NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 9: The Chosen Wielder
[+10,000 Gold Coins Earned]
The system chimed in.
[Skill Copied Successfully from the Last Battle]
Name: Shadow Mirror
Oh, that's the Revenant Clone skill, huh? I muttered. I'm glad I got it—it'll help me in the future.
Then suddenly—
Ping.
[SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT]
DING—!
> You have reached the threshold.
Requirements met for: First Awakening.
> Alert: First Awakening Triggered.
> Warning: Awakening Delay Detected.
Most Players awaken at Level 20.
You have bypassed this milestone.
Awakening forcibly activated at Level 51.
"Awakening? What does that mean?" I asked.
> — The First Awakening is the moment a Player transcends the ordinary.
When stats become power.
When power shapes destiny.
Players achieve their First Awakening at Level 20.
Players achieve their Second Awakening at Level 40.
"What!?" I replied, stunned.
> In your case, you skipped both, Sherlock...
Warning: First Awakening forcibly triggered.
I didn't even have time to react.
The world didn't shimmer.
It snapped.
My knees buckled—not from weakness. No, this was something deeper. My bones felt like they were being rewritten, like the blueprint of my existence was being restructured on a molecular level.
Pain surged—not sharp, not screaming. Heavy. Like my body was being crushed under the weight of something it had no right to carry.
My heart slammed against my ribs—once. Twice.
Then it fell into a new rhythm.
Slower. Denser. Stronger.
> [Physical Framework Reconstructing...]
[Nervous System Accelerated.]
[Muscle Density Increased. Bone Reinforcement x10.]
I grit my teeth as my vision flickered—not from dizziness, but from clarity.
The world snapped into focus in ways I didn't know existed.
Every sound peeled apart.
Every movement slowed to a crawl.
I could hear my blood flowing.
I could feel the air shift with every breath—like the world itself was holding still just to watch me change.
> [Copied Skills detected — evolving to higher tier...]
[Permanent Skill: Copy Skill — Evolution Initiated.]
[Evolution Complete.]
["Copy Skill" has ascended to a Higher Rank.]
>Transcendent Copy
"The ability to copy a skill once, elevating it to a higher rank and doubling its power for a single use. While the skill can be copied again, it cannot transcend or double its rank again."
My skin prickled as dormant skills I didn't even remember learning began to stir—mutating, evolving, merging.
This wasn't just strength.
My body wasn't getting stronger.
It was getting smarter.
Then came the second wave.
My back slammed into the wall behind me—concrete cracked like glass, but I didn't fall.
I didn't even flinch.
My muscles didn't burn.
They tightened, coiled with purpose—like they were remembering a version of me that had always been waiting to wake up.
Not something new.
Something unleashed.
This... this was what I was meant to be.
> [Stat Limits Removed. Synchronizing Player and Physical Profile…]
I stood upright.
Breathing steady. Pulse calm.
But inside?
Everything had changed.
This wasn't a power-up.
This was an evolution.
> [Shared XP Protocol Unlocked.]
[Your growth now feeds your familiars.]
Crack.
A sharp, hollow sound—like an egg splitting open.
"Crack?" I muttered, head turning.
No. Not important.
Not yet.
Because for the first time, I understood something:
I didn't just level up.
I awakened.
I flexed my fingers—felt the weight behind every motion.
No magic.
No glowing runes.
No theatrics.
Just power.
Just precision.
Just me.
Different now.
And finally—ready.
> [SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT]
Copied Skill has transcended.
It has evolved into a higher-tier ability.
FlameGuard-Evolved Name: Blazing
Sentinel
Description:
Upon activation, a knight wreathed in flame is summoned—an elemental guardian born of the user's will. With a shield forged in magma and armor that burns with unwavering intensity, the Blazing Sentinel stands beside its summoner, defending them with unshakable loyalty and scorched steel.
