ã€ŠMana Unleashedã€‹


 1. Integration

    "Final ten seconds give it everything, come on! One two slip two" Jason''s coach called out.

    Jason punched the bag producing a crisp snap, exhaling with each hit. Today''s session felt really weird for him, his whole body was acting up, his adrenaline kept spiking and random pains erupted from his body throughout his workout.

    He''d been training MMA through his university for 3 months now, being a freshman at AUT he thought it would be a good way to make friends. Not that he made many. However, punching the bag and pads kept his head clear and was great exercise - he was in the best shape of his life.

    Jason was a typical introvert, he enjoyed keeping to himself and having his own space and independence, being 18 years old and 6'' tall he didn''t particularly stand out in any way. He wasn''t one of those weirdos who have no friends, he just chose to keep his circle tightly knit, things were always easier that way.

    As the class wrapped up, Jason headed to the shower rooms to clean himself up and get changed for his morning lecture on ''introduction to programming''.

    After a nice hot shower, now in his favorite white sweats he headed off to class, buying an energy drink on the way.

    - 2 hours pass and the lecture is over -

    "Thank goodness that''s over." Jason thought to himself. "I don''t know what it is about this lecturer but it''s like they spend 30 minutes on an easy topic" (don''t they all)

    Jason stood up and headed out of the lecture hall when all of a sudden these words appeared in the sky for all to see:

    "WARNING: SYSTEM INTEGRATION BEGINNING: MANA UNLOCKED"

    Out of nowhere a pressure Jason had never felt seemingly occurred ubiquitously as if gravity had suddenly strengthened. Jason grit his teeth and resisted this pressure til he felt he would collapse. About 10 seconds later the intense pressure disappeared and in it''s place Jason saw a screen in front of him:

    Name: Jason Cole

    Level: 1

    Species: Human

    Health: 3

    Agility: 3

    Endurance: 3

    Strength: 2

    Mana: 2

    "What the hell is this" Jason muttered to himself...

    "AHHHHH" a student screamed in the distance, the sound of her shrill awoke Jason from his daze as he raced towards the sound of terror.

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    As he came around the side of the building the image in front of him made his knees weak. One of his classmates from the lecture earlier had been grabbed by an ant the size of a dog. Her arm looked like it''d been completely crushed and she was being dragged off towards some unknown location.

    Jason looked more closely at the seemingly large insect and saw above their head was a window that read Level 3 Carpenter Ant

    Although nervous to his core, morally he couldn''t leave this girl alone to be eaten, especially because she''d fainted due to the bite and couldn''t defend herself. As he''d seen the state of her arm, Jason deduced that it must have an incredibly strong bite and it''s size had somehow manifested due to the announcement still boldly hanging in the sky.

    Jason sprinted towards a classroom that was in the midst of being built and grabbed a single rebar from a pile on the ground, now equipped with a weapon he dashed towards the creature now dragging the unconscious girl towards an ally and bashed it in the head.

    The unsuspecting ant suffered a critical hit due to being focused on taking the girl away and lost it''s balance. It turned to look where it had been hit from and saw Jason with the rebar in hand.

    It instantly released the girl and dashed towards him. Most untrained people would turn and run but Jason could tell that the insect was injured as he''d hit it with full force. After seeing what the ant''s pincers could do he didn''t want to fight it head on and instead dashed towards the side avoiding the insect''s weapon and swung towards the ants eye, blinding it.

    Yellow fluid spilt out and it''s antennae twitched as it was heavily injured. Jason took this opportunity to bash it in the head once more, killing it.

    As it keeled over, a white gas seeped from it''s body making it''s way to Jason''s heart. On arrival it made it''s way into his body rejuvenating him.

    System Notification: You have slain Level 3 Carpenter Ant:

    + 4 endurance, + 2 health, + 1 agility, + 1 mana, + 3 strength

    Level Up! x2

    All stats + 2, Unassigned stats: 4

    New Passive Skill Unlocked:

    Hunter''s Instinct Level 1

    Jason looked at his status which appeared below him again and now read...

    Name: Jason Cole

    Level: 3

    Species: Human

    Health: 5

    Agility: 6

    Endurance: 9

    Strength: 7

    Mana: 5

    Active Skills: 0/5

    Passive Skills:

    Hunter''s Instinct Level 1 - Enhances combat sense, reaction speed, and the detection of weak points

    "I must be dreaming" Jason thought to himself, "this is absolutely crazy, but no wonder I could defeat something that''s a higher level than me, it must be because it had lots of endurance and not much power."

    "I definitely feel stronger now, but first I should take this girl to the infirmary."

 2. Infirmary

    Jason raced towards the infirmary, carrying the unconscious girl in his arms. He noticed more and more blood gushing out, even though he had created a tourniquet with his shirt around her bicep. She needed proper first aid immediately.

    The entire campus was in complete chaos, people were screaming, smoke was coming from buildings, and bodies were laying on the ground dead. These monster like insects were causing carnage, attacking everything in site.

    Luckily Jason knew the way to the infirmary as he''d been there before when one of his friends forgot their inhaler and was having breathing problems.

    With the rebar rod tucked into his belt he continued making his way towards help. As he surveyed the area in front of him, he saw two black ants attempting to break their way into the infirmary.

    "This must have something to do with the system, I suspect the mana must have transformed the medicine, and they''re attracted to the scent" Jason deduced to himself.

    As he slowly approached them from behind, about 20 meters away he noticed the same window hovering above the ants head

    1 x Level 5 Worker Ant

    1 x Level 7 Worker Ant

    Jason slowly crept closer when out of nowhere colored lights appeared on the two ants, there were more on the lower leveled ant, mainly situated where it''s ligaments, and joints were positioned as well as on it''s eyes. However the stronger Ant only had two faint lights on it''s eyes.

    Understanding the situation, Jason realized it must have something to do with his passive ability he received - being able to detect weak points.

    What riddled him is why one ant had more weak points than the other. Once he read the description he realized:

    (Hunter''s Instinct Level 1 - Enhances combat ability, reaction speed, and the detection of weak points)

    A hunter will have great difficultly killing something that''s much stronger than it, this skill is mainly intended for hunting things around the same level or weaker than him. "This is a really good skill! Now I can determine if something is worth fighting or not - if an enemy is too strong, it''s better for me to run away. However, this girl needs help, and I''m interested to see what''s so important in the infirmary."

    As he resolved his heart, Jason placed the injured girl on a patch of grass, which was instantly stained red, and equipped the rebar rod from the side of his belt line.

    Next, he slowly crept up to the side of the level 5 ant and swung as hard as possible at the white light that appeared on it''s leg joint.

    In an instant the Ant erupted in pain, shrieking intensely as its back most left leg spasmed and swelled. It could hardly move as it struggled to stand

    Filled with a sense of accomplishment and power, Jason intended to finish the battle quickly by piercing the level 5 worker Ant through it''s eyes. As he leapt forward to land the final strike he was instantly overcome with a sense of grave danger.

    He pulled back barely missing the *SNAPPPPP* of the Level 7 worker ant''s mandibles.

    "WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT" Jason''s heart was pounding, his adrenaline spiking as he understood how lucky he was to still be alive with his head attached.

    He took a step back to calm himself and create distance, while realizing that the passive ability saved him, thanks to the enhanced combat ability he was able to react to the deadly attack.

    "There''s no way that''s something a level 7 Ant can do right? It''s got to be an ability" Jason thought to himself, instantly feeling the pressure as he didn''t know how to deal with it.

    Unfortunately, for Jason, the enraged Ant wasn''t planning on giving him time to think as it charged towards him once more.

    Jason sidestepped the oncoming Ant, and thrust his rod towards the only weak point he saw - the eyes.

    However, the level 7 Ant was faster than Jason, and instantly tilted it''s head, letting the rebar rod smack against it''s hard exoskeleton rather than hitting it''s intended target.

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    Having successfully avoided the attack, the level 7 Worker ant used it''s skill "Crunch" summoning it''s mana to empower it''s mandible.

    Jason saw the Ant''s mandible suddenly turn white and knew how dangerous this attack was, he leapt back barely avoiding the attack as he heard the loud snapping from in front of his face.

    The ant did not stop there though, it continued charging straight towards Jason hoping to crush his body between it''s pincers. Jason rolled under the attack and to the side before swinging the rod towards the Ants legs in a similar fashion as he did to the weaker one, however the attack simply bounced off the Ants legs.

    This seemed to greatly anger the Ant as such a weak being managed to strike it''s body. It instantly charged up it''s Crunch ability and launched itself towards Jason.

    "Huh, only half of it''s pincer is glowing white... is it running out of mana?" Jason thought to himself.

    He stepped out of range, dodging the strike again before returning an attack of his own which the ant simply deflected with it''s tough exoskeleton.

    "There''s nothing I can do it''s just got higher agility than me, fortunately it seems to be running out of mana though."

    Jason came up with a plan in order to survive. He instantly ran towards the first ant, who''s back leg was still spasming all over the place, and swung with all his might at the other rear leg.

    *KRAAAHHHHH* The ant erupted in pain as it''s leg was destroyed at the base.

    "Time to finish this", Jason thrust the rebar rod through the ant''s eyes, killing it in one go.

    As the gaseous white light entered his body, he instantly felt rejuvenated. This newfound strength washing away his previous worries, however he had to end this battle quickly - the girl he rescued was getting paler by the minute.

    System Notification: You have slain Level 5 Worker Ant:

    + 3 endurance, + 2 health, + 2 agility, + 0 mana, + 3 strength

    Level Up! x 1

    All stats + 1,

    Jason''s status window now looked like this:

    Name: Jason Cole

    Level: 4

    Health: 8

    Agility: 9

    Endurance: 13

    Strength: 11

    Mana: 6

    Unassigned Points: 6

    With his increased strength, and refreshed energy levels, Jason decided to end the fight. As he looked towards the remaining ant he saw more of the bright lights appear on it''s body, similar to how the ant he just killed looked.

    He ripped the pincers from the dead ants jaw and held one in each hand. Equipped with more bruiser like weaponry, he dashed towards his opponent ready to strike.

    The Level 7 Black ant shuddered as it felt more apprehensive towards fighting Jason after feeling his strength increase, alongside it''s own reduced mana levels, but there was nowhere to hide out in the open like this. The ant let out a shriek and summoned the last of it''s mana charging Crunch one final time, hoping to bite Jason''s head off.

    As his agility had increased by almost twofold after leveling up Jason saw the attack coming, easily stepping to the side dodging it, before returning a left hook of his own - pincer equipped - into the head of the Ant cracking it''s exoskeleton immediately.

    Jason chuckled to himself, while the Ant writhed in pain and embarrassment.

    Now having the upper hand, Jason chuckled to himself and took the initiative to let off a barrage of attacks on the Ant, punishing it for trying to kill him.

    With one final attack, Jason pierced the Ant through the head killing it, and once again the sweet sensation of the white gaseous light engulfed his body, empowering him bit by bit.

    System Notification: You have slain Level 7 Worker Ant:

    + 3 endurance, + 3 health, + 3 agility, + 4 mana, + 3 strength

    Level Up! x 2

    All stats + 2,

    Name: Jason Cole

    Level: 6

    Health: 13

    Agility: 14

    Endurance: 18

    Strength: 16

    Mana: 12

    Unassigned Points: 10

    Interestingly, something else dropped from the ants body. Jason hurried over and picked it up.

    "What is this? it looks like a map" He thought to himself.

    System Notification: Congratulations! You have found an explorers map, would you like to equip it?

    "Uhm yes, what does it do?" Jason said aloud.

    Instantly the map disappeared and a notification similar to the status window appeared which only Jason could see. A large map covering a 100 meter radius showed all nearby beings. Those weaker than him seemed to be represented by a green dot, anything around his strength was given a yellow, and anything much stronger was given a red dot.

    "I can look at this later, the girl needs help" Jason decided. Jason rushed into the infirmary, the girl feeling lighter in his arms due to his strength. A panicked nurse turned to him, gripping a bloodstained cloth.

    "Are you insane?! This whole place is a war zone!" Jason ignored her, laying the girl down. Her skin was pale, her breathing shallow.

    The nurse hurried over, checking the wound before pausing. Relief crossed her face.

    "You got her here just in time. Any later, and she¡¯d be dead." She glanced at the makeshift tourniquet. "Are you a med student? That was well done."

    Jason exhaled, glancing at the blood on his hands. "No, just a first aid course from some volunteering thing," he muttered.

    The infirmary was barely holding together, shattered windows, empty shelves. It wouldn¡¯t be safe for long.

    He checked his mini-map only one red dot left in the 100 meter radius. It pulsed from the top of the science building.

    Jason tightened his grip on the ant pincers. "I wonder what¡¯s waiting for me up there," he muttered.

    He had a feeling he wasn¡¯t going to like the answer.

 3. Inferno

    The day of Integration:

    As the sun began to set, Jason took another look at his mini map, realizing the red dot was situated in the top level of the science labs. He''d been inside them once before during the university tour 3 months prior.

    Although, he knew that there were plenty of rewards to be found in danger, he was still cautious about whether or not he would try anything.

    Jason cautiously approached the Science labs, not entering the building but checking the map again. He noticed that the lower levels inhabited multiple green/yellow dots, and the higher floors turned more yellow/orange. From his understanding this meant that the building had been overrun by something and the higher he went the stronger the enemies he would face.

    Interestingly, as he surveyed the building he saw ants storming inside - almost as if they were being called there.

    "There must be a queen ant or something on the top floor calling them, I''m almost certain of it" Jason thought to himself. "There''s no way I can take all those ants on at my current level, but there''s no harm in taking a look at how strong the queen ant is."

    Jason hurried over to the fire ladder, avoiding the numerous ants inside the building as he made his way to the top from the outside.

    A couple of minutes later he was outside the door to the top floor, looking through the glass window and at his mini map simultaneously. The florescent lights revealed three creatures inside.

    "It seems like there are three monsters on this floor, the Queen Ant and two soldier ants." The system confirmed this, as the status windows popped up once more:

    1 x Level 15 Queen Ant

    1 x Level 14 Soldier Ant

    1 x Level 14 Soldier Ant

    "There''s no way for me to fight them head on, and I don''t know if they have any abilities. It seems like the Queen Ant has some time of communication/mind control ability from seeing the way those ants were scurrying to get in earlier."

    As he peeped through the unlocked door Jason saw a large bottle of acetone on the shelf about 2 meters away.

    "Perhaps I can do something after all, if things go south, I can always run away." He thought to himself before climbing down the fire escape ladders and heading to the mini mart.

    <hr>

    By now the sun was beginning to disappear....

    As he entered the store, he noticed how empty it was, plenty of food was missing and there was no one tending to the til.

    "I don''t suppose anyone would keep working here given the state of things" Jason thought to himself, before swiping a lighter and heading back towards the top floor.

    On arrival, Jason kept quiet, peeping through the window until he saw the two solider ants disappear down the corridor. Realizing this was his chance Jason quietly opened the emergency exit and grabbed the bottle of acetone, walking towards the sleeping queen.

    Just by glancing at his surroundings Jason saw at least 50 eggs the size of rugby balls.

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    Jason took out his rebar rod and quietly jammed it between the corridor doors to prevent the soldier ants from getting back in for some time. Next he spilt the bottle of acetone all over the floor near the sleeping queen before flicking the lighter and igniting the liquid.

    Instantly, flames arose and the Queen woke up letting out a fierce shrill. Jason threw the rest of the chemicals onto the queen angering her further as the flames continued to spread.

    Jason took the pincers off his back and attached them to his arms once more, now prepared to fight. He charged towards the wailing queen.

    As he made his way towards her, he heard a voice in his head... "Serve me..... Serve me.... Serve me... Serve me"

    "Let me serve you my Queen" Jason spoke out loud, not noticing the pink tinge that had suddenly appeared in his eye. He slowly walked closer and closer to the Queen preparing to get eaten by her, when his foot suddenly erupted with pain waking him from his daze.

    "AH FUCK" he screamed, stomping the fire out off his boots "Did I just get controlled like those ants, that''s insane" A looming sense of danger fell upon him, as he realized this was a lot more dangerous than he''d planned.

    *SLAM* *SLAM* The soldier ants bashed their heads against the door, bending the rebar rod as they attempted to get in.

    "Shit" Jason muttered to himself, "I don''t have much time to do this."

    He readied himself again and sprinted towards the Queen Ant, pincers in hand.

    "Serve me... Serve me... Serve me... Serve me.." He heard in his head again

    "No I must fight against it... Kill her... Kill her!" His head splitting with pain as he fought against the Queen''s control.

    Jason leapt into the air, and slammed his pincers into the queens abdomen, where his Hunters Instinct told him she was weak. The pincers penetrated straight through her midsection as green juices and eggs spilt from her body.

    The Queen let out an inhuman scream as the pincers tore through her exoskeleton, destroying her from the inside while the flames engulfed her.

    *SLAM SLAM SLAM* The soldier ants were growing more agitated by the second as the corridor door was about to be broken down.

    "Time to finish this" Jason thought as he raised his pincers and slammed through the Queens head with all his might. The queens lifeless body slumped to the floor, the flames devouring her in seconds.

    The pleasant rejuvenating sensation filled through his body as he leveled up

    System Notification: You have slain Level 15 Queen Ant:

    + 3 endurance, + 10 health, + 4 agility, + 11 mana, + 3 strength

    Level Up! x 4

    All stats + 4,

    Name: Jason Cole

    Level: 10

    Health: 27

    Agility: 22

    Endurance: 25

    Strength: 23

    Mana: 27

    Unassigned Points: 18

    Ecstatic with his new power, Jason almost missed the page that was laying on the ground. He quickly picked it up before darting out the emergency door just as the soldier ants had burst down the corridor entrance.

    The rebar rod was gone now, no time to mourn it.

    While making his way down the exit, Jason took a peek at the piece of paper

    Active Skill: Level 1: Exoskeleton

    Cost: 5 Mana per activation + 1 mana per second while active

    Effect: Reinforces the user¡¯s body with a tough exoskeleton.

    Increasing Health + Strength by 20% and reducing all incoming damage by 15%

    Would you like to equip this skill? - 5 Active skill slots left (Y / N)

    "With this, I won''t need to feel afraid anymore... I accept."

    As soon as the words left his mouth the glowing page transformed into a rainbow mist and entered his heart, suddenly he felt part of his soul merge with the active skill and decided to try it out.

    "Exoskeleton" Jason commanded.

