Kael stood in the open grasslands, the burning wreckage of the Gloomkin village casting an eerie glow around him. The flickering flames illuminated the two remaining enemies before him—the Chieftain and its final Guard. Kael analyzed his last opponents.


    The Guard, though similar in stature to its fallen counterpart, held a thick round wooden shield decorated with bones—a grotesque display. Its spear was almost identical to the first Guard’s, made of sturdy wood and topped with a sharp, green-hued stone, the same type of stone as the previous guard''s spear, and both the shield and the spear were also far better crafted than the weapons of the lesser Gloomkin.


    On the other hand, the Chieftain stood slightly taller than the Guard, its broader frame covered in a darker shade of grayish skin, the difference more apparent. Its posture was more hunched, but not in weakness, it carried itself with a presence that exuded both intelligence and menace.


    It watched Kael carefully, studying him, its expression hinting that it wanted nothing but pain for him. Kael knew this was it. He had no reason to conserve what reminded of his Essence anymore, he would most likely need every drop.


    Kael let it flow freely, enhancing every inch of his limbs. The dimly glowing veins reappeared all over his arms and legs, pulsing with power.


    The Chieftain’s eyes narrowed slightly, it leaned forward, intrigued. Then, before they attacked—Kael moved.


    He sprinted forward, aiming to strike first. The Chieftain’s staff flared, but Kael was closing the distance fast and would arrive before it was ready to attack. Instead, the Guard stepped in, spear thrusting forward, intercepting Kael’s charge. Kael dropped low, ducking under the spear by a hair’s breadth, the weapon slicing through the air just above him.


    As he slid past the Guard, he grabbed its ankle and yanked, throwing his weight into the motion. The Guard lost balance stumbling forward, just as Kael rolled away, narrowly dodging an expected green energy bolt from the Chieftain that hit the ground where he had just been.


    Kael sprang back up, using the moment it took for the guard to right itself to rush straight for the Chieftain, hoping to deal with its ability to shoot at him. But the Chieftain was ready for him. Instead of casting another spell, it lifted its staff like a polearm and swung it at Kael’s face.


    Kael barely got his left arm up in time, blocking the hit with his forearm, pain flared from the impact adding to the already existing damage from his wounds left by the first Guard. The force behind the attack was far stronger than he expected. Then, from behind he heard the heavy charge of the Guard rushing toward him.


    His mind screamed for him to move. Kael jumped back just as the Guard’s spear stabbed forward, missing him by inches. The momentum sent it staggering forward having overcommitted to the attack and momentarily thrown off-balance.


    But Kael wasn’t in the clear yet. The moment he dodged, the Chieftain stepped forward, capitalizing on his movement, swinging its staff down at his head.


    Kael raised both his arms this time, barely managing to deflect the blow—but the force sent him skidding backward across the grass. Pain pulsed in his forearms where the attack landed, the open wounds bleeding more. Kael was sure that he would have broken his arms by that attack if it was not for the last couple of levels, and the stats that came with them.


    He gritted his teeth, got up, and steadied his stance. This wasn''t working, his opponents were coordinating. The Chieftain controlled space with its staff and magic, while the Guard maintained pressure with its spear and shield.


    He needed to think of something.


    Kael dodged another spear thrust from the Guard, stepping just to the right to avoid it. As he tried to close in, he saw the glow of green energy forming in the Chieftain’s hand.


    It was preparing to fire again, just waiting for the right moment. For a split second, Kael’s eyes flicked between them. That was all the time Kael had to think. The moment the Guard shifted slightly making an opening toward Kael, the Chieftain launched its attack. Kael tried to move away. He was in motion right after the bolt was fired. But so was the Guard.


    At the exact moment the spell closed in, the Guard swung its shield at Kael. The impact slammed into his ribs first, sending him flying to the side—just as the energy bolt whizzed past, narrowly missing him.


    Kael hit the ground hard, rolling before painfully forcing himself back up. Pain radiated from his side, a sharp ache where the shield had struck. He could feel small cuts where the jagged bone decorations had scraped his skin.


