Chapter 55: Class Advancement — Shadow Weaver
The moon hung high above the treetops, a silver sentinel casting its pale glow across the quiet forest. Cool wind swept over a jagged cliff, rustling the tall grass and brushing gently past a lone figure seated cross-legged at the precipice. Lei Feng sat still, his Storm Dragon Robe fluttering softly behind him, illuminated by moonlight and faint arcs of residual lightning energy that danced along its edges.
His blue eyes were locked onto the translucent screen hovering before him—his expression caught between hope and uncertainty.
"Hmm... I wonder what I'll get this time?" he murmured to himself, anticipation rising like the tide in his chest. A soft sigh escaped his lips as he leaned back, stretching his neck with a quiet pop.
Then he groaned.
"Argh—I should've activated Luck Aura earlier! Rookie mistake…" He slapped his forehead.
But a moment later, his gaze fell to the delicate earring dangling from his left ear. A shimmer of silvery-blue threads seemed to dance within it—like a loom weaving fate itself.
"No, wait. I'm still wearing the LuckWeaver's Echo Earring. That's more than enough to attract fortune... right?" His voice firmed with conviction. "Come on, Lady Luck… don't fail me now."
The wind fell still.
Suddenly—
DING!
The sound rang out like a chorus of metallic bells, resonating through the air. Not harsh, but crisp and ceremonial—like the toll of destiny.
> Congratulations! You have awakened the [Shadow Weaver] Class!
Additional Affinity Gained… Dark Affinity.
Lei Feng's eyes widened, his breath hitching.
"Shadow Weaver?!" His voice cracked with elation. "That's badass—it complements my style perfectly! Thank you, Lady Luck!"
His gaze immediately returned to the scrolling system interface as new text shimmered into view.
---
> Class Description:
A master of deception and subterfuge, the Shadow Weaver blends into the night and twists darkness to their will. Utilizing dark affinity and the manipulation of shadows, the wielder can create illusions, alter reality through movement, and strike from unseen places. A class feared in silence—where the light fades, the Shadow Weaver reigns supreme.
---
Lei Feng's eyes gleamed as he whispered, "It's even more powerful than I thought…"
Suddenly, a subtle tremor rippled through his chest—like a ripple across a still pond. His breath caught. Something had awakened within him, something ancient and primal. He could feel it stirring, crackling under his skin, racing up his spine and settling at the base of his skull like coiled potential.
A whisper that wasn't a whisper.
A presence… waiting to be unchained.
"Brace yourself, Lei…" he muttered. "The transformation's about to begin."
But the change, to his surprise, was nothing like he had expected.
There was no pain. No agony. Only… clarity.
A cool rush swept through his body—like being submerged in moonlit water. His muscles relaxed. His mind sharpened. Shadows that once clung to him like threats now moved with him, embracing him like old companions.
"Huh... this is refreshing." He blinked, baffled. "I thought it'd be torturous or overwhelming, but... it feels natural."
He shrugged, a small grin playing on his lips. "Maybe it's a one-time blessing from Lady Luck."
---
> New Skills Acquired!
• Shadow Manipulation (Rare) (Active)
Allows the user to bend and shape shadows within a 15-meter radius. Can form temporary weapons, shields, or tendrils from ambient darkness. Effectiveness increases in low-light environments.
• Shadow Clone (Superior) (Active)
Creates a solid doppelgänger that mimics the user's physical actions. Can be used for distraction, deception, or dual-attacks. Duration scales with Intelligence. The higher the level of mastery the higher the number of clones.
• Stealth(Superior) (Passive)
Greatly reduces sound, visual presence, and magical detection when standing still or moving slowly. In darkness, the effect is dramatically increased.
---
Knowledge poured into him like a storm funnel. Techniques, strategies, instincts—things he had never studied suddenly bloomed in his mind like long-forgotten memories. His limbs tingled, his vision sharpened. It wasn't evolution… it was revelation.
But then—
A foul stench snapped him out of the trance.
He looked down and flinched.
"What the…?"
Thick black sludge oozed from his pores, bubbling across his skin like oil. His body trembled with disgust. But the Storm Dragon Robe, ever-so-regal, remained pristine. The impurities vanished the moment they touched it, purified by radiant arcs of lightning that flared through the fabric like cleansing fire.
The sludge dissolved into mist, evaporating into the night air.
Lei Feng exhaled, watching the steam rise. "So... this is the price of advancement. Even my cells are shedding their weakness."
---
DING!
> Class Fusion Available: Storm Swordsman + Shadow Weaver
Lei Feng raised a brow. "Class fusion? What's that now?"
---
> Class Fusion allows compatible classes to merge into a higher-tier hybrid class. This fusion unlocks a unique class evolution and mutates previously learned techniques to match your new path. Power, synergy, and adaptability will increase exponentially. Warning: Fusion outcomes may be unpredictable and irreversible.
---
"Hmm…" He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Alright. Let's roll the dice again."
"Initiate."
---
> Class Fusion in Progress:
5%
8%
10%...
