Ascend Alone Chapter 3: The Chase
The city streets were a blur as Kai sprinted toward the outskirts. Eclipse’s Fang strapped on his back. Behind him, the sound of shouting and footsteps grew louder. The Eclipse Guild wasn’t going to let him go without a proper chase and fight.
He glanced over his shoulder and saw a group of elite hunters gaining on him. They were faster, stronger, and far more experienced than the grunts he’d humiliated earlier. At the front of the pack was Vera, the Guild Master’s right-hand woman and one of the most feared hunters in the city.
“Kai Arashi!” she shouted with a voice that cut through the chaos. “You think you can just steal from the Guild and walk away? You’re dead!”
He smirked. “Dead? I’ve been dead for a year! Thanks for the wake-up call!”
He activated his Taunt skill, and her face twisted with rage. The System rewarded him immediately:
[Taunt Successful!]
[System Points +10]
But he didn’t have time to celebrate. She unsheathed her twin daggers and lunged at him. Her movements felt like a blur. He barely dodged, feeling the edge of a blade graze his arm.
[Health -5%]
“Okay, System,” he muttered, dodging another strike. “I could really use that Shadow Step skill right about now.”
The System responded with a notification:
[Skill Unlocked: Shadow Step (Rare)]
[Cost: 50 System Points]
He didn’t hesitate. “Unlock it!”
[Shadow Step (Rare): Allows the user to teleport short distances. Cooldown: 10 seconds.]
“Perfect.” He grinned.
As Vera lunged again, he activated Shadow Step, disappearing in a puff of smoke and reappearing a few meters away. Her daggers struck empty air, and she growled in frustration.
“What the—? How did you do that?”
“Magic. You should try it sometime, bitch.”
He didn’t wait for a response. He turned and bolted, using Shadow Step to put more distance between himself and his pursuers. The elite hunters were relentless, but his agility gave him the edge he needed.
By the time he reached the city’s outskirts, the sun was setting, casting long shadows over the landscape. In the distance, the Tower of Eternity loomed like a monolith, its surface covered in intricate carvings and glowing runes. It was said that the Tower had existed since the dawn of time, and no one had ever reached its peak.
He paused to catch his breath. His heart pounded with a mix of excitement and exhaustion. The System’s notifications flashed before his eyes:
[Emergency Quest Complete!]
[Reward: 200 System Points, Skill: Phantom Strike (Epic)]
An epic skill? This was huge. He quickly unlocked it:
[Phantom Strike (Epic): Unleash a devastating attack that phases through defenses. Cooldown: 30 seconds.]
“Now we’re talking,” he grinned. With Shadow Step and Phantom Strike, he felt unstoppable.
But his celebration was short-lived. The sound of approaching footsteps reminded him that the Eclipse Guild wasn’t done with him yet. Vera and the elite hunters emerged from the shadows.
“You’re not getting away, you motherfuc*er,” she said in cold. “The Guild Master wants your head, and I’m here to deliver it.”
“You know, you guys really need to learn how to take a hint.”
He activated Taunt again, and her eyes narrowed. “You’re not funny.”
“Funny? I’m hilarious,” he shot back. “But let’s save the comedy for later. I’ve work to do.”
Before she could react, he activated Shadow Step, teleporting behind her. He followed up with Phantom Strike. His sword glowed with an eerie light as it phased through her defenses. The attack sent her flying. Her daggers clattered to the ground.
The other hunters hesitated, clearly intimidated by his power. Kai took advantage of their hesitation, using Shadow Step to dart between them and land precise strikes. One by one, they fell, until only he remained standing.
With the elite hunters defeated, he turned his attention to the Tower of Eternity. The massive doors at its base were sealed, but as he approached, they began to glow. A deep, resonant voice echoed in his mind:
[Candidate Detected: Kai Arashi.]
[Begin Ascent? Yes/No]
Kai didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
The doors creaked open, revealing a dark, endless staircase. He took a deep breath and stepped inside. As the doors closed behind him, the System’s notifications lit up:
[Main Quest Updated: Climb the Tower of Eternity.]
[Task: Reach the 10th Floor.]
[Reward: 300 System Points, Skill: Celestial Aura (Legendary)]
He grinned. “Alright, Tower. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
As he began his ascent, the System’s voice echoed in his mind: