《Limitless Leveling : Cultivation to System-verse [Isekai, LitRPG]》 The End of Blood Age The stench of blood and rot was suffocating¡ªa thick, cloying miasma that clung to the boy¡¯s lungs. Yun Jin crouched low, his small body trembling as he pressed himself deeper into the pile of corpses. His arms wrapped tightly around his knees, his breath muffled against his sleeve. All around him, chaos raged. Shouts, screams, and the sickening clang of steel on steel filled the air. The once-green fields of Yunhe Valley had been turned into a sea of red, the ground slick with blood and littered with the fallen. Soldiers, villagers, and the twisted forms of demonic cultists lay where they had fallen, their faces frozen in terror and agony. This valley had been meant to herald a new future. Yun Jin and his parents had been traveling to a secret assembly¡ªthe founding of a new Warrior Federation that would unite the martial world and bring an end to the chaos of the Blood Age. But they had been ambushed by the entirety of the demonic cult. ¡°It¡¯s the demonic cult! Alert the Sword Saint!¡± The desperate cry had rung out moments before the battle began, but now even the memory of that voice had been drowned beneath the ceaseless clash of steel and the anguished wails of the dying. ¡°Hide here, and don¡¯t make a sound,¡± his mother had whispered, pressing him into the pile of bodies. ¡°Mother, please!¡± Yun Jin stared up at her, his wide eyes brimming with tears. ¡°I love you, Yun Jin,¡± she kissed his forehead. Then she was gone, vanishing into the fray alongside his father. He hadn¡¯t understood it then¡ªnot fully¡ªbut he had known enough to realize they had no chance. They weren¡¯t fighting to win. They were buying time. Even a single second longer to ensure their son¡¯s survival. His life. Yun Jin peeked through the tangled limbs of the dead, his smalleyes trembling as he searched for them. He saw flashes of steel, sprays of blood, and then¡ªfinally¡ªa burst of crimson light against the pale sky. His father¡¯s sword met the blade of a towering figure cloaked in black. The man¡¯s face was sharp and striking, unnervingly clean amidst the carnage, but his eyes burned with malice. His wild hair framed his expression like a storm, and his presence radiated an oppressive aura. Choenma, the Heavenly Demon. His father fought with everything he had, each movement a testament to decades of training in the Wudang Sect. But it wasn¡¯t enough. Against the Heavenly Demon, one of the three absolute powers of the martial world, it was like hurling pebbles into the ocean. Choenma¡¯s blade swung with the weight of a mountain. With a single, devastating strike, his father¡¯s sword shattered into glittering shards. Blood sprayed into the air as the blade continued its deadly arc, slicing him in half like a slab of soft meat. ¡°Is this all the so-called Warrior Federation has to offer?¡± Choenma said, his voice smooth and mocking. Yun Jin¡¯s mother, desperate to avenge her husband, charged forward with a dagger clutched tightly in her hands. She didn¡¯t make it far. ¡°Foolishness.¡± Without sparing her a glance, Choenma flicked his wrist. His qi rippled through the air in an invisible wave, a force so overwhelming that it hurled her like a rag doll into the dirt. She hit the ground with a sickening crack, her body crumpling unnaturally, her limbs twisted from the sheer destructive power. Both his parents were warriors of renown. His father, an elder of the Wudang Sect, and his mother, a descendant of a prestigious martial family. Yet, before Choenma, they were nothing. Yun Jin bit down on his sleeve to stop himself from screaming, every fiber of his being torn between fleeing and leaping out to help, knowing both would be futile. The Heavenly Demon stood as the pinnacle of unorthodox martial power, his name whispered in fear even among the demonic sects he ruled. Together with the Demon King of the Evil Sect and the Sword Saint of the Righteous, he was one of the three absolutes of the martial world. The Demon King was already dead¡ªslain by his hand. And now, Choenma sought to destroy the last bastion of hope¡ªthe Sword Saint himself. ¡°Choenma!¡± The voice rang out, cutting through the chaos like a blade slicing sky.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The battlefield stilled. Even the demonic cultists paused. A gust of wind swept across the valley, scattering the smoke and ash. Amid the haze, a lone figure emerged. His white robes were unblemished, glowing faintly in the light. At his side, a simple looking green sword hung loosely, its edge gleaming like a sliver of stardust. Baek Tianjun, the Sword Saint. Choenma¡¯s lips curled into a grin, his teeth gleaming like fangs. ¡°Finally,¡± he said, spreading his arms wide in mock welcome. ¡°The so-called savior of the martial world graces us with his presence.¡± Baek Tianjun¡¯s gaze swept across the battlefield. His eyes burned with fury, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. He had arrived minutes too late, and now the bodies of the innocent lay scattered before him. Baek Tianjun was no hypocrite, no self-serving fraud cloaked in righteousness. He truly walked the path of virtue¡ªand that was why the anger swelling within him now was so consuming. He stepped forward. ¡°Your reign of blood ends today!