    The moment he cast the command Jason felt his mana drop as a wave of power coursed through his body. His skin tightened, taking on a new hardened texture, his bones grew longer and tougher, increasing his height to over six feet tall. His muscles hummed with newfound strength.

    Jason clenched his fist, feeling the sheer force behind every action.it was like wearing an indestructible suit of armor, except it was his own body."

    Status:

    Name: Jason Cole

    Level: 10

    Health: 32 (27+ 20%)

    Agility: 22

    Endurance: 25

    Strength: 28 (23 + 20%)

    Mana: 22 / 27

    Jason flexed his hands, feeling the raw power coursing through his veins. His gaze flicked toward the burning building, then to the darkened halls below.

    A grin spread across his face. The ants fate had been sealed

 4. Survivors

    As the moon climbed into the night sky, Jason stepped out from the burning building, his body aching with exhaustion.

    "That place is overrun with ants," he muttered, glancing at the sword in one hand and the fading parchment in the other. "I don¡¯t have the stamina or strength to clear it completely, but at least I got something useful."

    [Iron Sword] (Dropped from Level 10 Ant)

    +8 Strength (A low-grade blade, slightly dulled but still reliable.)

    Skill Slot 2: Overdrive (Lv.1)

    Effect: Converts one point of Endurance into Strength or Agility (1:1 Ratio) for up to 30 seconds.

    Jason took a deep breath, feeling the new power coursing through his body.

    Name: Jason Cole

    Level: 12

    Health: 29

    Agility: 24

    Endurance: 5/27

    Strength: 25

    Mana: 29

    Unassigned Stats: 22

    "I''m definitely a lot stronger now," Jason thought, clenching his fists.

    But strength meant nothing if he collapsed from exhaustion. His stamina was dangerously low, and he needed to find shelter before morning.

    Checking his mini-map, he spotted a cluster of green dots near the gymnasium.

    "Survivors?" he guessed, making his way toward the building¡¯s entrance.

    As he neared, he noticed the glass panes had been reinforced with wooden planks¡ªclear signs that people were barricading themselves inside.

    Just as he raised his hand to knock, a flashlight beamed down on him.

    Jason squinted, looking up at the source of the light.

    A young man, three years older than him, with blonde hair and sharp blue eyes, stood above, watching him carefully.

    "Hey, I¡¯m Luke," the man called down. "If you don¡¯t already know me, I¡¯m the student president of the university."

    "We¡¯ve set up a temporary shelter inside. Limited food, but if you need a place to stay, you¡¯re welcome to join us."

    Jason hesitated for a moment before responding. "Sure, I¡¯ll take a look."

    Luke raised an eyebrow¡ªthe response was casual, almost indifferent. Most survivors had been desperate for protection, grateful to find shelter.

    But Jason wasn¡¯t like the others.

    As he stepped inside, dozens of survivors turned to glance at him, their eyes flicking toward the bloodstains on his clothes and the weapons at his sides. But after a few moments, they returned to what they were doing, too tired or numb to care.

    "Follow me," Luke said, leading Jason toward a separate room at the back of the gym.

    Inside, three people were arguing over the remaining rations.

    "We have to start kicking people out," a red-haired guy snapped, frustration clear in his voice.

    "Or we could raid the minimarts on campus," a black-haired girl countered. "That¡¯ll buy us some time."

    Knock. Knock.

    Luke pushed open the door. "Hey guys, we¡¯ve got someone new."

    The three stopped arguing for a second, their eyes shifting to Jason.

    "This is Jason," Luke introduced. "He just arrived, but looking at the blood on him¡­" He eyed the stains, the still-wet streaks running down Jason¡¯s sleeves.

    "He¡¯s definitely fought before. And recently. He should be able to help us out," Luke said, trying to convince the others.

    "Do you have any abilities?" the girl with black hair questioned.

    Jason didn¡¯t reply. He wasn¡¯t about to reveal anything.

    "Sorry, how rude of me," the girl said with a smile. "I''m Emma, a final-year student and one of the university¡¯s student ambassadors." She crossed her arms. "I''m level 5, and my ability is ''Charm.''" She winked at Jason.

    "The redhead over here is Ryan. He¡¯s level 6, and his ability is Fire Blast."

    "Sup," Ryan said.

    Jason nodded in reply.

    "You¡¯ve met Luke. His ability is Swift Stride, which increases his agility. And over here is Hannah," she said, motioning to the last girl. "She has a healing ability¡ªit¡¯s saved us more than once."

    "We were originally having a meeting with the rest of the student ambassadors when the spiders in the room suddenly grew and attacked us. We fought our way out and ended up leveling up quite a bit."

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    "Then we guided most of the students into the gym, but now we¡¯re running out of food. So now that we¡¯ve told you about us, why don¡¯t you tell us a little about yourself?"

    "Yeah, sure," Jason replied. "I''m level 4, and I have an ability called Strengthen. It lets me increase my power¡ªsimilar to Luke¡¯s ability." He lied effortlessly. No way he was revealing his true strength.

    "Although I¡¯m not sure I want to be stuck with all these people who are too scared to fight a few insects, relying on you to feed them," he added, arms crossed. "Seems like they¡¯re just extra baggage."

    "I can understand why you¡¯d say that," Emma replied. "But you¡¯re almost as strong as us, probably stronger once you use your ability. You could do some real good here if you helped us out. We¡¯re planning on raiding the minimarts across campus. There are five of them, and they¡¯ll help everyone¡ªincluding you."

    "Yeah, I¡¯m not too sure about that," Jason commented. "I just came here to check things out. I¡¯m not really inclined to help. I was just looking for a place to stay for the night."

    "If you want to stay, you have to help us gather food tomorrow," Ryan said, arms crossed.

    "Ah, then I¡¯ll find someplace else," Jason replied, already turning away.

    Ryan¡¯s eyes burned with anger at the rejection, his pride wounded. "Fine, leave. But don¡¯t come crawling back when you¡¯re cold and hungry."

    "Ryan!" Luke and Emma snapped at him.

    Luke exhaled. "Jason, you¡¯re welcome here anytime, but like we said, we need people to help. We can¡¯t support everyone on our own."

    "Won¡¯t you help us?" Emma asked, her voice soft as she channeled her Charm skill.

    Jason felt the effect immediately. A sudden wave of compliance, of agreement¡ªit made him want to say yes.

    But then, something deep inside him resisted.

    He remembered the Queen Ant¡¯s psychic control¡ªthe sheer power she had forced upon him. Compared to that, Emma¡¯s ability felt like a mere suggestion. A trick.

    He snapped out of it, his gaze turning cold.

    "Thanks, but I¡¯ll have to refuse," Jason said, turning away.

    Emma froze, she couldn''t understand why her charm ability didn''t affect him.

    As Jason stepped into the dark, moonlit night, he checked his mini-map, heading toward the mini-mart to grab some food.

    But just as he got close, he froze.

    A red dot had appeared.

    It was moving fast¡ªstraight toward the gymnasium.

    ¡°Shit.¡± Jason¡¯s heart pounded. He didn¡¯t care enough to bring them food, but he wasn¡¯t about to let them die needlessly.

    He sprinted toward the red dot, intercepting it 200 meters away from the gym entrance.

    A loud, bone-rattling buzz filled the air.

    Then he saw it¡ªa two-meter-tall black-and-yellow wasp, its giant stinger dripping with green venom.

    Level 14: Elite wasp

    Jason drew his blade.

    The monster screeched, its red eyes flashing with aggression, before firing a volley of acidic pellets from its stinger.

    Jason rolled sideways, dodging as the green liquid sizzled against the pavement, burning holes straight through it.

    ¡°Yeah¡­ definitely can¡¯t let that touch me.¡±

    The wasp shrieked again, wings vibrating violently as it charged forward faster than Jason could track.

    Hunter¡¯s Instinct screamed at him.

    Jason barely managed to raise his sword in time, deflecting the stinger mid-air¡ªbut the sheer force sent him flying, crashing into the ground.

    Pain flared up his arms. A few grazes bled where the pavement had torn through his skin.

    He gritted his teeth. He wasn¡¯t fast enough.

    ¡°I can¡¯t fight it while it¡¯s airborne I need to get it on the ground.¡±

    His eyes darted around, searching for a way to turn the tide. Then he saw it the library, twenty meters away.

    Without hesitation, Jason sprinted. The wasp shrieked and gave chase, unleashing another barrage of acidic shots.

    Jason zigzagged through the parking lot, barely dodging, his blade deflecting some of the acid.

    The moment he dove into the building, he pressed himself against a bookshelf, controlling his breathing.

    The buzzing grew louder.

    The wasp blasted through the entrance, its crimson eyes glowing with hate for the lesser being that had dared to deflect its attacks.

    Jason peered from behind the shelf.

    No weak points.

    The wasp let out an irritated screech before spitting acid randomly, dissolving bookshelves, sending paper flying.

    Jason stayed motionless¡ªuntil the bookshelf next to him was hit, collapsing instantly.

    He was exposed.

    Jason gritted his teeth.

    ¡°No more holding back.¡±

    He activated Exoskeleton.

    His body grew taller, his muscles hardened, and his agility surged as he dumped 12 of his 22 stat points into Agility, with the remaining 10 into Mana.

    Health: 35 (29 + 20%)

    Agility: 36

    Endurance: 27

    Strength: 30 (25 + 20%)

    Mana: 34/39

    Unassigned Stats: 0

    A rush of power surged through his veins.

    Now he could see it.

    A single white weak point at the base of the wasp¡¯s stinger.

    ¡°One shot. That¡¯s all I need.¡±

    Jason dashed forward, sword raised.

    But the wasp reacted instantly.

    It twisted mid-air, dodging effortlessly before beating its wings, creating a violent gust of wind that sent books and debris flying.

    Then, it lunged, stinger aiming straight for Jason¡¯s heart.

    Jason barely managed to deflect it, his blade scraping against the hardened stinger but the force sent him skidding backward.

    Even with his enhanced body, Jason was barely keeping up. 20 seconds left before his mana ran out.

    He lunged again, swinging at its weak spot. Again, the wasp dodged effortlessly, countering with a rapid-fire flurry of stinger strikes.

    Jason¡¯s Exoskeleton absorbed some of the impact, but not all. He could feel his arms growing heavy. The wasp buzzed back, preparing another acid shot.

    Jason dove for cover, but... Ssshhhhhhhhhh. A splatter of acid grazed his back. His body burned. The pain was unbearable, even with Exoskeleton, it felt like his flesh was melting.

    He had 10 seconds remaining until his mana depleted. Jason clenched his fists. He had no choice but to give it his all.

    ¡°Overclock.¡±

    A rush of burning energy exploded through his body. His last 15 points of Endurance instantly converted into Agility.

    His vision blurred and his body felt like fire, but he was faster, much faster.

    The wasp lunged again but this time Jason moved first, faster than the wasp could react. His blade sliced straight through the white weak point at the base of its stinger. The wasp shrieked, its movements sluggish and panicked.

    Jason didn¡¯t let it breathe. With blinding speed he slashed across its thorax sending green insides splattering.

    However the wasp was a warrior, and before Jason could retreat, it thrust its broken stinger forward, piercing his left arm.

    Jason gritted his teeth, suppressing a scream. The pain was unbearable. His left arm felt like it was on fire but he wasn¡¯t done. With every ounce of his remaining strength, Jason drove his blade deep into the wasp¡¯s abdomen, twisting.

    Green fluid gushed out, the wasp¡¯s wings sputtering. The creature screeched in agony, desperately trying to escape.

    Jason wouldn¡¯t allow it. He lifted his blade one final time and decapitated it.

    The wasp¡¯s massive corpse crashed to the floor.

    Jason staggered, barely standing.

    Then, a small parchment materialized before him, he reached out to grab it, stuffing it into his bloodstained shirt pocket.

    His vision blurred.

    Poison. Exhaustion. Mana depletion.

    He collapsed.

 5. Spoils of the battle

    Day 2:

    His eyes opened.

    "What? Where am I?" Jason asks confused, the dim light of the gymnasium flicker in his eyes. He tries to sit up, his body achey but definitely in a better state than the fight."

    Jason looked at his left arm, expecting to see a gaping hole where the stinger pierced him, yet.. there was nothing?

    "Looks like you finally woke up mister" Hannah said chuckling. "You almost died last night, I knew you should''ve stayed with us, what were you thinking, that wasp must have been level 7 or something, for you to barely defeat it at your level."

    Jason laughed internally, she hadn''t seen the fight so she wouldn''t know how powerful it really is.

    "What happened?" he asked.

    "Well we heard the buzzing, and the commotion and thought you were most likely being attacked, when we arrived we saw you lying next to the dead wasp. You were poisoned and unconscious so I used my ability and healed you, as best as I could."

    "You''re lucky we found you before something else did" Luke added from across the room with his arms folded.

    "There were a bunch of other monsters we killed last night while you were unconscious, we all leveled up quite a bit defending this place. Speaking of finding things, look what loot you picked up when the wasp died." He tossed a pair of boots towards Jason.

    They had a tinge of blue highlighting them. "They seem pretty high quality too, better than the weapon I picked up from killing the spiders." He smiled as he showed Jason his own personal dagger, "it seems like the weapons and skills we get have something to do with how we fight and what we killed. My dagger is in the shape of one of the spider legs, and gives me increased agility when stabbing."

    "Oh interesting" Jason replied as he glanced at the boots.

    [Agility Boots] (dropped from level 14 elite wasp)

    + 10 agility

    They must not be able to see what it dropped from, otherwise they would have known I fought a level 14 monster, Jason thought to himself as he equipped the boots.

    "Nice, now I''ll be as fast as you Luke", he joked.

    "Yeah yeah, you''re lucky I didn''t steal them for myself" Luke replied teasingly.

    "Anyways, we''re about to leave to go get raid the mini marts so you stay here and rest up", don''t bother running away either since you''re not fully healed. When Hannah gets enough of her mana back to heal you, she''ll finish off the job."

    "Thanks, I owe you guys one." Jason responded.

    "If anything, we''re the ones that owe you, If that wasp had found us in here many people would be injured if not dead" Hannah replied, standing up to leave.

    Once they''d left the room Jason reached into his pocket searching for the parchment paper. He distinctly remembered leveling up and reaching for the skill before passing out.

    His fingers grasped the thin sheet and pulled it out, the words that he read shocked him to the core.

    Active Skill: Level 1: Gravity Shift

    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    Cost: 3 Mana per second

    Effect: Increase or decrease gravity on yourself up to 2x

    Would you like to equip this skill? - 3 Active skill slots left (Y / N)

    Jason stared at the glowing text, his mind racing with possibilities. "Increase or decrease gravity on myself¡­?" He muttered under his breath.

    The ability to manipulate my own gravity? He could get faster. He could hit harder. This would change how he fought completely.

    Without hesitation, he said yes.

    A faint, invisible force wrapped around his body, like an unseen weight pressing and lifting at the same time.

    He clenched his fists, checking his updated Stats:

    Name: Jason Cole

    Level: 14

    - Health: 39

    - Agility: 57 (47 + 10)

    - Endurance: 36

    - Strength: 34

    - Mana: 48

    Unassigned Points: 4

    "Wow, killing that wasp increased my stats by so much..."

    Passive Skills:

    Hunter''s Instinct Level 2 - Enhances combat senses, reaction speed, and the detection of weak points

    Active Skills: 3/5

    1) Exoskeleton

    Cost: 5 Mana per activation + 1 mana per second while active

    Effect: Reinforces the user¡¯s body with a tough exoskeleton.

    Increasing Health + Strength by 20% and reducing all incoming damage by 15%

    2) Overdrive

    Effect: Converts one point of Endurance into Strength or Agility (1:1 Ratio) for up to 30 seconds.

    3) Gravity Shift

    Cost: 3 Mana per second

    Effect: Increase or decrease gravity on yourself up to 2x

    Jason got up from his makeshift bed, eager to test his new ability. He started by reducing gravity on himself, then jumped with full force. Instantly, he exploded into the air, soaring higher than he expected, barely stopping himself from slamming into the ceiling.

    This is insane. Jason¡¯s eyes widened as he landed lightly on the ground. With this skill, I¡¯m on a completely different level.

    Fueled by his excitement, he decided to increase his gravity and test his strength. His body felt heavier, more powerful, his footsteps thudding against the gym floor like weights had been attached to his legs. He threw a punch, and the sheer force behind it was staggering¡ªif he¡¯d had this ability against the wasp, it would have been obliterated in a single hit.

    Jason smirked, confidence swelling inside him.

    Then he threw another punch, this time at full power. Pain shot through his arm. He stumbled slightly, breathing heavily. His body wasn¡¯t strong enough to support double his weight¡¯s force yet. He was close, but not quite there. "I need more strength first." He thought aloud.

    He shook off the discomfort, still thrilled with his progress. His mind raced with tactical applications for Gravity Shift, especially how it could enhance his swordplay.

    Just as he sat back down, thinking through his next move, his mini-map flickered. New dots appeared.

    They were moving fast straight toward the group that had gone to raid the mini-mart.

    A party of ten volunteers, mostly low-level students with little combat experience.

    Jason exhaled, watching the dots closely. Surely they¡¯ll be fine.

    But then he remembered, Hannah was low on mana.

    The ambassadors had apparently leveled up quite a bit last night, however what might be considered easy for him could be lethal for them. Jason picked up his worn sword and dashed out of the gym.

    He arrived just in time to see them engaged in battle a pack of level 10 mutated wolves had surrounded them.

    The ambassadors were holding their own, but the lower leveled students were struggling to survive with limited fighting experience and skill

    Jason clenched his jaw. He had no interest in wasting his time on weaklings who would only drain his resources.

    But¡­ he wasn¡¯t raised to stand by and let people die when he could do something about it. With a sigh, Jason sprinted into battle.

    The wolves harassing the helpless students were only Level 10, plus they hadn''t fought stronger enemies since the beginning like he had. Perhaps they were similar to the ambassadors but nothing compared to him.

    His sword flashed, cutting through the pack with effortless precision. One slice, one kill.

    The ambassadors, meanwhile, were handling their side of the fight.

    Emma activated her Charm ability, disorienting a wolf before using her second skill to shoot a thorn into it''s chest, killing it.

    Luke danced around his enemies, his agility-based skill allowing him to move like a blur, weaving between attacks before slashing with his dagger.

    Ryan did his best to damage the remaining wolves with his fire blast skill, keeping the other students behind him, trying to defend as many as possible.

    The battle wasn¡¯t over yet, but with Jason here it wouldn¡¯t last much longer.

