ã€ŠParasitic Ascension [LITRPG, Non-Human MC, Regression, Dark Fantasy]ã€‹


 Chapter 1: Desperate Alliances

    "We can''t trust him!" said a deep voice laced with frustration.

    Kenji sighed deeply, glancing over at his comrade.

    "I understand how you feel, Elijah. Under normal circumstances, we wouldn''t even consider it. But with ''Night''s Order'' caught up in their internal politics and their obsession with keeping Camelot safe, we don''t have many options left¡­ There''s no one else we can turn to, to gather enough of a force to stand a chance against this level''s Supreme and his army."

    "I know, Kenji! Damn it, I know!" Elijah''s fists clenched, the muscles in his jaw tightening.

    "But trusting ''Blood Lord''? That bloodsucker! You''ve heard the stories. The things he''s done¡­ how can we¡­?"

    Kenji''s gaze hardened, but he remained calm.

    "We don''t have to trust him. But we do have to trust his survival instincts. ''Blood Lord'' may be a monster, but he is also a ''player'', a human and, like the rest of us, has a desire to live. Someone like him, who''s spent so much effort building an empire, wouldn''t want to see it burn. He''ll help us if only because he values his own existence."

    Elijah shook his head, his brow furrowed in thought.

    "I know you''re right. ''Blood lord'' is strong. His forces are strong. But working with him... it leaves a bad taste in my mouth."

    Kenji placed a hand on Elijah''s shoulder.

    "I don''t like it either. But if we lose this Ascension trail, Earth is doomed. We don''t have the luxury of choosing our allies."

    After finishing the conversation, Kenji raised his hand, signalling to the vast army of 5,000 soldiers that followed behind them to stop.

    This powerful force had been trailing silently across the barren lands, moving under the cover of jagged obsidian peaks that pierced the illusory sky. The ground itself groaned under the heat of volcanic geysers, with their scorching steam hissing into the air.

    Kenji''s command was swift, and the soldiers encased in thick, darkened plates of armour stopped in unison. Their presence was an imposing sight, with their strong, towering figures and armour gleaming in the glow of the distant molten rivers.

    Juxtaposing the heavily armoured soldiers stood other individuals with smaller and less robust frames, robed in flowing garments.

    These individuals clutched staffs etched with ancient and powerful symbols, and their eyes alighted with quiet and mystical powers that encased them in an aura just as powerful as their larger comrades.

    Kenji swiftly turned to address his elite force, which consisted of warriors gathered from every country in the ''Old World''. Everyone here had pledged their loyalty to this cause. They had vowed to be the hammer that would strike down this level of ''Hell''s'' Supreme and his evil minions.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    These soldiers were no ordinary troops. They were seasoned warriors ranging from the fourth to the sixth tier of power, between levels 40 to 60, each equipped with powerful items and bolstered with high-rank skills. The weight of their collective strength and the oppressive atmosphere they exuded were palpable.

    "My Brothers! ''Blood Lord''s'' forces should be just ahead..." Kenji began, his voice steady, but before he could finish¡ª

    ''BOOM!''

    A blinding flash of light exploded a few metres from where Kenji and his elites stood. It rapidly expanded outwards, washing over the area in a thunderous wave of pure destructive energy.

    Elijah''s eyes widened as he instinctively raised his shield. The light swelled with terrifying speed, enveloping everything in its path. Elijah felt a sharp, searing pain as the heat melted through the thick plates of his armour. This armour that had withstood countless battles and possessed a high physical and magical resistance, made from the Legendary ranked material ''Mithril'', but now it helplessly disintegrated under this relentless surge of energy, its enchantments proving futile.

    The force of the explosion lifted Elijah off his feet, spinning the world in a chaotic blur. Pain shot through him, but in that brief, excruciating moment, time seemed to slow down¡ªnot from the brief moments before death, but from the activation of one of his intrinsic tank skills, an instinct-type skill from his class.

    In mere microseconds, as the blinding white light began to envelop everything, Elijah''s mind sharpened, granting him a few precious moments to think.

    What did it mean to be a Tank?

    In the ''Old world'', a tank was a machine, a vehicle of war encased in thick armour capable of delivering overwhelming firepower while shrugging off attacks. But in the ''New World'', a Tank was something more. A tank was a living bulwark, an unyielding protector. A ''player'' whose sole purpose was to stand at the front, shielding his comrades, giving them the precious moments they needed to turn the tide of battle. And Elijah¡­ Elijah was that Tank for his party.

    In the brief instant before the light consumed them, Elijah''s eyes scanned his comrade''s forms, as they were now on the verge of being torn apart. Elijah couldn''t let it end this way. Reaching deep within himself, he pulled on the ''True Bond'' he shared with the shield firmly grasped in his right hand. The shield was called ''Hallowed Embrace,'' a Mythical-ranked shield that had been with Elijah through every battle, every trial and now, once again, it would fulfil its role.

    How did a Tank fulfil its role?

    There had always been debate among the players. Some believed a Tank should strike a balance between offence and defence, a school of thought spread by the devoted believers of the leader of the ''Templars'', a specialised force within the organisation ''Knights order''.

    But Elijah held to a different creed. A Tank''s only job was to be the unbreakable wall! To be the one that took every hit and endured every blow for the sake of those they fought beside.

    As the light began to eat away at his flesh, tearing through his armour, Elijah activated one of the enchantments from his shield.

    This enchantment was not one that unleashed devastating power, nor did it make him an invincible fortress. No, its purpose was far simpler! Far purer!

    The enchantment ''Guardian Angel'' would make Elijah a true protector, transferring all the damage his allies would receive onto himself. For this, Elijah believed, was the essence of a Tank. To bear the pain, others could not.

    With a silent, desperate plea, Elijah activated the enchantment. The connection between him and his four closest party members was already linked through ''Guardian angel'', and so the enchantment quickly ignited as a surge of mana flowed through their bond and into the shield.

    Almost instantly, searing, unimaginable pain flooded Elijah''s senses as every wound, every instant of damage that was meant for his comrades was redirected to him.

    "Aghhh!" Elijah roared, his voice drowning in the storm of light and fire.

    The unbearable pain consumed Elijah, and as the brightness swallowed his vision, Elijah felt his consciousness slipping away and into nothingness.

    The last thing Elijah remembered was the comfort of darkness; here, there was no pain, no suffering. Here, there was only silence.

 Chapter 2: Humanities sword

    The explosion hurled Kenji back, sending his body tumbling across the cracked, scorched earth.

    With a pained groan, Kenji peeled himself off the broken ground as he managed to regain his footing, but almost as instantly as his eyes readjusted to his surroundings, his mind was overtaken by the devastation before him.

    Where his army had once stood, a massive 300-meter crater now gaped wide with its edges still glowing with residual heat.

    The sheer power of the attack had eviscerated everything within its range. In one attack, nearly one-fifth of his force, 1,000 players, were wiped out instantly.

    Kenji quickly assessed his body for injuries.

    The left side of his impressive armour was gone, leaving his skin exposed to the sulphurous air of the volcanic landscape.

    Yet, despite the missing armour, his lithe, muscular form remained unscathed. Despite the lethality and destructive power of the attack, Kenji''s body was unmarked by cuts or burns.

    As Kenji observed his body, he knew of only one explanation that could account for his near-miraculous survival.

    "Elijah¡­!" Kenji muttered under his breath, his voice heavy with sadness and pain.

    There was only one ability that Kenji knew of that would leave him unscathed after such a devastating attack.

    ''Guardian Angel''.

    Elijah had once again sacrificed himself, taking the brunt of the damage onto his own body. Kenji clenched his fists. His comrade had used the mythical-ranked enchantment to protect them, and Kenji knew the cost.

    Instinctively, Kenji channelled mana into his armour, focusing on the self-repair-type enchantment to make the armour whole once more. It would take some time, but amour was invaluable in battle.

    Next, Kenji scanned the area and saw that only three of his comrades had survived, further confirming what he already knew.

    The others were gone, reduced to ash.

    It was clear Elijah had activated his shield''s enchantment in time to save them, but the heavy toll of that sacrifice weighed on Kenji''s mind.

    Kenji''s momentary bout of mourning was interrupted when grotesque figures began appearing from behind the jagged obsidian peaks, casting long shadows from the molten backdrop.

    The grotesque monsters quickly increased in number before they began advancing on the surviving army''s position.

    Kenji, with a mindset forged through multiple battles and the loss of loved ones, instantly refocused himself on the approaching wave of monsters.

    "It''s an ambush!" Kenji roared, infusing his words with mana so that all the surviving soldiers could hear him clearly over the chaos.

    Kenji had lost too many allies in past battles to let his grief slow him down. Elijah had bought them precious time, and Kenji would ensure it was not wasted.

    Still, despite the approaching horde of enemies, Kenji took a moment to analyse the attack that had decimated much of his army and its possible source.

    ''That Attack¡­? That Explosion¡­? An Apostle? It must be ''him''!'' Kenji''s mind raced into overdrive, and after analysing the explosion, he easily found an answer.

    Only one being possessed the ability to unleash such overwhelming destruction. A sickening feeling churned in his gut.

    "''The Apocalypse''¡­ Liament," Kenji said, his voice infused with anger.

    ''The Apocalypse'' Liament was a player who had betrayed humanity and became one of the seven apostles serving this world''s Supremes.

    Apostles were servants of the Supremes, with each Apostle being devoted to one of ''Hell''s'' seven Supremes.

    Liament was the apostle of ''Satan'', and the player was rightly titled ''The Apocalypse''. Liament was infamous for his cataclysmic area-of-effect abilities, skills capable of erasing armies in a single strike.

    "Spread out! Spread out! Use small unit formations!" Kenji roared, issuing new orders to the surviving soldiers.

    If Liament was truly here, grouping together in large numbers would only make them easier targets.

    Thankfully, such overwhelming power had limitations, mainly the mana and stamina consumption that it required, coupled with the heavy toll on the user''s body.

    Still, it would not be long before another devastating attack would rock their surroundings, leaving untold devastation to their army.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    Faced with the approaching wave of enemies, Kenji drew his own mythical-ranked item, a sword named ''Orochi''s Fang''.

    ''Orochi''s Fang'' blade was sleek and curved with a similar appearance to a katana, and the blade edge gleamed with an ominous aura. The sword''s black handguard was shaped like eight coiled snakes, and the hilt was crowned with a snake''s head. The sword radiated power and lethal intent.

    This item was also bound to Kenji through a ''True Bond'', and in reaction to Kenji''s fury, the weapon pulsed and writhed in his hand like a living snake.

    There were three kinds of ''bonds'' a player could form.

    The first and most elusive was a bond between two souls and was called a ''Soul bond''. The second most powerful bond was a ''True bond'', and this was the bond that Elijah had with his shield, and Kenji had with his sword. ''True bonds'' were ''mana bonds'' that were further enforced through skills or other powerful abilities.

    Finally, there was the ''Mana bond'', a bond mainly used to bind items and use their enchantments by linking with the item through a tendril of mana. The number of ''Mana bonds'' was proportional to a player''s level.

    The armour Kenji wore was connected through a ''mana bond'', and only through this bond could Kenji use the armour''s enchantments.

    The ''True bond'' between Kenji and ''Orochi''s fang'' was enforced through Kenji''s legendary ranked skill, ''sword grandmaster''.

    As Kenji channelled mana into his first-ever skill, a skill that he had meticulously improved upon over time and evolved into its current form and rarity rank, a thin silver line, almost as if someone was tracing his body and weapon with a silver marker, traced over his body and sword.

    The skill ''Sword grandmaster,'' unlike its lower rarity form, not only pulled out the true potential in the form of aura from the sword but also from the user and combined the two, turning them into a whirlwind of death on the battlefield.

    It was also thanks to this skill and Kenji''s heroic and selfless deeds that he gained the title ''Humanities sword,'' for he was one of the best swordsmen humanity had to offer.

    As the first of the grotesque monsters approached the rapidly restructuring formation of the army, which split into smaller, more mobile units, Kenji scanned the approaching horde, and only a few moments later, his eyes locked onto the more humanoid forms trailing just behind the larger monsters.

    Upon seeing these humanoid forms, Kenji clenched his jaw as thick veins bulged on his forehead. Kenji''s face darkened with recognition as he activated his legendary ranked ''Spirit Eyes'' skill, an enhanced skill from the uncommon ranked ''Identity'' skill.

    As Kenji glared at the humanoid figures, a list of information appeared on a translucent blue screen, only confirming his suspicions.

    From the list of information displayed on the blue translucent screen, two key pieces of information stood out.

    The first was the race ''Human'', and the second was the epic rank class ''Blood Ghoul''. This information led to an obvious conclusion.

    They had been betrayed!

    "Blood Lord!" Kenji bellowed, fury boiling in his veins.

    The truth hit him like a hammer. It all made sense now! How the enemies had managed to ambush them, how the Apostles had known where they were. They had been betrayed by the very ally they had been forced to trust.

    ''Blood Lord'' had not only betrayed them, but he had also betrayed humanity!

    "He couldn''t be this foolish! He can''t be stupid enough to trust ''their'' false promises!" Kenji spat out.

    With increasing rage, Kenji launched himself towards the approaching monsters. Kenji used mana manipulation techniques to further strengthen his body by infusing his muscles with the mystical energy called mana.

    As a result, Kenji rocketed into the throngs of enemies and turned into a blur, leaving only a fountain of blood to quench his wrath. His katana became an extension of his fury, slicing through the grotesque creatures with deadly precision. Blood splattered across the battlefield as bodies fell like wheat before a scythe.

    The other players followed suit, engaging in desperate combat. Explosive flashes of magic and skills illuminated the barren landscape, and the air became thick with the stench of death. The ground trembled beneath the weight of the battle, and bodies crumpled, quenching the thirst of this barren land with blood.

    As the battle progressed, Kenji carved his way into the middle of the battlefield. However, as time slowly passed, Kenji recognised that as the enemies'' numbers increased, bolstered by reinforcements, this was becoming a losing battle. Given the situation, they would be unable to mount a good counteroffensive, so with a burning pang of regret, Kenji decided to order a retreat.

    However, despite having decided to retreat, just as Kenji turned to give new orders, his enhanced senses noticed a distant rumble followed by the unmistakable sound of human screams. In response, Kenji whirled around, and the sight he saw only made his heart sink further.

    Reflected in Kenji''s eyes was a towering monstrosity, an abomination cobbled together from the parts of dragons, giants, and other grotesque creatures. This new monster crashed into the rear of their forces. They had been flanked. Kenji''s eyes narrowed in grim realisation.

    "''The Gourmet''¡­ Fran?ois," Kenji spoke under his breath as he gritted his teeth.

    Kenji had easily recognised the Apostle who led this new line of assault. Another of the seven Apostles had joined the battle, and with his arrival, their situation had gone from bad to worse.

    Their forces were now pinned! They were caught in a brutal melee with ''The Apocalypse'' and ''Blood Lords'' forces at the front while ''The Gourmet'' and his monstrous abominations tore into their rear, decimating their support units. Kenji instantly released that there would be no retreat, no escape.

    Despite the bleakness of the situation, a fierce, almost mad grin spread across Kenji''s face.

    ''These Demons! If they won''t let us live¡­ I''ll make sure they fall with us.''

    Despite the dark thought, Kenji knew he still had a duty to his soldiers as this army''s leader. Kenji could not let them all die here with their lives being wasted.

    "I''ll make a path! All units, retreat!" Kenji roared.

    Pooling every ounce of his mana into his mythical ranked katana ''Orochi''s fang'', Kenji activated one of its most powerful enchantments ''Eight Heads''. Instantly, seven identical clones of Kenji materialised beside him, each equipped with the same intricate armour and wielding an identical katana. The enchantment allowed Kenji to summon seven identical clones of himself, but there was a time limit as the enchantment had a high mana cost. But that did not matter to Kenji as this was a last-ditch effort.

    Without hesitation, Kenji and his seven clones launched themselves toward the towering monstrosity with eight ''Orochi''s Fangs'' gleaming with lethal intent. They would not go down without a fight.

    As the battle raged, Kenji knew one thing for certain. If this was his final stand, he would ensure the Apostles felt this wound. For he was titled ''Humanities sword'' and would cut the corruption that dared lead humanity to its destruction.

 Chapter 3: From Ashes, A Shield

    In the deepest recesses of an expanse deep underground, a large Citadel sprawled out in the distance, framed by a grotesque tableau of death.

    An illusory storm-filled sky unfolded on the ceiling of this underground world, with its deep red hues casting a blood-red luminescence upon the twisted landscape below.

    The fourth layer of hell, Satan''s Citadel, lay engulfed in eternal tempests and unending chaos. Cliffs and ravines slashed through the battlefield, presenting treacherous paths amidst the ceaseless warfare that echoed throughout the underground world.

    At the centre of the marred battlefield, humanoid and monstrous forms lay strewn across the landscape, their twisted frames and lifeless eyes reflecting the battle''s carnage.

    Tattered remnants of once-proud banners fluttered like spectres in the illusory tempest; their colours drowned in the desolate battlefield''s crimson hues.

    The stench of blood and decay saturated the air, even as the false winds whipped through the underground domain. The tumultuous storm rendered the atmosphere heavy with the essence of death, yet no rain fell, leaving the grotesque tableau perpetually in a state of eerie chaos.

    In the heart of this desolation, time felt suspended, as if this false world itself had paused to witness the relentless horrors.

    However, the eerie stillness of the battlefield was shattered as, within the charred crater that had served as the starting bell for the unforgiving battle, the scorched, blackened earth at the epicentre gave way. A writhing, white mass began to squirm from beneath the ground. Slowly, the mass shifted, morphing into the outline of white bones that quickly formed into a skeleton with thick, broad limbs.

    Layer by layer, the grotesque transformation continued. A deep crimson hue spread over the bones, shaping into ligaments, followed by the dense formation of muscles and flesh. Organs materialised within the ribcage and skull and quickly grew in size and mass, filing the empty voids. Despite the grotesque nature of the scene, it possessed a strange allure. Piece by piece, a body was rebuilt before finally being encased in a layer of thick, black skin. With a heavy thud, a two-meter-long figure collapsed onto the ground with a groan.

    "Ahh... I feel like shit!" Elijah hissed, his voice low and pained, and his body squirmed as he made contact with the ground. Each movement and breath felt like needles were piercing through all the pores in his skin.

    However, Elijah had long become accustomed to pain, and after a few minutes, as the searing agony began to fade, he managed to regain his composure.

    Taking slow, deliberate breaths, Elijah steadied himself before pushing upright. As he glanced around, he was momentarily disoriented, finding himself at the bottom of a crater, surrounded by nothing but scorched, desolate earth. As he looked up, he saw the crater''s rim, towering five meters above him and blocking any view of the battlefield beyond.

    As Elijah''s senses returned, he realised another discomfort. He was completely naked. Elijah could feel the warmth of the ground pressing against his skin and the dry dust clinging to him. A quick check confirmed his suspicions.

    Looking down, he saw that all his equipment, everything he had gathered over the years, was gone. His ''spatial ring'', usually resting on his left index finger, had vanished, taking with it the meticulously earned and hoarded treasures of countless battles.

