The Ultimate Skill System: Absorb, Upgrade, Create, Transfer-Chapter 21 - : Shadowcarver

The sun had long since dipped below the horizon, leaving the forest cloaked in a deep, velvety darkness.

Keiran had spent the day hunting for strong monsters, testing his skills and pushing his limits.

Now, as the night settled in, he decided to make camp. The clearing he chose was small but open, surrounded by towering trees that swayed gently in the cool night breeze.

Keiran knelt by the campfire he had built, the flames crackling softly as they danced in the night.

He skewered a piece of boar meat on a stick and held it over the fire, the fat sizzling and dripping into the flames.

The aroma of roasted meat filled the air, a comforting contrast to the eerie stillness of the forest. As he waited for the meat to cook, he glanced around, his sharp eyes scanning the darkness for any signs of movement.

He was alone—or so he thought.

Unbeknownst to him, something had taken notice of his presence. A monster, drawn by the scent of human flesh, was making its way toward the clearing.

This creature was a fearsome predator with a taste for humans. Its massive form moved silently through the forest, its dark aura blending seamlessly with the shadows.

Keiran, ever alert, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He paused, his senses sharpening as he detected a massive surge of mana approaching from a mile away.

The energy was overwhelming, far stronger than anything he had encountered recently. He quickly finished the last bite of his meal and stood, his body tense and ready for action.

Without wasting a moment, Keiran activated Ghost Cloak, a skill that rendered him invisible.

His form shimmered briefly before fading from sight, leaving no trace of his presence. He moved swiftly, climbing up a nearby tree and settling on a thick branch. From his vantage point, he could observe the approaching threat without being seen.

The forest grew unnaturally quiet, as if the creatures of the night sensed the danger and had gone into hiding. The only sound was the faint crackling of the campfire below.

Then, the hunter arrived.

The monster emerged from the shadows, its massive form towering over the trees. Its body was covered in a thick, shadowy aura that seemed to swallow the light around it.

Its exoskeleton was a deep, glossy black, and its multiple eyes glowed with a malevolent red light. Its claws were razor-sharp, and its tail ended in a stinger that dripped with venom. The creature moved with an eerie grace, its movements almost too fast to follow.

[Rare: Shadowcarver — Level 83.]

This was no ordinary monster. It was a rare and powerful foe, one that could easily end his life if he wasn't careful. He remained still, watching as the Shadowcarver circled the campfire, its glowing eyes scanning the area for its prey.

The monster's claws clicked against the ground as it moved, the sound sending shivers down Keiran's spine. It seemed to sense that something was nearby, but it couldn't pinpoint his location.

Keiran took a deep breath.

He knew he had to act quickly.

Using Mystic Convergence, Keiran began to absorb the Shadowcarver's mana, drawing it into himself. The energy surged through his veins, empowering him.

His hands transformed into sharp, scythe-like blades, glowing faintly with a aether energy.

He activated Abyssal Execution, a skill that enhanced his speed and lethality, and leaped from the tree, aiming for the Shadowcarver's neck.

But his attack passed through the monster as if it were made of smoke.

Keiran landed gracefully on the ground, his eyes widening in surprise. The Shadowcarver roared, its voice a deep, guttural sound that echoed through the forest.

Its stinger glowed with a void-black energy, and it launched a massive, spear-like projectile toward Keiran.

Keiran dodged the attack with ease, his invisibility still intact. The projectile struck a tree behind him, exploding on impact and obliterating everything in its path with dark energy.

The force of the blast sent debris flying, but Keiran remained unharmed.

The Shadowcarver's claws slashed through the air, trying to hit the invisible enemy.

Keiran retreated, climbing back up the tree to reassess the situation. He quickly realized that physical attacks were useless against this creature. It was immune to them, its shadowy form allowing it to phase through any direct strike.

Keiran's mind raced as he formulated a new plan.

He needed to use magic.

Summoning Howling Tempest, he created a raging cyclone that centered around him. The winds howled, tearing through the forest and uprooting trees.

The cyclone stripped away his invisibility, revealing his location to the Shadowcarver.

The monster screeched and charged toward him, but the powerful winds of the cyclone slowed its advance.

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The storm battered the Shadowcarver, but its hard carapace protected it from significant damage.

Keiran watched closely, noting that the creature was resistant to physical attacks but vulnerable to magic.

"Come to papa," Keiran muttered under his breath, a small smirk playing on his lips.

He deactivated the cyclone, leaving himself defenseless.

The storm had served its purpose—it had cleared the area of trees, creating an open space. This was a requirement for his new passive skill, Windborne Regeneration, which allowed him to heal rapidly in open areas.

The Shadowcarver, now free from the cyclone's grasp, rushed toward Keiran with terrifying speed. Its claws were covered in dark particles, ready to tear him apart.

Keiran stood his ground, his expression calm and focused. At the last moment, he removed his tracksuit and threw it aside.

Keiran's body transformed into that of a Giant Water Slime, his gelatinous form shimmering in the moonlight.

He activated Aqua Devour, creating a powerful water vortex within his body.

The Shadowcarver, unable to stop its momentum, was sucked into the vortex with ease.

Inside Keiran's slime body, the Shadowcarver struggled violently. Its stinger glowed with dark energy as it fired multiple shadow spears, each one exploding as it exited Keiran's body.

The attacks caused damage, but Keiran's regenerative abilities, enhanced by Mystic Convergence and Windborne Regeneration, quickly healed the wounds.

The Shadowcarver's attacks grew weaker as Keiran's resistance to its dark energy increased, which was another effect of Windborne Regeneration.

Every sting inflicted a temporary blindness, but Keiran remained unfazed.

He knew the monster's strength was fading. He simply waited, allowing the Shadowcarver to exhaust itself.

Finally, the Shadowcarver stopped moving. Its body went limp, its energy drained. Keiran, still in his slime form, spat the creature out onto the ground. The monster lay motionless, its once-menacing aura now gone.

[You leveled up 5x.]

[You have received 60 Stat points.]

[Your HP, MP, and SP have been replenished.]