 6. Mutated King Wolf

    Since Jason''s arrival to the battlefield, the situation changed completely. The grey bodies of the mutated wolves fell to the ground one by one. Bodies crashing against the pavement, staining it with dark red blood. The battle was officially over, few injuries but zero casualties.

    The students were exhausted, panting, gasping for air as they weren''t used to fighting for their lives, decades of comfort could not be erased immediately. They weren''t useless, they just weren''t strong enough yet.

    Jason flicked the blood off his sword, glancing towards the others.

    Ryan stood nearby, sweat dripping from his forehead, but his fire was still burning faintly in his palm. Luke''s dagger was fractured, ruined from the tough hide of the wolves. His chest rising and falling as he caught his breath back.

    Emma wiped the sweat off her forehead, her charming aura deactivating now that the fight was over.

    They had all survived, and they were stronger for it.

    Luke was the first to break the silence, "alright everyone, let''s see what we got" as he lifted up one of the wolves, revealing a new dagger, a long curved silver blade with a black handle, much to his liking.

    The group gathered around the fallen wolves, their eyes glimmering with curiosity, there was always loot to be collected after every fight.

    Jason wasn''t expecting much, he''d spent most of the battle protecting the lower leveled students, not that any of the loot these low level wolves gave would be useful for him either.

    Ryan kneeled next to one of the larger wolves, his hands picking up a piece of parchment paper, looking as if he''d just won the lottery. "Looks like I got another skill" he announced to the others.

    [Ember Burst (Level 1)]:

    Effect: Unleashes a short range fiery explosive from the users palm - damage increases based on mana expenditure.

    "Finally! Something stronger than that weak ass fireball I''ve been using" Ryan exclaimed happily.

    "Try not to set yourself on fire" Luke chuckled, sheathing his new dagger.

    The others gathered the remaining gear, some received clawed gauntlets, others small daggers, but everyone gained experience from this battle.

    Jason received nothing, not that it bothered him, he hardly contributed plus he''d grown in other ways.

    Just as the group was about to head into the mini mart to get more medical supplies...

    Jason''s mini map flickered - a new dot appeared, and not just any dot. It was huge. Jason''s stomach tightened. Then they heard it. A low guttural growl, deep enough to shake the earth beneath their feet.

    The group froze in their tracks, eyes widened as a massive figure appeared in front of them, The Wolf King had arrived. Standing nearly three meters tall, towering over everything nearby.

    It had scarred fur, with muscles rippled beneath it''s hide, each step conveying it''s deadly intent. Then there were it''s eyes, blood red. Burning with fury at the death of it''s cubs. Now, it was out for vengeance.

    Fear crept through the air like poison. The group had just finished fighting, and although most had leveled up and recovered, they were still mentally fatigued. No one was prepared for another fight.

    Then they saw it...

    "Shit.." Ryan muttered, taking a half step back, he was the strongest here in his mind, yet he felt powerless in it''s presence.

    Lukes fists clenched. "Level 24... what do we do?"

    Hannah looked at the weaker students, their bodies were trembling. There was no world in which they were ready for this.

    Jason''s eyes however never left the Wolf King. It hadn''t attacked yet, it seemed to be watching, measuring their response. It knew it had the advantage.

    Jason took a slow, deep breath. Feeling the weight of the situation settle on his shoulders. They had no choice but to fight for their survival, they were as good as dead if they didn''t.

    The growl deepened, it''s snarls revealing razor sharp fangs, capable of piercing even metal. The wolf King wasn''t waiting. It targeted the weakest students first, lunging.

    It moved like a blur, closing the distance in an instant. It''s clawed paw, thick as a tree trunk shot forward, aimed directly at one of the nameless students.

    Jason saw it happening before anyone else did. He moved, faster than thought, faster than fear. He activated exoskeleton in a flash, hardening his bones, expanding his muscles, his body reinforcing itself for battle.

    At the same time, he activated Overdrive, swapping 15 points of endurance for agility, increasing his agility stat to 72. Finally, he reduced his own gravity. His body felt weightless, allowing him to accelerate far beyond human limits.

    Jason collided with the Wolf King mid air, slamming into it with full force.

    The beast snarled in surprise, its attack was completed halted. The impact sent shockwaves rippling outward, dust and debris kicking up around them.

    The lower leveled students who had been moments away from death, scrambled backward, their eyes wide in disbelief, they hadn''t even seen the attack coming.

    Jason gripped the Wolf King''s front legs, positioning himself under it''s jaw, locking it in place. His muscles strained, while his reinforced bones barely withstood the force. The beast was massive, but so was he now.

    This wasn''t the Jason who struggled to fight low level ants, or the Jason who almost died fighting against a wasp.

    This was a Jason who had grown stronger fighting beings beyond his level every time.

    And it showed.

    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    The Wolf King tried to push forward, using it''s overwhelming strength to crush him. Jason pushed back, his own gravity increased by two times. Locking them in a battle of raw power.

    "NOW, HIT IT" Jason roared at the others.

    Ryan was the first to step forward, after seeing Jason''s strength he didn''t want to be left behind. Flames ignited around his hands, using 75% of his mana, a concentrated explosion of fire blasted against the Wolf King''s side.

    Emma raised her hands, her eyes glowing with eerie light. Her charming effect briefly confused the Wolf King, allowing Ryan''s attack to pass through the wolf''s defenses.

    Luke activated his agility skill, weaving slashes across the beast''s exposed flank. His attacks weren''t deep, but they were fast.

    The Wolf King howled in fury, it''s muscles tensing. It wasn''t just strong, it was intelligent too. The beast realized what was happening.

    The Wolf took a second, a deep, guttural howl erupted from its throat, shaking the air with a shockwave. A pulse of dark energy spread out, washing over the battlefield.

    Jason felt the pressure in his chest immediately. Something was wrong, Ryan''s next Ember Burst fizzled out, the flames dying in his palm. Emma''s thorn ability shattered before even reaching the beast.

    Magic. Magic attacks were being nullified.

    "Shit!" Ryan shouted. "I can''t - my fire isn''t working!"

    Jason''s mind raced. The Wolf King had shut down their magic attacks, and he was in a compromised position, he couldn''t wrestle the Wolf King forever. He needed a way to end this.

    The Wolf King twisted, finally freeing itself from Jason''s grasp, chomping down at his body. Jason rolled to the side, barely dodging the strike, as he smelt the foul odor from the beast''s breath.

    Jason had no time, the fight had to end now. Giving more than his all he activated Overdrive again, funneling his remaining endurance into Strength. His muscles pulsed with raw power, his vision darkening slightly from the sheer exhaustion.

    Then... a new kind of energy surged through him, not something granted by the system. Something purely his own. A technique born from desperation and instinct.

    Jason pushed everything he had into one final strike. Squeezing out everything into raw strength, pushing Gravity shift beyond it''s limits, something that shouldn''t be possible at it''s level 2.5x Gravity.

    The pavement beneath him cracked, his body becoming more explosive than before. His muscles trembled, not just from effort, from something greater. Something new.

    <hr>

    [Self-Created Ability: Starbreak - Level 1] - By surpassing his limits, the user condenses raw strength and gravity into a single strike, dealing 250% damage.

    Cost: User is left in a weakened state for 30 minutes, recovery slows for 3 hours.

    Can only be used once every 24 hours.

    <hr>

    Jason leapt into the air, driving his sword forward.

    The blade came down like a meteor. The force of gravity itself bent around him. Time seemed to slow for everyone watching.

    Impact.

    A thunderous shockwave erupted across the battlefield, the very air shuddering under the force of the strike, his sword shattering on impact. The Wolf King didn''t just die. It was split in half.

    A clean, devastating cut ran straight through it''s massive body, continuing three meters into the earth below.

    The ground quaked, blood splattering across the battlefield.

    For a moment, there was silence. Then the system notification rang out.

    <hr>

    System Notification: You have slain Level 24 Wolf King:

    + 21 endurance, + 24 health, + 17 agility, + 13 mana, + 23 strength

    Level Up! x 6

    All stats + 6

    Name: Jason Cole

    Level: 20

    - Health: 69

    - Agility: 80 (70 + 10)

    - Endurance: 63

    - Strength: 63

    - Mana: 67

    Unassigned Points: 16

    [Passive Skill Evolution: Hunter''s instinct ¡ú Apex Predator (Level 1)]

    Condition Met: Defeat a higher level alpha predator.

    Effect: Battle instincts evolve beyond that of a normal hunter.

    Aura of Domination: Produces an aura that inflicts fear and suppression on lower leveled enemies.

    Jason¡¯s breath hitched slightly. He felt it immediately.

    A new pressure now radiated from his body, subtle but oppressive. A low, primal energy simmered beneath his skin, affecting everything around him.

    The weaker students stared at him, wide-eyed, some instinctively taking a step back. Even Ryan, Luke, and Emma felt it, though they didn¡¯t understand why.

    This was different. Before, he had instincts. Now? He was the apex predator in the room.

    <hr>

    Jason staggered. His vision blurred, limbs shaking. The backlash hit him instantly. However, thanks to leveling up, some of the burden was released.

    His muscles felt like they had been shredded from the inside out, his once reinforced boned now felt brittle. His entire body screamed out in protest.

    Ryan took a step forward, his voice barely above a whisper. "What... the hell was that?"

    Luke stared at Jason like he was something inhuman. Emma''s charm based aura flickered. For the first time in her life, she felt small in front of another human.

    The weaker students were in pure awe. Jason didn''t just win. He annihilated the Wolf King. Yet, he looked like a man who had just burned through every last ounce of strength.

    Hannah rushed over, using her healing ability to further reduce the pain Jason felt, her ability serious alleviating the aftermath of his strike.

    Jason thanked her and walked over to the wolfs corpse, eager to see what rewards he''d gained.

    As he shifted the wolves remains, his eyes immediately locked onto the first reward. A monstrous greatsword lay embedded in the remains of the beast. The blade was massive, silver black in color, its edge reflecting the faint glow of mana still pulsing within

    Wolf King¡¯s Fang (Greatsword)

    A massive silver-black greatsword, created from the fang of the Wolf King itself.

    Requirements: 60 Strength to wield.

    Effect: +20 Strength

    Jason reached out and gripped the handle. The moment his fingers wrapped around it, a deep pulse resonated through his bones. As if the weapon was designed for him. The weight was immense, and his stats were just enough to allow him to wield it.

    His muscles flexed, adjusting to the balance. It was much heavier than his previous weapon, yet infinitely stronger. Jason gave it a light swing, his body still recovering. The sheer force of the blade cutting through the air sent a gust of wind blasting through the battlefield.

    A grin tugged at his lips. This was perfect.

    The second item glowed faintly near the Wolf King''s shattered heart. A deep crimson gemstone, no bigger than a fist, but radiating pure compressed energy.

    Jason''s eyes narrowed. Recognizing it from stories he used to read, a beast core. He pulled it free form the Wolf''s corpse and held it, watching as the system reacted.

    [You have obtained: Wolf King''s Core] - Would you like to level up your mini map?

    Jason didn''t hesitate, saying yes before the core melted into his hand, as the mini map''s interface updated. Jason took a look at the new version of the screen, a map with double the radius, now 200 meters showed all life forms in detail below the First Class (Level 25)

    However, what unnerved him were the 3 black dots right at the edge of the map, something classified which he hadn''t seen before.

    Jason turned to the group, his expression unreadable. "Get the hide, claws, and bones," he said, voice even but commanding.

    They blinked at him for a moment, still trying to process what they had just witnessed.

    "You want us to¡­?" Ryan asked, still shaken. Jason gave him a sharp look. "You want weapons? You want gear? Then take what you can from the battlefield."

    His Apex Predator aura flickered for just a second, and instinctively, they obeyed.

    Luke was the first to move, slicing through the Wolf King''s hide with his new dagger. "We can use this for armor," he muttered. "It¡¯s thick, durable. Probably resistant to cold."

    The others hesitated for only a moment before following suit.

    Ryan and a few others began carving out the Wolf¡¯s claws and fangs, recognizing that they could be reforged into weapons.

    Emma oversaw some of the lower-level students gathering the meat¡ªfood was as important as weapons.

    Even Hannah, who wasn¡¯t a combatant, helped bundle the remains into makeshift carrying cloths.

    Jason took a step back, watching them work. It was slow, uncoordinated. But they were learning. At the very least, they weren¡¯t helpless anymore.

    As Jason looked over the battlefield, something inside him settled. This was just the beginning. The Wolf King wasn¡¯t the last apex predator he¡¯d have to face. There would be stronger enemies.

    Stronger monsters. Stronger people.

    And if he wanted to survive, if he wanted to thrive in this new world, he couldn¡¯t slow down now. He had to keep moving forward.

    Jason took one last look at the Wolf King¡¯s shattered remains, then turned toward the gym.

    Tonight, they would rest. Tomorrow, he¡¯d start hunting again.

 7. Reunited and First Class Trial

    Day 3:

    Jason''s eyes fluttered open, the dim light of the old gymnasium greeting him once again. The soreness in his muscles had vanished, thanks to the fifteen hours of uninterrupted sleep. As he sat up, the familiar scent of food reached him. "Welcome back to the land of the living, sleepyhead," Emma teased, handing him a plate. Two slices of toast with jam, an apple, and a banana sat atop it.

    "What time is it?" Jason murmured, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

    "Almost 4:00 PM," Emma replied, watching him with a mix of curiosity and unease. She hadn''t been able to shake the image of Jason slaying the mutated wolf. Questions burned in her mind, but she held them back. "What¡¯s your plan for today?"

    "I need to leave," Jason stated, stretching. "My younger sister lives about an hour from here I have to find her."

    Emma¡¯s expression faltered, disappointment flickering across her face. She wanted him to stay, but she knew better than to argue when it came to family.

    As Jason stepped out of his makeshift quarters, the scent of roasted meat mingled with the rhythmic scrape of stone sharpening bone. The remaining students worked diligently, crafting weapons and fortifying their defenses. Jason barely acknowledged them. It was good they were growing stronger, but he had no intention of staying.

    Ryan, stationed near a stack of supplies, turned to face him. "We''ve reinforced the entrances, stocked up on food, and armed everyone. It''s not perfect, but at least we''re not defenseless anymore."

    Luke leaned against the wall, inspecting a newly crafted dagger. "Yeah, we¡¯ve got a system now. Things are finally feeling... manageable."

    Jason gave them a short nod, tightening the straps of his greatsword across his back.

    "You''re leaving?" Luke asked, though the answer was obvious.

    Jason finished adjusting his gear before meeting Luke¡¯s gaze. "Yeah."

    Ryan scoffed. "Of course you are."

    "You don''t have to do this alone," Luke interjected. "We can come with you."

    Jason shook his head. "No. I move faster alone."

    Ryan took a step forward, irritation creeping into his voice. "We''re building something here, man. You¡¯re part of this too. Why throw yourself into danger alone? We''re stronger together."

    Jason exhaled. They didn¡¯t understand. "My sister is out there," he said evenly. "I''m going to find her."

    Ryan ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "I get it. But you don¡¯t even know if she¡¯s alive."

    Jason¡¯s eyes darkened at the thought. Unknowingly, his killing intent flared, the air growing heavy. Ryan and Luke staggered under its weight. Jason quickly withdrew it, realizing his mistake. "Sorry," he muttered, helping them back up. "But I have to go. I know she¡¯s alive."

    Luke sighed, extending a hand. "Just don¡¯t die."

    Jason clasped it briefly before stepping out of the gymnasium. As he glanced at his mini map, he noticed something odd, no unidentifiable dots. He wasn¡¯t sure if that was a good or bad sign, but at least he could leave without trouble.

    The streets were eerily silent, the air thick with the scent of decay. Jason moved swiftly, his enhanced mini map scanning ahead. Signs of destruction littered the city. Abandoned cars blocked the roads, windows lay shattered, and dried blood stained the sidewalks. Bullet holes pockmarked the buildings. But there were no bodies.

    His instincts flared. Something had swept through here. Then he saw them... skeletons.

    They moved sluggishly at first, hollow sockets glowing with eerie green light. But as soon as Jason drew close, they snapped to attention, rusted weapons raised.

    Jason tightened his grip on his greatsword. "So this is what¡¯s been causing the destruction."

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    The first skeleton lunged. Jason stepped forward, his blade flashing. A single, fluid stroke split the creature in half, its bones disintegrating into dust. Another charged. Another swing. Another kill. It wasn¡¯t even a fight. Jason carved through them effortlessly, his mind focused solely on one goal, his sister.

    Kaitlin Cole stood in the ruined living room, her hands trembling as mana crackled at her fingertips. She was exhausted. She had fought all night, drawing more and more monsters to her doorstep. Now, three level 14 skeleton knights surrounded her, rusted armor barely holding together.

    Her mana pulsed, desperate for release. She raised a shaking hand and whispered, "Shock Burst."

    A violent charge of electricity erupted from her body, surging through the skeletons. Their bones shattered, crashing to the floor. Kaitlin staggered back, drenched in sweat, her vision swimming. She was out of mana. She needed time to rest.

    Then¡­ a deep, guttural growl echoed through the house.

    Her breath hitched.

    The walls trembled. Something massive slammed into the front door. Then, with a deafening crash, the entire front wall exploded inward.

    A towering werewolf stepped inside, ducking beneath the broken frame. Its fur was jet black, its glowing eyes filled with hunger. Claws like daggers scraped against the wooden floor. Its breath reeked of death.

    This wasn¡¯t an ordinary beast. This was a level 29 First Class monster.

    Kaitlin¡¯s heart pounded. "No..." She was too weak to fight this thing.

    The werewolf¡¯s lips curled into something eerily close to a grin. Then, it lunged.

    Kaitlin barely raised her hands in time. "Frost Chains!"

    Thick chains of ice erupted from the ground, wrapping around the beast¡¯s limbs. It snarled as frost spread over its fur, but then, the ice cracked. The beast shattered its restraints effortlessly.

    It lunged again

    BOOM!

    Something slammed into the werewolf, sending it flying across the room. It crashed through the far wall, debris exploding outward.

    Kaitlin looked up, her eyes wide. "Jason...?"

    He didn¡¯t answer. His gaze was locked onto the werewolf, his entire body radiating bloodlust. The air itself felt heavier as his killing intent flooded the room.

    The beast shook off the rubble, its wounds regenerating instantly. Jason activated Exoskeleton. His muscles hardened, bones reinforcing. Then Overdrive. His strength surged. Finally, Gravity Shift the pressure around him doubled.

    Jason lunged.

