Chapter 5
Author: Tenzen
last update2025-08-31 13:14:31

The sun had vanished below the horizon, and the town’s nightlife was beginning to stir up as I dragged my aching body towards home.

On the way, my mind replayed the moment Dasheen walked up to me at the tavern and said what he said. I appreciated the compliment, but I didn’t feel like it was enough. I struggled with every monster, if only I were stronger.

However, I am working harder and with consistency and never slacking effort I will achieve my goals. I had an advantage no one else did, if I could continue to use my Intelligence to outsmart my enemies, I would find a way to keep climbing.

I’m literally using my mind to build my magic and strength, that is unheard of and it is enough reason to know that I have an immence potential.

After eventually parting ways with the Border Cleanup Group, I returned home to my beautiful twin brothers who were waiting for me.

As soon as I stepped into the front door, Jackson ran up to me with excitement and Percy approached with an object in his hands.

“Levi, look I sculpted you out of clay!” Percy said holding the object so I could seen in the deemly candle-lit house.

I flashed him a smile and grabbed the hardened clay from him. It was simple and had sandy flakes falling from it due to its poor craftsmanship. I turned to glance at myself in the mirror beside the front door, then back at the sculpture.

“Its a perfect fit! How could you sculpt me with such precision? Very impressive Percy” I said and the both of them burst in a frenzy of adorable laughter that filled my ears with joy.

I felt a pang in my chest as soon as the frenzy died down. Their innocence was like a testament, always reminding me of how much I needed to protect them.

What would happen if a gate suddenly opened right above the house and shadow creatures wasted no time to break out? What would be of their fate? Would I stand watching them get devoured?

I cannot loose what is left of my family, and I have to regain the other half that has been lost. To do that I have to get stronger.

I’ve always been the weakest and I have been mocked for it at every turn, I want strength!

After dinner, I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. My body ached, but I dare not let my siblings know about it all evening.

My mind was restless, replaying the events of the day. The Shadow creatures I faced, the moment I leveled up, the dopamine that hit me after every progress, after every small victory.

This gave me hope as I heaved a huge sigh.

I couldn’t possibily rely on the Border Cleanup Group to gain all the experience I need, I’m preparing myself to be strong enough to enter a gate.

If I wanted to level up faster, I needed to find more ways or oppurtunities to fight and kill.

I had this mysterious, nameless system, I now had an Arcane reserve, and I keep leveling up. All I need is a fighting chance to kill, what do I do now?

The Border Cleanup Group basically wiped out half of the Shadow creatures roaming the outskirts of the town, however there are still gates that have been broken and Shadow creatures spewing out of it beyond the surronding areas of the town.

So…

I had one place in mind, it was far but I could still make it there and back in a day, assuming I don’t end up dead.

The shadow creatures there are not E-Rank or D-Rank like the ones today, they are probably up and above because no one really goes there, so no one knows for sure.

“I see…” I muttered to myself. “The chances of running into an S-Rank Shadow spirit is possible but if so, Reapers would have dealt with it by now…”

“Still I could very much run into a C-Rank or even an A-Rank… and if that happens, I’m done for… I’m still Lower E-Rank Awakened and I would die if that happens.”

What do I do?

“But, I want to grow faster… alright, I'll be going to the Boho-pine Forest tomorrow…”

I said outloud with resolve while turning on my side and closing my eyes to induce sleep.

To defeat monsters and level up was my goal, and I figured that the more powerful or higher ranked a monster is, the more rewards I get and the faster I level up and get stronger.

To achieve this mighty feat, I need a plan.

My mind would help me outsmart them shadow creatures, but that alone cannot cut it. What do I do in a situation where I get hit with a direct blast of Anti-arcane? I’m as good as dead.

It was risky, but the riskier the journey, the greater the reward.

»»»«««

The next morning, I rose about an hour before sunrise. Every inch section of my body protested with pain but I pushed through and prepared myself to leave.

After a quick breakfast and setting everything Percy and Jackson would need for their day to school, I left the house and made my way towards the border of the town.

I didn’t join the border group this time because this was something I desperately needed to do on my own.

I wasn’t going to treck all the way to the Boho-pine forest, I would be exhausted before I got there. I sneakingly climbed inside a horse carrier that was making its way out of the town and into the wild.

On getting to the cross section, one path leading to the forest and the other leading to the rest of the world, I dropped off and started down the path to the forest.

As I ventured deeper into the woods, I focused my mind and skewed every sense organ I could use: Smell, sight, touch and hearing were all working in sync.

After several hours of walking and marking the spots so I could recognize my way out if there be a situation I need to run for my life, I encountered a group of Scorpion-Type Shadow Creatures, they were small, fast and agile monsters that used their sharp pincer to attack.

Immediately I set eyes on them:

Ding!

~Poisoned Tailed Crawlers~

~Difficulty: E-Rank~

There were five of them, and I knew this would be a tough fight. But, trust me to always have a plan.

