Astral Devourer: Rise of the Forbidden King

Chapter 6: Learning the Arena

Theo arrived at the gym at exactly 8 p.m. Night had already settled in, leaving the building quieter than usual. The usual crowd was gone, replaced by faint echoes of metal clanking and distant footsteps that barely disturbed the silence.

The stillness didn’t bother him. It made everything feel sharper, more focused. Without hesitation, he moved toward the training area, his mind already set on what needed to be done.

His body slipped into motion naturally. Push-ups flowed into squats, squats into core exercises, each movement steady and controlled. There was no rush, no wasted energy, just repetition built on discipline.

Time passed without him noticing. Sweat gathered along his skin, tracing slow lines down his neck and arms. The burn in his muscles deepened, but he held his pace, pushing through each set until the routine was complete.

A familiar sound cut through the quiet.

Ding!

Daily Quest Completed

5 EXP Gained

EXP: 20 / 150

He exhaled slowly, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. His breathing steadied, but his focus didn’t fade. Instead, his attention shifted across the gym, drawn toward something he had ignored until now.

The VR pods stood lined along the far wall, sleek and silent. Their smooth surfaces reflected the soft lighting of the room, giving them a presence that felt slightly out of place in the otherwise ordinary gym.

He had seen others use them before, always from a distance. Up close, they looked more refined, almost intimidating in how precise their design felt. For a moment, he simply stood there, studying them.

A small realization crept in, he had no idea how to use them.

His hand moved to the back of his neck as his gaze drifted around the gym. It was quiet, but not empty. Someone had to know how these worked, and he was about to look for help when a voice reached him.

“Good evening, Theo.”

He turned to see Paul approaching at an easy pace. There was nothing hurried about him, no pressure in his presence. Just calm awareness, like he had already figured out the situation.

“Good evening, Paul,” Theo replied.

Paul glanced briefly at the VR pods before looking back at him. A faint understanding settled in his expression, as if he already knew the question before it was asked.

“First time?” he said.

Theo gave a small, slightly awkward smile, his hand still resting at the back of his neck. “Yeah. I’ve seen people use them, but I don’t really understand how it works.”

A quiet chuckle escaped Paul. “That’s normal. Most people figure it out by messing up first.”

Theo let out a short breath. “I’d rather avoid that part.”

Paul nodded once, accepting that without question. “Fair enough. Come on, I’ll walk you through it.”

Relief eased through Theo’s shoulders. It wasn’t obvious, but it was there. “Thanks.”

They moved together toward the pods, stopping in front of two side by side. Up close, the details became clearer, from the smooth blue shell to the transparent panel that served as the entrance.

Inside, a chair was positioned at the center, designed to support the entire body. Everything about the machine felt intentional, built with precision that left no room for discomfort.

Paul tapped the control panel, and the door slid open smoothly. “Since you don’t have a mercenary ID yet, you’ll be entering as a guest.”

Theo leaned slightly forward, listening carefully.

“As a guest, your options are limited. You can only match with Level 1 to Level 3 ability users. Same restriction applies if you choose to fight demonic beasts.”

Theo gave a small nod. “That’s fine.”

Paul glanced at him briefly before continuing. “Once you’re inside, I’ll send you an invite. It’s easier to explain everything from there.”

He paused for a moment, his tone relaxing slightly. “Just don’t tense up. The system responds better if your mind stays calm.”

Theo nodded again, taking that in.

He stepped into the pod and sat down. The chair adjusted almost instantly, aligning with his posture in a way that felt natural. Before he could focus on it, the door slid shut, sealing him inside.

For a brief moment, everything went still.

The next second, the world disappeared.

When his eyes opened again, he found himself standing in a vast white space. There were no walls, no ceiling, nothing to define distance or direction. Just an endless expanse stretching beyond what he could see.

He blinked slowly, letting his gaze move across the emptiness.

A faint sense of familiarity surfaced in his mind. It reminded him of the place where the system had first shown him his skills. Not exactly the same, but close enough to feel connected.

A translucent screen appeared in front of him.

“The Wall has sent you a room invite.”

Theo frowned slightly at the name. It felt strange, unfamiliar, but he didn’t dwell on it. His hand moved instinctively as he accepted the invitation.

The space shifted almost immediately.

A figure formed a short distance away, its shape stabilizing within seconds. Tall, covered in brown steel armor, its presence carried weight that made Theo react without thinking.

He stepped back, muscles tightening.

The figure raised its hands calmly. “Relax. It’s me.”

There was a brief pause before recognition settled.

“Paul.”

Theo exhaled, the tension leaving his body. “You look completely different.”

Paul laughed, the sound echoing lightly in the empty space. “That’s the point. You can customize your avatar however you want here. Equipment too.”

Theo’s gaze moved over the armor again, taking in the details. “I didn’t expect it to be this advanced.”

“Most people don’t,” Paul replied. “Not the first time.”

He shifted slightly, settling into a more relaxed stance. “Since you’re a guest, the system assigns you a default avatar. Nothing special, but it works.”

Theo nodded, absorbing each detail.

Paul continued, his tone steady but more natural now. “You can choose any ability here if you want. Different styles, different types.”

He paused briefly. “But most people stick to what they actually have. There’s no point training with something you can’t use outside.”

That made sense.

“You can also choose the level of your opponent,” Paul added. “For now, you’re limited to Level 1 through Level 3.”

He took a small step back, as if giving Theo space to process.

“If you decide to fight demonic beasts, they come in different types. Some rely on speed, moving fast enough to overwhelm you. Others are built for defense, hard to break no matter how much force you use.”

