II: The Fractured (2)

After some time, Kalron encountered a few more Blighted Ones and realized that his Progression seemed to slow down with each kill. He was only Rank 3 and his Progression at 78%.

"Is it me, or is Progressing not like the video games?"

After killing almost ten Blighted Ones, he has only ranked up once. Even with the help of his [Assimilation] Skill. His Progression wasn't as fast as he thought it would be. One kill now at his current rank only boosted his Progression by 7-15%, with [Assimilation] it was 9-18%.

Kalron could remember the time he used to play video games and stayed on one for a week straight, grinding for hours non stop. When he had finally burnt out, he was nowhere close to reaching max level despite following any form of leveling guides.

"This is gonna be a pain in my ass." Kalron said, placing his hands on his head.

[If the process of Progression is stressing you out, there is another way to raise your Progression significantly. However this form of Progression is rather… immoral.]

Hearing this, Kalron's attention focused on the voice, though with a sense of concern.

"And that is?"

[The death of another Shattered One by your hands.]

Kalron took a deep breath and scratched the back of his head. He had a feeling that was what it would say, despite wishing it wasn't.

"I have a question. Does this kind of Progression happen with those in the higher realms?"

The voice didn't speak. A long silence filled the atmosphere before the voice finally answered.

[Yes. To be a hunter, or be hunted. That is the kind of world this world is. Though peace does exist, violence will always find a way to prevail. Survival is a crucial aspect in this world. You must do what you can to survive.]

"You act like you speak from experience."

[For now, your choices have been given to you. After you have reached the next realm, you will be on your own.]

The voice completely ignored what Kalron said, causing the latter to have suspicions.

Moments passed and Kalron had killed more Blighted Ones. To Kalron, it felt like days since he's been here. Though the moons in the skies have not moved one bit.

Time in the Fractured moved differently. What felt like days in this dull place was only minutes in the surface world.

The good thing about the form Kalron took was that he needed no sleep nor did he ever feel fatigue. There was no need for food or water either. However, Kalron didn't want this kind of boring life. He wanted to feel alive and the answer to that was the fourth realm of Limbo: the Living where the difficulty of survival will increase.

Limbo possessed 13 Realms, each in a distinctive order. The voice gave Kalron only five out of the thirteen. From lowest to highest was the Fractured, the Lost, the Undead, the Living, and the Monstrous. The rest of these realms were for Kalron to figure out.

Currently, Kalron was now Rank 4 with a Progression of 54%. He was getting exhausted, mentally, from slaying Blighted Ones and didn't know how much longer he could last. If this kept on going, he was going to die from boredom. Then he remembered the alternative option and decided it was best to continue the route he was going.

It would be below him to do the unthinkable. Killing innocents and those that have done nothing to him was against his creed. If he was desperate enough, he would still find another way, as long as he didn't follow the path of immorality.

Kalron stared at his trembling hand. Even thinking about it made him nervous.

"With how I am progressing, it should take me about twenty more kills before I reach Rank 5."

Kalron did his best to keep his mind off of killing other Shattered Ones like him, though it wasn't much of a problem considering there were none around him. The thought of that relieved him.

The way he fought was rather reckless but in a good way. He fought with ferociousness and an unorthodox method of taking down an enemy. It was useful that he remembered the martial arts classes he took in his previous life.

After a while of hunting Blighted Ones, Kalron finally reached Rank 5.

[Max Rank Reached]

"I did it… now where is that gate?" He asked the voice.

The voice did not answer him and Kalron called for it again. After a minute passed, the floor began to shake.

"What the hell?"

Kalron looked down as the floor in front of him began to cave in. Seconds later an endless chasm laid in front of him.

[This is the gate to the next realm, the Lost.]

If he had one, Kalron raised an eyebrow.

"This is the gate to the next realm? Shouldn't I be advancing upwards?"

[Limbo is an inverse of a tower. Instead of going up to the next floor, you must head down.]

Kalron glanced down the bottomless hole. There was no light at the bottom and he could hear countless voices, whispering incoherently into his ears.

"What happens if I do not go in?" Kalron curiously asked.

[If you deny your entry to the next realm, it will always be open to you. However, your progression will only be stalled and there will be nothing else here for you.]

"Then it seems I have no choice, huh? Do you know what will happen to me when I get to the next realm?"

[No. I was assigned to stay in this realm to guide those that have been reborn. When a Shattered One like you leaves, I will wait till another spawns. It is what I have been doing since the birth of Limbo.]

Kalron narrowed his eyes before shrugging. He slowly inched towards the edge of the chasm before looking up at the two moons.

"You think I can hear from you again?" Kalron asked.

[No, but your system will remain with you.]

Kalron tapped his temple and inspected his stats.

[Kalron]

[Rank: 5/5]

[Progression: Ready to Evolve]

[Lineage: Shattered One]

[Vitality: 18]

[Strength: 24]

[Agility: 18]

[Judgment: 15]

[Esoteric: 15]

[Mastery Points: 0]

[Blessings: None]

[Curses: None]

[Skills: Assimilation]

"It says I'm ready to evolve. If I am guessing correctly-"

[You will evolve in the next realm.]

Kalron smiled as he looked down back at the chasm.

"Then this is goodbye."

[I wish you luck in your future, Kalron.]

"Before I desce- or ascend, can I ask why I do not know my surname?"

[Upon reincarnation, specific parts of the memories are taken from your consciousness and it is your job to figure it out. When you gain complete knowledge of your past, a surprise awaits.]

"Then that would explain why my head is so fuzzy."

[It is the will of my master that this is done.]

"And who might your master be?"

[...Unlike you Kalron, I know of your past. Though it is unseen in your eyes, your body still acts as if you remember. That is a sign and you should remember that.]

Kalron narrowed his eyes before shrugging the voice's comment away. He took a deep breath before jumping down the abyss.

His vision darkened and after a while, darkness engulfed him.

…

…

…

[Rank has been converted into Mastery Points]

[Mastery Points have been evenly distributed among stats]

[Lineage has been evolved]

[Shattered One → Lost One]

[Skill Obtained: Identify]