Duration: 3 minutes
Cooldown: 20 minutes
PhoenixStep—Evolved Name: Meteor Ascent
Description:
The user launches forward like a blazing meteor, cloaked in searing flames and unstoppable momentum. Each dash scorches the earth and cracks the air, crashing into enemies with the force of a falling star—swift, radiant, and impossible to ignore.
Cooldown: 15 seconds. No duration—activates instantly upon use.
BlazingWrath—Evolved Name: Infernal Edge
Description:
The user coats their weapon in a concentrated flame aura, forging it into a blade of living fire. For 20 minutes, every swing scorches with infernal heat, leaving trails of burning light behind. The weapon becomes an extension of their will—fierce, relentless, and forged for close-combat destruction.
Duration: 20 minutes. Cooldown: 20 minutes.
Bloodrush—Evolved Name: Blood Frenzy
Description:
Upon activation, the user taps into their deepest reserves, entering a state of unbridled ferocity. For 5 attacks, all power stats are multiplied by 50x, allowing each strike to crush through defenses with overwhelming might. In this fleeting moment, speed, strength, and precision blend into a terrifying force. But once the fifth strike lands, the blood-fueled storm ends, leaving only exhaustion in its wake.
Limit: 5 attacks. Cooldown: 30 minutes.
IronFang Slash—Evolved Name: Iron Fang Cataclysm
Description:
The user channels the full weight of their strength into a single, devastating downward strike, the Iron Fang Cataclysm. Their weapon is infused with the crushing force of iron, delivering a blow that can shatter the ground and obliterate anything in its path. The impact creates a shockwave of force, knocking back enemies within a wide radius, and leaving the earth itself trembling. Only those with unyielding endurance can withstand the full fury of the strike.
Cooldown: 2 minutes.
Quickstep—Evolved Name: Phantom Dash
Description:
The user moves with supernatural speed, blurring into a streak of motion. In an instant, they dash a great distance, leaving behind a faint shadow that mimics their last position for a brief moment. Enemies who are caught within this shadow's proximity may be misled or confused, giving the user the perfect opportunity to strike or retreat. The shadow lasts for a few seconds before fading into nothingness.
Cooldown: 15 seconds.
FocusPulse—Evolved Name: Ultra Focus
Description:
Ultra Focus is the pinnacle of Focus Pulse, where the user enters an Ultra Instinct-like state for 10 seconds. In this heightened state, the user can anticipate and counter every enemy movement with flawless precision. Their body reacts before the enemy can even think, performing a flurry of strikes in rapid succession—each hit landing before the enemy can even launch their own attack. Time slows around them as they become an unstoppable force, capable of reading the battlefield with perfect clarity.
Duration: 10 seconds. Cooldown: 5 minutes.
SerpentReflex—Evolved Name: Serpent's Vengeance
Description:
The evolved form of Serpent Reflex, Serpent's Vengeance, turns the user's counter into a near-instantaneous lethal strike. When the user is attacked, they can now counter with a precise, devastating blow that not only intercepts the enemy's attack but amplifies the damage by hitting critical weak points. The counterattack is swift, almost too fast to be perceived, and leaves the enemy unable to react or defend. This refined reflex allows the user to punish their opponent for their mistakes, often ending the fight with a single, deadly strike.
Cooldown: 3 minutes
ShadowMirror—Evolved Name: Abyssal Reflection
Description:
Abyssal Reflection is the evolved form of Shadow Mirror, where the shadows not only duplicate the user's skills and stats, but also amplify them slightly, making the counterattack more lethal. When activated, the user's skills and stats are mirrored and enhanced by the shadows, resulting in a powerful counteroffensive that strikes with the same speed and strength but with added intensity. After the attack is made, or if the user is struck, the shadow vanishes into the void, leaving behind no trace of its existence. The mirror reflects both offensive and defensive actions, making the user a near-impossible target to outmaneuver.
Cooldown: 15 minutes
DING—
User's HP has been enchanced
HP: 1000%
[System Announcement]
"Attention, all participants: The Mana Points (MP) system has been removed!
