Chapter 28 — The Road to Thirty-Five

The red warning remained suspended before Kael.

[EMERGENCY EVENT DETECTED.]
[VERDANT SERPENT TERRITORY HAS OPENED.]
[TARGET: LEGENDARY BEAST.]

Kael stared at it.

Then he slowly shook his head.

“No.”

The System flickered.

[Clarification.]
[Direct confrontation is not recommended.]

Kael almost laughed.

“So even you think I'm crazy.”

A low growl came from behind him.

Nightfang stepped from between the trees.

Its golden eyes moved toward the distant mountains.

“You shouldn't go there.”

Kael looked at it.

“Why?”

“Because that isn't an invitation.”

Nightfang's fur rose.

“It is a warning.”

Kael looked back toward the mountains.

The enormous pressure he had felt earlier was already fading.

The Verdant Serpent had awakened—

but it had not come for him.

Not yet.

Kael closed the System window.

“Then I won't fight it.”

Nightfang looked surprised.

Kael continued.

“Not until I'm ready.”

He looked at his katana.

“Level thirty-five.”

Nightfang's ears moved.

“You've decided?”

“Yes.”

Kael's expression hardened.

“I'll fight the Legendary Beasts at Level 35.”

For several seconds, Nightfang said nothing.

Then it gave a quiet growl.

“That is still madness.”

Kael smiled.

“Then I'll become strong enough to make it possible.”

Three Weeks Later

The Dark Forest had changed.

So had Kael.

He no longer wandered randomly through the forest searching for monsters.

Every battle had a purpose.

Every weapon had a purpose.

Every level mattered.

Kael had transformed a ruined section of the forest into a training ground.

Metal targets surrounded him.

Some were moving.

Some were hidden.

Others appeared only for a few seconds before disappearing again.

Kael raised his hand.

“Metal Control.”

Hundreds of fragments rose from the ground.

They formed into blades.

Then bullets.

Then shields.

Then chains.

Kael's control had become almost instinctive.

[Metal Control proficiency increased.]

[Metal Control: Mastery Stage I → Mastery Stage II]

Kael's eyes narrowed.

“Again.”

The fragments changed shape.

This time—

they became weapons.

Pistols.

SMGs.

Assault rifles.

Shotguns.

Sniper rifles.

Machine guns.

All floating simultaneously.

Kael smiled.

“Darven Forge.”

The weapons dissolved into streams of metal and mana.

Instead of creating one weapon—

he created ten.

[Darven Forge proficiency increased.]

[Weapon Manifestation proficiency increased.]

[Arsenal Domain proficiency increased.]

Kael dismissed them.

His breathing was heavy.

But his control was becoming much sharper.

The Darven inheritance wasn't simply making him stronger.

It was teaching him how to use strength efficiently.

Level 21

A Bloodfang Ravager emerged from the trees.

Level 24 — Elite.

Kael didn't reach for the katana.

He raised one finger.

A metallic spear formed.

The beast charged.

Kael moved sideways.

The spear struck.

The monster twisted away.

Kael immediately changed the weapon.

The spear became a chain.

The chain wrapped around the beast's leg.

Kael pulled.

The monster fell.

A manifested pistol appeared in his other hand.

One precise shot ended the fight.

[Monster defeated.]

[Experience acquired.]

[Level Up.]

[Level 21.]

Kael exhaled.

The familiar sensation of power spread through his body.

[You have received 5 Attribute Points.]

Kael allocated them carefully.

Strength +1
Agility +1
Vitality +1
Intelligence +2

His status appeared.

[Name: Kael Darven]
[Level: 21]
[Rank: E-Rank Apprentice — Early]
[Mana: 33]
[Strength: 18]
[Agility: 23]
[Vitality: 22]
[Intelligence: 23]
[Metal Control: Mastery Stage II]
[Bloodline Progress: 11%]

Kael looked at the numbers.

Then at the mountains.

“Fourteen more.”

Nightfang stared at him.

“Fourteen levels before you challenge a creature that once fought armies.”

Kael nodded.

“Exactly.”

The Second Inheritance

Several days later, Kael discovered something beneath the training ground.

A metallic symbol was engraved into the earth.

Three circles.

One contained a lion.

One contained a serpent.

The third contained a skeletal figure holding a staff.

Kael crouched.

His bloodline reacted immediately.

[Darven Bloodline Resonance detected.]

[Beast Path recognized.]

[Three Legendary Beast signatures detected.]

Kael touched the symbol.

The ground opened.

A staircase descended into darkness.

Nightfang immediately growled.

“I don't like this.”

Kael looked at it.

“You didn't like the first gate either.”

“That doesn't mean I was wrong.”

Kael smiled.

“Fair.”

They descended.

At the bottom was a circular chamber.

Three enormous doors stood before them.

The first was black.

The second was covered in green patterns.

The third was made from ancient bone.

Above them was a single inscription.

THE BEASTS ARE NOT YOUR WEAPONS.

Kael stopped.

Another line appeared beneath it.

THEY WILL DECIDE WHETHER YOU ARE WORTHY.

Kael's expression became serious.

“So that's why the Shadow Lion tested me.”

Nightfang stared at the doors.

“The beasts don't serve the Darven bloodline.”

Kael nodded.

“They choose.”

Suddenly—

the black door opened slightly.

A crimson eye appeared behind it.

Kael immediately drew his katana.

The pressure was overwhelming.

But the eye disappeared.

The door closed.

[Shadow Beast Trial completed.]

[First Beast Recognition: Confirmed.]

[Current compatibility: 1/3]

Kael slowly lowered his sword.

A new message appeared.

[Requirement for Legendary Beast Challenge.]
[Level: 35]
[Bloodline Progress: Minimum 20%]
[Beast Compatibility: Required]

Kael stared.

“Twenty percent…”

His expression changed.

The beasts weren't simply waiting for him to become stronger.

The bloodline itself had to evolve.

He clenched his fist.

“Then Level 35 isn't enough.”

Nightfang looked at him.

Kael smiled.

“I need to become a completely different Darven before I reach Level 35.”

Deep beneath the chamber—

something ancient heard those words.

And for the first time in thousands of years—

the three sealed territories began responding to Kael's bloodline.

Far away, the Verdant Serpent slowly opened its eyes.

And somewhere even deeper—

blue flames appeared inside an enormous skull.

The Bone Sovereign had awakened.

[WARNING.]

[Two Legendary Beast territories are now active.]

Kael looked at the System.

Then he smiled.

“Good.”

He turned toward the staircase.

“I've got fourteen levels to earn.”

And this time—

the forest was no longer hunting Kael.

Kael was hunting the forest.