AK : RISING MYTHIC

Arslan grabbed his dark bow and summoned his shadow blades.

> "Let's go," he said.

> "Then we move with a plan," Kar'Thael said. "Don't get surrounded. Use high ground. Use your Phantoms. Your Black Halo can weaken multiple enemies at once."

Arslan leapt from the balcony and dashed toward the chaos.

---

Battle in the Lower Districts

By the time Arslan arrived, parts of Runehollow — the lower district — were already engulfed in flames. He saw a group of goblins chasing a family into an alley.

Without hesitation, he summoned the Phantom Rift — dashing forward with shadow copies that confused the goblins. As they turned to strike the wrong version of him, Arslan's real self appeared in their blind spot and slashed through them with his dark blades.

> "Efficient," Kar'Thael noted. "You're learning."

Then he heard it — Nirela's voice in the distance. She was pinned down behind a crumbling wall with Yuna and Seris.

"More coming from the west!" Nirela shouted.

Arslan rushed toward them, using the Black Halo to create a defensive zone. The goblins that entered it slowed down, their attacks weaker. Arslan picked them off one by one.

"Arslan!" Nirela shouted in surprise. "You—!"

"No time," he cut her off. "Group up and push north. I'll cover the rear."

"Just go we have no time " Arslan said

Yuna nodded. "Understood"

> "This is the test," Kar'Thael whispered. "And it's only just begun."

Arslan dashed across the burning stone path with Nirela, Yuna, and Seris behind him. The city's northern district, once calm with gardens and fountains, now roared with chaos. Imps flung scorching fireballs from rooftops, while goblins spilled into streets from sewer holes like corrupted rats.

The people of Lumisgrave screamed and scattered as explosions echoed through the streets. One child cried out, pinned under debris until Yuna knelt beside him, sending a pulse of green healing energy through her palms to lift the rubble and cradle the boy to safety.

"We need to hold this route!" shouted Seris, launching a toxin-infused whip into a cluster of goblins, dissolving two on contact.

"They just keep coming!" Nirela yelled, back-to-back with Arslan as he summoned a dark blade to parry a goblin axe.

> "Kar'Thael!" Arslan shouted in his mind, sweat dripping down his jaw. "There are too many!"

> "Then use it," Kar'Thael replied calmly. "Time to test the first combination skill."

> "Right now?!"

> "Now, Arslan. Let's see what you've learned."

---

Skill Initiated: Phantom Halo Barrage

Arslan took a deep breath and leapt onto a high stone ledge above the street. He clenched his fists.

First, Dark Bow — a flash of black energy formed into a shimmering longbow in his hands. He pulled back the string, notched with a glowing arrow.

Next, Shadow Blades — five ghost-like blades floated behind him, each humming with destructive power.

Then — Black Halo. A ring of dark flame spun around his feet, spreading outward in a faint, smoky radius that slowed all enemies within.

"Everyone, get behind me!" Arslan shouted to his team.

Yuna, Nirela, and Seris didn't hesitate. They fell back as Arslan's energy surged.

"Steady… aim… release," Kar'Thael whispered.

Arslan let the arrow fly — but instead of one shot, the shadow blades split into dozens of spectral arrows, riding the shockwave of the Dark Bow's discharge.

They rained down like a storm of void needles, piercing through goblins, slicing wings off imps, and igniting small bursts wherever the Black Halo touched them.

In seconds, the street was silent.

Over thirty enemies lay defeated, smoking and motionless.

---

> "Damn…" Nirela whispered, stunned.

> "You wiped them all out..." Seris added, speechless.

> "He wasn't lying when he said he trains alone," Yuna murmured, watching Arslan land quietly beside them.

Arslan stood still for a moment, catching his breath. His body ached, but a flicker of satisfaction shone in his eyes.

> "You're improving," Kar'Thael said inside him. "That technique wasn't perfect... but it was deadly."

> "It worked," Arslan replied in his mind. "That's all I needed."

> "You're learning how to fight like me."