    With a frustrated groan, Elijah lamented the loss of his hard-earned wealth. But the memories of the battle that had transpired moments before he lost consciousness flooded back into his mind, causing a dull ache to throb behind his eyes. Elijah gritted his teeth with a groan as he began working through the haze of memories.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    "We were talking¡­ and then? ¡­ and then¡­we were ambushed!"

    The realisation hit Elijah like a hammer. Despite the lingering aches, Elijah scrambled to his feet, desperately pulling on the ''true bond'' between him and his mythical ranked shield, ''Hallowed Embrace,'' enforced through his legendary ranked ''Shield Grandmaster'' skill.

    However, in a poor turn of events, the moment he reached out to connect with his shield, a sharp, searing pain struck his mind like a hammer, and he collapsed face-first into the dirt, clutching his head in agony.

    Through gritted teeth, Elijah remembered what had truly happened. His current state was the result of using his shields, ''Guardian Angel'' enchantment, to protect his comrades. The attack that Eljah had taken in place of his comrades should have killed him. By all rights, he should be dead. But he was not, and he knew why.

    Only a few weeks ago, Elijah had ascended to the ninth tier of power, reaching the ninetieth level. With this new precipice of power came a Mythical ranked class advancement that also gave him a mythical ranked skill, and it was because of this new skill that he was still alive. Or, more accurately, came back to life!

    "Second Life¡­" Elijah muttered, the name of the skill slipping from his lips.

    The skill did exactly as its name suggested. It gave him a second chance at life. No matter how he died, as long as his soul was not destroyed, his body would reassemble itself, even piecing itself back together from nothing.

    It sounded like an overpowered ability, and that was because it was. But the skill did not come without its limitations. Mythic-ranked skills had high requirements and costs for usage. They placed immense pressure on the user''s body and required a huge amount of resources, both stamina and mana, to be used.

    After using ''Second Life,'' Elijah would be unable to use any skills and would only be able to use the smallest slivers of mana. Also, his stats would be reduced to that of a mere human for several days. It was the price he had to pay for such a skill, but one he accepted willingly.

    Elijah''s thoughts then turned to the unnerving silence of the battlefield.

    "Kenji¡­" Elijah spoke with a shaky, pained breath, fear creeping into his voice.

    With a grunt of effort, Elijah forced his aching muscles to carry him toward the crater''s edge. His body was weak and burning with fatigue, but he needed to know if his comrades had survived. After all, that was the type of person he was. That was the reason he was a tank, all to make sure his comrades lived. That was the power of friendship! The power of family!

    As for whether his comrades knew he was still alive and, as a result, could have already left the battle, well, Elijah had not exactly shared his new skill with them.

    This wasn''t because Elijah didn''t trust them. They were his closest friends, comrades with whom he had survived the harshest battles with. They had shared countless life-and-death moments, secrets, and victories. But Elijah knew exactly how they would react to this skill, especially Kenji.

    The bond between Kenji and Elijah was forged in blood and steel. They bled for one another, saved each other time and time again, and were as close as brothers. But Kenji had always been vocal about one thing. Kenji did not like how Elijah tanked.

    That was not because Kenji doubted Elijah''s abilities. In fact, it was quite the opposite. He admired Elijah as one of the finest tanks he had ever known. What Kenji hated was the lengths Elijah went to. The way he absorbed life-threatening injuries, shielding his comrades by taking the full brunt of the damage onto himself.

    Elijah''s stats were focused almost entirely on endurance and vitality, making him incredibly difficult to kill, a human cockroach, as some jokingly called him, and his original title had been ''Human shield'' because, like a shield, he always endured.

    Elijah''s title only changed to ''Humanities Shield'' when he joined Kenji''s group and fought side by side with the ''Humanities sword''. But no matter how durable he was, Elijah still felt pain. And Kenji, as his friend, could not stand to see him hurt like that.

    If Kenji knew about ''Second Life,'' the first thought that would cross his mind was that Elijah would sacrifice himself even more recklessly, relying on the skill to pull him back from death. Kenji would never agree to that. So, Elijah kept it under wraps, figuring it was better for everyone and would save him from an annoying lecture.

    Because, no matter how much Kenji would demand him not to use it, and even if Elijah agreed and promised not to, deep down, he knew the truth. He would still use it without hesitation if it meant saving his comrades, so it was better to avoid that type of conversation altogether.

    The eerie stillness of the desolate battlefield was abruptly broken by the sudden emergence of a hand clawing its way out of a deep, scorched crater. Soon after, an arm followed, trembling with effort, as its owner struggled to pull themself up from the crater depths.

    Elijah''s body quaked with exhaustion, but sheer determination forced him onward. Gritting his teeth, inch by agonising inch, he heaved himself up until, at long last, he reached the crater''s edge. Breathing heavily, Elijah looked across the battlefield.

 Chapter 4: The bonds of Brotherhood

    The sight that greeted him was a grim tableau of death and destruction. Bodies lay scattered everywhere, lifeless and broken. There were the forms of humanoid warriors, his collegues, and men at arms, and then the grotesque abominations representing the demons of this dark, forsaken world.

    Elijah''s eyes scanned the wasteland, taking in the devastation, but his heart was heavy as he looked at the dead humans that had been part of their army. It wasn''t long before his gaze fixed on a grotesque mound of flesh in the distance.

    The creature was massive, with its body a twisted amalgamation of creatures fused into a single grotesque form. The beast lay still, covered in a fountain of blood, chunks of flesh torn from its massive frame. It was tens of meters long, standing out against the smaller corpses surrounding it. Deep lacerations crisscrossed its body, showing signs of a vicious battle.

    But what drew Elijah''s eyes was the severed dragon head nearby and the realisation of what, or who, this monster had been.

    "An Apostle... ''The Gourmet''?" Elijah muttered under his breath.

    Next, his eyes scanned the deep laceration that had killed this apostle, and he already knew there were not many players who could deliver such precise and devastatingly clean sword strikes. These were sword strikes that Elijah recognised all too well. As he pieced it together, a sudden chill ran down his spine.

    ''Did Kenji kill an Apostle?'' Elijah thought.

    Elijah''s eyes continued to roam the battlefield once more, and then he saw it. His breath froze in his throat.

    Amidst the chaos and ruin of the blood-soaked battlefield, a lone figure sat slumped against a jagged obsidian rock as a pool of blood surrounded him. The figure''s once-glorious armour was now in tatters and bloodied beyond recognition, but Elijah knew who it was the moment he saw him.

    "Kenji..." Elijah whispered, his heart sinking like a stone.

    Kenji sat there, his body propped up and his expression a mix of agony and determination. His once-imposing frame had been ravaged by battle with his left arm, and the entire left side of his chest was... gone. It looked as though something had bitten clean through him, leaving behind a gaping, mortal wound.

    Despite the catastrophic injury, Kenji sat upright, his posture defiant. His gauntleted hand still gripped the hilt of his sword while a strange egg-shaped object rested in his lap. Kenji''s eyes, once filled with life and fire, now flickered faintly beneath the weight of death''s shadow.

    "Kenji!" Elijah''s voice cracked as he shouted, his body filled with a powerful surge of emotion.

    His brother-in-arms, his friend and, in some sense, his mentor, was on the brink of death. Every part of Elijah screamed at him to move, to reach his friend, to help him.

    But when Elijah tried to stand, his legs gave out beneath him.

    His muscles, still recovering from his resurrection, refused to obey and instead sent him collapsing to the ground once more. Gritting his teeth, Elijah pounded his fists into the dirt as frustration and helplessness boiled inside him.

    However, Elijah would not be stopped. If he could not walk, he would crawl.

    Elijah dragged himself over the broken bodies, over the jagged debris, the remnants of the battle, inching closer to Kenji with each agonising pull of his arms.

    His breath came in ragged gasps as his vision began swimming with exhaustion, but finally, finally, he reached Kenji''s side.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    Kenji stirred at his presence as a groan of pain escaped his cracked lips. Kenji''s grip on his sword tightened; no doubt the results of his battle instincts were still pushing forward even in his current state.

    "Argh", Kenji groaned as he moved his sword.

    "It''s me! Elijah!" Elijah quickly said, moving slightly back.

    The first thing Elijah noticed was the potion bottles around Kenji, and all of them were empty, their contents already used. The injury taking the left side of Kenji''s body had stopped bleeding, but the wound showed no sign of healing.

    "Elijah¡­ How? You should be¡­ ''Cough'', ''Wheeze'', I thought you died!". Kenji rasped, his voice weak and filled with disbelief. Yet, even in his fragile state, his hand never left his weapon.

    "I''m alive, Kenji. I''m here," Elijah whispered urgently. "It''s me."

    "Stand still," Kenji ordered hoarsely.

    Kenji''s silver eyes glowed as he used the remnants of his mana to use his legendary ranked ''spirit eyes'' skill. Then his face gave way to a smile, a true deep and broad smile.

    "You piece of... ''cough wheeze''. You damned cockroach!" Kenji''s eyes softened as he managed to get out a few words between pained breaths in a joking manner.

    Elijah forced a weak laugh in response, though it was hollow.

    "Yeah, you know me. Hard to kill," he said, tapping his chest in a show of bravado, though the effort sent fresh waves of pain coursing through his body.

    Elijah''s hand instinctively went to his left index finger, where his spatial ring had always been. Feeling nothing, he was once again reminded that he had lost his ''spatial ring'' and all the contest inside. All the potions or other items that could have helped his dying friend were gone.

    Instead, Elijah again tried to call upon his ''true bond'' and connection with ''Hallowed embrace'', but like before, he once again fell face first into the ground.

    "Argh!'' Elijah groaned

    "Are you okay?" Kenji managed to get out through pained breaths.

    "Damn it!" Elijah cursed, slamming his fist into the ground. "I can''t summon my shield... I can''t..."

    Kenji''s breathing grew heavier, each breath a battle in itself.

    "My wounds... they won''t heal," he said quietly, his voice shaking. "I already tried everything¡­ It''s alright, Elijah!"

    "What about the others?" Elijah asked, trying to change the subject and deny the reality that his friend, his brother, was dying.

    Kenji nodded weakly.

    "I... I made a path. They should''ve escaped," he wheezed, each word taking more from him. "You were right, ''Couph'' ''Blood lord'' betrayed humanity!"

    Elijah''s heart twisted in anguish.

    "Damn it...!" he spat through gritted teeth; his voice filled with bitter frustration. "Those traitors! if only¡­ I would have... I would have¡­!"

    Elijah''s words resonated with an undercurrent of fury.

    Their meticulously crafted plan to eliminate the supreme of this level of hell had been thwarted. ''Blood lord'' had betrayed not only them but also humanity!

    Kenji''s head turned slightly; his once-vibrant eyes clouded by the toll of his injuries.

    "It''s... so dark," he murmured, his voice fading.

    With trembling hands, Kenji lifted the egg-shaped object from his lap. Its weight seemed to drain the last of his strength, but he extended it toward Elijah as if offering him something of immense importance.

    "If it''s you... if it''s you! Maybe we have another ch¡­ ''couph'', chance." Kenji rasped each word a struggle.

    "Kenji..." Elijah reached out, his heart breaking as he took the strange object from Kenji''s weakening grasp. But even as he did, Kenji''s strength faltered. His hand fell limp to his side, the life in his eyes dimming.

    Wheezing through his final breaths, Kenji strained to speak.

    "Remember... never... never submit to them... never trust their patronage. Be... be aware of Ol¡ª" Kenji''s voice broke off, his final warnings lost.

    Elijah, hearing his brother''s dying words, desperately tried to move closer, to offer aid or comfort, but it was too late. Kenji''s head slumped forward, his once-bright eyes staring blankly into nothingness. The flicker of life that had clung so fiercely had now been extinguished.

    "Kenji¡­" Elijah muttered weakly, his voice cracking with the weight of his sorrow.

    He reached out a trembling hand and gently closed Kenji''s lifeless eyes. His hand lingered for a moment, the gesture both final and tender.

    "My brother," Elijah whispered softly, his voice heavy with grief. "Your trial has ended. May you find peace."

    For a moment, Elijah simply knelt beside his fallen comrade, the stillness of death hanging thick in the air around them. The blood-soaked ground beneath them seemed to hum with a morbid silence, broken only by the faint, ghostly winds that carried the stench of the battlefield.

    But somewhere, far off in the distance, perched atop the jagged peaks of an obsidian outcropping, a pair of deep, blood-red eyes watched the scene unfold without a shred of emotion.

    From the shadows, the figure of Damian, also known as ''Blood Lord,'' observed Elijah and Kenji with an eagle-like intensity. His gaze was cold, piercing, and uncaring.

    The air around Damian was eerily still until his low, heavy voice shattered the silence.

    "Master," he intoned, his tone carrying a deep, ominous resonance.

    "It seems we have a problem".

 Chapter 5: The Betrayer and the Hive

    Damian had watched the final moments of ''Humanities army'' fall, with emotionless eyes betraying no hint of satisfaction or remorse.

    He had observed the battle unfold from start to finish, so imagine his surprise when Elijah, one of his ''Master''s'' key targets, marked for early elimination and who was meant to be incinerated, was now once again moving about, his body unscathed of any injuries yet devoid of any equipment.

    "Master¡­ it seems we have a problem," Damian spoke, his voice devoid of emotion.

    He was also known by his title ''Blood Lord,'' and delivered the news to his ''Master'' with chilling detachment.

    "Explain." The single, stone-like word reverberated in Damian''s mind through the patronage connection he had with his ''Master''.

    The voice that he heard was a cacophony of noise, as if many people were speaking simultaneously, their tones layered over one another. Nevertheless, upon receiving his master''s order, Damian quickly and concisely summarised what he had witnessed.

    "Elijah Thompson is alive¡­" Damian paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.

    "Hm¡­ interesting." His master''s voice returned, laced with intrigue, but he added nothing more.

    The apostles were players who pledged allegiance to each of the Seven Supremes of this world, and Damian similarly served a denizen of this world. However, unlike the apostles, his master was not a Supreme. Unlike those transcendent beings, his master was merely an ascended.

    Where the Supremes wielded power and ruled with tyrannical force, Damian''s master was insidious and cunning. This entire plan, this elaborate scheme, had come to fruition due to his master''s meticulous planning.

    Though his master might not possess overwhelming strength, he was devilishly cunning and had cultivated a loyal network of minions within all the major organisations.

    Even if Damian had not been aware of the current forces at play, his master had orchestrated his placement here with calculated precision.

    His master appeared to be a begrudging servant of the Supremes, bound not by authority but by a servitude rooted in power. Disobedience meant destruction, and thus, the Supremes had decreed that the humans must be stopped here, in this layer of hell.

    Damian had long ago made a deal with the literal devil, seeking vengeance against the humans who had killed his sister. In exchange for his soul, he had become an instrument of his master''s will, and within him resided one of his master''s ''parasitic pieces''.

    Even if a flicker of humanity attempted to resurface within him, that piece swiftly suppressed it, ensuring he remained an emotionless piece, an ideal tool for his master''s nefarious plans.

    Damian had been ordered to infiltrate ''Humanities army'' and work alongside ''Humanities Sword'' until this inevitable betrayal.

    His master had secured aid from the Supremes of this world, leading to the deployment of two apostles to this battlefield.

    His master''s strategy was also straightforward.

    Observe and sacrifice his minions as necessary but refrain from directly engaging in the battle.

    Instead, Damian was to deal with any stragglers or any survivor who tried to break free and escape. ''Humanities Sword'' made commendable efforts to assist a unit of his comrades in breaking free, but Damian had already handled them.

    After the death of ''The Gourmet'', Francois, and the chaotic departure of ''The Apocalypse'', Liament, the mentally broken apostle of Satan who was now looking for the next thing to blow up, Damian was left with the spoils of this battle, free to claim any remaining loot and items for himself and, of course, his master.

    Damian''s ''master''s'' plan was clear and insidious.

    Sacrifice others and then reap the rewards.

    It was expected from such a cunning demon. After this ordeal, Damian would return to Earth, under the guise of a pained leader who had lost many of his own underlings and tried his best to aid ''Humanities army'' all before preparing for another of his master''s schemes.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    "Should I strike?" Damian asked, his voice steady and emotionless.

    "No. As mentioned before, a wounded beast is dangerous, especially if it''s a player. Wait and watch for now. Afterall¡­ Nobody is coming to this battlefield now."

    "Understood!" Damian replied, his voice steady as he resumed his watch over Elijah.

    Every subtle movement of the wounded hero was meticulously observed, each flicker of emotion or shift in posture relayed back to his master in vivid detail.

    Every ounce of information was invaluable, feeding into his master''s grand scheme. The blood-red landscape, littered with the remnants of battle, became a canvas upon which Damian painted his observations, ensuring that nothing escaped his notice.

    Elijah gazed upon the lifeless body of his dear friend, a profound sense of self-doubt gnawing at him.

    "If only I had been stronger," he whispered, his voice barely above a breath.

    Elijah could not escape the bitter regret that clung to him.

    He had been part of a tightly knit party led by his best friend Kenji, and Elijah had the role of a tank. Elijah''s purpose was to shield those behind him and be the unyielding bulwark that stood between his friends and danger, providing them with those precious moments they needed in the heat of battle.

    Yet, at the very beginning of their last battle. No, not a battle. A well-planned ambush!

    Elijah had been caught in a trap, an explosive assault of such ferocity that it eviscerated him before the battle truly began. Sure, it wasn''t his fault, and there was nothing he could do, but still, he wished if only he could have been there to help his comrades fight; maybe then Kenji would have survived.

    Surveying the battlefield, Elijah''s gaze fell upon the fallen forms of his comrades. They had fought valiantly, and their loss weighed heavily on his chest. Over the many years, he had grown accustomed to death''s grim presence, having seen friends, family, and loved ones perish in the unforgiving Ascension Trails.

    However, Elijah knew he could not waver now. His mind had been forged in the crucible of countless perilous battles, and he could not afford to let his emotions consume him. The promises he had made and the responsibilities he bore demanded that he carry on. If he faltered, if he allowed his raging emotions to take control, what hope remained for the surviving humans in this merciless new world?

    No! Elijah would regroup and regather those who had survived, even if it granted humanity but a fleeting respite. Despite the looming futility, he refused to yield, to kneel and allow everything to crumble into oblivion.

    "Damn it, Kenji! You''ve left me here with all this mess!"

    With a resigned sigh, Elijah shifted his attention to the enigmatic, egg-shaped object. His only functioning hand cradled the object, drawing it closer for careful examination. Kenji, his closest friend and his brother had left it behind for a reason, and Elijah was determined to uncover its purpose.

    Unable to channel enough mana to use a skill. Instead, Elijah took a deep breath and carefully retrieved the ''spatial ring'' from Kenji''s finger and sent a small sliver of his mana into the item ''mana binding'' the epic ranked ''spatial ring''.

    As he searched through the ring''s contents, he swiftly found a one-time-use scroll, a rare rank ''Analyse Scroll'', and without hesitation, he tore the scroll apart, activating it.

    Scrolls weren''t particularly expensive, and they did not take mana to use as a one-time use item. Instead, they contained stored mana that simply needed to be ripped open to function.