¡± Choenma laughed, the sound low and guttural. ¡°Bold words, Baek Tianjun,¡± he sneered. Crimson light flared around his blade as he raised it. ¡°Come, then. Let us see whose sword holds the truth of this world.¡± Baek Tianjun stepped forward, his hand rested on the hilt of the Heaven Ruling Blade, bestowed upon him by the emperor himself. Choenma grinned, unfazed, his fingers tightening around the hilt of the Divine Blood Sword. The blade pulsed with a sinister red glow, each heartbeat sending ripples of dark energy through the air. The two masters surged forward, their swords colliding in a dazzling flash of light and fury. The battle raged on, relentless and unforgiving, for three consecutive days. By the end of the third day, both warriors had pushed themselves to their absolute limits. Their strikes slowed, their steps grew heavier, yet neither wavered, neither surrendered. Everything around them lay in ruin¡ªgrass and trees reduced to splinters, human bodies scattered like broken dolls, even the once-proud mountains bore deep scars from their unyielding clash. Baek Tianjun swung the Heaven Ruling Blade in a sweeping arc, its radiant light cutting through Choenma¡¯s defenses and grazing his shoulder. Blood sprayed into the air like crimson mist. Choenma retaliated immediately, driving the Divine Blood Sword into Baek Tianjun¡¯s side. The blade tore through flesh, its dark energy rippling outward with a sinister hum. Both men stumbled back, their breathing heavy and ragged. Yet, despite their battered bodies, the fire in their eyes refused to dim. Baek Tianjun¡¯s blade darted forward like lightning, aiming for Choenma¡¯s chest, but the Heavenly Demon deflected it with a twist of his wrist, countering with a horizontal slash that sent sparks flying. Baek Tianjun''s legs gave way, and he stumbled, falling forward onto his hands. For a brief moment, his vision darkened, the edges of his world fading to black. Seeing his enemy falter, Choenma¡¯s hoarse laughter broke the heavy silence, tinged with bitter triumph. He wiped the blood from his lips, his crimson aura flickering faintly. ¡°You¡¯re old, Baek Tianjun, or should I say, Master,¡± Choenma said, his voice rasping but steady. ¡°Ten years younger, and perhaps...¡± He paused, his grin fading as he straightened. For a moment, his expression flickered with grudging acknowledgment. ¡°Perhaps you could have killed me.¡± Baek Tianjun tightened his grip on the Heaven Ruling Blade. His body screamed with exhaustion, but his resolve remained unshaken. ¡°You talk too much,¡± he said. Choenma smirked. ¡°Take solace in this, Master: Your greatest failure has become the pinnacle of the martial world. The world doesn¡¯t need your dreams¡ªit needs men like me.¡± Baek Tianjun¡¯s reply came cold and firm. ¡°The world needs neither of us. My dream was to make you kind, Choenma. But you turned into a nightmare.¡± Choenma sneered. ¡°Your dream? A world where the weak smile while the strong stand idle? A world without evil and demonic way? It¡¯s a fantasy! Power is the only law of this world. You taught me that better than anyone!!¡± ¡°No,¡± Baek Tianjun said, his voice steady. ¡°I failed to teach you what true strength is.¡± "You... after all these years, you became soft, master. Now. Get out of my sight!" The Divine Blood Sword pulsed with malevolent energy as Choenma raised it high, the crimson blade crackling with destructive qi. The air around it twisted and screamed, resonating with the finality of the killing blow about to be delivered. But before he could strike, a small shadow darted from behind. Yun Jin, face streaked with dirt and blood, rose from the corpses like a ghost. From behind, the boy leapt and drove the dagger into Choenma¡¯s back, straight into his dantian. The blade sank deep, piercing the core of the Heavenly Demon¡¯s power. Choenma staggered, his qi flaring wildly as a guttural roar escaped his throat. He twisted around, his face contorted with shock and fury. ¡°You little insect!¡± Choenma bellowed. His hand shot out, crackling with crimson energy, ready to swat the boy into oblivion. Baek Tianjun¡¯s eyes widened as the moment he¡¯d been waiting for arrived. With a burst of speed that defied his battered body, the Sword Saint surged forward. The Heaven Ruling Blade ignited with a blinding light as it cleaved through the air. In one smooth, decisive motion, Baek Tianjun¡¯s blade severed Choenma¡¯s head, cutting through flesh and bone as though the heavens themselves had guided his strike. The red aura surrounding the Heavenly Demon flickered, then vanished entirely as his head hit the ground with a dull thud. Yun Jin collapsed onto the ground, his small hands trembling as the dagger slipped from his grasp. For days, he had hidden among the corpses, crawling through the sea of blood. Every step, every breath, had been agony. Yet he endured, driven by one singular purpose: to avenge his family. Now that it was over, his soul felt at peace. And with it, so did his life. ¡°No,¡± Baek Tianjun murmured, his voice hoarse but firm. ¡°Not yet.