Chapter 12: Beast Promotion Stone
Max stood by the firelight, surrounded by his soldiers who still buzzed with excitement from their victory. They looked at him like he was some mythical figure—a man whose sheer presence had brought a 6-star Ultra Rare Beast to its knees without a single blow. Their eyes shone with respect, even awe, as if they were in the presence of a living legend.
He could still feel the weight of their admiration, but it didn't sit well with him. He knew the truth—they were celebrating something that wasn't real. He hadn't won that battle through strategy or skill. He hadn't even cast a proper spell. The raw mana that had surged through him had been an accident, something he had no control over. And yet, they thought he was invincible.
Max (internal): They don't know. They think I did this on purpose. They think I can control it.
The weight of their expectations pressed down on him. If they knew the truth—that he had been just as shocked as the orcs and goblins when they surrendered—would they still follow him? Would they still believe in him?
Max turned, walking toward the edge of the village, the sound of celebration fading into the background as he distanced himself from the crowd. He needed space to think. The power he had tapped into was wild, dangerous even. He had to find a way to control it before it controlled him.
---
Max's Reflections
Max found himself standing at the edge of the village, looking out at the distant hills that stretched toward the horizon. The wind was cold against his face, and the quiet of the night felt like a welcome relief from the constant noise in his head.
Max (internal): I've always wanted power. Back in the real world, I dreamt about having control, about being the one who called the shots. Now I have it, but... this isn't what I imagined.
He clenched his fists, feeling the faint remnants of the mana that had surged through him earlier. It was still there, just below the surface, humming with energy. But he didn't understand it. He didn't know how to summon it, how to wield it like the Duke was supposed to.
Max (internal): I need to figure this out. They think I'm a leader, someone who can command armies and wield magic. But I don't even know what I'm doing.
Darius looked at him with awe, his respect deepening. "Of course, Your Grace. It was brilliant. The men are saying that no one—neither demon nor god—could have stood against that kind of power."
Max felt a knot in his stomach. They were placing him on a pedestal he didn't deserve. But what could he say? That it had been luck? That he didn't even know how to cast a proper spell? That would destroy everything. So he said nothing, allowing the illusion to stand.
Darius continued. "We will march tomorrow at dawn. The men are prepared to follow wherever you lead."
---
Max sat quietly in his chambers, turning the Ancestor Stone over in his hands. The cold surface of the stone pulsed faintly with ancient energy, its intricate etchings glowing softly. The Orc War Chief and Goblin Overlord had surrendered it along with their lives, hoping to buy their survival. But the stone they had offered wasn't just a tribal heirloom—it was something far more valuable.
Max leaned back in his chair, thinking about the moment they had knelt before him. Two six-star monsters, mighty in their own right, brought to their knees not by battle, but by fear. The memory of the surrender flickered in his mind—how the Orc War Chief, towering and fearsome, had dropped to one knee, pledging loyalty in exchange for mercy. How the Goblin Overlord had trembled, offering everything, even their sacred artifact, to avoid death.
What they had given him was no ordinary stone. It was a Beast Promotion Stone—a rare and powerful item capable of elevating monsters below six-star rank to the elusive six-star level. Max had heard rumors of such artifacts in his past life, back when Fate's End had been just a game, but now that he held one in his hands, the reality of its power was undeniable.
the Ancestor Stone in his hands, turning it over slowly. The cold surface of the stone pulsed faintly with ancient energy, its intricate etchings glowing with a soft light that flickered like a heartbeat. He had known it was valuable from the moment the orcs and goblins offered it as part of their surrender. They'd practically begged for their lives, offering everything they had, and this relic had sealed the deal.
But now, staring at it in the dim light of his study, Max realized that this was far more than just a tribal heirloom. A memory stirred in the back of his mind—something from his life before, when Fate's End had been just a game and not his reality. It had been in one of those late-night conversations with his friends, back when they had joked about the rarest items and legendary drops in the game.
His fingers tightened around the stone as the memory came rushing back.
---
Flashback: Chat with Friends
Max and his friends had been huddled around a gaming table, the familiar glow of their screens reflecting off their tired faces as they discussed the game's new expansion.
Friend 1: "Have you guys heard about the Beast Promotion Stone? Apparently, it can turn any beast into a six-star monster, but you need an insane amount of resources to use it."
Friend 2: "Yeah, right. Like we'd ever be able to collect enough blood essence from a seven-star monster. And the mana requirements are ridiculous."
Max had laughed at the time, shaking his head. Max: "Yeah, but good luck finding the materials. You need a ton of mana or a Pure Mana Stone—and not just a small amount, but in ridiculous quantities."
Friend 1: "And you've gotta kill something crazy powerful to even use it. Blood essence from a seven-star or higher monster. It's not exactly something you can farm."
Friend 2: "Not to mention the rare ingredients if you don't want the beast to go nuts. I think one of them was the Heart of the Eternal Oak or something?"
Max had nodded, laughing as he imagined the impossible task of gathering those materials.
Max: "You'd need an army of farmers just to collect the resources. And without the rare ingredients to keep the monster's sanity intact, you'd end up with a rampaging beast on your hands."
They had all laughed at the absurdity of it, but now, the absurd had become his reality.
They had laughed it off back then, treating it like just another challenge in the game. But now, holding the Ancestor Stone in his hand, Max felt the weight of those words. This wasn't just a game anymore. The stone he held was a Beast Promotion Stone, and its power was very real.