    The impact shattered the floor, sending debris flying. The werewolf dodged at the last second, swiping its claws. Jason blocked with his greatsword, the force sending shockwaves through the house. He countered with a flurry of strikes, slashing faster than the eye could follow.

    But the werewolf healed too fast.

    Jason narrowed his eyes. He needed to inflict serious damage.

    Pouring every last point into strength, he doubled his gravity, cracking the wooden floor beneath him. His next swing carved deep into the werewolf¡¯s chest. The beast howled, its regeneration faltering.

    Then, its body glowed green.

    Its passive skill had activated Last Stand. Its agility doubled. It vanished then reappeared before Jason. A slash tore across his chest, but Exoskeleton dampened the impact.

    Jason gritted his teeth, suddenly dropping his own gravity to near weightlessness. He surged forward, grabbing the beast by the waist then slammed it into the ground.

    "NOW!" he shouted. "Frost Chains!" Kaitlin cast with the last of her mana, locking the werewolf in place. Jason leapt, his cooldown finally over.

    Starbreak. The werewolf¡¯s eyes widened¡ªits regeneration wasn¡¯t fast enough. It understood. It was going to die.

    Jason didn¡¯t hesitate. The next second, his blade tore through its chest like a falling meteor.

    Kaitlin¡¯s hands shook as she stared at Jason. She had fought for her life every second since the Integration.

    And here he was. Like something out of a myth.

    "What... the hell are you?" she whispered.

    System Notification: You have slain a First Class Level 29 Wolf King:

    + 20 endurance, + 28 health, + 25 agility, + 11 mana, + 23 strength

    Level Up! x 5

    All stats + 5

    Name: Jason Cole

    Level: 25

    - Health: 102

    - Agility: 110 (100 + 10)

    - Endurance: 88

    - Strength: 91

    - Mana: 83

    Unassigned Points: 26

    System Notification: You have reached level 25 and are eligible for your first class:

    Loading possible classes.... The system thought for a second before listing four possible classes:

    1. Swordsman

    2. Carapace Warrior

    3. Burst Striker

    4. Gravity Knight

    Hm, Jason thought to himself as he looked through the four classes, Swordsman was obviously related to his greatsword, but such a common class definitely wouldn''t be suitable in the long run.

    Carapace Warrior was definitely related to his exoskeleton, it could potentially be a choice but he still had to look through the other two.

    Burst Striker was most likely related to Overdrive, however this ability had too many shortcomings, he grew tired too easily, and if he had to fight a battle of attrition he wouldn''t last long.

    Finally Gravity Knight, this was definitely the type of Class he was looking for, something that would grant him an impressive power up.

    He made his mind up, and pressed his class.

    The moment he selected Gravity Knight, his entire body felt like it had been chained to the earth. His muscles burned, his breath became labored. Even lifting his arms took effort. Then the system notification appeared.

    [System Notification: First Order Trial ¨C The Weight of Ascension]

    Objective: Defeat 3 First-Class Monsters while under the effects of Gravity Seal within 48 hours

    Gravity Seal: Gravity Locked at three times body weight

    Jason felt extremely sluggish and slow under his seal, as he checked his mini-map it began to pulse violently, shifting as new red dots appeared. Not one, not two, but three. They weren¡¯t moving yet. But they were waiting.

 8. The Weight of Ascension - Part 1

    Day 3:

    Jason slipped onto the floor as he tried moving, his breath forced from his lungs as the weight pressing down on him felt unnatural. His muscles strained against the force as if the very world itself had turned against him. He clenched his jaw, pushing himself onto one knee. This kind of pressure wasn''t completely devastating, he''d used up to 2.5x Gravity Shift before.

    But this was different. This was constant, and he wasn''t activating it. He felt shackled to the ground. Three times his body weight, holding him down, it was simply there. He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to stand, planting his feet firmly against the ground. He refused to be stuck like this. He had no choice but to adapt.

    Jason looked at his mini map once more, the updated interface flashed continuously, a single red dot glowing in the distance, waiting for him. Jason narrowed his eyes, already knowing where it was. The graveyard. His jaw tightened.

    Dragging his greatsword behind him, he turned to Kaitlin, who stood a few feet away, her face a mix of worry and curiosity. "Stay here," he told her, rolling his shoulders. Even that simple movement felt off. His entire body was sluggish. Kaitlin frowned. "I can help".

    "You can''t" Jason said simply, his tone firm. "This is my trial. If you interfere, I might fail." Her fists clenched, but she knew he was right. She had watched him fight. This wasn''t something she could participate in. "...Fine," she muttered. "But I''m stopping anything else from getting in the way."

    Jason gave her a slight nod before pushing forward. Each step was heavier than the last, his body protesting with every movement. He had to adjust, he had to get used to this. If this was the new normal, then slowing down wasn''t an option.

    By the time he reached the graveyard, the atmosphere had changed. The air itself felt wrong. The closer he got, the more unnatural the world became. A thick, gray fog clung to the ground, swirling unnaturally around the tombstones. The sky above seemed darker, as if something was sapping the light from the world.

    Then he saw it. A lone figure standing at the center of the graveyard, towering over the landscape. The Skeleton King. It was massive, nearly three meters tall, its bones an unnatural black with streaks of glowing green veins running through them. A tattered, regal cloak hung from its shoulders, and in its skeletal grip held a massive battle mace, stained dark from past battles.

    The moment Jason stepped closer, its head turned slowly toward him, empty sockets glowing with a ghostly fire. Then it moved, the Skeleton King slammed the bottom of its mace into the ground, sending a low, echoing pulse throughout the graveyard. The fog thickened and suddenly, the sound of rattling bones filled the air.

    Jason tensed as skeletons began rising from the ground. Dozens of them. They clawed their way form the graves, armored knights, archers, and even skeletal beasts crawling from the earth, their weapons already drawn.

    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    Jason''s grip on his greatsword tightened. "Of course you can summon minions" he muttered under his breath. "That''s fair." Before they could swarm him, Kaitlin raised her hand, mana pulsing from her fingertips. "Not today." The air around her shifted, and with a sharp snap, thick frost chains erupted from the ground, snaring the first wave of skeletons.

    The ice spread, locking them in place, and before they could break free, a crackling burst of electricity surged through them, shattering them into pieces. Jason smirked. "Good." The Skeleton King took a slow deliberate step forward. Unlike the rest, it wasn''t in a rush. It didn''t need to be. It was watching, waiting for Jason to make the first move.

    Jason exhaled, forcing his body to adjust, his weight felt heavier but his instincts remained the same. The Skeleton King moved first, swinging its battle mace, cleaving through the air like a falling boulder. Jason barely managed to step aside, the ground shattering where the impact landed. The force alone sent a shockwave rippling through the graveyard, shaking the very ground beneath them.

    Jason took advantage of the opening, he launched forward, swinging his Wolf King''s Fang with all his might. Even under the weight of the seal, his sheer strength carried the momentum, the blade crashing against the Skeleton King''s ribs. CLANG! His blade bounced off. Jason''s eyes widened slightly. Reinforced bones.

    The Skeleton King swung again, forcing Jason to throw himself backward. He was too slow, the edge of the mace clipped his side, sending shockwaves of pain through his ribs. Jason gritted his teeth, rolling away before the next strike could follow. He didn''t have time to hesitate.

    He quickly cast Exoskeleton, increasing his total strength to 110 points, 11 times that of the strongest human, the increase in strength and health helped improve the weight of the seal upon his body, he felt a little more in control.

    Unable to use Gravity shift he placed half his endurance stats into agility, increasing it to 150 for the next thirty seconds.

    Somewhat in control of his weight now, Jason dashed towards the Skeleton King, ducking low under the incoming mace strike, appearing beneath its ribcage. With a sharp inhale, he activated Overdrive once more, burning the rest of his endurance for raw speed. His greatsword slashed upward, aiming for the joints, not the bones themselves.

    The impact connected. A loud crack echoed as one of the Skeleton King''s arms tore free. The massive beast staggered, but it didn''t scream or react. It simply turned its head slowly, its hollow eyes burning brighter. Then a sickly green energy erupted from its shoulder, regenerating its arm instantly.

    Jason''s stomach twisted. It had regeneration too?? The Skeleton King raised its mace with both hands now, preparing to bring it down in a devastating, final attack. But that''s when Jason saw it, the Skeleton King''s core, hiding behind the ribcage. This was where he had to strike. His body was already at it''s limits, he rolled to the floor, dodging the mace before thrusting upwards with all his might, piercing the Skeleton King''s core.

    The Skeleton King stood motionless. Then the bones collapsed, as if the string connecting them together had been cut, they hit the ground and turned to dust. Jason exhaled, his body trembling as the exhaustion crashed into him. His body was screaming after such intense work. However, the fight was finally over.

    System Notification:

    You have slain First-Class Monster: Level 30 Skeleton King

    You cannot gain any additional experience until your trial has ended.

    Jason staggered, barely catching himself, as he wanders over to the dead Skeleton King''s corpse, he picks up a vial and reads the system notification:

    Potion of the Undead: Instantly restores 65% of all attributes, but slows further regeneration by twice the amount. Jason put the vial into his back pocket, wanting to let his endurance recover naturally.

    However, the world had other plans for him, his mini map flashing red again. His second trial had arrived.

 9. The Weight of Ascension - Part 2

    Jason turned his head just in time to see something massive rise from the earth. The graveyard trembled as an enormous, gnarled tree-like monster erupts from the ground. Its roots twist like massive tentacles, tearing through tombstones and cracked earth. It''s bark is dark, with veins of sickly green mana pulsing within it.

    It''s branches creak as it moves, shifting like jagged arms, the tips sharpened into piercing stakes. Jason grabbed the vial and instantly downed it, he''d given everything to kill the Skeleton King and had no stamina left to fight again. As soon as the green liquid made its way into his body, he felt a disgusting sensation flood his muscles, his body instantly full of energy, yet in the most hideous way possible.

    Now somewhat recovered, but mentally tired from two tough battles, Jason gripped his greatsword tightly, anticipating an attack. Suddenly the tree moved, a massive root exploded out from the ground, swinging towards him like a battering ram. Jason barely dodged, rolling away as it smashed the ground where he stood, sending twigs and chunks of stone flying. This creature isn''t just going to outlast him, it was going to kill him.

    Jason took a good look at the window above the monster, revealing it''s identity:

    First Class Monster: Level 40 Corrupted Elderwood

    This was on a whole other level, something Jason had never gone against, the level 30 Skeleton King had been his highest level victory, and now he had to fight something even more powerful, while having less energy. Jason held onto his sword tightly as more and more branches whipped towards him with razor sharp edges.

    "Exoskeleton" he chanted, increasing his health and strength, as he parried and avoided as many of the branches as possible, without increasing his agility he couldn''t dodge everything. His body continuously was being whipped as the Elderwood tree toyed with him effortlessly.

    Jason grit his teeth as another jagged root tore through the air slamming into his side. His exoskeleton absorbing most of the impact, but the sheer force still sent him skidding across the broken graveyard. His greatsword dug into the dirt, carving a deep trench as he struggled to steady himself.

    He didn''t have time to breathe, the Corrupted Elderwood wasn''t slowing down. More roots surged from the ground, wrapping around broken tombstones like serpents before lunging at him. Jason hunched low, dodging left, but another thorn branch lashed across his shoulder, leaving a deep gash. Pain flared in his muscles, but he forced himself forward.

    Kaitlin, standing several meters away watched in horror. "Jason!" she yelled, but she knew she couldn''t interfere. She clenched her fists, mana flickering around her. She could freeze the ground, she could blast it with electricity , but nothing she had would be enough to damage it, let alone kill it.

    Jason exhaled, dodging another barrage. He had to think, this wasn''t a normal enemy. It had insane regeneration and endurance, meaning small attacks wouldn''t do anything. The only weakness it had was that it was slow, however the attacks were constant and overwhelming. The only way to win was to destroy it in one attack.

    However, his only attack that could do it was still on cooldown for another two hours, he had to think of another way, he couldn''t dodge forever. "Add all remaining stat points into strength" He yelled. The system responded, Jason felt fresh power course through his muscles as his strength directly increased. Strength: 128 (107 + 20%)

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    With his previous experience, plus the increased strength it became easier to control his body even with the three times gravity seal. Jason instantly started slipping and weaving the corrupted strikes, parrying with his sword as he made his way closer to the main body.

    As he arrived he swung his sword with all his might in a chopping motion, hoping to slash the tree in half. The tree didn''t even bother trying to dodge, it had limited agility, however it''s health stat was monstrous. Jason''s strike cut a few inches deep, causing green ichor to spray out, yet in less than a second, the wound was healed.

    Jason''s mind raced, searching for a solution. His strongest ability was on cooldown, and his regular strikes weren''t enough. The Corrupted Elderwood''s regeneration outpaced his damage.

    Jason clenched his fists. His Exoskeleton was still active. His stats were high, but not high enough. The system had forced this trial upon him. The Gravity Seal was holding him back. But what if he used it differently?

    Jason''s eyes flickered with an idea. He had been fighting against the systems weight. What if he stopped resisting... and used it instead? He focused inward, feeling the pressure crushing down on his body. Instead of trying to move normally under the weight, he embraced it. Letting it push him down harder, feeling the force build within him. Then he redirected that force. Jason took a deep breath. "If I can''t move... then I''ll make the weight move for me."

    He instantly added his recovered endurance points into strength, reaching a whopping 190 points. The earth trembled as the force that had been restricting his movement fueled his next attack. Jason''s muscles screamed in protest, but his grip on his sword only tightened.

    As he ran the air around him warped. He''d never attempted this before, but now wasn''t the time to hesitate. He pushed all the downward force into his next strike, instead of fighting against the weight trying to control it, he used it.

    The Corrupted Elderwood sensed the change. Its massive branched reared back, preparing to defend itself. Jason stepped forward, his body was heavier than ever, but his strike would be unstoppable. A deafening crack rang out as the ground beneath him shattered. Tombstones split apart, the very graveyard sunk beneath him.

    Kaitlin gasped, feeling the mana distort unnaturally. Jason wasn''t just swinging his blade anymore, he was turning his own body into a falling meteor. This wasn''t Starbreak. Starbreak used his own manipulation of gravity to increase the force by 2.5 times. Now he was using the system to deal 3 times the impact.

    The system recognized his actions and displayed it in a window: One time use: Self created technique: Empowered Starbreak: Using the Gravity Seal as a force multiplier, deal up to 350% damage in the next strike.

    Jason''s vision blurred, but he didn''t stop, he swung with all his might. BOOOOOOOOM. The force was apocalyptic, His sword carved through the trunk like a guillotine through flesh. The impact so severe that the ground caved in, sending shockwaves through the graveyard.

    The tree''s entire top half split away, violently collapsing onto itself. The green veins within it pulsed violently, it''s regeneration trying to keep up. Jason only had one thought in his mind before exhaustion overtook him. "No, you''re not healing from this."

    The moment the tree fell, it''s roots twitched violently. It wasn''t trying to attack Jason, it was trying to burrow underground. Kaitlin''s eyes widened, she realized it was trying to escape, she didn''t hesitate, "Frost Chains!" Her ice surged outward, spreading across the battlefield, freezing the entire ground solid.

    The roots shuddered, desperately trying to break through, but the ice held firm. The Corrupted Elderwood trembled one last time as it looked at Jason. Not in hatred, not in rage, but in fear, a predator before the apex.. then it withered away.

    System Notification:

    You have slain First-Class Monster: Level 40 Corrupted Elderwood

    You cannot gain any additional experience until your trial has ended.

    Jason exhaled sharply, his entire body screaming in protest, he staggered, gripping his sword for balance. His muscles felt torn apart. Kaitlin ran toward him, panting. "Jason! Are you okay?" Jason barely managed a nod before his world slipped away from him.

 10. The Weight of Ascension - Part 3

    Jason''s eyes flickered open, his body feeling lighter, fresher than it had in days. His muscles no longer ached, and his mind was clear. "How long was I out?" he muttered, rubbing his temples as he pulled himself up.

    "Over twenty-four hours," Kaitlins voice answered. She sat nearby, watching him carefully. "You were out cold. I wasn''t sure if you''d wake up in time." Jason exhaled sharply. Less than two hours left for his trial. The weight of the system''s restrictions still pressed against him.

    Kaitlin reached into her bag and pulled out a small, black wooden ring. "This was in the Elderwood''s remains. I figured it was yours." Jason took the ring and slid it onto his finger. Immediately, a cool sensation spread through his body, as if his mana was flowing more freely.

    System Notification: You have obtained an Eldertree Ring

    Effects: Storage Ring function: 10 cubic meters of space available

    + 15 Mana and Mana regeneration increased by 20%

    A second later she handed him a glowing parchment paper. "There was this too." Jason unfolded it and read the description. A nature based skill. His lips pressed together. "You should take it," he said, pushing it back toward her. "What? It dropped from your kill though." She protested. "It suits you better." He replied.

    Kaitlin hesitated, then nodded, accepting the parchment. The scroll dissolved into particles of green light, absorbing into her body. The system recognizing her new ability.

    Active Skill 3/5: [Verdant Surge]

    Creates an area of rapidly growing vines that trap enemies and heal allies

    Cost: 6 mana per second.

    Once she finished absorbing the skill Jason noticed another item standing against the wall. A long twisting wooden staff. "A weapon?" Kaitlin picked it up and felt a surge of mana course through her. The system recognized it as a magic enhancing weapon.

    [Elderwood Staff]

    Reduces mana consumption of skills by 10%

    Jason smirked. "I guess the tree liked you more than it did me." Kaitlin rolled her eyes, but couldn''t hide the excitement as she had gained a valuable weapon. Jason stood, stretching his limbs as he checked his mini-map. Nothing. He frowned. "The system says my trial isn''t over, but I don''t see anything?"

    This meant one thing. He had to find the last First Class monster himself. With less than two hours remaining Jason set off. His movements were sharp and precise. The Gravity Seal still made him heavy, but he had fully adjusted to the restriction. His body no longer resisted, instead it worked with it.

    After searching for what seemed like an hour, he felt it. A pulse of raw, animalistic killing intent. Jason''s mini map flashed red. Then, he saw it. A massive, monstrous gorilla beast stood atop the crumbling remains of an old stadium. It was easily four meters tall, its thick fur plated with stone like armor. Every inch of it''s body screamed brute force. Jason locked onto the status window above its head

    First Order: Tyrant Gorilla - Level 35

    Jason smirked, "finally, you show up". With less than thirty minutes left to complete his trial, he had to give it his all. The Tyrant Gorilla stared at him, as if he could sense his strength, then it pounded its chest.

