Ex rank talent Awakening: 100% Dodge rate

He paused, then continued, "As for the others—no concepts yet, but they have great potential. Give them time, and they might awaken one of their own."

"How I got here? Through the door. As for who I am… I'm the family head of the assass—"

BOOM!

Greg attacked immediately, not patient enough to let the man finish his sentence.

He moved with explosive speed, throwing a punch meant to send the man flying. Given the nature of his concept, dodging it should have been impossible.

"Hmm... A concept that ensures your attack must hit the opponent. A strong one, I must say," the man commented calmly.

"Now, before your rude interruption—" he continued as a shadow rose in front of him, swallowing the impact of Greg's punch, "I am the family head of the Assassin Family. My name is Sabbah."

Greg frowned. This was the first time his attack had been stopped. He hadn't even known that was possible.

But thinking more deeply, he realized—his concept guaranteed hits, not damage.

"Hold," Greg said, vines beginning to sprout

Thanks for pointing that out. I'll now provide a revised version that maintains your original content fully, while improving grammar, paragraph structure, and fluidity. I will also add mild descriptive enhancements to increase word count and deepen immersion without changing your intent.

"Hold," Greg commanded in the dragon's tongue. In response, thick vines sprouted violently from the ground, racing forward with the intent to bind Sabbah where he stood.

However, the vines were quickly swallowed by a formless shadow that expanded in all directions. The dark mass surged with power, devouring the vines completely as if they had never existed.

Greg's brows furrowed, his lips tightening into a grim line. This man was no joke.

He's the most difficult opponent I've faced since Kyle, Greg thought, his mind racing. The ease with which Sabbah dispelled his magic was unsettling.

"Are you going to keep doing this forever? Or will you be civilized and allow me to speak?" Sabbah asked, his tone weary, as if growing tired of Greg's constant aggression.

Greg didn't answer. Instead, he called upon his power again. "Abyssal dragon flames," he intoned coldly.

Dark reddish flames ignited in his hands, burning with an eerie, unstable energy. Without hesitation, he hurled them at Sabbah, his expression cold and resolute.

"Hah. So you truly won't stop until I show you a bit of my power, hmm?" Sabbah muttered. Then, his voice deepened, laced with an ominous weight. "Absolute Concept: Eclipse."

At once, the atmosphere changed.

The very air seemed to thicken, pressing down on Greg's shoulders like a mountain. The light around them vanished—consumed wholly by the all-encompassing darkness. Reality itself bent under the weight of the concept.

Greg collapsed to his knees, his body reacting instinctively. A chilling, primal sensation overtook him. It wasn't like what Kyle made him feel—the fear of possible death. No, this was different.

This was the certainty of death.

Unavoidable. Real. Final.

He remained kneeling, unable to move, unable to rise. The light in the room was gone—devoured. Beads of sweat formed rapidly along his brow, sliding down his face and neck. His breathing grew heavy, strained, every inhale feeling like an effort against invisible pressure.

Then, just as suddenly, the darkness lifted. The crushing weight evaporated.

"Now, can we have a proper conversation?" Sabbah asked casually, as if nothing had happened.

Greg gasped as his chest heaved up and down, still feeling the echo of that terrifying moment. His body trembled slightly, the sensation of looming death still lingering deep in his bones.

"What… what was that?" Greg managed to say, his voice raw. The fear had felt too real—far too real to be anything ordinary.

"It's an Absolute Concept. Well, technically, a pseudo-absolute one," Sabbah replied, dusting off his clothes. "Come. There is more we need to discuss."

Sabbah turned and began walking away.

Greg stayed still for a few seconds, hesitating. The memory of that overwhelming pressure made his legs feel heavy, but curiosity and the hunger for answers pushed him forward.

Ultimately, he followed.

They stepped outside the house, and within a blink, the world changed around them. Greg found himself standing in a completely different place. He hadn't even felt the transition—no signs of magic, no shifting energies, nothing.

It irritated him. Despite Sabbah's actions being non-violent and, from what Greg could tell, without malicious intent, he hated being so powerless. The feeling of being manipulated—teleported without consent—made his blood boil.

"Pardon my actions," Sabbah said as he sat on a reclining wooden chair beneath a tall tree. "I'm a lover of plants, trees, and peaceful places. This orchard should be a more fitting place to hold our conversation."

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves overhead. The sky had taken on the warm tones of dusk, the golden sunlight filtered through the swaying branches.

Greg's expression remained hard.

"What did you do to Kate?" he asked coldly. His fists were clenched by his sides, his fury held back only by his earlier display of weakness.

"I wanted to ascertain her loyalty to you," Sabbah said, his gaze fixed on the trees. "And I must say, I'm impressed. Expect her return in a few weeks."

Greg's eyes narrowed. "I don't understand… Why? What do you even want at this point? Nothing you've said makes sense."

"Of course it doesn't—not yet. But that's only because you're unaware of the beginning." Sabbah leaned forward slightly. "Allow me to explain everything… including the mystery of your birth."

Greg stood frozen, his body tense. His eyes locked onto Sabbah like a predator who had caught the scent of prey. For the first time in his life, he was about to hear the truth that had haunted him since his earliest memories.

---

Flashback:

"Eunice, are you willing to go with us?" Jason asked, gazing into the eyes of his childhood sweetheart.

What had started as a simple, joking conversation among friends had rapidly snowballed into something much more serious—an ambitious dream of exploration and discovery.

Daniel had initially made the offhand comment about going around the world, expecting laughter. Mia had agreed with a smile, and then—one by one—their entire circle began to buy into the idea.

Soon, planning replaced jokes. They pooled their finances and technical knowledge, determined to make the voyage happen.

"We'll mostly be using the sea," Jason explained during one meeting, his tone serious. "So if this is going to be viable, we'll need something that can travel across water—not just a boat, but something much larger. Something that can house us, store supplies, and protect us."

"I'll visit my boat master," Hephaestus offered with a reassuring nod. "Together, perhaps we can come up with a design—something bigger, sturdier, and capable of withstanding long travel."

"Next question—how long will this expedition last?" Daniel asked. "A year? Two? Ten? We need to plan based on that."

"I suggest taking two years' worth of supplies," Justin added thoughtfully. "Bulk grains and preserved foods. As for perishables, just enough to last us in the early days. We can restock in the lands we stop at. Water is trickier—we can't store much. We'll need a method to turn seawater into drinkable water."

"Then we'll need Pythagoras and his inventions," Daniel said with a smirk. "Hephaestus, that's your job—convince him."

Hephaestus groaned but smiled. "Leave it to me. He owes me a favor anyway."

They laughed together, the worries momentarily set aside.

With food, water, and shelter accounted for, they began listing tools, maps, and emergency plans. Every decision was made with care—what to bring, what to leave behind, how to maintain space while ensuring safety.

Their dream was becoming real.