Rowan unsheathed the long, elegant rapier, its blade gleaming with a silvery luster far brighter than ordinary dull iron. Groups of five fine lines banded the blade, wrapping around it in intervals like sheet music etched in silver, giving the weapon an almost melodic beauty.

  The guard was an extravagant flourish of craftsmanship, its sweeping curves and intricate vines. Tiny notes and symbols seemed caught mid-dance in the wrought steel, as if a symphony had been frozen into the very bones of the weapon.

  But it was the hilt that truly set the weapon apart—a design unlike anything crafted on Earth. Small holes lined the hilt at regular intervals, spaced a finger-width apart, and at the end was a carefully formed blowhole. This was not just a weapon; it was also an instrument, a masterpiece meant to be both wielded and played.

  Rowan had only recently acquired this weapon from a rare event chest, and the thrill of discovery spurred him onward, eager to see what other treasures might await.

  Pulling the rapier hilt to his mouth, Rowan began his performance. He had upgraded his [Play Melody – Common] to [Perform Symphony – Uncommon], allowing him to imbue a greater amount of mana into his songs, layering effects to create new melodies.

  The notes flowed from the rapier, perfectly tuned; the melody was strong and steady, and green notes shimmered into the air.

  [Tune of Agility – Common]: A simple melody that grants a temporary buff to the performer and nearby allies, enhancing movement speed and sharpening reflexes for swift and coordinated action.

  Then another tune followed, weaving blue notes that were smaller and more fluid, drifting like ripples across a still pond.

  [Notes of Mana – Inferior]: The beginning of a melody that grants a temporary buff to the performer and nearby allies, enhancing mana absorption and flow, resulting in increased mana regeneration and improved magical control.

  As the green and blue notes drifted through the air, they collided—not competing, but complementing each other. Their union gave birth to something entirely new: a vibrant turquoise tune. It carried the strength and steadiness of the first melody, fused with the fluid grace of the second, weaving them into a harmonious, unprecedented song.

  The turquoise notes pulsed outward, wrapping around Rowan like a second skin. Immediately, he felt the effects ripple through him—his body growing lighter, faster, and his mana flowing with effortless ease.

  A soft chime echoed in his mind.

  [Harmonic Resonance Detected!]

  [New Melody Created!]

  [Symphony of Motion – Uncommon]: A fusion of two melodies harmonizing through resonance, granting a powerful temporary buff to the performer and nearby allies. It greatly enhances movement speed, sharpens reflexes, and improves mana flow, reducing the cost of all abilities while the melody persists.

  A thunderous roar echoed from the cave—it seemed Rowan's performance had drawn an audience.

  Glowing amber light flickered to life, threading through the beast's bark-like skin and seeping into every crack and crevice. Slowly, its formidable form emerged from the darkness—a hulking bear, colossal and menacing, standing twice the size of any ordinary bear.

  [Primal Barkskin Bear]

  Level: 7

  Class: Beast

  The bear sensed Rowan's intent, its amber veins surging and pulsing brighter around its shoulders as it heaved its massive form into motion, ready to defend its treasure.

  In Rowan's enhanced state, the bear's hulking charge seemed sluggish, each massive pawfall stretching into an eternity.

  "Let's slow you down some more," Rowan muttered, raising the rapier to his lips again, this time weaving a darker melody.

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  He began to play a slow, somber tune, laced with a vindictive, sharp undertone. Black and dark navy notes floated into the air, their presence heavy and oppressive. They hovered for a moment before surging forward toward the bear, carrying the weight of their burden.

  [Tune of Burden – Common]: A simple melody that weaves a heavy, oppressive force into its notes, applying a debuff to enemies that weighs down their movements and slows their reactions.

  As the heavy notes struck the bear, they sank into its amber veins, dimming the once-bright pulses and slowing their rhythm to a sluggish, labored beat.

  The bear had almost completely ground to a halt; Rowan knew he had to seize this opportunity.