    A thunderous roar erupted through the stadium as the Gorilla used its skill:

    War Cry: Temporarily Increase all stats by 20%

    Jason could feel the beast getting stronger by the second. The air vibrating from the sheer force of the beast''s presence. Then, it charged. Jason barely had time to react. The massive creature moving like a blur, appearing before him with shocking speed. A boulder sized fist swung towards him.

    BOOM. Jason blocked the strike with his sword, but the impact sent him skidding back twenty meters. His arms throbbing from the sheer force of the attack. The gorilla was quick, but not faster than him. Jason exhaled, gripping his greatsword tightly. He activated Exoskeleton. His muscles hardened, his bones reinforced, his strength surged.

    The gorilla charged once again looking to land another strike. Jason pivoted, sidestepping the attack while slashing his sword upwards, aiming for the Gorilla''s ribs. CLANG! His blade barely scratching the Ape''s stone armor. Jason clicked his tongue. "Tough bastard".

    First Class Passive: Stone Guard (Level 2): Physical Damage Reduced by 20%

    The gorilla snarled, strength storming through its arms as it swung downward. Jason barely dodged as a shockwave blasted outward, sending him flying back once more. It was a brute with incredible strength. As the dust cleared the Gorilla wasn''t in site, Jason''s instincts screamed for him to move.

    He suddenly looked up with barely any time to react. A massive, stone coated fist smashed him from above. CRACK. Jason was sent flying through a concrete wall. His breath left him in a painful grunt. He barely rolled away as another fist came crashing down, cratering the ground where he lay.

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    His vision blurred, but he forced himself up activating Overdrive, his agility surging, his speed nearly doubling as it slowly creeped to to 170. The gorilla swung again. Jason dodged, then countered instantly. His sword cleaved into the beast''s leg.

    The Gorilla staggered. A deep gash split across its knee. Jason grinned, it felt that one. Then the air suddenly crackled. The gorilla''s entire body began to spark with blue lightning.

    Thunder Surge: Agility increase by 50% for 30 seconds

    Jason''s eyes widened slightly. It wasn''t running away, it was preparing to go all in.

    The Tyrant Gorilla moved even faster, now just a step behind Jason''s Overdrive speed. It roared and slammed a thunder charged fist into the ground. Electricity surged outward in a shockwave. Jason jumped, barely avoiding the blast. The gorilla vanished from sight, then reappeared mid air, swinging down.

    Jason crossed his sword in front of him. BOOM. The impact sending Jason crashing into the ground. As the dust settled he grit his teeth. Less than five minutes left. Time to end this. That''s when Jason saw it. The gorilla crouched. A new attack.

    Sonic Punch: Condenses all strength into a single strike

    Jason exhaled. He only had one shot, deactivating Overdrive he poured everything into strength. His gravity still locked at 3x the normal amount. So he used it, kicking off the ground he launched himself into the sky, cracking the pavement beneath him.

    The Tyrant Gorilla snarled, punching out with all it''s might. Jason swung with his. Sonic punch met Starbreak. BOOOOOOOOOOM.

    A massive shockwave exploded across the stadium. A blinding flash of light erupted as two overwhelming forces clashed. The world froze, the air shook, not a single being made a noise. There was complete silence as the dust settled.

    Jason was lying flat on his back, head sent through a pillar of stone. Exoskeleton deactivated. His sword was not in his hands. The gorilla stood, the blade piercing straight through its heart. It''s glowing eyes dimmed as it collapsed backward, the final roar dying in its throat.

    Jason lay there, his blade still embedded in the beast.

    <hr>

    System Notification: First Class Trial Complete: 30 seconds remaining.

    [You have slain 3/3 First Class Monsters.]

    +82 Health, + 73 Agility, + 92 Endurance, + 91 Strength, + 78 Mana

    <hr>

    Congratulations on Completing your Trial:

    Class: Unclassed ¡ú Gravity Knight

    Exoskeleton ¡ú First Order Skill: Exoskeleton: Reinforces the user''s body with a hardened exoskeleton, increasing combat capability.

    - Increases Health by 25%

    - Increases Strength by 20%

    - Reduces all incoming damage by 20%

    - Now grants Bio-Wings (Mana fueled flight capability)

    Overdrive ¡ú First Order Skill: Overdrive: Allows the user to enhance either Agility or Strength by consuming Mana or Endurance. (Cannot use both Mana and Endurance to enhance the same stat simultaneously.)

    Gravity Shift ¡ú First Order Skill: Gravity Manipulation: Manipulates the gravity in a 5 meter radius, up to 4 times.

    New Passive Skill: Titanium Core: The user''s bones, muscles, and internal organs have been reinforced and adapted to withstand the immense strain of Gravity Manipulation.

    Level Up! x 10

    All stats + 10

    Name: Jason Cole

    Level: 35

    - Health: 194

    - Agility: 193 (183 + 10)

    - Endurance: 190

    - Strength: 229

    - Mana: 186 (171 + 15)

    Unassigned Points: 20

    <hr>

    Jason lay there, his breath steadying as the rush of battle faded. The system¡¯s notifications flooded his vision, each one cementing the reality of his victory.

    He flexed his fingers, staring at the sky. His body felt different. Stronger. No, far beyond what he had ever imagined.

    Slowly, he pushed himself up. The pain that had been gnawing at his body seconds ago was gone washed away by the flood of power surging through his veins. His body no longer resisted the weight of 3x gravity. Instead, he welcomed it. It felt natural. Like he was born for this.

    Jason clenched his fist, feeling the overwhelming force contained within his limbs. He had been fighting tooth and nail just to survive, but now? Now, he was a monster.

    He smirked, rolling his shoulders as he tested his newfound strength. His bones felt denser, his muscles tighter and filled with raw energy. The effect of his Titanium Core passive skill was already working his body had fully adapted to the strain of his own abilities.

    Jason took a deep breath. His senses were sharper. The exhaustion from battle? Gone. The crushing weight of gravity that had been his constant burden? Now a part of him.

    He walked toward the fallen Tyrant Gorilla, its massive corpse still radiating faint electric energy. His sword was still lodged in its chest, the remnants of Starbreaks final impact crackling along the wound.

    With one hand, Jason pulled his blade free, the heavy steel feeling lighter than ever. His mini-map no longer flashed red. His trial was over. And then, he saw it.

    Lying next to the Gorilla¡¯s heart was a faintly glowing parchment. Jason reached down, carefully picking it up. As soon as his fingers brushed against it, the system¡¯s notification appeared.

    <hr>

    Thunderfall: First Order Skill:

    Effect: Summons a devastating thunder strike in an area. Damage scales based on Mana expenditure.

    <hr>

    Jason read the description, a slow grin forming. "So the ape really did leave me something good."

    Unlike the Tyrant Gorilla, he wouldn¡¯t just use brute force. He would refine this skill, making it his own. He could already imagine compressing the lightning with Gravity Manipulation, turning Thunderfall into a pinpoint devastation attack.

    Jason folded the parchment and absorbed the ability into his system.

    He exhaled, staring down at his own hands. He had just wiped out three First-Class monsters in two days. He had completed his trial, ascended to Gravity Knight, and was now stronger than ever. Jason wasn''t struggling to survive anymore. He was hunting.

 11: World Update and Factions

    Day 6:

    The sky was a dully gray, the kind that blurred the line between dawn and the remnants of the long, sleepless night before. The town was eerily quiet, once bustling streets had been littered with abandoned cars, broken glass, and the smell of decay. Buildings were cracked and scorched, looming above like gravestones of the old world.

    Jason adjusted the sword strapped across his back, each of his steps firm yet quiet against he cracked pavement. Beside him, Kaitlin followed, gripping her Elderwood staff, her boots lightly kicking up dust.

    The only sounds were the distant cries of scavengers in the ruins and the faint shuffle of people moving behind boarded up windows. Survivors had either locked themselves inside, clutching whatever weapons they could find, or moved in careful, silent groups, trying not to attract attention.

    The two passed a group of survivors, each armed with makeshift weapons: lead pipes, kitchen knives, even broken baseball bats. No one spoke. A silent understanding had settled over the world. Everyone was on their own. Jason sighed, this was really like something out of the apocalypse.

    Kaitlin didn''t mind though, they weren''t out here to socialize. Their goal was simple: clear out monsters and level up. Jason let Kaitlin take the lead, she needed the experience points more than he did, not that these monsters could satiate the growing amount of experience he needed to level up.

    The first group of enemies appeared near a collapsed gas station - a pack of mutated jackals. Their fur bristling with mana, and their eyes glowing a deep red.

    [Mutated Jackals (Level 18 - 20)]

    Kaitlin narrowed her eyes, gripping her staff and planting her feet. The jackals snarled, slowly approaching, waiting to pounce. However, deep in her heart she never wanted to feel that powerlessness she did against the werewolf ever again. Her will remained firm as she called out "Frost Chains!" Ice burst from the ground, latching onto the legs of two jackals. They yelped, their movements seizing instantly. One jackal lunged, but Kaitlin reacted on instinct.

    A cracking arc of electricity surging from the staff, frying the beast mid air. It crashed onto the ground with a thud, lifeless. The remaining jackals were still struggling against the intricately carved chains of ice. Kaitlin took no prisoners "Verdant Surge!" she cried out. Thick vines sprouted from the ground, wrapping around the final jackals. She crushed them whole, their bones snapping.

    System Notification: You have reached Level 20!

    Kaitlin exhaled sharply, lowering her staff. Jason nodded in approval. "Good. Faster than before. You didn''t hesitate." Kaitlin glanced at him, wiping sweat off her forehead. "I still have a long way to go." Jason smirked but didn''t respond. "Let''s head back", he said, not seeing any nearby activity on his mini map.

    They had barely walked five minutes when the ground trembled. A violent shockwave rippled through the air, sending birds scattering. The sky darkened slightly as if the very atmosphere was shifting. Jason and Kaitlin froze.

    <hr>

    System Announcement:

    Congratulations: Twenty-five users have now reached level 20. Earth will now undergo a mass update over the next 72 hours to increase mana capacity.

    Once the update is complete, a new Faction system will be implemented.

    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    Factions form automatically when over 100 users are allied.

    New Faction Quests will be implemented and rewards will be given.

    <hr>

    Jason narrowed his eyes. So the system is evolving again, with organized power structures, interesting. He didn''t care about factions. Not yet. The fact that stronger monsters would appear was far more important. For now he would continue hunting monsters.

    <hr>

    Three days passed in a blur

    Jason had hunted relentlessly, but he was hitting a wall. There weren''t enough first class monsters around. He''d already wiped out most of them. The weaker creatures barely gave him any stats now. It was getting harder and harder to level up.

    Name: Jason Cole

    Level: 39

    - Health: 220

    - Agility: 223 (213 + 10)

    - Endurance: 219

    - Strength: 247

    - Mana: 208 (193 + 15)

    Unassigned Points: 28

    He had spent the last few days trying out his new skills. Being able to fly using Exoskeleton, Gravity Manipulation and Thunderfall had a steep learning curve. Even now, he couldn''t fully control his Gravity Manipulation skill. This wasn''t the same as using gravity shift on just himself, he could also control the gravity of the area around him. Making combat possibilities endless.

    As he mindlessly strolled around looking for stronger monsters to face his mini map pinged, placing a faction marker. Jason raised a brow, it''s location was at the university. Interesting, Jason thought to himself, perhaps I should check it out with Kaitlin.

    When he arrived home he found Kaitlin sitting on top of the roof, working on controlling the direction of her chains, feeling the manipulation of mana. All of this was good practice, as it refined her control over the elements, a skill that would definitely increase her combat abilities.

    As he discussed his plans with her she was eager to check the university out. After all, the chance of going to university after the integration was slim to none. Returning back to campus was easy. With Kaitlin level 24 - almost ready to select her first class, weaker monsters were no longer a challenge.

    When they arrived, however, they were greeted with a long line of people at the entrance. Jason scanned the area. Makeshift barricades surrounding the university. Signs were posted along the walls.

    FOOD - SHELTER - PROTECTION

    FACTION ENTRY RULES APPLY

    Luke and Emma stood at the entrance, speaking to newcomers. They were both level 20 now, a definite increase from before. Jason and Kaitlin patiently waited in line until it was their turn. Emma spotted them first and smiled. "Jason! You made it back, this must be your sister, I''m so glad you found her."

    They spent a few minutes catching up, when Luke mentioned "You guys made it back just in time." Jason''s brows furrowed. "What do you mean?" Luke gestured toward the long line of people. "We hit 100 members this morning. The system recognized us as an official faction. We had to set rules. People either pay to stay or apply for jobs: Security, resource gathering, cooking, so on."

    Jason smirked slightly, "So you guys actually used my ideas after all. Who''s in charge?" "Dante," Emma answered. "He''s a level 26 fire user, stronger than us too. It''s definitely a lot safer with a First Class leading us. We reckon he must be the strongest in the country since he reached First Class two days ago.

    Kaitlin looked at Jason but said nothing. Jason shrugged. "Alright, sign us up for security." Luke and Emma exchanged glances. Emma hesitated. "Kaitlin can join security, we can tell she''s strong... but Jason, we.." Luke rubbed the back of his head. "We can''t feel anything from you, man." Jason just stared at them. They couldn''t feel his power?

    Kaitlin blinked in disbelief. "You''re joking right? Jason told me about what he did here, how he saved you all from a level 24 Wolf King. How could he not be strong enough?" Emma shifted uncomfortable. "Look, we''re not saying Jason''s weak, but... that was a week ago." Luke nodded. "We were already exhausted when that thing showed up. It must have been injured. There''s no way Jason fought it at full strength. We thought he was strong back then, but now? I mean, it''s been days. The monsters we''re facing now are way stronger than before."

    Kaitlin clenched her jaw. "You''re really going to downplay it like that?" Emma sighed. "It''s not about disrespect, Kaitlin. We just need people who can prove they''re strong enough to fight beside us now. And right now Jason doesn''t seem any stronger than he was before."

    Jason remained silent. They truly had no idea. Kaitlin exhaled sharply before turning to Luke. "If I beat you, Jason gets in. Deal?" Luke hesitated, then shook his head. "It''s not up to me." A voice from behind them spoke up, calm yet authoritative. "You want to fight for him?" Jason turned. Dante stood there, flames flickering at his fingertips. "Fine," Dante said with a smirk. "Let''s see what you''ve got."

 12. Fire vs Frost

    A quiet tension settled over the entrance of the university as the crowd gathered, forming a loose ring around Kaitlin and Dante. The makeshift barricades, the worn-out faces of survivors waiting for entry, and the cold wind sweeping through the ruins all faded into the background.

    Jason stood off to the side, arms crossed, watching closely. He already knew how this would end. Dante was strong, sure. A First Class user with fire abilities. But he had grown strong in the easy way. Killing monsters near his level, never pushing himself beyond what was necessary.

    Kaitlin had been fighting like him. Struggling against monsters above her level, pushing herself to the limit, growing not just stronger, but smarter. That was the difference. Emma raised a hand. "Alright, this is a test, not a death match. First one to yield or go down loses."

    Dante cracked his knuckles, a smirk curling his lips as flames flickered to life around his hands. "You ready for this?" Kaitlin barely reacted. She raised her staff once, planting her feet. "You talk too much." Luke glanced at Jason. "She doesn''t seem worried." Jason¡¯s smirk was barely visible. "She shouldn''t be." Emma dropped her hand. "Begin!"

    Dante moved first. A controlled burst of fire surged toward Kaitlin¡¯s feet, meant to force her to react. She sidestepped easily. Jason could already see it. Dante was testing her, trying to bait out an opening. He followed up immediately. A spinning kick, his flames igniting the air around him.

    "Blazing Rush!"

    His speed surged as he closed in, fire trailing behind his movements. He feinted left then shot a fireball directly at Kaitlin¡¯s midsection. She didn¡¯t even flinch.

    "Frost Chains!"

    Ice erupted from the ground just in time, blocking the attack mid-air as the chains lashed out, forcing Dante to leap back. The flames around him flickered as the cold rapidly sapped the heat from the air. Jason saw Dante¡¯s smirk falter for the first time. Kaitlin exhaled sharply, staying focused. Dante was fast, but predictable. He was relying too much on brute force. She could read him already.

    Dante launched another fireball, but she was already moving. She darted left, sidestepping faster than he expected.

    "Shock Burst!"

    Electricity crackled through the air before slamming into Dante¡¯s side. His body seized up, his limbs spasming as the voltage surged through his muscles. He stumbled back, barely staying on his feet. Jason raised a brow. She was controlling her mana flow much better now.

    Dante shook off the paralysis with a growl. His pride was on the line now. Flames surged around him as he summoned a wall of fire, forcing Kaitlin to backpedal.

    "Inferno Strike!"

    Dante lunged forward, his fist engulfed in roaring flames. His movement was faster than before, the heat distorting the air around him. This was his strongest attack. He was going for the knockout. Kaitlin didn¡¯t move. She waited, watching him close the gap. Then, at the last second, she vanished. Dante¡¯s flaming fist swung through empty air. His eyes widened. She was already behind him.

    "Frost Chains."

    The ground exploded with ice. Thick, frozen shackles wrapped around Dante¡¯s ankles, locking him in place. The sudden stop threw him off balance, his flames flickering weakly as the cold overwhelmed him. Kaitlin didn¡¯t hesitate.

    "Verdant Surge!"

    Vines shot up from the ground, coiling around his arms and legs. In an instant, he was completely restrained. Silence. Jason could already see it in Dante¡¯s face. He had lost. Kaitlin stood over him, her staff glowing faintly with residual energy. "Yield," she said, her voice steady. Dante''s jaw clenched. He struggled against the bindings, his flames flickering to life again, but the combination of cold and entanglement had drained too much of his energy.

    His pride screamed at him to keep fighting. But reality was reality. After a long moment, he exhaled sharply and nodded. "I yield." The bindings vanished. Kaitlin took a step back as Dante stood, his expression unreadable.

    The heat around him had completely faded. Jason watched carefully. This was the moment that mattered. Not the fight but how Dante reacted to losing. Emma cleared her throat. "The match is over. Kaitlin wins." A murmur ran through the crowd. Jason could hear the whispers.

    "Dante lost?", "That girl, she''s strong.", "Did you see that? She barely broke a sweat." Dante took a slow breath, regaining his composure. He glanced at Luke and Emma before finally turning to Kaitlin. She crossed her arms. "Does this mean Jason can join now?" Emma hesitated. She glanced at Dante.