    As he tore the scroll, an azure, ethereal screen materialised before his eyes, revealing the item''s information.

    Item: Unknown

    Rank: Unknown

    Enchantments: Unknown

    Description:

    In the realm where time drifts like an ethereal river, a relentless undertow forever beckons the chance of reversal. A titan, driven to madness by the insatiable hunger to devour his own progeny, sought to alter that river''s course, to defy the inevitable. Yet, his ambition met its end, and his dominion over time was severed. His potency, once two, where separated. One cast away to the far reaches of space whilst the other remained.

    Elijah, though momentarily vexed by the lack of information, resigned himself to the fact that the mere ''rare'' rank ''Analyse scroll'' had its limits, especially when confronting more formidable items. If anything, the mysterious nature of the egg-shaped item only deepened his intrigue.

    "How am I supposed to use this? Damn it, Kenji, you could have given me a clue," Elijah grumbled.

    In response to Elijah''s frustration, another ethereal screen materialised before him.

    System Notification:

    Would you like to use this Item?

    Y/N

    Warning! If used, this item will have a significant impact on time. Time will be reversed. Mortals will forget, but the Ascended will always remember.

    Warning! ...

    As the system notification cascaded down, a flood of cautionary notifications followed. However, Elijah''s focus remained fixated on a particular segment.

    "Time will be reversed. Unbelievable!"

    Elijah''s gaze shifted back to his fallen friend, his eyes ablaze with anger before he sighed, his tone sombre.

    "Kenji, you stubborn fool. Why didn''t you use it?"

    After a moment of contemplation, Elijah''s eyes took on a resolute gleam as he regarded Kenji''s lifeless form.

    "If you had this much faith in me, I''ll go back! I''ll do it again, and this time, I''ll save everyone!"

    With fervour fuelled by his emotions, Elijah''s eyes returned to the ethereal screen, and he firmly pressed the ''Yes'' button.

    And with that declaration, the Ascension Trial came to a standstill. The entire third dimension plunged into darkness as the threads of fate reversed their course, winding back further and further in time.

 Chapter 6: The dimension above

    Outside the third dimension, in the fourth, where the purpose of the trials was known to beings possessing far greater souls. To these beings inhabiting diverse worlds, a different system notification appeared before them.

    Their blood-red ethereal screens displayed an alternative notification.

    System Notification:

    Spatial distortion detected. Time and fate have rewound. A divine-ranked item has been used.

    Warning! The Ascension Trials will temporarily pause. The planet designated as Earth will travel back through the river of time, returning the Ascension Trials to a previous stage.

    Warning! The divine item''s energy is rewinding the flow of time to an unknown focal destination.

    Time since Ascension Trial: 30Years, 11 Days, 10 Hours, 24 Minutes, 46 Seconds ¡ú 29 Years, 10 Days, 10 Hours, 19 Minutes, 30 Seconds ¡ú 28 Years, 4 Days, 10 Hours, 7 Minutes, 58 Seconds

    As the notification unfolded, time continued its relentless rewind.

    However, while time rewound for the mortals of Earth, the pitiful humans caught in the throes of the Ascension Trials, it flowed unabated for other, far mightier beings.

    On a planet uncannily reminiscent of the one recently beset by the Earthlings'' battles, deep beneath the surface, meandering the caverns and layers of hell, the demon world unfurled in all its unrelenting harshness and desolation.

    A harsh, unforgiving landscape stretched out, devoid of life and teeming with jagged, obsidian formations. Windswept plains of jagged stone extended as far as the eye could see, marred only by the occasional burst of crimson-hued geysers that erupted with malevolent intent.

    Within this chaotic landscape, snaking its way underground and moving between the layers of hell, a large dark brown worm-like creature effortlessly moved through the thick rock. Its jaws and green acid made quick work of the thick earth before it, and its angled armour-plated body moved all the loose earth from in front to around its body and behind it.

    Inside this 2m tall and 15m long creature, within a fleshy space far larger than the creature''s outward appearance, another worm-like creature lay ensconced in immobility. This demon worm, no, not a worm, but a parasite, was not endowed with great size or power compared to its other demonic kind; instead, its form was more compact and bulging, almost squishy in appearance.

    Its grotesque form, bereft of eyes, was draped in a sinister tapestry of smaller, subservient parasites that covered its body like a living shroud.

    These diminutive parasites served as loyal drones, executing their master''s inscrutable commands. The main parasite''s body was also painted with faintly red glowing markings, almost like tribal tattoos, which pulsed with the movement of the drones.

    From the creature''s perspective, it engaged with a multitude of screens, far too many for any ordinary being to fathom, yet it handled them all with seamless efficiency. That was because, unlike ordinary creatures, this creature''s mind was fragmented. Fragmented yet also unified, allowing it to adeptly manage the numerous tasks it undertook with seamless ease.

    On one of these screens, the creature observed the battle that had transpired in a replica of its own world. It witnessed humanity''s futile struggle to defy fate through one of its pieces, the ''Bishop Piece'' Damian, also titled ''Blood lord''. Damian was unaware that through the ''Parasitic piece'', his master could also see the world through his eyes.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    This being, connected through its grotesque brood, bore witness to all the major happenings of the human world. After all, it was both the hive mind and the mastermind behind the demonic organisation known as ''The Confluence.''

    On a blood-red screen, the parasite observed an interaction that sparked an unusual emotion. The man it had identified as one of its prime targets, one that needed to be eliminated first, was once again alive and active. The creature was¡­ Glad? Excitement was perhaps a more fitting term.

    Humanity had played a pivotal role in its ascent to power.

    A calculated gamble had propelled it through the ranks of demons, allowing it to be at its current rank.

    Yet, the power it currently possessed was not sufficient. It yearned for more, an insatiable thirst to ascend to the level of the Supremes or perhaps even surpass them.

    But alas, its own progression would stop here, along with the humans it had watched for so long.

    The Supremes had issued orders to halt humanity''s progress, as they had done with countless others on their path of ascension, culminating in their eventual eradication. Duty-bound, the parasite had no choice but to obey their command lest their anger turn on it instead.

    Yet, within the depths of its being, it experienced a peculiar sense of unease¡ªan emotion so human-like, an oddity in the demon''s world, where such sentiments were considered obsolete and scorned. It contemplated the hypocrisy of the supreme beings, or princes as they called themselves, as they, too, were led by their sins.

    As the human interacted with the egg-shaped object, a new screen materialised, alerting the creature to a change in the unfolding events. Initially confused, it quickly deduced that this shift was related to the enigmatic object.

    The demonic creature''s physical form was not its most potent asset, which was why it lurked in the darkest corners of hell''s underground world, well beyond the reach of inquisitive gazes. Nevertheless, its intellect shone with unparalleled brilliance.

    For it bore the name Malgrith and was titled ''The Hive,'' a title befitting the mastermind behind ''The Confluence.''

    As the Ascended being, known as Malgrith, saw the system notification, its fragmented minds, each having been working on separate tasks, now worked together to understand what had happened.

    Malgrith scrutinised the object it assumed was at the root of this perplexing disturbance. Only a rare few things possessed the potency to influence the system to this extent, and given its widespread impact, Malgrith surmised that it must be of the ''Divine'' rank, something the system notification only further proved.

    Simultaneously, the implications of the system notification unravelled within Malgrith''s thoughts.

    The Ascension Trials were being rewound.

    The third dimension was regressing along with its inhabitants. Yet, the object''s influence did not extend to the fourth dimension, where Malgrith and the countless other beings dwelled.

    "Could this be fate? Perhaps an opportunity!" Malgrith mused aloud.

    Its hoarse, deep voice caused its monstrous form to shudder, transmitting its vibrations through the cavern and eliciting a synchronised response from its smaller broods¡ªthe obedient drones.

    The timeline was rewinding, and with it, the Ascension Trials. Malgrith''s power, however, remained unaltered. The prospect of seizing greater power left it elated, causing its monstrous form to writhe and pulse with anticipation.

    Yet, amidst its jubilation, the myriad minds within Malgrith contemplated how to exploit this situation fully. While harnessing the humans once more to accumulate even greater power was the obvious decision, it was reaching a point of diminishing returns. A precipice its current form could not surmount.

    Even with this newfound opportunity, further growth appeared challenging.

    Malgrith''s thoughts veered towards the Supremes that ruled this world, beings of unparalleled might who had transcended long before the Ascension Trials were conceived. Regardless of its efforts, bridging the chasm to their level, acquiring their power, or even emulating their skills seemed like an insurmountable task.

    Yet, the relentless desire for power persisted within Malgrith, an intrinsic yearning that drove its demonic nature.

    "The Ascension Trials... perhaps it''s time for a different approach?"

    Closing the system notification with a decisive gesture, Malgrith engaged with the myriad screens before it. It assessed its current resources and took stock of the items nestled within its inventory whilst meticulously planning its future course of action.

    For when the time had stopped rewinding, and the trial reconvened, it would make its move.

 Chapter 7: An unexpected Patronage

    Jason embodied the essence of an ordinary, middle-aged recluse. He was a man in his mid-twenties, living a solitary life in a modest apartment nestled in the heart of England.

    The signs of an unhealthy lifestyle were evident in his appearance. His physique was large yet not in a domineering way, but one that had grown through the gradual toll of neglect. A result of the countless hours he spent indoors coupled with the copious amounts of calories he consumed.

    Next was Jason''s apartment, which bore the marks of his solitude. His room was dimly lit, with the curtains drawn to ward off the outside world, and the air heavy with the stale scent of isolation.

    His presence in the apartment was a solitary one, with no family or visitors to share his space. He was estranged from his relatives, not through force but by his own choice, with the ties that had once bound them now being firmly broken.

    In the digital realm, however, Jason found his sanctuary and escape. Perched on a cluttered desk, his gaming console was the nexus of his existence.

    The soft glow of his monitor screen cast a bluish light on his face as he immersed himself in virtual realms. In these digital landscapes, he transcended the mundane, donning the identity of heroes and adventurers, escaping the reality of his daily life.

    Days blurred into nights as Jason navigated these alternate realities, forging bonds with fellow gamers worldwide while cocooned within his apartment''s four walls.

    Unlike his actual existence, which was characterised by his physical isolation, Jason''s online persona thrived. The hum of his computer and the rapid clicking of keys filled the apartment, echoing the rhythm of his solitary existence.

    However, as Jason sat fixated on his screen during yet another uneventful and mundane day, an eerie, soft hum suddenly began reverberating through the ground, gradually growing louder as if the Earth itself was growing increasingly enraged. Jason, caught off guard, tumbled from his chair as the tremors intensified.

    Sensing the unmistakable signs of an earthquake, a rare occurrence in the United Kingdom, Jason swiftly sought refuge beneath his desk, seeking shelter from any potential debris or hazards that might descend from above.

    Given his elevated apartment, rushing outside might have been the wiser decision, but even in moments of danger, Jason clung to the familiarity of his reclusive habits.

    Huddled beneath the desk, Jason closed his eyes and braced himself as the vibrations surged through his body, their intensity increasing with each passing moment. Strangely, these vibrations did not seem to just penetrate his physical body but also his mind, and in the wake of this mental assault, he lost consciousness.

    Yet, he was not alone, for the sound had echoed throughout the once-vibrant world, causing everything to fall into an eerie slumber.

    Time passed as minutes quickly turned to hours.

    As Jason groggily awoke, he found himself sprawled out on the floor, disoriented and unsure of how he had ended up there. He pondered whether he had dozed off during another gaming session, but his confusion deepened when he remembered the unusual events of the previous day.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    As he assessed himself and found no injuries, he speculated that he might have hit his head during the earthquake-induced fall. After a quick self-examination, his attention was once again drawn to the conspicuous absence of the usual background noise that permeated society.

    The silence was unsettling and pervasive.

    With daylight seeping through the curtains, which was usually accompanied by the sounds of bustling city life, Jason ventured toward the window. He tugged at the drapes, pulling them apart to reveal the outside world. To his astonishment, everything appeared normal. There were no toppled buildings or shattered streets, though many cars had crashed, but surely this much was expected with an earthquake.

    However, after further scrutinising the outside world, Jason finally noticed something strange. His gaze locked on to what he had assumed to be debris, but under a more focused gaze, whilst his elevation made it difficult to make out the shapes, he saw an assortment of unconscious bodies strewn across the ground.

    "Ok¡­ that''s not normal".

    Taking in the surreal scene, Jason squinted. He was unaccustomed to the sunlight after being confined indoors for so long, and so his eyes stung as he continued to observe the surroundings.

    As his gaze remained fixed on the fallen bodies, perplexed about what to do, an ethereal screen materialised before him, further enhancing the surreal quality of his current predicament.

    Surveying the translucent blue screen, he could not help but notice its uncanny resemblance to the countless video games he had immersed himself in over the years. Curiosity piqued, he habitually read its contents.

    System Notification:

    Dimensional synchronization of world 024-0611* has achieved the mandated dimensional energy threshold. Planet 024-0611*, Earth is now poised to initiate its ascension sequence.

    Greetings, inhabitants of 024-0611*, identified as Homo Sapiens, Humans. We extend our best wishes as you embark upon your Ascension Trials.

    May fortune favour your journey.

    As Jason finished reading the ethereal screen, a few new pop-ups appeared.

    System Notification:

    Welcome, inhabitant of Earth. Would you like to commence your trial?

    Y/N

    Dumbstruck by the sheer bizarreness of it all, Jason''s initial confusion soon gave way to a broad, beaming smile.

    Given the situation, with so many people outside either injured or dead, such emotions did not fit the current atmosphere, and yet those thoughts did not fill Jason''s mind. Jason did not really care about others, not anymore anyway.

    No, instead, he was fully focused on the screen before him.

    Wasn''t this scenario reminiscent of the countless games he had played and the novels he had read?

    Jason raised his hand with infectious giddiness, trying to click the "yes" button.

    As he extended his hand to interact with the icon, he was surprised to find it intangible, with his hand passing through the screen. Intrigued by this peculiarity and drawing from his extensive experience from novels, he focused his mind on selecting the button instead.

    However, before Jason could select "Yes", at the corner of the ethereal screen, juxtaposing the blue with its deep red, the flashing symbol of a mail icon bleeped unceasingly.

    "A red icon¡­? It has to be important!"

    Jason decided to interact with this ''mail'' icon first. After mentally selecting it, a new notification appeared before him.

    System Notification:

    Congratulations!

    The higher dimensional entity, ''The Hive,'' wishes to be your Patreon.

    Y/N

    Jason''s excitement was palpable as he read over the message.

    But just then, his phone buzzed, slicing through the moment. Jason''s eyes dropped to his phone screen, and then his stomach twisted.

    ''Her'' name appeared on the caller ID. The woman who''d broken his family. Jason''s fists clenched as bitter words rolled on the tip of his tongue.

    "That damned wh¡­" Jason was about to explode seeing ''her'' name on the caller ID, but the system notification and situation helped to control his boiling emotions, and instead, he ignored the call and refocused on the screens before him.

    After reviewing the notification and concluding that it couldn''t be anything bad, he promptly accepted it.

 Chapter 8: An unexpected Soul bond

    System Notification:

    Congratulations!

    For being the first to accept ''The Hive'' patronage, your rank has been upgraded from ''Lesser Devotee'' to '' Patreon''s Champion.''

    ''The Hive'' wishes to grant you a reward. Do you accept?

    Y/N

    With mounting excitement, Jason unhesitatingly selected "Yes." A gift box image promptly materialised on the screen, and he interacted with it with growing enthusiasm.

    The box opened with a quick, dazzling array of light, revealing a minuscule, eyeless creature draped in a soft red glow. It was small, the size of a small worm, and softly swayed under Jason''s gaze. Jason observed the creature closely and had to say he found it cute. And so, under these emotions, he reached out a hesitant finger to poke at it.

    As he did so, another notification appeared.

    System Notification:

    Do you want to create a ''soul bond'' with ''Gluttonous brood''.

    Y/N

    Jason was taken aback by the new message.

    "What''s a soul bond?" Jason spoke aloud, trying to question the screen, but no further notification appeared.

    As Jason looked back upon the small worm, he found it wriggling, trying to touch his outstretched finger.

    "Despite the ominous name, you are kind of cute," Jason chuckled before clicking ''yes''.

    He doubted it was harmful; after all, the mighty system did say it was a gift from ''The Hive''.

    As Jason clicked ''Yes'', a small change took over the worm. It began casting a ghastly red glow.

    Jason was perplexed by the ominous vibes emanating from the diminutive creature, but before he could react, it streaked towards him with uncanny speed, disappearing into his being.

    The sudden influx of the creature''s energy cast Jason into a maelstrom of darkness before he once again collapsed to the floor, unconscious.

    --

    In the demon world.

    As the sizeable snake-like creature continued to move between the layers of hell, within its body''s dimly lit fleshy confines, the ceaseless movement of drones had finally subsided. At the heart of this cavernous space, Malgrith''s body remained unmoving. Instead, its squishy body gave way to a broad hole that seemed to tear through the demon''s abdomen.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Despite the throbbing pain from the injury, Malgrith''s gaze remained fixed on the crystalline shards lying before it. The items glowed faintly with a soft, ethereal purple light, mesmerising and elusive.

    The parasite''s form trembled slightly, recalling the staggering price it had paid to obtain these items. Malgrith had bartered with actual demons! The merchants!

    Beings known for their extortionate demands and prices, all for the sake of these items.

    Unfortunately, the Ascension trials reset unexpectedly, and as a result, most of Malgrith''s wealth, which he had invested in the human world, was now gone.

    After selling what little Malgrith had left to the merchants, truly demonic beings with their exorbitant fees and prices, Malgrith managed to amass a small fortune of over 4 million SP, but even that was just barely enough.

    To send patronage requests to all the humans who had once been part of his organisation, ''The confluence,'' each message cost Malgrith 10000 SP. Having sent over 100 messages hoping that one human would accept before commencing their trial, Malgrith had already used over 1 million SP.

    Malgrith used the remaining funds to buy these items, totalling another 3 million SP, meaning it had already used most of its available SP resources.

    However, the subtle chime of a system notification disturbed Malgrith''s momentary thoughts, alerting it to the fact that some unlucky soul had accepted its patronage.

    Malgrith did not know if it could reacquire this item; after all, it did not know if this gamble would pay off.

    Instead, looking over the ethereal blood-red screen, Malgrith identified that the human named Jason had expected him as his patron. Usually, sending messages to players before passing their trials was impossible as they had not yet unlocked the social systems. However, Malgrith remembered the unique player code for each Human who had been in his organisation and used that knowledge to message over 100 humans before they started their trials.

    Quickly, Malgrith interacted with the screen, attempting to send another message.

    System Message:

    Are you sure you want to make Jason Anderson your ''Champion''?

    Y/N

    The demonic entity swiftly selected ''Yes,'' conjuring a minuscule ethereal worm from the whole in its abdomen.

    Would you like to send the entity ''Gluttonous Brood'' to the human Jason Anderson?

    Y/N Price: 100,000 SP

    Once again, the demonic entity swiftly selected ''Yes'', triggering the transfer. A small window materialised before it, and the minuscule worm was placed within as it vanished from the demon realm.

