ã€ŠRe: Legendary Berserker&#x27;s Adventã€‹


 Chapter 1 Rebirth of A Legendary Figure

    ¡ª-

    ¡­Beep! ¡­Beep! ¡­Beep!

    The monotonous beep of a vital monitor echoed throughout an all-white medical room outfitted with top-notch medical equipment as a man, seeming to be no older than theirte twenties, rested in the bed with a sickly expression.

    Their skin was pale, and the state of their body even worse. It seemed that their entire body had atrophied after being confined to a bed for an unknown amount of time. Judging by their condition, it had to be a year at the very least!

    Even though he appeared ufortable and seemingly wanted to be left alone, the man wasn¡¯t left unattended in the room.

    Aside from the bed-ridden man, five men in suited attire guarded the room. One guard was posted in front of the door while four additional men positioned themselves in each corner of the room with stoic expressions.

    However, they weren¡¯t the main talk of the room. There were five additional people¨Dthree men and two women¨Dwho sat around the bedside.

    On top of the expression of pain on the man¡¯s face, he also seemed upset, which was understandable given the contents of their current talk. But, what could he do? He had spent ample time with at least three of these people.

    After all, at one point in time, this withered man wasuded as one of the gaming industry¡¯s Most Prolific Rising Stars! That title soon earned him the position as the strongestmander in one of the top ten guilds in Zenith Online¨DGolden Brigade.

    And, it was through his efforts that the guild managed to reim this spot in the first ce. The ragingpetition rted to the guilds of Zenith Online acquiringnd and power almost stepped into the realm of absurdity! It was even more lucrative than wanting to acquire these traits on Earth.

    Of course, this was only true because organizations at this level already possessed such a status. Zenith Online was akin to a new world for them to conquer! How could they shy away from the challenge?

    Still, the man¡¯s expression remained sour. ¡°Your visits are bing more frequent. I thought I had given my answer on the matter already. I¡¯ll donate my current fortune to the medical area in hopes of finding a cure for this ursed affliction.¡±

    Due to his weakened condition, the man¡¯s voice was grating to the ear, causing everyone nearby to frown. But that wasn¡¯t the only reason. This sick individual held an enormous fortune now because of many des and the ludicrous expansion of the gaming industry after Zenith Online¡¯s rise to global fame.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not be hasty, Kieran. There is no need for you to make such a rash decision. Let¡¯s revisit the idea of having all those funds circte back through the guild¡¯s channels to strengthen our influence after you pass. We still need topete against those other nine. Besides, the medical industry has enough funds; more than enough actually,¡± aposed man with sses said.

    While trying to reason with Kieran, the man lightly tapped the bridge of his sses against his nose, indicating some slight annoyance.<sub>-.</sub>

    The others surrounding the bed nodded in agreement. Everyone present was either a member of the organizations that backed the guild or high-ranking guild members themselves. Although Keiran wasn¡¯t a founding member of the guild, his skill gave him the leverage needed to acquire a percentage of the guild shares on par with vice-guild leaders.

    Despite their insistence, Kieran remained adamant about his decision. If not for his sickness, he would still be in thepetition and the guild¡¯s foundation could have possibly grown sturdier than ever.

    ¡°No, my decision is final. The guild has enough. What more could you want?¡±

    However, the room¡¯s atmosphere changed once everyone closed their eyes and exhaled disappointedly before revealing cold and discontented expressions.

    ¡°We¡¯ve heard your interests, but it¡¯s pointless now that you¡¯re on the verge of death. We¡¯ve already arranged thewyers and found a bypass use that we can enact. After all, I¡¯m sure any doctor would deem you unfit to make a decision regarding your wealth. It¡¯s being seized and imed as we speak,¡± the man revealed.

    After listening to the others talk and murmur amongst themselves, Kieran¡¯s expression grew dissatisfied. ¡°Oh? Is that right? So, in other words, my words are air, and if you so will it, you can take my entire legacy away from me?¡±

    Thereafter, a heavy pressure suffused the room.

    Although Kieran was on his deathbed, the pressure exuded by a high-caliber expert of Zenith Online was not to be dismissed. His gaze caused a cold sweat to seep down everyone¡¯s back despite his atrocious bodily condition.

    It was to the point that the security posted inside every point of the room put their hands on their specialized weapons developed for humans with unnatural mental and physical capabilities.

    But, the other people in the room raised their hands and didn¡¯t allow it, especially the man with sses sitting beside Kieran.

    ¡°Yes, that is what I¡¯m saying. Because of the contract you signed, we have the right of ownership. It was us who gave you your future and path to sess. Don¡¯t feel wronged, old friend. You leaned upon us to grow to this height, so it¡¯s only fitting that you pay back the favor during your downfall.¡±

    However, instead of bing angrier, Kieran chuckled softly for a long time before slowly panning his gaze toward the speaker. ¡°Old friend? Leaned upon you? Charles, don¡¯t forget who sought out the other. I could have very well seeded without the Golden Brigade.¡±

    ¡°Wrong. After denying their offers, you would¡¯ve been crushed by any one of the other superpowers. You think they¡¯ll allow you to rise in their domain and take food out of their mouths?¡± Charles answered.

    ¡°Tch, either way, your interest was reviving your family¡¯s withering legacy. If I knew it would turn out like this, I would have rejected your offer and took my chances with fate,¡± Kieran said with an icy gaze.<sub></sub>

    ¡°Correct. You could have¡­ but that¡¯s also why we all voted upon this once you disyed signs of the Hyper-Cognitive Overload Sickness. Your headstrong attitude was always a concern. How long could we control you if you recovered? That simply was not a variable we were willing to ount for,¡± Charles said with a sigh that soon turned into a conniving smirk.

    Kieran grew silent momentarily while giving Charles a deathly stare. There were a few things wrong with the way Charles worded his statement.

    One, Kieran never made his condition public. Once he became sick, he simply told the guild it was a terminal illness. Additionally, when Kieran went for an evaluation and finally learned the exact type of illness, it was said to have no cure. Therefore, he kept his diagnosis secret while training a protege to seed him.

    Two, it felt as if Charles was much more familiar with the sickness than he let on.

    As a result, Kieran couldn¡¯t help but inadvertently loathe Charles without genuinely knowing why until now. ¡°How do you know the precise name of my condition?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not very much a secret. This sickness of yours isn¡¯t the first case, nor will it be thest. Yes, you may have an extremely rare case whose deterioration rate far exceeds the normal parameters, but a cure for this ailment exists. s, the chairman decided you were too much of an outlier to let heal properly. And, who am I to disobey my grandfather? So¡­ it¡¯s irreversible now,¡± Charles said with an indifferent chuckle.

    Meanwhile, Kieran¡¯s eyes widened with shock.

    Over the course of 6 years, toiling endlessly for Golden Brigade, Kieran visited many facilities in hopes of finding something to cure him. But, it now dawned upon him that he may have underestimated the wickedness of his background and the grasp of Behemoths backed by the Private Sector.

    ¡°It was you! You¡¯re the reason I was turned away many times! And you have the gall to smile in my face as if we¡¯re friends? We were never friends and never will be. You¡¯ll always be inferior, a second-rate yer with no talent whatsoever.¡±

    ¡°And yet¡­ I¡¯m the one who¡¯ll be alive. Not you,¡± Charles smiled, ignoring Kieran¡¯s insults. It might¡¯ve seemed innocent, but it was like the smile of a deceitful devil.

    Suddenly, the pressure suffusing the room amplified many times over, making everyone feel as if the gravity in the space had increased by at least ten times. Kieran¡¯s eyes bled a crimson light as he slowly levitated from the bed while releasing a chaotic pressure.

    His boundless anger had triggered abilities awakened by ying a Berserker for a long time. It felt as if explosions were going off in his mind, but he didn¡¯t care. Since he was marked for death already, why would he have any reservations?

    Upon noticing this change, everyone in the room paled. This was a man who managed to obtain an Awakened Character inside Zenith Online. This meant he had touched upon a level that most yers could only dream about achieving.

    Once this pressure appeared, Kieran lifted his hand, creating a tiny sphere of berserk energies in the center of his palm. It vibrated uncontrobly as Kieran¡¯s familiarity with this power was shoddy at best. He never had the chance to employ it often before falling into his current condition.

    Still, almost everyone inside the room was stifled under this pressure.

    Only one individual besides Kieran, who experienced unfathomable anger, could move underneath this pressure.

    A captivating woman with luxurious golden hair styled into voluminous curls seemed to glide across the room, potentially unaffected by gravity or at the very least, affected minimally. She took one of the weapons harnessed to the guard¡¯s waist and activated it, causing it to emit a strange whirring sound.

    Her movements were light, trained, and most of all seemed inhuman. She lifted her arm, aimed the muzzle before her, and pressed the trigger.

    Bang!

    A psionic bullet fired, piercing through the pressure with violent oscitions. It drilled through Kieran¡¯s forehead as his eyes went nk, causing the small crimson ball to disperse.

    ¡°It just shows how inexperienced and untrained you all are. Fortunately for you all, I decided to attend thisst meeting. Otherwise, I¡¯m not sure any of you would¡¯ve lived to see another morning¡¯s lovely sun,¡± the beautiful woman said.

    On the other hand, her golden eyes filled with indifference but alsoden with unspoken emotion, watched Kieran¡¯s body fall back to the bed.

    ¡®If you¡¯re going to be a ray of blinding light¡­ you need to make sure you have the overwhelming power to crush those who look to oppress you.¡¯

    Meanwhile, Charles clutched his chest while he struggled to recover his breathing. ¡®He¡¯s this much of a monster even on his deathbed where he can¡¯t move?! We made the right choice in not giving him the chance to recover. That¡¯s a problem we don¡¯t have the means to handle.¡¯

    ¡­

    Ahnt! Ahnt! Ahnt!

    An obnoxious noise caused Kieran¡¯s eyes to m open with a deep gasp. He stared at a ceiling with evident signs of wear and tear apparent from the dull paint covering its entire breadth.

    At first, the scene felt extremely unfamiliar, but Kieran¡¯s eyes filled with astonishment after looking around. The setting was something he should¡¯ve been immediately familiar with. Still, it had slipped his mind for a brief moment due to his unbelievable circumstances.

    ¡°Impossible¡­ this is my college dorm!¡± Kieran muttered incredulously while sitting up immediately after. He touched his forehead and continued to look around and feel his face in disbelief.

    Eventually, he approached the mirror.

    All signs of sickly afflictions were nowhere to be seen in his current appearance, nor was there a gunshot wound. While it was far from being in prime athletic shape, Kieran grinned as his deep ck eyes brimmed with unconceble happiness.

    Despite how difficult it was to believe his current situation, the rm clock, which was the source of the obnoxious rm, confirmed Kieran¡¯s suspicions.

    The rm clock revealed today to be the 10th of May. As for the year, it was nearly eight years in the past, seemingly returning to the year 2122.

    However, today held great significance because, in just a few short hours, the official release of Zenith Online would go live! Zenith Online was the enigmatic virtual reality game that gave Kieran the opportunity he needed to shine.

    ¡°What the hell? Have I gone back in time? Is this even Earth¡­¡±

    Halfway through his sentence, Kieran fiddled with a particr device and checked the contents of his bank ount. Even before bing famous in Zenith Online, he never experienced a normal job.

    Still, his bank ount consistently possessed enough funds to live. The reason for this was a tragic event years ago.

    It was an explosion that gued many families. What¡¯s more, it involved a government facility, which forced them to distribute remuneration and aid to any family directly affected by the tragedy. As one of the people affected, Kieran lived as an orphan until the age of 18, when he gained ess to the ount left for him.

    ording to national expenses, it wasn¡¯t an astonishing amount, but it was enough tofortably raise a child for 8-10 years.

    Of course, the ount allocated a portion of the money given to him to schooling and the orphanage by default. He received the remainder after all those fees were taken care of.

    ¡®It¡¯s not much left, but it¡¯ll have to work for now,¡¯ Kieran inwardly thought.

    Though he said it wasn¡¯t much, the mentioned ount held more than $20,000 inside. But, as someone who had once seen millions and even billions flowing through lucrative deals, thousands of dors wasn¡¯t enough to move him emotionally.

    Ignoring the issue of his depleting funds, Kieran immediately made a purchase for over $5,000!

    As for the contents of the purchase, it was a VR Helmet. It wasn¡¯t the most impressive version since it was outside his current living budget.

    s, as a twenty-year-old with no job, there wasn¡¯t a single bank that would issue him a loan. Such were the woes of a typical college student. But, this wasn¡¯t an issue for the current Kieran. After all, he possessed advantages that no other individual could im to have¨Dpotential knowledge regarding the future and faith in his capabilities!

    Of course, it wasn¡¯t perfect, but that was currently irrelevant.

    All he needed was information regarding his own future since he wasn¡¯t particrly worried about the situations of others. While waiting for the delivery of the device, Kieran paced around the room while silently formting a n. As he did so, a vengeful fire lit in his eyes.

    ¡®Damned Golden Brigade! I swear I¡¯ll uproot you all and enjoy everysting moment as I destroy everything you¡¯ve built,¡¯ Kieran swore while gritting his teeth and clenching his fist wrathfully until they each creaked.

    However, he wouldn¡¯t target them just yet. He needed time because the Golden Brigade already possessed many skilled individuals on its roster. Kieran would only be chasing a wolf with a brittle twig if he sought them out now.

    Therefore, Kieran¡¯s first objective was to train himself to quickly recover his prime abilities¨Dboth inside Zenith Online and on Earth.

    In the few hours it took for the delivery to arrive, Kieran did some light exercise to familiarize himself with his current capabilities and ate a nutritious meal. Once it arrived, he wasted no time configuring the settings and putting it on.

    A timer appeared before Kieran¡¯s eyes while settling his agitated emotions. Eventually, as Keiran logged into the game, a faint smile appeared on his face. In the past, he could only y this game a year after it hadunched, but not this time. This time, he¡¯d wreak havoc in the game from the beginning!

    ¡®Heh, let¡¯s get this show on the road.¡¯

    ¡´0:03¡µ

    ¡´0:02¡µ

    ¡´0:01¡µ

    ¡´Wee to theunch of Zenith Online!¡µ

 Chapter 2 Outclassing Thy Former Self

    ¡ª-

    The moment Kieran connected to the game world, he was greeted by an empty room with a cerulean backdrop that was so faint it neared the color white. However, as someone who had gone through this process before, Kieran understood what to expect.

    Each yer¡¯s journey began with a simple character configuration process before they could truly connect to the world of Zenith Online. After all, the makers couldn¡¯t just send them inside without basic knowledge regarding their uing experiences inside Zenith Online.

    Eventually, a small creature resembling a mythical creature of legend known as faerie appeared before Kieran out of seemingly nowhere. It circled his body repeatedly as if they were observing and recording all the information and attributes rted to this individual. Only after a few revolutions did the faerie stop, blink, and draw a rectangr outline in the air.

    ¡°Tell me, what is your name or the name you desired to be known as? Keep in mind that this decision can¡¯t be reversed. The name you choose will continue to stick with you.¡± The faerie said while continuing to move her hand in the same motion. The only difference now was that her focus shifted to the inside of the rectangr structure.

    Rather than watch her movements, Kieran rubbed his chin in thought while muttering to himself. ¡®Does a name really hold any significance? I¡¯ve never spared this any attention in the past, but perhaps that was a mistake. Something¡­ something¡­¡¯

    Eventually, Kieran decided upon a name, one that felt befitting of his grand n. In addition to gaining a second chance to flourish more than he ever could, he also would see to it that his enemies, namely those who betrayed his trust, would receive their just desserts.

    Therefore, Kieran nced up and looked at the circleposed of some type of Grand Faerie Magic and answered. ¡°Aatrox.¡±

    Loosely tranted, this name meant the one deemed savage, terrible, cruel, or even merciless. Based on the emotions buried inside Kieran, why he chose a name like this was understandable. However, determining how exactly he would conduct himself or enact his acts of vengeance was something for him to decide alone.

    Immediately after, a ring of energy enveloped Kieran¡¯s body, scanning his body from head to toe. The circle dissipated after a few seconds leaving the tiny creature slightly shocked.

    ¡®That¡¯s odd¡­ it¡¯s extremely rough but why does his spirit seem so strong? When has a human disyed such a high spirit with zero strengthening? This resembles information recorded in the Queen Mother¡¯s information trove.¡¯

    Amidst her shock, the little creature merged the information gained from the ring with the earlier mystical structure. However, her astonishment deepened when she received the finalized feedback regarding the attributes of the individual before her.

    ¡®Oh my days! This mere human is presenting signs of intense perceptivity at least three times stronger than the average human? You¡¯d expect this from a member of my race, not a human. It¡¯s truly a waste for him to be a human, but, oh well. What¡¯s done is done.¡¯<sub>-.</sub>

    Although the faerie tried to tell herself otherwise, she still sighed disappointedly. It was rare for a human to rival a faerie with having their soul strengthened externally.

    Nevertheless, she still imparted the information to Kieran, giving him a general idea of why the faerie was so shocked.

    Kieran immediately understood there was something amiss with his stat. While most of his stats fit the standard threshold for a beginner character, two apparent anomalies couldn¡¯t be ignored.

    ¡­

    ¡¸Name: Aatrox

    Lv.1 (Experience: 0/100)

    ss: None

    Title(s): None

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    [?Stats?]-

    Health: 140/140 (0.2 HP regen/sec)

    Mana: 75/75 (0.15 MP regen/sec)<sub></sub>

    Stamina: 102 (0.1 Stamina regen/sec)

    Attack Power: 22

    Defense: 13

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    [?Attributes?]-

    ?Strength: 10 (10 + 0 + 0)

    ?Intelligence: 9 (9 + 0 + 0)

    ?Agility: 10 (10 + 0 + 0)

    ?Endurance: 8 (8 + 0 + 0)

    ?Control: 25 (25 + 0 + 0)

    ?Vitality: 8 (8 + 0 + 0)

    ?Perception: 30 (30 + 0 + 0)

    [Unassigned Stat Point: 4]

    [Skill Points: 2] ¡¹

    ¡¯25 points in Control and 30 points in Perception? Is this correct?¡¯ Kieran wondered.

    Under normal circumstances, the basic stats given upon character creation were typically capped at ten. This was to keep a specific difficulty between leveling up since yers could form teams to increase leveling efficiency provided that everyone pulled their weight correctly.

    What¡¯s more, it was difficult to reach the peak of the numbers because the analysis factored in the brain waves fed to the VR device and the condition of the body in the real world through a thorough scan. These factors then determined the starting attributes of a yer¡¯s character.

    However, in the presence of an extremely powerful mind, the state of one¡¯s natural body yed a minimal role when truly determining the beginning stats. Instead of judging the body, the evaluation system would reward parameters that were within the unique individual¡¯s capacity to control.

    Therefore, the most important ability of all was the ability to manage their character properly. Then again, only a healthy body could support a healthy mind and vice versa.

    Still, Kieran¡¯s extra parameters would be a slight shock to anyone who witnessed them. The VR helmets in current cirction didn¡¯t allow for perfect sensory emtion, so it meant one¡¯s mind needed to function abnormally high to achieve exceptional effects.

    At max, the VR Helmet in Kieran¡¯s possession would replicate 90% of the sensations felt in the real world. It would take ample time for the average person with ordinary stats to be ustomed to the sensory disparity present in the basic virtual body.

    Only someone whose mind was powerful enough to at least receive maxed-out stats in the four Attributes directly pertaining to the movement of one¡¯s body would have a rtively easy time adjusting.

    Unsurprisingly, Kieran¡¯s reaction wasn¡¯t drastic because he expected an abnormality in these two stats. During his first life, his Perception was 17, and his Control was 13. In truth, he expected those stats to be mirrored, which they were, except they were even more bizarre than before.

    ¡°It¡¯s a shame that you are a human, but with your current stats, I suggest you take the path of magic. Find someone suitable to be your teacher and let them guide you in magic. Perhaps if you are skilled and pure enough, you may even seek counsel with those Blessed by Mana in the future,¡± the faeriemented.

    But, Kieran¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he looked at the faerie. ¡®Those Blessed by Mana? In other words, you mean Dragons? Heh¡­ that¡¯s a delusional dream.¡¯

    Eventually, Kieran shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ll have to disagree because I¡¯m not the slightest bit pure. Besides, the path of magic isn¡¯t fitting for me. At least¡­ not the conventional path of a mage. Anyway, you can spare everything regarding the basics debrief; I¡¯m ready to be transported into the real world.¡±

    ¡°Tch, how inconsiderate. Do you not enjoy mypany? But, as you wish, because it is ultimately your decision,¡± the faerie said. A momentter, a circle appeared beneath Kieran¡¯s feet, matching the one that scanned him earlier. However, he looked toward the faerie just before teleporting. There was an inexplicable smirk on his face.

    Even the faerie didn¡¯t understand the smirk. Be that as it may, the faerie could tell by Kieran¡¯s eyes that his knowledge was not shallow, especially since his spirit and perceptivity had already revealed that something about him was abnormal.

    ¡°Truly an odd one¡­ should I tell the Queen Mother about this experience, if she isn¡¯t aware already? I feel there¡¯s something unusual about both that human and his situation,¡± the faerie muttered to herself. Suddenly, an array of magical ripples surfaced around the faerie, followed by her blinking away.

    ¡­

    Kieran appeared within the world of Zenith Online with a sh of blinding blue light alongside several identical shes. As beginning characters, their activity was limited to beginner viges.

    Fortunately, the world was expansive, so there were countless beginner viges based on one¡¯s region in the real world. Seeing as Kieran was a citizen of the United States, he spawned inside the vige he was most familiar with¨DGena Vige.

    Whereas Kieran was rtively calm, those around him weren¡¯t. Their situation was unusual. Of course, they would understand their current situation if they hadn¡¯t skipped through the essential guide due to impatience.

    ¡°What the hell? Why wasn¡¯t I given a ss? This crap says I am a basic human! I don¡¯t even have any skills! What am I supposed to do? Bite monsters?¡±

    ¡°Goddammit! You¡¯re right! Where are our skills and sses! How is this a VRMMORPG? It¡¯s basic knowledge that we should be given a basic ss upon character creation! Jesus, this game is already DOGSHIT! Shit devs!¡±

    ¡°Oi, you guys yell too much. Use your brain and scope out the ce. We surely need to look for this ourselves if it isn¡¯t provided.¡±

    Meanwhile, Kieran simply scoffed. ¡®Treating this as a typical game would be a mistake. Zenith Online¡¯s incrementally increasing hyper-reality is amongst the finest known to the world. Fools should¡¯ve just taken a few minutes to learn the fundamental knowledge from their guide. I bet they were the type to skip any kind of dialogue or lore in the past.¡¯

    Aside from his small mentalment, Kieran couldn¡¯t be bothered with their issues. Instead, he chose a remote corner to perform some basic stretches to judge his current control over his character.

    ¡®It feels awkward but not as severe as I thought it would be. Compared to the first time, it feels nearly twice as good. I guess this is the effect of having 25 points in Control without investing any points.¡¯

    By the time Kieran finished stretching, those whopleted the essential guide had started appearing within Gena Vige. Just like in the past, many of the yers who started the game were excited to begin leveling. Some even thought about rushing off to the leveling fields before even receiving a ss to increase their leveling efficiency.

    However, those who were intelligent and familiar with the route of MMORPGs decided to receive a ss. But, there was another piece of information that these people didn¡¯t understand. Receiving a ss wasn¡¯t as simple as requesting one from a mentor.

    First, your attitude while in their presence yed a notable role in the chance of receiving the desired ss. A mentor¡¯s approval was pivotal in this process.

    Secondly, their stats yed the heaviest role of all. The four Unassigned Attribute Points given upon creation weren¡¯t just for show, nor were they for thoughtless use. It was best to save them until right before they visited their mentor.

    However, this knowledge didn¡¯t circte in themunity until weeks after theunch. A few people experimented with their stats and happened to receive their ss with no issue.

    With that being said, Kieran then turned towards the town outskirts, more specifically a building within arge rectangr prism shape. Fortunately, Kieran wasn¡¯t worried about this method. Because of his impressive stats, Kieran was confident that he¡¯d receive the starting ss of choice. Thus, whilemotion filled the town, Kieran and a few other discreet individuals ventured towards a collection of buildings at the end of a paved walkway.

    For the most part, the buildings were identical except for the unique insignia draped on arge banner atop their entrances and the impressive images embedded on stone walkways leading inside therge halls. A feeling of slight nostalgia washed over Kieran while standing before the hemisphere-aligned identical buildings, each one appearing like a medium-size temple or cathedral.

    The nostalgia soon subsided, and Kieran walked towards the buildings aptly named the ss Halls. ording to Kieran¡¯s knowledge, they symbolized the starting sses¨DWarrior, Fighter, Mage, Knight, Thief, Hunter, and Priest. In a sense, every soul within Zenith Online originated from one of these seven base sses, even if they stumbled upon gems like rare, unique, or hidden sses.

    The moment Kieran walked inside a spacious room, a burst of wild air appeared but quickly subsided as an individual opened their eyes faintly before closing them again with an oblivious attitude.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to acquire a ss-¡­¡±

    ¡°Go away.¡±

 Chapter 3 Scar

    ¡ª-

    Initially, Kieran was taken aback by this individual¡¯s inclination to drive him away, but after remembering their behavior engraved in his memories, Kieran chuckled softly and remained in ce. Soon after, the other side chuckled and scanned over Kieran silently. Eventually, his chuckle morphed into a frown as he shook his head softly.

    ¡°Tch, why is everyone bing weaker and weaker. What do you wish to aplish with that fragile frame? How about you go down the hall and ask for guidance on the path of a Thief,¡± the individual said.

    They paused for a moment before continuing, ¡°It looks as if it will suit you well.¡±

    Kieran¡¯s current appearance was an identical reflection of his body in reality since he was only a basic character with standard stats. Therefore, Kieran was on the slender side,cking the robust muscture that the individual before him sought.

    After all, they possessed a physique resembling a lion. The attire worn was barely enough to hide the concealed ferocity hidden within this man¡¯s eye. Kieran remained in the Warrior Hall despite the delivered suggestion, looking directly at the person before.

    The path of a Warrior wasn¡¯t something a frail body could withstand. However, Kieran didn¡¯t move an inch from his spot. ¡®Just as difficult as I remember. This harsh fellow is the only one who can give the ss I wish for.¡¯

    ¡°While bing a Thief isn¡¯t a bad idea, it doesn¡¯t align with my intention. Besides, as the mentor of the Warrior ss, shouldn¡¯t you assess my power before making this assumption?¡± Kieran responded.

    His response gained some reaction from the other party as they raised their eyebrow slightly. ¡°Oh? Are you calling my eyes bad and insinuating that I can¡¯t judge your ability with a mere nce? You¡¯re nothing more than a beginner. Heh, to think you believe yourself to have more experience than myself.¡±

    The individual gave Kieran a once over before quickly clicking his tongue in annoyance. ¡°Nevertheless, since you seem insistent, it¡¯s only right that I entertain you. Tell me, what is your name?¡±

    ¡°Aatrox.¡±<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°Very well, Aatrox. You can call me Scar. Your confidence is the only thing interesting right now. So, let¡¯s see how much your abilities are geared towards bing a Warrior,¡± Scar said with a faint grin. The grin was unusual, but Kieran remained calm.

    Scar slowly stood up and approached Kieran until they stood face to face or chest to face, seeing as Scar¡¯s height eclipsed by an entire half a meter. While Kieran was over 1.85 meters tall, Scar stood over 2.3 meters tall with an outrageously robust physique.

    ¡°Are you up for a small challenge? You¡¯re the first toe to this ce today, so I might as well indulge myself. However, if you¡¯re not up to the task, then so be it,¡± Scar shrugged nonchntly. Whether or not Kieran epted this was none of his concern.

    But, in Kieran¡¯s view, the result was much different. A small notification appeared before his eyes.

    ¡´System: A quest has been generated.¡µ

    ¡¸Quest Name: Scar¡¯s Unique Test

    Quest Difficulty: C

    Rmended Level: ???

    Objective: Scar¡¯s opinion of the recent generations of warriors has diminished over time. However, being the first individual with a Strength of at least 10 to request the Warrior ss, he is taking a chance with you. Pass the test to receive a unique reward that only the first to clear this quest with satisfactory marks can receive.

    ¨C Persist through Scar¡¯s short evaluation. 0/1<sub></sub>

    Rewards:

    ¨C 100 Experience

    ¨C Warrior ss

    ¨C Unique Warrior Package

    -???

    Failure:

    ¨C ss Rejection

    ¨C Negative favorability with Scar ¡¹

    Kieran felt some initial shock while glimpsing through the quest details. The issue with this quest was that it didn¡¯t follow the typical style of the quests in Zenith Online. Usually, the quests would highlight minor details of the task; however, the one before Kieran was very vague. It wasn¡¯t enough to draw any conclusions.

    To make matters worst, Kieran couldn¡¯t remember any insider information regarding this quest. Eight years was far too much time to remember something as little as a starter quest he didn¡¯tplete prior. At least, not this way. The quest in Kieran¡¯s memories was simply to kill monsters to prove his worth, but judging from Scar¡¯s bodynguage, it didn¡¯t seem like he was directing Kieran to kill monsters.

    Nevertheless, Kieran didn¡¯t dwell on this issue. He simply returned the same intense gaze while giving a faint nod. ¡°I¡¯m ready when you are.¡±

    Scar chuckled in response while patting Kieran¡¯s shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s more like it. What a satisfying response!¡±

    Although the pats appeared soft, Kieran¡¯s eyes widened further with each pat. It felt as if someone was pping a brick on his shoulder. More importantly, his status screen reflected a slight decrease in Health.

    -10

    -10

    -10

    ¡®Damn¡­ just a pat can decrease my Health? What the hell does he have in store for the test?!¡¯ Kieran wondered. Kieran dumped all of his avable points into Strength as a precaution, immediately elevating it to 14. He could have invested those points in Defense, but it wouldn¡¯t yield Kieran¡¯s desired effects.

    ¡°Oh? Do I feel a small increase in your power? Sadly, such a minor increase won¡¯t help you much.¡±

    Suddenly, Scar extended his arm and flicked Kieran¡¯s forehead.

    Kieran was sent flying back until he miraculously stopped five meters away from the entrance. Shockingly, this flick, unlike the pats, didn¡¯t inflict any damage to Kieran. It marked the beginning of the quest, thereby negating any damage rted to Kieran¡¯s repositioning.

    ¡°We begin,¡± Scar said before lightly punching the air before him. A st of pressure simr to air cannon surged towards Kieran. While the attack seemed frightening, Scar controlled his Strength to remain at a level that was only slightly higher than Kieran¡¯s.

    Either way, Scar¡¯s understanding of battle tactics was not to be overlooked.

    Bang!

    The aftershock of Scar¡¯s attacknded on Kieran¡¯s body, forcing him back one meter. Kieran barely recovered when Scar¡¯s voice echoed in his ear.

    ¡°This test is considered failed if you¡¯re forced out that door. But, if you manage to remain inside by some stroke of luck, I¡¯ll make this all worth your while,¡± Scar said.

    ¡°So this is the test?¡± Kieran muttered with a look of understanding. It seemed Scar wanted to pressure him and force him away. The power behind his attacks amounted to no more than a Warrior with 40 points invested in their Strength, but that was still nearly three times Kieran¡¯s current Strength attribute. Dealing with these attacks would not be a walk in the park.

    Regardless, Kieran just couldn¡¯t give up. He narrowed his eyes and rushed forward, advancing almost a meter. However, just as he managed to return to his original position, a wave of force smashed against his body.

    Kieran slid back until his foot neared the different color stones meant to differentiate between the inside and outside. The attack had shocked Kieran because he didn¡¯t expect Scar to employ this underhanded method. After all, this was a type of attack not essible to yers at this time.

    ¡®No way¡­ this dude is using aura attacks!¡¯ Kieran groaned inwardly. In simple terms, aura attacks meant an individual manipted their pressure to be wielded as a tangible attack. If one¡¯s Perception were too low, it¡¯d be difficult to sense the utilization of this attack.

    ¡°Oh? I didn¡¯t expect you to do something like that. Are you scared that I¡¯llplete your task and you¡¯ll be forced to change your attitude?¡± Kieran said with a faint smirk. At the same time, a piercing glint surfaced in his eyes.

    After reaching 25 points in Perception, one could empower their vision at the cost of 1 Mana per minute, increasing ocr range and depth by 15%. While it wasn¡¯t at the level of providing an overwhelming advantage, it was a practical application.

    ¡°Oi, kid. Are you trying to annoy me? Name one thing I should fear about you?¡±

    ¡°For one, I¡¯m more handsome, and your tactics are weak, truly,¡± Kieran taunted.

    A savage gleam appeared in Scar¡¯s eyes for a second, but he calmed down and grunted. Even Kieran felt a cold sweat seep down his back when he detected the crimson tint hidden within that savage gleam.

    ¡®I almost overstepped there. I must remember that this is not a fellow I want to anger since the beginner vige limits sparsely bind his hidden Strength,¡¯ Kieran thought internally while releasing the breath he subconsciously held. However, Scar seemed more vigorous than before.

    Boom! Boom! Boom!

    Three hollow explosions sounded in quick session, but Kieran crossed his arms and held a sturdy stance as the attacksnded against his body. Compared to before, he only slid back a few centimeters.

    However, the sound of a de being dragged across the ground made Kieran¡¯s ears twitch. Once he looked up, he saw a massive in-looking greatsword in Scar¡¯s hand. A shred of fear rose in Kieran¡¯s mind as he remembered the one piece of advice written on the beginner¡¯s forum in the past.

    ¡°Don¡¯t allow Scar to wield a weapon,¡± Kieran muttered with a grim look.

    ¡°Withstand thisst attack, and you gain my approval.¡±

    A barbaric aura enveloped Scar¡¯s weapon as a surge of oppressive aura bore down on Kieran¡¯s body. It was so tyrannic that Kieran lost all ability to move while watching Scar with a severe expression.

    ¡®So¡­ this is why it¡¯s rated as a C Rank Quest despite being for beginners. It¡¯s not that I angered him at all; he intended to unleash an attack with a heavy weapon all along. Also, judging by this situation, it can¡¯t be a simple attack avable to all warriors,¡¯ Kieran groaned.

 Chapter 4 Unique Warrior Reward

    ¡ª-

    If Scar were truly enraged by Kieran¡¯sment, his attack would be far more frightening than what Kieran was experiencing now. The presence felt like a boss attack at most and not one with an outrageously high ranking either. So, the more Kieran assessed the situation, the more it felt like this attack was strictly to judge something about him personally.

    ¡®Could this be the first step to acquiring his hidden favor? If so, then I can¡¯t avoid facing this attack,¡¯ Kieran thought with a deepening frown. The sole reason foring here was to gain Scar¡¯s favor, ultimately tranting to favorable options down the line.

    However, Kieran didn¡¯t recall anyone mentioning that gaining Scar¡¯s favor entailed facing an oundish attack. Even the weapon in his grasp rapidly deteriorated while subjected to his terrifying power.

    ¡°So? What will it be¨Cwill you choose to face this attack, or will you give up now?¡± Scar asked before looking at Kieran with a merciless expression. Perhaps if Kieran were an average starting yer, this gaze would¡¯ve been enough to deter him, forcing him to forfeit the test.

    However, Kieran was no average yer. He was all too familiar with Zenith Online¡¯s quest system. It was impossible to give an unclearable quest as it would just cause progress to stagnate indefinitely. How could that positively affect the poprity of the game and its future?

    It was already known that a significant portion of the gamingmunity was filled with whining buffoons. Theyined at first sight of outrageous difficulty hoping it would be patched. Or, theyined about specific mechanics they didn¡¯t agree with to lower the skill ceiling and bridge the skill gap between average and skilled yers.

    Sadly, theseints wouldn¡¯t work on Zenith Online. All of the mechanisms established in the game were outside of anyone¡¯s control. After all, the game was made with blooming bnce at the vanguard of their design. Besides, an easy game is one with a short-lived reputation. Some difficulty is needed to stimte the part of the brain that strives to ovee posed difficulties.

    Thus, Kieran exhaled before raising his fists to Scar. Since there was no weapon for him to wield, he could only rely on his body at this time. ¡°This is far from enough to make me give up. Do you think I¡¯m scared of you? Perhaps¡­ Are you somewhat of a monster? Perhaps¡­ But that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll run away like a frightened dog with its tail between its legs.¡±

    ¡°Heh heh,¡± Scar chuckled softly. A slight smile appeared across his otherwise frightening visage for the first time. After his smile, Scar mmed his weapon against the ground before him. No damage was inflicted upon the ground as a type of protective film protected it via an impressive rune array. But, the same couldn¡¯t be said for Kieran.

    A cluster of destructive energy surged in his direction, bombarding Keiran¡¯s body nonstop. Every hit dealt a tenth of his current health bar, but it didn¡¯t force him backward like the earlier attacks. It was clear that the intentions behind this attack differed from the earlier ones.

    By the time the attack finished, Kieran was left with five percent of his health bar, but other than that, he was seemingly fine.

    ¡°Consider my leniency as a token of favorability. Had you given into the pressure of the attack, you would¡¯ve been blown out of that door, but your confidence persisted,¡± Scar said before extending his hand to Kieran.

    A small vial appeared in his palm with a red elixir swirling inside. ¡°Drink this and recover the vitality you¡¯ve lost.¡±

    As for the vial in his hand, it was a Beginner Health Potion that recovered up to 150 Health over the span of 6 seconds. Of course, it couldn¡¯t be continuously ingested because there was a cooldown on its effects. It could only be consumed once every 15 seconds.

    Kieran immediately grabbed the potion and downed it, feeling the vitality return to his body at a steady pace. At the same time, a few notifications appeared before his eyes.<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡´System: Congrattions, you have cleared the quest ?Scar¡¯s Unique Task?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received ?Warrior ss?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received ?Unique Warrior Package?!¡µ

    ¡´System: Your favorability with Scar has increased by 20 points!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 100 Experience!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have leveled up! [Lv.1 ¡ú Lv.2]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 5 Unassigned Attribute Points and 2 Skill Points.¡µ

    All of Kieran¡¯s gains were immediately reflected in his status screen. However, his focus remained on one item in particr¡ªthe Unique Warrior Package. The reason for epting the quest was due to the allure of this item. While it didn¡¯t reward a unique item as that would be too game-breaking for an Lv.1 character to possess, it was a unique item in and of itself.

    ¡¸Unique Warrior Package (Consumable)

    Item Rank: Unique

    Item Level: 1

    Description: A package that is limited to only one individual. The individual to gain Scar¡¯s genuine approval will receive this item; anyone after will only receive the rare version with far fewer benefits.

    Opening this item rewards the following:

    ¨C 18 to 25 Unassigned Attribute Points

    ¨C 10 to 15 Skill Points<sub></sub>

    ¨C Umon Beginner Weapon and Armor Selection.

    ¨C ?Force sh?, ?Savage Break? & ?Warrior¡¯s Aura?

    ¨C 1 to 5 Silver Coins

    ¨C Beginner Consumables (50) ¡¹

    Kieran grinned from ear to ear as he read through the contents of the package. It was simply a godsend for a new yer since it covered all bases. As long as he managed his belongings well, these consumables should be enough tost him until he migrated to a proper city.

    Afterward, Kieran opened the package without hesitation.

    ¡¸You have received the following:

    ¨C 22 Unassigned Attribute Points

    ¨C 12 Skills Points

    ¨C 3 Silver Coins 50 Copper Coins

    ¨C ?Force sh?

    ¨C ?Savage Break?

    ¨C ?Warrior¡¯s Aura?

    ¨C 25 Beginner Health Potions

    ¨C 25 Beginner Mana Potions ¡¹

    As for the weapon choice and armor selection, he unsurprisingly chose a greatsword and a set of heavy armor, including a helmet, top, bottom, gloves, and shoes.

    The armor wasn¡¯t exactly the finest, but it held an overall slender design despite being heavy armor. It was form-fitted to Kieran¡¯s body with the joints connected by durable leather. Plus, he could toggle the helmet¡¯s presence on and off if he wished it.

    Regarding the three highlighted names, they were skills Scar chose for anyonepetent enough toplete his challenge. This was the one advantage that wasn¡¯t present in the Rare, Umon, or Common versions of the package.

    Kieran¡¯s eyes lit up when he read through their skill description.

    ¡¸Force sh (Lv.1)

    Skill Rank: E Rank Active

    Mastery (00.00%)

    Skill Description: Deals 145% of the user¡¯s Attack Power by focusing their Strength into their arm and unleashing a strike powerful enough to produce a wave of force.

    Consumption: 1 Mana Point

    Prerequisites: Warrior ss, ?Warrior¡¯s Aura?

    Cooldown: 14 seconds  ¡¹

    ¡¸Savage Break (Lv.1)

    Skill Rank: D Rank Active

    Mastery (00.00%)

    Skill Description: Unleashes a decisive blow of destruction that deals 190% of the user¡¯s Attack Power and can trigger a Defense Break effect, lowering the enemy¡¯s defense by 15% for 3 seconds.

    Consumption: 2 Mana Points

    Prerequisites: Warrior ss, ?Warrior¡¯s Aura?

    Cooldown: 45 seconds  ¡¹

    ¡¸Warrior¡¯s Aura (Lv.1)

    Skill Rank: D Rank Active

    Mastery (00.00%)

    Skill Description: At the cost of Mana, summons an aura that increases your attack damage by 10%.

    Consumption: 1 Mana Point per 5 seconds

    Prerequisites: Warrior ss

    Cooldown: 60 seconds (Only begins after deactivation of the skill.)  ¡¹

    Overall, Kieran was pleased by the state of his character. Just the fact that he received two D-Rank skills left Kieran satisfied. After all, the skills in Zenith Online ranged from F to SSS. F Rank skills were extremely basic skills given to each yer upon seeding in their ss Bestowal.

    In a Warrior¡¯s case, it included Upward sh, Thrust, and Heavy sh.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me this inconsequential sliver of power is enough to astonish you to the point you¡¯ve be wordless,¡± Scar said with a light scoff. He didn¡¯t understand that Kieran was simply taking the time to ess his skills and understand the rotation to use them in.

    ¡°Of course not, not at all,¡± Kieran muttered while clearing his throat.

    Even so, Scar revealed a skeptical expression. ¡°Whatever. You¡¯re too weak as you are now. So you need experience. Go out and do warrior things. Shoo.¡±

    Ding!

    ¡´System: You have received a quest. Do you wish to ept? [Y / N]?¡µ

    ¡¸Quest Name: A Warrior¡¯s Task

    Quest Difficulty: E

    Rmended Level: 1-3

    Objectives: Now that you¡¯ve been given the Warrior ss, you need to reinforce Scar¡¯s perception of their current caliber.

    ¨C Kill 25 monsters using essible basic Warrior mechanics. 0/1

    Reward:

    ¨C 500 Experience

    ¨C +30 favorability with Warrior ss Mentor, Scar

    Failure:

    ¨C Removal of the Warrior ss

    ¨C Permanent 0 favor with Gena Vige¡¯s Warrior ss Mentor, Scar

    Time Limit: 12 hours

    Note: This quest must be performed solo or with another Warrior possessing a simr quest. ¡¹

    ¡®An E rank quest, huh? I guess beggars can¡¯t be choosers. The more difficult quests shouldn¡¯t be readily avable so early on I suppose,¡¯ Kieran thought to himself. Naturally, he epted the quest as it was a decent source of experience.

    Thus, Kieran left the area in apletely different state than when he entered the ss Hall. ¡®Fanged Forest, that¡¯ll have to do for now. Anything else will be outside of my capabilities.¡¯

 Chapter 5 Fanged Forest

    ¡ª-

    Before setting out to the Fanged Forest, Kieran first checked on his status screen to find the best attribute allocation. Since the closest outskirt area, which doubled as the weakest leveling field, would soon experience a flood of yers, Kieran didn¡¯t wish to visit that ce.

    Instead, his attention was on the next avable leveling field, known as the Fanged Forest. As the name suggested, the Fanged Forest was a lush forest area brimming with beast-type monsters. Typically, a yer wouldn¡¯t venture there early since the beasts spawning in that field usually boast rtively high attack and movement speed.

    Unless a yer partied with other yers to maximize their level efforts by equally distributing the difficulties of battle, only a yer with high movement speed would be confident enough to move to the Fanged Forest this early on rather than be ustomed to their attributes. However, with the abundance of stats and the attributes granted by his package Kieran wasn¡¯t too worried about the difficulty of the monsters there.

    Besides, his arsenal was quite effective at the moment. Furthermore, the umon grade armor set increased his defenses and specific attributes by a noticeable amount.

    ¡¸Name: Aatrox

    Lv.2 (Experience: 0/250)

    ss: Warrior

    Title(s): None

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    [?Stats?]-

    Health: 190/190 (0.2 HP regen/sec)<sub>-.</sub>

    Mana: 75/75 (0.07 MP regen/sec)

    Stamina: 108 (0.1 Stamina regen/sec)

    Attack Power: 65

    Defense: 55

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    [?Attributes?]-

    ?Strength: 26 (14 + 12 + 0)

    ?Intelligence: 9 (9 + 0 + 0)

    ?Agility: 13 (10 + 3 + 0)

    ?Endurance: 18 (8 + 10 + 0)

    ?Control: 25 (25 + 0 + 0)<sub></sub>

    ?Vitality: 18 (8 + 10 + 0)

    ?Perception: 30 (30 + 0 + 0)

    [Unassigned Stat Point: 27]

    [Skill Points: 16]      ¡¹

    ¡®Mmm, my Mana value is quite lowpared to my other stats. Although I understand why that is so, it¡¯ll be a limitation in the future since I still need enough Mana to employ my skills effectively. Secondly, Defense isn¡¯t an issue because this armor set provides more than enough. So, I¡¯ll just have to focus on those two stats,¡¯ Kieran thought to himself.

    A momentter, a stream of notifications appeared before his eyes.

    ¡´System: You have used 12 Unassigned Attribute Points. [Agility: 13 ¡ú 25]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have used 11 Unassigned Attribute Points. [Intelligence: 9 ¡ú 20]¡µ

    ¡´Mana Capacity: 75 ¡ú 130¡µ

    ¡°Better,¡± Kieran muttered to himself.

    Now that everything was situated, Kieran ventured towards the town exit. While doing so, he came across a stream of yers rushing inside each of the ss Halls to receive quests and sses. Some even looked at him in astonishment when they saw him donned in aplete set of basic armor.

    Although the armor was far from being extremely eye-catching, armor and weaponry were highly coveted at the beginning stage of any RPG game as they allowed for smootherbat. That was especially true when factoring in the amount of time required to be ustomed to Zenith Online¡¯sbat.

    ¡°Well damn, did he receive that equipment from the ss mentor? Oh, now I have to meet this guy and receive my own,¡± someone shouted in the crowd. As a result, a lot of attention was on Kieran¡¯s location, but he had long since vanished from where he was earlier.

    His 25 points in Agility also contributed to his movement speed in town. He was slightly faster than characters who had yet to level and assign any points to Agility. Not to mention his Control yed a prominent role in his movement abilities since it determined how seamless the application of his physical attributes was.

    Nevertheless, the in-town remark made the situation outside the ss Hall chaotic as many yers pushed and shoved to im their sses as soon as possible. Of course, this crowd was mostly made up of casuals or randoms because any experienced yer would¡¯ve visited the ss Hall after noticing a tiny number of people moving towards that area as soon as they spawned in.

    As for the emptiness of the Warrior Hall during Kieran¡¯s quest, there were two reasons. One, most people eyed the Mage and Thief ss because of the poprity in other simr games. So, the Warrior ss was overlooked as it was used far too much in the past. Secondly, Scar¡¯s aura earlier suspended the ability to enter his ss Hall until Kieran finished.

    It was a privilege given to the one who gained a small portion of his favor. However, this only amounted to a fraction of the eptance Kieran required if he wished to move forward with ns. After all, Scar was a pivotal character on the path of a true warrior.

    The world of Zenith Online was expansive, so even the distance separating the beginner leveling fields was quite massive. Even with Kieran¡¯s current Agility, it took him more than 3 hours to reach the Fanged Forest¡¯s periphery.

    It was an area predominately housed by different breeds of wolves, each with distinct characteristics to help improve their ferocity. The weakest of the monsters spawned here was Lv.5.

    However, because Kieran was only Lv.2, their experience would be exceptional.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Kieran to cross a lone wolf as he withdrew his de from his inventory. A gust of wind swooshed by as he shed his sword sideways. At the same time, information on the monster appeared before his iris.

    ¡¸Lv.5 Dire Wolf (Normal)

    Beast Type

    Health: 300/300 (100%) ¡¹

    ¡°Mm, just a normal monster¡­¡± Kieran grumbled. His years of experience with Zenith Online bled through for a moment as he reminisced his battles against numerous legendary monsters. Compared to those monsters, the one before him simply wasn¡¯t worth mentioning.

    The wolf growled aggressively, but Kieran ignored this action altogether. After getting over his disappointment, he dashed forward, erupting with an unusual momentum while his Mana Pool drained marginally. This rush of eleration was one of a Warrior¡¯s natural E-Rank Skill, Charge.

    At the cost of 2 points of Mana, he could rush forward 3 meters almost instantly, and if the skill made contact, this blow would leave the opponent in a paralyzed state for one second. One second might seem inconsequential, but when it came to someone as experienced as Kieran, it was more than enough to determine the battle¡¯s oue.

    -65

    A pained yelp sounded as Kieran¡¯s shoulder bashed into the wolf¡¯s body, leaving it momentarily stunned. Although the Charge should¡¯ve dealt more damage with it dealing damage equal to 120% of the user¡¯s Attack Power, the Dire Wolf¡¯s natural defenses mitigated some damage.

    Nevertheless, this didn¡¯t bother Kieran because he soon unleashed a string of attacks linked together beautifully. They were basic movements that didn¡¯t involve the activation of any skills but inflicted damage not far off the earlier Charge.

    -51 -50 -49 -55

    Finally, just as the wolf recovered, Kieran tensed his arm and roared while activating Warrior¡¯s Aura for an instant. The burst of Warrior¡¯s Aura was enough to unleash one of his newly acquired skills, Force sh.

    A surge of heavy winds assailed the wolf¡¯s body as the Force sh connected from over two meters away. After experiencing the skill firsthand, Kieran made some conclusions about the connection between Force sh and Savage Break.

    -94

    ¡®If I¡¯m not mistaken, the first pressure that Scar unleashed should¡¯ve been the unmitigated form of the Savage Break skill; however, since he decided only to hit me with the aftershock of that attack, it devolved into the weaker Force sh. Heh, he might seem irritable on the surface, but he¡¯s an otherwise amicable fellow,¡¯ Kieran thought with a light chuckle.

    If anyone were to witness the scene of him chuckling to himself, they would undoubtedly believe him to have some mental issues. As for his guess, that was only partially correct. The true answer would be unearthedter on.

    A few Copper Coins, a type of wolf pelt and sharp fangs appeared after Kieran slew the wolf. Hezily retrieved the Copper Coins, totaling 6. He then inspected the coin, although he was already familiar with its usage and origins.

    ¡¸Copper Coin (Normal)

    Description: This item is a primary currency of Zenith Online that can be used throughout the world, except for some particr regions. One hundred of these can be converted into a Silver Coin.  ¡¹

    Simrly, a hundred Silvers would by default turn into a Gold Coin in one¡¯s inventory. Wantonly spending anything above Copper Coins during the early stages was ill-advised because most, if not all, of the content avableter on required a considerable amount of funds to sustain and, even worse, get started.

    Of course, Kieran was aware of this matter, so he was ted by the fact that the package rewarded beginner consumables. Although their effects weren¡¯t the greatest, they were indispensable at this level, so the current market price was very steep.

    Besides the coins, the wolf also rewarded a generous amount of experience, most of which originated from the marginal level difference between Kieran and the wolf.

    ¡´System: You have gained 75 Experience.¡µ

    ¡°At least the experience isn¡¯t all that bad,¡± Kieran said to himself. Although he had once be ustomed to grueling grinding hours, being forced to do so in the game¡¯s early stage would be dreadful. Luckily, the easiest way to circumvent the monotony of grinding was fighting above your level.

    Granted, this was only possible for two types of yers: those with overwhelming attributes or those with above-average mechanical skills, namely reaction speed, mental acuity, etc.

    Following his kill, six more wolves immediately appeared. Apparently, the pained yelp of the dying wolf alerted wolves in the area.

    ¡°Six of them? Now, this is what I call a tango. Finally, a bit of excitement,¡¯ Kieran inwardly expressed while grinning excitedly.

 Chapter 6 Skill Points

    ¡ª-

    The six wolves released hostile growls while aiming deadly res at Kieran. Identical to before, these wolves were also Lv.5 Dire Wolves. Although the Fanged Forest housed monsters ranging from Lv.5 to Lv.15,ing across the higher-level monsters required one to venture deeper into the forest¡¯s inner area and center first.

    Naturally, Kieran didn¡¯t have the chance to do so as an abundance of monsters instantly greeted him. However, Kieran had no reason toin. The faster enemies came towards him, the quicker he couldplete his quest and exchange it for another.

    Therefore, Kieran raised his de, taunting the wolves with a subtle gesture. Almost as if his actions sessfully provoked them, the wolves howled in unison before dashing towards Kieran with powerful strides. Each of their mouths dripped with feral fluids as they viewed Kieran as a piece of prey.

    They couldn¡¯tprehend that the human before them was more of a threat than they presumed. By the time they reached Kieran, unleashing a flurry of savage swipes, Kieran had jumped to the side, avoiding them altogether.

    Despite their advantage in numbers, the wolves didn¡¯t attack properly. They didn¡¯t use their numbers to overwhelm him or move as a cohesive unit. It was more like watching children as they tried to run through a narrow doorway at the same time, wing at each other to get the lead advantage.

    Hence, it wasughably easy for Kieran to avoid their attacks.

    With the opportunity granted by their humorous movements, Kieran enveloped his sword in a powerful aura. The activation of Savage Break resulted in a violent change, drawing the attention of the wolves. Regrettably, this attack didn¡¯t cover a wide area and only focused on one opponent, at least in its base form without any special applications, or Kieran could¡¯ve taken control of the battle¡¯s momentum with a single move.

    Nevertheless, Kieran still wanted to understand the damage capacity of this skill.

    Bang!

    A frightening noise echoed throughout the forest as Kieran¡¯s sword smashed against the back of the foremost wolf, mming its body into the ground. Contrary to his expectations, thend was left unaffected by this attack.

    ¡®Ah, to think my attack was so weak. What a damn letdown,¡¯ Kieran inwardly groaned. As an individual who once had a character with thousands of points invested in his Strength, a piddling twenty-six points in Strength was indeed a disappointment.<sub>-.</sub>

    Regardless, Kieran was overall satisfied by the effects of the skill. Because of the probable Armor Break effect activating, this skill potentially dropped the wolf¡¯s defenses to a negligible number, permitting the maximum damage of Kieran¡¯s skill.

    As a result, a considerably high damage value appeared above the wolf¡¯s head.

    -122

    Following the Savage Break skill, Kieran took advantage of the brief Armor Break state to unleash a barrage of hurried strikes upon the wolf. The wolf fell within five strikes, rewarding another sum of experience.

    ¡´System: You have received 75 Experience.¡µ

    However, Kieran quickly swung his body and weapon just after receiving the experience notification. A metallic screech rang out while Kieran took a step back due to the weight behind the wolf¡¯s swipe.

    Concurrently, a damage value appeared above his head.

    [-19]¡´Aatrox: 171/190 Health¡µ

    Kieran¡¯s eyebrow rose slightly after reading the notification. Although he wore aplete armor set, without any additional effects given that it was only of the umon grade, it still pushed his Defense past fifty. More importantly, he ¡°defended¡± using his sword. Despite these factors, the wolf¡¯s attack still shaved off ten percent of his health. If this was true, this only meant one thing.

    ¡®Oh? This normal monster¡¯s attack is higher than mine. Since they don¡¯t have any skills at this stage in the game, it¡¯s made up for by strengthened attributes. How could I forget this?¡¯ Kieran shook his head while clicking his tongue.

    If a single indirect attack ate up ten percent of his health, then Kieran couldn¡¯t afford to be careless. The Beginner Health Potions in his possession were too precious to squander outside of a dungeon. A dungeon¡¯s loot greatly eclipsed the floor loot of a leveling field. The only issue with dungeons was that the lowest one didn¡¯t allow entry until Lv.5.<sub></sub>

    So, until then, yers were forced to level inside the fields. Of course, this was done purposely so that the yers could be ustomed to Zenith Online¡¯s movements before diving into a difficult dungeon. After all, depending on the difficulty chosen, some dungeons presented steep failure penalties.

    Since Kieran could no longer be as careless as before now that the wolf¡¯s Attack Power posed a threat, he took a step back and created some room. As predators, the wolves mirrored his movements, following closely behind.

    ¡®Damn, thirsty monsters,¡¯ Kieran inwardly thought. The wolves didn¡¯t give him time to reset, but his current movement speed was more than sufficient enough to elude the nonstop onught of attacks. At times, though, Kieran was forced to swing his greatsword, meeting the wolf¡¯s attack with an attack of his own.

    If a physical attack was met with another physical attack, the difference in Attack Power would be the amount of damage the losing side suffered, as experienced earlier, since it wasn¡¯t a matter of the attack hitting the user directly.

    If the attack didnd a direct hit, then it would obviously be calcted using the receiving side¡¯s Defense.

    Nevertheless, unless he used Force sh, he would suffer losses to his Health. Although his situation was strange, Kieran remained excited. He needed stimtion to keep him going; otherwise, he would grow incredibly bored. If their numbers couldn¡¯t bridge the gap separating Kieran¡¯s capabilities and the monsters, then their numbers would have to!

    Even though his shallow skill arsenal currently limited him, Kieran felt fine because identical constraints limited everyone. However, the ¡°basic warrior mechanics¡± mentioned in the quest details was something Kieran excelled in with years of experience under his belt.

    A Warrior was meant to lead an assault and sometimes defend during disadvantageous situations. The specifications of a Warrior¡¯s behavior wouldn¡¯t diverge until it was time for ss promotion. Though, ording to Kieran¡¯s knowledge, many specialized individuals conditioned their unique way ofbat from the start.

    In Kieran¡¯s case, it didn¡¯t really matter because he couldn¡¯t gain ess to his desired skills until after his ss promotion. Thus, Kieran could y interchangeable roles inbat if he felt like it.

    Approximately 45 secondster, Savage Break came off cooldown. Kieran unleashed another fierce attack

 Chapter 7 A Tinge of Deja Vu

    ¡ª-

    Aside from the slight decrease in the skill¡¯s cooldown and increase in numbers directly linked to damage, the skills¡¯ special effects didn¡¯t see much change. For example, the Armor Break effect on the Savage Break skill remained 15%. Nevertheless, this early on in the game, pure damage took precedence overrge-scale debuffs.

    After all, it was far too early to worry over those debuffs that usually applied percentage-based decreases. A small percentage coupled with small numbers led to otherwise insignificant advantages. Now, it¡¯d be a totally different story if it was a ss that applied debuffs based on a set number.

    Unfortunately, the number of sses with said skills was extremely few. They wouldn¡¯t appear until more diversified sses with unique roles appeared.

    ¡°A skill that deals over two hundred percent of my attack power this early on? No wonder that guy turned out to be such a monster before¡­ Granted, that¡¯s if these WERE the skills he received,¡± Kieran murmured.

    Most base sses at this level would only have ess to E Rank Skills at most, which barely dealt more than 125% of one¡¯s Attack Power at Lv.1. Only people like Kieran, whopleted a remarkable quest to gain a unique advantage, coulde across these impressive skills.

    With his current stamina regeneration rate, Kieran recovered to peak condition just over 18 minutester. During that time, he picked up signs of increasing activity nearby. But, that was to be expected as more parties should have enough experience to start heading towards this ce.

    It was only a matter of time until the outskirts of the Fanged Forest faced an influx of yers. Since the Lv.5 Dire Wolves only rewarded 50 Experience per kill now, he had long since determined to abandon this area. Thus, Kieran stored his Beginner Greatsword in his inventory before heading deeper into the forest.<sub>-.</sub>

    However, Kieran slowed down suddenly as his ears twitched subtly. It was faint, but Kieran heard the metallic ngs of metal colliding with another sturdy surface. As a result, Kieran¡¯s expression changed slightly.

    ¡®Someone was confident enough toe this deep into the Fanged Forest even before I did? Factoring in the time to reach here, they would have had to reach here an hour before me toe this far. Just who is it?¡¯ Kieran wondered. Who else would seek tobat Lv.5 and higher monsters?

    His curiosity soon got the better of him,pelling Kieran to walk forward warily until he witnessed a shocking sight.

    A group of twelve wolves with burgundy fur coats surrounded a single slender figure. Based on their attire, Kieran knew this was someone who had taken on the Thief ss. Half of their face was covered by an ash-gray scarf that blended in with their dark gray hair. However, two piercing silver eyes shone through the gap between his long hair and scarf arranged to resemble a mask.

    Although their identity was hidden, appearing as ??? in Kieran¡¯s irises, that didn¡¯t stop him from uncovering this character¡¯s identity. After all, this was a Thief with which he was all too familiar. While they were iparable to the image in Kieran¡¯s mind, he could see a semnce of that ability shining through this adolescent disy.

    ¡®No shot; I know those movements. So this is where you started? Although, it wouldn¡¯t be right to call you old¡­ or a friend currently,¡¯ Kieran thought to himself with a nostalgic smile.

    He recalled the countless spars he and this individual engaged in. At first, he even considered taking a step forward, but it soon dawned upon him that they were nothing more than strangers at the moment.<sub></sub>

    This individual was known as Altair, but it wasn¡¯t his name that was widely known. Instead, he was known for a terrifying moniker that surfaced due to his habits and ystyle. For one, this particr character was known as a lone wolf. But more importantly, he was known to take the assassin¡¯s path to the extreme.

    Sadly, in his original timeline, more than one year separated the period in which Altair started Zenith Online and when Kieran did so. Thus, there was already an immense chasm separating their fame and levels by the time Kieran endeavored into Zenith Online more than a year after itsunch.

    Additionally, it took years before their first run-in. Now, it was different. Kieran was at no disadvantage, because this time around, he entered the game upon itsunch.

    Despite knowing the identity of this yer, Kieran didn¡¯t make any sudden moves because Altair could mistake him for a hostile while locked inbat. Deplorable as it may be, it wasn¡¯t umon for yers to kill-steal and even lead another yer to their death to gain a level advantage. Being ahead of the pack led to immense benefits in these types of games.

    Rather than interfere with the ongoing fight, Kieran silently spectated the battle from what should be outside of this yer¡¯s detection zone. Coupled with his abnormally high movement and attack speed, Altair wielded two curved daggers famed for their lightweight properties.

    Daggers possessed the undisputed highest attack speed of all the weapons essible in Zenith Online, allowing for multiple attacks in the time it took a standard sword to be swung once.

    Kieran couldn¡¯t help but be mystified while watching Altair use phantom-like evasion patterns to kite a dozen wolves. Although it appeared that Altair and the wolves¡¯ movement speeds were identical, his movement patterns made it impossible for the wolves to touch a single one of his leather armor pieces.

    What¡¯s more, Altair seemed to periodically disappear from sight and move two meters without producing a single sound. Naturally, this was the Conceal and Swift Step avable to the Thief who acquired their ss first in the Beginner Viges. It wasn¡¯t to be mistaken for the strengthened versions¨DStealth and Shadow Strafe.

    In the next moment, numerouscerations appeared on the wolves¡¯ bodies as Altair strangely brandished his weapons. Blood leaked from the countless wounds, which in turn tranted to a constant health drain. Since this was a one vs. many scenario, Altair didn¡¯t fullymit to any foe in particr. This kept his senses in prime condition to read the next iing attack.

    In the end, the wolves all fell in a ring surrounded by puddles of blood that soon dissipated. A golden light epassed Altair¡¯s body as he gazed in a particr direction. Though his gaze was locked on that position, he still walked around the bodies and collected the dropped coins.

    ¡°Are you a friendly party, or are you trying to find the best opportunity to strike?¡± Altair suddenly said in a cold voice. Naturally, this question was aimed at Kieran since he was the only person within Altair¡¯s detection range.

    ¡®Oh? Could he have acquired the Enhanced Senses passive already? If so, then it wouldn¡¯t be unusual for his detection range to expand this far already,¡¯ Kieran thought. Since he had already been located, Kieran appeared from his hiding spot and stood face to face with Altair.

    Altair showed some visible surprise. He could sense that the person before him shouldn¡¯t be an inexperienced or low-level yer based on the umon-grade equipment he saw. What¡¯s more, he hadn¡¯t detected Kieran until a few minutes after he appeared. To avoid his senses for that long already spoke volumes of this individual¡¯s capabilities.

    ¡°Nah, I have no intention to kill-steal you. I found your ystyle to be interesting, so I thought I¡¯d watch for a moment,¡± Kieran shrugged nonchntly.

    Altair was silent for a moment because Kieran seemed unfazed by the fact he kept his daggers within his grasp. ¡®Is he not scared of my retaliation? How can he be so rxed before a Thief?¡¯ Altair wondered.

    However, before he could ask another question, Kieran led with his. ¡°You seem quite used to thebat pattern of a Thief. Did you only main Assassins in other VRMMORPGs prior to this one?¡±

    ¡°I mean¡­ yeah. It¡¯s the only ss that holds some appeal. The rest are just boring in my opinion,¡± Altair responded. His expression became awkward because, for some reason, he didn¡¯t feel any hidden intentionsing from this other party. Usually, this friendly disy was a facade used to trick unsuspecting characters into falling victim to some underhanded scheme.

    Yet, Kieran appeared genuine. Of course, this was only true because Kieran was fully aware of Altair¡¯s interests.

    ¡°I see. Well, don¡¯t mind me. I¡¯m sure this part of the forest is spacious enough for us to coexist for the time being,¡± Kieran said before waving his hand. Initially, he wanted to head towards the inner part of the forest, but Altair appeared before him with a gust of wind.

    ¡°Wait, how high is your Defense?¡± Altair asked. As much as he enjoyed leveling alone, waiting for his skill cooldowns was loathsome.

    Sadly, Kieran shook his head since he knew what Altair was implying. ¡°I¡¯m not looking to party right now. Maybe another time.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ I can understand that. Anyway, if you level up fast enough, I think we could tackle a dungeon together. Of course, this is provided that your damage output is up to par,¡± Altair offered.

    Since it was offered to him, and Kieran was familiar with Altair¡¯s personality, there was no reason for him not to ept.

    ¡´System: Lv.5 Thief, Altair has sent you a friend request. Do you wish to ept? [Y / N]?¡µ

    ¡°ept,¡± Kaiden answered. At the same time, he inwardly praised Altair. ¡®Lv.5 already? I guess the extremely high DPS of a skilled Thief is not just for show.¡¯

    ¡´System: Altair has been added to your friend¡¯s list. [1]¡µ

    On the other hand, Altair felt some surprise as well. ¡®Lv.3? And he¡¯s been watching me for some time? That means he has the potential to be on the same level as me if he didn¡¯t dawdle here. Cool.¡¯

    Kieran eventually left and ventured towards the area littered with higher-level monsters. It didn¡¯t take long for him toe across a decent amount of simr wolves. His presence triggered a response from the wolves the moment he stepped within fifteen meters.

    Compared to the earlier wolves, these monsters were much stronger, but one consistency was their ranking.

    ¡¸Lv.7 Feral Wolf (Normal)

    Beast Type

    Health: 500/500 (100%) ¡¹

 Chapter 8 Twenty-Five Monsters

    ¡ª-

    Kieran wasn¡¯t too delighted with the fact these wolves were all normal. One of the reasons he moved so deep into the Fanged Forest was to encounter Elite monsters at the very least. Sadly, up until this very moment, all of the monsters Kieran observed were just Normal monsters.

    Kieran desired Elite monsters because they rewarded more experience than Normal monsters and had higher chances of dropping equipment above the Umon grade. As one ascended the monster ranking spectrum, the chances of increasing better gear increase proportionally.

    Granted, Boss monster drop rates eclipsed regr monsters, but they appeared in a rtively smaller volume.

    Nevertheless, monster ranks yed a significant role in determining how much Experience was rewarded to a yer. Generally speaking, an Elite monster would reward at least 50% more Experience for the increase in difficulty. It was even typical for this number to increase under certain conditions.

    ¡®If not for this quest, I would¡¯ve just partied with Altair and annihted this field. Tch, sometimes quests are just irritating,¡¯ Kieran inwardly noted. Since there wasn¡¯t much he could do, Kieran could only suck it up and deal with the enemies before him. At least, the considerable level difference would neutralize some of hisints.

    Kieran¡¯s greatsword materialized as he immediately activated Warrior¡¯s Aura. Any damage inflicted while using a heavy weapon would receive an 18% boost. Coupled with the fact Savage Break dealt severe damage, Kieran was impatient to test the effects of using these skills used in tandem.

    Therefore, Kieran used Charge to shorten the distance between him and the nearest Fierce Wolf. It was too far to connect the stunning effect, but Kieran didn¡¯t mind because it was only used as a utility vehicle. Afterward, he swung his greatsword downward.

    BOOM¡­!<sub>-.</sub>

    The violent aura of the Savage Break appeared around his weapon as a frightening noise echoed throughout the Fanged Forst. While the attack reduced the wolf¡¯s defenses, resulting in more damage, the attack simultaneously triggered a Critical Hit!

    -449! [Critical]

    After factoring in all of the effects, including the monster¡¯s defense value, Kieran¡¯s one attack vaporized nearly 90% of the wolf¡¯s health. Granted, beast-type monsters weren¡¯t known for their defenses, so it was fairly easy to ovee their defense values as long as the attacker¡¯s Attack Power sufficed.

    Still, aplishing this against a monster four levels higher than oneself was an admirable feat. The wolf was left in a weakened state after losing a tremendous amount of health in a short timeframe, so Kieran ended it with a simple thrust through its body.

    ¡´System: You have gained 100 Experience. [Experience: 300/400]¡µ

    Thest three wolves, which disappointedly rewarded 50 Experience, only filled up his experience halfway before leaving. Now, Kieran received double the amount of experience for admittedly the same amount of work. The increased skill level essentially negated the extra health and defense.

    Of course, the critical yed a vital role as well since it was challenging to inflict. In Zenith Online, there were only two ways to achieve a critical hit. The first was through the blossoming hyper-reality aspect of the game, where the attack simply needed to overpower the opponent¡¯s defense to the point where even their natural defenses couldn¡¯t withstand it.

    The alternative option was to increase one¡¯s critical rate. If the maximum hit rate was reached, then one could virtually unleash a critical attack with every attack. However, they would only be basic critical attacks at best unless said yer possessed absolutely monstrous attributes.<sub></sub>

    ording to Kieran¡¯s knowledge, despite it not being shown on the status screen, the base critical chance was 4%. That meant every attack had a four percent chance of inflicting critical damage. As for the modifier, its fundamental value was 150%.

    ¡°That¡¯s the eighth one,¡± Kieran said to himself, noting his quest progress. He flung his arm, shaking the remnants of wolf blood off his weapon. Suddenly, he shed his sword downward, leaving a massive gash on the back of the wolf that sprang towards him next.

    -96

    Kieran¡¯s attack consumed nearly one-fifth of Feral Wolf¡¯s health after factoring in its 30 Defense. Despite this matter, Kieran disposed of the monster with rtive ease by incorporating the Warrior¡¯s four fundamental skills¨DUpward sh, Charge, Heavy sh, and Thrust. Using these skills, Kieran unleashed a string of basic attacks in a fluid chain, depleting the wolf¡¯s health bar in a matter of seconds.

    As a result, Kieran leveled up.

    ¡´System: You have gained 100 Experience.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have leveled up! [Lv.3 ¡ú Lv.4]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 5 Unassigned Attribute Points and 2 Skill Points.¡µ

    A small smile appeared across Kieran¡¯s face as he looked towards the numerous wolves appearing from the trees in the distance. Although they numbered more than a dozen, Kieran didn¡¯t mind.

    Currently, his stamina was around four-fifths full, which was more than enough to deal with these foes as long as he didn¡¯t perform any exaggerated movements.

    As a result, Kieran added all essible UAP in a way that maximized his solo efficiency.

    ¡´System: You have used 4 Unassigned Attribute Points. [Strength: 26 ¡ú 30]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have used 5 Unassigned Attribute Points. [Agility: 25 ¡ú 30]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have used 5 Unassigned Attribute Points. [Control: 25 ¡ú 30]¡µ

    ordingly, Kieran¡¯s Attack Power increased to 73, but despite the marginal increase and strength and speed, Kieran felt a palpable difference. Increasing his Strength, Agility, and Control in unison in a 1:1:1 ratio allowed the yer to exude their physical prowess at maximum efficiency.

    Allowing your Control to fall behind the otherbat-oriented attributes would negatively impact a character in the long run. The wider the disparity in these stats, the harder one¡¯s brain had topensate when controlling the character¡¯s action. Hence, a higher control factor lightened the mental load.

    Of course, there were other hidden factors, but they couldn¡¯t be addressed as of yet because this basic form of VR equipment couldn¡¯t precipitate those effects. Kieran and anyone, in general, would need a higher synchronization rate to maximize their battle abilities. Therefore, he reckoned he could do no more than 2% of what he formerly could.

    The Warrior¡¯s Aura surrounding Kieran zed with a fiery cerulea

 Chapter 9 Not Advised

    ¡ª-

    Despite theck of difficulty reaching it, Lv.5 was a recognized milestone. That¡¯s because a yer would gain ess to their ss¡¯s respective Skill Tree. Using the Skill Tree allowed yers to acquire skills befitting their ss. Of course, these skills cost SP to purchase and after purchasing the skill, it would be Lv.1. Just like the skills in Kieran¡¯s possession, they still required leveling to muster greater power.

    However, because this was the Skill Tree of a basic ss, the options present in the Skill Tree wereckluster, barely scratching the surface of Kieran¡¯s interest. ¡®As I expected, it¡¯s not worth it unless I im an Intermediate ss.¡¯

    In Zenith Online, the ss following a fundamental promotion was either referred to as a Tier 1 ss or an Intermediate ss. Depending on the area in the game, certain characters held a preference toward one or the other. Nevertheless, it was practical for the Skill Tree to exist because there would be times in the future when it was impossible to meet with a ss Mentor.

    Skill Books existed, but they usually rewarded general skills or skills with unique activation acquirements. Moreover, some Skill Books were tailored to specific ss skills that weren¡¯t in their Skill Tree. This was one of the ways to separate an average yer from an exceptional one. The breadth of one¡¯s arsenal was an excellent determining factor alongside other important factors.

    As a result, Kieran closed the Skill Tree without epting any new skills. Compared to how much he received per level, the SP cost wasn¡¯t worth it.

    In the meantime, Kieran walked forward unhurriedly while tracking the noisesing from the other side. His heightened perception allowed Kieran to pinpoint the distance between the opposing party and himself. After judging how far they were, he silently hid next to a tree, observing the party.

    ¡®Oh? What a rudimentary partyposition. It seems their fundamentals in terms of RPG knowledge are solid, but I guess their imagination isn¡¯t the best either,¡¯ Kieran inwardly noted.

    The iing individuals were a party of four, including a Knight, Thief, Mage & Priest. Each member¡¯s ss highlighted their role without Kieran having to observe their gamey. What¡¯s more, the Knight prioritized a shield over a decent weapon. As a result, they usually wielded a short sword withparably weaker attack power and shorter reach.

    Hence, the Knight was the main tank and sub-DPSer, meaning he endured all damage up close while creating space for his party members to attack properly. The Mage and Thief would typically handle monsters by mixing their ystyles to kite their foe. Lastly, at this level, a Priest would maintain the party with simple healing chants.<sub>-.</sub>

    The party of four soon arrived at the area Kieran once battled the Feral Wolves and came to aplete halt. The Thief analyzed the area, scrutinizing it for signs of battle. Eventually, he noticed some deep indents in the floor, followed by patches of grass missing.

    ¡°Someone recently fought here. Judging by the uniform indents, I would say only one person has been through heretely,¡± the Thief said.

    ¡°Hmm, so it is true then. Good work, Cyr. Keep your eyes peeled for any unusual movements in our surroundings,¡± the Knight said, ostensibly appearing as the group leader. His expression seemedposed as he suddenly lifted his shield and mmed it against the ground.

    A tremor filtered out through the surrounding, making some of the trees rustle. Leaves fell to the ground as a result, but when his action failed to yield any results, the Knight frowned.

    ¡°Is there something wrong, Bastion?¡± Cyr asked from the side, detecting something unusual with the Knight known as Bastion.

    ¡°I thought that would¡¯ve flushed out anyone nearby. After all, I used all of my stored Strength in that Shield Tremor,¡± Bastion said.

    However, Kieran¡¯s eyebrows rose narrowly when he noticed the reason for Bastion¡¯s seemingly harmless action. Furthermore, Kieran was even more shocked that the Shield Tremor produced such an effect. ¡®No way. Did this guy only funnel his attribute points in Strength, Endurance, and Vitality? If that¡¯s the case¡­¡¯

    A thoughtful expression appeared across his face as he looked at the party. Based on their stat allocation, this wasn¡¯t a random party. They should have gone through countless battles together, which would exin why Bastion felt confident enough not to exclusively raise his Agility.

    Suddenly, Kieran openly appeared, walking into the center of the forest. His unannounced appearance took the party by surprise. They even raised their weapons instinctively. However, Kieran raised both hands and shook his head subtly.<sub></sub>

    ¡°I don¡¯t advise you to make that mistake. I¡¯m not a hostile party.¡±

    However, who would believe a iming from some unknown party? Thus, the party of four prepared for battle.

    Kieran sighed heavily when he witnessed this scene. ¡°Seriously, I¡¯m being honest here. It¡¯s not worth the loss of experience.¡±

    ¡°What makes you think that you¡¯ll be the one to defeat us?¡± Bastion countered. His focused expression disyed hints of incredulity when he realized the meaning behind Kieran¡¯s word. Did he expect to emerge victorious in a four vs. one?

    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Kieran murmured. ¡°I¡¯ll undoubtedly be the one to win. This remains true even if you happen to be very skilled.¡±

    ¡°Why is that?¡± Cyr interjected with a darkening expression. His eyes narrowed and locked on Kieran while tightening his grasp on the two slender daggers in his hands.

    ¡°Because you¡¯re fragile,¡± Kieran said, aiming the answer at Cyr. ¡°Besides, I¡¯ll just run away if I feel I¡¯m losing.¡± Thest part, Kieran said to himself. With his knowledge of the Terrain, only one person in the battle could possibly catch him. Even if that were true, Kieran remained confident in his ability to one vs. one. Nevertheless, he continued to offer his opinion regarding the matter.

    ¡°You¡¯re about as slow as a turtle,¡± Kieran added, pointing at Bastion.

    ¡°She¡¯s nervous and shaking despite there being one of me.¡± This time, Kieran pointed towards the priest, whose eyes darted back and forth between Kieran and her party. She could already tell that Kieran¡¯s gear was better than Bastion¡¯s. What¡¯s more, he didn¡¯t appear to be a defensive-type warrior.

    ¡°Finally, that mage is ss cannon. I can breathe on her, and she¡¯ll inevitably crumble. But, hey, no hard feelings,¡± Kieran said with a faint chuckle.

    ¡°What the fuck?!¡± Bastion yelled with widened eyes. He felt that Kieran was taking them as a joke with how he taunted them. However, as he cooled down and reevaluated the situation, Bastion realized that Kieran urately pinpointed the weakness in their individual style despite revealing nothing about themselves.

    Bastion felt either his eyesight was too good, or he possessed some cheat that allowed him to peer into the information of others.

    Nevertheless, Kieran slowly withdrew his greatsword and rested the tip upon the ground while staring at Bastion and his party. An air of intimidation surfaced from his body that made Bastion reconsider engaging in this fight.

    Ultimately, Bastion shook his head and lowered his weapon. ¡°Not worth it.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I said,¡± Kieranmented with a slight nod. Again, Bastion and the others were stunned by Kieran¡¯s disregard towards being confronted by four people.

    ¡°Sera, Alice,e. We need to rush to Lv.5 as soon as possible. This is just wasting our time,¡± Bastion ordered.

    ¡°Y-yes! Coming!¡± Sera, the party¡¯s priest, eximed.

    Conversely, Alice stared at Kieran for a moment longer before finally nodding. ¡°Fine.¡± It was unknown what she was thinking, but Kieran felt an odd undtion for a moment.

    ¡®Is that girl controlling Mana outside of skills already? Nah¡­ that¡¯s impossible; it¡¯d require too much control for all of that.¡¯ However, Kieran¡¯s opinion would instantly change if he watched them battle against the appropriate monsters.

    Meanwhile, Cyr approached Bastion and whispered in a voice that only he could hear. ¡°Why didn¡¯t we just battle him and call it a day?¡±

    ¡°Because¡­ anyone who can stay that calm is bound to have some ability. Besides, did you not see that sword and armor? They seem to be above both beginner andmon-grade equipment. I can only imagine what his stats are like, not to mention his level,¡± Bastion answered with a deep look in his eyes.

    His years of experience in MMORPGs cultivated an abundance of knowledge regarding types of yers. That individual before them could¡¯ve made the first move and possibly emerged victorious if he could take on many monsters alone. Even though a yer possessed different mechanics from these monsters early in the game, Bastion didn¡¯t doubt Kieran¡¯s attributes.

    ¡°We should have at least gotten his name,¡± Cyr responded.

    ¡°No need. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll meet again. Don¡¯t you remember? The dungeons still need to be tackled,¡± Bastion said with a shrug. Afterward, the team walked into an area where many Feral Wolves spawned.

    ¡­

    While that party dealt with the Feral Wolves, Kieran spent almost 3 hours returning to Gena Vige, specifically the Warrior Hall. Unlike his first visit, Scar showed some emotion when Kieran reappeared.

    ¡°Aatrox, was it? I suppose the little warrior has some heart after all. I see that you¡¯vepleted the task based on the growing aura within you,¡± Scar said.

    Afterward, a stream of notifications appeared in Kieran¡¯s irises.

    ¡´System: Congrattions, you have cleared the quest ?A Warrior¡¯s Task?!¡µ

    ¡´System: Favorability with Scar has risen by 30 points! [Status: Tolerable]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 500 Experience.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have leveled up! [Lv.5 ¡ú Lv.6]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 5 Unassigned Attribute Points and 2 Skill Points.¡µ

    ¡®Tolerable? I suppose that was quick,¡¯ Kieran inwardly mused.

    The higher the favorability with an NPC in Zenith Online, the higher the chances of receiving increased rewards as well as some of the quests with low activation rates. However, Tolerable was only the first level, which was far from enough to trigger any hidden questlines present in Gena Vige.

    Though it wasn¡¯t enough for hidden quests, it was sufficient to receive more basic quests.

    ¡°I feel I made that far too easy for you. With that being said, let¡¯s up the ante. Surely, you can tolerate it, right?¡±

    Ding!

    The alert for a new questline appeared before Kieran¡¯s iris, making his eyes shimmer.

 Chapter 10 Old Shack

    ¡ª-

    Ding!

    ¡´System: A new quest has been generated.¡µ

    Kieran¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement while skimming through its contents. Based on the quest objectives, it synergized well with Kieran¡¯s intentions. Now that he was above Lv.5, his first thought was to tackle the dungeon avable within the Fanged Forest.

    Compared to the leveling field, there was a much higher chance of receiving better Warrior equipment. While umon-grade equipment remained sufficient for Kieran¡¯s current endeavors, it would onlyst for so long. Equipment truly became useful once you came across Rare items.

    In terms of ranking, Zenith Online separated the grading into Beginner, Common, Umon, Rare, Unique, Epic, Legendary, and so on. However, to expect an Epic, Legendary, or even just a Unique item to appear from these dungeons would be delusional.

    Dungeons, chiefly those located within beginner areas, couldn¡¯t drop such high-ranking equipment. They were limited by something known as the Beginner Zone Handicap. Unless yers could y powerful monsters of the right ranking and level, receiving exquisite equipment was a pipedream.

    Thus, Kieran would be content with just Rare items for the time being.

    Fortunately, the quest generated before Kieran¡¯s eyes weed the possibility of acquiring better equipment.

    ¡¸A Warrior¡¯s Next Step (Normal)<sub>-.</sub>

    Quest Rank: A

    Rmended Party Size: 5

    Rmended Party Level: 5-8

    Objectives: Simply ying monsters isn¡¯t enough to convince Scar of your strength. As the one he had ced part of his faith in, he believes that you have more potential to unearth and more power to realize.

    ¨C Clear an Lv.5 Dungeon on Difficult or higher. 0/1

    ¨C Clear the Difficult or higher Dungeon without using Health Consumables. 0/1

    Rewards:

    ¨C Level +1

    ¨C 5 Silver<sub></sub>

    ¨C +50 favorability with Scar

    Failure Penalty:

    ¨C Level -1

    ¨C Disappearance of Scar¡¯s favorability.

    Time Limit: 24 hours

    *Special Note: Certain Warriors have a different path from others. Therefore, they require early grooming to temper their abilities. ¡¹

    An A-Rank Quest didn¡¯t mean that it held anyrge significance to Zenith Online as a whole; it simply meant that after factoring in the user¡¯s current limitations and considering it against the difficulty of the objectives, it would pose a considerable challenge. Only quests annotated with (+) held any significance towards Zenith Online since it represented a Main Quest of varying levels.

    Meanwhile, Scar observed Kieran quietly and pursed his lips after remaining silent for too long. ¡°Is this too much for you? If so, how would you register yourself at the Adventurer Guild, which would require you to clear assignments like this?¡±

    ¡°Too much? Nah, not quite. It¡¯s perfect, in fact,¡± Kieran answered.

    ¡°I see. What an interesting little boy you are. Those expressions of yours are¡­ quite hard to read,¡± Scar said while shaking his head. Soon after, he looked at Kieran and gave a faint nod.

    He then continued, ¡°Growing quite nicely. I sense a unison within you. A good bnce of speed and force. Continue like that.¡±

    Kieran smirked slightly and even nudged Scar, who gave him a nk look in response to Kieran¡¯s request. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re praising me, yeah? Then should I receive some type of reward from Mentor Scar? Wouldn¡¯t you say?¡±

    ¡°Get out of my face and go do what I said before I throw you out of here,¡± Scar said with a cold gleam in his eyes. Kieran could tell he meant business, so he wasted no time before scurrying out of the Warrior Hall.

    However, after Kieran left, Scar finally cracked a faint smile. ¡®At least he has the confidence not to withhold his desires. Regardless, he has yet to show me he¡¯s truly deserving of my wholehearted nurturing.¡¯

    Meanwhile, Kieran received a notification after leaving the Warrior Hall.

    ¡´System: You have received a message from your friend, Altair. Do you wish to read its contents? [ Y / N ]?¡µ

    ¡°Yes,¡± Kieran answered. As a result, the message¡¯s contents appeared within Kieran¡¯s iris.

    [Altair: Yo! I¡¯ve reached Lv.6, but I¡¯ve also noticed some parties crowding the dungeon entrance nearby. You know, the one for the Forest of Beasts dungeon? Since you¡¯ve reached Lv.6, I suggest we party up and clear it before any rewards are snagged from us.]

    Kieran didn¡¯t answer immediately. Instead, he rubbed his chin in thought while thinking about the dungeon in question. ¡®The Forest of Beasts, a simple Lv.5 Dungeon. If we do enter, we¡¯ll need three more people. Just us alone won¡¯t be enough. Besides¡­¡¯

    ¡´System: You¡¯ve sent a video call request to Altair.¡µ

    Altair¡¯s half-covered face appeared on a small screen before Kieran within a few seconds. Only he could see the screen and hear any information revealed through the call since it was fed directly to his senses.

    ¡°Forest of Beasts, you said? Are you aware of any clearing the dungeon¡¯s Normal Difficulty yet?¡± Kieran questioned. He wouldn¡¯t have asked this question if this were anywhere aside from the beginner vige. Unfortunately, beginner viges had restrictions that other ces in Zenith Online didn¡¯t.

    For example, the higher difficulties would only be essible after someone cleared the Normal Difficulty. While the dungeon itself was instanced, sending everyone into a separate copy of the dungeon space, the unlocked difficulty was universal. This restriction was set in ce with intention of having yers share some semnce of information amongst themselves.

    After all, unlike the rest of Zenith Online, there wasn¡¯t much of an advantage to the dungeons in the beginning areas. It would only be reasonable to remain secretive about clear strategies once the real Team and Squad Dungeons came into y. These regr 5-man Dungeons were not worth mentioning when Team and Squad Dungeons entered the fray.

    ¡°Clearing it? Don¡¯t you want to be the first one to clear the dungeon? I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll give some type of reward,¡± Altair answered. In truth, he was astonished by the tone Kieran used because it seemed as if he wanted someone else to clear it before he did.

    ¡°Nah. At least, not the Normal Difficulty. It¡¯s no better than clearing out an area of the Fanged Forest. In fact, it might even be a little worse considering how time-consuming it can be,¡± Kieran said.

    Rather than waste his time on clearing a partially useless Normal version, Kieran wished to delve right into the contents of the quest from the beginning. To do so meant he needed to hand the menial task off to someone else without them realizing it.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case¡­ then I¡¯ve noticed some people who should be part of guilds from other VR games. I think it¡¯s only a matter of time before it is cleared,¡± Altair responded after giving the matter some thought.

    While he focused on grinding to Lv.6, he caught wind of some people rushing to the Forest of Beasts as soon as they reached Lv.5. Given the fact that Forest of Beast¡¯s Normal version wasn¡¯t hard to clear, Kieran estimated clearance within the hour.

    ¡°Good, good. Call me when you¡¯re certain that it has been cleared. When a clearing party exits from the dungeon, there¡¯ll be a small chime. Look out for that specific noise. Because afterward¡­ it¡¯s going to be a race.¡±

    ¡°Cool, I¡¯ll remain here for the time being. Just make sure to collect enough consumables. I want to try the Difficult Mode, just to let you know,¡± Altair responded.

    Hearing this, Kieran grinned. It appeared great minds thought alike.

    Afterward, the two canceled the call. Altair remained in the dungeon entrance¡¯s vicinity while rejecting many offers to join a Normal Party. In the meantime, Kieran eyed a run-down shack in a seemingly destitute part of Gena Vige. Because of its appearance, every yer walked past without sparing the shack even a cursory nce.

    It was simr to how most individuals walked past a homeless person on the street as if they didn¡¯t exist. However, Kieran wasn¡¯t that type. Partly because he was raised in an orphanage, Kieran was sensitive to run-down areas with faint signs of life.

    But, Kieran¡¯s decision to visit this ce was prudent because he recalled it imparting a convenient item that could greatly assist him. Of course, because Kieran¡¯s equipment was noticeable, he dipped into a corner before switching to the beginner items belonging to newly made characters.

    Once he changed, Kieran meandered through the vige crowd without arousing any suspicion from his actions. If someone donned aplete set of heavy armor, the public would be curious about what business they had with such an unassuming shack. But, if someone akin to a beginner entered the shack, then not a single person would pay any mind to their action.

    A thick atmosphere of dust made Kieran cover his mouth while looking around the shack¡¯s interior upon entering the shack. Aside from the thickyer of dust resulting from theck of upkeep, the shack¡¯s overall condition wasn¡¯t bad. It was clear that this ce was some type of antique shop. But, none of the items on the shelves had any effects, appearing decorative at most.

    Still, Kieran approached the counter before him and tapped his finger against the desk. The rustle of brittle bamboo straws and the sound of polished beads knocking against each appeared from behind the counter, revealing a hunched-over and extremely aged individual shuffling towards the counter.

    Kieran frowned slightly when he witnessed the condition of this person. Evidently, he was unsettled by this elder¡¯s circumstances.

 Chapter 11 Agatha

    ¡ª-

    The old individual drew up a small chair while Kieran silently watched their actions. A smile appeared on their face after they looked at Kieran. From what he saw, this individual was an olddy who should be nearing the end of her life. Her skin was wrinkly and liver-spotted, not to mention she seemed malnutrition by her scraggly fingers and protruding cheekbones.

    Despite her state, she still presented a smile. ¡°It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve had a visitor. It is nice to have somepany, young man. Tell me, did youe here to purchase anything? If so, it hurts my heart to tell you that nothing here is of use anymore.¡±

    Small tears pooled in her clouded, aged eyes. However, Kieran shook his head slightly. ¡°I didn¡¯te here to buy anything. I simply came to provide a service. It¡¯s not much, but I hope it¡¯ll help you remainfortable.¡±

    ¡°A service? No, no, there is no need, young man. Don¡¯t let this olddy here trouble you. You should instead go out and aspire to be a strong adventurer. Your pure heart will carry you a long way.¡±

    ¡®Pure?¡¯ Kieran thought to himself silently. After everything he experienced, there were zero chances of him being pure. Kieran just understood this was an opportunity to capitalize on while also providingfort to an elder. In fact, it was hard for Kieran to confirm whether or not he would appear here if he didn¡¯t possess information about it.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do that soon enough. For now, I only wish to help you,¡± Kieran said. Afterward, he exhaled and stood up before walking around the shack. All of its dimensions and configuration appeared in his mind as he noticed cleaning tools off the side.

    ¡®This should definitely be the way to im that item,¡¯ Kieran thought to himself. He then grabbed all of the cleaning tools and got to work by reorganizing and cleaning the shack¡¯s interior. Although he wasn¡¯t inbat, Kieran¡¯s stamina drained steadily due to his extensive cleaning.

    Within 15 minutes, the shack¡¯s interior changed drastically; all of the shelves were aligned and dusted. Within 30 minutes, Kieran rearranged the contents and seating arrangement within the shack. After an hour, nearly all signs of the previous dust vanished. While the appearance was far from stunning, it was a major improvement from its initial condition.<sub>-.</sub>

    As a result, the olddy appeared extremely grateful for Kieran¡¯s actions.

    ¡°Would you like to sit and have a cup of tea? I don¡¯t wish to waste any more of your time, but I wish to have yourpany for a while longer. Maybe even a story while we drink? You remind me of my grandson while he was still alive.¡±

    Suddenly, a notification appeared before Kieran¡¯s eyes.

    ¡´System: Your rtionship with NPC, Grandma Agatha, has be ?Hospitable?.¡µ

    It wasn¡¯t so easy to raise favorability with an NPC and generate a rtionship with them. The situation with Grandma Agatha was just unique. Because she hadn¡¯t receivedpany in a long time, all she sought was some briefpany. One benevolent act would be enough to generate a hospitable rtionship with her.

    However, being hospitable wasn¡¯t enough to receive what Kieran wanted. Nevertheless, since Altair had yet to contact him regarding the Forest of Beast¡¯s Normal Difficulty clearance, Kieran still had time before he had to leave.

    Thus, Kieran joined Grandma Agatha for some tea.

    ¡°Follow me, young man,¡± Grandma Agatha instructed. She parted the makeshift curtain of beads and bamboo, revealing the other side. Compared to the dusty interior of the shack, this part of her shack was pristine! Kieran could even smell hints of herbs and spices that were lost upon him despite having knowledge up to Awakened characters.<sub></sub>

    ¡®There¡¯s no way that she¡¯s fiddled with ancient materials, right? While I wouldn¡¯t daresay my knowledge of minerals, ores, herbs, and materials is perfect, I should be more or less familiar with regr ones. What is this pleasant scent?¡¯ Kieran wondered.

    ¡°Is this ce and fragrance to your liking? If not, I¡¯m sure I can find one that is more agreeable to you, young man,¡± Grandma Agatha said while standing over two small pots with boiling liquids. She sprinkled in a pouch of sparkling blue dust that made Kieran¡¯s nose re.

    Although he wasn¡¯t familiar with the scent, the potency of its smell was a testament to how amazing these herbs were. Thus, Kieran began questioning whether this olddy was as simple as she seemed on the surface. After all, this part of the interaction with Grandma Agatha wasn¡¯t described in the forum from his past.

    ¡°No, no; it¡¯s fine. Please don¡¯t change anything for my convenience. I¡¯m just here to apany you,¡± Kieran said in a respectful tone. Unbeknownst to Kieran, Grandma Agatha revealed a joyful smile with her back turned to him. Evidently, she appreciated his actions.

    She turned around while holding two small teacups in her hands a momentter. Grandma Agatha gave one to Kieran while setting the other on the table. ¡°They¡¯re both for you, but remember to sip them slowly. Allow your body to enjoy its pleasant aroma.¡±

    When Grandma Agatha took a seat across from Kieran, another teacup magically appeared in her hands. Kieran was unsure if this was done by magic, meaning this olddy before him was a Mage or if she moved faster than he could perceive. Either way, Kieran understood why Grandma Agatha could distribute the item he sought.

    As directed, Kieran sipped the tea. At the same time, he listened to Grandma Agatha talk. However, approximately twenty seconds into her story, it was almost as if she spoke anothernguage because Kieran couldn¡¯t understand a wording from her mouth!

    ¡®Is¡­ Grandma babbling right now?¡¯ Kieran wondered. However, after this thought, Kieran seemed to fall into a trance, sipping slowly and repeatedly like a malfunctioning doll stuck in one setting. But, he did this as per Grandma Agatha¡¯s instructions.

    ¡´System: You have consumed ?Enriched Mystic Tea?.¡µ

    ¡´System: You¡¯re experiencing the embrace of an unknown mystical chant.¡µ

    ¡´System: Your Perception has increased by 1 point.¡µ

    ¡´System: Your Perception has increased by 1 point.¡µ

    ¡­

    Eventually, Kieran awoke from his trance to a smiling Grandma Agatha. It was unknown when it happened, but he had consumed both cups of the mystical tea. Truth be told, this wasn¡¯t the item he hade for, but Kieran was pleasantly surprised and content by its effects.

    After all, his Perception had undergone an unusual change. On top of it increasing to 50 points, it felt as if the tea sharpened his senses. It wasparable to using more of his gifted instincts, but this seemed to originate from his character and not his mind.

    ¡®Could the coefficient of my Perception have changed already? If so¡­ this Enriched Mystic Tea can¡¯t be lower than a unique-grade elixir,¡¯ Kieran thought to himself.

    But, during his trance, Kieran noticed that Altair had sent two messages to which he had yet to respond.

    ¡°Grandma Agatha, I hate to leave so abruptly, but I have other things I must attend to. This is for you. I hope you live well,¡± Kieran said.

    The odds of him returning to Gena Vige after promoting his ss were slim. So, he felt he should at least leave Grandma Agatha with a parting gift. Kieran retrieved five pieces of Silver from his inventory, leaving him with just over one Silver Coin in his possession. He ced them in Grandma Agatha¡¯s palm and closed them tightly.

    ¡°This is for you.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need, young boy.¡±

    ¡°I insist; I won¡¯t take it back,¡± Kieran said while shaking his head.

    Thus, Grandma Agatha finally epted it with a heartwarming smile. However, she couldn¡¯t just take this for no reason. She waved her hand softly. ¡°I¡¯m saddened that everything has lost function, but there is one thing left in my possession that should help you flourish as a young adventurer. I hope you¡¯ll be kind enough to ept it.¡±

    ¡´System: Your rtionship with Grandma Agatha has increased to ?Indebted?.¡µ

    Grandma Agatha ced an item in Kieran¡¯s palm and patted his shoulder. ¡°Now go. If fate wills it, we will meet again once before I am to leave this enchanting world.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯d be my pleasure,¡± Kieran answered before leaving the old shack and rushing towards the Forest of Beast dungeon.

    Meanwhile, Grandma Agatha looked at the two cups. ¡°Although I used basic ingredients sprinkled with hints of my dust, he was incredibly receptive to the mystic scripture. His soul is strong.¡±

    She then continued after a moment, ¡°What a pleasant young boy. He may hold vengeance in his heart, but that doesn¡¯t stop him from disying kindness. Regrettably, that young boy shall face his fair share of troubles in the future. At least it is like she said, there is a human with an excellent soul that has appeared,¡± Grandma Agatha muttered.

    Once Kieran left, her image, while still somewhat aged, was noticeably younger, appearing to be no older than theirte thirties or early forties. The stranger part was that Grandma Agatha¡¯s identity now appeared differently.

    ¡¸NPC Lv. ??? Agatha, ??? (???)

    ss: Mystic [Redacted]

    Health: ???

    Affiliations: ??? ¡¹

 Chapter 12 Medallion of Growth

    ¡ª-

    It didn¡¯t take long for Kieran to reach the part of the Fanged Forest that didn¡¯t spawn any monsters. Theck of spawning monsters was because the dungeon entrance possessed a type of barrier that deterred monsters and prevented them from entering within two hundred meters. Otherwise, it would be easy for any unsuspecting yer to be attacked by monsters in a highly exhausted state, especially if it was after a failed dungeon run.

    As he arrived there, he noticed the area was excessively active. The activity consisted of people frantically looking for a party to join, individuals who had either just failed or cleared the Normal difficulty, and people who had just arrived with a full party already in tow. However, what immediately caught Kieran¡¯s eye was the state of the dungeon.

    The shing neutral gray light surrounding the dungeon portal suggested there was at least one party attempting the Difficult Mode.

    Suddenly, Kieran sensed a presence beside him and turned. It was Altair, who seemed partially irritated. ¡°How did an hour end up turning into nearly three? I estimate that someone will clear the Difficult Mode within minutes! That doesn¡¯t help us in the slightest bit.¡±

    ¡°Oh? If that¡¯s the case, then that¡¯s even better. Less work for us with higher rewards,¡± Kieran responded with a cheeky grin. After all, he no longer had his sights set on the Difficult Mode. Instead, Kieran now eyed the Very Difficult Mode, which some would admittedly call him insane to attempt.

    The difference between Difficult and Very Difficult was vast. Not only did the terrain inside the dungeon change slightly, gaining the ability to affect the run¡¯s sess rate, but the dungeon¡¯s magnitude also increased considerably. It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say that the Very Difficultyout was beyond double that of the Difficult Mode.

    In fact, if selected, the mode would give a warning prompt. Only an insane individual would want to attempt it without first entering the dungeon to gain an understanding of the monster¡¯s inside alongside their attack patterns and dungeonyout. Then again, Kieran was in no ordinary situation. Furthermore, the significant change to his Perception coupled with the item he received from Grandma Agatha spurred this crazy decision.<sub>-.</sub>

    While it didn¡¯t alleviate the dungeon¡¯s difficulty directly or assist in battle, it acted as a catalyst for Kieran. There were now many routes present for Kieran to take within the dungeon provided that he assembled the right partyposition at a suitable level. All party members needed to be between Lv.5 and Lv.7 prior to dungeon entry to receive the highest Experience and broadest loot table. If they entered after that level, the Experience and rewards would drastically reduce.

    ¡°Less work? More rewards? Just what are you thinking?¡± Altair questioned with a slightly confused expression. The developers nor the early guide thoroughly exined the dungeon system, so it was understandable that Altair wasn¡¯t aware of the shared difficulty feature unique to the beginner areas.

    All Kieran needed now was for apetent team to clear the Difficult Mode. As for the item in Kieran¡¯s possession, it was a palm-sized bronze medallion with liquid the color of blue-green tourmaline flowing through it.

    ¡¸ Medallion of Growth (Special)

    Item Rank: Rare

    Item Level: N/A

    Description: A special medallion made from standard metals that disys extensive signs of erosion. Despite the damage, the embedded Rune of Growth remains undamaged. The intricate rune alone would warrant the attention of established enchanters. Nevertheless, it appears the maker of this item deliberately used a provisional form of the Rune of Growth. Thus, it has a finite duration and extreme limitations.<sub></sub>

    Effects: The ?Rune of Growth? increases Adventurer Experience gained by the wielder by 100%.

    Restriction: The ?Rune of Growth? is only usable up to Lv.20

    Durability: ¡Þ

    Duration: 28 days  ¡¹

    Kieran was jubnt over this item when he read through the information earlier. Perhaps it was because Grandma Agatha had taken an increased liking to him or his higher contribution than the 1 Silver in the past, but the duration of this item was four times longer than the one in his memory! Moreover, the experience boost was twice as much!

    It only made sense for him to capitalize on this item and delve into the experience trove that was the Very Difficult Mode. Otherwise, he¡¯d be nothing more than a fool.

    ¡°Hmm, how much Attack Power, Agility, and Control do you have?¡± Keiran answered before revealing his n. If it was sufficient, he could carry out the teamposition in mind.

    ¡°As of now¡­ they¡¯re 77, 42, and 40,¡± Altair revealed. Kieran felt a tinge of shock that Altair¡¯s Agility and Control were this high already.

    ¡°Did you¡­ max out the roll on your unique package?¡± Kieran asked suddenly.

    ¡°I did,¡± Altair admitted.

    ¡®This shitter is lucky! I¡¯m willing to bet he had above-average Control, to begin with. Probably even just below mine. But, I suppose I should expect as much of his stats seeing as he¡¯s a Thief. Meaning, both his Vitality and Endurance have barely been touched,¡¯ Kieran guessed.

    Additionally, the Thief sses wore leather armor. While the defense it rewarded was inferior with regards to heavy armor, it tended to reward more critical chance and agility as a result.

    ¡°No free attributes point left to be assigned, I presume?¡± Kieranmented.

    ¡°Nope! Not a single one. Use ¡¯em all up. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have gotten my three primary attributes this high.

    Nevertheless, Kieran could more than make do with his current stats. Kieran leaned close to Altair and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s quite simple then; we¡¯ll be tackling the Very Difficult Mode!¡±

    ¡°What?! We haven¡¯t even run into a boss yet. I hear the boss inside that mode may even be above the Rare grade!¡± Altair shouted, attracting some attention from others.

    ¡°Mm, so? You scared?¡± Kieran shrugged nonchntly. As a result, Altair¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. While he was excited about tackling the dungeon, he felt he may have made friends with a lunatic.

    Suddenly, amotion sounded behind Kieran and Altair. Two sets of bell chimes rang with distinct noises, symbolizing the clearance of the Difficult Mode. This made Kieran grin from ear to ear cause the wait was now over.

    He pulled up the party menu and registered a party. Unlike typical MMORPG games where the party maxed out at 4, Zenith Online paved the way for the expanded party feature. A full party inside this game consisted of 5 members. Likewise, the dungeons also sport corresponding challenges to justify this new type of party y.

    However, when the parties realized theposition he was looking for, they all ignored his party icon. They all felt this individual might have mental issues because he didn¡¯t want a tank inside the party. Furthermore, he wished for a second healer at the expense of said tank! That would ultimately decrease the party¡¯s damage-dealing capabilities. They simply couldn¡¯t understand what this person was thinking.

    Even Altair looked at Keiran awkwardly after reading through their party description.

    ¡°What do we need two healers for? I think that¡¯s why everyone is avoiding us. Maybe we shouldpromise and pick up a tank. I mean¡­ they¡¯ll absorb some decent damage and fill in the gaps between our rotations.¡±

    ¡°Nope, most tanks are utter garbage at this stage in the game. Even with superior mechanics, the monsters inside the Very Difficult Mode will thrash tanks. Meanwhile, two healers are essential. It¡¯s unclearable without them,¡± Kieran admitted.

    Despite revealing this information, Altair remained unconvinced. ¡°What about the person whopleted the Knight¡¯s ss first test? Surely they are a consideration?¡±

    ¡°Nah, I¡¯m almost certain they have a static party,¡± Kieran responded. Based on the equipment and skills Bastion disyed, Kieran was 95% sure that he was the one to receive the Knight¡¯s Unique Package. The odds of that fellow leaving his party members were practically zero.

    What¡¯s more, the team who cleared the Difficult Mode just so happened to be them! It was true that Kieran could attempt to squeeze into their party by requesting the spot filled by a random, but he¡¯s wasn¡¯t willing to leave Altair hanging. After all, he had already wasted some of his time. Kieran couldn¡¯t see himself abandoning a team member who took the time to wait for him.

    He¡¯d end up attracting a horrid reputation amongst the unaffiliated dungeon crews.

    ¡°Fine, I understand that. But, we should at least make a concession and reduce the levels from Lv.7 to Lv.6,¡± Altair insisted.

    However, this suggestion made Kieran frown. ¡°We¡¯re even stronger than ordinary Lv.9 characters with only basic attributes assigned. Why would we ept someone that¡¯ll struggle clear the Difficult Mode? Just be patient. We¡¯ll make up the lost timeter.¡±

    ¡°Agh¡­ whatever,¡± Altair groaned while leaning against a tree. While doing so, he watched as Kieran canceled an insane amount of potential party members. Either their level was too unimpressive, or they just irritated Kieran.

    ¡°Holy FUCK! It¡¯s like people can¡¯t read. This description is right there, yet I¡¯m getting a whole bunch of Knights, Thiefs, and Fighter.¡± Kieran exploded. He was bing quite annoyed with the sheer volume of people who spammed the parties. s, that¡¯s how party searches typically went.

    Kieran could only remain patient while sifting through the ocean of party requests. It was times like this that Kieran wished more veteran gamers besides Altair spawned with Gena Vige. Fortunately, Kieran soon came across two suitable members¨Dtwo Priests and a Mage.

 Chapter 13 Very Difficult

    ¡ª-

    Out of the massive amounts of party requests he received, these three chosen members were the only individuals to pass Kieran¡¯s filtration without idling for too long. In the end, Kieran was forced to make some concessions regarding the level requirement. However, this was only allowed for Priests. The extra damager was forced to at least be Lv.7.

    Fortunately, the amount of time spent before the dungeon entrance and factoring in the time Kieran spent with Grandma Agatha allowed enough time for more Lv.7 individuals to appear. Thankfully, the one who appeared was a mage, which specialized in long-range attacks, unlike a Warrior or Thief.

    A few Lv.7 Fighters sought to join their party, but Kieran denied them. A Fighter was by no means a weak ss; it was just that Kieran and Altair filled all the melee-type damage roles. epting another melee dps one into the party would only incur failure once they reached the middle to end of the dungeon.

    Thus, Kieran bnced the party¡¯s damage output by introducing a magic ss into the mix.

    Surprisingly, the party¡¯s genders were bnced as well, with three males and two females. One of the Priests was a male.

    After observing their partyposition, many people in the area ridiculed Kieran for his decision. In their eyes, wasting a slot on another healer wasn¡¯t the best decision.

    Aside from healing, they held no other specialties at this level. Their damage was atrocious due to theck of Strength and a suitable weapon. Not to mention, their defense and movement speed were usually terrible since most Priests focused on Intelligence, Vitality, and a unique attribute only essible to Priests. It was known as Spirit, and most of their healing coefficients relied upon this Attribute.

    So, the more powerful their Spirit, the more powerful their heals.<sub>-.</sub>

    Nevertheless, Kieran wasn¡¯t the type to worry about others¡¯ opinions of him. It didn¡¯t help him in the slightest, nor were they rted to him. Besides, throughout his experiences, especially with the Golden Brigade in his past life, he learned that most people were highly judgemental, especially inept people.

    These people¡¯s coping mechanism for theirck of ability usually manifested as them projecting their reprehensible thoughts upon others.

    ¡°Introduce yourselves. At the same time, I need you to reveal the condition of your stats. Priests; Spirit, Vitality & Intelligence. Mage¨DMagic Attack, and Control,¡± Kieran said. To be honest, he disliked the fact that he had yet to obtain enough Perception to unlock the Inspect trait. This would allow him to inspect the character sheets of party members.

    For now, the only way to learn about party member stats was to ask and pray that they told the truth. If they didn¡¯t, it would be well within the party¡¯s right to hunt them down should they fail. After all, why should they have to pay for someone¡¯s dishonesty? Even if the system delivered a punishment, Kieran was the type to track down said individuals and make them regret their decision.

    Of course, since he was on a timeline, that would have to wait for the most suitable time.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go first,¡± said the slender male Priest. He was Lv.6 Priest named Sithik. He was dressed in traditional beige priest robes that draped from his body. Kieran estimated this wasmon-grade equipment based on theck of embroidery or finer detail. He possessed indigo hair and gray eyes.

    He then continued, ¡°25 Vitality, 24 Spirit, and 28 Intelligence.¡±

    ¡°Sufficient,¡± Kieran answered before turning towards the female priest named Cygnus. She was also Lv.6 but didn¡¯t give off the pure air typically attributed to a Priest. While she seemed reserved, Kieran could tell this girl had heart based on how she met his gaze without backing down. Her hair was a dull teal color with matching foxy cerulean eyes.<sub></sub>

    She, too, wore priest robes; they were just fitted to uphold female decorum while still appearing somewhat alluring. While most of her gear wasmon, Kieran could tell that the top and small cross in her grasp were both umon-grade.

    ¡°29 Vitality, 27 Spirt, and 26 Intelligence, Cygnus responded.

    ¡°Sufficient as well,¡± Kieran said with a faint nod. Afterward, his attention shifted toward thest member. It was an Lv.7 Mage named Aspaira who wore mage robes that were predominately midnight blue with hints of white on areas of the robes near her limbs and at the split across her thigh.

    She lightly pulled a locket of her long, light purple hair behind her ear when Kieran focused on her. From Kieran¡¯s point of view, she seemed nervous by the way her index finger kept twitching.

    However, Kieran didn¡¯t address that. He simply waited to witness her abilities.

    ¡°72 Magic Attack, 17 Control,¡± Aspaira answered.

    ¡°17, is it? Any avable Attribute Points? Or did you go for the ss cannon build?¡±

    ¡°G-ss cannon build? And I have 5 points still avable from my previous level up.¡±

    ¡°Good, put two more points in Intelligence and the other three in Control,¡± Kieran instructed.

    Sadly, Aspaira pursed her lips slightly. ¡°Is that¡­ I thought I should focus on health and defense now.

    ¡°Nope, you¡¯ll be most sessful by following my advice. I promise. But, if you don¡¯t want to trust me, then that¡¯s understandable as well. I can¡¯t hold it against you. We¡¯re strangers,¡± Kieran said almost indifferently.

    He was honestly looking out for her because Control also rted to how well one could manipte their spells. Lacking Control would soon reduce the casting speed of spells once a mage was required to activate it withplete independence.

    ¡°Okay¡­ okay, I¡¯ll trust you. Just make sure we clear the dungeon, please. I really need some new equipment,¡± Aspaira pleaded.

    ¡°That¡¯s the n,¡± Kieran nodded.

    While Aspaira reconfigured her stats, Kieran took the time to pull up the character menu. However, it wasn¡¯t the normal one that toggled his stats, inventory, quest, knowledge, and skills. This menu seemed unique because while most of it was cked out, symbolizing nonfunctioning systems, one of them was illuminated with an eye-catching and glorious logo. It was a tabbeled GRC.

    It stood for the Gamer Republic Connect, which was amunity created by the Gamer Republic, one of the heavy investors in Zenith Online¡¯sunch. Hence, why its features were already up and functioning despite it being the first day, a few hours at that.

    ¡´System: Would you like to link your ount with the Gamer Republic tform? [ Y / N ]?¡µ

    ¡´System: Sess! Congrattions, Aatrox, you have linked your Zenith Online ount.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have gained ess to the GamerHub.tv streaming service. Would you like to activate it now? [ Y / N ]?¡µ

    ¡°Dy activation. Begin stream in 3 minutes,¡± Kieran responded. As a result, a mechanic voice sounded in his head, with a small timer appearing in the left corner of his vision.

    ¡°Alright, boys and girls, let¡¯s give the world a spectacr show,¡± Kieran said with a faint chuckle.

    The chuckle seemed a tad dark as the difficulty on the party request remained ubeled. Had Kieran revealed that he was heading into the Very Difficult mode, the chance of anyone joining Kieran would plummet to zero. And the reason for that was stered before his very eyes.

    ¡´WARNING: You have chosen ?Forest of Beasts? Very Difficult. Entry Count: 1/1.¡µ

    ¡´WARNING: Death Penalty inside this mode is increased. Failure will cost 75% of the yer¡¯s Experience. All of the Experience & Items earned from a failed run will be revoked. Monsters have been strengthened, and the map has been erged.¡µ

    Kieran didn¡¯t pay the notice any mind. He didn¡¯t have much time before the newly acquired members thought about quitting. Thus, he instantly epted and was sucked inside the dungeon with the rest of his party.

    While generic MMORPGs would require the entire party to ready up in a sense and deliver their consent to entry, Zenith Online didn¡¯t require this action. As long as the party leader approached the dungeon portal, it¡¯d be registered as the entire party acknowledging entry.

    Of course, the members could always just leave, but that would incur the failure penalty for those who deserted the dungeon.

    Needless to say, Kieran entering this mode caused an enormousmotion, chiefly amongst those who had already cleared the dungeon. They were all too familiar with how challenging the former difficulties were.

    ¡°That man is absolutely bonkers! Straight to jail, he should go! Who in their right mind would tackle that difficulty right now? Without a tank, might I add! Man¡¯s brain is inside his ass. He has shit for brains I tell you,¡± someone shouted in the crowd after watching the ominous disy that followed a party entering the Very Difficult mode.

    ¡°I agree! The boss will probably bitch p them!¡± anothermented.

    Meanwhile, Bastion paid close attention to the dungeon entrance with an intrigued look. ¡°Cyr, ready to go again?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m up for it,¡± Cyr nodded.

    ¡°Good, then we¡¯ll dive right back in. We can empty our lootter on,¡± Bastion said. He and his party then entered the same difficulty just secondster, sending the area into an evenrger uproar.

    ¡°What the hell? Have these guys taken PP pills or something? I swear their BDE is through the roof; it couldn¡¯t be me,¡± an onlooker said. However, he remained in the area to learn if they would seed or fail while trying.

 Chapter 14 Forest of Beasts

    ¡ª-

    The dungeon setting became much more severe after choosing the Very Difficult mode. There was a lot of moisture in the air, which contributed to the dungeon¡¯s current environment, especially the nearby trees. Some were filled with dew, others were broken from the roots forming a straightforward chiseled-out pathway, and the rest seemed somewhat damaged.

    Surprisingly, there were no monsters to immediately greet the party¡¯s arrival, just an eerie silence that put everyone except Kieran on edge. After all, most people in this party had never experienced this difficulty before! How could they not feel nervous about their current situation?

    ¡°T-this¡­ Are you insane? Why did you pick Very Difficult? We haven¡¯t even partied together before; how will we know if we can clear this?¡± Aspaira yelled. She had just asked that they clear the dungeon with absolute certainty, yet Kieran chose to enter the most challenging level!

    Frankly speaking, Aspaira couldn¡¯t see how they¡¯d clear a dungeon like this. In fact, she even held thoughts of just leaving the dungeon instead of getting her hopes up, only to have them crushed by the cruelty of death.

    Not to mention, the Death Penalty attached to this particr was not the least bit small. Losing 75% Experience meant most people present would undoubtedly lose a level and have to spend time acquiring more Experience. It wasn¡¯t that it was a difficult task¨Dit was an annoying one.

    Why would they want to repeat a task they had alreadypleted because of someone else¡¯s decision?

    Rather than answer her, Kieran took a step forward and scrutinized his surroundings while cing his finger against the dew on one of the trees. Afterward, he turned back towards Aspaira. ¡°What are your goals for ying this game? Seeing as you¡¯re one of the individuals who yed it uponunch, surely you have time on your hands. Is this just one of your pass times?¡±

    ¡°Kind of? Why does that matter¡­?¡± Aspaira murmured with a look of faint confusion.<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°It¡¯s simple, actually. It matters because some people treat this game as a career. Not everyone has the luxury of a good family or an esteemed upation waiting for them once they log out. So, tell me, why not takerge risks now when there isn¡¯t much to lose thanter when the stakes be muchrger?¡± Kieran countered.

    To this question, Aspaira didn¡¯t have a response for quite some time. She understood that after the gaming industry developed over the century, a rising number of pro-gaming organizations emerged worldwide.

    However, Aspaira didn¡¯t see how this linked to their current situation because most talented individuals should be a part of some organization by now.

    ¡°I understand that, but we have zero knowledge regarding this dungeon. We should have at least engaged in a test run before choosing something like this. We¡¯re bound to lose a level if we fail,¡± Aspaira responded.

    The others off to the side, namely Sithik and Cygnus, agreed with Aspaira¡¯s point of view. They understood taking risks, but they couldn¡¯t understand making undeniably foolish decisions.

    ¡°Nah, there¡¯s no need for previous runs. If your intentions are going far in this game, then you must learn to improve your adaptation abilities. This is only the beginning¨Dit¡¯ll only be harder from here on out,¡± Kieran answered.

    Afterward, he retrieved his greatsword before looking toward Altair and sending a private message. ¡°Are you ready? Because I¡¯m almost certain most of the load will fall upon our shoulders. The fact they feel this much fear towards an Lv.5 Dungeon means they aren¡¯t confident.¡±

    Dungeonscking particr words like Team or Squad situated before ¡°Dungeon¡± were at the bottom of the barrel in terms of difficulty. Likewise, the loot was extremelyckluster when judged against the prospects of more renowned dungeons appearing as yers traveled throughout Zenith Online. While it was confirmed that clearing the difficulty Kieran chose would be challenging, he clearly understood what this dungeon required.<sub></sub>

    So, if he felt it could be cleared with their current party, then it should be absolutely possible. It was just a shame that the earlier warning influenced the party¡¯s opinion. But that¡¯s precisely why the system generated the alert just before entry. It was to incite fear and doubt.

    ¡°I see¡­ is this why you chose two healers instead of a tank? To avoid more party memberints?¡± Altair asked.

    ¡°Partially. The other reason is that two healers will be required,¡± Kieran said.

    A momentter, a burst of faint blue aura surrounded Kieran¡¯s body as he activated Warrior¡¯s Aura. He then turned towards the other party members, ¡°Even if you¡¯re frightened, I ask that you follow my directions and contribute to the party as much as possible. During this run, I¡¯ll be acting as the tank, but I¡¯ll also double as the main dps.¡±

    ¡°Wait a moment; you¡¯ve given yourself dual roles?¡± Sithik said in shock.

    ¡°To be precise, I¡¯ll be fulfilling three roles because I¡¯ll also be the in-game leader. Above all else, I earnestly request that you have faith in mymands. If you do so, then there¡¯s a chance that we¡¯ll clear this without any mishaps,¡± Kieran answered.

    The party felt some bewilderment towards Kieran¡¯sment. They couldn¡¯t understand what made him so sure of his ims.

    ¡°What makes you confident that we¡¯ll clear it?¡±

    ¡°Me and my buddy here,¡± Kieran said while pointing towards Altair. However, he didn¡¯t allow for further questions as he soon cut off the rest of the party. ¡°Alright, alright. That¡¯s enough. Let¡¯s get a move on because I assume other parties are attempting this dungeon as we speak.¡±

    Kieran didn¡¯t await their response, moving forward at a pace simr to running, but he remained vignt of his surroundings. Although the fallen trees etched out a path leading deeper into the woods, and he didn¡¯t sense any enemies, that didn¡¯t mean there were no nearby. It was simply a feature of the Forest of Beast¡¯s Very Difficult mode.

    The dense fog inside the dungeon dulled a yer¡¯s senses considerably. Fortunately, Kieran¡¯s perception was more than double that of a scout¡¯s requirement in this dungeon; hence, he took the lead despite Altair having superior speed.

    Eventually, Kieran¡¯s ears twitched after hearing the faint rustle and crunch of fallen leave being stepped upon great force. As a result, Kieran¡¯s eyes gained a piercing glint as he performed a powerful jump backward.

    ¡­Bang! Bang! Bang!

    Three powerful tremors urred at Kieran¡¯s previous position. Meanwhile, the party¡¯s expressions nched afterying eyes upon their soon-to-be opponents. Threerge wolves with dark gray fur that wasn¡¯t too far off from ck and glowering amethyst eyes locked on the party as a target. But, it wasn¡¯t their appearance that made them feel inherent fear¨Dit was the information present about these beasts.

    ¡¸Lv.11 Shadow Wolf (Elite)

    Beast Type, Dark Type

    Health: 1,650/1,650 (100%) ¡¹

    This current difficulty raised not only the level of the monsters inside the dungeon but also their ranking. Additionally, their stats were higher than typical monsters of the same ranking and level. Because of this change, the Experience they rewarded was much greater as well.

    Sadly, Kieran¡¯s party didn¡¯t know if this increased difficulty was the exchange. Until now, they hadn¡¯t seen a monster with health exceeding 550, yet there were three such monsters with thrice that amount of health right before them. It was a scare, to say the least.

    ¡°Um¡­ you said you¡¯ll be the main dps, right? How do you suppose we deal with a collective of almost 5,000 Health quickly?¡± Cygnus asked while clutching the small cross in her grasp. As the party member with the weakest physical defense, one hit, and she was dead.

    ¡°Calm down and let me focus,¡± Kieran said suddenly. ¡®These monsters are agility-based. Even if I dodge, they¡¯ll catch up sooner orter. So, it¡¯s only right that I level the ying field.

    ¡´System: You have used 5 Unassigned Attribute Points. [Strength: 30 ¡ú 35]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have used 5 Unassigned Attribute Points. [Agility: 30 ¡ú 35]¡µ

    Whoosh!

    Kieran stormed forward towards the closest Shadow Wolf while using his free hand to send a signal toward Altair. It seemed like an innocuous action, but Altair understood what it meant since it was a signaling system typically employed by elite military divisions.

    Altair took the Shadow Wolf on the rightmost side while Kieran ced himself squarely between the middle and leftmost wolf. This caused Kieran to grab ahold of both their aggro simultaneously. Their powerful limbs struck the ground, and they pounced toward Kieran with a gale of wind, who suddenly retreated by jumping back and mming his weapon against the ground for an extra boost.

    ¡®Tch¡­ I could have gotten higher if I had more Strength, but this will have to work,¡¯ Kaiden said while momentarily resting his back against the tree. This dungeon was filled with an abundance of strong monsters, so he needed to battle intelligently if he were to kill all of them.

    Kieran counted in his mind and dodged after two seconds. As a result, the two wolves wed at the tree, which also presented signs of a weakened foundation. However, two strikes weren¡¯t enough to cause it to topple over.

    Nevertheless, it was enough. Kieran first hit the closest wolf with Charge, paralyzing it for one second while hitting the other one with a Savage Break. Lastly, he turned around and unleashed a Force sh upon the already severely damaged tree. This attack was the straw that broke the camel¡¯s back as a creaking noise grew into pronounced cracks.

    A secondter, the tree fell and trapped the wolves underneath.

    At the same time, a message was heard in Kieran¡¯s ear.

    ¡´System: This is a notice to alert you that your stream has begun.¡µ

 Chapter 15 An Attention Magnet

    ¡ª-

    The message appeared right on time, just as Kieran had nned it.

    The three-minute dy of his stream activation wasn¡¯t an arbitrary action but an arranged one. ording to his estimations, it should¡¯ve taken no more than three minutes to acquire the information on his party, enter the dungeon and then employ a tactic to lessen the hurdle ced at the beginning of the dungeon, namely the three Shadow Wolves.

    If dealt with under normal circumstances, it would require three individuals to keep each one at bay.

    However, Mages at this level could not keep most monsters far away from them, especially those that specialized in Agility. This limitation rose from their spell cast times and the way their points needed to be allocated. It didn¡¯t allow much room to focus on mobility attributes.

    Meanwhile, a single average tank wouldn¡¯t suffice to tank more than one Shadow Wolf due to the effects granted by the Rtive Difficulty System. Every monster possessed exceptionally high Attack Power that would deal substantial damage.

    Unlike the Fanged Forest that asionally spawned high-ranking monsters, choosing a dungeon¡¯s highest difficulty would ensure no Normal monster appeared! By default, this meant an individual would need to be over-leveled or over-geared not to suffer a disadvantage. Sadly, gear wasn¡¯t readily avable; therefore, being over-geared was a moot option.

    Alternatively, being over-leveled before entry wasn¡¯t a great option either since it reduced the experience rewarded by 20% for every level above the rmended level range. Thus, Kieran used the one feature that many would have overlooked before¨Dthe dungeon¡¯s environmental conditions. Those conditions could hinder progression, but if appropriately manipted, they could also be of great assistance!

    Meanwhile, Kieran nced in the corner of his right eye where the stream interface sat. It was a simple user interface consisting of an eye, which symbolized the viewers currently watching the stream, a typical textbox icon representing the chat feature, and an obscure icon resembling a coin below it to indicate the number of donations made.<sub>-.</sub>

    As of now, all of these icons read zero. However, Kieran wasn¡¯t worried about this matter. After all, the stream option wouldn¡¯t be functional without wanting to garner some attention.

    A notification appeared before every yer inside the game and anyone acquiring information regarding this game on the forum website.

    ¡´System: This is a notice alerting all yers that the streaming service, GamerHub.tv, a tform belonging to the Gamer Republic, is now live!¡µ

    Immediately after, the Gamer Republic Connect tab shed with a faint blue light. The only way to cancel the shing light was to open the tab and browse it for a moment. A decision, that while somewhat annoying, was extremely practical in terms of generating exposure.

    Initially, this tab shouldn¡¯t have gotten any attention until PvP events surfaced. But, Kieran understood how lucrative streaming was in the gaming industry. Therefore, he could only take advantage of the tform before any other famous gamers could snag the limelight.

    After all, his financial situation wasn¡¯t the greatest. If he wanted to solve the issues guing his life, then he needed to generate as much ie as possible, as soon as possible.

    At the top of the screen, the eye icon began blinking with a steady and almost negligible rise in number. Some people who opened the tab went on to view the only avable stream for the Zenith Online category. In contrast, others only browsed the tform for a second before closing it.

    Either way, Kieran understood the spotlight was his for the moment. To ensure he would attract viewerster, Kieran even added a title to the stream: [Steamrolling FoB¡¯s Very Difficult Mode.]<sub></sub>

    ¡®Good. It¡¯s all going ording to n. I managed to start the stream without exposing this tactic,¡¯ Kieran thought. This action aligned with his future ns. Afterward, he minimized the stream interface so it would obscure his vision of the wolves.

    On the other hand, Sithik and Cygnus blinked with their mouths agape. In addition to the tree trapping the two wolves in ce, they suffered 1,000 damage t, which these two found to be odd.

    ¡°What the hell? We can do things like that?¡± Sithik muttered. He even rubbed his eyes to make sure they weren¡¯t tainted and ying tricks on him. In his perspective, those Shadow Wolves were reduced to the same level as a Feral Wolf! Granted, these two didn¡¯t ount for the increased attributes of the monsters here.

    Conversely, Kieran didn¡¯t make that mistake.

    ¡´System: Do you wish to upgrade ?Charge? four times at the cost of 4 SP? [Y / N]?¡µ

    Kieran agreed, and as a result, the information regarding the Charge skill changed drastically. Like a character¡¯s level, raising a skill to its fifth level was a small watershed. Something about the skill was bound to experience significant changes.

    Despite Charge having an inherently low ranking, it was a great utility skill with even morebat rotations.

    ¡¸Charge (Lv.5)

    Skill Rank: E

    Mastery (00.00%)

    Skill Description: Channels a Warrior¡¯s force throughout their body, focusing on their leg to unleash arge burst of momentum. This skill deals 205% of the user¡¯s Attack Power and leaves the victim in a ?Stunned? state for 2.3 seconds upon contact. The next attack deals 20% increased damage.

    Consumption: 3 Mana

    Prerequisites: Warrior ss

    Cooldown: 30 seconds ¡¹

    Skills with utility effects generally possessed longer cooldowns than pure damaging skills. This difference was employed to prevent spamming. Just as important as skills were, mechanics were even more sought after. Even guilds examined the ability to handle opponents without heavily relying upon utility skills when choosing members. After all, many MMORPGs revealed bosses that were immune to stun lock in the past.

    In that type of event, awareness and positioning were paramount for sess. This was why Kieran was on the fence about leveling his skill too high. At some point, it would yield diminishing returns should he face an opponent that couldn¡¯t be stunned.

    Granted, he was thinking too far into the future. It was impossible for monsters at this level to resist stun. Not to mention, the game hadn¡¯t entered even entered Stage One Hyper-Reality yet. So, there was nothing to worry about.

    Upon realizing this fact, Kieran grinned. ¡®I should stop overthinking. I need to remember that it¡¯s only in its beginning stages. Take it one step at a time.¡¯

    Kieran brandished his greatsword straightaway and wrapped around the fallen tree with a decisive leap. During his jump, Kieran activated his Charge skill, gaining frightening momentum. An instantter, a loud echo filled the forest as his shoulder met one of the wolf¡¯s necks.

    Sadly, it didn¡¯t achieve the oue Kieran expected, making him frown and subtly rub his shoulder. Nevertheless, aparativelyrge number appeared above the wolf¡¯s head.

    -100

    ¡®Mm, their defenses are pretty high. At least double that of the Feral Wolves outside,¡¯ Kieran judged. Initially, his Charge should have dealt slightly over two hundred damage, but half of it vanished. Thus, Kieran estimated these wolves¡¯ defenses hovered somewhere in the region of 100 points.

    Simrly, Altair frowned when he noticed how minor the damage he dealt was. His primary attack, unleashed by his light daggers, only dealt -11. However, on the other hand, his skills, which dealt single hit burst damage by targeting vitals, dealt upwards of 80.

    ¡°Are you sure this is clearable, bro? These monsters are sturdy. Wait a minute¡­ what?!¡± Altair eximed in the party chat. Because he was focused on dodging the Shadow Wolf¡¯s ws that were enveloped in dark energy, he didn¡¯t notice when Kieran pinned his opponents under the tree.

    ¡°Focus. Don¡¯t worry about me over here. This is only the beginning. These wolves will be the least of our worries as we advance through the dungeon,¡± Kieran said seriously.

    Simrly, he turned towards the Mage, ¡°Help him. Don¡¯t just stand around with your mouth wide open. We need to move as a unit and conserve Mana and Stamina.¡±

    ¡°O-Okay!¡± Aspaira stammered after recovering her wits. She then pointed her staff at the Shadow Wolf and performed a small chant. A cluster of Mana coagted at the tip of her staff before turning into water. Afterward, Aspaira fired it toward the Shadow Wolf.

    This skill was known as Aqua Bullet, an essential E Rank skill with a rtively short cooldown and high fire rate. But, unsurprisingly, Aspaira¡¯s Water Bullet missed the Shadow Wolfpletely!

    ¡°Oh, what the hell,¡± Kieran groaned after watching this scene. He couldn¡¯t understand how she missed that shot. Altair¡¯s flurry of dagger strikes kept the wolf in a hit-stunned state. Although it differed from the Stunned state, which immobilized the enemypletely, hit-stun still neutralized arge part of the monster¡¯s mobility.

    In fact, Altair had to stop his assault altogether and avoid the attack. There was no friendly fire system within Zenith Online. After all, was there such a thing as friendly fire in real life?

    No. There could be casualties from friendly and enemy attacks alike in real life, so Zenith Online mimicked this principle.

    ¡°Damn! I don¡¯t need a bath,dy. I need you to dish out damage!¡± Altair eximed with a hint of frustration in his voice. Even if his basic attacks didn¡¯t inflict much damage, these wolves didn¡¯t have regeneration factors. Whatever health they depleted would remain depleted.

    On the other hand, Kieran frowned slightly. The piercing glint returned to his eyes as he looked at the wolves again. Unlike before, he could see an almost imperceptible glow enveloping the wolf¡¯s head. While others wouldn¡¯t understand what this glow represented, Kieran was very familiar with this glow.

    Thus, Kieran raised his sword with a ferocious aura and mmed it down.

    Boom!

    -636!

 Chapter 16 Dangerous Party Member

    ¡ª-

    Arge damage number appeared above the Shadow Wolf¡¯s head, once again drawing the attention of Kieran¡¯s party members. It wasrge enough to defeat the wolf altogether, which in turn granted a decent sum of experience. It was far more than any other monster had rewarded.

    Ding!

    ¡´System: Partying Effect has activated. Party Experience increased by 400%.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 400 Experience. ¡µ

    ¡´System: Medallion of Growth¡¯s effect has activated. [400 Bonus Experience has been acquired.¡µ

    A light azure glow appeared around Kieran¡¯s body while the notifications appeared. This glow was the medallion¡¯s cosmetic activation effect, which virtually reduced Kieran¡¯s leveling conditions by half. It wouldn¡¯t be long before he leveled up after killing just one beast.

    The others in the party also received 400 Experience despite Kieran ying the monster alone. The reason for this lies in the Dungeon Party Experience Distribution System and Party System incorporated effects.

    Inside Zenith Online, partying together was heavily promoted. The party bonus was incorporated to get yers to party and form solid teams of matching skill levels. Although partying up splits the experience into equal shares, the party bonus negates this split by rewarding a bonus equal to the missing parts of Experience.

    In short, a party of two leveling in a field would receive a 100% Experience boost on every kill. The same goes for dungeon experience. However, this is separate from the clearance reward, which is determined based on individual contributions.

    The party bonus didn¡¯t give more experience than the monster¡¯s actual worth. So aside from maintaining a steady leveling experience, there was nothing else to exploit. However, leveling quickly should be done cautiously.<sub>-.</sub>

    While it was unknown if this function remained true for dungeons outside of the beginner viges, it applied to the Forests of Beasts. Every member, if at simr levels, received identical Experience portions.

    ¡°W-what¡­ 600 damage? Are you serious?¡± Altair muttered with widened eyes. Even he couldn¡¯t deal that much damage when he hit a critical, and his ss hinged upon critical strikes!

    Meanwhile, Kieran paid no attention to his teammates for the time being. Instead, he led his attack on the second pinned wolf. The faint glow wasn¡¯t present like with the previous wolf. That was because its health threshold hadn¡¯t dropped low enough.

    The faint glow didn¡¯t ensure a critical hit on the next attack; it simply revealed that the monster¡¯s defenses suffered an injury, thereby lowering it from its initial value. Consequently, an attack dealt on the area where the faint red glow appeared would deal increased damage. Depending on how deep the color was, it increased the chances ofnding critical damage.

    In Kieran¡¯s case, he triggered the critical hit because Savage Break¡¯s Armor Break effect made it easier to achieve. But, Kieran wasn¡¯t one to revel in such a small feat. He unleashed a Force sh directly at Shadow Wolf¡¯s glowering face.

    Bang!

    -61

    The damage was underwhelming, but Kieran expected as much. He quickly followed up with an Upward sh that damaged the wolf¡¯s eye. Thus, an unusual damage number for a basic skill appeared above the wolf¡¯s head.

    -122

    The wolf¡¯s health was reduced to below 30%. Meanwhile, Aspaira finally managed tond a hit on the Shadow Wolf Altair battled against.<sub></sub>

    -177 (Aqua Bullet)

    Surprisingly, her damage was almost unaffected by the wolf¡¯s defenses. After all, Physical and Magical Defense were two different concepts, with thetter having yet to be included in the game.

    Physical Defense, in simple terms, can be seen as an individual¡¯s resistance to physical attacks. Conversely, Magical Defense quantified an individual¡¯s resistance to magical attacks. This was one of the reasons why Kieran didn¡¯t ept additional physical sses. They needed to diversify the group¡¯s damage spectrum.

    Although physical skills required Mana, that wasn¡¯t truly the case. Physical yers couldn¡¯t emit Mana to empower an attack at their current level. Instead, the instant the skills were activated, the system converted Mana into an attack source that suited the ss.

    In a Warrior¡¯s case, that Mana turned into force. It didn¡¯t possess magical properties because this force was loosely known as physical might.

    Therefore, Altair¡¯s eyes glistened with excitement, whereas Aspaira beamed happily.

    ¡°Sheesh, you need tond your attacks more often! We¡¯ll be able to deal with it in no time,¡± Altairmented.

    ¡°I¡¯ll try. It¡¯s not easy to hit these monsters, y¡¯know? So don¡¯t get your hopes up high,¡± Aspaira responded.

    Meanwhile, Kieran continued to unleash attacks as fast as he could. Although his attack speed at the moment was inferior while using a heavy weapon, he managed to execute two attacks within a 1.5-second window.

    Finally, he jumped atop the fallen tree and aimed his sword down before executing Thrust. His greatsword pierced straight through the wolf¡¯s skull, rewarding another sumptuous boon of experience. The azure light appeared, but it was ovepped by a golden luster surrounding Kieran¡¯s body this time.

    ¡´System: You have received 800 Experience. ¡µ

    ¡´System: You have leveled up! [Lv.6 ¡ú Lv.7]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 5 Unassigned Attribute Points and 2 Skill Points.¡µ

    The moment he finished up his pinned Shadow Wolf, Kieran swept the floor. As a result, he collected a good amount of Copper Coins, some wolf fangs, and seemingly refined wolf pelts.

    After storing the loot, Kieran dashed over while ncing at his skill menu. ¡®All of them are on cooldown for the most part, but Charge is about to be back up.¡¯

    ¡°Yo, let¡¯s hurry up and finish them off,¡± Kieran called out.

    ¡°I¡¯m right here with you,¡± Altair responded.

    ¡°Please do!¡± Aspaira eximed.

    On the other hand, Cygnus and Sithik remained alert towards the back of the party. Their hands continued to grasp their crosses while monitoring the party interface for any signs of damage being taken. They were surprised when Altair continued to dodge the Shadow Wolf¡¯s attacks by the skin of his teeth.

    However, it was unknown if that¡¯d remain true. The Shadow Wolf suddenly retreated far back into the pathway before holding its head to the sky. Tiny purple motes appeared in the sky above its mouth, collecting into a condensed sphere.

    This attack was one of the reasons Kieran pinned the two Shadow Wolves at the begging of the fight. Sadly, he knew all too well that the tree couldn¡¯t catch all three wolves. The oue had been tested many times in the past. The third wolf would always be just far enough that it possessed sufficient room to evade the falling tree.

    Meanwhile, if Kieran stunned that wolf, he would be caught under the tree and suffer an instadeath.

    ¡®Tch, such a shame that we haven¡¯t reached the Animation Cancel just yet. I really need the hyper-reality to set in,¡¯ Kieran thought. Once that appeared, people could manipte their skills with greater freedom. But, that maniption came at a cost.

    Regardless of his current condition, Kieran could only look to Altair. ¡°Don¡¯t let that wolf release its skill. Follow me!¡±

    Kieran changed from running towards his member to heading in the wolf¡¯s direction. The sphere formed rapidly, but Kieran activated Charge once he arrived within three meters of it.

    The attack in question was known as Darkness Howl. It released a ring of dark energy that could disorient the party since it doubled as a sound-based attack.

    Altair could hear the severity in Kieran¡¯s tone, so he activated one of the Thief¡¯s basic skills, Swift Steps, increasing his movement speed by 30%. This sizable increase matched Kieran¡¯s Charge, allowing both of them to arrive before the Shadow Wolf.

    Kieran¡¯s shoulder made contact, disrupting the skill. At the same time, Altair circled around the wolf¡¯s back and used a skill known as Deep Puncture. Coupled with the twenty percent damage increase, Altair¡¯s Deep Puncture dealt considerable damage.

    -100

    -345! (Deep Puncture)

    Afterward, Kieran followed up with Force sh as it came off cooldown, dealing slightly over 70 damage. Suddenly, both Kieran and Altair¡¯s eyes widened as both of them ducked.

    Whoosh!

    A fireball passed above their heads, hitting the Shadow Wolf squarely in the face. But, both of them couldn¡¯t help but give Aspaira helpless gazes.

    -192 (Fireball)

    ¡°What the shit?! Woman, are you trying to bald us? We are too young to be experiencing male pattern baldness!¡± Kieran eximed.

    ¡°Your aim is more horrendous than me in the morning,¡± Altair scoffed.

    As a result, the two Priests in the back covered their mouths, struggling to keep in theirughter. Aspaira turned beet-red as she felt slightly embarrassed by their quips. She stomped her foot and shouted back.

    ¡°Hey! At least give me some credit because this is hard! It¡¯s not like we¡¯re gaming on some ancient console with a controller! Besides, this is the hardest mode possible and an Elite monster! I¡¯ve never tried it before¨Dwhat more do you want from me?!¡±

    The duo just groaned. They then attacked in unison, delivering a relentless flurry of attacks. Within a few seconds, with the help of Aspaira¡¯s potentially lethal spells, the third wolf was defeated.

    ¡´System: You have received 750 Experience. ¡µ

 Chapter 17 Wolf Hunter I

    ¡ª-

    Everyone in the party, save for Aspaira and Kieran, leveled up after the third Shadow Wolf was killed. Their eyes sparkled with excitement for a moment because this mode was indeed a treasure trove of Experience. However, Altair and the others looked at Kieran skeptically a short whileter.

    ¡°You weren¡¯t even that close to leveling up! How did you reach Lv.7 before I did when I was already two-fifths full?¡± Altair asked. Until now, his leveling progress was always ahead of Kieran¡¯s since it showed within their friend¡¯s list. Yet, aftering to this dungeon, Kieran¡¯s progress eclipsed his own!

    Furthermore, everyone¡¯s experience showed underneath their Health and Mana bars inside the party icon.

    ¡°That¡­ is a secret. I can¡¯t disclose everything about myself, now can I?¡± Kieran chuckled sheepishly. Of course, the party remained curious. But since Kieran seemed tight-lipped about the situation, they couldn¡¯t press the matter. Instead, theypiled the dropped items.

    The three Shadow Wolves didn¡¯t drop any equipment, but they did drop a generous amount of coins and materials. But, loot distribution wasn¡¯t at the forefront of Kieran¡¯s worries which he made very clear.

    ¡°Aside from any useful equipment that drops, we¡¯ll save loot distribution for the end of the dungeon. Do you all trust me to do so?¡± Kieran asked while looking around. There was no rtionship between any of the members, so Kieran wanted to make sure he had their consent.

    ¡°Errr¡­¡± Cygnus tapped her fingers together with a troubled expression.

    Simrly, Sithik revealed a wry smile.

    They had both yed enough games to understand that they shouldn¡¯t give away their trust easily. Who¡¯s to say this guy wouldn¡¯t run off with their loot after all was said and done.

    Thankfully, Aspairamented as well. ¡°Well, how about we just distribute what we collected so far to establish a basic trust between the party?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t wanna hear anything from the woman who tried to bald me!¡± Altair eximed.

    ¡°I second that. Do you not know that is something we pride ourselves on now? I despise the day that I grow old enough to experience that dreaded receding hairline. Yikes,¡± Kieran added.

    Although both of them joked around to lighten the atmosphere, Kieran ultimately agreed with Aspaira¡¯s suggestion because it was a simple matter. He tossed the items into the party interface, which instantly divvied up the loot into equal shares. Everyone received at least 10 Copper Coins and either a fang or pelt material.

    On the other hand, Kieran kept a silent recollection of the interaction with this party. As of now, he couldn¡¯t see himself dungeon diving with anyone besides Altair. While they didn¡¯t seem like bad people, judging by Aspaira¡¯s aim and alertness, it was difficult to rely upon their skill.<sub>-.</sub>

    At the same time, Kieran pulled up his character menu to assess what needed to change.

    ¡¸Name: Aatrox

    Lv.7 (Experience: 1,100/2,000)

    ss: Warrior

    Title(s): None

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    [?Stats?]-

    Health: 190/190 (0.2 HP regen/sec)

    Mana: 130/130 (0.15 MP regen/sec)

    Stamina: 109 (0.1 Stamina regen/sec)

    Attack Power: 83

    Defense: 55

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    [?Attributes?]-<sub></sub>

    ?Strength: 35 (23 + 12 + 0)

    ?Intelligence: 20 (20 + 0 + 0)

    ?Agility: 35 (32 + 3 + 0)

    ?Endurance: 18 (8 + 10 + 0)

    ?Control: 30 (30 + 0 + 0)

    ?Vitality: 18 (8 +10 + 0)

    ?Perception: 50 (50 + 0 + 0)

    [Unassigned Stat Point: 5]

    [Skill Points: 4]      ¡¹

    ¡®In this dungeon, Attack Power and Health will be most important for me. I¡¯ll have to disrupt the golden ratio for the time being and correct itter on,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Afterward, he distributed his Unassigned Stat Points.

    ¡´System: You have used 3 Unassigned Attribute Points. [Strength: 35 ¡ú 38]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have used 2 Unassigned Attribute Points. [Vitality: 18 ¡ú 20]¡µ

    ¡´Attack Power: 83 ¡ú 89 ¡µ

    ¡´Health: 190 ¡ú 200¡µ

    ¡°Altair, I need you to assign four points in Strength and one in Agility,¡± Kieran requested.

    ¡°Consider it done,¡± Altair nodded. In truth, his current distribution ratio rotated often. On some levels, he favored Agility; on others, he favored Strength. The only difference is that he didn¡¯t add the single customary point to Control.

    After a moment, Kieran turned towards the party and disyed an unusually serious expression. ¡°From here on out, it will be challenging. Those three wolves are just a prelude, but if we¡¯re to clear this dungeon, we need to acquire as much experience and equipment as possible. If possible, I need you to truly watch where you aim your attacks, Aspaira.¡±

    ¡°I understand,¡± Aspaira nodded earnestly.

    ¡°One mistake, no matter how harmless it may seem, could cost us the run. If someone clears this before us, we¡¯ll lose out on the special benefits of a First Clear. I¡¯d like to avoid that possibility¡­ so follow my instructions as closely as possible,¡± Kieran said, stressing the end of his directions.

    He then turned toward Altair and exined what came next. ¡°There will be many diverging paths that branch off from this singr pathway. I need you to trigger all of them with me aside from the center. We¡¯ll need at least 35 Agility to aplish this.¡±

    ¡°How are you so certain?¡± Altair questioned. It seemed like Kieran was too knowledgeable about the minimum required stats from his perspective.

    ¡°Well, Perception is my strongest stat. So, I¡¯m aware of the micro-adjustments you made against the monsters. The fact you emerged unscathed against the Shadow Wolf means your Agility is more than enough,¡± Kieran answered.

    Altair raised his brows but nodded nheless.

    ¡°What shall we do?¡± Cygnus and Sithik asked at the same time.

    ¡°You guys wait until your crucial roles appear. Aspaira, we¡¯ll need to rely upon your me Wave skill for this section, so begin its chant a few seconds after we rush into our second paths,¡± Kieran ordered.

    ¡°Okay. Second paths; got it!¡± Aspaira said,mitting the instructions to memory by repeating them continuously.

    Meanwhile, Kieran unequipped his sword so it wouldn¡¯t impact his running speed. After doing so, Kieran exined that the surrounding towering tree stumps can be used as cover from their uing enemies. Once done, he rushed into the leftmost path, with Altair taking the rightmost one.

    The path quickly grew murky as a dark atmosphere descended. Kieran was all too familiar with the lengths of these diverging pathways, so he preemptively reinforced his Perception. One of the unavoidable effects of the atmosphere was progressively dulled senses.

    Even Kieran¡¯s heightened awareness suffered from it despite being strengthened by Agatha.

    ¡®These limits¡­ just atrocious,¡¯ Kieran thought. He could only wonder how Altair fared in this situation. Fortunately, Altair was both fast and held the Enhanced Senses passive from being the first to receive the Thief ss in Gena vige.

    While running, Kieran snatched two handfuls of pebbles off the ground. He could hear the low rumbling of growls echoing in the chest of wolves nearby. Once it grew loud enough, he stopped and threw all the pebbles with as much force as he could muster.

    Ao! Ao!! Ao!!!

    A string of deafening howls reverberated down the pathway as Kieran sprinted away without looking back. He needed to keep as much space between him and the wolves as remotely possible.

    Since the pebbles left his hands, they would be treated as attacks executed by Kieran and attract the aggro of the wolves.

    Within seconds, Kieran emerged from the leftmost path and dodged into the adjacent trail without pausing. At the same time, he sent a message in the party chat.

    ¡´Party Leader Aatrox: I suggest you hide now and stay out of sight. Quite a few of ¡¯em ofing this way.¡µ

    Simultaneously, Altair appeared from within his first path with phantom-like movements. He activated Swift Steps, which increased his linear speed far beyond the wolves. But, he didn¡¯t leave them so far behind that it canceled their aggro.

    The only reason Altair emerged at the same time as Kieran was the difference in their familiarity with the dungeon¡¯syout. Altair had to run deeper than Kieran to attract the same aggro, which was a testament to his speed.

    When both Kieran and Altair entered, a wave of enraged Shadow Wolves emerged from the murky trails and looked around. When they saw nothing, visible confusion appeared across their face. They released angry snarls but soon turned after sensing movement from the paths behind them.

    Grrrrr!

    Approximately five secondster, Aspaira appeared over 15 meters away, which remained outside the detection range of these monsters. She lifted her staff before her and began chanting the only E Rank Skill in her possession¨Dme Wave. It had a cast time of 3.5 seconds and required that the caster remain uninterrupted or the channeling would stop.

    She started the chant now because she could faintly discern movementing from Altair¡¯s path. Less than a secondter, she also saw Kieran¡¯s dull gray armor rushing from within his path as well.

    ¡´Party Leader Aatrox: Is it almost prepared? I hope so because there are a lot.¡µ

    ¡´Sithik: Exactly how many is a lot?¡µ

    ¡´Party Leader Aatrox: Dunno, maybe upwards of 22. Just be ready!¡µ

    Following that message, Altair was the first to appear. Just as he did so, the 10-second duration of his skill Swift Steps ended.

    ¡°Floor! Aim your attack at the floor in front of the wolves!¡± Kieran roared.

    At the same time, he jumped right before activating Charge, using the boost in mobility to bypass the collection of wolves inside the leafy clearing.

    Aspaira obliged, aiming the me Wave at the floor.

    Whoosh! Ssszzt!

    Kieran narrowly avoided the ze below, feeling the heat right under his cheek. However, he didn¡¯t even take the time to properly recover before spinning around and equipping his greatsword with a tight grip.

    ¡´System: Do you wish to upgrade ?Force sh? twice at the cost of 4 SP? [Y / N]?¡µ

    Kieran¡¯s arm tensed up greatly, causing the muscles to swell. A Lv.4 Force sh, while not a Lv.5 one, was more than enough to generate the effect he sought¨Dan inferior replication of the strike Scar unleashed during the examination.

    ¡°Eat this!¡± Kieran bellowed.

    Whoosh!

    Despite the wolves backing away from the mes, Kieran¡¯s attack kicked up arge gust of wind that further spread the raging mes, engulfing the extensive collection of wolves.

    Equally important, Kieran¡¯s stream began generating a growing buzz within themunity following this use of a Mage and Warriorbination skill.

 Chapter 18 Wolf Hunter II

    ¡ª-

    Kieran held his sword while staring into the raging ze before them. Thisbination attack wasn¡¯t enough to kill all these wolves, which was fine. However, the special effects of this skill would inflict the status known as Burn.

    Usually, this status could only be inflicted by skills that mentioned the term in its skill description. However, this was another story for Mages, who directly interacted with Mana to create an element.

    As long as the conditions were perfect, a Mage¡¯s attack could benefit greatly from its surroundings. For example, the leafy area was perfect for causing a raging inferno. Coupled with the gust of wind created by Kieran¡¯s powerful Force sh, the wolves were submerged in a sea of mes.

    Every second they remained inside the inferno, not only did they receive upwards of 65 damage, they rued a stack of Burn. At first, it would only deal 0.5% of the monster¡¯s Health, but each stack added the same amount of damage with a maximum stack of 10.

    In the best scenario, this attack could deal up to 65 damage + 2.5% of the Shadow Wolves¡¯ Health every second. However, what monster would stay within that fiery zone of death? Angered snarls resounded, followed by movement within the mes.

    At that moment, Kieran turned towards Altair, ¡°Keep them inside the mes by any means necessary!¡±

    Whoosh!

    The first Shadow Wolf appeared from within the mes, but Kieran mmed his sword into the ground, using it to support his jump without interfering with the weight of his attack. Kieran channeled all his strength into his legs and dropkicked the Shadow Wolf back into the mes.

    Afterward, hended and immediately executed a Savage Break right before his body. Another Shadow Wolf appeared from within the mes, but it was met by Kieran¡¯s attack before it could even escape.

    Its lowered defense allowed Kieran to unleash a flurry of attacks.<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°Use the ssh effect of Fireball,¡± Kieran instructed, waking Aspaira up from her momentary daze. She didn¡¯t know that skills could be applied this way. How was that possible? But, as Kieran said before, treating Zenith Online like a simple VRMMORPG game would be one¡¯s downfall.

    One needed an open mind to flourish in this setting where even NPCs could emerge as enemies.

    Aspaira obliged and listened to Kieran¡¯s order, aiming a Fireball just behind the ze of mes. The ssh damage elerated how fast the Burn stacks appeared as itnded. The two wolves Kieran and Altair focused on died within five seconds, rewarding a generous amount of Experience.

    Everyone¡¯s experience bar received a sizeable jump, whereas Kieran leveled up and seemed reinvigorated. Aside from Stamina, Health and Mana were replenishedpletely upon every level up. On the other hand, Stamina only recovered by 25% at max. Otherwise, this system would support a virtually endless grinding session.

    Sadly, such a matter could cause unforeseen deaths, as recorded by prior trials. So, the creators of these games reduced it to a fourth of its original value to force breaks. Furthermore, if one¡¯s Stamina bottomed outpletely, their character would be put in a kind of stasis setting that didn¡¯t allowbat until their Stamina wholly recovered.

    ¡´System: You have received 750 Experience. ¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 750 Experience. ¡µ

    ¡´System: You have leveled up! [Lv.7 ¡ú Lv.8]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 5 Unassigned Attribute Points and 2 Skill Points.¡µ

    Again, Kieran ced the same amount of Unassigned Attribute Points in Strength and Vitality, increasing both his Attack Power and Health.<sub></sub>

    A few secondster, Kieran executed another Force sh. Simultaneously, the ze died down, revealing several wolves with singed pelts that held flickering embers of mes. These embers were the cosmetic effect of the Burn Status afflicting them.

    Ao¡­

    The burned pelts stiffened the wolves¡¯ movements and decreased their defenses, making them easy pickings for the quick Altair and heavy-handed Kieran. A continuous stream of Experience flooded the party¡¯s notification window. Within two minutes, everyone within the party leveled up while Kieran neared Lv.9.

    Thud! Thud! Thud!

    Bodies continued to hit the ground as golden radiance recurred in an almost uniform interval. By the time thest wolf was dealt with, Kieran had leveled up three more times, reaching Lv.12 while the rest of the party reached Lv.10 with at least half of their experience bar full.

    While it appeared Kieran was receiving Experience twice as fast as the rest of his party, that was incorrect. Every time he leveled up, he received a smaller amount of Experience than his party. But, because their enemies were Elite Monsters, it still rewarded far more Experience than Normal Monsters. Not to mention the level difference.

    ¡°Whoa, whoa whoa! Something is not right! How are you Lv.12 already? What in the hell?¡± Altair was stupified. The gap in their levels was widening far too quickly.

    ¡°I mean, we just defeated like 25 of those things. We¡¯re bound to level. Besides, you shouldn¡¯t want to level up as quickly as possible. Cherish your low level as much as possible,¡± Kieran answered.

    Afterward, he turned towards the floor full of loot. He could see some equipment hidden within the collection of coins and materials at a nce.

    ¡°I call dibs for anything pertaining to a Warrior,¡± Kieran said.

    ¡°I have no issues with that,¡± Sithik replied.

    ¡°Me either,¡± Cygnus shook her head.

    Sifting through the items, the coins totaled upwards of 2 Silver. At the same time, he came across several pieces of equipment that were extremely useful. The equipment rewarded by the unique package only had an item level of 5. However, the equipment before Kieran all had item levels of 10, and they were umon equipment!

    At this level, all items of the umon rarity or below were identified by the name. Umon equipment was known as Novice equipment.

    ¡°Lv.10 Cloth Top. That goes to Aspaira. Lv.10 Leather Gloves and Shoes, that¡¯s Altair. Oh?¡± Kieran¡¯s eyes glistened as he picked up a greatsword with a sharp edge than his current. Additionally, it was much heavier, which indicated increased attack power.

    Kieran equipped the weapon without hesitation while reading through its information.

    ¡¸ Novice Greatsword (Umon)

    Item Level: 10

    Attack Power: 30

    Effect: This item increases attack damage by 4%.

    Durability: 40/40

    Weight: 23 kg

    Description: A sword made from decent material to assist new adventurers. ¡¹

    After divvying up the equipment, the party¡¯s capabilities rose exponentially. Kieran¡¯s Attack Power alone rose past 120. However, Kieran frowned when he looked at his Experience. Now that he was Lv.12, it required more than 5,000 Experience to level up.

    ¡®I suppose the medallion is both a gift and a curse,¡¯ Kieran thought. Although it increased his Experience acquisition rate significantly, he approached the level of the monsters too quickly. It was almost nonsensical. Even the parties that managed to clear the Difficult Mode wouldn¡¯t be anywhere near his current level. Sadly, it dawned upon Kieran that if he leveled too quickly, it¡¯d be painting a target on his back.

    After all, the Leaderboards would soon appear once yers left the confines of the Beginner Zones. Of course, the level leaderboard was only one section of the all-inclusive record. But, in its infantile stages, many individuals and organizations would pay attention to that particr section.

    In their eyes, it was a good demarcation of talent.

    Thus, Kieran looked toward Altair while considering something.

    Once the looting event was done, Kieran and his partner advanced down the center path. Compared to the other four that were all dead ends, this one was exponentially longer. Since they were still in recovery mode, Kieran only walked with his party to allow their Stamina to maintain a stable rate of recuperation.

    So, a distance that could be covered in approximately 20 minutes while running turned into a 90-minute walk.

    During this time, Kieran conserved both his Attribute and Skill Points as he tried to remember the shift in this particr dungeon while checking his stream. Surprisingly, the viewer count had ballooned to almost 20,000! What¡¯s more, thement section was filled with people conversing about the inferno taking ce and the Warrior and Thief¡¯s mechanics.

    Some people even recognized this party as the one that wanted to attempt the Forest of Beasts without a tank. However, after seeing their current progress and how many levels this dungeon rewarded, some of the people who ignored the party notification felt some regret. That could be them receiving an abundance of Experience.

    What¡¯s more, Kieran also noticed some unusual and quirkymentsced within those who called him a hacker or something.

    [Stream Chat <Ballbuster69>: Yo devs, how do you allow someone to exploit your game like this? Where did this huge firee from?! Either ban or suspend this ount!]

    [Stream Chat <Reasonablefool>: Nah, Nah. I think ya got it all wrong. He¡¯s a smurf or something because I¡¯ve never heard of a goddamn Aatrox. What even is that? Like. HELLO?!]

    [Stream Chat <AllisCRINGE2>: What the hell? I hope you get sent back to the lobby soon. Ahahahaha!]

    Kieran could only chuckle softly at the conversations andments made, mainly because most of thesements originated from several donations in the notification bar. A fewrger gifts stood out because they seem rted to organizations seeking information.

    Of course, Kieran couldn¡¯t address that right now. His expression became solemn as his eyes narrowed. They approached the sector that divided this dungeon into two parts. Beyond this area, the monster would undergo a change.

    Arge wolf with ck fur stood in their path. Unlike the Shadow Wolves, this particr enemy seemed to have some intelligence along with unusual silver ents on every hair. Its pitch-ck eyes locked on the party while its information was disyed for all to see.

    ¡¸Lv.12 Hrulhar, the Vanisher (Special Elite)

    Beast Type, Dark

    Health: 4,000/4,000 (100%)

    Special Traits: ?Vanish? ?Tri-Attack? ¡¹

    ¡°Just our luck¡­ it had to be Hrulhar,¡± Kieran smiled wryly.

 Chapter 19 Hrulhar I

    ¡ª-

    The party¡¯s hearts dropped to their stomach when they realized the information linked to the enemy before their eyes. Even though there was only one enemy, they felt greater pressure than all of the Shadow Wolves faced before this run-in. In fact, Cygnus even started to whimper.

    ¡°J-just what is this? I thought we were doing very well¡­ but how are we expected to deal with four thousand health? And what¡¯s a Special Elite?!¡±

    Compared to an Elite, a Special Elite eclipsed theirbat ability many times over, especially one given a name and moniker. While not every Special Elite possessed a special ability, the likelihood of one with a name having such an ability was one hundred percent.

    In Hrulhar¡¯s case, his Agility was iparable to the earlier Shadow Wolves. The only saving grace for this team was the unchanged defense value equal to a Shadow Wolf. Still, it was akin toparing a Thief to the Warrior ss. While both sses were highly physical, the Warrior excelled in defense while the Thief excelled in speed.

    However, Kieran couldn¡¯t help but frown because of their current situation. Hrulhar was only one of the three possible Special Elites to appear in this dungeon. Any of the three would cause trouble for any party. But truth be told, Hrulhar, in particr, was the bane of all magical sses and even some physical sses at this time.

    This was the one monster where a tank was crucial to obtaining victory.

    ¡®Its attacks aren¡¯t the issue here,¡¯ Kieran thought before sighing heavily. He then looked at the 20 Attribute Points in his possession before looking at his Defense and Agility. The requirements for tanking Hrulhar were astronomical regarding the current capabilities of yers.

    Even a Knight who dumped all of their points in Vitality and Endurance would be foolish to tank Hrulhar¡¯s attacks head-on.

    Hrulhar¡¯s ws were treated as an independent attack because of the second special trait in its possession, Tri-Attack.

    ¡°Stay back for a moment,¡± Kieran warned.

    Although Hrulhar¡¯s eyes radiated with killing intent, it hadn¡¯t made a move because the team had yet to cross within 20 meters of the beast. The moment they did, they would be inviting tragedy into the party.

    ¡°Aspaira, do not, and I mean DO NOT, move more than 3 meters away from either I or Altair. If you do, you¡¯re dead,¡± Kieran said while keeping his gaze frozen on Hrulhar. Three meters was the limit both Kieran could cover with Charge and the distance Altair could transverse instantly with Swift Steps activated.

    If she were outside that range, they wouldn¡¯t be able to react to Hrulhar¡¯s tempestuous onught.

    ¡°W-why are we being so serious right now? Can¡¯t we just defeat it?¡± Aspaira stammered. Kieran¡¯s expression was even more severe than earlier despite the number of times the party had leveled up and their increase in equipment.

    ¡°Special Elites are not to be taken lightly. They¡¯re stronger than both Elites and Rare Elites. Much stronger,¡± Kieran answered. Rare Elites were only marginally stronger than Elites in terms of ranking but rarely appeared, as inferred by their name. As a result, they rewarded better loot and higher amounts of experience.<sub>-.</sub>

    Special Elites, on the other hand, were a different monster altogether. Their special traits and increased attributes with a focused specialty made them at least three times more lethal than a regr Elite.

    ¡°Did you add your attribute points already?¡± Kieran questioned.

    ¡°Not the one from ourst two levels,¡± Altair answered.

    Immediately after, Kieran instructed Altair to raise his Agility to 52 while adding the rest of his points to Strength. This closed the divide in Agility. Because from what Kieran remembered, Hrulhar¡¯s Agility was at least 60. A yer needed at least half of that number to even react to its attacks, let alonend a melee hit on its body.

    Otherwise, they¡¯d be touching an afterimage hence, the Vanish trait.

    Meanwhile, Kieran made some preparations as well. He applied his stats differently. Only one-fifth of those points were put into Strength out of the twenty points. The rest were applied to stats crucial to the uing battle.

    ¡´System: You have used 4 Unassigned Attribute Points. [Strength: 41 ¡ú 45]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have used 5 Unassigned Attribute Points. [Agility: 35 ¡ú 40]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have used 5 Unassigned Attribute Points. [Endurance: 18 ¡ú 23]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have used 6 Unassigned Attribute Points. [Vitality: 22 ¡ú 28]¡µ

    ¡¸Name: Aatrox

    Lv.12 (Experience: 600/5,500)

    ss: Warrior

    Title(s): None

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-<sub></sub>

    [?Stats?]-

    Health: 240/240 (0.2 HP regen/sec)

    Mana: 130/130 (0.15 MP regen/sec)

    Stamina: 111 (0.1 Stamina regen/sec)

    Attack Power: 122

    Defense: 61

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    [?Attributes?]-

    ?Strength: 45 (33 + 12 + 0)

    ?Intelligence: 20 (20 + 0 + 0)

    ?Agility: 40 (37 + 3 + 0)

    ?Endurance: 23 (13 + 10 + 0)

    ?Control: 30 (30 + 0 + 0)

    ?Vitality: 28 (18 +10 + 0)

    ?Perception: 50 (50 + 0 + 0)

    [Unassigned Stat Point: 0]

    [Skill Points: 10]      ¡¹

    Many of Kieran¡¯s Attributes increased to an eptable level while he took a step forward. Kieran couldn¡¯t make another move before Hrulhar¡¯s body turned into a ck blur. A secondter, three noises were heard as Kieran stumbled backward a few steps.

    Ding! Ding! Ding!

    -24 -24 -24 (Aatrox¡¯s Health: 168/240)

    ¡°Heal!¡± Kieran roared. He had lost nearly a third of his health with a single attack. While he could see all of Hrulhar¡¯s movements, he couldn¡¯t respond fast enough due to the disparity in his Control, movement speed, and Hrulhar¡¯s movement speed.

    To make matters worse, Sithik and Cygnus were slow to respond. A few secondster, a light-green glow epassed Kieran¡¯s body, restoring a portion of the health he had lost. But, in that time, Hrulhar unleashed two more attacks, utterly eviscerating his health bar.

    The light-green glow surrounding Kieran was a basic Priest Skill known as Healing Light. It only had a cooldown of 3 seconds, so it was a must-have for Priests to be regarded as vital.

    +44

    +40

    Kieran¡¯s health returned to above 50% while he immediately activated Warrior¡¯s Aura. Since they were out of battle prior to this sh, Kieran kept this skill deactivated to conserve his already limited Mana Pool.

    Suddenly, Hrulhar reappeared before Kieran again with its soundless movement. A gust of wind apanied its arrival as Kieran focused intently on his enemy. The activation of this practice essentially Kieran¡¯s mana exhaustion, but it was a technique he couldn¡¯t do without.

    While the Enhanced Gaze was an impetus to a depleted Mana Pool, Kieran couldst at least two minutes before he needed to consume one of his potions.

    Ding! Ding! Ding!

    -24 -24 -24 (Aatrox: 36/240)

    Kieran stabilized himself right after receiving another one of Hrulhar¡¯s attacks, sessfully absorbing the damage without being forced back. While tanking the attack, Kieran moved forward abruptly, mming his body into the beast. Naturally, this was the Charge skill.

    -205

    But, unlike the expected 2.3-second stun duration usually produced by this skill, the stun could barely keep Hrulhar still for 2 seconds. Fortunately, Kieran only needed these two seconds to enact his next move.

    A savage aura epassed his Novice Greatsword as he mmed it down on Hrulhar¡¯s head. However, this Savage Break was much different from before. It possessed a heightened violent sensation. Of course, this was because Kieran upgraded the skill by using 8 SP before unleashing the attack. Its qualitative upgrade was one of the matters Kieran was banking on.

    ¡¸Savage Break (Lv.5)

    Skill Rank: D Rank Active

    Mastery (00.00%)

    Skill Description: Unleashes a decisive blow of destruction that deals 300% of the user¡¯s Attack Power and can trigger the Armor Break effect, lowering the enemy¡¯s defense by 25% for 5 seconds.

    Consumption: 3 Mana Points

    Prerequisites: Warrior ss, ?Warrior¡¯s Aura?

    Cooldown: 30 seconds  ¡¹

    While the damage only increase by 20% overall, this wasn¡¯t Savage Break¡¯s most remarkable effect. The most valuable trait about it was the Armor Break effect. Compared to before, itsted 5 seconds instead of 3 and lowered the target¡¯s defense by 25% instead of 15%.

    Against an enemy like Hrulhal, who didn¡¯t specialize in defense, this greatly widened the damage window. Coupled with the fact that Charge¡¯s aftereffect increased the next attack by 20%, Kieran was pleased with the damage he dealt in one hit without invoking a critical.

    -461

    Over one-tenth of Hrulhar¡¯s damage vanished instantly. But Kieran wasn¡¯t done. He also unleashed a Lv.5 Force sh. Kieran exhausted all remaining Skill Points in his possession to raise his skills to these levels. But, the trade-off was worth it. At the same time, two more Healing Lights fell on Kieran, followed by a deeper green Aura.

    His health immediately jumped back up to over 90%

    -334

    At the same time, Altair followed up by using Deep Puncture and Vital Stab unleashing a burst of damage that almost equaled Kieran¡¯s output.

    -301 -378

    After all, he too leveled up his burst skills to Lv.5, which resulted in a drastic increase in damage-dealing capabilities. At the same time, Kieran and Altair interspersed their assault with basic attacks and basic skills.

    Sadly, a hostile gleam filled Hrulhar¡¯s eyes a secondter. It retreated and vanished like a shadow, but Kieran¡¯s eye constricted to the signs of pins as shadowy arcs of dark energy assaulted his position.

    ¡°Dodge those!¡± Kieran roared.

    Whereas Altair sessfully dodged the arcs aimed at his position with his Agility surpassing 50, Kieran wasn¡¯t as fortunate. He only avoided a handful of arcs before being forced to parry while also receiving some direct damage.

    -25 -25

    -50

    ¨C25 -25

    -50 ¨C 25

    By the time he received thest arc, Kieran had less than 5 Health remaining.

    ¡°Heal, dammit! What are you waiting for?¡± Kieran yelled in the party chat. His health had grown dangerously low after receiving the attack from Hrulhar. As a result, Sithik and Cygnus began spamming healing chants.

    But Kieran felt like pulling his hair out when they did this. Priests only possessed four healing spells¡ªHealing Light, Mending Aura, Restorative Mist, and Regeneration Burst.

    The issue with what Sithik and Cygnus did, is that they panicked and overhealed Kieran by emptying their arsenal thoughtlessly. Each of the skills named possessed progressively longer cooldowns.

    Even though Kieran and Altair depleted essentially half of Hrulhar¡¯s Health, this could only be done twice per minute. But, asking a party tost 30 seconds against Hrulhar¡¯s with insufficient healing was a tremendously tall task.

    Thus, the team wasunched into a precarious position with all those healing skills on cooldown. One where it seemed like not using health consumables eluded Kieran further and further.

    ¡°Bruh..!¡± Kieran groaned in frustration.

 Chapter 20 Hrulhar II

    ¡ª-

    Hrulhar¡¯s damage output and insane speed alone were enough tobel it a lethal opponent at this point in Zenith Online. But, it wasn¡¯t an insurmountable one. As long as the party fighting against this beast managed their Health correctly, all deaths could be avoided. Sadly, Kieran didn¡¯t have the same luxury that others did. His quest prohibited the usage of health consumables.

    Of course, this was limited to himself and not his party members. Unless stated explicitly in the objectives, most quests were limited to the quest holder. So, it was highly unlikely that his quest objectives included his party members. After all, the rewards wouldn¡¯t be shared amongst them either.

    This objective yed a significant role in Kieran cementing his decision to pick up two healers. Kieran understood his current Health or any average tank¡¯s Health would be insufficient to clear this dungeon in its current mode.

    Furthermore, most of the pressure fell on Kieran¡¯s shoulders.

    While Altair was quick, it¡¯d be difficult for him to grab ahold of Hrulhar¡¯s aggro with his two high-damage skills on cooldown. Unlike Kieran, who possessed Warrior¡¯s Aura to bolster his sustained damage, Altair¡¯s ss didn¡¯t have ess to such a skill yet. Thieves relied upon precise sneak attacks to inflict bonus damage.

    Additionally, Hrulhar would absolutely eviscerate any Thief¡¯s Health bar.

    ¡°Why did you guys just dump out all of your skills?!¡± Kieran shouted frantically. At the same time, he held his sword sideways while being pushed back by Hrulhar¡¯s next chain of violent swipes, losing anotherrge portion of Health.

    A secondter, Hrulhar opened its maw and collected dark energy much faster than the Shadow Wolves. At the rate it grew, it was clear that Kieran couldn¡¯t cancel this attack. Even worse, all of his skills with any Knockback effect were on cooldown.

    As the name suggested, any skill capable of generating a Knockback effect dealt extremely heavy damage with enough force to stagger that enemy. In Kieran¡¯s case, Savage Break, Force sh, Charge, and sometimes Heavy sh could generate this effect at the right time.<sub>-.</sub>

    However, only Savage Break and Force sh could generate the effect upon every hit. Charge usually stunned the enemy before any Knockback could ur. That was the benefit of increasing these skills to Lv.5.

    Suddenly, Altair appeared before Kieran while holding his daggers in a reverse grip. ¡°How many seconds do you need for your skills?¡±

    ¡°At least twenty,¡± Kieran said after ncing at his current cooldown.

    His rotation of high damaging skills let Kieran deal more than one thousand damage in one sitting. If not for Cygnus and Sithik¡¯s mistake, it would only take a few rotations without having to remove himself from battle.

    ¡°I¡¯ll try my best,¡± Altair responded.

    Afterward, he activated Swift Step, which allowed his movement and attack speed to soar for ten seconds at its current level. While it was only half of what he needed, Kieran had faith in Altair¡¯s skill after watching him.

    Meanwhile, Kieran moved back towards Cygnus and Sithik, who wore wry smiles because of the previous mishap. Kieran didn¡¯t address their mistake immediately. Instead, he looked toward Aspaira.

    ¡°Try to angle out the boss once Altair generates enough hit-stun. That is the only window in which a Mage without superior awareness cannd a hit. When you see the boss shake slightly, that means enough hit-stun has stacked. Do you understand?¡± Kieran said with a near-emotionless expression. Evidently, he was no longer happy or in a joking mood.

    ¡°I understand!¡± Aspaira immediately answered.<sub></sub>

    During that time, Altair arrived before Hrulhar and hit its throat with a skill known as Concussive Strike. It was a skill that a Thief could ept after Lv.10. While it didn¡¯t have a stunning effect, it did have a handy effect called Interrupt, which could cut off any skill without an instant cast.

    Hrulhar¡¯s howl fell under the category of attacks without an instant cast. So, Altair sessfully interrupted the attack, avoiding an otherwise fatal situation.

    Next, Kieran turned toward the two Priests. ¡°Why¡­ what earth would tell you to empty yourrgest skills together? There are two of you because you¡¯re meant to alternate your skills. Additionally, there¡¯s another dealer that will need healing.¡±

    While talking, Kieran groaned softly because he remembered that both Regeneration Burst and Restorative Mist had cooldowns above 60 seconds. Hrulhar only needed one or two seconds to nearly empty one person¡¯s health bar. Not to mention sixty seconds, even asking for thirty seconds was asking for a lot when it came to this monster.

    ¡°We¡¯re sorry. We panicked. I thought you were about to die when you screamed for bloody murder like that,¡± Cygnus said.

    ¡°I understand that,¡± Kieran pinched his nose and massaged it to ease some of his frustration. Once he gathered himself, he continued. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you this right now: a top-tier Priest¡¯s makings lie in their situational awareness and understanding of howbat works. Arge healing skill isn¡¯t unquestionably required until the appearance of a sure-wipe skill.¡±

    ¡°Combat awareness. Got it,¡± Sithik nodded repeatedly.

    ¡°Additionally, you need management skills. Priest skills are amongst the most costly mana-wise. Look at your current mana. Just one spam and your Mana Pool has depleted by over 50%,¡± Kieran said.

    Not only was Kieran reprimanding their mistakes, but he was teaching them in the process. The ability to teach without breaking someone¡¯s confidence was vital when taking up any kind of leadership role, which is why Kieran excelled as the Head Commander for the Golden Brigade in the past.

    Most Commanders used harshnguage, but Kieran simply addressed the situation by highlighting everyst mistake made and offering ways to prevent it from happening in the future. In this sense, Kieran¡¯s skill could be said to be on a pedestal.

    Neither Sithik nor Cygnus felt he was making fun of them. From his expression alone, they could tell he simply took progression in this game seriously. That was understandable because Kieran was on a timeline unlike the rest of his party. He needed to acquire power and influence before shing with the Golden Brigade.

    He was confident that once it happened¡­ it would bleed over to the real world with their considerable influence. Kieran¡¯s only saving grace was the countermeasure set in ce regarding a yer¡¯s identity. The only way to receive even a hint of their identity was through the real-world transaction system that had yet to go online.

    Throughout his small ¡°teaching session¡±, Kieran remained mindful of his cooldown and Altair¡¯s situation. Since Hrulhar couldn¡¯t heal, its Health was less than 50% at this time.

    ¡°Sithik, prep a Healing Light in two seconds,¡± Kieran said abruptly.

    ¡°Wait now?¡± Sithik said with some shock.

    ¡°No¡­ now,¡± Kieran said exactly two secondster.

    As Sithik followed his instructions, the Healing Lightnded on Altair the moment after Swift Step¡¯s duration finished. Shockingly, Hrulharnded an attack at that moment.

    Both Sithik and Cygnus were stupefied by Kieran¡¯s prediction ability. However, it wasn¡¯t a prediction. All of the previousbat telegraphed that Altair was due for a hit. While his speed was equal to Hrulhar with Swift Steps active, Altair¡¯s current movements would no longer suffice once the effects dissipated.

    ¡°These are skills that you need to hone as Priests. Learn to track the pattern in the action taking ce and estimate when your team member will need assistance. Like other games, when bosses be harder, there¡¯ll be less time for the leader to deliver orders if they y an active role in the battle,¡± Kieran said.

    ¡°I think I understand now. But¡­ that¡¯s not something I can learn in a day,¡± Sithik admitted with a bitter smile. After all, not everyone possessed the same mind that Kieran did. Even in the past, Kieran had only seen peopleparable to his prime inside other Behemoth Guilds.

    Nevertheless, Kieran didn¡¯t have such high expectations for these people he barely knew.

    ¡°I don¡¯t expect you to. I just expect that you be more attentive andmunicate with Cygnus. Even if you don¡¯t listen for the skills she activates. Support the alternating rotation and do so mindfully until it bes a subconscious response. That¡¯s how we prevail¡ªceaseless repetition.¡±

    Afterward, Kieran suddenly turned around. Aspaira sessfully hit Hrulhar with both Aqua Bullet and Fireball while hit-stunned. ¡°Altair, slowly draw Hrulhar closer. You two, how much longer on Mending Aura?¡±

    ¡°Three seconds,¡± Cygnus answered.

    ¡°Just over three seconds,¡± Sithik answered.

    ¡°This is still salvageable then. Cygnus, your turn. Healing Light now. Sithik, follow up two secondster,¡± Kieran instructed.

    Kieran took this time to disengage his battle state. Otherwise, his regeneration rate would plummet. For a yer to disengage their battle state, it required them to be damage free for three seconds and unequip their weapon. In Kieran¡¯s case, he stabbed the sword into the ground and didn¡¯t touch it.

    This action also counted as ¡°unequipping¡± something.

    Cygnus led with Healing Light as instructed.

    Two secondster, Sithik followed up without fail. Then, Kieran called for Mending Aura. Unlike Healing Light, Mending Aura was a skill with an HoT (Heal over Time) effect. It could be used in tandem with Healing Light to maintain proper healing.

    The rotational healing neutralized arge part of the damage Hrulhar inflicted over the next fifteen seconds. After those fifteen seconds, Kieran grabbed his Novice Greatsword and rushed forward.

    ¡°Fall back, I¡¯ll end this right now,¡± Kieran instructed.

    However, Hrulhar fell under the predatory type. It locked on to any enemy with the highest aggro in its vicinity. Since Kieran left the battle for almost half a minute, decreasing his amount by a considerable amount, Altair currently had the highest aggro value.

    But, Kieran didn¡¯t allow for any more mistakes. He initiatedbat with Charge, dodging under the attack aimed at Altair. In the next moment, he followed the same rotation as earlier.

    The only difference was that Aspaira understood what to do without Kieran voicing it. She channeled me Wave¡¯s chant before Kieran joined the battle. When Kieran unleashed his monstrous chain of skills, the me Wave followed close behind, giving Kieran just enough to dodge.

    Whoosh!

    Hrulhar was encased in mes while Kieranunched a downward that dealt a critical strike.

    Bang!

    ¡´System: You have received 4,800 Experience.¡µ

    Kieran exhaled now that the stressful fight was over. Amidst his short breather, the generous sum of Experience allowed the others to level up while Kieran was but a sliver away from reaching Lv.13.

 Chapter 21 Seasoned Guidance

    ¡ª-

    ¡°Thank god! It¡¯s over,¡± Aspaira eximed happily.

    ¡°Why, oh why was that so stressful? I just don¡¯t understand,¡± Sithikmented.

    Now that Hrulhar was dead, the team could finally sigh in relief. A short whileter, Hrulhar¡¯s body was reced by an extensive collection of copper coins, two silver coins, a pair of daggers, and a skill book.

    The dagger even made Kieran¡¯s eyebrow jump with astonishment. ¡®How lucky of him. He got those Quicksilver Daggers and the Vanish Skill book.¡¯

    ¡°That loot is all yours, Altair. You deserve it after dealing a decent amount of damage and stalling Hrulhar,¡± Kieran said. He tossed them towards Altair without a shred of hesitation. While both of these items could go for a decent amount of money, it paled inparison to forging a rtionship with Altair early on.

    ¡®He¡¯ll be incredibly strong in the future, but if I start now¡­ I can make him so much stronger. I¡¯ll turn him into a different beast,¡¯ Kieran thought. It was difficult to aplish now, as the game recently went online, but Kieran was confident he could dominate alongside Altair with the right amount of training.

    Altair caught the items and stared in stupefaction when he read their information. The sparkling exterior of the silver daggers with light ck inscriptions made Altair¡¯s eyes glisten. This was a genuine Lv.10 Rare weapon! More importantly, the Vanish Skill Book was a skill that shared an independent cooldown from Conceal or its upgraded versions because it immediately cleansed aggro.

    This loot was simply a godsend tailored for Altair¡¯s increased contribution. ¡°Are you serious right now? You dealt the majority of the damage.¡±

    ¡°Oh? I didn¡¯t know a Warrior could make use of a Thief¡¯s arsenal,¡± Kieran scoffed while shaking his head. He wouldn¡¯t ept it even if Altair gave it back to him.

    ¡°Fine. Then I¡¯ll forfeit all coins gained from this dungeon, and I¡¯ll undoubtedly repay this favor in the future. Just name it,¡± Altair said seriously. This offer was too generous, so he felt it was only fitting to repay it in the future.<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°Sounds good to me,¡± Kieran nodded. Afterward, he sifted through the loot and tossed an umon-grade Novice Cloth Robe to Sithik. It was a Lv.10 item, so it rewarded a decent increase in Intelligence, further increasing his Mana Pool.

    Meanwhile, Kieran nodded toward Sithik and Cygnus. ¡°You two did much better towards the end. Remember to keep calm as you battle. Nervousness is the number one cause of failure followed by inept leadership.¡±

    Thanks to Kieran¡¯s advice, both Sithik and Cygnus didn¡¯tmit the same mistake of emptying their healing arsenal thoughtlessly. Although they were still unfamiliar with each other, they both felt some extent of happiness. After all, the way Kieran yed, his skill was evident.

    Suddenly, Kieran turned toward Aspaira again. It dawned upon him that she hadn¡¯t used a single crowd control skill avable to a Mage. ¡°Do you not have Bind?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Aspaira said with a light blush on her cheeks. ¡°I thought about getting it, but I just didn¡¯t have enough SP after leveling up my skills.¡±

    Unlike Keiran and Altair, not everyone had the luxury of receiving a good starter package. Aspaira was one of the individuals with a shortage of SP skills. The Skill Level-Up System was purposely designed to inhibit the ability to unlock all skills and level them up to a suitable degree.

    If a user unlocked all their skills with the SP granted upon leveling up, the skill level would be overall verycking.

    Conversely, if they leveled up their acquired skills too heavily, there¡¯d be ack of SP to unlock more. Therefore, it was advised to make prudent decisions.

    ¡°I see. In your case, you need foresight among other things. Start thinking of the future when you make decisions regarding skills. Also, think about how you can contribute to a fight outside of dealing damage, ¡®kay?¡± Kieran suggested.

    ¡°Yes, I understand what you mean. I have the points for the skill now¨Dshould I get it?¡± Aspaira asked. Since it seemed like his suggestion to increase Control was a good one, Aspaira felt it was safe to heed Kieran¡¯s advice.<sub></sub>

    ¡°Absolutely, we will need it,¡± Kieran nodded.

    Afterward, he fell silent while looking towards the center path. ¡®The dungeon is almost done, but we still have to deal with all those¡­¡¯

    Kieran then looked at his stream. The fight against Hrulhar was bound to gain attention since it was very fast-paced and eye-grabbing. Sure enough, when he looked at the stream, the number had increased from 20,000 to almost 50,000!

    Regrettably, along with more viewers came harshments that made Kieran smile helplessly. ¡®Thank god they can¡¯t see this. Otherwise, their spirits would have been crushed by this relentless bashing. What a toxicmunity!¡¯

    There were multiplements regarding Sithik and Cygnus¡¯s mistakes and Aspaira¡¯s revolving ineptitude.

    [Stream Chat <BotDetector187>: Yo! Not gonna lie, your teammates are BOTSS dude!]

    [Stream Chat <IlikeGoldfish>: Dude, you¡¯re crackeddd! But how doesn¡¯t your teammate know she needs skills?! HUH?!]

    [Stream Chat <FourEyedPessimist>: Aside from the Warrior and Thief, this team would have failed ten times over. Kinda trash. But hey, the fight was ok, I guess. KEKW]

    ¡°Sheesh,¡± Kieran mumbled. However, the ie of streaming was too lucrative for Kieran not to keep it going, especially since profiles without an official contract with the Gamer Republic made viewers pay a small fee to watch. There was no subscribe function as of yet.

    Again, Kieran minimized the chat menu. Additionally, Kieran¡¯s stream audio went silent for a moment. Despite streaming, Kieran didn¡¯t reveal any of his unusual actions to the public. All they saw was the fight against the Shadow Wolves and the fight against Hrulhar.

    The public wasn¡¯t aware that aside from the center path, the rest were dead ends. Anyone who attempted the dungeon would still be doing so blindly. Kieran only went back to regr settings when he wasn¡¯t discussing anything sensitive or about to do something that shouldn¡¯t be revealed.

    While the stream audio was off, Kieran turned to the others, ¡°We¡¯re near the end, but it¡¯ll probably be the majority of the time spent in this dungeon. I estimate we¡¯ll reach the end of the pathway soon. So, let¡¯s go.¡±

    As he moved, Kieran consumed a Beginner Mana Potion while canceling Warrior¡¯s Aura. It made no sense for him to consume Mana while out ofbat.

    ¡°Right behind you. Let¡¯s go,¡± Altair responded.

    The rest nodded along as well, moving down the center path. The center path was exponentially longer than the other paths holding a dead-end. It took over 15 minutes more toe to its end, which was greeted by a rocky opening with withered trees.

    What¡¯s more, the party immediately noticed a change in opponents. Unlike the earlier wolves, the opponents had shifted to bears! While wolves possessed inferior defenses, bears were a different story.

    ¡¸Lv.12 Quartz Bear (Elite)

    Beast Type

    Health: 1,700/1,700 (100%) ¡¹

    ¡°Thank the lord for your new weapon, right? Otherwise, we¡¯d be sorry out of luck,¡± Kieran chuckled softly. Each of the bears present looked like standard grizzly bears, except there was some type of gem embedded in their furs. There were only a few areas not covered by gems.

    However, Kieran¡¯s gaze remained on the tworge bears towards the back. They were at least twice the size of the other bears.

    ¡¸Lv.12 Razing Guraha (Rare Mini-Boss)

    Beast Type

    Health: 5,000/5,000 (100%)

    Special Traits: ?Quake? ?Level? ¡¹

    ¡¸Lv.12 Reinforced Shibak (Rare Mini-Boss)

    Beast Type

    Health: 6,000/6,000 (100%)

    Special Traits: ?Hardened? ?Sturdy? ¡¹

    Fortunately, the bears in the area were only Elite Monsters. They were much slower than the Shadow Wolves, so they wouldn¡¯t be troublesome. Nevertheless, the same couldn¡¯t be said about Guraha and Shibak. They were bonafide Mini-Bosses!

    While a mini-boss wasn¡¯t as strong as a real boss, it was still far superior to typical monsters. Even their special traits experienced increased effect just by possessing the boss ranking.

    ¡°We need to separate the Elite from those two right now. Afterward, we¡¯ll hard-focus Guraha. She¡¯s the real problem here,¡± Kieran ordered while readying himself for battle.

    He didn¡¯t lead with Charge at all. He needed to conserve that skill for as long as possible. Instead of separating their firepower, Kieran and Altair focused one beast at a time. Fortunately, there were only ten of them. Any more and it¡¯d be difficult to pick them off without starting the fight against Guraha.

    Kieran lowered their defenses by hitting one Elite Monster with a Savage Break. Altair then followed up by activating Silver Blitz, the skill attached to the Quicksilver Daggers. It increased his attack speed by 40% and attack damage by 10%.

    Thus, Kieran assisted with Force sh and Heavy sh to deal quick bursts of damage. The first Elite Quartz Bear fell within 30 seconds.

    ¡´System: You have gained 620 Experience.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have leveled up! [Lv.12 ¡ú Lv.13]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 5 Unassigned Attribute Points and 2 Skill Points.¡µ

    For now, Kieran conserved his Attribute Points. Before he could apply them properly, he needed to understand how heavy Guraha¡¯s attack would be. Only then could he justify cing Attribute Points in certain ces.

    Afterward, Aspaira led the assault on the next monster with a Fireball. It dealt a decent amount of damage, allowing Kieran to follow up with his deadly rotation. This bear fell even quicker but only rewarded 600 Experience now that Kieran had reached Lv.13.

    Altair then led another bear over without triggering Guhara¡¯s aggro. Vanish worked wonders for this, decreasing his aggro generation to a nearly negligible amount. But to fully grasp it, Kieran wouldunch a Force sh at a range that allowed only one Quartz Bear to be hit.

    ¡®So far, so good,¡¯ Kieran thought while watching the remaining bears continually decrease. By the time thest bear fell, Kieran¡¯s Experience Bar was 92% full.

 Chapter 22 Two Mini Bosses

    ¡ª-

    Kieran¡¯s attention fell on Guhara while he downed a Beginner Mana Potion. Surprisingly, this was only his second one throughout the entire run. However, it was understandable, as none of his skills possessed an oundish consumption value. But, that would change once he epted his Tier 1 ss.

    The vast disparity between the two tiers made them seem worlds apart. After all, Tier 1 sses possessed faculties that weren¡¯t essible to basic sses. It was likeparing a newborn to a full-grown adult. One had just been born into the world, while the other could bring new life.

    ¡°You see that trait, Quake? It¡¯s extremely dangerous at our level. You need to remain vignt for any signs of Guhara getting ready to assault the ground. None of us need to be hit by it, understood?¡± Kieran said in a grave tone. Evidently, this move was difficult to survive if even Kieran was on edge.

    ¡°But¡­ what about that other one?¡± Aspaira muttered while looking at Shibak. Compared to Guhara, Shibak was noticeablyrger, and its gems seemed to form a type of full armor. Obviously, it would be much harder to damage Shibak.

    ¡°We¡¯ll have to deal with him as well. But, he isn¡¯t our priority,¡± Kieran said. Afterward, he rushed forward while keeping his senses on high alert. While these bears didn¡¯t specialize in Agility, they were Mini-Bosses, so all of their attributes wereparatively high.

    ¡®At the very least, we should receive some excellent loot from these two. I just hope it¡¯s usable,¡¯ Kieran thought. A momentter, he executed a strike, shing against Guhara¡¯s chest.

    Screeeeee!

    Although Guhara didn¡¯t seem as sturdy as Shibak, it was still more durable than anything this party faced thus far. Sparks flew as Kieran¡¯s Novice Greatsword slid against Guhara¡¯s chest.

    -24

    Groaaahhhhhhh!<sub>-.</sub>

    Guhara¡¯s eyes glowed ferociously as it glowered at Kieran, who continued to unleash a string of uninterrupted basic shes.

    -24 -24 -24 -24 -24

    Guhara¡¯s Health dropped by approximately 3% before Kieran abruptly rolled to the side and dodged a heavy smash from the Mini-Boss¡¯srge paw. Kieran appeared from within the dust while momentarily ncing toward Shibak.

    The crystalline gem-like armor surrounding its body seemed to shine with a faint blue glow. Kieran immediately created space, abandoning his attack after seeing this. Shibak¡¯s glowing paw mmed the ground a secondter, sending a ripple through the earth.

    ¡°Move back, at least 5 meters away,¡± Kieran ordered, running back quickly. Just as he instructed, this ripple stopped after traveling five meters and thenpletely subsided. Once that happened, Kieran smiled faintly and promptly dashed back into the fight.

    ¡°Wait for my signal,¡± Kieran said. This message was directed toward Altair, who had yet to make a move. Kieran had yet to deal enough damage to secure Guhara¡¯s aggro. His prodding attacks were only meant to force Shibak¡¯s skill into cooldown. It¡¯d be at least 45 seconds before the skill returned in greater magnitude.

    That was the effect of sturdy. All of its attacks would be reinforced after being used or after taking heavy damage. Additionally, it reduced the effect of stunning skills greatly. However, Kieran was just grateful that he wasn¡¯tpletely immune; otherwise, this fight would devolve into aplete nightmare.

    Kieran¡¯s momentum abruptly increased aftering within three meters of Guhara.

    Bang!

    -247<sub></sub>

    Although Kieran sessfullynded his Charge, he simultaneously winced and inhaled sharply. ¡®Goddamn! Damnit! GODDAMNIT!¡¯

    Intense pain ran through his shoulder after colliding with Guhara. After surpassing 100, every stat would reinforce the wielder¡¯s capabilities, whether it be users, monsters, or NPCs. The only difference was how each stat applied to said individual¡¯s battle stats.

    More importantly, any damage received by a yer¡¯s character in Zenith Online felt almost identical to experiencing it in real life. Although there were currently some slight differences, it wasn¡¯t substantial enough for yers to ignore.

    ¡®1.5 seconds?¡¯ Kieran thought after looking at the stun timer. The effect only seemed to be 60% effective on this enemy. But, any period of inactivity was enough in the eyes of Kieran, especially since he had depleted approximately 8% of Guhara¡¯s Health thus far.

    ¡°Now!¡±

    Boom!

    -442

    Kieranunched a devastating Savage Break, lowering Guhara¡¯s Defense and dealing a sizable chunk of damage. Altair changed ces with Kieran, wielding his dagger at astonishing speeds for their current level.

    All the while, Kieran narrowed his eyes and dashed behind Altair, shing his sword forward.

    Tang!

    Shibak tried to attack Altair from the side, but Kieran intercepted that action. As a result, Kieran¡¯s left arm that grasped the greatsword throbbed slightly. What¡¯s more, he lost a quarter of his Health after receiving that attack.

    ¡®So much stronger than Hrulhar. And this is just a basic attack,¡¯ Kieran thought to himself with a slight frown. However, a well-timed Healing Light enveloped his body, rejuvenating half of his lost Health.

    Still, a Mini-Boss¡¯s strength was not to be underestimated. Kieran felt Shibak¡¯s Attack Power was no lower than his own. But, one thing remained certain, Shibak¡¯s Strength was far greater.

    Nevertheless, Kieran executed a powerful horizontal sh, kicking up arge gale of wind. Now that his Force sh was Lv.5, even if it wasn¡¯t a direct hit with the sword, the skill¡¯s effect alone generated a considerable amount of damage.

    Regrettably, Kieran was appalled after seeing the amount of damage his usually powerful strike dealt.

    -199

    ¡´System: The damage you¡¯ve dealt has been reduced by 20%!¡µ

    ¡®20% Damage Reduction!¡¯ Kieran thought while gnashing his teeth furiously. Part of the Hardened Trait meant that the monster would have some kind of damage reduction. However, the value was randomized. At this point in the game, 20% was the highest reduction a monster could receive. Meaning, this party was just genuinely unlucky.

    First, Hrulhar and now a maxed-out damage reduction trait. These five just couldn¡¯t catch a break!

    To make matters worst, Guhara broke free from her restraints, and because Kieran and Altair dealtbined damage of almost 20% of her Health, Guhara¡¯s paws shone with an earthen light.

    ¡°This is what I mentioned earlier! Do your best to dodge. It¡¯s important that we dodge this uing tremor,¡± Kieran shouted at the top of his lungs.

    Everyone shuddered as a result of Kieran¡¯s fierce shout. They focused intently on Guhara while creating as much room as possible. As a precaution, Altair activated Conceal to not generate any future aggro while he retreated.

    Shortly after, Guhara mmed her paws against the earth, sending a visible tremor hurtling towards Kieran and his party. It wasn¡¯t a single ripple but a tripleyered one at least two meters in width.

    ¡°Jump!¡± Kieran said, jumping just as the ripple neared his feet. The party followed his instruction, but Cygnus paled in fright when she realized her strength and Agility didn¡¯t let her jump as high as the others.

    ¡®I-I won¡¯t make it,¡¯ Cygnus thought while pursing her lip. If she died here, then the team¡¯s chance of clearing the dungeon would plummet. As of now, none of the Priests possessed the Ressurection Skill, and none of the yers owned an extremely rare Revive Token.

    Whoosh!

    Suddenly, Kieran¡¯s greatsword whizzed through the air, impaling the ground beneath Cygnus¡¯s feet at a 45-degree angle. He couldn¡¯t afford to let Cygnus die here. Still, this wasn¡¯t a fix for what was toe.

    The ripple passed, but the earth began splitting it apart with decent-sized earth spires appearing rapidly. If the wave knocked the party down, these spires would inflict a one-hit kill. Hence, why he didn¡¯t allow Cygnus to fall.

    ¡°Move, don¡¯t stand still!¡± Kieran ordered.

    He dashed up to his sword and ripped it from the earth while lightly pressing his palm against Cygnus¡¯s torso. A light force propelled them in opposing directions as an earth spire pierced the ground between them a few millisecondster.

    ¡®Such a close call. That¡¯s why Priest should at least put enough attributes in Strength and Agility to form a cushion,¡¯ Kieran thought. He had seen many Priests fall short in the past because of ack of these two stats. Even a slight increase could potentially buy enough time for some backup to provide assistance.

    The spires didn¡¯t stop appearing for a total of 15 seconds, forcing the party to repeatedly dodge. However, after learning that the split earth was a telltale sign of an iing spire, the party didn¡¯t have much difficulty dodging the attack.

    Fortunately, this attack wasn¡¯t one Guhara could use repeatedly. The Mini-Boss grew motionless after unleashing this strike, a sign of expending too much Mana in a short amount of time.

    Kieran took this as an opportunity. ¡°Unload all of your skills, NOW!¡±

    Aspaira quickly chanted Fireball, me Wave, and Aqua Bullet in quick session. At the same time, she mustered a cluster of pure Mana without any element. However, because it possessed no element, it made up for itscking presence with raw power. It was a skill Aspaira recently picked up to augment her arsenal of damage spells.

    Additionally, she also acquired the Bind skill Kieran mentioned earlier.

    Bang! Bang! Bang!

    The team quickly emptied Guhara¡¯s Health bar now that her defense was noticeably lower. By the time Guhara recovered from its weakened state, its eyes had lit up with deep yellow light. No sudden actions were made, yet the entire map began trembling.

    ¡°Group together,¡± Kieran directed, moving his positioning so that he lined up with Guhara.

    ¡°What now?¡± Sithik asked worriedly. This entire fight was stressful. They kept having to heal Kieran for deflecting Shibak¡¯s advances and it seemed like Guhara possessed nothing butrge AoE skills. The party was beginning to understand why it was nicknamed ¡°Razing¡±.

    The area was absolutely mutted by Guhara¡¯s attacks.

    All of a sudden, tworge indents formed on the ground. Once they appeared, Kieran had everyone rush the boss as fast as possible. The bs then mmed together, leveling the battlefield when it copsed back onto the floor.

    For this attack, the only safe ce was in front of the boss. But, if done too early, Shibak would unleash a strike that would prevent the entire party from moving. To ensure Cygnus wasn¡¯t left behind, Kieran had Altair assist her with his superior Agility.

    Guhara then entered an extended period of weakness for 15 seconds.

 Chapter 23 A Rare Item

    ¡ª-

    Kieran¡¯s expression grew increasingly ferocious right after Guhara entered another period of weakness. He guzzled down another Beginner Mana Potion to support Warrior¡¯s Aura and Enhanced Gaze, then rushed forward at the highest speed he could muster. In this state, Guhara couldn¡¯t acquire aggro.

    Therefore, Kieran signaled for both Aspaira and Altair to dump their skills as soon as they came off cooldown. They needed to kill Guhara before she could recover and before Shibak interfered too much. Thus, the battlefield became chaotic, filled with the blistering heat from Aspaira¡¯s spell and the strong currents from Kieran¡¯s attacks.

    Additionally, an eerie whizzing noise sounded repeatedly after Altair¡¯s attacks cleanly swept through the air. The slender des met no air resistance, which was another reason why it possessed the fastest melee attack speed in the game.

    Shnk! Shnk! Shnk! Bang!

    ¡­Boom!

    Guhara¡¯s Health plummeted like an open drain faucet as the team unleashed a steady, overwhelming damage output. However, as a result, both Kieran and Altair¡¯s Stamina experienced a drastic decrease despite the reduced consumption granted by a dungeon setting.

    ¡®It may be difficult to defeat Shibak right after. After all, he was known to be harsh on one¡¯s Stamina,¡¯ Kieran thought to himself. Afterward, he lifted his Novice Greatsword with a cold expression on his face. A stormy gale surrounded his weapon and he brought it down like a divine edict dispensed by a deity.

    A horrifying explosion sounded as both the Novice Greatsword¡¯s durability decreased and Kieran¡¯s arm ached terribly. Nevertheless, the oue was worth it. Guhara, the truly difficult opponent, had fallen under this strike!

    ¡´System: You have received 9,000 Experience.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have leveled up! [Lv.13 ¡ú Lv.14]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 5 Unassigned Attribute Points and 2 Skill Points.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have leveled up! [Lv.14 ¡ú Lv.15]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 5 Unassigned Attribute Points and 2 Skill Points.¡µ

    While Kieran received 9,000 Experience with the help of the Medallion of Growth, the rest of his party received 5,500 Experience. After all, they were below Guhara¡¯s level. At least, they were previously.<sub>-.</sub>

    Everyone in the party had at least reached Lv.12 after killing Guhara, but Kieran had them hold off on applying their Attribute Points until they got a glimpse of the loot these monsters would drop.

    Meanwhile, Kieran retreated from Guhara¡¯s body. He didn¡¯t even have a chance to pick up any loot before Shibak released a deafening roar. If these bosses weren¡¯t killed at the same time, one would be marginally tougher to beat. If it were Guhara, their skill would activate faster, unleash faster, and deal absolutely devastating damage.

    Based on his party¡¯s capabilities, Kieran understood there was a zero percent chance of anyone besides him and Altair dodging Guhara¡¯s hastened razing attacks.

    So, Kieran readily chose Shibak as thest one to face. Subsequently, the crystal armor covering Shibak¡¯s body grew further.

    Its defense value undoubtedly underwent a change. But, Kieran would happily deal with this than the previously mentioned scenario. Despite having 25% of his Stamina instantly refilled, Kieran still remained on the fence regarding how much would be consumed against Shibak.

    ¡®It¡¯s times like this that you prefer a Tier 1 ss. Much stronger,¡¯ Kieran inwardly thought. The physique of a Tier 1 ss was bound to start recovering the moment he stopped making exhausting movements.

    Sadly, Shibak didn¡¯t give the team more than two minutes before it acted unusually by rushing toward Kieran without any prior indication. Although Kieran backed out, Shibak maintained the same aggro values as before. And, the only one tounch an attack on this monster thus far was Kieran.

    ¡®That¡¯s right¡­ How could I forget? Killing one of them cancels the aggro reset that typically urs after two minutes,¡¯ Kieran thought while also groaning slightly. Instead of canceling, the aggro value was forcibly applied.

    ¡®This will have to do¡­¡¯

    Currently, Kieran¡¯s Stamina was approximately 58%. He was unsure whether this would be enough because, unlike with Guhara, he would deal even further reduced damage. It was akin to going against a boss that grew stronger in phases, but not entirely.

    Kieran took a singlerge step back, avoiding Shibak¡¯s powerful smash. Afterward, he executed a basic attack that made his eye widen in shock. He at least expected his basic attacks to still inflict some kind of substantial damage. Sadly, the reality was their situation wasn¡¯t so pleasing.

    -1

    ¡°Oh! What the hell? Why are you dealing one damage?!¡± Sithik shrieked in fright. Kieran was the bread and butter damager of their team. So, the fact that his basic attack dealt one damage startled the party. Was this even clearable?!

    ¡°Rx. It¡¯s not as bad as we think. It¡¯s absolutely still salvageable. The only thing that will probably break past its defenses is our skills,¡± Kieran said.<sub></sub>

    Of course, that -1 didn¡¯t mean the difference between Kieran¡¯s attack and Shibak¡¯s defense was one. While still inside the beginner vige, any damage that dealt one or less damage would immediately be rounded up to one. This led to two possibilities¡ªeither the difference was exactly one or in fact a decimal.

    Kieran could only verify this by testing his spection. He assigned ten points to Strength, finally surpassing a surprising number of 50. Likewise, his Attack Power increased to 142.

    Again, Kieran shed his sword.

    -2 [Damaged reduced by 20%]

    This time the damage was marginally higher, but it gave Kieran a clear understanding of what urred during this slight increase in attributes. After factoring in the rise of his Attack Power and Warrior¡¯s Aura, the attack should¡¯ve dealt 173 damage to something with zero defense. Therefore, Kieran confirmed its current defenses.

    ¡°Its Defense is approximately 170. Altair, assign your attribute points in a way that ensures your skills will break past this thresholdfortably.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ so you mean dump! By all means, then I will dump it!¡± Altair grinned excitedly. His attack and movements were already more than enough, so he could spare putting all the Attribute Points gained from his recent level-ups into Strength.

    Afterward, Kieran nodded to Altair. ¡°Just fight with me. This monster has no troublesome skills, unlike its partner. So all we need to do is remain wary of its regr attacks. Don¡¯t mind our aggro values. I believe we can both dodge the retaliation.¡±

    At the same time, Aspaira continued to provide magical support from the back. However, her skills were incredibly draining. Just one Fireball exhausted four times the amount of Kieran¡¯s Force sh. So, the advantage in unmitigated damage came at a cost.

    Luckily, Intelligence also determined the size of one¡¯s Mana Pool at this point in the game. ording to Kieran¡¯s knowledge, close to zero ways to increase one Mana Pool outside of Intelligence were active right now. To extract this knowledge, they¡¯d have to visit Mage Towers and Sorceror Circles.

    Meanwhile, a string of nonstop -1 and -2s appeared above Shibak¡¯s head. Frequent considerable damage values urred from Kieran, Aspaira, and Altair¡¯s skills, giving the party some constion.

    When it was time to dodge, either Altair or Kieran moved when the attack disyed signs of targetting them. Although it was a long, tedious battle requiring endless attacks, the party soon managed to defeat Shibak after a grueling 10 minutes of fighting.

    On average, they only dished out 800 damage, sometimes less when the attack hit the crystalline armor instead of hardened flesh. The attacks were further weakened when Sturdy asionally triggered a Block, which negated all damage inflicted by the blocked attack.

    It was an effect that Kieran absolutely despised sometimes. But, this effect became even worse with Bosses, who wereuded as super-beastspared to normal monsters.

    But, Kieran¡¯s frustrations were washed away when he received the Experience from Shibak. While it was lower than what he received from Guhara, it was still enough to get Kieran to the next level.

    ¡´System: You have received 8,500 Experience.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have leveled up! [Lv.15 ¡ú Lv.16]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 5 Unassigned Attribute Points and 2 Skill Points.¡µ

    Afterward, Kieran quickly ran up to the loot from both mini-bosses. He could see a few items shimmering with a faint purple glow at a nce. This glow symbolized the presence of Rare items amongst the pile of loot. The first thing Kieran collected was the coins, and he did so expeditiously, numbering at least 5 Silver coins in total.

    Next, he sifted through the items for any heavy armor. Sadly, only one umon Lv.10 Heavy Bottom was dropped. Still, it was enough to raise Kieran¡¯s defense by 9 points, reaching 70.

    A majority of the items were geared towards a tank. There was a Rare Lv.15 shield and even an abundance of te armor. One of the other Rare drops was a Lv.10 Rare te Top. Once they got the chance, Kieran would undoubtedly put these items up for sale.

    Next, Kieran found thest Rare item¡ªa ring.

    ¡¸ Crystalline Ring (essory)

    Item Rank: Rare

    Item Level: 15

    Health +60

    Defense +15

    Item Ability ?Hardened Skin? ¨C Activating this ability reduces the amount of damage received by 10% for 20 seconds. This ability can only be used once every 30 seconds.

    Description: A ring chiseled from a crystal material that promotes stability. The wearer is bounded to have improved defenses. ¡¹

    The ring was primarily gray in color, but it possessed dark yellow engravings throughout the inner space. Overall, Kieran grinned because this ring made it so he wouldn¡¯t need to dump an insane amount of Attribute Points inside Vitality and Endurance.

    ¡¸Name: Aatrox

    Lv.16 (Experience: 120/15,000)

    ss: Warrior

    Title(s): None

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    [?Stats?]-

    Health: 300/300 (0.2 HP regen/sec)

    Mana: 130/130 (0.15 MP regen/sec)

    Stamina: 37/119 (0.1 Stamina regen/sec)

    Attack Power: 142

    Defense: 85

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    [?Attributes?]-

    ?Strength: 55 (43 + 12 + 0)

    ?Intelligence: 20 (20 + 0 + 0)

    ?Agility: 40 (37 + 3 + 0)

    ?Endurance: 23 (13 + 10 + 0)

    ?Control: 30 (30 + 0 + 0)

    ?Vitality: 28 (18 + 10 + 0)

    ?Perception: 50 (50 + 0 + 0)

    [Unassigned Stat Point: 10]

    [Skill Points: 8]      ¡¹

    Ideally, the party wished to recover all their Stamina. However, precisely 10 minutes after they killed Shibak, numerous towering trees fell and sent intense quakes through the entire forest.

    Simultaneously, heavy footsteps approached the party quickly. Soon enough, a bear over 4 meters tall with a vicious appearance appeared before the party.

    Finally, they had reached the dungeon¡¯s final boss!

 Chapter 24 Grifear, King of the Forest

    ¡ª-

    The Boss¡¯s information was immediately on disy for both the stream and Kieran¡¯s party to see. As a result, both the party and the stream revealed extremely lively responses. Of course, Kieran didn¡¯t have the stream chat open, or else it would just be one massive distraction.

    However, he couldn¡¯t just turn off his party member¡¯s mouths. Therefore, he was forced to listen to their articted astonishment.

    ¡°Damn, this thing is like a bulldozer or something. How in the hell can a bear get that big? Surely it hasn¡¯t taken some mutated Viagra, right?¡± Altair murmured while also analyzing the Boss.

    Judging from its appearance alone, it seemed to be a mixture of Guhara and Shibak, just far more fearsome. While it possessed crystalline armor like Shibak, this bear also hadrge fangs like a sabertooth tiger. In some ces, the crystalline armor morphed into incredibly hard des.

    This Boss was indeed a frightening one. Even the parties that had cleared the Normal and Difficult Mode of the Forest of Beasts weren¡¯t aware of this Boss. After all, it was an added foe unique to the Very Difficult mode.

    In the former modes, either Guhara or Shibak would be the Boss.

    ¡¸Lv.13 Grifear, King of the Forest (Rare)

    Dungeon Boss

    Beast Type

    Health: 11,000/11,000 (100%)

    Special Traits: ?Tremor? ?Hardened? ?Demolish?¡¹

    ¡°Damn! My first Boss, and it¡¯s enough to make me piss my pants!¡± Sithik shouted in fright. Although they emerged victorious from every fight thus far, he couldn¡¯t help but tremble in his boots while locking eyes with Grifear.<sub>-.</sub>

    For a second, Sithik could¡¯ve sworn that Grifear¡¯s gaze imposed some kind of debuff that stopped him from moving altogether. Of course, this assumption wasn¡¯t correct, nor was it incorrect. What Sithik experienced was known as the general pressure of a Boss.

    Bosses, especially Rare ones, exuded a pressure that would inadvertently affect any of its foes. Only individuals who were used to perilous situations could stand before a boss unaffected. Such as Kieran, who merely continued to gaze Grifear in the eyes while raising his Novice Greatsword.

    At the same time, he talked to his party with his back facing them. ¡°There isn¡¯t much for me to coach you on here. All I can say is that this Boss is essentially the amalgam of every monster faced in this dungeon. So, make sure to properly prepare yourselves for what¡¯s toe.¡±

    A momentter, he continued, ¡°Sithik. Cygnus-¡°

    ¡°Yes?¡± Cygnus called out, clutching her small cross between her thumb and index finger. Although she trembled faintly, she summoned the courage to stand straight and listen attentively to Kieran¡¯s orders.

    ¡°I¡¯m listening, boss!¡± Sithik eximed.

    ¡°Good! I need you both to focus¡ªand do it more tentatively than you¡¯ve ever done before. Force yourself to experience tunnel vision because your healing is unquestionably needed.¡±

    Both of them nodded solemnly, conveying that they understood the message clearly.

    Meanwhile, Grifear growled menacingly. Although it wasn¡¯t a loud growl, the nearby trees and ground rumbled in response. Kieran could immediately tell that Grifear was a significant obstacle that needed to be ovee.

    ¡°Ready?¡± Kieran asked.

    ¡°Absolutely. Couldn¡¯t be more ready than I am now,¡± Altair nodded. He raised both of his Quicksilver Daggers with a sharp gaze as a light gale kicked up around his body. At the cost of some Skill Points, Altair had increased the level of Swift Steps until the boost rose to 40% and its duration to 15 seconds.

    Simultaneously, Kieran used all of the Attribute and Skill Points avable to him. As a result, many notifications rted to skill increases and attribute increases appeared before his eyes.<sub></sub>

    ¡´System: You have used 4 Unassigned Attribute Points. [Strength: 55 ¡ú 59]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have used 4 Unassigned Attribute Points. [Agility: 40 ¡ú 44]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have used 2 Unassigned Attribute Points. [Vitality: 28 ¡ú 30]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have used 8 Skill Points to level ?Warrior¡¯s Aura? to Lv.5¡µ

    Immediately, Kieran¡¯s Health rose to 310, his body felt marginally lighter, and finally, his Attack Power increased to an even 150. After these changes, Kieran was admittedly in his best form as a dense blue aura billowed from his body when he activated Warrior¡¯s Aura.

    A few veins swelled in Kieran¡¯s arm due to the new effects of Warrior¡¯s Aura. In exchange for increased Mana consumption, it rewarded more power.

    ¡¸Warrior¡¯s Aura (Lv.5)

    Skill Rank: D Rank Active

    Mastery (00.00%)

    Skill Description: At the cost of Mana, summons an aura that increases your attack damage by 30%. The weight of your attacks increases by 5%.

    Consumption: 3 Mana Points every 5 seconds

    Prerequisites: Warrior ss

    Cooldown: 50 seconds (Only begins after deactivation of the skill.)  ¡¹

    ¡­

    As if Grifear sensed their preparation, it released an absolutely frightening roar before rushing towards the party with speed rivaling Hrulhar. Watching a colossal figure move as fast as a Special Elite focusing on Agility rmed the party.

    Kieran¡¯s dashed forward with a cold gaze as he regted his breathing pattern to one that allowed him to think clearly without any clouded thoughts. At the same time, all of his surroundings ckened. The only thing remaining in his sights was Grifear¡¯s rushing figure.

    Suddenly, Kieran disappeared before Grifear¡¯s eyes. In ce of Kieran, Altair appeared and jumped. He rotated, turning into a rapidly spinning ck blur. During his final spin, Altairshed out his dagger like a whip, executing a Concussive Strike.

    Peng!

    The noise was hollow, and Altair felt a slight throb in his elbow, but Kieran followed up by mming his sword downward.

    Tang!

    Surprisingly, Grifear raised its armored paw and defended against the direct attack. It appeared the Concussive Strike had no effect on it. Given its status as a Boss, Grifear possessed a certain resistance towards abnormal status effects. Coupled with its Hardened Trait, Grifear could ignore interrupting or stunning strikes below a certain intensity.

    It just so happened that Altair¡¯s Skill fell below this threshold.

    On the other hand, Kieran immediately retreated by pressing against his weapon. Hended agilely before looking at Grifear. Throughout their exchange, both of their attacks dealt less than 10 damage.

    Apparently, Grifear¡¯s Defense was approaching 200, which even put Shibak to shame. Nevertheless, unlike before, Kieran didn¡¯t feel as if he was in despair. After all, Savage Break¡¯s effects shone most against enemies with abnormally high defenses.

    Kieran stormed forward, collecting momentum with every step. While doing so, he dodged many of Grifear¡¯s attacks by the skin of his teeth. Even though Grifear had Agility rivaling Hrulhar, it didn¡¯t possess the Tri-Attack trait. So, as long as Kieran dodged, he didn¡¯t need to worry about a follow-up attack.

    Not to mention, Grifear¡¯s weight produced a small stall between each of its movements that didn¡¯t escape Kieran¡¯s senses. While the others might now notice the slight 0.2 seconds dy, it was clear as day in his eyes.

    Whoosh!

    Kieran did something surprising. Rather than Charge, Kieran initiated his damage rotation with Savage Break! Although it was a questionable decision, it was done prudently.

    Bang!

    An rming noise was produced from Kieran¡¯s Savage Break aimed at Grifear¡¯s head.

    -435

    ¡´Alert: The Boss Grifear has entered a ?Dazed? state for 5 seconds.¡µ

    ¡´Alert: Grifear¡¯s Defense had lowered to 150. [198]¡µ

    Kieran¡¯s Savage Break didn¡¯t usually cause a Dazed state, but the increase in 5% was not to be looked down upon. Strength didn¡¯t just increase direct Attack Power; it also increased the weight behind one¡¯s actions, which would be more apparent as the hyper-realism deepened.

    Daze was simr to being stunned, except it increased the chances of inflicting a Critical Hit since the target couldn¡¯t defend itself properly. Furthermore, it also allowed any skill with effects to be unmitigatedly applied during the state¡¯s duration.

    Altair, who possessed a significantly higher Critical Chance, immediately emptied his arsenal of skills within 3 seconds. Consequently, Altair dealt almost 1,500 damage in that short amount of time. The boost from Silver Blitz and Swift Steps was simply phenomenal!

    In the meantime, Kieran moved right after Altair finished. He couldn¡¯t allow his damage to be interrupted or lessened by Altair identally iming the damage boost following Charge.

    -250

    Although Grifear was already Dazed, Charge¡¯s stun effect still applied. With that being said, Kieran wasted no time in unleashing an extremely powerful Force sh with all of his Strength invested into it. Kieran even wielded his greatsword double-handed, something he rarely did out of habit.

    ¡­Boom!

    -1,459! [Critical]

    ¡°HOLY SHIT!¡± Sithik screamed at the top of his lungs.

    ¡°Oh my lord¡­¡± Aspaira muttered as she chanted me Wave¡¯s spell.

    This was the first time they had witnessed anyone dealing over 1,000 damage in a single hit, much less on something as resilient as a Boss! The practicality of Lv.5 skills were simply indispensable. In fact, everyone in the party began wishing for more Skill Points to instantly level up their most-used skills.

    After all, this damage was even achievable by them since it was unleashed with a simple E-Rank Skill.

    Afterward, Kieran followed up with the rest of the basic skills in his arsenal. In total, Kieran, Aspaira, and Altair managed to deal upwards of 4,500 damage in one sitting. Regrettably, Grifear also recovered from its dazed state and looked at Altair and Kieran, primarily Kieran with bloodthirsty eyes.

    Grifear struck the ground afterward and released a booming growl. Many of the crystalline des on its body cracked off and swirled around its body before flying in every direction.

    Instinctively, Kieran moved back right between Sithik and Cygnus and stood his ground with a firm stance.

    Ting! Ting! Ting!

    Kieran deflected as many flying projectiles as he could, but his Health reduced by a tenth every time he did so. Fortunately, the two behind understood that he was protecting them.

    So, they gave Kieran the healing he required by only using their two basic heals in a rotation.

    By the time the storm of crystal projectiles ended, Kieran¡¯s Health was 60% percent full. But, Grifear didn¡¯t enter a weakened state. Instead, it looked at Kieran as if they were irreco

 Chapter 25 Dungeon... Cleared!

    ¡ª-

    Naturally, Grifear didn¡¯t appreciate having almost half of its Health shaved off within a matter of seconds, much less while being unable to retaliate.

    Furthermore, nearly 50% of that damage came from one individual! Grifear¡¯s fury knew no ends, and it wished nothing more than to rip Kieran apart limb from limb.

    Surprisingly, this expression seemed to awaken a battle thirst slumbering deep within Kieran because he smiled and walked forward with a taunting expression. His deep ck ear-length hair swayed as he undid the cosmetic effect of his armor¡¯s helmet.

    Because of this action, many of the individuals watching the stream caught a glimpse of his handsome appearance. At first, many individuals thought he kept the helmet on to hide his sub-par looks, but it seemed that wasn¡¯t the case. Most of all, Kieran wanted to thwart anyone from finding him in the real world, but he now realized that it wasn¡¯t as troublesome as he thought it to be.

    For one, he wasn¡¯t known. He was the poster child for the word ¡°loner¡±.

    Even those who attended the same school and lived in the same orphanage when younger would overlook him if he didn¡¯t utter a peep. Not only was Kieran unusually silent in those atmospheres, but there was some abnormal facet to the way he kept his presence hidden from detection.

    Perhaps it was a side-effect of his hyper-cognition disorder, or perhaps it originated from his tragic childhood. Either way, it was difficult for Kieran to allow anyone toe close. In the past, Kieran¡¯s only sce was this game that allowed him to channel his repressed emotions throughbat, which was why he appeared extroverted inside the game.

    Sadly, that wasn¡¯t an image that would have been attached to Kieran of the past.

    ¡®This game is truly the best outlet. It¡¯s like I can let loose and just unleash everything that¡¯s been bottled up,¡¯ Kieran thought before revealing a satisfied smile. It had truly set in that he returned to his glorious battlefield¡ªZenith Online!

    Whoosh! Bang!

    Grifear charged forth haphazardly, pounding the ground with its immense weight before mming its paws down on Kieran at the same time. A heavy wind apanied this attack as Kieran double-handedly shed his sword up.

    Boom!<sub>-.</sub>

    The ground around Kieran¡¯s feet fractured while his feet formed a deep indent. At the same time, approximately one-fourth of Kieran¡¯s Health vanished. As that happened, Sithik sacrificed a considerable amount of Mana to conjure a Mending Aura around Kieran.

    Both Altair and Kieran¡¯s heavy skills were on cooldown. Plus, Aspaira needed time to continuously change her angle and attack a blind spot on Grifear¡¯s body. Thus, it turned into a physical showdown between Kieran and the boss!

    Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

    Grifear continued to unleash a string of heavy attacks that further fractured the ground. To help alleviate the pressure Kieran felt, Sithik and Cygnus continued tounch Healing Lights.

    Meanwhile, Kieran lifted his head with a savage gleam in his eyes. ¡°Come on now, you big piece of shit. Is this all you can muster? All fat, no pressure!¡±

    Kieran then released a battle cry as his eyes gradually bled a crimson glow. This wasn¡¯t the effect of any skill in his arsenal.

    On the contrary, this was a situation that Kieran¡¯s precipitated unknowingly. Many blood vessels appeared in his eyes, causing his pupils to constrict. Kieran¡¯s blood began rushing quicker, and he felt every fiber in his body react to this slight change.

    Bang! Bang! Ting!

    Kieran unleashed a flurry of basic attacks that picked up in speed despite being unleashed by a greatsword. At the same time, Kieran grinned menacingly which made his party members shiver. That grin was like the seconding of a demon!

    Arge portion of Kieran¡¯s resentments were channeled into emotion, which then triggered the first degree of his hyper-cognition disorder. Time subjectively slowed down as Kieran executed movements that were beyond reproach.

    Even Altair became motionless as he stared at Kieran singlehandedly receive or altogether avoid Grifear¡¯s attacks at thest possible moment. Additionally, Kieran seemed to possess an intrinsic understanding of his skill cooldowns because they blinked for a second before returning to the state of cooldown.

    Ding!<sub></sub>

    Grifear was forced into another Dazed State, but Kieran aplished the feat with Force sh this time. This allowed Kieran to interchange the rotation of his skills. Although Kieran¡¯s basic attack dealt no more than 1 damage, the rapid release of strikes made Grifear¡¯s Health bar drain at a noticeable rate.

    Kieran superseded Force sh with Charge, setting up the perfect environment to unleash an incredibly augmented Savage Break!

    ¡­Booom!

    -1,605! [Critical]

    Not only did the Savage Break deal critical damage, but Grifear was blown back by thebined effect of his increased weight, serious damage, and the skill¡¯s rank. At the same time, Grifear¡¯s Health fell to almost 30%.

    Upon reaching 30%, Grifear rebounded and broke free of its restraints regardless of the remaining duration for Kieran¡¯s skill effects. 30% of its Health was the first notable threshold for Grifear¡¯s Health.

    This activated the Demolish trait linked to its Boss status. Grifear released a bloodcurdling roar that shook the earth beneath the party¡¯s feet. Kieran, who remained nearby, covered his ears before the roar erupted.

    A secondter, the earth shattered apart. The roar demolished the ground and created a zone of pure chaos. Large rocks were flung about the rocky forest, falling in random ces. Avoiding this action required superior senses to understand the trajectory of the falling rocks.

    Thus, Kieran picked his sword back up and brandished it before rushing forward, narrowly avoiding rocks as they fell beside and behind his body. However, he didn¡¯t run in a straight line because these rocks were unusually brittle from the impact of Gribak¡¯s roar.

    Once they hit the ground, they would shatter forcefully and inflict ssh damage to nearby recipients. Once the iing rocks approached him, Kieran executed half-roll maneuvers followed by a quick jump. He presciently covered his face with the greatsword to deal with stray projectiles while agilely moving about.

    ¡®Jesus Christ¡­ this dude¡¯s a damn monster. I thought I had good mechanics¡­ Was he a trained soldier or something?¡¯ Altair wondered with eyes full of marvel. Most of the actions Kieranmitted seemed like they originated from formal military training.

    However, the Golden Brigade gave ess to reputablebat teachers from the Private Sector in his past life. While their services were extremely costly, they surpassed some of the ck Ops specialists who heldbat medals. They could only bite the bullet and put up with the exorbitant expense to further refine their core members.

    As a result, these movements were deeply engrained in Kieran¡¯s memories. Now that he unknowingly triggered his disorder, the actions were seeping through and generating a tremendous buzz.

    ¡°Did you all survive?¡± Kieran casually asked before ncing over his shoulder. For the most part, the attack was focused on a cone-shape area and stretched up to 10 meters away from Grifear. As long as they stood outside this range, the chances of getting hit were significantly reduced.

    Surprisingly, the rtively safe area was closest to Grifear since it was an attack that expanded outward.

    ¡°Fine! Just terrified and shocked all the same. Nothing else, but I think I¡¯ll survive,¡± Sithik said, almost distraught by the sight. Simrly, the rest of the party voiced that they were okay.

    Afterward, Grifear went on a rampage when it realized none of its enemies fell under its attacks. However, this rampage couldn¡¯t affect everyone because Kieran possessed the undisputed highest aggro value. Therefore, Grifear attempted to kill Kieran as quickly as possible.

    However, this singr focus made its rear vulnerable. As a Thief and the team¡¯s most mobile individual, Altair appeared behind Grifear like a phantom, unleashing hits with an increased critical rate. Attack an individual¡¯s back could invoke the special effect essible to all Thief-based sses¡ªBackstab.

    Grifear howled in pain and attempted to turn towards Altair, but Kieran didn¡¯t allow it to shift its attention away, unleashing a Force sh precisely when it came off cooldown. Within minutes of coordinating their attacks, Grifear was forced into a helpless position that drove it berserk.

    Upon reaching 15% of its Health, Grifear roared to the sky and released an increasingly berserk aura and savage expression, bearing its fearsome fangs.

    ¡´System: Dungeon Boss Grifear has entered its ?Berserk? phase.¡µ

    ¡´System: Grifear¡¯s Strength and Agility have increased by 20%.¡µ

    ¡´System: Grifear¡¯s Defense has decreased by 25%.¡µ

    The Berserk Phase was a system avable to all bosses. However, the extent of effects varied depending on the type of the boss and their ranking. Beasts typically revealed increased Strength and Agility at the expense of Defense.

    After this change, the boss fight entered a phase that even Kieran couldn¡¯t risk being careless. Be that as it may, 15% were well within Kieran¡¯s limits. Not to mention, the decrease in Defense made it easily achievable.

    Whoosh!

    Kieran¡¯s eyes narrowed the moment Grifear moved. It was almost like an undetectable squall. Kieran¡¯s only saving grace was that he activated his ring¡¯s ability Hardened Skin. Still, a single hit unleashed devastating damage.

    -100

    Kieran couldn¡¯t receive more than 3 hits before being at risk for death. What¡¯s more, Grifear no longer attacked depending on aggro. Anything within its range became a target!

    Bang!

    Altair received an unexpected attack and took close to 150 damage. It had to be known, as of now, he only had 185 Health!

    Kieran gritted his teeth furiously before raising his hand. Even Aspaira couldn¡¯tnd a hit because Grifear dodged it with its increased Agility. Kieran was forced to take matters into his own hands.

    ¡°Both of you cast Regeneration Burst individually after I receive two hits,¡± Kieran ordered.

    Afterward, he rushed forward and met one of Grifear¡¯s attacks, losing another 100 Health. Kieran then unleashed three strikes before Grifear retaliated.

    At that moment, a burst of pleasant energy encased Kieran.

    +192

    Bang! Bang!

    Another burst enveloped Kieran.

    +204

    Finally, just after receiving another one of Grifear¡¯s ruthless attacks, Kieran unleashed a Force sh. However, to the party¡¯s dismay, Grifear dodged the attack! The party then became nervous!

    Could their run be ending right now? Neither Cygnus nor Sithik had any heals that could return enough Health before Kieran received another hit.

    Suddenly, the blood vessel in Keiran¡¯s eyes thickened to twice what they were.

    ¡°Die!¡± Kieran roared. His movement changed unexpectedly, beyond the flexibility a Charge should normally achieve. The attack didn¡¯t stun Grifear, but it staggered the bosses, creating a much-needed opportunity.

    Thud!

    -250

    -1,643! [Critical]

    Thest of Grifear¡¯s Health disappeared under Kieran¡¯s attack, allowing the lifeless body to fall backward as a glorious chime resounded throughout the dungeon, followed by a fountain of coins and loot.

 Chapter 26 Uproar and Fame

    ¡ª-

    A golden banner appeared above the heads of Kieran, Altair, Cygnus, Sithik, and Aspaira. It was a tangible notification recording their meritorious efforts! While it didn¡¯t appear for all clears, it was present during every First Clear of a dungeon¡¯s greatest difficulty.

    ¡´System: Congrattions, you have cleared ?Forest of Beast? Very Difficult Mode!¡µ

    At the same time, the party received an abundance of experience that made their levels skyrocket. Apart from Kieran, the other team members leveled up twice!

    ¡´System: You have received 14,000 Experience.¡µ

    Everyone in the party released a sigh of relief while Kieran leaned against a tree powerlessly. During this time, he brought up the Stream Chat interface and read through thements with a proud yet helpless smile. There was a droning ring in his head apanied by unusual exhaustion.

    Only after beating the dungeon did his inadvertent transgressions dawn upon Kieran. ¡®I¡­ I triggered a considerable portion of my disorder for my current state. No¡­ Thirty points in Control shouldn¡¯t be enough to trigger even the slightest bit of this ability.¡¯

    In the past, Kieran could only exhibit signs of his abnormal condition after his Perception and Control surpassed 100. At that point, he already possessed an Intermediate ss. So the fact that he triggered this condition so early on mystified Kieran.

    However, doing so also left Kieran uncharacteristically feeble. Even in the past, he didn¡¯t feel this tired after hyper-focusing to this extent. This made him specte if some unusual change had urred in his condition. Perhaps his timeline wasn¡¯t as long as he previously assumed if his peculiar turned out to be true.

    ¡®It took 4 years in the past for me to devolve into a hopeless condition, but it may not be safe to assume that it will be the case this time around. Fortunately, I¡¯m not tied down by the ws of the Golden Brigade. I can only pray that said remedies already exist,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Whether or not the same experimental drugs were obtainable was a factor Kieran couldn¡¯t control. However, he remembered one thing Charles mentioned on his deathbed. There were other individuals afflicted with this unusual brain condition. If that were the case, it couldn¡¯t be a coincidence.<sub>-.</sub>

    There had to be something that made these individuals unique. The more Kieran considered this possibility, the more he wished to unearth anything regarding his history, especially his parents, who admittedly had most of the information regarding their past erased.

    Kieran didn¡¯t pay this incident any mind in the past because he was too young to think critically and analyze the inconsistencies in the details he was given regarding his parent¡¯s fate. Thankfully, it was much different now that he was an adult who had faced enough situations to mature his perspective.

    ¡®I¡¯ll definitely get to the bottom of our situations. I wonder if it¡¯s an isted event or something that urred all over the world,¡¯ Kieran wondered. Sadly, Kieran also understood prying into extensively hidden matters could produce dangerous situations. If it involved tremendously powerful individuals, he could be putting himself in the crosshairs of retaliation.

    After all, he didn¡¯t possess any allies in powerful ces. He was genuinely alone as of now. No matter how experienced he may be, one above-average individual wasn¡¯t enough to take on a gargantuan presence.

    Kieran closed his eyes for a moment before pushing his earlier thoughts to the back of his mind. Instead, he read through the sea of donations and the frantic chat moving at a mile a minute. Most of the chattersmentated on Kieran¡¯s fight against Grifear, fangirling over his movements and absurd damage.

    There were even some individuals with hrious responses that Kieran could only hopelessly ignore.

    ¡®As long as you¡¯re practically throwing money at me, you all canment anything you like. Just be careful not to get auto-moderated and have your ount indefinitely silenced. That¡¯d be a true shame, heh,¡¯ Kieran inwardly thought with a small chuckle.

    Once the chatter seemed to simmer down, Kieran waved and smirked to the audience. ¡°Until the next time.¡±

    Kieran ended the stream, but all those watching were left in an uproar! He finished right before the juiciest part! They wanted to know what loot he received after killing such a hellish boss. The loot undoubtedly had to be outstanding.

    Some of the viewers even began to curse Kieran for the way he blue-balled them. In fact, since some of the viewers were the same people waiting outside the dungeon entrance, they caused a raucous before the dungeon gates. Even if they didn¡¯t get to see the loot, they¡¯d for sure give the streamer a piece of their mind.<sub></sub>

    Suddenly, the others ran up to Kieran the moment he ended his stream while eyes full of revelry.

    ¡°Bruh, I didn¡¯t know you were capable of something like that! You were even faster than Altair towards the end. What the hell was that? Do you have some type of skill that increases your movement speed?¡± Sithik eximed.

    He was far too excited by the fact they cleared this dungeon. After all, he had never aplished such a considerable feat. Additionally, he wasn¡¯t significantly invested in the gaming scene. It was simply a hobby that he loved.

    ¡°Skill? You could say that¡¯s what it was,¡± Kieran nodded faintly. He didn¡¯t really speed up at all. His movements gave off the false impression that he moved faster by moving earlier than anticipated.

    Earlier, when Grifear dodged his Force sh, Kieran executed his next move before Grifear¡¯s 0.2-second dy had time to pass. So, it appeared Kieran used a skill to be too fast for Grifear to respond.

    ¡°Either way¡­ that was- that was just awesome!¡± Aspairamented with sparkling eyes. She had her doubts initially, but she was sure of it now. This guy could turn out to be something great. He had the foundations to do so.

    But, reality soon struck Aspaira, and her expression deted when she recalled her shorings. ¡®There¡¯s no way he¡¯ll be willing to party with someone like me. I¡¯m really just a noob in his eyes.¡¯

    ¡°Alright, alright. We still need to go over the Boss¡¯s loot,¡± Kieran said before storing his Novice Greatsword right away. He stood up from the tree, but his eyes widened when an even fiercer wave of exhaustion assaulted him.

    ¡®What the hell?! This isn¡¯t good at all,¡¯ Kieran said upon noticing that his Control felt worse than when he first logged into the game. It was a sign that the synchronization rate was experiencing drastic fluctuations. In other words, Kieran had amassed severe mental fatigue.

    Nevertheless, Kieran moved forward and browsed through the loot. Seeing as the Boss was a Rare one, it didn¡¯t drop any Copper Coins. The lowest currency was Silver Coins, immediately drawing excited gazes from the party. From what they saw, there were at least 25 pieces!

    Needless to say, this abundance of loot came from being the first clear of the hardest difficulty, especially the one within the Beginner Area. It increased the dungeon loot by a grand total of 200%!

    Additionally, Kieran noticed several rare pieces of equipment. Most were armors, but some of them were weapons. In particr, there was a staff, a cross, a longsword, and twin des. One item, however, stood out from the rest. It was a ne with an amber crystalline gem in the form of a bear¡¯s w.

    Kieran picked it up, inspecting its quality with glistening eyes.

    ¡¸ Bear King Pendant (essory)

    Item Rank: Rare

    Item Level: 15

    Health +150

    Defense +25

    Strength +15, Endurance +10, Vitality +5

    Item Ability ?Spirit of the Bear King? ¨C Activating this skill releases a ferocious growl that affects any enemy inside a 12-meter radius, putting them in a ?Dazed? state for 10 seconds. This ability has a cooldown of 120 seconds.

    Description: A decently made pendant that harnesses the ferocious spirit of a Bear King. All of its defining traits are perfectly emted.  ¡¹

    Although the other equipment was good, nothingpared to the item in his hand. Aside from decent weapons, one essory made more of a difference than a piece of equipment. Of course, this didn¡¯t include equipment that was a part of a set.

    Set Equipment generally possessed effects that would only shine when at least 2 of the pieces were collected.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take this piece of equipment. Anyone against me doing so?¡± Kieran asked out of respect for the others.

    ¡°Are you smoking crack or something? Who the hell would care if you took an item and didn¡¯t say anything? In fact, I feel you could take half this loot, and I wouldn¡¯t utter a single sound of displeasure,¡± Sithik answered while repeatedly shaking his head.

    The others unanimously agreed. Without Kieran¡¯s outrageous damage and helping at every turn, they wouldn¡¯t even have survived past Hrulhar.

    ¡°Alright, you all can divvy up the loot and prepare to leave. We¡¯ll have to be mindful because I¡¯m certain there will be a crowd awaiting our appearance. Of course, I have something in mind to help with that if you all trust me,¡± Kieranmented.

    Until now, he had yet to do anything with a recurring notification that blinked before his eyes.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m sure I speak for all when I say we trust you. By the way, don¡¯t forget I¡¯ve forfeited coins,¡± Altair added.

    ¡°Yeah, but don¡¯t forget to pick up those good pieces of leather armor. There¡¯s no reason to forfeit your stats as well. You still need good stats to level up further and aim for your ss promotion,¡± Kieran said in return.

    Eventually, Altair reluctantly agreed. He chose all of the leather equipment present while the cloth pieces were split between the other three. Finally, Sithik decided to relinquish the cross to Cygnus in exchange for a Lv.15 Rare Cloth Top.

    When Kieran seemed to ignore the rest of the items, the others felt something was unusual. They all looked at Kieran with peculiar expressions. ¡°Wait, what about these other items that we can¡¯t use? They should be worth quite a lot, no?¡±

    ¡°Err, you guys can sell it. Soon enough, you¡¯ll need funds to support new gearing amongst other things. Anywho, it¡¯s time for us to leave,¡± Kieran answered.

    Suddenly, Aspaira waved her hands and ran up to Kieran. ¡°WAIT! Let¡¯s add each other as friends first. I know you said to sell the stuff, but you still deserve your portion. I¡¯ll personally message you when it¡¯s ready.¡±

    Kieran was partially surprised by Aspaira¡¯s suggestion, causing him to slightly arch his brow. He entertained the idea before eventually agreeing to it. As a result, everyone¡¯s Friend Lists increased by 4 people.

    Afterward, Kieran continued with his actions.

    All of a sudden, a notification appeared through Gena Vige and some of the bordering viges.

    ¡¸ Vige Announcement-

    Congrattions to Party Members: Aatrox, Altair, Cygnus, Sithik, and Aspaira for obtaining the First Clear of ?Forest of Beast? Very Difficult Mode. They have been rewarded 50 World Fame, 10,000 Experience, and 10 Silver Coins. ¡¹

 Chapter 27 Flooded Messages

    ¡ª-

    Outside Forest of Beast¡¯s Dungeon Entrance¡­

    Arge, growing crowd formed outside the area as their jaws dropped upon reading the announcement sent out to all of the viges in the vicinity. Although every vige was somewhat unique, they still followed the same base structure, including dungeons.

    So, even if the type of monsters inside the dungeon changed, the methods to clear the dungeons weren¡¯t all too dissimr. As long as one understood how to take advantage of their setting and move efficiently, there was a good chance that the dungeons could be cleared with the proper partyposition.

    The only issue with this matter was the partyposition.

    It¡¯d take ample troubleshooting before the right variation could be found. If one could get a party full of individuals who imed the unique and maybe even rare packages, there wasn¡¯t necessarily a need for two Healers. The special skills granted by a Priest¡¯s unique package were said to be better than any of the other ones.

    Of course, Kieran never verified this information because few people released details regarding the awarded skills to keep their trump cards in times of conflict. A single formidable skill could be a game-changer when pinned against an enemy of equal or greater power. Hence, such skills were known as Tide Turners amongst the gamingmunity.

    ¡°No shot! Are you telling me that there are extra rewards for feats like this? That means on top of whatever disgusting loot they got from clearing the thing, they¡¯ve gained even more experience and coins?!¡± Someone shouted in the crowd.<sub>-.</sub>

    Another followed up with a seemingly jealous tone, ¡°Damn! That¡¯s insane. I wonder what level they¡¯ve reached. If the Difficult mode could make a party level up three times with absolute certainty, what about the Very Difficult mode?! Surely, they¡¯ve already reached Lv.10!¡±

    Upon listening to the remark, everyone sucked in a sharp breath. The game had been live for no more than 6 hours in real-time, yet it was possible someone reached beyond Lv.10 already? The idea of clearing that mode was just too ludicrous.

    Then again, one could only imagine the look on these people¡¯s faces if they were to know that one individual in the party reached Lv.17 while the others neared Lv.14 after gaining the achievement experience! Perhaps their jaws would drop in utter stupefaction!

    Meanwhile, under themotion created by his action, Kieran unequipped his armor, returning to the state of a beginner character. The only pieces of decent equipment he left on were the ring and ne recently acquired. Afterward, he slipped away from the crowd by concealing his presence.

    In return, Sithik and the others became the objects of attention.

    ¡°Hey! You there! You lot just came out of the dungeon, yeah? Say, how about you spill the beans concerning how to clear the dungeon, eh?¡± A tall, slender said within the crowd. They approached Altair and the others with two daggers strapped behind their waist.

    Evidently, this individual was a Thief like Altair. They went by the name of Despot. What¡¯s more, they weren¡¯t just some unknown passerby. This individual belonged to a gaming organization known as the Shadow Cartel.<sub></sub>

    The conversation made Kieran pause momentarily and turn around while shielding his presence behind arge tree. His eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Despot¡¯s appearance.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to respectfully decline because I don¡¯t know the answer,¡± Altair replied with an emotionless expression. He didn¡¯t back down as he stared Despot in the eyes.

    Despot clicked his tongue in annoyance before scowling at Altair. ¡°So, you mean to say you cleared the dungeon but don¡¯t know how to clear it? Do you think my Shadow Cartel will believe that half-assed excuse?

    Kieran¡¯s eyebrows rose at the mention of the Shadow Cartel. It was one of the darker organizations with origins in the United States. The Shadow Cartel was only a third-ss organization in terms of power and structure, but they were needlessly hostile. As far as he knew, only the head of this gaming organization was a Ranker.

    As for the rest, they were skilled but far from enough to be Rankers on what¡¯s known as the Exemr Record. This record was aption of all renowned gamers with incredible potential and talent, created by the Gamer Republic Corporation.

    Rankers were just the beginning of the Exemr Record. In the grand scheme of things, even Rankers were barely worth mentioning. After all, there were far more significant presences that could squash them under their foot.

    Still, Kieran was intrigued by the appearance of a third-ss organization. They were called organizations for the time being because official guilds couldn¡¯t be formed yet inside Zenith Online. Establishing one would require ample preparations of strength, achievements, and financial outreach¨Drequirements that currently escaped all yers¡¯ capabilities.

    ¡®Shadow Cartel, is it? Trying to strongarm their way into obtaining information?¡¯ Kieran thought with a faint smirk. He didn¡¯t need to lift a finger because he noticed Altair imperceptibly reached for his daggers.

    The moment Despot tried to make a move, he would strike. Not only was his attributes and level superior, but so was his equipment! The odds of Altair losing a fight was practically zero.

    On the other hand, Kieran didn¡¯t wish for any conflict in his current condition. Should he suffer any setback, that would undoubtedly spark an enmity that the Shadow Cartel would most likelye to rue!

    ¡°Tch, so that¡¯s how it will be? Good, I¡¯ve understood your message loud and clear,¡± Despot smirked, ncing over the other party members. However, it dawned upon him then that they were missing one.

    ¡®Is this not the party leader, Aatrox?¡¯ Despot thought. Unlike most people here, he was one of the people who didn¡¯t watch the stream. Despot only came here after noticing everyone pool from Gena Vige. Thus, he wasn¡¯t aware that the person he sought was in fact a Warrior.

    Nevertheless, an ignorant mistake on his part was still a mistake.

    After sparing Altair and the others a sinister look for a few moments, Despot withdrew from the area and walked away casually. He understood there was more than one way to acquire information. Besides, too many eyes and ears were present to properly capitalize on any given information.

    On the other hand, Kieran smiled helplessly while watching the indicator on his screen sh nonstop. There were countless friend requests and an insane amount of message requests attached to the friend requests.

    Initially, Kieran nned to disable the friend and party invite function, but he dyed that action for a moment. As he read through the messages, he came across multiple individuals sending messages on behalf of various third-ss and second-ss organizations. These messages were received on both Kieran¡¯s stream and in-game channels.

    Since the two ounts were now linked, he received mirrored notifications. Meaning, if he was in his stream ount, he could see the message received in Zenith Online despite not being active and vice versa.

    ¡®I suppose it¡¯s beneath first-ss guild organizations to reach out to me. However, the pockets of those reaching out to me should be deep enough,¡¯ Kieran surmised. The opportunity offered by the countless messages was just too great to pass up! All of these guild organizations were asking for insider information. Amongst the offers, two of them stood out from the rest.

    ¡®Look who it is¡­ the Shadow Cartel. Interesting. Now, this other one, the Warhead Syndicate¡ªthey¡¯re quite an infamous bunch if I¡¯m not mistaken,¡¯ Kieran thought while silently evaluating the choices at hand.

    This was undoubtedly an opportunity to make some much-needed money. After all, if it was one thing he needed, it was money. Kieran was sure that establishing a n to deal with his irreconcble enemy would have an absurd cost. Therefore, while the market within Zenith Online was malleable and susceptible to drastic changes based on the knowledge and items introduced, Kieran needed to make prudent choices.

    First, he sifted through all of the names present until he pinpointed any name linked to a significant backing. Once he did so, he sent out an identical message. The contents were vague, so it could be aimed at anyone. However, Kieran didn¡¯t mince his words in the slightest.

    In the reply, the first matter he mentioned was that he wasn¡¯t dispensing any exclusive information. It¡¯d be essible to all who could afford it. Whether or not they could make any considerable impression in their region would depend upon their individual skill.

    Next, Kieran divided the amount of information into three different packages¡ªBasic, Standard, and Premium. The Basic Version only mentioned the ssbinations that worked well in beginner dungeons and what skills to pick. The Standard Version addressed what skills should be leveled up and chosen to tackle these early dungeons. Lastly, the Premium Version vaguely hinted at environmental maniption but not entirely.

    Instead of providing this on Zenith Online¡¯s forum space, Kieran added a special link under his stream¡¯s saved video description. This action would not only generate more ys but also allow anyone to directly purchase from the interface.

    This way, Kieran dealt with the iing messages without exposing himself to the unneeded conversation. Since this information was geared towards organizations that took gaming seriously, Kieran adjusted the price ordingly.

    The price of the information ranged from $500-$2,500. Naturally, the most basic information was $500, and the premium information was $2,500. The drastic jump in price for thest package happened because it included information that could be carriedter into Zenith Online. Eventually, it would be widely known, so Kieran would rather profit from guiding them in that direction earlier.

    Furthermore, controlling the flow of knowledge permeating the gamingmunity would give Kieran a clear understanding of themunity¡¯s current events while maintaining a rtivelyrge control over possible future events. If this information fell into the right hands, it could also make the rise ofrger guilds in Zenith Online a tad more difficult while keeping his identityparatively hidden.

    Additionally, Kieran used the Gamer Republic Connect tform because its inte security was among the highest avable. The information inside the package couldn¡¯t be duplicated by any outside parties. Then again, Kieran wasn¡¯t particrly worried about this. He simply needed to guarantee some type of ie for the immediate future.

    Once that was done, Kieran denied all of the friend requests and disappeared from the leveling field, heading back to Gena Vige.

 Chapter 28 Requirements Met

    ¡ª-

    While traveling back toward Gena Vige, Kieran stopped multiple times to rest against the trees and catch his breath. His character¡¯s Stamina drained at an unusually rapid rate because it linked directly to how well he could control himself.

    Since his mental fatigue was incredibly high, his regeneration rates plummeted with corresponding sky-high consumption rates. Typically, Kieran could make the journey from the Forest of Beast¡¯s dungeon area to Gena Vige in under an hour, but he stopped every 10 minutes to rest for thrice that amount!

    Kieran¡¯s only saving grace was that his level made nearby monsters avoid him. Otherwise, a crowd of powerful wolves would undoubtedly surround him.

    ¡®This is exactly why I can¡¯t over-exert myself without the proper virtual equipment. I need that pod, but it¡¯s just far outside of my financial limits right now,¡¯ Kieran inwardly groaned while gripping a tree by his side.

    Kieran¡¯s current VR Helmet was extremelycking in every sensepared to the Virtual Pod he mentioned. Not only did the Virtual Pods monitor and help regte the yer¡¯s vital signs, but its synchronization rate was far better.

    Even the worst-quality virtual pod supported a 100% sensory emtion, meaning every sensation could feel exactly like real life.

    Of course, if the user wished to, they could manipte the settings and lower them to their liking. After all, not everyone would want to experience the sensation of having a bone crushed while inside the game. It was already an unimaginable pain in real life. Most people came to the game scene to escape life, not experience it again.

    Conversely, some people would dly experience such a feeling. For example, people with sicknesses that affected their ability to feel or ability to move, leaving them confined to a chair or bed for the rest of their natural lives.

    What¡¯s more, the 2x time dtion made it even more enjoyable, allowing ample time for average people to abandon the reality of their dreadful situation. A day inside Zenith Online was equal to half a day in reality. Even individuals tied down by responsibilities would have time to enjoy the game at the most casual level and maintain a rtively fair amount of progress.

    As long as it wasn¡¯t their goal topete with people who yed for a living, then they were bound to enjoy the game.

    Meanwhile, Kieran finally amassed enough power to continue his journey back to the vige. Even if Kieran added more points to Vitality and Endurance, it wouldn¡¯t affect his current situation.

    This wasn¡¯t an issue regarding Kieran¡¯s character, so it couldn¡¯t be appeased by any actions performed in-game. What Kieran needed was rest. But, he couldn¡¯t log out just yet. Even if he possessed a tremendous lead over the others, he still needed toplete his quest to receive the rewards.

    Therefore, Kieran trudged his body back to Gena Vige, arriving almost an hour and a half after leaving the dungeon area. His first stop was the Warrior Hall. However, before entering, he equipped all of his armor and weapon. He already understood Scar¡¯s personality; Kieran would be berated if he entered the Hall looking like a beggar.<sub>-.</sub>

    The moment he arrived inside the Warrior Hall, Scar lifted his head and gazed at Kieran with a faint smile. A crimson glow danced within his pupils as he stood from his throne-like chair and walked towards Kieran while pping slowly and loudly.

    ¡°It would appear you¡¯vepleted the task given to you. And, it seemed you¡¯ve even gone overboard,¡± Scar said. He stopped in front of Kieran a momentter and inhaled softly. A proud smirk appeared on his face as Scar nodded contentedly.

    ¡°I smell the blood of a strong beast on you.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because there is some,¡± Kieran said before revealing a small vial. Although the quest didn¡¯t mention anything regarding a quest item, this still dropped from Grifear after Kieran cleared the dungeon. It was a small vial containing a liquid oddly simr to blood.

    ¡¸ Blood Essence (Quest Item)

    Item Rank: Rare

    Item Grade: Exceptional (54)

    Description: The condensed essence of a monster. The essence holds all of the properties of the beast ites from. It can be used in multiple ways, but alchemy and forging are the mostmon. ¡¹

    Scar snatched the vial from Kieran¡¯s palm and tossed it upward while sparing the item a cursory nce. He gleaned all of its details in a second and smiled at Kieran. Suddenly, the vial froze in the air while Scar made a minor motion.

    ¡°You did well.¡±

    ¡´System: You havepleted the quest ?A Warrior¡¯s Task?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 5 Silver Coins.¡µ

    ¡´System: Your favorability with Scar has increased by 50 points! [Status: Friendly]¡µ<sub></sub>

    ¡´System: You have leveled up! [Lv.17 ¡ú Lv.18]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 5 Unassigned Attribute Points and 2 Skill Points.¡µ

    ¡°Since you¡¯ve done well, it¡¯s only fitting that I reward you, no? Make sure to stand still,¡± Scar instructed.

    Kieran obliged with a faint nod. Truth be told, he didn¡¯t wish to move at all. So, themand to stand still didn¡¯t seem like amand at all.

    Suddenly, Scar snapped his finger, and the Boss Blood Essence vial shattered. A crimson gleam resonated from Scar¡¯s eyes as he slowly glided his finger across the empty space. In response, the blood followed his guidance.

    Afterward, Scar flicked his finger, causing the essence to fly towards Kieran, prating his chest. Shockingly, there was no pain following this action. The Boss Blood Essence entered Kieran¡¯s body, but he felt a somewhat pleasant sensation that subsided quickly.

    A few notifications appeared before Kieran¡¯s view in exchange for the disappearance of the pleasant feeling.

    ¡´System: Strength has increased by 11 points.¡µ

    ¡´System: Vitality has increased by 10 points.¡µ

    ¡´System: Endurance has increased by 7 points.¡µ

    Kieran¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. He didn¡¯t know that Blood Essence had such an effect. It was even better than some potions made by Apprentice Alchemists in some cases!

    However, Kieran also felt something was amiss because the description didn¡¯t explicitly mention this property. As a result, Kieran turned toward Scar with a skeptical gaze.

    ¡°Does all Blood Essence have this kind of effect?¡±

    Scar shook his head with a proud expression as he practically ignored Kieran¡¯s skeptical gaze.

    ¡°Nope, not at all. Didn¡¯t you say before that I should give you a special reward? That¡¯s what this is, and it¡¯s aplished by using a characteristic of my expertise. After going above and beyond, surely I need to reciprocate the same.¡±

    ¡´System: Scar¡¯s favorability towards you has increased to ?Intrigued?!¡µ

    ¡°I see,¡± Kieran nodded before ultimately taking a seat. He took a look at his stats before softly shaking his head with a difficult-to-read expression.

    ¡¸Name: Aatrox

    Lv.18 (Experience: 0/30,000)

    ss: Warrior

    Title(s): None

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    [?Stats?]-

    Health: 535/535 (0.2 HP regen/sec)

    Mana: 130/130 (0.15 MP regen/sec)

    Stamina: 150 (0.15 Stamina regen/sec)

    Attack Power: 202

    Defense: 127

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    [?Attributes?]-

    ?Strength: 85 (58 + 27 + 0)

    ?Intelligence: 20 (20 + 0 + 0)

    ?Agility: 44 (41 + 3 + 0)

    ?Endurance: 40 (20 + 20 + 0)

    ?Control: 30 (30 + 0 + 0)

    ?Vitality: 45 (30 + 15 + 0)

    ?Perception: 50 (50 + 0 + 0)

    [Unassigned Stat Point: 10]

    [Skill Points: 4]      ¡¹

    The first thing that caught Kieran¡¯s attention was his Experience. Although the quest rewarded a level up, it erased all of the progress made by his achievement reward. While it was a trade-off, Kieran still felt it was an eptable trade-off. It wouldn¡¯t take long for him to acquire enough Experience to reach Lv.20 and hopefully begin his transition into a Tier 1 ss.

    The second matter that impacted Kieran significantly was the condition of his stats. Not even a Knight of the same level had a hundred percent chance of possessing the same amount of Health and Defense that he did.

    Regrettably, Kieran noticed he had a lot of future bncing to do regarding his stats. As of right now, he was far too slow for any of the more difficult tasks he had in mind. More importantly, his Control was beginning tog behind considerably.

    While Strength was his overall focus, he couldn¡¯t unleash the full potential of this Attribute without having the Golden Ratio present. This became even more obvious after undergoing a ss promotion.

    Aside from the matters involving his stats, Kieran was more surprised by the loot in his possession. Even though he didn¡¯t pick up the equipment from the boss and instead left it to the others, his inventory was flush with Silver and Copper Coins. Perhaps not even gaming organizations who were in the process of setting up gold farming operations had as many liquid funds as him.

    Because he didn¡¯t take most of the equipment, the party allowed him to keep nearly 60% of the coins earned in the run. As a result, Kieran had upwards of 45 Silver after including the quest and achievement reward.

    The only downside to his current situation was the fact Beginner Viges didn¡¯t give ess to specific systems, nor was there an Auction House avable. Therefore, yers would have to set up temporary stalls to sell their items for the time being.

    After a thought, Kieran opened the mailing system and funneled all of the useless equipment in his possession to Altair, attached with messages regarding what he should do with it. He didn¡¯t see himself having the time to sell, especially since he wanted to log out soon.

    Once he finished all of this, Kieran looked at Scar, who seemed to have an unusual expression when factoring in his usual demeanor.

    ¡°I have a question, Aatrox. Do you know what a Berserker is?¡±

    Ding!

    ¡´System: You have triggered a hidden questline! You may continue with the questline depending on your response and action.¡µ

    Kieran¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement upon reading this message despite his exhausted condition. Earning Scar¡¯s intrigue, amongst a few other factors, allowed Kieran to trigger the beginning of his special ss change!

 Chapter 29 First Hidden Quest

    ¡ª-

    Hidden Quests were extremely difficult to trigger within Zenith Online because they required the user to fulfill many stringent requirements. In fact, Kieran was only aware of 2 Hidden Quests present inside Gena Vige. However, if one triggered one of the quests, they couldn¡¯t activate the other.

    Both Hidden Quests were rted to epting some type of special quest. In Kieran¡¯s case, his quest involved the Berserker ss seeing as it was the only ss Scar mentioned. Naturally, Kieran was aware of the ss and all the details regarding its strengths and weaknesses. He simply didn¡¯t know how the wielder of the ss obtained it in the past.

    Now, Kieran understood that it was more so up to Scar¡¯s arbitrary decision after evaluating many Warriors. Thus far, Kieran was the only Warrior with exceptional potential and growth speed to appear before Scar. General yers were currently logging in to the game, so their levels varied from 1 to 4.

    Meanwhile, people who yed from the moment the game went online were around Lv.8 or so. But, the higher caliber yers were all nearing Lv.10, especially the organizations who purchased Kieran¡¯s ¡°guides¡± and took time to formte viable clear strategies from the information provided.

    Simply put, Kieran¡¯s level was almost twice as high as the other parties because of the Medallion of Growth. Without this item, his progress would only be on par with his former party. But, thanks to the medallion, Kieran didn¡¯t have to worry about being left in the dust once he logged out of the game.

    To give equal opportunity, each region of Zenith Online possessed its fair share of unique opportunities. So, Kieran needn¡¯t stress himself about making the most of every early advantage. As long as he chose the right ones, he could split his focus between developing his life and strength.

    Concerning the question Scar asked, Kieran rubbed his chin in thought for a moment before silently nodding. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it before. It¡¯s a specialized path that a Warrior can take.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Scar nodded with a satisfied gleam in his eye. However, he didn¡¯t appearpletely content. He crossed his arms while looking at Kieran with an imperious gaze. ¡°What defines a Berserker?¡±

    ¡®What defines a Berserker,¡¯ Kieran repeated mentally. Instead of responding, Kieran closed his eyes with a faint smile. A Berserker was a ss he was all too familiar with. It was a ss famed for its destructive power and resistance toward outer force. Additionally, it was one that grew stronger in increasingly perilous situations.

    Kieran basked in the glory of all his feats as he relished in his memories. He saw himself wielding hisrge greatsword of unimaginable weight and sundering a battlefield with a single overwhelmingly powerful attack.

    What¡¯s more, he watched as countless people fled from his position but did so unsessfully because his great weapon fell them with a single attack. Even people of simr caliber couldn¡¯t withstand more than a few minutes of battle before falling against Kieran¡¯s imperious presence.<sub>-.</sub>

    After relishing these memories, Kieran felt he would give anything to return to that realm of power. Therefore, he opened his eyes with a profound look in his eyes. ¡°What defines a Berserker is their ability to persist under the onught of many perils. The strength to forcibly crush their opposition and emerge victorious all while withstanding tremendous forces.¡±

    Listening to Kieran¡¯s response, genuine shock appeared on Scar¡¯s face that was soon reced by boundless pride. ¡°Now, what if I tell you there is a Berserker who possesses these qualities but amplifies them far beyond the normal standard, entering a kind of power that isn¡¯t avable to all masses.¡±

    ¡°Does such a Berserker exist?¡± Kieran asked while feigning ignorance as best as he could. Of course, he was aware of such a Berserker! Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have gone through the trouble of trying to befriend Scar.

    ¡°Undoubtedly. I am living proof of such a character,¡± Scar replied.

    Afterward, a small change urred in Scar¡¯s presence. He leaked a potent crimson aura, and his expression became savage as ck markings filled his body. Additionally, the armor around his body cracked and fell apart, revealing a chiseled body seemingly forged by a god with keen attention to detail.

    Once this aura appeared, Scar reced his attire with equipment made from unimaginably powerful beast hide. Scar didn¡¯t like the restriction of heavy armor. Instead, he wore specially made attire that had the flexibility of leather armor while keeping the weight of heavy armor,pletely liberating his movements.

    At the same time, Kieran finally got a glimpse at Scar¡¯s true information.

    ¡¸Lv.515 The Bloody Hero, Scar (*Mythic)

    ss: Blood Fiend (True Berserker)

    Health: ??? (100%)

    Affiliations: ?War Deity Council? ?Hero¡¯s Sanctuary?  ¡¹<sub></sub>

    Kieran¡¯s jaw dropped in exasperation. Despite Kieran knowing Scar¡¯s general information towards the middle stages of the game, he didn¡¯t know his level was this high at the beginning of the game. He met Scar on one of the World Quests in the past, but at that time, he was already above Lv.600. In exchange, most yers were only above Lv.150.

    ¡®As I thought, this dude is an absolute monster. Not to mention, he isn¡¯t really a Mythical NPC either,¡¯ Kieran thought after noticing the oddity regarding Scar¡¯s NPC rank. In truth, Scar¡¯s abilities were more robust than any typical NPC of the same level.

    He was what¡¯s known as a Mythical Hero, meaning he yed a pivotal role in maintaining the rtive state of peace throughout Zenith Online. There were only seven individualsuded as Mythical Heros. Each of them held a legacy that could only be obtained by one yer.

    Sadly, obtaining this legacy also forced these characters to ept unavoidable quests. In Kieran¡¯s case, he would undoubtedly end up visiting both the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary and War Deity Council at some point.

    Meanwhile, Scar exposing his true strength meant he wouldn¡¯t remain in Gena Vige for long. He would soon have to venture elsewhere.

    ¡°I only agreed toe here to search for some worthy fresh blood. Someone capable of taking upon the mantle of a True Berserker without being sullied by any other paths. The earlier I find said individual, the more potential for growth. Tell me, are you interested in epting my request?¡± Scar asked while reigning in his pressure. If he let it run amok, it would destroy all of the Halls.

    Not even the protective arrays could contain the power of a Mythical Hero!

    ¡°Without a doubt. I¡¯m more than willing to follow this path,¡± Kieran answered solemnly but he just couldn¡¯t hide his excitement well enough. Generally, the difficulty of ss promotions coincided with the grade of the ss. However, the overall difficulty could be manipted. For example, standard ss promotions ranged from Easy, Medium, and Hard.

    The moreplicated the promotion quest, the higher the rewards.

    Scar leaned forward ever so slightly and smiled, revealing a few incredibly sharp teeth. His canines were simr to that of a ferocious wolf! ¡°If what you say is true, then you¡¯ll have to be evaluated.¡±

    Kieran¡¯s eyebrow rose in shock because he had yet to reach Lv.20. How could he ept a ss promotion quest without achieving the required level? Could Scar really circumvent the rules like this? However, Kieran¡¯s many questions were answered once the system revealed the ¡°evaluation¡± Scar mentioned.

    ¡®Damn! I¡¯m being scammed, I tell you!¡¯ Kieran thought with a disgruntled frown.

    Ding!

    ¡´System: Do you wish to ept the Hidden Quest ?The Berserk Path¡¯s Original Wielder?? [ Y / N ]?¡µ

    ¡¸ The Berserk Path¡¯s Original Wielder (Hidden Quest)

    Quest Rank: SSS

    Rmended Party Size: 1

    Rmended Party Level: 18

    Objectives: Although Scar¡¯s identity as the Mythical Hero of Blood has brought the renown of the Berserk Path to its current pinnacle throughout the kingdom and empires of the world, he is not the originator of this path. Therefore, it is not his sole right to bestow the famed path upon you. While his view of you is above the rest, only with the blessing of his master can he allow you to take upon this mythical mantle. Before the presence of the crimson glow, all potential will beid bare!

    ¨C Meet with the original wielder. 0/1

    ¨C Enter the ?Wildes?. 0/1

    ¨C Gain the recognition of Scar¡¯s master. 0/1

    ¨C Return the letter to Scar without reading its contents. 0/1

    Rewards:

    ¨C Ability to take up the ?True Berserker? Promotion Quest

    ¨C Honored Favorability with Scar

    ¨C Exclusive Teacher (Scar)

    ¨C ?Zero Loss of Potential? [Trait]

    ¨C 50,000 Experience

    Failure Penalty:

    ¨C Loss of ?True Berserker? Questline

    ¨C Reverted to a standard ?Berserker? Promotion Questline

    ¨C Scar¡¯s Favorability will be locked at Neutral (0).

    *Special Note: The opportunity outweighs the medal of growing stronger quickly. ¡¹

    ¡´Warning: This quest expires if the Original Wielder isn¡¯t met with one natural week¡¯s time.¡µ

    A natural week referred to a week¡¯s time on Earth. Unless strictly mentioned, all skill cooldowns, quest timers, and other duration-rted functions in the game operated on Zenith Online¡¯s time flow. Only special quests like the Hidden Quest above without a precise quest timer could issue warnings using natural time.

    ¡´Warning: This quest automatically fails if you fail to gain the master¡¯s recognition.¡µ

    ¡´Warning: Failing this quest will automatically set the Berserker ss as your ss promotion.¡µ

    After reading through the information, it wasn¡¯t Scar who would administer the evaluation, but his master! Even Kieran wasn¡¯t aware of some mysterious master. ¡®I never knew this guy wasn¡¯t the one who created this path¡­ to think he received it from someone else. If that¡¯s true¡­ then just how strong is this so-called master?¡¯

    Furthermore, it seemed this quest was set in the Wildes! The Wildes held a second name for anyone beneath Lv.100¡ªthe Forbidden Expanse. Not only was the Wildes home to many incredibly powerful enemies but there were also many wild races inhabiting that ce.

    As the name suggested, it was an expanse ofnd rivaling all four of Zenith Online¡¯s continents. The North Continent¡ªNelorias. The South Continent¡ªzoya. The Western Continent¡ªWaikrune. The Eastern Continent¡ªEnira.

    Nevertheless, Kieran still epted regardless of the warnings and the mysteries surrounding this quest. Even his knowledge of the game wouldn¡¯t help with clearing this quest because it fell outside his realm of expertise!

    Fortunately, the rewards were enticing, especially the trait that he had never seen before. ¡®Zero Loss of Potential? I wonder if it¡¯s just as useful as the rest of the rewards. There¡¯s only one way to find out though.¡¯

 Chapter 30 Symptoms of A Hard Fight

    ¡ª-

    Although there was no discernible information regarding the Zero Loss of Potential trait, its name stood out to Kieran. Most traits followed a single name basis and typically referred to something special about an individual that was especially heightened. However, one usually wouldn¡¯t be able to awaken any traits until after theypleted a ss promotion.

    Only then could one be considered a stable part of Zenith Online. Before that, beginner sses and individuals were simply cannon fodder. Even the weakest of NPCs could easily squash a beginner character, including the stronger ones.

    Kieran couldn¡¯t help but feel boundless excitement and dread towards the uing quest. For one, its rating was SSS. Meaning, at some point, the quest could be exceedingly challenging to clear. However, difficulty and reward went hand in hand. Kieran simply couldn¡¯t give up the chances of opening new routes involving his future.

    But, this quest couldn¡¯t be tackled just yet.

    First, Kieran felt he should be in peak condition before even thinking about venturing towards the Wildes. Let alone a beginner character, even someone with an Awakened ss might not necessarily make it out of that ce in one piece.

    Furthermore, the death penalty after entering that ce grew frightening, which is why it was rumored to be an unsanctioned zone for most yers. What¡¯s more, its general jurisdiction escaped the control of Zenith Online¡¯s leading powers.

    ¡®I wonder what type of individual Scar¡¯s master is. More importantly, what realm of power do they reside in? Could it be some type of Divine Being? Nah, no way¡­ I don¡¯t think they¡¯re allowed in this realm,¡¯ Kieran thought while rubbing his chin dubiously. Although his knowledge regarding Zenith Online¡¯s lore and history was shoddy, he was sure about one thing¡ªthis ne they started out in wasn¡¯t the only one.

    There were countless nes and realms one could venture to in the future once enough strength was required. One rule set in ce by an unknown party was that beings above a certain power level were forbidden from entering this ce.

    This ce where yers spawned had many names, but Kieran understood that only two held some significance. The first significant name was Xenith¡ªthe true name of this world that Zenith Online surrounded. Secondly, upper characters usually referred to this ce as the Transient Realm.

    In other words, a ce where only subjectively weaker beings could reside. This always puzzled Kieran, so if he got the chance, he would definitely delve into the reason for this mass realm separation.<sub>-.</sub>

    Suddenly, Scar raised his hand towards Kieran, ¡°You may meet him when you¡¯re ready. I advise you to be at your strongest and show your strongest traits. If you don¡¯t receive the master¡¯s blessing, I won¡¯t be able to help you. You and the Berserk Path just won¡¯t be fated for each other.¡±

    ¡°You can take me at my word¡ªI will be at my best when I meet the master. A lot rests on the line, so failure can¡¯t be an option for me,¡± Kieran answered. The legacies, or sses of the Seven Mythical Heroes,y at the epitome of the Transient Realm¡¯s potential legacies.

    Kieran couldn¡¯t afford to give up such a valuable opportunity. Even at their base forms, these hidden sses were stronger than various rare, unique, and legendary sses. Additionally, they were unique in that they didn¡¯t require an individual to first possess any specific prerequisite intermediate ss.

    They could be epted, or rather, they should be obtained when a character is a simple base ss.

    ¡°Good. Just remember¡ªmy advice to you is do not falter. You¡¯ll understand what I mean once you meet the master. Additionally, I won¡¯t remain here for long. There are other matters I must take care of. If you fail, then I won¡¯t be here when you get back. However, should you seed, I¡¯ll remain here until you aplish what I seek of you. Do you understand?¡± Scar said in a tone that didn¡¯t allow one to question him.

    Therefore, Kieran nodded with a solemn expression.

    ¡°Excellent. You¡¯ve grown stronger but do not becent. It¡¯s always easiest in the beginning,¡± Scar said. Afterward, he took a seat and waved his hand slightly. ¡°Before you do anything, attack me. Let me test your progress with those skills I¡¯ve imparted unto you.¡±

    Kieran¡¯s eyebrows knitted slightly. He truly wasn¡¯t in the condition to execute such attacks. However, he wasn¡¯t in a situation where he could disobey Scar¡¯s humble request. Therefore, Kieran dropped his shoulders and took a few steps back.

    He first activated Warrior¡¯s Aura, which drew Scar¡¯s pleased nod. Then, he rushed forward and executed Savage Break with a stoic expression. However, Kieran¡¯s face nched when he suffered the consequences of his actions.

    Bang!<sub></sub>

    ?Immune?

    ?Reflect?

    -300

    ¡®Motherfu-¡­!¡¯ Kieran screamed out internally.

    Attacking Scar was worse than running one¡¯s fist into a brick wall! Kieran felt like his left arm was on the verge of shattering. It was almost as if the force of his Savage Break was forced right back into his arm after failing to make even the slightest dent in Scar¡¯s defenses.

    Conversely, Scar smiled. ¡°The next one, there¡¯s still one more.¡±

    Kieran¡¯s eyes narrowed in response. He couldn¡¯t tell if this man wanted to kill him passively. If Force sh deflected the same amount of damage, then he would undoubtedly kill himself. As a precaution, to hopefully avoid such a situation, Kieran activated Hardened Skin and calmed himself.

    A gale of wind surfaced around Kieran¡¯s de as he roared and released a Force sh fueled by everyone ounce of his strength.

    Boom!

    ?Immune?

    However, instead of allowing the force to ricochet from his body, Scar extended his left hand and opened it. An instantter, he gently clenched his fist. The pressure created by Kieran¡¯s attack was utterly destroyed due to this action.

    In return, Scar rubbed his chin while pondering his own evaluation. ¡°It¡¯s not bad. Both of the attack skills appear to be growing well. As for the aura, it¡¯s bing powerful. But, I¡¯m more impressed by your willingness to unleash an attack that would potentially end yourself. At least you present a sliver of resolve.¡±

    ¡°So? What¡¯s your verdict?¡± Kieran said breathlessly. He was genuinely exhausted at this point, teetering on the verge of logging out.

    ¡°Noment thus far. Anywho, go and prepare. Don¡¯t let the opportunity pass you by,¡± Scar said.

    ¡°Mm,¡± Kieran nodded before turning around. Once he left, however, Scar crossed his arms with a peculiar expression hidden by a faint smile.

    ¡®Did that old hag try to snag my catch? I smelled her on him, and it was quite strong. She should have given him some assistance for him to grow this fast. Either way, he isn¡¯t suited for her path. I doubt he has a thirst for knowledge that she seeks,¡¯ Scar thought.

    Naturally, the woman he mentioned was Agatha, the only other NPC Kieran had any interaction with. The only matter Scar got wrong was his perception of Kieran. He wasn¡¯t as one-sided as Scar believed. There was more to him than what met the eye.

    Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have felt a tinge of pain in his heart when he first saw Agatha¡¯s projected condition. Nevertheless, the window to ept any hidden quest regarding Agatha had long passed because she was no longer present within Gena Vige. It¡¯d now require ample work to receive any benefits from her. But¡­ that only remained true if one could locate her, to begin with.

    ¡­

    Outside the Warrior Hall¡­

    Kieran looked towards the shabby, run-down inns avable in Gena Vige and approached one of them. Once inside, Kieran¡¯s view was filled with many wooden tables and stools, followed by arge wooden desk towards the back.

    A lovely woman with a headwrap and clean but worn-out rags smiled at Kieran when he entered. ¡°Hello, wee to the Humble Inn. How many I help you?¡±

    ¡°May I have a basic room, please,¡± Kieran requested.

    Many rooms were avable, but the most basic one would suffice for Kieran. He didn¡¯t need the meager experience gain granted by resting in a more luxurious inn room. He simply needed a ce to log out and gain the temporary passive attained by rxing in a good sleeping environment for a set amount of time.

    ¡°That¡¯ll be 25 Copper Coins,¡± the innkeeper replied.

    Kieran passed her the coins without a hassle. It wasparable to buying 5 beginner health or mana points, but it was worth it.

    Afterward, Kieran went up to the room. But, before logging out, he sent a call request to Altair, who answered very shortly after.

    ¡°Yo? Why did you send me all of this damn equipment? Are you trying to keep me from leveling or something? Are you mad?!¡± Altair eximed. Right after, he frowned when he noticed Kieran was lying down!

    ¡°Shh shh, stopining so much. How much longer will you be online?¡±

    ¡°In regr hours? Probably until midnight,¡± Altair said after estimating how long it¡¯d take to sell most of the equipment then continue level up in the deep center of the Fanged Forest.

    ¡°Since you¡¯re doing me a solid, I¡¯ll return the favor. Check your mail in a moment. I¡¯m gonna log out, so you make use of this for the time being.¡±

    Afterward, Kieran pulled up a special function known as the Leasing System. It allowed a yer to lease pretty much anything for a set duration and price. In this case, Kieran waived any fee and set the lease period for 24 hours.

    A secondter, the Medallion of Growth disappeared from his inventory.

    Baffled screams sounded on the other side of the call once Altair checked his mail. ¡°You slick little shit, this is how you amassed that insane leveling speed? Do you know how much this is worth? And you¡¯re giving it to me?!¡±

    ¡°Of course I do, and no, I¡¯m not. As you saw in the message, it¡¯s leased. It¡¯ll automatically return to me once the duration expires. Anyway, make use of it now. See ya,¡± Kieran waved, selecting the log-out button.

    Altair was left baffled and struggled to mutter a sentence. He just couldn¡¯t understand how this guy was so lucky! He doubted that anyone else had their hands on an item like this already.

    ¡­

    The helmet on Kieran¡¯s head powered down and emitted faint noises before Kieran could take it off. When he did, he found himself lying in bed powerlessly. All he could think about was getting enough sleep. So, he ced the helmet on the desk by his side and rolled over.

    He didn¡¯t even think to check on the situation surrounding his stream and the reaction caused by limiting the ways to ess his ¡°guide¡±.

 Chapter 31 A Waste of Time

    ¡ª-

    By the time Kieran woke from his deep sleep, the rays of the morning sun were already shining brightly through the cracks in his curtains. Once the warm rays touched his face, Kieran¡¯s eyebrows knitted, and his eyelids trembled, opening slowly.

    A slight groan escaped his lips as he sat up in bed and nced around the room with the usual morning grogginess. The first thing he did was check the rm by his side. It hadn¡¯t rung, and even if it did, hisa-like sleep wouldn¡¯t be affected until he was suitably refreshed.

    Naturally, this was his body¡¯s current way of dealing with the umted mental fatigue.

    Shortly after, however, Kieran¡¯s stomach growled ferociously. He hadn¡¯t eaten all day yesterday, so he was particrly famished. After shaking off the morning grogginess, Kieran pulled himself out of bed and raided the fridge for anything sumptuous he could prepare.

    s, the only items in his kitchen were essential breakfast items¡ªeggs, bread to make toast, orange juice, and a few other items. From what Kieran remembered, this wasn¡¯t stocked by him. It was part of the services provided by the university he currently attended.

    Thus, Kieran frowned slightly and shook his head while softly poking at his body. ¡®This won¡¯t do at all. I¡¯m way too scrawny. I need to put on weight and muscle as soon as possible. Additionally, I should also start paying attention to a fitness routine. At least a basic one until I can properly understand my current condition.¡¯

    Kieran wasn¡¯t sure if extensive training would exacerbate his disorder since it was already presenting signs of abnormal activity. At most, he would probably have to stick to basic mobility exercises and weight training. He didn¡¯t dare delve into any vigorousbat training.<sub>-.</sub>

    Shortly after, Kieran whipped up a rtivelyvish breakfastposed of three delicious omelets flush with diced turkey and tomatoes topped with spices and garnishes that almost made him drool. His experiences in taking care of himself were still ingrained in Kieran. Zenith Online wasn¡¯t his only focus in his past; he was very particr about his body in his former life.

    While devouring his breakfast at an even pace, Kieran checked through his schedule after noticing it was a Monday¡ªa school day. Upon realizing this issue, Kieran frowned slightly. After all, he had alreadypleted his course, and the information was somewhat fresh on his mind. This situation was akin to Kieran taking remedial sses.

    Thus, Kieran made a concession. If it was too unbearable, then he¡¯d just have to stop going altogether. It wasn¡¯t like he aimed to be awyer or an esteemed doctor. There was no need for him toplete countless years of academic toil that wouldn¡¯t be used in the future.

    ¡°I have no goddamn use for these forms and crap,¡± Kieran grumbled softly. Still, he at least needed to visit the university today. So, after finishing his breakfast and stretching, Kieran freshened up and threw on casual wear that one would see every day on the street.

    His wardrobe wasn¡¯t the best,cking designer clothing or shy suits suitable for high-ss events. That wasn¡¯t his life right now. It could be said that Kieran was indeed at the ¡°bottom¡± of the socialdder. Of course, this didn¡¯t bother Kieran because he understood most individuals at that level were superficial with no real personality.

    And, even if they did have personality, it was oftentimes difficult to stomach for long periods of time since their entitlements made them feel superior to others. This was especially true for socialites born with silver spoons.

    With a deep sigh, Kieran stepped through the door and looked into the distance. The university¡ªMetro University¡ªwas within tolerable walking distance since it was the most reputable university in New Metro City.<sub></sub>

    Still, Kieran sauntered down the street, walking at his own pace. This slow stroll turned a typical 15-minute walk into a 30-minute one. Soon enough, Kieran passed through the university gates at 10:30.

    By the time he reached the lecture hall, it was nearly at capacity. Kieran could only see a few seats empty. Fortunately, his favorite one, the one towards the extreme back of the room, was free. So, he took a seat.

    A minuteter, the rhythmic cking of heels echoed within the spacious hall as a beautiful woman with tied-up blonde hair and calm hazel eyes hidden behind slender frame sses walked up to the lecture podium.

    Many of the student¡¯s eyes brightened when they analyzed her frilly blouse and form-fitting skirt that clung to her supple legs. Whispers surfaced in the hall, but it was calmed down by a clear but velvety voice.

    ¡°Ahem, good morning. Have you all enjoyed your break from sses?¡±

    ¡°Oh, you bet. This new game came out, and ugh, it¡¯s like crack, Ms. Arman,¡± one of the students replied. Because of this statement, a conversation regarding Zenith Online was immediately sparked in the ssroom.

    Surprisingly, the professor didn¡¯t interrupt the ssroom as she silently nced around with her eyes soon falling on Kieran. ¡®That boy is always so quiet and to himself. Does he not have any interests? His marks are surprising well. It¡¯d just be a shame to squander precious college years by isting himself.¡¯

    However, contrary to what Kieran¡¯s expression showed, he was slightly shocked by the conversation taking ce. He couldn¡¯t recall anything menial like an everyday conversation, but he was aware of something. Younger people tended to be better at Zenith Online strictly because of their youthful energy.

    Sadly, the odds of any worthwhile people being in ss were highly unlikely. In fact, Kieran couldn¡¯t recall anyone who made a name for themselves in that spaceing from this university. Many of them attended the esteemed university and countless Ivy League schools.

    Be that as it may, Kieran heard a few people mention their level in-game, and they seemed to be decently above average. The highest number he heard from these students was Lv.13. However, given that it was over 24 hourster in-game, it wasn¡¯t all that impressive.

    Eventually, Ms. Arman guided the talk to today¡¯s lesson. This ss centered around math, so Kieran immediately felt bored, staring out the window with a vacant look. A couple of things passed his mind, especially the quest received from Scar.

    ¡®That quest forces me into the Wildes, but surely I won¡¯t have to fight, right? I mean, I doubt I could even inflict a single damage on monsters like that. Even the weakest beast was Lv.150 in the past,¡¯ Kieran thought to himself.

    The experience with Scar earlier was still fresh on his mind. His defenses were so outrageous that he was immune to Kieran¡¯s attack. The same thing would happen if the monsters he was pinned against were far too strong. The more he considered his circumstances, the more Kieran understood how frightening the legacies of the Seven Mythical Heroes truly were.

    ¡®I wonder what the Thief¡¯s counterpart would have to go through? If I remember properly, then Mythical Hero should have originated from the Assassin Path.¡¯

    While he couldn¡¯t collect all of those legacies since they were spread out across Zenith Online¡¯s continents and empires, their continent possessed two of the physically strongest legacies. The only issue with obtaining the other legacy was the inconsistency in the individual¡¯s location.

    Even Kieran wasn¡¯t aware of their name or appearance. He simply knew they operated within this Northern Continent, Nelorias.

    Suddenly, Kieran¡¯s eyes widened as he jerked his head to the side and snatched the air before his face. When he opened his hand, a piece of chalk sat motionlessly in his palm. He slowly averted his gaze from the chalk and looked towards the front of the ss.

    Ms. Arman held a charming and almost mischievous smile as she looked at Kieran, ¡°Is there something interesting out the window? You didn¡¯t even hear me call your name three times, Mr. Silver.¡±

    ¡°Ah,¡± Kieran responded. His lip rose slightly as he felt annoyed by having his train of thought broken. ¡®What a nuisance.¡¯ Out of instinct, Kieran flicked the chalk back towards Ms.Arman but it seemed like he unintentionally added some unusual angle to the return.

    While flying back towards the professor, the chalk spun rapidly, almost appearing like a flying disk. Upon realizing what he did, Kieran¡¯s expression plummeted. ¡®Crap¡­¡¯

    However, to Kieran¡¯s surprise, Ms.Arman smiled before raising her hand. Almost as if the chalk was attracted to her palm, the chalk veered to the side slightly and she caught it without any issue.

    Kieran¡¯s eyebrows jumped. ¡®This teacher¡­ That was undoubtedly something only a person who possessed an irregr mind could aplish.¡¯

    Simrly, Ms. Arman was astonished as well. ¡®What the¡­ I know it was only for an instant, but I¡¯m sure I felt pressure from that chalk. This boy is really not as simple as he seems. That quiet appearance must hide some secrets. Are his parents like mine?¡¯

    Sadly, it appeared Ms. Arman wouldn¡¯t get her answer at all. Kieran suddenly stood up from his seat and left the lecture hall. ¡®Yeah, this is absolutely pointless. It¡¯ll only hinder my progress. I don¡¯t have time to act like a normal student.¡¯

    ¡°U-uh¡­ teacher?¡± Someone muttered at the front row.

    ¡°Just a moment please,¡± Ms. Arman answered. She left the hall as well, just catching Kieran and tapping his shoulder.

    ¡°Did my actions frustrate you? If so, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sure you cherish your silence,¡± Ms. Arman sincerely apologized. But, she was taken aback when Kieran ced his hand on hers and moved it from his shoulder.

    ¡°Nah, it¡¯s just pointless for me to be here. I can¡¯t afford to waste time in school. Don¡¯t take my behavior personally. I¡¯m just in a rush,¡± Kieran answered.

    ¡°Waste of time? Wait, are you saying that you¡¯re thinking of unenrolling yourself? But you only have one more year until your degree ispleted!¡± Ms. Arman eximed. She was shocked because she felt his decision was truthfully the ¡°waste of time¡±. How could he up and leave when there was less than a year¡¯s time left before he got his degree?

    ¡°It¡¯s just a sheet of paper. In the meantime, I¡¯ll do what I do best. Ah, don¡¯t forget, miss, you still have a ss to teach,¡± Kieran said with a soft chuckle.

    He didn¡¯t wait for her response and simply walked away, heading towards the administration office.

 Chapter 32 The Insanity of Information

    ¡ª-

    Ms. Arman was left stunned by Kieran¡¯s abrupt departure but didn¡¯t chase after him. Although she felt Kieran was somewhat different from before, she could tell he appeared more focused than before, almost as if he had some direction that he wasn¡¯t present previously.

    ¡®It¡¯s really a waste for him to leave now, but it¡¯s not my ce to intrude upon his decision. After all, he¡¯s a full-grown adult,¡¯ Ms. Arman thought before slowly lowering her extended arm. She then nced back towards the ssroom with a thought continually prancing around her mind.

    ¡®Zenith Online? If the kids are raving about it so much, maybe I should see what the fuss is all about when I have time. I¡¯ll just have them order me one,¡¯ Ms. Arman thought before tapping at a holographic screen that appeared before her.