¡± He knelt down, placing a steady hand on Yun Jin¡¯s head. The boy¡¯s body was cold, his breathing faint, but his eyes fluttered open as the warmth of Baek Tianjun¡¯s qi began to flow into him. The Sword Saint¡¯s energy enveloped the boy¡¯s fragile frame, stabilizing his flickering life force. Rising slowly, Baek Tianjun sheathed the Heaven Ruling Blade and gripped it tightly, using it as a cane to steady himself. With his free arm, he lifted Yun Jin, cradling the boy¡¯s fragile body against his chest. And then, he walked. Above, the faint light of dawn began to break through the smoke-filled sky, casting pale rays over the ruined valley. Choenma was dead. His reign of terror had ended. And with it, the Blood Age. Tale of The Limitless Blade Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. The Invitation Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. First Encounter: Cleared Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Tutorial Rewards If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The mages name is Merlin. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Everybody Qi Refining If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The Wudang This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. The Magical Diagram The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Welcome to Terrilstead This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. The Warm Welcome The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Adventurer鈥檚 Guild If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Does it matter?¡± another said, her tone teasing. ¡°The swordsman, though¡ªwow. Tall, muscular, and that smirk? Who cares if he isn¡¯t single?" Against the Void If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. When Fae Go Wild Yun Jin and Merlin retraced their steps back to the main path, leaving behind the unsettling void at the dungeon¡¯s edge. The eerie silence of that infinite darkness still lingered in Yun Jin¡¯s mind, but he shook off the feeling. There were more immediate concerns¡ªlike clearing this dungeon and seeing how he and Merlin measured up against these so-called fae. As they walked, the magical forest seemed almost alive, whispering around them. The bioluminescent fungi pulsed faintly, casting shifting shadows across the twisted roots and gnarled branches. Yun Jin¡¯s eyes flicked between the trees, tracking movement beyond the path. ¡°They know we¡¯re here,¡± he muttered. Merlin tensed, adjusting his grip on his staff. ¡°Of course they do. Fae aren¡¯t mindless like goblins¡ªthey¡¯re watching, waiting.¡± His voice lowered. ¡°They¡¯re playful. They won¡¯t just attack outright. They like to mess with their prey first.¡± Yun Jin grinned, excitement sparking in his eyes. ¡°Sounds like fun.¡± Merlin shot him a look. ¡°For them, maybe.¡± Just as he finished speaking, a soft giggle echoed from the trees, unnervingly close. Then, a gust of wind swept past, carrying whispers in a language neither of them understood. Yun Jin''s grip tightened on his sword, his stance shifting. A flicker of movement. Then another. Merlin¡¯s wind bird flitted about anxiously, its spectral feathers ruffling as it circled overhead. ¡°They¡¯re coming,¡± Merlin warned. Yun Jin exhaled, his heartbeat steady, his instincts sharpening. Then¡ª A sharp rustling from above. ¡°Move!¡± Merlin barely had time to react before Yun Jin grabbed his collar and yanked him backward. A massive tangle of thorned vines crashed down where they had been standing, writhing like a living creature. The vines twisted and coiled, rising into the form of two humanoid figures¡ªBrambleguards. Yun Jin clicked his tongue. ¡°Annoying.¡± The Brambleguards creaked and groaned as they moved, their thorny limbs snapping into place as they raised their vine-covered arms. Then, like a signal, high-pitched laughter erupted from the treetops. Three figures darted into view¡ªPixie Tricksters. Their translucent wings shimmered with iridescent light, their small, mischievous faces twisted with glee. They chattered in a language that sounded both melodic and mocking, their tiny hands weaving faint trails of magic into the air. Merlin¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°They¡¯re already casting illusions!¡± Yun Jin didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Then we take them out first.¡± He surged forward, his sword flashing as he closed the distance between himself and the nearest Pixie Trickster. The pixie smirked, raising a hand¡ª And then vanished. Yun Jin¡¯s sword sliced through empty air. Before he could react, a second pixie appeared at his side, giggling as it tapped his shoulder. Yun Jin spun, but once again, there was nothing there. Merlin gritted his teeth. ¡°They¡¯re phasing between locations! They can warp short distances, but it¡¯s not unlimited¡ªjust keep moving, don¡¯t give them time to focus!¡± Yun Jin¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Got it.¡± He shifted his stance. Light Blade Sovereign Style: Third Form ¨C Dance of the Firefly.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. A blur of movement¡ªYun Jin struck again, but this time, he didn''t stop after the first swing. His blade weaved through the air in rapid succession, slashing through the empty space where the pixies flickered in and out of view. They reappeared just long enough for him to adjust his strikes mid-motion. A startled shriek¡ªone of the Pixie Tricksters failed to phase in time. Yun Jin¡¯s blade connected, cleaving straight through its small frame. The creature let out a final, distorted giggle before its body shimmered, breaking apart into tiny motes of fading light. The remaining two pixies screeched in alarm, retreating higher into the treetops. Meanwhile, the Brambleguards surged forward, their thorned limbs lashing out toward Yun Jin and Merlin. Merlin took a sharp breath, his staff pulsing with green light. He slammed the butt of it into the ground, tracing a quick diagram in the air. ¡°Wind Snare!