Continue to read this book for free
Scan the code to download the app

Latest Chapter

  • Chapter 8

    The shopkeeper chuckled, “Sounds like you’ve been in a scrap or two… hehe, let me show you some of our best items.”After a couple more minutes of bargaining, I was able to walk out of the shop with a durable sword that had an Arcane infused enchanted edge, a leather armor that was both lightweight and protective and a new pair of sturdy boots that allowed for speed.I smiled with satisfaction as I walked out of the shop and back into the street, “Crazy what one stone from a D-Rank boss can get you, imagine what an S-Rank boss would be worth!”On getting home, I collapsed on my bed in my room, glancing inquisitively at Naga’s egg. I don’t know what was intriguing me about it, but I desperately wished it would hatch right that instant.Whatever was inside, I felt an unexplainable bond with it, as though we were already connected. I set it down carefully on the small table beside my bed, studying it as the intricate markings on it pulsed with Arcane energy.I knew for sure that Shadow c

  • Chapter 7

    I followed the trail the LycanClaw Shadow creature left and when the trail was faint, I sniffed out its scent till I got to the boss chamber.As I stared at the dense trees, the system suddenly flickered to life before my eyes.~Instant Mission> Solo Gate Shutdown~~Objective> Eliminate the D-Rank Boss: Duckscale Naga alone~~Reward> New Skill~~Bonus> Duckscale Naga’s egg~I paused, my heart pounding with anticipation.I had every intention to go against the boss, but I didn’t think the system would eventually reward me handsomely for it.It was as if the number rule governing this system was: High risk, high reward.~Accept?~~Yes~~No~~...~The option bounced in front of me, waiting for me to pick my answer.I let out a huge gasp of air from my mouth and nodded my head, “Yes!”Ding!~Mission Accepted~~Time remaining till Gate Break> 15:59:00~The system window disappeared, leaving me alone with the weight of the task ahead. At the entrance, the vines parted as if the reality its

  • Chapter 6

    The Shadow creatures hissed as they created a perimeter around me with their sharp pincers snapping, catching the rays of the morning sun.I tightened my grip on the dagger in my hand, ready to deal with this creatures the best way I can. A direct fight was obviously suicide so I had to outthink them, which was not that hard because a Shadow creature this weak most likely do not possess the ability to use cognitive thinking.I tossed a rock into the bushes and two of the crawlers darted toward the sound instantly with reckless abandon.I smiled.When one of them finally attacked me, I sidestepped and drove my sharp dagger straight into its eye thereby knocking out the Anti-arcane stone in its head. It screeched and collapsed to the ground before turning into shadowy mist and disappearing.The others grew restless, upon sensing their fallen comrade. Then I dared to do something that I had never been able to do until now. Knowing that Shadow creatures are attracted to Arcane energy, I

  • Chapter 5

    The sun had vanished below the horizon, and the town’s nightlife was beginning to stir up as I dragged my aching body towards home.On the way, my mind replayed the moment Dasheen walked up to me at the tavern and said what he said. I appreciated the compliment, but I didn’t feel like it was enough. I struggled with every monster, if only I were stronger.However, I am working harder and with consistency and never slacking effort I will achieve my goals. I had an advantage no one else did, if I could continue to use my Intelligence to outsmart my enemies, I would find a way to keep climbing.I’m literally using my mind to build my magic and strength, that is unheard of and it is enough reason to know that I have an immence potential.After eventually parting ways with the Border Cleanup Group, I returned home to my beautiful twin brothers who were waiting for me.As soon as I stepped into the front door, Jackson ran up to me with excitement and Percy approached with an object in his h

  • Chapter 4

    The Shadow creature pounced at me, and I barely managed to dodge its glinting claws just by a hairs margin. My body was moving clumsily compared to the swift, agile nature of the cat-like creature.I scrambled to the ground, trying to intimidate the creature with my hulking size relative to it. It hit a nearby rock while trying to attack from the side.The creature snarled and changed direction but I was already waiting for it, because I knew before hand it would choose that attacking route. I squeezed the dagger I had in my grip, wishing I could somehow perform the technique Dasheen did earlier.My strike was weak, it barely grazed the creature’s side. It screeched angrily upon landing on its feet and leaped at me again. My body was already tiring at this point and my breath was coming in tidious gasps and pants.But I had to stay focused so as to out think the enemy, as it lunged again, I led it into a narrow gap between two trees. I quickly blocked its escape with a fallen branch t

  • Chapter 3

    Reaching level 2 felt like a small drop of water in an ocean of endless struggles, the system's values as regards to my stats didn’t have a specific threshold so I drew the conclusion that I could grow infinitely without any ceiling as my limit.But to be able to attain such feat, there was work to be done. I needed to hone my intellectual talent and use it to the very best to get what I want— To get stronger.So I can be able to protect Percy and Jackson, they meant everything to me. But fighting on my own wouldn’t be enough, I needed to get experience and fast.On my way returning home from the borders of the town the previous day, I overhead a group men chitchatting outside a pub. They said something that piqued my interest, so I hid close by to get the full gist.They were talking about a Border Cleanup Group, a small patrol team of adventurers and low-level Reapers to eliminate the Shadow creatures that roamed the outskirts of the town before they became a danger to civilians who

More Chapter
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on MegaNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
Scan code to read on App