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    Dante studied Jason for a long moment, as if trying to see something that wasn¡¯t there. Jason met his gaze evenly, his face unreadable. Finally, Dante exhaled. "Fine." He looked at Jason again, frowning slightly.

    "You''re in. But if you can''t keep up with your duties, you''ll be removed. "Maybe made a cook instead." Jason didn¡¯t react. He had already seen through Dante.He wasn¡¯t a bad leader. But he wasn¡¯t the strongest anymore. At some point, he would realize that.

    As Jason and Kaitlin stepped past the barricades, the tension in the crowd didn¡¯t fade. Instead, it shifted into something else. A mix of murmurs, side-glances, and hushed conversations that weren¡¯t meant to be overheard. "The only reason he got in was because of his sister.", "Must be nice to have someone fight your battles for you.", "Imagine hiding behind a girl just to get in."

    "I didn¡¯t feel any power from him¡­ is he even strong?"

    Jason ignored the comments, walking with his usual, calm stride. He didn¡¯t have anything to prove to these people. They weren¡¯t worth his energy. Kaitlin, however, was visibly irritated, her grip tightening on her staff.

    Luke, noticing the tension, walked alongside them. "Don¡¯t mind them," he muttered. "Most of them barely made it in here. They¡¯re just looking for someone to talk down to so they can feel better about themselves." Kaitlin scoffed. "Idiots. If they knew the things he¡¯s fought, they wouldn¡¯t say a damn thing."

    Jason chuckled lightly. "Let them talk. It doesn¡¯t change anything." Luke led them further into the faction¡¯s territory. The university had been transformed into a makeshift base, but it was¡­ terrible. Jason¡¯s sharp eyes scanned everything.

    The "barricades" were just stacked tables, chairs, and broken furniture nothing solid, nothing that would hold against a real attack. He could see weaknesses everywhere gaps in coverage, flimsy watchtowers, and a clear lack of organization.

    "This is bad," Jason thought to himself. If a strong enough monster or worse, a rival faction attacks, this place will fall in less than an hour. His gaze flickered to the massive corpses of slain beasts lying around the outer perimeter, discarded and rotting. A waste of resources.

    "If I were in charge, I¡¯d be using the hides of those First Class beasts to reinforce the barricades¡­ bones could be carved into spears, claws used for traps¡­ hell, even the meat should be stored properly. Right now, this place isn¡¯t a faction it¡¯s a disaster waiting to happen."

    He kept his thoughts to himself for now. No need to stir trouble. Not yet. As night fell, Jason and Kaitlin were assigned their first shift as security members. They were stationed with Luke, who had been working patrols since the faction formed.

    "Alright," Luke said, adjusting his grip on his dagger. "Our job is simple. We check the perimeter, deal with anything that gets too close, and if we see anything we can¡¯t handle, we report it. Don¡¯t try to be a hero." Kaitlin smirked. "Jason, you hear that? Don¡¯t try to be a hero."

    Jason rolled his eyes. "Noted." Luke continued. "We¡¯ll be moving in a triangle formation. I scout ahead since my agility based skills help with detection. Kaitlin, you cover mid range. Jason, you take rear guard." Jason nodded. He didn¡¯t mind playing along.

    For the first couple of hours, the patrol was quiet, too quiet. Jason had seen this pattern before. When the weak ones stop showing up, it means something stronger has already claimed the area. That¡¯s when they heard it.

    A low, guttural growl echoed from beyond the barricades. Jason¡¯s mini-map flickered, a red dot closing in. Luke cursed under his breath. "Shit. That¡¯s not a normal monster." The beast stepped into the moonlight, revealing itself.. a Crimson Stalker. The window above it''s head identifying it for them to see. Crimson Stalker - Level 24

    "It''s a predator type beast specialized in stealth and ambush attacks. It''s got high agility and sharp claws that can cut through steel." Luke¡¯s grip on his dagger tightened. "We take it out before it gets inside. Kaitlin, can you trap it?" Kaitlin¡¯s hands already glowed with mana. "On it."

    "Frost Chains!"

    Ice surged from the ground, wrapping around the creature¡¯s legs. The beast let out a shriek, but instead of struggling, it twisted unnaturally and lunged sideways. The chains missed their mark as the Crimson Stalker rebounded off a tree, launching itself toward Luke with terrifying speed.

    Jason didn¡¯t move. He wasn¡¯t worried. Luke barely managed to roll out of the way, his agility kicking in at the last second. "It¡¯s fast!" "Then I¡¯ll slow it down," Kaitlin snapped. "Verdant Surge!" Vines exploded from the earth, ensnaring the beast¡¯s limbs mid air. This time, it couldn¡¯t dodge. The monster let out a distorted hiss, struggling against the entanglement.

    Luke capitalized on the opening. His body blurred as he activated his skill. "Phantom Step!" In an instant, he vanished from sight, appearing behind the beast. His dagger flashed, cutting deep into the monster¡¯s side. Black blood splattered against the ground as the Crimson Stalker shrieked in agony.

    Kaitlin tightened her vines. "Now!" Luke didn¡¯t hesitate. He plunged his dagger into the creature¡¯s neck. The monster let out one final, gurgled sound before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.

    System Notification: You have slain a Level 24 Crimson Stalker

    Luke exhaled sharply, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "That was rough." Jason smirked slightly. "You did fine." Kaitlin let out a breath, inspecting the corpse. "That thing was disgusting." Luke knelt next to the body, his expression serious. "We need to report this. A monster this strong this close to the base? That¡¯s not good."

    Jason nodded but said nothing. This faction wasn¡¯t ready for real threats. And if something stronger showed up, they¡¯d all be wiped out. That night, as the others rested, Jason slipped away. His mind was focused on something else.

    He needed to be stronger. He had strength, endurance, and power, but he lacked something crucial. A stealth skill. Monsters like the Crimson Stalker relied on ambush tactics. If he could replicate that, he would have no weaknesses.

    His mini-map flickered, detecting a lone beast in the distance. A first class creature, isolated, during night time. Jason smirked, "Let''s see if you drop anything useful."

 13. In the Shadows

    Jason soared above the ruined city, his wings humming with mana as he scanned the landscape below. The night stretched vast and silent beneath him, broken only by the occasional flicker of distant movement. His mini map pulsed, locking onto a single red dot moving swiftly through the ruins.

    A level 42 shadow beast. Jason¡¯s eyes narrowed. The system update had introduced stronger monsters, and this was one of them. He had been searching for a challenge, and this creature was the perfect prey. It darted through the remnants of an old highway, its movements unnaturally fluid, weaving between crumbling buildings with eerie precision. Its shape flickered, blurring in and out of sight, leaving faint trails of darkness in its wake.

    Jason pressed forward, angling his flight to keep pace. His Exoskeleton was active, wings spreading wide, carrying him effortlessly through the sky. He wasn¡¯t flying at full speed, there was no need to reveal himself yet. He wanted to see how this thing moved.

    It was fast. Faster than anything he had hunted before. Jason dropped lower, just above the rooftops, watching how it reacted. The beast suddenly twisted mid stride, as if sensing something, its elongated limbs blurring as it leapt between buildings. A hunter.

    Jason smirked. Good. That meant it would run until it had no choice but to fight. He clenched his fist, feeling the weight of mana shifting around him. "Let¡¯s slow you down."

    With a flicker of intent, he activated Gravity Manipulation, pressing a 2x gravity field onto the area around the beast. Immediately, the shadow beast faltered, its movements becoming sluggish, its leaps losing height. Jason could see the way its limbs adjusted, how it tried to compensate for the increased pressure. It was struggling, but adapting fast.

    Too fast. Jason adjusted his own weight, reducing gravity on himself to make his flight even more precise. Then, with a smirk, he activated Overdrive, shifting endurance into agility. His speed doubled. He shot forward like a missile, closing the distance in a heartbeat. The beast sensed it whipping around, its elongated limbs bending at unnatural angles as it bolted toward the tree line ahead. Jason¡¯s smirk widened.

    It was running out of options. The beast darted into the trees, twisting between branches, moving like a shadow itself. But Jason didn¡¯t let up. He hovered above the forest canopy, tracking every flicker of movement with pinpoint accuracy.

    Then, it changed tactics. The beast climbed. Its elongated claws dug into the trunk of a massive, blackened oak, scaling it in seconds. Jason slowed, watching curiously. Was it trying to flee? No. It was positioning itself. Then, without warning, it leapt.

    A blur of darkness exploded from the treetops, aiming straight for him. Its form elongated mid-air, its claws stretching, its fanged maw wide, a black void of shifting shadows. Jason¡¯s instincts screamed, but he didn¡¯t flinch. He twisted, dropping his gravity to near-zero to shift direction mid-air.

    The beast¡¯s claws sliced past him, missing by inches. Jason retaliated instantly. His Wolf King''s Fang cleaved through the night, aiming for the beast¡¯s torso. The moment his blade should have hit, the creature¡¯s body dissolved, reforming behind him. Jason barely had time to twist before it lashed out again, its claws raking toward his throat.

    Fast. Not fast enough. Jason increased his gravity, slamming himself downward, dodging the strike while amplifying the weight of the air around them. The beast staggered mid-air, struggling as its body was suddenly twice as heavy. Jason didn¡¯t hesitate.

    He activated Overdrive again, pouring everything into strength. His wings folded, and he dropped like a meteor, reversing gravity at the last second to launch himself straight back toward the beast. His sword swung in a brutal, arcing cleave. This time, the blade connected.

    A guttural, unnatural screech tore through the night as the shadow beast was ripped apart, black mist spilling from its wounds instead of blood. Jason didn¡¯t let up. He drove his knee into its torso, sending it crashing through the treetops, smashing against the forest floor below.

    He landed softly, stepping toward the twitching remains. The beast convulsed, its form shifting, flickering between solid and intangible. Even now, it tried to melt into the shadows. Jason exhaled, raising his blade. "Not this time."

    One final swing. The sword sliced through its core, severing whatever unnatural force held it together. The body stilled. Then, it disintegrated into black mist. Jason let out a slow breath, standing over the remains as the system notification appeared.

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    System Notification: You have slain a First-Class Beast ¨C Level 42 Shadow Revenant.

    +18 Health, +26 Agility, +17 Endurance, +22 Strength + 15 Mana

    Level Up! x1. All stats + 1.

    Name: Jason Cole

    Level: 40

    - Health: 239

    - Agility: 250 (240 + 10)

    - Endurance: 237

    - Strength: 270

    - Mana: 223 (208 + 15)

    Unassigned Points: 30

    Jason exhaled, feeling the raw power surge through him. But there was something else. A piece of black parchment floated where the beast had fallen, radiating an ominous energy. Jason reached out and picked it up. The system¡¯s text flickered into view.

    Shadow Cloak (First Class Skill):

    Effect: Grants the ability to blend into darkness, muffling sound and reducing visibility. Movement speed increases by 20% when in shadows. Jason stared at the skill, a slow smirk forming. This was exactly what he needed.

    Jason¡¯s smirk lingered as he absorbed the Shadow Cloak skill into his system. The dark mist wrapped around him for a brief moment before vanishing, leaving behind a faint, lingering cold. He flexed his fingers, feeling the subtle shift in his presence.

    This ability was perfect. With Gravity Manipulation for battlefield control, Thunderfall for heavy strikes, and Exoskeleton for defense, he had all the tools he needed for direct combat. But Shadow Cloak? This was something different. It allowed him to hunt in silence, disappear when necessary, and strike before his enemies even knew he was there. His mini-map pulsed. Not a red dot, but something else.

    A cluster of green dots flickered erratically back at the faction base, movement patterns jagged, frantic. His brow furrowed. Something was wrong. He activated his wings, pushing off the forest floor and into the night sky, his body still adapting to the weightless movement as he soared toward the university. The closer he got, the clearer the chaos became.

    Fires burned near the barricades, black smoke rising into the sky. The sound of shouting echoed through the campus, mixed with the agonized groans of the wounded. Jason¡¯s gaze snapped to the main courtyard. A massive crater had torn through part of the central walkway, shattering concrete and scattering debris.

    Bodies injured, but not dead lay across the courtyard, some being dragged to safety by others. Jason¡¯s eyes immediately locked onto the corpse of a massive beast in the center of the destruction. A First Class Beast, its body still smoldering from battle. It resembled a massive mutated reptilian, its scales a deep crimson, jagged spikes running down its back. Massive claw marks were etched into the surrounding ground where it had torn through barricades.

    Infernal Ravager (Level 34)

    The thing had been powerful. Even in death, its presence was overwhelming. Jason landed just beyond the carnage, his boots pressing into the dust-covered pavement as he took in the scene. He hadn¡¯t been gone for more than an hour, but in that time, the base had nearly been destroyed. His mini map had been clear before he left, where had this thing come from?

    His gaze shifted to Dante, standing near the beast¡¯s corpse, his face twisted in frustration. His flames flickered weakly at his fingertips, his body covered in scratches and soot. Nearby, Luke and Emma stood panting, their weapons still drawn, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and adrenaline.

    The moment Dante saw Jason, his eyes narrowed dangerously. Jason barely had time to take a step forward before Dante stormed toward him, his hands clenched into fists. ¡°Where the hell were you?¡± His voice was sharp, barely restrained. The heat in the air spiked slightly, though it wasn¡¯t out of control, yet.

    Jason met his glare with a calm, unreadable expression. ¡°Out.¡± Dante scoffed, his anger flaring. ¡°Out? We were getting torn apart by a goddamn First Class Beast, and you were just out?¡± Luke and Emma exchanged glances, unsure whether to intervene. The surrounding survivors, already rattled from the fight, were watching, tension thick in the air.

    Jason tilted his head slightly. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize security meant babysitting the base. You didn¡¯t seem to have a problem handling it.¡± His eyes flickered toward the Infernal Ravager¡¯s corpse. ¡°It¡¯s dead, isn¡¯t it?¡± Dante took another step forward, shoulders tense. ¡°Not because of you,¡± he snapped. ¡°People got hurt, Jason. We lost barricades, food supplies, and almost lost people. You were supposed to be on security duty.¡±

    Jason raised an eyebrow. ¡°You expect me to sit here waiting for something to happen? If I had been here, the outcome would have been the same. Except I would have had to hold back.¡± His tone was neutral, but the underlying message was clear. Dante clenched his fists harder, his frustration barely contained. ¡°You think you¡¯re untouchable, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Jason¡¯s smirk was barely visible. ¡°No. I just know my value.¡± Kaitlin suddenly stepped between them, her expression irritated. ¡°Enough. This isn¡¯t solving anything.¡± She turned toward Dante. ¡°Jason wasn¡¯t here, but we can¡¯t change that now. We should focus on preventing this from happening again.¡±

    Dante exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. ¡°Fine. But if you disappear again while on duty, don¡¯t bother coming back.¡± He turned sharply, walking off without waiting for a response. Jason didn¡¯t react. He had already expected this. Dante was desperate to assert control, to make sure no one questioned his leadership. Jason wasn¡¯t planning on challenging that. Not yet.

    Luke walked over, shaking his head. ¡°You really know how to piss people off.¡± Jason shrugged. ¡°Not my fault he¡¯s insecure.¡± Emma sighed. ¡°He¡¯s right about one thing though. That beast came out of nowhere. We weren¡¯t ready for something that strong. And if we get hit again¡­¡±

    Jason turned his gaze toward the ruined barricades, the injured survivors, the sheer lack of preparation. He had already known this faction was weak. This attack had just proven it. We need better defenses,¡± he muttered. ¡°This place won¡¯t survive another hit like that.¡±

    Kaitlin folded her arms. ¡°You have ideas?¡± Jason smirked. ¡°I always have ideas.¡± But first, he needed to find stronger prey. If that Infernal Ravager had nearly destroyed the base, then something stronger was coming, and when it did, he would be ready.

 14. Tension

    Day 9:

    Jason walked along the outer perimeter of the base, stepping over broken debris and shattered wood as the morning sun cast long shadows over the ruined university. The night''s attack had left the barricades in a worse state than before, and the survivors were scrambling to repair the damage. Some carried makeshift weapons while others hauled materials, reinforcing weak points. The stench of burnt flesh still lingered in the air from the bodies of the monsters they had managed to kill.

    He stopped near a section of the barricade where a few faction members were stacking more furniture and scrap metal to patch the gap. Jason watched for a moment before shaking his head. "This isn''t going to hold," he said, arms crossed.

    One of the workers, a wiry man with a scar down his cheek, frowned. "It''s all we got."

    Jason crouched down, running a hand over a piece of the barricade. "You''re just stacking things. When another attack happens, this is going to collapse. You need to reinforce it with something strong. Use bones from the monsters we kill, and their hides for insulation. You could even use the stone from the ruined buildings. Layer them properly, create real walls instead of just piling things up."

    The man hesitated, looking at the others. Another survivor, a woman with short dark hair, nodded slowly. "That actually makes sense."

    Jason stood, dusting off his hands. "If you want this place to last you need to start thinking ahead. Traps at the entrance, weapons crafted from monster remains. Freezers for food storage. Hell, even a water collection system." He glanced around at the half destroyed base. "Right now, you''re just surviving day to day. That''s not enough."

    More people had started listening now, quietly considering his words. One of them muttered under his breath, "Why isn''t this guy in charge?"

    Another nodded, "Yeah, he actually knows what he''s talking about."

    Jason ignored the whispers, turning to leave. He had said what needed to be said. Whether they listened or not was their choice. As he walked back toward the main hall, he caught Dante standing at a distance, arms crossed, expression unreadable. Jason met his gaze for a second before walking past him.

    <hr>

    Elsewhere, Kaitlin sat on a pile of rubble, staring at the glowing blue screen in front of her. The system had finally given her the option to pick her first class, and she was going through her choices.

    1. Natures Guide

    2. Ranger

    3. Gravekeeper

    4. Apprentice Mage

    Kaitlin tapped her fingers against her staff, looking through each option analytically. Nature''s Guide and Ranger were practical, but they felt too restrictive. Grave keeper intrigued her, but it was probably created from the fact she killed lots of skeletons early on. Apprentice Mage seemed like the ideal choice for her, she was intrigued by magic and didn''t want to be bound to just the elements.

    ¡°I choose Apprentice Mage.¡±

    The system acknowledged her decision. Then the notification appeared.

    Trial: Dual Casting: Successfully cast two spells at once while maintaining full control over both. Time Limit: 24 hours.

