Tenebrous Wolf

Upon reading the Information Hub on his smartphone, Klaus pressed his fingers to his chin, his thoughts growing more contemplative.

The Shadow Realm is indeed a mysterious place. According to the Information Hub, it's a land of death, devoid of any spark of life.

As expected, it's exactly what I imagined. But that last part... It makes me uneasy. If all kinds of beings exist there, then isn't it essentially a hellhole, full of monsters?

Perhaps that's why the death rate in the Shadow Realm is so damn high. If that's the case, it's even more dangerous than I thought.

Lost in thought, Klaus absentmindedly began to bite the tip of his fingernail.

At first, he thought he would be able to manage by entering his First Shadow World and conquering it by slaying weaker monsters. After all, it made sense to hunt smaller hollows. But he hadn't expected the Shadow Realm to be a world of absolute fairness.

That meant it wasn't just weak creatures he'd have to contend with, it was a land flooded with terrifying nightmares. And the hollows ranked at the top of the system were the apex predators, the alphas of the food chain.

What were the chances he'd run into one of them?

It didn't matter if he stumbled upon one by chance or accident; he'd be crushed before even realizing the danger.

Even if he avoided them, how was he supposed to deal with the weaker hollows? The logic that an alleyway thug would easily beat you in a fight didn't apply here. Sure, you might stand a chance against one or two thugs, but against a gang, you'd be overpowered. It was the same in the Shadow Realm, only, instead of thugs, he'd be facing Shadow Creatures capable of crushing boulders as though they were made of paper.

That was the horror of the Shadow Realm. No matter how you tried to avoid death, it was always a step ahead of you.

Klaus shivered as he fully grasped the reality of the Shadow Realm. He had seriously underestimated its dangers!

He truly understood the dangers!

What good was his primordial attribute if he couldn't even survive?

Honestly speaking, Klaus had never been much of a fighter. Before he awakened as an ascendant, he couldn't even hold his own in a street fight. He knew a few survival tips that might keep him alive in a pinch, but those wouldn't be much use in a real combat scenario.

Not only that, his mysticism ability, [Adaptation], wasn't even combat-focused. From what he could gather, it was likely designed to ensure his survival, but that was about it. Perhaps aside from helping him adjust to different environments or situations, it wouldn't provide any additional benefits or combat advantage. In other words, it wouldn't make him any stronger or faster in a fight.

Therefore, he had to look for ways he could survive on his own.

It looks like I have to carefully plan thoroughly before I step into the Shadow World. But first, I have to test my new strength somewhere. The park should be okay, right?

With that thought, Klaus cast a brief glance at the still-sleeping Briar before making his decision.

He grabbed a black hoodie, slipped it on over his shirt, and stepped out of his apartment, locking the door behind him. His room was on the third floor, numbered [26]. The building resembled a school dormitory in structure, except it lacked an elevator.

His school had its own dorms, and staying there would have saved him the cost of rent, an undeniable advantage. But in the end, Klaus valued his freedom more. No curfews, no rules, and most importantly, no one hovering over him.

But that choice only made his life harder.

Maybe I should've just stayed in the school dorm back then.

Klaus sighed, shoving his hands into his hoodie pockets as he went down the staircase and stepped out of the apartment complex.

Fifteen minutes later, he arrived at the park, where several residents of District 12 were exercising, walking, or simply relaxing.

Though already warmed up, he stretched out of habit.

Although I'm not able to use my spirit power, I should be able to exercise my new physique.

As an Ascendant, he was no longer the same as ordinary humans. Even as an Apprentice, the lowest rank for Ascendants, that fact remained unchanged.

If he intended to challenge the Shadow Realm, he first needed to understand his own strength and limits. Only then could he improve and plan his next move for survival.

As the old saying went, how could one take on any challenge without first knowing themselves?

With that thought, Klaus cleared his mind of distractions and gathered strength in his legs.

Then, he leaped forward.

With a 'whoosh', his body shot through the air, soaring a few meters before landing lightly on the ground.

The children, adults, and elderly in the park who witnessed this were stunned.

"M-Mom, that person just disappeared and reappeared!"

"Shh! Don't point! He might be an Ascendant."

"Whoa! Did you see that? He jumped so high!"

"Is he really human?"

"Mom, I want to be like him when I grow up!"

"Yes, yes… If you awaken, Mom will be proud."

That was a lie. No loving parent in this world would truly wish for their child to become an Ascendant, knowing that most never even survived their First Shadow World. She likely said it only to avoid shattering her child's dream.

Hearing those murmurs, Klaus chose to ignore them and fell into deep thought, sinking into his reverie.

That's really surprising. I didn't expect to be this fast. So this is the benefit of awakening, huh?

It's not that I've become stronger, I don't believe that. Humans are usually limited by their own bodies, unable to wield their full potential.

An example of this was an article I read once where a mother lifted a car to save her child. But that was just a momentary burst of strength, driven by adrenaline.

What if that power could be controlled at will? Was that the principle behind awakening?

The more Klaus thought about it, the more it made sense. That would explain why an Ascendant's body was reconstructed upon awakening, to break past human limitations and wield greater power freely.

After all, to ascend meant to surpass. Any restriction shackling a person's true potential was discarded, crushed beneath the weight of evolution.

That was what it truly meant to become an Ascendant.

In that moment, Klaus realized he could wield the full extent of his strength, the power that had always existed within his human body, without any consequences or setbacks.

This meant he was currently beyond any Olympic athlete.

Realising this, Klaus smiled excitedly and threw a fierce punch forward.

His fist sliced through the air with a 'whoosh', stopping just short of the empty space in front of him. The raw power behind the motion sent a small gust outward as if parting the wund.