From this moment forward, your skills and abilities will no longer be limited by MP. Unleash your full potential without fear of running dry.
The battlefield is now purely about skill, strategy, and power. Feel the rush of combat as you fight with no restraints—every move, every attack, is now your choice.
"I guess this announcement is meant for players who've reached the First Awakening..."
[Awakening Complete]
So mana's no longer the problem. Just the cooldown now, huh… That's manageable.
"After the awakening, I went hunting—to see what my newly evolved skills could really do."
"Once I awakened, I needed to know just how far I'd come. So I hunted."
Obviously, I needed weapons first—no point hunting without efficiency.
Before I could hunt, I had to gear up. Efficiency matters.
I wasn't about to hunt monsters barehanded. First, I needed weapons—something efficient.
"System. Open shop."
The Celestial Shop interface materialized, displaying various weapons. I scrolled through the list, eyes narrowing as I assessed each one.
I'm definitely more suited to handling swords," I muttered, my fingers brushing over the list. My preference had always been a blade—something about its weight, its precision. Guns and magic were efficient, but nothing beat the feeling of a sword in your hand.
My fingers paused on the gold balance in the corner of the screen—10,000 gold. Not a fortune, but more than enough to get me something useful.
"I don't need anything too extravagant," I muttered to myself. "I'll stick to the 5,000 gold range."
I wasn't about to splurge all at once, not when I needed to be strategic with my resources. The higher-end swords could wait. For now, I needed something efficient, something reliable.
[Celestial Shop – Weapon Category: Swords]
5,000- (cheapskate)
1. Oblivion's Edge
Status Effect: Sacrificial Power – While equipped, the user can choose to sacrifice 15 health points to boost their attack power by 15% for 20 seconds. The user can activate this effect multiple times, but each time it sacrifices health, the damage boost increases by an additional 5% (up to a maximum of 30% boost). The user's health cannot drop below 10% through this effect.
Skill: Soul Devourer – Upon striking an enemy, the sword consumes 20% of the enemy's current health and transfers it to the wielder as healing. This skill only activates when the user sacrifices health on the strike, making each attack a strategic decision.
2. Thunderstrike
Status Effect: Electrocharge – Every successful strike has a 20% chance to electrify the target, dealing lightning damage over 5 seconds and stunning them for 1 second.
Skill: Storm Surge – Unleashes a powerful bolt of lightning in a straight line, dealing massive electric damage and paralyzing all enemies hit for 2 seconds.
3. Steelheart
Status Effect: Unyielding Resolve – While equipped, the sword grants the wielder 10% increased health regeneration and reduces incoming damage by 5%.
Skill: Heart of Steel – When activated, the sword gives the wielder a temporary shield that absorbs up to 30% of their max health in damage for 10 seconds.
4. Frostmourne
Status Effect: Chill Touch – Each hit has a 20% chance to freeze the target in place for 1 second, reducing their movement speed by 30% for 5 seconds.
Skill: Glacial Cleave – The wielder strikes with the sword, sending out a wave of freezing ice that deals cold damage and slows all enemies in its path for 3 seconds.
> [System Notification: "He Who Fell From Olympus" is observing you.]
5. "Slipstream"
Status Effect: Blur – While sprinting, the user becomes 30% harder to detect, perfect for stealth or repositioning.
Skill: Whirl Cut – A high-speed circular slash that lets the user dash around the target, slashing them twice and returning to original position.
6. Shadowstep
Status Effect – Phantom Veil: After dodging, become invisible for 1 second and gain +15% movement speed for 3 seconds.
Skill – Reposition: Teleport to a chosen shadow within 10 meters. If you strike from stealth within 3 seconds, deal +40% damage. Cooldown: 12s.
> [System Notification: "He Who Fell from Olympus" is recommending a weapon.]
7. Dashcleaver
Status Effect – Momentum Flow: Each hit reduces the cooldown of your dashes by 1 second and increases movement speed by 2% for 4 seconds (stackable).
