Reality Breaker: Edge of Reality

The Eldritch boss emerged from the shadows again, its ghastly form flickering in and out of the darkness like a predator toying with its prey. Cale gripped his scythe tighter, eyes darting to catch even the smallest flicker of movement. the Eldritch and Cale looked as if they were dancing in the darkness as light fell on their faces for a moment.

As they clashed, sparks flew. Each swing of Cale’s scythe sent bright red and yellow streaks through the air, illuminating the pitch-black surroundings for mere moments before plunging them back into darkness. The creature moved with an eerie fluidity, its four limbs striking the ground as if it were a beast hunting, each slash punctuated by weird yet terrifying shrieks that made Cale’s skin crawl.

The Eldritch’s unnatural rhythm kept Cale on edge. ‘This thing’s playing with me,’ he thought grimly, deflecting blow after blow with his scythe. ‘I’m sure I’m wearing him down... but if I don’t end this soon, I’ll be the one to drop first.’

Cale was panting heavily while keeping his defense steady and firm. His chest heaved, his muscles burning with exhaustion, but his mind remained sharp. He needed to finish this, and fast.

‘There’s something I’m missing. Think, Cale... Think!’

And then it clicked. His eyes flashed with newfound determination.

‘Yes, that’s it,’ he realized, his breath slowing as the pieces of his plan fell into place. He allowed himself a sly grin, his confidence seeping through his every move.

"HEHE~, there you are!" Cale yelled with a mocking tone, spotting the Eldritch as it darted toward him once more. This time, as the creature lunged, Cale slashed at it, driving the blade of his scythe into its chest, but the creature retaliated with a downward swipe of its claws.

The ground cracked beneath Cale as he blocked the attack, both of them locked in place, muscles straining in the clash of strength.

"Hey, Eldritch Boss," Cale whispered, his voice low and taunting. The creature's eyeless face turned toward him, drawn by the sudden change in his tone. Cale’s lips curled into a smirk.

"Did you know... a hunter never keeps just one weapon for a hunt?" he taunted, his left hand now glowing faintly blue.

The Eldritch’s attention flickered to the growing light in his hand, but it was too late. From his left hand, a blade of pure blue energy materialized, humming with raw power.

"Take this, you bastard!" Cale roared, thrusting the blade upward in a swift arc. The blue blade cut through the Eldritch’s body, from its right iliac region to its left shoulder. Black blood gushed out, thick and viscous, as the creature let out one final, ear-piercing scream before crumpling to the ground.

Cale stood over its fallen body, panting heavily, the scythe in one hand and the blue blade dissipating in the other.

A familiar system chime rang in his ears, and a translucent panel appeared before him.

Ding! [Congratulations to host for being the first to defeat a boss.]

[Additional 5 points rewarded.]

[The host has been rewarded for clearing the quest: inventory access and 5 points.]

Ding!

[For being the first to defeat an Eldritch Horror boss. Host has been rewarded 10 points and skill: Immunity to Madness (D-rank).]

Ding!

[For being the first to enter a fracture. Host has been rewarded 5 points.]

Ding!

[Host has been rewarded two recovery potions and one haste potion for clearing the first Eldritch Horror Fracture.]

Cale let out a short, breathless laugh as he surveyed his rewards. "Finally," he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. He pulled one of the recovery potions from the system’s newly accessible inventory, uncorked it, and drank it in one go. A wave of relief washed over him as his wounds closed, leaving him feeling far better, though his clothes remained tattered.

“I feel better already. Hah~” He sighed with relief, looking down at the remnants of his bloodstained clothes.

Cale cast a side glance at the system interface, giving it a look filled with mistrust. “I’m not trusting you 100% again, system.” He narrowed his eyes. "You always have a way of leaving out key details."

After a moment of silence, he rolled his eyes. "Yeah, of course, you can’t talk back."

“Whatever... 'Stat window,’” Cale whispered.

A yellow and blue panel flickered into existence before him:

System: Reality Breaker System

Host Name: Cale Roth (???)

Age: 18 (Male)

Level: 15

Title: Courier (???)

Trait: Monarch’s Blood, ???

Stats:

Strength (STR): 10

Agility (AGI): 9

Intelligence (INT): 11

Endurance (END): 8

Perception (PER): 8

Vitality (VIT): 5

Luck (LCK): 8

Mana (MANA): 4

Charisma (CHA): 2

Wisdom (WIS): 9

???:?

???:?

Points Available: 25

Inventory: Click to see...

(New) Skills: Immunity to Madness (D-rank), ???

Cale scoffed at the list of rewards. “All that for this?” he said sarcastically. "But I guess it's something. Let's put... 5 in Strength, 6 in Agility, 7 in Endurance, 3 in Mana, and 4 in Vitality."

As he tapped the system window, a faint blue light enveloped him, and he could feel the surge of energy course through his body. Muscles tensed, wounds vanished, and his entire body thrummed with newfound strength.

“Now this feels amazing,” Cale grinned, flexing his fingers as the scythe in his hand vanished into his inventory with a thought.

"Let’s get out of here," he muttered, turning to leave the now silent fracture.

Then, he stopped abruptly.

“Oh right. I almost forgot.” Cale’s eyes flickered with sudden realization. His lips curled into a grin as he turned back around.