¡± A burst of emerald energy shot forward, wrapping around the limbs of one of the Brambleguards. The vines recoiled, twisting against themselves, temporarily halting its movement. Yun Jin capitalized immediately. He stepped in, twisting his body¡ª [Aura Blade] His sword flared with a sharp, radiant glow as qi surged along its edge, extending its reach with lethal precision. Light Blade Sovereign Style: First Form ¨C Arc Lightning. A burst of speed propelled him forward, his blade carving through the Brambleguard¡¯s thick mass of tangled vines. The enhanced edge bit deep¡ªdeeper than a normal strike could¡ªbut failed to cleave all the way through its hardened core. Yun Jin''s eyes widened slightly. Tch, tough bastard¡ª! Before he could react, the Brambleguard¡¯s massive thorned fist lashed out, catching him clean in the chest. BOOM! The force sent him flying backward, the impact rippling through his body¡ªuntil the shimmering glow of Magic Armor absorbed most of the blow. He skidded back, boots digging into the dirt, breath slightly shaken but unharmed. Had it not been for Merlin¡¯s spell, that punch would¡¯ve shattered his ribs. The Brambleguard reared back, vines shifting as it prepared another strike. But Yun Jin, undeterred, tightened his grip. ¡°Hah¡­ that actually hurt.¡± He exhaled, adjusting his stance. This time, he aimed precisely¡ªnot for a full cleave, but for a decisive kill. A single step forward. His blade traced a calculated arc. The Brambleguard jerked violently as his sword pierced straight through its core, twisting the embedded steel with a brutal efficiency. The vines spasmed, then fell limp, its form unraveling into lifeless plant matter. Yun Jin exhaled, watching as the remnants of the creature crumbled before him. ¡°That¡¯s one down,¡± he muttered, rolling his shoulders. Yun Jin turned, eyes darting to Merlin¡ª The mage was struggling, barely holding his defensive barrier as thorned vines lashed at him. The Treant and remaining Brambleguard pressed in, their sheer force causing cracks to shimmer across the protective spell. Yun Jin moved¡ªinstinct and muscle memory taking over. But just as he stepped forward¡ª Everything went dark. A sharp, unnatural silence followed. His vision vanished. His ears deafened. Pixie magic. Yun Jin clenched his jaw, immediately purging his Qi outward, pushing against the foreign magic disrupting his senses. Through the pulsing energy in the air, he felt them¡ªthree distinct flickers of movement, hovering erratically around him. But Yun Jin didn¡¯t panic. His Qi pulsed outward, rippling through the air. Three distortions. Two flickering fast. One stationary. ¡°Merlin¡ªclose your eyes!¡± he commanded, trusting the mage to react immediately. Merlin obeyed without hesitation. Then¡ª Light erupted. A radiant pulse of magic burst from Yun Jin, illuminating the air like a sudden sunrise. The Pixie Tricksters screamed. The spell dispelled their invisibility, exposing their tiny, fluttering forms midair, now frantically trying to retreat. Merlin¡¯s emerald falcons screeched. With a single motion, he sent both wind-forged birds diving. Slash. Slash. The Pixies fell, their tiny bodies dissolving into shimmering pixie dust before they could even react. And Yun Jin¡¯s vision snapped back. And he saw Merlin¡¯s barrier flickering¡ªseconds from shattering. He didn¡¯t think. He lunged. [Aura Blade.] His sword blazed with Qi as he exploded forward¡ª Light Blade Sovereign Style: First Form ¨C Arc Lightning. A thunderous burst. A straight-line blitz. The Brambleguard¡¯s thorned strike came down¡ª But Yun Jin was faster. Instead of slashing, he drove his sword forward¡ªpiercing straight through its core. A deep, jagged crack tore through the Brambleguard¡¯s wooden core, its magic unraveling as the vines convulsed in a final, desperate attempt to hold itself together The monster twitched violently, its vines spasming, as the blade¡¯s Qi surged inside, unraveling its magic. Then¡ª Boom. The Brambleguard collapsed, its body crumbling into lifeless wood and vines. Yun Jin exhaled, flicking his sword clean. Behind him, Merlin stumbled forward, his legs shaky as he caught his breath. ¡°Hah¡­ Hah¡­ That was¡ªtoo close.