Selene, still wiping her tears, looked up. As Her voice trembled with sudden hope.
"Wait… Leo, did you awaken a talent?"
Leon gave a slow nod. "Yes. I did."
Stunned silence fell over the room. Even Darian and Valeria who rarely showed surprise at anything visibly froze.
Selene stepped forward quickly, eyes wide. "What rank is it?"
Leon opened his mouth. "It's Ex—"
Before he could finish, his father shot up from his chair.
"You awakened an Extraordinary rank talent?!"
Before Leon could clarify, his mother had rushed to him, pulling him into a tight embrace.
"I knew my boy would awaken a talent," she whispered, clutching him. "I never doubted it."
Leon, his face half-buried in her bossom, thought dryly, 'Weren't you crying a second ago, fearing I didn't awaken anything?' But he didn't say it aloud.
He let them believe the misunderstanding. EX-rank talents were virtually unheard of—something outside the system, something glitched. It was fine to let them think it was just Extraordinary for now.
Selene finally pulled back, smiling through her tears. "But Leo… if you awakened an Extraordinary talent, why did you finish your first trial so late?"
Her question was mirrored in the curious stares of both Darian and Valeria.
Leon rubbed the back of his neck. "Well…"
He repeated the same story he had told Elizabeth. As he spoke, his family listened intently. The moment he finished, silence fell again.
"What?" Leon asked, confused.
It was Valeria who responded first.
"You were already a monster before," she said casually. "Now you've just become broken."
Selene shook her head, laughing softly. "I've never heard of a talent that can add points to stats."
Darian nodded in agreement. "Unheard of. But perhaps that's its unique quality afterall every Extraordinary talent is different."
Leon smiled to himself. It's not just Extraordinary. It's EX-rank. But sure, let's go with that.
He was feeling smug about how easily they'd bought his explanation—until his mother spoke again.
"So, Leo," she said gently, "what are the conditions to get these points?"
'Shit,' Leon thought, stiffening. 'Why didn't she just assume,' like Elizabeth did?
All three of them were watching him now, waiting.
Leon let out a quiet breath. "Well… I guess I have to show you."
He hadn't gathered his daily points yet. He might as well use this chance.
Turning toward the hallway, he gestured for them to follow.
"Come on. Let's head to Training Ground Two."
****
The moment they reached Training Ground Two, Leon didn't waste a second.
He reached into his inventory, and with a flash of light a sword materialized in his hand. Its sleek edge shimmered beneath the overhead lights, humming with silent anticipation.
He turned to face his family, who stood clustered just beyond the platform.
"Just to let you know," Leon said, gripping his sword with one hand, "this is going to take some time."
Selene stepped forward with a soft smile. "Don't worry we have all the time in the world."
Leon nodded, though a strange unease stirred in his chest.
'Why am I feeling so nervous?' He wasn't about to confess to a crime or challenge the heavens, he just wanted to show his family his talent.
'I hope they won't be discouraged after watching. But it's fine since they asked for it. And if they feel discouraged afterwards, I'll just console them later.'
A smirk crept onto his face, only to be shattered by his mother's casual voice from behind.
"So… when are you starting? Do you need to do a ritual or something? If it involves you getting naked, don't worry. We've all—"
"Mom!" Leon spun around, his cheeks slightly red. "That's not it!"
Selene blinked innocently. "Okay then."
With a deep exhale, Leon turned around and approached the control panel. This time, he didn't summon a combat bot or a training dummy.
He summoned a wall.
A thick, towering slab of reinforced steel emerged from the ground with a grinding rumble.
Selena: "….."
Valeria: "….."
Darian: "….."
They all stared in complete confusion. Why did he summon a wall?
Before they could ask Leon already moved.
With no hesitation, he slashed his sword against the wall.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then faster.
The sound of metal striking metal rang through the arena in a relentless rhythm. His blade moved with blistering speed—far beyond what anyone would expect from an F-rank.
He struck again and again, his movements blurring, his breath steady.
One minute passed.
Then five.
Still, Leon didn't stop.
His arms pumped like pistons, his footwork light and precise. Sweat glistened on his brow, but his grip remained firm.
His family had shifted from confusion to stunned silence.
That speed… that was not F-rank speed.
Leon's stats had long surpassed his pre-trial self. Speed, stamina and strength had all climbed. Hitting the wall ten thousand times, a thousand strikes per minute was nothing but a warm-up now.
After 10 minutes he finally stopped. As he turned to face his family, sword resting on his shoulder.
"Now," he said, "comes the next part."
They watched intently as Leon began to distribute the accumulated stat points.
To Valeria, nothing had changed. But Darian and Selene felt it.
An unseen force surged through the training ground. Like ripples in still water, it spread outward from Leon's body. They watched, wide-eyed, as his muscles subtly shifted—fibers aligning more perfectly, skin growing denser, his aura deepening.
It was power. Raw, unfiltered power, flowing into him from nowhere.
Shock overtook both parents' expressions—followed by something else: seriousness.
This wasn't just a unique talent.
It was unprecedented.
Selene and Darian both came to the same silent conclusion.
'We have to protect our son. At all costs.'
As the glow faded and the change settled, Leon walked back to them.
"I'm done."
He was hoping to see the shock on their faces after showing them his talent but He was disappointed to see Darian's and Valaria's stoic expression it was only Selena that had a look of relief on her face for her son actually having a talent.
But then Darian suddenly stepped forward and placed a firm hand on Leon's shoulder.
"Son," he said. "You must know by now—your talent has limitless potential."
Leon nodded. "Yes. I do."
"And you're aware," his father continued, "that there are dangerous people out there. Lunatics who've sided with the demons. People who would do anything to destroy someone with your potential."
Leon's face hardened. He nodded again. "The demon worshippers…"
"Exactly." Darian's tone deepened. "If they found out about this talent, they'd stop at nothing to eliminate you. That's why, Leon… we don't want you to tell anyone about your talent."
Leon gulped.
Selene, ever perceptive, caught the look. "You told Elizabeth, didn't you?"
Leon hesitated. Then nodded.
His mother smiled softly. "Don't worry. I'll talk to her. She's smart. I know she won't say a word."
Darian spoke again. " It's now clear why you finished the trial so late. You were trying to gather as many points as possible. And if I had to guess…"
Leon answered before he could finish. "I set the trial difficulty at Tier VII."
Darian's eyes widened. Even Valeria blinked in surprise.
Then, to everyone's shock, Darian smiled. A small, rare smile.
"If gaining power by slashing a wall is what defines an Extraordinary talent, then your mother and I must've been scammed."
Selene laughed, at the joke.
As Darian finally said. "But always remember that just because your talent is powerful doesn't mean you should let it go to your head. Is that Understood?"
Leon straightened and nodded.
"Yes, Dad."
Darian clapped his shoulder once showing a proud smile. "That's my boy."
****
Leon's current stats
[Status Panel]
Name: Leon Kael
Race: Human
Age: 19
Class: Warrior
Rank: F-Rank
Talent: {Attack} — EX Rank
Status: Normal
Health: 100%
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[STATS]
Strength:552>572 (+20)
Speed:513>533 (+20)
Vitality:500>515 (+15)
Stamina:496>511 (+15)
Senses:468>478 (+10)
Aura:524>544 (+20)
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[Skills]
[Echolocation]
[Mirror Split]
[Phantom Edge – Form 1: Flicker Fang]
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[Inventory]
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A/N: Please send power stones and leave reviews.
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