    The Chieftain yelled at the Guard, angered by the mistimed attack.


    Kael forced himself forward. Ignoring the pain, he rushed toward the distracted Guard, who had its back now turned against him. Hearing movement, it turned just in time to see Kael closing in. With as fluid movements as he could manage in his state, Kael grabbed the shield with one hand and swung a fist straight into the Guard’s face.


    The blow staggered the creature, dazing it just long enough for Kael to wrench free the shield from its grasp. Not hesitating for a moment, Kael swung the shield back at its head, slamming the wood and bone into the side of its head.


    The Guard stumbled, being disoriented further. Before Kael could follow up—he heard the sharp sound of an incoming energy blast. Letting instinct guide him. Kael twisted, raising the shield just in time. The green energy bolt struck the wooden surface, sending a vibrating shock through his arm. Kael held firm, planting his feet against the recoil. As soon as the blast faded, he felt pain as something grabbed his arm. Turning his head, he saw that it was the Guard.


    Acting on instinct, Kael grabbed the creature’s arm in return, twisting his body and maneuvering behind it. Then, he brought the shield down against the joint of its elbow. There was a sickening crack. The Guard let out a strangled, pain-filled grunt as its arm bent in the wrong direction, the bone in its forearm protruding from the skin at an angle. Still, it fought.


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    With its remaining arm, it tried to stab Kael with its spear—but he parried the strike with the shield. At the same time, another energy bolt from the Chieftain forced him to dive to the side.


    Kael quickly got back to his feet, assessing his opponents. The Guard was wounded, one arm useless, blood dripping down from the limb. The Chieftain stood behind it, glowing staff in hand, both furious.


    Kael’s breathing was heavy. His body ached, the toll of the fight wearing on him. His Essence reserves were draining. He needed to end this, it wouldn''t be long before he passed out from an empty core or eventually from blood loss if he didn''t deal with the wounds.


    Combing back his wet hair from his eyes with his blood-stained hands, he heard the Guard roar as it was lunging forward. Kael met the charge head-on.


    The creature''s spear thrust toward him—Kael parried with the shield, then immediately closed the distance, slamming the shield into its throat. One of the sharp bones on the shield pierced the Guard’s neck, a spray of black blood gushing from the wound. The Guard stumbled, choking. Kael didn’t wait for it to recover. He spun and charged straight toward the Chieftain, dodging one bolt, and blocking another with the shield.


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    The hateful look on the Chieftain morphing even more, if that at all was possible. Then it raised its staff as another green glow built in its palm.


    The moment the Chieftain fired Kael raised the shield again. The energy bolt slammed into it, sending a powerful shockwave through his arms. But Kael kept running towards it, the shield splintering with every shoot it had taken, the bone decorations cracking and falling off, but it held together just long enough.


    Kael closed the distance before it could fire a fourth shoot. The Chieftain swung its staff like a club, but Kael ducked, feeling the rush of air as it passed over his head.


    He punched upward, landing a solid blow to its jaw. The Chieftain staggered but wasn’t out yet. Kael pressed forward, throwing a series of furious strikes, both with his hand and shield, forcing the creature back step by step.


    But the Chieftain was no pushover.


    It recovered quickly, blocking some attacks with its forearm, and others with its staff. It lashed out with a powerful strike, slamming its elbow into Kael’s ribs, forcing him back. Kael coughed, feeling the strain on his already battered body, but didn’t stop. He couldn''t.


    The exchanges became vicious, both of them throwing wild, brutal punches, neither backing down. Kael lost to the raw strength match but held on due to superior technique.


    Then—Kael’s stolen shield finally gave out. The Chieftain fired another energy blast at point-blank range. Kael raised the shield to block, but this time, the impact was too much. The shield shattered, pieces flying in all directions. Kael was forced back, stumbling from the shock of the explosion.