---
Max's Reflection on the Stone's Power
Max held the stone tightly, the faint glow of its magical essence filling the room. This was no ordinary tool. The Beast Promotion Stone was capable of transforming lower-ranked beasts into six-star Ultra Rare monsters, pushing them to the edge of godlike power. And the best part? It could do this indefinitely—he could promote as many beasts as he wanted, provided he had the resources.
But that was where the challenge lay.
To use the stone, he would need blood essence from a seven-star monster and massive amounts of mana—or, in the absence of that, a Pure Mana Stone in large quantities. These weren't resources that could be easily gathered. The blood essence of a seven-star monster was rare, and Pure Mana Stones were almost mythical in their scarcity.
Without these, the stone was useless. And even if he managed to gather the resources, there was still the matter of controlling the promoted beasts.
He remembered the conversation with his friends, recalling the rare ingredients that would be necessary to keep the beasts from losing their minds:
1. Heart of the Eternal Oak – An essence from a sacred tree that could stabilize a beast's mind, preventing it from going berserk after the promotion.
2. Tears of the Forgotten Phoenix – A mythical elixir, capable of preserving a beast's original essence during the transformation, ensuring that it remained loyal and didn't become corrupted by the sudden surge of power.
3. Blood of the 7-star Serpent King – This potent venomous blood was necessary to stabilize the chaotic energy during the promotion. Without it, the beast's mind would shatter under the pressure of its new power.
Max sighed, rubbing his temple. These ingredients were legendary in their own right, and obtaining them would be no small feat. But if he could find them… the power he could wield would be unparalleled.
---
The Orc and Goblin's Offer
His thoughts drifted back to the Orc War Chief and Goblin Overlord. They had offered their loyalty, their blood, in exchange for mercy, and he had accepted it. Now, they were bound to him through a Blood Contract—their strength and lives tied to his will. Six-star beasts, loyal to his cause.
Max stood from his chair and paced the room, the weight of the contract heavy on his mind. While the Orc War Chief and Goblin Overlord were already six-star monsters, their loyalty still needed to be secured. He couldn't afford to have powerful beasts like them go rogue.
Max (internal): They're already six-star monsters. Promoting them further isn't an option. But their loyalty… that's something I can secure.
He recalled the moment when the contract was sealed—the Blood Contract, a magical bond that tied the orc and goblin to him. They had signed it willingly, offering their blood to ensure their survival. And now, their loyalty was his, bound by magic that neither gods nor demons could break.
---
Sealing the Blood Contract
Max stood at his desk, looking down at the Blood Contract that now glowed with magical runes, signifying the unbreakable bond between him and his new vassals. The orc had grunted as he signed the parchment in blood, and the goblin had been even more nervous, his hands shaking as he drew the claw across his palm. But both had signed, their fates now bound to Max's will.
Max recalled the exchange with a smirk.
Max (thinking back): "You'll sign in blood. This will bind you to me," I'd said. "Your loyalty will be tied to my strength. Break it, and the consequences will be... severe."
The Orc War Chief had growled in agreement, pressing the quill into his wound to sign the contract. The Goblin Overlord, of course, had been far more hesitant, muttering nervously under his breath, but ultimately, he had signed, too.
Now, they were his. Their immense power, their cunning, their experience—all bound to serve him.
Max's fingers grazed the surface of the contract, feeling the faint hum of the magic that pulsed through it. The contract was perfect. It ensured that the six-star monsters couldn't betray him without paying the ultimate price. He would control them completely, as long as he held the contract.
---
Strategizing for the Future
Max turned his attention back to the Beast Promotion Stone. While the orcs and goblins were already at their peak, this stone had the potential to bolster the rest of his forces. There were dozens of lower-ranked monsters under his control that could benefit from the stone's power.
With the right resources, he could elevate them all to six-star rank, creating an army of beasts powerful enough to rival anything the world had ever seen. But he would need to gather the necessary ingredients first.
Max (internal): The Blood Contract was the first step. Now, I need to focus on the next. Finding the resources, the blood essence, and the ingredients to stabilize the promotions.
He chuckled to himself, recalling the nervous expression of the Goblin Overlord as he signed the contract. "You'll get your power," Max muttered aloud. "But you're going to work for it."
His mind whirled with possibilities. If he could promote his entire army, turning even the weakest creatures into six-star monsters, his enemies would be helpless against him. And with the Blood Contract in place, loyalty would never be a concern.
But first, he would need to hunt. The Serpent King, the Phoenix Tears, and the Eternal Oak were all waiting for him to claim them.
Max smiled, his fingers tracing the glowing contract one last time.
Max (internal): This is only the beginning. I'll find the resources. I'll gather the power. And when I'm done, the world will know what true strength looks like.
With that, Max extinguished the candle and stepped into the night, the Beast Promotion Stone safely tucked away, waiting for the day it would unleash its full potential.
Also note they are newly promoted 6 star ultra rare monster. So they become overconfident they thought max will not come to directly fight may be one of his commander will come.
---
Beast Promotion Stone (Six-Star Evolution)
Ability: This item can promote a beast below six-star rank to a six-star rank (Ultra Rare). Once used, it causes the beast or monsters race to undergo a powerful transformation, significantly increasing its stats, intelligence, or even granting it new abilities.