    As the ''Gluttonous brood'' disappeared, Malgrith, for the last time in what would undoubtedly be a long time, that is, if he survived, addressed the room.

    "I leave the rest to you, Magnus! Keep Mortus safe."

    After the ''Gluttonous brood'' disappeared, the hive''s overseer, the massive body at the room''s centre, collapsed to the floor, now devoid of life.

    In response to Malgrith''s disappearance, another creature, one that had been unmoving throughout all that transpired and stood over a softly glowing purple orb in the centre of this fleshy room, spoke in a similar hoarse, gravelly voice.

    "It shall be done! Father!"

    --

    In a distant corner of the world, in the country known as the United States of America, another pair of eyes shot open. These eyes gleamed with a razor-sharp focus, accompanied by their owner jerking up with a sudden start.

    As Elijah took in his surroundings and recognised his old room, a place he had not set foot in for years, an overwhelming sense of happiness and elation washed over him.

    "I''m back!" he exclaimed with growing excitement.

    Filled with anticipation, Elijah made a beeline for the door, eager to reunite with his family, whom he had not seen in years. But as he reached for the doorknob, he was rudely awakened to the fact that he was in his birthday suit, and his humble snake lay bare, unencumbered by the need for clothing.

    "Well, I suppose I should put some clothes on first," he mused with a wry grin.

    With that, Elijah sidled over to another door, hoping to resolve his current predicament first.

 Chapter 9: A New Vessel

    A low, guttural hum reverberated through the air, fading into the stillness of Jason''s dim apartment. The human body sprawled on the floor twitched once and then stilled.

    Slowly, Jason''s eyelids fluttered open, but the gaze behind them was no longer human. They were no longer his own.

    "So¡­ this is what it feels like to inhabit a human body," murmured a voice that echoed from Jason''s lips.

    The words carried Jason''s tone, but they were laced with a sinister resonance that didn''t belong. The body stirred, sitting up awkwardly, its movements jerky and unnatural, like a puppet learning its strings.

    Malgrith, ''The Hive'', whose mind was just moments ago spread across countless numbers of his broods and drones, was now confined to a single, fragile human body. He sat for a moment, observing the vessel he had claimed, his lip curling in faint disgust as his gaze settled on the rings of fat clinging to his frame.

    "What a pathetic vessel," he muttered, his voice sharp with irritation.

    His hands flexed experimentally, feeling the unfamiliar weight of this body. The muscles were underdeveloped, the joints stiff from neglect, and the mind, his mind, was sluggish, now only capable of managing a single thought stream.

    It was an infuriating limitation for one who had once controlled countless drones simultaneously.

    Still, he allowed himself a small, bitter smile.

    "Weak as it is. For now, it will suffice"

    With a sigh, the entity, known as Malgrith, pondered the recent turn of events.

    Having witnessed the timeline reset back to zero before the Ascension Trials began, Malgrith had been overwhelmed with elation. This had emboldened him to undertake an even riskier gamble and one that had thankfully, so far, succeeded. But not without consequences.

    If any of the Ascended, residents of the 4th dimension were asked whether they would willingly descend to the 3rd dimension, risking the possibility of true death, their resounding response would be an unequivocal "no."

    For Malgrith, however, the decision had been a simple one.

    In the days before the inception of this world''s Ascension Trials, he had been a feeble member of the demonic race, insignificant and deemed expendable. Yet, through his audacious gamble on the human race, he had achieved unparalleled success.

    Empowered by these victories, Malgrith had embarked on an even more audacious gamble.

    The system, an entity created by beings of the 4th dimension aeons ago, was designed to maintain order amid chaos, allowing the mightiest to thrive without fearing death. It was a creation residing as a 5th-level dimensional entity and would not easily permit a higher-dimensional being to descend without consequences, as that would affect the Trails.

    Although it was primarily created to facilitate the continued growth of the Supremes and provide them with challenges and some enjoyment in their long lives, the condensed worlds would also allow the challengers to grow.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    However, If the Ascended, the member of the 4th dimension, perished, they would lose but a fragment of their power, which would further grow the challengers until they became ripe for consumption. This was an insidious scheme set up by the Supremes, the transcended, to continue their insatiable lust for power.

    However, on the exceedingly slim chance that the challengers succeeded in the Ascension Trials, they, too, would ascend, a phenomenon that had not occurred for aeons.

    Despite this, Malgrith remained vigilant, for he had not fully dominated the soul of the human known as Jason. His nature was more akin to that of a parasite; he had leveraged the system to give the human known as Jason a ''reward'', so to say.

    Malgrith had taken residence deep within Jason''s soul and had simply taken control but had not devoured the Human just yet. For if he did, the system would react, especially if he tried to attempt the tutorial, and he would perish before even truly starting his gamble.

    However, Malgrith was unconcerned about losing control over Jason. After all, he was used to using these methods as he had endowed humans with power''s during the previous Ascension Trials.

    In exchange for accepting his brood into their bodies, he granted them access to demonic energy. This had made him far more familiar with the workings of the human body than many others, hence why he could evade the system right now. For the soul was still Jason until the right moment arrived.

    Many of the Ascended regarded humans as mere pawns, tools to ensure their continued ascension. However, Malgrith, having spent more time observing and interacting with humans than even his own kind, had discerned their untapped potential.

    Although their bodies may have seemed fragile, as if a gentle breeze could whisk them away, their latent potential was immeasurable. This world''s species had previously reached the 2nd trial before their fall.

    But with another chance, if they were to succeed, Malgrith ''The Hive'' could ride the surging waves of their power to become something far greater.

    For he had already abandoned his own race in the pursuit of power.

    Descending had been an expensive gamble. Malgrith had identified that the timeline was starting anew before the trials, and he paid a heavy price to send a ''Patronage'' to each member who had been part of the once demonic organisation, ''The Confluence.''

    Normally, interacting with humans before the Ascension Trials was impossible as they had not unlocked their social systems, which allowed interaction with others. However, with time rewound and Malgrith''s numerous minds retaining most of their identities, he sent over 100 challengers a lesser blessing, hoping that one would accept before the start of the tutorial.

    The first challenger to accept his blessing would receive the greatest gift Malgrith could offer!

    Himself, of course! After all, not all gifts were presents.

    However, Malgrith was far from impressed. This body was weak, and he was no longer connected to his many broods and drones. His mind was also operating at a far lower output, preventing him from contemplating multiple matters simultaneously.

    With an audible sigh, Malgrith redirected his focus and interacted with the system of the being known as Jason.

    Every being''s system represented their body, but, more importantly, it also represented their soul. To see another''s status screen was either a display of trust or a domineering ability, but to use another''s screen was far more elusive.

    However, as the current controller of the human named Jason, he could use his system. However, as Jason''s body grew stronger and he acquired skills expanding his soul, so would the status screen, making Jason''s soul grow stronger and harder to control.

    But that was a concern for another time. Instead, Malgrith, now called Jason, examined the system notification before him:

    System Notification:

    Welcome, inhabitant of Earth. Would you like to commence your trial?

    Y/N

    Without hesitation, Jason moved his consciousness over the "Yes" button, eager to embark on his first Ascension Trial.

    Suddenly, the space before him distorted, revealing a dark rift that seemed to pull him in. The hole began to emit light, getting brighter and brighter until Jason had to shield his eyes. Moments later, the apartment lay empty, with no sign of the previous happenings.

    Similar cracks appeared all around the world, signifying the commencement of the Ascension Trails once more.

 Chapter 10: The First Trial

    As the blinding light slowly faded, Jason cautiously opened his eyes before blinking several times whilst taking in his surroundings.

    Jason stood in a wide clearing encircled by a dense, lush forest. The clearing spanned perhaps a few hundred meters; its floor was covered in soft, green grass. At the centre of the clearing, an imposing black obelisk loomed, tall and motionless, hovering eerily just above the ground.

    Within moments, more figures began to materialize around him. Jason quickly noted that everyone was dressed in the same plain attire: simple cloth tunics that stretched from neck to ankle, accompanied by basic leather shoes. Glancing down, he realised he was dressed in the same inadequate garments.

    As the number of people continued to grow, Jason shook off his thoughts and began moving swiftly toward the centre of the clearing. With each step, more people appeared, their murmurs of confusion and worry filling the air. A soft clamour of voices rose around him, the tone laced with fear and uncertainty as they tried to make sense of the situation.

    Despite the rising tension among the crowd, Jason remained focused. Now was not the time to be distracted by such mundane concerns. As he neared the levitating black obelisk at the heart of the clearing, Jason quickly interacted with the various status screens illuminating his vision.

    System Notification:

    Welcome, Initiate, to the tutorial.

    Your trail has started.

    Trail: stage 1

    Description: Protect your node for 30 days.

    Rewards: Depending upon completion

    Jason quickly closed the notification, having already expected the simplicity of the trail, and then more screens appeared before him.

    Congratulations!

    For taking part in an Ascension trial tutorial, you have been awarded the accolade ''tutorial initiate.''

    Accolade: Tutorial initiate

    Description: By choosing to embark on the Ascension Trial''s Tutorial, you have taken your first step towards greatness. Your decision to participate marks you as one who seeks to ascend, unlocking the potential to rise beyond the ordinary. The path ahead may be challenging, but fortune favours the brave.

    Effects: +10 free stat points, +10,000SP

    Quickly scanning through the screens, Jason increased his pace toward the black obelisk at the centre of the clearing, or, more accurately, the "node." This object seemed to be the focus of this stage of the Ascension Trial.

    How did Jason know that this object was, in fact, the node in question?

    Well, there was not exactly another object that stood out so starkly against the natural surroundings. Plus, these nodes were the main focal point and key to progressing through the Ascension trial and conquering the ''Condensed Worlds'', but this was an issue for another time.

    Jason also took a few moments to consider the ''Accolades'' mentioned in the system notification. Accolades were essentially achievements, a list of deeds representing the players'' accomplishments recognised by the system. ''Accolades'' were never easy to obtain and were highly sought after, especially since advancing to higher rarity classes often required them.

    If that were the case, why was this particular accolade so easy to acquire while still offering decent rewards?

    Well, that had to do with why Jason had been so eager to secure a human body as soon as possible, and with tutorials. The Tutorials had a limited number of places, around 50,000 each, and worked on a first-come, first-serve basis for each tutorial in each country.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Even more importantly, the tutorials were no walk in the park; they were gruelling tests designed to weed out the weak. This accolade was not just a reward; it was a lifeline intended to increase one''s chances of survival, even if only slightly.

    With these thoughts in mind, Jason manoeuvred through the crowd, positioning himself further within the throng of people within the clearing. While doing so, he closed the system notification, which faded away before revealing a new ethereal screen in its place.

    Status Screen:

    Name: Jason Anderson

    Race: Human

    Traits 1: [???]

    Accolades 2: [Tutorial initiate], [Patreon''s Champion]

    Level: 0

    Class: None

    Perks: None

    Soul bound 1 of 1: [Gluttonous Brood]

    SP: 10,000

    Stats: 10 points available

    Strength: 1

    Endurance: 1

    Vitality: 1

    Dexterity: 1

    Intelligence: 1

    Mind: 1

    Faith: 1

    Will: 1

    Skills 0 of 1:

    Items 0 of 1:

    SYSTEM STORE

    Jason sighed as he looked through his stats, which were far lower than those of his previous form.

    Looking at the status screen, Jason knew the system allocated stats quite fairly. Regardless of age, gender, or race, every challenger started with a baseline of 1 in each stat.

    However, that did not mean everyone was on equal footing.

    Physical differences mattered. Someone with a large, muscular frame might also have a strength stat of 1, but their body''s natural power would allow them to exert far more force than someone smaller or weaker. The system might be uniform in its numbers, but the real-world applications were anything but equal.

    Jason''s eyes then drifted towards the "Traits" section of his status screen. Traits reflected the uniqueness of one''s soul. Of course, the question mark displayed after traits was due to ''Malgrith'' taking residence inside Jason. The system was unable to detect him or his presence, hence the question mark.

    Next, Jason moved on to the ''levels'' section, which was related to ''classes'' and ''skills''. Only by increasing one''s level could a player grow and advance their classes. At every 10 levels, a class would gain advancement options, and a new free skill and ''mana bond'' item slot would become available. At the start each player was given one free skill and item slot upon gaining the system at level 0, and as a result they were currently empty.

    ''Perks'' unlike ''Traits'' were the physical manifestations of unique characteristics of a challenger''s body that could widely affect how simple stats were reflected in the world. However, Jason was still far from attaining any of these, as he needed a class to start with.

    Next, the ''SP'' or system points were the currency used for the system store and trade and were only possible to acquire by killing in the Ascension trial. Each kill was rewarded a different amount of SP depending on the rank or level of the killed. SP could be traded for goods and services, but they could only be gained through killing.

    The soul bond icon on Jason''s status screen represented a unique connection between the player and another soul. With Jason''s current capabilities, he could only bind to one other soul, and that bond was already occupied by his connection with the ''Gluttonous Brood''. Soul bonds were rare, after all, such a connection placed both souls at risk, as the death of one could mean grave injury to the other. Yet, the power these bonds offered was undeniable.

    Despite the strength Gluttonous Brood could grant him, Jason chose not to tap into its abilities just yet. Now was not the time to unleash the insidious power lurking within.

    The stats were similarly straightforward. There were two groups of stats representing two overarching build types.

    The first were the physical stats, which included strength, which reflected the strength of the physical body; endurance, which reflected stamina and recovery rate; vitality, which reflected how much damage the body could take and the health recovery rate; and dexterity, the body''s reaction to stimuli linked with the nervous system, which improved precise movement and fine motor control.

    The second group included magic stats such as Intelligence, mind, faith and will. Increasing Intelligence increased mana concertation. Increasing this meant mana-based skills dealt more damage. Mind was the amount of mana one could hold, while faith allowed access to certain skills from Patreon''s or higher dimensional beings.

    Furthermore, similar to dexterity, which improved motor control for physical stats, the Will stat allowed one to express far greater control over the foreign energy called mana, a new energy source that was spread throughout the world due to the Ascension trials.

    In essence, there were two basic builds based on these stats. Players who focused more on intelligence and mind often found their cognitive abilities outpacing their physical skills, leading to the typical clumsiness of mages in close combat. Conversely, physical builds, which prioritised strength and endurance, relied on instinctual fighting, excelling in melee but lacking ranged attack options.

    Some of these limitations could be mitigated by levelling up and developing a broader skill set, but that was a concern for another time.

    The most effective growth came from specialising within one group, though all stats worked together. For example, if a player focused on increasing their mind and intelligence, they would also need to boost their endurance; casting spells required stamina, and without it, their bodies would quickly tire. Similarly, physical combatants would benefit from having some magical stats to enhance their overall effectiveness.

    Finally, after Jason had quickly scanned through his status screen, at the bottom of the status screen, the bold ''SYSTEM STORE'' icon caught Jason''s eye. This icon only appeared because he was within the influence of the Node at the centre of the clearing and thus could access the system store.

    After reviewing his current meagre budget of 10,000 SP, Jason interacted with the icon, and a new screen materialised before him.

    Welcome to the system store, where you can trade SP for items and skills.

    Please select an option

    Items/Skills

 Chapter 11: Choices amid Chaos

    After selecting the ''system store'' icon, the screen changed and now presented Jason with just two options: ''skills'' or ''items''.

    Without hesitation, Jason selected the Skills menu first.

    In response, a new screen materialised before him, featuring a series of toggle options down the left-hand side that allowed Jason to refine his search by rarity, price, and types.

    He could also further filter the types by elemental effects, such as fire or water, or by skill types, like debuffs and buffs, among many other options.

    Everything in the system, including classes, skills, and items, was ranked by different rarity levels, categorised from common to uncommon, rare, epic, legendary, and mythic.

    As he quickly scanned through the toggle menu, Jason noted that the highest rarity for skills available in the system store was the epic rank, with corresponding price ranges next to each toggle option.

    Common items ranged from 10 to 99 SP, uncommon from 100 to 999 SP, rare from 1,000 to 9,999 SP, and epic from 10,000 to 99,999 SP.

    Unfortunately, with his current meagre wealth, Jason could not afford any decent epic skills, especially for what he needed, so instead, he selected the toggle option for ''rare'' skills.

    The screen promptly updated, filtering out all items of different rarities and displaying only skills denoted by a deep blue colour.

    Jason''s eyes skimmed over the newly displayed list of skills, encountering enticing options like ''Giant Fireball'' and ''Lightning Arc''.

    However, after scrolling momentarily, he narrowed his search further by toggling through the ''type'' menu.

    As the list refined itself, revealing a new selection of rare skills marked by their blue hue, a distant thumping sound echoed through the clearing.

    The noise gradually grew louder, drawing the attention of the surrounding crowd and prompting everyone to go silent.

    "I need to be faster," Jason thought as he quickened his pace.

    While any offensive skill would be invaluable in his current situation, Jason knew that every skill he learned and every accolade gained would impact his class choice once he reached the required level.

    The skill that he selected now could either serve as a restriction or a boon when the time came to choose a class. He had a clear vision of the path he wanted to follow, at least for the next two selections, making this choice critically important.

    However, because of the class he needed to achieve his future goals, further restrictions applied to his choices, and he needed a skill that reflected this.

    As the thumping intensified and the crowd turned toward the east, where the sound originated, Jason finally found his choice.

    He selected the skill, which cost 5,000 SP, which was a reasonable price considering the skill''s lack of offensive output.

    Like all skills, this skill also had a stat point requirement, which, for this rare rank skill, was at least 3 stat points in Mind and 6 in Intelligence.

    Jason was informed about this restriction through a system notification screen. Without the required stat points, no matter how hard a user tried, they would be unable to use the skills purchased through the store despite binding them to the free skill slot.

    After purchasing the skill, another notification appeared before him.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    System notification:

    Would you like to bind the skill to your free skill slot

    Y/N

    Warning! Stat point requirement not met. The skill will not work without the required status points.

    Jason quickly selected the ''Yes'' option. After binding his new skill, he reviewed his remaining balance of 5,000 SP.

    He then quickly backed out of the skill window and back into the system store''s main page. Jason then selected the icon for Items.

    This time, a much more extensive list appeared before him, complete with similar toggle options on the left-hand side. Unlike the previous window, this one also included legendary rarity items, which glowed with a golden hue.

    Pressed for time, Jason swiftly narrowed his search to consumables, focusing mainly on potions. Various potions filled the screen, with the most expensive options in each rarity rank being the ''skill removal potions''.

    Without hesitation, Jason purchased six uncommon rank ''mana potions'' and three ''stamina potions'', each costing 400 SP, totalling another 3,600 SP.

    With only 1,400 SP remaining, Jason bought a decent-sized, side-worn leather satchel of uncommon rank for 200 SP and decided to save the rest of his SP for later.

    With his purchases concluded, Jason finally exited all of the ''system store windows''.

    Next, Jason opened his status screen and prepared to spend his 10 free status points.

    As Jason looked over the options, his decision was already clear. To use his new skill, he needed to meet the stat point requirement, and hence, he spread his stats accordingly.