    In truth, she wasn¡¯t much older than Kieran or the other students, including the returning students. She was a professor in training, which was an endeavor she ventured upon after growing bored of her previous professions.

    From her appearance alone, one would mistake her for a student. She looked no older than 27 years old. Additionally, she held the charm of an older-sister type rather than the typical middle-aged woman appeal most female professors exuded.

    Nevertheless, she couldn¡¯t idle in the hallway for long. She returned to the lecture hall, whereas Kieran entered the administration office. He was immediately greeted by a rotund, balding male fiddling away in front of his desk.

    However, after sensing someone had entered, he perked up and cleared his throat. ¡°Yes?! Who is it?¡±<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°Greetings. I¡¯d like to make this visit as short as possible¡ªI¡¯m here to unenroll myself and drop all sses,¡± Kieran responded. As he mentioned, Kieran wasted no time before stating his reason for being here during in-session sses.

    But, after realizing that it was just a student and not another staff member, the overweight man didn¡¯t seem as professional and just grunted in response. ¡°Tsk tsk, why do you guys have no drive? So many of you just quit after feeling some stress from college work. How will you all survive in the real world?¡±

    ¡°Meh. Probably by getting a job that will ultimately have nothing to do with the degree we aimed for in the first ce. I mean,e on, how many people actuallynd jobs in the field they desire? But, just unenroll me.¡± Kieran shrugged indifferently.

    He was well aware that the older generation still held the close-minded views that you needed to study to get a good job in society. Meanwhile, countless people with unusual jobs seeded just as much, if not more, than the general poption.

    In Kieran¡¯s case, he recalled many gaming organizations giving their star members stupendous sries, benefits, and even amodations! Of course, Kieran couldn¡¯t see himself signing with any organization after his ordeal with the Golden Brigade.

    ¡®They¡¯ll probably all be like that. I can¡¯t risk my health for the material gain of someone else. Instead, I¡¯ll have to build my own empire brick by brick,¡¯ Kieran decided with a resolute gaze. Although he never wanted the position of being a Guild Leader in the past, the same couldn¡¯t be said about his mindset now.

    Kieran understood the importance of reliable allies when attempting extremely dangerous tasks. However, he also understood how challenging it was to acquire allies one could genuinely trust. After all, betrayal never came from an enemy.<sub></sub>

    ¡°Alright, whatever you say, kid. I just hope you don¡¯t regret your decision in the future. You can pass me your ID if you¡¯re done,¡± the administrator said. Thus, Kieran handed over the ID with no hassle whatsoever.

    After inputting his information, the administrator¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Young man, is this really what you want to do? You only need two more semesters¡¯ worth of ss to receive your degree! Why stop now?¡±

    ¡°I have my reasons,¡± Kieran responded. His tone insinuated his desire to drop the subject. Still, the fat man just couldn¡¯t see how Kieran¡¯s decision was reasonable.

    ¡°Is it financial? If so, I¡¯ll personally help you resolve the problem. One or two semesters shouldn¡¯t be too expensive,¡± the man said.

    However, Kieran immediately shook his head. ¡°I appreciate the offer, but that¡¯s not it. I have a few matters lined up that require my full attention, so I can¡¯t focus on school anymore.¡±

    Kieran took a short pause before evaluating the man before him. He wasn¡¯t unlikeable, and his offer was genuine, so Kieran offered some advice of his own. ¡°If you have extra moneyying around that isn¡¯t being utilized, I suggest you invest in Zenith Online for the ludicrous returnster.¡±

    Following that message, Kieran walked away from the administrator¡¯s desk with a slight wave. On the other hand, the administrator remained in a daze as he recalled the news filling all the news stations yesterday.

    ¡®Zenith Online, he said? Is that one of the reasons he left? Maybe he has some offer from argepany? Well, that¡¯s fine by him. I just hope the young man¡¯s future is secured,¡¯ the administrator thought. Regrettably, he didn¡¯t take Kieran¡¯s advice to heart.

    This was partly due to his skepticism towards epting financial advice from a younger person and his fruitless rtionship with games. Gaining money from them? In his youth, this man used to dump money into games like no tomorrow, yet he still couldn¡¯t beat some of the loosely gearedpetitors.

    On the other hand, after leaving the Metro University campus, Kieran brought up a screen with Zenith Online¡¯s forumpletely open. The first ten posts were all filled withments regarding his stream, especially the fight against Grifear, where he unleashed serious damage and seemingly pro-level mechanics.

    Some organizations even left messages in thements asking if anyone was familiar with this individual or possessed their contact information. After uploading his stream and guides, Kieran disabled requests and messages from people who weren¡¯t friends on his friends¡¯ list.

    Of course, this only applied to individuals who weren¡¯t a part of the Gamer Republic Corporation¡¯s staff. However, Kieran didn¡¯t log into his stream ount to skim through. He wanted to check on the reason his holo-phone vibrated incessantly after taking off the Do Not Disturb mode.

    A stream of tens of thousands of notifications appeared on his phone that made Kieran smile helplessly. ¡®I tell you, there¡¯s nothing like a bunch of GAMERS.¡¯

    Although organizations and wealthy, ready-to-dump funds, yers held most of the buying power in games like Zenith Online, one couldn¡¯t underestimate the power of the public funding space. They were in far greater numbers than organizations. In fact, thousands of groups didn¡¯t make the criteria to even be called third-ss.

    These groups were known as Gradeless Teams. Some of them were led by wealthy kids looking to somehow make a name for themselves, but there were also a lot of diamonds in the rough who established their teams by revealing superior skills.

    Kieran received countless follows from the ounts of casual yers and yers who fell into this Gradeless sort. What¡¯s more, some even immediately purchased the Basic and Standard Version of his guide.

    So, in addition to ballooning to over 40,000 followers in one night, the purchases of his guides were insane. Over 800 people brought the cheapest version. More than 300 people purchased the standard one. Finally, more than one hundred individuals purchased the most expensive one after receiving reviews about how much Kieran¡¯s advice relieved the difficulty of the beginner dungeons.

    Factoring in the revenue from the watch fee and all the donations with ridiculousments, the overall ie made Kieran stagger on the sidewalk! Despite working with hundreds of millions in the past, Kieran just couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the generated earnings!

    ¡°Jesus Christ,¡± Kieran muttered with widened eyes. Kieran earned a grand total of $1.1 million! Suppose anyone were to learn that someone earned over one million dors in less than 24 hrs of gaming. In that case, they¡¯d shit themselves in stupefaction!

    ¡®Selling information is an absolute goldmine. No wonder information guilds prospered despite theircking martial might.¡¯

    What¡¯s more, this wasn¡¯t the greatest surprise Kieran received. There was a shing notification on his stream alerts. When he clicked it, it opened a message that made Kieran grin from ear to ear.

    [E-mail: Hello, this is Chief Partner Advisor from the Gamer Republic tform. We¡¯re reaching out to you to extend the opportunity to partner with the tform. If you¡¯re interested, we can set up a virtual appointment to address any questions you may have. Otherwise, I hope to see you on the official roster of our partners! You have the potential to be great.]

    After reading through the email, Kieran grinned. Depending on the level of advertisement, a game¡¯s opening could lead to absurd profits. In Zenith Online¡¯s case, it was advertised on all major tforms, and itunched on the weekend to ensure everyone could at least try it out.

    While it didn¡¯t reveal anything particrly unique currently, its systems were well designed and promoted enjoyable leveling rather than incessant grinding that most VRMMORPGs required.

    Ultimately, Kieran agreed to set a virtual meeting with the staff member who reached out to him. In the meantime, Kieran withdrew the funds from the secure financial line of thepany.

    Now that he had some capital, he needed to address two matters immediately¡ªhis housing situation and the right doctor to run his test.

    Therefore, instead of heading home, Kieran sat in a cafe while scrolling through areas with avable apartments, preferably a space with high-end equipment, decent security, and great ess points.

    Soon enough, Kieran¡¯s options dwindled down to newly opened apartments in the inner city. The activity was bustling there, and all one¡¯s needs were rtively close, so Kieran booked a few viewings.

 Chapter 33 Appointment in the Underworld

    ¡ª-

    It didn¡¯t take long for Kieran to set viewing appointments after expressing how serious he was about renting a ce. Although he possessed a decent amount of funds, buying a property would be a foolish endeavor. For now, Kieran¡¯s best decision would be to rent a ce with all the facilities he needed since he couldn¡¯t squander all that money just yet.

    What¡¯s more, building a proper guild foundation required extreme funding.

    Approximately six hourster, Kieran visited thest chosen building¡ªa luxurious high-rise building with spacious apartments and a breathtaking view of the city below. He met the real estate agent there, who then walked him through the ce, introducing all it had to offer.

    While walking, however, Kieran was lost in thought. ¡®Selling information this way won¡¯t always be stable. Additionally, renting property won¡¯t cut in the future when I try to establish a guild.¡¯

    Kieran felt a slight headacheing on because besides money, setting up the foundation for a sessful guild required so much logistic footwork it made Kieran partially regret his decision. However, after recalling how much ie flowed through the Golden Brigade¡¯s properties and business deals, Kieran shook his head with a cold gleam in his eyes.

    ¡®I can¡¯t waver now.¡¯

    ¡°Sir? Sir?¡± the female agent called out, trying to get Kieran¡¯s attention.

    Finally, Kieran woke up from being lost in thought and gave the real estate agent a faint smile. ¡°I apologize; I was just too preupied. What were you saying?¡±

    ¡°Ah, don¡¯t mention it. I know how overwhelming property hunting can be. But, you¡¯re in luck because I think this has all of the qualities we mentioned previously. There is a high-grade training facility on the basement level. A pool and other rxing amenities on the roof floor. Overall, it¡¯ll have everything you need.¡±<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°Sounds good. And the price? What¡¯s it looking like?¡± Kieran responded. He couldn¡¯t decide until he knew how expensive a ce with everything he wanted was.

    ¡°Well, it depends. Do you want to own the unit or just rent it?¡±

    ¡°Preferably rent it.¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s so, then it¡¯s a deposit of $50,000 and a monthly rent of $30,000,¡±

    In response, Kieran revealed a wry smile, ¡®The inner city is a financial vacuum! While it is a beautiful ce, this rental price is kind of outrageous.¡¯ However, this price made Kieran even more curious about the cost of owning this luxurious middle-ss suite.

    ¡°And what¡¯s the price to own?¡±

    ¡°To own the suite¡­ that would be¡­ $3.6 million.¡±

    Hearing the price made Kieran¡¯s eye twitch. He would have undoubtedly flipped a table after hearing that outrageous price if it were the old him. $3.6 million? That was three times what he earned and the cost of renting this ce for 10 years!

    Kieran truly couldn¡¯t see someone renting for that long because, at that point, it was better to purchase ownership of the suite and be done with it.<sub></sub>

    Nevertheless, it fulfilled all of Kieran¡¯s needs and more. If he wasn¡¯t in the mood to cook, he could simply order food cooked by the crew of Michelin-star chefs downstairs. Thus, Kieran bit the bullet and agreed to lease this ce.

    Fortunately, it was pre-furnished, so Kieran didn¡¯t need to waste time regarding that matter. However, he did need to return home and grab his helmet which at some point, once the developers announced the arrival of far better equipment, would need to be reced.

    ¡°Great!¡± The female agent said with a beaming smile.

    The funds were immediately subtracted from Kieran¡¯s bank ount, but Kieran tapped her shoulder. ¡°What¡¯d you say your name was?¡±

    ¡°Cecilia,¡± the female real estate agent answered. She swiped a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled at Kieran while holding her clipboard.

    ¡°Well, thank you, Cecilia. I appreciate the trouble you went through, visiting so many ces before we could finally sign off on one. For your troubles.¡±

    Suddenly, a $5,000 tip notification appeared before Cecilia¡¯s eyes. They filled with not just tion but also astonishment as she looked at Kieran. Although she worked with a few well-off clients, their tips were never so generous. It truly made her day, which she expressed through a respectful bow.

    ¡°Thank you so much!¡±

    ¡°I hope we can work together in the future. In the meantime, you should do your best to develop rtionships that¡¯ll bring you to the top of the agent world. You seem trustworthy but just make sure to be cutthroat topetition,¡± Kieran said with a light chuckle.

    Unlike the administrator, Cecilia took Kieran¡¯s advice to heart. ¡®Cutthroat? Some of the advisors at thepany said I was too gentle with others, giving up many of my opportunities. I need to be more rigid!¡¯

    Shortly after, the two exchanged details while Kieran collected all of the credentials needed to ess the building, its ster amenities, and his apartment. Once that was finished, Kieran went back to his ce, packed up all of his immediately needed belongings then handed in the key to the building¡¯s overseer.

    While in transit, Kieran spent upwards of $25,000 buying the best inte equipment on express delivery. Both he and the order arrived at the same time. He then spent some hours setting up the equipment because not everything could be done without the proper means.

    Then, once Kieran was finished, he sat down and tinkered with both theputer before him and the advanced holo-phone on his wrist. As a result, both of them emitted an identical string of messages.

    ¡´Alert: The thorough search has detectedtent detection software.¡µ

    ¡´Alert: Scrubbing detection software¡­ All surveince functions have been disabled.¡µ

    ¡´Alert: A secure inte line has been established, and all searches will be routed through a shadowwork.¡µ

    ¡´Alert: You¡¯re free to browse the inte without a remaining footprint.¡µ

    ¡®I still have it, but I need to find that weaselly fellow. It¡¯ll be much easier with him, and I need to do that before anyone learns of his true identity,¡¯ Kieran thought to himself.

    After learning about the true nature of the Private Sector and the shady business they conducted, Kieran came to learn a few tricks to escape monitoring and disguise his earnings without anyone being the wiser.

    Sadly, he wasn¡¯t perfect at it. There was still a risk of the government intervening if he didn¡¯t do so well enough. But, Kieran didn¡¯t do this to shield himself from any government. It was the other side of the Private Sector that he needed to set precautions for¡ªthe Underworld.

    As long as one had enough money, they could get the underworld members to do whatever heinous bidding they sought. Hence, Kieran needed secure ounts that couldn¡¯t be traced back to his real identity, especially since he intended to open up the Virtual Currency Exchange Trading System in one go once he returned to Zenith Online.

    Once he meticulously erased his presence on the inte, Kieran entered the Dark Web, which heavily involved underworld activity. Eventually, Kieran located a way to find what he needed.

    There were a few state-of-the-art medical facilities employed by many organizations to tend to inexplicable injuries that would otherwise involve the authorities. However, this discreet nature came at an extreme price because, in most cases, threats weren¡¯t enough to move these facilities to work.

    Some of their staff members even came from affluent families that could retaliate on a simr or even grander scale.

    Therefore, it was an unspoken rule to ept whatever fee these facilities offered you.

    Eventually, a stunningdy in a whiteb coat appeared on a video call, making Kieran reveal slight disbelief. ¡®They weren¡¯t kidding when they said they¡¯ll get back to me very shortly.¡¯

    On the other hand, the woman in theb coat looked at Kieran with her calm dark blue-green eyes while pushing her sses up to rest on her light, strawberry blonde hair. ¡°You seem quite young to be needing the assistance of a ce like us. What organization do you work for?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not with any organization,¡± Kieran denied. This made thedy¡¯s eyebrow knit ever so slightly.

    ¡°Oh? Then how would you exin knowing how to ess our channels? Ones only avable to organizations and corporations with ties to the underworld?¡± The slight arch in thedy¡¯s eyebrow painted a picture of deep intrigue that didn¡¯t escape Kieran¡¯s view.

    He was well aware that all people in this line of business were cautious. If he said the wrong thing, she would immediately hang up. So, Kieran sighed and sped his hands before leaning forward.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just say I¡¯m a knowledgable kid that dabbles in technology. But, I really need your help, and there aren¡¯t many ces I can find it.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Why would you admit that? Don¡¯t you know the cardinal rule of the underworld? Never exhibits signs of weakness unless you want to be taken advantage of,¡± thedy said.

    ¡°I know of the rule, but I also don¡¯t really care about it right now. Do you think you can help me or not?¡± Kieran said in a natural tone that left little room for more small talk.

    ¡°Depends. Exin your situation. Also, address me as Dr. Riley. I believe I deserve at least this much courtesy since I¡¯ve taken the time to hear out your plight,¡± Dr. Rileymented with a slight giggle.

    Kieran exhaled before revealing the information regarding his disorder. There were two reasons he admitted it. One, he wanted to know if it was a prevalent issue addressed in the underworld. Two, withholding information could potentially botch his evaluation.

    After all, he didn¡¯t doubt the credibility of the facility.

    After listening to Kieran¡¯s case, Dr. Riley¡¯s expression soon changed to one filled with glee. ¡°I¡¯ve heard this case many times, but I¡¯ve never gotten the chance to work with it directly! I¡¯m willing to ept the case. But fair warning, you¡¯ll be paying at least $500,000 out of pocket.¡±

    ¡°WHAT?!¡± Kieran jumped up and shouted. That was more than half of what remained in his possession. Furthermore, this was only a fair estimate. And based on his familiarity with the underworld, fair estimates were the absolute bottom price!

    ¡°Calm down, it¡¯ll be worth it. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve nevere to this facility, so you will understand when you arrive. We¡¯ll meet in three days. The facility¡¯s address will be inside the same channel you used to reach out to me. You don¡¯t need any medical records, I¡¯ll research them once we meet,¡± Dr. Riley said.

    Afterward, she hung up the phone straight away. In the meantime, Kieran made sure to eat his fill before cing his VR Helmet on his head andying down in bedfortably.

 Chapter 34 Infuriating News

    ¡ª-

    Kieran spawned inside the Humble Inn when he logged back into Zenith Online.

    A shing icon appeared in the bottom-right corner of his vision, which was the reason why he chose to log out while inside a room. He obtained the Well-Rested buff that increased a yer¡¯s experience acquisition rate by 20%.

    Additionally, his stamina would drain at 50% of the regr rate for the next three hours spent in-game. While the effect didn¡¯t seem particrly outstanding, it was convenient for high-level yers to lessen the tedium of leveling up in fields and dungeons as their levels grew higher.

    Furthermore, the Well-Rested buff had different stages. Depending on the type of room used, the effects could be increasingly better. Sadly, in the eyes of the system, even the best room of the Humble Inn wasn¡¯t enough to trigger the higher stages of the buff.

    To receive the enhanced buff, one would need to venture to a proper city and enter established inns. Those rooms typically had special Mana Circuits weaved into the room to collect Mana Particles and promote unmatched rest.

    Kieran sat on the bed behind him and scrolled through anything worthwhile since he had just logged back into the game. Immediately, he noticed mail from Altair as well as the system.

    The mail from the system notified Kieran that the lease involving the Medallion of Growth had concluded. In contrast, the message from Altair possessed the proceeds from selling off all of the equipment he gave him before logging out.

    Additionally, to Kieran¡¯s surprise, Altair had reached Lv.19 with the help of the Medallion of Growth. He was only a single level away from meeting the requirement to challenge his ss promotion quest. However, Kieran frowned slightly.

    ¡®Although it¡¯s best to get this matter out the way as quickly as possible, we¡¯re moving far too fast. If we progress too quickly, I may have to change some of my ns,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Practically all Dungeons after Lv.20 required a minimum of 10 people to challenge them. If there weren¡¯t enough people at the same level, then he¡¯d have to hold on targeting specific dungeons. It¡¯d be nearly impossible since he only knew 4 people thus far.<sub>-.</sub>

    Consequently, this would force Kieran¡¯s attention to other viable side tasks. Of course, Kieran forgot to factor in just how long it¡¯d take for him to clear the quest with the original wielder of the Berserk Path.

    It had an SSS Rank rating, which meant it would be insanely difficult for his current level. But, the odd part was that its rmended level was Kieran¡¯s current level. He just couldn¡¯t understand the conundrum in this quest¡¯s rank and rmended level.

    ¡®Is his master the difficult type? I¡¯ve dealt with my fair share of those. If he turns out to be one, I¡¯ll just have to get a read on him before I can potentially jeopardize my quest,¡¯ Kieran considered.

    He then stood up from the bed and left the Humble Inn. He made sure to read through the mail carefully. Adding to the coins currently in his collection, his current wealth surpassed one Gold Coin after epting the coins in Altair¡¯s mail.

    It was quite shocking to think about, but it was also understandable. All equipment above Lv.5 was in high demand, especially rare-grade equipment, which stood at the crux of Zenith Online¡¯s current geardder.

    Not a single unique item has surfaced amongst the gamingmunity thus far. Therefore, if one possessed a Lv.10 rare item, then they could be considered a well-geared character for the moment.

    Of course, there were also the anomalies like Kieran, who had two rare essories, whose drop rates paled inparison to armor drop rates. However, the low drop rate of essories was well within reason. Armor sets wererger than essory sets, thus requiring aparatively better drop rate toplete them.

    But, the odds of particr items dropping were affected by a Hidden Attribute with a base value of 0 known as Luck.

    After ncing at his inventory and seeing more than one Gold Coin, Kieran rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Until now, no one paid attention to lifestyle jobs because they didn¡¯t present any value at the beginning of the game. yers could just purchase all the needed items from the shops inside beginner viges.

    But, Kieran knew this wouldn¡¯t always remain the same. The prices of potions and elixirs would skyrocket once yers migrated torger cities. To amodate the considerable demand for elixirs and potions, the shops, which doubled as subsidiaries of the Merchant Association, would manipte the price, bringing it sky-high.<sub></sub>

    Potions and items were indispensable to yers and NPCs alike, so the change wasn¡¯t something yers could prevent directly. The only alternative was to cultivate individuals dedicated solely to Lifestyle jobs. Their progress wouldn¡¯t be interrupted by the need to level.

    While Adventurers would need to visit the Adventurers Guild to enlist as proper Adventurers, yers who wanted to focus on Lifestyle jobs visited the alternative Profession Union to register as Lifestyle yers.

    Instead of heading to leveling or even preparing to venture to the Wildes, Kieran walked deep into Gena Vige until he came across a small shop. Unlike the one that sold potions and elixirs, this shop strictly sold scrolls of various types.

    Time had faded some of the markings on the scrolls, but that didn¡¯t inhibit a yer¡¯s ability to peruse the information on the scroll. In Kieran¡¯s case, the system finally acknowledged Kieran¡¯s perceptivity to be sufficient.

    As a result, a notification appeared before Kieran¡¯s view.

    ¡´System: Your actions and prerequisite Perception has unlocked the ?Inspect? skill.¡µ

    ¡¸ Inspect (Lv.Max)

    Skill Rank: Special

    Mastery (100.00%)

    Description: A skill that grants the user the ability to inspect items from afar and unearth information regarding obscure items. Allows the user to see party member information as long as they hold the role of a ¡°Party Leader¡±.

    Consumption: No Consumption

    Prerequisites: Strong Perception

    Cooldown: None

    Note: This special skill can¡¯t be leveled up, but more powerful variations exist. ¡¹

    Kieran¡¯s eye gleamed with delight as he read the notification.

    ¡®Finally! There¡¯s no longer a need to ask teammates about their current attributes. Though, I¡¯m a little shocked because my Perception isn¡¯t 100 yet. I guess I have Grandma Agatha to thank for this.¡¯

    After obtaining the Inspect skill, Kieran swept through the store¡¯s contents quickly. Eventually, he came across the two scrolls he required. One rewarded the ?Mining? and the other ?Harvesting?.

    In total, a character only had three slots for trade skills. Additionally, only one space could be upied by a production-type trade skill out of those three avable. For example, forging, alchemy, and the like. The other two spots needed to be filled with auxiliary practices.

    There was only a select number of ways to increase the avable slots.

    Even then, it was troublesome because they required arge amount of fame produced by Lifestyle feats. Nevertheless, Kieran immediately learned these two skills because they were vital. Monster drops weren¡¯t the only way to achieve materials.

    Furthermore, Kieran needed to prepare himself for what others could only call the unexpected.

    Suddenly, Kieran¡¯s notification bar shed as a message appeared in the corner of his eye.

    ¡´System: You are receiving a video call from Aspaira. Do you wish to answer? [Y / N]?¡µ

    Kieran answered the call, but he didn¡¯t expect Aspaira¡¯s current facial expression. She seemed downcast and almost sorry. A direct opposite of her lively attitude during their dungeon. The evident difference made Kieran suspect something had happened.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    ¡°Um¡­ not much,¡± Aspaira shook her head softly. After a short pause, she continued. ¡°I have your portion of the coins we got from selling the useless equipment. It should being through shortly.¡±

    ¡°Sounds good. But, that doesn¡¯t exin the long face.¡± Kieran said. However, from the way Aspaira pursed her lip, it was clear she didn¡¯t want to mention what was wrong. Still, Kieran noticed some inconsistencies.

    First off, her level was no longer Lv.14. But, contrary to what Kieran expected, it wasn¡¯t higher either. It was two levels lower! In other words, Aspaira had fallen to Lv.12 after the grueling work to get to Lv.14.

    There were only a few ways for someone to lose levels. Either it was a cost for failing a quest, which was unlikely because all the quests with dire failure penalties were given by Scar. The alternative was death and not just one.

    It required a string of deaths if the yer wasn¡¯t in a dungeon with a set death penalty. Deaths suffered in the open world urred in four stages. The first stage onlymanded 25% of a yer¡¯s experience bar and a chance of dropping some coins or an item.

    However, the second death reduced one¡¯s attributes by 50% for one hour while also costing 50% of an experience bar. The chances of dropping coins or an item increased ordingly also.

    But, Kieran suspected that Aspaira was killed at least three times because the third death is where the penalty became genuinely severe. The weakness period lengthened to 3 hours, a whole level was lost, and both coins and an item would undoubtedly drop.

    On the other hand, the durability of one¡¯s items would also take a hit.

    Therefore, Kieran¡¯s expression became increasingly gloomy when he thought of this matter. ¡°Who was it?¡±

    ¡°W-what?¡± Aspaira yelped when she heard Kieran¡¯s severe tone. She wasn¡¯t aware that Kieran was very familiar with the Death Penalty System.

    ¡°The Shadow Cartel,¡± Aspaira muttered reluctantly after suffering Kieran¡¯s intense gaze.

    ¡°Heh, good. Instead of focusing on leveling, they want to cause problems? Okay, we can y a little game then. I have time anyway. Also, what was the penalty, and who else was targeted? Was Altair not with you guys?¡±

    ¡°No, no. Altair was with us. But, all the people who targeted him were killed. Sadly, he had to log out because he was amassing too much Infamy. He started to kill anyone who approached him without waiting for a single attack to beunched towards him,¡± Aspaira revealed with a bitter smile.

    She felt they wouldn¡¯t be in this predicament if she was as helpful as Altair.

    ¡°As for the penalty¡­ Well, we kind of dropped a lot of coins and a few items from our inventory. After being killed too much, we cut our losses and agreed to log out.¡±

    ¡°Then¡­ what about all these coins you gave me?¡± Kieran knitted his brow. Why did she mail him over 60 Silver Coins?! Only extremely hard Dungeons rewarded ample coins right now.

    To this question, Aspaira revealed a helpless smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we can¡¯t rope you into something like this. You deserved your portion. So, we pooled our coins and sent 20% of what we got after selling the equipment.¡±

    Kieran sighed heavily. He cherished the fact they were people of their word, but he couldn¡¯t justify leaving them almost bankrupt after being hunted. Thus, a ruthless and cold gleam surfaced in Kieran¡¯s eyes.

    It seemed the situation triggered some of his slumbering resentments.

 Chapter 35 Interesting Rumors Arise

    ¡ª-

    Just being on the other side of Kieran¡¯s cold gaze made Aspaira tremble. It didn¡¯t seem like an expression that a normal person should have. The look was a kind of deterring pressure that only someone who experienced brutal battles could withstand.

    However, given the standard of realism Kieran experienced in the past, coupled with the training from individuals who engaged in warfare ops regrly, it was understandable that Kieran could unleash a terrifying gaze¨Done horrifying enough to stifle all of Aspaira¡¯s actions.

    ¡°U-Um¡­ Aatrox, why that expression?¡± Aspaira muttered in an almost fragile tone. Thest thing she wanted was for an issue to escte far out of their control. After all, from how their assaulters carried themselves, Aspaira could tell they were one cohesive unit.

    This cohesiveness alone made Aspaira feel there should be some type of power behind them. While Aspaira wasn¡¯t particrly knowledgeable about the ssifications of these organizations, the fact she was defenseless against them scared her.

    Additionally, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder if there were more of them.

    ¡°Because they¡¯ve misced their target, and as a result, they¡¯ve brought you guys into this,¡± Kieran said. Their actions reminded Kieran far too much of how the Golden Brigade executed forceful methods. So, it touched upon a sore spot inside Kieran.

    Naturally, Kieran would need to retaliate with this sore spot triggered, or his rage wouldn¡¯t subside. After a short pause, Kieran calmed down and assessed the issue properly while returning his attention to Aspaira.

    ¡°How many were there during that time? Also, how many coins did you ultimately drop?¡± Kieran questioned. If they dropped too much, Kieran would have to make some adjustments.<sub>-.</sub>

    Aspaira¡¯s bitter smile deepened as she recollected the event. ¡°There were about 20 of them initially, but they were forced to call for more back-up when Altair took on their leader and three more simultaneously. As for the coins dropped¡­ well, err.¡±

    ¡°Spit it out,¡± Kieran interjected in a direct and almost harsh tone.

    ¡°I alone dropped over 30 Silver Coins. I didn¡¯t know the death penalty became so bad!¡± Aspaira whimpered. She felt the system was absolutely ruthless. How could it justify depleting so much item durability and razing one¡¯s inventory?

    However, Kieran simply shook his head with aplex expression. He was well aware of how Zenith Online¡¯s system treated those deemed to be weaklings. The more susceptible one was to death, the harsher the consequence. In short, the death penalty was designed to incentivize yers to work on their survivability.

    The weak had no ce in the upper echelon of Zenith Online, so those who continued to die would only fall behind the rest. Simrly, Zenith Online was also impartial when it came to consequences. While victim yers were admittedly punished for being weak, the opposing party was admittedly punished for being vindictive.

    As mentioned before, if you attacked a fellow yer, it would not only begin to increase your Infamy value, but it would also activate the PK System. The PK system was a two-dimensional system because it had both an aggressor and a defender side.

    If the defender prevailed in battle, the defender wouldn¡¯t acquire Infamy whatsoever. However, if the aggressor who immediately adopted a pale-red shade to their name were to die, they would experience an increased death penalty rted to their corresponding Infamy level.

    The stages of Infamy varied from the First to Fifth Degree, with each degree requiring an increasingly heinous achievement to reach. But, it was easy to reach the First to Third Degree because their effects weren¡¯t as dire as thest two. Not to mention, regrly generating Infamy ran the risk of gaining a permanent Infamy value.<sub></sub>

    While it may seem harmless at the beginning, it could severely harm a yer¡¯s chances of generating a rtionship with essential characters or organizations, especially ones of righteous or just stances.

    ¡°Then this won¡¯t do. I¡¯ll return some of the coins you¡¯ve given me,¡± Kieran said. But, once he noticed the change in Aspaira¡¯s expression, he quickly continued, ¡°Before you start, this is just temporary. I expect you to return what I give you once you properly situate yourself. Is that understood?¡±

    ¡°Okay, fine. That works,¡± Aspaira relented, giving in to Kieran¡¯s suggestion.

    Something told her she wouldn¡¯t win even if she continued to reject the offer. It wasn¡¯t that Kieran was a selfless person; he simply didn¡¯t believe in letting someone unrted to him suffer for a matter they weren¡¯t involved in.

    One of Kieran¡¯s cardinal rules was that neither the innocent nor the powerless should be roped into an ongoing conflict. Not only was someone who did this scum, but they were unfit to even be called a proper person.

    Afterward, Kieran exited the shop while noticing Altair¡¯s icone online. It was prettyte in the day already, so Kieran estimated that he must¡¯ve stayed on a little longer than he imed to most likely take advantage of the Medallion of Growth¡¯s benefits.

    Suddenly, Altair sent Kieran a video call request the moment he logged in. Kieran answered, linking the calls together. After realizing Aspaira was already there, Altair understood he didn¡¯t need to fill Kieran in on the situation. Still, there was something else he needed to talk about.

    ¡°Yo! Have you checked the forum recently?¡± Altair asked.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t,¡± Kieran admitted. He was too busy setting up the meeting with Dr. Riley to pay attention to anything regarding the game¡¯s forum right now. ¡°Is there something important that I missed?¡±

    ¡°Well, I guess that¡¯ll be up to you to decide. I mean, we¡¯ve already snagged a first achievement. Though I can¡¯t lie, another one wouldn¡¯t hurt at all,¡± Altair shrugged.

    Kieran would be lying if he said Altair¡¯s words didn¡¯t hold some intrigue. Amassing achievements would not only deliver rewards, but if enough were umted, it could directly affect their standing with the Adventurer Guild once they registered as official adventurers.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Aspaira asked curiously.

    ¡°It appears that enough time has passed. World Bosses are beginning to appear in all beginner viges¡¯ leveling fields! But get this, they¡¯re not Normal. All of them that have been sighted are Rare!¡± Altair eximed with sparkling eyes.

    The allure of a Rare World Boss made him practically salivate.

    After being online for a decent amount of time on the first day, Altair became privy to some of the Monster and Boss ranks. While it wasn¡¯t perfect, he surmised that World Bosses should at least be as strong as Dungeon Bosses.

    However, Kieran shook his head at Altair¡¯s naive excitement. ¡°You know that a World Boss and a Dungeon Boss are twopletely different issues, right? You really shouldn¡¯tpare a Dungeon Boss to a World Boss.¡±

    ¡°What¡­? Why not?¡± Altair muttered with a slightly deted expression present behind his scarf.

    ¡°First of all, as the name insinuates, a World Boss is a boss open to the world. Now, can you tell me what that means?¡±

    At first, Altair knitted his brows while looking at Kieran. But, that changed after a few seconds. A look of realization appeared upon Altair¡¯s face. ¡°Ah! Damn, it doesn¡¯t have the party limitation of a dungeon!¡±

    ¡°Precisely.¡±

    A World Boss waspletely unlike a Dungeon Boss. Not only were its attributes exponentially higher, but its health was designed to ount for countless people joining together to kill it. Of course, this also meant the experience distribution attached to World Bosses differed significantly.

    ¡°There¡¯s only one of them appearing per starting area, right?¡± Kieran asked with a yful gleam in his eyes. Perhaps a boss of this caliber was just what he needed to properly prepare for his quest. What¡¯s more, if it was in the proper region, he could even use his trade skill if the opportunity presented itself.

    ¡°Yes sir! You hit the nail on the head. So¡­ are we teaming up again?¡± Altair asked excitedly.

    However, before answering, Kieran looked toward Aspaira¡¯s screen for a moment. If this information was made public, then there would be many parties scrambling to find the region the World Boss would spawn in. Amongst those people, the Shadow Cartel should mobilize their forces as well.

    For this reason, Kieran wasn¡¯t sure if it was better for Aspaira to remain in town or apany them to seek out the boss. Additionally, there was also the problem regarding Cygnus and Sithik. Their levels were significantly lower as well. Experience from the boss could essentially replenish what they lost, if not more.

    Eventually, Kieran decided to let this decision be up to those who were affected.

    ¡°If it¡¯s with you two, I¡¯m willing to seek out the boss. There¡¯s no reason we shouldn¡¯t aim for more experience, right?¡±

    ¡°Good, then we¡¯ll all meet in Gena Vige if that¡¯s the case.¡±

    After leaving the scroll shop, Kieran immediately noticed the aftereffects of the rumors circting on the forum. A stream of yers above the average Lv.9 rushed out of Gena Vige and towards the Fanged Forest direction.

    Kieran didn¡¯t bother trying to guess what the boss was because there were too many possible answers. If he made preparations for the wrong one, it would be rendered useless. So, Kieran chose not to prepare at all. He was alreadyparable to a Lv.22 character without a ss promotion with his current gear.

    Approximately 25 minutester, both Sithik and Cygnus logged in within ten minutes of each other. After logging in, they rendezvoused at the entrance of Gena Vige with sorry looks.

    Before they could express their sorrows, Kieran raised his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯re not to me. Sometimes, this is just how the game goes. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if you guys weren¡¯t the only ones affected by the PK habits of the Shadow Cartel.¡±

    Now that they were all together, Kieran led everyone towards the Fanged Forest. However, unlike the rest, Kieran moved slowly. He wasn¡¯t in a hurry to meet with a World Boss. He needed to give the situation time to ripen.

    In the meantime, he devised a few ns that could be implemented right away.

 Chapter 36 An Additional Path of Income

    ¡ª-

    Kieran looked at the others while rubbing his chin in thought. The Fanged Forest was a decent source of nts, herbs, and some fruits. So, in addition to taking a few moments to speed level Aspaira, Cygnus, and Sithik, he also considered the thought of having them learn trade skills.

    However, before he could do that, Kieran first needed to know if his decision would impede any of the paths they decided to take. After all, Kieran was aware of the finite trade skill slots. While Kieran was confident Altair would be a full-blown adventurer that focused on the physical aspect of Zenith Online, he couldn¡¯t say the same about the other three.

    ¡°Do you guys intend to take up any particr Lifestyle Jobs in the future?¡±

    ¡°Nah, not really,¡± Sithik said, shaking his head repeatedly. He truthfully chose the Priest ss cause it was admittedly the ss with the least strenuous but still important role. So, why would he trouble himself with extra toils by picking up abor-intensive Lifestyle Job?

    Simrly, Cygnus also shook her head. However, Aspaira surprisingly wasn¡¯t like the rest.

    ¡°Erm, I was thinking about dabbling in some Alchemy. It seems very useful and profitable. Plus, I¡¯m sort of familiar with the process, I guess,¡± Aspaira answered.

    ¡®Familiar?¡¯ Kieran was partially surprised. He could draw some conclusions from this im, but he didn¡¯t. Instead, he gave Aspaira a look that sought further rification.

    ¡°Well, my day job is a pharmaceutical engineer. So, I¡¯m quite familiar with the process of creating medicines. It shouldn¡¯t be too hard to transfer that knowledge over to a profession in this game, right? I mean¡­ I know the technology won¡¯t be as advanced in this ce, but yeah.¡±

    Immediately, the others turned toward Aspaira with looks of disbelief.

    ¡°No way! I don¡¯t believe someone like you has that type of job.¡± Altair shook his head. He couldn¡¯t believe that Aspaira possessed the temperament required for a professional career in the broad medical field.

    Meanwhile, Aspaira pursed her lips, seemingly offended by Altair¡¯sment. ¡°Why not? Are you telling me ady can¡¯t unwind from time to time?¡±

    ¡°Oh, by all means, you can. But, I don¡¯t know how to put it. You generallyck that aura attributed to doctors and such,¡± Altair said after trying to put his thoughts into words. In truth, he thought Aspaira was just a college student.<sub>-.</sub>

    Aspaira simply rolled her eyes in response. ¡°Not a doctor.¡±

    Afterward, she didn¡¯t continue with this topic. She seemedpletely done with Altair since he continued to target her personality.

    Meanwhile, Kieran only nced between the two before, sighing softly. ¡®At least they act normal in each other¡¯s presence. Too much professionalism would lead to a rather stale and boring environment.¡¯

    Kieran had experienced too much boring in his life, so the harmless quarrels of this party weren¡¯t so bad in his eyes. It at least made it easier for Kieran to set aside and bury his childhood memories, albeit overly fragmented ones.

    Life inside an orphanage wasn¡¯t always easy, especially when you were one of the new additions to the ce.

    Most kids who suffered tragic situations would act out and rebel at a young age, even sometimes expressing their anger and frustration by targeting other kids. Surprisingly, that wasn¡¯t how Kieran reacted to his parent¡¯s death. He grew increasingly quiet, despondent, and isted from people.

    While he experienced his fair share of bullying, Kieran merely buried that frustration deep within his heart. At this point, adding in the fact he was reborn as part of a vindictive plot, it was unknown just how much more wrongs Kieran could suffer before he imploded.

    Still, Kieran felt he should cross that bridge at the right time. Unleashing his repressed fury while weak was akin to a frail cat bearing its teeth against a full-grown lion. It would amount to nothing more than a source of amusement before being utterly crushed.

    Therefore, Kieran had to unleash his n in steps. He wouldn¡¯t target the beast¡¯s body until all of its limbs had been cleanly severed, and its core weakened. After all, even a dying predator was still a predator through and through.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then take these scrolls and learn them. You all should begin thinking of the future. If you¡¯re fast, you can make the most of every situation and obtain a sizable advantage in terms of financial ability,¡± Kieran said.

    In his hands were many scrolls for harvesting and mining. However, he didn¡¯t hand one of the scrolls to Aspaira just yet. Instead, he looked at her with a cid expression. ¡°Do you think you¡¯ll focus more on Alchemy or being a Mage?¡±

    ¡°Alchemy for sure. I¡¯m really not cut out to be abat ss,¡± Aspaira admitted with a self-deprecating smile. She felt her value, aside from being a Mage, in the Forest of Beast Dungeon was next to none. So, she chose to y to her strengths.<sub></sub>

    Contrary to Aspaira¡¯s expectations, Kieran smiled at her, ¡°Good choice. In that case, there will be no need for you to ept these trade skills. You should absolutely keep your other slots empty.¡±

    On the other hand, he had the other three immediately learn the Harvest and Mining trade skills. Once that happened, the team ventured inside the Fanged Forest, immediately rushing past the outskirt and inner areas of the forest that only held Lv.8 to Lv.12 beast.

    Kieran and the others only stopped once they entered the central area of the Fanged Forest. The wolves here were iparable to the ones from both. Not only was their size close to the Shadow Wolves found in the dungeon, but they appeared more robust.

    ¡¸Lv.14 Giant Wolf (Elite)

    Beast Type

    Health: 2,600/2,600 (100%) ¡¹

    These Giant Wolves were slightly stronger and higher-leveled than the Shadow Wolves. Still, they didn¡¯t have any special elemental attributes. This consequently meant they were a purely physical opponent with no unexpected features to look out for.

    Kieran didn¡¯t hesitate to draw his Novice Greatsword with an unaffected expression. These opponents didn¡¯t even enter his sights now that his disorder had begun to awaken already. It would have slight side effects, including the gradual disappearance of his emotions as he focused.

    Kieran¡¯s gripped his sword tight and rushed forward while the Warrior¡¯s Aura billowed from his body in full effect. In the next moment, he elerated exponentially,nding a direct blow on the nearest Giant Wolf before it could react.

    -500

    Immediately after, Kieran followed up with a powerful Savage Break, knocking back the wolf, which induced a stagger while considerably decreasing its defenses!

    -947

    Finally, Kieran finished off his attack with a horizontal Force sh before the Giant Wolf could recover.

    Whoosh! Bang!

    -1,845! [Critical]

    The Giant Wolf immediately fell without delivering the slightest bit of damage. Everyone in the party gaped at Kieran¡¯s tall figure standing before the falling monster. Although they understood he was at least 4 levels higher than the monster, it was still an Elite with noteworthy defense.

    ¡´System: You have received 1,100 Experience.¡µ

    Even if he unleashed a critical hit, his average damage was already remarkably high.

    ¡°Animal abuse,¡± Altairmented with a slight chuckle. He then turned to the next Giant Wolf with a fervent gleam in his eyes.

    Most of the Attribute Points Altair gained while Kieran was offline were invested into Strength, Agility, and Control. So, he wished to see just how far off his damage output was from Kieran.

    He activated Swift Steps and appeared before his opponent with rapid steps. He twirled the Quicksilver Daggers around his finger until he snatched them in a reverse grip. Afterward, Altair unleashed a flurry of strikes that made his arms seem almost blurred.

    However, Kieran saw them clear as day. ¡®His Agility¡­¡¯

    Out of habit, Kieran used Inspect on Altair to understand his stat allocation and just how high his attributes really were. Regrettably, Inspect only revealed the most basic information, which was nothing more than a brief summary. It didn¡¯t reveal how many Attributes Points came from gear.

    ¡¸Name: Altair

    Lv.18 (Experience: 1,400/30,000)

    ss: Thief

    Title(s): N/A

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    [?Stats?]-

    Health: 220/220 (0.2 HP regen/sec)

    Mana: 120/120 (0.15 MP regen/sec)

    Stamina: 118 (0.1 Stamina regen/sec)

    Attack Power: 178

    Defense: 49

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    [?Attributes?]-

    ?Strength: 60

    ?Intelligence: 18

    ?Agility: 88

    ?Endurance: 19

    ?Control: 55

    ?Vitality: 22

    ?Perception: 34    ¡¹

    As Kieran expected, Altair¡¯s Agility was incredibly high. So high, that he felt Altair was unmatched in speed unless he came across a Special Elite of equal level. Additionally, it¡¯d require a yer with simr, if not stronger, attributes to emerge victorious against Altair.

    He was like a human tornado as he zipped around the Giant Wolf before him, unleashing a barrage of light attacks that umted in lethality. While he was taking exponentially longer than Kieran, he still managed to kill the Giant Wolf in under 1 minute.

    ¡´System: You have received 1,100 Experience.¡µ

    Upon watching Altair fight, Kieran grinned with pure tion. ¡®I know exactly what I¡¯ll do to those fools. It¡¯s only been a day, but creating another source of ie wouldn¡¯t hurt at all.¡¯

    All he needed to do was generate enough buzz surrounding another stream.

    However, he also needed to be intelligent about his decision. He couldn¡¯t let the stream go online too early, or it¡¯d ruin the element of surprise by running the risk of exposing his movements beforehand.

    Therefore, Kieran only etched out the n mentally for the time being.

    The team continued to steamroll the Giant Wolves, quickly returning the experience Sithik and the others lost. On the other hand, despite holding the Medallion of Growth again, the experience acquisition rate decreased greatly.

    Soon enough, it would no longer be viable to kill monsters vastly below the yer¡¯s level to receive semi-adequate experience.

 Chapter 37 A Terrifying World Boss

    ¡ª-

    Shortly after leveling up Cygnus, Sithik, and Aspaira to their former level, Kieran loaned each of the three the Medallion of Growth for 10 minutes each. Cycling the item among the party members allowed all three of them to reach Lv.15.

    While this caused Kieran¡¯s experience acquisition rate to plummet, and their expressions of astonishment for his possession of this item, he didn¡¯t mind the oue. After all, if they were going up against a Rare World Boss, at least Lv.15 would be required.

    Once they reached Lv.15, Kieran stopped battling monsters altogether. If they came close to a monster, he simply red his Warrior¡¯s Aura. Coupled with his naturally higher level and the wolves¡¯ predatory hunches, this action made them avoid Kieran.

    Meanwhile, he had the rest of the party expose their Skill Menu. Given the fact there were only five of them, they needed to create the soundest synergy possible, especially since there was an almost guaranteed possibility that they¡¯ll end up targeted by the Shadow Cartel.

    However, because everyone was only a Basic ss, there weren¡¯t many Skill Points to work with. The current situation required Kieran¡¯s utmost logistical precision. After assessing their Skill Point reservoir, Kieran had them assign the avable points in such a way that allowed them to maximize their specialty.

    Furthermore, he had Sithik and Cygnus diversify their healing spectrum.

    Cygnus, whose Healing Factor was slightly higher than Sithik, was tasked with learning all of the short cooldowns heals essible to a Lv.15 Priest. Her higher Healing Factor coupled with shorter cooldown heals meant Cyngus could quickly heal the damage received.

    Conversely, Kieran made Sithik with an admittedly lower Healing Factor focus primarily on hisrge heals. The short cooldown heals only received the diminutive remaining Skill Points in his possession. Thus, Cygnus adopted the main healer role while Sithik became the sub-healer.

    Of course, he had noints about the assignment. A sub role meant he would be exposed to less stress. He only need fill in the gaps that Cygnus couldn¡¯t bridge alone.

    On the other hand, Kieran had Aspaira learn the two additional binding spells essible to a Lv.15 Mage. Since her aim was all but horrendous, Kieran decided to have her take on the crowd-control role. This way, less focus was put on her aim. Unlike attack spells, binding spells automatically locked on the strongest enemy in the vicinity.<sub>-.</sub>

    If all enemies were of equal strength, it shifted to the closest entity.

    Finally, Kieran revealed a faint smile. ¡°For our current situation¡­ excellent.¡±

    Unlike before, Kieran didn¡¯t have any suggestions for Altair¡¯s attribute allocation. He felt it would alter his path too much if he constantly interfered with his stats. After all, Altair would need attributes simr to the ones in Kieran¡¯s memories if he was to receive that dangerous ss.

    Only Altair understood his logic in his stat allocation.

    ¡°Ayo boss, there¡¯s a ton of people surging towards the back of the Fanged Forest now. Should we get a move on as well?¡± Sithik asked while scratching his head. They had stayed in ce for quite some time now.

    Granted, it was for their benefit, but Sithik could tell Altair was bing restless.

    ¡°Nah, not yet. I¡¯ve yet to hear any signs of hardcore battle. It isn¡¯t time for us to make our move just yet,¡± Kieran responded.

    While the others were ready to engage in more action, Kieran had entered a truly calm state. He had already mentally devised his n, so he couldn¡¯t allow the others to deviate from the way he wished to implement it.

    Still, Sithik couldn¡¯t help but groan. ¡°But, boss, why not? Won¡¯t at least hundreds of yers group up to get a piece of the World Boss?¡±

    ¡°Hundreds?¡± Kieran chuckled. ¡°Try thousands. A World Boss is simply a juicy piece of meat at this stage in the game. Although it¡¯s only a Rare Boss, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if some Unique Item dropped.¡±<sub></sub>

    ¡°WHAT?!¡±

    Everyone¡¯s eyes widened to saucers. Even the slightest mention of a Unique Item was enough to make anyone drool. Although it was only a step above a Rare Item, they were simply in apletely different realm. One Unique Item could wholly turn the tides in a gruesome battle.

    This was especially true if the mentioned item was either an essory or a weapon.

    ¡°Yeah, but if I¡¯m being brutally honest, that¡¯s all based on luck and ability,¡± Kieran shrugged. While Unique Items were unmistakably enticing, Kieran¡¯s interest was invested in his uing quest for the time being.

    Just what rewards would he get from clearing a quest with SSS-Ranked difficulty this early on?

    ¡°Speaking of which, how many members of the Shadow Cartel do you estimate will be there?¡± Altair questioned. He nced at Kieran while casually tossing and spinning his dagger to curb the boredom.

    ¡°Well, they¡¯re rtively condensed in the real world¡­ so, maybe 40 to 50% of their forces should show up? The rest may be scattered in other beginner viges,¡± Kieran estimated.

    Altair¡¯s eyes glistened with intrigue as he listened to Kieran estimate the numbers. It seemed like he was pretty familiar with the Shadow Cartel. ¡®Could he have collected information on the gaming organizations since they¡¯ll undoubtedly send him offers?¡¯

    Altair himself had received offers in the past, but he didn¡¯t pay them any mind because of his unique situation. Organizations would require information that he wasn¡¯t willing to give out.

    A momentter, Altair stretched. ¡°And how much would you say that is number wise?¡±

    ¡°Meh¡­ maybe 3- 400?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Everyone in the party silently blinked and turned towards Kieran¡¯s nonchnt figure.

    ¡°Say it with even less indifference, why don¡¯t you? Do you not understand that almost 400 people is 8,000% of this party?!¡± Aspaira eximed in shock.

    Furthermore, she was also worried about how much Infamy they¡¯d receive if they targeted so many people.

    ¡°We¡¯ll have help. The n is to target the Shadow Cartel and disrupt their focus while they go against the boss. Only once enough have been picked off will we interfere directly. As long as we don¡¯t inflict any damage, we won¡¯t bebeled as the cause of their death,¡± Kieran exined with a wicked grin.

    Everyone looked at him in a new light while their jaws dropped. Not only was their party leader a daredevil, but he was absolutely vindictive! Kieran didn¡¯t care about killing them as many times as they killed his party members; he wanted to make the organization suffer as a whole.

    This was at least a hundred times the torment they received by default. How tragic would it be if a third-rate organization that sought to increase its influence had its opportunity utterly stolen from them?

    Surely they would be enraged! There was even a chance that they may mobilize their entire force to retaliate.

    ¡°You¡¯re¡­ a madman. I love it,¡± Altair said with a passionate gleam in his eyes. He grinned from ear to ear underneath his scarf.

    Soon after, Kieran gave the signal for them to begin moving. While advancing further into the Fanged Forest, everyone beside Aspaira plucked herbs, fruits, and other berries avable in this ce. As a result, the experience bar beside their trade skill raises quickly.

    It wouldn¡¯t be long before their trade skills advanced from Beginner Apprentice to Intermediate Apprentice. The first level of trade skills was rtively easy to advance through. It didn¡¯t require sessful endeavors; it simply acquired the yer to engage in the action.

    Hence, the reason it was called an Apprentice level skill.

    After reaching the Official standard, the requirement would change drastically. The skill would require sessful harvests and productions to acquire Lifestyle Experience.

    Eventually, sounds of battle entered Kieran¡¯s ears, cautioning him to raise his hand and stop their advance. He climbed a nearby tree with nimbleness that should only belong to someone of the Thief or Hunter ss and gained a bird¡¯s eye view.

    The battlefield entered his sights, and it made Kieran more excited than he cared to admit. The World Boss that spawned in this area was by no means a simple one. In fact, this spawn was in their favor.

    As long as he yed his cards right, the World Boss would undeniably annihte the parties that attempted to y it.

    By right of his observation, Kieran also noticed that other parties would be roped into the conflict. Therefore, he had to make a decision¡ªshould he care for the progress of others, or should he be tyrannical and only have his own future in mind?

    After all, from what Kieran could see, most of the present parties should belong to other gradeless or third-ss organizations. Rather than make the decision now, Kieran chose to hold off until he thoroughly grasped how the proximal parties would react.

    Even though he was on the tree above, it was difficult to watch the battle clearly due to the nearby foliage disrupting visibility. After a few moments, Kieran jumped down and walked up to the party.

    ¡°As I said, I counted at least 2,000 people at the bare minimum. However, only 30% of those numbers will survive to see the next few minutes. Come,¡± Kieran said.

    The party no longer ran. They walked the rest of the way because the battle was no more than a few hundred meters away. Once the battle became apparent, everyone¡¯s eyes widened.

    ¡°Clifford?!¡± Sithik screamed out loud.

    This remark wasn¡¯t aimed at any person but rted to the boss in the distance. It was an enormous wolf that put even Grifear¡¯s stature to shame. It was simply colossal. One of its fangs wasrger than Altair¡¯s daggers.

    Additionally, its scarlet fur emanated slight heatwaves evident to even the weakest of yers. But it was nothingpared to the raw savagery present in the wolf¡¯s eyes. It was like looking into madness itself.

    ¡¸Lv.15 Colossal Scarlet Wolf (Rare)

    World Boss

    Beast Type, Fire Type

    Health: 220,000/220,000 (100%)

    Special Traits: ?Inferno? ?Rage? ?Eviscerate?¡¹

    ¡°Damn,¡± Altair muttered under his breath.

 Chapter 38 Have A Taste of Your Own Medicine!

    ¡ª-

    Simr to Altair, the others felt some dread after witnessing the information regarding the Colossal Scarlet Wolf. It truly had a startling amount of Health that made yers wonder how its other attribute fared against these nonsensical numbers. How could they expect Lv.15 yers to y this boss with this frightening amount of Health?

    Perhaps even Tier 1 characters would struggle to y such a monster in a short amount of time. Still, unlike the rest, Kieran remained unaffected by this revtion. In fact, he even disyed a faint smile while ncing at his party members.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. That¡¯s only its stats for the moment,¡± Kieran revealed.

    Some of the party members didn¡¯t understand what he meant by that, so Kieran exined it. ¡°All World Bosses have a special innate trait that separates them from simple Field Bosses. It isn¡¯t disyed on their status screen, but simply put, the more people who challenge a World Boss, the higher its attributes.¡±

    ¡°Woah¡­ seriously?¡± Sithik muttered in amazement. Up until now, all games that he yed made the bosses easier to raid with higher numbers. Evidently, that wasn¡¯t the case with Zenith Online. More manpower didn¡¯t trante into a higher probability of clearing a difficult task.

    Rather than support the idea of tackling everything with overwhelming numbers, Zenith Online was designed to promote quality over quantity. Therefore, there were more benefits in increasing one¡¯s skill and strength than mooching off others.

    s, some would only learn this the hard way in the future.

    ¡°Yeah, and it¡¯s not a small increase either. It¡¯s essentially exponential growth depending on how many people are present,¡± Kieran nodded.

    ¡°Is that why you had us hold back for now? Lord knows I don¡¯t have any more death wishes. I lost too much,¡± Sithik shuddered with a grimace after recalling the losses he incurred from death.<sub>-.</sub>

    Joining the fight now would be signing their death warrants.

    Kieran could tell from the emanations surrounding the boss alone that its attributes should be on par with a Lv.25 World Bosses default attributes. There was simply zero chance of any of the current attacker¡¯s survival.

    Every neer contributed to a slight increase in the boss¡¯s overall strength. However, it would experience a massive increase in power for every five hundred attackers in its vicinity. Conversely, after their death, the temporary surplus of strength would revert to its former state.

    That¡¯s the period Kieran selected as the time to strike.

    As long as he could dwindle the numbers far below five hundred, there was a good chance he could implement his n seamlessly.

    After a short moment, Kieran withdrew the Novice Greatsword while sliding his hand across the air before him. The stream menu immediately appeared before his face as he adjusted the settings with a wicked grin. asionally, he would nce to the corner of his vision to monitor the battle¡¯s current situation.

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, near the Colossal Scarlet Wolf¡­

    ¡°Guild Leader Despot, what¡¯s wrong with this boss? Why is it so damn strong? Even the Dungeon¡¯s Very Difficult mode boss wasn¡¯t this powerful,¡± A tall and staunch Knight beside Despot eximed. He went by the name of Suave Shield.<sub></sub>

    Simr to Bastion, it appeared he favored Strength and Endurance over Agility. Coupled with the fact that Knights wore te Armor whereas Warrior wore Heavy Armor, he was exceptionally sturdy.

    Despite his high Defense, he wore a look of despair after witnessing the Colossal Scarlet Wolf kill tens of yers with a single swipe of its ws.

    Some of those killed were also Knight who should¡¯ve specialized in Defense! Suave Shield just couldn¡¯t see how this boss raid was in the least bit possible to clear.

    On the other hand, Despot silently narrowed his eyes. He wasn¡¯t like the rest, who immediately dashed into the battle. Because of his experience with targeting people, he understood that gathering information was paramount when seeking to obtain victory orplete a difficult mission.

    Therefore, Despot sat back and let the other foolish parties rush to their demise to passively acquire the information he needed. Eventually, Despot revealed the traits that allowed him to rise to a third-ss organization.

    Because of his reputation in the real world, barely any organizations were willing to work with a party tied to the treacherous entities in the underworld. Thus, Despot was forced to personally fund his gaming endeavors. Fortunately, he experienced slight sess in his earlier endeavors with other earlier VRMMORPG titles with less potential.

    At most, they were limited to entertainment circles. None of those games were backed by the entity that had created Zenith Online. Additionally, none of them presented any benefits to yers after ying for a long time because their realism remained locked at seventy to eighty percent.

    ¡®Oh? This boss is gradually growing weak. It¡¯s negligible right now, but other parts will notice it soon when the battle bes easier to deal with. For now, their attention is focused on dodging and surviving the boss¡¯s onught. Is this what separates World Bosses from other bosses?¡¯ Despot wondered.

    However, his knowledge and familiarity with Zenith Online¡¯s bosses and its grading system werecking. He couldn¡¯t know for sure until the number of the parties present was reduced to a manageable level.

    Regrettably, it seemed like it¡¯d be quite some time before that happened. A new wave of yers seeking to earn quick benefits haphazardly rushed forward without minding the general atmosphere of the area. Naturally, this new wave wasposed of greedy yet less experienced yers.

    Conversely, this change allowed many parties in situations identical to Despot to grasp the crux of the matter. At this time, Despot turned towards a nearby party and waved his hand. ¡°Oi, you lot at the Sunset Triad, I have a proposal for you; what do you say?¡±

    Like the Shadow Cartel, the Sunside Triad was another third-ss gaming organization with deep ties to the underworld. They were just based in another province to avoid the two entities¡¯ budding heads. Be that as it may, they were close enough geographically to spawn in the same Beginner Vige.

    A male Hunter seeming to be just over 30 years old, going by the in-game name of Horizon Break, responded to Despot¡¯s call by lifting his mouth into a sneer. ¡°What do you want from me, dammit? Do you really think I¡¯ll trust you dogs from the Shadow Cartel?¡±

    ¡°Oh? Does that mean you don¡¯t want to have a share in the experience this boss will reward? I¡¯m sure if we clear it fast enough, we can even obtain an achievement announcement like that lucky party yesterday,¡± Despot answered. He seemed to have a cold expression as a malicious gleam passed through his eyes.

    ¡®Didn¡¯t want to share the exclusives? You all got your just desserts,¡¯ Despot inwardly thought.

    Finally, Horizon Break¡¯s expression changed, morphing into one of budding interest. ¡°Go on. I¡¯m listening.¡±

    ¡°We need to stop any neers from pooling into this ce and somehow pick off the threats present in the current attack party. Are you down? If you are, we can split the profits 35-65. The 65% is your portion as long as the Shadow Cartel can take thest attack,¡± Despot proposed.

    Horizon Break rubbed his chin dubiously.

    He was somewhat surprised that Despot was willing to give up 30% of the boss¡¯s proceeds to obtain thest hit. Just how valuable was the achievement? Furthermore, would the achievement of a world boss be on par with a dungeon¡¯s highest clear?

    Horizon Break was truly curious. So, while the deal appeared sweet, he needed more coteral to truly agree to it. ¡°I¡¯m willing to ept if this 65% includes the first pick at the loot.¡±

    ¡°First pick?¡± Despot muttered with a frown.

    This was sometimes a dangerous deal to make because one could never know when an absolute treasure dropped! Despot wasn¡¯t sure if the achievement was worth losing that probability.

    Thus, Despot made a concession. ¡°Only if we go up to 60-40%.¡±

    ¡°Deal.¡±

    ¡°Have some of your middle level yers block off the right entrance while we make our move,¡± Despot said.

    Both sides sent approximately one-third of their force to block the two paths one could arrive at this ce. Once that matter was settled, Horizon Break and Despot led their forces to quickly pick off some of the weakened parties already present.

    Each side had an excess of 300 members present. So, it didn¡¯t take long for the parties to fall to their nefarious ways. It was their fortune that none of the organizations led by Rankers spawned in this vige else it would have immediately devolved into a shitshow.

    Approximately 20 minutester, less than 800 people remained in the Fanged Forest¡¯s absolute center zone. As a result, the boss¡¯s information deted greatly.

    ¡¸Lv.15 Colossal Scarlet Wolf (Rare)

    World Boss

    Beast Type, Fire Type

    Health: 158,400/165,000 (96%)

    Special Traits: ?Inferno? ?Rage? ?Eviscerate? ¡¹

    Surprisingly, all these people only managed to lower the boss¡¯s Health by 4% in these 20 minutes. Granted, that wasn¡¯t entirely true. World Bosses recovered Health over time just like a yer did.

    At this current stage, since it had yet to reach the stat improvement that urred at Lv.20, a World Boss only recovered 0.5% every minute.

    Meanwhile, Kieran finally made his move once there were only 800 participants left.

    His stream also went live at that exact moment. Anyone who followed him received a notification that made them immediately migrate to his stream.

    Many of the viewers gawked at the title because it was clear that this was some type of retaliation stream! The title was simple: Have A Taste of Your Own Medicine, Scrubs!

 Chapter 39 Overwhelming Defeat

    ¡ª-

    After opening the stream menu, Kieran made it so he could talk directly to the stream for a moment. During that time, he used the opportunity to reveal the reason behind this stream. Simply put, he covered the general topic without going into great detail.

    Still, anyone with impressive information gathering skills would be privy to why Kieran made this particr stream.

    The Shadow Cartel already possessed a notorious reputation. Moreover, some witnessed the conflict between Kieran¡¯s party members and the Shadow Cartel but didn¡¯t interfere in the dispute out of fear of being targeted as well.

    Once that happened, Kieran came across the dense perimeter that the Shadow Cartel had set. Each of them were at least Lv.14, and their names at this point were growing increasingly red, symbolizing they had killed enough yers to step into 2nd Degree Infamy but were quickly ruing more.

    One of the members raised their sword at Kieran¡¯s party and issued a despoticmand. ¡°Turn back now. This is territory imed by the Shadow Cartel. If you step beyond this point, don¡¯t me us for being ruthless.¡±

    ¡°Ruthless?¡± Kieran chuckled softly.

    The Warrior¡¯s Aura seeped from his body while he continued to walk forward. He paid no heed to their words because they simply weren¡¯t able in his eyes.

    Noticing thisck of acknowledgment, the Warrior¡¯s expression darkened. They were still in the beginner vige, yet someone had the gall to ignore one of their directmands? It was uneptable in his eyes.

    Therefore, the Warrior raised his sword and dashed forward. He executed a Heavy sh that seemed to be backed by considerable Strength. Still, it was an attack performed by a yer who had yet to escape the ineptitude of a Basic ss.<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡´Alert: The PK Defender System has been activated. You won¡¯t generate Infamy by retaliating against the culprit or their party.¡µ

    Kieran didn¡¯t even nce at the notification before swiping it aside.

    Part of the reason he decided to deal with the Shadow Cartel in such a way originated from this responsive system. As long as he could pinpoint those who acted as a party, he could reduce the total Infamy generated.

    However, Kieran also understood that there would be times when he couldn¡¯t wait for this situation to activate. He would simply have to resolve the Infamy at ater date.

    Kieran merely nced up in response to the iing attack and knocked it aside with an average strike. Despite theck of skill to meet the Heavy sh, Kieran lost zero Health in this exchange, but the opposing Warrior was knocked back and staggered.

    While he struggled to regain his footing after having his strike utterly overpowered, Kieran¡¯srge physique appeared before the Warrior casting a great shadow.

    ¡°Come on now. You think you can murder me? You¡¯re not able,¡± Kieran scoffed. Afterward, he shed his sword horizontally, executing a Force sh!

    Bang!

    -188!<sub></sub>

    The Warrior was tossed aside like a ragdoll, flying into a nearby tree with a sliver of Health remaining. If it weren¡¯t for the fact yer vs. yer (PvP) was judged differently frombatting a monster, Kieran would have killed this warrior in one strike.

    Once a PK system was activated, only 10% of the involved parties¡¯ stats would be applied. So, while Kieran could easily defeat this yer in one strike, it was difficult to aplish unless there was an insurmountable difference in attributes.

    Nevertheless, the Critical left this individual with no more than 32 Health remaining.

    Kieran imed this by thrusting his Novice Greatsword into the Warrior¡¯s torso. Their body slumped over lifelessly, soon turning into motes of light as ample coins and two pieces of Heavy Armor dropped. They were Lv.15 and could fetch a pretty penny, so Kieran tossed them into his inventory.

    Because the Warrior had 2nd Degree Infamy, their Death Penality was much more severe than normal. However, they needed to pay for their actions. It was the cost ofmitting their vindictive deeds. Once caught, they would suffer at least equal punishment.

    Judging by the loot Kieran received, the poor fellow would have lost at least two levels in the process. This number would increase further if he was barely Lv.15. This kill alone was already payback for one of his team members.

    Suddenly, Kieran¡¯s eyebrow twitched when he felt a change in the presence nearby.

    ¡°Fool! Did you just kill the Team Leader? Who do you think you are, dumbass?¡± A Hunter nearby roared.

    Two Thieves and a Fighter charged Kieran with infuriated expressions, but Kieran seemed carefree.

    He lifted his hand when he noticed Altair preparing to intervene. He instructed him not to in the party chat. For now, the PK System wasn¡¯t refined enough to include the defender¡¯s entire party. It was only limited to the Defender. Only after the next update would that be usible.

    ¡°The superior belief of yours is a facy, dipshit. Do you really think you guys can act as you please and suffer no repercussions? You all must be delusional,¡± Kieran replied in a cold tone.

    Whoosh!

    In the next moment, Kieran tilted his head to the side, dodging the arrow of the Hunter towards the back. At first, the Hunter felt this was a fluke as they looked at Kieran with widened eyes. But, what happened next made the Hunter gulp in fright.

    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

    The Hunter used one of its skills, Triple Shot which fired three arrows in quick session. The dy between fired arrows was minimal, appearing to be shot simultaneously. However, while advancing toward the iing Thieves and Fighter, Kieran waved his greatsword effortlessly.

    Tang! Tang! Tang!

    Kieran parried the arrows without wasting his energy. At this point in the game, most yers were weaker than monsters. So, when pinned against someone who was akin to a beast in human skin, these yers were negligible!

    Once in the range of the party, Kieran¡¯s ne shimmered, followed by a clear chime of some sort of a bell. A momentter, a powerful soundwave spread from Kieran¡¯s body that put all of the nearby yers in a Fainted state.

    All of those affected by this action possessed names of a deepening red color. So, Kieran killed all three of the neers before they could even recover from the Fainted state. A splendid addition of coins and armor arrived in Kieran¡¯s inventory as he gestured for the rest to continue following him.

    Soon enough, he arrived at the end of the trees. The clearing before them was where the World Boss battle currently raged. However, after taking a gander at their formation, Kieran felt these two organizations wereughable.

    ¡°They have far too much trust in their weak members judging by these textbook formations,¡± Kieranmented.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Aspaira asked with a slightly confused expression. She didn¡¯t quite see what Kieran saw, so she needed help understanding what these ¡°textbook formations¡± referred to.

    ¡°Take a look; all of their healers are positioned towards the back. One would only do this when they¡¯re confident that no one else would show up. On the other hand, having their healers at the rear of the formation protects them from any unforeseenrge-scale damage. Even if their movement speed iscking, they¡¯ll be given time to retreat,¡± Kieran exined.

    Upon listening to Kieran¡¯s exnation, Aspaira¡¯s eyes radiated with understanding. ¡°But, that also leaves them exposed as well!¡±

    ¡°Precisely. Now, what would happen if these parties all lost their healers against such a frightening boss?¡±

    ¡°Even if they consume many Health Potions, they¡¯ll inevitably die with the cooldown on the items,¡± Cygnus interjected.

    ¡°There you have it. That¡¯s exactly where we¡¯ll begin¡ªeliminate all of their healers, and once these parties crumble, we¡¯ll leave only those who can properly contribute to the death of this World Boss,¡± Kieran instructed.

    Even though they felt it may be quite hard to kill this boss if it didn¡¯t decrease to a further manageable level, the others readily agreed. The fact his boss regenerated Health rmed the party.

    Based on what Kieran saw, the Healers present numbered no more than 80. While the majority of them would be taken out by him and Altair, the stragglers who managed to slip past their assault would be left up to Aspaira to kill.

    For this, Kieran instructed Aspaira to use her superior Magic Attack to kill them as soon as possible with a me Wave.

    After properly disclosing the n to his teammates, Kieran broke apart from the others, running beside Altair. The Healers were located far enough away that it wouldn¡¯t arouse suspicion unless they generated far too much mor. After all, the boss battle was already incredibly loud.

    ¡°I wish you luck,¡± Kieran smirked.

    Surprisingly, Altair raised his hand. The two high-fived each other while Altair turned this endeavor into a more interesting one. ¡°Wanna make a bet¡ªthe higher kill count is the winner, and the loser will have to do whatever the winner says at least once.¡±

    Unlike typical Warriors, a skilled Thief was the undisputed god of yer vs. yerbat. Therefore, Altair felt confident that his overall superior attack and movement speed would surpass the raw damage Kieran could unleash in short bursts.

    Although Kieran understood the reason for Altair¡¯s bet, he still agreed to it nheless. Even if his base ss was at a disadvantage, Kieran didn¡¯t believe hisbat standard couldn¡¯t make up the difference.

    ¡®At least he¡¯s still as addicted to PvP as I remember. That¡¯s exactly what we need right now,¡± Kieran inwardly thought. Naturally, he agreed to Altair¡¯s bet.

    At the same time, he prepared for what was toe. The four Skill Points in his possession vanished!

    However, there was no change in his aura, so it was evident he used these points on a physical skill instead.

 Chapter 40 Tread Carefully

    ¡ª-

    To contest against Altair in PvP, Kieran understood the need for tremendous and sustainable damage per second (DPS). Therefore, he could only point his attention to the only rtively high damage yet low cooldown skill in his arsenal¡ªForce sh.

    Initially, this skill was infinitesimally close to reaching Lv.6 after its constant usage against Grifear and even the Giant Wolves. Thus, this small fight against the Shadow Cartel¡¯s insignificant members gave Kieran the edge needed to reach that level.

    However, a single level wouldn¡¯t be enough to bridge the gap between his and Altair DPS because of the Rare Weapons in Altair¡¯s possession. As soon as he activated the item¡¯s ability, his DPS would skyrocket.

    Thus, Kieran used the remaining 4 Skill Points to increase Force sh yet again. As a result, its current parameters greatly satisfied Kieran.

    ¡¸Force sh (Lv.8)

    Skill Rank: E Rank Active

    Mastery (00.00%)

    Skill Description: Deals 365% of the user¡¯s Attack Power by focusing their strength into their arms and unleashing a strike powerful enough to produce a wave of force apanied by a mighty gale that causes the ?Knockback? effect. The strong gale deals 50% of the sh¡¯s damage to all enemies in a 4-meter radius.

    Consumption: 3 Mana Points

    Prerequisites: Warrior ss, ?Warrior¡¯s Aura?

    Cooldown: 7 seconds  ¡¹<sub>-.</sub>

    With the current cooldown of 7 seconds, the number of times Kieran could execute the skill increased from 6 to 8! Given that Altair¡¯s skills were generally limited by high cooldowns, forcing him to rely upon swift basic attacks, Kieran¡¯s situation was the opposite!

    ¡®It should more or less neutralize Altair¡¯s advantage,¡¯ Kieran thought before closing the notification before his eyes.

    Meanwhile, his stream was thrown into an uproar. Most of them didn¡¯t believe their eyes when they saw how high one of Kieran¡¯s skills was!

    Just what type of Skill Points did he receive to reach this level?!

    The people present in Kieran¡¯s stream gradually began to understand why he cleared the Forest of Beast without suffering any deaths and why he could unleash so much damage upon sturdy enemies.

    However, they¡¯d most likely pale with fright if they learned he had a skill that increased his damage by 30%! What¡¯s more, both of these skills were growing extremely close to leveling up since Kieran never battled without incorporating them into hisbat rotation.

    Eventually, Kieran closed in on the nearest cluster of healers. Now that his Force sh was strong enough to cause Area of Effect (AoE) damage, he had zero reservations aboutmitting a justified massacre.

    Whoosh!

    Kieran arrived behind the group of healers with the rapid movements of Charge. His heavy de fell before any of the Healers could notify nearby members about someone trespassing in the area.

    Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

    Given that Priests were as fragile as ss dolls and possessed pitiful Health, Kieran only needed one Force sh to y all of them in his vicinity. Over ten such Priests were wiped out in an instant. However, because these Priests weren¡¯t a part of the earlier party, they weren¡¯t included in the PK Defender System.<sub></sub>

    As a result, Kieran¡¯s name immediately turned a pale red color, threatening to turn entirely red. This meant Kieran was on the cusp of acquiring 2nd Degree Infamy, which only needed 11 registered kills to acquire.

    Conversely, Altair sifted through the ranks of the opposing cluster of Priests like a grim reaper iming lives with every swing of his daggers. Most of the attacks were aimed at vitals because of the Critical passive all Thieves possessed after Lv.15. Within seconds, Altair rued 8 kills.

    These counters appeared in the corner of Kieran and Altair¡¯s vision, apanied by a red skull with hollow eyes and blood seeping from the empty eye sockets.

    Behind them, the rest of the party simply continued to s

 Chapter 41 Budding Infamy

    ¡ª-

    Keiran¡¯s im was overbearing. And seeing as these were two entities who originated from the underworld, they didn¡¯t take kindly to threats. Horizon Break, specifically, chuckled as if he had heard the most amusing joke on Earth.

    He pped his hands whileughing merrily despite the situation at hand. ¡°Nice one, kid! Did you really think you scared me at all? You may have gotten away with thrashing Despot¡¯s underlings, but surviving thebined attack of the two of us? Impossible!¡±

    After saying so, Horizon Break lifted his bow toward Kieran and drew back on its bowstring. Judging by the quality of its exterior and the attention to vivid detail, Kieran estimated that this was at least a Lv.10 Rare Weapon, putting it on par with Altair¡¯s daggers.

    Others clearly experienced their fair share of fortune after Kieran released his guide, which experienced a dense stream of current purchases. Be that as it may, in Kieran¡¯s eyes, a strong weapon meant nothing if the wielder couldn¡¯tnd a single hit.

    ¡°That¡¯s the difference between you and me. What I im inevitably bes a reality. Besides, what do you think a washed-up old person is capable of? This isn¡¯t the realm of skeletons. Your brain must already be deteriorating as you be a senile bastard,¡± Kieran mocked with a derisive sneer.

    Kieran wasn¡¯t one to mince words, nor was he one to lose at verbal warfare. He could unleash some truly venomous remarks with the repressed hatred he bore. For example, after hearing his retort, Horizon Break¡¯s expression darkened significantly.

    ¡°Snot-nosed little brat! I¡¯ll for damn sure put you in your ce,¡± Horizon Break shouted. The bowstring between his fingers then vibrated as a collection of Mana coated the arrows nocked against the bowstring. This wasn¡¯t a skill essible to Hunters currently; it was attached to the weapon in his grasp.

    Through the mystical properties of Mana, the arrow shot from this bow would gain two additional copies that deal 30% of the central arrow¡¯s damage.

    ¡°This is exactly why you should¡¯ve minded your business. I had no animosity with you, but you just had to poke your unsightly nose about like the nosy old geezer you are. Shame on you. Either way, try your damnedest,¡± Kieran sighed while shaking his head.<sub>-.</sub>

    Truthfully speaking, he only goaded Horizon Break to create enough dy for his Force sh toe off cooldown. Even if the arrows shot by Horizon Break were unusually fast, his Lv.8 Force sh was not to be estimated when it came to deflect attacks.

    ¡°Shut it,¡± Horizon Break roared, finally letting go of the bowstring.

    The arrow emitted a whining noise as it quickly pierced through the air on a crash course heading directly towards Kieran. The speed it traveled was no different from a bullet as it instantly appeared before Kieran¡¯s eyes.

    Because of this, Kieran¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡®This isn¡¯t a normal attack. He must¡¯ve empowered it with el Shot. Truly a nasty guy this one is.¡¯

    Instinctively, Kieran raised his Novice Greatsword and defended against the iing arrow.

    Tang!

    -128! [Critical]

    [Aatrox¡¯s Health: 300/535]

    Kieran took a step back after losing a considerable amount of Health. Since the copies of the arrow weren¡¯t ¡°physical¡± attacks, they couldn¡¯t be dodged if the leading arrow made contact with its target.<sub></sub>

    The fact an arrow unleashed by a Rare Weapon and augmented by an auxiliary skill only dealt 80 base damage was a testament to Kieran¡¯s Defense. Even Horizon Break repeatedly blinked to ensure his eyes weren¡¯t fooling him.

    When he unleashed thisbo on a monster, it was enough to im 1,900+ Health uponnding a critical. Although Horizon Break was aware that attacks aimed at another yer only dealt ten percent of its actual damage, there was more than 70 damage missing.

    It had to be known el Shot made the following arrow ignore 40% of the target¡¯s defense by increasing its armor-piercing capabilities.

    ¡®What the hell is this monstrous defense?!¡¯ Horizon Break wondered. He estimated Kieran¡¯s Defense to be 120 at the very least.

    Meanwhile, Kieran returned a ruthless expression as he revealed his near-perfect smile. Except, in this setting, it was more fitting to call it the smile of a demon.

    Whoosh! Bang!

    Kieranunched a devastating Force sh after using Charge to close the distance between him and the rest of the Healers. He sent a message with his actions¡ªeven with you all present, I will do as I please.

    Many of the remaining healers fell while Kieran also broke through the defenses of many who approached him with Heavy sh and Savage Break. While the sensation wasn¡¯t on the level of breaking bones since that wasn¡¯t a thing yet, all of the yers felt indescribable pain as they suffered through Kieran¡¯s iparably heavy attacks.

    The closer his Strength approached 100 points, the more fierce his attacks would be. Meanwhile, Altair took advantage of this opening to cleanly deal with all remaining Healers linked to the Shadow Cartel.

    Unfortunately, the Shadow Cartel was no longer the only entity on their list of enemies. Like Kieran, Altair also marked the Sunset Triad as an irreconcble enemy. He activated Silver Blitz, which made his speed surpass 100 points of Agility for the moment.

    His phantom-like movements reaped the yers¡¯ lives on one side. At the same time, the Colossal Scarlet Wolf decimated their split team on another front. Witnessing this scene drove Despot and Horizon Break to the brink of madness.

    This wouldn¡¯t be a disadvantaged fight if it weren¡¯t for the boss. Sadly, reality frequently differed from one¡¯s hopes. Therefore, after a few minutes of unsessfully killing Kieran and Altair, Horizon Break and Despot decided tounch a suicide attack.

    Since they would undoubtedly perish regardless without the help of Healers, they vowed to take these two with them.

    However, at that very moment, a deep voice entered Kieran¡¯s. ¡°Yo, famous mad. Do you need some help? It seems you¡¯ve gotten yourself embroiled in quite the conflict.¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡± Despot furrowed his brows. Had Kieran already grown to the point that neers would instead render aid to him rather than their organizations?

    Then again, it was understandable because their notorious reputation didn¡¯t paint them in the best light.

    Conversely, Kieran¡¯s racked his brain for a moment, trying to figure out why this voice sounded so familiar. It only took a few seconds for him to realize why¡ªit was one heard recently. It belonged to none other than Bastion. The Knight Kieran met on his journey back toplete his quest.

    Their armor was quite different. They looked no different from the pdins in legends, except their armorcked the holy poise and wless inscriptions found on their pristine armor.

    However, Bastion¡¯s te armor appeared abnormally heavypared to all the Knights present. This led Kieran to question the origin and grade of his current armor.

    ¡®Has he befriended his instructor? If I¡¯m not mistaken, the Knight Instructor of Gena Vige should have a connection to the Holy Church. But¡­ is that a route he wishes to take? A Pdin inevitably loses some of their pure Defense to gain another advantage,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Either way, this wasn¡¯t a matter that involved him. Since he was offering assistance, Kieran wasn¡¯t one to stand on ceremony and decline it.

    ¡°By all means,¡± Kieran nodded.

    ¡°Great. Let¡¯s rid the area of these vermin. Cyr, Alice, exterminate them,¡± Bastion ordered.

    ¡°With pleasure,¡± Cyr grinned maniacally before suddenly disappearing with a speed that rivaled Altair. Only could only wonder what allocation ratio this individual used. At the very least, theypletely ignored their Health and Defense since their party¡¯s tank was simply monstrous!

    Meanwhile, Alice held up a stunning white oak staff with the tiniest gem embedded at the top. Despite itscking size, the gem released vibrant Mana fluctuations. The Mana surrounding Alice underwent a fervent change as her hair floated like a magical goddess in the midst of formting a spell.

    Kieran¡¯s eyes sparkled briefly because the scene before him was likeying eyes upon a wondend, ¡®She extraordinarily maniptes Mana better than some 1-circle Mages. These people¡­ I don¡¯t recall hearing their names in the past. Speaking of which, what are they?

    Kieran didn¡¯t stick around for any introductions previously, so he wasn¡¯t still unaware of their names even now. Nevertheless, it wasn¡¯t exactly the time to stop and familiarize themselves with each other.

    ¡°This one is on you,¡± Horizon Break shouted while pointing at Despot¡¯s mouth.

    ¡°You agreed to it. So one can say you¡¯re to me as well. Either way, we juste at them in full force. Retaliating now would be pointless. We need to find a way to gather all our members andunch a full-scale assault,¡± Despot said, ignoring Horizon Break¡¯s criticism.

    ¡°That¡¯s a given. Do they think we¡¯ll take this loss sitting down? Don¡¯t even dream about it!¡± Horizon Break scoffed. To their dismay, they tried to log out, but they realized they couldn¡¯t log out in the middle ofbat.

    Except for physically fleeing the area, running away was not an option within Zenith Online. They would need to die before logging out since death resetbat status.

    Suddenly, the shadows of two abnormally-sized Mana Missiles arrived before each of them, iming their lives in a matter of seconds. Multiple coins and armor dropped, including Horizon Break¡¯s bow.

    Once he realized this had happened, Horizon Break would undoubtedly be livid about this matter.

    Together, Kieran, Altair, and Aspaira, supported by Bastion¡¯s party, purified the battlefield of the cancers known as the Sunset Triad and Shadow Cartel. Their Infamy levels were high, nearing the 3rd Degree, but it was worth it.

    Consequently, the number of people present inside the boss battlefield now numbered less than 100.

    Upon noticing the situation at hand, a thought came to Keiran¡¯s mind. If it was just the five of them, it¡¯d be impossible. However, with these neers, the chances were much higher!

 Chapter 42 He Gripped Their Shxt!

    ¡ª-

    Initially, Kieran wanted to band together with the other parties present in the Fanged Forest to defeat the Colossal Scarlet Wolf. This thought was only spurred on by the fact only he and Altair would be the true damagers of the party. Additionally, they alsocked a designated tank.

    If Kieran had to split this role once more, it would interfere with his ability to upkeep a steady damage output. So, during the n¡¯s innovation, the only usible option was to join hands with the present forces.

    However, that wasn¡¯t the case now.

    Based on the disy shown by Bastion¡¯s party, it was clear they received thest three remaining advantages¡ªthe grace of the Knight, Priest, and Mage mentors. If a partyposed of five members with unique benefits banded together, the oue would undoubtedly be less dreadful.

    Therefore, Kieran looked at the other with a spirited gleam in his deep ck eyes. ¡°You down to raid this thing?¡±

    ¡°Like, right now?¡± Bastion answered with raised brows. They had just wasted stamina fighting against other yers. Shouldn¡¯t it be better for them to recover to peak condition before thinking ofbatting this boss?

    Naturally, Kieran understood the worries present in Bastion¡¯s expression, so he shook his head and pointed towards the parties being quickly culled by the Colossal Scarlet Wolf.

    ¡°Nah, not right now. After they¡¯re all dead.¡±

    ¡°Hoh? So, you don¡¯t want to help them at all?¡± Bastioned questioned in return.

    Truth be told, he had no qualms with helping nor not helping. He was simply here to acquire experience and close the gap separating his current level, 19, and the ss promotion threshold.

    ¡°Do they have any rtions to me? No. So, I¡¯m not obligated to help anyone. If anything, they should learn to help themselves,¡± Kieran said with an indifferent coldness. He had learned his lesson. Unless he initiated the contact or had something to gain from the opposing side¡¯s talents, he wouldn¡¯t extend a helping hand.<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°Mmn,¡± Bastion gently nodded.

    Quietly, he generated an opinion of Kieran. Currently, he didn¡¯t seem like one who would easily mesh with others.

    However, he also didn¡¯t seem like the type to instigate trouble unless it came knocking at his front door. Either way, Bastion¡¯s current opinion of Kieran was someone who possessed a chaotic yet neutral outlook¡ªa free spirit who held their own benefit above all else.

    Meanwhile, Kieran¡¯s stream raved about his actions against the Sunset Triad and Shadow Cartel.

    [Stream Chat <Ballbuster69>: Ngl, I may have busted his balls at first, but I kinda like this dude! RipBozo. Imagine PKing people only to turn around and get rolled. OmegaLul couldn¡¯t be me!]

    [Stream Chat <GameStan>: Bwahahaha! They had no PASSION! They got shit on, and he gripped their shit! All that equipment down the drain. KekW]

    [Stream Chat <AvidCritique>: Trashcan, absolute trashcans! The Shadow Cartel and Sunset Triad are dog water! Pepegas.]

    [Stream Chat <CringeLord253>: Can we get an F in the chat for those bozos? Sadge. But hey, do you think this dude is maidenless? I heard people mention he¡¯s kind of stacked in the face. No cap!]

    Unlike his first stream, many doubters no longer jeered Kieran; they supported him.

    Themunity directed their harshments toward the third-ss organizations that targeted Kieran¡¯s party members. They couldn¡¯t wait to witness the downfall of these organizations!

    A few minutes after checking the stream, Kieran noticed the remaining forces had wholly fallen to the terror of the Colossal Scarlet Wolf. At that moment, Kieran cracked his neck and sent a Party Alliance request to Bastion.<sub></sub>

    It was a feature that few knew about because it had zero light shed upon it. In essence, it allowed two or more independent parties to act as one. However, doing so required one individual to take the mantle as the Alliance Leader.

    ¡°Any qualms with me being the leader? I¡¯ll keep the loot distribution locked so even I won¡¯t be able to pick up items. Suitable?¡± Kieran questioned while finalizing the Alliance Request.

    ¡°Nah, I don¡¯t mind. I pride myself on being a good judge of character. You shouldn¡¯t be the type to run off with the loot like those insufferable people before, right?¡± Bastion said with a cheeky grin. He then winked while swiping his nose. He immediately epted the request, naming Kieran as the Alliance Leader.

    It carried all of the functions of a Party Leader except the unique interface that had zero use currently. ¡®This will have its purpose once the era of Raid Dungeons arises.¡¯ However, Kieran did pay attention to the unique role portion. It systematically assignedbat roles based on the evaluated stats of a person.

    The only anomaly was Cyr; it gave him a scout role which wasn¡¯t suitable for this battle. It only had increased benefits in openbat areas. Therefore, Kieran manually changed the settings to a close-range sub-DPS.

    Naturally, Bastion was given the role of the main tank while Sera held the main support. Cygnus and Sithik adopt the sub-support roles. Alice was the main long-range MDPS (a damager specializing in magical damage), while Aspaira held the sub-role.

    Lastly, the two close-range DPS were both Kieran and Altair.

    Once the party formed, Kieran had the Healers situate between the long-range MDPS and the close-range DPS. The change in the boss¡¯s information made defeating it with such few numbers feasible. It would simply turn into a war of attrition if they yed their cards right.

    ¡¸Lv.15 Colossal Scarlet Wolf (Rare)

    World Boss

    Beast Type, Fire Type

    Health: 107,800/110,000 (98%)

    Special Traits: ?Inferno? ?Rage? ?Eviscerate? ¡¹

    Its Health was now half of the initial value. Still, the earlier raiders¡¯ck of ability allowed the boss to recover more Health, nearly recuperatingpletely. Nevertheless, Kieran noted this information before swiftly discarding any troubling thoughts.

    A few secondster, they made their move, shifting up as a unit. Once they were within the boss¡¯s aggro range, Kieran gave Bastion a signal.

    Immediately, Bastion activated a skill unique to the Knight ss, Shield Press. Like Charge, he rushed forward quickly, but his entire body was protected by the massive scope of the tower shield in Bastion¡¯s possession.

    Bang!

    Bastion¡¯s body mmed into the Colossal Scarlet Wolf.

    Although the World Boss possessed shocking defense, Bastion didn¡¯t rebound. His heavy armor and high Strength kept him affixed to the ground like a densely rooted tree. Additionally, he continued to press his shield forward before following up with an aura-type skill known as Knight¡¯s Honor.

    This skillpelled all monsters within Bastion¡¯s aggro range to view him as the biggest threat, generating a considerable aggro value. Immediately after, Bastion lifted his immense shield up and unleashed a skill known as Provocation Smash to further cement his grasp of the boss¡¯s aggro.

    Bang!

    The Colossal Scarlet Wolf¡¯s head was smashed into the ground. Although Bastion¡¯s attacks seemed powerful on the surface, he had only dealt 180 damage with his string of attacks. However, that was understandable because a Knight¡¯s role wasn¡¯t to deal damage. It was to defend the party and secure their safety.

    Alternatively, Kieran looked at Bastion in a new light.

    The way he linked his skills together represented a high understanding of his character¡¯s fluency. There was always a slight dy in using skills, but the pause could be avoided skillfully if you understood when it took ce.

    However, aplishing that feat took countless upon countless hours of practice.

    ¡®A natural at tanking?¡¯ Kieran wondered.

    Although there were signs of ample practice, Kieran also understood that the dys varied between gaming tforms. Just because one mastered their skills in another game didn¡¯t mean they possessed an inherent understanding of their ss skills.

    One needed to familiarize themself with the new set of skill dys applied by a new tform.

    On the other hand, Kieran tried to recall any famous characters named Bastion but couldn¡¯t. Perhaps this was an individual who wasn¡¯t around by the time he joined the Zenith Online scene.

    Either way, Kieran felt this individual had ample talent, not one bit inferior to Altair in its own right.

    Upon realizing this, Kieran decided to unleash his own ability in total capacity. Not so dramatic that he would aggravate his condition, but just enough to utilize what was already present.

    Whoosh!

    Kieran led the secondary assault after expending his remaining Unassigned Attribute Points to increase his Strength and Agility to 89 and 50, respectively.

    With his Warrior¡¯s Aura active, Kieran angled his approach so it wouldn¡¯t interfere with Bastion¡¯s tanking capabilities. While Bastion defended against the World Boss¡¯s attacks, surprisingly maintaining his Health well, Kieran unleashed a Charge.

    -382

    Instead of following up, Kieran gave this opportunity to someone else.

    ¡°Alice, you¡¯re up! Attack it with your strongest skill,¡± Kieran ordered.

    Alice gave a slight nod without paying too much attention to Kieran. The Mana surrounding Alice reacted violently, quickly congregating before her staff. Surprisingly, it was one of the Mage¡¯s most basic skills, Mana Missle. However, it soon split into 4.

    It was no normal Mana Missle. It was an improved version bestowed by the Mage Mentor known as Mana Torrent, which was an array of 4 or more Mana Missiles. At Alice¡¯s current level, she could only conjure four simultaneously.

    Regardless, Kieran found thismendable because utilizing a Mage¡¯s higher skills was too demandingpared to physical sses.

    In fact, it was proven that a Mage¡¯s mental power improved faster than physical sses. Granted, this was only true until an Advanced ss. Advanced sses thrived in Stage 1 Realism because they introduced the world to the real benefits of Mana.

    Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

    Each of the Mana Misslesnded upon the boss¡¯s body simultaneously. Since it originated from the same skill andnded simultaneously, the damage was treated as one entity.

    -2,950! [Critical Hit]

    ¡°Phew,¡± Altair whistled.

    That was damage outssing Kieran¡¯s critical in the best-case scenario! However, Kieran felt no emotion for giving up the highest damager position.

    That was simply an empty and childish notion. The most crucial matter was defeating the boss!

 Chapter 43 A Stressful Battle

    ¡ª-

    Shortly after Alice unleashed her frightening attack, Kieran followed up with aparatively dreadful rotation. Immediately, Kieran used the Spirit of the Bear King attached to the Bear King Pendant to put the Colossal Scarlet Wolf in a Dazed state for 10 seconds, making it more susceptible to Critical Hits.

    At least, it should¡¯ve been for 10 seconds.

    Because of its physique as a World Boss, the Dazed state produced by the item¡¯s ability wouldn¡¯t persist for more than 5 seconds. In other words, it was only 50% effective on a monster of this caliber. Still, 5 seconds was a decent damage window for the party to work with.

    Naturally, Kieran quickly followed up with Savage Break.

    -702

    While it wasn¡¯t a Critical Hit, Kieran managed to nearly shave off an additional 1% of the Boss¡¯s Health. Afterward, he quickly executed a Force sh that disyed its position as his bread and butter damage skill.

    -1,979! [Critical Hit]

    After unleashing his powerful skills, Kieran defaulted to using basic attacks that imed upwards of 100 damage with each strike. In contrast, the party membersnded light blows, iming only tens of damage.

    However, in the time it took Kieran to unleash one sh, Cyr and Altair could execute 4, vaguely closing the gap in damage output.

    Meanwhile, Sera unleashed a Healing Light that put Cygnus and Sithik¡¯s capacities to shame. In fact, her one Healing Light was slightly better than Cygnus and Sithikbined!<sub>-.</sub>

    +127! [Bastion¡¯s Health: 940/1,039]

    When reading the battle alerts, Kieran¡¯s jaw nearly dropped in surprise. To his surprise, this dude¡¯s Health exceeded 1,000 already! That was a feat that was even more difficult than reaching 100 Strength without gear. It had to be known that 1 point of Vitality only rewarded 5 Health to a Basic ss.

    However, Kieran was aware that Bastion¡¯s Vitality didn¡¯t exceed 200. In fact, it didn¡¯te close to it. For his current stats to be possible, Bastion had to be in possession of items with a Health boostparable to the Beast King Pendant.

    Perhaps this bonus originated from his armor, but nevertheless, having over 1,000 Health was reassuring at this point in the game.

    Quite frankly, Kieran was more so disgusted by Bastion¡¯s Defense. When he looked at his stats with Inspect, he learned that Bastion¡¯s Defense exceeded 250! If any established gaming organization caught wind of his stats, they¡¯d undoubtedly rush to recruit him into their forces.

    Having a tank with exceptional Defense and high Health could be the difference between clearing or failing challenging dungeons. The longer a tank could defend without requiring assistance, the wider the damaging window became.

    The Colossal Scarlet Wolf recovered from its Dazed state and unleashed a ferocious five secondster. Its ws filled with a sweltering me as it shed toward Bastion, leaving four deep nicks in his shield as he slid back.

    The severe damage to one¡¯s equipment originated from the Boss¡¯s Trait¡ªEviscerate. If itnded enough attacks, it couldpletely destroy equipment with the help of its immense strength and me attribute.

    What¡¯s more, almost half of Bastion¡¯s Health disappeared.

    However, just before the wolf continued its assault, a faint green calming aura followed by a soft radiance coated Bastion¡¯s body. Naturally, this was Sera¡¯s Healing Light and Mending Aura used in tandem.<sub></sub>

    Sera¡¯s adorable appearance was now focused as she kept all of her attention on Bastion. She kept a mental note of her current Mana Pool, Bastion¡¯s Health, and her skill cooldowns. Even without Cygnus and Sithik¡¯s assistance, Sera navigated her faculties well.

    As a result, Cygnus and Sithik could only smile helplessly. By the time they wished to provide help, Sera¡¯s healing spell was already en route.

    ¡®She has a good understanding of the battlefield. Those two should extract some key points from this Priest¡¯s actions,¡¯ Kieran thought as he waited for the perfect opportunity to strike.

    Kieran, Altair, and Cyr alternatively attacked the Boss when it appeared to gain momentum against Bastion. Once its momentum was disrupted, Aspaira and Alice unleashed magical attacks.

    Of course, there were times when no advances could be made because of the Colossal Scarlet Wolf¡¯s vtile actions. It unleashed a sea of mes that would deal devastating damage if touched and persisted for 60 seconds every two minutes. This turned the area into a raging inferno, which also meant it could regenerate at least 0.5% of its Health without fail.

    Hence, why Kieran understood it would be a battle of attrition. When they could unleash damage, it would be excellent, but it was a terrible dilemma when they couldn¡¯t. In the meantime, Kieran had Cyr maintain the perimeter.

    Since he was given the Scout Role originally, it meant his base Agility should be at least slightly higher than Altair, but he most likely didn¡¯t own Agility-boosting abilities. Aside from unleashing supplementary damage, Cyr was to warn them if anyone was approaching.

    As the battle neared its end, it would also grow increasingly dangerous. There could be presences lurking in the shadows who expected to reap the benefits of others at thest minute. So, it was best to be prepared for the worst even if it didn¡¯t appear.

    After fighting a grueling battle, the party finally managed to bring the fight into itsst stretch approximately twenty minutester. The Colossal Scarlet Wolf¡¯s Health had fallen to 15%, triggering the special feature unique to Boss Monsters¡ªBerserk.

    The Colossal Scarlet Wolf¡¯s body swelled, and its muscles rippled with strength. Over the next few seconds, its ws became engulfed in perpetual mes that scorched the ground. It wasn¡¯t the most powerful Kieran had ever seen, but it definitely rivaled beasts who wereparable to Intermediate sses (Tier 1).

    ¡´System: World Boss Colossal Scarlet Wolf has entered its ?Berserk? phase.¡µ

    ¡´System: Colossal Scarlet Wolf¡¯s Strength and Agility have increased by 35%.¡µ

    Compared to Grifear, who lost Defense in exchange for increased Strength and Agility, the Colossal Scarlet Wolf didn¡¯t have this issue. Its status as a World Boss and its heightened innate constitution allowed it to unleash more power without repercussion. What¡¯s more, its boost was nearly double that of Grifear!

    Whoosh! Ssszzzt! Bang!

    The Boss turned into a ming blur as Bastion¡¯s eyes widened in shock. This change thoroughly revealed that the fight up until now was nothing more than a prelude. A real battle with a Boss only took ce once the phases changed.

    Bastion, despite his hefty weight, was thrown back. He could only stabilize his stance after moving back over ten steps. Meanwhile, by the time he stabilized, the Boss was already upon him.

    Unlike before, it opened its maw and fired a ming orb at Bastion¡¯s shield.

    Bang!

    -546 [Bastion¡¯s Health: 245/1,039]

    With just two attacks, Bastion was left with less than 25% of his Health.

    Threeyers of heals immediately fell upon Bastion¡¯s body. One came from Sera¡¯s Restorative Mist, another from Cygnus¡¯s Mending Aura, and the remaining presence was Sithik¡¯s Healing Light.

    Bastion¡¯s Health instantly shot back up to 60%.

    Once that happened, Sera prepped her Regeneration Burst.

    The Boss was now hellbent on ensuring the destruction of this party, so employingrge heals was inevitable. Bastion used another skill essible to a Knight of his level¡ªKnight¡¯s Valor. It reduced the damage of the subsequent four blows by 30%. Afterward, 2.5% of the damage received would be added to his Defense for the next 15 seconds.

    Bang! Bang!

    Bastion felt like a battering ram as his body was continually assaulted by heavy strikes. Nevertheless, he stood his ground and exhaled through gritted teeth. His Health was like a constant rollercoaster.

    One second it was high, but suddenly it was extremely low, teetering on the verge of death.

    Given that the Boss only had 15% of its Health remaining, less than 20,000 points separated this party from victory.

    Therefore, Kieran enhanced his vision greatly and searched for a timing he could grasp. All Bosses in a Beginner Vige operated on limited mechanics so as to not overwhelm the new yers.

    In this case, Kieran noticed every 7th attack, the Boss would execute a double w attack. So, he silently counted until the sixth attack came.

    ¡°Bastion, unleash your strongest Shield Tremor, now!¡± Kieran roared across the battlefield.

    Bastion didn¡¯t understand why Kieran wanted him to use this strike, but he obliged nheless. Less than a secondter, Bastion mmed his shield into the ground creating a disorienting tremor. This action exposed his back, but he left this vulnerability to his Alliance Leader to resolve.

    Kieran had disyed insanely high mechanical skill and grasp of the battlefield until now.

    Just when Bastion felt a presence near his back, it veered off track. At the same time, arge soundwave came from the opposite direction. While the Boss lost its footing briefly, Kieran acted and put the beast in a daze.

    This exposed an unusually pale underbelly. Since the Dazed state would onlyst 2.5 seconds now that the Boss was in its Berserk Phase, Kieran issued a franticmand.

    ¡°Everyone, attack that right now!¡±

    Before the onught of damage appeared, Kieran led the assault by breaking through the beast¡¯s Defense with Savage Break, lowering the Defense enough so that everyone else received an adequate boost in damage. Within that two seconds, Kieran unleashed all of the skills in his arsenal.

    By the time the Boss recovered, the team had managed to shave the Boss¡¯s Health down to 2%. It became an even more hellish back and forth struggle, with Bastion narrowly avoiding death.

    The lower the Boss¡¯s Health, the more fearsome its attacks became due to the Rage trait in its possession. Kieran had Bastion persist for another 30 seconds until his skill rotation was ultimately off cooldown.

    Once that happened, Kieran rushed forward and unleashed all of his skills, iming thest of the Colossal Scarlet Wolf¡¯s Health bar! As a result, the team received abundant experience and loot while sighing in relief.

    Consequently, an achievement message appeared before everyone in the party.

 Chapter 44 Rewards of A World Boss

    ¡ª-

    ¡´System: You have received 50,000 Experience for defeating the World Boss, Colossal Scarlet Wolf.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have leveled up! [Lv.18¡úLv.19] ¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 5 Unassigned Stat Points and 2 Skill Points.¡µ

    Unsurprisingly, the World Boss rewarded a massive amount of Experience. Even without the effects of the Medallion of Growth, killing this monster awarded 25,000 Experience to everyone in the party!

    Except for Bastion, everyone else in the party leveled up at least once. Sadly for Bastion, the chasm separating Lv.19 and 20 grew overly vast. Additionally, Kieran could¡¯ve received an additional 5,000 Experience, but his Well Rested buff had already expired by the time the Boss suffered defeat.

    Still, he was satisfied nheless. Besides, the party had yet to address the notification that appeared as soon as they killed the Boss.

    ¡´System: Would you like to announce your feat as the first party to kill a World Boss?¡µ

    Even though Kieran and his party didn¡¯t rush to defeat the boss as frantically as theirpetition, he still imed the unique feat only essible to the first World Boss death. This opportunity primarily relied upon the other parties choosing the wrong route of clearance in all the Beginner Zones.

    Most individuals who attempted to fight the World Boss tried to do so with an unreasonablyrge squad. Even if it was limited to members of their organizations, utilizing hundreds of yers was still a foolish endeavor to embark on.

    The most frightening aspect of the World Boss fight would be its overinted Defense. Even the strongest skills readily avable to yers would inevitably deal minimal to negligible damage after failing to break through the monster¡¯s Defenses!

    Sadly, not every Beginner Vige held legacies to take advantage of because they were in finite supply. What¡¯s more, some legacies weren¡¯t battle-oriented, so even if it was acquired, they wouldn¡¯t provide much assistance as of yet.

    Before announcing their feat as the Alliance Leader, Kieran looked toward Bastion. He already understood the ramifications of broadcasting one¡¯s aplishments to the world. It was akin to painting a target on their back.

    After all, the announcement linked to a World Feat differed considerably from the one applied to a Beginner Dungeon like the Forest of Beasts.<sub>-.</sub>

    All continents woulde to learn of the feat. However, there were still lesser feats to be imed in the neighboring regions. Only the World Feat would be robbed by Kieran and his teammates.

    ¡°If you want to announce it, by all means, go ahead! I, for one, want those rewards that apany the announcement. Besides, who¡¯s to say the rewards won¡¯t change if we aren¡¯t brave enough to announce our valor? Hah! I ain¡¯t a chicken!¡± Bastion smirked while crossing his arms.

    His shield, at this time, was nowhere to be seen since he unequipped it. It was bafflingly heavy, so he chose to leave it unequipped outside of battle.

    Kieran smirked faintly in response. He liked this somewhat fearless attitude. Of course, Bastion wasn¡¯t all talk; he had the means to back up his words! Who would want to go against an armored titan with more than 1,000 Health?

    More importantly, the innate passive of Bastion¡¯s ss reduced the chances of Critical Hits against him. Therefore, it¡¯d be nearly impossible to eat away at Bastion¡¯s Health as long as Sera was present with her potent heals.

    ¡°Good. What¡¯s understood needn¡¯t be said,¡± Kieran nodded faintly. Afterward, he swiped his finger, dispelling the unrted system notifications before epting the most important one.

    ¡¸ ?Northern Region Announcement? ¨C

    Congrattions to the party, Alliance, who earned the First Kill of a World Boss in the Northern Region. Their feat will forever be held with glory! This feat was aplished by Aatrox, Bastion, Alice, Altair, Sera, Cyr, Aspaira, Cygnus, and Sithik! They have been rewarded handsomely for their efforts. ¡¹

    ¡¸ ?Xenith World Announcement? ¨C

    Congrattions to the party, Alliance, who earned the First Kill of a World Boss. Their feat will forever be held with glory! This feat was aplished by Aatrox, Bastion, Alice, Altair, Sera, Cyr, Aspaira, Cygnus, and Sithik! They have been rewarded handsomely for their efforts. ¡¹

    The party name was simply Alliance because neither side belonged to a unique power. So, Kieran chose Alliance to disy the true extent of their abilities indirectly. This achievement wasn¡¯t aplished by a party who toiled together to develop charisma; it was a collection of people who recently met each other! This revtion was a testament to their individual ability.

    Naturally, this would lead to organizations setting their sights on these few yers. But, Kieran had another objective in mind¡ªmoney. Suppose he generated enough buzz with Zenith Online before meeting with the Gamer Republic¡¯s Advisor? In that case, it could work to his benefit!

    As for the rewards, although it wasn¡¯t announced to the world to prevent countless powers from targeting them for the wrong reasons, the rewards were truly remarkable!<sub></sub>

    ¡´System: You have received 1 Gold, 10,000 Experience, and 50 World Fame.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 2 Gold, 30,000 Experience, Rare Grade Treasure Chest, and 100 World Fame.¡µ

    This time, everyone, including Kieran and Bastion, were enveloped by a golden radiance. The Experience Reward from both announcements alone almost equaled the World Boss¡¯s Experience!

    While the others received a grand total of 20,000 Experience, Kieran received 40,000, instantly reaching the requirement to promote his ss! s, Kieran couldn¡¯t do so until hepleted his task with the Original Wielder.

    Still, Kieran nced over his stats for the time being.

    ¡¸Name: Aatrox

    Lv.20 (Experience: 27,600/80,000)

    ss: Warrior

    Title(s): None

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    [?Stats?]-

    Health: 535/535 (0.2 HP regen/sec)

    Mana: 130/130 (0.15 MP regen/sec)

    Stamina: 150 (0.15 Stamina regen/sec)

    Attack Power: 210

    Defense: 127

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    [?Attributes?]-

    ?Strength: 89 (62 + 27 + 0)

    ?Intelligence: 20 (20 + 0 + 0)

    ?Agility: 50 (47 + 3 + 0)

    ?Endurance: 40 (20 + 20 + 0)

    ?Control: 30 (30 + 0 + 0)

    ?Vitality: 45 (30 + 15 + 0)

    ?Perception: 50 (50 + 0 + 0)

    [Unassigned Stat Point: 10]

    [Skill Points: 4]      ¡¹

    ¡®80,000 Experience, huh? Those numbers will only grow steeper once we experience the first empowerment of an Intermediate ss,¡¯ Kieran thought to himself. After a short while, he closed the menu, choosing to avoid using any of his UAP or SP for the time being.

    Additionally, he paid attention to the only unfamiliar term present inside the notification. Whereas the Region Announcement only rewarded Experience, Gold, and World Fame. The World Announcement had an additional reward¡ªa Treasure Chest.

    In this case, it was only Rare Grade, but it wasn¡¯t something Kieran could ignore.

    ¡¸ Rare Grade Treasure Chest (Special Item)

    Item Usage: Opening this item has a chance of rewarding an item with a rarity rating of Rare or below. The item received from opening this chest isn¡¯t limited to a weapon, armor, or essory; it can also award unusual items.

    Description: A treasure chest with unusual markings that exudes an unnatural presence. The inside, while not spacious, may possess bizarre traits. The origin of the items inside may have ties to ces outside of natural areas.

    Restriction: One-time usage. ¡¹

    Since this was a probability-based item, Kieran chose to leave it aside for the time being. While there was a chance of it awarding an item of significant use, it could also reward apletely worthless. Therefore, he wouldn¡¯t bother with it until he chanced upon opportunities to increase one of his Hidden Attributes.

    Regardless, there was still an abundance of loot for the team to sift through.

    From what they saw at a nce, there were at least fifteen pieces of loot in the loot pile. Of those fifteen, at least three of them shimmered with a light purple radiance. While others may not be familiar with the grading of items based on their drop radiance, Kieran was.

    The color of this glow meant at least three items inside the loot pile were Rare Items. Kieran practically pled inside for one of these rare items to be valuable to him.

    After all, the Novice Greatsword was on the verge of shattering. And the hassle of repairing an item was too great for Kieran to go through that issue with a mere Umon-Grade weapon.

    At the very least, only a Rare Item could receive this type of care from Kieran.

    But, before that, Kieran looked towards Bastion. ¡°Should we divvy up the equipment based on need? Additionally, if there¡¯s an item of a higher value that is useful to one of the talented members, let¡¯s agree to pass along our weaker equipment?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ surprisingly fair,¡± Bastion muttered in slight astonishment.

    To surmise Kieran¡¯s suggestion, if Alice came across a stronger piece of equipment but her item slot was filled, she could just pass along her current equipment to Aspaira. The same applied to Altair and Cyr, etc.

    Naturally, no one in the party had an issue with this. The announcement alone, which distributes more than 1 Gold to each person, was enoughpensation. It surpassed the current value any one piece of equipment could generate.

    While divvying up the equipment, Kieran came across an item that made his eyes sparkle. It was a greatsword¡ªone that was exceptionally strong!

    ¡¸ Scarlet Steel Greatsword (Rare)

    Item Level: 20*

    Phys. Attack Power +91*

    Strength +45, Agility +30, Control +25

    Effect: Monsters weak to mes suffer extra damage.

    Item Ability ?ming Circle? ¨C This ability conjures a ring of powerful mes that deal constant fire damage every second for 10 seconds. Afterward, this ability can¡¯t be used for the next 60 seconds.

    Description: A greatsword created using materials boasting fiery properties. Based on the weapon¡¯s shape, it¡¯s possible that it was forged using the tooth of a beast skilled with fire.

    Weight: 75kg

    Durability: 350/350

    Requirements: ?Warrior ss?, 75 Strength, Lv.15

    Note: This item is limited by the Beginner Zone Handicap. ¡¹

 Chapter 45 Mysterious Portal

    ¡ª-

    Kieran understood this weapon was more than what met the eyes upon reading the information. The Beginner Zone Handicap suppressed its current capabilities. Both the Item Level and Attack Power attached to the item were incorrect. From what Kieran examined, the quality of this weapon warranted a much higher Item Level. At least Level 35.

    However, Kieran also understood that his estimation could be inurate unless he finished all of his business within Gena Vige, namely the ss Promotion. After concluding that matter, he could enter what Zenith Online honestly had to offer¡ªa boundless world with even more extraordinary opportunities!

    Meanwhile, the party members stepped away once they saw Kieran¡¯s eyes shimmer upon ncing at the Scarlet Steel Greatsword. Altair even smiled faintly because having someone as monstrous as Kieran pick up a Rare Weapon was akin to giving a lion a pair of wings.

    A beast previously confined to the ground could morph into something surpassing an eagle and soar to the skies!

    ¡°Pick it up, big guy!¡± Altair eximed. Soon enough, the rest joined in, urging Kieran to take the weapon. However, it was primarily his original party members who told him to do so with the odd addition of Bastion.

    Following a short pause, Kieran bent down and grasped the weapon.

    As he picked it up, Kieran instantly noticed the immense weight differencepared to the Novice Greatsword. It didn¡¯t take long for him to understand why this weapon required a minimum Strength threshold.

    Without reaching that minimum threshold, this sword was unusable! The average individual could only dream of wielding a weapon like this. Only a Warrior who trained their vessel could wield a mighty weapon such as this greatsword.

    After equipping the Scarlet Steel Greatsword, Kieran¡¯s attributes soared. Moreover, he could feel the properties of power overflowing from the weapon. ¡®The materials used to forge this weapon should have decent Mana conductivity and force distribution. Not too shabby.¡¯

    ¡¸Name: Aatrox

    Lv.20 (Experience: 27,600/80,000)

    ss: Warrior<sub>-.</sub>

    Title(s): None

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    [?Stats?]-

    Health: 535/535 (0.2 HP regen/sec)

    Mana: 130/130 (0.15 MP regen/sec)

    Stamina: 170 (0.17 Stamina regen/sec)

    Attack Power: 361

    Defense: 127

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    [?Attributes?]-

    ?Strength: 134 (62 + 72 + 0)

    ?Intelligence: 20 (20 + 0 + 0)<sub></sub>

    ?Agility: 80 (47 + 33 + 0)

    ?Endurance: 40 (20 + 20 + 0)

    ?Control: 55 (30 + 25 + 0)

    ?Vitality: 45 (30 + 15 + 0)

    ?Perception: 50 (50 + 0 + 0)

    [Unassigned Stat Point: 10]

    [Skill Points: 4] ¡¹

    Kieran¡¯s current stats made him genuinely smile. Over 350 Attack Power withoutpleting his ss Promotion? If everyone were aware that he now possessed 3 Rare Items, they would undoubtedly feel some shock.

    Even Bastion¡¯s party, who worked tirelessly to clear all of the Forest of Beast¡¯s difficulties, only received their second Rare Item after killing the Colossal Scarlet Wolf!

    Conversely, Kieran possessed his ring and ne beforehand.

    ¡°So, is that all?¡± Bastion questioned, breaking the silence caused by admiration. Everyone had essentially undergone a transformation after recing their equipment with what was essible. Cyr, in particr, was the luckiest of all, receiving a Lv.15 Rare Leather Top from Altair.

    ¡°I suppose so,¡± Kieran nodded.

    However, after giving it a brief thought, he nced at everyone and swiped his hand across the space before him. A friend request was sent to Bastion, Alice, Cyr, and Sera. Their skills shown during the fight were enough to spark Kieran¡¯s interest.

    Naturally, the others epted. Why wouldn¡¯t they ept the friend request of a yer who exhibited just as much, if not more, potential than themselves?! They would be foolish not to!

    On the other hand, Kieran turned toward his four original party members. ¡°All of you have more or less reached the threshold. When we meet again, it will no longer be in the beginner area, but in the real world. You¡¯ll do well to pick a decent kingdom to situate yourself in.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­ w-we¡¯re separating already?¡± Aspaira muttered with a crushed expression. For some reason, Kieran¡¯s goodbye-sounding tone shattered the picturesque image in Aspaira¡¯s mind. Although she expected them to inevitably part ways, she didn¡¯t expect it to ur so soon.

    ¡°Correct. I don¡¯t know the oue of my ss change, so there may be a chance that I will never return to the vige. On the other hand, you guys need to visit the vige now. Altair, do me a favor and finish leveling up these three?¡±

    Whoosh!

    Kieran suddenly tossed an item to Altair in which he caught. Naturally, this item was the Medallion of Growth. It was no longer functional to Kieran since he reached the limitation applied to the item. However, it could still very well serve its purpose to his party members.

    Of course, Kieran could have leased it again. But, he trusted Altair enough to not have to go through that hassle.

    Conversely, Bastion¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly when he saw the odd item in Altair¡¯s grasp. ¡®What is that? I¡¯ve yet to see an item like that. I wonder what its effects are.¡¯

    Unlike Kieran, who was familiar with things like medallions, insignias, and other exceptional items, most of Zenith Online¡¯s general poption were uneducated about the practicality of said items. Gaining ess to this information required yers to visit libraries or the correct institutions.

    ¡°Level them up? That¡¯ll be no problem. But what I want to know is¡­ why don¡¯t you need to return to town? Do you have your promotion quest already?¡± Altair asked with an odd expression. This question caused the other¡¯s expression to change considerably as well.

    From what they remembered, Kieran was only Lv.18 beforeing to this area. If that was the case, how could he have his ss Promotion quest already? Of course, he wouldn¡¯t divulge that he held an SSS-Rank Quest in his quest log.

    Therefore, Kieran could only do the most usible thing and shrug. ¡°Nah, but I have some matters to take care of. By the time I get back, you all will probably have moved along.¡±

    After speaking, he turned his attention toward Bastion, ¡°I presume you¡¯re taking the route of a Guardian Knight, yes?¡±

    ¡°Correct,¡± Bastion nodded in response.

    ¡°Then, I suggest paying attention to your Control and Agility. A sturdy defense is excellent, but you also need basic movement skills. What would you do against wipeout skills? Most of them can¡¯t be defended against; you¡¯ll need to avoid them,¡± Kieran said.

    ¡°Agility?¡± Bastion frowned slightly. It wasn¡¯t his style to pay attention to Agility. He typically left his back to his trustedrades Alice and Cyr. He saw no need for Agility, especially since he understood a Guardian Knight¡¯s iparable defensive capabilities. It was a purely defensive ss!

    Kieran raised his hand lightheartedly, ¡°Just consider the suggestion. If you find yourself in a difficult situation, just remember to save a decent amount of Unassigned Attributes Points to useter.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll consider it. And how about you? What path will you be taking?¡±

    ¡°Berserker,¡± Kieran said confidently. A natural air around him exuded an indescribable maism when he spoke about being a Berserker. He was genuinely excited to find out what this

 Chapter 46 SSS Ranked Quest

    ¡ª-

    Once the portal widened and connected to a dark entrance where Kieran couldn¡¯t perceive even a hint of information inside, he was further rmed. Instead of responding to the voice, Kieran silently inspected its condition with watchful eyes.

    ¡®Is it possible for what resides inside there to step outside?¡¯ Kieran wondered. The voice that called out to him seemed archaic, containing an unknown power. However, Kieran also noticed a tone he was all too familiar with¡ªthe pain of looming death present when one¡¯s body was weakened beyond repair.

    There was an inconspicuous pleading undertone inside the voice. Still, Kieran remembered that some demons used such methods to lure yers to their side. Bearing that thought in mind, Kieran understood there was absolutely nothing to gain by siding with any demon currently. Not to mention, they were incredibly untrustworthy.

    Nevertheless, the voice again called out to Kieran, ¡°Young man¡­ I sense your reluctance, and it is understandable. But where is your courage? Are you frightened by darkness, or are you scared of what may reside in that darkness?¡±

    Gradually, Kieran began to frown. The more he listened to the voice, the more it couldn¡¯t be a demon. It was far too soft to belong to one of those dark creatures. Be that as it may, their choice of words unsettled Kieran.

    ¡®It¡¯s almost like they¡¯re very desperate. Wait¡­ could this have something to do with my current quest?¡¯ Kieran inwardly asked.

    After all, he was supposed to meet some unknown figure before the Wildes. Although he was still quite some ways from reaching the Wildes¡¯ entrance, if that individual was as strong as Kieran presumed, crossing 500 kilometers in an instant would be a simple task.

    In fact, it would be an effortless one!

    Of course, Kieran couldn¡¯t allow his spections topletely take over his reason. A guess wasn¡¯t enough reason to blindly enter a portal he couldn¡¯t even see into. Thus, he took a single step forward cautiously while surveilling his surroundings.<sub>-.</sub>

    Upon noticing that nothing else seemed to be in the vicinity, Kieran lightly touched the portal. Finally, it revealed information. But even then, it left much to be desired as far as the owner went.

    ¡´System: You¡¯ve made contact with a ?nar Rift?. Do you wish to enter? [ Y/N ]¡µ

    ¡´WARNING! The ?nar Rift? leads to a ?Dissociated Space?. None of the current rules will apply to that area. Caution is advised, but it is ultimately up to your own discretion.¡µ

    Kieran¡¯s eyes immediately widened upon reading the alert and warning. ¡°A damned nar Rift?! What the hell is that doing here?¡±

    As its name sounded, nar Rifts were weaknesses in Xenith¡¯s Dimensional Barrier either caused by strong experts with a high understanding of Spatial Principles or naturally urring due to historic events that transpired nearby. In this case, because it was linked to a Disassociated Space, it should be the former.

    It was a rift someone willfully created. However, Kieran understood that this was a feat only someone in their Third Awakening Phase or above could muster. Xenith¡¯s Dimensional Barrier possessed exceptional durability. Even someone of Scar¡¯s caliber would find it difficult to puncture and separate a portion of space!

    If that was the case, Kieran could only cautiously step back again. He had zero business evening close to a portal requiring power thousands of times his current capacity. Furthermore, based on the smooth portal edges and the stable fluctuation inside, this portal¡¯s creator had extremely high Spatial attainments.

    ¡®Enlightened?¡¯ Kieran muttered to himself. Suppose this was indeed the result of an Enlightened Individual; it wouldn¡¯t be good for him. In that case, his freedom of choice could very well be snatched away!

    Then again, judging by how weak the voice sounded, Kieran doubted they could unleash all of the faculties granted to an Enlightened Presence.<sub></sub>

    ¡°Are you rted to the Berserk Path?¡± Kieran questioned.

    ¡°Berserk Path? The path birthed by the Barbarian Race? I have nothing to do with such a practice, but I am knowledgeable about its origins. However, I am not at liberty to discuss that since its creator is much stronger than I. I would much rather live out the rest of my life in destion than perish by their hand.¡±

    While the other side spoke, Kieran could hear their voice inherently tremble¡ªa clear indication that they felt genuine fear towards the individual mentioned. ¡®Fear? If that¡¯s the case¡­ then maybe I¡¯m not in as much danger as I previously thought.¡¯

    Suddenly, the voice sounded from within the portal again. ¡°Is that what brought you to this troublednd¡ªyou wish to traverse the Berserk Path?¡±

    ¡°Correct,¡± Kieran answered truthfully. He was no longer as apprehensive as he previously was because now, he was particrly fascinated with learning about the Berserk Path¡¯s creator. At the very least, he should be able to squeeze some semnce of information out of this unknown character.

    Of course, the question remained¡ªwas Kieran crafty enough to get this ancient figure to verbally misstep?

    ¡°Mm¡­ I implore you to step inside this portal. No harm will befall you. I was attracted by your spiritual fluctuations, so I would like to uncover whether or not you are worthy.

    ¡°Worthy of?¡± Kieran countered. Words alone weren¡¯t enough to move the overly prudent Kieran. What use was being worthy for another character if he already has his eyes set on a clear destination?

    ¡°My mission,¡± the voice answered in a matter-of-fact tone.

    Upon hearing this, Kieran¡¯s eyes brightened. A mission? This was another term denizens of Xenith used in ce of quests! If this was indeed an Enlightened Presence, then the quest they held was by no means meager.

    However, after hisck of reply for quite some time, the voice misunderstood the silence.

    Finally, a light sigh came from within the portal. ¡°You¡¯re very cautious. But, should you cross that boundary, I¡¯ll destigmatize some of the general dislikes of the Berserk Path you chose.¡±

    ¡°Destigmatize? No need. It¡¯s not a path to be ashamed of, but embrace instead.¡±

    Afterward, Kieran pressed his hands against the portal once more. The same alerts appeared, but Kieran instantly epted the consequences, allowing his body to pass through the spatial block.

    Kieran was plunged into an unusual area for a few seconds, seemingly gued by death, destruction, and strife beyond anything he had seen before. However, the space was soon reced by a space devoid of all basic living structures except an altar.

    Upon that altar, a cloaked man with only half of their face visible.

    Stranges markings that escaped even Kieran¡¯s knowledge filled the visible part of the individual¡¯s face. These markings seemedpleted different from the Barbarian¡¯s hierarchy markings. They exuded a mysterious presence linked exclusively to the soul.

    ¡°This¡­¡± Kieran muttered in surprise. He had nevere across such an NPC even in the past, so he had no exnation for what he saw. There was a gaping hole in the person¡¯s chest with iridescent light radiating from the egregious wound!

    Despite the presence of that dreadful wound, the cloaked individual stood tall while analyzing Kieran. The soul he sensed earlier engendered his thoughtless action of reaching out to Kieran.

    ¡°Is it my wound that startles you? Pay it no mind. It is something I received millennia ago. However, it is also the source of my request. While it is saddening to hear that you¡¯ll be traveling the Berserk Path, that doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t strengthen your soul throughout that journey. After all, I sensed the required traits from you. Tell me, would you be interested in epting my mission? A mission that, in the end, should reward you handsomely.¡±

    ¡°Millennia?¡± Kieran repeated with a baffled expression. If that was true, then at the very least, this was a character on par with Heroes. ¡°Who are you?¡±

    ¡°My name? That is something inconsequential and possibly lost to time. However, you may address me as the Arcane One.¡±

    ¡¸NPC Lv. ??? Arcane One (Ancient, Dying)

    ss: ???

    Health: ??? (1%)

    Affiliations: Arcane Dominion (Unstable) ¡¹

    ¡®Only 1% of his Health remains, yet it still appears as unknown? I wonder how this individualpares to the leader of the War Deity Council,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    ¡°I know that you are seeking someone to aplish your mission, but I¡¯m sure you can tell my current grade of power. If it¡¯s a mission intricately linked to you or your past, I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s something beyond all of my capabilities.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m aware of this and have prepared contingencies. Should you ept my request, not only will you be handsomely rewarded uponpletion, but I¡¯ll personally reward you now as well,¡± the Arcane One answered.

    His steadfastness intrigued Kieran. ¡°Why go so far for a simple request?¡±

    ¡°Why? The reason is simple¡ªI will not tolerate betrayal and allow those who partook in the betrayal to continue benefitting from my misfortunes. As I am unable, I need someone capable of realizing my wish¡ªthe downfall of my own kingdom!¡±

    After a moment, the Arcane One¡¯s frown subsided, adopting its former neutral expression. ¡°I sensed emotions in you that were analogous to mine, invoking a kind of kindred spark from the depths of our beings. If not you, who would it be?¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Kieran nodded slowly. His expression was difficult to gauge because this exnation alone warranted Kieran¡¯s immediate eptance. He understood precisely what betrayal felt like and how bad he wanted to exact his revenge. If that was true, this was an opportunity he couldn¡¯t pass up.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it. I¡¯ll ept your request,¡± Kieran said with an adamant expression.

    ¡°Sensational,¡± the Arcane One said while smiling genuinely. An orb of pure iridescent energy appeared in his palm, while a notification appeared before Kieran.

    ¡´System: The SSS Ranked Special World Quest, ?The Arcane One¡¯s Zealous Request? has been epted!¡µ

 Chapter 47 A Strengthened Trait

    ¡ª-

    As the notification appeared before Kieran, he froze with subtle amazement. Until now, he had yet toe across any World Quests. However, that was understandable given that he was confined to a Beginner Vige, and all World Quests could significantly influence the state of Xenith.

    In this case, the quest seemed linked to the Arcane One¡¯s background. Since millennia had passed, it was safe to assume that whatever forces he possessed should be much stronger by now. Kieran¡¯s only question currently was what item or personage was in their possession to warrant a World Quest grading.

    Sadly, the quest details revealed nothing remotely linked to such knowledge. Still, it did provide Kieran with vital information.

    ¡¸ The Arcane One¡¯s Zealous Request I (Special, World Quest)

    Quest Rank: SSS

    Rmended Party Size: N/A

    Rmended Party Level: N/A

    Objectives: The Arcane One is a being who reigned over a domain in his prime. Regrettably, the domain has not only turned its back on him, but it even thrives to this very day despite the duplicitous past. This is something he finds to be uneptable. Thriving upon deception and betrayal is not something the Arcane One can permit. Therefore, he wishes for someone to find the evidence to reforge the realm¡¯s key. However, the disciples and people of the Arcane One are not a force to be taken lightly.

    ¨C Collect the ?Realm Key Fragments? of the ?Arcane Dominion?. 0/6

    ¨C Cast the ?Realm Key? by fusing the ?Realm Key Fragments?. 0/1

    ¨C Activate the second use of the ?Dormant Arcane Symbol?. 0/1<sub>-.</sub>

    ¨C Open the doorway to the ?Arcane Dominion?. 0/1

    Rewards:

    ¨C ess to ?Secret Realm: Arcane Dominion?

    ¨C ?Ancient Materia Treasure Chest?

    ¨C Soul Resistance III (Passive)

    ¨C 15,000,000 Experience

    ¨C Part II of the Quest

    Failure Penalty:

    ¨C Weakened Soul IV (Permanent Passive)

    ¨C All Attributes -25%

    ¨C Level -15<sub></sub>

    ¨C Forcibly targeted by the Arcane Legion.

    Time Limit: N/A

    *Special Notes: This quest should only bepleted once the wielder of this quest feels their power has grown sufficient and their Soul powerful. ¡¹

    Upon reading through its information, Kieran pondered a few things. One, this Dormant Arcane Symbol wasn¡¯t something currently in his possession. So, it had to be an item rewarded by the Arcane One himself to support the quest¡¯s progress.

    Two, he needed to collect Realm Fragments! In other words, the inevitable setting of this quest was a Secret Realm known as the Arcane Dominion. Typically, such areas could be essed by gaining permission from the owner. For there to be fragments to collect, it could only mean the ess to the destination was broken and done so forcibly.

    But, considering the Arcane One¡¯s perilous state, it was safe to assume he was the reason for this broken doorway. With how vehemently he spoke about vengeance, Kieran wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he did so to inhibit the prosperity of his faction. Destroying the realm entrance meant it had no connection to Xenith¡¯s main realm.

    At the very least, it would need to be a self-sustaining power to survive. This led to the question¡ªhow well did the Arcane One cultivate his forces? Moreover, how long did the power exist before this severed connection?

    ¡°Are you ready young man? There are a few things I must impart to you. There may be some difort for a moment, but bear with it,¡± the Arcane One said before waving his hand filled with iridescent light.

    A bowling ball-sized orb entered Kieran¡¯s forehead straightaway, forming a radiant symbol with markings simr to that on the Arcane One¡¯s face. It soon disappeared, falling into a dormant state. Contrary to what the Arcane One imed, Kieran felt no difort.

    ¡´System: You have received the ?Dormant Arcane Symbol?!¡µ

    ¡°That marking will maintain a subtle connection with me. Once it is time, you can stimte it yourself. Now, it is time to move on to the more pressing matter. If you¡¯re to resist the arcane forces of my forgotten kingdom, you¡¯ll need to unearth your Soul so that it may flourish early. That is a mistake many make. The Soul is just as important as the vessel,¡± the Arcane One said.

    This time, the markings on his face radiated an enigmatic presence. At the same time, the hood covering the greater part of his face head pped as if it was experiencing the violent winds of a storm. A momentter, an orbrger than Kieran¡¯s body filled entirely with arcane energy appeared above the Arcane One¡¯s hand.

    As it appeared, the Arcane One¡¯s lip quivered. While creating the Dormant Arcane Symbol was a simple matter, creating enough Arcanic Force to stimte another Soul was a different story. The Soul was the essence of a person, so even Divine Beings had trouble perfectly constructing another.

    Furthermore, to do this with only 1% of his vitality remaining was a truly suicidal notion. However, that¡¯s just how strong the Arcane One¡¯s desire for vengeance was. After countless years of imagining how it would be executed, he was willing to sacrifice arge portion of what remained to sessfully realize the goal.

    While conjuring the orb, a trickle of sweat seeped down the Arcane One¡¯s cheek. After growing to twice its original size, the Arcane One then twisted his hands in opposing directions, causing the orb to rapidly condense. The giant sphere was reduced to a marble within a few seconds, which caused several spatial oscitions.

    ¡°It is ready,¡± the Arcane One revealed.

    Just before Kieran could voice his readiness, the Arcane One pped his hands together, splitting the marble into equal parts. One half pressed against Kieran¡¯s forehead while the other part pressed over his heart. Immediately, a burning sensation appeared inside his body, apanied by an unusual pulling force.

    Even in the past, he had never felt this sensation before. This included both his First and Second Phase Awakening. This sensation persisted for over ten minutes, without any signs of the benefits the Arcane One hinted at.

    Meanwhile, the Arcane One¡¯s expression paled slightly while his eyes filled with shock underneath his hood. ¡®What is this abnormal Soul? Most Souls are usually like unpolished diamonds, simply requiring a catalyst to jumpstart the process. However, this one is entirely different. It¡¯s more fitting to say it is an extremely unpolished diamond, sheltered by a resilient metal and further buried by a nonsensicalyer of coal!¡¯

    After learning of the abnormal state of Kieran¡¯s Soul, the Arcane One could only suffer more egregious losses. He couldn¡¯t allow Kieran to not unlock one of his Soul Traits. Therefore, he formed a strange hand seal.

    ¡®To think I¡¯d have to use the Akashic Seal on a twerp that hasn¡¯t even Awakened once. This kid will grow into an absolute monster if that¡¯s the case,¡¯ the Arcane One thought. Although heined, his words were betrayed by the overflowing excitement present in his eyes.

    The Akashic Seal unleashed boundless arcane ripples that fed into the two hemispheres attached to Kieran¡¯s body. The more energy the seal provided to the spheres, the more Kieran¡¯s expression contorted. It was like moltenva was being injected into his heart and mind, attempting to purify them as one.

    Unfortunately, true purification couldn¡¯t be reached. The energy provided soon grew weak, and the Arcane One¡¯s body feeble. Unleashing his treasure and employing its power had utterly exhausted his essible reserves.

    In return, Kieran received a true benefit as the sensation subsided.

    ¡´System: You have awakened a ?Strengthened Soul Trait?!¡µ

    The Arcane One exhaled weakly as he used the altar¡¯s wall to brace himself. ¡°I¡¯ve unearthed your trait to the best of my ability, but I¡¯m sorry to say that you possess a Soul and spirit beyond my capabilities even in my prime. Odd, I wouldn¡¯t think such a small boy could surpass an Ancient¡¯s depth. I have truly chosen an exemry person to aplish my wishes.¡±

    Meanwhile, Kieran was in utter shock. ¡®A Strengthened Soul Trait?!¡¯

    Kieran¡¯s shock came to be because a Soul Trait usually required a character to awaken first. Additionally, most traits would either be Basic or Intermediate at that time. On the other hand, a Strengthened Trait was the second strongest trait, only surpassed by an Apex Trait.

    Naturally, his shock led to Kieran impatiently bringing up the trait information.

    ¡¸ Trait Name: Vengeful Soul

    Trait Type: Soul Trait

    Trait Rank: Strengthened

    Strengthened Completion: 9.81%

    Description: A unique trait that has been awakened due to having your unpolished Soul exposed to an extraordinarily pure source, thereby unearthing its inherent characteristics. The carrier of such a Vengeful Soul is likely the bearer of a double-edged sword. While it makes one more resistant to outside stimuli that corrupt the mind, it also makes one more susceptible to a thirst for vengeance. Additionally, the carrier of this Soul grows sensitive to malicious intentions and hostile presences targeting the user.

    Effect: The user gains the Passive Ability ?Retaliatory Sense? and the ?Prey Combat System?.

    Note: While Strengthened, your Soul Trait still possesses ample room for growth. Only the surface of your Soul has been unearthed. ¡¹

    ¡°A passive ability and abat system,¡± Kieran muttered absentmindedly. Initially, he thought their effects would be essentially game-breaking, but it turned out to be untrue. Since his trait wasn¡¯t even 10% active, most of his abilities were watered down. Additionally, the Prey System could only be activated after the trait reached 10%!

    As for the method to train the trait, Kieran had one in mind.

    ¡°I can tell by the look in your eyes that the Trait Liberation was sessful, although nascent at best. Either way, I suppose it is soon time you leave, no?¡±

    ¡°Correct. But, before I go, I would like to ask you something, is there a specific area I should search for these Realm Fragments?¡± Kieran questioned. Although he inferred from the quest information that the Dormant Arcane Symbol would help him, that didn¡¯t mean chancing upon their locations would be easy.

    ¡°Nope, I have not a single clue as to where you should begin. The star patterns have shifted many times since then. I also sacrificed an Arcane Burst Prism to scatter the fragments and make it as difficult as possible for my people to ever leave that ce,¡± the Arcane One said with an expression of detest.

    ¡°Ah, understandable. While it may take a while, I can promise it¡¯ll be aplished nheless,¡± Kieran vowed.

    In response, the Arcane One smiled and gave a subtle nod. ¡°This new portal should put you even closer to your destination. Since the Berserk Path is something you will wholly embrace, there is nothing for me to destigmatize. Godspeed on your journeys, young one.¡±

 Chapter 48 Scars Master

    ¡ª-

    In addition to liberating a Soul Trait for Kieran, the Arcane One even provided a convenient passage back to Xenith¡¯s main realm. Furthermore, based on the Arcane One¡¯s ims, the exit point of this new portal should be closer to the Wildes. While he didn¡¯t rmend that Kieran travel there so early on, the Arcane One understood he couldn¡¯t influence Kieran¡¯s decision.

    Since that remained true, the Arcane One felt he could at least assist the young boy in avoiding any unnecessary dangers. A bridge of arcane energy formed, giving Kieran a pathway to the portal. After all, there was truly nowhere else for him to step. He was previously suspended by the mystical properties the Arcane One created. However, it was difficult to uphold those properties now that his reserves were practically tapped out.

    However, right before stepping onto the bridge, Kieran turned towards the Arcane One once more. ¡°How strong were your followers before they betrayed you?¡±

    ¡°My followers? All of them were on par with Awakened Beings. However, you needn¡¯t worry. They all suffered soul injuries from my Akashic Seal. Soul wounds are unlike bodily wounds; they take a tremendous amount of time to heal. And, when they do heal, there¡¯s no guarantee they will return to their former height. Still, I estimate they¡¯d at least returned to being on par with First Phasers,¡± the Arcane One said after carefully considering the extent of their injuries.

    Although Kieran didn¡¯t say much after, he nodded thankfully. Thisment gave him a general idea of when it would be time to activate the Dormant Arcane Symbol. ¡®Thank the heavens there¡¯s no time limit,¡¯ Kieran thought while releasing an inward sigh of relief.

    A momentter, he stepped upon the bridge of resplendent lights and walked towards the portal¡¯s entrance. While doing so, he understood that while his stats didn¡¯t reveal any changes, awakening a Soul Trait meant both his Control and Perception would soon be affected. Moreover, it would be a pleasing adaptation.

    ¡®The benefits of entering the game uponunch are simply boundless! I imagine others came across this opportunity far before I arrived. There was never any talk regarding a World Quest being distributed in the Wildes¡¯s periphery. Then again, if it was that unruly fellow, he wasn¡¯t the type to reveal anything that could benefit others,¡¯ Kieran mused.

    It didn¡¯t take long for him to reach the end of the bridge. As he stepped through, Kieran spared the Arcane One another brief nce before quickly vanishing into the portal. Once his presence disappeared, the Arcane One waved his hand and looked at the space that once contained the portal.

    ¡°If it is that boy¡­ I wonder if he can find an individual worthy enough to ept my legacy. I¡¯m sure that old man won¡¯t take kindly to me trying to mingle with his potential sessor. Still, I can¡¯t allow my name and practice topletely fade from the annals of history. Bah, whatever¡­ I¡¯ll just patiently await his signal by cing my remaining lifeforce on a reduced cycle,¡± the Arcane One grumbled.<sub>-.</sub>

    He dropped his hood to reveal a handsome expression. However, the strangest thing about his appearance was his eyes. They held no irises; they werepletely white like the purest snow. Furthermore, there was a vertical slit spanning across his forehead.

    Contrary to what one would expect, this man didn¡¯t seem elderly. At most, with his head full of long indigo hair, he seemed like a middle-aged man with a thin stature. Evidently, he walked the path of some type of magician specializing in soul practices.

    ¡­

    Whoosh!

    The other side of the portal opened a few meters in the air back in Xenith¡¯s main realm, from which Kieran dropped out,nding heavily on his feet. Just as the Arcane One imed, he was now no more than 100 kilometers away from the Wildes¡¯ entrance.

    Unknowingly, Kieran became giddy as he returned. If his current Soul Trait wasn¡¯t enough to gain the master¡¯s recognition, he wasn¡¯t sure what would. After all, this Vengeful Soul he carried represented at least 60% of the Berserk Path¡¯s modus operandi.

    While it was predominantly focused on overwhelming whatever ordeals may gue their life, Berserkers were typically vengeful beings. Any damage they received at least had to be returned in kind or to a much greater degree! Failing to retaliate was uneptable in the eyes of a True Berserker.

    With this thought in mind, Kieran enthusiastically rushed toward the Wildes. Judging by his current pace, it should take him a little over an hour to reach his destination. Although he was excited, the closer Kieran came to the entrance, the more sluggish his movements became.

    Furthermore, his Stamina exhausted rapidly. ¡°Jesus Christ! It¡¯s absolute suicide for normal humans toe to this ce,¡± Kieran eximed in shock. In general, it took almost an hour topletely empty his Stamina bar now that it¡¯s significantly higher than when he was Lv.1.<sub></sub>

    Be that as it may, Kieran¡¯s Stamina presently drained at four times its previous rate. Kieran¡¯s only saving grace was that no monster inhabited the path between the Wildes and the main continents. All of the monsters gathered inside the Wildes and stayed. Whether or not this happened due to outside reasons was unknown.

    But, one thing remained true¡ªthe main continents¡¯ environment and the Wildes were like twopletely different worlds! Whereas the main continents were flushed with Mana, it would be difficult to find even the tiniest bit in the Wildes!

    Hence, why Kieran¡¯s body feltden with heaviness.

    With the help of many breaks, Kieran eventually reached his destination approximately 3 hourster. But, to his surprise, there was no one awaiting his arrival. Initially, Kieran began to frown, but he soon stopped because quest alerts would appear if there were any changes in what was required of him.

    Thus, Kieran waited patiently. He wasn¡¯t insane enough to step inside the dense and unsettling aura surrounding the Wildes, but he also didn¡¯t waver.

    After waiting for a few moments, a crimson slit opened beside Kieran. At first, it was the size of a zip-tie, but it abruptly expanded to over 4 meters in length and was sted open by a ferocious presence. A man with reddish-ck hair thrown wildly about his shoulders and back emerged from inside the portal.

    This hair stretched well past his waist as piercing crimson eyes fell upon Kieran. While his appearance was unhinged, Kieran couldn¡¯t deny the fact that this individual stood at the epitome of everything Kieran had seen thus far¡ªwhether it be presence, ability, or appearance.

    Immediately, Kieran felt an indomitable pressure crush his body, threatening to push him to the ground. This wasn¡¯t an intended attack; it was simply how brutal and powerful this neer¡¯s presence was.

    Although Kieran felt some distaste towards this individual¡¯s actions, he didn¡¯t voice them. Rather, he couldn¡¯t. Trying to speak became extremely difficult to aplish.

    ¡°Are you the runt that my little twerp sent?¡±

    Following this question, the pressure surrounding this new presence was reigned in. For a moment, their expression lit up as the overwhelming fellow smelled a few alluring scentsing from Kieran, or rather his soul.

    ¡°That would be me,¡± Kieran nodded while releasing a relieved sigh.

    ¡´System: Meet with the original wielder. 1/1 (COMPLETE!)¡µ

    ¡°Mmn¡­ Passable strength. A Soul Trait befitting our purpose and Scar¡¯s praise, if you could even call it that. Come with me.¡±

    ¡°Into the Wildes, right?¡±

    ¡°Obviously? Where else would I be taking you? Would you rather I take you to the bathroom in case you feel like ridding yourself of your bodily fluids? If so, allow me to burst your bubble¡ªyou¡¯ll need to travel tens of thousands of kilometers to even find an establishment.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t¡­ you just perform Spatial Movement? And from what I saw, it was a cakewalk for you,¡± Kieran countered.

    ¡°Heh, a knowledgeable little fellow, ain¡¯tcha?¡±

    ¡°Besides, I can¡¯t enter the Wildes with my current body. I¡¯ll quite literally die from the deathly energies,¡± Kieran reminded.

    As a result, the opposing side¡¯s lip turned up. ¡°I forgot how weak we humans can be in the beginning. Whatever.¡±

    Whoosh!

    A gust of crimson wind surrounded Kieran¡¯s body, soon turning into a bleeding tempest. As it swirled around Kieran¡¯s body, a liquid resembling blood attached to his body at odd points. Those points ultimately formed a kind of diagram that seemingly vanished into thin air a momentter.

    ¡´System: You have gained ?Agrianos¡¯ Protection? through the ?Ancient Crimson Aegis?!¡µ

    ¡´System: Until the Ancient Crimson Aegis dissipates, you will be immune to all environmental damage.¡µ

    ¡®An Aegis?¡¯ Kieran murmured. ¡®Isn¡¯t this something like a faux Constitution? And he imparted one so effortlessly? Also, Agrianos, was it? Is that the name of Scar¡¯s master?¡¯

    Agrianos gave Kieran a sidelong re while subtly shaking his head. ¡°Right now, you have my protection. If I hear any moreints, I¡¯ll strip it away and let you immediately test your luck with the Wildes. Is that understood?¡±

    ¡°Completely.¡±

    ¡°Follow me,¡± Agriaos ordered. He stepped inside the Wildes without turning back. He expected Kieran to at least have this level of bravery. Besides, he didn¡¯t need his eyes to understand the events urring around him.

    Meanwhile, Kieran focused more on the notifications that appeared after stepping foot across the border.

    ¡´System: You have entered the ?Wildes, Home of the Maddened?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You are the first to enter the forbiddennd!¡µ

    ¡´System: Error! Rewards will be withheld until you reach a sufficient level. This unnatural visit won¡¯t be counted.¡µ

    ¡®Oh? I suppose relying upon Agrianos¡¯ Protection would be too game-breaking to receive rewards meant for much stronger yers. Meh, I wasn¡¯t looking for a reward either way,¡¯ Kieran shrugged.

    Agrianos walked forward aimlessly, asionally shifting his eyes about. Although he had a purpose for moving the way he did, he also began his evaluation of Kieran. Additionally, Agrianos held his open hand before his body as he walked.

    A crimson spark soon turned into a raging me as an enormous greatsword appeared before him. Space seemed to contort in fear as this weapon was summoned. The immense sword was predominantly silver with an abyss ck edge sharpened to an absurd level.

    Furthermore, exquisite crimson markings capable of inciting rage in anyone whoid eyes upon it graced its side along with a gem in the form of what appeared to be a dragon or demon¡¯s eye.

    Whoever forged this weapon understood the makings of a matchless weapon!

 Chapter 49 A Glimpse of the Future

    ¡ª-

    After drawing his weapon, Agrianos rested it upon his shoulder while sharply turning his head to the left. He sensed an extraordinarily fast-approaching presence that made his lips curl up into a slightly vicious smile. While Kieran noticed this action from Agrianos, he didn¡¯t perceive anything approaching his surroundings.

    Let alone hope to operate his perception correctly in this ce; he could barely enforce his natural senses. Despite theck of a notification depicting how badly he was affected by the environment, Kieran estimated he could at best utilize 5 to 10% of his regr standard.

    Even the faint rumbling of extremely weighty footsteps escaped his senses.

    However, that was partly due to the unusual activity regrly urring inside the Wildes. It was home to frequent explosions, cataclysmic battles for territory, and overall grand disturbances. The moment Kieran stepped into this ce, he could feel a persistent trembling in his ears.

    His only saving grace was the Retaliatory Sense gained from his Vengeful Soul, which heightened his perception of danger from malicious presences. This allowed Kieran to catch sight of a colossal figure obscured by the dense murkiness present within the Wildes.

    Agrianos took a single step forward while executing a casual upward sh despite the presence being shielded by the veil of murkiness. Although his action seemed effortless, a vast fissure opened in the earth as his sword collided against the opposing side. With the obscurity blown away by the forceful impact, Kieran caught a glimpse of what Agrianos retaliated against.

    It was an enormous paw belonging to a lion surrounded by deathly mes. It appeared to be a demonic creature since this lion was entirely ck, unlike normal lions, who had golden coats. Its size was unlike any lion seen before.

    Even though Agrianos, who was practically a monster himself, stood at 3 meters tall with a hulking figure, he looked like an ant before the lion¡¯s 15-meter frame! Just the lion¡¯s paw dwarfed Agrianos¡¯ body!<sub>-.</sub>

    Yet, Agrianos¡¯ de restricted the monster¡¯s paw from moving even a centimeter further despite their bizarre size difference. Because of this development, the lion bared its frighteninglyrge teethparable to a dinosaur¡¯s sharp fangs and opened its mouth.

    A massive collection of demonic mes quickly gathered in the lion¡¯s mouth. Instinctively, Kieran took a few steps backward. While the Ancient Crimson Aegis defended from environmental damage, there was no mention that it provided the same protection against monster attacks.

    Therefore, Kieran chose to cautiously retreat to a safe space. Unfortunately, this movement was caught by Agrianos, who currently had a ruthless crimson glow bubbling in his eyes.

    ¡°Aye, you little twerp, who gave you permission to retreat? Are you scared by this little kitty-cat?!¡± Agrianosmented. Although his voice was low, it was clear and deep like the resounding thunderp in a raging thunderstorm.

    ¡®Kitty cat?!¡¯ Kieran thought with widened eyes. While it was impossible to receive general information from NPCs who were countless levels higher than oneself, the same wasn¡¯t urate for monsters. The data would be shown as long the difference didn¡¯t surpass 200 levels.

    If the information was hidden, that was an immediate sign for yers to vacate the premises and run for dear life!

    ¡¸Lv.205 Netherme Lion (Elite Champion)

    Monster Type: Beast, Fire, Dark, Demonic<sub></sub>

    Health: 250,000,000/250,000,000 (100%) ¡¹

    250 million Health! This was a number that Kieran had only witnessed on World Quests surrounding Awakened sses in the past. Even if he dealt his regr damage, it wouldn¡¯t amount to even 0.01% of this monster¡¯s Health. Thus, Kieran just couldn¡¯t understand how someone could call such a monster a kitty cat.

    However, what he witnessed next left him astonished.

    Without moving his sword from under the Netherme Lion¡¯s paw, Agrianos kicked the air. An absurd air cannon followed, ruthlessly snapping the lion¡¯s head upward and effectively canceling the collection of deathly mes.

    Next, Agrianos¡¯ chiseled and beastly body radiated a crimson glow as a viscous liquid coated his sword. A wave of dreadful blood discharged when he shed his weapon, cleaving the Netherme Lion¡¯s body in half diagonally. The two halves fell to each side as Agrianos basked in a rain of blood with a menacing grin.

    ¡°A kitty cat, I tell ya,¡± Agrianosmented.

    Meanwhile, Kieran was left wordless as he could only stare in amazement. ¡®That one attack imed more than 250 million Health? That wasn¡¯t even a high-level skill. Just what the hell is Scar¡¯s master¡­.¡¯

    Kieran couldn¡¯t wrap his mind around the depth of Agrianos¡¯ power no matter how hard he tried. If Scar¡¯s future abilities surpassed that of a Mythic NPC, just what would Agrianos bebeled?

    Aside from the Netherme Lion possessing 250 million Health, it was also a genuine Elite Champion monster. There was only one monster rank surpassing this level, and at that point, it could contend for a position as a lower-ranking Boss!

    Moreover, Champion monsters were at least 50% stronger than Special Elites. If Hrulhar were a Champion monster, Kieran and the rest would¡¯ve been immediately forced to quit the dungeon run. A Champion monster was simply iparable to any ¡®elite¡¯ ssification.

    ¡°You¡¯re just a freak,¡± Kieran mumbled.

    In response, Agrianosughed heartily. ¡°That is correct. But, let me tell you this young fool, it pays to be a freak! Those deemed aberrations are typically the individuals heavily relied upon in times of need. At that time, the freak holds all the power to wield as they see fit. So if the cost of being an aberration is being held with fear in the eyes of others, then so be it¡ªit¡¯s a fitting sacrifice. If any sacrifice at all.¡±

    Initially, Kieran opened his mouth but abruptly closed it since he had no words to retort Agrianos¡¯ment. After all, his words were theplete truth with zero room for contention. Kieran had witnessed many times when the weak or less fortunate plead to the strong for assistance.

    In fact, the same could be said about how his situation with the Golden Brigade began. They saw his freakish talent and sought his help in the form of ¡°insurmountable payment.¡± That was the term Charles approached him with.

    Eventually, Kieran nodded in agreement. ¡°True, that is a sacrifice many would be willing to make. Only a fool who favors their image in the eyes of others would ept a lower stance.¡±

    ¡°Correct, kid. Only a fool would turn down power because he is viewed as a monster and therefore alienated. They are the fools blinded by thecency of a truly abstract theology¡ªpeace. Besides, once you understand that not all people have the same view, you will understand that there is always a ce for you in the world. If there isn¡¯t¡­ create one,¡± Agrianos shrugged before cing his palm on the Netherme Lion¡¯s dead body.

    Its previously gargantuan physique shriveled rapidly until it was nothing more than skin and bone. It was as if Agrianos had devoured its essencepletely. This led Kieran to question Agrianos¡¯ ss.

    If Scar was a Blood Fiend, then was Agrianos one himself?

    Once Agrianos finished with the body, he tossed it aside. Sadly, Kieran would have loved to harvest its body, but his skill simply wasn¡¯t up to par, nor did he have suitable equipment to do so. Kieran doubted that his weapon could make a single nick in these monsters.

    ¡°We continue forward,¡± Agrianos ordered while walking forward silently. After offering his opinion, he didn¡¯t have much else to say. From what he saw currently, Kieran wouldn¡¯t be a lousy sessor. He appeared to have the right mindset for their path¡ªit was one that did not seek the reassurance of others; it simply sought to forge a path forward with decisive action.

    While walking, Agrianos suddenly stopped walking and looked skyward. Two red glows situated within the murkiness grew close. At the same time, after looking ahead, he saw six more simr closing in on his position as well.

    ¡°More kitty cats, doggies, and little birdies? Come on now, it¡¯s like you dumb things just don¡¯t learn,¡± Agrianos clicked his tongue. Without turning his head back, he said, ¡°Hey¡­ kid¡­¡±

    Kieran¡¯s expression filled with curiosity. ¡°Hm?¡±

    ¡°Ready to witness a glimpse of the future that awaits you if I deem you worthy?¡±

    ¡°Is that even a question? It sounds exhrating! Let me see what this future beholds,¡± Kieran answered confidently.

    Agrianos smirked faintly as he saw a semnce of young Scar and himself inside Kieran. ¡°Very well.¡±

    Whoosh!

    Agrianos extended his left hand before his body. At the same, his de rested upon his shoulders with his right hand sped tightly around the grip. In this pose, his broad shoulder seemed capable of upholding the world. A small crimson sphere materialized in the center of his palm. It was undoubtedly blood, except it crackled with what appeared to be ck, red, grey, gold, and purplish lightning.

    Kieran wasn¡¯t sure what these crackles represented, but it was undoubtedly a part of Agrianos¡¯ core power. Once the sphere grew to the size of his palm, Agrianos clenched his hand close, crushing the orb in the process.

    Afterward, he flung his arm,unching a shocking number of bloody chains that emanated a profound power. The opposing side tried to shatter or knock away the chains. Still, they agilely dodged the iing attacks before sessfully binding his enemies.

    As soon as they were caught by the binds, Agrianos casually motioned his hand downward, causing massive tremors as these enormous beasts were forced to the ground with unshakeable might! These demonic and seemingly mutated monsters were pinned to the ground, thoroughly incapable of making a difference, no matter how much they struggled.

    Before the scene of unquestionable might, Agrianos lifted his de from his shoulder and shed downward. An enormous sword formed from the same blood energy as earlier, cleaving towards the earth, inevitably causing a deafening explosion.

    BOOOM!

    Even Kieran momentarily lost his footing as he stumbled with rattling eyes. From his point of view, it was an absolutely breathtaking disy of power! ¡®Is this pinnacle of manipting that madness?¡¯ Kieran wondered.

 Chapter 50 Chasm of Apogeton

    ¡ª-

    After witnessing the aftermath of Agrianos¡¯ attack, Kieran realized that the corpses of the targeted beasts were nowhere to be found. It was as if they vanished off the face of the. Monsters of this caliber required at least twice the peak power of one Mythical Hero to reduce it to dust sessfully!

    Yes, it was correct that the Mythical Heroes were mighty and at least Lv.400.

    However, one of their attacks wasn¡¯t enough to annihte a Lv.200+ Elite Champion. Their natural defenses provided enough cushion to at least receive 3 of their attacks without dying.

    However, Agrianos¡¯ attack simply killed them all on the spot. Not to mention there were four of them! While the chains of blood did, in fact, immobilize them, it didn¡¯t neutralize their defenses.

    An unsurvivable force simply annihted their existence.

    Gazing upon Agrianos in amazement, Kieran gulped audibly as his eyes shimmered with fervent desire. This was a state of strength he sought. If he could wield power of that caliber, his enemies would be confronted with a perilous situation!

    Meanwhile, Agrianos extended his hand and retracted all of his expended energy rather than let his energy dissipate. Despite it appearing effortless, every one of Agrianos¡¯ attacks wielded cataclysmic levels of energy. It wasn¡¯t something he could willingly allow these beasts to feed off of.

    The energy invested in the enormous sword of carnage and the chains of blood were sufficient to evolve an Elite Champion into a High Champion!

    ¡°Mm, damned nuisances. Not even a good challenge, yet they continue mindlessly approaching me,¡± Agrianos huffed in annoyance. He nced back at Kieran¡¯s astonished expression with a faint smirk. ¡°Does this future excite you?¡±<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°Undoubtedly,¡± Kieran admitted with a serious look. While Agrianos appeared to be a light-hearted individual on the surface, that truly wasn¡¯t the case. There was more to him than what met the eyes, and Kieran expected as much. However, the greatest mystery surrounding Agrianos was his identity¡ªhow significant was his presence to Xenith as a whole?

    If his sessor was a Mythical Hero, could he have an identity surpassing these Heroes, standing at the supposed pinnacle of Xenith? These types of questions circted in Kieran¡¯s mind, but he couldn¡¯t voice them because he doubted they would receive an answer. Instead, he would have to stumble upon this information himself.

    ¡®Would the Kingdoms and Empires have such sensitive information inside their royal libraries? I hope so¡­ because history isn¡¯t something that should bepletely lost to the effects of times. When words fail, records must persist,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    In the past, he didn¡¯t devote much time to delving into Xenith¡¯s history because he saw no reason to. He wasn¡¯t one of the holders of a heroic-level legacy, nor was he intricately rted to Scar. Any quests epted in the past were strictly quests avable to everyone. They maintained no exclusivity.

    As a result, Kieran had no tangible connection to the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary or the War Deity Council. All of his past in-game NPC connections were superficial at best. Most of his efforts went into developing the Golden Brigade¡¯s forces. Fortunately, this time around would be different!

    He was no longer restrained by the constraints andmands delivered by his ¡°superiors.¡± Now, he was essentially a free spirit, moving to acquire power at every turn. Unlike in the past, he was at liberty to develop his character as he pleased at the rate he wished.

    After taking a moment, Kieran asked one of the questions on his mind. ¡°Do you have any connection to the War Deity Council or Hero¡¯s Sanctuary?¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Agrianos¡¯ brows rose in surprise. ¡°You have yet to even be an official member of the Guild, yet you¡¯re aware of such grandiose names? Was it Scar who divulged this information?¡±

    ¡°I guess. After all, Scar exposed his identity when he gave me this mission. So, I was curious if this connection was unique to Scar, or did it also extend to you?¡± Kieran responded.<sub></sub>

    ¡°So he favors you that much, heh? Breaking his restriction while still inside that area. Meh, I suppose you can say I¡¯m acquainted with the War Deity Council. As for the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary, that is Scar¡¯s sole rtionship. I tend to shy away from the mundane world¡¯s issues,¡± Agrianos responded.

    However, Kieran grew increasingly curious after receiving this response. ¡®Mundane world? Then¡­.¡¯

    ¡°Do you never leave the Wildes?¡± Kieran asked with a weird expression.

    ¡°Why would I? I was born here, and I volunteered as its protector. Therefore, it is a duty I must carry out until the end. Outside of this calling, my jurisdictiones to an end.¡±

    ¡°But why?¡± Kieran pressed on. Although Agrianos was feeding him information, he wasn¡¯t quite quenching Kieran¡¯s thirst.

    ¡°That¡­ I¡¯m not at liberty to say. If you truly wish to know, be myst sessor and obtain the answers from the War Deity Council yourself,¡± Agrianos said with a cryptic yet teasing smirk. He could tell this young man was exceptionally curious, but some answers were simply beyond him.

    All Kieran could do was groan frustratedly before pushing the matter to the back of his mind. Afterward, Agrianos pointed near the heart of the Wildes with a grave expression. ¡°That is our destination.¡±

    ¡°Wait a minute¡­ you want to go there?¡± Kieran said with a deep frown.

    While the Ancient Crimson Aegis continued to protect him, Kieran recalled an event in the past that ultimately spiraled into one of the worst seen World Quests. Moreover, it all started when someone failed their quest linked to the heart of the Wildes. As Kieran understood, it was a quest that should¡¯ve been aplished after at leastpleting a Third Phase Awakening.

    Sadly, people often overestimate themselves.

    The oue was one that Kieran would never forget. It plunged Zenith Online into a state of hysteria as it became nearly impossible to level up. Regrettably, this was also around the time Kieran¡¯s illness took over, barring him from participating in the event¡¯s end.

    Still, the one thing that confused Kieran was the man before him. ¡®Why wasn¡¯t he involved in that quest in the past? Does this have to do with the end of his jurisdiction he mentioned earlier and the quest holder¡¯s failure conditions? Then¡­ was he the one who issued the quest?¡¯

    s, the past wasn¡¯t something Kieran could just ask anyone about. Because, in the end, who could hold the answer?!

    ¡°Yeah, I have a matter to take care of. Besides, it¡¯ll be a small test for you waiting in the location. Are you ready for it?¡± Agrianos said with a toothy grin. While Agrianos meant no harm, it was difficult not to be unsettled by how fearsome he looked.

    ¡°Anyway, you¡¯re too slow and making this difficult for me. So¡­¡±

    Whoosh!

    Agrianos snatched Kieran up before squatting. Absurd amounts of strength flowed through his legs as he unleashed an explosive jump.

    Bang!

    The ground was torn asunder as Agrianos sped forth like a shootinget. Additionally, he moved so fast that the air surrounding himbusted. However, a blood barrier shielded both him and Kieran from being affected by it.

    Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

    This happened repeatedly. The Wildes was hundreds of thousands of kilometers wide. So, even though Agrianos crossed thousands of kilometers with a single leap, the heart of the Wildes grew close at a rtively ¡°slow¡± pace.

    On the other hand, Kieran held back the urge to vomit as his body was rattled slightly with each impact received uponnding. If he were a human in real life, he would have undoubtedly suffered dangerous whish by now.

    ¡°You¡¯re holding up pretty well there, runt!¡± Agrianos eximed.

    While it sounded like he used a mocking tone, he was actually praising Kieran. The protection he gave to Kieran only absorbed 99% of the impact. Still, the remaining 1% was worse than being hit by a truck.

    ¡®Sheesh, a normal yer would¡¯ve been forcibly logged out by now. The mental damage received by experiencing this pain constantly would definitely trigger the emergency protocols,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    If a mind received too much damage and teetered on the edge of suffering a permanent injury, the yer would immediately be ejected from the game. Upon trying to reconnect, an ejected person would need to be evaluated by a doctor and then assessed by the equipment before allowing ess again.

    ¡°Actually, a terrible experience. I¡¯m not even joking,¡± Kieran grumbled.

    ¡°Ahaha! I bet it is! But, it¡¯s over. We have arrived,¡± Agrianos said uproariously. Hended solidly upon the ground before dropping Kieran altogether.

    Kieran received a face full of damp dirt but quickly rebounded and stood up while looking around. ¡°The heart of the Wildes¡­.¡± Kieran muttered while taking in the environment.

    Ghastly wails permeated the air as a demonic feeling crept up his back. However, after quickly turning around, Kieran noticed his Retaliatory Sense was firing in all directions. It wasn¡¯t a misfire¡ªdanger simply surrounded them at every turn.

    ¡°Too dark. Don¡¯t really like it,¡± Agrianos shook his head in contempt. He then raised his sword high above his head. A viscous crimsonyer appeared once again, but it spiraled around the de like a condensed tempest.

    Without any prior indication, the de fell to the earth. The tempest-like envelopment turned into a sea of blood that split in half and cleared out the murkiness.

    Once it was cleared away, it exposed a vast chasm where the end or bottom couldn¡¯t be seen. Furthermore, judging from its state, it was something that should¡¯ve existed since at least the creation of this world itself.

    Kieran could only turn towards Agrianos with a questioning expression.

    ¡°The Chasm of Apogeton,¡± Agrianos said with a grave expression. However, it turned yful as he turned to Kieran. ¡°Down we go, boy!¡±

    Bang!

    Agrianos didn¡¯t await Kieran¡¯s response as he mmed his back, forcing him down into the seemingly bottomless chasm. Immediately after, Agrianos followed with a light jump but descended even quicker than Kieran.

    Before Kierannded harshly, Agrianos grabbed his waist and hoisted him up. This allowed Kieran to notice how nefarious the energy of this ce became. Without the protection delivered by Agrianos, he would die after breathing in a single breath of this ce.

    ¡®Chasm of Apogeton, I have no recollection of this ce but they must have emerged from this ce in the past,¡¯ Kieran thought. As for the ¡°they¡± Kieran referred to, it was dark races!

    Not dark creatures, but races as a whole, who were powerful enough to disturb the hegemon powers of Xenith!

 Chapter 51 Are You Worthy?

    ¡ª-

    Now that Kieran considered the event from the past, the possibility it might originate from this area felt highly usible. Furthermore, Kieran began to specte whether the quest holder was the same one who epted this hidden ss.

    It was possible, but there were also various ways to ultimately stumble across the super World Quests that could determine the fate of Xenith. While that remained true, the characteristics of the invasion resembled the Chasm of Apogeton far too closely to be a mere coincidence.

    Although the Wildes wasn¡¯t a very weing or pleasant environment to begin with, the Chasm of Apogeton was a different peril altogether. Sinister energy at least three times thicker than the atmosphere above permeated the periphery¡¯s extremes.

    As one advanced towards the center, it would only grow denser. Additionally, the nefarious sensation was apanied by a pressure that Kieran didn¡¯t quite understand. Despite the protection of the Ancient Crimson Aegis, Kieran felt a heaviness in his chest that couldn¡¯t be ignored.

    It was simr to when someone experienced an anxiety attack but with some distinct differences.

    Kieran was unsure whether it was a physical manifestation of a mental affliction, namely fear or apprehension. However, he slowly raised his hand to his chest and pressed on it just to be safe.

    Surprisingly, he felt no sensation of his hand being there at all. Meaning, this extended far beyond having just to do with his mind. There was a much deeper reason behind the pressure he felt.

    ¡®This¡­¡¯

    Kieran¡¯s eyes widened as he gradually understood his current condition. While what he felt was partly fear of this ce, the true reason for the present sensation guing him was the energy itself.<sub>-.</sub>

    Even though the Ancient Crimson Aegis protected Kieran from receiving damage, it didn¡¯t wholly deflect the effects of this nefarious energy. As a result, Kieran¡¯s senses continued to dull until he could no longer feel his hand when pressed against his body.

    In short, the Ancient Crimson Aegis was like a porous rubber film. Though it could deflect harsh impacts and most surrounding bodily invasions, it couldn¡¯t faultlessly block the more docile but still potent effects from making it through. Because of this limit, it was designed to protect against direct harm, not indirect diforts.

    ¡°How¡¯re you holding up there, boy?¡± Agrianos questioned after noticing Kieran¡¯s baffled expression. He knew such an area coulde as an immense shock to a person as inexperienced as Kieran.

    Of course, this ¡°inexperience¡± referred to Kieran¡¯scking physique and not to his familiarity with Xenith and its world history, which Kieran could admittedly still improve upon.

    Agrianos was cognizant of the limits the Ancient Crimson Aegis imposed.

    However, it was still arguably one of the best defensive buffs a non-defensive ss like the one Agrianos possessed could deliver.

    Aside from a select few, Agrianos was most likely one of the only existences that could withstand the energy present inside the Chasm of Apogeton without external help since its creation.

    ¡°I¡¯ll survive,¡± Kieran nodded after regaining his wits. While the vanishing of his sense¡¯s effectiveness still troubled him, Kieran understood that it was something he would have toe to terms with while inside this site.

    The traits of an SSS-ranked quest were finally bleeding through. It maintained an absurdly high difficulty despite Agrianos¡¯ protection and strict adherence to solebat thus far. Because of this, Kieran could only wonder what else awaited him on this quest.<sub></sub>

    ¡°Well, of course, you¡¯ll survive. You think I¡¯d let you die, twerp? Not on my watch. Because, in the end, there¡¯s more for me to show you. For now, what you must see is in the center of this chasm,¡± Agrianos replied.

    At the same time, Agrianos¡¯ eyes shifted about, marking the position of many enemies hiding in the shadows. ¡®Why is the chasm producing all these damn nuisances?! I just checked on its conditions ten thousand years ago, and it wasn¡¯t like this!¡¯

    As mentioned before, Agrianos held a duty toward the Wildes. Explicitly speaking, his task was to overlook the Chasm of Apogeton, which required surveilling every ten thousand years. Aside from Agrianos, the number of individuals who could aplish this task sessfully numbered less than ten!

    Granted, those individuals also acted as sentinels to areas equally as insane as the Chasm of Apogeton.

    Still, the Chasm of Apogeton was without contest regarding how hazardous its aftereffects could be. If allowed to degrade too far, Xenith could be catapulted back into a state rivaling its tragic history.

    Suddenly, Agrianos turned toward Kieran with an unusual expression. ¡°Do you know the origins of the original Berserkers?¡±

    ¡°Not quite,¡± Kieran answered truthfully. In fact, he wasn¡¯t too familiar with the exact principle that separated a Berserker from a True Berserker because the individual in his memory had an unusual way of battling. Additionally, they had an entity behind them that even surpassed guildsuded as Behemoths.

    The only thing Kieran understood was that a true Berserker could survive much longer than a typical Berserker when pinned against obscene numbers and stronger opponents.

    ¡°This chasm that surrounds you ys a tremendous role because this chasm was created during a Great War,¡± Agrianos revealed. After a slight pause, he continued, ¡°A truly great war involving our early days. It was during that war that the first Berserker was created.¡±

    ¡°The first being you?¡± Kieran interjected.

    ¡°Correct¡ªme. But, that would also be a half-truth because this path was bestowed upon me by a presence who, to this day, I have no deep recollection of. Either way, it is a power derived from the maddened nature of a demon¨Da tyrannical force created to cull another diabolical force. But, ites at a cost.¡±

    ¡°That cost is precisely why I brought you here. To ept this power, you must know its origin and willfully ept the burden that could befall you,¡± Agrianos said.

    Simultaneously, his grasp around his sword tightened considerably as a crimson mist seeped from his body.

    Numerous ripples inside the darkness took ce from which strange creatures emerged. It was hard to call them animals or even humans. They looked as if immeasurably toxic smog had adopted a bipedal form.

    Roar!

    These beings emitted frightening roars while rushing toward Agrianos at astonishingly fast speeds. They reached him instantly, forcing Agrianos to swiftly swing his sword in rapid yet fluid arcs. As a result, crimson scars stained the air and kept the unusual beings at bay.

    However, unlike before, Agrianos no longer dealt with his adversaries in a single hit. Every being attacked by Agrianos was forced back a few steps. But, once they recovered, these bizarre beings continued to recklessly rush toward Agrianos.

    As a result, Agrianos¡¯ visage grew dignified and brutal. Moreover, his reddish-ck hair slowly levitated, gaining the appeal of a bloody deity! It was as if blood seeped from his every extremity. being.

    ¡®Basic moves will no longer suffice against these aberrations. If I allow them to persist, they¡¯ll just be a hindranceter on. I¡¯ll deal with them now.¡±

    The blood seeping from Agrianos¡¯ body coalesced into an exquisitely-made blood ymore with a razor-sharp but unusual edge. At times it felt solid, but other times it felt soft like flowing water, given the subtle ripples on its surface.

    Once this sword finished forming, Agrianos swiped his hand upward.

    Booom!

    A sonic boom apanied therge sword¡¯s movement as it whizzed through the sky. It vibrated intensely, disying signs of imploding. However, it seemed to attract all of these beings¡¯ attention simultaneously. It was unknown if this was a property of the attack Agrianos employed or if the beings were simply mindless, but it worked in Agrianos¡¯ favor.

    After a few seconds, the sword exploded with arge burst of fierce blood. At least half of all the being¡¯s bodies were obliterated by this attack, but Agrianos wasn¡¯t done. He brought his hand down while clenching his fist.

    This action caused the suspended blood mist to turn into a cyclone of bloody arcs that mutted the bodies until they were no more. Only then did Agrianos recall this terrifying blood back into his body.

    Subsequently, his appearance returned to normal. However, the earlier scene was seared into Kieran¡¯s mind. Regardless of whether it was gone, Kieran could recall every moment perfectly.

    What¡¯s more, he could also sense the berserk air that engulfed Agrianos for a few seconds.

    Meanwhile, Agrianos¡¯ looked towards the center of the Chasm of Apogeton with a deepening frown. Throughout the fight, he spread his perception past their current position to gain an understanding of what was going wrong.

    Eventually, it brought Agrianos an exnation. ¡®Is that damn sealing undone? Because that rift is reaching an rming size¡­¡¯

    For a moment, Agrianos entertained the thought of calling for Scar personally. Although he had yet to reach the peak of their path, he was still plenty strong. What¡¯s more, his situation was different from Agrianos.

    But, Agrianos eventually decided against doing so. Instead, he turned towards Kieran with a bleak expression. ¡°Boy¡­ tell me. Are you worthy?¡±

    ¡°Worthy? I¡¯d like to think I am, but it is inevitably up to you to determine whether I am worthy or not. But¡­ is there a reason you ask me this now?¡±

    ¡°Indeed. The situation has deviated unexpectedly. So, I¡¯m forced to adjust how I approach the issue. For the first time, I may require assistance. Follow me to the center of this chasm, and you will soon understand,¡± Agrianos said.

    In a deep and maizing voice, he then continued, ¡°It is not your words that will you deem worthy of bing a True Berserker; it is your actions! Prove that you have what it takes to ept this calling should all others perish.¡±

    Consequently, a notification appeared before Kieran¡¯s eyes.

    ¡´System: You have been given an SSS-Rank sub-quest!¡µ

 Chapter 52 Crimson Juggernaut Mantle

    ¡ª-

    Kieran¡¯s expression shifted slightly once he saw the notification involving a sub-quest. However, that was understandable because receiving a sub-quest was a rare urrence. Only circumstances that weren¡¯t ounted for beforehand could spur a sub-quest. In short, it was an attachment to an already existing quest in a yer¡¯s possession.

    However, aside from the one aspect of the main quest that triggered the event, these sub-quests usually carried unique rewards.

    While a sub quest was quite fascinating, it wasn¡¯t the entire reason for Kieran¡¯s shock. His astonishment came from the rank affixed to the sub-quest¡ªSSS. Generally, sub-quests only carried a fraction of the main quest¡¯s difficulty because it was only linked to one part of the existing quest.

    Yet, the quest forcibly handed to Kieran was the same rank as the main one!

    All things considered, Kieran estimated that the Chasm of Apogeton¡¯s actual ranking surpassed an SSS Rank World Quest despite hisck of knowledge regarding a quest that could transcend this grading system.

    ¡®Everything about this quest up to this point seems crucial to Xenith¡¯s longevity. Are all of the Mythical Heroes hidden ss quests this extreme?¡¯ Kieran wondered. After all, the only reason Kieran obtained this quest was because of Scar. Without him, Kieran was unsure whether this situation would have appeared already.

    Then again, he couldn¡¯t overlook that aside from the week given to meet Agrianos, none of these quests he epted held time limits. It could very well be an identical copy of the past save for one anomaly¡ªhim.

    Since Kieran startedte, he had no way of knowing the urate timeline of the events that urred before he graced the gaming scene. Therefore, Kieran could only continue to specte while bringing up the quest distributed to him.

    ¡¸ Unforeseen Deviations, Unusual Solutions (Special, Sub Quest)

    Quest Rank: SSS

    Rmended Party Size: 1<sub>-.</sub>

    Rmended Party Level: N/A

    Objectives: The Chasm of Apogeton disys unusual reactions despite Agrianos¡¯ recent intervention. A considerable rift is opening to a ce where only chaos and destruction reside on the other side. Therefore, your help is needed to solve this issue. It is unusual, but difficult times call for difficult measures.

    ¨C Defend against the beings that escape the rift. 0/1

    ¨C Protect Agrianos during his period of vulnerability. 0/1

    ¨C Patch the weakness in the Nether Severing Hex-Seal. 0/1

    ¨C Repel the *Immortal phantoms. 0/1

    Rewards:

    ¨C Agrianos¡¯ Recognition

    ¨C ???

    ¨C Ancient Crimson Aegis (Special)

    Failure Penalty:<sub></sub>

    ¨C Chasm of Apogeton¡¯s Rift Erupts

    ¨C Xenith¡¯s Vulnerability Skyrockets

    ¨C Character Wipe

    Time Limit: Unknown

    *Special Notes: Not every scenario can be foreseen; one should have a malleable mindset capable of adjusting at a moment¡¯s notice. ¡¹

    Reading through the quest information immediately raised questions in Kieran¡¯s mind. ¡®Are defending and repelling not the same thing? It should be¡­ unless more than one type of enemy will emerge from this so-called rift?¡¯

    The deeper Kieran pondered this situation, the quicker something else dawned upon him. How was he supposed to fight against the beings if they were at least on par with the enemies Agrianos fended off earlier?

    One attack, and he would be sent back to the lobby, suffering the quickest death ever experienced!

    Additionally, the character wipe penalty made Kieran shudder.

    If he were to lose his character, he¡¯d lose his Soul Trait! Perhaps in a normal situation, it wouldn¡¯t be that bad, but the Arcane One was in no condition to open another dimensional rift, let alone activate the Akashic Seal.

    In other words, if Kieran were to make another character, he would be forced to wait until he awakened to develop a Soul Trait. At that time, it¡¯d be impossible to judge whether or not he would awaken the same Strengthened Trait!

    Moreover, failing this quest meant he would also fail therger one. Should that happen, the True Berserker lineage amongst the yer base could very well be lost forever!

    At least the rewards provided Kieran somefort while his mind plunged down the ¡°what-ifs¡± rabbit hole. Thefort primarily came from the Ancient Crimson Aegis. It was an indispensable defensive skill that Kieran sorelycked.

    It would make solo endeavors much easier if he possessed more means to improve his survivability.

    ¡°Boy, when the timees, you¡¯ll have the support of I, Agrianos, so do not falter despite whatever you may witness. Is this something you can promise me?¡± Agrianos questioned while continuing to monitor the situation urring deep within the Chasm of Apogeton.

    ¡°If it¡¯s with your support, then it is the least I can do,¡± Kieran nodded. His expression was solemn, but he heaved of sigh of relief in his mind. Agrianos was the one person who could justify the tall task hidden inside the quest objectives.

    After he received this answer, Agrianos then gestured for Kieran to follow because there was still a vast distance for them to cover. The Chasm of Apogeton was almost like another world that spanned deeper into the unknown than the Wildes covered.

    Although it was situated underneath the Wildes, it seemed to pierce the subterranean level of all the continents. The only way for this to be possible was if the battle created an unusually shaped chasm, which it did.

    Unlike the surface, the Chasm of Apogeton adopted an elongated rhombus shape. The center was the most spacious, extending to the west and east continents¡¯ subterranean levels. In contrast, the two endpoints were narrow and barely protruded into the northern and southern spaces.

    Since it possessed thergest surface area, the center was also the most perilous zone in the chasm.

    Knowing this information, Agrianos only intended to bring Kieran to witness the power of their path and judge his reaction, but he could no longer use a passive approach. Kieran would have to experience what sat beneath the Wildes firsthand.

    While Kieran followed closely behind, Agrianos endlessly waved his sword left and right, felling these beings as they approached within 50 meters. The more he killed, the more displeased Agrianos¡¯ expression grew.

    Generally, Agrianos didn¡¯t like or dislike killing; he was neutral about the matter. His faint disgust stemmed from a thought that dawned upon him. All the work he put in for millions of years was casually bing undone in less than 10,000 years. This wasn¡¯t natural at all.

    ¡®Something is acting as a catalyst, but despite being so close to the source, I can¡¯t determine what the damn catalyst is¡­.¡¯ Agrianos thought to himself. He didn¡¯t detect any foreign presence interfering with the seal, nor did he sense any unusual energy leakage from the seal¡¯s energy source.

    ¡°Are you killing them before they appear? I saw something before, but now, I can¡¯t even catch a glimpse of these things before you swing your de,¡± Kieranmented.

    Although the de in Agrianos¡¯ hand was gigantic, Agrianos wielded the thing as if it were a weightless kitchen knife. Kieran didn¡¯t want to guess how immense the weight difference between the Scarlet Steel Greatsword and this weapon was.

    ¡°For now, yes. There¡¯s no reason for me to allow them to interfere with our travel. Besides, they¡¯ll be an inevitable annoyance. It happens every time I venture to this ce,¡± Agrianos said.

    Surprisingly, his tone sounded indifferent, as if he viewed these things like ants. There wasn¡¯t the slightest tinge of anger or frustration present upon his dignified visage. It was as if he turned into apletely different person now that they had entered the chasm¡¯s depths.

    Soon enough, Agrianos brought Kieran to an area saturated in nefarious energy dense enough to obscure all vision. Kieran could also tell the energy had be palpable and almost liquid-like.

    Simply taking a step forward became a struggle. ¡®And¡­ here ites¡ªthe reason for an SSS-Ranked difficulty,¡¯ Kieran sighed internally. But, his eyes widened in shock a momentter as he felt a faint rumbling present.

    The energy present bubbled continuously until it produced a dark environment radiating unbearable heat. Despite theck of perfected hyper-reality, Kieran¡¯s body perspired!

    ¡°The rest of the journey will no longer be asfortable as it has been thus far. Prepare yourself,¡± Agrianosmanded. At the same time, Agrianos lifted his palm towards Kieran. The same small sphere of blood that crackled with various colors of lightning made another appearance.

    This time, however, it wasn¡¯t used for an attack. Agrianos gave it to Kieran.

    Of course, he understood that this was a power Kieran¡¯s current body could not process. Therefore, Agrianos fed this blood orb to the Ancient Crimson Aegis coating Kieran¡¯s body instead.

    This precipitated an indirect augmentation that Kieran could utilize without utterly destroying his body. The previously thin film surrounding Kieran¡¯s body expanded and transformed until it resembled a heavy armor formed from archaic blood.

    However, the armor maintained excellent flexibility since it was modeled after Scar and Agrianos¡¯ tribal-style armor that highlighted using durable yet light material to protect only areas with naturally low defenses.

    It was a primitive outlook, but it was understandable given how sturdy Scar and Agrianos¡¯ body was.

    ¡´System: The ?Ancient Crimson Aegis? has been empowered!¡µ

    ¡´System: The ?Ancient Crimson Aegis? has evolved!¡µ

    ¡´System: The ?Ancient Crimson Aegis? has transformed into the ?Crimson Juggernaut Mantle?!¡µ

    ¡´System: All Basic Attributes increased by 10,000%!¡µ

    ¡´System: Hidden Attribute ?Constitution? increased by 50!¡µ

    ¡´System: All skill cooldown durations decreased by 50%.¡µ

    ¡´System: Your regr skill bar has been sealed. In ce of those skills, you have been granted the following temporary skills: Blood Wave, Crimson Current, Crimson Barrage, Fury Rush, and Wild Crash.¡µ

    Kieran¡¯s jaw immediately dropped in awe as he marveled at the continuous notification stream. This was by no means a simple quest if it required his current parameters to be amplified a hundredfold.

 Chapter 53 Nether Severing Hex-Seal

    Upon receiving the bestowal of power, Kieran noticed a few things he couldn¡¯t do while under the influence of this power-up skill.

    One, he couldn¡¯t inspect the temporary skills, nor could he bring up the Crimson Juggernaut Mantle¡¯s explicit details. Since this was temporary, the system didn¡¯t allow him to search deeper into this matter.

    However, he did receive knowledge regarding the usage of each skill and its general effects. This information emerged as a cinematic picture in his mind which soon faded away, leaving Kieran with a deep-rooted fascination.

    In addition to being unable to obtain in-depth information, Kieran could no longer ce his Unassigned Attribute Points and Skill Points. Their respective interface symbol was grayed out in Kieran¡¯s view. It was as if his current stats experienced a hard cap.

    Had Kieran known this, he would¡¯ve used the UAP in his possession to increase his Strength or Agility. Because, in the end, there was no way for him to tell if his current condition guaranteed sess.

    After briefly considering the conditions of the quest and the Crimson Juggernaut Mantle that could forcibly empower his stats and skill arsenal to this degree, Kieran realized he overlooked a particr quest type mentioned on the forums in the past that had no officialbel.

    ¡®This must be an emtion quest!¡¯ Kieran inwardly eximed.

    Emtion quests were also referred to as false trials. In short, someone who wished to ept a ¡°sessor¡± would arrange a task of a certain standard to test their aptitude. In testing their aptitude, they would receive a temporary and mild version of this potential ss, legacy, or practice and be tasked withpleting the master¡¯s test.<sub>-.</sub>

    Usually, these false trials could only be arranged by Enlightened Beings since its required an astonishing amount of energy to safely instill power into a weaker individual. It was essentially a test of the master¡¯s understanding of their fundamentals.

    Should their understanding suffice, they could move more forward with the invocation.

    Meanwhile, this action appeared to be as simple as breathing for Agrianos. This fact alone made Kieran understand one thing. ¡®Even calling him an Enlightened Being would be wrong. He¡¯s much more terrifying. What¡¯s his level? Also, did that sub-quest say he dealt with this every ten thousand years? How¡­ old is he then?¡¯

    Every thought birthed thousands of questions that Kieran simply didn¡¯t have the answers to. However, he felt it could be acquired with time as long as he performed well. Perhaps he could evene across information that set his path on a tangent from all others!

    After setting aside his endless supply of questions, Kieran paid attention to his current state. At a nce, it was evident he was given the potential of a True Berserker, albeit a watered-down version in terms of its capabilities. All authentic Intermediate sses possessed passive, which his current formcked.

    Of course, Kieran wasn¡¯tining because the monstrous amplification more than justified the trade-off.

    ¡°With this power, you will now prove your worth alongside me,¡± Agrianos abruptly said, awakening Kieran from relishing in this change.

    ¡°Understood,¡± Kieran nodded while immediately withdrawing the Scarlet Steel Greatsword. However, to Kieran¡¯s surprise, Agrianos lip turned up in disgust.

    ¡°Put that hideous weapon away. Do you want that paperweight to shatter in one swing? You¡¯ll be pinned against demonic creatures; that¡¯s not something a mundane weapon can handle. Use this instead,¡± Agrianos said indifferently.

    Without a shred of hesitation, Agrianos tossed his exquisite weapon to Kieran. While midair, it shimmered with a silvery and crimson brilliance that cut through the darkness. However, that marvelous sight was soon torn to shred when Kieran grasped the de¡¯s grip.

    Since he didn¡¯t know what to expect, Kieran¡¯s arm was nearly forced to the ground under the immense weight of the weapon. Fortunately, his current Strength surpassed 13,000! So, when he realized the issue, he immediately put more power into his arm, leveling out the de before it could cause a shocking explosion.

    ¡®My god! And this man waves it about as if it¡¯s weightless? Calling this guy a monster is an understatement,¡¯ Kieran thought to himself. Despite his shock, Kieran still marveled at how perfect the weapon in his hands was.

    It was just a shame that he only held the right to use it temporarily because once the Crimson Juggernaut Mantle dissipated, Kieran would lose all qualifications to even lift the weapon, let alone wield it.

    ¡°Wait¡­ what about you? What will you use to fight?¡± Kieran questioned. Truth be told, he felt this weapon was more practical in Agrianos¡¯ hands than in his own. But, Agrianos¡¯s following words made Kieran realize how thoughtless his question was.

    ¡°Kid, my whole body has been honed into a weapon. Besides, I much rather my fist,¡± Agrianos shrugged with a light chuckle.

    Afterward, he thrust both of his hands forth. While two air cannons fired forth due to the punch pressure, two gauntlets forged from Agrianos¡¯ own blood coated his hands until they appeared no different from a demon¡¯s sinister ws.

    Bang!

    Agrianos sped forth with an excited yet brutal expression on his face without any prior indication.

    He became a monstrous fighting machine that mowed down tremendous amounts of demonic creatures hiding in the darkness with every step. Within a few short seconds, the distance between Agrianos and Kieran widened to over a thousand kilometers.

    After realizing this, Kieran understood it was no time to stand around in awe. He first waved the sword about until he gained a slight familiarity with it. He couldn¡¯t ask for more since affinity with a weapon came over time, especially one as great as this.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Kieran to adapt to his current parameters since they were only 50% stronger than his prime form in his memories. Additionally, his mind was different from what it was before. He couldn¡¯t exin it, but while it wasn¡¯t as hyperactive as in his memories, it was extremely precise, filtering out the unneeded information.

    Kieran¡¯s expression beamed as he stepped forward and burst with a speed that was only possible due to the increase in his constitution. While it didn¡¯t reward stats, it was even better because it was a hidden attribute intricately linked to ss promotions. In fact, it was the sole reason that lower tier sses rarely emerged triumphant against higher tier sses.

    Swoosh!

    The darkness swooshed as Kieran sped forth while catching a clear look at the beings in the darkness. They were hideous creatures with dysmorphic bodies. Some had long arms and ws, others had disturbing thick bodies, and some even possessed features unique to distinct races like reptiles, arachnids, and insects.

    ¡®So these are the so-called demonic creatures. It seems theye in all shapes and sizes, but I don¡¯t think they¡¯re demons. They must be monsters deeply affected by the chasm¡¯s malevolent energies,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Of course, Kieran held no sympathies towards these monsters. They were an obstacle standing between him and his future. And quite frankly, an obstruction was not something Kieran would permit. Therefore, it had to be ovee.

    In this case, Kieran turned towards the first temporary skill on the list¡ªCrimson Current. He followed the information in his mind and had the mantle covering his body interact with the weapon.

    A glob of viscous blood instantly formed before the sword¡¯s sharp edge. The orb had no effect on the sword¡¯s weight despite its size as Kieran struck the earth like a god decreeing their mandate.

    The orb transformed into a violent surge of bloody currents that swept through the surroundings, carrying the enemies away from Kieran. Since the quest mentioned nothing about killing these creatures, he didn¡¯t waste his time trying to do so. Kieran would leave the matters of extermination to Agrianos, who could aplish it effortlessly.

    After all, Kieran knew a skill like the Crimson Juggernaut Mantle possessed a finite duration. He simply utilized the skills at his disposal to create an unobstructed path to the destination.

    Following the Crimson Current, Kieran unleashed a humongous bloody arc that split the darkness for a brief moment. Naturally, this was the Blood Wave in his possession. Kieran continued to move forward, slowly closing the distance separating him and Agrianos.

    After two minutes of employing these skills, Kieran caught Agrianos¡¯ back. More importantly, he came to realize that Agrianos had stopped moving altogether. Admittedly, they had reached their destination.

    Only once Kieran arrived side by side with Agrianos did he stop moving. Once he did that, heid eyes upon a shocking side. There was an immense altar in the middle of the Chasm of Apogeton!

    Inside that altar was a massive rift restricted by ovepping obsidian chains that didn¡¯t appear to be forged by physical materials. They seemed to be made from pure energy. Furthermore, Kieran also noticed arge tear in the defensive formation created by these chains. From this tear leaked the energy that pervaded the Chasm of Apogeton.

    Another matter that caught Kieran¡¯s attention was the orientation of the stacked-up stone socles with ck and grey orbs situated atop. They were ced in such a way that while the defensive formation was a hexagonal prism, the engravings on the floor formed a six-pronged starposed of two ovepping equteral triangles.

    There were chains attached to the orbs, or rather they materialized from them.

    ¡°I suppose this is our objective,¡± Kieranmented.

    ¡°The Sealed Nether Entrance, bound by the Nether Severing Hex-Seal,¡± Agrianos replied with a cid expression. ¡°My task is upkeeping this seal, prolonging its inevitable corrosion by resupplying its umtion. This time, you¡¯ll help me.¡±

    Suddenly, the rift began to contort and release abnormal undtions. Agrianos¡¯ expression didn¡¯t change at all because this matter urred during every visit.

    A figure dropped from within the rift, slowly looking up from a half-kneeled position.

    Its sinister eyes met with Agrianos and Kieran as it emitted a string of feral growls.

 Chapter 54 Abnormal Demonic Phantom

    ¡ª-

    Although the deep-red eyes surrounded by pitch-ck sclera that fell upon Kieran were diabolical, he didn¡¯t retreat in fear. Instead, he felt curiosity.

    This being was unlike the dysmorphic figure that resided within the darkness. This phantom was blessed with a monstrous physique, defended by an exoskeleton exuding infernal heat. It was hard to tell in the current conditions, but it seemed like molten mes flowed through this exoskeleton.

    Kieran could only infer that this being before him was one of the demons Agrianos mentioned. However, Agrianos helped Kieran understand the crux of their current situation.

    ¡°That isn¡¯t a genuine demon. It¡¯s more so a phantom, if you will. The seal still prohibits any real demons from trespassing into this realm. So what you see now is a manifestation of the power a demon can send through without killing themselves,¡± Agrianos revealed.

    The Nether Severing Hex-Seal didn¡¯t just form a boundary. The chains thatprised the seal also created an environment capable of tearing the physical form of allherly creatures to shreds. The only reason these phantoms could make it through was the external tear in the formation.

    Its punishments were less agonizing inparison to the formation.

    ¡°Because they possess no physical vessel, they¡¯re virtually immortal in these current conditions,¡± Agrianos muttered while cracking his neck side to side in preparation to make a move.

    ¡°If they have no physical body, wouldn¡¯t physical attacks be useless?¡± Kieran questioned.

    ¡°Precisely. But your attacks have transcended the physical. Do you think my weapon is a mere tool of physical might? Bah, as if! What you hold in your hands is a Soul Armament. Besides, that protection surrounding your body will assist you more than you think,¡± Agrianos replied proudly.

    There was nothing he was more proud of than his weapon. However, it also wasn¡¯t a crutch, so Agrianos had no qualms temporarily relinquishing his grand weapon to his potential sessor.

    Having received Agrianos¡¯ exnation, Kieran¡¯s eyes brightened. It wasn¡¯t mentioned in the notifications, so Kieran assumed this was a purely physical ss until certain events transpired.<sub>-.</sub>

    However, Agrianos¡¯ modest confirmation assured that this wasn¡¯t a purely physical ss. With that in mind, Kieran lifted the silver de in his hand and pointed it toward the demonic phantom.

    A tempest of bloody energy surrounded the de as Kieran held it in both hands and shed horizontally. A robust blood arc fired forth, causing slight spatial ripples as it moved. This phenomenon was an indication of the attack¡¯s strength. At this standard, some attacks were powerful enough to shatter the fabric of space!

    Yet, despite his powerful attack, something startling took ce!

    The phantom lifted its massive ws and grasped the Blood Wave! This attack drove the phantom back until it released a bloodcurdling, feral roar.

    rrrk!

    The sound of shattering ss echoed throughout the area as the phantom destroyed Kieran¡¯s attack. Most people would be nervous after witnessing this spectacle, but Kieran never aimed to defeat his opponent.

    The objective said to repel, so that¡¯s exactly what he did¡ªhe focused his power on driving back the enemy.

    Agrianos cracked a faint smile as he looked toward Kieran. ¡®Kid¡¯s got some heart in him. This isn¡¯t a power many would willingly indulge in. Above all, the effects are maddening.¡¯

    As the ss name sounded, a Berserker was a manic existence. The mastery of this ss wasn¡¯t evaluated by how much damage one could unleash, but by how sane they could remain while employing the power!

    Gradually, Kieran¡¯s eyes filled with a crimson color. However, it was much slower than it should¡¯ve been because of the effects of the Vengeful Soul trait. While it didn¡¯t negate adverse effects, negative effects took longer to affect Kieran¡¯s mental state.

    ¡°Agrianos,¡± Kieran suddenly shouted.<sub></sub>

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t there something you need to do? Leave this rift to me; I¡¯ll handle it! You should start repairing the seal as quickly as possible!¡± Kieran strongly suggested. While he understood quest unraveled at a predetermined rate, the pace could be manipted if one¡¯s presence was powerful enough.

    In this case, Kieran wished to tackle this issue before something outrageous happened. After all, one of the quest objectives was to defend Agrianos while in a vulnerable state. Simply put, the objective details revealed that Agrianos would soon be virtually useless, forcing Kieran to shoulder all of the action!

    ¡°Oh? Boy, are you rushing me? Why so impatient? Hmm?¡± Agrianos yfully sniffed the air. ¡°Is that fear I smelling from you? Are you scared, boy? That wouldn¡¯t be the case, right?¡±

    Naturally, Kieran iming to be naturally fearless would be a lie. Everyone feared at least one thing. But, Kieran could only disy a wry smile in response. It wasn¡¯t fear driving him to rush Agrianos; it was experience.

    Some quest just called for the most absurd clearance circumstances! Furthermore, from what he inferred through Agrianos¡¯ age, power and attitude, this quest was the very absurdity he was apprehensive of!

    ¡°Fear is inevitable, but my dissatisfaction with failure is even greater. I will try my best regardless of what happens,¡± Kieran said after regaining his stoic expression. If he couldn¡¯t manipte Agrianos¡¯ actions, all he could do was apply 100% of his efforts.

    ¡°Courage, kid. Courage isn¡¯t the absence of fear in a soul. It¡¯s the steadfastness to persist while in a predicament that incites fear,¡± Agrianos stated while losing his yful expressionpletely.

    Afterward, a translucent orb the size of a bowling ball appeared between Agrianos¡¯ palms. Inside the translucent sphere swirled mysterious energy of three shades¡ªck, grey, and dull white. Kieran was unsure what this item was; however, given that the orb looked like a superior version of the spheres atop the stone socles, he didn¡¯t doubt its relevancy to the quest.

    Once this orb appeared, Agrianos disappeared. He stepped through space, ripping open a crimson rift. When he appeared, he stood within range of the tear. No more than 10 meters separated him and the rip.

    Agrianos nced in Kieran¡¯s direction with aplex look. Bing vulnerable was never something an individual would look forward to. ¡°Let loose, young one. For I will no longer be able to do so.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± Kieran affirmed.

    A momentter, Kieran sprang forth, deflecting the attack of the demonic phantom while another phantom appeared from the tear. Now that Agrianos had approached with this orb, it was as if the tear condemned his presence, uncontrobly spewing out these demonic phantoms!

    The number climbed from one phantom to deal with to ten in a few seconds!

    ¡®Calm down. This is still a manageable situation,¡¯ Kieran thought to himself. His grasp around the silver de tightened as he once again switched to two-handed wielding.

    Kieran exhaled, releasing his troubles before quickly situating himself between Agrianos and the tear.

    Numerous feral roars sounded, but Kieran remained steadfast.

    Bang!

    The silvery de pulsated with a crimson hue as it came in contact with one of the demonic phantoms. A deep gash formed on the phantom¡¯s w, but Kieran was also forced a few steps back.

    Suddenly, all ten phantoms sprang into action, targeting Agrianos as he closed his eyes and chanted anguage Kieran was vaguely familiar with¡ªthe Spoken Language of the Runes. An ancientnguage lost to time that many wouldn¡¯t know how to verbalize.

    Despite their heavy attacks, Kieran didn¡¯t allow the phantoms to breach his defensive perimeter. The silver de¡¯s range extended by one meter after gaining a dense blood coating. Afterward, Kieran shed the sword wildly, employing the avable skill known as the Crimson Barrage.

    Each sh impacted a different phantom, sending them flying back as Kieran heaved upon finishing the attack. Although he had ample Stamina, these skills were incredibly demanding of him. It required an unusual form of Mana to unleash the strikes.

    This abnormality was something he had never experienced. But, it was something he would have to revisit at another time.

    Groaaah!

    Having been forced back by Kieran, the phantoms grew infuriated, roaring nonstop as they approached Kieran time and time again. However, one of the phantoms suffered an unfortunate demise as a Crimson Current made them collide with the tear.

    Their body was instantly sucked into the tear, admittedly disappearing from the battlefield.

    Kieran felt enlivened after this urrence. ¡®So this is what the objective meant by repelling¡ªsend them back from which they came. Still, I wonder how many times I will have to do this.¡¯

    After Agrianos started chanting, a timer of ten minutes appeared above his head. In most cases, a ten-minute timer wouldn¡¯t seem like a long time, but when that time limit was associated with enemies of this caliber, it was an eternity!

    Furthermore, that wasn¡¯t the only matter that worried Kieran. After sending the phantom back, it reacted unusually, growing noticeablyrger!

    ¡®I¡¯m not hallucinating, am I? Is sending them back making this thing rapidly expand?!¡¯

    By the time he forced the fifth phantom back inside, the tear had at least doubled in size! Once it reached that state, a w three timesrger emerged from the rift.

    ¡°Hah hah. Our resurgence is inevitable. You humans scurry to prevent what is toe naturally. You fear us! But that is good¡­ because your fear is what sustains us. Despair. Cradle in your dwellings. Crouch in horror! For all of you shall kneel before the almighty presence of the Lemegeton!¡±

    Bang! Scrrrrrrrrr!

    Another w appeared, forcibly widening the tear, allowing a 6-meter tall demonic phantom to emerge from the rift. Once that happened, it devoured its brethren and grew four immense horns.

    Unlike the other phantoms, Kieran actually received information about this opponent!

    ¡¸Lv.600 Zirgirak¡¯s Phantom (Mythic)

    Boss Type: World

    Demon, Darkness, Fire

    Health: ??? (???)

    Special Traits: ?Immortal? ¡¹

    ¡°Puny vermin, you think you can stand in my way?¡± Zirgirak said in a deafening voice.

    Boom!

    Right after, Zirgirak¡¯s phantom turned into a blur as its mighty w swept down on Kieran, crumbling the ground beneath his feet as Kieran lifted the de above his head to defend.

    -51,000

 Chapter 55 Berserkers Forte

    ¡ª-

    Kieran¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of losing over 50,000 Health from one attack.

    After experiencing the empowerment of the Crimson Juggernaut Mantle, Kieran¡¯s Health soared to just over 510,000.

    While it paled inparison to the likes of the monster he faced currently, when coupled with his current Defense and protection, it should be challenging to inflict that much damage.

    Based on his current situation, he could only withstand ten of those attacks before falling into a hopeless situation. However, Kieran doubted it would take 10 minutes for this phantom to attack ten times. In fact, after suffering one of its attacks, Kieran wouldn¡¯t be shocked if it could unleash thousands of attacks within those 10 minutes.

    ¡°Puny bug! Are you trying to go against me?¡± Zirgirak¡¯s Phantom glowered, looking at Kieran with its ruthless red eyes. It was a particr type of gaze meant to invoke fear in those unfortunate enough to suffer its presence. However, rather than be unsettled by the fear-inducing gaze, Kieran simply returned a frown for another reason.

    ¡®Puny bug, huh?¡¯ Kieran thought to himself.

    These words seemed to stroke his pride the wrong way for some reason. As someone who was praised for their skill andmended for their work ethic during his training in the past, Kieran felt thisment was an affront to what he aplished even if it wasn¡¯t in this timeline.

    While he understood that someone in his virtually powerless predicament could afford to have an inted pride, he couldn¡¯t ept direct insults to his potential.

    Therefore, with cold eyes, Kieran put all of his strength into his legs and arms as he pressed the silvery de into the palm of thisrge demonic phantom. No matter how insignificant his power was currently, Kieran¡¯s heart and resolve were not something to be trampled upon.<sub>-.</sub>

    Still, the weight of the attack Kieran suffered wasn¡¯t something he could shrug off no matter how much he wished to do so. Experiencing the weight of Zirgirak¡¯s attack caused his body to sink through the floor until his knees could no longer be seen.

    ¡°Hahaha,¡± Zirgirak¡¯s Phantomughed mirthfully. It seemed to enjoy watching Kieran struggle to deflect its attack. ¡°What is this futile resistance? Why don¡¯t you head for an eternal sleep already?¡±

    Bang!

    Zirgirak¡¯s Phantom suddenly lifted its hand and smashed down with both hands sped together. The impact made the ground tremble intensely. However, the phantom¡¯s eyes filled with discontent as it slowly moved its hand from the moderately-sized crater formed by its fist.

    There was no lifeless figure inside the crater because Kieran had dodged at thest second! At the same time, a notification appeared before Kieran¡¯s eyes.

    ¡´System: Your nascent Vengeful Soul has melded with some of the Crimson Juggernaut Mantle¡¯s undisclosed effects.¡µ

    ¡´System: Strength, Agility, and Control with inversely increase ording to your current Health.¡µ

    ¡®Yes¡­ this was one of the reasons that man was famed in the past,¡¯ Kieran thought with a pleased grin. He moved the notification aside and stood up tall, gazing Zirgirak¡¯s Phantom straight in the eyes.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like that look, pissant,¡± Zirgirak¡¯s phantom grunted with scorn.<sub></sub>

    Afterward, Agrianos opened his eyes for a moment and nced in the direction of the battle. ¡®Oh? An Archdemon¡¯s phantom made it through this time? 2 sets of horns? Hah, absolute piece of shit in my eyes but for him¡­.¡¯

    ¡°Oi, twerp. Don¡¯t listen to a single idiotic remark this thing has to say. It¡¯s a meager Archdemon, not even one of the leaders of its race. Furthermore, it doesn¡¯t even have the right amount of horns. It¡¯s a facade. Put your mind to it and repel that stinking thing, y¡¯ere me?¡± Agrianos eximed in a mocking tone.

    Zirgirak¡¯s Phantom immediately turned towards Agrianos, but unlike how it disyed disdain toward Kieran, a shred of dread rose within its eyes as itid eyes upon Agrianos. Granted, it soon disappeared as the phantom noticed something.

    The phantom began tough hysterically, causing the chasm¡¯s walls to shake. ¡°Oh? Do you fancy the young boy? Then, what happens if I kill him? Haha, the future of you vile humans will be bleak once more!¡±

    ¡°You talk too much. Are these the mannerisms of all demons? If so, then I understand why the master is so unconcerned about you all¡ªthere¡¯s nothing special about you at all, nor is there anything to be fearful of,¡± Kieranmented off to the side.

    His deep ck eyes peered at the phantom emotionlessly as he suddenly turned into a crimson blur.

    Whoosh! Bang!

    Compared to his Charge Skill, the Fury Rush was countless times stronger. The movement speed buff alone was enough to put it in an entirely different skill echelon. What¡¯s more, Kieran coupled this skill with Wild Crash since his Control was high enough to warrant fluid usage of the two skills.

    As a result, Zirgirak¡¯s Phantom was forced back many steps, creating ample space between these two and the Nether Severing Hex-Seal.

    From the way Agrianos described these beings, Kieran understood they were a crafty bunch. Hence, he couldn¡¯t allow the being to be too close to the seal.

    The divide in their natural attributes was immense, so cautiousness was vital in this situation.

    Once the dust cleared, Zirgirak¡¯s Phantom emitted a feral growl while looking at Kieran with evil eyes. Aside from dealing some mild damage, neither the Wild Crash nor the Fury Rush had any remarkable effect on the phantom.

    Shhhnk!

    Its ws suddenly elongated and became more menacing as it rushed toward Kieran, unleashing a frantic stream of violent shes.

    Had it not been for the fact the silvery de was made from unknown materials, it would¡¯ve undoubtedly shattered since Kieran used it as his primary source of defense.

    Kieran gradually slid back as he endured the onught of this attack. These attacks steadily chipped away at his augmented health. But, the further his health dwindled, the more he was affected by both his Vengeful Soul and the Crimson Juggernaut Mantle.

    Kieran¡¯s previously ck eyes now adopted a faint red glow that gave his eyes the appearance of aged blood. At the same time, Kieran could feel something beating inside him that picked up at a rapid pace. It didn¡¯t emanate from his heart but from within his mind.

    Fwoosh!

    Suddenly, just before Zirgirak¡¯s Phantom couldnd a clean hit, Kieran rotated his body, avoiding a malicious stab. The phantom¡¯s arm impaled the ground up to its elbow due to the excessive force it applied to the strike.

    Bang!

    While the phantom was briefly stuck in a vulnerable position, Kieran spun and unleashed a Crimson Current. A forceful wave of bloody pressure bombarded the phantom¡¯s chest, sending it flying backward as Kieran recovered a firm stance. His Health was currently less than 40%, yet it didn¡¯t seem to worry him.

    The rush of strength granted by his vengeful nature was too blissful for him to worry over these ¡°little¡± things.

    On the other hand, Agrianos¡¯ eyes zed with excitement. ¡®Well, I¡¯ll be damned. Have some faith in the kid, and he will deliver. He is surely getting it done. I suppose Scar did pick a fined indeed.¡¯

    Naturally, Zirgirak¡¯s Phantom immediately became enraged by the fact it was tossed aside by an existence it viewed as nothing more than an ant. Additionally, the fact this ¡°ant¡± continued to grow stronger when he should, in fact, be growing feeble didn¡¯t make sense to him.

    ¡°You!¡± the phantom snarled while pointing at Agrianos. ¡°Have you epted this lowly mongrel as your follower already? He is insufferable!¡±

    Rather than answer, Agrianos only gave an amused side smirk before ignoring the phantom altogether. Why should he answer? He wasn¡¯t obligated to do so. Moreover, if he weren¡¯t preupied with chanting the seal¡¯s remaining few lines, he would have taken care of it himself.

    But, because he transferred a considerable portion of his strength in the aegis and used the rest to operate the Orb of Diverging Boundaries in his possession, he was unable to interfere with the ongoing battle.

    In contrast to the phantom¡¯s seething anger, Kieran was ted by this phantom¡¯s particrly talkative nature. It allowed Kieran to idle for a decent amount of time throughout their frequent exchanges.

    By now, only 45 seconds remained on the timer.

    However, that 45-second mark symbolized a drastic change as Zirgirak¡¯s Phantom instantly snapped its head and looked at Kieran and Agrianos with an expression of abhorrence. Sweltering mes far deadlier than the Netherme Lion¡¯s rose around its body like a blooming rose of death. Not only were these mes hot, but they also carried a scent of death that seared Kieran¡¯s nose despite the mantle¡¯s protection.

    ¡®How terrible¡­ Is this truly one of the unimportant demons? How terrifying do the real ones get?¡¯ Kieran wondered. Regrettably, he couldn¡¯t ponder these questions for much longer because the phantom moved at an astonishing speed.

    Bang! Bang! Bang! BOOM!

    Kieran received a string of attacks and was thrown against the chasm wall.

    The worst part was that the deathly purplish-ck mes persisted, eating away at the Crimson Juggernaut Mantle. It didn¡¯t happen quickly, but it was consistent! From what Kieran witnessed, it held a good chance of burning through this protection if he wasn¡¯t careful in acquiring more of these persistent embers!

    ¡®No breaks at all¡­ I can¡¯t get a single break!¡¯ Kieran cried out internally. His rage was brewing, and just when it reached its peak, the phantom summoned a giant orb primarilyposed of the previous me.

    Kieran responded by giving Zirgirak¡¯s Phantom a chilling look while the sword in his hand filled with ungodly amounts of bloody energy. A massive Blood Wave was in the midst of forming as Kieran chose not to back down. With his Health now below 10%, Kieran¡¯s Strength had essentially doubled!

    If not for the limitations applied to the skills, Kieran would have unmistakably dumped the greater portion of his Mana Pool into this attack.

 Chapter 56 Fortified Sealed Boundary

    ¡ª-

    Under normal circumstances, it¡¯d be impossible for Kieran to match Zirgirak¡¯s Phantom attack in intensity. However, he was by no means enduring normal circumstances. He was truly in a Berserker¡¯s most powerful state¡ªa state of agonizing pain held together only by boundless tenacity.

    Because of this situation, Kieran drew upon the Crimson Juggernaut Mantle¡¯s essential strength. While the purplish-ck mes continued to slowly corrode it, Kieran fed the Blood Wave ample energy with his icy gaze locked on Zirgirak¡¯s Phantom.

    ¡°I like that look in your eyes, but it is a look that escapes your weak batch of humans. Our ancient battle was fought, but it was not lost because of your power. Instead, we were restricted. For that, I am here to inform you that those restrictions¡­ we shall abide by no longer!¡± Zirgirak¡¯s Phantom bellowed.

    Its surge of anger interacted with the immense orb, causing wild fluctuation thatcerated the space, opening up miniature rifts in Xenith¡¯s spatial barrier. This was not an attack an average human could withstand. In fact, not even an Awakened Being could defend against such a monstrosity.

    Meanwhile, Kieran slowly shut his eyes and funneled his emotions into the silvery de in his possession. Almost as if reacting to his desires, the demonic-looking eye on the sword¡¯s guard released a deep crimson glow. The Blood Wave surrounding the de gained a demonic feeling as ck lightning sparks snaked around both the weapon and technique.

    Once this happened, Kieran¡¯s eyes opened with great force as he emitted a bestial roar. He cleaved downward in the next moment, releasing a Blood Wave at least ten times its standard size. It was like the advent of a world cleaving attack!

    In response, Zirgirak¡¯s Phantom made its move,unching the giant orb of demon fire at Kieran.

    Upon contact, there was a silence where even time seemed to stand still. Kieran¡¯s and the phantom¡¯s crimson eyes met momentarily before a cataclysmic wind forced both sides back. Terrifying ripples apanied by devastating tempests filled the Chasm of Apogeton, turning it into something Kieran previously believed to be impossible: a more frightening setting!

    Kieran understood what was at stake, so he couldn¡¯t afford to be lighthanded with his attack. He struggled through the chaotic atmosphere while briefly marveling at the astonishing scene. The Blood Wave and orb of baffling demonic mes were embroiled in a raging battle as if they both possessed sentience of their own.<sub>-.</sub>

    There were moments when the blood wave would push back the tremendous orb, and there were also times when the sphere would do the same¡ªplunging the attacks into a fierce yet fading deadlock. Neither side seemed the overpower the other.

    This standstillsted for at least 10 seconds before Zirgirak¡¯s Phantom grew impatient. An additional cluster of demonic mes that paled inparison to the previous attack appeared in its palm. Although it seemed insignificant, it carried the same purity and presence.

    Naturally, if this managed to connect with the sphere, it would provide the much-needed upper hand.

    Kieran realized he couldn¡¯t let the phantom seed upon noticing this action. Therefore, using the de as a support, he rose to his feet with an unyielding look. He took one decisive step and shot forth like a shell fired from a cannon.

    His current Strength, Agility, and Control had already reached unprecedented heights for his current self, allowing him to perform physical feats only attainable in his former life. Unfortunately, he was limited to primitive skills and nothing more significant. Otherwise, this battle wouldn¡¯t be as tricky as it has been thus far.

    Since Blood Wave was on cooldown, Kieran could only rely on the Crimson Current for crucial support. He intended to interrupt the phantom¡¯s attack, but the attack was ripped apart in one second!

    ¡®The difficulty of this quest doesn¡¯t disappoint in the slightest,¡¯ Kieran inwardly noted. It was even more difficult than most of the quests he hadpleted before. At least he was restricted by aughable skillset during those quests.

    Nevertheless,ining wasn¡¯t Kieran¡¯s style. Instead of continuing to voice what was going wrong, he focused on what he must aplish¡ªhe needed to persist for at least 15 more seconds.

    While he approached the phantom, it suddenly released the cluster of mes towards the sphere. At this point, both attacks were losing energy. It would only be a few seconds before both attacks died outpletely.<sub></sub>

    After all, that attack was aimed at Agrianos, not Kieran¡ªwhich was why one of the objectives required Kieran to safeguard Agrianos. It was a mutual rtionship where Agrianos first provided protection for Kieran toter repay the gesture.

    Kieran¡¯s eyes moved at lightspeed, forcing him to abruptly change directions. He jumped explosively, tracing the nearest point of interception. Once he acquired this information, he engaged in a relentless pursuit!

    Whoosh! Bang!

    At thest second, just before the cluster could escape his reach, Kieran waved the de in a perfect arc, changing the entire trajectory of the attack. As a result, the attacknded on the chasm wall behind him, generating a massive explosion.

    ¡°Such an annoyance. Viler than the most incessant cretins!¡± the phantom spat venomously. Its eyes filled with utter madness as it sensed the surrounding energy adopt a subtle change. The seal fortification process had entered its final seconds!

    ¡°Grah!¡± The phantom growled in irritation.

    It rushed Kieran, unleashing a merciless stream of attacks in which Kieran retaliated with a Crimson Barrage. Though his Health drained like a basin with a hole in it, it wasn¡¯t as severe as Kieran expected. Whereas the phantom¡¯s initial attacks robbed 10% of his Health, its pure physical attacks only dealt 2% at most now!

    What¡¯s more, Kieran underestimated having his Vitality increased by 10,000% and one of the effects of the Crimson Juggernaut Mantle. He passively regained 6,000 Health per minute with how high it was currently! Throughout the battle, Kieran had regenerated more than 30% of his Health, but he previously failed to realize that due to the phantom¡¯s bizarre attack output.

    This realization made Kieran thirst for the hidden ss even more. Although it was a ss that sacrificed sanity for power, the vitality it offered was absolutely insane!

    While shing against the phantom, Kieran wondered if the Crimson Barrage had an upper limit to the number of strikes it possessed. Although it appeared to stop at six, Kieran didn¡¯t know if this was a determined limit or if he needed to explore the depth of the skill, just like with the Blood Wave.

    Eventually, he could only test his curiosity.

    After the sixth strike, Kieran pushed for the seventh. Once he noticed that it maintained the same momentum, he tried for the eighth, followed by the ninth. However, after attempting to unleash the tenth strike, Kieran staggered and was blown into the wall behind him by a ruthless attack.

    Bang!

    ¡°Ugh,¡± Kieran groaned.

    He felt some type of barrier when trying the tenth strike.

    Fortunately, at that moment, a notification appeared before Kieran¡¯s iris, followed by a serene atmosphere that felt cordoned off from the rest of the world. All of the nefarious energy was effectively dispelled.

    ¡´System: You¡¯re inside a ?Fortified Sealed Boundary?.¡µ

    ¡´System: Please repel all foreign beings before the boundarypletely solidifies!¡µ

    ¡´System: The ?Fortified Sealed Boundary? solidifies in 30 seconds.¡µ

    ¡´WARNING: Failure to repel all foreign beings may rapidly destabilize the fortification!¡µ

    ¡®Oh¡­ so thest objective has a damned timer as well,¡¯ Kieran thought whileboriously extracting himself from the wall. Zirgirak¡¯s Phantom seemed to notice the change as instead of approaching Kieran, it attempted to run away.

    ¡°Boy, make sure you drag that ursed thing back here. There are already far too many anomalies that I can¡¯t ount for. I don¡¯t need another on my te. I would do so myself, but I won¡¯t be able to recover before the boundarypletes,¡± Agrianos revealed.

    The way he viewed Kieran changed immensely, with Agrianos now putting him on the same pedestal as Scar in his mind. Of course, they didn¡¯t have the same experiences, so it wasn¡¯t quite the same as far as personal experience went. It was more so referring to their evaluation of potential!

    ¡°I¡¯m on it!¡± Kieran eximed.

    Afterward, Kieran unhesitatingly activated Fury Rush to gain an absurd burst of speed. Although the phantom frantically ran away, using the chasm walls as footholds, Kieran disyed an adroit use of his flexibility and agility to catapult himself off jagged rocks protruding from the wall.

    Once his speed reached its peak, Kieran caught up to the phantom with 20 seconds remaining on the timer. Failure was not an option for Kieran, so he resorted to primitive and otherwise overwhe

 Chapter 57 Timed Return

    ¡ª-

    ¡°Er¡¯shabal?¡± Kieran muttered to himself. Er¡¯shabal was a name he had never heard in his life. But, the fact a real demon regarded it as the Dark One meant it held a lofty status amongst the Lemegeton.

    ¡°Er¡¯shabal? Eh, that prehistoric thing shouldn¡¯t be an issue. At least, I don¡¯t believe it should be,¡± Agrianosmented right beside Kieran¡¯s ear, startling him.

    ¡°Oi! Personal space. What in the hell?¡± Kieran eximed in slight exasperation. ¡°Wait, what do you know about this Er¡¯shabal?¡±

    ¡°I know that it is a presence all dark creatures worship for power,¡± Agrianos answered truthfully.

    However, this made Kieran freezepletely. Usually, the word ¡°worship¡± was attributed to religion, which required a god as a foundation to direct their faith. Thus, Kieran could only voice the question in his mind, ¡°It¡¯s¡­ a god?¡±

    ¡°Noment. You have no reason to worry. You think a figure of worship is worried about you?¡± Agrianosughed rambunctiously after seeing Kieran¡¯s face. But whileughing, a tinge of disgust appeared for a brief moment.

    However, it was so fleeting that not even Kieran picked up on it. Soon enough, Agrianos was no longer in aughing mood.

    ¡°Boy, you have truly outdone yourself! And for that, you have my recognition. At the same time, you also deserve some things that Scar can¡¯t bestow upon you. These are practices he has yet to master. You too are deserving of the same legacy,¡± Agrianos said. He was incredibly proud of Kieran despite not having an official master-sessor rtionship.

    ¡°Even if they were to receive the blessing of a transcendent figure, not many people would have the spirit to go up against a Demon, much less an Archdemon. I mustmend you for your courage,¡± Agrianos continued.<sub>-.</sub>

    However, Kieran¡¯s expression became odd as he looked at Agrianos. ¡°I thought you said Archdemons weren¡¯t worth mentioning.¡±

    ¡°Oh? When did I say that, silly boy? I believe you may need to clean out your ears. Even the weakest demon is an extreme issue,¡± Agrianos said while denying having ever called the demons weak.

    ¡°Wh-¡­¡± Kieran blinked wordlessly. He didn¡¯t expect Agrianos to be this type of shameless individual. ¡®Am I being gaslighted right now? Gaslit by an NPC? No way.¡¯

    ¡°Rx, kid. I¡¯m just messing witcha! In reality, that entity that came through his should have 4 sets of horns. We don¡¯t know its true strength because an Archdemon is a state of being, not how demons rank their power, but that¡¯s beside the point. I have resealed the rift, so we are safe for the time being,¡± Agrianos said.

    He slowly waved his hand to disy his lightheartedness.

    Before Kieran could offer his opinion, Agrianos quickly changed the subject. ¡°Anyway, you should be rewarded for your efforts. I see you¡¯ve enjoyed this power, so I¡¯ll transfer it to you. Additionally, you should also have something that will present its worth in the future.¡±

    Slowly, Agrianos pointed his finger at Kieran¡¯s forehead and made contact. Kieran felt the transference of information along with a sensation that was unrecognizable and nearly indistinguishable.

    ¡´System: You have gained Agrianos¡¯ recognition!¡µ

    ¡´System: Gain the recognition of Scar¡¯s master. 1/1¡µ<sub></sub>

    ¡´System: You have received the skill ?Ancient Crimson Aegis?¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received a ?????¡µ

    After a few seconds, Agrianos slowly retracted his finger from Kieran¡¯s forehead with a contented look. It had been quite some time since he found such an exemry recipient for the Berserk Path.

    Meanwhile, Kieran was perplexed that even the system couldn¡¯t identify the unrecognizable part of the information. It was something that transcended the body and branded upon his soul. As the soul was viewed as the most enigmatic part of a human, Kieran partially understood why the system had difficulty recognizing this power.

    With that being said, Kieran remained curious as to whether or not Agrianos was an individual that escaped the general ssification of the system. Then again, would the system create a being it couldn¡¯t quantify?

    s, despite all his questions, Kieran felt not even Agrianos would have an answer for him. After all, Kieran doubted Agrianos would be familiar with this world¡¯s so-called ¡°creator.¡± Since Agrianos said it would present its worth with time, that¡¯s what Kieran would have to do¡ªwait.

    Soon enough, Agrianos extended his palm in which an exquisite letter sealed by a stamp materialized from Agrianos¡¯ blood appeared. Even if Kieran wished to open it, it couldn¡¯t be opened by anyone who wasn¡¯t trained in the Berserk Path. Besides Agrianos, only Scar had the credentials to open this letter.

    ¡°Deliver this to the one who sent you on this adventure. I suggest you don¡¯t try to open it. It¡¯s enchanted with a blood spell. I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t want to experience the effects of a blood spell once the aegis dissipates,¡± Agrianos warned.

    ¡°Wait¡­ dissipates?¡± Kieran frowned.

    ¡°Yes, dissipates. It won¡¯t be too long until it does. I would also suggest that you not be here when that happens. Your body has yet to go through the first advancement, so let¡¯s avoid any unwanted situations, yes?¡± Agrianos said with a smile that wasn¡¯t a smile.

    Kieran shivered lightly after experiencing that eerie smile. ¡°I¡¯ve received the message loud and clear.¡±

    This warning was for Kieran¡¯s well-being.

    If he were to die by that blood spell, the death penalty would be countless times worse. In the end, Agrianos wasn¡¯t a regr monster; any death that resulted from a matter linked to him could only be deemed supernatural. Even his hair could be turned into a weapon in the right hands, bing a vicious weapon to stealthily im lives.

    Furthermore, to deter a yer from grasping at absurd straws, the present Death Penalty could be manipted once the level difference between the yer and foe was more than 200 levels.

    But, the repercussions grew excessively severe when it came to a dangerous power like the one Scar, and Agrianos wielded. It could even result in a character wipe or, at the very least, a character reset.

    ¡°How long do I have?¡± Kieran questioned.

    ¡°Mm¡­¡± Agrianos lightly rubbed his chin while walking circles around Kieran with an inquisitive expression. ¡°It shouldst at least a week. Consider it your final test from me. Let¡¯s see if you withstand the trek from the chasm¡¯s beginning to your final destination.¡±

    ¡°Agrianos¡­ are you some type of sadist?¡± Kieran asked with a sour expression. A week in-game meant three and a half days in reality. With his current equipment, Kieran was incapable of ying for a week straight. He still needed to nourish his body. Not to mention a week without moving was dangerous.

    It could lead to musculoskeletal issues if one was too irresponsible with their daily exercise and nourishment for too long.

    ¡°Me? Who knows. I can neither confirm nor deny your usations. But, what I do know is that I am simply me, and I operate as I wish,¡± Agrianos replied with a cryptic smile.

    Kieran could only sigh in defeat. There was no winning against Agrianos, who had countless years of interactions under his belt. Additionally, he wasn¡¯t interested in mundane arguments. Kieran could faintly discern a desire for more hidden in Agrianos¡¯ whimsical gaze.

    ¡°Fine! How about I make a concession? I¡¯ll escort you 95% through the Wildes, and you¡¯ll continue the rest of the journey alone. Deal?¡±

    ¡°Deal!¡± Kieran extended his hand, but his smile froze when his hand was swallowed by Agrianos¡¯ gargantuan hand. ¡®An absolute monster.¡¯

    ¡°Oh! My weapon, please!¡± Agrianos gestured, asking for his de back. There was zero chance of him allowing Kieran to take his weapon, not that Kieran wanted it. If the realism was any more developed, Kieran would have been in a terrible predicament.

    His earlier Strength was barely enough to properly wield the de. It would undoubtedly devour his Stamina if even Stage One Hyper-Realism was present.

    After epting his weapon, Agrianos scooped Kieran up and threw him over his shoulder.

    Crimson winds appeared around his legs as Agrianos jumped to the top of the chasm in one leap. While casually chatting with Kieran, Agrianos managed to regain a considerable amount of strength. He was no longer as feeble as before.

    Meanwhile, Kieran steadily plotted out a n to return to Gena Vige promptly. After all, he still needed to aplish a few matters before his appointment with Dr. Riley. Since it was a medical visit, Kieran expected it to be longer than expected.

    Hundreds of thousands of kilometers separated Gena Vige and his current position, so even with Agrianos carrying him most of the way, Kieran still needed to travel over ten thousand kilometers alone.

    On paper, it didn¡¯t sound so bad. Still, Kieran also had to ount for the fact his current Agility was an extreme limitation.

    ¡®A week to cover that much distance? I¡¯ll need to maximize my skill usage,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Soon enough, Agrianos reached the point where he would travel no further, abruptly dropping Kieran.

    ¡°Make it happen. I believe in you,¡± Agrianos said. Afterward, he disappeared with a waft of crimson wind carrying the sweet but metallic aroma of blood. As Kieran inhaled this wind, he felt energized.

    ¡´System: The wind carries the Tyrant¡¯s Revalitizing Blood. For 24 hours, Constitution to Tier 1!¡µ

    ¡®What a softy,¡¯ Kieran smirked to himself. Although this change might seem inconsequential. A Tier 1 Constitution was equivalent to obtaining an Intermediate ss since even the weakest Intermediate ss was an extensive upgrade from a human¡¯s base.

    Whoosh!

    Kieran took off like a speeding bullet. For the next twelve hours, not only could he run faster, but he would also be able to run much longer, saving Kieran from sacrificing the 10 Unassigned Attribute Points in his possession.

    In those 24 hours, Kieran traveled over 3,500 kilometers using Charge to cross some distances quicker. After estimating his progress, Kieran found that this was essentially a third of the stretch in a day!

    Once the 24 hours psed and Kieran ensured he made the most of the opportunity granted, he logged out to keep track of the date since he had an important meeting.

 Chapter 58 Hidden Class - True Berserker

    ¡ª-

    After logging out of the game, Kieran made sure to have a proper meal and take advantage of his building¡¯s spectacr gym, getting a decent yet not too exhausting workout. This way, not only would his body grow progressively better, but he also felt energized as a whole.

    Approximately an hourter, once he felt wholly rejuvenated, he returned to the game and sprinted with total abandon. Without the boost from Agrianos, Kieran needed to cover a certain amount of distance to remain safe. This type of behavior was a reckless way of travel, but Kieran could afford to be careless with the aegis present. It warded off all iing monsters.

    Besides, suppose he didn¡¯t adopt this style of travel. In that case, it¡¯d be challenging to properly judge his chances of clearing the Wildes before the buff vanished.

    As a result, Kieran employed a schedule. He would only log out to deal with personal situations once he thoroughly depleted his Stamina. In the time it took to recover, Kieran would do random odd tasks in reality, such as shower, relieve himself, etc.

    This process was repeated many times until Kieran narrowly escaped the Wildes¡¯ dreadful environment!

    Once he crossed the border of the Wildes, Kieran raised his hand in triumph. He had made it! Because of the difficulty of the prior quest, in addition to Kieran feeling relief, he wasn¡¯t up to suffering further surprises in this area.

    Approximately one minute after he made it out, the Ancient Crimson Aegis evaporated, and Kieran keeled over, heaving endlessly.

    ¡®Damn¡­ is the realism slowly increasing? The exhaustion is bing more noticeable,¡¯ Kieran thought to himself. If it was genuinely increasing, Kieran was curious about the number of yers who sessfully cleared their ss promotion.

    ¡®Two to three days, that¡¯s all it takes for average yers to finish their first ss Promotion. Seeing as it is moving well into the third day, there should be people moving along to proper cities. Though that might be the case, there has yet to be any sign of someone triggering the dormant systems. I suppose it¡¯s safe to assume that they¡¯ve yet to reach the requirements,¡¯ Kieran thought.<sub>-.</sub>

    There were two reasons why Kieran wasn¡¯t worried about losing the first yer promotion reward. Firstly, SSS Ranked Quests typically rewarded items and opportunities far more essential than a minor transition reward. If it were the ss Advancement Reward, Kieran would be more inclined to im the first achievement, but it wasn¡¯t.

    At most, the yer would receive additional World Fame, Unassigned Attributes Points, and perhaps even Skill Points. However, to clear the promotion this quickly, the odds of the yer¡¯s ss having a normal rating was essentially guaranteed.

    All they needed to do wasplete whatever simple task their ss Mentor administered. Afterward, their evaluation would be judged and based on that evaluation, a set ¡°transformation¡± took ce.

    In short, this transformation was the introduction of the Hidden Attribute¡ªConstitution. It was the main attribute responsible for determining the coefficient of a yer¡¯s stats. Constitution also yed a significant role in a yer¡¯s ability to contest higher-ranked monsters.

    Without a Tier 1 Constitution, defeating or even safely battling against an Elite Champion was impossible. Those who believed that they could achieve this was living in a fantasy world!

    The second reason was rted to the benefits of a Hidden ss. Since they were in limited quantity, the benefits surpassed thebined effects of promoting first and obtaining an ordinary Intermediate ss.

    Therefore, the proportional reward for an Intermediate ss was practically negligible in Kieran¡¯s eyes.

    Pushing this thought to the back of his mind, Kieran then ventured toward Gena Vige while hoping it would be hisst time visiting this ce. From here on out, Kieran solely wished for progression, not regression.

    Approximately two hourster, Kieran reached the Warrior Hall to find Scar standing in the middle of the doorway. After giving Kieran the quest, he didn¡¯t leave this post.<sub></sub>

    ¡°Has anyone from the Warrior ss been promoted yet?¡± Kieran questioned.

    ¡°Nope. Though I did sense many individualsing and going from the nearby Halls. I guess that path of a Warrior is just not as enticing as it used to be. Nevertheless, do you have it?¡±

    ¡°I do,¡± Kieran nodded before withdrawing the letter Agrianos personally handed to him.

    Once the letter made contact with Scar¡¯s palm, a red array manifested in the air. It was quickly rearranged so that all of the misaligned portions intertwined perfectly. As Scar resolved the blood spell, the blood stamp dissolved into a crimson droplet that seeped into Scar¡¯s chest and disappeared entirely.

    Reading through the letter, Scar¡¯s expression changed countless times. There was anger, pity, pride, tion, and disappointment surfacing on his face as he checked through its contents. With the assortment of emotions rapidly appearing upon Scar¡¯s expression, Kieran couldn¡¯t even begin to estimate what was recorded in the letter.

    A few secondster, the letter was burned to ashes by a crimson me as Scar gave Kieran a slight grin.

    ¡°So I hear you¡¯ve outdone yourself and more than gained the recognition of the master. While I¡¯m proud that you¡¯ve aplished this, it appears you¡¯ll have to follow my path more closely than I previously thought. Something I truly didn¡¯t wish for,¡± Scar expressed with a deep sigh.

    ¡°Follow your path more closely? What does that mean?¡± Kieran questioned. Although it seemed like a straightforward statement, people of Scar¡¯s caliber generally possessed more than one identity. It was possible that being a Mythical Hero wasn¡¯t the only title and position Scar was given.

    ¡°It means that you¡¯ll soon need to visit the War Deity Council, Hero¡¯s Sanctuary, and Wildes. It may even happen sooner than I wished. Thus, there is no time to dawdle. You wish to be our legacy¡¯sst sessor, yes? Then let¡¯s get you prepared for it,¡± Scar said.

    Following this statement, many melodious chimes sounded in Kieran¡¯s ear as a string of notifications appeared.

    ¡´System: Congrattions, you have cleared the Hidden Quest ?The Berserk Path¡¯s Original Wielder?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have gained 50,000 Experience!¡µ

    ¡´System: Your favorability with Scar has increased by 4,000 points! [Status: Honored]¡µ

    ¡´System: Scar, The Bloody Hero has been registered as your ?Exclusive Teacher?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received the Special Personal Trait ?Zero Loss of Potential?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You are now eligible to ept the ?True Berserker? ss Promotion!¡µ

    Some might say the rewards of this quest appearedckluster since it only rewarded 50,000 Experience, which was not even enough to allow Kieran to level up, but Kieran felt otherwise. Reading through his rewards thoroughly excited Kieran, especially the fact that Scar epted him as an Exclusive Student.

    This meant Scar would no longer serve as the Hall Master for the Warrior Hall. Instead, Kieran coulde to him for exclusive guidance, quests, and several other advantages!

    Secondly, Kieran could finally learn more about the mysterious Zero Loss of Potential that perplexed him this entire time. What he learned left him astonished! This trait was simply too ludicrous when it came to ensuring perfection.

    ¡¸ Trait Name: Zero Loss of Potential

    Trait Type: Personal  Trait

    Trait Rank: Special

    Description: A special trait that only people of extremely high potential can awaken. Furthermore, it must be awakened before the first promotion. The holder of this trait isn¡¯t subject to the same diminishing returns that may gue average individuals.

    Effect: Allows the holder to freeze their level at the cusp of each promotion range, maximizing the individual¡¯s potential for growth. All Experience gained will bepiled at set aside to be rewarded in one sitting.

    Note: Only the Legacy of Heroes can reward this trait since they stress perfection. ¡¹

    The practicality of being able to freeze one¡¯s leveling progress could not be underestimated! The most obvious advantage was that Kieran no longer had to fear being over-leveled for specific content. This trait was essentially a cheat for monopolizing dungeons and other content rted to the short transition period between ss tiers.

    Furthermore, Kieran found no cons to utilizing the power of this trait. It wasn¡¯t like the experience was sacrificed due to freezing his level. It was simply set aside to be administeredter once Kieran sessfullypleted his ss Promotion.

    Finally, after focusing on thest and admittedly most important notification, a screen appeared before Kieran. At the same time, Scar gazed at Kieran as if he was awaiting an answer despite not having uttered a word.

    ¡¸ Hidden ss ¨C True Berserker

    Anger, wrath, fury, madness, and ruthlessness are traits attributed to an evil individual, yet they are found in every soul. Does that make every man inherently evil? Should a man be judged by the general standards for conditions that escape the orthodox?

    Suppose a man plunged into a pit of carnage, delirium, and torment potent enough to seep into their very soul emerges in control. In that case, that is no mere man¡ªthat is a True Berserker.

    One who embraces their every violent impulse for the truth that they are¡ªimperfect perfection.

    The path of a True Berserker is not one forged for the faint-hearted. Only one who has conditioned their mind, body, and soul to house endless torment can carry the original burden.

    While one may be driven to madness, a True Berserker holds that madness in the palm of their hands and creates undeniable strength. A grim path of carnage and torment awaits the one chosen to ept this fate.

    For every step a True Berserker takes, a thousand shall fall. Though wrath guides their actions, a True Berserker¡¯s forbearance is indisputable. The seed of destruction shall be sowed, and the fruit of wrath will bear its glory.

    Is this the path you wish to take? [Y / N]? ¡¹

    ¡°I am prepared,¡± Kieran answered with a solemn expression.

    ¡°Then you must prepare your own torment.¡±

    ¡´System: You have epted the Hidden ss Promotion Quest ?True Berserker¡¯s Emergence I?!¡µ

 Chapter 59 True Berserkers Emergence I

    ¡ª-

    Scar¡¯sst statement didn¡¯t escape Kieran¡¯s attention. Prepare his own torment?

    In no case did that phrase sound pleasing. Moreover, the ss introduction painted a rtively grim picture for anyone bold enough to follow this path. Given everything he gathered, Kieran immediately attributed these words to the quest conditions.

    If not, why else would Scar utter such ominous words? He wasn¡¯t really the joking type, so anything Scar stated should be taken seriously. If not, it¡¯d be up to the recipient to bear the consequences of not heeding his warning or advice.

    All things considered, Kieran exhaled strongly while bracing for whatever absurdity awaited him in the quest details. In fact, Kieran even prepared for the worst so he wouldn¡¯t receive the most disturbing shock of his life.

    However, it still wasn¡¯t aplished perfectly since he didn¡¯t quite know the qualifications required to sessfully acquire the ss. It was spotty as best since he made some inferences based on his experiences thus far.

    ¡¸ True Berserker¡¯s Emergence I (Hidden, ss Promotion)

    Quest Rank: SSS

    Rmended Party Size: Solo

    Rmended Party Level: 20

    Objectives: As you have chosen the carnageden path of a True Berserker, you must walk the path doused in blood¡ªboth yours and your adversaries. The madness of a True Berserker feeds off the chaos found between the absolute white and ck. As the sheer embodiment of power, vengeance, and mercilessness, repetitious mastery is advised to remain in control. A trail of destruction shall descend wherever the True Berserker walks under the firmament.

    ¨C Collect the Blood Essence of Lv.20 or higher Elite Monsters. 0/500<sub>-.</sub>

    ¨C Collect the Blood Essence of Lv.20 or higher Special Elite Monsters. 0/200

    ¨C Collect the Blood Essence of Lv.20 or higher Champion Monster. 0/3

    ¨C Collect the Refined Blood Essence of a Lv.20 or higher Rare or above Boss. 0/1

    Rewards:

    ¨C ?True Berserker¡¯s Emergence II?

    ¨C 5 Gold

    ¨C 200,000 Experience

    ¨C ?Rare Grade Treasure Chest?

    Failure Penalty:

    ¨C Demotion to ?Berserker? ss

    ¨C Complete loss of ?True Berserker? Legacy<sub></sub>

    ¨C Removal of ?Zero Loss of Potential?

    Time Limit: 48 hours

    *Special Notes: A deste path walked alone is for a person of great internal strength. ¡¹

    Kieran¡¯s jaw dropped in exasperation despite preparing himself for the quest¡¯s absurd demands. He was left speechless for a few seconds before Kieran managed to regain his wits and break down what was required of him.

    ¡¯48 hours?¡¯ Kieran thought to himself with a deepening frown.

    The quest was quite challenging to aplish in that short amount of time. Not to mention, he was due for an appointment in a day¡¯s time. Even though he was given 48 hours to aplish this, to fit his own time, Kieran needed to clear this much faster.

    His aim was to promote his ss before his appointment with Dr. Riley. However, the chances of aplishing his goal continued to thin, especially when he focused on the quest¡¯s name.

    The roman numeral attached to the quest meant it wasn¡¯t the only quest segment in the series. There could be one, there could be two, there could even be three! There was no telling when it came to these types of quests because it gave no prior indication regarding how far it could stretch.

    Aside from the time limit, Kieran was also worried about the quantity of the monsters! 500 Elites? Even if he could magically kill them within two or three minutes, that was over 16 to 24 hours dedicated solely to killing the weakest monsters.

    Regrettably, the requirements grew more devastating as Kieran went down the list.

    Ignoring the Elites, Kieran needed the Blood Essence of 200 Special Elites! This condition was simply ridiculous because, in the end, Special Elites were monsters on par with Hrulhar, who excelled in certain aspects ofbat.

    To make matters worse, Kieran needed Blood Essence from Champion Monsters. That was a monstrous category Kieran had yet to face thus far. Each and every Champion monster was a headache in and of itself. They were approximately 50% stronger than Special Elites of the same level.

    All things considered, in Kieran¡¯s eyes, the worst part about this quest was the final two conditions. One, he had to solo a Boss! Two, Lv.20 was the minimum threshold of eptance.

    As briefly mentioned before, Lv.20 was a critical level for both monsters and yers alike. Whereas yers could promote their ss, monsters received inherent buffs without having to fulfill any prerequisite standards.

    All of their attributes increased dramatically, especially their defense. Because of this fact, most ss promotions that required monster ying could bepleted in teams. Sadly, Kieran¡¯s situation wasn¡¯t so endearing; it was borderline torture!

    It was exclusively a solo quest, so he was forbidden from partying up with anyone.

    Hidden Quests were indeed notorious for being absurd. However, Kieran gradually understood why it was designed this way. A holder of a Heroic Legacy had to prove themselves worthy at all turns.

    Fortunately, Kieran wasn¡¯t entirely hopeless. He had a few advantages at his disposal that he had yet to explore.

    Meanwhile, Scar smiled at Kieran. ¡°This isn¡¯t too demanding, is it? This minor task should definitely be achievable. In the end, it¡¯s nothing like what we were forced to face in the past. Imagine if your task took ce inside the Wildes; how would you fare?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d rather not think about that,¡± Kieran muttered with a prominent grimace. Frankly speaking, Kieran preferred not to visit that ce for a long time. It was far too stressful, even with Agrianos¡¯ assistance.

    ¡°Then get going. We don¡¯t have much time,¡± Scar insisted.

    While Kieran could sense the urgency in Scar¡¯s tone and he too felt pressed for time, there was a matter he needed to clear up before departing. ¡°Should I return to this vige afterpleting this mission?¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯ll be too time-consuming. Instead¡­¡±

    Scar made an odd gesture which caused a collection of sanguine energy to spiral around Kieran¡¯s left hand. A ze of crimson light shed for a second before disappearing. In ce of that sh of light, a crimson symbol was seared on the back of Kieran¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Once you finish the mission, ce a droplet of your blood on this symbol,¡± Scar directed.

    ¡´System: You have acquired the ?Bloody Hero¡¯s Symbol?!¡µ

    Aside from the name of this item, there was no other information attached to the symbol. Perhaps the only way to gather information on the symbol was to activate it per Scar¡¯s instructions.

    Now that Kieran was directed not to return to this vige, he left in pursuit of a leveling field that existed outside of the Beginner Handicap Zone. While he was aware of many such locations, only one stood out in his mind because it housed monsters Level 20 to 23. Anything beyond this set level range would be tough to handle, even with his high Attack Power.

    Once Kieran left the premises, Scar¡¯s expression underwent a drastic change. The letter¡¯s contents weighed heavy on his mind because it was directly linked to both the War Deity Council and the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary.

    ¡°Will the Mythical Heroes be forced to act once more? However¡­ thest time we did, it resulted in an enormous loss of life. Surely, we won¡¯t be forced inside that Domain again, right?¡± Scar muttered to himself.

    Agrianos¡¯ letter highlighted the chances of dark forces bing more active in theing days. Based on Zirgirak¡¯s Phantom, something known as the Lemegeton vowed to no longer follow the enforced mandates. If that were the case, then the situation would undoubtedly devolve and do so rapidly.

    ¡°It is a good thing we decided to take on sessors. Otherwise, who knows if our legacies would survive another one of those incidents,¡± Scar said while sighing deeply. Naturally, his past wasn¡¯t one filled with peaceful times. His strength was forged through challenging and nearly fatal battles.

    With a morose expression, Scar held his hand forward, materializing a massive battle axe. While it was far from equal to Agrianos¡¯ de, the weapon gave off a domineering feeling. The axe¡¯srge de was secured by what appeared to be a type of dense bone material.

    After Scar grasped it with two hands, he shed downward and openedrge a crimson rift. Compared to the rifts the Arcane One and Agrianos created, this opening was inferior in quality, appearing to want to copse at any movement.

    However, once Scar unleashed his powerful aura, it stabilized long enough for Scar to step through. It closed behind him like a doctor sewing up aceration. A hint of his crimson eyes gleamed in the darkness as he nced back at Kieran¡¯s departing figure.

    ¡­

    After leaving Gena Vige, instead of traveling west or east like he previously did, Kieran turned and traveled further up north until he reached a leveling field situated just outside of the Aeredale Kingdom¡¯s periphery.

    The Aeredale Kingdom was the same kingdom to which Kieran suggested the others travel. It was a ce he was very familiar with. Compared to Gena Vige, the chances of acquiring a quest was much higher.

    Furthermore, Adventurer Guild and Merchant Association branches were located in its capital city, otherwise known as Aeredale City.

    Even though there were stronger kingdoms, ording to Kieran¡¯s memory, it wasn¡¯t practical for him to visit those ces over Aeredale. Because of his intricate knowledge, he could monopolize one area and establish a solid foundation rather than spread his attention thin and risk failing to acquire opportunities toplement his revenge ns.

    Besides, Kieran recalled that at least one of the subsidiaries operated out of Aeredale Kingdom. What better decision than to stymie the progress of a subsidiary whose sole purpose was to provide the main guild with both funds and manpower? It would virtually cripple one of the Golden Brigade¡¯s limbs!

    Thinking about this mattered made Kieran smile wickedly. ¡®Deceitful bastards, I¡¯ll make sure your downfall is slow so that you may slowly wallow in the despair of bing obsolete!¡¯

    Eventually, Kieran withdrew the Scarlet Steel Greatsword from his inventory. A strange red glint radiated from the de that didn¡¯t escape his notice. The radiance didn¡¯t carry a presence of enhancement; it felt more like a restraint being shattered.

    And, just as Kieran suspected, the system delivered a few notifications that made him understand the current situation.

    ¡´System: You have entered a leveling field unaffected by the ?Beginner Zone Handicap?!¡µ

    ¡´System: The parameters of the ?Scarlet Steel Greatsword? has changed!¡µ

 Chapter 60 Barren Mountain Range

    ¡ª-

    Unlike before in the Chasm of Apogeton, or the Wildes in general, where Kieran¡¯s weapon remained in his inventory, it was present as he crossed the Beginner Handicap Zone threshold. Therefore, Kieran immediately noticed the signs of change he wasn¡¯t privy to before.

    As heid eyes upon the Scarlet Steel Greatsword, much of its information received a substantial increase!

    ¡¸ Scarlet Steel Greatsword (Rare)

    Item Level: 50

    Phys. Attack Power +171

    Strength +45, Agility +30, Control +25

    Effect: Monsters weak to mes suffer extra damage.

    Item Ability ?ming Circle? ¨C This ability conjures a ring of powerful mes that deal constant fire damage every second for 15 seconds. Afterward, this ability can¡¯t be used for the next 60 seconds.

    Description: A greatsword created using materials boasting fiery properties. Based on the weapon¡¯s shape, it¡¯s likely that it was forged using the tooth of a beast skilled with fire.

    Weight: 75kg

    Durability: 350/350

    Requirements: ?Warrior ss?, 75 Strength, Lv.15 ¡¹

    Not only did the Item Level increase by 30, but the Attack Power attached to the weapon increased as well, changing from the prior 91 to 171! That was almost a 100% increase in weapon damage! Meanwhile, the Item Ability experienced a 50% duration increase.

    ¡°Not too shabby, so it was an item with an Item Level of 50,¡± Kieran nodded in satisfaction.

    The Item Level didn¡¯t refer to the character level required to wield or equip the item. The Item Level only indicated the relevancy of an item. In other words, it gave a general indication of the item¡¯s future viability. An item with an Item Level of 50 could be usedfortably until Lv.50.

    At that point, it was advised for any yer to begin searching for stronger alternatives if not readily avable. There were other nuances to the Item Level; however, they need not be mentioned since those game features weren¡¯t currently a part of the game. It¡¯d take quite a few updates for the game to reach that condition.<sub>-.</sub>

    Once Kieran became familiar with his current weapon parameters, he opened up his menu and paid close attention to a few matters. The first being the Unassigned Attribute Points and Skill Points at his disposal.

    Because he used them in a pinch, there weren¡¯t many remaining for convenient usage. As a result, Kieran used his 4 avable Skill Points on his most practical skill before dumping the remainder of his UAP into Strength.

    ¡¸Name: Aatrox

    Lv.20 (Experience: 77,600/80,000)

    ss: Warrior

    Title(s): None

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    [?Stats?]-

    Health: 535/535 (0.2 HP regen/sec)

    Mana: 130/130 (0.15 MP regen/sec)

    Stamina: 174 (0.17 Stamina regen/sec)

    Attack Power: 461

    Defense: 127

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    [?Attributes?]-

    ?Strength: 144 (72 + 72 + 0)<sub></sub>

    ?Intelligence: 20 (20 + 0 + 0)

    ?Agility: 80 (47 + 33 + 0)

    ?Endurance: 40 (20 + 20 + 0)

    ?Control: 55 (30 + 25 + 0)

    ?Vitality: 45 (30 + 15 + 0)

    ?Perception: 50 (50 + 0 + 0)

    [Unassigned Stat Point: 0]

    [Skill Points: 0]      ¡¹

    ¡®Perfect,¡¯ Kieran inwardly noted within a smile. His primary focus was widening the gap between his Attack Power and his estimation of the monster defenses to increase his monster farming rate. 80 Agility was more than enough for a ss of his type.

    As for his Defense, his item ability covered that department well.

    Once Kieran felt every worrying matter was taken care of, he moved forward.

    ¡´System: You have entered the leveling field ?Barren Mountain Range?!¡µ

    Although it was called barren, this range was still filled with trees. The barren aspect came from the fact all of the verdant grass had shriveled up and gained the color of dead foliage.

    Within this area of dead foliage, Kieran noticed many small to middle-sized creatures scurrying about. The color of their skin varied from slime green to forest green, and they all had protruding bellies with primitive weapons, admittedly made from nearby fallen trees.

    As for what kind of monsters they were, they were the much-loved goblins! A staple in all types of open-world RPG games!

    The varying shades of green on their skin indicated two things: their level and/or ranking. The darker the goblin¡¯s skin color, the stronger they were in terms of rank.

    Due to his experience, Kieran was aware of this piece of nifty information.

    However, since he wasn¡¯t in a party, he couldn¡¯t capitalize on the actual value of this knowledge. No matter what ns he put in motion, the nearby goblins would be alerted when he started fighting.

    So, even if he solely targeted stronger goblins, he would inevitably be targeted by the weaker ones.

    ¡¸Lv.21 Goblin Minion (Normal)

    Goblin Type

    Health: 18,000/18,000 (100%) ¡¹

    ¡¸Lv.21 Goblin Minion (Elite)

    Goblin Type

    Health: 23,500/23,500 (100%) ¡¹

    ¡¸Lv.22 Goblin Minion (Elite)

    Goblin Type

    Health: 25,000/25,000 (100%) ¡¹

    Once Kieran saw the attributes of the goblins, his expression became remarkably stoic. Although Goblins were widely known as monsters with weak defenses, this was only concerning a fight fueled by Tier 1 power.

    Even the weakest goblin present required Kieran¡¯s utmost attention because they were a type of monster who tended to rely upon their allies to create unfavorable scenarios for their enemies.

    Once Kieran tightened his grasp around the Scarlet Steel Greatsword, he exploded with incredible momentum. At the same time, the Warrior¡¯s Aura zed around his body with a blueish-silver tint thatplemented Kieran¡¯s armor to create a riveting sight. A warrior d in armor sprinting into the heat of battle!

    Great strength coursed through his limbs as the ground trembled slightly with each of his heavy steps.

    A strong draft surfaced as Kieran suddenly swung his weapon in a horizontal arc. The edge of his sword connected with a Normal Goblin Minion within his range while the draft tickled some of their skin.

    -466

    Skrrrrreeee!

    Angered shrieks sounded from the goblins as they frantically iled their clubs around. These weren¡¯t the most brilliant monsters, so they were incapable of intelligiblemunications. At most, they could only convey their feelings through the pitch of their shrieks.

    Since it was ear-piercing, Kieran could sense the fury in their actions.

    ¡°Come,¡± Kieran taunted with a faint smile.

    At the same time, Kieran kept a mental note of how long each battle took while also noting the difference between the Normal and Elite Goblin Minions of the same level. While the Normal ones averaged around 135 to 140 Defense, the Elites varied between 200 to 210.

    This Defense was equal to the bosses that Kieran faced within the Beginner Zone!

    Not to mention, this was the lowest part of the spectrum. Monsters would only grow stronger from here on out, especially the inevitable Champions he would have to face.

    ¡°Phew,¡± Kieran exhaled while dodging the clubs of many Goblins.

    While their agility was much higher than the average beast found in the Fanged Forest, Kieran was in a partially heightened state. After experiencing the fight against Zirgirak¡¯s Phantom, it felt like monsters of this caliber had slowed down considerably, allowing him to track the trajectory of their attacks with ease.

    While dodging, Kieran would sometimes kick a goblin¡¯s chest and send it flying back while using Charge on another to stun it. Although he was at a disadvantage number-wise, these monsters didn¡¯t even begin to touch upon his realm ofbat experience.

    The first Normal Goblin Minion fell within 125 seconds. Despite all that Kieran tried, focusing on one enemy proved to be a tall task slightly beyond his current parameters. He couldn¡¯t keep every enemy at bay while focusing solely on the weakest enemy present.

    ¡´System: You have gained 600 Experience!¡µ

    Sometimes, his connecting attacks would be sacrificed to deal extraneous damage upon an Elite Goblin Minion whose Agility eclipsed its brethren. After seeing that his first kill on the weakest monster fell outside of hisfort zone as far as the allotted time per kill went, Kieran immediately activated the ability attached to the Bear King Pendant.

    A rippling soundwave burst from Kieran¡¯s body, cing many Goblins in a Dazed state. Once this happened, Kieran followed up with the item ability attached to the Scarlet Steel Greatsword.

    Information regarding the usage flowed into Kieran¡¯s mind as he abruptly plunged the sword into the ground. A long line of mes seared the ground, and once it reached 5 meters in length, it rapidly formed a ming circle on the floor.

    Once the Dazed state psed, pained shrieks sounded from the Goblins trapped within the ming ring. These particr goblins were vulnerable to both ice and fire because of their fragile skin. It didn¡¯t consist of ampleyers like a human; goblins only possessed one thinyer of skin covering their muscles.

    Thus, the item¡¯s ability dealt additional damage.

    Once Kieran learned of their extreme vulnerability to fire, his eyes filled with passion. The muscles in Kieran¡¯s left arm swelled until the sight of visible veins peered through some of the slight openings in his armor.

    A st of air apanied a relentless swing that could only be described as a more robust version of the Force sh. Those Skill Points invested into a skill were naturally used on Force sh since it was the most practical action. It was, without a doubt, his highest damaging skill with an extremely low cooldown.

    For the 10 seconds that the ming Circlested, Kieran unleashed two Force shes. Each skill execution dealt upwards of 2,400 damage to those directly hit by the attack and 1,200 damage to surrounding goblins.

    Coupled with the ming Circle¡¯s sustained damage, Kieran¡¯s damage per second skyrocketed until their health bars drained at a visible rate. From what Kieran gathered, the ming Circle should deal a base damage of 500 damage per second.

    However, this value essentially doubled because of the goblin¡¯s innate weakness.

    Once the ring disappeared, over twenty goblins were left with scabbed skin that fell off inrge patches, exposing raw muscle.

    Whoosh!

    Kieran took advantage of their current state and jumped, thrusting his sword directly into the exposed muscle. Every attackunched in this way dealt critical damage. A short 30 secondster, the first Lv.21 Elite Goblin Minion fell.

    ¡´System: You have gained 900 Experience!¡µ

    Approximately 10 seconds after that, another Lv.21 Elite Goblin fell.

    ¡´System: You have gained 900 Experience!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have reached the limit of a Tier 0 ss. Your trait ?Zero Loss of Potential? has activated!¡µ

    ¡´System: Character Level frozen at Lv.20. All additional Experience will be umted in a pool. [Current umtion Value: 0/?]¡µ

 Chapter 61 Rapid Experience Accumulation

    ¡ª-

    After the third goblin fell, Kieran retreated momentarily and thought about something that dawned upon him. ¡®If my level is frozen, doesn¡¯t this mean I can exploit the Medallion of Growth? After all, thest usable level is Lv.20. Only once a character reaches Lv.21 would the effect be unusable.¡¯

    It was indeed usible. One mightbel it an exploit, but that wasn¡¯t really the case. The Zero Loss of Potential existed precisely to give an edge to anyone who possessed it. While the advantage of the trait seemed excessive in theory, it wasn¡¯t.

    One of the main factors limiting how extreme the trait could be was the existence of increasing Experience requirements. Even if a user amassed an insane amount of Experience, it woulde a time when the losses outweighed the gains.

    In the end, a higher level wasn¡¯t the only way to acquire power inside Zenith Online. In fact, primarily focusing on increasing your level was advised against so much that guilds would stress that their members spend a certain amount of time at each level in the past. If this demand wasn¡¯t heeded, there was a high chance of being demoted within the guild hierarchy.

    In addition to favoring obedient guild members, there was an abundance of content avable within Zenith Online that was level restricted. What would happen if the majority of the guild¡¯s forces were over-leveled? They¡¯d be unable to engage in the content and miss out on whatever crucial material and opportunities this content may provide.

    Eventually, Kieran decided to test out his theory. The only issue was¡­ he wasn¡¯t currently in possession of the Medallion of Growth. For this, Kieran contacted Altair to see if he was done with it.

    Both Kieran and Altair were in a video call within a few minutes.

    ¡°Sup Aatrox?¡± Altair greeted.

    ¡°Not much. But, I have to ask¡ªare you done with the Medallion of Growth?¡± Kieran answered.

    ¡°Oh yeah, I finished with it a few days ago. I knew I had forgotten to finish that. I¡¯ll mail it back to you in a second. Let me just finish with my mentor,¡± Altair replied.<sub>-.</sub>

    After hearing this, Kieran rubbed his chin in thought. ¡°Your ss Promotion is finished?¡±

    ¡°For the most part¡­ it was quite odd, though, since it wasn¡¯t a normal task,¡± Altair scratched his head with a bewildered expression. In truth, he expected to y monsters toplete his quest. Never would he have expected that he¡¯d be required to assassinate an NPC!

    ¡°Oh?¡± Kieran¡¯s eyebrow rose as Altair recounted his experience. ¡®That mentor of his may have connections to the Assassin Agency. It¡¯s the only NPC organization that¡¯llmission assassination quests in this manner. For now, this is neither good nor bad¡­ but it could evolve or devolve depending upon our next actions.¡¯

    ¡°If you get the chance, make sure to remain cautious. Your mentor may be more dangerous than you know,¡± Kieran warned. Even though he doubted that the mentor meant any harm currently, it was better to be safe than sorry when it involved assassins. Some of their aptitudes for ensuring their kills simply defiedmon sense!

    ¡°Without a doubt. Do you think I¡¯m one to not watch my surroundings? But enough of that, how long before you arrive here? I¡¯ve more or less seen everyone else waltz into the city. Will you reach the Aeredale Kingdom soon?¡± Altair questioned.

    As for the ¡°everyone¡± in mention, it included Bastion, Alice, and the others.

    Before answering, Kieran leaned his head from side to side while judging his situation. With the help of his weapon, it wasn¡¯t too difficult to kill the Normal and Elite monsters. Furthermore, the kills were aplished on time. ¡°Not sure. But I¡¯ll try to get there before another natural day passes.¡±

    Just as the call was about to end, Kieran informed Altair about another matter on his mind, ¡°Although we doubt that the Sunset Triad and Shadow Cartel will make any move, you should remain vignt. At the same time, begin working on your World Fame.¡±

    ¡°World Fame? Got it,¡± Altair nodded.

    Afterward, Kieran also checked up on Sithik and Cygnus¡¯s progress before ending the call. Aspaira¡¯s progress didn¡¯t require any monitoring since she decided to walk the path of Alchemy.<sub></sub>

    A few minutes after the call finished, Kieran¡¯s mail icon shed. He retrieved the Medallion of Growth and ced it within his inventory before resuming his battle with the Goblins.

    A weakened Lv.21 Normal Goblin Minion was killed within seconds.

    ¡´System: You have gained 1,200 Experience! [Current umtion Value: 1,200/?¡µ

    Just as Kieran suspected, the Medallion of Growth¡¯s effects were still very much functional. The experience was doubled, and even more conveniently, the system actively tracked the umtion progress. Thanks to this nifty feature, Kieran wouldn¡¯t have to worry about being scammed by the system as far as the umtion went.

    ¡°Nice,¡± Kieran chuckled while also dashing through the encirclement of goblins. He swung his de and unleashed a Savage Break that caused a sound so disturbing that Kieran thought he cleaved the goblin¡¯s body in half. Arge indent appeared in the goblin¡¯s skull.

    -6,400! [Critical]

    The effects of 140 Strength and Savage Break¡¯s destructive nature were shocking, to say the least. Normal monsters didn¡¯t fare well against it at all.

    ¡®This skillset really is terrifying,¡¯ Kieran inwardly noted while swinging his sword about in a flurry. Sometimes, the clubs of Elite Goblin Minions wouldnd upon his back, and Kieran would retaliate with a Heavy sh that dealt more damage than what should be possible.

    Naturally, this increased return damage originated from his Strengthened Soul Trait. A vengeful person invariably strived to repay any wrong done to them. The same applied tobat. If Kieran could counter within the desired timeframe, his next attack would experience a 40% increase in damage.

    However, the imperfect window granted by his current strengtheningpletion was tiny at best. A mere 0.01 of a second. Even Kieran would struggle to nail that narrow of a window. To aplish that, he¡¯d need to increase his Agility and Perception and many other areas that were currently inessible.

    As the minutes passed, Kieran rapidly umted Experience, mainly from the Normal monsters.

    Luckily, as the Normal monsters thinned out, it grew less challenging tobat the Elite ones, especially those who reached Lv.22 and 23.

    With each level, the defense increased by 30 or 40 points!

    Moreover, while Kieran¡¯s Experience umted, so did the mastery of his skills, chiefly Force sh and Warrior¡¯s Aura. Warrior¡¯s Aura was the easiest since it was continuously active, allowing it to gain mastery progress steadily.

    Force sh could also be unleashed frequently, a maximum of 8 times per minute. Each usageted 0.10% on the progress meter, so it would only take 1000 usages to level up the skill without Skill Points. When tranted into time, it would take approximately 16 hours and 40 minutes to level up this skill once.

    Slower progress was the trade-off when rapidly leveling skills with Skill Points. Once they reached extreme thresholds, the progress reached a snail¡¯s pace.

    By the third hour, Kieran was forced to retreat and recover both his Stamina and Mana.

    Once he returned to battle, many Goblin Minions had respawned. Unlikest time, a more significant percentage of the monsters were Elite, with one Special Elite appearing.

    ¡¸Lv.22 Goblin Minion (Special Elite)

    Goblin Type

    Health: 38,000/38,000 (100%)

    Special Trait: ?Stagger?¡¹

    Its Health was approximately 50% greater than the Elite versions and possessed the Special Trait: Stagger. Once Kieran saw that trait, he knew it was better to avoid its attacks than defend against them, so he paid particr attention to the monster. If he was hit by its attack, he would stumble defenselessly, granting the other goblins the opportunity to attack together.

    Despite high Health and Defense, he would undoubtedly die if he received an outrageous number of attacks simultaneously. There were roughly 50 Goblin Minions in the area with their current spawn rate.

    As soon as the Special Elite approached him, Kieran activated the Spirit of the Bear King. Once the Special Elite was left in a daze, Kieran reduced its defense with Savage Break and quickly followed up with a Charge.

    -1,474

    -905

    With the perfect scenario for optimum damage established, Kieran unleashed a tremendous Force sh.

    BOOM!

    -7,576! [Critical]

    Any goblin within the Force sh¡¯s area of effect suffered at least 3,000 damage.

    Two secondster, Kieran unleashed a ming Circle upon that general area before focusing his attention elsewhere. With the Force sh on cooldown, it wasn¡¯t like he could rush into the ring.

    He, too, would suffer damage since he wasn¡¯t immune to it.

    While focusing on the surrounding enemies, Kieran executed seamless strikes that chained together into a fluid yet savagebo. The size of the Scarlet Steel Greatsword made it far from a graceful disy. However, Kieran stressed practicality over gracefulness.

    Although he took some meager damage throughout the fight, Kieran managed to kill all of the spawned goblins in just over two and a half hours. It¡¯d be a few minutes until they all respawned, so Kieran looted and recovered during that period.

    However, Kieran came across an issue when he collected all of the Blood Essence dropped from the monster.

    ¡´System: Blood Essence¡¯s rating is inadequate! Item discarded as a Quest Item!

    ¡´System: Blood Essence¡¯s rating is inadequate! Item discarded as a Quest Item!¡µ

    ¡´System: Blood Essence¡¯s rating is inadequate! Item discarded as a Quest Item!¡µ

    ¡´System: Blood Essence¡¯s quality is eptable. [Elite Blood Essence: 20/500]¡µ

    Only one in four Blood Essences were of satisfactory quality!

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you god damn say that in the first ce?!¡± Kieran shouted in frustration. The quest didn¡¯t indicate the importance of quality, so Kieran thought it was irrelevant. Sadly, it seemed that wasn¡¯t the case.

    Based on the epted essence, the lowest eptable quality for Blood Essence extracted from Elite monsters was Ordinary (45).

    ¡°It just can¡¯t be simple, can it?¡± Kieran groaned while pping his forehead. It appeared that 500 Elites was far from the actual number of monsters he needed to kill.

 Chapter 62 Goblin Hunter I

    ¡ª-

    Kieran¡¯s current situation could only be exined as frustrating beyond belief. If the odds remained one in four, he would have to kill 2,000 Elites at the very least toplete ONE of the objectives!

    What¡¯s more, Kieran began to dread whether these odds applied to every objective present. Just the thought of that being true infuriated Kieran until the point he punched the tree.

    Bang!

    A loud noise echoed in the surroundings as the tree shook for a few moments before growing still once more. With his fist pressed against the tree, Kieran leaned forward and breathed to repress his anger from bubbling over.

    ¡®Come on, kid¡­ what are you doing? Keep yourposure. Don¡¯t let something this small get you worked up until your reason disappears,¡¯ Kieran mumbled to himself. Perhaps some might deem him insane with the way he talked to himself, but it was a natural response.

    Insanity would be responding to the voice used to calm yourself down as if you were having a heated argument with a friend. It was one thing to listen, but it was another to respond.

    Ultimately, sometimes the best advicees from one¡¯s inner self. The part of a person that could rationalize under any conditions. However, allowing that part of one¡¯s inner self to emerge was difficult. It took high self-awareness.

    Once Kieran grabbed ahold of his emotions, he lifted his head with a clear gaze. His deep ck eyes looked around before standing tall with hisrge crimson de by his side. Numerous goblins appeared with an increasing number of Elites and Special Elites.

    At this point, Normal monsters onlyprised 50% of monsters currently spawned inparison to the earlier 75%. Additionally, there were 3 Special Elites, which made the odds of obtaining Blood Essence of the correct quality increasingly possible.

    Whoosh!

    Kieran rushed forward without another thought. He felt he was being too cautious, which adversely affected his killing efficiency. A pale burst of air pulsated from Kieran¡¯s body as his facial features became slightly more defined and hardened.

    Naturally, this was the Hardened Skin ability attached to his Crystalline Ring. Since he decided to fight with reckless abandon, he needed to ensure he had some kind of damage reduction present.

    Once that happened, Kieran focused on the Normal monsters first.

    After grouping them with skilled maneuvers, Kieran sealed their movements with a ming Circlebined with a Force sh to deal additional damage. Faint embers flickered from the Scarlet Steel Greatsword as he glided it through the ming Circle.

    Kieran essentially bathed the weapon in its own mes to inflict entuated me damage with each attack. Every attack then began to inflict bonus element damage due to the goblins¡¯ weakness.<sub>-.</sub>

    The Normal and Elite monsters became extremely easy to deal with after taking advantage of their weakness, but the same didn¡¯t stand for the Special Elites. Even when afflicted with burns, the Special Elites attacked haphazardly without a shred of care regarding their own safety.

    Furthermore, one of the Special Elites possessed the Haste trait, which made it much faster than its counterparts. At that time, Kieran was forced back and even staggered by the club of a Special Elite with the Stagger trait.

    Once there was a danger of dying, Kieran immediately activated the Spirit of the Bear King and gulped a Beginner Health Point to recover some of his lost Health. This type ofbat persisted until the spawn rates of the goblin dipped to a rate Kieran deemed to no longer be efficient.

    It took a grand total of 12 hours, from start to finish, to reach that point.

    At any rate, Kieran managed to amass 120 eptable Blood Essences from Elites and 45 eptable Blood Essences from Special Elites. Whereas the eptable range for Elites began at Ordinary (50), it started at Exceptional (55) for Special Elites.

    Unlike armors, weapons, essories, and some unmentioned items, materials followed a different grading system. Materials were judged by their quality which then provided a concrete ranking. In theory, a material with a quality of 100 should be perfect, but that was far from the case.

    Material of that quality wasn¡¯t perfect; it simply met the standard to craft something of the Epic variety, whether a weapon, armor, elixir, potion or other craftable items.

    In ascending order, material gradings appeared as such: Scrap (Trash 0 ¨C 10), Inferior (11 ¨C 30), Ordinary (31 ¨C 50), Exceptional (51 ¨C 65), Superior (66 ¨C 85), Epic (86 ¨C 100), Legendary (101 ¨C 125), Mythic (126 ¨C 150), and Ancient (151 ¨C 175).

    Clearly, the quest wouldn¡¯t ept any quality on the lower end of each individualized grading spectrum. Only the ¡°best¡± of each quality sufficed for Kieran¡¯s purpose. This was one of the cons to striving for perfection; it made advancing difficult and tedious.

    Nevertheless, that tedium tranted into a benefit that couldn¡¯t ignore.

    In addition to amassing over 900,000 Experience from the over 400 monsters killed, Kieran acquired many Copper Coins, Silver Coins, and materials. More importantly, Kieran switched his armor with heavy armor of a much higher Item Level.

    As a result, his defensive and attack capabilities underwent a drastic change.

    ¡¸Name: Aatrox

    Lv.20 (Experience: 80,000/80,000)

    ss: Warrior<sub></sub>

    Title(s): None

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    [?Stats?]-

    Health: 660/660 (0.2 HP regen/sec)

    Mana: 130/130 (0.15 MP regen/sec)

    Stamina: 267 (0.25 Stamina regen/sec)

    Attack Power: 505

    Defense: 214

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    [?Attributes?]-

    ?Strength: 165 (72 + 93 + 0)

    ?Intelligence: 20 (20 + 0 + 0)

    ?Agility: 91 (47 + 44 + 0)

    ?Endurance: 74 (20 + 54 + 0)

    ?Control: 62 (30 + 32 + 0)

    ?Vitality: 70 (30 + 40 + 0)

    ?Perception: 50 (50 + 0 + 0)

    [Unassigned Stat Point: 0]

    [Skill Points: 0] ¡¹

    Kieran¡¯s sess in killing the monsters was primarily rted to the Scarlet Steel Greatsword¡¯s item ability. AoE skills were simply indispensable when it came to monster grinding. Without that ability, Kieran¡¯s chances of reaching this point plummeted.

    Besides loot, Kieran¡¯s most essential reward for his actions was a title. Unlike the Beginner Zone, where it was virtually impossible to acquire titles, the open world would reward titles as long as a yer managed toplete the prerequisites.

    ¡¸ Title Name: Goblin Hunter I

    Title Rank: Normal

    Description: Gained by one who has hunted over 200 Goblins of a Normal Rank.

    Effects: Increases all damage dealt to Goblin-type monsters by 15%. ¡¹

    While a 15% damage increase didn¡¯t seem impressive, having every attack marginally increasedpounded into a notable advantage in the long run. It was essentially a significant reduction in one¡¯s time-to-kill values.

    Because of his insufficient inventory space, Kieran was forced to offload his extra equipment in his mail, sending it to Altair for him to once again take care of selling. There wasn¡¯t exactly a way for Kieran to do so himself because the virtual center wasn¡¯t active yet.

    Once that was taken care of, Kieran explored the Barren Mountain Range while focusing on one route in particr. This route was not just saturated with many Elites and Special Elites but also held countless Normal goblins because the density of monsters increased the farther one traveled into any leveling field.

    His pace was neither fast nor slow, mowing down his enemies until he came across a spacious cave in one of the smaller mountains forming the Barren Mountain Range¡¯s basdscape.

    Kieran had yet toe across a Champion monster, but he was satisfied with this result. The chances ofing across a Champion Monster were 1 in every 250 Special Elites and 1 in every 1000 Elites. Neither of those numbers had been reached in any area Kieran visited.

    Besides, he wished for higher skill levels before running an enemy of that caliber. Force sh was close to reaching Lv.11, and Savage Break was less than 2% away from attaining Lv.6.

    ¡´System: You have entered the Special Leveling Zone ?Goblin Cave?!¡µ

    ¡®Great, it¡¯s still here. But the monsters here will be a bit¡­¡¯

    Kieran became more cautious than at the beginning of the run. After all, the Goblin Cave was unlike the Barren Mountain Range since it specialized in spawning various types of goblins.

    Additionally, the weakest goblin in this area was Lv.23. They were vastly different from the predominant amounts of Lv.21 and 22 faced outside. They were no longer only simple minions! In addition to slightly stronger minions, there were alsorge goblins withparatively thicker muscles.

    ¡¸Lv.23 Goblin Minion (Normal)

    Goblin Type

    Health: 20,500/20,500 (100%) ¡¹

    ¡¸Lv.24 Goblin Leader (Elite)

    Goblin Type

    Health: 45,000/45,000 (100%) ¡¹

    ¡¸Lv.24 me Goblin (Special Elite)

    Goblin Type, Fire Type

    Health: 51,000/51,000 (100%)

    Special Trait: ?Burning? ¡¹

    ¡¸Lv.24 Frost Goblin (Special Elite)

    Goblin Type, Ice Type

    Health: 51,000/51,000 (100%)

    Special Trait: ?Freezing? ¡¹

    ¡°Welp,¡± Kieran shrugged before swinging his arm around. ¡°Time to loosen up further! Those Blood Essences are mine.¡±

    Kieran¡¯s first target was the Goblin Leaders present because they possessed quite an annoying skill for solo yers. It could increase surrounding Goblin Minion attack and defense by 15%. Any boost was detrimental to Kieran¡¯s sess, so they were the first that needed to go.

    However, Kieran also remained wary of the Frost and me Goblins. They couldunch projectiles of their respective element that traveled at exceptional speeds. Even with 91 Agility, Kieran would be caught in a bind if he sensed the projectiles toote.

    And, since they were ssified as magical, it¡¯d deal damage that Kieran had barely any defense against.

    Unlike the Goblin Minions, the Goblin Leader wielded short swords or sabers. So, there were times when Kieran¡¯s basic attacks were parried by his foes. Attacks like Savage Break and Force Break were unstoppable against his current opponents.

    ¡®Well¡­that¡¯s not very good,¡¯ Kieran frowned slightly. When he used ming Circle, the me Goblin¡¯s reddened skin acted as a me retardant that resisted 80% of the me damage inflicted.

    Conversely, Frost Goblins were even more susceptible to me damage than normal goblins. One ming Circle robbed almost half of their Health! Fortunately for Kieran, the cave environment was separated into rooms with closed ess once someone entered.

    Five minutester, the first Frost Goblin fell. Kieran spread out his damage, not by choice but by force. So once the first goblin fell, many more followed in quick session.

    ¡´System: You have gained 4,435 Experience!¡µ

    Vials of Blood Essence continued to appear around Kieran. Based on his shimmering gaze, a substantial portion should be eptable. However, he didn¡¯t have time to loot before shifting his attention to the remaining enemies.

 Chapter 63 Goblin Hunter II

    ¡ª-

    Although the goblins weren¡¯t the strongest of enemies, their camaraderie amongst their ranks wasmendable. For every goblin that died, the rest grew erratic and acted in an almost berserk fashion.

    Fortunately, these monsters weren¡¯t BOSS-level characters, so they had no ¡°Berserk¡± feature to truly employ.

    Tang!

    Kieran parried the sword of one of the nearby Goblin Leaders as his eyes darted about. Instead of attacking in a distinguished pattern, the Goblin Leaders present charged Kieran from all directions. This battle style was problematic for a single person to defend against because the attacks came from all angles simultaneously.

    In this scenario, it wasn¡¯t a matter of attack or movement speed; surviving this type of onught depended on one¡¯sbat experience. Only extraordinary movements held a chance of sessfully evading numerous attacks aimed at one body.

    Kieran performed something not many people would do upon noticing how the Goblin Leaders targeted him. He stood still!

    Most yers would panic if upwards of twenty monsters charged them at once, which would then cause them to run in a particr direction. The only issue with this reaction was that no matter what direction one ran in, they¡¯d be greeted by at least four enemies at any given location.

    More importantly, this action also vastly shortened the distance between the yer and their foe, which shouldn¡¯t be done unless the yer held control of the battle¡¯s momentum.

    On the other hand, if one stood still, it provided the maximum amount of time to judge the ongoing situation.

    As a result, Kieran¡¯s eyes gained a piercing presence as they darted about, gaining information at an rming rate.<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡®Four of them have Haste and will reach me quicker than the others, while some also have bizarre traits I have no recollection of. Not ideal, but not as bad as I previously thought,¡¯ Kieran inwardly noted. Once he sifted through the information he quickly umted, he took a single step forth but ced most of his weight on the center of his rear foot.

    ¡®It was something like this,¡¯ Kieran thought before using his foot as an anchor that provided ample power to his hips, the power generator of the human body!

    An instantter, he turned and continued doing so as if he was a spinning top unleashed by powerful fingers. His de was held in such a position that it protruded from his body with a slight tilt. Moreover, his right arm provided support to keep the affixed at a static angle.

    Whoosh!

    A gust of wind only faintly weaker than when he unleashed Force sh appeared, and because of this, the four Goblin Leaders with the Haste trait were blown back. Afterward, the other monsters continued to be knocked back by what could only be described as a human whirlwind.

    While spinning, Kieran gained an uncontroble rhythm due to asionally tightening up his body. The smaller his axis became, the quicker the rotations. Typically, such rapid spinning would induce dizziness, but Kieran was ustomed to unusual G-Force due to his past training.

    Aside from some incredibly mild visual distortion, to the point it wasn¡¯t even worth mentioning, Kieran was unaffected. Finally, to finish off his disy of skillfulness, Kieran ended with a Force sh!

    Because of this, a chime sounded in Kieran¡¯s ear!

    ¡´System: Congrattions, ?Force sh? has reached Lv.11!¡µ

    ¡¸Force sh (Lv.11)<sub></sub>

    Skill Rank: E Rank Active

    Mastery (00.01%)

    Skill Description: Deals 458% of the user¡¯s Attack Power by focusing their strength into their arm and unleashing a strike powerful enough to produce a wave of force apanied by a strong gale which causes the [Knockback] effect. The strong gale deals 50% of the sh¡¯s damage to all enemies in a 6-meter radius.

    Consumption: 5 Mana Points

    Prerequisites: Warrior ss, ?Warrior¡¯s Aura?

    Cooldown: 6 seconds  ¡¹

    Compared to when he first acquired the skill, Force sh was, without a doubt, countless times more powerful! Its residual damage was on par with many low-level skills since it dealt roughly 200% of Kieran¡¯s Attack Power.

    Additionally, its cooldown now allowed Kieran to unleash it ten times within one minute! It might seem minor, but this truthfully increased his damage per second graph by arge margin. This was more or less an additional 458% damage dished out every minute!

    At this level, Kieran couldn¡¯t ask for a finer physical skill.

    Furthermore, when a skill leveled up in battle, its cooldown was forcibly reset. It operated on the same principle a character level up did, where it replenished both Health and Mana alike. Since there was no resource to replenish in this case, it substituted this with the skill¡¯s cooldown.

    Therefore, Kieran didn¡¯t waste any time unleashing another Force sh on the downed Goblin Leaders as well as the ones approaching them.

    Bang!

    When Kieran shed his weapon, many of the fire and ice projectiles were knocked back by the strong gust, which made Kieran¡¯s eyebrows jump. ¡°Oh ho? A Lv.11 Force sh suffices to knockback projectile attacks now? It¡¯ll serve as a Weapon Master¡¯s Parry, I suppose.¡±

    A few lights shed, and Kieran¡¯s Experience Pool increased once more as his attacks imed the lives of a few Goblin Leaders and Minions.

    ¡®Too bad the creation aspect isn¡¯t active yet. I could¡¯ve remade the Berserker¡¯s Whirlwind sh just now,¡¯ Kieran thought. His spinning wasn¡¯t a thoughtless action; it was a rough recreation of one of the Berserker¡¯s staple skills. Due to his innumerable usages in the past, Kieran could execute the skill as effortlessly as one could breathe.

    However, his current parameters didn¡¯t allow him to perfectly replicate the skill. Otherwise, his movement would have fabricated an authentic whirlwind. It wasn¡¯t a feat impossible for stronger existences.

    A Tier 1 ss was not to be judged by the standards of ordinary humans.

    Once Kieran established a rhythm, the stress acquired from the battle lessened significantly. In fact, he even used the situation to his advantage, positioning himself so that some of the fire and ice projectiles traveled upon a trajectory that attacked their own brethren! Many me Goblins were hit by the ice projectiles and vice versa.

    Although more than 270 goblins initially filled the spacious room, they were killed in just over 8 hours. Kieran¡¯s actions were a prime example of the aptitude that separated the good from the great¡ªthe willingness to create a favorable oue despite whatever limiting circumstances that may be present.

    No matter how inimical the situation seemed, as long as one operated with the mindset that they would prevail, thereby manifesting the probability and bringing it to realization, they had the makings to be a world-ss expert.

    The preconditions to seed were already present inside this room, one only needed a mind astute enough to piece the hints together.

    Kieran browsed the loot once he confirmed the goblins wouldn¡¯t respawn and was excited by what he discovered!

    ¡®So that¡¯s how it is¡­ this quest prefers that I aim higher than the level listed in the objective. These results are nothing like what I obtained outside.¡¯

    Unlike the one in four odds established within the Barren Mountain Range, Kieran obtained an eptable Blood Essence for every 1 in 2 Elites. Additionally, all of the Special Elites presented adequate Blood Essence.

    Simply put, a higher monster level increased the chances of higher purity Blood Essence. Hence, why Kieran suspected the quest wanted him tobat Lv.23 monsters at the very least.

    In fact, when Kieran revisited the source of the Blood Essence from the outside, he came across a detail he had overlooked previously. 90% of the Blood Essence came from the rare Lv.23 Goblin Minions!

    ¡®Damn, a truly sadistic quest. This might be aplishable regarding Elite and Special Elite, but I¡¯m not sure how I¡¯ll fare against Champions of the same level. Though¡­ it should be fine if I find more Special Elites,¡¯ Kieran noted while rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

    Though it was correct that Force sh gained 0.1% mastery per usage, it was slightly higher when used against Special Elites since it scaled differently. The more challenging the opponent, the quicker a Skill could level.

    After tallying up his gains, Kieranted 114 Elite Blood Essence and 51 Special Elite Blood Essence. Despite killing far less than his prior numbers, the reward was virtually identical! The only slight difference was that the Special Elite drop rate increased exponentially, nearly reaching a 100% drop rate.

    ¡°Perhaps I should¡¯vee here earlier, but then again, that¡¯s hindsight since I only triumphed because of my higher skills, and who knows if there are even enough monsters here,¡± Kieran noted.

    Lastly, he paid attention to another notification that held some importance.

    ¡´System: Your title ?Goblin Hunter I? has increased to ?Goblin Hunter II?!¡µ

    While Goblin Hunter I increased damage done to Goblin-type monsters by 15%, Goblin Hunter II increased damage by 20%. Despite Kieran¡¯s frozen level, he could still discern multiple avenues to increase hisbat power, one such option being these types of unique titles.

    Titles within Zenith Online were notable.

    Theoretically, there was no cap to the number of titles one could have equipped. However, there was arge stiption present that stopped yers from exploiting unlimited title usage, which was the titles¡¯ categorization.

    There were two types¡ªSpecified and General.

    Specified Titles referred to titles like Goblin Hunter with effects specified to a single type of monster, location, or race. These were usually the reward of direct action, like killing countless monsters of a particr archetype.

    On the other hand, General Titles typically possessed effects that applied directly to a character and were gained as special rewards or rewards for exclusive content. Titles with duplicated general effects couldn¡¯t be equipped since one title would simply be neutralized.

    To maximize their title usage, most people focused on acquiring General Titles that covered every basicbat faculty while collecting some Specified Titles that would hold relevance even once they were Awakened.

    Meanwhile, after reading through the notification, Kieran recovered his Stamina before patting his face. ¡°Progress thus far has been excellent, but we move forward!¡±

 Chapter 64 Goblin Hunter III

    ¡ª-

    The deeper Kieran traveled into the Goblin Cave, the sparser the enemies became. Unlike the first room, which was filled with countless goblins, the second room only possessed half that number, roughly 150 or so.

    The third decrease in a simr fashion, barely totaling 60. In exchange for the decreased numbers, Normal Goblin Minions no longer spawned as a way to maximize the Experience gain of any party seeking to challenge this Special Zone.

    Due to this change, even the weakest Goblin Minion was a Lv.23 Elite, while the Goblin Leaders were elevated to Special Elites. The duration and difficulty of each battle increased ordingly because of this change, yet Kieran found this eptable since his earlier estimation ounted for Normal monsters in the fray.

    Despite being less than 22 hours in before reaching the second room, Kieran was more or less 50% finished with the most tedious part of his quest.

    Still, being that Normal monsters no longer gued his kill schedule, Kieran could allot additional time while remaining well within the timetable.

    Identical to the previous room, Kieran¡¯s main focus was killing the Goblin Leaders to do away with their troublesome ability. Once he aplished that task, Kieran focused on dealing with the me and Frost Goblins simultaneously.

    It was challenging alone, but Kieran managed to avoid death numerous times with his indispensable Item Abilities. They provided an insane clutch factor that Kieran couldn¡¯t discredit no matter how much he wished to chalk it up to his independent skill.

    Without the Crystalline Ring, Bear King Pendant, and Scarlet Steel Greatsword, he¡¯d be a sitting duck against the virtually endless attacks.

    Of course, one couldn¡¯t disparage Kieran¡¯s proficiency since these Item Abilities weren¡¯t almighty. Even with the assistance of said skills, an ordinary expert would have fallen numerous times by now.<sub>-.</sub>

    After all, both Kieran¡¯s Health and Defense catapulted him into an echelon that belonged neither to a Basic nor Intermediate ss. It was as if he was stuck in a categorical limbo where some of his traits were on par with an Intermediate ss, but others were on par with a Basic ss.

    Fortunately, in the case of Kieran¡¯s Attack Power, Warrior¡¯s Aura leveling up neutralized the slight increase in his enemies¡¯ defenses. The deeper Kieran moved inside the Goblin Cave, the more he felt the changes in his skillspound.

    ¡®Oh? Warrior¡¯s Aura previously increased at a snail¡¯s pace every second, but now it¡¯s visible to even me. The difference was like pouring water into ader with tiny holes instead of a proper bowl without any holes to expel water.

