Nol advanced with heavy steps across the unforgiving, cracked earth, his eyes gleaming with an unquenchable fire. Retreat or surrender was no longer an option—a mysterious force had begun to surge within him, reshaping him from within.
He knew, with absolute clarity, that he was no longer that weak boy who had fled time and again. He was something else now... something new.
Mana flowed within him like a clear spring between barren rocks. No longer just a faint whisper, it had become a radiant energy enveloping his body, cloaking him in a faint blue glow—a soft shroud illuminating the abyss that had embraced him.
Slowly, he turned toward Airghoul, that terrifying beast that resembled nothing but a living nightmare. It wasn't just a hulking, muscular monster—it was a legendary creature weaving poisons, organic armor, and ancient fury within its darkness.
But in Nol's eyes, the beast was merely a new challenge, a test of his truth.
At that moment, Airghoul's eyes froze upon seeing the glow of mana emanating from Nol's body. This energy wasn't just power—it was a mysterious beauty, born from the harmony of the two spectrums within him: the spectrum of the abyss and the spectrum of mana.
Nol wasn't conventionally handsome, but he radiated a different aura, an allure of another kind—one that told a story of a written destiny and hope emerging from the heart of darkness.
Suddenly, the beast lunged with a deafening roar, furious as a raging volcano, attacking Nol at an inhuman speed. But Nol, empowered by the mana spectrum now flowing through him, moved in ways he never thought possible—dodging, weaving, and at the critical moment, releasing a small burst of spiritual energy from his hand.
It was a blazing blue bolt, piercing Airghoul's body and striking its back, tearing through the air with a sharp crack.
Before Nol, a new notification appeared on the system screen that had become part of his consciousness:
**[Black Lotus System]**
**[Skill Acquired: Spectrum Unification – Level 1]**
*"Merging the two spectrums enhances combat stability and reduces energy depletion."*
**[Effect: +15% Energy Boost, +10% Recovery Speed]**
Despite the exhaustion gnawing at his body, Nol smiled faintly. The system was no longer just a cold interface—it had become a true ally, guiding him toward the light amidst the abyss's darkness.
At that moment, distant memories began piercing his mind—a lost friend, a life left behind, moments of pain and loss. Those memories were heavy, but now, instead of weighing him down, they drove him forward.
He whispered to himself:
*"I won't be a victim anymore... I won't let anyone kill me."*
Words that became a sacred vow, etched into his blazing soul.
But the beast wasn't about to surrender.
Its body began transforming once more, its organic armor thickening into a dense layer of toxic matter, surrounded by a deadly dark-blue haze.
The system blared:
**[Warning!]**
*Airghoul has entered Phase Three—Hyper Toxic Armor*
*Threat Level: Extreme | Rating: S*
*Advice: Flee or immediately utilize special abilities*
But Nol didn't consider running.
With a burning heart, he strode decisively toward the beast.
The moment Airghoul launched a lethal strike, Nol unleashed an explosion of mana—a ring of blazing blue energy that struck the monster across its entire body.
The beast shrieked, staggering back in shock, but Nol knew the battle wasn't over yet.
This was only the beginning of his true power's emergence—the dawn of a new chapter.