    Whilst quickly allocating his points, a loud roar tore through the surroundings, and the sounds of trees falling echoed from ahead.

    Something monstrous had torn through the clearing, and its presence had caused the humans surrounding Jason to scream in fear as they fled in the opposite direction.

    Jason, having already expected such developments, had taken the time at the start of the tutorial when he first appeared in the clearing to retreat further within the group of humans. Now, they would serve as a barrier, giving him the few moments he needed as he prepared himself.

    Jason drowned out the chaos around him as he focused on the screens before him. The lack of his usual sub-minds was already proving problematic, as he could no longer monitor his surroundings while simultaneously interacting with the system screen.

    Without hesitation, Jason quickly allocated six of his ten stat points to Intelligence and two points into Mind and Will each. After confirming his decisions, Jason felt a rush of energy coursing through him, which was unfortunately just as quickly followed by a dull headache as the sudden spike in his mental stats, particularly Intelligence, strained his mind.

    Jason took a few moments to massage his forehead an audible sigh escaped his lips as the lingering ache throbbed behind his temples. Jason closed the series of notifications that had cluttered his vision, blinking away the last remnants of strain before slowly raising his gaze.

    The sight before Jason was that of sheer carnage.

    In the distance stood a towering figure, a giant among men, wreathed in an aura of malevolence. Its colossal form loomed over the landscape, standing three metres tall with shoulders almost as wide. Dark veins pulsed beneath its brown, leathery skin while its hulking mass of sinew and muscle rippled with strength with each movement.

    The Giant''s eyes, twin embers of a deep and ominous glow, burned with unnatural intensity, while its every breath was heavy and laboured, like the calm before the storm.

    Around the giant lay the aftermath of its wrath.

    Despite having only recently made an appearance, 12 battered and broken bodies lay scattered like discarded toys in its wake, a testament to the sheer ferocity and strength of the malevolent creature. Each step it took seemed to reverberate with an eerie power, sending tremors through the ground.

    In response to the Giant''s malevolence, Jason''s consciousness pulsed faintly.

    His sense of danger, forged through countless years of survival, warned him of imminent danger, especially as he no longer wielded the power he once did.

    Jason, however, pushed the warnings aside and instead moved closer to the beast, aware that most of the humans had chosen to flee into the forest, though some braver souls remained in the clearing.

    As Jason approached the Giant to get within casting range whilst still making sure to keep a healthy distance, he channelled his mana. Despite being in a new and unfamiliar body and using mana without demonic aspects, Jason still channelled the energy with ease.

    Since he had a skill, Jason did not need to push mana into the skill for it to work. Instead, he just needed to select the skill, and it would automatically consume the mana needed.

    However, Jason habitually channelled mana into the skill, because the system he used in his old world never had these features. In the demon world or any of the ascended realms, there was no assistance when using skills.

    Jason raised his right hand as a soft blue glow enveloped his outstretched palm. Feeling the mana within his palm, which was of far lower density than he was used to, no doubt due to his lower intelligence stat, Jason wryly mused,

    "It''s weak, but it will do,"

 Chapter 12: Binding Strength

    With a swift motion, Jason pushed his open hand, palm facing outwards, forward in the giant''s direction.

    In response, a soft ripple coursed through the ground just inches from where the giant stood. Thick roots erupted from the earth, twisting and coiling as they aimed for the Giant''s legs.

    The clash of opposing forces created a tension that vibrated through the air.

    On one side, there was the massive, domineering physical force of the giant and on the other, the smaller yet resilient root, glowing faintly blue with Jason''s mana.

    Under Jason''s control, the roots snaked around the giant''s left ankle before further tightening their hold.

    All the while, Jason continued to observe the giant while formulating a plan.

    ''From its appearance and lack of mana, it must be an ''uncommon'' rank Giant...'' Jason thought as his eyes scrutinised the Gaint.

    With its left ankle bound, the monster''s merciless advance was halted. In response, it roared in anger as it tried to pull its left leg from the root.

    ''Unfortunately, the roots summoned by the ''binding roots'' skill can''t reach very far because of my low intelligence stat... I need to bring the Giant closer to the ground, and to do that... I need to use its size against it!'' Jason concluded.

    With a lifetime of experience as a demon, an organism that was naturally scheming in nature, Jason had a vast level of experience in analysing his opponent''s strengths and weaknesses, all to exploit them with effective countermeasures.

    As Jason had expected, the roots from his rare ranked ''binding roots'' skill managed to restrain the lower ranked ''uncommon'' giant momentarily.

    Jason used the brief moment, as the Giant tried to pull its leg free, to retrieve an ''uncommon'' rank mana recovery potion from his satchel. The cork popped free with a faint hiss. Tilting his head back, he downed the liquid in one swift motion.

    As the cold liquid slipped down Jason''s throat, almost instantly, a renewed surge of energy began to well inside him. Jason then pulled upon this stream of mana to recharge his mana reserves.

    Now feeling somewhat revitalised, Jason focused on the Giant''s lower body.

    At the exact moment the giant tried to shift its weight to gain better leverage to break free, Jason channelled his renewed mana into his ''binding roots'' skill again.

    In response, another root shot up from the ground and targeted the giant''s elevated right leg. It wrapped around the thick ankle before pulling taut.

    The giant staggered, its sheer size working against it as it lost balance. With a ground-shaking thud, the creature fell to its knees.

    Jason also swayed on his feet as the strain of maintaining two simultaneous skill casts pressed down on him. His breaths came faster now, but he didn''t falter.

    Instead, he once again reached into his satchel, pulling out another mana and an additional stamina recovery potion. He tipped their contents into his mouth and swallowed the liquids in a single gulp.

    A tingling warmth coursed through his body, momentarily dulling his fatigue. The second wave of energy was enough to push him forward.

    Summoning his ''will'', Jason cast his skill again.

    A third root emerged from the ground, latching onto one of the giant''s flailing arms and pulling it closer to the ground. The creature roared in frustration, its voice a deep rumble that reverberated through Jason''s chest.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Sweat beaded on Jason''s forehead as he forced his trembling hand outward, directing the final strike. By channelling even more of his mana, he used his skill again, and a new root slithered toward the giant''s thick neck.

    As Jason exerted even more of his ''will,'' the lone root wrapped around the Ginats'' throat, glowing faintly as it began constricting.

    The Giant tried to resist as it desperately clawed at the roots with its only free arm, but having been dragged down to the ground and now left with little leverage, it struggled in vain.

    The root tightened around its throat, and the Giant''s windpipe constricted. The giant gasped for breath, rage igniting in its eyes.

    With a satisfied but warry gaze, Jason watched as the giant struggled against the bindings.

    Despite the Giant''s current state, Jason knew better than to underestimate a being on death''s door. The fibres of the roots strained against the creature''s immense strength, some beginning to fray. But Jason pressed on, his fingers curling into a tight fist.

    "Stay down," he muttered under his breath, blood trickling from his nose from the effort of maintaining his skill.

    With each desperate struggle, Jason watched as the Giant''s movements slowed. Its chest heaved as it gasped for air, but the roots around its neck tightened, cutting off its windpipe. The glow in its eyes shifted from rage to panic and then, slowly, to nothing.

    Finally, the creature stilled.

    However, Jason did not cancel his skills immediately. His body screamed for rest, but his mind remained sharp, so he kept the roots in place for a few moments longer.

    Jason was fairly confident that the giant was too stupid to feign death, but caution was never misplaced.

    Only when a peculiar change took over the Giant''s fallen form did Jason cancel his skill. The roots crumbled into the earth, leaving the giant''s lifeless form slumped on the ground.

    A strange sensation rippled through the air as faint green droplets of light emerged from the giant''s corpse and floated upward, accumulating above it.

    As these tiny drops of light continued to swirl together and gather, they quickly formed a glowing green orb, hovering about a meter above the lifeless form.

    Jason recognised the change and carefully lowered himself to the ground, and adopted a meditative posture despite his overwhelming fatigue.

    As the trickle of green droplets subsided, a large glowing green orb was all that was left. Just as quickly as it appeared, the glowing green orb shot toward Jason before disappearing into his body.

    Despite the overwhelming fatigue, Jason eagerly read over the new notification.

    Congratulations!

    Level Up!

    Level Up!

    You are now Level 2.

    Jason exhaled as his body slumped slightly in his seated position. The rush of energy from levelling up barely masked the fatigue coursing through his limbs.

    ''Well¡­ That concludes the first battle of many'', Jason wryly thought as he wiped the blood from his nose.

    After allowing himself a quiet moment of rest, Jason cracked one tried eye open and glanced at the survivors in the distance.

    Usually, the appearance of such a strong monster at the start of the tutorial, especially a monster such as a Giant with its raw strength and sheer power, would have overwhelmed the tutorial initiates.

    Its sudden arrival would have sent the humans into a frenzy, with many of them caught unprepared and unsure of how to respond. Panic would set in, and by the time they realised the importance of spending their stat points or purchasing skills and weapons from the system store, it would have been too late for some.

    However, given some time and the fact they clearly outnumbered the Giant, it was a survivable ordeal.

    The giant was a deadly adversary, but not an insurmountable one. Yet Jason''s intervention had turned the tide, sparing many from an otherwise grim fate. Had he not been there, the casualty rate would have been higher.

    However, Jason did not save them out of any noble notion of heroism. His motives were far more practical, perhaps even coldly calculated.

    After all, he knew the value of the experience points gained from killing the giant and that it would help him level up and ultimately get stronger. Also, the system points (SP) he would get after the kill would allow him buy more skills or items from the store.

    More importantly, he needed as many humans to survive as possible, not because of some altruistic concern for their well-being, but because they would be useful to him later on as pawn¡­ ehm, allies, in the battles to come.

    Jason knew he would not be able to face every threat alone.

    Having a group of survivors around him, even if they were weaker, could serve as a buffer and a resource to help him grow stronger.

    He was not interested in playing the hero, nor did he believe in saving everyone. In his eyes, the weak had to be culled for the strong to thrive. That was the natural order, and he was not about to disrupt it.

    However, when it served his purposes, he was more than willing to provide some assistance, especially if it meant strengthening his position for future battles.

    Jason, with a sinister smirk despite the trickle of blood running from his nose, closed his eyes once again as he refocused on recovering.

 Chapter 13: Foundations of power 1

    After the battle''s decisive conclusion, Jason dropped to the ground where he had stood, the adrenaline ebbing away to reveal the toll the fight had taken.

    Every fibre of his being felt drained as if the essence of life itself had been wrung out of him. His mana reserves were nearly empty, and his stamina was depleted to the point of exhaustion.

    Even his breathing felt laboured, with each breath becoming a conscious effort.

    The toll of using his skill so rapidly and repeatedly had pushed him to his limits. He could barely muster the energy to remain upright, let alone stand. The temptation to lie back and let the darkness of unconsciousness wash over him was strong, but Jason knew better.

    He could not afford such luxuries, not here, not now. This was still a battlefield, even if he had dealt with the immediate threat.

    Forcing himself to sit upright, he crossed his legs into a lotus position. The pose came naturally to him as if etched into his muscle memory.

    With a slow, deliberate exhale, Jason closed his eyes, shutting out the world around him. The cacophony of distant voices, rustling leaves, and faint footsteps receded into the background as he focused inward.

    Jason steadied his breathing, each inhale and exhale a measured rhythm. He began to attune himself to the ambient energy that permeated the air. Slowly, he extended his senses outward, pulling on the ambient mana in the air and drawing it into his body.

    The sensation was weak but familiar, comforting even.

    A lifetime of practice allowed him to tap into this invisible force with ease, even without the system''s guidance. Most people in this tutorial, Jason thought with faint amusement, wouldn''t even be aware of the mana surrounding them.

    For him, however, it was as familiar as breathing. Slowly but steadily, he continued to pull the ambient mana into himself.

    The process was both soothing and invigorating. As the energy flowed into him, Jason felt the mental fog from the battle begin to dissipate. His thoughts, which had been sluggish and fragmented, sharpened into clarity. The accumulated mental fatigue from the day''s events faded away like mist under a rising sun.

    Physically, though, his recovery was far less dramatic. The aches and pains in his muscles persisted and served as a constant reminder of his meagre endurance stat. His arms felt like lead, and his legs were weak and trembling. Every movement sent a dull throb of pain coursing through his body.

    Jason let out a faint, self-deprecating chuckle as he reflected on his current state.

    "Three in Mind and one in Endurance," he muttered to himself. "I feel like I''m in my larval stages again¡­ No. Even then, I wasn''t this weak."

    The thought brought a faint smirk to his lips, but it vanished just as quickly.

    Jason knew his stat distribution was far from ideal, but he had no regrets. For someone like him, prioritising mental stats like intelligence and mind was far more critical, as they would give him the mana capacity and density he desperately needed to allow his skills to have greater effects.

    Because of his low level, he had a limited number of stat points, so he had to prioritise stats that would give him the greatest power output increase.

    After all, his choices, though risky, were calculated, and he could always offset the rest with an unhealthy consumption of potions.

    As his body slowly recuperated, Jason''s mind drifted to another limiting factor. His lack of skill slots.

    If he had an open slot, because he was currently ''mediating'', the system would have offered him the chance to bind a new skill, likely "Meditation". It was a valuable skill, an ''Uncommon'' ranked ability considered one of the ''three basic skills'' for any player. Its stable and significant returns over time made it a staple for many.

    But even if he had a free slot, Jason wouldn''t have wasted it on something like Meditation.

    He already knew how to meditate, and his method was just as effective, if not more so, than the system-based skill. Why waste a slot on something he could do on his own?

    Skill slots were precious, and Jason had no intention of squandering them on abilities he could replicate through raw mana manipulation and experience.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    Still, the thought made him reflect on the other two "basic skills." Of the trio, there was only one he would even consider taking, and that was because of its powerful evolutions and it being an ability that was far more difficult to replicate without the system''s assistance.

    However, Jason''s moment of introspection was interrupted by the faint rustle of leaves.

    Without opening his eyes, he became acutely aware of the multiple approaching presences. The survivors, who had been hiding in the forest, were finally making their way back into the clearing.

    Jason, though, remained still, his senses alert, as the survivors emerged from the shadows of the trees. Out of the 500 people who had entered the tutorial, just over 300 now crept cautiously into view. Their faces were pale and drawn, eyes wide with lingering fear. They moved hesitantly as their gazes darted between the fallen giant and the lone figure sitting at the battlefield''s centre.

    Jason didn''t need to look to know they were staring at him. Their whispers, though hushed, carried a mixture of awe and apprehension. The way he had single-handedly defeated the giant had clearly left a lasting impression on them, and now, seeing him meditating so calmly amidst the aftermath, their unease only deepened.

    But, despite their curiosity, none dared approach him. The returned survivors seemed to reach a silent agreement not to bother him, especially as he appeared to be recovering from the battle. Instead, the survivors lingered at the edges of the clearing, whispering amongst themselves.

    Minutes passed, and before long, the tense atmosphere shifted once again. Jason noticed the change before the whispers reached his ears, but when it did, the faint murmurs grew louder as a ripple of excitement spread through the crowd.

    "Did you see this?" someone exclaimed. "There''s a store! A system store!"

    It was not long before someone other than Jason navigated through the system''s notifications and discovered the status screen and, more importantly, the ''system store.''

    The revelation spread like wildfire, and soon, the survivors forgot all about Jason. Instead, they turned their attention to navigating the system''s interface, experimenting with this new and unexplainable blue window.

    Jason cracked one eye open as he watched the change from a distance. The tension in the clearing gave way to tentative hope.

    Reflected in Jason''s vision, the survivors were huddled together in smaller groups, and one by one, crude weapons and basic armour began to materialise out of thin air. It was not long before the initiates armed themselves with steel swords, leather tunics, and wooden shields.

    Some of the more bolder individuals even tested out their newly acquired skills, summoning flickering ball flames or arcs of electricity with nervous excitement.

    Jason observed the scene with detached interest.

    The discovery of the system store had injected a sense of purpose into the group, spurring them into action. The atmosphere that was once heavy with despair now buzzed with activity.

    Next, new groups began to naturally form as people were drawn together by shared goals or mutual survival instincts. Even a few leader types emerged, with their voices rising above the crowd to offer guidance or promises of protection.

    Yet, despite the flicker of hope, not everyone adapted as quickly.

    Jason noticed a few individuals wandering aimlessly, still muttering that someone would come and save them.

    "The army, the police¡­ Someone has to show up, right?" they said, clinging to the belief that this was all just a temporary nightmare.

    Others refused to accept their changing reality altogether, insisting it was a dream, a hallucination, or some elaborate prank.

    Jason spared them a glance, his expression unreadable. He''d seen this kind of denial before, and he knew where it led.

    Those who refused to adapt would be the first to fall.

    Jason''s gaze then shifted back to the emerging and newly formed groups, his mind already at work analysing their dynamics and categorising the individuals who had taken the initiative and may prove useful in the future.

    Human nature was predictable. Fear bred desperation, and desperation led to alliances. But alliances, he knew, were fragile. People would stick together for now, but once resources grew scarce or danger loomed, those bonds would be tested.

    The hours slipped by, and the clearing continued to evolve.

    People came and went, some venturing into the forest in search of other survivors, others staying behind to fortify the camp.

    The light from the sky above also began to dim, and Jason tilted his head as he watched the strange phenomenon unfold.

    What should have been a natural sunset felt¡­ off.

    The ''sun'', or whatever passed for it in this place, didn''t sink below the horizon. Instead, it dimmed gradually, like an adjustable light being turned down. The unnatural shift cast long shadows over the clearing, causing a fresh wave of unease to rise among the survivors.

    Then Jason''s sharp ears picked up snippets of conversation from some of the returning expedition groups. A few small teams had ventured into the forest searching for exits, but it seemed they only returned with grim news.

    "There''s a barrier," one man said, his voice trembling. "It''s invisible, but it''s there. We tried going around it, but it''s everywhere. There''s no way out."

    The revelation caused another ripple of panic to spread through the camp. The survivors clustered closer together as their voices rose in frightened murmurs.

    Jason opened both of his eyes fully now, as his meditation was complete. His body still had lingering aches and pains, but his mind was sharp, and his mana reserves were nearly restored. He then took a moment to once again survey the camp with a calm, calculating gaze.

    The survivors were adapting¡­ slowly, but surely.

    Groups had formed, leaders had emerged, and the discovery of the system store had given them a lifeline. But Jason could see the cracks forming already. Fear, desperation, and the looming presence of death hung over them like a storm cloud.

    ''This is only the beginning'', Jason thought.

    Feeling somewhat recovered and having satiated his curiosity, Jason turned back to his system screen and decided to work through the rest of his system notifications.

 Chapter 14: Foundations of power 2

    Congratulations!

    You are now Level 2.

    You have 6 stat points available for distribution.

    The system notification hovered before Jason, and the screen''s faint blue glow illuminated the darkening clearing. Jason''s gaze lingered on the words, which served as proof of his first victory in this new world.

    Then he exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders to loosen the remaining tension from the battle. The faint tremor in his limbs reminded him how close he had come to overextending himself.