    Although theder would fill somewhat, the draining principle of theder made it feel as if the progress was nonexistent. Meanwhile, the bowl was an entirely different story. Even if it was minimal, the gain could be viewed.

    ording to Kieran¡¯s observations, Warrior¡¯s Aura currently umted at a rate of 10% per active hour of usage. Given that the amount of time he actively employed the skill in the past far surpassed this value, Kieran immediately felt the difference of operating without the Beginner Zone Handicap.

    ¡°It¡¯s a shame that Savage Break is much harder to level,¡± Kieran sighed ruefully. Because it was a higher ranked skill burdened with a higher cooldown, the number of times Kieran could use the skill was limitedpared to something like Force sh.

    Moreover, it was remarkably offputting how little each usage increased the mastery. While higher-ranked skills held more appeal, it wasn¡¯t practical to have an arsenal filled solely with such high-ranking skills. As a skill¡¯s caliber increased, it became customary for longer cooldowns to appear.

    What¡¯s more, the higher a skill¡¯s rank, the more stringent the growth requirements grew. Even though Savage Break wasn¡¯t one of the highly ranked skills, Kieran only managed to increase its mastery by 40% after all this fighting!

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to be more conservative with my Skill Points in the future. I can¡¯t forget about the intended shortage,¡¯ Kieran thought. Relying upon the Skill Points provided during each level up to support the growth of a yer¡¯s entire skill arsenal wasn¡¯t a viable option.<sub></sub>

    Each level up only rewarded enough Skill Points to acquire new skills from one¡¯s Skill Tree, not level them up until satisfied. This would be evident once more yers unlocked theirter skills that devoured Skill Points like ravenous beasts.

    While thinking about this matter, Kieran stumbled into the fourth room. It possessed the lowest amount of opponents to date, only numbering twenty. However, Kieran¡¯s eyes narrowed when he realized something amiss with these particr goblins.

    It was faint, but he could sense a disciplined aura from the goblins. They all possessed crudely made spears, but they held in a way that informed their opponents of their mastery.

    What¡¯s more, these goblins wore mangled armor that protected their thighs and upper arms. As Kieran was greeted by their figures, their information appeared a secondter.

    ¡¸Lv.25 Goblin Enforcer (Special Elite)

    Goblin Type

    Health: 60,000/60,000 (100%)

    Special Trait: ?Pierce? ?Steadfast?¡¹

    Kieran¡¯s face filled with slight astonishment as he skimmed through the information. ¡®They have two Traits despite only being a Special Elite, and every monster is identical? They must be a unique sub-set of Special Elites that conform to one standard. If that¡¯s true, then¡­.¡¯

    To test his spections, Kieran inched forward without brandishing his weapon to experience their inherent reaction. The Goblin Enforcers all snapped their eyes on Kieran and pointed their spears forward like trained soldiers.

    Witnessing this sight made Kieran grin because it brought him back to his days of official military training. Everyone was trained uniformly, yet some excelled while othersgged behind. Some of this was due to talent, but the divide was primarily due to work ethic.

    Not everyone possessed a ster work ethic and was persistent enough to strive for optimal results.

    ¡°All as one. One man, one unit,¡± Kieran muttered before returning the same gesture to the Goblin Enforcers. Unlike his prior battles faced within the Goblin Cave, there were no gimmicks to be utilized here. It was purebat.

    The piercing glint rted to enhancing one¡¯s vision with Mana appeared in Kieran¡¯s eyes as he suddenly rushed forward. Once he did so, the Goblin Enforcers made their move, forming a wave as they moved forward.

    While moving, Kieran minutely shifted his head to the side, dodging the sharp piercing thrust of one of the Enforcer¡¯s spears. After evading this attack, a flurry of spear thrusts shot toward Kieran.

    Three of them were instantly deflected, but the fourth one made it through Kieran¡¯s defensive actions. The spear¡¯s tip tore past his cheek, forming a noticeable scar on his cheek.

    -99 [Aatrox¡¯s Health: 561/660]

    Rather than focus on this attack, Kieran instantly returned a Force sh. Although Kieran didn¡¯t intend to attack within the counterattack window, he inadvertently seeded.

    Bang!

    Contrary to what Kieran expected, the Goblin Enforcer was only knocked back a single step before stabilizing.

    ¡´Alert: ?Knockback? effect has been resisted by the ?Steadfast? trait!¡µ

    Once Kieran read this alert, he clicked his tongue. ¡®So that¡¯s what this Steadfast trait is. I¡¯m not sure which one I hate more, this or Sturdy.¡¯

    Kieran relied upon Force sh¡¯s knockback effect to initiate many of hisbo strings since it left his enemies rtively defenseless as far as blocking went. What¡¯s more, Kieran estimated these Goblin Enforcers possessed Defense upwards of 400 based on the damage he dealt.

    When hended a basic attack, it dealt slightly over 400 damage. Even then, Kieran was proud of the damage he inflicted because it¡¯d be nearly impossible for anyone else to replicate.

    The 33% damage boost from Warrior¡¯s Aura and 20% damage boost from Goblin Hunter II gave Kieran an absurd advantage against these goblins. So despite their established rhythm, trained strikes, and deadly attack power, Kieran remained shockingly calm.

    Once he shattered the defense of one Goblin Enforcer with Savage Break, he followed up with a Charge that momentarily stunned the monster in ce. Usually, Kieran would advance off of this set-up, but Kieran chose to use Force sh¡¯s pressure to create ample space.

    Of course, that didn¡¯t mean this skill wasn¡¯t utilized to deal damage. Kieran simply used his current position to purposelyunch the attack with unsteady footing. Thus, he was sent over 5 meters backward, the optimal location to unleash ming Circle.

    A glorious ze erupted as the amber embers flickered in Kieran¡¯s deep ck eyes.

    However, not even two secondster, numerous spears pierced through the mes, creating small openings that Kieran didn¡¯t ount for. ¡®What the¡­ their trait even works on Item Abilities? Isn¡¯t that¡­ kind of broken?¡¯

    Instead of its intended 15-second duration, the ming Circle barely persisted for 5 before the Goblin Enforcers managed to free themselves and peer upon Kieran with peevish gazes.

    Naturally, they didn¡¯t take too kindly to being bathed by a ring of mes.

    In preparation for what was toe, Kieran retrieved a Beginner Health Potion and put it between his lips while simultaneously activating the Spirit of the Bear King. The Dazed State was greatly reduced, but it sufficed for Kieran to perform his wed replica of the Whirlwind sh.

    Numerous damage values appeared above the head of the Goblin Enforcer as the battle grew heated over the next few minutes. When Kieran¡¯s Agility failed to cope with the goblin¡¯s ovepping attacks, he tilted his head back and down the contents of the health potion before spitting it out.

    The battle raged on for more than two hours before Kieran sessfully killed thest Goblin Enforcer.

    ¡´System: The Title ?Goblin Hunter II? has reached its final Normal upgrade.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received the Title ?Goblin Hunter III?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have gained 7,540 Experience! [Current umtion Value: 1,930,495/?]¡µ

    When Kieran saw that he had umted almost two million Experience, his jaw dropped in exasperation.

    ¡®How much Experience will I umte before this quest is finished? And what level will I reach after I gain ess to it?!¡¯

    Kieran couldn¡¯t help but question and look forward to the instance where he epted the abundant Experience. Following his quest, Kieran moved on to tracking his progress and remaining times.

 Chapter 65 Helpless Demolishers

    ¡ª-

    Naturally, the first matter that caught Kieran¡¯s attention was the condition of the title he had recently acquired. Because he killed an ungodly amount of Special Elite and below goblins within a concise amount of time, the Goblin Hunter title quickly reached its third form. As a result, some information about the title underwent a drastic change.

    ¡¸ Title Name: Goblin Hunter III

    Title Rank: Normal

    Description: A hunter of goblins who has proven their mettle by ying an rming number of these atrocities.

    Effects: Increase all damage dealt to Goblin-type monsters by 25%. There is a 10% chance of inflicting the ?Fear? status on Special Elite and below. (The likelihood of this effect proc¡¯ing decreases and increases depending on the monster¡¯s rank and level.)

    Requirement: y at least 1,000 Normal, 400 Elites, and 100 Special Elite goblins within 3 days.

    Note: This title has reached the height of its upgrade; however, it can evolve.¡¹

    Kieran grinned with excitement when he read through the new title description. The most important part of this knowledge had to be the ability to plunge goblins into the abnormal state known as ?Fear?.

    While Fear was simr to Daze and Stun, it was much more practical. Fear was virtually abination of the two because it increased the chances ofnding critical attacks and left the enemy immobilized. However, the immobilization differed from being stunned since it was a psychological matter and not a physical one.<sub>-.</sub>

    It was the difference between being frightened until you couldn¡¯t move and receiving a spinal injury so devastating it left you paralyzed¡ªthetter could be ovee by mustering enough courage. Hence, why the chances decreased as the monster¡¯s rank increased.

    The higher a monster¡¯s rank, the more difficult it became to affect them due to their inherently prideful nature.

    Aside from the title, Kieran also checked through his current progress. The headway was satisfactory thest time he checked, albeit just barely. If he was any slower, he would begin to fall below the rate that would lead to sess.

    However, Kieran felt it should have taken a turn for the better, seeing as the drop rate increased almost exponentially. Before opening up his quest log, Kieran rubbed his chin and made some predictions.

    ¡®It¡¯s best for me to keep my memory sharp with these little exercises to help me recall any little bits I may forget. Sometimes even the simplest matters are of extreme significance. With that being said, If I remember the drop rate correctly, I estimate that I¡¯m approximately¡­75% done?¡¯

    Once he made his prediction, Kieran essed his quest log that disyed the urate information.

    ¡´Collect the Blood Essence of Lv.20 or higher Elite Monsters. 441/500¡µ

    ¡´Collect the Blood Essence of Lv.20 or higher Special Elite Monsters. 182/200¡µ

    ¡®Oh? Well, it seems I wasn¡¯t paying attention well enough. These numbers are much higher than I expected, especially for the initial timetable. Then again, I can¡¯t forget the difficulty of going against Champion monsters,¡¯ Kieranmented.<sub></sub>

    Although his progress appeared to be exceptional, it was only slightly above his earliest projections. At any rate, 39 hours had already passed, so there were only 9 more hours left for him toplete the quest¡¯s remaining objectives.

    Within those 9 hours, he needed Refined Blood Essence, Champion Blood Essence, and the remaining Special Elite and Elite Blood Essence. In truth, the difficulty of the former two tasksbined slightly surpassed therge volume of Elite and Special Elites. The Elites and Special Elites had manageable attributes, whereas the former typically required aplete party to match.

    s, Kieran couldn¡¯t hope to tackle this from an orthodox direction because he was alone!

    But, because he was alone, all of the drops were solely his. In addition to plentiful coins and equipment, Kieran also harvested some essential stones with his Mining Tradeskill.

    Last but not least, Kieran acquired some Skill Books that would either fetch a pretty penny or help generate solid rtionships in the future. For now, he kept those to himself until he decided which path he wanted to follow.

    Afterward, once Kieran¡¯s Stamina recovered entirely, he walked forward.

    Although the Goblin Cave was an expansive area housing numerous goblins, its setting was broader than it was long. It didn¡¯t take long for Kieran to leave the cave clearing that the Goblin Enforcers guarded and locate the route leading to the deepest recesses of the cave. It was a path that grew narrow and seemed to connect to arge wall in the back. Because of how thin the space was, Kieran frowned and nced down.

    Narrow areas were the bane of Warriors like him, especially Warriors without attributes high enough to willfully alter the terrain. His activity area would be greatly limited, thereby restricting how well Kieran could utilize his sword.

    At most, there was a clearance of just over two meters on each side, providing Kieran the slimmest breathing room ever since his weapon was 1.2 meters in length and his wingspan wasrge.

    Of course, this design existed for Scouts to take advantage of. Their frame was naturally slimmer and allowed them to easily ess narrow areas. Additionally, their use of dual des, slender twin swords, or daggers enabled full utilization of their arsenal.

    Unless it was by some miracle, then one individual fulfilling the role of every party member was impossible to achieve. Every ss possessed its own advantages that couldn¡¯t be discarded.

    Nevertheless, Kieran was forced to cope with the new setting by changing how he held his sword. It was simr to how an ancient swordsman dual-handedly wielded a sword to the front to invite the highest number of sessful parries.

    Unless Kieran sensed a monster, he kept the Scarlet Steel Greatsword stashed in his inventory to maintain his fastest movement speed.

    Approximately 2 minutester, Kieran felt a quiet rumblinging from the wall. The rumble resembled the shaking of numerous footsteps, so Kieran immediately performed a quick backstep and brandished his sword while in the room.

    A goblin burst through the wall within seconds with a spiked helmet and small mace in hand.

    ¡¸Lv.24 Goblin Demolisher (Special Elite)

    Goblin Type

    Health: 15,000/15,000 (100%)

    Special Trait: ?Rush?¡¹

    The neer¡¯s health wasn¡¯t high, but based on its armor and weapon-equipped appearance, Kieran immediately discerned that this particr enemy specialized in offense only. It only served as an obstruction toward the next room.

    Once Kieran noticed the information, he stood still.

    The Goblin Demolish stomped the floor two secondster and sped forth like a cannonball fired from a pirate ship. While their movement speed wasn¡¯t that fast, the narrow pathway made it difficult and almost impossible to dodge.

    ¡®How treacherous. Sealing the fate of a normal party like this?¡¯ Kieran thought with a slight chuckle. At the same time, Warrior¡¯s Aura began to ze and flicker from with body with brilliant cerulean embers. However, if one looked closely, one would notice the faintest crimson light sh at the edge of each cerulean ember.

    The Goblin Demolisher¡¯s only purpose was to destroy all intruders that managed to make it past the Goblin Enforcers. Goblin Demolishers were endowed with remarkably heightened strength to ensure they aplished this.

    However, Kieran was someone with intricate knowledge of these monsters. Before shing with the Goblin Demolisher, Kieran activated Hardened Skin, followed by Spirit of the Bear King, but the oue was far from desirable.

    ?Resisted?

    The Goblin Demolisher wasn¡¯t immune to the damage; however, it resisted the Dazed effects thanks to its special trait. As long as the Goblin Demolisher was in motion, the chances of abnormal effects seeding against it reduced by 90%!

    While this seemed absurd for such a low-level monster, it wasn¡¯t. The critical factor remained in the action word of the trait¡ªthe Goblin Demolisher must be in motion!

    Kieran¡¯s eyes narrowed when the Goblin Demolisher resisted his attack since the details manifested as incorporeal chains that shattered instantly. Only veterans of the game could recognize the visual cues that apanied resisted attacks. The visual cues imparted important information if one knew what to look for.

    ¡®Oh? So, this thing thinks that it¡¯s some type of juggernaut?¡¯ Kieran inwardly chuckled. This incited his innatepetitive side. He, too, rushed forward, activating Charge when a distance of 1 meter separated the two.

    Bang!

    An explosive noise amplified by the hollow cave walls resounded, followed by each side being momentarily staggered by their attacks. In spite of the stagger, neither side lost any Health. Once the system calcted everything, the damages surprisingly negated each other.

    However, Kieran¡¯s Vengeful Soul allowed him to recover quicker than the Goblin Demolisher.

    After recovering, he unleashed a Savage Break that sent the monster stumbling backward. He then followed up with a terrifying Force sh that made the cave quake.

    Because the Goblin Demolisher¡¯s Defense was that of a typical Special Elite. It fell within 15 seconds since Kieran could easily dish out 15,000 damage. Kieran collected the dropped loot before resuming his travel.

    The rumbling surfaced a minuteter, but Kieran pinpointed the source and lowered his body into a charging stance this time. Once the Goblin Demolisher burst from within the wall, Kieran rushed forward.

    ¡´Alert: Goblin Demolisher has been inflicted with ?Fear?!¡µ

    Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

    After the alert, Kieran quickly unloaded his seamlessbo of Force sh, Savage Break, and Heavy sh after stunning the Fear-afflicted Goblin Demolisher.

    What was intended as an unstoppable obstruction only served as a source of experience and quest material for Kieran!

 Chapter 66 Champions of the Cave

    ¡ª-

    Although the narrow passageway was only 20 kilometers long, a distance Kieran could cover within twenty minutes of light running, the Goblin Demolishers appeared every 200 meters, thereby limiting how fast Kieran could advance.

    After all, it wasn¡¯t like he could go around the goblins. The space was too narrow for him to perform any practical evasive maneuvers. Besides, each of these Goblin Demolishers rewarded decent Experience. It was a helpful farming tool seeing as their low Health made them an excellent Experience source for Kieran.

    Each Goblin Demolish rewarded upwards of 7,500 Experience points. By the end of the narrow passage, Kieran amassed an easy 750,000 Experience points to be added to the inessible pool.

    Adding in the Experience he gathered beforehand, this one grinding session increased the volume of the pool by just over 30%. Sadly, from what Kieran remembered, this path led to the end area of the Goblin Cave. It wasmentable, but his treasure trove of Experience would soone to an unfortunate end.

    On the other hand, Kieran was delighted because these Goblin Demolishers helped him ovee two significant matters holding him back. The first was rted to Savage Break. Since the enemies were only Special Elites and five levels higher, a threshold of great significance regarding Skills and Experience Points in general, Savage Break rapidly rued mastery points.

    Not too long before Kieran finished off thest few Goblin Demolishers, a notification appeared before him.

    ¡´System: Savage Break has increased to Lv.6!¡µ

    ¡¸Savage Break (Lv.6)

    Skill Rank: D Rank Active

    [Mastery (02.90%)]

    Skill Description: Harnesses the destructive power of Warrior¡¯s Aura and delivers a powerful strike that deals 318% of the user¡¯s Attack Power. The destructive power produces an effect known as ?Defense Break?. For the next 5 seconds, the targeted enemy¡¯s Defense will be reduced by 25%.<sub>-.</sub>

    Consumption: 3 Mana Points

    Prerequisites: Warrior ss, ?Warrior¡¯s Aura?

    Cooldown: 29.1 seconds  ¡¹

    Overall, the skill¡¯s viability increased by 10% when factoring in the cooldown reduction.

    However, the following notification was more meaningful to Kieran. In the end, it was the sole reason for his presence here.

    ¡´System: You have collected 200 Special Elite Blood Essence!¡µ

    ¡®At least I was fortunate enough that this is an area where one can only advance after clearing every room. Bypassing an enemy is virtually impossible, so it was indisputably the best ce to farm Experience to avoid hemorrhaging itter on,¡¯ Kieran thought before emerging from the narrow passageway¡¯s exit.

    As he exited the passage, he officially entered the 40th hour as well as the final area of the Goblin Cave.

    ¡´System: You have entered the ?Underground Goblin Stadium?!¡µ

    What greeted his sight was an expansive yet also partially subterranean clearing. Large rock protrusions littered the area inyered ring shapes. The space between some rocks was extremely narrow, while others were spacious.

    While soaking in the environment, Kieran also detected what seemed to be a tform in the middle surrounded by crude spears with incredibly sharp tips. Above, there was a kind of bone chandelier made of sharpened bone that Kieran couldn¡¯t ignore.<sub></sub>

    Kieran could tell at a nce that, although there were six gateways present on the circr wall, none of them provided ess to any additional rooms. Setting aside those six doors, Kieran focused on the seventh andrgest door far away. There was a skull indicator atop the door signifying the presence of a boss inside.

    Judging by how dense the ck mist surrounding the door was, Kieran presumed it should at least be a Rare Boss. Otherwise, it would have been useless toe here. But, before he could worry about the matters of the boss. Three of the six medium-sized doors opened outward with both rumbling and creaking sounds.

    From within those three doors emerged goblins with an aura that made even Kieran stand on edge. The first to emerge was a goblin dressed in ritualistic clothing. A brownish hood with strange markings covered their face. Still, it didn¡¯t hide the amethyst eyes that glimmered beneath the hood¡¯s darkness.

    A wooden staff with bends in odd ces sat in their hand with an opaque orb situated underneath the topmost rigid coil. Though it appeared to be dormant, Kieran could see subtle Mana fluctuations undting from the sphere.

    Located directly across from this goblin was arge goblin whose size resembled an ogre, albeit slightly smaller and not as muscr. They were dressed in sturdy silver armor coupled with a massive tower shield that made Kieran scratch his head with aplicated expression.

    Even a Knight didn¡¯t give off the presence of sturdiness that this goblin did.

    Lastly, simr to Kieran, the finalrge goblin wielded an enormous greatsword. The only difference was that the goblin¡¯s swordcked quality when judged against the Scarlet Steel Greatsword. Surprisingly, its stature was identical to the goblin wielding the tower shield save for theck of thick armor.

    Still, its fearsome expression and toned yet grotesque features gave the impression of ample power.

    ¡¸Lv.26 Jol, Goblin Shaman (Champion)

    Goblin Type, Magician Type

    Health: 40,000/40,000 (100%)

    Special Trait: ?Summon? ?Ritual?¡¹

    ¡¸Lv.25 Ezgal, Goblin Defender (Champion)

    Goblin Type

    Health: 90,000/90,000 (100%)

    Special Trait: ?Steadfast? ?Sturdy?¡¹

    ¡¸Lv.25 Kwozma, Goblin Warrior (Champion)

    Goblin Type

    Health: 70,000/70,000 (100%)

    Special Trait: ?Assault? ?Barrage?¡¹

    ¡­

    Three Champions with a collective of 200,000 Health, that¡¯s what stood before Kieran¡¯s eyes. These three enemies alone provided an obstacle on par with the Colossal Scarlet Wolf. What¡¯s more, Kieran could sense sentience in all of their eyes.

    Given the fact they were Champion monsters, Kieran expected as much. After all, bing a Champion monster required specific criteria, and it was often the named monsters who met them. Named Monsters were not only sentient, but they also higher possessed something that made them unique.

    Of course, not all Champions were Named Monsters, and not all Named Monsters could be Champions. For example, Hrulhar was a Named Monster but was only a Special Elite. Hrulhar¡¯s sentience was mild and heavily restricted by the dungeon environment and Beginner Zone Handicappared to its monster peers.

    Nevertheless, Kieran brandished his Scarlet Steel Greatsword before taking a step forward. When he did this, the Goblin Defender, Ezgal, reacted strangely. He glowered at Kieran before performing an explosive jump.

    Bang!

    ¡°You shall not pass!¡± Ezgal bellowed while mming his massive shield into the ground. With a single leap, he positioned himself so that Kwozma was almost on the same axis as him while Jol was far behind, protected by what seemed to be a ritual barrier.

    ¡®Oh¡­ that jump strength is even more frightening than I remember. Was it somehow weakened by the time I joined the game in the past?¡¯ Kieran wondered. When we attempted this ce in the past, Ezgal only jumped toward the challenger party to push them back and guard against their attacks.

    Now, however, it felt as if Ezgal was protecting Jol instead of prioritizing the opposing party. This change puzzled Kieran quite a bit, but it wasn¡¯t enough to throw him off entirely. At the same time, Jol tapped their staff against the ground three times while performing a bizarre throat chant that made even the walls vibrate.

    The three doors that were still closed swung open with a powerful gust as a stream of minions flooded the stadium from their respective pathways. At least three hundred of them pooled in, and they were all miraculously Lv.24 Elites. It appeared Jol couldn¡¯t summon additional Special Elites as not even one was seen within the sea of minions.

    Despite therge influx of enemies, Kieran remained unperturbed while slowly advancing. Soon, that slow advance turned into a full-blown charge as he sped forth and jumped over the dividing moat and sharp spears. Instead of pointing outward, the spear points inward towards the stadium¡¯s center.

    Once Kieran made the jump, he lingered on the outer edge of the stadium¡¯s circle tform. These monsters, unlike normal ones, had an auto-aggro system active because of the stadium¡¯s special setting. Kieran didn¡¯t need to enter their attack range to trigger their aggro; his presence alone substantiated the aggro action.

    Screeee! Whoosh!

    Many Goblin Minions charged simultaneously while Kieran inhaled and exhaled while performing light jumps. Every time he did so, his eyes fluttered and matched his breathing. Upon trying to attune his breathing to his movements, a notification appeared.

    ¡´Alert: Insufficient Constitution and Mana Affinity. Your current Sense Enhancement is limited to two.¡µ

    ¡®Two?¡¯ Kieran noted. While it was somewhatcking for what Kieran intended to aplish, it would have to suffice. In addition to augmenting his sight, Kieran enhanced his sense of touch beyond the standard parameter attached to beginner characters.

    This superimposed usage allowed Kieran to experience the battle on a grander scale. When pinned against so many enemies, Kieran needed heightened situational awareness to gather information quicker.

    The change in the air pattern, the subtle actions that urred before a goblin¡¯s movement, and errors in motion gradually became apparent to Kieran. However, in exchange for this heightened awareness, his Mana consumption skyrocketed, so much that Kieran kept the hotkey system focused on his Beginner Mana Potions.

    Tang! Tang! Tang!

    Kieran parried many clubs from the Goblin Minions before suddenly shifting his feet while using a vice-like grip to pick up the closest goblin.

    Pcht! Splch!

    Blood gushed as Kieran mmed the goblin on the sharpened spear and sidestepped quickly. More angered shrieks resounded for the goblin¡¯s fallenrade as they red at Kieran with their maddened beady eyes.

    Numerous goblins jumped at Kieran, but he swung his de while kicking his back foot. The attack sent two more goblins flying back, only to have their back impaled by the spears until they protruded from their chest. Because of the spear¡¯s angle and thickness, they could only helplessly w their chest while sliding further down the pike while the light in their eyes extinguished.

    Within seconds, Kieran dealt with three of these goblins without wasting a single skill!

 Chapter 67 Goblin Slayer

    ¡ª-

    Naturally, Kieran understood the importance of conserving his Mana in his current state. If he was wanton with his skills, it¡¯d lead to a ludicrous expenditure of Mana which his current stockpile of Mana potions couldn¡¯t support. Therefore, not even Warrior¡¯s Aura was active currently.

    All of the death he caused were strictly done by manipting his current environment. Those spears wouldn¡¯t be included in the setting for no reason. They served a purpose that required intricate knowledge of environmental damage to capitalize on.

    Whereas Kieran¡¯s attacks dealt moderate damage, when impaled by the bone pikes littering the tform¡¯s outer ring, a damage value exceeding 50,000 appeared above the heads of each Goblin Minion.

    Obviously, Kieran could only rely upon this feat that much more once he aplished this!

    Over ten goblins jumped toward Kieran, but he slid underneath them before recovering his footing. The change in position lined them up so that Kieran was farthest away from the spears. In under 10 seconds, Kieran piled the bodies up on four different spears by utilizing movements the minions could hardly track.

    It was a gruesome sight, but Kieran was unaffected as he shifted and grabbed one of the goblin¡¯s cranium and smashed it into the ground. Right after, he picked it up and flung it towards the other stacked-up bodies.

    Only once he kited upwards of 20 Goblin Minions did Kieran use Force sh once to simultaneously kill them with the help of the spears.

    Suddenly, Kieran felt the skin on his back crawl as he flipped to the side with unsteady footing. Arge sword cleaved through the air and smashed against the tform, which left a deep scar that made Kieran¡¯s eyebrows furrow.

    ¡®The power in that attack is enough to eat away half of my Health!¡¯ Kieran inwardly noted. His first thought was that he couldn¡¯t afford to be hit by such a strike. Although it didn¡¯t seem like a skill, it carried the destructive power of one.<sub>-.</sub>

    However, Kieran expected as much since their goblin titles indicated their specialties. A Warrior was naturally endowed with great strength.

    While Kieran wasn¡¯t sure how helpful this would be, he plunged the Scarlet Steel Greatsword into the tform and created a ming Circle that separated him from the Goblin Warrior and even more Goblin Minions.

    To ensure that they¡¯d be restrained for at least a few seconds, Kieranbined the ming Circle with the Spirit of the Bear King. Once he confirmed that he sensed no movement, he focused on any stragglers left outside the ming Circle¡¯s radius.

    The wonderful thing about these skills was that they consumed no Mana. So, as long as the cooldown psed, he could use these skills together to effectively crowd-control the mass amounts of goblins.

    Of course, it had limited use against monsters of Kwozma¡¯s caliber. Although the duration was supposedly 15 seconds for the ming Circle and 10 seconds for the Spirit of the Bear King, Kieran would be lucky if they were even 50% effective.

    Fortunately, various lesser Goblin Minions were forced into a state of Fear by Kieran¡¯s Goblin Hunter III title. Whenever he came close enough to arge cluster, they froze up. This gave Kieran the perfect opportunity to uninterruptedly m the goblins on the spears until the point they looked no different than goblin shish kebabs!

    ¡°How delectable,¡± Kieran chuckled amusedly before raising his guard exponentially.

    Kwozma¡¯srge sword ferociously cleaved through the raised ming Circle, shredding it apart with every swing that seemed to pick up in velocity. This steady increase in attack speed resulted from his Barrage trait, which increased the attack speed of every sessive strike by 5% until it capped at 50%.

    A 50% increase was enough to fundamentally change the properties of an attack. It could be the difference between a moderate gust and a raging tempest produced by fearsome physical attacks.<sub></sub>

    ¡®Hm? He¡¯spletely unaffected by the title for the most part. Though, I should expect as much when trying to use a Normal Title on Champion monsters. At the very least, I¡¯ll need a rare one to pose any threat to them,¡¯ Kieran thought beforeunching his second Force sh since his arrival.

    An area of freedom opened up because of Kieran¡¯s action, allowing him to breathe.

    ¡°Filthy hoo-man! Stop all your pesky tricks and fight me,¡± Kwozma roared before charging at Kieran. Its movement speed wasn¡¯t excessively quick, but it wasn¡¯t something to scoff at either. In terms of Agility, Kwozma surpassed Kieran.

    However, that didn¡¯t mean it was better in regards to their application of Agility. In the end, Agility and Strength synergized well to produce an instantaneous boost of speed. Whenbined, one could even push past their speed limitation by right of eleration alone!

    Bang!

    Kwozma attacked with another fierce sh, but it didn¡¯t connect with Kieran. Before the attack reached his vicinity, Kieran evaded with a subtle twist of his body before shing at Kwozma¡¯s exposed forearm.

    Shnk!

    The attack drew purplish blood and created a sizable wound. However, when Kwomza nced at the injury, he treated it as no more than a minor cut and scoffed. ¡°Slip-puh-ry!¡±

    Because of their racial barrier, some of the words these goblins spoke sounded unusual to Kieran. Perhaps it was their girthy tongue, or maybe it was due to recently gained sentience; still, Kieran understood them since there wasn¡¯t a noticeablenguage barrier.

    At any rate, there wasn¡¯t anguage barrier present when the remarks were directed toward Kieran. Kwozma released a series of unusual noises followed by a light white glow surrounding his body. His attack suddenly shot up, and this time, Kieran couldn¡¯t dodge properly.

    Thus, Kieran could only activate Hardened Skin and defend while retaliating with Heavy Strike.

    Bang!

    -165 [Aatrox¡¯s Health: 495/660]

    Although he used Heavy sh to fortify his attack, Kieran still lost more than a quarter of his Health to Kwozma¡¯s attack. What¡¯s more, arge shadow appeared overhead that rapidly grew in size, prompting Kieran to leap backward.

    Booom!

    Ezgal¡¯s shield smashed into the ground where Kieran previously stood. Because Ezgal mmed it horizontally while intending to tten Kieran into a paste, it didn¡¯t impale ground like before. In light of this ferocious m, a tremor surged throughout the tform.

    It was no different from Bastion¡¯s Shield Tremor, except it was more prominent because of the disparity in attributes.

    Meanwhile, Kieran¡¯s eyes darted back and forth before nting his hand on the ground and pushing up to somersault while avoiding the well-timed attack of two minions.

    ¡®Holy shit, what a terrifying unison!¡¯ Kieran inwardly muttered. Ezgal didn¡¯t even require a sessful attack on itsrades for it to respond in an arguably terrifying way.

    For some reason, Kieran felt the stats of these monsters were ballooned and their reactions more pronounced. ¡®Could it be because no one has visited this special zone yet, so the unique properties haven¡¯t been exhausted? If that¡¯s the case, then my question is, why was there no indication of this situation in the beginning?¡¯

    In the past, Ezgal¡¯s rendition of Shield Tremor wasn¡¯t as exaggerated as the one Kieran currently faced. Only the tform¡¯s core would shake briefly, not the entire tform rumbling.

    If it had not been for Kieran¡¯s exceptional sense of bnce, he would have undoubtedly lost his footing and inevitably fallen victim to Kwozma¡¯s onught.

    Instead of rambling about the shocking inconsistencies, Kieran regained his footing before pointing his sword at Kwozma.

    ¡°Hoo-man, ignore?!¡± Ezgal shouted in fury when he noticed Kieran¡¯sck of attention.

    ¡°Ezgal, calm,¡± Kwozma responded before stepping forth, followed by an explosion of momentum. The light hue around Kwozma¡¯s body was still present. So, both its attack and movement speed were currently heightened. Kieran wasn¡¯t sure how long its duration was, but he knew it was something he needed to exhaust.

    Therefore, Kieran keenly studied Kwozma¡¯s movements andpared them to what he knew. The result was an estimation of a 40% increase. This increase was indeed worth mentioning, but Kieran was also proud of his current attributes.

    Kieran only failed to dodge earlier because he could not ount for the increase in speed at such a close range. The brief period before Kwozma¡¯s attack wasn¡¯t enough to adjust his position or adapt to the circumstances.

    Sometimes, reacting too quickly was just as bad as responding too slowly if the opponent was strong enough. Both predicaments could lead to unfortunate results.

    Kieran and Kwozma became involved in an inadvertent game of cat and mouse, with Kwozma trying his darnedest to hack Kieran to pieces. One second grew into ten and ten into a minute before Kwozma failed to keep its rage in check.

    Rooarrrrghhhh!

    Kwozma released a bestial roar while abruptly changing how it held his sword. The light hue surrounding his body gained an orange color before dissipating into his muscles, making them swell to the verge of rupturing.

    Once Kieran noticed this reaction, he separated himself from Kwozma and ran towards the remaining Goblin Minion, who steadily tried to attack his rear.

    A violent gust circled Kwozma before brandishing his sword three times. Despite how far from Kieran he was, the attack¡¯s linear range was stupendous! The three attacks formed huge windssos thatcerated the tform and moved toward Kieran rapidly.

    When Kieran felt the wind nearing his back, he cut to the right abruptly, leaving the remaining Goblin Minions to suffer the consequences. Their bodies were shredded to bits, including those impaled by the spears.

    This attackpletely ignored their health bars, killing them all alike.

    Afterward, Kwozma was forced into a groggy state. But, while he was vulnerable, Ezgal situated his shield before Kwozma to protect him. While it was a practical action, it wouldn¡¯t help much with what Kieran had in mind.

    He disappeared behind therge rocks, and when he reappeared, he was much closer than before. This happened multiple times before Kieran appeared at an odd off-angle that Ezgal didn¡¯t ount for.

    With the Warrior¡¯s Aura set aze, Kieran executed a Force sh aimed at Kwozma¡¯s neck. Rather than the AoE effect, Kieran minded his de primarily. Kwozma¡¯s head flew and rolled off into the distance with a single strike.

    ¡´System: You have gained 19,404 Experience!¡µ

    ¡°Nooooooooo!¡± A bloodcurdling roar sounded from Ezgal.

 Chapter 68 The True Champion

    ¡ª-

    Ezgal¡¯s bloodcurdling roar resounded within the stadium as Kwozma¡¯s head rolled past his feet. A sensation of failure washed over Ezgal as he dropped to his knees before Kwozma and cradled his body.

    ¡°Kwozma, brother¡­ no!¡± Ezgal eximed in a trembling voice. Because it was his duty to be their defender, Ezgal was incredibly distraught about Kwozma¡¯s supposed death. His reaction wasn¡¯t too dissimr from how new soldiers helplessly watched as their brother in arms perished.

    After a short while, Ezgal rose to his feet with reddened eyes and roared to the sky. ¡°Jol, fix!¡±

    Suddenly, an unusual magic circle expanded, with Jol serving as the focal point. The bodies of nearby goblin minions withered rapidly as some unknown energy escaped from their bodies.

    This energy then acted as a catalyst required for Jol¡¯s ritual. Upon noticing what Jol intended to do, Kieran¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    ¡®A damned ritual resurrection?¡¯ Kieran inwardly remarked. This so-called ritual resurrection was a skill derived from the holy magic employed by advanced Priests. Whereas the priest¡¯s version utilized sacred and light energy to create a revitalizing force, this goblin performed a ritual outright.

    The difference between a spell and a ritual was the presence of sacrifices. Typically, thetter was much more potent since it borrowed upon outside forces while also adding in the user¡¯s abilities. On the other hand, spells only required one bodily resource unless stated otherwise.

    With that being said, Priests could only learn the Resurrection spell from a Skill Book. While there were skills simr to it, none trulypared for the simple fact that Ressurection could ignore the Death Penalty once. Its cooldown was horrendous because of this property, chiefly when used in a dungeon setting.

    Kieran quickly rushed forward, intent on interrupting the ritual before the collected lifeforce could be gathered and funneled into Kwozma¡¯s lifeless body. However, Ezgal was in no mood to fail again.<sub>-.</sub>

    Despite howrge he was, Ezgal appeared before Kieran at swiftness that rivaled Kwozma when buffed by his skills. Hisrge tower shield pressed forward with crushing might as Kieran sidestepped the blow.

    Although he sessfully dodged the attack, Ezgal turned around and snapped onto Kieran like a predator hunting its prey. Ezgal¡¯s reactions mystified Kieran because it was better than some yers he hade across. In fact, if either Despot or Horizon Break attempted to bypass Ezgal, they¡¯d die while trying to aplish that task!

    ¡®Not bad¡­ maybe only a Ranker could handle Ezgal in this state,¡¯ Kieran thought while praising Ezgal. Sadly, Ezgal was an enemy, so while he warranted the praise, Kieran couldn¡¯tmend him for much longer.

    Whoosh!

    A robust soundwave rippled from Kieran¡¯s body as he activated Spirit of the Bear King. Ezgal¡¯srge physique stalled momentarily, only for the Dazed effects to be shaken off a secondter. After experiencing the Dazed state, Ezgal realized this ability was responsible for Kwozma¡¯s defeat.

    ¡°No defeat!¡± Ezgal bellowed with an expression contorted by rage.

    Bang!

    Ezgal smashed his shield into the tform, and unlike before,rge cracks formed on the ground and expanded quickly. The tform seemed to want to break and sink into the unknown waters below.

    Naturally, if Kieran were to fall off the tform, it¡¯d result in instant death, and he¡¯d be forced to revive in Gena Vige since it was the closest location bearing a Temple Shrine. Though there were other ces, Kieran couldn¡¯t be sent to those areas because he had yet to visit them.<sub></sub>

    Meanwhile, Jol¡¯s ritual reached the final stages as Kwozma¡¯s severed head and body floated towards the magic circle¡¯s center. At the same time, a gaseous cloud with faint purple and grey specks floated above Jol as he raised his arms to the skies.

    Kieran¡¯s expression grew ugly as he watched this. If Kwozma were to be revived, Kieran was confident it wouldn¡¯t deliver any Experience. In other words, he¡¯d be forced to do work for no profit.

    Just thinking about this drove Kieran insane since the thing he loathed more than the Golden Brigade was performing pointless actions. The perfectionist in him wouldn¡¯t allow it.

    Bang!

    Kieran stomped his foot on the tform and sped forth as his mind churned faster. The blood vessels in his eyes expanded as both his heart rate and other matters rted to his motor systems significantly improved.

    His body secreted a chemical simr to adrenaline, except it was much more profound. This chemical was the culprit for his neural degeneration in the past. As the chemical deluged Kieran¡¯s mind, it was as if a thunderstorm was taking ce in Kieran¡¯s brain!

    Kieran ran away from Ezgal but did so with purpose.

    Just as Ezgal pushed his shield forward, Kieran jumped and flipped backward.

    Boom!

    Ezgal was destabilized because Kieran led him into one of the narrower rock junctions. As a result, Ezgal¡¯s enormous body was wedged between the two rocks, which would take some time to break. But, to ensure it didn¡¯t happen quickly, Kieran slid forward and executed a heavy circr sh on the back of Ezgal¡¯s knees. It was guarded by armor, but the Heavy sh helped break it away, exposing the fleshy joints underneath.

    As soon as they were exposed, Kieran kicked Ezgal¡¯s back and jumped into the air, unleashing a Force sh that created two sharp, closely intertwined gusts. The crude armor seemingly forged by other goblins wascerated by the attack.

    Immediately after, Ezgal¡¯s knees hit the ground, unable to move. Rather than focus on finishing off Ezgal, Kieran sprinted towards Jol just as the final stages of Kwozma¡¯s head reattachment were underway.

    Boom!

    Since Kwozma¡¯s body wasn¡¯t too far off the ground, Kieran jumped and smashed Kwozma¡¯s body into the ground while simultaneously thrusting his Scarlet Steel Greatsword forward. It was a marvelous disy of skill, but the oue he desired didn¡¯t happen.

    The magical barrier surrounding Jol absorbed Kieran¡¯s attack with minimal signs of cracking. Although Kieran currently stood upon Kwowma¡¯s body, thepletion bar continued to climb, and tendrils of reconnective flesh surfaced!

    Like a maddened individual, Kieran began hacking away at the barrier while also using ming Circle to assist in destroying it faster. Just 5 secondster, the bar reached 90% when Kieran unleashed a fierce Force sh.

    Aside from his weapon making contact with the barrier, the strong gales apanying the Force sh rampantly bombarded it as well. As a result, arge hole appeared in the front of the barrier.

    Jol¡¯s hood was also blown down, revealing a mortified expression. The crimson luster of the Scarlet Steel Greatsword grew apparent in Jol¡¯s eyes as it muttered words in stupefaction. ¡°No understand. How so monster? Are you not normal human?¡±

    Bang!

    Jol was swatted aside like an annoying fly whose pesky ways contributed to their demise.

    Since it was only a normal attack, it only imed 700 Health, but it was enough to disrupt Jol¡¯s ritual progress. However, Kieran wasn¡¯t in the clear just yet. While he seeded in disrupting the ritual, its umtedpletion didn¡¯t dissipate. The progression was simply frozen.

    This meant that if Jol somehow managed to restart the ritual, it¡¯d resume from 90%!

    Because Jol was a major threat, Kieran focused on defeating Jol while sparing attention towards Ezgal¡¯s unlikely but possible recovery. Since there were so many anomalies, to begin with, Kieran felt it wouldn¡¯t be unusual to find more!

    Since his stunning skills were on cooldown and his title effect proved ineffective against these Champion monsters, Kieran resorted to simple hit-and-run tactics to hack away at Jol¡¯sckluster Health. Although his Health wascking, his magic power was astronomical, as was his casting speed.

    Like most Mages who could pull off the Mana Missle, Jol fired them haphazardly. However, his fire rate and gathering speed revealed why Jol was ssified as a Champion monster.

    The effects of Jol¡¯s attacks weren¡¯t too far off from Alice¡¯s Mana Torrent skill! In fact, it wouldn¡¯t be wrong to say Jol¡¯s mastery of the Mana Missle was a level above, especially when it came to firepower.

    The residual mana fluctuations alone caused damage that made Kieran¡¯s hairs stand on edge. Because of his constantbat, Kieran¡¯s supply of Beginner Mana and Health Potions dwindled to less than five apiece! Even though he tried his best to conserve his potions, it was difficult not to use them when pinned against countless enemies.

    Besides, he wasn¡¯t a machine. He was currently imperfect, so even if he was highly familiar withbat, he was bound to make mistakes due to some incongruities that were outside of his power for the time being.

    Finally, after battling with Jol for upwards of 10 minutes due to his barrier¡¯s quick regeneration rate and odd magic attacks that thwarted Kieran¡¯s more important skills, Jol fell.

    With his demise went the possibility of Kwozma being resurrected!

    ¡´System: You have gained 19,404 Experience!¡µ

    Finally, Kieran let go a breath of relief while turning towards Ezgal, who looked at him both hatefully and powerlessly. ¡°Our leader shall avenge us. No know where from you, but you will die soon!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll see if that is true. Otherwise, it would seem I was the true champion here,¡± Kieran chuckled before using all his power to sever Ezgal¡¯s head from his body.

    ¡´System: You have gained 19,404 Experience!¡µ

    After killing Ezgal, Kieran fell to his knees and breathed heavily in an established pattern. This breathing pattern was meant to deescte his hyperactive body, specifically his heart rate. It was beating so fast that it felt like it was dangerously close to exploding.

    Because of it, Kieran didn¡¯t notice when the system delivered a crucial message. The only thing in his view currently were the countless vials scattered across the damaged tform. Many came from the Elites who barged through the doors earlier, but the most important ones came from Jol, Ezgal, and Kwozma.

    Finally, once Kieran regained reasonable control over his breathing, he nced up slightly towards one of the most recent notifications.

    ¡´System: The title ?Goblin Hunter III? has evolved into ?Goblin yer?!¡µ

 Chapter 69 Yet Another Surprise

    ¡ª-

    Kieran immediately pulled up the title¡¯s information out of curiosity, and what he saw made his eyes sparkle with amazement. The two titles simply weren¡¯t worthparing! The effects were like night and day because the former title was rendered useless against Champion monsters and surely wouldn¡¯t help against any boss.

    ¡¸ Title Name: Goblin yer

    Title Rank: Rare

    Description: A yer of goblins who has proven their mettle by ying an rming number of this kind. As a result, the mere presence of a Goblin yer evokes fear in this race.

    Effects: Increase all damage dealt to Goblin-type monsters by 50%. The holder of this title gains the limited Passive¡ª?Goblin yer¡¯s Presence?.

    ?Goblin yer¡¯s Presence?- A strong presence of ughter that both deters and weakens goblins. Based on the goblin¡¯s ranking, the weakening will range from 10 to 20%. All goblins beneath the Champion rank within a 25-meter radius will be inflicted by ?Fear? every 60 seconds.

    Requirement: y at least 2 Champion goblins while in possession of Goblin Hunter III.

    Note: This title is incapable of further evolution.¡¹

    ¡°Just the damage increase alone is insane. Even if it¡¯s a Rare Boss, this title will at least allow me to contend against the monsterfortably,¡± Kieran muttered with eyes teeming with excitement. The title had essentially evolved into a perfect weapon as far asbatting goblins went.

    Not only did it increase Kieran¡¯s damage output, but it also debuffed all goblins within a certain radius depending on their rank. Additionally, the title¡¯s fear-inducing effect ballooned to 100% for any goblin beneath the Champion level.

    Even with a Champion monster¡¯s abnormal status resistance, the title would still remain somewhat effective since the aura Kieran released was on par, if not slightly stronger, than the earlier goblin Champions.

    Setting aside the title¡¯s usefulness, Kieran¡¯s eyes grew bright when he looked at the three pieces of loot the Champion monsters dropped. Each dropped item pertained directly to the monster¡¯s purpose in the previous fight.

    The first item Kieran approached was a rugged Skill Book with evident signs of wear and tear. However, its appearance didn¡¯t detract from Kieran¡¯s interest. In Zenith Online, two types of Skill Books should never be discarded: ones with the most exquisite exterior and ones with an archaic presence that seemed hard to grasp.

    Both Skill Books presented opportunities that certain yers could only aspire toe across.<sub>-.</sub>

    As Kieran touched the Skill book, a summary appeared before him.

    ¡´System: You have picked up the Skill Book ?Tempest Strikes?!¡µ

    ¡®Tempest Strikes?¡¯ Kieran grinned to himself. This was undoubtedly the attack that Kwozma used during its somewhat berserk state. Its power was undeniably destructive, which made the notion of learning this skill alluring. From what Kieran understood, any character capable of wielding a de-type weapon met the criteria to learn this skill.

    After all, Kwozma didn¡¯t wield any special weapon; it was a simple sword. While Kieran wished that a sword would have dropped to increase his gains, he was satisfied with this Skill Book that would serve to expand his skill repertoire.

    ?System: You have learned the C Rank Skill ?Tempest Strikes?!¡µ

    ¡°C-Rank?!¡± Kieran¡¯s eyes widened in shock. The ranking surprised him because he felt the skill should be on par with Savage Break at the most. But, after considering the fact that it possessed an extensive AoE range, Kieran soon realized why its ssification was higher than the Defense-shredding Savage Break.

    ¡®I guess Savage Break¡¯sparatively low damage initial was a barrier that prevented it from shining as a C-Rank skill,¡¯ Kieran noted before casually pulling up the information regarding Tempest Strikes.

    ¡¸ Tempest Strikes (Lv.1)

    Skill Rank: C

    Skill Type: Active (AoE)

    Mastery (00.00%)

    Description: Harnesses the Strength present in the user¡¯s body to create terrifying tempests capable of dealing 605% of the user¡¯s Attack Power. Each tempest willst for 2 additional seconds, dealing damage equal to 10% of the skill¡¯s primary damage every 0.4 seconds. Depending on the user¡¯s prerequisite Strength, additional tempests can be created up to a maximum of five. (Current Tempests: 2)

    Consumption: 50 Mana

    Prerequisites: 125 Strength, de-type Weapon<sub></sub>

    Cooldown: 180 seconds

    Note: The additional Strength requirements will decrease slightly with each skill level increase. ¡¹

    Ignoring the absurd cooldown time of 3 minutes, Kieran was appalled by how costly the skill was¡ª50 Mana Points! This was a skill that would deplete his Mana Pool after a few usages if used in conjunction with Warrior¡¯s Aura!

    Nevertheless, its costs apanied a genuinely destructive power even in its base form. If not for therge rocks helping to obstruct the residualcerations, Kieran would have undoubtedly perished at the hands of this attack.

    Although the range of the skill wasn¡¯t mentioned in the description, Kieran assumed it was grander than Force sh, given that it was two ranks higher. Once he settled his effervescent emotions, Kieran then shifted his attention to the next most important item.

    It was a dark silver bracelet with white etchings simr to the markings found in Jol¡¯s earlier ritual circle. Despite Kieran having a difficult time distinguishing their origin, Kieran assumed it was somehow rted to runes that littered Xenith¡¯s everyday infrastructure.

    ¡¸ Shaman¡¯s Bracelet of Ordinance (Rare)

    essory Piece: Bracelet

    Item Level: 60

    Magic Defense +290

    Mana +100

    Attributes: Intelligence +45, Perception +40, Control +30

    Effect: Can steal the Mana of magic-type opponents. (1 point every 5 seconds.)

    Item Ability ?Protective Ordinance? ¨C Summons a barrier that sessfully deflects one attack. After its usage, this ability can¡¯t be used again for the next 300 seconds.

    Description: A well-made bracelet imbued with protective runes that seem moderately faded. Its original effects have been lost, leaving a slightly weaker variation. ¡¹

    As a Warrior, Kieran¡¯s most ring w was his feeble Mana Pool. It would prove detrimental if he couldn¡¯t unleash hisrger skills in the future because of insufficient Mana. However, Kieran also couldn¡¯t sacrifice Attack Power and Defense to increase his Intelligence this early on. It¡¯d ruin his synergy in the long run once he needed to tackle moreplex content, especially ones tailored to the sses present in the party.

    In the end, Kieran felt it was easier to acquire gear capable of increasing one¡¯s Mana limits as long as one knew where to look. Besides, every attribute could be trained uniquely once the proper criteria were met.

    In regards to those unique method

 Chapter 70 A Gap Not Easily Overcome

    ¡ª-

    ¡¸Lv.26 Velliolx, the Goblin Chieftain (Rare Variant)

    Boss Type: Field (Variant)

    Goblin Type,

    Health: 144,000/144,000 (100%)

    Special Traits: ?Hardened? ?Erudite? ?Ruinous?¡¹

    ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me,¡± Kieran muttered with a baffled expression. The Boss¡¯s attributes were far beyond what Kieran expected. In fact, they were so disastrous that Kieran felt the newly gained skill wasn¡¯t enough to bridge the gap!

    At any rate, there were also some new features introduced with this battle. Thergest level difference Kieran had gone up against thus far was five levels. As a result, the consequences of these actions were mild. However, now that Kieran¡¯s opponent had stepped into the sixth level, a new notification appeared before Kieran¡¯s vision.

    ¡´System: You¡¯ll be afflicted by the Level Suppression System if you go up against this Boss in your current state. [Current Calcted Suppression: 20%]¡µ<sub>-.</sub>

    Although the 20% suppression seemed moderate, it wasn¡¯t limited to just Kieran. Suppressions imposed on yers were inversely rted to their opponent¡¯s advantages. Whenever level suppression pertained to a boss, the two manifested advantages were Damage Reduction or Defense Ignore. Even worse, an application of both concurrently.

    However, the application wouldn¡¯t be revealed until the user suffered damage and the information registered in the battle log. Fortunately, Kieran was attacked, but the damage was negated. As a result, Kieran became aware of the advantages Velliolx gained from his suppression.

    Regardless, based on Zelliolx¡¯s stats, it was evident that he possessed some of both qualities beforehand.

    ¡´Alert: Defense Ignore damage has been negated.¡µ

    In Velliolx¡¯s case, that suppression advantage manifested as greater Defense Ignore. In other words, Velliolx¡¯s difficulty rose exponentially. Although these effects were problematic, the actual danger that this Boss posed was his categorization. He was what was known as a Variant, which loosely meant there was something unnatural about him that made him stronger than Rare Bosses but weaker than Unique Bosses in terms of pure stats.

    However, that was only when judged on the fundamental level. Kieran was all too familiar with the effects of Erudite. It wasn¡¯t as simple as it seemed. The longer the battle stretched out, the more dangerous Velliolx would grow, especially if he entered his Berserk State.

    ¡°This is all your power amounts to? My subordinates were done in by this puny power?¡± Velliolx questioned with a quizzical look on his face. His gaze danced between the fallen bodies of Jol, Kwozma, and Ezgal as he shook his head in disappointment. ¡°It should not be so.¡±

    Because of their initial impact, Velliolx¡¯s opinion of Kieran wasn¡¯t all that great. And that was understandable since his attributes dwarfed Kieran¡¯s at least three times over.<sub></sub>

    Still, Kieran frowned when he listened to Velliolx look down upon him. This was one of the reasons he disliked the Erudite trait; it made the monsters too lifelike, capable of human emotions like disdain, pride, excitement, joy, and even sorrow.

    Although Kieran was practically stuck inside the rock, Velliolx didn¡¯t make any effort to move afterward. He looked at Kieran with a gaze that was hard to read. ¡°Will this be a proper fight? Although you appear weak, surely there is something that makes you strong enough to execute my minions singlehandedly¡ªwhat is it?¡±

    Instead of answering, Kieran stared at Velliolx silently, and after a few painstaking seconds, he managed to force himself out of therge rock. He exhaled and cracked his neck afternding on the ground while matching gazes with Zelliolx.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing special about me. I aplish what must be done, and that is all. Whether or not I¡¯m special has no pertinence to my aplishments,¡± Kieran answered in a prideful tone. He then pointed his de at Zelliolx. ¡°This will absolutely be a fair battle, so draw your de.¡±

    ¡°I do not operate under yourmand. What I do is done at my whims¡ªnot the order of another,¡± Zelliolx replied with a sneer full of disgust. Simr to Kieran, Zelliolx didn¡¯t appreciate the superior tones of others seeing as he was a genuine chieftain, the highest role in any goblin tribe or vige.

    Kieran¡¯s right eyes imperceptibly twitched at the sound of Zelliolx¡¯s remark. Luckily, he managed to keep his cool. ¡°It wasn¡¯t an order, more so a suggestion!¡±

    Whoosh!

    Right after speaking, Kieran dashed forward in a straight line that suddenly shattered apart as he moved in a jagged motion. This caused Zelliolx¡¯s eyes to shift back and forth while tracking Kieran¡¯s movement. Although they weren¡¯t exceedingly fast, Zelliolx found something indescribable inside Kieran¡¯s actions that made his gaze look somewhat keen.

    nk!

    Kieran arrived before Zelliolx and unleashed a Heavy sh. Kieran understood regr attacks would be practically useless given the level of suppression he faced and Zelliolx¡¯s identity as a Variant. His Defense was bound to be incredibly high. Because of this fact, this was a slight chance that Kieran may even damage himself!

    On the off chance of that situation above arising, Kieran felt sacrificing a low cooldown skill like Heavy sh was worth it. However, Zelliolx effortlessly knocked aside the Heavy sh before lifting its massive leg.

    Bang!

    Kieran flew back like a ragdoll when Zelliolx¡¯s foot mmed against his body as if it were a wrecking ball. If this were a more realistic version of Zenith Online, Kieran would have undoubtedly coughed up some chunks of shredded organs.

    After all, the impact was significant enough to eviscerate his ribs.

    ¡°Haugh!¡± Kieran heaved with widened eyes. Because of his high pain setting, Kieran felt pain no different from getting hit by a car! The only difference was that his adrenaline was no longer high enough to dy the sensation of pain.

    -565 ¡´Aatrox¡¯s Health: 95/660¡µ

    With one attack, Kieran¡¯s Health dropped to critical levels. This was a predicament Kieran had yet to experience. While it was urate that his Health had reached critically low levels before, it had never been done with a single attack. Not to mention, the attack left some trauma persistent enough to affect how well Kieran could move.

    ¡®Is a damned Variant too strong for the current me?¡¯ Kieran wondered while clutching his sternum in a kneeled position. There was a visible footprint apparent on his armor¡¯s chest te.

    Meanwhile, Zelliolx¡¯s dissatisfaction intensified as he viewed Kieran no differently than typical humans would view a bug. ¡°This can¡¯t be the power thatid waste to my lesser brothers. Show me something great. Make my appearance worthwhile; otherwise¡­ I will end this here and now.¡±

    As he listened to Zelliolx¡¯s menacingly deep voice, Kieran¡¯s ears perked up. Was he so insignificant that a goblin felt it was powerful enough to end his existence at any time? This thought awakened something in Kieran as he clutched the ground and stood up with incredible difficulty.

    Boundless tenacity surfaced in his eyes as his expression grew more callous than an expert assassin. His gaze seemed to gain a frigidity found only in the deepest depths of theherworld.

    In truth, Kieran understood the gap between him and a Variant could not be easily ovee. It would be difficult to emerge victoriously; perhaps it may be nigh impossible. However, that was a thought Kieran wasn¡¯t willing to ept. He was sent here for a purpose, and that purpose coincided with his goal.

    Regrettably, he only had one chance. Therefore, failure was not an option for Kieran, or else he would be confined to the restraint of normalcy.

    Kieran¡¯s eyes gradually closed as Zelliolx¡¯s earlier words resounded in his mind as if they were off the inner walls of his brain. In fact, it was as if Kieran could picture the word¡¯s tangible form floating in his mind. ¡®End me? Stop the ascent granted to me by gaining another attempt at life? You¡¯re not able. Whether it is a Variant or not, something as trivial as a Rare Boss is not enough to deter me.¡¯

    After a short mental pause, Kieran continued. ¡®I have gone up against the phantom of authentic demons. Beings who stand at the epitome of Xenith¡¯s current power. I walk the path of a True Berserker¡­ there is no defeat that awaits me¡­ only conquer.

    ¡°Show you something great, was it?¡± Kieran said in a tone that sounded as if he was amused by Zelliolx¡¯s naivety. This was one of the ws of the Erudite trait; being too human meant they were susceptible to the same ws as humans, whether it be insufferable pride, overestimation, underestimation, ignorance, or any of the other grand faults present in most if not all of humanity.

    ¡°That is correct. I have lived long enough and experienced many pointless fights to gain my position. Show me something worthy and interesting enough to give me purpose,¡± Zelliolx admitted in a deep voice.

    ¡°Very well. I only hope you won¡¯te to regret your decision,¡± Kieran said. Afterward, he tried to trigger something he hadn¡¯t done until now¡ªthe activation of the Ancient Crimson Aegis. He hadn¡¯t paid any attention until now because it appeared to be a skill only activable by a True Berserker. As he had yet to promote his ss, Kieran had doubts about whether or not its activation was feasible.

    However, Kieran wasn¡¯t left with many other options given his current situation. Since his back was already against the wall, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to attempt the improbable. As per the instructions of the skill, Kieran bit his finger and unequipped his armor pieces, chiefly the top and bottom.

    Even when he was empowered by the Crimson Juggernaut Mantle, Kieran¡¯s armor was forcibly stripped away. It seemed this was a power that didn¡¯t allow restrictive armors like the one Kieran wore. Naturally, the True Berserker ss did not conform to normal standards.

    The blood on Kieran¡¯s chest began bubbling over but steadily lost its initial intensity. However, something within Kieran reacted to the presence of this skill.

    ¡´System: An alternative power source has been located. The Ancient Crimson Aegis shall siphon some of its energy to form!¡µ

    Afterward, a dense crimson mist seeped from Kieran¡¯s body, provoking a slight reaction from Zelliolx.

 Chapter 71 Ignition of Emotion and Power

    ¡ª-

    Kieran¡¯s expression contorted slightly as the current activation of the Ancient Crimson Aegis differed from when Agrianos bestowed it upon him. The crimson mist seeping from his body produced an ufortable feeling that made him grit his teeth.

    It felt like his insides were on fire with moltenva coursing through his veins. The veins and arteries surrounding his heart swelled until the rampant pulsation could be seen externally. Fortunately, this wave of pain onlysted for a brief span before diminishing into something Kieran could handle.

    This change wasn¡¯t because Kieran grew ustomed to the pain but rather because the process was quicklypleted. A thin red film covered Kieran¡¯s body, and from what little portions Kieran could see from his point of view, it resembled armor made from ker¡ªlight but highly durable. Once this process finished, a few notifications appeared before Kieran.

    ¡´System: You have sessfully learned the unique practice: ?Ancient Crimson Aegis?!¡µ

    ¡´Alert: Because you have failed to meet the standard requirements, the Ancient Crimson Aegis is siphoning from an unknown power source. WARNING: Doing this runs the risk of depleting this external source.¡µ

    ¡®If it¡¯s feeding off something and I¡¯ve failed to meet even the baseline standard. I wonder how miserable my stats arepared to the requirement. Also, that warning is pretty important. If the system has generated a warning, then this skill must be drawing upon an invaluable resource,¡¯ Kieran inwardly muttered.

    Even though there was a high chance that he was sacrificing something important, obtaining the ss would be otherwise impossible if he didn¡¯t. Thus, Kieran could only ept some losses and pull up the skill information.

    Initially, Kieran thought he couldn¡¯t be shocked after facing off against a Variant Boss this early on, but after reading through the skill information, that simply wasn¡¯t the case.

    ¡¸ Ancient Crimson Aegis (Lv.1/5)

    Skill Rank: SSS<sub>-.</sub>

    Skill Type: Special (Hybrid)

    Mastery (00.00%)

    ?First Form: Embryonic Blood Cloak?:

    Health Cost: 50%

    Requirement: 1,200 Vitality

    Effect: The skill consumes half of the user¡¯s Health to enter a condition known as ?Blood Ignition?. Once this state bes active, it produces a natural effect known as the ?Imperfect Blood Armor?.

    ?Blood Ignition? ¨C While active, this state increases the user¡¯s Strength, Agility, and Control by 500%. While this skill is in use, all other functional empowering skills are negated and deactivated. The duration of the ?Bloody Ignition? state is reliant upon the user¡¯s current Constitution. The lower the user¡¯s Constitution, the shorter the skill¡¯s duration. Prolonged usage surpassing that of the indicated duration will result in adverse effects.

    ?Imperfect Blood Armor?- While the ?Bloody Ignition? state is active, this protection can sustain damage equal to 1,000% of the user¡¯s Health. During its duration, the user gains an affinity toward blood. In exchange, all attempts at external healing except rted to a True Berserker¡¯s personal means will be negated while this ability is active. Once the skillpses, the user¡¯s Defense will drop to 0 for a set duration.

    Cooldown: 72 ¨C 336 hours

    .

    ?Second Form:????

    ¡­

    Description: The Ancient Crimson Aegis is a symbol of the ancient personage who goes by many names. It is a practice developed throughout countless millennia of grueling battles to constantly test one¡¯s limit. As a result, this power is a culmination of insurmountable vitality control. By igniting one¡¯s vitality, great power is bestowed upon the user. However, it is also a dangerous power that is not to be used lightly. Because of its profound nature, the Ancient Crimson Aegis is a practice that can only be imparted and not learned through one¡¯s efforts. Only one deserving enough will sessfully unleash this demanding skill.

    Note: This skill is incapable of leveling up through the usage of Skill Points. Only experiencing its power, increasing one¡¯s control of their vitality, or gaining a stronger Constitution will contribute to its growth. ¡¹

    Unlike other skills that seemed to possess infinite growth, the Ancient Crimson Aegis appeared to cap at Lv.5. However, given its monstrous abilities and the fact it was ssified as an SSS Rank Skill, the highest categorization present in Zenith Online, Kieran understood why its growth was finite. Allowing this absurd skill to grow infinite was a cheat code.

    Even at its lowest level, it could increase Kieran¡¯s Strength by 500%! That was a frightening thing to think about.

    Moreover, while it appeared that Lv.5 was its maximum threshold, even that was incorrect. In the end, the Ancient Crimson Aegis was an ability that scaled off of its user¡¯s capabilities. If Kieran continued to grow stronger, the Ancient Crimson Aegis would develop as well, thereby circumventing the somewhat limit.

    In addition to its low skill level ceiling, it was also restricted to personal growth. Skill Points couldn¡¯t be used to level up the skill. Given that he couldn¡¯t use Skill Points, Kieran wholeheartedly agreed with it having a low skill ceiling; otherwise, it would take an eternity to level.

    If Savage Break was already a pain to manually level up, Kieran didn¡¯t want to think about how atrociously slow the Ancient Crimson Aegis¡¯ progress would be. Thest thing that took Kieran by surprise was the varying cooldown. It wasn¡¯t set in stone.

    Furthermore, the number didn¡¯t rte to the period before he could use it again in general. It revealed the timespan that allowed another usage without suffering any adverse effects. Moreover, this number depended upon how long Kieran used the skill and to what extent the strengthening was used.

    By the time Kieran finished reading through the information present inside the skill window, the system had tabted how long Kieran could use the Imperfect Blood Armor without suffering catastrophic injuries. After all, igniting one¡¯s blood was a hazardous action.

    ¡´System: The arbitrary duration has been calcted based on your current condition. [Estimated Duration: 121 seconds]¡µ

    ¡®121 seconds? Just over two minutes? Hmmm¡­ is that possible?¡¯ Kieran wondered. Zelliolx¡¯s Health and Defense was by no means low. Even though Kieran¡¯s Attack Power surpassed 2,000 since his Strength neared 1,000, Kieran was confident that Zelliolx¡¯s Defense sat somewhere in the lower 1,000s.

    After witnessing Kieran¡¯s change, a look of excitement appeared on Zelliolx¡¯s face. ¡°There it is. Just what I was awaiting¡ªsomething exciting.¡±

    Whoosh!

    Zelliolx rushed forward while lifting his serrated chain sword high above his head. Although Kieran¡¯s Perception wascking for this current situation, Kieran no longer relied upon it. Instead, Kieran switched to his superior Control to navigate this battle.

    Boom!

    Kieran jumped back, avoiding Zelliolx¡¯s crushing blow. The resulting explosion discharged rock splinters everywhere, but Kieran used the Scarlet Steel Greatsword to either defend or quickly swat the iing shards out of the aim.

    Zelliolx¡¯s figure burst from within therge mineral cloud and unleashed another terrifying cleave. However, this time, Kieran met the attack with another Heavy sh. Because of his small transformation, more than enough time had psed for the skill¡¯s cooldown period to conclude.

    Bang!

    The collision of the two attacks produced a deafening soundwave that evolved into a shockwave strong enough to obliterate some of the nearby rock protrusion. With this skill active, Kieran was no weaker than a genuine Tier 1 ss, perhaps even a smidge more powerful!

    -22

    A remarkably low number appeared before Kieran¡¯s view. Despite the interface alert, the damage wasn¡¯t funneled to his Health. Instead, the Imperfect Bloody Armor¡¯s durability decreased by an imperceptible notch.

    ¡®Hm¡­ Zelliolx¡¯s Attack Power seems to have adjusted ordingly. Or, perhaps this is his true attack value when using a weapon,¡¯ Kieran surmised. That Heavy sh should have dealt upwards of 3,000 damage, but instead of damaging Zelliolx, Kieran was the one to minutely suffer.

    Of course, this didn¡¯t mean Kieran was any weaker than Zelliolx in terms of pure Attack Power. Zelliolx¡¯s attack simply carried the Defense Ignore property. It¡¯d be difficult to emerge victorious in a physical sh when that property was present in the fight.

    Sadly, Kieran possessed zero means of dealing with the level suppression system. Ergo, he¡¯d just have to roll with the hand he was dealt.

    With Agility surpassing 550, Kieran moved lightning quick as a savage aura passed through his Scarlet Steel Greatsword. However, unlike before, Kieran hesitated for a moment as he noticed something unusual about the weapon.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­¡±Kieran frowned.

    Savage Break was a skill that scaled based on his destructive capabilities. Since the state of Blood Ignition produced a ruinous power, it increased to a level outside of the weapon¡¯s quality. As a result, the sword¡¯s durability decreased rmingly with each passing moment Kieran supplied it with his current power.

    Although it was an exceptional weapon for his current level, some sacrifices were inevitable if he wanted to triumph in this battle.

    Once he made up his mind, Kieran dodged Zelliolx¡¯s next attack rather than meet it head-on. After putting himself in the perfect position, Kieran aimed the Savage Break at Zelliolx¡¯s torso. The strong attack opened a considerably deep wound that seeped purplish blood.

    -5,800

    The damage was much greater than even the criticals that Kieran unleashed. However, it was easy to understand why that was the case with all things considered.

    Stumbling backward, Zelliolx touched his torso and marveled at the purplish blood with an unusual expression. One would expect him to fall into a rage, but he appeared as nothing more than fascinated.

    ¡°Hmm, hmm,¡± Zelliolx chuckled in a deep voice. Once his blood was drawn, the same berserk aura present upon his initial appearance reappeared. Kieran¡¯s attack had awakened Zelliolx¡¯s battle lust!

    Bang!

    The ground was blown apart by Zelliolx¡¯s haphazard rush as Kieran did the same. There was no way he would lose to a low-level boss in terms of battle lust. A fervent gleam surfaced in Kieran¡¯s eyes as the Imperfect Blood Armor seemed riled up, almost as if Kieran¡¯s Blood Ignition was rtively affected by his emotions.

    Given that he possessed a Vengeful Soul, it was feasible.

    The two figures met midair with powerful leaps. They first exchanged weapon strikes, followed by physical attacks. While Zelliolx kicked at Kieran, Kieran punched with all his might.

    Boooom!

    Both sides were blown back, but Kieran performed an aerial recovery andnded atop a rock like an agile cat. The moment hended, he charged forward with a Force sh brewing.

 Chapter 72 Relief After Great Ordeals

    ¡ª-

    Zelliolx¡¯s expression changed rapidly as he noticed the changes in Kieran¡¯s posture and the way his body was positioned. This position indicated the wake of a rtively dangerous attack. However, rather than retreat in fear, the excitement present in Zelliolx¡¯s eyes zed like raging mes.

    Large bursts of a wild auraparable to feral animals found in the forest inrge bursts radiated from Zelliolx as he stepped forth, which abruptly turned into a rampant rush. Zelliolx held not a single care for the already damaged tform. Each step burrowed a deep footprint on its surface.

    Bang!

    The two attacks met, causing another fierce shockwave. The wild winds that arose from this collision caused manycerations on Zelliolx¡¯s bare green chest while minuscule damage values simultaneously appeared before Keiran¡¯s vision, alerting him about the gradual decline in the Imperfect Blood Armor¡¯s durability.

    Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t to an extent capable of warranting his concern.

    ¡°Not bad. This is more like it. Show me more of this power that you have hidden. Give me an amazing show,¡± Zelliolx eximed with a mirthful grin. Although he was ted, his gruesome expression made it hard for the face to be associated with happiness.

    ¡°Sadly, I¡¯m not here to provide your amusement or enjoyment. I have a task, and you are impeding its progress. Therefore, you are something that needs to disappear,¡± Kieran retorted.

    Immediately after, Kieran slipped away from their stalemate collision and shed his sword upward. Usually, Savage Break would be executed with a downward stroke so gravity could assist in its unbridled power, but Kieran couldn¡¯t be bothered with thebat minutiae.

    As long as Kieran¡¯s Strength was high enough, it would suffice to regrly perform his skills without following their precise directives. Not even a secondter, the Scarlet Steel Greatsword¡¯s anterior edge gained an increasingly savage aura as Kieran¡¯s eyes adopted a menacing bloody glint.

    Though it appeared that this small change originated from the Ancient Crimson Aegis, that wasn¡¯t the case. Instead, the culprit of Kieran¡¯s negatively impacted emotions was the fuel the Aegis consumed. The byproduct was something that Kieran had yet to stumble across. Thus, he had no method of utilizing, discharging, or neutralizing it.

    Luckily enough, it seemed to only cloud his mind when using skills centered around savagery.<sub>-.</sub>

    BOOM!

    Kieran¡¯s Savage Break connected with Zelliolx¡¯s shoddily prepared counterattack. This extensive impact forced Zelliolx roughly 2 meters into the air before Kieran jumped and delivered a sudden Heavy sh.

    Bang!

    Zelliolx¡¯s heavy body collided with the tform, creating even more rming cracks that spread at a frightening rate. Once that happened, Kieran moved back and positioned himself so that his back was against arge rock protrusion.

    While Kieran dealt upwards of 19,000 damage with hisbination of Force sh, Savage Break, and Heavy sh, he wasn¡¯t contented. For one, Zelliolx was Boss, so he possessed the ability to recover by default.

    Secondly, aside from Tempest Strikes, those three skills were the only ones in his arsenal that could determine the tide of this battle. Kieran was in for a genuinely intense struggle if they only dealt less than 10% of Zelliolx¡¯s Health when strung together!

    To make matters worse, Kieran estimated that Zelliolx recovered twice that of typical Rare Bosses, given his identity as a Variant. In other words, Kieran was convinced that Zelliolx recovered 1% of his Health every minute.

    Despite its seemingly insignificant amount, it would effectively neutralize one-tenth of Kieran¡¯s leading damage rotation. Given his current circumstances, like the limited skill duration, Kieran understood that it wouldn¡¯t be in his favor to allow Zelliolx to recover.

    Therefore, he tightened his grasp around the Scarlet Steel Greatsword before brandishing it rapidly. The dust was cut apart by his sharp and rapid shes, revealing Zelliolx standing in arge crater with a delighted smile.

    ¡°Great!¡±

    Bang!<sub></sub>

    Zelliolx exploded with a frightening force strong enough to propel him right before Kieran in the blink of an eye. A sense of danger washed over Kieran¡¯s left side, prompting him to dodge with a quick roll.

    Zelliolx¡¯srge serrated chain de ripped halfway through the dense rock before pausing. He squinted with a tinge of annoyance present in his eyes. ¡°Troublesome pest.¡±

    Afterward, Zelliolx added even more pressure on his chain de¡¯s grip, tearing the rock apart with rtive ease. However, this ordeal made Kieran notice something important.

    ¡®Although he is stronger than the Goblin Chieftain I¡¯m familiar with, the rocks still hinder its attack pattern. I was right to test out my deductions,¡¯ Kieran thought with an imperceptible nod.

    He couldn¡¯t let this battle carry on for too long because he was beginning to feel an indescribable ache that didn¡¯te from his in-game character. ¡®Is this having an effect on me in general? What type of ss would have the ability to do that?¡¯ Kieran wondered.

    Sadly, he didn¡¯t have the answers because Hidden sses were of minimal quality. Aside from the legacies of the Mythical Heroes, there were a few sses that were rumored to have inconquerable abilities. Whether or not these rumors were true was unknown to Kieran.

    Even though the game had almost 10 years of history,

 Chapter 73 Heros Sanctuary

    ¡ª-

    The odd glimmer surrounding the chain des didn¡¯t have anything to do with its grading like other drops exined thus far. Instead, the entric glow symbolized its rtion to a quest! In other words, these chain des were a quest item.

    Given that Zelliolx was a Variant and somehow rted to the Orc Tribes, Kieran presumed this weapon should result in a worthwhile quest. Once he picked it up, Kieran was shocked by the prompt he was given.

    ¡´System: Find the Zelliolx¡¯s exiled Elder to receive a quest. The holder of this quest will have decreased reputation with the Orc Tribes of the Wildes.¡µ

    ¡®An exiled elder? Oh? No wonder Zelliolx seemed unusual for a goblin leader. His true origins seem toe from within the Wildes. Still¡­ how can such a character devolve to this low-level state? Unless¡­ it was a predecessor that carried the power, and that power somehow diminished over time,¡¯ Kieran guessed.

    After careful consideration, Kieran decided to stow the chained des in his inventory. It wasn¡¯t like he was seeking goodwill from the Orcs anyhow. If his reputation with them decreased, then so be it. Some enemies would be inevitable on his road to the top.

    Setting aside the matters of the quest item, Kieran picked up the note and skimmed through it. Based on what he gleaned from the letter, it seemed to belong to said Elder, and it expressed remorse, sorrow, and disconste emotions spurred by their professed innocence.

    ¡®Ah, what a tragic story. I feel for you, whoever you are. Betrayal and treachery are something I¡¯m all too familiar with. Should I collect the clues, I¡¯ll be sure to find you and ept your quest,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Finally, he picked up the vial of blood that dropped from Zelliolx. Despite the unusual color of Goblin and Orc blood, the blood inside the vial was surprisingly a ravishing crimson color, free from any noticeable impurities. It seemed the title ¡°Refined¡± wasn¡¯t just for show.

    ¡¸ Refined Blood Essence (Quest Item)<sub>-.</sub>

    Item Rank: Unique

    Item Grade: Superior (79)

    Description: The rich condensed essence of a boss monster. It can be used in multiple ways, but alchemy and forging are the mostmon. Potions or elixirs concocted from this particr essence will showcase increased vtility but reward generous ability increases in exchange. ¡¹

    Kieran¡¯s eyes widened as he read through the description. Superior! This was the material rank needed to produce equipment of the Unique-Grade or concoct Unique-Grade consumables.

    At this point in the game, the number of people who hade across such a valuable resource was undoubtedly less than ten. Sadly, in Kieran¡¯s case, it was strictly a quest item. He wouldn¡¯t be able to take advantage of the item to gain a unique edge, nor did he understand how to extract Blood Essence since it differed from simple blood.

    Blood Essence carried its host¡¯s inherent properties, which required a particr retrieval tactic.

    Once he stowed the vial of Refined Blood Essence, a bout of powerlessness washed over Kieran. The defenseless aftereffects of the Ancient Crimson Aegis surfaced but more than that, Kieran¡¯s vitality was utterly exhausted. It would take some time for him to recover to a state suitable for battle.

    ¡®I wonder at what level Agrianos intended for me to use this technique? It¡¯s not something I can bring out often, especially since it seems to be absorbing something important. I can¡¯t afford to interfere with this ss¡¯s progression by making idiotic moves. Aiming high is preferred, but if I don¡¯t do it intelligently, then I¡¯d be fucking myself over,¡¯ Kieran thought while slowly rubbing his chin in thought.

    If not for the Tempest Strikes and the Ancient Crimson Aegis, emerging victorious would have been impossible. This fact made Kieran frown slightly. He was by no meanscent, but the sensation of prevalent weakness wasn¡¯t too pleasing.<sub></sub>

    However, thepleted quest sitting in his quest log gave Kieran some sce. As per Scar¡¯s instructions, Kieran bit his finger and dripped a few droplets of blood upon the insignia hidden on the back of his palm.

    A burst of crimson light shed, turning into an orb of sanguine energy as some information flowed into Kieran¡¯s mind.

    ¡´System: Activation of the ?Bloody Hero¡¯s Symbol? will transport you to the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary. Do you wish to continue? [ Yes? | No? ]¡µ

    ¡°Yes,¡± Kieran answered.

    As a result, the sanguine orb filled with rigid and rippling energy bombarded the space before Kieran, forming a crimson doorway simr to the one Scar used to disappear from within Gena Vige. The only difference was the one produced by this symbol seemed more stable.

    After all, it was a symbol created by an incredibly skilled individual. Scar wasn¡¯t its creator; he was simply the holder it was tailored for. As long as an individual fulfilled the requirements to activate the symbol, such as the holder¡¯s recognition, it could be utilized to travel to a ce everyday adventurers could only dream of visiting.

    Once Kieran stepped inside the portal, it closed shortly thereafter.

    Kieran felt as if some inexplicable force was pulling his body after stepping through the portal¡¯s threshold. By the time the feeling subsided, Kieran was ejected from the portal¡¯s other side.

    Surprisingly, what he fell upon wasn¡¯t hard at all. Instead, it was lush greenery graced by a pleasant scent and faint dew.

    ¡´System: You have entered the ?Hero¡¯s Sanctuary?!¡µ

    ¡´System: As the first yer to enter the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary, you have been rewarded 200 World Fame.¡µ

    ¡´System: Your World Fame has reached the first minor milestone. In light of these aplishments, you will be held in the same regard as Knights in all human civilizations.¡µ

    ¡®Oh? I¡¯ve amassed enough World Fame already?¡¯ Kieran thought in slight astonishment.

    While it wasn¡¯t challenging to gather World Fame, it was somewhat demanding to aplish it with quests alone. Some didn¡¯t even reward fame. For one to receive World Fame, they¡¯d need toplete a quest of great significance. In other words, the main quests.

    The quest¡¯s ranking wasn¡¯t entirely important since the rewarded fame relied upon two factors: the issuer¡¯s world standing and how vital the quest¡¯spletion was for the fate of Xenith. The more severe the consequences, the greater the reward.

    In Kieran¡¯s case, most of his World Fame came from being the first to visit ces and epting quests from Scar, who also doubled as a world-renowned figure. As for the standard Kieran had reached, it was the 3rd essible reputation level, right above Commoner and Citizen.

    Shortly after recovering from his fall, Kieran stood up and shifted his gaze throughout his surrounding. Buildings resembling small citadels were scattered throughout the surroundings as far as he could see. What¡¯s more, he noticed clouds along the lower horizon.

    Generally, clouds were found up above a city, not below it, which weed the question¨Dwhere was this sanctuary located?

    Simply put, Kieran was currently atop a floating entity. A sort of treasured oasis for adventurers who transcended the normal scope of the adventurer¡¯s guild.

    Kieran barely managed to take a few steps along the polished marble-like stone walkway before two long and exquisitely-made spears intersected, barring Kieran¡¯s entry.

    Two guards dressed in shimmering silver armor stood before Kieran with stoic expressions. There wasn¡¯t a flicker of emotion other than their steadfast devotion to their duties.

    ¡°Why is an Unawakened up here? Better yet, how exactly did you manage to make it to the humble abode of the Heroes?¡± the first guard questioned. Aside from asking this question, they didn¡¯t move a single other muscle. It was as if they had remarkable control over their bodies to the point they didn¡¯t so much as twitch!

    ¡°I¡¯vee at the behest of the Bloody Hero,¡± Kieran answered in a tone that was neither servile nor unfriendly. It was as if he mimicked their stoic way of speaking.

    ¡°The Bloody Hero?¡± the guard on the right muttered.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ it could be true. After all, he had recently returned to the sanctuary. However¡­ he didn¡¯t leave any instructions regarding a guest. It¡¯d take a while f-¡­¡±

    ¡°Let him in; he¡¯s with me,¡± a loud and deep voice echoed throughout the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary. Despite how disruptive such an act could be, the bustling streets of the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary remained unaffected, as if they were ustomed to this type of outburst.

    As per the voice¡¯s instructions, the two guards retracted their weapons and stepped aside in an orderly manner. ¡°Seeing as you are an Unawakened, I presume you¡¯re attempting to be a sessor to a Hero¡¯s Legacy. Well¡­ best of luck to you.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, best of luck to you, young one,¡± the second guard added.

    Once Kieran crossed through the sanctuary¡¯s pristine gates, the symbol on the back of his hand pulsated and turned into a beacon that guided him toward Scar¡¯s location. As it so happens, the site turned out to be one of the nine grandest buildings inside the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary.

    Naturally, seven of those buildings belonged to the seven Mythical Heroes. The final two held a special significance that equaled or even surpassed the importance of a singr Mythical Hero.

    Soon enough, Kieran came across Scar, who seemed to be unusually troubled. He paced around a spacious room fitted with the most luxurious furnishings one could ask for while grumbling incoherently.

    ¡°Damned woman! She makes no sense¨Dzero sense. Absolutely no sense! Why can¡¯t she honor my favor?! Bah¡­ damned minx,¡± Scar cursed while starting to gnash his teeth.

    After watching this disy, Kieran could only clear his throat to announce his arrival.

    Scar immediately snapped his head towards Kieran. His frustration disappeared in the blink of an eye as he perused Kieran¡¯s presence with an analytical gaze. A pleased smilepletely contrasting his former expression appeared.

    ¡°You¡¯vepleted my task!¡±

    ¡°Correct. I haven¡¯t let you down. But err, what was that about a woman? Are you having woman troubles? Tsk tsk, to think someone of your renown would be gued with an otherwise easy-to-solve issue,¡± Kieran teased.

    ¡°Wait a minute, twerp. I didn¡¯t ask for your input. Secondly, you speak without knowing the topic. Your mind is simple and thus can¡¯tprehend the crux of my woes.¡±

    ¡°Sheesh, calling the one whopleted your quest a dummy. Such a low blow,¡± Kieran said while feigning a sigh.

    ¡°Yeah, yeah! Speaking of which, now that you¡¯re here, you can trulyplete the quest,¡± Scar grinned cryptically.

    ¡´System: You havepleted the Hidden ss Promotion Quest ?True Berserker¡¯s Emergence I?!¡µ

 Chapter 74 True Berserkers Emergence II

    ¡ª-

    ¡´System: You havepleted the Hidden ss Promotion Quest ?True Berserker¡¯s Emergence I?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 5 gold.¡µ

    ¡´System: 200,000 Experience has been added to your umted Experience Pool.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received a ?Rare Grade Treasure Chest?.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received the continuation quest ?True Berserker¡¯s Emergence ¢ò?!¡µ

    ¡°Since you seem to know women so well and are daring enough toment on my business, why don¡¯t we have youplete the mission alone. Surely you¡¯ll be able to handle what your mouth has sown for you, right?¡± Scarmented with a smug smirk on his face.

    Initially, Scar intended to revisit the notion of requesting assistance from one of his closerades. However, Kieran¡¯s whimsicalment led to a slight change in the quest objectives. Rather than perform them alongside Scar for the highest chance ofpletion, Kieran¡¯s wordspelled Scar to test whether or not he waspetent enough to aplish the assignment on his own.

    ¡°Uh, alone? What exactly am I in store for?¡± Kieran muttered. Although he asked this question, the quest details more or less gave away whaty in wait for him. By looking at the quest information, this would definitely be thest part of the quest.

    ¡®Thank god it¡¯s only a two-parter,¡¯ Kieran thought while breathing an inward sigh of relief. It wasn¡¯t unordinary for a quest to be dragged on for more than three parts. In fact, Kieran had personally experienced the problematic nature of chain quests. At any rate, those quests were usually vital to an area with an ending that couldn¡¯t honestly be called a conclusion.

    It simply led to a much more critical situation!

    ¡¸ True Berserker¡¯s Emergence ¢ò (Hidden, ss Promotion)

    Quest Rank: SSS<sub>-.</sub>

    Rmended Party Size: N/A

    Rmended Party Level: 20

    Objectives: The path of the True Berserker is neither fulfilling nor is it easy. To flourish, one must be reborn under the torment of chaos. However, coveting that chaos often warrants outside help as not all problems can be solved alone. Experience your rebirth amidst the destruction and emerge from the torment of the damned a being of liberated potential. Persist, and a new world awaits the other side.

    ¨C Meet with Isadora. 0/1

    ¨C Convince Isadora to assist in your final steps. 0/1

    ¨C Consume the ?Elixir of Destructive Renewal?. 0/1

    ¨C Perform the baptism of the ?Ancient Volcanic Ichor?. 0/1

    ¨C Persist the ?Elixir of Destructive Renewal? & ?Ancient Volcanic Ichor?bined effects. 0/1

    Rewards:

    ¨C ?True Berserker? ss

    ¨C ess to the ?True Berserker? faculties

    ¨C ?Inheritor of the Berserk Path? [Title]<sub></sub>

    ¨C ?Enduring Warrior? [Title]

    ¨C ?Inheritor¡¯s Inheritance?

    ¨C ess to the ?Aeredale Kingdom? & ?Xesian Empire?

    Failure Penalty:

    ¨C Character Wipe

    ¨C Permanent Loss of the ?True Berserker? ss

    Time Limit: 12 hours

    *Special Notes: A ss rted to one of the Mythical Heroes is not a legacy that allows for needless slip-ups. Do well to always boast the superiority of a True Berserker. ¡¹

    After soaking in the quest details, Kieran took a moment to recall Isadora¡¯s name. If his promotion quest involved this person, they should undoubtedly have some ce in his memory. Any individual rted to Scar carried immense weight in the history and fate of Xenith.

    However, the more he thought about it, the more he felt this name wasn¡¯t significant to him. ¡®Am I dumb? Why am I not remembering anything about Isadora?¡¯ Kieran muttered to himself.

    Even if he didn¡¯t have any noteworthy ss in the past and had never visited the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary, as it was one of the few floating holynds present in Zenith Online, there should have at least been information regarding such a person on the forums.

    s, left with no other choice, Kieran could only turn towards Scar. ¡°And what exactly would you have me do? Don¡¯t be too tortuous now. At least make it something attainable.¡±

    ¡°Is all not attainable with enough devotion and tenacity? Nevertheless, your task is simple. It involves these,¡± Scar said before tightly clenching and then opening his hands. Inside his left palm was a circr bottle with crimson blood that seemed to rumble with obscure ck, gold, and purplish lightning crackles. Moreover, the bright ruby color would oftentimes darken with a shadowy tint.

    Conversely, Scar¡¯s right palm held a cylindrical vial with a milky white powder. Its color sat between a pure white and bright cream tint, and just glimpsing at it gave Kieran the impression of zero impurities and boundless power.

    The sensation of both these items surpassed any material Kieran had across, including his adventurous past. This was a testament to the rarity of the items because Kieran hade across countless Epic and many Legendary materials. This revtion led Kieran to take a few steps forward in astonishment.

    ¡°Are those Mythic materials?¡± Kieran muttered while slowly lifting his gaze to meet Scar. Despite his usualposure, it wasn¡¯t easy to remain unperturbed in the presence of these types of materials.

    ¡°Almost correct. At least one of them is a Mythic material. As for the other, why don¡¯t you inspect them for yourself and see if you can glean its true ranking,¡± Scar said with an expression that disyed faint praise. He was surprised that Kieran could correctly judge one of the items despite how rare they were amongst Xenith¡¯s general popce.

    This was not information a fledgling Adventurer should understand.

    Meanwhile, Kieran¡¯s expression changed considerably once Scar ced the two items on his palm. It was almost as if the items sought to shatter the vials and devour Kieran whole. Fortunately, their containers were not ordinary items.

    ¡®What voracious materials!¡¯ Kieranmented. At the same item, information rted to both items appeared. However, because Kieran didn¡¯t possess the proper inspection ability, the details aside from the relevant quest information werecking. Vastly powerful inspection abilities were required to glean information from Epic and higher items.

    ¡¸ Argexes¡¯ Congealed Blood (Material)

    Item Rank: Mythic (130)

    Item Level: N/A

    Item Usage: One droplet is needed to create the ?Elixir of Destructive Renewal?. Another is required in order to concoct ?Ancient Volcanic Ichor?.

    Description: The blood of a being known only as the Maddened One. A vitalponent required to give birth to a new True Berserker.

    Quantity: 2 drops ¡¹

    ¡¸ Ancient Juggernaut¡¯s Quintessential Marrow (Material)

    Item Rank: Ancient (160)

    Item Level: N/A

    Item Usage: 50 g is required toplete the ?Elixir of Destructive Renewal?. 200 g needed to spur the ?Ancient Volcanic Ichor?.

    Description: The archaic marrow of the Ancient Juggernaut, purified by the Crimson Oblivion mes to produce a wless powdery substance. A keyponent in stabilizing a new True Berserker.

    Quantity: 250 g ¡¹

    ¡®These materials are insane¡­ but I¡¯m more interested in their history. Who or even what the hell is Argexes and who is this Ancient Juggernaut? If only I had the means to uncover this information,¡¯ Kieran thought with a mixed expression. On the one hand, he was delighted by these materials, but on the other hand, he felt the origins of these items held unmentioned importance.

    Finally, setting aside his slight frustrations, Kieran looked back at Scar. ¡°The other one is an Ancient material. Do you know where theye from?¡±

    ¡°Their origins?¡± Scar repeated with a cryptic smile. ¡°Be strong enough and then take that question to Lord Agrianos. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be willing to reveal the more important information.¡±

    ¡°Tch,¡± Kieran clicked his tongue in annoyance. Although he doubted Scar would tell him about it, it didn¡¯t hurt to ask.

    ¡°Anyway, what you need to focus on now is getting Isadora toplete your elixir of change. She can be quite the uh¡­ difficulty to manage.¡±

    ¡°Who exactly is Isadora?¡± Kieran asked.

    ¡°Her identity is odd. She¡¯s not exactly one of the Mythical Heroes, but her status among our circle is close to the top. She¡¯s our exclusive Alchemist who provides matchless potions,¡± Scar answered.

    Once Kieran heard her information, he felt something was odd. ¡®Why wasn¡¯t an Alchemist of that scale mentioned in the past? Could something important have happened by the time the game developed itster stages?¡¯

    An Alchemist capable of creating matchless potions and elixirs was an indispensable asset that warranted indefinite protection at all costs. If that was the case, the fact something or someone virtually erased her from Xenith¡¯s history in the past meant something significant must¡¯ve happened to this precious asset.

    The difficulty of this matter was finding out the event. It wasn¡¯t like Kieran could travel through time at a whim and collect information on events that were undisclosed to the public. Instead, he would have to collect hints and in the best case scenario, develop some kind of rtionship with Isadora.

    Doing so would open up many opportunities for fateful quests.

    ¡°When you say matchless, how matchless are they exactly?¡± Kieran questioned. Sometimes the notion of matchless wasn¡¯t unanimous. There were times when a weaker person¡¯s idea of being matchless paled inparison to someone who had reached an outstanding level of strength.

    ¡°Well, even the most useless ingredients can be manipted by her to draw out their extreme essence and create quasi-Epic potions and elixirs. Additionally, she is said to be in possession of some unique talent and item,¡± Scar answered.

    Kieran fell silent and blinked wordlessly. If Isadora were truly capable of what Scar imed her to be, her worth was countless times greater than he assumed. As a result, Kieran¡¯s first instinct was to seek her out.

    ¡°Is she inside the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary?¡±

    ¡°Of course, she has an entire wing dedicated to her cause. Follow the scent of herbs, fruits, and many other unusual aromas, and you¡¯ll arrive at her abode. But, heed my warning; you will fail miserably if you¡¯re too forceful. Not only is that woman not weak, but she isn¡¯t someone that anyone can take advantage of.

 Chapter 75 The Price of Excellence

    ¡ª-

    If even Scar took the time to warn Kieran, then he knew that Isadora was more dangerous and well connected than the typical Alchemist, especially since she managed to obtain a residence in an area as illustrious as the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary.

    Perhaps it wouldn¡¯t be Isadora that Kieran would have to fear retaliation from but her connections instead.

    After talking for a few moments longer, Kieran ced the two quest items inside his inventory before leaving Scar¡¯s buildings. As instructed, Kieran followed the strong scent of herbs, fruits, spices, and many other aromas.

    Doing so led Kieran beyond a garden that utilized every square inch to cultivate many rare ingredients that would make a yer¡¯s jaw drop once introduced into the yer base. Every ingredient present could act as the foundation in many Rank ¢ô potions. A Rank ¢ô potion would be the equivalent of a cksmith forging Unique-Grade weapons.

    Soon enough, Kieran came across a building much different from the rest. Whereas the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary was filled with pristine ivory buildings that gave it a celestial environment, this building resembled a spacious cottage.

    The aged wood seemed to shine with an uncanny resemnce to ss. Surrounding the building was shrubbery with delicate berries that seemed fragile enough to bust with the faintest of touch. This setting was definitely one belonging to an Alchemist who relied upon nature to fuel their discoveries.

    As Kieran approached the door, he heard the tune of a faint hum on the other side as he raised his hand to knock. ¡®Could she be engaged in potion-making already? Then¡­ if I knock, would I be disrupting her?¡¯<sub>-.</sub>

    Thest thing Kieran wanted to do was intrude upon Isadora¡¯s work and ruin his chances ofpleting the quest before they even started. From what he remembered, Alchemists employed different tactics to keep their focus during the tedious process. In Isadora¡¯s case, it seemed she hummed amongst other things to pass by the time until her products were ready for evaluation.

    Kieran stood before the door for a few minutes until the humming finally stopped. Only after ceasing for more than ten seconds did Kieran muster the courage to knock upon the door. It was neither loud nor soft, but it was sufficient to announce his presence, or at least he thought so.

    A spellbinding voice sounded from the other side of the door just a few seconds after his knock. ¡°Hmm? That¡¯s a depth I¡¯ve never heard before. Judging by how soft the knock was, I presume you aren¡¯t an Awakened Being.¡±

    Upon hearing thisment, Kieran¡¯s expression changed slightly. He began to wonder how this individual could gauge his evolution depth without analyzing him. ¡®Could this be the effect of whatever tool or talent she¡¯s in possession of?¡¯

    While Kieran asked himself these questions, Isadora¡¯s charming voice continued on the other side. ¡°Are you here because of Scar? If so,e in.¡±

    ¡®Oh? I thought Scar was grumpy because he failed; why does it seem like that isn¡¯t the case? I wouldn¡¯t be weed if Scar¡¯s rtionship with thisdy wasn¡¯t amicable,¡¯ Kieran thought while turning the doorknob and opening the door.

    Contrary to what Kieran expected, what weed his sight was an orderly workstation where everything seemed to have a predetermined ce indicated by thebels beneath them. Unlike the typical messy environment of an Alchemist, where their failed concoctions and extract wastage were strewn about, Isadora¡¯s ce could be said to be the home of a neat freak!<sub></sub>

    Once Kieran turned his head slightly to the left, he noticed a lithe figure dressed in loose-fitting white robes simr to a trenchcoat. Their long blonde hair was tied up in a messy bun with what seemed to be a writing utensil stabbed through it to hold it in ce. Isadora¡¯s lc eyes slowly nced in Kieran¡¯s direction while casually studying him.

    One of Isadora¡¯s arms crossed underneath her bust while her other arm softly rubbed against her cheek. ¡°Although I invited you in, I¡¯ll tell you the same thing I told Scar¡ªif you want something from me, you¡¯ll have to provide something of equal value. He should already know that I abide by thew of equivalent exchange.¡±

    ¡°Laws of equivalent exchange,¡± Kieran muttered. This was something he had heard before and not just inside Zenith Online. Thew of equivalent exchange Isadora spoke of, in simple terms, was a version of thews of physics that should govern the world.

    However, the presence of Mana made that simplew obsolete to a certain extent. As a result, Alchemists developed a rule that they could abide by indefinitely¡ªthew of equivalent exchange. It stated that an equal price must be paid for every transaction, whether it involved material items or nature.

    Regarding Scar¡¯s request, Isadora didn¡¯t believe his past help was equivalent to what he was asking. After all, she had experienced Scar¡¯s power on the battlefield firsthand. She was well aware of how destructive and dangerous the power he wielded was. And now, he wished for her to manipte those forces on her own. She was unwilling to take such a drastic risk without insurance that something of equal value would be given.

    Meanwhile, Kieran was at a loss because he didn¡¯t possess anything of value aside from the quest materials!

    ¡°If I may¡­ then what is it that you seek?¡± Kieran questioned. Although he didn¡¯t have anything of value currently, getting his hands on some wasn¡¯t impossible; it was extremely dangerous.

    ¡°I am not certain. But that doesn¡¯t mean it will remain so in the future,¡± Isadora replied while keeping her analytical gaze. She seemed to be studying Kieran at a deeper level because her eyes narrowed continually

 Chapter 76 A Diabolical Rebirth

    ¡ª-

    Isadora¡¯s silence came as a result of a few matters. First, although Kieran promised to repay whatever she used toplete this elixir, her heart clenched at the thought of losing some of her most precious treasures. Like a cksmith treasured metals and their masterpieces, an Alchemist cherished the keyponents to produce their elixirs.

    Second, the elements present inside the current elixir were more potent than Isadora had previously expected. In fact, it surpassed what she witnessed from Scar. Thus, her initial judgment regarding how many of her cherished elixirs would be sacrificed was incorrect.

    ¡®It took me countless years just to procure ten droplets¡­ yet here I am sacrificing almost half of it to help this boy,¡¯ Isadora thought. Although she disyed some regret internally, her face remained neutral. Her hands moved swiftly across the space before her, assisting the newly created barrier.

    The subtle vibrations stopped as the barrier began condensing until the chaotic aura was confined to therge cauldron. As a result, the bloody liquid inside seethed like a pit found in the deepest depths of the Netherworld.

    Once the contents inside the cauldron was stabilized, Isadora then switched her attention to the portion extracted earlier. Steadily, she added the remaining drop of blood and bone powder to a sk that contained the purified Blood Essence.

    To ensure the potion¡¯s stability, she then added a crystalline droplet that exuded a subtle chilling nature as well as unmatched purity. When the brew disyed signs of sess, she released a sigh of relief.

    ¡°As long as your power is alive¡­ I¡¯ll never be able to catch a break,¡± Isadora groaned in frustration. Controlling the diabolical nature of these two elixirs required so many rare solutions that Isadora could only shake her head in regret.

    Kieran grimaced at Isadora¡¯sment. He felt as if Scar had set him up for some ungodly task. After all, he had warned him that Isadora could be quite difficult if irritated. And, by the looks of her expression, it was safe to say that she was suffering from some mild irritation.

    ¡°Come here,¡± Isadora beckoned.

    ¡°Hm?¡± Kieran raised his eyebrow and took a step closer.

    ¡°That¡¯s good enough,¡± Isadora suddenly said before extending her arm. Her soft palm pressed against Kieran¡¯s forehead as she closed her eyes as if sensing something. Because of how much of her items were sacrificed, she needed to judge whether Kieran could aplish the task she wanted to hand to him.

    ¡°Are you aware of something known as a Pure Heart?¡± Isadora asked while slowly retracting her hand.<sub>-.</sub>

    Kieran¡¯s expression became somewhat odd because purity was a multifaceted notion. To be pure meant to be free of contaminants; however, anyone could be ¡°pure¡± in their unique sense.

    ¡°Don¡¯t hurt yourself trying to think of some profound answer,¡± Isadora said with a light giggle. One that made Kieran scratch his cheek with a light cough. It was true that he was looking for an answer that Isadora would approve of. After all, Alchemists tended to travel the path of knowledge as per their experiments and seek the unknown.

    Isadora only giggled for a few seconds before stoppingpletely. ¡°A pure heart is simply one that has chosen a cause and abides by that cause. Neither good nor evil, the heart seeks what it desires. Righteousness is not to be confused with purity. Even the righteous can be corrupt, so that is false purity. True purity is obtained when the heart can no longer be swayed from its original path.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Kieran shook his head. Things like fate and destiny were matters that eluded Kieran¡¯s knowledge. Even if Isadora asked a simple question to understand the state of his heart, he didn¡¯t know.

    ¡°I only ask because I can sense the madness found in the potion in my hand and the solution in that cauldron. It would be a shame if someone with such a strong spirit and mind gained a corrupt heart after consuming that power. Should that happen, you¡¯ll never be able to reach the ce I¡¯d like you to,¡± Isadora muttered. There was a slight worry in her watery eyes as she looked at Kieran.

    Part of her was conflicted because she wanted him to obtain something that not even she could get her hands on since it required the individual to meet with a race that generally loathed humans!

    If Kieran were to be a human that bordered on turning into a tyrant, then the chances of him seeding were zero with no room for changes.

    Rather than answer, Kieran¡¯s gaze shifted to the cauldron filled with the bubbling liquid that gave off a sinister sensation. ¡®Can an item from in the game truly sway one¡¯s decisions? While I know it¡¯s possible to gainbat knowledge from this game due to its special interaction with our mind¡­ is it potent to alter our personalities?¡¯

    Kieran couldn¡¯t confirm or deny his questions because this would be his first time interacting with an Ancient or even Mythic material. However, he also had no intentions of backing down. He hade too far to give up on the quest now.

    Thus, he looked at Isadora and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ll seed, and I¡¯ll remain who I am.¡±

    ¡°If that is true, then I ask that you visit the Eternal Oasis on my behalf,¡± Isadora said with a charming smile. At the same time, a notification appeared before Kieran.

    ¡´System: The contents for the quest ?Isadora¡¯s Repayment? have been decided!¡µ<sub></sub>

    ¡¸ Isadora¡¯s Repayment (Special Quest)

    Quest Rank: SSS

    Rmended Party Size: N/A

    Rmended Party Level: N/A

    Objectives: Asking one of Xenith¡¯s most famed Alchemists to create an elixir for you came at no small price. Not only did she exhaust material to bnce the stability of your essential elixir, but they were exceptionally rare. Therefore, you must honor Isadora¡¯s request to adhere to thews of equivalent exchange. However, the task may prove difficult because of ancient transgressions.

    ¨C Visit the ?Forest of Gardenia?. 0/1

    ¨C Gain entry to the ?Eternal Oasis?. 0/1

    ¨C Collect two ?Heart of Nature?. 0/2

    ¨C Collect droplets from the ?Peripheral Aether Pool?. 0/10

    Rewards:

    ¨C 3x Alchemic Recipes. [10 copies each](Below Rank ¢õ)

    ¨C 100,000 Gold

    ¨C Max Favorability with Isadora.

    ¨C Special slot in the Alchemist¡¯s Circle.

    Failure Penalty:

    ¨C Forbidden from entering Isadora¡¯s Abode.

    ¨C Favorability with Isadora locked at Estranged.

    ¨C Hero¡¯s Sanctuary Reputation -1,000.

    ¨C Merchant Association Reputation -5,000.

    ¨C Alchemist¡¯s Circle Reputation -10,000.

    Time Limit: Until the Trial of Inheritorsmences.

    *Special Notes: Gaining Max Favorability with the Head of the Alchemist¡¯s Circle is an opportunity most could only plead for. ¡¹

    Kieran¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of this quest. ¡®The Forest of Gardenia?! No, even worse¡­ the Eternal Oasis. That would mean I¡¯d have to meet with the Emplenan Few.¡¯

    The Forest of Gardenia was a special ce because it was the home of the Elven Race. However, the Eternal Oasis was even more special because it amodated the royalty of the Elven Race as well as their most vital Elders¡ªthe Emplenan Few. Walking into that ce with brutish thoughts would be suicide since the forest and oasis were linked to the Elves¡¯ lifeblood, empowering them greatly when inside their home.

    ¡°You wish for me to go to the Elves who detest humans?!¡± Kieran eximed with a bitter smile. Even the weakest of the Emplenan Few was as strong as Scar when in his prime. Aside from the leaders of the human race, it¡¯d be challenging to find a match for them.

    Isadora patted his shoulder with a radiant smile when she saw Kieran¡¯s dismay. ¡°If you are truly as spirited as you im, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find a way to prove your trustworthiness to the elves. Just find a way.¡±

    ¡®That damned Scar! Thedy really is a minx. What is this smile while sentencing me to death?¡¯ Kieran cursed in his mind. Despite how riveting Isadora was, her sweet smile was truly dangerous. Like an aphrodisiac that could serve as the most efficacious medicine or the deadliest poison.

    However, one thing Kieran didn¡¯t understand was the quest¡¯s time limit. It wasn¡¯t definitive. Instead, it was based on something known as the Trial of Inheritors, which Kieran knew nothing about.

    Be that as it may, Kieran didn¡¯t ask about it because if it involved the status of an inheritor, then Scar should be familiar with what this was.

    A few short minutester, Kieran finally received the alert he was waiting for.

    ¡°It is ready, but I advise that you exercise caution. But, even in the worst of events, I¡¯ll be here by your side. You can by no means perish until I am repaid, is that clear?¡± Isadora said with a smile that felt almost like a death sentence.

    ¡®Note to self: Alchemists are most likely lunatics,¡¯ Kieran noted.

    ¡°Understood,¡± Kieran nodded. Although Kieran could revive like any other regr yer, one of the penalties was a character wipe, which was treated as a total death for yers. Hence, NPCs viewed it as a yer dying.

    This term had many names, True Death, Full Death, etc.

    Suddenly, Isadora grasped his shoulder just before Kieran could walk to the cauldron full of roiling liquid. ¡°Strip. You aren¡¯t thinking of getting in there fully clothed, are you?¡±

    ¡°Uh..¡± Kieran blinked wordlessly. ¡°Say what now? You want me to strip? And you¡¯re going to be in here with me?¡±

    ¡°Yes. What¡¯s the issue? It¡¯s not as if I¡¯ve never seen the male body before. Besides, I don¡¯t want molten metal or burnt fabrics contaminating my item¡­ Strip!¡± Isadora said in a forceful tone.

    Kieran red at her briefly before grunting and stripping to his bare body while consciously covering his manly parts. Even though he was admittedly inside a game, his body was perfectly replicated, so he felt as if he was being looked at in reality.

    ¡°Mm hmm~¡± Isadora smiled with a slight wink before motioning to her cauldron. ¡°Now swallow this and get in.¡±

    Kieran took the small sk in Isadora¡¯s hand and gulped it before slowly getting in the cauldron. As soon as the liquid reached his stomach, his eyes widened in indescribable pain. It was as if both sides of the potion were reacting to each other and became increasingly vtile.

    ¡°Don¡¯t stop now, silly boy. Plunge yourself into it¡ªhead and all,¡± Isadora shook her head.

    After a decisive grunt, Kieran inhaled deeply and submerged his entire body. The top of the elixir hardened, forming a crystallized blood barrier when he did this. It wasn¡¯t something that allowed retreat.

    Afterward, the potion began to destructively rebirth his body on all fronts¡ªblood, muscle, viscera, bone¡ªit was all tended to. The process was painful and felt like an eternity as Kieran¡¯s fingers dug into his legs while subconsciously adopting a fetal position.

    His veins writhed throughout the process like gruesome snakes.

    While this happened, Isadora¡¯s eyes lit up with an unusual glow, allowing her to peer inside the cauldron. ¡°How cruel of you, Scar. To think he¡¯d have his sessor go through this ungodly pain. I wonder if he was subject to this as well? Anyhow, it seems like he¡¯ll seed since there have been zero mishaps so far.¡±

    Minutes passed, soon turning into an hour before the roiling gradually dissipated. Numerous splits opened on Kieran¡¯s body that ravenously devoured the solution until there was no more. Following this event, Kieran¡¯s body healed instantly, and the barrier atop the cauldron began to crack.

    ¡°Huuu..¡± A deep exhale sounded from within the cauldron.

 Chapter 77 The Birth of a New True Berserker

    ¡ª-

    After a deep exhale, Kieran slowly stood up inside the cauldron. Despite the raging silver me underneath, the way he stood utterly still gave the impression that he could sense no heat from the inside of the cauldron.

    Upon standing up, Kieran looked down at his body and analyzed it thoroughly. What he found left him astonished. Compared to when he went inside, it was as if Kieran had emerged as a whole new person!

    His body gained more muscle mass and definition, and although he felt much heavier as if his body mass had been amplified, it didn¡¯t seem to interfere with his ability to control it. Part of this heaviness originated from the change to his bone structure, while the remainder was due to the rebirth elixir recing his original blood.

    A light blush appeared on Isadora¡¯s cheek as she looked directly at Kieran¡¯s body without averting her gaze. ¡®Is he still the same boy? But, besides that, I guess I know the reason why Scar possesses such a brutish body now. It¡¯s as if they¡¯ve taken on a few demonic traits.¡¯

    Kieran casually lifted his head and met Isadora¡¯s gaze with a slight smile. ¡°I told you I¡¯d seed.¡±

    Afterward, he stepped out of the glorified blood bath and stepped on the floor. Despite his reddened skin that resulted from sitting inside the boiling blood, there was no stain left on the floor from his footprint. Kieran¡¯s body had wholly absorbed all the residual blood.

    ¡°I know what you said, but seeing is believing. It¡¯s hard to take someone at their word if you have no prior trust. But, it seems to be true. I sense nothing different about your disposition. Still, you should be careful. Although there is nothing present now, there is no telling if something could re up at ater date,¡± Isadora said as the blush on her cheeks gradually dissipated.

    However, she couldn¡¯t help but steal some nces at Kieran¡¯s more masculine figure.

    Meanwhile, Kieran nodded while browsing through the ample amount of notifications received after emerging from the blood bath.

    ¡´System: Congrattions, you have sessfully promoted to the Hidden ss ?True Berserker?!¡µ<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡´System: Due to the grade of the ?True Berserker? ss, the Experience Requirement for each level up has risen by 300%.¡µ

    ¡´System: Your Status Screen has changed ording to your current Tier.¡µ

    ¡´System: Due to being the first yer toplete a Hidden ss Promotion, you have received a unique opportunity. [Visit Exclusive Teacher to reveal the special reward.]¡µ

    ©°©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    True Berserker ss Promotion Rewards:

    Health +500

    Strength: +80

    Agility: +80

    Control: +75

    Vitality: +60<sub></sub>

    Endurance: +60

    Intelligence: +35

    Perception: +40

    Constitution: +2

    Unassigned Attribute Points: 70

    Skill Points: 48

    +10 Phys. Attk Power per level.

    ©¸©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    ¡´System: Please visit your Exclusive Teacher to receive your Promotion Quest Rewards.¡µ

    ¡´System: The following skills have been unlearned: Savage Break, Force sh, and Warrior¡¯s Aura. Superior versions have reced these skills.¡µ

    ¡´System: The learned skill ?Tempest Strikes? has evolved into ?Sanguinem Tempest?!¡µ

    ¡´System: All Skill Points spent on unlearned Skills have been returned for further usage! [52 Skill Points.]¡µ

    After sifting through the stream of notifications, Kieran waspelled to visit Scar right away. He wished to unveil this unique opportunity with haste.

    Be that as it may, the heightened experience requirements worried Kieran. Triple the standard rate? That meant following the orthodox growth route wouldn¡¯t be ideal since he required three times the experience of regr sses.

    Additionally, there was no indication whether this requirement came with rted benefits, such as increased power boosts inparison to other sses at the same level.

    Nevertheless, the fact that this ss¡¯s Physical Attack Power grew with every level automatically delighted Kieran. Normally, stats could only grow when attribute points were assigned. Not even some of the more unique sses granted raw stats with every level.

    Instead, those stats needed to be trained proactively through the ss¡¯s proper channels.

    ¡®Ahem, you might want to get dressed now,¡± Isadoramented, breaking Kieran¡¯s unusually focused expression. He nced down at his body before interacting with the interface to equip his clothing.

    While not too far from him, Isadora looked over his body with a watchful gaze. ¡®Although his power seems physical, his Mana capacity has greatly increased. Is that a result of the blood he absorbed? Speaking of which¡­ just what is the origin of this blood that it can produce such a significant change in a human? There¡¯s a ton of untapped potential that resides inside him now.¡¯

    ¡°Let¡¯s just agree to say this has never happened, yeah? Now, about your quest. Is it required to visit the homece of the Elves? Is there no alternative?¡±

    ¡°Of course not! How else would you get to the Eternal Oasis if you don¡¯t visit the Elves? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re considering reneging on our deal. That isn¡¯t ideal because you¡¯ll be barred from the Alchemist Circle and Merchant Association alike,¡± Isadora replied with a darkened expression that somehow turned into a pout.

    Kieran stared at her in shock. He was only asking this to ensure there was no other route, yet Isadora immediately thought to throw her weight around! Low grumbles emitted from Kieran¡¯s throat as the corner of his lip lifted to reveal sharpened canines like that of a wolf!

    In terms of his appearance, Kieran¡¯s current visage gave off a wild sensation. Whereas previously, his hair barely reached his nape and above his eyebrows, it now flowed down his back in a fashion reminiscent of a lion¡¯s mane. It could even be called frilly with how thick it appeared. At the same time, Kieran¡¯s previously abyss ck eyes glimmered with a faint ruby shade that seemed to react to his emotion.

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t my intention, so don¡¯t get too defensive on me now. If I¡¯m going toplete this quest, then I¡¯ll have to find a way to neutralize the elven hostility,¡± Kieran muttered before falling into deep thought.

    Aplishing this task in the near future would be incredibly difficult since there was little to nothing that the elves would want for. They were a race blessed by nature and, as a result, possessed excessively long lifespans. Because of these lifespans, it was challenging to procreate, making their number palepared to other races.

    ¡°Hmph, it may not have been your intention, but that¡¯s how your words and tone came across,¡± Isadora retorted while rolling her eyes. Her gaze fell upon her cauldron for a brief moment as she noticed some damage that needed to be addressed promptly.

    The sinister nature of the Ancient Volcanic Ichor caused some corrosion to her cauldron that hadn¡¯t suffered any loss of durability despite her years of usage.

    After analyzing her cauldron carefully, Isadora twirled a lock of her voluminous hair around her finger while ncing at Kieran. ¡°If you are left with zero other options, you could always find Agatha. She¡¯s acquainted with some of the elven traditions and should be able to educate you about the necessary customs.

    ¡°Agatha?¡± Kieran muttered while tilting his head. The name sounded familiar, but he had doubts about it being the same person in his memory. To be sure, Kieran voiced his question. ¡°Is Agatha you speak of a granny?¡±

    ¡°Heh,¡± Isadora snickered and covered her mouth before letting out a soft snort.

    Kieran¡¯s jaw dropped as he heard the snort! ¡°Hah! You snorted!¡±

    ¡°Shut it,¡± Isadora said with a deadly re. Her rtionship with Agatha was unusual and dated back centuries, so it was reasonable that sheughed heartily when Kieran called her a granny. After all, Kieran wasn¡¯t aware that Agatha¡¯s true identity was in fact far from a ¡°granny.¡±

    ¡°Agatha isn¡¯t a granny. She¡¯s a prominent figure with connections on par with mine. However, she¡¯s a free spirit, and it¡¯s tough to locate her since she¡¯s never in one ce for too long. Your best bet is to visit the branches or headquarters of the Mystic Sanctum.¡±

    ¡°Mm,¡± Kieran nodded while scratching his cheek. He recalled the Mystic Sanctum but the information he possessed wasn¡¯t too great. He only knew that the Mystic Sanctum was a haven for yers seeking to be Enchanters. Furthermore, unlike most peak organizations in Zenith Online, the location of their branches and headquarters was shrouded in mystery.

    ¡°Now that you¡¯vepleted your transformation, I think it¡¯s time you go! I really need to clean up this mess you¡¯ve caused,¡± Isadora eximed while frantically waving her hands. Although she seemed agitated about a giant mess, the mess she referred to wasn¡¯t worth mentioning.

    It was simply a few vials strewn across the floor with a singed smell filling the air.

    Regardless, Kieran didn¡¯t wish to stay too long because there were a few matters that he needed to correct. The first one naturally involved the Scarlet Steel Greatsword. It teetered on the edge of shattering due to Kieran¡¯s battle against Zelliolx. Its durability had fallen to less than 25 points.

    Once Kieran left, Isadora stared at the door with aplex expression. ¡°That¡­ wasn¡¯t so bad.¡± However, Isadora soon shook her head and freed her mind of her unusual thoughts. ¡°Silly girl, just what are you thinking?! You have to devote yourself to your craft!¡±

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, Kieran waltzed through the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary while repeatedly clenching and opening his hand. Although it didn¡¯t seem like his Strength experienced much change on the surface, that was far from the truth. Two points in Constitution made a drastic difference. Just one point was enough for a Basic Existence to transform into an Intermediate one.

    The fact Kieran received two points left him in a condition situated perfectly between an Intermediate and Advanced Being, or Tier 2 existence.

    Eventually, Kieran arrived at Scar¡¯s residence only to hear boisterousughter resonating through the spacious halls.

    ¡°Ahahaha, young twerp! You have seeded!¡±

 Chapter 78 Inheritors Inheritance

    ¡ª-

    Scar¡¯s proud exmation shook the entire room as his booming voice rattled Kieran¡¯s eardrums, causing him to cover his ears. The door leading to the inner area of Scar¡¯s residence was blown open with great force as Scar appeared with an animated expression.

    He patted Kieran¡¯s back hard enough that it echoed throughout the halls. But, unlike when Kieran first took on his test, Kieran¡¯s Health didn¡¯t decrease, and his body seemed somewhat resistant to the impact, which Kieran was pleasantly surprised by.

    ¡®Is this the effect of already having two points in the Hidden Attribute Constitution? If that¡¯s the case, then the true reward of this ss should be some type of monstrous physique if the earliest level gives a superior constitution,¡¯ Kieran thought while giving Scar a pained smile.

    ¡°Oi,e on now, Scar. Ease up there. I¡¯m still a normal human; I¡¯m not at your level yet,¡± Kieran remarked while rubbing his shoulder to ease some of the soreness. Although he was resistant, Scar¡¯s raw power wasn¡¯t something Kieran couldpletely neutralize no matter how powerful the materials used to forge his body was.

    ¡°It¡¯s achievable, though, so don¡¯t sell yourself short, twerp. You¡¯ve officially be my sessor, and I think that¡¯s an event worth celebrating. I can put through hellish evaluations,¡± Scar said with a cheeky grin and a maddened glint in his eyes.

    ¡®Oh dear lord,¡¯ Kieran inwardlymented while faintly shaking his head. Kieran couldn¡¯t imagine what the word hellish entailed by Scar¡¯s standards. Surely it wouldn¡¯t be worse than fighting against a demon with temporary power, right?

    ¡°Fine, fine. Since you¡¯ve aplished everything beautifully¡­ shouldn¡¯t I properly reward you?¡± Scar waved his hand, and a sh of light appeared, summoning a medium-sized chest of surprising weight. The entire floor shook when itnded on the ground despite its initial appearance being only a few centimeters above the surface.

    However, what made Kieran¡¯s eyes widen was the fact he had seen this type of chest once before. The brilliant inscriptions and the resplendent crystals used to forge the chest indicated that it was at least at the Legendary Grade. Kieran felt as if he was experiencing too many shocks.

    But, given that Scar¡¯s status existed amongst the highest echelon of Xenith, it was only fitting that his personal storage was at least this grade.

    A desire to acquire a storage item of this ranking overwhelmed Kieran. Since he possessed a game interface, the presence of that item would only improve the number of finite slots present inside in inventory. As of right now, since all yers possessed the most rudimentary equipment, Kieran¡¯s inventory only amodated 50 slots per individualized tab.

    For convenience, those tabs were separated into Equipment, Consumables, Materials, and Special Items. The Special tab could include all irregr items except those that explicitly announced their inability to be ced inside an average inventory.

    From what Kieran remembered having a personal chest of the Legendary Grade could improve each tab¡¯s space by as much as 2,000 slots! It was a fantastic tool for carrying spoils of war in times of great conflict.

    Once Scar summoned the chest, its lid slowly opened and revealed what seemed to be an entirely different space with how expansive it appeared. Scar closed his eyes and sensed through countless items before casually snapping his fingers.

    A few items appeared from the chest before it vanished altogether. One of the items was a small pouch with an aged exterior and a drawstring made of animal hide. The engorged appearance and subtle metallic noise made Kieran assume it held coins of some sort. The second item was a decent-sized wooden box thatnded perfectly before Kieran¡¯s feet.

    Thest item seemed like a rune stone with obscure writing that exuded pure carnage.<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°These should suffice as your rewards. I can¡¯t spoil you too much, but I must also ensure that you grow properly. So, I¡¯ll be as kind as to supply you with the means to begin setting your foundation.¡±

    ¡´System: You havepleted the Hidden ss Promotion Quest ?True Berserker¡¯s Emergence ¢ò?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received the Title ?Enduring Warrior?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received the Title ?Inheritor of the Berserk Path?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received the ?Blood Summoning Stone?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received the ?Inheritor¡¯s Inheritance?!¡µ

    ¡´System: The following skills have been updated: Crimson Current, Fury Rush, Wild Crash, and Deranged Spirit.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have gained the True Berserker¡¯s innate skill ?Blood Mania?.¡µ

    Even though the quest didn¡¯t reward any Experience Points, Kieran was thoroughly satisfied with what he received. Although there was far too much information for him to digest immediately, he covered the things that needed immediate attention.

    For example, opening the Inheritor¡¯s Inheritance to see what items were contained inside. Since Scar said he would impart what was necessary, it was natural that the inheritance was of utmost importance.

    As Kieran¡¯s hand made contact with the box, a panel appeared before his eyes.

    ©°©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    Inheritor¡¯s Inheritance-

    Crimson Ashrune (Weapon)

    War Deity Council Admission Ticket x1 (Untradeable)<sub></sub>

    Fine Gold Storage Chest (Untradeable)

    55 Unassigned Attribute Points

    50 Skill Points

    10,000 Gold

    ©¸©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    Amongst the items, Kieran¡¯s eyes immediately migrated to the beautifully made greatsword resting inside the box once it opened. Although the weapon was a greatsword, which typically focused on the weight of an attack rather than sharpness, the sharpness of this de was phenomenal!

    The entirely ck exterior wasplemented by a sleek edge that guided one¡¯s eyes to the crimson lines running down the de¡¯s hilt. A ck bandage wrappedfortably around the hilt and ended before a sharp pommel in the shape of an open fang.

    Overall, Kieran fell in love with the weapon at sight. In somewhat of a trance, Kieran waspelled to wield it. But upon trying to pick it up, Kieran felt an intense pain in his wrist.

    ¡´System: The user¡¯s Level and Strength are both insufficient to wield ?Crimson Ashrune?!¡µ

    ¡°Insufficient?!¡± Kieran eximed while perusing the sword¡¯s information to verify the system¡¯s revtion.

    ¡¸ Crimson Ashrune de (Unique)

    Weapon Type: Greatsword

    Item Level: 200

    Phys. Attack Power +810

    Mag. Attack Power +543

    Strength +130, Agility +100, Control +90, Vitality +80

    Effect: 20% chance for blood attacks to deal 50% more damage.

    Effect: Active True Berserker Skills have their effects increased by 20%.

    Effect: True Berserker Active Skills A Rank and below are increased by 1 level.

    Item Ability ?Blood Boom? ¨C Once this ability is activated, all attacks gain the ?Minor Blood Explosions? effect for 60 seconds. The effect increases blood attack damage by 30% and causes ssh damage equal to the user¡¯s highest Attack Power. This ability has a cooldown of 300 seconds.

    Item Ability ?Sacrificial Barrier? ¨C This skill summons a barrier formed from crimson gases that solidifies into a translucent yet crimson barrier. The damage absorbing capabilities of the barrier is equal to 500% of the user¡¯s Health. Once shattered, this ability will go into cooldown for 1 hour. However, the wielder can manipte the shattered pieces to deal 100 % of the user¡¯s Strength as defense-ignoring damage.

    Description: A weapon personally wielded during Scar¡¯s days as a juvenile True Berserker forged by the Great Dwarven cksmith, Grandar. It is one of their early works, but their attaintments in the way of forging are indisputable. This is a de crafted with Nihilitite Ore and Immortal Blood, two properties itsst wielder specifically requested. The de is of immense weight and its innards bloodhungry! Only one of the proper ss can hope to wield it without suffering greatly from the embedded properties.

    Weight: 550 kg

    Durability: 6,000/6,000

    Requirements: ?Blood Mania?, 500 Strength, Level 25 ¡¹

    After reading the weapon¡¯s information, Kieran¡¯s jaw practically dropped to the ground. 550 kg?! That was countless times the weight of the Scarlet Steel Greatsword. In fact, this sword alone weighed more than half a ton. The arm strength required to swing this swordfortably was insane.

    It wasn¡¯t as simple as possessing the Strength to do so. One¡¯s Constitution needed to be strong enough to sustain the continuous usage, or else the wielder¡¯s Stamina would take a hefty toll.

    Although the weapon had a level requirement of 25, Kieran wasn¡¯t that sure that it was aplishable by that level. After all, although his current stats had essentially doubled, they were far from enough.

    ¡¸Name: Aatrox

    Race: Human

    Lv.20 (Experience: 80,000/240,000)

    Item Level: N/A

    ss: True Berserker (Tier 1)

    Title(s): Inheritor of the Berserk Path | Enduring Warrior | Goblin yer

    World Fame: 400 (Knight)

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    [?Stats?]-

    Health: 2,040/2,040 (10.2 HP regen/sec)

    Mana: 750/750 (1.8 MP regen/sec)

    Stamina: 693 (3.5 Stamina regen/sec)

    Phys. Attack: 931

    Mag. Attack: 430

    Phys. Defense: 389

    Mag. Defense: 213

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    [?Attributes?]-

    ?Strength: 245 (152 + 93 + 0)

    ?Intelligence: 100 (55 + 45 + 0)

    ?Agility: 171 (127 + 44 + 0)

    ?Endurance: 134 (80 + 54 + 0)

    ?Control: 167 (105 + 62 + 0)

    ?Vitality: 130 (90 + 40 + 0)

    ?Perception: 125 (85 + 40 + 0)

    [Unassigned Attribute Points: 125]

    [Skill Points: 150]   ¡¹

    To reach the bare minimum Strength, Kieran still required more than double his current value. Even with his current Unassigned Attribute Points, he wouldn¡¯t achieve the minimum necessary to wield the weapon.

    Fortunately, Kieran wasn¡¯t entirely out of luck. There was still the matter of the unique opportunity that he had yet to receive. After talking to Scar, the system finally revealed its rtion.

    In this case, it rted to the massive amounts of Experience Kieran umted. After his fight against Zelliolx and dealing with the countless enemies summoned to the Underground Goblin Stadium, the pool had surpassed a staggering 3.5 million!

    Because Kieran¡¯s requirement had tripled, although the umtion was astonishingly high, Kieran wasn¡¯t sure how many levels it would amount to.

    Nevertheless, that wasn¡¯t the matter that intrigued Kieran. What currently held his attention was rted to the Zero Loss of Potential Trait.

    ¡´System: As the first toplete the promotion to one of the Main Hidden sses, you have

 Chapter 79 A True Beginning

    ¡ª-

    The option Attribute Conversion could be interpreted in a couple of ways. It could perhaps reward the ability to change Kieran¡¯s already allocated Attribute Points into Unassigned Attribute Points, which was next to impossible.

    Aside from some godly tools capable of wiping one¡¯s te clean in terms of the path taken, there were zero natural routes to resetting a character. The game¡¯s setting acted as a second life where there are no do-overs, except for Kieran¡¯s inexplicable case.

    Another possibility was that it could allow Kieran to transpose his attribute points, adding what existed to other categories. However, doing so wouldpletely unbnce a character. A character that strictly focused on one attribute was a character who intended to ruin their future and set themselves up for failure.

    A certain level of bnce was required, and this was true even for healing sses that remained distant from all battle.

    Meanwhile, the Skill Conversion could somewhat be interpreted simrly with some minor differences that weren¡¯t avable to attributes.

    Nevertheless, the system soon revealed the true purpose of the reward option, and it made Kieran deeply consider the choices.

    ¡´System: With the ?Attribute and Skill Conversion?, the user will be able to convert Experience into one of three choices: Unassigned Attribute Points, Skill Points, or Direct Attribute Increase.¡µ

    ¡´System: Something to note, each opportunity transfers at a varying rate. Please consider the choices carefully before making your decision. The system will randomly choose if an answer isn¡¯t given within 60 seconds.¡µ

    The conversion rate was 1 point per 10,000 umted Experience regarding the Unassigned Attribute Points. If selected, Kieran could potentially collect upwards of 350 Unassigned Attribute Points; however, he couldn¡¯t overlook the practicality of the other options.

    Kieran could also obtain Skills Points at a ratio of 1 per 50,000 umted Experience. Although the rate was horrificpared to that of the Unassigned Attribute Points, Kieran knew how difficult it was to gain Skill Points. Furthermore, their importance eclipsed the former with little to no effort.<sub>-.</sub>

    In the end, skills determined the oue of a battle more than raw attributes did. Moreover, it seemed the system favored Attribute Points more since they distribute a decent amount whenpared to the number of Skill Points given per level.

    Considering both options, Kieran turned his attention to thest prospect, which was admittedly the oddest one of them all. The third option wasn¡¯t as straightforward as it seemed. Rather than increase the attribute directly, it gave Kieran a permanent modifier equal to the conversion ratio that Kieran chose.

    While it was a good alternative, Kieran could only choose up to 4 attributes. And every percent the modifier increased tranted into a steep ratio boost.

    ¡®Strength, Agility, Control, and Perception are all indispensable¡­ But obtaining a 10% modifier on one attribute would cost 2 million umted Experience Points, let alone all four. That¡¯s not ideal for this small modifier. But, then again, finding gear to reward modifiers is even more problematic,¡¯ Kieran thought while continuing his deliberation.

    ¡®Is it possible?¡¯ Kieran wondered before lightly tapping on one of the options. Once he did so, the other two options were greyed out, suggesting that only one of the three options could be chosen and not all three.

    The oue made Kieran groan in frustration since his idea to divvy up the Experience and dip his toes in all three choices was a moot option. Each option offered an advantage that he simply couldn¡¯t give up.

    Suddenly, after 30 seconds passed, another notification appeared before Kieran.

    ¡´System: The Experience Conversion can¡¯t exceed 75% of the umted Experience. The remainder will be administered as proper Experience.¡µ

    ¡®75%?¡¯ Kieran parroted in a slight daze. If his limit was 75%, he couldn¡¯t exchange more than 2.7 million Experience Points.

    ¡®If I dump 270 points into Strength, it¡¯d be possible to wield Crimson Ashrune the moment I reach Lv.25. Although it¡¯s not advised to have such a heavy imbnce, I have a decent collection of points already on hand. It might not be perfect, but I can lessen the gap between the other two attributes. As for the Skill Points, I can ignore some of their importance if I focus on the right enemies. Still, that¡¯s a considerablyrge if,¡¯ Kieran thought.<sub></sub>

    After almost a minute of careful consideration, Kieran finally made his decision before the system automatically ruined his chances.

    ¡´System: Are you sure you wish to apply the ?Attribute Point? Conversion? [ Y | N ] ?¡µ

    ¡°Yes,¡± Kieran answered, confirming his answer. His decision was final and could no longer be changed with that response.

    ¡´System: Congrattions: You have received 269 Unassigned Attribute Points!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received the remaining 896,741 Experience Points.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have leveled up. [Lv.20 ¡ú Lv.21]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have leveled up. [Lv.21 ¡ú Lv.22]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have leveled up. [Lv.22 ¡ú Lv.23]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 36 Unassigned Attribute Points and 24 Skill Points.¡µ

    ¡°Oh?¡± Kieran¡¯s eyebrow arched with shock. ording to the level-up message, he received 12 Unassigned Attribute Points and 8 Skill Points per level. It was much better than normal sses that received 8 and 5, respectively.

    Somehow, his earlier rut no longer felt like a rut. ¡®If this is the rate at Tier 1, I can¡¯t wait to see what happens when this ss advances.¡¯

    After setting aside that matter, Kieran next received the Fine Gold Treasure Chest that immediately assimted with his inventory. The result of this merge was every tab increasing by 150 slots. Kieran concluded that this item without a ranking should be on par with Epic Storage items based on the effect. That¡¯s how significant the divide between an Epic and Legendary Item was.

    If one managed to get their hands on a Legendary Item, they would immediately be a force to be reckoned with, or their future growth was set in stone given that they didn¡¯te across any insurmountable obstacles.

    After epting the 10,000 Gold, Kieran turned his attention to the War Deity Council Admission Ticket.

    Scar noticed his curiosity and decided to speak up about it.

    ¡°The Mythical Heroes each have a top power that they are closely affiliated with or hold a high status within. In my case, it happens to be the War Deity Council. I¡¯m sure I don¡¯t need to mention much about their reputation, but they¡¯re amongst the four strongest powers present in Xenith. As my sessor, it¡¯s only right that you state your presence and make a name for yourself. Your title as my sessor and the admission ticket are the keys to doing so. Otherwise, even the weakest branch will throw you out without a second look.¡±

    Kieran nced at Scar and agreed. He had heard rumors of Tier 2 yers attempting to enter the Council in the past only to be thrown out. It waster revealed that having a Tier 3 ss was the bare minimum to qualify for the reservation list to receive an audience with the War Deity Council¡¯s nominal branch.

    However, the ticket in Kieran¡¯s possession waived this requirement. Or at least, it made it so he wouldn¡¯t be rejected. Beyond this, it would be up to Kieran¡¯s capabilities to remain inside the Council. Although Scar was a Mythical Hero, the higher-ups of the Council didn¡¯t fear him. They simply respected him as a colleague.

    Out of curiosity, Kieran nced over the admission ticket.

    ¡¸ War Deity Council Admission Ticket (Special)

    Item Rank: Special

    Item Level: N/A

    Item Usage: Bestows an opportunity for the wielder to prove themselves despite their current condition.

    Description: A pass seldomly handed out by the War Deity Council. Only characters of great prestige can receive these tickets to give their underlings an extraordinary opportunity.

    Note: This item is untradeable and can¡¯t be dropped. ¡¹

    ¡®It¡¯s very vague, but I guess it¡¯s worth something. It¡¯d be better if it were tradeable. That way, I could register it as an item for auction. yers may not know the worth of this item, but I¡¯m sure the denizens of Xenith do,¡¯ Kieran thought while simultaneously stashing the ticket in his inventory.

    Afterward, he looked back at Scar. ¡°Do you reside here most of the time?¡±

    ¡°Nope, not even close. It may be my possession, but I¡¯m usually in the Wildes or off doing my own thing. My title is not as simple as you may think. I¡¯m tasked with safeguarding the lesser peace of Xenith,¡± Scar replied while stretching and yawning.

    His eyeszily shifted to therge bed not too far away. It had been quite some time since he had a good rest, so he was due for one. But not yet, seeing as Kieran¡¯s curiosity was still aze.

    ¡°Lesser peace? What do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°Oh? Remember the event with Lord Agrianos?¡± Scar answered.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Kieran nodded.

    ¡°It something along those lines, except I¡¯m more so responsible for peace between the Wildes and the Kingdoms. I¡¯m not at the level off warding off ancient seals just yet. I¡¯ll need further training for that,¡± Scar answered truthfully. He wasn¡¯t scared to speak about his weaknesses because Scar understood that strength was multifaceted. There was strength in virtue as well.

    ¡®So that¡¯s why all of the events regarding the Wildes were spearheaded by Scar. What does that mean for me, though?¡¯ Kieran wondered. Since Scar was his master, in a sense, Kieran spected whether he would have to take up the same job in the future.

    But, unlike Scar, Kieran didn¡¯t have origins in the Wildes. Ergo, he wouldn¡¯t garner any respect even if he unted his identity. The Wildes wasn¡¯t a ce that honored status; it operated on strength alone.

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough questions, boy. Please go out and explore because I am tired! I¡¯ve given you everything you need. So make sure to visit the council branch in whatever kingdom you choose to go to. It¡¯s important that you do,¡± Scar reminded while pushing Kieran towards the door.

    ¡°Wait! But how the heck do I get back?¡± Kieran eximed just as therge door was closing behind him.

    ¡°That altar-like building in the distance is the teleportation hall. Show the mark on your hand, and they will allow you to use it,¡± Scar¡¯s voice sounded.

    Bang!

    The door closed afterward, leaving Kieran with a nk gaze as he looked toward his destination. Now that all of his initial goals rted to his ss had beenpleted, it was as if Kieran was arriving at his true beginning.

    ¡®It¡¯s finally time to face the real introduction,¡¯ Kieran thought.

 Chapter 80 Teleportation Hall, Aeredale Kingdom

    ¡ª-

    Kieran didn¡¯t take long to reach the Teleportation Hall located inside the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary. It was a building of shocking grandeur as the Teleportation Gate held inside was built from resplendent crystals and sturdy white stones with a chalky exterior that would rub onto one¡¯s hands if touched.

    Kieran waltzed through the Teleportation Hall while ncing around in amazement. Although he hade across many such halls in his time inside Zenith Online, none of thempared to what he witnessed currently. If he had to guess its costs, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if it entered millions, if not tens of millions of gold.

    Eventually, Kieran met with the individual known as the Gatekeeper of Teleportations. As their name implied, they were the gatekeeper of this ce and the sole one at that. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn¡¯t be ideal for a single person to guard such an expansive construct, but this gatekeeper¡¯s conditions were far from ordinary.

    Only a fool would start trouble within their jurisdiction. As Kieran approached, he realized that this particr individual dressed in an embroidered robe that covered their entire face, enveloping it in perpetual darkness, gave off the innate presence that only a powerhouse could muster.

    ¡®What level NPC would this individual be?¡¯ Kieran wondered. Amidst his curiosity, Kieran made sure to move his hand forward. A sh of white light flickered under the dark hood. This light caused the previously concealed insignia to be visible.

    ¡°The Bloody Hero? Very well, have you decided upon your destination? As it is your first use, the fee is waived. Anyter visits will need to be paid for by you or footed by your sponsor. Is that understood?¡± the gatekeeper stated.

    Kieran nodded subtly but couldn¡¯t help but question this gatekeeper¡¯s identity. The tone they used wasn¡¯t that simple. It seemed to carry a pride equal to that of Scar. In that case, could this character be on par with Mythical Heroes, or could they have a background that warranted their confidence?<sub>-.</sub>

    Nevertheless, Kieran wasn¡¯t offended by the gatekeeper¡¯s words. They merely exined the fact of the matter in a stoic tone, and Kieran could respect that.

    ¡°The Aeredale Kingdom,¡± Kieran replied after a brief silence.

    The gatekeeper¡¯s head tilted up slightly, allowing the bright light of the crystals refracting throughout the hall to shine some light on their face. From what Kieran saw, it was a man who appeared no older than him. But, what caught Kieran¡¯s attention was the gatekeeper¡¯s eyes. Despite being wholly white andcking any ocr facilities, they gave off the feeling of being brilliant.

    ¡®Not¡­ human. But what race is that?¡¯ Kieran wondered. Even with his knowledge of the races inhabiting Xenith, he couldn¡¯t piece together the gatekeeper¡¯s origins with a single analysis of his facial features.

    Meanwhile, the gatekeeper slowly closed their eyes. This caused their presence to disappearpletely, or rather it merged with the portal behind them. ¡°Aeredale Kingdom. The lesser power owned by the Xesian Empire? Is that the destination you seek?¡±

    ¡°Correct,¡± Kieran answered. Emerging from a Beginner Vige, Kieran¡¯s next step was to move to a Kingdom. Although the Aeredale Kingdom was a territory inside the Xesian Empire, Kieran couldn¡¯t exactly waltz in the Empire¡¯s Imperial City. Even the most basic ess required the credentials to enter.

    Still, entering a Kingdom was more than enough to allow a Tier 1 yer to growfortably. The number of quests and opportunities present inside any kingdom was hundreds of times greater than in Beginner Viges. Not to mention, many Beginner Viges were linked to one general Empire depending on the region.<sub></sub>

    There were two other empires and many more Kingdoms in Kieran¡¯s case. At the very least, to be a true empire, it needed to annex at least three kingdoms and remain stable in terms of martial and financial stability for at least ten years.

    Once the Empire fulfilled those criteria, it would be recognized as a genuine empire.

    ¡°Very well. The temporal gateway is prepared. Step inside, and you¡¯ll be transported to your destination shortly,¡± the gatekeeper said while also opening their eyes. They then continued after a short pause, ¡°You may feel some difort due to your lesser constitution; just bear with the sensation.¡±

    ¡°That won¡¯t be an issue,¡± Kieran answered while stepping before the Teleportation Gate. He extended his hand and pressed against the portal. It was like cing one¡¯s hand on a jelly-like substance. There was a slight resistance, but Kieran knew this phenomenon was known as Spatial Rebounding.

    After all, Teleportation Gate essentially operated by discing space to a certain extent. At least, that¡¯s how the higher quality one¡¯s worked. Lower quality ones required a beacon on the other side, whereas those like the one Kieran stood before could teleport the individual wherever they desired inside a set destination.

    A faint image of Aeredale¡¯s central city appeared inside the portal. As this image became apparent, Kieran focused his hand on the area right before a highly popted street. It was his destination since it housed all of the crucial infrastructures.

    ¡°Godspeed,¡± the gatekeeper said before suddenly snapping their fingers. The resistance disappeared, allowing Kieran to sink inside effortlessly.

    ¡­

    Inside Aeredale City¡­

    A portal opened in the middle of the bustling street from which Kieran walked out. Numerous buildings that seemed influenced by both modern and historical architectural styles greeted Kieran¡¯s vision along with arge fountain that sprouted crystal clear water.

    Some of the walkways were decorated withrge or small statues of what seemed to be important figures. Some were men, and some were women, but every sculpture was beautifully made.

    After a short moment of marveling at the sight, Kieran averted his gaze and looked toward one of thergest buildings present. The exterior was predominantly constructed from sturdy brown wood save from some stone interspersed throughout the structure.

    ¡®Ah, the Adventurer Guild,¡¯ Kieran thought. Just as he took a step forward, a message indicator lit up in the corner of Kieran¡¯s gaze. However, it wasn¡¯t from the person he expected.

    ¡´System: You have received a message from Bastion!¡µ

    [Bastion: Have you made it to the Aeredale Kingdom yet? We¡¯ve followed your advice and havee here. I didn¡¯t expect so many yers to arrive already. There are rumors that a Lv.20 dungeon has been found already. I¡¯m sure you can guess why I¡¯ve contacted you¡ªare you down to tackle it first?!]

    ¡°People have already collected information on a dungeon? But¡­ only a Lv.20 one? Err, that¡¯s too low. I need too much Experience to focus on a dungeon that¡¯s so close to our level,¡± Kieran muttered.

    As a result, Kieran sent back a message that declined the invitation. Because of this, Bastion immediately sent a request for a video call. Within a few seconds, Bastion¡¯s rtively handsome face appeared. Because he had no helmet, his light brown locks were on full disy.

    ¡°Come on, what do you mean you don¡¯t want to dungeon dive? We¡¯ve been waiting for you for this exact moment. Instead of dungeoning, we¡¯ve been raising our World Fame. I¡¯m not too far off from reaching a Citizen, but god, am I bored,¡± Bastion eximed with a devastated expression.

    Although Kieran understood his plight, he shook his head again. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to go dungeon diving. What I¡¯m saying is that its quality is toocking. As you can see, I¡¯ve already reached Lv.23. There¡¯s no reason for me to run a Lv.20 dungeon. Now, if we happen to find a Lv.25 or higher dungeon, we can talk business.¡±

    Bastion choked for a moment, then looked at Kieran oddly. ¡°Did you just say Lv.23? How did I miss that?! I thought you said you werepleting your ss promotion; how did you surpass me in level?¡±

    ¡°Because it was difficult,¡± Kieran shrugged while avoiding the details. There was no way he¡¯d reveal that he solo¡¯d a Boss and a Rare Variant at that. Although this party had a budding trust, information had an unusual way of spreading like wildfire within Zenith Online.

    ¡°Considering I know nothing about a True Berserker or why its name is so unusual¡­ I¡¯m inclined to believe you. Also, there¡¯s an issue. I¡¯ve heard the rumors. It seems like we won¡¯t have enough people to start the dungeon run. What do you say about that?¡± Bastion muttered while scratching his head with a clueless look.

    ¡°They require ten people, right? We¡¯ll just have to look for two people at that time,¡± Kieran answered while shrugging the issue aside as if it didn¡¯t matter.

    Bastion silently counted on his fingers before staring at Kieran with narrowed eyes. ¡°Dude, can you do math or what?! We have nine people; we only need to look for one!¡±

    ¡°Nope,¡± Kieran shook his head. ¡°I doubt Aspaira is interested in running more dungeons since she¡¯ll have ess to the Alchemist Circle in this city. Therefore, we¡¯ll have to fill her spot.¡±

    ¡°Bah, who the hell wants the fiddle with pills and potions? I¡¯ve seen enough of them in my life,¡± Bastion gru

 Chapter 81 Vital Organizations

    ¡ª-

    After confirming that there was still some time before he needed to log off, Kieran entered the Adventurers¡¯ Guild. Upon entering, Kieran was immediately struck with a wave of nostalgia. Not only were there yers present inside who tried toplete their registration as an official adventurer, but there were also NPCs lounging around the ample sitting booths and benches.

    Someughed and drank amongst theirrades while others stood at receptionist desks, preparing to ept new assignments. After all, the Adventurers¡¯ Guild not only paid a sry to their hired adventurers, but they also paid and increased adventurer ranks based onmission.

    Thus, the fastest way for an NPC Adventurer to climb through the ranks in the guild was topletemissions. Of course, some people were satisfied with their current position and only epted enough missions to maintain their current grades.

    If they went too long withoutpleting a mandatory mission, the adventurer would be immediately demoted and be required to pay a small fee.

    Kieran patiently stood in a line that moved at a moderate pace thanks to the multiple desks avable. After roughly ten minutes of waiting, Kieran reached the desk avable at the time. His receptionist was female with a petite frame. She had wide, adorable eyesplimented by tiny freckles and pinkish hair as she looked up at Kieran.

    She flinched briefly before clearing her throat. ¡°How may I help you? Are you registering or applying for amission?¡±

    Before answering, Kieran was first taken aback by the youngdy¡¯s response. ¡°Are you new?¡±

    ¡°H-how did you know?¡± thedy answered while stuttering nervously. Kieran briefly nced down and read the namete clipped over her chest.

    ¡°Sammy, is it? Well, you flinched, and I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s because of my appearance. But, if you were a seasoned receptionist, then you¡¯d be used to the appearance of adventurers since they tend to be on the rougher side. Heh, but I¡¯m notining,¡± Kieran chuckled.<sub>-.</sub>

    He found this girl to be amusing. While he had never experienced it personally, something was unnerving about starting a new career that usually made a person giddy with excitement andden with anxiousness all at the same time.

    ¡°Aw shucks. Please don¡¯t mention this to the managers! I promise to get you situated as quickly as possible,¡± Sammy eximed while frightened by the idea Kieran might voice his dissatisfaction to her higher-ups.

    ¡°No worries, just carry on,¡± Kieran smiled amicably.

    Afterward, Sammy pulled out a slip and steadily collected Kieran¡¯s information, such as his name, ss, and tier. She would thenpile the data, and he would be given the Trainee status. However, Kieran didn¡¯t want thatplimentary status. He aimed above and beyond.

    Therefore, before Sammy could finalize his registration, Kieran asked a question that made her pause her stamping motion. ¡°Is it possible to register as a Gold Adventurer?¡±

    ¡°Gold Adventurer? Um, you¡¯d be skipping over Bronze and Silver, though. I¡¯m not sure if that is allowed, nor do I have the authority to authenticate your request, sir,¡± Sammy said while smiling helplessly. She truly wished to help, but it was beyond her.

    The Adventurers¡¯ Guild¡¯s procedure was irond and required merits to ascend the rank hierarchy. From the lowest, there was Trainee followed by Bronze, Silver, Gold, tinum, Diamond, Epic, etc. He couldn¡¯t just ask for a specific rank and receive it.

    ¡°Well, can you do me a favor and bring someone who can authenticate the request? I promise I have the credentials to back this request.¡± As he spoke, Kieran retrieved the Blood Summoning Stone and ced it on the desk before him. The stone itself didn¡¯t seem all that impressive; however, the crimson emblem engraved upon the stone made Sammy¡¯s eyes rattled.

    All members of the Adventurers¡¯ Guild were briefed on honorary, exemry and customary emblems. And the one engraved on Kieran¡¯s stone closely matched one of the exemry ones! Sammy immediately scampered to her feet. ¡°W-wait here; I will bring someone that can help you.¡±<sub></sub>

    Sammy disappeared into the doorway behind her and knocked on one of the sixrge doors present in a secluded hallway. Rattling sounded on the other side of the door before finally opening to receive a stalwart figure who towered over Sammy¡¯s tiny figure.

    ¡°What is it, Sammy? Are you overwhelmed already?¡± the person asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s not it, Vice-Guild Leader Hugo. I came for another reason. A neer haspleted their initial registry, but they are requesting to be a Gold Rank Adventurer,¡± Sammy exined.

    Hugo, the man with short ck hair and a scar down the right side of his face, crossed his arms with a tinge of amusement present in his eyes. ¡°And? Did you reject his offer?¡±

    ¡°Initially, yes! But, he bears one of the exemry emblems. That¡¯s why I came to get you. What do I do?¡± Sammy asked in a tone that resembled a whimper.

    Halfway through her question, Hugo stopped listening altogether as his eyes widened. ¡®Exemry emblem!? Is he rted to one of our Heroes? If that¡¯s the case, I should at least hear out his request.¡¯

    On a certain level, the Adventurers¡¯ Guild could be viewed as a subsidiary of the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary. The only difference was the capacity of their higher-ups. The higher-ups of the Adventurers¡¯ Guild were strong characters who didn¡¯t qualify for the role of a Hero. Regardless, they held a lofty status since the Adventurers¡¯ Guild doubled as a world power.

    As long as an adventurer with remarkable aptitude in the proper categories disyed the means to be a Hero, then they held a chance at visiting the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary. However, obtaining that opportunity was incredibly difficult.

    Since the creation of the Adventurers¡¯ Guild, the number of adventurers who went on to be Heroes numbered less than 100. This low number was a testament to the action¡¯s difficulty because the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary and Adventurers¡¯ Guild¡¯s history spanned more than a few hundred millennia.

    ¡°Come with me, girl, so you can point me in the correct direction,¡± Hugo directed without sparing the matter another thought. There was no need to reconsider. Any affair rted to a potential Hero warranted the utmost respect.

    ¡­

    Not even a few momentster, Hugo appeared from within the doorway. His appearance caused murmurs because he rarely appeared on this floor after bing a Vice-Guild leader. Instead, the Vice-Guild Leaders usually convened on the second floor of the enormous edifice.

    After a few steps, Hugo arrived before Kieran and studied his appearance. Afterward, his eyes dropped to the stone on the counter. Even Hugo¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡®That¡¯s not an exemry emblem! It¡¯s a fabled one! That would mean¡­¡¯

    ¡°What¡¯s your rtion to the Bloody Hero since you openly carry their personal item?¡± Hugo questioned.

    ¡°More or less, I¡¯m their inheritor,¡± Kieran replied.

    This answer made Hugo smile. ¡®Inheritor? How long has it been since those fabled characters epted sessors? Too long. But, why now?¡¯

    ¡°Although your background is enough to bend the rules, it wouldn¡¯t be exactly fair to bend them too greatly. Then again, life isn¡¯t fair. Some struggle while others get by effortlessly. With that being said, I can personally reward the rank you ask if youplete a single task of matching difficulty. Fair?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fair,¡± Kieran agreed. The current scenario was much better than the alternative. It reduced the number of assignments required from many to one.

    ¡°What¡¯s the assignment?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s no small task because it involves a distant issue. We¡¯ve have received several reports of many harvesters and miners unable to make a living due to the rampant roaming of violent ogres. I¡¯d like for you to deal with them and their source. If youplete this task, we¡¯ll dly honor your request.¡±

    ¡´System: You have epted the Special Quest ?Adventurer¡¯s Guild Gold Task?!¡µ

    ¡®The Barren Mountain Range? If these ogres are registered as Goblin-type monsters, then I suppose I have the means to clear this quest easily,¡¯ Kieran thought before realizing Hugo¡¯s extended hand. Kieran sped hands with a firm handshake before letting go.

    Afterward, Kieran left the building, leaving Sammy a bit confused. ¡°Do you¡­ think he will seed Vice-Leader Hugo?¡±

    ¡°Eh, probably. That kid¡¯s handshake is rather sturdy, so he should be a grade above his peers. But, as far as aplishing it alone, the answer is no. I believe the source of the issue is a dungeon, and those generally require a team to subjugate. By the way, what is that boy¡¯s name?¡± Hugo asked.

    ¡°Aatrox,¡± Sammy said.

    A few momentster, Hugo patted Sammy¡¯s shoulder before taking his leave. ¡°Aatrox, huh? Good. Anyhow, you may continue; you¡¯re doing very well.¡±

    Hugo¡¯sment made Sammy beam as she immediately took the next person waiting to register.

    Meanwhile, Kieran didn¡¯t focus on the quest he epted because of his limited time. Instead, he headed towards the Merchant Association since it yed a pivotal role in a yer¡¯s ability to generate funds.

    The atmosphere inside the Merchant Association differed significantly from the Adventurers¡¯ Guild. It was aposed environment with an overly transactional atmosphere. Unless they were tending to customers or guests, the association¡¯s employees rarely mingled with the audience.

    Refreshments could be acquired from the respective areas, but people came and went after having their items appraised for the most part.

    Unlike the rest, which required service from the Merchant Association, Kieran only wanted to open up UCETS. Provided that the yer fulfilled all of the necessities, they could activate a system simr to how Kieran initialized the streaming function.

    ¡´System: You have fulfilled the qualifications to initiate the ?Universal Currency Exchange Trading System? digital link! Do you wish tounch the protocols? [ Y | N ]?¡µ

    Needless to say, Kieran continued with his actions. As a result, a notification spread throughout the entire yer base despite their current location. Whether they inhabited the North, South, West, or East Continent, they all received the same message.

    ©°©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    Zenith Online World Announcement-

    Due to a yer¡¯s actions, the Universal Currency Exchange Trading System that allows the inclusion of real-world currency has gone online. Further information will be sent to your individual mailboxes.

    ©¸©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 82 Reunion and Planning

    ¡ª-

    The Universal Currency Exchange Trading System proved to be an indispensable tool in Kieran¡¯s past. Although it had many limitations, it was a practical system that provided quality of life benefits. For example, if one was inside a leveling area without the means to reach an Auction House, the items on hand could be registered on the Exchange System¡¯s personalized Auction House.

    However, although it was a separate entity, the auction was subject to the same fees that the Merchant Association¡¯s Auction House imposed.

    When the public digested the information, the response threw many cities into an uproar.

    ¡°There it goes! There goes the illustrious pay-to-win option. It wouldn¡¯t be a true MMORPG without it. God, I just love the inte. Want me to open my wallet? Sureee, but there better be a damn good option,¡± one of the yers currently inside the Merchant Association eximed.

    Kieran looked in their direction with a faint smile because he wasn¡¯t wrong on a certain level. However, this pay-to-win feature wasn¡¯t designed to amodate some external money-making entity. Instead, the pay-to-win option was restricted to the gamingmunity.

    While the Universal Currency Exchange Trading System allowed yers to buy Copper, Silver, and Gold, it could onlye from other yers that registered it on the tform. yers couldn¡¯t buy gold exclusively from organizations of Zenith Online as there was no stock, nor did denizens of the world have ess to this system given to yers.

    Hence, unless yers created a cirction of in-game currency, the supply and demand could either be nonexistent or thrive. Moreover, in those situations, the price of currency would fluctuate greatly.

    ¡®As of right now, it¡¯s impossible for even the strongest guilds to have a firm financial footing inside Zenith Online. Not only is it too new, but gold farming is unoptimized,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Although monsters dropped a decent amount of Copper and higher rarity ones dropped Silver, repairing one¡¯s gear cost a significant amount of money; hence, why Kieran decided against repairing his earlier gear. Once a yer signed up as a gold farmer who focused on ying monsters and harvesting anything valuable, their equipment would need repairing often.<sub>-.</sub>

    And, unless effective Forgers were cultivated, this would have to be done through outsourced organizations at a high cost. Thus, the profit-loss margin was tiny at best right now.

    But, Kieran wasn¡¯t met with the problem of low funds. In his grasp rested almost 10,100 Gold. And, since there was no set price for any currency right now, Kieran was in the perfect position to manipte the market¡¯s inception.

    However, manipting the market¡¯s inception would require items of incredible allure. Otherwise, it would be a pointless endeavor with the public losing interest almost instantly.

    ¡®Trying to target guilds right now wouldn¡¯t be my best course of action because they are too far from establishing headquarters and gaining the credentials to officiate their existence. Instead, I somehow need to catch the attention of wealthy people who attempted to start Gradeless Teams. The problem with that is¡­ how the hell am I supposed to remember all those names since they were essentially unknown by the timerge guilds swallowed them up?!¡¯

    Kieran rested against a counter in the corner while thinking about the items in his possession. In terms of value, only the Medallion of Growth, the shield Ezgal dropped, the Scarlet Steel Greatsword in need of repair, and the two Rare Grade Treasure Chest in his possession were worth mentioning.

    But, Kieran knew it was foolish to sell Treasure Chest because not only were they difficult to obtain, but they could reward an assortment of items, including those that could only be obtained through special means. Of course, the likelihood of that happening was extremely slim to the point it was almost nonexistent.

    Nevertheless, to test the waters, Kieran ced 100 Gold inside the UCETS at a unit price of $1,200 ED. After going through a global crisis, the world decided to unite the global economy under one currency known as the Earthly Dor, or ED for short.

    Because of this global consolidation, the view of country wealth changed. It shifted from relying upon natural resources, richnds, and ideal territories to one single fact: how much ED has the country generated, reserved, and trades, as well as how much of that is circting throughout their infrastructure at all times.

    Once Kieran finished that, he looked to exit the Merchant Association with the atmosphere in a somewhat riled state, mainly because several people were still browsing through the Universal Currency Exchange Trading System information.<sub></sub>

    ¡°Damn! Is this the same Aatrox that started the stream? Holy crap, he appears everywhere! But, the greater question is, what the heck did this guy do that he has amassed 100 Gold in the few days the game has been online? The guy robbed a virtual bank?¡±

    ¡°So, you¡¯re on the same page as me, and you think he is some type of criminal too? I think it¡¯s criminal to register 1 Gold for over $1,000!¡± another bystandermented.

    While almost out of the door, Kieran heard his name and smirked lightly. His current appearance wouldn¡¯t be associated with what he previously showed on stream. Now, he appeared like a lion in human form.

    Kieran didn¡¯t linger for too long before moving towards Aeredale City¡¯s more residential area, the meeting ce that he told the others about. Not too far from the meeting destination, Kieran happened to see Aspaira passing by briskly with many items in her hands.

    ¡®Does she not know about the inventory or something? Why is she personally carrying a bundle of things?¡¯ Kieran wondered. Because of his curiosity, he called out to Aspaira, which caused her to freeze.

    ¡°Eh? Who?¡± Aspaira looked around cluelessly. Although she saw Kieran, she wasn¡¯t sure if this partially unfamiliar face was the one who called out to her. After all, other yers couldn¡¯t see fellow in-game names unless the yer was in public mode.

    Naturally, because of the team¡¯s current circumstances regarding the Shadow Cartel and Sunset Triad¡¯s potential retaliation, Aspaira kept her game identity secure.

    ¡°Right here,¡± Kieran said, causing Aspaira¡¯s jaw to drop in exasperation. The icon atop Kieran¡¯s head appeared differently because he was on Aspaira¡¯s friend list. Once she realized this fact, Aspaira could hold back her incredulity.

    ¡°A-¡­ Aatrox?¡± Aspaira muttered cautiously. Part of her felt her eyes were ying tricks on her. ¡®Do I need my prescription in-game as well? What the heck¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, are you meeting with us? Or are you going to the Alchemist Circle? Either way, why are you carrying so many things?¡±

    ¡°Ah! I¡¯ve been running back and forth to the Merchant Association to purchase inferior herbs, but my inventory¡¯s full. They should really do something about the super limited space they¡¯ve given us,¡± Aspairained.

    ¡°We¡¯ll have to solve that ourselves. But, if that¡¯s the case, I suggest you visit the banks owned by the Merchant Association and rent storage,¡± Kieran suggested. This was the alternative to getting their hands on a storage chest.

    ¡°No, no, no, it¡¯s so expensive. I don¡¯t have the money for that. I¡¯ll just do this for the time being,¡± Aspaira immediately shook her head. Before Kieran could think to offer, she added: ¡°Also, don¡¯t even think about offering more money. You¡¯ve helped enough. If I seed in bing an Alchemist, I¡¯ll be able to help myself and the others.¡±

    ¡®Oh?¡¯ Kieran¡¯s eyebrows rose faintly. ¡®She¡¯s thinking about helping the others? Meaning she thinks of us as a team already? Hmm, if that¡¯s the case.¡¯

    ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll wish you luck, and if you seed, your future may be brighter than you know.¡±

    After saying this, Kieran waved goodbye and entered one of the nearby inns. Compared to the inn he visited in Gena Vige, this one was no different from some 4-star hotels in real life.

    Eventually, Kieran saw the others gathered in a remote corner of the inn and sat with them. Like Aspaira, the team¡¯s initial response to Kieran¡¯s change was stupefaction, but he didn¡¯t mind.

    ¡°So, how goes the progress of increasing your World Fame?¡± Kieran asked.

    ¡°Wait¡­ will no one mention the elephant in the room? Why do you look like that?¡± Altair eximed while pping his hands on the table. Because he had officially be an Assassin, he was dressed in concealing clothing with a lot of loose fabric, allowing for hidden weapons to be concealed easily.

    ¡°ss change,¡± Kieran sinctly answered. ¡°So?¡±

    ¡°Citizen,¡± Alice answered calmly while staring at Kieran in silence. She sensed something dangerous about him but couldn¡¯t put her finger on it for some reason.

    ¡°Pretty much almost maxed out Citizen. I¡¯m at 240 World Fame,¡± Altair shrugged.

    ¡°Ditto. As I told you,¡± Bastion answered.

    Going around the table, Cyr, Cygnus, Sithik, and Sera virtually gave the same answer, and that was having recently reached Citizen.

    ¡°That¡¯ll do for now. But we need to keep in mind that we¡¯ve offended two third-ss powers. We¡¯ll need to be cautious since we aren¡¯t certain where they¡¯ll centralize. It could be here, or it could be another kingdom or empire altogether.¡±

    ¡°Mmn, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if they somehow tailed us. So I think it¡¯d be safe to say they¡¯ll follow us here given how vengeful they are,¡± Bastion shrugged.

    ¡°Familiar with them?¡± Kieran asked. From how Bastion mentioned their behavior, it felt as if he was somehow acquainted with these two organizations in some shape or form.

    ¡°Let¡¯s say they tried to recruit me as their main tank, but I declined. They¡¯re essentially trash; why would I bother uplifting a struggling organization? What am I, a savior?¡± Bastion scoffed.

    Thisment somehow made Keiran feel slightly embarrassed. Is that not what he did for the Golden Brigade in the past?! He truly felt targeted, but he also understood that Bastion was speaking generally.

    ¡°I¡¯ve potentiallye across a way for us to level quickly if you all are interested. However, we won¡¯t be able toplete it immediately. I have personal matters to attend to,¡± Kieran answered while leaning forward.

    ¡°A dungeon?¡± Cyr interjected.

    ¡°It¡¯s possible. For now, if I¡¯m not mistaken, it should turn out much better than the dungeon floating around in the rumors.¡±

    ¡°Cool. I¡¯ve wanted to try out these new ss skills. How long before we move?¡± Altair asked.

    ¡°At thetest, the day after tomorrow. Earliest would be tomorrow,¡± Kieran said after leaving some room just in case the appointment ran longer than anticipated.

    ¡°Fine by me. I have a little quest toplete before then anyway.¡±

    Following Altair¡¯s answer, the rest readily agreed with the timeline while mentioning a few other important topics¡ªthe main one being to fill in the two missing team slots.

    Once Kieran finished dealing with the others, Kieran immediately logged out of Zenith Online after booking a room with the inn.

 Chapter 83 Private Sector, Underworld & Testing

    ¡ª-

    After logging out of Zenith Online, Kieran sat up in bed while exhaling and removing the VR Helmet. Like in the past, afterpleting the initial ss change, Kieran felt a slight difference. Although it was far from reaching his previous glory where he could essentially be called superhuman, Kieran felt like his senses had undergone another small improvement.

    ¡®It¡¯s nothing extraordinary, but it feels more powerful than what the former Berserker ss rewarded. Is this because I have gone through the process once before? Or rather, my mind remembers going through it once before,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Even in the past, the slight strengthening humans experienced from ying the game was an inexplicable benefit. For the most part, this strengthening primarily focused on the mind since that¡¯s what the equipment in use was connected to.

    However, after realizing this, Kieran began questioning why some famous individuals were physically more powerful than their peers. That wasn¡¯t the result of the VR Helmets or even its upgraded form. There were definitely secrets that Kieran wasn¡¯t aware of.

    ¡®Charles would also be evasive whenever I asked him about this, but surely there¡¯s a secret to why members of affluent families grew far more superior than normal people. What¡¯s their edge? Was there equipment released that wasn¡¯t avable to others?¡¯ Kieran wondered.

    His holowatch chimed with a message linked to the expensiveputer set-up not too far away as he considered the question. As Dr. Riley stated earlier, she delivered information on the medical center¡¯s location in the same fashion Kieran contacted her.

    After reading through the information, Kieran was taken aback. ording to Dr. Riley, he needed to bring everything necessary because she would be monitoring him for at least the following week. His sickness was far too fascinating for her not to examine him thoroughly.

    ¡°So this is why she said it¡¯d be upwards of $500,000¡­ There¡¯s nothing like medical bills, huh?¡± Kieran muttered with a pained smile. Luckily, he was still receiving ie from his streams that people watched after they were saved. Furthermore, there were asional sales of the guide. Unsurprisingly, Zenith Online received a high daily influx of yers due to the frequent andpelling advertisements.<sub>-.</sub>

    Upon receiving the directions, Kieran dealt with his daily hygiene before getting dressed and catching one of the supersonic trains. It seemed the medical facility was located in a part of the city that could only be reached through this method of travel since it tended to go both under and high above the ground.

    ¡°For it to be located in this ce, it must have ties to the Private Sector since it¡¯s even wealthier than the Underworld,¡± Kieran said. Generally, anynd in remote but highly popted areas was owned by the Private Sector, which arguably formed the wealthiest portion of the world.

    The Private Sector was a loose inclusion of incredibly wealthy families known as Affluent, Magnate, Extreme Magnate Families, and exceptionally skilled individuals. As the name entailed, this sector was for those who had be wealthy enough to transcend receiving trivial public assistance.

    The Private Sector possessed every facility the public did. The only difference was that their infrastructures received ample funding, which allowed them to be frighteningly equipped. Because of this, it was also dangerous to be affiliated with the Private sector. They embodied the phrase: ¡°get it done by any means necessary.¡±

    There were times when entire families of well-known global businesses randomly disappeared because theirpetitors happened toe from the Private Sector. It was truly thend of ruthless wolves and heartless coyotes.

    s, this was Kieran¡¯s only option. Only the Private Sector had the means to help him.

    Roughly four hourster, Kieran arrived at the medical facility with an exterior that looked no different from a highly secret researchboratory. Kieran was immediately hit with a wave of caution.

    ¡°Yo, they experiment on people in here or something? Why does it look like this?!¡±<sub></sub>

    Numerous cameras with motion sensors attached to them zeroed in on Kieran as he approached the front door with a shocking three-level entry scan¡ªvoice, iris, and fingerprint.

    With how heavily guarded this ce was, Kieran would have thought it was something owned by the government and stored sensitive information. However, because Kieran wasn¡¯t staff at this ce, the heavy door was opened remotely, emitting a low hissing sound.

    A wave of cold air assaulted Kieran as he stepped inside. When he entered, Dr. Riley¡¯s strawberry blonde hair and blue-green eyes greeted his sight. She looked at him with an excited glint in her eyes that would only appear when a kid was given candy.

    ¡°Follow me. I¡¯ll walk you through the processter. Make sure you keep your belongings with you because I don¡¯t feel like going all the way to a storage area,¡± Dr. Riley said.

    ¡°Mm,¡± Kieran nodded.

    He followed Dr. Riley¡¯s every step, sooning to an extensiveboratory outfitted with the most cutting-edge medical tech known to man. A sizeable medical bed made from unknown materials was in the middle of the room.

    Aside from that, there were machines designed to scan, record, probe, and several other functions. The only simrity was that they all centered around dealing with a patient.

    ¡°First, I¡¯ll need to understand the spectrum of your physicality. You haven¡¯tpleted the mandatory fitness evaluation ording to your medical record. If that were known, you could be fined or even incarcerated,¡± Dr. Riley said with a smug smile. ¡°But I digress. I¡¯m in no ce to judge.¡±

    ¡°Meh, that test is only used to filter for potential soldiers. Do you think I want to go to war? Tell me, what would I have to fight for? Devotion to a country? Tch,¡± Kieran scoffed. He was by no means a patriot. He didn¡¯t care which country he hailed from; he was only interested in procuring a decent future.

    Besides, after learning the origin of the money he received, Kieran despised the government. Why else would they dispense remuneration if they were not somehow to me for the tragedy?

    ¡°Anyway, go change into the fitness gear prepared for you. We¡¯ll begin running those tests, and it¡¯ll take a while,¡± Dr. Riley instructed. An area simr to a gym¡¯s locker room was situated next to the medicalb. Theck of lockers, however, told Kieran otherwise.

    While inside, Kieran changed into tightly fitted spandex pants, but no top since there wasn¡¯t any prepared. Once he reappeared, the first test examined his lung capacity. Kieran ran on a treadmill at a pace that progressively increased. During this process, Kieran wore a special mask that controlled the amount of oxygen provided and electrodes to monitor what was taking ce.

    Kieran¡¯s vitals appeared on a screen before Dr. Riley. Throughout his run, Kieran¡¯s vitals surprisingly stayed in the green even when under immense physical stress. It only fell into the yellow at the end after being pushed slightly past the extreme limits of a human.

    ¡®Oh? So this is why this boy hasn¡¯t been tested? He has run for hours at a moderate pace before switching to a pace that should be the human¡¯s top speed for thest hour yet is only mildly exhausted. His endurance is good, and his speed seems decent as well. Even in an anaerobic state, he endures for quite some time,¡¯ Dr. Riley noted.

    However, she didn¡¯t know that the limitation that barred humans from truly challenging themselves was a predominantly mental stigma. As Kieran had once gone through grueling training, it was only fitting that he understood how to manage his current stamina until it exhausted minimally.

    Before moving on, Dr. Riley ran some blood and cellr tests to see their condition. The results made her eyes widen. ¡®Eh? They¡¯re¡­ these cells are essentially starved! How could he be fine in this condition? These levels are on par with a fragile old man!¡¯

    Dr. Riley¡¯s curiosity grew because of her findings. She beganparing it to the known research since she couldn¡¯t look to Kieran for answers. While performing that, she simultaneously moved on to the next segment of testing.

    The following tests quantified Kieran¡¯s physical standards. Dr. Riley examined his musculoskeletal structure, testing his flexibility, strength, endurance, reaction speed, and etc. In that regard, there were five different standards, ranging from substandard to prime.

    ¡°Although you seem frail and wouldn¡¯t expect such results, you did surprisingly well. Strength, Fit. Physical Agility, Fit. Mental Agility, Prime. Endurance, Prime. Flexibility, Fit. Since we¡¯vepleted the first part, let¡¯s move on to something more spontaneous,¡± Dr. Riley said.

    She clicked a button, and the floor split open. From within rose what seemed to be a tank filled with water or a water-like substance. ¡°Get in. We¡¯ll see how you respond to this.¡±

    ¡°What exactly is it?¡± Kieran questioned. From the way Dr. Riley spoke, it seemed like that wasn¡¯t water.

    ¡°You¡¯ll see when you get in. Why would I spoil the surprise?¡± ¡°Dr. Riley answered while giggling yfully. If she were to reveal the design of this apparatus, she¡¯d risk scaring away Kieran.

    Meanwhile, Kieran could only sigh before walking up thedder and testing it for himself. After pressing his hand on the surface, it quickly passed through, making him believe this was water. Although he still had his doubts, Kieran entered feet first.

    After thirty minutes, when he could no longer hold his breath, he pressed his feet to the floor, intending to rise. However, just then, an irregr pulse fired off the tank¡¯s inner walls. The substance¡¯s density immediately changed, taking away Kieran¡¯s ability to move.

    On the other side of the ss, Dr. Riley walked up while smiling inly. ¡°Don¡¯t panic. I want to see what happens to you. Your sickness seems to be triggered by some form of hyperactive chemical that appears in times of distress. I want to study that. And this tank is designed to simte peril.¡±

    At first, Kieran¡¯s widened, but they soon narrowed with a dangerous glint. If not for the odd properties of this fluid, a light ruby glow would undoubtedly be seening from his eyes. It seemed hisposure wasn¡¯t as intact as Kieran presumed.

    Moreover, he wasn¡¯t in a situation where he could breathe to calm himself down. This led to him quickly bing agitated. His fingers began to twitch while releasing an unusual energy surge that allowed him to regain some freedom but only around that hand.

    ¡®Interesting. It¡¯s subtle, but this is certainly the energy mentioned in the studies. But it¡¯s odd. His body is nowhere near strong enough to generate this energy. So, how does he wield it with more familiarity than some of the veterans exposed to years of study?¡¯ Dr. Riley wondered.

    As the seconds passed, Kieran became increasingly agitated until the liquid one centimeter around him began to roil. However, before the test could go awry, Dr. Riley clicked the button again, canceling the ripple.

    The fluids quickly regained the density of water, allowing Kieran toe up for air.

    ¡°Augh!¡± Kieran gasped before shooting Dr. Riley a deadly re. ¡°Are you trying to kill me,dy?!¡±

    ¡°No. If you had passed out or suffocated, I would have resuscitated you. That would be a great opportunity for you because you¡¯d get to feel my womanly touch that has been preserved to this day,¡± Dr. Riley winked yfully. Afterward, she beckoned for Kieran to follow her to another area.

    This part of the facility matched a doctor¡¯s office, especially the refrigerated area with vials of unknown liquid marked with cautionbels.

    ¡°Wee to your sanctuary,¡± Dr. Riley announced while spreading her arms gloriously.

 Chapter 84 Remedy From A Frightening Backer

    ¡ª-

    Following Dr. Riley¡¯sment, Kieran stared at her nkly before minutely shifting his gaze to the refrigerated cab behind her. The way she stood before the cab with bodynguage that made one¡¯s eyes casually switch towards it, the cab was without a doubt the reason for her excitement.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been amassing a stockpile, but no one reallyes here because of well¡­ my reputation, eh heh,¡± Dr. Riley chuckled sheepishly before dropping her arms. Before working in the Private Sector, she was once a renowned doctor. However, she was also known to suggest experimental surgery to further her knowledge rather than offer the best option for her patient.

    As a result, the medical board revoked her license, forcing her to seek employment elsewhere with the help of some of her earlier rtionships forged during her time spent in hospitals.

    ¡°Let me guess; you must have experimented on people. That would make you something like a modern-day mad scientist!¡± Kieranmented.

    ¡°I am not mad! I was looking for answers, damn you. Don¡¯t judge me. I don¡¯t judge you for ying games, now do I?!¡± Dr. Riley retorted. Once Kieran mentioned experiments, she immediately became defensive because it was a somewhat sore topic.

    ¡°Tomato, to-mah-to. The truth is the truth. So, what am I looking at here?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s something called X-hancers, and it is your remedy,¡± Dr. Riley answered after regaining herposure.

    When she removed one of the vials from the cab and handed it to Kieran, he noticed a strange series of numbers on thebel, ¡°What does X-001 mean?¡±<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°That¡¯s the strength of the X-hancer, of course. It means that this particr X-hancer is at 1% strengthpared to the best of the serum that has been created.

    ¡°Wait a minute¡­ so you mean the miraculous solution to my problem is steroids?!¡±

    ¡°Well, when you put it like that, yes¡­ but really no because it¡¯s not that simple. It¡¯s more so a stimnt. Like, a stimnt steroid put on steroids,¡± Dr. Riley said while presenting an expression that didn¡¯t seem too sure.

    ¡°Anyhow, based on what I¡¯ve collected, your sickness is one where your mind overpowers your body and begins siphoning vital energy from your cells to sustain its extremely heightened state. Because of this, while your mind, namely your cognitive functions, maintained an augmented state, your body will gradually decline.¡±

    After a short pause, Dr. Riley then continued to exin, ¡°Researchers have found a solution to that issue, and it is these elixirs. Forck of a better exnation, researchers im that humans are evolving or something but don¡¯t have the proper means toplete the process alone. Thus, they have developed these serums of varying strength.¡±

    Although Dr. Riley managed to procure a decent amount of these X-hancers, she frankly wasn¡¯t aware of the creator. No matter who she asked, the creator of these serums remained a mystery. In her opinion, she felt it was the handiwork of one of the leading governments or an Extreme Magnate Family with the resources to fuel this critical research.

    ¡°Take it and tell me how you feel,¡± Dr. Riley insisted, guiding Kieran¡¯s hand so that the vial met his lips. This would be the first time she witnessed the effects of the X-hancers firsthand, so she was impatient to record them. She wasn¡¯t one of the few afflicted with Kieran¡¯s sickness, so she remained unsure if it was safe for ordinary people to take.

    Kieran drank the serum like a skeptical guinea pig and was surprised by its viscosity. It wasn¡¯t like water or juice; it was more like drinking castor oil. The liquid slipped down his throat, and the moment it touched his stomach, a reaction happened.<sub></sub>

    Kieran¡¯s body grew warm for ten seconds before subsiding entirely. Because of theckluster result, he looked at Dr. Riley with a questionable gaze.

    ¡°So? Tell me, how do you feel? Any different? Rejuvenated? Empowered? Ready to break the world in half? Tell me!¡± Dr. Riley eximed passionately.

    ¡°I don¡¯t feel any different aside from my fatigue vanishing,¡± Kieran replied.

    ¡°Fatigue vanishing? Mm, this is just the beginning. After all, it¡¯s the weakest dosage. Let¡¯s try the next one,¡± Dr. Riley muttered. Like Kieran, she too was bing familiar with X-hancers for the first time.

    Next, she gave Kieran the 5% X-hancer. This produced a more significant reaction, making Kieran perspire as if he was ced inside a sauna. However, it only persisted for 2 minutes before subsiding as well. In ce of this sensation, Kieran felt invigorated, but it wasn¡¯t substantial enough to call it a miracle, nor did it approach a superhuman level.

    ¡®What the hell?¡¯ Dr. Riley inwardly cursed. ¡®From what the others said, a 5% X-hancer shouldn¡¯t be used until the individual has be ustomed to using the 1% one for at least a week to avoid any dangerous side effects. Could the research have been wed then?¡¯

    Dr. Riley¡¯s first instincts were to me the research and not the anomalistic ¡°test subject¡± sitting before her. Kieran¡¯s body was unusually starved due to having already used his sickness twice. Furthermore, Kieran possessed an advanced variant that couldn¡¯t be exined by current knowledgepared to others who suffered from the same condition.

    ¡°Is that it? Should we try moving up to the 10%? I¡¯m not feeling any longsting effects. Or, is it something with a dyed effect?¡± Kieran asked when he saw Dr. Riley standing there in nk thought.

    Soon enough, Dr. Riley snapped out of her daze and stared at Kieran as if he was some kind of freak. ¡°After 5%, it¡¯s advised to only increase in 1% increments to maintain a safe exposure. Besides, I only have a handful of 10%, and they¡¯re amongst the strongest serums I¡¯ve gotten my hands on. Just a single one was more than $50,000. It¡¯s not something to just squander away.¡±

    ¡°$50,000? That¡¯s it? Considering that you work for the Private Sector, is that really worth mentioning?¡±

    Rather than respond, Dr. Riley merely blinked in silence. An urge to p Kieran welled up inside her, but she suppressed it. ¡°You buffoon, the numbers quickly add up when order tens of them. I¡¯ve spent more than $50,000,000 on this collection all together. Do you still think that isn¡¯t much? Speaking of which, you¡¯ve just downed $15,000.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Kieran muttered in a rtively meek voice. Fifty million was by no means a small amount. Even he couldn¡¯t ignore than lumpsum.

    ¡°However, we¡¯ll let you take one of them to see its effects for scientific purposes.¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡± Kieran hurriedly eximed. Dr. Riley was far too willing for him not to get an uneasy feeling.

    ¡°Toote. Shut up and drink. It was your suggestion anyway,¡± Dr. Riley said while grabbing Kieran¡¯s face so that his face rested against her chest. She tilted his head back and poured the serum, which was slightly more runny than the prior versions.

    It left a bitter taste in Kieran¡¯s mouth as he swallowed, robbing him of the chance to relish in the pleasant softness he was currently experiencing. Once she confirmed that Kieran had swallowed the X-hancer, Dr. Riley took a step back in anticipation.

    Kieran¡¯s stomach instantly gurgled as light steam exited from his pores. His sweat had be so hot that it evaporated into mist upon contact with the cool temperature in the room.

    Kieran clutched the bed and controlled his breathing. Compared to the Elixir of Destructive Renewal, the effects of this X-hancer were mild. However, this wasn¡¯t a game where he could admittedly revive. Kieran wasn¡¯t sure what caused his reincarnation but didn¡¯t want to test to see if it could happen again.

    The serum rapidly took effect, causing his muscle to contract and expand on their own, as if they were breathing. Contrary to what Dr. Riley expected, the boy didn¡¯t explode in a mess of human flesh. Instead, he handled it remarkably.

    ¡®This boy is a monster! Immediately jumping to a 10% concentration that should take at least a month to reach is the farthest thing from normal. This ordeal should unquestionably be kept secret lest those supreme powers make their moves. Even the Halls backing me won¡¯t be able to handle that type of opponent,¡¯ Dr. Riley thought.

    ¡°I think we¡¯ve found your sweet spot. You¡¯ll need to frequently take the 10% X-hancer to prevent your condition from deteriorating your body.

    ¡°Hoo¡­ Doc, what¡¯s this energy inside the X-hancer that has such an otherworldly effect?¡±

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t begin to tell you. By the way, considering that I¡¯ll have to supply you with at least a week¡¯s worth of these X-hancers, you owe me $725,000.¡±

    Kieran¡¯s heart clenched when he heard that number. He felt that as soon his bank ount had be plentiful, it returned to being pitiful. However, given that this was for his health, Kieran had no regrets about spending this type of money.

    ¡°I¡¯ll prepare a room for you. I¡¯ll monitor your body as you return to ying that game of yours. And before you ask, no, I didn¡¯t spy on you. I saw the VR Helmet in your belongings. It was easy to put two and two together with the rampant advertisement going on,¡± Dr. Riley rified.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, doc. Prettydies can¡¯t be stalkers, right?¡± Kieran joked. However, Dr. Riley fell silent for a moment as she swiped a few strands of stray hair behind her ear.

    ¡°Right,¡± Dr. Riley muttered. Meanwhile, she was thinking something much different. ¡®Did he just call me pretty? What is he¡ªsome type of flirt? Or is he just regrly lighthearted?

    ¡°Wait, doc, how often can you acquire this stuff? Is it possible to put in a bulk order? If so, I should be able to pool together more funds.¡±

    ¡°Err¡­ to be honest, no. My supplyes from the Hall Family¡¯s connection.¡±

    ¡°Hall Family? As in the Hall Magnate Family? The pharmaceutical goliath?!¡± Kieran muttered.

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s the one,¡± Dr. Riley nodded. Although the family wasn¡¯t at the pinnacle of wealth, they weren¡¯t far from it. Less than ten families could im to surpass them in wealth or connections. While Kieran had a feeling that arge family backed Dr. Riley¡¯s facility, he didn¡¯t expect it to be one of the greats!

    Somehow, Kieran felt he was walking dangerously close to a world with nothing good to offer. ¡®On the bright side, at least the testing is over. I might have lost a day, but the gains were worth it.¡¯

 Chapter 85 Nemean

    ¡ª-

    Before allowing Kieran to log back into Zenith Online, Dr. Riley had him do onest thing:y down on the sizeable doctor¡¯s bed in the middle of the medical room. When he rested on the mattress, Kieran was astonished by howfortable it was. Even his bed, which was famed for its incredible softness, couldn¡¯tpare.

    The material of the medical bed was some type of fiber Kieran had never seen before, and it was filled with a cont that tended to any muscle fatigue the patient may suffer from. As a result, Kieran was overwhelmed by an enjoyable feeling.

    ¡°You like it, don¡¯t you? It¡¯s the newest model of the Hyper-Regeneration Bed. Even someone suffering from chronic muscr-degenerative pain can feel some relief from it. Anyhow, I need to monitor you because the advertisements mentioned that this game is extremely beneficial for its yer. I want to see how true that is,¡± Dr. Riley said.

    All the while, she clicked a few buttons that caused a few changes to the bed. Many futuristic monitors moved overhead, disying all of Kieran¡¯s vital information, primarily his brain waves. She wanted to see how the VR Devices interacted with the human mind since it was information that the game¡¯s creator generally didn¡¯t disclose.

    ¡®The Gamer Republic may have imed to have created this game, but I doubt they¡¯re in possession of such cutting edge technology. There should be another shadowy figure behind, and although it might be dangerous to pry into this information, I can¡¯t help it. I¡¯m an information addict,¡¯ Dr. Riley giggled to herself.

    Kieran felt as if she resembled a sneaky toddler with the way she snickered and giggled by his side, but he didn¡¯t mention too much about it. Instead, he prepared to log back into the game immediately. Although there was ample time to level up, and he wasn¡¯t particrly behind any of the other pro gamers, he could only take advantage of a few opportunities in the early game before they vanished.

    ¡®I need toplete that before the baseline of the first update is reached. It¡¯ll be far more difficult to aplish if the pain setting mirrors life identically,¡¯ Kieran thought. Even though his Stamina drained quite fast, even in the game¡¯s current state where it wasn¡¯t as close to reality as possible, it¡¯d only worsen in the future.<sub>-.</sub>

    And, from what Kieran remembered, there were a few aplishments that would be easier toplete if done before that happened. One of which rested inside the Aeredale Kingdom.

    ¡°Is that everything? Am I good to log in now?¡± Kieran asked. He was growing impatient and teeming with energy because of the X-hancer. He wished to find out how his current state would affect his game experience.

    ¡°All set. Go on and enjoy yourself,¡± Dr. Riley said, giving Kieran the okay.

    Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Kieran ced the VR Helmet on his head and entered the virtual pathwayposed of countless digital arcs that intertwined to form a pattern that would put someone in a trance. Within a few seconds, Kieran awoke to the familiar setting of the inn room.

    Because the quality of this inn was far better than the Humble Inn, the Well-Rested buff was at Stage Two. Compared to the first stage, which made it so the yer received a 50% experience acquisition buff and exhausted 50% less Stamina for the next 3 hours, the second stage was four times better in terms of duration.

    While it was the perfect buff for yers, it was only avable to those who had logged out for more than a day in-game. Otherwise, the yer would only receive a slightly more potent version of the buff¡¯s first stage.

    After logging in, Kieran immediately reached out to his teammates, asking them to meet him at the city¡¯s gates. Because the quest was situated within the Barren Mountain Range, he would need to return there.<sub></sub>

    This time, the only difference was that instead of heading towards the area filled exclusively with goblins, Kieran intended to explore the area closer to Aeredale City.

    Not only were the monsters more powerful, but it was the zone rted to the Adventurer Guild¡¯s request. Obtaining a Gold Adventurer Badge was paramount inpleting his objectives, so it was currently the only matter on his agenda. It was the lowest badge possible to aplish his goals.

    Spending time as a Trainee, Bronze, or Silver Adventurer was not something he intended to do. Moreover, he didn¡¯t wish for his allies to do the same either, which is why he stressed that they increase their World Fame. Although the Adventurer Guild employed a notoriety system known as Adventurer Prestige, increasing World Fame was helpful in the Merchant Association, where one could obtain a wide variety of items, materials, and equipment.

    As long as their World Fame was high enough, a yer stood a chance of acquiring an official membership with the association. Only individuals who held this membership could gain ess to their Auction Houses and auctions in general.

    Furthermore, other organizations that had yet to appear also relied upon this identification standard.

    After approximately 15 minutes of waiting, Bastion, Altair, and the others gathered in front of Kieran; however, there was also a new face he had never seen before, at least not yet.

    ¡®Why does this dude seem familiar?¡¯ Kieran wondered.

    Despite having a somewhat slim frame, the individual before possessed a physique brimming with vigor. More importantly, two ovepping shields strapped to his back protruded from his sides at an angle.

    ¡®Shields? Two of them?¡¯ Kieran thought before quickly analyzing the person before him. His short and curly ck was slicked back, highlighting his defined face, especially his more-so silverish-blue eyes that seemed lively.

    ¡°I take it that you¡¯re the Aatrox I¡¯ve heard nothing but good things about. The name¡¯s Nemean, and my brother Bastion here has told me that you require an additional party member,¡± Nemean said while extending his hand.

    Kieran grasped his hand while ncing at Bastion. ¡°Your brother?¡±

    ¡°Not literally. We¡¯ve gamed before in some earlier titles, and he has surprisingly chosen to return to the gaming scene. He¡¯s arguably a better tank than I am, except he does unorthodox and weird basically,¡± Bastion admitted with a nonchnt shrug.

    Kieran and Nemean stood eye to eye at the same exact height of 185 centimeters. With his current frame, he certainly had the making to be an insane tank. But, Kieran wouldn¡¯t just take Bastion¡¯s word for it. He needed to witness Nemean¡¯s ability with his own eyes.

    However, the name Nemean clicked inside Kieran¡¯s head after a few seconds because there was a yer with that name who stood in the limelight of tanks in the past.

    ¡®Is this the same Nemean regarded as the Shield Juggernaut?¡¯ Kieran wondered. If that were true, Kieran already possessed a faint idea about Nemean¡¯s capabilities. What mystified Kieran currently was why Nemean rose to fame while Bastion seemingly vanished. Could something have happened between them?

    ¡®Is this Nemean, who was viewed as an upstanding person, really one of those vile backstabbers?¡¯ Kieran wondered while maintaining a stoic gaze. Although he had his spections, he chose to give Nemean the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps he was just overthinking things, and it was another matter that led Bastion to disappear.

    ¡°Why the sour look? Did I do something wrong?¡± Nemeanmented when he felt Kieran¡¯s unusually intense gaze. It was as if a father was looking to scold their child for having done something wrong.

    ¡°Nah, he¡¯s just got that type of face, bro. You know how the girls have resting bitch face? He has a resting lunatic face, and I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve seen his videos. He¡¯s insane mechanically,¡± Bastion interjected.

    ¡°You¡¯ve done nothing wrong, but I do hope you maintain the party¡¯s integrity. We will vet all neers, and if you fail to meet the standard, whether in potential or morally, I will personally expel you from the party,¡± Kieran said in a in tone.

    As a result, the atmosphere of the party grew quiet. Kieran was extremely serious after learning that there were secrets he was unaware of. And, from the way Dr. Riley was so interested in monitoring him, perhaps Zenith Online was more vital than he presumed.

    ¡°I have no problem with that. At least you don¡¯t mince words and make your expectations clear. I respect that quality,¡± Nemean said with a delighted grin. After being officially added to the party, Kieran was surprised by Nemean¡¯s level¡ª24. That was amongst the top of the leaderboards that opened upon having the first character promote their ss.

    Aatrox, on the other hand, was ranked 16th globally, while Nemean was 6th. Only a handful of people had obtained Lv.25.

    Once he learned of Nemean¡¯s level, Kieran turned his head to the side away from Aeredale City¡¯s entrance. He looked towards the east and then the west before moving east.

    The party followed closely behind, but only Altair and Cyr could genuinely keep up once he unleashed the entirety of his Agility.

    ¡°Damn it! Is a Warrior supposed to be so fast? I thought that was an advantage reserved for the Thief ss,¡± Bastion groaned. He was the worst of all, even worse than Alice, who had officially promoted to an Elementalist, a mage specializing in weaponizing the elements. This was one of the few early sses that opened up what was known as Elemental Affinity.

    ¡°Well, he did tell you that you should add some points to Agility, but you didn¡¯t listen well,¡± Seramented to the side in a low voice.

    Bastion shot her a gaze that made her yelp and turn her head away. However, Alice silently looked at the two beforeing to Sera¡¯s defense. ¡°She¡¯s right. He had some decent advice, but you didn¡¯t heed it. Just change it in the future when you level up.¡±

    ¡°Bah¡­ why do I feel like my original teammates are teaming up on me for someone else? It¡¯s not fair, you know!¡± Bastionined.

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s the truth. Don¡¯t try to guilt trip us,¡± Alicemented indifferently.

    Afterward, Bastion could only sigh and shake his head in defeat before following the three in front. Meanwhile, Nemean quietly absorbed the interaction of the party. The atmosphere felt quite homely, so he had nothing toment about thus far.

    Instead, the only thing on his mind was engaging inbat with the party to see if they synergized well.

 Chapter 86 First Battle

    ¡ª-

    After running for upwards of three hours, Kieran and the rest finally reached the area of the Barren Mountain Range that led to the quest area. However, the narrow entrance was infested by a dense encirclement of goblins with varying levels and archetypes. There were some with crude bows and some with simple swords, but every goblin seemed to be on par with the Goblin Demolishers from the Goblin Cave.

    ¡¸Lv.25 Goblin Warrior (Special Elite)

    Goblin Type

    Health: 85,000/85,000 (100%)

    Special Trait: ?Sharp?¡¹

    ¡¸Lv.25 Goblin Marksman (Special Elite)

    Goblin Type

    Health: 72,000/72,000 (100%)

    Special Trait: ?Pierce?¡¹

    ¡°Oh?! They¡¯re Special Elites and they¡¯re Lv.25. This should be some good experience,¡± Altairmented while excitedly spinning his daggers around his fingers until he grasped them properly. The others in the party prepared for battle while Kieran withdrew the Scarlet Steel Greatsword from his inventory.

    The exterior seemed to glisten with a vibrant crimson hue that danced down the blood. This sight attracted the party¡¯s eyes to the de because although there were a few cracks on its surface, the weapon somehow gave off the impression of ample power.

    However, this wasn¡¯t due to the weapon. Instead, it was due to Kieran¡¯s newly received innate skill given to him uponpleting his transformation into a True Berserker. Blood Mania was a vital skill for his ss.

    ¡¸ Blood Mania (Lv.1)

    Skill Rank: *S<sub>-.</sub>

    Skill Type: Hybrid

    Mastery (00.00%)

    ?Passive?- The weapon in the True Berserker¡¯s possession gains a sanguine coating at the cost of 0.5% Health per second due to their penchant for blood. Based on the Health threshold, the coating increases the user¡¯s Attack Power ordingly.

    100% ¨C 81% Health: Attack Power +10%

    80% ¨C 51% Health: Attack Power +20%

    50% ¨C 21% Health: Attack Power +35%

    20% or below Health: Attack Power +100%

    The user gains a 1% Lifesteal trait. This trait allows the user to absorb the blood from enemies afflicted by the Bleed Status and turn it into Health equal to 1% of the inflicted damage.

    ?Active?- The skill can be canceled to reabsorb the sanguine coating. Doing so will heal the user equal to 5% of the damage inflicted while the skill is active. This effect has a cooldown of 300 seconds.

    Prerequisites: True Berserker ¡¹

    Aside from the Ancient Crimson Aegis, with its numerous stiptions, mainly that it was a skill Kieran couldn¡¯t wantonly activate, Blood Mania was the undisputed best skill in his arsenal. In simple terms, it tranted into an insane attack power boost, and it could also heal him in times of need.

    Although the inverse rtionship between Health and power was quite rming, Kieran felt this type of skill forced the user to understand proper resource management.

    Meanwhile, the team was taken aback when they watched as Kieran¡¯s health bar drained at a visible rate. The battle hadn¡¯t even started, yet his Health approached 90%.

    ¡°Sera, heal the party leader,¡± Bastion said. As a result, Sera lifted her staff encased in a soft radiance andunched a Healing Light, but something insane happened. Once the light touched Kieran¡¯s body, it dimmed before crumbling altogether, while Kieran was virtually unaffected.<sub></sub>

    Despite her attempt to heal him, Kieran¡¯s Health continued to fall.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. My current state is rted to my ss, so I don¡¯t need healing. Instead, I want you guys to work together and handle all of those Goblin Marksman. The Goblin Warriors are mine,¡± Kieran instructed.

    ¡°Wait, all of them?¡± Altair blinked incredulously. There were more than 15 Goblin Warriors present! iming to want to handle them all by himself was unheard of.

    ¡°It¡¯s manageable,¡± Kieran said before dashing forward. The Agility he exploded with was astonishing, given that his Strength assisted in his explosive eleration.

    Nemean silently watched as Kieran reached his targets in no time and became filled with excitement. ¡®So this is the unanimously agreed number 1 warrior they were raving about on the forum and stream. I want to watch more, but I also can¡¯t lose to him in terms of ability.¡¯

    Nemean immediately grabbed both shields from his back and wielded them in a way a swordsman could wield dual longswords. With a firm grip on the handles inside the shields, Nemean charged forward while employing a skill that seemed to be a notch above Charge.

    The arrows fired at Nemean were blocked when he smashed the shields together before him. A few secondster, he reached the first Goblin Marksman that only specialized in long-range attacks, meaning they were helpless in close-rangebat.

    Bang!

    Nemean smashed the shield into the Goblin Marksman and inflicted an inherent Stun state that his ss specialized in. Afterward, he unleashed a flurry of shield strikes that seemed more like a Fighter unleashing a chainbo with fluid strikes.

    ¡°Is this what a Shield Enforcer is? He wouldn¡¯t reveal it beforehand, but that definitely isn¡¯t a tanking style. It¡¯s like a mix of offense and defense. Wait¡­ since when did shields gain an attack value?!¡± Bastion muttered with a stupefied expression.

    Nemean¡¯s Shield Enforcer ss was a Unique ss that fused the skills of a Pugilist and Shield Warrior together. They were the regr promotion of a Fighter and Warrior ss, respectively. This allowed Nemean to specialize in both attack and defense, but it wasn¡¯t perfect since fusing both types together meant he could reach the epitome in neither.

    Nevertheless, as long as the user had the ability, bridging the incongruity birthed by melding the two sses wasn¡¯t too problematic.

    On the other hand, Kieran caught a glimpse of the battle from his peripheral vision. ¡®Those movements are of one trained in realbat like the hand-to-handbat training soldiers are subject experience. His style is simr to Altair¡¯s but with subtle differences. I wonder what country he hails from.¡¯

    Aside from the few questions in his mind, Kieran primarily focused on thebat at hand. A thin red mist surfaced around Kieran¡¯s body as he suddenly elerated and mmed into the nearest Goblin Warrior; this caused the light mist tobust and damage nearby enemies in a 10-meter radius.

    It was clear from his movements that this skill was an upgrade of the Charge skill he possessed priorly. Instead, it was now called Fury Rush.

    ¡¸ Fury Rush (Lv.1)

    Skill Rank: B

    Skill Type: Active

    Mastery (00.00%)

    Description: Channels the sanguine power of the True Berserks to explode with incredible momentum. The decisive rush deals 495% of the user¡¯s Attack Power + 100% of their Strength value and leaves the enemy in a ?Fainted? state for 4 seconds. Upon explosion, the sanguine aura deals damage equal to 40% of the initial attack to all enemies in a 10-meter radius.

    Consumption: 2% Health and 55 Mana

    Prerequisites: True Berserker ss

    Cooldown: 30 seconds ¡¹

    Compared to Charge, Fury Rush was many times more powerful despite the considerably high costs of the skill. Although it didn¡¯t increase the damage of the subsequent attack, its damage dealing capabilities were insane when coupled with the abilities of Kieran¡¯s ss.

    -7,500

    -3,000

    It was a simple attack, yetrge numbers continually appeared above the Goblin Warrior¡¯s head. Immediately after, Kieran held the Scarlet Steel Greatsword at an odd angle beforeunching it forward explosively.

    Three beams of condensed sanguine winds fired forward that annihted everything in their path.

    -41,985

    -41,977

    -41,885

    Even Kieran was taken aback by the destruction he caused. ¡°This¡­ is what happens when this ss¡¯s attack system upgrades Tempest Strikes?¡±

    The skill Kieran unleashed was the former Tempest Strike, now known as Sanguinem Tempest. Not only had the rank of the skill increased, but the attack value was fortified as well, bing a skill capable of untold destruction.

    Out of curiosity, Kieran activated another one of the changed skills¡ªWild Crash, which also doubled as an upgrade of Savage Break.

    Bang!

    Kieran¡¯s attack had no real target because, unlike Savage Break, Wild Crash evolved into an AoE attack, that dealt high amounts of damage. In exchange for the incredibly high damage, the chance of decreasing the enemy¡¯s defense changed from guaranteed to possible, and it was somewhat low.

    -16,818

    None of the attacks Kieran unleashed thus far were Critical Hits, yet they all outssed his previous damage by an impressive margin. It was a substantial change to wrap his mind around. While he expected to be stronger, he didn¡¯t expect the difference to exceed 300%.

    What¡¯s more, the damage would only grow more frightening as his Health dropped. Right now, it was still above 70%. Be that as it may, many of the Goblin Warriors failed to resist the onught of Kieran¡¯s attacks and became nothing more than experience for him.

    More than ten copies of the same message appeared before Kieran and his party members as they stared at Kieran in slight awe.

    ¡´System: You have gained 5,568 Experience.¡µ

    Excitement welled in Kieran as he momentarily reveled in his current power. Fortunately, it didn¡¯tst for too long since he understood that these monsters were remarkably weak. They didn¡¯t hold a candle to the supposed ogres they needed to face for his quest.

    Still, his current power came as a pleasant surprise.

    ¡°What do you think the ranks of those skills are? I mean, they literally turned that part of the battlefield into a bloody mess. While it hasn¡¯t destroyed the terrain, per se¡­ there are certainly plenty of marks,¡± Altairmented as his rapid disy of dagger brandishing caused a tiny wind squall before the goblin before him.

    Numerous minor cuts appeared on the goblin¡¯s body simultaneously while Nemean smashed another goblin to paste essentially.

    ¡°I say they¡¯re at least Rank B since my Rank C skill can¡¯t cause that effect,¡± Nemeanmented.

    ¡°Rank C? Damn, I only have two of those. How many do you have?¡± Bastion asked.

    ¡°6,¡± Nemean answered.

    ¡°WHAT?! And how many Rank D?¡±

    ¡°1,¡± Nemean answered.

    ¡°Urgh,¡± Bastion groaned. ¡°Your ss is better than mine, isn¡¯t it? This is why going for a normal ss sucks! All of my skills as a Guardian Knight is centered strictly around defending and cementing aggro values.¡±

    ¡°Well, as a strict tank, that¡¯s your role. Don¡¯tin about it; it¡¯s what you wanted,¡± Nemean teased with a smug smirk.

    ¡°I oughta bash your face,¡± Bastion growled with narrowed eyes.

    ¡°Do that, and I¡¯ll return the favor. Let¡¯s see whose shield emerges superior. Hehe,¡± Nemean said with a mischievous smirk. It seemed the rtionship between Neman and Bastion was indeed a brotherly one.

    A few secondster, Kieran appeared before the others after finishing the goblins on his side. The effects of the Goblin yer title were not to be underestimated. It was perfect for effortlessly ying these monsters.

    ¡°You all still aren¡¯t done?¡± Kieran said while feigning a sigh and shaking his head. A few more Goblin Marksman remained. But, just then, Alice raised her staff to the sky and cast a mana ball that split into many smaller orbs and bombarded the area.

    Once the dust cleared, all that remained was goblin corpses with ample holes in their body.

    ¡°Damn,¡± Bastion muttered with a bitter smile.

 Chapter 87 Those Who Came First

    ¡ª-

    Afterpleting their ss promotion, many sses received a considerable boost in burst damage, especially mages who admittedly walked the path of ss cannons, given that their ss specialized in cloth armors. cksmiths couldn¡¯t create the armor they wore; instead, sses that used leather and cloth armor would require Tailors when seeking special armor that needed item designs.

    While Bastion¡¯s Defense skyrocketed, he felt like the odd one out. His only role was to defend, as even his offensive skills focused on multiplying aggro rather than inflicting real damage. Even if he pooled every Unassigned Attribute Point into Strength, he would fail to reach even the shadow of offensive sses.

    ¡°C¡¯mon, bud; you know your time to shine is when we act as a party. No one here can im to equal you in Defense,¡± Nemean said when he noticed Bastion¡¯s faint frown.

    ¡°I know that! But the ss roles in this game are even more definitive than others. I at least expected to deal 500 damage to contribute,¡± Bastion grumbled before exhaling to clear his frustrations. Truthfully speaking, Kieran¡¯s absurd damage led to Bastion¡¯s current emotions.

    He wanted to at least be on an equal level with his peers. However, to catch up to them, he would have to shed his normal ss and do so soon, or the chasm separating him and the others would only widen in terms of damage.

    Meanwhile, Kieran watched the two interact with each other and nodded subtly. ¡®Camaredie that rivaled brotherhood¡­ that¡¯s something Icked even in the past. But, it sucks that Ick the courage to be trusting enough to be this vulnerable to others,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    The circumstances of Kieran¡¯s rebirth affected him deeper than he cared to admit. Although he was skeptical at first, because of his subordinates and peers¡¯ willingness to follow orders, he gradually opened up to the members of the Golden Brigade in the past. Thus, the betrayal of those peers he previously viewed as his entryrades left wounds on his heart that he tried to mostly repress just like in his childhood.<sub>-.</sub>

    Alice noticed Kieran¡¯s unusual expression and furrowed her brows while beginning to wonder about the story of these stoic and almost remorseful expressions. However, as she felt it wasn¡¯t her ce to pry into others¡¯ problems, she soon averted her gaze.

    In the meantime, Sera tugged lightly on Alice¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Are you okay, Alice? There seems to be something on your mind.¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing,¡± Alice shook her head, deciding to keep her thoughts to herself. Still, Sera picked up on some of the subtle tells. For example, the way Alice shifted her gaze between Altair, Kieran, Nemean, and Bastion¡ªthe four most talented people in the party.

    Eventually, the party¡¯s atmosphere returned to normal, and Bastion regained his cordial attitude.

    On the other hand, Kieran started to question if it was time to present Bastion with the item in his possession. It would tremendously increase his defensive abilities, but it also required extremely high Strength to wield, just like the Crimson Ashrune awaiting the moment Kieran reached Lv.25.

    With the experience received from the Goblins, it wouldn¡¯t be too long before he reached that level. Kieran eventually decided to refrain from revealing that item for the time being. Not only was it of a grade that probably no other yer possessed, but distributing the item to Bastion in front of the others would create desire and the party and possibly even create a rift.

    After all, the rtionship amongst the party was infantile at best. To reach a state where everyone simply sought the best for theirrade would take a while even if the party possessed ster qualities; it was just human nature.<sub></sub>

    The sins and virtue of man were two principles that governed every person despite what they may im. No matter how hard an individual tried, it was challenging to destroy human nature at the most basic level. Those basal behaviors were bound to seep through one¡¯s actions at some moment in time.

    Regardless, after the faint episode of self-reflection, the party then turned their attention to the depth of the Barren Mountain Range. Their numbers seem to take unusually long to recover upon dealing with the goblins that inhabited this area. In fact, it took so long that Kieran considered leaving the area before waiting for their respawn timer to pse.

    ¡®I wanted to reach Lv.25 before running into the ogres, but at this rate, it¡¯d be more practical for me to run into them now, even if this sword runs the risk of breaking during the fight,¡¯ Kieran thought. Unlike goblins, ogres were monsters of immense physical prowess, so it was foolish to go up against them with extremely damaged gear. If even a few of them hits made it through, the chances of said equipment breaking would be sky high.

    After all, the process of repairing a broken weapon differed greatly from a damaged one that needed its durability repaired. In this case, the weapon would need to be recast from simr if not identical materials. However, Kieran possessed no such thing as Scarlet Steel Ore.

    Thus, Kieran was left in a slight dilemma. But, after considering that he was in a party that could more than pull their own weight, he realized his dilemma wasn¡¯t asrge as he thought.

    ¡°We advance,¡± Kieranmanded while gesturing for the others to follow him while slinging the Scarlet Steel Greatsword over his sword. Compared to when he first wielded the weapon, it felt incredibly light. So light that it didn¡¯t differ from how a Swordsman wielded their longswords effortlessly.

    ¡°Aye, boss, why does your weapon seem even worse than when we started?¡± Nemean questioned after noticing the scars on the greatsword widening. Some of it came from defending against the Goblin Warrior¡¯s attacks, but most of them came from Kieran¡¯s astonishing power.

    ¡°It¡¯s teetering on the edge of breaking, but it¡¯s fine,¡± Kieran shrugged. However, Bastion¡¯s and a few others stopped in their tracks. Wasn¡¯t this the sword he picked up after killing the first World Boss?

    ¡°What the¡­ isn¡¯t that a Rare Weapon? How can you be so calm about its frighteningly low durability?¡± Bastion asked with his mouth agape and his gaze nk.

    In response, Kieran only smiled while shaking his head. Why ruin the surprise when he could have a treat in store for this party instead?

    After failing to receive an answer, Bastion simply grunted and ignored his initial question altogether. ¡®Tch¡­ this guy. Why did I even bother to ask? I hate that smirk, and I hate surprises even more!¡¯

    Nevertheless, the party followed along as soon headed deep into the Barren Mountain Range until the setting gradually changed into a dense forest with a swampy floor and manyrge rocks. This environment certainly wasn¡¯t ideal for anyone who was prone to slipping. One false move and that would end up theirst since environmental damage also affected yers just as it could affect monsters.

    Suddenly, Kieran put his hand up and closed his fist while analyzing his surroundings. A cluster of footprints appeared in his view, but from their size and shape, it definitely didn¡¯te from ogres¡ªthey were too tiny and almost human-like if Kieran had toment.

    A few moments after, Kieran¡¯s ears twitched after hearing signs of battle not too far away. ¡®Is that why there was no discovery notification? Has someonee here before us? Given that this area is home to admittedly strong monsters for our level, anyone confident enough toe here is not normal.¡¯

    ¡°Careful, we¡¯re not alone,¡± Kieran revealed, which caused the other party members to perk up. Altair was the first to be battle ready, followed by Nemean, but Kieran was different. His posture remained rxed as he took a step forward.

    Rather than immediately prepare, Kieran¡¯s first thought was to check how powerful the opposition was and how abundant their numbers were. As of now, there were nine people in his party.

    While advancing carefully, Kieran arrived within a part of the leveling field filled with overgrown nts, trees, and grass.

    Just then, Kieran witnessed the other side going up against the ogres in the area and narrowed his eyes. Compared to the yer going against them, the ogres were at least two timesrge with grotesque muscles that incited fear rather than awe.

    ¡°What, are they a guild or something?¡± Bastion asked from the side.

    ¡°Unlikely,¡± Kieran shook his head. ¡°While they seem somewhat experienced, they also don¡¯t seem that experienced. Out of the select few, I¡¯d say that woman in the front is the strongest expert on their team and probably their leader. The rest? Not really worth mentioning unless they improve their skills.¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­ are you watching the same battle that I am?¡± Nemean muttered in slight exasperation. The others were seldomly getting hit by therge clubs in the ogre¡¯s grasp and keeping its movements limited.

    ¡°We are. But, the current situation is not their doing. It¡¯s because of their leader establishing a rhythm that agrees with all of them that they¡¯re able to contend against this monster.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ isn¡¯t that saying something. It¡¯s already noteworthy to follow someone while making few to no mistakes,¡± Nemean said back.

    ¡°Possibly, but have you considered the fact that this monster is a Special Elite and not even a Champion? It shouldn¡¯t require so many to take down. This may be a Gradeless Team that wants to make a name for themselves.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­ what¡¯s a Champion?¡± Nemean muttered while scratching his head in slight confusion.

    Only Kieran knew that a Champion monster existed because it was extremely difficult toe across one even after leaving the Beginner Viges.

    ¡°The monster rank above a Special Elite, and after Lv.25, their power scale bes ridiculous so it¡¯s not a monster for normal sses to handle alone. Anyhow, I think it¡¯s time we announce our presence,¡± Kieran said with a small smile.

    This action immediately put on the moment when nearly ten people approached the other side edge.

    The female leader¡¯s gaze shifted to Kieran with a hint of worry appearing in her eyes. This could either turn out okay or not very good. It all depended on how each side handled themselves.

 Chapter 88 An Insane Invitation

    ¡ª-

    With character levels growing higher,petition would only intensify in the gamingmunity. As a result, any party would be rmed when another approached their direction while inside a leveling field. Even though Kieran andpany showed zero signs of hostility, the opposing side was disturbed.

    So much so that their main tank looked to their leader for advice. ¡°Leader Luna, what do you expect we do? It seems those guys areing this way. Do you suppose they¡¯re going to cause trouble for us?¡±

    ¡°Trouble? I don¡¯t know, but it wouldn¡¯t hurt to be careful. Focus on the task at hand but also remain vignt,¡± the female leader Luna answered. While she wasn¡¯t too sure of the opposing side¡¯s intentions, she couldn¡¯t risk their progress being interrupted, especially after everyone had just finished their ss promotion.

    Her soft lc hair tied into a simple bun held in ce with what seemed to be an in-game ornament swayed as she made rapid movements while her light blue eyes looked back and forth. Luna¡¯s ss was known as a Tempest Rogue, which Kieran judged based on her attack style and the skills used to set the battle tempo.

    A Tempest Rogue was a specialized route of the Thief¡¯s promotion path¡ªthe Rogue. Unlike the Assassin that specialized in surprise attacks dealing extreme amounts of damage with a penchant to inflict Critical Hits, any variation of the Rogue ss specialized in frontal assaults. Their attack speeds wereparable, but Rogue focused more on imposing multi-hits and stun-locking their opponent with an endless stream of attacks.

    In terms of attack speed, after watching this girl maneuver the battlefield, Kieran felt she might even surpass him and Altair in terms of raw Agility. ¡®That isn¡¯t Agility gained through sacrificing Strength; her ss is inherently quick. I wonder if she has passives that increase her attack and movement speed.¡¯

    Simr to how his ss had special skills that could increase his Attack Power tremendously, other sses possessed these skills, albeit at a much lower level. However, topare Kieran¡¯s ss to one that could be obtained by the general public was an insult.<sub>-.</sub>

    Because Scar told Kieran that no other sessors had shown up, it was safe to say that he was the only yer thus far to seed in acquiring the legacy of a Mythical Hero.

    Eventually, Kieran arrived not too far from the party, watching them with ackadaisical posture. ¡°What brings you here? There are plenty of other leveling fields to choose from. Why venture to this remote one specifically?¡±

    The only reason Kieran showed up in this ce was due to the Adventurer Guild¡¯s request. However, he doubted that someone else was in a request like that because he was the first to acquire the unique proposal. Until him, the Vice-Leaders in Aeredale City didn¡¯t make a single move.

    In regards to receiving it from elsewhere, that was almost impossible since the only organization willing to work with Trainee level characters was the Adventurer Guild. Only once a yer built their prestige would other organizations be more lenient.

    Meanwhile, Kieran was sure these yers weren¡¯t from other Kingdoms. After all, only yers from the Aeredale Kingdom would think to approach this leveling zone because of this area¡¯s position.

    It was simply too far for yers from other kingdoms to considering here. Furthermore, it wasn¡¯t like it was a known ce. Knowledge of locations was minimal since themunity didn¡¯t share vital information, and the world wasn¡¯t even 1% explored yet.

    ¡°Are you implying that we can¡¯t be here? Are you trying to be like one of those tyrant guilds in other games where they try to cordon off an area while iming to own it? But¡­ how can you own a leveling zone essible to all?¡± Luna retorted while also focusing on battle.<sub></sub>

    Based on her tone, it was clear she wasn¡¯t too keen on therger guild. However, this tone gave Kieran all the information he needed to know. Gradeless Teams tended to despiserge guilds for two reasons: they wouldn¡¯t recognize the authenticity of a Gradeless Team, and two,rge guilds usually threw their weight around to manipte those lesser powers into doing their bidding.

    Because of these two behaviors, Kieran was sure this party before him was some type of fledgling Gradeless Team.

    ¡°Monopolize a leveling field? What need do I have for that? These things will soon be obsolete once we outgrow their usefulness. At that time, we¡¯ll have to search for another location. So¡­ why waste our time trying to dominate this lesser zone? I¡¯m just curious. The game has only just begun, yet you all are here instead of, let¡¯s say, seeking quest,¡± Kieran answered back.

    He also dropped his de to the ground while tightly grasping its hilt. The people beside Luna flinched while whispering softly. ¡°Wait¡­ some of those people look familiar. Isn¡¯t that the Thief and the Healers from Aatrox¡¯s stream? Then, would that person be Aatrox?¡±

    ¡®Aatrox?¡¯ Luna thought before closely analyzing Kieran. As she did so, her frown deepened because she couldn¡¯t pinpoint any simrities from the stream aside from Kieran¡¯s height. The Elixir of Destructive Renewal was simply too potent in doing its job.

    Kieran was essentially unrecognizable despite his budding fame. The only way to verify his identity would be to have him stream, but who could force him to do so? He hadn¡¯t evenpleted his partnership with the Gamer Republic, so his obligation to stream wasn¡¯t active yet.

    ¡°Is it true? Are you Aatrox?¡± Luna questioned cautiously and skeptically. She moved away from the battle because, for some reason, Kieran¡¯s current aura made it hard for her team to focus on defeating the ogre before them. It wasn¡¯t like they were the most talented out there, so they couldn¡¯t afford to have their attention split.

    Everyone began making mistakes, but Kieran only softly chuckled before executing a powerful jump forward. A burst of wild air surrounded his body as he elerated midair, which was impossible. However, right before his jump, Kieran had activated Fury Rush.

    With its slight dy, the skill had only activated once Kieran¡¯s foot left the ground, giving the impression of midair eleration.

    Bang!

    Kieran executed a regr sh, but it was powerful enough to knock back the ogre until it stumbled and mmed into a tree behind it. After colliding against the tree, itid there stunned as per the skill effects of Fury Rush.

    Afterward, Kieran turned toward Luna with a direct gaze. ¡°You¡¯re strong, and we need an additional person for dungeon runs in the future. Are you interested?¡±

    In addition to Luna¡¯s eyebrows furrowing, her party member¡¯s jaws dropped. Was their leader being openly poached?! It wasn¡¯t that the idea frightened them since this could cause them to lose their direction; their leader disliked being viewed as an item.

    As a result, Luna¡¯s gaze grew cold while looking at Kieran. ¡°You think I¡¯d abandon my followers because of your offer? I am not a cheap woman. I created this team, and I will stand by them and see that we be something in the future, somethingrger than us.¡±

    Kieran¡¯s eyebrow rose with slight surprise, but he then shook his head. ¡°I think that you¡¯ve gotten it wrong. I¡¯m not asking you to leave your team. I¡¯m simply saying that you¡¯re strong, and without another member, we won¡¯t be able to enter the dungeon. If you really want your team to amount to something, it¡¯d be wise to ept my offer.¡±

    ¡°Why do you suppose I do that?¡± Luna asked with narrowed eyes. She tried to get a read on Kieran¡¯s behavior, but she couldn¡¯t pinpoint his angle. If that was the case, could his offer be genuine?

    ¡°How can you lead if you¡¯ve yet to be superior. If you ept toe with me at the time of the dungeon, you¡¯ll get to experience a dungeon on Insane Mode,¡± Kieran said proudly.

    Instantly, murmurs filled both Kieran and Luna¡¯s party. Insane? What the hell was that? They had never heard of such a difficulty. As far as they knew, dungeons were limited to three difficulties: Normal, Difficult, and Very Difficult.

    ¡°Uh¡­ Aatrox, what are you on about? Insane Mode? Since when was that a thing?¡± Altair whispered in his ear.

    However, Luna¡¯s eyes widened for a moment. Although Altair whispered into Kieran¡¯s ears, her sensitive hearing picked up on what he said. This individual was indeed Aatrox, but that left Luna even more skeptical. ¡®Even his team member isn¡¯t aware of his im? If that¡¯s the case, then they can¡¯t be very true, right?¡¯

    Meanwhile, Kieran nced in Altair¡¯s direction, ¡°Since we have promoted and left the Beginner Vige. We aren¡¯t restricted by the Beginner Handicap Zone anymore, and the same goes for dungeon and monsters. And, because of this fact, we now have ess to a new difficulty known as Insane.¡±

    Compared to Insane, Very Difficult would feel like a cakewalk. For one, inside an Insane Dungeon, Normal Monsters could spawn and at least one Named Champion monster would be summoned. As for the boss, there was a chance of a Unique Rank Boss appearing. Even a boss like Zelliolx would fail topare to that rank.

    Only with the strongest of yers could one think to challenge an Insane Dungeon. At the very least, it was rmended to have at least three healers to deal with the constant possibility of party wiping at every turn.

    ¡®As long as I hit Lv.25 beforehand, it should be possible to change an Insane Dungeon,¡¯ Kieran thought silently. Even he wasn¡¯t too sure of the sess rate of entering one now. Although it was essible from Lv.20 and beyond, it wasn¡¯t a mode meant to be challenged lightheartedly.

    ¡°Wait a minute, how the hell do you know this,¡± Altair eximed with a critical re. This information wasn¡¯t even present on the official forum, so where did his supply of informatione from?

    Kieran could practically touch the palpable skepticism dripping from Altair, so he lightly waved his hand. ¡°What did you think I had to do to obtain my ss? After reaching Lv.20, I came across a Special Dungeon where this new difficulty was present. Once I read through the warning, I obtained all of the information I could need for our current level or at least I would hope so.¡±

    Kieran fabricated a lie so easily and maintained a stoic expression throughout that it made it impossible to judge whether what he said was the truth or not.

 Chapter 89 The Agreement

    ¡ª-

    Eventually, after failing to challenge the authenticity of Kieran¡¯s ims, the party could only shrug and ept what he said as the truth. After all, there were only two ways to see if his information was genuine. The party would need to find a way to experience Kieran¡¯s past experiences, or they¡¯d have to wait for their next dungeon run to see whether this Insane Difficulty truly existed.

    Even though there were rumors of a Lv.20 dungeon, there was something odd about it. Aside from the Normal Difficulty, the rest remained locked and unindicated. Even if yers wished to, they couldn¡¯t glean information rted to the greater difficulties.

    At first, they believed it to be rted to the fact the dungeon hadn¡¯t been cleared yet, but whether or not that was true remained unknown.

    On the other hand, Luna¡¯s party members couldn¡¯t help but overhear the conversation taking ce between Luna and Aatrox. As a result, the same member, the Guardian Knight, who usually defended their party, stepped forward and interjected.

    ¡°Team Leader, it wouldn¡¯t make you a weak woman to ept the offer. From what Aatrox is saying, it only seems to be a temporary party as they arecking a member. If this is for the future of our team then how can we view the action as worthless or selfish?¡±

    ¡°Luka,¡± Luna muttered with a slight frown budding across her cold expression. While she understood what Luka was saying, she couldn¡¯t ignore the fact that she was the party¡¯s main dps. If she were to abandon them now, their progress would be stunted, which she felt could ultimately limit the team¡¯s progress.

    Noticing that troubled atmosphere, Kieran sifted his gaze through the ten-odd people before him and rubbed his chin softly. ¡°If your fear is falling behind in terms of level, which if I¡¯m being honest, isn¡¯t the most important area of strength for us Tier 1 sses, then be an Enchanter.¡±

    ¡°Enchanter,¡± Luna muttered skeptically while turning towards Kieran. There was little to no information regarding Lifestyle sses except Tailors, Alchemist, and Forgers, as they were the essential tools for organizations seeking to create official guilds.

    ¡°As the name sounds, they can enchant things. Be good enough, and you can create the Growth Enchantment, increasing one¡¯s experience acquisition rate. Of course, it¡¯s challenging to seed in that path, and is generally rmended that magical sses take that path,¡± Kieran shrugged.<sub>-.</sub>

    Again, the party grew suspicious of his abundant knowledge. How could he be so knowledgeable despite the game being just short of a week old?

    ¡°Ah, given how you¡¯re looking at me, it tells me everyone has their suspicions, eh?¡± Kieran chuckled softly before ncing to the side. A low growl exited the ogre¡¯s throat beside him, but a sanguine aura quickly appeared around Kieran¡¯s body.

    The aura converged on his de before creating a chaotic presence. Once that happened, Kieran unleashed a Sanguinem Tempest that quickly burrowed into the ogre¡¯s body. By the time thest tempest pierced the ogre¡¯s bulging stomach, the gaping holes had finished spewing its innards as its body slumped over with a loud thump.

    Although the ogre was in an arguably weakened state, Kieran had aplished in two skills what took Luna¡¯s party a few minutes to perform.

    ¡°All my knowledge is avable inside the city¡¯s public library. If you¡¯re able with enough World Fame, you may even obtain the chance to enter the royal library where information withheld from the public resides. Kind of like how our world works. I mean, what ruling power really tells you everything? There¡¯s power in knowing, so why deny yourself that power?¡± Kieran said with a lighthearted expression.

    It had taken him longer than he would¡¯ve liked, but his eyes were now open to how the real world operated. Nothing was fair, and just as Vice-Leader Hugo said. Some were favored, and those unfortunate enough to be neglected were forced to fend for themselves.

    However, those circumstances admittedly forged the strongest of people. Someone who has had everything handed to them their whole lives will never overwhelm those who had to toil endlessly for their position.

    Thinking about this fact made Kieran¡¯s grip subconsciously tighten. Hisment reminded him of Charles and the Golden Brigade since Charles was the poster child of an individual born with a silver spoon.

    With the rage bubbling up inside him, Kieran could only close his eyes and exhale to the point it sounded like his lungs were rumbling. The sensation was reminiscent of a looming earthquake.<sub></sub>

    Finally, she took one more look at her party before inevitably nodding. ¡°I¡¯ll agree to this venture, but I would like to voice a demand.¡±

    ¡°That being?¡± Kieran questioned while slowly opening his eyes. A ruby sheen radiated from his eyes before subsiding, but it somehow invoked a shred of fear in anyone who glimpsed into his gaze at that time.

    ¡®What is his ss?¡¯ Luna wondered. Although it appeared physical, some of Kieran¡¯s left a deep impression on the mind, a feature only sses specializing in mental abilities, such as an Illusionist, could muster.

    Nevertheless, Luna shook off feeling while confidently voicing her demand. ¡°Since you¡¯re the one that requested my help, I ask that you allow me to have the first pick at the boss loot.¡±

    Immediately, Kieran shook his head. ¡°No. However, in exchange, I¡¯ll offer you this: you can receive two items of my choosing from every significant monster.¡±

    ¡°Significant monster?¡± Luna whispered under her breath. The wording sounded odd to her, so she wasn¡¯t quite sure what it entailed. Kieran was too used to using terms that the guild hade up with to arrange deals during joint efforts. For now, he would have to simply the terms.

    ¡°Ah, allow me to phrase it differently. You may receive one-fifth of all Special Elite and higher monster drops of my choosing. This is my deal instead of the first pick you asked for. Please consider the deal before answering,¡± Kieran said.

    Meanwhile, the others behind him looked at each other in confusion. Nemean, unfamiliar with how deals were carried out in Zenith Online, whispered to Bastion. ¡°Did Aatrox just happen to offer 20% of the spoils? But there¡¯s 10 of us; shouldn¡¯t it just be equally split between all 10 of us and call it a day.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Kieran interjected while ncing at Nemean. ¡°An addition needs to be added topensate for taking her away from her party. You¡¯re considering this a normal situation, but that¡¯s incorrect.¡±

    At first, Nemean was silent, but he soon nodded with an expression of understanding. It seemed Kieran had read more into the situation than he did. Even the other nodded subtly at Kieran¡¯s reasoning.

    After a brief pause, Kieran added another piece of information. ¡°Besides, her addition will being from my portion.¡± Unlike the others in the party, Kieran wasn¡¯t struggling financially like all beginning yers who followed the typical order of progression.

    He possessed a cushion consisting of 10,000 Gold. Compared to this cushion, the worth of the items that coulde from the dungeon seemed insignificant in his eyes. Moreover, it didn¡¯t outweigh the value of opening up the possibility of forming a future alliance, especially with the enemies he would have to faceter on.

    Conversely, while Kieran¡¯s party was somewhat shocked by his offer, Luna was taken aback by his generosity. ¡®Why isn¡¯t he selfish like those whoe into power? This¡­ it doesn¡¯t conform to what I have seen. How do I approach this?¡¯

    While Luna was lost in thought, Luka approached her from behind and gave her a slight nudge followed by a nod.

    Rather than agree as her teammates suggested, Luna sought onest answer. ¡°What about the coins? Money is an indispensable necessity for people like us. Without it, we can¡¯t advance.¡±

    ¡°Twenty percent also,¡± Kieran said without so much as batting an eye. He understood the importance of money at this stage in the game, so he couldn¡¯t denounce Luna for stressing her desire to obtain a portion.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯d be a fool not to ept the offer. Approximately when will we enter this dungeon?¡± Luna questioned.

    ¡°Follow after me. Your party can alsoe; they¡¯ll be useful in clearing out this area,¡± Kieran replied. Afterward, he sent an Alliance Party Request to Luna, to which she agreed. Thus, while the experience would take a 50% reduction because of therge alliance, the speed of clearing out the monsters should suffice.

    In the meantime, Kieran browsed through his Skill Tree to find skills essible to his current level.

    ©°©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    [?True Berserker Skill?]-

    ?Lv.20?

    Berserker¡¯s Burden ¨C B ¨C ?Passive? ¨C 12 SP to learn

    Tormented Beliefs ¨C B ¨C ?Passive? ¨C 12 SP to learn

    Sanguine shes ¨C C ¨C ?Active? ¨C 8 SP to learn

    Crimson Barrage ¨C C ¨C ?Active? ¨C 8 Sp to learn

    ©¸©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    Although only four skills were present since Kieran had yet to reach Lv.25, each of these skills was helpful because they were the True Berserker¡¯s basic skills that Kieran could carry even into thetest of stages. Unlike the skills that received immediate upgrades at the cost of 0 SP, a sweet deal for Kieran given that the upgrades cost several times the SP, basic skills still required the yer to purchase them.

    In total, Kieran ended up sacrificing 40 Skill Points, leaving him with 110 Skill Points for future purchases and upgrades.

    Once he finished with that, Kieran led the others deep into the forest until a new notification appeared before their view.

    ¡´System: You have entered the ?Forest of Marshullum?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 50 World Fame.¡µ

    Upon entering this area, Kieran lifted his sword overhead and braced himself.

    Bang!

    An enormous ogre fell from the sky with its giant fistnding upon Kieran¡¯s defensively held de. Despite losing more than 5% of his Health bar after receiving the attack, Kieran swiftly retaliated by kicking the ogre in the stomach and mming his sword against the air, which caused a deluge of bloody power to burst forward.

 Chapter 90 Delegation and Separation

    ¡ª-

    Almost everyone behind Kieran was taken aback by the sudden appearance of hazy blood that resulted from his attack. They weren¡¯t under the impression that Kieran¡¯s power allowed him to conjure blood from seemingly nothing. However, that impression was wholly incorrect. Believing that Kieran¡¯s abilities stemmed from Mana was somewhat inurate. While Mana served as a fundamental building block of life, Kieran¡¯s ss operated on a different primary source.

    Blood Mania was responsible for most, if not all, of Kieran¡¯s current skills. Hence, the system identified as the True Berserker¡¯s most fundamental skill that could inevitably lead to sovereign abilities like those Scar and Agrianos possessed. While it came with huge drawbacks that failed to be mentioned, it was the principle that allowed Kieran to wield his power in such a way.

    On the other hand, the skill Kieran revealed was known as Crimson Current, which was Force sh¡¯s superior version. The fact it was superior was readily revealed by how it sent the ogre stumbling back, allowing everyone to be once more astounded by the changes to Kieran¡¯s skill arsenal.

    ¡¸Crimson Current (Lv.1)

    Skill Rank: C

    Skill Type: Active

    Mastery (00.25%)

    Description: By condensing the sanguine coating that empowers their weapon, the user can create a burst of blood power that spreads in an outward arc. Abination of Blood Mania¡¯s level and this skill¡¯s level determines the arc¡¯s range. The generated blood arc deals damage equivalent to 850% of the user¡¯s Attack Power + 200% of the user¡¯s Strength. If used on a weakened opponent, there is a chance of increasing Bleed stacks. The duration of each stacksts 5 seconds. [Maximum Stack Increase: 6] (This attack also has a high chance of inflicting a Knockback effect.)

    Consumption: 1% Health and 10 Mana

    Prerequisites: ?Blood Mania?

    Cooldown: 12 seconds ¡¹

    Although this skill was described as the upgraded version of Force sh, that was by far an understatement. Not only had the skill rank increased by two levels, but the base damage inflicted at Lv.1 was also greatly increased. Moreover, the ss upgrade also enhanced its AoE damage with the off chance ofpounding Bleed stacks that Blood Mania enabled.<sub>-.</sub>

    Having pushed back the ogre, Kieran regained his stance. At the same time, inflicting damage upon the ogre revealed its battle information.

    ¡¸Lv.27 Forest Ogre (Champion)

    Goblin Type, Humanoid Type

    Health: 209,900/220,000 (89%)

    Special Traits: ?Pummel? ¡¹

    Naturally, the ogre¡¯s missing Health was thanks to Kieran¡¯s Crimson Current. It had effectively shaven off more than 10% of the monster¡¯s Health with one attack. In terms of burst damage, it was hard to find a ss on par with a True Berserker. As Kieran continued to acquire skills, his burst damage would only amplify ordingly.

    However, Kieran wasn¡¯t entirely interested in doing all of the work. Thus, he disyed his leadership qualities and delegated roles inbat.

    ¡°The further we travel, the more often monsters like this should appear. However, having all of us tackle a single monster is unnecessary. Ideally, our ss promotion should allow us to endure harsherbat, especially those like Nemean, Luka, and Bastion. Thus, I want the four healers present to branch off into different parties. Nemean, you will lead one. Bastion, you will lead another. Luka, take who you are most familiar with,¡± Kieranmanded.

    After a short moment of considering the remaining people, Kieran nced at Luna and Altair, ¡°Altair, you¡¯ll be Luka¡¯s main DPS while Alice will act as the main DPS for Bastion¡¯s party. Luna, whoever your second strongest DPS is, assign that person to Nemean¡¯s party.¡±

    Initially, both Luna and her teammates were stricken with astonishment. They didn¡¯t expect someone who was arguably younger than them to possess the natural aura of a leader. The fluidity and uracy felt natural, which didn¡¯t match his rtively youthful appearance. The way he calmly dictated orders gave the impression that he had battled with these allies for years, gaining an excellent understanding of who synergized the best with one another.

    While she was amazed for a few seconds, rather than marvel at the skills before her, Luna took notes and digested the way Kieran separated roles and matched teammates with bnce in mind. Highlighting key member strengths and weaknesses and creating a subtle ord was a quality that a leading member in any guild couldn¡¯t do without. If she genuinely strived to make a powerful team, there were specific basic skills she couldn¡¯tck.

    Otherwise, as a Guild Leader, how could she set an example for her subordinates?<sub></sub>

    ¡°Second strongest? That¡¯d be Zafir,¡± Lunamented while turning her gaze towards a Swordsman with a typical build. Neither their appearance nor physique warranted second looks, but something about their simple appearance made Kieran nod subtly.

    ¡®Undoubtedly a master of the basics, someone who sticks to the simplistic to aplish the greatest. No wonder they¡¯re the second strongest. If I paid closer attention, I should have been able to pinpoint this while he fought alongside Luna,¡¯ Kieran thought while clicking his tongue.

    Because Kieran held himself to overly stringent standards, he judged any personal slip-up harshly, no matter how minute they may seem.

    Inpliance with Luna¡¯s nod, Zafir unsheathed a sword by his side and brandished it while walking toward Nemean, who continuously mmed his shields together in anticipation. He was itching to go intobat again. Their earlier battle wasn¡¯t enough because it didn¡¯t allow him to disy nearly half of his capabilities.

    With Kieran dealing with most of the enemies, there weren¡¯t many left for him to showcase his worth. However, it was different now since they¡¯d be operating their teams independently.

    While Kieran would still serve as the Alliance Leader, since this content didn¡¯t require micro-managing, there was zero cause for him to do so, which allowed the party leaders to use their discretion.

    Meanwhile, Kieran looked towards who remained. In his party, there was him, Luna, and two long-range yers¡ªa Mage and Archer from Luna¡¯s initial party. Out of the five parties created, Kieran¡¯s was the only one with four members andcked a dedicated healer and tank.

    Despite this circumstance, Kieran was content with his party. After all, his ss tended to reject healing. While Kieran wasn¡¯t sure why this was the case, it¡¯d soon be apparent once he thoroughly familiarized himself with the ss and its shocking history.

    Once the party preparations wereplete, Kieran had them move deeper into the Forest of Marshullum, but not so far as to interfere with any party¡¯s ability to render aid to a struggling party.

    In the meantime, Kieran¡¯s party remained behind to deal with the Forest Ogre before them.

    ¡°I¡¯ll stabilize its aggro and maintain a defensive position. I¡¯ll let you manage your original members while I¡¯m upied with settling the aggro,¡± Kieran said to Luna, who stood near his side.

    Afterward, Kieran rushed forward while Luna raised her dual des in preparation to attack.

    Kieran moved swiftly, avoiding the devastating club blow the ogre haphazardly threw around. The club often struck a tree, causing a loud noise to echo throughout the forest. The sounds alone made some of the parties turn their head in rm.

    ¡°Sheesh, aren¡¯t these ogres kind of strong to produce this kind of volume, no?¡± Nemeanmented to Zafir.

    ¡°The ogre we faced earlier was enough to give trouble. And, it wasn¡¯t a Champion monster like Aatrox said. Are you sure it was a good idea to divvy the numbers like this?¡± Zafir asked in return.

    ¡°Uh, have faith in the additions to each party. I believe they¡¯re enough to create a previouslycking bnce,¡± Nemean answered. His expression was unusually serious despite his generally yful nature. Because he had caught a glimpse of each member¡¯s capabilities, when hepared it to the parties they were injected to, Nemean felt their abilities were enough to carry the team.

    ¡°I hope that is so,¡± Zafir muttered before falling quiet.

    Meanwhile, Kieran continued to test the limits of this ss¡¯s early power.

    Bang!

    Kieran defended with his weapon, losing over 5% of his Health in the process. But, besides the slight soreness felt in the arm used to brace the impact, Kieran was essentially okay.

    Kieran received three of such blows before he became unusually invigorated. A ze of strength flowed through his veins which he released through an extraordinarily savage attack. This burst of savagery left a considerable dent in the ogre¡¯s club, but conversely, cracks spread across the Scarlet Steel Greatsword.

    -31,378

    ¡®These two skills put together are monstrous¡­¡¯ Kieran thought. The two skills mentioned were Wild Crash, the devastating form of Savage Break, and a newly learned passive skill: Tormented Beliefs. Alone, each skill was potent in its own right, but the effects were amplified oncebined!

    ¡¸ Tormented Beliefs (Lv.1)

    Skill Rank: A

    Skill Type: Passive

    Mastery (01.20%)

    Description: Due to the True Berserker¡¯s predisposition for torture, they find pleasure in this sensation. As the user¡¯s Health decreases, their Attack Speed, Attack Power, and Movement Speed will increase ordingly in three phases.

    Phase I: Health > 80% ¨C Increases Attack Power, Attack, and Movement Speed by up to 15%.

    Phase II: Health < 50% ¨C Increases Attack Power, Attack, and Movement Speed by up to 30%.

    Phase III: Health < 25% ¨C Increases Attack Power, Attack, and Movement Speed by up to 60%.

    Consumption: 0 Mana

    Prerequisites: None

    Cooldown: None ¡¹

    ¡¸ Wild Crash (Lv.1)

    Skill Rank: B

    Skill Type: Active

    Mastery (00.00%)

    Description: The user¡¯s weapon is imbued with a destructive power fueled by a burst of savagery. The outburst of incredible power causes damage equal to 960% of the user¡¯s Attack Power in a 20-meter radius. If the attack is sessful, there is a 10% chance of all affected parties suffering a 50% Defense Reduction for the next 10 seconds. (This effect¡¯s potency is bound to increase or decrease in rtion to the opposing side¡¯s level and rank.)

    Consumption: 0.5% Health and 50 Mana

    Prerequisites: Blood Mania

    Cooldown: 35 seconds ¡¹

    Meanwhile, as the Forest Ogre was sent flying backward, Luna rushed up quickly while brandishing her dual des. Rather than stick to the generic daggers employed by Thief sses, Luna opted for the dual de with significantly higher attack power and longer reach at the sacrifice of Attack Speed.

    However, in light of her ss¡¯s inherent speed, she felt this sacrifice was worthwhile. Within two seconds, she unleashed a flurry of attacks that were apanied by precise gales to augment each strike.

    Although Luna¡¯s ss severelycked skills at her current level, her two passive supplemented what shecked by increasing her base damage with a special marking imnted on her body. This produced a type of reaction simr to an Elementalist¡¯s Wind Magic.

    Interspersed throughout their attacks were magic spells and mana-fortified arrowsunched by the Mage and Archer not too far away. Under the barrage of attacksunched by the party of 4, it didn¡¯t take long for the Forest Ogre to fall.

    ¡´System: You have gained 7,920 Experience.¡µ

    While it didn¡¯t drop any equipment, surprisingly, it dropped an abundance of coins that Kieran let Luna have the majority of. Rather than focus on the drops, his primary objective was to move deep enough in the Forest of Marshullum to uncover the source and do so quickly.

 Chapter 91 The Unmentioned Drawback

    ¡ª-

    Although they had a deal, Luna was surprised that Kieran seemed to do even more than he said he would. Initially, Kieran had noted that 20% of the profits would be hers; however, while the Forest Ogre dropped 5 Silver, Kieran only took one personally, leaving aside any remainder and moving forward.

    Taken aback, the Mage and Archer approached Luna¡¯s side. ¡°Team Leader¡­ isn¡¯t that more than the 20% we were promised. Aren¡¯t they too generous?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­ it¡¯s far too generous,¡± Luna muttered with a skeptical glint in her eyes. To her, Kieran was the most unconventional person she hade across. Was this selflessness? Did he not have a selfish bone in his body that every human ought to have? What was the answer? These questions flooded Luna¡¯s mind as she looked at Kieran¡¯s back.

    ¡®This isn¡¯t what I know¡­ this isn¡¯t like the situation in the real world. In my world, everyone only looks out for their best interests and foregoes anyone viewed as weak or disys inferior qualities. They are literally eaten alive and discarded, never to crawl from the depths of despair created in that environment,¡¯ Luna thought.

    Evidently, her background wasn¡¯t small if this was the environment that embodied her childhood and adolescent years. Furthermore, it also wasn¡¯t difficult to infer that said environment yed a prominent role in why her initial attitude was so cold to others, especially those in power. Perhaps this stemmed from some deep-rooted issues that she had yet toe to terms with.

    Until then, it would continue to rule her life and dictate her actions.

    On the other hand, Kieran stopped moving once he sensed no motion behind him. He turned to see Luna and the others right where they started. Although he was quite some distance away, he could still vividly see their expressions.

    Naturally, this was due to the 2 points in Constitution, which affected all the stats in his possession. While it didn¡¯t directly increase the amount of stats present in each category, it intensified the hidden coefficient attached to each stat. This effect was the actual benefit of promoting one¡¯s ss.<sub>-.</sub>

    Even with the same number of stats, a yer or denizen of Xenith, in general, could undergo an astonishing transformation.

    ¡°Are you alling? We¡¯re arguably the strongest party in terms of damage, yet we¡¯re falling behind the others. Doesn¡¯t that kind of set a bad image as the leaders of our respective parties?¡± Kieranmented. He didn¡¯t scream, but with his robust lung capacity, his voice traveled far while remaining clear.

    ¡°Coming!¡± Luna answered back before gesturing for the others to follow. Still, while traveling, they talked amongst themselves, discussing how precarious the situation was. Eventually, Luna started to wonder what Kieran¡¯s angle was. To her, there was no such thing as selflessness without a hidden agenda.

    Once she caught up with Kieran, Luna immediately voiced her concerns, or rather her curiosities. ¡°I thought we agreed on 20%; what happened back there? I¡¯m notining about the extra, but if you¡¯re keeping something hidden from me, I¡¯d like you to clear the air immediately. I dislike secrets very much.¡±

    Kieran nced in her direction momentarily. ¡®Adamant, outspoken and cautious. It seems that arbitrarily modifying the agreement due to our current situation has made her uneasy.¡¯

    Before talking, Kieran cleared his throat. ¡°What you¡¯re talking about is the deal as an entire group. Since we have split up, for the time being, we can all be seen as independent parties. Since it¡¯s a 3:1 split between your original members and me, I have no issue receiving the portion I¡¯ve chosen for now. Is that enough to ease your mind? I¡¯m not trying to take advantage of you. Some people just operate differently with the absence of hostility.¡±

    ¡°Absence of hostility?¡± Luna said with a bewildered expression. To be frank, she didn¡¯t know what that had to do with their current situation.

    ¡°Well, you see, if you had be hostile when I first approached, I would have killed you all just because I have the means and capacity to do so. But, since you showed a mind capable of rational thinking as a leader, I saw no reason to ruin what could be a potential rtionship in the future. Your entire team carries great potential; they just require an even greater leader who realizes their worth to lead them,¡± Kieranmented with a subtle change in his expression.<sub></sub>

    While Luna seemed like a good leader on the surface, Kieran could tell some qualities shecked, but as he was unfamiliar with her, he didn¡¯t know the root of those issues. Thus, he had no right toment on them.

    ¡°So this is only temporary? It¡¯ll return to our prior agreement without any change once we encounter the dungeon?¡± Luna asked in reassurance. After all, she felt Kieran¡¯s words didn¡¯t promise that there¡¯d be no change in the price of her assistance.

    ¡°Exactly, zero change,¡± Kieran nodded. Because they were standing so close, Kieran could feel Luna sighing in relief. Apparently, this agreement meant more to her than Kieran believed. Granted, Kieran wasn¡¯t sensitive to things like grander difficulties like others were.

    To him, entering those higher-ranked dungeons was ordinary, given his invested history.

    Once her worries were settled, their speed increased exponentially. On their path heading deeper into the Forest of Marshullum, Kieran¡¯s party came across at least 5 Forest Orges. Unlike before, however, instead of only one ogre appearing, they now appeared in pairs, making it rtively difficult to handle.

    But, given that Kieran¡¯s Health continuously dropped during times of no battle, it had fallen below 50%. This naturally gave Kieran a boost in Attack Power, Attack Speed, and Movement Speed! And, since both Blood Mania and Tormented Belief¡¯s effects applied with zero conflict, Kieran¡¯s current Attack Power surpassed 1,680.

    Even Kieran¡¯s basic attacks dealt over 1,000 damage despite the ogre¡¯s having over 700 Defense, which was unusual. Combat in Zenith Online mainly focused on skills rather than basic attacks, which was why Defense applied the way it did. Basic attacks were designed to be filler, not the primary source of damage in any type ofbat.

    However, with the Goblin yer title in his possession, Kieran upset the natural bnce between basic attacks and Defense. What¡¯s more, these types of monsters didn¡¯t stand a chance against Kieran once he unleashed his powerful skills.

    Whenever a Wild Crash or Crimson Current appeared, the opposing Forest Ogres would suffer immense damage to the point Luna and her party member thought three people were simultaneously dealing damage.

    ¡®How is his damage so much greater than the rest? What type of ss garners this much damage? Also¡­ why does it feel as if he¡¯s in pain most of the time?¡¯ Luna wondered. Whenever Kieran executed a skill, his face would contort slightly, which only happened amid pain or difort.

    Naturally, using one¡¯s blood as fuel for attacking wasn¡¯t the most delightful circumstance. After activating Blood Mania, two things happened that made this possible. One, an inexplicable connection between man and weapon formed by creating a sanguine link.

    Second, two symbols reminiscent of demonic eyes surfaced on the back of Kieran¡¯s palm. Because of their appearance, a slit opened across Kieran¡¯s palm that wouldn¡¯t heal until he deactivated the Blood Mania skill. If someone were to look at his hands, they¡¯d most likely be ovee with fright as it was a gruesome sight to behold.

    The longer Kieran wielded this power, the more he felt Isadora¡¯s warning was said in good faith. This power was a torment in and of itself. It was up to the individual whether the power it granted was worth the pain it bestowed.

    Whoosh!

    Suddenly, Luna sped past Kieran, who seemed to be somewhat lost in thought while trying to set aside the pain of having his Health drain to a dangerous level because of his skills. The skill detail didn¡¯t reveal this information, but every stage amplified the internal pain felt because it invoked a portion of the slumbering Ancient Volcanic Ichor used to forge his body.

    Naturally, given that it was a creation concocted from Ancient and Mythic items, Kieran¡¯s current Constitution wasn¡¯t tempered to withstand this amplified pain for prolonged periods of time. As a result, Kieran growled in pain, almost sounding like a wounded beast.

    ¡®I should have expected this¡­ no power this immense woulde at a small cost,¡¯ Kieran thought. Moreover, he recalled the advice given by Scar: grow quickly. This wasn¡¯t because of impatience; it was because Kieran¡¯s body had practically turned into a ticking time bomb!

    To inherit theplete mantle, he needed to grow and do so exceptionally faster than those at the same level. Otherwise, once the Ancient Volcanic Ichor awoke from its slumber, Kieran could face potential destruction.

    Tang! Tang! Tang!

    Luna¡¯s dual des collided against the ogre¡¯srge ws several times as she tried to veer the attack away from Kieran, who remained in a daze. No matter how high his Defense or Attack Power was, if hit in a vulnerable state, Kieran would undoubtedly sustain severe injuries.

    However, because Luna¡¯s Attack Power paled inparison to Kieran¡¯s, she couldn¡¯t withstand the weight of the ogre¡¯s attack without losing her footing. For her to aplish that, she¡¯d have to greatly increase her Strength.

    Fortunately, just as she was about to be sent flying back, Kieran moved his hand forward and braced her upper back. This made Luna shiver and freeze for a moment. She hadn¡¯t expected to be touched by an unfamiliar person, even if it were to assist her. But just as quickly as he aided her, Kieran removed his hand and stepped forth while exhaling.

    He finally mustered the willpower to subdue the pain, and with that came the ability to resume battle.

    Bang!

    The forest floor shook as Kieran¡¯s return to the battlefield was arge one. Three giant tempests of blood energy denser than Kieran¡¯s previous use pierced through the Forest Ogre and the tree it was thrust into.

    ¡´System: You have gained 7,920 Experience.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have leveled up! [Lv.23 ¡ú Lv.24]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 12 UAP and 8 SP.¡µ

    ¡°Is everything okay, Team Leader?¡± the Mage asked while approaching Luna with a worried expression. She remained frozen in the same position as earlier, with a shred of trepidation filling her eyes.

    However, once the female Mage touched her shoulder, Luna seemed to rx and release the trepidations that chained her down. ¡°I¡¯m okay, Ste; thank you.¡±

    Meanwhile, this didn¡¯t escape Kieran¡¯s attention. ¡®That¡¯s odd¡­ does she think that I have cooties or something?¡¯ He was genuinely curious about what just happened, but after locking eyes with Luna and seeing her avert her gaze, Kieran decided to avoid doing so.

    Perhaps she wasn¡¯t the stoic leader he believed her to be. It appeared there were demons to deal with if she was to shed her constraints and emerge superior to her old self.

 Chapter 92 Underground Labyrinth

    ¡ª-

    After the unusual ordeal between Luna and Kieran, the party¡¯s atmosphere became quite strained, but not for the reasons one may think. Rather than resenting Kieran, Luna felt ashamed of herself since she had shown an unsightly weakness to others. However, the touch of a man had triggered some repressed resentments that she tried to sever from herself.

    Sadly, one couldn¡¯t sever themselves from their subconscious, at least not at this level. That was a practice of mental prowess not exhibited by humans. Even in Kieran¡¯s past, he found it difficult to separate himself from subconscious actions. Naturally, this meant he was never inplete control of himself.

    Complete control also included control of the subconscious, as that was just another part of an individual that truly defined them. Certain stimuli could trigger the subconscious in the most severe of situations, leading to the emergence of an individual¡¯s most primal form.

    Nevertheless, the current state of the party¡¯s atmosphere didn¡¯t matter much to Kieran. They were all, for the most part, adults here; if they weren¡¯t mature enough to set aside any current issues toplete their task, then he didn¡¯t know what else to say.

    To Kieran, arguing and bickering was for the weak-minded and the immature, two kinds of people who would fail as leaders one hundred percent of the time. Besides, he was more concerned with why the number of ogres essentially vanished after crossing a certain threshold.

    It should have followed the earlier pattern of elevating numbers, but that wasn¡¯t the case. ¡®Am I missing something here?¡¯ Kieran wondered. A sudden change in monster behavior or spawn rates was never a good sign.

    To verify his concerns, Kieran nced at a tree not too far away and ran towards it. Flinging his weapon forward, he created a foothold in the side of the branchless tree and used it to jump up and pierce the tree at the height of his bound.

    After repeating this a few times, he neared the top of the tree and gained a bird¡¯s eye view that allowed him to absorb the forest¡¯sndscape. In his view, only a few remaining ogres roamed the woods, but the others and their respective party quickly gained on every ogre in his vision.<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡®Is it just me, or does the number of monsters seem awfully low for the scope of the quest? Certainly, the quest hasn¡¯t modified the number of monsters. Could a quest even have that ability?¡¯ Kieran thought.

    As far as he was concerned, a quest¡¯s objectives should only detail ongoing events that required resolution. It shouldn¡¯t have the power to arbitrarily change the respawn rate and other factors rting to a location. If so, then the power of a quest was more significant than what he could currently envision.

    After all, from what Kieran remembered, ogres should have thoroughly inhabited this area. Ogres should fill every quadrant of the forest. Furthermore, at least hundreds of ogres should be assigned to each location.

    Combined, the parties tackled less than a hundred. And, because such a vast distance separated them, the party bonus that should be active entered a dormant state.

    Because of this, the experience everyone gained wasn¡¯t reinforced by the Party Bonus. Had Kieran known this information, he wouldn¡¯t have told everyone to go their separate ways.

    ¡®I guess my knowledge is too reliant upon the most updated systems. The initial systems aren¡¯t as refined as the one¡¯s in my memory,¡¯ Kieran thought. If it were the version he was familiar with, the distance separating members would no longer be a limitation on the Party Bonus System.

    Regardless, Kieran could only shrug aside the amateur blunder and jump down from the tree. Surprisingly, he suffered no fall damage when hended on the ground. There was a momentary ache in his legs from the impact, but that quickly subsided.

    ¡°We need to meet up with the others quickly, so follow me. It seems I have made a small mistake,¡± Kieran said while gesturing for the others to keep up. He didn¡¯t run too quickly with his current boost in movement speed. He moved at a brisk pace to cover good ground but not so fast as to overwhelm the other three. This helped the Mage and Archer to remain rtively close without drastically exhausting their stamina.<sub></sub>

    Roughly 30 minutester, Kieran reconvened before the others in front of arge cave entrance. However, a few inconsistencies made Kieran suspect this wasn¡¯t just a cave. One, no monsters were guarding it.

    If it were an ordinary cave in which something dwelled, there would undoubtedly be monsters stationed at the entrance to guard whatever may rest inside, even if it were a powerful monster that outssed the designated guards.

    Two, the cave gave off zero presence. Even with hisparatively high Perception, Kieran didn¡¯t sense the presence of any monsters. Still, to be safe, Kieran had everyone aside from Luna¡¯s extra members join back into one central Alliance Party so that the system recognized them as one unit.

    ¡°From the looks of it, it should be rtively safe for you all to stay here and await our return. I don¡¯t think the ogres will respawn since it has been more than 30 minutes with zero change,¡± Kieran said.

    ¡°So, we just wait here?¡± Luka asked while looking from Luna to Kieran.

    ¡°Possibly. But, if you have other matters to tend to, that would be a good alternative. I can¡¯tment on how long our run will take or what awaits us,¡± Kieran answered.

    ¡°Wait, what?¡± Nemean blinked in confusion. ¡°From what Bastion said, he made it seem like you were certain about this dungeon. What about all that talk of an Insane Mode dungeon earlier?¡±

    ¡°That was kind of a general speech. All dungeons above Lv.20 have the capacity to reach Insane Mode. However, as I explored this area, it hase to my attention that my knowledge isn¡¯t as precise as I hoped. I can¡¯t say for certain whether this cave truly is a dungeon,¡± Kieran answered calmly.

    He looked Nemean in the eyes without a hint of wariness. After a brief pause, he continued. ¡°If that¡¯s an issue, I can have Luka rece you. If you have other matters to tend to, let me know now. Thest thing we¡¯d need is someone in a forefront position with split attention.¡±

    ¡°Nah, I¡¯m staying, but I was just saying. I thought this was a definite endeavor supported by confirmed knowledge,¡± Nemean muttered while crossing his arms as a disy of certainty.

    ¡°Circumstances change. The best we can do is learn to be fluid so that we are least affected by them,¡± Kieran said. Afterward, he went around the party to ascertain everyone was on the same page.

    Once he was ensured they were, Kieran was the first to enter the spacious cave. Contrary to his expectations, there was no change or notification from the game system. Theck of reaction struck Kieran as odd because if it was a dungeon, it should trigger a response as soon as he came across the entrance.

    ¡®Is this not a dungeon? Or¡­ could the entrance be further inside?¡¯ Kieran wondered. To receive more visual feedback in this particrly dark space, Kieran enhanced his vision with copious amounts of Mana. Different from before, when he did this, his eyes released an amethyst spark that dissipated in an instant.

    The cave¡¯s interior became apparent, and what Kieran saw left him baffled. A trail of small bones was strewn between various-sized pebbles, and skulls that formed altars littered the pathway. Only one path was paved from this unusually graphic scenery, and from how it was shaped, it has unmistakably led to an important location deep inside.

    The presence of Kieran felt, or theck thereof, led Kieran to call the others after him. Their advance was cautious but quick, remaining keen on any hiding space or possible forks in the pathway.

    Soon enough, Kieran extended his arm and stopped Nemean, who followed behind him. The abrupt stop came as a surprise, but the hollow and distant echo of ttering made Nemean look down with widened eyes. A cavernous drop with only an aged spiraling stairway leading down remained before them.

    Had he taken another step, he would have been finished! The drop would undoubtedly result in the yer¡¯s demise.

    ¡°Whose great idea was this? Why would there be such a huge distance separating the stairs on each side? Also¡­ isn¡¯t this at least three times the cave itself?¡± Bastion eximed while looking over the edge.

    ¡°We¡¯ve made it,¡± Kieran said. As he stopped Nemean, he also happened to step on the first descending step. This caused a message to appear before Kieran¡¯s iris.

    ¡´System: You have entered the grounds of the Secret Dungeon ?Underground Labyrinth?!¡µ

    ©°©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    ?Underground Labyrinth?

    Rmended Level: 23 ¨C 29

    Rmended Party Size: 10

    Maximum Party Size: 10

    Difficulty: Normal ¨C Insane

    Chosen Difficulty: Disabled

    Do you wish to enter? [ Y / N ]?

    ©¸©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    ¡®Wait¡­ disabled?¡¯ Kieran thought to himself. There was only one situation in which a party would be prohibited from choosing a specified difficulty. The dungeon was already assigned a difficulty that couldn¡¯t be tampered with! However, what unsettled Kieran was the fact that this situation should only appear in dungeons with a peculiar boss.

    Was it boss for such a boss to appear this early on? If so, Kieran felt a Gold Adventurer Badge was too little a reward. Were the stakes this high already?

    Although Kieran was doubtful, he could overlook that this was a Secret Dungeon, not simply a Special one. A Secret Dungeon was simr to a Special Dungeon, except it could only be unlocked by fulfilling the circumstances to reveal it. In Kieran¡¯s case, it was the Adventurer Guild¡¯s request.

    Since he had already wasted time reaching this ce, Kieran felt he would be a fool to turn back now. Thus, without any further hesitation, Kieran took a second step forward. This immediately delivered a notification to everyone in the party.

    ¡´System: You have stepped upon the ?Bottomless Stairway? leading to the ?Underground Labyrinth¡¯s? 1st floor.¡µ

 Chapter 93 Bottomless Stairway

    ¡ª-

    ¡°Bottomless Stairway?¡± Bastion muttered in apparent confusion. He looked around at the others while tilting his head. ¡°What type of staircase is named this way if it only leads to a floor below?¡±

    ¡°A bottomless one,¡± Nemean interjected with a smug smile.

    Bastion growled at thement and narrowed his eyes with an intent to pounce on Nemean. However, Kieran snapped his fingers to gain the attention of everyone in the party.

    ¡°This is a Secret Dungeon, meaning something makes it different from normal dungeons. You all need to remain vignt and recognize any unusual changes that may escape the attention of other party members. If I somehow overlook something, bring it to my attention immediately,¡± Kieran said with a stern expression.

    Naturally, given that this dungeon didn¡¯t allow him to choose the difficulty, he needed the party to air on the side of caution. The floor¡¯s difficulty could change on a whim without them being all the wiser, especially since Secret Dungeons tended to withhold vital information hence the inclusion of ¡°secret¡± in its name.

    ¡°Alright, I hear you loud and clear, captain,¡± Bastion eximed before saluting as if he was a soldier. But, as he did so, Alice simply shook her head behind him before ncing to the side to observe their current setting.

    As they followed behind Kieran, descending the spiraling stairway quickly but cautiously, Alice soon realized that an unusual torch lit up only once they passed by. Generally, a feature like this was akin to checkpoint registration.

    But, since this wasn¡¯t a game where a yer could necessarily anchor a spot as a resurrection point, Alice felt these torches possessed another feature. Since she manned the absolute rear of the team, she took a step back and momentarily separated from the group.

    As she did so, she tried to leave the dungeon, but it was as if a barrier prohibited her from doing so. No matter how hard she pressed her hand forward, it felt like a light film of extraordinary strength rebounded the force she used. A slight frown appeared across Alice¡¯s charming yet indifferent face as she turned back towards the others who continued downward.<sub>-.</sub>

    A few secondster, she called out to them. ¡°Guys, there¡¯s something.¡±

    Alice remained unusually calm despite the situation that would cause others to freak out.

    Nevertheless, because she, the one who rarely spoke, had called out to others, the entire party reacted.

    ¡°What is it, Alice?¡± Bastion shouted while rapidly turning around. However, his worry deted when he saw Alice¡¯s neutral expression. ¡®Is this damned girl ying a joke or something? Since when has she started ying jokes?¡¯

    Bastion¡¯s thought process was only so because he failed to sense the restriction that activated just millimeters away from Alice¡¯s extended hand.

    ¡°We are stuck. We aren¡¯t allowed to retreat. I¡¯ve tried to do so, but I think this is one of those ces where it only allows advancement or death,¡± Alice spoke while slowly retracting her hand. She rubbed her fingers together but remained at a loss for words. ¡®I feel no Mana residue, so it mustn¡¯t be a trapped realized through Mana. If that is so, is it something imposed by the game system?¡¯

    After bing a recognized Mage, Alice¡¯s familiarity with Mana skyrocketed. Furthermore, because she appropriately unlocked her affinity with Mana, she could ¡°see¡± it to a certain extent. However, calling it sight would be an overestimation. Alice would need to acquire an ocr ability powerful enough to utilize her affinity¡¯s full potential and reach that level of Mana sensitivity. In her current state, as a normal human, the odds of Alice improving her ocr ability to see Mana in its purest form were extremely slim.

    Even Kieran couldn¡¯t do that despite having some experience as an Awakened Being, both in the past and during his fight against Zirgirak¡¯s Phantom.

    ¡°Is that so? So that¡¯s how this is going to y out?¡± Kieran muttered after understanding the current situation. If the game denied retreating from the dungeon, it was possible that it¡¯d disappear altogether. This meant the opportunity toplete this Secret Dungeon would potentially vanish along with that action.<sub></sub>

    While the ¡°source of the quest¡± would remain inside this dungeon, the reason for itsbel as a Secret Dungeon would disappear. Simply put, this could very well turn into a regr dungeon if the party made a dire error.

    As for Kieran¡¯s discovery, it was rted to the dungeon¡¯s difficulty structure. Typically, dungeons that restricted retreat followed the same organization as adder tournament. In other words, the difficulty was bound to increase but required clearance to gain entry to the following floor.

    However, in the event of death, there were two options for rewards: either all rewards obtained thus far would be forfeited to continue, or the progress was frozen and allowed yers to pick rewards from those already acquired.

    Of course, there were also such dungeons with reduced rewards, but they guaranteed rewards per floor. While Kieran was unsure of the reward pattern, he was confident that because of the dungeon¡¯s initial entrance interface, it was a dungeon that grew progressively harder.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do. Our best bet now is to advance and see what this ce has in store for us,¡± Kieran said before passing through the team. He resumed their descent down the stairs but did so even faster than before. The only reason for doing so was because such dungeons tend to only have monsters on designated floors and not inside their transport pathways.

    Once Kieran sped up, the others followed suit, quickly descending the stairs. After five minutes of rapid movement, Bastion gradually frowned. ¡°I understand why it¡¯s called the Bottomless Stairway. When the hell are we going to reach the bottom? Traveling down a set of stairs for five minutes is insane!¡±

    ¡°I agree. If it weren¡¯t for the threat of death, I¡¯d take my chances and jump inside that gaping hole in the middle,¡± Altairmented.

    ¡°That¡¯s a death wish. What¡¯s to say that some type of restriction doesn¡¯t await that action? You could be killed before you even reach the ground. Just be patient. We¡¯ll reach the bottom soon enough,¡± Kieran said while ncing to the side.

    His deep eyes shifted throughout the staircase, revealing a change in environment at the bottom. ¡®At least 100,000 steps. How far below the Aeredale Kingdom are we?¡¯

    Roughly two minutester, Kieran¡¯s attention suddenly shifted, followed by an abrupt leap covering the chasm¡¯s entire span separating the staircase¡¯s two sides.

    ¡°Shhh,¡± Kieran gestured by covering his lip. As he looked below, he saw an unusual ogre pacing around the staircase¡¯s bottom as if it was guarding something. Despite the distance that separated him from this monster, something put him on high alert that couldn¡¯t be shrugged aside.

    ¡®It isn¡¯t the monster¡¯s rank that¡¯s unsettling me. Then¡­ what is it?¡¯ Kieran wondered. As Blood Mania activated, he immediately drew his weapon, allowing a bloody presence to seep from his body. The crimson hue reappeared in his eyes as Kieran looked to Nemean and signaled for him to approach first.

    Nemean returned an excited grin before slowly elerating to the edge of the step he walked upon. Once at the ledge, he brandished both shields before leaping explosively. Aside from this action, he made no noise so as not to alert the monster below prematurely.

    However, despite his effort to ensure that the monster below wouldn¡¯t detect him too early on, as his shadow grewrger on the ground below, the monster snapped its head up, revealing two dangerous eyes.

    BANG!

    A loud explosion reverberated throughout the area as the hulking ogre¡¯s massive fist smashed against Nemean¡¯s two shields, forcing him backward. Upon watching this unfold, Bastion¡¯s expression grew fierce as he followed behind, leading his actions with a Guardian Rush.

    This skill allowed him to dash to any individual deemed as an ally. While under the effects of this skill, the Guardian Knight¡¯s movement speed would increase by 300%. At that precise moment, Bastion¡¯s speed surpassed Altair¡¯s peak, arriving in front of Nemean before the ogre could begin its pursuit.

    Bang! Bang!

    Two more powerful punches bombarded Bastion¡¯s shield, but unlike Nemean, he remained stable while suffering silently.

    ¡®An ogre with no weapon whatsoever that specializes in Strength?¡¯ Kieran inwardly noted. Generally, ogres carriedrge weapons to entuate their destructive damage. The fact this onecked any weapon at all was unusual.

    Nevertheless, Kieran found theck of other monsters even more abnormal.

    As Kieran moved to join the battle, a soft green cluster of pleasant energy passed by him and encased Bastion, healing arge amount of the Health lost.

    ¡¸Lv.28 Mindless Bombarder (Mini-Boss)

    Goblin Type, Humanoid Type

    Health: 300,000/300,000 (100%)

    Special Traits: ?Toughen? ?Robust? ?Explosive? ¡¹

    ¡°Be careful; it¡¯s a Mini-Boss level monster. Even Champion Monsters don¡¯tpare to it in terms of attributes,¡± Kieran said. All the while, his mind continued to question this floor¡¯s set difficulty. Could it be set at Normal, or could the baseline be set even higher?

    If it was thetter, facing off against a Mini-Boss this early on would be the least of their problems.

    Cough! Cough!

    Nemean shook off the damage received earlier while coughing and returning to Bastion¡¯s side. ¡°That monster isn¡¯t natural. Its attacks somehow radiated throughout my entire body, or I wouldn¡¯t have been thrown back like that.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, the power of its blows is excessive. Its traits allpound on one another to create a severe effect. As for why its attacks feel this way, it¡¯s simr to how your entire body hurts after being in a car crash. The weight of its attack is distributed throughout your body. Otherwise, those attacks would inflict much greater damage, probably more than you could handle,¡± Kieran exined.

    Afterward, Kieran frowned while sensing something amiss with his body. ¡®Is that the reason I felt that threat earlier? Do I not have as much time as I believed?¡¯

    Zenith Online¡¯s early state exceeded Kieran¡¯s expectations in terms of poption. Once enough active yers were outside the Beginner Zone, the world would face its first extensive natural upgrade. At that time, battles like this would be more demanding.

    ¡°Nemean, Bastion; handle this ogre¡¯s attacks together. Sithik, Cygnus; focus most of your heals on Bastion but be mindful of Nemean¡¯s Health. Sera, make sure to prioritize Bastion¡¯s Health,¡± Kieran ordered

    Everyone nodded, epting their instruction. In unison, Nemean and Bastion rushed forward, each activating a defensive skill that amplified the effects of their natural Defense.

    At the same time, Kieran lifted his de. There were still a few skills in his possession that he had yet to reveal. If this ce was truly as difficult as he presumed, then it wasn¡¯t a ce where he could withhold anything in his arsenal.

    After all, monsters at this level possessed Magical Defense. Therefore, magic sses like Mages weren¡¯t as powerful as they were in the Beginner Zone.

 Chapter 94 First Floors Difficulty

    ¡ª-

    With Nemean and Bastion leading the team¡¯s defensive front, the remaining party members were free to inflict damage at the most reasonable times. Because of the risk present with each long-range attack, Alice prioritized uracy over mindlesslyunching spells.

    If she wasn¡¯t careful, there was a chance that she¡¯d hit Nemean or Bastion and significantly reduce the party¡¯s ability to defend. While it was a genuinely limiting circumstance, Kieran would rather it be present than absent. If this notion of friendly fire wasn¡¯t present, it would remove arge percentage of the realism added to each fight.

    Meanwhile, because Kieran understood how to navigate a battle in a way that wouldn¡¯t inhibit his party member¡¯s actions, he didn¡¯t stay in one position for too long, nor did he allow the Mindless Bombarder to shift its aggro away from Bastion or Nemean.

    Still, both Nemean and Bastion¡¯s Health turned into exaggerated rollercoasters with incredible peaks and valleys. They couldn¡¯t understand how one monster could deal such excessive damage despite their increased Defense fortified by their more robust Constitutions.

    ¡°Every hit is like being on the receiving end of sledgehammer strikes while using an aluminum pan to defend,¡± Bastion said while wincing from the impact of the Mindless Bombarder¡¯s punches.

    ¡°That¡­ sounds about right. If not for our shield being as sturdy as they are, I¡¯m sure they would have broken or at least have lost a tremendous amount of durability,¡± Nemean remarked while switching positions with Bastion.

    Although both their Health and Defense were remarkably high, they couldn¡¯t withstand the Mindless Bombarder¡¯s endless stream of heavy attacks. The residual soreness that didn¡¯t naturally ur in most game environments umted quickly.

    Because of this, some adverse effects began to appear, such as increased Stamina consumption and weakened Health and Stamina regeneration rates.<sub>-.</sub>

    Upon noticing their ailments that not even the heals from Sera, Sithik or Cygnus could correct, Kieran rushed forth at a speed that made him appear as a crimson blur. Kieran knew all too well that there were some monsters specially tuned to deal with tanks and their defensive skills. When going against those monsters, one needed an equally strong offense or superior Defense.

    As Kieran dashed forward with the Scarlet Steel Greatsword in hand, his Health decreased by a noticeable amount as the bloodyyer coating the de seethed. Just as the Mindless Bombarder¡¯s fist was about to make contact with Bastion¡¯s shield, a powerful Crimson Current swept down from overhead due to the angle Kieranunched the attack.

    This immediately caused the Mindless Bombarder to shift its attention away from Bastion as it sensed impending danger. While the monster only seemed capable of thoughtless battering before this action, it seemed it wasn¡¯t as simpleminded as Kieran assumed.

    Regardless of its ability to defend or sense danger, Kieran¡¯s attacks weren¡¯t exactly the type that could be guarded against, especially when the opponent was a fleshly monster like this overgrown ogre.

    Numerous cuts appeared on the Mindless Bombarder¡¯s fist as it roared in pain. Its eyes shed with anger as it bared its gruesome teeth with putrid fluids spewing from its mouth. Many of Kieran¡¯s party members winced in disgust.

    ¡°Jesus Christ! Brush your damned teeth. Ever heard of toothpaste? That breath is foul!¡± Altair eximed while wretching inside the ash-grey scarf covering half of his face.

    ¡°Uh, sir, you know this is a monster, right? Please exin how it would have ess to something like toothpaste?¡± Nemean remarked while giving Altair a side nce. Instead of returning an answer, Altair could only chuckle wryly.

    On the other hand, Kieran didn¡¯t pay their conversation any mind. He was focused solely on the enemy before him. After the Crimson Current made contact and Kierannded in front of Bastion, he followed up with a Fury Rush.<sub></sub>

    Because of the small window between the two attacks, the ovepped damage values appeared almost simultaneously.

    Despite the monster¡¯s abundant Health, nearly 15% of it was robbed by Kieran¡¯s two attacks. Unlike before, however, Kieran didn¡¯t pause his attack after these two skills. The blood coating surrounding the Scarlet Steel Greatsword thinned out and sharpened simultaneously, creating a sight to behold. It was as if the sword had morphed into a different weapon entirely.

    Sadly, this wasn¡¯t a form that could be maintained. Instead, it was the prelude to one of the True Berserker¡¯s most basic attack skills. While Scar trained tirelessly to master the foundation for this skill, Kieran performed it naturally because he had ess to a yer¡¯s subtle learning curve.

    Once. Twice. Thrice.

    Kieran shed his sword without pausing or having apse in his attack¡¯s flow. In an instant, six ovepping scars appeared on the Mindless Bombarder¡¯s fist. Because of the depth of each cut, once Kieran shed his weapon a seventh time, the monster¡¯s fingers fell to the ground as the others stared at Kieran with an incredulous expression and their mouth agape.

    ¡°We can do that?! We can chop monsters¡¯ fingers off?¡± Sithik muttered in exasperation.

    ¡°Why not? If I¡¯m not mistaken, isn¡¯t there a Harvester trade skill? Harvesting includes skinning, deboning, and dissecting live things? If that¡¯s in the game, then why wouldn¡¯t we be able to mutte fleshly monsters?¡± Alice answered in a matter-of-fact tone.

    Altair, Bastion, Nemean, and Sithik turned toward her while silently blinking. Neither of them understood how she could indifferently utter the word muttion with absolutely no reaction.

    ¡°Yo, do you think we have a serial killer in our midst? That¡¯s not normal¡­ she¡¯s not normal,¡± Nemean whispered in a voice that only those nearby could hear.

    ¡°Serial killer? Eh¡­ Alice is a little weird and detached, but I wouldn¡¯t go as far to say that she¡¯s a serial killer¡­¡± Bastion said. However, as he said that, he nced back at Alice, who gave him a nk look while angling her head to the side. The partially nk stare made Bastion revisit Nemean¡¯sment. ¡°You know, maybe a serial killer. Not too sure anymore.¡±

    ¡°I concur,¡± Altair whispered as well.

    Finally, Kieran could no longer take their small talk and red at them. ¡°Are we here to fool around or gain experience and better items? Focus on defeating the enemy. I¡¯ve already dealt with its dominant side. Watch forpensation in its movements.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Altair eximed. He instantly dismissed the yfulness and adopted a cold and focused expression, one befitting of a person who chose the character path of an Assassin.

    As Altair moved, a few ck trails followed him that blended into a smoky darkness. Once they appeared, Altair¡¯s presence first vanished, followed by his visibility. His seeping into the darkness was part of his ss¡¯s unique skill, Shadow Strafepounded with Vanish. When used in unison, it achieved effects simr to Stealth.

    The only drawback was that it wasn¡¯t as powerful as Stealth in terms of concealment. If used on an enemy with extremely sensitive perception, they would still be able to sense his iing attack.

    However, it was more than enough against a monster such as the Mindless Bombarder that didn¡¯t specialize in sensory abilities. While Nemean and Bastion reimed their positions as the main line of Defense, several thread-like cuts appeared on the back of the oversized ogre¡¯s arms.

    ¡®It¡¯s skin is so tough. How can Kieran cut it so cleanly despite his weapon being on the verge of shattering? In contrast, my daggers are well taken care of. I guess this is the difference between flimsy daggers and mighty greatswords. Aparison no man should ever have to make, heh,¡¯ Altair noted to himself.

    While he dealt supplemental damage, Luna stepped forth after quietly observing the party¡¯s charisma. Although it wasn¡¯t the best she had witnessed and was greatlycking inparison to established guilds, to her, everyone possessed malleable personalities that surrounded an anchor.

    ¡®If he doesn¡¯t remain so closed off, he has the abilities to meld these guys into experts at the very least. None of them, aside from these two healers,ck an expert gamer¡¯s foundational skills,¡¯ Luna thought.

    From what she saw, Kieran usually tried to solve the issues alone. He didn¡¯t necessarily have the other persist through the difficulty. While Luna understood that he might be impatient to get the job done, it could be hurtful in the long run if everyone became used to him amending any hardship they faced.

    ¡®That could be parasitic rather than a mutual rtionship,¡¯ Luna thought. Because of the lessons deeply ingrained in her, Luna didn¡¯t assist her teammates at the slightest inconvenience. It took grave danger for her to substitute member roles in her party.

    Finally, after giving a mental evaluation of her temporary teammates, Luna exhaled and sprung into action beside Kieran, who seemed to resort to purely physical attacks for the time being.

    Although the Mindless Bombarder was meant to be a sizeable obstacle for any party brave enough to tackle this Secret Dungeon, once the team found their rhythm, its Health was mowed down rather quickly, with Luna delivering the final blow.

    ¡´System: You have gained 54,985 Experience.¡µ

    ¡°Pheww,¡± Bastion whistled. ¡°That¡¯s some fine experience. Fighting stronger monsters, while difficult, really is worth it. At this rate, we¡¯ll level up soon.¡±

    Unfortunately, Kieran wasn¡¯t in the same situation. His experience requirement wasn¡¯t as lenient as the rest. Because his ss¡¯s potential was so high, the system gave a befitting limitation¡ªthe tripled experience requirement mentioned before.

    Nevertheless, Kieran wasn¡¯t concerned with the matters of his experience. Instead, he was more interested in the movements Luna showcased. Compared to the ones she used against the ogre outside of the Forest of Marshullum, the ones employed now was a notch above.

    ¡°Were you formally trained inbat arts? Why do you move like a trained practitioner?¡± Kieran asked. In terms of flexibility and fluidity of her attacks, she was on par with Altair.

    ¡°Yes and no,¡± Luna replied. Both her expression and answer were unusual. How could the answer to a question simultaneously be yes and no?¡±

    The corner of Kieran¡¯s lip lifted while his eyebrows furrowed. ¡°Exin?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s like I said. My fighting style is inspired by world-ss fighters and trainers who haven¡¯t formally train me. I watched and practiced by myself. Hence, why I said yes and no.¡±

    ¡°Odd,¡± Kieran muttered. Usually, fighters of that caliber wouldn¡¯t allow people to spy on their training routes. In fact, they would only train in private and secluded areas to reduce the risk of exposingbinations meant to be hidden cards.

    Despite how odd the situation sounded to Kieran he didn¡¯t press the matter. Instead, the team proceeded forward after divvying up the loot from the Mindless Bombarder.

    Approximately 10 minutester, a notification appeared before everyone.

    ¡´System: The ?Underground Labyrinth¡¯s? first floor set to Normal Difficulty has been cleared.¡µ

    ¡´System: A path to the second floor has appeared. All monsters will be modified to fit the standard of a Difficult dungeon.¡µ

 Chapter 95 A Leaders Input

    ¡ª-

    ¡®That was a normal setting? A single Mini-Boss level monster? I hope it doesn¡¯t follow this pattern. If so, it¡¯d be tough to level up beforeing across the truly difficult enemies,¡¯ Kieran thought while dismissing the notifications before him.

    Although Kieran spected that this floor was inherently set to mimic a Normal Mode dungeon, it didn¡¯t feel that way. Kieran only entertained this earlier thought when he noticed theck of other monsters.

    With the system¡¯s confirmation, he no longer had reason to specte about its difficulty. Conversely, he now wondered how many floors this secret dungeon possessed.

    Unlike the spiraling stairway that first greeted the party, the walkway now couldn¡¯t be called stairs. They were more like ramps for disabled people to traverse inclined spaces easily. The only difference was that they were angled down and situated beside one another.

    So, while Kieran descended one half of the walkway, his peripheral vision could still see the others following behind him at anguid pace.

    ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll be able to fight more? I feel like I was blue-balled and teased. How could they prepare a single monster and then cut us off cold turkey? It¡¯s ridiculous,¡± Nemeanined.

    ¡°Would you prefer an ocean of nonstop monsters then?¡± Bastion sneered.<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°No, no. That sounds equally as bad. Is a moderate flow of monsters to support a steady stream of experience too much to ask for? I don¡¯t think so,¡± Nemean responded.

    Despite how simple it seemed on the surface, dungeons rarely followed the most logical trend. Instead, dungeons were primarily designed in a way that exhausted arge portion of the party¡¯s Stamina if defeated too quickly. Granted, this only rang true if the party¡¯s damage wasn¡¯t high enough to avoid high Stamina consumption.

    ¡°Damn, you¡¯re such an optimist. Learn how to be a realist sometimes,¡± Bastion scoffed.

    Nemean could only re at Bastion in silence before looking away. Bastion had a

 Chapter 96 Unexpected Radiance

    ¡ª-

    The speed and power behind the iing arrows were much greater than the ones faced before. The air surrounding the arrows seemed to ripple as if it was almost puncturing through the surface of water. Kieran reacted before he could think. As the first arrow grew close, he angled his de and shed horizontally.

    The strike hit the arrowhead just right, causing the arrow to veer off its path at an angle great enough to avoid the party. Sadly, aplishing this once didn¡¯t mean anything with a volley of arrows being fired in quick bursts.

    ¡°In a situation like this, I very much prefer it to be raining cats and dogs instead of arrows,¡± Bastion groaned softly. Still, despite hisment, Bastion remained focused as a burst of pressure surged from his body with a faint cerulean hue. The pressure onlysted for two seconds, but he deflected several arrows during that time.

    This burst of energy was one of the Guardian Knight¡¯s skills meant to deal with projectile attacks. As a ss famed for its impregnable defensive qualities, his skill applications came in many different forms.

    Afterward, almost as if they shared a bonded brain cell, Nemean and Bastion simultaneously mmed their shields into the ground. The only difference between their actions was that while Bastion only impacted the ground with a single shield, Nemean used both.

    Although there was a difference in the number, the overall intensity of their strikes was more or less simr. The Shield Tremor traveled for tens of meters, rumbling the ground severely enough to impede the uracy of the next volley of arrows.

    Since these two worked quickly to make an opportunity for the team, Kieran acted rapidly. ¡°Altair, Luna¡ªgo! Alice, prepare one of yourrge spells but be mindful of Luna and Altair¡¯s positioning.¡±

    ¡°What about you?¡± Alice questioned back. Every time Kieran delivered orders, it felt like he omitted himself from them. Thus, Alice wasn¡¯t sure if he was confident in his ability or if he wasn¡¯t used to voicing what his role would be.<sub>-.</sub>

    Nevertheless, Kieran shook his head. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine. There is no reason to worry about me. If I ever need assistance, you¡¯ll hear me ask for it.¡±

    Alice quietly nodded before focusing on the long staff in her hand. A light breeze formed a faint spiral around her as she mouthed what seemed to be an incantation. Shockingly, there was no sound as she spoke, almost as if the wind robbed her ability to enunciate.

    With Alice making the proper preparations and Altair and Luna locked inbat against the bow-wieldingrge goblins not too far away, Kieran rushed into battle alongside them.

    Bang!

    Kieran engaged with an explosive leap. As he crossed more than 20 meters, the faint metallic smell of blood wafted through the air while Kieran¡¯s weapon seethed with an unsettling presence. Several small bloody arcs fired from Kieran¡¯s weapon the moment he brandished his weapon.

    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

    The bloody des whizzed past Nemean and Bastion, causing them the freeze in fright. Those attacks hade dangerously close, but when they looked back, they were only met with a gust of wind mming against their cheeks. Naturally, this was the aftereffects of Kieran speeding past them.

    At the same time, Kieran¡¯s attacknded upon five of therge goblins far away. Although he was in possession of the Goblin yer title and his Health was now nearing 50%, the damage was far from what Kieran was expecting since this was a skill received after his transformation.<sub></sub>

    -4,075

    -3,810

    -3,935

    Numbers ranging from the high 3,000s to the low 4,000s appeared. Still, after witnessing the damage of Fury Rush, Wild Crash, and Crimson Current, Kieran felt this skill called Crimson Barrage was truly underwhelming despite its fearsome appearance. Thus, Kieran pulled up the skill information to analyze the issue.

    ¡¸ Crimson Barrage (Lv.1)

    Skill Rank: C

    Skill Type: Active

    Mastery (02.50%)

    Description: By harnessing the power of Blood Mania, the True Berserker canunch up to six des of blood. Each de carries power equal to 415% of the user¡¯s Attack Power. However, the attack loses 10% of its integrity for every 5 meters traveled, up to a maximum of 50% loss. (As your power to wield blood attacks fueled by madness increases, this penalty will decrease.)

    Consumption: 1% Health and 40 Mana

    Prerequisites: ?Blood Mania? (Active)

    Cooldown: 36 seconds ¡¹

    Overall, the skill wasn¡¯t bad at all. It dealt a decent amount of damage with a rtively low cooldown. Kieran¡¯s only gripe with the skill was the penalty assigned to it. While he understood the logic behind why it would lose power over time since his control of the Blood Mania power wasn¡¯t that strong, 10% was a drastic decrease.

    ¡®No wonder it was so weak; more than twenty meters separates me from those monsters. Although this attack has the ability to be a long-range attack, it is probably only viable once mastered. At first, I thought Blood Mania at its current level would be sufficient, but it seems I was wrong. Many of my skills base their current power on Blood Mania¡¯s level. The only issue is¡­ it¡¯s an S Rank skill. They¡¯re costly to increase in terms of Skill Points,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    He had once thought to dump his skill points into Blood Mania the moment he learned of its effects. After all, such a significant increase in Attack Power was too tempting to ignore. However, as an S-Rank Skill, Blood Mania required 50 SP per level to level it up. If he were to use his current supply of Skill Points, he would only be to raise its level by two. Given that skill would only receive their first considerable boost at Lv.5, Kieran felt it wasn¡¯t worth it, especially on a passive that held a percent modifier.

    Chances were that the modifier would barely increase for therge amounts of Skill Points sacrificed. Thus, Kieran set aside the matter for the time being. As far as rapidly improving his power went, his best bet was to level up once more and fulfill the criteria to equip the Crimson Ashrune. Itstent effects were tailored to his ss and would undoubtedly propel his power forward by a decent amount.

    Angered shrieks echoed throughout the cave as Kieran followed up his attack with a Crimson Current. Even the goblins being handled by Luna and Altair were affected by this attack and lost roughly 6% of their Health.

    ¡°This guy¡¯s Attack Power is insane. You promote your ss once and turn into a monsterwnmower, Jesus Christ,¡± Altairmented. He was taken aback by Kieran¡¯s ability to deal as much damage in one hit as Altair dealt in five to seven. Granted, the time Altair took to execute all those attacks was nearly identical to Kieran. The advantage of possessing two weapons and high attack speed was not to be overlooked.