¡± Then¡ª THUMP. A deep, resonant vibration rolled through the air. Yun Jin¡¯s grip tightened on his sword. Merlin stiffened, his breath hitching. Another step. THUMP. The ground trembled beneath them. Leaves shuddered. The air felt heavier. Then it emerged. Towering over the trees, a ten-meter-tall wooden giant loomed into view. Its bark-covered body creaked with every movement, its hollowed eyes glowing faintly with an eerie green light. Vines slithered along its limbs, tightening like cords of muscle as it took another slow, earth-shaking step forward. [Treant LV.10] Treant Protector Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. The Forests Grasp The forest seemed to breathe. The trees whispered with unseen voices, their leaves shifting without wind. The very air felt thick, charged with unseen energy¡ªwaiting, watching. Yun Jin followed the retreating vines deeper into the dungeon, his boots sinking slightly into the soft, moss-covered ground. The eerie glow of bioluminescent fungi flickered along the bark of twisted trees, casting distorted shadows. The remains of the Treant lay behind him, its massive form now nothing but lifeless wood. Then¡ªa presence emerged. She did not step into view. She simply¡ªbecame. Her body rose from the gnarled bark of a massive tree as if she had always been a part of it, flowing like liquid wood. Her frame was lithe and elegant, her skin a smooth blend of bark and verdant green, shifting with an unnatural grace. Golden, luminous eyes blinked open, unblinking, unhurried. Vines curled and slithered around her form like living garments, ever-moving, ever-shifting. A Dryad. [Dryad LV.15] Yun Jin¡¯s grip on his sword tightened, his stance firm as his gaze locked onto the figure emerging from the ancient bark. His fingers curled around the hilt, steady but tense, prepared for whatever was to come. "So you¡¯re the one pulling the strings," he said, voice calm but edged with focus. The Dryad did not answer. She tilted her head slightly, those golden, luminescent eyes reflecting the dungeon¡¯s dim glow. There was no rage, no fear¡ªjust a quiet amusement, the kind that sent a subtle chill down the spine. Not a beast, not a warrior¡ªshe was something else. She watched him the way a cat watched a struggling insect, intrigued but indifferent. There was no urgency in her stance, no sign of distress. As if she already knew how this would end. Then, she hummed. Not a sound¡ªsomething deeper. A pulse in the air, a shift in the very space around them. A vibration that settled into Yun Jin¡¯s chest, not a direct attack, but a suggestion. A whisper of something he couldn¡¯t quite place. Then, beneath his feet¡ªmovement. His gaze flicked downward. The ground itself was changing. Thin, near-invisible tendrils slithered outward, threading through the earth like veins beneath the skin. They were faint¡ªso faint they could be mistaken for nothing more than the slow growth of plants. But Yun Jin wasn¡¯t blind to danger. His instincts flared. It wasn¡¯t just the Dryad. It was everything. Not just the trees. Not just the vines. The entire forest was an extension of her will. Every root, every blade of grass, every twisting branch. She wasn¡¯t bound to a single form. She was the battlefield. This isn¡¯t just a fight. It¡¯s a hunt. And yet, Yun Jin did not back down. His grip tightened, his breath steady. The thrill of battle coiled in his chest, bright and sharp. His mind, once calculating, sharpened into something simpler. A single thought. Cut her down. [Activated Mana Eyes.] The world shifted. The dense foliage, the towering trees¡ªhe no longer saw them as obstacles. His vision cut deeper, peeling back layers of the Dryad¡¯s magic, revealing the intricate web of mana that pulsed beneath. A network of raw energy flowed through the forest, but at its center¡ªthere. A flicker of golden light. A core. A single point where her power condensed, pulsing like a heartbeat. Found you. Yun Jin moved. Light Blade Sovereign Style: First Form ¨C Arc Lightning. His body blurred, the world breaking into streaks of motion. Qi surged through his blade, condensing into a single, piercing thrust¡ª Straight for the core. But¡ª Nothing. His blade struck air. Yun Jin¡¯s eyes sharpened. She hadn¡¯t dodged. She hadn¡¯t even moved.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. But the core¡ª It was gone. A flicker of golden light pulsed inside another tree, farther away. Realization clicked into place. She can move it? Not just a shifting body. A shifting heart. The Dryad¡¯s true form wasn¡¯t bound to a single place. She wasn¡¯t a target. She was a presence, a spirit woven into the very fabric of the forest. And Yun Jin had just wasted an attack on a decoy. A laugh echoed through the trees. Light. Amused. Then¡ªthe forest moved. Vines lashed from every direction, weaving a cage around him. Yun Jin¡¯s body reacted before thought could form. His stance shifted. Light Blade Sovereign Style: Fourth Form ¨C Gale Rend. He twisted, pivoting mid-step, his sword carving through the air in a seamless arc. A storm of cutting wind erupted from his blade, Qi flaring outward in a burst of raw force. The vines split apart, shredded mid-motion, their severed remains spiraling into the mist. For a moment¡ªjust a breath¡ªhe had space. But it came at a cost. Yun Jin exhaled sharply, his muscles straining, his breath coming shorter than before. He could feel it now¡ªthe weight in his limbs, the slow drain of energy. Not exhaustion. Not yet. But it was close. And the Dryad had already begun her next move. -- The golden spores spread like a blooming flower, unfurling in mesmerizing spirals. They danced unnaturally, curling toward him with deliberate purpose, as if drawn by something deeper than mere movement. Yun Jin¡¯s instincts screamed. His body responded before his mind had fully processed the danger. He kicked off the nearest tree, twisting mid-air as the mist reached out. His momentum carried him backward, avoiding the densest part of the cloud¡ª But it wasn¡¯t enough. The first tendrils of