    ¡®Six stat points¡¯, Jason mused, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

    Reading the notification, it seemed that Jason received three stat points for each level up, so being level 2, he had received a total of six free stat points.

    It wasn¡¯t much, but it was progress and a step toward reclaiming the power he once wielded in a life that now felt so far away.

    After closing his level notification, the next notification blinked into view.

    Congratulations!

    You have received 600 SP.

    Jason¡¯s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

    ¡®600 SP?¡¯

    The amount of SP Jason had earned might not have seemed like a lot, but given the Giants rank, most likely the ''Uncommon'' rank due to the green orb that appeared after its death, Jason should have only received 60SP.

    In fact, Jason sacrificed so much to secure a place in the tutorial because of this SP gain. In the tutorial, all SP gained was ten times more compared to the outside world.

    What did this mean?

    Well, usually, killing a Common rank monster rewarded between 1 ¨C 9SP, uncommon 10 ¨C 99, rare 100 -999, epic 1,000 ¨C 9999 and legendary 10,000 to 99,999.

    This SP gain meant that for a similar-ranked item or skill from the store, Jason would need to kill 10 such rank enemies in the outside world, but here, he only needed to kill one.

    Also, the SP and EXP gain were usually split between the individuals who contributed to the creature''s death. However, since Jason solo killed the giant, all the SP and EXP that would have been split went to him, which resulted in a greater boon.

    Jason''s focus then shifted as he opened his status screen and allocated his newfound stat points.

    He had already decided where to allocate the points. Three stat points went into Intelligence to boost his mana potency, and three into Mind to increase his mana pool and his mana recovery. It was a decision tailored to maximise his effectiveness as a caster.

    After allocating his stats, Jason took a moment to review his updated status screen.

    Status Screen:

    Name: Jason Anderson

    Race: Human

    Traits 1: [???]

    Accolades 2: [Tutorial initiate], [Patreon''s Champion]

    Level: 2

    Class: None

    Perks: None

    Soul bound 1 of 1: [Gluttonous Brood]Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    SP: 2000

    Stats: 0 points available

    Strength: 1

    Endurance: 1

    Vitality: 1

    Dexterity: 1

    Intelligence: 10

    Mind: 6

    Faith: 1

    Will: 3

    Skills 1 of 1:

    [Binding Roots(R)]

    Items 0 of 1:

    SYSTEM STORE

    After reviewing his status screen and feeling pleased with his modest improvement, which, although not much, was a start and would serve as the foundation in this new world, Jason shifted his focus to his newly acquired skill.

    Skill: Binding Roots

    Rank: Rare

    Effect: Channel mana into the ground to summon roots that bind your opponent.

    The skill¡¯s description was simple, almost underwhelming, and Jason could not help but sigh.

    In his previous demonic form, Jason wielded dark and destructive magic, curses, and debuffs that could inflict tremendous damage. Even now, he could have easily chosen a more powerful offensive skill that mirrored his former abilities.

    However, Jason had a goal in mind.

    To acquire the starting class he needed and begin his journey in this new world, he had to make sacrifices to lay the proper foundation. The class he was aiming for was of the nature type, a mana type Jason had never dealt with before.

    This meant his chances of naturally unlocking the desired class were slim, but by choosing a nature-based skill like ''Binding Roots'', he could increase his odds. It was a calculated decision, a short-term sacrifice for long-term gain.

    This goal, coupled with his limited SP resources and the sparse variety of ''rare'' rank nature-type skills that could be used offensively, had forced Jason to settle on the ''Binding Roots'' skill.

    Although the skill was primarily designed to restrain enemies rather than deal damage, Jason''s knowledge of mana and ''skills'' allowed him to further enhance and more effectively use the skill.

    By channelling additional mana and enforcing his ''will'' into the skill, he commanded the roots to further constrict, turning them into a deadly noose.

    Another rare option Jason had considered was ''Thorn Whip'', a skill that dealt slashing damage and damage over time through weak poison. While this skill had some offensive capabilities, it would never have been enough to kill the giant.

    Using the whip would have required Jason to constantly move around the battlefield and avoid the giant''s attacks. However, given his current endurance and strength stats, Jason was not physically equipped to handle this type of battle.

    In contrast, ''Binding Roots'' offered a more practical solution.

    While its offensive power seemed lacking initially, its focus on sturdy, hard-to-break roots was invaluable. As Jason improved his Intelligence stat, the strength and durability of the roots would only increase, making them harder to break and thus useful in restricting or strangling an opponent to death.

    Jason leaned back, stretching his arms overhead as his thoughts shifted to the people around him. He could feel their eyes on him. They were cautious, curious, and, above all, wary.

    Some of the more attentive individuals saw that Jason had stopped meditating and took the opportunity to muster their courage and approach him cautiously.

    They likely hoped to recruit him into their groups or at least engage him in conversation. Despite their newfound powers from the system store, they still viewed Jason as a formidable and mysterious figure, given how he had single-handedly killed the giant.

    Yet, their attempts at conversation were met with cold indifference as Jason looked right through them, ignoring their presence entirely. After a few failed attempts, the hopefuls retreated back to their smaller groups, no longer daring to bother him.

    Jason, however, did not ignore these people out of arrogance, pride or ego. In reality, he was looking past them, waiting for the larger group of initiates, the "big fish," so to say, to make their move.

    Those who had approached him so far belonged to small, insignificant groups, and Jason was uninterested in them.

    With his current build, focusing primarily on the intelligence, mind, and will stats, Jason was essentially a glass cannon. His spells allowed him to deal immense damage to enemies at a safe distance, but if anything got close, even an ordinary human could take him down.

    Right now, Jason did not have the physical stats to endure or escape. Jason could rely on his mana manipulation techniques to form ''mana shields'', but he wanted to focus only on one skill to increase his chances of getting the class he needed.

    As a result, strength in numbers was crucial at this stage of the Ascension trial.

    Jason knew that to exploit the most benefits; he needed to align with a large group to shield himself while he grew stronger. With the right group, his value and ability as a caster would be magnified.

    The group would protect him, knowing that his powerful skills could devastate enemies from the safety of the backline. This would also work in Jason''s favour, allowing him to acquire SP and EXP safely, as these rewards were distributed based on damage dealt, while the group would serve as a distraction and would get limited rewards.

    This was why Jason waited for the larger groups to make their move. Over the past day, one group, in particular, had swelled in size. It had grown rapidly, recruiting more and more people, and Jason found this rapid growth in numbers odd.

    Despite this, Jason did not approach them. Although this group was his target, Jason knew that whoever made the first move set a precedent for their relationship. If they came to him, it would elevate his status within the group.

    Still, he found it strange that, despite their apparent focus on numbers, they had still not come to him. Perhaps they were busy organising the people they had already gathered, or maybe they were just waiting for the right moment.

    As the camp settled into the night, Jason sat further away from the others, eating the military rations he¡¯d purchased from the system store. The food was bland and utilitarian, but it served its purpose in replenishing his depleted energy.

    Just as he finished, the sound of approaching footsteps broke the silence.

    Jason¡¯s eyes flicked up, and a moment later, his lips curled into a faint, fleeting grin.

    ¡°It seems the fish took the bait after all,¡±

 Chapter 15: Making Alliances

    Jason glanced up from his status screen, and his sharp eyes locked onto the two approaching figures.

    One was a tall and broad-shouldered man with a rigid posture, easily 6 foot 3 in height, exuding the quiet confidence of someone accustomed to combat.

    This imposing individual was contrasted sharply by the other, a shorter and more rotund individual whose appearance, despite the current situation, was neat and composed.

    The smaller man had an air of self-assurance that bordered on smugness.

    As the duo drew near, Jason¡¯s gaze lingered on the shorter man.

    Despite his unassuming stature, it was evident he was the one in charge. Over the last day, Jason had noticed the steady growth of followers flocking to this man¡¯s side, marking him as the leader of the largest group in the camp.

    As the two figures walked confidently in Jason''s direction, he observed them with a sharp, calculating gaze, waiting until they were just a few meters away before speaking.

    ¡°Stop right there! What do you want?¡± his voice was cold, laced with irritation.

    Jason¡¯s tone was deliberately abrasive, a tactic he decided to employ to build his character as one who kept people at arm''s length. It was a no-nonsense approach.

    If the people seemed useful, he would slip into a more mild and friendly persona, but Jason had no interest in building friendly relationships just yet; after all, he needed to know their worth first.

    The two men paused and exchanged glances, slightly taken aback by Jason''s harsh tone. Then, the short and stout man with cropped blonde hair inched just a bit closer, though still a good three meters from Jason, before he started speaking with a cautious tone.

    ¡°My apologies for the intrusion,¡± he began, his voice smooth and warm, with the polished inflexion of someone who was used to commanding a room.

    ¡°I¡¯ve come to introduce myself. My name is Morris¡­ Morris Johnson. I must admit I was very impressed with how you killed that giant!¡±

    The man''s voice was measured and polite, with a hint of charm. His speech, laced with a formal British accent, softened the confrontation while a disarming smile adorned his face.

    ¡°We¡¯ve come to talk... to see if you¡¯d be interested in joining us.¡± Morris continued.

    Jason leaned back slightly, his gaze narrowing as he sized up the man before replying.

    "And why would I do that?"

    Jason deliberately projected an air of arrogance and hostility for two reasons. One was to gauge the man¡¯s response. If he joined a group, he did not want to join one where the supposed leader had no self-control. The other was, as mentioned before, to maintain distance from the two.

    The man chuckled lightly, waving off the tension in the air.

    ¡°No need for hostility, my friend. I just want to talk¡­ As I said, my name is Morris. And you are?¡±

    Jason remained impassive, though his mind raced as he sized the man up.

    He felt a strange feeling pickling his mind and knew there was something more at play here than just a mere casual conversation.

    Still, he would go along with it for now.

    As he thought about what to say, Jason delved into the memories of this body that was now at his disposal. Having taken a moment to sift through Jason''s memories to understand his mannerisms and speech patterns, Jason decided to go with the flow.

    ¡°Jason,¡± Jason replied curtly, not offering more than his name.

    Morris¡¯s smile widened, his tone becoming more familiar.

    ¡°A pleasure to meet you, Jason. As I said before, I couldn¡¯t help but notice your... unique talents! I thought it was only right that I extend an invitation to join our group.¡±

    For some reason, Jason¡¯s patience thinned as the man continued his carefree approach, but he kept his composure. His tone, however, was flat.

    ¡°And why would I want to do that?¡± Jason¡¯s words were icy, and his voice carried just enough disdain to make his lack of interest clear.

    Despite Jason''s tone, Morris''s smile did not falter. If anything, the man was thick-skinned.

    Morris chuckled softly, waving a hand as if brushing off Jason¡¯s hostility.

    ¡°Now, now, no need for suspicion. I believe we share a common goal. Survival! And in this... strange new world, it¡¯s best to have allies.¡±

    Jason¡¯s irritation grew as Morris rambled on. There was something off about this man¡¯s demeanour. His words were too smooth, too charming and charismatic. The longer the man spoke, the more Jason could feel a strange sensation.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    And then Jason realised it. He realised what it was that was irritating him!

    Morris was using mana in his speech. Jason could feel the mana released in Morriss¡¯s every word now that he concentrated. Jason could feel the undercurrent of manipulation, subtle but present. Morriss¡¯s words carried a compulsion, a mental nudge designed to sway and charm. Jason recognised this effect, having dealt with similar skills in the past.

    ¡®A Mind influence type skill...? No, at this level, that can''t be it. A speech-type skill? Hm. Yes! That seems more likely,¡¯ Jason internally mused.

    A speech-type skill! That was what Morris was using. Jason had encountered such skills before. Skills designed to command or influence others through speech. However, at the skill''s current rank, it was less of a direct command-type skill and more of a subtle influence.

    It seemed to work by making others more amenable to Morris, encouraging them to view him favourably the longer they talked.

    However, Morris¡¯s lack of control when using the skill was also evident.

    While casting a skill did not necessarily require constant attention, controlling its mana flow and precision was a necessary component to using and evolving the skill effectively.

    Morris, however, was sloppy. His words dripped with magical influence, and small fragments of mana leaked into the air, dissipating uselessly around him. It was this wasted and inefficient use of mana that alerted Jason to a skill being used.

    ¡®So¡­ That''s how he amassed his following¡¯.

    The compulsion in Morris''s words, paired with his smooth charisma, would have been enough to sway the low-level tutorial initiates around him. They likely had no idea they were being manipulated, assuming they were simply drawn to Morris¡¯s confident leadership.

    Even Jason felt a slight compulsion in this body; his own mind was unaffected with his higher resistance and superior soul, but, using Jason''s body meant he was somewhat susceptible due to Jason''s low stats.

    As Morris continued speaking, his voice still infused with mana and containing subtle influence, Jason¡¯s thoughts shifted.

    He now had a choice to make. Go against the compulsion or go along with it.

    ¡®Quite daring to try and manipulate me.¡¯

    If Jason acted against Morris now, he could end it all here. Eliminate the man for his brazen attempt to control him. Jason was more than capable of killing Morris in an instant. The thought crossed his mind like a flickering shadow. A swift death for this would-be manipulator would certainly eliminate the threat.

    ¡®But... would that be a waste?¡¯

    Jason''s mind worked quickly, calculating the potential gains.

    Morris had already proven useful without knowing it. The man¡¯s abilities could be exploited further. If Morris thought his skill was working on Jason, he would undoubtedly let his guard down. And when the time was right, Jason could strike. Not just physically but strategically.

    ¡®Let him think he¡¯s in control?¡¯

    Jason smirked internally.

    He could play along, pretending to be influenced by Morris''s skill. That way, he could use Morris as a puppet to gather more power, more information, and, eventually, more control over the group Morris had amassed.

    Once Morris had outlived his usefulness, or once Jason had what he needed, the tables would turn. Morris would never see it coming.

    Jason had always thrived in the shadows, festering, growing, and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

    After all, parasites do not rush. They infest, fester, and control from within. Jason could bide his time, using Morris as his proxy to manipulate the larger group. When the opportunity presented itself, he would seize everything Morris had built.

    The notion pleased him. Why kill the man now and waste a valuable pawn when he could use him to achieve his goals?

    Morris, oblivious to Jason¡¯s internal calculations, continued speaking, inching closer with a confident smile.

    ¡°I apologise. I can be quite the talker. Let me be more direct. This is Smith. Former military, and my right hand. We¡¯re forming a group of capable individuals. And you, Jason, would be a valuable addition.¡± His expression sharpened, and the pleasantries vanished.

    Jason¡¯s gaze shifted to Smith, who stood silent and motionless, his stoic expression betraying no emotion. The man¡¯s stance was disciplined, and his piercing blue eyes suggested a sharp mind.

    ¡°Hm. Military, huh?¡± Jason said, his voice now containing mild interest.

    ¡°And what exactly is your role in all this, Morris? Are you the leader? A spokesman?¡±

    ¡°You see, Jason,¡± Morris began, his tone still infused with that compulsive mana, as his grin widened.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just say I¡¯m a facilitator. I bring people together and make sure things run smoothly. It¡¯s what I did in my old life as a Member of Parliament, and it¡¯s what I¡¯ll do here.¡±

    Jason raised an eyebrow, feigning curiosity.

    ¡°A member of Parliament? Politics... Yes¡­That makes sense.¡±

    Morris chuckled, taking Jason¡¯s remark as a compliment.

    ¡°Exactly. I know how to navigate complex situations and how to inspire and lead. And I know potential when I see it.¡±

    Jason let the silence hang for a moment, pretending to weigh the offer. In truth, he had already decided. Morris would be a convenient cover, a shield behind which Jason could grow stronger.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Jason said at last. ¡°I¡¯ll join your group. For now.¡±

    Morris¡¯s expression lit up as his charm increased even further.

    ¡°You won¡¯t regret it. We¡¯ve got big plans, Jason. Together, we¡¯ll survive this place.¡±

    After another brief exchange of pleasantries and a thinly veiled assurance from Morris, Jason agreed to join the group. His decision was not rooted in trust or loyalty, far from it. It was a calculated move, part of his larger game.

    With his current build focusing heavily on mind and intelligence, he needed a group to serve as his shield until his powers could grow further. And Morris¡¯s group, while flawed, was large enough to serve his purpose. And Morris seemed eager and smart enough to want to survive. His decision to purchase ¡®Word magic¡¯ type skills from the system store only further evidenced this.

    Jason followed the pair as they led him toward their side of the camp. His eyes scanned the surrounding area, noting the size of Morris¡¯s group and the way they responded to Morris¡¯s presence with respect and blind loyalty mingled in their gazes.

    ¡®Fools,¡¯ Jason thought.

    When they reached the right area, Morris gestured toward a tent set up slightly apart from the main group.

    ¡°We thought you might prefer some privacy. But if you need anything, don¡¯t hesitate to ask.¡±

    Jason gave a noncommittal nod before stepping into the tent.

    Once inside, Jason reclined his body and finally relaxed after the day''s events. His mind, however, was far from at rest. He could feel it, a pull from within him, a sensation that had become familiar since he had awoken in this new form.

    ¡®Gluttonous Brood¡¯ stirred restlessly within him with an ancient hunger that craved flesh.

    "Patience," Jason murmured to himself, his voice low as he closed his eyes and began to meditate.

    His connection with ¡®Gluttonous Brood¡¯ pulsed faintly as the parasite was eager for the next opportunity to consume. But Jason knew better than to rush.

    There would be time enough to indulge in its ravenous desires. For now, he needed to recover and plan for the following day.

    "In time," Jason whispered once more, his voice filled with both anticipation and restraint.

    And with that, he sank deeper into meditation. The Ascension trial was just beginning, and Jason had every intention of being the one to control the board.

 Chapter 16: The Price of Power

    As morning broke, soft embers of light filtered through the thin material of Jason''s makeshift tent. The tent was little more than fabric draped over metal posts, offering minimal protection from the elements.

    Inside, the tent was an empty, desolate space with only a single, thin blanket laid across the floor where Jason sat. The cool ground beneath Jason contrasted with the growing warmth outside as the mysterious object in the sky, the "sun" of the tutorial, slowly got brighter, casting beams of light through the small gaps in the tent.

    Outside of the tent, the camp began to grow more active as people stirred, their footsteps muffled but noticeable. The sound of voices rose steadily as some of the tutorial initiates gathered at the centre of the clearing and began loudly discussing their plans for the day amongst themselves.

    Despite the outside movement, Jason remained seated on top of the thin blanket, with his attention solely focused on the ethereal screen in front of him that displayed the ''system store''.

    Jason had spent much of the night and early morning sifting through the ''system store'' contents, deeply analysing all the items and skills available to him. In the demonic world, or in fact, for any of the ascended realms, the system did not have a ''system store'', so Jason decided that now was a good time to familiarise himself with it.

    While looking through the list of items, Jason could easily see their potential if utilised correctly. If Jason could acquire any of these items, they would serve as a potent boon for his time during and even after the tutorial.

    The store offered legendary items, which were incredibly rare and potent beyond measure. However, once purchased, these items would be permanently gone from the system store. After all, these items could be considered one of a kind, so Jason decided to familiarise himself with them while he could.