    Thus, on the damage analysis chart that could be viewed in the party menu, Kieran¡¯s contribution only beat Altair and Luna by 5-6%. Of course, these numbers weren¡¯t a clear depiction of what they could perform because Kieran was somewhat unlucky. Both Luna and Altair leveled up quicker than him.

    So, while Kieran was still at Lv.24, a golden radiance coated Altair and Luna¡¯s bodies, revealing that they had reached Lv.25. Shortly after, both of them demonstrated new skills that drastically increased their damage. Within two minutes, a stream of notifications appeared before the entire party.

    ¡´System: You have gained 6,499 Experience.¡µ

    This message appeared before everyone with each of therge goblin archers that fell. Before they knew it, the entire cave passageway was filled with mutted goblin bodies and broken arrows, followed by the string of golden lights shing in the ever-present darkness.

    Everyone except for Kieran had experienced at least one level up.

    ¡®I know that rewards are worth it, but partying with others makes the drawback of a tripled experience requirement kind of disconcerting,¡¯ Kieran thought while lightly scratching his head with a bitter smile. His experience was barely 70% full at this time.

    Conversely, aside from Luna, the others chatted about the new skills they gained essibility to at Lv.25. Because monsters would only be more challenging to fight, the higher level skills scaled ordingly. Even if they were of the same rank as their precedent skills, the base damage or effects were greater inparison.

    Luna slowly approached Kieran after noticing his unusual behavior. ¡°Something wrong? Is there something we missed here?¡±

    ¡°No, not really. But, the floor isn¡¯tplete; otherwise, we would have received a notification,¡± Kieran answered.

    Although he answered her, Luna felt he was avoiding something. Call it a womanly instinct, but some of his bodynguage remained the same despite Kieran changing his expression. For example, the faint frown and lip quiver that happened every time his eyes wandered to his experience bar.

    After looking at the party menu, Luna noticed that while Altair had reached Lv.26 and most of the party was Lv.25, only Nemean and Kieran failed to reach that level.

    ¡°It has something to do with your level, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Luna asked.

    At first, Kieran looked at her with faint surprise but eventually nodded. ¡°Yeah, this is what happens when you choose to steer away from normalcy and chase perfection. In the beginning, all that awaits you is disappointment. But, if you have the discipline to push past the disappointment, it¡¯ll be worth it in the end.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve¡­ heard that before,¡± Luna muttered while staring directly into Kieran¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°From?¡±

    ¡°My mother,¡± Luna answered.

    ¡°A wise woman,¡± Kieran nodded back.

    Surprisingly, a radiant smile graced Luna¡¯s otherwise indifferent expression when Kieran gave thispliment. It was clear that the love she carried for her mother was genuine if a simplepliment gained this type of reaction. Unfortunately, Kieran didn¡¯t know now that this breathtaking smile masked unspoken pain.

 Chapter 97 The Berserker Surfaces

    ¡ª-

    As Kieran and Luna conversed, Nemean looked at them out of curiosity. Because she remained quiet throughout most of their journey thus far, Nemean was staggered by Luna¡¯s radiant smile. But, more than that, he was also shocked to see that Kieran somehow caused this smile.

    ¡®Could we have a smooth talker in our midst? She could have fooled me; I would have thought this girl was nothing more than an Ice Queen who somewhat despised people. Nevertheless, it¡¯s good to see that she¡¯s capable of human reaction,¡¯ Nemean thought.

    However, almost as if they sensed eyes on them, both Kieran and Luna turned in perfect coordination. As a result of this reaction, Nemean could only silently blink while wondering if this was a rehearsed movement. How could their timing be so perfect otherwise?

    ¡°Is something wrong, Nemean?¡± Kieran asked once he noticed that Nemean seemed unusually startled. It hadn¡¯t crossed his mind that Nemean¡¯s thought process immediately ventured to more inappropriate ces. This was the difference between Kieran and Nemean¡¯s characters. One was more geared to strict business, while the other was more of a speak-without-thinking type of person.

    Thus, Nemean chuckled softly and nodded. But, just as he was about toment, Luna spoke first.

    ¡°Is it your level as well? I see that just like Aatrox, you haven¡¯t reached Lv.25 while we all have.¡±

    Thisment made Nemean look twice at the party level. Truth be told, he hadn¡¯t realized this fact until Luna brought it up. But, because this segue allowed him to avoid saying something stupid, Nemean took advantage of it for the time being.

    ¡°Kinda, but it¡¯s no sweat! I¡¯m literally a sliver away from leveling up. Another monster, and I¡¯ll most likely hit that point,¡± Nemean shrugged. After a slight pause, he continued, ¡°What about you two? You two are bing chummy¡ªdoes this mean it¡¯s safe to say Luna is a permanent addition to the team?¡±

    ¡°I think you¡¯ve jumped to conclusions here. We are by no means friendly, as you say. And permanent addition? I doubt she¡¯lle to our side. Besides, who¡¯s to say that you¡¯re permanent?¡± Kieran answered with a slight smirk.

    Off to the side, Luna nced from Kieran to Nemean. She had zero intentions ofmitting to a team outside of her own, but the fact Kieran said this to Nemean came as a surprise. Who wouldn¡¯t dly ept someone as talented as Nemean as a tank? Although his defensive skills were awkward due to the unusual nature of his ss, provided that his Strength was high enough, he wouldn¡¯t be inferior to pure-defense tanks like Bastion.<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°A-ah¡­¡± Nemean was too stunned to speak as this was a first for him. Simr to Altair and Bastion, he had once been recruited by gaming organizations. The only difference between his offers and the ones those two received was that Nemean¡¯s offer came from a first-ss organization. To receive an offer from such a well-connected and prestigious organization meant the individual had the prospects to be a rising star.

    Otherwise, an organization of such a caliber would adhere to strict tryouts only to sift through the collection of talents and not-so-talented individuals.

    ¡°Lighten up; I¡¯m only joking. As I said before, talent isn¡¯t the only criteria I¡¯m judging you on. So far, I¡¯ve seen nothing wrong. With that being said, I think we should get a move on. We¡¯ll organize the loot and keep going.¡± Kieran said, which allowed Nemean to breathe a sigh of relief. Even though this team wasn¡¯t his only option, instincts told him that this was the ce for him. From what he saw thus far, Kieran wasn¡¯t the type of person he loathed¡ªthe slimy, deceitful kind that usually upied high authority because of their distasteful methods.

    The division of loot was handled by Alice, who unsurprisingly did a meticulous job. Luna was given exactly twenty percent of what dropped without Kieran needing to remind her. What¡¯s more, Alice didn¡¯t even flinch when she realized there was a Rare Item with an Item Level of 35 in the portion given to Luna.

    Having confirmed that she was satisfied with how they upheld their side of the deal, Kieran walked through the cavernous pathway that kept expanding in size. Soon enough, Kieran and the rest felt overwhelmingly tiny standing inside the passage,parable to a stadium in dimensions.

    ¡°What isrge enough to make a tunnel like this? But, more importantly, what would need a space so big?¡± Sithik muttered while continuously turning around to marvel at the rocky terrain surrounding them.

    ¡°Who knows, I just hope we don¡¯t have to go up against some gigantic ogre,¡± Bastion grumbled. He didn¡¯t want to think about what type of defense was required to handle a monster of that magnitude.

    Because of hisment, the entire party snapped their heads toward Bastion, with Nemean being the first to reprimand him. ¡°Dude, what the hell? You just jinxed us! I¡¯m willing to bet that because of what you said, it¡¯ll end up happening somewhere down the road.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s highly likely that what Bastion said is true. Such arge structure wouldn¡¯t exist without reason. You need to remember that changes in environments are extremely important and should always be noted,¡± Kieranmented.

    Suddenly, Kieran stopped moving and widened his eyes. ¡°Move!¡±<sub></sub>

    Bang! Bang! Bang!

    Out of nowhere, fourrge rocks appeared from deep within the darkness, followed by the metallic gleam of arrows enveloped in what seemed to be a flimsy Mana shell. The impacts made the entire area tremble as the team tried to stabilize.

    ng! ng! ng! ng!

    Luna and Altair rapidly parried any of the arrows that neared them while swiftly moving away from the party. Due to their low movement speed, Bastion was forced to remain in ce and withstand the devastation of theserge boulders.

    ¡°Guardian¡¯s Sigil!¡± Bastion bellowed. A light blue aura burst from his body, forming arge shield that relied upon his Endurance for stability. At its current level, this skill could only withstand up to 10,000 damage beforepletely shattering. Still, it was sufficient to shield him and Sera, Sithik, and Cygnus, who stood nearby for protection.

    Whoosh! Boom!

    Kieran sped past Bastion and leapt into the air while a berserk aura coated the weapon in his hand. With a loud roar, Kieran executed a swift yet mighty vertical sh that started from overhead.

    Therge boulder that smashed into Bastion¡¯s Guardian Sigil was cleaved in half by the Wild Crash. And with its new properties, the energy from the attack swept outward,nding on the enemies in the distance.

    ¡¸ Lv.28 Grand Goblin Archers (Champion)

    Goblin Type

    Health: 189,500/201,000 (94.27%)

    Special Traits: ?Precision? ?Mana Imbue? ¡¹

    ¡¸Lv.

 Chapter 98 Sanguine Slashes, A Challenge to Cross

    ¡ª-

    With the six Grand Goblin Archers removed from the fight, Luna and Altair had fewer projectiles to simultaneously evade and deflect. Some of their deflections weren¡¯t perfect, resulting in the loss of some Health. However, that Health was quickly replenished by one of the Healer¡¯s more minor healing skills.

    ¡°Crap¡­ the leader¡¯s weapon broke,¡± Nemean eximed after watching the ordeal from his peripheral vision. He caught Kieran analyzing his broken weapon as he retaliated against a blow from a Giant Ogre. From what Nemean saw, the de looked like a strong acid had eroded it.

    Even now, pieces of the de continued to break away as if it were brittle bread crumbling to pieces as someone crushed it. Naturally, the crushing in this instance was the pressure imposed on the weapon by the Blood Mania skill.

    Nevertheless, despite his weapon¡¯s condition, Kieran gazed at it while the exterior began to bubble over. Almost as if he was drawing blood from his body to supplement the de¡¯s loss, it began to take on a form simr to right before he unleashed the Crimson Barrage.

    The de regained its razor-sharp edge, but it seemed inferiorpared to the moment before the Crimson Barrage was executed. However, that was understandable given that this was a change facilitated by Kieran¡¯s shoddy understanding of the True Berserker¡¯s foundational power. The only reason his maniption of Blood Mania¡¯s ability reached this degree ofpletion was through natural talent and using the image of that skill as a reference.

    Nemean was left in awe as he watched the weapon somewhat materialize right before his very eyes. ¡°WHAT?! That¡¯s a cheat; there¡¯s no way. Wasn¡¯t it said that a yer couldn¡¯t repair a weapon once it breaks? I read that on someone¡¯s post.¡±

    ¡°Uh, does that look like he is repairing his weapon, idiot? Look at his Health; it was just under 20% two seconds ago. But now, it has plunged beneath 10%! Obviously, he has activated some unique ss skill that allows him to make some sort of weapon with the sacrifice of his Health,¡± Alice said in the back.

    Nemean was first taken aback by the fact he was called an idiot and by the mute of the party, no less. But, when he failed to notice Kieran¡¯s drastic change in Health, he felt somewhat foolish. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but feel this fell upon the same lines. ¡°It¡¯s still a cheat! It only costs him Health to create a weapon!¡±<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°Oh? What about Mages who create temporary weapons in the form of spells? After all, that only costs Mana. Also, don¡¯t forget that his body seems to reject healing, so isn¡¯t his Health more precious than our own since our healers can heal us at any moment?¡± Alice retorted with an uncharacteristically smug smirk.

    Nemean was speechless. He tried to utter a rebuttal, but no words came out. Everything Alice brought up was the undeniable truth. Every attempt to heal Kieran was a failure, and Mages pretty much used spells to fabricate weapons through Mana and the elements. Granted, those creations would disappear when a Mage stopped funneling Mana into their magic or after a set duration.

    But¡­ wasn¡¯t this virtually the same principle Kieran¡¯s ss operated upon? He couldn¡¯t infinitely reinforce his weapon with blood. Itmanded a steep price in the form of ample Health. The initial loss of Health only covered the creation of the blood edge. To keep it stable would require a continuous supply of Health.

    Fortunately for Kieran, Blood Mania wasn¡¯t an iplete skill with a ring weakness. Topensate for the consumption of Health required of this skill, Kieran¡¯s attacks gained a 1% Lifesteal trait as long as the Bleed ailment afflicted the enemy. The higher the stacks, the more Health Kieran could recover.

    Slowly, the blood from the dead Grand Goblin Archers flowed from their body before colliding against Kieran¡¯s chest. Despite the scene, the sensation was pleasant as Kieran cracked his neck and loosened up while regaining close to 5% of his Health.

    ¡®This ss isn¡¯t bad at all,¡¯ Kieran thought. The pain required to obtain this ss seemed worth it now that the effects of Blood Mania were beginning to bear fruits.

    After a short pause, Kieran turned toward the others and nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s clean this up.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m with you on that one,¡± Nemean eximed. Without hesitation, he rammed his shield into the Giant Ogre¡¯s torso just as arge fist passed over his head. As said before, defending wasn¡¯t the only way for a tank to safely deal with enemy attacks.<sub></sub>

    As Nemean¡¯s shield made contact, he shifted his stance and appeared no different from a boxer as he delivered a fluidbo of strikes that focused on using the tip of his shield for the greatest damage. Pained groans escaped the Giant Ogre¡¯s mouth as the continuous damage stacked up.

    This was another uniquebat system avable to most if not all of the sses rted to the Fighter ss¡ªCombo-Linking. Bynding a certain number of hits with the correct rhythm and enough precision, a small multiplier that could be stacked up would be added to the damage. If thebo number went high enough, a ss like Nemean¡¯s could reach numbers simr to pure-DPS types like Kieran.

    By Nemean¡¯s twelfth attack, thebo multiplier increased his damage by three times. Considering that his base damage hovered between 550 and 680, the multiplier brought this strike to well over 1,600 per attack.

    At that moment, excitement coursed through Nemean¡¯s veins as, despite hisrge size almostparable to Bastion¡¯s dense ss, Nemean moved about agilely, properly channeling his weight into each blow.

    As he witnessed this scene, Kieran couldn¡¯t help but praise what he saw. ¡®Not bad at all, incorporating fundamentals learned in boxing on arge enemy thatcks movement speed. It¡¯s no different than sparring with a training dummy that can only receive blows.¡¯

    ¡°Hehe, I like this guy,¡± Altair snickered as a ck shadow trailed behind each of his strikes. If one looked closely, they¡¯d see a second source of damage appearing after each hit. While it was small and barely amounted to 2% of the initial strike, this extra damage would be pivotalter down the line since it was rted to some of the hidden attributes yet to be disclosed.

    With the help of Blood Mania empowering him, Kieran unleashed a terrifying Crimson Current every time it came off cooldown. Every time heunched the skill, each monster hit by the skill would lose 15% of their Health or more if it was a critical hit.

    Furthermore, Kieran introduced a new skill¨Done of his primary skills thatplemented Blood Mania¡¯s effects since it was designed to acquire Bleed Stacks rather quickly. Because of this, it wasn¡¯t exactly a skill made to deal damage.

    ¡¸Sanguine shes (Lv.1)

    Skill Rank: C

    Skill Type: Active

    Mastery (02.00%)

    Description: As the True Berserker burns their vitality, any weapon empowered by Blood Mania¡¯s blood casing gains an invasive property. For the next 10 seconds, all physical attacks inflict one Bleed stack with 100% certainty. However, the stacks can¡¯t exceed the maximum. If the maximum number is reached, the duration will be refilled before expiring. [Maximum Bleed Stacks: 30]

    Consumption: 200 Health

    Prerequisites: True Berserker

    Cooldown: 15 seconds ¡¹

    This skill was essentially the best way to keep the Bleed stacks at maximum capacity. That way, Crimson Current and any other skill reliant upon Bleed stacks could deal the greatest damage possible. Because each stack only had a duration of 3 seconds, it was inevitable to lose some if Kieran didn¡¯t intersperse his other skills properly.

    Of course, that would take some familiarization to master since it involved learning the proper rotation of skills to match their cooldowns with the duration of other skills.

    Approximately 10 minutester, thest Giant Ogre fell, and Kieran immediately deactivated Blood Mania but kept the broken Scarlet Steel Greatsword in hand. Deactivating the skill healed more than 70% of his Health, bringing Kieran¡¯s Health back to over 90%.

    In the meantime, Altair and Luna swept through the battlefield since they were the fastest and umted the loot. Simr to before, the loot was primarilyposed of coins since it appeared these monsters didn¡¯t drop much equipment.

    Moreover, when they did drop equipment, it was mostly armors and not weapons. Luckily, there wasn¡¯t a soul in the partycking in armor or weapons at the moment. While they would happily exchange with something of a higher rarity, they would need to acquire it first.

    Once again, Kieran excluded himself from the loot distribution allowing Luna to take his share while he silently browsed through his skills. There was another skill in his possession, but for some reason, he couldn¡¯t pull up its information as it was greyed out. This meant that while the system gave it to him, it was a skill that had yet to take effect.

    ¡®Deranged Spirit. Do I need to increase my level, or do I perhaps need to fulfill some unknown criteria to activate this skill? Considering that I¡¯ve already familiarized myself with Savage Break, Force sh, and Charge¡¯s upgraded version, this would have to be the upgrade of Warrior¡¯s Aura. If that¡¯s the case, it should be easy to activate. So, what is it?¡¯ Kieran wondered.

    If this were yet another avenue to increase his damage, he would happily wee the skill even if it came with adverse effects such as the madness caused by Blood Mania. Of course, Kieran didn¡¯t know it yet, but there was a skill even more terrifying than either of these two.

    When all was said and done, the fight left Kieran on the precipice of reaching Lv.25, but he was still ways off¡ªjust over 10,000 Experience Points to be exact. He would have undoubtedly reached that level if there were two more monsters.

    Nevertheless, after recovering some of the lost stamina, Kieran led the others through the expansive passageway while remaining alert. Despite their heightened awareness while moving, there was no more Giant Ogres or Grand Goblin Archers that appeared.

    Roughly 10 minutester, Kieran stopped before an enormous pit with only a thin strip ofnd stretching across it. The hole was so deep that after looking over the edge, Kieran couldn¡¯t even begin to estimate its depth not to mention what lurked in that darkness below.

    ¡°Nope, hell no. I¡¯m not going first at all. Are you crazy? Look at that drop!¡± Bastion screamed at the top of his lungs while pointing below.

    ¡´System: The second floor of the ?Underground Labyrinth? has been cleared.¡µ

    ¡´System: Cross the ?Bottomless Pit of G¡¯obow? to enter the third floor.¡µ

    ¡´System: This floor¡¯s difficulty will be set at Very Difficult.¡µ

    ¡®As expected, but asking us to cross this is a little¡­¡¯ Kieran frowned because he estimated they needed to cross more than 500 meters of this thin rock beam.

 Chapter 99 Walk of the Valiant

    ¡ª-

    If these were all seasoned veterans within the party, Kieran wouldn¡¯t be left with such a dilemma. After all, it was natural to feel fear when presented with such a terrifying situation. The piece of thinnd was barely enough to allow one person to walk through, let alone many at once. And, because this was a Secret Dungeon, Kieran wouldn¡¯t be surprised if there was some odd gimmick to crossing this bridge.

    ¡°S-so¡­ we need to cross over this rocky bridge-like pathway?¡± Luna stammered while ncing over the edge. She shuddered at the thought of having to do this since it looked like she had a fear of heights, something Kieran honestly didn¡¯t expect because of the nature she presented thus far.

    ¡°Are you scared?¡± Kieran asked while softly tapping his foot against the base of the bridge. As he added more power to each tap, it remained sturdy. This little experiment confirmed that it should be sturdy enough for them to walk across without mishaps.

    On the other hand, Luna grimaced at the question. She didn¡¯t wish to show such an unappealing side, but she couldn¡¯t help. Altering an intrinsic nature was easier said than done. Besides, this wasn¡¯t some simple one-story building; the drop was unknown. And, despite the fact this was just a game, many yers described that even with the pain settings toned down to the lowest level, every death they suffered was felt on their psyche when they logged out.

    Some who faced brutal deaths even revealed that they woke up in cold sweat or experienced recurring nightmares of that singr moment. It was odd, but this effect was undoubtedly rted to Dr. Riley¡¯s eerie discovery regarding the reaction between the human brain and virtual technology.

    The areas responsible for memory and motor function were hyperactive and exceeded normal levels for everyday activity. Afterparing it to other studies, she found that Kieran¡¯s levels rivaled or, in some cases, exceeded that of highly trained war personnel primed to deal with stress.

    What type of stimuli was required to reach that level with simple game mechanics?

    Nevertheless, Kieran was by no means teasing or calling her out; he was merely voicing his surprise. Even Bastion, who usually exhibited the most courage in the party, was shivering with his gaze glued to the pit below.<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°I agree that it¡¯s a somewhat frightening situation, but it should be a piece of cake if you can keep calm. A challenge like this is all about bnce. As long as you keep your bnce and find an endpoint to focus on, you can tune out the external stimuli and truly focus,¡± Kieran said. However, it wasn¡¯t just aimed at Luna. It was aimed at everyone in the party.

    The key to scenarios like this was to remain in motion. The moment you stopped was the moment you gave your mind time to process everything and possibly throw off your bncepletely. Although many stopped to steady themselves when unbnced, some freaks used that instance of imbnce to set a new pace and ze ahead.

    Of course, there were even more freakish individuals who could traverse a setting like this without a change in breathing or batting an eye. It would be like a stroll through a pleasant park with beautiful scenery.

    ¡°How about you go first then,¡± Bastion retorted with a look in his eye that showed he was still against crossing.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t I just go first?¡± Alice suddenly volunteered. Everyone looked towards her, but Altair, Bastion, and Nemean had unusuallyical expressions.

    ¡°See?! Didn¡¯t I tell you? That girl might just be a serial killer. How can she remain unaffected? What if she falls? That¡¯s a type of pain her mind will bask in for who knows how long. Speaking of which, what if she bes stuck in an infinite loop of falling?¡± Nemean eximed.

    The outburst earned some unusual looks as even Bastion blinked dumbfoundedly. ¡°Bruh, have you been binging sci-fi movies again? What is up with you and this infinite loop bullcrap? What, do you think we¡¯re in a simtion as well?¡±

    ¡°I mean¡­ we are ying a virtual game. So¡­ isn¡¯t that kind of a spoiled argument?¡± Altair interjected.<sub></sub>

    Bastion reddened but he didn¡¯t back down. ¡°Damn you; you know what I mean! He¡¯s just superstitious and a scaredy cat who is making us even more terrified.¡±

    ¡°Speak for yourself; I¡¯m quite fine,¡± Kieran said nonchntly.

    ¡°Ditto,¡± Alice added.

    ¡°Tch, of course the two weirdos in the party are the ones to talk. All I¡¯m saying is I wouldn¡¯t knock what people have been saying on the official forum. I have zero intentions of being institutionalized because a game drove me insane. Therefore, I WILL NOT BE GOING FIRST OR LAST. Nemean goes once safety is ensured,¡± Nemean said adamantly.

    ¡°Heh, boys. Always chickens,¡± Alice giggled before walking past. A sweet scent wafted into everyone¡¯s nose as she confidently stepped upon the bridge with zero change. After taking another step, she turned back and smiled. ¡°See? Stop being a wimp, or will you let a girl one up you guys?¡±

    ¡°Sheeesh,¡± Kieran whistled. ¡°You guys are going to let her talk to you like that? I thought you all were my experts in the making. Now I¡¯m having second thoughts. I¡¯ve been handed a bunch of wusses!¡±

    Kieran¡¯s instigation seemed to serve as a miraculous call to action because not only did Nemean grit his teeth but so did Bastion. After giving the matter more consideration, Bastion grumbled and flung his hands into the air.

    ¡°Ah, screw it!¡±

    Bang!

    However, after dashing forward, Bastion was met with a rude awakening. Simr to a dog running into a clear screen door, Bastion was sent flying back by a rebound force as he mmed into a type of thin film.

    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Bastion groaned while rubbing his face and slowly standing up. ¡°What the heck was that? It just stopped me from moving forward!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s most likely some kind of restriction simr to the one that forbids us from retreating from the dungeon. But, if that¡¯s the case, then it is just as I assumed. There¡¯s possibly some gimmick to crossing this bridge-like construct,¡± Kieran voiced.

    ¡°You mean to say you had your doubts, but you let me run forward like a mindless buffoon?¡± Bastion eximed while growling at Kieran. However, Kieran merely chuckled in response while turning to look at Alice. How was he to know that it wouldn¡¯t let Bastion enter?

    ¡°Try stepping back for a moment and see what happens.¡±

    Alice tried as Kieran said, but as she tried to return, rather than a simr restriction, Alice was greeted by a message that made her pause in her tracks.

    ¡°I can¡¯t go back. It appears that the bridge¡¯s integrity weakens by 50% for every retreat made while upon it. What¡¯s more, if the individual on the bridge doesn¡¯t clear it within a certain timeframe, its integrity will simrly decrease. Also, I think it¡¯ll weaken regardless because I¡¯ve been marked as one.¡± Alice revealed.

    ¡°Oh my lord, they¡¯re trying to forsake us,¡± Bastionined dramatically. He flung his hands in the air and acted as if he were on the verge of fainting, but Kieran took this information differently.

    ¡®A test of courage? How odd¡­ why would such a test appear here? Is this a Secret Dungeon or a Secret Trial?! I¡¯ve never oncee across a Secret Dungeon that incorporates inadvertent tests such as these,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    A Secret Trial was a type of dungeon that was extremely difficult toe by. In fact, in Kieran¡¯s past, the number of Secret Trials known to the public numbered less than ten, and even then, they mainly were broad trials linked to different ss levels.

    Kieran was unsure about the presence of more unique trials, but given that so many things were different from what he recalled, he couldn¡¯t ignore the possibility. ¡®Could a year truly make that much of a difference? Or, am Iing across things people didn¡¯t reveal in the past due to their unimaginable worth?¡¯

    Both spections possessed a rtively high likelihood of being true. After all, the mystery of his rebirth and this world were things Kieran found inexplicable. If he could be reborn, why couldn¡¯t other stuff inside and outside his knowledge change?

    ¡°I don¡¯t think we should idle about for long. A few separate times have appeared, and as you know, I¡¯m not exactly the fastest person here. I need to go now,¡± Alice reminded. As a Mage, Agility was far from her strong suit. Fortunately, she heeded Kieran¡¯s advice and added some of her loose points to the attributes.

    Thus, Alice took off at a brisk pace while extending her arms to maintain her bnce.

    ¡°Do you think mages can fly in the game? I mean, if they have Mana, surely they¡¯ll be able to fly, right? It¡¯s just a matter of manipting the wind element, no?¡± Sithik asked off to the side after noticing that Alice used a wind spell to summon a light breeze that seemed to steady her.

    ¡°Mages? Why not everyone? I mean, isn¡¯t Mana avable to every single ss? It¡¯s a fundamental power in this world,¡± Kieran answered.

    ¡°You mean game?¡± Luna corrected.

    ¡°That¡¯s what I said.¡±

    ¡°No, you said world,¡± Luna corrected again. The others softly nodded, but Kieran shrugged.

    ¡°Same difference. After all, this ce is designed to be another world, is it not? Otherwise, why would it be called virtual reality?¡±

    The others couldn¡¯t retort because that was true. Even the advertisement in the world news viewed this game as a step into a new and adventurous world. If that¡¯s how the creators and media regarded it, was Kieran wrong to view it the same way?

    As they continued to talk, a distant but clear voice rang out, ¡°I made it!¡±

    Ding!

    ¡´System: The next individual must step upon Walk of the Valiant within 10 seconds.¡µ

    ¡´System: Failure toply will result in the bridge losing 1% integrity per second.¡µ

 Chapter 100 Display of Courage

    ¡ª-

    Less than 10 seconds remained until the already frightening bridge began losing its integrity. The more unstable the passageway grew, the higher the chances of death for each party member that attempted to cross. Right now, Alice was the only one to make it across safely.

    However, Alice was by no means enough of a force to clear the rest of this Secret Dungeon. The fact their prior experience only amounted to the Difficult standard told Kieran that what awaited them was much more challenging.

    Thus, Kieran slowly began to grasp the gravity of their current situation. ¡®Even if I have them cross ording to the directions given, loss of integrity is inevitable. Having them cross as quickly as possible will only reduce the loss to a minimum. In a situation like this, that¡¯s all I can ask for.¡¯

    After considering his options for a few seconds, Kieran pointed to Bastion, followed by Sithik. ¡°You two need to cross as soon as possible. This is no longer a debate¡ªget across, now!¡±

    ¡°W-¡­ what? But we can¡¯t go at the same time,¡± Sithik voiced.

    ¡°Precisely. That¡¯s why I pointed at you two in order. Bastion is to go first, followed by you. We¡¯ve already established that two people can¡¯t walk the path simultaneously. You must wait until the moment he reaches the other side, then you go,¡± Kieran directed.

    Both Bastion and Sithik gulped while looking at each other but eventually nodded. They understood this was something they had to do; otherwise, Kieran¡¯s opinion of them would take a substantial hit. And, since no one¡¯s spot on his team was cemented, they were all receable when all was said and done.

    As per Kieran¡¯s instructions, Bastion was the first to step onto the Walk of the Valiant. When his feet made contact, the ten-second timer froze. After freezing, it remained that way. Like Kieran expected, the numbers didn¡¯t reset. It was likely that a reset was only triggered when someone sessfully made it to the other side.

    With trembling feet, Bastion shifted one foot forward while foolishly ncing down to his left. The huge pit of darkness filled his vision as he looked down and began hyperventting while lifting his head and shaking. The tremble made him freeze in fear as a different timer appeared.

    As the notifications revealed earlier, stopping would start a timer that inevitably decreased the bridge¡¯s integrity by a vast degree. Once Kieran and the rest of the party saw that timer, they paled.<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°You frightened bear, what the hell are you doing? Go across! I dare; you won¡¯t! Are you letting a girl beat you? Oh,e on, you can¡¯t be serious, you oversize wimp,¡± Nemean jeered to the side.

    ¡°Yeah, you won¡¯t,¡± Kieran joined in with a deep voice.

    Bastion¡¯s right eye twitched as he heard thements behind him. But, knowing that he couldn¡¯t retreat to give them a piece of his mind, he could only re.

    ¡°Meh, he won¡¯t. We¡¯ve already established that. A flimsy little path is taking out our big ol¡¯ tank; how hrious,¡± Altair chuckled.

    ¡°God damn it! Do you think I won¡¯t? I¡¯ll crush this shit right here; watch me!¡± Bastion roared in frustration. Tenacity and drive to prove the others wrong glimmered in Bastion¡¯s eyes as the others sounded behind him.

    ¡°You won¡¯t,¡± Kieran, Altair and Nemean said simultaneously.

    Off to the side, Luna gazed at everyone while trying to recover her wits. Her fear of heights had gotten the better of her for a moment, but after experiencing how Kieran and the others used negative pressure to incentivize Bastion, she felt that was something she didn¡¯t want to subject herself to. After all, she wasn¡¯t sure if it was something she could withstand currently.

    Finally, just as the timer was two seconds away from bottoming out, Bastion took a step forward and steadied himself before repeating the action. His pace gradually increased as he breathed heavily with each step but in an established rhythm.

    More than one thousand stepster, Bastion jumped off the bridge and sessfully made it to the other side. He clutched his chest in relief as he soon stood up and pointed at the others in uproariousughter. ¡°I told you, you sonnuva guns! Suck it!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah. I bet you Bastion almost pooed his pants,¡± Nemean whispered.<sub></sub>

    Kieran smiled faintly but ultimately turned towards Sithik. It was his turn now. With all the looks directed at him, Sithik could only reluctantly drag himself up to the bridge and cross the bridge sideways with shuffling steps as well. It was the only way he could ignore his surroundings.

    After he crossed, a loud rumble reverberated throughout the area. A few rocks fell from the bottom of the rocky bridge as faint cracks spread across its surface.

    ¡°Oh¡­ that isn¡¯t good at all,¡± Nemean muttered while staring in horror.

    ¡°Altair,¡± Kieran announced without looking. A light breeze brushed past his cheeks as Altair zipped past in his ck leather gear. Even after stepping onto the bridge, his momentum didn¡¯t decrease. After all, he had received proper training, some of which included bncing on thin surfaces simr to tight ropes or fragile tree branches.

    For him, this was no different than another exercise. Naturally, this led to Altair having the fastest clearing time thus far. Even Kieran wondered if he could do any better since, under normal circumstances, Altair¡¯s base Agility was higher than his own.

    Nevertheless, Kieran didn¡¯t worry about this for too long as he pointed at the following individual. ¡°Sera, you¡¯re up next. Make Alice proud.¡±

    ¡°Mm,¡± Sera nodded while exhaling. Once she gathered herself, Sera moved forward at a pace simr to Alice and did so without stopping. Of course, because of this, Nemean mocked Bastion on the other side with a smug expression.

    ¡°Cygnus,¡± Kieran uttered next.

    While clutching her staff, Cygnus moved while looking at Sithik on the other side, who gave her a cheeky thumbs up. She looked down to avert her gaze out of slight embarrassment but kept moving. Once she neared the other side, Kieran nced at the person who would go next.

    ¡°Cyr,¡± Kieran announced.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got it, boss!¡± Cyr eximed. However, his excitement soon vanished once another terrifying rumble passed through. The bridge crumbled further, with some areas losing their support altogether.

    Since Cyr was the 7th person to go, it was time for theplementary damage to ur. The bridge seemed to rock as Cyr dropped down and hugged the bridge for support. ¡°Oh dear momma, don¡¯t let me die! I don¡¯t want those nightmares everyone keeps talking about.¡±

    Only once the rumbling passed did Cyr get on his hands and knees to scurry across like a rat. Bastion and Altair snickered at the sight but looked away when they saw Kieran¡¯s harsh gaze. It was evident that Kieran abided by the ¡°get it done by any means necessary mindset.¡± Even if it was amusing or unsightly, if it yielded results, Kieran had nothing against it.

    ¡®That¡¯s the seventh one,¡¯ Kieran thought. Judging by how much of the bridge was damaged with every three people that passed, it was safe to assume that it lost at least 25% of its integrity per cycle. Thus, for this particr stretch, the order wasn¡¯t essential.

    However, Kieran made sure to consider Luna¡¯s earlier state.

    ¡°Luna, it¡¯s your turn. You can do it,¡± Kieran said. He attempted to reinforce Luna¡¯s confidence because he could see that while she tried to act strong, she was struggling with a few things.

    ¡°O-okay,¡± Luna nodded with somewhat rigid breaths.

    Kieran then looked towards Nemean, who seemed antsy. While he appeared rtively normal earlier, he didn¡¯t like that he was going sote when the bridge threatened to give way. In the end, he was one of the party¡¯s heaviest. ¡°Once she finishes, you¡¯ll go right after.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me twice. I just want to get it done and over with,¡± Nemean remarked.

    Luna staggered up to the bridge and exhaled while briefly closing her eyes. She attempted to rid herself of her negative thoughts but couldn¡¯t do sopletely. When he realized this, Kieran stepped forward and whispered to her.

    ¡°If you get past this, you¡¯ll be able to get past anything. It takes courage to be a fine leader. So, tell me, do you have that courage slumbering within, Luna?¡±

    Once she heard this question, Luna¡¯s eyes opened. She knew very well that actions spoke louder than words. Therefore, while she could answer with words, she chose not to. She shuddered and then became stoic as she took a step forward.

    ¡®I¡¯ll prove them all wrong,¡¯ Luna thought to herself as her gaze became steely and almost frigid. To psyche herself out and take her mind off her present circumstances, she thought of another matter, one that drove her to be thedy she was today.

    Out of habit, she touched her chest, but when she realized the item wasn¡¯t there, she was reminded that this wasn¡¯t the real world. Luna focused on her destination and began to move.

    While she wasn¡¯t the fastest in the group, she wasn¡¯t the slowest. When she realized it wasn¡¯t as bad as she assumed, her pace elerated, and she rapidly left the bridge.

    When the water-like restriction lifted, Nemean dashed forward without another thought, ¡°See ya, Aatrox!¡±

    Clearly, Nemean had no intention of letting the bridge be even more dangerous.

    Despite his rtively low Agility, Nemean moved quickly, gaining the 4th fastest clear time.

    Regrettably, once he finished, the bridge took another devastating blow. In its current state, there were extensive gaps in some of the bridge¡¯s segments. The width of the gaps undoubtedly left the realm of what an average human could aplish.

    ¡°Well, that certainly makes this more difficult, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Kieran said to himself. Nevertheless, as the timer counted down, Kieran took a few steps back while faintly smiling at the others. ¡®Fear? Nah, I¡¯ve been through worse in my life.¡¯

    Whoosh!

    Although the broken weapon in his hand caused a weight imbnce, Kieran blitzed forward, casually shifting his steps when a piece of the bridge gave way. Within seconds, he arrived at the first wide gap.

    Kieran focused his Strength on his legs but not so much as to destroy the already weakened bridge before he could jump.

    Bang!

    Kieran soared through the air,nding safely. Despite his somewhat unsteadynding, he continued and repeated the action with the next gap.

    Still, the others balled up their fists in worry and anticipation because the bridge deteriorated with each passing second.

    Once Kieran neared the final jump, the bridge before him turned as soft as sand and broke apart nonstop.

    ¡°Curse my rotten luck,¡± Kieran muttered before using all of his Strength and Agility to explode with a frightening momentum. The others stepped back after witnessing this.

    Just as it looked like he wasn¡¯t going to make it, Kieran flung out his left hand and stabbed it into the ledge¡¯s side. Unlike the bridge, it was pretty sturdy, which allowed Kieran to swing back and forth until he could flip andnd safely.

    ¡°Next time, I¡¯m going first,¡± Kieran joked. Afterward, he ced the sword over his shoulder and led the others to the cave opposite the entrance.

 Chapter 101 A Unique Surprise

    ¡ª-

    Having walked for roughly 30 minutes, Kieran eventually led the party to what marked the beginning of the Underground Labyrinth¡¯s third floor. Simr to the setting before this floor, it followed the same ominousyout. The only difference was the higher concentration of broken and aged bones and the thickening smell of putrid flesh.

    ¡°What the hell is this? Some type of graveyard for the monsters?¡± Bastionmented while pinching his nose. The smell was sour and pungent, which birthed a stinging sensation in their nostrils simr to inhaling pure ammonia.

    However, Kieran lifted his head and inhaled deeply. The others looked at him as if he was a freak because they failed to understand how this smell didn¡¯t bother him. A few of them even felt queasy and in need of fresh air. s, being so far beneath the ground, there was no source of fresh air. They would have to deal with the odor for the time being.

    ¡°This smell¡­ it¡¯s faint but familiar. It¡¯s goblin blood, but it must have be acrid after years of festering. Something may be devouring the goblins. Perhaps that¡¯s why the numbers aren¡¯t as high as we expected,¡± Kieran voiced while slowly lowering his head and gazing forward.

    Although he enhanced his vision with Mana, he still couldn¡¯t see too far into the darkness ahead. But, at least theck of impending peril told Kieran there wasn¡¯t a threat close by.

    ¡°Wait, you sure? I mean, wasn¡¯t this a dungeon based solely on goblins? What exactly eats goblins? I know those things can be in, but eaten? Whose diet would be so terrible?¡± Cyrmented while scratching his head. His face was scrunched up in confusion as he tried to digest what Kieran had told him.

    ¡°Not who, but what¡­¡± Kieran corrected. Afterward, he continued to move forward cautiously. After a few minutes, a low crunching noise barely audible to the others registered in Kieran¡¯s hearing.

    He stopped before a bend and exhaled. ¡®I hope that isn¡¯t what I think it is. If it is, then me not having a weapon is terrible.¡¯

    ¡°Cyr, scout ahead but do not make any noise,¡± Kieran directed.

    ¡°Understood,¡± Cyr nodded and took advantage of his ss passive which made his presence sparse by decreasing any bodily noise by 50%. Furthermore, for 30 seconds, his weight would be reduced. These two passives were perfect for forest terrains withrge trees to scale and scout. It was simrly helpful in towns with high vantage points.<sub>-.</sub>

    Cyr moved forward cautiously, passing Kieran and moving around the bend. After doing so, he hugged the wall and controlled his breathing so that the only noise was the asional rustle of bone fragments on the ground.

    The stone corridor wasn¡¯t that long, so Cyr cleared it in a few seconds, but what he saw made him pause. If he thought the Giant Ogres from before wererge, he was breathless as he saw an enormous figure hunched over and munching on fresh goblin bodies. The eerie crunch of numerous bones breaking due to the giant figure¡¯s powerful bite resonated in Cyr¡¯s ears.

    He blinked in horror as he nced down and saw over ten mountainous piles of bones scattered around the area. Cyr made the mistake of gulping and not controlling the volume.

    The sound echoed in the hollow cave, and the figure¡¯s head perked up as it turned around. One monstrous eye gazed at Cyr as a light of gluttony shone within.

    ¡°Rooarrrgh!¡±

    ¡°C-c-cyclops?!¡± Cyr muttered. Just then, he felt a strong hand grasp his cor and pull him back quickly. An instantter, the light in front of the path darkened, followed by a few tremors that felt oddly familiar.

    The cyclops drove its fist into the tunnel¡¯s opening, but it was far toorge. Cracks spread along the wall while some rocks fell from inside the tunnel¡¯s ceiling.

    Bam! Bam! Bam!

    ¡°Dude, that¡¯s a cyclops! And it¡¯s at least three timesrger than the Giant Ogres. I think it¡¯s almost 20 meters tall or something!¡± Cyr screamed out.

    ¡°No way, a cyclops? For real?¡± Nemean chuckled doubtfully.

    Cyr frowned since he saw this as contempt towards his skills of scouting. ¡°Don¡¯t believe it? Why don¡¯t you peek your head out there and see for yourself? I¡¯m sure you can verify whether or not it¡¯s a cyclops once you do that.¡±

    ¡°Stop it; he¡¯s right. It¡¯s a cyclops. I don¡¯t suggest you follow up on his suggestion until you want to be mushed to human paste. I think this is the boss of thebyrinth,¡± Kieran said.

    ¡°Boss? Oh, then let¡¯s go kill it and be done with this ce,¡± Altairmented. He had grown impatient since this dungeon seemed to have more obstacles than monsters.

    ¡°I agree, but we need a distance else the party won¡¯t be able to leave be the tunnel copses,¡± Kieran said.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be the distraction,¡± Luna volunteered. ¡°I¡¯m fast, so my movement speed should be enough to avoid being hit and provide arge distraction for you all to leave the area safely.¡±

    Kieran rubbed his chin while considering his options. Speed was definitely a requirement in avoiding the Cyclop¡¯s attacks, but so were reflexes. Its attacks were bound to have an aftermath, so one needed to be able to pull off sessive reactions fairly quickly.

    Nevertheless, in Kieran¡¯s eyes, only two people fit the description. Thus, Kieran relied upon both of them. ¡°Both you and Altair will handle the matter of being a distraction. I¡¯ll lead the party once I grasp the right timing.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Luna nodded.

    ¡°Roger that boss!¡±

    Neither Luna nor Altair hesitated in dashing out of the tunnel, but they were momentarily awed by the sheer size of their opponent. Cyr¡¯sment about the monster¡¯s size wasn¡¯t an exaggeration. The cyclops was indeed 20 meters tall with a robust build. Large striated muscles rippled under its mix of brownish-green skin, and dense mucus spewed everywhere as it roared.

    It seemed to be a naturally enraged entity since it really wasn¡¯t disturbed.

    ¡°You go left, and I¡¯ll go right,¡± Altair stated before dashing away from Luna. Arge shadow appeared overhead as they moved away from each other.

    Boom!

    The cyclops punched the ground and as if a bomb had gone off, the ground exploded and left a crater the size of its fist underneath.

    Instantly, both Luna and Altair shared the same thought. ¡®Can¡¯t get hit by that¡­¡¯

    That destructive blow was most likely enough to wipe out their entire Health bar, given that the monster was ssified as a boss they had yet to face.

    ¡¸ Lv.29 Lesser Cyclops (Unique Boss)

    Dungeon Boss

    Humanoid, Giant

    Health: 460,000/460,000 (100%)

    Special Traits: ?Frenzy? ?Rock Solid? ?Immense Strength? ¡¹

    Every trait this Lesser Cyclops possessed seemed to be pretty powerful, given that until now, most traits were one word. The more detailed a trait, the more inherently powerful it was. So the fact it was in possession of two of such traits left the party devastated.

    Both Luna and Altair darted around in opposite directions, driving the Lesser Cyclops mad as Kieran guided everyone out of the tunnel. Kieran finally whistled when they prepared a suitable formation, recalling Luna and Altair.

    ¡°As you saw earlier, this is a monster of devastating power. It¡¯s our first Unique Boss, and its unique forte is Strength. While we are currently unaware of how fast it is since it didn¡¯t seem tomit to destroying either Luna or Altair fully, given its standard, I urge that you consider its speed to be on par with mine or slightly faster,¡± Kieran said.

    After stressing the importance of protecting the tankers, Sithik and Cygnus became unusually focused. They had zero intention of letting down Kieran, especially since they might have been the first to go against a Unique Boss.

    ¡°Bastion, go!¡± Kieran instructed.

    Wielding his heavy shield, Bastion stormed forward with a focused expression. As he moved forward, he frequently shifted left and right just enough that the cyclops didn¡¯t get to initiate an attack. Just before it moved its arm to unleash a blow, Bastion would move and cause it to stagger its movements.

    Naturally, this wasn¡¯t something Bastion thought of himself. It was an action devised by Kieran after using his prior knowledge of fights with such a monster. Because of itsrge attack area, one wanted to stop the cyclops from attacking altogether if they didn¡¯t have the means to dodge it.

    Of course, this wasn¡¯t a tactic with a 100% sess rate. It was only meant to be used at the beginning of the fight when the cyclops was unfamiliar with its opponent. Contrary to popr beliefs, even monsters regarded as mindless weren¡¯t mindless. They all possessed some degree of learning capacity that allowed them to soon adapt to the yers going up against them. If that weren¡¯t true, yers would effectively thrash any opponent given to them by weaponizing their intellect.

    Although this was required in battle, allowing the monsters to adapt meant yers would require this skill of higher quality. One would need to be able to make up strategies on the fly and possess teammates skilled enough to implement them quickly.

    Finally, after Bastion repeated this over 20 times, the Lesser Cyclops grew enraged and unleashed an attack irrespective of Bastion¡¯s position shift. The attack was like a judge¡¯s gavel delivering a swift verdict.

    ¡°Guardian¡¯s Stand!¡± Bastion echoed, bracing for the iing impact with a defense-increasing skill. Bastion¡¯s Health well exceeded 3,000, but once the Cyclops fist made contact, his eyes widened while simultaneously holding back the urge to puke. Over half of his Health vanished with the one attack, but the cyclops was far from done.

    The shadow of its other fist expanded as Bastion felt a pressure bear down on him.

    Bang! Bang!

    ¡°Enforcer¡¯s Pursuit,¡± Nemean eximed. His two shields released a soft radiance as he intercepted the strike from the side, knocking it off course with all his might. This skill was viable as both a form of offense and defense since it reinforced his shield with a type of energy force.

    ¡°Luna, Altair, Cyr!¡± Kieran eximed. Naturally, their role was to aim for the cyclops¡¯ period of immobility and unleash as much damage as possible. With its rank, Kieran didn¡¯t expect much damage to be dealt in one rotation, especially with its Rock Solid trait that reduced damage received by 40%.

    By the time Altair and the others retreated, they only managed to shave off 1% of the cyclops¡¯ Health.

    However, that meant nothing when it could regenerate that much Health every minute. After crossing the threshold into bing a Unique Boss, it was only natural that its regeneration rate improved. Hence the reason most yers didn¡¯t rmend tackling said bosses unless you had the means to burst it. Otherwise, the battle could very well drag on for hours.

    Nevertheless, this was the damage without Alice or Kieran joining the fray. Kieran needed first to understand how helpful their damage was in retrospect to the bosses¡¯ regeneration.

    ¡°It should be doable,¡± Kieran thought as crimson wisps slowly seeped from his body. Immediately Kieran sacrificed half of his Health to fortify the broken Scarlet Steel Greatsword in his hand, which in turn increased his lethality. The True Berserker would once more strike, and this time, it was against an equally brutal opponent.

 Chapter 102 Strength of A Cyclops

    ¡ª-

    ¡´Battle Alert: Health has fallen below 50%. ?Blood Mania? has increased Attack Power by 35%.¡µ

    ¡´Battle Alert: ?Tormented Beliefs? has activated. Attack Power, Attack, and Movement Speed are increased by 30%¡µ

    If Kieran were skilled enough to control how much of his Health was sacrificed, he would have immediately forced himself to activate both of these passive Skills at 100% by dropping his Health below 20%. But, because the only way he knew how to sacrifice his Health was through Blood Mania, it was challenging to make that happen.

    Nevertheless, after recalling Agrianos and Scar and how they could manipte their Vitality as they saw fit, Kieran felt it was only a matter of time before he arrived at the level. At that time, he would no longer be bound by the scope of his skills; he¡¯d be able to transcend them!

    Whoosh!

    After gaining the boost from his passives, Kieran¡¯s Attack Power now hovered above 1,400, a decent increase from the previous 800 now that his weapon¡¯s Attack Power no longer applied. While his Strength wasn¡¯t affected by this change, meaning it wouldn¡¯t change the weight of his attacks, Attack Power still yed a notable role in determining the winner in each exchange.

    Kieran moved quickly while Sera¡¯srge-scale healing skill, Cleric¡¯s Prayer, gained at Lv.25, healed Bastion and Nemean. With her Spirit as the base of the healing value, she recovered more than 700 Health instantly!

    Adding her to the team was undoubtedly one of the best decisions Kieran could¡¯ve made. Her allocation of attribute points made her the most effective of the three healers.

    Once he was healed, Bastion was the first to move forward against the Lesser Cyclops. Although his ss focused primarily on Defense, there were still some offensive skills in his arsenal that he could take advantage of. For example, Protective Strike.

    This was a skill with a high aggro value because of its interruptive properties. If used when an enemy was targeting an ally, it would forcefully redirect aggro towards the user of this skill. In this case, Bastion used the attack, shing his short sword as the Lesser Cyclops tried to attack Nemean.<sub>-.</sub>

    The Lesser Cyclop¡¯s furious roar shook the cave as it looked at Bastion with a bloodied gaze. The dense murderous intent could be felt even by Sera and Sithik far away. Its mouth shuddered as a bestial growl festered in its throat.

    ¡°Come on, you big oaf! Show me what you got,¡± Bastion roared back while mming his short sword against hisrge shield. After being teased by the party earlier, Bastion was unusually worked up and intended to show his worth right here and now.

    Like when they first fought, Bastion exhibited a grasp ofbat that drove Nemean topete with him. When the Lesser Cyclops grew near, Bastion bashed his shield into the boss¡¯s arm and jumped aside.

    Although he still suffered some damage,pared to the first few attacks he suffered, this action significantly reduced it. Beside Bastion, a series of hollow blows sounded as Nemean struck the cyclops¡¯s leg with a chain of attacks.

    While the Lesser Cyclop¡¯s attention was preupied, Kieran rushed forward and ran up one of its arms before leaping towards its chest. He used a Wild Crash to plunge his sword into the cyclops¡¯s chest, who screamed out in pain.

    Once it felt that stab, it beat on its chest, nning to squash Kieran like a little bug. However, Kieran turned his body and barely avoided the blow by swinging above its knuckle. At the same time, he kicked up at the expected weakness in the cyclops¡¯ jaw.

    But instead of being stunned, Kieran was grabbed out of the air.

    Before retaliating, it roared at Kieran, covering him in its grotesque saliva before tossing him at the cave wall. With his Health already being dangerously low and the fact that Bastion, who possessed significantly heightened Defense, lost most of his Health from a single attack, Kieran would absolutely die if he were to take both of the impending attacks; both the forceful throw and the enormous fist following behind it.

    But, with his mantle as a True Berserker, one who refused to give up in the face of adversity, how could Kieran ept death? His eyes mmed open with a crimson light as he broke the moment by turning his body in midair.

    Kieran¡¯s feetnded firmly against the cave wall with so much force that they formed holes. However, the damage channeled through his body was minimized, losing an eptable 15% in the process.<sub></sub>

    Afterward, a crimson squall surfaced around Kieran¡¯s body as he lifted his de and unleashed three crimson tempests just before the Lesser Cyclops could smash him into the wall. The first tempest was aimed at the direct center of the fist. The other twocerated each side of the cyclops¡¯ arm, dealing arge amount of damage for the current situation.

    -22,934! [Critical Hit]

    -15,290

    -15,210

    Because a cyclops was not a goblin-type monster, there was no source of increased damage to rely on. Kieran could only work with the boost from his passive skills and the high damage value of his current skills, especially the upgraded skill¡ªSanguineum Tempests.

    ¡¸ Sanguinem Tempests (Lv.1)

    Skill Rank: A

    Skill Type: Active (AoE)

    Mastery (04.00%)

    Description: By harnessing the abilities of a True Berserker, the user can unleash tempests formed from sanguine energy reinforced by Mana. Depending on the user¡¯s attainments in the Berserk Blood Arts, the tempests can grow in both power and number. In its current state, each conjured blood tempest deals damage equal to 1,815% of the user¡¯s Attack Power with a 50% chance of inflicting a Critical Hit. Any enemy hit by the attack will be affected by 10 stacks of Bleed. Once mastered, a maximum of nine tempests may be conjured. (Current Tempests: 3)

    Consumption: 5% Health and 50 Mana

    Prerequisites: True Berserker, de-type Weapon

    Cooldown: 210 seconds

    Note: The upgraded form of Tempest Strikes moderated to agree with the attack systems of a True Berserker. ¡¹

    The first noticeable change was the fact that the skill¡¯s cooldown increased from 180 seconds to 210. Secondly, the skill had improved from a C Rank skill to an A Rank one. Thirdly, the damage value had essentially tripled. But while it tripled, Kieran noticed the skill had lost the ability to linger and cause residual damage.

    While it appeared on the surface that skill had lost its ability to deal damage over time, that wasn¡¯t the case. Bleed was a status ailment that inflicted a set amount of damage per second, 50. Even though 50 damage seemed insignificant, if Kieran could reach the maximum stacks of 30, he would effectively deal a fixed 1,500 damage per second.

    Fixed damage meant it could not be affected by damage reduction since it bypassed Defense altogether. Furthermore, because Kieran¡¯s ss was one centered around blood, there was a possibility that his Bleed ailment could evolve into a specialty unique only to his ss. Of course, that would mandate Kieran to spend a frightening amount of Skill Points to experiment with Blood Mania or go through an ungodly number of battles.

    Either way, Kieran achieved the desired effect with this attack since one of the attacksnded as a Critical Hit, and thecerations caused the cyclops to lose 500 damage per second, forcing it to retract its hand.

    ¡°Holy shit! Even a boss like this has lost over 10% of its Health because of Aatrox¡¯s attack?¡± Bastion gawked.

    However, Kieran¡¯s following words doused Bastion¡¯s amazement with ice water. ¡°I can only use that attack once every 4 minutes. The damage might be great, but the cooldown is disgusting. Still, I may have found a way to beat this thing.¡±

    They wouldn¡¯t be fighting a losing battle if Kieran could inflict enough Bleed stacks to neutralize its regeneration. But, its skin was too tough and leathery, making it difficult for his weaker skills to prate and sessfully acquire a Bleed stack.

    And, because each stack only had a duration of 5 seconds, he needed to act quickly. The chances of his basic attacks inflicting those stacks were zero since it couldn¡¯t break the skin. And, for him to fall below 20% Health to gain the next boost, he¡¯d have to receive another attack which could put him in danger now that his Health barely hovered at 30%.

    Of course, Kieran could spam Sanguine shes, but that would take a heavy toll on his Health, one he currently couldn¡¯t support.

    ¡°Nothinges without risks,¡± Kieran remarked after extracting his feet from the wall and falling to the ground.

    As he did so, Bastion and Nemean were forced to face the aftermath of his actions, facing the full-on frenzy of the enraged Lesser Cyclops.

    Once its Health decreased to 50% under the constant attack of all the party¡¯s attackers, it punched the wall, which caused manyrge rocks to fall from the ceiling, but that wasn¡¯t the reason for its action. As the team dodged the falling rocks, with Kieran cleaving some in half, the cyclops ripped its arm away from the wall.

    Only now, there was a huge club in its hand that destroyed the wall as it was removed. Given the considerable amount of room present, its arm movement wouldn¡¯t be restricted if it swung this club around.

    ¡°Have mercy on my soul. What did I do to deserve this?¡± Bastion muttered with a bitter smile. It was bad enough that he had to withstand punches strong enough to shatter any average human¡¯s bones, but now there was a goddamn club in the mix? Bastion truly couldn¡¯t take the stress.

    The cyclops¡¯ first action after picking up the club wasunching a full-scale attack on the ground. The tremors were so powerful they lifted the party off their feet as if it were strong enough to defy gravity!

    ¡°Oh¡­ okay. I see what¡¯s going on here. We¡¯re courting death going up against a boss like this,¡± Nemeanughed hopelessly. This was the first time they experienced a boss strong enough to lift them off their feet with an attack that wasn¡¯t aimed at them.

    The cyclops then lifted its head and roared skyward.

    ¡°Stopining, toughen up,¡± Kieran scoffed.

    ¡°Yeah, yeah. I¡¯m just saying. I think I deserve the fanciest drink after this. Take me out to dinner,¡± Bastion smirked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t roll that way,¡± Kieran immediately declined.

    ¡°Aug- Damn you! I favor women, but I¡¯ll be damned if you don¡¯t spoil me after all this trauma, rich man!¡± Bastion scowled.

    ¡°Maybe, but that would be signing your soul to the devil. epting my drink would mean you can never leave my side,¡± Kieran said with a faint smirk. Bastion couldn¡¯t tell if he was serious or joking, but Kieran¡¯s current appearance made him shiver.

    ¡°Now, I advise you to watch out because look what¡¯s headed your way,¡± Kieran remarked.

    Bastion instantly turned around to the club not too far away. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± He squeaked.

    Bang! BOOM!

    Like a cannonball fired from a cannon, Bastion was sent flying back and into the wall behind them. Whether he was dead or alive was unknown, but the cyclops revealed a pleased smile.

    ¡°Stoo¡­pid,¡± the cyclops said after much difficulty.

 Chapter 103 The Underground Labyrinths Secret

    ¡ª-

    After listening to Bastion¡¯s harsh impact against the wall, everyone winced in pain. However, while everyone winced, Sera was the first to spring into action. When she first noticed the clubing too close forfort, she immediately activated Cleric¡¯s Prayer in conjunction with Regeneration Burst.

    Thus, two healing presences enveloped Bastion just before he mmed into the wall and caused a considerablemotion followed by a thick cloud of dust. Of course, the only one to notice Sera¡¯s rapid reaction was Kieran, and he was taken aback by it.

    ¡®That reaction speed and foresight¡­ that¡¯s something even physical sses will benefit from greatly. Is Sera more of a natural talent than I thought? Even Altair ignored this fact, but he was probably too focused on the fact this burly guy cried out for his mommy,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    As the dust cleared, it revealed a traumatized Bastion in a human-sized hole with his shield held before him. A slight indent could be seen on the surface as Bastion¡¯s face turned red as a cherry. A secondter, arge vein appeared on his forehead with slight convulsions.

    ¡°Oh yeah, that¡¯s some Grade A pain right there. You can¡¯t make that up; he¡¯s definitely going to feel thatter on,¡± Nemean remarked.

    Even the cold Luna grimaced for Bastion¡¯s sake as the rocks emitted slow creaking noise.

    ¡°U-ugh¡­¡±

    Thud!

    A pained groan sounded from Bastion as he fell to the ground with a heavy thud. Although his Health was still half full due to Sera¡¯s quick reaction, he was left in immense pain due to battle settings that couldn¡¯t be ignored. Luckily, he didn¡¯t suffer any broken bones because that couldn¡¯t happen just yet.

    Of course, the cyclops didn¡¯t await Bastion¡¯s recovery. It mmed its club down, seeking to turn Bastion into nothing more than metal scraps and human paste. But, Kieran and Nemean moved lightning quick.

    Although there was a vast difference in their movement speed, they arrived at approximately the same time because Nemean was much closer than Kieran. While Nemean lifted his shields to block for Bastion, Kieran shed his sword up fueled by every ounce of Strength he could muster.

    This resulted in Nemean and Kieran sinking into the ground, but Bastion remained safe from damage.

    Conversely, both Nemean and Kieran lost some Health. But, whereas Nemean was momentarily stunned, Kieran shrugged it aside because this had fulfilled the criteria he was looking for.

    ¡´Battle Alert: ?Blood Mania? has entered prime condition.¡µ

    ¡´Battle Alert: ?Tormented Beliefs? has increased to Phase III.¡µ

    ¡´Battle Alert: Physical Attack Power has increased to 2,560.¡µ

    ¡´Battle Alert: Attack and Movement Speed have increased by 60%.¡µ

    Because these two passives activated while Kieran¡¯s weapon was already broken, it paledpared to his first activation. The first usage only deducted the broken weapon¡¯s Attack Power, but now, these passives were scaling off Kieran¡¯s base 800 Attack Power.

    Still, having over 2,500 Attack Power at Lv.24 was astonishing. There perhaps wasn¡¯t another yer at the same level who could boast of reaching this Attack Power at said level, even more so since Kieran has yet to learn of another yer who epted the legacy of a Mythical Hero.<sub>-.</sub>

    As he returned to his earlier state against the Giant Ogres, Kieran sensed a faint link to the source of his power but couldn¡¯t quite describe it or grasp it, for that matter. All he knew was that when he should be growing weaker, he was instead growing stronger.

    Perhaps this proper originated from the unknown blood extracted from Argexes the Maddened One. Only something as perverse as that could exin this inverse power rtionship between Strength and injury.

    Once Kieran¡¯s power experienced this drastic increase, he roared as he slowly moved the Lesser Cyclop¡¯s arm upward by overwhelming the boss in terms of power. As soon as he lifted it enough so that all the pressure Nemean felt was alleviated, he attacked with Fury Rush.

    Rather than focus on the Lesser Cyclop¡¯s upper body, Kieran focused his attacks on the boss¡¯s legs. His shoulder rammed into the monster¡¯s thick leg, but he didn¡¯t stop despite the frightening impact.

    Kieran ferociously swung his weapon about, using the Crimson Barrage to opencerations on the Lesser Cyclop¡¯s ankle and increase the Bleed stacks to 3. Only half of the blood des sessfully increased the stacks. And, the ones acquired beforehand had already expired.

    But, now that both Tormented Beliefs and Blood Mania were activated at their highest degree, Kieran had no reservations about using Sanguine shes. The weapon in his hand pulsated as the edge thinned out and became sharp enough to open wounds on the boss with basic attacks.

    Because Sanguinem Tempests was a few seconds from finishing its cooldown time, Kieran had to rely upon his other skills to make up the damage. But, with the increase in attack speed, Kieran achieved maximum Bleed stacks after two uses of Sanguine shes.

    This usage wouldn¡¯t be possible without those Bleed stacks since it allowed Kieran to heal a minimal amount of Health. Though, because of this healing, Kieran just cleared the maximum stack before the skill¡¯s duration expired.

    Even with his increased Attack Speed, since his ss favored heavier weapons, he couldn¡¯t match the attack speed of sses like Swordsmen, Assassins, Rogues, etc., just yet. The heavier the weight of one¡¯s weapon and the longer its reach, the higher one¡¯s Attack Speed needed to be topensate.

    A 60% scale on his current Agility effect wasn¡¯t enough to drastically improve his speed to say five shes per second. Kieran could barely manage three currently.

    ¡°Make sure Bastion is alright. The party interface may not reveal anything rted to mental state. Who knows how he¡¯ll respond to such a blow,¡± Kieran eximed from far away. Even now, Bastion remained face on the floor, motionless.

    The disparity between monster and yer was why soloing a boss was so hard. One unexpected attack was enough to dmission a yer¡ªeven one of Bastion¡¯s caliber as seen presently.

    When Kieran judged that he had dealt sufficient damage, Kieran shed his sword horizontally, creating a massive surge of blood energy in the form of a current. The attack collided against the aggregating the many cuts into onerge wound that brought the cyclops to its knees with an indignant roar.

    At this point, only its upper body was mobile, but its reach was still terrifying. Regardless, its reach wasn¡¯t an issue for Kieran. He snapped his fingers and had Altair, Luna, and Cyr apany him in dealingrge amounts of damage to the boss while it lost 1,500 Health per second due to the Bleed stacks.

    By the time it reached 20% Health and went Berserk, regaining use of its leg from the sudden regeneration, Kieran was prepared for it. He stepped forward while enveloped in a savage aura.

    Kieran used its attacks as a means to travel up its body until he was in range. As soon as that happened, he unleashed a Wild Crash backed by incredible power. The cyclops¡¯ head whished back, and at that moment, a murderous intent filled Kieran¡¯s mind.

    There was no longer any need for a tank because Kieran would end the battle here and now. While Alice unleashed her elemental spells focusing on the Fire and Wind elements, Luna and Altair upheld their constant damage.

    The bloody presence surrounding Kieran surged as he prepared to unleash the strongest skill in his arsenal. Because of the long cooldown, Kieran decided only to use it once he could ensure the cyclops¡¯ death.

    That said, Kieran exploded at awe-inspiring speed as three menacing bloody cyclones condensed to fine points pierced the cyclops¡¯ throat from three directions.<sub></sub>

    ¡´System: You have gained 451,490 Experience Points.¡µ

    ¡´System: Congrattions, you have leveled up! [Lv.24 ¡ú Lv.25]¡µ

    ¡´System: Congrattions, you have leveled up! [Lv.25 ¡ú Lv.26]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 24 Unassigned Attribute Points and 16 Skill Points.¡µ

    The notification was like music to Kieran¡¯s ear as he fell to the ground almost powerlessly. Unlike before, he released his grasp of the broken Scarlet Steel Greatsword because he no longer needed to cling to it.

    Having surpassed Lv.25 and with more than 460 Unassigned Attribute Points in his possession, equipping the Crimson Ashrune was now a possibility.

    Bang!

    Kierannded heavily but was rtively undamaged. Falling from 20 meters wasn¡¯t that high with his current physique, but if it were to go any higher, Kieran would undoubtedly suffer fall damage.

    The others remained astounded by the amount of Experience the Unique Boss rewarded. Sure it was a difficult and stressful battle, but aside from Kieran, everyone leveled up at least three times, reaching either Lv.28 or Lv.29.

    Although that may be true, none of the people present could match Kieran in terms of attributes or gear.

    Kieran retrieving Crimson Ashrune from his inventory made everyone stare at the majestic weapon in awe. Just stabbing it into the ground made it tremble. It wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say that sword wasparable to the club in weight.

    ¡°Luna, Alice, collect the loot,¡± Kieran ordered. Because it was the loot from a boss and a Unique-Rank one at that, the amount of loot it dropped was almost triple that of any monster thus far.

    Although 60% of the loot was coins, the remaining 40% was valuable material and even more useful equipment, one of which being a unique-grade staff.

    Without even viewing the item¡¯s specifics, Kieran made a decision. ¡°It goes to Sera, but any other item used by a Cleric or other healing sses will go to Sithik and Cygnus.

    None of the three had an issue with this oue because the pieces of equipment numbered more than ten. Usually, a physical boss like a cyclops wouldn¡¯t drop a magic-based item, but the guaranteed unique drop was randomized because this was the first ever clear. It just so happened that this time, it favored a support ss.

    Once that was settled, Kieran brought up his status screen. Since there was no weapon in his equipment slot, his Attack Power, Strength, Agility, and Control were affected ordingly. But, that was only temporary.

    ¡´System: Do you wish to use 295 Attributes to increase Strength? [Y / N] ?¡µ

    ¡°Yes,¡± Kieran chose.

    ¡´System: Strength has increased ordingly. [Strength: 205 ¡ú 500]¡µ

    The moment that happened, Kieran grasped Crimson Ashrune¡¯s hilt and lifted it. Simply holding the weapon in hand made Kieran feel like he was teeming with power. This was the advantage of having a weapon tailored specifically for your ss. Theplements were astonishing.

    Even after using nearly 300 UAPs, Kieran still had 171 in possession. Thus, he chose to use 100 on Agility and 71 on Control.

    ¡´System: Agility has increased ordingly. [Agility: 141 ¡ú 241]¡µ

    ¡´System: Control has increased ordingly. [Control: 142 ¡ú 213]¡µ

    Afterward, the system regted Kieran¡¯s status screen.

    ¡¸Name: Aatrox           *Trainee

    Race: Human

    Lv.26 (Experience: 58,570/402,504)

    Item Level: N/A

    ss: True Berserker (Tier 1)

    Title(s): Inheritor of the Berserk Path | Enduring Warrior | Goblin yer

    World Fame: 450 (Knight)

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    [?Stats?]-

    Health: 2,680/2,680 (13.4 HP regen/sec)

    Mana: 750/750 (1.8 MP regen/sec)

    Stamina: 1,804 (3.5 Stamina regen/sec)

    Phys. Attack: 2,785

    Mag. Attack: 1,458

    Phys. Defense: 389

    Mag. Defense: 213

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    [?Attributes?]-

    ?Strength: 630 (447 + 183 + 0)

    ?Intelligence: 100 (55 + 45 + 0)

    ?Agility: 341 (227 + 114 + 0)

    ?Endurance: 134 (80 + 54 + 0)

    ?Control: 303 (176 + 127 + 0)

    ?Vitality: 210 (90 + 120 + 0)

    ?Perception: 125 (85 + 40 + 0)

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    [?Traits?]- 3

    ?Lifesteal? ¨C Basic

    ?Zero Loss of Potential? ¨C Unique

    ?Vengeful Soul? ¨C Strengthened

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    [?Skills?]-

    (Passive)

    ?Blood Mania? ¨C S ¨C Lv.1

    ?Deranged Spirit? ¨C A ¨C Lv.2

    ?Tormented Beliefs? ¨C B ¨C Lv.2

    ?Berserker¡¯s Burden? ¨C C ¨C Lv.2

    (Active)

    ?Sanguinem Tempests? ¨C A ¨C Lv.2

    ?Wild Crash? ¨C B ¨C Lv.2

    ?Crimson Barrage? ¨C C ¨C Lv.2

    ?Sanguine shes? ¨C C ¨C Lv.2

    ?Crimson Current? ¨C C ¨C Lv.2

    ?Fury Rush? ¨C C ¨C Lv.2

    [Unassigned Stat Point: 0]

    [Skill Points: 134]   ¡¹

    When Kieran saw the state of his status screen, he could only blink with an expression doused in stupefaction. The stats affected by Crimson Ashrune were far beyond ordinary, especially his Physical and Magical Attack Power. There were probably magic-focused sses with less magic attack than him!

    Moreover, nearly all his skills had increased by a level, which would trante into even more disgusting numbers.

    Unfortunately, Kieran couldn¡¯t relish in the power-up for long because that same destruction caused by the cyclops removing its weapon from the wall created a passage into the Underground Labyrinth¡¯s true depths.

    ¡°Hehehe, puny humans havee to my domain? Foolish. All those obstacles you have faced until now matter none!¡± A burst of eerieughter sounded from within, one that, despite his current abilities, Kieran felt extreme apprehension.

    Thud! Thud! Thud!

    Heavy steps sounded on the other side of the opening in the wall. From inside, the eye of a beast, deep ck in color, shone with inconquerable pride.

    ¡´System: A hidden pathway has opened inside the ?Underground Labyrinth?. Entry into the secret room has been granted.¡µ

 Chapter 104 Lord of the Labyrinth

    ¡ª-

    Although the system revealed that the party could now enter the hidden part of the secret dungeon, it didn¡¯t reveal its difficulty. However, Kieran didn¡¯t need the system to show the difficulty of this isted area. Until now, the only difficulty that had yet to appear was Insane. Moreover, areas that were kept hidden usually meant it was of the greatest difficulty.

    ¡°Are you feeling what I¡¯m feeling right now? It¡¯s like I¡¯m back during my army days, standing before the most feared instructor. What type of gaze is enough to make it difficult to breathe?¡± Altair murmured beside Kieran.

    Even the Lesser Cyclops, a monster that was graded as a Unique Boss, couldn¡¯t invoke this feeling in the party. Truth be told, half of them had a mind to turn back if that was possible. After all, hidden areas were usually optional and allowed a party to choose whether they wished to attempt or ignore it.

    But, Kieran felt differently. While it was correct that this monster gave off an insurmountable feeling, Kieran couldn¡¯t ignore the rewards that coulde from this fight. Still, it wasn¡¯t a decision he could make without knowing how strong the enemy was.

    s, that left him in a dilemma. The only way to gain information on this monster would be by walking into the hidden area. But, at that point, it would be registered as Kieran agreeing to take on the challenge. Once that happened, retreat would be impossible without death.

    Bang!

    Suddenly, a heavy explosion sounded on the other side of the wall as the entire wall shook. ¡°Come on, puny humans, I can smell your fear! Are you too afraid to trespass into my domain aftering all this way?¡±

    After listening to the beast talk, Kieran frowned. ¡®It¡¯s far too sentient¡­ Could it be an Epic Boss? But¡­ for an Epic Boss to appear so early on, they¡¯d be essentially undefeatable due to theck of Epic Items,¡¯ Kieran thought.<sub>-.</sub>

    Epic Bosses were iparable to Unique Boss despite only one level separating the ranking. Comparing the power disparity between the two was akin toparing a caterpir to a butterfly who had just broken free of its cocoon. The transformation effectively turned it into an entirely different being.

    To even consider going up against an Epic Boss, it was advised that yer¡¯s possessed at least full unique-grade gear and surpassed the boss by five levels. Level penalties could be ignored as long as the enemies fulfilled the respective criteria. For a boss, that meant the challengers couldn¡¯t be more than ten levels above it.

    After considering his options, Kieran raised his hand and looked toward the others. ¡°Hold on before we make a decision.¡± This order wasn¡¯t directed at the beast; it was for his party. Since the beast¡¯s sentience seemed to rival humans, Kieran felt he could at least reason with it to establish some agreement.

    ¡°You goad us to enter your domain, but why do I feel as if you won¡¯t let us do so safely? Do you intend to eat us, or is it a battle you seek?¡±

    ¡°Battle? I seek to be free!¡± The beast snarled on the other side while mming its hand above the opening in the wall. While the Lesser Cyclops damaged a considerable amount of the wall, only a holerge enough to barely fit a human through remained.

    Additionally, whenever the beast hit the wall, Kieran could see a few formations ripple with extremely pure Mana. ¡®So that¡¯s it. It¡¯s being restrained Mana Formations. It can¡¯t free itself even if it wished to.¡¯

    ¡°Unfortunately, we don¡¯t have that power. If that is all, then I guess we better just leave you here,¡± Kieran remarked.

    ¡°Preposterous! You dare walk away from me? I may not be free, but this was once my Labyrinth. I am the lord of this ce! Defying me while inside this zone is impossible!¡±<sub></sub>

    Suddenly, Kieran¡¯s eyes widened when he felt a force drag him towards the entrance against his will. The same happened with his party members. In his experience with Zenith Online, he had only experienced such a phenomenon three times before, but each urrence transpired when he was well over Lv.50 and then Lv.100.

    ¡°What the¡­? This is abuse! I¡¯m being forced against my will,¡± Bastion eximed in shock.

    In response, another burst of eerieughter sounded on the other side. ¡°There is no will inside my domain. But, you there, the boy in the lead. I sense something on you that can help free me from my restraints. I¡¯d be a fool to let you go without iming whatever that may be.¡±

    ¡®An item? Does he mean?¡¯ Kieran subconsciously looked towards Crimson Ashrune. He had heard of weapons of extraordinary origins capable of cutting through certain types of binds in the past. But, as far as Kieran knew, those weapons should be Legendary Items at the very least.

    A sword like Crimson Ashrune, which was considered a Unique Weapon, shouldn¡¯t have that power. Plus, aside from this de, Kieran didn¡¯t have any other significant items. The symbol obtained from the Arcane One was only responsible for locating the scattered Realm Fragments.

    Kieran also considered the two Rare Grade Treasure Chests in his possession. But, those were bound by specialws that made it impossible for monsters or denizens to sense because they weren¡¯t items fabricated by this world. Chests that originated in this world were regarded differently and heavily guarded because they were linked to revered figures or even family legacies.

    Afterward, Kieran then thought of Velliolx¡¯s Exiled Chain des. Because they were a Quest Item, in Kieran¡¯s view, they had no rank. However, that didn¡¯t mean they were rankless. And, because they were linked to Wildes, an area devoid of Mana, it was quite possible it carried the Anti-Mana properties of some of the Wildes¡¯ core materials.

    If this guess turned out to be urate, then Kieran was in quite a bind. Losing that de would be synonymous with forfeiting that future quest¨Da quest that may lead to untold advantages! After all, the number of quests linking to the Wildes were very few in number.

    As they came before the opening, it then hit Kieran. There was indeed something else of value in his possession, but he overlooked it because he had no way of essing it for the time being¡ªthe gift given to him by Agrianos! Given that this gift could even power a technique as powerful as the Ancient Crimson Aegis, Kieran couldn¡¯t afford to lose it.

    What if it was something vital to his ss?

    Upon realizing this, Kieran attempted to break away from the invisible grasp that continued to reign them in. But, his struggle was to no avail as the beast continued to chuckle in amusement while ultimately pulling the entire party inside.

    The sensation they felt was like being pulled into another dimension of sorts. What greeted the party¡¯s sights was a ckened world with what seemed to be a grey sun hovering high in the sky. The bones, shrubbery, and dew growing on tower stone walls told Kieran they had undoubtedly stepped inside a grandbyrinth.

    What confounded him was that they were teleported to the center with six conjoining paths, four of which rested in each cardinal direction.

    Setting aside the environment, a minotaur stood before Kieran, who surprisingly wasn¡¯t as giant as Kieran expected, given his earlier opponents.

    Although the minotaur was only six meters in height, just over three times Kieran¡¯s size, its body, especially its hooves, were robust. One step crushed the ground beneath its feet while swinging itsrge, menacing axe over its shoulder caused a minor earthquake. Its defining feature was the scar over itspletely missing right eye that extended well until its mouth. The wound was unmistakably old because it had already healed for some time.

    Now that the entire party was before the mysterious beast in question, they paled.

    ¡¸ Lv.30 Rautori, One-eyed Minotaur (Unique Variant Boss)

    Special Boss

    Beast Type, Humanoid Type,

    Health: 1,000,000/1,000,000(100%) ¡¹

    ¡°Puny,¡± Rautori said. His voice was deep, menacing, and sounded extremely cruel. His deep ck eyes, filled with intelligence and brutality, scanned the party. Afterward, his snout moved imperceptibly as disgust filled his eyes. ¡°No good!¡±

    Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

    Kieran couldn¡¯t even sense Rautori make a move, but he did. A shadow sped past Kieran, and almost tenrge thuds sounded behind him. Kieran didn¡¯t need to turn his head to understand that every party member had been hit because it was shown in the party interface. Save for Kieran, all of their Health bars dropped to the red.

    If Rautori willed it, he could have very well finished them off in one strike. However, his focus seemed to be on Kieran as he slowly turned his head back towards him.

    ¡°I want whatever that power is that you possess, or else I will trap you all here with me until we perish,¡± Rautori said. After an eerie pause, he grinned. ¡°Or¡­ I can kill your friends here.¡±

    ¡®Kill them?¡¯ Kieran smirked. It wasn¡¯t like they were denizens of Zenith Online; they weren¡¯t given a single life. If Rautori killed the others, it¡¯d be fine. The only question was how brutally he would do it. It could potentially scar their psyche beyond repair, especially since he was a Variant.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what power you speak of-¡°

    ¡°LIES!¡±

    Boom!

    Before Kieran could finish, Rautori¡¯srge axe cleaved through the air while carrying frightening power. Kieran¡¯s pupil constricted as he lifted Crimson Ashrune and activated Hardened Skin to defend.

    Despite his actions, Kieran was simrly forced into the opposing wall while looking at his party members. Was this really worth a Gold Adventurer Badge anymore? With a Unique Variant Boss in the mix, the difficulty skyrocketed exponentially.

    Still, the word yield wasn¡¯t in Kieran¡¯s vocabry. Before responding, he spat on the ground, looked at everyone else, and spoke in the party chat. ¡°Don¡¯t interfere no matter what happens. This is a Variant Boss, so any death inflicted by him is unusual. I didn¡¯t ount for this when epting the request, so it¡¯s on me to deal with it.¡±

    From his words, it was clear that Kieran intended to solo this boss. But, to do so, he¡¯d have to pull out all the stops to stand even the slightest change. One million Health was indeed an enormous burden to ovee.

 Chapter 105 Driven to the Brink

    ¡ª-

    Due to the looming battle, Kieran¡¯s adrenaline began pumping, which by effect, made it feel as if time had slowed down.

    Now that Kieran gave Crimson Ashrune another nce, he realized that although the weapon was extremely heavy, the weight distribution was spectacr. While it was ssified as a greatsword, Crimson Ashrune¡¯s shape was oddly simr to a longsword.

    In fact, the design seemed to be inspired by zweihanders, a foreign-style doublehanded weapon. As part of the archaic cloth fell down, it exposed a ruby in the center of the weapon¡¯s guard that was partly modeled after Agrianos¡¯ silver de.

    ¡°You¡¯ll be my partner, correct? Then we shall walk into battle and forge our path forward,¡± Kieran murmured while gazing at Crimson Ashrune. It was faint, but the ruby seemed to glimmer with a demonic intent that dissipated as fast as it appeared.

    Afterward, Kieran exhaled and pointed his de at Rautori. A swirl of bloody energy flowed from Kieran¡¯s body in the shape of a spiral that coated his de like never before. The difference between a sword made to ept this power and one that couldn¡¯t withstand it was miles apart.

    Rautori¡¯s cold eyes narrowed upon seeing Kieran activate a skill that posed a threat.

    At the same time, Kieran took the necessary precautions.

    ¡´System: 20 Skill Points have been consumed. [You have learned Abhorrent Paroxysm.]¡µ

    ¡´System: 20 Skill Points have been consumed. [You have learned Blood Bind.] ¡µ

    ¡´System: 12 Skill Points have been consumed. [You have learned Death Avoidance.]¡µ

    By the time he finished learning his new skills, the blood encasing created by Blood Mania had reached its endpoint. Because he took over 500 damage from Rautori¡¯s earlier attack, after activating Blood Mania, Kieran¡¯s Health was currently below 50%.

    Needless to say, Kieran received an instant boost in Attack Power, Movement Speed, and Attack Speed. Immediately after, Kieran turned into a crimson blur as he exploded toward Rautori. After receiving thatst attack, it was only fitting that he repaid the favor.<sub>-.</sub>

    Boom!

    Both Crimson Ashrune and Rautori¡¯s collided, causing a gust of strong winds. The ground gave way below Kieran¡¯s feet, but his gaze remained cold, emotionless, and focused as madness brewed inside their pits.

    ¡°Hehe, so this human indeed hides some power. But it isn¡¯t enough! Even when weakened, there is zero chance you overpower me,¡± Rautori roared pridefully.

    Bang!

    The ground shattered further in a ring shape as the rate Kieran lost Health increased. Of course, how would Rautori ever know that Kieran desired this situation? He needed to reach his optimal state and do so quickly.

    50%¡­ 45%¡­ 40%¡­

    Kieran¡¯s Health bar steadily moved from a green to yellow, followed by an orange shade as it declined further. After a certain point, Rautori could no longer press Kieran deeper into the ground, which he found extremely odd.

    ¡°Eh? What folly is going on here? If I want you to be buried in the pits, you are to do so!¡±

    Whoosh! Bang!

    Rautori lifted hisrge axe for a second before smashing it down without any prior indication. This attack was heavier than thest since there was no gradual increase. Because of how devastatingly strong the attack was, Kieran collided against the ground, leaving a path of destroyed earth as he slid.

    However, halfway through the slide, Kieran stabbed Crimson Ashrune into the ground and sprung to his feet with unmatched vigor. Now that his Health had fallen to 19%, there was no reason for him to be so passive.

    ¡´System: Physical Attack Power has increased to 8,912!¡µ<sub></sub>

    ¡´System: The effects of ?Tormented Beliefs? Phase III have been activated.¡µ

    Bang!

    -3,565

    This time, the one who was forced back in their collision was Rautori. Despite that, only a paper-thin cut opened on his torso that closed two secondster. Compared to other monsters, his regeneration was far too potent

    Additionally, from the damage inflicted, it was clear Rautori¡¯s Damage Reduction was insanely high, amounting to at least 60%!

    Rautori tapped his finger against his chest and looked at Kieran. After seeing the drop of blood on hisrge fingers, Rautori¡¯s eyes reddened, and his expression became crazed. ¡°I was foolish to y with you, boy!¡±

    Following his bellow, a burst of pressure released from Rautori¡¯s body as his teeth grew in size until they protruded from his maw. ¡°I will y this silly game of yours, but in the end, that power will be mine!¡±

    Whoosh!

    Both Kieran and Rautori rushed forward at the same time. Numerous exchanges happened, followed by explosions so loud the others could only cover their ears.

    nk! Boom! nk! nk! Bang! BOOM!

    Surprisingly, after his Health dropped below 20%, his consumption decreased considerably. During their several collisions, Kieran activated Sanguine shes, which opened minor cuts on Rautori¡¯s body.

    Because of those cuts, Kieran¡¯s began to heal slowly through the slight damage inflicted on Rautori. Now that Rautori met each attack with a simr one, it was challenging to deal more than 300 damage with each attack.

    Despite his overflowing pride, Rautori wasn¡¯t one of those foolish individuals who let their opponent take cheap hits that could potentially change the tide of the battle. He had been confined to this ce long enough, so his first objective was to leave, not find another worthy opponent.

    Suddenly, after their next sh, Kieran pointed one of his hands to the ground. Three percent of his Health vanished, but in return, a small pool of blood formed on the floor, and from within that pool sprang twelve blood chains that wrapped around Rautori¡¯s arms, legs, torso, and neck.

    At that moment, Kieran created some distance with a strong backstep while stabbing his sword toward Rautori¡¯s chest. Three violent tempests snaked around each other as Kieran focused on condensing them into one strike. Sadly, due to his inexperience, he failed to aplish that.

    At most, he could only decrease the area of the attack so that they allnded on Rautori¡¯s center mass.

    -64,701

    -70,511

    -67,238

    With thebined effects of Blood Bind restricting Rautori¡¯s movements, Sanguinem Tempests dealt over 200,000 damage, decreasing Rautori¡¯s Health to just under 75%. However, due to his confinement to this area, Rautori hade to loathe restrictions.

    So, being bound by Kieran¡¯s Blood Bind drove him insane until he tapped into a power that went beyond the limits of any current yer.

    ¡°Roarrrghhhh!¡± Rautori released an earth-shattering roar while his body swelled until the blood chains holding him in ce were stretched taut. His muscle mass nearly doubled as he increased from 6 to 8 meters.

    Off to the side, the others watched in horror as this boss released a presence that felt like theing of one¡¯s doomsday.

    ¡°Aatrox¡­¡± Sera muttered while clutching her staff. As much as she wanted to help him out, she couldn¡¯t. None of her heals had any effect on his Health, so it¡¯d be pointless for her to intervene.

    ¡°Tch, are we really scared of one simple death? So what¡­ I say we help him out,¡± Bastion dered after clenching his teeth until they creaked. When push came to shove, Bastion was indeed a person one could rely on, even going as far as forsaking his safety to render aid.

    However, just when Bastion took a step, Kieran¡¯s crimson eyes darted toward him while speaking solemnly. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare intervene! This is an order as your Team Leader!¡±

    ¡°But!¡±

    Suddenly, Bastion felt a hand on his shoulder and looked back. He saw Nemean shaking his head with a helpless smile. ¡°Don¡¯t. It¡¯s the order from a superior; we have to honor it. We have to believe he has the ability to ovee this.¡±

    Meanwhile, Luna silently watched as Rautori shattered all the blood chains holding him back. Once that happened, he pounced on Kieran like a hungry lion and cleaved his axe downward.

    Kieran naturally didn¡¯t contend against this attack, not because he didn¡¯t want to but because he couldn¡¯t. The aftermath of the attack was ridiculous. A 15-meter-long fissure extended well past their battle area and split the nearby stone wall in half. The type of power required to do that was absurd!

    What¡¯s more, Rautori¡¯s Heath increased at a visible rate. From what Kieran saw, he estimated that he recovered somewhere between 2 to 5% Health per minute. If Kieran couldn¡¯t find the opportunity to deliver heavy damage outside of Sanguinem Tempest, Rautori would inevitably recover from the wounds on his torso.

    ¡®Come on¡­ as an A Rank Skill, it should be more effective than that!¡¯ Kieran thought. This thought naturally referred to his newly learned skill, Blood Bind, which specialized in crowd control.

    ¡¸ Blood Bind (Lv.1)

    Skill Rank: A

    Skill Type: Active

    Mastery (00.00%)

    Description: This skill summons twelve blood chains by imbuing one¡¯s Blood with Mana. These twelve chains can bind up to three enemies within a 10-meter radius. If only one monster exists, all bindings will target that entity, casting the highest immobilizing effect possible. Monsters affected by the blood chains will be immobilized for 6 seconds. (The effect decreases based on the Strength of the bound enemy.)

    Consumption: 3% Health and 30 Mana

    Prerequisites: Lv.25, ?True Berserker?, ?Blood Mania? Lv.1

    Cooldown: 30 seconds ¡¹

    ¡®Is this damned goat only a Unique Variant? I¡¯m sure that their power didn¡¯t reach this far at Lv.30¡­ What the hell am I up against?¡¯ Kieran wondered.

    Unlike what was disyed in the skill description, Blood Bind barely held up for 1 second, meaning it was less than 20% effective on Rautori. Until now, the highest skill effect reduction Kieran faced was 50%, so this development infuriated him slightly.

    ¡°Damn oversized goat,¡± Kieran spat venomously.

    ¡°Goat!?¡± Rautori scowled as if he heard the most disrespectful insult even. After all, he wasn¡¯t a goat. He was a bull blessed with a man¡¯s physique and immense power.

    Rautori didn¡¯t appreciate the insult, apparent by how he rushed after Kieran nonstop and attacked haphazardly. ¡°Are you a damned rabbit? Stop hopping about!¡±

    Kieran scoffed in response. But when he tried to dodge the next attack, he came to the sad realization that it was a feint. Once he jumped away, Rautori grabbed Kieran¡¯s leg and mmed him to the ground while mming down his axe.

    Left with no choice, Kieran could only lift Crimson Ashrune and defend against the attack while using his other hand to brace the de.

    ¡°Arrgh¡­.¡± Kieran screamed out as pain radiated throughout his body. His chest started to heave while his eyes reddened with a vengeful. The harder Rautori pressed down, the more Kieran¡¯s reasoning faded until something seemed to snap and bubble up out of Kieran in the form of unbridled fury.

    Ding!

    ¡´System: You have fulfilled the criteria. The restriction on ?Deranged Spirit? has been lifted! You are free to activate the skill from here on out.¡µ

    ¡­

    Author¡¯s Note: Please check the Author¡¯s Thoughts section for information regarding rewards. I thank you for your continued support! I appreciate it all <3 (P.S: This won¡¯t increase the price of the chapter.)

 Chapter 106 Thin Line Between Victory and Defeat

    ¡ª-

    Until now, Deranged Spirit was a skill Kieran couldn¡¯t activate no matter what despite having received it at the time of his ss promotion. Just recently, he had wondered about the criteria to trigger it and if he possessed the current means to do so. Naturally, with the current situation at hand, the answer was yes. Kieran did have the means to gain ess to the skill, but it took circumstances he had yet to stumble across until now.

    The first requirement of this skill was to have the madness of a True Berserker active in its highest form. In other words, Kieran needed Blood Mania and Tormented Beliefs to reach peak conditions to fulfill this prerequisite.

    The second requirement of this skill was a revenge-clouded mind. In this regard, Kieran¡¯s desire to seek vengeance deepened the closer Rautori brought him to the brink of death. After all, this ordeal reminded him of the powerlessness he felt up to the moment of his original death.

    Deep-rooted emotions like rage, hatred, love or even loneliness were usually the triggers in most emotion-driven acts, which is why the True Berserker ss was one based on a power that most ¡°righteous¡± figures would deem as a cardinal sin¡ªwrath, rage, fury.

    Lastly, to activate the skill, Kieran required an engine to mobilize and consume these raw emotions. In Kieran¡¯s case, he possessed more than one, but only one was essible at this time¡ªhis Strengthened Trait. The Vengeful Soul trait was the perfect engine to contain and convert Kieran¡¯s desire to retaliate into tangible power.

    With all three of these effectsbined, Kieran could finally experience the power of one of his most essential passive skills.

    Suddenly, the bloody aura surrounding Kieran roiled as his expression contorted in rage. The whites of his eyes disappeared only to be reced by the most ominous ck color. Once this process started, the slumbering blood of Argexes seemed to react and cause Kieran¡¯s body to feel as if it had returned to the Ancient Volcanic Ichor Bath.

    His muscles swelled, and his skin reddened slightly while his eyes, previously the color of dried blood, turned a vibrant crimson matching that of fresh blood. Finally, Kieran¡¯s hair seemed to grow wild as he tensed his arms and pushed against Rautori¡¯s axe.

    ¡¸ Deranged Spirit (Lv.1)

    Skill Rank: A (?)

    Skill Type: Active-Passive/Buff

    Mastery (00.00%)

    Description: The user is plunged into a state of extreme fury where their reasoning begins to wear thin. In this state, the user gains the buff ?Bloodlust?. ?Bloodlust? increases the effects of all blood skills by 100% and increases Lifesteal¡¯s Health replenishment to 0.25% of the damage dealt upon bleeding foes. The maximum number of Bleed stacks temporarily increases to 60.<sub>-.</sub>

    Consumption: Sanity

    Prerequisites: 100% ?Blood Mania? ?Tormented Beliefs? Phase III

    Duration: 1 ¨C 300 seconds (The aftereffects vary based on the active duration.)

    Cooldown: 24 hours

    Note: This is a skill derived from the power of Argexes¡¯ Blood. It is iplete, but the tools toplete the ability are already present. ¡¹

    Deranged Spirit was truly a perverse skill. Although it was treated as a passive, in truth, it was abination of both an active and a passive skill because Kieran could only use it after actively fulfilling the criteria.

    Although having Deranged Spirit active meant Kieran¡¯s attacks would be more lethal, it wasn¡¯t enough to close the gap in his and Rautori¡¯s Strength. For this, Kieran activated the reason his muscle began to swell and writhe in power. However, it undoubtedly came at a cost because using such a skill in conjunction with Deranged Spirit was beyond dangerous.

    ¡¸ Abhorrent Paroxsym (Lv.1)

    Skill Rank: A

    Skill Type: Active/Buff

    Mastery (00.00%)

    Description: By channeling and amplifying their emotions of rage, the True Berserker bes extremely lethal but vulnerable at the same time. Activating this skill allows the user to enter a unique state called ?Frenzy?. While ?Frenzy? is active, the user¡¯s Strength is doubled at the sacrifice of their Defense. Both Attack and Movement Speed are increased by 150%.

    Consumption: 100% Defense<sub></sub>

    Duration: 45 seconds

    Cooldown: 3 hours

    Note: After its usage, the user¡¯s Stamina Regeneration is set to 0 for the next hour. Afterward, it will increase to 50% for the following two hours. ¡¹

    Abhorrent Paroxysm, although powerful, was a double-edged sword through and through. Not only did it leave the user vulnerable with zero Defense, meaning all damage received would be unmitigated, but it also seemed like this skill was dangerous since it left the mind susceptible to rage. There was no telling what any individual would do in a state of unbridled fury.

    Additionally, the skill took an excessive toll on Kieran¡¯s body which manifested as heavy debuffs on his Stamina Regeneration. After using this skill, he wouldn¡¯t be able to fight for quite some time if brought to exhaustion.

    Nevertheless, Kieran¡¯s mind wasn¡¯t on the consequences. With Abhorrent Paroxysm and Deranged Spirit active, Kieran was filled with power that yers at this level would find unimaginable!

    ¡´Battle Alert: Strength temporarily increased to 1,260!¡µ

    ¡´Battle Alert: Physical Attack Power has increased to 10,802!¡µ

    Boom!

    Once Kieran raised Rautori¡¯s axe high enough, he kicked him away with enough force to send him flying into the wall. Naturally, with Strength well above 1,000 points, the weight behind Kieran¡¯s attacks was astonishing.

    Whoosh!

    With the boost to his movement speed, Kieran was like a red ghost as he appeared before Rautori. Although he didn¡¯t utter a word, Kieran¡¯s eyes screamed bloody murder as he unleashed an amplified Wild Crash from overhead.

    BOOM!

    -99,500

    The wall shattered from the pressure of that attack backed by an obscene amount of Strength. And, although the Wild Crash triggered neither the Defense Reduction nor a Critical Hit, Kieran dealt damage that outssed anything thus far despite Rautori¡¯s attempts to defend against it.

    It never urred to this boss that Kieran was in possession of such fearsome power. The diabolical power of True Berserker was even enough to astound Kieran, who had witnessed several spectacr feats. Even in his unbridled rage, he stopped to smirk at Crimson Ashrune.

    This damage was only possible with Crimson Ashrune and Deranged Spirit increasing the effects of blood attacks by 20 and 100%, respectively.

    After losing almost 10% of his Health from just one attack, Rautori burst from inside the debris andnded heavily. ¡°This is the power! It might not be exactly the same, but it undoubtedly has the making to cut through my restraints. Give it to me!¡±

    Whoosh!

    Rautori dashed toward Kieran, intending to cleave him in half and learn the secrets of this power. But, contrary to everyone¡¯s expectations, Kieran didn¡¯t dodge. In fact, he didn¡¯t react at all, merely ncing up at the axe¡¯s de with a cold fury seething in his gaze.

    ng! Boom!

    The floor sunk in as a result of Kieran lifting his de right before Rautori¡¯s attacknded. The mind-boggling pressure of the two strikes colliding created a st of air that swept outward and formed arge crater.

    ¡°Disappear,¡± Kieran uttered in a low, deep tone that sounded almost guttural. Quickly retracting his de, Kieran shed it up. This action formed six blood des that swiftly opened six deep gashes on Rautori¡¯s arms and legs. Once that happened, he created some room after estimating an iing counterattack.

    Each de carried enough power to inflict over 40,000 damage and over 60,000 damage when it registered as a Critical Hit.

    In mere seconds, Kieran had overturned the tides of the battle with diabolical power.

    Of course, Rautori naturally wouldn¡¯t take this defeat lying down. Incredulity filled Rautori¡¯s expression as he failed to understand how he was losing. ¡®I am losing to a vermin who barely emits any Mana? All because of the injury suffered by the hands of those vile beings?! Who are they to try and control what I do?! I am a free being! I will not be restricted!¡¯

    Suddenly, the axe in Rautori¡¯s hand emanated a strange power, one that made the entirebyrinth shudder. In the distance, part of thebyrinth broke apart until stone orbs 3-meters in diameter floated high overhead.

    Kieran nced up and then back at Rautori, who breathed heavily. It was no different from a raging bull releasing steam from its snout with each huff it made. Rautori no longer saw Kieran; all he saw were varying shades of red that drove him insane.

    A few secondster, stone orbs rained down with each cleave Rautori made. Both scars and broken stone filled the ground as Kieran dodged the attacks while steadily moving closer.

    If one looked closely, one would see that Kieran now winced with each step he made. Due to the effects of his skills, every step Kieran took felt like seared needles puncturing his flesh. Through sheer willpower and the desire to exact revenge alone, Kieran continued to move at the rapid pace he did.

    ¡°I will not fall, for if I fall, this entire ce shall be thrown into the pits of hell alongside me!¡± Rautori bellowed to the sky. From how he attacked, it was clear that he meant what he said. The crater formed during their earlier collision acquired more rming holes with each stone orb that bombarded the area.

    At that moment, Crimson Ashrune radiated a vibrant crimson glow that signified the activation of Sanguine shes. Because Kieran¡¯s Lifesteal ability had increased to 0.25%, whenever Kieran consumed Health to attack, it quickly rebounded to the 20% threshold through therge amounts of damage inflicted upon Rautori.

    After being embroiled inbat for 30 intense seconds, Rautori¡¯s Health plummeted to where even he lost all reason by entering the Berserk State avable to all boss-level characters.

    Rautori ballooned to over 12 meters tall, and his attacks became faster and more destructive to where even Kieran found it difficult to dodge or defend against them. However, roughly 10 seconds remained until Sangiuem Tempestpleted its cooldown period, so Kieran could only bear the excruciating pain.

    To help dull his mind, Kieran roared like a beast as he unleashed a flurry of attacks interspersed with any skill that came off cooldown during his relentless retaliation.

    Unlike normal boss monsters, Rautori didn¡¯t lose any Defense. On the contrary, his Damage Reduction increased to 75%. So, while Kieran¡¯s attack remained extremely powerful, they gradually sumbed to Rautori¡¯s reinforced body.

    ¡°Come on, Aatrox! Don¡¯t give in now! It¡¯s almost done,¡± Bastion roared at the side once he saw Kieran being pushed back even in his current state.

    Although his reasoning was sparse and his senses dulled, Kieran could faintly make out Bastion¡¯s chant in his darkening world. This was a foreign sensation to Kieran. This type of camaraderie wasn¡¯t felt even during his days as the Golden Brigade¡¯s Commander. His subordinates didn¡¯t revere Kieran, in fact, they envied him¡ªenvied his talent.

    Why couldn¡¯t it be them? This inferior mindset bred contempt that festered and blossomed once Kieran could no longer lead or even y.

    Of course, as the leader, Kieran was aware of those vultures who eyed his former position. Thinking about this matter only fed Kieran¡¯s current rage as he expressed it in a frantic roar filled with anger, disappointment, hurt, loneliness, and even sadness.

    Following his roar, Kieran dodged Rautori¡¯s horizontal swing and stabbed Crimson Ashrune into the ground. A dense pool of blood materialized as reinforced blood chains sprouted from within.

    Despite Rautori¡¯s attempts to break them, they remained intact while Kieran swung his de around with bated breaths. The fatigue was setting in, and Abhorrent Paroxysm¡¯s effects were waning.

    In fact, despite being healed by his Lifesteal trait, Kieran¡¯s Health began to plummet. At that moment, Kieran could only give it his all to unleash a devastating attack.

    The Sanguinem Tempests swirled around Kieran¡¯s body just as Rautori broke free from the Blood Binds.

    Once he sensed what Kieran was doing, Rautori controlled the remaining stone orbs to fall and interrupt him, but it was toote. By the time the stones fell, the Sanguinem Tempests had pierced forth with a gruesome presence that destroyed the orbs once they came too close.

    Defiance filled Rautori as he tried to ovee the twisters to no avail.

    -320,225! [Critical Hit]

    Rautori fell to his knees with a gaping hole in his chest while Kieran looked at him with a nk gaze. Rautori couldn¡¯t speak any longer, but he didn¡¯t need to talk to convey his emotions¡ªpure disbelief.

    Thud!

    Once he fell, numerous notifications sounded, but there was no burst of loot that usually apanied boss kills. The others found it odd, but Kieran was in no state to care as he stumbled backward. But, just as he fell, Bastion and Nemean ran up and caught him.

    They were both stunned beyond belief but chose not to speak about it. Kieran had treaded the thin line between victory and defeat, but in the end, he ultimately emerged victorious.

 Chapter 107 Widespread Concern

    ¡ª-

    Given the effects of Deranged Spirit and Abhorrent Paroxysm, Kieran truly wasn¡¯t in the best state. Kieran¡¯s Stamina Regeneration rate falling to 0 severely weakened his natural healing ability. In fact, even his Health Regeneration seemed to be affected as his Health crept up at a negligible rate.

    What¡¯s more, Kieran wasn¡¯t aware of it, but activating those skills created an effect that transcended the realm of this game.

    ¡­

    Seconds earlier, inside Dr. Riley¡¯s medical facility¡­

    Dr. Riley walked toward Kieran¡¯s body which she had been carefully monitoring every 30 minutes. For reasons unknown to her, the system suddenly released a warning alert. The ring rm attached to her personal disy drove Dr. Riley to check on Kieran.

    However, she could only watch in shock when she reached him as Kieran¡¯s body convulsed and released a thin red color gas that seemed to form a transparent cocoon around his body. Once this cocoon appeared, the energy it released traveled toward the VR Helmet, wanting to prate the device.

    If not for its feeble presence, it would have seeded. After roughly five seconds of this energy trying to bypass the VR Helmet¡¯s safety measures, it dissipated after losing a significant portion of its power.

    ¡°Oh my goodness,¡± Dr. Riley gasped. Her eyes shone with genuine curiosity as she tenderly examined Kieran¡¯s body, paying close attention not to disturb his semi-stasis state invoked through any VR equipment.

    To her shock, after scanning Kieran¡¯s body with a special device made to detect the energy produced by X-hancers, Dr. Riley found that all residual presences of that energy had been depleted!

    ¡°T-this¡­ this doesn¡¯t make any sense! He¡¯s devouring that energy. By the time he wakes up, he may be in a worse state than earlier,¡± Dr. Riley muttered. While she wished to help Kieran by feeding him X-hancers, all medical professionals with knowledge of this serum strictly advised against administering it to unconscious patients.

    The mind yed a pivotal role in guiding the absorption of X-hancers.<sub>-.</sub>

    Dr. Riley could only wait patiently until Kieran either woke up or was kicked from the game. Still, this ordeal led to a breakthrough in Dr. Riley¡¯s knowledge of this equipment. ¡®So it is true then, these devices really can affect the real world. If that¡¯s the case, what is the basis behind the technology? Furthermore, what exactly is this energy being consumed and discharged?¡¯

    Although Dr. Riley had numerous questions, taking apart one of the VR devices was out of the equation. If the equipment sensed the slightest bit of being tampered with, it would initiate its self-destruct sequence. Why would anypany want its proprietary technology to fall into the hands ofpetitors or suspicious parties? Then again, the self-destruct sequence raised suspicion in and of itself.

    What if someone tampered with an in-use piece of equipment? Would it kill the user?!

    After this ordeal happened, Dr. Riley chose not to leave Kieran¡¯s side. Thus, she dragged a chair over to his side while sifting through details on her tablet. As Dr. Riley became engrossed in her work, she soon started to hum a tune.

    ¡­

    Back inside the Underground Labyrinth¡­

    Kieran released a pained groan as his mental state gradually recovered from the strain introduced by his two skills. Soon enough, he regained enough rity to understand what happened. ¡®So that¡¯s what the system meant by Sanity.¡¯

    The subject of Sanity was a vague topic for Kieran because this was the first time he came across it. Since the True Berserker ss was unique and there was no other ss like it, the opportunity to learn about Sanity was limited, leaving its operation principles unexplored.

    Nevertheless, Kieran more or less grasped what Sanity meant. It corrted to his tolerance of outside emotional stimuli. The more his Sanity degraded, the higher the chance that Kieran would descend into a fit of unbridled fury superimposed by a diabolical mania.

    Of course, such a happenstance was an issue for someone who adopted a leadership role. What would happen if his decision-making abilities werepromised during a crucial moment? Wouldn¡¯t that put the party at risk?

    Kieran understood these issues very well, so that raised the matter of establishing countermeasures. In this case, only two existed. Kieran would either need to find a decent recement capable of fulfilling his role or find a way to minimize the effects of corroded Sanity.<sub></sub>

    Although his entire party was talented, Kieran wasn¡¯t convinced they possessed the strategical foresight or impartiality needed to take on this role. After considering this for a moment, Kieran believed he couldn¡¯t decide upon the person until he assessed everyone¡¯s abilities outside ofbat.

    ¡°Boss! Are you okay?¡± Cyr asked while running up and waving his hand before Kieran. The way his head hung limply nearly gave Cyr a heart attack.

    ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± Kieran said in a grating tone. Relying upon Nemean and Bastion¡¯s support, he received enough time to recover his speaking ability. Still, he sounded hoarse and exhausted because of rage-filled roars that shook the battlefield just moments prior.

    ¡°Aw man, Aatrox. I don¡¯t know what type of skills you activated back there, but that was not only insane but also a true scare. I¡¯ve never seen this much destruction before,¡± Nemean eximed.

    The battlefield was left in a dreadful state. Not a single wall was left undamaged, while a few smaller craters merged with therge one in the center.

    Kieran strained himself to grimace as he looked about. Soon enough, his gaze fell upon Rautori¡¯s lifeless body filled with several holes. It was a brutal fight, but in the end, Kieran was not only victorious but also alerted of the dangers of using his ss.

    He hadn¡¯t confirmed it yet, but the effects of those skills didn¡¯t just apply to his character in this world. He felt as if his mind itself was being squeezed until the essence of his hatred surfaced. Afterward, he could feel a faint voice speak to him.

    ¡°Let it awaken,¡± Kieran murmured. The others barely heard what he said, but they looked at him with concerned expressions.

    ¡°Ah, by the way, I know this might sound like a bummer, Aatrox¡­ but after all your hard work, there isn¡¯t any loot,¡± Bastion said with a bitter smile. If he were in this situation, he would have undoubtedly thrown a fit. The battle was too intense and nerve-wracking not to give any loot.

    ¡°No loot?¡± Kieran parrotted. But, thisment drove Kieran to look at the abundant notifications that filled the corner of his vision.

    ¡´System: Due to the involvement of a Special Variant, the Experience Reward is limited to the battle¡¯s participant(s).¡µ

    ¡´System: You have gained 973,450 Experience.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have leveled up. [Lv.26¡úLv.27]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have leveled up. [Lv.27¡úLv.28]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 24 UAP and 16 SP.¡µ

    Close to 1 million Experience Points were rewarded to Kieran, but because of the unique situation, the system didn¡¯t include the others in the reward distribution. Granted, this only pertained to the fight with Rautori itself.

    When it came to the dungeon rewards as a whole, that was essible to everyone.

    Suddenly, Kieran noticed another disturbance in the corner of his eye. Rautori¡¯s great axe shimmered with an abnormal light only visible to Kieran. The light was obscure but enough to gain Kieran¡¯s attention.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got it from here,¡± Kieran said. Then, he removed his arms from around Nemean and Bastion before limping over to Rautori¡¯s body. Although Rautori had used the axe to defend against Kieran¡¯s Sanguinem Tempests, it emerged unscathed.

    This fact alonepelled Kieran to pick up Rautori¡¯s great axe. Upon doing so, he brought it down like the decree of a heavenly figure.

    Bang!

    Rautori¡¯s head rolled from his body, followed by confirmation that the party had won.

    ¡´System: Congrattions, you havepleted the Secret Dungeon, Underground Labyrinth.¡µ

    ¡´System: Your reward(s) are: Level +1, 50 Unassigned Attribute Points, and 50 Skill Points.¡µ

    A bright gold radiance enveloped the entire party as their levels increased by one. A single level might seem infilling, but the UAP and SP bestowed upon them ounted for at least five levels worth of points.

    Nevertheless, what shocked Kieran was his inability to bring up any information about the great axe in his hand. Furthermore, after just two seconds of holding it, Kieran noticed that his entire arm felt as if it would be ripped from his socket. Left with no choice, Kieran could only stash the great axe and Rautori¡¯s head inside his inventory.

    A secondter, he nced at the floor and noticed a type of inscription key attached to what appeared to be a stringy tendon. This had most likely fallen off Rautori¡¯s neck after Kieran severed his head.

    Kieran kneeled to pick up and inspect the item, which revealed importation information in return.

    ¡¸ Labyrinth Lord¡¯s Key (Special)

    Item Rank: Epic

    Item Level: N/A

    Item Usage: Grants the holder entry into the Labyrinth¡¯s hidden abode.

    Description: A key forged using the tooth and blood of the Labyrinth¡¯s true leader. ¡¹

    Kieran grinned, albeit barely, upon reading this item¡¯s description. ¡°I¡¯ve found why there was no loot to be handed out. We¡¯ve been left with a special circumstance.¡±

    As soon as Kieran picked up the key, the space before him rippled like water. A hole in space identical to the size of the key in Kieran¡¯s possession opened up. Once Kieran ced the key inside and turned it, a kind of doorway seemed to open up.

    The other side was filled with different soft glows, some gold, some silver, and some of several odd colors. The others didn¡¯t need to enter to understand this was where Rautori kept his possessions.

    ¡°GOLD!¡± Nemean screamed at the top of his lungs.

    While the others ran towards the rewards like excited children, Alice, Sera, and Luna stayed behind or, more correctly, stood beside Kieran. Out of the three, Sera looked up at Kieran.

    ¡°Will my heals still reject if I try them now? We aren¡¯t inbat, so shouldn¡¯t that power be slumbering by now?¡± Sera asked. She could tell by Kieran¡¯s expression that he was in a world of pain, so she only wished to help alleviate it.

    ¡°We can try,¡± Kieran nodded.

    Within two seconds, numerous pleasant energy swirled around Kieran as Sera activated every healing skill she possessed. Unlike before, Kieran¡¯s Health slowly healed.

    The oue came as a surprise to everyone, even Kieran. Part of him doubted Sera¡¯s skills seeding. ¡®So, my ss restriction isbat, I suppose? At least it isn¡¯t as hopeless as I thought because even leveling up barely does anything for my Health.¡¯

    As mentioned before, a yer leveling up would restore allbat-rted faculties like Health, Mana, and Stamina depending on its current state. However, when Kieran leveled up, the restoration felt almost nonexistent, as if his physique preferred its natural healing.

    When Kieran¡¯s expression showed relief, Luna and Alice looked at each other in unison. It was only natural that they both had questions about Kieran¡¯s ss, but they also knew there were some things that people just wouldn¡¯t reveal.

    Suddenly, a shout sounded from within the cave. ¡°Aatrox, you¡¯ve got toe and see this!¡±

    Based on the excitement present inside Altair¡¯s tone, Kieran gathered that he had stumbled across something great.

 Chapter 108 Extraordinary Loot, Generous Offer

    ¡ª-

    After walking halfway in the hidden abode, a lofty sight entered Kieran¡¯s view. Small piles of gold coins were scattered throughout the spacious cave with gems simr to rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and other precious stones apanying the mounds of coins.

    However, despite the sheer value of these piles, that wasn¡¯t what drove Altair to call for Kieran. Located not too far away from the heaps of coins, directly in the center of the cave, as if it was designed to draw any visitor¡¯s focus, was a stone table.

    Situated upon the stone table were various armors and weapons. However, given Rautori¡¯s propensity for destruction, the items atop the table were limited to heavy weapons as well as Heavy and te Armor. Out of everyone in the party, only Kieran, Nemean and Bastion could benefit from such items.

    The rest either wore Leather or Cloth Armor. Of course, that didn¡¯t mean they were out of luck. Hung along the side and back walls were a few misceneous weapons and what seemed to be inoperable ornaments.

    ¡°This would have to be a chamber designed to house Rautori¡¯s spoils of war. How else would he get his hands upon so much equipment if not? It didn¡¯t seem like he belonged to any power with the way he despised restrictions. That type of individual wouldn¡¯t willingly submit to another,¡± Kieran muttered before slowly limping forward.

    As he approached the closest pile, Kieran bent down and examined one of the items. It was one of the emerald-green gems. However, if one looked closely enough, one would realize there was a swirl of wind gently rotating inside. As Kieran held the item, it felt light to the touch, almost weightless even.

    ¡¸ Vnt Whirlwind Gem (Material)

    Item Rank: Epic (89)<sub>-.</sub>

    Item Level: Tier II Gem

    Item Usage: This item can be used for enchanting, engraving, andpidary services. The effects of this item vary depending on the skill of the handler.

    Description: A naturally formed gem created after experiencing years of pressure in conditions saturated by pure Mana and high-quality Wind Elements. The energy contained inside can be purified further to fit the user¡¯s desires.. ¡¹

    Kieran¡¯s jaw nearly dropped after looking at the gem in his hand in shock. While the system didn¡¯t reveal this gem¡¯s specific limitations or range because of Kieran¡¯sck of inspection or appraisal abilities, the value of this gem was undeniable.

    After all, any item rted to the three lifestyle sses¡ªEnchanter, Engravist, or Lapidary held immense value. That¡¯s because the first two could increase the value of equipment through their particr practices.

    Of course, that was impossible right now because not only was this a Tier II Gem, but it was also of Epic quality. While it was possible to enlist the help of an NPC specializing in those departments, quite frankly, it¡¯d be a waste.

    Tier II Gems were viable even for items meant to be wielded by Advanced sses. Furthermore, since it was a gem with an Epic rating, it could be used to enchant or engrave up to an Epic item. Of course, there was a chance of failure, which depended on the practitioner and the item they were handling.

    Once Kieran noted the worth of the gem, he quickly turned to the others. ¡°Ignore the coins, I want you guys to call out the information on the gems.¡±<sub></sub>

    ¡°Oh, sure thing, boss! Looky here; I have some fire-type gems. Uh, there¡¯s a water one too. OH! And a metal one. Uh, they say something about Tier I or Tier II and have a ranking of Unique (80) or better. Is that good?¡± Cyr eximed before standing up with a sheepish chuckle.

    Regarding the knowledge of lifestyle-rted items, almost every yer aside from Kieran would becking. Hence, Kieran didn¡¯t tease Cyr for hisck of knowledge. Instead, he disyed an excited grin.

    After Cyr, the others quickly called out many types of the same gems, including earth ones.

    ¡°Good? We¡¯ve effectively hit the jackpot, boys and girls. It may not be now or soon, but these items will be a highly soughtmodity. While it somewhat sucks that there are only several hundred of these gems, I can¡¯tin,¡± Kieran said.

    Afterward, Kieran turned toward Luna. ¡°Would you like a higher portion of Gold, or would you like to keep the agreed 20% of the gems. I won¡¯t urge you to favor either decision; the choice is solely yours.¡±

    ¡°Um¡­¡± Luna murmured. The allure of the Gold was too irresistible to give up, but after having heard Kieran¡¯s ims, Luna also couldn¡¯t overlook the potential worth of the gems. If her decision was too hasty, she could potentially make an oversight that she¡¯d regret in the future.

    Thus, Luna pondered patiently while panning her gaze to the others. Most of their gazes were fixated on the piles of Gold while Nemean and Bastion drooled over the items on the table. Forget the Gold, these pieces of equipment were almost tailored for armored sses like theirs.

    After almost of minute of rumination, Luna looked to Kieran again. ¡°How much will you increase the portion of Gold. Also, do we have a tally of how much Gold is present in this ce? We also can¡¯t forget the silver.¡±

    Kieran gave a slight smile as he heard these questions. Instead of following up with these essential questions, most people would make a hasty decision fueled by the fervent sight of Gold in the room. However, a keen person like Luna knew that the prudent choice was the one that could secure her future.

    ¡°The value of gold present should be somewhere close to or just above 4,000 Gold,¡± Kieran said. However, the approximation was somewhat wrong because Kieran only gave the amount of pure Gold and Silver present and neglected the gem¡¯s value. This wasn¡¯t a guess made after ncing around the cave. Once Kieran became the party leader, he gained sole rights to the loot reports delivered upon dungeon clears. The exact amount of coins present amounted to 4,560 Gold.

    Hearing this number made Luna¡¯s throat tremble as she struggled to swallow. Over 4,000 Gold?! Until this moment, the most Gold she had ever held was 10. Since the game was still in its beginning stages, acquiring Gold was fairly difficult, especially for parties limited to what they could aplish alone.

    Just Luna¡¯s portion alone was close to 900 Gold alone. That would be enough tofortably gear her small party and still have plenty left over to begin setting the foundation for her future. After all, with theck of extremely powerful gear, even the best quality gear currently avable barely scratched the surface of one Gold.

    This was also why Kieran had no intentions of dealing with the Scarlet Steel Greatsword and allowed it to break. The profit, or theck thereof, made it unreasonable to pour any funds into it.

    ¡°O-over 4,000 Gold?¡± Luna stumbled. A tinge of blush entered her cheek as she cleared her throat and straightened up. ¡°Then, how much would my portion increase? And, what is the potential worth of those gems?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d be willing to increase your portion to 2,500 Gold t. As for the worth of those gems, unknown,¡± Kieran said.

    He naturally couldn¡¯t expose his knowledge of those gems; otherwise, he would arouse great suspicion. Additionally, Kieran honestly didn¡¯t know the worth of the gems because, unlike in the past, the market was infantile and malleable. If he could possess enough financial might, the likelihood of Kieran being able to control the market surrounding that one item was high.

    Kieran¡¯s offers made Luna¡¯s eyes nearly jump out of their socket. Despite the mysterious worth of the gems, Luna felt more inclined to ept the generous offer. The number of advanced organizations that could amass this much currency was likely zero.

    Gaming organizations would likely need at least two weeks to hash out any issues that arose with establishing their farming divisions.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to ept your offer then. I¡¯ll dly receive the 2,500 Gold over the gems,¡± Luna nodded after a short pause. Although she knew the potential gains of those gems, they were only that¡ªpotential. Most of all, Luna now required the funds to begin her endeavor. 2,500 Gold, while far from enough, was undoubtedly a good start.

    After all, the Universal Currency Exchange Trading System was currently in a highly inted state. Because Kieran enlisted 100 Gold for $1,200, the worth of Gold followed an upward trend. Presently, one Gold coin was valued between $2,000 and 2,100. The current price was indeed the work of scalpers and casuals who yed this game as a means to supplement their ie.

    Of course, neither Kieran nor Luna had any issue with it. If they chose to liquidize even 1,000 Gold, they¡¯d quickly acquire close to $2 million after fees.

    ¡°Great. As for the equipment behind me¡­ would it bother you if I take away your right to receive any?¡±

    ¡°Not at all,¡± Luna quickly shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve already received far more than I could ever expect. Besides, those are the spoils of a battle you won alone. I have no right to ask for a portion.¡±

    Her response immediately resulted in Kieran holding her in a new light. These types of morals were undoubtedly needed when looking to form allies. If she could refuse the temptation of seemingly extraordinary items, wouldn¡¯t she also be able to refuse deals that would stab her allies in the back?

    Of course, Kieran couldn¡¯t jump to that conclusion without learning more about Luna. In the end, some people changed with time due to their experiences. And, sometimes those changes were not for the better.

    Nevertheless, Kieran brought up the transfer screen and immediately transferred 2,500 Gold, which caused it to vanish from the floor. The others almost jumped in fright, but Kieran waved his hand while urging them not to worry.

    ¡°As a token of my appreciation, everyone present will receive 50 Gold,¡± Kieran said. While this may seem unfair since Luna received such an enormous sum, there was a reason why it was so. Unlike Luna, none of these people intended to form a guild, so they didn¡¯t require arge amount of Gold.

    50 Gold was already enough to purchase any item of desire while maintaining afortable cushion. In fact, for a run like this, it was typical for the participants to receive a 50 Silver bonus at most. In other words, Kieran¡¯s offer was 100 times the standard rate.

    Would it always be like this? No. Kieran¡¯s method employed enticing rewards to solidify his team¡¯s impression of him.

    Soon enough, all that remained was the equipment in the room as Kieran distributed the bonus and kept the remaining 1,660 Gold and gems. Because 100 gems qualified as a maximum stack and several types existed, a few spaces in his inventory was immediately taken up.

    Afterward, Kieran walked up to the table and perused the items. It only took a second for Kieran toe across the equipment that caught his eye.

 Chapter 109 Savage Beast Lord Equipment

    ¡ª-

    Located before Kieran¡¯s eyes were a few pieces of heavy armor with traits only found in light armor. For example, the armor¡¯s joints seemed to be created from century-old beast tendon and ligaments, making this part of the armor delicate whenpared to the entire piece of armor.

    Although the armor gave off an ancient or archaic feel, it wasn¡¯t brittle to the touch. Contrarily, the soft material¡¯s sticity greatly surprised Kieran. The creator unquestionably made these items for an individual who wanted to be well guarded but now have their movements overly restricted.

    Furthermore, what truly excited Kieran was that the equipment before him was Set Equipment! Unlike the ¡°set¡± obtained from the Unique Warrior Reward that only possessed a matching appearance, this equipment before Kieran included authentic set bonuses.

    ¡®Finally! I guess they¡¯re going to start appearing soon,¡¯ Kieran thought. Naturally, his thought referred to the Set Equipment in general. As the name implied, Set Equipment were items that bestowed extra effects depending on the number of pieces gathered.

    Since Zenith Online rarely attached item abilities to armors themselves, Set Equipment became the focus of any yer, team, orrge guild seeking to be stronger. After all, the effects usually synergized well with the abilities and stats gained from weapons and essories.

    Thus, in Kieran¡¯s old timeline, Set Equipment rose to the height of poprity as any dungeon rumored to drop these items were flooded within an hour of these rumors surfacing.

    Of course, just like other equipment, Set Equipment had an Item Level and most often a level requirement. The higher the Item Level of any set pieces, the lower the chances they could or would appear.

    More importantly, these items were challenging to obtain since these items could only drop from Champion Rank or higher monsters. Alternatively, these equipment pieces could only be obtained through special rewards from certain difficult-to-clear dungeons or by forging them through super rare item recipes.

    Nevertheless, Kieran wasn¡¯t troubled by this fact because the game had a long way to go until fighting against monsters required said pieces. For now, a yer could get by with acquiring misceneous pieces of equipment dropped as loot from dungeons or monsters in leveling fields.<sub>-.</sub>

    Kieran picked up the chest piece nearest to him and was immediately astonished by its weight. While, in Kieran¡¯s opinion, the armor looked incredibly light for its armor type, the truth couldn¡¯t be more different after he felt it. This impression was further solidified once Kieran scanned through the item¡¯s information.

    ¡¸ Savage Beast Lord¡¯s Chestte (Unique)

    Armor Type: Heavy Armor

    Item Level: 150

    Physical Def +870

    Attributes: Endurance +120, Strength +100, Vitality +80

    Description: A heavy armor top forged by a skilled cksmith using high-quality ores and the tendons of high-level boss monsters. This item is part of the Savage Beast Lord Set.

    Set Effect:

    Two-piece: Agility and Control increased by 15%.<sub></sub>

    Four-piece: Weight of attacks increased by 20%.

    Six-piece: Strength increased by 20%. There is a 2% chance that attacks dealing over 10% of the opponent¡¯s Health have their damage increased by 300%.

    Weight: 100 kg

    Durability: 60/60

    Requirements: ?Heavy Armor Mastery?, Level 40, 250 Strength ¡¹

    Inside Zenith Online, each ss came with a matching armor mastery in the form of different passive skills. In Kieran¡¯s case, his mastery manifested as the passive Berserker¡¯s Burden. This skill allowed Kieran to equip heavy armor while somewhat reducing the weight limitations. This reduction was only possible due to the True Berserker¡¯s focus on extreme Strength, something required to wear this set.

    Set Equipment generally consisted of six pieces of equipment¨Ca helmet, a top piece, a bottom piece, a waist piece, a shoulder piece, and finally, shoes. Gloves also existed, but they were never part of a set because not only could they be easily created, but a user could choose whether to take a traditional or unorthodox route regarding this single gear slot.

    As Kieran looked through the equipment detail, he was totally shocked by what he saw. Set Effects with stat modifiers! As mentioned before, items or titles bearing modifiers were scarce, and any one of them that hit the market could create a tidal wave.

    Why? Because the higher one¡¯s stats grew, the more potent these modifiers grew. If a yer with 10,000 Strength owned a modifier of just 10%, that would still be an additional 1,000 Strength without sacrificing any points!

    Couple the effect of these modifiers with whatever gear they may be wearing, and this value grew to be astronomical! This became even more true if they possessed weapons of Epic quality.

    Given Kieran¡¯s unusually excited expression, the others couldn¡¯t help but walk up behind him and peer past his shoulder to nce at the items themselves.

    Bastion was the only one who seemed unusual out of everyone who looked. ¡°Bah! What is this? All that trouble you went through and not a single Epic item? What do they think we are? Beggars or something? I demand an Epic Item!¡±

    ¡°Oh? You must think items like those grow on trees, huh? Just because something sounds better doesn¡¯t mean that it is better. Why ignore Set Equipment of grand value just because you expected something like an Epic Item? Besides, do you even know what warrants an Epic Item? A fight even more hellish than the one I faced before,¡± Kieranmented with a sidelong nce.

    How Kieran looked at Bastion revealed howughable he thought Bastion¡¯s desires were. Even an Epic Boss only had a slim chance of dropping Epic Equipment; why would any be present inside this ce?

    The difference between an Epic Equipment and Epic Material were worlds apart. After all, a single material couldn¡¯t even begin to forge an Epic Item. Many such materials were required to create the item.

    Nevertheless, as Kieran looked about, he noticed that aside from the Savage Beast Lord Set, there were a few more items that no one in the party could use. These items were polearms weapons for the most part, along with an enormous tower shield and heavy gauntlet. Currently, Bastion used a singlerge shield to maintain the freedom of his right arm.

    With his arm free, he could wield his short sword to unleash the unique skills avable to his ss. Conversely, Nemean¡¯s ss adhered to a strict usage of medium-sized shields. Not only did they give a decent amount of protection, but they allowed Nemean to maintain maximum mobility.

    Thus, Kieran could only scratch his head softly because all of the items before him were Unique Items with Item Levels of 100 or higher. Since they weren¡¯t valuable to anyone present, Kieran decided to stash them for the time being. Lastly, there were a few other weapons that he imed, but only one held any worth to the party¨Da staff.

    Since Mages and Priests could benefit from staff, Kieran decided to give Alice the only staff hung along the walls.

    ¡°If not for your courage, we would have been stuck back there with our frightened bunch, so you are deserving of this item,¡± Kieran said. In his hands was a brilliant staff with a multicolored orb ced inside a crescent-shaped frame. The area around the frame was beautifully carved with fine attention to detail, making it somewhat appear like a waterfall with a rippling current flowing through it.

    At first, Alice was hesitant, but after realizing everyone¡¯s urging gazes, she grasped it. Of course, it couldn¡¯t be equipped just yet. The item simrly required that Alice reach Lv.40 before bing equipable, provided her stats were up to par.

    ¡°Thank you. I will continue to prove my worth. I won¡¯t let this go to waste,¡± Alice said with a faint smile. She hugged the staff as if it were the plushiest of teddy bears before finally storing it in her inventory. Afterward, Kieran nced around at everyone.

    ¡°Should we meet more allies in the future, or if we have changes in our ss masteries, I¡¯ll be sure to distribute proper equipment. However, you must be in need of equipment for me to do so. Now, before we leave this dungeon space¡­.¡±

    Kieran paused while ncing back at the opened gateway. There was still one matter he overlooked that needed to be taken care of before they left the dungeon.

    ¡®I¡¯ve taken Rautori¡¯s head, but that cyclops outside is just as valuable. In fact, I may be able to get away with that,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Because he owned the Harvest lifestyle skill, Kieran could take body parts from fleshly monsters. However, merely iming Rautori¡¯s head increased Kieran¡¯s skill by several levels, almost enough to improve from Apprentice-Beginner to Apprentice-Intermediate.

    Eventually, Kieran guided the others out of the hidden area and back to the cyclops¡¯ body. Because he was no longer at the height of his power, Kieran couldn¡¯t im its head in one fell swoop. It took five shes for Kieran to finally sever the head.

    Kieran panted as he stored the head. These movements were extremely taxing even though they were simple actions. Since Kieran¡¯s Stamina was essentially 0, even the easiest of activities becameborious. ¡®Damn¡­ it sucks that we have to travel all the way back to the kingdom now.¡¯

    Unlike the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary, which possessed an illustrious teleportation hall capable of teleporting an individual to any desired location, the Aeredale Kingdom didn¡¯t own a high-quality hall. While it was valid that it possessed one, the spatial hall wasn¡¯t powerful enough to allow yers to teleport back and forth at will.

    For this to be possible, a powerful mage adept in spatial spells would have to interfere and establish several converging links. Only then would yers gain ess to items known as Teleportation Orbs and Return Scrolls, both of which became indispensable tools when leveling or setting out to conquer high-difficulty content.

    Because of Kieran¡¯s haggard state, after teleporting back to the dungeon¡¯s entrance, it took nearly one hour just toe across Luna¡¯s party that battled with Forest Ogres after bing bored.

    However, that all changed after Kieran cleared the Underground Labyrinth. All of the monsters in the vicinity seemingly disappeared. It appeared the Forest Ogre roaming the Forest of Marshullum were indeed rted to the goblins inside the Underground Labyrinth hence the reason for its distinction as a goblin-type.

    Eventually, Luna reconvened with her party members.

    ¡°Woah¡­ Luna is what I¡¯m seeing real right now? Are you really Lv.30?¡± Luka gasped. Even after fighting with the Forest Ogres for more than 3 hours, Luna¡¯s remaining teammates only managed to level up twice, reaching just over Lv.26.

    Compared to Luna¡¯s progress, it just wasn¡¯t worth mentioning.

    ¡°Yeah, it was as Aatrox estimated. We ended uping across a frightening difficulty. In return, we were blessed for the challenges we faced. Speaking of which, we need to escort Aatrox back to the kingdom safely, is that understood?¡± Lunamanded with a posturepletely different from inside the dungeon.

    Luna¡¯s body exuded the air of a leader who wouldn¡¯t tolerate disobedience.

    ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll be happy to. It¡¯s only because of him that I¡¯ve leveled up so much,¡± Luka agreed.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get a move on. The day is still young, and we have much to aplish, Leader,¡± Zafir said while skillfully sheathing his sword at his side. Kieran looked around Luna¡¯s party and nodded imperceptibly.

    ¡®They¡¯re not a bad bunch at all. If we¡¯re lucky enough to have future coborations, perhaps I should guide them in terms of how to maximize their sses,¡¯ Kieran thought. Afterward, he leaned on Nemean, who voluntarily offered his shoulder as they made their way back to Aeredale City.

 Chapter 110 The Name Resounds Throughout

    ¡ª-

    Due to the inconvenience of Kieran¡¯s current condition, returning to Aeredale City took over ten hours. This was almost triple the amount of time it took to reach the Forest of Marshullum, to begin with, but there was nothing the party could do about it.

    The party¡¯s pace remained slow even after Kieran¡¯s Stamina started to return naturally. After all, it wasn¡¯t a simple jump from 50% back to full potency once those first 3 hours passed; it was a gradual return to Kieran¡¯s former condition.

    Perhaps if Abhorrent Paroxysm were used alone, it would be a different story, but that wasn¡¯t the course of Kieran¡¯s action. His Constitution was overworked and required time to recuperate. Naturally, this meant Kieran had no intentions of returning tobat until he was fully healed.

    ¡°Finally!¡± Nemean groaned exhaustedly. The gates to Aeredale City were before their very eyes, and although Kieran didn¡¯t look it, the weight of his character was immense due to how high his Strength attribute was bing. The higher the Strength attribute was, the denser that character¡¯s muscles, bones, etc. Because of this increased density, the character¡¯s weight simrly increased.

    Although Nemean and Bastion were wider than Kieran in terms of their frames, Nemean was certain their bodies weren¡¯t aspact.

    ¡°Is the end of this excruciatingly slow journey back?!¡± Cyr cried out in both relief and exhaustion. Unlike running at top speed, where they didn¡¯t need to pay much heed to the distance crossed, a slow trek made it extremely difficult to focus on other matters.

    ¡°I believe so,¡± Lunamented. ¡°I think this is where we¡¯ll part ways.¡±

    After hearing this, Kieran turned toward Luna and nodded faintly. ¡°I appreciate the hospitality. You didn¡¯t need to escort us back, but you did, and for that, I will remember your debt. That said, may I ask what your ns are now?¡±

    ¡°ns? Well, first, I need to settle some matters with the Merchant Association, and then afterward, I believe I should focus on finding other dungeons to clear to bring my party¡¯s overall gear and level up,¡± Luna answered.<sub>-.</sub>

    While she had reached Lv.30, the others were still far below that number. Still, they were high enough to make it on the Level Leaderboard present inside everyone¡¯s system interface.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Kieran murmured before sifting his gaze through Luna¡¯s party. After giving the matter some thought and ncing through the Level Leaderboards, he continued. ¡°Not only you, but your party also sits about the experience curve. Rather than level, I suggest you visit the Training Hall and understand your skills better.¡±

    Luna didn¡¯t know why, but when she heard this, she frowned a little. Perhaps she felt Kieran was downying her skills by urging her to train. ¡°Are my skills not sufficient? Then¡­ was Icking during our run?¡±

    Luna didn¡¯t answer these questions out of insecurity; instead, she asked them because if there were indeed some insufficiencies present, she preferred for them to be highlighted so that she may do her best to deal with them.

    Of course, this was all in Luna¡¯s head as Kieran softly shook his head. ¡°Not necessarily, because I¡¯ll be rmending the same thing to my people. It might be thrilling to increase your skill arsenal quickly, but it means nothing if there¡¯s no essence to how you apply them. Besides, it¡¯s for the best that everyone learns to create several rotations of their skills that neutralize the issue of cooldowns.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Luna muttered as a sh of realization hit. During their fight, the main issue they faced was their skill cooldown. After dealing burst damage, everyone was either forced to take a step back and await the passing of this period of inactivity or deal minimal to no damage with basic attacks.

    Aside from Kieran, whose basic attacks were turned into default blood attacks thanks to the effects of Blood Mania, everyone¡¯s base Attack Power was pretty low, hovering between 400-700 depending on the person.

    Considering that Lv.30 Elite Monsters generally possessed Defense of above 600, most yers would struggle to deal damage without their skills present. For this, one needed to understandbat to supplement basic attacks.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying that it¡¯s possible to train our skills without going into leveling fields and dungeons?¡± Luna questioned. The only effective way to reduce the cooldown period of some skills was to increase their level. However, as expected, some skills had a cooldown that couldn¡¯t be changed. Increasing their skill level would only increase their duration or the skill damage/effect.<sub></sub>

    ¡°It should be,¡± Kieran nodded. ¡°I once sparred against my mentor, and the results increased my skill level considerably. Of course, it wasn¡¯t a single spar. More like a couple hundred fights, but you get the picture.¡±

    The event Kieran mentioned was not his spar with Scar. In fact, he was referring to an entirely different timeline altogether. This urred back when Kieran first started the game. Since he was so far behind other professional yers, Kieran spent most of his time in the Training Hall to perfect his limited skill arsenal. It was time-consuming, but the honing effects were worth it.

    Although Kieran never aplished it, he had a feeling that if a yerpleted enough spars or even seeded in beating their mentor, a bonus reward awaited them. Sadly, Kieran could never confirm this theory. Before he could train to his desired state, his mentor was called away and perished in a war involving the Adventurer Guild and other parties.

    ¡°Sparring against mentors? Hmm, that sounds like PvP from other games. I wasn¡¯t aware that this game had such a function,¡± Zafirmented. An abnormal fire set aze in his gaze as he revealed a slight grin. It was clear that Zafir held some interest in PvP.

    ¡°Very well, I will heed your advice and visit the Training Hall,¡± Luna said. Afterward, she bid her goodbyes to visit the Merchant Association. Since it appeared she was in a rush, Kieran assumed it was either rted to therge sum of coins she amassed or to purchase some of the items in the Merchant Association¡¯s item shop.

    Either way, since her purchasing power was high, Kieran felt either one could be a good decision.

    After a brief pause, Kieran turned toward the others. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you all need to log out, eat, and more?¡± Factoring in the time since he logged in, Kieran had spent more than half of a day inside the game.

    Naturally, the others would need to eat and possibly even freshen up.

    ¡°Absolutely, because I can already tell my body is starving. My character is beginning to feel sluggish,¡± Altair nodded. Altair could easily sense the changes in a fast-paced ss like an Assassin. A break was definitely required.

    After talking the matter over, Kieran decided to let everyone take a break. However, he also checked to see if anyone was currently employed since that could affect their gaming schedule. Aside from Aspaira, who now spent her time inside the Alchemist Circle, toiling away to be an Alchemist, the others werepletely free.

    ¡®I should probably give everyone the option to make ie from this game. The 50 Gold given to them is worth a decent amount of money, but money is akin to a running stream of water in this day and age. Spending money and watching it slip away is an unavoidable matter.

    Eventually, only Kieran remained inside Aeredale City as everyone took their break. He strolled through the city¡¯s streets before entering themercial district flush with bustling activity.

    yers and NPCs alike walked the streets in a quantity that could only be seen as crowded. Regardless of how busy the roads were, Kieran managed to slip by everyone and enter the Adventurer Guild.

    Like when he first entered this ce, the Adventurer Guild¡¯s lobby was filled with yers registering as a Trainee, picking up assignments, or giving proof of questpletion.

    Looking through the crowd, Kieran soon found what he was looking for. He waved as he approached the receptionist¡¯s desk not too far away. ¡°Sammy, right?¡±

    The new receptionist was momentarily startled when she heard her name, but when she looked up, Sammy realized it was a face that she couldn¡¯t forget. ¡°Oh! It¡¯s the mister who epted the quest to gain a Gold Adventurer Badge!¡±

    Sammy first looked around before leaning close and whispering in a voice audible only to Kieran. ¡°Erm, Sir Aatrox, have you tried the quest yet? Is it too difficult? I¡¯ve heard rumors that the source of those ogres might be arge enemy of their forcing them out of their usual habitat.¡±

    Sammy¡¯s voice was tender, and the fact she whispered to keep Kieran¡¯s situation private made him smile. The girl was probably more genuine than some yers he hade across. Furthermore, she addressed Kieran as Sir because hemanded as much respect as the kingdom¡¯s knights.

    Kieran replied in kind, using a whispering tone. ¡°I¡¯vepleted the mission. I¡¯vee to ask for Vice-Guild Master Hugo.¡±

    ¡°Ah!¡± Sammy yelped in surprise. But, when her abrupt noise caused a slight disturbance, she covered her mouth and gestured for Kieran to follow her.

    Sammy led Kieran through the curtain behind the desk and ultimately knocked on Hugo¡¯s door. There was no response at first, but after a few seconds, the door creaked open. Because Sammy used the knock given to her, Hugo knew who it was.

    An unusual sight greeted Kieran and Sammy upon walking into the room. A dense silver aura pulsated from Hugo¡¯s body, and with each pulsation, that aura grew wilder until it felt strong enough to fill the entire room.

    Kieran¡¯s brow arched in surprise as this presence felt somewhat familiar. ¡®This¡­ this ability is simr to Warrior¡¯s Aura except it is many times more powerful. As expected, Hugo¡¯s ss is a branch of the Warrior.¡¯

    ¡°Hmm?¡± Hugo opened his eyes gradually after sensing two presences instead of one. His gaze immediately shifted from Sammy to Kieran. ¡°Aatrox, so you have returned. Seeing as you are stronger than when you first entered this ce, I can assume you havepleted this mission?¡±

    ¡°I have,¡± Kieran nodded. While responding, Kieran retrieved the cyclops¡¯rge head with a huge thump. The cyclops head wasrger than both Kieran and Hugo.

    Ding!

    ¡°To think you¡¯d seed in ying a cyclops with your current strength. I must say,mendable.¡±

    ¡´System: You havepleted the Unique Quest ?Adventurer Guild¡¯s Gold Task?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 200,000 Experience.¡µ

    ¡°This is yours,¡± Hugo said. A hexagonal gold badge with a brilliant cerulean border rested in his palm. In the center of the badge was an emblem with a shield oveid by a sword¡ªthe emblem of the Adventurer¡¯s Guild.

    ¡´System: You have received a ?Gold Adventurer Badge?!¡µ

    ¡´System: Your status has been updated, and all matching privileges have be essible.¡µ

    ¡´System: Do you wish to broadcast your special feat to this world? [ Y | N ] ?¡µ

    ¡®Oh? Why not¡­ The entire world shall know the name of Aatrox soon enough. Why would I keep it from resounding at every moment?¡¯ Kieran thought with a prideful smirk.

    ©°©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    Zenith Online World Announcement-

    Congrattions to the yer Aatrox for being the first to gain a Gold Adventurer Badge. The yer has received rewards befitting of their feat.

    ©¸©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 111 Adventurer Prestige

    ¡ª-

    An uproar surged through the gamingmunity following the revtion of Kieran¡¯s new feat. Just under two weeks had passed, yet the name Aatrox had appeared in the world announcement several times. Inparison, all other yers looked and felt insignificant because they had yet to snag even one of these world announcements.

    Of course, like before, the notification withheld the information regarding Kieran¡¯s rewards in case envious yers in the same kingdom or empire entertained thoughts of targeting him. While Kieran wasn¡¯t afraid of such a confrontation, it was different when he was a potential target of thousands or even millions of yers.

    Afterward, Hugo looked at Kieran silently after closely inspecting the cyclops head before him, ¡®This monster seemed to have been killed with extreme blunt-force, and considering how messy the cut to its neck is, it¡¯s safe to assume that it took multiple tries before he seeded.¡¯

    Meanwhile, as Hugo was fascinated by Kieran¡¯s kill, Kieran was more interested in unveiling his rewards.

    ¡´System: Congrattions, you have received the following: ?tinum Training Slip?, 4,000 ?Adventurer Prestige?, 75 Unassigned Attribute Points, and 40 Skill Points.¡µ

    Out of all his rewards, Kieran was most shocked by the Adventurer Prestige reward. Adventurer Prestige was a social construct simr to World Fame, except it was a strict reputation system essible only to the Adventurer¡¯s Guild. The reason for Kieran¡¯s shock was becausepleting a quest usually rewarded 50 or so Adventurer Prestige, maybe more depending on the difficulty of the given mission.

    To receive 4,000 in one sitting came as a genuinely great shock. However, the truth was slightly different. Kieran didn¡¯t receive an additional 4,000 Adventurer Prestige; he received 1,000. The Adventurer Guild required that an individual amass 3,000 Adventurer Prestige before the upgrade application became essible. Thus, the system increased Kieran¡¯s Adventurer Prestige ordingly.<sub>-.</sub>

    Even then, 1,000 prestige for a single task was a reward Kieran would dly ept. Not only did it vastly reduce how much time Kieran needed to upgrade his status, but having this much Adventurer Prestige would also give Kieran a modicum of respect while inside the walls of the Adventurer Guild.

    Aside from the Adventurer Prestige, the Attribute and Skill Points were much appreciated. Because of how high his skill ranks were, Kieran was essentially hemorrhaging points. To remain on par with normal sses in terms of skill level, Kieran would require at least quadruple the amount of SP.

    Of course, the disparity in skill level didn¡¯t mean they even came close to touching upon Kieran¡¯s damage baseline.

    After a short moment, Kieran considered Rautori¡¯s head sitting in his inventory. If the cyclops was in fact the quest item as Kieran suspected, what use did he have with Rautori¡¯s head? Judging by Rautori¡¯sst words, it was clear that someone or something he thought was vile had confined him to the Underground Labyrinth.

    Considering the fact Kieran slew Rautori, Kieran wondered if he could obtain some type of quest linked to Rautori¡¯s past. After all, a minotaur should be something that spawns in the higher leveling area; Kieran was just fortunate Rautori was left severely weakened.

    Lastly, Kieran¡¯s first reward¡ªthe tinum Training Slip¡ªwas rted to the Adventurer Guild¡¯s exclusive training hall. Having this slip allowed Kieran two options. He could either turn in the slip for training privileges equal to a tinum Adventurer for one week or use it as a one-time offer to battle against a tinum Adventurer.

    The first option favored a yer seeking to capitalize on a unique training advantage, while thetter existed as an option for the individual to challenge themselves. After all, a tinum Adventurer usually meant the individual was Tier 2 ss or at the very least a Lv.50 Tier 1 ss.<sub></sub>

    Fortunately, this wasn¡¯t an item that required immediate usage. It had a duration of 14 days before it expired, so Kieran could return at ater date if that¡¯s what he wished to do.

    Suddenly, Hugo broke the silence after shifting his gaze away from the cyclops¡¯ head and sweeping it over Kieran. ¡°I honestly didn¡¯t expect that you¡¯dplete the task. While you may possess the emblem of the Bloody Hero, you¡¯re just a fledgling at best. Don¡¯t expect that emblem to hold much weight outside this ce.¡±

    ¡°Oh? I¡¯m aware of that,¡± Kieran nodded. While NPCs and other famed organizations wouldn¡¯t hold Kieran in contempt, they definitely wouldn¡¯t give him the best treatment. Although Kieran was the sessor of a world-renowned figure, his advantages only extended so far.

    Xenith was a world that operated on the rule of the strong. For Kieran to gain the respect of others, he would have to disy strength worthy of admiration. Piggybacking off the reputation of another could only get a person so far before it petered out and the person was treated with scorn.

    ¡°I have no intention of relying upon Scar¡¯s reputation. I showed you this emblem because I knew there was a link between the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary and the Guild. So, I felt you should at least be somewhat aware of my potential,¡± Kieran answered.

    If not for Kieran showing that item, he would have indeed been turned away by Hugo and be forced to start as a Trainee. An individual needed a certain amount of credibility before the Guild could recognize you as strong enough to sport one of their higher badges.

    ¡°Nevertheless, as you are now a genuine Gold Adventurer, you may ept up C-Rankmission quest. That might seem low, but it truly isn¡¯t. Some of those requests can get quite difficult for someone of your power,¡± Hugomented.

    What Hugo said was the truth. The Gold Adventure Badge Quest was a request the system would give a C-Rank rating. While some requests rewarded substantial pay, the objectives were simrly demanding because the majority were designed to be tackled by at least a Lv.40 individual.

    Nevertheless, with Kieran¡¯s current stats, he was more powerful than the average Lv.40 yer. Unless a yer focused on a single attribute and was lucky enough to obtain powerful Unique Items, reaching over 500 points in a single stat would be difficult.

    For the moment, Kieran wasn¡¯t interested in epting anymission. Since he was a new adventurer, the system would protect his rank for a set duration. Afterward, whether or not a yer kept or upgraded their Adventurer Rank became their issue alone.

    ¡®Thatpletes one of the requirements. It¡¯s a shame that there are so many conditions before you can be a Guild Leader. But, it¡¯s understandable since a guild is indirectly an extension of the Adventurer Guild. A certain amount of strength and rapport is needed to be viewed as leader material,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Afterward, Kieran conversed with Sammy and Hugo for a while longer before parting ways. Havingpleted his quest and received the rewards, Kieran logged out briefly.

    ¡­

    Kieran slowly exhaled and removed the VR Helmet from his head. As he removed it, a bright light shed in his eyes, causing him to cover his face. However, he was startled by the winsome Dr. Riley after moving his hand. Shebed a strand of her strawberry blonde hair behind her ear and smiled.

    ¡°You know, I don¡¯t know what happened in there, but you gave this little miss quite the scare. I thought you were having a seizure and dying with the way your body kept convulsing and seizing,¡± Dr. Riley sighed. She shook her head and clicked her tongue while flicking Kieran¡¯s nose.

    He found this interaction odd because Dr. Riley became far too cordial. In fact, she was too friendly now, making Kieran suspicious. ¡°What¡­ happened? Why are you acting as if you¡¯re on top of the world? Also? Did you say seizing?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I said,¡± Dr. Riley nodded. ¡°And yes, approximately 6 hours ago, your body suffered from violent spasms, and frequent seizes.¡± Regarding Kieran¡¯s second question, Dr. Riley momentarily left it unanswered.

    ¡°6 hours ago,¡± Kieran muttered as realization hit, followed by a frown. A sensation of danger overwhelmed him as he revisited the cause of that episode. ¡®Crap¡­ maybe I should have heeded Isadora¡¯s warning. I believe I made an oversight due to my inexperience.¡¯

    Kieran had no idea the effects of Argexes¡¯ Blood were this powerful. While he anticipated the high-ranking item would affect his character¡¯s body, he didn¡¯t foresee suffering so quickly in reality. After all, his resilience and brain activity greatly surpassed the average person.

    Thus, Kieran added another strange power to his mentallyposed watchlist. ¡®So not just the Ancient Crimson Aegis, thebined usage of Deranged Spirit and Abhorrent Paroxysm should also be used sparingly. I can¡¯t afford to alter my sanity, not right now, at least. I¡¯m at a sensitive point where I need full recollection of my memories.¡¯

    Unsurprisingly, when Kieran was affected by Argexes¡¯ Blood, the only thing on his mind was to kill and destroy; there was no presence of self or his memories¡ªonly a shred of self-awareness peered through when Bastion called out to him. If not for Bastion¡¯s cheer, there was a chance he might¡¯ve lost himself to the darkness threatening to swallow his reason.

    Suddenly, Kieran¡¯s stomach growled like a ravenous beast as he and Dr. Riley watched each other in silence. Only after a few seconds did Kieran look away while Dr. Riley smiled faintly.

    ¡°Hungry, I suppose? But before you eat, let me know how your body feels. I received many alerts regarding your state, but only you will know how your body responded to the trauma,¡± Dr. Riley stated.

    As directed, Kieran performed a self-examination followed by sensing for anything unusual. The only inexplicable difference Kieran felt was his mental and bodily state. The strengthened link seemed to deteriorate due to both sides absorbing a ton of energy. However, if the amount had to be quantified, it appeared his mind absorbed 80% of his avable energy while his body imed 20%.

    This left Kieran feeling unusually heavy and drained.

    After receiving her answer, Dr. Riley revealed a mischievous smirk

 Chapter 112 The Ten Percent

    ¡ª-

    Due to the fact Dr. Riley silently performed this action, Kieran wasn¡¯t too sure as to what she meant. After all, it could be perceived in a couple of different ways. For example, Dr. Riley¡¯s action could imply that she wanted Kieran to consume 10 X-hancers. Or, it could mean that she wanted to make a brazen step and increase the concentration of X-hancers Kieran ingested from 5% to 10%.

    Of course, a decision like thetter scenario mentioned also presented some extreme risks. Theparatively dense concentration of the X-hancers could cause irreparable damage to Kieran¡¯s body if his system couldn¡¯t handle the sudden introduction of energy more potent than what he consumed previously.

    As mentioned before, one¡¯s journey to increasing the concentration of X-hancers consumed should be done steadily. Drastic increases caused a break in the chain of energy consumption and posed an incredible risk.

    In fact, there were even a few cases of people losing limbs or having their hearts explode from energy ruptures. The surge of energy was too violent for their bodies to absorb, causing the X-hancers to tear their muscles and even shatter their bones from oversaturation.

    Because Kieran wasn¡¯t too sure about Dr. Riley¡¯s meaning, he gave her aplex look while shifting his gaze from her hand to her face. ¡°What exactly does that mean? Are we doing something with the number ten?¡±

    In response, Dr. Riley smiled like a child given a brand new toy that remained on their wishlist for months or even years. ¡°I wish to. I just want to know if you¡¯re brave enough.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll decide that after hearing what you want to say. No matter how much my pride tingles, I¡¯m not foolish enough to make a brash decision because of someone¡¯s mild taunts,¡± Kieran said with a slight smirk.<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°Very well,¡± Dr. Riley nodded. ¡°I thought about giving you X-hancers during the time of your spasm; however, I decided against doing so because it was far too dangerous. But, now that your awake with your body devoid of energy, it¡¯s the right time to experiment.¡±

    In terms of the so-called experimenting, Dr. Riley hoped to use this opportunity granted by Kieran¡¯s exhausted body to understand the limits of human energy consumption. While researchers recorded the hazards of impulsive X-hancer usage, the exact quantity and quality varied between people.

    Moreover, there was ack of information regarding how much energy a depleted body could tolerate. The studies only indicated value rted to ordinary people. What about anomalies and people with bodies surpassing the average healthy standard?

    Because fitness exams conducted by medical facilities were stored for governmental powers and the military to ess, humans fell into a few categories in terms of how these organizations viewed them.

    These categories are Substandard, Unfit, Fit, Elite, and Prime. Most widespread tests were conducted on Fit individuals because people with Elite health were rare, appearing 1 in every 1,000. Likewise, Prime candidates were even rarer. Only 1 in every 100,000 possessed this level of fitness.

    After all, achieving the Prime standard required every facet of the examinee¡¯sprehensive physical test to be in prime condition. Even Kieran didn¡¯t aplish that. The only aspect he possessed that reached this Prime condition was his reaction speed produced by his powerful mental acuity.

    ¡°I want to approach one of these two options: I want you to ingest ten 5% X-hancers and record the effects, or I want you to consume a 10% X-hancer and allow me to note its effects,¡± Dr. Riley said while lowering her hand. Both of her requests were oundish in the eyes of ordinary people. Who in their right mind would agree to either of these choices?<sub></sub>

    Whether it was ten elixirs at once or a 10% concentration at once, the energy abundance would be unmistakably high.

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Kieran murmured, gliding his fingers against his chin in thought. Despite understanding the hazards of what Dr. Riley asked of him, Kieran would be lying if he said he didn¡¯t want to know what would happen with his unique case of H-COS. Generally, the people afflicted by this sickness would have their minds consume energy in a 5.5 to 4.5 ratio, with the mind taking up the majority.

    In Kieran¡¯s case, the consumption ratio was far more drastic, reaching a mind-boggling 8 to 2 proportion. While this heavily unbnced ratio sounded like Kieran¡¯s body was malnourished, that wasn¡¯t the case. Kieran¡¯s body was still very much healthy; it¡¯s just that he required excess energy for his body to achieve any desirable effects.

    After considering it for a few seconds to a minute, Kieran ultimately decided with the help of his prior experiences. ¡®I mean, I took the pain of the Ancient Volcanic Ichor; what¡¯s a little X-hancer? We might as well understand the effects now to n for the future.¡¯

    ¡°Let¡¯s go with thetter. I want to know the effects of this X-hancer as well,¡± Kieran said.

    ¡°Great! And because we are doing it this way, it¡¯ll be free of charge. The cost of curiosity isn¡¯t cheap. I know I¡¯m potentially exposing you to harm, so it wouldn¡¯t be right to take your money,¡± Dr. Riley said after pping happily.

    ¡°Exactly,¡± Kieran replied with a smug smile. The smile made Dr. Riley narrow her eyes.

    ¡°Tch,¡± Dr. Riley clicked her tongue before walking to the chilled cab. Compared to her stash of lower concentration X-hancers, the shelf that contained the 10% X-hancers was bereft of high quantities. It seemed like Dr. Riley possessed 20 or so vials at the most.

    Dr. Riley approached Kieran with the vial in hand. However, before allowing him to consume it, she prepared all of her machinery to record the events urring both inside the facility and in Kieran¡¯s body. Only after she adjusted the electrodes attached to Kieran¡¯s body did she allow him to continue with their experiment.

    With a deep exhale, Kieran threw his head back and consumed the X-hancer in one go. At first, the effects were mild and negligible, but after a few seconds, it was as if a raging fire ignited in Kieran¡¯s stomach. Large veins surfaced on Keiran¡¯s neck, forehead, and temples, and he clutched the doctor¡¯s bed until someone of the fabric seemed to tear.

    Coupled with Kieran¡¯s stifled groans, the noisesing from Kieran¡¯s gripping the bed were the only sounds taking ce inside the room. Even the medical devices remained silent while recording the events.

    Dr. Riley nervously tapped a pen against her lips as she bounced her right leg in nervousness and anticipation. The energy readings present on disy above indicated a steady rise in Kieran¡¯s energy level. Furthermore, his heart rate and breathing were simrly increasing until they reached a levelparable to an Olympic sprinter running a 400-meter dash.

    ¡°Amazing,¡± Dr. Riley muttered in awe while calling out the information depicted on the screen. ¡°Blood oxygen levels; high. Heart rate is elevated but not dangerously high. Muscle enzymes; rising quickly. Bone density increasing¡­ Muscle fiber saturation deepening.¡±

    The records of Kieran¡¯s current condition remained on a gradual upward trend as Dr. Riley paced around Kieran, who no longer held his breath in pain. Instead, he breathed, alternating between deep and shallow breaths. This breathing pattern caused his stomach to appear like a constantly inting and deting balloon.

    Finally, after sitting through this process for five plus minutes, Kieran¡¯s heart rate and other bodily functions began normalizing while Kieran¡¯s frantic breathing calmed down.

    Thirty secondster, Kieran could talk again, albeit with bated breaths. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ insane!¡± Even now, Kieran could still feel the remnant energy at work, cleansing his body and reinvigorating some of the neglected or more inactive parts of his body.¡±

    As Kieran calmed down, Dr. Riley walked closer and examined Kieran thoroughly. She cased his body, touching his chest, followed by the sides of his torso and finally his abdomen. Afterward, she lifted his head and inspected his neck, going down to his shoulder and also back.

    Having his body inspected so closely brought Kieran back to when the Golden Brigade recruited him. Their examiner conducted a simr test to see how healthy he was and if he was fit to enter equipment like Virtual Pods.

    Unlike the helmet, pods would be made for long-term use. But, the user needed a body healthy enough to withstand the pod¡¯s more taxing technologies to achieve that.

    ¡°Vascrity and muscle mass have improved significantly. The machine also detects zero signs of energy wastage¡­ Wow¡­ this didn¡¯t turn out as I expected, not one bit. Just what type of abnormal body do you have? You should also note that the energy contained in the vial you just drank triumphs over the collective energy present in those ten vials I mentioned earlier,¡± Dr. Riley said while running her finger along Kieran¡¯s surfacing veins.

    Vascrity, in most cases, was a sign of a functioning heart and healthy cardiovascr system. Thus, Dr. Riley understood that rather than adding to Kieran¡¯s outward appearance, the X-hancers treated Kieran¡¯s internals, making sure to temper them.

    ¡°That¡¯s great, and all, but I¡¯m still starving. In fact, I¡¯m even hungrier now than I was just minutes before,¡± Kieran grimaced. A growl three times louder than before sounded from his stomach. It was clear his body demanded food more intensely than before.

    ¡°Fine. Come upstairs, and your meal will be handled. But, first, please go and freshen up. You smell like musk after the profuse sweating induced by the X-hancer. The showers are beside the room you used to change.¡±

    Although this ce was unfamiliar to Kieran, he feltfortable once he stepped into the shower. The warm shower felt amazing, and he quickly freshened up. But, just before hopping out of the shower, he switched it to ice cold water and stood underneath while controlling his breathing.

    Soon enough, Kieran felt alive as his eyes mmed open with a deep exhale. To withstand a freezing shower, one undoubtedly needed ice in their veins. Kieran then took his time to sit on the bench and think to himself.

    ¡­

    An entire meal had been prepared by the time Kieran arrived upstairs. The menu ranged from rice and vegetables to various protein sources¡ªchicken, beef, and even turkey.

 Chapter 113 Allan Peters

    ¡ª-

    ¡°Eat up,¡± Dr. Riley said while gesturing toward the food-filled dinner table.

    The food quality immediately sparked Kieran¡¯s appetite as he ogled at it momentarily before taking a seat across from Dr. Riley. Although they had spent some time together over these few days, Kieran didn¡¯t feel they were so cordial that he needed to sit beside her.

    The seat he chose worked just fine. Since the tes were already set out, there was no reason for Kieran to grab a te or anything. Furthermore, the food was ced in such a way that Kieran could reach any dish he wished to taste. The table was pretty small since Dr. Riley usually ate alone. Because she did, she felt this was no reason for arge table.

    ¡°Dr. Riley¡­ did you¡­ cook all of this?¡± Kieran muttered while biting into a sulent chicken leg. His eyes widened as he didn¡¯t expect the meat to be filled with vor. In fact, it made him give Dr. Riley a second cook. ¡®A genius scientist and an outstanding cook?¡¯

    ¡°Why? Do you like it? Also, saying that I cooked it is a bit of a stretch. It¡¯s more fitting to say that the automated appliance took care of the work. I mean, what¡¯s the point of advanced culinary technology if we don¡¯t use it?¡± Dr. Riley responded. Afterward, she also took some bites of her food.

    However, Dr. Riley lifted her gaze after a few bites. ¡°By the way, our age difference isn¡¯t thatrge. While I love hearing the acknowledgment of my title, I¡¯d rather you call me by my name.¡±

    ¡°Which is?¡± Kieranmented without lifting his head. His eating pace slowly increased until he seemed like a ravenous beast wiping the entire menu clear at an rming rate.

    ¡°Lillian. My name is Lillian,¡± Dr. Riley said. She stopped eating for a moment and put her hair up properly so it wouldn¡¯t obstruct or hinder her meal. As she did so, Kieran nced at the sight and found it appealing. However, aside from finding it attractive, he said nothing else.<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°Lillian,¡± Kieran said with a soft nod. ¡°I do not need to introduce myself; you know everything about me.¡±

    ¡°Everything? Not quite. I don¡¯t know your past, I don¡¯t know your future, and I certainly don¡¯t know your thought,¡± Dr. Riley said while chuckling yfully. The smile seemed filled with happiness foreign to her.

    Thus, Kieran was curious. ¡°Do you not havepany often?¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡± Dr. Riley choked and coughed to clear her throat of the food she hastily swallowed. ¡°What makes you ask that?¡±

    ¡°Well, your behavior. It seems like you enjoy thepany. Besides, your smile has that lonely quality¡ªlike you¡¯re contented to have someone nearby. I should know that look; I¡¯ve worn it far too often in the past. At least¡­ I used to,¡± Kieran said as his mind trailed off to his sole friend. As he recalled his early days at the orphanage, a forlorn expression passed across his face.

    Although he appeared to be a true loner, that wasn¡¯t the case. He did manage to make one friend. Together, they fostered a friendship that didn¡¯t rely on material things. Instead, just their presence seemed to uplift one another¡¯s day.

    Sadly, that period of constion and happiness could onlyst so long.

    Dr. Riley slowly stopped eating and tossed her food around with her fork while looking down. Kieran¡¯s read of her was, for the most part, correct. She did appreciate thepany, especially how lighthearted Kieran seemed around her. This was one of the reasons why she decided not to charge Kieran for his consumption of the earlier X-hancer.<sub></sub>

    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Dr. Riley admitted in a small voice. ¡°Dedicating your life to your career may help you be sessful, but in the process, you lose rtionships, especially as a woman. Our peers be intimidated by the fact a woman shines brighter than them or appears more resilient. Sure I¡¯ve had ample sess, enough to be invited into the Private Sector, but I feel as if these machines have be my only friends.¡±

    For some reason, looking across the table, Kieran felt Dr. Riley looked pitiful at this moment. Such a winsome and charming person was afflicted by struggles that usually wouldn¡¯t trouble people in Dr. Riley¡¯s position. After all, Dr. Riley was riveting enough to be starred as a magazine cover¡¯s primary model.

    ¡°Life is just sacrifice, courage, and decisions in a nutshell. Those with unfortunate beginnings will have to sacrifice to obtain our wants. And we have to have the courage to either make those sacrifices and live with them or make the decision not to and miss out on the oue,¡± Kieran answered. ¡°Either way, don¡¯t regret your decision. Regret breeds doubt. And that doubt can fester and soon make you distraught.¡±

    ¡°Mm, are you sure you¡¯re just a 20-year-old kid?¡± Dr. Riley asked while leaning on her hand. The wisdom and advice stored inside Kieran¡¯sment wasn¡¯t something any 20-year-old would casually think of.

    Generally, people at this age focused more on the now and temporary pleasures rather than the future.

    ¡°Maybe I am, maybe I¡¯m not. But, I will tell you that my life hasn¡¯t been easy. Anyway, I appreciate the meal. I need to get back-¡°

    De! De! De!

    Suddenly, Kieran¡¯s device emitted a series of beeps followed by a subtle ring. It was an indication that an unknown number or source was trying to contact him. However, getting his personal number was extremely difficult seeing as he rarely used it. Thus, Kieran grew cautious as he narrowed his eyes.

    Fortunately, he wasn¡¯t in trouble allowing him to sigh in relief shortly after. Kieran epted the call, which caused a figure to appear on a one-sided screen before him. The individual was dressed in casual business attire with loosely slicked-back ck hair. A single curl dropped toward their forehead, bringing attention to their light-green eyes.

    Before speaking, the man pushed up his sses and cleared his throat. ¡°Hello, Mr. Silver. I am An Peters, Head Talent Recruiter at the Gamer Republic. I believe a meeting was set at an earlier date, and I apologize for not being able to honor it. Please ept my apologies.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no issue,¡± Kieran answered. ¡°But, there are some matters we need to discuss, no?¡±

    ¡°Correct, straight to the point¡ªI can appreciate that quality. As you know, we¡¯re interested in contracting you as a partner for our tform. While bing an affiliate is also an option, it pales to bing a partner. You¡¯ll be granted ess to our entiremunity. I don¡¯t think I need to exin how lucrative that can be in terms of ie,¡± Anmented.

    ¡°Executive partner deals usually favor higher ie but are heavily restrictive. Tell me, what is the limitation of this partner deal in terms of freedom. Also, what is the revenue split?¡± Rather than focus on how much money could be made immediately, Kieran was only interested in how favorable the deal was to him overall.

    ¡°Very well. First and foremost, revenue generated through your stream will be split 50-50 between you and the tform so long as the content is limited to our Gamer Republic tforms. As a partner, you will be guaranteed a bonus with every milestone in subscribers you pass, and finally, you¡¯ll have to perform a set number of streams to maintain the partner deal.¡±

    ¡°Mmm,¡± Kieran groaned with a slight frown. ¡°So, it¡¯s the most basic of contracts. Tell me; I¡¯m the first Zenith Online yer to receive an offer, right?¡±

    ¡°Correct,¡± An nodded.

    ¡°So, you don¡¯t know my worth then? We can¡¯t assume that I¡¯d do good or bad on this tform of yours. My poprity could increase or decline in a day¡ªall these factors make it difficult to gauge my worth, right?¡±

    ¡°It does. However, we at the Gamer Republic are willing to take that risk based on the merits you have shown thus far,¡± An responded. He pushed up his sses and sat up straight to convey his belief in his words. While Kieran¡¯s worth was unquestionably an elusive question, the fact he generated millions in revenue with ease was no small feat.

    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s where you¡¯re mistaken. I never said there was a risk in signing with me. I said my worth is unknown. In this case, I can promise you I¡¯m worth much more than you believe. If all you have to offer is a basic contract, then we can cut this meeting short and end it right here,¡± Kieran said in an unwavering tone.

    What he said was true. Not only did he possess more than 13,000 Gold, but he also possessed the means to rise to the top. How could he ept a deal given to the masses?

    Given Kieran¡¯s decisive attitude, An understood this person in front of him was serious. An had a hunch that if the opposing side weren¡¯t at least somewhat pleased, he¡¯d lose all hopes of even recruiting him to the tform. As a result, An could only make some concessions.

    ¡°Then shall we find a middle ground?¡± An asked. Even though Zenith Online¡¯s future was unknown to him, An was sure of one thing¡ªthe beginning stage of any game was lucrative. Even if it didn¡¯t give monstrous returns in the long run, the Gamer Republic could earn a sumptuous amount of money if they capitalized on those with arge following.

    ¡°It¡¯s simple, really. You guys can keep 50% of the revenue gained through subscriptions; however, I want 100% of my donations. Why am I sharing money meant to go to myself? Foolish. Lastly, I would like a flexibility use stating that if my poprity is to rise, we must renegotiate the terms in the future. These terms are my bottom line and it is up to you to honor them.¡±

    After reviewing what Kieran requested, An soon realized it was nothing oundish. Aside from the flexibility cause and exclusive im of his donations, it was essentially the same contract.

    ¡°This¡­ this is very doable. If these are your terms, the contract can be created by the end of the week. Do we have a deal?¡±

    ¡°I believe so,¡± Kieran nodded. Afterward, the two hashed out any other doubts either side may have before terminating the call.

    ¡°Oh? Am I sitting before a famous person? Wasn¡¯t that thepany responsible for a massive streaming service? And they¡¯re reaching out to you?¡±

    ¡°What can I say¡­ I¡¯m charming,¡± Kieran chuckled.

    ¡°Still, to negotiate a deal so calmly¡­ are you sure you asked for enough?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m positive. After all, the power of the flexibility use is greater than they know. Because once I gain the leverage, their ability to say no will be removed. It might seem that I have left some food on the table, but that¡¯s incorrect. In the end, it¡¯s all about who emerges victorious; with this y, the odds are now in my favor. If there is one thing I am, it¡¯s confident,¡± Kieran grinned. The smile was like that of a cunning demon.

    ¡°Oof, you naughty boy. Anyway, return to the medical area before you log back in. I have to continue to monitor you. But, all in all, it seems like the X-hancers are working. The deterioration of your brain tissue haspletely healed and is rapidly gaining activity. However, we¡¯re not in the clear just yet; I still recorded some inexplicable abnormalities.¡±

    ¡°No problem.¡± Kieran followed Lillian¡¯s directions before logging back into the game.

 Chapter 114 Assumptions and Misunderstandings

    ¡ª-

    Upon logging back into the game, Kieran was immediately met with a shocking sight. Because of the achievement that surfaced just hours before, many yers were under the impression that the Aeredale Kingdom held some mysterious secret. Otherwise, how could Kieran achieve consecutive feats while others yers had yet toplete one?

    As a result, there was a boon in the Aeredale Kingdom yer popce. The main road leading from the city gates into themercial area experienced triple the traffic it generally experienced, causing it to be congested.

    Aside from the system revealing the aplishment to the world, it also had separate area announcements that divulged the location where each notification originated.

    There wasn¡¯t a ce Kieran could turn without seeing at least five yers in his view. Some even seemed frantic, as if they were trying their darnedest to uncover a hidden way to have their name resound throughout the gamingmunity.

    Kieran could only shake his head and chuckle at the current situation at hand. Nevertheless, it didn¡¯t involve him too much. The greater the yer poption inside the Aeredale Kingdom, the better he could benefit from it. As the yer poption increased, so would the quantity of coins circting throughout the kingdom¡¯s economy.

    In light of this fact, Kieran would have an easy time manipting the prices of any desired item as long as it was within the limit of acquirable coins. If he were too greedy, there¡¯d be a chance that the yers may leave the kingdom in search of a cheaper alternative.

    ¡®Perhaps I should use the old max price as a guideline for what to base my price on in the future,¡¯ Kieran thought while considering his options. Due to current limitations, yerscked a sustainable source of high ie. Their only options were to kill monsters and acquire coin loot or sell the equipment dropped from said monsters. Focus had yet to be ced on tradeskills, so they were mostly neglected.

    With everyone rushing to level and improve their gear, they overlooked that tradeskills existed not for now but for the future. After all, a yer could only rely upon denizen powers like the Merchant Associations item shops for so long until they were no longer viable.<sub>-.</sub>

    Afterward, yers would realize it was up to them to procure certain items and materials sincepetent powers wouldn¡¯t be willing to part ways with their valuable and rare items.

    Suddenly, as Kieran was considering his options, he received an alert notifying him of an iing video call.

    ¡´System: You are receiving a video call from Aspaira. Would you like to answer? [Y / N] ?¡µ

    Kieran naturally epted the call because Aspaira rarely called him after she visited the Alchemist Circle. Clearly, she was swamped trying to aplish her task, so Kieran chose not to check on her progress until she reached out to him.

    Within seconds, Aspaira¡¯s cheerful face appeared on the screen with a radiant smile and eyes brimming with happiness. ¡°I did it! I did it, Aatrox! I¡¯ve officially be an Apprentice Alchemist!¡±

    Aspaira¡¯s voice was filled with excitement, easily seen by how giddy she was. She could barely contain her happiness as it bubbled out of her in the form of restless jittering.

    ¡°Oh really now? I think congrattions are in order. So, has it be your subss then?¡±

    ¡°Subss¡­?¡± Aspaira muttered while softly tapping her lip. In response to Kieran¡¯s question, she pulled up the screen and sifted through the information until she came to the area regarding her ss. After focusing intently for a moment, she lifted her head and stared at Kieran. ¡°No, it¡¯s my main ss.¡±<sub></sub>

    ¡°Oh?¡± Kieran said after feeling slight surprise. Usually, unless a yer spawned in a ce where lifestyle sses were essible initially, yers would be ¡°adventure¡± type yers from the start. Because of this, the system allowed yers to designate a lifestyle ss chosen after Lv.20 as a subss.

    This way, yers could retain offensive and defensive skills granted to an adventure-type yer. Of course, the drawback of a sub-ss was that it would acquire experience at a decreased ratepared to the main ss.

    ¡°Were you given the option of changing your main ss?¡± Kieran asked. He only asked this because it seemed like this was the first time Aspaira became aware that Alchemist served as her main ss.

    ¡°Uh, no, not really; I don¡¯t believe I was given a choice. Oh, wait! I remember now! A notification appeared right after Ipleted my examination. Because I was the first Mage ss yer who seeded, I received two traits. One trait is called Alchemy Maven, and the other is Knowledge Seeker.¡±

    Kieran¡¯s jaw almost dropped after hearing the two traits. ¡®If I¡¯m not mistaken¡­ Knowledge Seeker is an inspection-type trait that allows users to inspect all matters unknown to the user. Of course, it¡¯s not as omnipotent as it sounds; it has severe limitations. On the other hand, Alchemy Maven is undoubtedly rted to why it became her main ss by default.¡¯

    ¡°So, you aren¡¯t a Mage anymore?¡± Kieran asked after recovering from his moment of shock.

    ¡°Technically, no. In return for a higher sess rate on Rank III and lower potions and elixirs, Alchemy can be my only path. I think it¡¯s because of the Master Alchemist I received pointers from,¡± Aspaira muttered.

    Again, Kieran was left stunned by what Aspaira had to say. ¡°A Master Alchemist and not an Official one?¡±

    The reason for Kieran¡¯s shocky in the ranking of lifestyle sses. Just like adventurers, lifestyle sses possessed a distinguished ssification system. At the bottom rung was Apprentices. In general cases, Apprentices took care of menial tasks in exchange for guidance in the path of alchemy. These lessons were usually carried out by an Official Alchemist, also known as True Alchemist, who disyed some sess in brewing potions or manipting mana functions.

    Even though True Alchemists were only one step above in the ranking hierarchy, their worth was many times greater. After all, they could brew Rank III potions and elixirs with moderate sess. Such consumables were likened to Rare Items in terms of worth.

    Beyond True Alchemists were the adept Master Alchemists capable of mass-producing Rank I to III potions and elixirs with ease. Only when it regarded Rank IV brews did they experience difficulty. Still, the status of a Master Alchemist alone was enough to garner riches.

    One would be lucky if they managed to find even 25 of such people in the Alchemist Circle located inside a kingdom¡¯s central city. Hence, Kieran was quite dumbfounded to hear that Aspaira received tips from a person of that status.

    ¡®I wonder¡­ are those three already Grandmaster Alchemists this early on?¡¯ Kieran thought. A Grandmaster Alchemist was a highly sought individual because they had the ability to be an Elder in any of the Alchemist Circles should they choose to be. As for the Head Alchemist position in kingdom-based Alchemist Circles, that was usually handled by a Famed Alchemist.

    Because of Kieran¡¯s curiosity, he soon found himself wondering about Isadora¡¯s ranking. Surely it wouldn¡¯t be beneath a Famed Alchemist. After all, she was closely tied to the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary and had the ability to influence the Alchemist Circle as a whole due to her position as head of the organization.

    Kieran couldn¡¯t guess because Isadora was a person he was unfamiliar with in the past.

    ¡°Were you given any additional experience towards your lifestyle ss and skills?¡±

    ¡°Yes, actually. My ss jumped from Beginner to Intermediate immediately after my exampletion, and all of my skills increased to Intermediate-Beginner,¡± Aspaira answered.

    ¡°Very good,¡± Kieran smiled. Hearing that Aspaira¡¯s skill experienced a sizeable increase delighted Kieran because each portion of a lifestyle ss was separated into three levels¡ªBeginner, Intermediate and Advanced. However, skills rted to said sses were further divided into extra groups.

    Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t difficult to raise those skills. It merely required sess in applying those skills, like how Kieran harvested the cyclops¡¯ and Rautori¡¯s heads.

    ¡°Since this is the case, I assume it won¡¯t be long until you begin producing potions, right? Also, has that Master Alchemist be your Mentor?¡±

    ¡°Yes, she did. Master Elisandra is knowledgeable and amicable, so her teachings are easy to digest. I should be able to make potions fairly soon, but the recipes are costly¡­. And they¡¯re all pretty basic like Health and Mana Recovery Potions,¡± Aspaira grimaced. Her previous collection had evaporated as fuel to pass her exam. So, until she could procure more coins, she was in a somewhat tough predicament.

    Kieran¡¯s smile deepened and conveyed an intention that made Aspaira inhale deeply. ¡°Aatrox!¡±

    ¡°Nope,

 Chapter 115 War Deity Council

    ¡ª-

    After taking care of Aspaira¡¯s financial troubles, Kieran only had one more matter on his mind¡ªthe War Deity Council Admission Slip gained after he changed into a True Berserker. Scar insisted that he quickly visit this ce after acquiring at least some strength.

    Considering he was powerful enough to use Crimson Ashrune now, Kieran felt he aplished the bare minimum of strength required to gain any attention while inside that ce. Furthermore, Kieran wondered if the War Deity Council had anything to do with Rautori, as their actions usually transcended the knowledge of kingdoms or organizations.

    It was one of the only all-epassing organizations that could move outside the detection of royal and imperial presences unless they willed it. After all, when it came to worldly powers, organizations like the War Deity Council towered above the pittance of kingdoms and empires. They were at the true apex of this world; at least, their demeanor expressed this ideal.

    Even inside Aeredale City, the main attraction of the Aeredale Kingdom, the most prominent edifice wasn¡¯t upied by the royal castle. No, thergest construct present in this city was a temple in the far distance,rge enough to be seen even from tens of miles away. Naturally, this building was owned by the War Deity Council, which preferred to model their locations as massive temples. Inside those temples were illustrious pirs, statues, artifacts, and many other alluring sights.

    However, the benefits of the War Deity Council¡¯s temples could only be experienced by those with sufficient certifications. Even then, the treatment would always palepared to what official members received.

    After marking his location, Kieran leisurely explored the town while looking about. The current quests in his possession were far too challenging to rush theirpletion or even begin plotting their course. The Arcane One¡¯s quest involved a Secret Realm, something he wouldn¡¯t go near until he possessed at least an Advanced ss.

    On the other hand, Isadora¡¯s request required that he visit the Emplenan Few. Considering that it was nearly impossible to enter their homece and their guards were as strong as Awakened Beings, he would rather not.

    ¡®Side quests can be useful in some cases, but because of the massive influx of yers, the avable quests are snagged as soon as they appear. So, I can only rely upon options unavable to other yers,¡¯ Kieran mused while walking the street with a pondering expression.<sub>-.</sub>

    The two unique avenues avable to Kieran were to either ept demandingmissions at the Adventurers¡¯ Guild or visit the War Deity Council and learn what awaited his arrival. Because the War Deity Council was intricately linked to main quests in the past, Kieran naturally decided to go with thetter options.

    ¡®Main Quests appear on different scales depending on the chain of events that activated them. Since nothing important or severe has taken ce, the difficulty shouldn¡¯t be obscene as in the past. Furthermore, there a multiple questlines linking to different events. What did I miss out on?¡¯ Kieran wondered.

    As mentioned before, Kieran joined the game when the average level lingered at about 100 to 105. Because of this, there were some early events that escaped Kieran¡¯s knowledge. By the time Kieran joined, the attention of the elite echelon of yers had shifted from kingdoms to empires.

    Once this shift happened, the baseline difficulty of quests changed well. Of course, this was because levels yed a heavy role in determining a quest¡¯s overall difficulty. The difficulty of a C-Rank Quest meant for Lv.100 yers was iparable to C-Rank Quest designed for Lv.20 yers. The disparity in level, should a Lv.20 yer take on such a quest, would essentially turn that quest into an SSS Rank nightmare.

    Finally, after walking for approximately 30 minutes, Kieran arrived at the temple¡¯s entrance. Standing before its grand dimensions, Kieran felt small inparison. Furthermore, he could sense a heavy pressure permeating the area.

    ¡®This isn¡¯t just one aura,¡¯ Kieran thought as he looked around. He perceived several auras intertwined yet notbatting one another. This wasn¡¯t natural in Kieran¡¯s eyes because the presence seemed toe from humans.

    ¡®Manifestations of strength,¡¯ Kieran noted before entering the War Deity Council¡¯s gates. For one to manifest their strength while inactive¡­ Kieran could already guess how mighty the leaders inside this ce were.

    Upon entering the temple¡¯s confines, Kieran¡¯s view was filled with immense ivory pirs etched with spiral designs. These pirs supported the arched walkway that led deeper into the temple. As he walked forward, Kieran noticed a few images imprinted on the ground beneath his feet. Each image involved an imposing figure with an imposing expression perfectly captured by the artist who designed this ce.<sub></sub>

    ¡®It¡¯s astonishing no matter how many times I see it. The architects responsible for this ce are unmistakably brilliant,¡¯ Kieranmented.

    Eventually, Kieran stepped past the initial walkway and overcame his awe. What awaited him was a spacious area with a riveting fountain spewing crystalline water. Off to the side were statues aligned in a subtle arc to fit the curvature of the rounded side walls. On the side opposite the entrance was a beautifully made stone desk with six people tending to it.

    However, only one of them reacted to Kieran¡¯s arrival. It was a man, seeming to be no older than 25, with a fit physique and clear ck eyes. Their deep blue hair followed down to their cheeks as they gestured for Kieran toe.

    But, contrary to their somewhat weing appearance, the tone they used to speak held an undeniable air of superiority. ¡°As stunning as our environment may be, this isn¡¯t a ce that wantonly wees guests. Either present your credentials to be here or leave the premises of your own ord.¡±

    As this person spoke, Kieran could hear muffled thuds appearing throughout the entrance area. After listening closely, Kieran could make out a series of impacts urring not too far away.

    ¡®Swords, fighting, and slight grunts¡ªthere must be official members training.¡¯ Though the War Deity Council was inherently discourteous towards unannounced guests, Kieran knew that if juvenile members were in training, the council became even more abrasive. Any disruptions of their members¡¯ progress were uneptable.

    Nevertheless, Kieran couldn¡¯t just turn around and leave now that he was here. He acknowledged this person¡¯s words before retrieving his admission slip and passing it across the desk. This particr slip was illustrated with Scar¡¯s signature symbol, so this person¡¯s eyebrows twitched after analyzing it.

    ¡°Commander Scar has sent you?¡±

    ¡®Commander?¡¯ Kieran inwardly remarked. While he expected Scar to have a high position, he expected him to be a Captain at most. With his current power, Scar wasn¡¯t strong enough to go against the War Deity Council¡¯s top brass. Still, the fact Scar was already a Commander for the War Deity Council was a testament to his strength.

    Regardless of his shock, Kieran nodded, which made the individual nce toward his acquaintances.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me, Han. It¡¯s still your turn in regards to our duties. We¡¯re just here to apany you until it¡¯s time to switch.¡± A lithe figure with hair the color of peach blossoms smiled at Han before ncing at Kieran momentarily, then the slip. It was evident that the slip held high significance. Still, they couldn¡¯t help but frown after sensing Kieran¡¯s general level of strength.

    ¡°While I understand that Commander Scar has sent you¡­ aren¡¯t you somewhat weak to be here? Even if you desire training, we don¡¯t have anyone of corresponding strength. Those in attendance aren¡¯t adept at controlling their strength to match their opponent; theyck the skill required,¡± Han said.

    ¡°I don¡¯t seek any training. I want to know if there are any Captains or Lieutenants here currently; someone that can authorize requests after I¡¯ve proven myself.¡±

    Han tapped his finger against the desk while considering Kieran¡¯s question. ¡°Fine,e with me. I¡¯ll take you to see Captain Liam.¡±

    Han guided Kieran through the temple, walking past a series of upied training areas. Kieran only caught a glimpse of each space, but he saw enough to know that these people training inside the temple rivaled Lv.80 yers at the very least.

    Soon enough, Han led Kieran to one of the exclusive training areas meant solely for personnel with a ranking of Lieutenant or higher. Inside this area was a man with long indigo hair, meditating with a sword situated across hisp. The environment was serene, but after a few seconds, the man¡¯s hair began to sway as if it were experiencing the effects of violent winds.

    ¡°Ah, it appears we have caught him at a bad time. He has begun his meditation,¡± Han remarked before intending to leave with Kieran.

    However, before he could leave, Kieran felt some type of pressure lock him in ce as a sense of danger appeared before his throat. Panic crept into Kieran¡¯s mind as he linked the event to the person in the room. ¡®This is¡­ Sword Force!¡¯

    Like Warrior¡¯s Aura, Swordsman possessed a unique quality achievable through the unwavering practice of a sword fed with Mana. This gave birth to sword force, a type of sharp and prative energy known as the bane of Mages.

    Captain Liam opened his eyes to reveal deep yellow pupils that were almost golden in color. ¡°Is there something important that brings you here?¡±

    ¡°Correct, Captain Liam,¡± Han answered respectfully. He bowed slightly before continuing, ¡°There person here was rmended by Commander Scar and wished to meet with someone. As you¡¯re the only Captain in attendance, I brought him to you.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Captain Liam¡¯s lip curved into a faint smile. ¡°You bear that same metallic odor as Scar; I take it you must be his legatee.¡±

    ¡°I am,¡± Kieran honestly replied. There was no use in lying since he was here for a reason.

    ¡°Very well. My Sword Meditation was cut short, but that is fine. I shall conduct his examination, I suppose,¡± Captain Liam said, giving Han a particr gaze, who in return obliged and left the premises.

    ¡°Tell me, kid. What are your goals ining here? Do you aim to be a Commander like your master?¡± Captain Liam questioned while rising to his feet. As he stood up, it was revealed that Captain Liam¡¯s height wasn¡¯t too inferior to Kieran¡¯s.

    ¡°Not quite, but I know it is customary for me toe here. All I seek is power and recognition,¡± Kieran answered.

    ¡°So your ideals are reserved for the individual and don¡¯t necessarily look toward the safety of the masses. I can understand that, for how can you have a lofty aspiration to protect everyone when you are weak? As you said, your first desire should be to obtain strength for your own intents and purposes.¡±

    Whoosh!

    An arc of colorless light suddenly shed by Kieran¡¯s cheek, leaving a small cut in the wall beside Kieran. However, a subtle glow appeared, causing the mark to disappear in less than two seconds.

    ¡°Unflinching. Is it because you couldn¡¯t process the danger, couldn¡¯t perceive the danger, or felt you weren¡¯t in danger?¡± Captain Liam smiled unusually. After all, Kieran¡¯s response differed from what he expected. Someone of his strength should fear the movement of a character like him, even if it was severely hindered.

    ¡°A facy,¡± Kieran smiled back. ¡°You can never doubt the presence of danger; even a close ally can be an enemy given the right circumstance. Still, your attack exceeds my capabilities.¡±

    ¡°Honest and self-aware of your weakness. Thest thing we need is another entitled freak unaware of their severe ineptitude. Still, you must show me that you deserve to be part of this organization. Even if you are weak, you must disy why you are superior to those at the same level.¡±

    Without a second¡¯s hesitation, Kieran retrieved Crimson Ashrune and prepared for battle. ¡°With pleasure.¡±

 Chapter 116 Insurmountable Disparity

    ¡ª-

    Captain Liam disyed immediate shock after seeing the de Kieran revealed. Although he didn¡¯t experience Scar in his youth, he heard rumors of the weapon used to perform massive feats¡ªa stunning greatsword of the most riveting ck color with a crimson finish to match.

    Since the weapon in Kieran¡¯s grasp fit the description, Captain Liam could no longer doubt the authenticity of Kieran¡¯s im. Only someone Scar deemed a sessor could think of picking up such a treasured de. Of course, if Kieran learned of this thought, he¡¯d begin to question why the system only graded it as a Unique Weapon and not an Epic one at least.

    For this answer, Kieran would undoubtedly have to seek out Scar.

    Following his faint surprise, Captain Liam unsheathed his sword and held it before his body at a subtle nt. The angle of the de aligned with Kieran¡¯s chin, who stood over 15 meters away.

    However, at Captain Liam¡¯s level, a 15-meter distance was negligible and could be crossed in the time it took someone to blink.

    ¡°I will control my strength to a level naturally found at your degree of power.¡±

    Whoosh!

    Captain Liam lunged toward Kieran while swiftly turning his arm to the side and bending his elbow. He performed this movement with such expertise that Kieran couldn¡¯t help but frown.

    ¡®You might have controlled the power of the blow, but skill is not something that can be tweaked once trained to rival natural instinct,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    No matter how much he tried to restrain it, Captain Liam¡¯s mastered sword style shone through his movement. Kieran was forced to dodge the iing horizontal sh despite theck of force pooled into the attack.<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡®Tch!¡¯ Kieran clicked his tongue.

    That earlier attack was designed to disarm him. If he tried to defend against its entry angle, the odd position of the attack would heavily affect Kieran¡¯s wrist, especially since neither his Endurance, Vitality, or Constitution had reached a point where his body was excessively resilient.

    ¡°Not bad, runt! Those reflexes are exceptional. You know when to evade rather than defend. I would have likened you to no more than a fool if you tried to defend against that attack. Overestimation is usually a fatal oversight,¡± Captain Liam eximed.

    In response, Kieran retreated and created extra space. However, before he could even prepare one of his skills, Captain Liam used unusual footwork to appear in front of Kieran with a downward hack.

    Again, Kieran dodged to the side. Not because it was difficult to defend against, but because danger rmed his mind. ¡®That attack just now¡­.¡¯

    A slight smirk formed on Captain Liam¡¯s face as he nced toward Kieran while regaining a steady stance. ¡°Did I frighten you just now, young man?¡±

    ¡°Quite a bit,¡± Kieran chuckled wryly. The earlier sword strike may have seemed normal on the surface, but judging by the small recovering fissure, it was clear that this attack carried the power of at least an A Rank Skill.

    ¡°Sword Force?¡±

    ¡°Hoh? Aren¡¯t you quite an informed fellow? You¡¯re already aware of Sword Force? Though, if I¡¯m being honest, I suppose I shouldn¡¯t use such an ability on you. It¡¯s not something an individual at your stage is capable of grasping,¡± Captain Liam remarked.

    ¡°No, I have noint. In fact, I ask that you please employ your Sword Force. Better to be prepared for the future and suffer now than to be caught by surprise. Besides, asking an opponent to be fair is unrealistic,¡± Kieran said.<sub></sub>

    However, since he knew how dangerous Sword Force could be, Kieran was forced to make preparations.

    The thin sanguine coating surrounding Crimson Ashrune thickened as Kieran ced a second hand on the de¡¯s long hilt. When Captain Liam¡¯s next strike came, Kieran braced for it and retaliated with a simrly heavy attack.

    Tang!

    A metallic noise rang out when the two swords collided. But, while Captain Liam seemed utterly unaffected, Kieran frowned. ¡®Goddamnit! I overlooked the disparity in our Constitution!¡¯

    Since Constitution was an attribute hidden even to yers, it was an aspect that not even denizens of Xenith could control. Hence, if someone with a superior Constitution attacked an individual with an inferior one, the inferior individual would more often than not be the one to suffer.

    Meanwhile, Captain Liam was taken aback. ¡®That¡¯s some immense strength for his general ability. I suppose the rumors of Scar¡¯s barbaric strength weren¡¯t exaggerated. Overwhelming power must be this boy¡¯s specialty, which is why he frowns so deeply when he is on the losing end.¡¯

    -135 ?Aatrox¡¯s Health: 1,205/2,680?

    Although Kieran only lost 5% of his Health in this exchange, he was still worried. After all, these tests usuallysted hundreds of strikes; how would he hold up if he couldn¡¯t inflict any wounds to heal some of the damage he suffered?

    Furthermore, he couldn¡¯t activate Abhorrent Paroxysm because he had just recovered from the side effects. Falling into that state so soon after recovering wasn¡¯t ideal. Kieran also didn¡¯t want Deranged Spirit to activate cause he wasn¡¯t sure if it was something automatic upon reaching a maximized Blood Mania or if it was something that required his will to start. Its status as an active-passive made it difficult for Kieran to gauge its precursors without further experience.

    ¡®Let¡¯s just hope for the best.¡¯ Kieran exhaled and expelled his concerns along with the breath.

    Afterward, he rushed toward Captain Liam beforeing to a brief halt. At that moment, he brandished his sword in a frenzy, hacking at Captain Liam¡¯s body. Although the relentless barrage of sword strikes seemed overwhelming, that wasn¡¯t the case.

    Captain Liam effortlessly deflected each attack with a casual wave of his silver longsword. It shimmered with the purity of clear ice as it reflected some of the crimson hue epassing Kieran¡¯s body and weapon.

    ¡°Not bad. The speed and power of your attacks are sufficient, and so is your knowledge of de positioning. If I had to say, I¡¯d guess you are familiar with the basics of battle.

    ¡°I dabble,¡± Kieran huffed through each of his sword shes.

    ¡°Dabble, huh?¡± Captain Liam chuckled. Suddenly, a dense pressure billowed out from the de, causing Kieran to be sent flying back. However, Kieran couldn¡¯t recount thest time a human opponent had sent him flying back like that.

    Thus, Kieran recovered while in flight and executed a Crimson Barrage while soaring backward. Six moderately strong crimson des traveled toward Captain Liam swiftly.

    ¡®An attack using both blood and Mana as the rumors say? I believe something like the ancient path of a Berserker was what the Lords referred to it as,¡¯ Captain Liam thought. Although the power held a fascinating origin, its presence was insignificant in his eyes.

    The pressure filling the sword in Captain Liam¡¯s palm pulsated, releasing a strange and illusory sword attack. All six blood des shattered uponing in contact with this inexplicable sword attack.

    ¡®What a pure Sword Force¡­ He must really be devoted to the path of the sword. Only someone who has pledged their being to the sword can raise their attacks to this standard,¡¯ Kieran mused.

    The illusory sword attack didn¡¯t continue after shattering Kiran¡¯s counterattack; it withdrew and merged into Captain Liam¡¯s sword afterward.

    In the meantime, Kierannded safely a few meters away without losing any Health. However, in return, his Stamina took a very steep hit. ¡®Crap¡­ it¡¯s happening.¡¯

    Health and Mana weren¡¯t the only two resources consumed based on the events taking ce during any given battle. Because Kieran vehemently attacked Captain Liam and had those strikes countered with equal or slightly greater force, he umted fatigue at a tremendous rate.

    But that wasn¡¯t what bothered Kieran. What bothered him was that it was happening at all. This ordeal didn¡¯t happen when he was fighting against Rautori. The primary source of Kieran¡¯s exhaustion was the fuel Deranged Spirit and Abhorrent Paroxysm consumed.

    Unsurprisingly, Captain Liam didn¡¯t give Kieran a chance to adjust to what had taken ce. Once Kierannded, Captain Liam again employed his strange footwork to cross meters instantly. ¡°Your attacks are powerful, but I want to know how powerful your devotion and perseverance are. Do you have the determination to persist in adversity?¡±

    ¡®Persist?¡¯ Kieran smirked faintly. ¡°You don¡¯t have a clue what I¡¯ve been through. My determination and persistence are not to be questioned.¡±

    ng! ng! Tang! Bang!

    Kieran and Captain Liam exchanged several attacks at a rate that both rapidly and continually intensified. The rate of intensification varied on how fast Kieran lost Health. His Health sometimes stabilized when he countered perfectly and avoided all damage. Other times, he lost 2-7% of his current Health, depending on how heavy-handed Captain Liam was.

    In the end, Kieran was soon left with 15% of his Health remaining. At that time, even Captain Liam was shocked by the height Kieran¡¯s attacks attained. Eventually, Captain Liam decided he had seen enough before sheathing his de and blocking Kieran¡¯sst attack with his index finger.

    ¡°I believe you have the making to be one of us. But, to ensure that my findings are correct, you¡¯ll have to achieve feats befitting of my expectations and prove your just moral standing.¡±

    ¡°Sheesh, but did you have to trample on my ego like that? Seriously, a finger?¡± Keiran groaned wryly before deactivating Blood Mania. Absorbing the skill returned 40% of his Health while the remainder would heal over time.

    ¡°What? I had to exact my dominance. I couldn¡¯t allow you to continue with the false impression of being my equal,¡± Captain Liam said.

    ¡°Truly different,¡± Kieran muttered with a faint nod. Captain Liam was more lighthearted than any of the swordsmen Kieran interacted with. They were usually stoic individuals who were poised and sharpened like the sword they carried. Based on what he saw now, that wasn¡¯t the case with Captain Liam.

    ¡°Do you mean me? Everyday life and battle are two very different situations. You¡¯lle to know my other side should we ever find ourselves in serious battle. Sadly, I¡¯m not an agreeable mentor because I have nothing to teach you, nor would I take on that task. You already have a master for that.¡±

    ¡°I see, but you mentioned that I need to aplish feats. What exactly do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°We are simr to the Adventurer Guild in the sense we give our members assignments. The only difference is that ours are mandatory, and there are no mary rewards. Your reward is this temple itself. Since you aren¡¯t Awakened, you probably can¡¯t sense what I mean,¡± Captain Liam said.

    The environment inside the temple was an exceptional one due to a myriad of factors, but the main reason for Captain Liam¡¯sment rested in the fact this area promoted hypersensitivity, a state where one became extremely wary of their surroundings.

    ¡°If that¡¯s true, what exactly do I have to do?¡±

    ¡°For that, you¡¯ll need to check with Han. Those in his position are the members who keep records of official requests. If that is all, I must return to my earlier actions. I don¡¯t need to see you out.¡±

    Even though Kieran was still in the area, Captain Liam took a seat and ced his sword on hisp before resuming his meditation.

    Kieran ultimately left Captain Liam to his devices before returning to the temple¡¯s entrance area.

    Unlike before, only Han remained at the desk. The two greeted each other before Han pulled out arge book.

    ¡°These are the requests; sift through and see if there is something manageable. Keep in mind that most of these requests are geared towards seasoned members. There may not be anything to your liking,¡± Han warned.

    While heeding Han¡¯s warning, Kieran sifted through the extensive collection of requests untilnding on one that seemed to have gone ignored.

    ¡°This one!¡±

 Chapter 117 Creeping Cause and Effect

    ¡ª-

    The option Kieran chose made Han give him a second look. ¡®What keen eyes, out of the thousands of pages, this is one of the only three requests befitting his current Tier.¡¯

    ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± Kieran noticed that Han looked at him somewhat differently and thought something was wrong with his selection. After all, afterbing through the avable choices, his present decision was one of the easiest there was.

    ¡°No, nothing. I¡¯m just surprised you¡¯d take this submission. It¡¯s a joint request stemming from the Mayor¡¯s Office and the Merchant Association. However, despite therge backing of those names, essentially all of our members have avoided this request,¡± Han revealed.

    ¡°Why is that so?¡± Kieran scanned the request once more but found nothing out of the ordinary. It didn¡¯t seem like anything overlyborious or challenging toplete.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s because requests from the Merchant Association should haverge rewards attached, given their immense wealth and vast trading boundaries. Yet, this request doesn¡¯t offer a single hint of a reward. Also, it involves bandits. Due to how long this request has gone unanswered, they¡¯ve received the time needed to be proficient at what they do. I reckon they¡¯re slippery as loaches by now,¡± Han answered.

    This reply plunged Kieran into deep thought. ¡®Slippery individuals? Then the bandits must have Thief base ss. That¡¯s the only exnation for why they can easily slip away. As for theck of interest in this request, I can understand why.¡¯

    ¡°So, this is essentially a search and eliminate quest?¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Han chuckled softly. ¡°No, no, little boy. You underestimate these bandits, my friend. Even the Merchant Association have decided to suffer some losses rather than call away some of their stronger guards from more bustling areas. In the end, this is just a simple kingdom and not even an empire, let alone the Five Great Empires.¡±<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°So it all boils down to one of the highest grossing organizations being cheapskates¡­.¡± Kieran said somewhat absentmindedly. His mind began devising a n to extract the highest worth from this request despite theck of apparent rewards.

    ¡°If you truly want to ept this request, visit Mayor Lowe. He¡¯ll let you in on the specifics. Though, I¡¯ll warn you now that you should remain vignt and careful. Officials aren¡¯t really ones to care for your safety; the wellbeing of their economy and area of governancee first in their eyes,¡± Han warned solemnly.

    ¡°No worries; I won¡¯t let myself get taken advantage of,¡± Kieran said with a carefree smile. With the Merchant Association showing its unwillingness to expend resources, Kieran could only assume that high-value merchandise didn¡¯t travel through the routes intersecting the Aeredale Kingdom. If that¡¯s the case, Kieran wasn¡¯t worried about this quest¡¯s supervision or dangers.

    ¡®It¡¯s most likely insignificant parties aiming to make a living on the abundance of wealth the Merchant Association possess. It¡¯s not like they¡¯lle to miss it anyhow,¡¯ Kieran mused.

    Suddenly, a notification appeared before Kieran¡¯s eyes.

    ¡´System: You have epted the D Rank Quest ?Mayor¡¯s Audience?! Meet with the Mayor toplete the quest.¡µ

    ¡®Given how simple this quest sounds, it¡¯s undoubtedly a chain one; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯te from the War Deity Council,¡¯ Kieran thought while swiping away the notification.

    Afterward, he turned toward Han and thanked him for his help.<sub></sub>

    However, Han¡¯s expression changed slightly while watching Kieran leave the premises. His eyebrows knitted as he sensed an unusual air surrounding Kieran.

    ¡°It¡¯s identical to Commander Scar in the rumors. But why haven¡¯t we received word of his inheritor? The only way for that to happen is if it urred within thesest couple of days when the Commander hasn¡¯t had any contact with the council. If that¡¯s the case, I may have just made an oversight. He isn¡¯t weak¡­. He hasn¡¯t had time to grow!¡±

    For some reason, the War Deity Council members weren¡¯t aware that Kieran held the title of an Inheritor. This meant the title was either inactive or it wasn¡¯t strong enough to affect members of the War Deity Council. Otherwise, how these guys perceived Kieran would have been marginally better.

    ¡­

    After leaving the War Deity Council, Kieran paused and viewed the Medallion of Growth in his palm. Factoring in how long had passed, there were still ten days of activity left on the rune item before it crumbled to dust. However, Kieran had no use for it due to its Lv.20 limitation.

    As a result, Kieran opened up the Auction Menu provided by the Universal Currency Exchange Trading System and ced the item for active bidding. Because he wasn¡¯t sure how much attention this item would garner, he enabled the option to bid with real currency.

    ¡®This item might be worthless to me, but what about gaming organizations with fresh recruits? They¡¯ll be looking to level them up as quickly as possible to get them up to speed. In other words, this could be a priceless item for them!¡¯

    What organization wouldn¡¯t kill to receive an additional 100% Experience Acquisition Rate? Given the right circumstances, a yer could jump from Lv.1 to Lv.20 in a few short hours. Granted, they¡¯d be at a disadvantage because of the exhausted opportunities; however, that didn¡¯t bar these individuals from future encounters.

    After browsing through the current currency exchange rate, Kieran soon closed the Universal Currency Exchange Trading System. The rate of Gold coins had once again increased, rising to $2,500 per coin. As much as Kieran was tempted to dump 1,000 Gold on the market, he decided against doing so.

    ¡®I can¡¯t saturate the market just yet. I need something to form an endless loop of desire and opportunity first,¡¯ Kieran decided.

    Immediately after, Kieran set off toward the center of Aeredale City where the Mayor¡¯s Office was located. As one of the most influential ces aside from the Royal Castle situated outside the city limits, it was only fitting to be located inside the well-guarded area of the city¡¯s central zone.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Kieran to reach that area as he made a beeline through the town without stopping to sightsee or note the massive increase in yers. However, something unusual urred in the background once he entered the Mayor¡¯s Office.

    ¡°Whoa¡­ who is that?¡± A bystander eximed.

    ¡°I have no idea, but she¡¯s beautiful, isn¡¯t she? I swear I¡¯d simp after her if she let me just have her bathwater.¡± Another joined in with a lecherous and unsightly expression.

    ¡°Yo, dude! That¡¯s so cringe¡­. Would you share, though?¡± Anothermented beside them.

    The city folk¡¯s attention quickly turned to aposed woman who seemed to be roughly 30 years old. She was dressed in silver armor that struggled to conceal her mature curves as her ruby eyes scanned the crowd. She gently moved aside her jet-ck bangs with a slight frown.

    Although this ordeal urred quite often, this woman still felt ufortable when the masses stared at her. In fact, she waspelled to act as disgust brewed in the pits of her stomach and worked on her nerves. ¡°Either continue to look and fall before my de or go on about your day; the choice is yours.¡±

    The woman¡¯s cold voice swept through the surroundings although it wasn¡¯t loud. As for who this person what, it was one of the widely-regarded yers currently on the Gamer Republic¡¯s Exemr Records¡ªEzra.

    Although it was currently unofficial, she was the Guild Leader of Eclipse¡ªan Overlord-level guild in other gaming titles whose only purpose served as stepping stones to perfect Zenith Online.

    In terms of how guilds or gaming organizations were regarded, it depended on a few crucial factors. The strength of the guild¡¯s leading members was one of the judging criteria. Their financial power was also considered, followed by their ability tobat guilds of simr level.

    The rankings from lowest to highest were, Gradeless, Third-ss, Second-ss, First-ss, Overlord, Behemoth, and finally Leviathans. The current Eclipse only fell into the mid to high end of the strength spectrum, but the Guild Leader Ezra alone was enough to make quick work of the yers present.

    ¡°Guild Leader Ezra, there¡¯s no reason to fret. We came all the way here from the Aubrililes Kingdom in search of an advantage to secure our rankings in this game as well, not to worry about insignificant people,¡± A poised bespectacled man said. His dull azure hair was short, barely passing his ears, but it matched the longbow in his hands.

    ¡°I understand, Lux,¡± Ezra nodded before indifferently looking toward the others. ¡°So¡­ what makes this ce so special that it continues to appear on our radar?¡±

    ¡°No idea, but that¡¯s something we¡¯ll have to find out,¡± Lux replied.

    Kieran would never have expected that his repeated actions of garnering fame through the World Announcements would spur prominent names like Eclipse into action. It was only a matter of time until his small waves caused an unstoppable typhoon in the form of surgingpetition.

    ¡­

    The inside of the Mayor¡¯s Office matched what one would expect¡ªa formal setting with a systematized area. There was a waiting room with several seats, a receptionist desk, and an abundance of information boards. Thest notable feature was therge bay windows that gave a clear line of sight to the city from every angle. However, thick curtains obscured most of the view right now.

    ¡°Hello, how may I help you?¡± A receptionist at the desk asked.

    Kieran stopped looking around and turned toward the desk. ¡°I¡¯m here to honor a request the mayor has put in with the War Deity Council. Is he in?¡±

    ¡°He is avable, Sir Aatrox. If you would please walk to the end of the hall and make a left followed by a right, you¡¯ll arrive at the mayor¡¯s personal office,¡± the receptionist replied.

    The receptionist didn¡¯t doubt Kieran¡¯s words for two reasons. One, his Knight-level fame also produced a trustworthy effect. Two, the quest in his possession made it so Kieran experienced no hardship meeting with the mayor.

    Following the provided directions to a tee, Kieran arrived at the mayor¡¯s office with a soft knock.

    ¡°Come in!¡± A gruff voice answered.

 Chapter 118 Scarlet Eclipsing Blade

    ¡ª-

    The gruff voice belonged to the only person allowed within this part of the building without prior permission¡ªthe mayor. However, ording to Kieran¡¯s knowledge, the mayor¡¯s voice shouldn¡¯t be so rough.

    ¡®Could it be a different mayor altogether?¡¯ Kieran wondered. Still, he ced his hand on the door handle and opened it. The scene inside the office was primarily standard aside from arge, rotund male sitting in an oversized chair.

    After seeing the scene unfold before him, Kieran now understood why his voice sounded the way it did. ¡®This guy is stuffing his face!¡¯

    Even after Kieran entered the ce, Mayor Lowe continued to gobble his food as if there was no one within hispany. The sight looked no different than watching a hungry lion devour its prey!

    ¡°Ahem!¡± Kieran cleared his throat and stepped forward. ¡°As I¡¯ve told your receptionist, I¡¯vee on ount of the War Deity Council. It appears you had filed a request with them some time ago?¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes, yes!¡± Mayor Lowe nodded. However, because his mouth was filled with food, ostensibly chicken, particles spewed over the table, which he wiped up with his sleeve.

    ¡®Still as I sloppy as I recall,¡¯ Kieran mused with a disgustden frown. Of course, he wouldn¡¯t let his opinion of the Mayor¡¯s conduct get in the way of clearing his quest. In Kieran¡¯s eyes, personal opinion and opportunities to progress were entirely different categories.

    After realizing the looks he received, Mayor Lowe first coughed into his handkerchief before wiping his mouth.

    Afterward, he picked up on where Kieran left off. ¡°We¡¯ve contacted the War Deity Council for a variety of matters, but the only one that has gone unaddressed is the matter regarding the Merchant Association. I assume that¡¯s what you mean?¡±

    ¡°Correct,¡± Kieran nodded.

    However, after listening to Mayor Lowe¡¯s confirmation, some questions began to surface in Kieran¡¯s mind. For example, why was a seemingly effortless request ignored when it could be solved by dispatching an individual with the skills tobat assassin-type individuals?<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°As you know, the request isn¡¯t like others. We aren¡¯t offering anyrge sums of money. Instead, this request relies upon the patriotism of the one who chooses to ept it. After all, the negative impacts to Aeredale City could be immense if the issue persists,¡± Mayor Lowe said solemnly.

    At the same time, he continued to analyze Kieran.

    Kieran¡¯s eyebrows furrowed as he listened to Mayor Lowe¡¯s exnation. ¡°I see. But, there¡¯s something I don¡¯t understand. If it could severely impact the economy, why let it escte to these levels instead of uprooting the issue before it festers?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because we aren¡¯t in the greatest situation. Arge portion of this city¡¯s economy travels directly to the hands of the royal family. The remainder circtes throughout these city gates to support developmental and required services. Do you think this city¡¯s knights, guards, and garrisons are all free? No, we have to pay!¡± Mayor Lowe scoffed.

    He could tell from Kieran¡¯s gaze that he was being judged. But, what right did a youngin like Kieran have to evaluate his decisions?

    ¡°Still, I feel as if those are excuses. If this was truly an issue you wanted to solve, you could have requested the Adventurers¡¯ Guild¡¯s aide. After all, aren¡¯t they present to assist in these situations?¡±

    ¡°Bah! Are you here to ept the request or heckle me with your foolish opinion? I¡¯d much rather not seek out the Adventurer Guild!¡± Mayor Lowe scowled.

    Because of this response, Kieran felt Mayor Lowe was hiding something. Why wouldn¡¯t he seek out the Adventurers¡¯ Guild, whose sole purpose was to contribute to the safety of any location their branches were stationed inside? Something was amiss, especially since this type of request even made it to the War Deity Council in the first ce.

    A sh of realization hit Kieran as he crossed his arms. ¡°You know the culprit, don¡¯t you? Or at least you know of their location. This request must be inexplicably dangerous if you aren¡¯t seeking out the Adventurers¡¯ Guild. If a member of the Guild were to die, there¡¯d undoubtedly be an investigation surrounding the cause. However, the standard of the War Deity Council is much higher, making you doubt the death of anyone they send.¡±

    Mayor Lowe¡¯s eyes narrowed as his lips turned up into a sneer. ¡°You¡¯re too smart for your own good, aren¡¯t you? What you say is correct¡­ I have it on good authority that the culprits behind the thefts are a group with hegemony over a certain area in our trade route. They¡¯re known to be brutal, so I¡¯ll be damned if I rue heavy fines from the death of guild members. I¡¯ve already sacrificed a hefty amount for our lost guards and their families!¡±

    ¡°So in the end, that¡¯s what it boils down to¡ªmoney, though I get it. As the mayor of this ce, you have an obligation to secure its financial stability. You¡¯ve treaded upon the War Deity Council¡¯s policy of needing no rpense for requests to hide the fact this kingdom grows edges toward bing destitute with each passing day. The more trades are interrupted, the higher the chance of a copse in your economy. However, you are gambling here. You know the War Deity Council epts requests based on severity. A mere kingdom doesn¡¯t begin to tickle their worries,¡± Kieran said while leaning over the table.<sub></sub>

    Silence filled the room while the two exchanged severe gazes. Finally, with a faint smile, Kieran continued. ¡°I can aplish this request of yours, but I¡¯ll at least need 1,000 Gold for the troubles. No rewards? Asinine. Without me, there¡¯s no telling how long this request will go unanswered. In the meantime, your city will continue to suffer. Sadly, you can¡¯t look to the royal family for assistance because they¡¯re an independent entity with wealth irrespective of this city.¡±

    ¡°Fine! 1,000 Gold, is it?! That¡¯s doable!¡± Mayor Lowe snarled. In truth, a request of this magnitude usually costs fifty times that amount. However, Kieran wasn¡¯t interested in the gold. No, his interesty in the mayor¡¯s worth¡ªa position thatmanded high rapport in this city.

    ¡´System: Due to your actions, the D Rank Quest has be a B+ Rank Quest ?Protecting Aeredale¡¯s Economy?!¡µ

    ¡¸ Protecting Aeredale¡¯s Economy (Main, City Quest)

    Quest Rank: B+

    Rmended Party Size: 1 ¨C 6

    Rmended Party Level: 30 ¨C 45

    Objectives: The stability of Aeredale City¡¯s economy is in a worse state than anyone cares to admit. The reason for this being the inability to get goods across main trade routes without suffering dire losses. If this issue isn¡¯t rectified soon, the city risks the loss of its guards and other vitalponents, leaving it susceptible to invasion. Security must be restored to prevent peril for a kingdom¡¯s capital.

    ¨C Ensure the safety of the merchant crew. 0/1

    ¨C Escort a collection of trade caravans through nearby routes. 0/1

    ¨C Record the area of malicious activity. 0/1

    ¨C Deliver all findings to Mayor Lowe. 0/1

    Rewards:

    ¨C 1,000 Gold

    ¨C 400,000 Experience

    ¨C Favorability with Mayor Lowe increased by 500

    ¨C Exposure to the next quest

    Failure Penalty:

    ¨C Aeredale City Reputation -1,000.

    ¨C All item shops will experience a 300% increase in price.

    -Nearby Leveling Fields will suffer a -75% coin drop rate.

    Time Limit: 7 days

    *Special Notes: The reason for current events always pierce deeper than the surface. ¡¹

    ¡®The circumstances extend beyond me¡­ Every yer inside the Aeredale Kingdom would feel the effects if I were to fail,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Unlike earlier quests, the penalty didn¡¯t solely affect Kieran¡¯s character. Instead, it would harm everyone who chose Aeredale City as their starting ce. This was how wide the scope of main quests grew; everyone could be roped in.

    ¡°How strong were the guards you sent before?¡± Kieran question. He noticed that Mayor Lowe mentioned arge payout made to families of fallen guards.

    ¡°They were all plenty strong, with enough power to be ssified as Tier 1 existences. Therge loss of life shows this menace is no small threat. After all that I told you, do you truly believe you can aplish this?¡± Mayor Lowe muttered doubtfully.

    Although Kieran had epted the quest, escorting a collection of caravans wasn¡¯t exactly a job a single person could aplish, especially if they needed to defend against multiple assaulters with power equal to a Tier 1 existence.

    ¡®That would mean the bandits are Lv.35 at the very least since guards in these cities tend to be Lv.35 and above. Of course, that would change if the city were to increase in grade; right now, it is a basic capital city,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    The strength of guards and leading staff inside cities and viges corresponded with the city¡¯s ranking. Aeredale City was ssified as a Basic Capital City, meaning at most a Tier 3 existence resided inside this ce.

    Such individuals were people like Captain Liam, who Kieran sparred against earlier. Even Mayor Lowe was only a Tier 2 existence who had yet to surpass Lv.120.

    ¡®I can see why Aeredale is graded so low as a kingdom. There are some with individuals far stronger than Captain Liam. Who knew its staring point was so abysmal, but that¡¯s perfect for me,¡¯ Kieran inwardly thought. His excitement manifested as a grin he couldn¡¯t keep to himself.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t be alone, but I will undoubtedly solve this issue. So, make sure to amass that reward for me.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll believe that once you bring me back good news. In the meantime, you should prepare because the Merchant Association¡¯s next caravans are scheduled to be dispatched within three hours. I expect you to guard them.¡±

    ¡°Only guard it? You don¡¯t want me to eliminate the issue at its source?¡±

    ¡°You must be an insaned. This caravan is ahead of schedule and has been done purposely. Not to mention, we don¡¯t know where their base is. The incidents stretch across arge area. Just stick to the n and ensure that our merchandise makes it through,¡± Mayor Lowemanded.

    Kieran could only shrug and concede since Mayor Lowe was the issuer of the request. But, of course, that didn¡¯t mean Kieran would follow all of the directives given. After all, Mayor Lowe wouldn¡¯t be apanying them.

    Afterward, Kieran left the Mayor¡¯s Office and stepped outside. However, his timing seemed impable because, at that moment, the others returned online while he bore witness to the spectacle created inside Aeredale City.

    ¡®Isn¡¯t that Ezra¡­ the Scarlet Eclipsing de?¡¯ Kieran inwardly muttered in shock. Due to his position as the Golden Brigade¡¯s Commander, Kieran became familiar with all the great names of Zenith Online, one of them being Ezra. So even if she wasn¡¯t at the height she would be in or as resplendent in terms of fame, Kieran could notice her at a nce.

    Almost as if she sensed a pair of unusual eyes on her, Ezra turned and made uninterrupted eye contact with Kieran. Unlike the massive amount of eyes on her, she failed to notice any lecherous intentions radiating from his gaze.

    ¡°Who is that?¡± Ezra questioned.

    Standing by her side, Lux followed her gaze but drew a nk. ¡°I have no clue. They¡¯re someone I¡¯mpletely unfamiliar with¡ªwhy?¡±

    ¡°He feels¡­ dangerous,¡± Ezra muttered with a frown.

    ¡°Dangerous?¡± Lux¡¯s eyes widened. For Ezra to admit that someone felt dangerous, she believed this to be true. After all, she was one of the people with ess to X-hancers, which means that she was much stronger than the average human and could well protect herself.

    Nevertheless, Kieran soon averted his gaze. ¡®Shouldn¡¯t she be in the Aubrililes Kingdom? Why is she here?¡¯

 Chapter 119 Zenith Covenant

    ¡ª-

    While Kieran understood the risks of his history-altering actions, he didn¡¯t expect it to causerge waves this early. Ezra¡¯s early actions secured Eclipse¡¯s path to hegemony in the Aubrililes Kingdom in the parallel timeline, so their movement baffled Kieran. The many towns, viges, and cities all eventually fell under their influence.

    Because of their broad grasp, they had no reason to interfere with the neighboring Aeredale Kingdom, which bore its own territory¡ªthat aplishment remained for another Overlord-level guild to im.

    The distance separating the two kingdoms was vast and could only be covered in two ways. Either the mentioned party used the Aubrililes Kingdom¡¯s Teleportation Hall for an exorbitant fee to perform mass teleportation, or they traversed tens of thousands of kilometers on foot.

    Whether it was the former or thetter, none were ideal. Thetter posed risks of Lv.30 to Lv.50 monsters that fell outside what current yers could manage, while the former would exhaust all of a guild¡¯s umted funds.

    A leader could only justify such a risky decision if they were confident the future benefits eclipsed their current losses.

    ¡°What do you think? Will we run into Aatrox soon, or will we at least learn of the secret he operates by? There are rumors that he just upped and disappeared. But, I have my doubts,¡± Lux said beside Ezra.

    A collection of organizations looking into Kieran¡¯s whereabouts was inevitable given howrge his feats werepared to the age of Zenith Online. However, this interest didn¡¯t mean their search would yield results.

    As the rumors stated, Kieran¡¯s appearance was no longer the same. Even the yers present when he cleared the Forest of Beasts couldn¡¯t im to know his location or appearance. The person they sought looked like a warriorcking a lot of muscle mass and not the defined figure that Kieran had be.

    Furthermore, the enhancement of his physique included his looks, giving him a masculine and brutal air rather than the formerposed and silent feeling.

    ¡°Mm,¡± Ezra barely listened to what Lux had to say as she continued to study Kieran from a distance unknowingly. The dangerous vibe she felt only increased the longer she looked at him. At this point, she couldn¡¯t tell whether it was a sensation created from the game or if it was something Kieran carried over from reality. Either way, Ezra felt the need to stay wary of Kieran.<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°Lux,¡± Ezra suddenly called out.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°That guy from before¡­ I only took my eye off him for a second, but he disappeared. But he didn¡¯t seem like the assassin-type with a concealment ability. How is that possible?¡± Ezra¡¯s disbelieving eyes shed with incredulity as she looked about, attempting to locate Kieran¡¯s new position.

    However, it was fruitless. Kieran was already well hidden by now. Behind an unassuming corner, Kieran¡¯s reddish-ck eyes peered out from beside a store¡¯s wall. ¡®She¡¯s actively looking for me¡­ Considering that she¡¯s even here, my feats must have attracted her. Fuck¡­ that¡¯s thest thing I wanted.¡¯

    Currently, Ezra could be considered a rival because, as the Guild Master of Eclipse, her ability was recorded as a Titled Ranker, hence why Kieran addressed her as the Scarlet Eclipsing de. Her understanding ofbat and leadership qualities were top-notch, capable of garnering praise even from Kieran.

    ¡®If they were guided in the right direction, Eclipse would have undoubtedly be the Tenth Behemoth,¡¯ Kieran inwardly noted. What he referred to was the ranking of guilds within Zenith Online. Earning a ce as a Behemoth meant the guild¡¯s core forces transcended what Overlords could aplish.

    Only nine such powers existed, and the revived Golden Brigade was one of them. Thinking of the Behemoths caused a sh of hatred to shimmer in Kieran¡¯s gaze as a murderous presence leaked from his body. However, Kieran reigned in those emotions before they could evolve into a mishap.

    ¡®I swear I¡¯ll rain down horrors upon you of likes never seen before. The tower known as the Golden Brigade will crumble from the ground up,¡¯ Kieran vowed, further cementing his desire to exact revenge.

    In the meantime, Lux peered in Ezra¡¯s direction before simrly gazing about. ¡°Sometimes, you just lose track of people. There¡¯s nothing abnormal about that.¡±

    However, Ezra felt differently, and it showed in her expression, which became gloomy. ¡°Are you doubting my senses now? Am I so ipetent that I can¡¯t follow a single person or too forgetful that I can¡¯t remember their prior position?¡±<sub></sub>

    ¡°N-not at all!¡± Lux rushed to correct himself. ¡°I would never doubt you. Your skill has been proven on the battlefield time and time again¡­. Forgive my foolishment.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Ezra brushed it off. Still, she flowed a finger through her hair with a severe expression. ¡°We¡¯ve sacrificed all of our liquid coins toe here, so you know what we must do to bring about Eclipse¡¯s uprising.¡±

    ¡°Understood. Our first course of action shall be to secure a zone in the nearest leveling field for efficient leveling. Afterward, we¡¯ll focus on establishing parties to farm indispensable items,¡± Lux stated.

    ¡°Good, but have someone monitor the forums. We need to understand the importance of each item. Also, don¡¯t forget those buildings we passed by,¡± Ezramanded.

    If Kieran were to hear the contents of their conversation, he would undoubtedly frown. One of the reasons he chose the Aeredale Kingdom was because there was no high-level guild that took control of it this early on. The other three kingdoms in the Xesian Empire held more appeal on paper.

    A proper guild was unlike roaming yers or gradeless teams seeking to improve their renown. There was a system they all operated by¡ªsecure the basics before moving on to the more advanced. There¡¯d be no shortage of their yers acting to amass a dense collection of inferior materials.

    Depending on how developed they became by the time Keiran chose to act, Eclipse could severely hinder or even monitor his ns. That wasn¡¯t ideal with the Shadow Cartel and Sunset Triad already gunning for him.

    Nevertheless, this had already escted to a level outside Kieran¡¯s control.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to be more cautious from now on; my actions can¡¯t be known,¡¯ Kieran inwardly sighed. Afterward, he stepped back and moved to meet up with Altair and the others. Only three hours remained until their next quest would begin.

    ¡­

    Like theirst meeting, Kieran had everyone meet inside an inconspicuous inn. Unlike before, however, Kieran had everyone acquire tradeskills regardless of their feelings.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be blunt, I¡¯ve noticed that somerge names in the gaming scene are moving here. So, I¡¯ll need to ask this now¡ªhow many of you wish to take this seriously? As in receive ie and turn this into your full-time dedication?¡±

    ¡°Are you¡­ asking if we want to form a guild with you?¡± Bastion scratched his head while looking to the others for their opinions. One of the reasons he didn¡¯t ept any past offers was because he cherished his freedom. If he entered a contract with other teams, he¡¯d be forced to y even when he wished not to.

    Such a situation was not something Bastion weed.

    ¡°A guild? Now? No, I¡¯m just gauging your seriousness because while we are here ying games, I am not in the mood to y games,¡± Kieran said sternly.

    His eyes returned to their earliest cold state because, in the end, his goal was most important to him. If this ragtag bunch of people didn¡¯t agree with his ideals, he¡¯d have to rece them with individuals who did.

    ¡°You know, I¡¯ve thought about this question but have never reallye to an answer. That 50 Gold you gave turned into a payout I¡¯ve never seen the likes of before¡­ almost $100,000 in one sitting!¡± Nemeanmented rather than answering the question.

    ¡°Wait, seriously?!¡± Aside from Kieran, the entire team was startled by Nemean¡¯s revtion. None of them checked the UCETS Kieran activated because they were exhausted, so they weren¡¯t privy to the exchange rates.

    They all rushed to pull up the menu, and the confirmation made their jaws drop. However, Alice, the most reasonable in the group, gazed at Kieran.

    ¡°But wasn¡¯t it you who said that that dungeon we cleared was just an anomaly? Normal dungeons won¡¯t reap the same rewards, so we¡¯re bound to see less appealing loot. If I agree to your offer, what are we looking at here, Aatrox?¡±

    The excited chatter immediately died down as they all looked at Kieran for answers.

    ¡°I can¡¯t be unrealistic and say I¡¯ll give you anything you please, but I can at the very least ensure that you¡¯ll have afortable life based on the sry I can give you. $100,000 and 50 Gold per month to do with as you please. These numbers aren¡¯t cemented and can change depending on our situation.¡±

    Sithik sprang to his feet in rm. ¡°Say what!? Are you telling me I can be a millionaire in 5 months by ying with you?¡±

    It was a rapid calction, but it was more or less correct since this pay averaged out to slightly over $200,000 per month. Even the more esteemed daily jobs couldn¡¯t offer such an outrageous sry.

    ¡°Is that as far as your dreams go? I n to build an empire. That offer is just the beginning. Of course, the olive branch I¡¯ve extended is fleeting. The offer won¡¯t remain on the table forever.¡±

    Kieran shrugged off the teams¡¯ exasperation because in his possession now was more than $20 million worth of coins, possibly more if he decided to put his Treasure Chests up for sale. Of course, he wouldn¡¯t do that.

    ¡°You¡¯re just tempting us. What, are you just some kind of devil in a human¡¯s skin?¡± Bastion snickered with an expression full of skepticism.

    Kieran gasped. ¡°Who revealed my identity?¡±

    The table filled withughter as the atmosphere soon turned serious again.

    ¡°I¡¯m in,¡± Altair said.

    ¡°Me too,¡± Nemean added.

    ¡°Me three,¡± Cygnus raised her hand with an eager smile.

    Eventually, it all boiled down to Bastion, whom everyone turned toward with palpable anticipation.

    ¡°Come on, big guy! What¡¯s the worst that can happen? It isn¡¯t like we¡¯re entering the grasp of a shady organization that conducts backhanded business,¡± Nemean nudged.

    ¡°Argh! FINE!¡± Bastion growled in a final concession.

    ¡°Good,¡± Kieran grinned. ¡°I invoke the Zenith Covenant.¡±

    Suddenly, an ancient scroll appeared before the entire party and hovered atop the table. As the scroll opened, Kieran grasped toward its center. This action coalesced a pen formed from pure Mana. The tip contained a type of liquidized Mana with a celestial presence matching the scroll.

    Only once the scrollpletely unfurled did Kieran etch the contents of the contract. The process was rtively quick because Kieran prepared the contents of the Zenith Covenant beforehand. Soon enough, Kieran presented the finished conditions to the party.

    ¡°Once you all sign, we¡¯ll be contractually bound. There will be no going back on our words, or the consequences will be dire, myself included. Because you have decided to join me, I will be your protector. Many struggles and countless enemies will apany our rise. But, if you stand by me, I will stand before you and bear the pressure,¡± Kieran said to the party. His tone was confident and unwavering, which inspired a sense of trustworthiness.

    All he could do was await everyone¡¯s response as the atmosphere grew intense.

 Chapter 120 Gravity of Trust

    ¡ª-

    Although the party hade to a verbal agreement, it was different now that a binding contract was in y. As much as Kieran wanted to take their word at their bond, he knew the future was a mystery filled with uncertainty. Because of this, he didn¡¯t feelfortable if he couldn¡¯t at least anchor a portion of the unknown.

    On the other hand, the others didn¡¯t need Kieran to tell them how intense the contract was because all the information rted to the Zenith Covenant projected directly into their minds after it appeared.

    Based on the information presented, this pact would be tied to their very being once the party members added their signatures. Because while Zenith Online made it nearly impossible to phish for people¡¯s identities, all Zenith Online ounts were made using a person¡¯s unique brainwaves. So even if a yer signed this agreement with their in-game name, it would be treated as them using their true identity.

    After all, the Zenith Covenant was a pact between rted parties that agreed to punishment by theplete manifestation of the system should any of the parties impinge on its contents.

    Considering that Kieran found certain proof that matters of Zenith Online could tamper with reality, he understood the gravity of the ¡°punishment¡± mentioned in the many uses of the Zenith Covenant.

    Even if it wasn¡¯t stated explicitly, Kieran couldn¡¯t overlook the fact that one part of this punishment could very well be severe damage to one¡¯s mind.

    If his ss was enough to seize his mind, and it was only a product of the system, what would happen if they received punishment from the manifestation of the system itself? That was an ordeal Kieran wasn¡¯t willing to undergo.

    ¡°T-this¡­¡±

    Everyone¡¯s expression nched as they carefully scanned the Zenith Covenant¡¯s information. Although Kieran didn¡¯t include any heavily restrictive factors in terms of their independent activity, this scroll ensured they couldn¡¯t walk away from the team with their belongings intact should they decide to do soter on.<sub>-.</sub>

    After all, whatever opportunities and fortunes they received would more or less be a byproduct of Kieran¡¯s actions. He had already learned his lesson once and wasn¡¯t insane, so repeating his experience was uneptable.

    ¡°As I said before, if you pledge your loyalty and do so wholeheartedly, I¡¯ll vow to be your protectors, and I mean that to the fullest extent.¡± Kieran¡¯s tranquil and stern expression apprised everyone of his solemnity.

    The first to react was Sithik, gulping loudly before taking the pen from Kieran¡¯s hand. ¡°My life up until the time I met you has been mediocre. My parent looked at me as a failure, and I have been scorned by my peers my entire life. Although I made my mistakes initially, you only sought to help me, not break me down. So, why wouldn¡¯t I agree to help you build your empire? I¡¯m in, Aatrox.¡±

    With that, the first signature appeared on the Zenith Covenant. However, the tension in the atmosphere didn¡¯t lessen by the slightest morsel; it was still palpable because everyone had a hefty situation on their hands.

    The next person to follow in Sithik¡¯s step was surprisingly Cygnus. She grabbed the pen from Sithik and clutched it against her chest while looking at Kieran. ¡°I¡¯ve never thought about my future, but your guidance has made me feel like I have one with you. As Sithik said, your advice is always constructive, no matter how harsh. I can trust someone like that since they speak their heart with no qualms.¡±

    The second signature appeared on the Zenith Covenant. Kieran was frankly taken aback that the first two to agree were the ones that had received his harshest guidance against Hrulhar. Then again, after considering that the remaining people had the highest talents, he understood why this happened.

    ¡®Talents have the brightest futures, leaving them with several options, unlike Sithik and Cygnus. Although I can mold them into something greater, their starting point and growth potential will always remain inferior to the rest,¡¯ Kieran thought silently.

    Some disparities just couldn¡¯t be closed no matter how much effort the inferior exerted.

    ¡°From the beginning, you have acted like a free spirit, even during our first meeting inside the Fanged Forest. I¡¯m sure you could have killed all of us right then if that¡¯s what you wanted. But, instead, you deescted our aggression with the harsh truth. Could it be that you foresaw this moment?¡± Alice asked while extending her supple hand to Cygnus.<sub></sub>

    ¡°I don¡¯t know about foreseeing, but yes¡ªyou have always piqued my interest,¡± Kieran admitted. At that time, Alice revealed an uncharacteristic smile that stunned the entire party. She leaned over the table and added her name to the Zenith Covenant.

    ¡°And mine has been piqued as well. Cyr, Sera, Bastion¡ªare we in this together or not? Surely we won¡¯t separate the party who has traveled together for years.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not! Wherever you guys go, I go!¡± Cyr eximed before snatching the pen and signing after Alice. Sera followed quickly after and then the hesitant Bastion, who froze with the pen against the archaic parchment.

    ¡°You won¡¯t change, right? You¡¯ll remain this trustworthy leader¡ªI have your word?¡± Bastion asked. He needed reassurance before he made such a drastic decision.

    ¡°Undoubtedly,¡± Kieran nodded. Even if he did change, that shift wouldn¡¯t involve his allies¡ªno, he would simply be a demon¡ªa monster to his enemies.

    Bastion¡¯s worries seemed to subside as he exhaled and finished signing. All that remained now was Altair and Nemean. Out of the two, Altair seemed the most conflicted as he looked at Kieran.

    On the other hand, Nemean showed signs of relenting as he raised his hand. ¡°Seems like everyone has ced their trust in you. While I¡¯m skeptical of doing the same, I don¡¯t have any better alternatives. Even my old friend Bastion has agreed, and I¡¯ve always approved his judgment. So, give it here.¡±

    Neman quickly signed his name beneath Bastion, leaving the Zenith Covenant void of only Kieran and Altair¡¯s names.

    Unlike the rest of the party, Kieran gave Altair a smile filled with nostalgia and anticipation for the future. He had witnessed how great Altair¡¯s destiny was, but he also sensed there were troubles afflicting his old rival and friend. Otherwise, why wouldn¡¯t he agree to join Behemoth-level guilds that recruited him in the past?

    ¡°Aatrox, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to join you like the others,¡± Altair said with a grimace. His usually mischievous demeanor was nowhere to be seen as his face seemed full of penitent emotions.

    ¡°Why is that?¡±

    ¡°Unlike you, my name and appearance can never appear in the open world¡­ if it does, everyone will be put in danger. That¡¯s not a risk I¡¯m willing to take, especially because you are all good people,¡± Altair said.

    The others could feel his sorrow and grief but didn¡¯t know how to console a person they knew nothing about.

    Still, Kieran took a step forth and ced his hand on Altair¡¯s shoulder with a tight grip. ¡°What did I vow in that oath beside us? I said I would be our protector, right?¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Altair nodded weakly. However, he knew all too well how frightening the reason for his dissent was. ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°No buts. There are terrors in this world, but those terrors exist for us to forge courage within ourselves. So what if your situation isn¡¯t the best. We have time¡ªtime and potential. Together those two factors make anything possible. I¡¯m willing to shoulder your burden if you¡¯re willing to shoulder mine,¡± Kieran said. His earnest words consoled not just Altair but the entire party.

    ¡°Do you know this name¡ªWiyan?¡± Altair asked in return.

    ¡°I¡¯m aware of that name,¡± Kieran nodded. ¡°If that is where your troublese from, then we will weather the storm together.¡± However, deep down, Kieran couldn¡¯t help but grimace. ¡®Another issue has stepped across our roster.¡¯

    Regardless of how he truly felt, Kieran didn¡¯t disy those emotions. Instead, he grasped at the parchment, summoning another pen formed of pure Mana that he held himself. ¡°Together?¡±

    ¡°Together,¡± Altair agreed.

    Afterward, Kieran and Altair signed simultaneously,pleting all the signature lines on the Zenith Covenant. A strange phenomenon urred after all the signaturesnded on the page. Nine resplendent orbs of white and ck shades with faint silvery speckles merged into everyone¡¯s chest and forehead.

    ¡°The Absolutes of Impartiality,¡± Kieran muttered. That was the name of the white and ck spheres that entered everyone¡¯s body. Their only purpose was to ensure all parties effectively carried out the Zenith Covenant¡¯s agreements.

    Everyone breathed a sigh of relief once the spectacle subsided and took a seat with drained expressions. The first to speak up was Nemean.

    ¡°What now?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ now, six of us will embark on a quest together. The rest of you will continue to work on your fame. I need you all to reach the level of a Knight at the very least. The influx of yers will only increase our need to shine brighter than the rest in the eyes of NPCs,¡± Kieran said.

    ¡°Only six of us? Who will be chosen?¡±

    ¡°Well, the quest this time is something that should only happen once our average level is ten levels higher, but¡­ it¡¯s fine, I suppose. We have a Rare ss and a Hidden one in our midst; we aren¡¯t the typical party. Those who will being along with me will be Sera, Altair, Alice, Bastion, and Nemean. Cyr, Sithik, and Cygnus, see if you can monitor the yer store attached to the Universal Currency Exchange Trading System.¡±

    ¡°What exactly are we looking for?¡± Cyr questioned. None of the three had issues being left behind because they understood the limited spots on the quest. Every member chosen toe along could benefit the team greatly.

    ¡°Start purchasing all inferior herbs, fruits, minerals, and metals beneath 8 Copper per unit. If you run out of money, message me [1], and I¡¯ll resupply you all. If the volume of these items on the market decrease significantly, message me [2] and stop until I give the go-ahead,¡± Kieran directed.

    ¡°Understood,¡± the trio nodded.

    Kieran¡¯s actions were due for an eleration now that names like Eclipse were on the scene. Since their limited party members could only acquire so many items throughbor, Kieran would have to rely upon his coin advantage to steer his ns.

    The others were then instructed on a few other guidelines to operate within to fall under the radar of many unofficial guilds. For example, they would only focus on the bulk orders once all of the small amounts had disappeared. If it was done in reverse, people would soon realize the items were being brought out with an instant disappearance ofrge stacks, c

 Chapter 121 Operation Protection Begins!

    ¡ª-

    Three hourster¡­

    Kieran, along with his five designated party members, stood at the export gates of Aeredale City while awaiting the final preparations of the Merchant Association¡¯s caravans. At the same time, Kieran also had everyone double-check their current stats.

    Kieran clearing the Underground Labyrinth¡¯s hidden area granted everyone an opportunity to pull ahead of the masses. Everyone received ample Attribute Points and Skill Points prime for free allocation.

    Unlike before, where Kieran had everyone pay close attention to battle-based attributes, Kieran made everyone consider their Agility, Control, and Perception. Kieran only allowed negligible scraps to be used on main stats.

    The reason for this was a message that filled the game directly after they cemented the Zenith Covenant Agreement.

    ¡­

    Roughly two hours prior¡­

    ¡´System: The world shall undergo its first gradual metamorphosis. This process will take an entire day, in reality. However, there is zero need to log out. All yers will be privy to the changes once the process isplete.¡µ

    The notification initially came as a shock because an update where yers didn¡¯t need to log out of the game was unheard of. After all, there was a chance of corruption if developers didn¡¯t carry out updates correctly. That could sometimes lead to irreversible issues.

    Thus, skepticism rose in the gamingmunity, including Kieran¡¯s party. The only one who didn¡¯t react to the message was Kieran.<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡®Although I noticed the precursors, three weeks ahead of schedule is still far too fast. I doubt most yers are ready for what¡¯s toe. But, I¡¯ll prepare my own without fail,¡¯ Kieran thought before gazing at his party members.

    ¡°Forget Strength or Intelligence for the time being and divide your attribute points into the stats I mentioned regardless of what ss you y. Don¡¯t stop until you reach at least 150 in each stat without outside help,¡± Kieran said.

    This feat might be difficult for other yers to ept, but it wasn¡¯t for Kieran¡¯s party. Their main attribute would still receive indirect attention even if it was neglected. For example, Altair unlocked a passive that increased his base Agility based on the passive¡¯s skill level. Nemean and Bastion both unlocked passives that increase their respective primary source of viability.

    In Nemean¡¯s case, it was split between Strength, Endurance, and Control. Bastion¡¯s passive increased his pure Defense and Endurance, so there was little reason for him to worry about insufficiently defending the party.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t heed your advicest time, but I will do that now,¡± Bastion said after noticing everyone¡¯s eyes on him. ¡°But, what do I focus on?¡±

    ¡°Allot the stats in a 3:3:2 ratio. The primary focus should be on Control and Agility. Only once your Perception reaches 150 can you return to your original allocation,¡± Kieran answered.

    ¡°I got it,¡± Bastion nodded.

    As for Kieran, his stats were already in a decent ce, so he left that alone until he could gauge how monsters fared against him currently. For Kieran, the most important thing now was to reach Lv.30 to unlock his next set of skills.

    ¡­

    Back in the present¡­<sub></sub>

    ¡°It¡¯s time! Man your stations and get your asses on that road!¡± The head merchant roared to the other merchants manning the caravans. They scurried like frightened rats as they whipped therge stallions attached to rtivelyrge caravans.

    Their hulking muscles rippled with strength as they took their first steps to get the momentum going. The toil became more manageable once the caravans all approached a decent speed. Once that happened, Kieran nodded to the others.

    Another reason he had them raise their Agility was because of the request type. The odds of them being offered a seat were very low because they were to remain vignt and ensure the safe passage of these items on board.

    Bastion and Nemean were the first to move, followed by Sera and Alice, with Altair and Kieran managing the furthest rear. Their position didn¡¯t matter since they could react to any angle the threat appeared from. Still, they chose the back to protect the others from surprise encounters.

    Psst!

    Altair whispered to Kieran. ¡°Are you really sure you know who the Wiyan are? I know that¡¯s what you said to the others, but I mean¡­. Do you REALLY know?¡±

    Kieran nced in Altair¡¯s direction before giving a brief nod. ¡°I¡¯m aware of their actions and ways of conduct. But, what does that have to do with you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­. the son of a Wiyan,¡± Altair revealed.

    Kieran almost paused in his tracks when he heard the news but realized that would be uneptable given their current environment. Still, he couldn¡¯t dismiss his curiosity. ¡°Are you a legitimate or illegitimate child? No, wait¡­ if you fear them so much, you can only be illegitimate.¡±

    ¡°Correct,¡± Altair nodded. However, he corrected a mistake in Kieran¡¯s words. ¡°I don¡¯t fear them; I detest them. I only asked that you don¡¯t get closely involved with me because of what I will do in the future.¡±

    ¡®Oh?¡¯ Kieran¡¯s eyebrows shot up as he saw traces of Altair¡¯s ruthlessness peering through his youthful appearance. ¡®He was called Shadow¡¯s Beloved for good reasons. Darkness seeped into him, and he became the Silent Reaper. But¡­ that¡¯s not enough. I want him to be far more powerful, far more fearsome. For that, I need to know what changed him, to begin with.¡¯

    ¡°What will you do? Then, it is vengeance that drives you as well?¡± Kieran stated.

    A look of surprise shed in Altair¡¯s eyes as he noticed the familiar cadence of Kieran¡¯s tone. ¡°You¡­ Are you the same as me? Then¡­ that power you were given couldn¡¯t have been a mistake. I felt it at the time¡ªunbridled rage fueled by vengeance and not anger towards the current situation.¡±

    ¡®As I thought, he¡¯s perceptive to negative emotions even now. No wonder he practically perfected Stealth and created the Darkness Excursion Steps. A perfect mastery of negativity toplete the darkness is almost unmatched!¡¯ Kieran mused.

    ¡°Hehe, my apologies. I didn¡¯t mean to show you all that. Still, we must tread simr paths. I¡¯m not sure about your source, nor will I pry into it, but know that when the timees, I¡¯ll dly reap some mayhem with you,¡± Kieran grinned while extending his fist.

    ¡°I¡¯m game,¡± Altair grinned back and returned a fist bump. Though these two came from dark pasts, they were strong enough to forge a small brotherhood by exposing fragments of themselves.

    This didn¡¯t go unnoticed by Alice, whose Perception stat was naturally high. ¡®Kindred spirit, but is that a good or bad thing?¡¯

    Meanwhile, another situation urred in Aeredale City just moments after they left.

    Three figures appeared while watching the many caravans set out. The middle individual was dressed in ck clothing with a texture simr to robes. However, the hooded design said otherwise. This attire undoubtedly belonged to the Assassin archetype of armor design.

    ¡°Guild Leader Despot, correct me if I¡¯m wrong¡­ but weren¡¯t some of those yers the same ones who got in our way against the filthy Aatrox?¡± the second figure spoke. They removed their hood to reveal that they were one of the Shadow Cartel¡¯s members known as Autr, who, simr to Despot, was an Assassin.

    Despot too dropped his hood and gazed into the distance with a darkened expression. ¡°Foul vermin. Didn¡¯t I tell you that you¡¯de to regret your actions? You may have fallen off the radar for a few days, but I¡¯ve got you now. Moving with the same people was a mistake, making you an easy target.¡±

    Despot¡¯s tone was vicious as he gestured to the two by his side. ¡°Gather everyone. Also, notify the Sunset Triad that we¡¯ve finally caught wind of Aatrox¡¯s movements. It¡¯s nigh time we delivered our vengeance.¡±

    ¡°Understood, but we aren¡¯t going to let him get away, right?¡± Autr asked with a troubled look. Kieran and others raced alongside the caravans, so they¡¯d quickly lose their trail if they took too long to muster their forces.

    ¡°Hmph, there¡¯s no worries. We began moving all of our forces when Aatrox¡¯s name popped up in the announcements again. It shouldn¡¯t take more than 5 minutes. But, to be safe¡ªGloom, go and track them remotely,¡± Despot ordered.

    This order was naturally given to the third individual present. He was simrly a Thief base ss, except he traveled the route of a Dark Scout. They were like regr Scouts, except they specialized in setting up vile traps in exchange for dulled senses.

    It wasn¡¯t the best for extreme scouting but the ss did offer a significant advantage if their enemies could be taken by surprise. While Gloom rushed off to track Kieran and his team, Autr went to alert the Sunset Triad.

    Mobilizing their entire forces might seem like overkill, but that was just how excessive these two organizations were. The slightest sphemy had to be turned into a severe lesson in their eyes.

    Nevertheless, it never dawned upon them that Kieran was no longer a simple Warrior ss. They were walking into the clutches of a Berserker, an individual known for their fury and brutal ways. What good would increased numbers do against them? That wouldn¡¯t strike fear into them.

    s, some people would only learn once their fates were sealed with zero options.

    Approximately 30 minutester, whereas Kieran and his team guided the caravan of merchants past the first checkpoint, a collection of almost 1,000 yers assembled before the city¡¯s gates.

    ¡­

    For unknown reasons, a shiver went down Sera¡¯s spine as she looked cautiously but couldn¡¯t find the cause for her concern. ¡®What was that?¡¯

    ¡°Is something wrong, Sera?¡± Kieran asked after noticing her change in behavior. She looked about as if some shadowy figure would snatch her up at any time.

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know. I just felt something was amiss, but I can¡¯t exin it,¡± Sera muttered. Her voice was filled with uncertainty as she smiled wryly at Kieran.

    ¡®Amiss?¡¯ Kieran noted. If it were anyone else, he would have doubted their ims, but Sera disyed superior senses repeatedly. Perhaps her cautiousness originated from a prescient skill that Kieran didn¡¯t possess.

    Nevertheless, he pooled Mana into his eyes and scanned their surroundings. His perceptivity range had increased to almost 100 meters after attaining his current heights. Still, Kieran found nothing out of the ordinary even after scanning for over a minute.

    These guys didn¡¯t know that three factors caused Sera¡¯s current state. One of which would appear very soon.

    ¡°Sir Guard! We are approaching the first area of interest where we have recorded significant disappearances. Please be wary and make sure to guard us. I do not wish to die today,¡± the head merchant called out to Kieran.

    ¡°Stay inside your caravan, and you shouldn¡¯t have to worry. I can¡¯t ensure your safety, nor will I take responsibility for your death if you flee in fright,¡± Kieran replied.

    The head merchant gulped but indicated his understanding.

    Suddenly, Kieran¡¯s ears twitched as he picked up the snapping of a twig approximately 300 meters ahead. ¡®Of course, they would wait until we reach a forested area to show themselves.¡¯

    Kieran instantly drew Crimson Ashrune while snapping his fingers. Altair was the first to react, followed by Bastion and Nemean, who rushed before the two foremost caravans. Everyone appeared battle-ready at a moment¡¯s notice. Even Alice prepared based on the Mana fluctuations emanating from the staff.

    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

    ¡°Operation Protection has begun!¡± Kieran bellowed.

 Chapter 122 Desertborn Brigands (I)

    ¡ª-

    Six people dressed in a mix of cloth and leather armor with steel tes visible through the ribbed areas appeared following Kieran¡¯s yell. A cloth-texture garb covered their faces leaving only their eyes visible.

    Each of these people carried curved daggers simr to a kukri.

    The one in the front pointed their de at Bastion, who stood in front of the first lead caravan. ¡°Leave the merchandise aside, and no one has to get hurt. Failure to satisfy our demands will result in a major loss of life!¡±

    Needless to say, the one to speak was the leader of this band of thieves. This assumption was proven by the information Kieran and the others received regarding the enemies before them.

    ¡¸Lv.35 Brigand Captain (Rare NPC)

    ss: Sand Assaulter

    Health: 451,000/451,000 (100%) ¡¹

    ¡¸Lv.33 Brigand Henchman (Elite NPC)

    ss: Sand Thief

    Health: 315,000/315,000 (100%) ¡¹

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why are they treated as NPC and not monsters? Does this mean the battle will go quite differently as well?¡± Bastion asked. He wasn¡¯t frightened by this unusual situation; he only wanted to be prepared for what was toe.

    ¡°If the system categorizes them as NPCs, they must eithere from an organization or a civilization. Their power should be simr to other monsters, but they may own skills,¡± Kieran answered back as he calmly walked through the center of the caravans.

    Altair wasn¡¯t too far behind as he raised both hands while holding his daggers in a reverse grip.<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°And these rankings?¡± Bastion added.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ they shouldn¡¯t be too much of an issue,¡± Kieran guessed.

    Elite and Rare NPCs weren¡¯t necessarily strong, especially if their levels were beneath 50. However, while their strength wasparable to Elite and Rare Monsters their intellect was not.

    An NPC¡¯s intelligence usually existed on a higher nepared to regr monsters. Furthermore, whether it was an enemy or ally NPC, they all used the same standard. The only difference between monster and NPC rankings was there was no in-between regarding the jump from a Rare NPC to an Epic NPC.

    The level given by the system judged the power divide of Rare NPCs. For example, a Lv.50 Rare NPC was many times stronger than a Lv.35 Rare NPC because each level rewarded a significant jump in stats andbat prowess.

    ¡°Oh? So you have chosen to take the foolish route? Have you not heard of our feats? It¡¯d be idiotic to risk your life for an organization that doesn¡¯t even know you exist. What¡­. Do you do this for fame?¡± the Brigand Captain chuckled. Their eyes filled with a mocking tint as they scanned over the approaching Kieran.

    ¡°Unaware of my existence? Why should I care about that? I epted a job, so I intend to aplish it. That means everything that stands in my way will face destruction¡ªthis includes you,¡± Kieran answered back calmly.

    However, while his demeanor seemed calm, a storm of bloody energy roiled around him as he activated Blood Mania. The presence of this power triggered the Brigand Captain¡¯s wariness as he narrowed his eyes.

    ¡®What type of power is that?¡¯ The Brigand Captain wondered. However, he still lifted the kukri in his hand with two extended fingers. This gesture caused a reaction from the two Brigand Henchmen on his left. They brandished their kukris and dashed toward Nemean and Bastion while the Brigand Captain immediately stabbed his weapon into the ground.

    A variation of Earth Mana swarmed about as the floor gained a grainy texture simr to sand. In the next moment, a tide of reinforced sand towered above Kieran, intending to swallow him whole.

    ¡°Sand Wash!¡± The Brigand Captain bellowed.

    Boom!

    The tide of sand collided against the ground creating a thunderous noise. After mming against the ground, the wave continued and knocked against the caravans, jolting all the merchants inside.<sub></sub>

    ¡°Oh dear heavens, we are going to die!¡± The head merchant screamed out in fright. He took cover inside his caravan while curling up into a ball and covering his ears. The horses suffered damage from that attack despite their seemingly powerful bodies.

    Pained neighs filled the forested area as the Brigand Captain stared at the small mound in the sand tide. He used this particr cluster of sand to ostensibly kill his earlier opponent. The rm he felt came as an unexpected surprise, so he felt the need to remove this opponent from the battlefield to avoid any mishaps.

    However, a soft crimson glow grew bright within the sand mound until Nemean and Bastion averted their gaze.

    ¡°Heh, kill the boss with just that? Yeah right!¡± Nemean smirked before locking his gaze on the Brigand henchman currently eyeing him. ¡°You want a piece of me? Come and get it!¡±

    ¡°Kekeke,¡± the Brigand Henchman responded with a sinister cackle before dissipating into bits of sand like a midnight summer breeze had carried him away. Fortunately, everyone¡¯s perception was much stronger after heeding Keiran¡¯s advice.

    Nemean could sense that whatever skill this individual employed caused simply created a visual distraction because the henchman¡¯s presence could still be felt.

    ng!

    A premonition urred in Nemean¡¯s mind as he raised his left shield to block. An aged kukri appeared from within a sand flurry. However, Nemean remained calm and returned a strike to the henchman¡¯s ribcage.

    Bang! Bang! Bang!

    The first strike connecting opened a path to Nemean unleashing a fluid chain of attacks centered around his two shields. But, he also supplemented some attacks with roundhouse kicks or irs to throw off his opponent.

    As a result, the henchman was forced to employ a skill. ¡°Sand Daggers!¡±

    Some of the nearby sand produced by the Brigand Captain¡¯s initial attack started to swirl and adopt the shape of crudely made daggers. Under the influence of the Brigand Henchman, these daggers raced toward Nemean from all angles.

    Nemean decisively ended his chain of attack and retreated quickly with the help of his increased Agility. However, he still defended against some of the iing sand projectiles by knocking them away.

    In the meantime, Kieran burst from within the sand mound as the bloody aura surrounding his body thickened. The only difference now was that his Health had dropped below 50%.

    ¡°You really shouldn¡¯t have done that,¡± Kieran said while cracking his neck. ¡°You¡¯ll make the perfect sparring partner because you¡¯re nowhere as strong as Captain Liam.¡±

    Whoosh!

    Kieran suddenly swung Crimson Ashrune in a horizontal arc. A disastrous presence bubbled forth as arge current of blood energy swept outward, shing against the trees that stood on its path.

    The shade of red grew within the Brigand Captain¡¯s gaze as he stared at the iing retaliation.

    ¡°Sand Vanquisher!¡± The Brigand Captain bellowed after snapping out of his sudden daze. A sharpened de ofpact sand billowed toward the iing Crimson Current as Kieran revealed a slight smirk.

    Boom!

    The impact of the two attacks sent trace amounts of blood and sand everywhere. But, Kieran didn¡¯t await the result of the collision. While the two attacks attempted to fend off each other, he turned into a crimson blur that operated under cover of these tworge attacks.

    Conversely, the Brigand Captain restlessly awaited the moment his attack gained the upper hand to attack again. It never registered in his mind that the opposing side wouldn¡¯t do the same.

    By the time he became privy to the situation, six blood des were fast approaching his position from an opening on his right side.

    ¡°Damn you! Where is your honor?!¡± The Brigade Captain scowled indignantly. Three of the blood des were parried by him, but the other three sessfully left wounds on his body that couldn¡¯t be ignored.

    ¡°Honor? Are you an idiot or what? Why would I conduct any honorable battle with someone engaging in uwful actse on now,¡± Kieran sneered.

    While Kieran kept the Brigand Captain busy, Alice prepared a spell that caused mana vibrations on arge scale. Soon enough, fire elements appeared in arge quantity.

    ¡®I need to improve my Mana Conversion and Element Maniption Paths else the gathering rate will remain uneptable.¡±

    Unlike when she worked with pure Mana without elements, Alice now needed to put Mana through two processes before she could unleash her skills. The first process was conversion, where the gathered pure Mana was converted into Elemental Mana. From this step, the Mana needed to be contained and controlled until the quantity and quality reached a sufficient degree. Only once that urred was Alice free to unleash one of herrge spells.

    Alice was truly fortunate to havepetent teammates at a time like this because those two processes left her extremely vulnerable. Altair singlehandedly fended off the three remaining Brigand Henchmen to give Alice the time needed toplete her me spell.

    Roughly thirty secondster, she aimed her staff at the battlefield Altair tended to. ¡°Altair, fall back. I¡¯m ready!¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Altair eximed before activating Swift Steps. The skill allowed Altair to create ample space between him and the Brigand Henchmen.

    ¡°Firestorm Burst!¡± Alice eximed. An extensive collection of Fire Mana umted above the three Brigand Henchmen before merging in arge sphere. The sphere then imploded on itself, creating a violent spiral of mes that cascaded within a certain radius.

    Ticks of fire damage urred every 0.2 seconds as the Health bars of these Brigand Henchmen drained rapidly. In exchange for releasing such a frightening attack, Alice exhausted almost 60% of her current Mana pool, which was essentially triple Kieran¡¯s.

    In other words, this skill required over 1,500 Mana to release. Of course, it wasn¡¯t just any old skill avable to all Elementalist. No, Alice acquired this skill after revealing her talent for magic to the High Instructor of Aeredale Kingdom¡¯s Mage Academy.

    Although she could choose from a variety of skills due to her Full Element Alignment, Alice chose a singr focus for now and that was Fire. The decision happened because Alice understood that her current team specialized in quick bursts of damage to get the job done.

    Thus, she wouldn¡¯t explore the other avable avenues of magic until the need for heightened utility arose. Just knowing simple spells of each element was enough for the time being.

    While Alice trapped the Brigand Henchmen in a cage of ming peril, Kieran goaded the Brigand Captain. ¡°You see, we aren¡¯t like your former run-ins¡ªwe won¡¯t blindly fight you. We¡¯ll y our advantages and y them well. Six of you is far from enough to deal with my party.¡±

    ¡°Foolish! Do you think we are the only ones? We are only the beginning. I suggest you return before making a mistake that can¡¯t be undone. Killing a member of the Desertborn Brigands is not a wise decision. We will hunt you, and we will avenge our brothers,¡± the Brigand Captain spat venomously with a harsh gaze.

    However, Kieran chuckled amusedly. ¡°You speak as if you¡¯ll live to tell the tale. They¡¯ll get the eventual message, but it won¡¯t be from you.¡±

    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

    Kieran performed a simple stabbing action, but three violent tempests of nigh unstoppable blood energy pierced forth and honed in on the Brigand Captain¡¯s movements despite his attempts to evade it.

    If one looked closely, one¡¯d realize Kieran¡¯s eyes radiating a crimson hue that deepened marginally with each passing second. This hue was apanied by an episode of extreme focus. Evidently, he was consuming his mental strength to alter the Sanguinem Tempest¡¯s paths, something he could perform before.

    ¡®It seems something has been unlocked because of Lillian¡¯s curiosity. I should thank her properly because it¡¯s thanks to her efforts that I can imagine using long-range blood attacks in the future. The usual restraints of a Berserker won¡¯t limit me,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    In the end, the Brigand Captain gave up on running away and stood still, allowing the three tempests to skewer his body, creating a ghastly sight. The Brigand Captain stared at Kieran hatefully while he fell to his knees.

    ¡´System: You have gained 85,648 Experience.¡µ

    All of a sudden, Kieran turned around and fired another Crimson Current into the firestorm Alice created, reaping the lives of the Brigands burning inside it.

    ¡´System: You have gained 64,244 Experience.¡µ

    ¡®The experience isn¡¯t bad, but it could be better given the level difference. Though I suppose a three and five level difference isn¡¯t all that terrible. But¡­ those were only the weakest, as the captain said. It¡¯ll only get more difficult from here on out,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Kieran and Altair assisted Nemean and Bastion, making quick work of the remaining two Brigand Henchmen. Fortunately, because of the quest reward received when Kieranpleted the Adventurers¡¯ Guild, he had acquired enough Experience to reach Lv.30!

    ¡´System: Congrattions, you have leveled up. [Lv.29¡úLv.30]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 12 UAP and 8 SP.¡µ

    ¡´System: The ?True Berserker?¡¯s Lv.30 skills are now essible to you.¡µ

 Chapter 123 Improvised Solutions

    ¡ª-

    Like Kieran, the others also leveled up. However, they didn¡¯t reach the same milestone he did. Their milestone was achieved back when Kieran cleared the Underground Labyrinth. In fact, most of the team being Lv.30 yed a major in holding back the first wave of Desertborn Brigands.

    Lv.30 was where most normal sses gained ess to C-Rank skills, allowing them to deal higher amounts of damage or be more viable in crowd-controlling higher-level enemies.

    The attacks Altair used to simultaneously thwart the three Desertborn Henchmen¡¯s advance and therge spell released by Alice were examples of Lv.30 skills. The only difference was that Alice¡¯s skill was categorized as a Specialized Skill, molded to agree with her magical talents.

    Meanwhile, Kieran brought up the skill menu immediately. Three skills received a bright icon in recement of their previous dull state. From what Kieran could tell, one of these skills appeared to be another passive while the other two were actives, one of which he was already familiar with.

    ©°©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    [?True Berserker Skill?]-

    ?Lv.30?

    Seething Ichor ¨C SS ¨C ?Passive? ¨C 100 SP to learn

    Blood Wave ¨C B ¨C ?Active? ¨C 12 SP to learn

    Wrath Eruption ¨C B ¨C ?Active? ¨C 12 SP to learn

    ©¸©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    Kieran¡¯s eyes immediately widened at the sight of an SS Rank passive. The only rank above this was SSS. In other words, the system judged that this Seething Ichor¡¯s passive outssed even the likes of Blood Mania in its current state. It was important to note that Blood Mania was Kieran¡¯s primary power source. Without it, his ss skills would all be inoperable.

    Noting this fact, Kieran wondered why Seething Ichor was considered more valuable than Blood Mania in the eyes of the system. Before he agreed to spend essentially half of his Skill Points on the passive, Kieran first needed at least this basic understanding.<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡¸ Seething Ichor (Lv.1)

    Skill Rank: SS

    Skill Type: Passive

    Mastered (100%)

    Description: A unique skill that either suppresses or induces the slumbering blood of Argexes. This skill allows the user to control the inherent Manic Rejection produced by fusing with Argexes¡¯ Blood to a certain extent. ?Manic Rejection? can be toggled On/Off at a whim, allowing the user to either receive or ignore healing depending on their desires.

    Consumption: 0

    Prerequisites: ?True Berserker?, ?Blood Mania?

    Cooldown: 0 seconds

    Note: This skill can¡¯t be leveled up. The user will have to explore other means to grasp the power of Argexes¡¯ Blood. ¡¹

    Kieran couldn¡¯t help but stare in awe as he read the skill description. No wonder the system found this skill so valuable; it shone a light on why Kieran couldn¡¯t receive any heals from Sera.

    More importantly, it allowed him to harness this power and control it! While he wasn¡¯t sure how perfect it¡¯d end up being since Argexes¡¯ Blood was an Ancient material, it was better than operating in the blind.

    ¡®Let alone 100 SP¡­ I¡¯d buy this even if the system made me sacrifice 1,000! I could already see situations where my natural Lifesteal trait wouldn¡¯t suffice to heal me. Plus, considering the penalties of my ss, I¡¯d rather not suffer any needless deaths,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Including Wrath Eruption and Blood Wave, Kieran spent 124 SP in one sitting, leaving him with precisely 80 SP remaining. Although his skills were still level one without Crimson Ashrune¡¯s enhancement, their outrageous base damage gave Kieran ample time before he¡¯d need to worry about leveling them up.

    Fortunately for Kieran, he remained in a decent position because skills requiring honed prerequisites had yet to appear. Still, it was only a matter of time before they did.

    Afterward, Kieran looked toward his party members while frowning at the conditions of the caravans. Some of their storage areas had tears on the exterior, while some of the wheels appeared damaged. As for the horses who guided the caravans, they neighed in pain as Kieran softly touched their legs.

    ¡°They¡¯ve been injured. Sera, try healing the horses wounded by the earlier attacks,¡± Kieran ordered. He continued to look the stallion in its eyes while brushing its mane. ¡°You¡¯ll be alright big fe; help is on the way.¡±

    Sera responded to Kieran¡¯s directive by standing next to him. A soft radiance epassed her staff as she tapped it against the horse¡¯s leg. The pained neighs gradually subsided as it made a noise unlike before. It then looked Kieran in the eyes as if it were thanking him.

    ¡°What the¡­ You¡¯re telling me we can heal animals?! What in the world is going on?¡± Bastion sputtered as he dropped his shield to rub his eyes. He didn¡¯t expect to see something unheard of. After all, yers and NPCs were generally separated in other game titles.

    As a result, yer skills had no effect. However, that wasn¡¯t the case with Zenith Online. It didn¡¯t aim to establish a set boundary between yer and NPC.

    ¡°What¡¯d you expect of a game that boasts lifelike hyperrealism in its news segment? Most people may have regarded it as a joke or an advertising scheme, but it is as they advertised. The realism is increasing,¡± Kieran answered.

    ¡°Well color me surprised. I¡¯ll be damned¡­ I still think the news people are liars, though¡ªyou can¡¯t change my mind about that,¡± Bastionmented.

    Kieran shrugged in response. ¡°I don¡¯t intend to because I somewhat share the same view. But¡­ we digress. Check the caravans and see how damaged they are. Based on that information, we¡¯ll have to modify how fast we travel.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Bastion nodded.

    The others quickly followed suit and analyzed the damage to each caravan. Luckily, the four caravans towards the back werepletely undamaged, but the same couldn¡¯t be said about the two at the front.

    ¡°The wheel¡¯s integrity is almostpletely jeopardized. It probably won¡¯tst even 100 kilometers before it shatters,¡± Alice said after touching. She gave a bitter smile as she looked up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t know Mana Reinforcement; otherwise, I could tend to the wheel with a temporary fix.¡±

    ¡°No worries, a mage at your level shouldn¡¯t know that anyway. You¡¯d need more time familiarizing yourself with Mana¡¯s intricacies before bing proficient at it. Besides, there¡¯s a simpler fix¡ªhead merchant!¡±

    ¡°Ahh! Coming!¡± The head merchant called out in a startle. Even though the battle had stopped, the head merchant remained in a fetal position underneath the seats in the main caravan.

    The head merchant cautiously peeked his head outside to check on the situation before widening his eyes and bawling at the top of his lungs. ¡°My precious merchandise! All my money! This isn¡¯t insured¡­ the association won¡¯t reimburse me for these damages¡­ Noooo!¡±

    ¡°Rx and please shut up; you¡¯re quite annoying. I need to know how many of these caravans are stocked to capacity,¡± Kieran asked in a harsh tone. The head merchant¡¯s cowardly act wasted precious time.

    ¡°None of them,¡± the head merchant sheepishly murmured. ¡°We were alerted of the dangers, so I brought more of my caravans to spread the normal amount of merchandise. Besides¡­ the lighter the load, the lower the quality of horses I need.¡±

    ¡°Tch,¡± Kieran scoffed. ¡°No wonder that¡¯s your name.¡± As to what Kieran was referring to, it¡¯s the information that was present on the head merchant at all times.

    ¡¸ Lv. 44 Penni Pinchor (Elite)

    ss: Senior Merchant

    Health: 100,000/100,000 (100%)

    Affiliations: Merchant Association ¡¹

    Despite his ssification as an Elite NPC, Head Merchant Pennicked all necessarybat skills. He was essentially useless despite being the highest level person present. His level came from his expertise in establishing deals and performing sessful trades.

    Nevertheless, Kieran continued and tookplete control of the quest¡¯s proceedings. ¡°Well, we need to quickly transfer the merchandise from the severely damaged wagons to the four undamaged and two moderately damaged ones. We¡¯ll then abandon the useless caravans and continue our journey.¡±

    ¡°W-what?! But the charges I¡¯ll rue for not bringing back the extra wagons!¡±

    ¡°Oh? So you¡¯d rather wait for another team of brigands to assault you again and lose everything? There¡¯s no telling if they¡¯dunch anotherrge-scale attack,¡± Kieran countered.

    Head Merchant Penni raised his finger with a troubled expression but soon lowered it. ¡°Y-you¡­ you make a fine point. Let¡¯s get this done quickly. We win some, and we lose some, but I¡¯d hate to lose it all,¡± Head Merchant Penni muttered while conceding to Kieran¡¯s idea.

    With the help of Kieran, Nemean, Bastion, and Altair, the merchandise on the first three caravans was transferred to the permissible wagons. Those in perfect shape bore the most weight while the other two took moderate amounts of excess merchandise.

    Kieran employed this makeshift fix only because the quest never specified how many caravans needed to arrive. As long as the merchandise made it and the crew remained safe it was a win in his eyes.

    Furthermore, fewer caravans lessened the difficulty for Kieran and the others protecting them. Six people weren¡¯t enough to cover arge number of valuables.

    ¡°What will we do with the horses?! They¡¯ve been healed, but uh¡­ we don¡¯t have the harnesses to attach them to the present caravans,¡± Head Merchant Penni panicked.

    Like the wagons, the horse also came with a fee if they were damaged, misced, or even worse killed. Andpared to the wagon, the fee was exorbitant. While Head Merchant Penni called them a lower grade, these stallions were still an excellent breed.

    These Obsidian Criollos were considered Grade 3 Mounts. Mounts differed from monsters in that Grades only separated them. The higher their grading, the more durable and valuable they became. Of course, there were other factors such as speed and the like.

    Even with their current Agility, Kieran and Altair paledpared to an Obsidian Criollo¡¯s top speed.

    Still, the mounting skills required were something that no yers possessed currently. Moreover, a mount needed to be tamed before it could be ridden. This could be done by the individual or by enlisting the help of a qualified Tamer.

    ¡®I wonder¡­¡¯

    Kieran approached the Obsidian Criollo that gave him a thankful look earlier. ¡°You should be an intelligent one, aren¡¯t you? Do you mind helping us along on this journey?¡±

    As if the horse understood his words, it neighed and lowered his head.

    ¡´System: The Grade 3 Obsidian Criollo has agreed to follow you. Due to its favorability toward you, the requirements for riding have been temporarily lifted.¡µ

    ¡®It worked!¡¯ Kieran inwardly eximed.

    Upon reaching Grade 3, these mounts typically gained enough sentience to understand but not to speak. Since the horse appreciated Kieran¡¯s kind act, it didn¡¯t detest the idea of allowing Kieran to ride it.

    Of course, this olive branch extended to Sera as well. The healed horses neighed in unison as system alerts appeared before everyone.

    ¡®I wasn¡¯t expecting it, but this is what you call making something from nothing. It may only be temporary, but it¡¯ll allow us to conserve our Stamina for battle,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Because there were only three extra horses, everyone had to double up their seating arrangements. Kieran took Alice with him while Bastion took Sera. As a result, Nemean and Altair were left staring at each other in horror.

    ¡°Hell no!¡±

    ¡°Hell no!¡±

    Altair and Nemean cried out in unison.

    The entire party snickered, and for good reasons. Altair and Nemean began ying rock-paper-scissors to determine who would take the front seat. In the end, it was Nemean who lost against Altair¡¯s superior Agility and Control.

    ¡°Hahaha,¡± Altairughed uproariously and in triumph. ¡°Get on there, you sissy!¡±

    ¡°This is wrong on so many levels,¡± Nemean groaned while hiding his face. Nevertheless, he hopped on the horse and stared daggers at everyone who nced at him.

    Meanwhile, Altair took the reigns and whipped them. ¡°Hyah!¡±

    A series of neighs filled the forest, followed by the sound of numerous hooves hitting the ground.

 Chapter 124 Desertborn Brigands (II)

    ¡ª-

    With the team now on horseback, traveling through the forest became effortless. Additionally, the horseriding experience was rtively pleasant since the Obsidian Criollos weed theirpany.

    The only fault worth mentioning was that remaining stable required the riders to have a decent amount of Strength, Control, and Endurance.

    For this reason, Kieran offered Alice some support when he found her struggling to keep steady atop the Obsidian Criollo¡¯s back. ¡°The secret is anticipating the jolt of the horse¡¯s every movement and finding the right amount of bounce to counteract it.¡±

    ¡°I-I understand¡­ but that¡¯s a little difficult,¡± Alice muttered while looking down slightly.

    Kieran cluelessly followed her gaze before coughing and looking elsewhere. The source of her struggle was her decent-sized chest, which Kieran didn¡¯t possess. No matter how much she tried to control it, the extra bounce was inevitable given her natural endowment.

    A light shade of red, contrary to her usual attitude, appeared on Alice¡¯s supple cheeks when she felt Kieran¡¯s eyes on her. She didn¡¯t scold Kieran because she knew this resulted from her action. Still, it was a reaction innate to most innocent girls.

    Nemean looked over and could only grumble at their unfair situations. This grumble eventually escted into a look of disgust. ¡°You enjoy yourself over because I swear I¡¯ll dish out some payback-! Hey! Stop grinding up against me, dammit!¡±

    ¡°Oh, you think I enjoy smacking against all this damn metal?¡± Altair scoffed. ¡°This is not the idea that ran through my mind when people called it buns of steel.¡±

    ¡°Damn you-! I¡¯ve had enough; let me off of this thing. I can¡¯t take it! He¡¯s joking about my ass right now!¡± Nemean released an aghast howl directed toward Kieran and Altair.

    However, Nemean didn¡¯t see that Kieran and Altair winked at each other. They were enjoying this ordeal far too much. Even Bastion couldn¡¯t help but join in.

    ¡°Ah haha, he¡¯s taking your treats! I mean cheeks. Ehehehe,¡± Bastionughed so hard it turned into a fit of gagging coughs.

    Meanwhile, Head Merchant Penni looked at these so-called guards with incredulity. ¡®What a merry and lighthearted bunch. How can theyugh and chortle in the face of looming danger?¡¯<sub>-.</sub>

    Although Head Merchant Penni had his concerns, he couldn¡¯t voice them given the results Kieran had already produced. He could only bury his voice and hope that Kieran and his band of probable misfits continued to protect them with no casualties.

    ¡°I apologize if I overstepped and made you feel ufortable,¡± Kieran whispered. He wasn¡¯t dense, so he could sense when a person felt different from their usual self.

    ¡°No need to be so sorry, Aatrox. It¡¯s not like you did anything oundish. It was only a nce, and sometimes eyes happen to roam,¡± Alice said. She turned her head toward Kieran with a slight smile that soon vanished, ovee by her usual demeanor.

    Nevertheless, Kieran couldn¡¯t ignore the signs of his entire party warming up to him. ¡®Is this what bing friends feels like?¡¯

    Kieran looked around quietly, taking in everyone¡¯s interaction, even the rambunctious exchange between Altair and Nemean. It was subtle, but Kieran could feel it¡ªa resonance in team chemistry.

    ¡°Just make sure to voice when you feel ufortable. I may be able to convey your emotion to our ride here,¡± Kieran said while brushing the Obsidian Criollo¡¯s mane again.

    Alice didn¡¯t verbalize her thoughts, but she did give a sinct nod, indicating she¡¯d consider his suggestion.

    Afterward, the ride through the forest was both uneventful and long despite the speed of the horses. It was soon brought to everyone¡¯s attention that the trade routes weren¡¯t established in a straight line. They were made while avoiding areas dense with monsters. As a result, the merchants¡¯ path was like the erratic curvature of some of the earth¡¯s rivers rather than a straight line from point A to B.

    They didn¡¯t reach the end of the forested area until three hourster. But, the entire party was alerted after stepping foot outside of this zone.

    ¡´System: You have returned to the ?Barren Mountain Range?!¡µ

    The Barren Mountain Range didn¡¯t just epass the small area Kieran traveled to reach the Forest of Marshullum and the Underground Labyrinth.

    The leveling zone spanned tens of thousands of kilometers in every direction. So while Kieran ventured to the southern parts during hisst excursion with Luna and the rest, he was now in the western territories, which were more deserted than the other regions Kieran traveled.<sub></sub>

    ¡°Careful¡­ I¡¯m sure you recall those brigands calling themselves the Desertborn Brigands. An area like this is an oasis for them. Their ability to manipte sand will be heightened in a setting like this,¡± Kieran warned while pulling back on the horse¡¯s reigns. The horse gradually slowed until a deliberate trot, allowing Kieran to scan his surroundings.

    ¡°We¡¯ll move cautiously from here on out. Our earlier pace is no longer viable without proper cover. It¡¯s possible to walk right into an ambush if we aren¡¯t prepared. Is that understood?¡± Kieran eximed.

    ¡°Understood!¡± Altair responded.

    ¡°Roger that boss,¡± Bastion answered back.

    The caravans simrly slowed down and listened as Kieran guided them into two columns of three. Kieran and Alice remained on their horse while guarding the left side as Bastion took the front and Altair addressed the right.

    The rear remained exposed in this situation, but theck of coverage would also hinder attacks. Any attempts to attack the rear would be noticed without anything to shelter the prior signs of ambush.

    ¡°How far until the next checkpoint?¡± Kieran questioned.

    ¡°U-uh¡­ we have entered the Barren Mountain Range, but we must cross the entire Desert of Crumbling Sands to reach the next checkpoint. But, the journey bes easy after doing that because the Desertborn Brigands no longer have the means to act. We¡¯ll be in the Aubrililes Kingdom¡¯s territory then,¡± Head Merchant Penni answered.

    However, his answer made Kieran skeptical. ¡®These brigands don¡¯t attack caravans after entering the Aubrililes Kingdom¡¯s territory? Are they more scared of Aubrililes than they are of Aeredale? How so? They have the same general strength as far as I¡¯m aware.¡¯

    The Aubrililes Kingdom operated with a structure simr to Aeredale. The Mayor¡¯s Office maintained the capital city while the royal family only tended to more critical situations, such as meetings between other royal families or important events.

    So, the fact the Desertborn Brigands ostensibly feared the Aubrililes Kingdom but not the Aeredale Kingdom mystified Kieran, leading him to believe something was amiss.

    ¡®Maybe I should pay a visit to the Aubrililes Kingdom to see if these two kingdoms truly began in the same shape. Even if it turns out that I was incorrect, Aeredale Kingdom will remain my focus because it¡¯s what I¡¯m most familiar with,¡¯ Kieran mused.

    Kieran soon returned his attention to the journey after pondering his potential future actions. Throughout the trip, Kieran enhanced his vision and hearing by sacrificing negligible amounts of Mana.

    Eventually, he bellowed for everyone to stop while jumping off the horse he rode.

    ¡°Show yourself,¡± Kieran said to seemingly nothing. The only thing surrounding them was a gust of sands apparent at all parts of their journey.

    However, that was only true on the surface. Unlike the start of the journey, Kieran could sense Mana guiding these subtle gusts of sand, and it was Mana remarkably simr to the one present during his fight with the Desertborn Brigands.

    Despite his bellow, there was no reason from anywhere.

    ¡°Aatrox¡­ are you sure someone is here? I do not doubt your senses; it¡¯s just¡­ it¡¯s has been quite some time without a reaction,¡± Nemean said after also surveilling his surroundings.

    ¡°That¡¯s precisely what they want you to think,¡± Kieran said.

    Blood Mania activated without the slightest dy as he lifted his hands and narrowed his eyes. The blood marking on his right palm radiated a brilliant crimson color before crimson veins appeared throughout Kieran¡¯s arm.

    ¡®So this is the proper way to release Blood Wave. My clueless application of this skill against Zirgirak¡¯s Phantom truly disys my inferiority right now. I should have thought of this before being guided by the system,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    The deeper the crimson color of the blood marking grew, the broader the veins became. Eventually, arge blood sphere appeared before Kieran¡¯s palm and began rotating. A secondter, he released the attack allowing it to carry out its natural course.

    The sphere elongated as it traveled through the air until it adopted the shape of a 15-meter long wave. The attack collided against the ground creating a mess of clumped sand.

    However, the attack served its purpose as eight figures distanced themselves from the onught of Kieran¡¯s attacks. Five of them bore an aura that Kieran and the others were familiar with, but the rest were much stronger than Kieran estimated, especially a brown-skinned female with her waist and upper chest exposed despite the heat and sand present.

    It was as if the sand avoided her as it flowed within her vicinity.

    ¡¸ Lv.39 Deserea, Desertborn Maniptor (Rare NPC)

    ss: Sand Controller

    Health: 600,000/600,000 (100%)

    Affiliations: Desertborn Brigands ¡¹

    ¡¸ Lv.37 Desertborn Leader (Rare NPC)

    ss: Sand Dancer

    Health: 490,000/490,000

    Affiliations: Desertborn Brigands ¡¹

    ¡°How lucky of us¡­ she hasn¡¯t crossed the threshold into a new set of attributes,¡± Kieran scoffed as he viewed the information on this batch of Desertborn Brigands assants.

    Unlike the henchmen, the two Desertborn Leaders wielded chakram-type weapons that seemed to deviate depending on the orientation of the user¡¯s body. Although the grip remained stable, the chakram¡¯s 360-degree shifted frequently.

    Kieran didn¡¯t need to battle with them to understand that allowing the Desertborn Leaders to remain near Deserea was a mistake. Her aubergine-colored hair swayed with the wind as her ck lipstick-covered lips curved slightly.

    ¡°Go!¡± Deserea ordered. The two Desertborn Leaders dashed toward Kieran and Altair with shifting movements while the four Desertborn Henchmen targeted Bastion and Nemean.

    Deserea then continued to speak after issuing hermand. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you made it past the first set of forces I sent, but that mistake won¡¯t happen again. I¡¯ll see to it that your belongings be ours amidst your demise.¡±

    Although her voice was cold, a cruel yet charming smile surfaced on her face as she licked and caressed the long dagger in her grasp. However, this wasn¡¯t an innocuous motion. The sand seemed to react to her alluring movement as its formed a violently expanding sandstorm.

    Kieran¡¯s eyes immediately narrowed once he realized Deserea¡¯s ability to control the sand in the surrounding eclipsed the earlier Desertborn Captain.

    Deserea¡¯s deep blue eyes fixated on Kieran as she noticed the brimming power rippling from his body. ¡°You¡¯re responsible for that earlier attack, no? Mmn, quite handsome¡ªit¡¯s a shame you have to perish because I feel you¡¯re the reason my subordinates have yet to return.¡±

    A sudden change urred, robbing Kieran of the chance to react as two sand twisters form against the sandstorm¡¯s walls.

    Snap!

    Deserea snapped her fingers which caused the two twisters to merge and copse on Kieran.

    Kieran responded by shielding Alice while a crimson light shed from Crimson Ashrune. The attack was strong, but Deserea was careful not to involve the

    ¡°I can¡¯t have my precious cargo suffering damage now~ But you pesky people can surely perish,¡± Deserea chuckled. Sadly, her smile was short-lived as it grew into a frown.

    The ground rumbled softly at first but it soon grew into frightening tremors as geyser of blood erupted from within the sand. Two figure emerged from within, one male the other female.

    Naturally this was Kieran and Alice.

    As for the move responsible for his exit without suffering the slightest damage, that was thanks to Wrath Eruption.

 Chapter 125 Waves and Eruptions

    ¡ª-

    Not only did Wrath Eruption serve as protection for Kieran, Alice, and the Obsidian Criollo in their vicinity, the force of the eruption expelled the sand in arge radius. Deserea would have to expend greater amounts of Mana if she wished to control her sandstorm as a medium tounch imminent attacks.

    In this way, Wrath Eruption wasn¡¯t just a skill capable of unleashing heaps of damage in a split second. If employed correctly, it also had the makings to be a great utility skill in the wake of undesirable environments.

    ¡¸ Wrath Eruption (Lv.2)

    Skill Rank: B

    Skill Type: Active

    Mastery (00.50%)

    Description: This skill funnels the user¡¯s blood through apact Mana channel, causing a violent increase in pressure. The skill can either be used on surfaces or in the air. However, its effects vary based on the chosen method of utilization. The burst of violent blood deals 600-1,450% of the user¡¯s Attack Power depending on the enemy¡¯s condition.

    Consumption: 4% Health and 60 Mana

    Prerequisites: Blood Mania

    Cooldown: 30 seconds

    Note: The user can integrate this skill with other True Berserker skills to create new effects. ¡¹

    Although the upper limits of Wrath Eruption were high, Kieran understood why it was only considered a B Rank Skill and not an A Rank one. The disparity between its lower and upper limits was too great, which could cause a significant variation in damage.

    Additionally, it was a skill heavily dependent on the enemy¡¯s condition to deal the greatest damage.<sub>-.</sub>

    Considering that Kieran¡¯s ss operated by inflicting Bleed damage, it was safe to assume that the upper limits required the maximum number of Bleed stacks. Of course, skills like Deranged Spirit were excluded since they temporarily heightened the number of stacks that Kieran could apply to one enemy.

    Skill damage generally scaled off base stack values and not any additive presented by unique skills.

    Nevertheless, as long as Kieran had the attack speed and Sanguine shes, increasing Bleed stacks on an enemy wouldn¡¯t pose an issue.

    Afterward, Kieran patted Alice¡¯s back and instructed her to assist the others while he handled the opponent before him.

    Deserea watched as Alice joined the fray but didn¡¯t react. This action alone was a testament to Deserea¡¯s confidence and conveyed how much she looked down upon Kieran¡¯s teammates.

    ¡°Hmph,¡± Deserea harrumphed with a cold expression. She had used a considerable amount of Mana to create those twisters, so in her eyes, someone at Kieran¡¯s level shouldn¡¯t be able to counter them with a single attack. Furthermore, theck of damage further irritated her.

    However, her expression lightened when she noticed her subordinate¡¯s effectiveness. Even with Alice joining the others, the Desertborn Brigands possessed the upper hand.

    When it came to Alice¡¯s fight, she could only activate small skills with 1.5-second or shorter cast times before the brigands responded. She was neither proficient in Dual-Casting, Mobile Casting, nor Silent Casting, so she produced tells every time she activated a skill.

    This was no longer a fight involving monsters that followed established patterns. The human-like movements and thought processes made these NPCs challenging opponents.

    Kieran followed Deserea¡¯s gaze and frowned. Because while Sera healed everyone in the party when she could, Bastion and Nemean were each forced to take on two opponents while Altair tangled with the two Sand Dancers.

    ¡°Are you sure this is something you want to follow through with?¡± Kieran asked coldly. Naturally, watching his teammates struggle to ovee the abundance of somewhat stronger NPCs angered him.

    ¡°Does that question require a response? I presented myself while intending to im this cargo and your lives, so I¡¯ll aplish both¡ªstarting with your allies. It seems they are not quite the same caliber as you are. That¡¯s good; that means my subordinates need not worry.¡± Deserea gave Kieran a smug smile that made his blood roil.

    He tightened his grasp on Crimson Ashrune with narrowed eyes while taking a single step forward. ¡°You and your team may be at an advantage for now, but let¡¯s see what happens when I paint the floor with your corpses.¡±<sub></sub>

    ¡°Oooh~¡± Deserea shivered while mocking Kieran¡¯s threats. ¡°I¡¯m so scared, you big bad man. Why don¡¯t youe and prove it to me then?¡±

    ¡­

    On the other side of the battlefield¡­

    Nemean frowned as he experienced the coordinated attacks of two Desertborn Henchmen. Even though he could defend against two attacks simultaneously because of his ss advantage, it wasn¡¯t ideal since it limited his ability to counterattack.

    While his ss was loosely based on the Pugilist subss, he didn¡¯t obtain the Reinforced Limb passive that the ss possessed. Thus, his legs and arms couldn¡¯t be considered weapons. Currently, his physical attacks scaled based on his base Attack Power.

    The small Attack Power bonus provided by his ss passives didn¡¯t include attacks performed without a shield as its basis.

    ¡°This is insane! I can¡¯t find an opening for the life of me!¡± Nemean howled while attempting to create space. However, the two Desertborn Henchmen were like bloodhounds, mirroring his every move.

    ¡°Oh? OH?! Do you think you have it bad? These damn Sand Dancers are like bar soap when wet¡ªthey keep slipping away!¡± Altair roared back. Altair could onlynd a single sessful hit before the second Sand Dancer appeared with an unusual attack reinforced by the sand surrounding them.