Farther down the street, magical sigils lit the sky. Cracking thunder echoed as other Echelon Knights arrived.

A group of five Omega Knights descended from the upper tier, flanked by two Apex warriors in golden armor. One of them held a warhammer that left trails of electricity with every swing.

"We've been ordered to assist!" called one Apex Knight. "Push back from the fountain district and force them into the canyon wall!"

Arslan nodded. "We've cleared this street. They're bottlenecked on the east side!"

Nirela stepped forward. "We'll regroup with the second wave and assist civilians in the healer tents!"

Yuna and Seris ran ahead with her, leading a group of Knights to defend the medical shelters forming near the cathedral walls.

--

Arslan turned to Kar'Thael. "I want to finish this."

> "Then let me show you one more trick," Kar'Thael replied. "Use your shield—like a blade."

Arslan summoned the Dark Shield, but instead of keeping it raised for defense, he spun it outward like a boomerang. Kar'Thael twisted the shadow with him, extending it mid-air with spikes.

It cleaved through three goblins in a single arc.

> "Now you're thinking like a weapon," Kar'Thael smirked.

Now all the Goblins and Imps are wiped out.

The civilians are safe now but a few are killed by Goblins and Imps...

Silence fell across the ruins of the battlefield. Smoke curled into the air from shattered ground, and the stench of blood, dust, and scorched energy still lingered. Dozens of goblin and imp bodies lay strewn across the streets of Lumisgrave, slowly dissolving into black ash. Victory belonged to the Echelon Knights and Mythics — but at a heavy price.

And among the collapsed fighters… was Arslan.

After eliminating over thirty goblins and imps with a single, vicious execution of his first combination skill — blending his dark bow, blades, shield, and precision movement — Arslan's body had finally hit its limit. His knees had buckled. His aura flickered and dimmed. And then, he fell.

The next thing Arslan knew, he was in a place he hadn't seen in days — the Medical Ward of the Mythic Base.

Soft white sheets covered his body. The ceiling above was smooth and glowing with gentle, bluish light, casting calm across the ward. The scent of dried herbs, salves, and healing crystals filled the air. For a few moments, he lay still, trying to collect the fragmented memories of the chaos he had fought through.

Just as he attempted to sit up, a voice broke the quiet.

"He's awake!" called Yuna Solthrae, rushing over with a relieved smile. Beside her, Vaelith Ren, Elyra Thorne, and Tharion Vale followed.

"You're alive, man," Tharion grinned, folding his arms. "We were starting to think you pushed yourself into a coma."

Arslan groaned as he sat upright. His muscles felt heavy, and his bones ached. "Just tired," he muttered. "Hard work tends to do that."

"Hard work?" Elyra said with a chuckle. "You nearly tore the battlefield in half. Whatever that new move was — it worked. Thirty enemies in one sweep? Even Apex knights were turning to look at you."

Vaelith nodded calmly. "You fought with purpose. Controlled, yet ruthless. That's rare for someone with shadow-type powers. You've improved."

Yuna gently placed her hand over Arslan's wrist, her healing aura faintly glowing. "No major damage, just extreme fatigue and energy loss. You'll be fine after some rest."

Arslan nodded faintly. His gaze lowered. "I didn't want anyone else to get hurt… that's all."

There was a small silence. A respectful one.

Then the rest of the Mythics gradually smiled, offering light words and nods before stepping back.

"You've earned your rest," said Vaelith, before he and the others quietly turned to leave.

Nirela was the last to move. She lingered just near the edge of the curtain. Her eyes held something between pride and worry — something she couldn't put into words. But in the end, she just gave a faint nod and walked out with the others.

As the curtain fell back into place, Arslan laid back against the pillow.

Inside his mind, Kar'Thael whispered playfully, "Quite the little hero now, aren't we?"

Arslan smirked weakly. "I only did what had to be done."

"Still… you impress me."

Arslan replied "Thank you Kar'Thael". The weight of his limbs began to pull him into sleep again.

And this time, he allowed himself to rest.