Leveling Through Betrayal

CHAPTER 11 — First Mana

Alex still stood frozen at the edge of the Holy River. His heart pounded rapidly as a transparent blue holographic screen slowly unfolded before him, emitting a radiant glow that contrasted against the thin mist surrounding the area.

Ding.

[Host Status Updated]

Name : Alex / Aldric Stormblade

Race : Human

Level : 10

EXP : 2,450 / 5,000

HP : 370 / 370

Mana : 125 / 125

Status Points : 20

Skill Points : 2

Titles :

Survivor of the Forbidden Forest

Contractor of the Shadow Dragon

Strength : 32

Agility : 29

Vitality : 37

Intelligence : 31

Skills :

Egoist System

Inventory

Shadow Nest Lv.1

Pain Resistance Lv.1

Mana Sense Lv.1

Contract :

Nero (Shadow Dragon)

Status :

Absorbing the Essence of the Holy River

Mana Pathways Restored

Alex froze in place.

"Level ten...?"

He rubbed his eyes repeatedly, making sure he was not hallucinating in the middle of this forbidden forest. Yet when he opened them again, the numbers remained unchanged.

The change was not merely a set of numbers displayed on a screen. Alex could feel it directly. His body felt significantly lighter, his muscles denser, and the oxygen flowing through his lungs felt several times more stable than before.

However, it was not the surge in levels that shocked him the most, but rather the row of mana statistics that had now become active on his status screen.

Ding.

[Host has absorbed the Essence of the Holy River.]

[The essence has successfully strengthened the body, meridians, and mana core.]

[Level has increased significantly.]

[Previously sealed potential has been restored.]

[Warning: Level increase does not equate to combat experience.]

Alex nodded in understanding as the system explained.

But his focus remained on the mana status. He finally possessed it now, something Aldric never had.

"Mana..." Alex murmured softly.

He slowly raised his palm.

For the first time, he could see mana itself. It shimmered gently like fireflies or fragments of fallen stars scattered across the earth. Some glowed crystal blue, others emerald green, muted gold, and countless other shades he had never seen in his entire life.

"So this is what mana is..."

Alex finally began to understand why this world operated under different laws.

Magical energy existed everywhere.

It flowed through the veins of ancient trees, settled deep within the soil beneath his feet, drifted through the air, and now coursed smoothly throughout his own body.

Alex turned toward Kirin.

A second later, his footsteps locked in place.

The mana radiance surrounding the majestic creature was completely different.

The energy around Kirin no longer appeared as tiny specks of light. Instead, it manifested as a massive golden aura swirling slowly and majestically like a calm ocean.

Alex could not even perceive where the limits of that energy ended.

"You can see it now, can't you?" Kirin's calm voice broke the silence.

Alex nodded slowly without looking away.

"Your mana..." He swallowed with difficulty. "It's absolutely insane."

Kirin merely offered a faint smile.

"What you're seeing isn't even much."

Alex frowned in confusion.

"Isn't much?"

"That's right."

Kirin stepped forward without making the slightest sound.

"You can only see mana now. You haven't seen how magic works."

The moment he heard that word, Alex's heartbeat accelerated once more.

"Magic..."

In his previous world, magic had only been a fictional element found in fairy tales, movies, and video games.

Something impossible. Something unreal.

Yet now he stood in a world where that impossibility was an absolute law of nature.

"So I can use magic too?" Alex asked quickly, unable to hide his curiosity.

Kirin nodded.

"Of course."

Alex's eyes immediately lit up.

"Really?"

"If you're willing to train properly."

A short laugh escaped Alex's lips as optimism suddenly surged within his chest.

"Then teach me."

His voice sounded far more enthusiastic than it had in days.

Kirin observed the young man's expression for a moment before giving a slight nod.

"Very well. From now on, I will guide you."

"Wait."

Alex suddenly remembered something.

"Nero?"

He turned around to search for the little dragon and immediately froze.

Nero had undergone visual changes as well.

His small body had grown slightly larger than before. Two tiny horn buds had begun emerging from his head, and his black scales gleamed sharply with a metallic sheen.

Even his eyes appeared noticeably more intelligent and lively.

"Kyuu!"

Nero leaped lightly and landed directly on Alex's shoulder.

At the same time, an unfamiliar voice suddenly echoed inside Alex's head.

"Alex."

Alex's entire body stiffened instantly.

"What?!"

Nero tilted his head and stared closely at his master's face.

"Alex?"

Alex gawked at the little dragon in disbelief.

"Y-You... were you the one who just spoke?!"

"Yes."

"You can talk?!"

Alex was genuinely shocked.

"A little."

Alex suddenly found himself speechless, unsure how to respond to such a ridiculous phenomenon.