    Even a single kick turned into a sand whip as it followed the flexible motion of the Sand Dancer¡¯s leg.

    ¡°This damn artificial sandstorm doesn¡¯t make it any better; I can barely see shit! The attacks are already in front of my face by the time I can see them,¡± Bastion groaned while being constantly pushed back.

    The entire team faced their fair share of difficulties due to the disparity in numbers. The oue wouldn¡¯t be so harsh if their focus were limited to a single opponent, but it wasn¡¯t.

    However, Altair nced toward Bastion for a brief moment. ¡°Wait, don¡¯t rely upon your eyes, fool. The sandstorm is robbing us of our visibility, but it doesn¡¯t hinder our Perception! Focus on that.¡±

    ¡± You¡¯re right!¡± Bastion gasped as realization hit. Kieran was priming them for Stage 1 Realism, and in doing so, he inadvertently created a solution to a problem he didn¡¯t ount for¡ªenemies who could decrease their visibility.

    While the team¡¯s Perception wasn¡¯t at a level where they couldpletely take their eyes out of the equation, it was potent enough to act as an rm system.

    Bastion¡¯s first few attempts at relying upon his Perception were shoddy, but he became ustomed to the feeling the more he focused.

    Eventually, he arrived at a point where he could feel how the enemies awaited their ally¡¯s final movements before starting their attack. ¡°I¡¯ve got you now!¡±

    Bang! Bang!

    Bastion swiveled his shield from left to right, blocking both swipes from the Desertborn Henchmen¡¯s kukris. However, as a ss with little to no attack skills, he wasn¡¯t very effective in dealing damage after deflecting the attack.

    Regardless of his insufficient Attack Power, Bastion¡¯s fortified body turned him into the perfect means to buy time. ¡°Hahaha,e and get some! You won¡¯t be getting past this daddy!¡±

    Phew!

    The lead Desertborn Henchmen released a strange whistle that made Bastion¡¯s eyes widen. Not because of the pitch but because the sand beneath his feet crawled up his leg and held him in ce.

    ¡°Crap!¡± Bastion eximed.

    Suddenly, a dim aura appeared around Bastion¡¯s body as he mmed the shield to the ground. This aura blew the sand covering his legs back and dispersed the restrictive effects. The skill employed, Cleansed Guardian, was simr to a Cleric¡¯s Dispel, except it was limited only to crowd-control abilities and was unique to the Guardian Knight ss.

    Bastion didn¡¯t remain motionless after dispelling the effects of the Sand Bind. He moved about despite the considerable impact on his Stamina. One of the drawbacks of the te armor worn by Knight sses was heavy Stamina consumption.

    Meanwhile, as Bastion struggled to maintain his generated momentum, Nemean also heeded Altair¡¯s suggestion. Rather than stay on the defensive most of the time, he made the most of his current Perception by interrupting the flow established between the two Desertborn Henchmen.

    ¡°Not on my watch¡­ I¡¯ll be damned if I make this easy for you,¡± Nemean growled.

    Bang! Bang! Bang!

    Nemean used swift strikes to stun one Desertborn Henchman before ramming his shield into the other. At the same time, a pleasant aura epassed his body, returning some of the Health he lost earlier.

    Whoosh! Shnk!

    Altair spun his dagger and attacked from an odd angle that surprisingly countered the unusual movements of the Sand Dancers. ¡®I¡¯ve seen this style before. It¡¯s simr to capoeira, but they aren¡¯t limited like humans are. Their movements are fluid, deadly, and precise. But most of all, they transcend normal human capabilities. I wonder¡­¡¯

    Rather than feel the pressure, Altair became engrossed in the fighting style of these Sand Dancers as he mimicked what they did. Sometimes these movements left him vulnerable, but his superior Control let Altair parry strikes before the situation grew perilous.

    ¡®An Assassin should be light. Although this ss tends to operate in the shadow, it¡¯d be best if I¡¯m not limited in frontal assaults like the many other yers who chose this ss, Altair thought.

    Altair wasn¡¯t aware of it yet, but he had crossed the initial threshold into a realm that defined ster yers¡ªTechnique Creation. Despite theck of information rted to this game function, most experienced yers who questioned the limits of their ss would eventuallye in contact with it.

    ¡­

    A light smirk appeared across Kieran¡¯s face as he watched his teammates adapt to their struggles without his guidance. ¡®As expected of those who caught my eye, I don¡¯t need to spoon-feed them. Guiding their stat allocation will lead to their eventual realizations.¡¯

    However, while Kieran enjoyed the situation, Deserea detested it, especially the smug look on Kieran¡¯s face.

    ¡°Is something funny?¡± Deserea coldly remarked. She flung her arm forward, causing several sand projectiles to appear behind her. A snap followed this action, propelling the sand bullets at frightening speeds.

    Kieran immediately sensed the target and dashed before the Obsidian Criollo, followed by a downward sh. Arge blood current appeared, colliding against the several sand bullets.

    The attacks neutralized each other, but Kieran continued by lifting his hand and unleashing another Blood Wave.

    ¡°Ugh!¡± Deserea scoffed. She swiped her hand, conjuring a pir of sand that rose from the ground and intersected the Blood Wave.

    However, before Deserea couldment, three morerge Blood Waves followed in quick session, thest one sessfullynding on her body.

    -23,470

    One might question how Kieran could repeatedly unleash Blood Waves as if there was no cooldown to the skill, but the answery in its description.

    ¡¸ Blood Wave (Lv.2)

    Skill Rank: B

    Skill Type: Active

    Mastery (00.50%)

    Description: The user can unleash a condensed burst of blood power in the form of arge blood wave. The skill deals 555% of the user¡¯s Attack Power. This skill can be used up to 5 times consecutively before falling intoplete cooldown. The remaining cooldown period for each charge will umte.

    Consumption: 1% Health per charge

    Prerequisites: Blood Mania

    Cooldown: 18 (90) seconds ¡¹

    An 18-second cooldown was on the lower end of Kieran¡¯s skills, but the fact it could be fired consecutively made this skill a crucial skill in terms of unleashing rapid damage. If not for itsparatively low singr damage value, its true ranking would be between A or S.

    However, skills required utility effects to cross the divide between B and A Rank ssification. Aside from spam potential, Blood Wave didn¡¯t have much else use in its current state.

    Still, Deserea released a shrill cry as she red at Kieran.

 Chapter 126 A Fearsome and Bloody Power

    ¡ª-

    The impact of Kieran¡¯s Blood Wave left Deserea in a somewhat messy state. Some of her loose garbs were stained with the blood resulting from Kieran¡¯s attack.

    Because of her natural defenses and the fact the Bleed ailment didn¡¯t afflict her, the sessful Blood Wave didn¡¯t produce any additional Bleed stacks, which appeared as minorcerations.

    Nevertheless, more than 20,000 damage was a significant amount considering she only had 600,000, and she didn¡¯t regenerate as quickly as bosses. Even though she was a strong NPC, Deserea failed to meet the requirements to bebeled a bossparable NPC.

    ¡°You¡¯re dead!¡± Deserea cried shrilly. ¡°My hair is ruined, my clothes are stained, and it¡¯s all because of you. You are an irritating pissant!¡±

    Whoosh! Whoosh!

    The sandstorm suddenly intensified while simultaneously condensing. This change affected all parties, including Deserea¡¯s subordinates. But, they were rtively unaffected given their sand affinity.

    Sadly, the same couldn¡¯t be said for Bastion and the others, who groaned and covered their mouths and faces. The sand moving at high speeds felt like des against their skin, evident by the gradual decline in the Health bars.

    ¡®Crap, she turned the sandstorm into an AoE attack in her fit of rage,¡¯ Kieran inwardly groaned. Kieran then patted the Obsidian Criollo¡¯s bottom and instructed it to go. The stallion would only be arger liability the longer it remained on the battlefield.

    Kieran could only battle without restraint once it left his vicinity. After all, many of his skills were prone to cause significant disturbances.

    The Obsidian Criollo neighed and dashed out of the sandstorm, leaving Kieran alone.

    Unlike his party members who were affected by the sandstorm, the crimson aura circling Kieran¡¯s body seemed to neutralize the sandstorm¡¯s damage to a certain extent. Kieran didn¡¯t wince or retreat due to the sandstorm¡¯s harsh effects.

    ¡°It¡¯s befitting of you to throw a tantrum; you seem like the type,¡± Kieran said with a sneer. This type of egotistical and emotional opponent was usually weak to taunts. And, just as Kieran expected, Deserea reacted poorly to hisment.

    ¡°What was that?!¡± Deserea scowled. The sandstorm underwent another change as she extended hands with a vicious expression. The sand coalesced over Deserea¡¯s arms until they formed two slender des with an endless supply of sand.<sub>-.</sub>

    Whoosh!

    Deserea¡¯s body seemed to dissipate into the sand as she dashed toward Kieran. The basis of the skill stemmed from an assassin¡¯s ability to conceal themself. After all, the enemies they fought thus far originated from differing variations of the Thief ss.

    For example, Sand Dancers were a rendition of the Rogue ss, while a Sand Thief was an enhanced version of the base Thief ss.

    Unlike Altair and the rest, Kieran didn¡¯t panic while frantically searching for his opponent. Kieran calmed himself and exhaled. The mor in the surrounding grew silent as Kieran¡¯s mind entered a serene world of ckness.

    In this world, Kieran focused on what he usually wouldn¡¯t pick up¡ªlike the iing footsteps in the sand masked by the violent atmospheric movements.

    Kieran¡¯s eyes mmed open as he shed Crimson Ashrune to the side.

    Tang!

    Crimson Ashrune collided against Deserea¡¯s sand de while Kieran leaned back to dodge a secondary attack.

    ¡°How sneaky of you. Not only have you concealed yourself in this sand, but you¡¯re even using it to employ a dualyered attack? Tsk tsk tsk. Are you scared? No¡­ you must feel inferior.¡±

    Kieran smiled and spoke with an indifferent demeanor as if he were engaging in conversation with a friend and not in a crisis.

    ¡°Are you making light of me?¡± Deserea¡¯s eyes shed with a dangerous intent.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s the thing. I¡¯m not your subordinate, and you¡­ youngdy, do notmand my respect,¡± Kieran retorted.

    Boom!<sub></sub>

    Kieran used the opening caused by Deserea¡¯s response to unleash a swift Wild Crash. The force of the attack sent Deserea flying back despite the sand cushioning the blow.

    -43,852

    Deserea stabbed her arm into the sand, gradually bringing her momentum to a halt. Therge divet in the sand formed by this reaction made Deserea¡¯s fury soar. She retaliated by using a sand-spring enhanced dash to unleash a barrage of shes.

    Kieran sidestepped or swayed from each attack as the carefree smile on his face grew more pronounced. Somehow, he found Deserea¡¯s frantic rush to be amusing, especially the noises of exertion she made.

    ¡®She is bing sloppy. Unlike my ss which thrives upon rage, it¡¯s an emotion that tends to deteriorate the subtlety of one¡¯s movements. Her earlier elegant movement pattern is nowhere to be found,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Deserea¡¯s upper hand vanished when she let Kieran¡¯s Health drop too low. It gave Kieran the means to overpower her not just in Attack Power but in movement speed also. So, even when she utilized the sandstorm as a surprise attack, Kieran could evade it before it dealt further damage.

    Kieran¡¯s current disy was the fearsome power of a True Berserker.

    The more Kieran¡¯s skill arsenal expanded, the more frightening hisbat ability would be. Right now, he only had six actives and one unique active skill at his disposal, but they were enough to establish a type of rhythm Deserea couldn¡¯t contest.

    ¡°Separating me from my teammates was your biggest mistake. Now die as your regret how you approached your task.¡±

    ¡°You think you¡¯ve won?! I refuse,¡± Deserea screamed hysterically. The top of the sandstorm bent inward and fell toward Deserea as she raised one de to the sky.

    ¡°Sand Decimation!¡±

    A frightening disy of sand maniption prowess urred as the sandstorm condensed into multiplerge sand des and left scars upon the earth.

    Bastion and Nemean immediately activated their defensive skills once they caught wind of this attack¡¯s aftermath. Even with their defensive skills triggered, Sera rapidly exhausted all of her healing skills to keep everyone away from death.

    On the other hand, Kieran smiled and revealed a card he hadn¡¯t touched thus far.

    Kieran ced a hand on his chest and released a burst of anguine vigor once his Health dropped to 1%. ¡°Death Avoidance!¡±

    This skill¡¯s activation reversed Kieran¡¯s Health¡¯s decline and instantly restored it to twenty percent. Moreover, it remained at 20% despite the ongoing onught of Deserea¡¯s Sand Decimation.

    ¡®I knew it woulde in handy. It might be my only personal healing skill, but its effects are astonishing,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    ¡¸ Death Avoidance (Lv.1)

    Skill Rank: A

    Skill Type: Self-Heal

    Mastery (00.00%)

    Description: The skill stimtes the True Berserker¡¯s unwillingness to perish by tapping into the boundless strength of Argexes¡¯ Blood. Once this skill is activated, the user¡¯s Health will be instantly replenished to the upper threshold of Blood Mania¡¯s strongest state. After the user is healed, they will be impervious to damage for the next 3 seconds.

    Consumption: 100 Mana

    Prerequisites: Blood Mania Phase III

    Cooldown: 600 seconds ¡¹

    Deserea panted while bracing her arm on her thigh, a sign that she had exhausted extensive amounts of Mana to unleash her Sand Decimation. Whether or not she had the means to release another was questionable.

    Meanwhile, Kieran reveled in the sensation of false invincibility. Although the skill said he was impervious to damage, that wasn¡¯t exactly correct. Proof of this would appear once the update concluded andbat experienced a slight change.

    Afterward, Kieran ensured his party was safe by their checking the party interface. Although the attack devasted their health bars, none of his party members died.

    Once he ensured their safety, Kieran walked through the frightening battlefield, stricken by twitching Desertborn Henchmen and crawling Desertborn Leaders.

    Kieran squatted before Deserea, using the tip of Crimson Ashrune to prop up her chin. ¡°All this destruction. You would even go as far as to mortally wound your subordinates to try and im my life. What an unfit leader.¡±

    Pcht!

    Kieran stabbed Crimson Ashrune through Deserea while indifferently looking her in the eyes. ¡°We may not be Mages, but Mana Exhaustion is noughing matter. A body devoid of its fundamental building block is a body incapable of functioning.¡±

    Kieran twisted the de with a callous expression. Something had genuinely snapped inside him after suffering his betrayal. Not only did he not feel aversion towards killing, but he also despised those who sacrificed their subordinates.

    Deserea sputtered as blood spewed from her mouth, and her Health drained incessantly. Her eyes shifted about the battlefield, watching her tattered forces cling to the bits of life left in them.

    ¡°Because of you¡­ we¡¯ll lose a great deal of Experience,¡± Kieran said. However, as an NPC, Deserea wasn¡¯t privy to this so-called Experience. Nevertheless, yers would lose ess to a foe¡¯s Experience if a party outside the system¡¯s control dealt fatal damage to enemies.

    In other words, if NPCs turned against each other and killed a side that opposed yers, the yers wouldn¡¯t receive Experiencee from any of the kills. But, that was understandable given that the yers did little to no work.

    Kieran could control his fury only because Deserea¡¯s earliest actions salvaged the quest. She used her sand to guide the merchandise away from the battle before it grew heated. But, it never dawned upon her that this action would secure the merchandise for Kieran and the merchants.

    Finally, the sand covering Deserea¡¯s arms dispersed as she desperately raised her hand towards Kieran¡¯s face. She only made it so far before Kieran exerted a fierce pressure on his de and drove it up, cleaving her body in half.

    He then swung his de to the side, relieving it of Deserea¡¯s blood.

    ¡´System: You have gained 213,050 Experience.¡µ

    The others looked at Kieran wordlessly as he stood up and looked up to the sky with a face covered in blood. His mix of ck and ruby eyes shimmered as if they were in their natural habit before Kieranbed through his hair and shook his head.

    ¡°It was a difficult battle, huh?¡± Kieran remarked.

    ¡°Ya think? Difficult doesn¡¯t begin to exin what we faced. Is this what we have to look forward to?¡± Bastion groaned. What disgruntled him was the fact they only received Experience from Deserea and nothing else.

    On the other hand, Nemean blinked while looking at the half-bisected corpse. ¡°Did you¡­ do that? Holy fuck!¡±

    ¡°What can I say¡ªI got angry,¡± Kieran shrugged. This was loosely putting it, but Kieran didn¡¯t feel like going into full detail on the matter.

    The party sensed that from Kieran¡¯s demeanor and decided not to pry into the matter. In the end, it was Deserea who brought her demise upon herself. In Kieran¡¯s eyes, gender didn¡¯t matter. A simr price would be exacted if someone sought to im Kieran¡¯s life.

    Altair rubbed his chin beside Kieran. ¡°Should we worry about more of theming after us? I think it¡¯s safe to assume this Deserea chick is high up in the Desertborn Brigands. They¡¯ll most likely want revenge if they¡¯re a close-knit group of bandits and their higher-up doesn¡¯t return.¡±

    ¡°Even if that¡¯s that case, I wee their appearance. We¡¯re at a loss right now because of the Experience we didn¡¯t get. I guess the coins are eptable, but it doesn¡¯t contribute to our level in the end,¡± Kieran said.

    ¡°I feel the same way. Give me my damned Experience!¡± Bastion inputted.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough. We need to continue. We have a long way to go based on Head Merchant Penni,¡± Kieran said.

    Unexpectedly, deactivating Blood Mania also absorbed Deserea¡¯s blood that sttered across Kieran¡¯s face and turned it into Health. It seemed Kieran learned something new about his skills with each challenge he faced.

 Chapter 127 Desert of Crumbling Sand

    ¡ª-

    After his battle against Deserea and the other Desertborn Brigand members, Kieran¡¯s first action was to check on Head Merchant Penni and the other merchants. Although the caravans were unharmed by the battle, Kieran doubted these merchants remained unaffected.

    After all, the battle was far more fearsome than the previous one. The battlefield was still in a dreadful state even though it had concluded.

    ¡°Head Merchant Penni, are you alright?¡± Kieran asked while knocking against the main caravan.

    A whimper sounded from inside. ¡°I-is it safe out there? Is the horror finally over?!¡±

    Naturally, the source of this terrified whimper was Head Merchant Penni, who barely peeked his head out from the small gap in the caravan.

    ¡°Correct, it¡¯s time for us to resume our travels,¡± Kieran said.

    Afterward, he looked around in search of the Obsidian Criollo he sent away. Kieran wasn¡¯t sure how far it had run off; however, he inhaled and released a loud whistle that traveled for several kilometers.

    The response was slow, but a distant neigh sounded from their initial direction.

    While the Obsidian Criollo returned, Kieran turned toward his party members and gestured for them toe. ¡°We¡¯ll need to assume that we¡¯re close to the brigand¡¯s main hideout since we¡¯re approaching the desert territory.¡±

    ¡°I supposed as such. The ability to control sand should only arise in individuals or animals indigenous to that environment. At least¡­ that¡¯s what I assume,¡± Alice murmured beside Kieran. The subtle Mana activity embedded in the sand control ability told Alice the brigands exhibited abilities were natural and not the result of countless years of arduous training.

    Brigands typically weren¡¯t the type to adhere to strict training regiments to grow stronger. They relied upon their naturally bestowed power to aplish acts that allowed them to livefortably or satisfactorily. In a sense, brigands lived a bare minimum lifestyle. This was at least true for the lower members.<sub>-.</sub>

    The circumstances of the leaders were unknown because the objective of a group¡¯s creation was never to be confined to mediocrity. A leader¡¯s prevalent logic behind establishing a group was to grow, expand, strengthen and finally conquer.

    ¡°Is this entire area the Desert of Crumbling Sands?¡± Altair asked. While behind them was a type of forested oasis, the stretch ofnd spanning as far as they could see was barren with thinning visibility in the far distance.

    ¡°The fact we haven¡¯t received a notification yet means we have yet to reach the true border of the Barren Mountain Range. There is still a predominant amount of dirt beneath our feet. We¡¯ll know we¡¯ve hit our destination when this turns into harsh sand,¡± Kieran answered while cing his hand against the ground.

    He rubbed his fingers together, noticing discrepancies with the sand¡¯s grain texture. ¡®The sand is deteriorating without Deserea¡¯s Mana to sustain it. She must have possessed a natural ability to convert Mana into a sand-like texture.¡¯

    ¡°We move,¡± Kieran suddenly eximed.

    The Obsidian Criollo returned with a slow trot, allowing Kieran to straddle it. Afterward, Kieran extended his hand to Alice and pulled her up. Everyone else took identical seating before resuming their travels.

    Throughout the journey, Kieran seemed lost in thought as he skimmed through his status menu. ¡®Finishing this quest will grant me ess to the War Deity Council, I suppose. But, will it really be that simple? The War Deity Council is known to be tricky because they¡¯re difficult to please. They chase perfection, but such a thing is immaterial and virtually nonexistent.¡¯

    Kieran¡¯s current Quest Log consisted of two SSS Rank Quests and one B Rank Main Quest. Even if he wanted to ck off, he couldn¡¯t. His journey would be forever stocked with action if he wished to aplish these quests before their deadline.

    What¡¯s more, something Scar said to Kieran stuck in his mind¡ªbe strong quickly. It wasn¡¯t an arbitrary suggestion; there was a meaning behind it that Kieran had yet to grasp. His timeline wasn¡¯t as long as he believed it to be because the gears of destiny would be unstoppable once they began to turn.

    Nevertheless, Kieran soon shifted his attention from his quest log to his skill arsenal. ¡®I should activate Sanguine shes more often and befortable with the rapid loss of Health to inflict heavier damage. The more natural the usage of Sanguine shes, the higher the damage I can achieve with Wrath Eruption. Blood Blind also needs more utilization since I tend to ignore its usage after learning of itsckluster effects. But, I may be wrong.¡¯

    Kieran¡¯s opinion of Blood Bind was based on a monstrous opponent like Rautori and not more practical experiences. To understand the actual effects of Blood Bind, he¡¯d have to experiment on suitable opponents.<sub></sub>

    Lastly, Kieran noted his two most basic skills¡ªCrimson Current and Crimson Barrage. Their quick activation and rtively low cooldowns earned them their title as his two most practical skills.

    Kieran eventually came up with a rotation of skills that included his entire active arsenal. His passives were ignored for the time being because they were primarily situational with severe drawbacks. Kieran¡¯s primary objective was to be proficient enough at wielding his power to reduce the need for his passives.

    In the best case scenario, he wished to keep them as ast resort.

    ¡°Hey.¡±

    Kieran¡¯s pondering was broken by a soft voice as he nced forward. ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°Nothing really. I was just wondering why you were so quiet? But I saw that you were unusually focused, and your face looked tense,¡± Alice said.

    ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m just trying to figure out my ss. It¡¯s not as simple as I thought. I can¡¯t just smash things and pray for the best. My power is corrosive, and I don¡¯t mean to others,¡± Kieran muttered.

    ¡°Is that why you were so cruel to that NPC earlier?¡± Alice whispered so only Kieran could hear the question.

    However, Kieran gave a bitter smile in the end. He could only truthfully shake his head while withholding the reason. How could he exin that he was a reincarnator with troubles strong enough torgely influence his actions?

    ¡°No, I suppose not. That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s another matter altogether. But, there may be a link that I haven¡¯t established,¡± Kieran scratched his head when a sudden notification appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes.

    ¡´System: You have entered the Desert of Crumbling Sands.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 100 World Fame as the first yers to enter the leveling zone.¡µ

    ¡°We made it!¡± Nemean eximed.

    ¡°Are you fucked in the head or what? How could we have made it? We¡¯ve just made it to the desert, and that¡¯s it! Does this look like a kingdom to you?!¡± Bastion barked.

    ¡°Watch your tone with me, boy. You want this daddy to show you a thing or two?¡± Nemean barked back.

    ¡°Nah, you¡¯ve already shown me enough,¡± Bastion snickered. Nemean only took a second to realize what Bastion was insinuating. This caused his anger to re, but Kieran¡¯s sharp whistle broke it up.

    ¡°Did that reward give enough fame to reach Knight standard World Fame?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Everyone replied in unison.

    In the beginning stages of the game, where the fame parameters remained reasonable, the additional World Fame rewarded upon first explorations was invaluable. yers would realize this once they started to visitrge organizations or take on extremely difficult quests.

    ¡°Excellent. That much fame will do for now. Your main focus shouldn¡¯t be to acquire more reputation through menial quests. Instead, we¡¯ll begin our skill training when we return to the Aeredale Kingdom,¡± Kieran instructed.

    ¡°Oh boy, who doesn¡¯t like a good training,¡± Bastion groaned.

    He could already guess how dreadful Kieran¡¯s training would be based on how he fought. After all, it seemed like Kieran intended to train them himself rather than employ the training mentors at the training center.

    ¡°Hold on¡­ why is it called the Desert of Crumbling Sands? What does that even mean?¡± Nemean remarked in confusion.

    In response, Kieran extended his finger towards a specific point. ¡°You see that right there? That small recess in the sand. Go over there and step on it.¡±

    Nemean immediately grew skeptical of this suggestion, giving Kieran an odd look. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know? Go and see why, why don¡¯t you? You¡¯re the curious one, not me.¡± Kieran smiled before adding, ¡°You don¡¯t trust me?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± Nemean said in an unsure tone. Kieran¡¯s expression was too odd. Still, he couldn¡¯t resist his brimming curiosity. He walked into the distance and cautiously tapped his foot on the indented area, but nothing happened.

    As a result, he put his entire weight on the area before he noticed a sinking sensation followed by the inability to move.

    ¡°Oi! Oi! Oi! You set me up!¡± Nemean screamed at the top of his lung as the sand continued to swallow him up.

    ¡®Oh, it¡¯s a quicksand pit. I thought it would have been a decaying sand pocket. Damn, he got lucky,¡¯ Kieran thought. However, he pulled Nemean out of the quicksand before it could swallow him. If that were to happen, Nemean would suffer instant death.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got your answer. That phenomenon is why this ce is called the Desert of Crumbling Sands, so be careful where you travel. Remain vignt at all times and pay close attention to avoid any abnormalities in the sand,¡± Kieran responded.

    However, there was another matter on Kieran¡¯s mind. ¡®The Desert of Crumbling Sands isn¡¯t the only leveling zone here. I can¡¯t recall its specific location, but there should be a zone rich with minerals and ore nearby, which is why I had everyone acquire the mining tradeskill. It¡¯s saddening, but it¡¯ll have to wait.¡¯

    Thest thing Kieran wanted to do was reveal a hidden mine while in the presence of merchants. They¡¯d undoubtedly want a share of any materials gathered. Kieran would much ratherplete the quest first and then retrace his steps.

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, a few thousand kilometers behind Kieran¡­

    Despot stepped into the Barren Mountain Range while receiving a call from Autr.

    ¡°Boss, I think this guy is on a quest of some sort. He¡¯s fought with several marauders or something. I couldn¡¯t get close enough to reveal the specifics without risking exposure. But, they are traveling westward into a desert where I can¡¯t follow.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t follow them? What do you mean?!¡± Despot asked coldly.

    ¡°W-well, there¡¯s nothing to use as concealment or cover.¡±

    The line went silent for a moment as Despot¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Are you telling me you can¡¯t find a solution? How can you be a Thief subss without a single skill to conceal yourself? Useless!¡±

    ¡°I can, boss. It¡¯s just not perfect. The chances of another Thief detecting me is very high, and they have one on their team. I¡¯m sure you remember how skilled that particr thief was. He was like a demon reaping lives!¡± Autr protested.

    Despot could only groan in frustration while turning toward Horizon Break. ¡°They¡¯re on horseback, so they¡¯ll travel much faster than we can. It might be quite some time before we catch up with them.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s a little more wait time when we¡¯ll inevitably pull them up from their roots. The path will be cleared as a result of their actions. So while their battles stunt their progress, we¡¯ll be unobstructed. We¡¯ll take them by surprise and ruin their day!¡±

    ¡°Oh, you mean like they did to us? I love the poetic justice, you sick freak. Let¡¯s go,¡± Despot wore an unsettling grin as he excitedly resumed his attempt to catch up with Kieran and the others.

 Chapter 128 Perilous Desert

    ¡ª-

    Roughly six hours passed, and the Desert of Crumbling Sands¡¯ environment grew harsher over this period. Altair and the others initially thought it was all in their minds, but that assumption was debunked when the Obsidian Criollos were affected by the environment despite their natural resistance to heat, cold, and ailments.

    ¡°I¡¯m melting! Are you sure this is just a game? I want to take my armor off right now,¡± Bastion eximed. Sweat pooled from his face as he panted from exhaustion. Although he didn¡¯t do anything physical, his expression reddened while his stamina declined steadily.

    The reason for this change rested in the corner of everyone¡¯s eyes¡ªthe countdown until the world¡¯s metamorphosis reached its final stages. The gradual changes took ce in real-time, allowing yers to experience the changes urring before their eyes.

    ¡°Sometimes I want to say yes; sometimes I want to say no. I feel like I¡¯m in hell instead,¡± Nemean answered. Unlike Bastion, Nemean unequipped all his armor, leaving him in fitted leather adventure gear.

    ¡°Hell?¡± Kieran¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call this hell. I would say it¡¯s more like the application of each stat is changing. If you ask me, it would seem like the assimtion is deepening.¡±

    ¡°Now that you mention it¡­.¡±

    Bastion equipped his short sword and waved it to test Kieran¡¯s theory. It was still subtle, but Bastion could feel a waning influence over his movements as if he was no longer being assisted. This minute difference caused an inevitable effect that manifested as unrefined clumsiness.

    ¡°Whoa¡­ this is crazy. Are you seeing this right now? It¡¯s like I¡¯m a beginner all over again. What does this mean?¡± Bastion asked while looking directly at Kieran.

    Kieran¡¯s position as the team¡¯s encyclopedia was already secured, so they mostly looked to him for answers in times of befuddlement.

    ¡°It means what I said¡ªwe will train once we return. We are about to enter the era of elites. People like Nemean and Altair who experienced formal training in real life will be at an advantage. Their minds will know how to adjust tobat and optimize their style. Conversely, people like you who didn¡¯t receive the same arduous training will have to do so inside the game,¡± Kieran answered.

    ¡°Does this mean I won¡¯t be able to level?¡± Bastion frowned. As their main tank, he couldn¡¯t fall behind because his defensive skills would be indispensable in higher-tier boss fights.

    ¡°Eh, we¡¯ll have to see. I can only make an inference after the metamorphosis finishes. Until then, I¡¯m just as much in the dark as you are,¡± Kieran answered. Although there were times when he showed extreme familiarity with matters rting to Zenith Online, now wasn¡¯t the time to reveal any crucial information.

    The current metamorphosis was an update shrouded in mystery. There were zero sources to obtain information from, so it would be highly suspicious if Kieran revealed what would ur before the system announced the changes.

    As a result, Kieran opted for an ambiguous answer for the time being.<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°I don¡¯t like that. You reel me in with supposed insider information only to tell me you don¡¯t know, dammit? I need to know¡­. Howmitted do I need to be?¡± Bastion eximed.

    ¡°Very,¡± Kieran answered indifferently.

    The team snickered when they saw Bastion¡¯s reaction to Kieran¡¯s response. His ck-jawed appearance wasical as he blinked at Kieran. ¡°Is this amercial? Why do I feel as if I¡¯m starring in amercial right now? Very, my ass.¡±

    ¡°Language,¡± Alice red at Bastion, which caused him to frown back. However, this was a battle he soon lost, causing him to look away and shake his head.

    Nevertheless, Kieran continued with some thoughts. ¡°The temperature is rising, but it¡¯s somewhat subtle. The mixed effects of this metamorphosis are most likely the reason we feel more ufortable than we should. It¡¯s like stepping into a cool room from the zing outdoors, except it¡¯s happening in reverse and causing our difort rather than relief.¡±

    ¡°U-uh, that¡¯s nice and all, but what the heck is that?¡± Bastion muttered while pointing forward.

    A moving streak that traveled in an odd pattern appeared in the sand not too far away. It wasn¡¯t a natural phenomenon because it vanished approximately 5 meters from the team¡¯s current position.

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not good at all.¡±

    The eerie silence didn¡¯t sit right with Altair as he scanned his surroundings.

    ¡°There!¡± Alice called out while pointing to their right.

    Crimson Ashrune¡¯s magnificence immediately appeared in full disy as Kieran jumped up and unleashed arge Blood Wave at the spot Alice indicated. The wave blew away the sand, forming a 2-meter indentrge enough to expose the culprit.

    The culprit appeared to be a type of worm norger than 3-meters in length. However, although it wasn¡¯t thatrge, its head was filled with countless razor-sharp teeth, giving it a gruesome appearance.

    ¡¸ Lv.39 Sand Larva (Elite)

    Insect-Type, Sand Type<sub></sub>

    Health: 314,925/350,000 (90%) ¡¹

    ¡°Ah! That thing is disgusting!¡± Sera yelped at the sight of the Sand Larva. Its gruesome teeth shifted slightly as it moved through the sand. Based on its movements, it was clear this Sand Larva intended to return to the sand.

    However, Kieran frowned as he looked at the monster. ¡®This isn¡¯t good at all.¡¯

    ¡°Everyone stop!¡± Kieran called out.

    In response, everyone came to an immediate halt while Kierannded from his earlier jump.

    He had everyone stop because these Sand Larva were almost never alone. A sighting of a Sand Larva meant awork of tunnels existed near or underneath their current position. Thiswork provided the means for countless Sand Larva to appear in any given area.

    A single Larva wasn¡¯t harmful, but it was an entirely different story if mature ones appeared. Adult Sand Worms were destructive and warranted caution; however, a Mother Worm was enormous and a boss-caliber monster by default.

    The caravans behind Kieran were the only reason for his current hesitation. If it was just him and his team, he could dash into battle without giving it another thought.

    ¡°This area has officially be treacherous. If that Sand Larva is anything like what I have in mind, then we need to high tail it out of here now,¡± Kieran cautioned.

    ¡°Even the boss is scared? Something ain¡¯t right here,¡± Bastion chimed in. ¡°I¡¯m all for leaving this ce. You don¡¯t have to tell me twice, my good sir.¡±

    ¡°What about the monster? Do we leave it?¡± Altair asked. He looked somewhat bummed by Kieran¡¯s suggestion because he was ready to enter another fight to gain extra Experience.

    However, this Experience wasn¡¯t worth it in Kieran¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Yes, we move at full speed right now,¡± Kieran directed.

    A sudden tremor shook the area directly after his order, nearly knocking everyone off their feet. Kieran¡¯s eyes widened as he turned to everyone and roared. ¡°NOW!¡±

    Whoosh!

    Everyone whipped on the stallion to move faster while Kieran got back on the horse.

    However, unlike before, Kieran sat backward as he had Alice take the reins. ¡°You¡¯ve got this, just breathe and remain stable. You¡¯ve been doing a great job all along.¡±

    Alice gave a subtle nod while gripping the reins tightly. She still wasn¡¯t confident in her stability, but Kieran¡¯s reassurance gave her enough confidence to try regardless.

    Numerous lines of varying sizes appeared in the sand behind the team as the Obsidian Criollos traveled at their top speed.

    ¡®These damn Sand Worms¡­ why are they so hostile all the time?¡¯ Kieran thought.

    The worms he referred to possessed a detection ability that allowed them so since intrudes invaded their territory. Once something triggered this detection ability, they would immediately chase whatever the stimulus may be.

    In this case, it was Kieran¡¯s team and the caravans.

    ¡°Whoa! Whoa! Hey! They¡¯re gaining on us!¡± Bastion yelled at the top of his lungs when he noticed therger lines pulling ahead of the more narrow ones. Adult Sand Worms were not onlyrger than the Sand Larva, but they were also much quicker as well.

    However, it took some time for them to reach their top speeds due to their immense size.

    Nevertheless, Kieran clutched Crimson Ashrune and stood up on the Criollo¡¯s back.

    All of a sudden, Kieran jumped off the horse and rolled through the sand before stabbing his sword through the sand. A sanguine storm circted his body as Kieran focused while counting in his mind.

    ¡®One¡­¡¯

    Bastion and Sera passed by, followed by the first two caravans.

    ¡®Two¡­¡¯

    Nemean and Altair sped past Kieran as he exhaled and focused on his Blood Mania skill.

    ¡®Three¡ª!¡¯

    Whoosh! Bang!

    Kieran activated Sanguine shes andunched a Wrath Eruption. The sand within a 7.5-meter radius burst into the sky as Kieran immediately followed up with a Blood Bind.

    A shocking sight urred as the Blood Bind skill fed off the sanguine power lingering from the Wrath Eruption. The chains of blood coiled around threerger versions of the Sand Larva, trapping them in ce seconds before Kieran raced after the caravans.

    Kieran didn¡¯t even turn around beforeunching two rapid Blood Waves that decreased his health below 50%.

    Whoosh!

    The boost to his movement speed increased Kieran¡¯s eleration as he closed the distance between him and the caravans. However, he didn¡¯t go all out running because he still needed to monitor the Sand Worms¡¯ behavior. He was the only one capable of performing this task for two reasons.

    One, when Tormented Beliefs reached its final phase, Kieran¡¯s movement speed surpassed Altair with Swift Steps activated. While Altair¡¯s Agility was higher than Kieran¡¯s on paper, Kieran¡¯s higher Constitution resulted in a more robust stat coefficient.

    This stronger coefficient tranted into more effectiveness for fewer points. The second reason Kieran was the only one who could pull off this stunt was arge number of Unassigned Attribute Points in his collection, over 170.

    Kieran could sacrifice these points at a critical moment to increase his chances of emerging safely.

    ¡°Aatrox is a lunatic. Who in their right mind would jump off this horse after giving us such a solemn expression? Eh?!¡± Bastion yelled as the wind beat on his face. It was challenging to keep their eyes open with how fast the Criollos moved.

    ¡°He might be a lunatic, but those things would be on our tail if he didn¡¯t do what he did. After all, you were the one who called out they were gaining on us,¡± Altair retorted.

    ¡°I know that. But¡­ agh, whatever. It¡¯s Aatrox, anyway. He must have angels protecting him or something,¡± Bastion said. He scoffed and waved his hand before focusing ahead.

    Meanwhile, Sera asked the most crucial question. ¡°How long do you think those things will chase us for?¡±

    ¡°No. The better question is why does this trade route intersect through such a dangerous area?!¡± Nemean interjected.

    The team fell silent as they pondered Nemean¡¯s question. It was true; why would the Merchant Association establish a trade route through a Sand Worm infested area? Even if the Desertborn Brigands didn¡¯t get to them, these Sand Worms would undoubtedly ruin the cargo!

    Suddenly, everyone turned their heads towards Head Merchant Penni, who wore a helpless and somewhat abashed expression.

    ¡°L-look¡­ What we¡¯re taking right now is a theoretical trade route. We could never test it out because of the rampant robberies. How could we know we plotted the course through an extensive Sand Worm nest? It¡¯s not like we can ess the association¡¯s in-depth trade knowledge.¡±

    If that were true, all members of the Merchant Association would be able to achieve a lofty status. However, ideal views like that generally weren¡¯t feasible. There had to be a hierarchy ranking, or else chaos would ensue once all association members vied for top spots by any means necessary.

    The Merchant Association¡¯s infrastructure would eventually crumble as the members sought the higher-ups¡¯ seats at every opportunity. Juniors would no longer listen to their seniors. Seniors would no longer listen to Managers and so and so forth.

    ¡°Speaking of which¡­ how does the Merchant Association work exactly?¡± Nemean asked. To him, it sounded like the Merchant Association was an organization that condensed its focus to high-value areas.

    ¡°In essence, we¡¯re like a franchise of sorts. Yes, we work under the banner of the Merchant Association; however, we don¡¯t have ess to the resources of an empire or even the more affluent kingdoms. We work with what our branch gives and pray for the best.¡±

    ¡°The sounds hopeless,¡± Nemean scowled.

    ¡°Sometimes it is, but that¡¯s the risk we take as merchants. Sometimes the job can be just as dreadful as being an adventurer,¡± Head Merchant Penni sighed. He couldin all day, but it would change nothing, so he chose not to in the end.

    It was the career path he chose and the path that gained him his current life.

    Boom!

    A tremendous wave suddenly jolted everyone as an immense shadow loomed overhead.

 Chapter 129 Escaping the Beast

    ¡ª-

    A tremendous Sand Worm, at least ten times the size of the Sand Larva, burst from the sand and blocked the view of the zing sun above. Fortunately for the team, this beast appeared at the site of Kieran¡¯s previous attack and not near the caravans.

    Still, its mere presence was frightening enough to startle everyone. Although the team couldn¡¯t view its information, given that the Sand Larva was already close to Lv.40, the team could more or less estimate how powerful it should be.

    Suddenly, the worm emitted an ear-piercing screech throughout the desert, causing fluctuations in the atmosphere and the sand.

    ¡®Compared to Deserea¡¯s shoddy disy, this is a real sand controller,¡¯ Kieran thought with a deepening frown. His expression darkened because this was undoubtedly a boss-caliber monster.

    While the Sand Worm didn¡¯t possess any eyes, it lowered its gruesome mouth toward the escaping party as if it could observe them dash away.

    Small gusts of sand began collecting against the desert floor as the giant Sand Worm¡¯s body swelled up and noticeable pores opened on its leathery exterior. Several small yet developing spinesprising sand, special bodily fluids, and Mana appeared from the pores.

    A sense of danger overwhelmed the party once these spines protruded from the Sand Worm¡¯s skin.

    ¡°Bastion, activate your strongestrge-scale defensive skill right now!¡± Kieran ordered.

    At the same time, he got into position whileing to a sliding halt. Once he stopped, Kieran lifted his de towards the worm with a solemn expression. After all, its appearance had broken through his Blood Binds, freeing the other small Sand Worms.

    Bastion listened to Kieran¡¯s orders and activated his most powerful skill.

    ¡°Guardian¡¯s Rampart!¡±

    Arge shield seemingly made from Mana and an aura unique to Guardian Knights appeared in front of Bastion before it expanded to cover a 20-meter area. The shield emanated a fortified feeling as Bastion¡¯s Mana dropped by almost half its original value.<sub>-.</sub>

    A few secondster, the enormous Sand Worm fired the projectiles on a 360-degree ne. Even the area behind it wasn¡¯t spared from mayhem as the sand spurs pierced the air and caused small tremors once they impacted the desert floor.

    The first volley of these projectiles bombarded Bastion¡¯s skills, causing apparent cracks on its surface. Every additional impact widened these cracks until they connected and threatened to give it to the monstrous force.

    ¡°It won¡¯t hold,¡± Bastion cried out as he distanced himself from the ced skill.

    ¡°That¡¯s fine; just keep going,¡± Kieran ordered. He maintained his stance while the sanguine mist circting his presence roiled. The seething fluctuations were a sign that Kieran could activate a skill at any moment.

    Still, Kieran couldn¡¯t help but entertain a thought. ¡®Should I stop withholding the use of those Treasure Chests? Although they aren¡¯t level locked, they tend to distribute items befitting your current level.¡¯

    Kieran chose not to open the Treasure Chests in his possession just yet because they didn¡¯t guarantee valuable items. There was a chance the items it bestowed wouldn¡¯t be usable inbat. As a result, Kieran first wanted to acquire another Hidden Attribute marked as elusive even with his past experiences¡ªLuck.

    Luck was one of the most abstract Hidden Attributes present in Zenith Online because a single point was enough to turn an unfortunate individual into someone with great fortune. Furthermore, it was extremely beneficial because it rted to all probability-based encounters, including matters like Critical Hits, etc.

    However, acquiring Luck was easier said than done. Even Kieran¡¯s knowledge on the matter was limited. It was limited to two sources¡ªrewards from unique encounters or quests obtained from venerated figures, figures that transcended the known power structure.

    Nevertheless, Kieran couldn¡¯t ignore that besides Crimson Ashrune, his gear was severelycking. Sure, he had the Savage Beast Lord Set Equipment in his inventory, but it required a Lv.40 character level to equip. Kieran still had ten levels to go before that idea even became feasible.

    Situations like this made Kieran dread the fact there were zero talented cksmiths in his circle. Because of this ordeal, this matter undoubtedly moved up a few ranks on his agenda.

    ¡°Haah¡­¡± Kieran sighed. ¡°The things I do for quests¡ªif only this wasn¡¯t linked to the War Deity Council¡­ I wouldn¡¯t have put myself through this trouble,¡± Kieran muttered.

    ¡°Screw it,¡± Kieran said to himself. He dispelled hisints as he shed Crimson Ashrune, simultaneously creating six des of blood. The Crimson Barrage traveled toward the iing sand spurs and shifted their trajectory ever so slightly once they collided.<sub></sub>

    These small shifts made the projectilesnd far off target,nding either in front, behind, or next to the rapidly moving caravans.

    However, just as Kieran deflected the sand spurs, the enormous Sand Worm created another set and discharged them. With Crimson Barrage on cooldown, Kieran was limited in what he could do.

    Thus, he entered a state he hadn¡¯t entered since he faced off against the Scarlet me Wolf¡ªa form of hyperfocus. The fight with Rautori didn¡¯t count because his actions were driven by Deranged Spirit and Abhorrent Paroxysm, not his cognitive disorder.

    Time seemed to slow around Kieran as he perceived it differently. Unlike before, however, an alert appeared before Kieran.

    ¡´System: The user¡¯s Perception is experiencing a premature Second Release. In this state, your perceptivity will increase by [200%].¡µ

    Kieran¡¯s eyes widened as he read the notification. ¡®This is different. I don¡¯t recall the system ever indicating a change in Perception when this urred in the past. I wasn¡¯t sure before, but this confirms it¡­ something is amiss with my current abilities. What did reincarnating do to me?¡¯

    The 200% value in the notification appeared differently from the rest of the text. The more Kieran focused and mentally exerted, the numbers seemed to spin as if they were on a dial. 205%¡­ 218%¡­235%¡­

    Kieran¡¯s perceptivity continued to increase without his base stat changing. As it approached 300%, Kieran could vaguely perceive each iing spur¡¯s paths beforending.

    Still, Kieran¡¯s issue wasn¡¯t the number of spurs present but the speed and force they carried. Although Kieran experienced temporarily heightened perceptivity, his Agility remained at its initial value.

    ¡®These are haphazard volleys, so most of them of harmless. However, there are a few that are potentially fatal. Bastion¡¯s skill will shatter with the next impact, so it won¡¯t be useful. The only remaining option is¡­¡¯

    The energy surrounding Kieran thrummed and emitted a strange noise as he moved his arm toward the area with the densest volume of trajectory lines. The eye of three tempests brewed at the tip of his de while he calmly gauged the perfect intersection point.

    After grasping that timing, Kieran released his Sanguine Tempest, causing an abrupt bacsh of crimson winds. Kieran retreated one step whilst the tempests pierced through the sky in a spiraling motion before separating further.

    The strength in this attack far surpassed the meager blood des created just prior, so the spurs were knocked entirely off course while Kieran revealed a proud smile.

    ¡®I said it before; I have vowed to be their protector. As such, the difficult tasks will have to fall on me,¡¯ Kieran thought. His thought process might appear selfless, but it wasn¡¯t. Ultimately, he needed properrades and subordinates to realize his aspirations.

    Kieran would have to take on an executive role overseeing their growth to cultivate those allies. After all, he held the greatest odds of survival in a dangerous situation as the only current holder of a Hidden ss.

    ¡°Oof!¡± Bastion huffed and ducked from a violent ssh of sand.

    Kieran may have knocked the projectiles off course, but their descent was inevitable.

    ¡°Look! I see rocks,¡± Nemean called out all of a sudden.

    Large rocks could be seen ahead, indicating a change from a desert to something else. Perhaps the Sand Worm¡¯s realm of activity stopped there since traveling through sand and rocks were twopletely different actions.

    Kieran¡¯s eyes lit up with delight as he instructed everyone to aim for the area. It wasn¡¯t ideal, but he had noints if it meant getting away from a dangerous beast he couldn¡¯t handle at the moment.

    It soon became a pursuit of who wanted it more¡ªdid the enormous Sand Worm desire to devour them, or did Kieran and the others wish to get safety?

    The Sand Worm burrowed into the ground and formed arge impression in the sand as it gained on Kieran and the others. The rocky area was only a few kilometers away, but this particr¡¯s worm ability to maneuver through the sand was rming.

    Kieran suddenly turned around and aimed at the ground. The blood scar on his right palm radiated a crimson glow just seconds before it exploded. The recoil sent Kieran flying back faster than he could run.

    If he could avoid funneling UAP into Agility for the time being, he opted for that alternative. While in midair, Kieran unleashed a second Blood Wave that propelled him through the air.

    The Sand Worm burst through the ground at that moment, narrowly missing Kieran¡¯s body as he somersaulted and stuck thending. Kieran reacted quickly with a sudden leap as the worm smashed into the sand.

    ¡°What is he?! Does he think he¡¯s a ninja or something? This guy should¡¯ve just taken the Thief path if that¡¯s the case,¡± Bastionmented, half in awe and half in vexation.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be jealous. You¡¯re a walking wall of meat. So what,¡± Nemean guffawed at the side. Even in danger, these two found time tounch quips at one another.

    ¡°I¡¯ll bet you I be better at hand-to-handbat than you are,¡± Bastion sneered.

    ¡°Oh? Dream on,¡± Nemean fired back. Despite the tremors of the Sand Worms colliding against the sand, the bickering between these two took their mind off their current situation.

    On the other hand, Kieran¡¯s Stamina bottomed out quickly as he panted while running. Kieran¡¯s ha haphazard skill usage reduced his Health enough to maximize his movement speed. Shockingly enough, his current pace wasn¡¯t too inferior to the Obsidian Criollos.

    Whoosh!

    One by one, the horses and the caravans made it past the rocky terrain but kept going despite the fact. The outskirt wasn¡¯t safe due to the Sand Worm¡¯s extensive range.

    Kieran gave a final nce back before speeding through the rocks anding to a halt only a few minutester. He stabbed his de into the ground and panted after heavily exhausting himself.

    ¡°Damn de,¡± Kieran grumbled. Most of his exhaustion came from Crimson Ashrune¡¯s weight. Although he fulfilled the necessary to wield it, it didn¡¯t neutralize the fact that heavy weapons rued fatigue at a higher rate.

    While Kieran panted, hooves tapping against rocky terrain sounded in his ears. When he looked up, he saw the beautiful Alice dressed in her mage robes with an extended hand.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Alice said. She understood they would have all suffered their first death if not for his action. As a result, Alice was incredibly thankful.

    Kieran smiled back but didn¡¯t take her hand for obvious reasons. ¡°Gratitude isn¡¯t required. I meant what I said before our pact. Also, this sword is heavy; you¡¯ll be pulled down if I were to grab your hand.¡±

    ¡°What if I don¡¯t mind?¡± Alice remarked. However, the faint smirk she revealed made it hard to gauge whether she was serious or not.

    Kieran shook his head at her response. ¡°The others would wonder if you¡¯re the same person if they saw your reaction just now.¡±

    ¡°I guess this is a secret between us then.¡±

    ¡°I suppose so,¡± Kieran agreed.

    The others soon followed after Alice. Altair was the first to examine Kieran when he noticed his tired state.

    ¡°I need to know something. How high is your Agility? It has to be higher than mine at the speed you were traveling.¡±

    ¡°Eh, it¡¯s just a bit over 400,¡± Kieran revealed.

    Hearing this answer made Altair¡¯s lips purse. ¡°400? I have almost 600 and I¡¯m not that fast! This is unfair!¡±

    ¡°Get a better ss then you twerp. It¡¯s obvious our boy Aatrox possesses like¡­ an ultra-rare ss or something,¡± Nemeanmented while nudging Altair¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°You y way too many gacha games! Ultra rare? Seriously?¡± Bastion scoffed.

    ¡°We¡¯ll take a rest and recover our stamina. The same goes for the stars of our travels,¡± Kieran instructed.

    However, their attempt to recuperate wasn¡¯t as seamless as they had hoped. Nemean, followed by Bastion, and then Altair all grimaced.

 Chapter 130 The Metamorphosis Side Effects

    ¡ª-

    An intense hunger assaulted the team, mainly Altair, Nemean, and Bastion, in the form of prominent growls. They grimaced at one another because they hadn¡¯t expected this oue. Who would have thought a character could be hungry in a game world?

    It was unthinkable if one didn¡¯t consider the metamorphosis¡¯s effects.

    Kieran looked at his party members and immediately understood what was going on. The increasing realism included the need to perform basic human actions like eating, resting, etc.

    Hunger was inevitable after exerting themselves against the Desertborn Brigands and entering a stressful situation with the Sand Worms. Kieran didn¡¯t have a solution prepared, so he could only turn to the merchants. After all, as residents of this world, they needed to eat, or else they would die.

    ¡°Ah¡­ you all are hungry, is that so? I suppose we can set up a makeshift mess hall and eat our fill. It¡¯s only right given the unforeseen difficulty of our journey,¡± Head Merchant Pennimented.

    He snapped his fingers and had the other merchants quickly prepare some of the stools and heating devices they prepared. However, while they did that, Head Merchant Penni gave Kieran and the others a disimer.

    ¡°Keep in mind, none of us are chefs. So if the food isn¡¯t to your liking, I am sorry. Ourck of experience limits us.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Kieran shrugged.

    The taste was the least of their worries. Kieran¡¯s only concern was sating their hunger not to interfere withbatter. If they wanted toin about the taste, they would have to waste their lifestyle ss on bing a Chef. That was the only way to gain ess to delicious recipes.

    Of course, this wasn¡¯t a bad idea because the Chef ss was somewhat unique. It was simr to an Alchemist in that their food could produce surprising effects. However, they were mildpared to what an Alchemist could aplish.<sub>-.</sub>

    The team of merchants quickly prepared a meal consisting of unknown roast meat, cups of refreshing water, and finally, half-fresh bread. It wasn¡¯t the most pleasant meal, but the bare minimum qualities sufficed.

    Bastion initiated the race for food, followed by Nemean and then Altair. These three practically salivated over the food resulting in Sera and Alice¡¯s wry smiles.

    ¡°We can¡¯t take them anywhere. Let¡¯s never have them follow us in public,¡± Alice frowned. She was clearly repulsed by how she scoffed afterward. In contrast, Sera giggled at their behavior as well as Alice¡¯s reaction.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ I think they¡¯re kind of funny. But yeah, it wouldn¡¯t be the most pleasant experience to have them act that way during any high-ss event,¡± Sera added.

    Kieran merely sat off to the side and watched Alice and Sera converse before shifting his gaze to Bastion and the others.

    ¡°Ugh! This ain¡¯t very good, but I¡¯m notining! Hey boss, you got more meat over there?¡± Bastion asked. His lips smacked while he talked with his mouth full. The texture of the meal wasn¡¯t the greatest, so he immediately washed it down with the fresh-tasting water once he chewed the meal to his liking.

    ¡°Whoa! This water is amazing. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever had water like this,¡± Altair eximed while staring into his cup.

    ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re used to artificial purification. The water here is purified by Mana, giving it a refreshing and crisp quality,¡± Kieran said before finally taking a serving of food for himself.

    ¡°How do you know that, eh?¡± Nemean¡¯s head jerked up with a skeptical expression. That statement felt as if it came from a resident of this world.

    Kieran stared speechlessly before giving an answer that made Nemean¡¯s expression redden. ¡°It¡¯s simple¡­. Look at the description before you.¡±<sub></sub>

    Nemean had been too busy engorging himself to realize everything had a description, whether it was the bread, water, or the meat he devoured. ¡°H-hey! I knew that already. I was just testing ya¡­ just¡­ testing ya.¡±

    Nemean¡¯s voice died down as he looked elsewhere and returned to focusing on his food. He felt he should save himself the embarrassment of saying another silly thing.

    ¡°How long should we rest before resuming our journey? I¡¯ll let you be the one to decide since you¡¯re the one doing the heavy lifting on our behalf,¡± Head Merchant Penni asked. He sat beside Kieran because that¡¯s where he felt the safest.

    It had be Penni¡¯s instinct to stick close to the strongest person in the vicinity. While this position was often the most dangerous, it was also the most secure. It was the oxymoron of being the strongest. You had the strength to protect, but that strength also meant you¡¯d be at the vanguard of danger.

    ¡°Resume our journey¡­¡± Kieran murmured before contemting an answer. He didn¡¯t sense any danger nearby, so it was a safe ce to rest, but Kieran couldn¡¯t ignore how difficult the return would be if it happened after the metamorphosis.

    Therefore, Kieran decided not to linger too long. ¡°We¡¯ll move about an hour after we¡¯ve finished eating. But, I have a question: How far are we traveling into the Aubrililes Kingdom?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll be going as far as Aubrilies City. The branches of the Merchant Association in the other cities won¡¯t have the liquid coins needed to buy this merchandise. And our kingdom is in dire need of it.¡±

    What Kieran heard was what he hoped didn¡¯t happen. Aubrililes City was bound to be filled with yers of Ezra¡¯s caliber or close. Kieran recalled that thepetition in that kingdom was fierce, but this was why neers favorited in the past.

    Why? Because it was easy to ept lifestyle sses there. Many of the Beginner Viges even offered it at the start. This meant the gear level of yers in the Aubrililes Kingdom would be significantly higher than in the Aeredale Kingdom.

    Ezra only left the kingdom because of Kieran¡¯s enticing aplishment. She didn¡¯t doubt that hefty rewards apanied these aplishments. The rewards from achievements often outshined what could be obtained through regr routes in many kingdoms.

    Ezra may not be privy to this information, but she was a keen leader capable of making sound judgments. On the other hand, Kieran was also worried about the Shadow Cartel and Sunset Triad.

    He wasn¡¯t worried they¡¯d retaliate; he was afraid they¡¯d involve their superiors in the underworld once he thrashed them. After all, the possibility of an organization of their caliber striking fear into Kieran¡¯s heart was zero, especially with his current skill arsenal.

    Many of his skills had a wide range. As a result, he could level the ying field even if outnumbered.

    Nevertheless, because of his quest conditions, Kieran could only reluctantly agree. ¡®Making it back before the metamorphosis finishes is impossible since more than a fourth of that time has already psed. The remaining distance is vast.¡¯

    Reaching Aubrililes City from their current position would take an entire day at the earliest. The time dtion meant it¡¯d take half a day in real-time. The only way to return before the metamorphosis in the best-case scenario was through the Teleportation Hall.

    However, Kieran wasn¡¯t sure how high the fees would be since every kingdom had a unique price. Moreover, those prices changed depending on the kingdom¡¯s current traffic.

    The higher a city¡¯s poprity, the highest its fees were. The price hike amodated the potential loss of visitors due to crowded streets, etc. Only a high poprity rating with excellent benefits could justify exorbitant fees.

    As Kieran said, the party resumed their travels roughly an hourter. The ride wasn¡¯t as smooth as the beginning parts of the Desert of Crumbling Sands because the rocky terrain shook the caravans, forcing them to slow down. The constant shuffling could damage some of the fragile merchandise.

    During the slow portion of the journey, Kieran checked on his stream and considered what he could upload as content. Most of his encounters were recorded and kept in a secure database for Kieran to use as he pleased. If he ever decided he didn¡¯t want any recording whatsoever, he could always turn off the dormant recording feature.

    This meant his battle against Rautori, the battle with the cyclops and even his fight against Zelliolx were all recorded. However, simply uploading as content on the tform would expose a few of his secrets he didn¡¯t want to reveal.

    As a result, Kieran opted for the teaser route. He spliced the recordings to finish right before the final moments or skip essential parts of the battle that revealed skills like Wrath Eruption, Sanguinem Tempests, or Blood Wave. These skills should be kept secret since they could instantly turn the tide of any fight.

    Revealing Abhorrent Paroxysm and Deranged Spirit didn¡¯t matter because their activation only became noticeable once Kieran acted. If the videos were spliced at the right moment, it would only seem like Kieran used the typical boost gained from his low Health.

    Kieran let Alice maintain the horse while he focused on editing the videos to the best of his ability. What should have taken no more than 30 minutes turned into a 3-hour endeavor as Kieran meticulously chose what should be revealed and what shouldn¡¯t.

    Finally, after several hours of maintaining focus, he made each video cost a small fee while adding a teaser title. The title drew attention to his uing stream. Although the content remained a mystery, thebat present in the video would undoubtedly garner a lot of attention.

    Kieran intended to make good on his promise to An, so he would do everything he could to gain enough poprity to sway their future negotiation. ¡®This ss is amazing at creating content with its brutal yet eye-catching skills. I need to use this to my advantage before any other unique sses appear.¡¯

    This advantage would soon dissipate once the prominent names of his past emerged because it was inevitable. One person couldn¡¯t hog all the attention because everyone had a preference. A ss tailored to more unique preferences was bound to appear.

    As Kieran closed the menu, he noticed the sky was gradually darkening. Although the days in this world were considerably longer, nighttime was another inevitable matter. It couldn¡¯t be bright at all times.

    ¡°There are approximately four more hours of light remaining. We¡¯ll be in darkness after that. We should try and reach a safe

 Chapter 131 First Training Session

    ¡ª-

    The merchants fell asleep roughly an hour after setting up camp in a secluded area hidden by severalrge rocks. It not only provided natural cover, but each opening possessed a direct line of sight, so Kieran and the others would immediately notice if a monster approached or if the Desertborn Brigands somehow found their current location.

    However, the odds of that happening remained slim since Head Merchant Penni revealed theck of their activity inside the Aubrililies Kingdom¡¯s territory. This rocky terrain marked the start of that territory. So the Desertborn Brigands would be treading on thin ice.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Kieran pped his hands. ¡°There will be no skill activation for the first part of this training. It¡¯ll simply be familiarizing yourself with your ss mechanics. And I do mean thoroughly.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that boss? Are you saying our moves are amateurish?¡± Nemean questioned.

    Kieran nced at him and nodded subtly. ¡°That¡¯s precisely what I¡¯m saying. You aren¡¯t weak, but I want you all to be elite¡ªuncontested by your peers. That isn¡¯t obtained with talent; that¡¯s obtained with effort. After all, talent is only your starting ce. The work you¡¯ve put in determines your ultimate potential.¡±

    ¡°Ah, you sound like my old army instructor. The only difference is you aren¡¯t as harsh,¡± Nemean groaned as he was reminded of his formal training. This air surrounding Kieran naturally came from his time as the Golden Brigade¡¯s strongest Commander.

    Some habits couldn¡¯t be broken, not that Kieran wanted to. His experiences molded his leadership ability; why would he throw that away? It had an ample amount of use.

    ¡°I suppose I will be like a drill sergeant to you all. As for being rough, different situations call for different methods. I¡¯m not looking to be a tyrant. You must desire this oue for us both to get the most out of our actions.¡±

    ¡°I have to desire it¡­¡± Nemean muttered. He contemted Kieran¡¯s words before looking at him. ¡°So, I should strive to be the best at the game?¡±

    ¡°The game? No,¡± Kieran shook his head. ¡°What if this was much greater than a game? What if your experiences here¡­ stayed with you? Would that not be enough incentive to push yourself?¡±

    Everyone¡¯s expression changed after listening to Kieran¡¯s words. His way of speaking implied that he felt Zenith Online could be greater than what it currently was. Because of this, Altair noticed something.

    ¡°Are you saying we can draw benefits from this game?¡±

    ¡°I think it depends on how you look at it. But, I¡¯ve confirmed that some matters inside this game aren¡¯t just limited to the game world. It can affect reality as we know it. So¡­ if you ever possess a power or item that raises your rm, be wary. Its consequences may be deeper than you know,¡± Kieran warned.

    His warning was somewhat ambiguous, but a sh of realization struck Alice as she listened to Kieran guide the boys.

    ¡®Is that why? Could something in his possession have driven his actions? Then¡­ Aatrox speaks from experience? No wonder his caution seems so genuine,¡¯ Alice thought.<sub>-.</sub>

    While the others didn¡¯t catch a glimpse of Kieran¡¯s action, Alice did. However, it was only a brief sighting. Still, she saw the cold ruthlessness buried in Kieran¡¯s eyes as he gazed at Deserea. That type of mercilessness couldn¡¯t be achieved unless it originated from horrifying trauma or the individual was originally cruel and sadistic.

    The others took Kieran¡¯s advice to heart, especially after considering their experiences thus far. It mostly involved Kieran¡¯s skills, but it was enough to sway their views.

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep that warning in mind,¡± Altair vowed. He then looked at everyone else before returning his gaze to Kieran. ¡°So, where do we begin?¡±

    ¡°We begin with our weapons. I¡¯ll start with Nemean,¡± Kieran said before gesturing for Nemean to follow.

    They stepped off to the side, and Kieran had Nemean take a battle stance. After he did so, Kieran walked around Nemean, analyzing every point of his current stance.

    After a fewps, Kieran finally made a move.

    Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!

    Kieran hit numerous ces on Nemean¡¯s body, modifying what he felt Nemeancked.

    ¡°This is the form you need. Your ss is unorthodox, using shields no longer than your forearms as weapons. However, this is also your strength. If wielded properly, your defensive potential against a single target is greater than Bastion.¡±

    ¡°How so? Bastion¡¯s ss revolves around obtaining the perfect defense,¡± Nemean countered.

    ¡°Correct, but it is made only for defense. Your ss, however, seeks the epitome in neither. This opens a new path for you. While Bastion can only use defense as an offense, you can alternate between an offensive defense and a defensive offense,¡± Kieran replied.

    ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ understand that,¡± Nemean murmured with a wry smile. Sure he understood that he could attack and defend, but he didn¡¯tprehend how they were so interchangeable.

    Kieran paused momentarily before considering a better answer.

    ¡°What I mean is, Bastion¡¯s ss is limited to Defense as his leading stat. It defines how useful he is. But, in your case, your shields define you. You could be essentially unstoppable if you can find the perfect shields toplement your skillset as a Shield Enforcer.¡±

    Nemean expression grewplex after hearing this. ¡°That sounds awesome, but it also sounds like an insane amount of work is in store for me.¡±<sub></sub>

    Kieran crossed his arms with a smirk. ¡°Are you scared of a challenge? I think you can easily rise above it.¡±

    Nemean scoffed but ultimately epted the challenge. Afterward, Kieran began sparring with Nemean, who expressed concerns about their Health.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have enabled Sparring Mode. Our Health won¡¯t be affected, but we¡¯re liable to feel pain depending on our actions,¡± Kieran answered. The pain wasn¡¯t a result of an imperfect Sparring Mode; it was the result of a perfect one dependent on the realism stage.

    With pseudo-Stage One Realism now affecting them, Kieran assumed sparring could be painful depending on how heavy-handed they were.

    ¡°Be mindful of your stance when you attack. Apply the corrections I¡¯ve made,¡± Kieran reminded.

    Afterward, Nemean lunged toward Kieran, who remained in a readied stance. Without moving, Kieran analyzed every movement Nemean made and waited for the tell to arrive.

    Three secondster, he reacted.

    Whoosh! Thud!

    Kieran deflected Nemean¡¯s attack effortlessly and mmed him to the ground. His moves appeared to be somebat art because they happened faster than Nemean could react.

    Nemean stared up in a daze before kipping to his feet. ¡°What the hell? I didn¡¯t even blink! When did you move?¡±

    ¡°When you moved,¡± Kieran answered.

    ¡°B-but¡­¡± Nemean was at a loss for words. He opted for a small movement, so he should¡¯ve been to see Kieran react.

    ¡°The problem with frontal shield strikes is they interrupt your line of sight. The moment you threw the punch, you blocked your view of me for a split second. That window will always be your opponent¡¯s time to be deadly. ount for the shield¡¯s broad coverage and move ordingly.¡±

    ¡°Again,¡± Kieran said.

    Nemean went in for another strike but remained mindful of the advice given. Still, they ended up in the same situation¡ªNemean on his back, gazing at the stars in a daze.

    This happened several times until Kieran suddenly moved preemptively.

    ¡°Better, but I read you. I could tell your actions before you performed them. This will be a regr urrence if you go against an elite yer. They partake in high-level battles so often it bes second nature. I need that from you.¡±

    Nemean growled in frustration but nodded. Formal training in the army was one thing, but fighting opponents with higher skill levels was another.

    Kieran continued to guide Nemean until their exchangessted for more than just one or two strikes. However, Kieran remained empty-handed the entire time.

    Kieran didn¡¯t switch to Bastion until Nemean could no longer go on.

    Kieran first looked over Bastion before making his decision. ¡°Your training will be somewhat different. I believe we¡¯ve talked about it once before, and you¡¯ve even pulled it off naturally¡ªredirection. There are a few other importantponents, but redirection should be your foundation as a tank.¡±

    ¡°Redirection¡­ got it. I¡¯ll try it!¡± Bastion seemed almost excited to conduct training.

    Unbeknownst to Kieran, Bastion loved the process of bing stronger rather than being strong. He was one of those people who focused on the journey and not the destination. This mindset inadvertently birthedpetitiveness in Bastion.

    ¡°Spar with me until Nemean recovers some energy. But, only focus on dealing with my attacks,¡± Kieran reminded.

    Little could be gained from Bastion attacking, so Kieran would rather have him master defense and elevate his role to an entirely different level.

    ¡®At the very least, I¡¯ll turn him into a tank on par with the main tanks of Behemoth-level guilds,¡¯ Kieran inwardly thought.

    Every yer who held the main position in reputed guilds possessed monstrousbat standards. It was improbable for them to lose against a lower rank yer.

    Kieranunched a series of attacks backed by moderate strength, yet Bastion retreated after each attack.

    ¡°You can do it. I won¡¯t spoon-feed it to you. You must realize the basis of redirection. If not against me, then against Nemean,¡± Kieran expressed. He didn¡¯t relent, unleashing a continuous stream of attacks that drove Bastion back.

    ¡°It¡¯s happening too fast. I need time to process what¡¯s going on!¡± Bastion eximed. It seemed like Kieran attacked faster after every tenth strike.

    ¡°Your opponent won¡¯t give you time, so don¡¯t request it from me either. Pressure and intensity are your friends. Now wield them!¡± Kieran remarked.

    He ignored Bastion¡¯s pleas to slow down because most progress urred while training under pressure. Moreover, one of Kieran¡¯s requirements was that his allies needed to handle stress well.

    Unfortunately, Bastion couldn¡¯tnd the timing for the redirection. Perhaps the result would differ once he sparred with Nemean.

    Afterward, Kieran switched his attention to Altair.

    ¡®In his case, I¡¯ll provoke the early creation of his Darkness Excursion Steps. All of my actions until now have been made while bearing the creation of unique techniques in mind. I¡¯ll have them take advantage of Technique Creation before it bes a mainstream action.¡¯

    Although Technique Creation remained just around the corner, most yers wouldn¡¯t understand its uses until they honed their actions to a certain degree. Reaching that level meant specific actions could be turned into actions without a cooldown that affectedbat, otherwise known as techniques.

    Unlike Bastion and Nemean, Kieran¡¯s spar against Altair was extremely fast-paced and Kieran also allowed the usage of skills. ¡°Come on; you¡¯re faster than that, right? Move faster,¡± Kieran smirked.

    Thisment didn¡¯t refer to Altair¡¯s Agility; it referred to Altair condensing his speed to achieve an eleration beyond his current limitation. That was the basis of the Darkness Excursion Steps. However, aplishing that was easier said than done because it required precise timing and utilization of force.

    Altair narrowed his eyes as he thought Kieran was mocking his current Agility. He didn¡¯t know that Kieran was stimting him to make the most of his Control.

    Tang! Tang! Tang!

    Altair¡¯s shes steadily grew faster until his arms turned into a flurry, drawing some shock from Kieran.

    ¡®Those eyes¡­¡¯ Kieran inwardly remarked. A deep darkness filled Altair¡¯s eyes as he revealed an almost murderous glint. Of course, it wasn¡¯t directed at Kieran. These emotions merely seeped out of him beyond his control.

    However, Kieran didn¡¯t stop. He wanted to harness this disy. After all, Altair only became stronger once he adopted his ruthlessness and no longer inhibited his negative emotions.

    ¡°Faster!¡± Kieran yelled.

    Tang! Tang! Tang!

    The strikes rapidly increased while Kieran smiled, deflecting them with subtle shifts of Crimson Ashrune.

    All of a sudden, one of Altair¡¯s strikes seemed to skip through the air and gain an abnormal eleration. Kieran abruptly threw his head back as the tip of Altair¡¯s dagger brushed past his lip.

    Despite the danger, Kieran teemed with excitement. The abnormality in Altair¡¯s movement became more frequent while his expression continued to darken.

    ¡®To go up against the Wiyans, he¡¯ll need ample strength. It¡¯s only right that I guide you there, old friend,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Altair¡¯s attacks soon grew to a point where Kieran activated Blood Mania to gain additional speed from Tormented Beliefs. It was still too early to call it a proper technique, but Altair more or less took a step in the realm of his famed Darkness Excursion Steps.

    ¡®These quick eleration bursts are undoubtedly rudimentary forms of the drives. But, he¡¯ll exhaust himself too quickly if I let this go on,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Thus, he executed a strange movement himself where his body suddenly jerked and elerated in the next instant.

    Bang!

    ¡°What the hell!¡± Bastion eximed with his mouth agape. He couldn¡¯t describe what he had just seen. All he knew was that Kieran¡¯s body seemed to teleport from a still motion.

    ¡°Ugh,¡± Altair groaned with a palm over his forehead. ¡°What was that for?¡±

    ¡°You were plunging too deep into the darkness, buddy. I had to draw you out. So, I hit you in the head with the hilt.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ but how heavy is that thing?¡±

    ¡°Pretty heavy,¡± Kieran remarked.

    A genuine smile suddenly appeared on his face as Kieran looked at his party. He was ovee with confidence after taking them through their first bout of training. Their foundation were all eptable, and even Alice seemed to be making some progress on increasing her mana sensitivity.

 Chapter 132 Invigoration Brew

    ¡ª-

    Compared to the days in Zenith Online, the nights were surprisingly short. Kieran and the others trained for 8 hours inside the game before the rays of the brilliant morning sun reappeared.

    Surprisingly, no monsters came near their position even with the mor generated by their actions. Perhaps it was rted to the area they chose, but it appeared whatever monsters inhabited this area had little to no interest in them. At least, not at this very moment.

    Kieran stretched and groaned with a refreshing feeling. Meanwhile, the others groaned in exhaustion and looked at him as if he were a monster.

    ¡°You¡¯re evil!¡± Bastionined. While Kieran gave them breaks during their training, it was only long enough to provide time for their Stamina to refillpletely. They returned to training just seconds after that happened.

    As a result, Bastion and the others were given no more than a 20-minute break before returning to honing their mechanics and increasing their awareness. Despite the difficulty andints everyone had, they couldn¡¯t denounce the results.

    Bastion felt like he was on the edge of grasping the timing for redirection, while Nemean understood the principle of interchanging his offense with defense and vice versa.

    Furthermore, he also picked up hints of the redirection principle Bastion trained since he could also utilize it. They were both shield-wielding sses, so the same principles should affect them.

    Not long after the sun appeared, Head Merchant Penni groggily appeared from the main caravan¡¯s rear while covering his face. ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s so bright! So so bright¡­.¡±

    It took a while for him to deal with the current sun, but he ultimately limated to morning brightness before turning toward Kieran¡¯s party. The fact they seemed so exuberant this early in the morning had taken him aback.

    ¡°D-did you all not sleep a wink?!¡± Head Merchant Penni eximed. He was bbergasted by their current condition. If he were in that position, he would be a walking zombie.

    ¡°Nope,¡± Kieran shook his head. ¡°There was no reason to. Sleep, while sometimes a necessity, is a luxury we can¡¯t afford right now. My people still require some whipping into shape.¡±<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°Ah,¡± Head Merchant Penni smiled wryly.

    If they needed whipping into shape, he needed a full-blown beating. He was practically useless during every problematic situation. However, he was unlikely to go through any formalbat training because hecked the protective instinct.

    ¡°Well, before we head out, I¡¯d like to make some Invigoration Brew at least,¡± Head Merchant Penni remarked.

    The others looked at him strangely, as if they had no idea what he was talking about. Nemean was the first to voice hisck of knowledge.

    ¡°What exactly is that?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s like the name says. It¡¯s a brew that invigorates the body and makes the consumer feel enlivened,¡± Head Merchant Penni answered. His expression lit up as if he were speaking of his first love. It was clear he truly relished this drink.

    ¡°So¡­ it¡¯s like coffee then?¡± Nemean said with a weird expression.

    Head Merchant Penni¡¯s eyebrows furrowed when he heard this unfamiliar word. ¡°Coffee? What is coffee?¡±

    Kieran approached and whispered into Nemean¡¯s ear. ¡°You know we aren¡¯t on Earth right now, yes? Some things may be different here. While they generate the same effect, they could have apletely different name.¡±

    ¡°Ah!¡± Nemean gave a swift nod aftering to an understanding. He waved his hand and asked that Head Merchant Penni disregard hisment. Although Head Merchant Penni found it strange, he didn¡¯t press the matter.

    Instead, he started a me and prepared the invigoration brew mentioned earlier. As Nemean said, it was incredibly simr to coffee, except it had a high concentration of refined Mana tasked only with providing the utmost reinvigoration.<sub></sub>

    Once Head Merchant Penni finished preparing the brew, he turned toward Kieran and the rest. ¡°Would you all like a cup?¡±

    ¡°We would all appreciate it,¡± Kieran said respectfully.

    He had heard rumors of this drink¡¯s effect, but the intensity of its results varied on the drink¡¯s quality. From Head Merchant Penni¡¯s meticulous preparation, Kieran could tell the drink would be of eptable quality at least.

    Everyone soon received a cup and sipped the contents because it was still scalding hot. A series of reactions urred as Nemean was the first to have a hushed outburst.

    ¡°It is coffee! But¡­ it tastes much better. Speaking of which, why does everything taste better?¡± Nemean tried to whisper as low as he could, but his excitement made it difficult to control his volume. The whisper sounded more like a strained yell because of this.

    ¡°Our world sucks,¡± Bastion chimed in.

    Earth cuisinecked in every aspectpared to some of the simple dishes tasted here. Then again, none came from affluent families, so they weren¡¯t privy to the taste of Earth¡¯s high cuisine, only the cuisine readily avable to the public.

    ¡°Somewhat,¡± Kieran agreed. ¡°But, we have yet to explore the epitome of the world.¡± Kieran gave a mysterious smile because his goals for Zenith Online and Earth were enormous. His sights were set at the zenith.

    ¡°That¡¯s right! No one will mess with us once we reach that ce,¡± Bastion added in staunch support.

    However, Altair absentmindedly stared into his dark drink, swirling it around in his hand. The dark tint seemed to reflect in his pupils as he muttered something to himself. ¡°Fluid¡­ and blended.¡±

    Unbeknownst to Kieran, the drink in Altair¡¯s grasp provided him inspiration thatpounded onto thebat performed earlier. Kieran had set the foundation, which also inclined Altair to seek an answer to the path presented to him.

    Altair only exited this trance when the drink cooled slightly and stopped emitting steam. Afterward, he sipped it with a pleased smile. He understood what he needed to work on now without Kieran mentioning it¡ªthe fluidity of his movements.

    The bursts he unleashed were all too stiff and couldn¡¯t be utilized in other movements. However, attacking wasn¡¯t the only aspect ofbat. Altair needed to cover every base before iming his foundations were solid.

    After drinking the cups of invigoration brew, everyone was given an astonishing alert.

    ¡´System: The user¡¯s Stamina Regeneration Rate is increased by [300%]! The effect will diminish by 10% every hour after its consumption.¡µ

    ¡°Whoa! Did you see that? My regeneration rate increased by 250%, but it¡¯ll gradually decline,¡± Nemean eximed.

    ¡°Huh? Mine said 240%,¡± Bastion frowned after feeling something was wrong. He looked around for the other¡¯s value.

    ¡°That¡¯s odd; my alert said 220%,¡± Altair scratched his head.

    ¡°I only received a 150% boost,¡± Sera sheepishly added.

    ¡°Same; I received a 150% boost,¡± Alice added.

    Everyone then turned to Kieran, who remained silent all this time. He gave a bitter smile after feeling those inquisitive eyes on him. ¡°300%¡­¡±

    ¡°God dammit! It¡¯s rigged!¡± Bastion had an outburst.

    Nemean flipped over one of the stools because he couldn¡¯t understand how Kieran always emerged the lucky one. However, Kieran¡¯s following words raised a sound point.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s luck. This should be a drink that bases its effects on two things¡ªour current Stamina and Constitution. You all are familiar with Constitution, right? You should have received a point or two after promoting.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m familiar, but I only have 1 point. How much Stamina do you have exactly?¡± Altair inquired.

    ¡°That sounds about right. As for my Stamina, I have over 1,800 at the moment,¡± Kieran admitted.

    This divulgence made everyone¡¯s jaw drop. Even Bastion, who relied upon Stamina and Defense, only had 1,500 Stamina currently. So, the fact Kieran beat him by over 300 points was insane.

    Nevertheless, he understood that Kieran¡¯s ss offered advantages he didn¡¯t have ess to. If Bastion wanted to catch up to Kieran in terms of attributes, he¡¯d have to partake in manyplex efforts.

    However, Bastion felt up to the challenge as he clenched his fists.

    Altair simrly looked at Kieran as a rival and a goal. He vowed to stand on equal grounds with Kieran and bring an equal amount of fame to whatever guild Kieran established in the future.

    However, aplishing thatst part meant he¡¯d have to resolve his Wiyan issue.

    Not long after this conversation, Head Merchant Penni and the other merchants finished preparations to resume travels. The horses were given some food before quickly traversing the nearby rocky terrain.

    Unlike the day before, Kieran chose not to rush the journey. While their pace was still quick, he decided it would be eptable to take a break if anyone asked for it. After all, he wanted to test out this regeneration buff inbat while also understanding the monsters here.

    Since this territory rested between two kingdoms of low importance, the monster¡¯s level barriers were simr to those found in leveling zones around the Aeredale and Aubrililes Kingdoms. It wouldn¡¯t exceed a difficulty requiring the presence of Tier 2 sses.

    A monster not exceeding the limit meant the strongest monster would only go up to Lv.50. But even that was rare because these areas seemed unimportant. Kieran estimated the highest level he¡¯d find wouldn¡¯t exceed Lv.42.

    While still twelve levels higher than the team¡¯s overall level, but that disparity could change quickly if Kieran slew enough monsters with his team.

    Approximately one hourter, the team came across their first obstacle.

    ¡¸ Lv.36 Stone Scorpion (Elite)

    Rock Type, Insect Type

    Health: 400,000/400,000 (100%) ¡¹

    A group ofrge scorpions, 2-meters in length with stone exteriors, scurried before them. Their tails secreted an rming liquid that sizzled when touching the rocks below. This was likely a corrosive acid wielded as an attack.

    However, despite their levels, Kieran and the rest remained calm while dismounting their horses.

    Kieran gave a subtle nod as Bastion took the lead.

 Chapter 133 Stone Scorpions & A Barred Path

    ¡ª-

    Bastion quickly grabbed ahold of the battle momentum by defending against the lead Stone Scorpion. However, he activated a self-protective skill to preserve the durability of his shield. The scorpion¡¯s acid was lethal to equipment.

    Thus, Bastion¡¯s shield was encased in a thick aura that increased his damage reduction from the innate 5% to 10% for the next 20 seconds. As mentioned before, Bastion¡¯s ss design strictly adhered to achieving the most sound defense.

    This meant he gained Damage Reduction, but it was a fraction of what bosses possessed. But, considering he was only Lv.32 at the moment, a 5% Damage Reduction increase was quite valuable.

    And, it was different from Kieran, who could only mitigate 10% of the damage inflicted upon him thanks to the Crystalline Ring¡¯s Hardened Skin ability. However, its duration was limitedpared to Bastion¡¯s skill.

    Skill effects tended to be more effective than item abilities because they could grow based on the user¡¯s preferences. An item was limited the moment its parameters were established. Of course, there were some exceptions, but the minimum rank required for those exceptions was absurd.

    Kieran, Nemean, and Altair moved swiftly, targeting a single Stone Scorpion after Bastion gained ahold of its aggro.

    ¡°We have 30 seconds to act, go!¡± Kieran used Bastion¡¯s skill duration as a baseline for killing each monster. He didn¡¯t want Bastion¡¯s shield to suffer irreparable damage, so this battle needed to end quickly.

    The excess Stone Scorpions were removed from the fight when Kieran nted his hand on the ground andunched a Wrath Eruption on a designated point. The eruption of blood energy sent them flying away while he sacrificed a charge of Blood Wave to knock them even further away.

    The utility of Kieran¡¯s skills left the others momentarily stunned, but they were ultimately thankful that he was on their side and not an enemy. He truly made their lives easier when he enteredbat.

    Afterward, Kieran activated Sanguine shes while noting the gaps in the Stone Scorpion¡¯s rocky exoskeleton. It wasn¡¯t a monster purely made of stone, so his ability topound Bleed stacks remained viable.<sub>-.</sub>

    Once Kieran confirmed this, he no longer worried about a reduction in his effectiveness. Kieran handled the Stone Scorpion¡¯srge movements while informing the others when to dodge.

    The Stone Scorpion indicated a corrosive poison attack by the sudden change in its tail movements. It became easy to dodge once they knew what to look for.

    As a result, none of the party¡¯s attackers were hit by the poison.

    More importantly, their training just hours before severely impacted how useful they were inbat. Bastion sometimes neutralized the Stone Scropion¡¯s pincher attacks by grasping a moment where the damage calction should happen.

    It was only possible because the Stone Scorpion¡¯s inferior attack speed seemedughablepared to the attacks Nemean and Kieran unleashed. It gave Bastion enough time to understand this monster¡¯s rhythm.

    Eventually, the team overwhelmed the Stone Scorpion without suffering too much damage. Sera barely consumed any of her Mana, unleashing less than ten heals when she was used to activating 100 at the very least.

    ¡´System: You have gained 7,266 Experience.¡µ

    ¡°Aatrox truly understands how to whip them into shape. Theirbat isn¡¯t as rough as before. They¡¯re even moving in a simr rhythm now,¡± Seramented beside Alice, who rained down a fiery hell upon the near-death Stone Scorpion.

    ¡°Yeah, he understands what needs fixing and addresses it. The more they spar with one another, the more they¡¯ll understand their habits and, eventually, their thought process. It¡¯s unthinkable how someone our age seems like a seasonedmander,¡± Alice muttered.

    Her eyes remained on Kieran, trying to understand him. At times he was quiet; other times, he joked around with his party member, and sometimes his shoulders seemed iparably heavy. Alice felt there were manyyers to this rtively unfamiliar individual.<sub></sub>

    However, the more she experienced his actions and guidance, the morepelled she felt to know his story.

    ¡°Do you think it will always be like this?¡± Sera suddenly asked. Her expression wasplex as she gazed at the rest of the party. It was unknown what went through her head, but her clear, usually cheerful eyes seemed anxious.

    ¡°I think it¡¯ll be fine if Aatrox stays the same. He is the adhesive holding everything together.

    ¡°But¡­ he wants to form a guild. That means there will be more of us, more of his attention spreading thin. What if our rtionship distances and we¡¯re no longer the same party?¡± Sera muttered. She seemed downcast as her eyes drooped.

    ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it, Sera,¡± Alice said. She consoled Sera by lifting her chin and caressing her cheek with a tender touch. It was evident these two shared a close bond. Alice wasn¡¯t this warm with the others. ¡°We can¡¯t let him carry the entire burden. If we want things to remain the same, we must also grow to shoulder some of the burdens.¡±

    ¡°Y-yeah,¡± Sera stammered but ultimately agreed. Her saddened eyes regained their lost joy as she internalized Alice¡¯s words, promising to be even better than she was now.

    Alice retracted her hand while ncing toward the boys. ¡®Yeah¡­ we should all take a piece of the burden. Aatrox can¡¯t do it all alone¡ªalone¡­ is never the answer.¡¯ Despondency shed in Alice¡¯s eyes, but it quickly disappeared as she focused on conjuring a new spell.

    Four mes spears materialized behind her as she thrust open her palm.

    Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

    The spears hit each of the Stone Scorpions seeking tounch a poison attack. The impact interrupted their attacks and gave Kieran enough time tounch a Sanguinem Tempest that tore through the monsters while a series of dark arcs shed past.

    Altair panted briefly but quickly recovered from the short exhaustion caused by the rapid release of his new C-Rank Skill¡ªDarkness sh. It allowed the next twenty strikes to be mid-range attacks dealing considerable damage if the user could unleash the attack fast enough.

    Failure to unleash them at a sufficient speed would immediately cancel the skill. Altair got up to 15 attacks before the skill was canceled, but it still dealt over 20,000 damage to the Stone Scorpion.

    ¡´System: You have gained 7,266 Experience.¡µ

    The same notification shed before everyone¡¯s eyes ten more times. Afterward, Kieran harvested the Stone Scorpion¡¯s body, iming their entire rocky exoskeleton.

    ¡°Oh my goodness, you wiped them clean!¡± Bastion eximed. However, Kieran remained focused without answering because he was right on the precipice. iming Rautori¡¯s head had left him in a good position.

    ¡´System: Your tradeskill Harvesting has increased to Apprentice-Intermediate.¡µ

    Increasing a tradeskill¡¯s level improved the productivity of the skill. Not only would Kieran¡¯s harvesting speed increase, but there was also a higher chance that the harvested material would maintain its original quality.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. From now on, besides the loot that drops, remember to harvest all monsters. Train your tradeskills just like you would train your normal ones,¡± Kieran answered.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case¡­ you could¡¯ve saved some for us,¡± Bastion grumbled.

    The Stone Scorpions, if they could even be considered that anymore, were all flesh and bones. There was nothing left to extract; the meat didn¡¯t have much worth because its poison saturated its flesh to protect against stronger predators.

    ¡°We¡¯ll chalk that up as my mistake. I¡¯ll be more mindful the next time,¡± Kieran apologized with a sheepish chuckle. He was so absorbed he forgot this wasn¡¯t his past, where he yed the beginning stages alone.

    Some opportunities also needed to be shared with his party.

    The team quickly collected dropped coins and the one piece of equipment that dropped and continued on their way. As they traveled, Nemean and Bastion both mentioned the vast decline in equipment drop rates aftering to the kingdoms.

    ¡°I think obtaining equipment as drops will only be more difficult. We aren¡¯t affected by the Beginner Zone Handicap anymore, so that increased drop rate doesn¡¯t help us,¡± Kieran answered. Although he knew that equipment would soon only drop from monsters bearing such items, he didn¡¯t disclose that fact.

    Instead, he made it seem like he too was unsure of the oue. This change was another reason the Forger profession became indispensable. Rather than drop equipment, monsters would soon be more likely to drop equipment designs.

    The most surefire way of obtaining equipment directly would be from Named Champion Monsters since they were generally equipped with decent items.

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, before the Desert of Crumbling Sands danger zone¡­

    Despot and Horizon Break bore darkened expressions as they frequently witnessedrge worm-like creatures diving and exiting the sand. Those worms posed a danger great enough to stall them.

    ¡°What the hell do we do? We won¡¯t make it on foot, but Autr said they passed through. It¡¯s far too dangerous and not worth the risk,¡± Despot groaned in frustration.

    Horizon Break also begrudgingly spoke. ¡°I agree. We¡¯ll simply die if we cross through here. Is there no other way?¡±

    ¡°I have no idea!¡± Despot was helpless in this situation.

    Their character maps were essentially blotted out circles. A spot on the map would only be visible once visited or if a cartographer plotted the terrain and gave the created map to a yer. The system would then assimte the map and highlight the newly revealed area.

    But, it was unfortunate that not a single cartographer existed. Some professions, also known as Lifestyle sses, had stringent requirements to obtain them. Obtaining the cartographer profession required the yer to visit a befitting library and expand their knowledge of maps.

    Because it detracted from leveling, no yer was currently willing to do so.

    ¡°Fuck!¡± Despot shouted in frustration. ¡°Let¡¯s just go around or something!¡±

    Horizon Break smiled wickedly and raised his hand. ¡°Wait¡­ I have a better idea. Why not wait until they return? They¡¯ll have to return to Aeredale City, and we know what they look like now. Let¡¯s plot a better revenge scheme or at least wait until these worm things are longer an issue.¡±

    Despot revealed a simrly sinister smile because the idea excited him. ¡°Yes, let¡¯s return and create a better n. This works for us because we can kill monsters on our way back.¡±

    Surprisingly, these two just saved themselves from a rude awakening. However, all they did was prolong its inevitable appearance.

 Chapter 134 The First Metamorphosis End Phase

    ¡ª-

    Run-ins with the Stone Scorpions frequently urred on their journey through this rocky area. However, the rankings varied between Normal and Elite monsters. As a result, the experience the party gained fluctuated greatly, especially when factoring in the range of level differences.

    The Stone Scorpions that appeared were as high as Lv.37 or as low as Lv.32. The Lv.32 monsters barely rewarded 3,000 Experience, which wasn¡¯t much considering every yer above Lv.30 required at least 180,000 Experience to level up.

    In Kieran¡¯s case, he required more than 540,000 Experience. It would take almost 200 low-level Sand Scorpions for him to level up. In contrast, if he could steadily receive the monsters on par with the initial bunch, that number would be reduced by 50%.

    Thanks to the Invigoration Brew¡¯s effects, although they hadn¡¯t taken a break in an hour and fought more than five separate clusters of Stone Scorpions, neither Kieran nor the others were tired.

    ¡°That Invigoration Brew is like a miracle drug. Do you think Penni will let us have some?¡± Bastion whispered in hopeful anticipation.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s the type of item that we can put in our inventory. Considering that Penni had to prepare it, it¡¯s likely an item with a limited efficacy period. It¡¯d be pointless to store it unless we do so in its base form and find a way to prepare it,¡± Kieran said.

    ¡°Wait¡­ you mean like one of us be a chef or something?¡± Nemean asked.

    ¡°That could work, but that¡¯s only true if one of you is willing to do something like that.¡±

    ¡°I am,¡± Sera immediately stepped forth. She had experience preparing dishes after tending to her younger siblings, so she had no issue with epting the profession. Besides, she wanted to be of more use to everyone.<sub>-.</sub>

    Kieran nodded and smiled at Sera while appreciating how swiftly she volunteered. ¡°That works, but epting the profession will have to wait until we return to Aeredale City or until we find a solution inside the city we¡¯re visiting. There¡¯s also the matter of procuring enough ingredients and the items required to prepare them.¡±

    ¡°For that¡­¡± Kieran looked at Head Merchant Penni in the corner of his eye. ¡°We¡¯ll have to rely upon him.¡±

    ¡°I see no reason not to. He has extended nothing but gratitude thus far; I¡¯m sure he¡¯d be willing to help by the end of our journey, don¡¯t you think?¡± Alice nced back at Kieran, but he averted his gaze for some reason.

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s possible.¡± Kieran nodded.

    Alice found the action odd but didn¡¯t press the matter as she looked down to see if she was proper. She was inevitably at a loss when she confirmed her mage robes werepletely fine. ¡®Has he not gotten our exchange?¡¯

    Alice was truly curious about this, but she couldn¡¯t ask because the others traveled too close after entering the rocky terrain. They were no longer as spread out as before and led the way as the caravan¡¯s vanguard.

    All of a sudden, an intense tremor erupted in their vicinity, destabilizing everyone.

    Kieran was the first toe to a grinding halt and look up at the sky. An opaque ripple filtered throughout the sky as the crystalline atmosphere became unusually cloudy.

    The other followed Kieran and gazed at the sky.<sub></sub>

    ¡°Are those clouds?¡± Altair wondered.

    Unlike Earth, this world they were currently in didn¡¯t have clouds. It only possessed a clear sky and an atmosphere filled with pure and crystalline Mana that acted as ayer of protection for the world. As the foundation of this world, Mana possessed numerous uses.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Kieran imed. However, he didn¡¯t need to reveal his knowledge because a notification appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes. It was much longer than the standard notifications and addressed matters that would turn most yers on their head.

    ©°©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    ?Zenith Online World Announcement?-

    The First Metamorphosis has entered its final stages, and all matters reliant upon Mana will notice a noticeable change. These apparent changes will be finalized during this time. Various modifications will afflict the world, some good, some bad. However, it is up to the adaptability of you all to adapt to these changes. They should only serve as a drive to be stronger and reach the zenith. Information will be released in the following natural hour.

    ©¸©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    Most yers were in a situation simr to Kieran and the rest¡ªstaring at the sky with their mouths agape, wondering how this game would change. Significant updates like this usually only urred when a game reached a milestone, whether it was game age or yer base.

    Zenith Online was still less than a month old, so the milestone couldn¡¯t be the game¡¯s age. The only remaining possibility was that this metamorphosis was triggered by enough people joining and advancing in the game.

    If that were true, then it was all happening too rapidly. What changed?

    Kieran began seriously contemting if this was the same world anymore. Sure his presence could have a butterfly effect that elerated the timeline, but he didn¡¯t aplish any baffling feats severe enough to alter the timeline in such a way.

    The only alternative exnation was that while this world bore simrities to his original Earth, it may not be identical. If so, Kieran felt obligated to learn more and experience things on Earth because some of his knowledge could be obsolete.

    ¡°Matters rting to Mana will change? Then¡­ won¡¯t it be more difficult to wield it?¡± Alice muttered in rm. Her ss heavily relied upon Mana, so if any of its principles were to change, it could potentially destabilize her whole ss! The same rang true for other yers that epted the Mage ss.

    ¡°That problem shouldn¡¯t affect you too greatly. After all, you¡¯ve begun training your Mana Sensitivity,¡± Kieran said with a mysterious smile.

    Alice gasped at pointed Kieran, but he covered her mouth and shushed her. ¡°Don¡¯t make a scene.¡±

    ¡°B-but, that¡¯s too much of a coincidence,¡± Alice responded under her breath once Kieran moved his hand. ¡°You started this vital training right when this metamorphosis began as if you predicted its oue.¡±

    Kieran grimaced at Alice¡¯s acuity but leaned against her ear. ¡°Is it that much of a surprise? Our bodies began to change the moment this metamorphosis began. Tell me, what did you think the end result of those alterations would be?¡±

    ¡°The result would be¡­ our experience switching from an automated one to a more manual one,¡± Alice whispered back. She seemed to chew her lip and avert her gaze when she felt Keiran¡¯s warm breath waft past her ear. Perhaps it was too stimting for her.

    ¡°Precisely. You can usually arrive at a correct assumption if you use the hints provided to fuel your deduction,¡± Kieran said. He did his best to provide a sound exnation for why he could guess what would ur.

    Alice, although skeptical, gradually understood Kieran¡¯s reasoning. She soon felt her disbelieving nature spurred her suspicions and apologized for that. However, Kieran decided he couldn¡¯t ept it because she was more or less correct.

    Kieran¡¯s only intention was to avert suspicion away from him while preserving Alice¡¯s confidence in her senses, but his instincts overpowered his intentions, prompting him to move before he could speak.

    As his move was aroused by instinct, it wasn¡¯t the best way to react, but given his teammate¡¯s propensity toin and scrutinize, he would rather not embark on that headache.

    ¡°I won¡¯t say a thing; I understand why you covered my mouth, but¡­¡± Alice paused before biting her lip and shouting quietly. ¡°Don¡¯t do that again!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. You¡¯ll forgive me for doing that, yes?¡± Kieran gave a bitter smile.

    But considering he was already a handsome young man, Alice ultimately nodded and agreed to forgive him. After all, it wasn¡¯t like she disliked what happened; she just didn¡¯t have experience and was unfamiliar with this level of interaction.

    She was usually reserved, as seen in their first encounter inside the Fanged Forest.

    However, experiencing the interactions between Kieran, Altair, Bastion and Nemean made her feel secure enough to be herself.

    It wasn¡¯t pleasing to always be alone or stifle one¡¯s opinion, and Alice understood this from experience, which is why she turned to ying games as an outlet. She could express her emotions through a vaguely interpersonal environment and escape her current one.

    Kieran suddenly sent out an alert in the party chat, gaining the party¡¯s attention.

    ¡°We need to prepare for what happens in three hours. The metamorphosis will neutralize some of our efforts in oveing the increasing difficulty of controlling our bodies, so it¡¯s even more important that we focus on the Control attribute. If you find it difficult to fight, dump all points in Control for the time being,¡± Kieran said.

    The earlier ripple briefly caused sluggishness and a lethargic feeling. It was a sort of ¡°influence¡± over them shattering. With the disappearance of this influence, the burden ced on their minds would increase. This also meant yers couldn¡¯t y the game as long until their minds adapted to the new realm of mental tax.

    As a result, Kieran thought about ignoring fights for the time being. Having any of them forcibly logged out due to hazardous mental exhaustion was not ideal. Just losing one member could tip the scale in a fight.

    ¡°Damn, it¡¯s always something, huh? We can¡¯t enjoy ourselves for a moment. Thank goodness we drank that brew,¡± Bastion sighed in relief. Without it, the Stamina exhaustion of manual control would be horrific.

    Kieran suddenly turned to Head Merchant Penni. ¡°What lies beyond this rocky area? Do you know?¡±

    ¡°More rocky area,¡± Head Merchant Penni responded. This was only the beginning of the rocky expanse. To enter the interior of the Aubrililes Kingdom, one had to travel through the entire mountain terrain.

    Kieran looked at his quest detail before formting a n. ¡®If it¡¯s more rocky terrain, then we must on an express route that pierces directly through the Aubrililes¡¯ territory unlike before. But that¡¯s good.¡¯

 Chapter 135 Concealed Rocky Canyon

    ¡ª-

    After journeying through the rocky terrain for another 2 hours, an alert finally appeared, notifying the party that they had entered another unchartednd.

    ¡´System: You have entered the ?Concealed Rocky Canyon?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 100 World Fame as the first yers to enter this area!¡µ

    Receiving another supply of World Fame was more than enough to cement everyone¡¯s standing inside the World Fame leaderboards. While it was challenging to maintain exclusivity on the level leaderboard, the fame leaderboard was another story.

    The amount of fame rewarded for achieving an aplishment was dependent on the feat¡¯s difficulty.

    Most people wouldn¡¯t attempt topleteplex tasks right now, so the highest World Fame beneath any of Kieran¡¯s members was 300. Considering Knight-level reputation spanned from 251 to 1,000 Fame Points, it was nowhere near the requirement to elevate one¡¯s standing to oneparable to a Lord.

    In contrast, Kieran¡¯s progress was astonishing. After all, his current Fame Points amounted to 650, over double the amount anyone else generated. While a considerable amount originated from area discoveries, the rest resulted from his skill.

    ¡®I¡¯m growing much closer to the first requirement, but I can¡¯t neglect the others. That¡¯s the true reason I¡¯ve been saving these Treasure Chests. In fact, I need more. For that, I¡¯ll have to recall different map locations, or¡­.¡¯

    Kieran¡¯s gaze suddenly changed. ¡®ept the right quest from the War Deity Council.¡¯

    Only quests on the level of Main Quests could offer Treasure Chest as rewards because these chests were intricately tied to Xenith¡¯s hidden treasuries. There was a chance every chest could draw a mystery item from said hidden areas. However, there was a blowback attached to this event.

    For example, if the item had an unimaginable worth and somehow ended up in the hands of a lowly adventurer, the actual owners would conduct a manhunt!<sub>-.</sub>

    Hence, caution was advised when opening a Treasure Chest above the Epic grade. Legendary items were enough forrge powers to kill over, and some of those items had 100% drop rates upon death.

    Nevertheless, this wasn¡¯t a worry that afflicted Kieran. Rare Grade Treasure Chests were practically harmless because this grading didn¡¯t enter the eyes of powers like the War Deity Council, Alchemist Circle, or the Merchant Association.

    In fact, it could be considered fodder whenpared to highly regarded Legendary items.

    Kieran surveilled his surrounding before noticing a familiar path. But, upon detecting that path, Kieran did everything in his power to steer the caravans away from it¡ªthe mine he wished to keep secret was located that way, and they would eventually stumble across it if they traveled down that path.

    ¡°We¡¯ll keep heading straight. I¡¯ve yet to sense any monsters,¡± Kieranmanded. His expression remained neutral, so no one noticed his intentions, mainly because he was at the front, and his rear blocked any sight of his face.

    The others followed regardless and crossed through the Concealed Rocky Canyon. As they moved, they saw humanoid figures far off in the distance. These figures were too far to grasp their appearance clearly, but Kieran ignored them anyway.

    Not only were their movements sluggish, but he could tell they were somewhatrge due to their size from this distance. If they were to move closer, the team would also realize these figures were considerablyrger than they were.

    Unlike the intermediary zone between the Desert of Crumbling Sands and the Concealed Rocky Canyon, the terrain here was dangerous. The rocks protruding from the ground were pointed andrge. One misstep and these sharp rocks could skewer the horses.

    Furthermore, the floor was littered with various fissures and small chasms, which was partly why this area was called the Concealed Rocky Canyon. However, the main reason for its name was therge crevasse Kieran and the others walked beside. One wouldn¡¯t notice it until they were close to the ominous edge.

    ¡°H-hey¡­ I¡¯m not scared or anything, but should we be traveling so close to the edge of this canyon? I mean, it is frighteningly deep!¡± Bastion muttered.

    ¡°Meh, it pales inparison to the Chasm of Apogeton?¡± Kieran said indifferently.<sub></sub>

    ¡°WHAT?!¡± Head Merchant Penni shouted in horror. He pulled on the horse¡¯s reins and stared at Kieran in disbelief. ¡°W-w-what did you just say?¡±

    ¡°You mean regarding the Chasm of Apogeton?¡± Kieran said to confirm this was the reason for Head Merchant Penni¡¯s reaction.

    ¡°Yes, that! Why are you treating it so indifferently as if the name means nothing? Are you not aware?¡± Head Merchant Penni widened his eyes at Kieran¡¯s obliviousness.

    Not everyone regarded the Chasm of Apogeton the way Agrianos did, but his opinion had rubbed off on Kieran, partly because of his power¡¯s origin.

    ¡°No, enlighten me, please,¡± Kieran requested.

    ¡°The Chasm of Apogeton is a terrifying wonder of legends. It¡¯s rumored to be the slumbering ce of a connection to an extremely dark world. A world once connected to this one. So, to disregard it so lightheartedly is insane! It could very well be the source of an apocalypse if it is real!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s real¡ªvery real. I¡¯ve even visited the ce,¡± Kieran shrugged.

    Head Merchant Penni almost fainted as a result of Kieran¡¯s response.

    ¡°You jest! There is no way a budding adventurer has trek beyond the forbidden expanse.¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes¡­ yes, I¡¯m just joking,¡± Kieran said with a wry smile. The fact Head Merchant Penni treated the Chasm of Apogeton as mere folklore of this world made Kieran wonder if the world was privy to Agrianos¡¯ existence.

    ¡®I suppose the Chasm of Apogeton is a well-kept secret limited only to the War Deity Council and simr powers¡¯ knowledge. If that¡¯s the case, then¡­¡¯ Kieran¡¯s grimace deepened as a disturbing thought crossed his mind.

    Obtaining the True Berserker ss was undoubtedly a condemnation!

    ¡®No, no, no. I¡¯ll have to ask Scar or Agrianos to tell me more about this matter when I see them again. Many parts of the Wildes are regarded as forbiddennd, but tobel something a forbidden expanse means that not even the races indigenous to the area dare intrude upon that area.¡¯

    Although Kieran understood the severity of the Nether Severing Hex Seal¡¯s presence, he didn¡¯t know this historic seal was withheld from the knowledge of the masses.

    ¡®I guess withholding information is a tactic practiced by all governing powers. Take a look at the government¡ªit¡¯s an entity riddled with secrets despite itsrge realm of influence,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    However, Kieran understood the need to withhold particr facts to maintain general peace and stability. People tended to panic when confronted with a life-threatening issue, but it was a human response ingrained into the fibers of their being.

    ¡°That is an inappropriate joke, Sir Aatrox. Don¡¯t condemn us with dark humor,¡± Head Merchant Penni pleaded. He grasped his chest as the fright made his heart pound so hard it almost jumped out of his chest.

    ¡°I apologize,¡± Kieran said.

    Despite his apology, Kieran wasn¡¯t truly sorry. Instead, he wondered if Penni¡¯s fears were a foreboding omen. Piecing together this thought with Scar urging him to grow quickly, Kieran felt something was amiss with the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary.

    But, if that were true, only three powers would be privy to the situation¡ªone of which even Kieran had never experienced. There were only rumors in the past that a shadowy gathering of individuals existed with more power than the War Deity Council¡¯s entire forcesbined.

    With how strong Agrianos was, Kieran wondered if he was a part of this old rumor. It was certainly possible.

    Thud! Thud! Thud!

    Shifting rocks falling down the canyon¡¯s gaping side rmed the party as Bastion jumped before exhaling shakily. ¡°Man, I can¡¯t take this anymore! I¡¯m so close to the edge.¡±

    Meanwhile, Kieran looked ahead and saw towns, viges, and other civilizations in the extreme distance. ¡°Stopining; the hard part is almost over. We¡¯re trying to avoid fights. Monsters would avoid the danger of being this close to the edge, but there are still a few meters separating us.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, what are the odds of a few meters of rocks giving away?¡± Nemean interjected.

    However, Bastion superstitiously scowled. ¡°Don¡¯t jinx it, you knucklehead! You were known to have bad juju during our childhood! Take it back!¡±

    ¡°I refuse,¡± Nemean smirked.

    The two immediately devolved into a bickering match that made everyone groan. Everyone looked forward to the moment this long journey ended because frightened tantrums would no longer spur on this incessant bickering.

    Just as the caravans crossed thest stretch of the Concealed Rocky Canyon an hourter, the sound of shattering ss resonated within the entire party¡¯s ears, raising their awareness.

    At the same time, the sky brightened until it resembled crystalline water showered by a resplendent sun.

    However, if one studied the sun closely, they¡¯d notice the previously whitish-yellow sun gained a cerulean tint. Following this change, everyone frowned, especially Bastion. His body immediately felt the effects of the heavy armor he wore.

    ¡°What is going on?!¡± Bastion groaned. These effects exceeded his expectations by arge margin. But, before Kieran could give his input, an alert appeared before all yers, robbing his need to do so.

    ©°©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    ?Zenith Online World Announcement?-

    The metamorphosis has finished, and with itspletion, you yers have entered a deeper rtionship with this world. The following things will affect all yers who join this world:

    -Stage One Life Realism (?)

    -Stage One Combat Realism (?)

    -Item Level System Revamp (?)

    -User Interface Renewal (?)

    -Economic Interface Update (?)

    -Handicap Parameter Removal (?)

    For more information, click the designated (?) beside each updated information.

    ©¸©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    With the introduction of this metamorphosis, everything would change because the increased Life and Combat Realism meant yers were being ¡°integrated.¡± After all, these updates didn¡¯t affect the denizens of Xenith; it was unique to the yers who logged into the world.

    These updates sought to elevate a yer¡¯s perception of this world to a levelparable to a patron. That way, there would be no distinguished boundary between the yer and the world.

 Chapter 136 Stage One Combat & Life Realism

    ¡ª-

    Theprehensive update left yers stunned for quite some time. Most yers stopped what they were doing to read through all the information given. This was unusual, given that most yers despised reading and would rather experience the changes firsthand and thenin about the difficulty and how it was impossible to work with.

    However, that wasn¡¯t the case when it came to Zenith Online. The massive difference sparked an inevitable drive to understand what had just urred. Of course, before they read through the information, cries of protest rained down in every yer-inhabited area.

    Meanwhile, Kieran scanned the contents while awaiting his party members¡¯ reactions.

    The first toment was Altair, surprisingly. ¡°Why are Combat and Life Realism different? Isn¡¯tbat just a part of life at this point? It should be a consolidated update if you ask me.¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s because it attacks two different matters. Just take a look at the exined contents,¡± Kieran responded. He brought their attention to the first line of the update¡ªStage One Life Realism.

    While Stage One Life and Combat Realismprised the general increase to Stage One Realism, a few key factors separated them into two categories. This separation allowed for in-depth knowledge rather than a generalized summary.

    The update wouldn¡¯t provide the yers with enough information if it were generalized.

    As exined in the update details, Stage One Life Realism increased the yers¡¯ familiarity with the world and presented basic human requirements. This included the Satiety Bar now present in everyone¡¯s User Interface. It was a bar that gauged from green to yellow to orange and finally red, depending on how sated the yer was.

    Satiety wasn¡¯t just limited to food consumption; it also included sufficient rest and giving one¡¯s body time to heal after emptying their Stamina ten consecutive times.

    Negative impacts also apanied a change like this. If the Satiety Bar were to empty and wasn¡¯t replenished promptly, severe side effects would ensue. An empty bar meant one¡¯s Stamina would be severely affected.<sub>-.</sub>

    If a yer allowed their Satiety Bar to empty, they might as well remain inside a town, vige, or city because their attributes would no longer apply the same. It would be as if they possessed a negative Constitution.

    The chances of winning a battle against an enemy while in that state were nil.

    Therefore, professions like Chefs and Masseuses became quite popr in Kieran¡¯s past. Both of these professions excelled at ridding fatigue and increasing Satiety.

    Aside from the Satiety Bar, the role of environmental factors in a yer¡¯s experiences increased drastically. Whether the conditions involved heat, cold, dry air, rain, or other undesirable weather, they could all impact how a yer felt.

    Another feature of Stage One Life Realism was increased recognition from NPCs, otherwise known as patrons of Xenith. This increase made it easier to ept teachers, discover quests, and even created the option for tailored quests spurred by unique actions.

    In light of this change, another matter would soon follow¡ªthe rapid inclusion of several vital Professions. Alchemists, Tailors, Forgers, Apothecarist, and many more would be indispensable due to the handicap removal.

    Lastly, the need for reputation with certain NPCs increased considerably. Fostering a rtionship with different NPCs below the Mythical Rank could improve the interactions between yers and NPCs.

    Stage One Combat Realism, on the other hand, shone light upon the implementation of equipment weight and created a manual requirement. A yer could no longer activate a skill just by focusing on its presence in the skill menu.

    Now, yers could only activate skills by supplying a unique character inside their minds with the required Mana or any other energy sources and then carrying out the manual skill description provided by said character.

    Attack speed and movement speed gained some restrictions and were now heavily reliant on one¡¯s attributes.<sub></sub>

    Reading through all this information baffled Bastion, Nemean, and Altair alike.

    ¡°So¡­ the dy in activating skills will be much greater now?¡± Altair grimaced after thinking of his skills¡¯ physical requirement. The Assassin ss required excessive speed to unleash most of his skills, but if they were all aplished through manual inputs, Altair somewhat rued choosing this ss.

    However, Alice had it even worst. Her skills required a unique Mana flow to achieve the right element. Additionally, the density of every flow differed depending on the skill rank.

    ¡°T-this¡­¡± Even Alice stammered after bing overwhelmed by the information before her. She tried to unleash a simple Fireball Spell, an E Rank Skill, but she felt horrible when the skill failed and caused a bacsh.

    Alice was blown back by the implosion and lost twenty-five percent of her Health, but Kieran caught her with a bitter smile. ¡°It¡¯s not easy, is it?¡±

    ¡°Not at all,¡± Alice shook her head. ¡°I made one misstep, and the Mana collided with itself.¡±

    ¡°This is insane! Who would want to y a game this difficult?!¡± Bastion scowled. He tried activating some defensive skills, but his internal Mana barely listened, causing a fat vein to appear on the temples while straining.

    ¡°I agree, but at least most of my skills are only reinforced by Mana. I don¡¯t have to worry about the issues that gue you all,¡± Nemean snickered.

    However, his mocking expression was short-lived as Kieran¡¯s followed words were like ice cold water dousing out flickering embers.

    ¡°That means yours are even worse,¡± Kieran corrected.

    Nemean¡¯s eyes widened in horror, but he ultimately tested out Kieran¡¯s ims. He performed shadow-boxing movements since there was no nearby enemy. After his fifth strike, he fulfilled the requirements to activate his first significant skill.

    ¡°Chain Link: Shield Rush!¡±

    Nemean¡¯s footing suddenly changed as he spun to create a whirlwind-like momentum; however, that momentum broke, and hended t on his face.

    ¡°What in the what?!¡± Nemean shouted at the top of his lungs while jumping up from the ground.

    ¡°Yeah, your skills are reinforced by Mana. That means you have to carry out and maintain that reinforcement alone. The moment the fluid flow of Mana breaks is when your skill will be disrupted,¡± Kieran revealed.

    The entire party was dismayed as they beganining about these new changes.

    Meanwhile, Kieran extended his hand and focused on one of the faint characters that circled a colossal crimson gem-like construct in his mind. ¡®That must be Blood Mania since it is the basis of my ss. However¡­¡¯

    Kieran noticed something odd about this construct¡ªthe top was fragmented. Fragmented constructs meant the skill was either iplete or the yercked foundational understanding, thereby limiting how much power the user could bring out.

    Nevertheless, Kieran didn¡¯t have a solution for its fragmented state, so he continued to focus on one of the more minor characters. The required information popped into his mind, and Kieran manipted blood energy a momentter.

    A glob of viscous red energy flowed above his palm as Kieran gazed at the others. Alice and the rest were soon filled with awe, but that quickly became envy as they noticed how effortless this disy seemed.

    ¡°You¡¯re a freak; you know that?¡± Bastion grumbled.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Kieran smiled wholeheartedly. It only served to make Bastion even more furious as he stomped in ce like an infant throwing a tantrum.

    ¡°This was done by understanding my skill. The change isn¡¯t as difficult as you believe. Before youin, study the character ced in your mind. The first time you do so, a sort of map will appear. Don¡¯t try activating your skills until that map ismitted to memory. You should move on to physical attempts only once that step ispleted. Otherwise, you¡¯ll just frustrate yourself,¡± Kieran said.

    Because the others rushed to test out the changes, they neglected the aid provided to limate to said changes. But, Kieran didn¡¯t mention it until they all experienced failure because failure was often the greatest teacher.

    Mistakes were inevitable but also desirable. Mistakes marked a tangible issue and opened a route for improvement. After all, there was nothing more fulfilling than documenting your progress. This applied to all aspects of life; improvement was fulfilling.

    Theints died down as Kieran called for a travel break. This gave Alice and the others time to understand these so-called maps Kieran mentioned. In short, the maps indicated where Mana should be focused and expelled from to unleash the skill.

    However, these maps soon raised a question.

    ¡°Wait¡­ can skills be overcharged?¡± Alice wondered.

    What would happen if a simple Fireball spell was fed Mana that exceeded the consumption requirement? There were no longer markers that indicated how much Mana was being moved; it was now up to the user to decide if the amount conjured was sufficient, insufficient, or far too much.

    To understand this, yers would need to enter libraries and conduct research regarding the siz

 Chapter 137 Quest Progress

    ¡ª-

    The journey¡¯s remaining stretch passed by quickly now that Kieran forewent allbat. With his team¡¯s issues guing the party, walking into battle would be suicide. He was the only one who could currently unleash a proper skill.

    Therefore, Kieran led the caravans to Aubrililes City within the next four hours.

    However, unlike Aeredale City, they were all stopped at the gate despite the clear indication that they came to do business.

    The city guard¡¯s crossed their weapons and barred entry. After performing this action, the lead guard spoke. ¡°The entry fee will be 1 Gold per person and 50 Gold per caravan.¡±

    Kieran immediately frowned after hearing this exorbitant price.

    What kingdom felt confident enough to charge gold coins for a mere entry fee? If kingdoms gave this price to a yer, they would undoubtedly switch directions and travel elsewhere.

    But, this price was the entry fee for business people. Since they intended to do business, the Aubrililes Kingdom felt it was befitting to give them a significant tax.

    Considering their current situation, Head Merchant Penni could only gnash his teeth and hold in his protest.

    However, although he remained silent now, that didn¡¯t mean he wouldn¡¯t raise this grievance with more affluent figures in the Merchant Association.

    ¡®Damned robbery is what it is,¡¯ Head Merchant Penni thought with an indignant scoff.

    He paid the fee, amounting to almost 300 Gold. This included the price of Kieran and his party members, which surprised him.

    Kieran would be lying if he said he expected Penni to pay. If it were left up to him, Kieran would simply bid his farewell.

    While he possessed thousands of Gold, he wouldn¡¯t squander it on a kingdom¡¯s entry fee. In his eyes, it wasn¡¯t worth it, especially if it possessed next to zero unique opportunities.<sub>-.</sub>

    The guards held their weapons at ease, allowing the caravan¡¯s passage into the city¡¯s walls. Kieran dismounted the horse and walked beside it while Alice remained atop.

    ¡°What will we do here?¡± Alice questioned. Since Head Merchant Penni paid the fee, it¡¯d be foolish not to capitalize on the opportunity granted.

    ¡°I suppose we¡¯ll just look around for now. But, we won¡¯t stay for too long. I must return and turn in my quest for the rewards,¡± Kieran answered. Only a few buildings generated the slightest interest in Kieran.

    The library was one of such buildings. He wanted to see if his assumptions were urate¡ªwas the Chasm of Apogeton not listened in general knowledge? If so, where was this information kept aside from the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary¡¯s library?

    Another ce that interested Kieran was the Merchant Association stationed in this city. He wondered if he could find a suitable armor set ore across some recipes.

    If push came to shove, he would use his profession slot to be a Forger. Although forging would impede his leveling speed, the benefits gained from forging were worth the sacrifice.

    The ability to create equipment was a necessity.

    ¡°Aatrox,¡± Alice called out suddenly.

    Kieran turned toward her in response, awaiting the reason for her beckon.

    ¡°Is there a ce for Mages to train? I mean, aside from the Magic Academies present in each city,¡± Alice asked. With the issue posed by her current condition, Alice felt it was imperative she conduct magical research.

    ¡°Ah, I think so. Hold on,¡± Kieran said. Kieran pretended as if he pondered over any possible mention of such ces before nodding faintly. ¡°There are two options: the Mage Towers and the Mystical Libraries.¡±

    ¡°Mage Towers and Mystical Libraries,¡± Alice murmured, parroting Kieran¡¯s words. Her clear eyes sparkled as she looked at Kieran. ¡°Where are they?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s where it gets tricky. In the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary, I saw that only the Five Great Empires possess a Mage Tower in their Imperial City. But, not just anyone can waltz into an Imperial City. There¡¯s a chance you might be thrown out if people like us try to gain entry,¡± Kieran said with a wry smile.<sub></sub>

    Empires were a level beyond the yers¡¯ current breadth.

    At the very least, they¡¯d need to reach Lv.50 before entertaining the idea of visiting an Imperial City. After all, Imperial Cities were home to countless Awakened Beings, meaning they were Tier 3 existences at the very least.

    ¡°People like us? What do you mean people like us?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t your mentor tell you when you promoted your ss?¡± Kieran¡¯s expression was skeptical as he stared at Alice¡¯s apparent cluelessness.

    ¡°Mm mm,¡± Alice shook her head, leaving Kieran to scratch his.

    ¡°We¡¯re considered Intermediate Beings, or Tier 1 existences. This level of power is held with minimal regard. If we want to increase our presence, we must increase our power. But this produces the power conundrum because we sometimes need to help of higher ces to achieve power.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ rather dumb,¡± Alicemented. ¡°So are we gatekept from bing stronger in a sense?¡±

    Kieran was momentarily shocked by Alice¡¯s adept usage of game terminology. He underestimated her familiarity with games.

    ¡°Yeah, I suppose you can say that. But isn¡¯t it the same in reality? Gatekeeping is a practice that appears almost everywhere.¡±

    Alice¡¯s frown deepened as she agreed with Kieran¡¯s point. ¡°If we ever rise to power, let¡¯s promise to go easy on the gatekeeping.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible, but I understand your intentions,¡± Kieran answered truthfully. It was impossible to limit all gatekeeping because opportunities were limited, and not everyone could relish in the same experiences.

    However, while total elimination was impossible, containing it to different levels wasn¡¯t. This was the bargain Kieran was willing to make.

    Afterward, Kieran looked around the city, which at a nce, seemed less popted than Aeredale City. ¡®So this is the effect of my feats? Many yers have migrated to Aeredale City rather thane here.¡¯

    Although this migration would increasepetition, Kieran didn¡¯t fear it.

    The increasedpetition simrly meant there would be an increased demand for materials in the uing future. If the demand rose to a desperate enough level, Kieran could smoothly grab ahold of the market.

    This was even more true because Sithik, Cygnus, and Cyr spent their time amassing a great deal of material with the funds Kieran continually supplied them. Throughout their journey, Kieran sent over 600 Gold between the three.

    Kieran didn¡¯t suspect they were pocketing the money for themselves because they provided proof of purchase every time Kieran distributed another round of funds, even though he didn¡¯t request this proof.

    ¡°We¡¯re here. I appreciate you escorting us to our destination safely,¡± Head Merchant Penni suddenly said. They stood before the Merchant Association¡¯s grand trading center, which seemed more like a flea market.

    Kieran noticed and looked at the notifications before him.

    ¡´System: Ensure the safety of the merchant crew. 1/1¡µ

    ¡´System: Escort a collection of trade caravans through nearby routes. 1/1 ¡µ

    Half of the quest was finished just by escorting these merchants.

    However, the obligation to report his findings remained. And Kieran intended to tell it all without withholding a single detail.

    If he were correct, doing so would result in an entirely new quest because the brigands¡¯ scope of activity was far too suspicious. If they targeted the Aeredale Kingdom¡¯s goods but not the Aubrililies Kingdom, they were a troublesome weed that required uprooting.

    Although his requirements wereplete, Kieran stopped Head Merchant Penni before he could enter the market area. ¡°I have a request.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Head Merchant Penni¡¯s ears perked up at the mention of a request. He smelled potential business and couldn¡¯t turn it away.

    ¡°It involves the Invigoration Brew you gave us. Do you have a way to acquire it in bulk? Or, do you have any excess?¡±

    ¡°Ah! So you have taken a liking to my love? I¡¯m always looking for a fellow Invogora connoisseur. I indeed have a collection. I¡¯m willing to sell you some for 1 Gold per 100 grams.¡±

    Kieran pondered the likelihood of this being a good deal while his party members remained stunned by the price. The inferior materials on the market cost Copper Coins, while Head Merchant Penni sought Gold!

    However, considering the shocking effects of the Invigoration Brew, Kieran felt it was an okay price. But, he wouldn¡¯t be a seasoned yer if he didn¡¯t barter.

    ¡°Can we increase it to 1 Gold per 150 grams?¡±

    ¡°Err,¡± Head Merchant Penni moaned in reluctance before proposing a new deal. ¡°1 Gold per 110 grams.¡±

    ¡°135 grams,¡± Kieran immediately countered.

    ¡°125 grams!¡± Head Merchant Penni shouted. From how he acted, it was evident he was reaching his tipping point, so Kieran conceded in this deal.

    ¡®A 25% value increase is already a great deal.¡¯

    ¡°How much are we talking?¡± Head Merchant Penni asked. At the same time, he gestured for the other merchants to proceed along.

    ¡°How much can you part ways with?¡±

    ¡°I have a cer dedicated to aging my fine invogora beans. I can relinquish up to 25 kilograms!¡±

    ¡°Deal, I will take it all,¡± Kieran said without hesitation.

    ¡°Hehehe, you have just increased my personal wealth by 200 Gold.

    ¡®If we conduct enough research, we may be able to turn this Invigoration Brew into a proper Stamina Potion. I¡¯ll have to request Aspaira¡¯s help on that matter,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    If he could tweak the dosage, dilute the ingredients and find a way to harness the invigorative effects while neutralizing the loss of efficacy, he could create a valuablemodity!

    Head Merchant Penni didn¡¯t have the items on hand, so he promised to finalize the deal once he returned to Aeredale City.

    After that was taken care of, Kieran parted ways with the merchants before bringing Sera to a fancy establishment. The atmosphere and the customers enjoying meals revealed its identity as a restaurant.

    Upon entering this ce, Kieran brought Sera to a counter. He conversed with the clerk until a waitress approached. Kieran then presented Sera while giving her a few tips.

    ¡°Complete the basic tasks, and you¡¯ll be given the Chef profession. We¡¯ll work on increasing your skill from there.¡±

    Sera nodded and followed the waitress to the back. This wasn¡¯t a typical experience, but Sera¡¯s reputation garnered a warm reception from the restaurant. They were willing to help her realize her ¡°dream.¡±

    Due to the Stage One Life Realism, some tasks required a bit of smooth talking tomence. In Kieran¡¯s case, he told the staff it was Sera¡¯s dream to be a cook.

    ¡°Damned silver tongue,¡± Bastion spat.

    ¡°I know, right? Aatrox can¡¯t be trusted. We must protect our woman from him!¡± Nemean agreed.

    ¡°Woman?! Who the hell wants us, you damned moron!¡± Bastion shouted, almost causing a scene in the restaurant.

    However, Nemean reciprocated the action. ¡°Hey, I don¡¯t know about you, but I look damned good!¡±

    ¡°Yes, because that¡¯s what your mother told you,¡± Bastion scoffed.

    ¡°Damn you!¡±

    Kieran ignored the two while awaiting thepletion of Sera¡¯s task.

 Chapter 138 Mayor Lowes Rage

    ¡ª-

    Sera emerged from the restaurant¡¯s rear with a bright smile an hourter. Kieran didn¡¯t need to ask to know that she sessfully gained the Chef Profession.

    However, what Sera did reveal slightly surprised Kieran.

    ¡°I received fourplementary Rank 1 recipes, each of which gives a varying amount of Satiety. But, they said it would be moreplicated to create the ones of higher Satiety,¡± Sera said.

    Kieran nodded. ¡°Four? That¡¯s a pretty decent gift. I expected them to give you one. But, I guess this happens when you amass World Fame before visiting such ces.¡±

    ¡°Whoa, what about us? Let us pick up a profession as well. I¡¯d love to get free things,¡± Bastion immediately eximed.

    ¡°One Chef is enough for the time being. If you¡¯re truly interested in a profession, we need to find one we require. For now, I¡¯m not sure what that is,¡± Kieran replied.

    Asking them to be forgers or other heavy production-based professions was something Kieran wouldn¡¯t do. Their main priority should be recovering theirbat skills while Kieran outsourced the equipment issue.

    ¡®If I recall properly, a few yers should rise to notable fame in the future regarding their forging skill. Perhaps I should seek them out to work alongside Aspaira,¡¯ Kieran rubbed his chin in thought.

    With the presence of the First Metamorphosis, it wouldn¡¯t be long before guilds began focusing their attention on production professions. Theserge-scale recruitments would spark the interest of production yers with no interest in joiningbat.

    However, they wouldn¡¯t offer items or gold; they were offering tangible sries, something Kieran would have topete against if he wanted to vie for these talented folks.

    ¡®As far as my wealth goes, it¡¯s not worth mentioning whenpared to even second-ss gaming organizations.¡¯

    Although Kieran received a steady ie from the guide attached to his streaming ount, it wasn¡¯tparable to the earnings of endorsed and sponsored gaming organizations.<sub>-.</sub>

    Their channels would blow up once walkthroughs of certain dungeons emerged.

    Considering how many things Kieran needed to get done, he didn¡¯t have time to record any dungeon walkthroughs topile into another guide helpful to yers of a simr level.

    ¡°I don¡¯t really care about the production; I just wanted free stuff,¡± Bastion murmured in response.

    Kieran nced at him with aplex expression before snapping his finger. ¡®That¡¯s it! I¡¯ll lure them in with the promise of free materials up to a certain amount of worth and go from there.¡¯

    While Kieran produced a somewhat reasonable solution, it didn¡¯t solve the problem of attracting such yers without drawing attention to himself. At least, that wasn¡¯t until he considered his unique advantage.

    ¡®What if I use the stream to generate a false notion?¡¯ Kieran wondered.

    Because of his stream¡¯s poprity, which had amassed over four hundred thousand followers, he was confident he could attract the attention of Lifestyle yers if he used the guise of a personal item request.

    It was general knowledge that things like Forgers existed; there was just ack of attention regarding their exact worth.

    After deciding to take this route, Kieran brought the others around Aubrililes City while noting their considerably higher market prices.

    ¡®I wonder if more yers would flock to Aeredale City if they knew the materials sold in this city were priced 50% higher than those sold in Aeredale. Nevertheless, it¡¯s not my ce to make this known. Thepetition will be great as is.¡¯

    Despite visiting the Merchant Association, Kieran failed to find any equipment for a reasonable price.

    Kieran could only relinquish the thought of obtaining any useful items from this branch before moving to the library of this city.<sub></sub>

    Upon entering that ce and browsing through the section marked historical events, Kieran¡¯s suspicions were confirmed. There was no mention of the Chasm of Apogeton in any of the historical texts.

    ¡®Their history is fragmented, but it¡¯s not like ordinary citizens care. Their only concern is continuing on with their everyday life,¡¯ Kieran noted before closing therge book in his hand.

    He looked toward the others and asked, ¡°Are you all ready to return? I¡¯ve found nothing of interest here. We might as well return and cement our standing.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m ready to get out of here,¡± Altair expressed.

    ¡°Same, this ce is too expensive. It¡¯s for the entitled people,¡± Bastionmented. He was shocked by the prices when browsing through the Rare Equipment on disy in the Item Shop.

    Eventually, the party¡¯s desires aligned.

    Given the city¡¯s inclination for increased prices, Kieran braced himself for the cost of teleportation upon arriving at the Teleportation Hall.

    The hall¡¯s attendee revealed the price, but Kieran wasn¡¯t too surprised by it. ¡°The base fee is 5 Gold per person, and 1 Gold per every 1000 kilometers traveled.¡±

    With the distance separating Aeredale City and Aubrililes City, Kieran paid a fee of 230 Gold for everyone present.

    Zworp!

    A sudden pulling sensation overtook everyone before they disappeared in a sh.

    Kieran and the others arrived at Aeredale City¡¯s Teleportation Hall just secondster. Bastion and Nemean covered their mouths while holding back the rising feeling of nausea.

    ¡°Dear god¡­ what is going on? I¡¯m never taking that again!¡± Bastionined.

    ¡°It¡¯s like stepping into a 100-story building¡¯s elevator and plunging ten stories in an instant!¡± Nemean added.

    The two hugged each other in a dramatic disy, but Kieran stood in awe as he witnessed this city¡¯s even more crowded streets.

    ¡®So I was right. The metamorphosis was spurred by the number of yers who reached cities outside the Beginner Zone.¡¯

    ¡°Meet me at the Training Hall; I¡¯ll be there in a few moments.¡±

    After giving this direction, Kieran moved toward the Mayor¡¯s Office to finish the remaining parts of the quest. The increased yer traffic made Kieran consider failing this quest purposely because the effects would drive yers to rely upon another source.

    However, the likelihood of this quest being a chain quest meant the effect could simrly transfer. Additionally, the value of a chain quest outshined the possiblepetition. It was just a petty passing thought in Kieran¡¯s mind.

    Kieran soon arrived at the Mayor¡¯s Office and greeted the receptionist. Because the receptionist found him familiar, she led him to the mayor¡¯s personal quarters without asking his identity.

    ¡°I suppose the mayor gave you an assignment? He was pacing around his office earlier with an anxious expression. There haven¡¯t been any issues in the city, so I can only assume it¡¯s rted to you?¡±

    ¡®I guess Head Merchant Penni contacted him? I¡¯m not sure if there have been issues, but it seems like Penni didn¡¯t reveal any information due to my quest limitations,¡¯ Kieran assumed.

    The quest holder was the only one able toplete quest objectives, including NPCs¡¯ interference. Unless the quest explicitly stated flexiblepletion was possible, it was up to the holder toplete the contents.

    The receptionist left Kieran alone after leading him to Mayor Lowe¡¯s door.

    Kieran only knocked once before Mayor Lowe answered. ¡°Come in!¡±

    Kieran entered and shut the door behind him. The scene of Mayor Lowe pacing back and forth in his office while nibbling on his index finger greeted Kieran¡¯s sights.

    After seeing it was Kieran, Mayor Lowe stopped pacing, and his expression brightened. ¡°Aatrox, you have returned!¡±

    ¡°I have,¡± Kieran answered.

    ¡°Tell me, how was it? Did it all go smoothly? Penni contacted me and told me the merchandise made it safely, and I have you to thank for that.¡± Mayor Lowe expressed his gratitude but remained antsy while awaiting the detailed report.

    ¡°Smooth? I can¡¯t say that it was. We experienced our fair share of hups, but the main one was that the bandits aren¡¯t as simple as you assumed. They¡¯re a band of brigands,¡± Kieran revealed.

    ¡°Band of brigands?!¡± Mayor Lowe eximed. He was under the assumption that it was petty thieves stealing from the association as a means to survive. He didn¡¯t expect it to be brigands.

    Brigands were by no means simple thieves. Before acting, they plotted their targets¡¯ habits and awaited the perfect opportunity to strike.

    However, this calcted behavior also meant the brigands chose their targets for more profound reasons.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t good. Protecting a single caravan doesn¡¯t solve the issue if the problem is brigands¡­¡± Mayor Lowe¡¯s expression deted as he slumped back in his chair.

    He sighed before asking another question. ¡°Where did you first run into trouble?¡±

    ¡°It began at the end of the Barren Mountain Range and continued into the Desert of Crumbling Sands until we met awork of Sand Worms,¡± Kieran calmly recounted.

    Mayor Lowe¡¯s eyes widened as Kieran¡¯s recount exasperated him. ¡°Sand Worms?! And you all didn¡¯t die? And the caravans safely made it through without further damage?¡±

    ¡°Correct,¡± Kieran nodded.

    Mayor Lowe was ovee with disbelief. Even he would experience some trouble if he went up against Sand Worms. After all, although he was an Advanced Being, his ss wasn¡¯t designed to engage inbat.

    Ding!

    ¡´System: Record the area of malicious activity. 1/1¡µ

    Delivering information on where they fought and experienced the tyranny of the Desertborn Brigandspleted another quest objective. But, one more remained.

    ¡°But that¡¯s not all,¡± Kieran suddenly remarked.

    Mayor Lowe¡¯s expression changed as he anticipated Kieran¡¯s following words.

    ¡°It appears these Desertborn Brigands only target the Aeredale Kingdom¡¯s merchandise. It seems they have not an ounce of fear toward the Aeredale Kingdom.¡±

    ¡°WHAT?! Preposterous!¡± Mayor Lowe seethed, mming his hands on the desk. What Kieran had just revealed, enraged him beyond reason.

    ¡´System: Deliver all findings to Mayor Lowe. 1/1¡µ

 Chapter 139 Chain Quest and Training

    ¡ª-

    ¡´System: You havepleted the B Rank Main Quest ?Protecting Aeredale¡¯s Economy?!¡µ

    ¡´System: Your favorability with Mayor Lowe has increased by 500 points!¡µ

    ¡´System: Your rtionship with Mayor Lowe has improved to Honored!¡µ

    ¡´System: Treatment while in the presence of Mayor Lowe will increase. The difficulty of acquiring quest through Mayor Lowe will decrease by 50%.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 400,000 Experience Points!¡µ

    ¡´System: Congrattions, you have leveled up! [Lv.30¡úLv.31]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 12 Unassigned Attribute Points and 8 Skill Points.¡µ

    Although Kieranpleted all the quest objectives, the system didn¡¯t distribute every reward listed in the quest details. When it came to Main Quest, some of the rewards could only be distributed by the issuer of the quest.

    Yes, it was urate that the game system issued the quest. But it was impossible for the quest to be generated if the NPC didn¡¯t think about it. Thus, Kieran could only receive the Gold and chain quest from Mayor Lowe.

    Mayor Lowe calmed down after expressing his anger through strong huffs. He took a seat and tidied his suit jacket. Afterward, he massaged the bridge of his nose and spoke.

    ¡°Forgive my disy of anger. This is just a truly infuriating situation. This is a terrible time to be targeted.¡±

    ¡°I understand. I would have reacted the same way if I was in your predicament. It¡¯s not easy to ept that you¡¯re a target of nefarious actions,¡± Kieran said. He spoke from his heart because he was indeed familiar with being the victim of underhanded schemes.

    ¡°Precisely!¡± Mayor Lowe eximed in agreement. ¡°Ah, before it escapes my mind. Your reward.¡±

    Mayor Lowe ced a hefty pouch on his desk that nked with metallic clicking.

    ¡´System: You have received 1,000 Gold.¡µ<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡®This will more than cover the cost of teleportation. After factoring in the money spent on materials and the deal with Penni, it¡¯s as if I haven¡¯t spent a single coin.¡¯

    However, Kieran remained seated after receiving his reward. His real interesty in the chain quest.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Mayor Lowe asked when he noticed Kieran¡¯s lingering presence. Most adventurers would leave after receiving their due payment.

    ¡°It¡¯s clear you are still troubled, which means I can be of greater use. Why would I leave? As you said, I¡¯ve only solved the temporary issue, not the main one,¡± Kieran said.

    Mayor Lowe looked at him with a raised eyebrow. ¡®He may not appear strong on the surface, but if what he recounted was true, then he may be the force we¡¯recking. The fact he survived deserts infested by Sand Worms should be a testament to his strength.¡¯

    After a few moments of careful consideration, Mayor Lowe eventually gestured for Kieran to go on.

    ¡°These Desertborn Brigands are an issue for the Aeredale Kingdom as a whole, but mainly for Aeredale City since you are the backbone of the kingdom. But, the real question is how do these Brigands know when your transport will happen even though you moved up the schedule?¡±

    Kieran¡¯s question posed an issue that Mayor Lowe had overlooked. The hastily prepared caravan should have escaped the notice of the Desertborn Brigands since it didn¡¯t follow their original schedule. How could an ambush haveid in wait if this was the case?

    It was unlikely that the Desertborn Brigands ced a sentry at the points of interest because they weren¡¯t that established. They would only move once the scheduled runs happened.

    ¡°What are you implying?¡± Mayor Lowe inquired. Kieran¡¯s words clearly insinuated foul y.

    Kieran¡¯s expression grew solemn as he responded.

    ¡°I believe there is misconduct happening in these very walls. Someone is supplying the brigands with important information. Who possesses knowledge of the merchant¡¯s schedule?¡±

    At first, Mayor Lowe¡¯s first response was to berate Kieran. But, given his current favorability and the likelihood of Kieran¡¯s words being truthful, Mayor Lowe considered Kieran¡¯s opinion.

    ¡°You truly believe this to be the case? Has someone betrayed us by leaking sensitive information? But, I can¡¯t understand why they¡¯d do such a thing. It could inevitably lead to the kingdom¡¯s downfall!¡±

    Kieran gave a bitter smile in response. ¡°That alone might be their reason. There must be some incentive involved. That¡¯s the only reason I can see someone betraying their kingdom. So, I ask again¡ªwho has this knowledge?¡±<sub></sub>

    ¡°That would be the merchants, their advisors, and a select few city guards.¡± Mayor Lowe listed all the people who could have details on the caravan schedule afterpiling them in his mind.

    ¡°Wait, hold on, the guards are privy to the merchant¡¯s schedule?¡±

    ¡°Not beforehand. However, as you saw before, they do escort the merchant to the city¡¯s gates.¡±

    ¡°I see, so they can¡¯t be excluded,¡± Kieran muttered before falling into deep thought.

    ¡®The culprit is most likely amongst those guards. The advisors and merchants receive their sries from the sales of such merchandise. They wouldn¡¯t risk their livelihood by falling in cahoots with these brigands.¡¯

    After having this thought, Kieran immediately raised it with Mayor Lowe.

    ¡°The guards? But some of them are former respectful knights. You truly think so?¡± Mayor Lowe frowned. He didn¡¯t disregard the possibility, but he found it highly unlikely.

    ¡°Knightmanders and other personnel monitor the guards¡¯ actions. Their positions are always ounted for. Besides, for it to be one of them, they would have to leave the city limits after the caravans but arrive before them. It¡¯s not usible.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? What if it¡¯s only getting in contact with their criminal allies?¡± Kieran countered.

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Mayor Lowe pondered the question. ¡°It¡¯s possible if their method of contact is somehow long-distance. But, if we suspect them now and conduct arge search, the culprit may destroy the evidence.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for a search,¡± Kieran shook his head with an idea in mind.

    ¡°What do you suggest?¡± Mayor Lowe didn¡¯t oppose relying on Kieran for answers. After all, their rtionship was in a good position.

    ¡°Just send out another caravan,¡± Kieran answered.

    ¡°Another one? But we haven¡¯t amassed enough merchandise to trade.¡±

    Kieran grinned. ¡°But the culprit doesn¡¯t know that. This will be our ploy and advantage.¡±

    ¡°I see! So you want to draw them out with a dummy cargo. Excellent! This is excellent! We¡¯ll test out your theory. If the bait doesn¡¯t bite, then so be it. We¡¯ll snag them another way.¡±

    A peal of uproariousughter echoed throughout the Mayor¡¯s Office as Mayor Lowe genuinely liked the suggestion.

    Ding!

    ¡´System: You have received a Main Chain Quest.¡µ

    ¡¸ Culprit Identification (Scenario)

    Quest Rank: B+

    Rmended Party Size: 1

    Rmended Party Level: Lv.33

    Objectives: As with all civilizations, there are two sides to the events urring¨Dcivil and criminal. Brigand thefts gue the Aeredale Kingdom; however, there is a culprit responsible for their ease of ess. You must locate this culprit before their action plunges the Aeredale Kingdom¡¯s economy into disarray.

    ¨C Man a dummy cargo to lure out the bandits. 0/1

    ¨C Locate the traitors amongst the Kingdom¡¯s Guards. 0/1

    ¨C Bring the traitors to the Mayor. 0/1

    ¨C Assist in information extraction. 0/1

    Rewards:

    ¨C ?Brigand Eradication? ¨C Chain Quest

    ¨C 100 Gold

    ¨C Level +1

    ¨C Mayor Lowe¡¯s favorability rises to Indebted.

    Failure Penalty:

    ¨C Level -2

    ¨C Culprit¡¯s awareness increases.

    ¨C Criminal evidence destroyed.

    ¨C End of the chain quest

    Time Limit: 48 hours.

    *Special Notes: A culprit once rmed is one of the most elusive targets. ¡¹

    ¡°The reward this time won¡¯t be that great, but I¡¯ll at least be able to reward you 100 Gold if we seed in our attempts,¡± Mayor Lowe said.

    ¡°That¡¯s more than enough.¡± Kieran was satisfied with this amount because most quests barely rewarded one Gold. In fact, most quests handed out Silver.

    Only once yers entered Great Cities would Gold be amon reward for side quests.

    ¡°Can we hold off on the preparation?¡± Kieran suddenly requested.

    However, it seemed Mayor Lowe possessed simr thoughts based on his expression. ¡°We can dy it up to a day to make it appear more authentic. But, we shouldn¡¯t give the culprit enough time to conduct a proper alert.¡±

    Naturally, this was factored into the quest¡¯s time limit. The 48 hours included how long until the culprit realized something was amiss with the highly elerated release of the following trade caravan.

    As for why Kieran required additional time before the start, it rted to training his teammates and some real-life matters. While he had consumed X-hancers, he hadn¡¯t performed any training to enhance the effects of the X-hancers.

    After all, one of his goals was to return to his prime condition and then surpass it.

    Kieran soon finished meeting with Mayor Lowe before meeting with Bastion and the others at the Training Hall. Because of their identity as Adventurers and their Knight-level Fame, the staff of the training Hall inquired about trainers, but Kieran declined.

    There was nothing the avable trainers could provide that he couldn¡¯t. Requesting the teaching of a high-level trainer required a specific Adventurer Badge and fame.

    Even then, it wasn¡¯t free.

    Kieran soon brought the others to the chosen training area, which resembled an open garden. The Training Hall gave different regions of the training hall different environments.

    The mana density here wasn¡¯t great, but it wasn¡¯t bad either. The environment was tailored to the needs of a Tier 1 existence.

    Like in the Concealed Rocky Canyon, Kieran guided everyone but took it slow this time.

    Everyone focused on limating to their current limitation; this included Cyr, Sithik, and Cygnus, who were absent during the journey.

    ¡°I knew something was wrong. Although I didn¡¯t fight anyone, I could tell I¡¯d have a difficult time inbat,¡± Cyrmented.

    Altair was his sparring partner, and they both moved slowly without intent to harm.

    Bastion and Nemean teamed up, training their movement and timing. They would alternate between wielding their shields and engaging in hand-to-handbat. Although their shields were their focal point, hand-to-handbat training produced extraordinary effects.

    Meanwhile, Sera, Sithik, and Cygnus practiced channeling their Mana to increase the casting speed of their heals.

    Lastly, Kieran guided Alice by giving her tips on circting her Mana through her countless paths.

    Once everyone received a task, Kieran turned his attention to a training dummy not too far away. While the others battled amongst themselves, he required a more substantial target.

 Chapter 140 Technique Creation

    ¡ª-

    Kieran¡¯s chosen target resembled a type ofbat puppet.

    The puppet would take on a humanoid puppet shape of varying difficulty based on the chosen level. The difficulty coincided with the Adventurer Badge in the user¡¯s possession because the Adventurers¡¯ Guild owned the Training Hall.

    It was one of the many ces where adventurers could go to hone their skills.

    The Training Hall was simr to the exclusive training areas in the War Deity Council. The only difference was the Mana Purity inside the Training Hall paledpared to what appeared inside the War Deity Council¡¯s temples.

    Kieran pulled out Crimson Ashrune and waited for the humanoid golem to start up.

    Its exterior released a golden light, symbolizing the golem would be at the standard of a Gold Adventurer.

    Considering that most Gold Adventurers could form an Adventurer Party andplete substantial missions for the Guild, it should be somewhat challenging for the current Kieran to ovee.

    To promote desired results from the arduous settings, all active skills above B Rank became inactive. That was understandable since they tended to unleash unfathomable damage, as seen by Kieran¡¯s Sanguinem Tempest.

    Kieran dealt hundreds of thousands of damage every time he unleashed it.

    A countdown appeared while information appeared before Kieran¡¯s eyes.

    ¡¸ Gold Training Golem (Special)

    Comparable to a Lv.35 Champion Monster¡¹<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡®Oh? A Champion monster?¡¯ Kieran mused.

    He expected the golem would rival an Elite or Special Elite at best. But, a Champion Monster over Lv.30 was a frightening opponent.

    Nevertheless, Kieran felt up to the challenge.

    Once the timer reached zero, the golem exploded with speed unbing of its size. Kieran was forced to dodge as its fist left arge imprint on the ground.

    Its hollow eyes shed with a red light before targeting Kieran once more. Although its speed was excellent, its movement patterns were linear andcked fluidity.

    Thus, Kieran smirked and exhaled while gauging his current sess rate. ¡®It¡¯s achievable with our current standard.¡¯

    Just before the golem¡¯s punchnded, Kieran¡¯s body suddenly shifted to the side at speed surpassing his highest eleration. However, Kieran frowned.

    ¡®What kind of amateurish utilization was that? Come on, Kieran, you can do better than that. Don¡¯t tell me your years of inactivity before death dulled your senses.¡¯

    Kieran berated himself because this movement was something he could execute as effortlessly as he breathed. However, his skill with this practice seemed to diminish after years of not employing it.

    While the movement technique should be ingrained in the fibers of his mind and soul, the execution was subpar.

    A bead of sweat dripped down Kieran¡¯s forehead while he pointed his de at the golem.

    The golem turned its head to the side andunched a violent upward swing.<sub></sub>

    Kieran countered by leaning back and shing the golem¡¯s arm. Although the sh felt wed, a deep gashed formed on its dense arm. The damage inflicted by this strike vanished a few secondster.

    ¡®While damaging it is easy, destroying it is next to impossible. It¡¯s designed to be the perfect opponent for those at the same level,¡¯ Kieran inwardly noted.

    The golem didn¡¯t relent after unleashing its attacks; it continued to go after Kieran, delivering a series of wide and destructive punches.

    After tens of swings, the golem suddenly switched its movements by burying its foot into Kieran¡¯s torso.

    Bang!

    Kieran defended against the kick at thest moment but was sent flying back as he braced Crimson Ashrune against him. He somersaulted in the air andnded a few meters away.

    ¡®This truly shows how rusty I am. A Champion-level monster is giving me a run for my money.¡¯ Kieran sighed and shook his head.

    While Kieran was disappointed with his current disy, the others paused and watched Kieran conduct his training session.

    ¡°Why does it feel like he isn¡¯t affected by this update at all? Look at how Aatrox performs those movements,¡± Cyr muttered in awe.

    Cyrpared Kieran¡¯s personal training to how his sparring against Altair went.

    Although they had been training for an hour, their pace remained deliberate. Combat grew difficult when they tried to increase their training pace. Cyr sometimes slipped and threw off the rhythm, causing him and Altair to collide into one another.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but although the developers of this game aim to create another life experience, it doesn¡¯t feel exactly the same. I can tell I¡¯m ¡®controlling¡¯ another body and not my real one,¡± Altair said.

    If he could implement his true abilities, it wouldn¡¯t be so difficult to masterbat again. But, everyone was presented with limitations. And those limitations stemmed from the VR equipment in use.

    ¡°Wait, shhh, something has changed,¡± Bastion hushed everyone suddenly.

    Everyone focused on Kieran and watched what took ce.

    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

    Kieran¡¯s piercing gaze grew intense as he focused on the golem¡¯s movements and shifted back and forth with minute reactions. These small movements, while seemingly insignificant on the surface, turned Kieran into an elusive target.

    Finally, after dodging for a minute straight, he retaliated.

    nk!

    As Kieran shed down, Crimson Ashrune tore a hole through the center of the golem¡¯s chest. The force sent the golem stumbling back a few steps, but that distance was immediately close when Kieran executed a strange footwork and used his front foot as a pivot.

    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

    Kieran unleashed the Whirlwind sh technique executed once before, except this time, it seemed more refined and many times faster.

    When his momentum declined, Kieran switched tactics and executed another heavy sh. The fluid switch between actions left the others in awe. Not because of the simple attacks used, but because of how fast they lost track of his movements.

    ¡®What is happening right now?¡¯ Altair wondered. ¡®I haven¡¯t blinked nor averted my gaze, but I¡¯ve lost track of Aatrox many times now.¡¯

    The principle behind Kieran¡¯s action mystified the others because they couldn¡¯t understand his movements. In short, Kieran was achieving extreme bursts of speed that escaped the natural realm of a human¡¯s reaction.

    In the past, this was only possible once a human amassed enoughbat experience and generated mental power from a mind honed by virtual technology. Enough time hadn¡¯t passed but Kieran could replicate the effects due to his unique situation.

    ¡®As I thought, the abnormalities of my H-COS were not just unprecedented and without side effects. My mental strength feels like it is cemented between my starting point and peak, mirroring my condition during the time of this technique¡¯s creation.¡¯

    ¡´System: The presence of unusual actions has been detected. However, there isn¡¯t enough base information to generate a proper analysis. The continued execution of such activities will trigger ?Technique Creation?!¡µ

    Kieran grinned once this notification appeared. After all, it was the reason for his current actions. Technique Creation was a feature not discussed but present in the Stage One Combat Realism summary.

    Techniques were also a sign the barrier between Zenith Online and Earth thinned. After all, most if not all Techniques are inspired bybat arts found on Earth.

    Kieran continued with his actions, creating quick bursts of speed to unleash elerated motions.

    Finally, after executing this feat hundreds of times, an alert sounded from the system.

    ¡´System: ?Technique Creation? has been trigged. Please give the technique a name to register it with the system!¡µ

    ¡°First Drive: el Shift,¡± Kieran named it.

    Ding!

    ¡´System: You have sessfully created the first Technique. ?First Drive: el Shift? is gauged to be a 1-star Technique.¡µ

    ¡´System: As the first to develop a Technique, you have been rewarded: 100 Skill Points, 250 World Fame, and Level +2.¡µ

    Kieran¡¯s level immediately increased to 33, and received the corresponding rewards. His World Fame also increased to 900, but Kieran was more interested in learning the effects of el Shift.

    ¡¸ Technique Name: First Drive: el Shift

    Grading: ¡ï

    Description: This technique allows the user to gain a 300% increase in movement speed for a split second. The user can utilize this burst of speed in any directional ce.

    Consumption: Stamina and Focus ¡¹

    As mentioned before, Techniques were not limited by cooldown.

    However, every technique drained a considerable amount of the user¡¯s Stamina, far more than any standard action. This was because Techniques ced an immense burden on the yer¡¯s body by going beyond their current limitations.

    The Technique Grading System was simr to Secret Realms because it also operated based on stars. A 1-star Technique was the most basic, but as seen in the description, even a 1-star Technique could contribute immensely to a battle.

    After creating his technique, Kieran soon finished sparring with the training golem. It wasn¡¯t like he could destroy the thing anyway.

    As soon as he finished, Altair ran up to him with eyes sparkling with interest. ¡°What was that just now? Wasn¡¯t that simr to what we talked about during the escort mission?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Kieran shook his head. ¡°It isn¡¯t simr. It is what we talked about, just applied differently.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I knew it,¡± Altair eximed. ¡°So, when will you teach it to me? And, what is it called?¡±

    ¡°Eh, its name can vary. Give it a unique name if you find a unique usage. But, I¡¯ve just named it el Shift,¡± Kieran answered. ¡°Also, I¡¯ll teach you when you no longer struggle with basic movements.¡±

    Altair nodded, muttering incoherently. Kieran¡¯s words evidently inspired him because he immediately dragged Cyr to the side and began attempting to learn this.

    While that happened, Kieran revealed he would be logging out for the time being to deal with some personal matters.

 Chapter 141 Owing Favors, Sudden Alerts

    ¡ª-

    After logging out of Zenith Online, Kieran removed the VR Helmet but remained seated on the edge of the doctor¡¯s table. A strange noise sounded throughout the room, which woke up the sleeping Dr. Riley by his side.

    ¡°Huh!?¡± Dr. Riley stretched and looked around before rubbing her eyes.

    Kieran chuckled at her reaction while questioning her current state. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you find somewhere proper to sleep instead of doing so here?¡±

    ¡°Well, I thought I told you I¡¯d remain by your side and monitor you after that scare earlier. I don¡¯t need a repeat of that happening,¡± Dr. Riley answered, yawning again.

    Afterward, she checked the time and prepared a pot of coffee in hopes of energizing her body and ridding it of the lethargic feeling.

    The tablet in her hand hadpiled extensive information on Kieran during her brief nap.

    While waiting for the coffee to finish, she sifted through the information, noting something truly fascinating. ¡°There was an extreme spike in mental activity just minutes before you logged out. Are you aware of this?¡±

    ¡°I am,¡± Kieran nodded while removing the electrodes from his body. He nced briefly at therge medicine cab containing the X-hancers before turning his attention back to Dr. Riley.

    ¡°What was the source, if you don¡¯t mind me asking?¡± Dr. Riley picked up a special pen made to create notes on the tablet in her grasp.

    Kieran slowly recounted his experience, giving Dr. Riley more than enough material to dissect. The more she listened to his story, the more fascinated she became with Zenith Online and its incredible technology.

    ¡°It seems this equipment emits special waves capable of transmitting your thought into tangible power. Is this the basis of the thing you call mental power?¡± Dr. Riley inquired.<sub>-.</sub>

    However, Kieran could only shrug in response. ¡°I suppose, but I¡¯ve never studied nor dedicated my time to understanding the source of this principle. If I¡¯m being honest, it doesn¡¯t interest me.¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t interest you¡ª?!¡± Dr. Riley¡¯s eyes widened as she stared at Kieran. ¡°You¡¯re telling me something that almost imed your life doesn¡¯t interest you? What kind of irresponsible mindset is that?¡±

    Kieran gave a light smile and looked at Dr. Riley strangely. ¡°I have you, don¡¯t I? I can rely on you for the scientific part.¡±

    ¡°I-¡­¡± Dr. Riley tried to answer, but she was left speechless.

    ¡°I¡¯ll voluntarily act as your test subject, so you¡¯ll conduct your experiments as you see fit and gain knowledge inessible to the others unless they simrly have a test subject. But¡­ I doubt they¡¯ll be able to replicate what I can achieve,¡± Kieran said confidently.

    The True Berserker ss was the source of his confidence. It was inimitable, so anyone who tried to aplish this research would receive vastly different numbers and information.

    ¡°You seem so confident. Is this why the Gamer Republic reached out to you so early on? I mean, they¡¯ve only just recently released this game, no?¡± Dr. Lillian asked.

    ¡°Yeah, but if you knew who I was, you¡¯d understand my confidence. Nevertheless, I mean to ask¡ªcan I have more of those?¡± Kieran pointed at the refrigerated medicine cab, specifically the third shelf.

    ¡°More of the X-hancers? Do you need another already? It hasn¡¯t been long since we tested the effects of the 15% concentration.¡±

    While speaking, Dr. Riley brought up Kieran¡¯s energy levels and was astonished by their rapid decline.

    ¡°T-this¡­ your body is like a ravenous beast!¡± Dr. Riley suddenly lifted her head and examined Kieran¡¯s body, chiefly his muscle mass and bone structure.<sub></sub>

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ all evolving quickly,¡± Dr. Riley muttered in shock. All he had done thus far wasy in a halfatose state atop the medical bed, yet the data showed a noticeable increase in many factors.

    It was almost as if Kieran¡¯s body was following a predetermined roadmap that required little to no assistance to achieve progress.

    ¡°Is there any way for you to acquire more X-hancers? I don¡¯t want to deplete your supply. Also, have you tried using them yourself?¡±

    ¡°Of course I have! I currently consume the 10% concentration, but my progress is garbagepared to yours. As for acquiring more, I may have a solution, but¡­¡±

    ¡°But?¡± Kieran tilted his head after seeing Dr. Riley¡¯splex expression.

    ¡°But, it¡¯lle from associates in the Private Sector. I believe the Drake Family still owes me favors. I can call them in-,¡± Dr. Riley suddenly paused.

    Her reaction stemmed from Kieran¡¯s unusually tense facial expression. He gripped the medical bed tight enough to rip some of the fabric.

    This naturally caused Dr. Riley some fright because the state-of-the-art bed was expensive. ¡°Kieran, stop!¡±

    Kieran exhaled and gained control of his emotions while releasing the bed. However, the Drake Family were the indirect owners of the Golden Brigade. In other words, the Drake Family was the scourge in his life.

    ¡°Why exactly do they owe you?¡± Kieran asked.

    ¡°I¡¯d tended to a few of their bodyguards and saved the life of other wounded people from that family. Since then, they¡¯ve been indebted to me, but I never cashed in those favors,¡± Dr. Riley revealed.

    A cold gleam surfaced in Kieran¡¯s eyes as he looked at Dr. Riley. ¡°So they¡¯re aware of this facility?¡±

    ¡°Correct. They¡¯re partly responsible for its creation after delivering a sizable donation,¡± Dr. Riley nodded.

    Kieran entertained the thought of leaving here for a moment but decided against it once he realized no one was aware of his presence. While he loathed the Drake Family, that didn¡¯t mean they were out to get him.

    However, the fact they owed Dr. Riley might be advantageous for Kieran. Of course, there were a few things that bothered him.

    ¡°Why are you willing to go this far and even sacrifice those favors over my little request?¡±

    A genuine smile crept upon Dr. Riley¡¯s face as she panned her hands around the room with opened arms as if basking in the glory of this ce. ¡°For the sake of knowledge, of course. There is nothing more attractive and enticing than knowledge.¡±

    ¡°Freak,¡± Kieran muttered under his breath. However, hisment earned Dr. Riley¡¯s deathly re.

    ¡°Hey! You take that back. I am not a freak; knowledge is empowering.¡±

    ¡°So is physical strength,¡± Kieran countered with a meaningful smirk.

    Dr. Riley¡¯s eyes danced across Kieran¡¯s body at thisment before retreating. ¡°Shush, I¡¯ll bring you another X-hancer right now.¡±

    If one wasn¡¯t enough, Dr. Riley fetched two 15% X-hancers but only handed Kieran one.

    He immediately consumed the elixir, generating a budding warmth in his body. Kieran perspired for a few minutes but felt relieved and energized afterward.

    ¡°Keep that one on hand. It seems one 15% is still my limit. But, I need to use the training room we conducted my physical test.¡±

    ¡°You know where it is,¡± Dr. Riley responded in a matter-of-fact tone.

    Kieran left her to her devices while he changed into a spandex training bottom. The three main things he needed to train were strength, speed, and reaction speed. Any other factor could be cultivated over time.

    Kieran began his training with a mixture of weight lighting and calisthenics. With the effects of the X-hancer, although his body didn¡¯t seem capable at a nce, he benched 150kgs for over 30 reps before exhausting himself.

    He repeated this ten times before his arms felt like lead and his chest numb.

    Kieran then targeted other muscle groups before moving to explosive exercises. After bing engrossed in his workout routine, Kieran exercised for more than 3 hours with minimal breaks in between.

    Thest exercise developed his reflexes.

    This part of the training took ce inside a multi-dimensional room with many holes in each wall, including the floor. The opposing holes on every wall were designed to receive the rubber balls without interference.

    Once the training began, a translucent screen reading ¡°50¡± appeared overhead.

    Every time a ball hit Kieran, the initial 50 would reduce by one integer. The reflex training urred in 30-second bursts and generated a score after each round.

    A mechanical voice read out Kieran¡¯s results thirty secondster while panted over a sweat pool in a half-kneeling position.

    [A score of 42 has been received. The result is a 90th percentile Prime rating.]

    ¡°Only a 90th percentile?¡± Kieran huffed. This meant his score was only better than 90 percent of individuals with Prime level reflexes. However, there was still 10 percent with superior reflexes.

    ¡®Although I¡¯m fatigued, and it¡¯s my first go at it, it should have been considerably higher. I misread the trajectories and firing speed of each ball.¡¯

    As time went on, the balls became progressively quicker. By the 40th ball, they were essentially fired simultaneously with minimal time to dodge. It was at this point that Kieran started getting hit.

    Kieran repeated the reflex training constantly until the balls seemed to slow down from his point of view. Once that happened, Kieran immediately performed a consecutive number of el Shifts that propelled around the room on different axes.

    Thirty secondster, the mechanical voice sounded.

    [A score of 48 has been received. The result is a 99th percentile Prime rating.]

    [Would you like to increase the difficulty to the 99th percentile difficulty?]

    Kieran considered doing so but decided against it. Almost 7 hours had already passed inside Zenith Online, so he needed to return soon.

    Kieran freshened up with a cool shower that made him feel invigorated before draping a towel over his head. He wore the special outfit Dr. Riley prepared for him since it was designed to promote urate test results.

    All of a sudden, Kieran¡¯s holowatch started buzzing with rapid notifications.

 Chapter 142 Kill Order

    ¡ª-

    Even as he looked at this holographic watch, the device continued to buzz and emit strange alerts continuously. Kieran tapped on the device, causing a holographic projection.

    Many of the alerts came from his teammates. However, the majority came from his streaming ount¡¯s private message. One such person was Luna; the Tempest Rogue Kieran partied with inside the Underground Labyrinth.

    Kieran read her message while in deep thought.

    ¡°Aatrox, the Shadow Cartel, and Sunset Triad have issued a joint Kill Order. I believe it has something to do with the update upsetting their leveling progress that you ruined. I would advise you to be careful because there is now a target on not just yours but your entire party¡¯s back.¡±

    ¡®A Kill Order?¡¯ Kieran muttered to himself.

    He brought up Zenith Online¡¯s official forum and browsed it for information regarding this situation. He soon found the original post and read through it.

    After gaining a general understanding of the situation at hand, Kieran held a deepening frown. ¡°Are you sure your pockets are deep enough to honor this kill order? This will essentially cost you millions.¡±

    Through the joint efforts of the Sunset Triad and Shadow Cartel, they arranged a medium-priority Kill Order.

    A medium-priority Kill Order delivered a reward based on how many times the targeted party died.

    The stiptions and number of skulls on a Kill Order determined its priority. Medium priority possessed 2 or 3 skulls. However, after a Kill Order¡¯s initial priority was designated, it could be only increased by increasing the bounty price.

    The particr Kill Order rewarded $10,000 for the death of low-importance party members, $100,000 if yers seeded in killing Aatrox or Altair, and $200,000 per each level lost. The chances of these two organizations reneging on their promise were absolutely zero.

    After all, sufficient funds had to be ced into the bounty pool to create the Kill Order. This Kill Order was attractive to most fledgling yers and gradeless teams, but other organizations would ignore it for the most part.

    Establishing their foundation took precedence over involving themselves in petty conflicts.

    Despite the danger this Kill Order posed, Kieran cracked his knuckles with an amused expression. ¡®Whoever is foolish enough to enact this kill order will inevitably regret their decision.¡¯<sub>-.</sub>

    While Kieran wouldn¡¯t respond in kind, seeing it as a waste of money, he would undoubtedly retaliate. Whether the people who carried out the Kill Order were just pawns didn¡¯t matter to him.

    Humans were capable of reasoning, so they were responsible for their decisions.

    Dr. Riley noticed Kieran¡¯s icy expression and gulped. ¡®H-he¡¯s not normal at all. This is the presence of someone who has already taken a life; I¡¯ve sensed this from the Drake Family¡¯s hired arms.¡¯

    Kieran reined in his murderous presence and looked toward the shivering Dr. Riley. ¡°My apologies, Lilian. I didn¡¯t mean to scare you. However, I need to return to the game right now.¡±

    ¡°Okay. Will you be consuming another X-hancer or going as is?¡± Dr. Riley questioned while gripping the X-hancer vial in her palm.

    Kieran ultimately decided to consume it because he wasn¡¯t sure when he would log out next due to the active Kill Order. As long as his teammates were online, he would have to do everything he could to ensure their safety.

    After consuming the X-hancer, he ced the VR Helmet on his head and exhaled.

    Dr. Riley¡¯s somewhat worried voice sounded not too far away. ¡°Good luck. I¡¯ll be here when you return.¡±

    Kieran gave a faint smile before his body went limp. The consciousness transference initiated at that moment, and Kieran returned to the world of Zenith Online a few secondster.

    Whoosh!

    Kieran¡¯s character materialized in the Training Hall, where Altair and the rest rushed up to him.

    ¡°Did you see the message I sent you?¡± Altair

    ¡°I did,¡± Kieran tersely responded as he sorted through his current status screen.

    Kieran allocated 109 of his remaining 209 Unassigned Attribute Points to stats that directly affected the el Shift¡¯s speed ceiling.<sub></sub>

    ¡´System: Control has risen to 353.¡µ

    ¡´System: Agility has risen to 400.¡µ

    Finally, Kieran paid attention to a skill with notable effect, worth leveling up.

    ¡´System: Berserker¡¯s Burden has increased to Lv.5!¡µ

    ¡¸ Berserker¡¯s Burden (Lv.5)

    Skill Rank: B

    Skill Type: Passive

    Mastery (00.00%)

    Description: This passive increases the True Berserker¡¯s resiliency. The negative effects attributed to heavy armor are decreased by 50%. Movement speed while wearing heavy armor increases by 100%. ¡¹

    This passive was essentially a cheat code for ignoring heavy armor¡¯s burden. Furthermore, itplemented Tormented Beliefs bypounding movement speed.

    ¡°What¡¯s the n then? Therge bounty will entice countless yers, more than we¡¯ve ever faced,¡± Altair asked. He didn¡¯t fearbat but felt they should proceed with caution given their current situation.

    ¡°The n?¡± Kieran stared at his party with a cold expression. ¡°Annihte all who step before us.¡±

    The entire party inhaled sharply because Kieran radiated a pure murderous intent that originated from the depths of his soul. The presence of Blood Mania seemed to thrive despite its inactive state.

    Kieran suddenly pointed to Altair. ¡°Come.¡±

    Kieran guided Altair to the middle of the training area before retrieving dual des typically used by the Thief ss. However, dual des were essentially twin swords just slightly shorter, so they weren¡¯t a ss-locked weapon.

    ¡°Spar with me seriously. Ignore the limits ced upon you and just fight,¡± Kieran said. He brandished the duals des and immediately closed the distance separating him and Altair with an el Shift.

    The sudden burst of speed rmed Altair, causing him to activate Swift Steps. The movement speed boost from Swift Step encouraged Altair to partake in this spar.

    However, Kieran didn¡¯t pull his punches because of their friendship.

    Given their circumstances, Kieran initiated the fight at an extremely high level. He employed the full extent of his base speed, releasing rapid attacksparable to that of a Rogue or Assassin.

    Kieran¡¯s relentless onught soon triggered Altair¡¯s instincts because they were not only quick attacks but also aimed at Altair¡¯s vital areas. With the change to Combat Realism, these areas would inflict Critical Hits with 100% certainty.

    Of course, this only worked on targets with human-like weaknesses.

    Nevertheless, Kieran¡¯s attacks grasped the essence of an Assassin by emting Altair¡¯s future style.

    This uing battle was one where he would require a partner, so he was forced to do something that may have repercussions¡ªawakening Altair¡¯s slumbering darkness far too early.

    ¡°Move faster!¡± Kieran barked.

    nk! nk! nk! nk!

    Altair retreated with each exchange, but he suddenly froze when Kieran disappeared from his sights.

    A voice dripping with killing intent whispered past Altair¡¯s ear as Kieran spoke. ¡°If you fail to be stronger, you will die. The Wiyans will swallow you whole, and you will disappear without fulfilling your goals. Is this all you¡¯re capable of? Is your vengeance not enough?¡±

    Kieran spoke in a voice only these two could hear, but madness surfaced in Altair¡¯s eyes as he suddenly ducked and whished his leg toward Kieran¡¯s jaw.

    Kieran jumped and used the bottom of Altair¡¯s foot to propel himself backward.

    Altair released a bestial roar and chased behind Kieran while unleashing a whirlwind of shes, but Kieran deflected every one.

    ¡°Still too slow!¡± Kieran reprimanded Altair and kicked him in the chest.

    Altair slid backward but ultimately came to a stop. He stood still for a moment before switching his style altogether. He leaned forward while bringing his arms towards his center.

    Altair held the daggers in a reverse grip as the disposition of an emotionless killer surfaced.

    Whoosh!

    Altair partially seeded in incorporating eleration into his movement.

    Tang! Tang! Tang!

    The two engaged in several exchanges, each providing a lesson to Altair. He abruptly released his daggers and snaked around Kieran as if he were dancing. The transient release of his daggers happened so fast it was as if it didn¡¯t ur.

    A pleased smile gradually appeared on Kieran¡¯s pace as he continued to increase his movement speed with el Shift.

    ¡°What the fuck!¡± Bastion eximed in awe.

    The rapid exchanges appeared as nothing more than blurs in their eyes as Kieran forcibly expedited the creation of the Altair¡¯s Darkness Excursion Steps.

    ¡®We need to get him the Shadow Dancer ss as soon as possible, and it¡¯ll all beplete,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Kieran only ended the training once Altair could no longer continue due to his utterly depleted Stamina. The forced usage of iplete el Shift left him on the verge of copse.

    ¡°Those are the instincts we need. With more realisticbat, instincts are our advantage. Do not let yours dull,¡± Kieran said. The update produced a sort of mental barrier that made yers doubt themselves.

    If one wanted to make quick progress, the first step was the renewal of confidence that they could excel inbat no matter the circumstance.

    Altair lifted his head and nodded with a solemn expression.

    He was familiar with the tactic Kieran had just employed. Invoke emotions to spur results, essentially drawing might from the reason they sought power in the first ce.

    However, because Kieran wasn¡¯t this familiar with Nemean or Bastion, it wouldn¡¯t work on them.

    Nevertheless, their current progress was eptable. They no longer stumbled or collided with one another. Thest remaining w was their Mana Control.

    Kieran considered a solution for this issue and approached both of them.

    ¡°Have you familiarized yourself with the skill road maps?¡± Kieran asked.

    ¡°I have,¡± Bastion and Nemean answered in unison.

    Upon receiving this answer, Kieran ced one hand on both of their chests before relying on his acute Perception. He gradually sensed their mana paths by injecting minute amounts of Mana into them.

    ¡°Prepare yourselves,¡± Kieran cautioned. He then injected arge amount of Mana through what seemed to be their most essential mana paths. However, after gaining unique properties from Argexes¡¯ Blood, Kieran¡¯s Mana was absurd.

    Bastion and Nemean inhaled sharply at the sudden difort but bore with it.

    A few secondster, Bastion and Nemean¡¯s eyes widened in shock due to their received notification.

 Chapter 143 Sea of Players

    ¡ª-

    Nemean and Bastion looked at each other in confusion after receiving identical notifications. The notification resulted from Kieran¡¯s actions, but they didn¡¯t understand what it meant due to the vague wording.

    ¡°What is an Infernal Cleansing?¡± Bastion wondered.

    Even Kieran was at a loss as his eyebrows furrowed.

    Bastion went on to exin the current situation. ¡°The system revealed that some of your Mana assimted with my Mana paths and performed an Infernal Cleansing.¡±

    ¡°What are the effects?¡± Kieran asked.

    Bastion took a few moments to test for any changes beforeing across a startling truth. ¡°My Mana Flow feels at least 30% faster than before!¡±

    Questions filled Kieran¡¯s mind as the results simrly stupefied him. ¡®A cleansing? A cleansing is required to awaken, so it has little use to us now. But, why does my Mana carry that property?¡¯

    Although Kieran had questions, the answer was difficult to ascertain.

    While the effect happened to Nemean and Bastion, Kieran never experienced such a thing. Perhaps it was a residual effect caused by the materials used to forge his body. This was the only exnation Kieran could muster.

    Due to their improved Mana Flow, Bastion and Nemean spent the next six hours engrossed in training, where they became ustomed to activating their skills.

    Kieran likewise administered this treatment to Alice and the others, achieving moderate refinement with a miraculous 100% sess rate.

    ¡®This ability is invaluable to Mages if I can refine their main Mana channels. Even if it¡¯s only a 10% overall increase, that¡¯s 10% less effort required from them,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Approximately two hours after that, Kieran and the rest of his party left the Training Hall.<sub>-.</sub>

    Rumors and discussions of the Kill Order bruited about Aeredale City because its area of focus was limited here. Those same discussions surfaced on the official forum, resulting in a sea of yers amassed inside the city.

    However, although these yers disyed signs of erupting into fights, violence was forbidden within city walls.

    Anyone caught, whether NPC or yer, would be heavily reprimanded or worse, depending on the amount of damage done to the city.

    The most severe punishment would be detainment. While detained, a yer couldn¡¯t level or conduct trades; they were essentially worthless. Moreover, the system didn¡¯t treat time spent logged out as time served.

    Thus, anyone apprehended of heinous crimes would have to carry out their insipid sentence before being set free. Sadly, yers weren¡¯t currently aware of this and would only learn through rude awakenings.

    Some nearby yers immediately noticed Kieran¡¯s presence in town because the Sunset Triad and Shadow Cartel attached an image of Kieran¡¯s present appearance. The drastic change caused many rumors, but none could be proven despite their curiosity.

    ¡°Hey! It¡¯s him!¡±

    Someone shouted in the crowd. Those who weren¡¯t focused on Kieran previously now were. They eyed him like prey.

    Kieran naturally noticed these hostile looks and stepped forward.

    Due to the Kill Order, Kieran and his party had practically be a pariah with all nefarious intentions aimed in their direction.

    Kieran crossed his arms and looked everyone in the eyes with a faint smirk. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re all willing to be the dogs of the Shadow Cartel and Sunset Triad?¡±

    ¡°Dogs?! Hah! As long as there¡¯s money involved, we¡¯ll dare do anything.¡±

    ¡°Exactly! I concur. If the price is right, we¡¯ll aim for anyone¡¯s head, especially if it¡¯s in a game where life and death are irrelevant. I have a perfectly stable job, so why should I care.¡±<sub></sub>

    ¡°Hahahaha! He¡¯s trying to deter us from killing him. He¡¯s a scared little dog with his tail between his legs.¡±

    The crowd quickly reacted to Kieran¡¯s words, which made Bastion¡¯s anger boil. He stepped forth, but Kieran extended his arm and kept him at bay. He gazed at the unruly crowd before pointing to the city¡¯s gates.

    ¡°For all those who feel confident, meet me outside the city¡¯s gate.¡±

    Kieran had no intentions of creating an issue, but¡­ he was the type to solve it once one rose. However, as he didn¡¯t wish to pay any hefty fines, the battle would have to happen outside the city¡¯s walls.

    Kieran gave Altair a meaningful look, causing him to take a stroll by Kieran¡¯s side.

    ¡°Are we in for some fun?¡±

    ¡°No doubt,¡± Kieran remarked. Although he nned a stream to take ce in theing days, this was the perfect situation for a surprise event.

    Thus, Kieran moved his hand swiftly, setting up the stream and setting it to go live shortly.

    Kieran¡¯s actions sent out a notice to all of his followers that a stream would be urring in the next sixty seconds. Those who weren¡¯t involved in the current conflict immediately pieced together the source of Kieran¡¯s stream and were instantly excited.

    ¡°Dude, Aatrox is going live again! You know what that means!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re about to witness some sick shit. I just know it. We¡¯ll have to keep our eyes peeled.¡±

    Many yers inside Aeredale City sat in pubs or rented stalls in different restaurants to get afortable seat in anticipation of the uing event.

    Two yers, followed by hundreds of yers, walked through Aeredale¡¯s gate.

    Kieran continued advancing while dictating the n to Altair.

    ¡°We don¡¯t need to split up. In a situation like this, it is best to maintain the momentum. Most of these guys are strangers, so they have no experience working together,¡± Kieran said.

    ¡°I understand. I¡¯ve been through my fair share ofrge-scale conflicts. Idiots always conduct it, but that¡¯s to our advantage. While you can never anticipate an idiot¡¯s next move, you can rely upon them tomit foolish mistakes,¡± Altair answered.

    He drew his two daggers as Kieran came to a gradual halt.

    At that time, the notification of the stream¡¯smencement arrived before all of Kieran¡¯s followers.

    ¡°Yes! Aatrox is live. Oh god, I love this point of view. It¡¯s like two against the world. Just look at them standing there fearlessly.¡±

    ¡°That cold look in Aatrox¡¯s eyes is so attractive! Unf, I wish he¡¯d look at me like that.¡±

    Thements on the stream quickly increased until several messages became lost in the sea of text. Besides the massivement influx, donations also poured in, forming a conflux of notifications for Kieran.

    Kieran looked where the spatial camera should be recording and spoke in a cold tone that sent shivers down most of the viewer¡¯s spines.

    ¡°Let this serve as a lesson to all of you who dare work as the dogs of the Underworld¡ªbecause you will now witness a massacre of countless subpar yers.¡±

    ¡°Subpar?!¡±

    The sea of yers was immediately incensed by Kieran¡¯s words. He spoke as if their presence was insignificant and didn¡¯t stand before him.

    Kieran indifferently panned his gaze from the camera¡¯s angle to the sea of yers before him. ¡°Correct. Subpar¡ªyou are all worthless. Your worth is determined only by money, therefore making you worthless.¡±

    ¡°Damn it! Get him!¡± A yer in the lead roared.

    It was a Lv.29 Berserker who rushed at Kieran with soaring fury. He clutched his broadsword above his head and cleaved toward the earth with extreme force.

    The movement appeared slow in Kieran¡¯s eyes, so he sidestepped using el Shift and copied the Berserker¡¯s move, ending his life with a simple monstrous downward cleave.

    The Berserker¡¯s body went limp as his Health bottomed out from this one attack. Kieran¡¯s unimaginable Attack Power was something no yer could withstand, given that even tanks didn¡¯t surpass 4,000 Health.

    To add insult to injury, Kieran hadn¡¯t even activated Blood Mania yet. This was all aplished with pure skill and attributes.

    ¡°What a worthless Berserker, but don¡¯t worry because I¡¯ll show you what a real one is capable of¡ªNext!¡± Kieran swung his de to the side and ignored the lifeless yer carcass by his side.

    Kieran lifted his de straightaway, aiming it at the center of the mass gathering of yers. The way Kieran disregarded them with his cold gaze infuriated these yers.

    After hesitating momentarily, the yers roared and rushed forward like a stampede of raging bulls.

    At this moment, Kieran signaled for Altair to begin.

    Unlike Kieran, who remained in ce, awaiting the arrivals of the iing yers, Altair sped into the sea of yers before activating Swift Steps and Conceal.

    Although he maneuvered through the sea of yers, moving right beside them, they experienced ample difficulty trying to locate Altair.

    ¡°Where did that damned scurrying rat go?!¡± Someone cried out.

    Attention inside the sea of yers quickly split between trying to find Altair and bringing about Kieran¡¯s demise.

    Kieran¡¯s next opponent arrived before him promptly. It was a Lv.28 Rogue wearing basic leather armor; however, Kieran noticed their shifty behavior and kept his attention expanded in preparation for an ambush.

    The Rogue was soon frightened by Kieran¡¯s absurd attack speed. Although the Rogue wielded dual des, Kieran¡¯s greatsword deflected each strike perfectly.

    Kieran soon interrupted the battle¡¯s momentum with a deadly smirk.

    Bang!

    Kieran shed the Rogue in half from the torso after executing a decisive step in maneuver. However, Kieran couldn¡¯t idle because three new yers appeared from both his sides and before him.

    The three yers included two Swordsmen and one Rogue. They seemed more trained than his first two victims, but Kieranughed at their actions.

    The sudden peal ofughter caught them off guard, but Kieran exploited that moment to stab Crimson Ashrune in the ground and use it as an anchor to support the swift triple kick he delivered.

    Bang! Bang! Bang!

    Boom!

    Kieran finished thisbo by extracting the de from the ground and performing an aerial ir. Crimson Ashrune devastatingly crushed the Swordsmen before him, depleting his health bar.

    Kieran¡¯s shocking movements threw the stream chat into an uproar. All of Kieran¡¯s viewers vociferously praised him after witnessing a scene that rendered them incoherent.

    After all, everyone understood thatbat currently stood in an obscure state.

 Chapter 144 Two Against The World

    ¡ª-

    The main reason the yers banded together despite knowing that only a select few could reap the rewards of the Kill Order was the rumors of Kieran¡¯s strength.

    Before the First Metamorphosis urred, most yers regarded Kieran as the strongest Warrior in Gena Vige. After that, further review of his earlier streams against the Forest of Beasts and Scarlet me Wolf earned him recognition as an undisputed expert.

    However, yers assumed Kieran would be in a simrly precarious position, with the First Metamorphosis affecting everyone. Still, they couldn¡¯t ignore the possibility that he was still much more powerful than average yers.

    Thus, the current situation surfaced.

    Countless yers teamed together to take down Kieran and his teammates, but aside from Altair, who walked into the battle with Kieran, Bastion, Nemean, Alice, Cyr, and the rest of the party remained safe inside the city¡¯s walls, secure from being targetted.

    Although many powers ignored this petty conflict, that didn¡¯t remain the case once rumors of the significant battle spread.

    The first to receive word was Ezra, Guild Master of Eclipse. Since obtaining property and territory was impossible, she used her remaining funds to rent rooms in a decent inn.

    This inn was located in the centralmercial area, so they offered excellent buffs for an admittedly high price.

    ¡°Are you seeing this Lux?¡± Ezra questioned with a partially astonished expression.

    ¡°I do. That man is a Berserker but moves like an Assassin while wielding that gigantic de. How does this make any sense? Those movements should be impossible while wielding such arge weapon,¡± Luxmented after carefully analyzing the stream video before them.

    Lux found it tough to grasp how Kieran¡¯s movements were possible. Large weapons and heavy armors generally reduced movement speed and made it so heavy sses would always be at a speed disadvantage.

    ¡°No, look closer,¡± Ezra said, correcting Lux¡¯s observation.<sub>-.</sub>

    Lux¡¯s analysis was urate, but he focused on the wrong detail. Ezra wanted him to pay attention to Kieran¡¯s minute actions.

    ¡°Wait, WHAT?! I have seen that before, but professional fighters, mainly boxers, only employ it.¡± Lux gasped after grasping the action Ezra referred to.

    ¡°Correct. That movement pattern is abnormal but extremely practical for closing distance in an instant. It happens in a fraction of the time it takes to blink but takes normal people years to master. We call it a Burst Step,¡± Ezra exined.

    From how Ezra spoke, it seemed she was familiar and even skilled in this particr technique.

    ¡°Burst Step¡­ but isn¡¯t it faster here than in real life?¡±

    ¡°Well, of course. Our characters are infinitely stronger than our real bodies. What do you expect? I¡¯ve used X-hancers for years to strengthen my body, but my character has already surpassed my actual limits,¡± Ezra said.

    Considering that they were only regarded as Tier 1 existence revealed the disparity between this world¡¯s power structure and what was possible on Earth even with their current strengthening.

    ¡°Speaking of which, didn¡¯t you recently switch to consuming 50% X-hancers?¡±

    ¡°I have, but the effect of insane. I estimate I¡¯ll reach a new realm of physical might if I continue with it for a week more,¡± Ezra revealed.

    Lux looked at her in astonishment before pondering the limits of these X-hancers. ¡®If the Guild Master bes any stronger¡­ she¡¯ll turn inhuman. I wonder what the effects of a 100% X-hancer are. Furthermore, if anyone has consumed one.¡¯

    X-hancers were a rtively new topic with less than 12 years of history. Most people in Ezra¡¯s circle didn¡¯te in contact with X-hancers until eight years ago, when rumors of a refined gaming title first surfaced.

    All of a sudden, Ezra¡¯s eyes widened while almost nting her face through the virtual screen. ¡°I was wrong; that¡¯s not just a Burst Step. It¡¯s something fundamentally simr but different in execution.¡±<sub></sub>

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Lux had keen eyes, but he wasn¡¯t experienced with any particr fighting style because he was skilled with long-distance weapons. But, because no gunman ss was present at the time, he chose an Archer to implement his skills.

    ¡°Right there,¡± Ezra slowed the frames to a hundredth of their original rate and highlighted the movement. Kieran pivoted on one foot without moving while rotating from an x to y-axis.

    ¡°This is a type of shifting motion, not a bursting one. It¡¯s designed to elude, not close distances. This guy is implementing several variations of one movement!¡±

    ¡°We must get in contact with him,¡± Ezra suddenly dered. ¡°A fluent implementation of these skills in a difficult setting indicates extreme skill. This nobody will most likely be the objective of several first-ss gaming organizations.¡±

    ¡°So¡­ you want to be the first to move then? You might be the Guild Master, but you aren¡¯t authorized to main these decisions without the board¡¯s approval,¡± Lux warned.

    Ezra wasn¡¯t the type to make hasty decisions without ample research, but she understood Kieran¡¯s immense value.

    ¡°Then get in contact with them right away. If we can¡¯t draw Aatrox to our side, we need to foster a decent rtionship with him at least. He might be the impetus Eclipse requires.¡±

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, Luna sat beside Luka in the Adventurers¡¯ Guild, bearing a deepening frown.

    ¡®He has gotten even stronger since then. I thought this metamorphosis would restrict us all, but it seems to have aplished the opposite for Aatrox. It¡¯s as if his movements have been liberated to flow freely.¡¯

    After their experiences inside the Underground Labyrinth, Luna viewed Kieran as not just an ally but a goal. His every action exuded the bearing of an expert. Even when enraged, he exhibited a skill level well above the masses.

    This was a level of attainment Luna sorely desired.

    ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t something wrong?¡± Luka watched the stream but felt something was amiss.

    Luka continued after realizing the issue. ¡°His skills! Aatrox hasn¡¯t activated any of his skills! Those defeats were purely mechanical, but don¡¯t you recall his absurd skills?¡±

    ¡°Ah!¡± A sh of realization hit Luna.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. Aatrox hasn¡¯t activated a single skill. I feel for those yers. If they don¡¯t make it out alive, at least it was by the hand of someone much stronger. That should at least be some type of constion for their bruised ego.¡±

    ¡­

    A few secondster¡­

    ¡°What is going on?! Why isn¡¯t he affected like us? These movements are unreal!¡±

    ¡°No wonder that damned Sunset Triad and Shadow Cartel put out an outrageous bounty. This guy is a monster. But, there are several hundreds of us; pile up on him!¡±

    Kieran¡¯s opponents attack in droves, hoping to overpower him, but they never estimated Kieran could fight unrestrictedly.

    The sea of yers arrived at a supposed solution¡ªattacking Kieran at once. However, at that moment, screams sounded from the gathering¡¯s center.

    ¡°It¡¯s him! It¡¯s that damned Assassin! Get rid of that little eyesore.¡±

    Meanwhile, Kieran revealed an amused smirk while witnessing the sight of countless yers charging at him.

    ¡°I took it easy on you all, but you have forced my hand.¡±

    Until now, Kieran hadn¡¯t activated a single skill, but that was about to change.

    The iconic crimson aura of Blood Mania slowly seeped from Kieran¡¯s body while the crimson etching along Crimson Ashrune illuminated with a deadly presence.

    ¡°For all those Berserkers out there who havee here to target me¡ªlearn from your superior!¡±

    Bang!

    Unlike before, where Kieran employed el Shift for an instant burst of eleration, he used his raw speed to perform his current astonishing dash.

    Crimson Ashrune gained a breathtaking crimson existence that conformed to Kieran¡¯s will. Kieran arrived before a frozen Pugilist who gulped in fear after seeing Kieran¡¯s current state.

    Bang!

    Kieran cleaved the Pugilist in half cleanly, leaving a shallow crimson scar on the ground as his de impacted it.

    At the same time, dark tendrils fired in several different directions as Altair unleashed Darkness shes backed by his iplete Darkness Excursion Steps.

    The battlefield was plunged into chaos as two madmen went up against several hundred yers without fear.

    ¡°T-they¡¯re literally insane! Are you seeing this right now? How is this possible?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t spread out! Condense your numbers and kill them. We can¡¯t go out this sadly! They are steamrolling us!¡±

    The stream chat reacted to the frantic calls the pr sea of yers made.

    ¡°Hahaha! That¡¯s right! Get rolled for messing with Aatrox! You were stupid enough to do the deed, so get fucked!¡±

    The yer¡¯s first instincts were to run away from the carnage and chaos, but the several voices encouraging them to stick together and possibly earn heaps of cash sounded reasonable.

    Five yers charged at Kieran at once, unleashing their skills to the best of their ability.

    Arrows and spells flew toward Kieran, but Crimson Ashrune vibrated as Kieran indifferently shed his sword, firing arge Blood Wave through their path of advance.

    The Blood Wave shattered the spells and arrows alike before continuing with unstoppable momentum. The yers were minced by the Blood Wave, the ghastliness leaving everyone frozen.

    Meanwhile, a notification appeared before Kieran.

    ¡´System: You have entered Second Degree Infamy. If you die, you will lose 1 level and suffer 50% reduced attributes for the next 2 hours.¡µ

    Despite the severity of Second Degree Infamy, Kieran ignored the notification and instead looked at the yers, now frozen in shock.

    After witnessing the ze of crimson glory surrounding Kieran, the yers made a quick and effortless decision.

    ¡°Run!¡±

    However, Kieran cared little about their opinion.

    ¡°You want to run now? No, you must stay and enjoy the spectacle!¡±

    Bzzt! Bzzzt!

    Crimson crackles shed around Kieran¡¯s body as he chose to no longer limit his destruction. Everyone should learn to repercussions of targeting him. He was not a defenselessmb prime for ughter.

 Chapter 145 Names Redder Than Blood

    ¡ª-

    Although the battlefield was thrown into disarray with the introduction of Kieran¡¯s skills, he flourished in this madness. The crimson energycerated the air and ground around him as Kieran revealed a menacing glint.

    ¡´System: ?Vengeful Soul? Soul Trait has activated.¡µ

    Vengeful Soul heavilyplemented the power structure of Kieran¡¯s ss; it was almost a perfect fit. The emotions of vengeance channeled through Kieran and excited the dormant Argexes¡¯ Blood.

    Whoosh!

    Kieran unleashed three ghastly and enormous Sanguinem Tempests, seemingly supercharged by the effects of his Soul Trait. Cries of pain and fear echoed throughout the battlefield, but this horrifying cacophony of screams sounded like an angelic symphony to Kieran¡¯s ears.

    At the same time, Altair moved with an ever-flowing fluidity, reaping several lives before his presence seemingly dissipated.

    ¡°Run! Run, goddammit! These two are freaks and are possibly cheaters. Either that or they¡¯re freakish test subjects created to be our demise!¡±

    Hysteria filled the battlefield as those fortunate to escape the clutches of Kieran¡¯s Sanguinem Tempest scattered everywhere. Their logic was that Kieran couldn¡¯t target them all if everyone scattered in different directions.

    However, their dismal reality couldn¡¯t be a more frightening mistress.

    ¡°Don¡¯t run from an inevitable lesson, for I have an important gift for you all.¡±

    Kieran performed a mighty leap, rising more than 15 meters in the air beforeing to a gradual halt. Severalssoes of blood whished the air, leaving the stream chat in awe.

    ¡°What is that? What is this power he¡¯s wielding?¡±<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡°Well¡­ if it looks like blood, it tastes like blood, and it smells like blood¡ªit¡¯s blood.¡±

    ¡°Wait a minute, you smartass, how do you know what it tastes and smells like? You aren¡¯t there!¡±

    Almost all those who bore witness to Kieran¡¯s ss skill were baffled by the power and theme of his skills, especially Kieran¡¯s following disy of grandeur.

    Eleven tremendous blood des rained down from the sky in every direction imaginable, covering the battlefield¡¯s entire breadth.

    Naturally, Kieran achieved eleven blood des by coupling Crimson Barrage with the subsequent activation of Blood Wave. These blood des reaped countless lives until Kieran¡¯s name became darker than the blood he wielded.

    ¡´System: Your Infamy Level has risen to the Third Degree. There¡¯s a chance the Adventurers¡¯ Guild may ce an Official Bounty on your head.¡µ

    All yers registered with the Adventurers¡¯ Guild were treated as members. Hence, it was only fitting that the Adventurers¡¯ Guild would seek justice if mass amounts of their members died.

    Of course, unlike patrons of Xenith, yers could respawn, but the Adventurers¡¯ Guild didn¡¯t distinguish between this fact. After all, yers could die in the same way a patron of Xenith could.

    This was known as a Character or Existence Wipe, which once surfaced as one of Kieran¡¯s failure penalties.

    Aside from the notification regarding the Third Degree Infamy, Kieran received another notice of invaluable importance.

    ¡´System: ?Vengeful Soul?¡¯s Strengthening Rate shows improvement.¡µ

    Unbeknownst to Kieran, vengeance aimed at other yers stimted the growth of his Vengeful Soul. Even though its effects were triggered once before, it didn¡¯t experience any development at that time.<sub></sub>

    The percentage was stuck at the same 9.81% achieved by Arcane One¡¯s Akashic Record Seal.

    This change highlighted a path to Kieran¡¯s growth¡ªdestroying his foes in the most gruesome way possible to send a message.

    Meanwhile, the blood-soaked battlefield became a lugubrious sight as only two people remained once Kieran returned to the ground.

    Altair wiped the blood from his face and pulled down the grey scarf that previously covered his lower facial features.

    In terms of handsomeness, he wasparable to Kieran, but his face was just more slender, whereas Kieran¡¯s features were more defined and masculine.

    ¡°I guess I¡¯m not the only one with a ridiculous name now. But, Third Degree Infamy is no joke. An Official Bounty could be dangerous,¡± Altair remarked with a lighthearted smile.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry about that,¡± Kieran shook his head while deactivating Blood Mania. His body absorbed a significant amount of the blood that soaked the battlefield and immediately returned to full health.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Altair questioned. Their names were bright red like the vibrant crimson color of fresh blood.

    ¡°Positive,¡± Kieran reassured. The Gold Adventurer Badge and World Fame closing in on a Lord level weren¡¯t just for show. Not to mention, Kieran¡¯s rtionship with the city Mayor was also excellent.

    So, if the situation did deteriorate, he could request the help of Mayor Lowe or Vice-Guild Master Hugo.

    After speaking to Altair, Kieran nced at the stream in the corner of his eyes and continued with a solemn expression and icy tone.

    ¡°Let this serve as a lesson to you all. And as for you dogs known by the names of Sunset Triad and Shadow Cartel, tread carefully because I will have your head. I don¡¯t need others to move for me. If I want your life, I¡¯ll take it. There is nothing in this world that will stop me.¡±

    Kieran¡¯s ims may have seemed overbearing and sprouted from an inted ego, but the disy everyone witnessed doused their doubts and made it nearly impossible to retort Kieran¡¯s remarks.

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, inside Ridgewood, Metro City¡­

    Ridgewood was known for its high crime rates and the Underworld¡¯s rampant activity in this neighborhood. It served as a central hub for many sinister organizations, such as the Shadow Cartel.

    ¡°Damn it all! Who the hell does he think he is to threaten us publicly? He thinks killing off some amateurs equates to having the ability to stop us?!¡± Despot seethed while smashing up his living room.

    Despot threw a chair into the monitor used to watch the stream while heaving with reddened eyes. He frustratedlybed his hand through his hair and pulled on it before smashing his hands into the counter repeatedly.

    ¡°Argh!¡± Despot growled. ¡°That¡¯s it! I will not stand for this. Even if it puts me in his debts, I¡¯ll have the Warhead Syndicate assist us!¡±

    The Warhead Syndicate was a name Kieran paid close attention to whenpiling his first dungeon guide for the Forest of Beasts. Unlike the Shadow Cartel and Sunset Triad, the Warhead Syndicate was a second-ss gaming organization.

    Their top brass was much stronger than Despot, which also included real-life strength. If the Shadow Cartel and Sunset Triad were considered low-ss in the Underworld¡¯s standings, then the Warhead Syndicate was a middle-ss entity.

    ¡°Yes! That¡¯s precisely what I¡¯ll do. I¡¯ll like to see what you do against an expert on the Gamer Republic¡¯s Exemr Records. Those hundreds of yers are worthlesspared to Syndicate¡¯s Guild Master.¡±

    Despot paced around the room, trying to convince himself that bowing to the Warhead Syndicate was the correct move that would ultimately bring about his desired oue.

    However, the Underworld was never as straight and narrow as their words insinuated.

    If there were ever a chance to backstab someone, they would capitalize on that opportunity without so much as batting an eye.

    Nevertheless, despite knowing the risks that apanied his request, Despot decided to take that chance. He felt the enmity between him and Aatrox had be irreconcble.

    ¡°I¡¯ll make your every living day a hell inside Zenith Online. And, if the opportunity ever arises, I will find out who you are!¡±

    If anyone witnessed the way Despot screamed like a lunatic in the presence of no one, they¡¯d deem him a lunatic who belonged in a mental asylum.

    Aftering to his senses, Despot frowned at the mess he had made. ¡°Aw, crap! Who the hell is going to clean this up?!¡±

    Despot marched to the door and flung it open, almost destroying it off the hinge. ¡°Get that damned maid in here to clean this shit up!¡±

    Despot¡¯s voice carried down the hallway, which caused every door to open. The members of the Shadow Cartel that weren¡¯t logged on quickly scurried from their apartments in search of the maid.

    ¡­

    Kieran gazed at the battlefield filled with blood, ample amounts of coins, and some pieces of shoddy equipment. After relishing in the fact he could release this much carnage so early on, he assisted Altair in collecting everything.

    By the end of the collection, Kieran amassed a total of 54 Gold and 120 pieces of Umon and Rare Items with Item Levels of 20 or higher.

    Overall, this loot was a pleasant haul because it covered what Kieran felt was wasted time.

    Even though the massacrested no longer than 30 minutes, it was 30 minutes he could¡¯ve spared doing something else.

    Kieran bid the stream farewell before reminding them of another oneing soon.

    Afterward, Kieran looked through his Soul Trait for any changes after recalling the crucial notifications.

    ¡¸ Trait Name: Vengeful Soul

    Trait Type: Soul Trait

    Trait Rank: Strengthened

    Strengthened Completion: 9.81% ¡ú 10.01%

    Description: A unique trait born from an unpolished Awakened Soul. This trait grants the user the unique ability ?Retaliatory Sense? but also produces a w.

    ?Retaliatory Sense? ¨C Heightens the user¡¯s Perception by up to 300% when in situations where they are targeted. (The numbers changes depending on the number of foes targeting the user.)

    ?w: Vengeful? ¨C This w makes the user more susceptible to rage and vengeance, increasing the likelihood of sumbing to powers centered around these negative emotions.

    *New¡­ ?Revenge Predator? ¨C A uniquebat system essible only to one possessing a Vengeful Soul. The user gains a stack of ?Hunt? for every foe marked as an enemy. The user can consume 1 ?Hunt? stack to mark enemies with the ?Prey? status. The user can consume 10 ?Hunt? stacks to enter ?Predator Hunt?. [Maximum Stacks: 100 stacks]

    ¡­

    Note: While Strengthened, your Soul Trait still possesses ample room for growth. Only the surface of your Soul has been unearthed. ¡¹

 Chapter 146 Ezras Interest

    ¡ª

    Kieran immediately noticed that the Vengeful Soul Trait increased from 9.81% to 10.01%. While a .20% increase may seem inconsequential, it was enough to make substantial changes.

    The first modification was this newbat system Kieran gained. While the effects were extremely vague and didn¡¯t deliver some essential information, Kieran understood its gist more or less.

    ¡®It¡¯s a system triggered when enemies target me. It¡¯s essentially an addition to Retaliatory Sense that increases its worth and practicality,¡¯ Kieran noted.

    As for finding out the effects of Prey, Hunt, and Predator Hunt, that would have to wait until he went up against enough foes at once to activate the Revenge Predator Combat System.

    After cleaning up the battlefield, Kieran and Altair returned to the city¡¯s gates but were immediately given dubious looks.

    The guards narrowed their eyes and scrutinized the two. ¡°You two carry a pungent smell of blood. You¡¯re not here to cause trouble, right?¡±

    ¡°Not at all. There was just an issue that required immediate resolution, and we did just that¡ªresolved the issue. I pledge against my knight¡¯s name that we are not here to raise trouble,¡± Kieran said.

    Even after recognizing Kieran and Altair¡¯s reputable honor, the guards remained doubtful, but their expressions lightened over time. After all, they had just learned of Jackson¡¯s offense. Probity seemed to be empty these days.

    ¡°As you say, sir. Wee to Aeredale City,¡± the lead guard nodded before returning to an eased position.

    ¡°You were right!¡± Altair whispered. The guards didn¡¯t prohibit our entry despite our Third Degree Infamy, which seemed rted to our identity as Knight-level individuals.

    ¡°Knowledge is important. It¡¯s important to research the advantages of any benefit you receive. World Fame has countless uses meant to save your ass and neutralize unforeseen circumstances outside your control,¡± Kieran said.

    However, as he walked through the gates, he was ultimately stopped by an inadvertently familiar face. The mature beauty¡ªEzra, the Scarlet Eclipsing de, appeared before Kieran with an anxious expression.<sub>-.</sub>

    Kieran noticed this expression and told Altair to continue without him.

    Once it was just them, Ezra formally introduced herself. ¡°It isn¡¯t official yet, but I would like to extend a formal greeting. I am Ezra, Guild Master of Eclipse.¡±

    ¡°I know who you are. How can I not? You¡¯re quite famous,¡± Kieran remarked.

    Ezra wasn¡¯t surprised by Kieran¡¯s response. However, she was surprised by his demeanor. After watching that gory ordeal, Ezra felt Kieran was most likely a crude person.

    ¡°Ah, yes. I suppose that¡¯s right. But, I can¡¯t help but fail to understand how someone as talented as you has gone unknown. Is this your first VR title?¡± Ezra questioned.

    At the same time, she gestured toward a nearby restaurant. ¡°Would you like to join me for a drink?¡±

    Considering food and beverages had be essential, Kieran would be a fool to decline this offer after expending a hefty amount of Stamina.

    Blood Mania¡¯s activation seemed to consume an outrageous amount of Satiety as it plunged into the lower yellow spectrum, threatening to decline even further to the orange zone.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take you up on that offer. But, I can¡¯t help but feel you have other matters on your mind as well,¡± Kieran replied.

    Kieran followed Ezra into one of Aeredale City¡¯s reputed restaurants¡ªThe Savory Pce. The meals were expensive, costing Silver rather than Copper, but both of these individuals could afford the expenditure.

    ¡°So, what is it?¡± Kieran suddenly asked after cing an order.

    ¡°Your skill,¡± Ezra spoke directly. ¡°It¡¯s worlds above normal elites. And those skills you unleashed, what are they powered by? It seems like blood.¡±<sub></sub>

    ¡°That¡¯s because it is.¡± Kieran didn¡¯t mince his words, answering directly.

    Ezra didn¡¯t mind his direct way of speaking, but the fact she felt as if their familiarity wasn¡¯t budging made her frown. She folded her hands and crossed her legs under the table.

    ¡°I wanted to know if you¡¯d ept an offer if Eclipse presented you with one,¡± Ezra asked.

    Kieran looked at her in silence for a few seconds, which produced an awkward atmosphere. Kieran continued to smolder Ezra with his eyes until she finally averted her gaze, earning Kieran¡¯s faint smirk.

    ¡°Is there something wrong, Ms. Scarlet Eclipsing de? I¡¯m just testing to see how genuine you are,¡± Kieran spoke lightheartedly but sped his hands and leaned forward.

    ¡°This offer you speak of¡ªit¡¯s an invitation to join you, is it not?¡±

    ¡°It is. If you¡¯re interested, I¡¯ll personally catapult you to Core Member Status, and we¡¯ll spare no effort with your training, even supplying you with X-hancers. If you¡¯re unfamiliar with X-hancers, they¡¯re a state-of-the-art medicine designed to improve us,¡± Ezra revealed.

    Kieran narrowed his eyes as they swept across Ezra¡¯s body and face, analyzing every piece of bodynguage that surfaced. ¡°X-hancers, was it? They seem like a pretty neat bonus. But I¡¯ll have to decline. I have no desire to join any guild.¡±

    ¡°Then, does that mean you¡¯ll attempt to create your own?¡±

    A tinge of worry shed in Ezra¡¯s eyes because she had seen many brilliant rising stars fall because of their obstinate demeanor. Talent didn¡¯t equate to power. If a powerful entity viewed a rising star as a threat, it was likely they¡¯d be dealt with before they could be a concern.

    ¡°Perhaps.¡±

    ¡°You should reconsider!¡± Ezra eximed loudly. It was almost loud enough to cause a scene. However, the other visitors didn¡¯t seem to mind the conversation or Ezra¡¯s mild outburst.

    ¡°Why is that?¡± Kieran asked, feigning obliviousness. He knew the reason very well. After all, it was spoken to him just before he died.

    ¡°Those who be interested in you won¡¯t be limited to first-ss guilds. Your actions will soon attract the attention of Overlord and Behemoth guilds, especially once they dissect yourbat.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Kieran¡¯s eyebrow rose with interest. ¡°Did something stand out to you?¡±

    ¡°Yes. This¡ª¡±

    Ezra swiped her hand, sending a screen before Kieran¡¯s. It was footage of his fight. However, it was slowed down, annotated, and zoomed in to highlight important moments.

    Kieran looked back at Ezra after watching the entire thing. ¡°The way I fight?¡±

    ¡°Precisely the technique you employed to make an unspoken statement. Anyone at my level or beyond will understand its meaning¡ªI am an expert. Those are movements disyed when you want to announce your presence.¡±

    ¡°So what if I do?¡± Kieran countered. There was a reason he chose this battle to reveal his possession of heightenedbat abilities¡ªto make allies. Because she was here, Kieran had to do something that would attract Ezra¡¯s attention.

    After all, there¡¯s a reason Ezra was known as the Scarlet Eclipsing de. The title came from how blood from her sword sttered and blotted out the sun from the right angle, but it also had to do with her Eclipsing Sword Style, which used two slender des to execute a tricky attack pattern.

    ¡°Someone experts don¡¯t take this kind of disy of grandeur lightly. They¡¯ll want to challenge you and exert their dominance. Simrly, established organizations won¡¯t appreciate you declining their offer only to create your own,¡± Ezra said.

    She sighed when she thought about the bleak path Kieran wanted to walk upon.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard this all before,¡± Kieran indifferently shrugged Ezra¡¯s caution aside.

    ¡°Then, this isn¡¯t your first VR game title?¡±

    ¡°You can say that,¡± Kieran responded vaguely.

    ¡°What was your name, if you don¡¯t mind me asking? Perhaps you aren¡¯t a rising expert, but a returning one.¡±

    However, Kieran shook his head. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t know.¡±

    He was correct. The odds of Ezra knowing a name from the future and possibly even a parallel future was zero!

    ¡°Well, if you won¡¯t ept the offer extended to you, then at least take my advice. Tread carefully because there are problematic days ahead of you.¡±

    ¡°What about you? Will you be present during those troubling days?¡±

    Kieran¡¯s question resulted in Ezra¡¯s furrowing her brows. Not because she didn¡¯t like the question, but because she didn¡¯t understand what he meant by asking this.

    ¡°Before you make the wrong assumption, I¡¯m asking whether you will be part of the many who try to suppress me.¡± While asking this question, Kieran¡¯s gaze was indifferent, neither imposing nor servile.

    ¡°I recall my days of growth, and I have my morals. There is no reason for me to stifle someone¡¯s growth in such a vast world. There are more than enough opportunities to go around. However, that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll shy away from any challenge or ignore any opportunity. Everything is fair game at the end of the day.¡±

    Kieran smiled after listening to her response. Even if Ezra didn¡¯t explicitly say she was willing to ally with him, it was enough that she wouldn¡¯t suppress him.

    Throughout their conversation, the food arrived, and both Kieran and Ezra ate while continuing to talk. Kieran eventually brought up the fact that she wasn¡¯t from this kingdom.

    ¡°How did you know that?¡± Ezra asked with aplex expression. Part of her feared she was being stalked! After all, it wouldn¡¯t be the first time she experienced an invasion of privacy.

    ¡°That day when we met eyes, and I avoided you, you wereing from the Teleportation Hall¡¯s direction. It¡¯s easy to understand why,¡± Kieran answered.

    Afterward, he wiped his face with a napkin and set the empty te aside.

    ¡°I knew when I first saw you that you¡¯d be dangerous. To think you could escape my notice that easily. That isn¡¯t something aplishable by everyone.¡±

    ¡´System: You have received a friend request from Lv.32 Sword Master, Ezra.¡µ

    ¡®Sword Master?¡¯ Kieran¡¯s eyes widened when looking at Ezra¡¯s ss. This ss was undoubtedly a step above typical Swordsmen and could only be bestowed by the master of the sword.

    Kieran epted the friend request, which revealed information on himself as well.

    ¡°True Berserker¡­ So when you said you¡¯d show those Berserkers a true disy¡ª¡±

    ¡°I truly meant it,¡± Kieran interjected.

    The desire to befriend this young man before her became more apparent in Ezra¡¯s mind. Unusual sses were a sign of unnatural skill that warranted special treatment.

    ¡°Perhaps we can be allies in the future. Call me if you ever need an addition or assistance,¡± Kieran said before standing up from the table. He had idled long enough to make some progress with Ezra.

    Forming a rtionship wasn¡¯t something that would happen overnight. It took time, experience, and most of all, trust.

 Chapter 147 Ezras Offer

    ¨D

    Although Kieran voiced his intention to leave, Ezra stopped him before he could walk away from the table by cing her hands on his.

    Kieran turned toward her with a skeptical gleam in his eyes but waited for her to speak. He didn¡¯t mind hearing her out if what she had to say was of some importance or interest.

    Ezra exhaled before meeting Kieran¡¯s gaze. ¡°I have onest question¡ªis there any secret training method that allowed you to ovee the presentbat difficulties so effortlessly?¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Kieran smiled as this question piqued his interest. ¡°Is there something you have to offer if I do?¡±

    ¡°My first question is do you have connections?¡± Ezra questioned.

    Kieran¡¯s answer was naturally no. Because beside Dr. Riley, he didn¡¯t have any allies or people he could rely on. Besides, it was difficult for Kieran to trust people without first testing them.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case. I¡¯m willing to offer amplepensation in exchange for your secret. How does 1,000 vials of 1 to 20% X-hancers sound?¡± Ezra offered.

    The offer intrigued Kieran, but it was something he found difficult. epting this offer meant someone would have to receive the order. However, doing this would reveal his identity and where he lived, leaving Kieran at an impasse for quite some time.

    Ezra mistook the silence for Kieran disliking the deal and hurried to sweeten it. ¡°50 units of every X-hancer between 1% and 25%.¡±

    Kieran lifted his head to look at her. His silence was used to ponder a suitable answer, and he found one. ¡°I¡¯llpile some tips and guide you. I¡¯m guessing you offered such an exorbitant price because you want exclusive knowledge, yes?¡±

    ¡°Correct. I would appreciate it if this knowledge isn¡¯t revealed to others,¡± Ezra responded truthfully. She retracted her hand, allowing Kieran to rub his chin in deep thought.<sub>-.</sub>

    ¡®No wonder she gave such an immense offer. My refusal will inevitably result in me creating enemies. However, X-hancers are invaluable for me right now,¡¯ Kieran mused.

    After a few moments, he agreed to the deal. Even if other superpowers sought him out, they were in several different kingdoms and empires. He doubted they¡¯d exhausted thousands of Gold teleporting between empires.

    Such wanton expenditure was reckless and downright idiotic in Kieran¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°If you send my address, I¡¯ll have Eclipse deliver the order to your doorstep posthaste.¡±

    ¡°Rather than do that. I have someone I owe deeply, so send it to this address.¡±

    Instead of giving out his address, Kieran used the medical facility¡¯s address. Not only was it outfitted with top-notch security that could easily protect Dr. Riley in times of danger, but its remote location made it nearly impossible to estimate Kieran¡¯s home location.

    Ezra memorized the address before rapidly moving her hands. At the same time, Kieran did the same but did so topile information on how to ovee the challenges of Stage One Combat Realism.

    Eventually, Kieran delivered an in-depth guide on how a yer should go about incorporating things known as Techniques.

    Because this information was something that would appear in theing days, Kieran found no issue with divulging it now.

    Moreover, if Ezra could reap the benefits of being the next in line to create techniques, it could solidify their rtionship.

    Regarding creation feats, the system distributed rewards up until the 3rd sessful creation. However, a single yer couldn¡¯t receive the same reward twice. It was designed to spread opportunity.<sub></sub>

    The reward structure followed many prize-winningpetitions¡¯ iconic Gold, Silver, and Bronze format.

    Ezra sent proof of therge mail order before revealing a breathtaking smile.

    The information present in the guide astonished Ezra because it even covered what movement styles fit certain sses. Aside from vaguely touching upon the value of considerable mental strength, there was also information explicitly tailored to Ezra¡¯s Sword Master.

    It didn¡¯t go into detail, but it did list the importance of endless training until all movements became instinctual. The Sword Master ss relied heavily upon control and precision because of its dual-wielding.

    Compared to wielding one sword, two swords took many times the effort, control, and focus. Otherwise, the movements would be clunky.

    Ezra experienced what Kieran stated when training inside the Training Hall. If she didn¡¯t move properly, her attacks would be cumbersome. This information soon led to a question Ezra hoped would be answered in her favor.

    ¡°Your understanding ofbat eclipses some of the executive trainers¡¯ Eclipse hired to keep our staff in shape. Would you be interested in bing my training partner? I won¡¯t intrude on your schedule, but when you¡¯re free, I would love to spar against you,¡± Ezra said.

    Kieran immediately considered this offer because training with a Titled Ranker was a sorely needed pressure. Theirbat experience wasn¡¯t that inferior to his own, so he ultimately agreed.

    ¡°We¡¯ll discuss it more at ater date. If that is all, I have matters to prepare for,¡± Kieran said.

    Unlike before, he left without allowing Ezra to draw him back for further conversation.

    Still, Ezra sat back down and called upon Lux, who appeared with restless behavior. ¡°So? How did it go, Guild Master? Has he epted the offer to join?¡±

    ¡°Not at all,¡± Ezra shook her head. However, she passed thepiled guide to Lux. ¡°Take a look at this.¡±

    After perusing the information, Lux¡¯s eyes widened, causing him to read through attentively. By the end, his expression had changed multiple times. ¡°T-this¡­ ording to his ims, most sses are capable of his movements. It¡¯s not the ss that limits the yer, but their minds and imagination.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. Didn¡¯t the physicians im we¡¯d unearth new abilities after harnessing enough of a human¡¯s dormant power? Why do his ims sound the same? These so-called Techniques sound like they¡¯re harnessing such a power,¡± Ezramented with aplex expression.

    Just then, she lifted her head and caught Kieran¡¯s passing smile before hepletely vanished from the other side of the ss.

    Ezra began to wonder about a few things. ¡®Just¡­ what are humans capable of?¡¯

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, Kieran arrived before the Training Hall, where he had everyone await his return.

    ¡°In- fucking- sane, bro! Holy crap. My eyes were glued to the screen for every moment of what you just did,¡± Bastion eximed in awe. Others may say he sounded like Kieran¡¯s fanboy, but Kieranughed it off.

    ¡°What can I say¡ªaverage yers should understand their ce and operate within their abilities. Otherwise, they¡¯ll end up in a simr state,¡± Kieran said.

    He felt these yers should be happy he wasn¡¯t spiteful and tracked them down to kill them repeatedly.

    However, he understood they were enacting the will of the Sunset Triad and Shadow Cartel. Doing so would be aiming his animosity at the wrong target.

    ¡°Enough of that. We need to n for the uing quest,¡± Kieran said.

    ¡°Uing quest? You¡¯ve another one already? You don¡¯t idle at all¡­ It¡¯s all business with the boss,¡± Nemeanmented.

    Kieran smiled bitterly in response.

    What would they do if they knew it was in fact a Main Quest with a chain identity? Anyone who yed MMORPGs understood that the difficulty and rewards of chain quests experienced a linear increase.

    Kieran didn¡¯t doubt that the B+ Rank Quest would elevate to an A+ Rank Quest in the future. An A+ Rank Quest meant it involved the security of the Kingdom as a whole, while B+ Rank Quests were limited to the fate of a city.

    Kieran soon walked Bastion and the others through potential oues after he dealt with this solo quest.

    Thus, aside from training inside the Training Hall until he requested their aid, Kieran also gave them 500 Gold each to join Cygnus and the rest in purchasing materials.

    Afterward, Kieran was left with just over 7,000 Gold before visiting the Merchant Association¡¯s City Bank.

    ¡°Hello,¡± a cordial receptionist greeted.

    Kieran returned a greeting before revealing his purpose foring here. ¡°I¡¯d like to purchase a Personal Vault and Warehouse.¡±

    ¡°Understood. However, these are varying levels of space and security. Are you aware of the type you need?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take the Gold Grade for both of them,¡± Kieran answered.

    Astonishment shed in the receptionist¡¯s eyes, but she honored Kieran¡¯s request. ¡°Including the fees for rental and security, that¡¯ll be 600 Gold. However, with the discount of purchasing them together, the total cost will be 540 Gold.¡±

    Although Kieran¡¯s inventory was vastlyrger than any other yer, the continuous purchases had essentially filled all his inventory slots. Since he didn¡¯t wish to sell anything just yet, he used a considerable amount of Gold to purchase units.

    A Gold Grade Warehouse was the equivalent of 10,000 inventory slots. A Personal Vault, on the other hand, was the same size as the yer¡¯s inventory. The only difference was that items stored inside wouldn¡¯t drop upon death.

    With the abundant space provided by these two purchases, Kieran doubted they¡¯d be filling up anytime soon.

    After paying the price, Kieran unloaded all of the materials inside the Warehouse before cing his two Rare Grade Treasure Chests and Zelliolx¡¯s Exiled des inside the Personal Vault.

    Afterward, Kieran felt the preparations wereplete.

    He returned to Mayor Lowe¡¯s office but walked past the receptionist without any dy. The Mayor had informed her to allow Kieran to pass whenever he visited.

    Kieran knocked on Mayor Lowe¡¯s and awaited a response before entering.

    ¡°Have you made all of your preparations?¡±

    Kieran gave a confident nod. ¡°I¡¯m ready to follow through when you are.¡±

 Chapter 148 Search for the Culprit

    ¨D

    From the moment Kieran received the quest, Mayor Lowe awaited his return while putting certain motions in order. Although Kieran was to man a dummy cargo, a few items were inside of minimal value.

    It¡¯d be suspicious if the caravan moved faster than its average speed, so Mayor Lowe had to think of solutions to add sufficient weight.

    Unlike before, however, Mayor Lowe personally escorted Kieran alongside a young merchant named Nina.

    Aside from this young girl with a violet bob-cut hairstyle, one Obsidian Criollo pulled the single caravan.

    While escorting Kieran to the city gates, Mayor Lowe ensured their conversation was loud enough for the other guards to hear.

    ¡°Head Merchant Penni specifically requested this caravan, so I ask that you get to him expeditiously. The city¡¯s lifeline relies upon forming this stable deal. Do you understand?¡±

    Kieran feigned a solemn look to produce a false air of gravity that should surround the entire situation. ¡°I understand. He¡¯ll receive this batch of goods with haste. Will we be following that route?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it is our fastest route to date. There is a risk of the deal falling through if any other route is taken,¡± Mayor Lowe answered.

    However, the two smiled amongst themselves when the guards could no longer see their expression.

    After reaching the gate, Mayor Lowe exited the caravan and shook Kieran¡¯s hand with apparent gratitude.

    ¡®This man is quite the actor. He deserves an Emmy Award for this performance, but I can¡¯t knock myself either.¡¯ Kieran didn¡¯t forget to pat himself on the back because a one-person act wouldn¡¯t get the job done.<sub>.</sub>

    Without Kieran¡¯s perceptive responses, Mayor Lowe¡¯s ploy would have fallen through before it started.

    Nevertheless, all of the guards captured their genuinely distraught tones, some of them looking at each other with awkward expressions.

    Finally, the two towards the rear of the caravan whispered to each other.

    ¡°Is there something going on that we don¡¯t know about? Why did the Mayor¡¯s statements sound like we¡¯re in an unstable economic state? Does this mean there¡¯s a risk we won¡¯t be paid?! I rely upon my sry to survive and remain healthy.¡±

    ¡°I have no idea, but I think we can assume a few things from his tone. He is worried, and only a few matters can worry a City¡¯s Mayor.¡±

    ¡°Then¡­ what should we do?¡±

    The second guard looked at the first one in silence but said nothing. What could they do? It wasn¡¯t like they could summons heaps of gold to appease the economic upset.

    Meanwhile, another guard caught a glimpse of their conversation and disyed a conniving smirk. The smirksted briefly as the caravan departed from the city¡¯s gates.

    As that happened, this particr guard regained a neutral expression and looked around while copying everyone else¡¯s demeanor.

    Mayor Lowe viewed the departing caravan with a troubled expression. ¡®It¡¯s up to you now, Aatrox.¡¯

    The people at the city¡¯s gates dispersed after a few minutes, with several guards escorting Mayor Lowe back to his office out of respect.<sub></sub>

    However, while on their way back, the same two worried guards raised their concerns with Mayor Lowe.

    ¡°Mayor Lowe, is there a fear we won¡¯t get paid this month? The city funds seem to be in a bad state from your heightened worries.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, if ites down to it. I suggest a pay cut for all guards to lessen the burden while keeping us fed,¡± the second guard added.

    Mayor Lowe looked at them, observing their behavior beforeing to an assured conclusion. ¡®They aren¡¯t the ones. They¡¯re some of the most dutiful guards on the payroll. They¡¯re even willing to suffer losses for the city.¡¯

    Instinctively, Mayor Lowe turned back and observed the city¡¯s gate for any suspicious activity, but there was none. If not for fear of alerting the culprit, Mayor Lowe would have conducted the search himself.

    However, a mayor conducting a search in the city would immediately divulge to the culprit that their actions were discovered.

    ¡­

    After moving tens of kilometers outside Aeredale City¡¯s visual range, Kieran pulled on the Obsidian Criollo¡¯s reins until it slowed to a moderate pace. But, this action confused Nina.

    She looked at Kieran with her big, clear eyes and tilted her head. ¡°Hey, why are we slowing down? I thought we were instructed to reach our destination in the fastest time possible.¡±

    ¡°If that were our actual mission, yes. But we have been tasked with something else.¡±

    ¡´System: Man a dummy cargo to lure out the bandits. 1/1¡µ<sub></sub>

    Nina drew a mental nk, evident by her clueless expression. She tapped on her lips, trying to understand why they would leave the city in the first ce.

    After all, she was a reasonably new merchant, so she wasn¡¯t privy to the matters take ce inside Aeredale City and the losses the merchants before her suffered.

    Rather than provide a clear answer, Kieran searched for a decent area to hide this caravan while the Obsidian Criollo trotted in ce.

    ¡°H-hey, mister. Are you going to tell me what we¡¯re up to?¡± Nina asked after disliking the continued silence between them.

    Kieran finally looked at her and spoke in a decisive tone. ¡°What we¡¯re up to is protecting Aeredale City and most likely the entire kingdom from copse.¡±

    Nina gasped and covered her mouth in disbelief. ¡°What do you mean by copse? The city¡¯s walls and buildings seem pretty stable to me. I went sightseeing just the other day, mister.¡±

    Kieran speechlessly blinked while wondering if this little girl was truly an airhead or if it was all an act. How could someone be so oblivious when presented with an answer?!

    ¡°Don¡¯t take it in the most literal sense. The odds of the buildings copsing are unlikely. I mean the market.¡±

    ¡°No, no, I was just there. It was in a decent state as well. In fact, it was filled with people!¡± Nina eximed while repeatedly shaking her head so that her hair swayed in the wind.

    Kieran was again rendered speechless as he thought about leaving this airhead alone and venturing to the kingdom alone.

    ¡°Are you being serious¡­ or were you dropped on your head as a child?¡±

    Nina frowned at Kieran¡¯sment and red daggers. ¡°That¡¯s not very nice, mister.¡±

    All of a sudden, a small gust began circling Nina. This wasn¡¯t any ordinary gust; it was winds created through Mana. In other words, Nina could be a Mage rather than a merchant.

    Out of curiosity, Kieran checked her status.

    ¡¸Lv. 41 Nina Ventura (Rare NPC)

    ss: Junior Merchant (?)¡¹

    Kieran was admittedly surprised by Nina¡¯s level and rating. A Rare NPC was pretty strong, at least two times stronger than those given a Normal Rating.

    Most guards were estimated to be Normal NPCs, while some were listed as Elite NPCs. Elite NPCs are stronger than Normal NPCs but weaker than Rare NPCs,fortably cing them somewhere in the middle.

    ¡°This wind¡­ it is all your doing?¡± Kieran questioned despite already knowing the answer.

    ¡°That¡¯s right! I¡¯m almighty, hehehe~,¡± Nina giggled. But her giggle weakened her Mana Control, causing the winds to disperse a few secondster.

    ¡®Hmm, Mana Invocation spurred by her emotions,¡¯ Kieran noted.

    Aside from when her emotions were riled, it appeared Nina had zero knowledge of how to control Mana or even invoke her affinity.

    ¡°Why are you a merchant if you can utilize Mana?¡±

    This question made Nina¡¯s grin dete as she averted her gaze from Kieran¡¯s inquisitive eyes. ¡°I tried to be a Mage¡­ but I was deemed unteachable. But I think it¡¯s their nice way of saying I¡¯m an idiot.¡±

    Kieran almost sputtered after hearing Nina¡¯s exnation but kept his act together.

    ¡°Did you at least get your Mana Affinity tested?¡±

    ¡°Of course! I had A-Rank Potential to be a Wind Mage, but I can never get it to work,¡± Ninained.

    ¡°You must be focusing on the wrong thing,¡± Kieranmented. He pondered a helpful answer before voicing it. ¡°Grasp your affinity by focusing on the aspects of wind. It can be calm, but it possesses the most violent rage. But, most of all, it is untamed and free-spirited, existing everywhere but confined by nothing,¡± Kieran said.

    Nina blinked wordlessly before her lips curved into a radiant smile. ¡°You¡¯re smart, mister. I¡¯ll try that.¡±

    After giving Nina some advice, he asked that she remain here for quite some time and contemte his words.

    While she was distracted, Kieran then took the opportunity to leave the caravan and move toward the city gates slowly.

    Less than 30 minutes had passed, so the chances the culprit was in the process of contacting the Desertborn Brigands were high. But, Kieran couldn¡¯tplete his task if he had to protect or look over a clueless girl like Nina.

    Even if she didn¡¯t know the path back to the city¡¯s gates, Obsidian Criollos were intelligent creatures and could return home without fail.

    ¡­

    Although Kieran was careful, he quickly returned to the city¡¯s gates an hourter before moving toward the guards¡¯ chambers. The door was left unattended because the guards were usually stationed around the city and would only return here once a shift concluded.

    The guard chamber was the only area Kieran could think the culprit would go to conduct shifty behavior. It was empty, had a designated schedule, and it was the ce guards were most intimate with.

 Chapter 149 Search for the Culprit (II)

    ¨D

    The Guards¡¯ Chambers was a building in a remote corner of Aeredale City that provided security and privacy for the guards. After all, being a city¡¯s guard sometimes produced enmity when forced to deal with conflict.

    This security was required when returning to theforts of their home. The exit and entrance route aligned with the path of several guards, so surveince was high.

    However, one could avoid contact if one knew about their route, the window where none of the guard posts aligned, and the time their shifts generally ended.

    This was how Kieran arrived at the guard¡¯s chambers with ease. He had walked the streets of Aeredale long enough to have memorized all of this information.

    Of course, Mayor Lowe also pulled some strings to manipte the guards¡¯ activities to a certain extent.

    Kieran opened the chamber¡¯s door and cautiously sneaked inside before closing it with a light touch. As expected, the chamber¡¯s interior resembled a precinct¡¯s structure using items native to Xenith.

    There was a showering area, changing rooms, and even rest areas to rx and have a meal. But, Kieran didn¡¯t search for long before hearing a mor deep inside the guard¡¯s chamber.

    Kieran observed his surroundings before creeping past most of the doors until he arrived at the one the noise appeared from.

    ¡°Damn it! Connect you stupid thing! I have an important message!¡± An enraged voice sounded out as an individual of an average build could be seen tinkering with an unknown item in their grasp.

    He pped this device against his palm until a light flickered on its surface.

    Finally, a distant voice sounded from the device in the man¡¯s hand.

    Although Kieran wasn¡¯t too far away, he could barely discern the words being exchanged. ¡®What a trash quality item. You¡¯d think they¡¯d have better ways after stealing so much merchandise,¡¯ Kieran inwardlymented.

    Nevertheless, he closed his eyes and directed his Mana to his ear, enhancing their hearing capabilities. Only after doing so could he make out the exchanged words.<sub>.</sub>

    ¡°You were told only to contact us when you have useful information. Why are you contacting only a day after we just spoke?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just it! I have useful information. However, I think we should discuss the matters of our split. This 20-80 split we have going on isn¡¯t working. It seems you¡¯ve been amassing more riches than I¡¯ve expected.¡±

    The voice on the other side grew displeased by this request. ¡°Do you know who you¡¯re talking to, boy? I can have my entire Desertborn Brigands make your life very difficult. After all, who will you turn to for aid? Your city will either execute or imprison you indefinitely once they learn of your crimes.¡±

    The man holding the device gulped but regained his confidence by retorting. ¡°That may be true, but you¡¯ll lose out on knowing the merchandise¡¯s schedule. Will you risk losing sight of your other targets to target me?¡±

    ¡°Tch!¡± An annoyed tongue click sounded from the other side of the device, followed by a grunt. ¡°Speak. You talk too much.¡±

    ¡°40-60. That should be our new split because I have it on good authority that what is being transported may be of high value.¡± The guard spoke.

    A grumble sounded as the other side considered the guard¡¯s offer.

    Meanwhile, Kieran¡¯s eyebrow rose as he listened to the conversation. ¡®So¡­ Aeredale City isn¡¯t the only target, as I assumed. The Desertborn Brigands must be targeting several of the Aeredale Kingdom¡¯s cities.¡¯

    ¡´System: Locate the traitors amongst the Kingdom¡¯s Guards. 1/1¡µ

    While Kieran had collected enough proof that this guard was indeed the culprit selling sensitive information, he continued to listen in case this conversation revealed any other important information.

    ¡°You know, thest team of brigands dispatched to your previous tip never returned nor brought the cargo. What do you have to say about that? Was it all just a ruse to trick me?¡±

    Fury rose in the voice of the opposing side. Just by their cadence, one could tell a deep frown filled their face.

    ¡°I-I had no knowledge of that matter. The caravans were sent out as I revealed. None have returned, so I assumed it was another sessful heist. I will look into the matter and let you know when I have the details. But¡­ what about this current caravan?¡±<sub></sub>

    ¡°Mm,¡± the voice fell silent briefly as if pondering their decision. ¡°How valuable would you say it is.¡±

    ¡°Well, even the mayor expressed the severity of the deal needing to go through. Including the fact that we¡¯re the kingdom¡¯s central city, I¡¯d say it¡¯s pretty valuable. It may even be your biggest haul yet.¡±

    ¡°Good. Very good. Tell me about its schedule.¡±

    The guard then revealed the cargo¡¯s supposed arrival time in the Barren Mountain Range and Desert of Crumbling Sands.

    However, it never once sparked in the guard¡¯s mind that the caravan was a decoy and would never arrive.

    ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll dispatch two of my teams then¡ªone to apprehend the cargo and one to search for my unresponsive subordinates. Should something have happened to my precious Deserea, I¡¯ll being for your head regardless of the consequences.¡±

    The guard shivered because this was no empty threat. The man on the other side of the device would undoubtedly carry out his threat.

    Once the discussion finished, Kieran walked forward and leaned against the wall before picking up one of the nearby toothpicks in a jar and using it to pick his teeth.

    Tsk!

    Kieran sucked his teeth, immediately alerting the guard of his presence.

    The guard scrambled to his feet defensively and red at Kieran. ¡°Who are you? You are not allowed here. This building is for authorized personnel only.¡±

    ¡°Oh? And that information you sold is for the authorized personnel only.¡±

    The guard frowned after listening to Kieran¡¯s mocking retort. His eyes shifted to his pair of gauntlets a step away.<sub></sub>

    ¡°Is that something you really want to do?¡± Kieran said with an indifferent smile.

    Information on the guard appeared in Kieran¡¯s eyes.

    ¡¸ Lv.38 Jackson, Aeredale¡¯s 87th Guard (Elite NPC)

    ss: Pugilist

    Health: 600,000 (100%) ¡¹

    ¡®The level difference isn¡¯t too great, but I understand why Lv.33 was an eptable level. There would be level suppression if the difference exceeded 5,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Jackson abruptly lunged for his gauntlet and executed a skillful roll before dashing at Kieran.

    ¡°Oh? So, hand-to-handbat then?¡±

    Kieran dodged the lunge using an el Shift but grabbed Jackson¡¯s head by hisrge hand and smashed it into the stone wall.

    The attack disoriented Jackson, making him wobble about with staggering steps. But in that time, Kieran activated Blood Mania without equipping a weapon.

    As a result, a blood coating surfaced on his hands until they formed a wed gauntlet-like appearance. ¡°Two can y that game!¡±

    Bang!

    Jackson¡¯s decisive punch was met by Kieran¡¯s. The two fists collided against each other, and neither side budged. However, Kieran received a notification.

    ¡´Battle Alert: You have acquired a stack of ?Hunt?.¡µ

    ¡®Hunt? I wonder¡­¡¯

    ¡´System: You have consumed one stack of ?Hunt? to mark NPC Jackson as ?Prey?!¡µ

    ¡´Battle Alert: Any damage inflicted upon NPC Jackson while marked as ?Prey? will increase by 20%. There is a 10% chance of NPC Jackson being afflicted by ?Fear?.¡µ

    Bang!

    Kieran suddenlyshed out his leg, driving Jackson back into the locker.

    Anger shed in Jackson¡¯s eyes as he red at Kieran. Although he hadn¡¯t suffered substantial damage, his ego was damaged after being tossed about by Kieran.

    Mana pooled into Jackson¡¯s fists as he roared in fury.

    Bang! Bang! Bang!

    A rapid exchange urred as Kieran gradually led the fight away from this restrictive room. There was barely enough room to react appropriately.

    The areas where they fought suffered extensive damage, but Kieran enjoyed going hand to hand against an NPC Pugilist, especially with this new Prey function active.

    Jackson¡¯s movements were better than 90% of yers at this point. It allowed Kieran to train his timing with el Shift.

    Whoosh! Boom!

    Kieran suddenly shifted away from Jackson¡¯sbo before moving back in with an explosive punch that forced Jackson to the ground. Once this punch dazed Jackson, Kieran pummeled him to the ground after activating Abhorrent Paroxysm.

    As an NPC, Jackson¡¯s defenses were quite strong. So if Kieran wanted to deal extensive damage, he required more Attack Power.

    Kieran¡¯s Defense vanished, but his Strength and Attack Power rose in exchange. His Strength broke past 1,250 while his Attack Power inted above 4,700.

    However, that wasn¡¯t the most thrilling part.

    Kieran¡¯s movement speed increased until Jackson could no longer touch him. Kieran¡¯s figure became a vanishing blur when he employed el Shifts.

    Bang! Bang! Bang!

    As visible indents formed on Jackson¡¯s silver armor, thunderous noises filled the room. The weight of Kieran¡¯s attack had essentially doubled, so they likewise elevated to a level Jackson couldn¡¯t withstand.

    What¡¯s more, Fear afflicted Jackson as he realized his bleak oue.

    Eventually, Jackson fell to his knees and pleaded for it to end. Kieran¡¯s attacks wereunched with a ghastly intention, inflicting pain but not fatal damage.

    Jackson¡¯s Health dropped below 20% when he surrendered. However, Kieran unleashed two vicious punches aimed at Jackson¡¯s legs to ensure no foul y happened.

    Crunch! Crunch!

    ¡°Agchhh!¡± Jackson cried out in pain when Kieran¡¯s ruthless attack shattered his kneecaps.

    Afterward, Kieran dragged Jackson out of the guard¡¯s chambers by his cor.

 Chapter 150 Brigand Eradication

    ¨D

    Murmurs filled the streets of Aeredale City as Kieran dragged Jackson through the entire city without a care in the world. His expression remained unperturbed and indifferent despite all the eyes on him.

    ¡°Hey! Hey!¡± Jackson scowled while delicately touching his legs. However, they throbbed from being broken, and even the slightest touch made him wince.

    Kieran nced back at Jackson, who seemed on the verge of tears.

    ¡°You can¡¯t treat me like this! I am a respected guard of Aeredale City and a citizen! This is abuse¡ªabuse of power. N-no, who the hell are you anyway?!¡± Jackson eximed. The pain caused some signs of delirium to set in.

    It was as if Jackson had forgotten his crimes, or perhaps the embarrassment of the current situation was too much for him to bear, causing an unfortunate mental break. However, Jackson¡¯s reaction meant nothing to Kieran.

    All of a sudden, a few guards stopped Kieran after recognizing Jackson¡¯s identity.

    ¡°What are you doing?! Do you know that assaulting a city guard is a capital offense? You could be jailed for this crime!¡± One of the guards spoke.

    Kieran gave these two a cold look that made them shiver. The fact Blood Mania was still active to deal with any surprises from Jackson didn¡¯t make the situation any better.

    Kieran¡¯s current appearance could only be described as frighteningly menacing.

    ¡°I suggest you err on the side of caution. Are you going to stand up for a criminal that Mayor Lowe had requested me to bring in? Will you stand up for the reason your payment is in jeopardy?¡±

    Kieran¡¯s questions dazed the guard who came to Jackson¡¯s defense. Were these ims really true? If so, then Jackson was the vilest of snakes!

    ¡°I¡¯d like to confirm your suspicions at least. Otherwise, the dynamics of this situation is¡ª¡±

    Kieran cut them off. ¡°You¡¯re wee to join me in going to the Mayor¡¯s Office. But I could give a rat¡¯s ass about the situation¡¯s dynamics. He deserves the embarrassment because he has embarrassed the honor of you guards.¡±

    The guards sighed and ultimately relented. After all, Jackson was stronger than the guards who came to his aid. If he was rendered into this condition, they were helpless against such a person.<sub>.</sub>

    Kieran continued to walk to Aeredale City¡¯s crowded central district, earning stares from yers and patrons alike. Sometime along the way, Jackson had fainted from the pain, embarrassment, and unbridled fury that had no outlet.

    Roughly ten minutester, Kieran arrived before the Mayor¡¯s Office and tossed Jackson inside with a mor of knocked-over items.

    The misery woke up Jackson as he yelped for help, but no one came to his aid. Rather than waiting for Kieran to reach his office, Mayor Lowe appeared in the rest area and looked at Jackson with a face full of disgust.

    ¡°This is the culprit, I presume?¡± Mayor Lowe asked. His face contorted in anger after receiving the proof. Kieran handed Mayor Lowe the special runemunication device Jackson used.

    ¡´System: Bring the traitors to the Mayor. 1/1¡µ

    ¡°You filthy¡­¡±

    Bang!

    Mayor Lowe¡¯s words were interrupted by his grunt as he kicked Jackson in the stomach. ¡°Damned mongrel! I employ you, and this is how you repay this city?! By forsaking it?¡±

    Bang! Bang! Bang!

    Mayor Lowe didn¡¯t stop kicking Jackson until his fury subsided, and Jackson gasped for air while a mix of saliva and blood dripped on the floor.

    Jackson¡¯s injuries were quite painful at this point, and he had whollye to regret his decision to betray the city.

    ¡°How do I activate thismunication rune?¡±

    ¡°You probably can¡¯t. It¡¯s most likely attuned to his Mana signature,¡± Kieran said while pointing at the convulsing Jackson.

    ¡°Get him up,¡± Mayor Lowe ordered while still examining themunication rune device. ¡°This shoddy piece of work mostly like didn¡¯te from the Mystic Sanctum. Where did you get it?¡±<sub></sub>

    Kieran picked up Jackson and threw him into the chair while holding his head up to meet Mayor Lowe¡¯s furious gaze.

    ¡°T-they gave it to me,¡± Jackson stammered with a pronounced shiver.

    ¡°How?! I want specifics¡ªTALK!¡± Mayor Lowe shouted until saliva spewed with every word.

    ¡°I¡¯ll talk! I¡¯ll talk! I¡¯ll do it,¡± Jackson nodded. His actions were textbook spineless coward behavior. They had the gall to do the crime, but when it came time for punishment, they crumbled under the anxiety and fear of it happening.

    Afterward, Jackson recounted the events that led up until now. ¡°A tanned beauty approached me with aubergine-colored hair and an alluringplexion. I didn¡¯t know what she was at the time, but she offered me a deal after seeing I was a city guard.¡±

    ¡°Deserea,¡± Kieran suddenlymented.

    ¡°Wait, yes! Huh? How do you know?¡± Jackson¡¯s expression changed multiple times after hearing Kieran utter Deserea¡¯s name.

    ¡°I killed her,¡± Kieran said indifferently.

    Jackson paled after learning of Deserea¡¯s fate. In fact, part of him wanted to confess to his crimes faster than humanly possible. In the end, Jackson would rather be imprisoned than suffer at the hands of the Desertborn Brigands.

    At least the guards in charge of him would be rtively humanepared to the likes of the Desertborn Brigand.

    ¡°You damned buffoon! A brigand walks through the city¡¯s gates, attempts to tempt your with an offer that requires you tomit crimes, and you don¡¯t think to report it to your superiors or city officials at once?! Stupid! Belligerent fool!¡±

    Mayor Lowe spewed an endless stream of condemnations at Jackson, who seemed more or more mortified by the second.

    ¡°What happened after that?¡±

    ¡°I-I was contacted on that device and gave information regarding the first cargo I was tasked with guarding. After the sessful theft, Deserea returned and gave me my portion.¡±<sub></sub>

    It wasn¡¯t like this was a digital world. There was no government constantly monitoring bank ounts for suspicious activity. Receiving bribes and underhanded payments was easy because all it required was the skill to pass as aw-abiding citizen.

    Deserea made it through the city gates because she dressed in ordinary linens at the time, making her seem like nothing more than a woman hailing from one of the desert cities.

    ¡°So this woman has appeared here not once but multiple times without you so much as warning us? You have literal shit for brain.¡±

    After throwing a fit, Mayor Lowe pointed at the other guards present. ¡°Search his house, turn his house upside down if you have to. Find that damned Gold.¡±

    ¡°Wait! If I tell you where the rest is stashed away, will you promise to lighten my sentence?¡±

    Shnk!

    All of a sudden, the sound of metal being drawn resounded in the office¡¯s halls as Kieran¡¯s ced a dagger against Jackson. The looming sensation of death deluged his mind as the cold metal pressed against his throat.

    ¡°I-it¡¯s in a personal vault with the Merchant¡¯s Association! Number 180069! 180069!¡± Jackson shut his eyes and screamed out the information in a way that clearly pleaded for his life.

    Kieran tossed him aside as numerous notifications filled his gaze.

    ¡´System: Assist in information extraction. 1/1¡µ

    ¡´System: You havepleted the B+ Rank Quest Culprit Identification!¡µ

    ¡°Aatrox, you said you killed Deserea, a member of the Desertborn Brigands, right?¡± Mayor Lowe suddenly asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s correct,¡± Kieran answered. He could already tell the direction of this conservation based on his quest rewards.

    ¡°Then, are you interested in uprooting the Desertborn Brigandspletely? I¡¯ll be indebted to you if you ept this request.¡±

    ¡´System: Do you wish to ept the A+ Rank Main Quest ?Brigand Eradication?? [ Y | N ] ?¡µ

    Kieran fell silent while gazing at the notification before him. An A+ Rank Main Quest meant the fallout of failing could devastate the entire Kingdom. Furthermore, A+ Rank Main Quest marked an entirely new difficulty.

    Eradication meant not a soul could be left alive. The Desertborn Brigands had to be uprooted entirely. However, Kieran had no idea howrge or small this criminal enterprise was.

    Nevertheless, Kieran couldn¡¯t ignore the rewards of a substantial quest like the one presented to him.

    Kieran epted, which revealed the objectives of the quest.

    ¡¸ Brigand Eradication (Scenario)

    Quest Rank: A+

    Rmended Party Size: 1 ¨C 10

    Rmended Party Level: 39 or above

    Objectives: The Mayor¡¯s rage has driven him to seek the demise of the Desertborn Brigand. However, it is not something he can aplish alone. Act at the behest of Mayor Lowe and enact his desires.

    ¨C Enter the ?Desert of Treacherous Sands?. 0/1

    ¨C Locate the Desertborn Brigand¡¯s main hideout. 0/1

    ¨C Infiltrate the Desertborn Brigand¡¯s main hideout. 0/1

    ¨C im the leader¡¯s head. 0/1

    Rewards:

    ¨C Max Favorability with Mayor Lowe (Indebted)

    ¨C Aeredale¡¯s Savior [Title]

    ¨C Level +3

    ¨C 2x ?Rare Grade Treasure Chest?

    ¨C 1x ?Unique Grade Treasure Chest?

    ¨C Standard Membership (Merchant¡¯s Association)

    Failure Penalty:

    ¨C Level -5

    ¨C Desertborn Brigand¡¯s total retaliation

    ¨C Aeredale Kingdom-based items increase 1000% in price.

    ¨C Favorability in the Aeredale Kingdom drops to Unfriendly.

    ¨C Mayor Lowe¡¯s favorability drops to Neutral

    Time Limit: 5 days

    *Special Notes: The quest can be shared with up to 9 other people. Their rewards will be downgradedpared to the main quest holder. ¡¹

 Chapter 151 Seeking Help

    ¨D

    It was neither the objectives nor the rewards that first caught Kieran¡¯s eyes. The quest details that first caught his eyes were the severe failure penalties.

    Five levels? With Kieran¡¯s tripled experience requirement, losing five levels was akin to a yer with a standard ss losing fifteen!

    Amodating such a drastic loss of Experience would require a tremendous amount of work. The tremendous requirement in such a scenario would ce a considerable dy on his timeline, which was already expedited by the attention of strong individuals and organizations.

    Aside from losing five levels, there was also the matter of reputation. Should Kieran sadly fail this quest, his World Fame standing would be obsolete inside the entire Aeredale Kingdom.

    World Fame worked well when an area¡¯s general reception was neutral, without favoring positive or negative views. However, World Fame worked best when area¡¯s people held you in an honorable regard.

    Not even World Fame could correct this upset if one¡¯s reputation plummeted.

    Lastly, the Desertborn Brigand¡¯s total retaliation would lead to all other consequences. The destroyed area and merchandise would lead to price hikes. Overall, these severe repercussions made Kieran hesitate to ept this quest.

    However, as bad as the penalties were, the rewards were fantastic. Alone, each reward held tremendous attraction in the eyes of any yer, especially the Unique Grade Treasure Chest.

    ¡®I can share this with up to 9 yers? But the rmended party level¡­¡¯

    Let alone Lv.38 or higher, most yers were lower than Lv.35! And although the quest could bepleted or rather attempted at a lower level, it wasn¡¯t advised. The lower one¡¯s level, the more challenging the subjective difficulty became.<sub>.</sub>

    Kieran understood he couldn¡¯t aplish a quest like this alone. As an eradication-type quest, Kieran knew he couldn¡¯t underestimate the total number of Brigands he would have to face.

    Furthermore, members of lower skill, such as Sithik, Cygnus, and Cyr, didn¡¯t fulfill Kieran¡¯s minimum requirements. The short time limit meant the Desertborn Brigade would most likely consolidate their forces soon.

    A few factors caused this result.

    One, because Kieran killed Deserea, the leader searched intently for her whereabouts, or at the minimum, her remains. Two, the dispatched teams would report theck of any cargo once it didn¡¯t arrive.

    Lastly, because contacting Jackson would be impossible, the leader would likely believe Jackson set him up and dispatch forces to deal with him. These three factors alone were enough to

    However, to make matters worse, the brigand¡¯s leader was no fool.

    Evident by how he carried out his thefts, the leader was a calcting individual. Chances were that he would soon realize that Jackson had been apprehended.

    After epting the quest, Kieran looked at Mayor Lowe before eyeing Jackson. ¡°What will you do with him?¡±

    ¡°I have no clue,¡± Mayor Lowe answered. Numerous thoughts circted in his mind, but he knew it wasn¡¯t humane to enact any of them. The public¡¯s view of him may change if word ever got out.

    However, only Kieran, Mayor Lowe, Jackson, and the receptionist remained in the room. If a secret was kept, how would anyone know?<sub></sub>

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, can I just kill him?¡±

    Fear shed in Jackson¡¯s eyes, but he couldn¡¯t voice it as Kieran¡¯srge hand covered his mouth. Kieran has predicted Jackson would react like this, given how cowardly he was.

    ¡°Kill him?¡± Mayor Lowe muttered.

    His expression made it clear that Mayor Lowe genuinely considered the suggestion. Wouldn¡¯t the city be better off without this foul vermin contaminating its peace and prosperity?

    As for why Kieran wanted to kill Jackson, it was all Experience for him in the end. That¡¯s all that mattered. An Elite NPC at this level should be a decent source of Experience.

    Although Kieran had just leveled up, he needed all the Experience Points he could amass if he were going to take on this challenging mission.

    ¡°Do as you must. It¡¯ll be one less expense for this city.¡±

    Jackson¡¯s eyes screamed for mercy while his mouth couldn¡¯t. Kieran tightened his hand until his blood gauntlet pierced Jackson¡¯s skin and held him in ce with little to no effort.

    Kieran leaned by Jackson¡¯s and whispered in a tone that sounded like the song of death. ¡°Next time you believe you can outsmart a city and its abundance of officials, don¡¯t and realize you were a fool all along for entertaining that idea.¡±

    Pcht!<sub></sub>

    Blood sprayed from Jackson¡¯s throat as disbelief filled his eyes. He never thought the Mayor, the one who usually seemed like a pushover, would have him readily killed!

    Jackson choked and sputtered as blood pooled in his throat and robbed his ability to speak. The light in Jackson¡¯s eyes rapidly faded, sliding to his knees in a pool of blood.

    A few secondster, he fell over and croaked, creating a notification for Kieran.

    ¡´System: You have received 120,000 Experience.¡µ

    Considering that he required over 800,000 Experience to level up, Kieran found this reward eptable.

    News of Jackson¡¯s crimes quickly circted through the ranks of the city guard.

    ¡°No way, Jackson? He was also so dutiful and reserved. I guess looks can be deceiving. I have learned my lesson and will never judge a book by its cover again.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s always the quiet ones who are up to something. Jackson was the type to sit back and observe. Those types are usually the ones to plot nefarious schemes.¡±

    ¡°Serves him right. I wouldn¡¯t care if he rotted in jail or someone killed him. He banded with criminals to almost forsake our city and take away my damned pay! Off with his head!¡±

    After learning the truth of Jackson¡¯s actions, not a soul came to his aid or defended his name.

    The two guards who left in search of Jackson¡¯s Personal Vault returned with a massive chest. Inside was what seemed like hundreds of thousands of gold.

    Naturally, Jackson wasn¡¯t given this much gold. However, the guards exchanged several items inside the vault for their market value, ending up with more than 600,000 Gold.

    ¡°Tch,¡± Mayor Lowe clicked his tongue. ¡°What fool steals just to hide away the loot?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve already answered yourment,¡± Kieranmented.

    However, Kieran¡¯s wondery elsewhere. ¡®If this is Jackson¡¯s portion, even if he spent some of it, what does the Desertborn Brigand¡¯s portion amount to?¡¯

    ¡°Bring the gold to the reserve cer downstairs. Have the attendee count it. I want every piece logged and ounted for. However, you may take 10 Gold each as a token of my appreciation,¡± Mayor Lowe ordered.

    The first guard nodded, but the second one gazed at Jackson¡¯s dead body. ¡°Do you need us to deal with that?¡±

    Mayor Lowe decided it was best if someone promptly and properly handled the clean-up, so he agreed.

    Meanwhile, Kieran considered his options.

    There was only so much time until he would be pressed for time to clear this new quest. Unlike the Arcane One¡¯s and Isadora¡¯s quests, this one¡¯s time limit was undeniably short.

    Five days might seem like ample time, but it wasn¡¯t when ounting for the distance of travel and conflict along the way. If Kieran wanted the highest chances of clearing this quest, he would need additional people outside of the ones he had in mind.

    Left with no choice, Kieran took a seat in one of the chairs filling the Mayor¡¯s Office, and waited for Luna to respond to his video call.

    Luna answered the call 30 secondster, and from the background, it seemed like she wasn¡¯t busy at the moment. Her hair, which was usually styled into a neat bun, was currently in an alluring fishtail braid.

    Kieran was momentarily stunned by her beauty but cleared his throat. However, before Kieran could speak, Luna¡¯s velvety voice sounded first.

    ¡°You¡¯ve really flourished. I saw what happened and how overbearing you were. But¡­ I couldn¡¯t help but notice the difference in the way you fought. It was¡­ fascinating, to say the least.¡±

    ¡°Yeah?¡± Thisment seemingly amplified Kieran¡¯s pride, but he soon set it aside. ¡°You aren¡¯t so bad yourself. You should consider allowing me to train you. Or, at least spar with Altair.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s another thing I wanted to mention. Altair¡¯s presence during the fight was sparse, but his effect was immense. How did he be so fast? He¡¯s on my friends¡¯ list, so I know he¡¯s still a simple Assassin,¡± Luna was fascinated with both Kieran and Altair¡¯s strength, but this intrigue didn¡¯tmand an answer.

    ¡°That¡¯s a secret. I¡¯ll let you in on it if our rtionship ever deepens,¡± Kieran said with a mischievous smile. However, he soon grew serious as he asked Luna a critical question. ¡°Are you interested in gaining a few levels? I have another opportunity.¡±

    Luna¡¯s ears perked up the moment she heard opportunity. She would be lying if she said she didn¡¯t look forward to another adventure. The rewards from the Underground Labyrinth were what allowed her to increase her party¡¯s strength.

    ¡°I¡¯m interested,¡± Luna replied unhesitantly. She hadn¡¯t even heard the details, but she agreed based solely on Kieran¡¯s aplishments thus far.

    She had already decided that even if it resulted in her making enemies, she would befriend Kieran.

 Chapter 152 Seeking Help (II)

    <h2></h2>

    Luna''s willingness to embark on a journey astonished Kieran. However, he couldn''t allow Luna to follow along blindly without understanding just what they were getting themselves into.

    "I appreciate the eagerness, and it shows your faith in me. But, I suggest you hold off on answering until I exin what we''ll be doing," Kieran said.

    However, Luna''s expression remained in. "Does it really matter? I always assume it''s something dangerous when it pertains to you."

    Kieran choked because she wasn''t wrong. There was a single adventure he had embarked on where his sess was guaranteed. Whether it was the Goblin''s Cave, Underground Labyrinth, or the Chasm of Apogeton, each scenario was apanied by an insane difficulty.

    Nevertheless, it was decent etiquette to have Luna make the necessary preparations. "We''ll be going up against an NPC organization this time."

    "Oh..." Luna fell silent as her lips slowly morphed into a grimace. "Aren''t NPCs more difficult than monsters? Like, most of them boast extremely highbat awareness."

    "Precisely. Our goal would be to eradicate this NPC organization from its roots. We will expunge this world by ridding this scourge. I''ve gone against one of their members before the metamorphosis, but you should prepare for our battles. It wouldn''t surprise me if some died," Kieran said.

    Luna focused on Kieran''s name as she recalled its effects. "Then, isn''t your situation risky? If I''m not mistaken, your name should be at the Third Degree of Infamy, which means you''ll suffer massive losses upon death."

    "Death?" Kieran grinned and shook his head. "I have no ns to die. I can''t sphemy my teacher and our legacy like that."

    "Teacher?" Luna''s brows furrowed before making a guess. "Does it have something to do with your unique ss?"

    "Bingo!" Kieran made a gun-firing gesture with his hand before continuing with the conversation. "This ordeal may take a considerable amount of time, four days at the very least. So I suggest you notify Luka that he''ll be covering your team for the time being."

    "The invitation is only extended to me again?"

    "The others are struggling withbat, are they not?"

    "Ah, that''s true. I''d feel shame if my members weighed down the team in a precarious moment. I''ll let him know then." Luna understood that not everyone could experience the same opportunities.

    "Don''t feel as if you''re being unfair. A few of my members won''t be joining us either. This is a mission that calls for a collection of the elite. So..." Kieran fell silent as he considered his other alternative.

    "So?" Luna blinked while awaiting the rest of Kieran''s statement.

    "So, you might make a new friend; who knows." Kieran gave an unusual smile, but Luna didn''t know how to interpret it.

    Afterward, Kieran directed Luna to meet him at the city gates within the next three hours.

    After hanging up with Luna, Kieran called Ezra.

    Surprisingly, Ezra answered much quicker than Luna.

    However, unlike Luna, Ezra was currently in the middle of fighting against a monster. Because of the camera angle, Kieran could see glimpses of her sword style.

    ''It''s magnificent no matter how many times Iy eyes upon it,'' Kieran inwardly thought.

    Ezra''s movements were fluid and moved in anticipation of her opponent''s next movement. So, she was essentially one step ahead at all times while the monster barelypeted with her action speed.

    Although he called her with important information, Kieran waited until the battle concluded to reveal it.

    "I''m surprised you''re already reaching out to me. We spoke not too long ago. Tell me, did you miss me, or perhaps you''ve reconsidered my offer?" Ezra gave a charming smile while giving Kieran a light tease.

    She was by no means serious, because it seemed like Kieran called her for a specific reason.

    However, Kieran yed along for a moment and leaned back while crossing his arms with an unsure expression. "So what if I did?"

    Ezra was too stunned to speak. Instead, a peal of melodiousughter rang out from this video call. "To think you''d be so confident to be this rxed with me. Anyway, is there another reason you''ve called?"

    "Yes," Kieran nodded. All of his yful actions disappeared as he adopted a different demeanor. "Are you interested in a Main Quest?"

    "Main Quest?" Ezra''s eyes shed with intrigue that was skillfully hidden. She was experienced enough to know that keeping calm when discussing crucial matters was the best route. Only after a brief pause did she continue. "I''ve yet to obtain one. I''m surprised you have."

    "Well, that''s a given since you weren''t from here, to begin with, but I digress. Should you be interested, I have three slots on an uing quest."

    "How soon?" Ezra asked. Her interest was piqued once Kieran mentioned there were three avable slots.

    "As soon as possible. The gist of the quest is to go against an NPC organization. I''ll let you in on the specifics when we meet at the city''s gates. Also, you must bring a decent damager and healer."

    Ezra pursed her lips when Kieran dictated the ss limitations.

    Thispletely changed the roster she had in mind. However, there was no shortage of talented people in Eclipse. The positions in her mind were interchangeable, so she considered recements in a second.

    "I''ll meet you there soon enough," Ezra said before swiftly ending the call. Because she had gone out to level, she was at least an hour away from the city on foot. If Kieran wanted her to meet up within the next few hours, it left little time to continue leveling up.

    Following this conversation, Kieran slumped in the chair and sighed. "Hectic... hectic... hectic... but this is what I wanted. I''ll have to deal with it."

    Afterward, Kieran instructed Bastion, Nemean, Altair, Alice, and Sera to continue training until he requested their presence.

    Once these orders were given, Kieran logged out of Zenith Online for a short while.

    Inside the Medical Facility...

    Kieran opened his eyes and took off the VR Helmet before cing it by his side. The first thing he noticed after doing so was Dr. Riley standing in front of arge metal crate with her mouth wide open.

    Dr. Riley only turned toward Kieran after hearing a strange signal from the machines.

    "T-this is... this is your doing?" Dr. Riley stuttered while pointing to the crate.

    Kieran approached it and noticed a few things about it. One, it was ice cold, meaning it had refrigerated features. Two, there was a 4-digit passcode lock; however, it was digital, so it was most likely not just limited to numbers.

    Lastly, the crate was almost half his size. Considering the vials were 100 milliliters at most, Kieran could understand how over 1,200 items could fit inside this crate.

    Kieran bent down and considered the passcode before typing: E Z R A.

    Hsssss!

    The crate hissed and released the locking mechanism, which caused the slow opening of the box''s top and sides like a blooming lotus.

    "Kyaaa!" Dr. Riley''s eyes glimmered with excitement as she hopped in ce with giddy ps. It wasn''t the vast amount of X-hancers that excited her but the thought ofpiling more data from Kieran''s training and experiences.

    Dr. Riley dashed up to the box and scanned all of thebels. Whoever packed the package was highly professional because the vials were neatly organized in ascending order. Eachyer of 50 represented an increase in concentration.

    "Where did you even receive them from? It''s worth millions, if not tens of millions of dors," Dr. Riley muttered in shock. She scanned Kieran up and down before narrowing her eyes anding to a disturbing assumption.

    "You didn''t con some old widow with your good looks, did you? That wouldn''t be right at all. It''d make you an immoral man."

    Kieran first looked at Dr. Riley in disbelief before switching to exasperation. "What the hell goes on in that mind of yours? I used to think it was dedicated solely to science, but I''m having other thoughts now. You may be very far gone."

    "You didn''t answer my question!"

    "I didn''t, woman! I agreed to train some people and offered information. This is my payment!"

    "Who in their right mind gives this exorbitant payment for training in a game?!"

    "Were you not given this facility for the sake of science?" Kieran countered matter-of-factly.

    Dr. Riley raised her finger before narrowing her gaze with a stomp. "It''s not the same! You''re contaminating the value of seeking knowledge."

    "You''re a freak--in and simple," Kieran spat.

    Thud!

    Dr. Riley tackled Kieran to the ground in a fit of rage and red into his eyes. However, the anger in her eyes quickly subsided, only to be reced by embarrassment once she realized she was atop Kieran''s half-bare body.

    "Y-you... ah... um...." Dr. Riley struggled to form a coherent sentence while stumbling to find a safe ce to put her hands. After all, Kieran''s body was still warm from his X-hancer ingestion.

    Meanwhile, Kieran was simrly stunned and couldn''t speak for quite some time.

 Chapter 153 Aspairas Allegiance

    ¨D

    An awkward silence filled the room as Kieran and Dr. Riley froze, not knowing what to do next. One wrong move and the situation could devolve into something neither of them intended.

    ¡°Lillian,¡± Kieran said after a deep inhale to calm the intrusive thoughts surfacing in his mind. Years of dedicating himself to a single cause and then years of paralysis robbed him of any deep levels of intimacy.

    Thus, Dr. Riley¡¯s touch stimted some desires he kept repressed.

    ¡°Hm?¡± Dr. Riley chirped in rm. She looked down at Kieran, who didn¡¯t dare meet her winsome blue-green eyes. From this angle, it was as if he stared into tropical waters reflecting crystalline brilliance.

    ¡°Would you mind getting off me now?¡± Kieran asked. He smiled bitterly because his hands were tied in this situation.

    Dr. Riley nodded slowly and moved carefully, paying close attention not to make any additional bodily contact.

    After a few seconds, Dr. Riley sessfully dismounted Kieran¡¯s waist and looked down with a cherry tinge gracing her smooth cheeks.

    Kieran quickly stood up and exhaled heavily. ¡°Let¡¯s try to avoid something like that next time. I would have never thought you possessed such a fiery temper.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have a fiery temper,¡± Dr. Riley frowned. ¡°You¡¯re just not the first to call me a freak, so I hate hearing that word. It doesn¡¯t make me a freak to find knowledge attractive! Knowledge is what improves societies.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right. I misspoke. I shouldn¡¯t anger my doctor,¡± Kieran chuckled lightly.<sub>.</sub>

    Although Dr. Riley seemed very upset, Kieran found her bodynguage and overall expression cute.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Only a bumbling idiot would upset someone who works closely with their body. Hmph, I could take advantage of you and wouldn¡¯t even know it. That¡¯s the power of superior knowledge!¡± Dr. Riley scoffed and crossed her arms.

    However, Kieran remained expressionless. ¡°Uh-huh. You have all the power. With that being said, pass me an X-hancer. I¡¯ll need it for what I¡¯m about to do.¡±

    Dr. Riley took a moment to settle her agitated emotions before handing Kieran a 15% X-hancer. Afterward, she walked back and forth, refilling the refrigerated cab until it was at capacity.

    The excess X-hancer were kept in the closed container they came in.

    After consuming the X-hancer, Kieranid back down and nced in Dr. Riley¡¯s direction. ¡°Don¡¯t take advantage of me, sweetheart~.¡±

    Kieran immediately ced the VR Helmet on his head and closed his eyes, initiating the dive into the virtual ne.

    The loud emission noises from the VR Helmet drowned out Dr. Riley¡¯s animated response, but Kieran could already assume it wasn¡¯t a nice one. After all, he used a teasing tone for hisst statement.

    ¡­

    Secondster¡­<sub></sub>

    Kieran returned to Zenith Online, more specifically the Mayor¡¯s Office.

    ¡°Oh! Did I disturb you?¡± The receptionist asked when she noticed Kieran suddenly jump from his ¡°sleep.¡± Contrary to her tidy appearance, the receptionist was on her knees, wiping the blood remnants off the floor.

    Although someone had already cleaned it, she wouldn¡¯t feel proper until she ensured everyst drop was gone. It was a sort of her obsession to have everything neatly in order at all given times.

    On the other hand, the reason for her startle was the change in all user¡¯s log-in conditions. Their avatars no longer vanished upon logging out. Instead, it was as if the avatar fell into a slumber.

    As a result, it was advised that yers only log out in secure areas. Otherwise, they risk falling vulnerable to others, especially if items of high worth were equipped to their bodies.

    The receptionist had assumed Kieran had fallen asleep in the Mayor¡¯s Office after the earlier exhausting events. This receptionist, more than anyone, understood the need for a nap after an exhausting workload.

    ¡°Pardon me,¡± Kieran respectfully remarked.

    He left after ensuring he didn¡¯t trouble the receptionist¡¯s progress. Afterward, Kieran slowly walked through the streets of Aeredale City whilepiling the unique request he had thought about earlier.

    The request revealed his need for an Apprentice Forger, preferably at the Advanced level, closing in on the True Forger level. The details remained vague; however, he listed that they must possess the appropriate metallurgy skills to be of use to him.

    After posting this request on his channel, Kieran briefly visited the Alchemists¡¯ Circle before messaging Aspaira.<sub></sub>

    Aspaira arrived after Kieran waited for a few minutes. From the bags under her eyes and mussed hair, it was clear Aspaira was overworking herself to make ample progress in Alchemy.

    Her unique talent, granted upon sessfully epting the Alchemist Profession, or ss rather, drove her endless pursuit of progress.

    ¡°Aatrox,¡± Aspaira called out in a tired voice. As she stood before him, she ced her hand on his chest and exhaled in evident exhaustion.

    ¡°You should probably take a break, Aspaira,¡± Kieran insisted.

    From his point of view, Aspaira seemed feeble, leading Kieran to question her current Satiety levels. Such a state could only happen when a yer¡¯s Satiety Bar dipped too far for too long.

    ¡°I can¡¯t take a break just yet. I¡¯m on the verge of sess. I¡¯ll be a True Alchemist once I seed in making Intermediate Mana Recovery Potions, but the ingredient ratio is so delicate. So¡­.¡± Aspaira sighed and frowned by the end.

    Her built-up frustration from constant failures overflowed by the end of her statement.

    ¡°Breathe. You¡¯re no good to yourself if you¡¯re exhausted to where it interferes with the quality of your work. Take a break, assess your failures up until now and ponder the answer over a small meal. I promise you¡¯ll stumble across a mind-blowing discovery.¡±

    Aspaira looked

 Chapter 154 Lunas Identity

    ¡ª

    Ezra turned toward the exmation and witnessed a beauty with lc hair and shimmering cerulean eyes approaching from the distance. Ezra analyzed the individual¡¯s facial features before gasping.

    ¡°Alexandria?¡± Ezra muttered in astonishment.

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me,¡± Luna nodded. Alexandria was her real name. However, Luna grimaced and whispered to Ezra. ¡°Please address me as Luna here, and don¡¯t tell my family that I¡¯ve started ying this game.¡±

    ¡°Alexandria?¡± Luxmented. ¡°As in Little Miss Alexandria Hall?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s not so little anymore,¡± Ezramented whileplimenting Luna for having grown into her beauty. She was an adorable child, but she had matured into a remarkably stunning youngdy.

    Meanwhile, Kieran¡¯s expression changed as he stared at Luna. ¡®She¡¯s a part of the Hall Family?¡¯

    The Hall Family was one of the Magnate Families Kieran considered reaching out to because of their vast wealth and influence over fields he required. However, it never urred to him that the family¡¯s daughter was in her circle this entire time.

    Without Ezra¡¯s revtion, Kieran probably wouldn¡¯t have acquired this knowledge for quite some time. But, knowing her identity didn¡¯t mean he could ask for her assistance.

    Although she whispered it to Ezra, Kieran¡¯s sensitive hearing picked up on the words they exchanged. Asking her to involve her family could potentially drive a stake into their rtionship since she didn¡¯t want them notified of their presence in this game.

    How would it look if the young miss of the Hall Family was found spending all of her free time inside a game instead of developing life skills and higher etiquette?<sub>.</sub>

    Ezra understood Luna¡¯s intentions and agreed to them.

    Afterward, Lux was the next one to introduce himself.

    ¡°Vice Guild Master of Eclipse, Lux Straum. Again, I extend my gratitude for gracing Eclipse with this opportunity,¡± Lux bowed slightly. Lux clearly hailed from a fancy upbringing with the way he carried himself.

    Lastly, the ginger-haired beauty hugged her bust and leaned most of her weight on one leg while somewhat disregarding everyone. ¡°Cam, Head Healer of Eclipse¡¯s Withering Sun Legion.¡±

    Kieran¡¯s gaze narrowed after hearing Cam¡¯s introduction. ¡®Cami¡­ the ck Saintess?!¡¯

    Not just Ezra, both Lux and Cam were Titled Rankers on the Gamer Republic¡¯s Exemr Records. However, Cam and Lux ranked on the lower end of the spectrum, while Ezra existed in the middle.

    Still, they were all experts in their unique aspects.

    The name ck Saintess referred to Cam¡¯s tendency to dress in dark clothing and her attitude towards healing. It differed from most healers who rushed to aid their allies at every turn.

    Hence, in Kieran¡¯s past, most people would avoid Cam and the stress of having her in the party.

    After going through the introduction, Kieran shared the quest with everyone. As stated in the special note, the rewards for the shared quest were diminishedpared to the original in Kieran¡¯s possession.<sub></sub>

    The level reward was lower, and instead of 2 Rare Grade Treasure Chests, the shared quest holder would only receive one.

    Nevertheless, the reward was shocking enough to stupefy everyone, including Cam, who gave Kieran a sidelong nce.

    ¡°This¡­¡± Ezra was at a loss for words. The rewards from this quest exceeded anything she hade in contact with thus far. ¡°No wonder your name continues to resound. There are some incredible things in your possession.¡±

    ¡°When do we set out?¡± Altair suddenly asked. The introductions were customary, and he understood that, but his desire to perfect his iplete battle style was strong.

    ¡°There¡¯s something we must wait for,¡± Kieran said.

    As he said this, a single caravan approached from the distance.

    ¡°Did you¡­ rent an entire caravan?¡± Altair blinked with a deadpan expression. He had grown ustomed to the odd things Kieran could facilitate.

    ¡°Nope. There¡¯s only this one transport vehicle, and I haven¡¯t rented a thing. I requested it,¡±

    Inside the caravan, a small girl waved her hand with an exaggerated pout. ¡°Hey! That was very rude, Aatrox. You left me out there stranded.¡±

    Naturally, this girl was Nina. The junior merchant Kieran left outside while he searched for the culprit.<sub></sub>

    The others gave Kieran odd looks, but he couldn¡¯t care to clear up the misunderstanding. ¡°Follow my advice and continue with that practice.¡±

    ¡°Uh-huh! I¡¯ve already made some progress, thanks to you! It really works,¡± Nina cheered while showcasing a small ball of condensed wind in her palm.

    Kieran wasn¡¯t surprised because A-Rank Mana Affinity made it extremely easy to wield the Mana of the corresponding element.

    Afterward, Nina left the caravan because this journey didn¡¯t involve her. Kieran had pulled some ties with Mayor Lowe to request a caravan; otherwise, it¡¯d be almost impossible to reach their destination in the timeframe given.

    Kieran naturally sat in the front to guide the caravan while the others sat in the back. However, Kieran requested Alice sit beside him. Recalling Nina¡¯s Mana Affinity reminded Kieran that he never asked about Alice¡¯s.

    The caravan took off as Kieran whipped the reins, startling the Obsidian Criollos to action.

    Once they obtained a decent momentum, Kieran nced at Alice and spoke. ¡°Have you be ustomed to your new Mana Flow?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it was somewhat difficult at first. But I gradually became used to it the more I stimted it.¡±

    ¡°Excellent,¡± Kieran praised. ¡°And how about your Mana Affinities? Have they been defined yet?¡±

    ¡°Um, yes. It became apparent after visiting the Magic Academy. Aside from my A Rank Fire Affinity, the rest of the elements are all C Rank,¡± Alice admitted.

    Kieran nodded after intaking the information. ¡°That isn¡¯t bad at all. Magic Affinities aren¡¯t set in stone, but you should already know that. After all, your Fire Affinity wasn¡¯t always A Rank, right?¡±

    ¡°Nope.¡± Alice didn¡¯t deny that fact. Unlike patrons of Xenith, who struggled to increase their Mana Affinity by purifying the element in their possession, yers possessed a simplified path for the time being, at least until their affinities hit the S Rank bottleneck.

    ¡°It increased after learning enough fire spells. But, it increased again after your cleansing. I think your Mana carries some inherent me property,¡± Alice added.

    Thisment made Kieran think back to the time Agrianos unleashed his power. Although his dominant power was wielding blood as an unstoppable weapon, Kieran couldn¡¯t forget the crackles of colored lightning that circled it.

    The crackles emitted unique and independent sensations that ignited Kieran¡¯s desire to obtain the ss at the time. So, the fact Alice brought up this possibility aligned with the powers Agrianos disyed.

    ¡°It¡¯s possible. But I haven¡¯t explored that avenue of thought yet. Or rather, I can¡¯t because it¡¯s difficult for physical ss to define those qualities,¡± Kieran said.

    Kieran¡¯s status screen as a True Berserker appeared differently from Alice¡¯s interface as a Mage. For Kieran to acquire those features, he¡¯d have to gain an ability rivaling that of a Mage. But, Kieran couldn¡¯t predict that happening anytime soon.

    ¡°With time,¡± Alicemented. ¡°There¡¯s no need for us to rush. Didn¡¯t you teach us that?¡±

    Kieran chuckled lightheartedly but ultimately nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, Ezra remained intrigued by Altair, who sat not too far away while spinning his dagger between his fingers in boredom. After doing it for a few seconds, Altair noticed the extra pair of eyes on him.

    ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± Altair questioned.

    ¡°Nothing¡¯s wrong. I¡¯m just curious¡ªyou were present during that fight, correct?¡± Ezra asked.

    ¡°I was.¡±

    ¡°Right. So, I noticed a few things during that fight. You seemed to execute footwork reminiscent of Aatrox¡¯s actions. Did he train you? If so, for how long?¡±

    Altair could see a deep curiosity hidden within Ezra¡¯s eyes but he didn¡¯t know that Kieran had already formed a deal with her. These questions were used to gain insight into how effective Kieran¡¯s training methods could be.

    Eventually, Altair shrugged. ¡°It wasn¡¯t that long. Probably two days at most? But, what can I say? He knew what worked and how to extract the most potential from our exchanges. We¡¯ll probably continue to train in the future if he continues to grow at his current rate.¡±

    ¡°Two days¡­¡± Ezra muttered in disbelief before falling silent. It was as if a bomb had gone off inside her mind. Two days¡¯ worth of training to reach Altair¡¯s level?

    Of course, Ezra didn¡¯t know that Altair was one of Eclipse¡¯s potential recruits six years ago. He was already blessed with immense skill.

    However, six years was a long time. Altair had matured from the scrawny teen back then.

    Four hours passed before Kieran stopped in the forested area inside the Barren Mountain Range.

    ¡°We¡¯ll have to stop here and ess how well we synergize inbat. We¡¯re walking into a situation where we can¡¯t afford mistakes, so everything must beid on the table now.¡± Kieran spoke in a loud and clear voice.

    While everyone stepped outside the cargo hold, loud snorts and huffs sounded not too far from the caravan as beasts appeared from within the forest¡¯s shade. Several beady eyes lit up with hostility.

 Chapter 155 Battle Assessment

    ¡ª

    The monsters from within the forest¡¯s shade were beast-type monsters that usually resided inside forest settings.

    ¡¸Lv.34 Ravenous Boar (Elite)

    Beast Type

    Health: 215,000/215,000 (100%)¡¹

    Several such boars remained at a distance, glowering eyes locked on Kieran and the rest.

    However, Kieran felt no threat from these monsters. He had already reached a level where he could easily solo such an opponent, especially one at the same level as him.

    ¡°Everyone with a physical role in the party will battle one of these monsters alone. I need to gauge how you fare against opponents of this caliber,¡± Kieran said.

    For this assessment, Cam and Sera adopted passive roles. After all, a Healer¡¯s value was determined by how high their Healing Factor was and the vastitude of the healing arsenal.

    Kieran rested against the side of the caravan while the others awaited their turn.

    The first to go was Nemean, drawing his dual shields. He pounced toward the closest Ravenous Boar with a Shield Bash, followed by a series of quick strikes. He recalled his earlier spars against Bastion and the advice received from Kieran.

    The Ravenous Boar was a quick opponent, using many frenzied rushes to target Nemean, but Nemean disyed the reasons Kieran felt he was skilled enough to join his party.

    Bang!

    Nemean redirected the Ravenous Boar¡¯s momentum, tossing it over seconds before activating his skill, Chain Link: Shield Rush. The fluid disy of skill quickly amassedbo damage as Nemean¡¯s damage grew higher with each attack.<sub>.</sub>

    Pride surfaced in Nemean¡¯s gaze as he grinned. ¡®I did it! I aplished what we trained for! Now, I need to continue grasping that feeling.¡¯

    All the gazes currently aimed at Nemean drove him to execute his skills at a level he hadn¡¯t been able to achieve prior. The stimulus of making a good impression before skilled people extracted bits of Nemean¡¯s dormant potential.

    Soon enough, Kieran had seen enough and ended the entire battle by unleashing a Blood Wave.

    ¡°Next,¡± Kieran called out.

    Rather than one of his own, Lux followed after Nemean while giving him a nod. ¡°That was some excellent skill and timing you showcased there. I understand why Aatrox chose you.¡±

    Praise from an expert ted Nemean, but he didn¡¯t let it go to his head. He understood there was still a tremendous amount of room for growth. There were ws in his execution and required too much focus to aplish.

    Nevertheless, he was confident.

    ¡°You did well. Better than you¡¯ve ever done. It seems that you¡¯re the type to shine under the pressure of strangers,¡± Kieran said.

    ¡°Possibly,¡± Nemean answered with a wry chuckle. The only thing on his matter at that time was execution.

    Secondster, Lux stopped approximately 10 meters away from a nearby Ravenous Boar. He removed the longbow strapped to his back and held it in his right hand before aiming above his head.

    Lux closed his eyes and exhaled before mming them open. In one rapid, fluid motion, Lux grabbed and nocked three arrows in almost instant session.

    Whoosh!

    The arrows whizzed through the air, two simultaneously piercing the Ravenous Boar¡¯s eyes while thest pierced through its mouth once it opened its mouth to emit pained squeals.<sub></sub>

    The Ravenous Boar fell over as three significant Critical Hits appeared over the boars.

    ¡®As expected of the Azure Marksman. A Triple Shot with a perfect Critical Hit rate and even a Vital Critical,¡¯ Kieran inwardly noted.

    The Archer ss was simr to Assassin as they relied upon Critical Hits to inflict damage. However, because their firing speed was admittedly lower than other sses, they were given a higher base Critical Modifier. Instead of 150%, it was 200%.

    However, another reason this Ravenous Boar died so quickly rted to another aspect of Stage One Combat Realism¡ªModified Critical Hits.

    Aside from the standard Critical Hits that dealt increased damage based on the user¡¯s Critical Damage Modifier, two more Critical Hit variants appeared. One was known as Vital Hit, which dealt double the user¡¯s Critical Damage modifier.

    The second was known as a Vital Critical, which was a Vital Hit and Critical Hit superimposed. Vital Criticals were known to deal three times the damage of regr critical attacks bybining the two principles.

    Lux had only recently stumbled across this information after battling against a monster with fleshly vulnerabilities.

    After Lux¡¯s shocking disy, Altair¡¯spetitiveness was triggered. He smirked while absorbing the principle behind Lux¡¯s actions. ¡®So that¡¯s what the modifications to the Critical System meant.¡¯

    Altair spun the daggers around his fingers before eximing, ¡°Ready!¡±

    ¡°Begin!¡±

    Whoosh!

    Altair simultaneously activated Conceal and Swift Step and sped toward the Ravenous Boar. Just before arriving, however, Altair performed a false step and changed directions.

    ck wisps shed past in everyone¡¯s view as Altair revolved around the Ravenous Boar. Numerouscerations appeared on the beast¡¯s hide, but its eyes were sliced apart with a spray of blood.<sub></sub>

    Vital Hit!

    Vital Hit!

    Although the beast¡¯s Health depleted like water drained from an unclogged sink, Altair¡¯s actions rapidly hastened. By the time the Ravenous Boar fell, Altair had returned to one ce with a light tap of his foot.

    ¡°Phew¡­ that felt good,¡± Altair exhaled.

    Following Altair, Luna was the next to go.

    However, she paused not too far away from the beast. Everyone that partook in the assessment thus far disyed incredible skill. Luna began to question whether she was capable of doing the same.

    Kieran noticed this hesitation and expressed his opinion. ¡°Let your natural talent flourish. Don¡¯t let your thoughts hinder you, or it¡¯ll be a perpetual obstacle.¡±

    Luna released a deep exhale while thinking about Kieran¡¯sment. ¡®Don¡¯t let my thoughts hinder me¡­ That¡¯s right. I¡¯m just as good at the rest.¡¯

    Luna raised her twin des and waited for Kieran¡¯s signal. After receiving it, she presented the advantage of a Tempest Rogue¡ªher unmatched Agility that surpassed even Altair.

    While her attacks weren¡¯t as precise due to a disparity in her Control and Agility, Luna¡¯s constant movement made it impossible for the Ravenous Boar to retaliate.

    The initial Health decline was slow, but it picked up as Luna gained more confidence in her actions.

    Kieran smiled faintly as he praised Luna¡¯s willingness to adapt and learn. ¡®That¡¯s

 Chapter 156 A Dangerous Decision

    ¡ª

    ¡°That¡¯s what a Sword Master ss is?¡±

    Altair¡¯s eyes widened in shock as he sensed the power present inside Ezra¡¯s seemingly light actions. Sword Force was an energy that amplified the sharpness and rigidity of a user¡¯s sword attacks, leaving the user to exert little effort.

    Of course, Ezra couldn¡¯t unleash this energy in endless amounts. It was simr to Kieran¡¯s Health, Stamina, and Mana Bars; they possessed finite regeneration rates. Once Ezra depleted her Sword Force, she would have to wait until it replenished to a certain threshold to employ more.

    However, Ezra could still unleash her skills without usable Sword Force; the output would just be considerably weaker. This was the difference between a ss that had the potential to reach the Legendary rating and one that transcended this limit.

    Kieran¡¯s blood energy usage didn¡¯t possess a cap. In a sense, his only limitation was his Health, or rather, how quickly he could siphon vitality from his injured opponents.

    ¡°What type of ss is your Sword Master considered?¡± Kieran suddenly asked amidst the stunned silence.

    ¡°Type? You mean like an attack one?¡± Ezra muttered. She was unsure what Kieran meant.

    Fortunately, Kieran rified a momentter. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for not being clear. Was there anything unusual about the ss when you received the ranking?¡±

    ¡°Not really. Sword Master Ingrid said it was a path traveled by normal swordsmen, except it walked the extreme. As a result, I immediately received a special passive known as Condensed Sword Force. However, I won¡¯t go into details as that pertains to sensitive information.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Kieran muttered. ¡®Something walking the extreme usually hints at a growth ss. Condensed Sword Force should be an enhanced form of Sword Force.¡¯

    Afterward, Kieran pondered the origin of Ezra¡¯s ss based on what he saw. It certainly didn¡¯t originate from Sword Master Ingrid as Ezra thought, just like Kieran¡¯s ss didn¡¯t originate from Scar.

    There was a hidden originator at y, but Kieran guessed it wasn¡¯t on his ss level.

    ¡®Its potential isn¡¯t too far off from the seven hidden sses; however, it¡¯s missing some key essences to beparable. I guess I was wrong. It¡¯s probably rted to a minor Hero at most.¡¯

    Kieran could recall the presence of the hidden sses that made the headline. They gave off a suffocating feeling, something that Ezra sorelycked. While the might was there, Kieran didn¡¯t get that sensation he expected.

    Nevertheless, the assessment provided Kieran with enough information. ¡°It might be possible.¡±

    ¡°What might be possible?¡± Alice noticed the look in Kieran¡¯s eyes. It was a look he showed when considering a dangerous suggestion.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to tackle that Sand Worm!¡±<sub>.</sub>

    ¡°Dear god, no! NO! Don¡¯t you remember what happenedst time?¡± Bastion eximed. Just recounting the mad dash from the infestation of Sand Worms made Bastion shiver.

    ¡°Payback is due, and our force isrger. It should be aplishable. Besides, we won¡¯t be idle while traveling there. We¡¯ll be increasing our levels as much as possible.¡±

    Bastion grimaced before helplessly shaking his head. ¡°Can¡¯t we just take another route?¡±

    ¡°Sadly, that¡¯s not an option. The Desert of Treacherous Sands was that small ce indicated by a red skull when we passed through the Desert of Crumbling Sands. We¡¯ll have to transverse it whether we like it or not.¡±

    ¡°So, it just a matter of iming the Experience then,¡± Ezra spoke.

    ¡°Exactly. I refuse to leave that Experience on the table once more,¡± Kieran¡¯s eyes shed with a resolute light. He decided that not only would the Desertborn Brigands be eradicated, but he¡¯d also disrupt the entirework of Sand Worms.

    ¡°I hate my life sometimes,¡± Bastionined. However, he sucked it up a momentter and boarded the cargo hold. The others followed behind as Kieran checked on his current progress.

