Solo Leveling: Infinite Talent

Mai Lee stood in the aftermath of the battle, breathing heavily but unwavering. The Obsidian Serpent had been a formidable opponent, and yet, it lay at his feet, defeated. He could feel the strain of the fight in his body—his muscles ached, his mana reserves were depleting, but the rush of victory was undeniable. The fusions, the copied talents, they were all starting to fall into a rhythm. He was no longer just relying on his skills; he was learning how to combine them into something far greater.

The system chimed in with its usual cold tone.

"Warning: Hostile presence detected. Multiple signatures."

Mai Lee's eyes narrowed. The serpent had likely been a guardian of sorts, but its death had attracted more attention. He needed to act quickly.

"Hostiles detected: 5 entities. Level 5—10. Hostile configuration: Unknown."

His pulse quickened, but Mai Lee didn't hesitate. His body moved before his mind could catch up, his instincts kicking in. This was what he had been waiting for—another test, another challenge to push his limits.

"Activate fusion: [Dragon's Resilience + Enhanced Senses]."

The world around him sharpened, every breath, every movement of the wind, every vibration in the earth was now a part of his perception. He could hear the low rumble of footsteps approaching, the subtle shift in the air as the creatures closed in. There was no longer any need for him to guess. His enhanced senses told him everything he needed to know.

His copied talents flowed effortlessly through him, each one providing a necessary edge. His skin hardened, his mind sharpened, and his body was ready for the coming onslaught.

A low growl echoed from the darkness as the creatures stepped into view. Five shadowy figures emerged from the gloom—humanoid but distorted, their features monstrous, eyes glowing with malice. They were the perfect fusion of predator and prey, creatures born to fight and hunt.

"Hostiles: [Shadewalkers]. Level 5–10. Health: 120%."

The Shadewalkers were unlike anything Mai Lee had faced before. Their bodies flickered in and out of existence like shadows, moving with unnatural speed and precision. Their weapons, made of a material that seemed to warp reality itself, hummed with dark energy. These were creatures of pure malice, and from their bloodlust, it was clear they had been drawn to the death of the Obsidian Serpent.

"Warning: [Shadewalkers] possess [Shadow Step] ability. Increased evasiveness and attack speed."

Mai Lee's fingers tightened around his makeshift weapon—a shard of the Obsidian Serpent's scale. It would have to do for now. But he wasn't worried about weapons. He had something far more powerful.

The first Shadewalker lunged at him, its form a blur. Mai Lee didn't wait. With the fusion of [Predator's Perception] and [Dragon's Might], he sidestepped, effortlessly avoiding the creature's slash. His body moved with grace and power, and he returned the strike with a crushing blow to the creature's midsection, his shard driving through its shadowy form.

But as the blade connected, the Shadewalker's body flickered and phased through him, disappearing into the shadows. Mai Lee cursed under his breath.

"Hostile: Shadow Step activated. Incoming attack from the rear."

His enhanced senses warned him just in time. Mai Lee pivoted and spun, bringing his shard upward to intercept a second attack. The shadow blade clashed against his makeshift weapon with a sound that reverberated through the air like thunder.

"Fused Talent: [Crushing Earth Strike]."

With a grunt, Mai Lee slammed his foot into the ground, causing the earth to shake beneath him. The resulting shockwave sent the second Shadewalker flying, its form shattered by the force. But before it could land, the other Shadewalkers were already closing in.

His heart raced, but his mind remained calm. [Fused Talent: Dragon's Inferno Strike] sparked to life in his body as he channeled it into a massive, fiery aura. He knew what had to be done.

"Activate fusion: [Inferno Predator Strike + Dragon's Might]."

The combination of the two fusions sent an explosive surge of energy through him. Fire exploded from his form in a violent arc, spreading outward and consuming everything in its path. The Shadewalkers recoiled, their shadowy forms flickering as they tried to avoid the fire, but they weren't fast enough.

The flames roared, and the Shadewalkers screamed in agony. They were burned, their shadowy forms writhing in the inferno. As the fire subsided, Mai Lee stepped forward, his shard now a mere extension of his will. The Shadewalkers were no longer in control.

With one last strike, he cleaved through the remaining enemies, their bodies disintegrating into wisps of smoke and shadow. He stood amidst the devastation, panting heavily but victorious. The battle had been close, but his fusions had proven their worth once again.

Status Update:

Name: Mai LeeLevel: 5HP: 50%Mana: 25%Strength: 180 (Dragon's Might + Inferno Predator Strike Fusion + Crushing Earth Strike Fusion)Agility: 60Intelligence: 40Luck: 40Copied Talent(s): Stone Giant's Strength (Active), Dragon's Resilience (Active), Fire Resistance (Active), Enhanced Senses (Active), Predator's Perception (Active)Fused Talent(s): [Crushing Earth Strike], [Dragon's Might], [Dragon's Inferno Strike], [Inferno Predator Strike], [Fortified Titan's Resilience]Experience Points (EXP): 250/300

"Shadewalkers: Shadow-dwelling hunters that thrive in darkness. Their ability to phase in and out of existence makes them difficult to pin down, but they are vulnerable to light and fire-based attacks."

Mai Lee looked around, his body still charged with energy, but his mana reserves were dangerously low. He needed to rest, to recover—but even more pressing was the discovery that his enemies were growing stronger. This was only the beginning. The challenges ahead would only become more intense, more dangerous.

But Mai Lee wasn't worried. Every battle, every challenge, only made him stronger. And now, with the ability to copy and fuse any talent within range, there was no limit to what he could achieve.

As he moved deeper into the dungeon, ready for whatever would come next, one thought consumed him:

He was just getting started.