52%...
99%...
---
He waited. Minutes turned to an hour. Then two hours.
Finally—
DING!
> Class Fusion Successful: @yjma&$8;!
"What the hell—?" Lei Feng squinted at the glitching interface. A sudden chill crawled up his spine. "Did it just crash?"
Then the screen flickered again, stabilizing—
> You have unlocked hidden class: Shadowstorm Swordsman!
---
> Class Description:
A forbidden blend of speed, subterfuge, and devastation, the Shadowstorm Swordsman is a living tempest—where shadows slice and lightning sears. Born from chaos and tempered by precision, this hybrid class strikes unseen and overwhelms foes with swift, elemental destruction. Few live long enough to realize they were even attacked.
---
Lei Feng's lips curled into a grin. "Now that… that sounds like me."
---
> You have been rewarded:
• Shadowstorm Swordplay(Rare) (Active)
A complex sword style combining lightning-fast strikes and phantom movements. Each attack leaves behind a delayed shadow slash, creating afterimages that cut moments after the original swing.
• Lightning Intent (Rare) (Passive)
Increases lightning skill speed and efficiency. Bolsters movement velocity and reaction time.
• Dark Intent(Rare) (Passive)
Heightens shadow affinity and resistance to light-based damage. Improves concealment and critical strike effectiveness.
---
> Skill Fusion Activated...
You have learned: Dark Lightning Intent (Rare+)
A rare fusion of elemental mastery, enhancing both lightning and shadow attacks with increased penetration, unpredictability, and elemental disruption. Skills laced with this intent leave behind residual static and shadow traces that hinder enemy recovery.
---
━━━『 OmniClass God System Interface 』━━━
[Status Panel]
Name: Lei Feng
Level: Awakener Lv. 22 (Magic Adept)
Class:
• Shadowstorm Swordsman
• Summoner
Elemental Affinity:
• Lightning [Disintegration Attribute]
• Wind
• Dark
EXP: 1500 / 3000
HP: 330 / 330
MP: 280 / 280
━━『 Attributes 』━━
Strength: 75
Agility: 57
Endurance: 56
Intelligence: 35
Perception: 36
Free Stat Points: 0
---
Lei Feng stared at his EXP bar, lips curving into a satisfied smirk. "Not bad. Slower than before, but the Vanguard is still pulling their weight." He leaned back against the cliff rock.
"System. Display skills."
DING!
---
Innate Ability:
• Indomitable Will
Passive Skills:
• Killing Intent (Rare) – Mastery: 70%
• Basic Swordsmanship (Advanced) – Mastery: 99%
• Luck Aura (Advanced) — Mastery: 50%
• Omni God Eyes (Superior) — Mastery 1%
• Summoner's Empowerment (Top grade) — Mastery 1%
• Summoner's Empathy (Top grade) — Mastery 30%
• Stealth (Superior) – Mastery: 1%
• Dark Lightning Intent (Rare+) – Mastery: 1%
Active Skills:
• Shadowstorm Slash (Rare) – Mastery: 10%
• Shadowstorm Steps (Rare) – Mastery: 10%
• Shadowstorm Pulse (Rare) — Mastery: 10%
• Lightning Flash (Rare+) — Mastery: 70%
• Storm Shield (Rare+) — Mastery: 50%
• Thunderclap Strike (Rare+) — Mastery: 10%
• Lightning Chain (Rare) — Mastery: 1%
• Elemental Summon (Top grade) – Mastery: 99%
• Dark Lightning Manipulation (Rare+) – Mastery: 1%
• Shadow Clone (Superior) – Mastery: 1%
• Shadowstorm Swordplay (Rare) – Mastery: 1%
---
"Whoa…" He gawked. "About twenty skills already?"
A pause. Then a frown.
"Am I… growing too fast?" he whispered. "This rate… it's monstrous."
He scrolled down, noting a few skill names he hadn't seen before.
"System. Explain the new ones."
---
> Shadowstorm Slash (Rare):
An evolved version of Lightning Slash. Each strike emits both a crackling bolt and a delayed shadow cut from a different angle, confusing enemy defense.
> Shadowstorm Steps (Rare):
An evolution of Lightning Steps. Movement becomes erratic, with phantom shadows trailing each dash, obscuring your true position.
> Shadowstorm Pulse (Rare):
An evolved Lightning Pulse. Sends out a shockwave laced with dark energy and lightning essense that disrupts enermies, blurs their senses, and deals damage to their internal bodies.
> Dark Lightning Manipulation (Rare+):
A fusion of lightning and shadow control. You can form weapons, traps, and zones of energy disruption. Attacks leave lingering static that eats away at enemy mana.
---
Lei Feng exhaled deeply.
"So that's what the system meant by mutation…" he said, marveling.
He rose to his feet. The wind tugged at his robe. His eyes burned with determination.
"No time to slack. I've got a lot to master."
He looked toward the distant forest, where his Elemental Vanguard was still hunting in the shadows.
The night was far from over.