    As Jason looked at the ''Legendary'' items, with their icon tinged with a golden hue, he had to admit he was impressed with what the system store offered.

    Jason''s eyes scanned the description of the most valuable items first. The ''Aspects''.

    These items were Catalysts of immense power that, when infused with enough mana, could trigger powerful effects based on the nature of the aspect itself.

    However, they were also priced in response to their powerful effect, with all of them costing an eye-watering 999,999 SP. Unfortunately, such wealth was currently beyond Jason''s reach.

    Following these aspects, the next items with the highest prices had the effects of improving and upgrading the user''s body or race. A Racial Upgrade Potion called ''Pure Ambrosia'' was priced at 800,000 SP and promised to evolve the user''s race to a higher level than their current form.

    There were also draconic materials, which, if used properly, could also vastly improve the body or be used to create powerful items. These ''Legendary'' items included a ''Dragon''s heart'', which was cheaper but no less valuable.

    Jason could almost taste the potential each item held. His demonic instincts, his greed, which came from being from the demonic race, surged within him, urging him to reach out and claim everything. But his wealth, his SP, was a cruel reminder that he could not indulge in such desires.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    This moment only served to prove that wealth was truly above all else.

    As Jason continued to explore the store, he examined items in the mid-tier range, priced around 500,000 SP.

    These items included navigational tools like the ''World Map'' and the ''Desire Compass'', invaluable artefacts used for exploring and finding key locations or objects. This price range also included a powerful staff constructed from a branch of a world tree and inscribed with potent enchantments.

    The further Jason worked through the list, the more diverse the store''s offerings became, including further organic and metallic materials such as blood from rare species and mystical metals like ''Mithril'' and ''Orichalcum''. Each item dazzled with a deep golden hue, but alas, once they were purchased, they would be gone without replacement.

    It was possible to find or create some of these materials and items outside of the systems store, but that would require time and lots of effort, unlike this relatively simple method of exchanging SP for items.

    Looking through all the system had to offer, it might seem that the tutorial was an incredibly fruitful place. Sure, it was fraught with danger, but with every challenge came the promise of more EXP and SP, and with that, even greater rewards.

    And that was because this entire space had been crafted for that very purpose.

    In the clearest sense, the tutorial was designed to filter out and cultivate the strongest, most capable individuals, like ripened fruit. All for the eventual harvesting by the Supremes.

    In dark humour, Jason could not help but acknowledge that many of these items and skills, offered with such promise, were gifts from the Supremes themselves. This also explained why so many of the items offered in the ''system store'' could be used to quickly enhance their users'' growth, much like soil to nourish crops.

    ''Legendary'' skills, however, were conspicuously absent from the store. Unlike items, they were far more intertwined with the essence of one''s soul, and even the Supremes were unlikely to give such powerful abilities for mere SP.

    No, such things were reserved for those under the Patronage of higher beings.

    In that regard, it was easy to conclude that humanity''s presence in this tutorial was little more than a cultivation exercise, a preparation for consumption for the Supremes.

    Yet, in its own twisted way, the system was somewhat fair.

    After all, the Supremes used this as their entertainment, a place to foster growth in those they deemed worthy. Thus, the system limited even the most powerful beings to stats comparable to the upper percentile of humanity.

    No one, not even the Supremes, could escape that restriction. They were bound to the same stat limitations as humanity within the Ascension trial, and it was only because of that fact that humanity even had a fighting chance.

    This stat point restriction also explained why the earlier encounter with the giant had been surprisingly manageable.

    The giant, for all its raw power, had only ten free stat points allocated to its stats, besides the basic one stat point in each attribute. This limitation in status points was in response to all the tutorial initiates who gained the ''Tutorial initiate'' Accolade rewarding ten free stat points at the commencement of the Ascension trial tutorial.

    In actuality, the giant''s overwhelming power stemmed from its racial perks and natural abilities and not from inflated stats. As mentioned before, a human with a strength stat of one would perform vastly differently than a giant with the same stat. The giant''s enormous frame, denser muscles, and unique racial attributes allowed it to demonstrate far greater power despite similar status points.

    Furthermore, the rank of the giant, and in fact, all beings besides the challengers, followed a different system. Their power levels were determined by the rarity of their highest-level skill or ability rather than their Level and Class.

    For instance, the giant Jason faced was categorised as ''Uncommon'' rank because its most potent skill or ability was of the ''Uncommon'' rarity. This ranking system did not reflect the Giant''s stat points because if they had faced an unrestricted giant, even one of ''Uncommon'' rank, the disparity in their stats alone would have resulted in a one-sided massacre.

    Jason doubted that even if all of them attacked together, they would be unable even to injure it, let alone kill it.

    Thankfully, unlike the Ascended, the Supremes, beings of the transcendent rank, faced more restrictions regarding their ''skills,'' ''perks'', and ''traits'', limiting them to the highest rank of Ascended power, the ''Mythical'' rank.

 Chapter 17: An all-consuming meeting

    While Jason was deep in thought, the light leaking through the tent''s thin fabric lessened as a human shadow was cast over it, blocking out the light and signalling that someone was standing just outside Jason''s tent. Just a moment later, a voice called out for Jason, asking if he was awake.

    Jason, hearing the familiar voice, rose and opened the flap before stepping out into the budding camp.

    The camp had changed significantly since yesterday. Despite only a day having passed, the initiates had already begun to settle in, setting up additional tents and even food stalls where meals were being prepared and distributed.

    The atmosphere remained sombre, but beneath it lay the undeniable desire to live, a clear testament to humanity''s resilience to persevere, even in the face of uncertainty and fear.

    It was this resilience that had attracted Jason to humanity in the first place, and in some ways, Jason could even see himself in them.

    In Jason''s earlier years, in his previous form, he, too, had been weak and prey for the stronger demons. Only through his sheer perseverance had he clawed his way to power, and having invested in humanity, it was not wrong to say these humans had been of great help in him growing stronger.

    Jason''s eyes continued to scan the camp and he noted the absence of the giant''s corpse.

    After looking around for a bit longer, Jason found that the fallen form of the Giant had been moved beyond the camp''s perimeter, perhaps to prevent the stench of decay from spreading.

    After briefly looking around, Jason looked back in front before locking eyes with Smith, Morris''s tall and robust right-hand man. Jason had learned that Smith was a retired military officer who had served as Morris''s bodyguard before coming to the tutorial.

    Currently, Morris had entrusted Smith with organising the camp''s defence.

    The man''s face was as stoic as ever, his expression unreadable, like a statue carved in stone. Behind Smith stood about twenty men, all visibly exhausted with laboured breathing and sweat glistening on their foreheads, evidence of a recent exertion.

    "There is going to be a meeting amongst the leaders, and Morris wants you there", Smith said in his usual no-nonsense tone, skipping pleasantries entirely.

    Jason nodded, adjusting his posture before responding.

    "When is this meeting?"

    "In about an hour. It''ll be near the centre of camp." Smith replied.

    Jason then glanced curiously over Smith''s shoulder and at the group of men behind him.

    "And what happened to them?"

    Smith''s face remained as rigid as ever.

    "I''ve been running drills with them," he explained.

    "If we''re attacked again by the giant¡ªor anything else¡ªthe people need to be ready. These are just a few. The others are resting or grabbing food."

    Jason''s lips curled into a faint smile, though his thoughts were hidden beneath his outwardly neutral demeanour. He was mildly impressed by Smith''s efficiency and quick work. Not many would take the initiative to organise a defence so quickly. It raised Smith''s standing in Jason''s internal ranking of useful individuals.

    "Well," Jason said with a measured tone,

    "I''ll be at the meeting. Thanks for letting me know." He offered a slight nod before his eyes flickered over the tired group again, though this time his gaze lingered on one individual, a teenager, for a few seconds longer.

    ''That face?'' Jason questioned internally.

    As the group left, Jason''s eyes followed the young man''s form, scrutinising him with a narrowed focus.

    ''One of the Templars?''

    The thought surfaced sharply in Jason''s mind, bringing with it a ripple of intrigue and slight anger. After all, the ''Templars'' had been a specialised unit of the organisation ''Nights order'' that had long been a thorn in his side, led by their fearsome leader, ''Galahad''.

    ''Well, it makes sense. This is the United Kingdom''s Tutorial, after all. I would have come across them sooner or later.''

    Despite the curiosity, Jason let it slip as the group disappeared from sight.

    Instead, a sudden rumble from his stomach reminded him of the needs of his new body. With a sigh of resignation, Jason turned his attention away from the group and toward one of the makeshift food stalls.

    ''A mortal inconvenience'', Jason thought with mild irritation.

    Sure, he had known hunger, but he had cast it away long ago in his old form.

    As he approached the stalls, a sweet smell infused the air, unlike the dull military rations he had eaten earlier.

    ''Hm?'' Jason mused whilst busing his hand for a plate of food.

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    --

    The second layer of Hell.

    The Molten Wastes of the Demon World

    Astaroth''s Point of View

    Astaroth stepped through the smouldering expanse of the demon world, where jagged obsidian rocks jutted out of the land like the broken teeth of a colossal beast.

    The air shimmered with heat rising from rivers of molten lava, their glowing red veins snaking through the blackened landscape. Geysers erupted sporadically, belching clouds of sulphurous smoke that clung to the atmosphere like a suffocating shroud.

    This was no place for the weak; the land itself seethed with malice, the ground groaning under the weight of its ancient torment.

    Astaroth strode forward with measured elegance, his form a sturdy mix of beauty and menace. He towered over most demons, his slender frame cloaked in a shimmering black mantle adorned with gold and silver filigree that seemed to shift like liquid under the dim glow of the false hellish sky.

    His skin was as pale as moonlight, marred only by the faint scars of past battles, and his long, raven-black hair cascaded down his back like a waterfall of shadows. A pair of great horns spiralled outward from his temples, polished to a dark sheen that reflected the flickering firelight. His eyes burned with a cold, calculating intelligence, one golden, the other a milky white orb that swirled with faint, spectral shapes.

    Astaroth exuded an aura of unshakable confidence. His every step was deliberate, and every gesture was dripping with grace and authority. Vanity was his essence, and his visage was a masterpiece of calculated perfection.

    Yet beneath his composed exterior lurked a cunning mind steeped in intellectual deceit, a master manipulator who wielded lies and half-truths as deftly as a swordsman wielded a blade.

    The Throne of Beelzebub

    At last, Astaroth came upon the throne of Beelzebub.

    The immense structure loomed in the heart of a volcanic chamber, carved from the bones of long-forgotten beasts and adorned with the skulls of lesser demons who had dared to challenge the supreme titled ''The Lord of Flies''. The throne pulsed faintly, as if alive, exuding an aura of decay and pestilence that pervaded the chamber.

    Beelzebub himself sat atop the throne, a towering monstrosity of grotesque magnificence.

    His form was massive, his flesh mottled and glistening like a hive of living corruption. His wings, torn and ragged, buzzed faintly with an ominous drone, and his bloated body seemed to shift with the restless movement of the swarms of flies that crawled across him.

    Two glowing red eyes burned with malevolent intelligence, and his voice, when it spoke, carried the weight of centuries of unholy dominion.

    "Speak"

    Astaroth bowed deeply before the immense throne for a few more moments before straightening. When he started to speak, his tone was respectful and his voice was smooth as flowing ink despite the oppressive heat of the chamber.

    "My lord Beelzebub, Sovereign of Decay and the Unseen Plague, I am humbled to stand in your presence. Your throne, as always, is a testament to your boundless power. It inspires awe... and a touch of envy in those who witness it."

    Beelzebub''s grotesque form shifted slightly, the bones of his throne creaking under his massive weight. His red eyes burned like embers, scrutinising Astaroth with disdainful curiosity. His voice, deep and guttural, echoed through the chamber like the buzzing of a thousand flies.

    "Speak, Astaroth. Flattery drips from your tongue as sweet as honey from a hive, but I have no time for empty words. What brings you to my abode?"

    Astaroth straightened, his sly smile never faltering.

    "Of course, my lord. As you know, the Ascension Trials have begun once more. I come seeking your wisdom on how we should... influence the human world during this most ''delicate'' time."

    Beelzebub leaned forward, his immense form casting a shadow over the pale demon. His wings buzzed faintly, the sound filling the air like an ominous chorus.

    "And why, Astaroth, do you assume I care for such trivialities? The trials proceed as they always have. What is it you truly seek?"

    A faint flicker of annoyance crossed Astaroth''s face, but he smoothed it away with a restrained smile.

    "My lord, I must admit... I cannot locate him. The parasite has vanished, leaving his position overlooking the ascension trials."

    Beelzebub''s eyes narrowed, the buzzing of his wings growing louder.

    "You cannot find him?" Beelzebub''s voice dropped, venom dripping from every word.

    "Do not think to hide your schemes behind feigned incompetence, Astaroth. I know your games too well. You failed me last time; hence, you lost your position to that parasite. You would not stand before me empty-handed unless your ambitions were woven tightly into this web of failure."

    Feigning a wounded expression, Astaroth placed a hand over his heart, his tone dripping with mock sincerity.

    "My lord wounds me with his suspicion! I exist only to serve your glory, as always. What are my petty ambitions compared to the vastness of your dominion?"

    He paused, his smile returning as sharp as a blade.

    "Still, my lord, this disappearance is not without its opportunities. Should you permit me to oversee the trials in his absence, I could ensure that the chaos serves to strengthen your dominion. After all, a touch of disorder¡ªcarefully orchestrated¡ªcan remind both mortals and demons alike of your unassailable supremacy."

    Beelzebub leaned back against his grotesque throne, the sound of the buzzing flies intensifying as his red eyes bored into Astaroth''s golden gaze. For a long moment, the air in the chamber hung heavy with tension, the weight of Beelzebub''s displeasure almost palpable.

    "You would dare to suggest that my dominion requires reminding? That the trials need a ''careful hand''¡ªyour hand¡ªto steer them?"

    His voice rumbled with a dangerous edge, like the crackling of molten rock.

    "Do not insult me, Astaroth. I see through your web of flattery. Your ambition seeps through every word you speak."

    Astaroth''s smile faltered for just a moment, a flicker of tension crossing his otherwise composed face. But he bowed deeply, his voice steady and as smooth as before.

    "I would never presume to suggest such a thing, my lord. Your dominion is unquestionable. I only offer my talents to serve you in a time of uncertainty. If this... parasite has abandoned his duties, it leaves an opening, one that could be exploited by lesser creatures¡ªan opening that I would gladly seal in your name."

    Beelzebub''s form shifted slightly, the creaking of the bone throne resounding through the volcanic chamber. His wings twitched, sending a cascade of flies scattering through the air.

    "You presume much, Astaroth. But your cunning is a tool I would rather wield than allow to rust. Very well. The trials are now your burden. Oversee them, and ensure no chaos arises that is not to my benefit. But mark my words..."

    Beelzebub leaned forward, his massive bulk casting a shadow that seemed to envelop Astaroth entirely. His glowing red eyes blazed like infernos.

    "If I find that your schemes stray even a single step beyond what I have permitted, I will not hesitate to strip you of everything¡ªyour station, your power, your very essence. I will consume everything you own and then I will consume you. This is your last chance. Do you understand!"

    Astaroth bowed even lower, his voice dripping with reverence, though his golden eye gleamed with the faintest hint of satisfaction.

    "Perfectly, my lord. I will not fail you. The trials will proceed without disruption, and your name will remain the echo of terror across all realms."

    Beelzebub leaned back, dismissing him with a wave of his clawed hand.

    "Go. And remember¡ªchaos has its limits, even in my domain."

    Astaroth turned, his steps measured and deliberate as he exited the chamber.

 Chapter 18: Beast Wave 1

    The so-called meeting of the newly elected leaders from the various groups of initiates lacked the grandeur or atmosphere of a significant event.

    There were no banners, no formal speeches, and certainly no grand hall to host such an event. Instead, without a proper venue and with System Points constraints, the leaders merely stood in a circle near the centre of the camp, close to the slightly levitating ''node'', whilst they discussed amongst themselves.

    In total, eleven individuals had been selected as the leaders of their respective groups.

    Around them, the camp bustled with activity as the majority of their group members went about their tasks, making makeshift barricades, preparing food over small, flickering fires, and generally making the area more liveable. They had been told that they would be informed of any decisions later.

    Only a handful of people stood directly behind the eleven newly appointed leaders, lending a thin semblance of authority to the gathering.

    However, that number quickly grew as curiosity, like an uninvited guest, began to pull people closer.

    At first, only a handful of bystanders lingered nearby, pretending to busy themselves with nearby tasks. But as the discussion grew louder, more people seemed to drift over, forming a loose crowd around the circle.

    It wasn''t long before the meeting became a spectacle, with the newly elected leaders at its heart.

    Unfortunately, Jason was also encircled in the middle of the gathering. He stood quietly behind Morris and slightly to the left, with Smith to his right. At the start of the meeting, many people had sent curious glances in Jason''s direction.

    After all, he was the one who had single-handedly slain the Giant, and several of the groups had tried to recruit him. Yet Jason had refused all offers, which only made the people surrounding him discuss this fact in low murus as they questioned how Morris had managed to gain his support.

    Despite there being eleven leaders, the dynamics of the meeting quickly revealed a disparity in power.

    Whether it was due to Morris'' ''Skill'', or the fact that he represented the largest group, when he spoke, others seldom interrupted, and his words often brought the scattered opinions to some form of consensus.

    While the meeting continued, Jason tuned out most of what was being discussed. Instead, his thoughts drifted back to the meal he had just consumed.

    In his demonic form, food had been irrelevant, only something to be consumed for mere sustenance, with no pleasure or satisfaction derived from it.

    Demonic food, if it could even be called food, was bland and hard, devoid of taste. The military rations Jason had eaten earlier had been no better; they were purchased solely because they were cheap and because they would keep this body''s hunger at bay.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Despite that, the simple meal that Jason had taken from camp''s food stall, consisting of just oats, water, milk and bits of meat, had caught him unexpectedly off guard. Despite its simplicity, it had stirred something that Jason had seldom felt before.

    The warmth of the food, coupled with its unexpected flavour, had sparked a sensation Jason had not felt in a long time. Jason was unsure whether it was this new body or the unfamiliar taste. But that experience was the most colour his life had seen in a while, and it unsettled him, lingering in his mind longer than it should have.

    ''Maybe I need to explore human cuisine further. For research purposes, of course,'' Jason thought wryly, letting a small smile slip.

    Though lost in his own musings, Jason remained attentive to key moments in the discussion.

    The conversation primarily concerned camp defences, task distribution, and future planning. However, it eventually shifted into more hopeful and, at times, delusional talk, which Jason found hard to listen to.

    A woman of medium build stepped forward to speak. Her dark brown hair was tied back, and her demeanour was both confident and concerned. She led one of the smaller groups, which was predominantly composed of women and children.

    "We only need to hold out until help arrives," she said, her voice steady but tinged with uncertainty. Her words, while hopeful, hung in the air like a fragile thread.

    Before anyone could respond, an older man stepped forward, scoffing loudly. The man''s greying hair was long and unkempt, and his face was rough and hardened. He wore simple leather armor and had the demeanour of a survivalist, the type that often prepared for an apocalypse long before any system arrived.