golden mist curled around him, barely brushing against his exposed skin. It clung to him. Seeped in. And then, the sensation hit. It wasn¡¯t the sharp, burning agony of venom eating through flesh. It was something worse. A slow, creeping heaviness spread through his limbs, dull and relentless. The tension in his muscles began to unwind against his will, as if his own body no longer belonged to him. His vision blurred. The edges of the world flickered like heat distortion. His movements, once fluid and precise, felt sluggish. It¡¯s not just poison. It was sleep. A sedative, pulling at his awareness, numbing his reflexes, slowing him with each passing second. Yun Jin exhaled sharply. No. Focus. Control. Forcing his Qi into motion, he activated Qi Breathing, pushing the foreign toxin out like squeezing water from drenched cloth. The fog in his mind lifted slightly. The creeping drowsiness receded, but not completely. His limbs still felt slow, like wading through knee-deep water. Not enough. The vines struck. They came from every angle, weaving through the forest like hunting serpents. The attack wasn¡¯t reckless¡ªit was precise. Calculated. Each strike aimed not just at him, but at where he would move next. He twisted mid-air, blade flashing¡ª[Aura Blade]. A clean, precise slash severed the first vine before it could wrap around his leg. But for every tendril he cut, two more took its place. She wasn¡¯t giving him room to breathe. Yun Jin''s boots hit the ground, but the moment he landed¡ªhe knew something was wrong. The earth was soft. Too soft. The damp soil gripped at his boots, shifting unnaturally beneath him like a living thing. Damn it. She had changed the terrain. A single misstep could cost him everything. And she was already moving to take advantage of it. From behind, a vine lashed toward his back¡ªa precise strike aimed to coil around his torso. Yun Jin barely managed to pivot, his sword intercepting at the last second. He deflected the blow, but the force sent a vibrating sting up his arm. Then, another. And another. He was dodging, cutting, evading¡ªbut the weight in his limbs made it harder with every passing moment. The Dryad¡¯s vines weren¡¯t just weapons; they were a web tightening around him. A whispering laugh rippled through the trees¡ªsoft, mocking, threaded with amusement. The forest itself seemed to shudder in response, vines slithering like living serpents, creeping from the canopy, unfurling from the ground, tightening from behind. Light Blade Sovereign Style: Fourth Form ¨C Gale Rend. Yun Jin twisted mid-motion, his body pivoting with the precision of a storm breaking upon the earth. His blade arced around him in a perfect, sweeping slash¡ªQi flaring outward like a cascading whirlwind. The force of the strike severed everything in its path. Branches snapped, torn apart by the raw pressure that followed in the wake of his blade. Even the air itself trembled, the sheer force of his movement distorting the space around him.Qi burned in his veins, his strikes moving faster, faster¡ªuntil the vines stopped coming. The air stilled. The clearing around him was littered with severed tendrils, their lifeless remains curling inward, twitching as they withered. Yun Jin stumbled. His breath hitched. A sharp burn ran through his muscles, exhaustion clawing at his limbs. His chest rose and fell rapidly, the adrenaline barely holding his body together. But his smile¡ª His smile was wide¡ªbright, unshaken. Even at his weakest, he grinned like a man stepping into his wedding night, heart pounding with exhilaration, eyes alight with reckless joy. His fingers tightened around his sword. [Aura Blade.] The weapon thrummed in response, the edge alight with razor-thin Qi. The Dryad¡¯s vines shivered, twisting as if sensing his intent. She knew. She wouldn¡¯t let him reach it. Lightning surged beneath Yun Jin¡¯s skin. His stance shifted. The world narrowed to a single path¡ªhis blade, the core, the strike that would end this. Light Blade Sovereign Style: First Form ¨C Arc Lightning! The air cracked as he shot forward, faster than before, faster than his exhausted body should have allowed. Roots and vines lashed at his path, but he wove between them, twisting, slipping through the smallest of gaps. A vine snapped toward his leg¡ªhe cut through it mid-step, never slowing. Another curled toward his chest¡ªhe dodged, just a breath away from being caught. Then¡ªhe leapt. The Dryad¡¯s core glowed before him. The sword gleamed, a flash of silver lined with pure, cutting Qi¡ª SNAP. Something wrenched his wrist backward. A vine. No¡ªdozens. They constricted around his arms, his waist, his legs, like snakes coiling around their prey. His momentum shattered. The ground rushed up to meet him as the vines yanked him down. His blade¡ªmere inches from the core. The vines snapped tight. A shudder ran through his body as the first tendrils wrapped around his skin, leeching something from him. It was slow, insidious, like water slipping through his fingers. His Qi. She was taking it from him. His sword trembled in his grasp, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him like an iron shackle. Every second, his strength bled away, siphoned into the hungry vines that coiled tighter with each passing breath. So this is my limit against you, huh? A quiet chuckle rasped