    ¡¸Name: Aatrox           *Gold

    Race: Human

    Lv.34 (Experience: 114,740/802,014)

    Item Level: N/A

    ss: True Berserker (Tier 1)

    Title(s): Inheritor of the Berserk Path | Enduring Warrior | Goblin yer

    World Fame: 900 (Knight)

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    [?Stats?]-

    Health: 2,680/2,680 (13.4 HP regen/sec)<sub></sub>

    Mana: 750/750 (1.8 MP regen/sec)

    Stamina: 1,804 (3.5 Stamina regen/sec)

    Phys. Attack: 2,845

    Mag. Attack: 1,458

    Phys. Defense: 389

    Mag. Defense: 213

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    [?Attributes?]-

    ?Strength: 630 (447 + 183 + 0)

    ?Intelligence: 100 (55 + 45 + 0)

    ?Agility: 400 (286 + 114 + 0)

    ?Endurance: 134 (80 + 54 + 0)

    ?Control: 353 (226 + 127 + 0)

    ?Vitality: 210 (90 + 120 + 0)

    ?Perception: 125 (85 + 40 + 0)

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    [?Traits?]- 3<sub></sub>

    ?Lifesteal? ¨C Basic

    ?Zero Loss of Potential? ¨C Unique

    ?Vengeful Soul? ¨C Strengthened

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    [?Skills?]-

    (Passive)

    ?Blood Mania? ¨C S ¨C Lv.1

    ?Deranged Spirit? ¨C A ¨C Lv.2

    ?Tormented Beliefs? ¨C B ¨C Lv.2

    ?Berserker¡¯s Burden? ¨C C ¨C Lv.5

    (Active)

    ?Sanguinem Tempests? ¨C A ¨C Lv.2

    ?Wrath Eruption? ¨C B ¨C Lv.2

    ?Blood Wave? ¨C B ¨C Lv.2

    ?Wild Crash? ¨C B ¨C Lv.2

    ?Crimson Barrage? ¨C C ¨C Lv.2

    ?Sanguine shes? ¨C C ¨C Lv.2

    ?Crimson Current? ¨C C ¨C Lv.2

    ?Fury Rush? ¨C C ¨C Lv.2

    [Unassigned Stat Point: 112]

    [Skill Points: 164]   ¡¹

    ¡®164 Skill Points, there are quite a few things I can upgrade. But, if I splurge now, there¡¯s a chance I won¡¯t be able to ept my Lv.35-45 skills. Until Lv.50, expanding my skill arsenal is more important than refining it.¡¯

    Aside from his UAP and SP, Kieran also realized the need to increase his Physical and Magical Defense. Both of them were severelyckingpared to all his other stats.

    However, bncing his stats would require at least 600 UAP. He only had a fifth of that currently.

    ¡®More aplishments. I need more aplishments,¡¯ Kieran thought. This was the only alternative.

    Suddenly, Kieran felt a hand touch his shoulder while in deep thought.

    Alice¡¯s clear eyes shone with an inquisitive light while meeting Kieran¡¯s gaze. ¡°Have you decided the best route ofbat for this adventure?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Luna and Altair will act together while I manage Ezra¡¯s space. Nemean and Bastion will conduct themselves as per usual. And finally, you and Lux will coordinate your attacks topensate for any shorings. You¡¯ll also act as a defense for the Sera and Cam.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Alice nodded after realizing why Kieran paired them this way. Kieran preferred singr synergy over party synergy since it was more important. Acting in pairs allowed flexibility and lessened the burden on the Healers.

    If everyone was clustered, there was a chance the Healer¡¯s line of sight could be potentially obstructed. A Healer with an obstructed view was essentially worthless since they had to pick their target; there was no auto-aim system present.

    After discussing this matter with Alice, Kieran returned his attention to guiding the horses but also remained mindful of his surroundings.

    Roughly an hourter, the team participated in their second battle. Unlike the assessment, however, Kieran had everyone act at once.

    Altair and Luna manned the close-range just as Kieran directed, while he and Ezra were positioned close behind. Of course, remaining still in battle was impossible.

    Their positions shifted many times, but the pairs Kieran called out were close to one another at all times.

    The monsters this time were hyena-like monsters withrge hides.

    ¡¸Lv.36 Gris Hyaenidae (Elite)

    Health: 270,000/270,000 (100%) ¡¹

    These beasts simrly traveled in packs. But, they weren¡¯t a match for the onught directed at them.

    Kieran and Ezra alone were insane damage dealers. Kieran¡¯s sanguine attacks, mixed with Ezra¡¯s blinding white shes, created a breathtaking mixture of red and white colors.

    ¡°What a beautiful candy cane teamposition,¡± Nemeanmented.

    ¡°What? I was thinking more peppermint because they¡¯re so cool,¡± Bastion snickered.

    Nemean blinked with a deadpan expression. ¡°You¡¯re not funny, bro.¡±

    The party gained ample amounts of Experience after killing 20 of these beasts, but only those in possession of a normal ss leveled up. Those like Kieran, Ezra, and Nemean, required far more.

    Nevertheless, Kieran was pleased that

 Chapter 157 Desert of Crumbling Sands (II)

    ¡ª

    Compared to when Kieran first traveled through this terrain, traversing the Barren Mountain Range¡¯s forested area wasn¡¯t difficult at all. Even with thebat taking up 10 to 15 minutes at a time, their progress was still unthinkable.

    ¡®Combining the power of two hidden sses is no joke. At this rate, there¡¯ll be enough time to farm monster Experience in the outskirts of the Deserts of Crumbling Sands as well.¡¯

    Whatever monsters that Kieran¡¯s Blood Waves failed to cull were quickly handled by Ezra¡¯s subsequent Sword Wave ¨C Dispersion. Their skills withrge areas of effect were a blessing to this party.

    But, what truly set the party up for sess was Alice¡¯srge me spells. The floor was left scorched in mes whenever Alice amassed enough Mana to unleash a Firestorm Burst.

    The party¡¯s average rose rapidly as a result of these rapid fights. The lowest level present was Lv.34, which belonged to Ezra due to her doubled Experience requirement. However, none of them let their increased level go to their head.

    If Ezra and the others were to learn of Kieran¡¯s frightening attributes, there was a high chance they¡¯d cower in inferiority.

    Nevertheless, Altair, Nemean, and Bastion continued to funnel all their attribute points into Control, relishing in the slight liberation they felt. This was especially true after breaking 200 Control.

    Every additional 100 points felt inconceivably better than the prior threshold as if the link between their mind and this body was experienced a slight refinement.

    ¡°You guys should raise your Control as much as possible; it feels amazing!¡± Bastion eximed while shadowboxing to get a feel for his lighter movements. Although his te armor still reduced his speed, the action felt more natural.

    Ezra raised her eyebrow. ¡°Control? I considered doing so, but the attribute¡¯s exnation has always been vague. I only add minimal amounts.¡±

    Kieran froze after hearing what Ezra said. ¡°You¡¯ve been neglecting Control? How high is your Control?¡±

    ¡°155,¡± Ezra answered.<sub>.</sub>

    ¡°That¡¯s not terrible. However, mine is more than double yours.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ve only added points to it five times. The rest came from my initial value and therge amount I gained after promoting my ss. I¡¯ve never had any issues piloting my character.¡±

    Kieran furrowed his brows and shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not about having issues. Control decreases the imbnces we experience. The higher your Control, the easier to execute finer motor skills. It¡¯s aplishable without high Control, BUT your Stamina consumption will increase ordingly.¡±

    At least he could share this information before Ezra made a mistake.

    Perhaps one of the reasons she failed to close that gap in his memories was precisely due to this issue. Control¡¯s importance would only continue to rise as more metamorphosis urred.

    ¡°I see. But, I couldn¡¯t neglect increasing my damage because it was the most important factor inside Beginner Zones.¡±

    There was truth in her words. Without enough damage, clearing early content was extremely difficult.

    However, that all changed now that yers had ess to better skills.

    ¡°That was then, and this is now. There is still plenty of time to change how you allocate your points. I suggest following the ratio of attributes given upon ss promotion,¡± Kieran said.

    Ezra absorbed the knowledge and recounted the ratio. ¡®So it¡¯s best to follow the ratio given and not experiment with different stat allocations? I¡¯ll attempt for a while and see if there are any benefits.¡¯

    Still, Ezra couldn¡¯t help but gaze at Kieran differently. ¡°So, do you manage your team¡¯s stat allocation?¡±

    ¡°Pretty much. At least for now. They¡¯ll be free to do as they please in the future once we reach our desired state. Until then, our objective is optimal growth,¡± Kieran shrugged.<sub></sub>

    Ezra was astonished by this reaction because most Guild Masters managed their subordinates¡¯ gearing, not their attributes. Attributes usually made little difference once powerful gear became the meta in most games, but such things didn¡¯t exist in Zenith Online currently.

    Therefore, Kieran had to do this to draw out maximum efficiency from everyone.

    Kieran answered a few more questions about stat allocation before continuing their journey. Nemean and Bastion better grasped Ezra and Lux¡¯s battle rhythm with each subsequent battle

 Chapter 158 Seethe Burst

    ¡ª

    Kieran learned Seethe Burst after using the required 12 Skill Points. As expected, Seethe Burst could unleash tremendous amounts of damage; however, it was only marginally better than his other skills because of its limitations.

    ¡¸ Seethe Burst (Lv.2)

    Skill Rank: B

    Skill Type: Active

    Mastery (00.00%)

    Description: Expands Blood Mania¡¯s sanguine coating to create an exquisite blood de that deals separate stabbing and explosion damage equal to 324% and 1620% of the user¡¯s Attack Power, respectively. Any enemies struck by the blood explosion will acquire 10 Bleed Stacks with 100% certainty. [Note: Increasing your proficiency with this skill can create a ranged effect.]

    Consumption: 4% Health & 40 Mana

    Prerequisites: ?Blood Mania?

    Cooldown: 33 seconds ¡¹

    Seethe Burst¡¯s current limitation was naturally its range. It was a skill thatpounded on Blood Mania¡¯s base form tounch a reasonably extreme burst of damage. The expanded Blood Mania wouldn¡¯t be muchrger than Crimson Ashrune, but it dealt decent damage to make up for this drawback.

    Kieran awaited the next Sand Larva to test the extent of this skill. The sanguine coating surrounding Crimson Ashrune rippled as Kieran activated Sanguine shes.

    The constant damage of this skill was practically unmatched in his current arsenal. Even if he faced off against minimal monsters, keeping Sanguine shes perpetually active was optimal.<sub>.</sub>

    Any damage he inflicted would return at least a fraction of the Health lost to Sanguine shes¡¯ activation consumption.

    It didn¡¯t take long for the next round of enemies to appear. The only difference now was that 5 Sand Larvae surfaced simultaneously.

    Kieran targeted one alone while Ezra handled another.

    Kieran evaded an iing Sand Bullet before sliding across the grainy desert floor. As he slid, a subtle twister epassed Crimson Ashrune before transforming into an exquisite blood sword almost twice its original size.

    Bzzzt! Bang!

    An odd noise followed by an explosion urred, shaking the desert¡¯s floor in a small radius while a moderate crater formed underneath the st of this blood sword. Kieran was immune to damage inflicted by his skills, so he didn¡¯t worry about his proximity to the explosion.

    What left Kieran astonished was the aftermath of the skill!

    -26,312

    -409,680! [Critical Hit]

    The Sand Larva had died in a single hit!

    Over 430,000 damage was unleashed in one hit after factoring in the 20% increase from Crimson Ashrune, the effects of Blood Mania and Tormented Beliefs, and finally, the 150% Critical Damage Modifier Kieran possession.

    ¡°Aw, hell naw! Do you see what the hell I¡¯m talking about? He killed that crap in one hit. ONE HIT!¡± Bastion shouted in disbelief. Although his eyes had witnessed the scene, his brain refused to regard it as truth.<sub></sub>

    ¡°Yeah, that boy is stronger than a motherfucker. I¡¯ll tell you that much,¡± Nemean said. However, he covered his mouth afterward because habits that stemmed from his childhood peered through his speech.

    ¡°Hahaha! I knew it would happen. You can join the army all you want, but you can¡¯t move away from your roots. It¡¯s still in you,¡± Bastion chortled after listening to the way Nemean spoke.

    Kieran simrly turned his head. ¡°Are you from Metro City?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Nemean gave a bitter smile.

    ¡°Interesting,¡± Kieran gave a meaningful smile but didn¡¯t confirm that he was from there.

    Although he felt some semnce of trust for his party members, he couldn¡¯t be too trusting. Not until he was stronger and couldpete with unimaginably strong humans.

    After all, X-hancers had opened his eyes to the possibility of superhumans. If that was the case, hisparatively frail body, which still conformed to the limits of ordinary humans, couldn¡¯tpete.

    ¡°Would you like to see something even more mind-blowing?¡± Kieran answered with an impish grin.

    ¡°Please¡­ I fear I¡¯ll pass away from heart palpitations. Cardiac arrest, is that you? Being in Aatrox¡¯s party has aged my cardiovascr system by 40 years!¡± Bastion put on an exaggerated disy and feigned as if he were woozy.

    Nevertheless, Kieran¡¯s lips curved into an increasingly naughty smirk as his body disappeared with a crimson sh. The bacsh from his movement sprouted a sand geyser that shot up to the sky.

    Whoosh!

    el Shift magnified Kieran¡¯s movement speed in conjunction with the effects from his passives, creating a monstrous oue. No party member could track his movements until he reappeared with his de pierced through a Sand Worm beside Ezra.<sub></sub>

    Kieran gave her a faint smile while standing beside her.

    ¡°You know, you shouldn¡¯t smile at ady like that. It could cause many misunderstandings,¡± Ezra said in a flirtatious voice. She could tell at a nce what Kieran¡¯s intentions were.

    Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have revealed his frightening speed.

    Kieran naturally wanted to attract Ezra, not in an intimate sense, but in a practical one. The more confident Ezra became in Kieran¡¯s skill, the higher the chances of a sessful partnership.

    ¡°Oh? How so? Although, if I¡¯m being honest, I wouldn¡¯t mind.¡± Kieran finished his words with a sensual wink before raising his sword above his head and vanishing.

    Therge greatsword seemed to want to pierce the sky as it released a crimson radiance supported by one of Kieran¡¯s skills. Once it reached the peak, Kieran brought the sword down like the decree of a blood deity, creating a vertical current of massive blood energy.

    Once it reached thest stage, the power Blood Maniamanded was simply phenomenal.

    After this interaction, Kieran awaited the cooldown of his skills and the appearance of new Sand Worms. Since his Perception¡¯s increase dropped from 196% to 136%, Kieran estimated that all of the nearby Larva had been eliminated.

    From what his ability told him, 15 enemies remained beneath his feet. Given the unequal percentage distribution, Kieran was even more certain the increase varied upon unique conditions.

    Thirty seconds passed before adult Sand Worms surfaced.

    Not only did they have significantly higher Health, but all the Sand Worms that surfaced werebeled as Rare Elites, and there were eight of them.

    If this were before Kieran arrived at his current situation, 8 Special Elites above Lv.40 would be an impossible undertaking. But, that was no longer the case after gaining ess to many powerful skills.

    ¡¸ Lv.40 Sand Worm (Rare Elite)

    Insect Type, Sand Type

    Health: 646,800/646,800 (100%) ¡¹

    ¡°Phew, those are some big boys,¡± Lux whistled after looking at their Health. Over 600,000 Health was amongst the highest amounts of Health any yer had seen thus far.

    Kieran was an anomaly because of his experience, so he didn¡¯t count when referring to Zenith Online¡¯s general yer base.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see. We have 8 of them, so that¡¯s what? Just about 5,000,000 Health overall? No sweat. We¡¯ll get it done,¡± Nemean remarked. However, it wasn¡¯t easy to tell if he was joking, given his uncharacteristic deadpan expression.

    ¡°Pfft, you look like a fish,¡± Bastion snorted after seeing Nemean¡¯s expression.

    Bastion had the most leisurely role throughout this fight because of Kieran¡¯s immense activity. At most, Bastion would only guard against a few bashes before Kieran appeared with relentless momentum.

    Meanwhile, Nemean attempted to stun-lock his opponents with a steady stream ofbo hits that increased his ss¡¯sbo meter. This naturally caused high Stamina expenditure, but not so much that it reached nonsensical levels.

    Although the party¡¯s atmosphere was lighthearted, they grew serious and focused once the Sand Worms initiated their retaliation.

    Kieran interrupted their actions by entrapping the Sand Worms with Blood Bind. Although they were only held in ce by one or two chains, they were unbelievably thick due to Kieran¡¯s current state.

    Afterward, Kieran followed up with Wild Crash, reducing four Sand Worm¡¯s Defense by 50%. This alone opened the floodgate for damage as Ezra, Luna and Altair focused on the Sand Worms with heavily reduced defenses.

    The Sand Worms¡¯ Health drained rapidly as Kieran unleashed another Blood Wave whenever the skill came off cooldown.

    The battlefield was quickly filled with Sand Worm innards and the blood remnants from Kieran¡¯s skills. Sera took an active healing role when Bastion suffered extensive damage while Cam¡¯s mind seemed elsewhere.

    She sighed and seemed somewhat annoyed while shaking her right leg. Since the others didn¡¯t require her presence yet, Cam took the time to curse some unknown person under her breath.

    ¡°You think you can just make a fool of me like that and get away with it? I was reduced to aughingstock!¡± Cam furiously gnashed her teeth and chewed on her thumbnail.

    Ezra had noticed her agitated state earlier, but Cam didn¡¯t open up about her issues. As a result, Ezra thoughtbat could be a stress reliever. But, she soon realized she had made an oversight.

    Cam was a healer. How could she relieve stress through heals?

    Regardless, Cam was a matter Ezra couldn¡¯t focus on right now.

    ¡®This party has a truly remarkable learning capability,¡¯ Ezra thought. While only Kieran was her match in damage output, none of Kieran¡¯s other members could be considered dead weight.

    In fact, if it weren¡¯t for the fact these yers were Kieran¡¯s party members, Ezra would have undoubtedly extended a warm wee to Eclipse. Whether or not they¡¯d ept such an offer was unknown.

    Although the Sand Worms posed a greater threat than the Sand Larvae, they were a problem Kieran and his party ultimately overcame.

    Despite the loot that littered the ground, Kieran and the others couldn¡¯t collect it. However, there was no danger of it falling into the gaping holes before.

    All dropped loot appeared inside the party leader¡¯s loot table, so it could reappear with the swipe of a finger.

    Unfortunately, the beasts didn¡¯t give the party a breather before six Sand Worms burst through the desert floor. However, two of them, in particr, made Kieran wary.

    Without a doubt, Kieran knew what stood before him.

    ¡°Champions.¡±

 Chapter 159 An Unsafe Decision

    ¡ª

    Compared to the four other Sand Worms that surfaced, the two Kieran distinguished as Champions were not onlyrger, but they possessed distinctive traits.

    One of these Sand Worms possessed a sharp horn simr to a scimitar¡¯s de that shone with a mixture of amber and beige light.

    The other Champion possessed several violet spines that jutted out from its leathery exterior. The area closest to its body contained a burgundy tint.

    Aside from these distinctive differences, they were identical to the Sand Worms surrounding them.

    ¡¸ Lv.40 Violet Spined Sand Worm (Champion)

    Sand Type, Insect Type

    Health: 1,275,000/1,275,000 (100%) ¡¹

    ¡¸ Lv.40 Sand Severing Sand Worm (Champion)

    Sand Type, Insect Type

    Health: 1,180,000/1,180,000 (100%) ¡¹

    ¡¸ Lv.40 Elder Sand Worms (Special Elite)

    Sand Type, Insect Type

    Health: 735,000 (100%) ¡¹

    The party¡¯s expression grew solemn after learning of the Champion¡¯s Health. It didn¡¯t take a genius to understand Champion Monsters possessed incredibly high attributespared to other monsters.<sub>.</sub>

    A monster ssified as a Champion stood at the epitome of the monster hierarchy. Because Boss Monsters were their own ssification, yers regarded them differently.

    ¡°Everyone fall back,¡± Kieran suddenly ordered.

    Although he knew his strengths, he also understood Champion Monsters were tough to handle if apanied by additional monsters.

    The party listened, returning to Kieran¡¯s side while monitoring the monsters¡¯ actions. The two Champion Sand Worms seemed to slither back and forth in the air as if awaiting some significant event.

    The de on the Sand Severing Sand Worm¡¯s head released subtle vibrations that made a three-meter span of sand crumble, exposing a dark cavity beneath.

    ¡®It seems this worm has elementary control over these decayed pockets. It won¡¯t be as simple as defeating them. We must also remain wary of our environment,¡¯ Kieran mused.

    His attention switched between the Special Elites and Champions before forming a n to reduce the difficulty of the current matter.

    ¡°Lux, how good are your kiting abilities?¡± Kieran asked.

    ¡°Kiting? Mmn, it¡¯s not exactly my forte as I prefer direct confrontation. But, if you need me to kite these beasts, I can,¡± Lux answered.

    Kieran pondered their options before nodding with a decisive light in his eyes. ¡°Very well. You¡¯ll kite one Special Elite.¡±

    Immediately after, Kieran turned toward Luna and Altair. ¡°You¡¯ll each kite another. When the opportunity presents itself, move in for decent damage.¡±

    ¡°With pleasure. I¡¯ve been waiting for some decent pressure,¡± Altair remarked. His blood boiled with excitement, making his hairs stand up on end in anticipation.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got it,¡± Luna also voiced her readiness.

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle thest one. Also, remain wary of those Sand Worms. We don¡¯t know how many abilities they possess. But, they should be weakened versions of the Mother Worm,¡± Kieran warned.<sub></sub>

    Afterward, the party broke apart in four directions while Nemean and Bastion retreated with focused expressions. Alice, Sera, and Cam moved back at an identical pace, giving the others enough room to act without worry.

    Kieran sped toward the Special Elite in the center, which coincidentally sat between the two Champion Monsters.

    The Champion Monsters swiftly reacted to his presence. But, Kieran was far too fast with his current passive amplifications. Kieran ran right past the giant Sand Worms as their destructive Sand sts bombarded the ground.

    Bang!

    A thunderous collision reminiscent of a horrific car crash resounded on the battlefield secondster. Before the Champion Sand Worms could unleash their attack, Kieran¡¯s speed spiked unexpectedly.

    By executing Fury Rush, Kieran gained an absurd burst of velocity and rammed right into Special Elite Sand Worm. Kieran felt the recoil of this boil, which left his left shoulder numb for a few passing seconds, but the unmatched resilience of a True Berserker presented its value.

    Kieran regained feeling in his arm less than two secondster before unleashing a whirlwind of heavy strikes. Minor cuts gradually grew more prominent on the Sand Worm¡¯s underside as stacks of Bleed quickly umted on its status bar.

    Kieran sacrificed another 200 Health to reactivate Sanguine shes, followed by Wild Crash.

    Boom!

    The Special Elite¡¯s health bar depleted inrge chunks after suffering Kieran¡¯s terrifying burst damage. Moreover, the Wild Crash left a gruesome gash in the Sand Worm¡¯s torso.

    High-pitched shrieks rang out from the heavily wounded Sand Worm, which generated a reaction from the Champion Monsters.

    The Violet Spined Sand Worm suddenly started to spin. Its violent spinning motion loosened the spines until they were ejected at speedparable to a bullet!

    Kieran¡¯s Retaliatory Sense sent emitted a sensation of impending doom. Left with no choice, Kieran abandoned his attack and rapidly spun around.

    Tang!<sub></sub>

    Kieran shed down, sessfully hitting the iing spine. However, its force drove him back almost one meter before stopping.

    Unfortunately, this attack wasn¡¯t limited to one volley.

    A shower of these odd-colored spines filled the air and punctured the sand in various spots. Kieran anchored himself in ce before revealing a focused expression.

    ¡®Techniques are the name of the game. So, Techniques are what I¡¯ll have to rely upon.¡¯

    ¡´System: You have used three stacks of ?Hunt? to mark three enemies as ?Prey?!¡µ

    After using stacks of Hunt, Kieran broadened his perception range while situating Crimson Ashrune before him at a slight upward angle.

    Time slowed in Kieran¡¯s perspective, prompting a unique change in Kieran¡¯s breathing pattern. This breathing pattern was required to trigger higher sensory perception.

    Such an experience wouldn¡¯t be possible without the First Metamorphosis. This level of sensory perception required an exquisite fusion of one¡¯s five senses. Thebination of these five senses produced an ethereal effect.

    This unnatural state was precisely why Kieran requested excess X-hancers from Dr. Riley. The X-hancers were a precaution meant to assist Kieran if his estimation of his mental power was fatally inurate.

    Whmmm!

    A phenomenal yet obscure ripple unleashed from Kieran¡¯s body grew increasingly berserk. This ripple soon split into multiple tiny threads thatcerated the floor in a chaotic pattern.

    ¡®I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d be attempting the creation of one of my original techniques so early on.¡¯

    Large veins surfaced on Kieran¡¯s forehead seconds before he opened his eyes with a cold glint.

    Whoosh!

    Kieran performed an almost imperceptible movement by following one of the chaotic patterns present in the sand.

    Bang!

    Crimson Ashrune met an iing spine, but unlike before, Kieran didn¡¯t move. It was as if the needle-like spine met a stone wall and froze in the air. A secondter, the needle-like spine dropped to the ground while the chaotic tendrils surrounding Kieran intensified.

    ¡®This burden¡­¡¯ Kieran frowned.

    He had only used a fraction of the Technique, but Kieran could feel his control over this chaotic presence waning.

    ¡®Not enough¡­ persist, Kieran. You need power, but power is not obtained without struggle,¡¯ Kieran inwardly thought, psyching himself into disregarding the splitting pain emerging in his mind.

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, in the real world¡­

    Dr. Riley paled when the machine tasked with monitoring Kieran emitted a signal. The device that recorded his brainwaves went haywire and reached critical levels.

    ¡°Oh no,¡± Dr. Riley muttered while cing her hand on Kieran¡¯s chest. His current body temperature surpassed when he absorbed X-hancers.

    Unbeknownst to both Kieran and Dr. Riley, Kieran¡¯s body further refined the energy the X-hancer exhausted from Kieran¡¯s actions inside the game.

    Roughly 30 seconds after the rm surfaced, a thin trickle of blood flowed out from Kieran¡¯s nose. This unexpected change frightened Dr. Riley as she cleaned his nose with tender care.

    ¡°W-what¡­ are you doing in there? You might be destroying your body, you idiot!¡± Dr. Riley¡¯s lips pursed as worry filled her eyes. This worry went beyond losing her source of unexplored knowledge.

    In her eyes, Keiran was a young man with tons of life in front of him.

    Her shoulders became heavy with responsibility after ming herself for Kieran¡¯s current reckless behavior.

    However, Dr. Riley didn¡¯t understand that Kieran would have behaved exactly the same even if he had never met her. Kieran understood the stakes of high-level Technique usage, but the risks were manageablepared to his prior fate.

    He vowed he wouldn¡¯t suppress his talent for fear of being targeted. The Golden Brigade¡¯s suppression was the reason he could never truly flourish!

    ¡­

    Back inside Zenith Online¡­

    ¡´System: You are at risk of suffering brain damage if you continue with your actions. The user¡¯s mental fluctuations have be unsafe.¡µ

    ¡°Shut up! I know the risk! Disengage safety parameters.¡± Kieran growled. The system¡¯s mechanical voice was interrupting his delicate focus.

    ¡´W A R N I N G: Disengaging safety parameters makes the user solely liable for all ensuing consequences.¡µ

    ¡°Disengage!¡± Kieran roared.

    The others looked toward Kieran and noticed his wild hair flowed about chaotically as if stuck in a hurricane.

    ¡°What¡­ is Kieran doing?¡± Nemean muttered beside Bastion.

    Bastion gave a clueless look because he was just as oblivious as Nemean. ¡°I have no idea, but it must be some strenuous. I¡¯ve only heard him roar like that a few times.¡±

    On the other hand, Ezra, Lux, and Altair hadpletely different opinions. ¡®Technique! Aatrox is creating another technique!¡¯

    Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

    Thunderous noises appeared at a more rapid pace the quicker Kieran chaotically swung his de.

    The needle-like spines were all stopped in their tracks. As a consequence of his actions, Kieran¡¯s eyes turned the color of a blood moon. The mental strain of high-level Techniques was one of the most taxing pains.

    However, Kieran¡¯s actions bore fruit. Instead of the previous safety precaution notification, Kieran received another one.

 Chapter 160 Aspect and Hidden Attribute

    ¡ª

    ¡´System: Due to your unfathomable concentration while suffering from intense mental pain, you have awakened the Hidden Attribute ?Focus?!¡µ

    ¡´System: As the first yer to awaken ?Focus?, you have been rewarded two points of Focus and +100 Perception and Control.¡µ

    Kieran felt like the reward lifted a significant burden from his shoulders when he received this notification. Focus, simply put, was the Hidden Attribute that regted the effectiveness of a yer¡¯s Perception and Control.

    However, Kieran also understood it could be used as a scale to gauge the might of a user¡¯s Mental Power. While 2 Focus Points weren¡¯t enough to turn Kieran into an infallible existence, maintaining a decent mental strength output was possible.

    It was strong enough to begin executing 2-star Techniques; however, any intelligent yer would do so with caution.

    Besides, the Technique Kieran wielded was no 2-star Technique.

    Kieran exhaled.

    ¡®It¡¯s like rousing the attribute has cleared my mental block. I learned of this secret toote in the past. Risk and opportunity go hand in hand. Those safety precautions are useful in some cases, but when ites to challenging your limits, it¡¯s a severe constraint,¡¯ Kieran inwardly thought.

    Aplishing this feat would¡¯ve been impossible with the safety precautions engaged. Kieran would have been forcibly ejected from the game two minutes ago.

    Nevertheless, although Kieran was delighted by the system notification, his actions had yet to end. There was still the matter of Technique Creation.

    The versatile Technique he sought to create would cement his objectively feeble advantage over other elite payers. After all, Ezra¡¯s presence was a clear indication that more hidden sses would soon appear.

    Peng! Peng! Peng!<sub>.</sub>

    The Sand Severing Sand Worm continued firing a haphazard spray of incredibly sharp spines. But, every needle-like spine that entered the range of Kieran¡¯s current Technique was neutralized.

    The destruction of momentum was simply remarkable!

    Thirty secondster, Kieran¡¯s previously rejuvenated expression paled once more as he cursed the system for itsck of notification and the Sand Severing Sand Worm for its abnormal firing rate and endurance.

    ¡°How many spines can this thing generate?!¡± Kieran¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as not even the Mother Worm performed such a feat.

    Granted, the force and size of the needle-like spines were only a fraction of the ones the Mother Worm produced.

    Suddenly, the chaotic wisps transformed into a spiral that wreathed Kieran¡¯s de in a highly destructive presence. This situation reminded Kieran of his death bed.

    His consciousness was only an ember then, but he recalled the rage that sparked a sudden increase in his mental strength capacity. At that moment, he generated such formidable berserk energy that his body couldn¡¯t contain it.

    While his current mental strength was inferior to his capacity at that moment, the details were ingrained in the depths of his soul. That berserk energytched on to his current Technique, seemingly upgrading its effects in the process.

    Rather than remain stationary like before, Kieran took a step forward, followed by another, until he reached the wounded Special Elite Sand Worm¡¯s body.

    ¡°I¡¯ve said this before¡ªnothing will stop me from aplishing what I desire,¡± Kieran uttered coldly.

    Crrrrr!

    The destructive sh created a ripping noise followed by a ringing noise that droned inside everyone¡¯s head. Afterward, Kieran waved Crimson Ashrune without moving his head.<sub></sub>

    ng!

    His sword, wreathed in the destructive aura, knocked away the spine and sent it speeding through the air until it pierced the sand far away.

    ¡´System: You have generated a unique ?Aspect?! Would you like to name it?¡µ

    Aspects were somewhat simr to passives that granted auras, but not quite. Those passive skills relied upon Mana to activate its effects, but Aspects were partial to another energy source¡ªMental Power.

    Unlike typical Techniques designed for skill or basic attack assistance, Aspects could be applied to everything¡ªSoul Trait effects, special abilities¡ªthe choices were endless. However, one¡¯s skill with manipting an Aspect relied upon their Focus.

    As a result, Aspects were considered Specialized Techniques. But, because of this ssification, their lowest grading was extremely high.

    ¡°An Aspect? I¡¯ve never heard of this before,¡± Kieran muttered in great shock. This power was something created after years away from Zenith Online, so he wasn¡¯t aware of its presence then.

    Before giving it a name, however, Kieran scanned through the system¡¯s small overview.

    [A destructive aura that bears slight neutralizing effects, leaving itspetition in a ruinous state. The rudimentary power found in the skill borders on the edge of universal principles. Drawing inspiration from suitable sources may perfect this ability further.]

    ¡°Ruinous Negation,¡± Kieran said after reading the description.

    ¡´System: Congrattions, you have created ?Aspect: Ruinous Negation?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 5x ?Auto Technique Creation Scroll?!¡µ<sub></sub>

    ¡´System: You have received 3x ?Intermediate Refined Mastery Elixir?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received a ?Shard of Ancient Knowledge?!¡µ

    Kieran was momentarily taken aback by the entire situation. While trying to create his original Technique, the effects morphed into something sensational. Moreover, the rewards from forming an Aspect were mind-boggling!

    Out of curiosity, Kieran pulled up the only item he was unfamiliar with. The Shard of Ancient Knowledge. Kieran felt an indescribable sensationing from the item, but considering the item¡¯s rank, he made his interaction with it sparse.

    ¡¸ Shard of Ancient Knowledge (Special Item)

    Item Rank: Ancient

    Item Level: Unknown

    ?[0)??? Item Usage: Bestows a set of knowledge rted to the Language of the Ancients. (This item is unusable until you pass the test of these ancient people.)

    Description: A shard that bears signs of an ancient civilization. The sophisticated yet iplete engravings suggest its stems from people of infinite knowledge¡ªpeople skilled with the Language of the Ancients. Its origins date back to a distant era. ¡¹

    ¡®Language of the Ancients,¡¯ Kieran muttered in his mind. He pondered whether or not he was familiar with such people but eventually drew a nk. ¡®I¡¯m not sure what the Language of the Ancients suggests?¡¯

    Kieran wondered if this item originating from a different era implied it belonged to lost people. However, what worried Kieran was the possibility that someone sought this item.

    Fortunately, theck of an issued warning consoled Kieran¡¯s worried mind. Due to hisck of knowledge, Kieran felt he should raise this question with Scar since he was in contact with Agrianos, someone regarded as ancient.

    Immediately after creating his new Aspect, Kieran shifted his gaze to the Sand Severing Sand Worm that gradually slowed. Once it stopped spinning, the giant sand beast entered a Fainted state where it grew vulnerable.

    As soon as this window presented itself, Kieran wasted no time in rapidly approaching the beast. The chaotic tendrils from his new Aspect ovepped with Crimson Ashrune¡¯s outer coating until it produced an ominous atmosphere.

    ¡®No matter what happens, I don¡¯t regret choosing this ss. Everything I have done up until this moment has all aligned perfectly. And those that haven¡¯t will bear fruits in the future.¡¯

    Whoosh!

    Kieran leapt high in the air while envisioning a distinct weaponized usage for this new Aspect. The chaotic tendrils transferred from Crimson Ashrune to therge Crimson Current Kieran unleashed.

    The Crimson Current deluged the fainted sand beast like a violent sea of blood swallowing up a great kill.

    -259,456! [Critical Hit!]

    -1,141,607! [Execution!]

    The battlefield grew silent as a ruinous decay overtook the Violet Spined Sand Worm. When the blood remnants from the Crimson Current seeped into the ground, all that remained of the Champion Monster was a battered body.

    Ezra twitched while standing behind Nemean and Bastion, mouth agape in awe. ¡®No way¡­ did I just read that correctly? Was that a crimson gold damage number above 1 million?!¡¯

    Ezra sheathed her swords behind her waist and rubbed her eyes before taking a second nce at the lingering number atop the dead Champion Monster.

    ¡°W-what¡­ what just happened?¡± Altair turned back after hearing and feeling something unusual. He couldn¡¯t put it in words as the sensation was inexplicable, but it felt as if his heart had stopped for a moment.

    After all, he was the closest to Kieran¡¯s action.

    ¡°What happened is Aatrox is a damned FREAK. He just hit over one million damage! How is that even possible? I don¡¯t understand!¡± Bastion suffered a mental breakdown while holding his hands to the sky and pleading for logic to take hold of this party.

    ¡°One million? No, that can¡¯t be right. You must mean one hundred thousand,¡± Altair brushed off their ims in the party chat.

    But, that changed when Ezra shared the clip with everyone. ¡°Are you sure we misspoke? Take the time to count the digits of this number. Also, how would one hundred thousand damage instantly kill a monster with over one million Health?¡±

    ¡°Ah¡ª¡± Altair was at a loss for words.

    His fingers twitched as he felt abject horror rise in his mind. ¡®One million damage is insane. Can any yer im to even unleash that much damage after fighting for an hour straight?¡¯

    Altair¡¯s mind plunged into the depths of despair as he realized the absurdity of Kieran¡¯s feat.

    Meanwhile, Kieran was simrly shocked by the oue. No, he was even more shocked than the rest of them. ¡®An Aspect¡­ is this powerful? This goes beyond what simple passive skills that create aura can achieve.¡¯

    Kieran then turned toward the three other Special Elites that Luna, Lux, and Altair kited. Kieran envisioned the Aspect¡¯s powers once more and released three Blood Waves to test out his theories.

    Bang! Bang! Bang!

    The three Aspect-enhanced Blood Waves cleaved through the three Sand Worms effortlessly, but after that, Kieran was forced to release his hold of this Technique.

    rgh!

    Kieran vomited on the spot and fell to one knee as his presence became unusually feeble.

    ¡´System: Continued usage of ?Aspect: Ruinous Negation? is unadvised. The user¡¯s Constitution and Focus are not up to par for prolonged usage.¡µ

 Chapter 161 Genuine Camaraderie

    ¡ª

    Kieran¡¯s four uses of his Ruinous Negation Aspect left his body in a precarious state. Queasiness surfaced as it felt like some intangible presence clutched his stomach with a vice grip.

    Although the Sand Severing Sand Worm was the only remaining monster in the vicinity, Kieran felt incredibly feeble. His breaths had be weak as the veins on his left temple pulsated rmingly.

    ¡®An Aspect¡­ is the worst technique I¡¯ve ever encountered,¡¯ Kieran thought. He iled his left arm, stabbing Crimson Ashrune through the sand, and relied upon it for support in his time of weakness.

    ¡°Aatrox¡ª!¡± Altair screamed out before dashing toward Kieran. The Sand Severing Sand Worm¡¯srge de-like horn emanated a deep amber light that worried Altair.

    Once this light appeared, a small yet progressively advancing fissure opened inside the sand. Several small twisters surfaced on the desert¡¯s floor until these twisters converged into sand spears.

    These two attacks were designed to entrap Kieran and kill him while he was incredibly vulnerable.

    Aside from Altair, Luna and Ezra also quickly sprung into action while Lux drew back on his exquisite longbow with a solemn expression.

    ¡°Hooo¡­¡± Lux exhaled as a spiraling orb of Mana coalesced before the arrow¡¯s tip.

    ¡°Spiral Shot: Mana Puncture!¡± He released.

    Whoosh!

    The arrow sped through the air, aimed at the Sand Severing Sand Worm¡¯s horn, which admittedly appeared as the source and medium of its ability. Lux intended to break it or, at the very least, disrupt the Champion Monster¡¯s channeling ability.

    If not for this intention, he wouldn¡¯t have wasted one of his two high-damage, high-cooldown skills. However, he also understood Kieran¡¯s worth to the party. He couldn¡¯t allow him to go down now.<sub>.</sub>

    The arrow emitted a strange noise while ripping through the atmosphere at astonishing speed. Lux even sacrificed one use of Velocity Charge, a uniquebat system avable to Archers after reaching Lv.30. This system allowed them to increase the velocity, critical rate, and defense ignore of a single shot.

    At its current skill level, Velocity Charge possessed six charges. Lux cherished each charge despite its high amount because of the recharge rate. It took one hour to amass a single charge.

    In exchange for this baffling cooldown period, Velocity Charge could achieve remarkable feats.

    Crrrrr! ¡­Bang!

    A bout of silence followed the rippling ripping noise that spread through the region. The arrow then broke the silence once it created a disastrous collision against the Sand Severing Sand Worm¡¯s horn.

    -97,680! [Critical Hit!]

    The damage outssed the standard limits of what a normal ss could achieve, but it was only a fraction of Kieran¡¯s output. Still, the attack served its purpose as the amber light flickered in and out of existence while the growing fissure paused before Crimson Ashrune.

    Kieran slowly lifted his head while sweat trailed down his forehead.

    ¡´System: The user is suffering from a state of ?Mental Exhaustion?. Perception will weaken by 50% for the next 3 hours.¡µ

    Truthfully, the consequences of Kieran¡¯s actions weren¡¯t as catastrophic as he expected. A 50% reduction in his perception was eptable given the Desert of Treacherous Sands existed just past this area.

    Altair and Ezra arrived before Kieran seconds after each other and brandished their weapons with serious expressions.

    ¡°You know whatever you just did was very reckless, right?¡± Altair scolded without turning his head.<sub></sub>

    Kieran grimaced because Altair was correct to scold him for his actions. Forcibly shattering his limits had almost produced a devastating oue.

    ¡°Typical male behavior¡ªbelieving you can recklessly aplish things on your own,¡± Ezra clicked her tongue while a cold gleam surfaced in her eyes. She could tell at a nce that Kieran had executed something that wasn¡¯t meant to ur just yet.

    ¡°Go easy on me. It wasn¡¯t nned¡ªit was a spur-of-the-moment type of thing.

    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re always spurred into recklessness. This isn¡¯t the first time. You recall the Underground Labyrinth, yes?¡± Altair finally turned his head and looked Kieran in the eyes.

    Part of the reason he trained so hard was to absorb some of Kieran¡¯s burden. After all, they had made a pact to assist each other in times of hardship. This included when situations were too intense to bear alone.

    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Kieran weakly nodded. He understood the emotion buried in Altair¡¯s eyes; it didn¡¯t need to be spoken.

    Ezra looked between these two men and immediately understood their rtionship wasn¡¯t as simple as mere allies. Just like the rtionship between Nemean and Bastion wasn¡¯t simple.

    ¡®These genuine emotions rarely appear in any other guilds. The only ideology that links them is achieving power. Most guild members couldn¡¯t care less about their guild mates¡¯ well-being. How has Aatrox achieved this in his small party?¡¯ Ezra wondered.

    Although she tried, Ezra failed to make Eclipse a group of close-knit friends who cherished their teammates more than they desired status and riches. Subconsciously, Ezra looked toward Cam and Lux, who noticed something unusual about her expression.

    However, they didn¡¯t bring up the matter because they were too far.

    On the other hand, Nemean and Bastion approached side by side.

    ¡°You reckless freak. Look at what you¡¯ve done. Bah, don¡¯t worry¡ªwe¡¯ll pick up your ck,¡± Bastion eximed before giving Nemean a solemn nod.<sub></sub>

    Nemean returned this gesture before suddenly speeding up. He bashed his shields together before running past both Ezra and Altair. ¡°I¡¯ll take the lead¡ªyou guys follow! The boss¡¯s inactivity doesn¡¯t mean we stop cold turkey!¡±

    Boom!

    Nemean rammed into the Sand Severing Sand Worm¡¯s bottom without any hesitation. After this strike, he quicklyunched his attacks until he amassed enoughbo chain.

    A secondter, his powerful skills appeared.

    ¡°Chain Link: Shield Rush!¡±

    ¡°Chain Link: Enforcer¡¯s Glory!¡±

    ¡°Chain Link: Breakthrough Barrage!¡±

    Nemean quickly unleashed his skills in a state of extreme focus, stun-locking the sand beast for a small amount of time that grew extensively long with each additional Chain Link move.

    ¡°Get off your damned asses and move!¡± Nemean howled through his brutal attacks.

    The others awoke from their daze and quickly reacted to Nemean¡¯s shout. Although they were taken aback by the way Nemean adopted the role of a leader, they understood it wasn¡¯t the time to stop and spectate.

    Kieran cracked a small smile but soon felt a soft hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Alice with pursed lips. She spoke in a soft tone that betrayed her usually indifferent approach.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be so reckless. You may have adopted the role of a protector, but sometimes support needs reinforcing. We¡ªyour teammates¡ªare that reinforcement,¡± Alice said.

    ¡°I understand,¡± Kieran revealed a genuine smile as he looked around, shocked by how everyone sprung into action rather than evacuate. After all, a Lv.40 Champion Monster wasn¡¯t a simple opponent.

    The team¡¯s admittedly low damage reflected this fact.

    However, Alice¡¯s hair fluttered in the wind beside Kieran as a small gust of Mana spun around her body. The gust grew violent as Alice focused and channeled arge amount of Mana through her spell.

    ¡°Firestorm Burst!¡±

    Pshhh!

    Arge me sphereunched high in the sky before descending in a parab shape. Once itnded on the target, the area was engulfed in raging mes that rapidly increased the ambient temperature until the sand below the sand beast adopted a ss-like texture.

    ?[0)??? Alice panted from exhausting arge amount of Mana, but this action paved the way for Lux¡¯s next move. He inched closer while holding his longbow in a downward position as if carrying a rifle.

    While in that position, the arrow nocked in the bow thrummed withpact Mana.

    ¡°Mana Shot: Condensed Pierce!¡±

    Lux lifted his bow without much preparation and released a frightening arrow. The sheer velocity of its flight speed created a wind shell before the arrowhead.

    Once she noticed Lux¡¯s action, Ezra made her move as well. The two slender longswords in her hands became engulfed in condensed energy. The energy radiated sharpness but was also gentle and ever-flowing.

    Kieran absorbed their actions and became lost in the scene as the noise from Bastion, Altair, and Nemean¡¯s continuous action, Alice¡¯s panting, and Lux¡¯sunched arrow were all drowned out.

    ¡®Friends¡­ allies¡­rades. I may have guided them, but I focused on myself for far too long,¡¯ Kieran thought to himself.

    Suddenly, Kieran spoke up while watching Ezra¡¯s actions.

    ¡°Move your front foot one step forward. As a woman, all your power is drawn from your stable hips. Ignore everything else¡ªdrive every swing through your hips.¡±

    ¡°Mm?¡± Ezra¡¯s eyebrows raised as she turned back to see Kieran¡¯s eyes shine with an unbelievably piercing light.

    ¡°Focus,¡± Kieranmanded.

    His deep voice and assertive tone sent a tingle down Ezra¡¯s spine, subconsciously leading her to listen. She shifted her feet, following Kieran¡¯s every instruction.

    ¡°Don¡¯tunch any skills. Focus on your swordsmanship, utilize minimal amounts of Condensed Sword Force to enhance your every move.¡±

    ¡°No, pivot through your ankle and twist your hips.¡±

    Kieran¡¯s every instruction corrected the ws in Ezra¡¯s swordsmanship. With each correction, Ezra could feel herself bing incredibly light, but her attacks were increasing in force.

    By the end, she realized Kieran¡¯s instructions led to her swordsmanship evolving into a kind of dance. A dance where she evaded counterattacks from the sand beast¡¯s sand spears and continually converted her momentum in another direction.

    ¡°T-this¡ª¡± Ezra¡¯s pupils trembled because the difficulties she faced for a few months were erased in aparative instant!

    Kieran closed his eyes and exhaled. ¡®Hide my abilities? No need¡­ I¡¯ll openly wee all challenges that befall me.¡¯

    Twenty minutester, everyone received a notification.

    ¡´System: You have gained 212,940 Experience.¡µ

 Chapter 162 Mysterious Link

    ¡ª

    A golden radiance epassed every team member as the Sand Severing Sand Worm¡¯s body fell and shook the ground beneath their feet. Even Kieran and Ezra, who possessed considerably higher level requirements, leveled up.

    With the number of Sand Larva and Sand Worms killed, Ezra leveled up moments before but couldn¡¯t spare any attention to understand her Lv.35 skills.

    That all changed after defeating the Sand Severing Sand Worm. Everyone had earned a break until the Mother Worm appeared.

    ¡°Flowing Sword Steps,¡± Ezra muttered while her finger admittedly scrolled through the air. However, she scrolled through her private status screen, which was only perceptible to others if she shared it.

    ¡°Flowing Sword Steps?¡± Kieran turned toward Ezra.

    Ezra beamed and nodded before showing him the skill information. Unknowingly, Ezra had be more open with Kieran after he fixed the tant ws in her Eclipsing Sword Style.

    In short, Flowing Sword Steps was a movement-type active-passive skill. The passive increased her attack speed and movement speed by 20% with every 4th unobstructed sword attack. The active effect made it so her movements would produce a damaging wind equal to 50% of her Attack Power.

    Reading through this skill, Kieran praised it. ¡°This skill is excellent. In addition to increasing your movement and attack speed over time, it gives you sustained damage. Not to mention, it seems it can regenerate a portion of your exhausted Condensed Sword Force.¡±

    ¡°Yeah!¡± Ezra eximed. Her delight was evident because of her cheerful mood, but Kieran took the opportunity to ask a sensitive question.

    ¡°Do you mind if I see your entire skill arsenal?¡±

    ¡°All of it?¡± Ezra muttered before falling into deep thought. ¡®It¡¯ll¡­ be okay, right?¡¯<sub>.</sub>

    Although she wanted to do so, she couldn¡¯t convince herself until Kieran swore. ¡°Do you promise it won¡¯t harm me in the end? Exposing my skill menu is akin to stripping myself naked.¡±

    ¡°I understand. To show my genuineness¡­.¡±

    Kieran swiped his hand and let Ezra peruse his skill arsenal.

    However, it was only limited to his active skills and Blood Mania. Abilities like Deranged Spirit, Abhorrent Paroxysm, and Ancient Crimson Aegis were kept hidden. Their effects were too absurd to reveal to anyone.

    Not even his teammate knew of their actual effects. No, they didn¡¯t even know a skill like Ancient Crimson Aegis existed. It was the only SSS Rank Skill in any yer¡¯s possession.

    Nevertheless, Ezra was stunned by his skill ranks. ¡®C Rank Skills are the weakest skills in his possession?! And he possesses more than one A Rank Skill already? No wonder he is so powerful inbat!¡¯

    Once she overcame her astonishment, Ezra reciprocated Kieran¡¯s actions, revealing her skill menu. Kieran browsed through the menu carefully while noting some key things Ezra didn¡¯t utilize properly.

    ?[0)??? Eventually, Kieran closed the skill menu. ¡°Flowing Sword Step and Sword Wheel are your two Lv.35 skills, correct?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ezra admitted.

    ¡°Then you¡¯ll want to find ways to incorporate them into your general skill rotation. Also, I¡¯ve noticed you don¡¯t use this Sonic Thrust skill properly. Lunge with one sword rather than two, and use momentum to begin your sword dance. Beginning on an instantaneous note can quickly take your enemy by surprise.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡ª! I understand what you mean,¡± Ezra eximed.<sub></sub>

    She stood up and executed the movement as Kieran instructed, and the driving force propelled her over 3 meters when using a single sword. Afterward, she spun while ring his rear arm upward, performing a fluid motion.

    ¡°It feels incredibly smooth,¡± Ezra remarked in awe.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? He understandsbat like no other. I believe Aatrox¡¯s ability to dissect, analyze and improve movements are second to none,¡± Altairmented.

    Ezra had to agree with Altair¡¯s opinion. ¡°It was difficult to believe that you aplished your progress in one day at first But, now¡ªI¡¯m no longer skeptical.¡±

    ¡°Remember the informationpiled in the guide I gave you?¡±

    ¡°I do. How can I forget? I spent hours dissecting every piece of information inside.¡±

    ¡°Right. I know some excellent auxiliary techniques to enhance your Eclipsing Sword Dance. However, creating them right now will be impossible since they require countless repetitions.¡±

    Ezra¡¯s alluring lips pursed into a displeased frown. Not because she disliked what Kieran said, but because she felt like she was being teased. Why would he raise the idea now of all times?

    ¡°It¡¯s impolite to keep ady waiting. You can¡¯t pique my interest like that and then dete my delight by dying the information,¡± Ezra whined with a faint pout.

    However, Kieran shook his head and whispered. ¡°Well, we will have a far more fearsome opponent in a few minutes. There really is no time to teach it to you.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean one more?¡± Ezra blinked while looking around for answers. Everyone¡¯s expression revealed bitter smiles while recounting their experience with the mother worm.<sub></sub>

    ¡°That big? How¡­ how do we fight something thatrge?¡±

    ¡°By finding its vulnerabilities. It may berge, but it can only take so much damage before falling, just like any other monster.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true. Aatrox isn¡¯t wrong. Haven¡¯t you heard the saying¡ªthe bigger they are, the harder the fall! We¡¯ll make this motherfucker shake by bringing that beast to the ground!¡± Nemean raised his clenched fist to the sky in an invigorated disy.

    His blood still roiled from his adrenaline rush earlier when he tookmand of the party¡¯s actions.

    ¡°Are you in any state to fight, though?¡± Sera asked while holding out her hand.

    Compared to Kieran¡¯srge hand, hers seemed more like a baby in his grasp. However, a soft and pleasant radiance soon appeared from her tiny hand.

    ¡°This should help with your exhaustion. It¡¯s not a skill to recover health; it¡¯s meant to increase recovery rates for 10 minutes,¡± Sera exined.

    ¡°I can tell by the feeling. But, my physical exhaustion is essentially gone. My condition stems from mental exhaustion. But, I¡¯ve made preparations.¡±

    Unlike a few minutes ago when Kieran couldn¡¯t even move and relied on Crimson Ashrune for support, his body felt considerably better. The X-hancer he consumed before returning to Zenith Online helped correct the damage his body suffered from his actions.

    But, because of this, Kieran¡¯s body in the real world grew pale. Aside from creating an Aspect, Kieran¡¯s earlier actions also revealed more in-depth knowledge regarding the sickness he possessed.

    ¡®Hyper-Cognitive Overload Sickness¡­. This game was the stimulus that red up my sickness in the past. It never became an issue until I yed this game. If that¡¯s the case, then this game shouldn¡¯t be yed without a sufficient number of X-hancers, at least not at the highest level,¡¯ Kieran inwardly noted.

    However, understanding this information made Kieran question the reason behind this design.

    ¡®Why create a game designed to enhance human brain power and effectively create superhumans? The world isn¡¯t in disarray. Sure there are wars, that¡¯s natural¡ªbut there¡¯s not that requires such a drastic reaction¡­. What is it?¡¯

    Kieran truly desired an answer. He needed to know why Zenith Online existed in the first ce. More than that, he wanted to learn the source of X-hancers and what sparked their creation.

    Out of curiosity, Kieran turned to Ezra. ¡°Have you ever heard of Hyper Cognitive Overload Sickness?¡±

    ¡°I have it.¡±

    Ezra¡¯s response almost made Kieran¡¯s heart stop.

    However, Ezra modified her answer. ¡°Well, to be precise, I have it in the second-degree form. It¡¯s why my reaction and other matters rted to cognition are heightened.

    ¡°I have it as well, but I¡¯ve never heard of these degrees,¡± Altair added.

    Kieran snapped his head toward Altair with aplex gaze. ¡®That¡¯s right. Although we were rivals in the past, we didn¡¯t speak often. Aside from thisbat style and demeanor, I wasn¡¯t familiar with anything else. So that¡¯s why he was always a worthy adversary.¡¯

    ¡°I also have it,¡± Lux chimed in.

    Now, Kieran felt something was truly amiss. How could four people with the same affliction be gathered in the same proximity when it¡¯s something that should be rare in the past?

    Ezra noticed Kieran¡¯s taken aback expression and rified. ¡°The sicknesses in varying forms. The higher the degree, the more inhuman the affected individual¡¯s responses. However, the sickness is produced after consuming X-hancers.¡±

    ¡°Wait a minute, what? I thought X-hancers were the cure to sickness.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re both the cure and the gue. The sickness appears with violent signs if you go too long without consuming another. I should know; I suffered from it once¡ªit was a crippling pain that kept me in bed for four days.¡± Ezra grimaced and shuddered after recalling the experience

    An expression of pain and fear crept upon Kieran¡¯s face.

    ¡°So once you start¡ª¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t stop,¡± Ezra finished Kieran¡¯s words while noting Kieran¡¯s aghast look.

    ¡°That¡¯s strange¡­ I was born with the sickness,¡± Kieran suddenly said.

    ¡°Born with it?! I¡¯ve never heard of such a case. You may be the first, but if other cases exist, they¡¯re well hidden. You should bring this up during the Gamer Republic¡¯s Global Examination.

    ¡®Global Examination¡­ The first event required to refresh the Exemr Records,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    As much as Kieran wanted to continue with this conversation, he couldn¡¯t. The desert floor split open in many areas as a deafening screech sounded from below. The Mother Worm had arrived, and it was furious after learning of its nest¡¯s eradication!

 Chapter 163 Mental Liberation

    ¡ª

    Screee!

    The party covered their ears as the Mother Worm released an ear-piercing shriek. The soundwaves sent sand flying in every direction. The force of the billowing sands was akin to a forming sandstorm.

    ¡°Why is its screech so powerful?!¡± Ezra shouted over the noise.

    ¡°Huh?!¡±

    The entire party struggled to understand what she was saying. So she leaned close to Kieran and spoke next to his ear. This action made a sweet breath waft past his nose while tickling his ear.

    ¡°I said¡ªwhy is its screech so powerful?¡±

    ¡°Oh! It¡¯s most likely a high-level boss!¡± Kieran responded.

    The screeching stopped a few momentster, but an enormous sand eruption followed as the 20-meter-long Mother Worm reappeared. Compared to their first run-in with this beast, the Mother Worm¡¯s current appearance differed significantly.

    Not only did it reveal a massive horn simr to the Sand Severing Sand Worm, but there were several of them, double and even triple the size that flowed down its back.

    ¡°That¡¯s new¡­.¡± Nemean gulped while analyzing the sight before him.

    ¡°It¡¯s enraged right now. We only intruded before, but the situation now is different. We¡¯ve killed its offsprings,¡± Kieran answered.

    He slowly stood up despite the residual exhaustion that weighed heavy on his mind, gripping Crimson Ashrune with a resolved expression.

    ¡°Wait¡ª!¡± Sera moved her hand, ced it on Kieran¡¯s chest, and looked at him with trembling eyes. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re in any condition to fight? You just said you were mentally exhausted. When we started the game, multiple warnings notified us of the aftereffects.¡±

    The warnings she spoke of referred to the ones Kieran skipped while talking to the faerie. He was ustomed to Zenith Online already, so he understood the debrief process.

    ¡°Probably not, but I do not need to be as reckless. I have all of you by my side,¡± Kieran responded, cing his free hand on Sera¡¯s. This gesture consoled her and soothed her worries.<sub>.</sub>

    She gave a subtle nod while retracting her hand.

    Meanwhile, the party discerned the Mother Worm¡¯s information.

    ¡¸ Lv.41 Colossal Mother Sand Worm (Unique BOSS)

    Field Boss

    Insect Type, Sand Type

    Health: 2,750,400/2,750,400 (100%) ¡¹

    ¡®A Field Boss, is it? Then it serves us well that we¡¯re a small party. Otherwise¡­¡¯

    ?[0)??? The thought of this boss¡¯s Health inting many times higher unsettled Kieran.

    Whim!

    Kieran¡¯s de emitted a subtle hum as Blood Mania cloaked his presence in an extraordinary sight. After continually using this skill, Kieran¡¯s affinity with the power intensified. The crimson wisps that separated from his body and dispersed into the air were thicker and carried more energy than before.

    Additionally¡­

    ¡°Hooo!¡±

    Kieran exhaled and closed his eyes.

    ¡®This state of dulled perception isn¡¯t bad. This range reduction has led me to focus my perception on myself. Doing so allowed me to understand a few things about this power.¡¯

    A vibration urred atop Crimson Ashrune as Kieran used the benefit of Focus to increase his maniption of this skill. Despite the coating¡¯spletion, Kieran Health continued dropping.<sub></sub>

    65%¡­50%¡­30%¡­

    The Health decline continued until Kieran opened his eyes. At that moment, his Health froze at 15% while a sort of blood cocoon formed around the hand that wielded Crimson Ashrune.

    ¡®I won¡¯t dare say I¡¯ve mastered this power, but I understand its flow much better now. Blood Mania isn¡¯t just the sacrifice of vitality; it¡¯s the maniption of it.

    ¡´System: Your mastery of ?Blood Mania? has naturally deepened.¡µ

    ¡´System: ?Blood Mania? Skill Rank has changed.¡µ

    ¡´System: Your understanding has resonated with the control and maniption aspects of ?Blood Mania?. The details of this skill have been amended ordingly.¡µ

    ¡¸ Blood Mania (Lv.3)

    Skill Rank: *S ¡ú *S+

    Skill Type: Hybrid

    Mastery (06.66%)

    *New ?Vampiric Blood Encrustation? ¨C The user encrusts a medium of choice in a hardened blood coating. The coating adopts the medium¡¯s qualities and heightens it at a 0.1% Health per second cost. While active, this effect triggers the user¡¯s Lifesteal Trait.

    *New ?Blood Strengthening? ¨C The user can empower blood attacks or strengthen their power by exhausting vitality. The amount of Health required varies depending on the blood attack¡¯s skill rank. Basic attacks are set at 10% strengthening per 1% of Health.

    100% ¨C 81% Health: Attack Power +15%

    80% ¨C 51% Health: Attack Power +30%

    50% to 21% Health: Attack Power +50%<sub></sub>

    20% or below Health: Attack Power +125%

    *New ?Vim Restoration? ¨C Dissolving the Vampiric Blood Encrustation returns the exhausted vitality but maintains the same level for Blood Strengthening for 60 seconds. The user can use this effect twice before it enters a 300-second cooldown period.

    Prerequisites: True Berserker ¡¹

    Everything about Blood Mania underwent considerable changes. While Blood Mania didn¡¯t be so powerful it was considered a broken skill, the detriments of this skill became manageable. Managing his Health before this change was somewhat tricky.

    However, the change from S to S+ caught Kieran¡¯s eye. As far as he knew, such a ranking didn¡¯t exist. But, the system revealed why the skill was given this unprecedented ranking.

    ¡´System: ?Blood Mania? possesses more untapped potential. Its current grading is stronger than S Rank Skills but weaker than SS Rank skills. It will be treated as an S Rank Skill until it truly evolves.¡µ

    ¡®So that¡¯s how it is,¡¯ Kieran inwardly noted before ncing down at Crimson Ashrune, more importantly, his left hand that wielded it while stimting the Vampiric Blood Encrustation passive.

    The blood cocoon that wrapped around Kiernan¡¯s hand seconds prior had formed a refined version of the gauntlet used to fight against Jackson. It continued just past his wrist.

    Everyone looked at Kieran as the air around him transformed.

    While Kieran still gave off an unbelievably dangerous sensation, it was as if he had reined that feeling in, or rather, brought it under subtle yet iplete control.

    ¡°Whoa! Dude, your hand!¡± Bastion eximed.

    Everyone reacted to Bastion¡¯s remark, focusing on Kieran¡¯s hand. One question crept into their mind¡ªdid it hurt? It seemed like the crystallized blood merged with his skin.

    ¡°Yeah. With miseryes sunshine,¡± Kieran smiled cryptically. ¡°Ezra, take the lead. Show me the results of my advice.¡±

    ¡°Understood!¡± Ezra said.

    ¡°Bastion, Nemean¡ªprepare to intercept the oue of her actions.¡±

    ¡°Cam,¡± Kieran suddenly said, which gained Cam¡¯s gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t know what has upset you, but don¡¯t harbor those feelings and let them poison your heart. I noticed that Ezra kept looking in your direction. She worries about you.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask her to worry,¡± Cam answered with a slight frown.

    Kieran turned towards her with a soft expression. ¡°Excellent leaders will always worry. Discontented teammates will lead to them questioning their abilities to lead. Confide in your guild master. It¡¯s clear she¡¯s a genuine person.¡±

    Cam blinked while struggling with what Kieran said. Voicing her problems was not something Cam often did, or at all for that matter.

    Kieran could tell this was the case because she carried the same feeling that he died with¡ªfeeling wronged.

    ¡°I¡ª¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to answer. Just think about my suggestion,¡± Kieran interjected.

    Snap!

    Kieran snapped his fingers and nced in Altair¡¯s direction. ¡°Assist.¡±

    It was only one word, but Altair understood the message.

    ¡°Luna.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Aatrox?¡± Luna¡¯s clear eyes filled with admiration while awaiting instruction.

    ¡°You are excellent. Now, keep up with Altair; I know you¡¯re capable of it. I¡¯m not sure what holds you back but act with confidence. Rx your shoulders and move with vigor. Announce your presence at all times,¡± Kieranmented.

    The party couldn¡¯t understand where Kieran¡¯s change in demeanor came from. But, it stemmed from Kieraning to an understanding¡ªwhy should he change his core because of another person¡¯s actions? Fall into despair and live that lonely life once more?

    It was something he chose not to do.

    Thus, his personality that fell to the depths of his soul after his parent¡¯s unfortunate death flourished once more¡ªhe spoke his mind and did so without relenting.

    Luna stammered, but when she looked into Kieran¡¯s calm gaze, all her mental struggles seemed to wash away.

    ¡°Your dream is to be an amazing leader, yes? Don¡¯t sully that dream by thinking you¡¯re inferior.¡± Kieran looked around and nodded. ¡°None of you are inferior. It¡¯s all about the effort we put in¡ªso tell me. Are we going to defeat this boss?¡±

    ¡°That thing is dead!¡± Bastion shouted, which was soon followed by Nemean¡¯s chant.

    ¡°Off with its head!¡±

    The party¡¯s morale was instantly set aze as Kieran took a steady yet powerful step forward. His slow, measured gait was like the descent of a blood deity who would achieve everything they sought without being restrained.

    Kieran had be unfettered!

    Liberation of the mindset was one of the most powerful transformations that could ever transpire.

    This change marked the beginning of a new path¡ªa path rife with conquest and camaraderie.

    Whoosh!

    Kieran sped forth, leaving a deep footprint in the sand. Kieran¡¯s lip curved upward into a devilish smile that revealed his sharp canine teeth. He drew back his sword-wielding arm while hovering his free hand above it.

    Zeut!

    Kieran suddenly disappeared and reappeared tens of meters away, just steps behind the others that rushed into battle.

    The True Berserker¡¯s slumber was over.

 Chapter 164 Colossal Mother Worm

    ¡ª

    Ezra was the first person to make contact with the Colossal Mother Worm. Per Kieran¡¯s instructions, she added trace amounts of Condensed Sword Force to each of her swords. This made the two slender des release soft, dazzling brilliance.

    Shnk!

    Ezra¡¯s de drifted across the Colossal Mother Worm¡¯s underside, dealing 4,000 to 5,000 damage. Although her two swords seemed identical, they weren¡¯t. Each sword had a different Attack Power.

    After executing twelve fluid strikes, Ezra¡¯s movement and attack speed increased considerably due to the passive effects of Flowing Sword Steps. Only once her attack and movement speed doubled did she activate the Flowing Sword Wind effect.

    All of a sudden, Ezra performed an explosive lunge where she followed up with her rear arm executing a fluid, circle-shaped upward arc. The result was a gathering of revolving sword energy that expanded into a breathtaking wheel.

    The Condensed Sword Force injected into the Sword Wheel refined its presence, creating an attack Ezra inwardly praised.

    Kieran cracked a faint smile as he witnessed Ezra¡¯s realization of his pointers. Pairing Sword Wheel with Sonic Thrust generated unbroken momentum.

    Even when the Colossal Mother Worm retaliated, Ezra stepped off her back leg, dodging the sand spears that sprung from the desert floor and the sand bullets the boss released.

    A few secondster, Bastion rushed past Ezra and lifted his massive shield.

    Bang! Bang! Bang!

    Countless Sand Bullets from the Colossal Mother Worm bombarded Bastion¡¯s shield, driving him back. However, he all of a sudden stopped sliding as he felt a firm hand on his back.

    From the corner of his eye, he caught Kieran¡¯s indifferent smile.

    Kieran gave a subtle nod before mimicking Ezra¡¯s Sonic Thrust lunging motion. The only difference was that his thrust was apanied by three fearsome crimson tempests, seemingly created in an instant.<sub>.</sub>

    Crrr! Whoosh!

    The three crimson tempests ripped through the air while gradually forming a spiral. The head of each tempest converged to a single point while their rotational speed elerated by 50%.

    ¡®So this is the effects of Blood Strengthening. Increasing the effects of an A-Rank Skill required a 15% Health sacrifice, but¡­.¡¯

    Boom!

    The condensed Sanguinem Tempest collided against the Colossal Mother Worm¡¯s torso.

    -503,164

    Although there was no Critical Hit, Sanguinem Tempest dealt tremendous damage due to all the strengthening effects Kieran applied. Furthermore, the tempest merged into one powerful attack instead of three separate attacks.

    ?[0)??? Nemean whistled after he watched slightly less than 20% of the Colossal Mother Worm¡¯s Health vanish.

    However, while the others felt some astonishment towards Kieran¡¯s damage without a Critical Hit, his eyebrows rose as intrigue shed in his eyes. ¡®Interesting, its Damage Reduction should be between 50 and 60% based on this number.¡¯

    Kieran calcted the damage in his mind prior to the impact. With Blood Strengthening applied to the attack, Sanguinem Tempest should have dealt well over 1.2 million damage. But, that wasn¡¯t the case.

    ¡°Scatter,¡± Kieran suddenly instructed.

    Everyone dispersed from before the Colossal Mother Worm as a dense gathering of sand and Mana collected before its maw. Arge fissure opened in the sand once this Sand st pierced through the desert floor in a straight line.

    At the same time, the giant des on its back disconnected from its body and broke into smaller pieces, piercing through the sand with incredible momentum.<sub></sub>

    One of these shards mmed against Bastion¡¯s shield, which sent him flying back at a frightening speed. However, as Cam and Sera used Mending Aura simultaneously, two soft glows epassed his body.

    The two healing skills quickly healed Bastion¡¯s rapidly draining Health. Bastion¡¯s gaze gained an intense light as he rolled in the air so that his body faced the ground.

    Bang!

    Bastion mmed his shield into the ground, forcibly stopping the momentum. His body jerked, but he held the handles of his shield tight and nted his feet on the ground.

    ¡°Pua!¡± Bastion spit out some sand remnants that flew in his face. ¡°You can¡¯t get rid of me, you nasty-looking worm!¡±

    Bastion sped toward the Colossal Mother Worm with heavy steps, sounding more like thuds rather than steps.

    Altair and Luna returned to the beast first, unleashing a flurry of attacks from different angles. Before moving, Luna would nce at Altair for an indication of his following action.

    This way, Luna and Altair moved in matching patterns but opposite directions.

    The Colossal Mother Worm grew furious after indecisively shifting its gaze between Luna and Altair. Eventually, it released an ear-piercing screech. The sound undtions created spiraling sand pirs that snaked around as if they were alive.

    These numerous pirs whipped around, but Bastion didn¡¯t allow this to disrupt the party¡¯s momentum.

    ¡°Guardian¡¯s Embrace!¡±

    ¡°Boundless Aegis!¡±

    Bastion activated tworge-scale protection skills. The first skill seemed like giant arms coalesced from Mana that shielded the party from damage, while the second skill looked like an ancient and mighty shield with a somewhat feeble exterior.<sub></sub>

    Due to Bastion¡¯s low skill level, hisrge-scale protection skills were far from perfect.

    Nevertheless, the two skills activated together acted as decent protection. In fact, Bastion¡¯s eyes widened when he witnessed a marvelous interaction between his skills.

    The two immense arms grabbed ahold of the shield as if it mimicked Bastion¡¯s shield action. All of a sudden, an outburst sounded from Bastion.

    ¡°WHAT?! A Combination Skill? No way, I created a Combination Skill!¡± Bastion was baffled by the situation and couldn¡¯t help butugh merrily. His sudden inspiration inadvertently created a unique skill.

    ¡°Oh my gosh! An A Rank Skill!¡± Bastion howled.

    It was his highest skill rank to date. The two skills used to protect the team were C Rank skills, but after their fusion, their potential skyrocketed to an A Rank.

    ¡°My brother! That¡¯s amazing! But focus!¡± Nemean shouted back. While he was delighted about Bastion¡¯s progress, it wasn¡¯t the time to celebrate. The boss before them was plenty difficult.

    ¡°Right, right, my mistake,¡± Bastion chuckled sheepishly while saving the notification forter.

    The sand spirals barraged Bastion¡¯s newly created skills, creating numerous cracks after three seconds.

    In that span, everyone adopted ideal positions, with Kieran in the center right beside Bastion.

    When the Colossal Mother Worm realized its attack was ineffective, it iled its head with even more violent shrieks. The shrieks created tremors in the sand beneath their feet as Kieran squinted.

    ¡®I¡¯m not sure what happening because of my reduced Perception, but¡­.¡¯

    Kieran nted his hand on the ground, sending a pulse of vitality underneath. After unleashing Sanguinem Tempest earlier, he regained enough Health to reach full capacity, but he decided to control it.

    A symbol expanded from Kieran¡¯s palm at the blood pulse traveled underneath the desert floor.

    ¡°Wrath Eruption!¡±

    ¡°Blood Bind!¡±

    Kieran first activated Wrath Eruption, creating an intense geyser of blood. However, he was far from done. Kieran controlled the activation range of Blood Bind and employed the present blood to strengthen Blood Blind¡¯s restrictive effects.

    The Colossal Mother Worm naturally didn¡¯t appreciate the restraints, but Kieran smirked and kept his hand against the ground. After deepening his understanding of Blood Mania, he learned that Blood Blind could be turned into a channeling skill to increase its effectiveness.

    However, the downside of this action was that Kieran could no longer move. He¡¯d have to supply and control the excess blood. After all, Kieran always wondered why a pool of blood remained after the Blood Binds manifested.

    Kieran had no issue with adopting a passive role. He had faith in his party¡¯s capabilities while he became the crowd controller.

    Lux drew back on his bow while Alice angled her staff and chanted a new me spell.

    ¡°el Shot: Triple Puncture!¡±

    ¡°Inferno Sphere!¡±

    While Lux used another charge of Velocity Charge to enhance his attack, Alice unleashed a new me spell¡ªone that produced frightening heat fluctuations.

    Judging by the raging Mana in her vicinity, it was clear Inferno Sphere was a step above Firestorm Burst.

    Kieran noticed a few sparks of blue mes after analyzing the growing Inferno Sphere.

    ¡®Blue mes burn far hotter than red mes. Alice¡¯s Fire Affinity must be approaching S Rank if she¡¯s producing blue mes already. Excellent. I knew her talent with magic was exceptional,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Whoosh! Crrrr!

    Lux and Alice unleashed their attacks simultaneously. Lux¡¯s arrows, which possessed two mirage images, pierced through Alice¡¯s Inferno Sphere. The wind shell epassing the fired arrows assimted some of Alice¡¯s mes before puncturing the boss.

    Szzt! Pssh!

    The violent me crackled before engulfing the boss in a condensed sphere of sweltering mes.

    The Colossal Mother Worm¡¯s Health soon dropped below 20% with the team¡¯s exceptional teamwork. A monster that possessed nearly 2.8 million Health in the beginning now possessed less than 360,000 Health.

    ¡°Everyone, unload your skills!¡± Kieran said while suddenly releasing Blood Bind. The boss entered a Berserk state, so control skills would no longer affect it.

    Kieran activated el Shift after releasing his control and shifted 20 meters instantly.

    Once he stood before the boss, Crimson Ashrune¡¯s sharpened edge crackled with a wild presence.

    Crrrck! Bang!

    A gruesome noise urred as Kieran leapt and shed down with an enhanced Wild Crash. The crystallized blood formed a bloody image of arge spiked hammer moments before the skill made contact.

    The attack reduced the Colossal Mother Worm¡¯s defense, symbolizing the beginning of the party¡¯s final onught.

    Thirty secondster, the Colossal Mother Worm mmed against the desert¡¯s floor and exploded into a decent collection of loot.

    Everyone sat back on their butts and heaved a sigh of relief. The battle wasn¡¯t overly long, but it required extreme focus, which was mentally exhausting.

 Chapter 165 Loot Littered Battlefield

    ¡ª

    When the Colossal Mother Worm fell, not only did it reward loot in abundance, it did the same with the Experience the party received.

    ¡´System: You have gained 1,736,850 Experience.¡µ

    ¡´System: Congrattions, you have leveled up! [Lv.36¡úLv.37]¡µ

    ¡´System: Congrattions, you have leveled up! [Lv.37¡úLv.38]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 24 Unassigned Attribute Points and 16 Skill Points.¡µ

    The entire party was ckjawed after witnessing how much Experience killing this boss rewarded. Even Kieran¡¯s level jumped to Lv.38 despite how much Experience he required.

    ¡°This is unheard of¡­. Close to 2 million Experience? I can¡¯t believe it,¡± Lux gulped and watched as his level jumped straight to Lv.40, opening new skills for him to acquire.

    Until now, the highest grade boss the Eclipse defeated was a Lv.30 Rare Boss, and the rewarded Experience paled inparison.

    ¡°It¡¯s not a tremendous amount of Experience when you think about it. Every level up means the Experience we require will grow significantlyrger,¡± Kieran remarked.

    Even though he said it wasn¡¯t a fantastic source of Experience, the results contrasted with his words.

    Everyone who possessed Normal sses encountered a simr oue¡ªtheir levels increased to Lv.40 or Lv.41.

    In contrast, Ezra, Luna, and Nemean reached Lv.39, only a sliver away from Lv.40.

    ¡°When you have nevere across this type of a situation, trust me, it is a tremendous shock,¡± Lux remarked.

    Kieran nodded because when Lux worded it that way, it was true. Raid in his past obscured Kieran¡¯s view of Experience since it could reward hundreds of millions of Experience without a single participant leveling up once. That¡¯s how steep the Experience requirements grew after passing Lv.200.<sub>.</sub>

    Unless a yer challenged themselves by attempting inconceivable difficulties, mass leveling virtually didn¡¯t exist. Of course, there were a few other reasons for this. But, Kieran didn¡¯t dwell on that matter because he was nowhere near returning to above Lv.200.

    ¡°Whoa, I didn¡¯t expect so many skills at Lv.40. Good thing I took Aatrox¡¯s advice and saved my excess Skill Points after purchasing my skills,¡± Nemean remarked.

    Lv.40 could be considered a decent level. A state where yers proved they were worthy of more exclusive skills. Nemean alone received four skills. Two increased his Chain Link repertoire, but the other two were a ss buff and a passive.

    ¡°Woohoo, that¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about, baby! Give daddy a self-buff! I¡¯ming for that top spot, Aatrox,¡± Nemean swiped his nose with a smug smirk.

    ¡°Oh? Do you think it¡¯ll be easy? Just wait until I reach Lv.40. We¡¯ll see if you remain so confident.¡±

    ¡°D-daddy, no. Don¡¯t crush my hope and dreams like that,¡± Nemean pleaded. ¡°I just want one moment of glory! Let me gloat in peace!¡±

    ¡°Nah. I choose not to,¡± Kieran smirked.

    Afterward, Kieran browsed through the Party Leader loot table, and his eyes widened in shock.

    The first thing to catch his eyes was a unique weapon¡ªtwo pairs, in fact. One was a set of ck daggers with off-white veins running through the des. The veins branched from an eye-catching sand-colored gem at the de¡¯s beginning.

    Meanwhile, the other unique weapon was a pair of beige dual des with yellow veins and a green gem attached to its slender guard.

    ¡®These weapons¡­.¡¯

    Kieran marveled before first expanding the information on the ck daggers.

    ¡¸ Sand Emperor¡¯s Thorn (Unique)

    Weapon Type: Dagger<sub></sub>

    Item Level: 100

    Phys. Attack Power +425

    Mag. Attack Power +375

    Agility +100, Control +50, Strength +50

    Effect: There is a 5% chance attacks unleashed in an arid setting will generate Sand Emperor Thorns. (Sand Emperor Thorns cause fixed 1,000 damage upon contact.)

    Effect: Increases the user¡¯s attack and movement speed by 100% in arid ces.

    Item Ability ?Sand Maniption? ¨C The wielder of this weapon can manipte a finite amount of sand by storing it inside the weapon¡¯s unique gem. The umted sand can be used to increase the user¡¯s attack range. Manipted sand explodes one second after it isunched.

    Item Ability ?Sand Emperor¡¯s Fussde? ¨C Summons a swarm of sand thorns that deal 500 fixed damage in a 20-meter radius. This skill can be used once every hour.

    Description: Forged from the refined des of a beast regarded as the Emperor of Sands. The weapon¡¯s power in the correct setting is unmatched, giving birth to a new Sand Emperor.

    Weight: 20 kg

    Durability: 1,240/1,240

    Requirements: 200 Strength, Level 40 ¡¹

    ¡®This¡­ this is perfect for Altair in the right condition! A 100% movement speed increase is unthinkable, not to mention the fixed damage. It¡¯ll deal a set amount of damage regardless of the circumstances. Of course, there are some cases where fixed damage is ineffective, but still.¡¯

    Kieran marveled at Sand Emperor¡¯s Thorn before switching attention to the dual des.<sub></sub>

    ¡¸ Arid Tempest de (Unique)

    Weapon Type: Dual de

    Item Level: 100

    Phys. Attack Power +450

    Mag. Attack Power +375

    Agility +100, Control +60, Strength +40

    Effect: Attack damage increases by 40% while in arid settings.

    Effect: Attacks have a 3% chance of creating a small sand storm that deals damage equal to the user¡¯s main Attack Power.

    Item Ability ?Raging Siro? ¨C Summons a great storm of dry winds. The summoned winds deal damage equal to 400% of the user¡¯s Attack Power and entrap the affected for 4 seconds. This ability can be used once every 40 seconds.

    Item Ability ?Spiral Deterrence? ¨C Summons a spinning sand barricade that protects the weapon¡¯s wielder from damage for 10 seconds. (The duration can be cut short by receiving tremendous damage in a short amount of time.) The deterrence¡¯s stability is equal to 10,000% of this item¡¯s Item Level.

    Description: A weapon forged from the horn of a great sand beast with the ability to control sands and flourish in dry weather.

    Weight: 45 kg

    Durability: 1,200/1,200

    Requirements: 220 Strength, Level 40 ¡¹

    ¡®A weapon that also offers defensive skills. Luna needs this. They¡¯re fortunate that these weapons are only enhanced in certain settings and don¡¯t rely upon them. Nevertheless, if wee across the right conditions, we can forcibly create a befitting environment.¡¯

    ?[0)??? Kieran soon nced at the two who should receive these weapons. ¡°Altair, Luna.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡± Luna answered.

    Altair turned his head but didn¡¯t say anything, simply awaiting Kieran¡¯sment.

    ¡°I have something for both of you, but it means you¡¯ll forfeit any other loot present. Is that good with you all?¡±

    A smile filled Altair¡¯s eyes because he understood what this stiption meant. Kieran only imposed this limitation when he came across something beneficial.

    Therefore, Altair nodded without any hesitation. Luna noticed this action and quickly followed suit.

    As a result, Kieran extended both his hands. One held the Sand Emperor¡¯s Thorns while the other held the Arid Tempest des.

    This action disyed the information for all to see, so Luna and Altair quickly understood which weapon suited them.

    ¡°Unique Weapons¡ª!¡± Ezra eximed while covering her mouth. Part of her wished that she could make an offer on behalf of Eclipse, but she understood Kieran wasn¡¯t the type to forsake his allies for money.

    Moreover, Ezra wouldn¡¯t make such a foolish blunder and potentially ruin Kieran¡¯s impression of her.

    Still, Kieran looked in her direction. ¡°Aren¡¯t those Unique Weapons in your hands?¡±

    ¡°H-how did you know? I never showed you,¡± Ezra muttered with furrowed brows. Somehow, she felt like all of her secrets were vulnerable before this young man, and she didn¡¯t particrly like it.

    ¡°There¡¯s no Rare Weapon that¡¯d emit such a dazzling sparkle. It¡¯d have to be a Unique Weapon¡ª¡± Kieran tapped on Crimson Ashrune that rested on his shoulder. ¡°Just like this big boy here.¡±

    ¡°No wonder,¡± Ezra muttered as understanding shed in her eyes.

    ¡°The only difference is my weapon is a ss-fitted weapon. It¡¯s tailored to my needs so no one else can wield it, and it provides a better boost than normal Unique Weapons,¡± Kieran revealed.

    Of course, there were additional reasons why Kieran¡¯s weapon eclipsed these other Unique Weapons, but he wasn¡¯t aware of such intricate knowledge yet.

    Luna and Altair equipped their weapons while Kieran collected the loot from the entire nest of Sand Worms. Overall, a few valuable pieces dropped, so everyone received at least one item.

    Bastion even received a Lv.40 Rare te Top that considerably increased his defenses.

    However, despite having finished collecting the loot, the party didn¡¯tpletely extract the Sand Worms¡¯ value.

    ¡°Harvest all these Sand Worms, especially the Champions and Boss. Their unique skin and thorns are extremely valuable. Ah¡ª! Ezra, do you have Tradeskills?¡±

    ¡°Tradeskills? No, not yet,¡± Ezra smiled bitterly. It seemed her actions thus far have not been optimal if she lost out on extracting theplete worth from in monsters.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Here,¡± Kieran received two additional ?Harvest? tradeskills from his inventory. ¡°You and Lux should learn these and join us. No matter the ss, one tradeskill slot should be used for this particr skill.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Ezra nodded. A sh of white light surrounded her body as she learned the skill and joined the others in the extraction process.

    While the others spread out, Kieran focused on the Colossal Mother Worm¡¯s carcass. Although he removed less than 50% of therge regrown spines, Kieran received a notification.

    ¡´System: Your tradeskill ?Harvest? has improved to Apprentice-Advanced.¡µ

    ¡®My tradeskill is already on the verge of leveling up,¡¯ Kieran thought. He estimated it would undergo aplete change by the time he finished wiping this particr corpse clean.

    In the meantime, exmations frequently sounded from the party as they rejoiced over the rapid improvement of their tradeskill.

 Chapter 166 Technique Lesson

    ¡ª

    As Kieran estimated, by the time he wiped the Colossal Mother Worm¡¯s body clean, his tradeskill underwent aplete overhaul.

    ¡´System: Your tradeskill ?Harvest? has improved to Intermediate-Apprentice. You have gained the Ability ?Auto-Loot?!¡µ

    Kieran was familiar with this ability, but it was only valuable if you held the role of Party Leader. Auto-Loot allowed the Party Leader to manipte the Loot Table and retrieve all loot at once. However, using this option revealed the collected loot to everyone in the party.

    This design naturally existed to thwart those treacherous Party Leaders who loved to withhold certain valuable drop information.

    After collecting and divvying up the loot, equally sharing 12.5% of the dropped coins between the remaining eight party members, the entire party returned to the caravan for a soothing seat.

    ¡°We get to take a break, right? I¡¯m beat! I need to rest. Also, did you bring anything to snack on? My Satiety Bar has fallen into the yellow,¡± Bastion asked. The thought of stocking his inventory with food slipped his mind.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m prepared for this trip.¡± Ezra retrieved bread, dried jerky, and refreshing water from her inventory and distributed them.

    Kieran looked at Ezra with a slight grin as she bent down and handed him his portion. ¡°How thoughtful of you. No wonder you¡¯re the Guild Master of Eclipse.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d been on a few hikes and other long journeys, so I understand the basic requirements of long trips. Besides, I can¡¯t let you little cuties starve after working so hard.¡±

    Bastion and Nemean gulped while looking at each other in disbelief. Were they flirting right now?!

    ¡°I hate my life,¡± Bastion whispered.

    ¡°Me too,¡± Nemean agreed with a defeated grimace.<sub>.</sub>

    However, these two perked up when Ezra distributed their portion with a pleasant smile.

    ¡°She¡¯s like a motherly angel,¡± Bastion sighed with tears in his eyes while cradling the food.

    ¡°She deserves the world,¡± Nemean choked and sniffled.

    ?[0)??? Kieran could only shake his head but revealed a genuine expression. ¡®These guys¡­¡¯

    Eventually, the small area was filled with subtle slurping and munching sounds. However, while the others minded their food, Ezra inched closer to Kieran on the ground.

    Alice noticed this action and squinted. ¡®What is this minx up to?¡¯

    ¡°Aatrox,¡± Ezra called out, gaining his attention. After a short pause, she continued. ¡°That training session¡ªis it possible to do it in a little bit? We¡¯ve dealt with the monsters, and I doubt they¡¯ll respawn anytime soon.¡±

    ¡°Training session?¡± Kieran fell into deep thought while brushing his finger past his lip. ¡®It wouldn¡¯t be a bad time considering we¡¯re far ahead of schedule. While I don¡¯t know how long the brigand eradication will take, it shouldn¡¯t be more than a day or two.¡¯

    ¡°Please?¡± Ezra gave a pleading look that made Lux and Cam sputter. Since when did their headstrong Guild Master grow so docile? This was the first time they heard the word please escape those sensual lips.

    Kieran nced in her direction, his eyes sweeping up and down from her eyes to lips. Ultimately, he agreed, but it wasn¡¯t a private training session as she expected.

    ¡°I suppose I¡¯ll teach you all something helpful. Well¡­ aside from Cam, Sera and Alice. Your issues stem from Mana Flow, whereas these are bodily actions. Ah, I suppose you can also benefit from it, Lux.¡±

    ¡°Me?¡± Lux pointed to his face in confusion.<sub></sub>

    ¡°Yes,¡± Kieran answered. ¡°You may be a ranged fighter, but it wouldn¡¯t hurt if you learned movement techniques.¡±

    Lux saw Kieran¡¯s point and agreed to partake in the training session.

    ¡®I probably shouldn¡¯t do this, given my current condition. But¡­¡¯

    Kieran looked at an item in his possession.

    ¡¸ Auto Technique Creation Scroll (Special Item)

    Item Rank: Special

    Item Level: N/A

    Item Usage: Instantly activates ?Technique Creation?, removing the need for countless repetitions. While this item is active, the user only needs to perform creation-triggering actions twice. However, the execution must be perfect.

    Description: A special item rewarded to the first yers to create an aspect. It seems to touch upon a legendary item¡¯s basis. ¡¹

    Once everyone rested for a while, Kieran ripped the Auto Technique Creation Scroll, activating its effects.

    ¡´System: ?Technique Creation? has been activated. Pleasemence the movements to record the Technique¡¯s foundations.¡µ

    ¡°This first move I¡¯ll teach you is known as Surge Step. It has other names such as sh Step or Burst Step, but my application will be slightly different.¡±<sub></sub>

    Kieran walked forward until he stood approximately 100 meters away from everyone else.

    Afterward, he closed his eyes and exhaled. He started his movement by using el Shift to rotate on an axis, but at the quickest point in his step, Kieran suddenly appeared 50 meters closer.

    Even Ezra, who was familiar with the concept of Burst Step, blinked. ¡®I wasn¡¯t mistaken. His Burst Step is abnormal, almost as if¡­.¡¯

    ¡°Did you borrow the momentum of your first step?¡± Ezra suddenly asked.

    Kieran beamed and nodded as a result of Ezra¡¯s acute realization. ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s why I said mine is a little different. Normal Burst Steps start from zero, but my mine grasps the quickest part of my movement and utilizes it.¡±

    ¡°Incredible. Can you perform it again?¡± Ezra requested. This time, her expression was unusually focused as she didn¡¯t dare blink or avert her gaze.

    Kieran repeated his actions, albeit slightly faster this time.

    ¡´System: ?Technique Creation? has registered a new Technique. Please name it to finalize the results.¡µ

    ¡°Second Drive: Surge Step,¡± Kieran called it.

    ¡¸ Technique Name: Second Drive: Surge Step

    Grading: ¡ï¡ï

    Description: The user gains a 400% increase in movement speed for a quick linear step. If used in conjunction with ?First Drive: el Shift? the boost varies from 500 to 600%, depending on the perfection of execution.

    Consumption: Stamina and Focus ¡¹

    ¡®Neat. It¡¯s considered a 2-star Technique just as I hoped,¡¯ Kieran noted.

    Despite Kieran¡¯s second demonstration, most of the party¡¯s expression wasplex.

    ¡°H-how did you think of such a thing? No! Where did you even learn that such a thing is possible?¡± Luna gulped.

    ¡°Because I had an unusual experience with my ss. Initially, I believed it to be unthinkable, but you guys remember that fight against Rautori?¡±

    ¡°How can I forget about it? It was insane! I still have dreams about it to this day,¡± Nemean eximed.

    ¡°Turns out my character wasn¡¯t the only thing affected. The power I drew upon directly affected my body, which is why I warned you all to be very careful. If you haven¡¯t noticed, I haven¡¯t activated that power since. I need to understand it further before I¡¯m willing to use it again,¡± Kieran spoke truthfully without withholding his findings.

    It was their right as yers to know this crucial information.

    ¡°That¡¯s not all. I think I¡¯ve experienced something simr already,¡± Nemean¡¯s expression was solemn. ¡°I logged out and performed some daily training. But, my movements were more refined. But, more importantly, I felt inclined to follow my ss¡¯s striking pattern.¡±

    Kieran narrowed his eyes as he thought about Nemean¡¯s experience. ¡®This is normal. It¡¯s why psionic weapons appeared in the first ce. Many people realized they grew more lethal than the average person.¡¯

    ¡°It¡¯s safe to assume Zenith Online isn¡¯t simple. Despite its difficulty, once knowledge of advancedbat training is revealed to the world, there will be an influx of professional fighters.¡±

    ¡°How do you figure?¡± Ezra questioned.

    ¡°It¡¯s simple, really. If these fighters face a teau in the real world and learn of normal people growing so lethal they outss professional fighters by ying this game, what will be their response?¡± Kieran countered rather than directly answering.

    ¡°Ah, I understand. They¡¯ll turn to Zenith Online as their only alternative.¡±

    ¡°Precisely. I just hope they don¡¯t find themselves in a predicament that requires X-hancers,¡± Kieran said. It seemed X-hancers only circted through society¡¯s upper echelon.

    And, as far as Kieran knew, the world¡¯s entire upper echelon would soon pour into this game. This included individuals who previously held zero interest in games.

    Nevertheless, Kieran soon changed the subject. ¡°Anyway, you all should practice this Technique. Once you master it, I¡¯ll teach you another Technique.¡±

    Within minutes, the spacious area plunged into a scene of intense training. Everyone tried to grasp Kieran¡¯s el Shift as it was the basis of learning his Surge Step.

    However, Ezra, who was skilled in Burst Stepping, fared better than the rest. She paid close attention to Kieran¡¯s first piece of advice.

    ¡®My hips¡­¡¯ Ezra touched her wide hips as a shade of pink graced her cheeks. ¡®If it weren¡¯t for our situation, I¡¯d think Aatrox wasplimenting me.¡¯

    After clearing her thoughts, Ezra used her hips as the focal point of her movement.

    Finally, after attempting to el Shift hundreds of times, she aplished her first sessful el Shift, but it felt slower and unrefinedpared to Kieran¡¯s movements.

    ¡°You¡¯re stuttering. Shifting is all about fluidity and envisioning where you¡¯ll end up,¡± Kieran corrected.

    A few momentster, Ezra exhaled and executed another el Shift, but this time, she tried to add in a premature Surge Step, but her legs buckled, and she tumbled forth.

    However, just before hitting the ground, Kieran caught her waist and held her in ce.

    One thought flowed through Ezra¡¯s mind as she stared into Kieran¡¯s deep ck eyes with a hint of red coloring. ¡®Strong¡­¡¯

 Chapter 167 Desert of Treacherous Sands

    ¡ª

    Ezra and Kieran looked into each other eyes, finding an unusual amount of attractive traits in each other before Kieran¡¯s lips curved into a soft smile. ¡°You know you¡¯re rushing it, right? You have to grasp the flow, not force the flow.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t force it that much. You¡¯re exaggerating it,¡± Ezra muttered while averting her gaze. Her hand pressed against Kieran¡¯s chest to provide additional support, even though she realized his firm grasp was enough to keep her from falling.

    An amused light shed in Kieran¡¯s eyes. ¡°Really? Is that so? If that¡¯s the case, why did you tumble like that? Could you have been born with two left feet?¡±

    ¡°You¡ª!¡± Ezra¡¯s eyes widened as Kieran teased her because of this slight mistake.

    A few secondster, Kieran hoisted Ezra to her feet and shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re making tremendous headway, but forcing it will only ruin the quality of your aplishments. Take a look around.¡±

    Ezra panned her gaze to see everyone engrossed in learning the el Shift stepping technique. Even Altair, whose progress didn¡¯t fall too far behind her own, continued refining his understanding of el Shifting without moving on to Surge Stepping.

    Luna analyzed Altair¡¯s movement and understood the gist of what he did but also kept Kieran¡¯s advice to Ezra in mind. After all, Luna was a woman as well. She grasped the same advantages and disadvantages as Ezra.

    ¡°I guess you¡¯re right,¡± Ezra meekly admitted. Kieran¡¯s excellent execution drove Ezra to seek his level of adroit application.

    ¡°You¡¯re a Titled Ranker. Take pride in that and make your best decision. Don¡¯t blindly follow behind me.¡± Kieran replied. Afterward, he pointed to his side. ¡°Even my right-hand man, Altair, is only extracting a trace amount of my style to create a unique movement. Notice how his arms move when he is shifting.¡±

    ¡°Now that you mention it¡­ isn¡¯t he trying to apply the eleration to his attacks? As an Assassin, if he aplishes such a feat, his weapon skill will be frightening and almost unpredictable to any yer below his skill level,¡± Ezramented as her eyes sparkled with realization.<sub>.</sub>

    Kieran could perform this technique. However, he never revealed it to the party. After all, applying any of the drives to attacks was several times moreplex than applying it to movement.

    The omnidirectional movement of many countless muscles made them difficult to manipte. Grasping the time to control each motion to align to the user¡¯s desires was akin to catching hundreds of tennis balls within fractions of a second.

    One¡¯s concentration would have to be split an innumerable amount of times.

    Only someone whose mind has stepped beyond human limitations could aplish a deeper application of the Drive Techniques. Furthermore, the stepping methods weren¡¯tplete. Kieran had yet to introduce some of the more frightening ones.

    The reason why he didn¡¯t do so was that he couldn¡¯t do so.

    ¡®Thankfully, there isn¡¯t a need for any of those stepping methods. However, it will appear in the future, and I have to prepare for it,¡¯ Kieran inwardly thought.

    Since everyone was engrossed in learning the el Shift, Kieran took the time to train Ezra exclusively while also talking to her.

    ¡°Wrong! See, you failed again. Your feet aren¡¯t in the right position. They¡¯re crossing over when you try to take the decisive step.¡±

    ¡°Incorrect. You¡¯re leaning too much. The angle is important, but you¡¯re ovepensating.¡±

    ¡°No, no, no. Your feet need to grasp the earth firmly; otherwise, your bnce will be thrown into disarray. Ten more times.¡±<sub></sub>

    A series of corrections sounded from Kieran as Ezra groaned frustratedly. Kieran¡¯s correction and error indications were even more meticulous than most world-ss trainers she trained with.

    ¡°Aatrox! I need a break. This is exhausting,¡± Ezra panted.

    She swiped some sweat off her forehead and fanned her leather top. Because training with light armor inside an arid desert wasn¡¯t ideal, Ezra unequipped her armor, leaving the soft leather underneath.

    ¡°Oh? Is that all the Guild Master of Eclipse¡¯s stamina amounts to?¡± Kieran crossed his arms with a smug smile.

    Ezra pursed her lips while ring at Kieran. ¡°You¡¯re teasing me again! Also, I¡¯ll have you know I¡¯m the older one in this situation. I should be disciplining you!?¡±

    ¡°Oh? How do you figure that¡¯s the case?¡±

    ¡°I am 28 years old,¡± Ezra hugged her bust with a confident smile while gazing back at Kieran. ¡°And you?¡±

    ¡°Ahem,¡± Kieran coughed and answered under his breath.

    ¡°What was that? I couldn¡¯t hear you.¡± Ezra leaned closer.

    ¡°I said I am 20 years old!¡±<sub></sub>

    ¡°Right! So essentially, I¡¯m the elder sister here. You aren¡¯t running things here, mister.¡±

    ¡°Oh, but on the contrary, you enlisted my help. So, age aside, I am undoubtedly in charge,¡± Kieran countered.

    His rebuttal quieted Ezra¡¯s argument. However, Kieran wasn¡¯t being serious anyhow.

    ¡°If you¡¯re exhausted, then we take a break. After all, you¡¯re the only one who has been brave enough to begin withpound Technique training from the start.¡±

    ¡°How considerate of you. If you continue treating me so eloquently, I may fall for you,¡± Ezra giggled.

    However, Kieran fell silent and didn¡¯t respond to thisment. Why? Because the young man was a stranger to love. Due to how much time, effort, and resources he devoted to Zenith Online in the past, Kieran¡¯s personal life was an unfortunate price.

    While he had asional rtions with females of high status, there was rarely any emotion involved. It was only to satisfy his carnal desires and keep his mind clear.

    Thus, Kieran didn¡¯t know how to react to Ezra¡¯sment.

    Ezra noticed his silence and blinked her watery and alluring crimson eyes. ¡°Is there something wrong, Aatrox?¡±

    ¡°Not really,¡± Kieran quickly answered. ¡°I have a question.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Would you be interested in an alliance?¡± Kieran proposed.

    ¡°Alliance,¡± Ezra gave a bitter smile. ¡°I may be the Guild Master of Eclipse, but I don¡¯t have the power to make decisions that could drastically impact the fate of the guild. I¡¯d have to request approval first¡ª¡±

    ¡°And¡­ because I don¡¯t hail from a reputed administration, it¡¯s likely the request will be denied,¡± Kieran finished before falling into deep thought.

    Ezra softly chewed her lip in concern. ¡°Is there something that worries you? While enlisting the guild to help, it may be possible to use some connection to appease whatever problems you face.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not an insurmountable problem, per se. But, I have enemies¡ªthe Sunset Triad and Shadow Cartel. As you know, they¡¯re invested in the Underworld, so there¡¯s a chance they may gather help from strong guilds that act from within the Underworld.¡±

    ¡°Underworld?¡± Erza¡¯s frown deepened after hearing this name. ¡°You must watch out for the Warhead Syndicate, Dominators, and Oblivion. All three of these guilds operate within this empire.¡±

    ¡®Wow¡­ so Eclipse had alreadypiled so much information on other guilds? This is the worth of having established connections¡ªrapid information transit.

    Kieran gave a subtle nod before falling into deep thought. ¡®If I¡¯m not mistaken, Dominators and Oblivion are sister first-ss guilds that operate under the Overlord Guild, Umbra. Warhead Syndicate is a subsidiary of Dominators. This is all such a headache.¡¯

    While teamwork wasn¡¯t practiced inside the Underworld, operating for the sake of immense profit was. If many guilds based out of the Underworld smelled the blood of a bleeding cash cow, they¡¯d want to sink their fangs into the helpless treasure trove.

    Although Kieran was only one person, the constant appearance of his name had generated the idea that he possessed valuable items, items that could perhaps help any guild be the overlord of their region.

    ¡°It¡¯s a long shot, but it may be our only hope. I¡¯ll use my name and not my identity as Eclipse¡¯s Guild Master to see if this is true. However, this is all spection right now. We don¡¯t know if first-ss guilds will truly move against you,¡± Ezra said.

    ¡°If that happens and there is no one I can rely on,¡± Kieran turned his head toward the distance, looking upon the Desert of Treacherous Sands with a deste expression. ¡°I¡¯ll have to create the desired oue with my own two hands.¡±

    Ezra quietly gazed at Kieran, but at that moment, she sensed the demeanor of a man who could stand with even the greatest of Overlords. A man who could shake the very ground they walked upon.

    ¡®Is it all in my mind? Or¡­ am I taking a fancy to this young man? There¡¯s no way he¡¯sparable to those inhuman people, right?¡¯

    Ezra had no way of verifying her inquiries, so she remained seated and resumed training with Kieran afterward. This cycle repeated until Kieran noted how much time had passed.

    ¡°Everyone¡ª¡± Kieran said, gathering the party¡¯s attention. ¡°We¡¯ll wrap up our training session here and continue moving. If we aren¡¯t careful, darkness will set while we¡¯re inside the Desert of Treacherous Sands. And, judging by its name, it¡¯s not somewhere we want to be at nighttime.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s get a move on then! I¡¯m ready to smash some brigands!¡± Nemean eximed.

    A newfound vigor filled his body after experiencing this training. It was difficult for him to describe the sensation, but he felt excited to learn of his new gains.

    Kieran agreed with Nemean¡¯s emotion. ¡°Very well.¡±

    The party of 10 soon boarded the caravan and traveled past this desert area where sand beast innards were strewn about.

    Three hourster, the team arrived before the Desert of Treacherous Sand¡¯s border.

 Chapter 168 Desert of Treacherous Sands (II)

    ¡ª

    ¡´System: You have entered the ?Desert of Treacherous Sands?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have been rewarded 50 World Fame!¡µ

    Kieran noted that with the addition of this World Fame, he wasn¡¯t too far from reaching a Lord¡¯s standard. Once he achieved that level of renown, the moment he could create a guild inched that much closer.

    However, aside from the matter of his World Fame, Kieran and his other party members quickly understood why this ce was regarded as the Desert of Treacherous Sands.

    Although they stood there for no more than a minute, the party marveled at the horror of numerous urring events.

    Several unnerving bubbles of unknown toxicity popped and released dense fumes into the atmosphere while sandstorms of varying sizes simultaneously swept across multiple zones of this desert.

    ¡°Uh, Aatrox. Are you sure it¡¯s safe to travel through this ce?¡± Luna grimaced while leaning over the caravan¡¯s rear. No matter how she looked at it, this environment seemed too dangerous to traverse.

    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be too bad. It¡¯s only violent dust devils, sporadic sand geysers, quicksand pits, and bottomless sand chasms,¡± Kieran remarked.

    Everyone grew quiet and looked at him with nonplussed expressions. They couldn¡¯t judge if Kieran were joking or serious, but one thing remained true. Everything he mentioned happened right before their very eyes.

    The Desert of Treacherous Sands was not an area where fights were meant to ur. If fights did break out here, the random environmental hazards would disrupt it. A yer could only ignore the environment if their Abnormal Status Resistance was abnormally high.

    However, that was impossible because practically all yers possessed zero Abnormal Status Resistance. Thus, these conditions were essentially unfit for any current yer.<sub>.</sub>

    ¡°Okay. All jokes aside, if we stay inside the caravan and ignore our circumstances, we should be good,¡± Kieran said. However, just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, he murmured, ¡°I hope¡­.¡±

    ¡°Dude! You can¡¯t do that! I heard you, and I almost shat myself! Will we make it through or not?¡± Bastion scowled while scurrying to the front of the caravan¡¯s cargo hold.

    He clutched Kieran¡¯s armor in fright and shook him.

    ¡°Okay, okay! Let go of me!¡± Kieran growled and pped Bastion¡¯s hand away before sighing. ¡°If we use long-range skills to deal with unforeseen crises, making it through should be possible. However, the amount of long-range fighters on this team is¡­.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s only Lux and me,¡± Alicemented.

    ¡°Not true,¡± Ezra joined in, disagreeing with Alice¡¯s ims. ¡°There¡¯s also Aatrox. Some of his skills have a truly long range.¡±

    ¡°At most, they¡¯re medium-long range. Our only redeeming factor is that damage isn¡¯t our focus. Our attacks must carry enough force to rip through the sandstorms and geysers. That¡¯s our only focus,¡± Kieran voiced.

    ¡°What about monsters?¡± Altair chimed in.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think any monsters inhabit this area. I recall reading in Aubrililes Library that an area marked with a ck skull on any map means that the zone possesses environmental dangers without monsters,¡± Kieran answered.

    Nemean guffawed. ¡°Damn, if that¡¯s the case, we should read more often. It seemed there is more knowledge packed inside the libraries than we give credit for.¡±

    The party soon devised a n to deal with the potential dangers inside this ce. It involved one of the party members riding atop the caravan¡¯s roof. No one volunteered because of the risks of falling off.<sub></sub>

    Thus, Kieran grimaced and resigned himself to his fate as the fool who sat atop the caravan¡¯s cloth cover. At least the cloth covered a rib-shaped metal cage that eased Kieran¡¯s mind. However, he couldn¡¯t wield Crimson Ashrune; otherwise, the structure would break.

    After all, while Kieran was strong enough to wield Crimson Ashrune, he was nowhere near powerful to neutralize its weight. 500kgs far exceeded the weight limit of this metal cage.

    Therefore, Kieran rummaged through his inventory for a temporary greatsword. He soon found one and had Luna direct the caravan while Lux and Alice sat on her left and right.

    ¡°Here we go, boys and girls! Hold on tight,¡± Luna eximed before whipping on the back of the Obsidian Criollo.

    Hyaa!

    The horse neighed and took off in a mad dash as Kieran gripped the edge of the caravan¡¯s top in a half-kneeled position. He held the greatsword before his face to deal with the violent sand gust whipping against his cheek.

    ¡®For all this, you better believe I¡¯ll raze that entire hideout to this ground.¡¯ A vicious gleam radiated in Kieran¡¯s eyes as he kept a lookout for their surroundings.

    More than three hours had passed, so his Perception was back to normal, allowing him to sense danger within a certain radius.

    The party encountered their first obstacle roughly 30 minutes after beginning their voyage through the Desert of Treacherous Sands. Their first obstacle was arge sandstorm, strong enough to sweep the caravan in the air if it impacted the party.

    For an attack this size, only an attack unleashed by Kieran was sufficient to destroy it.

    Kieran gathered copious amounts of blood energy before condensing it at the tip of his de to improve its speed, power, and overall

 Chapter 169 Desertborn Brigand Hideout

    ¡ª

    After four grueling hours of Kieran, Alice, and Luxbatting the dangerous environmental obstacle that arose before them, the caravan finally made it past the Desert of Treacherous Sand¡¯s most dangerous stretch.

    The result seemed to be a small oasispared to the disastrous setting behind them.

    ¡°This is a bit¡­ anti-climatic, no? Did we pass through all that only to arrive in some heavenly ce? I can¡¯t believe it,¡± Nemean muttered after peeking his head from behind Alice and the others.

    Large desert-flourishing trees sprouted from small sand dunes. A water supply, whether natural or unnatural, sat between the trees. Aside from this oasis, Kieran noticed a few statues positioned a few meters before this scene.

    However, because of their position, Kieran felt there was more to their presence than just heightening the surrounding aesthetic.

    ¡°Be careful. This area is still part of the Desert of Treacherous Sands, so the peaceful scenery could all be an borate ruse,¡± Kieranmented.

    He jumped down from the caravan¡¯s top a momentter and proceeded to scan his surroundings further. ¡®Focus should make it possible, at least I hope.¡¯

    Kieran narrowed his eyes and pooledrge amounts of Mana into them, hoping to reach a new level of vision enhancement. However, Kieran sighed after reading the system message.

    ¡´System: ?Vision Refinement? has failed due to the user¡¯sck of proper visual skills. Searching for other alternatives¡­¡µ

    ¡´System: The user¡¯s ?Constitution? is too low to conduct ?Innate Vision Refinement?. Searching for other alternatives¡­¡µ

    ¡´System: Error. Zero alternatives were found. The user¡¯s vision increase will be capped at a 100% increase.¡µ

    Although it wasn¡¯t the oue he hoped for, increasing his vision by 100% was a decent start. With his vision¡¯s effectiveness doubled, given enough time, he could spot inconsistencies he had overlooked.<sub>.</sub>

    At the same time, Kieran received another notification.

    ¡´System: Enter the ?Desert of Treacherous Sands?. 1/1¡µ

    Kieran found it odd that the system didn¡¯tplete this objective back when they entered the Desert of Treacherous Sand¡¯s territorial line. But, after sparing the matter further thought, he arrived at an answer.

    ¡®I suppose there¡¯d be no point in marking an objectiveplete if we failed to make it past the most dangerous part. Still¡­ there¡¯s something about this ce.¡¯

    Kieran couldn¡¯t help but feel like he was missing something. ¡°Fan out and observe everything but remain vignt.¡±

    ¡°May Ie with you?¡± Alice suddenly asked.

    Kieran paused and ultimately nodded, not minding thepany. ¡°You may.¡±

    Alice revealed a charming smile. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be much help regardless. My senses are attuned to Mana, so they aren¡¯t as keen as, let¡¯s say, a Hunter or Scout.¡±

    ¡°Then¡­ have you awakened any visual skills yet?¡± Kieran questioned. If Alice¡¯s senses were attuned to Mana, there should be a reason why.

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s just a simple skill called Mana Vision. It¡¯s not amazing, but I can see where Mana is dense or thin.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t differentiate between the different elements of Mana?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Alice shook her head. ¡°They all appear as white light. Do you think that¡¯s bad?¡±<sub></sub>

    ¡°Not really. Generally speaking, we are all still very weak. I might seem strong in your guys¡¯ perspective, but I¡¯d be defeated in less than five strikes if I were to fight against a high-level NPC seriously,¡± Kieran admitted.

    He seemed indifferent as he spoke because voicing the truth didn¡¯t affect him. Part of being strong was knowing your weakness and devising ways to supplement or strengthen them.

    Alice leaned forward while walking beside Kieran and met his gaze with a light smile. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. You¡¯re strong and will be stronger regardless. You have the heart and charisma to do so.¡±

    Kieran stopped walking all of a sudden. ¡°You seem¡­ more lighthearted than usual. Since when did the reserved Alice start smiling?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s because of you. Or rather, because of how everyone warms up to you. It inspired me to try and be more open. I¡¯m a work in progress, but I hope I be confident enough to be an asset to our team,¡± Alice said.

    Kieran poked her nose after listening to her genuine feelings. ¡°You already are.¡±

    ¡°But I can still be better if we¡¯re to form a guild. Many people are stronger and more qualified to take those top roles. But, I¡¯vee to like this party very much, so I won¡¯t let that happen,¡± Alice stopped walking and looked at Kieran resolutely.

    ¡°I will be one of the best mages Zenith Online has ever seen,¡± Alice vowed, astonishing Kieran in the process.

    Kieran¡¯s gaze softened. ¡°For some reason, I don¡¯t doubt you.¡±

    ¡°Also, there¡¯s something strange about those sand statues,¡± Alice added.

    Kieran nced at the statues once more. ¡°So it wasn¡¯t my imagination then. What¡¯s strange in your eyes?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a gap in each of their Mana density, like¡ª<sub></sub>

    ¡°A keyhole?¡± Something registered in Kieran¡¯s mind.

    Kieran quickly approached the sand statues and noticed something odd about the eyes of each status. They were like lusterless gems, but Kieran could tell they were Magic Stones at a nce.

    However, a Magic Stone could only lose its luster by having all of its Mana extracted. Usually, this wouldn¡¯t trigger Kieran¡¯s suspicions, but it was odd that every Magic Stone was devoid of Mana when this oasis-like setting possessed decent quantities.

    Only one exnation surfaced in Kieran¡¯s mind: The Mana in these Magic Stones were extracted for a specific purpose and kept this way by an unknown restriction. Otherwise, Mana would naturally pour into these dead Magic Stones and revive their worth.

    This was only possible if Magic Stones were saturated in an area of agreeable Mana.

    To confirm his suspicions, Kieran turned to Altair. ¡°Altair,e with me for a moment.¡±

    Altair looked in his direction quickly, like a young dog who heard a squirrel pass by. ¡°Have you found something?¡±

    ¡°Possibly, but I won¡¯t be sure until you confirm it,¡± Kieran stated.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be right there!¡± Altair walked briskly until he arrived next to Alice and Kieran and listened to their findings.

    ¡°So something is amiss with these Magic Stones, which, if I¡¯m hearing you right, is a crystallized umtion of a specific Mana type?¡± Altair recounted the information delivered to him.

    ¡°Yes, and I think your weapon is the key to confirming my suspicions. That Sand Maniption ability attached to your Sand Emperor Thorns isn¡¯t restricted tobat, right?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe so. It wasn¡¯t stated in the description. Let me check.¡±

    Altair brandished his Sand Emperor Thorns, and lo and behold, the sand within a small radius swirled around Altair, manipted by the gem embedded into his weapons.

    Kieran¡¯s expression brightened after discovering the practicality of Altair¡¯s weapon. ¡°Excellent. Channel that Mana-infused sand into the Magic Stones and see if there¡¯s any reaction.¡±

    Compared to simply activating Sand Maniption, controlling the sand¡¯s flow to do his bidding was challenging. It was no different from Kieran¡¯s first unsessful tries at controlling the Sanguinem Tempests.

    ¡°No rush. Take your time and focus. Think of the sand as an extension of your limbs and try to increase your cognizance of its presence,¡± Kieran guided Altair through understanding how to wield maniption-type skills.

    It was difficult at first, but after many unsessful tries, Altair grasped the essence of Kieran¡¯s guidance. A thin stream of sand flowed into the eyes of the giant sand statue of a lion with an open maw.

    The color of the lusterless Magic Stones brightened, gradually regaining its former brilliance.

    A soft rumble spread throughout the oasis after illuminating one eye, but there were two identical statues, so it would have to happen three more times before the true results showed.

    ¡°Take it easy,¡± Kieran cautioned. Altair breathed heavily after lighting up one eye, so three more would be a hefty strain.

    However, Altair paced his actions per Kieran¡¯s directions. A steady trickle of Mana was more effective than controlling as much as possible. Magic Stones were delicate items, too much force, and the entire thing could shatter.

    After 15 minutes of continuously channeling Mana through the use of Sand Maniption, Altair finished revitalizing each of the gems.

    The moment he finished, however, the entire oasis area erupted with robust tremors. The floor shifted as the area between the two lion statues receded, revealing stone steps that led below.

    ¡´System: Locate the Desertborn Brigand¡¯s main hideout. 0/1¡µ

    ¡°Well, we found it¡­.¡± Altair said.

    ¡°We might have found it, but how we found it begs the question of what awaits. Are we in for a warm wee because those tremors rmed the brigands?¡± Kieranmented.

    Bastion smiled wryly. ¡°I can¡¯t stress enough how much I dislike how you phrased that sentence. What do you mean warm wee?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s only one way to find out, right?¡± Kieran looked at the others and took a step below. After everyone entered, the entrance above was quickly sealed off above.

    Gulp!

    ¡°A sealed entrance is never a good sign. My PTSD from dark dungeons is ring up. It¡¯s a repeat of the Underground Labyrinth all over again!¡±

    Pow!

    Nemean pped Bastion in the face. ¡°Get it together, you wimp! What happened to you and your vigor from earlier?¡±

    Bastion coughed shamelessly. ¡°It was a joke. I was joking! Now, onward to victory.¡±

    Bastion sped down the stairs, but after taking slightly more than ten steps, he turned around and approached the others. ¡°On second thought, Aatrox, you¡¯re wee to go first. You are the main quest holder after all.¡±

    ¡°Wimp!¡±

    ¡°Wimp!¡±

    ¡°Wimp!¡±

    Kieran, Altair, and Nemean simultaneously berated Bastion, but he ignored theirments and traveled in the middle of the team.

 Chapter 170 A Damned Maze!

    ¡ª

    The staircase inside this hideout didn¡¯t stretch as far as the one inside the Underground Labyrinth. However, everyone was on edge as they cautiously descended the steps.

    Tok!

    Lux¡¯s foot hit a stone, causing it to roll down a few steps. Because the party was on high alert, they turned toward him. Lux froze and raised his hands as if he were an apprehended criminal.

    ¡°There are loose stones everywhere. My foot identally hit one of them,¡± Lux exined.

    Everyone sighed after learning it wasn¡¯t a surprise attack from an enemy.

    ¡°Be more careful, Lux. We aren¡¯t on a simple infiltration quest. This organization may have already been notified and alerted to our presence. We need to be extremely careful in how we proceed,¡± Ezra whispered.

    She didn¡¯t raise her voice or berate Lux because idents were inevitable. However, she stressed how vital stealth and cognizance were on this journey.

    ¡°Alice, can you conjure a me to extend our visibility? It¡¯s getting very dark down here.¡±

    Although Kieran¡¯s Perception was active in full effect, he could only sense things and not make our their actual presence. To achieve that level of detection with his Perception, he would need to increase his discerning abilities by 1000%.

    A standard like that rivaled Advanced Beings, otherwise known as Tier 3 existences. Their Perceptions were so potent it was no longer a vague feeling.<sub>.</sub>

    Instead, such people could ¡°see¡± using their Mind¡¯s Eye that the faerie mentioned during Kieran¡¯s character creation process.

    However, in exchange for these heightened senses, the range of their senses lessened. It was best described as losing quantity but gaining remarkable quality in exchange.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Alice nodded.

    She controlled her Mana Flow to conjure what seemed to be a Fireball, but not entirely. A Fireball was designed to beunched as an attack, which this me wasn¡¯t. This me¡¯s only purpose was to illuminate since no one was skilled with the Light Element.

    The me flickered above Alice¡¯s palm as she increased her pace to walk beside Kieran and give him enough light. ¡°Better?¡±

    ¡°Perfect,¡± Kieran answered.

    The team continued descending the steps for another 10 minutes before reading the bottom. Surprisingly, unlike the stone step they walked up, the hideout¡¯s floor matched the desert¡¯s.

    Instinctively, Kieran softly grabbed Alice¡¯s wrist and moved it towards the steps. ¡°This isn¡¯t necessarily stone. It¡¯s extremely hardened sand. But, it isn¡¯t natural, right Alice?¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so,¡± Alice muttered. In her perspective, due to her possession of Mana Vision, Alice could see almost imperceptible strings of Mana tightly woven to solidify this construct.

    She had only experienced this type of stringy Mana Flow once before. It was when Altair used the Sand Emperor¡¯s Thorns to open passage to this area below.<sub></sub>

    ¡°I think it¡¯s the result of a high-level Sand Maniption skill. Either that or the Mana here is abnormal. That¡¯s the only two possibilities I can think of,¡± Alice voiced after making her analysis.

    ¡°I thought so,¡± Kieran nodded absentmindedly. ¡®What level of Sand Maniption is required to aplish this hardening? Deserea¡¯s Sand Maniption wasn¡¯t powerful enough to achieve this, so that could only mean there¡¯s at least one person in thispound with power exceeding her.¡¯

    However, Kieran couldn¡¯t tell if it belonged to the head of these Desertborn Brigands or if it was the work of several brigands banding together to get the job quicker and more efficiently.

    ¡°Aatrox,¡± Lux suddenly called out.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m picking up some movement,¡± Lux said before cing his hand against one of the walls. His current ss was a Marksman, which was a unique form of an Archer that specialized in uracy and fatal damage.

    On paper, an Archer and Marksman appeared identical as they both wielded bows, but their passives were where they differed. While an Archer lost most of its Hunter passive in exchange for ones centered around archery, a Marksman kept their Hunter passives, and in some cases, received augmentations.

    For example, Lux could feel the movement in the wall because Marksmen are designed to track, analyze and eliminate. Possessing passives associated with these principles was crucial to the ss.

    Thus, not only could Lux act as a long-range damager, but he was also valuable as a scout.

    ¡°What type of movement?¡± Kieran inquired.<sub></sub>

    Lux¡¯s expression changed as he tried to pinpoint what his passive ryed. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. But¡­ it feels distant and jumbled. I¡¯ve never run into such a situation. However, I did find something. We can¡¯t advance without Altair¡¯s help.¡±

    ¡°Again?¡± Altair¡¯s eyebrows rose. If he could only aplish it, Sand Maniption was the key to moving around in this ce.

    ¡°I bet you¡¯re happy we killed that Mother Worm now, right? Otherwise, we would have failed this quest. It seems Sand Maniption is essential inside this construct.¡±

    Kieran looked at Bastion because he was the first toin when he voiced his intentions to go against the Mother Worm.

    Bastion blushed and averted his gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t call me out like that. Come on, man. I¡¯m innocent!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just saying. If we chose to push our luck and ignore the Mother Worm, we would have inevitably failed this quest. Didn¡¯t you see penalties? Failure is not an oue we wish for,¡± Kieran shrugged after seeing Bastion¡¯s somewhat embarrassed expression.

    ¡°I get it. I get it. I was wrong,¡± Bastion admitted.

    ¡°Good. Now, make sure to disy that confidence from earlier. You can never be my Chief Tanker if you don¡¯t have a backbone. You¡¯ll need to be stoic and sometimes even harsh,¡± Kieran said.

    Kieran naturally thought ahead to when he sessfully formed his guild. Many roles will need to be filled, and every aspect would require a Chief. When it came to tankers, Kieran considered Bastion.

    After all, Bastion was the leader of his small party before Kieran arrived, which means he should be familiar with what was required of him.

    Altair stepped to the front of the party and scanned the wall before them. It made no sense that the steps led to a small enclosure with no entrance or exit.

    ¡°It should be more to your left,¡± Lux remarked.

    Altair glided his hand over the wall until his hand touched an unusually hard surface, unlike the soft sand residue on the walls.

    Tok! Tok! Tok!

    Altair first tapped the wall and then brushed aside the topyer of sand residue. This action revealed a fist-size dull Magic Stone underneath.

    ¡°I pray this isn¡¯t noisy. The one above is a hit or miss because it is far from the surface. But, if this mechanism is noisy, then our position will undoubtedly be exposed,¡± Kieran said.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± Altair replied while exhaling deeply. He activated Sand Maniption and supplied the Magic Stone until it lit up brightly. The area one meter to the right of the stone separated from the wall and parted into a sight resembling the double doors in an emergency triage area.

    On the other side of the opened doorway was a dark corridor of unknown length. Before entering, Kieran picked up the two unlit torches and gave one to Ezra.

    ¡°Alice, light these,¡± Kieran said.

    Only once these two torches were lit did the party enter the corridor. However, Nemean felt suspicious.

    ¡°If this is an entrance to the Desertborn Brigand¡¯s hideout, why were there torches?¡±

    ¡°Well, it seems there is no source of light. And while veterans of the Desertborn Brigands might be familiar with their hideout, recruits might not be. Perhaps these torches exist to help them remember the way.

    ¡°Or, it¡¯s a trap,¡± Nemean added.

    ¡°Or it¡¯s a trap,¡± Kieran agreed. ¡°Considering how cunning the leader of the brigands has proven themselves¡ªnot sure if it¡¯s a male or female¡ªI wouldn¡¯t be surprised if they made that oasis pathway to deal with intruders.¡±

    ¡°I had the same thought. That oasis was so out of ce it almost seemed like an illusion. A treacherous illusion¡ªit fits,¡± Lunamented.

    ¡°Indeed it does,¡± Kieran¡¯s voice grew low as he contemted everyone¡¯s input. ¡®An illusion. But, was it designed to entrap or protect? Now that I think about it, it may not be the main entrance at all. It could be an escape route.¡¯

    If the Magic Stones were robbed of their Mana, no one could follow the escapees unless the pursuant was strong enough to blow through the desert floor.

    However, after taking into ount how thick the b of hardened sand was, Kieran estimated it¡¯d required power on par with a powerful Tier 2 Existence to aplish that feat.

    Eventually, Kieran and the team arrived at the end of the dark corridor. But, what they witnessed made everyone stop and stare.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me! What the hell am I looking at?¡± Bastion eximed.

    Countless pathways littered their sights, and because of the darkness, the only thing that could be made out were innumerable immense stone walls down below.

    ¡°It¡¯s a damned maze!¡± Altair eximed.

    ¡°Who in their right mind would even think: Oh, I would love to go through a maze whenever I return home? Absolute lunatics,¡± Nemean shouted.

    Even Kieran frowned because he couldn¡¯t locate the exit no matter which path he looked from.

 Chapter 171 A Way Inside

    ¡ª

    With just the tiny amounts of knowledge Kieran extracted from his surroundings, he could tell this ce was part of an borateyout designed to keep intruders at bay and possibly even entrap them for eternity.

    ¡°I sorely believe this isn¡¯t the main entrance. Why soplex? We must have missed something,¡± Kieran said.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think we missed anything. Think about it. Sand Maniption was the key to opening the door and finding this ce. Wouldn¡¯t that mean Sand Maniption is key to knowing the true path?¡±

    Altair¡¯s point made sense.

    The different entry points seemed toe from many other areas, not just this one entrance. Several tunnels converged at the enormous underground clearing, so perhaps Kieran jumped to a conclusion too quickly.

    ¡°What do you suggest? I¡¯m open to everyone¡¯s inputs,¡± Kieran said. He wasn¡¯t like most leaders who operated on their hunches and ignored to inputs of their subordinates.

    Sometimes, viewing an issue from several angles was more practical rather than having a single approach.

    ¡°How much time do we have left to clear the quest?¡± Altair asked. Although they possessed the shared quest, the timer on their quest read: Linked to the primary quest holder.

    ¡°We have just over two days remaining on the timer,¡± Kieran answered.

    ¡°Two days¡­¡± Altair rubbed his chin in deep thought. His eyebrows furrowed as his eyes sparkled with a dark light. Unlike other sses, Assassin specialized in darkness. So, after reaching level 40, Altair obtained the passive known as Eyes of Night.

    This passive skill increased his visual prowess in dark ces. With the improvements delivered by this passive, Altair¡¯s current vision wasn¡¯t too far off from his vision in well-lit areas.

    ¡°I count hundreds of pathways. As I said earlier, it¡¯s a maze. A difficult one at that. Even if we go through the pathways one by one, two days isn¡¯t enough to use the trial by error method.¡±<sub>.</sub>

    Altair groaned and rhythmically tapped his finger against the ground. ¡°Some pathways aren¡¯tplete and fork into another direction, creating unlimited variations. The creator orchestrated this ce to entrap anyone that isn¡¯t knowledgeable of its exit.¡±

    ¡°Shhh!¡±

    Lux suddenly hushed everyone and ced his ear against the wall while his ears darted about as if moving in rhythm with the sounds he sensed.

    ¡°Someone ising.¡±

    The party grew quiet and peered around the corner in wait of this neer.

    A Desertborn Henchman with a pouch draped over their shoulder appeared from one of the lower paths not too far away.

    Everyone took a step back as the Desertborn Henchman looked around and made three distinct steps before disappearing into the maze.

    ¡°Can you still see them?¡± Kieran whispered.

    ¡°I can,¡± Altair nodded. However, before he knew it, his brows furrowed, and his expression darkened. ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ Something is blocking my vision. Their disappearance was too abrupt to be natural.¡±

    ¡°Damn,¡± Kieran cursed underneath his breath. ¡°This leader has thought of everything, even employing countermeasures against anyone spying on their entry method.¡±

    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s perfect, though?¡± Bastion asked. What he gained from his experiences thus far was that everything had a solution. Although some may require more improvisation, a solution was a solution at the end of the day.

    ¡°Probably not. There¡¯s nothing perfect per se, especially not at our current level. Perhaps it might exist at some unknown ancient level, but everything has a weakness for now. There has to be a way to overpower the countermeasure¡ª¡±<sub></sub>

    Realization struck Kieran midsentence as he grinned. ¡°We need to cause amotion soon. Lux, are you confident in pinpointing the exact location of these brigands?¡±

    Lux gauged his capabilities before answering. ¡°Not all of them, but a few should be possible. What do you have in mind?¡±

    ¡°I need to heighten my Perception, even if it¡¯s by a slight amount. For that, we need to start some drama. Just tell me when and where you sense people.¡± Kieran directed.

    Afterward, he snuck down the downward slope that led toward the maze area beneath.

    However, he didn¡¯t go too far down. Once he made it halfway down where all the other entry points were located, Kieran retrieved two daggers from his inventory.

    With skillful movements, Kieran plunged the daggers into the wall and used them to scale above the wall where the entry points were most dense and gave a clear line of sight to many of the maze¡¯s entrances.

    Kieran gave a silent signal that indicated his sess in finding the perfect position. Afterward, he sat still, perching on the greatsword he kicked into the wall. It was of little to no value, so Kieran had no problem losing it.

    ¡°Is that guy part monkey?¡± Lux muttered to the others.

    ¡°What did he do? I couldn¡¯t see,¡± Bastion whispered back.

    ¡°He¡­ he scaled the wall easily like a professional rock climber. The only difference is he used what I believe to be daggers,¡± Lux exined.

    ¡°Oh, meh. That¡¯s nothing crazy. Stick around. You¡¯ll see that guy do even more mind-blowing things,¡± Nemean waved off Lux¡¯sment.

    As long as it didn¡¯t involve baffling damage numbers, Bastion and the others had essentially be inured to Kieran¡¯s athleticism.<sub></sub>

    ¡°Shhh!¡± Lux hurriedly shushed everyone and ced his head against the wall. He focused more than before. After confirming what his passive picked up, Lux mimed the number 7 and pointed at a specific hole below Kieran.

    Kieran¡¯s eyes glinted as he received this information and extracted one of the daggers from the wall. He analyzed his surrounding before finding the best ce to obscure his position.

    A few secondster, a Desertborn Leader followed by six Desertborn Henchmen appeared from within a tunnel on Kieran¡¯s left. But, at that moment, Kieran was astonished.

    ¡´System: ?Revenge Predator? has activated and marked [7] individuals as enemies. ¡µ

    Revenge Predator wasn¡¯t as simple as Kieran thought. He thought he¡¯d have to first receive damage from an opponent for thisbat system to trigger. But, that didn¡¯t seem to be the case.

    Kieran viewed all Desertborn Brigand members as an enemy in his mind, so his Revenge Predator must have activated based on that notion.

    ¡®If that¡¯s true¡­ then my ss truly is one that feeds off pure emotion. It¡¯s even strong enough inadvertently activate my skills,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Although he was curious, Kieran didn¡¯t lose sight of the task at hand. Not only did he use six stacks of Hunt to mark the Henchmen as Prey, but as soon as the team of Desertborn Brigands approached the maze¡¯s wall, Kieran flung the dagger at a position he chose earlier.

    Ting! Pcht!

    The dagger ricocheted off the wall and punctured the closest Desertborn Henchman¡¯s neck.

    ¡°!!¡±

    The team¡¯s eyes widened as Kieran¡¯s uracy confounded them. What kind of bank shot was that?!

    The Desertborn Leaderunched an instinctual Sand Twister where the dagger ricocheted against the wall but failed to hit anything.

    However, Kieran used the disturbance from the attack to stealthily drop down behind this group.

    Kieran switched from the dagger to Crimson Ashrune faster than a blink of the eye before unleashing a strengthened Crimson Barrage that swept through the Desertborn Brigands, leaving only the leader alive.

    The Desertborn Leader froze in shock. But, by the time they recovered their wits, Kieran¡¯srge hand was wrapped around their throat, mming them into the wall.

    Kieran¡¯s first thought was to monitor this team as they entered the maze, but after learning about Revenge Predator¡¯s acute activation mechanism, he decided to change his n.

    A hostage was much better than his original n potentially failing.

    The Desertborn Leader¡¯s eyes filled with fear as they gazed upon their fallen subordinates. Kieran noticed this fear and preyed upon it.

    ¡°We can do this the easy way or the hard way¡ªthe choice is yours. All I want to know is how you enter the hideout. If your answer is satisfactory, I may let you live.¡± Kieran¡¯s tone was yful and mischievous, but above all, it was menacing and incited fear.

    Kieran used the effects of marking a target as Prey to his advantage.

    The Desertborn Leader gulped and tapped on Kieran¡¯s hand. ¡°Have youe to rob us?!¡±

    ¡°Perhaps¡­¡± Kieran shrugged.

    ¡°You¡¯ll never seed the Head Brigand¡ª¡±

    Kieran clenched his hand around the Desertborn Leader¡¯s throat. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for your opinion; I asked for information. Will you give it to me or not?¡±

    As he spoke, Kieran continued to tighten his hand until the Desertborn Leader¡¯s eyes widened, and they could barely breathe. The fear of death was often a good incentive to cooperate.

    Mmmf!

    Kieran loosened his hand and once more listened to what the Desertborn Leader had to say.

    ¡°Will you actually let me live if I tell you?¡±

    ¡°As I said, it depends.¡±

    The Desertborn Leader seemed conflicted. They didn¡¯t want to die, but they also feared the retaliation of the Head Brigand if their betrayal was revealed.

    ¡°You have three seconds. Whether or not you cooperate, I will raze this ce to the ground,¡± Kieran said coldly.

    The Desertborn Leader jerked after hearing this. ¡°You can¡¯t enter without me! I¡¯ll tell you. A certain sand signature is required to reveal the true pathway. I¡¯ll guide you if you truly raze this ce to the ground.¡±

    Kieran knew better than to trust the words of a brigand. But, whether or not they were being truthful, he didn¡¯t care. After all, he wasn¡¯t being honest either.

    Eventually, Kieran released the Desertborn Brigand and whistled. The party received the signal well because Nemean and Altair revealed its meaning.

    Kieran looked to the others with a cryptic grin. ¡°We¡¯ve found someone to lead us inside.¡±

 Chapter 172 Successful Infiltration

    ¡ª

    The others approached Kieran while he hemmed the Desertborn Leader against the wall by the throat. When the others appeared, incredulity shed in the Desertborn Leader¡¯s eyes.

    ¡®How did so many people infiltrate this ce without our knowing? Ten people¡­ They¡¯re underestimating our Desertborn Brigands! Do they truly think they¡¯re enough to raze our hideout to the ground?¡¯

    Amusement shed in the Desertborn Leader¡¯s eyes as he nced toward the pathway. ¡®If only I can find a way to alert the captains or others, I can increase my standing in the brigand hierarchy once they¡¯re tortured and killed!¡¯

    The Desertborn Leader felt their n was foolproof. Lead Kieran and the others under the guise of showing them the way while truthfully diverting their path to where the Desertborn Brigand¡¯sckeys were condensed.

    Altair scanned the Desertborn Leader before looking at Kieran. ¡°Are you sure you can trust them? This person will likely lead us into a trap.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s more than likely. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if they were devising a n in their silly little mind as we speak,¡± Kieran replied. He gave a lighthearted smile while panning his gaze to the entrapped Desertborn Leader.

    ¡°No!¡± The Desertborn Leader desperately shook their head. ¡°No n! No scheme at all! I want to help you guys and live! That¡¯s right!¡± The Desertborn Leader hurriedly tried to seem genuine and eager, but their actions were counterproductive.

    ¡®They¡¯re new to this.¡¯

    ¡®They¡¯re new to this.¡¯

    Kieran and Altair arrived at the same judgment when they saw how quickly and desperately the Desertborn Leader tried to convince them otherwise.

    ¡°So, tell the others what you told me,¡± Kieran said coldly.<sub>.</sub>

    ¡°I-If you want to make it past the area, you need to draw a unique sigil. There are several, and each one is designed based on the rank of the Desertborn Brigand. What I have is called a Sand Leader Sigil. It will get you where you need to go,¡± the Desertborn Leader revealed.

    Afterward, they weakly pointed to the path before them. ¡°This entire maze is a decoy designed to ce an intruder¡¯s attention elsewhere. I will show you the way if you can promise I¡¯ll live.¡±

    Kieran frowned with a darkening expression. ¡°You talk too much. Lux, how long do you think before another round of brigands return? They should be rallying their forces to prepare for an attack.¡±

    ¡°Mmm, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if it happened in less than an hour,¡± Lux acted as if he honestly considered the oue, but he understood Kieran¡¯s intentions from the look in his eyes.

    ¡°An hour isn¡¯t too far off schedule. It¡¯s still well within our timeline. If that¡¯s so, this captive is useless, right? I vote we waste them on the spot,¡± Kieran said indifferently.

    Murmurs of agreement surfaced instantly.

    ¡°Wait! W-wait¡­ please don¡¯t kill me. I¡¯ll show you¡­ I truly will!¡± The Desertborn Leader pleaded. A momentter, a strange swirl of sand coated their hand as they made a hand sign.

    A water-like ripple urred in the pathway, which revealed a change on the other side. ¡°This is the entrance, but that¡¯s all it is. I have to use the sigil to ess additional checkpoints.¡±

    However, rather than answer immediately, Kieran turned to Altair. ¡°Can you replicate this?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Altair answered with a bitter smile. The sigil was made using Sand Maniption, but the level surpassed Altair¡¯s capability. The threads were too delicate for Altair¡¯s ineptitude.

    Moreover, the sigil possessed special countermeasures Altair couldn¡¯t replicate.<sub></sub>

    Kieran pursed his lips but sighed afterward. ¡°It seems like it is your lucky day. But, try anything slick, and you¡¯ll greet your friends over there, understood?¡±

    ¡°Understood!¡± The Desertborn Leader nodded like a broken bobblehead after being whacked.

    Of course, Kieran didn¡¯t trust the Desertborn Leader whatsoever, so he gestured for Altair to follow beside with his eyes.

    The party soon walked into the rippling space and understood why the Desertborn Leader imed it to be impossible to find the entrance without the help of a member. After passing through this ripple, over half of the pathways seemed to disappearpletely.

    But, as the Desertborn Leader said, it wasn¡¯t the end.

    Even though half of the path vanished, it was only the simple ones! The remaining ways were highlyplex and designed to disorient in case an intruder ever got ahold of a brigand¡¯s activation sigil.

    The Desertborn Leader walked forward a few steps and ced their hand on the ground. The sand morphed into arger copy of their sigil before the floor depressed and folded back.

    A staircase, numbering no more than 10 to 12 steps, stretched to a path beneath.

    ¡°So that¡¯s why I lost sight of them. This obstruction ripple obscured my vision, and they entered the ground during that time! It seems this leader of theirs has a penchant for conducting underground business,¡± Altairmented.

    ¡°Continue,¡± Kieranmanded. He also turned his head to the side, ¡°Ezra.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±<sub></sub>

    ¡°Prepare yourself. You as well, Luna. There¡¯s no telling where this path leads, so get ready to act on mymand.¡±

    The two girls expressed their understanding while cautiously walking with their hands on their weapons.

    Although the path above seemed unusually long, after walking for 5 minutes, Kieran noticed a light source at the end of the narrow tunnel.

    ¡°That¡¯s it up ahead. The true entrance of ourpound. However, it is still veryplex, so you¡¯ll likely get lost without me.¡±

    ¡°Keep walking. You¡¯ll know when I want to learn more,¡± Kieran said. He could tell when someone was stalling. The Desertborn Leader frequently turned back to gaze at Kieran only to see that those cold ck eyes were on them.

    ¡®T-this guy is like a hawk! I won¡¯t find the time to signal for help if he doesn¡¯t avert his gaze.¡¯

    The Desertborn Leader grew more nervous the more they approached the door. It was like they could feel death creeping beside them, waiting to im their meaningless existence.

    Once they came across the entrance, they arrived at thest security measure¡ªa bright-colored sand door with different sigil impressions engraved on its surface. This door would only open once at least one sigil filled the grooves.

    Furthermore, depending on the sigil used, the path could either be shallow, leading to the henchmen area, or deep, leading to the hideout¡¯s important areas.

    ¡°This is it¡­.¡±

    The Desertborn Leader¡¯s tone was frightened and weak as they manipted sand into the groove respective to their level. The door opened after theypleted the sigil, but Kieran pulled them back with hisrge hand.

    His eyesnded on Altair while softly tapping his finger against his lip and pointing ahead with two. Altair epted the task and inched forward, peeking his head around both corners.

    ¡°It looks like we¡¯re in,¡± Altair whispered once he confirmed Desertborn Brigand members in thepound. In fact, he noticed a few sentinels posted in different positions.

    ¡°I told you! I would lead you there with no tricks!¡± The Desertborn Leader began sweating as they spoke in a hushed tone. They felt Kieran would immediately kill them if they screamed out loud, alerting everyone.

    Sadly, this considerate action paved the way for Kieran and his team covertly enter thepound.

    ¡°Thank you for cooperating,¡± Kieran said.

    Shnk!

    The sound of sharp metal quickly being drawn sounded as he covered the Desertborn Leader¡¯s mouth and slit their throat.

    [Execution!]

    The Desertborn Brigand fell to the ground with a soft thud, and Kieran indifferently walked up to Altair.

    ¡°Damn¡­¡± Bastion whispered. He had never seen such a cold-blooded execution before.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? Being Aatrox¡¯s enemy is something you don¡¯t want to be. He might be warm with us, but after watching him face off against those yers, I noticed something¡ªhe¡¯s heartless to hispetition,¡± Nemean muttered.

    ¡°Mm,¡± Ezra fell silent while gazing at Kieran¡¯s back. ¡®He¡¯s not a simple man. Even if we treat it as a game, being able to decisively kill someone is not something a normal young man can do.¡¯

    Meanwhile, Alice¡¯s expression filled with concern. ¡®Is he changing?¡¯

    Although she witnessed Kieran¡¯s dark impulses once before, she assumed it was rted to an aftereffect of using his power against Rautori that had yet to be resolved.

    But, not now, Alice sensed Kieran was inplete control of his emotions. In other words, Kieran¡¯s actions resulted from his rational thoughts.

    Naturally, she wasn¡¯t aware of the w produced by his Vengeful Soul. So, Alice didn¡¯t understand that because Kieran felt everyone in this hideout was an enemy, he felt no remorse for them.

    On the contrary, it fueled Kieran¡¯s desire to erase these brigands from the world.

    ¡°Altair, take out the sentinel watching the right. Luna, you¡¯ll take the left path, and I¡¯ll take the center,¡± Kieranmanded.

    After delivering these three orders, Kieran moved swiftly, traveling down the center path. Although there was no light inside this hideout, the sand that filled the walls possessed an abnormal effect that illuminated the area in a pale yellow glow.

    Kieran stealthily moved past a wall but hid behind a corner when he noticed countless Desertborn Brigand members moving towards a set destination. ¡®Could they be moving out already?¡¯

    ¡®If that¡¯s true, then the quest¡¯s time limit probably indicates how long until retaliation befalls the Aeredale Kingdom. Their numbers should be pretty high if they¡¯re confident enough to retaliate.¡¯

    Whoosh! Bang!

    Kieran pulled thest brigand member he sensed and coated the dagger in his hand in a Vampiric Blood Encrustation.

    The weapon effortlessly entered the brigand¡¯s throat because Defense was not their forte. Their attire was made out of a cloth-like substance that protected well against the environment outside but offered no protection against sharp weapons.

    The sentinel in Kieran¡¯s area was swiftly removed as his Experience Bar experienced a marginal increase. After reaching Lv.38, his Experience requirement had surpassed 1 million!

    Luna and Altair made use of their Agility and apprehended the sentinels, keeping them still until Kieran appeared and finished them off.

 Chapter 173 Gathering of Brigands

    ¡ª

    After watching Kieran execute these 3 Desertborn Brigand sentinels, a question rose in Altair¡¯s mind.

    ¡°How do you achieve these Executions? And, what are they? When I copied your action, I only received a Vital Critical, but I didn¡¯t execute the sentinel on the spot.¡±

    Altair was curious why Kieran¡¯s attacks were considered Executions but not his own. After all, he was an Assassin, a ss specializing in surprise andrge critical attacks. On paper, it should be easier for Altair to achieve an Execution.

    However, Kieran soon revealed the reason behind this. ¡°An Execution is a rare type of critical. It¡¯s not that I have a 100% sess rate of achieving Executions; it¡¯s simply easier for me with all my damage modifiers. If I¡¯m being honest, I have at least four active at all times now.¡±

    ¡°WHAT!?!¡±

    Not just Altair, the entire party¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Their expression remained that way for a few seconds because most sses would only receive one damage modifier while their other modifiers rted to ss specialties.

    But, because Kieran¡¯s ss specialty was damage, most of the passive abilities he awakened thus far contributed to heavily increased damage. Kieran didn¡¯t go into detail about the matter, but he more or less covered the gist of it.

    ¡°Ezra should be aware of two of the passives I speak of.¡±

    ¡°I remember,¡± Ezra nodded. ¡°Blood Mania and Tormented Beliefs. Each increases your Attack Power, which should loosely trante to increased attack damage.¡±

    ¡°Correct, but there are others. It¡¯s hard to exin, but if I¡¯m targetted by an enemy or view something as an enemy, my damage will increase again.¡±<sub>.</sub>

    ¡°Isn¡¯t¡­ that like turning you into a perfect machine for revenge? It doesn¡¯t sound too safe,¡± Luna muttered after listening to the effects of three of Kieran¡¯s damage-increasing skills.

    Kieran had no qualms about revealing this information because it was unstoppable. If word of his skills got out, they couldn¡¯t be stopped regardless. Kieran¡¯s skills would activate without fail if he lost Health or felt threatened.

    It wasn¡¯t a matter of trust now; it was a matter of confidence.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you all this for no reason. I¡¯m trying to exin the basis of an Execution. It¡¯s essentially a Vital Critical, except it¡¯s taken a step further. I¡¯m not sure about the exact numbers, but the Vital Critical¡¯s base attack needs to exceed a certain threshold to activate an Execution,¡± Kieran exined.

    Altair pondered the information given. ¡°So I need to increase my Attack Power to increase my chances of these Executions.¡±

    ¡°Or, find ways to increase your Critical Damage Modifier. They¡¯re both considered base damage in anything above a Vital Hit,¡± Kieran added.

    Kieran left out the matter of overpowering an enemy¡¯s defenses. However, he left that information alone because it varied depending on the enemy. Overpowering individuals dressed in cloth like these brigands was a reasonably straightforward process.

    Everyone absorbed this knowledge, especially Lux and Luna, who were interested in increasing their Critical Damage.

    Another factor Kieran failed to mention was the incorporation of action-type Techniques, which could sharply increase the deadliness of one¡¯s attack.

    However, that level of incorporation was beyond everyone¡¯s expertise, so there was no reason to mention it.<sub></sub>

    After killing off the sentinels, Kieran scrutinized his surroundings. There were many individual small rooms, seemingly belonging to Desertborn Henchmen. Based on their designs, the only use for these rooms was nourishment and rejuvenation.

    In other words, eating and sleeping.

    ¡°These brigands must carry out other activities elsewhere. I must admit, for a criminal organization, they¡¯re frighteningly organized,¡± Luxmented.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to agree. Their head seems to be a meticulous person,¡± Kieran agreed with Lux¡¯s opinion.

    Altair focused his attention on Kieran. ¡°What¡¯s the n? Do we covertly take them out, or do we cause argemotion?¡±

    ¡°No. For now, recon is our objective. We need to understand this ce¡¯s structure and find out what¡¯s happening. We¡¯ll tail those henchmen ahead and find out,¡± Kieran ordered.

    Blindly fighting inside an unknown ce wasn¡¯t ideal. Before he decided to make any rash decisions, Kieran first wanted to acquire information.

    ¡°If not for your age, I would have thought you were trained in espionage. I¡¯m getting a tingly sensation thinking about our spy-like behavior,¡± Ezra giggled.

    Kieran looked back and snickered. ¡°I watch a lot of movies.¡±

    Of course, that was only partly true. Kieran had conducted his fair share of invasion quests in the past. Some involved criminal organizations like these, and some involved rival guilds that the Golden Brigade sought to destroy.<sub></sub>

    Kieran and the other continued their cautious travel after catching up with the brigands¡¯ movements.

    ¡­

    A few minutes earlier,

    Deep inside the Desertborn Brigand¡¯s hideout¡­

    A man dressed in luxurious beige robes, simr to the other brigands but of higher quality, sat before arge sand desk with their hands folded. An ominous glint shed in their eyes as they listened to the report from a woman standing before him.

    ¡°Commander Dusvim, we have located Deserea¡¯s body. As we expected, we found her dead after days without contact. We estimate she died not too much longer after she was dispatched.¡±

    The man in luxurious brigand robes, Dusvim, stroked his beard with a streak of grey in it as he leaned back against his chair. ¡°I¡¯ve lost contact with our snide inside Aeredale City. Does that fool believe he can y me? We¡¯ve conducted business for more than a year, and he chooses now, the most crucial of times to betray me?¡±

    ¡°Does that sound logical, Leader? What if there is another reason?¡±

    Dusvim¡¯s expression teemed with intrigue. He was curious to know this woman¡¯s opinion. ¡°Hmm? What do you suppose is the reason, Facina?¡±

    Facina, the woman with long sand-colored hair standing before Dusvim, exhaled before giving her opinion. ¡°What if the Merchant Association finally grew tired of your actions and dispatched someone powerful to deal with Deserea?¡±

    Dusvim grumbled while considering the likelihood of the situation happening. ¡°We chose the Aeredale Kingdom for a reason. It is neither a backbone of the Xesian Empire nor where the Merchant Association has ced its interest. Our sources have confirmed this.¡±

    After a brief pause, Dusvim continued. ¡°As a result, neither of these powers would pay close attention to the happenings or fate of the Aeredale Kingdom.¡±

    ¡°I understand. But, do you not believe there is a limit to everything? Even if those two powers won¡¯t step in, what about the Aeredale Kingdom pleading to surrounding kingdoms for help? Surely some ancient ally wille to their aid in their time of crisis,¡± Facina sighed, trying to get Dusvim to see the situation another way.

    However, Dusvim felt Facina was too naive.

    ¡°Have I spoiled my daughter so? You do not know the treachery of this world. Help? This world is one of the strong and the weak. If you are weak, you have no right to own tond you sleep upon. Unless it is in a kingdom¡¯s supreme interest, no kingdom wille to the aid of a struggling kingdom. They¡¯d rather watch it copse and swallow its remains.¡±

    Facina gasped after listening to Dusvim¡¯s recount of this world¡¯s views.

    ¡°Then¡­ how do we exin Deserea¡¯s death? She was one of the more talented Sand Controllers, so she could fend for herself in dangerous situations provided she was surrounded by sand.¡±

    ¡°Was she killed outside of sand?¡± Dusvim¡¯s brow rose. He wondered if Deserea made a foolish oversight that led to her death. If so, then the only one to me for her death was Deserea.

    ¡°No. We found Deserea¡¯s remains at the edge of the Desert of Crumbling Sands, right where we dispatched her to. Also, I feel whoever killed her¡­¡± Facina paused, considering whether or not to give her opinion on the matter.

    ¡°Go on. Don¡¯t bite your tongue, my daughter.¡± Dusvim gestured for Facina to speak.

    Facina¡¯s eyes dulled while her expression sank. ¡°I feel whoever killed her enjoyed doing it. Although she was dead, I could still feel the fear in her eyes as her bodyy in two parts. It was like she was killed slowly to give her time to understand her circumstances.

    Bisected?¡± Dusvim¡¯s gaze grew cold as the sand on the floor formed miniature swirls. ¡°Someone had the gall to desecrate the body of my beloved Deserea?!¡±

    Dusvim exhaled and regained hisposure while sping his hands once more. But that didn¡¯t mean he wasn¡¯t out for blood. He would undoubtedly find the culprit.

    ¡°How much of our forces have returned?¡±

    ¡°Approximately 95%. No more than 50 members have yet to reactivate their sigil.¡± Facina read off the information recorded on her clipboard.

    Of course, they weren¡¯t aware that some of the activations would never ur. Kieran had already killed a few on his way inside the structure.

    ¡°Have they entered the Deep Sands Chamber?¡±

    ¡°Many of them are making their way there as we speak. Have you decided our course of action?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Dusvim spoke clearly and stood up from his desk. He ced a special turban on his head, outfitted with what seemed to be an exquisite Magic Stone. When he put it on, the sand in arge radius trembled.

    A cold smile formed across Dusvim¡¯s lips. ¡°Our course of action¡­ is revenge.¡±

 Chapter 174 Deep Sands Chamber

    ¡ª

    The assemges of Desertborn Brigands increased the deeper Kieran and the others followed them inside the hideout. Eventually, the surroundings grew dark and ominous as Kieran switched ces with Altair.

    ¡°I¡¯ll lead for now since my vision is better. But that doesn¡¯t mean you can ck off, Aatrox. Keep your senses peeled,¡± Altair said while brushing past Kieran.

    Kieran lifted his head with an amused chuckle. ¡°Now, why would I ck off? There is so much to be done. This is only the beginning, so cking off is not an option.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just saying,¡± Altair shrugged.

    Afterward, the party followed Altair¡¯s lead, who moved more carefully than Kieran since he could see the Desertborn Brigands¡¯ action. They sometimes paused to converse with each other, which led to Altair stopping the party.

    Only once the Desertborn Brigands resumed their movement did Altair unclench his raised fist and motion for them to continue.

    However, after following these brigands for just over 20 minutes, a change urred.

    ¡°Stop¡­¡± Lux whispered.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Altair muttered. Although he was skeptical, he listened to Lux¡¯s suggestion. The senses of an elite yer like Lux were not to be ignored, even if they were more or less in the same caliber of skill.

    ¡°My passive is going haywire. It¡¯s like something far more powerful than anything else in thispound is nearby.¡±

    Kieran pondered Lux¡¯s words before nodding. ¡°It must be the be Head of the Desertborn Brigands. It¡¯s safe to assume we¡¯re approaching their location. We¡¯ll have to be even more careful from here on out.¡±

    ¡°Right. We¡¯re not looking to start a fight just yet. We need to map out the location before attacking them in batches,¡± Altair answered in a calm voice.<sub>.</sub>

    All of a sudden, everyone noticed that approximately 20 meters ahead, numerous Desertborn Brigands entered a wall on the left.

    ¡°A false wall?¡± Ezra¡¯s brows furrowed.

    ¡°Perhaps. Or it might be another mechanism activated with Sand Maniption. Either way, we have located where the brigands are gathering.¡±

    Kieran inched closer and hugged the wall while confirming his suspicions. Before the brigands entered the wall of sand, it rippled like water. The same ripple present in the maze outside.

    Kieran turned around and looked at Altair, Lux, and Luna. ¡°We¡¯ll wait a while longer, and then you three will venture throughout thepound so the system can plot a proper map.¡±

    Without a cartographer in the party, Kieran could only rely on the system to record the ces they¡¯ve visited.

    It might take longer than a cartographer drawing up a draft of the map, but that¡¯s why Kieran had those with the highest Agility assist him.

    Once Kieran confirmed that all the Desertborn Brigands inside thepound entered the Deep Sands Chamber, he split off from the ground and changed into the attire of one of the murdered brigands.

    If he used his heavy armor to record the hideout¡¯syout rapidly, his chances of being spotted were extremely high. There was no telling how keen the senses of the high-ranking members were, so Kieran decided to use the light garments the Desertborn Brigand wore.

    ¡°We can do that?¡± Lux asked in a dazed voice. He seemed baffled after watching Kieran change into a brigand¡¯s attire.

    ¡°What do you think? It¡¯s an infiltration mission. What better way to infiltrate than to blend in? While they aren¡¯t the best, the desert garments provide some protection,¡± Kieran answered.

    However, Lux shook his head. ¡°I mean, I thought we could only equip and unequip items in the character panel.¡±<sub></sub>

    ¡°Oh¡­.¡± Kieran stretched after feeling the weight of his heavy armor removed. ¡°No, why do you think the realism update happened? Small matters like these are also included with the increased realism.

    ¡°I see.¡±

    Lux looked around at the others, but their expression revealed their simrck of knowledge.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to change then. If I can make it past that obstacle, I may even infiltrate deeper.¡±

    Altair joined Kieran in switching his garments from his usual dark clothing. He looked no different from the Sand Thieves they battled against on their escort mission.

    After exining their course of action, Kieran took the northern section while the others split off into the other three directions.

    Whoosh!

    Kieran drained some of his Health with Blood Mania until his movement speed experienced a substantial increase.

    With the boost active, Kieran quickly traveled through the northern area, paying close attention to the areas absent from his mini-map.

    ¡®This northern area is vast and needlesslyplex. Actually, it somewhat resembles the crisscrossing pattern of the Sand Wormwork. Their leader must have drawn inspiration from those Sand Worms,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Even though his movement speed was double its initial value, Kieran didn¡¯t even map out half of the northern structure after sprinting for more than ten minutes. Thankfully, Stamina was no issue for him.

    Kieran turned to the Party Chat and spoke: ¡°How is the progress? My side is almost halfway there.¡±<sub></sub>

    Altair was the first toment. ¡°My progress is more or less simr. I¡¯ve activated my speed-enhancing ss buffs, so I should be finished in the next ten minutes.¡±

    Roughly 15 minutester¡­

    Everyone returned to the meeting point, but Altair stopped midway and hid. A lone Desertborn Leader entered thepound and headed toward the Deep Sands Chamber.

    Altair saw this as an opportunity.

    ¡°We¡¯ve got one,¡± Altair whispered into the chat before stealthily following behind the Desertborn Leader while activating Conceal. This skill reduced his presence, weight, and the noise of his actions by 50%.

    Due to Conceal, Altair¡¯s movements were akin to a silent ghost as he crept behind the brigand.

    ¡°?!¡± The Desertborn Leader turned around after feeling a presence on their back. However, when they saw nothing, they grunted and resumed their advance.

    Altair resumed following the Desertborn Leader, who seemed exceptionally on edge. ¡®Is it because of the blood at the entrance?¡¯ It¡¯s possible a member returned with wounds that required tending to.¡¯

    Kieran didn¡¯t just leave the dead bodies in the open; he moved them to a remote corner where barely any brigand foot traffic urred. This area¡¯sck of attention made for the perfect location to hide dead bodies.

    The Desertborn Leader turned around multiple times, but Altair secured a decent hiding spot every time. Eventually, the Desertborn Leader felt they had gone insane due to the nerves of their uing invasion.

    The Desertborn Leader soon arrived at the Deep Sands Chamber doorway and activated it, but at that moment, Kieran and Altair appeared like ghosts. One severed the Desertborn Leader¡¯s achilles tendon while the other slit their throat and soundlessly carried them away.

    ¡°Shh,¡± Kieran silenced the party before entering the Deep Sands Chamber alone.

    ¡­

    Inside the Deep Sands Chamber¡­

    The Deep Sand Chamber resembled a spacious auditorium where everything was constructed using sand. The seats were situated in ascending levels like a grand theatre, so Kieran chose a seat near the exit where he could make his presence sparse.

    After taking a seat, Kieran noticed the floor was upied by a few people dressed in noticeably more luxurious garments.

    ¡®Are those all the high-ranking members?¡¯ Kieran wondered. He looked at the man in the middle with a jeweled turban and understood their power outssed the rest. ¡®Definitely the leader.¡¯

    Aside from Dusvim, Facina was also present on the central tform below.

    Dusvim cleared his throat and spoke in a deep, maizing voice. ¡°Rejoice, my people! A day of sacred reckoning shall soon be upon us.¡±

    Hoorah!

    The Desertborn Brigands chanted while Kieran continued to listen to the speech.

    Dusvim¡¯s expression grew solemn. ¡°However, the events that have led up to this reckoning are unfortunate. Our precious Deserea is no more. And for this, the Desertborn Brigands must exact their revenge!¡±

    Exasperated gasps filled the Desertborn Brigand popce as murmurs grew prominent inside the Deep Sands Chamber.

    ¡°Revenge!¡±

    ¡°Revenge!¡±

    ¡°Justice for Deserea!¡±

    ¡°Someone had the gall to kill our Deserea, desecrate her corpse and several other of our brethren. This is uneptable, but we already know the culprit¡ªthe Aeredale Kingdom! They must know the might of our drowning sand!¡±

    Dusvim¡¯s voice carried a sort of hypnotizing effect as every brigand agreed with his views without a single expression of dissent.

    Dusvim then took a step back, allowing a young man dressed in simr robes to take the stand. This man was Desertborn Brigand¡¯s second inmand, Dusvim¡¯s only son, Vidal.

    ¡°The ruthless murder of my dear fiance is uneptable. We will avenge her swiftly and mercilessly. This atrocity shall not stand. Our first target¡ªAeredale City. We will settle the score,¡± Vidal said coldly.

    A sand squall erupted around his body as he gazed into the crowd. In terms of pure talent, Vidal outssed Dusvim. But the disparity in their age caused a natural chasm in their strength.

    ¡®Fiance?¡¯ Kieran thought with a cold gleam in his eyes. ¡®Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ll be joining her soon enough. A wondrous reunion in the afterlife, what a beautiful gift.¡¯

    ¡°We will move soon. Everyone is to return to their quarters and prepare your minds and body for war,¡± Vidal spoke. His voice was filled with an authority that wouldn¡¯t tolerate disobedience.

    Kieran had only joined during the end of the assembly, but he gathered enough information.

    Crrrck!

    Kieran cracked his neck and stood up before following the Desertborn Brigands that exited the Deep Sands Chamber in droves.

 Chapter 175 Onslaught Begins

    ¡ª

    Kieran returned to his party, who hid in an obscure part of the hideout they found after mapping the entire thing.

    ¡°Did you get any worthwhile information?¡±

    Altair was incredibly curious because Kieran wasn¡¯t in the Deep Sands Chamber for more than ten minutes. Extracting arge amount of information in that short time frame was a tall task.

    ¡°Nothing we didn¡¯t know. However, I did learn that while there are hundreds of henchmen, the leaders, captains, and other high-ranking members number less than 100. This quest is aplishable, but we¡¯ll have to split up.¡±

    ¡°In what way?¡± Ezra asked.

    ¡°As in, I¡¯ll move alone and cause arge distraction while you split up into two additional parties. Ezra and Altair will act as the leaders and choose their assisting dps and supports ordingly.¡±

    ¡°Why can¡¯t we just act as a single unit?¡± Alice questioned. She didn¡¯t like the idea of Kieran splitting up alone. Even though he was the strongest, their current predicament could turn awry at a moment¡¯s notice.

    Kieran could sense the concern in Alice¡¯s tone and merely smiled in return. ¡°Don¡¯t worry so much, Alice. If we don¡¯t split up, eradicating the brigands will be impossible.¡±

    Alice lowered her head and exhaled with pursed lips. ¡°How so?¡±

    ¡°Look at the structure we mapped out. It¡¯s tooplicated to attack a single front. We must expand our faces andmence a two-prong or three-prong attack. Letting them concentrate their forces in one area will be our downfall.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ Aatrox, you¡¯ll be alone,¡± Luna interjected. She understood why Alice was so worried. While the others would operate in a four and five-man party, Kieran would be left alone.

    ¡°I know,¡± Kieran¡¯s tone didn¡¯t disy fear or worry. It only held confidence and a thirst for battle.

    ¡°Trying to change Aatrox¡¯s mind is pointless. Just have faith in his abilities and let him act alone,¡± Nemean voiced. He understood Kieran¡¯s intentions and advocated for his lone wolf behavior.

    Kieran¡¯s attacks were truly destructive, so operating with the party would impose limits upon how fierce he could be.

    Luna and Alice released identical sighs, but Kieran quickly rified his reason.<sub>.</sub>

    ¡°I¡¯m not acting alone because I don¡¯t trust you all. It¡¯s quite the opposite. I will generate arge disturbance that gains all the attention while you allmence the vital part of the attack. Get it done quickly, and you¡¯ll join me soon enough.¡±

    ¡°If you die¡­. I¡¯ll being after you. Defeat is not something that can happen on our path to greatness. And, if you are defeated, that¡¯ll only happen by my hands,¡± Altair said before extending his fist with a smug smirk.

    Thud!

    Kieran extended his fist as well while watching the others pick their members. Their decision was surprisingly bnced. Altair chose Luna, Nemean, and Sera. At the same time, Erza chose Bastion, Lux, Cam, and Alice.

    Alice and Luna possessed Unique Weapons, so their damage-dealing capabilities were excellent. Sera was also a fantastic healer whose timing and awareness grew with every encounter.

    Lastly, Altair chose Nemean over Bastion because Kieran told him to create a 4-man party and let Ezra lead a 5-man.

    In a sense, this served as a challenge for Altair. Kieran understood what he could do but needed Altair¡¯s capabilities to strengthen quicker.

    Meanwhile, Ezra¡¯s damage output neutralized Bastion¡¯sck of damage. The disparity was covered by Alice and Lux¡¯s significant yet unsustainable damage outputs.

    Kieran waited until the Desertborn Brigands returned to their respective areas before signaling to the party. ¡°Good luck.¡±

    Just as Kieran was about to run off, Alice grabbed his hand. ¡°Good luck, Aatrox. Don¡¯t take on more than you can handle.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve got this,¡± Kieran confidently consoled Alice by cing his hand on hers. Afterward, they retracted their hands, and Kieran turned into a crimson streak.

    Kieran kept his disguise as a Desertborn Brigand, but he equipped his trusted Crimson Ashrune de. He ced his hand on the crimson etchings and whispered. ¡®It¡¯s you and me, buddy. Let¡¯s deliver a glorious disy.¡¯

    While Kieran headed toward the area where Desertborn Leaders were stationed, Altair headed toward the Brigand Henchmen quarters, and Ezra¡¯s group targeted the Brigand Captains.

    Before he stepped inside the area, Kieran inhaled and released a deafening roar. ¡°Intruder!¡±

    Kieran¡¯s deep voice carried throughout the entire structure as Desertborn Leader appeared in quick session to understand the situation at hand. They were confused when a single man stood in their uniform but held an unfamiliar weapon with his head angled down.<sub></sub>

    ¡°Where is the intruder?!¡±

    ¡°Who screamed like that?!¡±

    ¡°That weapon¡ªis it a spoil of your journey?¡±

    ¡°Ignore the weapon, you buffoon. We need to find the intruder and quickly deal with them.¡±

    ¡°There is no reason to search. I¡¯ve already found the intruder,¡± Kieran said.

    His voice was deep and menacing as a sanguine wind whirled around his body. The runic characters on Crimson Ashrune lit up with a gory light as a Vampiric Blood Encrustation filled its length.

    ¡°What is that power? Just what type of weapon have youe across?¡±

    ¡°No¡­ the more pressing matter is where is the intruder?¡±

    ¡°Right here,¡± Kieran said while lifting his head.

    ¡´System: ?Revenge Predator? has activated!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have acquired 47 stacks of ?Hunt?!¡µ

    Kieran slowly lifted his hand, which sent out an obscure ripple.

    ¡´System: 47 enemies have been marked as ?Prey?!¡µ

    Crrck!

    Kieran cracked his neck and sped toward the dense gathering of Desertborn Leader.<sub></sub>

    Panic filled their eyes as they came to a realization. ¡°Disguise! The intruder is in disguise! Don¡¯t be fooled by their outward appearance. They are not one of us!¡±

    Whoosh!

    The Desertborn Leaders quickly reacted, wielding the tremendous amount of sand inside thepound to createrge sand pirs. These sand pirs were designed to thwart Kieran¡¯s advance, but they failed miserably.

    Kieran employed an el Shift whenever a new sand pir erupted, avoiding the iing attack with minimal Stamina Consumption.

    Kieran arrived before the first victim. Crimson Ashrune lit up with the glow of Sanguine shes as he cleaved down swiftly. It was a basic attack, but it dealt upwards of 10,000 damage.

    Kieran spun and unleashed a Crimson Barrage that cut through several sand pirs like butter in one fluid movement.

    Ugh! Aggch!

    Pained groans sounded as Kieran¡¯s strengthened Crimson Barrage wreaked havoc through the ranks of Desertborn Leaders!

    -70,130

    The Desertborn Leaders struck by all 6 of the Crimson Barrages were immediately killed as Kieran unleashed more than 400,000 damage instantly.

    Kieran¡¯s Experience bar jumped, but not as high as he hoped now that the level difference was minimal. Nevertheless, all Experience was good Experience in Kieran¡¯s eyes.

    Suddenly, a Desertborn Leader dashed toward Kieran with a giant mace constructed from sand. Compared to the other Desertborn Leaders, this adversary appeared quite muscr.

    Bang!

    Kieran slid back a few steps after receiving a blow, but in the next moment, his gaze sharpened, and he looked at the Desertborn Leader as if they were a dead man walking.

    Zeut! Booom!

    Kieran performed a movement akin to teleportation as he used Burst Step to close the immediate distance separating him and thisrge enemy. While he moved, blood aggregated over Crimson Ashrune and doubled the Vampiric Blood Encrustation¡¯s size.

    Seethe Burst!

    Blood sttered across the hideout¡¯s wall as Crimson Ashrune¡¯s outeryer exploded, creating a horrifying scene.

    -46,647

    -696,214! [Critical Hit!]

    ¡°Who is this guy?!¡± A Desertborn Leader roared after witnessing the mutted remains of some of their brethren sttered across the hideout¡¯s walls.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but alert the higher-ups! A monster has walked into our sacred grounds, and they need to be put down!¡±

    ¡°On it!¡±

    While a few Desertborn Leaders separated from the group, numerous rotating sand shurikens whizzed through the air, all aimed at Kieran.

    Peng! Peng! Peng!

    ¡®Tch¡­ they have the advantage in numbers,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    The constant impact from many of these sand shurikens drove him back, limiting his ability to respond to the distancing Desertborn Leaders.

    At the same time, sand spears formed on the adjacent walls.

    Swoosh!

    Kieran pushed off his front leg, dodging the spears that impacted the wall and merged together seemingly.

    ¡®They¡¯re in their environment. This alone puts me at a disadvantage.¡¯ Kieran¡¯s gazended on the walls briefly.

    Aside from the abundance of sand, Kieran also noticed the Desertborn Leaders didn¡¯t adhere to one style of Sand Maniption. There was a variety amidst the crowd.

    For example, one Desertborn Leader approached Kieran with a martial arts style wielding method.

    Sand whipped toward Kieran as he dodged the flowing movements of this particr Desertborn Leader. Compared to the rest, who were only Elite NPCs, this opponent appeared as a Rare NPC.

    ¡®Fast¡­¡¯ Kieran noted.

    The rapid attacks made Kieran repeatedly retreat to avoid suffering damage. However, he didn¡¯t only withdraw during this time. The Desertborn Leader¡¯s every move was absorbed by Kieran.

    It took a few seconds, but Kieran¡¯s grasp of the opponent¡¯s rhythm steadily increased.

    ¡°Got it,¡± Kieran muttered to himself.

    Bang!

    Kieran made a move that matched the Desertborn Leader¡¯s, but this well-timed action was superimposed with Fury Rush.

    -60,139 ?Fainted?

    -126,386

    ¡´Battle Alert: ?Desertborn Leader?¡¯s Defense has been reduced by 50%!¡µ

    Arge current of dense blood energy swept throughout the sand corridor a second after Kieran received this notification.

    -431,518! [Critical Hit]

    Kieran slowly stepped through the puddle of blood and over the additional dead body while casually waving his hand. Blood chains erupted from the pool, restricting twelve Desertborn Leaders¡¯ movements.

    Kieran¡¯s cold and emotionless voice rang throughout the corridor filled with aghast Desertborn Leaders.

    ¡°My onught has begun. Today marks the end of the Desertborn Brigands.¡±

 Chapter 176 Aatrox vs. Vidal (I)

    ¡ª

    Kieran¡¯s menacing threat terrified the remaining Desertborn Leaders. Despite their overwhelming advantage of numbers, Kieran¡¯s fearsome attacks rapidly reduced their numbers to the point they felt he was inhuman!

    How could someone who didn¡¯t radiate any Advanced Pressure be so strong? Advanced Pressure was a type of presence Tier 2 Existences imposed upon weaker individuals.

    The brigands understood that their opponent had yet to advance because of this fact, which frightened them further. This man before them was abnormally strong!

    Kieran¡¯s cold eyes scanned the Desertborn Leaders that retreated earlier and watched as they merged with a few walls.

    A faint smile appeared across Kieran¡¯s lips as he nodded.

    Judging by his reaction, Kieran evidently let those brigand members retreat. If he wanted to kill them all, he would have activated Sanguinem Tempests in the beginning and shredded them all to death instantly.

    But, that wasn¡¯t Kieran¡¯s intention.

    His priority was creating a massive disturbance and drawing attention to himself. To maximize the effects of his distraction, there needed to be survivors who alerted the other higher-ups.

    After all, from what Kieran saw, Desertborn Leaders weren¡¯t the next strongest power under the leader. There were also the Sand Controllers that weren¡¯t much weaker than Deserea.

    In some cases, enemies in this hideout may be more powerful than her.

    Kieran clenched his free hand, and the blood chains binding the Desertborn Leaders constricted, causing howls of pain to echo throughout the sand corridor.

    Despite the blood-curdling screams, Kieran continued to close his hand.

    Blood Bind wasn¡¯t just a crowd-controlling skill; it could also deal substantial damage if Kieran could manipte it properly, which is why the system graded it so highly.<sub>.</sub>

    While the Desertborn Leaders howled in pain, they lost approximately 1% of their Health every second from the acquired Bleed stacks.

    After savoring the state of his enemies, Kieran nced around after noticing signs ofrge movements.

    ¡®They¡¯reing,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Whoosh!

    Kieran dashed through the gory scene and came to a sliding halt as he ced his hand on the ground with Crimson Ashrune slicing through the wall. Kieran employed his heightened Perception to sense the location of several opponents.

    All the while, he continued absorbing the bleeding vitality from the Desertborn Leaders to supply his next attack.

    Thud! Thud! Thud!

    Tens of Desertborne Captain and Henchmens ran toward Kieran from the way he came, but he smiled.

    ¡°Wrath Eruption!¡±

    BOOM!

    A dreadful explosion urred as the heavily overcharged Wrath Eruption blew a hole through the corridors¡¯ ceiling. Sand poured in quickly, burying the tattered body of those unfortunate enough to suffer a direct hit from this strengthened Wrath Eruption.

    Due to the number of enemies killed in a short amount of time, Kieran forgot to pay attention to his Experience Bar.

    ¡´System: You have leveled up. [Lv.38¡úLv.39]¡µ<sub></sub>

    ¡´System: You have received 12 Unassigned Attribute Points and 8 Skill Points.¡µ

    In less than ten minutes, Kieran killed enough brigands to level up!

    That was over 1.1 million Experience Points in less than 10 minutes. But, considering that he now required 1.2 million Experience Points to reach Lv.40, Kieran knew there would be several more situations like this.

    Nevertheless, Kieran was astonished by the effects of his actions. ¡®Is this the true way to wield the True Berserker ss? Using an opponent¡¯s vitality to unleash untold destruction?¡¯

    The more Kieran learned about the ss, the more he adored its power and practicality. Who could go against him if he mastered this power?

    Kieran felt on top of the world.

    But, just as his excitement peaked, his eyes narrowed. He noticed an unusual presence not too far away.

    ¡°You have to gall to infiltrate our home and wreak havoc like this?¡±

    Arge hard passed through the pouring sand and parted it with ease. But, that wasn¡¯t all. The sand gradually stopped pouring in, and the flow reversed, soon patching the damage done to the ceiling.

    Once the sand cleared, a young man with dark blue hair that ended just past their forehead but was slightly longer in the back appeared before Kieran. This young man¡¯s Aegean blue eyes zed with outrage as he gazed at Kieran.

    Kieran remembered this individual from the Deep Sands Chamber. It was the young man to speak after the Desertborn Brigand¡¯s Head, Dusvim¡¯s son Vidal.

    However, what made Kieran cautious was both Vidal¡¯s level and rank.

    ¡¸ Lv.43 Vidal, The Quelling Sand (Titled Rare NPC)<sub></sub>

    ss: Sand Controller

    Health: 3,100,000/3,100,000 (100%)

    Affiliations: Desertborn Brigands ¡¹

    ¡®He¡¯s not normal¡­ He¡¯s a Titled NPC,¡¯ Kieran thought. Titles were a symbol of strength amongst the NPCs. Any NPC that held a titlemanded respect because an NPC with a title outssed regr NPCs of the same ranking.

    Furthermore, their titles gave insight into why the NPC received such a title. In Vidal¡¯s case, the title ¡®Quelling Sand¡¯ referred to his exquisite control over sand. Kieran wasn¡¯t sure to what extent it applied, but he knew it was already far superior to Deserea.

    ¡®His Sand Mana¡¯s casting speed, affinity, and other aspects must be rmingly high,¡¯ Kieran thought to himself. His grasp around Crimson Ashrune subconsciously tightened as he gazed upon Vidal.

    However, Kieran suddenly trembled when he raised Crimson Ashrune to defend.

    Bang!

    It was like a sledgehammer hadnded upon his weapon. The incredible force from a tiny sphere sent Kieran flying backward.

    Vidal stood in the same position while silently wiggling his fingers. Sand spheres, simr to bullets in size, danced between his fingers as Vidal continued to observe the carnage around him.

    Only after he watched Kieran recover did Vidal speak again. ¡°You have killed countless of my subordinates.¡±

    ¡°And they¡¯ll continue to die.¡± Kieran stood up and answered back while cracking his neck. The power in the sand sphere caught him off guard because Vidal fired it faster than a bullet.

    Furthermore, there was no sound and little indication of when it moved. Titled NPCs were in apletely different league regarding control,bat standards, and attributes.

    The fact that Vidal possessed more than 3 million Health clearly indicated he¡¯d be a difficult opponent.

    After all, he didn¡¯t seem like a ss focused on Defense. Most maniption sses stemmed from a Mage background since they relied upon a deep connection with a distinct type of Mana.

    Whoosh!

    Kieran responded by suddenlyunching a Blood Wave.

    But, Vidal snickered while tilting his head. ¡°What an amusing counterattack.¡±

    He flicked his hand in the next moment, making three sand spheres levitate before him. They rotated quickly and absorbed the surrounding sand until the three spinning balls neutralized Kieran¡¯s Blood Wave.

    Kieran¡¯s jaw flexed as he gnashed his teeth. ¡®Even though it was only a probing attack, I was correct. His Sand Maniption outsses anything I¡¯ve seen thus far. It¡¯s as if the sand ispletely subservient to him.¡¯

    After revolving for a while longer, the three spheres sped toward Kieran as Vidal snapped his fingers.

    Kieran didn¡¯t move. Instead, he analyzed the iing projectiles.

    Bang!

    A deep indent formed in the ground as Kieran shifted across the same point andpounded this action with Burst Step. Kieran¡¯s sudden boost in movement speed slipped through the small gap in the three sphere¡¯s rotation.

    Vidal¡¯s brow arched in surprise, but the sudden approach didn¡¯t spook him. Tiny wisps of sand surrounded his hands seconds before pping them together.

    Eight gigantic palm impressions formed on the adjacent walls as Kieran dashed toward Vidal. These palms solidified in a second and aimed toe together in the corridor¡¯s center.

    Bang!

    The first sand p missed, but they urred faster than Kieran expected.

    Bang! Bang! Bang!

    Before Kieran could reach Vidal, he was forced to abandon his approach. ¡®This guy.¡­ Long-range attacks aren¡¯t very effective. And his lightning-quick Sand Maniption is too quick to close the distance from this far.¡¯

    ¡°I am unlike these other members you have faced. I don¡¯t know how you arrived here, but you won¡¯t be leaving,¡± Vidal said confidently.

    Kieran clicked his tongue repeatedly. ¡°That¡¯s funny. I was going to say the same thing to you, but that wasn¡¯t quite right. I suppose I should tweak my words. It¡¯s not that you won¡¯t be leaving this ce. Rather, you¡¯ll meet your beloved Deserea soon enough.¡±

    Vidal froze after hearing Deserea¡¯s name. His confident countenance darkened as a cold fury surfaced in his gaze. ¡°Watch the nonsense you spew. Certain ims will hasten your demise.¡±

    ¡°Ah, you ignorant boy,¡± Kieran sighed exaggeratedly. ¡°It¡¯s not a im. It¡¯s a fact. You know what, I¡¯ll even sweeten the deal for you¡­.¡± Kieran¡¯s gaze grew emotionless. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you the same way I did Deserea, cleaved in half without a soul to watch her depart this world.¡±

    BOOM!

    A sandstorm urred indoors as Vidal¡¯s fury erupted to a frightening extent. ¡°It was you? You¡¯re the wastrel responsible for Deserea¡¯s death?!¡±

    A type of beige gauntlet gradually appeared around Vidal¡¯s hands as the intense squall surrounding his body ripped apart the hideout¡¯s walls. The gauntlet possessed metallic traits, but it was so slender and malleable one could mistake it for leather.

    Kieran¡¯s curiosity piqued while watching Vidal¡¯s gauntlets release familiar Mana undtions. ¡®An augmentation-type weapon?¡¯

    Augmentation-type weapons are weapons NPCs wielded with the sole purpose of increasing one aspect ofbat. It was like Kieran¡¯s Crimson Ashrune de, which only increased his True Berserker capabilities.

 Chapter 177 Aatrox vs. Vidal (II)

    ¡ª

    After this gauntlet appeared, it was as if Vidal¡¯s entire demeanor changed.

    He gained an imposing presence that made the sand around him tremble as if he were the seconding of some ancient desert emperor withplete sovereignty over his surroundings.

    Kieran twirled Crimson Ashrune and lowered his stance while preparing for Vidal¡¯s approach. After all, Kieran didn¡¯t make thatment for no reason.

    It was a n devised after learning of Vidal¡¯s rtionship with Deserea inside the Deep Sands Chamber.

    After learning of Vidal¡¯s rating, Kieran understood he was a formidable opponent that would require unorthodox methods to ovee, especially if he was to perform this battle alone.

    Bang!

    Vidal mmed his foot into the ground and punched forward. This action gathered sand in the form of a giant fist that inted until it was the size of the expanded corridor. Vidal¡¯s fury-driven attack left no route for escape.

    As the attack neared Kieran, dense crimson gases seeped from his body and solidified, forming a translucent crimson barrier. This barrier was naturally the Sacfricial Barrier attached to Crimson Ashrune that Kieran had yet to employ until now.

    Boom!

    The fist collided with the Sacrificial Barrier, and the entire thing trembled, but Kieran remained stable, unaffected by the force of Vidal¡¯s attack.

    -1,675 ?Sacrifical Barrier: 11,725/13,400?

    Although Kieran remained stable, Vidal¡¯s one attack depleted the Sacrificial Barrier¡¯s durability by more than 10%. It could only withstand another seven hits before it shatteredpletely.

    But, Kieran remained rooted in ce while watching Vidal unleash a rapid series of different movements.

    Bang! Bang!<sub>.</sub>

    Each attack reduced the Sacrificial Barrier¡¯s stability, ranging from 8 to 13% per attack.

    ¡®His movements are simr to the martial artist type from earlier, but he also incorporates long-range control attacks.¡¯

    Kieran continued to analyze Vidal¡¯s actions before considering his options. ¡®Ruinous Negation? No, it¡¯s not worth the threat of severe Mental Weakness. Abhorrent Paroxysm? No. There¡¯s still the matter of the Head Brigand. Walking into that battle at an initial disadvantage would be foolish.¡¯

    As he pondered his options, Kieran peeked at the growing cracks on the barrier¡¯s exterior. ¡®I¡¯m running out of time.¡¯

    There was Deranged Spirit, but using that skill now meant Kieran couldn¡¯t rely upon it in times of crisis for another 24 hours. Retreat would be impossible once everyone learned of their presence, so using it now wasn¡¯t ideal.

    Deranged Spirit should be saved for times of peril, which Kieran didn¡¯t ssify this as.

    Then, it hit Kieran. He understood how to ovee his current predicament.

    ¡´System: Do you wish to level up ?Sanguine shes?? [ Y | N ]¡µ

    ¡°Yes,¡± Kieran decided.

    ¡´System: Sanguine shes has reached its maximum level. To increase the skill ceiling, please advance your ss.¡µ

    At the same time¡­.

    ¡´System: Your Agility has risen to 550!¡µ

    Kieran wasn¡¯t worried about insufficient damage output. However, he was concerned about reaching Vidal. That frightening casting speed was a problem that could only be ovee with more raw speed and increased range.

    Thus, Kieran consumed most of his Unassigned Attribute Points to increase his Agility. The closer his Agility approached his Strength, the faster his explosive movements would be. Strength and Agility worked hand in hand to achieve eleration.<sub></sub>

    Two seconds after making this decision, the Sacrificial Barrier shattered.

    Vidal revealed a cold smirk while stifling his chuckle. ¡°You¡¯re only prolonging the inevitable. I will obtain vengeance for my beloved.¡±

    Numerous sand twisters converged on Kieran¡¯s current position, but he lifted his head and returned a confident stare. ¡°Not vengeance. You¡¯ll receive a first-ss ticket to meet your beloved.¡±

    Bang!

    Kieran erupted with an astonishing burst of speed but controlled the bacsh well. He weaved through Vidal¡¯s sand twisters, seemingly disappearing with each step while the Vampiric Blood Encrustation enveloping Crimson Ashrune gained an additional viscous coating.

    Kieran shed his de. It was a simple attack, but an arc of blood akin to the ones created during Crimson Barrage split from his de and traveled toward Vidal at incredible speeds.

    Once, twice, thrice¡­.

    Kieran relentlessly shed his greatsword until the color red deluged the sand corridor. This wasn¡¯t Blood Wave, Crimson Barrage, or Crimson Current that aplished this feat¡ªit was all basic attacks.

    As for the reason why? It was rted to Sanguine shes¡¯ current level.

    Kieran had dumped an ungodly amount of Skill Points into its despite the fact it was only a C Rank Skill. Its effects were too valuable to ignore.

    Moreover, it was a crucial part of Kieran¡¯s power because Sanguine shes ensured that his attacks inflicted Bleed stacks upon his opponents.

    ¡°What is this power you wield?¡± Vidal pursed his lips and punched the ground.

    An immense surge of sand arose from the ground, attempting to swallow the iing attacks, but it didn¡¯t go as nned.

    The sand corridor was filled with red and beige as Kieran¡¯s attack and Vidal¡¯s counterattack shed against each other. The hall trembled and expanded further as the walls thinned, bleeding into the lower members¡¯ private quarters.<sub></sub>

    Their battle grew destructive enough to morph their surroundings. Even if it wasn¡¯t the strongest of materials, this hideout was sturdy, seeing as it hadn¡¯t suffered any copses despite being so far underground.

    But, poke enough holes in even the sturdiest of walls, and it¡¯ll eventuallye crumbling down.

    This was true because most of the decayed sand pockets in the Deserts of Crumbling Sands and Treacherous Sands were copsed Sand Wormworks that had previously suffered from mysterious structuralpromises.

    As these two attacks shed against one another, Desertborn Brigand members noticed Vidal¡¯s presence.

    ¡°Vice Head!¡±

    ¡°Should we assist you in apprehending the

    Kieran peered through the small gap in their sh and noticed many enemies entering his range. Not his attack range, but his sensing range. As a result, notifications continued topile before Kieran¡¯s eyes.

    ¡´System: Your stacks of ?Hunt? has increased to 15.¡µ

    ¡´System: Your stacks of ?Hunt? has risen to 36.¡µ

    ¡´System: Your stacks of ?Hunt? has risen to 54.¡µ

    ¡´System: ?Predator Hunt? is now essible if you wish to use it.¡µ

    Kieran eyed thest notification after recalling its presence.

    Predator Hunt was a vague and unique ability attached to his strengthened Vengeful Soul. Because it required numerous enemies, fulfilling the requirements to activate it was challenging.

    In fact, times of war or invasion-style quests like the one Kieran currently embarked on were some of the limited options to acquire so many enemies.

    Nevertheless, since Kieran didn¡¯t wish to use up hisst reserve abilities, he opted for this foreign ability. Not only was he curious about Predator Hunt¡¯s uses, but also its effects.

    In the end, it stemmed from his Vengeful Soul. It couldn¡¯t be straightforward.

    Kieran¡¯s long, frayed hair swayed erratically as it lengthened and thickened like an enraged beast¡¯s mane. Small but defined veins

    ¡´System: You have entered ?Predator Hunt?.¡µ

    ¡´System: While ?Predator Hunt? is active, all enemies within sensing range are marked as ?Prey?.¡µ

    ¡´System: During ?Predator Hunt?, the user¡¯s Attack and Movement Speed are increased by 200%, and attacks on ?Prey? have a higher chance of bing Criticals.¡µ

    ¡´System: ?Prey? killed during ?Predator Hunt? replenishes two stacks of Hunt.¡µ

    ¡´System: ?Predator Hunt?¡¯s current duration: 50 seconds. [Expending 1 ?Hunt? stack can increase the duration by 1 second.]¡µ

    The effects of Predator Hunt filled Kieran¡¯s limbs with vigor as his expression grew savage yet

 Chapter 178 Aatrox vs. Vidal (III)

    ¡ª

    Inside the henchmen quarters¡­

    Altair led Nemean and Luna through the Desertborn Henchmen circling to their rear.

    Although they couldn¡¯t tackle every person, evident by how many enemies flooded Kieran¡¯s position, they aplished what they set out to do¡ªreduce their numbers as much as humanly possible.

    ¡°Nemean, hold them back,¡± Altair ordered.

    While delivering this order, Altair maneuvered through their rear and picked off the furthest enemies. However, the Desertborn Henchmen soon noticed something wrong with their situation.

    ¡°Wait! We¡¯re being attacked! There are dead bodies on the ground!¡± One henchman called out. They were near Altair¡¯s general position, but unlike Kieran, whose power couldn¡¯t blend in, Altair was the perfect deception.

    ¡°Where are theying from?¡± Altair asked while sneakily moving his daggers. The des of his Sand Emperor Thorns lengthened as Altair disguised himself as a genuine member of the brigands.

    ¡°I believe it¡¯s those people at the back! We need to alert the captains and leaders that there is more than one intrude¡ª!¡±

    Before the brigand couldplete his answer, Altair¡¯s cold dagger plunged into their neck, and a sandsso wrapped around and choked the brigand until they stopped convulsing and breathing altogether.

    Bang!

    Nemean dashed past and smashed another brigand into the wall. But, Luna quickly assisted his movements and created infrequent sand squalls while delivering countless basic attacks.

    The Desertborn Brigands¡¯ numbers declined rapidly as Sera advanced at a safe distance and supplied heals when needed.

    ¡°What is going on?! How are we being attacked like this?¡± One of the members screeched.<sub>.</sub>

    They could tell from the cataclysmic tremors that a heated battle waged on. But, in their opinion, the explosions happened too frequently. So frequently that the brigands suspected it wasn¡¯t just one fight taking ce but many.

    However, this thought begged a critical question. How could so many people infiltrate their otherwise imprable hideout without anyone being the wiser? The answer was self-preservation.

    The will to live wasn¡¯t something that could be overwritten unless an individual¡¯s life was incredibly dismal. Even then, regret and unwillingness would arise in an individual just before death.

    It was an instinctual response, the want and desire to preserve their life. After all, what did death feel like? It was a question no living human or organism, in general, could answer.

    ¡°Agch!¡±

    The hideout descended into a state of disarray as the brigand¡¯s movements became sloppy without the guidance of their higher-ups. Furthermore, Altair and the others found the fights to be less demanding.

    The additional passive or active skills quelled the upset between yers and NPCs, especially if the yer was exceptional and understood how to wield their ss.

    After reaching Lv.40, Altair obtained a skill known as Shadow Strafe, which had two uses. The skill could be used to increase movement in dark ces or to quite literally strafe through shadows.

    This skill was how Altair appeared behind certain henchmen soundlessly andtched onto them before it was toote.

    With thebined efforts of Altair, Luna, and Nemean, bodies quickly piled up in their areas while their Experience Bars steadily increased.

    ¡°Altair, should we continue doing this or check on Aatrox? There¡¯s no telling if he¡¯s okay. After all, he took the most dangerous route.¡± Luna¡¯s concerns weren¡¯t unfounded. Kieran chose the area closest to the Deep Sands Chamber¡¯s entrance, which is why Vidal appeared so quickly.

    While his father retired elsewhere, Vidal remained in the chamber, brooding over the death of his beloved.

    However, he couldn¡¯t brood for long and rming signs of battle broke out.<sub></sub>

    ¡°Check on Aatrox?¡± Altair fell silent and nced at the party menu.

    Because Kieran broke the team up, Altair could only monitor the three other yers nearby. But, given the earlier thunderous noises persisting through the mayhem, Altair felt Kieran was fine.

    ¡°No, we¡¯ll continue with the mission he has given us. There¡¯s no reason to disobey a direct order. He¡¯ll pull through and aplish what¡¯s needed of him. In the meantime, we¡¯ll do the same.¡±

    Altair ultimately decided against abandoning their post, and Luna had to respect his decision since Altair was the acting leader of this small party.

    ¡°What are you so worried about? Don¡¯t you know that guy is a damned monster? I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he copses this entire ce,¡± Nemean joked.

    However, worry shed in both Altair and Luna¡¯s eyes. They hadn¡¯t thought about that! What if he actually did cause this ce¡¯s copse while they were still inside? How would that affect them?

    Neither Altair nor Kieran¡¯s name had yet to recover from their Third Degree Infamy. Infamy didn¡¯t just vanish in thin air. It reduced marginally with every hour spent without criminal incidents.

    Right now, both Kieran and Altair¡¯s names fell to the precipice between Third and Second Degree Infamy. Death at this point would potentially reset all of their progress.

    Luna and Altair looked at each other grimly.

    ¡°We¡¯ll just have to make sure that doesn¡¯t happen,¡± Altair said.

    ¡°Agreed,¡± Luna nodded.

    ¡­

    Inside the corridor before the Deep Sands Chamber¡­<sub></sub>

    Kieran slid back, and so did Vidal after their earlier sh. Kieran shook off the dizziness felt after the impact and grinned.

    ¡®This Predator Hunt ability isn¡¯t too shabby. I¡¯m fast. No, that¡¯s an understatement. My speed right now isn¡¯t inferior to an Advanced Being. However, the duration¡­.¡¯

    Kieran looked at the rapidly declining timer in the corner of his eyes.

    Although killing the straggling Desertborn members rewarded double the Hunt stacks, Vidal wasn¡¯t an opponent he could kill instantly, especially with the items on his person.

    ¡®That spear and gauntlet aren¡¯t normal. I didn¡¯t take him as someone who wielded a weapon, but looks can be deceiving. I guess he¡¯s a medley of all the brigand faced thus far,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    The variations in Vidal¡¯s attack style resembled many of the brigands Kieran killed up until this point. Weapon-wielding ones, distant sand-controlling ones, and martial arts users.

    Although Vidal was a difficult opponent, Kieran¡¯s battle thirst bubbled over. He couldn¡¯t contain his excitement when the prospect of growing stronger filled his mind.

    ¡®A strong opponent,¡¯ Kieran beamed. He then looked past Vidal. ¡®I¡¯ll extend this state as long as possible.¡¯

    Whoosh!

    Kieran charged at Vidal while an unusual change happened on Crimson Ashrune¡¯s exterior. Bubbles formed but didn¡¯t pop as the de¡¯s edge gained a texture simr to roiling water.

    This change was Kieran activating another ability he had yet to use thus far, Blood Boom. A skill that increased his destructiveness on arge scale and his damage in general

    ng! ng! ng! ng!

    Therge greatsword and spear shed against each other several times, but Vidal¡¯s expression soured when he felt his spear recoil. ¡®What is that feeling?¡¯

    -2,885

    The damage might seem inconsequential whenpared to Vidal¡¯s whopping 3.1 million Health, but it was damage caused by Blood Boom¡¯s residual effect, not Kieran¡¯s actual attack.

    ¡®It isn¡¯t bad. With my current attack speed¡­.¡¯

    Kieran believed to have found his route to victory¡ªoverwhelming speed. Berserker¡¯s Burden, Predator Hunt, and Tormented Beliefs worked together to neutralize and enhance Kieran¡¯s attack speed to a level that betrayed his identity as a ¡°slow¡± Berserker.

    Bang! Bang! Bang!

    Kieran swung his de three times in an instant. Vidal¡¯s spear blocked one, but thest two were performed at such an odd angle that Vidal didn¡¯t know how to approach.

    -6,739

    -10,705! [Critical Hit]

    Two cuts opened on Vidal¡¯s shoulder as a bleeding icon appeared in Kieran¡¯s vision. Sanguine shes sessfully inflicted Bleed upon Vidal, especially after reaching its current level.

    ¡°What tricks are you ying here?¡± Vidal felt something was amiss. Those attacks weren¡¯t strong enough to make him bleed, yet they did.

    ¡°Tricks? No tricks. You will learn what happens when you¡¯re in the presence of a superior individual,¡± Kieran answered coldly.

    ng! ng!

    Kieran repeated the same movement, but hisst attack birthed an eruption of blood this time. It was evident Kieran was bing more skilled at using his ss abilities because he used Crimson Ashrune as a medium to unleash his Wrath Eruption.

    -88,948

    Boom!

    The Wrath Eruption mmed Vidal through a wall but not before bulldozing countless Desertborn Henchmen as if he were a human-sized bowling ball.

    Vidal rattled his head while pressed against a wall before spitting on the ground with an amused gaze. ¡°You call that power?¡±

    Oom!

    An ominous hum surrounded Kieran as he felt the sand beneath his feet vibrate. He retreated instantly while the ground erupted.

    ¡°?!¡±

    Kieran¡¯s expression changed when he noticed that attack. ¡®He just copied by Wrath Eruption.¡¯

    ¡°I am the Quelling Sand, you fool. I can aplish anything I wish while in my domain.¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, those lofty ims usually lead to one¡¯s untimely demise,¡± Kieran ignored Vidal¡¯s grand statements. A title didn¡¯t mean they were omnipotent, and Kieran would prove this.

    The desire to thoroughly crush this opponent sprouted in Kieran as he strolled through the corridor with a slow, measured gait.

    Kieran inhaled deeply as his heart rate elerated. The blood flowing through his body hastened and boiled as if in ordance with his thoughts.

 Chapter 179 What Am I?

    ¡ª

    This change wasn¡¯t the activation of any skill or rted to a slumbering power. It was simply the awakening of a True Berserker¡¯s demeanor, excitement aroused by their opponent¡¯s strength.

    Recently, Kieran felt his opponents didn¡¯t stimte him enough. Aside from the battle against the Colossal Mother Worm, there wasn¡¯t much excitement. Most of his opponents would fall beneath his skills within one or two minutes.

    This wasn¡¯t long enough to have an exciting battle in Kieran¡¯s eyes. But, Vidal received some of his strongest skills and remained standing, even retaliating in the process.

    This kind of opponent awakened something deep inside Kieran.

    ¡°You will do.¡± At the end of his deep exhale, Kieran opened his eyes which shed with an otherworldly red gleam. ¡°You said this was your domain, yes? Well, allow me to show you mine.¡±

    A pool of blood formed on the floor as numerous blood chains sprouted from within, all snaking and aiming at Vidal.

    Vidal twirled his spear around his body, knocking the chains aside before they couldtch onto his body, but Kieran closed his hand with a smirk.

    ¡°Burst,¡± Kieran spoke lightly. The chains erupted into sharp, blood fragments that pierced in all directions, simr to when his Sacrificial Barrier shattered.

    But, when they traveled toward Kieran, he lifted his hand.

    ¡°Blood Wave!¡±

    Swoosh!

    A massive Blood Wave engulfed the corridor with a sinister energy that cracked with several popping noises. The Minor Blood Explosionsnded upon every enemy within the range of the attack, creating a resounding symphony of pained wails.<sub>.</sub>

    Vidal conjured arge sand cleaver, and it descended through the air, intending to destroy the Blood Wave, but Kieran¡¯s eyebrow twitched imperceptibly.

    ¡°Not happening.¡± Kieran¡¯s tone was confident and carried the confidence of an undefeated battle god.

    ¡°Crimson Current!¡±

    The surge of blood energy overtook the sand cleaver and seemingly impacted Vidal¡¯s body. However, Kieran noticed a thin barrier of sand separating the Crimson Current and Vidal¡¯s body.

    ¡°I¡¯ve told you before. It is all pointless! I don¡¯t know what trick you yed before, but you won¡¯t make it past my defenses,¡± Vidal said. He felt the minor damage he suffered earlier was a fluke.

    ¡°Oh really now?¡± Kieran grinned. After listening to Vidal, Kieran felt naturally inclined to prove him otherwise. He thought his defenses were imprable? Sorely mistaken.

    Vidal prided himself in his ability to make stable constructs by manipting Mana. However, this pride was misced because, while fundamental to this world, Mana wasn¡¯t impervious. Mana could only be as strong as the vehicle it is supplied to.

    The true reason manyuded Mana as the supreme energy source was due to its unmatched versatility and varying purity states. If appropriately converted, the applications of Mana were virtually endless in terms of physical limitations.

    Bzzt! Crrrck!

    The crimson wisps surrounding Kieran¡¯s body merged and crackled like lightning, but not quite. A secondter, the crackles grew into a storm as Kieran stood still like the eerie calm before an ungodly event.

    Swoosh!

    A condensed sand spiral formed before Vidal¡¯s spearhead. He drew it back and unleashed an attack that seemed to pull everything toward its center with its rapid revolutions.<sub></sub>

    However, Kieran decided he would no longer be hit or suffer from Vidal¡¯s counterattacks. ¡°I am done ying this game with you. I will show you superiority.¡±

    Tap!

    Kieran lightly jumped, but his body shuddered abnormally and seemingly disappeared. If one looked closely, one would notice the crimson Mana rippled just before this action andbusted.

    Kieran appeared right beside Vidal and shed his sword down.

    ¡°Wild Crash!¡±

    Vidal¡¯s eyes widened as he felt a ferocious attack disce his body, forcing it to the ground against his will.

    -190,381

    ¡´Battle Alert: ?The Quelling Sand, Vidal?¡¯s Defense has been reduced by 50%.¡µ

    Kieran was unsure if Wild Crash¡¯s effect would trigger, but he made a gamble since Vidal was listed as Prey. An increase in Kieran¡¯s Critical Chance against Prey wasn¡¯t the only thing that happened; percentage-based effects were more likely to be triggered.

    After incorporating Burst Step tounch a sessful attack, Kieran didn¡¯t stop there. He unleashed all remaining charges of Blood Wave at once, forming a gigantic hexagon-shaped scar on the floor.

    In the center of that scar was Vidal¡¯s tattered state with numerouscerations on his clothes and skin. Every one of Kieran¡¯s attacks amassed a substantial amount of Bleed stacks.

    When the other brigands tried to approach, Kieran imed their lives or kept them at bay with Crimson Barrage.<sub></sub>

    ¡®We haven¡¯t been fighting for that long. But, it¡¯s only a matter of time until that man arrives. Or maybe not. There¡¯s no telling how much confidence he has in his underlings.¡¯

    Argh!

    A frustrated roar sounded from within the rubble, but Kieran raised his sword above his head indifferently. His hair fluttered while a bloody wind surfaced inside the corridor. The winds gained momentum and merged into threerge tempests once they peaked.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see if you can defend against this.¡±

    The Sanguinem Tempest merged into one dreadful tempest of untold power, but as they joined, Kieran felt them spiraling out of his control quickly, unlikest time.

    ¡®What¡¯s the reason behind this?¡¯

    Kieran was curious, but he couldn¡¯t quite explore the answer at this very moment. His arm descended and, with it, followed the merged Sanguinem Tempest.

    Boom!

    The surroundings plunged into rampant chaos as bloody gustscerated the corridor. But amidst this chaos, Kieran¡¯s ear heard the pleasant sound of resounding cracks, simr to thin ice shattering after bearing too much weight.

    Crrrrck¡­ Crrrrck! Crrrrck!!

    ¡°Damn you! What is this damned power?!¡± Vidal roared as he felt the sand barrier shattering. He was losing his protection!

    BOOM!

    -2,699,550! [Critical Hit!]

    Vidal¡¯s defenses gave way, ultimately leading to Kieran¡¯s attack unleashing devastating damage. Even without an Execution or Vital Critical, Kieran¡¯s integrated Sanguine Tempest dealt tremendous damage.

    The reason for it? Vidal¡¯s reduced Defense and the natural 50% Critical Chance attached to this skill. Not to mention, Kieran¡¯s current Attack Power with all of his modifiers attached surpassed 11,000.

    Moreover, Kieran¡¯s Sanguine Tempest truly became a frightening skill to behold because of the damage increase from the Prey System and the chance to increase blood attack damage by 50%.

    The corridor grew quiet as the Desertborn brigand weakly crawling on the ground paled. Had a monster walked into their home? Could anyone stop him?

    This question filled all of their minds as muffled sputters sounded from within the crater formed by Kieran¡¯s attack.

    Kieran¡¯s brow arched in surprise when he witnessed Vidal stand up in the crater. His right arm hung limply while most of his ribcage had been blown away.

    In fact, Vidal¡¯s remaining Health amount to less than 1%. Kieran had tomend his tenacity to stand up in this state.

    ¡°You¡­¡± Vidal struggled to speak as warm blood flowed down his face. He stabbed the spear into the ground to support himself. ¡°You¡­ will not win. I have¡­ to avenge Deserea.¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, this fight is already over. You relied too much upon your given talents. Never have extreme faith in anything. That oversight will be your undoing. Now¡­¡±

    Kieran stood before Vidal calmly and continued to speak. ¡°I¡¯ll fulfill my promise. You¡¯ll exit this world in the same fashion as your departed lover. May your soul rejoice in reunion.¡±

    Whoosh!

    Kieran brought his sword down against the defenseless Vidal, who stood on pure grit alone.

    A resounding sound, disturbing to most people, sounded in the hall. A look of disbelief filled Vidal¡¯s expression as Kieran¡¯s de passed through his body, cleaving him in half.

    ¡´System: You have gained 1,879,488 Experience.¡µ

    ¡´System: Congrattions, you have leveled up! [Lv.39¡úLv.40]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 12 Unassigned Attribute Points and 8 Skill Points.¡µ

    Kieran exhaled and closed his eyes.

    A wave of exhaustion assaulted him after battling against Vidal. Kieran assumed it had something to do with his repeated usage of Burst Stepping, which was the only way to surpass Vidal¡¯s casting speed.

    However, Kieran was thankful the exhaustion didn¡¯t hold a candle to the one felt after activating his Aspect. Kieran looked around at the carnage before him without relishing that he leveled up.

    Lv.40 was one of the milestones Kieran sought, but he didn¡¯t understand it. Why was there no fulfillment? His anger hadn¡¯t subsided one bit.

    On the contrary, he felt more agitated. ¡®There¡¯s so much anger inside me that using these guys as an outlet doesn¡¯t make a single dent.¡¯

    Ever since he was a child, Kieran had bottled up his anger. Anger that his life wasn¡¯t like others. Anger that he didn¡¯t have his parents like so many other children. He hated his circumstances but honestly didn¡¯t know who to me.

    Who could a young ten-year-old child turn to? As far as Kieran knew, both his parents were only children. There were no aunts or uncles to rely upon hence why he grew up in an orphanage.

    Kieran looked down at Vidal¡¯s body but felt no remorse or sorrow. All he felt was a question¡ªwhat am I? His reaction was far from ordinary.

    An average person should feel guilt while watching their victim wallow in despair, but Kieran only felt a widening void. Not a shred of guilt gued him.

    After the fact, Kieran wiped his face of the ruby blood while exhaling. ¡®I don¡¯t know what I am, but I can¡¯t change it. But, I also have no desire to. Without this rage that burns in the depths of my soul, I won¡¯t realize my aspirations.¡¯

 Chapter 180 Guardian of the Northern Sands

    ¡ª

    Kieran stood amidst the deste scene drowned in blood and mutted corpses while staring off into the distance. Why did it feel like something inside him was being crushed, purified, and molded?

    As Predator Hunt faded, Kieran¡¯s bloodlust dissipated along with it. However, some remnants outside of Kieran¡¯s control remained.

    ¡®Was I fated to obtain this ss?¡¯ Kieran wondered.

    Although he heard rumors of the original True Berserker in his past timeline because they belonged to one of the most reputed guilds to arise inside Zenith Online, it didn¡¯t amount to what he experienced now.

    The user in Kieran¡¯s memories was only feared on the battlefield, but other than that, they didn¡¯t administer any sighs of waning empathy or episodes of extreme emotionlessness. Was this something unique to his circumstances?

    Kieran looked at the icon for Vengeful Soul out the corner of his eye and wondered. ¡®Was this awakened as the basis of my character¡­ or the basis of my true soul? What else awaits me in the future?¡¯

    Such existential questions touched upon an enigmatic subject, and while Kieran desired the answer, he didn¡¯t know if he wanted it to appear too quickly. Because¡­ once that answer was obtained, multiple more would surface.

    For example, why him? What made him special that he was given a chance to defy death and walk the path of his repressed aspirations?

    Kieran picked up Crimson Ashrune and stared at the de with unspoken emotion. ¡®The de of Scar, my teacher. But¡­ why does it feel as if it were made for me? I don¡¯t recall that other guy ever wielding such a de.¡¯

    Eventually, Kieran left these questions alone and turned to the notifications that appeared after killing Vidal.

    For starters, he paid close attention to his level.

    ¡°Level 40. If only it were safe to say that I¡¯vepleted at least twenty percent of my return to glory. I may have been Lv.250 before I was forced to step away from Zenith Online, but there¡¯s just noparison.¡±<sub>.</sub>

    Kieran thought about his Advancement and First Awakening. Those two processespletely changed yers, but they also weren¡¯t easy. The odds of yers seeding in their First Awakening was less than 1% of the entire yer base.

    Advancement fared far better inparison since it could be attempted at Lv.50 but became easier but less effective with each failure.

    Kieran¡¯s fist clenched when he thought about his Advancement. Uponpletion, he would be considered an Advanced Being or a Tier 2 Existence. ¡®I just wonder what my Advancement Quest will be. As a Main Hidden ss, I doubt it will be easy.¡¯

    A few secondster, Kieran looked at the small window before him.

    ©°©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    [?True Berserker Skils?] ¨C

    ?Lv.40?

    Torment¡¯s Benefits: Dull ¨C A ¨C ?Passive? [Cost: 20 SP]

    Peril Implosion ¨C A ¨C ?Active? [Cost: 20 SP]

    Blood Pulse ¨C A ¨C ?Active? [Cost: 20 SP]

    ©¸©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    All of the skills essible to Kieran were A Rank Skills, and the fact they were obtained at Lv.40 meant their effects eclipsed the A Rank Skills gained at a low level. All skills inside the same rank were not created equal.<sub></sub>

    Both inferior and superior skills existed inside each skill rank. In other words, every Skill Rank held a sort of spectrum.

    ¡¯60 SP for everything?¡¯ Kieran mused. After using 80 SP on Sanguine shes, while he wasn¡¯t in a deficit, he¡¯d have to be mindful about how wanton his expenditure was.

    Regardless¡­

    ¡®It¡¯s worth it,¡¯ Kieran decided.

    ¡´System: You have learned ?Torment¡¯s Benefits: Dull?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have learned ?Peril Implosion?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have learned ?Blood Pulse?!¡µ

    In the blink of an eye, 60 SP vanished, but Kieran felt no regrets. The three new skills he learned were worth it.

    After handling the matter of his new skills, Kieran noticed more movement not too far away. His actions had essentially wiped out this area, so movement should be impossible. Thus, Kieran walked forward while examining his surroundings.

    Unt! Unt! Unt!

    All of a sudden, Kieran¡¯s heartbeat elerated as he stopped walking and frowned. Was this some kind of premonition?

    ¡´System: Altair is sending you a video request. Do you wish to answer? [ Y | N ]¡µ<sub></sub>

    ¡°Answer,¡± Kieranmanded.

    A small screen with Altair¡¯s worried-filled eyes appeared.

    ¡°Aatrox, we¡¯ve run into a situation. Ezra and the others have been cornered, but their numbers are holding us off. From what I can tell, they have run into a difficult opponent.¡±

    ¡°Mm,¡± Kieran absorbed everything Altair told him and nodded faintly. His eyes shifted to the wall beside him as he ced his hand on it. ¡°And your assignment? Did you manage to reduce their numbers without any deaths?¡±

    ¡°We have,¡± Altair said. He then recounted the events, especially Sera¡¯s exceptional healing. ¡°I think it¡¯s safe to say we killed approximately 80% of the henchmen. The problem is that Ezra is stuck in the captains¡¯ quarters.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. They¡¯re not dead. Even if their situation isn¡¯t the greatest, Ezra and the others haven¡¯t met peril yet,¡± Kieran answered. He wasn¡¯t worried like Altair because his Friends¡¯ List showed Ezra and the others were still alive.

    Had they died, their status on his Friends¡¯ List would change.

    ¡°I just thought it¡¯d be best if I alerted you. What about you? Did you run into anything unusual?¡± Altair asked. He could see glimpses of blood littering the corridor from the camera angle, but he couldn¡¯t see the giant crater Kieran stood inside.

    ¡°Unusual?¡± Kieran nced at Vidal before indifferently shaking his head. ¡°Nothing usual. Just hold on until I convene with you all. Fight your way to Ezra and the others.¡±

    ¡°I would have done so even if you didn¡¯t give the order. Do I look like the type to abandon his teammates? Come on now. I even defended Aspaira and the others when I barely knew them,¡± Altair¡¯s eyes shed with disappointment.

    How could Kieran question his loyalty?

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t questioning you. I¡¯m well aware of how loyal you are. I just thought it¡¯d hurt your pride if I came and annihted everything without you having any fun,¡± Kieran said. His lips curved into a mischievous smirk while noting Altair¡¯s speechless expression.

    ¡°Hoh?! Is that a challenge? You¡¯re on! We were due for another friendly spar after I honed my skills anyways,¡± Altair¡¯s silver eyes teemed with excitement and a zealous light.

    The screen ended soon after as Kieran breathed a sigh of relief. But, for some odd reason, he still felt an unusual sensation in the back of his mind. ¡®Is theing from the absent leader? If so, where is he?¡¯

    The whole reason Kieran caused amotion was to draw out the Head of the Desertborn Brigands, but instead, he fought with Vidal and emerged victorious. As Kieran nced at the corpse once more, a question floated into his mind.

    ¡®How does Vidal fare against the main boss? They look eerily simr, so I can only assume Vidal is his son. Was this talent inherited, or did it pass over his father?¡¯

    Kieran¡¯s expression blossomed into an eager smile that portrayed his awakened battle lust. ¡°Only time will tell.¡±

    ¡­

    Inside the Captain Quarters¡­

    Ezra frowned as she stood before a woman with sand-colored hair dressed in fis stockings under the tight cloth attire. This woman was naturally Facina, who had previously met with Dusvim.

    She encountered Ezra and the others aftermencing her usual headcount. Not much longer after she detected them, she noticed shouts from all corners of the hideout.

    ¡®This is the worst timing. Father returned to his Cavernous Sand Lair, but it¡¯s so deep underground that we won¡¯t get the message to him in time. I understand why he created the ce, to deepen his understanding and attempt to advance, but it¡¯s too isted!¡¯

    The Cavernous Sand Lair was reachable from within the Deep Sands Chamber, but only Vidal, Dusvim, and Facina possessed the credentials required to open passage.

    ¡°You¡¯ve made a foolish mistake by invading our home,¡± Facina said. In all the years of the Desertborn Brigands¡¯ activity, this was only the third time someone attempted to infiltrate them.

    But, after each infiltration, Dusvim learned the inconsistencies of his security measures and improved upon them. It had been five years since thest sessful invasion.

    Ezra squinted while Fac pulled a beige mask over her mouth. ¡°Mistake? Not at all. This was requested of us, so it would be better if you called it a willful action.¡±

    Facina reacted to Ezra¡¯s words by bing skeptical. ¡®Requested? In other words, the Aeredale Kingdom has begun its retaliation. I told father! But¡­¡¯

    Facina¡¯s eyes filled with doubt. ¡°How many of you are there if this is a so-called request?¡¯

    Ezra chuckled in response. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯ll be so foolish as to reveal such sensitive information?¡±

    Facina¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°You have killed countless of our men. Choose to be wise, and I may be lenient. Continue to be difficult, and you¡¯ll learn what cruelty really is.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll take our chances, right?¡± Ezra looked at her chosen teammates.

    ¡°Without a doubt,¡± Bastion said while stepping up beside Ezra.

    ¡°I¡¯ll stand with you guys,¡± Alice assented.

    ¡°It¡¯s whatever,¡± Cam shrugged.

    ¡°Well, of course. I¡¯m ready when you are, Guild Master.¡± Lux nocked an arrow and prepared to unleash it at any given moment.

    ¡°As you can see, my team has decided that we¡¯ll do no such thing.¡±

    ¡°Tsk,¡± Facina clicked her tongue. ¡°I can see in your eyes that you believe your numbers will help. But, I will open your eyes and allow you to understand that everyone is not created equal.¡±

    Facina lifted her arms in a magnificent disy as twelve sand cyclones rotated around her. The cyclones expanded until they formed a perimeter that barred the team¡¯s retreat.

    Between two pirs, a gateway opened up and from that gateway, an immense sand golem formed.

    ¡°Ancient Pylon: Guardian of the Northern Sands!¡±

 Chapter 181 Bastions Resolve

    ¡ª

    The Golem, or rather the Guardian of the Northern Sands Facina summoned, stood nearly as tall as therge corridor, towering over Ezra and the others.

    Its eyes shed with an rming white light as a massive long sword with a missing center appeared in its grasp. The weapon design seemed more like two ipletely merged longswords attached by ever-flowing threads of sand.

    Because of this action, Ezra waspelled to learn Facina¡¯s name.

    ¡¸ Lv.43 Facina, Ancient Sand Contractor (Titled Rare NPC)

    ss: Sand Summoner

    Health: 1,800,000/1,800,000 (100%)

    Affiliations: Desertborn Brigands ¡¹

    Facina¡¯s stats didn¡¯t depict the level warranted of a Titled Rare NPC.

    But that was to be expected.

    After all, Facina wasn¡¯t a physical ss that specialized in Health or Defense. She was a rare summoning ss contracted to a sole familiar¡ªthe Guardian of the Northern Sands.

    This was a power Facina hade across after stumbling into an ancient sand ruin years ago.

    While inside the ruin, on her journey back to the hideout, she stumbled across a strange magic circle. After undergoing the magic circles¡¯ rite, Facina soon gained her current title and power.

    The magic circle also revealed the ce to be the ruins of an ancient desert civilization once inhabited by ancient desert [people before these deserts declined from their oasis-like conditions.

    ¡°Ezra, that golem looks quite difficult. Nothing like what is found inside the Adventurers¡¯ Guild¡¯s Training Center,¡± Bastion whispered. He subconsciously gripped his shield tighter while clenching his jaw.<sub>.</sub>

    ¡°I¡¯m with you on that one. It seems abnormally strong, even if its summoner is feeble. This problem is can we get past this golem without fail?¡± Ezra questioned. Both Luna and Altair, the agility-based damage dealers, were in a separate party.

    And although the golem was immense, Ezra learned that sometimes size didn¡¯t equate to slowness. She had gone against somerge enemies that were extremely fast.

    ¡°Imand thee, Protector of the Northern Sands, Vessel of the Ancient Pylon, annihte these trespassers,¡± Facina ordered.

    At the same time, her left index finger shone with a mixture of beige and white light that intertwined into an borate magic circle.

    Once the circle appeared, the Guardian of the Northern Sands bellowed and sped toward Ezra and the others.

    ¡°Bastion!¡± Ezra called out.

    ¡°I¡¯m on it!¡± Bastion shifted before Ezra and charged toward the colossal Guardian of the Northern Sands with his shield raised above his head.

    BOOM!

    A frightening quake urred once the golem¡¯s sword met Bastion¡¯s shield. Despite activating two defensive skills, his arms went numb from the mind-boggling impact.

    ¡®Holy shit!¡¯ Bastion cried out internally.

    ¡°Cam,¡± Ezra looked at Cam with a sh of concern and authority in her gaze.

    ¡°Understood, Evie,¡± Cam nodded.

    She lifted her small cross and closed her eyes while chanting into it. A burst of rejuvenating vitality billowed from her body and flowed toward Bastion, who rapidly regained feeling in his arms.

    ¡°That¡¯s some damned good healing!¡± Bastion eximed. ¡°Come here, you oversized hunk of stone!¡±<sub></sub>

    ¡°Guardian¡¯s Sigil!¡±

    A gigantic, archaic-feeling presence appeared behind Bastion, funneling a type of fortifying energy into this shield. The unknown energy source held simrities to Mana but also stark differences. It was known as a rudimentary Manifestation of Will.

    With a penchant for protection, Guardian Knights were one of the sses that could awaken an incorporeal power such as Will.

    Although Bastion didn¡¯t have ess to it just yet, most of his skills disyed a lessened version of Will Manifestation.

    Therge image empowered Bastion and formed a deep blue shield meters high in the sky.

    Bang! Bang! Bang!

    The Guardian of the Northern Sands unleashed a relentless barrage, intending to smite Bastion. But, how could Ezra let her tanker fall?

    She knew all too well how vital their defensive diversion was to damage dealers.

    Tanks are what provided the windows to deal damage!

    At the same time, Alice nced at her inventory, particrly the staff inside. ¡®Aatrox gave this to me back in the Underground Labyrinth, but I can finally use it after increasing my Intelligence high enough.¡¯

    Alice¡¯s hand disappeared inside her inventory, but once it reappeared, it held an exquisitely made Unique Staff. The exterior was adorned by a crescent me-shaped crystalline gem that gave off a rippling sensation.

    A burst of strength flowed through Alice as she stared at the weapon in awe. ¡®It boosts me and ice properties? But¡­ I don¡¯t have any Ice Affinity.¡¯

    As her current Mana Affinity passive stood, all her affinities were listed and individualized to give her a clear understanding. She excelled in Fire, but the rest were somewhatcking.

    Furthermore, an Ice Affinity was nowhere to be found.<sub></sub>

    Regardless, Alice made her assumptions. ¡®Could Ice be an Advanced Affinity of Water? I¡¯ve heard a few things about Advanced Affinities but not enough to say I¡¯m familiar. I should research this after we return.¡¯

    Alice lifted her new staff and chanted the sinct spell for Fireball.

    Whoosh! Whoosh! Sszt!

    Countless Fireballs bombarded the Guardian of Northern Sand, reducing its momentum ever so slightly. Lux simrly unleashed precise arrows aimed at areas believed to be the golem¡¯s weakness.

    Ezra, on the other hand, contemted the lessons she received from Kieran.

    ¡®Strength, Agility, and Control are the focus of my ss. The union of these three will lead to an unimaginable advantage. I believe so as well.¡¯

    Once she felt confident enough, Ezra sped past Bastion and the golem. Inspiration struck Ezra as images of Altair and Kieran¡¯s battles reyed in her mind. ¡®Technique Linking might be out of the question, but I can still perfect my basic movements.

    In the next second, Ezra spun and executed a type of sword wheel movement that traveled up the golem¡¯s arm. Once suspended in the air, Ezra¡¯s two swords zed with Condensed Sword Force while she unleashed an actual Sword Wheel.

    Argggh!

    The Guardian of the Northern Sand¡¯s growl shook the corridor as Erza¡¯s Sword Wheel burrowed into its sand armor.

    Eventually, it raised its arm and smashed the Sword Wheel, shattering it apart. But, a Sword Wave ¨C Dispersion appeared in its shattered midst.

    Bang!

    The golem was thrown back into the wall while Facina¡¯s expression darkened. She coughed up blood a few secondster, leading the others to understand the gist of her power and weakness.

    ¡°Facina is linked to the golem! Damage dealt to the golem is felt by Facina, but it is somewhat mitigated. No wonder her Health is so low,¡± Alice voiced.

    ¡°Still, it seems she only suffers 20% of the damage inflicted upon the golem, which already possesses a frightening amount of Damage Reduction,¡± Ezra added.

    ¡°That¡¯s true. If only we had some way to reduce its defense. It wouldn¡¯t be so difficult,¡± Bastion groaned. He suffered the brunt of the golem¡¯s onught even after dodging and redirecting some attacks.

    ¡°Actually¡­ I might have just the thing. Are you guys willing to test my theory?¡± Alice asked.

    If it were before she equipped her staff, she wouldn¡¯t be so confident. But, the staff in her possess increased the effectiveness of her me spells.

    ¡°What are you thinking? I¡¯m open to all suggestions,¡± Ezra nodded.

    At the same time, she continued to unleash her skills using sparse amounts of Condensed Sword Force to assist Bastion and ease some of his burdens.

    ¡°My strongest me spell, you recall what it did inside the desert, right? I believe we need to focus the effect on the golem.¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that require a shocking amount of Mana Control?¡± Cam remarked. She was somewhat surprised that the quiet girl posed such a risky n. While casting Inferno Sphere, Alice was essentially defenseless.

    ¡°Hopefully not. I hope it¡¯s manageable, but given that the remaining brigands are holding the others off, it¡¯s our only viable option.¡±

    Alice¡¯s expression was both grim but resolute.

    Only their high-cooldown, high-rank skills dealt considerable damage to the golem. The rest were almost inconsequential and barely helped alleviate the struggle Bastion experienced.

    However, although the Guardian of the Northern Sands was a formidable opponent, Bastion surprisingly didn¡¯t give in.

    After recalling Kieran¡¯sment, an adamant and unrelenting spirit stirred up inside him.

    ¡®Aatrox intends to mold me into his Chief Tanker. Even though I hold nothing but a Normal ss while everyone else experiences fortuitous encounters, he doesn¡¯t doubt me and continues to have faith in me. How can I ignore that faith? No, even if it¡¯s with a Normal ss, I will be better¡­¡¯

    ¡°I will be stronger!¡± Bastion muttered resolutely.

    Bang!

    ¡°The n will work! Because I will buy as much time as you need!¡± Bastion dered. His tone didn¡¯t carry a hint of doubt as he mmed his shield into the ground and turned midair.

    Bang!

    Bastion unleashed Shield Tremor from an awkward position, but it sent the golem stumbling backward. Before it could recover its footing, Bastion activated another exclusive skill¡ªUnimpeded Rush!

    Bastion mmed into the Guardian of the Northern Sands and activated another skill against its body that threatened to topple over.

    ¡°Shield Retribution!¡±

    Bastion¡¯s shield pulsated with a vibrant energy that sted against the downed golem. He looked back simultaneously and roared. ¡°Begin!¡±

    Alice was shocked by Bastion¡¯s decisiveness and shuddered for a moment. Once she regained her wits, Alice began the moderately long chant for Inferno Sphere.

    ¡°Rise, Guardian of the Northern Sand. Protect your fortress,¡± Facina dered. Her eyes shone with a white light identical to the golem, and her voice changed, sounding somewhat ancient.

    Whoosh!

    Despite this change, Bastion had resolved himself to buy enough time.

    Bastion¡¯s eyes zed with the fires of passion as he smashed his short sword against his shield. ¡°Come at me!¡±

 Chapter 182 A Blaze of Glory

    ¡ª

    Bastion¡¯s resolve and conviction amplified as he tanked the Guardian of the Nothern Sands attacks despite their weight. Even when his feet pierced through the ground from the impacts, Bastion stood upright and pressed back with a throaty growl.

    ¡°Combination Skill: Guardian¡¯s Bulwark!¡±

    The grand arms wielding arge azure shield with silver edges manifested around Basiton¡¯s body. It was the Combination Skill formed back when the team went up against Colossal Mother Worm.

    As it was an A Rank Skill, Bastion¡¯s most powerful defensive skill to date, even the Guardian of the Northern Sands couldn¡¯t shatter it in a few blows.

    Bang! Bang! Bang!

    Bastion¡¯s Guardian¡¯s Bulwark remained stable under the onught of the Guardian of Northern Sand¡¯s attacks. He imed he would buy enough time as Alice needed and intended to stay true to his word.

    Whoosh!

    However, he wasn¡¯t alone¡ªnot by a long shot.

    Ezra passed a sweet smile as she appeared beside Bastion. ¡°I see why Aatrox chose you. You may seem like youck courage, but that isn¡¯t the case, is it? You simply don¡¯t know how to flourish in your environment.¡±

    Bastion listened to Ezra but remained silent. ¡®I don¡¯t know how to flourish in my environment¡­ She¡¯s not wrong. Confidence has never been my strong suit. Once Ipare myself to others, my self-impression usually plummets.¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯m sure Aatrox has told you once before, but he has confidence in all of you. This also includes you. He wouldn¡¯t have added you to his team if he didn¡¯t sense your untapped potential. So¡­ tap into it. Let loose,¡± Ezra stated.

    Afterward, Ezra left Bastion to ponder her words while she took over the fight against the giant golem.<sub>.</sub>

    How she approached and shifted her movements made it appear like Ezra was performing an elegant, ovepping sword dance with two swords. She began to understand the essence of the word ¡°Eclipsing¡± in her sword style.

    Eclipsing referred to two strikes, but one shadowed the other and blocked out its presence.

    Thus, while it seemed like the opponent only suffered from one attack, it was, in fact, two. This swordy not only relied upon Ezra¡¯s skill with the sword but exact motions and high Attack and Movement Speed.

    Without the needed Attack and Movement Speed, the attacks wouldn¡¯t link together correctly, which is why Kieran stressed that Ezra allotted her points while focusing on Strength, Control, and Agility.

    ¡°I have to admit, she¡¯s pretty amazing,¡± Bastion muttered in a dazed voice. He watched as Ezra slid under the golem¡¯s swing and her long ck hair swayed in the wind generated by the fight.

    Aside from the gracefulness of her attacks, Bastion noticed the sharp focus radiating from Ezra¡¯s gaze. She was in her zone, a ce where she was unaffected by her surroundings.

    This was a state most yers dreamt of obtaining because it could heighten theirbat standards permanently if they could hold onto it long enough.

    Swoosh! ng! ng!

    Ezra countered the Guardian of the Northern Sands movements, closing the small distance with frequent Sonic Thrust. Although her damage wasn¡¯t bizarre like Kieran, Ezra disyed the superiorbat awareness of a Titled Ranker.

    Just then, Ezra dragged her sword across the ground and activated a skill gained at Lv.40.

    ¡°Echoing Sword st!¡±

    The Condensed Sword Force at the tip of her sword expanded and rushed forth in a condensed beam with vibrating rings around it. But, after traveling 5 meters, the beam¡¯s momentum inverted and retraced its trajectory from an opposite direction.<sub></sub>

    Once the beam returned to the Guardian of the Northern Sands¡¯ body, it emitted a strange echoing noise that seemed to somewhat destabilize its body.

    ¡°I have weakened the Golem¡¯s Defense, but it¡¯s only temporary,¡± Ezra eximed.

    ¡°That¡¯s great! Because I am ready!¡±

    Alice¡¯s shout sounded from not too far away as the corridor filled with a stifling heat. The Inferno Sphere levitating above her staff was at least 50%rger than the one unleashed against the Colossal Mother Worm.

    Whoosh! Sssszzzt!

    Everyone braced themselves after Aliceunched her Inferno Sphere.

    A great wave of heat spread throughout the surroundings once it made an impact with the Guardian of the Nothern Sands and engulfed its body in a sweltering ming sphere.

    Facina screeched in pain as it felt like her skin was boiling since she could feel everything her contracted summon felt.

    ¡°Ezra!¡± Bastion eximed while directing his gaze to Facina, who fell to her knees while gripping her body.

    Ezra snapped her head toward Facina and quickly rushed toward Facina. Now that she was incapacitated and the golem was stuck inside the ming sphere, it was the perfect time tounch an attack and potentially end the battle.

    However, when Ezra tried to unleash an attack upon Facina, one of the twelve pirs released a dense burst of sand that defended against her attack.

    It didn¡¯t seem to be Facina¡¯s doing because she continued to writhe in pain while digging her fingers into her arms.<sub></sub>

    The golem¡¯s white eyes intensified as a bright white glow filled a portion of the Inferno Sphere. Miniature versions of the golem coalesced from the twelve pirs, summoning weaker yet still rming.

    ¡°Are you serious? We have to deal with more of them? It can split its body?!¡± Lux frowned.

    He thought these pirs were only tasked with summoning the golem. It never dawned upon him that these pirs were also a means for the gargantuan golem to attack and defend.

    ¡°It appears so,¡± Bastion responded while looking around. One golem already required all of their attention; twelve smaller versions would make this battle problematic.

    Bastion looked up at his Guardian¡¯s Bulwark and estimated it wouldn¡¯tst much longer. Thirty seconds at most, and that was provided the golems didn¡¯t unleash some ungodly attack.

    Just as the party felt they as seen it all, something shocking urred.

    While the Guardian of the Northern Sands wielded a strange longsword, the summoned golems varied. The items they wielded varied from shields, spears, and swords to axes and maces.

    ¡°I¡¯ll try to hold on for as long as possible. We need to subdue those new summonings immediately.¡± Bastion eximed grimly.

    ¡°Dispersion and Sword Wheel hase off cooldown, so restricting a few should be doable. But, those with shields may pose an issue.

    ¡°Shields?¡± Bastion smirked. ¡°I¡¯m not losing to these damned things in the way of the shield. I¡¯m the Chief Tanker of Aatrox¡¯s team, after all!¡±

    Ezra smiled and nodded at the subtle change in Bastion¡¯s demeanor and confidence.

    ¡°Ready? Begin!¡±

    Lux aimed at the spear-wielding golems and unleashed a few of his robust skills, namely Spiral Shot, el Shot, and a few others.

    Ezra challenged the sword-wielding golems and kept them at bay while moving them closer to the original golem. Their priority was to make Facina vulnerable so either Lux or Alice could attack her from afar.

    The team doubted another summoning could ur because the sand pirs decreased in size. Another summoning would potentially exhaust the pirs.

    Handling the twelve newly summoned pirs proved to be a difficult task. However, matters worsened because Inferno Sphere¡¯s burn duration concluded, leaving the Guardian of the Northern Sands free to act.

    Groahhhh!

    The corridor shook due to the Guardian of the Northern Sands¡¯ vociferous roar.

    A momentter, it mmed its fist into the ground, which conjured tworge sand walls. The walls moved toward the hall¡¯s center, intending to smash everyone into human paste!

    Bastion noticed this, prompting him to activate another skill.

    ¡°Guardian¡¯s Embrace!¡±

    Tworge hands manifested and pressed against the sand walls, stopping them in their tracks. However, although the skill momentarily stalled the sand wall¡¯s progress, the manifested arms exhibited signs of shattering after holding off the wall for three seconds.

    ¡°I can¡¯t hold it any longer! I think this is a party wipe skill. It¡¯s too strong for my skill!¡±

    Although Bastion held off the shielded golems, he didn¡¯t forget to warn the party since their safety was paramount on this mission.

    The others looked at the iing walls and frowned.

    Suddenly, a deep voice sounded from not too far away.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to. I¡¯m proud of how well you all worked together and against such a difficult enemy, no less.¡±

    Crrrrrrr! Bang!

    Arge red object whizzed above everyone¡¯s heads and exploded roughly four meters in the air. The explosion didn¡¯t damage Ezra or the others, but a flow of warm blood did shower down upon them.

    The two sand walls exploded from the impact while a dark shadow rushed past the rest of the team.

    Shnk! Shnk! Shnk!

    Small pieces of the Guardian of the Northern Sands¡¯ now ss-like texture were chipped away by rapid attack. Once the person slowed down, the party soon realized it was Altair.

    Meanwhile, Kierannded close beside the rest after executing a powerful jump to throw Crimson Ashrune before Seethe Burst detonated.

    Kieran eyed the golem before switching to Facina. ¡®Another Titled NPC and a summoner-type at that. They¡¯ve done well to reduce her Health by so much.¡¯

    With a proud expression, Kieran tapped Bastion¡¯s shoulder as he walked past. ¡°Confidence is something that you  must awaken in yourself. I can¡¯t provide it for you. So, I¡¯m happy that awakening is urring.¡±

    Kieran and Altair had returned in a ze of glory!

 Chapter 183 A Vital Decision

    ¡ª

    The team was shocked by Kieran¡¯s appearance, not because of the fact he was here, but because of his equipment!

    It underwent aplete change, appearing as if he was dressed in some kind of unconventional and practically tribal set of heavy armor.

    Both of his arms werepletely bare, highlighting their chiseled muscture. His robust shoulders were coated by what seemed to be luxurious fur from a wolf or other powerful beast-type monster.

    Kieran¡¯s feet were wrapped in bandages that, despite their tattered appearance, were more durable than many metal armor shoes.

    If one had to describe his top and bottom armor, it could only be described as a brownish-ck leather top and pants coated by metal-dipped beast bones!

    Atop Kieran¡¯s forehead sat a crown made of fangs strung together by a beast tendon.

    This appearance was naturally the Savage Beast Lord Set Equipment that couldn¡¯t be equipped until he reached Lv.40. Aside from his essories, Kieran¡¯s equipment has undergone aplete overhaul!

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that¡­¡± Bastion¡¯s eyes widened after understanding why Kieran¡¯s armor had changed so much. It was the equipment picked up inside the Underground Labyrinth¡¯s hidden treasure area. That meant Kieran¡¯s level had at least increased to Lv.40.

    ¡®Aatrox said he requires much more Experiencepared to other sses, so he must have killed countless brigand members to level up,¡¯ Bastion estimated.

    After the party split up, everyone¡¯s Experience became limited to the party they were inside. As a result, Kieran was the only one to benefit from his kills. However, Kieran did this purposefully.

    Although the Experience gained from each brigand lessened every time a party member leveled up, their progress still surpassed that of any other party known.

    But, that came with a severe drawback¡ªmissing out on important events due to being over-leveled. Thus, Kieran intended to control their level until he could ascertain the level range of certain vital dungeons.<sub>.</sub>

    ¡®A dungeon¡¯s level range increases after a certain difficulty is chosen, but there¡¯s no telling how high our levels will reach after this quest,¡¯ Kieran mused.

    Afterward, he walked up and pulled Crimson Ashrune from the sand while taking in his surroundings. ¡®Thirteen enemies, including a huge one. And finally, their controller.¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle this. You guys conserve your Stamina for thest ughter. I¡¯ve already taken care of their Vice Head.¡±

    Hearing this, Facina¡¯s pupils constricted to the size of a needle. ¡°Vidal?! What have you done with my brother, Vidal?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s dead,¡± Kieran indifferently replied.

    He lifted Crimson Ashrune toward Facina and stared silently for a moment. ¡°Don¡¯t despair. You will apany your brother soon enough, and your father will eventually join that reunion.¡±

    Boom!

    The ground sttered apart as Kieran burst forth with frightening momentum.

    ¡°Fury Rush!¡±

    ¡°Wild Crash!¡±

    Kieran executed the two skills within seconds of each other, smashing apart two of the small golems in an instant. He leaned back andunched a Blood Wave from an almost impossible angle, which severed a few other golems.

    ¡°Crimson Current,¡± Kieran said. His deep, emotionless voice echoed throughout the hall as it caused the immense onset of a disastrous blood deluge.<sub></sub>

    Bang!

    The Crimson Current smashed the Guardian of the Northern Sands into the wall as Kieran lifted his hand in the air. ¡°Blood Bind.¡±

    The twelve resilient blood chains sprouted from the blood-soaked floor, binding the remaining golems until Kieran spoke his following words.

    ¡°Burst.¡±

    It was a simplemand, but the results were akin to a bomb going off as the force made everyone¡¯s hair flutter.

    The twelves sand pirs dissipated after Kieran destroyed the Guardian of the Northern Sands, leaving a disheveled Facina with less than 20% of her Health remaining.

    Facina sat on the floor in shock because she couldn¡¯t understand how one person could make such a drastic difference. ¡°W-what are you? How could the Aeredale Kingdom afford to enlist someone as strong as you?¡±

    ¡°What am I?¡± Kieran parroted in a soft voice. After a brief silence, he smiled faintly. ¡°I¡¯m just someone seeking to make a name for myself. Sadly, you¡¯re a victim of this aspiration. Also, I¡¯m not strong¡­. You¡¯re just weak.¡±

    ¡°Crimson Barrage!¡±

    Before Facina could respond, her expression filled with disbelief and despair as six slender blood arcs hacked her into pieces and imed the rest of her life.

    ¡´System: You have gained 1,389,848 Experience.¡µ

    ¡´System: Congrattions, you have leveled up! [Lv.40¡úLv.41]¡µ<sub></sub>

    ¡´System: You have received 12 Assigned Points and 8 Skill Points.¡µ

    Kieran exhaled afterward and turned to the rest before nodding.

    ¡´System: Would you like to ?Auto Loot?? Manual looting is estimated to take upward of 1 hour.¡µ

    ¡°Auto Loot,¡± Kieranmanded. In mere seconds, a window appeared before everyone after Kieran reset the party as one.

    ¡°Wow¡­ all that loot? Sheesh,¡± Bastion whistled in awe.

    ¡°I mean, we should expect as much, no? We cleared out the entire hideout except for the remaining boss,¡± Ezra answered. Still, she couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. ¡®Over 500 Gold¡­ that¡¯s an amount of Gold that any guild would drool over.¡¯

    Kieran waved his hand and split the Gold ten ways. However, he gave Ezra the portion for her members. After all, as the Guild Master, Ezra¡¯s decision ultimately determined the purposes of earned Gold.

    At this stage in the game, there was no need for any yer to possess 50 Gold unless they traveled the route of a Guild Master. The cost of items and consumables didn¡¯t surpass 5 Gold. Therefore, the rest was better off if used for development purposes.

    Lux and Cam looked at Ezra and shrugged. As core members of Eclipse, their sries were mind-boggling. Whether or not they received this 50 Gold didn¡¯t interest them.

    It was only $100,000, which amounted to less than a fraction of their monthly earnings. They could also get that as a bonus for obtaining renown for Eclipse.

    ¡°Spread the equipment amongst yourselves. If there is anything useful to you, equip it,¡± Kieran said.

    From how he half-heartedly gave the order, it was clear he didn¡¯t care about any of the loot in the Loot Table, even opening ess to all party members.

    While the others looted up, Altair approached Kieran and analyzed his equipment. ¡°How is it?¡±

    ¡°Pretty powerful. It¡¯s a set, so the bonuses are truly worth it. I probably won¡¯t change it for quite some time,¡± Kieran answered.

    Altair could sense a difference in the air Kieran exuded. It was as if his indifference was bleeding into his every action. But, Altair understood something about apathy.

    ¡®Those who appear nonchnt usually possess the worst tempers¡ªa silent yet deadly rage. Aatrox probably fits this description at the core of his being, and it shows through his current demeanor,¡¯ Altair thought.

    Kieran felt Altair¡¯s eyes still on him and looked up. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Nothing. You just feel¡­ different. But not that different if I¡¯m being truthful. It¡¯s almost as if you¡¯ve unshackled yourself and be something unrelenting.¡±

    ¡°Unrelenting, huh?¡± Kieran leaned against the wall and sipped some water to help replenish his exhausted Stamina. ¡°That isn¡¯t wrong. I used to hold back in fear of alerting opponents outside our league, but I¡¯ve learned that I¡¯ve been underestimating my ss.¡±

    ¡°How so?¡± Altair sat beside Kieran and found interest in his words.

    ¡°My ss flourishes in adversity. I subconsciously repressed what was said to me before I epted this ss. I must grow stronger and do so quickly. The best option to do so is to go against formidable and nearly insurmountable opponents.¡±

    Kieran looked at everyone talking amongst themselves and organizing the loot before continuing. ¡°But¡­ at the same time, I¡¯ll be dragging you all into this dangerous situation. In a sense, you guys are my anchors that keep me from doing excessively foolish things.¡±

    ¡°Is that a good or bad thing? Won¡¯t repressing your true nature be¡­ boring?¡±

    ¡°Repress? I never said I¡¯d repress it, but I also won¡¯t go looking for an opponent I know I can¡¯t beat. However, we must maintain a certain intensity for the greatest progress. Take a look at Bastion.¡±

    ¡°I saw,¡± Altair said.

    A hint of praise surfaced in his eyes while looking at Bastion. ¡°He gained newfound confidence in his ability which shone through his skills. He probably didn¡¯t realize it, but for a moment, his movement ability surpassed Nemean for a moment.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re all natural talents, which is why I was drawn to them. But, we need to take another step if we want them to be stronger.¡±

    ¡°What are you thinking?¡±

    ¡°I might invite them to Metro City to train. Work on their reflexes, mental acuity, and¡­ introduce them to X-hancers,¡± Kieran said.

    Inviting the others to train would be taking a great leap of faith because he¡¯d be exposing his identity and location, but with the Zenith Covenant active, Kieran wasn¡¯t worried about a betrayal of trust.

    Altair liked the idea Kieran proposed. ¡°If you do¡­ I¡¯ll join you in helping them train.¡± Altair decided to no longer hide in the shadows, avoiding the clutches of the Wiyan Family.

    ¡°We¡¯ll talk about this more after we return. I¡¯ll have to get everyone on board before going through with my n,¡± Kieran decided.

    The others approached the guys sitting on the floor a few minutester.

    ¡°What now? Do we know where the boss is?¡± Ezra questioned.

    ¡°I have an idea,¡± Kieran said before standing up. ¡°We¡¯ll need to head back to the area where we found the Deep Sands Chamber.¡±

 Chapter 184 Pain of Loss

    ¡ª

    A few minutester¡­

    Kieran led Altair and the others to the corridor where the Deep Sands Chamber¡¯s entrance was located. However, as they arrived at this ce, the team realized a few minor issues.

    ¡°Uh, not to be a worrywart here, but¡­¡± Nemean grimaced while staring at the gaping crater beside them. ¡°Was it you who caused this?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Kieran answered truthfully. ¡°I had a run-in with a Titled NPC of my own. Let¡¯s just say the battle became¡ª ¡± Kieran paused while searching for a proper word. ¡°Heated.¡±

    ¡°Ah,¡± Nemean nodded while giving aplex look. Nevertheless, he switched to another troubling matter at hand. ¡°What about getting inside this ce? If I¡¯m not mistaken, didn¡¯t we need a special sigil?¡±

    ¡°Hm¡­¡±

    Kieran walked forward, ced his hand on the wall where the entrance should be and evaluated the chances of sess. ¡°There should be no need for us to rely upon special means like a sigil.¡±

    Kieran balled up his fist and pounded the wall.

    Bang!

    An indent formed on the floor as a vigorous crimson aura swirled around Kieran¡¯s body.

    A Vampiric Blood Encrustation formed over his left fight as power flooded into his arm. Due to his armor, everyone could see his muscles ripple with power beyond what they had be ustomed to.

    ¡°How fucking high is your Strength right now?¡± Nemean asked while staring at Kieran¡¯s arm in stupefaction.

    ¡°Over 1,000,¡± Kieran indifferently replied.<sub>.</sub>

    BOOM!

    Before the others could react to his astonishing revtion, Kieran¡¯s fist shattered the wall and formed a web-shaped cracking pattern. ¡®Hm, this wall is tougher than I presumed.¡±

    The outeryer shattered from Kieran¡¯s first attack, but after pieces crumbled away, Kieran saw an unaffected wall underneath.

    ¡´System: ?Blood Mania? has reached its third juncture. Physical Attack Power increased by 125%!¡µ

    ¡°You may want to back up,¡± Kieran warned. Now that his Physical Attack Power experienced such a startling increase in conjunction with the Savage Beast Lord Set Equipment, Kieran wasn¡¯t sure how extreme the blowback would be.

    Everyone listened to Kieran¡¯s suggestion and backed up.

    Boom! Boom! BOOM!

    Kieran punched the wall until a gaping hole opened up, exposing the Deep Sands Chamber¡¯s stadium-like appearance inside.

    ¡®Truly an amazing set. Just the 20% Strength increase alone makes me fall in love with this equipment,¡¯ Kieran thought while marveling at the Vampiric Blood Encrustation gauntlet surrounding his hand.

    The technique¡¯s appearance seemed to be more refined with each usage, but that was to be expected since the skill¡¯s Mastery increased the longer Kieran used it.

    Furthermore, the Mastery progress improved significantly against strong opponents like Vidal.

    Kieran was the first to walk through the hole, followed by Ezra and the others. Without turning back, Kieran delivered an order. ¡°Lux, if you would be so kind.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Lux answered.<sub></sub>

    He walked around, scrutinizing the surroundings with his special passive. At the same time, Kieran had Alice assist him since her Mana Vision was valuable when discerning Mana discrepancies.

    If Dusvim truly did possess a hiddenir, as Kieran believed, it should be guarded by a powerful restriction.

    It didn¡¯t take long for both Alice and Lux to arrive at the same area where they located something strange.

    ¡®How cliche. Of course, he decided to use the main stage to hide the entrance.¡¯

    Kieran inhaled and lifted his foot before stomping it down. The entire stage crumbled and splintered as if hit by a bullet train.

    Kieran tossed aside the broken rubble to find a clear path that led to a wall not too far away. Instinctively, Kieran drew Crimson Ashrune and walked forward with a narrowed gaze.

    Pew! Pew! Pew!

    Numerous holes opened in the wall, firing lethal sand spears, but Kieran deflected them while continuing forward.

    Tap!

    Kieran tapped Crimson Ashrune against the wall before him and received a hollow noise in return. There was undoubtedly a passage on the other side of the wall.

    Unlike the entrance to the Deep Sands Chamber, Kieran could sense heavy Mana Fortification despitecking special detection abilities.

    ¡®I guess this guy truly cherishes his solitary. Unfortunately¡­¡¯

    Shnk!<sub></sub>

    Kieran shed Crimson Ashrune, leaving a deep vertical scar on the wall. Despite how deep the scar seemed, Kieran could tell one or two shes wouldn¡¯t get the job done, not with the amount of Mana Fortification this wall underwent.

    Shnk! Shnk! Shnk! Shnk!

    Kieran executed a series of nonstop shes that followed a strict pattern. The pattern consisted of two vertical shes spaced 1 meter apart and four arced shes aimed at each of the vertical scar¡¯s endpoints.

    After these six shes, a shape resembling a double-edged sword appeared on the wall. Kieran continued following the pattern until the grove carved out by his de became deeper.

    Finally, after repeating every sh over ten times in a mechanical fashion. Kieran dropped his arm and lift

    ¡°Grand Stomp!¡±

    BOOM!

    The wall inside his shes was blown apart by what seemed to be a special ability. Armors rarely possessed Item Abilities, but it wasn¡¯t impossible.

    One of Kieran¡¯s set pieces likely gave him a unique ability, which was why his stomps became so devastating.

    A short corridor lit up with pale blue illuminating mes the moment Kieran¡¯s presence was sensed. ¡°You all cane.¡±

    ¡°This will be thest area we visit, and with this, we¡¯ll conclude our quest,¡± Kieran spoke.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me twice. While fun, our experience has been nothing short of stressful,¡± Bastionmented.

    ¡°I concur. Even as a Guild Master who has partaken in her fair share of raids in other titles, our condensed numbers made this quite the difficult ordeal. Fortunately, we have a walking nuclear missile,¡± Ezra added with a pleasant smile.

    ¡°Speaking of which, how long do you think it will be before raids appear? I¡¯m down to crush one,¡± Nemean voiced.

    Kieran¡¯s brow twitched after hearing theirments. ¡®Raid? Now that they mention it, Raids are vital to Zenith Online. There are many categories, but the most important one would have to be a Lv.50 Raid Dungeon.¡¯

    Raid Dungeons were simr to Normal Dungeon except for one significant difference. Raid Dungeons possessed unique side missions that yers must clear to gain ess to the next phase.

    Moreover, because Raid Dungeon generally required an obscenelyrge team to clear, the rewards were spectacr!

    After recalling this bit of information, Kieran looked toward the others. ¡°Raids? That sounds pretty interesting. Do you know why? Because that¡¯s where we¡¯ll make a name for ourselves. Shall we make a promise?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the promise?¡± Luna¡¯s eyes glistened with intrigue after hearing Kieran speak.

    ¡°That we¡¯ll use the first-ever Raid Dungeon that appears to make a name for ours. By then, I hope we would have united under one banner.¡± Kieran¡¯sment was aimed toward Bastion and the others, not necessarily Ezra and Luna.

    Each of these winsomedies possessed their own uniquely lofty ideals. Kieran wouldn¡¯t stifle them by bringing them under his wing.

    ¡°Hell yeah! Let¡¯s do it!¡± Bastion eximed.

    ¡°Woohoo! A damned Raid Dungeon! But¡­ how do we find one?¡±

    ¡°Mmm, I¡¯m not sure yet. But we¡¯re bound toe across that information eventually if we continue growing stronger,¡± Kieran said.

    Although he was privy to some Raid Dungeon locations, reaching them was impossible.

    Why? Because they required Advanced ss just to transverse the terrain. Otherwise, it¡¯d be a waste to visit those territories.

    Kieran suddenly waved his hand, dispelling the party¡¯s excitement. It wasn¡¯t bad, but the enthusiasm was misced. ¡°Enough about the future. We won¡¯t reach the future if we don¡¯t focus on the events at hand. We still need to defeat ourst opponent.¡±

    While Kieran could more or less feel that they were pretty close to their location, he couldn¡¯t ignore the fact he sensed an enormous presence, not in size but danger.

    That man he saw earlier couldn¡¯t just be a simple brigand head while emitting pressure like this.

    ¡°Prepares yourselves right now,¡± Kieran cautioned.

    The pale blue mes illuminated a path that led to a rtively small clear. In the center of the clearing, Dusvim sat, meditating quietly while a subtle gust of sand swirled around his body.

    The jewel-embedded turban sat on his head while his eyelids trembled. Once open, Dusvim¡¯s eyes radiated a sharp light that scanned over everyone.

    ¡°Who are you? Not to mention your action to intrude upon my personalir? How brazen of you all!¡±

    ¡°Considering this is only one ce we haven¡¯t looked, it only fits that it¡¯s thest ce to be razed to the ground.

    Duvsim¡¯s eyes flickered with amusement as his lips curved into a slight smirk. ¡°Raze to the ground? Are you making light of my Desertborn Brigands that have ventured to and stolen from many kingdoms?¡±

    Kieran clicked his tongue and spoke in an icy tone. ¡°Ah yes¡­. Brigands. Weak people who can only rely upon unscrupulous machinations to gain in this world. No ability to im anything rightfully. If it weren¡¯t the case, Facina and Vidal wouldn¡¯t have perished.¡±

    Hearing the names of his children in the same sentence as perish made Dusvim seethe. Anger brewed in his eyes.

    ¡°You think I¡¯ll believe your sick joke?¡± Dusvim scoffed.

    But, Kieran merely smiled indifferently. ¡°A joke? If that¡¯s the case, I have an enlightening present for you. Here.¡±

    Thud! Thud!

    Two heads rolled before Dusvim as his eyes reddened in abject horrors. A bloodcurdling cry echoed from his throat as Kieran stood a few meters away,pletely at ease.

    ¡°NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!¡±

 Chapter 185 Dusvims Fury

    ¡ª

    Dusvim crawled toward his two children¡¯s heads while his heartrending cries echoed throughout the nearly empty area.

    He agonized over the death of his children while warm tears seeped down his cheek and fell upon their chilling, mmy skin.

    ¡°My precious Vidal and Facina,¡± Dusvim muttered. His voice sounded defeated as it hitched multiple times while speaking this one sentence. He felt sorrow, agony, rage, and hatred all at once, but most of all, he felt despair.

    Kieran shook his head as if annoyed by Dusvim¡¯s sorrowful cries while he cradled the severed heads of his two children.

    Eventually, Kieran couldn¡¯t stomach the unbefitting disy and spoke callously. ¡°Why are you saddened by their death when your actions led them to this fate? They didn¡¯t die for a righteous reason, which is on you¡ªno one else.¡±

    ¡°Aatrox¡­ is it best to anger him right now? I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he lost all reasoning over the death of his children,¡± Ezra worriedly asked.

    ¡°Whether or not he is angry is irrelevant,¡± Kieran answered. There was the slightest bit of warmth in his voice as he stared at Dusvim without averting his gaze.

    ¡°But¡­ doesn¡¯t seeing someone wail in emotional agony not sadden you, though?¡± Ezra asked. Unlike the others who struggled to watch the sight, Kieran seemed utterly unaffected.

    ¡°No,¡± Kieran shook his head. While answering, his fists clenched tight. ¡®Did anyone reach out in my despair? Did anyone help me? No. Thus, why should I care about someone who sowed the seeds of their despair?¡¯

    The despair Kieran spoke of was multifaceted. Part of it referred to his experiences inside his orphanage, but another part referred to the reason for his initial death.

    If just one person had the heart to ignore the hefty bribes from the Golden Brigade, he wouldn¡¯t have died while bearing so much resentment.

    s, corruption ran deep in human society.

    And asking for empathy amidst that societal level where vile acts urred as quickly as babies were born was like pulling teeth with resilient roots¡ªextremely difficult.

    In Kieran¡¯s eyes, there was a stark difference between people who were innocent and suffered despair-inducing circumstances and people who were wicked and suffered justice for their malevolent ways. Only one could warrant empathy from Kieran.<sub>.</sub>

    The other¡­ could only gain the coldest of apathy.

    ¡°How many people, merchants and innocents alike, died because of their actions? The actions of this man, his family, and all the others we killed? All due to his wicked aspirations?¡± Kieran asked.

    His question was directed at Ezra, who smiled bitterly while watching the scene before them.

    ¡°There is no respawn for his victims. Their death is final,¡± Kieran added.

    Ezra eventually sighed helplessly.

    After all, Kieran wasn¡¯t wrong. This was indeed justice for their wrongdoings on some level. However, it wasn¡¯t what happened that bothered Ezra; it was how inured Kieran was.

    What ordinary person wouldn¡¯t even feel a sudden, uncontroble onset of gloom while watching this scene?

    After a few moments of sulking, Dusvim¡¯s breathing returned to normal as he looked up at Kieran with reddened eyes. ¡°I will kill you in the most painful way possible.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re wee to try. But, I have no intentions of dying here,¡± Kieran retorted.

    Dusvim kissed his children¡¯s foreheads and closed their half-open eyes before standing tall in front of Kieran. Their simrly cold gazes met as they stood so close they could practically see even the most unsettling features.

    Dusvim extended his hand, and a serrated, sectioned de appeared inside his grasp.

    At the same time, the party received information on Dusvim now that he was ready to battle.

    ¡¸ Lv.43 Dusvim, The Sand Serpent (Epic NPC)

    ss: Sand Controller<sub></sub>

    Health: 6,000,000/6,000,000 (100%)

    Affiliations: Desertborn Brigands ¡¹

    Many in the party gulped after seeing Dusvim¡¯s information.

    An Epic NPC?!

    This was the first time any of them had experienced such an opponent. An Epic NPC was on par with an Epic Boss Monster in terms of attributes and perhaps even skill.

    The Epic Rating was a level where all monsters possessed a decent amount of sentience, at least enough to make cognizant reactions or understand essential parts ofbat.

    At the same time, the Epic Rating was also where NPCs began manifesting unique qualities.

    Whoosh! Bang! Crrrrrrr!

    Dusvim shed his sword, and Kieran naturally defended against it. However, the serrated edge created a terrible sound that made everyone cringe.

    ¡°Noo! It¡¯s like dragging chalk against a chalkboard. Please make it stop,¡± Nemean wept and shuddered.

    Due to the power invested in each attack, the sound was more ear-piercing than it should¡¯ve been.

    Kieran retreated after bearing the brunt of Dusvim¡¯s attack. ¡®As expected of an Epic NPC, even if he isn¡¯t a strength-centric opponent, his Strength is high. Perhaps far higher than my own.¡¯

    After creating some room, Kieran began working on a proper formation to deal with Dusvim. ¡°Nemean, Bastion, tank together. Cam and Sera, you¡¯ll each focus on healing one of them. I don¡¯t need to inform you what to do beyond that, right?¡±

    ¡°Not at all. I know my position well,¡± Cam answered.<sub></sub>

    ¡°No, I understand, Aatrox. I¡¯ll get the job done and help keep them alive,¡± Sera answered.

    In the corner of his eye, Kieran caught a glimpse of Alice¡¯s weapon and smiled. ¡°Ah, so you can finally equip it. That means the party officially possesses 5 Unique Weapons. I suppose our next focus should be them.¡±

    Kieran looked at Nemean and Bastion, who each donned Rare Shields rather than Unique Ones. ¡®If they¡¯re lucky, perhaps they¡¯ll pull useful items from their chest.¡¯

    However, because they were embroiled inbat, Kieran decided not to focus on that matter any longer.

    Dusvim was an opponent that required his undivided attention.

    Bastion and Nemean tried tanking Dusvim¡¯s attacks, but not only were his sword attacks mighty, but he manipted sand faster than Vidal, and it was inrger amounts.

    ¡°Thank god we swapped out our armors, or this would be impossible!¡± Bastion eximed after noting the heavy damage inflicted by just two of Dusvim¡¯s attacks.

    There was an abundance of loot after annihting the other Desertborn Brigands, so everyone was outfitted in full Rare Items with Item Levels of at least 40.

    Bastion and Nemean focused on defending against the attacks despite being forced back a few steps with each encounter.

    ¡®Defeating an Epic NPC in our current state isn¡¯t impossible; it¡¯s just difficult,¡¯ Kieran mused while silently analyzing Dusvim¡¯s movements. Although enraged, he wasn¡¯t sloppy.

    Furthermore, each attack aimed to kill, just as Dusvim venomously imed.

    In addition to Dusvimunching regr attacks, he also conjured and rapidly fired numerous sand spears, swords, and arrows. The projectiles bombarded the tanker¡¯s shield with swift precision.

    Compared to Dusvim¡¯s physical attacks, his sand-based attacks were three times heavier.

    ¡°U-urgh,¡± Nemean groaned. ¡°These impacts make me feel like hurling. I can¡¯t get mybo above three before he disrupts it. Going against an Epic NPC is this difficult?¡±

    ¡°I understand what you¡¯re feeling. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if I let one go in my pants,¡± Bastion huffed. As his forte was Defense, Bastion intercepted many attacks aimed at Nemean.

    After watching Sera and Cam support Nemean and Bastion for a few minutes, Kieran clearly understood Dusvim¡¯s attributes.

    However, just as Kieran, Ezra, and Altair sprang into action, Dusvim opened his hand and clenched it tight.

    ¡°Sand Practice: Quicksand Binding!¡±

    The sand snaked around everyone¡¯s legs, but a few moved before the effects could set. Still, they couldn¡¯t ignore the consequences of Dusvim¡¯s attack.

    ¡´Battle Alert: Your current environment is reducing your Movement Speed by 50%!¡µ

    A 50% Movement Speed reduction! Everyone was appalled, especially Bastion, who was terrifyingly slow, to begin with.

    Dusvim¡¯s lips curled into a gruesome smirk. ¡°This will be slow. You shall suffer from all the pain you¡¯ve caused me! I will ensure that you all know excruciating agony before you perish!¡±

    Whoosh!

    Kieran suddenly appeared before Dusvim with a cold glint in his eyes. ¡°Seriously, old man. You talk far too much. Either get on with the action or¡­.¡±

    Bang!

    ¡°Shut the fuck up.¡±

    Kieranshed out his leg, but the powerful strike was blocked by the sturdy sand wall Dusvim conjured. Given the sand¡¯spactness, Kieran felt as if he kicked cement.

    ¡®Funny¡­ that didn¡¯t hurt as much as I thought it would. Could it be because of my new passive? If that¡¯s the case¡­.¡¯

    Kieran¡¯s gaze shifted to his Character Panel, primarily the part that listed his skills.

    ¡¸ Torment¡¯s Benefits: Dull (Lv.1)

    Skill Rank: A

    Skill Type: Passive

    Mastery (06.66%)

    Description: The True Berserker bes less reactive to all forms of pain due to the Volcanic Ichor¡¯s torment. If the user suffers bodily damage that will impede battle, it is ignored for the remainder of the fight. If inflicted by abnormal effects, the effects are severely weakened. (The effect varies depending on the user¡¯s affinity with Blood Mania.)

    Note: Certain skills will heighten this passive¡¯s effect. ¡¹

    The effects of this passive were terrific. So terrific that Kieran couldn¡¯t understand why it was only A Ranked. A passive that ignored bodily damage? That meant the skill referred to the new status that could be inflicted.

    For example, broken bones.

    ¡®This passive is very vague, only listing the benefits of the passive. But, I¡¯ve learned everything about this ss is a double-edged sword.¡¯

    After noticing the nonexistent pain, Kieran bent his knee and straightened it with explosive power.

    ¡°Grand Stomp!¡±

    BOOM!

    The sand wall shattered, but the broken pieces quickly merged to form a rotating chakram that closely mirrored Kieran¡¯s movements.

    Whoosh! Whoosh!

    Kieran dodged rapidly, escaping damage from this attack. But, while the focus was on him, the source of Dusvim¡¯s fury, Ezra and the others acted.

    ¡®I¡¯m not alone, you old fool!¡¯ Kieran smirked mischievously as he stopped dodging and activated Sanguine shes.

    ¡°Get ready for a rude awakening old man!¡±

 Chapter 186 A Barbarous Fury

    ¡ª

    The Quicksand Binding posed an issue for the party, but Kieran had Alice assist with changing the environment to their advantage.

    A sweltering Firestorm Burst bombarded the floor, battling against Dusvim¡¯s conjured quicksand pit.

    ¡°Tch,¡± Dusvim clicked his tongue with a darkened expression. ¡°That small bit of me, and you think you¡¯ll overpower me? Not a chance in hell!¡±

    Dusvim raised his hand and clenched his fist. A powerful emission of sand broke through the thin, smooth outeryer before taking on the form of a serpent¡¯s head as Dusvim made a strange hand seal.

    ¡°Sand Fall: Serpent¡¯s Maw!¡±

    This was an attack that no one wanted to defend against, but it fell upon Bastion¡¯s shoulder as he arrived before Alice with a stoic expression.

    ¡°Guardian¡¯s Bulwark!¡±

    Bastion¡¯s skill manifested immediately, acting as the first line of defense against Dusvim¡¯s attack. However, Bastion was appalled by how quickly his Combination Skill was destroyed.

    ¡®Oh fuck,¡¯ Bastion screamed out in his mind.

    Although he felt the threat of peril in this situation, Bastion activated another skill while grabbing Alice and jumping to the side.

    ¡°Boundless Aegis!¡±

    BOOM!

    The Boundless Aegis onlysted for one second before shatteringpletely. Fortunately, that one second sufficed. It granted enough time to evade the aftermath of Dusvim¡¯s attack.

    The sand couldn¡¯t settle before Kieran suddenly appeared while cutting the remnants in half. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Don¡¯t tell with age your eyes have deteriorated. What are you aiming at?¡±

    Whoosh! Boom!

    Kieran suddenly took a false step where his body jerked backward but spun simultaneously. A rapid el Shift took Dusvim by surprise when Kieran¡¯s body seemingly vanished for an instant.

    ¡®What tricks is this damned youth ying? You think you can fool my eyes?!¡¯<sub>.</sub>

    Dusvim¡¯s attention suddenly shifted to his right side as he unhesitatingly shed his sword.

    Crrrr!

    The piercing noise returned as Kieran¡¯s fast-moving body was halted by a decisive blow. ¡°Not bad at all. You¡¯re not as slow as I presumed.¡±

    ¡°Now look who talks too much,¡± Dusvim scoffed.

    At the same time, he whipped his leg toward Kieran¡¯s head. With the power Dusvim instilled in this attack, he clearly wanted to take Kieran¡¯s head off.

    However¡­.

    Kieran revealed a gruesome grin while his body¡¯s crimson aura bolstered abruptly.

    ¡®With my new passive, it should be possible. Whatever the repercussions may be, I¡¯ll ept them.¡¯

    ¡°Abhorrent Paroxysm!¡±

    Bang!

    As if the floodgates on Kieran¡¯s power had been unlocked, an exuberant sensation spilled off Kieran¡¯s body in droves.

    ¡´System: You have entered ?Frenzy?!¡µ

    ¡´Battle Alert: Your Strength has increased by 100%!¡µ

    ¡´Battle Alert: Your Attack and Movement Speed have increased by 150%!¡µ

    ¡´Battle Alert: Your Defense has fallen to 0.¡µ

    Bang!

    Kieran extended his hand and caught Dusvim¡¯s kick with little difficulty. As quickly as a slight pain appeared in his palm, it was dulled by his passive.<sub></sub>

    ¡°Now, Ezra,¡± Kieran said.

    Ezra¡¯s womanly figure sprung from behind Kieran as he held Dusvim¡¯s leg, removing his ability to avoid the iing attack. Ezra jumped with her Flowing Sword Steps activated and spun through the air.

    Although the gusts produced by this action were sharp, Kieran didn¡¯t avert his gaze. On the contrary, Kieran spared Dusvim a fierce re whilst tightening his grasp.

    Dusvim¡¯s eyes widened when he felt a strong force pull him. Before he knew it, his entire body was airborne!

    Boom!

    Kieran mmed Dusvim¡¯s body to the ground while Ezraunched an empowered Sword Wheel that ripped Dusvim¡¯s clothes to shred. However, aside from this, Ezra didn¡¯t achieve as much damage as she hoped.

    ¡°He¡¯s so sturdy!¡± Ezra eximed with a deepening frown. Her Sword Wheel revealed a torso unbing of an old man. One would expect such dense muscles from a young man!

    ¡°He¡¯s an Epic NPC. Killing him in one hit is impossible. But, you all will fill in my gaps!¡±

    While the aura of Sanguine shes zed around his de, Kieran shed Crimson Ashrune relentlessly. His de movements achieved such a high speed that its left afterimages, which only dissipated after a few seconds.

    Currently, Kieran¡¯s speed rivaled a normal Advanced Being. But, it was unfortunate this was just a temporary strength¡ªa fabled one minute of glory.

    ¡°Argghhhh!¡± Dusvim bellowed. The jewel-embedded turban shed with an ominous light, making Kieran¡¯s instincts re. This sensation was further cemented by a notification that appeared in Kieran¡¯s eyes.

    ¡´Battle Alert: ?Retaliatory Sense? has sensed an imminent threat!¡µ

    ¡®Imminent threat?¡¯

    ¡°Retreat,¡± Kieran ordered.

    If the system revealed that Dusvim was an imminent threat despite his current condition, it could only mean Dusvim hadn¡¯t revealed all of his cards just yet.

    A desert squall swirled around Dusvim¡¯s body as he levitated to his feet. The squall soon adopted the shape of a colossal sand serpent that coiled around Dusvim¡¯s levitating body.

    ¡°Mana Manifestation: Ancient Sand Jeweled Serpent!¡±<sub></sub>

    Mana, at its core, was a remarkable yet simplistic type of energy.

    But, that was only true because it existed in a myriad of different forms. The Mana Kieran and the others had interacted with thus far was known as fundamental Mana. It was Mana¡¯s purest form in terms of energy and versatility.

    Beyond fundamental Mana was Elemental Mana.

    In exchange for losing its versatility, Elemental Mana excelled in one particr feature. For example, Fire Mana could inflict potent burns and power things that required extreme heat.

    Generally, Forgers sought this Mana, which is why most Forgers possessed a basic affinity for Fire Mana.

    But, aside from the types of Mana, there were also varying forms of Mana Application. Dusvim¡¯s current actions touched upon the second stage¡ªManifestation.

    All Mana came from a source; this was an irrefutable fact.

    Although countless unique sources existed, there was a hierarchy and disparity in those sources. But, manifesting one¡¯s power was impossible without first identifying one¡¯s source.

    In some cases, this was extremely easy. But in others, it could be the most challenging endeavor. The requirements weren¡¯t set in stone and varied from person to person.

    ¡°So this is why he¡¯s considered an Epic NPC. He hasprehended his Manifestation,¡± Kieran muttered with a grim expression.

    Because Dusvim had yet to reach Lv.50, Kieran thought his abilities would be limited to basic applications, but he was sorely mistaken.

    The chasm between a Rare and Epic NPC was so vast the system required a justifiable reason to award this ranking to any individual under Lv.50.

    A Manifestation undoubtedly fitted the bill.

    ¡°Am I hallucinating right now, or does it feel like that Mana is alive?¡± Bastion muttered dubiously. The serpent¡¯s eyes contained intelligence, and Bastion could feel that at first blush.

    ¡°No, you aren¡¯t. Although it isn¡¯t alive in the way you believe, it¡¯s safe to view it that way. I believe it¡¯s no different than a summoned creature,¡± Kieran replied.

    ¡°When I said I would make you despair, I meant it. I studiously devoted myself to understanding my abilities until I chanced upon a source from which I could draw inspiration. Now, you will bear the consequences of enraging me¡ª¡±

    ¡°Bite, Rasaha!¡±

    Kieran looked up and noticed the sand instantly formed the image of a serpent¡¯s open maw that leaked venomous sand!

    Szzt!

    The sand sizzled as Kieran evaded the attack with constant movement. The others were forced to do the same as Dusvim cackled hysterically.

    ¡°Dance, you little vermin. Scurry before your impending doom! No matter when you go, you will fall before the might of Rasaha!¡±

    ¡°Constrict, Rasaha!¡± Dusvim boomed.

    The floor turned into many slithering snakes that trapped everyone in ce. The restriction was like a fortified version of Dusvim¡¯s earlier Quicksand Binding. The team¡¯s immobility allowed the earlier attack to catch up.

    ¡°Agch!¡± Bastion screamed in pain as the venomous sand burned a hole through armor.

    Ezra and the others clenched their jaws as awful sizzling noises came from their armors.

    Sera and Cam barely managed to replenish everyone¡¯s rapidly declining health, but that only served to prolong their suffering.

    ¡°No!¡± Kieran growled while ring daggers at Dusvim.

    Kieran now understood the roots of Dusvim¡¯s malevolent actions. It all stemmed from him understanding a source that morphed his reasoning!

    Kieran¡¯s fury swelled to new heights due to the team¡¯s suffering.

    Did Kieran feel at fault? Not quite.

    This situation was inevitable because Dusvim¡¯s behavior was vile in nature regardless of Kieran¡¯s prior actions.

    Dusvim¡¯s sinister cackles resounded throughout the sand cave while relishing in the despair before him. ¡°Do you like how it feels? Everyone dear to you will fall because of your foolish actions. You will understand my pain!¡±

    As Dusvim spewed his vindictive heart, Kieran gnashed his teeth while ncing at a skill in his skill window that seemed to tempt him.

    Eventually, Kieran felt like he was under some spell.

    An ominous voice spoke to him. ¡°ept the power. Without it, you are no True Berserker. Without this power, you can¡¯t change a thing. Let the vengeance, bloodthirsty desires, and cruelty of a True Berserker thrive! Awaken the brutality!¡±

    Slowly, a guttural growl sounded from behind the party as they noticed that Kieran¡¯s aura had plunged into a chaotic state.

    ¡°ept the temptations of the Maddened. ept the True Berserker¡¯s true nature. It is potent enough to solve all issues. Mighty enough to crush all dissent. Brutal enough to eradicate all oppression¡­.¡±

    ¡°Who¡­ are you?!¡± Kieran growled while clutching his head.

    ¡°Me? I am you,¡± the devilishly tempting voice responded.

    ¡°No, you are not,¡± Kieran snarled.

    ¡°Oh, but I am. You have epted me, so we are now one. Do you understand? Without me, you are iplete, so you can¡¯t deny my existence! Ahahahahaha!¡±

    Kieran¡¯s mind grew hazy amidst the evil cackling.

    A few secondster, Kieran groggily swayed back and forth as the crimson gas seeping from his body ckened until it resembled aged blood that carried the scent of death.

    ¡´System: ?Vengeful Soul? has found apatible ?Source?!¡µ

    ¡´System: Identified Source: ????? ¡ú ?Seed of Vengeance?!¡µ

    ¡´System: ?Trait? and ?Source? Assimtion have begun.¡µ

    When this message appeared, it was like something shattered in Kieran¡¯s mind, leading to his next action.

    ¡°Deranged¡­. Spirit.¡±

    BOOOOOOOOOOM!

    An iparably barbarous fury far surpassing when he fought against Rautori leaked from Kieran¡¯s body.

 Chapter 187 A Forlorn Cry, Tears of Blood

    ¡ª

    The air surrounding Kieran¡¯s body underwent a startling change, rming everyone in the party. As if in immense pain, Kieran fell to one knee while clutching his face.

    Everyone could sense a dreadful sensation brewing in his one visible eye upon looking up. It was clear something unusual happened to the power Kieran wielded, which was the awakening of his Seed of Vengeance.

    The Seed of Vengeance wasn¡¯t an item that Kieran always possessed. On the contrary, it was a gift¡ªAgrianos¡¯ gift. Agrianos was naturally aware that Kieran was a severe anomaly when they first met.

    Why? Because he could sense remnants of an Awakened Soul from Kieran despite his frail body. The body was the soul¡¯s vessel, and the soul could only flourish once the vessel was sufficiently strong.

    This abnormality intrigued Agrianos, driving him to burrow deeper into the origins, or at least the conditions of Kieran¡¯s soul. What he found was something even he couldn¡¯t believe.

    Still, because of his findings, Agrianos felt it was fitting to bestow an ancient item upon Kieran along with the right to ept their mantle.

    In fact, Agrianos felt somewhat honored that a soul tailored for their power existed. It was too perfect in his eyes!

    ¡´System: ERROR! ?Seed of Vengeance? and ?Vengeful Soul?¡¯s Assimtion remains iplete. The user¡¯s ?Soul Permanence? is unstable and insufficient toplete the process.¡µ

    ¡´System: Searching for suitable alternatives¡­. One alternative solution found.¡µ

    ¡´System: ?Deranged Spirit? is absorbing the ?Seed of Vengeance?¡¯s essence.¡µ

    ¡´System: The energy inside the ?Seed of Vengeance? has been reduced by 10%.¡µ

    ¡´System: ?Seed of Vengeance? has returned to dormancy.¡µ

    ¡´System: ?Deranged Spirit? has experienced a Rank Change. [A ¡ú S+]¡µ

    ¡´System: ?Vengeful Soul? has undergone a primary Strengthening.¡µ<sub>.</sub>

    Although the system delivered an assortment of notifications, Kieran¡¯s mind was shrouded in a haze, leaving him incapable of sifting through the information.

    Instead, the sinister voice continued to tempt him.

    ¡°ept the power. Give in. You know you want the power to destroy everything. Everything can crumble at your fingertips if you so please.¡±

    ¡°Weakling, how can you protect others if you couldn¡¯t even protect yourself? You, who fell victim before, are not worthy~.

    ¡°However, don¡¯t worry. It can all be so easy for you. Wash away the pain¡ªthe weakness. Absorb the hatred and utilize it as fuel for your uprising.¡±

    ¡°Awaken¡ª¡±

    ¡°Awak¡­.¡ª¡±

    Thepelling voice ebbed in Kieran¡¯s mind, falling to a whisper whilst a tremendous tremor shook the entire room.

    Everyone¡¯s pupils rattled when the aura surrounding Kieran formed a chaotic spiral that broke the ground.

    The current feeling that Kieran¡¯s body exuded wasn¡¯t too different from the energy found inside the Chasm of Apogeton. However, Bastion and the others weren¡¯t aware of this fact.

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, inside the Wildes¡¯ Forbidden Expanse¡­

    Agrianos¡¯ disinterested and savage eyes shone with a keen light while arge wolf-like creature cowered under his foot.

    ¡®That boy is stimting the Seed of Vengeance I gave him? Although it¡¯s earlier than I expected, I suppose this is what happens when you have perfectpatibility.¡¯<sub></sub>

    Crunch!

    Agrianos¡¯ feet pierced through the wolf-like creature¡¯s skull as he took a seat on the edge of the Chasm of Apogeton. ¡°Give me an amazing show, kid. If it¡¯s you and Scar, both of you should be able to surpass me in strength in the future.¡±

    While he spoke, Agrianos gazed into the depths of the Chasm of Apogeton. ¡°Let¡¯s just hope time remains amicable during the process¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Agrianos¡¯ grinned menacingly while cracking his fist. ¡°It seems another fishy hase out to y!

    BOOM!

    Agrianos dashed toward the chasm¡¯s depths. However, as effortless as this action seemed, it destroyed a considerable portion of the trench¡¯s edge. Large, unusually hardened rocks fell into the chasm, never to be heard or seen again.

    Not even an impact urred, as if the endless darkness swallowed it.

    ¡­

    Inside Dusvim¡¯s Hidden Lair¡­

    Dusvim looked at Kieran¡¯s change in abject horror before raising his hand.

    The poisonous sand no longer damaged Kieran because the dense crimson blood that appeared as half gas and half solid scorched the sand before it coulde in contact with his body.

    ¡°W-what is this nefarious presence? I¡¯ve never felt something so horrible,¡± Dusvim muttered. Sweat unknowingly seeped down the side of his forehead because the stifling pressure was too overwhelming!

    ¡°Roar, Rasaha!¡± Dusvim eximed after realizing that fear had crept its way into his heart.

    The Ancient Sand Jeweled Serpent moved lightning quick with an open maw, ignoring Bastion, Altair, and the rest. Dusvim¡¯s only focus now was dealing with this unprecedented threat.<sub></sub>

    ¡°!!¡±

    ¡°Aatrox!¡±

    Everyone screamed when Rasaha slithered toward Kieran with the intent to kill. While Rasaha moved, it inhaled the nearby sand. But despite, the strong suction force, Kieran remained unmoving.

    BOOM!

    ¡°You¡­¡± As he lifted his head, a cold voice steeped in hatred and malice sounded from Kieran¡¯s throat.

    Despite Kieran¡¯s unbridled rage, all reasoning wasn¡¯t lost. He could still speak, albeit menacingly, like the seconding of a demon steeped in death.

    ¡´System: Your ?w: Vengeful? is attempting to overpower your reason.¡µ

    While this message appeared, Kieran held Rasaha¡¯s fangs in his grasp. A soft sizzle and faint steam arose, but Kieran ignored them.

    Crrrrrck!

    Kieran pulled his arms in opposite directions, twisting the Mana Manifestation¡¯s neck in the most brutal fashion. Afterward, he extended his hand, attracting Crimson Ashrune, which miraculously flung into his grasp.

    Zeut!

    Kieran¡¯s body flickered and appeared before Dusvim with a trail of crimson energy. During his movement, Kieran swung his arm and manipted this trail to attack.

    Bang! Boom!

    Dusvim was thrown into the wall by the impact, but when the dust cleared, Rasaha reappeared before Dusvim.

    ¡°Annoying,¡± Kieran said.

    Meanwhile, Ezra shuddered and looked at the others in fright. ¡°W-what¡¯s happening right now? Do you guys feel how bloodthirsty and sinister Aatrox has be?¡±

    ¡°We do,¡± Altair answered in a solemn voice. He pulled down his scarf, revealing a deep frown while looking at Kieran¡¯s back. His frenzied appearance meant he activated that skill he avoided.

    ¡°Who would create a ss like this? It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s pure madness,¡± Lux stuttered and gulped while finding it hard to breathe. Forget Dusvim; he was more worried about being traumatized by Kieran¡¯s power.

    Alice gripped her staff tight and chewed her lip when sensing the change in Kieran. ¡®This is even worse thanst time. Does this power grow more threatening after every use? It¡¯s all because he feels responsible for our protection.¡¯

    The fight had gone well until Dusvim summoned his Mana Manifestation and tortured his party members. The possibility of them suffering mental trauma infuriated Kieran because it was amon urrence in his original timeline.

    There were several instances where top-notch yers suffered irreparable mental damage, leading to a decline in theirbat skills. The damage existed as trauma or sensitivity to specific triggers.

    Kieran refused to let that happen, which is how he arrived at his current condition.

    Amidst his anger, Kieran looked down at his palm, namely the strange symbol serving as the basis for his power. The symbol reminded him of when he first epted the quest.

    Any average person could feel anger, irritation, vexation, resentment, and several other negative emotions and be consumed by them.

    However, this luxury wasn¡¯t afforded to a True Berserker.

    A True Berserker experienced these emotions but harnessed them, never allowing them to snatch away their reasoning. Two prime examples of this were Scar and Agrianos.

    When Agrianos used his power inside the Wildes, there was no fluctuation of his emotions, but Kieran could feel the raw emotion present in each attack.

    Right now, Kieran was sorelycking because he was utterly incapable of harnessing any of his true power. True strength wasn¡¯t strictly physical; it was the maturation of one¡¯s soul.

    If Scar were here, Kieran would mostly likely be chastised for his inability to control his anger.

    While strong, this was an intolerable submission to his emotions¡ªa direct opposition to the intended purpose of Kieran¡¯s bestowed ss.

    Kieran stood still for a moment and contemted everything thus far.

    Eventually, a tear he never shed flowed down his cheek as he released a bestial roar powerful enough to rival sound attacks.

    The roar was mighty, but it wasn¡¯t meant as an attack¡ªit was a release. One Kieran truly needed.

    Although Kieran spoke no words, Altair¡¯s heart clenched because he could feel a heartrending cadence from Kieran¡¯s roar. ¡®A forlorn cry filled with pain and suffering. My brother¡­ there is so much anger inside of you. Don¡¯t let it poison you beyond recognition.¡¯

    Kieran¡¯s chest rose and fell as the chaos in his mind quieted. Deranged Spirit, Abhorrent Paroxysm, Blood Mania¡ªall these damaging abilities went mute in Kieran¡¯s mind.

    ¡®Mom¡­ Dad, I miss you.¡¯

    A secondter, the tears from his eyes evaporated from his cheeks as he pointed his de at Dusvim. Within the madness, Kieran had found his emotional anchor.

    His longing for his departed parents, their fading yet radiant smile that radiated boundless love.

    They would undoubtedly shed a tear if they saw how hurt he had be, for it wasn¡¯t their fault that they couldn¡¯t provide him with the best childhood.

    ¡°No loving parent would drag their children into a life a crime when strong enough to go upright. For that, you deserve death. To sphemy life is to wee death,¡± Kieran spoke.

    Tears of blood shed from his eyes as Crimson Ashrune in hand thrummed and elongated.

    ¡°Bastion, Nemean, Ezra, Altair, Sera, Lux, Ezra, Alice, and Cam,¡± Kieran calmly named everyone.

    Although still cold, the madness in Kieran¡¯s voice had diminished quite a bit. ¡°Fight this battle with me.¡±

    ¡°dly, brother,¡± Altair spoke and walked up beside Kieran.

    The others followed and stood beside one another before the appalled Dusvim.

 Chapter 188 Deaths Augury

    ¡ª

    Dusvimughed darkly as he emerged from the wall Kieran¡¯s attack blew him into. ¡°Where did all that rage go? You¡¯re doomed to fail if you don¡¯t have that perverse power.¡±

    ¡°My rage?¡± Kieran felt entertained by Dusvim¡¯sment.

    Did he genuinely believe all his rage vanished into thin air as if it never once existed? Incorrect. To believe Kieran¡¯s furry merely disappeared was a facy.

    On the contrary, he found a better ce to invest it.

    Crimson Ashrune seemed to roar and cry as Kieran held it.

    Not only had its size doubled without using Seethe Burst, but the Vampiric Blood Encrustation thickened, and its edge sharpened, producing a sinister yet contained feeling.

    ¡°Bastion, control him,¡± Kieran ordered.

    At the same time, part of Crimson Ashrune¡¯s exterior coating liquified. Bloody droplets dripped off the de and seeped into the ground, painting the beige sand a beautiful ruby color.

    ¡°With pleasure! Just know that you are never alone, Aatrox. We¡¯ll help you in any way, shape, or form,¡± Bastion said. He looked at Kieran with apparent determination.

    Despite the Mana Manifestation wrathed around Dusvim¡¯s body, Bastion rushed forward with Guardian¡¯s Embrace activated. His Damage Reduction and Defense bolstered as a profound aura enveloped his body.

    Bang!

    Bastion rammed into Rahasa¡¯s head but remained stable despite suffering some damage. ¡®This little damage is nothingpared to the pain I felt inside Aatrox¡¯s wail. He¡¯s not in this alone, he has people he can rely upon, and I will show him that.¡¯

    All of a sudden, Bastion felt a presence near his rear.

    Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

    Nemean¡¯s shieldnded a swiftbo, which caused Dusvim¡¯s attention to split between the two. ¡°Where you go, I go, old friend. Now, let¡¯s take this old man down!¡±

    Bastion didn¡¯t answer verbally, but he smirked with a meaningful look inside of his eyes.<sub>.</sub>

    A tacit understanding passed between these two as they relived their earlier training. The training increased their synergy and awareness of one another¡¯s uniquebat patterns.

    Bastion retreated when Nemean advanced and vice versa.

    While these two joined forces to handle Dusvim¡¯s Mana Manifestation, several arrows slipped through the openings in their movements and punctured Rasaha.

    Although Lux wanted to target Dusvim, it was impossible because half of Rasaha¡¯s body remained coiled around Dusvim.

    ¡°I will break through his defenses,¡± Kieran imed as he took one step forward. He bent his elbow, but it was like a surge of carnage permeated the room, dousing everything in a fear-inducing presence.

    ¡´System: Your actions have triggered ?Manifestation: Macabre Animosity?!¡µ

    Although Kieran was partly unfamiliar with this new ability due to its vague overview, he was familiar with its origins. The ability stemmed from his Vengeful Soul after experiencing a primary Strengthening and Release.

    Amidst his pain and suffering, Kieran opened up a new outlet to funnel his emotions and maintain the superiority of a True Berserker.

    Bang!

    Kieran¡¯s body shed after Surge Stepping to close the distance in the blink of an eye.

    All of a sudden, the crimson energy filling the room converged above Kieran¡¯s palm in the shape of an orb with a hollow, almost white inside. Kieran whispered something incoherent into the orb, prompting its silent pulsation.

    Although soundless, the aftermath was not ineffectual. An abnormal pulse spread throughout the room, mainly focusing on Dusvim.

    ¡°Agch!¡± Dusvim clutched his head as tears of blood seeped from his eye sockets. From how reddened his eyes became, Dusvim unmistakably suffered some bizarre damage.

    As for what Kieran¡¯s actions were? It was one of his new skills known as Blood Pulse.

