]

“Devour Essence?” he murmured.

As if in response, the Void Spear pulsed, its veins glowing brighter.

“Fine. Let’s see what you can do,” Kenji muttered.

He lunged forward, driving the spear into the fragment’s core. This time, instead of rebounding, the spear began to glow, pulling energy from the fragment. The entity shrieked, its form destabilizing as cracks spread through its body.

Kenji felt the power surging into him, a torrent of energy that made his head spin. His wounds began to knit themselves together, his vision sharpening.

[FRAGMENT DEFEATED. +500 EXP.]

[SYSTEM UPGRADE UNLOCKED: New Ability Acquired—Eclipse Strike.]

The fragment exploded into a cascade of light, the gate behind it flickering and stabilizing. The crimson hue faded, leaving behind a dull, lifeless portal.

Kenji dropped to his knees, the Void Spear dissolving into black mist. He was exhausted, but alive.

For a moment, there was silence. Then, the remaining students and instructors erupted into cheers.

But not Ayane. She strode toward him, her expression unreadable.

“What… are you?” she demanded.

Kenji looked up at her, his body trembling. For the first time, he realized the ripple effect of his actions. He wasn’t just a nobody anymore. He wasn’t "Null." He was something far more dangerous—and far more visible.

“I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

But deep down, he knew the truth.

He was a godslayer. And his fight was just beginning.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***