Leo walked back toward the camp, looking down at the printer cradled in his hands.
His mind drifted to the endless black void, the massive rotating sphere, and the strange connection he had finally managed to forge.
A faint smile touched his lips.
Just as he had opened his eyes earlier, details of two newly unlocked skills had flooded his mind. He hadn’t had a chance to examine them properly yet.
He glanced at the crate beside him, hauled it up, and carried it into Storm.
Once inside, he set the printer on the floor.
"Storm, connect this printer to your system. Can you do that, or do you need something else?"
"No problem, Master."
Mechanical hands emerged from the walls, carefully retrieving the printer and pulling it into a recessed hatch. Components unfolded and clicked into place. The printer integrated into Storm’s internal system within moments.
"Master, the connection is complete."
Leo nodded. "Good."
He pulled out a card and released it. A flash of light illuminated the room as a thick stack of blank paper materialized on the floor.
Reaching into his Void Pocket, Leo pulled out a book titled Introduction to Runes (Beginner). He placed the volume on top of the paper stack and turned toward the main console.
"Storm, I have a request."
"Yes, Master?"
"Since you can understand alien languages, can you help me translate the contents of this book?" Leo pointed to the cover. "I want you to translate the words and write their meanings on these papers using the printer."
A brief pause followed.
"Understood, Master. I will analyze the contents and begin translating them."
"Take your time," Leo said with a nod. "Accuracy is more important than speed."
"Understood."
Mechanical arms extended from the walls once more. One arm pried open the textbook while another calibrated the printer. A small overhead scanner unfolded, casting a pale light over the pages.
Leaving Storm to the task, Leo walked over to the bed and sat down.
He retrieved his Origin Card. Though the details of the two new techniques were already burned into his memory, he wanted to read through their actual system descriptions.
He focused on the surface of the card. Two new names glowed beneath his existing abilities: Void Bombs and Destructive Disc.
Leo raised an eyebrow. "Two skills at once..."
He selected the first option.
Void Skill – Void Bombs
Description:
A skill that condenses Void energy into small, unstable spheres. The spheres can float around the user or launch toward a target. Upon activation, they rapidly expand and burst, releasing a destructive wave of force. The user can control the size, count, and detonation timing based on skill mastery.
Abilities:
* Void Condensation: Condenses Void energy into small black spheres that can orbit the user or fly toward a target.
* Controlled Detonation: Allows the user to detonate the spheres at will, releasing concentrated bursts of destructive force.
* Variable Compression: Adjusts the size and density of each sphere. Smaller spheres are easier to craft and control; larger spheres consume more energy for greater explosive force.
* Multiple Deployment: Allows several spheres to be created and detonated independently, enabling attacks from multiple vectors.
Energy Consumption: Low to moderate, depending on sphere size and quantity.
Mastery: Beginner.
Leo stared at the card. "So those bubbles..."
He recalled the floating black spheres from his training. At the time, he hadn’t realized they belonged to a distinct skill; he had simply been manipulating the Void to grasp its core principles. Without realizing it, he had forged a whole new technique.
Leo raised his palm. A tiny black sphere coalesced above his skin, looking identical to the ones from earlier. He leaned in to inspect it.
Unlike Void Devour, this sphere didn’t consume the light and matter around it. Instead, it held a pocket of compressed Void energy.
He focused. The sphere expanded slightly, then burst.
POP!
A brief shockwave rippled through the air.
Leo created another sphere, making this one slightly larger, and pushed it a short distance away before triggering it.
POP!
The force was visibly stronger.
Leo smiled. The technique was versatile. He could circle an enemy with floating spheres and set them off in sequence, or use them to disrupt an opponent’s footwork. Still, their true killing power depended on how much Void energy he poured into each draft.
He dismissed the residual energy and looked back at the card. He selected the second skill.
Void Skill – Destructive Disc
Description:
Condenses a vast amount of Void energy into a rotating disc. The disc possesses a razor-sharp edge capable of severing dense physical matter and rending energy defenses. Once thrown, it travels along a fixed path, cutting through anything in its way. The user maintains its rotation through sustained focus.