    He barely had time to steady his breathing before he saw the Guard moving toward him again. Even with one arm useless and a bleeding neck, the final Guard made its move. It sprinted straight at Kael and right before reaching him, it let go of its spear. Kael wasn’t fast enough to dodge—the Guard tackled him with full force. They both crashed to the ground, rolling in a tangled heap of limbs and blood.


    Kael struggled, trying to throw the creature off, but the Guard was furious, desperate, and still had strength. Its sharp teeth snapped at his face coming inches from biting into his throat.


    Kael gritted his teeth, pain radiating from his arms as he tried holding its head back, feeling its vomit-inducing hot breath against his skin as well as the leaking blood from its mouth. Then—he saw it.


    The Chieftain was trying to use this as an opportunity and preparing to fire another blast. Shooting it the moment it was ready. Gambling, Kael with every ounce of strength he had left, jerked the Guard’s body upward, shifting its head directly into the trajectory of the attack.


    The green energy bolt struck the back of the Guard’s skull. And unlike the shield, it didn''t take the attack well. The back of the creature’s entire head exploded, black blood and acrid flesh spraying across Kael’s face.


    The body slumped forward, lifeless. Kael barely had time to process that he had not gotten a kill notification. Instead, he shoved the corpse off him and scrambled to his feet.


    He turned, and for the first time, the Chieftain looked uncertain. Having lost both its guards and being alone shaking its confidence. Kael wiped the foul flesh and most of the black blood from his face, leaving his face painted in shades of black and red. Then walked and grabbed the spear the Guard had dropped, and leveled it at the Chieftain.


    "Come here, you cowardly fuck," he muttered under his breath with the energy he had to spare. His Essence reserves were nearly empty, kael only enhancing his arms to make it last, his limbs were heavy, his wounds screaming at him—but this was it. Kael charged.


    The Chieftain, no longer grinning, raised its staff in defense. Kael lunged, thrusting the spear forward. The Chieftain parried, blocking the strike in time. Kael pressed harder, forcing the Chieftain to stagger backward, trying to hold off his assault.


    Then, finally ready, in a final act of desperation, it raised its free hand, palm glowing. With the spear and the staff at a standstill, Kael reacted instantly. He grabbed its wrist, forcing its palm away just enough that as the energy bolt fired, the blast hit the ground harmlessly.


    The Chieftain’s eyes widened in surprise. Kael took advantage, kicking it hard in the stomach, forcing it back. The next thrust of the spear finally landed. The sharp tip pierced the hide it wore as clothing and into the Chieftain’s side, a deep, guttural sound escaping its throat.


    The monster grabbed the spear shaft, its hand starting to glow. Kael tried to pull it free, but the Chieftain’s grip was too strong. He watched as black smoke hissed from its fingers, burning through the wood. Soon after the spear snapped in half, leaving Kael with a broken shaft. Looking up from the piece of the spear in his hands, he saw the Chieftain smirking, thinking itself victorious.


    Kael stabbed the broken remains he held directly into its chest. The Chieftain’s smirk froze in place. Kael leaned in close. "As long as it''s sharp enough on one end, that''s good enough, you dumb shit."


    The Chieftain’s body jerked, a choking sound escaping its lips. Then—it fell backward, hitting the ground. Kael followed it not wanting to let go and landed on top of it, breathing heavily, exhaustion crashing over him.


    But the fight wasn’t over yet. The Chieftain’s staff hand moved. His reaction having slowed down due to exhaustion before Kael could react, it pressed the crystal on top of its staff against his side.


    What followed was pure pain. The green crystal glowed, then exploded. A wave of agony tore through his body, the force blasting part of his flesh away.


    Kael fell to the side, his vision flashing white, the pain all that there was. Blood gushed from the wound, soaking into the dirt. For a second, he felt weightless, his body numb, the world spinning around him. Then—the notifications appeared.


    [ Experience Gained! ]


    [ You have leveled up! ]


    [ Quest Complete! ]


    [ Calculating reward....]


    Kael let out a ragged breath. It was over. He had won. But as he lay there, the pain throbbing through his side, the blood pooling beneath him, a single thought echoed in his mind.


    Yes, it was worth it.