By the time we reached the cliffside outpost of Mirel's Rest, Lyra had already convinced the guards that I wasn't some escaped experiment.
Kind of.
"Listen," she whispered, dragging me by the collar past the gate, "don't say anything weird. This place is already full of rumors."
"Like the fact I erased a monster with a thought and glitched a slime into a rage beast?"
"Yes. Exactly like that. Don't say those things out loud."
Noted.
The outpost was built into a cliff face, overlooking a violet-glowing forest. Crystals jutted from the walls like veins of light, and the people wore a mix of robes and armor — half scholars, half soldiers.
I sat down near a fire pit as Lyra went to speak with a guild officer. My legs hurt. My brain hurt. My Status Window still mocked me with the words:
[Current Power Level: Still pathetic.]
But at least I had a new skill now:
[Skill: Blink (Lv. 1)] — Short-range instant teleport (Max: 2 meters)]
Two meters. Not exactly OP, but enough to dodge a punch or surprise a squirrel.
Progress?
Then Came the Merchant
He looked normal at first — thin, tall, with a big backpack of glowing potions and trinkets. But then I saw his eyes.
Too many. Not all at once — they blinked in and out of his face like static.
[Scanning…]
[Entity Type: Unknown]
[Alignment: Null]
[Threat Level: VARIABLE]
"Akiro Senzai," the merchant said, voice echoing like ten people speaking at once. "We've been looking for you."
I backed up. "You're… not human, are you?"
"No." He smiled with teeth that flickered like broken glass. "I am a Messenger."
"Messenger of what?"
He didn't answer.
"You must die here. Before your class stabilizes. Before the Gate awakens fully."
And then he lunged.
Fight: Me vs. An Interdimensional Horror (Spoiler: I Sucked)
I barely blinked away in time — two meters sideways, tumbling into the dirt.
The Messenger's arm stretched, slicing through the spot I'd just been like a blade made of shadow.
Lyra saw the attack and was instantly in motion — her sword glowing with flame, cutting between us.
"Get back!" she yelled.
[Cooldown Remaining: 142 hours]
(for Spatial Severance — yeah, still locked)
I rolled behind a crate, panicking. I wasn't ready for this. Not even close.
The creature twisted toward Lyra now, arms rippling with blades, mouths opening along its spine.
[New Skill Unlocked: Desperation Spike (Lv. 1)]
[Type: Unstable | Effect: Boosts Reflex +35% under extreme fear]
I didn't even know what I was doing — I just moved. Blinked again, this time up onto a ledge. My body felt wired, twitchy, fast. I yelled:
"Lyra — hit it in the eyes when they flicker!"
She didn't ask how I knew — she just moved.
A burning slice, a scream that tore through the air, and the Messenger staggered — not dead, but forced back.
[Messenger Retreating…]
[System Integrity: Breached. Variable threat remains uncontained.]
Before disappearing, it turned and said:
"They will come in numbers next time."
Then it was gone.
After the Dust
Lyra leaned on her blade, panting. "That… was not from this world."
"Nope," I said, still shaking. "And it wants me dead."
"You're attracting things that shouldn't even exist."
"I didn't ask for any of this, Lyra."
She looked at me, softer now. "I know. But if the Gates are reacting… your power is bigger than we thought. And if you're the only one who can use it… we don't have the luxury of slow training anymore."
Meanwhile, Far Away…
In a hall of glass and silver, five cloaked figures stood before a spiraling map of the realms.
"The Variable survived the Messenger."
"Then the others must be dispatched."
"If the Tower of Severance awakens… the old gods return."
"The Gate must remain closed."
"Destroy the boy."
To be continued…