His voice lowered slightly. “And some are just dangerous all around. Balanced, but their attacks hit harder than you expect.”

Theo listened carefully, committing each detail to memory.

“There are also rare ones,” Paul continued. “Humanoid types. They think, adapt, and fight like humans.”

Theo’s focus sharpened slightly.

“You won’t encounter those here yet,” Paul added. “That’s something you’ll deal with later, in the academy.”

Theo nodded slowly.

Paul stepped back further, his figure already beginning to fade. “For now, just explore. Get used to how things feel. The system won’t rush you.”

He gave a final note. “If no real opponent is available, you’ll be matched with a recorded combat avatar.”

Theo dipped his head slightly. “Thanks, Paul.”

Paul’s form broke apart into light, scattering into the empty space until nothing remained. Silence returned once more, leaving Theo alone in the endless white.

He stood there for a moment, thinking.

“Master,” Zero’s voice echoed softly in his mind.

Theo’s focus shifted inward.

“Why not test your skills?”

He gave a small nod. “Yeah. That makes sense.”

His hand lifted slightly. “Status Window.”

A translucent blue panel appeared in front of him. This time, he didn’t rush. His eyes moved slowly across every detail, taking everything in carefully.

STATUS WINDOW

Name: Theo Taylor

Level: 2

EXP: 15 / 150

Race: Werewolf

Rank: Young Wolf

Class: None

Ability: None

Stats

HP: 35 / 35

Stamina: 11

Strength: 11

Agility: 11

Defense: 11

Attack: 11

His gaze moved downward as another panel expanded.

Skills

Claw Strike

Requirements

Stamina: 5

Strength: 5

Attack: 5

Agility: 5

Skill Cost: 5 Fatigue Points

Iron Hide Guard

Requirements

Defense: 8

Stamina: 5

Strength: 5

Skill Cost: 20 Fatigue Points for every 10 seconds used

Martial Art: Lupine Combat Art

First Form: Predator's Entry

Fang Drive

Requirements

Stamina: 10

Strength: 10

Agility: 5

Skill Cost: 15 Fatigue Points

Claw Rend

Requirements

Stamina: 10

Strength: 10

Agility: 10

Attack: 10

Skill Cost: 20 Fatigue Points

Second Form: Moon Hunter Style

Moonstep

Requirements

Agility: 12

Stamina: 10

Skill Cost: 25 Fatigue Points

Wolf Fang Counter

Requirements

Defense: 10

Stamina: 8

Strength: 8

Attack: 8

Skill Cost: 25 Fatigue Points

Throat Sever Strike

Requirements

Stamina: 10

Agility: 10

Strength: 10

Attack: 10

Skill Cost: 30 Fatigue Points

Final Form: Sovereign of the Crimson Hunt

Requirements

All stats: 20

Skill Cost: 50 Fatigue Points

He stared at the panel for a while, his expression tightening slightly. “I can’t even use half of this.”

His hand returned to the back of his neck as his eyes moved across the requirements. Something stood out, something he hadn’t fully considered before.

“Zero.”

“Yes, Master.”

“What are fatigue points exactly?”

“They represent how many skill activations your body can sustain before exhaustion affects performance.”

Theo blinked once. “And mine?”

“100.”

He let that sit for a moment. “That feels low.”

“It will increase as your level rises,” Zero replied. “Additional growth occurs when your physical Stats pass certain thresholds.”

Theo nodded slowly.

So it wasn’t just strength that mattered. It was endurance. Control. Efficiency. The system wasn’t as simple as it first appeared.

He closed the window.

His body moved almost immediately.

Claw Strike. The motion was sharp and controlled, each movement carrying intent. Iron Hide Guard followed, his body adjusting instinctively as tension reinforced his frame.

Predator’s Entry came next. His footing shifted, weight transferring smoothly as his body aligned with the technique.

He repeated it. Again and Again.

Time passed without him noticing. The rhythm of movement settled into something natural, something that felt less like practice and more like instinct.

After a while, he stopped. Something felt off.

His breathing was steady. His body showed no strain. No fatigue. No sign of exhaustion.

“Zero.”

“Yes, Master.”

“My fatigue points aren’t decreasing.”

“That is because you are inside the VR simulation.”

Theo’s eyes narrowed slightly. “So they don’t apply here?”

“Correct. Fatigue is only consumed during real combat.”

A small smile formed on his face. “That makes training easier.”

“Correct.”

He didn’t waste time thinking about it.

He resumed training, pushing through each technique with more intent than before. Without limits holding him back, every movement became sharper, more precise, more refined.

Another stretch of time passed before he finally stopped again. This time, his decision came quickly. He didn’t hesitate.

It was time for a real fight.

He selected an opponent, choosing a Level 1 water ability user. The environment shifted instantly, the white space fading as a new world formed around him.

Stone replaced emptiness beneath his feet. Massive walls rose high into the air, forming a structure that felt ancient and unyielding. Rows of empty seats stretched outward, surrounding the arena in silence.

The scale alone carried weight.

Theo stood still for a moment, taking it in.

His opponent stood across from him, calm and unmoving. No armor. No weapon. Just presence.

Above the opponent’s head, a name appeared.

Wave.

Above his own, another name followed.

Anonymous.

A system voice echoed through the arena.

Battle will begin in 10 seconds.

Basic attacks deal 5 HP damage. Critical attacks deal 10 HP damage.

Both fighters have 100 HP.

The countdown began.

Three…

Two…

One…

The match began.

Water whips cracked forward like lightning. Theo moved, swift and precise, ready for the first strike.