Chapter 18 — The Tenth Level

Three days.

That was all Kael needed.

At least, that was what he told himself.

He had spent the last several days hunting weaker monsters and improving his control.

But something had changed.

The forest no longer felt empty.

It felt like it was watching him.

Every time Kael entered a new area, monsters would disappear.

Sometimes he would find footprints surrounding his camp.

Sometimes he would wake to discover that something had been standing just outside the range of his senses.

But nothing attacked.

Not yet.

Kael had a theory.

The forest wasn't trying to kill him.

It was waiting.

Waiting to see what he would do.

And Kael hated being tested by something he couldn't see.

The Final Step

Kael stood on a rocky hillside.

Below him was a large clearing.

Several monsters were moving through it.

Ironhide Boar — Level 8 — Common

Ironhide Boar — Level 9 — Common

Crimson Claw Wolf — Level 9 — Common

And one larger creature.

Kael activated Threat Analysis.

[Target detected.]

Name: Crimson Claw Alpha

Level: 11

Grade: Elite

Species Potential: Lord

Traits: Pack Command, Blood Scent, Enhanced Agility

Kael smiled slightly.

“Level eleven.”

He didn't attack immediately.

Instead, he studied the creatures.

The Alpha wasn't simply stronger.

It was commanding the others.

That meant killing the weaker monsters first could make the battle easier.

Kael raised one hand.

Metal Arsenal activated.

The Darven MP-01 appeared in his right hand.

The Darven SR-01 floated behind him.

The Darven GL-02 remained suspended above his shoulder.

Three weapons.

Three different purposes.

Kael took a breath.

“Let's do this.”

The first shot rang through the forest.

The battle lasted nearly twenty minutes.

Kael didn't fight recklessly.

He separated the monsters.

He used trees as cover.

He switched weapons constantly.

The SR-01 was used against distant targets.

The MP-01 was used when creatures got close.

The GL-02 was used to force the Alpha away from its pack.

But the Alpha was intelligent.

It adapted.

Every time Kael used the same strategy twice, it changed its behavior.

Eventually, it cornered him against a cliff.

Kael fired.

The Alpha dodged.

He fired again.

It moved.

Then it charged.

Kael's eyes widened.

“Too fast!”

He barely raised the katana.

CLANG!

The impact sent him sliding backward.

His feet nearly left the edge of the cliff.

The Alpha lunged again.

Kael jumped sideways.

Its claws struck the stone.

Kael immediately used Metal Control.

The SR-01 dropped from above.

He caught it.

One shot.

The bullet struck the Alpha's shoulder.

The creature roared.

Kael didn't waste the opportunity.

He switched to the MP-01.

Several shots forced the Alpha backward.

Then—

Kael rushed forward with his katana.

The Alpha attacked.

Kael ducked.

The blade moved.

SLASH!

The Alpha stumbled.

Kael turned.

Another slash.

The Alpha collapsed.

Silence.

Kael stood over it, breathing heavily.

Then the System appeared.

[Boss-class target defeated.]

[Combat experience acquired.]

[Level requirement fulfilled.]

Kael froze.

His body suddenly became warm.

Mana surged through him.

The forest seemed to become clearer.

His senses sharpened.

His muscles felt stronger.

Then—

[Level increased.]

[Level 10.]

Kael closed his eyes.

A powerful wave of mana passed through his body.

But this time, something else happened.

The crimson mark beneath his skin appeared.

It spread across his chest.

Then—

[Major Bloodline Threshold reached.]

Kael opened his eyes.

Ten

The System appeared before him.

[Level 10 reached.]

[F-Rank — Initiate — Peak.]

[Five attribute points available.]

Kael opened his status.

Kael Darven

Age: 11

Level: 10

Rank: F-Rank — Initiate

Mana: 30

Strength: 16

Agility: 21

Vitality: 19

Intelligence: 20

Metal Control: 45

Unspent Attribute Points: 5

Kael looked at the numbers.

He allocated:

+1 Strength

+1 Agility

+2 Vitality

+1 Intelligence

The System responded.

[Attributes updated.]

Current Status

Strength: 17

Agility: 22

Vitality: 21

Intelligence: 21

Kael clenched his fist.

His body felt stronger.

But not overwhelmingly so.

He was still Level 10.

Still F-Rank.

Still far weaker than the creatures he had encountered deeper in the forest.

Then another notification appeared.

Kael stopped breathing.

[Major Bloodline Threshold reached.]

[Darven Bloodline progression updated.]

[Metal Control evolution available.]

Kael stared.

“Evolution?”

The System continued.

[Current Bloodline Expression: Metal Control.]

[Evolution conditions fulfilled.]

[Secondary Bloodline Function unlocked.]

