Two Months
Two months had passed since that day.
A lot had happened during those two months. First of all, I was given plenty of time to deal with my personal problems.
I set several small and large goals during that time.
I spent my days facing my inner struggles, training, and visiting dimensional rifts from time to time.
I met the same people over and over again during
those two months.
Renee, Marcus, Marcella... and a few others.
I noticed many things.
I had changed.
I no longer needed to activate the Calm Mind skill, because my mind remained calm most of the time.
I no longer felt arrogance when fighting monsters.
Nor did I feel tension, fear, or any similar emotions when I killed another group of people who blocked my path.
I knew what was happening to me.
As time passed...
A new person had been created.
A new Raven.
Even though I was both Jin and Raven...
It was not that simple.
I thought as I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
My hair had grown much longer, its color resembling black coal.
My eyes looked like the moon, but this time they carried coldness and indifference.
Calm expressions...
Or perhaps empty ones.
"Status."
The word left my mouth as I looked at my reflection.
As usual, the familiar panel appeared.
[Name: Raven Klainte]
[Health Status: Healthy / Vitality Loss]
[Vitality: E+]
[Endurance: -D]
[Strength: -D]
[Speed: D]
[Mana: -D]
[Ability (1): Locked]
[Ability (2): Locked]
[Element: Locked]
[Traits: Combat (5) / Calm Mind (3) / Mana Control (5) / Swordsmanship (6) / Golden Eye (3) / Dagger Skills (3)]
[Rank: E+]
I looked over my stats, then shifted my gaze toward my traits.
I had improved greatly during those two months.
My skills, such as Combat and Swordsmanship, had risen significantly. Even Calm Mind evolved once more after my transformation was completed.
I had also trained in using daggers after realizing firearms were troublesome, though I still kept one inside my coat for emergencies.
I glanced at my coat.
Well... that was not important right now.
I was only one stat away from entering Rank D.
Once I restored my vitality, I would be able to
unlock my ability and corresponding element.
I thought, and my empty expression slowly formed into a calm smile.
Although I was calm, that did not mean I had lost my emotions or anything like that.
Rather, I had gained mental composure and adapted to this world.
I looked into the mirror once more... into my eyes.
The reflection of my silver eyes, despite their coldness...
Held exhaustion, weariness...
Perhaps even a little despair.
I pushed those thoughts away and returned to my room.
I pulled out a golden potion from my coat and stared at it.
"My money..."
I thought while looking at the potion that had cost me over 250 gold coins.
Even though my heart ached at the loss of money, I did not regret it.
The potion in my hand was called:
Vitality Potion.
It could heal damaged vitality and push it to the next rank.
"I will reach Rank D today."
I thought as I opened the bottle.
Then I raised it and poured it into my mouth.
Warmth.
A warm sensation began spreading deep inside me.
It felt like sleeping beneath gentle spring weather, inside a peaceful little forest, on a moving bed.
And with that warmth...
Vitality came.
A refreshing feeling spread through the depths of my being and body.
I closed my eyes and enjoyed the sensation.
After a few minutes, I opened them again.
"Status."
The first thing I did was check my vitality and health.
[Health Status: Perfect]
[Vitality: +D]
I smiled as I looked at the vitality that had jumped by an entire rank.
Then I turned my gaze to my rank.
[Rank: Evolving...]
Along with a sensation like electric currents, energy began flowing through my body.
But that surge was accompanied by intense drowsiness and exhaustion.
As if it came from my soul rather than just my body or mind.
"Sleep..."
The state humans entered before advancing to Rank B.
I thought as I gradually lost the will to resist it.
Only a few more minutes passed.
My eyes slowly closed.
And I fell asleep.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
After a long time...
I felt as though I had returned to the place where the memories of Raven and Jin had fused.
But this time, it was different.
As I looked around, I noticed it.
The place was filled with shining stars...
And a glowing silver planet.
A familiar feeling rose within me as I stared at that silver world.
It felt as though my very existence was screaming for me to go there.
My thoughts became confused, and amidst my hesitation, my body began walking toward it instinctively.
After a journey of unknown length, I found myself standing before that silver planet.
It was enormous.
Like the moon.
Beautiful beyond words.
I stared at it, and my eyes began to shine.
I could no longer resist.
I felt myself slowly merging with that silver planet.
Gradually, my body entered it.
I closed my eyes and embraced the sensation.
It felt as though I was inside flames.
Warm...
Yet cold.
But...
I felt as though I had returned to my mother's embrace.
I felt as though I was part of this existence.
I did not know how to describe it.
Slowly, I opened my eyes.
I found myself lying on the bed once more.
But this time...
I was different.
As I closed my eyes and opened them again...
Silver flames burst forth from them.
The flames spread to my hands.
To me, those flames felt warm...
But to my enemies, they would be a frozen hell.
I thought as I closed my eyes and comprehended the power of the flames.
"Status."
[Name: Raven Klainte]
[Health Status: Perfect]
[Vitality: +D]
[Endurance: -D]
[Strength: -D]
[Speed: D]
[Mana: D]
[Ability (1): Time Zone]
[Ability (2): Locked]
[Element: Soul Flame]
[Traits: Combat (5) / Calm Mind (3) / Mana Control (5) / Swordsmanship (6) / Golden Eye (3) / Dagger Skills (3)]
[Rank: D]
I have reached rank D
Finally