[Mastery] was the new system mechanic Damon had unlocked. It was his reward for reaching level 7—replacing the usual level-up skill with something entirely different. He certainly hoped it was worth it. His last major reward had been Ashborn, a power that allowed him to wield flames capable of devouring both body and soul. It was terrifyingly effective, especially since those consumed by his fire would also be counted as having been devoured by his shadow—or so Lilith had claimed. He hadn't tested it yet, though. The idea of experiencing tenfold the pain of burning alive wasn't exactly appealing. He scrolled down his system panel, noting the section still marked [Locked]. The [Locked] function was still there, which meant there were more features yet to be unlocked. "Maybe the [Quest] feature," he mused. "The system has never given me one, so maybe I need to unlock it first." He refocused on [Mastery], zooming in as more details appeared on the interface. [Mastery] The Mastery Mechanic provides organic growth while maintaining balance. It rewards practice, battle experience, and strategy. "Mastery grows with every action—train, and your hands will remember; fight, and your instincts will sharpen. The more you wield a blade, cast a spell, or craft with passion, the greater your control becomes. Defeating enemies strengthens the skills you use, and overcoming specialists may grant you a glimpse of their expertise. Growth is steady through practice, swift through battle, and endless for those who seek to refine themselves. Every strike, every spell, every lesson—carving your path, shaping your legend." Damon sighed. The system was being vaguely poetic, as usual, but he had gotten used to its cryptic nature. From what he could infer, [Mastery] was essentially a way for him to track and develop his abilities. The more he used a skill, the better he became at it. If he fought a swordmaster, he might gain some of their expertise. If he dueled a mage, he could absorb fragments of their knowledge. Training, battle, pain—all of it contributed to his growth. More importantly, Mastery could evolve, allowing his abilities to transform into stronger, more advanced versions over time. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶 He scanned his available [Mastery] list. Before he could go further, a soft voice interrupted his thoughts. "What are you looking at, Damon?" Sylvia's voice. He glanced at her, still leaning against his shoulder, her White hair brushing against his arm. "Nothing," he muttered, shaking his head. Pushing himself up, he turned to the others. "Pack up and get moving. I'll get rid of the bodies and catch up." The group groaned, clearly not having rested enough, but they obeyed. Damon exhaled, rolling his shoulders. They didn't have a choice. The hunt had already begun. Damon glanced at Evangeline as he threw her his supply bag. "Don't wait for me... I'll catch up in at most half a day. Keep heading for the Duhu Mountains." Evangeline bit her lip but nodded reluctantly. Sylvia, however, shook her head. "No. I disagree—I can stay with you." "Sylvia," he said sternly, shaking his head. "I can move faster alone." She bit her lip, hesitating, until Leona tapped her shoulder. "Don't worry. Damon is sneaky—he'll catch up," she reassured her, though there was a hint of worry in her gaze. "Right?" He nodded. His party left, occasionally glancing back at him. Damon sighed. He needed to deal with the corpses of the four goblins they had ambushed and ensure their traps worked. By now, every goblin in the area would be on the way. His shadow stretched outward, spreading like a pool of darkness. [You have gained 5 Attribute Points.] [You have gained 5 Attribute Points.] [You have gained 5 Attribute Points.] His shadow reached for the goblin mage, swallowing it whole. [You have gained 15 Attribute Points.] [Mastery: Basic Magic +6] The moment the system notification appeared, Damon felt a shift—his understanding of Basic Magic had grown slightly. He blinked, taken aback for a brief second. His gaze flickered over his stats. That brought his total Attribute Points to 115. He decided to distribute them immediately. 30 points into Endurance. He would need as much stamina as possible. 85 points into Speed. Fighting here was a fool's errand—he needed to be fast enough to escape when necessary. He opened his system panel. He still had time before the enemy arrived, and he wanted to assess his stats and Mastery. [HP: 112/150] [Mana: 14,084/14,084] [Strength: 134] [Agility: 57] [Speed: 185] (+85) [Endurance: 65] (+30) [Class: —] [Shadow: 678] [Shadow Hunger Level: 2%] [Shadow Level: 7] [Condition: Shadow is Full] [Attribute: Umbra] [Skills:] [Remorseless] [Shadow Perception] [Water Celebration] [Sacrifice] [Shadow Control] [Parkour] [Shadow Armor] [Beholder's Gaze] [Dead Eye] [Spirit Affinity] [Ashborn] [Mastery:] [Etiquette Lv3] [Swordsmanship Lv1] [Survival Lv3] [Persuasion Lv2] [Deception Lv2] [Bartering Lv2] [Theft Lv3] [Archery Lv2] [Trap Lv2] [Alchemy Lv1] [Dagger Arts Lv2] [Cooking Lv2] [Basic Magic Lv1] [Mana Control Lv1] [Magic Bullet Lv1] [Locked] His Shadow Energy was at 678, but he was burning through it fast. He needed a permanent solution before it became a problem. Damon scanned his current Mastery list. Each one was a reflection of his life—his Etiquette was at level 3 because his mother had ingrained it into him. Swordsmanship was only level 1, since he had learned the basics from his father before being forced to survive on his own. Survival was at level 3, and for good reason—he was like a honey badger: tough to kill. Most of his skills came from the streets, picked up through necessity. Magic Bullet, however, was different. It was a spell he had created himself. It was only level 1 now, but he could already imagine how powerful it would become over time. He exhaled, his Shadow Perception picking up movement in all directions. They were coming. He needed to funnel them into one spot. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the perfumes and cosmetics he had taken from the girls earlier. Walking to the tree line, he set up a makeshift scarecrow, drenching it in perfume before slicing a rope, sending it dangling from the branches. The scent scattered through the air, spreading over the area. "That should keep them searching." By the time they realized there was nothing there, most of them would be gathered in one place—right in time for the hornets and Sandwood fruit to do the rest. With a final glance around, he raised his hand. His Omnidirectional Gear shot into the trees, propelling him upward. Within seconds, he was gone, leaving no trace behind.