    Kaitlin felt her heart pound. She had expected a challenge, but this was something else. It wasn¡¯t just about raw power. This required control, something far more difficult than brute force. She extended her hands, channeling ice in one and lightning in the other. The moment she tried to cast both, the magic faltered. The spells collapsed before they could fully form, the conflicting energies dispersing uselessly.

    Hours passed, and she still hadn¡¯t succeeded. She paced the empty ruins, mumbling to herself. ¡°Think. What do I know about magic?¡± She knew it was energy. She knew it could be controlled, manipulated, shaped. But casting two separate spells at once required her to split her focus, something she had never done before.

    She sat down, taking slow breaths. Instead of forcing the magic apart, she tried to let it flow naturally, guiding each spell separately instead of controlling them both with brute force. Slowly, she raised both hands again. In her left, a crackling bolt of electricity formed.

    In her right, frost swirled into existence. For a moment, it felt stable. Then, they clashed. The magic destabilized, sending her stumbling backward. Frustration burned in her chest. She clenched her fists, gritting her teeth. No. She wouldn¡¯t fail.

    She took a deep breath, calming herself. Instead of thinking of them as separate forces, she imagined them as extensions of herself, two arms, each moving independently, yet controlled by the same body. She tried again. A bolt of lightning crackled in one hand. A swirling frost orb formed in the other. She maintained her breathing, holding the spells steady. They didn¡¯t collapse, and the system acknowledged it.

    Trial Complete: You have learnt dual casting.

    You are now an Apprentice Mage.

    New Skills Obtained:

    First Class Skill: Glacial Spear: Creates an ice spear that pierces enemies and slows their movement upon impact.

    First Class Skill: Mana Bolt: Fires a concentrated bolt of mana that deals damage.

    First Class Passive Skill: Mana Flow: Passively increases mana regeneration by 20%.

    Kaitlin exhaled sharply, feeling the rush of knowledge flood her mind. She had done it. She had overcome the trial, and now she was stronger than ever.

    Meanwhile, Jason had gone out for another night of hunting. His mini map pulsed, picking up a red dot moving erratically through the ruins. He landed on a rooftop, scanning the area. Something felt off. Then it appeared, a warning: A Second Class Beast is in the area. Proceed with caution. Jason tensed. He had never fought a Second Class Beast before. His mini-map flickered again, glitching slightly. Whatever this thing was, it was messing with his detection ability.

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    Then he felt it. A deep, earth shaking growl rumbled through the ruins as a hulking figure emerged from the shadows. A towering bear like creature, its fur like obsidian stone, its body covered in jagged, crystalline armor. Its breath came out in slow, steaming huffs, each exhale warping the air around it. Its claws, long and curved, gleamed in the moonlight. A name appeared above its head.

    Level 60 Tital Fang

    He smirked, cracking his knuckles. ¡°Finally, something worth fighting.¡±

    Jason felt the world shake as the Titan Fang charged, its massive body thundering toward him like a boulder in free fall. The sheer weight of the creature made the ground tremble with every step, but it moved with terrifying speed, faster than anything of its size had any right to be.

    Jason barely had time to react before the beast was upon him. Its colossal claws swept across the battlefield in a devastating arc, the sheer force splitting the pavement beneath them. He leapt back, activating Gravity Manipulation to lessen his own weight, allowing him to evade just in time.

    The air vibrated as the beast let out a deep, guttural growl. Jason¡¯s mini map flickered again, glitching violently. It was interfering with his detection, and that only meant one thing. This monster wasn¡¯t just strong. It was intelligent.

    War Stance: Strength increased by 30%, defense increased by 20%

    Jason tensed. This wasn¡¯t going to be a normal fight. The beast lunged, its monstrous form blurring with raw speed. Jason barely managed to block, crossing his sword in front of him, but the impact sent him flying. He crashed into a crumbling wall, the force rattling his bones.

    Before he could even catch his breath, the Titan Fang was on him again, its obsidian claws flashing through the air. Jason rolled to the side just as the claws tore through stone like paper. Dust and debris exploded around him. He pushed himself up, but the moment he did, the beast''s next ability activated.

    Crushing Bite: Bite dealing 150% increased damage and applies a bleeding effect.

    Jason¡¯s instincts screamed at him. He twisted, trying to move, but the bear was too fast. It surged forward, maw wide open, fangs glowing with a faint energy as it snapped forward. Jason barely managed to shift his body to avoid a fatal hit, but the creature¡¯s teeth still raked across his shoulder, slicing through his Exoskeleton like it was nothing. A sharp, searing pain shot through him as blood splattered across the ground.

    His vision blurred for a second. His entire arm felt like it was on fire. The system immediately alerted him.

    Bleeding Effect Applied: Health will steadily decrease over time.

    Jason clenched his jaw, forcing himself to focus through the pain. He wouldn¡¯t die here. The Titan Fang reared back, eyes glowing with primal fury. Then the air around it shifted again.

    Unyielding Body: Defense increased by 50%, all non-magic damage reduced.

    Jason¡¯s heart sank. The difficulty kept increasing each second. This was a true apex predator. He couldn¡¯t afford to hold back. He activated Overdrive, funneling every ounce of endurance into strength, his muscles surging with raw power. His body felt like it was burning from the inside, but he ignored it. With a burst of gravity-enhanced speed, he launched forward. His sword flashed, carving deep into the Titan Fang¡¯s leg. A direct hit.

    Except¡­ the wound barely cut through. The reinforced hide absorbed most of the impact. Jason¡¯s eyes narrowed. If this thing was going to keep increasing its defenses, he had to break through all at once. There was only one way to do that. Star break. But he had to time it perfectly. The Titan Fang roared, lifting one of its massive paws into the air.

    Tremor: Creates a shockwave disrupting movement and stuns enemies.

    Jason had no time to dodge. The beast¡¯s foot came crashing down, sending a devastating shockwave outward. The very ground shattered, splitting apart as the impact sent Jason flying backward like a rag doll.

    His body hit the ground hard, pain lancing through his ribs. His head spun, his arms barely responding. His body was reaching its limit. But he wasn¡¯t done. Jason forced himself up, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. The Titan Fang loomed over him, its breath heavy, glowing red eyes locked onto his struggling form. He exhaled. This was it.

    His entire body exhausted as he activated 4x Gravity, thankfully his new passive skill Titanium Core could handle the pressure. His vision darkened at the edges, his bones pressured under the immense force, but he held firm. The Titan Fang hesitated for the first time, its massive body buckling under the sheer weight pressing down on it.

    Jason pushed through the pain, every step feeling like he was wading through an ocean of stone. He raised his sword, channeling every last drop of his remaining mana into a single, final attack. "Starbreak."

    The battlefield shook as Jason launched forward like a meteor, his entire body a weapon of destruction. His sword carved through the air, striking the Titan Fang dead center in its chest. An explosion of force erupted upon impact. The shockwave was massive, a thunderous boom tearing through the ruins as the beast¡¯s obsidian armor shattered, fragments scattering across the battlefield. The Titan Fang bellowed in pain, its massive form crashing to the ground, creating a deep crater in the pavement. The glow in its eyes flickered violently, its breath coming in ragged gasps.

    But Jason knew immediately that it wasn¡¯t dead. The Titan Fang still twitched, its claws flexing weakly against the broken ground. It was barely alive, but so was he. Jason staggered, barely able to keep himself upright. His entire body was spent. His mana reserves were empty, his muscles felt torn apart, and his limbs refused to respond properly.

    He had one final chance. Using the last of his strength, Jason limped toward the fallen beast. His sword was gone, shattered from the force of the impact, but it didn¡¯t matter. He clenched his fist, drawing on the last reserves of his power. The Titan Fang¡¯s eyes snapped open, its body trembling as it tried to rise.

    Jason didn¡¯t let it. He drove his fist forward, enhanced by Gravity Manipulation, slamming directly into the beast¡¯s skull. A sickening crunch echoed through the ruins. The Titan Fang let out a final, rattling breath before collapsing completely. The red glow in its eyes faded to nothing. Jason stood there for a moment, swaying on his feet. Then, finally, his legs gave out. He dropped to his knees, gasping for air.

    <hr>

    The system chimed:

    You have slain a Second Class Beast: Level 60 Titan Fang

    +40 Health, +50 Agility, +47 Endurance, +55 Strength, +30 Mana.

    Level Up! x7. All stats + 7.

    Name: Jason Cole

    Level: 47

    - Health: 286

    - Agility: 307 (297 + 10)

    - Endurance: 291

    - Strength: 322

    - Mana: 260 (245 + 15)

    Unassigned Points: 30

    <hr>

    Jason could barely process the notification. He had won. But his body had nothing left. His vision blurred, storing the dead bear in his ring right as he collapsed. When out of nowhere someone crept forward. They had seen everything.

 15. Faction Competition

    Jason¡¯s eyes fluttered open, the dim fluorescent lights of the gymnasium infirmary flickering above him. His entire body ached, muscles stiff, bones sore from the brutal battle against the Titan Fang. His mind was hazy, but he immediately recognized the bandages wrapped around his torso, the dried blood staining the fabric. He shifted slightly, groaning at the sharp pain radiating from his ribs. Before he could fully gather himself, a voice snapped through the silence like a whip.

    "What the hell were you thinking?" Dante''s voice was furious, his boots thudding against the floor as he stormed toward Jason¡¯s bed. His expression was pure anger, his hands clenched into fists as he loomed over him. "This is the second time you''ve run off since joining security. First night, you disappear, and last night? Emma finds you half dead in the ruins? If you can''t handle First Class beasts, or even those close to First Class, you shouldn¡¯t be on patrol. Hell, if you can''t even escape from them, you''re useless. You¡¯re lucky that thing ran off when Emma arrived, or you''d be dead right now."

    His eyes burned into Jason''s. "What were you trying to prove? That you''re not as weak as everyone thinks? News flash, Jason, you¡¯ve done nothing but make things harder for the rest of us. You want to be security? Then do your job properly. If not, go join the damn cooks or something. At least that way, you won¡¯t be endangering yourself and the people around you."

    Jason said nothing. He let Dante vent, let him spit his frustration into the air. It was easier that way. He wasn''t here to explain himself. Dante saw what he wanted to see, and that was fine. Jason wasn''t looking for recognition, nor was he interested in proving himself to someone who had no idea what true strength looked like. Dante scoffed at Jason¡¯s silence, shaking his head. "You''re lucky Emma found you when she did. Otherwise, we¡¯d be short one more body." With that, he turned and left, muttering under his breath as he disappeared through the doorway.

    As the echo of Dante¡¯s footsteps faded, another voice cut through the stillness. "What were you fighting?" Emma stepped forward, her face a mixture of curiosity and something else, concern maybe. "I followed you," she admitted, folding her arms. "I went to get some water and saw you leaving. I thought maybe you were doing something stupid. Maybe trying to prove yourself because everyone sees you as weak." She hesitated before continuing. "But Jason... I saw that thing. I know that wasn¡¯t a First Class Beast."

    Jason met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "I¡¯ve fought First Class Monsters before," Emma went on, her voice quieter now. "They¡¯re strong, but they don¡¯t make me feel like that monster did. The moment I saw it, my entire body was screaming at me to run. Like I was about to die just by looking at it." She took a breath. "First Classes don''t do that type of thing."

    "Jason, you fought a Second Class monster... and you killed it."

    Jason didn¡¯t respond. He didn¡¯t need to. The truth was already in her eyes. Emma exhaled sharply, glancing at the door to make sure no one was nearby before lowering her voice. "Why can¡¯t we feel anything from you?" she asked. "Everyone thinks you''re weak and useless. First Classes give off an aura, it''s how we tell how strong everyone is... Yet when we first saw you, we didn¡¯t feel anything." Jason leaned back against the pillow, staring up at the ceiling. "What do you think?"

    Emma bit her lip, eyes narrowing slightly. "I think¡­ you didn¡¯t get weaker after leaving, but became so strong we can''t even see your shadow." A beat of silence passed before she continued. "I don''t know what you''ve gone through to get so strong, but don¡¯t shut me out and keep things from me." She stood up, turning to the door, leaving Jason alone in the infirmary. The moment the door shut, Jason opened his ring, claiming the loot from his battle.

    Passive Skill: Beast Slayer

    When fighting an enemy at least 10 levels higher, gain +1% to all stats per level difference, maxing out at +50% against foes 50 levels above him.

    Second Class Skill: Phantom Blitz

    Dash up to five times in rapid succession, leaving behind flickering afterimages to confuse enemies. When dashing towards an enemy the next attack deals +30% more damage.

    Jason¡¯s eyes flickered over the skills. Both of them were perfect for his future plans. Just as he finished processing his rewards, a system wide notification blared across his vision.

    System Announcement: The First Faction Competition Begins Now.

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    Objective:

    Each faction will earn points based on the number and strength of monsters slain. The faction and individuals with the highest points will receive significant rewards.

    Scoring System:

    Unclassed Beasts: 100 to 1,000 Points (based on level)

    First Class Beasts: 5,000 to 25,000 Points

    Jason¡¯s mind immediately jumped to the leaderboard.

    Current Rankings:

    1st Place - University Faction: 68,000 Points

    2nd Place - Crimson Fang: 20,000 Points

    3rd Place - Iron Fortress: 17,500 Points

    Jason¡¯s eyes narrowed. The only people who knew where those points came from were him and Emma. Not even Kaitlin or Luke knew. As the competition announcement spread, tensions at the university grew. Survivors from other factions started arriving, demanding answers. They wanted to know how the university faction had so many points. Some were curious. Others were hostile.

    Jason stood in the background, arms crossed, watching as Dante and the faction leaders gathered in the main courtyard. Among them was the leader of the second-place faction, Crimson Fang, a man named Valen. A Level 30 warrior with piercing gray eyes and a jagged scar running down his jaw. His presence was suffocating, his gaze sharp as he studied Dante.

    "You expect me to believe," Valen said, his voice calm but layered with menace, "that you managed to kill enough monsters to nearly triple our score in one week?" Dante met his stare evenly, a vein pulsing in his forehead. His hand tightened on the hilt of his sword. "We don¡¯t have to explain anything to you," Dante shot back, his voice cold. Valen smirked, almost amused. "No, you don¡¯t. But if your numbers are fake, the system will prove it soon enough." His gaze flicked to the group of survivors gathered behind Dante, sizing them up. "And if they aren¡¯t, then maybe we¡¯ll take a closer look at what kind of resources you¡¯ve been hoarding."

    There was a heavy pause. Dante clenched his jaw, his knuckles turning white. He knew exactly what Valen was implying. Valen took a step forward, his voice lowering to a threatening whisper. "I remember when you were just a small fry, Dante. Back when we both first started out. You were eager, but weak. I had to leave you behind when I moved up. I¡¯ve fought beasts five levels higher than me, killed them with my own hands, and ascended to First Class. But you¡­ you¡¯ve only learned to prey on the weak. You can only defeat the monsters that are below you. Taking kills from others, attacking the stragglers, and leaving your comrades in the dust. You''ve learned nothing. This isn''t leadership, Dante. It''s cowardice."

    A murmur ran through the crowd, and some of the faction members exchanged uneasy glances. Kaitlin¡¯s eyes narrowed, her hand instinctively moving to her staff. Luke, standing by her side, tensed. The atmosphere was thick with hostility. Dante¡¯s face flushed with fury. "You know nothing about me, Valen. You¡¯re just pissed because I didn¡¯t follow you like a puppy. I¡¯ve fought my own battles, and I¡¯ve earned my place here. You might be First Class, but you¡¯re not the only one capable of fighting strong monsters."

    Valen sneered, his expression a mix of disdain and amusement. "You¡¯re right. You¡¯ve fought. But if you¡¯re truly as strong as you claim, then show me. Prove it. Don¡¯t just stand there and spout words." Kaitlin stepped forward, her icy gaze locking on Valen. "Enough," she said, her voice sharp. "You¡¯ve said your piece. We¡¯re here to survive. And if you want to keep proving yourself, you¡¯ll have to earn it. But this? This isn¡¯t the time for petty rivalry. We¡¯re not in the middle of a monster hunt. We¡¯re trying to build something."

    Valen turned to her, eyes flashing. "I don¡¯t care what you¡¯ve built. When this competition ends, I¡¯ll be the one standing on top, and you¡¯ll be crawling back to the scraps." Emma moved to stand beside Kaitlin, her voice low but cutting. "You may have your title, Valen, but don''t mistake power for wisdom. You can take the points if you think you¡¯re worthy, but it won''t matter when you''re alone at the top with nothing left to fight for."

    The tension in the courtyard reached its peak. The crowd held its breath, waiting for the explosion to come. A moment later, it happened. The air seemed to crackle with energy as Dante and Valen lunged at each other in unison, their blades clashing with a resounding crack. Dante¡¯s flames surged forward, his sword wrapped in fire as he slashed toward Valen with ferocious speed. Valen blocked the strike with his own sword, which gleamed under the light, its edge as sharp as his resolve.

    Jason remained in the shadows, watching carefully. His eyes flicked over every move, calculating, analyzing. The power of the fight wasn¡¯t just about strength, it was about control, precision, and how each fighter used their abilities. Dante¡¯s fire was impressive, but Valen¡¯s strikes were crisp, every move a calculated step, countering and responding in an almost instinctual dance. Dante roared, unleashing a massive inferno that swept across the battlefield. Valen, with a swift motion, activated his own skill, his sword cutting through the flames as if they were nothing but paper. The fire and ice of Kaitlin¡¯s magic collided with Valen¡¯s strikes, sparks flying in every direction.

    As the battle escalated, Jason¡¯s mind raced. This wasn¡¯t just a fight for leadership it was a clash of ideologies. Valen believed in domination through strength, while Dante relied on power through numbers. Each one¡¯s flaws were laid bare in this brutal exchange.

 16. Battle Breaks Out

    The battlefield was chaos. Magic, blades, and fire clashed in the air, creating a storm of power that sent sparks flying. Dante and Valen were at the center of it all, locked in a deadly struggle that reverberated through the courtyard. Dante''s flames surged high, a wall of fire that threatened to consume everything in its path. His sword blazed with an intensity that made the air shimmer, his every move burning with the desperation to prove himself. But the more he pushed, the more his power became a liability. Valen danced around the flames with ease, his sword cutting through the fire like a knife through butter. His movements were precise, deliberate, calculating. Every strike he made was an attempt to break through Dante''s defenses, each one aimed at his weakness.

