Chapter 23: Forbidden Spy Arts.

'Ah… how long has it been since I've been backed into a wall…? It's scary... so scary that I can't stop shaking," Dawn thought to himself, his back pressed against the wall as steam seeped from his arms. 

His head hung low, his partially melted arms trembling, barely able to move. 

The other entity, however, drew closer, its ominous presence casting a growing shadow that intensified as it neared Dawn.

"I'm going to regret this. This body might not be able to handle it, but I don't have a choice..." Dawn muttered, his head still lowered. "Forbidden spy arts... Shadow Point Amplification."

[Forbidden Spy Arts: Shadow Point Amplification.]

Dawn's weak, trembling arms became a blur as they swiftly and simultaneously pressed specific points on his body. Meanwhile, the hollow entity stepped into the house, blocking his only escape route. 

He had nowhere left to run. 

By the time he pressed the final point, the hollow entity lunged, launching both of its fleshy blades at Dawn in a swift slash. The blades sliced through the air, aiming directly at Dawn's figure. 

At first glance, it appeared as though the blades had cut through Dawn. In reality, they had missed him entirely. Dawn's figure blurred, deftly evading the blades before leaping out of the house through a window. 

Once outside, Dawn sprang onto the roof of the adjacent house, then leapt from roof to roof as the hollow entity gave chase. 

It was determined not to let him escape. Dawn, whose hands were now useless, could do nothing but run. 

Despite this, Dawn displayed extraordinary acrobatics and agility, leaping from left to right atop the roofs while skillfully avoiding the attacks hurled at him.

Throughout this ordeal, a look of fear was etched on Dawn's face. Despite this, he continued to move, his body slipping through gaps between buildings and darting around like water. 

Even though the hollow entity was significantly faster, it showed no signs of catching up as Dawn's speed continued to increase. 

These feats were made possible by the forbidden technique: Shadow Point Amplification.

This was a technique Dawn had developed in his past life, which involved pressing specific pressure points strategically located around the body to unlock hidden reserves of physical and mental power. 

When activated, these pressure points enhance the user's strength, speed, agility, and sensory perception, allowing them to operate at peak performance for a limited duration.

[Status]

[Dawn Goldblood.]

[Race: Human.]

[Core Rank: Awakened.]

[Level 1 (0/50)]

[HP: 45/100%]

[Energy: 67/100%]

[Strength: 20] (+15) 

[Agility: 20] (+15)

[Stamina: 4] 

[Sense: 20] (+15)

While running, Dawn glanced at his stats. He had never quantified the boost this technique provided, but based on the results, it seemed to quadruple his stats.

However, these enhanced capabilities came at a significant cost. Once the period of heightened abilities ended, the user would experience severe physical and mental exhaustion, accompanied by intense pain at the shadow points where pressure was applied.

Dawn could only keep the technique active for five minutes. Any longer, and the damage would be irreversible. It was because of this that the technique was forbidden.

He needed to shake off the hollow entity as soon as possible.

-

Meanwhile, the guards stationed outside the bridge watched the unfolding scene in disbelief. 

"Hey... is this some sort of joke?" one of them asked.

"That kid is just an awakened, and he's not even using his ability... how is he surviving an encounter against a hollow!?" another exclaimed.

"Even someone who's ascended wouldn't be able to last this long without using their ability. What on earth is he!?" a third guard wondered aloud.

Rek, on the other hand, couldn't help but break into a grin as he silently observed the scene. 

It wasn't just the guards who were in disbelief, but also some of the awakened who were in hiding. 

Although their hiding spots prevented them from seeing the entire scene, some managed to catch a glimpse of Dawn as he darted past their hiding places. A very small portion of them watched the entire event unfold through their eyes.

"Hey... are you guys seeing this?" Blaise asked, leaning against the door and peering at Dawn's movements across the village via the door's cracks.

"Quiet, man... what're you going to do if it hears us?" Mason retorted, nervously watching through the cracks. "But you're right, that monster can't catch him... just what the hell is he?"

At the back of the room, a figure sat silently, gazing through the gaps in the door. 

"I've been wondering the same thing for a while... It seems that leaving Penelope with him was the right idea..." Ayleth muttered.

"Regardless, we let you two in here because you promised to be quiet. If you don't stop talking, we're kicking you out," Freya added, scrutinizing them.

Hearing this, the two boys clicked their tongues and refocused their attention on the event unfolding before them.

-

"Killer spy arts..." Dawn muttered, having almost completed a full circle around the village. "Veil of Deception."

[Killer Spy Arts: Veil Of Deception.]

Dawn, who had been running atop the roofs, suddenly leapt down, disappearing behind the walls for cover. 

However, that didn't deter the hollow entity. Moving faster, it followed right after him, leaping down as well. 

Even though it couldn't see him, it could sense his presence. After he had leapt down, he had entered the house directly in front of it. 

It could practically see his figure outlined. With that in mind, it gathered all of its flesh together and sliced through the house, right where his figure was standing, diagonally slashing it and the figure inside in half.

It was over. Dawn had been slain... or so it thought. 

The walls of the house slid off diagonally, revealing the inside shortly after a cloud of smoke appeared. 

Inside, a wooden statue in the shape of a person could be seen, sliced in half. But Dawn was nowhere to be found. He had poured his energy into the figure to make the hollow entity believe that it was him.

It had been deceived. Dawn had escaped. 

Seeing this, the hollow entity let out an enraged screech and its footsteps echoed once more as it slowly resumed its search through the village for its next target.

-

Penelope was curled up into a ball, trembling within the house she had crashed into. 

"Penelope is sorry... Penelope is sorry..." She apologized, tears streaming down her face. "Because of Penelope, he... he died-"

Penelope was interrupted when suddenly, a palm was placed over her mouth to silence her, and a figure appeared behind her. 

Frightened, she looked up, only to be filled with relief at the sight of Dawn. A nervous smile played on his face as he gestured for her to be quiet. 

"Don't go killing me off just yet, I'm still alive..." he reassured her as he removed his palm from her mouth.

Her eyes sparkled, then shimmered with fresh tears. 

"Penelope thought that you died… Penelope is sorry… because of Penelope, it found us…" She whispered, lowering her head dejectedly.

"It's fine, I'm still okay, see? Something like that isn't enough to kill me… I've survived a lot worse," Dawn comforted her, patting her on the head. "But Penelope, if you really feel sorry, we'll have to make sure it doesn't find us again... I'll be whispering a trick to you. Make sure you do it properly so that it doesn't find us, okay?" 

Penelope nodded, continuing to wipe away her tears. 

Although Dawn wore a smile, he felt worried inside. 'Within a few minutes, I won't be able to move because of the forbidden art… If it finds us again, we're dead.'