As Kane crouched atop the ledge, watching the flustered commander below, a soft chime echoed in his head.
> [System Notice]
Skill activation in this world requires a verbal command.
Skills will not function unless the name is clearly spoken by the user.
Kane raised an eyebrow, then chuckled to himself. "Wait... you mean they actually have to yell the move name out loud? Like some kinda old-school anime?" He leaned back, resting against the stone wall, the grin spreading across his face.
"Dragon Thrust!" he mimicked in a high-pitched voice, then burst out laughing. "Man, no wonder she's red in the face. That's not a skill name, that's a scandal waiting to happen."
He tapped his chin. "So if I make my own skills... do I get to name them?" A pause. "Hmm. What if I called one Ultra Omega Knee to the Royal Nuts? Should I yell that out in battle? Might get banned from polite society."
The system chimed again:
> [System Notice]
Skill names may be customized. Voice activation is required for triggering.
Kane's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Oh, this world just keeps getting better. Magic, monsters, swords… and I get to shout ridiculous move names while beating people up?"
He stood up and cracked his neck, stretching like he was just warming up. "Guess this world will be fun after all."
With a final laugh, he leapt down from the ledge, disappearing into the shadows of the city once again.
The city was alive with shouts, alarm bells, and panic.
After stealing meat, coins, and everyone's peace of mind, Kane had darted into the bustling streets. Behind him, the ten elite lady knights had scattered in pursuit—but in their polished armor and pride, they weren't ready for him.
He spotted the first one slipping through an alley, trying to keep low.
"Target locked," Kane muttered, grinning.
He burst forward, making a scene on purpose. Civilians dove out of the way as he raised a fist theatrically.
"Super Seductive Fist of Lady Justice!" he shouted—and then just punched the knight lightly in the shoulder before vanishing past her, laughing.
> [System Notice]
Skill not recognized.
You cannot activate nonexistent abilities with random names.
Kane peeked back. "Not even a cooldown timer? Rude."
He spotted another knight catching her breath near a fountain. She turned too late.
"Forbidden Technique: Butt Tap Mirage!"
SLAP!
"Eep!" the knight yelped as Kane vanished again into the crowd.
> [System Notice]
Warning: Inappropriate behavior detected. You are not using real skills.
"Then maybe you should let me create one!" Kane cackled.
Each knight he found, he "attacked" with increasingly ridiculous skill names:
"Armor-Busting Elbow of Destiny!" (just a nudge)
"Thigh Graze Tempest Slash!" (a harmless slide past)
"Divine Bounce Counterattack!" (he tripped, accidentally faceplanting into someone's chest)
Eventually, even the citizens stopped running. They just watched, confused and mildly entertained.
One old man clapped. "Is this… street performance?"
Kane grinned, running up a merchant's cart and flipping onto a rooftop. He looked down at the chaos he left behind and whispered to himself:
"Man... I love this world."
Kane dashed across the rooftops, his feet moving with precision, his laughter echoing through the air. The streets below were filled with chaos—citizens fleeing, knights searching, and him, enjoying every second of it.
That was until he heard it—a soft, chant-like voice drifting up from below.
"Divine Slash."
Kane's instincts flared. His body snapped into motion, flipping sideways off the edge of the roof just as a blinding slash of light tore through the air, cutting through the space where he'd just been. The shockwave sent pieces of stone flying as the air itself seemed to tremble from the force.
BOOM!
Kane landed lightly on a nearby rooftop, rolling with the impact, his heart pounding from the close call. He straightened up, glancing back toward the source of the attack.
Through the dust, a figure emerged—a woman, standing tall with a sword crackling with divine energy. She exuded an aura of power and control, eyes locked on him with unwavering intensity.
Kane stood up, brushing himself off. "Well, well. Guess I've got a real challenge on my hands now."
She didn't speak. She simply raised her sword again, the glow from the blade intensifying.
Kane tilted his head with a grin, crossing his arms. "Hey, if I shout out something ridiculous like Holy Light Knee of Justice, is something like that going to happen? Or are you the only one with the flashy moves?"
The woman's gaze hardened, her posture poised for another strike. She didn't respond—she just prepared to attack.
Kane chuckled, his grin widening. "I guess this is getting interesting."
The woman's grip tightened on her sword. Her eyes burned with focus as she dashed forward, moving like a streak of lightning. The blade crackled with divine energy, and the air around her seemed to distort with each step she took.
Kane's grin never wavered.
"Here it comes."
With a fluid motion, she swung her sword, the edge gleaming with radiant light. The slash cut through the air toward Kane with deadly precision. But he was already moving—dodging to the side with a dancer's grace, his body leaning just enough to let the blade whiz past him, missing by mere inches.
Before she could recover, Kane was on the offensive. He stepped in, his knee flashing up with speed and power, connecting with her midsection with a sharp crack.
"Ugh!" The woman gasped, the air knocked out of her as she was pushed back.
But Kane wasn't done. As she staggered, he twisted into a backflip, his legs lashing out in one fluid motion. His foot met her chest with a resounding thud, launching her upward.
Without missing a beat, Kane landed smoothly on the ground and shot forward with lightning speed. He delivered five consecutive left kicks, each one hitting from a different angle—one to her ribs, another to her side, a third to her shoulder, the fourth grazing her jaw, and the last one to her stomach, sending her flying backward.
The woman crashed into a nearby stone wall with a loud thud, crumpling to the ground in a heap.
Kane stood tall, his chest rising and falling with a controlled breath, his grin never fading. "Man, you just don't learn, do you?"
The woman struggled to rise, her breaths ragged, but the fire in her eyes didn't fade. She gripped her sword tightly once more, her determination unyielding.
Kane stood tall, his grin widening as he watched the woman struggle to rise. She gritted her teeth, glaring at him with renewed fury.
> [System Notice]
You have unlocked a skill. Would you like to activate it?
Skill Activation: Requires verbal command—'Release'
Kane's eyes narrowed as he considered the system's words. A chuckle bubbled in his chest. This was the perfect moment.
He glanced at the woman, his expression turning serious for the first time since their fight began.
"Alright then," Kane said, his voice low but steady.
He took a breath, and without another word, he grinned—more wickedly this time.
"Release."
As soon as the word left his lips, something shifted.
His hair, once short and dark, began to lengthen slightly, turning a soft golden hue that shimmered in the light. His muscles, already defined, became more pronounced, his shirt stretching against his toned frame as his body pulsed with newfound power.
Kane rolled his shoulders slowly, his shirt suddenly tight across his chest. Without a second thought, he ripped the fabric off, revealing his new, more powerful physique.
The woman's eyes widened, her sword trembling in her hands as she took in the sight of him—this new Kane.
The air around them seemed to crackle with tension.
Kane's grin returned, even more vicious than before. "Let's see how you handle this."
And then, with the flick of his wrist, the fight was far from over.