from his lips, barely more than a whisper. His fingers twitched on the hilt of his sword, weak yet unwilling to let go. Good to know. Through the blur of fatigue, something flickered at the edge of his fading vision. Not from the Dryad. Behind her. The creature loomed over him, golden eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. She reveled in his struggle, watching as his body withered, feeding off his stolen energy to summon more writhing minions into the forest¡¯s embrace. But something made her pause. His lips moved. No voice escaped them. No sound carried through the still air. Yet, the words weren¡¯t meant for her. They had already reached their destination. The faintest shimmer of light. A reflection against her bark. Then¡ªheat. The air itself seemed to shift, growing thick, dry, burning against his skin. A sound rumbled in the distance. Not a war cry. Not an attack. Something deeper, more primal. A spell. Merlin¡¯s voice rang through the clearing. "FIREBALL!!" First Dungeon Reward The Dryad¡¯s final scream faded as Merlin¡¯s fireball engulfed her tree-bound core. The flames surged, turning the ancient bark to embers, and the eerie green glow that had filled the forest vanished. Silence followed¡ªdeep and absolute, as if the entire dungeon had stopped breathing. Then, the ground trembled. The roots that had spread across the battlefield cracked and crumbled, their energy drained. Thorned vines that had once been alive shriveled away, releasing their hold. The scent of burned wood and damp earth filled the air as all traces of the Dryad¡¯s power faded. A sharp chime echoed in Yun Jin¡¯s mind. [System Alert: All dungeon creatures have been defeated.] [Dungeon Cleared.] Yun Jin exhaled, lowering his blade. The tension in his body eased, though exhaustion still gnawed at the edges of his awareness. A glowing panel appeared in front of him, listing contribution points from the battle. Yun Jin¡¯s brows furrowed. Other people? His gaze swept across the battlefield. Beneath the withered vines, three lifeless bodies lay exposed. Their skin was pale, their weapons discarded beside them. They had been caught long before the fight had ended. The forest had been feeding on them. A faint, shaky breath broke the silence. Seraphine Lysval. Unlike the others, she was still alive. Her fingers twitched weakly, pressing against the ground, her chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. The dim flicker of barrier magic still clung to her form¡ªcracked and unstable, but holding. She had fought to survive. And she had barely made it. A new system prompt appeared before him. [A large amount of residual energy remains in the dungeon.] [As the highest contributor, you have the right to decide its fate.] The ground beneath Yun Jin hummed, as if waiting for his command. Strands of raw, untethered energy swirled through the air¡ªthe last remnants of the dungeon¡¯s existence, waiting to be claimed. [Option 1: Convert the remaining energy into material rewards.] [Option 2: Absorb the energy to strengthen you only] [Option 3: Distribute the energy among surviving contributors.] The energy pulsed around him, waiting for his choice. Yun Jin exhaled and selected Option 3. The energy shifted, splitting into portions based on the recorded contribution. The moment the energy touched his body, he felt it surge through his meridians, spreading like liquid fire in his veins. It was pure¡ªpurer than anything he had ever experienced. Even his master''s energy did not feel this refined, this potent. His very core trembled under the infusion, and in an instant, his strength grew exponentially. [Level Up: Level 12 ¡ú Level 14] [Aura Blade: rank up! D- ¡ú D] [Mana Manipulation: rank up! E- ¡ú E] His body pulsed with newfound power. His Qi felt denser, sharper, and his muscles felt lighter, as though the weight of past exhaustion had been lifted. His reflexes sharpened, his perception heightened. He clenched his fists, sensing the difference in his very being¡ªas though he had shattered an invisible limit. [Reward Distribution Completed] [Obtained: Dryad Heart (Age: 235 years) (Rank B+)] A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. A potent material for both magical and physical enhancements, provided it is properly refined. Merlin gasped in excitement. "A Dryad Heart of this age?! This is a treasure beyond belief!" His eyes shimmered with admiration as he secured the massive Treant Heart he had received. Though larger in size, the mana within it lacked the sheer quality of Yun Jin''s reward. Yun Jin turned toward Seraphine, only to see blood swelling from her mouth. Her body trembled violently, her breath growing ragged. The damage she had sustained from prolonging her magic had reached a critical point¡ªher magic circuits were completely burned out. If left untreated, she would die. Without hesitation, Yun Jin knelt beside her, pressing his palm against her core, channeling his Qi into her failing body. The warmth of his energy surged through her veins, stitching together the broken pathways. Color returned to her face, her breathing steadied¡ªbut her magic circuits remained beyond repair. Even though he had saved her life, she would never wield magic again. Even living a normal life would be an immense challenge. The realization made Yun Jin shudder. This