The clash didn't stop.
It couldn't.
Zael pushed forward again—blade cutting, steps precise, movements sharper than before—
But it wasn't enough.
Still not enough.
Draven slipped.
Shifted.
Layered.
Every clean hit turned shallow.
Every perfect angle became slightly off.
Zael's attacks landed—
But not where it mattered.
And Draven knew it.
"…You're getting desperate," Draven said lightly, stepping through a strike that should have split him in two.
Zael didn't respond.
Didn't react.
Didn't care.
His focus didn't break.
But inside—
He knew.
This wasn't working.
Another exchange—
Impact—
Separation.
They both slid back, boots tearing into the forest floor.
For a few seconds—
Silence.
Both breathing.
Both watching.
Both calculating.
Draven rolled his neck slightly, exhaling.
"…You're strong."
A pause.
"…For someone who's about to die."
Zael wiped the blood at his lips.
"…You talk too much."
Draven smirked.
"…And you're still alive. That's impressive."
A beat.
Then—
"…Hand it over."
Zael didn't answer.
Didn't even acknowledge it.
Because right now—
Something else mattered.
Something he had almost forgotten.
"…Status."
The command was silent.
Instant.
And for the first time in a while—
He used it on someone else.
---
[Target: Draven]
Level: 45 (First Awakener)
Race: Abyssal Void Wolf
Physique: Void Shadow Body
Traits:
• Spatial Distortion
• Shadow Phase
• Void Alignment
• Dimensional Slip
Attributes:
• Strength: 275
• Agility: 310
• Vitality: 320
• Intelligence: 269
• Spirit: 280
• Endurance: 250
---
Zael's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…So that's why."
No talents.
No profession.
Instead—
Physique.
Traits.
Different system.
Different structure.
But the principle—
Was the same.
Physique = foundation.
Traits = enhancements.
And all of his—
Were built for this.
Space.
Shadow.
Evasion.
Draven tilted his head slightly.
"…You zoning out mid-fight?"
Zael ignored him.
Because now—
He understood something else.
The gap.
It wasn't as wide as it should be.
Not for a level 45.
Not for someone like this.
"…Devour."
That was why.
His growth had already bridged part of it.
But not enough.
Not yet.
Zael's gaze shifted inward.
To his own panel.
---
[Status Panel]
Name: Zael
Level: 30 (Locked)
EXP: MAX / 30,000
EXP Pool: 312,000
Class: — Child of Dao
Talents:
• Supreme Blessing (Mythical)
• Ascendant Echo (Mythical)
• Adaptive Evolution (Mythical)
•Authority of infinite growth (unknown)
Attributes:
• Strength: 268
• Agility: 281
• Vitality: 259
• Intelligence: 244
• Spirit: 236
• Endurance: 252
---
Zael paused.
Just for a second.
"…Locked."
His level couldn't increase.
Not without completing the awakening trial.
But—
Below it—
Something new.
EXP Pool.
And the amount—
His eyes sharpened.
"…That's enough…"
More than enough.
If converted—
It could push him far beyond his current level.
Temporarily.
Or permanently.
Draven watched him closely now.
No longer amused.
Just curious.
"…You're planning something."
Zael finally looked at him.
"…What makes you think that?"
Draven smirked faintly.
"…Because you're not panicking."
A pause.
"…You should be."
Zael shrugged slightly.
"…Maybe I'm just confident."
Draven chuckled.
"…In what?"
Zael didn't answer.
Because right then—
The system responded.
---
[EXP Conversion Detected]
Conversion Parameters:
• Below 100 stats → 100 EXP = 1 stat point
• Below 500 stats → 1,000 EXP = 1 stat point
• Below 1000 stats → 10,000 EXP = 1 stat point
Mode: Temporary Enhancement
Duration: 15 Minutes
Note: Permanent enhancement requires ×1000 total EXP cost
---
Zael processed it instantly.
All his stats—
Were already above 200.
Which meant—
1,000 EXP per stat point.
Temporary.
Fifteen minutes.
Enough.
More than enough.
Draven took a slow step forward.
"…You stalling?"
Zael met his gaze.
"…Yeah."
Draven blinked once.
Then laughed.
"…Honest."
A pause.
"…I'll allow it."
Because he didn't understand.
Not yet.
Zael's mind moved quickly.
He didn't need balance.
He needed dominance.
Overwhelming.
Fast.
Before the others arrived.
His eyes flickered to the pool again.
312,000 EXP.
He couldn't waste all of it.
He needed reserve.
Emergency margin.
Decision made.
---
[EXP Conversion Initiated]
Stat Allocation:
• Spirit +80 → Cost: 80,000 EXP
• Endurance +40 → Cost: 40,000 EXP
Total EXP Used: 120,000
Remaining EXP Pool: 192,000
---
The moment it completed—
Zael felt it.
Immediate.
Violent.
His body tightened.
Energy surged.
Not gently.
Not gradually.
Like something had been forced into him.
Compressed.
Condensed.
His breathing deepened slightly.
His perception sharpened.
His reserves—
Expanded.
Draven's smile faded.
Just a little.
"…What did you do?"
Zael rolled his shoulders slowly.
Testing.
Feeling.
The difference—
Was massive.
Not subtle.
Not hidden.
Draven felt it too.
That shift.
That sudden spike.
"…That's new."
Zael's grip tightened on his blade.
"…Yeah."
A step forward.
The ground cracked beneath his foot.
Not from weight—
From force.
Contained.
Barely.
Draven's eyes narrowed.
For the first time—
No amusement.
No playfulness.
Just focus.
"…Interesting."
Zael didn't wait.
Didn't stall anymore.
Because now—
Time mattered.
More than ever.
He moved.
Void Step—
Faster.
Sharper.
Cleaner.
And this time—
When he appeared—
The space around Draven—
Didn't feel untouchable anymore.
Draven reacted instantly—
Layers shifting—
Positions distorting—
But—
Zael's blade cut through them.
Not guessing.
Not predicting.
Overpowering.
Raw.
Force.
Resonance Strike—
Amplified.
Fueled by the surge in Spirit—
The impact exploded.
Draven blocked—
But this time—
He moved.
Actually moved.
His feet slid back.
"…Tch."
Zael didn't stop.
Didn't give him time.
Didn't give him space.
Because now—
The gap—
Was closing.
Fast.
And both of them knew it.
This fight—
Was about to end.
One way—
Or the other.
And neither of them—
Had time left.