Soul Warlock: Reviving with a Flawed Legendary Legacy

Ezra instantly regretted his decision to join her.

'Shit, she has been looking for a way to kill me, and now this white thief has the perfect excuse,' he grumbled inwardly. 'With the strength I witnessed when she fought against Jude, this white thief will easily kill me with my low Physical stats.'

Brenna frowned. "Why are you silent again?" 

'Damn you and silence!' Ezra cursed her inwardly, his brow twitching.

Realizing he couldn't avoid it, he inhaled deeply and summoned Silver Edge, adjusting his stance.

Seraphina and Selene created some space between them.

"Amateur stance," Brenna criticized, raising her completely black blade, sharp on one side.

"Ready?" she asked.

Ezra nodded, locking onto her blade while sending his spirit body closer to study her movements.

'Blocking the blade is suicidal, but deflecting it should be possible. However, deflecting a powerful strike requires finesse, strength, and precise timing. What did that martial teacher say… the weakest power is closer to the tip…'

Ezra narrowed his eyes, losing every ounce of playfulness as his senses sharpened. He felt the slightest movement of his hair. His spirit body watched Brenna intently, every fiber of his muscles taut as he clasped his sword with both hands.

Brenna suddenly glanced around, as if sensing an intrusive gaze, but upon seeing nothing, she focused back on Ezra.

Without a word, she dashed at him, whipping her sword in a horizontal strike.

No technique or fancy play—only speed and power.

Ezra, his gaze locked on the sword and his own blade raised, remained still, intently watching as the blade drew closer.

When it was just a few inches away, he tilted his body toward the tip, raising his blade in a vertical position while using the flat surface near the hilt to meet the incoming sword. His focus never wavered, despite the speed of the strike.

As the blade was about to make contact, he flicked his wrist, jabbing and tilting her sword slightly upward with his sword guard while angling his blade to align the flat surfaces.

Brenna's sword screeched over his blade, releasing sparks as it slid across the surface.

Ezra's hands trembled even after the block.

Brenna nodded in approval. "Nice technique and keen observation, but… why are you weak? I reduced the power to the Second Order. Are you still a First Order Mortal?" Brenna asked with a frown. 

Ezra exhaled and straightened up, ignoring her last statement.

"I'm feeling exhausted. I need to leave," he said calmly.

"Alright. This party is a free one, and I won't babysit either of you. However, I will inform you when a hunting crusade is scheduled, and one is coming in a week or two," Brenna said impassively.

"What is a hunting crusade?" Ezra asked.

"Do your research. I already said I won't babysit you," she shot him down.

Nodding, Ezra began to leave. His entire body ached; enduring high-intensity battles since his arrival with low Physical stats had been draining.

"We're leaving," Selene quickly said, pulling Seraphina with her as they exited.

The three walked in silence.

"So you have Silver Edge?" Seraphina chuckled.

"Miss Aliya lent it to me. It seems like there's a big story behind the blade," Ezra replied calmly, not in the mood to talk.

They entered the windowless black house and spotted the black crystal sitting in the middle.

Using the Beacon, they returned to the room in the Council Association.

Upon exiting, they saw the receptionist who had led them when they came out.

"Congratulations on making it out alive," she said with a calm smile. "Now that you've returned, I will inform you of what you need to do for your Haven. You have only one obligation: protect the Beacon in your Haven from invading monsters with everything you've got, or it will cause a catastrophe in our world."

The trio nodded.

"The male bathroom is to your left with clothes, while the female is in the opposite direction." She pointed the way.

"Thank you, Miss Kate," Ezra said with a smile.

"You know my name?" she asked in surprise.

"I heard someone calling," he chuckled before turning to the girls. "See you around."

Ezra went to the bathroom, took a long shower, and changed into a black tracksuit. He quickly ran his fingers, which rivaled a comb, through his messy black hair, neatly arranging it.

After thanking the receptionist, Ezra returned home and enjoyed a long, peaceful sleep without changing.

When he woke up, it was still dark outside.

He was still dressed in the tracksuit Kate had kept for him. He went outside and leaned against the railing, watching the surrounding rundown buildings and the distant lights shimmering in the active part of the city; his location was in the slum area, which was underdeveloped.

The cool wind brushed against his skin.

Sucking in a breath, Ezra began to reflect on his situation.

'I don't think I can survive with such low Physical and Constitution stats. I won't delude myself into thinking it will get better, because I know it will only worsen when I break through to the Third Order. What I need is to maximize my advantages…'

Ezra started compiling his advantages in his mind:

'I have a very high Will, which grants me strong mental fortitude and enhances my multitasking ability. It also provides me with a strange perception. I remember, even when Brenna's blade was moving incredibly fast, I could still pick up on subtle changes as if I were right beside it. Perhaps this is the effect of focusing with my eyes and the sight of my spirit body. But I suspect it's tied to my high Will.

My second advantage is [Bane of Existence]. Once my sword draws blood, the living creature goes into shock. I saw some Tank Tarantulas that died from the shock. All of this points to one thing about my body: potent attack power but paper-thin defense. How can I maximize my advantages to stay alive?'

Ezra's eyes widened. "Wait! I should have received gear after the number of Tank Tarantulas I killed."

He quickly pulled up his Elite System Panel:

–––

[Name]: Ezra

[Class]: Soul Warlock 

[Race]: Human

[Bloodline]: None

[Rank]: Mortal

[Order]: Second

[Soul Vitalis]: 54

[Mana]: 1/100

 > Physical: 2

 > Constitution: 1

 > Will: 28

[Skills]: [Bane of Existence], [Soul Reflection], [Stasis], [Ethereal Dominion], [Soul Covenant (25% Unsealed)]

[Gear]: [Shadow Hunter], [Silver Blade] [Metal Arm] 

–––

"I received it, but only one gear? When I killed that Second Order Shadowhunter at the ruin site, I received only one Soul Vitalis. I got the same amount when I killed the First Order Crab, which means I killed 52 Tank Tarantulas to add to my previous 2 Soul Vitalis. And still, I only got one gear. Looks like I've run out of luck," Ezra whispered as he opened the description.

–––

[Metal Arm]

[Rank: Mortal] 

[Order: First Order] 

[Type: Weapon (Add-on)]

[Description: Add +2 Physical to the arm!]

–––

"Oh!" Ezra's brow creased before he shook his head. "It's perfect for the First Order, but in my hands, it will only make me slightly stronger. All Second Order Mortal ranks have Physical stats beyond 10. Except..."

Light gleamed in his eyes. "... I could kill that Tank Tarantula that nearly destroyed my arm and get a Second Order Metal Arm."

However, he quickly shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.

'The chances of dropping a gear are very low, and it won't improve my body constitution. I might as well look for armor. Bane of Existence already compensates for my lack of physical strength, except for agility. What I need is constitution.'

Thinking this through, his eyes roamed his panel. Suddenly, his gaze froze on the gear: '[Shadow Hunter].'

A smile broke across his lips.

"Since I can't improve my constitution but have potent damage, why not avoid direct confrontation?"