Chapter 15: Rest…or no Rest???

Lyrderu's words lingered in Jin's mind, stirring countless questions he had no immediate answers to. The vastness of Veylashen, its history, the divine war that once shaped it—there was so much to uncover. Yet, despite his curiosity, a part of him hesitated. Stepping beyond familiar grounds meant stepping into uncertainty. Was he truly ready for this?

Then, he recalled the words of the so-called "life and death god" who had sent him here.

"This world is meant to be my resting place—my imagined world—then why should I hesitate to explore it?"

A chuckle escaped him as another thought surfaced.

"Isn't this just like taking a vacation within a vacation?"

Back on Earth, he had often traveled abroad, hopping from one destination to another, searching for something new. Maybe this wasn't so different.

With that, his hesitation faded. After much thought, he made his decision—he would head south. There was no reason to remain idle when the world was waiting.

The deeper they traveled, the harsher the environment became. Hostile creatures lurked in the shadows—beasts with thick hides, swift predators striking from the darkness, even monsters wielding primitive magic. Jin relied on his crafted weapons and growing mastery of spells to carve a path forward, while Lyrderu fought with raw instinct and sheer strength.

Then, after felling yet another beast, Jin suddenly paused, sensing something shift within him.

[Level Up! Level 45 Achieved]

He exhaled and glanced at his stats. "Level 45, huh?" he muttered.

Lyrderu, watching him curiously, tilted his head. "Leveled up?" He crossed his arms, his tail flicking. "What means 'level'?"

Jin blinked. "You… don't know what levels are?"

Lyrderu gave him a blank look. "Lyr never heard of 'levels.'"

Jin frowned. If Lyrderu, a warrior who lived by strength, didn't know about levels, did that mean this system only applied to him? Was it because he wasn't originally from this world? Or was there something more at play?

Either way, this was something he needed to be careful about. Revealing too much could draw unwanted attention.

"I see," he said at last. "It's just a way for me to measure my growth." But inwardly, he thought, If no one else has this… I should probably keep it to myself.

Lyrderu simply nodded. "Strength comes from battle, from training, from instincts. That is all warriors need… Jin strong because Jin train. Lyr see it. Not because of… 'numbers.'"

Jin chuckled. "Can't argue with that."

The two continued on, cutting down more monsters as they ventured deeper into the wilderness. By the time the sun began to set, they realized it was too late to turn back. Finding a secure location, they set up camp for the night, resting before the next move.

The following morning, as Jin stretched his limbs, his Survival Instinct flared with an intense warning. His body tensed—something dangerous was nearby.

Lyrderu immediately noticed the change in his demeanor and took a defensive stance.

Silently, they moved forward, scouting ahead until they found the source of the danger: two massive creatures prowling in the distance.

Jin immediately activated Appraisal (EX).

[Appraisal (EX) Activated]

▼ Target Identified: Chimera

◇ Level: 60

◇ HP: 12,500 / 12,500

◇ MP: 2,300 / 2,300

◇ Classification: Hybrid Beast (Artificial)

◇ Traits: High Regeneration, Enhanced Magic Resistance

◇ Description: A grotesque fusion of various beasts, forcefully combined through unnatural means. Displays immense strength and resilience but lacks stable instincts.

◇ Origin: Bred and conditioned by Riel Ilisino, Head of Ostrya's Mage Tower.

▼ Target Identified: Chimera (Advanced Variant)

◇ Level: 63

◇ HP: 14,200 / 14,200

◇ MP: 2,800 / 2,800

◇ Classification: Hybrid Beast (Advanced)

◇ Traits: High Regeneration, Enhanced Physical Resistance

◇ Description: A refined version of the Chimera species, engineered for war. More stable than its predecessors, exhibiting tactical awareness and calculated aggression.

◇ Origin: Bred and trained by Riel Ilisino, Head of Ostrya's Mage Tower.

Jin's eyes narrowed. "These things… they're man-made," he muttered. "Ostrya is behind this."

Lyrderu let out a low growl. "Lyr know these creatures… One attack tribe before. Kill half warriors. Lyr barely survive."

Jin tightened his grip on his weapon. "Then we can't let them roam freely. Let's take them down."

Lyrderu smirked, twirling his spear. "Lyr like this plan."

Jin assessed their opponents quickly. One chimera was highly resistant to magic, while the other shrugged off physical attacks.

"We take down the physically resistant one first," he said, gripping his sword. "I'll handle it. You keep the other one busy."