Klaus stared at his own knuckles, feeling the faint tremor of energy coursing through them.

Incredible… This is far beyond what I expected.

He clenched and unclenched his hand as his mind spiralled with possibilities. If just a simple punch could generate such force, then what about a real attack executed with intent?

Kicking might be a better test…

He shifted his stance, planting his left foot firmly on the ground while swinging his right leg forward in a snap kick. The movement was effortless, too effortless. His foot cut through the air like a whip, producing a distinct crack as it struck nothing but the wind.

The onlookers who had already noticed him before reacted even more dramatically.

"Holy crap, did you hear that? That sound was insane!"

"I think he could break a wall with a kick like that…"

"Mom, he's so cool!"

Klaus exhaled, lowering his leg and assessing his balance. He didn't feel winded at all. In fact, he felt… Lighter. Stronger. Flexible.

His muscles were operating at peak efficiency, like a well-oiled machine.

No, more than that, this isn't just about efficiency. My body has evolved beyond human limits. I'm truly an Ascendant now, huh?

His excitement flared, but he quickly suppressed it.

Getting carried away was dangerous, especially when he still had no idea how strong the creatures lurking in the Shadow Realm truly were.

With that in mind, Klaus looked around the park. The humans nearby were nothing more than spectators, but he needed something more substantial to test his limits. His gaze eventually landed on a tall tree.

Perfect. That should do.

He approached it, placing a palm against the bark. The tree was thick and solid, the kind that would take multiple swings of an axe or chainsaw to cut down.

He took a step back, inhaled deeply, then drove his fist forward.

A dull thud echoed as his knuckles connected. The impact caused the entire tree to shudder, sending a cascade of leaves fluttering from its branches. A visible dent formed where he struck, and the bark cracked.

Klaus rolled his wrist. His knuckles ached slightly, but not as much as they should have. A punch like that should have split the skin or even fractured bone, instead, it barely left a mark.

Hmm… Interesting.

He glanced at the tree, noting the deep dent in its bark. I thought that punch would shatter it completely, but this is all I managed?

Still, he couldn't exactly complain. After all, how many humans could leave a mark like this with a single punch?

Not even the world's strongest man could break down trees with his bare fists.

The thought of testing himself further crossed his mind, and for a moment, he considered heading to the gym. But he quickly dismissed the idea.

After gauging his strength, he realized that a regular gym would be pointless as every weight there would feel like nothing to an Ascendant like him.

Ah, What about the junkyard?

The idea struck him suddenly, and the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. Unlike a park, the city's junkyard had plenty of discarded objects he could use to test his strength like abandoned cars, rusted refrigerators, and other heavy scrap that no one would miss.

Just as he was considering it, movement in the park caught his attention. People had started pulling out their smartphones.

"Shit! Not good!" Klaus panicked. The last thing he wanted was for his face to end up plastered all over the internet.

Like a criminal caught red-handed, he turned and bolted.

In just a few strides, he had already put a significant distance between himself and the onlookers. By the time they fumbled to open their camera apps, he was already long gone.

"Wow. He's fast!"

"Is he some kind of horse? As expected of an Ascendant."

"Damn, I wish I at least got a picture."

Some were awestruck, while others sighed in disappointment.

It wasn't every day that they saw an Ascendant casually displaying their abilities in public. In fact, most Ascendants avoided attention altogether, making sightings like this all the more intriguing to ordinary people.

After ensuring he had successfully escaped, Klaus finally slowed down as he reached the junkyard.

"... Hah... Hah..."

The distance between the park and the junkyard was considerable, but despite sprinting the entire way, he wasn't particularly exhausted. A little tired, maybe, but nothing serious.

However, he soon encountered an unexpected problem.

The gate is locked?

Klaus frowned at the chained iron gate. He had planned to go wild here, but with the entrance sealed, he was left wondering how to proceed.

Then, an idea popped into his head. It was bold, reckless, and exactly the kind that excited him.

What if I just jump over it?

Breaking the gate was obviously a no-go, but nowhere did it say he couldn't go over it.

He was completely misinterpreting the situation, but that didn't matter. What mattered was the rush of excitement coursing through him.

He was eager to test his strength!

Klaus adjusted his centre of gravity, crunched down a little, and then gathered strength into his legs for the massive leap. His muscles tensed in anticipation, his heart pounding, not from exertion, but from sheer exhilaration.

And then, He pushed off the ground.

A powerful burst of force propelled him upward, the wind rushing past as he soared over the locked gate to spare. For a split second, he reveled in the feeling of weightlessness, before gravity pulled him back down.

Thud!

He landed smoothly on the other side, crouching to absorb the impact.

Klaus straightened, brushing the dust off his clothes, a wide grin spreading across his face.

"Not bad," he muttered, flexing his fingers. His body felt light, responsive, and more importantly, powerful.

"Now then, let's move on to the next phase of testing."

His gaze swept across the junkyard, taking in the scattered wreckage of old cars, rusted machinery, and heaps of discarded metal. As expected, there was plenty of useful junk, perfect for breaking.

Excitement buzzed through him as he cracked his knuckles. He needed to push his limits, to see what his body was truly capable of. There was no better testing ground than this.

His eyes landed on a rusted sedan with shattered windows, its frame barely holding together.

That'll do.

Without hesitation, he clenched his fist and took a step forward. Then, with his clenched fist, he threw a punch straight at the car's hood.

BOOM!

The impact sent a deep tremor through the vehicle. Metal crumpled inward as if struck by a wrecking ball, the sound of shattering glass echoing through the empty lot.

Klaus blinked. He hadn't even used his full strength.

A slow, satisfied grin spread across his face.

"This... is going to be fun."