Zenith Online: Rebirth of the Strongest Player

〈System: An individual on your Friend List, «Aatrox», has begun his stream. You may click the link to watch the stream. [Note: Due to your current environment, the stream will automatically be minimized.]〉

'Oh? That much time has passed already? Kieran and the others are tackling a dungeon, huh? If only I were faster… I could have joined them,' Altair thought, somewhat bummed that he missed his teammate's first venture into a Hell Mode dungeon.

Furthermore, he was anguished by the fact he wouldn't receive a piece of the stellar rewards. When it came to Kieran, Altair had nothing but supreme confidence.

His track record was far too exemplary for Altair to have any doubts about Kieran's performance.

Not to mention, Altair knew that all of Kieran's ventures thus far were either to make the party more robust or to make his strength more infallible.

Since Kieran told everyone it was a personal journey, Altair suspected that Kieran's upcoming performance would be nothing short of phenomenal.

Seeing as his Stamina was essentially depleted, Altair took the time to watch Kieran's stream for a few minutes.

However, he noticed something immediately.

'Wait a minute… this isn't the beginning of the dungeon. He waited until he was mid-run to start the stream? Hmm… why is that the case?' Altair wondered, silently shifting his attention to the rapidly moving chat.

Though it moved fast, Altair's eyes darted about at a similar pace. Eventually, his gaze grew extremely cold, and so did his demeanor. 'All those players are targeting Kieran and the others? Is that so?'

"Master Zephyr… I may need to leave soon," Altair suddenly voiced.

This comment naturally gained Zephyr's skepticism but also his dissatisfaction. "I thought I made it clear from the beginning. You will not leave the Deathless Temple of Gloom until you have mastered the techniques of a Shadow Dancer to a satisfactory degree."

"I understand that. However, something unexpected has come up. My teammates may end up in a precarious position where my assistance is required."

Zephyr looked at Altair with a deadpan expression and spoke in a way that made Altair grimace helplessly. "As you are right now, you are weak. You'll be nothing more than a hindrance to your teammates, allies, whatever they may be. If you want to be a true help, get stronger—learn and partly master the techniques I have shown you. The fact that you're tired is already a clear indication that you have yet to gain a concrete understanding."

In response to those words, Altair tightened his grip on the daggers in his grasp and exhaled deeply, frustration rising in his eyes.

Upon noticing that emotion, Zephyr's gaze sharpened. "Frustrated? Good. Exhibit excellent results and you'll lack a reason to be so frustrated. If anything, you should berate yourself and then remold yourself."

As he listened to Zephyr's words, Altair rose to his feet and brandished his two daggers. "I'm not tired anymore. Let's resume where we left off."

While he spoke, hints of the Nightly Gloom gravitated to Altair's body, becoming sustenance that washed away his tired feeling. This occurrence didn't escape Zephyr's attention, prompting him to nod subtly.

'Good. You must learn that in the shade of the night, Shadow Dancers can continue to exhibit their greatest strength. It's only when our shades extinguish that our ability to continue is robbed from us,' Zephyr thought.

Following Altair's claim to no longer be tired, he dashed toward Zephyr, executing his Darkness Excursion Steps.

Throughout this training, Altair unleashed this movement pattern several times. During each attempt, Altair noticed that Zephyr reacted in a way that could inspire him.

While it was unknown if Zephyr did so purposely, or if it was a subconscious reaction to Altair incorrectly assimilating with the surrounding shadows, Altair didn't question why Zephyr provided subtle guidance.

Even without Phantasmal Whisper or Silent Steps active, Altair gradually became faster. Surprisingly, this was not a result of the Darkness Excursion Steps.

When he didn't employ any of these abilities, Altair continued to grow faster and move more elusive.

If an onlooker were to look closely, they'd realized that the edge of Altair's scarf gained a few flickering wisps of shadowy embers, but they disappeared instantly as he failed to notice this phenomenon.

'Once he learns that technique properly, he'll be free to leave as he pleases. It seems that odd stepping pattern of his is an impetus to comprehending the ability faster, so I'll continue to guide him,' Zephyr decided after giving their current situation some thought.

Compared to his training prior to opening Kieran's stream, Altair's current approach to training was almost overzealous.

Even though he knew he couldn't compare to Zephyr in attributes or combat experience, he engaged in a relentless onslaught where he continued to borrow upon more of the Nightly Gloom to enhance him.

The more Altair acted this way, however, the more satisfied Zephyr became. 'These emotions—the desire to assist his teammates in their upcoming situation is the key to him embracing the darkness in his heart.'