Lyrderu cracked his knuckles, eyes glinting. "Hah. Lyr fight best when enemy strong."

Without warning, Lyrderu shot forward, launching himself at the magic-resistant chimera. His spear struck fast, aiming for its joints, but the beast barely flinched. It retaliated with a powerful swipe, forcing him to dodge. He wasn't aiming to kill—just to keep it occupied.

Jin, meanwhile, lunged at the physically resistant chimera. Steel met flesh—only to glance off harmlessly. His sword barely left a scratch.

The beast roared, swinging its massive claws. Jin barely rolled aside. Attacking head-on won't work.

He raised his hand. Glacial Lance (R)!

A spear of ice shot forward, striking the chimera's knee. Frost spread rapidly, locking the joint in place.

Now.

Blazing Shot (R)!

A burst of fire struck the frozen limb. The rapid temperature shift caused the flesh to rupture violently. The chimera howled, its leg giving out.

But it still wouldn't go down.

Nearby, Lyrderu was struggling. His spear flicked out, striking the magic-resistant chimera again and again, but it was like hitting solid iron. The beast lunged—claws raking across his side. Blood dripped, but Lyrderu gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay mobile.

"Jin—any time now would be great!"

Jin exhaled sharply. Binding (LV0)!

Chains of energy wrapped around the chimera's limbs. It struggled, muscles bulging—but the bindings held.

Jin raised a hand toward the sky.

"Meteor (R)!"

A blazing rock tore through the air, slamming into the pinned chimera. The force sent a shockwave through the ground. The beast roared—then was silenced beneath the meteor's fiery weight.

One down.

He turned—Lyrderu was barely holding on. Without hesitation, Jin charged in, slashing while Lyrderu drove his spear deep into the second chimera's shoulder.

Blazing Shot (R)!

Flames exploded inside the beast's open maw. It staggered, then collapsed.

Silence.

[Ding!]

[You have leveled up!]

[Level increased: 45 → 51]

Jin exhaled, feeling energy rush through him. Then—

He glanced at Lyr, who was panting but still standing. Lyrderu also seems like he leveled up as well. His level is now 55.

Lyrderu groaned. "Damn… brutal."

Jin smirked. "You did well."

Lyr scoffed. "Tch. Next time, Lyr let chimera bite Jin first."

Jin chuckled. But in the back of his mind, he was already thinking about what came next.

Six levels gained… What exactly was he up against?

Lyrderu took a deep breath, his body covered in wounds. "Too strong. If more exist… dangerous."

Jin wiped the sweat from his forehead, his gaze lingering on the fallen chimeras. Their grotesque forms, still twitching in their final moments, were a stark reminder of what they had just faced. He exhaled sharply, the weight of their battle settling in.

"These things weren't just some random beasts," he muttered. "Ostrya's been breeding them. Who knows how many more are out there?"

Lyrderu, still catching his breath, clenched his fists. "If they have more… if they send more…" His voice trailed off, but Jin could see the worry in his eyes. "Our home is in danger."

Jin nodded, his expression unreadable. "We can't leave yet. Not until we're sure the tribe is safe."

They couldn't afford to return without knowing what they were up against. If these chimeras were roaming the lands—or worse, if more powerful variants existed—then their people wouldn't stand a chance.

As Lyrderu silently watched the horizon, deep in thought, Jin knelt beside one of the chimeras. He unsheathed his dagger and got to work, carving out anything useful—fangs, claws, bones, and hide. Even in death, these creatures held immense value. Their materials were stronger than ordinary beasts, and if reforged properly, they could be turned into weapons, armor… anything that would give them an edge in the battles to come.

The thick hide was resistant, taking more effort to cut through than he expected. He scoffed. Even dead, they're a pain in the ass.

Lyrderu finally broke the silence. "You're planning to make something out of them, aren't you?"

Jin didn't look up. "Of course. Would be a waste not to."

Lyr sighed, shaking his head. "You never stop, do you?"

Jin paused for a moment, glancing at the blood staining his hands, the exhaustion weighing on his body, and the still-burning adrenaline in his veins. He chuckled to himself, the sound dry and amused.

"God said this is my resting," he murmured, standing up and stretching his sore limbs. Then he looked at the two monstrous corpses, the battlefield littered with blood and wreckage, and the daunting road still ahead. His smirk deepened.

"…Doesn't seem like rest at all. More like… no rest for me."

He let out a quiet laugh. Fitting, isn't it?