Abilities:
* Void Compression: Compresses a large volume of Void energy into a thin, spinning disc.
* Destructive Rotation: The high-speed spin allows the disc to cut through high-durability materials.
* Piercing Force: Concentrated energy pierces defenses and disrupts energy-based barriers.
* Directed Release: Launches the disc toward a target.
Energy Consumption: Extremely high.
Required Energy: Approximately two-thirds of the user’s available Void energy.
Mastery: Beginner.
Leo’s face fell slightly. "Two-thirds?"
He reread the lines to make sure he hadn’t misread it. The energy cost was punishing. Using this attack meant burning through most of his reserves in a single throw, leaving him vulnerable if the hit failed to finish the fight.
He leaned back against the headboard. This isn’t something I can throw around casually.
The technique was pure offense. Where Void Bombs relied on blast radius, the disc focused its power along a razor-thin edge. It would slice clean through physical armor and, according to the breakdown, tear through energy barriers too.
Leo rubbed his chin. I wonder how much stronger it gets as mastery rises.
He looked over both skills one last time. Void Bombs gave him versatility and field control; Destructive Disc gave him raw, lethal output.
He would need to practice both, especially the disc. At his current rank, throwing away two-thirds of his energy pool was far too risky.
Leo stowed the Origin Card and glanced toward the workspace. A steady mechanical hum filled the room as Storm scanned the rune text.
"Storm, how long will the translation take?"
"Master , I can’t give you a specific time but I am trying my best "
"Alright. Let me know when it’s finished."
"Understood."
Leo leaned back and closed his eyes.
He had taken another step forward in understanding the Void. He had two new abilities to master, and a long road ahead before he could use them reliably.
For now, progress was enough.
After putting away his Origin Card, Leo leaned back against the bed.
He had spent quite some time examining his newly unlocked abilities. Between the breakthrough in his understanding of the Void and the effort of testing his new skills, he was beginning to feel tired.
He closed his eyes.
Before long, he drifted off to sleep.
...
Knock! Knock!
A series of knocks against the truck’s door pulled Leo out of his sleep.
He slowly opened his eyes and glanced toward the entrance.
Who’s that?
He sat up, rubbed his face, and got out of bed.
After walking over, he opened the door.
Jenny was standing outside.
She held a plate covered with a lid in both hands. A delicious aroma escaped from beneath it, making Leo realize that it was probably freshly cooked food.
He looked at her.
"What’s the matter?"
Jenny smiled.
"I brought you something."
She lifted the plate slightly.
"I used some of the meat Nina gave me to prepare a meal for you."
Leo glanced at the plate.
"Why?"
Jenny hesitated briefly before answering.
"Well... I wanted to thank you for saving my life earlier."
She smiled awkwardly.
"I didn’t really get the chance to thank you properly during all the chaos. So I thought I’d cook something for you."
Leo looked at her for a moment.
"There’s no need for that."
He shrugged.
"I only did what I was supposed to do as a member of the convoy."
Jenny’s smile gradually faded.
"Oh..."
She lowered the plate slightly.
For a moment, she seemed unsure what to say.
Then she turned around.
"Alright, I won’t bother you any longer."
She had only taken a step when Leo’s voice suddenly stopped her.
"Wait."
Jenny immediately turned around.
Leo glanced at the plate in her hands.
"At least leave the food before you go."
For a brief moment, Jenny froze.
Then the disappointment that had been written across her face disappeared.
A bright smile spread across her lips.
"Of course!"
She quickly stepped forward and handed him the plate.
"Here. Enjoy the meal."
Leo accepted it.
"Thanks."
Jenny nodded.
"You’re welcome."
With that, she turned around and walked away.
Her steps seemed a little lighter than before.
An unusual spring had entered her stride, though she might not even have noticed it herself.
Leo watched her leave for a moment before looking down at the plate.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Well, I suppose there’s no harm in accepting it.
He carried the food inside Storm and placed it on the small table.
After removing the lid, the aroma grew even stronger.
The meal looked surprisingly appetizing.
Leo picked up a fork and took a bite.
He chewed slowly.
Then he nodded in approval.
"Not bad."
He continued eating.