Void Reaper: The Essence Apocalypse

On the roof of a ruined building, where concrete gave way to emptiness and wind, Valeria sat. Her legs dangled calmly over the edge, the black fabric of her robe fluttering gently in the breeze. A faint glint of amusement sparkled in her eyes as she watched Adam.

He had just collapsed to the ground, as if all strength had left him. His face was pale, hands still trembling from the brutal battle with the zombie.

Valeria sighed softly, almost with tenderness. "Void Manipulation..." she murmured to herself, intertwining her fingers. "For a 'Manipulation' class skill, it's a blatant cheat. One skill gives you offense, defense, and control all in one. Like getting three for the price of one."

Her gaze remained fixed on Adam. "You're lucky that thing was acting purely on instinct... If it had known how to use that acceleration ability..." She smiled slightly and jumped from the roof in one fluid motion.

She landed soundlessly and walked toward him. "Well, I suppose it's time to finally praise you…" she muttered.

But before she could add anything, Adam shot up from the ground like he'd been struck by lightning and nearly lunged at the Bronze Box and scroll hovering above the corpse.

Valeria raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing?"

His eyes darted across the rooftops, the shattered storefront, and the shadow of a toppled bus, as if expecting someone to steal from him again at any moment. He paused for a second on one of the corpses, as if to make sure a certain blue-haired thief wasn't lurking behind a corner this time.

"I'm not getting robbed again."

She watched him for a while, as if analyzing his reaction. She didn't comment, but a faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

"Nice fight," she said calmly.

Adam glanced over his shoulder at her. "You could've warned me something like that was still lurking around."

Valeria just shrugged, her face the picture of an adorably innocent smile. "I did advise you to invest in mana as soon as possible."

Adam snorted but didn't reply. He looked at the drops. "Why is this box bronze instead of gray like usual?"

Valeria didn't answer immediately.

Adam stepped closer, approaching like it might be an explosive. He extended a hand cautiously. The box was heavier than the gray ones he was used to, and its surface had a subtle sheen. For a moment, nothing happened—then, silently, the box opened, reacting to his touch. A faint flash emerged from inside and quickly vanished, as if absorbed by the air.

Out floated a pair of boots. Metallic graphite in color, lined with thin bands of dark violet light—they looked like they were made for running through the night.

[Shadowrunner Boots (Rare Grade): Lightweight boots designed for silent pursuit. Slightly increase movement speed and reduce footstep noise. When equipped: Agility +8 | Movement Speed +5% | Sound Suppression +10%]

Adam whistled softly under his breath. "Well, damn... Now that's something." He turned the boots over in his hands like they were relics.

Valeria raised an eyebrow, leaning against a crumbled pillar. "You noticed the difference in color, right?"

Adam gave her a questioning look, that classic expression saying clearly: "Go on. Don't leave it hanging."

"Gray boxes only give Normal Grade artifacts. Like your first gloves. Bronze ones... they're Rare Grade. Stronger, often with additional effects. The higher the box grade, the better the artifact."

Adam nodded, inspecting the boots again.

He looked down at his own shoes. They were worn, cracked, and stained with monster blood.

He slipped them off without ceremony and reached for the new ones. The material of the Shadowrunners conformed to his feet instantly, as if they'd been waiting just for him. When he took his first step, it felt like the soles moved with him. His feet glided over the floor almost soundlessly, like his body had shed several kilos of dead weight and gained a bounce he hadn't known he lacked.

"Now this is a proper drop..." he muttered in satisfaction.

Only after enjoying a few steps in the new boots did he turn his attention to the scroll.

[Toughened Flesh —Unclassified Skill (Tier: Novice)] [Type: Passive Skill] [Description: Your body begins to adapt to repeated trauma. Slightly reduces incoming physical damage by reinforcing muscle fibers and bone structure. Current Effect: Physical Damage Received −3%]

Reading the system window, his brows automatically furrowed, as if his body was disappointed before his mind could even name it.

"What the hell? That monster had some kind of teleportation and I get... what? Three percent damage reduction? Seriously?"

Valeria rolled her eyes, "Teleportation, really? You think some barely-sentient level nine zombie got a skill that advanced?It wasn't teleportation. It was a momentary acceleration skill. For a split second, it moved faster than your eyes could register. Classic tempo-shift."

Her words hit him like a well-aimed strike. Suddenly everything started to click. Adam blinked, his gaze freezing for a moment.

"Right... now it makes sense," he whispered more to himself than to her. "If someone has way more Agility than you, their movements really do look like teleportation. It's not magic. Stats are what turn people into monsters."

He clenched his jaw. "And to think I fell for basic speed..."

"Besides," Valeria added, raising an eyebrow, "you should be grateful. It's a passive. You don't need to activate it, it doesn't cost you a single point of mana. It's like a thin layer of armor you don't even notice... until it saves your life."

"Yeah, and?"

Valeria rolled her eyes. "You're limited to six active skills. Six. Every decision counts. Passives? You can have hundreds. Sure, they're weaker, but they don't restrict you."

She took a step closer, her voice dropping lower. "Today it's 3%. But imagine having ten of these. That's 30% reduction. You know what that means? You'd be a goddamn shield made of flesh and bone."

Adam looked at her thoughtfully.

He raised his eyebrows high, as if he hadn't heard her right. "Only six actives?" he repeated, like he was trying to swallow the idea.

The thought of six active abilities lodged in his brain like cold steel. Only six. That meant every choice would carry the weight of life or death. No room for whims. No room for randomness.

He looked back at the scroll. His gaze had changed. No longer that of someone disappointed by an unwanted gift. Now, he looked at it like a tool—something that could determine whether he lived through the next fight. Something he could no longer afford to dismiss.

He looked at the scroll in his hand once more.

Hesitated.

"Alright... sorry, buddy. I shouldn't have written you off so fast."

He clenched his fingers around the parchment.

The system reacted instantly. The scroll disintegrated into fine dust, which absorbed through the skin of his hand. Adam felt a warm surge, like liquid glass pouring into his body and hardening along his bones. An unbearably subtle sensation of change.

[Passive Skill Acquired: Toughened Flesh] [Effect: Physical Damage Received −3%]