    Jason watched from the sidelines, his arms crossed as he studied the fight. The tension in the air was thick, he could feel the weight of every decision being made on the battlefield. Dante was pushing too hard, too fast, and Valen was calculating every move. Jason wasn¡¯t sure how long Dante could keep up before it all collapsed. But then, something caught his eye. Kaitlin was moving swiftly, her staff glowing with elemental energy as she watched the battle unfold. She had her hands full with the other members of Crimson Fang, keeping them at bay with ice and lightning, but her focus was still on Dante. Her brow furrowed as Valen¡¯s strikes pushed Dante further back.

    "Dammit," she muttered, her eyes flashing with resolve. She raised her staff, the air around her turning cold as she prepared to act. But it wasn¡¯t fast enough. Valen saw the opening and lunged, his sword crackling with energy as he aimed for Dante¡¯s throat. Dante''s eyes widened, his flames swirling around him in a desperate attempt to block the strike. But Valen''s sword was too fast, cutting through the flame as if it were nothing. His blade grazed Dante¡¯s shoulder, a deep gash forming as Dante cried out in pain. The flames around him flickered, momentarily weakening.

    Jason clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing. He was watching closely, and he knew that if Dante didn¡¯t pull back, this would turn into a fatal mistake. But he wasn¡¯t going to reveal himself yet. Not unless he had to. He wasn¡¯t here to fight, he was here to observe. But if things got worse, he would step in. Kaitlin¡¯s expression hardened. She could see it too. Dante was too reckless, and Valen wasn¡¯t giving him any mercy. With a sharp exhale, she moved into position.

    "Frost Chains!" she called out, slamming the end of her staff into the ground. Ice erupted from the earth, spiraling toward Valen¡¯s legs. The freezing chains wrapped around his feet, locking him in place. It wasn¡¯t enough to stop him entirely, but it gave Dante a moment to recover. Valen¡¯s eyes flashed with irritation, but he didn¡¯t hesitate. With a grunt, he activated his own skill, slashing through the ice with a single sweep of his sword. "Is that all you''ve got?" he sneered, but his taunt was interrupted as Kaitlin¡¯s voice rang out again.

    "Verdant Surge!" she shouted, and the ground trembled as vines erupted from the earth. They shot toward Valen with unrelenting force, coiling around his arms and chest. Valen grunted, his muscles straining as the vines tightened, but his sword flashed again, cutting through the plant-life. Still, the delay was enough to force him to take a step back.

    Dante was on his feet now, his fiery aura flaring brighter than before, but his movements were slower, more sluggish. The effort of overextending himself was beginning to show. His flames sputtered, the air around him thick with the scent of burnt wood and metal. He was beginning to lose control. Kaitlin moved quickly, her eyes scanning the battlefield for any sign of weakness. But as she took another step toward Valen, her focus wavered for a second, distracted by a flash of movement.

    "Watch out!" Emma shouted from across the battlefield, but it was too late. Valen was already on the move. With one powerful strike, he shattered the vines, leaving Kaitlin exposed. In an instant, he lunged again, his sword flashing with deadly speed. Kaitlin¡¯s eyes widened. She didn¡¯t have time to dodge. She raised her staff to defend, but the force of Valen¡¯s strike sent her stumbling back, her staff cracking against the impact.

    Jason¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he saw Kaitlin¡¯s stagger. Valen was going for the kill, his sword poised to strike down. But then something happened. The ground beneath them cracked open, and Kaitlin¡¯s body surged with energy. The vines that had been shattered earlier began to regenerate, growing back even faster than before, and they wrapped around Valen¡¯s body once more.

    "Not this time," Kaitlin muttered under her breath, the raw power of her mana pulsing around her. She swung her staff down hard, sending a shockwave of ice into the ground. The frost exploded outward, creating a barrier between her and Valen. For a moment, the battlefield fell silent. The two combatants stood facing each other, eyes locked in a silent exchange. Kaitlin¡¯s chest heaved as she caught her breath, her body bruised but still strong.

    Valen hesitated, his sword lowered, considering his next move. He could sense her power, the raw mana that pulsed through her veins, and he knew that this battle wasn¡¯t won yet. But even with the advantage he¡¯d gained over Dante, he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to underestimate Kaitlin. She was strong, as strong as he was, and if he wanted to win, he¡¯d have to push past her.

    Kaitlin tightened her grip on her staff, her icy gaze unwavering. She wasn¡¯t going to let him take any more lives today. Jason took a step forward, his instincts screaming that the battle was on the edge of tipping too far. But he didn¡¯t need to step in yet. The factions had clashed, but it wasn¡¯t over. The tension was still hanging thick in the air, and it felt like everything was poised on the verge of breaking.

    The moment stretched on, and then, without warning, the ground shook. Luke appeared, moving with his usual speed, his phantom steps sending him across the battlefield in an instant. The rivalry had escalated, but it was clear now that no one was willing to back down. Jason exhaled slowly. He could feel it in the air this was the moment where everything changed. Where allegiances would either hold or fracture. The fight wasn''t over. But there would be no deaths today. Only injuries, and the bitter taste of unfinished business.

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    The courtyard was littered with the remains of the battle splintered wood, shattered stone, scorched earth, and the scent of burnt flesh still hung in the air. The tension that had filled the space just moments ago had dissipated into an eerie silence, broken only by the sound of heavy breathing and the occasional groan of pain. Dante was leaning against a nearby pillar, his hand clutching his injured shoulder. The gash wasn¡¯t deep, but it was enough to slow him down. His flames had died out completely, the heat around him dissipating as his mana reserves dwindled. His face was pale, beads of sweat dripping from his forehead. He glared at the space where Valen had stood, his eyes burning with a mixture of anger and frustration.

    "Dammit," Dante muttered under his breath, wiping the blood from his hand. His pride had taken a hit. The fact that he had almost been killed, and by someone he knew, someone who had once been his equal was too much to bear. He clenched his fists, the flames flickering weakly around his fingertips, then extinguishing with a sigh. Valen stood a few feet away, his sword still in his hand, but lowered now. His expression was cold and unreadable. He hadn¡¯t been injured, his armor and skill had protected him from the worst of the blows, but the force of Kaitlin¡¯s vines had left their mark. He flexed his arm, feeling the bruises where the vines had constricted him. The damage wasn¡¯t severe, but the fact that the fight hadn¡¯t ended in his favor stung.

    His gaze shifted to Kaitlin, standing across from him, her staff still gripped tightly in her hands. She, too, was bruised, but her expression was unwavering. The energy around her crackled, her mana still vibrant, though the effort of sustaining her abilities had drained her. "You''re strong," Valen said, breaking the silence. His voice was calm, but there was a note of respect in it, tinged with something darker. "I can see why Dante keeps you close. But this isn¡¯t over."

    Kaitlin didn¡¯t respond at first. She was still catching her breath, but when she finally spoke, her voice was cold and steady. "If you think you¡¯ve won, Valen, you¡¯re mistaken." She glanced at Dante, who was slowly pushing himself up from the pillar, his eyes still focused on Valen. "This fight was never about winning or losing. It was about showing who¡¯s willing to go too far." Valen¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile. "Maybe." He turned to Dante, his eyes narrowing. "But your people don¡¯t seem to understand what it means to fight for power. You rely too much on others to carry your weight. You think you can just throw more flames into the fire and make it burn brighter. It¡¯s not enough." He pointed his sword toward the ground. "Not against me."

    Dante stepped forward, a mixture of rage and frustration in his eyes. "You think you can waltz in here and challenge me just like that? We¡¯re not some backwater faction you can walk all over, Valen." He took a deep breath, his fiery aura flickering around him. "You think you¡¯re the only one who knows what it takes to fight? I¡¯ve seen things you wouldn¡¯t believe." Kaitlin stepped between them before things could escalate further, her expression unyielding. "Enough," she said firmly. "We¡¯ve had enough fighting for today. Everyone, step back."

    The tension in the air was thick as the remaining members of Crimson Fang and the university faction exchanged glares. Luke and Emma had taken position near the others, prepared for anything, but both knew that pushing things further would lead to even more bloodshed. Kaitlin turned her attention to Dante, her eyes softening just a little. "We need to regroup. You¡¯re pushing too hard. You¡¯re draining yourself."

    Dante shot her a sharp look, but the concern in her voice was enough to make him pause. He exhaled sharply, his hands falling to his sides. He was exhausted, drained not just from the fight, but from the weight of trying to prove himself over and over. He had never been this close to defeat before, and it gnawed at him. "I just.." he began, his voice quieter now, "I can¡¯t let anyone see me as weak." Kaitlin didn¡¯t answer immediately, her gaze flickering to the others who were still recovering from the skirmish. She could feel the pressure mounting on all sides. The weight of leadership, the responsibility, the eyes watching them. "You¡¯re not weak, Dante," she said softly. "But the harder you push, the weaker you become. You have to learn to pick your battles."

    Dante clenched his jaw but didn¡¯t argue. He knew she was right. He was the leader, the one who was supposed to protect his people, and yet every time he tried to prove his strength, he only put them at greater risk. Valen watched the exchange, his eyes flickering between Dante and Kaitlin. There was something about the way they interacted that he couldn¡¯t ignore. There was a bond there, a silent understanding, an unspoken respect. And that was something Valen had always lacked. He had fought alone, grown alone, and that made him all the more dangerous. But it also made him incredibly lonely.

    "Just remember," Valen called out as he turned to leave, his sword slung across his back. "This is only the beginning. You may have won today, but it won¡¯t be enough to keep the others off your back. Your faction is weak, Dante. And sooner or later, that weakness will catch up to you." With those words, he turned and walked away, leaving the university faction to recover in silence. The group stood in the aftermath of the battle, breathing heavily. Luke was the first to break the silence, his eyes scanning the wreckage. "We need to fix this place up. We can¡¯t afford another attack like that."

    Emma nodded in agreement. "And we need to talk. About strategy. About where we go from here. We can¡¯t keep acting like we¡¯re untouchable. Crimson Fang is just the beginning." Kaitlin sighed, rubbing her temples. "I¡¯m just tired," she murmured, though her voice was firm. "We need to be stronger. All of us. And we need to trust each other more than we have been." Jason, who had been quietly observing from the shadows, finally stepped into the light, his voice cutting through the tension. "There¡¯s more to this than just strength. What matters is who¡¯s willing to make the right moves when the time comes."

    Kaitlin glanced at him, her brow furrowing. "And what¡¯s that supposed to mean?" Jason¡¯s eyes were unreadable as always. "You don¡¯t have to defeat every enemy head-on. Sometimes, survival means knowing when to back down, when to wait, and when to strike. We¡¯re all playing a game here. And some of us are better at it than others." Dante looked at him, a frown pulling at the edges of his lips. "What¡¯s your point, Jason?"

    Jason didn¡¯t reply immediately, just let his gaze sweep over the group. He turned to walk away, his tone casual as ever. "We¡¯ll see soon enough. Just remember that we can¡¯t keep playing the hero. Not unless you¡¯re ready to lose everything." The rest of the group fell silent, the weight of his words hanging in the air long after he had disappeared into the shadows. The battle was over, but the true fight was just beginning.

 17. The Uncrowned Ruler

    The morning after the battle was silent. Not peaceful, just silent. The remnants of the fight between the University Faction and Crimson Fang were still fresh, lingering in the battered walls and burned out barricades. People moved slowly, exhaustion clear in their sluggish motions as they worked to rebuild what little protection they had left. No one spoke much. Even though they hadn¡¯t lost the fight, they definitely didn¡¯t win.

    Dante was keeping to himself, barely lifting his eyes as he helped reinforce a section of the barricade. He had lost control yesterday. He had let his emotions dictate his actions, and in doing so, he had nearly gotten people killed. The weight of that fact sat on his shoulders like lead. The others weren¡¯t faring much better. Luke, Emma, Ryan, and the rest of the faction were still shaken, still processing. The battle had been more than just a skirmish. It was a wake up call. They weren¡¯t strong enough.

    Jason stood at the highest vantage point of the broken university, arms crossed, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings. He wasn¡¯t interested in the rebuilding efforts. He was thinking about what came next. The fight with Valen, the way Dante had nearly lost control, the faction¡¯s glaring weaknesses. None of it surprised him. He had known for a long time that this place wouldn¡¯t survive long without real leadership. Not leadership based on pride. Not leadership based on who yells the loudest. Leadership based on actual power.

    Still, that wasn¡¯t his concern. He just wanted to live in the shadows, gaining enough power to protect himself. That was all. He didn¡¯t need followers. He didn¡¯t need to be in charge. He had survived this long alone, he wasn¡¯t about to change that now. Suddenly, footsteps approached. Jason sighed before even turning. He already knew who it was. Kaitlin and Emma stepped up onto the ledge beside him.

    His younger sister¡¯s expression was serious, her usually confident smirk absent. Emma, too, had an unreadable look, but Jason could see it in her eyes. Determination. They knew. They had long known. ¡°You¡¯ve been hiding long enough.¡± Kaitlin crossed her arms. Jason didn¡¯t respond, keeping his gaze on the ruins ahead. Emma exhaled slowly. ¡°Jason.. you¡¯re strong. Stronger than any of us. We need you.¡±

    He scoffed. ¡°You don¡¯t need me. You need a plan.¡± Kaitlin narrowed her eyes. ¡°And who else has a plan? Dante?¡± Jason didn¡¯t answer. He didn¡¯t need to. They both knew the answer. Emma took a step forward. ¡°I get it. You don¡¯t want to be involved. You want to be strong enough that no one can touch you. But what happens when the world rebuilds?¡± Her eyes were sharp. ¡°What happens when people stronger than you band together and decide you¡¯re the problem?¡±

    Jason¡¯s eyes flickered toward her, just slightly. ¡°You might be strong,¡± she continued, ¡°but you¡¯re still just one person. And power like yours? People won¡¯t let you live freely. They¡¯ll see you as a threat. They¡¯ll hunt you down just like any other monster.¡± Jason¡¯s fingers twitched at the thought. Kaitlin¡¯s voice was softer, but just as firm. ¡°We don¡¯t want you to just survive, Jason. We want you to actually live.¡±

    Silence. Jason exhaled through his nose. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± That was all they were going to get from him. Kaitlin didn¡¯t push further, though she clearly wanted to. Instead, she just sighed, shaking her head. ¡°You always think too much.¡± Emma and Kaitlin turned, heading back down toward the others. Jason watched them go, his expression unreadable. He wasn¡¯t sure what answer he was looking for.

    However, he didn¡¯t have time to think about it. Because in the distance, the ground shook. Jason¡¯s mini map flickered. A massive red dot appeared, moving fast. Then, a deep, earth shattering roar filled the air. The beast stormed forward, each step sending shockwaves through the earth. Its massive, armored hide gleamed a fiery crimson, smoke hissing from its nostrils as molten heat radiated off its body. A second class monster was charging straight for the university and no one was ready for it.

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    The defenses were weak. People were still mentally drained from the battle yesterday. Even Dante, Kaitlin, and Luke weren¡¯t at full power. But there was no time to rest. Dante gritted his teeth, stepping forward, flames flaring around him. ¡°Everyone, get ready!¡± Kaitlin planted her staff, vines surging from the ground as she prepared to stop the charge. Emma, Ryan, Luke, and the others scrambled into formation.

    The battle began, but it was one sided. Every attack they threw did nothing. Dante¡¯s fire was absorbed into the beast¡¯s hide, his flames quickly becoming a liability. Kaitlin¡¯s vines snapped like twigs against its brute force. Emma¡¯s spells barely slowed it down. Ryan¡¯s strongest fire spell hit its side and it didn¡¯t even flinch. They couldn¡¯t hurt it.

    Jason clenched his fists. At first, he watched. But the moment Dante stumbled backward, blood dripping from his forehead, he knew. They were going to lose. For the first time, Jason couldn¡¯t just stand by.

    The moment Jason moved, everyone felt it. A suffocating aura erupted from his body, pressing down on the battlefield like a predator locking onto prey. The world froze. Jason had been hiding all this time. But now? Now everyone knew. Kaitlin staggered as goosebumps ran up her arms. Luke¡¯s heart stopped for a beat. Dante¡¯s eyes went wide, his breath catching in his throat. Even the Crimson Fire Elephant itself hesitated. Jason lifted his hand. Like a King giving the order for execution, and the battle was over.

    Jason vanished, or at least, that¡¯s what it looked like.

    Phantom Blitz

    He moved so fast that only afterimages remained. One moment he stood upon the ledge. The next he was hovering beside the beast. His hand raised, then slammed towards the ground.

    Gravity Manipulation.. 3x

    The Crimson Fire Elephant collapsed under its own weight, screaming in confusion. Jason then landed on its back and started punching.

    Overdrive

    His endurance shifted into pure strength. His stats were monstrous, far beyond anything they could comprehend. Every hit shattered the beast¡¯s hide. He caught its tusks mid charge, muscles bulging as he hurled the massive monster into the ground. The beast screeched. It had never been overpowered before. Never felt true fear. Jason ended it all with one final attack.

    Starbreak

    His fist crashed down, a meteor of raw destruction. The entire battlefield trembled. Finally, when the dust had settled.. the beast was dead.

    Jason exhaled, blood dripping from his fists as everyone stood in silence. This was the person who needed his sister to prove he could stay. The guy who was supposed to be weak. The person who possessed no aura like the First Classes did. Yet he demolished a Second Class monster with his bare hands. Everyone knew the truth now. There was no denying it. They couldn¡¯t follow Dante anymore. They had seen true power. One by one, they knelt.

    Jason Cole was their leader now.

    System Notification: [You have killed a Second Class level 55 Crimson Elephant]

    +15 Health, +10 Agility, + 15 Endurance, +11 Strength, +11 Mana

    Level Up! x 3 Level 50 Reached.

    [Second Class Selection Processing¡­]

    The system continued processing Jason''s possible path, unsure of what to make. Taking all his previous experiences into account, his fighting style, his personality, his goals and dreams, his strength and accolades. Finally, after assessing him for what seemed to be forever, the choices were presented.

    1. Magic Swordsman

    2. Shroud Volt Stalker

    3. Gravity Titan

    The list froze for a second, then something new appeared.

    Jason¡¯s heart skipped a beat as the system spoke. You are one of the few who possess the strength to change fate. You have constantly lived through scenarios where others would perish and have goals that reach beyond your pairs. You are an Anomaly.

    [Special Class]

    4. Cosmic Warrior

    Jason smirked. He knew what class to choose right away. The others were good, but good wasn''t what he was after. He wanted to be the best. As soon as he chose his new class he received his trial, a trial fitting for an Anomaly.

    1. Slay a monster at least 35 levels above your own.

    2. Increase your control over gravity to a radius of 10 meters and by 5 times strength

    3. Become the leader of your country