could have been me... But he quickly shook off the fear. To grow stronger, he had to take risks. That was the only way. He moved to examine the bodies¡ªnot to loot, but to identify them. He retrieved their Adventurer Cards, all marked with Rank D. With a heavy heart, he closed their unseeing eyes before sitting down to recover his energy. Meanwhile, Merlin gleefully summoned an earth golem to gather the battlefield¡¯s spoils¡ªPixie Dust, Sap, and remnants of the Treant. After a while, Yun Jin turned to Merlin. "Alright, time to move. The golem will carry this girl." Merlin finished putting everything in his backpack, nodded, and ordered the golem to gently carry Seraphine. And as for Yun Jin, without a hint of hesitation or disgust, he lifted all three bodies into his arms. "Let¡¯s go back to town." Merlin saw it then¡ªgrief etched into Yun Jin¡¯s face. Death had once been a rare sight in Yun Jin¡¯s peaceful world. But here, three people had died fighting to stop a dungeon¡¯s expansion. It made Yun Jin sad. -- The town stared in shock at the sight¡ªa boy carrying three lifeless bodies, a golem bearing a wounded woman, and a man in bloodstained, tattered clothes. The sorrow on Yun Jin¡¯s face weighed heavier than the bodies in his arms, and the townsfolk instinctively stepped aside, their voices hushed in the presence of such raw grief. At the church, a fiery-haired sister greeted them¡ªbut without hesitation, she rattled off a price list in a practiced, impassive tone. "Corpse disposal: 50 gold each. Ceremony: 200 each. Cremation: 500. Burial: 1,500." The words rang cold and mechanical, as if she were discussing goods rather than lives lost. A sudden sharp pain struck her neck. She instinctively reached up, her fingers trembling, as she met Yun Jin¡¯s cold, unyielding stare. His gaze was like a sharpened blade pressed against her throat, his expression unreadable yet heavy with restrained fury. Her face turned as pale as the corpses he carried. Before the tension could escalate, a calm yet commanding voice broke through the silence. Mother Venara stepped forward, her presence serene yet firm, and bowed slightly in apology. "Forgive her bluntness," Venara said, her voice warm but laced with exhaustion. "Times are difficult, and kindness has become a luxury some of us can no longer afford. Merlin, take the girl inside for treatment." Yun Jin exhaled slowly, his emotions stirred by the quiet understanding that lingered behind Venara¡¯s blindfolded gaze. There was no false sympathy in her words¡ªonly the weight of someone who had seen too much suffering. "What is it that you truly wish for them?" she asked softly. Yun Jin bowed his head. "I want their families to mourn their deaths." The words felt heavier than he expected. He had said them instinctively, but as they left his lips, a quiet ache spread in his chest. If he had to sell the Dryad''s heart, the Treant¡¯s remnants, or anything else to ensure these fallen warriors returned home, he would do so without hesitation. Still, the thought unsettled him. Would he truly be able to afford it? If not, was he willing to carry the body himself across miles of road? The thought lingered¡ªhe had never been able to mourn his own family. After the massacre, he had never seen them again, never had the chance to grieve, never had the closure of a proper farewell. He refused to let that happen to others. He had never been able to mourn his own family. After the massacre, he had no graves to visit, no remains to honor. Just an empty void where his past once stood. Would these people¡ªstrangers to him¡ªat least have that closure? Mother Venara regarded him with quiet understanding, but her expression turned solemn. "We will notify their families where we can, but for those from outside this town, the responsibility falls to you." Yun Jin hesitated before handing over the adventurer cards. She retrieved an orb from her robes¡ªsimilar to the ones used by the Adventurer Guild¡ªscanning each card with practiced ease. "Two of them are from this town. We will inform their families free of charge. The last one... you''ll have to decide whether to send a letter or bring him home." Yun Jin¡¯s grip tightened. A letter might never reach its destination, and even if it did, how many would come to claim the fallen? He knew the answer. He had no intention of leaving it to fate. Venara sighed, knowing the burden he had just placed upon himself. "Transporting a body is costly. No merchant will want to carry the dead, and hiring a private escort will be no less than 2,000 gold." "I''ll take him home myself." Yun Jin exhaled. His mind raced. He thought about selling the Dryad¡¯s heart and whatever spoils they had recovered. If it wasn''t enough, then he would carry the body himself, step by step, if that was what it took. Yun Jin exhaled, pushing the weight of his thoughts aside. He would figure it out. He always did. Then, a deep, refined voice cut through the somber air. "Consider it paid, Mother Venara. The fastest you can arrange." An elegant silver-haired man in a formal suit strode forward, his presence effortlessly commanding. The chest of his coat bore a familiar emblem¡ªthe same one Harun had given Yun Jin. A small smile tugged at his lips as he observed the young warrior. "Nice to meet you, warrior. Or should I say... Yun Jin?"