LEVELING UP WITH SECRET ABILITY 01

The Dark Awakening of Van Ferro

On the mysterious planet of Indica, four dominant races—Beastmen, Elves, Dwarfs, and Demons—held sway over the lands. Humans, considered the weakest, lived on the outskirts in humble villages. In the year 2001 of the Indica calendar, a human named Van Ferro was born. Van was different from other humans; his body could not handle divine magic, a blessing from the gods, leading to constant ridicule and bullying. At the age of 15, he was abandoned by his village, left to fend for himself in the dangerous wilds.

One fateful morning, Van awoke in the heart of a dense forest. Before him stood an ancient building, emanating a sinister dark light. Its massive gate bore the image of Cerberus, the three-headed hell hound, its dark red eyes glowing ominously. Driven by a mix of curiosity and desperation, Van pushed open the gate and stepped inside.

The room was filled with treasures that could sustain an empire for generations. Amidst the glittering hoard, a peculiar book resting on a chest caught Van's eye. The book exuded a palpable aura of dark mana. As he reached out and grasped it, a black window materialized before his eyes, akin to the status screens in games he had heard of in old stories.

Status Window:

Strength: 5

Mana: 0

Dark Mana: 5

Agility: 5

Luck: 5

Abilities:

Devour: Absorb dark mana from monsters. (Requirement: Strength 8) (Locked)

Observe: See information about a target. (Level 1)

Shadow Slash: Form a sword of dark mana. (Requirement: Dark Mana 10) (Locked)

Power of "????": Power given to ???? by ????.

Confusion and fear gripped Van as he tried to comprehend the implications of the window and his newfound abilities. He needed answers, and he needed to escape the eerie relic building. As he pushed the gate open to leave, he froze. A monstrous bear, shrouded in black mana, prowled the forest, its eyes scanning for intruders. This creature seemed to be guarding the relic, making escape a perilous endeavor.

Summoning his courage, Van activated his Observe ability to gather information about the beast.

Monster Information:

Name: Shadow Bear

Strength: 15

Dark Mana: 20

Abilities:

Dark Roar: Unleashes a roar that paralyzes enemies with fear.

Shadow Claw: Attacks with claws infused with dark mana.

Van's heart pounded as he realized the enormity of the challenge before him. The Shadow Bear was far stronger than he was. But he couldn't give up now. He was determined to survive and uncover the secrets behind his strange abilities and the dark magic within him. Stealthily, Van began to strategize. He needed to find a way to increase his strength and unlock the powers that lay dormant within him.

Hidden in the shadows, Van watched the Shadow Bear, studying its movements and behavior. He knew that to face this beast, he would have to use every ounce of cunning and newfound power at his disposal. The journey ahead would be fraught with danger, but Van Ferro was no longer the helpless boy from the Human Village. He was on the path to becoming something much more formidable.

And so, Van's journey into the dark unknown began, with the fate of Indica hanging in the balance.