Meanwhile, Kirin, who stood nearby, did not seem surprised in the slightest.

"That is a side effect of the contract bond," Kirin explained calmly.

"High-ranking sacred beast species possess the ability to communicate telepathically with their absolute masters."

Alex continued staring at Nero skeptically, while the little dragon puffed out his tiny chest with a proud expression, clearly delighted by his achievement.

"Nero smart."

The corner of Alex's eyebrow twitched.

"Yes, you are smart."

"Smarter than Alex."

"..."

Kirin's booming laughter echoed throughout the area.

Alex could only snort in annoyance and glare at the dragon sitting on his shoulder.

"I was just about to compliment you."

Training finally began—or at least, that was what Alex had imagined.

In reality, his expectations were shattered within seconds.

"Sit."

Kirin's command was brief.

Alex followed the instruction and crossed his legs on the ground.

"And? What's next?"

"Feel the mana around you."

Alex closed his eyes and waited for more specific instructions.

Several moments passed.

Silence.

He opened his eyes again.

"And then?"

"That's all."

Alex stared at Kirin in disbelief.

"You're serious? Just sit here and feel it?"

Kirin nodded without hesitation.

Although he wanted to protest, Alex ultimately held himself back and began trying to focus his thoughts.

One hour passed without any significant progress.

Two hours.

Then three.

He still felt nothing immediate.

Frustration gradually crept into his mind.

Meanwhile—

Whoosh!

A small sphere of black energy suddenly shot from Nero's mouth.

Thud!

A large tree near the river trembled violently, leaving a small scorched mark on its bark.

Nero jumped excitedly atop a rock.

"It worked!"

Alex stared at the tree before shifting his gaze toward Nero with a flat expression.

"Are you kidding me?"

"Nero talented."

Alex let out a long sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose as a headache suddenly formed.

"I'm starting to hate you, Little Dragon."

Kirin burst into laughter once again as he watched their interaction.

They trained for quite some time, and before they realized it, night had already fallen.

Alex caught fish from the river and roasted them over a fire.

The fresh fish, infused with the essence of the Holy River, tasted absolutely delicious.

For the first time since being thrown into this brutal world, he could eat peacefully without worrying about sudden attacks.

As he turned the fish over the fire, his gaze drifted once more toward the Holy River shimmering beneath the darkness of the night.

"I still don't understand," Alex began, breaking the silence.

"You've spent so much time guarding a place this quiet. Why?"

Kirin also turned his attention toward the rippling water reflecting the moonlight.

"Because this place is too valuable to be left unguarded."

"Valuable in what way?"

"If humanity gains control of this place, their ego will lead them toward becoming tyrannical rulers," Kirin replied, his voice heavy with the weight of past experiences.

"If the monster races obtain it, they will undergo limitless evolution that threatens the ecosystem. And if the demon race ever manages to set foot here..."

Kirin paused, his gaze dimming.

"...then this entire world will become a second layer of hell."

Alex fell silent, absorbing every word spoken by the ancient creature.

His eyes returned to the mystical river glowing beneath the moonlight.

Now he finally understood why a place this beautiful had to remain hidden and sealed away from the outside world.

"Even now, beyond the forest's borders..." Kirin continued, "some groups of humans have already begun kneeling before demonic powers in pursuit of personal ambition."

Alex nodded slowly, unsurprised by that revelation.

"Yeah. Humans tend to do anything for power. I can imagine how disastrous that would become."

"Good. Then you understand."

Kirin rose to his feet and stretched his massive body.

"Because I have no intention of explaining it twice."

Alex looked up and narrowed his eyes.

"You're going to sleep already?"

"Yes."

"Tomorrow morning," Kirin said, staring at Alex meaningfully, "we'll begin the real training."

Alex nodded in agreement.

Then a second later, he realized something.

"Wait, haven't we been training since this afternoon?"

Kirin tilted his head slightly as though he had just heard a joke.

"Training?"

"Yeah."

Kirin let out a low chuckle, and the sound immediately sent chills down Alex's spine.

"That wasn't training, young man."

Alex froze.

"Then what were we doing all day?"

"That was merely basic introduction so you wouldn't die from shock."

"..."

An extremely bad premonition immediately struck Alex's mind.

Meanwhile, Kirin began walking away, disappearing into the silent shadows of the trees.

"Get a proper rest tonight. Tomorrow is going to be a very long day for you."

Alex remained staring at the dancing campfire before shifting his gaze toward Nero, who was already softly snoring beside him.

For some reason, for the first time since arriving in this new world, he felt that the training session awaiting him tomorrow morning might be far more terrifying than any elite monster he had ever faced within the forest.