Kael waited.

Nothing happened.

He frowned.

“System?”

A final message appeared.

[Function will awaken after sufficient comprehension.]

Kael stared at the screen.

“That doesn't make any sense.”

The System disappeared.

Kael's expression darkened.

“For once, can you just explain something properly?”

No response.

Of course.

The Fifth Gate Opens

That night, Kael returned to the entrance of the Fifth Gate.

Nightfang followed silently.

The black symbol on the cliff was glowing.

Kael stopped several meters away.

“You're sure this is the place?”

“Yes.”

“Something feels different.”

Nightfang nodded.

“It is.”

Kael took another step.

The crimson mark on his chest began glowing.

The black symbol responded.

BOOM.

The entire mountain shook.

Dust fell from above.

Kael immediately summoned his weapons.

The MP-01.

The GL-02.

The SR-01.

His katana rested at his side.

Then the stone entrance began opening.

Slowly.

Ancient stone moved beneath the ground.

A massive staircase appeared.

It descended into darkness.

Kael couldn't see the bottom.

The System appeared.

[Level requirement fulfilled.]

[Hidden Inheritance Trial available.]

[Fifth Gate — Trial of Blood.]

Kael's eyes narrowed.

[Trial Objective:]

Enter the Fifth Gate.

[Additional Objective:]

Discover the identity of the First Darven.

Kael looked at Nightfang.

“You knew this would happen.”

“No.”

“You're lying again.”

Nightfang looked away.

“I knew the gate would react.”

“That isn't what I asked.”

The beast sighed.

“There are things I cannot tell you.”

Kael's expression hardened.

“Because you're protecting me?”

“No.”

“Then why?”

Nightfang finally looked at him.

“Because something stronger than me made me promise.”

Kael froze.

“Something stronger than you?”

Nightfang didn't answer.

That was answer enough.

Kael looked down the staircase.

He could feel an enormous presence below.

Not attacking.

Not threatening.

Waiting.

He tightened his grip on the katana.

“I'm going in.”

Nightfang's expression changed.

“You may not come back.”

Kael nodded.

“I know.”

He stepped onto the first stair.

The moment his foot touched it—

BOOM!

The entrance slammed shut behind him.

Kael immediately turned.

The stone wall had completely sealed the passage.

“Great.”

He sighed.

“Of course.”

The System appeared.

[Trial has begun.]

[Return is currently impossible.]

Kael looked down.

The darkness below seemed endless.

He slowly descended.

The First Chamber

After several minutes, Kael reached the bottom.

A massive underground chamber stretched before him.

Ancient statues lined the walls.

Every statue wore black armor.

Every statue carried a different weapon.

Swords.

Spears.

Axes.

Bows.

And firearms.

Kael stopped.

“Firearms?”

His eyes widened.

The Darven family hadn't invented firearms recently.

They had possessed them thousands of years ago.

He walked closer to one statue.

The weapon in its hands was unlike anything he had seen in his father's books.

It was metallic.

Long.

Covered in strange crimson markings.

The System appeared.

[Unknown Darven Weapon.]

[Grade: ???]

[Function: Sealed.]

Kael reached toward it.

The moment his fingers touched the weapon—

A voice echoed through the chamber.

“You finally came.”

Kael immediately stepped backward.

The statues began glowing.

One by one.

Then—

A man stepped out from the darkness.

Black armor.

Long dark hair.

Crimson eyes.

A Darven crest across his chest.

Kael's heart began pounding.

The man looked almost human.

Almost.

He stopped several meters away.

“You look like him.”

Kael raised the katana.

“Who are you?”

The man smiled.

“I am the First Darven.”

Kael's eyes widened.

The man slowly raised his hand.

The entire chamber trembled.

“But don't misunderstand.”

His crimson eyes focused on Kael.

“I am not your ancestor.”

Kael froze.

The man's smile disappeared.

“I am the reason your bloodline exists.”

Silence filled the chamber.

Kael's grip tightened.

“What?”

The man looked toward the Darven katana.

“That sword was mine.”

Kael looked at his weapon.

“The sword belonged to you?”

“Yes.”

“Then why did my father have it?”

The man smiled.

“Because your father was never supposed to possess it.”

Kael's expression changed.

“What do you mean?”

The man's eyes became cold.

“Your father stole it.”

Kael's mind went blank.

“No.”

The First Darven continued.

“And that is only the first lie your family told you.”

The chamber shook.

Five enormous doors appeared behind him.

The first four were already broken.

The fifth remained sealed.

The First Darven looked at it.

“Your inheritance isn't a gift, Kael.”

He looked back.

“It is a debt.”

The fifth door began to open.

And something on the other side—

Started breathing.