Skill – Momentum Cut: Dash forward and cleave upward. Light enemies are launched into the air. Hitting airborne targets deals double damage. Cooldown: 10s.
8. Gravetail
Status Effect – Graviton Pressure:
Each successful hit increases gravitational force on the target by 10%, stacking up to 10 times.
At max stacks, the enemy's movement speed is halved, jumping is disabled, and they take +15% melee damage.
Skill – Mass Reversal:
Releases a sudden burst of gravity in a cone-shaped knockback, flinging enemies away with force scaling by current stack count.
At max stacks, enemies are knocked back twice as far and are stunned for 2 seconds if they hit a surface.
Cooldown: 15 seconds.
> [System Notification: "He Who Fell from Olympus" is annoyed.]
Hmm??
Before I could even process it, the next message came through, practically dripping with sarcasm.
> [System Notification: "He Who Fell from Olympus" says:
'Really? A mortal choosing a weapon? This is like watching a toddler pick out their first knife. You sure you're not better off with a pool noodle instead?']
I stared at the screen, mouth agape. "Is this guy for real?"
> [System Notification: "He Who Fell from Olympus" says:
'Don't worry, I won't judge you too hard when you choose the dullest sword. It's not like you'll last long enough to see how useless it is anyway.']
> [System Notification: "He Who Fell from Olympus" offers you a weapon for 8,000 gold.]
I raised an eyebrow at the notification.
"8,000 gold for a weapon? Is this weapon dipped in actual gold, or are you just charging me for the privilege of surviving?"
> [System Notification: "He Who Fell from Olympus" says:
'You think 8,000 gold is steep? Don't blame me. Some kid up here spent all my gold on sparkles and candy. Now I'm practically broke. But hey, for you, I'll throw in a discount. Aren't I generous?']
I raised an eyebrow, still processing the whole "discount" thing.
"Alright, alright. If you're giving me a 'discount,' what weapon are we talking about here?"
> [System Notification: "He Who Fell from Olympus" says:
'Alright, alright, don't get too excited. I'm giving you a discount, so don't go crying when it's too powerful for your mortal hands.
The Blades of Olympus—the real deal.
Status Effect – Wrath of the Gods: Every hit marks your target with the Godly Mark, making them take 10% more damage from anything for 5 seconds.
Skill – Olympus' Might: You can unleash a dual strike with the strength of gods, dealing AoE damage and giving yourself a 20% attack buff for 10 seconds. Cooldown? 20 seconds.
There, happy now? 8,000 gold, but I gave you a special discount. Don't mess this up.']
I blinked at the notification, my jaw nearly dropping.
"Wait, the Blades of Olympus? You're offering me that?"
I stared at the system, trying to wrap my head around what was happening. The Blades of Olympus were legendary—a weapon that could tear through gods themselves—and now it was in my hands, all because some kid spent the god's gold on candy.
I couldn't believe what I was seeing. The Blades of Olympus. Legendary, powerful, a weapon that could shatter mountains—offered to me, like it was some common sword.
"Alright, alright, I get it. I'm practically dying to have this, huh?" I muttered, shaking my head in disbelief.
I didn't hesitate. I tapped the screen and transferred the 8,000 gold without a second thought. The moment I confirmed the purchase, the air around me seemed to shift, the atmosphere growing heavier.
A sudden rush of power coursed through me, and before I could process it, the notification appeared.
> [System Notification: "Blades of Olympus" have recognized you as their worthy wielder. A bond forged in destiny has been established.]
My hand trembled slightly as the sword materialized before me, its blade gleaming with a cold, divine light. But before I could even wrap my fingers around the hilt, a deep, ancient voice echoed inside my mind.
Then, as if on cue, another system notification popped up, and the god's voice came through, dripping with a mix of surprise and smugness.
> [System Notification: "He Who Fell from Olympus" says:
'Just as I thought... You really are the one. Well, this will be interesting.']