It was coming straight for him.
The Graveborn Alpha's limbs stretched unnaturally, claws dragging sparks across the tile as it lunged with a shriek that fractured every inch of silence. Its body distorted mid-charge, blurring with glitch-static like the system itself could barely render its berserk state.
Kael braced for the impact.
Then he moved.
One breath. One step sideways.
The beast clipped his shoulder, sending him spinning—but not broken. He rolled, blood smearing across the ground, and came up behind it. His grip tightened on the Cleaver Saber.
He slashed.
The blade bit deep between the Alpha's spine plates. It roared and twisted, backhanding him into the wall—but its movement was slowing. Blood spilled in thick, corrupted arcs that hissed as it hit the ground.
> [Boss HP: 43%]
Kael dragged himself up, ribs cracking under the strain. He staggered left, barely ducking under another wild swing. The Alpha's patterns were breaking—less calculated, more rage. A glitch with teeth.
He could use that.
The boss roared again, charging blindly.
Kael waited until the last second, then jumped onto the side wall, kicking off into a spinning arc that sent his saber across the monster's arm—severing tendons and splitting bone.
The beast stumbled.
Kael didn't stop.
He darted in again, ducked low, and drove the blade straight through its exposed hip joint. The monster shrieked—this time not in fury, but pain.
> [Weak Spot Hit – Massive Damage]
[Boss HP: 18%]
"Just die already," Kael growled.
The Graveborn lashed out in desperation, claws slamming into Kael's chest. The blow lifted him off his feet and threw him halfway across the platform.
> [HP: 11 / 170]
[Bleed Status: Active]
He hit the ground hard, vision darkening at the edges.
But he didn't let go of the blade.
Kael forced himself to his knees.
The Alpha was limping toward him, dragging one foot behind, breathing in short, sharp bursts like a machine overheating.
One shot.
That's all he had left.
Kael dug into his inventory and pulled out a piece of sharpened bone—the last one from earlier. He jammed it into the Cleaver Saber's side, spiking the weapon with one final piercing mod.
The blade glowed faintly.
He charged.
The Alpha opened its jaws wide, lunging forward to crush him.
Kael slid under its claw—straight toward the exposed core beneath its chest.
He drove the blade up with everything he had.
> [Critical Hit – Fatal Strike Confirmed]
[Boss HP: 0%]
The Graveborn froze.
A burst of red and black light exploded from its center. It twitched once, then broke apart in a storm of corrupted particles.
And then… silence.
No dramatic music. No fanfare.
Just the hollow emptiness of a dead city breathing again.
> [Boss Defeated: Graveborn Alpha – Lv. 6]
[EXP +320]
[Level Up: Lv. 4 → Lv. 5 → Lv. 6]
[Tutorial Phase: Complete]
[Respawn Beacon Activated]
Kael dropped to one knee as the system interface pulsed in front of him.
> [CLASS SELECTION UNLOCKED]
Choose a path based on performance, tactics, and traits.
🟢 [Class: Fighter]
Basic melee combatant. Balanced growth.
+5% melee damage
+5% HP
Passive: Adrenaline Surge (Boosts damage when under 30% health)
🟢 [Class: Scout]
Fast and mobile. Specialized in speed and evasion.
+10% movement speed
+3% dodge window
Active: Quickstep (Short-range dash)
🟢 [Class: Survivor]
Endurance-focused. Built for long fights and attrition.
+15% HP regen outside combat
Resistance to bleed and poison
Passive: Last Stand (10% chance to negate lethal hit)
---
Kael stared.
They were good. Solid. Nothing wrong with them.
But they were… ordinary.
Then the interface glitched.
The panels flickered—twitched out of sync—and another shimmer of light slid in beneath them.
This one looked different.
Sharper. Dimmer. Like it didn't belong in the same set.
> [System Notice: Unique Class Unlocked]
Conditions Met: Death Memory Count ≥ 3 | Solo Boss Clear | No Assistance Used
A fourth option appeared, outlined in red and steel.
---
🔴 [Unique Class: Ronin]
A forgotten warrior walking a path with no master. Adaptable. Ruthless.
+10% weapon proficiency (blades only)
+5% counter window after dodge
Passive: Draw Cut — bonus critical on first attack after unsheathing
Trait: Unbound — not tied to faction or guild restrictions
Class Progression: Unknown
---
Kael stared at it.
"Ronin."
It sounded like something from an old war novel. Not a soldier. Not a knight. A man without a banner. A blade without a cause.
There was no description of where the class would lead. No upgrades listed. No roadmap. Just the word: Unbound.
> [Warning: Unique Classes are rare and may be more difficult to advance.]
Proceed with caution.
He remembered the wolves. The monsters. The deaths. The fact that no one had helped him. Not even once.
He didn't need easy.
He needed real.
Kael touched the Ronin class panel.
> [Class Selected: Ronin]
Welcome, Ashwalker.
"…Ashwalker?" he repeated aloud.
The name stuck in his mind, like a memory from a dream he hadn't had yet.
---
The system glowed again as it adjusted.
> [Ronin Initiation Complete]
[Skill Acquired: Draw Cut – Lv. 1]
[Trait Activated: Unbound]
[New Stat Field: Mental Clarity]
Tracks focus during prolonged combat
Higher clarity boosts reaction speed and decision-making
[Armor Proficiency: Light / Medium]
[Blade Memory Limit: 1 / ?]
(Certain weapons may unlock memories unique to the Ronin class)
Kael blinked at the last part.
Blade Memory?
Before he could study it more, the system began to fade.
The beacon pulsed behind him.
He was still kneeling, weapon resting across his lap. The platform quiet now. Clean. Peaceful, in a way that felt wrong.
The tutorial was over.
He looked at his hands.
Still shaking.
Not from fear—but from not shaking.
This was the first time he'd ever made it this far.
---
The interface updated one final time.
> [Sector Clearance Complete]
[Map Unlocked: Zones 11–15]
[Next Objective: Reach Settlement]
Estimated Distance: 4.2km
Threat Level: Moderate–High
[Note: Tutorial buffs removed. Survival now unassisted.]
Kael stood slowly.
The saber felt heavier now. Or maybe it was just him.
Outside the subway, a storm began to gather—low thunder rolling across the broken sky.
He strapped what little gear he had back to his belt, pulled the hood of his torn cloak over his head, and walked toward the exit tunnel.
> "Ronin, huh…" he muttered. "Guess we'll see how far that gets me."
He didn't feel strong.
But for the first time…
He didn't feel like prey, either.
---
📊 Kael Draven — Status (End of Chapter 5)
> Level: 6
Class: Ronin (Unique)
EXP: 110 / 1000
HP: 170 / 170
Stamina: 100 / 100
Weapon: Cleaver Saber (Piercing Mod)
Armor: Reinforced Tattered Cloak
Skills:
Reflex Trace Lv. 1
Draw Cut Lv. 1 (Critical bonus on unsheathed strike)
Traits:
Respawn (System-bound)
Unbound (immune to faction binding, class paths open)
Tactical Learner (EXP boost vs previously seen enemies)
New Stat: Mental Clarity — +3
Location: Sector 10 — Nest Cleared
Checkpoint: Core Beacon