  Before the final note struck the bear, Rowan activated his movement skill. In a blink, he closed the distance, reappearing where the note had hovered just moments before—to the side of the bear, perfectly positioned for his next move.

  [Song Step – Uncommon]: Allows the user to instantly swap places with one of their produced musical notes. The distance of the teleport scales with Perception, enabling swift repositioning during combat.

  This skill had emerged from his class skill selection, seamlessly tying his class and profession together.

  The bear hadn't even realized Rowan had moved; it had happened so quickly that even Rowan staggered slightly, needing a moment to steady himself.

  Rowan thrust the rapier forward, aiming for the gaps in the bear's armor-like hide. The plating was too tough to pierce directly, but the exposed joints offered a chance. As the blade struck, red glowing marks bloomed at each point of impact, each one no larger than the rapier's fine tip.

  This was the blade's true ability: with each glowing mark left on the bear, a note materialized along the blade, transforming it into a living sheet of music etched in light.

  Before Rowan could activate the blade, the amber glow suddenly flared like a lightning bolt. Rowan instinctively jumped back as the light intensified, forcing him to shield his eyes from the blinding brilliance.

  The moment the light peaked, it shattered outward in a burst of raw energy, scattering shards of golden mana like splintered glass. Rowan was caught in the wave, hurled through the air as razor-sharp fragments tore into his skin, each cut sending searing pain lancing through his body.

  Rowan's body slammed into a tree, blood spilling from his mouth on impact. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he fumbled for his pouch. He had to move fast—one more hit, and he was finished. Fighting through the agony, he seized his final health potion and drank it down in a desperate gulp.

  As Rowan pushed himself to his feet, he saw the bear shaking itself off, the amber glow around its body noticeably dimmer. Clearly, it couldn't unleash that devastating attack again so soon. However, the blast had bought it precious time and distance—enough to shrug off the slowing effects of the debuff.

  Glancing down at his sword, Rowan saw that while some notes had faded, two still glowed vividly. Without hesitation, he raised the rapier to his lips and blew a sharp breath. The remaining red notes pulsed to life, streaking forward with unerring precision toward the points he had marked earlier. Upon impact, they exploded with a deafening cacophony—not a melody, but raw, unleashed power.

  The bear staggered from the blow, giving Rowan just enough time to weave another [Tune of Burden], meeting the beast's renewed charge and slowing it once again to a lumbering walk. The bear, not foolish, struck toward the final lingering note, anticipating Rowan would teleport to it.

  But Rowan had predicted this. Speed was on his side, and he didn't need to use [Song Step] again—not that he could, with his dwindling resources. He surged forward in a burst of speed.

  Rowan's rapier thrust into the beast before it could react. With each strike, he noticed the glowing amber deepening, as if the bear was absorbing the energy of his attacks, converting it into raw power.

  Seven red glowing points now marked the bear's body—he needed one more. The rising glow warned him of the growing danger, but he had no choice. Gritting his teeth, Rowan drove in a final, desperate strike, then hurled himself backward, putting as much distance as possible between him and the beast.

  The bear exploded once again, a roaring eruption of energy that shook the very air around them.

  Even with distance, Rowan still took damage, a few shards piercing his skin. But he ignored the pain, focusing on the blade. Eight red notes hovered in the air for a heartbeat, then arranged themselves with precision before streaking toward the bear.

  This time, when the notes struck, the eruption did not unleash a chaotic cacophony—it harmonized into a powerful, controlled symphony. Eight notes, a full octave, resonated in perfect sequence, their combined force weaving a devastating melody of destruction. The bear's body trembled under the weight of the music, each note striking like a hammerbeat of raw, elegant power.

  Rowan collapsed to one knee, utterly spent. He had given everything, but a sinking feeling gnawed at him—there was no kill notification.

  As the dust settled, the bear's amber glow shifted into a deep, smoldering red. It had entered an enraged state, clinging to life through the devastation. Rowan's strength was gone; he couldn't even rise to defend himself. All he could do was watch, helpless, as the monstrous beast prepared to strike again.

  He closed his eyes, bracing himself for what was to come.