    "Help?" Ray repeated, his voice rough and edged with cynicism.

    "Look around you, Jessica. We''re in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by a bloody forest, and trapped behind some invisible barrier. Do you think anyone even knows we''re here¡­? I wouldn''t count on it." He gestured to the camp, his movements sharp and dismissive.

    "If you ask me, this is all part of some sick game. The government? Aliens? Who knows? But waiting for help is a fool''s errand."

    Jessica bristled, her confidence faltering but her determination unyielding. Before she could fire back, murmurs of agreement and dissent rippled through the circle, threatening to derail the discussion.

    "Alright¡­! Everybody, calm down," Morris interjected, raising his voice just enough to command attention. His tone was calm but firm, cutting through the rising tension.

    "We need to focus on what we know. So far, we''ve learned that we were transported to this ''tutorial'' after accepting the system''s invitation¡­ It is no fault but our own." Morris said while pointedly looking at Ray.

    Ray opened his mouth to retort, but Morris continued before he could speak.

    "I agree with one thing, though," Morris said, his gaze locking onto Ray.

    "We can''t rely on anyone else. But instead of pointing fingers, let''s focus on the here and now."

    He pointed to the obelisk floating next to them.

    "This node is clearly important. The tutorial told us to protect it. So instead of squabbling, let''s direct our energy toward defending it and making this camp liveable."

    Morris'' words helped defuse the rising tension, and his calm reasoning encouraged the leaders to settle into a more productive discussion. The group began to refocus on practical matters such as organising defences, allocating resources, and planning for potential threats.

    But, just as the atmosphere began to settle, a sharp, panicked shout cut through the camp like a knife, causing everyone to turn their heads in alarm.

    The gathered leaders scanned the camp and quickly realised that nearly everyone had stopped what they were doing and had crowded around them to listen in on the heated discussion.

    As the shouts of panic continued to be heard beyond the gathering crowd, all eyes shifted eastward as they were drawn toward the source of the noise.

    There, past the gathering crowd, a group of people were retreating in a frenzy, their voices rising in alarm as they pointed toward the dark line of the forest.

    Jason''s eyes narrowed as he followed their gaze.

    Whatever had startled the retreating group was coming their way¡ªand fast.

 Chapter 19: Beast Wave 2

    The first movement from the treeline was subtle¡ªa rustle, a vibration in the air.

    And then, chaos erupted.

    Around twenty monsters charged out from the treeline, a mixture of wolves, bears, and boars.

    However, these weren''t the animals anyone remembered from nature documentaries or childhood hikes. These were monstrous, grotesque versions of their earth-based counterparts.

    Their massive forms were cloaked in matted fur and streaked with scars. Their eyes glowed with an unnatural light, a feral intensity that sent shivers down spines. They tore through the underbrush, and their snarls and growls resonated like a harbinger of doom.

    They charged into the clearing, and their sheer speed reduced the distance to the camp to a matter of moments. These beasts chased down a group of panicked survivors who scrambled, tripping over roots and fallen branches in their desperate flight. Screams of terror filled the air as they raced for the fragile safety of the camp.

    The crowd that had gathered in the centre of the clearing froze, gripped by the primal fear that came with facing a predator far beyond their understanding.

    At that moment time seemed to slow down.

    Then, a booming voice cut through the accumulating fear.

    "Everyone forward! Protect the camp!" Smith''s voice boomed, his commanding presence snapping the crowd into action as he unhesitatingly charged toward the oncoming beasts.

    His presence seemed to galvanise the crowd. The militia he''d been drilling earlier¡ªa ragtag group of initiates with mismatched weapons¡ªrushed forward as they followed closely behind Smith and formed an imperfect but determined defensive line. Shields were raised, spears bristled, and swords gleamed under the midday light.

    The defensive line was far from perfect, but as the other initiates in the camp hurriedly moved to gather their own weapons, they hoped it would hold out just long enough for everyone to gather and counter-strike.

    Similarly, other able-bodied men and women from other groups besides Smiths moved forward to intercept the new enemy.

    There were over 400 people in this newly formed camp. However, not everyone was a combatant, only around 250.

    There were many women, children, and elderly who, although they could get stronger due to stat points, were left behind as if some previous consensus had been reached, as mostly the men moved forward to bolster the quickly formed defensive line.

    Jason also moved forward, but he purposely remained a few steps behind the hastily formed defensive line. His expression was calm, almost detached, as his sharp eyes assessed the situation. The beasts were closing in fast, and the people who had alerted the camp barely made it past the defensive line before the first clash happened between the defence line of 50 or so men and the feral beasts.

    The collision was violent and immediate, and despite the hope and prayers of the many onlookers, the defensive lines quickly broke.

    The boars led the charge, their tusks gleaming as they barrelled through the hastily formed wall of shields. The defensive line crumpled in places as the boars easily ploughed through the defenders, sending bodies sprawling. Then the wolves darted around the edges of the line, their speed and agility making them deadly predators. Meanwhile, the bears lumbered in behind, their sheer size and strength overwhelming anyone who tried to face them head-on.

    Chaos quickly ensued.

    However, the humans did try to put up a fight.

    Despite the ferociousness of the beast wave, some parts of the line held firm, bolstered by reinforcements arriving with every passing second. Skills ignited the battlefield in bursts of colour as fireballs streaked through the air, arcs of lightning cracked, and blades shimmered with magical auras.

    But, for all the dazzling display of skills, the effectiveness of the counterattack was another story.

    The beasts weren''t ordinary animals. Their stats rivalled those of the humans, and they fought with a relentless ferocity that was difficult to match. To make matters worse, this was the first real combat for most of the initiates. Many had barely used their skills outside of basic experimentation.

    Due to their limited mana pools, they did not have much of an opportunity to test their abilities in preparation for a conflict, and their inexperience showed.

    Fireballs sailed past their targets, and lightning bolts struck the ground, missing entirely. Some fighters overcommitted to their attacks, leaving themselves open to being clawed, bit, and hit by the monsters. The beasts, unburdened by hesitation or fear, tore into the defenders, leaving trails of carnage in their wake.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    This change made the combatants quickly realise that despite their new superhuman skills, they were not nearly as powerful as they had initially thought.

    Sure, Jason had managed to kill a stronger creature, the Giant, alone and using a rare skill with seeming ease, but that was due to his lifetime experience with using skills in general. Even though he had never used that particular skill before, Jason easily grasped the skill''s mechanisms of action.

    However, unlike Jason, the other tutorial initiates had no idea how to properly use their skills. Without proper tracking or auto-lock functions, the beasts were able to dodge the skill effortlessly. As a result, most of the skills missed their targets, while the beasts, relying solely on their high stats, charged forward and mauled the human defenders who offered little resistance.

    Most of the humans could cast their skills perhaps two or three times, depending on their stat allocation. When Jason fought the Giant, he could have used his ''Binding Root'' skill three times, with one use per point in his Mind stat.

    The reason Jason had to consume multiple mana potions during the fight was because he had kept his ''Binding roots'' skill active while staking subsequent skill casts on top of it, all the while enforcing more of his ''will'' into his skill.

    When combined, these factors resulted in a far higher mana consumption rate, which in turn required the use of mana potions.

    For this reason, the system set the stat point requirements for skills higher than their actual requirements to ensure their smooth use.

    The best way to think about it was to imagine a machine or engine constantly pushed to its limits, which would cause it to break down quickly. Similarly, the system enforced higher stat requirements for skill usage than the actual requirement needed to use them so that the users still had excess resources, whether mana or stamina and were not overloaded or suffered extensive fatigue or damage.

    Jason purposely did not rush into the fray, knowing that his greatest strength lay in precision and efficiency. His choice of a build had not been random, and the ongoing battle highlighted why Jason had chosen a mana-focused build.

    While the other initiates served as distractions, Jason could unleash killing blows from a safe distance, racking up SP and EXP in the process.

    At one point, he noticed a man wielding a great sword step forward from the line. The man''s muscles bulged, likely enhanced by a skill, and he swung his weapon downward in a powerful arc that would easily bisect any target.

    Unfortunately, the wolf-like creature he aimed for dodged slightly sidewards, causing the man''s overcommitted strike to miss and sink into the ground next to the beast.

    That mistake sealed his fate.

    Before he could recover, the wolf lunged forward, its jaws wide, and its maw tipped with a vicious raw of teeth clamped down onto the man''s torso. The wolf bit deep into the man''s ribs, causing him to release his weapon and flail in agony.

    Having watched the man''s final moments, Jason''s expression did not change as he stepped forward, his hand already glowing faintly blue. Using this moment as the Wolf slowed down as its mouth clamped around the man''s torso, Jason channelled his mana into his ''biding roots'' skill.

    A moment later, a root as thick as an arm erupted from the ground and coiled around the wolf''s neck.

    With its jaws still clamped onto the man, the wolf could not react in time to the unexpected attack. The roots quickly slipped around the create neck, and when Jason firmly clenched his open palm shut whilst moving his hand in a downward motion, more of mana poured into his skill.

    The wolf thrashed, trying to free itself but the root further constricted, pulling both the wolf and the man to the ground.

    A moment later, an inaudible crack echoed through the air as the wolf''s body went limp.

    Jason, seeing the creature''s limp form, waited an extra moment before cancelling his skill and then took a cursory glance at the defensive line.

    He noticed that although some parts of the defensive line had been broken, other parts had managed to hold on from the initial assault and were now even being reinforced.

    Notably, Smith and the teenager Jason had observed earlier held their part of the lines, doing everything they could to keep the beasts at bay.

    Instead of relying on flashy skills, the two used a combination of spear and shield, an excellent choice this early in the Ascension Trial. The spears allowed them to poke and keep the beasts at a distance, and should any of the creatures get too close, the shields provided sturdy defence.

    As the two fought tooth and nail to keep the beats from entering the camp, Jason also moved on to his next target.

    With six stat points invested in his Mind stat, Jason could unleash his skill five more times before his mana reserves would be drained.

    However, unlike Jason''s efficiency, the other initiates struggled to deliver one-shot kills. Instead, they dealt damage over time, exchanging blows and lives as they whittled down the beasts.

    As a result, the tide of the battle slowly turned.

    Jason quickly moved through the battlefield, exploiting opportunities that came at the exchange of lives. He mainly targeted the beasts that had committed to there attacks and were too focused on other initiates to notice Jason''s roots, and as a result, he managed to kill another five beasts.

    By the time Jason had felled six beasts, the battle was nearing its end. The defenders, battered and bloodied, finally managed to kill the remaining creatures.

    As the battle came to an end, cries of pain and exhaustion filled the air as the survivors collapsed to the ground, their bodies trembling from the adrenaline crash.

    Jason stood amidst the carnage, his breathing steady. Around him, the battlefield was littered with bodies¡ªboth human and beast. And then, something remarkable happened.

    Soft white lights, like glowing droplets, began to rise from the corpses of the slain beasts. The lights floated upward, coalescing into orbs above each fallen creature. For a moment, the orbs hovered, shimmering faintly, before shooting toward the nearby human.

    Jason watched as six of the white orbs drifted toward him, merging into his body with a warm, tingling sensation. These orbs of white light signified that the beasts were of the ''Common'' rank.

    However, despite their low rank, Jason rejoiced as he felt the energy disperse within him, accompanied by a familiar notification.

    Level up.

    You are now level 3.

    +3 Free stat points

 Chapter 20: A rising star

    The next few days became a relentless blur of battles, with each day blending into the next with barely a moment of rest.

    As a result, every morning in the tutorial also began with the same uneasy mix of anticipation and grim determination.

    Every day, the camp would rouse itself early, knowing that by midday, another wave of beasts would descend upon them, but this time, it would be larger, more ferocious, and even more deadly than the day before.

    With each subsequent day that passed, an additional ten new monsters joined the ranks of the growing beast waves, which served as a slow but steady escalation of their relentless trial.

    However, despite the growing threat, the initiates had also adapted quickly, forced by dire necessity to learn the art of survival.

    The Strategies that had seemed chaotic and uncoordinated during the first wave and earlier days of the tutorial had now begun to take shape, even evolving into something that resembled a decent cohesive defence.

    Because the initiates had begrudgingly accepted their new reality and shifted their focus onto survival, it also did not take long for the humans to notice a pattern amidst the chaos.

    Each day, without fail, the beasts launched their attack at the same time, around midday, when the false "sun" was at its brightest.

    Also, the beasts, as if driven by some unseen command, also always came from the same direction, that being the east, which had been the same direction that the Giant had attacked from on the first day.

    As a result of this peculiarity, because the beasts appeared within the barrier each day out of seemingly nowhere, after each battle, the collective camp sent an expeditionary group into the area, hoping to uncover the source of the creatures to prevent future attacks or even find a way past the barrier.

    But strangely, they never encountered a single beast in the area, and even after venturing deeper into the forest, all they found was the looming, impenetrable barrier that encircled their new reality. The forest seemed to mock their efforts, offering no clues and only an oppressive silence.

    Despite this mystery, the humans pressed on and instead turned their attention to fortifying the camp itself and preparing for the next impending onslaught. Over the course of just a few days, the camp underwent a remarkable transformation.

    The first aspect that the camp focused on and was done under Smiths'' militant style command was turning the over 200 combatants into a well-coordinated battle line, with each member knowing their place and role in the defence. Even now, groups practised manoeuvres together, drilling until their formations held firm under simulated pressure.

    The next priority was the trees that encircled the clearing with the camp and node in the centre.

    These trees, which were also far larger and sturdier than their Earth-based counterparts, as everything in this tutorial seemed to be, were systematically felled, and their trunks were stripped and repurposed into makeshift fortifications.

    Using the new lumbar taken from these trees, sharp wooden stakes were driven into the ground, forming crude but effective barricades at strategic intervals around the clearing.

    Using the same wood, the initiates also began building Makeshift palisades, which now rose around the perimeter of the clearing, forming an additional barrier against any outward threats.

    The start of a line of pitfall traps also began to snake across the eastern side of the camp; though they were not deep enough yet, they would enhance the camp''s overall defence.

    While these barriers would not completely stop the waves of beasts, they promised to slow them down and serve as a funnel to move the monsters toward the strongest points of defence, making them easier to confront.

    Moreover, because so many trees had been cut down, the once-dense treeline surrounding the camp had been pushed back, creating a wide, open space that provided a clear line of sight into the forest. This newfound vantage point gave the defenders a few more precious seconds to spot incoming threats and prepare accordingly.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Then again, the only reason this level of rapid progress was even possible was thanks to the enhanced stats, courtesy of the ''tutorial initiate'' accolade that the tutorial gave everyone at the start of the trial.

    With ten extra stat points, the initiates had increased their strength and stamina, which allowed them to work tirelessly, pushing their limits and allowing them to work for longer with less rest.

    Yet, it was not just physical improvements that drove them forward, but also the faint glimmer of hope.

    The surviving humans had managed to steel their resolve and not fall into despair thanks to the system''s ever-present notification reminding them that the trial would end in 30 days.

    However, whether this meant the end of the tutorial or merely the beginning of another more sinister one was unclear. The initiates had also seemed to have come to a consensus not to dwell on that possibility and instead clung to the hope that freedom from this cruel world might come at the trial''s conclusion.

    Yet, despite the grim reality they all faced, some found themselves drawn to the challenges of this new world, their initial fear gradually replaced by a hunger for strength and purpose.

    Among these individuals, a few in particular stood out to Jason. One of them was the teenager who had caught his attention early on and since whose name he had learned was George.

    That name only confirmed what Jason had already suspected.

    George had once been a ''Templar''. This unsuspecting teenager would one day become one of the knights who served under ''Galahad'' in the fabled ''Knight''s Order.''

    His good looks, blonde hair and striking green eyes only made it easier for Jason to match the boy''s past, or perhaps his future, to his current form. And although he was far from the shining paragon he would become, the seeds of his future greatness were already beginning to sprout.

    After surviving the initial battles, George seemed to have gained a newfound confidence. He threw himself into battle with a fervour that surprised many.

    Yet, there was a calculated purpose to his actions.

    Geroge seemed to mirror Smith''s disciplined approach and even learn from the older, more experienced man. The first thing he learned under Smith''s mentorship was how to fight. As a result, Geroge copied the older man''s fighting style, wielding a shield in one hand and a spear in the other, as he had seen the veteran do.

    With each battle, the teenager further honed his skills, and with every clash, his movements grew sharper and more deliberate. He seemed to thrive under this life-and-death pressure.

    But there was something more to George''s newfound bravery.

    Jason observed how George''s rising success on the battlefield had attracted the attention of the younger initiates, especially the girls. They had begun to swoon over him, drawn by his boldness in battle and perhaps by the allure of someone who seemed to flourish where others struggled.

    George was obviously aware of the admiration he was garnering, and he seemed to feed off it, his confidence swelling with every approving glance and whispered compliment. It was as though the attention had become a catalyst, pushing him to try harder, to stand taller, striving not just to survive but to be seen as the camp''s protector or perhaps even a hero.

    Jason could not help but smirk at the sight.

    ''Youth'', he mused.

    The young really had a remarkable way of transforming even the bleakest situations into something resembling a competition.

    For George, survival in this tutorial was no longer just a matter of life and death¡ªit was a stage, and he was quickly becoming one of its brightest stars.

    Also, over the past few days, the average level of the humans had also increased, with most reaching levels 2 or 3.

    Unlike the initiates, the "Common" rank beasts that the humans had faced so far had no skills, as skills began at the "Uncommon" rank. Instead, the beasts fought purely with brute strength, relying on their high stats and physical bodies.

    In contrast, the humans had grown stronger and were now armed with weapons, armour, and, most importantly, skills. With better teamwork, experience, and superior numbers, the tide of battle had shifted in their favour. Casualties were becoming less frequent, and the initiates were learning to fight effectively as a unit.

    Jason, too, had grown significantly over this short period of time. Relying on his magic-based build and a steady supply of mana potions, he had taken down a disproportionate share of the monsters, earning a steady stream of SP and EXP. Over the course of just a few days, he had levelled up five more times, reaching level 8¡ªfar ahead of most of the camp. Only Smith and a few others came close, and even then, Smith had only reached level 4.

    Yet, as Jason climbed the levels, he noticed a significant change. The amount of EXP required for each level-up increased exponentially, slowing progress with each new milestone. It wasn''t too bad now, but he knew this change would only get bigger as he continued. Still, his advantage in levels and skills made him a critical asset to the camp''s defence.

    As Jason stood atop one of the newly constructed barricades, he surveyed the ongoing preparations. The camp was bustling with activity¡ªinitiates sharpened their weapons, reinforced defences, and tended to their wounds from the previous day.

    Despite their progress, Jason''s intuition alerted him that something larger loomed on the horizon. The beasts'' attacks so far were too simple, and the humans had adapted to these repeated attacks.

    Yet Jason knew that these trials rarely remained static.

    His gaze drifted toward the forest''s edge, where the treeline loomed like a wall of shadows, silent and foreboding.

    "It''s been five days since I entered this tutorial..." Jason said under his breath as his eyes narrowed, scanning the distance.

    "...It should be time..."