'I was powerless before my mother once… and I vowed from that day that I would never be powerless again. It's their fault. Prior to having me, mother was healthy and perfectly fine, but now…'

As Altair thought about it, he clenched his fist.

Hatred and loathing towards his father was all he felt. He remembered the eyes of that man on that fateful day—indifferent and uncaring—viewing his mother as nothing more than a piece of trash.

No matter what it took, Altair vowed to reciprocate that treatment and he wouldn't stop until his father felt what true helplessness meant.

Soon enough, an hour passed and during that time, Altair continued to trigger those strange wisps in more frequent intervals. From the initial once every thirty seconds, it continued to reduce until it happened close to eleven or twelve times in a minute.

"You're right there. Your movements continue to grow more fluid, but you must grasp the essence of your current state. Comprehend the Shadow Dancer's provenance," Zephyr voiced.

From when he first started the training, Zephyr no longer remained in place as he attacked.

After a few strikes, he would step through the darkness before appearing elsewhere. He would then unleash another dozen or so strikes after that before repeating the process.

Whenever this happened, Altair's eyes locked on to the embers that lingered. Due to how often his head turned, Altair soon caught glimpses of his scarf adopting a similar presence.

Eventually, it clicked in Altair's mind that throughout the span of this training, Zephyr had never once released his control of these wisps. It was naturally done to deliver a hidden message.

A Shadow Dancer was nothing with those shadowy embers.

Without halting his reaction to Zephyr's attacks, Altair stimulated his Eye of Darkness, which was located between his eyebrows, to draw in the energy of the Nightly Gloom.

Gradually, the dark embers spread up Altair's scarf before blending with his clothing.

Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh!

Altair suddenly zipped back and forth, moving at a speed his exhausted body shouldn't be capable of mustering, but it did. This was the power of a Shadow Dancer's provenance.

Once Altair accomplished this, Zephyr suddenly stopped and snapped his fingers.

In an instant, the Nightly Gloom vanished, returning light to the Corridor of Blackness. The silver flames blazed soon after, emitting a radiant light in this otherwise gloomy place.

When this happened, Zephyr lifted his hand and pointed toward the shrine in the distance.

As Altair examined it closely, he came to realize that it wasn't just a shrine, there was a broken throne on it with exquisite inscriptions carved all over it. Each inscription carried a facet of strange power.

"You have gained the right to approach the shrine. Once you pay heed to the Shrine of the Lightless, sit and let the Nightly Gloom enter you properly."

As Altair obliged and stepped through the Shrine of the Lightless, the presence of the Nightly Gloom was amplified until it vanished completely, absorbed by the throne a few steps away.

After stepping before it and taking a seat calmly, a series of messages appeared before Altair's eyes.

〈System: You have come in contact with the «Throne of Deathless Night».〉

┌───────────────────

«Hidden Class - Shadow Dancer» -

Lightless, Deathless, and Wanting—darkness persists and the shadows rise at the behest of the radiant light. For, without one, there can be none of the other.

Alas, a Shadow Dancer, those who tread the path of the Lightless, drifted between an accursed place, rousing shadows yet never touching the light.

To dance within the shadows, one must glide through light, untouched by its glory, but represented by its brethren.

Once a dancer is swept in by the shadow, the only outcome allowed by their actions is death. For, while they are deathless, this can only be obtained through the reaping of life.

Ghastly as the gloomiest specter.

Light as the breeze through the netherworld.

Precise as the outline of a jagged shadow carved by its unassailable kin—a dance in shadows unleashes the shroud of unsung lives.

The weeping of the eternal night signifies the beginning of the deathless waltz.

Do you wish to accept the Mythic Class «Shadow Dancer»? [ Y N ]

└───────────────────

As the method to become a Shadow Dancer was somewhat unorthodox, the notification was similarly unorthodox.

As this was the entire reason for venturing to the Buried Shade, Altair naturally agreed to accept the class.

Upon his acceptance, Altair's head flung back as the condensed form of the Nightly Gloom entered all orifices of his body—eyes, mouth, nose, ears—the dense collection of energy expunged everything that disagreed with darkness from Altair's body.

Compared to Kieran's change, the process was quick, with Altair immediately reaping the benefit.

His hair grew white like dull snow reflecting zero light, while his skin seemed untouched by the faintest of sun. Lastly, his eyes contained the gloom of the eternal night.

With that, Altair had become a Shadow Dancer.

As soon as the process was done, he sprang up from the throne.

"I must go," Altair expressed again, except now, his tone was monotone.

"On the contrary, as you have become my successor, allow me to escort you," Zephyr said. "But before we go… I have a few things I must give you, for you must undergo a trial of unknown difficulty."