    ¡¸ Blood Pulse (Lv.2)

    Skill Rank: A<sub></sub>

    Skill Type: Active

    Mastery (00.00%)

    Description: By stimting the dark side of the True Berserker¡¯s power, the user can send out an invasive pulse of blood filled with odious energy. The pulse triggers a state of ?Hysteria? thatsts for 20 seconds. Damage inflicted by this attack ignores Physical Defense if the ?Hysteria? sessfully applies. Damage is equal to 666% of the user¡¯s Attack Power.

    Consumption: 5% Health & 100 Mana

    Prerequisites: ?Blood Mania?

    Cooldown: 60 seconds ¡¹

    Hysteria was a unique state that affected the user¡¯s uracy. It was likely that ranged sses that suffered from Hysteria would miss several attacks aimed at a distant opponent. This simrly applied to close-range sses that relied upon precise actions.

    In other words, Kieran gained a debuff that could also deal moderate damage.

    However, it was only moderate concerning his other skills. 666% damage existed amongst the greatest raw damage of many current skills.

    Considering that his timer on Deranged Spirit and Abhorrent Paroxysm was running out, this wasn¡¯t a battle that could be dragged out. If it wasn¡¯t concluded within one minute, there was a risk of failure.

    Fortunately, Kieran¡¯s manic episode didn¡¯t take too long to resolve. So while Deranged Spirit had ample time remaining, Abhorrent Paroxysm¡¯s limited duration dipped under 30 seconds.

    After hitting Dusvim with the Blood Pulse, Kieran unleashed a frightening whirlwind of shes, each one building on the momentum of the prior sh.

    No matter how fast Rasaha moved to protect Dusvim, Kieran¡¯s lightning-quick strokes chipped away at Rasaha¡¯s sand scales.

    However, Kieran wasn¡¯t alone in his actions. Luna, Altair, and Ezra appeared by his side and unleashed their skills interspersed with basic attacks.

    Dusvim struggled to break free from the clutches of Kieran¡¯s inflicted Hysteria, but Bastion and Nemean effortlessly dodged Dusvim¡¯s attacks, including the manyunched through Rasaha.

    ¡°That skill is amazing. To think an attack ss possesses such a potent debuff skill,¡± Ezra muttered as she noticed the remarkable drop in the battle¡¯s overall difficulty.<sub></sub>

    ¡°It¡¯s a convenient ability to have,¡± Altair voiced. He appreciated he could let loose without fear of being restricted by another sand binding. The sand tended to move far after Altair delivered his strike.

    ¡®Focus is important to all people. Without it, it is difficult and almost impossible to go against strong opponents, especially swift ones,¡¯ Kieran inwardly noted.

    Although Dusvim¡¯s every movement influenced a tremendous amount of sand, it meant nothing if it was entirely off-target because of the hallucinations caused by Hysteria.

    Nevertheless, it wasn¡¯t a permanent luxury because Dusvim broke free of Hysteria¡¯s constraints twenty secondster.

    ¡°You dare make a fool of me?! You will grovel at my feet!¡± Dusvim howled.

    ¡°Manifestation Technique: Ancient Sand Jewel Armor!¡±

    Rasaha emitted an ear-piercing screech following Dusvim¡¯s bellow. The Mana Manifestation coiled around Dusvim¡¯s body and tightened before descending from the sky as if it wanted to devour its controller.

    A blinding beige light shed in the undergroundir, but it was fleeting, vanishing within one second. In ce of this light, the entire party was taken aback by what they saw.

    Dusvim and Rasaha had fused to form a set of archaic sand armor with jewels embedded in essential ces like the forehead, sternum, back of the hands, and knees.

    Dusvim¡¯s weapon simrly became a sharp, jeweled sword befitting of an emperor.

    Despite this enormous change, Kieran remained unperturbed. Why? Because confidence was a True Berserker¡¯s birthright. Who could topple such an existence in battle?!

    ¡°I¡¯ve told you once before. You deserve death. Make as many desperate straits as you please, but this won¡¯t change your fate,¡± Kieran said.

    He lifted his right hand and turned it over. An intense sucking sensation appeared in the palm of his hand, pulling Dusvim closer against his will. This wasn¡¯t a psychokic power. No.

    It was Kieran¡¯s other newly learned skill.

    ¡¸ Peril Implosion (Lv.2)

    Skill Rank: A

    Skill Type: Active

    Mastery (00.00%)

    Description: The True Berserker draws upon their penchant to consume vitality to pull enemies afflicted by ?Bleed? to them. The higher the number of ?Bleed? stacks inflicted upon the target(s), the stronger the attraction of this skill. The user can implode the ?Bleed? stacks at any time to inflict heavy damage. Base Damage is equal to 1,500% of Attack Power and increases by 66% for every 3 Bleed stacks imploded.

    Consumption: 5% Health & 100 Mana

    Prerequisites: ?Blood Mania?

    Cooldown: 135 seconds ¡¹

    ¡°Implode,¡± Kieranmanded.

    BOOOM!

    A horrifying explosion sounded inside their as a sinister sensation impacted everyone.

    The surge of energy resulting from Kieran¡¯s attack was like the aftermath of an exploding missile considering Kieran maxed out the Bleed stacks on Dusvim before unleashing this skill.

    When the st residue cleared, a stumbling Dusvim remained with pieces of his armor falling off.

    ¡°He¡¯s still standing?¡± Bastion muttered in disbelief. His jaw dropped after looking at the horrid state of Dusvim¡¯s Health bar.

    ¡°Noo!¡± Dusvim snarled.

    ¡´Battle Alert: ?Dusvim, the Sand Serpent? has gone Berserk.¡µ

    While Dusvim wasn¡¯t a Boss who would go berserk after reaching a certain health threshold, the Mana he wielded could go haywire if he lost control while a Manifestation was active, which was what urred now.

    Boom!

    Numerous sand spears rushed toward everyone, but Kieran shed his greatsword.

    Pssh! Bang!

    A Crimson Current collided against Dusvim¡¯s attack, neutralizing it without fail.

    ¡°Pitiful,¡± Kieran remarked.

    Shnk!

    ¡°Blood Wave!¡±

    Four Blood Wavesnded in rapid session, tossing Dusvim aside like a ragdoll as Kieran calmly approached without any intention of ending this battle quickly.

    Dusvim¡¯s armor continued to break as he iled his sword, attempting to force Kieran¡¯s back.

    ng! ng! ng!

    Kieran effortlessly deflected each attack before lifting his foot.

    ¡°Grand Stomp!¡±

    BOOM!

    Dusvim¡¯s body was buried inside a gigantic crater as his chest caved in from that impact. Despair filled his eyes as he looked inside Kieran¡¯s cold, rage-filled eyes that radiated ruthlessness.

    Dusvim sputtered and coughed up blood as the sand armor covering his body faded.

    ¡°Don¡¯t¡­. Kill me,¡± Dusvim pleaded.

    Despite his hatred toward Kieran, Dusvim didn¡¯t wish to die. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have spent decades mustering the forces of his Desertborn Brigands.

    All Dusvim sought was power and opportunity.

    While listening to Dusvim¡¯s pleas for leniency, Kieran lifted his de as Sanguinem Tempest¡¯s violent augury appeared.

    Dusvim¡¯s eyes widened once he felt the threat of death inches away. ¡°Wait! Information! I have information!¡±

    Ding!

 Chapter 189 Branch Main Quest

    ¡ª

    The sound of a new notification drew Kieran¡¯s attention away from Dusvim. A new message meant the system found substance behind Dusvim¡¯s frightened pleas.

    Fearing death exined part of why Dusvim raised these ims, not the entire matter.

    ¡´System: Evidence of a pending quest has been found. Would you like to explore the opportunity? [ Y | N ]¡µ

    ¡®A quest reliant upon my decision,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    While considering his options, Kieran¡¯s grasp of Crimson Ashrune loosened as his shoulders grewx. The possible quest instigated by an Epic NPC could be a worthwhile opportunity.

    ¡°Consider yourself lucky. But, this extent of your luck depends upon your answer,¡± Kieran said. He withdrew Crimson Ashrune and canceled Sanguinem Tempests.

    Kieran couldn¡¯t risk Sanguinem Tempests misfiring and iming Dusvim¡¯s life before he could extract the necessary information. After all, Kieran didn¡¯t fear retaliation.

    He could tell Dusvim exhausted all of his Mana to perform that Manifestation Technique. All of Dusvim¡¯s gathered Mana dissipated after Kieran shattered the technique, so his body was essentially an empty container.

    Of course, Kieran¡¯s situation wasn¡¯t much better inparison. Abhorrent Paroxysm ended while Kieran stood above Dusvim.

    Because of Deranged Spirit¡¯s adverse effects, Kieran also decided to cancel that skill. As a precaution, however, Kieran kept Blood Mania active to thwart Dusvim¡¯s possible backstab.

    Dusvim braced his battered body against the wall while coughing violently. ¡°Trust me; I have crucial information. Furthermore, I can deliver a shocking amount of riches to you. All I ask is that you spare my life.¡±

    Kieran remained silent. Rather than trust Dusvim¡¯s word, he nced at Facina and Vidal¡¯s heads hidden under the rubble. ¡°And what about your children? Are they so worthless in your eyes?¡±

    ¡°My children are the jewels of my life¡ª¡± Dusvim covered his mouth and hacked up blood. The fury birthed from Kieran¡¯s disregard for his children agitated his injuries.

    Dusvim sighed and exhaled after much difficulty. ¡°I love my children. But, I have no power of the dead. I can¡¯t change what has happened. That kind of power eludes my control. The most I can do is plead for my life and hope you honor my request.¡±<sub>.</sub>

    Kieran grunted. ¡°Information.¡±

    Kieran ignored Dusvim¡¯s attempt to target his empathy. In his eyes, Dusvim¡¯s worth was the information and items he held. The rest meant nothing to Kieran.

    ¡°Do you know why I targeted the Aeredale Kingdom when countless richer kingdoms are nearby?¡±

    ¡°Probably because your forces are pitiful.¡±

    Dusvim sputtered after hearing Kieran¡¯s remark. ¡°That was harsh but understandable. However, that isn¡¯t the reason. The Aeredale Kingdom became our target due to a request.¡±

    Dusvim¡¯s revtion piqued Kieran¡¯s interest. Someone requested a brigand organization to target the Aeredale Kingdom specifically? Why?

    ording to his memories, Aeredale Kingdom didn¡¯t have any enemies. And, if it was an enemy of the Xesian Empire, targeting the Aeredale Kingdom was foolish. Its value amongst the many kingdoms was pitiful.

    ¡°Who?¡± Kieran questioned.

    ¡°The Merchant Association,¡± Dusvim revealed.

    Kieran¡¯s expression immediately darkened. Why? Because the revtion of the culprit¡¯s name should have triggered the quest. But it didn¡¯t. This left Kieran questioning the validity of Dusvim¡¯s ims.

    ¡°Why should I believe you? What reason would an organization like the Merchant Association, which controls a vast portion of the global wealth, have to target a lowly kingdom with a yearly ie of less than 10 million Gold?¡±

    Desperation filled Dusvim¡¯s eyes when he saw Kieran¡¯s expression darken. He wondered how a human could possess such a demonic gaze.

    ¡°D-d¡­. I¡¯m not lying! A Manager approached me from the Merchant Association, and that man asked that I target Aeredale. Not only did they provide me with information about recent changes to their trade routes, but they asked for nothing in return!¡±

    ¡®Nothing in return?¡¯ Kieran¡¯s brows furrowed as he grew skeptical. He could tell from Retaliatory Sense that Dusvim didn¡¯t deliver this information with foul intentions.<sub></sub>

    Otherwise, Dusvim¡¯s words would trigger his ability.

    In other words, Dusvim believed his words to be true. But how is that possible?

    Kieran rubbed his chin while ncing at his party members. They all shrugged in response, failing to muster an answer.

    ¡°How do you know it was Manager of the Merchant Association?¡±

    Dusvim gulped, scurrying to recall his meeting with this unknown Association Manager. Eventually, he remembered a vital detail.

    ¡°Their badge! Their badges can¡¯t be replicated, as you know. All of their badges are created by a peerless Enchanter. Hoping to counterfeit their badges would be foolish. And this man wore his badge proudly!¡±

    ¡®Their badge¡­ He isn¡¯t wrong. I recall there being word that yers couldn¡¯t create an Association Badge no matter what means they employed. Only the Merchant Association could impart one of its badges.¡¯

    Asking the creator of the badge was a workaround, but that was next to impossible to request.

    Not only could one not get an audience without proper credentials, but even some esteemed figures were turned away when requesting tomission the badge¡¯s creator for other tasks.

    ¡°What exactly were the objectives you were given?¡±

    ¡°At first, we were to cripple the Aeredale Kingdom¡¯s financial standing indiscernible. After weakening it sufficiently, our actions became more brazen. Our true intention, however, wasunching arge-scale attack on the kingdom¡¯s main city and gradually spread our torment from there.¡±

    Kieran pondered Dusvim¡¯s words. ¡®Mayor Lowe mentioned the thefts started abruptly but happened at a negligible rate, so there was no rm. But, the frequency increased every year until it arrived in its current state.¡¯

    However, Kieran couldn¡¯t understand why one would focus on a lowly kingdom.

    ¡°Where did this meeting ur?¡±<sub></sub>

    ¡°Outside the territories of Aubrililes Kingdom.¡±

    Kieran squinted and crossed his arms. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you involve the Aubrililies Kingdom in your ploy? As Aeredale¡¯s direct neighbor, it¡¯d be easy to put machinations in ce.¡±

    ¡°Not at all,¡± Dusvim disagreed. ¡°In the recent years, Aubrililes has bolstered their defenses considerably. All of their cargo is guarded by two tinum-Ranked Adventurers.¡±

    ¡°Two? That¡¯s interesting. Because it almost sounds like they had a clear grasp of your power.¡± Kieran¡¯s eyes shed with a dubious light.

    Even if it was far-fetched, he felt there was a link between the Manager meeting with Dusvim and Aubrililes bolstering their defenses and employing a specific level of security to each trade event.

    ¡®Truly suspicious,¡¯ Kieran inwardly noted.

    ¡°I thought the same thing! Then it dawned upon me, perhaps that Association Manager reached out to the Aubrililes¡¯ central Mayor and informed them of Aeredale¡¯s situation and exined how to avoid the predicament.¡±

    ¡°Incorrect. Word travels fast, but not so fast that they could enact countermeasures immediately. No, I believe that Association Manager managed the branch in Aubrililes and alerted those people. You weren¡¯t approached for no reason.

    Kieran paused and shook his head. ¡°You were just a vile pawn to the end. A dispensable tool easily tricked by your greed.¡±

    ¡°Exactly! I¡¯m just a foolish pawn who knows nothing else but to be subservient and execute the bidding of those who employ me,¡± Dusvim shamelessly agreed. He believed appealing to Kieran¡¯s views would inevitably save his life.

    However, Kieran fell silent after a new quest window appeared before him.

    ¡´System: You have acquired a branching Main Quest!¡µ

    ¡®A branch quest?¡¯ Kieran¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement. A Branch Main Quest was slightly different from a normal quest. It was a quest awakened by a yer¡¯s actions, not one included in the original scenario.

    If Kieran had lost all reason and killed Dusvim before listening to his words, he would miss out on an additional questline. After all, the Brigand Eradication quest mentioned nothing about a further questline.

    On the contrary, the quest reward implied the kingdom¡¯s security. Otherwise, one of Kieran¡¯s rewards wouldn¡¯t be the city savior title.

    Kieran sighed in relief. ¡®Thankfully, I didn¡¯t give in to that unusual temptation. While it was possible something would have experienced an evolution, losing myself in the process remained a possibility. I¡¯m not willing to ept those stakes.¡¯

    If he gave in, the matter of his Soul Permanence would be ignored, which would alter Kieran¡¯s personality at a base level.

    Why? Because the Seed of Vengeance would undoubtedly assimte most if not all of his soul if he wasn¡¯t careful. It was a deadly item, on par with the Arcane One¡¯s Akashic Seal.

    A momentter, Kieran checked the quest details.

    ¡¸ Aeredale¡¯s Dark Maniptor (Main, Kingdom Quest)

    Quest Rank: A+

    Rmended Party Size: 1 ¨C 6

    Rmended Party Level: 46 or above

    Objectives: The Desertborn Brigand¡¯s actions were not without reason. There is deep maniption at y, but the culprit is unknown. Eradicating the Brigands is only a temporary fix, not addressing the root issue. Find proof of the masterminds behind Aeredale¡¯s decline.

    ¨C Find proof of deeper maniption. 0/1

    ¨C Identify the mysterious Association Manager. 0/1

    ¨C Unveil the motives behind the Association Manager¡¯s actions. 0/1

    ¨C Notify Mayor Lowe of your findings. 0/1

    Rewards:

    ¨C *Aeredale Property Deed x1

    ¨C 2,000,000 Experience

    ¨C ?Chain Quest?

    Failure Penalty:

    ¨C Aeredale will face a new threat

    ¨C Level -2

    ¨C Revocation of ?Aeredale¡¯s Savior?

    Time Limit: N/A

    *Special Note: Sometimes the first assumption is a drastic oversight. Make inferences after exploring every avenue. ¡¹

    ¡®The penalties aren¡¯t as severe as my current quest, but they do bleed into each to some extent, namely the title reward. Still, it seems there is some truth to Dusvim¡¯s words. This quest involves an Association Manager.¡¯

    Kieran closed the quest menu by moving his hand before giving Dusvim a meaningful gaze. ¡°Aren¡¯t you forgetting something?¡±

    ¡°Not at all. I haven¡¯t forgotten.¡±

 Chapter 190 Bastions Anger and Glee

    ¡ª

    A wall in their moved aside once Dusvim lifted his hand and performed aplex hand seal. From the deep rumbling, it was clear the wall was extremely heavy and made to withstand several powerful impacts.

    After their heated battle, this wall was the sole undamaged wall. Kieran naturally suspected something amiss with the wall, but he didn¡¯t need to raise that question anymore.

    ¡°The fruits of our actions are collected inside. It¡¯s not everything since it was expensive to equip our members continuously, but a worthwhile amount is inside,¡± Dusvim stated.

    As he spoke, his eyes conveyed his emotion to remain alive.

    ¡°Altair,¡± Kieran called out.

    Altair stepped forward after noticing Kieran¡¯s signal to check out the contents behind the wall.

    Dusvim¡¯s fingers twitched nervously while his eyes darted from Kieran to Ezra, who stood close by.

    ¡°His words are true. This area is a hidden treasury of sorts. I don¡¯t know how much is present, but I haven¡¯t seen anything like it,¡± Altair remarked. He extended his hand with a raised thumb.

    Kieran gave a soft smile and nced at Dusvim.

    ¡°It¡¯s a shame I never promised to keep you alive. You should have addressed that habit and learned to seek confirmation before acting, tsk tsk.¡±

    ¡°Y-you¡ª!¡± Dusvim¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as they fell upon Kieran indifferently lifting his de to Dusvim¡¯s throat.

    Shnk!

    Dusvim wasn¡¯t given the luxury ofpleting his sentence before Kieran¡¯s de lobbed off his head. The expression of disbelief remained painted across his face as Dusvim¡¯s head rolled next to Kieran¡¯s foot.

    Kieran naturally had zero intentions of letting Dusvim live.

    One of the quest objectives was to im Dusvim¡¯s head. Without his death, Kieran could neverplete the quest.<sub>.</sub>

    Furthermore, the new quest didn¡¯t rely upon Dusvim¡¯s survival, or it would have explicitly stated so.

    In the end, Dusvim was a sorry excuse of a pawn that Kieran disregarded.

    ¡´System: You have gained 2,240,965 Experience!¡µ

    ¡´System: Congrattions, you have leveled up! [Lv.41¡úLv.42]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 12 Unassigned Attribute Points and 8 Skill Points.¡µ

    Everyone leveled up after receiving the Dusvim¡¯s hefty Experience Reward, growing closer to Lv.50. But in Kieran¡¯s eyes, their excessive progress was rming.

    At least, it was worrisome if they continued at this pace.

    Unlike Kieran, the others didn¡¯t possess the Zero Loss of Potential trait. Their level would continue to rise past Lv.50 if they continued to fight such difficult enemies. But, this would simrly mean they¡¯ll miss out on maximized stats.

    Nevertheless, Kieran¡¯s worries were interrupted by a system message.

    Ding!

    ¡´System: You and your party are the first to defeat an Epic NPC. Would you like to announce your feat and im your rewards?¡µ

    ¡´Alert: Refusing to announce your identity will lessen the rewards for your aplishment!¡µ

    Kieran looked at the alert that followed the system notification and frowned. ¡®We¡¯re already heading into these times?¡¯

    Zenith Online was designed to promote courage and foster indomitable yers, so cowardice was frowned upon by the system. After its first metamorphosis, yers who chose to hide their merits were penalized for their cowardly actions.

    However, sometimes courage wasn¡¯t the route to be taken, especially if the stiptions were cataclysmic.<sub></sub>

    Nevertheless, Kieran was unperturbed by the notification. Kieran¡¯s actual worries were the potential rewards and how great they were. An Epic NPC was a substantial opponent, so the rewards should be incredible.

    ¡®Please don¡¯t give me what I think you¡¯re going to,¡¯ Kieran inwardly remarked. However, Kieran looked to the others, specifically Ezra, before deciding what he would do.

    ¡°You¡¯ll be roped into my issues if we reveal our feat. Is that something you¡¯re willing to do? I¡¯ll choose based on your opinion.¡±

    ¡°Um,¡± Ezra chewed her lip before ncing at Lux and Cam for advice.

    Lux scratched his head and sighed defeatedly. ¡°I¡¯m sure the board will learn of Aatrox¡¯s feats, but you must consider their willingness to shoulder the burdens of associating with a meteoric individual.¡±

    Cam hugged her bust and shook her head.

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget that a few Commanders and Vice Guild Masters eye your spot. One wrong decision and your renown as Eclipse¡¯s Guild Master could all be history. At any rate, it¡¯s your decision, so you should trust your instincts.¡±

    Ezra gazed at Kieran while listening to the input of her guild members. ¡®Do I take a leap of faith, potentially jeopardizing my guild¡¯s safety, or do I take the safe route?¡¯

    Regardless of her concerns, Kieran has disyed incredible skill thus far. Moreover, his ss mystified Ezra, driving her to question its limits. Would anyone with simr strength rise?

    ¡°Screw it. Announce it. I¡¯ll handle the bacsh, if any. But, you owe me. And I¡¯d like to be repaid with ample training.¡± Ezra¡¯s lips curved into an alluring smile when she heard Kieran¡¯s soft chuckle.

    In the next moment, a notification set the entire yer base aze.

    ©°©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    Zenith Online World Announcement-

    Congrattion to yers: Aatrox, Altair, Alice, Bastion, Cam, Ezra, Luna, Lux, Nemean, and Sera for their feat of defeating an Epic NPC. Their ster feat has been rewarded ordingly. Strive to reach the zenith and achieve supremacy!

    ©¸©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤<sub></sub>

    ¡´System: You have received 50 Gold.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received an ?Epic Grade Treasure Chest?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received ?Basic Refined Mastery Elixir? x10!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have acquired 200 World Fame.¡µ

    ¡´System: Your World Fame has reached the second minor milestone. In light of these aplishments, you will be held in the same regard as a Lord in all human civilizations.¡µ

    ¡´System: As the first Lord-rank yer, you have received a ?Conquest Order?!¡µ

    Kieran staggered after reading his reward for his jump in World Fame. A Conquest Order! This might be unfamiliar to many yers, but Kieran knew the worth of a Conquest Order if appropriately used.

    ¡®I¡¯ll save this for now. It¡¯ll have immense value in the future once I make the necessary preparations,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    At the same time, everyone gasped and stared at their rewards with agape mouths.

    ¡°Holy crap! I got an Epic Treasure Chest!¡± Bastion shouted at the top of his lungs.

    ¡°I thought Aatrox said Epic Items were tough toe by,¡± Altair muttered.

    ¡°I did say that,¡± Kieran nodded. However, he rified a momentter. ¡°But an Epic Grade Treasure Chest isn¡¯t viewed as an Epic Item. It does NOT ensure you¡¯ll receive an Epic Item, but there is a chance you¡¯ll receive one. In exchange for the low probability, it produces items of incredible personal value.¡±

    ¡°So¡­ Potential trash cane out of these? It¡¯s like gambling?!¡± Nemean grumbled. He was famed for ursed luck.

    Kieran grimaced while searching for a suitable description.

    ¡°Somewhat, but not entirely. After reading through the information, an Epic Grade Treasure Chest varies greatly from the Rare version. The lowest possible item is a Rare Item, but its Item Level will be incredibly high.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t give a fuck! I¡¯m opening this thing!¡± Bastion eximed.

    An exquisite,rge silver chest with violet inscriptions appeared before Bastion with a thunderous tremor.

    ¡°So impatient,¡± Kieran sighed. But, he didn¡¯t stop Bastion from using his Epic Treasure Chest. He would be lying if he said he wasn¡¯t excited to see Bastion¡¯s luck.

    The chest¡¯s lid flung open, releasing a vibrant orange hue sandwiched by two deep violet glows of unmatched brilliance.

    This oue made Kieran¡¯s jaw drop, and pupils constrict. The segmented light meant Bastion spawned at least three items, but based on the color, Kieran despaired!

    ¡®Oh fuck¡­ what did he just intrude upon!?¡¯

    Contrary to being happy, Kieran was frightened!

    Why? An orange light signified a Legendary Item! An item like that undoubtedly came from some illustrious background.

    Kieran bolted up to Bastion¡¯s chest and looked inside with a slight change of expression. ¡°Huh¡­¡±

    A huge crease formed between Bastion¡¯s brows while retrieving his items with a deep frown. ¡°I¡¯ve been jipped. Not even one piece of equipment! Just a damned scroll, skill book, and I¡¯m guessing this odd thing a material?!¡±

    ¡°Pfft,¡± Nemean covered his mouth and stifled augh, but Bastion heard it and pounced on him like an enraged tiger.

    ¡°Hold on,¡± Kieran suddenly called out and blew on the skill book before picking it up. ¡°You¡¯reining when you haven¡¯t even read your loot.¡±

    ¡¸ Enhanced Skill Book ¨C Last Stand (Special Consumable)

    Item Rank: Epic

    Item Level: N/A

    Item Usage: Upon usage, the user will learn the Enhanced S Rank Skill ¨C Last Stand. (Can only be learned by defensive sses.)

    Description: An enhanced version of Last Stand, tailored to fit defensive sses and extract the highest potential. (This skill requires Will. Only a select few sses can learn this skill.)¡¹

    With widened eyes, Kieran shifted his attention to the scroll Bastion disregarded.

    ¡¸ Promotion Scroll ¨C Ancient Defender (Special Consumable)

    Item Rank: Legendary

    Item Level: N/A

    Item Usage: This item is usable if the user possesses a defensive ss. The user will receive the Legendary Hidden ss ¨C Ancient Defender upon usage. (The user must be above Lv.20 but below Lv.50 to use.)

    Description: A job change scroll with Heroic potential. ¡¹

    ¡®Ancient Defender¡­ If I¡¯m not mistaken, this belongs to one of the Five Great Empires, the Terran Empire, famed for their imprable tanks! Damn it all,¡¯ Kieran groaned inwardly.

    This could be an issue if the Terran Empire learned that an outsider had obtained its core legacy.

    Nevertheless, Kieran looked at Bastion scornfully.

    ¡°You dumbass, this is a ss Change scroll! And you¡¯re stupidly dismissing it?!¡±

    ¡°SAY WHAT?!¡±

    Bastion scrambled and snatched the two items out of Kieran. After reading through their information, he jumped for joy.

    ¡°You forgot thest item.¡±

 Chapter 191 Ancient Defenders Trial

    ¡ª

    As excited as Bastion was, Kieran¡¯sstment drew his attention to the final item. Initially, Bastion dismissed this item as a material. And, because material maniption was limited to production Professions, Bastion thought it was useless.

    However, he was mistaken.

    The item inside the chest wasn¡¯t a material despite its looks, which resembled a cross between a metallic ore and an anachronistic igneous rock.

    ?€? Rune Stone ¨C Fortitude Enchantment (Special Consumable)

    Item Rank: Epic

    Item Level: N/A

    Item Usage: Once activated, this rune can improve the effect of skills up to S Rank Skills. The improvement varies on the user¡¯stent ?Soul Permanence?. [Maximum Increase: Skill Rank +1.]

    Description: A naturally formed rune stone imbued with mystical properties. Although its origins appear ancient, the energy contained inside is undiminished by the passage of time. ?€?

    ¡®Fortitude Enchantment,¡¯ Kieran¡¯s brows raised in surprise. Afterward, his attention shifted to a matter he had paid little attention to before.

    ¡®Soul Permanence. Even though I have a Soul Trait, Soul Permanence has always been an elusive topic. I could barely find any information on it when I awakened in the past.¡¯

    Aside from Kieran bing curious about Soul Permanence, he wondered if the system would unlock a distinct soul type for Bastion. Otherwise, the effect could be subpar if he used the rune now.

    ¡°Whoa! Every item inside that chest was tailored to Bastion¡¯s needs, but it didn¡¯t cover anything excessively overpowered. Is this the worth of an Epic Treasure Chest,¡± Ezra muttered in awe.

    Her eyes trembled when she thought about how fearsome someone as talented as Bastion would be once they epted a Legendary Hidden ss.

    ¡°Yeah, just take a look at the treasure chest.¡±

    ?€? Epic Treasure Chest (Special Item)<sub>.</sub>

    Item Rank:

    Item Level: N/A

    Item Usage: Bestows up to 4 items valuable to the user. The grade of the bestowed items varies based on the user¡¯s circumstances.

    Description: An exquisite treasure chest with mystical properties. The unique properties imbued in this chest can pierce through restrictions and obtain items precious to the one who opens it. (ount-bound item. Can¡¯t be dropped, sold, or traded.) ?€?

    ¡°The item usage is kind of vague,¡± Ezra muttered. ¡°It says something about circumstances. Is it somehow rted to how many feats the user has attained?¡±

    ¡°Possibly,¡± Kieran shrugged.

    No matter how much research yers conducted in the past, they could never debunk the mystery of Treasure Chests and how it determined what was valuable to a yer.

    Nevertheless, Kieran had tomend Bastion for his outstanding luck. ¡°It seems like a tiger has gained their wings. A Legendary ss, that¡¯s pretty huge. But, I should warn you. This means your Advancement will be catastrophic.¡±

    ¡°Catastrophic? What do you mean?¡± Bastion frowned.

    ¡°Exactly what I said. The higher a ss¡¯s rank, the more difficult their promotion quests because more is expected of you. Anywho, ept your ss and let me see what happens,¡± Kieran suggested.

    ¡°Understood,¡± Bastion nodded.

    He ripped the job change scroll in half, which created a monsoon of heavy pressure. Everyone except Kieran and Bastion was brought to their knees as if groveling before an ancient deity.

    The pressure then converged into a single point before expanding into a prominent figure donning ancient armor that exuded the aura of a colossus. The figure¡¯s eyes shed with a mystical light while gazing upon Bastion.

    ¡°You have called upon the Ancient Order of the Immovable to ept our Way of the Guardian? Are you worthy?¡±

    Bastion nced in Kieran¡¯s direction, but an unknown force drew his head back to the ancient figure slowly descending to the ground before Bastion. This size disparity created a heavy atmosphere.<sub></sub>

    The Ancient Defender¡¯s hulking figure was at least twice asrge as Bastion!

    Kieran¡¯s gaze shed with an inquisitive light. ¡®Could this be someone from the Titan Race? Or, are they justrge because they¡¯re an incarnation of their former self.¡¯

    While Kieran grew curious, the Ancient Defender¡¯s deep voice shook their. ¡°An Ancient Defender and those who seek to im this mantle never look away. Their gaze is forceful, their will tenacious, and their shield immovable.¡±

    ¡°Do you have what it takes?¡±

    ¡°I do,¡± Bastion resolutely answered. He clenched his jaw and gazed into the ancient figure¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Very well. You will undergo my trial,¡± the Ancient Defender determined. They waved their hand, and the heavy pressure bombarded Bastion¡¯s body, lulling him into a trance-like state.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Altair questioned.

    ¡°Bastion is attempting his ss change,¡± Kieran revealed.

    Altair scratched his head and looked toward Kieran for additional rification. ¡°You mean he can¡¯t just ept the ss outright?¡±

    ¡°Nope. At least not with a Legendary or higher ss. You must possess an affinity for the ss to ept it. In my case, I was essentially boiled alive until the pain was no more. I wonder what Bastion¡¯s test will be.¡±

    ¡°Boiled alive?!¡± Ezra gasped.

    However, Nemean focused on another matter entirely.

    ¡°There¡¯s a ss above Legendary?¡± Nemean blinked. His current Shield Enforcer ss was a Rare Hidden ss, so he couldn¡¯t fathom that something beyond Legendary Hidden ss existed.

    ¡°Mythical. However, they¡¯re extremely limited. I¡¯m one of those Mythical sses,¡± Kieran said.

    Their fell silent after Kieran¡¯s revtion.<sub></sub>

    While they knew Kieran¡¯s ss was powerful, no one expected it to surpass a Legendary Hidden ss. Wouldn¡¯t that mean Kieran¡¯s body could potentially be more robust than a Legendary Item?!

    ¡°And now Bastion is taking on a Legendary ss¡­ this party is about to be even more monstrous,¡± Luna breathed. Her heart palpitated when she read the details of Bastion¡¯s items.

    ¡°!!¡±

    Suddenly, everyone¡¯s eyes widened as a cerulean tornado spiraled about Bastion. Piece by piece, the armor on his body cracked and fell to the ground as if incapable of handling this mystical energy.

    ¡­

    Inside Bastion¡¯s mind¡­

    Bastion stood in what seemed to be an ancient altar surrounded by numerous waterfalls and broken pirs. When the water hit the ground, it felt like a tidal wave smashed against Bastion¡¯s body, sending him flying.

    ¡°Young man, is this all your will amounts to? How can you ept my mantle if you can¡¯t withstand one impact from the Overflowing Will Torrent of Galvan?¡±

    ¡°Galvan? Is that your name?¡±

    ¡°Correct, I am Galvan the Ancient, Holder of the Immovable Shield. If you fail here, you will never receive another chance to ept my mantle.¡±

    Whoosh! Bang!

    Bastion was once more forced to his knees by a wave of pressure.

    Although Galvan told Bastion to withstand the force, it was easier said than done. Every blow contained Will powerful enough to affect Awakened Beings.

    Galvan looked to the side dubiously. ¡°I¡¯ve found something interesting. That boy beside you possesses a Will strong enough to resist the Billowing Will Whirlwind. If that¡¯s the case, he should be a strong contender for my mantle.¡±

    Hearing Galvan¡¯sment, Bastion shuddered. Only one person stood beside him when he epted this job chance opportunity.

    ¡°Don¡¯t! This is my chance,¡± Bastion eximed.

    Galvan turned to Bastion with an imperious gaze. ¡°I sense a fire in you. Do you seek the approval of others? A shred of envy has seeped into your mind. One who seeks power to gain approval will never be strong with their vain drive.¡±

    Bang!

    Bastion pounded the ground furiously. ¡°I know it is cowardly topare myself to others, but you don¡¯t understand. My entire life, I¡¯ve been judged by everyone andpared to those who are more talented, sessful, and under better circumstances. You don¡¯t know what it¡¯s like to have crushed confidence.¡±

    Galvan crossed his arms and suddenly teleported before Bastion. ¡°Wrong. I grew up with nothing, impoverished and shunned by everyone. But, the difference between you and me is I never gave in. My desire to survive sustained me.¡±

    Galvan lifted his palm, which produced a scene depicted with a unique Mana application.

    Bastion watched as he experienced Galvan¡¯s life. Countless scenes of struggle trumped some of the more glorious scenes. Bastion witnessed Galvan struggle to find food, sleep in mud, and resist bitter cold with little warmth.

    Despite the various scenes, however, one detail remained consistent¨Cthe adamant and indomitable light in Galvan¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°One mustn¡¯t seek strength for approval. Approval should only be a byproduct of your glory. You should aspire to uphold, prosper, and protect. Find a new focus, a new raison d¡¯etre to devote yourself to. Only then will you gain a spirit willing to endure. Now, tell me¨Cdo you desire this mantle?¡±

    ¡°I want it!¡± Bastion shouted.

    ¡°If so, get up and prove so with your action.¡±

    Galvan waved his hand up, bringing Bastion to his feet.

    Afterward, another torrent fell. This time, Bastion gritted his teeth and remained standing. Another overflow appeared in rapid session, but it knocked Bastion down.

    Despite that, Bastion rose.

    Once¡­

    Twice¡­

    Ten times¡­

    Time soon became a fleeting concept as Bastion gritted his teeth and rose again after being knocked down countless times.

    Praise filled Galvan¡¯s expression hidden by his helmet, but he didn¡¯t relent. On the contrary, he amplified the force of the downpours.

    ¡°Do not falter. Do not yield,¡± Galvanmanded. He didn¡¯t yell, but his voice filled the entire area.

    Bastion stumbled to his feet with a stubborn look in his eyes. ¡®I am not inferior. I will prove everyone wrong. No! I will prove to myself that I am worthy. I will not let anyone put me down.¡¯

    The water beneath Bastion¡¯s feat rippled as light blue energy thrummed around him.

    ¡®Yes. Without a Will Awakening, resisting these torrents are impossible.¡¯

    ¡°Show me your resolve!¡± Galvan bellowed. The entire altar trembled, threatening to crumble to pieces, but Bastion remained stable.

    Bang! Bang! BOOM!

    The cascades became more violent like a cloudburst, bombarding Bastion¡¯s body, but a sharp light shone through the dense deluge.

    Whoosh!

    A nascent pressure shattered the waterfall, revealing a panting Bastion. ¡°I can take more!¡±

    ¡°Correct, you can. Even when you believe you can¡¯t, there is always ast stand,¡± Galvan said.

    ¡­

    Inside the undergroundir¡­

    Kieran¡¯s expression lit up when Bastion¡¯s eyes closed and reopened with an archaic light shining within.

    BOOM!

    The walls in the undergroundir cracked as Bastion¡¯s armor shattered.

 Chapter 192 A Massive Discovery

    ¡ª

    Although Bastion no longer wore any armor, he gave off the impression of an immovable wall or imprable fortress. A sessful ss Change produced incredible effects.

    Bastion breathed calmly as the aura emanating from his body receded. An Ancient Defender wasn¡¯t just any typical ss. It was a ss that triggered one of the Hidden Attributes¡ªWill¡ªjust by sessfully changing.

    Why? Because Will was the basis of the entire ss.

    Will, in short, refers to the soul¡¯s ability to withstand pressure, whether tangible or intangible. Another way to interpret it was the solidity of one¡¯s soul. Will possessed three facets: physical, mental, and spiritual.

    Each aspect held a vital role that would be apparent to everyone in the future.

    All three facets served as the basis of an Ancient Defender.

    Like how Kieran¡¯s skills depended on Blood Mania, every skill in Bastion¡¯s arsenal now relied upon his new ss Unique Passive¡ªIndomitable Pure Will.

    ¡°How does it feel?¡± Kieran asked with a faint smile.

    ¡°Incredible,¡± Bastion answered.

    However, before he could relish in the insane amount of changes, Bastion¡¯s pupils constricted.

    BOOM!<sub>.</sub>

    Kieran punched Bastion abruptly, but something strange urred. Kieran¡¯s fist was stopped by the Willpower spilling off Bastion¡¯s body. The Willpower adopted the shape of arge shield as Bastion lifted it above his head without moving his legs.

    ¡®How much higher has his Defense grown? No¡­ how much Damage Reduction was he given?¡¯ Kieran wondered.

    Changing sses may have broken Bastion¡¯s equipment, but his shield was untouched. Still, Bastion¡¯s first instinct was to create a Will Armament, which in his case formed a shield.

    ¡°I felt that from over here,¡± Nemean said grimly. The force from Kieran¡¯s punch had traveled quite far, so everyone understood a frightening amount of Strength fueled that attack.

    ¡°Yeah, Bastion¡¯s Defense has be no joke. If he can handle Aatrox¡¯s punch with that strange crimson technique, I doubt many yers of the same level can prate his defenses,¡± Altairmented.

    Luna¡¯s eyes glistened while watching Kieran deliver an onught to no avail. Bastion defended against every strike properly. Though Bastion lost Health, there was little to no effect on his body.

    ¡°What did you experience during your ss change?¡±

    ¡°Galvan called it a Will Awakening and Will Refinement,¡± Bastion answered.

    ¡°It has produced incredible results. Not just in your defenses but in your demeanor as well. I can feel it¡ªgenuine confidence radiating from your inner self. I don¡¯t know what means your instructor employed, but they are remarkable.¡±

    Kieran soon stopped because he only wished to tes

 Chapter 193 Mayor Lowes Gratitude

    ¡ª

    Because Kieran and the others were no longer pressed for time, the journey back to Aeredale City happened at anguid pace, especially after clearing the Desert of Treacherous Sands.

    Although the atmosphere was cordial during the journey, Bastion was unusually quiet as he read through and familiarized himself with all of his skills. After his ss change, Bastion received a decent number of Skill Points to freely distribute amongst his skills.

    Additionally, any skill deemed useless to an Ancient Defender was purged, returning all Skill Points invested in the Skill Tree.

    Everyone noticed Bastion¡¯s silence, but his pensive expression stopped anyone from bothering him.

    ¡®The Fortitude Enchantment would be best used on Guardian¡¯s Bulwark. I wonder if it¡¯ll receive any changes after I use it,¡¯ Bastion inwardly thought. Guardian¡¯s Bulwark, before his ss change, was his undisputed best skill.

    Bastion withdrew the Rune Stone, which held a strangely clunky symbol in the center. The character escaped most people¡¯s knowledge, but every Enchanter understood the practicality of runes.

    The Rune Stone evaporated slowly, fading into a mystical light that pierced Basiton¡¯s forehead. After deciding to bolster Guardian¡¯s Bulwark, the energy assimted with the skill¡¯s rune structure in Bastion¡¯s mind.

    ¡°Cool,¡± Bastion muttered after reading through the changes.

    The previous A Rank Combination Skill had be an S Rank Combination Skill! There were other minute differences, but Bastion couldn¡¯t discern them until he tested it out inbat.

    Over half a dayter, everyone finally returned to Aeredale City, where they decided to split ways.

    ¡°Thank you for the opportunity, Aatrox. If possible, I hope there are greater adventures in our future,¡± Ezra said. She graciously extended her hand with a warm smile.

    Thanks to Kieran¡¯s efforts, she secured a substantial fortune to supply the guild with.

    Kieran grasped her hand and smiled back. ¡°It was a pleasure. As for teaming up again, well, only time will tell. I intend to take time and digest everything before making additionalrge moves.¡±<sub>.</sub>

    Ezra beamed while gazing at Kieran. ¡°Wise decision, especially since your tank will be departing soon. Although you¡¯re strong, I doubt you want to act without a sufficient tank.¡±

    They finished saying their goodbyes before Luna bowed slightly. ¡°Thanks again, Aatrox. You¡¯ve truly helped me obtain the potential to realize my dream.¡±

    ¡°Likewise. It was a pleasure to be in yourpany. However, I think you¡¯ve kept Luka and Zafir waiting long enough. They may have be restless.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ fine,¡± Luna chuckled. ¡°Luka is my cousin, so he understands how serious I am about this.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I see,¡± Kieran remarked with lifted brows. He wasn¡¯t aware of the rtionship between them.

    Luna soon ran off, leaving Kieran and his team.

    Now that it was just them, Kieran raised a point he introduced to Altair. ¡°Are you all interested in meeting? If so, I can book your flights to my location. Something to note, though, if you meet with me, it¡¯ll mark the beginning of your formal training.¡±

    Aside from Altair, everyone else was taken aback. The fact Kieran would foot their bills didn¡¯t bother them. It was naturally something they should be ustomed to if his future role was their Guild Master.

    Still, they were amazed by Kieran¡¯s confidence.

    ¡°You¡­ aren¡¯t afraid that your true identity will leak once we meet?¡± Nemean muttered.

    ¡°Not at all. I¡¯ve grasped your characters quite well. The Zenith Covenant is a safety measure, but you¡¯re all trustworthy. And, as I said before, I¡¯m all in. Either we do this, or we don¡¯t.¡±

    Everyone could feel Kieran¡¯s passion and decisiveness. How could they say no after hearing Kieran¡¯s genuine impression of them?

    Alice started pacing back and forth. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I need to pack!¡±<sub></sub>

    ¡°Oh, but I have an important question. We¡¯re all above the age of 18, right?¡± Kieran squinted while passing his gaze through the party.

    Nemean held his head up high. ¡°Duh!¡±

    ¡°Do I look younger than 18?¡± Bastion blinked.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Alice nodded.

    ¡°Over 18,¡± Altairmented.

    ¡°Umm, I just turned 18 not too long ago,¡± Sera squeaked.

    After learning everyone was of age, Kieran breathed a sigh of relief. It could be a real hassle if he had to ask for parental consent.

    Everyone parted to carry out the necessary preparations for their uing trip.

    Different from the rest, Kieran approached the Mayor¡¯s Office.

    Because of his equipment, Kieran¡¯s presence garnered several smallments, some of marvel and some filled with envy.

    ¡°What level armor is that? The Item Level has to be pretty high, no? I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s something like 50!¡±

    ¡°I would give my left kidney to have that armor. It looks absolutely sick! That guy is like a wild beast in human form. Do you think he¡¯ll bite if I approach him?¡±

    ¡°Dude, I wouldn¡¯t advise that. He looks unfriendly. It¡¯d be best to mind your business.¡±<sub></sub>

    Kieran ignored thements although he could hear them due to his sharp senses. Amidst the remarks and amazed gazes, Kieran soon vanished into the Mayor¡¯s Office.

    Once inside, Kieran received a subtle scare.

    The receptionist leapt out of her seat in fright after seeing Kieran. ¡°Ah¡ª! Barbarian! What are you doing out of the Wildes?!¡±

    Barbarians were indigenous to the Wildes and rarely ventured outside. In their eyes, the Wildes possessed everything they desired, primarily an area devoid of Mana. Many, if not all, Barbarians forsook Mana in pursuit of a more fitting power, one Bastion had recently be acquainted with.

    Mana wasn¡¯t almighty, so Barbarians felt it was an imperfect source. Instead, they valued power within themselves by embracing the Wildes¡¯ dreadful environment.

    Kieran was amused by her reaction but thought little of it.

    ¡®Oh? Does she believe I look like a barbarian? Truthfully, she¡¯s not wrong. Agrianos¡¯ attire did resemble what I now wear. But¡­¡¯

    ¡°It¡¯s me, Aatrox!¡±

    The wide-eyed receptionist gasped. ¡°Oh my goodness! I couldn¡¯t even recognize you! If you¡¯re here to see Mayor Lowe, he has been awaiting your return. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be pleased to see you.¡±

    While the receptionist clutched her chest with bated breaths, Kieran walked past and strolled into Mayor Lowe¡¯s private office.

    Unlike before, the door was propped open by a door stopper. Through the slight crack, Kieran saw Mayor Lowe massaging the bridge of his nose while nodding off.

    ¡®The poor guys must have had many sleepless nights awaiting the good or terrible news.¡¯

    ¡°Knock knock,¡± Kieran uttered while pushing open the door.

    Mayor Lowe sprang to his feet after hearing this familiar voice. ¡°Sir Aatrox¡ª No. I suppose it¡¯s more fitting to call you Lord Aatrox now. Your renown deserves this level of respect.¡±

    The change in how Mayor Lowe addressed Kieran was naturally a result of his increased World Fame.

    ¡°I¡¯vepleted the task. The Desertborn Brigands are no more. You shouldn¡¯t experience any troubles in the immediate future,¡± Kieran stated proudly.

    However, Kieran used an ambiguous phrase like the immediate future because he couldn¡¯t promise anything about the distant future. Until he ultimately resolved the matter, a slight threat would always exist.

    ¡´System: You havepleted ?Brigand Eradication?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 2x ?Rare Grade Treasure Chest?.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received a ?Unique Grade Treasure Chest?.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received the Title: ?Aeredale¡¯s Savior?.¡µ

    ¡´System: Congrattions, you have leveled up! [Lv.42¡úLv.45]¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received 36 Unassigned Attribute Points and 24 Skill Points.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have reached max Favorability with Mayor Lowe.¡µ

    ¡°Outstanding!¡± Mayor Lowe eximed after watching Dusvim¡¯s lifeless head roll across his office desk. ¡°Also, this is for you.¡±

    Mayor Lowe extended his hand with a card resembling a credit card. It possessed arge ¡®M¡¯ and ¡®A¡¯ in a fancy font surrounded by a coin logo and numerous crystal images.

    ¡´System: You have received a ?Standard Merchant Association Badge?.¡µ

    ¡®A membership card wille in handy when dealing with the Association. But¡­¡¯

    A Standard Membership was far from ideal. With enough donations, even an ordinary citizen could obtain it. Kieran¡¯s sights were set on a VIP Card at the very least. Only then would he possess the credentials needed for his ns.

    ¡°You have done great work. You are truly Aeredale¡¯s Savior. The Royal Family will hear of your contributions. Perhaps an audience and reward could be possible.¡±

    ¡°I like your enthusiasm and optimism, but that¡¯s highly unlikely. You know the Royal Family views themselves as abovemon folk. Why would they agree to your suggestion?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Mayor Lowe muttered with a bitter smile.

    ¡°Nevertheless, the threat of the brigands has vanished. Your job has be a tad bit easier.¡± Kieran said.

    While speaking, however, he nced at thest objective. He wondered if the quest detail could bepleted before he collected evidence. Unfortunately, the possibility of his actions creating needless anxiety deterred Kieran from going through with his thought.

    ¡®It¡¯s probably better to alert Mayor Lowe of the situation after I¡¯ve identified the true mastermind.¡¯

    ¡°Once again, I am in your debt. Don¡¯t be afraid to ask if you ever have a request within my capabilities. As the savior of this city, assisting you will be the least of my gratitude,¡± Mayor Lowe expressed.

    A genuine smile filled with graciousness appeared across his face.

    After receiving Mayor Lowe¡¯s praise, Kieran didn¡¯t idle for much longer. He bid his farewell and walked through the city¡¯s bustling streets in deep thought.

    ¡®There¡¯s so much for me to do. I¡¯vepleted the War Deity Council¡¯s assignment, so I owe them a visit. I also must meet with Scar because I have a few questions. However, I can¡¯t ignore Isadora¡¯s quest for much longer¡­.¡¯

    Now that he was Lv.45, Kieran wasn¡¯t interested in leveling up further. Before leveling became a priority again, he needed to implement a few key aspects of his n.

    ¡®I think it¡¯s time for a solo journey,¡¯ Kieran inwardly mused. The others weren¡¯t permitted when it came to the War Deity Council.

 Chapter 194 War Crest

    ¡ª

    Roughly twenty minutester¡­

    Kieran arrived before the War Deity Council¡¯s temple entrance with a distant look in his eyes. He could have reached this ce faster, but he took his time to ponder the best approach.

    ¡®Interacting with the Emplenan Few won¡¯t be easy. They¡¯ll view me as nothing more than a grotesque human without something to prove my innocence and separate me from the vile ways of the higher organization.¡¯

    While in thought, Kieran crossed the temple¡¯s threshold and walked through with echoing steps. Laughter sounded not too far away, but it petered out once they noticed iing footsteps.

    Kieran looked up to find two people. He was familiar with one of them, however, the other¡¯s presence was extremely vague in his mind.

    Han scrutinized Kieran¡¯s appearance with an aghast expression. ¡®If not for my strong senses, I would have thought a Barbarian appeared before me. This aura is familiar, but at the same time, it¡¯s growing unfamiliar.¡¯

    The changes Kieran experienced influenced Han¡¯s opinion of him. This influence inevitably affected how long it took to recall this person before him. ¡°Aatrox, right?¡±

    ¡°Correct,¡± Kieran nodded.

    After ncing between Han and this other unfamiliardy, Kieran continued speaking. ¡°I havepleted the task you gave me. Mayor Lowe¡¯s worries have been dealt with.¡±

    ¡°When you say dealt with, you mean you have guarded a caravan and returned?¡± Han¡¯s brows furrowed while hoping his understanding of the situation was wrong.

    If Kieran merely guarded one trip, taking this long to return signified ack of skill. Ack of skill wasn¡¯t worthy of the War Deity Council!<sub>.</sub>

    After all, Han gave Kieran this assignment roughly one week ago!

    ¡°No,¡± Kieran shook his head. His eyes radiated confidence as they dissolved Han¡¯s concerns. ¡°I didn¡¯t only guard them. I have eradicated the entire organization responsible for the thefts.¡±

    ¡°You did what?!¡± Han¡¯s jaw dropped after listening to Kieran¡¯s recount.

    This revtion was outside of his expectations. At most, he thought Kieran would guard a few trades and return afterward with proof of his achievements.

    Eradicating an entire brigand organization was unthinkable!

    The oundish nature of Kieran¡¯s ims made Han question the authenticity. Did Kieran take the War Deity Council as a joke? It was one of the strongest organizations in this world.

    A single oundish im could get him barred. And spheming the name of the War Deity could get him maimed!

    The lightest punishment would be being hunted by the council¡¯s most ferocious youths.

    Kieran noticed the doubt in Han¡¯s gaze, so Kieran waved his hand. The head of Vidal and Facina dropped on the counter before the aghast Han.

    ¡°I can¡¯t deliver the leader¡¯s head because it¡¯s in Mayor Lowe¡¯s possession, but these are his children. I¡¯m sure you can grasp their strength by sensing the residual Mana remaining.¡±

    The stronger one became, the purer their Mana grew. Mana Purity was a decent indication of strength, which is why Kieran suggested Han test for it.<sub></sub>

    Han hovered his palm above the two heads, and as per Kieran¡¯s instructions, he sensed their general strength, finding them to be above Kieran¡¯s initial level of power.

    ¡®Those eyes¡­¡¯ Han inwardly thought. The emotionlessness and disregard while speaking of his kills left Han astonished. Only seasoned Adventurers would be this inured to death.

    Han retracted his hand after understanding what he needed to know. ¡°What level badge do you hold with the Adventurers¡¯ Guild?¡±

    ¡°Gold. But I¡¯ll be applying for a tinum Badge soon.¡±

    Han fell into deep thought while considering if he should extend this offer or not. While he appreciated Kieran¡¯s barbarity, he didn¡¯t know how loyal he was.

    However, Han soon felt it was best to extend the offer regardless of Kieran¡¯s loyalty. They could have the proper authorities deal with him if he became a problem.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case¡­ would you like to enter this year¡¯s diator Coliseum?¡±

    The diator Coliseum was a special property of the War Deity Council. It possessed two reasons for its existence. One, the War Deity Council felt youth was whenpetition should ze. The congrations of conflict should temper these youths and promote increased ferocity.

    The diator Coliseum was one of the reasons Scar was so fierce. He went through it at an extremely young age, influencing and perhaps altering his persona.

    The other reason the diator Coliseum existed was its identity as a rite of passage. A nominal member couldn¡¯t truly be called a member of the War Deity Council until they went through the diator Coliseum and achieved satisfactory results.

    Kieran wasn¡¯t too surprised by Han¡¯s question. Why? Because anything below a Gold Adventurer Badge was uneptable in the eyes of the War Deity Council. Granted, the council considered age, so this applied to youths only.<sub></sub>

    The standard for adults was astronomical inparison.

    Han would have never extended this offer if he held a Bronze or Silver one. But, Kieran knew this. It was why he requested a Gold Adventurer Badge during his visit to the Adventurers¡¯ Guild.

    ¡°Han, you think he¡¯s ready for the diator Coliseum? I hear the current batch of contenders trump several past generations. He may even be ripped apart!¡±

    Han turned toward the lithe beauty by his side with peach blossom-colored hair styled into a long ponytail that flowed down her back.

    ¡°I have heard of the rumors, Alythia. But, he haspleted all requirements thus far. It¡¯s customary that I extend this offer. Besides, have you forgotten?¡±

    Alythia furrowed her brows. ¡°Forgotten what?¡±

    ¡°Aatrox is Commander Scar¡¯s legatee. Don¡¯t you think he is just as fearsome as the rest?¡± Han remarked.

    Alythia scanned Aatrox¡¯s appearance and found simrities to Scar, but she still felt her opinion was reasonable. ¡°That might be true, but those guys have been groomed for years¡ªsome of them since birth. There¡¯s no telling how long he¡¯s been trained.¡±

    Kieran smirked while listening to Alythia express her opinion. All of her points were sound. The War Deity Council was famous for its brutal members, so it wasn¡¯t too bizarre to think some of the youth carried those properties.

    However, Kieran wouldn¡¯t lose to anyone in terms of brutality, ferociousness, mercilessness, and a few other qualities found in warriors, especially not with his Vengeful Soul.

    ¡°I appreciate that you care for my well-being, but I¡¯m interested in this diator Coliseum,¡± Kieran voiced.

    Alythia pursed her lips after sensing Kieran¡¯s confidence. She felt it was vain because Kieran didn¡¯t understand hispetition.

    ¡°So that you know, the grandson of one of our Commanders is part of this batch. He¡¯s the lead prospect in being the one to set the record this year. That boy has been groomed since birth to be a warrior,¡± Alythia said.

    She revealed this information to inform Kieran of the stakes and deter him from lightheartedly going through with this action.

    Han grimaced because he understood Alythia¡¯s intentions but personally disagreed with them. After all, one of the War Deity Council¡¯s cardinal rules was not to deter a fellow member from making a decision if it could potentially inhibit their growth.

    The War Deity Council chased superiority, not cowardice.

    ¡°Alythia, stop,¡± Hanmanded with a stern expression.

    ¡°But Han¡ª¡±

    ¡°Stop,¡± Han interjected forcefully. His tone expressed his unwillingness to listen to her reasoning.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Alythia begrudgingly relented.

    Afterward, Han turned toward Kieran with a contrite expression. ¡°Forgive Alythia. She has always had a tender spot for neers. She can¡¯t help but abide by her nature.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±

    Kieran dismissed Alythia¡¯s concerns because he could feel they didn¡¯t stem from a ce of malice or contempt. Alythia genuinely feared some of the War Deity Council¡¯s youths, which showed in her current expression.

    Regardless of Alythia¡¯s suggestion, Kieran had no intentions of shying away from the diator Coliseum. ¡°When do we go there?¡±

    ¡°It won¡¯t happen right this moment. There are a few contenders that are unprepared. But, it¡¯ll happen in a week at thetest. Once it is time, we will call upon you. A moment please, I¡¯ll carry out the necessary procedures,¡± Han said.

    He ced Kieran¡¯s hand on the counter but pped his forehead for a rookie mistake. ¡°Oh¡­ your other hand, please. Commander Scar¡¯s emblem is too powerful to be overwritten.¡±

    Han retrieved a slip from the desk and pressed it against the back of Kieran¡¯s hand. A low sizzling noise persisted for a few seconds. When Han retracted his hand, a fierce-looking symbol etched with a unique energy signature surfaced on Kieran¡¯s hand.

    It somewhat resembled a cross between a lion and a tiger.

    ¡´System: You have received a ?Lesser War Crest?!¡µ

    ¡´System: Congrattions on bing a nominal member of the ?War Deity Council?!¡µ

    The Lesser War Crest didn¡¯t present any benefits aside from being recognized as a potential council candidate. If Kieran wanted to draw any benefits from the crest, he would have to perform well inside the diator¡¯s Coliseum.

    ¡°Are you interested in perhaps training or guidance?¡± Han questioned.

    The council weed him now that Kieran possessed a Lesser War Crest. However, he could only spend a finite amount of time inside the temple.

    Because of this fact, Kieran decided not to take Han up on his offer just yet. ¡°I would, but I need to meet with Scar.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Han smiled amicably. ¡°Best of luck. I hope Commander Scar doesn¡¯t work you too hard.¡±

    Kieran waved goodbye before running his finger over the Lesser War Crest. The thick lines made it feel like a tattoo, which brought his attention back to Agrianos, who bore several ancient markings on his body.

    ¡®I¡¯ve acquired several insignias, crests, and such. Will I inevitably end up looking like him?¡¯ Kieran wondered.

 Chapter 195 Awakening Scar

    ¡ª

    After Kieran left the premises, Alythia pped Han across the chest with a deadly re. ¡°How dare you!¡±

    Han sputtered before grimacing at Alythia. She may have appeared meek before Kieran out of respect to Han, but her true nature was that of a tigress.

    ¡°Was I too harsh?¡±

    ¡°What do you think? You even had the nerve to raise your voice at me.¡¯

    Han ultimately sighed and gave in. ¡°You may be my girlfriend, but we can¡¯t take the council¡¯s rules lightly. He wanted to partake in this round of the diator¡¯s Coliseum, so it isn¡¯t our ce to dissuade him.¡±

    ¡°Hmph,¡± Alythia pouted while rolling in her eyes. ¡°At least you remember my status. Don¡¯t treat me like that, or you¡¯ll pay during our training session.¡±

    Alythia¡¯s frame didn¡¯t depict it, but her ss specialized in lethal striking. So much so that Han gulped after recalling theirst training exercise.

    As an Aura Lancer, facing off against Alythia, who specialized in close-range attacks, put Han at a severe disadvantage.

    ¡°Forgive me,¡± Han pleaded. Afterward, the two disyed their affection, and Alythia ultimately melted like butter against a warm spoon.

    ¡­

    While he walked away from the temple, Kieran could hear distant giggles but paid no attention to them. Instead, he was too busy trying to remember how much his return fees would cost. Teleporting to the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary was free, but the return would cost him.<sub>.</sub>

    The Gatekeeper of Teleportations stressed that payment was expected, and Kieran wouldn¡¯t deign to infuriate him.

    Even now, Kieran etched the impression of that Gatekeeper into his mind. The Gatekeeper wasn¡¯t simple, evident by how easily he manipted space within the Teleportation Gate.

    While recalling his impression of the Gatekeeper, Kieran wondered how the Gatekeeper of Teleportation fared against Scar.

    ¡®The Gatekeeper is most likely a Spatial Mage or maybe even an Arcanist like the Arcane One. Their abilities should be a good match against Scar¡¯s speed and ferocity.¡¯

    After a certain level, teleporting became instantaneous. Instantaneous teleportation was referred to as a Spatial Blink, symbolizing a deep understanding of controlling space.

    Spatial Blink was regarded as an SS Rank Skill. That¡¯s how robust its practicality was. But, learning Spatial Blink was easier said than done. Most Spatial Mages would go years withoutprehending it.

    Furthermore, Spatial Blink was not a skill on any Mage¡¯s Skill Tree. Why? Because Spatial Blink wasn¡¯t limited to Mages. Any individual skilled in spatial knowledge could eventually stumble across the ability if talented enough.

    After moving far from the temple, Kieran extended his left hand and exhaled.

    ¡´System: You have activated the ?Bloody Hero¡¯s Symbol?. Do you wish to teleport to the ?Hero¡¯s Sanctuary?? [ Y | N ]¡µ

    ¡°Activate,¡± Kieranmanded.

    The rippling sanguine orb from his first use reappeared and imploded to create a spatial tear. The tear served as a temporary gateway to connect Kieran¡¯s current position to the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary.<sub></sub>

    Kieran stepped inside and vanished from in sight.

    ¡­

    Tap!

    A few momentster, Kierannded with the Teleportation Gate and felt an imperious gaze on his back. He turned around to see the Gatekeeper of Teleportation¡¯s white eyes glued on his presence.

    ¡°Hello, Gatekeeper of Teleportations,¡± Kieran greeted respectfully.

    ¡°You have returned. And from the severe spatial fluctuations, it was through Scar¡¯s symbol. You may go,¡± the Gatekeeper said before closing their eyes and receding into the darkness.

    Kieran felt the Gatekeeper of Teleportations was a genuinely mysterious entity but didn¡¯t stress the matter.

    After pushing the subject to the back of his mind, Kieran strolled through the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary, marveling at its serenity. The naturally calming winds and the soothing Mana with extreme purity left Kieran feelingx and unburdened.

    ¡®Have I be more sensitive or something? I don¡¯t recall feeling like this during my first visit. Perhaps my sensitivity to Mana is growing faster than I assumed despite neglecting my Perception.¡¯

    Of course, Kieran couldn¡¯t forget about the Focus stat he recently awakened. In such a setting, the Focus stat¡¯s value grew exponentially. The stat was designed to detect a serene atmosphere that promoted a state of untold profundity.

    Kieran soon arrived before Scar¡¯s remote manor and banged on the door. Scar said he would be falling into a deep sleep when he left.<sub></sub>

    Considering he heard individuals above a certain level could sleep for days, weeks, or months at a time, Kieran felt a violent knock was required.

    ¡°Scar! Old Man Teacher, wake up!¡± Kieran eximed. The knocking disrupted the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary¡¯s inherently serene atmosphere, but there was no sound after waiting for a few minutes.

    Kieran squinted and pulled on the bar handle several times, but they didn¡¯t budge. After a few minutes of trying to enter to no avail, Kieran looked at the glowing symbol on the back of his hand.

    ¡®Will it work?¡¯

    Kieran was unsure if the symbol would permit entry, but it didn¡¯t hurt to try. Kieran lifted the back of his hand to the door. Seconds passed before a change urred. Arge version of the insignia appeared on the door and broke in half.

    Once that happened, the door swung open slowly. The whole process felt eerie, but Kieran wasn¡¯t rmed.

    He stepped inside, and the door closed behind him as if sensing the insignia cross the entry threshold. Kieran¡¯s eyes sparkled after feeling the magic circle¡¯s return.

    ¡®What an exquisitely made formation. I wonder how powerful the Arrayist who created it is. A formation capable of self-repair requires Grandmaster expertise at the minimum.¡¯

    Kieran¡¯s astonishment subsided quickly as he walked through Scar¡¯s predominantly vacant manor halls. Be that as it may, Kieran perceived Scar¡¯s presence through the symbol on his hand.

    As the symbol was imbued with Scar¡¯s core power, it was drawn to him.

    A few momentster, Kieran stopped before a room with an ajar door,pletely thunderstruck. The room filled with a loud rumble every time Scar snored while sprawled across a gigantic bed.

    Despite its size, Scar managed to somehow arrive in a position where his legs and arms hung off the bed.

    But, when Kieran stepped inside the room, Scar¡¯s eyes instinctively snapped open. He disappeared from the bed and reappeared before Kieran with his fist millimeters away from Kieran¡¯s chin.

    Kieran exhaled, releasing a breath he subconsciously held. Scar was an instant away from blowing his head off with a frightening punch! However, what truly dismayed Kieran was that his foot hadn¡¯t even touched the ground yet.

    ¡°Bah¡­ it¡¯s just my little brat,¡± Scar scoffed and lowered his fist that was slightlyrger than Kieran¡¯s head. Scar¡¯s instinctive reaction wasparable to a beast always on high alert.

    Even while asleep, he reacted at nonsensical speeds.

    A secondter, the air behind Kieran exploded, nudging him to turn his head. ¡®Did the air explode from a punch throw without activating his blood power? Holy shit¡­¡¯

    Kieran shook his head while smiling bitterly. There was so much to be done before he could hope to grasp Scar¡¯s realm.

    ¡°Why have you returned?¡± Scar groggily asked. He scratched his belly with weighted eyes.

    ¡°A few reasons, actually. I have several questions, so wake up,¡± Kieran remarked.

    Scar squinted and clicked his tongue with a light scoff. ¡°You little runt! You¡¯re gettingfortable, aren¡¯t cha? Wait a minute¡ª¡±

    Scar walked around Kieran while narrowing his eyes with a giddy grin. ¡°Your affinity with Blood Mania has deepened. Beyond that, I can smell more vengeance roiling in your soul, but it feels more condensed than before.¡±

    ¡°Do you know what a Seed of Vengeance is?¡± Kieran questioned.

    Although the system revealed that it could act as his Source, it revealed absolutely zero information on the item. No matter where Kieran looked, he couldn¡¯t find such an item in his inventory, nor could he sense it.

    ¡°Of course. But not many exist. Is that the cause of the vengeance I¡¯m sensing? If so, Lord Agrianos must have given it to you,¡± Scar uttered with a deep expression.

    ¡°That¡¯s the only exnation. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s something innate. Agrianos gave me a few things before he left. It¡¯s a shame I can¡¯t sense the seed and the Ancient Crimson Aegis is still out of my reach.¡±

    Scar¡¯s expression grew grim after hearing Kieran mention the Ancient Crimson Aegis.

    ¡°Do not rush the use of that practice. If you aren¡¯t careful, you will agitate Argexes¡¯ Blood and risk corrupting your soul. If you plunge into that madness, Lord Agrianos will undoubtedly y you.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Kieran questioned. Since his ss change, Kieran was curious about who or what Argexes was.

    ¡°Because¡­ Lord Agrianos is the one who sealed Argexes, to begin with.¡±

    ¡°Argexes is a demon?¡±

    ¡°A demon? That¡¯s putting it mildly. Argexes is a Monarch. The embodiment of Wrath, Pride, Gluttony, and Cruelty. Lord Agrianos awakened his power after feeding off Argexes¡¯ flesh.¡±

    Scar merely spoke Argexes name, but innate trepidation shed in his eyes. He had quelled the blood, but in doing so, Scar became an entity that crossed between a human and a demon¡ªa fiend. This event is why his ss appeared as Blood Fiend.

    Despite having quelled the blood, the threat eruption couldn¡¯t be neutralized.

    Kieran gawked after potentially connecting something. ¡°Is¡­ the seal inside the Chasm of Apogeton rted to Argexes?¡±

 Chapter 196 True Berserker Training (I)

    ¡ª

    Agrianos had already revealed that the Nether Severing Hex Seal located in the Chasm of Apogeton¡¯s depth sealed the connection to another realm. Kieran believed the reason for such a seal could rte to Argexes.

    After all, Argianos was the site¡¯s guardian.

    However, when he gazed upon Scar¡¯s wry smile, Kieran¡¯s brows furrowed.

    ¡°No. The seal existed before Lord Agrianos obtained his power. Argexes is sealed inside the Nihility Boundary set between the many dark realms. And, it must stay that way,¡± Scar said.

    Kieran nked while listening to Scar speak. What the hell was the Nihility Boundary? He had nevere to learn of such a thing. Although it exceeded his knowledge, Kieran understood the gravity of keeping Argexes sealed.

    ¡®Could a Monarch be some type of demon god?¡¯ Kieran wondered.

    He recalled Agrianos mentioning another strong dark presence known as Er¡¯shabal. Perhaps there was a connection.

    ¡°Enough about that. Let¡¯s not dwell on the what-ifs. As long as you master the framework Lord Agrianos hasid out for you, the chances of your soul facing corruption are slim,¡± Scar waved his hand, refusing to answer any further questions regarding Argexes¡¯ power.

    ¡°You said you had other questions for me, right? I didn¡¯t forget since myment made you go on a tangent.¡±

    Kieran¡¯s quandary ended abruptly because of Scar¡¯s question.

    ¡°I do! The first question is about Crimson Ashrune. Why isn¡¯t it regarded as an Epic Weapon despite the exquisite materials used to forge it.¡±<sub>.</sub>

    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Scar¡¯s expression grew regretful as he sighed. ¡°It once was an Epic Weapon nearing the Legendary standard. However, I was too attached to my weapon during my youth. That attachment inevitably led to me making a grave oversight.¡±

    Scar extended his hand. ¡°Give it here, and I will show you.¡±

    Kieran listened to Scar¡¯s direction, retrieving Crimson Ashrune from his inventory and cing it above Scar¡¯s hand.

    Somehow, therge weapon seemed insignificant in Scar¡¯s grasp.

    Crimson energy from Scar¡¯s palm bathed the de, revealing arge yet unnaturally imperceptible crack through its length. ¡°The once ster de was damaged after I ignored the signs of me outgrowing the weapon.¡±

    Crimson Ashrune wasn¡¯t as simple as the de seemed on the surface. Nihilitite Ore and Immortal Blood were two excellent base materials capable of creating an Epic Weapon.

    However, the materials could be pushed to their limits in the hands of a Forger like a Great Dwarven cksmith.

    While Kieran¡¯s gaze was lost in Crimson Ashrune¡¯s current state, Scar recounted the events.

    ¡°Some of the more sensitive parts of the weapon suffered irreparable damage as even Grandar wasn¡¯t familiar with recovering the lost runic essence that escaped from the weapon¡¯s source runes. Despite the issue, the weapon was recast by Old Man Grandar. Until I found you, it was nothing more than a remembrance.¡±

    ¡°Recovering its former glory is impossible?¡± Kieran finally looked up after learning of lost runic essence.

    ¡°It¡¯s not impossible. It requires a level of skill that escapes the value of the materials used to forge it. It¡¯s not worth it. Instead, it would be best if you aimed to forge a weapon that will never leave your side,¡± Scar said.<sub></sub>

    However, although Scar dissuaded Kieran from trying to recover Crimson Ashrune¡¯s lost power, he had grown fond of the weapon.

    ¡°I won¡¯t go out of my way. But, if I stumble across a solution, I¡¯ll see to it that Crimson Ashrune recovers its former glory.¡±

    ¡°I have gifted you that weapon, so the choice is yours. My fate with it has concluded, but yours is just beginning.¡± Scar had no intention of reiming the weapon because his current weapon satisfied his desires.

    After Scar removed his hand, the imperceptible crack vanished. Scar¡¯s immense energy was the only reason it appeared in the first ce. Kieran¡¯s current power didn¡¯te close to damaging the greatsword¡¯s materials.

    With his curiosities regarding Crimson Ashrune¡¯s obscure state settled, Kieran moved on to another matter. He retrieved the Shard of Ancient Knowledge from his inventory and presented it to Scar.

    ¡°Are you familiar with this? It¡¯s apparently called a Shard of Ancient Knowledge, but I know nothing of its origins or uses,¡± Kieran stated with knitted brows.

    Scar scrutinized the shards as his eyes shed with a deep crimson light and then a golden glow.

    ¡°It seems extremely ancient. I¡¯m getting sensations simr to Lord Agrianos, so it¡¯s possible it was birthed during the same era. It feels eerily simr to runguage, but there are some differences, twerp. Your best bet would be visiting the Wykins.¡±

    Scar¡¯s suggestion perplexed Kieran. Why? Because the rtionship between Wykins and humans was terrible after a historical feud. Many of humanity¡¯s top figures snatched the Wykins from their home and demanded their abilities.

    Those who rebelled and voiced dissent were killed, driving a wedge through the rtionship. Since that feud, the location of the Wykin¡¯s main colony eluded all human knowledge. Insanely powerful barriers protected all of their movements and settlements.

    Kieran frustratedly scratched his head. ¡°What the hell is wrong with humans?! They break everything they touch!¡±<sub></sub>

    The Elves, Wykins, Dwarves¡ªthe rtionship with many non-human yet essential races was awful!

    ¡°What can I say¡ªwe¡¯re a truly destructive race. We¡¯re blessed with intelligence, yet that same intelligence leads us to do unspeakable things. Innovations, advancement¡ªall it does is pave the way for destruction,¡± Scar chuckled.

    Since Scar wasn¡¯t much help, Kieran inevitably returned the Shard of Ancient Knowledge to his inventory.

    Afterward, he brought up another matter. ¡°I registered to join the War Deity Council¡¯s diator Coliseum. It¡¯s also one of the reasons I came to see you.¡±

    ¡°Hoh?¡± Scar¡¯s gaze shed with intrigue. The diator Coliseum was the War Deity Council¡¯s tradition. Vivid memories surfaced in Scar¡¯s mind as he crossed his arms with arge grin.

    ¡°I remember it like it was yesterday¡ªcrushing all of mypetitors and iming the first spot. Without that feat, I wouldn¡¯t have be a Commander so quickly.¡±

    Scar turned to Kieran with a stern gaze. ¡°Surely my sessor will uphold this superior legacy, right?¡±

    Kieran whistled and averted his gaze because iming first in the diator Coliseum required overwhelming strength. He wasn¡¯t going against yers; hispetition was bonafide NPCs belonging to a virtually transcendent faction.

    Scar didn¡¯t appreciate the silence, which showed from his deep frown. Contrary to popr belief, Scar wasn¡¯t mad. No, he was irritated because he knew why Kieran acted this way.

    ¡°Damn you. I¡¯ll reward you.¡±

    Kieran gave a mischievous grin after hearing these words. ¡°How so? Enlighten me, old man.¡±

    ¡°Old man?!¡± Scar hollered. ¡°What old man?! Lord Agrianos is an old man. I¡¯m in my prime, you damned fool. You have the eyes of a dingus, you little snot-nosed brat.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t hear the contents of my reward,¡± Kieran said smugly. He crossed his arms and taunted Scar.

    ¡°If you uphold the legacy to the fullest extent¡­. I¡¯ll teach you an Esoteric Skill,¡± Scar offered.

    This offer made Kieran go mute. An Esoteric Skill was something only Advanced Beings could grasp naturally. Every Esoteric Skill, whether defensive, offensive, or supportive, was absurdly strong.

    ¡°Deal!¡± Kieran blurted.

    Since he didn¡¯t hesitate, Kieran didn¡¯t realize that Scar slyly changed his words. They became undeniably ambiguous. The allure of the deal stole Kieran¡¯s reason!

    Scar didn¡¯t just state he had to im first; he mandated Kieran to uphold the legacy to the fullest extent. There was some hidden facet to Scar¡¯s offer.

    After a brief pause, Scar beckoned for Kieran to follow him to a spacious room where they could act freely. Now that he understood Kieran¡¯s power had grown, Scar wanted to gauge Kieran¡¯s current affinity.

    ¡°Although we have a deal, I can¡¯t have you looking foolish. Thus, from now until the challengemences, you¡¯ll be training with me.¡±

    Scar cracked his neck and loosened his body before directing Kieran. ¡°Use Blood Mania and enter your strongest state.¡±

    Kieran obliged because this was something he honestly looked forward to. How was his growthpared to when Scar first tested him? He needed to know.

    Like blood-red mes, the crimson wisps raged around Kieran¡¯s body as he enforced the Vampiric Blood Encrustration. However, Kieran could feel the judgment in Scar¡¯s gaze despite theck of an expression change.

    ¡®His Vampiric Blood Encrustation¡ªno, his Blood Mania, in general, is in an obscure state. It¡¯s not weak, but his control of the technique¡¯s principles is extremelycking, or it¡¯d contend against many mighty skills.¡¯

    Scar¡¯s opinion of Kieran¡¯s Blood Mania wasn¡¯t terrible but wasn¡¯t filled with praise either. Scar understood at first blush that Kieran¡¯s control of his emotions was elementary as best.

    ¡°Know this boy¡ªwe are vehicles of power. But that power is useless if wielded withcking authority,¡± Scar said. He wouldn¡¯t give any answers outright. So, speaking in a roundabout way was the solution.

    Kieran absorbed thement but didn¡¯t respond.

    ¡°Come,¡± Scar beckoned.

    Bang!

    Kieran blitzed toward Scar with Crimson Ashrune tucked near his body. Against an opponent like Scar, he wasn¡¯t afraid to let loose.

    Whoosh!

    Scar smirked as a thin blood film appeared over his left palm. A sh of fury surfaced in his eyes but dissipated instantly. However, once it disappeared, the film emanated a sense of dread.

    Tap! BOOOOOM!

    Keuk!

    Kieran¡¯s eyes widened as the floor cracked from Scar¡¯s gargantuan palm pressing him through the ground.

 Chapter 197 True Berserker Training (II)

    ¡ª

    Blood ejected from Kieran¡¯s mouth as it felt like Scar¡¯s heavy blow shattered most of the bones in his ribcage. Breathing became difficult as Scar continued pressing his palm into Kieran¡¯s chest.

    ¡°Boy, I know you¡¯re not too great of a fool, right? Why would you ever dash toward an enemy without first gauging the disparity in your strength? I¡¯dmend your bravery if it were any other matter, but unfortunately, we¡¯re training you for the diator¡¯s Coliseum.¡±

    Scar retracted his palm, allowing Kieran to take a deep breath before gesturing for him to stand. ¡°Heal yourself.¡±

    ¡°Heal myself?¡± Kieran grimaced while stumbling to his feet. Although it was difficult to discern on the surface, Kieran¡¯s body was nearly broken by Scar¡¯s attack. In fact, his current Health was 10.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t stutter, brat. Heal yourself. This bit of damage should be effortless. I controlled my strength. If you truly understand what Blood Mania is, heal yourself.¡±

    Kieran groaned and winced while touching his chest. Even a soft tap caused significant difort. ¡®At least five broken ribs and a cracked sternum.¡¯

    If it were any other ss, they¡¯d suffer heavily reduced Strength, Defense, Endurance, and Vitality while in this state. But¡­

    ¡´System: The user¡¯s passive ?Torment¡¯s Benefits: Dull? has ignored the effects of ?Broken Bones?. All attributes rted to your body¡¯sbat efficacy are unaffected.¡µ

    ¡°Vim Restoration!¡±

    A burst of vitality surged through Kieran¡¯s body, recovering his Healthpletely, but what it didn¡¯t do was mend the broken bones he suffered, which made his brows furrow.<sub>.</sub>

    ¡°I¡¯ve used Blood Mania¡¯s power, but my bones didn¡¯t heal,¡± Kieran remarked.

    Hearing Kieran¡¯sment, Scar let out a peal of boisterousughter. ¡°You damned fool, you thought it would be easy to mend broken bones? It requires conscious maniption of where the energy is going. All you¡¯ve done is healed the bruised viscera and battered muscles.¡±

    Kieran¡¯s eye twitched while listening to Scar¡¯sughter. Just what was so funny in his eyes? Wasn¡¯t this supposed to be training? So why did Scarugh at him instead of guiding him?

    ¡°Oh?! Did my little brat get angry? I like that look in your eye,¡± Scar taunted. ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel too nice to be teased, now does it? Let this be a lesson to you.¡±

    Scar smiled menacingly with a dramatic pause. ¡°Anything you can do, I can do better.¡±

    Kieran scoffed but kept his hand bracing his ribs. The effects of his broken ribs may have been ignored, but the sensation wasn¡¯t. Applying Torment¡¯s Beliefs: Dull¡¯s on a deeper level required a truly ruthless mind and abnormal pain threshold.

    The only way Kieran could achieve that was to lose reason and simultaneously activate Derganged Spirit and Abhorrent Paroxysm. But it held no value against an opponent of Scar¡¯s caliber.

    The disparity in their abilities wasn¡¯t something the activation of a few skills could fix.

    ¡°It¡¯s all about control. Do you think the basis of our path is unbridled power? No. It¡¯s the ability to contain and control unbridled power. You mustn¡¯t let it run rampant. You are its conductor, so you direct it,¡± Scar said, finally adopting a more serious stance.

    Against his uing opponents, Kieran would need to understand how to best apply Blood Mania outside of what existed in the skill description. The skill description wasn¡¯t a concrete limit; it only revealed what the skill could achieve through default actions.<sub></sub>

    The rest was up to the yer to explore.

    ¡°Until you learn how to heal yourself, work through the pain. Come,¡± Scar beckoned.

    Kieran limped forward, but his steps grew sturdy, soon evolving into a full-blown sprint.

    Bang! Bang!

    Scar waved his arms, deflecting Crimson Ashrune with the back of his hand while movingrge distances with a light tap of his foot. What Scar covered with a tap of his foot, Kieran had to Surge Step to keep up.

    Still, those Surge Steps caught Scar¡¯s attention. ¡®He has achieved such explosive bursts of speed by manipting his inner energy. I guess my runt isn¡¯t as hopeless as I believed. He learned a useful tactic on his own.¡¯

    Despite the inward praise, Scar¡¯s expression remained cid while defending against Kieran¡¯s attack that slowed down quickly.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, boy? Are you running out of fuel already? That¡¯s unfortunate. Us True Berserkers are supposed to be fuel-efficient vessels,¡± Scar quipped. He shook his head and tauntingly clicked his tongue. ¡°What a shame that you have sphemed us.¡±

    Kieran¡¯s frown deepened as he too felt something was strange. With his current Stamina, he could fight for at least one hour without tiring, and this included him el Shifting or Surge Stepping.

    Eventually, he wondered if his body was alright on Earth. Even though he grew stronger daily, the dual activation of Deranged Spirit and Abhorrent Paroxysm was not a strain he could handle effortlessly.<sub></sub>

    Moreover, he didn¡¯t know if the Seed of Vengeance¡¯s awakening changed anything with his body on Earth.

    However, this wasn¡¯t the only possibility Kieran¡¯s mind explored. There was also the unfamiliar and vague passive currently in effect.

    It didn¡¯t list it as one of the effects, but this skill might have led to extreme Stamina Consumption to uphold his unaffected stats while in a damaged state.

    What further rmed Kieran, however, was the possibility that if this was true, it wasn¡¯t the only drawback of the passive.

    Kieran panted while lowering his greatsword. He had been through many tough battles, yet somehow when training with Scar, he felt like an inexperienced noob. But that was understandable given Scar didn¡¯t instruct him conventionally.

    Scar delivered his first attack with intended results in mind. He wanted to rob Kieran of his strength and improve his will to continue in tricky conditions. It was the only way Kieran¡¯s understanding of Blood Mania could be taken to the next level.

    Without power, one would turn to their abilities to maximize their effects. Scar learned this training method from Lord Agrianos, who had once thrown him into one of the Wildes¡¯ danger zones.

    After weeks of nonstop fighting and wing to survive, Scar¡¯s understanding of Blood Mania reached new heights, enabling him to endure until Lord Agrianos came to reim him.

    ¡°There is no kneeling; get up,¡± Scar ordered.

    Kieran staggered but ultimately rose to his feet.

    ¡°We¡¯ll move on from basic attacks. I¡¯ve realized since our early encounters that your battle knowledge is immense. Conversely, your skill knowledge is shallow. Begin with a Crimson Current.¡±

    Kieran lifted Crimson Ashrune and shed down, materializing a grand deluge of blood that rushed toward Scar. The momentum was fierce, but Scar stood unperturbed as he extended his left hand and swirled it around his body.

    ?Immune?

    ¡´Battle Alert: Your connection with ?Crimson Current? has been severed!¡µ

    Kieran¡¯s pupils constricted to the size of a needle while watching Scar¡¯s following actions. While swirling his left hand around his body, Scar punched with his right.

    BOOM!

    Following a sonic boom, the Crimson Current returned toward Kieran and filled his gaze with a thick crimson sheen. ¡®No¡­ way.¡¯

    BANG!

    Kieran was thrown into a thick column and spat blood while sliding down to his knees.

    Scar¡¯s light steps sounded not too far away as he analyzed Kieran¡¯s previous action.

    ¡°Why do you use Crimson Ashrune as your medium? It has be your crutch leading to your vain understanding of each attack. Your Crimson Currentcks ferocity. It should sh like the tide of the Apocalyptic Sea, not the waves of a breezy beach.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a low-level skill,¡± Kieran said with much difficulty. He wheezed through the pain while lifting his head.

    ¡°A low-level skill? That is beside the point when the essence of the skill is you.¡±

    While listening to Scar speak, Kieran felt something was extremely odd. His Health had fallen to 1, but it wouldn¡¯t drop any lower. ¡®The system isn¡¯t letting me die? Is it because Scar is controlling his power, or is it because this is training and not actual battle?¡¯

    No notification alerted Kieran to extraordinary circumstances, so his curiosity intensified. The situation was understandable if it was the former since the attack didn¡¯t deal fatal damage.

    But, if it were thetter, then the game¡¯s system was even more refined than Stage One Combat Realism permitted.

    ¡°Additionally, you expend far too much vitality when you unleash your skills, and the vitality funneled through them leaks. Your applicationcks refinement. Nothing should leak. It should all fall under your control,¡± Scar said.

    As Kieran was about to retort, Scar continued. ¡°It is not impossible for your current power. In fact, it is the perfect time to learn this. If you start now, you can perform fine adjustments as you begin wieldingrger amounts of vitality.¡±

    Kieran gnashed his teeth because he felt deepening his understanding of Blood Mania required too much mental power to achieve, which fell into the line of ¡®impossible¡¯ Scar mentioned.

    The problem with Kieran¡¯s approach was that he tried to achieve everything too quickly, which made improvement feel next to impossible. Scar chose Crimson Current precisely because it was a low-level skill with few facets to be mindful of.

    Instead ofining, Kieran absorbed Scar¡¯sment and analyzed how Scar wielded the returned Crimson Current.

    What was the difference in their actions?

 Chapter 198 True Berserker Training (III)

    ¡ª

    The first thought that came to mind when analyzing Scar¡¯s usage of Crimson Current was the size of the wave.

    Although Scar didn¡¯t add or subtract anything from what Kieran supplied to the skill, the tide seemed three times smaller than when he released it.

    However, that size difference was temporary. Once the current touched the floor, it expanded faster than Kieran couldprehend, regaining its former yet somehow improved glory.

    ¡®The force of the current was like getting hit with a wrecking ball unexpectedly. Furthermore, rather than fixate on hitting me with the first attack, Scar turned it into an attack that gained extra momentum.

    From Kieran¡¯s perspective, he felt Scar fused the principle of Seethe Burst with Crimson Current because the rapid explosion of momentum was eerily simr to when the blood coating erupted.

    However, Kieran also felt there was more to it than just drawing inspiration from another skill. The fact Scar took control of his vitality, which should be unique to his body, meant Blood Mania didn¡¯t stop at mastering one¡¯s vitality.

    There was a difference between absorbing ambient vitality to heal and iming the vitality embedded in an active attack to redirect it.

    ¡®It was only for a moment, and it was before he grabbed ahold of my attack, but I sensed the threat of death. However, it was so fleeting,sting no more than a split second, that Retaliatory Sense couldn¡¯t activate.¡¯

    Scar looked at Kieran¡¯s pensive expression and smiled. He could tell from Kieran¡¯s rapid eye movements that he was racking his brain to find an exnation and possibly a solution.

    ¡®Perhaps I should help the young boy. It feels as if he needs a small push,¡¯ Scar thought.<sub>.</sub>

    He crossed his arms and cleared his throat. ¡°I¡¯ll give you some advice. When restoring your vigor, experience the sensation with your entire being. To understand your power, understand your body. Focus on your heart. It is the crux of our power. The moment our heart falters is the moment our power ceases.¡±

    ¡®Focus on my heart,¡¯ Kieran mused. He closed his eyes and applied his Perception to its fullest extent. Kieran soon felt as if his body tingled unusually. He could feel the blood flowing through his veins with every heartbeat.

    ¡´System: By utilizing your Focus stat, you have triggered ?Supersensitivity?!¡µ

    Supersensitivity was a state of increased concentration

 Chapter 199 True Berserker Training (IV)

    ¡ª

    While back on Earth, Kieran remained wary of how much time passed inside Zenith Online. Aside from showering to wash away the ufortable feeling, Kieran also ate a small meal Dr. Riley prepared.

    Once two hours passed inside Zenith Online, Kieran returned to the medical bed and ced the VR Helmet on hisp. He gazed at the device absentmindedly before tapping his wrist.

    ¡®It¡¯s almost the beginning of June, so thesest generation virtual equipment will soon be outdated. Advertisements for uing virtual equipment are already surfacing on the inte. It won¡¯t be long before the sale goes public. Fortunately, I¡¯m not too worried about the price.¡¯

    Because Kieran remained indecisive about returning the Gold to Mayor Lowe, his inventory was flush with Gold. If he sold some off in bits and pieces afterpleting the diator Coliseum, he could make a killing with a ridiculous amount left over.

    However, Kieran wouldn¡¯t go that far. Although indecisive, he intended to return at least a sizeable portion soon. Why? Because he needed to upgrade Aeredale City¡¯s standard to create considerable allure to other organizations.

    A city like Aeredale wouldn¡¯t sway organizations like the War Deity Council and Merchant Association, but the Xesian Empire was a different story.

    Having one of its kingdoms experience great sess would elevate the Xesian Empire¡¯s standings amongst the many empires.

    However, promoting a city¡¯s standings required tremendous trade traffic and yer attraction. It was faster than Kieran liked, but it was inevitable.

    yers were bound to flock to the Aeredale Kingdom after learning of his continued sess.

    Kieran looked across from him at the studious Dr. Riley, who jotted down several notes in her log. ¡°Don¡¯t obsess over my health. I¡¯ll be fine. So make sure you get some proper rest.¡±

    Dr. Riley gave him a side-eye but nodded slightly nheless. ¡°Okay. Just dive back into your game already!¡±

    Kieran scoffed because he felt Dr. Riley wouldn¡¯t take his suggestion seriously. As hetched the device on his head, Kieran muttered under his breath. ¡°Women¡­¡±

    ¡°What was that?!¡± Dr. Riley mmed the writing utensil on the desk and seethed, but Kieran responded with a thumbs up and an impish grin.<sub>.</sub>

    ¡­

    Kieran opened his eyes back in Scar¡¯s residence while hearing footsteps approach his position. His chest felt like it was on fire as he sat up and touched it.

    ¡®The natural healing rate of a True Berserker is ridiculous.¡¯

    Because he was out ofbat, his passive no longer applied. But in exchange, his bodily regeneration was apanied by increased pain.

    While wincing in pain, Kieran soon understood the premise of Torment¡¯s Belief.

    ¡®So that¡¯s what it is. The skill doesn¡¯t neutralize the effect. It dys the effects, and everything assails me in one tremendous wave. Damn! I don¡¯t know how I feel about this passive. What would happen if I partook in a cataclysmic battle where I suffered an ungodly amount of damage?¡¯

    Trepidation filled Kieran¡¯s eyes as his mind traveled to this question¡¯s oue.

    Experiencing all that pain at once could potentially fry his brain and damage his synapses in real life. Although X-hancers appeared to be a heavenly treatment, from what Charles revealed in the past, it wasn¡¯t a panacea.

    Once a certain damage threshold urred, an X-hancer couldn¡¯t revert the damage done. If it could, Kieran wouldn¡¯t have died. Then again, Kieran also couldn¡¯t trust Charles at his word, so he wasn¡¯t certain X-hancers couldn¡¯t perform miracles.

    Scar squatted in front of Kieran and tapped his head with his giant finger. ¡°Twerp, wake up! You¡¯ve had enough rest. Back to training we go!

    ¡°I¡¯m up,¡± Kieran groaned and waved, attempting to push away Scar¡¯s finger.

    ¡°We will cycle through every one of your skills, and I will analyze your mastery of each. Understood?¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Kieran replied. He searched through his mind and looked at Scar. ¡°Will we be starting with Crimson Current?¡±<sub></sub>

    Scar nked with the urge to p Kieran. ¡°Why would we start with a skill we just examined?!¡±

    Kieran snickered and stifled hisughter. ¡°Gotcha, bitch!¡±

    Scar¡¯s eye twitched, but he exhaled and grumbled. ¡®So this is how Lord Agrianos felt when experiencing all of my little pranks.¡¯

    Kieran began with a skill he was intimately familiar with¡ªWild Crash. The essence of this skill was Savage Break. The only difference was the ranged effect gained after Kieran could exert more power.

    After revealing it, Kieran moved on to Fury Rush. Scar¡¯s opinion wasn¡¯t outstanding, but he felt the skill was passable.

    From Fury Rush, Kieran moved on to Sanguine shes. This particr skill gained Scar¡¯s attention as he beamed.

    ¡°Oh? You¡¯ve trained your Sanguine shes quite wellpared to everything else.¡±

    This was to be expected. After all, Sanguine shes¡¯ current level was shocking.

    ¡¸Sanguine shes (Lv.12)

    Skill Rank: C

    Skill Type: Active

    Mastery (00.00%)

    Description: The True Berserker gains an increase in attack range by burning their vitality. Every attack inflicts one Bleed stack. There is a chance of inflicting dual Bleed stacks if the enemy is in a weakened state. (The number of Bleed stacks inflicted can¡¯t exceed Blood Mania¡¯s maximum.) [Note: This skill no longer possesses a cooldown. In exchange, this skill¡¯s consumption has changed ordingly.]<sub></sub>

    Consumption: 1 Health per second

    Prerequisites: ?Blood Mania? ¡¹

    After Sanguine shes, Kieran moved on to Crimson Barrage, Blood Wave, and Blood Bind.

    Once they reached Blood Bind, Scar cringed and iled his arms. ¡°Wait, wait, wait! Hold on! What foolishness am I witnessing?!¡±

    Crrrrrrrck!

    Scar wrapped hisrge hand around the blood chains and broke them effortlessly. The strength behind his actions was equal to what the War Deity Council¡¯s weakest members could muster.

    ¡°These bindings are trash! They¡¯re akin to paper. Such thin bindings will never hold up against your opponents in the diator¡¯s Coliseum. Furthermore, the skillcks its essence!¡±

    After shaking his head and sighing, Scar snapped his finger. This action covered the entire floor in a pool of viscous blood at least three centimeters thick.

    The blood trembled and thrummed as if boiling before spiked chains the size of Kieran¡¯s arm sprouted from the ground and snaked around Scar¡¯s body.

    ¡°Your chains are smooth. Where is the ruthlessness? We want to restrain and torment our enemy. At best, your current disy will disgruntle and annoy your enemy. Its effects are not up to par.¡±

    Kieran grimaced while receiving Scar¡¯s vehement scolding. ¡®What does Scar expect from me?! The skill is only Lv.2, dammit! Compared to Sanguine shes¡¯ level, it¡¯s not worth mentioning.¡¯

    Kieran relied upon repeated usage to refine his skill level to conserve Skill Points. For now, his Skill Points mainly went to acquiring skills, not leveling them up. However, Kieran¡¯s ss didn¡¯t require that he level up his skills expeditiously.

    Focusing on Blood Mania would affect everything in his arsenal as the basis of all of his skills.

    Nevertheless, Kieran felt awestruck while witnessing Scar¡¯s chain. It didn¡¯t carry the tyrannical power Kieran experienced on that grand battlefield, but it felt extremely solid.

    ¡°How much Mana did you pour into these chains?¡±

    ¡°Not much. But more than you¡¯re capable of. However, the amount of Mana in the chains is unimportant. Can you feel it? Your issue is the shape of your chains and the essence. You are a vessel of emotion and vigor; release it.¡±

    Kieran acted upon Scar¡¯s advice and tried channeling his emotions into his attacks. But, he felt zero difference after cycling through the earlier skillset.

    The action stumped Kieran for quite some time, leaving him to ponder another solution. If pooling his emotion into his blood was too advanced for his current mental power, there was another alternative.

    Kieran closed his eyes and sat still for over 20 hours without Scar so much as uttering a word. During that time, Kieran focused on the rune imprint in his mind and injected his emotion into the rune.

    The change was gradual and took more than a day, but two things shed within when Kieran opened his eyes.

    Ruthlessness and a bleeding crimson light.

    ¡´System: ?Blood Mania? has absorbed a missing core piece. The information about your skill has been updated.¡µ

    ¡´System: ?Blood Mania?¡¯s Skill Rank has changed! [S+¡úSS]¡µ

    Out of curiosity, Kieran opened up Blood Mania¡¯s new information to see the changes.

    ¡¸ Blood Mania (Lv.3)

    Skill Rank: *S+ ¡ú SS

    Skill Type: Hybrid

    Mastery (76.66%)

    ?Vampiric Blood Encrustation?¡­

    ?Blood Strengthening?¡­

    ?Vim Restoration?¡­

    *New ?Fervor Augmentation? ¨C This ability must be triggered manually. Unless the user wills it and injects their emotion into their actions, this feature won¡¯t activate. After instilling a blood action with emotion, the action¡¯s properties will change depending on how intense the feeling is. If infused into an attack, its lethality will increase as well. The only limit to this ability is the strength of the user¡¯s emotions. [Strongest Augmentation: Wrath]

    Prerequisites: True Berserker ¡¹

    ¡®To believe the answer sat in front of me the entire time, but I neglected it out of fear. Emotion is only dangerous if it gets the best of you. But, reinforcing Blood Mania¡¯s source rune to perceive emotion is ingenious. This ss is truly unusual, but it continues to surprise and enthrall me,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    After unlocking Fervor Augmentation, Kieran tested it with Vim Restoration.

    Upon channeling some of his repressed anger, he found the blood was more malleable. Kieran led the energy to his healing bones rather than his muscles and viscera.

    A pleasant feeling permeated his body as Kieran sighed in relief. His bones were mending faster than before since most of the energy prated Kieran¡¯s bones with undesirable wastage.

    However, wastage was unavoidable. Kieran¡¯s mastery of this ability was rudimentary at best.

    Nevertheless, Scarughed mirthfully.

    ¡°You¡¯ve done it, twerp! But that only means we can ramp up your training. Emotional imbuement is only the beginning. Now you must deepen your connection with all of your skills. From here on out, you¡¯ll be fighting against me nonstop until I feel you¡¯re on the verge of copse!¡±

    A reluctant and somewhat frightened gulp echoed in the room. Perhaps understanding this ability wasn¡¯t a good thing. It was the gateway to more pain and arduous training!

 Chapter 200 True Berserker Training (V)

    ¡ª

    Although Kieran somewhat feared the fervent look in Scar¡¯s eyes, he lifted his de nheless. How could he be against vital training from his Exclusive Teacher?

    No matter howplex or painful the training, it was a benefit withsting effects!

    Kieran exhaled and voiced his readiness. ¡°I¡¯m prepared for it.¡±

    Scar snickered and extended his hand by his side. ¡°It wasn¡¯t like you had an opinion in the matter regardless, twerp. We¡¯re on a very tight schedule as is because you used two days in unlocking this ability of ours. Even if I wanted to, it was a process I couldn¡¯t afford to hasten. Selfprehension is key in our path. There will be many times when enlightenment will rely upon your efforts.¡±

    ¡°I had a feeling,¡± Kieran replied.

    Even if Scar told him that his emotions needed to be fed to the Blood Mania¡¯s source rune at the start, doing so would be impossible if he weren¡¯t agitated, which Scar¡¯s training produced.

    Without a strong enough vessel, wantonly drawing upon one¡¯s emotions was an act that would undoubtedly trigger Argexes¡¯ Blood.

    For example, during his fight against Dusvim, Kieran subconsciously let his wrath permeate the depths of his soul, which in turn fed trace amounts to Blood Mania¡¯s source rune.

    The aftereffects of his rampant anger was Argexes¡¯ Blood activating at a level that almost consumed his soul. Fortunately, Kieran didn¡¯t let his wrath engulf his reason, but that unusual state left a small gap in his memories.

    Otherwise, Kieran would have recalled some of his wrath being absorbed without his conscious doing.

    Boom!<sub>.</sub>

    Scar and Kieran dashed toward each other while Kieran activated Sanguine shes. This skill¡¯s ranged and constant effect allowed Kieran to unleash four quick shes that sped toward Scar.

    A light chuckle filled the room as Scar punched his left fist. A slight crack formed in space and trembled as if groveling before Scar¡¯s physical might. The fissure in space absorbed Kieran¡¯s attacks while Scar disappeared with a burst of crimson light.

    Kieran came to a grinding halt as his eyes danced around the room, searching for any signs of Scar¡¯s whereabouts. However, it was unsessful because Scar employed a barbaric means of spatial travel.

    Suddenly, a looming sense of danger assaulted Kieran¡¯s left side as he stabbed Crimson Ashrune forward. Scar¡¯srge hand gripped Crimson Ashrune with a tinge of praise present in his eyes.

    ¡°Not bad. Your keen, bestial senses are already awakening. How excellent!¡±

    Scar released Kieran¡¯s de, but in the next moment, a massive ck-hole-like blood sphere with an unusual center materialized above Scar¡¯s palm. As soon as it appeared, Kieran felt a horrifying suction force overwhelm him.

    Without many other choices, Kieran bit his lip and activated Blood Bind.

    However, Kieran didn¡¯t stop there. He applied Blood Strengthening and Fervor Augmentation to the skill as his eyes shed ruthlessly.

    Rather than use it on Scar, Kieran manipted the blood chains to root himself in ce while the Vampiric Blood Encrustation coating Crimson Ashrune bubbled over.

    His next move was incredibly reckless, but he stabbed his sword toward Scar¡¯s mastered Peril Implosion.

    ¡°Seethe Burst!¡±<sub></sub>

    Scar¡¯s expression changed when he realized Kieran¡¯s intentions. ¡®This boy hasn¡¯t changed at all. It reminds me of our first test, storming headfirst into danger to test the other side¡¯s resolve. A brazen disy of courage but¡­.¡¯

    Scar swiped his hand, manifesting a Seethe Burst one meter before his body. However, his utilization differed because his Seethe Burst experienced sudden propulsion.

    The room erupted in a fountain of blood once the two Seethe Bursts collided, and the aftermath blew Kieran back until the chains were strained taut and threatened to break.

    ¡°Not bad! Your blood skills have be more powerful, but you can aplish so much more. I can feel it in the depth of my being. Continue applying your skills as you see fit.¡±

    Scar looked at the fountain of blood and pointed a single finger at the ground. ¡°Wrath Eruption.¡±

    Unlike Kieran¡¯s Wrath Eruption, the one Scar revealed absorbed every drop of blood present until it seemed like apact glob on the floor.

    The blob was a bright ruby color and seemed harmless, but Kieran sensed extreme danger when the color darkened an instantter.

    BOOM!

    Kieran decisively shattered some of his chains and created instant distance using Surge Step. Still, he would never forget the horror before his eyes.

    The st¡¯s speed, force, precision, and density were akin to arge blood missile exploding.

    Half of the roof disappeared as the ground within a hundred-meter radius of Scar¡¯s manor trembled.<sub></sub>

    If not for his status as the Bloody Hero, it wouldn¡¯t be odd if several other Heroes or perhaps even the Mythical Heroes appeared because of this absurd disturbance.

    However, although Heroes¡¯ possessed personal residences and Mythical Heroes¡¯ personal manors, they were seldomly on this floating oasis of a city.

    Instead, many of the Heros sought additional chances to improve their strength or ventured to expand their horizons.

    Even Scar only returned to this ce during mandatory meetings or when he was tired and needed a heavenly rest.

    Scar noticed Kieran¡¯s dismayed expression and grinned from ear to ear. ¡°Everything I¡¯m about to show you is well within your limits, even now. The only difference will be the scale of your attacks due to yourcking Mana. But that¡¯ll change soon enough once you meet the requirements to advance.¡±

    After a short pause, Scar shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re not there just yet. You have a good ways to go. But your progress continues to astonish me nheless.¡±

    Kieran epted the praise but didn¡¯t growcent at all. He recalled how easily Captain Liam dealt with his strike.

    Although he couldn¡¯t perceive his information at the time, Kieran felt not even ten Dusvim could equate to Captain Liam¡¯s strength.

    But, what bothered Kieran was the fact Liam was only a Captain. There were still Commander and General-level characters, some of which were referred to as old monsters with power surpassing Scar.

    Granted, their current superiority over Scar was only temporary.

    From what Kieran remembered, Scar¡¯s position hadn¡¯t changed at the time, but when faced with an enemy one of the Generals couldn¡¯t handle, he emerged victorious. Scar didn¡¯t seek renown.

    All he desired was power, which was an ideal Kieran could somewhat rte to. He also preferred power over renown.

    However, renown was a deterrent force, sometimes even more remarkable than immense physical might. Under the right circumstances and if appropriately wielded, renown could be an incredible tool.

    Following the use of his Wrath Eruption, Scar lifted his hand and fired a Blood Wave. Therge attack covered half of the room, but because of its speed and trajectory, Kieran felt he could dodge it.

    However, he was sorely underestimating Scar¡¯s understanding of these skills. Compared to how long Scar wielded this power, Kieran was like a newborn baby taking its first steps!

    Under Kieran¡¯s watchful gaze, looking to grasp the best time to dodge with a well-timed el Shift, a strange sight urred. Somehow, the Blood Waves split into ten segments but maintained power identical to the original execution!

    This was the first time Kieran experienced attack fission without suffering a loss of stability or weakening.

    ¡®This dude is an absolute beast when ites to manipting blood. It truly makes me wonder what Lord Agrianos is capable of if Scar performs these feats so effortlessly.¡¯

    Kieran had only caught of glimpse of Lord Agrianos¡¯ power, but it was enough to fascinate Kieran into seeking the route treaded by Scar and Agrianos.

    The power in the attack led to Kieran responding with a prompt Sanguinem Tempest, where he merged the three tempests to increase their size.

    Scar¡¯s intrigued expression brightened when he saw this skill. ¡®An unusual utilization. It must be one heprehended himself because it isn¡¯t a Baneful Cyclone. However, it is truly destructive.¡¯

    The attacks canceled each other out. But while Kieran panted after consuming arge amount of vitality to increase the tempest¡¯s size, Scar stood still,pletely unaffected by any of the happenings transpiring inside the room.

    No time to recuperate was given as Scar appeared before Kieran at speed akin to teleportation and shed his hand down in the form of a bloody. A gigantic bloody image mimicked his movement pattern and cleaved toward Kieran, forcing him to bail at thest second.

    BOOM!

    A huge fissure opened in the ground as the bloody image mmed against it.

    ¡°?!¡± Kieran¡¯s eyes widened as he leaned back and dodged Scar¡¯s horizontal swing. A Peril Implosion formed in Kieran¡¯s freehand as he moved it toward Scar¡¯s face.

    But before he couldplete his actions, Kieran felt his body jerk. Scar pulled Kieran¡¯s arm and lifted him in the air while a wed gauntlet formed over his right hand.

    BOOM!

    p??(?)? ?o??? Kieran defended against the attack at thest second by shifting Crimson Ashrune towards his torso. Still, the brutal attack obliterated the ground and left Kieran in a horrid state.

    ¡°Death Avoidance!¡±

    A dense burst of vitality gushed out from the crater seconds before Kieran returned above ground. He disyed evident signs of damage, but Kieran ignored them as he relished the effects of Death Avoidance.

    Bang! Bang! Bang!

    The two exchanged attacks at an rming rate while Kieran¡¯s excitement reached new heights. Every skill in his arsenal experienced a frightening boost in Mastery when he unleashed it against Scar.

    Judging by the effects, it wouldn¡¯t be long before many of his skills leveled up.

    This was indeed the perfect training scenario!

    Nothing short of perfection would suffice against an opponent of Scar¡¯s caliber. This resulted in Kieran¡¯s making decent progress in just the first hour of training with Scar.

 Chapter 201 Dreadful Little Monster

    ¡ª

    Nearly five dayster¡­

    Kieran stood a few meters from Scar with a decisive expression while several chains of blood snaked around his body. A sharp look radiated from his eyes as Kieran lifted his unupied hand.

    Throughout this training, Kieran broke the habit of having Crimson Ashrune as his only medium to unleash blood attacks.

    While it was far from perfect, Kieran felt a deeper connection to the blood he wielded after Blood Mania reached Lv.4, which was a mere step away from a decent upgrade.

    ¡®I haven¡¯t reached the level of containing all my vitality with zero wastage, but it has been greatly reduced. This training was truly amazing,¡¯ Kieran inwardly thought.

    Kieran¡¯s gaze shifted to Scar, who seemed to await his final move.

    ¡°Unleash it. I know you¡¯ll get it right this time. Once you do, it will conclude our first formal training. While victory remains uncertain, I don¡¯t doubt you¡¯ll do well,¡± Scar said.

    At the same time, he gestured for Kieran toe at him.

    The air surrounding Kieran fell silent for a moment, but it grew incredibly dreadful as a strange ring surfaced around his feet. It was the first time it formed so fast, but Kieran expected as much, and so did Scar.

    Why? Because Scar unleashed this attack two days ago and disclosed it was within Kieran¡¯s capabilities. It only took devotion and persistence to learn it.

    Because of thisment, in addition to constantly fighting against Scar, he attempted something he had never done before.

    Kieran attempted to learn a skill without using Skill Points to obtain it from the Skill Tree.<sub></sub>

    Under normal circumstances, Kieran wouldn¡¯t attempt such aplex action, but the skill¡¯s cost drove him to seek this path.

    ¡®I¡¯ve attempted this many times over the past two days. Let¡¯s pray it is sessful this time,¡¯ Kieran inwardly mused.

    This wasn¡¯t the first time he hade this far, but none of his prior attempts seeded in applying the effects of this dreadful ring.

    Kieran exhaled and lifted Crimson Ashrune, ensuring to maintain a certain level of focus while doing so. The dreadful ring thrummed, gathered all the blood scattered throughout the room, and slowly ascended Kieran¡¯s body.

    It took a substantial amount of focus toe this far, and Kieran didn¡¯t intend to fail after attempting to learn the skill hundreds of times over thest three days. Whenever he recovered enough energy, he would try again despite the oue.

    If there was anything Kieran excelled in, it was tenacity, which in some cases could also be mistaken as stubbornness. Charles mentioned it before, but Kieran was headstrong and refused topletely submit to anyone.

    Such a personality was challenging tomand, but Scar appreciated this trait. Although it could cause immense trouble, conflict was something neither Scar nor Agrianos feared.

    And those two grand figures just so happened to be Kieran¡¯s backing.

    The dreadful ring¡¯s ascent paused after reaching Kieran¡¯s waist. A few secondster, Crimson Ashrune adopted its very presence. This step was the furthest he had evere topleting this skill.

    Kieran then closed his eyes andmanded his power. ¡®Yield!¡¯

    A strange ripple pulsated from Crimson Ashrune and the unnamed ring surrounding Kieran¡¯s body. It was different to describe the sensation, but Kieran enjoyed it¡ªthe feeling of exerting dominance of his power.

    The more Kieran enforced his iron will, the stronger the unknown ring of energy resisted.<sub></sub>

    ¡´System: Your Soul Trait ?Vengeful Soul? is interacting with your actions. The resonance is triggering another Hidden Attribute.¡µ

    Kieran nced at this notification but didn¡¯t let it consume his attention. The attempt would inevitably fail if he allowed his concentration to be broken.

    Considering there wasn¡¯t much time left until the diator¡¯s Coliseummenced, it was quite literally Kieran¡¯sst attempt at manually learning a skill to conserve arge number of Skill Points.

    ¡®Yield!¡¯ Kieran demanded in his mind once more.

    The dreadful energy gradually grew docile as his intent overpowered the energy¡¯s innate defiance.

    A few secondster, this intent gave birth to a satisfying notification.

    ¡´System: Due to you adamantlymanding your power, you have awakened the Hidden Attribute: ?Will?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have received one point of ?Will?!¡µ

    There was no reward for awakening Will because he wasn¡¯t the first to do so. Bastion was the person to receive the unique opportunity, but Kieran didn¡¯t care. Any fortune his party members experienced contributed to the longevity and sess of the team.

    Besides, Will was one of the most straightforward Hidden Attributes to increase. A user¡¯s Willpower quantified their Will Attribute, so the more he applied, the higher the system would quantify it.

    With the appearance of Will, Kieran¡¯s actions became easier. The dreadful ring grew subservient, and Kieran beamed after relishing theplete connection.

    Immediately after, he rushed toward Scar and shed out his sword. A dreadful ssh of energy steeped in Kieran¡¯s very own bloodshed out toward Scar in a wild manner.<sub></sub>

    Scar lifted his hand and blocked with a thin blood shield while genuine delight zed in his eyes. ¡®Excellent! He is learning one of the True Berserker¡¯s most destructive skills!¡¯

    The energy in the ring didn¡¯t dissipate after a single attack, so Kieran utilized the momentum of his first attack to execute a downward diagonal sh. The same energy assailed Scar once more as he maintained the shield.

    When his attack failed to prate, Kieran executed another strike traveling in the opposite direction and left a subtle gash in Scar¡¯s shield.

    Finally, he lifted the sword above his head and performed an extremely heavy downward sh, intending to cleave the blood shield in half.

    BOOM!

    The bacsh made Kieran retreat a few steps while the dreadful ring dissipated. But in return, Scar¡¯s blood shield suffered a deep gash that even he had to praise. ¡®What a dreadful little monster¡­ The twerp learned it faster than I did during my youth.

    ¡°Well done! Although you¡¯re only able to maintain it for four attacks, thatst attack where you instilled all your power temporarily escaped the shackles of a Tier 1 existence.

    ¡´System: Congrattions, you have manually learned S Rank Active Skill ?Dread Culling?!¡µ

    ¡´System: As a reward for your actions, your title Enduring Warrior has upgraded to ?Tenacious Warrior?!¡µ

    ¡¸ Title Name: Tenacious Warrior

    Title Rank: Unique

    Effect(s):

    While this title is in the user¡¯s possession, the following effects apply:

    -User¡¯s Stamina Consumption for all physical tasks is reduced by 30%.

    -User¡¯s Stamina recovers at 200% of their Stamina Regeneration rate when outside ofbat.

    Description: A title rewarded to a warrior that disys ster tenacity. Despite the presence of adversity and challenge, their tenacity persists and drives them to aplish unthinkable feats. ¡¹

    After reading through this title¡¯s effect, it dawned on Kieran that he never once checked the effects of Enduring Warrior. But, because Tenacious Warrior was an upgrade of the title, Enduring Warrior vanished.

    Thus, there was no way to know what its effects were.

    Nevertheless, given the effects of Tenacious Warrior, Kieran could infer the effects of Enduring Warrior. After all, it was obtained after he endured the Ancient Volcanic Ichor and Elixir of Destructive Renewal.

    Once he learned of the effects of Tenacious Warrior, Kieran switched to his newly unlocked skill. As an S Rank Active Skill, Kieran conserved 50 Skill Points by learning it manually.

    Considering that number was half his remaining Skill Points, Kieran was ecstatic.

    ¡¸Dread Culling (Lv.1)

    Skill Rank: S

    Skill Type: Active

    Mastery (25.00%)

    Description: The user harnesses the barbarity of their blood and builds upon the innate dread to form a ?Dread Circlet?. The energy inside the ?Dread Circlet? will empower [4] attacks with ?Dread Rush?. (Limited only to basic attacks. This skill can¡¯t bebined with existing skills at its current level.) Every attack fueled by the ?Dread Circlet? deals 2,664% of the user¡¯s Attack Power.

    There is a 33% chance of ?Culling? enemies under 30% Health. [A sessful ?Culling? reduces the skill¡¯s cooldown by 25%]

    Consumption: 15% Health, 500 Mana

    Prerequisites: ?Blood Mania?

    Cooldown: 12 hours ¡¹

    Kieran sighed in relief once the Dread Circlet dispersed, allowing him to rx his shoulders. The nonstop fighting had truly taken its toll on him. But, Scar expected this oue, which is why he left time for Kieran to recover naturally without the aid of special potions.

    However, that didn¡¯t mean Scar wouldn¡¯t permit it. ¡°If you need an elixir, you¡¯re wee to head over to Isadora.¡±

    Hearing Isadora¡¯s name made Kieran shudder. He was reminded of that damned quest which was currently akin to a death sentence.

    p??(?)? ?o??? ¡°Speaking of which, I owe you some words! That woman tricked me, and so did you, dammit! Did you know she would force me to go meet with the Emplenan Few?!¡±

    Scar first guffawed before looking away innocently while scratching his head and feigning ignorance. ¡°Reason is lost upon that woman. I can¡¯t help you there, twerp. The powers behind her are too frightening to go against. She an indispensable force within the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary and Xenith a

 Chapter 202 A Victim?

    ¡ª

    Scar gazed upon Kieran silently after hearing him mention the Trial of Inheritors. It was a rite of passage every inheritor of a Mythical Mantle must go through. However, it couldn¡¯t begin until the holders filled all of the inheritors¡¯ slots.

    How fast the inheritors gathered depended on the seven original holders of the Mythical Mantles. Scar was the only Mythical Hero with an inheritor to partake in the trial.

    Before answering Kieran¡¯s question, Scar sighed and shook his head. ¡°Way to ruin the surprise, you insane woman.¡± Of course, Scar didn¡¯t speak too loudly in case Isadora wasn¡¯t preupied.

    At their level, one¡¯s hearing was frightening, capable of picking up the slightest sound hundreds of kilometers away. Scar¡¯s future wouldn¡¯t be necessarily well if Isadora caught him ndering her name by referring to her as an insane woman.

    Nevertheless, Scar rubbed his chin before thinking of the best way to answer the question without divulging too much information. The content would remain a mystery until it urred.

    ¡°The Trial of Inheritors is a trial that all inheritors must undergo simultaneously. On the one hand, it¡¯s like apetition to see whose mantle is supreme. On the other, it¡¯s a test to see if the chosen inheritor is truly worthy. Anyone who fails their trial will be stripped of their mantle.¡±

    Kieran nodded subtly after hearing this information. Listening to Scar speak spurred a question in his mind. ¡°Has anyone ever failed before?¡±

    Scar grimaced to the point it looked like he was in actual pain. He considered whether or not he should disclose this information in fear of his current inheritor backing down.

    ¡¢??m However, after recalling Kieran¡¯s resilience over these couple of days and his persistently brazen behavior, Scar felt announcing the truth of his history wouldn¡¯t deter Kieran.

    Thus, Scar disseminated the information.

    ¡°Exactly 69 people have failed my portion of the Inheritor of Trials. Amongst those who have failed¡­ sixty died. Those deaths are why I sought someone that was a nk te, to give them enough time to mature into a pure existence capable of upholding a True Berserker¡¯s supremacy.¡±

    Kieran didn¡¯t utter a word as his throat juggled up and down. He wanted to speak, but the words were stuck!

    Sixty people had died after epting the Trial of True Berserker. After spending time with Scar, Kieran understood the minimum level of talent Scar would ept.

    If sixty of such people died, what did they experience? Could it have some rtion to Argexes¡¯ Blood?

    If so, Kieran could understand how that would result in death. Argexes¡¯ Blood was genuinely frightening, and not many would willingly assimte it. For once it swallowed a person, there was no chance of their original self ever returning.

    Of course, Kieran also felt Argexes¡¯ Blood couldn¡¯t kill anyone since it was parasitic and desired a host. It was more likely that Scar or Agrianos killed them after sumbing to the mania.

    Although he wasn¡¯t sure if Scar would answer his question, he posed it nheless. ¡°Were you the one who killed those sixty people?¡±

    ¡°No. Well¡­ that¡¯s not entirely correct. You could say I had a hand in their deaths. In the end, I was responsible for choosing them as a possible inheritor of the mantle,¡± Scar said.

    ¡°Then¡­¡± Kieran paused and looked at the unique symbol on his palm. ¡°Is the trial rted to Argexes¡¯ Blood?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Scar shook his head. ¡°The trial changes with each attempt and does so ording to the challenger¡¯s potential. It could be rtively easy or the most horrendous challenge one could ever face.¡±

    Kieran fell silent while pondering Scar¡¯s words.

    ¡®A trial that isn¡¯t cemented and shrouded in mystery? Furthermore, it changes depending on the user¡¯s potential. If that¡¯s the case, I wonder if the system will register as a Secret Trial. Tweaking the difficulty may be possible if so¡­.¡¯

    Kieran had many questions regarding the Trial of Inheritors, but he knew Scar would be tight-lipped with the essential information. Until the trialmenced, Kieran would continue being in the dark about it.

    Nevertheless, Kieran hoped his spections of the Trial of Inheritors were correct. If it were, and it was the first Secret Trial to appear within Zenith Online, then there was ample opportunity hidden inside.

    The only thing Kieran regretted was that it was limited to the holders of the Mythical Mantles. Bastion and the others couldn¡¯t be invited to the Trial of Inheritors. Not unless they miraculously obtained one of the mantles.

    Sadly, only two of them existed on this continent. And intercontinental travel inside Zenith Online was impossible currently. Only an Empire and the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary possessed the means to travel between continents.

    As for traveling the distance on foot, that was out of the equation. One must cross through many of the Wildes¡¯ forbidden areas to arrive at another continent. Risking death at every turn from monsters above Lv.200 wasn¡¯t worth it.

    Furthermore, visiting the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary was impossible without a Hero¡¯s Certificate or an invitation from a hero.

    Kieran inwardly groaned after recalling all this information. ¡®It¡¯s a shame, but only Altair will benefit from our location. We need to obtain the Shadow Dancer¡¯s legacy as soon as possible before someone else ims it.¡¯

    Because of the minor butterfly effects, although Altair initially held this ss, it was a chance Kieran¡¯s actions could upset the delicate bnce in the timeline. People like Altair could end up suffering from the changes Kieran¡¯s efforts produced.

    The Shadow Dancer was the Mythical Mantle of the Thieves, excelling in darkness skills, shadow abilities, and rapid phantasm-like movements. It was the missing piece to Altairpleting his Darkness Excursion Steps.

    After a while, Kieran looked at Scar. ¡°I should probably go visit Isadora. I¡¯m more fatigued than I care to admit.¡±

    ¡°Go on.¡± Scar didn¡¯t stop Kieran. On the contrary, he advocated for Kieran to visit and possibly scam her. ¡°Make sure to take something from her. Oh! She¡¯s weak to reason, so y upon that.¡±

    Scar spoke like a naughty child ying a prank on an old friend. Kieran could only sigh helplessly and shake his head.

    ¡®This is my teacher¡­ strong but immature. Reliable yet unreasonable,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    After exchanging a few words, Kieran left, leaving Scar to look around nkly. ¡°Oh man, I should get someone to clean this up. We destroyed this ce¡­.¡±

    Not a single pir or inch of the floor was undamaged. During Kieran¡¯s training, Scar increased the intensity multiple times, which led to the current predicament.

    However, the culprit of this damage was naturally Scar with his catastrophic attacks.

    ¡­

    Kieran arrived at Isadora¡¯s humble abode, swarming with herbal scents and fruity aromas. Before

 Chapter 203 Citywide Fame

    ¡ª

    Kieran wasn¡¯t aware of Isadora¡¯s internal thoughts after he left. How could he know her position wasn¡¯t just one of great authority? It also bestowed a great deal of loneliness.

    Not many people, whether it was those at the top of the food chain or those who possessed afortable status, would risk offending someone like Isadora.

    As a result, many people kept her at arm¡¯s length, never attempting to understand her on a deeper level.

    This treatment cultivated a void within Isadora that she initially felt could only be filled by reaching new heights in her craft. But, s, she found herself questioning her actions daily.

    ¡®Even before that boy appeared, the joy of sess diminished with each aplishment I made. Is it because there¡¯s no one I can share my delight with? At some point, the fulfillment concealed within aplishing one¡¯s goals vanishes.¡¯

    While lost in her thoughts, Isadora begrudgingly swirled her finger in the air above herp. The liquid in her cauldron reacted to her actions, gaining a subtle revolving momentum.

    The once agitated topyer smoothened as a result of Isadora¡¯s actions. A few secondster, the silvery me beneath the cauldron dissipated while she released a crestfallen sigh.

    There was no joy in creating this potion.

    Even if she wished to be vulnerable to someone, she couldn¡¯t risk being taken advantage of. The vulnerability of a woman¡¯s heart could lead her to love blindly, ignoring all the destructive machinations around her.

    ¡­

    While relishing the effects of Isadora¡¯s potion, Kieran approached the edge of the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary, where the Teleportation Hall was located. ¡®I really can¡¯t believe it. To think Isadora indifferently used a Rank VI potion on me. A Rank III potion would have sufficed. Perhaps¡­.¡¯

    Kieran squinted as an abrasive thought serviced in his mind. ¡®Is she perhaps trying to make me indebted to her so that I¡¯m forced toplete her quest without a choice? If so, what a sly woman she is.¡¯

    Subconsciously, Scar¡¯s words morphed Kieran¡¯s impression of Isadora.

    Even though she hadn¡¯t done anything wrong thus far, and despite being the only reason his evolution into a True Berserker seeded, Kieran was suspicious of her.

    ¡®It wouldn¡¯t be umon for a woman in power to be twisted. Although it¡¯s sad, she¡¯s at an inherent disadvantage due to societal views. I can only guess how much wing she performed to rise above her unfair circumstances.¡¯

    After thinking about this, Kieran stopped in his tracks and turned toward Scar¡¯s manor and then Isadora¡¯s personal building.

    ¡®Maybe I have a jaded view of her. I shouldn¡¯t be so critical of her. After all, while difficult, she didn¡¯t enforce a challenging time limit on the quest.¡¯

    Kieran eventually sighed and discarded any negative thoughts about Isadora. He felt he should at least give her the benefit of a clean te and let her future actions dictate his impression of her.

    A few momentster, he entered the Teleportation Hall andid eyes upon the Gatekeeper of Teleportations standing in the darkness of the Teleportation Gate¡¯s shadow.

    ¡°All thatmotion during these past few days¡ªit¡¯s the result of Scar training you, isn¡¯t it? You may show no change on the surface, but I can tell you benefited from your predecessor guiding you,¡± the Gatekeeper of Teleportationsmented.

    His profound gaze washed over Kieran, inspecting him closely. Even though his appearance looked no different from a blind person¡¯s, the Gatekeeper of Telepartion¡¯s eyes pierced beyond the mundane.

    If they didn¡¯t, wielding spatial energy so skillfully would be impossible. Because one first needed to understand the delicate tendrils of space before they could forcibly separate them.

    ¡°It¡¯s as you said,¡± Kieran nodded.

    Although his level didn¡¯t experience any increase over these few days, his status screen underwent a tremendous change.

    ¡¸Name: Aatrox *Gold

    Race: Human

    Lv.45 (Experience: 0/2,069,539)

    Item Level: 119

    ss: True Berserker (Tier 1)

    Title(s): Inheritor of the Berserk Path | Tenacious Warrior | Goblin yer | Aeredale¡¯s Savior

    World Fame: 1,150 (Lord)

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    [?Stats?]-

    Health: 6,440/6,440 (32.2 HP regen/sec)

    Mana: 750/750 (1.8 MP regen/sec)

    Stamina: 14,640 (73.2 Stamina regen/sec)

    Phys. Attack: 5,339

    Mag. Attack: 1,458

    Phys. Defense: 5,090

    Mag. Defense: 520

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    [?Attributes?]-

    ?Strength: 1,418 (447 + 735 + 236)

    ?Intelligence: 100 (55 + 45 + 0)

    ?Agility: 731 (436 + 200 + 95)

    ?Endurance: 690 (80 + 610 + 0)

    ?Control: 521 (326 + 127 + 68)

    ?Vitality: 685 (90 + 595 + 0)

    ?Perception: 225 (185 + 40 + 0)

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    [?Traits?]- 3

    ?Lifesteal? ¨C Basic

    ?Zero Loss of Potential? ¨C Unique

    ?Vengeful Soul? ¨C Strengthened

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    [?Skills?]-

    (Passive)

    ?Seething Ichor? ¨C SS ¨C Lv.1 (Mastered)

    ?Blood Mania? ¨C SS ¨C Lv.4

    ?Deranged Spirit? ¨C S+ ¨C Lv.2

    ?Abhorrent Paroxysm? ¨C A ¨C Lv.3

    ?Torment¡¯s Benefits: Dull? ¨C A ¨C Lv.5

    ?Tormented Beliefs? ¨C B ¨C Lv.6

    ?Berserker¡¯s Burden? ¨C C ¨C Lv.5

    (Active)

    ?Dread Culling? ¨C S ¨C Lv.1

    ?Blood Pulse? ¨C A ¨C Lv.4

    ?Peril Implosion? ¨C A ¨C Lv.4

    ?Sanguinem Tempests? ¨C A ¨C Lv.4

    ?Seethe Burst? ¨C B ¨C Lv.5

    ?Wrath Eruption? ¨C B ¨C Lv.5

    ?Blood Wave? ¨C B ¨C Lv.5

    ?Wild Crash? ¨C B ¨C Lv.6

    ?Crimson Barrage? ¨C C ¨C Lv.9

    ?Sanguine shes? ¨C C ¨C Lv.12

    ?Crimson Current? ¨C C ¨C Lv.9

    ?Fury Rush? ¨C C ¨C Lv.9

    [Unassigned Stat Point: 94]

    [Skill Points: 100] ¡¹

    After fighting against Scar nonstop, pushing himself to the verge of copse several times, Kieran¡¯s Skill Menu experienced an incredible increase.

    Due to the extremely low cooldown of his inferior skills and the better mastery scaling, Kieran¡¯s C Rank Skills neared Lv.10. Although this transformation didn¡¯t im

 Chapter 204 Aeredales Great Benefactor

    ¡ª

    After hearing the conversation between Mayor Lowe and this unknown person, Kieran leaned against the wall and awaited the end of the conversation.

    Although his favorability with Mayor Lowe was maxed, Kieran felt it was impolite to barge into his office when upied.

    However, despite Kieran¡¯s intentions to remain still, Mayor Lowe¡¯s beckoned for him. ¡°Is someone there? There¡¯s no reason to wait outside. You¡¯re free toe inside.¡±

    Kieran nced at the door in slight surprise. ¡®Is the visitor inside the office not important?¡¯

    Generally, one wouldn¡¯t permit a foreign party¡¯s entry into a meeting until the discussion was concluded. If someone allowed an additional party into the room, it meant one of two things.

    Either the meeting reached its end, so there was no threat of crucial information leaking, or the attending party wasn¡¯t too important.

    Kieran wasn¡¯t sure which scenario his current situation fell under, but he nheless entered Mayor Lowe¡¯s private office.

    Mayor Lowe¡¯s eyes lit up the moment Kieran entered the room. ¡°Speak of the devil! This is precisely who I referred to when I said the issue guing the Aeredale Kingdom had been resolved. The person before you is responsible for our ease of mind.¡±

    After rejoicing over Kieran¡¯s actions, Mayor Lowe stood up and shook Kieran¡¯s hand before guiding him to sit beside the other person in attendance. It was a well-kept man with light brown eyes and brown hair dressed in a tidied suit.

    Aside from this suit, Kieran noticed a distinct badge pinned to the individual¡¯s breast pocket. ¡®A member of the Merchant Association, more importantly, it¡¯s a Manager-level character.¡¯

    Kieran silently sized up the male Merchant Association Manager who extended their hand with a warm smile. ¡°Allow me to introduce myself. I¡¯m Dillon Coventry, Manager of the Merchant Association¡¯s Aeredale Branch.¡±

    Although unfamiliar with the individual, Kieran returned a greeting with narrowed eyes. ¡°Aatrox, Gold Adventurer and a nominal member of the War Deity Council.¡±

    Kieran purposely added an extra description of himself because he didn¡¯t forget Dusvim¡¯s ims.

    It appeared that one of the Merchant Association¡¯s Managers approached him, and even though Dillon relied upon Aeredale for sess, Kieran couldn¡¯t rule out anyone.

    ¡®One of the objectives is that I obtain proof of wrongdoings. However, until I obtain that proof, every Manager Ie in contact with is a possible suspect.¡¯

    Dillon wasn¡¯t the only Manager-level staff present within the Aeredale Branch of the Merchant Association. He was simply the highest Manager.

    So while he was a suspect, he wasn¡¯t the only recipient of Kieran¡¯s suspicions.

    Upon hearing Kieran¡¯s introduction, Dillon¡¯s expression filled with astonishment. ¡°Wow. You must be one of the War Deity Council¡¯s young members. Mayor Lowe has raved about you nonstop, and after learning of your identity, I understand why.¡±

    Dillon paused for a moment before his smile brightened. ¡°I would like to extend my deepest gratitude. While Mayor Lowe and I were unsessful in bolstering Aeredale¡¯s defenses, you went on and uprooted the issue entirely. For that, you have myplete respect.¡±

    Kieran wasn¡¯t too longwinded with his response, giving a terse nod befitting of his current wild appearance. He had to uphold a certain level of distance if he was going to find a mastermind.

    In the end, it wasn¡¯t umon for Managers to speak amongst themselves. It was possible word would get to those involved if Kieran wasn¡¯t too inconspicuous with his suspicions.

    After speaking for a few extra minutes, Dillon rose to his feet and shook Mayor Lowe¡¯s hand with a respectful bow. ¡°I¡¯ve taken up enough of your time. I need to prepare for the auction scheduled to take ce soon.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t let me keep me. Again, I appreciate you orchestrating this auction to help Aeredale.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s my lifeline. My journey through the association¡¯s ranks ends if I let this city suffer its demise,¡± Dillon said.

    To increase one¡¯s rank within the Merchant Association, one had to prove their worth. One way to do so was to ept the challenge of managing amunity befitting the member¡¯s rank.

    A Manager should have no issues bolstering a kingdom¡¯s finances before thinking of receiving a promotion.

    Thus, letting Aeredale¡¯s financial situation implode was akin to Dillonmitting suicide.

    A few thoughts surfaced in Kieran¡¯s mind after learning of Dillon¡¯s aspirations, but he didn¡¯t voice them. Instead, he kept them to himself and waited for Dillon¡¯s departure before looking at Mayor Lowe.

    ¡°What brings you here, Aatrox? Is there something I can help you with?¡± Mayor Lowe asked.

    Before speaking, Kieran closed his eyes and extended his senses before waving his hand. A few wisps of crimson blood closed the door while Kieran confirmed there was no one nearby.

    ¡°On the contrary, Mayor Lowe, I think I can help you,¡± Kieran stated, leaving his intentions a slight mystery.

    After witnessing his reliability, Kieran¡¯s tone interested Mayor Lowe, so he inched closer to his desk. ¡°What is it, Aatrox? Do you have a grand proposal to get Aeredale back on track?¡±

    ¡°What if I said all hope isn¡¯t lost for Aeredale? That you can regain stability in a minimal amount of time.¡±

    Mayor Lowe¡¯s stomach clenched, and his eyes widened when listening to Kieran¡¯s hypothetical question. ¡°If that¡¯s true, then I¡¯d say you¡¯d be more than just Aeredale¡¯s savior; you¡¯d be its great benefactor!¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Kieran nodded.

    Afterward, he waved his hand and summoned numerous empty wooden chests. But after a few seconds, the open chests began filling with insane amounts of Gold.

    Mayor Lowe staggered and fell out of his chair, frozen in utter disbelief after witnessing the several chests fill rapidly. Each trunk could hold up to 1 million Gold, and there were six of them.

    ¡°My team recently cleared the Desertborn Brigands¡¯ hidden hideout before destroying it. This is what we earned. It came to my mind that this would help revive Aeredale on arge scale.¡±

    Kieran made up a light excuse as to why he only now produced this Gold. But, shockingly, Mayor Lowe wasn¡¯t the slightest bit interested in the dy.

    The only emotion surging through his mind was happiness¡ªdelight that this wondrous opportunity fell upon Aeredale City!

    Muah!

    Mayor Lowe hurried to his feet and kissed Kieran¡¯s forehead, which left him stupefied. ¡®D-did this man kiss my forehead?! Never in a thousand years would I have guessed Mayor Lowe would do such a thing¡­.¡¯

    ¡°Aatrox, you have been blessed by the gods above to be our ray of brilliantly shining light! From this day forward, you are truly Aeredale¡¯s Great Benefactor!¡±

    Ding!

    ¡´System: Your Title ?Aeredale¡¯s Savior? has upgraded to ?Aeredale¡¯s Great Benefactor?!¡µ

    Out of curiosity, Kieran brought up the title¡¯s details to see how useful this status was.

    ¡¸ Title Name: Aeredale¡¯s Great Benefactor

    Title Rank: *Special

    Effect(s):

    All effects apply within the territorial limits of the Aeredale Kingdom:

    -Permits a 50% price reduction when using Teleportation Halls. (Free if traveling within the kingdom¡¯s territories.)

    -Enables property ownership. (Limited to the restriction of your World Fame.)

    -Increases property ownership limit by one.

    -Property owned by the user incurs 0% sales tax for 12 months.

    -Property tax is reduced to a fixed rate of 5% of the lot¡¯s projected value.

    Description: A title rewarded to an individual who performed extraordinary acts of benevolence for the Kingdom of Aeredale.¡¹

    Kieran gawked at the title information. ¡®These effects are amazing!¡¯

    From an adventurer standpoint, this title wasn¡¯t beneficial. However, this title was invaluable when it came to someone like Kieran, who intended to own property and begin building his legacy!

    Even if yers outgrew kingdoms, it didn¡¯t mean purchasing real estate in a kingdom was useless. Why? Because Zenith Online experienced a constant influx of yers.

    Those new yers would bring new sources of ie to several kingdoms while elite yers moved up.

    Besides, yers weren¡¯t the only ones who purchased items; NPCs could also contribute to the earnings of a yer-owned business.

    Thus, even if Kieran eventually outgrew this ce, its worth was immense. Not to mention, an early headstart onnd ownership was just what Kieran required.

    ¡®My wealth on Earth isn¡¯t that great, but if I can generate enough friction with a property, I may be able to spark the update of the Universal Currency Exchange Trading System.¡¯

    The current Universal Currency Exchange Trading System was limited to yer-to-yer currency selling. The small amount of currencypared to the many gaming organizations seeking to purchase it created a currency vacuum.

    But, what would happen if globally renowned banks assumed control of the system and turned it into a financial engine? The limitation on the system would shift, and that¡¯s what Kieran desired.

    Owning property, or at least the rumors of this possibility, would pull financial goliaths into the game.

    After reading the effects of this title, Kieran no longer minded the fact Mayor Lowe kissed his forehead. The title¡¯s third effect alone justified the action. As a Lord, he was permitted to own one property within a capital city.

    But, with this title, that increased to two.

    As much as Kieran wanted to purchase a property, it was too early. Before he could begin acquiring property, he required people to carry out production. Aspaira alone wasn¡¯t enough.

 Chapter 205 Potential Recruitment

    ¡ª

    Kieran¡¯s restless emotions settled down a few minutes after he learned of his title¡¯s effects.

    Although the title was beneficial, he couldn¡¯t maximize its worth until he obtained additional people to work for him.

    At some point, he considered epting a Profession like Alchemist or Forger to help produce ie, but he didn¡¯t know if such a path suited him. Because of his elitist mindset, Kieran desired most if not all of the Main Quests avable inside Aeredale.

    However, epting those quests meant he would have little time to focus on a Profession. Not unless he found a way to divide the hassle ofpleting those quests or slowed down his timeline to amodate a Profession.

    After all, it wasn¡¯t umon for Lifestyle yers to be lost in the production process and spend countless hours honing their Profession.

    And, considering he already unlocked the Focus attribute, the odds of him entering such a state was higher than other yers who had yet to obtain the attribute.

    Thus, Kieran opted for a more reasonable alternative.

    ¡°Aatrox, forgive me, but I must mobilize some of the city¡¯s guards to help move this Gold to the secure reserve vault beneath the city. I won¡¯t trouble you with such a trivial task. You¡¯re wee to stay here as long as you like if you want.¡±

    Mayor Lowe stood up behind his desk and approached the door.

    Kieran nced in Mayor Lowe¡¯s direction with a slight nod. ¡°I¡¯ll take you up on that offer for the time being.¡±

    While Mayor Lowe left to gather several city guards, Kieran sat down and browsed through two tforms. The first thing he visited was Zenith Online¡¯s official forum to check for any unusual posts regarding Lifestyle yers.

    Kieran sifted through thousands of posts at a speed that defiedmon sense. However, Kieran applied a trick while rapidly scrolling through the ocean of forum posts. Kieran¡¯s eyes were affixed to specific keywords and nothing else.

    Such an ability was the benefit of the curse known as the Hyper-Cognitive Overload Sickness. When in control, he far outstripped any average human in processing information.

    Eventually, out of thousands of posts that mentioned Alchemist, Forger, and other Professions, Kieran narrowed them down to less than 50 useful ones. Kieran thenpared the usernames to names with even the slightest bit of fame within his memories.

    That number, which was initially close to 50, dropped to less than 10. Currently, Kieran¡¯s sole priority was amassing people who could serve as Chiefs of their respective trade. There was ample time to pick up lesser talents at ater date.

    After acquiring their names, Kieran sent a private message to all of them and closed the forum. The message wasn¡¯t detailed but conveyed his intention to meet with them.

    Next, he checked the notice he sent on his streaming page to see if anyone had replied to his request. It had been a few days since he made the announcement, so it should have attracted at least one person.

    However, Kieran underestimated the impact of fame and skyrocketing stardom. His jaw dropped after seeing the number of private messages on his streaming profile.

    While most of the messages came from nameless teams and several other guilds attempting to get in contact, a substantial number of lifestyle yers were willing to honor his request.

    Two names, in particr, stuck out in Kieran¡¯s eyes¡ªSorcia and Hamon. Right now, these two were unknown, but Kieran knew them very well.

    In Kieran¡¯s original time, Sorcia held a second title: The Alchemic Maiden. Her skills as an Alchemist triumphed over her original ss as a Priest, which inevitably led to her devoting every waking moment to perfecting her craft.

    On the other hand, Hamon was known as the Godhand Hammer. He was one of the only yers to reach the Famed level without the backing of a guild. His exceptionally honed skill made him so valuable that no one dared trouble him.

    Several guilds would move on his behalf if he so much as offered to craft a few items for them. Hamon became an untouchable entity without ever joining a guild through the rtionships fostered by his forging skill.

    However, although Kieran managed to attract the attention of these two, getting them to join him was a different challenge altogether. Neither of these individuals agreed to join a guild in his past despite the abundance of offers they received.

    This led Kieran to suspect they either possessed a backing that didn¡¯t require additional financial support or cherished their freedom above all else.

    And if these two reasons didn¡¯t apply, they were simply incredibly patient and confident in their skill.

    Nevertheless, Kieran felt it wouldn¡¯t hurt to try.

    After all, Sorcia and Hamon were from kingdoms under the Xesian Empire¡¯s jurisdiction. Kieran specified in his announcement that any interested in his offer would need to be within the Xesian Empire for convenience.

    However, that was all a ruse to ensure they were close and easily essible for him to win them over.

    After replying to Hamon and Sorcia¡¯s message, Kieran received a few alerts.

    ¡´System: You are receiving a video call from Altair. Would you like to answer? [ Y | N ]¡µ

    After answering the call, Kieran was met with a familiar face and a familiar face. Altair wasn¡¯t alone; seven other people apanied him. They were naturally Bastion and the others.

    Before diving into his training with Scar, Kieran delivered everyone¡¯s respective flight or transportation information. Because Kieran paid for everything and put it in their names, they received everything after providing proof of identity.

    ¡°Dude¡­ what the hell is this ce?¡± Altair remarked. Although he was rarely astonished, the facility before their eyes was truly state of the art.

    Kieranughed at Altair¡¯s expression before correcting his possible misconception.

    ¡°It¡¯s not mine if that¡¯s what you¡¯re thinking. I had some¡­ issues I needed to correct. So I¡¯ve taken shelter here for the time being. It¡¯s convenient, so it¡¯s where we¡¯ll train for now.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll log off now, give me a moment,¡± Kieran said. He had maybe one or two hours before the event started, so he could at least log off, tend to everyone¡¯s needs, and get them situated before logging back in.

    Kieran terminated the video call and initiated the log-out sequence to receive everyone.

    ¡­

    The VR Helmet covering Kieran¡¯s head let out a low hissing sound as he took it off, only to find Dr. Riley staring directly at him with a deadly re.

    ¡°Yes¡­?¡± Kieran didn¡¯t know why Dr. Riley looked at him this way, but it didn¡¯t take a genius to understand that she was irritated.

    When she heard Kieran¡¯s remark, it was like an emotional dam broke. Kieran was immediately given an earful.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to be careful and watch what you do inside that unusual game?! I don¡¯t know what you did over these past three days¡­ but look!¡± Dr. Riley pointed at the bed Kieran sat on.

    Part of it seemed burnt while another part was mutted to the point it seemed like it was a wild animal¡¯s doing. However, this wasn¡¯t the result of an animal.

    At some point in Kieran¡¯s training, it had be so intense that it bled into reality once more. While in a semiatose state, Kieran¡¯s body released a berserk wave of energy almost as dreadful as the one produced before his death.

    - This energy frightened Dr. Riley, ultimately leading to her distancing herself from Kieran¡¯s body until the power settled down. However, when it settled, the medical bed was in terrible condition.

    Kieran examined the bed he sat upon and realized an extremely familiar sensation. ¡®Isn¡¯t this¡­ the energy of the Dread Circlet? Why is it here?¡¯

    Although it was possible to replicate physical attacks and perform mental attacks with mental energy, replicating an S Rank Skill fueled by Mana should be virtually impossible. Why? Because Earth didn¡¯t possess Mana!

    Furthermore, if one tried to recreate a high-level skill without reaching a sufficient superhuman level, it could potentially fry their brain.

    ¡®Is this somehow rted to me manually learning Dread Culling? Could it have elerated something within me? Or is it an effect of my rebirth? So many questions¡­.¡¯

    Kieran inevitably sighed and looked at Dr. Riley with a weak smile. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the cost, Lillian. Order a new one. Actually, I think you should order several. There¡¯s no telling if this phenomenon will ur regrly.¡±

    Dr. Riley scoffed but listened to his suggestion nheless. ¡°Of course, you¡¯re footing the bill! You broke the damned thing! Also, go ahead and receive your friends.¡±

    Kieran slid off the medical bed and walked through the facility until he reached the front door.

    Under normal circumstances, one would have to go through several security measures to enter, but Dr. Riley disabled them after recalling Kieran¡¯s mention of future guests.

    The facility¡¯srge metal doors opened, revealing everyone with packed bags. Aside from Alice and Cygnus, everyone else traveled light.

    Contrary to Kieran¡¯s expectations, a warm wee never came. Instead, the faces of the three girls reddened while looking at the feast before their eyes.

    ¡°What is this?! Are you trying to seduce me? Put on a damned shirt you fitness model!¡± Nemean barged past Kieran while scoffing and shaking his head.

    ¡°Well, hello to you too, Nemean.¡±

    Kieran gestured for everyone to follow him as the facility¡¯srge doors mmed shut.

 Chapter 206 The Teams Real Identities

    ¡ª

    Everyone¡¯s gaze shed with varying levels of awe as Kieran guided them through the facility. The state-of-the-art structure was outfitted with technology unfamiliar to all of them.

    ¡°Whoa¡­ you¡¯ve been here all this time?¡± Bastion muttered in a dazed tone. His gaze circled the walkways, paying close attention to the sleek metal design.

    Hidden underneath this outeryer of metal were ion beams activable through a motion-detection feat.

    Once turned on, even if one managed to get through the hyper-reinforced steel door, it¡¯d be a nearly impossible task to make it past the beams in one piece.

    ¡°More or less,¡± Kieran nodded. ¡°Before we get you guys settled upstairs, there¡¯s someone you all need to meet.¡±

    After bringing the inevitable meeting to their attention, Kieran guided everyone to the extensive medical room, where Dr. Riley stood over her desk.

    Everyone first noticed her focused expression as she analyzed the newly collected data.

    ¡°Kieran! I need to speak with you as soon as possible,¡± Dr. Riley said. Just as she was about to continue, she stopped speaking and looked at her new audience.

    Their presence came as a surprise because she prepared the upper floor for their stay. Dr. Riley presumed Kieran would show them around upstairs and get them settled beforeing downstairs.

    Although it was a surprise, the current situation didn¡¯t bother her.

    Kieran took the lead in introducing Dr. Riley to everyone. ¡°This is Dr. Lillian Riley, the only staff her as far as I¡¯m aware. I suggest you stay on her good side because she is a contentious one. Don¡¯t let her stunning appearance fool you.¡±

    An abruptly cut-off sound erupted from Dr. Riley¡¯s throat, but she immediately closed her mouth with slightly reddened cheeks. ¡®What type of introduction is this? He¡¯s painting me in an awkward light!¡±

    Dr. Riley cleared her throat with an expression befitting aposed medical professional. ¡°Please excuse anything he says because it is utter foolishness. I¡¯vee to learn that he¡¯s prone to making silly jokes once he besfortable with someone.¡±

    ¡°Agreed. You¡¯re not wrong. But¡­ who is Kieran?¡±

    Naturally, his teammates were still unaware of Kieran¡¯s real name.

    Up til this very moment, they had always addressed him as Aatrox. But, given he was more trusting and they were in his presence, it was time to divulge that information.

    ¡°Ah¡ª! Allow me to clear that up. You know me as Aatrox, but my real name is Kieran¡ªKieran Silver.¡±

    ¡°That¡­ isn¡¯t a bad name at all. Since we are on the topic of real names, I suppose we should all introduce ourselves,¡± Nemean said.

    He stepped forth and extended his hand to Dr. Riley. ¡°Thank you for housing us here. The name¡¯s Arthur Rojas, a member of Kieran¡¯s team of sorry misfits.¡±

    One could tell from Nemean¡¯s shoulder-length curly hair, tanned skin, and distinct features that he was of Hispanic descent.

    ¡°Pleased to meet you, Mr. Rojas,¡± Dr. Riley politely replied.

    Afterward, Bastion introduced himself. ¡°Thomas Navarro.¡±

    Simr to Nemean, Bastion was also of Hispanic descent, which wasn¡¯t odd, seeing as they grew up in the same neighborhood of Ridgewood. Unlike Nemean, however, Bastion possessed a stockier frame as his feature were more defined.

    Additionally, Bastion kept his dark brown hair short, just longer than an inch, so he could style it as he saw fit.

    Dr. Riley returned the same reply to Bastion.

    After Bastion came Alice¡¯s introduction, she stepped forth in pair of tight ck jeans with subtle rips along the left thigh and a white blouse that disyed her graceful shoulders and neckline.

    Her dark-brown, nearing ck hair was tied up in a long ponytail with a few stray hairs purposely styled to give her look volume. The light blush on her cheeks made it clear she had applied light makeup.

    ¡°Ste LaRossa,¡± Alice said.

    Unlike Nemean and Bastion, she was of Italian descent and didn¡¯t live in New Metro City. She was from a more high-ss city known as Minence City, which, although it didn¡¯t require a ne ride to reach, took some time in regr transportation.

    Afterward, Altair walked up to Kieran and smirked while wrapping his arm around Kieran¡¯s shoulder. Although he was two inches shorter than Kieran, the height difference was negligible.

    ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve been working hard, huh? I guess your in-game character isn¡¯t the only thing to change.¡±

    Altair wasn¡¯t familiar with Kieran before the game, but he understood that a starting character was the reflection of a yer¡¯s actual body. When he first met Kieran, his character wasn¡¯t muscr at all, only slightly above average.

    But his current condition was an entirely different story.

    Altair¡¯s appearance was identical to his in-game form. His hair was the color of ash, and his eyes were a bright silver, a trait of the Wiyan Family, who possessed a specific mutation in their genes.

    While bumping fists with Kieran, Altair introduced himself.

    ¡°Xane Wiyan, nice to you all.¡±

    Different from the rest, Dr. Riley¡¯s eyes widened after hearing Altair¡¯s name. ¡°Any rtion to the Wiyan Magnate Family responsible for supplying the United States with freakish super soldiers?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ the one,¡± Altair admitted with a slight grimace. He had heard stories of the atrocities associated with this name. But, he had no intentions of changing his name. Even if he was an illegitimate son, he possessed a birthright that he would im.

    After Altair¡¯s introduction, the others went around naming themselves.

    ¡°Roxy Grant,¡± Cygnus said.

    ¡°Sara Murray,¡± Sera said after.

    ¡°Preston Walsh,¡± Sithik added.

    ¡°Corey Saint-Cyr,¡± Cyr revealed.

    With the introductions finished, Kieran led everyone upstairs, where there were several separate rooms. They were all identical, so Kieran had them pick for themselves and get settled before walking downstairs.

    ¡°You said there was something you needed to talk to me about?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­ and it¡¯s very urgent. Come here and look at this.¡± Dr. Riley pulled Kieran by the arm and led him to her desk, where she revealed some shocking information on her tablet. There were two sets of information, but it was easy to understand with Dr. Riley¡¯s thorough annotations.

    One was before Kieran woke up, and one was from minutes ago. Although there was only a three-day difference between the collected data, the information Kieran sifted through was genuinely shocking!

    ¡°No way, are these correct?¡± Kieran muttered.

    ¡°Completely. I¡¯ve double and triple-checked¡ªyou experienced some sort of unusual strengthening because your cellr energy is radiating a signature almost double its previous levels. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if your body could now handle X-hancers at the 20% concentration level.¡±

    Dr. Riley and Kieran looked at each with equally mystified gazes. In the end, it was Dr. Riley who spoke first. ¡°I¡¯vee across some interesting information in these past few days. Apparently, with the help of these X-hancers, we can be inhuman. Do you believe that?¡±

    ¡°Actually¡­ I do,¡± Kieran nodded. He then recounted some information Ezra told him.

    ¡°Whoa! You found this out, and you¡¯re just now telling me this? This changes everything! We need to thoroughly research these X-hancers to see if what you say is true. I didn¡¯t know they¡¯re the cause of H-COS,¡± Dr. Riley gasped.

    ¡°That¡¯s the thing. How will we fund that research? That¡¯s why I refrained from telling you. I knew you¡¯d be interested in unearthing the truth at all costs¡­ but it maye at an absurd cost.¡±

    Dr. Riley pouted like a sulking toddler when hearing Kieran¡¯s response. She hugged his arm and pleaded. ¡°Please! Please! We must! How can you reveal this attractive piece of information and not let me delve into it? It¡¯s not right! You know venturing into the unknown is my one pleasure.¡±

    ¡°Is it?¡± Kieran asked with an arched brow. His gaze swept over Dr. Riley¡¯s figure, making her shudder.

    ¡°W-why are you looking at me like that?¡±

    Kieran smiled and averted his gaze after hearing iing footsteps. ¡°No reason in particr.¡±

    ¡°Yo, Aatrox-¡°

    ¡°Call me Kieran when we¡¯re in the real world,¡± Kieran interjected. ¡°But go ahead, Thomas.¡±

    ¡°Ah-! Er, gotcha, boss. Anywho, Altair told us that you¡¯d be training us here? Is that true? If so, that¡¯s cool because I saw some sick training facility downstairs while curiously touring the ce.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Kieran admitted. ¡°I have every intention to train you all and extract every bit of your potential. Also, I wouldn¡¯t advise absentmindedly touring this ce. Lillian has turned back on the security.¡±

    ¡°Enough of that¡­ why is the doc hugging your arm?!¡± Bastion paused and gasped while covering his mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve seduced the doc! No way, this is insane. Not her too.¡±

    Dr. Riley¡¯s brows furrowed after hearing Bastion¡¯sment. ¡°What does he mean not her too?¡±

    Kieran didn¡¯t turn his head, but he could feel Dr. Riley¡¯s icy re befall him.

    ¡°Tell me, Kieran, did you truly earn those X-hancers, or did you do what I suspected and wielded your good looks to your advantage?! You¡¯re a naughty boy!¡±

    Kieran sputtered and snapped his head between Bastion and Dr. Riley countless times. ¡°WH-WHAT?! I¡¯m innocent, Lillian. Not a word out of his mouth is to be trusted. I haven¡¯t seduced anyone¡­.¡¯

    However, in Kieran¡¯s mind, he asked himself a question. ¡®Have I?¡¯

 Chapter 207 The War Crests Signal

    ¡ª

    The question Kieran asked himself eventually left his mind after frowning. What reason did he have to exin himself? Nothing he had done thus far, rting to people, was out of the ordinary.

    It was Bastion¡¯s misconceptions that led to his strange opinions.

    Regardless, Kieran didn¡¯t have time to waste clearing up silly misunderstandings.

    ¡°Gather everyone. I¡¯ll guide you on what you¡¯ll be doing for the time being, and then I have to go,¡± Kieran said.

    Bastion scratched his head with a questioning expression. What was so important that he needed to leave? ¡°Where are you going? We just got here, and you¡¯re already ditching us?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not leaving the facility, you nipoop. I need to log back into Zenith Online for a special event. Speaking of which¡­.¡± Kieran rubbed his hands together with an eager grin. ¡°Keep your eyes peeled on the Gamer Republic tform. I¡¯ll be going live shortly, and you¡¯ll understand why I had to log in.¡±

    Although Bastion wasn¡¯t too sure about Kieran¡¯s uing move, something told him it would be unusuallyrge. ¡°Leave it up to the boss toe across some shocking quest.¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not a quest, per se. Speaking of which, don¡¯t you have a legacy item to locate? You can¡¯t be gone too long, or you¡¯ll stifle my ns, so don¡¯t take too long. Is there anything you need?¡±

    ¡°Err, maybe some extra Gold. I need to visit something called the Hidden Shield Grotto. It¡¯s located within the Terran Empire.¡±

    Kieran blinked and looked at Bastion silently before giving him a bitter smile. ¡°You¡­ may have to hold off on embarking on that journey. The Terran Empire is on the Western Continent of Waikrune. It¡¯s impossible to venture there at your current level.¡±

    Bastion¡¯s expression sank after hearing Kieran¡¯s words. Had he gotten excited over nothing? He thought he could im a mighty item as soon as he epted his current ss. s, it seemed he was sorely mistaken.

    Kieran understood Bastion¡¯s frustration, so he helped appease his mind. ¡°Don¡¯t frown. We¡¯ll get there eventually. In fact, I¡¯ll personally help youplete your journey once it¡¯s possible. Is that fair?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fair, boss,¡± Bastion nodded.

    ¡°Besides, that gives you extra time to learn and perfect your ss. I doubt obtaining a Legacy Weapon is an easy feat. Before you attempt to im it, you must first prepare for a challenging journey,¡± Kieran added.

    ording to a few yers who seeded in epting Legacy Items, they were not only challenging to obtain, but they also required subjugation.

    A Legacy Item, in a sense, was a bleak replica of a Soul Armament, meaning they possessed some semnce of an Ego.

    Depending on how strong the Legacy¡¯s creator was, the Ego could be feeble, or it could be abnormally solid. Considering Garrian¡¯s strength, Bastion¡¯s situation most likely fell under thetter.

    If Kieran¡¯s spections were true, he advised that Bastion wait until he was stronger.

    Kieran patted Bastion¡¯s shoulder and wandered into the training area, where the others looked around in stupefaction. It possessed everything they could ask for, such as strength training equipment, endurance, flexibility, and other useful apparatuses.

    ¡°We need one of those of our own,¡± Altair muttered. A tinge of desire welled up within his eyes as he viewed the training room.

    Despite the background of his surname, Altair came from humble beginnings, so he wasn¡¯t used to extreme luxury.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I n on rising to the top, not just in Zenith Online but on Earth as well. So, although it may be in the distant future, I promise you we¡¯ll own a building equal to or morevish than the one we currently stand in.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t doubt you on that. It¡¯ll take a lot of effort, but it¡¯s work we¡¯re all willing to put in. Isn¡¯t that right, guys?¡± Altair panned his gaze through everyone, who revealed intense gazes.

    For now, they were nameless, but it wouldn¡¯t remain that way for long. However, they understood there was ample work to be done.

    ¡­

    One hourter¡­

    ¡°Oh, this is horrible!¡± Alice screamed out while wiping the sweat off her forehead.

    ¡°The horror,¡± Sithik groaned as if he were dying.

    After Kieran designed their workout regiment, Altair became somewhat of a drill sergeant, abiding by every detail listed on the sheet. Aside from Nemean and Bastion, everyone else fared terribly.

    ¡°This is absolutely uneptable! Don¡¯t you understand that with a strong mindes a strong body? We rely upon our minds to prosper, so I¡¯m going to need a little more resolve from you all,¡± Altair barked.

    ¡°You heard the man, move! On your asses!¡± Nemean backed up Altair¡¯smand, snapping his finger and walking through the training room.

    Everyone struggled to their feet with painstaking effort. They had justpleted their first set of endurance training, so it was on to reflex training.

    Their exhaustion was the best time to attempt this training because, at some point, it all became a matter of instinct.

    And, without primal instincts, one wouldn¡¯t survive the continually increasing realism of Zenith Online.

    ¡­

    A few minutes before that point, Kieran walked upstairs and met with Dr. Riley. ¡°Make sure you prepare entry-level X-hancers for them. When theye to you, they¡¯ll be thoroughly exhausted, so it should reap the best effects.¡±

    ¡°Understood. You won¡¯t be overseeing their training?¡± Dr. Riley asked.

    ¡°Not this time. I have to attend to some important matters. But, this is only the beginning. At most, I¡¯ll give them one day to rest and recuperate.¡±

    Dr. Riley felt for those victims downstairs and sighed empathetically. ¡°Poor souls. Who would have thought their leader was so ruthless, torturing them on the first day? Where¡¯s their enjoyment?¡±

    Kieran¡¯s expression grew increasingly solemn after hearing Dr. Riley¡¯s remark.

    ¡°They¡¯ll revel in glory once they have achieved sess. Right now isn¡¯t the time to celebrate. It¡¯s the time to grow. We don¡¯t have that luxury because we¡¯re not in the lead; we¡¯re ying catch up. I suspect many guilds have been using X-hancers for quite some time, which is why they became so skilled in the gaming scene.¡±

    ¡°Okay, grouch! No reason to get so serious; I was only joking with you. They seem to respect and agree with you, so it¡¯s clear you¡¯re doing something right,¡± Dr. Riley said.

    Kieran sat on the somewhat destroyed medical bed and let Dr. Riley attach the proper electrodes to his body while she handed him a 20% X-hancer.

    Due to her extensive research, consisting of several studies involving Kieran¡¯s digestion of X-hancers, she understood that the same harm didn¡¯t quite befall him.

    Though a risk remained, it was severely mitigatedpared to the data found in the studies of other physicians.

    After ingesting the X-hancer, Kieran found the effect to be mildpared to his first experience with a potency increase. The intrinsic warmth attributed to X-hancer digestion was there, but it wasn¡¯t unbearable.

    On the contrary, it was enjoyable. At least Kieran felt that way.

    ¡®Training with Scar has undoubtedly increased my pain threshold, whether it be mental or physical. If this happened before Ipleted my training, adjusting would have taken some time.¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯m going back in,¡± Kieran said.

    However, before he could log in, Dr. Riley approached him with a concerned gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t forget. You must be careful because you are amassing mental fatigue without resting. Although the X-hancers may rejuvenate you, they aren¡¯t perfect. At some point, you¡¯ll crash and require an unnatural amount of rest.¡±

    Kieran considered Dr. Riley¡¯s point while nodding. Without the X-hancers, his time spent inside Zenith Online would be greatly reduced. But, the X-hancers weren¡¯t a magical solution. It was only dying the inevitable.

    ¡°I can¡¯t slow down until our advantage is secured. When, and only when that happens, I¡¯ll rest,¡± Kieran said. His lips curved into a grateful smile. ¡°I appreciate your concern, though.¡±

    A momentter, his body rxed as his mind delved back into Zenith Online.

    ¡­

    Kieran¡¯s eyes opened inside Mayor Lowe¡¯s office with a light gasp. Upon looking around, he noticed several guards walking back and forth carrying the gold-filled chest.

    Despite Mayor Lowe choosing the strongest guards to assist him, they strained themselves to pick up the massive chests.

    At first, Kieran considered helping them, but a message appeared before his eyes, alerting him that he could do no such thing.

    ¡´System: Your ?Lesser War Crest? has emitted a summoning signal. [This is the third alert. Please make way to the War Deity Council lest you forfeit your involvement in the diator¡¯s Coliseum event.]¡µ

    During the time he was logged out, the Lesser War Crest had emitted two signals. The first signal signified the uing start of the event, while the second was an indication to make their way to their respective branches.

    This third signal was the final one, so those who didn¡¯t appear within the allotted time would forfeit participation in the event.

    Kieran had no intentions of forfeiting this opportunity.

    So, after leaving Mayor Lowe¡¯s office, Kieran¡¯s body released a burst of sanguine energy.

    Whoosh!

    A gust of crimson wind swept through Aeredale City as everyone saw the blurred crimson figure moving at breakneck speeds with widened eyes.

    ¡°What the hell was that?¡±

    ¡°No idea; I couldn¡¯t see it. But, I presume it was a person.¡±

    ¡­

    Ten minutester, Kieran stormed into the War Deity Council,ing to a grinding halt while simultaneously deactivating Blood Mania.

    The crimson winds dispersed as Kieran gazed upon Han and Alythia, who stood amongst a few other people, including Captain Liam.

    ¡®Is the diator¡¯s Coliseum such an important event that even Captainse to bear witness?¡¯ Kieran wondered.

    ¡°Aatrox!¡± Han pped his hand merrily after seeing the final person.

 Chapter 208 Fellow Contenders

    ¡ª

    Before Kieran¡¯s arrival, Han suspected he had cold feet about the entirepetition after learning of Alythia¡¯s perspective. The diator¡¯s Coliseum was a truly brutal event, so deciding not to participate was understandable from a spectator¡¯s point of view.

    However, it was an unpardonable offense within the War Deity Council¡¯s upper echelon because it symbolized cowardice¡ªa principle unweed within the ranks of the War Deity Council.

    Once a nominal member refrained from participation after signing up, they¡¯d be barred from signing up again, which is why Han spoke harshly against Alythia¡¯s opinion.

    It would pain his heart if a great talent and the sessor of a Commander had their ascent forcibly thwarted due to circumstances that could be easily avoided.

    After hearing Han¡¯sment, several others turned toward Kieran, especially Captain Liam, whose eyes shed with a meaningful light.

    ¡®That young boy has grown much stronger in a short amount of time. No wonder I saw his name on the participant list.¡¯

    Kieran acknowledged Han¡¯s greeting with a light smile before sweeping his gaze through the two other people besides Han, Alythia, and Captain Liam.

    The first individual was a young man with his long green hair tied into a ponytail. His sharp red eyes hid a piercing spirit as his gazenguidly swept toward Kieran.

    With his arm snaked around an exquisite halberd decorated with a roaring dragon, the young man analyzed Kieran.

    Han noticed that Kieran¡¯s gaze fell upon this individual and introduced him.

    ¡°I see you¡¯ve noticed another contender. This young man is Yashua,uded as the Destructive Halberd. He is also attempting to be an official member this year and is a high-ranking prospect.¡±

    ¡¸ Lv.49 Yashua Dabura, The Destructive Halberd (Epic NPC)

    ss: Fatal Halberd

    Health: 26,000,000/26,000,000 (100%)

    Affiliations: ?War Deity Council? ?Dabura Family?¡¹

    Kieran noticed a significant piece of information from Yashua¡¯s description.

    ¡®A family?¡¯

    Usually, a family strong enough to be recognized by the system meant they were tied to some aspect of an organization or an ancient family that built up their reputation over time.

    Considering that Yashua attended a branch in a humble kingdom, Kieran felt it was thetter.

    Even then, the family¡¯s renown may not be as strong as he presumed. Perhaps it was worth mentioning in rtion to their current location, but in the grand scope of Xenith, their power was inconsequential.

    ¡°Aatrox, Inheritor of the Berserk Path,¡± Kieran introduced.

    The hint of contempt in Yashua¡¯s eyes faded after listening to Kieran¡¯s introduction. In its ce, battle intent surfaced.

    ¡°Yashua Dabura,¡± Yashua said, sliding his hand from under hisrge sleeve.

    The two shook hands, testing each other Strength through the grip. It was a petty and otherwise masculine way to assert dominance, but the oue surprised them both.

    A few subtle cracks appeared on the floor around their feet as neither side gave in.

    Considering Kieran¡¯s Strength surpassed 1,400 in its base state, Yashua¡¯s Strength was also somewhere in that ballpark.

    Did that mean Kieran was stronger than him despite his lower level? Not quite.

    From Yashua¡¯s expression, it was clear he hadn¡¯t exerted all of the power avable to him. Still, he retracted his hand with a new opinion of Kieran.

    ¡°Strong,¡± Yashuamented.

    ¡°You as well,¡± Kieran nodded, understanding that Yashua was someone to be wary of. His earlier opinion may have been a misjudgment. He was young¡ªseveral years younger than Vidal but already ssified as an Epic NPC.

    Afterward, Kieran cracked his neck and rolled it side to side before looking at thest neer. From her appearance, it seemed she was a type of Thief or maybe even a female Warrior.

    Rather than daggers or dual des, a set of twin swords was strapped to her back, suggesting she specialized in speed and power.

    Despite her petite frame, Kieran could sense a hidden ferocity thanks to his Retaliatory Sense heightening his perceptivity to this sort of feeling.

    ¡°This is Azahara the Rampaging Storm. Another one of your fellow contenders,¡± Han said.

    Azahara¡¯s amber eyes fell upon Kieran with a distant gaze as her short tangerine-color hair shifted across her forehead with the movement of her head. The light armor she wore seemed like a cross between leather and malleable light armor.

    However, the presence of the armor felt more like something designed to resemble a female knight¡¯s equipment.

    ¡¸ Lv.50 Azahara the Rampaging Storm (Epic NPC)

    ss: Scorching de

    Health: 20,000,000/20,000,000 (100%)

    Affiliations: ?War Deity Council? ?Adventurers¡¯ Guild? ¡¹

    Despite her lower Health, Kieran understood Azahara was a fearsome opponent. When regarded as an Epic NPC, even a disparity of one level made a world of difference, especially from Lv.49 to Lv.50 and Lv.50 to Lv.51.

    Kieran suspected that if these two were to fight, Azahara would hold an advantage over Yashua. Of course, it was only spection because raw power wasn¡¯t the only factor capable of determining a battle¡¯s oue.

    ¡°Aatrox,¡± Kieran nodded, acknowledging Azahara¡¯s power.

    Afterward, he fell silent while appreciating Scar¡¯s training.

    Now that he understood the general scope of his opponent¡¯s, Kieran knew his chances would be extremely slim if he hadn¡¯t experienced his power up.

    Following these three introductions, Han let Captain Liam take the lead since he was the highest-ranking member present.

    Captain Liam looked over everyone and cleared his throat while sping his hands behind his back. ¡°The diator¡¯s Coliseum is an important event taking ce in the main headquarters just outside the Protus Empire located on the Southern Continent of zoya.¡±

    ¡®Southern Continent?¡¯ Kieran¡¯s ears perked up after hearing of zoya. Why? Because yoza was famous for housing the headquarters of another reputed organization, making it the continent with the highestbat power.

    Aside from this matter, zoya was also rumored to hold several different realm entrances. As much as Kieran wanted to explore the continent, he knew how dangerous it would be if he traversed the wrong areas.

    ¡®I wonder if we¡¯ll be granted freedom to roam after the event¡¯s conclusion or be immediately sent back to our respective branches. I hope it¡¯s the former because it¡¯ll be an excellent time to obtain useful items.¡¯

    After giving back 6 million Gold, Kieran had slightly over 780,000 Gold remaining in his possession. It was the perfect time to utilize some of his funds to acquire items seen as irresistible in the eyes of Lifestyle yers.

    Meanwhile, Captain Liam continued speaking as Kieran formted his n to roam whatever city theynded in.

    ¡°There will be many high-ranking members in attendance, so it is imperative that you present your best quality performance. If you perform well enough, a special opportunity may befall you.¡±

    Aatrox, Azahara, and Yashua looked amongst themselves, wondering what this unique opportunity could be.

    Furthermore, they were also shocked that high-ranking personnel would be in attendance.

    Could this be an opportunity where certain factions within the War Deity Council chose their neers? If so, Kieran felt conflicted.

    He had no interest in joining any factions besides that of his teacher. Who else could provide him with proper guidance?

    ¡°Follow me; I¡¯ll be guiding you all to the temple¡¯s hidden rear,¡± Captain Liam said.

    He directed the others to follow him as he walked past the training area, heading toward what seemed to be a majestic statute of a warrior d in dense armor wielding a massive battle axe.

    Beside this statue was another depicting a man wielding a massive warhammer with sparsely worn armor. Despite the differences between the figures, one could sense theparable might imbued in the skillful chisel marks.

    As Kieran and the rest examined the statues, Captain Liam retrieved his War Crest and pricked his finger.

    A drop of blood fell upon the crest as Captain Liam presented it to the statues.

    Their eyes shed with radiant golden light before sliding aside with a loud rumble. The movement of the statues exposed a recess in the wall where one could see an exquisite teleportation gate in the distance.

    ¡°Under normal circumstances, this teleportation gate would be sealed off. Only during times of emergency or council-wide events is the usage of this gate allowed. Fortunately for us, the diator¡¯s Coliseum qualifies as one such event.¡±

    ¡®I should have suspected as much. Even if it¡¯s a temple within a lower kingdom, the War Deity Council is an organization of almost hegemonic power. Why wouldn¡¯t something as basic as a teleportation gate be built within its temples?¡¯

    However, although the War Deity Council possessed such a gate, their members couldn¡¯t just use it as they pleased. At least, not members underneath the Commander level.

    Unless they possessed a status lofty enough to act without authorization, most members required permission before unlocking the gate.

    Why? Suppose a temple experienced an infiltration. Unlocking that gate created a direct link to the headquarters, which could allow intruders entry to do as they pleased until stopped.

    The portal activated after Captain Liam ced his physical War Crest, powered with a drop of blood, upon the indentation.

    A stable gateway appeared in which Captain Liam gestured for them to enter.

    Surprisingly, the gateway created by this impressive gate exhibited stability on par with the portals created by the Gatekeeper of Teleportations.

    Most of the time, gateways formed through external means were less stable than those created by an adept individual, which is why Kieran felt difort when activating the Bloody Hero¡¯s Symbol.

    ¡°After you all,¡± Captain Liam said.

 Chapter 209 Gladiators Coliseum

    ¡ª

    A few minutester¡­

    Kieran stopped and stared at a magnificent temple roughly ten timesrger than the temple in Aeredale City. The temple sat upon a mountain that felt eerily simr to a volcano.

    As Kieran turned around, he noticed a winding road of igneous rocks shaped into a passageway. Some parts of the winding road seemed unstable enough to induce the most petrifying fear, while other parts weed safe travels.

    The War Deity Council opted for this design to convey the notion that only the brave should consider approaching this esteemed location. It was a lofty belief, but the War Deity Council possessed the esteemed and physical might to support this decision.

    Afterward, Kieran nced at the small building they walked out of and voiced a question weighing heavily on his mind.

    ¡°Howe we didn¡¯t teleport directly inside the main temple?¡±

    ¡°That luxury is only extended to members with a status above a Captain. Plebs like myself can only continue the short journey on foot. We should already consider ourselves lucky that we don¡¯t have to travel upon that.¡±

    Captain Liam pointed to the winding passageway that Kieran had noticed moments before. Many wanderers were turned into unfortunate souls after falling into the depths of the abyss beneath.

    Unlike the temple in Aeredale City, the War Deity Council sat in unimed territory surrounded by a genuinely harsh environment. If one wasn¡¯t privy to their current location, it could be mistaken for an area in the Wildes¡¯.

    The treachery of this location simply knew no bounds.

    After revealing the reason behind their current location, Captain Liam led them to the grand doors of the main headquarter.

    The immensity of the dual doors made everyone feel like little ants. Not even an empire¡¯s imperial pce could justify thevish expenditure required to build a door of this magnitude.

    Furthermore, after touching the door, Kieran estimated it was forged from Mythic and possibly even Ancient metals. ¡®Could these doors be formed from mithril? If so¡­ I can¡¯t even begin to fathom how extravagant the insides are.¡¯

    In his previous life, Kieran had never once stepped foot inside the War Deity Council¡¯s main headquarters, so it was all uncharted territory to him.

    However, the edifice¡¯s grandeur stimted something deep within Kieran¡ªthe desire to obtain something like this of his own.

    Therge gate opened, revealing a pce-like interior with arched walkways adorned byvish carpet. The carpet led up to a few steps, and deeper down the walkway, the hall diverged into many paths.

    Depending on the one taken, one could end up in several sites in the headquarters. However, each path required a minimum status within the War Deity Council.

    Anyone caught wandering where they weren¡¯t weed would be punished.

    The War Deity Council valued its order and moved to uphold its strict regtions. Besides no cowardice, another cardinal rule was abiding by the rules set by the founding members.

    ¡°The path leading to the coliseum is this way. We should hurry because I believe we¡¯re one of thest groups to arrive. Tardiness isn¡¯t tolerated,¡± Captain Liam.

    Everyone nced in Kieran¡¯s direction after Captain Liam spoke, but he returned a clueless gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t me me; me Scar.¡±

    ¡®Hehehe. You deserve to shoulder the me for ying all those tricks on me. Besides, it¡¯s not like he¡¯ll be penalized for it.¡¯

    ¡°Commander Scar does have a tendency to go overboard, so I don¡¯t doubt you. But that¡¯s beside the point. I¡¯m simply happy that you turned up,¡± Han expressed.

    Scar was somewhat famous and infamous within the War Deity Council¡¯s ranks. Stories of his past actions circted through the council¡¯s ranks and asionally appeared in conversations.

    Two minutester, Captain Liam pressed his hands against a door that exuded a cold sensation and pushed. The doors parted, revealing a stone walkway leading up to a tremendous coliseum construct down below.

    ¡´System: You have entered War Deity Council¡¯s ?diator¡¯s Coliseum?!¡µ

    ¡´System: You have gained 350 World Fame.¡µ

    The amount of World Fame given upon entering an unvisited location depended on the area¡¯s renown. Entering this ce was already a task deserving great fame.

    As Kieran looked around, he noticed there were severalyers of seats arranged in a ring shape.

    Above the coliseum was an announcer podium situated on a stone walkway. The walkway protruded from a tform simr to a balcony reserved for higher members.

    Kieran leaned toward Han and whispered. ¡°Who are these seats for?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll see in just a moment. The War Deity Council tends to broadcast their glory, so many people have been invited to watch the annual event,¡± Han responded.

    As if sensing eyes on him, Kieran turned his head slightly and looked up,ying eyes upon a grinning Scar.

    ¡°You little runt, I expect to see great things from you. Otherwise, I will be personally responsible for your suffering during our next training,¡± Scar shouted.

    At the end of his shout, Scar released a peal of uproariousughter, loud enough to gain the attention of every person seated above.

    It didn¡¯t take long for them to realize the target of Scar¡¯sment. After all, Kieran¡¯s current attire possessed traits simr to Scar and Agrianos¡¯ style.

    ¡°Is that your boy, Scar?¡± Arge man with spiked ck hair and wild eyebrows asked. His eyes were the color of flickering mes as he nced in Scar¡¯s direction.

    ¡°Indeed. That¡¯s my body, Ezrath,¡± Scar proudly announced.

    Ezrath, who also held the position of a Commander, scoffed after hearing Scar¡¯s confident tone. ¡°He seems awfully weak for someone who has epted the legacy of a Barbarian like you. Will your presence in the year¡¯s coliseum also be a letdown?¡±

    ¡°Hehe,¡± Scar chuckled and decided not to entertain Ezrath¡¯s petty banter. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m sure my twerp will surprise you.¡±

    Meanwhile, Kieran shook his head. ¡®He¡¯s embarrassing, like a proud father in the stands of his son¡¯s football game, cheering them on when they score.¡¯

    Han noticed Kieran¡¯s faint smile andmented. ¡°The morale boost from having someone cheer you on in the audience is invaluable during an event like this. Do your best because this is where we part ways.¡±

    While Kieran continued following Yashua and Azahara down the steps, Captain Liam, Han, and Alythia walked into the stands and took a seat.

    A few seconds after they joined a sea of more than 10,000 contestants, a man dressed in gold-outlined, silver armor that exuded an air of superiority stepped to the podium and looked down.

    ¡°The number of members we ept yearly is finite in number, but rejoice! For you are the stars of your generation that have shined brighter than the rest. For this, I would like to say congrattions.¡±

    A wave of apuse rose in the gradually filling stands, consisting of royalty, Royal and Imperial Families, and strong characters of great renown on the Continent of zoya.

    The apuse persisted for a few seconds until this man silenced them.

    ¡°For those who don¡¯t know me, I am the War Deity Council¡¯s First General, Zeig Draknar.

    Kieran¡¯s pupils constricted to the size of needles as he looked at the information that surfaced in his gaze.

    ¡¸ Lv.??? First General, Zeig Draknar (Mythic NPC)

    ss: ???

    Health: ??? (100%)

    Affiliations: ?War Deity Council? ¡¹

    Another Mythic NPC!

    Not to mention, it was an individual with a ranking above Scar inside the War Deity Council! A General not onlymanded great authority but great strength as well.

    ¡°The diator¡¯s Coliseum is a brutal event designed to test your mettle and strength. For this reason, under no circumstances is an official member of my War Deity Council allowed to interfere in the proceedings of the event.¡±

    A few people clenched their jaws after hearing this.

    Could they be forfeiting the safety of their candidate by allowing them to participate in this event? Some understood the risks, but reality often hit harder than one could prepare for.

    However, General Zeig continued after a brief pause. ¡°That being said, this is not an event that allows the death of its contestant. Even if you fail to qualify, you are still a force to be reckoned with. Therefore, you do not deserve an early death, not here.¡±

    Many people released a sigh of relief as obtaining this reassurance.

    ¡°Now, let me announce the rules. The first stretch of this event will seek to reduce the number of contestants present quickly. It will be arge-scale free-for-all battle royale happening in ten batches. Your main objective? To remain within and standing on the tform after ten minutes.¡±

    Murmurs filled the stands.

    A battle royale structure was known to bring chaos because everyone vied for the opportunity to remain standing. Temporary alliances also weren¡¯t umon between people with history.

    ¡°The final number is irrelevant for the most part, but those who don¡¯t fight at all will be immediately disqualified unless it¡¯s your opponents who avoid you.¡±

    This rule naturally existed for those contenders of monstrous might whom no one wanted to approach. In a sense, they were known as seeded contestants¡ªpeople with prospects considerable enough to enter the War Deity Council.

    Although it was somewhat frowned upon, contestants avoiding individuals of this regard wasmon.

    No one wanted to ruin their chances by going against an impossible monster from the jump.

    ¡°The end of this event will determine the number of individuals we ept into the organization. I now instruct you to do your best and fight to your heart¡¯s content! Prepare. For the event begins in five minutes.¡±

 Chapter 210 Aatroxs Entrance

    ¡ª

    Some of the participants had gone through this process once before failing to qualify during the previous round of the diator¡¯s Coliseum. So they were familiar with the proceedings.

    However, neers like Kieran, who had yet to partake in such an event, could only wait with bated breaths.

    ¡®A battle royale can get pretty hectic. Even though the coliseum is immense, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if few people are left standing after the ten minutes pse.¡¯

    Kieran analyzed his surroundings, especially the coliseum construct itself. I

    t may have been hidden well, but Kieran knew the signs of powerful arrays and formations. And there were doubtlessly more than ten applied to the coliseum¡¯s interior and exterior.

    A few were designed to maintain damage, but some prevented interference to a certain extent. If powerful enough, breaking apart the formations that protected the coliseum wasn¡¯t impossible.

    ¡®General Zieg wasn¡¯t kidding when he said member intervention wasn¡¯t allowed. It wouldn¡¯t shock me if he personally intervened if someone attempted to do so.¡¯

    Kieran soon looked down and brought up his character panel. Instead of searching his stats, he brought up the special menu rted to the Gamer Republic¡¯s GamerHub.

    After the usual verification process, Kieran essed his screen and began the broadcasting procedure.

    This action naturally delivered an announcement to his steadily growing following. Even if they were in the middle of leveling up, many yers stopped what they were doing and addressed the notification.

    ¡°Oh snap! Aatrox is going live again! Is this the stream he was talking about? I wonder what he has in store for us.¡±

    ¡°Screw leveling up! I¡¯m heading back to town to secure a good seat and food! Aatrox mentioned his next stream would be grander than hisst, and I believe him.¡±

    ¡°Wooohooo! I hope someone wasn¡¯t dumb enough to contest Aatrox again.¡±

    Although the live broadcast was still in progress, the chat grew active with Kieran¡¯s loyal followers. Some voiced their excitement while others made predictions about the stream¡¯s contents.

    Because Kieran used the ambiguous ¡°The Awaited Stream,¡± it was difficult to urately predict what would take ce.

    Was Kieran finally going up against the Shadow Cartel and Sunset Triad to thrash them once and for all? Could it be another boss fight like the one he made into a video on his profile?

    So many questions¡ªso many possibilities!

    Within a few seconds, Kieran¡¯s stream amassed over 100,000 viewers, and the number continued to rise every few seconds.

    Kieran¡¯s reach no longer included just yers who understood Zenith Online; there were also viewers who stumbled across Kieran after browsing the GamerHub for an entertaining streamer.

    Yashua nced in Kieran¡¯s direction and spoke. ¡°I advise you to be careful during this portion. I¡¯ve heard rumors that many know you¡¯re Scar¡¯s sessor. Scar has passed up many people, so they¡¯ll likely want to seek revenge through you.¡±

    Kieran paused his actions and looked at Yashua with a slightly amused expression. ¡°Yeah? If they have to resort to petty machinations, they¡¯re not worthy of the War Deity Council¡¯s name. I¡¯ll simply trample them without looking down. After all, do we pay attention to all the bugs present during our stroll?¡±

    Yashua was taken aback by Kieran¡¯s indifference. These weren¡¯t everyday challengers; most of these people had been cultivated for this very moment. How could he remain so calm despite this fact?

    Eventually, Yashua felt Kieran couldn¡¯t grasp the gravity at hand. But, after considering Scar¡¯s position and Kieran¡¯s earlier disy of strength, another thought passed through Yashua¡¯s mind.

    ¡®What if he simply looks down upon them because he hides a frightening power?¡¯

    This thought drove Yashua to look up at Scar in the stands subconsciously. In Yashua¡¯s eyes, Scar felt like an unconquerable behemoth, standing above with an imperious stance.

    With a light exhale, Yashua averted his gaze. ¡°Good luck out there. I look forward to seeing you in the second stage at least.¡±

    Rather than thank Yashua for his good graces, Kieran took another piece of information from Yashua¡¯sment. ¡°Do you know something about the second stage?¡±

    ¡°Further elimination,¡± Yashua sinctly replied.

    Yashua¡¯s reply didn¡¯t provide much information but was enough for Kieran to infer. ¡®Further elimination must mean we¡¯ll battle amongst ourselves in a defined format. That works for me.¡¯

    While standing outside the coliseum, Kieran felt the passage of time had slowed to a crawl. Due to his anticipation, the five minutes felt like an eternity.

    One minute before the event started, General Zieg took to the podium once more to announce several essential matters about the event.

    ¡°As we abide by a free-for-all battle royale structure, everyone will be assigned a rank, ranging from 1 to just over 10,000, which depends upon a few things: the status of your mentor within the War Deity Council, your strengthpared to everyone in attendance, and finally, your prospects.¡±

    After confirming that he held everyone¡¯s attention, General Zieg continued. ¡°Based on those factors, you will be given a certain number of points. The bottom line is 100, but the highest is 10,000.¡±

    Ding!

    ¡´System: Your rank in the ?diator Coliseum? has been recorded.¡µ

    ©°©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    ?diator Coliseum¡¯s Standing? ¨C

    1st: Ronan ¨C 10,000 points

    2nd: Bra ¨C 9,690 points

    3rd: Mavelli ¨C 9,230 points

    4th: Knox ¨C 9,045 points

    .

    7,666th: Aatrox ¨C 420 points

    .

    .

    ©¸©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    Considering 100 points was the least number of points one could start with, Kieran¡¯s beginning position wasn¡¯t too bad. But,pared to the other contestants, it also wasn¡¯t the best. There were nearly 8,000 participants above him!

    Perhaps an average person would be discouraged by this standing, but not Kieran. His battle intent zed as he clenched his fist with eyes full of anticipation.

    ¡°Before we begin, let¡¯s go over a few rules. If you kill anyone while inside, you will be disqualified. And, you will not receive the protection of the War Deity Council should the victim¡¯s back seek you out. We will absolve ourselves of all involvement.¡±

    ¡°Second, and this rtes to the distribution of points. Not only will you receive the points of those you eliminate, but you will also gain 100 points for every minute you remain standing on the coliseum¡¯s tform during your round.¡±

    Initially, Kieran found this facet of the points to be odd. However, after pondering it for a moment longer, Kieran understood the practicality of this action. It was a way to createpetition during thest minutes of each round.

    The gradual umtion of points would turn any participant into a source of decent points.

    ¡®The War Deity Council truly is ruthless in its ways,¡¯ Kieran thought. He could already foresee the violent struggle during thest minutes of each batch, which would lead to mass elimination.

    Finally, slightly over 1,000 participants felt a slight thrum in their Lesser War Crest.

    ¡°All those who have received a signal, please report inside the coliseum¡¯s stage.¡±

    The gates to the grand coliseum, seemingly made of a beast¡¯s bones, opened for the participants to enter. It only closed after all participants, who received a signal to enter, stood on the tform.

    ¡°Let the annualpetition of the diator¡¯s Coliseum begin!¡± General Zieg bellowed.

    The stands erupted into fervent cheers as arge timer reading ¡°9:59¡± appeared above the coliseum.

    With the timer¡¯s appearance, almost everyone on the tform tensed before charging at one another. However, some stood motionless, absorbing the scene around them.

    The masses ignored those who remained motionless. Not because they were weak, but for the opposite reason. Despite not going to great lengths to reveal it, the aura they exuded was that of a devouring beast.

    Meanwhile, Kieran turned on the live broadcasting function so everyone could watch the same impressive sight alongside him. The chat erupted the moment Kieran turned on the broadcasting.

    ¡°Oh my god! Where is that?! How did Aatrox get in there?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s like we¡¯re getting front row seats to a world-ss UFL fight without paying for such a costly ticket! Speaking of which, we should all donate to the magnificent Aatrox!¡±

    ¡°Aatrox, show your face! Show your sexy face! We need to confirm the rumors of an aesthetic change!¡±

    After one nce at the stream chat, Kieran grimaced.

    Due to the suggestion that someone proposed, a sea of donations flooded his interface. Most were $1, but some were asrge as $100.

    Eventually, Kieran controlled the camera to show himself. ¡°I promised you guys an extravagant show, so I n to give you one. As you can see, this is a challenge of sorts. You all will watch as I conquer it.¡±

    Gasp!

    After listening to Kieran¡¯s confident ims, a sea of emojis flooded that chat. Some neers regarded it as arrogance, but others had blind faith in him.

    Although they knew nothing about this event, the grand scenery told them it was a ce where only the strong were weed.

    Kieran noticed the chat¡¯s prevalent question, so he answered it. ¡°I am currently inside the War Deity Council¡¯s headquarters. I¡¯m sure a few of you have caught traces of its existence by now, isn¡¯t that right?¡±

    Rather than reply the Kieran¡¯s question, the chat focused on the change in his appearance.

    ¡°Hoh, my god! Look at those arms! I¡¯d give that young man my bank ount if he just embraced me. My stupid husband believes I¡¯m no longer womanly.¡±

    ¡°Down horrendous.¡±

    ¡°Down horrendous x2.¡±

    ¡°Lady, I¡¯ll embrace you as long as your face isn¡¯t configured like a soggy sock.¡±

    ¡­

    Roughly ten minutester,

    Kieran¡¯s turn came as his Lesser War Chest released a strange feeling.

    ¡°Watch and learn, my precious viewers. You¡¯re now watching a master at work.¡±

 Chapter 211 An Easy Target?

    ¡ª

    After appearing on the tform, a notification surfaced before Kieran¡¯s eyes.

    ¡´System: You have entered the ?True diator¡¯s Coliseum?!¡µ

    ¡°The second batch¡­ begins!¡± General Zieg announced with a grand wave of his arm.

    As the timer manifested overhead, Crimson Ashrune appeared in Kieran¡¯s hand with a ze of crimson glory.

    At the same time, a subtle spiral of sanguine energy wrapped around his body.

    Thanks to his continuous training, Kieran¡¯s maniption of his vitality entered a new stage where he could enter his most powerful state, outside his monstrous buff skills, on a whim.

    The dy grew negligible and was only noticed by those much stronger than him.

    ¡°Oh?¡± Ezrath¡¯s brow arched while turning toward Scar. ¡°It would appear that your boy is certainly of some skill. To think he¡¯s this adept in wielding that power. Still,pared to those of the highest ranking, he¡¯scking.¡±

    ¡°There is no use in me trying to convince you. I have already surpassed you. Watch as my inheritor does the same,¡± Scar stated calmly. His gaze was peaceful as he stared at the stadium below with crossed arms.

    ¡®Show me something good, twerp. Don¡¯t forget; there¡¯s an Esoteric Skill on the line.¡¯

    Due to Kieran activating his power, many participants turned their heads toward him with ill intent.

    ¡°The brat of Scar! Watch how I eliminate you before thepetition grows fierce!¡±

    A man d in ck-colored heavy armor red at Kieran. Two serrated chain des sat in his grasp as he spun and unleashed a move that could only be described as a chained de hurricane.

    Kieran looked at this neer indifferently and lifted Crimson Ashrune in a subtle arc.

    ng! ng!

    The chained des¡¯ momentum was neutralized due to how Kieran swung his sword.

    At the same time, information on his opponent appeared.

    ¡¸Lv.47 Ambak, The Chained Whirlwind (Titled Rare NPC)

    ss: Tempest Muttor

    Health: 5,600,000/5,600,000 (100%)

    Affiliation: ?War Deity Council?¡¹

    ¡®A Titled Rare NPC?¡¯ Kieran thought. His belief that thepetition was only filled with Epic NPCs appeared incorrect. As a result, a hint of disdain filled Kieran¡¯s gaze.

    This look infuriated Ambak as he ignored those nearby individuals and unleashed an immense skill.

    Boom!

    Ambak rushed forth explosively while simultaneously turning into a whirlwind.

    Due to the way he held his weapons, Ambak¡¯s attack gave off an incredibly dangerous sensation. Anyone with insufficient Defense would crumble before such an attack.

    However, Kieran indifferently nced at the floor and spoke, ¡°Blood Bind!¡±

    The floor within a two-meter radius grew dense with viscous blood. A few spots in this puddle bubbled over and sprouted thorned chains at terrifying speeds, which made Ambak squint apprehensively.

    Scar grinned after watching Kieran¡¯s disy. ¡®That¡¯s my twerp. Reveal the fruits of your efforts obtained during our hellish training. Your Blood Bind now is iparable to what it once was.¡¯

    Ambak roared after witnessing Kieran¡¯s counterattack. ¡°Do you believe those feeble chains can contain me?! I am Ambak, the Chained Whirlwind! To use chains in my presence is sphemous!¡±

    ¡°You speak too much,¡± Kieran said in a cold tone. ¡°A dog with a loud bark often possesses a meager bite. Tell me, do you talk so much to hide your inferiority?¡±

    Rage clouded Ambak¡¯s mind after listening to Kieran¡¯s retort.

    Forget the rules; Ambak wanted to rip him apart. It was bad enough that Scar had embarrassed his master, and now this nameless boy traveled in the same footsteps?

    Inconceivable!

    ¡°Constrict,¡± Kieran called out while bringing his fingers together.

    The violent blood chains converged on Ambak¡¯s location before crisscrossing. The strange pattern formed apact barrier that repelled his Chained Whirlwind. To Ambak¡¯s dismay, the chains tightened despite his attempts to shatter them.

    ¡°What the hell is this?! How can these fragile chains be so solid?¡± Ambak shouted in disbelief.

    Ambak¡¯s momentum abruptly halted as the thorns on Kieran¡¯s blood chains burrowed into his armor and flesh.

    Whoosh!

    Kieran disappeared like a crimson ghost. Using a Surge Step, Kieran closed the distance separating him and Ambak in an incredibly short timeframe.

    ¡°Fury Rush!¡±

    Bang!

    Crimson Ashrune¡¯s hilt was driven into Ambak¡¯s stomach, knocking the wind out of him.

    Afterward, Kieran leaned forward and angled his body upward while loosening the chains to give them further extension space.

    ¡°Wild Crash!¡±

    The savage fallout from Wild Crash was contained to a radius of Kieran¡¯s liking, and his decision just so happened to be storing the momentum into Crimson Ashrune¡¯s hilt.

    Thud!

    Due to Kieran¡¯s previous action of loosening the chain, Ambak wasunched into the air while in utter disbelief. Kieran concentrated his Strength into his legs as he jumped above Ambak¡¯s ascent,pletely overshadowing him.

    ¡°No! No! Wait-!¡± Ambak screamed out after realizing his fate. However, his frantic plea fell upon deaf ears.

    ¡°Goodbye, fool!¡± Kieran uttered.

    ¡°Grand Stomp!¡±

    BOOM!

    ¡´System: You have gained 130 points. Your standing has increased from 7,666th to 6,669th.¡µ

    Kieran¡¯s attack didn¡¯t kill Ambak, but it disqualified him by sending him out of the ring. While the coliseum was closed off, a small gap existed between the tform and a humongous fence for participants to fall into.

    Ambak¡¯s unconscious body slid down the arced spire until he reached the floor. The force in Kieran¡¯s Grand Stomp was not something he could contend against, especially not while helplessly floating in the air.

    Upon starting his descent, Kieran noticed two people eyeing him with malicious intent, thanks to the effects of Retaliatory Sense. This situation amused Kieran, causing his lips to curve into a slight yet cold smirk.

    He lifted his hand above his head and swiped down.

    ¡°Crimson Current!¡±

    A torrent of blood appeared in the form of a sanguine downpour that descended with frightening force. Those who sought to knock Kieran out of the sky were immobilized by the heavy and continuous impact of the Crimson Current.

    Once hended safely, Kieran lifted his arm but suddenly ducked while throwing back his left leg. His foot connected with something solid, whereas arge zweihander passed above his head.

    Had he not ducked, he likely would have suffered grave damage. This type of malicious intent was something Kieran deemed uneptable. Kieran¡¯s gaze bled a crimson light as his Vengeful Soul triggered outside of his control.

    ¡´System: NPC Agna has been marked as ?Prey?. All of the corresponding effects will apply.¡µ

    ¡°You¡¯ve made a foolish mistake,¡± Kieran said grimly. ¡°You should learn to think for yourself and not carry out ploys that don¡¯t involve you.¡±

    Kieran suddenly let go of Crimson Ashrune and spread his arms. A strange thing happened after he performed this move. Crimson Ashrune began rotating on a stable axis while drawing power from Blood Bind¡¯s residual effects.

    After his training, Kieran had learned the importance of reusing the expended vitality to conserve Stamina.

    Although his Stamina was more than double his Health, and his title reduced the expenditure, Kieran couldn¡¯t overlook the number of battles he would fight during the span of this event.

    It was better to be safe than sorry.

    Once Crimson Ashrune reached its absorption capacity, Kieran thrust his hand forward toward Agna, who had a vacant and regretful look in his eyes.

    He had truly underestimated his opponent. There was more to Kieran than what met the eye. What they sensed was his natural might, not the power of his peak condition.

    ¡°Seethe Burst!¡± Kieran bellowed. His deep voice shook the tform around him, gaining the attention of a few participants.

    After unleashing Seethe Burst, Crimson Ashrune rushed forth with a frightening force. Many people tracked the attack and gleaned its target. They could only pray this attack wouldn¡¯t eliminate poor Agna, but it was difficult to say.

    Why? Because of the status afflicting Agna.

    ¡´System: NPC Agna has sumbed to ?Fear?. Any attackunched during this period will deal 50% additional damage.¡µ

    BOOM!

    The impact ejected Agna from the ring while suffering several fractured bones in his chest. This could already be considered Kieran being forgiving because, while dreadful, the attack wasn¡¯t enough to kill.

    Kieran ensured no surprises would ur by neglecting to use Blood Strengthening or Fervor Augmentation.

    ¡´System: You have gained 210 points. Your standing has increased from 6,669th to 6,434th.¡µ

    [Current Points: 760]

    Scar smirked while ncing in Ezrath¡¯s direction with a mocking expression. ¡°What was that? I couldn¡¯t quite hear you. My twerp just eliminated two people in an instant.¡±

    Ezrath scoffed without sparing Scar an answer. Regardless of Kieran¡¯s disy, Ezrath felt it was too early to judge his performance. However, would his opinion change if he learned that Kieran had only revealed his most basic skills?

    Kieran extended his hand and recalled Crimson Ashrune through a special technique, which Scar helped him master. It worked by stimting the Mark of the Maddened, which was the name of the symbol on both Kieran¡¯s palms.

    It was inherently attracted to the Vampiric Blood Encrustation, so Kieran merely needed to will Crimson Ashrune¡¯s return, and it would oblige like a ma drawn to metal.

    While Crimson Ashrune traveled toward him, Kieran lifted his hands and manifested four Blood Waves at once.

    Bang! Bang!

    Bang! Bang!

    The two contenders that targeted Kieran were bombarded with rapidly fired attacks.

    To finish off hisbo, Kieran flicked one finger at the ground, which conjured a ring of seething blood beneath their feet.

    ¡°Wrath Eruption!¡±

    ¡°Blood Wave!¡±

    Before the two could respond or perform an aerial recovery, a Blood Strengthened Blood Wave hurtled through the air, knocking them out of the ring.

    Thud! Thud!

    ¡´System: You have gained 220 points. Your standing has increased from 6,434th to 6,137th.¡µ

    ¡´System: You have gained 245 points. Your standing has increased from 6,137th to 5,857th.¡µ

    [Current Points: 1,225]

    After dealing with four enemies in under one minute, Kieran turned toward the others with a callous gaze. ¡°Anyone else interested in targeting me? If you believe me to be an easy target, I have more of where that came from.¡±

 Chapter 212 The Improved Abhorrent Paroxysm

    ¡ª

    Kieran¡¯s cold gaze swept over the contenders still showing hostility.

    Although they hadn¡¯t approached him, Kieran¡¯s sensitivity to malice painted them in a different light.

    Retaliatory Sense outlined everyone deemed as a potential threat in a faint red color. The moment outlined in red made a move was when the red aura vanished, only to be reced by a ck fang, symbolizing an enemy viewed as Prey.

    After speaking, Kieran nced up at the timer above.

    Less than thirty seconds had passed since the round¡¯s beginning, yet almost 10% of the contenders were eliminated by frightening opponents nearby.

    ¡®No wonder my cement is rising so slow. Although I¡¯ve eliminated four people myself, it seems others are eclipsing my pace,¡¯ Kieran thought to himself.

    Some of the stronger people eliminated several people with a single attack, which skyrocketed their cement.

    Of course, Kieran¡¯s cement also changed without making a move. If someone of a higher cement was eliminated, his rank would adjust ordingly.

    Before making a move, Kieran looked up at Scar with a strange expression. Since it was the best time to amass points, he was acquiring permission to go all out during this stage.

    Scar understood the intentions conveyed through Kieran¡¯s gaze despite theck of words. He gave a subtle nod, which resulted in Kieran¡¯s smile.

    ¡®Dread Culling is out of the equation. Setting aside mycking proficiency with Dread Culling, which poses substantial risks of killing people, its cooldown is far too long. If I can¡¯t kill, it takes too long to recover usage,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    As he devised a n, the aura surrounding Crimson Ashrune swelled and began to swirl as his Attack Power and Strength climbed to new heights.

    ¡°Abhorrent Paroxysm!¡±

    Wooom!

    Kieran¡¯s body emitted a strange ripple as the sanguine energy surrounding his body gained a threatening presence. The scene invoked the feeling of a bloodthirsty demon awakening.

    Due to Kieran¡¯s understanding of Blood Mania deepening to the point its rank increased, the effects of Deranged Spirit and Abhorrent Paroxysm underwent a change.

    While their levels and rank didn¡¯t experience much of a transformation, their information appeared somewhat differently.

    Still, Kieran couldn¡¯t justify using Deranged Spirit early in the event. Only Abhorrent Paroxysm with a rtively short cooldown period fulfilled Kieran¡¯s required criteria.

    ¡¸ Abhorrent Paroxysm (Lv.3)

    Skill Rank: A

    Skill Type: Active/Buff

    Mastery (80.00%)

    Description: A skill that amplifies the True Berserker¡¯s slumbering rage by agitating a modicum of Argexes¡¯ Blood. After this skill is activated, the user grows vulnerable but destructive, entering a unique state known as ?Frenzy?.

    ?Frenzy?: In exchange for bing extremely vulnerable, the user experiences a 100% increase in Strength. In addition to the user¡¯s Attack Speed and Movement Speed increasing by 150%, their Critical Damage Modifier increases by 50%. (The vulnerability¡¯s aftereffects rely upon the user¡¯s understanding of Blood Mania.)

    Aftereffects: Stamina Regeneration Rate is reduced to 50% for one hour and gradually increases afterward.

    Consumption: 100% Defense

    Duration: 60 seconds

    Cooldown: 90 minutes ¡¹

    The swirl of sanguine energy prated Kieran¡¯s skin, producing thick crimson veins along his arms and neck.

    The appearance of this skill was somewhat different from before. Scar¡¯s guidance taught Kieran how to manipte this power at a basic level and block it from seeping into his heart, where it could causesting damage.

    That¡¯s the reason his Stamina Regeneration virtually disappeared after using this skill in the past.

    Kieran¡¯s appearance grew demonic, but not on the same level as activating Deranged Spirit, or worse, superimposing the two skills.

    Considering his Stamina surpassed 14,000, the exchange was something Kieran could manage in his current state.

    After activating Abhorrent Paroxysm, Ezrath¡¯s gaze narrowed, and his expression darkened. ¡°Don¡¯t tell you have taught that kid how to tap into the abominable power. Didn¡¯t that power make you lose reason during your youth?¡±

    ¡°It did,¡± Scar admitted while sparing Ezrath an indifferent nce. He understood what Ezrath insinuated with his words. Activating a power like that with such dark origins in apetition that didn¡¯t allow death was foolish.

    ¡°So what makes you think it¡¯s safe for him to unleash an ability like that? You do understand the risks of death in thispetition, right? You may be strong, but not even you can go against everyone.¡±

    ¡°Rx. You talk too much and spoil the fun. I gave my twerp permission for one reason,¡± Scar said with a proud smile¡ªone that hid emotions he never thought he would feel.

    ¡°What is that?¡± Ezrath curiously inquired. This was the first time he witnessed Scar with such a proud smile on a topic that didn¡¯t include himself.

    ¡°The answer is simple¡ªmy twerp is stronger than me mentally when I was at that stage. If it is him, I believe he¡¯ll quickly learn to control his emotions without fail. You know what that means, yes?¡± Scar¡¯s smile became yful and menacing.

    Cold sweat seeped down Ezrath¡¯s back afterprehending Scar¡¯s words. ¡®They¡¯re what¡¯s known as True Berserkers. They be one of the most fearsome existences after subjugating their emotions. If that¡¯s true¡­¡¯

    The way Ezrath looked at Kieran changed.

    A tinge of horror surfaced in his eyes while watching the berserk power of a True Berserker rampantly permeate arge portion of the stage.

    ¡°Hahaha! That¡¯s the power Scar used in the past. I¡¯d recognize it anywhere. It appears his youngster is quite talented to be wielding that power this well at such a young age.¡±

    A burst of boisterousughter sounded not too far from Ezrath and Scar, breaking their conversation.

    After turning his head, Scar recalled this neer. It was another Commander in the War Deity Council named Caecus. The man stood with a leather blindfold over his eyes. Underneath the blindfold was two scars that told his story.

    Born blind, Caecus decided there was no use for his defective eyes, ripping them out of the sockets without hesitation. The decisiveness of his actions birthed a strange power, giving him the ability of another sight.

    Even without his eyes, Caecus could ¡°see¡± as well as anyone else.

    He possessed long, dirty blond hair, which cascaded down his back and torso, and a sharp jawline matching his toned physique. His armor looked simr to ancient diators, with sleek knight boots and a ck cloak draped over his shoulders.

    If Kieran realized this person, his jaw would drop. Why? Because Caecus, while not a Mythical Hero, was a Legendary Hero. Like Scar, he possessed the potential to be a General but chose not to.

    Instead, he sought power and rtive freedom.

    ¡°Caecus,¡± Scar greeted with a nod.

    Caecus sat beside Ezrath and Scar with crossed arms. He leaned back in his chair and sighed as a strange ripple undted from his body.

    ¡°The power of youth. How remarkable. Look at those children fighting with every ounce of passion they can muster. All to im their future. It¡¯s truly a remarkable sight, isn¡¯t it¡ªScar, Ezrath.¡±

    Ezrath grimaced due to Caecus¡¯s poor choice of words. Sight? He should be thest person to utter such a word.

    ¡­

    Inside the diator¡¯s Coliseum¡­

    Many heads turned toward Kieran after he activated Abhorrent Paroxysm. Rather than focus on several small opponents, Kieran¡¯s gaze shifted toward the bigger fish.

    While others were afraid of confrontation, he wasn¡¯t.

    Worthwhile opponents were how he quickly increased the mastery of his skills and deepened his connection with his ss.

    Eventually, Kieran¡¯s eyesnded on one nearby, who had just eliminated more than ten contestants in one strike.

    ¡¸Lv.49 Vex Ation, The Roaring Fist (Epic NPC)

    ss: Destructive Fist

    Health: 21,500,000/21,500,000(Epic NPC)

    Affiliations: ?War Deity Council? ¡¹

    ¡®Pretty strong,¡¯ Kieran thought. Althoughckingpared to Yashua and Azahara, Vex unleashed destructive attacks bypressing and discharging wild bursts of Mana with his fist.

    His base ss was a Pugilist, but it was a rare variation that many yers would kill for.

    Boom!

    Kieran sprinted toward Vex with a ruthless look in his eye. Contrary to the start of this round, many people avoided Kieran¡¯s rush because of the energy spilling off his body in droves.

    ¡°!!¡± Vex¡¯s eyes widened as he sensed a hostile presence fast approaching his right.

    Lifting his right hand to defend against the iing attack, Vex threw out his left fist with frightening precision.

    The impact of the two attacks created a shockwave. ¡®Defintely a Berserker. This kind of Strength is unusual.

    For someone to achieve nearly 3,000 Strength naturally, they must go through an Advancement. Only an Advanced Being could wield that degree of power naturally.

    Then again, Vex also felt Kieran¡¯s current condition was unusual. ¡°You¡¯re not an Advanced Being, but this presence you emit¡­ how strange, indeed. Nevertheless, I must rify that you are not my opponent.¡±

    Swoosh! Boom!

    ¡°Sui!¡± Vex swiftly retracted his hand and jumped. After spinning, heshed out his leg, which looked like a human whish.

    The destructive force made Kieran backpedal and shake his wrist. ¡°That kick. It shouldn¡¯t have been that strong, but it was. Another unorthodox utilization of Mana.¡±

    This wasn¡¯t the first time Kieran had fought against someone that wielded pure Mana unusually. It was often the unusual application that yielded the most sess.

    After all, several people developed ways to ovee and neutralize general utilizations.

    Vexnded back on the ground a secondter with his knee bent. ¡°If you want to go far in this challenge, I suggest you eliminate those who don¡¯t belong. Fighting against me will only destroy your path forward.¡±

 Chapter 213 Rapid Point Increase

    ¡ª

    As it stood, Vex was Kieran¡¯s strongest opponent to date, so it was understandable that their sh resulted in him suffering some losses. But did that mean Kieran would back down?

    On the contrary, it meant Kieran desired battle that much more.

    Despite Vex¡¯s altruistic suggestion to safeguard Kieran¡¯s participation in the event, Kieran brandished Crimson Ashrune with no intent to concede.

    ¡°Sanguine shes!¡±

    The outeryer of Crimson Ashrune roiled, leaving a faint crimson afterimage as Kieran swayed his arm. A secondter, Kieran leaned back and bnced his weight on one heel.

    Most people would lose their bnce at this point, but Kieran twisted unnaturally with an el Shift and pressed his foot into the ground.

    Bang!

    Kieranbined el Shift and Surge Step to maximize his momentum. The breakneck speed of his actions made Kieran¡¯s presence flicker like a red ghost, crossing 20 meters instantly.

    Vex didn¡¯t expect Kieran¡¯s sudden movement, which far surpassed his earlier rush. ¡®This guy¡­ what kind of fine maniption is this? The force of his actions aren¡¯t amazing, but they¡¯re precise, which results in ridiculous bursts of momentum.¡¯

    Due to the abrupt nature of Kieran¡¯s approach, Vex struggled to prepare a proper defense. Left with no other option, Vex could only bring his elbow and knee together instinctively.

    Bang!

    Kieran felt like he had hit an iron wall as Vex hopped back on one foot and came to an inevitable halt.

    ¡°I take my earlier statement back. You¡¯re strong, perhaps stronger than a good number of people present. I look forward to our bout. Prepare¡­ for I will no longer hold back!¡± Vex eximed.

    A thirst for battle rose within Vex¡¯s eyes as his front foot mmed the ground and produced an intense shockwave. The bluish Mana surrounding his body adopted a silver gleam while his stance changed.

    Compared to before, Kieran could sense little to no openings in Vex¡¯s stance. Whether it was attacking or defending, this stance was capable of both.

    ¡®Knocking him out of bounds may be impossible with that sturdy stance. I¡¯ll have to opt for thetter. Hopefully, there are no irredeemable consequences.¡¯

    Kieran extended his hand and pointed at the ground beneath Vex¡¯s feet.

    ¡°Blood Bind!¡±

    The chains of blood cut off Vex¡¯s routes of escape and advance. At least, that¡¯s what Kieran intended them to do.

    Crrck! Crrrck! Crrrck!

    Vex¡¯s knuckles crackled with uncontainable power as he condensed Mana in the palm of his hand. Thepression continued until Vex reached the limit of his technique.

    An instantter, Vex threw his first half a meter from his body and created a vacuum.

    The force blew away not just the chains but some of the contestants nearby.

    Unsurprisingly, Vex¡¯s attack produced a kind of air cannon effect. Vex had no affinity with the Wind Element; this was all achieved with sheer force.

    Kieran nced at the aftermath of Vex¡¯s attack with hints of praise in his eyes. He had to give respect where it was due. Vex earned his title as the Roaring Fist.

    Kieran felt a ringing in his ears despite only suffering from the slight aftermath.

    However, Kieran felt this was far from enough to defeat him. Although his Defense had dropped to 0, he was fast enough to avoid most attacks, which is why he entertained entering such a risky state.

    Eventually, Kieran decided to use a more invasive attack. But to do so, he needed to build up Bleed stacks on Vex.

    Advancing proved difficult, so Kieran was forced to fight at range.

    Kieran repeated the attack unleashed upon Agna, rotating and empowering Crimson Ashrune until it approached his limit of control.

    ¡°Seethe Burst!¡±

    Afterunching the attack, Kieran executed Surge Step to follow close behind it.

    Like Agna, Vex could sense the threat from the attack, so he performed a technique inessible to Agna.

    ¡°Mana Manifestation: Destructive Soundburst Tiger!¡±

    BOOM!

    A type of destructive shockwave, simr to the roar of a ferocious tiger, bombarded Kieran and the other contestants.

    As he suspected, Vex could manifest his Mana, which seemed to outss Dusvim¡¯s Manifestation.

    The reason he used such a lethal Seethe Burst was to force Vex¡¯s hand. By forcing his hand, Kieran produced a scenario where he could unleash an attack that could be otherwise disastrous without contention.

    ¡°Sanguinem Tempests!¡±

    Unlike before, Kieran no longer created three tempests when activating this skill. No, it had increased to four! And merging four Sanguine Tempests into one frightening st achieved something Kieran hadn¡¯t ounted for.

    Sanguinem Tempests was never a skill meant to be merged as one. The separate tempests were to act as individual deterrents that could attack many enemies at once, which is why it gained its presence as A Rank Skill.

    Merging these tempests created something simr to a hurricane that evolved beyond Kieran¡¯s control. Vex¡¯s soundwave barrier was torn to shreds, reminiscent of flimsy paper being ripped apart.

    The vtile winds and ridiculous rotation speed of this blood hurricane were baffling!

    Upon witnessing this scene, Kieran inhaled sharply. ¡®Don¡¯t die¡­.¡¯

    Vex¡¯s expression grew grim after staring into the eyes of this iing blood hurricane. The Mana around both of his fists rotated rapidly.

    Unlike his earlier moves, Vex rxed his hands and drew them both back.

    ¡°Mana Technique: Soundburst st!¡±

    Vex unleashed a move simr to his earlier punch appeared, except it was aplished using both of his hands. The destructive cannon attack made of purepressed Mana punctured the violent winds and reduced the hurricane¡¯s advance.

    Stopping the attacks was impossible as not even Kieran could control it, so Vex opted for the best alternative¨Creducing its ferocity.

    ¡®So this is the power of a True Berserker. No wonder Commander Scar is so feared. Not even my Soundburst Techniques could thwart the attack of someone of lesser natural power,¡¯ Vex thought.

    BOOM!

    Vex and a few other contestants suffered the aftermath of Kieran¡¯s attack and were directly knocked unconscious by the sudden force or knocked out of the ring in a daze.

    ?€?System: You have gained 1,680 points. ?€¡ë

    ?€?System: You have gained 890 points.?€¡ë

    ?€?System: You have gained 930 points.?€¡ë

    ?€?System: You have gained 1,100 points.?€¡ë

    ?€?System: You have gained¡­?€¡ë

    Some of the unfortunate participants to be knocked out were those who had just finished recovering from a significant attack.

    Before they could respond, the frightening attack was already upon them.

    What could they do against a hurricane of bloody energy carrying enough power to inflict more than 5 million damage upon anyone near Kieran¡¯s general power level?

    One couldn¡¯t only look at an NPC¡¯s remaining Health to judge theirbat ability. One also needed to consider how much trauma the iing attack could inflict.

    Broken bones? Ruptured organs?

    All this took time to reflect within the enemy¡¯s information panel.

    Due to this ordeal, Kieran¡¯s ranking shot up like a rocket shooting for the stars.

    From 5,857th, Kieran¡¯s ranking shot up to 2,173rd. One might say it was a considerably low ranking with the number of participants still present.

    However, one couldn¡¯t overlook the fact that eight more batches remained after this one. As long as Kieran remained standing, his overall ranking at the end of the first stage could be significantly high or somewhat lower.

    Nevertheless, Kieran currently possessed 5,680 points with twenty seconds remaining on Abhorrent Paroxysm¡¯s duration, so he wasn¡¯t done. Not by a long shot.

    His main objective now was sniping fierce battles where he could eliminate both sides with the least effort.

    This opportunity fell into Kieran¡¯sp ten secondster when he approached a warring party with Crimson Barrage. The sudden surprise attack allowed Kieran to easily apply stacks of Bleed on his opponents before unleashing a Peril Implosion to blow them out of the ring.

    ?€?System: You have gained 1,370 points. Your standing has increased from 2,173rd to 2,004th!?€¡ë

    ?€?System: You have gained 1,510 points. Your standing has increased from 2,004th to 1,891st!?€¡ë

    With the points acquired from eliminating those two, Kieran had entered the sub-2,000 ranking cement!

    Considering he began nearly 6,000 ranks away, this was a ster achievement on Kieran¡¯s part.

    ¡­

    Caecus released a loud chortle while turning toward Scar. ¡°That boy of yours is pretty ruthless, knocking people out and interfering in other¡¯s battles without hesitance. I can see some resemnces of you inside that boy.¡±

    ¡°Mm,¡± Scar muttered. The proud smile he revealed earlier had never once left his face. Allies? Enemies?

    Inpetition, no such thing existed. If you could eliminate someone, eliminate them. At the end of the day, you were also a target of someone else.

    It was best to move proactively than be caught reacting to an opponent you had no moves against.

    ¡°Hmph, can that boy of yours fight upright at all?¡± Ezrath scoffed.

    However, Scar found thisment hrious. ¡°Did he not openly approach that boy with the loud fists? I believe he did and emerged victorious in his sh. Why don¡¯t you stop being a sourpuss and enjoy thepetition amongst the young generation?¡±

    After a faint pause, Scar smirked mockingly. ¡°You should also be happy that your boy isn¡¯t in his batch. I wonder if they¡¯ll meet in the second stage where you can¡¯t im they were ambushed.¡±

    Ezrath¡¯s fist clenched underneath his folded arms as he shot Scar a malicious re. Fighting in the stands was prohibited and would attract the attention of General Zieg, so this was all Ezrath could limit himself to.

    Scar understood this fact, which is why he goaded Ezrath, who was known for his short temper and destructive outbursts.

    Of course, if Ezrath did travel down that path, Scar didn¡¯t mind teaching him a lesson or two regarding manners.

    It had been quite a while since Scar properly stretched his body against a rtively powerful opponent.

 Chapter 214 Next Stage Successfully Claimed

    ¡ª

    Roughly seven minutester¡­

    General Zieg waved his hand after taking to the podium once more. His thunderous voice boomed throughout the grand stadium, filled with cheers, gasps, and anticipation for the growing suspense of each.

    ¡°The second round hase to an end! Those fortunate enough to remain standing have secured their position in the second round. Those who have fallen unconscious, been knocked out, or admitted defeat will be treated and sent on their way.¡±

    General Zieg nced down at some of the crestfallen contestants who couldn¡¯t prevail against the challenge of their peers. ¡°Remember, this isn¡¯t the end of your future. If you were unfortunate, reflect on your mistakes, identify your weaknesses and do your best to remold them. Another chance awaits you in the future if your heart is resilient enough.¡±

    Many of the contestants understood the intentions in General Zieg¡¯s words but losing never left a pleasant taste in one¡¯s mouth.

    Nevertheless, some vowed to return with newfound powers while others grumbled ruefully, cursing the fact their round was filled with monsters they couldn¡¯t contend against.

    Amidst those still standing on the stage, Kieran looked up at Scar with a confident gleam in his eyes. Despite the disparity in level, Kieran managed to secure his spot by revealing his immensebat knowledge.

    There were many times when he was targeted, but his positioning turned another contestant into a target, which enraged both sides¡ªthe attacker for missing their strikes and the unsuspecting party for being roped into their conflict.

    By the end of the round, Kieran managed to secure more than 15,000 points, cing within the top 1,000.

    Even without participating in the second stage, Kieran¡¯s current points qualified for entry into the War Deity Council¡¯s official ranks.

    Scar shook his head with a light chuckle. ¡®It seems my twerp truly wants to learn that Esoteric Skill. But, he¡¯ll have to do far more to earn such a powerful ability. Besides, even if I teach it to him, there¡¯s no telling if he¡¯ll be able to unleash it.¡¯

    Because Esoteric Skills were meant for Advanced Beings, the requirements to activate them were stringent. As an Intermediate Being, Kieran¡¯s current parameters were sorely underwhelming for any of the mighty skills in Scar¡¯s possession.

    Several people entered the stadium and carried the unconscious contestants out of the grand coliseum setting. Those capable of walking followed the staff to have their injuries tended to.

    After all the injured people were removed, slightly over 100 individuals remained on the stage.

    ¡°Congrattions on earning the right to enter the next stage. Take a seat and recuperate. You have approximately 2 hours before the beginning of the second stage. I know some of you exhausted yourself to w for your spot, so you deserve the rest,¡± General Zieg said in an understanding tone.

    He knew very well the limits of Advanced and Intermediate Beings; they weren¡¯t capable of ceaseless fighting due to their finite Stamina.

    Perhaps only an Advanced Being who approached the limits of their current state could achieve such a feat. Otherwise, that kind of Stamina was something found only in Awakened Beings.

    Kieran soon exited the True diator Coliseum tform with an exhausted sigh. He used every skill in his repertoire except for Dread Culling and a few other unjustifiable abilities.

    Skills like Seethe Burst, Wrath Eruption, Peril Implosion, and Blood Pulse experienced several usages, which nearly emptied his Mana. The current state of his Stamina resulted from activating Abhorrent Paroxysm.

    ¡®I¡¯ve neglected my Mana, which isn¡¯t ideal considering that many of my skills require that I infuse the wielded blood with Mana to do my bidding,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    As a result, he used some of the Unassigned Attribute Points in his possession to increase his body¡¯s capacity to hold Mana.

    ¡´System: Intelligence has risen from 100 to 150.¡µ

    ¡´System: Mana has increased from 750 to 1,000.¡µ

    After using his Unassigned Attributes Points, 44 remained, which Kieran decided to keep for future use. In its current condition, his attributes were thoroughly unbnced, but bncing them required so many points it gave him a headache.

    Only a few options existed for him to correct this issue. But as it was now, it was challenging to realize or attempt any of those options.

    At the very least, he would need a higher Constitution.

    A few momentster, Kieran returned to his initial position between Azahara and Yashua.

    However, unlike before, he took a seat and exhaled while cing Crimson Ashrune over hisp. He glided one finger across the greatsword¡¯s exterior before noticing Yashua¡¯s unusual gaze.

    ¡°You thoroughly surprised me. Although I felt you were strong, I didn¡¯t expect you to eliminate so many people. I¡¯m sure several people havee to dislike you after that round,¡± Yashua said.

    There was a faint look of approval in his eyes as he nodded to Kieran.

    ¡°Unfortunately, I only did what they wanted to do before they could aplish it. Everyone on that stage is an enemy, so they would have tried to eliminate me if the chance arose. But, I have an ongoing bet, so I have no intention of being eliminated.¡±

    ¡°A bet?¡± Yashua looked at Kieran in slight amazement. Did he actually bet on a high-stakes event like the diator Coliseum? That required serious confidence or perhaps unlucky inanity.

    ¡°Just a friendly bet. One between my teacher and me,¡± Kieran nonchntly revealed.

    Yashua let out an uncharacteristic chuckle with a faint smirk. ¡°Of course. How could I be so foolish? If it¡¯s between you and Commander Scar, then it isn¡¯t unbelievable. If you don¡¯t mind me asking, what exactly did you bet over?¡±

    ¡°An Esoteric Skill.¡±

    Even Azahara furrowed her brows after listening to Kieran¡¯sment. An Esoteric Skill? Did he not know the drawbacks of trying to unleash such a skill at their level?

    Azhara had recently stepped upon the path of her Advancement, yet she had no intentions of trying to learn or unleash an Esoteric Skill.

    Why? Because if one wasn¡¯t careful while wielding such a skill, it could cause a dire bacsh.

    The most severe consequences would be ruining one¡¯s Advancement progress, requiring them to start over from the beginning. But restarting couldn¡¯t be performed immediately.

    The internal injuries required sufficient time to heal before any attempts to restart urred lest the individual wanted to destroy their path forward.

    ¡°That¡¯s very bold of you. I don¡¯t know the contents of your bet, but if Scar truly does teach you an Estoric Skill, I suggest you refrain from unleashing it. At least, not until you havepleted your Advancement,¡± Azahara said grimly.

    Kieran could sense the severity in Azahara¡¯s tone, whichpounded upon the fact she rarely spoke. If she took the time to warn Kieran, she clearly understood how dangerous those skills could be.

    Azahara wasn¡¯t wrong.

    Esoteric Skills possessed another name, which was Taboo Skills. They gained this moniker after people realized they were essentially Awakening Skills for individuals that had yet to awaken.

    However, drawing upon a power so close to an Awakening was not without risks.

    Azahara had heard of many people destroying their bodies after unleashing an Esoteric Skill in a fit of rage or during a hopeless situation.

    Kieran absorbed Azahara¡¯s warning and thanked her for it. ¡°I appreciate the advice, Azahara. I will keep that in mind.¡±

    Azahara gave a subtle nod before returning to her silence.

    In the next moment, Yashua¡¯s Lesser War Chest thrummed with the familiar signal from earlier.

    ¡°Good luck during your round,¡± Kieran said.

    ¡°Luck? I don¡¯t need luck on my side when I¡¯ve trained for this very moment. The beginning of my aspirations starts inside the War Deity Council. And, I have no intention of failing my first step,¡± Yashua stated confidently.

    This confidence, but more importantly, the words Yashua chose, resonated with Kieran. They were words he told himself not too long ago. In fact, it happened during Scar¡¯s initial test.

    It wouldn¡¯t be unusual if the diator Coliseum were an initial test for Yashua¡ªone where he announced his presence. However, if that were true, then an undeniably tough challenge rested before Yashua.

    Many contestants, such as Ronan, Bra, and Knox, were of monstrous strength. To obtain the highest chance of passing, Kieran suggested Yashua acquire as many points as possible during this stage.

    ¡®A kindred spirit who seeks out their own path of great strength. I believe it¡¯s possible if he doesn¡¯t fall here.¡¯

    With his halberd flung over his shoulder, Yashua approached the coliseum tform alongside several other youths.

    Not too far away, Kieran¡¯s gaze fell upon a particr individual approaching the tform with an inconceble air of savagery permeating his surroundings.

    His wild eyebrows curled across most of his forehead while the rest was covered with bristly ck hair, matching that of a lion¡¯s mane.

    His deep blue eyes gave off the impression of wanting to devour one whole.

    ¡°How unfortunate of Yashua,¡± Azahara spoke.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kieran turned toward Azahara with a questioning gaze. It was clear she knew important she didn¡¯t.

    ¡°That burly young man with the twin axes attached to his back is called Bra. In other words, he is the contestant with the second highest qualifications.¡±

    Kieran silently analyzed Bra and noticed something. ¡°Is Bra a Barbarian?¡±

    ¡°No, but he has visited the Wildes and fought there. It¡¯s where he gained that air of savagery.¡±

 Chapter 215 The Monstrous Top Contenders

    ¡ª

    The third round began after a few moments, and when General Zieg gave the signal, Bra erupted with terrifying momentum. He removed both twin axes from his back as his eyes danced across the battlefield.

    ¡°Twin Axe Devastation: Catastrophic Winds!¡±

    BOOM!

    A colossal wind filled with catastrophic energyshed across the air before Bra, sweeping across a quarter of the tform. Bra performed the attack instantly, yet the power within the attack rivaled something Kieran took a few seconds to muster.

    The aftermath of Bra¡¯s attack left almost everyone staring in abject horror.

    The savage attack eliminated over 20% of the contestants standing on the stage. Even after mustering their greatest defenses, the strike was inconquerable amongst the contestant.

    Bra clicked his tongue and smacked his lips with a disappointed gleam in his eyes. ¡°Damned useless bunch of vermin. You can¡¯t even put up the slightest bit of a fight. Who qualified you all to stand on this grand stage?!¡±

    Bra¡¯s expression darkened as he spared everyone else on the stage a ruthless look.

    ¡°I may just eliminate you all since you seem so undeserving.¡±

    ¡°Hahaha.¡± An amused chuckle sounded a few feet behind Bra, prompting him to turn around and size up his opponent.

    It was a tall young man with short, fiery-red hair and deep orange eyes. The twin swords in his grasp possessed serrated des, sharpened to resemble a giant shark¡¯s teeth.

    The chains attached to the ends of his weapons wrapped around this man¡¯s forearms, matching the tinum-colored armor he donned. Its sleek design promoted unrestricted movement while delivering ample protection.

    This young man was known as Zinsei and was ranked 11th without amassing additional points.

    After sizing up Zinsei, Bra found that he was of some strength, but it was enough for Bra to regard him differently.

    ¡°You must be a foolish one to stand before me. Either that or you overestimate your ability. Though, I have no issue destroying your chances of entering the War Deity Council if that¡¯s what you desire.¡±

    ¡°Mm,¡± Zinsei chuckled amusedly. ¡°While I intend to fight you, it won¡¯t result in my loss. Besides, your actions paint you in a terrible light¡ªlike a spoiled child throwing a tantrum. Who are you to determine if these people are worthy or not?¡±

    Bra¡¯s gaze narrowed and grew colder after listening to Zinsei¡¯s retort. ¡°Who am I? It¡¯s simple¡ªI am the sessor of General Saeva. Know your ce.¡±

    Bang!

    Part of the ground shattered as Bra rushed toward Zinsei. The twin axes in Bra¡¯s possession released another burst of impable ferocity.

    ¡°Twin Axe Devastation: Destruction Wheel!¡±

    Bra rotated mid-air, shing his axes down in a spinning motion.

    ¡°Unchained Principle: Metal Maelstrom!¡± Zinsei uttered in a low voice.

    The chains bound to Zinsei¡¯s arms loosened and formed a spring-like spiral around his de that moved ording to his action. When he met Bra¡¯s attack, the chains suddenly changed direction and encased Bra.

    Bra growled when he felt his momentum slowing down due to theshings of the chain. Calling the sight a maelstrom of metal wasn¡¯t wrong; however, it didn¡¯t inflict any damage upon Bra due to his quick reactions.

    Every chain that snaked toward him was deflected by a sudden increase in how fast he turned.

    ¡°You¡¯re more annoying than powerful,¡± Bra spat after safely returning to the ground.

    Zinsei smiled amicably. ¡°I appreciate yourment. Again, I do not need points, so I¡¯ll entertain a monster like you while the others battle amongst themselves, vying for a spot amidst people of simr power.¡±

    Bra disliked the look of mockery in Zinsei¡¯s eyes and scoffed.

    However, he understood that Zinsei also possessed a General-level backer. So, his training shouldn¡¯t have been too inferior to his own.

    After seeing Bra fall silent, Zinsei continued. ¡°You¡¯ve already eliminated more than 200 people. Isn¡¯t that enough to sate you, you savage brute? Tsk tsk, I don¡¯t know why you try so hard to be like the Barbarians.¡±

    If anyone were to hear their conversation, they¡¯d most likely shake their head in fear. Why? Because Barbarians were a fearsome group of people, typically referred to as an incredibly unruly bunch of individuals.

    Not even the War Deity Council could force them to act properly if they went on a rampage.

    So, to hear Zinsei casually utter their name was quite shocking, even if it was to goad someone that was unrted to but idolized the Barbarians.

    ¡°I know what you¡¯re trying to do, and it won¡¯t work,¡± Bra said.

    He was privy to the behaviors of someone with Zinsei¡¯s personality. They said and did things that got under their opponent¡¯s skin to manipte the battle¡¯s progression.

    Even if there was no previous malice between them, Zinsei was the type to employ such tactics. Rather than a musclehead, Zinsei was a strategist, as was the General who trained min.

    Although he possessed power sufficient enough to protect himself and be regarded as one of the top contenders for the extraordinary opportunity, Zinsei truly excelled in mind games.

    Once he realized this battle was pointless since oveing Zinsei within the remaining nine or so minutes was impossible, Bra ced the twin axes on his back and took a seat directly on the tform.

    ¡­

    Outside the tform, Kieran¡¯s eyes filled with fascination while noting the solidpetition.

    ¡®So that¡¯s Bra. No wonder Azahara said Yashua was unfortunate. But it seems luck has shone in his favor. Someone has stopped this so-called Bra¡¯s rampage.¡¯

    ¡°Do you know who Bra fought against moments ago?¡±

    ¡°Their name is Zinsei, a young individual under General Florence,¡± Azahara answered. Her expression became strange because she didn¡¯t expect this behavior from Zinsei.

    Although she had heard of Zinsei¡¯s whimsical personality, the rumors painted him out to be someone that didn¡¯t involve himself unless there was something to gain.

    From what she saw, there was nothing for Zinsei to gain by inhibiting Bra¡¯s rampage. On the contrary, it would lengthen the next stage due to several more participants remaining.

    The next stage ounted for many eliminations.

    However, after thinking about Zinsei¡¯s actions for a while, Azahara realized something.

    ¡®If the others are anything like Bra¡­ they¡¯ll want to wipe out most if not all of thepetition that stands on the same stage. Doing so will increase the disparity in the points and limit the chances of others passing up their points by eliminating contenders in possession of a decent amount of points.¡¯

    Eventually, Azahara felt Zinsei matched his description perfectly. ¡°That type of scheming individual is an incredible threat. I warn you never to fall victim to his deceitful ploys.¡±

    ¡°Oh. So you got that same vibe from Zinsei¡¯s behavior as well?¡±

    Despite how well Zinsei tried to hide his intentions, Kieran saw through it. After suffering from Charles¡¯ machinations, he became sensitive to actions made with hidden agendas in mind.

    Not to mention, Zinsei¡¯s presence in the battle was too unusual. Kieran could tell he was hiding something or even holding back. But, Kieran wanted to know how surprises would fare against that person.

    Kieran¡¯s gaze fell upon an indifferent young man wearing ck and white armor. The predominantly ck, sleeveless armor contained ents of white in the form of fur while a giant cleaver rested on the ground before him.

    Despite the action-packed battle in front of him, this man¡¯s eyes were closed, simply awaiting his turn. His bodynguage revealed that this was all nothing in his eyes.

    Due to the angle from which Kieran saw him, he couldn¡¯t see anything else besides his armor and ear-length, midnight-colored hair that blew in the winds created by the fighting.

    Azahara curiously followed Kieran¡¯s gaze before speaking up. ¡°You¡¯re looking at Ronan. Rumors have it that he¡¯s far stronger than Bra. However, because the two have never announced the results of their fights, the rumors are somewhat baseless.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Kieran shook his head.

    It was faint, but Kieran could feel trepidation rise in his heart while looking at Ronan. Bra didn¡¯t invoke the slightest bit of trepidation in his heart, so while stronger, Kieran didn¡¯t feel Bra was insurmountable.

    On the other hand, Ronan gave an impression Kieran seldomly found.

    After analyzing this matter, Kieran nced at Azahara. ¡°That guy, Ronan, is undoubtedly stronger than Bra. To what extent? I¡¯m unsure.¡±

    ¡°You can tell that just by looking at them?¡± Azahara muttered skeptically. She began wondering if Kieran possessed a special pair of eyes. Correctly gauging another¡¯s strength based on sight alone should be impossible at their current level.

    It wasn¡¯t like Azahara or many other people at her level could perceive the density of the aura surrounding a person and approximate the pressure they exuded while they were inactive.

    Only once the targets began fighting could Azahara get an urate read on them.

    ¡°Somewhat,¡± Kieran nodded. ¡°It¡¯s not perfect as I¡¯m basing it off a sensation rather than factual information. But I trust my instincts.¡±

    ¡°You must possess some bestial instincts then. But, it wouldn¡¯t be unordinary if you¡¯re a Barbarian like Commander Scar. Barbarians are famed for their ability to sniff out strong opponents,¡± Azahara said.

    ¡®Unfortunately, I¡¯m still considered a normal human. I have no racial advantage, but I have my Soul Trait,¡¯ Kieran inwardly thought.

    After their brief conversation, Kieran fell silent. Not just to get a good understanding of his uing opponents but to develop a n to maximize his strength.

 Chapter 216 An Enticing Offer

    ¡ª

    Due to the nature of thepetition, Kieran couldn¡¯t receive Experience from any of his fights.

    The only form of a power increase he received came from the improvement in his natural skill mastery. If not for this feature, Kieran would have felt he suffered some losses by entering thispetition.

    Wasn¡¯t the goal of a yer to increase their level? How could he justify entering thepetition if it yielded zero Experience?

    Many might ask themselves this question, but not Kieran.

    The chance to officially join the War Deity Council was a gift in and of itself. As long as he increased his standing high enough, he could trigger and obtain a unique World Quest.

    The triggers didn¡¯t exist within the War Deity Council, but only an internal member could im the quest, which is why a select few benefited from that ludicrous World Quest in his past.

    Aside from this, Kieran was genuinely interested in the unique opportunity as only one neer could only obtain it once a year.

    Based on the long pause between the opportunity, Kieran suspected it was something the council couldn¡¯t present too often.

    What was it if it wasn¡¯t a way to obtain another edge over his peers?

    While watching the rounds of thepetition pass by, Kieran redirected his attention to the stream, reading thements.

    Several donations asked him about the skills he revealed, more specifically, the movements he executed. How could he explode with such absurd momentum?

    Even an Assassin wouldn¡¯t necessarily be able to keep up with his movement speed.

    ¡°How are you all enjoying the special event? Has the scenery been enjoyable? If so, let me see a sea of ones in the chat.¡±

    ¡°1!¡±

    ¡°1 x100!¡±

    ¡°1x infinity! I love you, Aatrox! You¡¯re the best yer ever. Please don¡¯t stop streaming. Your skills are something that brightens my day.¡±

    The chat was filled with ones and emotionalments that changed faster than Kieran could read through. Furthermore, his viewership of this particr stream surpassed 250,000, and the number showed signs of a steady increase.

    At the same time, Kieran¡¯s followers increased like symbols rolling on a slot machine in the casino.

    The effects of this stream truly surpassed Kieran¡¯s expectations. But, considering it was the first of its kind, Kieran felt he underestimated the attractiveness of giving yers insight into the true abilities of NPCs.

    ¡°Whoa. Who would have thought NPCs could be this powerful? I thought the city guards were only moderately powerful, but my eyes have been opened.¡±

    ¡°Watching these NPCs engage in intense battle makes me wonder what will happen in the future once we explore greater parts of this world. Will wee in contact with characters of unimaginable strength?¡±

    ¡°Has Aatrox revealed the location of this arena, battle royalepetition? I want to try it out. I¡¯m pretty confident in my skill.¡±

    Many people in the stream chat expressed interest in thispetition; however, they made a grave oversight. They weren¡¯t aware that Kieran possessed a Mythical ss, and even then, he struggled to contend against the realpetitor.

    Those seeking to enter thepetition with Normal or Rare sses would be ejected from the match before they could understand what took ce.

    Furthermore, many people were mistaken to believe that his power had stagnated because Kieran¡¯s level hadn¡¯t changed on the Zenith Leaderboards.

    yers ced too much attention on their levels due to the allure of challenging new content. They neglected the benefits of taking a step back to deepen their understanding of their skills and find applications that existed outside of the listed skill description.

    As mentioned before, skill descriptions didn¡¯t depict the limits of a skill. They revealed the current attainments of the skill. As one improved their understanding of the skills, they could delve deeper into the roots of the skill.

    Not only did doing such a thing increase the skill¡¯s level by leaps and bounds but if the new application was found to be greater than the original potential of the skill, it could be potentially rewritten by what the yerprehended.

    Only a select few yers were intelligent enough to experiment with their skills rather than focus on the progress of other yers. Sure obtaining opportunities was an important part of Zenith Online, but it meant nothing if one couldn¡¯t clear it with their current ability.

    It would simply waste away until someone else somehow chanced upon the same opportunity and reaped the benefits of it.

    Kieran entertained the thought of telling the chat not to get their hopes up and instead focus on themselves, but he decided against that action. The odds of him being received as a killjoy would be high if he took that course of action.

    Instead, he let the chat live inside their fantasies, where they lived vicariously through Kieran¡¯s actions. Some even exchanged Kieran¡¯s face for their own and dreamt they were of matchless skill.

    Aside from conversing and interacting with the chat, Kieran also noticed a particr message inside his private inbox.

    After closing the stream, Kieran kept his private messages open and read through one of great importance.

    ¡°Hello, Aatrox. This is Khaos, Guild Master of the Overlord Guild, Advent. I¡¯m contacting you to discuss the possibility of enlisting your help because I believe we can clear a recently found dungeon with our joint efforts. Please contact me as soon as possible once you aren¡¯t busy.¡±

    After reading through the message, Kieran rubbed his chin in thought. ¡®An Overlord Guild? Advent¡­ why does that name sound eerily familiar?¡¯

    Kieran pondered the familiarity of Advent before it snapped inside his mind. ¡®Advent! It¡¯s the guild that suffered an internal outbreak of yers leaving and ultimately dissolved. There were rumors that a Behemoth was responsible for its decline, but Khaos never proved it. Although unproven, I don¡¯t doubt the authenticity of Khaos¡¯ usations. Advent possessed even greater potential than Eclipse.¡¯

    Like Ezra, Khaos, the Guild Master of Advent, was a Titled Ranker on the Exemr Records. The only difference was Khaos was ranked approximately 50 ces higher than Ezra, sitting at the precipice of bing a Luminary¡ªa yer who shined brighter than several other Titled Rankers.

    However, bing a Luminary was extremely difficult because Kieran recalled having refined mental abilities was a prerequisite.

    Compared to his old knowledge of the standards, Kieran understood the Exemr Records wasn¡¯t as simple as other yers believed it to be.

    With the presence of X-hancers, Kieran suspected the Exemr Records existed to pinpoint the truly exceptional.

    For what reason? That was where Kieran¡¯s answers stopped.

    Considering the information-gathering abilities of an Overlord Guild, Kieran decided to hear out Khaos. Although he wasn¡¯t a friend, Kieran could initiate a video call because Khaos private messaged him.

    A few seconds, a man with light orange hair and indigo eyes appeared before Kieran. Despite his position thatmanded respect, Khaos possessed soft features that made him seem somewhat meek.

    The first to speak was Khaos. ¡°Greetings, Aatrox. Pardon my rudeness. I didn¡¯t mean to interrupt your sessful stream.¡±

    Kieran was somewhat surprised by Khaos¡¯ respectful demeanor. After all, Kieran didn¡¯t hail from any superpower.

    Yes, he was skilled, and his name was on the rise, but most Guild Masters of a certain degree cultivated a haughty demeanor.

    ¡°No worries. I decided to approach you of my free will, so be at ease. Your offer has caught my eye. I assume you¡¯re in the Xesian Empire?¡±

    ¡°Correct,¡± Khaos admitted. ¡°To be precise, my Advent operates out of several kingdoms¡ªAubrililes, Aeredale, Bellonia, Xezum¡ªto name a few.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Kieran nodded. Intrigue shed in his gaze because he didn¡¯t realize such a strong guild was this close to him.

    While he didn¡¯t know Advent¡¯s origins, he reckoned the reason for their current realm of activity was simr to Eclipse¡¯s migration.

    After a brief pause, Kieran continued. ¡°What kind of dungeon did youe across?¡±

    ¡°I believe it¡¯s a Lv.45 to 50 dungeon based on our findings. It¡¯s located not too far from the Desert of Crumbling Sands.¡±

    Kieran paused after listening to Khaos.

    An imperceptible frown crept upon Kieran¡¯s face as he internally sighed. ¡®Crap¡­ I didn¡¯t expect people to venture there so soon. But, seeing as how he didn¡¯t mention a mine, it¡¯s safe to assume it hasn¡¯t been located. The dungeon and mine are located in two different areas.¡¯

    ¡°Could you be referring to the Mad Alchemist¡¯s Hidden Laboratory?¡± Kieran cautiously inquired.

    ¡°As inspected, you¡¯re well-informed. That¡¯s precisely the dungeon I¡¯m referring to. It¡¯s a 20-man dungeon, but if you¡¯re interested in teaming up with us, I can reserve five spots for you. That¡¯s if you have anyone in mind?¡± Khaos replied.

    Five spots was a generous offer because most guilds would only extend a single slot when enlisting the help of a foreign party.

    ¡°Five spots, is it? And when exactly do you intend to clear it?¡± Kieran asked.

    He¡¯d have to decline the offer if it were too soon.

    It was just a feeling, but something told him it wouldn¡¯t be long before the other Mythical Heroes found their inheritors.

    Wouldn¡¯t that mean his deadline for Isadora¡¯s wasing to a rapid end?

    Khaos noticed the undertone in Kieran¡¯s voice and realized he might be busy over the next few days. ¡°Well, my core members have stopped leveling up for the time being. So we can dy our run by up to ten days.¡±

    ¡°Ten days?¡± Kieran estimated his timeline before nodding. ¡°That¡¯s doable. I¡¯ll dly ept the offer if that¡¯s the case.¡±

    After finalizing parts of their deal, Kieran epted Khaos¡¯ friend request before closing the video call.

 Chapter 217 Ronans Might

    ¡ª

    After ending the video call with Khaos, Kieran caught a glimpse of something horrifying.

    Kieran looked up to bear witness to Ronan indifferently stepping upon the coliseum stage and walking towards its center before the round began.

    ¡°This is the final round of the first stage! It will determine how many of you step into the next stage. That said, let¡¯s dive into thest round! Begin!¡± General Zieg eximed.

    The stands erupted into the loudest cheers heard thus far, as most of them cheered due to Ronan¡¯s presence on the stage. Many onlookers heard rumors of his strength and couldn¡¯t wait to see it in action.

    How strong was the individual cultivated by one of the High Generals?

    Surely his strength existed in an echelon separate from the rest of the contestants. Because of this thought, many viewed Ronan as the individual to im this year¡¯s special prize.

    However, the actual conclusion of this event remained unknown.

    Once General Zieg announced the start of the round, Ronan raised his gigantic cleaver over his head and let it drop as if it were the most natural of acts. The entire tform drastically changed as gravity seemed to increase by the second.

    ¡°Gravitational Suppression: Inexorable Drop!¡±

    BOOM!

    Almost as if gravity gained a tangible form in the shape of arge disk, everyone on the stage was ttened to the ground and knocked unconscious, leaving only Ronan standing amidst a sea of down enemies.

    Even General Zieg blinked in disbelief after watching the round end within 3 seconds of beginning. The result¡ªutter domination. Incredulity was the most prevalent emotion in the room.

    The stands grew pin-drop silent, holding their breath in horror, disbelief, and tremendous shock. It took some time, but the events eventually registered in everyone¡¯s mind as they began chanting Ronan¡¯s name.

    ¡°Ronan!¡±

    ¡°Ronan!¡±

    ¡°Ronan will be the champion!¡±

    At that moment, General Zieg¡¯s voice hitched before filling the stadium with a maic tone.

    ¡°T-¡­ The end of the first stage is upon us! The total number of contestants remaining, as it stands, is 2,144! This means less than half of you will enjoy the luxury of stepping inside the War Deity Council¡¯s grand embrace.¡±

    ¡°We of the council will give an additional 30 minutes of respite for the challengers to recuperate,¡± General Zieg announced.

    Many of the people partaking in this challenge released a sigh of relief. If they were forced to fight earlier due to how quickly the 8th, 9th, and 10th rounds ended, several fighters would only be battling at a fraction of their original might.

    Thirty minutes wasn¡¯t an extremely long period, but it was enough time to regain arge portion of their exhausted energy.

    Meanwhile, Kieran had already returned to full strength due to the effects of the potion Isadora gave him. The potion¡¯s effectssted 12 hours, but slightly less than half of that time had psed.

    During the recuperation time, General Zieg used the opportunity to divulge the rules of the second stage.

    ¡°Although 1,000 nominal members shall be epted as official members of the War Deity Council, there can only be so much contention for the special opportunity. So the next round strives to reduce the numbers as much as possible.¡±

    Unlike the first round, General Zieg disclosed that the second stage didn¡¯t have a time limit. It would continue until he was satisfied with the remaining numbers. Furthermore, there were no additional points for surviving a certain amount of time.

    The main objective shifted from surviving to eliminating your opponent as quickly as possible. Although there was no time limit, there were a few important things to note.

    If eliminated after reaching the top 1,000, the contestant¡¯s ce as an official member would be retained.

    However, this stiption only applied if the number of standing people was equal to or less than 1,000 people during the individual¡¯s elimination. If eliminated before the number of remaining participants dropped under 1,000, the individual faced total elimination.

    In addition to these new rules, General Zieg revealed that the distribution of points would be arranged in a way that sought bnce. In other words, someone with the least amount of points would be paired in the same group as the individual with the most points.

    This trend would appear throughout all of the matchups.

    Another change that took ce was the stadium.

    Several sturdy walls rose, dividing the tform into 100 equal arenas. Due to the tform¡¯s size, each partition could easily amodate 25 or more fighters.

    After listening to the changes in the rules, Kieran nced at Yashua and Azahara.

    ¡°Every group will face mass elimination very quickly, especially those unlucky enough to be with Ronan and the other top contenders.¡±

    ¡°I agree. But that¡¯s just the way it is. Sometimes the fairest separation seems the most unfair. Seeking bnce sometimes unbnces the scales. We merely take what we can get and adapt ordingly,¡± Yashua nonchntly replied.

    ¡°Everyone who has made it this far should understand that nothing is ever truly far. Some must seed, and others are irrelevant. Whether they seed or fail is of no relevance to the top brass,¡± Azahara chimed in.

    Kieran nodded in agreement. He honestly didn¡¯t have an opinion on the matter.

    Whether the matchings were fair or not truly made no difference to him. In the end, fighting against the monstrous contenders was inevitable, especially since his sights were set on the ultimate prize.

    While speaking with Azahara and Yashua, Kieran noticed a difference in Yashua. After returning from his round, he seemed moreposed and confident, which prompted Kieran to revisit his information.

    ¡¸ Lv.50 Yashua Dabura, The Destructive Halberd (Epic NPC)

    ss: Fatal Halberd

    Health: 26,137,000/26,900,000 (99%)

    Affiliations: ?War Deity Council? ?Dabura Family?¡¹

    ¡°!!¡± Kieran¡¯s brows shot up after looking at Yashua¡¯s information.

    He had leveled up!

    An NPC leveling up so quickly was unprecedented, which made Kieran suspect Yashua was on the precipice of leveling up beforehand, or he possessed an abnormal growth rate.

    Growth rates referred to how quickly an NPC could level up or rank up.

    The higher one¡¯s growth potential, the easier it was to rise through the ranks. But learning this sensitive information was difficult because it required a Servant Pact, which few NPCs would agree to perform.

    The easiest way for yers to increase their chances of sessfully entering a pact with an NPC was to increase their favorability. However, there were a few catches.

    Not only did the NPC need to submit to the yer, but their rank also couldn¡¯t surpass the yer¡¯s ss by more than three rankings.

    In other words, a yer with a Normal ss couldn¡¯t sessfully enter a Master-Servant Pact with an Epic NPC.

    ¡®Yashua¡¯s potential could be fairly high, maybe even higher than Azahara. But this is pure spection at this point. I wouldn¡¯t know until I gain more information on him.¡¯

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, inside the Medical Facility¡­

    Nemean practically buried his face into the screen after watching Kieran face off against Ambak, Agna, Vex, and a few other contestants. Many tried to push him aside to obtain a better view, but Nemean¡¯s build in real life was exceptional.

    He screamed out passionately a secondter.

    ¡°D-did you see that? Kieran kicked that fool directly out of the ring! God damn, I wish I was there.¡±

    ¡°No one can see a thing with your fat ass head in the way! Move!¡± Bastion snarled and rammed into Nemean.

    Bang!

    The two red at each and got into a physical scuffle, rolling back and forth inside the training area.

    ¡°Uh, Altair, aren¡¯t you going to say anything?¡± Alice blinked with a slight grimace. This wasn¡¯t the first time the two had broken out into a fight.

    It happened once before after Bastion asked for a quick break and Nemean declined. Bastion hadn¡¯tined throughout the entire training, so he felt his diligence deserved a break.

    However, Nemean felt differently. He felt Bastion should train until he dropped dead!

    ¡°Hahaha! You still hit like a sissy Arthur,¡± Bastion cackled loudly. ¡°I see the army has taught you nothing. You can¡¯t even throw a punch!¡±

    ¡°Nah, there¡¯s just something wrong with you. You¡¯re a bear in a human¡¯s body!¡± Nemean quipped back.

    ¡°I¡¯m a sexy bear,¡± Bastion chortled.

    ¡°More like a gummy bear,¡± Nemean corrected.

    After listening to the two bicker and fight, Altair lightly shook his head with a helpless expression. ¡°I¡¯d rather not. We¡¯vepleted our training for the day and taken our X-hancers, so they¡¯re free to do as they please.¡±

    Paying those two no mind, Altair returned his attention to the screen to witness Bra and Ronan¡¯s fearsome disy of power. ¡°Kieran will have to go up against the likes of them. Do you believe he¡¯ll emerge victorious?¡±

    Alice analyzed the video silently before giving a slight nod. ¡°If it¡¯s Kieran, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll surprise us. Besides, weren¡¯t you curious about what he has been up to these past few days?¡±

    During the past few days, their Friends¡¯ List told them that Kieran rarely logged out. And if he did, it was for no more than a few minutes.

    Being logged in for that long could only mean he was engaging in something intense, perhaps to prepare for this moment!

    ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± Altair nodded.

    Although he hated to admit it, that scene of Ronan annihting everyone in his round left a deep impression on Altair. Still, it wasn¡¯t enough to shake his faith in Kieran.

    ¡®Show the world something amazing. We¡¯ve already vowed to conquer it, so what¡¯s a little attention?¡¯

 Chapter 218 The Second Stage Begins, Prevalent Hostility

    ¡ª

    Thirty minutester¡­

    General Zieg pped his hands, gaining everyone¡¯s attention.

    The start was upon them!

    But before he could begin the round, General Zieg felt it was best he revealed his intentions instead of sidelining the participants halfway through.

    ¡®If it were more seasoned members, I¡¯d introduce unforeseen circumstances. But, seeing as they¡¯re all fledgling members at best, I won¡¯t make it too difficult for them. Still, the numbers are far too great. I must reduce them in any way possible.¡¯

    General Zieg¡¯s calm gaze fell upon the segmented tform below with a proud expression. ¡°For the most part, many of your isted arenas will have twenty-one participants vying for the top spot. But, some will consist of twenty-two participants.¡±

    After a brief pause, General Zieg continued, ¡°Due to the distribution of points, it is likely that the arenas upied with twenty-two members will be the ones with the top contenders. Since none of the top contenders are set to sh, it will be a matter of how much you want this opportunity.¡±

    While speaking, General Zieg subconsciously looked at Bra and Ronan.

    Since the top 100 contenders would be split amongst the small arenas on stage, no one would be present to inhibit their actions. In other words, it was likely everyone unfortunate to enter the same ring as them would face elimination.

    But, seeing as it consisted of the lowest ranked individuals, General Zieg wasn¡¯t particrly disturbed by this fact.

    A few groans andints sounded on the coliseum floor below, but General Zieg ignored them and kept speaking. It was only natural that some of the participants were displeased with this round¡¯s design.

    However, why would the War Deity Council jeopardize their most talented neers for the sake of somewhat irrelevant characters? Considering these neers would be part of the new generation of strength, it wasn¡¯t smart.

    Only the most excellent fighters that have revealed abilities befitting the War Deity Council could enter their foremost ranks. After all, it was an organization that sought supremacy.

    ¡°The fights will continue until exactly one person remains standing in each isted arena. From there, we will move on to the special round¡ªthe bracket round. I ask that everyone please approach the stage and enter the appropriate arena.¡±

    The Lesser War Crests emitted a signal unique to every part of the tform. Depending on the fluctuations, it would guide the participants to their respective locations on the stage.

    A few secondster, after the participants migrated to their proper locations, General Zieg raised his hand with an uncharacteristically excited expression.

    ¡°Fight hard. Fight seriously. But, most importantly, aim to prevail, for this is the defining moment¡ªthe moment your early fates are decided. Begin!¡±

    After the round began, the stands and the stage descended into silence. Everyone understood the stakes of the second round were much heavier than the first round.

    The feeling ofing close but failing toplete thest step could cause devastating pain, enough to crush one¡¯s spirits. The dismay of losing the first round couldn¡¯tpare!

    So, those with even the slightestck of confidence in their strength analyzed the others nearby before acting. They searched for the weakest person to eliminate them without fail.

    If the weakest members in every cordoned-off space were to be instantly eliminated, it would bolster the chances of many other deserving people.

    It was inevitable that these youths would feel some of these people were undeserving of being on the stage and only managed to slip through the cracks and obtain their spot.

    Luck no longer became a factor. No, everyone gained the eyes of predators, seeking to harm and eliminate their opponent.

    This kind of mass hostility created a bizarre situation for Kieran.

    ¡´System: Your Strengthened Soul Trait ?Vengeful Soul? has located several hostile presences with intentions to harm. A massive number of ?Hunt? stacks have been acquired.¡µ

    ¡´System: The conditions to enter ?Predator Hunt? have been met.¡µ

    ¡®The strengthening of my Vengeful Soul truly changed a few things about the trait.¡¯

    ¡¸ Trait Name: Vengeful Soul

    Trait Type: Soul Trait

    Trait Rank: Strengthened

    Strengthened Completion: 10.01% ¡ú 25.01%

    Description: A unique trait born from an unpolished Awakened Soul. A wed trait that grants the user extraordinary abilities. The stronger your Soul bes, the greater the vengeance it manifests.

    ?Retaliatory Sense? -¡­

    *New¡­ ?w: Innate Vengeance? ¨C This w makes the user more susceptible to rage and vengeance, increasing the user¡¯s awareness of internal turmoil and the likelihood of sumbing to powers centered around destructive emotions. (Limited to internal struggles. This w mitigates external effects.)

    *New¡­ ?Revenge Predator? ¨C A uniquebat system essible only to the one possessing a Vengeful Soul. Hostile foes within the user¡¯s sensing range grant a stack of ?Hunt?. [Maximum Stacks: 100 stacks]

    *New¡­ ?Hunt? ¨C When consumed, it increases the user¡¯s damage by marking the enemy as ?Prey?. (Current Increase: 25%)

    ?Predator Hunt? ¨C By consuming 50 ?Hunt? stacks, the user may enter the ?Predatory Form?. (Base Duration: 100 seconds.) During this form, the following effects apply to the user while within the presence of ?Prey?:

    ¨C Increased chance ofnding Critical Hits.

    ¨C Killing ?Prey? returns 1 ?Hunt? stack.

    ¨C Increases Attack and Movement Speed by an additional 200%.

    ¨C Consuming 1 ?Hunt? stack increases ?Predatory Form?¡¯s remaining duration by 1 second.

    *New¡­ ?Manifestation: Macabre Animosity? ¨C To unleash this ability, the user must be in ?Predatory Form? or must have recently activated ?Predator Hunt?. The user exudes a ghastly presence that feeds upon their current rage. Those affected by the skill will be inflicted with ?Macabre Delerium?, which deteriorates the enemy¡¯s mind and tests their willpower.

    ¡­

    Note: While Strengthened, your Soul Trait still possesses ample room for growth. Only the surface of your Soul has been unearthed. ¡¹

    After the primary Strengthening, Kieran¡¯s w had evolved from Vengeful to Innate Vengeance, which now acted as a double-sided sword. While the w mitigated attempts to rile his emotions externally, rage induced by Kieran¡¯s thoughts and feelings wasn¡¯t.

    In fact, due to Kieran¡¯s awareness of such emotions, it wasn¡¯t incorrect to say the w had be more dangerous. Plunging into a sea of burning fury while aware of his action could turn Kieran¡¯s abilities into an incredibly devastating force.

    Furthermore, Kieran¡¯s new ability grew deadlier the longer he kept his wrath inside since it fed off the emotions Kieran felt at the moment of its activation.

    Kieran could already see some insane usages of this ability when assisted with Blood Mania.

    After digesting the changes to his Soul Trait, Kieran focused on Predator Hunt.

    Although all the hostility wasn¡¯t aimed at Kieran directly, he inadvertently suffered or rather benefited from the prevalent animosity on the stage.

    If he willed it, he could enter Predator Hunt and start his onught amongst the limited number of participants.

    Because Kieran¡¯s original points sat more towards the middle of the rankings, his area was filled with those of average strength. After the mass elimination, being a Lv.47 Epic NPC had be the standard.

    Considering he emerged victorious against Vex, who was slightly stronger than this average, he felt his chances were considerably high.

    ¡´System: You have entered ?Predatory Hunt?! All the effects of the ?Predatory Form? are now active.¡µ

    ¡­

    In the stand above the ring, Ezrath¡¯s brows knitted tightly while looking at the change in Scar¡¯s inheritor.

    Ezrath found it strange because he couldn¡¯t sense any blood power emanating from Kieran¡¯s presence. Yet, he could feel his aura bing increasingly savage, like a beast of legends unleashed upon frightened little children.

    Subconsciously, he looked toward Scar. ¡°What else had you taught this boy?¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, that is not my doing.¡±

    Scar declined all responsibility for this power because it wasn¡¯t his to im.

    After a brief talk with Agrianos, Scar learned that Kieran possessed an exceedingly rare soul, one steeped in fury and vengeance, as if created to carry out the bidding of their power.

    While Agrianos didn¡¯t know the effects of such a soul, he understood it was the perfect vessel for the Seed of Vengeance, which is why he bestowed it upon Kieran.

    Since it was rotting away in his possession, inactive for several millennia, Agrianos felt it was better if it found a home with Kieran, who could possibly draw benefits from its presence.

    ¡®I didn¡¯t ept Lord Agrianos¡¯ words at face value because an Awakened Soul is something that should take years to unearth. But, it appears I was a fool. Wise beyond his years, Agrianos knows what his eyes had uncovered,¡¯ Scar thought.

    Scar felt he had much to learn to bepared to his master. Agrianos could instinctually sense Kieran¡¯s Soul, yet he could not.

    After training for centuries, Scar thought he was approaching his master¡¯s powers, but that assumption was far from the truth.

    After all, he had never once witnessed Agrianos unleashing his full power. By the time he was born, Agrianos had already adopted the life of a powerful yet recluse vagabond whose only activity was asionally warding off the threats with the Chasm of Apogeton.

    ¡°If not your doing, then whose? Why does this power feel like some innate ability? Are you sure that boy is a normal human?¡± Ezrath questioned dubiously.

    How could he have known that an Enlightened Being approached Kieran and prematurely awakened his Soul to assist him on his journey?

    Far ahead of its time, the effects were something no regr Tier 1 could contend against.

    Eventually, Scar turned toward Ezrath with a sardonic smirk. ¡°Ezrath, my dearrade, you seem awfully curious about my twerp. Instead, I have a question¡ªare you interested in making a little bet?¡±

    ¡­

    A/N: I want to thank everyone who continues to support me, allowing me to turn writing into a full-time job! <3. Please continue to help me by donating Golden Tickets to support this novel¡¯s ranking. I promise it will continue to get better! September will be an excellent month, I can feel it.

 Chapter 219 A Friendly Wager Between Commanders

    ¡ª

    Ezrath felt Scar¡¯s smirk was very unusual but couldn¡¯t help considering the allure of Scar¡¯s potential possessions. As a Commander of the War Deity Council and a Mythical Hero, Scarmanded an rming amount of wealth.

    The worth of his manor inside the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary surpassed the entire Aeredale Kingdom. The formations inscribed on the premises were quite costly to make.

    All of the manors inside the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary were reinforced by the formations of a Famed Arrayist, which required an immensemission price.

    ¡°You can¡¯t just wave an offer in my face like that and not expect me to bite. What are we talking about here?¡± Ezrath inquired. His personal wealth wasn¡¯t small either since he had recently signed a contract with one of the Empires to be their Protector.

    As long as their loyalty resided with the War Deity Council, members were free to seek paths to riches, provided it didn¡¯t interfere with their duties inside the council.

    ¡°I¡¯m d my proposal has caught your attention. However, I won¡¯t be too unfair since you are of a lesser financial breadth.¡±

    ¡°You jest!¡± Ezrath appallingly interjected. ¡°Me? Of lesser financial breadth? Have you lost your head? State your terms!¡±

    Scar grinned to himself as Ezrath remained the same fool he had always been. Incite him just a little, and the floodgates of outrage would open. Despite the High Commanders and General attempting to guide Ezrath, he possessed a ring w.

    Ezrath¡¯s temper interfered with his progress.

    Caecus turned toward Scar and Ezrath after finding some interest in their interaction. ¡°Just like old times, is it? Even during your younger days, you two managed to be at each other¡¯s throats without fail.¡±

    Scar grinned because Caecus wasn¡¯t wrong. ¡°What can I say? There¡¯s no one quite like Ezrath. Hispany isn¡¯t bad.¡±

    ¡°Indeed. You are not wrong. Ezrath does have his redeeming qualities,¡± Caecus agreed.

    ¡°Are you two sweet-talking me? I¡¯ll have you know I have no interest in men. What are the terms?!¡± Ezrath impatiently shouted.

    Ezrath¡¯s patience for Scar was nonexistent due to their past history, which involved the reason for Scar¡¯s title as a Mythical Hero. He had always felt that if not for Scar¡¯s rtion to a gargantuan yet shadowy figure, another person would hold the title of the Seventh Mythical Hero.

    After all, the Mythical Hero moniker originated from the fact they entered a ce of myth and sessfully quelled the danger, a ce that was due to erupt once more.

    During that time, there were several Warriors of simr strength, but Scar somehow snagged the opportunity before the others could voice their desire for the role.

    That old event was one of the reasons Scar¡¯s reputation amongst the Legendary Warriors wasn¡¯t that great. Many had proven their worth to enter that ce of untold opportunity, yet it was imed by a neer with a somewhat unmastered power.

    Although he was already a Blood Fiend during the excursion, Scar¡¯s power didn¡¯t reach its current state.

    Ezrath continued to grumble and scoff until Scar rified the deal¡¯s terms.

    ¡°Ezrath, your grandchild is in the same group as my twerp. Is he not?¡±

    Ezrath nced not too far from Kieran¡¯s position and found his grandchild at the edge of the stage. ¡°It is as you say. Young Zerim is in the same arena as your inheritor. What are you trying to say?¡±

    Scar smiled cryptically while Caecus released a slight chuckle. ¡°Come on now, Ezrath. Connect the dots. After all these years, you still haven¡¯t corrected that fault? The Lords will never grant you a higher authority without the ability to discern.¡±

    Ezrath scowled but couldn¡¯t refute Scar¡¯sment. Insight was indeed his weakness.

    Despite being an Awakened Being, his wits were on the level of an Advanced Being at their peak. He was the type to foolishly rush into battle and get everyone under hismand killed, captured, or tortured.

    The War Deity Council couldn¡¯t entrust such a reckless person with substantial authority. War was a horrific situation that brutally punished recklessness. Hence, the Lords of the War Deity Council repeatedly denied Ezrath¡¯s promotion requests.

    ¡°Brawn shouldn¡¯t be your only focus. If you want to break the shackles of an Awakened Being, you must look inside yourself and purge your shorings. Once you do that, the first step to Enlightenment will surface. Otherwise, your road to power and authority will end as an Awakened Being and a Commander,¡± Caecus stated.

    Even though he was an Awakened Being as well, Caecus had already found the source he would build upon. It would be the foundation of his evolution. Unfortunately, depending on one¡¯s source, the process could take what seemed like an eternity.

    ¡°Bah! I¡¯ve heard this all before from High General Igris,¡± Ezrath protested with a disgruntled look in his eyes. Scar and Caecus touched upon a sore spot with their words.

    However, neither of them did so maliciously.

    Ezrath¡¯s misinterpretation and inability to internalize good advice led to his twisted perception of their words.

    Scar disappointedly sighed and waved his hand. ¡°In the end, desiring more power is a personal dilemma. We can advise you, but we can¡¯t make you do anything. Nevertheless, let¡¯s discuss the terms of the bet.¡±

    Scar crossed his arms and pondered what he was willing to part ways with if he lost this gamble. Despite the risks, Scar enjoyed gambling too much not to partake in it.

    ¡°Since they are in the same group, the terms of our bet will be simple. My inheritor, Aatrox, against your grandson, Zerim¡ªwho will emerge the victor in their arena?¡±

    ¡°Why their arena? Why is the question not, who will qualify as official members?¡± Ezrath interrogated with a skeptical expression.

    Due to the average power level of their particr stage, Ezrath felt Zerim had an excellent chance of emerging victorious.

    However, he couldn¡¯t ignore the possibility of a dark horse in thispetition. Almost as if it was some sort of ritual, the presence of an underdog that defied all expectations and imed their spot despite the masses doubting them never failed.

    Could Kieran be such a person for this year¡¯spetition? Ezrath couldn¡¯t say.

    On the other hand, Scar grinned confidently. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in such a trivial bet. I don¡¯t doubt their ability to qualify because those top contenders will ughter theirpetition. That leaves the few arenas filled with individuals of simr strength to descend into fiercepetition.¡±

    Scar nced at the tform to see if Kieran had begun to fight. When he confirmed he didn¡¯t, Scar returned his gaze to Ezrath. ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯ll be betting on the victor. What¡¯s wrong? Are you scared, scaredy cat?¡±

    ¡°Hahaha! I just hope you don¡¯t get cold feet when I win! I¡¯ll wager that my Young Zerim will emerge victorious in his arena. I¡¯ll wager a Tier V Gem of your choosing for this bet.¡±

    A Tier V Gem for a simple bet?!

    Although yers could not utilize such an item at this point, a Tier V Gem was invaluable. If yers found out it was core material in making items with incredibly high Item Levels, they would go nuts!

    With his pride as a Mythical Hero, how could Scar let Ezrath put up such a valuable item and not reciprocate? ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll offer 2 kilograms of Purified Nihilitite Ore. Furthermore, it has been purified by a Great Dwarven cksmith.¡±

    Caecus inhaled sharply and grimaced. ¡°You two truly know how to make a simple bet high stakes, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Despite Caecus¡¯ interest in the bet, his miserly ways prevailed. There was too much uncertainty attached for him to risk valuable items.

    After all, gathering the items required to forge high-level items required time.

    If Caecus misjudged thepetition, he could suffer a substantial setback.

    ¡°At our level, is anything less than this even worth it?¡± Scar chuckled. ¡°However, you¡¯ll serve as an eye witness to this bet. So when Ezrath loses, he¡¯ll be unable to renege on his wager.¡±

    ¡°Understood. That is fair,¡± Caecus agreed.

    But Ezrath¡¯s expression grew ugly. Did they have no faith in him and thought so little of his trustworthiness?!

    ¡°Don¡¯t use that smug tone with me. You act as if you¡¯ve already won,¡± Ezrath scoffed.

    Now that the bet was finalized, Scar ignored Ezrath and focused his attention on the stage below.

    Caecus did the same, but his thoughts differed from Scar, who merely wanted to see the effects of Kieran¡¯s Soul Trait in action.

    ¡®Scar¡¯s boy releases some truly unusual fluctuations, but his overall power is lowpared to the rest. However, he¡¯s capable of absurd bursts of power like his predecessor. But I also can¡¯t neglect Ezrath¡¯s grandson. He has been trained well. It will be an exciting matchup.¡¯

    ¡®I wonder what the near future holds,¡¯ Caecus thought to himself.

    ¡­

    After Kieran entered his Predatory Form, where his arms swelled up and his visage adopted a beast-like appearance, many participants in his area frowned.

    ¡®This guy hasn¡¯t emitted any Mana, so what the hell is that technique of his? What else can power a technique like this?¡¯

    Seconds after he entered his Predatory Form, Kieran activated Blood Mania, which only deepened the contestants¡¯ wariness of him.

    ¡°I fear we must eliminate him¡ªhe is a tremendous threat. I am sensitive to threats, and my senses are going haywire,¡± a young man said.

    The young man with deep yellow hair was named Senar. They were of an average build and dressed in red and grey armor. A longnce rested against the rear of their right arm with the de pointed toward the tform.

    ¡¸Lv.48 Senar (Epic NPC)

    ss: Fulgurous Lancer

    Health: 19,600,000/19,600,000 (100%)

    Affiliation: ?War Deity Council?¡¹

    Although they were an Lv.48 Epic NPC, they possessed no title.

    Faint crackles of cerulean lightning snaked around Senar¡¯snce as he noticed Kieran¡¯s gaze had fallen upon him.

 Chapter 220 Mass Elimination, The Bets Realization

    ¡ª

    ¡®Lightning?¡¯ Kieran thought to himself.

    This was the first time he had gone against someone bearing lightning abilities since his rebirth. Many hailed lightning as a superior element due to its extreme speed and ability to immobilize if wielded in a sufficiently high concentration.

    In some cases, it could even be highly destructive, but Kieran understood that the lightning before him wasn¡¯t capable of the feat.

    The lightning¡¯s color was a symbol of its strength. Blue lightning was considered the starting stage of the Lightning Element, so at most, Senar could only enhance his speed and wield the element directly.

    Although Kieran felt some contempt toward this low affinity, he couldn¡¯t overlook that Senar was a genuine Epic NPC. His low elemental affinity didn¡¯t detract from his physical abilities.

    Nevertheless, Kieran raised Crimson Ashrune and pointed at Senar in silence. Only after the atmosphere grew palpably tense did he speak. ¡°Are you fast? As someone of the Lightning Element, speed should be your pride, correct?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not one to brag, but speed is indeed my bread and butter,¡± Senar remarked, acknowledging Kieran¡¯s point.

    An amused smile crept upon Kieran¡¯s lips as he chuckled softly. ¡°Then, watch as I surpass you without using any element.¡±

    Whoosh!

    ¡°!!¡± Senar¡¯s eyes widened in shock.

    After Kieran finished speaking, he executed a simple Surge Step that, with the help of Berserker¡¯s Burden, Tormented Beliefs, and Predatory Form, achieved an absurd level of propulsion.

    A sonic boom urred a second after Kieran moved, but his de was already en route to impaling Senar¡¯s throat at that time!

    ng!

    Senar reacted to the attack at thest moment once he caught a glimpse of Kieran¡¯s action. His counterattack was sessful, but when he went to spin hisnce and use it for a fluid sh, Senar noticed Kieran¡¯s disappearance.

    ¡°Behind you!¡± Another participant screamed out. But the warning came tooter as Senar felt a heavy pressure bombard his back.

    Bang! Bang! Bang!

    Senar¡¯s armored body bounced against the ground and came to a sliding halt as he gripped hisnce. A deep frown surfaced on his face as he looked into Kieran¡¯s savage eyes.

    ¡®What are those movements? I can barely read them. He was right before me but suddenly disappeared before I couldunch a counterattack. This speed is simply underhead of,¡¯ Senar thought, taken aback by the situation.

    ¡°I don¡¯t make baseless ims. If I say something, I will do everything in my power to make it a reality¡ªthat begins with eliminating you,¡± Kieran remarked callously.

    Kieran felt that Senar didn¡¯t fit inside the War Deity Council. If he were sessful in joining, he would inevitably face ridicule, or his journey within the council would be short, probably failing to be a Captain.

    As an Epic NPC without a title, Senar was at a disadvantage. Not to mention, hecked the presence of a Lightning User. Lightning Users weren¡¯t just famed for their speed; their lightning was felt throughout their realm of activity.

    Senar¡¯s current grasp of the element was sockluster that Kieran couldn¡¯t sense a threat even when on the receiving end of an ability.

    ¡°You should step down and save yourself the embarrassment,¡± Kieran suggested. It would save him time and Stamina by not having to deal with Senar.

    Senar¡¯s expression darkened after listening to Kieran¡¯sment. What right did he have toment on whether or not he should remain in thepetition?

    He had trained for this moment!

    ¡°You¡¯re in no position to dictate my actions,¡± Senar indignantly retorted. The blue wisps of lightning thickened around hisnce as subtle crackles discharged from his eyes.

    ¡®Hm¡­ the rage of a Lightning User is as the rumors say. It can charge their element. But¡­¡¯

    Kieran drew back Crimson Ashrune and lowered his stance to prepare for an advancing step.

    Senar somewhat mimicked Kieran¡¯s actions, drawing back hisnce. The sparse wisps of lightning converged at hisnce¡¯s de and grew chaotic.

    ¡°Lightning Agitation: sh Pierce!¡± Senar roared and thrust hisnce forward despite the distance. The dazzling lightning flowed through hisnce and discharged from the tip with astonishing momentum.

    Many nearby participants felt the speed of Seran¡¯s piercing thrust wasmendable, but Kieran thought otherwise. After he focused and utilized the effects of his Focus Attribute, the lightning slowed down, as did many things.

    ¡®Slow,¡¯ Kieran inwardly thought.

    Before the attack could reach him, Kieran sidestepped andpounded the action with an el Shift.

    The sh Pierce hit nothing but air, leaving Senar appalled. Such a big strike had missed!

    Unleashing this attack left him vulnerable for a fraction of a second since his body had difficulty adjusting to the rapid umtion of lightning.

    During that small window, Kieran unleashed a Crimson Barrage augmented by Fervor Augmentation. The six blood des gave off the impression of several bloodthirsty beasts intending to devour their target.

    ¡´System: NPC Senar has been inflicted with ?Fear?!¡µ

    The ruby color of the iing Crimson Barrage expanded within Senar¡¯s eyes, but before they made contact, the blood des veered off their initial path, attacking several unprepared contestants.

    While Senar was frozen in fear due to being marked as prey and being easily overwhelmed by Kieran¡¯s attacks, Kieran appeared before him in a sh andnded an excruciating blow.

    ¡°Wild Crash!¡±

    Keuk!

    Senar gasped as Kieran¡¯s attack carried with it a force of great magnitude. The chest piece of Senar¡¯s armor dented in from the attack as he was blown back near the tform¡¯s edge.

    Since his Mana was finite, Kieran resorted to using Blood Strengthening and Fervor Augmentation to enhance his weaker skills to the point they rivaled skills like Seethe Burst.

    Kieran recalled Scar¡¯s usage of a strange technique and looked at his free hand. He rushed up to Senar before cing all of his focus on his right palm. Tendrils of blood seeped from the Mark of the Maddened until it formed a thin disk.

    ¡®This is how he did it, right?¡¯ Kieran thought.

    In the next moment, he ced his palm against Senar¡¯s dented chest piece. Once he performed this action, Senar vomited blood as he was sent flying out of the ring like shrapnel from an exploding grenade.

    When the dust cleared, it revealed an unconscious Senar with a hole blown through his armor.

    Kieran stared at his hand in incredulity. He didn¡¯t expect manual maniption of his vitality to be so frightening.

    However, Kieran was disappointed when his action didn¡¯t yield any special notification. ¡®Not even a skill? I suppose my utilization isn¡¯t the best. Perhaps creating new skills will be possible once I master wielding my skills manually.¡¯

    There was still a long road ahead in that department.

    All of a sudden, Kieran sensed a hostile presence directly behind him. Without turning around, Kieran pushed off his left leg and dodged to the right.

    Surprisingly, the culprit of this surprise attack wasn¡¯t one individual. It was four contestants working together to eliminate Kieran after witnessing his strength. Their raised hopes were deted after learning their arena wasn¡¯t as average as they believed it to be.

    However, two of the culprits were unfortunatelyunched out of the ring by individuals that sensed an opportunity.

    ¡®This is the entropic nature of such apetition. It will all plunge into chaos once the threat of failure looms too heavily.¡¯

    Kieran glimpsed his maxed-out Hunt stacks and used all of them to increase the remaining duration of his Predatory Form to 180 seconds.

    Due to the rapidly declining number of participants on the coliseum stage, Kieran felt he should take advantage of the hostile environment as long as he could exploit it.

    Despite using all his Hunt stacks, the counter rose rapidly, reaching 100 a few momentster.

    Kieran repeated the same action, increasing the remaining duration by 100. ¡®As long as I have this form active, I do not need to waste my power skills. Speed is an advantage that many struggle to prevail against.¡¯

    Coupled with the fact the Savage Beast Lord Set made Kieran¡¯s attacks extremely heavy, Kieran became a force to be reckoned with.

    ¡°Crimson Current!¡±

    The wide range of this skill forced everyone into action.

    Since he was being targeted, no one would rest in his presence. When it came to a battle of attrition, no one in his current arenapared to Kieran, not with his perverse advantage.

    Even when spamming Surge Step to move about the stage, his Stamina recovered a few secondster. Thanks to the Breath of Life¡¯s effects, he regained more than 400 Stamina per second.

    If not for the residual effects of Abhorrent Paroxysm, Kieran¡¯s recovery rate would have shot up to over 730 Stamina per second.

    Less than two minutester, the people on Kieran¡¯s stage were forced to eliminate their fellow participants to reduce the mayhem. They couldn¡¯t focus on Kieran zipping around the arena and the threat of the others attacking while their focus was preupied.

    Kieran assisted in eliminating many people by entrapping them with Blood Bind. Depending on how heunched the skill, Kieran controlled it to interfere with one or many of the participants.

    By the end of his malevolence, only three remained in their ring. But, the overall number of people on the tform had dropped below 1,000.

    ¡°I admit defeat,¡± the third person indifferently said. His only desire was to be an official member. The unique opportunity didn¡¯t interest him.

    All that remained was Kieran and Zerim in a silent standoff. The topic of Scar and Ezrath¡¯s bet was about to sh!

 Chapter 221 Zerim Ignis

    ¡ª

    Due to the third contestant backing out, the atmosphere in Kieran¡¯s portion of the tform grew incredibly tense.

    After exhausting all of the Hunt stacks numerous times, he could no longer acquire them from his surroundings.

    However, Kieran found sce in the remaining duration increasing to over 600 seconds. That meant he had 10 minutes remaining on his Predatory Form.

    Considering his opponent¡¯s strength, he needed every advantage he could im if he didn¡¯t wish to waste skills like Dread Culling and Deranged Spirit.

    Zerim stood before Kieran, wearing a set of armor the color of mes. The sleek design offered the best mobility armor could provide, and the color wasn¡¯t too obnoxious, instead giving insight into Zerim¡¯s presence.

    The colorwayplemented Zerim¡¯s features well.

    His scarlet eyes shone with subtle confidence as his gray hair swayed across his face. His fingers danced across the handle of his silver broadsword. The blunt design specialized in destructive force rather than slicing like normal longswords or greatswords.

    ¡¸Lv.50 Zerim Ignis, The Torrential me (Epic NPC)

    ss: me Razer

    Health: 28,900,000/28,900,000 (100%)

    Affiliation: ?War Deity Council? ¡¹

    ¡®Level 50,¡¯ Kieran thought to himself. His grip on Crimson Ashrune subconsciously tightened due to Zerim¡¯s level. Lv.50 indicated a special state for denizen Intermediate Beings; it was the intemediary threshold.

    Unlike yers, an NPCs level wouldn¡¯t change without firstpleting their advancement.

    In this regard, Kieran was more simr to an NPC and not a yer, thanks to his Zero Loss of Potential trait. It acted as a toggle switch to switch his leveling experience from that of a yer to that of an NPC.

    It had its drawbacks, but it also possessed immense benefits.

    Although he could no longer obtain Unassigned Attribute Points or Skill Points due to his frozen level, it gave him timeplete tasks that most yers would otherwise forget if their level surpassed the permitted range.

    With a frozen level, Kieran¡¯s Experience would be stored in a pool forter ess while he continued with his normal activities. And despite the temporary loss of UAP and SP, all hopes weren¡¯t lost for Kieran.

    He was well aware of a few extraordinary sources. For example, one could obtain the First Clears of more Dungeons or obtain the Firstblood of superior bosses. His path to additional points without leveling up wasn¡¯t sealed as long as he could fulfill the criteria.

    After falling silent for a few seconds, Zerim was the first to speak. ¡°You¡¯re the inheritor of Commander Scar¡¯s power, right?¡±

    ¡°I am,¡± Kieran nodded.

    Zerim¡¯s expression remained unchanged while subtly nodding. ¡°I will admit, I can¡¯t disregard you¡ªyou¡¯re strong. Despite your low level, which tells me you have yet to reach the pinnacle of our stage, you have continued to shock many people¡ªmyself included.¡±

    ¡°I appreciate the praise,¡± Kieran calmly remarked.

    He could sense confidence but, most of all, pragmatism from Zerim. Scar had alerted Kieran of a few people beforehand, and Zerim was one of them. While he was unfamiliar with Zerim¡¯s character, Scar stressed that his strength should be irregr for his level.

    Why? Because the Ignis Family possessed a background simr to Scar¡¯s, their power came from a source. It was incredibly diluted, but it was an authentic draconic bloodline.

    Even though it thinned over the generations, even the slightest bit of dragon blood, particrly a me Dragon, was enough to increase an individual¡¯s affinity with the Fire Element by leaps and bounds.

    However, the Ignis Family¡¯s bloodline didn¡¯t just increase their me affinity; it tampered with their tempers as a side effect. But from what Kieran witnessed, this side effect was lost upon Zerim.

    Contrary to Scar¡¯s warning, Zerim exhibited some of the highest control over his emotion he¡¯d ever seen. Perhaps in Zerim¡¯s case, he was affected by the inverse effect.

    Many bloodlines carried side effects but also an infrequent inverse effect that would awaken sparsely throughout the generations.

    Zerim¡¯s control was the source of Ezrath¡¯s confidence. Zerim aplished what he never could, subjugating the innate mes of being a quasi-Dragonborne. With his potential, Ezrath estimated Zerim would at least be a future General within the War Deity Council.

    ¡°I will not dissuade you from fighting me. But, I want to warn you that I won¡¯t be holding back. Should you suffer damage, it is not my fault. I have forewarned you,¡± Zerim said.

    After speaking, the austere broadsword in his hand became engulfed in mes. Once the mes dissipated, the broadsword adopted a red sheen with several scales across the de.

    The handle changed to match the horns of an infant dragon, one that bestowed a presence of superiority. A ribbon of mes danced around Zerim as he immediately prepared for battle.

    ¡°In a battle, the one who is dissuaded is one of broken confidence. The moment you lose your confidence is the moment you lose the battle,¡± Kieran said.

    Like Zerim, a ribbon of blood swirled around Kieran¡¯s body as he slowly lifted Crimson Ashrune

    ¡°I agree with your views,¡± Zerim said with a slight smile.

    Whoosh! Whoosh!

    Bang!

    Their swords met in the middle of their isted stage. The exchange happened swiftly, but neither side retreated.

    ¡°Sanguine shes!¡±

    ng! ng! ng!

    Kieran and Zerim exchanged attacks at a frightening pace. Despite the size of theirrge weapons, they were wielded as if they were simple longswords.

    A destructive strength flowed through Kieran¡¯s arm as he noticed something unusual about Zerim¡¯s striking pattern. During every swing, a subtlebustion elerated the movement, thereby greatly increasing the force of his swing.

    ¡®A skillful application of his Fire Element to increase the destructiveness of a simple sword swing. I¡¯m beginning to understand the reason for his ss. As for his title¡­.¡¯

    Kieran analyzed the ribbon of thickening mes that swirled around Zerim¡¯s body. The gradual increase of his mes made Kieran assume arge strike was bound to ur.

    ¡°mes of Subjugation: Descending Raze,¡± Zerim said calmly.

    The angle of his sword attack shifted, creating the image of a ming beast. The beast¡¯s presence wasn¡¯t the focus of this technique; the true focus was the ws of the beasts¡ªsharpened and giant, made to resemble the weapon in Zerim¡¯s grasp.

    ¡°Ordinance of Protection!¡±

    Kieran activated the Item Ability attached to the Shaman¡¯s Bracelet of Ordinance. It only sufficed for one attack, but Kieran rushed through the aftermath of the mes with the ability¡¯s protection.

