Crag’s eyes bulged like a pair of copper bells.

  His mouth hung wide enough to fit his own fist inside.

  What had he just seen?

  Teleportation?

  The kid had clearly been standing right there.

  The air around his body distorted for a mere flicker of an instant, and then he appeared ten meters away!

  This completely exceeded the limits of Crag’s understanding of this world—and of bloodline abilities.

  This wasn't technology.

  It certainly wasn't some native talent.

  Was this... magic?

  Kane himself was stunned.

  He looked down at his hands, feeling the two distinct energies within his body settle after their collision.

  His heart hammered against his ribs from the sheer rush of excitement.

  It wasn't teleportation.

  The sensation just now felt more like the power of [ Phase Burrow ] had forcibly bound him to the concept of the "earth," while the explosive force of [ Aerial Step ] provided the direction and thrust.

  The combination allowed him to complete a "spatial shuttle" across the ground that ignored all physical inertia!

  Hum—

  In his mind, a clear stream of information surfaced out of nowhere.

  A surge of wild joy erupted from the depths of Kane’s heart like molten lava!

  So that’s it...

  That’s how it works!

  The true application of The Five-Star Soul Seal!

  It wasn't about simply stacking the number of skills.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  It was about combining different skills to create entirely new, higher-tier abilities!

  "Two Green skills... can combine into one Blue skill!"

  Kane instantly seized the bolt of inspiration flashing through his mind.

  He understood the key to everything.

  He forcibly suppressed his roiling emotions.

  His gaze became sharp and focused as he began to test other possibilities.

  He had only just pushed open the door to this new world a crack.

  He immediately mobilized the energy within his body, attempting a new combination.

  [ Kinetic Boost ] + [ Aero Blade ]!

  Kane’s silhouette blurred as his speed surged, and he simultaneously delivered a hand-chop.

  A teal blade of wind whistled through the air, striking a distant rock wall and leaving a shallow mark.

  It failed.

  Aside from the increase in speed, the power and form of the wind blade remained unchanged.

  The two energies were simply running in parallel; they hadn't fused.

  Again!

  [ Phase Burrow ] + [ Aero Blade ]!

  Kane activated the ability, sinking half his body into the ground.

  He tried to condense a wind blade beneath the surface, only to find the power to manipulate air currents was stifled by the thick layers of rock.

  It couldn't be released at all.

  Another failure.

  After several more attempts, Kane stopped.

  He leaned against the rock wall, his breathing slightly ragged, but his mind was racing.

  It seemed that not all skills could be combined at will.

  There had to be some kind of internal "logical connection."

  The core of [ Phase Burrow ] was "earth" and "space."

  The core of [ Aerial Step ] was "explosion" and "displacement."

  Both were related to the concept of "movement," which was why they succeeded.

  In that case...

  Kane’s gaze finally locked onto the two remaining skills.

  [ Aero Blade ].

  [ Aerial Step ].

  One manipulated air currents for offense.

  The other harnessed air currents for displacement.

  Both of their cores pointed toward a single word.

  "Wind!"

  A sharp glint exploded in Kane’s eyes.

  He took a deep breath, and without further hesitation, he activated both powers simultaneously!

  This time, he didn't remain stationary.

  His legs surged with power, launching his entire body into the air.

  The moment he reached the apex of his leap, he triggered the combination skill!

  For the third time, Crag’s pupils constricted violently at the surreal sight before him!

  In mid-air, Kane didn't perform a secondary leap as he usually did.

  His body came to a sudden, jarring halt in the void.

  And then—

  Sss-laaa—!!!

  Visible streaks of teal air currents, like living blades, coiled frantically around his limbs and torso!

  Kane’s entire body transformed into a teal cyclone interlaced with countless microscopic wind blades!

  It wasn't a metaphor.

  It was a literal whirlwind!

  Boom!

  The teal cyclone didn't move up or down; instead, in a display that defied the laws of physics, it flashed horizontally for fifteen meters!

  Everywhere it passed, the solid rock walls were sliced open as easily as tofu, leaving behind several terrifying gashes half a foot deep—each cut as smooth as a mirror!

  Dust and grit filled the air.

  Kane’s figure reappeared fifteen meters away, landing steadily without making a single sound.

  He slowly raised his hand, looking at his uninjured palm and then at the ravaged rock wall in the distance.

  Even he was shaken by the sheer destructive power of this force.

  Another stream of information surfaced clearly in his mind.

  Crag had gone completely numb.

  He stared blankly at Kane, then at the savage scars on the rock wall.

  A "gurgle" escaped his throat, but he couldn't squeeze out a single word.

  His simple, sturdy worldview had been crushed into powder tonight by this silent young man in a way he couldn't begin to comprehend—and then crudely reconstructed.

  Monster.

  For the first time, that word leaped clearly into Crag’s mind.

  This kid wasn't human at all.

  He was a monster... wearing human skin!

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