Chapter 5: Level Up
Kael stood before the massive silver-furred beast, his stance relaxed but not careless.
His sharp eyes studied the creature, noting its intelligence.
The Wise King of the Forest, despite its size, had an unusual presence—not just that of a wild monster but of something ancient. Even so, Kael had no interest in testing its patience.
He raised his hand, and the air crackled with power as a new Sky Spear formed. Unlike the previous ones he had used, this one consumed 50% of his mana, far surpassing the attack he had used to destroy the goblin village.
The pressure in the air became suffocating as a shockwave rippled outward, bending the trees and shaking the very ground beneath them.
The monstrous energy of the spear illuminated the forest in an eerie glow, creating an overwhelming sense of dread.
Despite its outwardly composed stance, the Wise King of the Forest felt an intense sense of panic deep within.
Its instincts screamed danger, but its pride forced it to remain standing. The sheer power radiating from the spear made its fur stand on end. It knew instinctively—if that thing struck, it would not survive.
The beast took a slow step back, its sharp claws digging into the earth. Kael, watching closely, smirked. "Still standing? Impressive. But can you handle this?" He pointed the Sky Spear at the beast, ready to strike.
The Wise King of the Forest, feeling the crushing weight of impending doom, did the only thing it could. It lowered its head, tucked its paws inward, and spoke in a surprisingly refined tone.
"This humble one surrenders!"
Kael blinked. "What?"
"I beg thee, mighty one! Spare this foolish beast! I am but a humble guardian of the forest, unworthy of thy wrath!"
Kael stared, momentarily thrown off by the sheer drastic shift in behavior. A moment ago, it was standing tall like a proud ruler of the forest, and now it was groveling before him.
The legendary Wise King of the Forest's ultimate technique was apparently… begging for mercy.
Lowering his Sky Spear slightly, Kael sighed. "You were about to fight me a second ago, and now you're groveling?"
The massive hamster nodded rapidly, its whiskers trembling. "Indeed! But wisdom is the key to survival! This humble one would much rather serve a mighty lord than perish needlessly!"
Kael narrowed his eyes, considering the offer. He could kill it and gain experience, but… the beast had spoken with intelligence, not just instinct.
That was rare. Besides, something about riding a giant hamster through the forest had a certain appeal to it.
A few minutes later, Kael sat comfortably atop the Wise King of the Forest, now known as Hamsuke. The massive creature moved swiftly through the forest, effortlessly carrying him forward. The wind rushed past as Kael observed the scenery, his mana slowly regenerating as they traveled.
As they moved, Hamsuke spoke. "Thy servant is most honored to serve thee, my lord! For over a century, I have roamed these lands as the guardian of the forest! Many have challenged me, but none have triumphed! That is… until thee appeared."
Kael hummed. "So you were the strongest beast here?"
Hamsuke hesitated. "Ahem… one of the three Great Beasts of the Forest. There are two others of considerable strength."
Kael smirked. "Perfect. Take me to the next one."
Hamsuke hesitated before turning toward a deeper part of the forest. "If that is thy will… Then let us proceed to the domain of the Forest Ogre."
As they traveled deeper, the air grew heavier. The trees became thicker, and the sounds of the wild faded into eerie silence. Then, ahead of them, a massive figure emerged—a Forest Ogre, standing over four meters tall, its muscular body covered in thick, bark-like skin. It wielded a gigantic club, its red eyes glaring at them.
Kael dismounted smoothly, stepping forward as the ogre roared, charging toward him with earth-shaking steps. Its sheer size was imposing, but Kael had already analyzed its weakness.
Just before the club could smash into him, he sidestepped effortlessly, dodging with ease. As the ogre's weapon crashed into the ground, sending debris flying, Kael thrust his hand forward, summoning a Sky Spear—this time, he infused 30% of his mana into it, keeping it efficient yet deadly.
The spear shot forward at blinding speed, piercing directly into the ogre's chest.
For a moment, the ogre froze, its red eyes widening in shock. Then—
BOOM!
The spear exploded from within, tearing through its flesh and sending shockwaves through its body. The ogre stumbled, blood spraying from its wound, before collapsing with a loud thud.
Kael exhaled, feeling the rush of battle fading. He turned back toward Hamsuke, who had been watching the fight in stunned silence. The great beast swallowed nervously before bowing its head.
"This humble one was wise to pledge loyalty to thee… Thou art truly a being of unimaginable power."
Kael chuckled. "You made the right choice."
As Hamsuke prepared to continue their journey, something else caught Kael's attention.
From the shadows of the trees, a massive serpent was watching them. Its body was thick, its green scales blending into the forest, and its yellow slit eyes gleamed with intelligence.
Kael raised an eyebrow. "And who might you be?"
The Great Serpent of the West slithered forward slightly, its posture cautious. Then, as if taking inspiration from Hamsuke, it lowered its head slightly, trying to appear submissive.
Kael's smirk vanished.
"Nice try."
Before the serpent could react, he flicked his fingers, and a Sky Spear instantly formed in the air. With a thought, he sent it straight through the serpent's skull, piercing it cleanly before detonating.
The beast didn't even have time to scream. Its body convulsed once, then collapsed, lifeless.
He gained another chunk of exp here.
Hamsuke shuddered, looking at the obliterated remains of one of the so-called Great Beasts of the Forest. This being—this Demon God—was unlike anything Hamsuke had ever seen.
Kael sat atop Hamsuke, the massive beast moving swiftly through the dense forest. The air was still thick with the scent of battle, the remains of the fallen ogre and serpent left behind as silent proof of his growing strength.
The Wise King of the Forest, now his loyal mount, moved with a renewed sense of purpose, though Kael could still sense its underlying nervousness.
"System," Kael said calmly, glancing at the dark sky above, "Upgrade my level."
[Confirming… Leveling up to 33.]
A surge of energy coursed through his body, subtle but noticeable. His stamina and mana reserves adjusted slightly, his power stabilizing at a new peak. He still had a long way to go, but every step forward mattered.
Hamsuke glanced up at him. "Oh, mighty lord, may this humble one ask? How high doth thy power reach?"
Kael smirked slightly. "High enough to crush whatever stands in my way. But not high enough yet."
Hamsuke's whiskers twitched, its massive form shifting slightly. "To think, this humble one once believed itself to be among the greatest in the forest… Nay, compared to thee, I am but a mere beast."
Kael didn't respond. He knew that strength was relative—to the weak, he was a monster. To the truly powerful beings of this world, he was still nothing more than an insect waiting to be crushed.
That, however, would change soon.
As they continued moving, Kael's sharp gaze caught something ahead. Another group of undead. He had no intention of stopping now.
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[Kael Drakon - Status]
[Name]: Kael Drakon
[Race]: Demon God
[Level]: 33
[EXP]: 0 (Can be used for Leveling or Lottery)
Mana Recovery: 20% MP every 20 minutes
[Skills]:
Sky Spear , Teleportation
[Passive Abilities]:
High-Level Magic Damage Reduction
High-Level Magic Damage Increase
Negative Status Immunity
Demon Wings (Locked)
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