LEVEL UP

SYSTEM QUEST

[HOST LEVEL: Level 9]

[CURRENT ABILITY: None ]

[STRENGTH: 19 ]

[AGILITY: 18]

[SPEED: 19]

[STAMINA: 17]

[‹Mage Status›]

[Mage Level: 0]

[Magic Ability: None]

[Mana Control: 0]

[HP: 150/150]

[EXP: 0/150]

[Skills Unlocked]

[Energy Absorption: Level 2]

[Refill: Level 1]

[Crystal Iris: Level 1]

[SP: 150/150]

[No free stats obtained]

[Quest: Kill five Level 1 beasts]

[Quest Rewards: Instant Level Up]

[Quest Details: 0/5]

His mouth scrunched up in annoyance as he looked at the quest. He had to kill five… FIVE Level Ones.

He only succeeded in the first quest because the Dim Dog was generally weak, but he still struggled a little just to finally end its life.

Roshan had forgotten that he wasn’t the little boy he used to be.

Roshan stood up and picked up the sword. At least he could sell it and get some coins, and he could repay that kind old man’s deed.

He stood up and made his way to the forest. At least the system didn’t say he had to complete the quest in one day.

He moved in to see two Level 1 beasts. It was obvious they were not friendly to each other as they circled about.

Roshan smiled as he thought of a quick plan.

He would sit back and watch the whole drama unfold, and when they were both weakened, he would strike.

Before him was the fight between a Gotou and a Mahaj—two strong Level 1 beasts with the potential to evolve if they had eaten enough prey.

He knew one needed the other’s Beast Gem to evolve.

The Gotou crouched on its four limbs and growled loudly at the Mahaj.

The Mahaj slithered back and forth, raising its bald head at the beast on its territory.

Gotous are known for their relatively hard hide and the long tusk in the middle of their head. They are strong, which corresponds with their large size.

Most are said to reach King tier within a decade after their birth, and they are very hard to kill.

Mahajs, with a snake-like body and a toad-like head, are known for their slimy attributes and poison. A Level 1 Mahaj would easily kill a Level 5 human with its poison.

They are gifted with extreme speed and possess a bit of intelligence immediately after birth.

Roshan already knew the winner after assessing their strengths and weaknesses. He secretly thanked his mother for forcing him to read all those thick books. He slightly shuddered at their size.

His eyes remained fixed on the battle.

The Gotou moved forward, ready to strike with its horn pointed forward, but the Mahaj claimed its title as the ‘Swift Dodger’ and easily evaded the attack.

The Gotou snorted in anger and retracted to face the annoying worm that dodged its strike.

Even if it was a beast, Roshan could make out a slight smile on the Mahaj’s face. It seemed proud, and it looked like the Gotou noticed too.

As it charged again, aiming to hit the head of the annoying worm in its path, the Mahaj knew its weakness was being targeted but waited for the right moment. Its eyes glittered as it found the opening.

It dodged the Gotou’s attack, but it miscalculated as the Gotou’s horn tore a huge path through its skin. Black blood flowed, but it did not let the chance slip away and went forward, digging its fangs into the Gotou’s heel. Its poison entered the bloodstream of the Gotou.

The beast, thinking it had dealt a huge blow, was planning another attack when it suddenly became tired. Its eyes widened in bewilderment as it could not understand why it suddenly felt sleepy.

It swayed to the side and fell down, but shallow breaths indicated it was still alive.

The Mahaj raised its head in triumph, looking at its fallen meal, but its movements showed that the Gotou’s attack had drained it a lot.

This was what Roshan had been waiting for.

As he was about to stand, he realized he was not the only spectator. Another beast jumped out from its hiding place.

It was a Kraptor, a Level 3 beast.

It was obvious the beast had been watching the fight from the beginning as it stepped forward.

A Kraptor is a beast of strength and speed. It could eliminate five Level 2 beasts on its own.

It was already weak if it had waited for a mere fight between two Level 1s.

Roshan shuddered as he looked at the beast on the other side.

“I…I…In…Inspect,” he stuttered.

[Crystal Iris activated]

[Kraptor]

[Level 3]

[95/100% of evolution process completed]

[Condition: Weak]

[Ability: None]

Roshan exhaled in relief, knowing the beast had no ability. It was rare to see a Kraptor without any ability—they usually have water, wind, or ice.

He ran forward and raised his sword.

He leapt and slashed directly in front of the Kraptor.

The Mahaj fell with a thud, its head brutally severed from its body.

The Kraptor glared at the lean weakling who had interrupted its lunch.

Roshan examined the beast and noticed the pool of blood beneath it. A huge slash marred its chest. Whoever made that was deadly—he shivered thinking of the possibilities.

The impatient beast rushed forward, raising a claw to strike.

‘Slow…’ was the first thought in his head.

He sidestepped the attack. The beast could not stop mid-swing and rushed straight past him. Its overcommitment left an opening.

Roshan pulled back his hand and landed a heavy blow on the side of the beast, sending it flying sideways.

He tilted his head and rushed forward. His speed was fascinating.

He punched the beast from the other side before it could land, sending it flying again.

He moved to the same side and kicked the beast’s head, lifting it before it finally fell unmoving.

“Wow…that was…amazing,” Roshan said, looking at the unmoving beast. “I have never felt so alive.”

He looked up at the sky and grinned wildly. Shallow breaths came from the fallen beast.

He picked up his sword and sliced off its head.

He moved to the Gotou, relieved it was still alive, and stabbed it in the head. The forest became silent once more.

[«Ding»]

The moment he had been waiting for arrived.

[Level 3 Beast Gem collected]

[2 Level 1 Beast Gems absorbed]

The system had already absorbed the gems without asking.

[Would you like to absorb Level 3 Gem?]

“No,” Roshan said.

He would sell that gem for coins and repay the old man.

He wondered about the other rewards.

Immediately, a screen appeared.

[Quest Details: 2/5]

[EXP: 175/150]

[Level Up Initiating]

Roshan was surprised; he hadn’t even finished the quest yet.

He noticed his EXP was overfilled—likely the reason for the Level Up.

[«Ding»]

[Host has successfully reached Level 10]

[Evolution Process Beginning]

‘Evolution process… what is that?’ he thought.

An intense pain coursed through his body. His knees hit the ground immediately.

“Argggghh…Argggggghh…” he yelled in pain.

What was happening, he thought as he gripped his hair.

His body felt like it was being pierced by needles all over.

Large beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

He rolled on the floor, writhing in pain.

‘What’s happening to me!?!’ he thought.

It felt like a full year had passed, though only a few minutes had gone by.

Roshan lay on the floor as the pain subsided.

He started to feel normal, though his breathing was still shallow.

He wondered if leveling up was actually a good thing.

A cool rush flowed through his bones, veins, and blood.

He felt like a newborn experiencing its first summer wind.

He felt stronger.

Better.

Faster.

Lighter.

Most importantly, he felt like he had truly begun living.