    ¡®A truly difficult opponent. I¡¯ve yet to ce a single Bleed stack upon him despite the disparity in our speed,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Due to the passives in y, Kieran¡¯s Attack and Movement Speed surpassed Zerim. However, his adept usage of his Fire Element filled the gaps in their speed. If used properly, any element could produce unquestionable superiority.

    Although it wasuded for its capacity to destroy, the Fire Element could be utilized in various ways. Zerim¡¯s method of applying the Fire Element was merely one of many.

    During times like these, Kieran disliked hisck of an Element. Even if it didn¡¯t make a significant difference damage-wise, the auxiliary properties were too great to ignore.

    ¡®Unfortunately, outside paths that intersect with Mages, naturally acquiring an element is extremely difficult. If I meet with Agrianos soon, I should ask him how he aplished such a thing,¡¯ Kieran thought to himself.

    A secondter, he stepped to the side and Zerim¡¯s attack.

    ¡°I can see your mind traveling elsewhere during the battle. That is a sore mistake.¡±

    Kieran¡¯s eyebrow arched as he felt this situation wasughable. ¡®Oh? I¡¯m being schooled in the ways ofbat?¡¯

    The light in Kieran¡¯s eyes changed, bing deeply focused. The sudden switch of demeanor surprised Zerim, but it was nothing abnormal in his eyes. Zerim had fought against several people of extremebat ability.

    As long as he kept his cool, Zerim felt he could overwhelm Kieran. He had noted Kieran¡¯s Mana usage, or rather theck thereof. He perceived this as a direct sign that his Mana capacity was sub-par.

    ¡®I¡¯m sure Commander Scar has taught him destructive techniques. But, the fact he hasn¡¯t revealed them means his sights are set on the future. Unfortunately, I will make you reveal them. We should all know the extents of our strength before attempting the impossible.¡¯

    ¡°I can tell you desire to go far. But that is impossible without the prerequisite strength. We must suffer through grueling circumstances to even consider the notion of standing above all,¡± Zerim said.

    Kieran¡¯s eyes narrowed as he sensed a hidden meaning in Zerim¡¯s words. ¡®Is he saying I can¡¯t emerge victorious?¡¯

    As someone who defied odds once before, Kieran felt Zerim¡¯s opinion was incorrect. In Kieran¡¯s eyes, while strong, Zerim wasn¡¯t an obstacle that could stop his inevitable uprising.

    ¡°me Practice: Razing Torrent,¡± Zerim called out.

    Zerim drew back his sword with his arms crossed. After drawing his weapon back far enough, the de ground against his armor, creating a spark that grew into an outrageous me.

    A secondter, Zerim released the attack with a thrust of his broadsword.

    The torrent of mes engulfed more than half of the stage, robbing Kieran¡¯s ability to evade the attack. If he wanted to deal with it, he would have to use a skill of simr power.

    Based on the me¡¯s intensity, this attack rivaled an A Rank Skill or an exceptional B Rank Skill at the very least.

    ¡®Trying to leave no way out for me? Unfortunately for you¡­.¡¯

    Kieran lifted his palm as his body exuded an imperious aura. ¡°I am known to make a way even when the odds seem impossible.¡±

    Bang!

 Chapter 222 A Battle of Two Destroyers

    ¡ª

    Kieran held his hand in line with Zerim¡¯s iing attack and gathered the required energy to unleash a Blood Pulse.

    After gauging Zerim¡¯s attack, Kieran understood what skill would prove effective and ineffective against the strong me attack.

    Blood Pulse, while notuded for its damage, possessed a convenient ability¡ªthe ability to deflect and disorient the intended target.

    Granted, the extent of the disorientation varied depending on the target¡¯s mental fortitude.

    However, Kieran wasn¡¯t interested in disorienting Zerim. He wanted to disorient the iing attack. The principles of Blood Pulse extended beyond only affecting humanoid targets.

    As a power birthed from a chaotic ce, it was an effectual deterrent against ranged attacks.

    Woom!

    The discolored blood sphere preceding Blood Pulse¡¯s activation released a growing ring that moved toward the iing Razing Torrent.

    As the two attacks shed, violent Mana fluctuations whipped across the stage, but Kieran and Zerim stood unperturbed, watching as their two attacks canceled each other out.

    ¡°Don¡¯t let false hope cloud your mind; this is only the beginning. Our fight will continue and end with my victory. If you continue to hold back, you will only suffer a defeat without understanding how it happened,¡± Zerim remarked indifferently.

    A secondter, Zerim exhaled and closed his eyes with an expression of bliss. The air surrounding his body increased in temperature until many heat waves manifested.

    The ground beneath Zerim¡¯s feet began turning a different color as if Zerim¡¯s mes were superheating it.

    Once this happened, Zerim opened his eyes, which were filled with raging mes.

    ¡°Mana Manifestation: Ignis Dragoon,¡± Zermin spoke.

    A draconic figure, seeming to be a cross between a dragon and a mutant creature, appeared behind Zerim with an immense wingspan. After emerging, the Ignis Dragoon let out an ear-piercing shriek.

    However, Zerim¡¯s actions didn¡¯t stop there.

    ¡°Source Assimtion: Ignis¡¯ Inferno!¡±

    The Ignis Dragoon merged with Zerim¡¯s body and birthed a pair of fiery wings with a reptilian texture. Once the wings appeared, Zerim¡¯s hands and neck experienced a change, gaining scales matching his broadsword.

    Kieran¡¯s eyes narrowed after witnessing the change in Zerim. Unlike Dusvim, who merely equipped his Mana Manifestation in the shape of armor and gained increased Defense, Zerim performed aplete Assimtion with the Source his Mana Manifestation was based on.

    Achieving this feat required deep knowledge of one¡¯s Source and an innate affinity. Otherwise, the assimtion would result in failure, or it would be iplete.

    Based on Zerim¡¯s current appearance, it was clear his assimtion with his Source reached a high level. While the grading of his Source was unknown, even if it was low, aplishing this feat at such a young age was a testament to his talent.

    ¡­

    Above in the stands¡­

    Ezrath revealed an incredibly proud smile as he shot Scar a smug look. ¡°You see that? My grandchild is of a talent unseen within the Ignis Family for many generations.¡±

    Scar frowned after a golden glow erupted from his narrowed eyes. It only took a second, but he received all the needed information. ¡°Your grandchild has purposely dyed his Advancement toprehend his Source on a deeper level, hasn¡¯t he?¡±

    ¡°Correct. Despite my suggestion, Young Zerim insisted on ignoring his Advancement,¡± Ezrath nodded.

    ¡°In other words, your grandchild seeks a path of extraordinary strength. But doesn¡¯t he know that the more heprehends his Source, the more difficult his Advancement will be?¡±

    ¡°Both his father and I have raised this point, but he understands the risks. He said it well himself¡ªone can¡¯t expect great power if they¡¯re unwilling to brave grave circumstances. The mes of our tribtions are what temper us.¡±

    Scar cracked a faint smile and sighed. ¡°Tell me, Ezrath, are you the grandson and Zerim the grandfather? Why was he blessed with knowledge that you yourself do not possess?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just how the world works,¡± Ezrath shrugged, ignoring Scar¡¯sment.

    As the silence between the two grew, Scar crossed his arms and awaited Kieran¡¯s counter. What would he do against Zerim¡¯s Source Assimtion?

    ¡­

    Kieran examined Zerim and understood the change wasn¡¯t as simple as wielding a Mana Technique to interact with a Mana Manifestation. This sudden assimtion heightened several aspects of Zerim¡¯s power.

    Sadly, Kieran couldn¡¯t ponder the extent of this increase.

    ¡°!!¡± Kieran¡¯s pupils contracted as he dodged a condensed beam of mes that pierced through the air, leaving a trail of flickering embers.

    Szzt!

    Although he dodged it, Kieran felt a burning sensation on his cheek, revealing that his attempts to evade it weren¡¯t as perfect as he thought. No, perhaps that was wrong. He misjudged how far the beam¡¯s heat could spread.

    Kieran touched his cheek but didn¡¯t grimace from the pain. Due to the effects of Torment¡¯s Beliefs: Dull, Kieran¡¯s perception of pain was remarkably low.

    Before Kieran could spend more time assessing the change in Zerim¡¯s strength, another change urred.

    Zerim lifted his unupied hand toward Kieran and uttered one word. ¡°Raze.¡±

    Five condensed beams of incredible heat discharged from Zerim¡¯s draconic fingertips.

    ¡°Sacrificial Barrier!¡±

    Kieran¡¯s frown deepened as soon as he activated Crimson Ashrune¡¯s protective ability. Based on the current situation, the Sacrificial Barrier wouldn¡¯tst more than an instant. So, Kieran took the initiative and moved toward the barrier¡¯s rear.

    Once the barrier shattered, Kieran executed an el Shift to avoid the momentarily dyed beams.

    ¡°I have given you the honor of witnessing this ability of mine because I find both your power and background to be worthy. But if this sorry disy is all you have to offer,¡± Zerim¡¯s me-filled eyes grew cold. ¡°I will end this farce here and now.¡±

    ¡°Ignis Art: me Devasation!¡±

    Zerim lifted his broadsword over his head with a callous expression. Embers of destructive mes crackled and briefly released a presence exceeding that of a typical Intermediate Being.

    Out of nowhere, the embers suddenly expanded into a massive orb of sweltering mes.

    The dreadful technique caused panic among the contestants that recently lost. Although they weren¡¯t distraught, the nearby eliminated participants rushed to exit the coliseum¡¯s interior.

    The coliseum possessed formations to protect the spectators, even if it was uncalled for, seeing as most of the spectators could vanquish an attack of these contestants as effortlessly as they breathed.

    However, the coliseum¡¯s interior remained unprotected to provide a sense of urgency and threat when battling within the ring.

    It wasmon knowledge that mes couldn¡¯t distinguish between friend or ally, so anything within its st radius was free game.

    Kieran looked up at the ming orb with aparably small bluish core and loured. ¡®A perfected S Rank Fire Affinity¡­.¡¯

    Left with no other choice, Kieran dropped his head and ignored the presence of Zerim¡¯s me Devastation. He raised his hand and balled it into a fist before decisively pounding his chest.

    Many people in the stands looked at Kieran oddly, wondering why he suddenly started beating his chest.

    Did it have a reason? Not even his party members had seen such a matter before.

    Unt! Unt! Unt!

    The rhythm of Kieran¡¯s heartbeat changed, adopting the pace in which he beat on his chest. It began slowly, but Kieran continued until his heartbeat pulsated at three times its original rate.

    A dreadful air rose around Kieran that mixed with his already bestial presence. It was the first time he activated a release-type skill during Predatory Form¡¯s duration.

    He wasn¡¯t sure of the effects or aftereffects, but Kieran understood something.

    As much as he wished to refrain from using this skill, Zerim proved that his ims weren¡¯t baseless. If Kieran didn¡¯t stop withholding at least one skill, he would lose this battle. That¡¯s how powerful Zerim¡¯s current form was.

    ¡°Deranged Spirit,¡± Kieran uttered. His tone resembled a creature crawling from the depths of hell tomit untold atrocities.

    ¡´System: Deranged Spirit has triggered your ?Bloodlust?.¡µ

    ¡´System: A preexisting modification to your natural state has been detected.¡µ

    ¡´System: The preexisting modification ispatible with ?Bloodlust?. Creating a temporary form¡­¡µ

    ¡´System: You have gained the temporary state of ?Predatory Bloodlust?.¡µ

    Despite the raging exterior, Kieran¡¯s mind was unusually calm after learning to somewhat control the riled emotions that ran rampant during Deranged Spirit¡¯s activation.

    ¡¸ Deranged Spirit (Lv.2)

    Skill Rank: S+ (Iplete)

    Skill Type: Active-Passive/Buff

    Mastery (14.00%)

    Description: The user stimtes their madness and enters ?Bloodlust? by drawing upon the dormant Argexes¡¯ Blood. The deeper the activation of this skill, the more intense the effects be¡ªnegative and positive.

    *New¡­?Bloodlust? -During this state¡¯s active period, the user¡¯s Lifesteal increases to 0.5% of the damage inflicted. The damage and effect of all blood skills are increased by 100%. Blood Mania¡¯s maximum Bleed stack increased to 60. All attacks gain 10% Defense Ignore.

    Consumption: Sanity (Reduced)

    Prerequisites: 100% ?Blood Mania? ?Tormented Beliefs? Phase III

    Duration: 1 ¨C 300 seconds (The aftereffects vary based on the active duration.)

    Cooldown: 24 hours

    Note: While strengthened, this skill remains iplete,cking in its effects. Complete the ability to unleash its true power. ¡¹

    ¡´System: In ?Predatory Bloodlust?, Defense Ignore increases to 20%.¡µ

    Deranged Spirit¡¯s cooldown didn¡¯t change, but the Lifesteal properties were enhanced, along with Defense Ignore, which many yers would kill to obtain.

    After going through this change, a pool of viscous blood spread across the arena¡¯s breadth.

    ¡°Blood Bind!¡±

    Twelves chain sprang out from the pool of viscous blood and rose to the sky, intending to entrap or at least diminish the descent of Zerim¡¯s me Devastation. The chains aplished their purpose, but they revealed signs of breaking.

    Zerim¡¯s attack was estimated to rival an S Rank Skill. Even when strengthened, Blood Bind fell short of an S Rank Skill in terms of effect.

    ¡°I have no intentions of losing,¡± Kieran stated.

    A thin blood film encased his palm as Crimson Ashrune levitated above it. Kieran applied the same principle employed to eject Senar from the ring, except this time, its purpose was propulsion.

    ¡°Seethe Burst!¡±

    Boom!

    The bacsh shattered the ground beneath Kieran¡¯s feet as he released an augmented Seethe Burst into the core of Zerim¡¯s me Devastation.

    Several people in the stands could feel it¡ªthe battle between Zerim and Kieran had be a battle of two destroyers.

 Chapter 223 Honorable Victory

    ¡ª

    The anticipation in the crowd was electric as the spectators scooted forward and clutched their seats with their eyes peeled on the soon-to-collide attacks.

    The Mana fluctuations could be felt throughout the entire coliseum as the awaited attacks created a catastrophic scene within a small portion of the tform.

    Crimson Ashrune continued rotating, releasing a fearsome and sanguine presence, while Zerim¡¯s me Devastation produced a considerable and almost perfect resistance.

    Kieran lifted his hand and roared, straining his mind to control what remained of the blood chains to wrap around Crimson Ashrune¡¯s hilt.

    The sudden appearance of the chains stopped the rotating Seethe Burst, but the skill and presence didn¡¯t disappear.

    ¡°Break!¡± Kieran roared as he swung his arm around his body, which caused Crimson Ashrune to perform a whishing motion and strike the me Devastation from above.

    The sword cleaving down on the me Devastation seemed like it wanted to cleave the world in half and designate Kieran as the monarch of this domain.

    Zerim¡¯s eyes narrowed when he sensed his me Devastation falter and begin splitting in the middle. ¡®The attacks were equal in the beginning, but he increased the force of his attacks bypounding the remnants of his initial attack. This control¡­ it¡¯s quite incredible.¡¯

    Crrck! Crrrck! Pssssh!

    A downpour of red mes with a faint blueish tint deluged the stage Kieran and Zerim stood upon, but before it could touch Kieran, a massive horizontal current of blood gushed toward Zerim, carrying the mes with it.

    ¡°Crimson Current!¡±

    Kieran rushed behind the Crimson Current while yanking the chains wrapped around Crimson Ashrune. This action made the greatsword descend from the sky like a meteor seeking to destroy the earth.

    Bang!

    Kieran snatched Crimson Ashrune out of the air, unaffected by its extraordinary velocity. In the next second, his body vanished as arge draconic hand pierced through the bubbling and evaporating blood tide.

    Although the Crimson Current was strong, relying upon a low-level skill against Zerim was foolish, which is why Kieran did no such thing.

    Zerim sensed movement at his side and turned, barely noticing a presence wrathed in blood.

    If not for him causing some of the Crimson Current¡¯s evaporation, Zerim wouldn¡¯t have noticed Kieran stepping through the tide like a bloody phantom.

    Bang! Bang! Bang!

    Kieran released a relentless series of sword shes that gradually increased in speed, weight, and precision. Even after using his broadsword and w to deflect Kieran¡¯s attacks, Zerim found himself at a disadvantage in terms of speed.

    ¡®This guy¡­ he¡¯s growing faster!¡¯ Zerim¡¯s eyes widened after concluding that Kieran¡¯s attacks were miraculously gaining a frightening speed.

    What¡¯s more, Zerim figured something was amiss when his attempts to block hit an afterimage instead of Kieran¡¯s actual weapon.

    After experiencing the mental cleansing that manually learning Dread Culling produced, Kieran¡¯s cognitive abilities had stepped into an echelon that marked the beginning of true inhuman feats¡ªone of which being the arbitrary eleration of specific actions.

    When Zerim believed he could block Kieran¡¯s attack, Kieran arbitrarily elerated his sword attack. But, given his current limits, he couldn¡¯t change the trajectory as he would have liked.

    Nevertheless, abruptly increasing the speed of a strike was enough to bewilder many opponents, especially those without Advanced Senses¡ªthe refined senses of an Advanced Being.

    ¡°Ignis Art: Dragoon Fang!¡±

    After feeling his advantage slip, Zerim began retaliating with techniques exclusive to his family.

    A fiery image in the shape of a dragoon¡¯s maw attempted to swallow and mp down on Kieran¡¯s presence, but he smirked.

    Whoosh!

    Kieran skillfully dodged the attack with an el Shift executed at the pinnacle of his current capabilities. A bloody trail followed his body as Kieran moved his right hand to Zerim¡¯s stomach.

    Bang!

    Zerim was blown back by a force that made his feet skid across the tform. A series of sharp inhales sounded within the stadium¡¯s crowd because this was the first time Zerim had suffered a loss.

    ¡°Don¡¯t me me for asserting dominance. After all, it is you who asked for me to unleash whatever techniques I kept hidden. I intend to honor your request as one of my first respected opponents.¡±

    None of Kieran¡¯s words were disrespectful; in fact, he quite liked Zerim.

    However, Kieran¡¯s tone was as cold as ice, utterly devoid of emotion.

    Because his emotions were funneled entirely into his technique outside of his control, Kieran felt a void, the same void that surfaced against Vidal and Dusvim.

    Aside from rage, what else was in his heart?

    This was a question Kieran wished to answer, but unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t grasp an opportunity to truly explore the depths of his soul¡ªhis id¡ªthe part of his subconscious that genuinely defined him.

    Zerim looked up at Kieran while spitting out a trace of blood. ¡°No worries. I have no qualms with you, friend. This isn¡¯t personal¡ªit is simply a battle. A battle that will forge a path for both of us.¡±

    ¡°I concur,¡± Kieran agreed. ¡°Prepare, for I aming.¡±

    Boom!

    A sonic boom urred as Kieran leaned forward and executed a Surge Step the moment his front foot touched the ground. The sudden eleration took everyone by surprise, but Zerim simrly dashed toward Kieran with a burst of mes beneath his feet.

    ng! ng! ng!

    Their battle devolved into an extremely primitive one, consisting solely of brutal basic attacks. There was no shy skill involved, only a cacophony of metallic rings piercing the atmosphere from their every exchange.

    Unfortunately, the difference in their condition began to surface rapidly. The immense Stamina Consumption from unleashing these rapid and forceful attacks exceeded what Zerim could handle.

    Kieran, on the other hand, thanks to his Tenacious Warrior Title and Breath of Life effects, remained in a surprisingly vigorous state.

    ¡®Does he not tire? What is with his inhuman endurance?¡¯ Zerim wondered.

    Every one in ten of his strikes faltered, which allowed some of Kieran¡¯s strikes to break past his defenses and chip away at the scaledyer added to his red armor.

    Soon enough, Kieran gained the advantage and again moved his palm to Zerim¡¯s stomach faster than he could react. The difference in this strike, however, was the presence of an intense suction force.

    Zerim¡¯s feet momentarily lifted from the ground as Kieran activated another skill.

    ¡°Peril Implosion!¡±

    Bang!

    Zerim¡¯s body flew back like a lifeless ragdoll due to the Savage Beast Lord¡¯s set effect and Crimson Ashrune¡¯s effect activating.

    The damage from his Peril Implosion experienced ridiculous augmentations, andbined with the increased effects of Predatory Bloodlust, the skill unleashed a devastating amount of damage.

    -14,049,036! ?Critical Hit?

    Coupled with the faint bits of damage from his earlier attacks, Kieran¡¯s Peril Implosion dropped Zerim¡¯s Health under 50% within an instant.

    However, despite receiving this barbaric attack, Zerim struggled to get to his feet.

    ¡°Imend your bravery, courage, and resilience. But¡­¡± Kieran¡¯s walk gradually turned into a run before performing a herculean bound. ¡°This match is over! You were an extremely worthy opponent!¡±

    ¡°Grand Stomp!¡±

    Kierannded, and his right foot crushed Zerim¡¯s chest, creating a massive crater on the stage. The spectators gawked, wondering how an Intermediate Being could cause so much destruction.

    Meanwhile, Zerim had no opinion.

    He fell unconscious after receiving Kieran¡¯s final attack. His Ignis Inferno dissipated as Kieran tossed Crimson Ashrune into his inventory and picked up Zerim to carry him out of the stage.

    Kieran understood honor, and Zerim hadpletely earned his respects, so he wouldn¡¯t leave him toy limply on the stage.

    At that very moment, when Kieran walked off the stage carrying Zerim, General Zieg¡¯s throat quaked as he struggled tomentate the second stage¡¯s results after witnessing that magnificent sight!

    ¡°The second stage hase to an end,¡± General Zieg finally announced after regaining his wits. This generation of nominal members possessed boundless potential in his eyes. They were full of surprises!

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, in the stands behind General Zieg¡­

    Ezrath quivered after watching Kieran¡¯s imperious leap. After witnessing Kieran¡¯snding, Ezrath¡¯s heart dropped. However, warmth and relief surfaced in his heart when he watched Kieran hoist up his grandson honorably.

    Scar even cracked a proud smile. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? My twerp is better than I was back then. I didn¡¯t care who I destroyed, mutted, or minced to obtain victory. But him¡­ he isn¡¯t influenced by the source of power as deeply I was. I can honestly say I am extremely proud of him.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, that boy is a fine specimen. I can feel the depths of his rage from here, yet he understood what it means to be lenient and upright. My impression of him would have whittled away if he mutted a defenseless opponent that didn¡¯t taunt or disrespect his honor as a man,¡± Caecus chimed in, lightly praising Kieran.

    Ezrath released a deep sigh and looked toward Scar. ¡°It is my loss. May I?¡±

    ¡°Of course, your grandson¡¯s condition precedes the importance of our small bet.¡±

    Swoosh!

    Ezrath disappeared with a gust of ember-filled winds.

    ¡­

    Kieran looked up and saw Ezrath standing before him. He could see the resemnce, so he passed on Zerim to Ezrath. ¡°I¡¯m not sure of your rtion, but he is a valiant fighter. Tell him I would like to speak with him when he wakes up.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Ezrath nodded. ¡°As for my rtion, I am this young child¡¯s grandfather, Third Commander of the War Deity Council, Ezrath Ignis.¡±

    ¡°Aatrox, Inheritor of the Bloody Hero¡¯s Mantle, Traveler of the Berserk Path,¡± Kieran said respectfully.

    ¡°Very well, Aatrox; I will let Young Zerim know.¡±

    Ezrath disappeared before Kieran¡¯s eyes, but at that time, General Zieg¡¯s maic voice sounded.

    ¡­

    A/N: I need you guys to understand how seriously amazing you all are! We actually made it! We broke past the 2nd Win-Win threshold! I can¡¯t thank you enough for the amazing support; we¡¯ll continue to flourish next month! Please continue to support <3

 Chapter 224 The Final Stage

    ¡ª

    The electric crowd calmed down when they witnessed General Zieg approaching the podium. As he stood there, General Zieg released a deliberate round of apuse that prompted the crowd to join in.

    Those who prevailed in the brutal eliminations of this round were ovee with feelings of joy and aplishment¡ªthey had trained relentlessly for this very moment.

    How could they not feel aplished, although it was the start of their young lives?

    ¡°You youths of today never cease to amaze. I witnessed several inspirational battles. But, I also witnessed many tragic falls. However, you must understand that victory and defeat are two eternal facets on the road to power. They are inescapable, so one mustn¡¯t flee from the possibility of defeat.¡±

    General Zieg¡¯s praise-filled gaze swept over the remaining contestants below before continuing. ¡°Defeat isn¡¯t an uneptable oue. What¡¯s uneptable is failing to rise from that defeat and extract keyponents that would greatly assist your future growth. A closed mind is one of the most dangerous weaknesses to have. It destruction not only to yourself but to your allies.¡±

    The contestants with drooped heads balled their fists after hearing General Zieg¡¯s encouraging words.

    He was right.

    What individual could im they have never suffered defeat? Even prodigal youths suffered loss at the hands of much stronger foes.

    Defeat existed as a learning process, not a destroyer of hope.

    ¡°That said, I¡¯d like to turn our attention away from the defeat and apud the victors one more time,¡± General Zieg announced.

    The stands erupted into a galvanized cheer, making several contestants below raise their hands like champions. However, while many individuals cheered, some seemed inured to the attention and felt little to no excitement.

    One of those people was Kieran.

    After Ezrath left with Zerim, he leaned against the coliseum¡¯s arched fence, resemblingrge bone or possibly wood spires. Because Deranged Spirit grew more dangerous the lengthier its effects were active, he released it.

    But, his Predatory Form remained active with just under 3 minutes left on it.

    ¡°Normally, ourpetition would end here since we have determined the victors of this fight. But, this year is special¡ªone blessed with an opportunity that the War Deity Council seldom distributes. Because of this, I will give you all a choice. Thisst round is no longer mandatory¡ªit is for those that wish to snag this unique opportunity.¡±

    Many of the remaining contestants grew conflicted after hearing this round wasn¡¯t mandatory. If they had already qualified, was it worth taking it a step further and attempting the improbable?

    After all, monsters like Ronan, Bra, Knox, and Maveli were still present on the stage. The odds of a typical contestant obtaining the opportunity were slim to none if opponents of their caliber were included.

    Upon noticing the change in expressions, General Zieg added another piece of important information. ¡°Only one individual can win this opportunity. There are no second or third ce winners, so think carefully¡ªdo you believe you have what it takes to im it all?!¡±

    Many people inhaled sharply once General Zieg confirmed that only one person could benefit. Generally, the War Deity Council distributed prizes of varying levels to the top 3 or top 10 participants.

    But it appeared this year transpired differently.

    Most of the participants decisively left the stage, leaving eight contenders.

    However, Kieran slipped his hand into his pockets and walked back to the stage, lightly tapping his foot. Hended on the tform attitude and looked at the remaining contestants with a somewhat stale gaze.

    Although a few people were unfamiliar, he was familiar with two¡ªAzahara and Yashua. He was rather surprised they made it this far, which was a testament to their strength. If not for his presence, Zerim would have stood amongst them.

    Bra growled under his breath after locking eyes with Kieran. ¡°Someone without any trump cards is not a person weed in this part of the stage. Unless you want to get eaten alive, I suggest you forfeit.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Kieran amusedly shifted his gaze from Azahara and Yashua to Bra. ¡°And who will make me forfeit¡ªyou? Don¡¯t make meugh. No one in this world can force me to do something that doesn¡¯tply with my desires.¡±

    Bra¡¯s eyes narrowed after sensing Kieran¡¯s unyielding spirit, and he felt disgusted by it. Who did he think he was?

    ¡®Damned brat thinks he is worthy just because he has made it this far? Let you run into me; I will show you what utter despair feels like,¡¯ Bra inwardly cursed, vowing to teach Kieran a lesson to put him in his ce.

    Meanwhile, General Zieg sidestepped from the podium and disappeared with a blink of shadowy wisps. An instantter, he appeared in the center of the remaining contestants.

    ¡°I am surprised¡ªnine brave contestants. Because of the odd number, the first position will be excluded from fighting. The rest of you will follow the same format. For you to understand who your opponent will be, let me reveal the leaderboards,¡± General Zieg said.

    Once he waved his hand, a screen depicting the points of the remaining contestants appeared.

    ©°©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    ?diator Coliseum¡¯s Standings? ¨C

    1st: Ronan ¨C 177,895 points

    2nd: Bra ¨C 104,950 points

    3rd: Maveli ¨C 103,100 points

    4th: Knox ¨C 102,400 points

    5th: Aatrox ¨C 99,605 points

    6th: Azahara ¨C 89,600 points

    7th: Yashua ¨C 87,990 points

    8th: Bram ¨C 85,000 points

    9th: Zinsei ¨C 82,000 points

    ©¸©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    Kieran nced at his points and was surprised he imed 5th ce.

    However, he also looked toward Azahara with a faint grimace. Due to their points and how the battles would be designed, Azahara was his first opponent.

    General Zieg crossed his arms and called out the names, followed by a brief overview of this final round.

    ¡°This format of this final round is simple¡ªsingle elimination. The winner ims the loser¡¯s points and remains on the stage while the unfortunate loser is ejected. As you might surmise, this will be a winner takes all format. The final points can be used to redeem prizes from the War Deity Exchange.¡±

    A fire lit within everyone¡¯s eyes after hearing the War Deity Exchange. It was akin to a treasury, but not exactly. There were a few ways to ess the War Deity Exchange, the most practical being with the points earned in the annual diator¡¯s Coliseum.

    Another option was to acquire contribution points, but those could only be obtained bypleting tasks in one¡¯s respective temple or during times of special events. Hence, the War Deity Exchange was an opportunity of exceptional rarity.

    This opportunity was a congrattion for being the brightest star of one¡¯s generation of nominal members, but it wasn¡¯t the opportunity General Zieg spoke of.

    ¡°As this final will test your persistence, decisiveness, and raw power, there will be no breaks in between matches unless your next opponent is undecided during the time of your match¡¯s conclusion. In other words, the battle that ends the quickest gains the longest respite. Are you all ready?¡± General Zieg questioned, sweeping his inquisitive gaze over the limited participants.

    ¡°Ready,¡± Bra savagely answered. He grinned while banging his fists together. His eyes burrowed into Zinsei, who frowned.

    Unlike the first round, where the points were announced after every sessful elimination, the points in the second round remained a mystery. After General Zieg revealed their standings, everyone had just now found out.

    Being paired with the brute Bra was outside his expectations, and so was the fact that he was in 9th ce. His insipid approach to eliminating participants led to ack of points.

    ¡°Fool,¡± Bra chuckled mockingly. He knew Zinsei was inst ce because of his ploy during the first round, where he barely gained any points by babysitting Bra¡¯s behavior.

    General Zieg snapped his fingers, and four circr walls rose on the tform¡¯s quadrants. The rounded walls left a curved rhombus shape in the center of the stage, where Ronan stood before General Zieg with a disinterested expression.

    ¡®So this is the student of High General Archival. He definitely possesses a simr demeanor, and the overwhelming strength he has shown thus far is deserving of his position. Though¡­ I¡¯m not sure why High General Archival signed him up for this,¡¯ General Zieg mused.

    As a student of a High General, Ronan possessed a free pass into the War Deity Council. The same rang true from students of Generals.

    If they were strong enough or talented enough to catch the eye of a General-level character, then they deserved a spot in the organization without further assessment.

    ¡®With High General Archival¡¯s character, he wasn¡¯t sent here to dominate. Then¡­¡¯

    General Zieg silently looked over the other participants before his eyes fell on two particr individuals¡ªBra and Kieran.

    ¡®Could it be that he¡¯s somewhat interested in knowing how his pupilpares to Scar¡¯s student? But if that were true, it¡¯d mean High General Archival maintains a presence within several temples to know such minute information. Or could Scar have revealed this information?¡¯

    It was pure spection at this point, but General Zieg felt his assumption was possible. And he couldn¡¯t ignore the allure of said shes happening. He looked forward to witnessing at least one of these anticipated shes ur.

    ¡°Begin!¡±

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, inside Kieran¡¯s ring¡­

    Kieran gazed at Azrahara, whose tangerine hair waved. At first, it was like she was standing on a beach with a gentle breeze brushing against her face, but that soon changed as violent winds whipped around her body.

    Kieran inhaled deeply and exhaled. This was a battle he had to end quickly due to Predatory Form¡¯s limited duration.

 Chapter 225 The Smart Decision

    ¡ª

    After witnessing thest bits of Kieran¡¯s previous fight once the walls dropped, Azahara understood that Kieran wasn¡¯t an opponent to be taken lightly. She would only be fooling herself if she considered him an inferior opponent due to theck of aura.

    Azahara knew that a reined-in aura was a sign of exceptional control, meaning one had obtained a primary mastery over their power. Therefore, Azahara unleashed her Mana Manifestation from the beginning of the battle.

    ¡°Mana Manifestation: Tempestuous Storm Bird!¡± Azahara cried out in a solemn tone.

    Kieran extended his hand and materialized Crimson Ashrune in his grasp.

    During that time, he watched as the Mana surrounding Azahara roiled and flickered with fierce winds interspersed with subtle lightning crackles and water droplets.

    ¡®Triple Elements, is it? She¡¯s quite the talent if that¡¯s the case,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    At a nce, Kieran could feel a connection between Azahara¡¯s elements and understood why she earned her title as the Rampaging Storm. Her three elements fused exceptionally well.

    In fact, Kieran felt she could chance upon a tremendous power if she managed toplete the fusion and arrive at a uniquebination.

    However, that took time and practice, so it was beyond her current years and experience.

    Once General Zeig¡¯s voice filled the arena, Azahara wasted no time dashing toward Kieran at breakneck speeds.

    Both the Lightning and Wind Elements were known to enhance the user¡¯s speed, so Kieran understood it was her forte even without suffering a direct attack.

    Kieran followed the trail of blue lightning with a hint of purple hidden within and nced to his right before swinging Crimson Ashrune in a subtle arc.

    ng!

    Kieran¡¯s greatsword met one of Azahara¡¯s twin swords, but something strange urred. Rather than inflicting damage or making contact with a solid surface, Kieran felt as if his de were dipped into a bucket of water, meeting little to no resistance.

    Azahara¡¯s fluid movements flowed through Kieran¡¯s attack while her other hand whipped toward Kieran¡¯s leg, nning to inflict severe damage.

    ¡®Oh? My, my. Azahara is a ruthless little girl,¡¯ Kieran inwardly remarked.

    Kieran knew at first blush that Azahara¡¯s attack was meant to interfere with his mobility as she felt it was more dangerous than his destructive force.

    After all, could a force be dangerous if it couldn¡¯t hit its target?

    However, Azahara underestimated Kieran¡¯sbat knowledge honed throughout thousands of battles. He had gone against countless people that shared a mindset simr to Azahara¡¯s.

    Kieran swiftly pushed back on his left foot and retreated until his back touched the wall. Then, he braced one foot against it and smirked slightly.

    ¡°Grand Stomp!¡±

    Bang!

    Kieran charged toward Azahara, taking advantage of the propulsion effect that surfaced when Grand Stomp was activated without first creating distance between the surface and Kieran¡¯s foot.

    While Grand Stomp¡¯s primary purpose was unleashing a tremendous amount of damage through a severe stomp, it possessed some auxiliary effects like the one Kieran revealed.

    If activated against a surface that the user was incapable of destroying, the force would rebound through the user¡¯s body and act as makeshift propulsion to give the user an insane burst of velocity.

    Kieran wasn¡¯t sure if the skill possessed additional utility due to its vague wording, but he did understand that its effects would improve based on his Strength. Unlike his other skills, the ability focused strictly on his Strength, ignoring his Attack Power.

    Because of this, Kieran felt it was a skill with more value than some of his vital skills. That, and because the skill possessed five charged uses before entering a 60-second cooldown period.

    Azahara was startled by Kieran¡¯s iing rush, but she spun and manifested a surge of her element-imbued Mana.

    ¡°Storm¡¯s Path: Forward Rampage!¡±

    A surge of Mana in the form of a storm advanced toward Kieran, but it wasn¡¯t as straight as the skill¡¯s name implied.

    While it traveled in a forward path, the initial storm burst split into three sections. One section bounced across the ground, somewhat electrifying it, while the other rippled above Kieran¡¯s head.

    Despite the iing attack, however, Kieran rushed toward the center while extending his hand.

    ¡°Wrath Eruption!¡±

    After familiarizing himself with this skill, Kieran was no longer limited to ground usage. He could control the distance of the eruption within a specific range, or he could unleash it through his hand.

    Depending on his position at the time, the skill was liable to create blowback due to its immense force. But Kieran drove his foot into the ground the moment the skill activated and burst through the dismaying gush of blood.

    The remaining arcs of weak lightning were directed elsewhere when Kieran swung his sword. Due to the archaic cloth ribbon wrapped around the hilt of his sword, Crimson Ashrune was an excellent conductor without harming Kieran.

    At that moment, Kieran activated Crimson Ashrune¡¯s effect, Blood Boom, and swung his greatsword in an arc, discharging arge wave of condensed vitality with a rippling exterior.

    ¡°Sanguine shes!¡±

    ¡°Blood Wave!¡±

    The Blood Wave was improved with Blood Strengthening and a hint of Fervor Augmentation, so its impact was more than Azahara expected.

    Her arms ached after receiving the Blood Wave with a cross guard.

    ¡°Strong,¡± Azahara muttered to herself after sliding back a few meters. However, the intention to back down never once appeared in her eyes.

    Azahara swung her twin swords in a strange pattern and bizarre motion, creating an unusual seal before her body. The seal emitted properties of water, rippling subtly, properties of lightning¡ªreleasing strange crackles; and properties of winds, tousling her hair.

    ¡°Storm Seal: Aquatic Charge Burst!¡±

    Pssh!

    A massive burst of crudely mixed elements appeared before Kieran instantly, forcing him to block with Crimson Ashrune. The force of the attack pushed him back, making Kieran inwardly praise it.

    ¡®An attack backed by the force of lightning when it strikes, the raging momentum of fierce winds and unrelenting like the thunderous cascade of arge waterfall¡ªtruly an incredible attack. But¡­¡¯

    Kieran gradually applied additional power to his wrists, turning his de until he could deflect some of the force. Once this happened, Kieran¡¯s body acted in one fluid motion, like a well-oiled machine, flowing in the direction opposite of his sword.

    Whoosh!

    Kieran executed a well-timed el Shift, moving away from Azahara¡¯s attack while suffering mild damage. Against such a powerful attack, suffering some damage was inevitable, no matter how well Kieran tried to avoid it.

    ¡°Vim Restoration.¡±

    Kieran controlled the inward burst of vitality and maintained it for his next strike.

    Grand Stomp!

    Used one charge of Grand Stomp to gain air and watch Azahara lift her gaze toward him with a deep frown. A sense of worry surfaced in her heart.

    What did he intend to do? Would he give her the same treatment she gave Zerim?

    Azahara¡¯s chest subconsciously tightened after thinking of this possibility. In the end, she understood Zerim was stronger than her.

    Unlike Zerim, Azahara couldn¡¯t assimte with her Source. The presence of multiple elements made it a difficult task.

    Her understanding of the individual elements had to be up to par for her to assimte sessfully. Needless to say, they weren¡¯t.

    ¡°I wonder if this will work,¡± Kieran muttered to himself. It was something he hadn¡¯t attempted to do, but it was worth trying.

    A thin yet durable blood film appeared under his left foot as he leaned forward in line with Azahara¡¯s body below.

    After a short instance of hesitation, Kieran activated another charge of Grand Stomp.

    Bang! Crrrrck!

    The film shattered as per Kieran¡¯s expectations, but not before rewarding a decent burst of momentum. While descending toward the ground, Kieran moved Crimson Ashrune in ce to unleash an augmented attack.

    ¡°Wild Crash!¡±

    BOOM!

    Kieran¡¯s attack met Azahara¡¯s assertive defense, forcing her to the ground while creating a moderately sized craterpared to his final attack against Zerim.

    However, the force of his attack made Azahara gasp for air with widened eyes.

    ¡°Would you be a dear and end this battle for me, Azahara? I have no desire to keep this going, but if I need to, I will decisively end this battle,¡± Kieran said in a low tone.

    Azahara¡¯s widened eyes regained their normal state, slightly narrowed and always defensive, as she looked at Kieran with an expression of consideration.

    Kieran continued speaking when he noticed Azahara considering his suggestion. ¡°You have already qualified. I suppose that was your motive for being here, no? You have proven yourself, so there is no reason to suffer injuries grave enough to interfere with your progress in the near future.¡±

    Azahara sighed after listening to the unassable logic in Kieran¡¯s words.

    If he could unleash any of those significant strikes from before, Azhara understood she¡¯d be in a troublesome predicament. Judging by his current condition, Azhara understood Kieran was far from his limit in terms of Stamina.

    ¡°You¡¯re¡­ a little monster. You know that, right?¡± Azahara pursed her lips until they formed an embittered frown.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been called this once before¡ªyes. Does that mean you¡¯ll take my advice?¡± Kieran questioned.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Azahara sighed begrudgingly but ultimately nodded her head. ¡°I concede.¡±

 Chapter 226 A Hunch, Overdue Purpose

    ¡ª

    Once Azahara decided to take the sensible route, Kieran extended his hand with a friendly expression. Since it was his win, he absorbed all her points, and his cement changed considerably.

    With the initial points in his possession, Kieran¡¯s total points ballooned to 189,205.

    His rank shot up from 5th all the way to first, but that was understandable, considering Ronan didn¡¯t participate in any of the fights. Furthermore, as the first concluded battle, Kieran gained additional time for his Stamina to recuperate.

    Despite how great his current Stamina Regeneration was, he couldn¡¯t ignore how tiring dual release-type skills were. While Predatory Bloodlust was active, the immense expenditure left him in a Stamina deficit rather than a surplus.

    Not to mention, theck of respite between this round and thest one gave Kieran little time to refill his Stamina. Because of that, his current Stamina barely approached the 70% threshold. Fortunately, it was recovering quickly.

    Azahara continued to stare at Kieran despite their arena¡¯s walls descending. ¡°You¡­ are still hiding something, aren¡¯t you? I can feel an air of confidence from you despite the strength of the remaining contenders.¡±

    Kieran smiled faintly and crossed his arms. ¡°If I said no, would you believe me?¡±

    ¡°Not at all,¡± Azahara answered with a deadpan expression. Where would the confidence to go against Bra or Ronane from if he didn¡¯t have any ace up his sleeve?

    ¡°I refuse to believe that you have nothing prepared to surprise or even awe thepetition. I sensed it back inside our temple¡ªthere is something unusual about you, and it isn¡¯t the power of Commander Scar. I can¡¯t describe it, but it transcends the power of an Intermediate Being,¡± Azahara stated.

    As an Intermediate Being herself, one who stood at the threshold of an Intermediate Being and an Advanced Being, Azahara couldn¡¯t pinpoint what made Kieran so special. It was a principle foreign to her.

    Azahara had taken time on numerous asions to deepen her knowledge. This included using the detailed books inside the War Deity Council Library and asking Captain Liam for guidance when avable.

    However, the subject that made Kieran special never came up, which was understandable. Why? Because most people wouldn¡¯t approach that subject until it was time for an individual to face an Awakening.

    ¡®Her eyes¡ªno, her senses are sharp. I suppose that bird being her Mana Manifestation wasn¡¯t a coincidence. It must possess traits matching Azhara¡¯s innate aspects,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Kieran neither confirmed nor denied Azahara¡¯s spections.

    Due to the presence of his stream, Kieran decided it was best if he didn¡¯t expose any sensitive information regarding his secrets or advantages that yers could stumble across if he were too loose with his words.

    All he could muster was a simple phrase.

    ¡°Wait and see. Ultimately, whether or not I im the top spot will be up to fate. However, as fate is my mistress, I won¡¯t stop trying to guide her until myst breath. My pursuit will remain unrelenting¡ªI eye that top spot with a shadow of a doubt.¡±

    Azahara felt Kieran¡¯s confidence firsthand before looking toward General Zieg and Ronan. One felt like an insurmountable mountain, while the other felt nonexistent. A nonexistent presence symbolized death with no source.

    If General Zieg were to act, Azahara would never know how her soul departed from this world. Such a level of power was something Azahara aspired to achieve. But, she understood it was a level of ability cultivated after centuries or perhaps millennia of honing his ability.

    One shouldn¡¯t use General Zieg¡¯s middle-aged appearance as a tool to gauge his age. The effects of transcending through the ranks of power not only bestowed strength but longevity as well. After reaching General Zeig¡¯s stage, which was just below an Enlightened Being, time became a diluted concept.

    Ten years to him could feel like one year.

    ¡°This is where we part ways. I¡¯ll be rooting for you, Aatrox. I hope you give them a good show. And¡­ I¡¯ll be analyzing for that hidden power of yours. You can¡¯t fool me. Try as you might, but everything hidden in the dark shall soon be part of the light,¡± Azahara said with a faint wave of her hand.

    Kieran helplessly shook his head, for he felt Azahara was the type to remain faithful to her words. Forget the rest of thepetitors; her attention may very well stay on him for the remainder of thepetition.

    ¡®Unfortunately, I¡¯m approaching a difficulty where Dread Culling can no longer be kept secret. Furthermore¡­¡¯

    While awaiting the end of the other battles, Kieran¡¯s Predatory Form dissipated, leaving Kieran to revert to his natural state. Because of his actions, he could no longer use three trump cards¡ªDeranged Spirit, Abhorrent Paroxysm, or Predator Hunt.

    Under optimal circumstances, Kieran would have preferred to keep these three abilities hidden until he crossed paths with opponents of great strength. But, not everything could go his way. Strong opponents appeared outside of his expectations.

    After learning that even Titled Rare NPCs were epted, Kieran felt only the top contenders remained a threat. But opponents like Yashua, Azahara, and Zerim proved they were worthy of this extraordinary opportunity.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. My circumstances may not be the best, but if there is a possibility of sess, I will vie for it,¡± Kieran muttered to himself.

    ¡­

    A few secondster¡­

    Ezrath returned beside Scar after he ensured his grandson received proper care. ¡°It is as you said. Your pupil is truly one of esteemed honor. Even if we bicker and fight, I feel it is imperative that I reveal my respect for the young boy.¡±

    However, Ezrath¡¯s expression darkened a few secondster. ¡°He¡­ hasn¡¯t entered the Trial of Inheritors yet, has he?¡±

    ¡°He has not,¡± Scar admitted. He glimpsed Ezrath¡¯s expression and sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t give me that look. Why does it seem like he has grown upon you when he is my twerp? You have your grandson, don¡¯t eye my inheritor.¡±

    ¡°Eye him?!¡± Ezrath exasperatedly shouted. ¡°I would never conduct such a fraudulent act. I only speak of this topic because we know the mortality rate of your Trial of Inheritor¡ª100%. Not a single soul has survived in the past 144 years of you testing them. And, we know it is because of these failures that the duties of the Mythical Heroes have gone unfulfilled.¡±

    Scar sighed and felt a headacheing on because Ezrath was right. The duties of the Mythical Heroes hadn¡¯t been attended to for thest 144 years, which meant their task was long overdue.

    Unfortunately, the current Mythical Heroes¡¯ hands were tied in the matter. They had outgrown the eptable range to step into that ce. If they tried to enter that ce with their current strength, they would only invite a cmity upon themselves.

    The barrier ced upon the gate¡¯s entry point would undoubtedly begin eating away at them. Hence, they could only leave the solution up to a capable inheritor.

    However, the other Mythical Heroes vowed they wouldn¡¯t ept an inheritor until Scar found one he was confident in.

    So while Scar had supposedly gone through 69 potential inheritors, the others went through one each. But, their initial inheritors had all surpassed the entry threshold, leading them to reinstate their search for another generation of Mythical Heroes.

    Ezrath noticed Scar¡¯s helpless expression and sighed. ¡°Have you told the boy about those two instances?¡±

    The mention of two instances drew an intense reaction from Scar. His expression grew solemn as he shook his head. ¡°I haven¡¯t, but I intend to tell him once he¡¯s ready. After all, there is a small risk that he may meet with those two during his trial.¡±

    ¡°Very well. It is not my ce to mention anything regarding the Mythical Heroes. However, I feel you at least owe him that right. If you don¡¯t want a repeat of those years of crises, I suggest you inform your boy,¡± Ezrath said, stressing hisst sentence.

    After receiving Scar¡¯s promise, Ezrath changed the subject. ¡°Also, have you decided on a type of Tier V Gem? As I said before, it is my loss.¡±

    ¡°Darkness. I¡¯ll take a Tier V Gem of the Darkness attribute.¡±

    ¡°But don¡¯t you already have-¡°

    ¡°I¡¯ve decided. It will be darkness. Don¡¯t try to convince me otherwise,¡± Scar interjected.

    Ezrath sighed and refrained from trying to convince Scar.

    His collection of dark attribute gems was inferiorpared to his supply of Tier V Gems of the fire attribute. If he gave one away, he¡¯d be left with a gaping hole in his

    However, Ezrath¡¯s word is something he cherished because he felt a man¡¯s word was worth its weight in gold.

    After waving his hand, a pristine amethyst-colored gem appeared in Ezrath¡¯s palm. The gem¡¯s shape was irregr due to it being crude and unrefined, appearing in the shape of an icosahedron.

    Scar casually wafted his hand, creating a few blood tendrils that imed the gem. The tendrils and the blood disappeared a few secondster, leaving Scar with a content smirk.

    ¡°Pleasure doing business with you, Ezrath. Would you like to bet on the winner of thepetition?¡±

    ¡°Hell no,¡± Ezrath scoffed. He may be foolish, but he was no fool.

 Chapter 227 A Logical Explanation

    ¡ª

    It took ten minutes to conclude the four fights, the longest being the fight between Zinsei and Bra, with Bra emerging as the victor. As the walls on the tform descended, some were startled by the results.

    The source of shock was the fact that Yashua had emerged victorious in his bout against Knox. As Knox was one of the contenders to step into thepetition with a frightening amount of points, people felt he would remain standing until faced with a force like Bra or, even worse, Ronan.

    However, their assumption proved incorrect. And the source of this error was a young man of unknown strength.

    ¡°Yashua Dabura. I¡¯ve heard of the Dabura Family name, but they¡¯re quite small, and their realm of influence inside the Xesian Empire in the north isn¡¯t that great. It¡¯s quite astonishing that a candidate of this talent has emerged from such a small family.¡±

    ¡°I agree. It¡¯s not something one would expect. That marks two abnormalities in thispetition. One being the inheritor of Scar¡¯s power and the other being this young man of the Dabura Family.¡±

    Murmurs quickly surfaced in the crowd as they analyzed and cross-examined the strength of Yashua. Even if they wanted to write this off as pure luck, they couldn¡¯t.

    Yashua¡¯s opponents thus far were of simr or slightly greater strength, yet he emerged victorious with a zing spirit.

    Aside from Yashua¡¯s victory, another unforeseen circumstance due to this final round¡¯s design was that Ronan would now have to fight against some. The first position¡¯s rule, which stated the individual in this position could sit out, applied to everyone.

    And due to a close disparity in points, Yashua defeating Knox put him in a position of supremacy. Even Kieran¡¯s points fell under the threshold to be listed as the first.

    However, he didn¡¯t mind this because it led to a situation he looked forward to.

    With Ronan¡¯s point frozen from the first bout, he was left in fifth ce, not that cement even mattered to him. As General Zieg assumed, he was here at the behest of High General Archival, who tended to test the neers by sending out one of his newest students.

    Even some of the General were Archival¡¯s past students, given his lofty position as a High General.

    If General Zieg were considered a middle-aged man based on his current age, High General Archival would be regarded as a geezer who had lived three to five times longer than General Zieg.

    Yashua stepped to the center of the tform beside General Zieg with a somewhat exhausted visage. It was evident that emerging victorious against Knox had wiped him out. It was unknown if he was in any condition to endure another match.

    Fortunately, the match-ups this time were even closer, in theory at least.

    Gauging Ronan¡¯s true strength was difficult since he used one attack to obliterate every contender in his batch. And, it happened every round he was involved in. Because this all felt like a chore to Ronan, he decided to end things in the least amount of time possible.

    ¡°You have fought valiantly, young man. Yashua, is it? A truly great name!¡± General Zieg pped Yashua¡¯s shoulder but remained mindful of his possible fatigue.

    At his stage, a simple flick could kill these kids.

    Then again, control was one of the facets of power General Zieg prided himself on. How could he be worthy of his current illustrious status if he unintentionally hurt someone with a simple action?

    Yashua sighed and clutched the halberd in his right hand. ¡°I promised my family I would do well, and that promise drove me to give my all. I will not act as if my family didn¡¯t doubt me; they did. But someone¡¯s opinions shouldn¡¯t define our capabilities.¡±

    ¡°Well spoken. That is a practice we preach inside the walls of the War Deity Council. An outsider¡¯s opinions should not affect your view of your strength. Allowing someone to tamper with your mindset is a sign of immaturity,¡± General Zieg replied.

    Yashua turned his head and looked up at General Zieg, noticing there was no sign of a weapon. The only equipment he possessed what his set of magnificent armor. ¡°General Zieg, I don¡¯t mean to be impolite, but I have a question.¡±

    ¡°What is it, young man?¡± General Zieg attentively listened to Yashua¡¯s question. At the very least, he felt the young man had earned his attention for a short while.

    ¡°What weapon do you specialize in?¡±

    ¡°Hm, a weapon, is it? I generally wield a spear, halberd, or any of the many polearms to enhance some of my techniques,¡± General Zieg answered.

    Yashua¡¯s eyes shimmered, but General Zieg could already sense this conversation¡¯s direction. ¡°Young man, you are incredibly talented. There isn¡¯t a shadow of a doubt in my mind. However, I have acquired a somewhat nightmarish name in my years as a General. Do you know why I was tasked with handling this event?¡±

    ¡°Is it not because you revealed a power great enough to keep everyone in check?¡± Yashua was unsure of his answer, but he answered nheless.

    The reply earned General Zieg¡¯s faint smile, but he shook his head. ¡°This is a matter irrespective of my strength. No, it¡¯s a matter of character. I¡¯m known to be supremely impartial¡ªeven my pupils who are deemed to be in the wrong are punished ordingly. I am not the type to blindly dote on my precious pupils. So I ask that you carefully consider your next words.¡±

    Yashua didn¡¯t require further consideration. Based on his resolute and beaming expression, Yashua was delighted with General Zieg¡¯s revtion.

    ¡°If I¡¯m to speak truthfully, General Zieg, I ask that it be no other way. Blind affection isn¡¯t realistic and won¡¯t prepare me for the world¡¯s perils. I noticed from your unperturbed expression that you were a truly upright man. So, I sincerely ask that you allow me to be your pupil and teach me the ways of the halberd,¡± Yashua bowed his head and earnestly voiced his feelings.

    ¡°Very well, if that is how you truly feel, then I will dly ept you as a pupil. We will discuss the specifics after the event ends. Until then, I will continue to adjudicate this event impartially.¡±

    General Zieg projected his voice so the remaining four could hear. ¡°You may begin when you see fit.¡±

    ¡­

    Unlike the earlier battle, only two circr arenas rose on the diator Coliseum¡¯s tform. Inside those isted arenas, it was Kieran vs. Ronan and Bra vs. Maveli.

    The crowd grew quiet as the anticipation grew palpable. The tension in the air was so dense one could practically cut it with a knife.

    ¡°Ronan!¡±

    ¡°Ronan!¡±

    ¡°Ronan!¡±

    The crowd chanted Ronan¡¯s name, but hepletely ignored it as his eyes remained fixated on Kieran. After sizing Kieran up for a few seconds, his cerulean eyes shed with a tinge of disregard.

    ¡°Your strength isn¡¯t mastered at all. If we fight properly, it will be your loss. Commander Scar¡¯s presence is more unfathomable than this,¡± Ronan remarked.

    His voice was t and his expression stiff, making it hard to discern what emotion he was feeling. Did he find Kieran unworthy, or were his words simply the truth?

    Kieran felt it was thetter, simply because of the information shown on Ronan.

    ¡¸Lv.55 Ronan, The Inexorable Force (Titled Epic NPC)

    ss: Unstoppable Warrior

    Health: ??? (100%)

    Affiliation: ?War Deity Council? ¡¹

    If an NPC¡¯s Health appeared unknown, it was a sign that the yer couldn¡¯t kill them even if they wished to. An NPC¡¯s Health would only be quantifiable once the system confirmed the yer¡¯s ability to ovee their opponent.

    Otherwise, knowing the enemy¡¯s Health was useless.

    In addition, Kieran was also rmed by Ronan¡¯s level.

    Lv.55!

    As stated before, an NPC¡¯s level couldn¡¯t move beyond 50 unless their Advancement wasplete. In other words, Ronan was a genuine Advanced Being and one recognized as a title-bearing NPC.

    After reaching the Epic level, one needed to be recognized by an organization or the world to be considered a Titled NPC. The same rang true for all Legendary and above NPCs.

    Considering Ronan¡¯s disy of effortless strength thus far, Kieran felt this exnation was logical. What else could exin his unfathomable power in thispetition if not an Advanced Being?

    ¡°Normally, I would retort, but I¡¯m in no position to do such a thing. Your strength is authentic, and I can¡¯t belittle it. However¡­¡±

    Kieran summoned Crimson Ashrune with a fighting spirit zing within his eyes. ¡°The disparity in our strength won¡¯t deter me from fighting you. On the contrary, it makes me look forward to it¡ªwhat else does the War Deity Council have to offer?¡±

    Ronan remained silent but reciprocated Kieran¡¯s action, summoning his gigantic cleaver. The stage seemed to bend inward after Ronan conjured it. It was as if the weapon imposed an excessively dense pressure.

    ¡°Show me the extent of your strength. If I am pleased, I will let you walk out of here as the victor. But¡­ If I am displeased,¡± Ronan narrowed his eyes, and Kieran felt a force strong enough to bend his spine. ¡°You will be carried out of here with no strength to stand. Do you find these terms agreeable?¡±

    Kieran tightened his grasp around Crimson Ashrune and frowned. ¡®This pressure¡­ it¡¯s like I¡¯m standing before an ancient beast.¡¯

    Nevertheless, Kieran gazed at Ronan resolutely and nodded. ¡°I ept the terms.¡±

    Ronan blinked, but that blink signified the start of a memorable experience, if not the most memorable battle he would participate in.

 Chapter 228 World Suppression, Internal Anguish

    ¡ª

    ¡°Nngh!¡± Kieran¡¯s eyes widened as the pressure bearing down on his body suddenly amplified. Ronan hadn¡¯t performed any irregr action, yet it felt as if the gravity surrounding his body had increased threefold.

    Ronan¡¯s indifferent cerulean eyes swept toward Kieran¡¯s struggling expression, and he blinked again. From threefold, the swathing pressure Kieran forcibly withstood increased to fivefold.

    The ground began to crack underneath the pressure as even triggering Blood Mania¡¯s activation became difficult. When had he ever gone against a force so great it inhibited the use of his skill?

    System: The user is being targeted by a dangerous force. The user¡¯s ?Will? is being challenged. ?Will?¡¯s subsystem is being activated. The effects of ?Willpower? are surfacing.

    System: Now that the ?Willpower? subsystem is activated, the user¡¯s Vengeful Soul may act as a vessel to contain one¡¯s Willpower. [Current Willpower: 10]

    After the Willpower subsystem was activated, Kieran felt a soothing presence that alleviated much of the pressure.

    Kieran activated Blood Mania during that brief moment and erupted with fearsome momentum.

    However, Ronan crossed his arms and tapped his finger against the inside of his elbow. The action paved the way for an even more frightening pressure to bore down on Kieran¡¯s back.

    At this point, Kieran¡¯s left knee was three centimeters from touching the ground as he resisted to the greatest extent possible.

    ¡°Unrelenting. Unyielding. But subpar power,¡± Ronan spoke, speaking his opinion of Kieran¡¯s current situation. Afterward, he continued to ry his perspective. ¡°I can sense it from you¡ªWill. The unique power Barbarians have cultivated and taken a step further. But¡­ in this crude form, it is not enough.¡±

    ¡®Strong. Terrifyingly strong,¡¯ Kieran thought to himself. This wasn¡¯t the first time he hade in contact with an Advanced Being; however, it was the first time he had done so without sufficient strength.

    The disparity in power was a true eye-opener for Kieran. After all, after experiencing a rebirth, while Golden Brigade was the source of his wrath, Kieran didn¡¯t eye the guilds as his opponents.

    No, in his opinion, only the NPCs were his actual opponents. They held the true power within this world. Even if their lives were finitepared to a yer¡¯s, their influence and might remained far superior.

    That superior power was the reason Kieran deemed them his ultimate adversaries and, in a sense, a goal. Sure, conflict amongst the yers would be inevitable, but it would never be his focus¡ªit couldn¡¯t be.

    Focusing on a pittance of an enemy would only hinder his progress in the end.

    Kieran¡¯s head bobbed as he struggled to lift it defiantly and stare into Ronan¡¯s eyes. When their eyes met, Ronan sensed a madness brewing within. One that differed from the power in his possession.

    This impression made Ronan¡¯s eyes narrow with a soft cerulean glow. ¡°I value that look in your eyes¡ªit is one that knows pain, suffering, and triumph. I can tell your road up until now was paved with gruesome battles. As my Master said, you of the True Berserker lineage are known to stop at nothing.¡±

    ¡°I am a True Berserker,¡± Kieran grunted and huffed, struggling to squeeze out his words. It felt as if his lungs were being crushed, making it extremely difficult to breathe, let alone gather his breath to talk. Nevertheless, Kieran was innately defiant and unwilling, so he continued to speak.

    ¡°But being a True Berserker doesn¡¯t define me. I have trodden the line of death several times. As a child, there were times when I hade within inches of life. However, in that bleak world, I understood something clearly.¡±

    ¡°My suffering wasn¡¯t there to break me. No, suffering is given to the strongest of warriors to mold them. My pain was made to forge me. My circumstances¡ªmy life¡ªits only purpose was to forge me into a version of myself iparable to my past¡­.¡±

    System: The user¡¯s ?Willpower? is rapidly increasing. If this trend continues, the user¡¯s ?Will? shall begin to rise.

    Kieran noticed the notification but didn¡¯t acknowledge its presence, simply discarding it as he understood that Ronan¡¯s power possessed a refining effect, as did his words. They drove Kieran to look into himself and analyze his circumstances.

    After his parent¡¯s death, life within the orphanage was harsh and, at times, unbearable. Several troubled kids confined in a small space were a recipe for disaster, and that disaster existed in the form of violent outbursts.

    There were days when most, if not all, of the orphaned children spent time in the infirmary to tend to their wounds. It was indeed a savage sight when kids, who didn¡¯t understand the concept of love, rued their circumstances and didn¡¯t possess the internal agency to vocalize their feelings.

    That sense of helplessness led to the onlymunication they knew¡ªviolence. Of course, Kieran was no helpless kid, nor was he meek. The anger from his parent¡¯s inexplicable death left him bitter.

    There was an incident where he nearly bashed a child¡¯s skull in with a brick despite his own bloodied head. The insane and murderous look in his eyes during that moment led to him beingbeled a psychopath.

    Fortunately for the other children involved, he passed out from the immense pain before he could carry out executing the child.

    When the staff heard the uproar, they arrived at a gruesome sight¡ªseveral kidsid out¡ªsome with broken bones, others with deep wounds.

    After remembering this particr scene, Kieran¡¯s pupils contracted.

    It was an event he subconsciously buried due to the trauma it led to. He had be an utterly isted presence inside the orphanage after recovering from the infantile war.

    ¡®How could I forget? Was I always this way?¡¯ Kieran wondered. Was he indeed a psychopath? Is that why this so-called Vengeful Soul found its way to him? If that were true, Kieran understood why he was drawn to the True Berserker ss, especially after seeing the previous user of his past life wield it.

    Sometimes, he wished he had started earlier to im the ss first. Fortunately, those circumstances were upon him now. There was no one better suited for the ss, and there was no one to steal his mantle¡ªit had be Kieran¡¯s legacy!

    @@@@@@@@@@ A guttural growl resounded, and it was birthed from Kieran¡¯s throat as his bandaged foot crushed the ground. His Willpower continued to rise amidst the frightening pressure, creating a translucent and thin cocoon around his body.

    It wasn¡¯t perfect, but it was enough for him to brace his bodyweight with his foot and keep his knee from touching the ground. With the pride brimming inside his heart, Kieran felt no person in this world could make him kneel or yield.

    Even if it wasn¡¯t Ronan¡¯s intention, this action that teetered on the edge of wanting to make Kieran submit awoke grave defiance inside Kieran.

    System: The user¡¯s ?Will? has risen to 2 points.

    System: The user¡¯s ?Will has? risen to 3 points.

    System: The user¡¯s ?Will? has risen to 4 points.

    System: The user¡¯s ?Will? has¡­.

    System: The user is undergoing a primitive ?Will Refinement?!

    Ronan¡¯s brow arched after witnessing the subtle yet continuous change in Kieran. From the almost kneeling position of a knight pledging their allegiance to a cause, Kieran rose until his leg formed an obtuse angle.

    Unknowingly, Ronan¡¯s lips curved into a faint smile. This was the first time he showed any emotion throughout the entirepetition.

    ¡®It¡¯s just as Master Archival mentioned. Anyone fortunate enough to receive Commander Scar¡¯s attention is far from normal. I can sense it¡ªhe¡¯s a normal human, yet his Will is solidifying and purifying as we speak.¡¯

    However, Ronan¡¯s smile was a precursor for a dreadful series of events. He extended his hand with an imperious presence. Only a slight Mana fluctuation could be felt as Ronan¡¯s hand discharged a stifling ripple.

    ¡°World Suppression.¡±

    Ronan¡¯s voice was t yet deep, invoking rm in all those unlucky enough to hear it. An indent formed in the ground surrounding Kieran as Crimson Ashrune suddenly dropped like it weighed a few tons.

    If not for his current Strength and the Vampiric Blood Encrustation reinforcing his hand, Kieran was sure his wrist would have snapped from the sudden increase.

    System: The current force is bing unbearable for the user¡¯s current ?Constitution?. Prolonged exposure may lead to extensive injuries. Distance is advised.

    ¡®Oh really? Distance is advised?! And how do you suppose I distance myself, you damned system?!¡¯ Kieran internally snarled.

    As if responding to his thoughts, the system answered his question.

    System: The user mayplete their ?Will Refinement? to create distance. The current pressure can be thwarted for 0.1 seconds if the user¡¯s Will bes powerful enough.

    ¡°!!¡± Kieran¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Did the game¡¯s system just respond to his thought birthed from his internal anguish? To confirm his suspicions, Kieran asked another mental question.

    ¡®What is the sess rate of a Will Refinement?¡¯

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Kieran awaited a response, but nothing came, which made Kieran question his assumption. Was the system responding to his thought, or was it systematically providing a solution to support its advice?

 Chapter 229 Ronans Proposal

    ¡ª

    Once the system neglected to answer his question, Kieran disregarded his earlier assumption.

    He felt he was too quick to criticize the system, which led to the unusual situation.

    After all, in his seven years of ying Zenith Online, he had never once experienced the system talk back out or react tomands unless a speech prompt appeared on a translucent notification screen.

    Like the prompts to ept a message, quest, or confirm one¡¯s decision when the oue was irreversible. Although Kieran admitted that his assumption was somewhat oundish, part of him couldn¡¯t dismiss the possibility entirely, not after considering his circumstances.

    For example, how did the Arcane One find him? There was no recollection of any portal inside the Wildes¡¯ border. Even if information regarding the topic were hidden, there would be a trail, especially if someone aplished the quest or, worse yet, failed it.

    After all, failing the quest would result in a World Invasion. Kieran would have remembered a World Invasion because such matters always triggered an Invasion Event, where one would assist specific organizations in protecting Xenith.

    A cluster of arcane creatures invading the world was a hard target to miss, especially if it involved a nar Rift, which existed in many variants. The worst was the Realm Variant, meaning it was powerful enough to rip a hole through a realm¡¯s protectiveyer.

    With the fallout of the question in his possession, Kieran found it hard to believe that the Arcane One approaching him was coincidental.

    As someone sensitive to the quality and strength of the soul, it was likely Kieran¡¯s abnormal soul delighted the Arcane One and drove him to seek Kieran¡¯s audience.

    Nevertheless, Kieran soon pushed this matter to the back of his mind because he had more important issues at hand¡ªlike solving the issue with his Will Refinement.

    It was underway, but there was no way to know how long until itspletion.

    There was no bar indicating the process, and while Kieran felt his Will strengthening, he couldn¡¯t surmise how strong his Will needed to be to break free of Ronan¡¯s World Suppression for 0.1 seconds.

    0.1 seconds was synonymous with an instant. But that only rang true when speaking about normal individuals.

    People like Kieran, who possessed heightened cognitive abilities, perceived time differently, and when trained properly, they could control their perception of time to a certain extent.

    While Kieran wasn¡¯t skilled enough to forcibly control the intensity of his time perception, his mind had evolved to reduce it to an adequate extent.

    With his current progress, due to the X-hancers, Kieran estimated he could perceive time three times better than normal humans, so his understanding and grasp of openings should have grown far more exceptional.

    Roughly thirty secondster, Kieran began feeling the pressure of Ronan¡¯s World Suppression lighten. It was the byproduct of the Will Cocoon swathing Kieran¡¯s body until it ignored most of Ronan¡¯s pressure.

    At that moment, Kieran¡¯s expression grew solemn. This was his only chance. The Will Cocoon wasn¡¯t something he could willfully summon. It only appeared during times of a Will Refinement.

    Kieran instantly stood up inside the Will Cocoon, and instead of moving, he performed apletely different action.

    A viscous pool of blood emanating a dreadful sensation filled the entire stage as Kieran essentially bled his Health until it reached one percent.

    But even then, he didn¡¯t stop.

    He understood Ronan was in a caliber of his own, so going overboard was a must. No, it was the only option! If Ronan weren¡¯t satisfied with Kieran¡¯s retaliation, he would make his words an unfortunate reality.

    In the end, this was all Ronan¡¯s raw power; he hadn¡¯t even activated a Manifestation of any sort!

    ¡°Vim Restoration!¡±

    Kieran¡¯s Health filled, but dropped to 10% an instantter.

    The color of the blood deepened, shifting from a vibrant red to a deep crimson. Only once its saturation felt sufficient did Kieran proceed.

    ¡°Dread Culling!¡±

    Oom!

    The thick sea of blood emitted a strange noise and rippled before converging at Kieran¡¯s body. This was the fastest he ever activated the skill, but he understood the stakes. He had so much to aplish within a 0.1-second window.

    The Dread Circlet formed around Kieran¡¯s body, filling the Vampiric Blood Encrustation with an unfathomable might. Simply glimpsing at the circlet was enough to invoke despair.

    Once the Will Cocoon cracked, the Dread Circlet acted as a deterrent, keeping arge portion of Ronan¡¯s World Suppression ability away.

    Kieran only had four strikes with the Dread Circlet, so he was forced to use it sparingly and wisely. He couldn¡¯t just waste all charges of the skill and risk Ronan¡¯s retaliation without anything strong enough to defend with.

    Due to the disparity in their ranking, only an S Rank Skill could pose a substantial threat to Ronan.

    For an Intermediate Being to pierce the defenses of a strong Advanced Being, it required an attack that transcended ranks. Only S Rank and above skills were capable of doing that.

    However, only SS Rank and above skills could aplish the feat without fail.

    Ronan eyed Kieran¡¯s technique inquisitively. ¡®An ability strong enough to offset my World Suppression by inducing an onset of hyper-condensed blood? Truly the seed of the Bloody Hero.¡¯

    Unlike before, Ronan now pointed his sword toward Kieran and spoke calmly. ¡°Five strikes. Withstand five strikes, and I¡¯llbel this your win. The reward has never interested me anyway. I¡¯ve already challenged it.¡±

    Kieran¡¯s brows knitted after listening to Ronan speak as two matters dismayed him.

    Firstly, the strike requirement fell outside his technique¡¯s capabilities, meaning at least one strike required a different approach.

    Secondly, if Ronan already challenged the special opportunity, didn¡¯t that mean he possessed information? However, before Kieran could question him, Ronan¡¯s first attack arrived.

    ¡°First move,¡± Ronan said. ¡°Gravitational Supression: Inexorable Drop!¡±

    Kieran¡¯s pupils contracted after feeling the World Suppression disappear, but not because it had vanished, because it had umted into one condensed strike from above.

    Imperceptible to the naked eye but perceivable through one¡¯s sense, Kieran felt a gargantuan presence descend. His expression grew grim as he tilted his body back and spun,shing his arm swiftly.

    ¡°Argh!¡± Kieran roared as the power of the Dread Circlet flowed through his body and discharged from Crimson Ashrune in the form of a formidable blood lightning-looking attack. The violent stter of blood seemed simultaneously crude and refined as it met Ronan¡¯s Inexorable Drop.

    The oue of the attack proved that Ronan¡¯s Inexorable Drop was, in fact, exorable. At least, this version of it.

    Ronan smirked after watching Kieran sessfully cleave his attack in half. But rather than disintegrating, the bisected attacknded on the area and destroyed parts of the wall beside Kieran and Ronan.

    This disy of power made Kieran crave his advancement that much more. What would a True Berserker¡¯s power be after advancing? He couldn¡¯t wait to learn the answer as his anticipation grew every time he became stronger.

    ¡°Second attack,¡± Ronan called out. This time, the attack didn¡¯te from above. Ronan thrust his cleaver at Kieran.

    ¡°Gravitational Severance: Fissured World.¡±

    Kieran felt a sharp beam of forceful energy swiftly approaching. Reading the attack¡¯s trajectory or dodging was impossible because space distorted slightly as if he was locked within a gravity lock.

    ¡®He hasprehended the uses of gravity to this extent? As a universal force, it is amongst the highest echelon of power, surpassing the elements! It should be quite difficult to learn this variation of power,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Kieran felt aprehension level on par with an Awakened Being was the bottom line forprehending a variant force like gravity.

    If that were true, it would make Ronan a genius.

    A genius, based on Xenith¡¯s definition, was an individual who possessedprehension ability above their level, allowing them to pry into the mysteries above on a much smaller scale.

    However, it was known that doing this made one¡¯s future promotion exceedinglyplex because they werepiled based on one¡¯s knowledge and capabilities.

    If one possessed knowledge above their level, the only fair oue was a corresponding increase in one¡¯s promotion difficulty.

    Kieran couldn¡¯t ponder Ronan¡¯s skillset because the iing attack raised several rms in his mind, all of which arrived at a single oue¡ªdeath. If he didn¡¯t react quickly, he would be a goner.

    While he wasn¡¯t sure if he would lose a level if he died here or if any death penalties applied given the unique circumstances, Kieran didn¡¯t wish to find out this answer.

    Kieran closed his eyes and regted his breathing until it grew dense like steam. Given his current appearance wreathed in blood, it created a genuinely demonic sight that awed and baffled the crowd.

    ¡®The use of skills with the Dread Circlet is currently impossible, but the use of Techniques isn¡¯t,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    At thest moment, Kieran lifted Crimson Ashrune over his head and chopped down, elerating his downward motion just before the condensed gravity attack arrived.

    The two attacks shed, cracking the stadium and increasing the gravity within a confined radius. Kieran¡¯s feet sunk into the ground, but he stood upright with a focused expression.

    Ronan¡¯s voice sounded within the cloud of dust and rubble. ¡°Very good. The second attack has been sessfully quelled. But¡­¡±

    ¡°Gravitational Cadence: Weightless World.¡±

 Chapter 230 A Ghastly Flicker

    ¡ª

    After Ronan activated his third attack, it was like gravity sang the tune of his whims, manipted until it left a somewhat small pocket world devoid of gravity.

    The sudden change in gravity made Kieran float about aimlessly despite trying to gain control of his momentum.

    This situation was new to him. His experience with gravity users was virtually nonexistent, so he hadn¡¯t prepared for Ronan arbitrarily creating a world where weight was an illusory concept.

    However, the Weightless World ability wasn¡¯t as simple as it seemed. Like the first half of its name insinuated, this world possessed a unique cadence.

    Without finding that cadence, one could never return to their proper orientation unless Ronan canceled the ability.

    This skill was how Ronan imed numerous lives on the many battlefields High General Archival took him to. While his enemies helplessly scrambled, suspended in air, Ronan unleashed additional gravitational skills to crush his opponents overwhelmingly.

    But Kieran wasn¡¯t an enemy.

    Ronan was merely testing him to see where his actual skills resided. Did he have the making to be one of the elites within the War Deity Council?

    The skills required to adopt that moniker were colossal. In fact, only Ronan had obtained the right to be called an elite of this generation thus far.

    Ronan needed to know if another would appear and if the heavens willed it, could they be friends?

    Unquestionable strength led to a deste life rife with fear and respect but devoid of friends. If one did befriend Ronan, it was superficial and only to hopefully gain his protection during perilous times.

    However, what would happen if he could find someone of equal or greater potential and simr strength? Perhaps he could find a friend within them.

    Ronan¡¯s situation wasn¡¯t too different from Isadora¡¯s.

    These gravity powers were something he possessed since birth. They surfaced a few weeks after his birth, and they were uncontroble. When he cried, he would crush stones and many things surrounding him, eventually leading his parent to orphan him.

    Archival sensed the talent in the boy and honed him, hence why Ronan possessed nost name. His parents were unknown, just as their well-being was.

    Kieran stopped struggling and again regted his breathing to where everything else surrounding him was drowned out and discarded. Soon enough, all he felt was his body rocking, swaying, and dipping, simr to notes in a symphony.

    ¡®It¡¯s quite literally a song. A sad song, in fact. Is this Ronan melding his mncholic sorrows into a modified world? That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s an ingenious application of gravity! To manipte the force until it emtes vibration is fascinating!¡¯

    Rather than try to break free, Kieran listened to the story weaved into the Weightless World and sighed. It was a sigh filled with remorse for Ronan; such a strong person carried a fragile soul but couldn¡¯t disy it.

    For who would ept a powerhouse if they were soft?

    Could they be trusted on the battlefield?

    What if a dreadful situation urred and their heart faltered?

    One would rather flock to a weaker existence with a stronger heart than a powerhouse with a fragile heart. It was the way of the world¡ªsurvival of the fittest.

    However, Kieran understood the power within vulnerability. It was his buried vulnerability that led to Ronan¡¯s remarkable abilities.

    ¡°I understand your story,¡± Kieran muttered softly.

    A secondter, his eyes opened slowly, as if savoring the world he was in. He controlled his body to flow in the opposite direction of every note, unraveling the world piece by piece but not forgetting it.

    At the end of thest note, Kieran¡¯s feet returned to the ground, and the Weightless World vanished.

    ¡°I understand why you said what you said earlier. You know pain and suffering as well. It seems your memories are vague, but you were of lucid mind when young. To think you call recall something like that while being so young.¡±

    Kieran looked down and then met Ronan¡¯s gaze with an understanding expression.

    ¡°All you have known is fighting, but you seek an ally. Is that the reason you sought me?¡± Kieran questioned.

    ¡°Partly,¡± Ronan admitted with a faint nod. ¡°I wondered if Scar¡¯s sessor lived up to the rumors, and it seems they were correct. Out of the thousands I¡¯ve used this technique against, you¡¯re the first to dissect it by grasping its true meaning. For this, you are already in my good graces. But¡­ I need to understand just how strong you can be. Your will, understanding, and tenacity are all exceptional. But¡­ can you withstand myst two attacks?¡±

    ¡°There is only one way to find out,¡± Kieran remarked.

    After physically deterring the first two attacks, the Dread Circlet had enough power remaining to power two more strikes.

    Thanks to Ronan¡¯s unusual third move, Kieran was now in a situation to potentially emerge victorious. Of course, it wouldn¡¯t be a victory earned with might; it was a victory abiding by Ronan¡¯s proposed terms.

    ¡°Gravity Maniption: Almighty Ingress.¡±

    ¡°Gravity Maniption: Almighty Egress.¡±

    Ronanyered two attacks creating a contradictory effect.

    Kieran felt like a great force that wanted to rip him apart like a deranged child pulling apart bugs limb from limb and squash him like a frantic middle-aged woman frightened to death by bugs.

    Kieran stifled a scream when his left arm felt like it was being ripped from the socket. The sudden changes in Crimson Ashrune¡¯s weight were ridiculous and difficult to counteract because of how frequently they urred.

    However, Kieran didn¡¯t give in to the pressure.

    When the opportunity arose, Kieran lifted his hand to his mouth and bit his thumb. The blood didn¡¯t drop on the ground as one would expect; the blood coagted above Kieran¡¯s palm and absorbed half of the Dread Circlet¡¯s remaining energy.

    Kieran continued to drain himself, activating Blood Strengthening to augment his actions. Dread Culling¡¯s skill description explicitly stated it couldn¡¯t be used in tandem with skills.

    But manipting his blood wasn¡¯t seen as a skill. It was registered as an innate ability of his ss because it wasn¡¯t listed in Blood Mania¡¯s description.

    Blood Mania¡¯s influence stopped at creating a Vampiric Blood Encrustation. Anything outside this realm of action resulted from Kieran¡¯s conscious maniption; hence it fell into a different category by default.

    Once the blood orb was big enough, Kieran struggled to lift his hand and close it with enough force to shatter the sphere. It was simr to Blood Pulse in principle, except it was meant to unleash mayhem in all directions.

    Crrrck! Bang!

    Intense jets of blood spurted in all directions, bearing a chaotic presence. The explosion bombarded the gravitational prison formed because of Ronan¡¯s contradictory application.

    Cracks formed along the nearly imperceptible prison until Kieran sessfully vanquished the attack. Kieran dropped to his knee and panted because forcibly controlling his blood, under those circumstances, consumed horrific amounts of Stamina.

    The tremendous expenditure was absurd even for his currently bolstered condition.

    ¡®Forcibly breaking my attack¡­ He is better than I assumed. If he persisted for longer than ten seconds, I would have canceled it,¡¯ Ronan thought to himself.

    The superimposition of those two principles created an environment that even he would struggle to resolve in a short amount of time if met with the same circumstances.

    Despite his feat, Kieran received a negligible amount of time to recover before Ronan lifted his giant cleaver to the sky above him.

    A stifling swirling materialized above the weapon, coalescing into an ancient-looking beast.

    It wasn¡¯t a proper Mana Manifestation, merely an impression formed by wielding a massive amount of Mana.

    ¡°World Suppressing Mammoth: Sundering Stomp.¡±

    Kieran was overwhelmed by a sense of dread that even the Dread Circlet couldn¡¯t correct. Ronan moved a tremendous amount of Mana and fused it with his gravity abilities for the first time.

    The result was a frightening attack that made everyone in the stands gasp.

    Kieran didn¡¯t even think about wielding the Dread Circlet and wasting hisst usage on an attack he could thwart. In fact, Kieran stowed Crimson Ashrune inside his inventory and acted without a weapon.

    ¡®It¡¯s time¡­ I have to do it,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Tap! Tap! Tap!

    Kieran¡¯s feet started tapping against the ground as he moved around in a presumably erratic fashion. At times he moved vertically; other times, he moved diagonally, and rarely he moved horizontally.

    His action quickly grew into a dizzying disy of speed as every step incorporated a Surge Step, which quickened in the process. Those who tried to track Kieran¡¯s movements without sufficient ocr prowess felt nauseous.

    Meanwhile, Kieran began moving so fast his body seemed to flicker and split into two.

    What he was doing now wasn¡¯t part of the Drive Techniques he wanted to perfect; it was a standalone technique only aplishable if one could incorporate the Drives with immacte precision.

    If it were before he manually learned Dread Culling, he wouldn¡¯t have attempted this reckless behavior. But, with his mind¡¯s current capabilities, it should be possible.

    ¡®I¡¯m almost there! Just a little more¡­¡¯ Kieran¡¯s nced up at the iing massive mammoth¡¯s foot.

    Whoosh! Whoosh!

    Kieran began impulsivelypounding el Shift and Surge Step to propel himself over the threshold. Before the foot dropped, Kieran achieved a ghastly flicker and disappeared.

    When he reappeared, he stood beside Ronan with an exaggerated sigh. His mind and body were both extremely beat. He wanted¡ªno, he needed rest. It had been weeks since he had a proper rest.

    Dr. Riley¡¯s warning weighed heavy on his mind.

 Chapter 231 One Strike to Decide the Victor

    ¡ª

    Ronan¡¯s statement slightly washed away the exhaustion burrowing into Kieran¡¯s mind.

    ¡°As per our deal, the victory of this match is yours. Thatst technique was quite amazing, utilizing a different type of energy I¡¯m somewhat unfamiliar with¡ªwhat is it called?¡±

    ¡°Phantasmal Flicker,¡± Kieran remarked, revealing the technique¡¯s name but not the basis or more sensitive information. Because the stream was active, revealing its identity as a Technique was a truly foolish endeavor.

    ¡°Phantasmal Flicker¡­¡± Ronan muttered with a sparkling glint inside his deep cerulean eyes.

    ¡°That¡¯s a great name, capturing the essence of that ability. For a moment, I felt as if your body had transcended the mortal ne only to reappear beside me. Such a speed is probably only aplishable by an individual at the peak of my stage or higher.¡±

    Afterward, Ronan¡¯s gaze shifted to the ominous Dread Circlet that reduced in size and almost clung to Kieran¡¯s body. ¡°Another strong technique, but it requires further refinement. I can tell that your handling of the skill isn¡¯t the greatest.¡±

    Kieran grimaced weakly after listening to Ronan¡¯s remark. ¡°This¡­ is actually my second time using it. It¡¯s something I recently learned. However, against an opponent like you, I couldn¡¯t afford to keep it hidden.¡±

    ¡°An opponent like me,¡± Ronan muttered with a faint smile.

    Kieran took a step back and gradually raised his hand. ¡°The name¡¯s Aatrox.¡±

    Ronan shook Kieran¡¯s hand and returned a reply of a simr cadence, ¡°Ronan.¡±

    Kieran¡¯s expression softened as he began speaking from the heart to appease a kindred soul. ¡°That song I experienced inside the Weightless World¡­ I want to say that I understand your plight. You¡¯re not alone in this world. Our circumstances may be slightly different, but our fates aren¡¯t too dissimr in the end. If you¡¯re willing, I¡¯ll dly be your friend.¡±

    ¡°A friend, you say? I¡¯d appreciate that,¡± Ronan nodded.

    ¡´System: Your rtionship with ?Ronan, The Inexorable Force? has deepened, reaching a unique state of ?Befriended?!¡µ

    ¡´System: It is likely that ?Ronan, The Inexorable Force? wille to your aid in times of need if avable. Deepening your rtionship may lead to additional future opportunities.¡µ

    ¡´System: As the first yer to befriend an NPC through natural actions, you have been rewarded a special item: ?Contracted Ally Pact?!¡µ

    Thanks to the convenient feature of the stream, rewards or personal messages couldn¡¯t be disyed in the feed. So, from the viewer¡¯s point of view, it looked as if Kieran was gazing nkly into space.

    However, those familiar with the concept of special notifications understood it was the only reason a yer would stop and stare into space like that.

    Kieran didn¡¯t need to check the item¡¯s description to understand the effect. Its name was pretty straightforward, leaving little room for the imagination. Besides, if he did check the information, that would show up in the feed.

    Kieran preferred the specifics remain blurred out.

    In a sense, the item could be considered a trump card. If the thing worked the way Kieran believed it did, he could potentially gain a force to be reckoned with.

    Though if he was being honest, Kieran desired more than one, especially if it was an item that disappeared after a single usage.

    After Ronan admitted defeat, Kieran¡¯s points skyrocketed to just over 367,000!

    However, after calcting the points, Kieran realized that whoever emerged victorious amongst Bra and Maveli¡¯s fight would im the first spot.

    That meant his next opponent was undoubtedly Yashua.

    Because of this fact, General Zieg nced at Yashua with a faint gesture to approach his opponent. Kieran¡¯s match against Ronan hadn¡¯tsted more than ten minutes, so Yashua¡¯s current condition wasn¡¯t much better than Kieran¡¯s.

    Yashua gripped his halberd and limped toward Kieran with a firm gaze. Despite his battered body barely holding up, Yashua had resolved himself to see everything through to the end.

    Kieran sensed the emotion in Yashua¡¯s eyes, but more importantly, he felt his terrible condition. ¡®What an insane fighting spirit. I can truly appreciate it. Compared to when he first stepped on this stage, he¡¯s like a new person¡ªan individual that has endured a harsh tribtion to emerge anew.¡¯

    Once Yashua stood before him, Kieran spoke. ¡°A longsting fight is something neither of us can endure. So¡­ Yashua, let¡¯s put it all on the line. A single attack, winner takes all.¡±

    ¡°Normally, I would stress that I would be fighting to the bitter end, but¡­ I have already done that. My body can take no more, so your proposition is the best course of action for both of us. We move on three,¡± Yashua spoke, ultimately agreeing with Kieran¡¯s proposal.

    It was the most practical oue aside from one of them forfeiting. But their hearts of a warrior wouldn¡¯t allow them to forfeit when their tenacity could drive them through.

    Kieran and Yashua stood approximately 10 meters away from one another. Their stances were simr except for the way they held their weapons.

    ¡°One,¡± the two said in unison.

    A stifling pressure brewed within them both as Kieran¡¯s Dread Circlet dissipated, the remaining energy flowing in his weapon. On the flip side, a swirl of wild energy engulfed Yashua¡¯s halberd as he held it horizontally, away from his body.

    ¡°Two,¡± the two spoke in unison again.

    They each made preparatory actions, leaning forward and focusing their weight on their respective dominant foot.

    ¡°Three!¡±

    Bang!

    Kieran and Yashua exploded with the greatest momentum they could muster, racing toward one another. Their weakened states made the crowd wonder who would emerge victorious.

    Was it the bearer of Scar¡¯s legacy, or was it another dark horse who, time and time again, proved their worthiness?

    Everyone held their breath, awaiting the destructive sh. Those who couldn¡¯t contain their excitement watched with bated breath.

    And then, the awaited collision urred.

    BOOM!

    Both sides were flung back, bouncing against the tform¡¯s broken rubble.

    The wild energy and dreadful strike seemingly merged as one before releasing a cataclysmic burst of energy that swept outward in every direction.

    Not a single part of the stage was spared as the tform, already damaged by Ronan¡¯s previous World Suppressing Mammoth: Sundering Stomp, crumbled to dust in some areas.

    The damage to the coliseum fell within War Deity Council¡¯s expectations because it didn¡¯t waste funds to ce formations that required periodic strengthening. It was cheaper to rece the entire floor since the material was readily avable on the continent.

    Kieran¡¯s eyelids fluttered before opening. He released a pained groan as he painstakingly sat up on the remnants of the coliseum¡¯s floor.

    Yashua, on the other hand,y under some debris, gradually letting go of his halberd with a nk gaze. In their exchange, Kieran had emerged victorious, but not by much.

    He couldn¡¯t move until Torment¡¯s Beliefs: Dull kicked in, subduing arge portion of the pain radiating throughout his body.

    ¡°Just a few minutes,¡± Kieran muttered to himself.

    He exhaled,ying back down on the rubble.

    ¡­

    Amidst the stands¡­

    Caecus crossed his arms with a delighted smile. ¡°I have to say, Scar¡ªyou¡¯ve truly outdone yourself this time. Your inheritor this going around is quite amazing. Befriending a monstrous youth like Ronan and revealing an extremely destructive technique? I have half a mind to steal him from your and teach him my ways.¡±

    Scar chuckled and entertained his quips. ¡°Unfortunately for you, that twerp is someone I¡¯m willing to protect. Are you ready to risk your longevity by thinking of stealing from me?¡±

    ¡°Oooh~! Scary,¡± Caecus chortled.

    Ezrath nced at the two of them before rubbing his chin in thought. ¡®Truly a surprise. Thankfully, I wasn¡¯t foolish enough to bet with him again. It has be anyone¡¯s match.¡¯

    After understanding this fact, Ezrath voiced something on his mind. ¡°I recall that technique. Didn¡¯t you showcase that attack in this same event? What was it called¡­ Dread Swiping? No¡­ Dread Sweeping-¡°

    ¡°Dread Culling, you damned fool,¡± Scar said with a subtle growl.

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s it. A pretty strong skill, but it¡¯s a shame he consumed so much energy with a single usage,¡± Ezrath sighed and shook his head, feeling somewhat sorry for Kieran.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s the kid¡¯s second time using it. I don¡¯t expect him to have any mastery over it,¡± Scar shrugged.

    However, his statement made Ezrath and Caecus gawk, wondering if their ears had failed them. ¡°Did you just say it was his second time using the skill? If that¡¯s the case, I recant myment. That control is exceptional for a second usage.¡±

    Of course, Scar forgot to add ¡°sessful usage,¡± but he didn¡¯t correct them. It made him feel more proud when these two regarded Kieran as a little monster.

    ¡­

    A few minutester, the wall around Bra¡¯s fight exploded, revealing a maddened Bra with several cuts to his arms and reddened eyes. His battle against Maveli was more challenging than he expected.

    ¡°Damn it! I guess his moniker as the Wild Assaulter wasn¡¯t just for show,¡± Bra remarked while spitting out some blood pooling in his mouth.

    On the other hand, the pulverized Maveliy under the rubble, bruised, battered, andpletely unconscious.

    Brapletely disregarded Maveli, instead setting his sights on Kieran, who rose to his feet after hearing the morous explosion.

 Chapter 232 Earthshattering Abomination

    ¡ª

    Bra¡¯s previously savage expression darkened after learning of his current circumstances.

    They betrayed his expectations, which included his battle against Maveli and his uing opponent.

    ¡°Eh?! What the hell is this?! Where is Ronan? I came all this way to have a fair fight with him, and the only one left on the stage is a pittance like you?¡± Bra scowled, bing indignant that Kieran wasn¡¯t his final opponent.

    As Bra entertained the thought that Kieran was his final opponent, his expression darkened further. Although he vowed to teach Kieran a lesson, he joined thispetition to battle against Ronan, who everyoneuded as the strongest of this generation.

    Bra couldn¡¯t ept that most of the council¡¯s attention shifted to a person that barely showed their presence within the walls of the War Deity Council.

    The allure of the special prize meant nothing to Bra. Due to the status of his opulent backer, all Bra sought was to assert dominance at any given opportunity.

    Kieran noticed Bra¡¯s darkened and almost sinister expression as his Retaliatory Sense tingled unlike no other. The sense of peril hadn¡¯t been this strong throughout the entirepetition, including when he was targeted at the event¡¯s start.

    Kieran could feel it¡ªBra wanted to draw blood and teach a lesson.

    However, Kieran wrapped hisrge hand around Crimson Ashrune¡¯s hilt and pulled therge sword from the ground with a steady stance.

    Ignoring his exhaustion, Kieran¡¯s emotionless gaze fell upon the fuming Bra, who ground his teeth hard enough to cause resounding noise throughout the broken tform.

    ¡°The final fight of thepetition is upon us,¡± General Zieg announced. At the same time, he looked toward Ronan with a faint nod.

    Ronan pped his hands and spread them apart, creating a giant prism of gravitational energy designed to manage the <span>fallout of Kieran and Bra¡¯s sh.

    The final round¡¯s swift nature led to all downed opponents remaining nearby. Most of the staff was busy taking care of the earliest elimination. Their injuries proved more severe since they were weaker inparison.

    The top contenders¡¯ physiques were resilient and more robust, capable of distributing and enduring massive amounts of damage. So immediate medical attention was unneeded.

    Besides, they wanted to see the oue of thispetition with their own eyes after waking up from their brief bout of unconsciousness.

    Bra gripped his twin axes until they emitted a strange, frightening noise. As he approached Kieran, he growled like a feral beast, berserk energy spilling off his body in droves.

    ¡¸Lv.51 Bra, The Nightmarish Savage (Titled Epic NPC)

    ss: Berserker

    Health: 37,950,800/50,000,000 (75%)

    Affiliation: ?War Deity Council? ¡¹

    Contrary to the standard ss in Bra¡¯s information, he wasn¡¯t a normal Berserker.

    There were variations to the ss based on the user¡¯s unique traits. Bra¡¯s Berserker ss was one of the most frightening, which would soon run rampant within the arena.

    However, the fact Bra was considered a Berserker awakened an urge within Kieran¡ªthe desire to assert dominance and show Bra how insignificant he was.

    Kieran didn¡¯t care if Bra was another Advanced Being; Kieran could only describe Bra¡¯s current condition as equally terrible.

    Additionally, he was different from Ronan. He had only just stepped into the realm of Advanced Beings, whereas Ronan was already Lv.55 with Health that couldn¡¯t be defined.

    On the contrary, Bra¡¯s 50 million Health didn¡¯t seem like such an insurmountable task.

    ¡°Hahaha,¡± Bra released a peal of hystericalughter after seeing Kieran¡¯s current condition. ¡°Little vermin, what do you think you can aplish? I will squash you, and there is nothing you can do about it. I will rid your vile ipetence from the world.¡±

    From the glint in Bra¡¯s eyes, Kieran could see that his reason was fading, only to be reced by madness and bloodlust. Although he wasn¡¯t a True Berserker, incapable of manipting his vitality, Bra possessed the pinnacle of a Berserker¡¯s traits.

    Unfortunately, Kieran had no intentions of losing against this man, not after Bra released such a dense bloodlust toward him.

    Kieran had decided that Bra must be taught a lesson. His extreme skills like Deranged Spirit, Abhorrent Paroxysm, and Dread Culling were inessible, but that was fine. Against Bra, they weren¡¯t required.

    ¡­

    In the stands above, Scar revealed an ecstatic grin. ¡°Boys, you¡¯re about to witness the True Berserker¡¯s authentic way of fighting.¡±

    ¡°How can you tell?¡± Ezrath questioned, a look of skepticism stered across his face. He couldn¡¯t sense the change that Scar was sensitive to.

    ¡°One, we seek to assert dominance by nature. Two, my boy has trained in that particr way of fighting nonstop for more than two days. He hasn¡¯t revealed it thus far, but he will undoubtedly reveal it now. When the power is infantile, this way of fighting can only ur when the body is bruised and battered,¡± Scar answered, his expression filling with pride and glory.

    Kieran¡¯s christening of the most brutal power was upon him.

    Caecus and Ezrath silently turned their gaze to the stage below, attentively listening to Scar¡¯s description of what was toe. After learning of it, unbridled excitement bubbled up inside of them.

    ¡­

    General Zieg didn¡¯t utter the start of this match; Bra simply raced toward Kieran like a crazed fiend in a fit of blind rage.

    Contrary to Bra¡¯s actions, Kieran remained still and recalled the words Scar said to them at the beginning of their training. Only a fool would rush into battle against an opponent without gauging the disparity in their raw strength and processing ways to narrow this disparity.

    After watching Bra¡¯s frantic rush, Kieran noticed his actions were quite chaotic, but there was a recurring pattern in how he moved. This only happened for one reason.

    ¡®He¡¯s hiding an injury that can¡¯t be resolved in a short amount of time. But where is it?¡¯ Kieran wondered. His analyzation burrowed deeper as he dissected Bra¡¯s every action, especially the ones leading up to his recurring movement pattern.

    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Kieran muttered with a sh of realization passing through his gaze.

    Afterward, Kieran stepped back and turned his body, flowing underneath Bra¡¯s first swing, and then ducked, avoiding Bra¡¯s second swing. Due to his fluid movements, Bra¡¯s attacks hit nothing but air.

    Kieran, on the other hand, swung his body and used Crimson Ashrune¡¯s hilt to hit the connective joint on Bra¡¯s jaw. The damage was negligible, but Kieran wasn¡¯t looking to end everything within one strike.

    Kieran wanted to torment Bra and make him understand that despite his higher level, he would never amount to even a fraction of Kieran¡¯s ability.

    Power could make someone indisputable, but <span>control and authority can make one infallible; there was a significant divide between those two concepts.

    In Kieran¡¯s eyes, Bra¡¯s one advantage was might. His reasoning was too frail, which as a Berserker wasn¡¯t dire, but against a Berserker that traveled a path of perfection, it was a grave w.

    Bra lifted his foot to kick Kieran, but he jumped and used Bra¡¯s foot as a spring to help him gain height. After taking to the skies, Kieran once again created a faint blood tform to perform an abrupt aerial dive.

    Whoosh!

    Kieran arrived at the ground in an instant, bing a sh of crimson light. After he passed by Bra, a thin cut that seeped a trickle of blood surfaced on Bra¡¯s cheek.

    Kieran stood behind Bra with an imposing presence and fearless expression before speaking. ¡°From here on out, you will noty a hand on me. I will show you what this vermin is capable of. Your inability will drive you to madness, and no one wille to save you from the despair of defeat.¡±

    People like Bra couldn¡¯t fathom or process defeat, and Kieran was well aware of that fact.

    An utter defeat would likely shatter their resolve or turn them into a hateful existence, who embittered by their circumstances, began to run amok.

    The bacsh of his actions was of no consequence to Kieran because he simply couldn¡¯t bring himself to care. His mind was set the moment Bra directed pure bloodthirst toward him.

    A challenge of ruthlessness and maliciousness? Kieran wouldn¡¯t lose.

    Fury bubbled up with Bra as he roared to the sky while swinging his arm in an arc, intending to sever Kieran¡¯s head from his body.

    ¡°Mana Manifestation: Earthstattering Abomination!¡±

    A frightening existence, seeming to me some type of abominable colossus, released a deafening roar after it appeared.

    It possessed a set of unfocused eyes, an oversized mouth filled with numerousrge teeth, where the outside was stitched together, and two sets of arms, onerge and one small and grotesque.

    The sensation it gave off was one of fury, destruction, deep malice, and an unidentified amalgam of emotions.

    Both Bra and the manifested abomination emitted a crazed roar, projectingrge amounts of revolting fluids.

    Many whoid eyes upon Bra¡¯s manifestation felt it was off-putting. How did hee to possess that dastardly manifestation? It seemed like something no human would willingly draw power from.

    However, Bra wasn¡¯t like most humans. He would ept a path regardless of the consequences if it could give him power.

    But unlike several of the participants who returned to watch the final fight, Kieran remained calm, unperturbed by this unnerving sight.

 Chapter 233 An Unstoppable?

    ¡ª

    Kieran dodged several of the Earthshattering Abomination¡¯s attacks, weaving effortlessly between the gaps in its momentum. It was a creaturecking reason, so its actions were fueled by impulsive intent.

    However, such unrefined attacksckingplexity or mastered simplicity couldn¡¯t touch someone like Kieran, especially after he raised his execution of el Shift and Surge Step to another echelon by attempting to learn Phantasmal Flicker.

    ¡°Damned vermin. Is dodging all your vile existence can muster?! Attempting to exhaust me? It¡¯ll never happen,¡± Bra snarled, his voice thick with malice and sinister intent.

    ¡°Twin Axe Devastation: Catastrophic Winds!¡±

    A colossal wind filled with catastrophic energyshed across the air, billowing toward Kieran, who eyed it with a strange glint in his eyes. He had witnessed this technique once before. It was the technique Bra unleashed before Zinsei interfered in his round.

    The attack was dreadful, to say the least, but it couldn¡¯tpare to any of Ronan¡¯s gravity attacks, and Kieran felt this in an instant.

    He raised his de and pooled the abounding feelings of rage into his next attack.

    ¡°Blood Pulse!¡±

    The disorienting pulse of bloody vitality surged toward Bra¡¯s iing attack, creating a heated contest of might. At times it looked like Bra¡¯s attack would overtake Kieran¡¯s, but he waved his hand and injected additional strength into the attack until they both dissipated.

    ¡°As I said before, your attacks will fail to touch me. You are a sorry excuse for a Berserker, whereas I am the real deal. You know nothing of channeling your rage, your pain, your suffering. You give in to it as I once did, which makes you weak,¡± Kieran said callously.

    Bra bellowed indignantly. ¡°You can¡¯t judge me! Sorry excuse?! You feel you are above me because of your backer when you are, in fact, beneath me? Forget the tournament; I won¡¯t stop until I rip apart! The gall of insignificant cretins!¡±

    Bang!

    Bra jumped toward Kieran, preparing his next strike.

    ¡°Twin Axe Devastation: Catastrophic Cross!¡±

    Bra crossed his arms, forming an X-shaped pattern, before forcefully swinging them. Arge amount of Mana surged toward his attack, augmenting it until a collection of devastating energy created a massive X-shaped attack.

    Under normal circumstances, Kieran would feel a tinge of despair creep into this mind as this attack was powerful enough to dismay several contestants.

    However, Kieran continued to speak as the attack approached him.

    ¡°The inability to mature emotionally is a sign of deep insecurity. Using external approbation will never fill that insufferable void within you. Do you think you understand what a Berserker is? You don¡¯t. You¡¯re feeding a toxic power, which will eventually devour you. I will open your eyes, even if it means destroying who you are in the process,¡± Kieran said.

    He took a single step toward Bra¡¯s iing attack, and seconds before itnded, Kieran¡¯s body flickered, reappearing a hundred meters away, a few steps from where Bra wouldnd.

    Without looking, Kieran lifted Crimson Ashrune toward the descending Bra and uttered a single phrase. ¡°Seethe Burst.¡±

    Bang!

    Unlike before, Kieran created an independent yet magnificent blood sword thrice the size of Crimson Ashrune. Once formed, the sword raced toward Bra like a homing missile.

    Even after descending faster, the sword dived down and followed Bra¡¯s path.

    ¡°Explode,¡± Kieranmanded.

    BOOM!

    The Seethe Burst erupted, forcing Bra into the ground with force akin to a descending meteor.

    ¡°Death Avoidance,¡± Kieran called out.

    The vitality surrounding his body thrummed as he walked forward calmly. It was difficult to sense any emotion from him, like a lifeless husk, but Scar understood it was precisely the opposite.

    Kieran diverted arge portion of his focus to feeding Blood Mania¡¯s source rune his emotions to upkeep a consistent flow of Fervor Augmentation. Right now, Kieran was the calmest yet angriest he had ever been outside of the irregr effects of Deranged Spirit.

    ¡°Argh!¡± Bra blew through the rubble and charged toward Kieran.

    Compared to seconds before, his aura seemed to have grown considerably, adopting one of the most fearsome abilities of a Berserker.

    ¡®Oh? He¡¯s one of the unstoppable,¡¯ Kieran inwardly remarked.

    Unstoppables referred to Berserkers with a tendency to continue getting up despite the damage inflicted upon them. The more damage they received, the higher their internal force became. It was simr to the effects of Kieran¡¯s Blood Mania, just not as perfected.

    It could only increase the Berserker¡¯s power ording to the amount of damage inflicted upon them, which they couldn¡¯t control. At least, not someone like Bra, who knew no restraint.

    ¡°I will knock you down as many times as you can get up. You will know your ce,¡± Kieran stated, directing a gaze cold enough to freeze over hell toward Bra.

    At this point, Bra¡¯s ability to speak vanished. With the presence of this ¡°unstoppable¡± power, Bra approached a feeling identical to the Earthshattering Abomination behind him.

    Bang!

    Bra suddenly sped up.

    ¡®Blood Strengthening. Fervor Augmentation, maximum efficiency,¡¯ Kieran spoke in his mind.

    Blood Mania¡¯s source rune thrummed as it released a ripple that seemed to shatter a kind of restraint. Continuously withstanding Ronan and Bra¡¯s attacks pushed the skill past an extreme threshold.

    ¡´System: Your Unique ss Skill ?Blood Mania? has reached Lv.5. As the first major threshold, its effects have solidified and taken a step towards its true power.¡µ

    As the source rune released a renewed vigor, Kieran swung his sword and met Bra¡¯s iing attack.

    Bang!

    The already shattered ground fractured further from the frightening impact that urred. Kieran felt pain in his arm and noticed Bra bringing down his second axe.

    Kieran balled his fist and threw an explosive punch at the axe. The oue mangled his hand, but Kieran¡¯s expression grew incredibly ruthless, ignoring the pain.

    ¡°Vim Restoration!¡±

    The mangled hand immediately recovered feeling as the numb sensation vanished alongside the bones being reconstructed. Kieran grabbed Bra¡¯s head with savage force and drove his knee into Bra¡¯s face with the intent to pierce it.

    Aftward, Kieran tightened his grip on Bra¡¯s head and flipped him to the ground. While above his body, Kieran removed his hand and activated a skill with a menacing smirk.

    ¡°Wrath Eruption!¡±

    A web-shaped crack bloomed across the stage as the impact of Kieran¡¯s Wrath Eruption buried Bra beneath the ground.

    Kieran¡¯s feet returned to the ground a momentter, but he quickly created space between him and Bra. Despite burying Bra beneath meters of rubble, Kieran could feel a developing rumble.

    Bra would undoubtedly return to the surface.

    Bang!

    Bra sprouted from the ground,nding on the floor with a heavy tremor. His expression was dark and contorted, as was his nose. Kieran¡¯s brutal attack had almost disfigured his face.

    However, ignoring the condition of his face, one couldn¡¯t help but notice the red mist seeping from Bra¡¯s body. It wasn¡¯t blood; it was Mana in a berserk form¡ªone that threatened to change Bra at his core.

    ¡®Allowing your Mana to face preliminary corruption? More immature than I thought,¡¯ Kieran shook his head with a disappointed sigh.

    Unfortunately for Bra, he meant his words stated earlier. He would ensure Bra suffered defeat, even if his actions destroyed him in the process.

    Kieran was simply inured to the consequences of these actions.

    Bra became faster and more robust, bombarding Kieran with an onught of attacks, including one that left a deep crevasse in the nonexistent tform.

    Despite the fact he wielded two weapons, Kieran kept his promise. None of Bra¡¯s attacks managed to bypass Kieran¡¯s deflection, regardless of how much damage he suffered.

    ¡°Death Avoidance,¡± Kieran coolly remarked.

    A burst of vitality filled his body as Kieran reversed the moment. ¡°All Berserkers possess a limit. We¡¯ll find yours. No matter how much rage you contain, your vessel can only withstand so much.¡±

    Meanwhile, Kieran adopted a True Berserker¡¯s proper way of fighting. Vim Restoration and Death Avoidance existed to prolong and intensify a True Berserker¡¯s onught.

    Although they were ssified as healing skills, their true purpose was to assist in domination.

    This brutal way ofbat left spectators aghast, appalled, and their mouths agape. How could someone be so ruthless to themselves?!

    After ying along for several tens of exchanges, Kieran¡¯s deep voice sounded. ¡°Do you know fear? The threat of death? If you¡¯re unfamiliar, allow me to introduce you to it.¡±

    Kieran noticed Bra¡¯s mental state had reached a bottom line, which served as an opportunity to end this battle.

    ¡°Manifestation: Macabre Animosity.¡±

    Once this technique appeared, everyone in the stand gawked. Why? Because of this pressure. It was one only a soul could exude¡ªa soul steeped in the darkest recesses of malevolence.

    Even those who were already Awakened felt an ominous threat of death looming over their mind as the stage was filled with a macabre presence.

    ¡®This young man has an Awakened Soul Trait?!¡¯ General Zieg¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.

    After experiencing a Will Refinement, which was directly linked to the condition of one¡¯s soul, Kieran¡¯s Soul Manifestation ripened.

    Due to the pressure he sensed, General Zieg somewhat paled. ¡®Bra is the student of General Saeva, who even I can¡¯t contain. Should I stop this battle? Based on the current pressure, the odds of Bra¡¯s victory are clear. He can¡¯t win against an Awakened Soul Trait.¡¯

    Unfortunately, General Zieg¡¯s consideration came toote. The effects of Kieran¡¯s Macabre Animosity were instant.

 Chapter 234 Herculean Round

    ¡ª

    When Kieran¡¯s Macabre Animosity appeared, Bra was instantly plunged into a world of darkness saturated with death-inducing circumstances of the vilest nature.

    His body froze on the stage, trembling in abject horror, but his mind wasn¡¯t as frozen.

    ¡®W-¡­ What is this?¡¯ Bra muttered, his usually savage tone growing meek as a dreadful fear crept upon him.

    Within two seconds, his sclera turned bloodshot, and blood began seeping from his eye sockets as Bra dropped to his knees.

    Although he was the only person inside this bleak world Kieran¡¯s Macabre Animosity created, he couldn¡¯t help but feel like something was pulling him towards death.

    Inside that world, his body began to decay and fade, but in the next moment, it was rebirthed, creating a cruel cycle of torment that became a massive burden on his psyche.

    In the real world, less than three seconds had passed, but Bra felt like he had lived through countless deaths that spanned an eternity. The burden on his mind became so great that his eyes began to roll back while his cheeks grew pale and concave.

    Throughout this process, Kieran approached him with a deliberate gait.

    ¡°You decided to mess with the wrong opponent. Never judge a book by its cover because you can never truly tell what¡¯s hidden between the pages. Let this be a lesson to you,¡± Kieran said in an icy tone.

    Bra couldn¡¯t hear his remark in the real world, but because Kieran was the warden of that macabre space, his voice resonated throughout, searing directly into his mind. It would be an experience Bra would never forget.

    Kieran released his Soul Manifestation and paled, but he didn¡¯t stop his actions, cing his hand against Bra¡¯s chest and unleashing a sudden Wrath Eruption.

    Due to the force funneled into the attack, Bra mmed into the coliseum¡¯s fence on the other side of the tform.

    Once that happened, Kieran stood there calmly, holding his trusted Crimson Ashrune in hand.

    At that moment, his back seemed unusually wide, and his shoulders seemed capable of upholding the world despite his currently pale countenance.

    Introducing the True Berserker¡¯s muttion style and a Soul Manifestation left the crowd in awe. However, to ensure the viewers were left in suspense, he disabled the audio for the time being.

    He didn¡¯t want them to hear the chants regarding his Soul Manifestation because while he revealed it, it was still a power far beyond any ordinary yer¡¯s grasp. It wasn¡¯t something they should seek for the time being.

    Once the chants subsided, the atmosphere grew tense for quite some time. Even Ronan looked at Kieran in slight disbelief, unaware he possessed something like a Soul Trait.

    ¡®Things would have transpired differently if he revealed such formidable power. Part of me wishes he did because I¡¯m left with a what-if. Perhaps we¡¯ll rectify this issue in the future,¡¯ Ronan thought to himself.

    Had he known Kieran possessed a Soul Trait, at the very least, he would have revealed a power heprehended not too long ago.

    However, what would Ronan¡¯s response be if he learned that Kieran possessed another frightening ability that shouldn¡¯t belong to an Intermediate Being? Surely he¡¯d demand a rematch at some point to determine Kieran¡¯s actual limits.

    What he disyed before Ronan was a false limit, achieved by honing his skills in another direction.

    Finally, after almost thirty seconds ofplete silence, General Zieg approached Kieran and raised his right hand with a triumphant expression. ¡°The winner of the 1,108th Annual diator¡¯s Coliseum has been crowned! A round of apuse for our winner¡ªAatrox, Inheritor of the Berserk Path, under the direct tutge of Commander Scar!¡±

    ¡°Aatrox!¡±

    ¡°Congrattions!¡±

    ¡°Long live Commander Scar!¡±

    ¡°Damn, what a dark horse. Who would have thought someone with such a wide difference in level possessed such frightening power? My eyes have been opened. I¡¯ve learned to be less judgmental.¡±

    Amidst thements, General Zieg turned to Kieran and asked a question. ¡°Would you like to speak any words?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Kieran nodded, somewhat disregarding General Zieg¡¯s question.

    Kieran took a step and nced up in a particr direction with a faint smirk. ¡°Master Scar, it seems as if I have won that bet. I want rewards with haste. After all, it¡¯s thanks to your training that I revealed such an outstanding performance.¡±

    Scar grimaced and looked around bitterly when he noticed many eyes turned toward him, some bearing gawking expressions. Kieran¡¯s words were too direct, painting him in a horrible light.

    How many people would engage in a bet with their pupils? Wasn¡¯t that a sign of irresponsibility?

    Some people looked at Scar scornfully, wondering if he was a person fit to be a master.

    Nevertheless, Scar cleared his throat and spoke clearly despite the onlookers. ¡°Oh? Are you sure? But you haven¡¯t even joined the special round yet. How can you im that you have fulfilled your part of the deal?¡±

    Kieran frowned as his expression grew dark. ¡®Damn you, Scar! I¡¯ve been had again. I didn¡¯t notice it before, but he skillfully changed his words before he finalized our bet.¡¯

    Only now did Kieran realize how Scar switched to extremely vague wording. Scar didn¡¯t say Kieran had to achieve first ce and win thepetition; he asked that Kieran uphold their legacy to the fullest extent.

    Because Kieran didn¡¯t understand this wording, he thought nothing of it. Who would have thought there was a supposed special round?

    With a frown, Kieran turned toward General Zieg for confirmation.

    Upon noticing Kieran¡¯s expression, General Zieg helplessly nodded. ¡°Scar¡¯s words are the truth. A special round is extended to the winner of the annualpetition¡ªdouble jeopardy if you will.¡±

    A double jeopardy round meant that, should Kieran ept to partake in the special round, Kieran would risk leaving this ce with no points. But, if he emerged victorious, he would double his points, which after iming first ce, ballooned to 932,540.

    If he triumphed over this round, Kieran would end up with over 1.8 million points, avable to use inside the War Deity Exchange.

    Furthermore, these points were separate from the unique opportunity he had already acquired from iming first ce.

    Kieran¡¯s desire for Scar¡¯s Esoteric Skill and his curiosity toward the unique round overwhelmed his reason, leading him to make a reckless decision. ¡°I¡¯d like to challenge the special round if that¡¯s the case.¡±

    General Zieg revealed a bitter smile after looking at Kieran¡¯s current condition. After using Vim Restoration several times, his body was littered with minor contusions and abrasions, some directly resulting from his destructive fighting style.

    ¡°Are you sure that is a wise decision? If you lose, you will forfeit all of the points in your possession. However, you¡¯ll retain your right to experience the special opportunity,¡± General Zieg voiced, expressing his concern for Kieran¡¯s well-being.

    Based on the abilities he disyed thus far, General Zieg wouldn¡¯t be surprised if Kieran was on the verge of copse¡ªany normal person would. Unfortunately, Kieran was far from ordinary.

    Despite General Zieg¡¯s concern, Kieran resolutely nodded. ¡°I am sure.¡±

    ¡®I¡¯ve heard rumors of the exchange. My current points may seem like a lot, but they mean nothing when looking at the useful items. If I want to stumble across anything of worthwhile value, I suspect anything below 1.5 million points will not do.¡¯

    Since many contestants forfeited the final round, an insane amount of points were voided, leaving many points to vanish from thepetition.

    If not for Ronan¡¯s presence, the number of people that vied for the top spot would have significantly increased.

    After Kieran epted the challenge, General Zieg bought two fingers to his mouth and emitted a strange, ear-piercing whistle.

    A subtle tremor followed a few seconds after.

    The source of the tremor was two individuals approaching the arena.

    One seemed to be a young man between the age of 24 to 28. They possessed a thick head of yellowish-brown hair and ferocious orange eyes, eerily reminiscent of a lion. The young man wore heavy armor with hints of red, tan, and gold, giving off a heavy feeling.

    Arge belt wrapped around the individual¡¯s waist with a roaring lion pressed on a massive buckle. It covered a considerable portion of the man¡¯s waist.

    Next to the man was another hulking figure dressed in thin ck armor. The slender design gave off the feeling of a demonic knight as a pair of fierce grey eyes shined underneath a pointed helmet with a long white tassel.

    ¡°High Commander Igris, Thrax,¡± General Zieg greeted.

    High Commander Igris swept his gaze toward Kieran, bothered by what he saw. ¡°My champion is to go against the likes of him? In such a battered state? When had the special round be a circus show? I didn¡¯t expect you to extend the custom to someone that didn¡¯t achieve an overwhelming victory.¡±

    General Zieg frowned deeply, but it quickly faded as he decided not to quarrel with High Commander Igris. ¡°Customs are customs. The neer will go against the previous year¡¯s champion in the special round. This year, it is named the Herculean Round by the right of your champion. Whether or not you wish to partake in it isn¡¯t up to you. Rules must be followed.¡±

    High Commander Igris scoffed. ¡°A waste of our time.¡±

    However, High Commander Igris couldn¡¯t disregard the customs, or he would risk punishment from a High General.

    High Commander Igris walked to Thrax and whispered in his ear using a skillful concealment technique. ¡°Waste him as soon as the round begins. This farce is ridiculous. As long as you make a move within the round, they can¡¯t penalize you.¡±

 Chapter 235 Blaspheming the Unspoken Rule

    ¡ª

    Thrax absorbed the advice of his master and looked at Kieran with a silent nod.

    His opinion was pretty much the same. Rather than make necessary preparations for a real threat, he was called upon to participate in this traditional round, also known as the Champion¡¯s Round.

    The Champion¡¯s Round¡¯s purpose was to provide one lucky person insight. The insight was broad, such as shedding light upon the power of the previous generation, revealing aspects one could improve oneself in, and unveiling the traditional task of a Champion.

    A Champion should serve as a role model for the future generation, which is why every Champion¡¯s Round was unique, adopting the name of the former Champion¡¯s title.

    This year it would be called the Herculean Round, a representation of Thrax¡¯s moniker.

    Kieran locked eyes with Thrax across the tform, gazing at him indifferently and strangely.

    A peculiar glint shed through Kieran¡¯s eyes as Retaliatory Sense hummed inside his mind. The oue was something unfamiliar to Kieran because the ability would usually activate in a quick burst.

    The sustained droning made Kieran question its meaning. ¡®Could my senses be alerting me that I¡¯ve stepped into the presence of a predator? But, if that were true, the same effect should have urred during my fight against Ronan and Bra. No¡­ it¡¯s something else.¡¯

    General Zieg noticed Kieran¡¯s peculiar gaze and interpreted it as questioning why he must go against an absurd opponent.

    ¡°The chasm in strength has always beenrge during this round, but having you win is not our intent. Your objective is tost ten minutes while extracting crucial knowledge from your opponent. Seed, and you will be this year¡¯s Champion.¡±

    ¡®Endure for ten minutes?¡¯ Kieran inwardly muttered. His expression sank because he felt doing so would be incredibly difficult. Why? Because he received important information regarding Thrax¡¯s strength.

    ¡¸Lv.60 Thrax, The Herculean Mountain (Titled Epic NPC)

    ss: Herculean Monk

    Health: ??? (100%)

    Affiliation: ?War Deity Council? ¡¹

    ¡®A Monk¡­¡¯ Kieran thought.

    A Monk was a specialized path of a Fighter, particrly a Pugilist. They were known for their incredibly swift actions, which betrayed their size and the fact they wielded devastating striking power.

    Monks were a somewhat unfathomable existence because it was a path inessible without diligence. And because his opponent possessed a further refined version, Kieran couldn¡¯t see himself stretching this match to ten minutes.

    If Kieran¡¯s destructive power was considered his forte, then speed was his secondary forte. What remained if we removed both factors? His resiliency, which in this case, didn¡¯t seem particrly helpful.

    ¡°Can we begin already? I¡¯d much rather spend my time elsewhere,¡± Thrax said in a brusque tone. His tone, while offensive, didn¡¯t pass the line of no respect, so General Zieg could only frown in response.

    Instead of starting as per Thrax¡¯s brusque request, General Zieg sought Kieran¡¯s opinion. He was well aware that Kieran¡¯s current condition was far from ideal.

    ¡°Are you prepared to take on this Herculean Round? I will tell you this now¡ªThrax is a genuine Advanced Being with experience in wielding the powers essible to the stage. In this situation, the prudent choice would be wise,¡± General Zieg said.

    Kieran forced a smile as he shook his head.

    If he backed out now, wouldn¡¯t that be the opposite of upholding his True Berserker legacy to the fullest extent? During their training, Scar had drilled into Kieran¡¯s mind that a True Berserker could not retreat from challenge and adversity.

    A weakness in one¡¯s spirit was the perfect vulnerability for Argexes¡¯ Blood to target. Thus, Kieran gave the only eptable answer. ¡°I¡¯mmitted to seeing this through till the bitter end.¡±

    Even if he failed, at least his disy of courage would fulfill Scar¡¯s terms of the bet. He didn¡¯t back down despite the strength of his opponent.

    ¡°Very well,¡± General Zieg said with a solemn nod. However, he couldn¡¯t begin this round without making the proper preparations. ¡°Commander Caecus, please alert the medical staff to be on immediate standby to render emergency aid.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Caecus said up above. One of his abilities involved an extraordinary maniption of Mana that most of the Warrior and Fighter paths couldn¡¯t grasp.

    The invalid nature of Caecus¡¯ eyes heightened his perception of Mana in the other four categories.

    A byproduct of this heightening was the ability to speak through Mana despite not being a Seer, a specialized path that had a critical support role on the battlefield.

    Once the message was sent and Caecus verified it was delivered and epted with extreme attentiveness, General Zieg allowed the match¡¯smencement.

    ¡°You may begin. Best of luck to you, Challenger Aatrox. Remember, even if you fail, your prize is secured. You will simply lose all right to your additional prize,¡± General Zieg said, reminding Kieran of his stakes.

    It was a way to indirectly tell Kieran not to put his life on the line. In the end, the War Deity Exchanges was nothing more than a glorified marketce that could be essedter if needed.

    ¡°I appreciate the warning and concern, General Zieg¡ªyou are a remarkable person. However, I never walk into a battle without any intention of giving it my all. That¡¯s how unfortunate turns of events arise,¡± Kieran said, turning his back to General Zieg afterward.

    He stood a few meters away from Thrax, who cracked their fist and neck with a bored expression.

    Kieran knew Thrax looked down upon him as an inferior opponent, which was understandable given his high level. But Kieran felt Thrax was misinformed since he hadn¡¯t witnessed the events that transpired a few seconds prior to his arrival.

    Nevertheless, Kieran would give it his all regardless of Thrax¡¯s opinion.

    ¡°Begin,¡± General Zieg called out. His eyes hid concern and regret, feeling that Kieran should be a near-empty vessel at this point. He could only imagine how draining that Soul Trait¡¯s activation was.

    The moment the match started, Thrax summoned an immense metal gauntlet that gave off an oppressive feeling. Contrary to Kieran¡¯s expectations, only one gauntlet appeared, covering Thrax¡¯s right hand.

    The gauntlet was shaped like a roaring lion with two bright gems existing as its eyes. An earthen glow surrounded the gems as space quivered from the pressure.

    As soon as this gauntlet appeared, Kieran¡¯s pupils contracted. Without analyzing the weapon, he verified one thing. This gauntlet wasn¡¯t an Epic Weapon or a Legendary Weapon¡ªit was a Legacy Armament.

    Before Kieran could react, he felt his world turn grey as a mountainous pressure crushed his shoulders, restricting his ability to move.

    The next moment, Thrax struck his weapon-equipped hand down like a chopping hammer.

    ¡°Herculean Might: Compressed Demolition!¡±

    A herculean pressure billowed toward Kieran¡¯s body at a disturbing angle. The atmosphere cowered before the attack¡¯s might as a condensed cluster of yellowish-orange energy collided against the left side of Kieran¡¯s body.

    Crunch!

    The sound of numerous bones breaking resounded, leaving everyone appalled.

    Even Scar clutched his seat until the armrest shattered, and the entire chair exploded into a fine dust. That strike just now was something not even some of Thrax¡¯s peers could handle.

    Why would he use such disturbing force?

    It was a known fact that the Champion Round existed to gradually increase pressure and extract the most potential from this year¡¯s winner without jeopardizing their future. The logic of this round was: to strike the iron while it was hot.

    However, Thrax¡¯s attack didn¡¯t abide by that unspoken rule.

    Thrax especially should understand the meaning of leniency. The Champion he went against was one of the council¡¯s most monstrous talents¨DAggregor.

    While his talent was inferior to Ronan in terms of understanding his power¡¯s essence, Aggregor¡¯s physical might was unmatched. If he had executed his final attack, Thrax would have ended up crippled.

    General Zieg begrudgingly turned his head after sensing a boundless sense of murder emanating from his backside. Half of the diator¡¯s Coliseum was filled with an oppressive pressure that made breathing difficult.

    Scar¡¯s crimson eyes shed with indescribable fury as his gaze shifted from Thrax to the quiet High Commander Igris standing not too far away.

    High Commander Igris could sense the malice directed toward him and lifted his head to meet Scar¡¯s murderous gaze. Under his slender helmet, Igris¡¯ lips curved into a cruel smile undetectable to all.

    However, Scar could see the smile within Igris¡¯ minacious eyes.

    But, rather than focus his fury on Igris for the moment, he examined Kieran¡¯s injury from far away. The attack had destroyed arge portion of Kieran¡¯s left side, leaving a gash so deep his arm remained attached by a few durable tendons.

    Because of the pressure that locked him in ce, Kieran couldn¡¯t fall despite enduring excruciating pain. But putting aside the matter of his body, Kieran was confounded by his Health.

    It was literally one.

    Kieran wasn¡¯t sure if this phenomenon resulted from thepetition¡¯s special conditions or another inexplicable reason, but he didn¡¯t feel the threat of death.

    In ce of that sensation, Kieran felt unbridled fury, one violent enough to sunder the world. They wanted to kill him?!

    Before Thrax¡¯s attack arrived, Kieran sensed sinister intent filled with treachery. Although they were in the same organization, this fool wanted to im his life.

    The gall required to perform a foolish action like this was unthinkable.

    Kieran lifted his head after great difficulty and looked at Thrax.

    The pressure encasing his body suddenly disappeared, and it was not Thrax¡¯s doing. Kieran¡¯s sclera adopted a demonic ck color while his eyes turned a ravenous crimson color.

    Kieran¡¯s already pale countenance nched further as he lifted his right hand to the repugnant wound on his left shoulder, chest, and ribcage and spoke a phrase that practically stopped everyone¡¯s hearts.

    ¡°Aspect: Ruinous Negation!¡±

    ***

    A/N: Please read the Creator¡¯s Thoughts for a link to the discord if you¡¯re interested! If not, here:(Link: https:///en6DrVPQvN )

 Chapter 236 A Powerful Aspect, Outcome?

    ¡ª

    Following his Aspect¡¯s activation, the area within a small radius of Kieran plunged into a space devoid of vibrancy.

    An amalgam of ck, red, and dark grey energy fused into an aberrant power that exuded a chaotic, destructive, and dismantling presence.

    The existence of such a power was lost upon many that tried to grasp it. Many people had their spections, but the principle of this power was far too elusive.

    Not many individuals could grasp the transient essence required to create an Aspect, much less one that triggered an ominous phenomenon.

    However, although most spectators were mystified by the power Kieran had just revealed, there were some dismayed by it precisely because they were aware of such a presence.

    Aspects were the base form of Dominions, a power that no one under the level of a Second Awakening should grasp.

    ¡®This damned boy! He¡¯s even hidden something like this from me?! Not only has he awakened a Soul Trait powerful enough to crush the agency of semi-Advanced Being, but he¡¯s even formed an irregr Aspect?! I must¡¯ve been too lenient for him to keep such secrets from me. Damned brat!¡¯ Scar thought with an uneasy expression.

    If Kieran had revealed this under better circumstances, he wouldn¡¯t have been so worried. But, Aspects fused multiple facets of one¡¯s power by extracting a focal point from the user¡¯s desires and manipting it as the heart of the Aspect.

    When Kieran first created this Aspect, a fragment of his soul resonated with three major principles at the time.

    The first: destroying the enemies before him and emerging superior.

    The second: negating his enemy¡¯s attacks, leaving them void of energy.

    The third: finding order within the chaos to achieve a genuinely unpredictable power.

    When these three melded as one, it created his currently iplete Aspect, which could still grow. Despite the magnificence of this feat, even General Zieg and Scar looked upon the unruly energy with fearful expressions.

    What kind of soul could serve as the basis for an Aspect centered around the rudimentary forms of three major powers? Such a power did note without a cost.

    While the others looked at this battle with apprehension and fear, curiosity grew within Thrax¡¯s eyes. He wiped the side of his face and noticed a bead of sweat flowing down his forehead, something he hadn¡¯t expected.

    ¡®I¡¯m sweating? Do I feel fear that I¡¯m not aware of? It can¡¯t be the temperature of this ce because I sense nothing unusual besides this boy,¡¯ Thrax mused, shifting his gaze from his damp finger to Kieran¡¯s contorted expression.

    Rather than approach Kieran, Thrax nced in General Zieg¡¯s direction. ¡°What is wrong with this boy? Why is he emitting such a strange power? Furthermore¡­ why is he still standing?¡±

    ¡°The answer to thetter question is something I do not possess. However, the reason for the former is this young boy has created an Aspect,¡± General Zieg truthfully admitted.

    But, what he didn¡¯t reveal was his inner thoughts.

    ¡®The energy level isn¡¯t that strong¡­ but the purity of this Aspect surpasses my own. In its current form, the Aspect¡¯s density is irrelevant. As long as it is pure¡­.¡¯ General Zieg gulped as an appalled light shed in his eyes. ¡®There¡¯s a chance it can jump levels and inflict damage.¡¯

    Even if Kieran failed toplete the Herculean Round, his current actions confirmed one thing¡ªhe would undoubtedly be named an elite of this generation. A Soul Trait and an Aspect while merely an Intermediate Being?

    This level of talent was unheard of.

    After all, even though the Arcane One stepped in, there was no guarantee his Akashic Seal could unearth Kieran¡¯s Soul Trait. Some peoplecked a defined soul, meaning it was bare and undeserving of specified traits.

    Moreover, the difficulty of unlocking one¡¯s soul was directly rted to its strength, even if someone employed transcendental means. The potential of one¡¯s soul was an unchangeable matter. The only variable was how much of one¡¯s soul was unearthed.

    No one could mentally prepare themselves for these abnormal circumstances.

    ¡°An Aspect,¡± Thrax muttered with a strange light in his eyes.

    He had heard of Aspects before because all the personnel above a High Commander status possessed one, but he had never heard of someone creating one at this age.

    All of the Generals were hundreds of years old at the least. But the boy before him seemed no older than 20 years old, and it could be confirmed by his skeletal age if they ran some tests on Kieran¡¯s vessel.

    Kieran¡¯s brow twitched after he tried to move his body but noticed half of it felt inoperable. It was naturally the half of his body holding Crimson Ashrune. Even the effects of Tormented Beliefs: Dull couldn¡¯t offset the damage inflicted by Thrax¡¯s attack.

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Kieran grumbled, his throat rumbling like a growl of a feral beast. He waved his arm in a chaotic manner before grasping a tendril of the ominous energy that circted his body.

    Once he grasped this energy, Kieran¡¯s eyes lifted from the wound and fell upon Thrax with a peculiar glint. Despite the state of his gaze, describing his current emotion as wrath was incorrect.

    Kieran¡¯s only desire was to inflict the same damage he suffered, perhaps even greater. Because of this thought, Kieran lifted his right hand with his index finger extended, pointing at Thrax.

    ¡°Disappear,¡± Kieran uttered.

    Ooom!

    The chaotic energy swathed Kieran¡¯s arm like a coiling snake before discharging from his one fingertip. A crude beam of energy arrived before Thrax in an instant, dismantling space in the process, but it was only temporary, recovering a momentter.

    Nevertheless, the iing attack wasn¡¯t something Thrax could overlook. So he threw his gauntlet toward the iing belt of energy and swayed to the side in one fluid motion.

    Although Kieran¡¯s attack seemed weak, Thrax grimaced when he felt his gauntlet contact the energy. ¡®What the hell?! What type of energy is this?¡¯

    The contact was brief and slight, but Thrax felt as if his muscle and bone had be feeble for a moment, reverting to a fragility possessed during his years as an Intermediate Being.

    ¡°This boy¡¯s power is strange. My power hasn¡¯t receded, but meeting that attack gave off the impression that it did. It was as if all my progress was destroyed,¡± Thrax muttered, confounded by his discoveries.

    This power was too dangerous to let run amok!

    After resolving himself to do what was required, the look in Thrax¡¯s eyes changed as a deep yellow aura surfaced around his body.

    ¡°Advanced Pressure: Herculean Brawn!¡±

    Thrax¡¯s body grew twice asrge, gaining the size of the Giant Ogre Kieran battled against inside Forest of Marshullum. Additionally, he retrieved his second gauntlet, achieving aplete presence.

    General Zieg inwardly groaned after witnessing this scene.

    Not only had Thrax equipped his second weapon, he even activated his Advanced Pressure which had a suppressive effect on any being below his standard, including weaker Advanced Beings.

    Were such drastic measures necessary against an opponent that could barely move?

    Most people asked themselves this question after failing to grasp the true nature of Kieran¡¯s Aspect.

    While others feared the oue of Thrax¡¯s actions, Kieran indifferently nced at it as if it were insignificant. Like the pressure that held him in ce earlier, Kieran¡¯s Aspect dismantled Thrax¡¯s pressure once it invaded his realm of supremacy.

    As General Zieg feared, such a pure Aspect blurred the lines between power differentiation. Of course, it wasn¡¯t an omnipotent power. Not only did blood slowly trickle from Kieran¡¯s eyesocket, but he also couldn¡¯t create more of this aura.

    General Zieg noticed that after Kieran sent that attack toward Thrax, the chaotic tendrils surrounding Kieran¡¯s body lessened by an equal amount.

    ¡®This power mostly likely has a ceiling under which Thrax happens to fall. If he isn¡¯t careful, Aatrox will undoubtedly seek vengeance. Based on his personality thus far, he has reciprocated the attitude of every opponent. Thrax began this match on the wrong foot, and Aatrox will probably end it terribly. That is my conclusion.¡¯

    While General Zieg predicted the oue, Thrax suddenly received a telepathic message from High Commander Igris.

    ¡®Finish that young boy right this instant. His Aspect is dangerous and destructive. Do not let him continue with the false notion that he is your equal or superior.¡¯

    Thrax didn¡¯t respond as it was something he was incapable of. But, his response showed in his actions.

    Bang!

    Thrax dashed toward Kieran while pointing the gauntlets toward one another. An ember of yellow energy flickered before growing into a me-like presence.

    However, it could truly be considered a me. It was merely a manifestation of his might in a practical form.

    Unfortunately for Thrax, he made a grave oversight by stepping into Kieran¡¯s limited range of activity. Beyond this point, perhaps he stood a chance by dodging, but by stepping amongst the chaotic tendrils, Thrax resigned himself to fate.

    ¡°Ruin his heart,¡± Kieran spoke, stabbing his right hand forward like a de. Half of the tendrils massed as one, wreathing Kieran¡¯s arm.

    Kieran didn¡¯t defend against Thrax¡¯s iing fist and matched the speed of the strike. If Thrax continued, Kieran¡¯s strike would undoubtedly pierce his chest since it was an attack aimed at his heart.

    A moment of hesitation befell Thrax¡¯s actions, where he considered withdrawing. But, the dy was foolish, providing Kieran an opportunity to act haphazardly.

    Kieranpleted his attack regardless of whether Thrax advanced or retreated.

    Schrrrk!

    A ripping noise sounded after Thrax dodged at thest second. As Kieran imed, he wanted to ruin Thrax¡¯s heart, in other words, kill him. Kieran¡¯s abnormal attack ripped off arge part of his armor as blood flowed down Thrax¡¯s arm.

    However, Kieran didn¡¯t stop there. He exhausted the remainder of his Aspect after instantly dropping Crimson Ashrune to make a secondary attack.

    This one, however, pierced through Thrax¡¯s stomach, leaving a gaping hole.

    Time seemed to stop for everything after this happened.

    Had he just killedst year¡¯s Champion?!

    ***

    A/N: Please read the Creator¡¯s Thoughts for a link to the discord if you¡¯re interested!

 Chapter 237 Outcome, Concern

    ¡ª

    Whether or not Thrax survived Kieran¡¯s final attack loomed over the minds of many spectators. The way Kieran¡¯s strike passed through Thrax¡¯s body as if it met no resistance confounded many.

    Could Thrax possibly survive this ridiculous attack?

    Considering the attack didn¡¯t pierce his heart, sudden death was improbable. After bing an Advanced Being, one¡¯s body was several times stronger than normal humans.

    This resiliency was apparent by how Thrax¡¯s rattling eyes maintained a certain amount of light while gazing down at Kieran¡¯s arm.

    The squelch of prated flesh spewing blood resounded as Kieran retracted his arm and shook it to dispel the blood that soaked it.

    Despite the disappearance of the chaotic tendrils, Kieran¡¯s sclera remained ck, and his eyes crimson, gazing upon Thrax apathetically. ¡°This is the oue of your actions. me no one but yourself. Whether you live or die is of no concern to me.¡±

    After he spoke, Kieran¡¯s appearance finally reverted to normal as he released his Aspect and momentarily faltered from a bout of physical, spiritual, and mental weakness.

    His Aspect was a truly draining ability, far more draining than his Soul Trait. Not to mention, Kieran felt he activated more of his Aspect than when he created it, which also contributed to an absurd drawback.

    A splitting pain assaulted Kieran¡¯s mind, followed by a droning noise that reced his hearing. From there, the aftereffects became worse.

    Blood trickled from Kieran¡¯s nose as his stomach wrenched and ttened like someone trying to extract thest bit of toothpaste from its virtually empty tube.

    Meanwhile, High Commander Igris¡¯ pupils constricted to the size of needles as he looked at Thrax fall to his knees.

    Momentarily ovee by extreme rage, High Commander Igris moved at speeds akin to teleportation and drove a massive amount of Mana to create a gigantic version of his hand.

    Based on the trajectory and power of the iing attack, it was clear High Commander Igris intended to squash Kieran.

    However, as the giant hand fell close to Kieran¡¯s head, a tremendous tremor shook the entire coliseum, followed by a deafening explosion.

    Many people curiously and fearfully turned toward the source of this spectacle.

    They witnessed two immense blood ws ripping apart the formation¡¯s protective formations like paper and causing a sonic boom after dashing toward High Commander Igris.

    ¡°You feel confident enough toy a hand on my inheritor, you damned fool? Touch a hair on my twerp¡¯s head, and we¡¯ll see how many arms you possess after you leave this ce!¡±

    Scar¡¯s howl was like the bellow of a demon. Numerous thick blood veins flowed through his arms and legs as they adopted a form simr to that of a wolf or another quadruped animal with menacing ws.

    High Commander Igris scoffed and continued with his action, ignoring Scar¡¯s warning. Calling it a threat would be misusing the word, as Scar tended to realize all of his ims without fail.

    Once High Commander Igris disregarded Scar¡¯s words, Scar took that as a cue to be excessively impetuous.

    Without caring about the consequences, he immediately wreathed himself in a suit of majestic yet devilish blood armor that made the entire coliseum¡¯s atmosphere thick with fury.

    After the armor appeared, Scar vanished and reappeared before High Commander Igris.

    BOOM!

    An rming explosion urred as High Commander Igris blocked an attack from Scar.

    However, since he had spurned Scar¡¯s word, Scar decided he would serve as the perfect person to be a lesson.

    ¡°I believe you¡¯ve let the promotion to a High Commander swell your ego. Challenge me? Disregard my word? You?! You¡¯re not worthy,¡± Scar said scornfully.

    His blood-colored hair swayed back and forth as he teleported before the airborne High Commander Igris and summoned therge serrated de unleashed during his first meeting with Kieran.

    Bang!

    With a single swing of his sword, Scar created a humongous blood cross that drove High Commander Igris to the ground.

    The aftermath effortlessly eclipsed how Kieran treated Bra.

    Mayhem ensued after the impact of High Commander Igris hitting the ground. After witnessing the coliseum¡¯s entire floor sink by three meters, the crowd¡¯s jaw dropped.

    Changing the ground¡¯s level differed significantly from creating a deep hole. It meant even after the distribution of force, Scar¡¯s attack was powerful enough to alter the terrain on a grand scale.

    Furthermore, the ground beneath the tform was reinforced and hardened by the dense ambient Mana, so saying it was harder than some ores and on par with Manatite Steel wasn¡¯t incorrect.

    All of a sudden, General Zieg appeared before Scar with a solemn expression and his hand held out. ¡°Commander Scar, let¡¯s stop this before we reach a point of no return. I understand that High Commander Igris has overstepped, but you know there are rules in ce.¡±

    ¡°Rules? Fuck the rules. He dared toy a hand on my twerp, so I dare to im that hand of his. Who will stop me? You?¡± Scar said,pletely ignoring the meaning of their current rank.

    A sh of brutality appeared in Scar¡¯s eyes as he looked at General Zieg. It had been quite some time since he drew power from Argexes¡¯ Blood, but that was the exact nature of his current actions.

    General Zieg gave a forced smile because he understood how unruly Scar became after being angered. Not even the High General would be given face in the event of his rage. Everyone would be insignificant in his eyes.

    However, General Zieg had no intentions of fighting against Scar. Not only would it not end well for either of them, everyone would be part of the fallout as the coliseum would fail to contain their exchanges.

    General Zieg could only sigh and step aside while leaving a final message. ¡°Don¡¯t forget that your inheritor requires medical attention. Which is more important?¡±

    To that question, Scar chuckled amusedly. ¡°You misunderstand me, Zieg. I have no intentions of taking my time, and Igris cannot force a drawn-out fight. No, this won¡¯t be a fight.¡±

    Scar suddenly kicked the air and sped toward High Commander Igris, who stood up within the rubble. Before he could respond, Igris¡¯ eyes narrowed, and he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder.

    ¡°Next time you think ofying a hand on my twerp, it won¡¯t just be a hand I¡¯m taking. Your life would no longer be yours. Is that understood, you damned scheming fool?¡± Scar scoffed, speaking in a minacious tone.

    Scar had effortlessly ripped off High Commander Igris¡¯s arm and armor, revealing a genuinely monstrous level of power, considering Igris¡¯s armor was forged from ck Mithril, a Mythic-level metal.

    However, Scar didn¡¯t simply tear off High Commander Igris¡¯s arm. He ripped it off and crushed it into a bloody pulp before burning it to ash with a crimson me.

    ¡°If you want a new one, seek Astraea and beg her to heal you and reconfigure your missing arm. Oh, and if you want to save the life of your sad excuse of a pupil, I suggest you forgo the thought of retaliating.¡±

    After leaving his menacing message, Scar indifferently walked past Igris and General Zieg.

    ¡°Boy, you truly know how to hide things, but you did well¡ªextremely well,¡± Scar said after slowly lifting two fingers to Kieran¡¯s forehead.

    Kieran¡¯s smile curved into a faint smile as he staggered back and forth with a distant gaze, unable to move his feet a single step. ¡°Did I fulfill the bet now?¡±

    Scar gave a tender smile filled with adoration. ¡°You have. But, enough of that. For now, just sleep.¡±

    Scar first extended his arm to catch Kieran and then pressed two fingers against his forehead, making Kieran¡¯s world go ck.

    Once Kieran¡¯s body went limp, Scar flung him over his shoulder and left a message with General Zieg.

    ¡°We¡¯ll collect his rewards once he wakes up. As that foolish boy isn¡¯t dead, and this is the special round that follows unique circumstances, you understand that you must remain impartial, right? Besides, we both know who is responsible for tonight¡¯s transgressions.¡±

    ¡°I understand,¡± General Zieg said with a faint sigh. Thrax wouldn¡¯t have moved like that unless at the behest of his master. Unfortunately, listening to the foolish advice of his master left him in a situation where life and death were unknown.

    Even the most unassuming of enemies could be the most lethal foe. Underestimation was an oversight that led to nothing but bitter results.

    Whoosh!

    Scar disappeared with a gust of crimson wind as General Zieg went on to ruefully announce the event¡¯s end.

    Because Kieran was no longer awake to manage the stream, it simply ended.

    ¡­

    Inside the Medical Facility¡­

    Altair and Alice looked at each other in exasperation, followed by Nemean and Bastion falling to their butts.

    What had they just watched?

    Although the audio cut out at the best part, the view made up for it.

    Kieran had the stream set to capture the most intoxicating angles that provided the best view, so everyone was thrown into an uproar during his battle against Ronan, Bra, and Thrax.

    ¡°Will he be okay? That wound looked awful,¡± Alice muttered with a pained expression. She clutched her hand to her chest while looking at Altair.

    Altair briefly failed to answer the question because he was unsure.

    Nevertheless, he understood that Alice required some constion. ¡°Kieran is a resilient dude. Even if he does suffer some difort from his wound¡¯s pain, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll ultimately ovee it.

    After a brief pause, he added. ¡°If you¡¯re truly curious, we can always go upstairs and check on him. But what help would we be? After all, he has an exclusive doctor.¡±

    ¡°We won¡¯t be any help, but I¡¯ll ease our concerns,¡± Bastion chimed in.

    Nemean simrly sprang to his feet. ¡°Yeah, we can¡¯t just leave the boss¡¯s safety to a what if. Let¡¯s go check and be certain. Afterward, we can hound him to teach us all those techniques he revealed!¡±

    ***

    A/N: Please read the Creator¡¯s Thoughts for a link to the discord if you¡¯re interested! If not, here:(Link: https:///en6DrVPQvN )

 Chapter 238 Energy Echelons, Power Junctures and Scars Warning

    ¡ª

    Inside the War Deity Council¡¯s healing chambers¡­

    Kieran¡¯s eyelids fluttered, and his eyes opened after feeling a pleasant sensation against his skin. When he nced to his left, he saw a charming young woman with peach-colored hair and soft green eyes.

    Her eyebrows knitted as she exhausted herself to treat the gruesome wound on Kieran¡¯s shoulder. A few beads of sweat seeped down her forehead as she nced up and noticed that Kieran¡¯s eyes were open.

    Instead of being rmed, she gave a precise order. ¡°Please do not move. You will only exacerbate the wound and undo our hours of grueling work. Remain still until you are suitably healed.¡±

    Kieran didn¡¯t respond immediately, taking time to examine his surroundings. Because he couldn¡¯t pivot his head, his understanding of the room was somewhatcking.

    Furthermore, when he tried to perceive his surroundings by extending his senses, he noticed that it induced a mind-numbing headache.

    ¡®Ugh,¡¯ Kieran inwardly groaned and grimaced. This was a type of pain Torment¡¯s Benefit: Dull could not affect. Kieran couldn¡¯t mitigate the pain if he wanted to unless he acquired a potion capable of replenishing damage done to the soul.

    The sessive usage of his Soul Trait and Aspect had essentially left his soul in a tattered state with several micro fractures.

    If it were bone, micro fractures wouldn¡¯t be too problematic, but the soul was an ethereal topic. Even Enlightened Beings could only im to have mastered rudimentary facets of it.

    The concept of a human soul was far tooplex, outssing many other types of beings.

    Although a human¡¯s natural vessel was of fragile strength and among the most inferior of plenty races, their potential and capacity toprehend intricate abilities existed amongst the epitome of races.

    Sadly, there are also races gifted in both aspects of power, just in varying forms. For example, dragons are blessed with absurd physical might and an intrinsic ability to wield Mana as easily as breathing.

    Suddenly, an oversized finger tapped against Kieran¡¯s forehead. Despite the finger¡¯s size, there wasn¡¯t much power behind it, leading Kieran to sweep his gaze to his right side.

    ¡°Scar,¡± Kieran said hoarsely. Pain still radiated through his body, and talking augmented the misery to an almost unbearable level. However, he had to ask. ¡°Did I kill that guy? Also, was I disqualified for doing so?¡±

    Scar had forcibly induced unconsciousness within Kieran, so Kieran wasn¡¯t aware of thest conversation between Scar and General Zieg.

    The silence between the two made Kieran assume his oue was undesirable. ¡°I don¡¯t regret my actions if that¡¯s the case. He unleashed lethal force; first, I simply reciprocated his actions. If delivering justice has robbed my chances, then so be it.¡±

    ¡°Hehe,¡± Scar released a hearty chuckle and looked at the peach-haired woman healing Kieran. ¡°You silly twerp. Do you think they would have assigned a General to treat your wounds if they washed their hands of you? What organization would absolve a rtionship with a monstrous talent?¡±

    ¡°Monstrous talent?¡± Kieran parroted with a quizzical expression.

    Although talented, he wouldn¡¯t go so far as to say he was monstrous. After all, he had heard some rumors of frightening characters in the past. Those were what he called monsters.

    He wouldn¡¯t be surprised if they were already Awakened Beings, heading toward their Second Awakening.

    ¡°Yes. Am I speaking a differentnguage, twerp?¡±

    ¡°He isn¡¯t wrong. You are indeed a monstrous talent,¡± the peach-haired young womanmented.

    Kieran nced at her before giving Scar a look that asked for her identity.

    Rather than answer, Scar crossed his arm with a smirk. ¡°General Xithora, it seems my inheritor has taken a liking to you.¡±

    Kieran sputtered, but General Xithora shot him a deadly re. It wasn¡¯t due to Scar¡¯s words but rather Kieran¡¯s action. She had just told him to remain still! How could one stay still while releasing a violent sputter?

    Afterward, General Xithora looked at Scar with a simr expression. ¡°That yful attitude of yours and your carelessness with words is one reason you aren¡¯t a General right now. You harbor the power to contend with the First through Third Generals, yet you are a simple Commander.¡±

    ¡°Bah,¡± Scar scoffed, waving his hand ignorantly. ¡°I have no reason for such a title when all they do is impose greater restrictions upon us. I¡¯d rather remain unfettered and free to do as I please. Besides, we Mythical Heroes have an unchanged role within our world.¡±

    ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right. But still, it¡¯s a waste of your talent. Does additional status not interest you?¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, it doesn¡¯t. I have studied under my master¡¯s tutge for many years. During that time, I learned that worldly possessions are finite as several thingse to an untimely end. Rather than chase status, I chase power to be infallible, untouchable by the essence of time,¡± Scar answered.

    His profound answer startled General Xithora because she hadn¡¯t taken Scar to be the type to analyze the meaning of things critically. ¡°Perhaps I was wrong about you, Scar. Brutality may not be the only concept in your unusual mind.¡±

    ¡°Ahem.¡± Kieran suddenly coughed and cleared his throat. ¡°I¡¯d hate to break up this charming moment, but you haven¡¯t answered my question, Teach. Was I disqualified or not?¡±

    ¡°FOOL! Sometimes I doubt your intelligence,¡± Scar huffed and shook his head. ¡°If I said the council wasn¡¯t foolish enough to absolve their rtionship with you, you obviously haven¡¯t been disqualified. Besides, I¡¯m sure they don¡¯t want a meeting with Lord Agrianos.¡±

    General Xithora immediately tensed after hearing this name. ¡°Lord Agrianos, as in one of the Hidden Lords?¡±

    ¡°Correct,¡± Scar nodded.

    A Hidden Lord referred to someone of immense status within the War Deity Council that relinquished all presence inside the council except for times of emergency or times of peculiar interest.

    Lord Argianos was one of these people within the War Deity Council.

    ¡®The rumors were true. Lord Agrianos is one of Commander Scar¡¯s backers. No wonder he had no desire for a higher status.¡¯

    ¡°And Thrax?¡± Kieran questioned.

    ¡°No idea. Thest time I checked, he was clinging on by a thread. That Aspect of yours did some dastardly work on that young man. Speaking of which¡­.¡± Scar narrowed his eyes as an oppressive sensation permeated the room.

    ¡°Since when have we begun keeping secrets from each other? Why did I only learn during thepetition that you held an Aspect? Do you understand what that means?¡±

    Kieran pursed his lips and ced his gaze on everything except Scar. ¡°It¡¯s a power that I truly don¡¯t understand. It kind of just awakened one day. I waspletely unaware of its presence beforehand.¡±

    After hearing this, Scar sighed and rubbed his chin before deciding to test the depth of Kieran¡¯s knowledge. ¡°Are you familiar with the concept of the Energy Echelons?¡±

    Kieran shook his head.

    While he had learned hints of it before, Kieran wasn¡¯t entirely familiar with the concept. Besides, even if he were, he wouldn¡¯t miss the opportunity to gain knowledge from Scar.

    His journey had stopped before he could experience his Second Awakening, whereas Scar had already experienced his.

    ¡°The Energy Echelons, in simple terms, are thews of power that governs our world and the many different realms. Many concepts exist within the Energy Echelon, but I¡¯ll be talking about the rtionship between the energies essible to you now and the ones I vaguely know.

    ¡°Mana is only the beginning. All beings must operate with Mana even after Advancing and Awakening. Mana is the foundation of life, but it isn¡¯t the only energy present. There is another energy that some regard as slightly higher on the spectrum due to its extraordinary origin¡ªArcane Energy, the energy derived from the essence of one¡¯s soul.¡±

    Kieran was familiar with everything up until this point. The Arcane One¡¯s presence had indirectly imparted knowledge unto Kieran because he couldn¡¯t sense the slightest fluctuation of Mana from the Arcane One.

    Scar sat back and looked at Kieran with a peculiar glint in his eyes. ¡°The only reason I mention these concepts now is because of those powers in your possession. A Soul Trait manifests crude Arcane Essence that requires constant tempering. On the other hand, an Aspect is the precursor for something known as Dominions and falls within a unique sub-category called the Power Junctures.¡±

    ¡®Power Juncture? Dominions?¡¯ Kieran inwardly thought with a pensive look.

    He had heard of this faintly, but he always believed it to be rted to Mana Manifestations and the like, but it seemed his assumption fell short of the truth.

    ¡°Power Junctures refer to the abilities applicable to all energy and vary upon the energy¡¯s ranking within the Energy Echelons. Mana Manifestations, Source Assimtions, Aspects¡ªthese are all examples of Power Juncture. However, I suspect your Aspect is attempting to reach a higher Energy Echelon prematurely. I would advise against it because if you do so incorrectly¡­.¡± Scar¡¯s expression sank, bing incredibly grim.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Kieran impatiently questioned.

    ¡°You¡¯ll risk shattering your soul. No matter how unique your soul, it requires fortification before advancing an Aspect. Tread lightly and alwayse to me for advice on the matter¡ªis that clear?¡± Scar said, but his tone was severe and didn¡¯t allow for disagreement.

    After all, it was for Kieran¡¯s safety.

    ¡°I understand, but if you don¡¯t mind me asking, what makes it so incredibly dangerous?¡±

    ¡°I suspect your Aspect is trying to tap into Origin Principles derived from Origin Energy. In other words, concepts that a world, realm, or universe can¡¯t exist without.¡±

    After learning of this information, Kieran gasped, and his breathing hitched.

    ¡´System: You have learned a piece of crucial knowledge. Deepening your understanding of this matter will lead to a ?World Quest?!¡µ

 Chapter 239 Origin Energies, Aftermath of Grandeur

    ¡ª

    Kieran¡¯s entire world stopped as he looked at the information before him.

    A World Quest!

    That was the highest categorization of quests that existed within Zenith Online. Every World Quest possessed an inherent SSS rating that wouldn¡¯t change even if the yer became stronger.

    Why? Because of the repercussions of failing.

    As the name implies, World Quests were tied to the longevity of the world. Failure could lead to potentially catastrophic results.

    Furthermore, although every World Quest was regarded as an SSS Rank Quest, they were not created the same. Some were rtively easy inparison, and some felt insurmountable. It all depended on the events that triggered the World Quest.

    Because Scar mentioned a power beyond Kieran¡¯s knowledge, Kieran felt the World Quest it could potentially trigger in the future could also escape his knowledge.

    ¡®Origin Energies, Origin Principles¡­ powers that a world can¡¯t exist without. All of this sounds extremely dangerous but exciting at the same time. I wonder¡­.¡¯

    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking, do you know what these Origin Energies are?¡± Kieran questioned. After a faint pause, he added another question. ¡°Also, these Dominions you spoke of, what exactly do they entail?¡±

    ¡°Boy¡­ you leave nothing to the imagination, do you? I won¡¯t ruin your experience of Dominions since it¡¯s a power you will eventuallye across with your talent level, but my knowledge of the Origin Energies is limited.¡±

    Scar paused, rubbing his chin as he pondered the specifics of the information he recalled. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, I recall that Origin Energies referred to the Energies of Creation, Destruction, Void, Chaos, and Temporal.¡±

    As Kieran listened to the descriptions of Origin Energy, the gears in his mind clicked and began rotating quickly. ¡°The principles you suspected, it wouldn¡¯t be Destruction, Void, and Chaos, right?¡±

    ¡°Correct. I sensed nascent forms of these principles within your Aspect. But, if you truly doprehend them,¡± Scar¡¯s expression grew grim with a deep sigh. ¡°Your path as a True Berserker will only be much harder. Although you¡¯ll reach a greater affinity, that affinity will serve to try and corrupt you.¡±

    Kieran pondered Scar¡¯s words deeply before connecting a few of Scar¡¯s concerns to the temptations of that dark, lulling voice tempting to devour his reason. ¡°It¡¯s Argexes¡¯ Blood, isn¡¯t it? It¡¯s somehow connected to these Origin Energies?¡±

    ¡°Energies? No. However, their principles? I believe so,¡± Scar replied. ¡°It¡¯s difficult to confirm because the number of those who haveprehended Origin Principles does not exceed five.¡±

    ¡°Five? Isn¡¯t that too coincidental? There are only five principles, are there not?¡± Kieran questioned.

    Scar couldn¡¯t give a definitive reply because that escaped his knowledge of that echelon of power. ¡°I can neither confirm nor deny. My knowledge is obtained from Lord Agrianos. Once you are powerful enough to walk into the Wildes, I suggest you speak with him. If not him, then at the very least, you must find Agatha.¡±

    ¡®Agatha¡­¡¯ Kieran muttered in his mind as his eyes shed peculiarly.

    ¡°Isadora suggested I visit her as well. Is there any particr reason? Is Agatha not a human? Why is her rtionship with the Elves so good?¡±

    ¡°Because she is unlike many other humans. Agatha is quite special, and you will understand why once you meet her. She is by no means a typical woman.¡± Scar suddenly smiled meaningfully. ¡°Not to mention, her looks surpass many effortlessly.¡±

    ¡°Leave me out of that. If you wish to court her, by all means, go on ahead. I have one focus and one focus only,¡± Kieran remarked, repeatedly shaking his head.

    Due to Scar¡¯s earlier tricks, Kieran had learned to disregard some of his words, especially the ones that felt bizarre. Kieran had vowed never to fall for another one of Scar¡¯s tricks.

    General Xithora looked between the two, noticing their unusually lighthearted rtionship, almost as if their personalities weren¡¯t too dissimr. ¡®I guess the saying is true. Spend enough time with someone, and you¡¯ll begin to adopt their tendencies and assimte their personalities.¡¯

    ¡°This rtionship between you two is quite amazing. I don¡¯t remember thest time I was amongst genuine feelings,¡± General Xithora spoke, continuing to nce between Scar and Kieran.

    Scar crossed his arms with a light smirk in response to herment. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. Everyone within the council possesses a hidden agenda, looking to ascend thedder of authority by any means necessary, even if it means employing facetious facades and creating paper-thin alliances with enemy factions.¡±

    The enemy factions Scar referred to wasn¡¯t actual enemies. It merely referred to members of great authority within the War Deity Council with conflicting views.

    Despite the conflict, however, many factions teamed up to reinforce their authority for crucial conferences.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. That¡¯s why I have remained neutral all this time. All those old men do is scheme and vie for power with wicked machinations instead of producing ways to better the council¡¯s environment for neers,¡± General Xithora stated.

    She sighed dejectedly and retracted her hands. ¡°I require a brief respite. Your wound is much better for the most part, but I wouldn¡¯t suggest you embark on arduous journeys shortly. I¡¯m no expert, but your soul is in a fragile state. Give it time to recuperate naturally.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll ensure that this reckless knucklehead doesn¡¯t do anything foolish,¡± Scar chimed in, staring at Kieran with a gaze that a parent would deliver to a disobedient child.

    Kieran smiled bitterly. Not being able to go on a journey would hinder his progress, especially since he promised to team up with Advent to tackle the dungeon hidden within the Desert of Crumbling Sands.

    ¡°General Xithora, how long would you say I need to recuperate for?¡± Kieran asked.

    General Xithora paused before gauging the extent of the damage she gleaned from his wounds. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say my diagnosis is urate, but matters rting to the soul are tricky. Everyone heals differently. I suggest you wait until extending your perception no longer pains you.¡±

    ¡°So you noticed that,¡± Kieran muttered with a wry smile.

    ¡°It¡¯s natural. Perception is a vehicle of one¡¯s soul and senses melded as one. A damaged soul means tapping into this concept will cause difort,¡± General Xithora said.

    She smiled sweetly after noticing Kieran¡¯s grimace and turned to Scar with a strange expression. ¡°A moment?¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Scar nodded.

    The two stepped off to the side, leaving Kieran to groan and sit up in the bed. All of a sudden, a notification appeared before Kieran.

    ¡´System: You have an iing video call from Ezra. Would you like to answer it? [ Y | N ]¡µ

    ¡°Answer,¡± Kieranmanded.

    An instantter, Ezra¡¯s concerned face appeared before Kieran. ¡°You¡­ I saw all of it! You have really hidden your skills well!¡±

    ¡°You jest. All I did was try my best,¡± Kieran abashedly waved his hands with a somewhat smug smirk.

    ¡°I jest?! If I¡¯m not mistaken, even if you muted the audio, it was clear that you were crowned the victor against monstrous opponents. Does this not make you a monster yourself?! Although¡­¡±

    Ezra¡¯s voice softened after her gaze fell upon the partially healed wound across half of Kieran¡¯s torso. ¡°You suffered so much in the process. Was it worth it? The rewards, I mean.¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t received them just yet. I¡¯ve only recently woken up,¡± Kieran admitted.

    This made Ezra bbergasted. ¡°Only now?! Do you know that more than a day has passed on Earth?

    Kieran blinked in a slight daze.

    More than a day had passed?

    ¡®Did Scar forcibly put me to sleep for more than a day? No. What if it wasn¡¯t just Scar¡¯s doing? Lillian did mention my I was acquiring incredible mental fatigue due to myck of sleep. Perhaps I simply fell asleep to reduce some of the fatigue.¡¯

    Kieran considered the reason while looking at Ezra on the screen. ¡°Has anything exciting happened?¡±

    ¡°Oh! Yes! A few things, actually. Can I tell you? Can I?!¡± Ezra¡¯s eyes sparkled as she pped her hands with a giddy grin.

    ¡°Fine, go ahead,¡± Kieran consented.

    ¡°Alright, so the first matter. A famous yer, Daedric, famed for his glorious tanking abilities in other titles, has announced that he¡¯ll be disclosing his new ss in theing days. It¡¯s supposedly some Mythic ss.¡±

    Kieran¡¯s eyes widened after hearing this piece of information. ¡°Daedric was initially a Knight, correct?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s correct,¡± Ezra nodded.

    ¡®It¡¯s as Scar said. The other Mythical Heroes are bound to find their ss. Daedric must havepleted his change as a Mythic Knight. I believe that ss was called a Goliath or something along those lines.

    Kieran¡¯s memory of Daedric wasn¡¯t great since he joined one of the Leviathans in the end. But he did recall an essential piece of information. Daedric went on a clearing spree and streamed it all in the past.

    The Knight¡¯s Mythic Path was admittedly just as terrifying as a True Berserker, perhaps even worse in the right conditions.

    After recalling Daedric¡¯s feats, Kieran awaited the other news. ¡°Any other important news?¡±

    ¡°Very important. There has been ample talk involving the eruption of manyrge names. Due to your actions, yers have begun to wonder how deeply involved they can be with established world powers. Also, there has been word that several Overlords and at least two Behemoths show interest in wanting to sign you.¡±

    Kieran expected this oue but still scoffed. ¡°Come on now, Ezra. Do you really think I¡¯ll agree?¡±

    ¡°I know you won¡¯t. But¡­ just be prepared for the aftermath. I doubt they¡¯ll take your rejection well. Then again, that guy who saved you at the end was unbelievably strong. If your rtionship is deep, perhaps you could use him as a deterrent?¡± Ezra suggested.

    ¡°Deterrent?¡± Kieran giggled and looked forward with a calm gaze. ¡°I have no need. Stepping stones¡ªthat¡¯s all they¡¯ll ever be for me.¡±

 Chapter 240 General Xithoras Concerns

    ¡ª

    Ezra looked at Kieran silently for a moment.

    Even though arrogance weaved into his tone, Ezra somehow felt it didn¡¯t originate from a ce of conceit.

    No, she thought it was something Kieran truly believed and felt it was possible to aplish, provided he had enough time to grow.

    Eventually, Ezra¡¯s expression softened into an expectant smile. ¡°I hope that¡¯s true. I wouldn¡¯t mind watching a show. And¡­ should you ever need help, know that you¡¯ll have a shoulder to lean on. Thanks to your opportunities, Advent is limating well inside this new kingdom.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Is that so?¡± Kieran smiled charmingly and crossed his arms against his chest. ¡°You know, the future is a fickle entity where nothing is cemented. So how could you know I¡¯ll always have a shoulder to lean upon? What if something outside of our control were to happen? What would you do then?¡±

    ¡°I-¡­¡± Ezra stammered and fell silent while considering the meaning of Kieran¡¯s question.

    She had experienced it many times¡ªalliances dissolving due to more attractive offersing alone despite the trust fostered in the previous rtionship.

    As Ezra thought about this, her sparkling eyes dimmed. ¡°I¡¯m not that untrustworthy. Believe me. I wouldn¡¯t betray your trust because a more enticing offer has appeared. You were the first to help me, and I should honor the respect you¡¯ve given me.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Kieran nodded with a meaningful expression. ¡°I want to trust your words, but only the future will tell, Ezra. Until then, you¡¯re in my good graces for always warning me despite our somewhat shallow rtionship.¡±

    After speaking, Kieran slid off the table and onto his feet with a low groan.

    For some reason, Torment¡¯s Belief: Dull didn¡¯t activate all. But Kieran remembered why when he recalled the specifics of the passive.

    It was a passive ability triggered only in battle.

    Outside ofbat, he would be akin to a regr person, incapable of ignoringrge amounts of damage. Fortunately, his Constitution contributed to how dreadful the pain was.

    Coupled with General Xithora¡¯s healing, it became somewhat manageable.

    Ezra noticed Kieran¡¯s grimace and frowned. ¡°With the increased realism, I wouldn¡¯t advise you to move about so much in that state. Won¡¯t it exacerbate your injuries?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not as bad as it looks,¡± Kieran shook his head, trying to appease Ezra¡¯s worries. ¡°I had someone healing me; they¡¯re just on break for the time being. It¡¯s the perfect time to stretch.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I see. By the way, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask about this. The city guards have been more active, roaming the city in greater volume. Is that rted to the quest wepleted?¡± Ezra asked.

    Compared to a few days prior, she felt the security of Aeredale City had doubled or perhaps even tripled. Some of the earlier blindspots in the surveince routes no longer existed. City guards covered every inch of the city.

    ¡®I guess Mayor Lowe has used some of the returned funds to increase the city¡¯s security. Smart move, but his concern now should be generating increased profit to increase Aeredale¡¯s worth and presence.¡¯

    In its current condition, Aeredale City was considered the weakest type of Capital City. A city¡¯s status could be increased by improving its standing, profit, security, and allure. It could be easily aplished by enlisting the help of renowned NPCs.

    Sadly, that option required funds the kingdom couldn¡¯t produce in its current position.

    After thinking about this, Kieran nodded to Ezra. ¡°It¡¯s possible that it¡¯s a side effect of the quest wepleted. We can¡¯t ignore the fact we recovered plenty of funds. While not absurd to the point it could change the lives of everyone, it was a decent sum.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ezra agreed. ¡°That gold you gave provided Eclipse the means to begin cultivating profession-based sses. Considering the decreasing equipment drop rate, I¡¯m guessing the neglected professions will be incredibly important.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think anything added to the game is useless. I feel it will all have a purpose, whether it is revealed now orter. So, the fact you¡¯re shifting attention to the rtively ignored professions is a smart move,¡± Kieran remarked.

    However, his inward thoughts were different. He frowned.

    ¡®So therger guilds are noticing the drop in equipment drops rates? It¡¯s to be expected, but there are some facets they aren¡¯t considering. For example, the cost of cultivating those sses.¡¯

    One couldn¡¯t just pick up a production-based profession and seed. There were steps to excelling¡ªtests, acquiring production methods, sesses, and failures. Cultivating one talented lifestyle yer could cost more than 100,000 Gold in total.

    Such an expense was something no guild could currently afford, not with the current condition of the Universal Currency Exchange Trading System.

    ¡°Be sure to take your time. Don¡¯t exhaust your funds without first having ways to replenish them. Otherwise, you¡¯ll find yourself in a bind. Unfortunately, we¡¯ll have to cut our conversation short here. There are some other matters I must attend to,¡± Kieran said.

    Ezra understood how busy he could be since he was inactive for more than two days¡ªat this stage in the game, every hour counted. One opportunity could be the feather that tipped the scales beyond bnce.

    The two wrapped up their conversation, leaving Kieran to gaze at Scar and General Xithora. Their expressions seemed unusually grim, but because of his condition, Kieran couldn¡¯t understand what they were saying.

    General Xithora¡¯s bodynguage changed, adopting a stance that gave off a stern expression. ¡°I know the rtionship between you and High Commander Igris has staled. But, you also know how vengeful and venomous that faction is. You imed his entire arm.¡±

    ¡°He deserved it. He¡¯s lucky he walked away with his life after intervening in a match involving the younger generation, much less my little twerp,¡± Scar indifferently said.

    His gaze was sharp and cold, conveying hisck of interest in the matter.

    ¡°I understand that, but you can¡¯t ignore the facts. High Commander Igris, General Saeva, High General Garam¡ªthey¡¯re all known to be in cahoots with one another. What about the times of your absence? What will you do then to secure your inheritor¡¯s safety? These are serious matters.¡±

    Listening to General Xithora¡¯s worries, Scar¡¯s expression darkened. She raised many fair points. High Generals headed the many factions, and they were opponents not even Scar wished to go against.

    Some of them were powerhouses beyond his caliber and were responsible for the War Deity Council¡¯s identity as a world-regting organization.

    Crackles echoed within therge healing room as Scar clenched his fist. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it. Not everyone within the council is corrupt. That¡¯s the reason so many factions exist. I know who to speak to.¡±

    ¡°At the very least, it must be a High General capable of contending with High General Garam¡¯s influence,¡± General Xithora remarked.

    ¡°I¡¯m aware, and I know just the person. In fact, General Zieg should be closely rted to them,¡± Scar answered before ncing at the silent Kieran, who bore an inquisitive gaze. ¡°Speaking of which, the boy is healed enough to walk about, correct?¡±

    ¡°Correct. His life is no longer in danger, and his wounds have healed substantially. Of course, I still rmend that you exercise caution.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Scar nodded. Afterward, he whistled and gestured for Kieran toe.

    Kieran naturally walked over a few secondster, and Scar wrapped hisrge arm around Kieran¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll be taking you to im your rightful prizes for your aplishments. We¡¯ll most likely have to meet with General Zieg. Are you up to it?¡±

    Kieran furrowed his brows with a peculiar expression. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I be?¡±

    ¡°What a bold little boy you are. Not even worried that you almost killed someone on their road to bing a Lieutenant?¡± Scar chuckled lightheartedly.

    ¡°As I said before, those were the repercussions. The transgressions of that event were Thrax¡¯s fault. An eye for an eye is a principle I have and will always abide by,¡± Kieran said without the slightest fluctuation in his voice.

    Kieran¡¯s stoic stance made Scar grin. ¡°Hahaha! Excellent answer. You reap what you sow, as simple as that. Nothing in life is without consequences.¡±

    After pping Kieran¡¯s shoulder, Scar guided him through the spacious halls of the headquarters. Despite having seen it a few days priors, Kieran remained mystified by the headquarters¡¯ marvelous structure and exquisite design.

    Eventually, Scar led Kieran to an open area that resembled a throne room for other purposes. Arge stone tablet with deep and archaic etching was located in the center of the room.

    Kieran approached it and dragged his finger across the surface, sensing a familiar sensation buried deep within the etchings of the stone tablet.

    ¡°Does this stele have any meaning?¡± Kieran questioned.

    Scar glimpsed at the stone tablet in question and examined it. Although the War Deity Council took good care of the item, its exterior exhibited signs of inevitable time-induced erosion. Its age was unknown, but it was undoubtedly an item that spanned eras.

    The item¡¯s undetermined age made it so Scar couldn¡¯t glean anything from it even after activating his extraordinary eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, kid. It seems like it¡¯s unusual, but it¡¯s something beyond me. These don¡¯t seem like runes despite having a simr structure.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Kieran muttered in a dazed voice. He felt the same way. The characters reassembled runes, but he waspletely unfamiliar with them. However, he couldn¡¯t ignore the fact he was drawn to them.

    ¡°Follow me,¡± Scar ordered, pressing his hands against tworge ck doors with a golden design in the form of a Merkaba that spun and disintegrated after confirming Scar¡¯s identity.

    Inside the room was General Zieg standing beside another figure, seemingly amidst conversing.

 Chapter 241 Lord Veradin

    ¡ª

    Once Scar opened the door, the conversation between Zieg and another old man stopped. Curious about the neers, Zieg and the currently nameless old man nced toward the door.

    ¡°Hehe, if it isn¡¯t the young man Scar,¡± the old man said beside General Zieg.

    Despite his status as a General, Zieg stood beside the man in a respectful manner, ensuring not to overstep any boundaries.

    Kieran noticed this small detail, but he also noticed something else¡ªstaring into the old man¡¯s eyes was like gazing into the depths of a great ocean. He couldn¡¯t gauge this man¡¯s strength, but a looming sense of danger persisted.

    ¡®Anyone foolish enough to believe this facade before their eyes would suffer a deserving death. This man¡¯s body may seem feeble, but I sense differently. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if this old man dressed in luxurious robes were a wild beast on the battlefield.¡¯

    The old man possessed a pair of golden hawk eyes and short, white hair the color of snow. Its length was simr to a buzz cut, only slightly longer at the top. Despite knowing that this man was ancient, Kieran couldn¡¯t help but believe otherwise.

    The only signs of his age were the slight crow¡¯s feet near his eyes.

    ¡°High General Veradin,¡± Scar answered respectfully, slighting bow his head.

    Veradin chuckled heartily and waved his hand. ¡°At ease, at ease. Enough with the semantics. Let me have a good look at this young boy of yours. I¡¯ve heard some things from Zieg.¡±

    Scar nced in Kieran¡¯s direction and nodded for him to step forward.

    Kieran took a few steps and stopped before the end of the long rectangr table with several throne-like seats.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be frightened, young man. I don¡¯t bite. Come closer,¡± Veradin said, his golden eyes tracing Kieran¡¯s tense movements. ¡®There¡¯s only one reason for a youth to be so tense around me¡­ he may have a slight grasp of my power. Of course, I would never raise a hand against such a young generation.¡¯

    Scarughed behind Kieran with a slight smirk. ¡°Go on, scaredy cat. Why are you so apprehensive? Hm? Lord Veradin is someone to be trusted. Who do you think Zieg gained his impartiality from?¡±

    Kieran sighed in relief after hearing Scar¡¯s confirmation. He walked before High General Veradin and bowed respectfully. ¡°It is my pleasure to be in your presence High General Veradin. My name is Aatrox.¡±

    ¡°Aatrox, is it?¡± Lord Veradin muttered, nodding slowly with a strange glint in his eyes.

    All of a sudden, Kieran felt a slight breeze brush past his cheek. Veradin circled Kieran, scrutinizing him.

    The longer Veradin gazed upon Kieran, the more tense Kieran became. He didn¡¯t understand the sensation, but it felt directly opposite to when the Arcane One used the Akashic Seal.

    ¡°It¡¯s as you said. I can feel it, but one of your assumptions was wrong,¡± Veradin spoke, ncing in Zieg¡¯s direction and then Scar¡¯s. ¡°This young man¡¯s soul hasn¡¯t awakened at all. He merely exhibits traits of an Awakened Being¡¯s special abilities.¡±

    Zieg looked at Kieran with a peculiar expression.

    He didn¡¯t understand how his judgment was wrong. He experienced the dreadfulness of Kieran¡¯s Aspect and Soul Trait firsthand. There wasn¡¯t a shadow of a doubt in his mind that Kieran¡¯s soul was on par with Awakened Beings.

    ¡°What does that mean then?¡±

    ¡°It means this young man¡¯s soul goes far beyond a mere Awakened Being. Perhaps not even an Enlightened Being is his limit. I¡¯ve been one for countless years, and I¡¯ve failed to gauge the limits of his soul. Not to mention, what he awakened is merely a fragment of his soul,¡± Veradin exined.

    ¡°What?! How can you determine his potential despite hisck of an Awakening? Also, you can¡¯t be serious, Master. This power originates from a soul fragment?!¡± Zieg uncharacteristically shouted.

    Veradin¡¯s revtions were too baffling, causing Zieg to break his usually calm character. One¡¯s potential usually couldn¡¯t be estimated until their First Awakening,

    At that point, one could no longer be considered an average human. An Awakening was the boundary that separated the elite from the masses.

    Following Zieg¡¯s outburst, Veradin¡¯s expression grew solemn, and he continued. ¡°From what I experienced, it was like gazing down from the summit of the world into a boundless sea of darkness. Shrouded above that darkness was a denseyer of hatred, loathing, but most of all¡­ anguish.¡±

    Veradin shifted his gaze from Zieg to Kieran. ¡°Young man, why do you carry so much hatred? I¡¯ve never seen anything like it. Perhaps not even a blood feud would exin its presence.¡±

    Naturally, what Veradin sensed was Kieran¡¯s Vengeful Soul, enhanced by the Seed of Vengeance. If his soul was considered a thin mist before the Seed of Vengeance¡¯s transient activation, it was now a denser fog with less visibility.

    ¡°For years, all I have known is hate. To tell my story would be to defymon sense and venture into my secrets. Forgive me if this is disrespectful, but I do not wish to go there,¡± Kieran answered, sighing deeply afterward.

    Veradin understood that sigh was saturated with troubling emotions, so he didn¡¯t pry into Kieran¡¯s personal life or backstory. However, he did fear this type of soul.

    ¡°Someday, that hatred will need an outlet. I only hope your outlet leads to a liberation of your soul and not the destruction of it. After all, your Aspect hidden within that fragment of your soul exhibits principles rarely seen¡ªever.¡±

    Veradin paused and thought about it before revealing more. ¡°Not to mention, thebination is something unprecedented. Destruction and Chaos are already troublesome, but to think your Aspect synergizes with the Void. It¡¯s quite unthinkable.¡±

    Kieran nodded solemnly. ¡°Scar has told me that is extremely odd. I didn¡¯t expect you to think the same. I guess the Origins are powers that people seldom touch upon?¡±

    ¡°You have no idea. To put it in perspective, if one sufficientlyprehends an Origin Principle, they¡¯ll be guaranteed to reach the peak of an Enlightened Being. Thatst sessful person¡­ was Agrianos. And that was over 100,000 years ago.¡±

    Kieran¡¯s jaw dropped after learning of this.

    100,000 years?!

    Kieran couldn¡¯t fathom how not a single individualprehended the Origin Principles within thest 100,000 years! Moreover, his mind also failed to grasp how long 100,000 years was.

    ¡°What if someone secretlyprehended the principles outside of your knowledge?¡± Kieran questioned.

    That was possible, right? Not everything should fall under the scrutiny of a colossal organization like the council. There were bound to be some gaps in their knowledge.

    ¡°It¡¯s impossible. When that happens, the world releases a phenomenon birthed from the depths of its core. Besides, there is an entity responsible for detecting these almighty principles. It¡¯s not within the War Deity Council¡¯s interest to track the matters nor our capabilities,¡± Veradin answered.

    Kieran looked to Scar, who shrugged with a slight nod. ¡°It¡¯s true. The War Deity Council is like the security guards of this world. Other responsibilities are delegated to specified organizations. Unfortunately, the one responsible for this action is¡­ nebulous. Finding a trace of its existence is next to impossible.¡±

    ¡°Enough about this world. Let¡¯s talk about the reason you¡¯re here. It seems a few rules have been vited. I will explicitly state that you will receive no me, nor will High Commander Scar.¡±

    ¡°High Commander? Don¡¯t you mean Commander?¡± Kieran muttered dubiously.

    ¡°No, I meant what I said. Ah, as a neer, you¡¯re mostly unfamiliar. Zieg, exin it to him,¡± Veradin said.

    ¡°With pleasure. The moment you became a Champion, your master became a High Commander. It¡¯s a title given to the strongest Commanders with a sharp eye for talent. Itmands authority below a General, but all Commanders must heed a High Commander¡¯s orders.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Kieran muttered, a sh of realization blooming within his gaze.

    While Kieran was in thought, Scar walked up and ruffled his hair. ¡°That¡¯s right, boy. Because of you, your master has received an honorable promotion with little to no work! Ahaha!¡±

    ¡°Little to no work? What would you call our training then?¡± Kieran furrowed his brow. For some reason, he felt disregarded.

    ¡°That was fun, you fool! Training a talent like you is the most fun I¡¯ve ever had. Watching you break my records is exhrating and fills me with pride!¡± Scar¡¯s smile deepened with genuine emotions as he recounted Kieran¡¯s training.

    Kieran¡¯s reaction was somewhat nd as he blinked and nodded. ¡°Oh.¡±

    After listening to Scar¡¯s words, Kieran found it difficult to describe his emotion. ¡®When was thest time someone told me they were proud of me?¡¯

    Kieran nced down and inhaled. ¡°My progress is thanks to you, Teach. I couldn¡¯t ask for a better one.¡±

    ¡°D¡¯aww! Don¡¯t make me blush in front ofpany, you twerp!¡± Scar swiped his nose and smirked, but after a brief moment of glee, he returned to normal. ¡°Does that mean my boy has your protection in my absence?¡±

    ¡°You want him to be part of my Virtuous Faction? If so, I¡¯m willing to ept him,¡± Veradin said after considering Scar¡¯s words. Afterward, he looked up at Kieran. ¡°Your hand, young man.¡±

    Kieran extended his hand with the Lesser War Crest and watched as Veradin waved his hand through the air, thoroughly erasing the insignia.

    A few secondster, Kieran felt an unbearable searing pain on the back of his hand.

    Once it disappeared, he noticed aplete War Crest with a strange design that resembled a deep me wrapped around an orb.

    ¡´System: You have received the ?War Crest of Champions?!¡µ

    ¡°Wear your crest with pride, for our Champions all ze with courage yet remain steadfast. That¡¯s the true honor of a Champion,¡± Veradin announced gloriously.

 Chapter ?242 Rewards of Great and Mysterious Origins

    Chapter ?242 Rewards of Great and Mysterious Origins

    ¡ª

    The War Crest of Champions wasn''t a simple item like the Lesser War Crest. The moment the symbol was seared on his skin and imbued with a unique presence, Kieran felt a wave of power rush through his body.

    ¡¸ War Crest of Champions (Special)

    Item Rank: Magic

    Item Level: N/A

    Item Usage: While in the user''s possession, the item distributes the following:

    - Constitution increased by 1 point.

    - +4 additional Unassigned Attribute Points per level up.

    - Skill Mastery increases faster when battling against worthy opponents. (MAX: 50% increase.)

    - Enables the holder to use the War Deity Council''s renown when required.

    Description: A refined version of the War Deity Council''s crest for official members. It emanates a power that only those worthy can ept. The possession of this crest can be a great tool or a severe hindrance based on the situation. ¡¹

    Kieran''s eyebrows jumped after reading the information on the crest. One point in Constitution was half of what he received for his ss promotion! Now that he possessed 3, the pain from the wound on his chest reduced greatly.

    ''I''m slowly approaching the Constitution of an Advanced Being, but I''m not there yet. Not without the other Hidden Attribute toplement its effects,'' Kieran thought.

    Aside from the Constitution, Kieran was also excited about the additional Unassigned Attribute Points. Considering the great imbnce in his current stats, he required an immense amount of these points.

    Four points might seem small, but that meant he would receive 16 points upon every level up.

    The rest of the effects were pretty standard, including the increased Skill Mastery rate against strong opponents.

    However, as Kieran examined the War Crest of Champions, Veradin continued to speak.

    "This is only the beginning of your reward¡ªa mere congrattions. Whates next is something to test your ability. Since you have begun to touch upon Origin Principles, it''s only fitting that we reward you with something ofparable mystique."

    With a simple wave of his hand, Veradin waved his hand and summoned an ash-grey shard. The shard looked like igneous rock matching the dark pathway leading into the headquarters'' main gates, but Kieran felt something unusual with this stone.

    Due to this feeling, Kieran subconsciously nced back at the stone tablet in the center of the room outside. ''It''s not the same, but I''m getting a simr impression. They must originate from the same era if they aren''tposed of the same material.''

    Veradin waved his hand through the air, sending the item into Kieran''s cupped palms. Once in his palm, Kieran looked at the shard with a grainy texture and lifted it to the soft yellow light above.

    The item was too dense to see through, but Kieran did notice almost imperceptible energy flowing through the shard''s exterior. The energy was a mix of gold and orange, exuding a heavy feeling.

    "That shard is your reward for clearing the Herculean Round. It''s a stone that has been in the War Deity Council''s possession for quite some time, but it fails to react to any catalyst we introduce it to. Unfortunately, we can''t ask the Wykins to assist due to our¡­ negative rtionship."

    There was an aggrieved light in Veradin''s eyes as he sighed. His bodynguage conveyed how much he disagreed with the War Deity Council''s ways. This was one of the reasons Scar chose to follow Veradin''s faction.

    Unless it was a matter of grave importance rting to the security of Xenith, Veradin remained uninvolved with trivial conflicts.

    ¡¸ Ancient Rune Shard (Special Consumable)

    Item Rank: ???

    Item Level: ???

    Item Usage: ?Sealed?

    Description: A shard of condensed power that exhibits signs of embedded rune power. The extraordinary power embedded within is believed to be an ancient form of rune writing, but it requires a suitably skilled ancient runemaster to verify this information. The uncovered power may be the tip of the iceberg and may not hint at the item''s origins. ¡¹

    ''Ancient Rune Shard. Could it have any rtion to the Ancient Shard of Knowledge?'' Kieran wondered. It was challenging topare the two because the shard in his possession exhibited a different aura.

    "If you''re lucky and more able than those insufferable fogeys, perhaps you could enlist the help of the Wykins to help you uncover the origins of this stone," Veradin said.

    "I''ll be difficult, but it''s worth a try," Kieran answered, holding a faint grimace.

    The rtionship between humans and Wykins was truly spoiled. Kieran expected such an item would have never fallen within the War Deity Council''s grasp if they didn''t tyrannically mandate the Wykins to help them or face eradication.

    ''I only know bits and pieces of the history, but that could change if I find a library with the proper historical records. Aeredale''s librarycked such records. Maybe an Empire would be different?'' Kieran thought.

    Afterward, Veradin crossed his arms while thinking of a proper reward for Kieran. "Your situation is quite unprecedented. Within the thousand years of thispetition, you are the first to overwhelm the Champion''s Round. Even the strongest precedents fought the Champions to a draw. For this, I believe you deserve a special reward."

    "If I were to pose an unusual offer, would you be interested?" Veradin questioned.

    "It truthfully depends on the offer. My current condition isn''t the greatest, so I''ll have to decline if it is oundish," Kieran answered.

    Veradin gave a faint smile before nodding his head. "And here I thought your unusual abilities would sprout an insufferable arrogance within you. Understanding your limits is the first step to bing supreme. One who believes they can challenge everything as they are is a true fool."

    Veradin extended his hand and punctured space before continuing to talk. "That said, I''d like to dy the bnce of your points. If you seed, I will personally bestow a 10 million point limit."

    Kieran stood with his eyes widened and mouth agape. It had to be known that Kieran''s current points amounted to slightly over 1.9 million. If he seeded in Veradin''s challenge, his limit would increase by more than five times!

    This reward truly piqued Kieran''s interest. Why wouldn''t it?

    "May I know this offer of yours?" Kieran said respectfully, but a sense of eagerness shone within his expression.

    "It''s simple but also not so simple. Your special reward, which can only be triggered after the conditions are met, is The Immemorial diator Trial. The longer you persist in that ce, the stronger you could be," Veradin revealed.

    The Immemorial diator Trial was a special type of Secret Trial.

    Secret Trials existed within Zenith Online to improve yers'' abilities drastically. It came in many forms; some rewarded no Experience but dropped exquisite items. Others rewarded insane Experiences but dropped abso-fucking-lutely nothing.

    There was also a middle ground where there were no drops or Experience, but Skill Mastery skyrocketed while battling inside. Kieran began to wonder what type of trial this Immemorial diator Trial was.

    "Howe it is rarely opened?" Kieran questioned.

    "That''s because the trial requires an immense amount of Mana and a special principle. Furthermore, it must be Mana from the world without the unique signature etched into Mana once it passes through a medium. Thus, we can only wait until the trial recharges itself," Veradin answered.

    "Sounds like it is a unique trial."

    Veradin nodded and agreed with Kieran while sitting back in his chair. "It is. It will more or less prepare you for what you would face on a world battlefield. You must sessfully clear the 5th round if you enter this ce."

    "The 5th round? I assume it must be challenging. Is there a time limit for me to enter this ce?" Kieran asked.

    If it was as demanding as Veradin''s tone implied, Kieran felt he should heal as much as possible before attempting this trial. Perhaps, he should even wait until his ss Advancement to challenge it.

    "Time limit? Not at all. The trial will remain charged until someone attempts it. But only you have gained the second right to enter it this year. After you use it, it will once again return to dormancy," Veradin answered.

    "The second right? Does that mean Ronan has cleared it?"

    Kieran recalled Ronan''s statement during the end of their battle. He had revealed that he had entered the unique opportunity, so he had no interest in doing so again. But, from what Kieran learned, he felt Ronan couldn''t enter it again.

    To confirm his suspicions, Kieran raised the question. "Can one attempt this trial twice?"

    "No," Veradin shook his head. "Also, although there isn''t a time limit, there is a restriction. The trial''s entry portal will bar you from entering if you be an Advanced Being."

    Kieran''s expression grew gloomy after hearing this. Didn''t this mean his earlier thought was useless? "How ruthless. I can only wonder what awaits me on the other side of the portal if Advancing is not allowed."

    "Greatness. Greatness is what awaits you on the other side. I will reserve the test for you until you''re ready to challenge it. When you are, you may use this," Veradin stated.

    Afterward, he retrieved his hand from the space before him and ced an item within Kieran''s palm.

    ¡´System: You have received a ?Designated Teleportation Stone?!¡µ

    An oval stone with a purplish rune engraved on the center sat in Kieran''s palm. He felt a sensation simr to when the Gatekeeper of Teleportations opened portals, but it felt condensed and focused into the stone.

    After giving Kieran the stone, Veradin stood up, revealing his towering height. "Do you have any other questions for me, young man? If not, we may conclude this meeting here. I must arrange some matters now that I have delivered your rewards."

    "No, all my curiosities have been sated," Kieran answered.

    Veradin gave a final nod of approval before speaking. "Very well. Come along, Zieg. We have some matters to attend to."

 Chapter 242 Rewards of Great and Mysterious Origins

    ¡ª

    The War Crest of Champions wasn¡¯t a simple item like the Lesser War Crest. The moment the symbol was seared on his skin and imbued with a unique presence, Kieran felt a wave of power rush through his body.

    ¡¸ War Crest of Champions (Special)

    Item Rank: Magic

    Item Level: N/A

    Item Usage: While in the user¡¯s possession, the item distributes the following:

    ¨C Constitution increased by 1 point.

    ¨C +4 additional Unassigned Attribute Points per level up.

    ¨C Skill Mastery increases faster when battling against worthy opponents. (MAX: 50% increase.)

    ¨C Enables the holder to use the War Deity Council¡¯s renown when required.

    Description: A refined version of the War Deity Council¡¯s crest for official members. It emanates a power that only those worthy can ept. The possession of this crest can be a great tool or a severe hindrance based on the situation. ¡¹

    Kieran¡¯s eyebrows jumped after reading the information on the crest. One point in Constitution was half of what he received for his ss promotion! Now that he possessed 3, the pain from the wound on his chest reduced greatly.

    ¡®I¡¯m slowly approaching the Constitution of an Advanced Being, but I¡¯m not there yet. Not without the other Hidden Attribute toplement its effects,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Aside from the Constitution, Kieran was also excited about the additional Unassigned Attribute Points. Considering the great imbnce in his current stats, he required an immense amount of these points.

    Four points might seem small, but that meant he would receive 16 points upon every level up.

    The rest of the effects were pretty standard, including the increased Skill Mastery rate against strong opponents.

    However, as Kieran examined the War Crest of Champions, Veradin continued to speak.

    ¡°This is only the beginning of your reward¡ªa mere congrattions. Whates next is something to test your ability. Since you have begun to touch upon Origin Principles, it¡¯s only fitting that we reward you with something ofparable mystique.¡±

    With a simple wave of his hand, Veradin waved his hand and summoned an ash-grey shard. The shard looked like igneous rock matching the dark pathway leading into the headquarters¡¯ main gates, but Kieran felt something unusual with this stone.

    Due to this feeling, Kieran subconsciously nced back at the stone tablet in the center of the room outside. ¡®It¡¯s not the same, but I¡¯m getting a simr impression. They must originate from the same era if they aren¡¯tposed of the same material.¡¯

    Veradin waved his hand through the air, sending the item into Kieran¡¯s cupped palms. Once in his palm, Kieran looked at the shard with a grainy texture and lifted it to the soft yellow light above.

    The item was too dense to see through, but Kieran did notice almost imperceptible energy flowing through the shard¡¯s exterior. The energy was a mix of gold and orange, exuding a heavy feeling.

    ¡°That shard is your reward for clearing the Herculean Round. It¡¯s a stone that has been in the War Deity Council¡¯s possession for quite some time, but it fails to react to any catalyst we introduce it to. Unfortunately, we can¡¯t ask the Wykins to assist due to our¡­ negative rtionship.¡±

    There was an aggrieved light in Veradin¡¯s eyes as he sighed. His bodynguage conveyed how much he disagreed with the War Deity Council¡¯s ways. This was one of the reasons Scar chose to follow Veradin¡¯s faction.

    Unless it was a matter of grave importance rting to the security of Xenith, Veradin remained uninvolved with trivial conflicts.

    ¡¸ Ancient Rune Shard (Special Consumable)

    Item Rank: ???

    Item Level: ???

    Item Usage: ?Sealed?

    Description: A shard of condensed power that exhibits signs of embedded rune power. The extraordinary power embedded within is believed to be an ancient form of rune writing, but it requires a suitably skilled ancient runemaster to verify this information. The uncovered power may be the tip of the iceberg and may not hint at the item¡¯s origins. ¡¹

    ¡®Ancient Rune Shard. Could it have any rtion to the Ancient Shard of Knowledge?¡¯ Kieran wondered. It was challenging topare the two because the shard in his possession exhibited a different aura.

    ¡°If you¡¯re lucky and more able than those insufferable fogeys, perhaps you could enlist the help of the Wykins to help you uncover the origins of this stone,¡± Veradin said.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be difficult, but it¡¯s worth a try,¡± Kieran answered, holding a faint grimace.

    The rtionship between humans and Wykins was truly spoiled. Kieran expected such an item would have never fallen within the War Deity Council¡¯s grasp if they didn¡¯t tyrannically mandate the Wykins to help them or face eradication.

    ¡®I only know bits and pieces of the history, but that could change if I find a library with the proper historical records. Aeredale¡¯s librarycked such records. Maybe an Empire would be different?¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Afterward, Veradin crossed his arms while thinking of a proper reward for Kieran. ¡°Your situation is quite unprecedented. Within the thousand years of thispetition, you are the first to overwhelm the Champion¡¯s Round. Even the strongest precedents fought the Champions to a draw. For this, I believe you deserve a special reward.¡±

    ¡°If I were to pose an unusual offer, would you be interested?¡± Veradin questioned.

    ¡°It truthfully depends on the offer. My current condition isn¡¯t the greatest, so I¡¯ll have to decline if it is oundish,¡± Kieran answered.

    Veradin gave a faint smile before nodding his head. ¡°And here I thought your unusual abilities would sprout an insufferable arrogance within you. Understanding your limits is the first step to bing supreme. One who believes they can challenge everything as they are is a true fool.¡±

    Veradin extended his hand and punctured space before continuing to talk. ¡°That said, I¡¯d like to dy the bnce of your points. If you seed, I will personally bestow a 10 million point limit.¡±

    Kieran stood with his eyes widened and mouth agape. It had to be known that Kieran¡¯s current points amounted to slightly over 1.9 million. If he seeded in Veradin¡¯s challenge, his limit would increase by more than five times!

    This reward truly piqued Kieran¡¯s interest. Why wouldn¡¯t it?

    ¡°May I know this offer of yours?¡± Kieran said respectfully, but a sense of eagerness shone within his expression.

    ¡°It¡¯s simple but also not so simple. Your special reward, which can only be triggered after the conditions are met, is The Immemorial diator Trial. The longer you persist in that ce, the stronger you could be,¡± Veradin revealed.

    The Immemorial diator Trial was a special type of Secret Trial.

    Secret Trials existed within Zenith Online to improve yers¡¯ abilities drastically. It came in many forms; some rewarded no Experience but dropped exquisite items. Others rewarded insane Experiences but dropped abso-fucking-lutely nothing.

    There was also a middle ground where there were no drops or Experience, but Skill Mastery skyrocketed while battling inside. Kieran began to wonder what type of trial this Immemorial diator Trial was.

    ¡°Howe it is rarely opened?¡± Kieran questioned.

    ¡°That¡¯s because the trial requires an immense amount of Mana and a special principle. Furthermore, it must be Mana from the world without the unique signature etched into Mana once it passes through a medium. Thus, we can only wait until the trial recharges itself,¡± Veradin answered.

    ¡°Sounds like it is a unique trial.¡±

    Veradin nodded and agreed with Kieran while sitting back in his chair. ¡°It is. It will more or less prepare you for what you would face on a world battlefield. You must sessfully clear the 5th round if you enter this ce.¡±

    ¡°The 5th round? I assume it must be challenging. Is there a time limit for me to enter this ce?¡± Kieran asked.

    If it was as demanding as Veradin¡¯s tone implied, Kieran felt he should heal as much as possible before attempting this trial. Perhaps, he should even wait until his ss Advancement to challenge it.

    ¡°Time limit? Not at all. The trial will remain charged until someone attempts it. But only you have gained the second right to enter it this year. After you use it, it will once again return to dormancy,¡± Veradin answered.

    ¡°The second right? Does that mean Ronan has cleared it?¡±

    Kieran recalled Ronan¡¯s statement during the end of their battle. He had revealed that he had entered the unique opportunity, so he had no interest in doing so again. But, from what Kieran learned, he felt Ronan couldn¡¯t enter it again.

    To confirm his suspicions, Kieran raised the question. ¡°Can one attempt this trial twice?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Veradin shook his head. ¡°Also, although there isn¡¯t a time limit, there is a restriction. The trial¡¯s entry portal will bar you from entering if you be an Advanced Being.¡±

    Kieran¡¯s expression grew gloomy after hearing this. Didn¡¯t this mean his earlier thought was useless? ¡°How ruthless. I can only wonder what awaits me on the other side of the portal if Advancing is not allowed.¡±

    ¡°Greatness. Greatness is what awaits you on the other side. I will reserve the test for you until you¡¯re ready to challenge it. When you are, you may use this,¡± Veradin stated.

    Afterward, he retrieved his hand from the space before him and ced an item within Kieran¡¯s palm.

    ¡´System: You have received a ?Designated Teleportation Stone?!¡µ

    An oval stone with a purplish rune engraved on the center sat in Kieran¡¯s palm. He felt a sensation simr to when the Gatekeeper of Teleportations opened portals, but it felt condensed and focused into the stone.

    After giving Kieran the stone, Veradin stood up, revealing his towering height. ¡°Do you have any other questions for me, young man? If not, we may conclude this meeting here. I must arrange some matters now that I have delivered your rewards.¡±

    ¡°No, all my curiosities have been sated,¡± Kieran answered.

    Veradin gave a final nod of approval before speaking. ¡°Very well. Come along, Zieg. We have some matters to attend to.¡±

 Chapter 243 Extending A Warm Welcome

    ¡ª

    Zieg and Veradin vanished with a light breeze, each blinking away, symbolizing their incredible strength. After they left, Kieran turned to Scar, who continued to ruffle his hair with a proud smile.

    ¡°You¡¯ve outdone yourself, boy. To think Lord Veradin would request that you at least pass the 5th round. Not many people have the heart to persist until that round. That alone indicates that he expects great things for you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing you have experienced The Immemorial diator Trial. Is there anything you can tell me about it?¡± Kieran asked.

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Scar considered how much he should reveal since it was a trial designed to test resiliency and tenacity. ¡°Hmm, the first to fourth rounds aren¡¯t difficult if you are confident in your strength. However, the fifth round is no longer just a matter of strength. It¡¯s quite unclearable if you don¡¯t have the prerequisite skills.¡±

    ¡°What would those skills be?¡± Kieran grew interested in Scar¡¯s description of the event because it veered away from an average Warrior¡¯scking ability.

    ¡°Skills capable of mass destruction. Either that or incredibly monstrous Stamina to awaken another power hidden within humans. If I¡¯m being honest, I believe it¡¯s possible if you be slightly stronger. You have yet to reach your full potential.¡±

    Scar didn¡¯t need to know Kieran¡¯s exact level to understand that he hadn¡¯t reached the threshold to Advance. There was a particr essencecking within Kieran¨Dan essence that all individuals obtained after stepping upon the verge of transformation.

    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Kieran admitted. However, he also was confused. ¡°Does Dread Culling not count as a skill of mass destruction? It¡¯s considered an S Rank Skill.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s certainly powerful, but it¡¯s not at the standard of untold destruction. Well, actually, that¡¯s incorrect on my part. You continue to improve and hone your skills, so they can all be iparably dangerous. It¡¯s a matter of understanding how best to improve them. That¡¯s where our paths as True Berserkers diverge.¡±

    Kieran detected the truth in Scar¡¯s words. He internalized the principles of bing a True Berserker, but he wasn¡¯t a mirror image of Scar. Kieran noticed that some of his skills, while aesthetically identical to Scar¡¯s, exhibited different effects.

    This was due to the innate difference in their blood, personality, experiences, and other factors unique to any individual.

    All of a sudden, Scar¡¯s expression grew serious as he gazed into Kieran¡¯s eyes. ¡°Because learning an Esoteric Skill is far more dangerous than Dread Culling, especially an Esoteric Skill created by a True Berserker, I won¡¯t impart the skill until your soul healspletely. Are you irritated by this at all?¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t lie by saying it isn¡¯t infuriating. But I understand that you¡¯re looking out for my safety. I¡¯ll just have to ensure my soul heals quickly to pry that skill out of you. Speaking of which¡­ am I free to choose, or will you decide for me?¡±

    ¡°Since you have performed remarkably well, I¡¯ll let you choose from a few when the timees,¡± Scar said after considering Kieran¡¯s aplishments.

    ¡°Sweet,¡± Kieran grinned, chuckling softly.

    If he could choose from an assortment of Esoteric Skills, it increased the chances of him picking a skill that suited his style well. Scar¡¯s decision on the skill beforehand could inhibit Kieran¡¯s style.

    ¡°Teach, I have a request,¡± Kieran suddenly voiced.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Scar muttered. But at the same time, his gaze swept toward the door where he could sense a few presences not too far away. Within those presences were Veradin and Zieg.

    ¡®I suppose they¡¯ve already arranged a meeting regarding what transpired in this room. Lord Veradin is as punctual as ever,¡¯ Scar mused.

    ¡°I want to roam the continent for about a day or so. Is that possible? I aspire to create my own force, but that is impossible without acquiring the proper tools. I believe zoya can present that opportunity to me,¡± Kieran stated his desire, not mincing any of his words.

    Scar lowered his gaze and looked at Kieran expectantly. ¡°I suspected as much. A talented young man like yourself wouldn¡¯t be content with following in another¡¯s footsteps. By all means, if you wish to roam, then roam. On this continent, your crest is arge deterrent, especially the one in your possession.¡±

    As the continent bearing the War Deity Council¡¯s headquarters, zoya¡¯s security was the highest. No one was foolish enough to trouble its members, much less one of their Champions, which wouldmand arge-scale investigation if signs of foul y were detected.

    This was why zoya was also regarded as the Continent of Colossals. Only organizations of great renown were confident enough to act recklessly on this continent, but it was moderate.

    If theirwlessness grew rampant, the War Deity Council¡¯s Enforcers or Centurions would sweep in and eradicate them.

    Once Kieran obtained permission to roam, he beamed. He recalled Liam saying that the headquarters was located outside the outskirts of the Prophyte Empire, which was the mightiest empire in terms of martial and financial might.

    Because of its robust stability, its prices and essibility should be much higher than an empire like the Xesian Empire.

    Nevertheless, Kieran was content with his decision. Otherwise, bing a True Berserker would have been impossible.

    ¡°Before you venture outside, visit General Xithora once more and have her put you through another healing cycle. In the meantime, I will return to the Hero¡¯s Sanctuary as I need to prepare. It would seem that Gestalt has acquired his new inheritor. I suspect the others will obtain theirs shortly,¡± Scar revealed.

    Kieran¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change because he was aware of this information. Ezra had revealed it to him less than an hour ago. The only thing Kieran didn¡¯t suspect was the fact Scar had to prepare.

    Perhaps the Trial of Inheritors was more pivotal than Kieran believed it to be.

    ¡°I will,¡± Kieran nodded.

    ¡­

    Roughly thirty minutester, Kieran returned to the healing chambers after exploring areas he was permitted entry into. After bing a Champion, Kieran found that his status was simr to that of a Lieutenant.

    While he didn¡¯t possess the same benefits as a Lieutenant ormand the same authority on the battlefield, he could enter the same ces.

    After returning to the healing chambers, Kieran met a few familiar faces¨D Zerim Ignis and Yashua Dabura.

    They each required healing, and after obtaining their rewards, they were allowed to visit the General-level healers due to the status of their backers.

    ¡°Aatrox,¡± Yashua voiced, cupping his fist respectfully. His eyes fell to Kieran¡¯s wound, but they quickly returned to Kieran¡¯s indifferent gaze.

    ¡°Yashua,¡± Kieran answered. His lips curved into a faint smile while shaking Yashua¡¯s extended hand.

    ¡°Congrattions to both you and High Commander Scar. I was taken aback by what I saw. I didn¡¯t know you hid such monstrous strength. I appreciate you for being lenient with me,¡± Yashua touched his chest with a slight nod.

    ¡°Lenient? Not at all. I would never repay friendliness with contempt. Also, you were amazing yourself. You were a true shock. I could sense a change within you.¡±

    Afterward, Kieran turned to Zerim and sped his hand as well. But this time, Kieran smiled bitterly. ¡°How are your injuries? Forgive me if I was too heavy-handed. I was too focused on victory and neglected the potential fallout of my actions.¡±

    ¡°There is nothing to be sorry about, Aatrox,¡± Zerim said. ¡°As I stated during our battle, there were no hard feelings during our fight. It was simply a matter of determining our fates, and yours proved more resilient.¡±

    Kieran stared at Zerim silently for a few moments. He couldn¡¯t understand how this man was so calm andposed in the face of defeat. There was the slightest emotional fluctuation on Zerim¡¯s face.

    Although Kieran had suffered his fair share of defeats in the past, he felt discontent with them all. Those defeats fueled his climb to the top and contributed to his drive. Talent could only take one so far; the rest was work ethic.

    ¡°I must say, your mindset is truly inspirational. As long as you maintain that outlook, your future will undoubtedly be bright,¡± Kieran praised.

    Zerim¡¯s expression lightened, and he smiled with his eyes. ¡°I appreciate that. Coming from our generation¡¯s Champion, I believe your words hold authentic value.¡±

    Zerim understood that bing a Champion required obscene potential, especially with a generation that included an outlier like Ronan. Oveing Ronan¡¯s test was something Kieran found most challenging during thepetition.

    Compared to his brief exchange with Ronan, the fight with Bra and Thrax wasn¡¯t worth mentioning.

    It was only a feeling in Kieran¡¯s heart at the moment, but he felt Ronan¡¯s true power exceeded his current level. He wouldn¡¯t be surprised if Ronan could produce abilities surpassing an Advanced Being¡¯s scope.

    This assumption originated from the fact Ronan didn¡¯t break a sweat or invoke any power when testing Kieran.

    ¡®I want to have a proper fight with him, but not until I feel I¡¯m ready. I don¡¯t doubt his growth potential, so there¡¯s no telling what level he¡¯ll reach at that time. But that¡¯s what excites me. Whatever it is, I¡¯ll resolve myself then,¡¯ Kieran inwardly thought.

    Zerim, Yashua, and Kieran continued talking amongst themselves until Zerim voiced why he wanted to meet with Kieran.

    ¡°Aatrox, I would like to extend a warm wee to the Ignis Family in the northern part of this continent. If you agree, my grandfather and I would like to extend our hospitality.¡±

    ¡°Visit the Ignis Family?¡± Kieran parroted, his words trailing off after considering the offer.

    ¡®From what I saw, Zerim¡¯s family should specialize in me-wielding. This visit could be beneficial,¡¯ Kieran estimated.

    Eventually, Kieran nodded. ¡°How can I decline your polite offer to wee me into your home? I¡¯m willing.¡±

    ¡°Remarkable!¡± Zerim eximed. ¡°I have taken up enough of your time; focus on healing for now. I¡¯ll fetch you once my grandfather is set to return home.¡±

 Chapter 244 Discussing the Framework (I)

    ¡ª

    After Yashua and Dabura left, Xithora returned to the room and checked on Kieran¡¯s wound, pressing on it softly to understand its level of tenderness.

    ¡°Does that hurt?¡± Xithora asked after having Kieran remove his top to expose all areas of the wound.

    ¡°Not as much,¡± Kieran answered truthfully. ¡°I received my rewards, and amongst the rewards was the crest that supplies a decent amount of power.¡±

    ¡°Ah yes, I recall that being true. The Champions receive a special type of crest to honor their bravery and potential,¡± Xithora replied.

    The War Crest of Champions was indeed unique, even amongst the other crests, since it was designed with the needs of the younger generation in mind. Inparison, Commanders and Generals didn¡¯t require as much assistance, so they were given other types of benefits.

    Still, Xithora felt some shock after pressing on Kieran¡¯s wound. As far as Xithora knew, the energy within the War Crest of Champions wasn¡¯t enough to speed up his healing this much.

    Although it was only noticeable due to her high stage, Xithora watched as the wound closed at a visible rate.

    ¡®This boy¡¯s body heals very quickly, almost on par with an Advanced Being. He must specialize in Vitality. Then again, considering the type of power he wields, it¡¯s understandable,¡¯ Xithora thought to herself.

    After pondering Kieran¡¯s situation, a milky aura enveloped Xithora¡¯s hand as she walked around the small bed. She slid her hand across Kieran¡¯s back and massaged his shoulder to stimte the healing process.

    ¡°I heard you¡¯ve joined High General Veradin¡¯s faction,¡± Xithoramented.

    Kieran nodded, somewhat surprised by how fast word traveled within the War Deity Council. Barely an hour had passed, yet Xithora was already aware of what had happened.

    Perhaps it was a luxury presented to General-level characters, but Kieran felt this capacity to dispense information was frightening.

    ¡°I did. Scar vouched for High General Veradin, so I didn¡¯t see any reason to decline. From what I heard, his faction doesn¡¯t seem too restrictive,¡± Kieran answered.

    A faint smile crept upon Xithora¡¯s lips as she listened to Kieran¡¯s opinion. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. Lord Veradin is a revered figure within the War Deity Council that many fear but also respect. However, you must remain wary because human nature is darker than you know.¡±

    ¡°Do you speak from experience?¡± Kieran questioned, ncing toward Xithora, who froze.

    She blinked and gazed into Kieran¡¯s eyes before nodding. ¡°Yes. My opiniones from my experiences.¡±

    ¡°We all have our past, and sometimes we fail toe to terms with it. However, if your heart tells you it¡¯s okay to trust, sometimes it¡¯s safe to make yourself vulnerable. But, I would never suggest you bepletely vulnerable; that¡¯s how you get hurt.¡±

    Kieran¡¯s word came from his heart.

    Alliances, friendships, rtionships¡ªit could all be very fragile instantly. Even after spending years getting to know people, in the end, you could be betrayed by blindly trusting or allowing yourself to be too vulnerable in someone¡¯s presence.

    Kieran¡¯s hand tightened as he spoke, but he unclenched his hand and massaged his palm a secondter.

    ¡®Although I have begun to trust my teammates, I have never been too vulnerable with them. They know nothing of my pain, but I¡¯m not prepared to share my story, and I don¡¯t know if or when I ever will be.¡¯

    Xithora noticed Kieran had grown quiet and looked over his shoulder to see his somber expression. ¡°Aren¡¯t you too young to bear such a heavy expression? Lighten up, smile¡ªenjoy your life as a young man. There will be plenty of timeter for you to mull over your circumstances.¡±

    Xithora smiled pleasantly. ¡°Take it from ady who spent her youth distraught over a man she believed loved her only to be used and discarded in the end. You may open your heart but trust sparingly.¡±

    Pain shed within Xithora¡¯s gaze as she spoke about this event, but she didn¡¯t go into great detail as it was something she tried her darnedest to get over. Unfortunately, wounds of the heart weren¡¯t superficial.

    One couldn¡¯t wake up one day and simply will it away.

    With time the pain faded, and soon enough, the pain became bearable while serving as a learning experience.

    ¡°Such a candid young man. I¡¯m sure you will im the hearts of many if you maintain your current personality during your rise to power. Broad shoulders, a firm personality, and incredibly handsome¡ªthe trifecta many women seek.¡±

    Kieran chuckled weakly. ¡°It¡¯s as you said. I must trust sparingly. If I do find a soulmate, I hope it¡¯s someone I can ce the entirety of my trust in.¡±

    ¡°Not everyone is the same, so we can¡¯t view the world in a uniform scope. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll meet and bond with your fated person or even persons, depending on your beliefs. Also, your wound has closed, but there will be residual pain.¡±

    Kieran hadn¡¯t realized how much time had passed while talking to Xithora. Their conversation was deep and somewhat enjoyable, so it escaped his notice.

    As Xithora said, although the wound closed, Kieran felt as if it were still there when he touched the faintly discolored skin.

    The color of the fresh skin was lighter and would regte once it healed adequately and was saturated by Kieran¡¯s abilities. For now, it resembled arge scar down his chest.

    ¡°Although it was rxing andforting to talk with you, I have official duties to tend to. Take care, Aatrox,¡± Xithora said, patting Kieran¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Thank you for your care. Can you tell guards that I¡¯ll be resting for the moment? I¡¯lle out after I¡¯m done.¡±

    ¡°With pleasure. Take as long as you need,¡± Xithora voiced.

    Afterward, she left the room, and Kieranid down on the bed as if he were sleeping. Once in afortable position, he brought up his user interface and initiated the log-out sequence.

    ¡­

    Inside the Medical Facility¡­

    Kieran took off the VR Helmet, and a sh of blinding light assaulted his eyes. He covered them and winced before sitting up. However, just as he sat up, he gasped and clutched his chest.

    A sharp pain traveled through the ce of his wound and made several of his nerves jump, inflicting incredible difort.

    ¡®What the fuck?!¡¯ Kieran thought in utter disbelief. His pain on Earth was nearly three times greater than what he felt inside Zenith Online, but there was no scar on his chest.

    Alongside his pain, Kieran was also rmed by Bastion and the rest. They leaned close and gazed into his eyes as if they wanted to gaze into the depths of his soul and confirm his safety.

    ¡°He lives!¡± Nemean screamed out.

    ¡°Please move aside!¡± Dr. Rileymanded, attempting to barge through Bastion and the others. She couldn¡¯t make her way through due to the sheer difference in their size.

    Once they stepped aside, Dr. Riley approached Kieran. ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°Why do you ask that?¡± Kieran questioned with a peculiar glint in his eyes. There was something amiss with Dr. Riley¡¯s tone¡ªit was too tender, as if she were distraught.

    ¡°Well¡­ your heart stopped beating for ten seconds. And you regrly stopped breathing, and it truly scared me. But when you resumed breathing, your lungs felt more¡­ powerful every time,¡± Dr. Riley said.

    ¡®My heart stopped beating?¡¯ Kieran had never heard of such a phenomenon before. ¡°Uh, what about my readings? Is there anything out of the ordinary now?¡±

    Dr. Riley scanned through the tablet in her hands,paring the changes. She didn¡¯t detect anything horrifyingly amiss, so she shook her head.

    ¡°No, not really. There aren¡¯t many changes in terms of your energy consumption, but your vitals are stronger¡ªhealthier. I may be mistaken, but I believe you¡¯ve processed the remnant wastage that should¡¯ve been expelled from your body.¡±

    ¡°I see. And what about them? How is their progress?¡± Kieran asked, looking at Altair and the others.

    ¡°In terms of progress, Altair is in the lead, followed by Bastion, then Alice, then Nemean, and so on. Except for Altair, they¡¯re receptive to X-hancers because they are virgins to the medicine.¡±

    Kieran turned and examined everyone, beginning with Nemean. Out of everyone, his physique was admittedly the best, but Altair¡¯s speed and precision were deadlier.

    ¡°Wait, before we worry about ourselves, I think we should get a proper read on the boss. Is he fine? That attack he received was absurd. I don¡¯t even understand how he was still standing!¡± Bastion eximed.

    ¡°True, I concur. That final attack almost cleaved you in half. Has it left trauma?¡± Altair questioned, ncing at Kieran¡¯s subconsciously rubbing his shoulder.

    ¡°It has, but it¡¯s nothing unbearable. I¡¯ve felt worse. But I logged out because we need to discuss a few important matters¡ªa guild. I want to create a guild very soon, but we must address our weaknesses and what hinders us.¡±

    Altair and the other¡¯s gazes lit up when Kieran said he was ready to create a guild. It required a lot of frameworks and everyone understood that, which is why Kieran intended to sit them down.

 Chapter 245 A Guild Masters Qualifications, Future Roles

    ¡ª

    As mentioned before, guilds within Zenith Online were vehicles of immense financial potential. But that potential only became apparent after they could shatter all the major limitations.

    A guild required an insane amount of members to function correctly, but it also needed respect from NPCs and fear from yers.

    Without those twoponents, an uprising guild was bound to fail after suffering the suppression of several gargantuan presences.

    Kieran understood that because he only possessed nine other members, creating a guild at this very moment was difficult.

    Before Kieran could voice his concerns, Altair was the first to speak. ¡°Wait, you have fulfilled all the criteria to be a Guild Master?!¡±

    The requirements to be a Guild Master were no longer a secret. One simply needed to ask the Adventurers¡¯ Guild for information on the matter to learn the specifics. The terms were as follows:

    The yer required a reputation of a Lord or higher.

    A Lord was the reputation caliber in which yers could begin registeringnd and property under their name. While obtaining property was easy, acquiringnd was next to impossible, so no one sought this option.

    In Zenith Online¡¯s current form, obtaining a piece of prime property was the most practical route for existing guilds to officially establish themselves within Zenith Online.

    Kieran had fulfilled this requirement, so there were no worries on this part.

    However, there were additional requirements that could more or less be considered more challenging toplete.

    Aside from being a Lord, the yer must hold a Gold Adventurer Badge to be considered a candidate for an official Guild Master position.

    Kieran received this early in the game, and it was quite easy.

    In fact, if it waspared to yers who tried to obtain a Gold Adventurer Badge now, the time-to-effort ratio difference was staggering!

    The third requirement was that one must pass the Power Exam of the Adventurers¡¯ Guild, which tested the yer¡¯s individual strength. At the very least, the Guild Master must be considered a peak Intermediate Being to pass this exam.

    This particr requirement existed for the sake of the created guild¡¯s protection. Many dark forces within Zenith Online preyed on infant powers to obtain their livelihood.

    One such power was the Desertborn Brigands that Kieran annihted.

    Thest and most elusive requirement was the Official Guild Creation Order that dropped from bosses of specific standards. It could be obtained in dungeons, but only from a difficulty that Kieran had yet to attempt.

    Aside from dungeons, it could also be a lucky pull from Treasure Chests, but the odds of that happening were less than favorable. Kieran considered this option in the past, but now he wasn¡¯t so sure.

    After all, Khaos had invited him to join in a dungeon run.

    If they obtained the First Clear, his need for his Treasure Chests would change, allowing him to simply spam open his Treasure Chest and see what he received.

    Kieran shook his head in response to Altair¡¯s question. ¡°I haven¡¯tpleted all of them, but I¡¯vepleted the most difficult one. We can move forward as soon as I obtain the Official Guild Creation Order.¡±

    ¡°Are you telling me we¡¯ll be the first official guild within Zenith Online?! Are you kidding me? Do you know how insane that would be? Not even the Behemoths or Leviathans have aplished that,¡± Bastion eximed.

    He felt as if his heart would explode from the excitement.

    The Leviathans were a grade of guilds above the Behemoths, and they earned their status as Leviathans because they were viewed as untouchable.

    Not even Golden Brigade in his past life fulfilled the requirement to mature into the Ninth Leviathan. In fact, it was the 2nd Ranked Behemoth, which is why it was considered a top ten guild.

    ¡°He¡¯s right. Speaking of which, I haven¡¯t heard much about the Leviathans. They have been awfully silent. That¡¯s uncharacteristic of them,¡± Nemean mentioned.

    Kieran chuckled at everyone¡¯s responses.

    ¡°Zenith Online isn¡¯t like other games. One can¡¯t join and willfully create a guild. Their previous status is virtually worthless until they can garner rapport with revered figures.¡±

    In previous titles, creating a guild was effortless. All it required was money. If one had that, nothing could stop them. But Zenith Online veered away from that power model.

    A yer¡¯s stratum didn¡¯t directly rte to one¡¯s status inside the game. Everything had to be acquired by skill or luck.

    ¡°I agree. It has only been a few weeks, but this game has been eye-opening. I wouldn¡¯t have thought a game could temper us,¡± Alice added.

    Sithik nodded behind her, rolling his aching shoulders. ¡°I thought it was unbelievably hard at first, but I judged it too early. The settings were made to weed out the weak and leave those willing to truly brave danger.¡±

    Many yers quit the game after dying countless times and suffering trauma, but the number was negligiblepared to the number of yers Kieran¡¯s stream attracted.

    Before starting the game, many of them visited his stream,uded as Zenith Online¡¯s most entertaining channel. Hisst stream had broken all-time records!

    ¡°I¡¯m d you all are growing to love the game, but we can¡¯t forget that a guild within Zenith Online is nothing without a headquarters on Earth. This facility won¡¯t suffice. We need something that is our own,¡± Kieran announced, drawing everyone away from their chatter.

    ¡°I¡­ I could probably get my mother to finance the guild if you¡¯d like,¡± Alice offered.

    Kieran felt that Alice came from an Affluent Family based on the style and grace of her movement. Her detached demeanor andposed behavior weren¡¯t too odd for a rich girl.

    But Kieran shook his head. ¡°At the very least, our silent partner would have to be an Extreme Magnate Family, but that¡¯s pretty much impossible. They¡¯ll want to swallow the entire guild.¡±

    An Extreme Magnate Family went beyond the influence of a typical Magnate Family like the ones that backed the Behemoths. Extreme Magnate Families could tip the scales of the global economy with their individual wealth.

    Such a frightening power was something no regime, whether the governments of the various countries or guilds, were willing to sh heads with. It wasn¡¯t umon for individuals targeted by Extreme Magnate Families to simply vanish into thin air.

    ¡°If we need a backer like that¡­ what will we do?¡± Alice grimaced. ¡°My family isn¡¯t even considered a Magnate Family. Perhaps it could be in a few more years, but as of right now, we¡¯re an Affluent Family.¡±

    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s quite the background you have. You¡¯re already a socialite,¡± Kieran nodded, smiling faintly.

    After smiling, Kieran¡¯s expression grew serious. ¡°What we will do is simple¡ªacquire supreme power within Zenith Online and be our backer. I want sole ownership. I will not be handing out shares of our future guild. It will take ample work, but that¡¯s why we¡¯re having this discussion.¡±

    Kieran crossed his arms and guided everyone upstairs before taking a seat to discuss the important matters.

    Once seated, Kieran continued. ¡°I want to assign our roles from now. Everyone at this table will be given a core member status once the guild is created. This means you are a part of the original members.¡±

    ¡°Even me?¡± Sithik asked cautiously.

    ¡°Me too?¡± Cygnus questioned, blinking her watery eyes.

    ¡°Yes, you two are included. Why would I train if I didn¡¯t intend to employ you? You can be excellent healers. I haven¡¯t gauged your skills recently, but I¡¯m sure your awareness now is iparable to before.¡±

    Kieran then shifted his gaze to Altair. ¡°I want you as my High Commander, and if not that, you¡¯ll be my Executioner.¡±

    Altair grinned after hearing this offer. ¡°Usually, I would reject an offer to join a guild as I have done for the past ten years, but what can I say? You all have grown on me. Executioner sounds good to me.¡±

    Altair wasn¡¯t the type that sought such high responsibilities, so the Executioner position would fit him well.

    ¡°Bastion, you¡¯ll be my Chief of Tankers and Main Tank,¡± Kieran said. He paused and awaited the passing of Bastion¡¯s gleeful smile.

    ¡°Nemean, you¡¯ll be the Vice Guild Master responsible for discipline and maintaining order.¡±

    ¡°Woohoo!¡± Nemean shouted with a raised fist. ¡°I¡¯ll be a Vice Guild-Master. Do you guys hear that? You¡¯ll have to listen to this daddy in the future!¡±

    Kieran snickered but didn¡¯t say much. ¡°Alice, you¡¯ll be the second Vice Guild Master responsible for management. I believe you¡¯ll excel in this department.¡±

    ¡°Sera, even though you¡¯re quiet, you always exhibit superior awareness and make prudent decisions, so you¡¯ll naturally be our Chief Healer, responsible for providing insight into what makes a good healer. This means your position will rival Bastion.¡±

    ¡°Sithik, Cygnus¡ªyou¡¯ll naturally be two of the main healers within our main squadron. Cyr, you¡¯re going to shadow Altair and continue to develop your skill. Once you are strong enough, I¡¯ll grant you a more distinct position.¡±

    Kieranid all of the roles on the table regarding the battle aspect. There was also the matter of dealing with Lifestyle yers, but that didn¡¯t involve these members.

    Furthermore, it would be more tricky to set the foundations of that.

    ¡®If I can scam Hamon and Sorcia, I mean recruit¡­ building off my current fame won¡¯t be difficult,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Scar had permitted him to roam, and Zerim had invited him to his family¡¯snd, so Kieran¡¯s chances are acquiring extraordinary materials were rtively high.

    At that moment, his holo-phone began to vibrate and release an obnoxious alert. Everyone turned towards him with eyes brimming with curiosity.

 Chapter 246 A Record Setting Stream, Future Obligations

    ¡ª

    ¡´You are receiving a video call from An Peters. If you wish to end the call at any moment, you may do so by waving your hand with a closed fist gesture or uttering the phrase: End Call.¡µ

    ¡´Answer? [ Y | N ]¡µ

    Kieran tapped to answer.

    ¡°Hello, Mr. Silver,¡± An greeted respectfully when the video call opened. His hands were sped with a gentle smile, but his left leg bounced outside everyone¡¯s view.

    Although An seemed calm on the surface, he was nervous because he called Kieran for more than one reason. His supervisors had just revealed that he was due for a massive bonus due to being the one to sign Kieran.

    ¡°Greeting, Mr. Peters,¡± Kieran answered in a simr tone.

    An collected himself and cleared his throat before speaking. ¡°First off, I would like to congratte you. I have your finalized contract in hand, and I¡¯ll be sending it to you digitally in a moment. Please fingerprint and sign it to confirm your identity.¡±

    As An said, Kieran received a notification that included the mentioned contract within seconds. A legal official reviewed it, but Kieran skimmed through it at lightning speeds to ensure there was no selective wording and they adhered to his demands.

    For the most part, Kieran was satisfied by the offer. The set sry was based on the number of followers he acquired during said month.

    And, for every bracket it increased, which referred to the number of digits of the new followers, Kieran would receive a more significant bonus.

    Kieran had acquired more than 200,000 followers this month alone, but after hisst stream, it ballooned to over 500,000.

    Of course, he hadn¡¯t checked it since he fell asleep in-game, so he was unsure about its current number.

    Kieran signed the contract with his finger and ced his thumb on the fingerprint area. The system stored his actions, and it was transferred back to An.

    A few secondster, Kieran received a copy of the signed contract for legal purposes.

    ¡°With your contract signingplete, I¡¯d like to move on to the second matter. As the first yer with an exclusive tform deal, I¡¯d like to promote you on the tform¡¯s main space and in the news in theing days. Are youfortable flying out to Minence City for an in-person meeting? We¡¯ll prepare the best amodations.¡±

    Kieran¡¯s eyes shed with surprise. He didn¡¯t expect the Gamer Republic to extend this offer so soon. That meant Zenith Online should have garnered immense poprity for them to do another round of advertising.

    Nemean bit his fist off to the side as he felt a pang of jealousy bubble within him. Kieran was going to be on the news! How couldn¡¯t he be jealous? He wanted to be on the news as well.

    But considering the big ns Kieran had in store, Nemean felt it was only a matter of time before everyone sitting at this table became an influential presence.

    ¡°When would this meeting take ce?¡± Kieran questioned.

    ¡°The earliest would be two weeks from now. We must finalize our slot and get our requests approved.¡±

    ¡°If it is two weeks, that works for me,¡± Kieran nodded. After a moment, he tapped his chin in thought. ¡°Is it possible to extend this offer to additional people? I have my team members with me, and I would like their names also to be known.¡±

    ¡°How many? If it¡¯s beneath 10, it will be doable,¡± An said.

    After the records Kieran had broken, ushering in a staggering amount of revenue from ads, views, and subscriptions, An felt he would be a fool not to amodate some of Kieran¡¯s requests.

    ¡°It should be beneath that number,¡± Kieran answered. Aside from everyone present, only one person was missing, but he suspected her absence had to do with her research that bordered on the verge of fanaticism.

    ¡°Very well, then we¡¯ll apply for the proper amodations. Aside from this, I¡¯d like to address the matter of your bonus. With the projected value of your channel, you¡¯re looking at a $15 million bonus. Be mindful; this is separate from your revenue generated by the channel.¡±

    Gasp!

    Everyone covered their mouth and looked at Kieran in shock.

    $15 million from streaming was an unfathomable number!

    Streaming was indeed as lucrative as many said, especially during the early stages of new trends, where the hype was unmatched.

    ¡°Bonuses are distributed on the 15th of every month. Also, don¡¯t be surprised if brands reach out to endorse you. Your following is rapidly growing, so expect that. I suggest you prepare a manager you can trust,¡± An said, fixing his sses.

    He noticed the people¡¯s shock in the background but could only smile slightly. Discussing this amount of money was enough to shock many people.

    ¡°I appreciate the suggestions,¡± Kieran nodded.

    All of An¡¯s suggestions fell well within Kieran¡¯s expectations, so his response wasn¡¯t dramatic. He had heard of many focus streamers earning a whopping $50 million in a single month thanks to bonuses based on their projected earnings.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking. Do you have future streams nned to capitalize on your current momentum?¡±

    ¡°For now, I don¡¯t. But I¡¯ll n something to once more awe my following. I can¡¯t let my viewers down when they¡¯re funding me with their hard-earned money,¡± Kieran answered.

    Kieran had a few matters that he could stream, but since he was running with Khaos, he felt he should at least get his permission first. Otherwise, he could potentially expose secrets that Khaos didn¡¯t want to reveal to the public.

    After a few other basic questions, An ended the call on a good note.

    As soon as the call ended, Nemean and Bastion exploded with countless questions. ¡°What the hell?! All that money?! Also¡­ you¡¯re taking us along with you? Have I ever told you that you¡¯re the best boss ever? Woohoo!¡±

    ¡°Forget what he¡¯s talking about! Open your stream ount! Please show us the stats from yourst stream! It must be fucking insane for them to project that incredible bonus.¡±

    Kieran had to admit that after hearing An¡¯s words, he also grew curious about the stream. Thest time he checked, the live stream had over 200,000 concurrent viewers. But what did that vod reach?

    A vod was simply a recording of a live stream attached to the streamer¡¯s ount. Anyone could ess them by pressing the streamer¡¯s ount and visiting recent videos.

    Kieran pulled up the stream analytics that only he could view, making his jaw drop.

    ©°©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    ?Stream Analytics? ¨C

    Recent Streams (1-week duration): 1

    Maximum Viewers: 516,498

    Total Views: 11,956,899

    New Followers: 494,550

    New Subscriptions: 376,785

    Stream Time: 4hrs 46 mins 37 secs

    Donations: 1,917 ($594,756)

    Stream Earnings (Estimate): $7,470,488

    ©¸©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤

    Over $8 million from a single stream!

    But after including the vod, the number surpassed $10 million easily thanks to the rapidly increasing number. The number continued to grow before Kieran¡¯s eyes, far exceeding 30 million views.

    Kieran suspected the stream was a trending topic that yers shared with their friends. Otherwise, its current reach should be impossible!

    Kieran curiously checked Zenith Online¡¯s official, and as he suspected, the top ten posts were in some shape or form rted to his stream. However, many of them questioned his ss and why the stream went mute at the end.

    Some intelligent yers connected the dots and realized it was muted during the crowd¡¯s stupefaction. If it were left unmuted, the public would have undoubtedly revealed the origins of Kieran¡¯s power, which couldn¡¯t happen this early on.

    ¡°God damn!¡± Bastion shouted, covering his mouth in disbelief.

    ¡°If I¡¯m not dumb and my math is correct, aren¡¯t you going to earn more than $25 million? Damn¡­ boss, you¡¯re about to be raped by taxes!¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kieran blinked and looked at the bewildered Nemean.

    ¡°T-taxes¡­ that will undoubtedly be taxed,¡± Nemean muttered. But he grew quiet after he felt something was amiss with Kieran¡¯s expression.

    ¡°If it was going to my personal ount, yes. But who said I¡¯m withdrawing the funds?¡±

    Kieran had no intentions of moving this money to his personal ount.

    Instead, he would open a specialized ount meant forrge businesses. Their taxes applied differently, and that¡¯s what Kieran needed currently.

    ¡®I¡¯ll ce everything under the guild. I¡¯ll own it, but it¡¯ll be an entity separate from myself,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Of course, he would have to visit a global bank in person. Because he would immediately be a private client, the first meeting had to be conducted in person for security purposes.

    ¡®This lines up perfectly. There¡¯s a branch of the Regal Finance Bank located in Minence City. I can handle all of those matters then,¡¯ Kieran devised.

    After considering how hard everyone had been working, Kieran nced at everyone and questioned. ¡°Do you all want to go out? I feel we have earned at least a few hours of rxation. Continued stress with no time to unwind will eventually wear away at our psyche.¡±

    Bastion mmed his hands on the table and frothed at the mouth. ¡°Yes! A thousand times, yes! But wait, I didn¡¯t pack those kinds of clothes.¡±

    ¡°Well, considering that we have an uing major appointment, I think we should go shopping anyway,¡± Kieran said.

    ¡°Shopping?¡± Alice¡¯s eyes sparkled the moment shopping was mentioned. Cygnus simrly became giddy.

 Chapter 247 Opus Oasis, An Unexpected Familiar Face

    ¡ª

    Kieran considered Dr. Riley¡¯s earlier advice. His team had toiled at hismand with little time to rest.

    It might not affect them now, but the same couldn¡¯t be said about the long run. The pressure Kieran put on them could potentially ce a burden on their shoulders that they weren¡¯t prepared to endure.

    Once everyone agreed to a night out, Kieran walked downstairs to talk to Dr. Riley.

    Like always, she was buried in her work, scrambling about within a small radius topare all of the data she had collected over these past three days.

    However, before she could lose herself in her work, Kieran¡¯srge hand covered most of the documents.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Dr. Riley eximed, ring at Kieran.

    ¡°Shh. I¡¯m not trying to fight with you, Lillian. I want to invite you out with us¡ªmy treat. Would you like toe?¡± Kieran asked.

    His voice was soft, and he bore a pleasant smile, which made Dr. Riley stop while considering the offer. Still, she couldn¡¯t help but steal nces at the work beneath Kieran¡¯s hand.

    The allure of the knowledge under Kieran¡¯s palm was too great to give up. If she could, she would choose the data over the date. But she also understood Kieran¡¯s personality.

    It was an inconceivable task to change his mind.

    After a few seconds, Dr. Riley relented and spoke in a small voice simr to that of a skeptic mouse.

    ¡°W-what about next time? This is groundbreaking information. I can¡¯t be pulled away from it right now. If Ipare the differences in the readings, I can iste why X-hancers garner various receptivity! The data is important!¡±

    Unfortunately for Dr. Riley, Kieran didn¡¯t ept this answer, shaking his head. ¡°Will the data be going anywhere? Will it magically vanish?¡±

    ¡°No! It won¡¯t, but that¡¯s beside the point. There¡¯s so much of it to sort through. It¡¯ll take forever if I don¡¯t do it now,¡± Dr. Rileyined.

    Kieran was no longer the only recipient of her study. There were more people now, meaning the depth of data was abundant.

    ¡°I might look like a musclehead, but I¡¯m not. You could feed the data to a tailored algorithm and have it perform the work. Besides, as we stated, it¡¯s not going anywhere.¡±

    Dr. Riley stomped her foot and pouted with puffed-up cheeks and crossed arms. ¡°Ugh! You¡¯re such a knucklehead! You never listen to me!¡±

    ¡°Well, wasn¡¯t it you who mentioned that we should rx once in a while to deal with the tension we have built up,¡± Kieran retorted, which only made Dr. Riley look away in frustration.

    ¡°Y-yes, that¡¯s true!¡± Dr. Riley stammered, lightly pursing her lips. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t really apply to me. I¡¯m not doing strenuous physicalbor; I¡¯m just working my mind.¡±

    ¡°As if that doesn¡¯t be tiring. College students are known to burn out, so your point is pretty bad. Again, join us. It¡¯ll be my treat, and it¡¯ll be good for you to get fresh air.¡±

    Dr. Riley eventually groaned and nodded. ¡°Are we going anywhere in particr? It has been quite some time since I went out to enjoy myself.¡±

    ¡°Mm, I think we¡¯ll go ces in the city¡¯s center with several attractions.¡±

    ¡°Eh?! It¡¯s so expensive there!¡±

    ¡°Money isn¡¯t an issue,¡± Kieran answered with an indifferent shrug. He didn¡¯t go into the details of what transpired upstairs, but Dr. Riley spected that Kieran had earned even more money if he wasn¡¯t afraid to splurge.

    Following his talk with Dr. Riley, Kieran approached the showers, where he heard raucousughter interspersed with shockingly good singing.

    As he peeked around the corner, he saw Bastion banging on the lockers with Sithikughing and Nemean singing at the top of his lungs.

    Kieran chuckled while walking past them to freshen up.

    ¡°Vamonos! Rapido! Rapido!¡± Nemean shouted, whipping Kieran¡¯s back with a wet towel.

    Kieran turned instinctively and almost took Nemean¡¯s head off with a punch, but he stopped himself.

    ¡°Sheesh, boss! It is a joyous day; lighten up!¡± Sithik said amidst his constantughter.

    Kieran grimaced and agreed with Sithik¡¯sment. ¡°Ask Alice to book a ride into the city.¡±

    After leaving the message, Kieran entered the shower.

    ¡­

    One hourter, Kieran and everyone else stood outside the medical facility before entering a luxurious van.

    ¡°Where to, sir,¡± the chauffeur asked.

    ¡°Uh, Fifth Street, please,¡± Kieran voiced.

    ¡°Understood, sire. We will arrive shortly.¡±

    The van, although big, was a top-of-the-line luxury vehicle. Its top speed rivaled some modern sportscars, but it wasn¡¯t practical due to its weight. It would consume arge amount of fuel.

    The ride was rxing as they strolled down the paved streets after leaving the remote facility.

    Sithik and Cygnus¡¯ faces were stered against the car window as they stared at therge buildings passing by. They didn¡¯te from fortunate families, so they rarely traveled.

    The sights of many impressive buildings were a marvel to them.

    ¡°Whoa,¡± Cygnus breathed, kneeling in her seat.

    ¡°It¡¯s huge, right? I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m in the city right now!¡± Sithik remarked.

    Whereas these two were mystified, Kieran sat back in his seat and closed his eyes. Although Ezra had revealed that he had slept for almost an entire day, he felt remnants of exhaustion.

    ¡®This must be due to my soul injury inside Zenith Online. It must have left immense mental fatigue. Or¡­ perhaps it crossed over from Zenith Onlinepletely,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    The ride was roughly an hour long, so Kieran miraculously used that time to fall asleep in an instant. Perhaps it was a trait of a psychopath, but if Kieran was tired, he could fall asleep like flipping a switch.

    The van stopped an hourter, and the chauffeur¡¯s voice resounded within the van. ¡°We have arrived. Would you like the extended service, or will your ride end here?¡±

    ¡°Extended ride, please. We¡¯ll pay you for the entire day even if we don¡¯t use up all your time,¡± Alice answered.

    Everyone turned toward her, surprised by her generous offer.

    ¡°What? It¡¯s the least we can do for the gentleman¡¯s honest work!¡±

    Kieran opened his eyes and looked outside the van¡¯s translucent windows.

    While the others conversed, he got out of the van and stretched with a light groan. ¡®It was short, but that was an incredibly fulfilling nap. I feel more rejuvenated than before.¡¯

    Kieran¡¯s gaze then fell upon the streets with bustling foot traffic.

    The crowd consisted of debutantes who giggled amongst themselves, socialites who had their attention buried in their phones, and several other types of people passing by.

    Kieran was familiar with the streetyout because he had visited it many times to prepare for many events. He eyed a luxurious store famed for catering to the upper sses¡¯ every request. Its treatment depended on the package one requested.

    ¡°We¡¯ll go there.¡±

    ¡°Whoa! Are we going to that store? Wasn¡¯t it in the news once? I think its staple products are from Tobias Ford and Versiali. Someone help me before my heart stops!¡± Sithik eximed.

    Kieran gestured for everyone to follow him as he slipped his hands into his ck jeans and confidently walked.

    His gait captured the eyes of many, making them wonder if he were a professional model.

    This thought simrly surfaced for Altair, who walked not too far behind.

    After entering the doubleyered store, Kieran was greeted by avish sight.

    Anyone withmon sense could tell the store possessed an opulent background. It was filled with silk of the finest quality and many ivory sculptures.

    A few avant-garde ice sculptures alsoplemented the store¡¯s serene atmosphere. It was specially made with a strange material that wasn¡¯t actually ice. It couldn¡¯t melt.

    Kieran panned his gaze to an approaching middle-aged beauty that exuded an air of elegance. Her entire appearance was tidy despite being dressed in a simple white dress.

    She clutched a clipboard and handed it to Kieran with a kind smile. Despite their somewhat ordinary appearance, they were treated surprisingly well.

    ¡°Wee to the Opus Oasis. How may I be of help to you? There are several options listed in this brochure here.¡±

    Rather than ept the clipboard, Kieran raised his hand with a calm smile. ¡°I want something that isn¡¯t on the brochure. May I purchase the Treatment of Royals package?¡±

    ¡°E-excuse me, one moment!¡±

    Thedy rushed behind the desk and scanned her finger through a long list. After confirming there were multiple spots avable, she beamed.

    ¡®Mymission today will be marvelous. I may even be crowned this month¡¯s Opus Doyenne! Hehe, how excellent of me!¡¯

    The Treatment of Royals was the Opus Oasis¡¯ hidden full-expense package for respected guests.

    ¡°Forgive my impoliteness. My name is Estelle, Head Attendant of the Opus Oasis,¡± Estelle said with a curtsy.

    ¡°Pleasure to meet you, Estelle. We¡¯ll be in your care.¡±

    Estelle extended her arm and guided everyone up the exquisite marble steps that led to the second floor.

    Located on this floor was an area that resembled a spa and a hair salon, but it only covered half of the floor¡¯s space. The other side possessed several spacious exclusive dressing rooms and a wide selection of luxury clothing.

    The scene made everyone¡¯s jaw drop.

    But Kieran averted his gaze and covered his face while looking down grimly. Unfortunately, his actions were a tad too slow.

    His actions and presence didn¡¯t escape the notice of the one he wanted to ignore.

    ¡°Kieran Silver?!¡±

 Chapter 248 Nearly Exposed, Boiling Blood

    ¡ª

    Kieran lowered his hand from his face and stared at the familiar face sitting in the left corner of the room. It was familiar because he had seen it not too long ago, but it wasn¡¯t inside Zenith Online.

    The person before him was Erin Arman, one of the princesses of the Arman Family, a true goliath in the fashion industry. It was rumored that the Arman Family was behind the Versiali clothing brands that appeared in all the affluent countries worldwide.

    Aside from being Erin Arman, she had another identity¡ªKieran¡¯s previous math teacher, who endeavored to teach by using her connections. It was something she did to quell her boredom.

    Kieran didn¡¯t avoid Erin because of her family. He wasn¡¯t aware of her background because there were many instances where people unrted to certain families bore the samest name.

    Some names weremon.

    He avoided her because of how abruptly he walked out on her. As a former student, he understood that most teachers expected a certain level of respect.

    With his earlier behavior, Kieran suspected that a teacher like Erin, who singled students out in ss when they didn¡¯t pay attention, would undoubtedly talk his ear off.

    Even with the changes to his appearance, Erin noticed Kieran quickly.

    ¡°One moment, please, Phyllis,¡± Erin said, speaking to the attendant by her side. Erin was in the middle of getting a full-course facial with tender care.

    However, her eyes weren¡¯t covered yet, which is why she spotted Kieran.

    ¡°Is it someone you know?¡± Alice whispered beside Kieran after noticing the change in his expression. Kieran didn¡¯t grimace or avoid people often, so Alice felt something was suspicious.

    ¡®An ex-girlfriend perhaps? She is quite stunning, so that much is understandable,¡¯ Alice inwardly thought. Because she watched many dramas, her first thought immediately shifted to past rtionship issues.

    ¡°Something along those lines,¡± Kieran responded with a thin smile.

    Erin¡¯s pronounced gait that used a subtle sway of her hips immediately drew the attention of Bastion, Nemean, and Sithik.

    ¡®Awooga!¡¯ Nemean thought. ¡®Thatdy is one foxy mama. How in the world does Kieran know all these people?! I swear he is surrounded by women I see in my dreams!¡¯

    Erin crossed her arms and tilted her hips with a dark expression while standing before Kieran. The front of her amaretto-colored stiletto heels tapped against the ground inpliance with her jittery nerves. ¡°Isn¡¯t there something you want to say to me, mister?¡±

    ¡°Not¡­ particrly,¡± Kieran answered, drawing out his response. The corner of his lip twitched as he tried to remain calm and refrain from saying something oundish.

    ¡°Interesting,¡± Erin scoffed. ¡°If memory serves, you were insulting during yourst day of ss. That isn¡¯t the proper way to address your teacher.

    ¡°If my memory serves, you like to throw things. That isn¡¯t the proper way to interact with a student,¡± Kieran replied callously.

    Everyone behind Kieran blinked with a foolish expression. Teacher?! This thought had never crossed their mind.

    Although it was true teachers were bing more stunning in this day and age, Erin would outss many supermodels in terms of looks and curves.

    Why she settled for a lowly teacher job was unfathomable. Their pay was subpar for the stress of dealing with insufferable children or belligerent young adults.

    Erin sneered and shook her head with a dark expression. ¡°I see you haven¡¯t fixed that attitude of yours. No, I suppose it has gotten even worse! Wait a minute¡­.¡±

    Erin¡¯s gaze shifted from Kieran to the people behind him. For some reason, they felt oddly familiar. At least three of them did.

    ¡®This isn¡¯t a coincidence, right?¡¯

    Erin ignored Kieran and approached Altair, closely examining Altair before inhaling his scent. Her eyes shed with a peculiar glint as she lifted her gaze to meet the weirded-out Altair.

    ¡°You¡¯re a Wiyan.¡±

    ¡°What the¡ª¡± Altair was too stunned to continue speaking. He looked to Kieran for help. How could she possibly sniff out his identity? Was what she? Some kind of dog in human form?!

    ¡°I have interacted with the Wiyan Family. You guys exude a particr scent due to an abnormal gene mutation. I don¡¯t know how to describe it, but to me, it¡¯s easy to detect,¡± Erin revealed.

    ¡°Uh, Kieran. Is thisdy a humanoid dog? What does she mean scent?!¡± Altair questioned while blinking and repeatedly moving his gaze between the two.

    ¡°Don¡¯t ask me. I wasn¡¯t even aware of such a thing before she mentioned it.¡± Meanwhile, a different thought surfaced in his mind. ¡®You mean a bitch? If so, then yes, my friend!¡¯

    ¡°Actually¡­¡± A voice sounded. It belonged to Dr. Riley, who stepped to the front. ¡°I¡¯ve noticed it as well. Altair¡¯s body exudes strange reactions at times. It¡¯s simr to a beast releasing a pheromone.¡±

    ¡°Damn, so like, Altair is part animal?¡± Bastion interjected.

    ¡°It¡¯s possible. I wouldn¡¯t put it beyond the Wiyans to splice genes and extract traits from animals to strengthen their offspring. They are one of the leaders in the gic modification faction,¡± Dr. Riley answered.

    ¡°Altair is ab rat!¡± Sithik eximed andughed hysterically. However, he was the only one whoughed. Everyone looked at him with nk expressions, causing his eventual grimace. ¡°Not the time?¡±

    ¡°Definitely not the time,¡± Altair remarked.

    Afterward, Erin shifted her gaze to Kieran and Altair before gasping loudly! ¡°It¡¯s you! Aa-¡°

    Whoosh!

    Kieran stepped forward, using what looked like a Surge Step to cover Erin¡¯s mouth immediately. Because altering one¡¯s features without changing one¡¯s race or ss in Zenith Online was impossible, recognizing him wasn¡¯t difficult if one possessed a good set of eyes.

    Kieran wasn¡¯t afraid of confrontation after regaining some of his strength, but he also didn¡¯t appreciate someone foolishly broadcasting his identity. ¡°Please do not announce my identity to the world. Thank you.¡±

    After speaking, Kieran gradually retracted his hand, leaving Erin in a state of shock. Part of her shock was due to the fact that Kieran had closed the distance between them faster than she could react.

    She noticed once before when Kieran flung the item at her, but he was simr to her¡ªa child that could wield an extraordinary power that shouldn¡¯t be essible to humans.

    Grandmasters inbat trained her for years to defend herself, yet she couldn¡¯t respond to Kieran¡¯s advance.

    The other reason for her shock was that Kieran felt confident touching her.

    ¡°I guess your budding fame has made you brazen enough to touch the heiress of the Arman fortune. Tell me, why shouldn¡¯t I have my bodyguards deal with you?¡± Erin¡¯s gaze grew cold while staring at Kieran.

    ¡°I mean, if you want to lose bodyguards, then so be it. Because, I¡¯ll say this only once¡ªif they approach me with lethal force, I will kill them. I do not care about thews that secure our society,¡± Kieran openly stated.

    Erin was shocked by how his current personality matched his demeanor within the game.

    ¡®I thought he was joking when he said he was leaving school to y a game and excel, but looking at him now, I think it was I who was being shortsighted.¡¯

    Despite her thoughts, Erin voiced her dissatisfaction. ¡°Disregard for the rules that bind our society? In other words, you feel as if you¡¯re above thews?¡±

    ¡°Is that not how the Magnate Families and Extreme Magnate Families operate? Outside of thew. I can quote many instances where charges disappeared simply because of their background. Conforming is for the weak, and I can assure you¡ªI am not weak,¡± Kieran voiced.

    After a slight pause, Kieran lifted his gaze toward the awaiting attendants. ¡°If you¡¯ll excuse me, I have matters to attend to.¡±

    Once again, Kieran brushed past Erin,pletely disregarding her stunned expression.

    When was thest time someone ignored her, let alone a young man? Most men would be at her beck and call, trying to gain her favor in hopes of bing one of her potential suitors.

    Furthermore, those males usually hailed from Affluent or other Magnate Families!

    Erin had read Kieran¡¯s records. His parent¡¯s identities were unknown in the school database, and he was listed as an orphan with no rtion to any mighty background.

    Erin chewed on her fingernail while repeatedly tapping her foot. Her anxiety shot through the roof after meeting with Kieran again. ¡®Hohoho! He really knows how to irk me! He boils my blood!¡±

    ¡°Ms. Arman! Don¡¯t bite! Stop!¡± Phyllis shouted, hurrying to grab Erin¡¯s hand. Phyllis had recently finished her manicure, so the anxious biting would ruin it!

    Meanwhile, Kieran sat with his attendant and leaned back in the chair while closing his eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t have any particr style in mind. You can style it ording to what you think fits.¡±

    ¡°Understood, sir. What would you like to begin with?¡± The slenderdy by his side asked. Kieran read her nametag and learned it was Katarina.

    ¡°Hair, I suppose. And we can work our way down,¡± Kieran answered.

    Katarina circled him, studying Kieran¡¯s features and hair growth pattern. ¡°You have a nice face, a slender jawline, well-sculpted cheekbones, and subtle button nose. Most of all, your hair is dark, so I think it wouldplete your look if you retain moderate length, barely above your eyebrows.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡±

    Afterward, Kieran relinquished all responsibility to Katarina as he rxed an enjoyed the magnificent treatment.

 Chapter 249 [Bonus Chapter] An Enjoyable Finale

    ¡ª

    The Treatment of Royals was an all-inclusive package, so the self-care portionsted a whopping two hours, even with the attendants coupling treatments that could be applied simultaneously.

    However, Kieran was in bliss for those two hours.

    He received a massage from Katarina and another junior attendant, and the way Katarina washed his hair hit a spot that he alone could not target.

    It was an indescribable pleasure when another person washed your hair with tender care.

    Kieran gradually opened his eyes and looked into the mirror before him, only to see Katarina staring at him with a fawning smile. ¡°I must say, you¡¯re very handsome. As I suspected, this hairstyle suits your dark, thick hair.¡±

    Kieran agreed with her and leaned forward, lightly shifting his hair with his fingers. The length tickled his forehead, but it wasn¡¯t a bad sensation.

    Overall, he was pleased with the look since the length wasn¡¯t that much longer than his usual choice.

    Although Kieran¡¯s current look screamed a mix of pretty and bad boy, one would be mistaken to judge him solely on his appearance. This was all for his image.

    Once the care routine was finished, Katarina brought Kieran to the clothing section, where Bastion and Nemean scratched their head cluelessly.

    ¡°It all looks amazing, how can I choose?! I don¡¯t know!¡±

    ¡°I thought I was alone. The suits are great, but so are the other options. So many decisions, not enough brainpower,¡± Bastion mumbled, tapping his lip in thought.

    Kieran appeared behind them and wrapped his arms around their shoulders. ¡°Let¡¯s go for fine dining, so grab a suit. Midnight blue for Bastion and a dark grey for you, Nemean.¡±

    ¡°Excellent decision,¡± a butleresque individual said off to the side. ¡°Those tonesplement theirplexion well!¡±

    The males all grabbed a suit and entered a private fitting room. In Kieran¡¯s case, he opted for a simple, sleek ck suit and smooth white top. He added a tie, but it was worn loosely.

    Afterward, he picked out additional items that would go well with future events.

    Over the next few minutes, everyone appeared from their dressing room looking like royalty, which was the aim of the Treatment of Royals package. Alice and Dr. Riley, in particr, looked riveting.

    Their fancy hairstyle and minimalistic yet elegant make-upplemented their somewhat shy attitude, creating a breathtaking sight.

    ¡°Beautiful,¡± Kieran remarked, pping softly. He then looked toward Cygnus and winked at Sithik, who coughed and caught the hint.

    ¡°R-Roxy, you look amazing!¡±

    ¡°Do I?¡± Cygnus looked down at her sapphire dress, wondering if she looked as pretty as the others.

    ¡°Undoubtedly,¡± Sithik responded. His head movement was reminiscent of a bobblehead after being whacked.

    ¡°Thank you!¡± Cygnus beamed. Her smile left Sithik at a loss for words, staring at her in a daze.

    Kieran had noticed that the two got along well, so he felt ying matchmaker fit the scenario.

    Unfortunately, he could do nothing about the two oafs behind him. Nemean and Bastion were lost causes in the truest senses.

    Even now, Kieran could feel them doing something goofy behind his back.

    Everyone picked out a couple of outfits, not just clothes like this, which were standard for high-ss events. Once everyone gathered their things, Kieran brought them down to the first floor.

    ¡°Did you enjoy your service, Mr. Silver?¡± Estelle asked respectfully and gracefully.

    Kieran loosened the tie around his neck further and nodded with a pleasant smile. ¡°Very much. I believe I speak for everyone when I say it was an immacte experience. I will for sure be visiting again.¡±

    ¡°Excellent; I can¡¯t wait for your return. Overall, that will be $569,455. How would you like to pay?¡±

    The price of this service made everyone gag and gasp. Did they hear that correctly? Everything cost more than half a million dors?!

    ¡°Direct transfer,¡± Kieran indifferently replied.

    This price sounded about right, considering everyone picked up 3-7 outfits. Not to mention, the Treatment of Royals was $25,000 per person. It included one set of clothing. The additional apparel was billed separately.

    Kieran paid using what remained on his personal ount after drawing out the funds from his second-tost stream, where he and Altair battled against hundreds of yers.

    The transaction seeded, not that Kieran had any doubts. But Kieran also left a hefty tip meant to be split across attendants that helped his people. All in all, Kieran wound up spending exactly $750,000.

    This treatment was an investment. Why? Because half of gaining possible endorsements was looking the part. This piddling $750,000 could see a 10,000% return if he yed his cards right.

    When they left the store, everyone hurried to the luxury van because it felt as if everyone had their eyes on them.

    ¡°I say we end our day with dinner. Dinner sounds nice,¡± Kieran voiced after closing the door behind himself. ¡°Take us to the Golden Pce, please.¡±

    ¡°You really know how to splurge, don¡¯t you?¡± Dr. Riley remarked whilebing her mauve dress underneath her thigh.

    Kieran looked across, directly into her eyes, and smiled. ¡°Go big or go home. When you step, you must aim to the world shake with your every advance¡ªthat is my belief.¡±

    ¡°I believe it. I mean, why else would the boss announce his feats,¡± Nemeanmented.

    ¡°Mhm,¡± Alice nodded, bing sparse with her words.

    As everyone conversed amongst themselves, the chauffeur drove to a street where everyone dressed in attire matching that of Kieran and his teammates.

    The Golden Pce was a famous restaurant where elegance was desired and required. The menu was versatile and fit everyone¡¯s palette ranging from Indian to Italian cuisine.

    Even tropical delicacies could be found. But the catch was that only the most exquisite versions of the recipes were served.

    The establishmentmonly functioned by reservation, but one could bypass the need for a reservation with arge enough party.

    It merely required the party to rent an individual booth.

    As they stepped through the door, a chic environment graced their sights. There were cascading waterfalls, coy fish sculptures sprouting waters, and dimly litnterns in ce of actual lights.

    The building¡¯s temperature varied depending on where one stood because some cuisines were served cold, and others were prepared before the guest.

    Kieran ordered a private lounge within the rest on one of the restaurant¡¯s open floors.

    ¡°With pleasure, young man. Please follow me.¡± An older man, seeming to be between the ages of 45 to 55, led Kieran andpany upstairs, where they sat down and continued their chat.

    They ordered their food, and with the help of the nifty persuasion of money, they also ordered drinks. Underage alcohol consumption was no longer a problem due to advances in medicine.

    An elixir like an X-hancer could correct the issue that arose from drinking.

    Besides, the humans of this age were gically stronger than the humans from 100 years ago. It wasn¡¯t a huge disparity, but overall health in certain parts of society experienced as much as a 30% boon.

    Since the party was open to trying new types of cuisine, Kieran opted for the adventurous menu with possessed appetizers of varying origins and several main entrees to choose from.

    The atmosphere became joyous as everyone cheered and clinked their ss.

    Kieran nced down into his cup of red wine and swirled it around in his cup. Under the dim lights, the ruby color somewhat resembled blood.

    ¡®Sometimes it all feels so surreal. I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m here again. Living. Thriving. But again, it¡¯s without my parents,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    He had internalized his pain, but it had its way of seeping through at times, especially on special asions.

    However, the change wasn¡¯t so prominent that the others could easily detect it. If they scrutinized Kieran¡¯s actions, it would appear as if he were examining his drink.

    ¡°Yuck! This doesn¡¯t taste as great as I assumed. How do people eat squid?¡± Nemean almost gagged, but he covered his mouth after considering the etiquette within this establishment.

    ¡°Dude¡­ that¡¯s snails, not squid,¡± Bastion corrected, noticing the shell in Nemean¡¯s grasp.

    ¡°That¡¯s an oyster,¡± Altair corrected again.

    ¡°Same difference,¡± Bastion shrugged. ¡°They both have shells, so I was closer.¡±

    Altair didn¡¯t intend to argue with the bullheaded Bastion, so he dropped the subject entirely.

    Kieran lifted his gaze and quietly analyzed everyone interacting with one another. ¡®This was a needed outlet. It¡¯s great to see them smile so lightheartedly.¡¯

    Although Kieran had his uing meeting with Zerim, he wasn¡¯t in a rush to leave. He had asked Xithora to ry the message to the guard and Commander Ezrath if she ran into him.

    He allowed everyone to eat to their heart¡¯s content. Perhaps it was because of the residual X-hancers in their system. Everyone grew tipsy, however,plete intoxication was dyed.

    It wasn¡¯t until four hourster that they arrived at the medical facility with plenty of bags in hand.

    ¡°What a great experience,¡± Dr. Riley sighed. She leaned against Kieran¡¯s shoulder and wrapped her arms around his. ¡°I really want some sleep~! Sleep sounds so good~! Screw my work!¡±

    ¡°Atta girl, Dr. Riley~! Screw work! Woohoo,¡± Sithik eximed, following Dr. Riley¡¯s example.

    ¡°It seems the lovely doc has drunk a tad too much,¡± Kieran remarked. He let her use his arm and opened the facility with the passcode she gave him.

    The two had garnered trust, so she felt secure enough to reveal this sensitive information.

    ¡°We¡¯re back~!!¡± Cygnus raised her arms and shouted.

 Chapter 250 An Embedded Fear, A Friend of the Ignis

    ¡ª

    After returning to the medical facility, Kieran turned toward everyone and examined how inebriated they were. Because Nemean and Bastion were of arger frame, they held their alcohol incredibly well.

    ¡°Bastion, Nemean¨Cdo me a favor and lead Sithik and Cygnus back to their rooms,¡± Kieran directed.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got it, boss,¡± Nemean answered. He swung Sithik¡¯s arm over his shoulder and walked the extremely tipsy boy upstairs.

    ¡°Y-you know what, Nemean? You¡¯re a solid guy. A big burly, sweetheart,¡± Sithik slurred his words and huped.

    Although the residual energy of the X-hancers had neutralized some of the alcoholic content, Sithik didn¡¯t possess enough to counteract the number of drinks he had.

    ¡°There you go, little guy. Small steps. Take it easy because if you hurl on me, I will turn on the security system and toss you into it,¡± Nemean said, patting his chest.

    Afterward, Bastion extended his hand like a gentleman and guided Cygnus up the steps two paces behind Nemean and Sithik.

    Upon confirming they had made it up the stair without incident, Kieran turned to Alice. ¡°Are you alright?¡±

    ¡°Just a bit lightheaded,¡± Alice said in a breathy voice. Despiteing from an Affluent Family, she didn¡¯t drink often, so it felt good to celebrate with friends. Due to the asion that seldom came to pass, he truly outdid herself.

    ¡°Altair, can you assist Alice?¡± Kieran asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s no problem at all.¡± Altair walked beside Alice and extended his elbow in a hook shape so she could hold on to him. Before leaving, Alice spared Kieran another nce with a radiant smile.

    ¡°Thank you, Kieran.¡±

    ¡°No problem, Alice. I enjoyed our night out,¡± Kieran responded. His voice was low akin to a whisper, because he felt that Dr. Riley¡¯s breath had softened as if she were nodding off against his arm.

    Kieran understood that Dr. Riley worked herself harder than she cared to admit. The number of times he logged out and saw her passed out over her research numbered more than a few.

    Soon enough, only Kieran and Dr. Riley remained in the facility¡¯s outer corridor. Unlike the others who walked up the left staircase, Dr. Riley¡¯s room, which was more like an entire apartment, could only be reached through the opposite set of steps.

    Kieran moved his hand and tapped on her cheek. ¡°Lillian.¡±

    ¡°Mm~?¡± Dr. Riley¡¯s response was a cross between a moan and a groan. She lifted her watery bluish-green eyes and gazed at Kieran.

    ¡°I¡¯ll carry you to bed,¡± Kieran said.

    Contrary to Kieran¡¯s expectation, Dr. Riley immediately opened her arms like a toddler asking an adult to carry them. Kieran knelt and swiped her leg, hoisting her up in a princess-style carry, which made her cling around his neck.

    Her breath was warm and filled with notes of a fruity scent and light traces of an aromatic alcohol scent known to sting one¡¯s nose. However, it was mellow and overpowered by Dr. Riley¡¯s natural aroma.

    Kieran carried her to her room and dropped her bags by her door. As he looked around, Kieran was surprised by how tidy she kept the apartment. Perhaps it was due to her rarely being up here, but the cleanliness required praise.

    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Kieran said, standing over Dr. Riley¡¯s queen-sized canopy bed with many cream sheets draped out the frame.

    Despite announcing their arrival, Dr. Riley continued to cling to his neck before nestling her face into his corbone. Alcohol tended to dull one¡¯s inhibitions, like a kind of truth serum, so many of Dr. Riley¡¯s repressed urges overflowed.

    Kieran froze as he felt a pair of soft, plump lips caress his skin.

    ¡°Mm~! You¡¯re so warm, and I like it,¡± Dr. Riley said. Her voice was velvety and filled with emotion.

    Kieran cleared his throat and exhaled before leaning over the bed so that Dr. Riley¡¯s back touched it first. Once that happened, Kieran whispered into her ear. ¡°Things like this shouldn¡¯t happen while we¡¯re slightly intoxicated.¡±

    Eventually, Kieran managed to unsp Dr. Riley¡¯s arms from around his neck and tuck her into bed after taking off her heels and jewelry. Before leaving, however, he brushed a few strands of strawberry blonde hair away from her forehead.

    ¡°You¡¯ve treated me well and cared for me. Perhaps overstepping those boundaries would be wrong,¡± Kieran muttered. The way he spoke was as if he was trying to convince himself.

    He somewhat feared intimacy because of a few views imposed on him while young.

    Could someone of his emotional bearing even love correctly? What drove Kieran was power, to the point it obscured many emotions that were natural to a human being.

    Seeking affection and reciprocating intimacy never appeared at the forefront of his desires. Sure, carnal desires sprouted time and again, but they could be suppressed with willpower.

    Kieran soon dimmed the light and stepped toward the door, but he failed to notice Dr. Riley¡¯s glossy eyes open again and gaze at his departing back. She rested in bed, looking forward with clouded thoughts and a somewhat unfocused gaze.

    After a while, her cheeks reddened, but it wasn¡¯t the red tint from her alcohol-induced fervor. Dr. Riley¡¯s actions partially dawned on her, and embarrassment rose in her mind. When Kieran stopped, she instinctively closed her eyes and stilled her breathing.

    ¡°Good night, Lillian.¡±

    ¡­

    After cing his bags in his room, Kieran returned to the facility¡¯s medical area.

    Inside the room¡¯s quiet atmosphere, Kieran calmly unfastened his belt and removed his suit.

    ¡®You may all sleep to your heart¡¯s content tonight. But I don¡¯t have that luxury. I must ensure our path ahead if we¡¯re going to catch up to ourpetition and surpass them.¡¯

    A few secondster, Kieran changed into his typical spandex bottom after neatly setting aside his suit. He approached the container before him and took out one 20% concentration X-hancer.

    After consuming it, Kieran felt all traces of alcohol being expelled from his body.

    The aftereffects warmed his body, but the sensation was bearable. Rather than consume another 20%, Kieran ingested 15% to top off his energy reserves.

    Afterward, Kieran went through attaching all the electrodes and starting up the data recording system. Once he finished making the preparations, Kieran ced the helmet on his head andid back with a sigh that expelled most of his concerns.

    Following his sigh, Kieran initiated the log-in process, transporting his consciousness through the virtual link.

    ¡­

    Inside Zenith Online¡­

    Kieran¡¯s eyelids fluttered a few times before his eyes opened. As he sat up, Kieran noticed that the pain in his mind had reduced by 20%.

    Although his current condition paledpared to his peak state, Kieran was satisfied that he didn¡¯t suffer from a mind-splitting headache anymore.

    Upon exiting the healing chambers, the guard outside stopped him.

    ¡°Commander Ezrath stopped by not too long ago. He asked that I ry to that they¡¯ll be waiting in the first lounge area,¡± the guard revealed.

    The first lounge area was located near the main entrance and could only be essed by formal members of the War Deity Council. One could reach it by taking the left path instead of the middle route that led toward the building¡¯s depths.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    After leaving his thanks, Kieran retraced his steps while withdrawing the unknown stone from Lord Veradin. A tinge of familiarity rose in Kieran¡¯s mind the longer he inspected the item in his palm, but it continued to elude him.

    Perhaps the sparse information was buried in the depths of his mind, but Kieran failed to confirm the source of this gnawing feeling.

    ¡®Lord Veradin advised that I take it to the Wykins, so I¡¯ll have to take my chances and venture there.¡¯

    Kieran had his reason for his reluctance.

    The Wykins were known to be masters of several mystical arts, some of which could inflict a True Death upon yers. If he overstepped, there was a possibility that he could lose his ount.

    Such an oue was far from desirable. There were too many extravagant items and impressive quests in Kieran¡¯s possession to lose his ount to issues caused by the residents of Xenith.

    Nevertheless, it wasn¡¯t something he could avoid. If he wanted to visit the Emplenan Few, gaining the favor of the Wykins was a must due to their amicable rtionship.

    A few minutester, Kieran arrived in the first area and noticed Zerim and Ezrath awaiting his arrival.

    ¡°Excellent,¡± Ezrath eximed. ¡°It seems my grandson has made his first friend, even going as far as to invite him into our revered homnd.¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t spoil my image, grandfather,¡± Zerim muttered with a slight grimace. His grandfather had an uncanny ability to embarrass him indirectly at every turn.

    Ezrath released a peal of heartyughter as he led the two boys outside, where he ced two fingers in his mouth and released a deafening whistle.

    A squawk sounded as a gigantic figure dived toward their location from the skies above.

    Bang!

    When the dust cleared, a colossal bird resembling a hawk with azure eyes bowed its head before Ezrath. Intelligence shed in its gaze as its massive wingspan cast an immense shadow.

    ¡®A Zephyr Hawk? And it seems to be an Awakened Beast,¡¯ Kieran thought. ¡®It¡¯s an incredible mount.¡¯

    ¡°All aboard,¡± Ezrathmanded, lightly tapped his foot. Kieran and Zerim followed, taking a seat on the hawk.

    A few secondster, they were jolted by the Zephyr Hawk¡¯s abrupt eleration. Kieran instinctively clutched a few of its feathers.

 Chapter 251 A Commemorative Gift

    ¡ª

    The Zephyr Hawk reached incredible speeds, ripping through the sky like aet in the night sky. Thend beneath them became one continuous blur as Kieran nced over the beast¡¯s side.

    ¡®I was right. Only an Awakened Beast can obtain this level of speed,¡¯ Kieran thought.

    Kieran noticed a piece ofnd on the horizon a few secondster. In the center of thend was a string of severalrge manors surrounded byrge gates and soil with an orangish tint.

    The Ignis Family Manors were located in an area rich with Fire Elements, so the ground tended to adopt a color of subtle mes. The fields surrounding the manors produced some crude gems where the density of Mana was the greatest.

    ¡°That is our territory, Aatrox,¡± Zerim called out, his voice barely overpowering the rushing winds.

    ¡°I suspected as much! Even though we¡¯re quite far, I can sense a subtle rise in the temperature along with a change in the orientation of the Mana,¡± Kieran answered.

    Unlike Pure Mana without any attribute, Elemental Mana possessed a slightly different orientation, which is how it maintained its elemental properties without fail.

    If a foreign phenomenon forcibly changed said orientation, it would change the Mana¡¯s identity. That¡¯s more or less how a Mage¡¯s practice work when converted elements.

    But Elemental Conversion required a level of expertise that many Mages failed to obtain without several years of dedication to their craft.

    Aftering within a few thousand meters of the manors, Ezrath began their descent so that he wouldnd in a predetermined position.

    The sudden downward momentum was enough to unsettle most people¡¯s stomachs, but Kieran managed the effects well, exhaling in the process.

    Roughly two minutester, the Zephyr Hawk pped its wings and began to hover in one spot, several hundred meters above the ground.

    Located directly below the majestic mount was a massive clearing. The Zephyr Hawk¡¯s appearance caused amotion, but it was an awaited spectacle as people dressed in luxurious clothing exited the main manor.

    Everyone who appeared bowed as soon as the Zephyr Hawknded.

    ¡°Wee back, Old Master Ezrath, Young Master Zerim. The Family Head has prepared a feast for you all to congratte Young Zerim,¡± one of the attendants said, lifting their head with a hint of adoration present in their gaze.

    Ezrath dismounted the Zephyr Hawk with a subtle nod as Zerim and Kieran followed behind him. ¡°Members and honored staff of the Ignis Family, I¡¯d like to wee my grandson¡¯s friend, Aatrox. Please treat him with the utmost care while he is in our presence.¡±

    ¡°Wee to the Ignis Family Manor, Lord Aatrox,¡± A respectful young man with light orange hair said. He bowed his head and closed his green eyes with one hand bracing his stomach.

    ¡°I appreciate the warm wee,¡± Kieran said. ¡°However, the congrattions and attention should go to Zerim, who performed well and upheld the honor of your family.¡±

    ¡°Praise to the Young Master!¡± Everyone chanted in ordance with Kieran¡¯s suggestion.

    He had no intentions of stealing Zerim¡¯s limelight. After all, it was Zerim¡¯s family and an event designed to celebrate his sessful efforts. Kieran was merely here as a guest by right of Zerim¡¯s invitation.

    ¡°To celebrate this wondrous day, I suppose a feast is in order.¡±

    ¡°We expected you would say as much. The Family Head is carrying out the preparations as we speak. That being said, I¡¯m sure the Mistress would love to see Young Master Zerim.¡±

    ¡°Let us proceed then,¡± Ezrath voiced, sping his hands behind his back. The Zephyr Hawk lowered its head and rested beside therge fountain in the center of the open path.

    As per Ezrath¡¯s instructions, everyone returned to the main manor, where celebrations, official meetings, and other formal gatherings urred.

    The sight within the ce was marvelous, with an exquisite chandelier serving as the front corridor¡¯s centerpiece.

    At a nce, Kieran suspected the chandelier was made from costly gems. It was avish expenditure, but it wasn¡¯t so oundish that it possessed no practicality. Kieran struggled to sense it, but he could feel the chandelier¡¯s faint connection to the entirepound.

    ¡®It must be the core of arge formation designed to protect this ce. On the one hand, it provides an elegant view. On the other, it provides protection.¡¯

    Although Kieran¡¯s knowledge of formation was somewhatcking, he discerned that the formation here didn¡¯t rival the one that protected Scar¡¯s manor.

    As a result, Kieran guessed that it was a formationid by a Grandmaster Arrayist that had yet to reach the threshold of a Famed Arrayist.

    ¡°This way, Aatrox,¡± Zerim voiced, gesturing for Kieran to follow after him and his grandfather.

    Kieran extracted his gaze from the chandelier a few secondster and followed behind Ezrath and Zerim. They walked up one set of the paired winding staircases and into arge study with a statue of a dragoon.

    The dragoon was the Ignis Family¡¯s pride, so many of their centerpieces revolved around this theme. There were many banners with symbols of a dragoon and severalrge medallions on the walls and doors.

    After entering the study, Kieranid eyes upon three people¡ªall of whom bore a slight resemnce to Zerim.

    A middle-aged man sat behind arge desk with his hand sifting through his thick ashen beard. Like Zerim, he possessed a pair of scarlet eyes the color of brightly burning mes.

    This was naturally Zerim¡¯s father¡ªthe current Head of the Ignis Family¡ªZairen Ignis. ¡°Come here, boy. Let your father get an excellent look at the next generation of the Ignis¡¯ line within the War Deity Council.¡±

    Zairen stood up from his seat and embraced Zerim, showing him affection that made Kieran¡¯s heart falter. ¡®The pure love of a parent.¡¯

    Pain rose within Kieran¡¯s heart, but he blinked it away, burying it within the depths of his being once more.

    Zairen pped Zerim¡¯s shoulders and stepped back with a proud smile. ¡°I knew from the moment you awakened your Inverse Dragoon Heart that you were destined for greatness.¡±

    ¡°Father,¡± Zerim said. ¡°I¡¯d like you to meet my friend¡ªAatrox, the Champion of this year¡¯s diator¡¯s Coliseum.¡±

    ¡°!!¡± Zairen¡¯s eyes widened as he noticed that he had overlooked an additional presence in the room. He gave a bitter smile and heartfelt apology. ¡°Pardon my rude behavior. It is a pleasure to meet you, Aatrox.¡±

    Zairen extended his hand, shaking Kieran¡¯s hand. Despite being the Family Head of a strong family, Zairen felt anyone Zerim called a friend was deserving of his praise, much less the War Deity Council¡¯s Champion.

    ¡®Firm.¡¯

    That thought passed through Zairen¡¯s mind once Kieran sped his hand.

    Zerim then took it upon himself to introduce Kieran to the other two people in the room. ¡°This is my mother, Joselia Ignis, and my younger brother, Ephraim Ignis.¡±

    Kieran panned his gaze to the younger boy that resembled Zerim with much darker hair before shifting his gaze to the maturedy wearing a slender burgundy dress that agreed with her slightly tanned skin tone.

    ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you all,¡± Kieran replied, paying his respects to everyone within the room.

    Before they could plunge into deeper conversation, however, Ezrath stepped forward.

    ¡°This boy isn¡¯t just this year¡¯s Champion. He¡¯s the sessor of Scar¡ªso his future is bound to be great but also difficult,¡± Ezrathmented. His gaze changed, and he used this chance to supply Zairen with meaningful information.

    ¡°Ah, The Bloody Hero¡¯s sessor and my son are friends? What a wonderful asion; I believe this is something to bememorated. Tell me, Aatrox¡ªis there anything in particr that you desire? The Ignis Family won¡¯t hesitate to supply it to you if it¡¯s within our ability.¡±

    Kieran hesitated at first, shifting his gaze from Ezrath to Zerim.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be shy. I¡¯m sure my father has already learned of your leniency on the battlefield. Think of it as a token of our gratitude and an attempt to deepen our rtionship,¡± Zerim said.

    After listening to Zerim¡¯s reasoning, Kieran felt he would be a fool if he continued to hesitate. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I require a me. One useful in crafting, but it must be within my limits due to my ineptitude.¡±

    ¡°A me?¡± Zairen¡¯s expression shed with a peculiar glint. ¡°We have a plethora of mes on hand. But, if it¡¯s something that falls within your control¡­ I suppose you¡¯ll need a Core me rather than a Sentient me.¡±

    The difference between a Core me and a Sentient me resided in the disparity of Focus required to control each one.

    Furthermore, Sentient mes demanded that the user possess a Fire Affinity; otherwise, melding one¡¯s Focus with the Sentient me would be impossible.

    Core mes were mellow inparison, requiring physical maniption to maximize their effects. Focus wasn¡¯t a requirement, but it could heighten the impact of the me while controlled.

    ¡°With his talent level, a Tier 3 Core me should suffice. It¡¯s not too tyrannical but also not too docile,¡± Ezrath suggested.

    Zairen naturally agreed with his father¡¯s suggestion. ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll prepare the Core me before you depart from our home. With that matter aside, I believe we have a celebration to enjoy. All the preparation have beenpleted. All that awaits is our arrival.¡±

 Chapter 252 Zerims Aspirations, Luxurious Banquet

    ¡ª

    The Igris Family Central Manor was filled with a celebratory atmosphere as many guests flocked to the ballroom located in the building¡¯s rear. Fancy dresses, luxurious suits, and expensive jewelry created a scene of opulence.

    Kieran analyzed the crowd in silence as he sipped on a drink Zerim personally handed him. It had ents of wine, but it was stronger since Awakened Beings were unaffected by mild intoxicants.

    ¡°Are you enjoying yourself, Aatrox?¡± Zerim questioned as he stood beside Kieran underneath a light blue drape.

    Kieran gave a faint nod before lowering his ss. ¡°I am. Many people here are of high status, and it¡¯s truly an eye-opener. I didn¡¯t expect your family to be so well-connected.¡±

    ¡°Of course. Our connection with the War Deity Council predates my grandfather. Truthfully speaking, we have somewhat declined. Our lineage used to hold positions as Generals, with our less talented members holding the status of Lieutenants,¡± Zerim revealed.

    His expression seemed somewhat disheartened as he recounted his family¡¯s slight fall from grace. Although they hadn¡¯t declined to the point they were insignificant, their voice within the War Deity Council wasn¡¯t as broad as before.

    Kieran listened to Zerim¡¯s voice with an understanding expression. ¡°That¡¯s the thing¡ªtimes change. With the knowledge of our ancestors and predecessors, we understand what path rewards the greatest strength. This also means thatpetition bes more intense.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Zerim agreed. ¡°I recall my grandfather and father uttering simr words¡ªthat the caliber of talents have been on a steady incline.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re considered a Great Family, but I want to reim our glory as an Ancient Family, one that sits on the same throne as the Great Empires,¡± Zerim voiced.

    He looked down at his cup and swirled his drink after expressing his great aspirations. Kingdoms and Empires weren¡¯t the only affluent parties within Xenith. Aside from those civilizations, there were also independent parties known as Families.

    Families fell into three categories¡ªNoble, Great and Ancient. Noble Families were of decent renown and possessed a presence equal to that of a Kingdom. The stronger Noble Families could rival the Great Kingdoms in wealth and authority.

    A step above was the Great Families, who imed arge portion ofnd for themselves, simr to the Ignis Family.

    The string of Ignis Family Manors was merely the heart of their territory. They also possessed mines, farnds, and other required social constructs to function as a sovereign family.

    Lastly, Ancient Families were the most mysterious ruling ss. Most of them possessed abilities that exceeded the Emperors and Empresses of several Empires, but their presence was sparse, secluding themselves from the world unless there was a good reason.

    Their territory could easily rival one of the Great Empires, and they usually possessed descendant families that existed in a separate stratum despite being able to contend with the aforementioned categories.

    After hearing of Zerim¡¯s aspirations, Kieran grinned. ¡°Your dreams begin with you. As your father stated before, your talent surpasses everyone in your family. Your uniqueness may cause you to bear a heavier weight, but I believe¡ªno, I know it¡¯s possible.¡±

    Kieran felt Zerim had the best character he had experienced thus far. Not only was he dependable, reliable, and righteous, he understood the importance of honoring his word and exercising restraint.

    Zerim nced in Kieran¡¯s direction. ¡°If I were to propose that you help me realize this dream, would you ept? I know that my grandfather and your master have a peculiar rtionship, but I feel it shouldn¡¯t dictate how we interact with one another.¡±

    ¡°Considering that you¡¯re on the path to aplishing it and we hail from the same organization, it wouldn¡¯t be too difficult. However, just as you have your aspirations, I have mine as well,¡± Kieran responded, keeping his answer ambiguous.

    ¡°I see,¡± Zerim breathed through a light grin. He downed the remainder of his drink before extending his hand to Kieran. ¡°If your aspirations refer to making a unique name for yourself, I¡¯d happily assist. I wouldn¡¯t be shocked if your sights surpass this world, but mine are less voracious. There will be zero conflict between us.¡±

    Kieran firmly grasped Zerim¡¯s hand and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m unsure whether your opinion is true, but there may be some truth to it in the future. I intend to etch my journey one step at a time without worrying too much about the future. Too many mysteries exist there for us to im that we¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    Zerim naturally agreed with Kieran¡¯s point of view.

    While it was great to have aspirations, one shouldn¡¯t dwell on the future. It should act as a mold and nothing else. In the end, it was one¡¯s present actions that determined their longevity and sess.

    At that moment, a notification appeared before Kieran¡¯s eyes.

    ¡´System: Your rtionship with ?Zerim Ignis? has increased to ?Befriended?!¡µ

    Counting Ronan, Zerim was the second NPC that Kieran befriended within his generation. Kieran couldn¡¯t count his rtionship with Grandma Agatha because it wasn¡¯t her true identity.

    After returning to her original form, Kieran¡¯s favorability with Agatha was reset. If he met her again, he¡¯d have to start over from the beginning and rebuild his favorability.

    There were ways to circumvent the difficulty of this task, but it didn¡¯t rely on Kieran¡¯s actions. It relied on factors that were somewhat outside of his control. If it worked in his favor, Kieran would benefit. If it didn¡¯t, he wouldn¡¯t experience much bacsh.

    After their talk, the atmosphere in the ballroom changed.

    Zairen Ignis walked to the center of the ballroom, where an elegant fountain spewing crystalline waters cascaded behind him. Joselia embraced his arm with a winsome smile that exuded an air of nobility.

    ¡°Pardon my insufferable behavior. I didn¡¯t mean to break up your festivities. However, I gathered it was the best time to make a statement and pass the spotlight to my son¡ªthe impetus for today¡¯s event,¡± Zairen spoke.

    His voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it was deep and maizing and reached every corner of the room, which gathered everyone¡¯s attention.

    A round of apuse filled the ballroom as the attention shifted from Zairen to Zerim, who stood beside Kieran while waving his hand.

    ¡°Zerim¡¯s aplishment will herald another generation of Ignis sons and daughters entering the War Deity Council. I announce this with a joyful heart as it is my pride and joy to name my eldest son, Zerim Ignis, as the heir to the Ignis Head position.¡±

    The apuse intensified as Kieran passed his gaze between Zerim and Zairen.

    ¡®A smart move to couple his official session announcement with this event. Many people who want to deepen their rtionship with the Ignis Family will make it their priority to gain favor with Zerim.¡¯

    However, as Kieran listened to the announcement, he noticed that Zairen¡¯s gaze fell on him with a light smile. No words passed between the two, but Kieran could sense Zairen¡¯s following mentions.

    ¡°Aside from Young Zerim being set to ascend this position in the future, I¡¯d like to thank this year¡¯s War Champion for gracing our presence. Everyone, please, give Aatrox your warm regards!¡±

    Before apuding, murmurs broke out within the ballroom. Because some of these people hadn¡¯t attended the diator¡¯s Coliseum, they weren¡¯t privy to Kieran¡¯s appearance.

    Finally, after oveing their shock, the ballroom erupted into another fit of loud pping where Kieran could only respond with a wry smile.

    Following Zairen¡¯s announcement, the festive atmosphere was bolstered as replenishments and sulent dishes were brought out.

    After a few moments, Zerim excused himself to engage in customary greetings and much more.

    This type of atmosphere wasn¡¯t inadequate, but Kieran couldn¡¯t help but be restless. The number of strong people in attendance made Kieran understand that he quickly needed more strength if ascending the world hierarchy was his desire.

    While in thought, Kieran was approached by Joselia with a pleasant smile.

    ¡°Since young, my boy hasn¡¯t gotten along with many people. Because of his reserved demeanor, he was seen as shy or aloof, but his aloof mannerisms vanish in your presence.¡±

    Kieran turned toward Joselia¡¯s velvety and mature voice with a tinge of bewilderment in his eyes. ¡°I guess it has something to do with Commander Ezrath¡¯s input. He was aloof during our match, but that changed afterward.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard about it,¡± Joselia replied, cautiously examining Kieran. ¡°I¡¯d like to thank you for ensuring the safety of my precious son.¡±

    Though she had never met Scar, she had heard of his reputation as apelling rising character.

    ¡®I guess the rumors only rte tobat. As father-inw said, outside of battle, Scar is like a different person. I suppose this also extends to his sessor,¡¯ Joselia inwardly thought.

    ¡°I could tell from our exchange that Zerim was raised well. I¡¯d find myself repugnant if I crushed the future of someone with Zerim¡¯s virtues,¡± Kieran answered with respect.

    Joselia revealed a lovely smile that conveyed her appreciation and gratitude. After their small exchange, Joselia invited Kieran to enjoy the rest of the banquet.

    Many people wanted to approach Kieran, but the aura he exuded turned them off from the idea.

    Kieran purposely let some of his Soul Trait residual energy leak to limit how cordial he needed to be. Outside of people that gained his approval, Kieran didn¡¯t enjoy small talk.

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